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THOMAS FAMILY DAY is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 13 at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Courtesy photo

CALENDAR

Know something that’s going on? Send it to calendar@ coastnewsgroup.com

AUG. 5

WINERY EXCURSION

Get tickets now, as Silvergate San Marcos invites local seniors to join residents for a day trip excursion to Monserate Winery in Fallbrook Aug. 25. Depart at 10:30 a.m. at Silvergate, 1550 Security Place, San Marcos. Return approximately 2 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person. To RSVP, Call (760) 744-4484 or email Monica Castaneda at mcastaneda@americarehr.com.

CATHOLIC FRIENDS

The Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County support group, for those who desire to foster friendships through various social activities, will attend a TGIF Concert in the Park, Calavera Hills Park, Carlsbad Aug. 5; have happy hour/ dinner at Miguel’s, 4S Ranch Aug. 9 and walk the Oceanside Strand Aug. 11, with meal to follow at Bagby Beer Co. Reservations are required at (760) 696-3502.

FUN WITH FROG AND TOAD

The Escondido Patio Playhouse, to promote its Aug. 19 play, “A Year With Frog And Toad’ is hosting sneak peeks with songs from the show, stories from the children's books by Arnold Lobel and games. The Escondido events are at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at a Frog & Toad Tea at the Grand Tea Room, 145 W. Grand Ave. (tickets at thegrandtearoom.com); at 7 p.m. Aug. 6 at the church at 1917 E. Washington; 11:30 a.m. Aug. 8 at the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St.; 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at the San Diego Children's Discovery Museum, 320 N. Broadway; 3:30 p.m. Aug. 12; 4:30 p.m. at the Escondido Public Library and 11 a.m. Aug. 13 at storytime at the Barnes and Noble, 810 W. Valley Parkway. ing now for the October Moonlight Beach “Low Tide” Beach Run and Sandcastle Contest. Visit https:// excelarace.com/moonlightbeach-fun-run-2022.html. Discount Code: lowtide40.

MIRACOSTA WELCOME

MiraCosta College students can get support preparing for the fall 2022 semester at any of three Welcome Fest events from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 6, at the San Elijo Campus, 3333 Manchester Ave., Cardiff; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 13, at the Oceanside Campus, 1 Barnard Drive and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Community Learning Center, 1831 Mission Ave., Oceanside.

BREAST MILK DRIVE

TrueCare’s annual Breast Milk Drive and Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 6, with the University of California Health Milk Bank, at TrueCare’s San Marcos Health Center, 150 Valpreda Road, San Marcos, to provide safe, nutritious, pasteurized human donor milk to babies in need. Pre-registration required at University of California Health Milk Bank portal, uchealth. service-now.com/csp. Attendees can pick up bags of fresh produce, diapers, goodie bags for mothers and babies and educational materials while supplies last.

AUG. 9

NONPROFIT GRANTS

The city of Escondido Nonprofit Relief Fund is now accepting online applications at sdivsbdc.org/ grant-for-escondido-nonprofits. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m., Aug. 11. To apply, nonprofits must be located in or serve the city of Escondido. Priority consideration will be given to nonprofits serving or located in the city’s Opportunity Zone.

GENEALOGY MEET

Jennifer Anklesaria will present “The Wonders of Directories” to North San Diego County Genealogical Society from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 9 in webinar format. Free, but online registration is required at nsdcgs.org.

AUG. 11

TODDLER VACCINATIONS

TrueCare is providing easy and equitable access to the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months and older through its community healthcare centers in Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Marcos, Visit truecare.org/ schedule-a-covid-19-vaccination-online to schedule. Appointments can also be made by calling or texting (760) 736-6767.

AUG. 13

THOMAS FAMILY DAY

Everyone’s favorite tank engine returns to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 13 for Thomas Family Day at 1649 El Prado, San Diego. Tickets at sdmrm.org/thomas-family-day.

EXPLORE BY BIKE

North County Cycle Club rides every Saturday morning starting at 8 a.m. and also 8:30 a.m., usually from the car park of Old California Restaurant Row, 1020-1080 W. San Marcos Blvd., San Marcos. Several rides of varying distance and pace explore different parts of San Diego North County each week. See northcountycycleclub.com for details.

AUG. 15

PET PHOTO CONTEST

San Diego Humane Society’s annual Photo Fundraiser is open for submissions, raising money for animal sheltering and adoptions, investigations of animal cruelty and neglect, veterinary care, education programs for youth and adults, the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife and more. Submit your favorite pet photo at sdhumane.org/ photocontest through Aug. 31. For more information, visit sdhumane.org/photocontest.

AUG. 16

BETA SIGMA PHI

Make a reservation by Aug. 16 for the Hidden Valley Vista City Council of Beta Sigma Phi International Beginning Day Picnic, at 11 a.m. Aug. 23 at Hollandia Park, 12 Mission Hills Court, San Marcos. HVVC will be providing the lunch. Members are asked to bring a lawn chair a $5 wrapped white elephant gift and their own beverage. RSVP by calling Peggy at (760) 743-2610.

AUG. 17

GUARDING THE FALLEN

The Patriot Guard is looking for new members. Patriot Guard attends Fallen Soldier military funerals to show honor and respect to our country’s fallen heroes and their families and uses American Flags to shield them from protesters. To join, visit socalpgr.org/. Organizers don’t care what your political views are, it is not a requirement to be a veteran, you don’t even have to ride a motorcycle. The group attends the funeral as invited guests of the fallen soldier’s family and to support those soldiers without family. They stand guard for the fallen soldiers of all military service branches.

AUG. 18

CATHOLIC FRIENDS

The Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County support group, for those who desire to foster friendships through various social activities, will go bowling at Bowlero, San Marcos with meal after, Fish House Vera Cruz Aug. 18; hear the Coastal Communities Concert Band, Carlsbad Community Church Aug. 20; attend Mass, St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Carlsbad with meal to follow, Notorious Burger Aug. 21; have a day at Del Mar Racetrack Aug. 25 and walk Oceanside, lunch at Oceanside Broiler Aug. 26. Reservations are required (760) 696-3502.

AUG. 5, 2022 The day I dyed my hair and went to Comic-Con

Enjoy one from Jean Gillette’s archives about her 2010 day at Comic-Con.

Isaw Bart Simpson. I hung out briefly with Boba Fett and Darth Vader, a zombie, some large machine-like creature, some very buff centurions, and I even rubbed elbows with Seth Green.

If you don’t know who Seth Green is, well, then you are seriously lacking in coolness. Even I, who has been known to score pretty low on the cool meter, remembered him as the son of “Austin Powers’” Dr. Evil, who got told to “Zip it!”

However, I did lose points because I didn’t know exactly why Green was signing autographs on the Comic-Con exhibit floor. It involves adult cartoons too strange even for me. If you need details, just ask someone between 18 and 25.

Meanwhile, it turns out I have been a Comic-Con fan for years, but just didn’t realize it. The signs were all there. Basically I am a huge fan of imagination and whimsy …. and Comic-Con is pretty much Whimsy Central.

I have been known to find any excuse to wear a costume and am quite comfortable looking a little ridiculous.

I love science fiction and especially science fiction movies. I have been a “Star Trek” fan since the first season, a “Star Wars” fan as well. The clincher is that I was as big a fan of my children’s cartoon shows as they were, from “Rescue Rangers” to “Invader Zim” to “Angry Beavers.”

When my godson gave me the heads-up to buy my ticket months ago, I decided to go for it, before a) I was really too old to walk from one end of the Convention Center to the other and/or b) the rumors come true and the iconic event leaves San Diego for a more spacious spot in Orange County or L.A.

If I am required to drive past that Orange County border to get to something, even Comic-Con loses its attraction.

It was a day full of youthful exuberance and a visual feast. (I try to expose myself to youthful exuberance as often as possible in hopes of absorbing some subcutaneously.)

I’m not sure what tickled me the most. It might have been the street signs outside the Convention Center written in Klingon. It could have been seeing trailers in serious surround sound. Or maybe it was the two or three adorable attendees who actually complimented my green hair.

Well, sure. You can just go to Comic-Con looking normal, but it’s an opportunity lost. I should have gone as Medusa, who was featured this year, looking very like me before my shower.

But even with my minimal effort, seriously costumed people chatted and joked easily with me. If you are willing to set aside a workday, maybe paint your hair green, and stand in endless lines, you have, apparently, earned their respect.

I loved that the exhibits range from established stars to upcoming creative minds trying to break into the business. And you never really know — either one might be standing right next to you.

small talk

jean gillette

Jean Gillette is a freelance writer who will be brushing up on her Klingon. Contact her at jean@coastnewsgroup.com.

SALES TAX

CONTINUED FROM 1 the city’s pension obligations with the funds as well. Garcia, Morasco and Deputy Mayor Tina Inscoe felt that adding the language would be more transparent to voters.

Adding the language went against recommendations from both staff and True North Research, a third-party consultant that conducted the sales tax survey, which indicated the move would be risky because the language was untested.

Voters in the survey also indicated that reducing pension costs with the funds was on the lower end of their priorities. Instead, residents identified wanting additional public safety efforts, infrastructure improvements and actions addressing homelessness to improve Escondido’s quality of life.

Mayor Paul McNamara and Councilmember Consuelo Martinez were both opposed to adding the language; however, they voted in favor to get four votes.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, because it’s untested,” Martinez said.

McNamara questioned how the tax would work to reduce pension obligations when the city is already required to pay it.

“We’re not really reducing the pension debt,” the mayor said. “It’s a bill — something we have to pay.”

Meanwhile, without additional revenue, the city could be forced to make cuts to police, fire, road maintenance, homeless encampment cleanups and other service areas, cuts that McNamara said would impact the city’s quality of life.