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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

LOOKING OUT FOR VULNERABLE SAN DIEGANS

Serving Seniors is unrivaled in its compassion and care in the community See Pages 4

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

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CRITICAL DOCUMENTS PLANNING NOW FOR PEACE OF MIND LATER We make a list before going to the grocery store. The grocery list becomes our critical document before heading to the store.

We make a list before packing and going on a vacation. The packing list becomes our critical document before heading to the airport to embark on the journey.

We follow a recipe when we want the dish to turn out perfectly. The recipe becomes our critical document to ensure quality and consistency in the dish we are preparing. This critical document becomes ever more critical if the originator is no longer with us and his/ her words on an index card become our only road map.

Now let’s shift the focus of the critical document to YOU and your healthcare and finances. Four documents become crucial to you and your loved ones if the unforeseen happens.

In Case of Emergency (ICE)

This document lets others – paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), family, friends, and neighbors know what to do for you in the case of an emergency. Information like your primary care physician, choice of hospital, medical conditions, allergies, religious affiliation, and your emergency contact’s name and number are found on this document. Often, an ICE is kept in plain sight like on the refrigerator or affixed to the inside of the front door for others to readily access.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

This document tends to intimidate people.

Rest assured, the DNR document is not entered into alone – it must be signed by you or your Healthcare Durable Power of Attorney AND a physician. There are two types of DNR documents – the Prehospital DNR, which is typically created in a long-term care setting and the Hospital DNR, a document that is created while in the hospital setting and kept in the person’s medical record. The DNR is meant to instruct emergency medical services providers of “a patient’s decision to forgo resuscitative measures in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest”. This form does not deprive someone of other life sustaining treatments such as the need for artificial nutrition, hydration and/or pain management.

Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA or POA)

There are two types of DPOAs – one for matters involving medical decisions and the other for financial matters. The durable power of attorney documents go into effect only when a person is unable, for physical or mental reasons, to speak and act for themselves. An example of when a person may not be physically able to speak for themselves would be if they were placed on a ventilator and couldn’t speak their medical or financial wishes. Mental capacity may be altered due to dementia, medications, or an injury to the brain thus activating the durable power of attorney for medical and financial. Each power of attorney document can be as comprehensive – or not – as the originator wishes it to be. A person’s healthcare/ medical POA does not have to be the same individual named as the person’s financial POA. Without power of attorney documentation, a person’s financial and medical decisions will be left to a conservator or guardian, appointed by the court system.

Advance Care Directives

Advance Care Directives (ACDs) are just that – documents or directives outlining your personal medical and healthcare wishes in the case you are unable to communicate them.

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We have already discussed a few (ACDs) – the DNR, ICE, and POA documents – and these documents speak for you while you are still living. Other ACDs include a Living Will, Organ and Tissue Donation, and the Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) which will be discussed here.

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) This is a form filled out and signed by you and a physician (or Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner) and is often kept in your medical record at the healthcare organization where you receive care. The POLST very clearly states that it “complements an Advance Directive and is not intended to replace that document”; having both a POLST and an Advance Care Directive is the ideal situation medically speaking. This document is very straight forward – you and your physician discuss any health conditions you may have and how you want medical interventions and/or artificially administered nutrition situations handled, should they occur for you. There are only three options in each category of medical intervention and artificial nutrition; the opportunity to get more detailed about how you want your healthcare handled should certain medical situations arise must be spelled out in your Advance Care Directive.

Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation If you’ve been to the DMV lately, you likely know about organ and tissue donation. While getting or renewing your driver’s license, you must select if you want to donate your organs and tissues upon your death. To find out more about this topic and if you want to be a donor but it’s not on your driver’s license, you can visit donatelifecalifornia.org and create or revise your account to accurately outline your wishes for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

Wills and Trusts These documents can be drawn up by an attorney or, if you are the do-it-yourself type, you can find forms online. If you go the DIY route, you may want to have your documents reviewed by an attorney to ensure they will hold up in a court of law should that be necessary. A will outlines how your assets will be handled after your death whereas the other documents discussed so far direct medical and financial decisions while you are still alive.

Keep in mind, the Executor named in a will is NOT the same as being named Power of Attorney for someone.

from a medical and financial standpoint in the event of an emergency or unforeseen medical issue. Don’t leave your healthcare and financial situation to chance or someone else’s decision; get started today – have the necessary conversations with your friends, family,

healthcare providers and financial people and begin the process of gathering and completing your critical documents. You’ll be glad you did.

References https://emsa.ca.gov/dnr_and_polst_forms/

Aging Well Partners empower aging adults in finding vetted and trusted resources and services that meet their specific needs.

Local partners Certified Senior Advisors™ FREE SERVICE Call us to get started (619) 789-1839 agingwellpartners.com

We have covered a lot of ground in this article and while it may seem a large list of documents to gather and complete, one step at a time. These documents are your direct path to communicating your wants and needs /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

LOOKING OUT FOR VULNERABLE SAN DIEGANS

Serving Seniors is unrivaled in its compassion and care in the community

Paul Downey with COO Melinda Forstey at Senior Center reopening

By Karen Pearlman

Paul Downey had only been on the job for a few months at Serving Seniors when he was asked by three individuals who frequented the organization’s downtown San Diego digs to host a memorial service for an individual who had passed away.

Not a layperson by trade, Downey told one of the requestors, Marvel Farr, that he would be happy to make a call and find a minister to handle the duties.

But that didn’t go over well.

The trio told Downey that their friend who died had no family, that the county would likely take care of the deceased friend’s remains, and that they really wanted him to hold a service so they could pay final respects to their friend.

“Marvel literally grabbed my shirt and got with-

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in two inches of my face and said, ‘None of us are afraid to die. We’re afraid nobody will notice that we are gone,” Downey recalled of the conversation that happened back in 1995. “They said to me, ‘We want you to do it. You knew this person.’ ” Downey, the president and CEO of Serving Seniors, said it was then that he started to fully understand the impact and importance of Serving Seniors. The nonprofit has been around since 1970 to serve low-income adults ages 60 and more, most of them homeless or on the verge of homelessness, giving them meals, housing, health checkups, social services and learning opportunities.

He said he realized then that individuals’ fear that somebody could die and nobody would notice causes true distress.

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“For the last 27 years now, I’ve been making sure that everything we do helps recognize these folks,” Downey said. “These are real people with real stories. We need to acknowledge them.”

For years, Downey ran memorial services for people when there was nobody else to do so, to make sure that somebody acknowledged their existence.

“I wish the public would understand that everybody has accomplished something in their lives,” Downey said. “I hear a lot of seniors tell me how invisible they feel they are.”

Downey also relayed a story about a woman friend he knows, a licensed social worker who moved in some of San Diego County’s top circles for decades. He said she too felt invisible as she grew older.

“When she was a young woman, she told me she could walk in a room as a good-looking 20-something woman and people would pay attention to her because of the way she looked,” Downey said. “When she was in her 40s she was working at a senior level in the county and said, ‘People would pay attention to me because of the position I have.’ Now in her 80s, she said to me, ‘I walk into a room and nobody notices.’ That’s a powerful thing to explain.”

Acknowledgment and understanding, knowing and caring about what someone’s past is, and helping in the present time so seniors have a future to look forward to are the cornerstones of what Serving Seniors does.

The group, which has total assets of nearly $30 million, is San Diego County’s largest provider of senior meals and is a leader in affordable senior housing, also providing wraparound services to some of those who are most in need -- at-risk older adults. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, Serving Seniors had about $17 million in revenue, support and gains; with expenses of just under $12.5 million.

The organization was established in 1970 as part of Catholic Charities. It was a nutrition site that offered lunch to low-income seniors. Known as Cedar Community Center, it became a 501 c-3 nonprofit in 1973, changing its name to Senior ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1 |

Paul Downey serving a meal

Community Centers in 1983. It opened affordable housing units in 2003 and again in 2007, opened a senior wellness center in 2010, and rebranded itself as Serving Seniors in 2014.

Serving Seniors opened its third supportive housing residence in Ramona in 2019. Schmale Family Senior Residence joined the Potiker Family Senior Residence and Potiker City Heights Residence.

The group focuses on helping seniors living in poverty have healthy and fulfilling lives, targeting the most vulnerable population of those who are homeless or on the verge of losing their home.

They bring millions of meals every year to those in need from San Ysidro to Oceanside and everywhere in between. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group operated in a dozen senior centers around the county.

It offers case management and social workers who assist seniors with housing needs, Social Security, Medicare, Medi-Cal and veterans benefits.

Serving Seniors also looks out for those who are victims of elder abuse and pays particular attention to seniors who are living on the street.

Teams of nurses that work with Serving Seniors reach out to those seniors living alone and provide health screenings and act much like family members to support individuals who need help connecting with doctors, obtain needed medications, help with dental services and more.

Serving Seniors also offers educational enrichment and activities, though some of those are on hold because of COVID-19 concerns.

Some of the popular activities the organization offers, at low or no cost, include yoga; tai chi; chess; Scrabble; heatlh education workshops including hearing screenings, prevention of falls and blood pressure clinics; jewelry making; painting; knitting; general knowledge workshops; and dance classes.

Serving Seniors also has a civic engagement group that offers weekly meetings at which people are able to identify concerns and work together to develop strategies to address key issues.

Its 2020-21 annual impact report said that it served 6,490 seniors, most of them in central San Diego, with a median monthly income of $1,081.

Eighty-four percent of their clientele live below the poverty level.

The report said it served 1.7 million meals in that fiscal year, feeding 5,681 seniors. Serving Seniors helped place 520 low-income seniors into housing, in 412 affordable units and 30 transitional units. The report said that 85 percent of transitional housing “graduates” were placed in permanent housing.

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health and social service visits, assisting more than 1,360 seniors.

The report also said that it helped with pet food and supply distributions, helping 226 seniors with nearly 500 companion animals.

In the report, a woman named Rosemary shared how important her relationship with her dog is. Many seniors live isolated, and their pets are their source of comfort and offer companionship.

Downey said it is the loneliness of those that Serving Seniors serves that strikes him the deepest. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when social isolation has led to physical and mental declines in all populations, not just seniors, people are having trouble feeling connected.

“This is a big deal,” he said. “Most of the people didn’t have a huge support system before the pandemic. And the digital divide is a really big deal. Most, if they have a phone, it is connected to the wall. If they have a cell phone, it is not a smart phone, and most don’t have access to the internet.

Soty cannot remain engaged, they are not able to

He said that the residual effects of social isolation, exacerbated during the pandemic, is something that concerns his organization.

“This is where volunteers are really helpful,” Downey said. “When they go to serve a meal to a senior, the least important thing they do is deliver the meal. It’s the interaction, the socialization, chatting with that person for a few minutes, that is the most important. For many seniors, that is the only conversation they might hall all day, or all week.”

While Serving Seniors is making great impacts with those it assists, there is much work still to be done, Downey said.

The group is working on getting more volunteers to do more outreach to those it serves, and is actively pushing to get “shallow subsidies” for older adults who are experiencing homelessness or on the cusp of becoming homeless.

Downey said that as part of Serving Seniors’ needs assessment, the group surveyed hundreds of seniors who had previously been homeless or who were on the verge of living on the street, asking how much money it would take to prevent them from becoming homeless, and 56 percent said $300 or less. For those who needed $400 to prevent homelessness, the number was 72 percent.

Serving Seniors is working with the Regional Task Force in Homelessness, with the Continuum of Care board, with county and city of San Diego officials to find ways to close the housing costs gap.

He said the group is also pushing for special adult shelters, modeled after similar sites in other cities like Oakland. He said many of the seniors surveyed said they do not feel comfortable going to a shelter because they feel preyed upon, are often victimized or abused while there.

Shelters are often not walker-friendly or wheelchair-accessible and that many put people out on the street first thing in the morning, which is sometimes difficult for those who move slowly.

Downey said that acknowledging older adults and understanding that population’s special needs is not just something for Serving Seniors employees, board members and volunteers.

“Especially during the pandemic, there are things that people can do just in general,” he said.

“Check in on older neighbors, take some time to visit, ask if you can pick up a prescription for them. The five minutes you spend talking to them probably means nothing to you but it may be the only interaction they have all day.”

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

OUR LOVE OF PIZZA IS UNDYING Favorite Picks to Start Off the New Year

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Close your eyes, spin around three times, and toss a dough ball into the air. Chances are that it will land on the doorstep of one of San Diego’s many pizzerias.

Thanks to an ongoing pizza renaissance in our region, which began taking root some 20 years ago, sumptuous pizzas in myriad styles sit in close range of our eager hands. (Connoisseurs never use forks for eating pizza.)

Whether you are a fussy back-East transplant looking to score a thin, crispy crust topped with herby tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella, or a native Chicagoan in search of weighty deep-dish pies with honey-kissed crusts, or even an Italian immigrant hunting for classic Neapolitian pizzas cooked in blazing-hot ovens—we got you covered.

URBN 3085 University Ave., North Park (Locations also in Encinitas, Vista, El Cajon, One Paseo in Carmel Valley, and downtown San Diego under the name of Basic Bar and Pizza) 619-255-7300, urbannorthpark.com

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Meatball topping at URBN Coal Fired Pizza

Who would have thought that some of the best pizza-making originates from the state of Connecticut? At URBN, the pies stick to tradition in pure New Haven style. They are cooked in coal-fired ovens and served in irregular shapes on cookie sheets. Their crusts are both crispy and chewy. The red sauce carries the right level of sweetness. And sprinklings of fresh Parmesan complete their construction after you request things like mozzarella, ricotta, and various meats and veggies to build them up. If you’ve never had mashed potatoes and bacon on your pizza, this is the place to start. It’s one of URBN’s top sellers. Other classics include pizzas topped with fresh clams, garlic and olive oil, and another (our favorite) carpeted in red sauce, ricotta, Provolone and meatballs.

Mama Dom’s 5025 Shawline St., Kearny Mesa 858-292-1511, momanddomspizza.com Situated behind an Arby’s, amid a cluster of industrial-park buildings, this family-run kitchen attracts a brisk business for good reason. It is especially popular among office and postal workers, who drop in on their lunch hours for hefty slices of pepperoni or cheese-only pizza. The somewhat thin crusts flaunt good elasticity and flavor. For less than $8 you can score a garden salad and medium fountain drink with your slice. Friendly hospitality and a full menu of Italian dishes and whole pizzas are bonuses. Eat in or take out.

Sisters Pizza 3603 Fourth Ave., Hillcrest 619-255-4200, sisterspizzasd.com This quaint pizzeria with a charming, canopied patio was launched a few years ago by Emily Green Lake after the untimely death of her beloved sister, Kate Green. The establishment pays homage to Green through framed family photographs and assorted pizzas named after Green’s favorite television-show characters. The “Miss Piggy” feaLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Basilico La Pizzeria

Emily Green Lake and husband Trevor Lake of Sisters Pizza

An oven named Vince

tures a porky duo of sausage and ham, while the thick-crusted “Sophia Petrillo” is a Sicilian-style pie topped simply with mozzarella and red sauce.

It beckons to the character who played Dorothy’s mother on The Golden Girls sitcom. Nearly a dozen specialty pizzas and various slices are available, as well as gluten-free options. Customers can also build their own pies from a range of ingredients, and with sizes spanning up to 20 inches in diameter.

in Naples by the prestigious Stefana Ferrara company. The co-owner titled the oven after himself, as spelled out in black tiles across the construct’s curvy front. This is one of Uptown’s newest pizza kitchens, where you’ll also find ricotta-stuffed crusts and topping options that include homemade sausage, artichokes, anchovies, capers, and other fine ingredients that comprise authentic Italian pizzas.

Poseidon Project 4126 Napier St., Bay Park 619-230-5334, poseidonprojectsd.com Crisp and charred on the outside, pleasantly soft on the inside best describes the thinish East-meets-West crust at Poseidon, where 12-inch pizzas rule the day.

Need a Sunday-morning pizza fix? Then mosey in between 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for brunch and sink your choppers into a fabulous egg-and-meat breakfast pizza. From the regular menu you’ll find a dozen signature choices, such as the “meaty baller,” the “loaded baked potato,” and “the verde” topped with chicken and green chili garlic sauce. We’re particularly smitten over the pizza accented with sausage and bright-tasting cherry peppers.

Giant Bambino’s Pizza II 7520 El Cajon Blvd., La Mesa 619-463-4000 When your group is large and ravenous, look no further than the 28-inch pizzas at Giant Bambino’s. Pizza II. Cut into squares, each adequately feeds seven people. They come in many “gourmet” varieties ranging from cheesesteak and Mediterranean to Mexican and Buffalo-style chicken.

If opting for “Bambino’s pick,” you’ll end up with something a little simpler: Red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms. Smaller pizza sizes starting at 10 inches are also available.

Pizzeria Liuigi 1137 25th St., Golden Hill (Additional locations in North Park and Imperial Beach) 619-233-3309, pizzerialuigi.com

Surf Rider Pizza 8381 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa 619-340-1270, surfrider.pizza

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Varied and tasty slices at Surf Rider Pizza

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

A topping of meat and veggies at Pizzeria Luigi

Guy Fieri of the Food Network said that if he lived in San Diego, he’d have a “signature account” at Pizzeria Luigi. The compliment was paid when the spiky haired television host began shoveling down various pies at the Golden Hill pizza shop for his Diners, Drive-ins and Dives show. For proprietor Luigi Agostini, the national publicity propelled him into San Diego’s elusive, but highly competitive pizza hall of fame.

And he’s since opened a couple more locations, where you’ll encounter slices and whole pizzas famous for their thin, finely textured crusts.

Basilico La Pizzeria 4207 Park Blvd., University Heights 619-546-9288, basilicolapizzeria.com An Italian native named Vincenzo is at the helm of a wood-fired oven that was handmade /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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The company describes its pies as “East Coast pizza with West Coast vibes.” The description is apt when you consider fairly thin crusts that become vessels for “the Godfather” with pepperoni and Gorgonzola cheese (think New Jersey), and the “pesto spinach delish” and “spicy veggie” (totally California). The shop encompasses a bar, bakery, and pizza case where you’ll find numerous pizzas sold by the slice. Surf Rider’s red sauce stands out in that it captures the soulful depth of flavors inherent to mom-and-pop joints throughout Philly, New York and Jersey.

Garage Buona Forchetta 1000 C Ave., Coronado 619-675-0079, buonaforchettasd.com/garage-buona-forchetta Set within a historic structure that was once home to El Cordova Garage in the 1940s, this South Park offshoot of Buona Forchetta flaunts a generous Neapolitan pizza section on its menu. Which means the kitchen uses San ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

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Lefty’s Chicago Pizzeria 3448 30th St., North Park, 619-295-1720 3040 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills, 619-2994030 leftyspizzasandiego.com

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San Diego’s zaniest pizza maven, Mr. Moto

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Pizza at Garage Buona Forchetta

Marzano tomatoes, buffalo-milk mozzarella and imported extra virgin olive oil in its pizza-making. In addition, the pizzas cook quickly in oven temperatures exceeding 800 degrees. There are plenty of vegetarian options, plus several “nosauce” pies such as “the professor” with pancetta, brie and arugula, and the “MSC” with smoked salmon, olives and sun-dried tomatoes.

Cardellino 4033 Goldfinch St., Mission Hills 619-600-5311, cardellinosd.com Pizza with lamb sausage and herbed goat cheese? Or how about one with melty Boursin, pickled onions and fig balsamic? Chef Brad Wise of the Trust Restaurant Group breaks a lot of pizza rules with great finesse at this Mission Hills restaurant, where seasonal ingredients and fresh-baked breads rule the day. The atmosphere greets with a stylish, contemporary feel that jives to the high-caliber pizzas.

Mr. Moto Pizza Locations in Encinitas, North Park, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Seaport Village, Little Italy, Ocean Beach and Mission Valley

858-490-0501, mrmotopizza.com The fictional persona of Mr. Moto is an Italian who immigrated to New York City, then became obsessed with the city’s pizza, and took their recipes to Southern California to start a business. He’s an animated character with a handlebar mustache and a knack for making creative videos on social media. His real name is Gibran Fernandez, a San Diego native whose story loosely parallels his business mascot. Now with eight locations, his thin-crust pizzas are New York-inspired through the use of high-gluten flour, purified water, and hand-tossed dough. Our recommended pick: The “Rocky Mountain” crowned with meatballs, ricotta, spicy honey and oregano.

Tribute Pizza 3077 North Park Way, North Park 619-450-4505, tributepizza.com Tribute Pizza can’t be stereotyped for specializing in any one style of pizza. The wood-fired pies beckon to everywhere—from one of the oldest establishments in Naples, Italy where the Margherita was supposedly invented to a joint in Brooklyn that raised the ire of critics opposed to pineapple as a topping. The “tributes” point to a dozen varieties and weekly specials based on co-owner Matthew Lyons’ travels around the globe. There’s even a tribute to Costco’s classic pizza supreme, which Lyons put on the menu to incite “pizza nostalgia.” Housed in the former North Park Post office, the spacious interior boasts a striking food-hall design.

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Classic deep-dish pizza at Lefty’s

Never trust a deep-dish pizza unless somebody from The Windy City has their fingerprints on it. At Lefty’s, the founders are native Chi-towners who have been slinging the dense cornmeal-laden-crust pies with expected accuracy for two decades. The pizzas are saddled with more than a pound of cheese.

And yes, the sauce always goes on the very top. There are several pizzerias in San Diego County that specialize in Chicago pizza, but Lefty’s has beaten them to the chase.

Bronx Pizza 111 Washington St., Hillcrest 619-291-3341, bronxpizza.com Classic Bronx pizza is what has consistently drawn long lines here since 1997, when Bronx Pizza sprung onto the scene to fill a void in New York-style pizza making. It’s a cash-only operation run by a gaggle of New Yorkers who sling assorted slices and whole 18-inch pies with amusing no-nonsense attitude. It’s not unusual to see staffers twirling discs of dough in midair as part of their fast-moving operation that is deliciously efficient. And if you’re a fan of sauce-less pizzas, the “Whitestone” with mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, and Parmesan is a charmer. The pizzeria offers indoor seating and a walk-up window.

With $10 million gift, Darlene Shiley builds upon her husband’s legacy Philanthropist Darlene Shiley has given a $10 million gift for the clinical space expansion of the Shiley Eye Institute at UC San Diego Health. Specifically, the gift will finance the expansion of the clinical space and function of the institute.

“Over the last three decades, Donald and I have supported the growth and excellence of the Shiley Eye Institute and her centers of care. It was one of our first philanthropic projects we supported and were loyal to for the ‘long haul,’ as Donald would say. I now continue that legacy with pride, with the knowledge that we have improved and will continue to improve medical care and research that benefits all of us.”

With her late husband Donald, who passed away in 2010, Darlene Shiley has been a longtime supporter of UC San Diego across multiple endeavors, including the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease RePhoto by Bob Ross, UC San Diego Health Sciences search Center, named in part to honor Darlene’s mother, Dee From left, Director Robert Weinreb, Darlene Shiley, UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent and UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Khosla in front of the Shiley Eye Institute.

Marcos.

Today, the Shiley Eye Institute encompasses more than 91,000 square feet Ratner Children’s Eye Center, the Joan and Glaucoma Center, and soon to be the Viterand three centers: the Anne F. and Abraham Irwin Jacobs Retina Center, the Hamilton bi Vision Research Center.

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San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan warned the public today to steer clear of unapproved at-home COVID-19 tests as people become increasingly desperate to get tested for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Scammers are always waiting for their next opportunity to take financial advantage of unsuspecting consumers and the shortage of COVID-19 tests is no different.

“Before you click the add-to-cart button on that website claiming to sell legitimate self-testing kits, know how to spot red flags so you don’t become a different kind of COVID-19 statistic,” DA Stephan said.

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a list of tips on how to vet at-home tests: · Only buy tests authorized by the FDA. · Check the FDA’s lists of antigen diagnostic tests and molecular diagnostic tests before buying, to find the tests authorized for home use. (EUA is “emergency use authorization.”)

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· Check out a seller before you buy, especially if you’re buying from a site you don’t know. Search online for the website, company, or seller’s name plus words like “scam,” “complaint,” or “review.” · Compare online reviews from a wide variety of websites. You can get a good idea about a company, product, or service from reading user reviews on various retail or shopping comparison sites. · Think about the source of the review. Consider whether the review is coming from an expert organization or an individual customer. · When buying online, pay by credit card. If you’re charged for an order you never got, or for a product that is not as advertised, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. · If you have been scammed, report it directly the FTC (www. reportfraud.ftc.gov) or contact the DA’s consumer protection team at consumer@sdcda.org.

If you are looking for an in-person test site, San Diego County provides a list of authorized free test sites on its website (www.sandiegocounty.gov).

Finally, since Governor Newsom’s executive order declares a state of emergency through March 31, 2022, the price gouging laws will be in effect until the end of April. The order prohibits sellers from increasing prices on test kits by more than 10% if they had been selling them as of December 1, 2021, unless they can prove their costs have increased. Anyone who began selling tests after December 1, 2021 may not charge 50% greater than what they paid for the kit themselves. A new law that the San Diego District Attorney’s Office co-sponsored expands the price gouging laws to online purchases.

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“We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to protect our community against fraudulent COVID schemes, fraud and price gouging” DA Stephan said.

To report an incident of price gouging or a fake or suspicious testing site, you can call the San Diego District Attorney consumer hotline at (619) 531-3507 or by email at consumer@sdcda.org.

The Consumer Protection Unit is comprised of Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators and Paralegals dedicated to protecting consumers and law-abiding businesses from fraudulent or unfair business practices. ### About the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office The San Diego County DA’s Office prosecutes all felony crimes in the county and misdemeanor crimes committed outside the City of San Diego. The office files about 40,000 criminal cases a year and balances prosecution with numerous crime prevention programs. District Attorney Summer Stephan leads the office of more than 1,000 dedicated employees who pursue fair and equal justice, and support victims daily across San Diego County.

District Attorney Summer Stephan has dedicated more than 29 years of serving justice and victims of crime as prosecutor. Visit sdca.org/office/ contact/ to contact her.

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VIRAL MUSINGS: 7 TIPS TO RECOVER FROM COVID

By Olivia Fellus, L.A.c, Dipl.OM,

Last month I went to sleep with a slight back ache, which I didn’t pay much attention to. At first. Three hours later and after much tossing and turning, where I experienced a progressively intense deep burning and boring pain in my sacrum, I knew this was something else. I literally felt pain elicited from the weight of the top sheet on my body. Every hair on my skin hurt. This is no normal flu.

Something prompted me to take the lateral flow test, and after two thick pink lines immediately appeared on what looked like a pregnancy strip, the verdict was in. Indeed, I am positive! A sensation of dread washed over me.

Hobbling back to bed I pondered the gravity of this sentence. 10 days of quarantine loomed precariously over me, I would need to reschedule all my patients, and deal with the pesky flu like symptoms all of which were manageable yet sorely uncomfortable.

Now having recovered from the virus, I can say that 10 days away from the world was an experience in surrender. I really had too let go and have patience with myself to rest, and allow my body recover in its own time.

Experiences like these make me grateful for my eastern medicine perspective and training where my mind goes into a zen like problem solving mode. Here are some tips for overcoming Covid that I have found helpful for me, and that will help you, should you contract the virus.

Number 1 : DONT PANIC

Most people forget that this variant is a flu, albeit a really severe flu, and include familiar symptoms such as fever and chills, headache, night sweats, congestion, phlegm, coughing and body aches, to name the most common ones.

The most important thing is to remain calm and avoid unnecessarily taxing your Qi. Your body is infinitely intelligent, and all you need to do is just support it as it heals. The first step is by reminding yourself you will get through this. A relaxed, accepting attitude will take you on a fast track to recovery.

Number 2: Hydrate

It’s essential to hydrate the body when its fighting illness. Mix in two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of black pepper, 1 tablespoon of raw honey and the juice of half a lemon in a mug of hot water. The alkalizing effect of the apple cider vinegar helps strengthen the immune system, while the turmeric helps decrease inf lammation in the body. The lemon and honey help alleviate cough and sore throat. Drink this concoction throughout the day as needed.

Number 3: Call your Local Acupuncturist After getting sick I contacted my mentor acupuncturist who prescribed me herbs, which helped me recover a lot more quickly.

While treatment will need to wait, you can take herbal formulas to help you recover faster and alleviate your symptoms. I also did self cupping which helped break up phlegm and improve my breathing.

Do not attempt this at home unless you are a licensed acupuncturist.

mg of quercitin is also helpful for reducing inf lammation and boosting your immunity.

Number 5: Soak Yourself

Epsom salt baths to alleviate aching muscles and open up your bronchial passages.

Mix in two cups of Epsom salts in hot bath and soak for at least 15 minutes. Add in a few drops of eucalyptus and inhale the steam, allowing it to permeate your lungs and open your airways.

Number 6: Surrender!

Do not try to fight your fatigue or brain fog. Dress comfortably, and let your body rest. It knows what to do! Use this time to truly listen to your body and give it what it needs. It you don’t have the energy to do work at home or read, then dont! Covid

Number 4: Smart Supplementing

Helpful supplements to boost your immunity are to take about 25 mg of Zinc and 2,000 vitamin C (chewable form is best for bioavailability). Taking 500 to 1,000 truly taught me to honor myself, and release any guilt related to not being “productive” enough. All your responsibilities can wait.

Now is the time to take care of you.

Number 7: Food Medicine

Your appetite may wane when battling Covid. Make sure to still nourish your b o dy but with easily digestible nutrient rich fo o ds. Sticking to high carb, low fat options such as fruit, which leaves the least amount of metab olic waste b ehind in the b o dy, is a p ower ful way for speeding up your healing pro cess. Since you will be homebound, try to order fresh produce online or have a family memb er or friend purchase some for you. Eating fruits in season are b est since they are the most delicious and more readily available.

Better yet, juicing fruits is superior, since you are removing the f ib er, thus giving your b ody intravenous nutrition, and all the healing components enter the bloo d stream a lot quicker. In addition to fresh fruit, I highly recommend miso soup, chicken soup or b one broth.

The high nutrient level in these aforementioned liquids will essentially supercharge your system. * For any questions or concerns, or if you would like to schedule a complimentary consult with Olivia Fellus, or learn more ab out her and her services please contact lvfellus@ gmail.com or visit www.ascendhealing. com

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

HOLLY DRIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SAN DIEGO’S HIDDEN GEM!

By Karen Pearlman

A school with roots in the basement of Faith Chapel of God in Christ southeast San Diego continues to reach some lofty heights in the public education world.

Holly Drive Leadership Academy, an independent charter school started in 1999 for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, is getting ready for construction to begin so where it can open up its own buildings on Elm Street, where it has been sharing campus space with Webster Elementary School since 2010.

The school serves about 150 students in the community, most of whom are considered under-represented and vulnerable – 86 percent are from low-income families that are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. The student population includes 60 percent African-Americans, 28 percent Latinos.

The seven teachers at the school reflect the students’ ethnic backgrounds; most have taught at the school for more than 10 years.

Holly Drive holds at its core producing top students with high morale, positive peer relationships, community partnerships and lifelong inspiration, Holly Drive Principal Alysia Smith says.

Granted a charter by the San Diego County District Board of Education in 2019. Because of COVID-19 challenges faced by schools throughout the county, the school’s charter is approved through 2026.

The school was initially the dream of local church leader Bishop Roy Dixon. Bishop Dixon the former senior pastor at Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, desperately sought to provide kids in the neighborhood with access to better education and better futures.

It wasn’t too much of a stretch -- education and success have gone hand in hand with Dixon’s strong religious life.

Originally from Georgia, where he was valedictorian of his high school class, Dixon studied liberal arts at the University of Connecticut before moving out west to study business administration at UCLA. Dixon started his own burger chain before turning to a career owning a dozen Taco Bell franchises.

Dixon, now 86, said that when Faith Chapel was built near Lincoln High School in 1985, he heard that the school, which served a predominantly Black and Latino low-income student population, had no true feeder school and that the kids enterLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

ing Lincoln as freshmen were not well prepared.

“I heard that 70 percent of the students’ reading and math scores were at the (fourth- to fifth-grade) level,” he said. “The students entering ninth grade were reading at that level. That bothered me. How could we help get kids reading at the ninth-grade level, at a minimum?”

So Dixon went back to the church and its parishioners, “and we birthed the school.”

After it moved out from its church digs in the late 1990s, Dixon found a strong leader in Smith, who has been Holly Drive’s principal since 2000. Smith, a San Diego native, graduated from Point Loma High and San Diego State University. Two of her three daughters graduated on top of their classes at Holly Drive and the third is currently a student there.

According to its charter school renewal petition, Holly Drive has made “significant growth” in both English/Language Arts and math on California’s Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, which measures students’ progress. And as shared in five previous reviews to the board of education, inde/LocalUmbrellaMedia

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pendent audits show the school’s finances, business operations and instruction program meet and exceed state standards.

Smith said that she has as much drive as ever running the school and leading the 150 students and seven teachers with innovative programs. In addition to state curriculum requirements, Smith believes in more “hands on” teaching opportunities for her students, most of whom are on the verge of poverty.

Field trips to places like Sacramento to see government in action to San Juan Capistrano to visit missions to Disneyland, have been profound for many students over the years, part of Holly Drive’s vision of “a classroom without walls,” Smith said.

The school has partnerships with UCSD; the Museum of Photographic Arts; The Language Door for Spanish; chess masters, dance teachers and sign language instructors; the Horton Grand Hotel; the Elementary Institute of Science; the Carlsbad flower fields; and various local sororities and fraternities.

Alexcias Meeks, who attended Holly Drive from ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

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2009-17, a 2021 graduate of San Diego Metropolitan Regional, Career and Technical High School -- where she was valedictorian at both schools -- is currently studying mechanical engineering at Cal Poy San Luis Obispo.

Meeks said she moved around a lot with her family when she was younger and that when she landed at Holly Drive, the small classroom size and close-knit school community became like a family to her. She said she is still in touch with many of her former classmates and teachers, as well as Smith.

Meeks said it was a Holly Drive field trip to Raytheon, a technological company in San Diego, that spurred her into the engineering field of study.

“I always loved math, but I didn’t know there was a huge career available in STEM or math,” Meeks said. “When we went to Raytheon, I got to talk to some of the engineers there and learned a lot about the engineering world. I went home and researched mechanical engineering and I followed through with that. If it wasn’t for that field trip, I don’t know that I would have known about it.”

The school has fought challenges over the years, including back in 2008 when it was asked by the city of San Diego to get a conditional use permit and with that fix sidewalks and streets. The school later became the poster child for schools with less than 400 students not needing a CUP to operate.

Dixon says that Smith is the reason the school continues to grow and thrive.

“HDLA is Alysia,” he said. “Words just can’t express how good it is to see how that school has kept pace and how she has kept that school going. I am so elated to see it succeed. Of all the things I’ve done in my life, including becoming a bishop, what Alysia has done at the school is right there with all of them. With the teachers she has, these kids have left and gone on to success. Being part of that, it’s just been, Wow!” Smith didn’t even start out with a plan to be an educator. She aspired to become an attorney.

Growing up in the Ocean View area of San Diego, excelling at track and field and gymnastics at Point Loma High, she graduated from SDSU with a degree in political science, with an emphasis on

criminology and a minor in Spanish.

She was working in the probation department for the county and at UPS, then taking some classes at National University when she met a woman at a food court who asked her if she was studying to be a teacher.

“She said, ‘If you ever consider it, we are looking for African-American teachers to work,’” Smith said. “She was white, and I said to her, ‘I’m not really a teacher’ but she told me to keep her number if I ever decide to substitute teach.”

She said not long after that she started working as a teacher at the Nubua Academy. She met people working in education, including someone who said John T. Walton, son of Walmart founder Sam Walton. John Walton, who lived in San Diego in the 1990s, cofounded the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which provides learning opportunities for economically challenged families.

Walton, who died in a 2005 plane crash at 58 years old, was a backer of charter schools, and his Walton Family Foundation provided starter grants of up to $250,000 for more than 500 charter schools nationwide. One of those grants went to Holly Drive.

After that, Smith said she never looked back with her leadership role at Holly Drive, long having happily given up her earlier plans for a career as a lawyer.

“We have had lots of mountain top experiences, but the truth of the matter is we have had some valley’s too,” Smith said. “But one thing we are is consistent. Every day we show up. The teachers are in. The staff is invested in the community and want to be a stable part of these kids’ lives.”

Stability was definitely one thing Holly Drive graduate Priscilla Ortiz appreciated about her time at the school. Ortiz graduated in 2015 from Holly Drive, and from High Tech High in 2019. She is currently studying political science and sociology at San Diego State and volunteers as a Spanish language interpreter at Cal Western Law School.

“I went to Holly Drive from sixth to eighth grade, after we moved to San Diego from Puerto Rico,” Ortiz said. “I noticed right away how small the class size was – like 30 in our whole sixth-grade class.

Where I had come from had hundreds of kids. I really appreciated the fact that the teachers at Holly Drive were able to give us one-on-one attention and time.

“I also enjoyed that the school is very diverse, I felt at home right away. The school shaped a big part of me.”

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

WHY WAITING TO SELL YOUR HOUSE COULD COST YOU A SMALL FORTUNE Many homeowners who plan to sell in 2022 may think the wise thing to do is to wait for the spring buying market since historically about 40 percent of home sales occur between April and July. However, this year’s expected to be much different than the norm. Here are five reasons to list your house now rather than waiting until the spring.

1. Buyers Are Looking Right Now, and They’re Ready To Purchase The ShowingTime Showing Index reports data from more than six million property showings scheduled across the country each month.

In other words, it’s a gauge of how many buyers are out looking at homes at the current time.

The latest index, which covers November showings, reveals that buyers are still very active in the market. Comparing this November’s numbers to previous years, this graph shows that the index is higher than last year and much higher than the three years prior to the pandemic. Clearly, there’s an influx of buyers searching for your home.

Also, at this time of year, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the market. You and your loved ones won’t be inconvenienced by casual searchers. Freddie Mac addresses this in a recent blog: “The buyers who are willing to house hunt in a winter market, when there are fewer options, are typically more serious. Plus, yearend bonuses and overtime payouts give people more purchasing power.”

And that theory is proving to be true right now based on the number of buyers who have put a home under contract to purchase. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) publishes a monthly Pending Home Sales Index which measures housing contract activity. It’s based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes, condos, and co-ops. The latest index shows:

“…housing demand continues to be high. . . . Homes placed on the market for sale go from ‘listed status’ to ‘under contract’ in approximately 18 days.” Comparing the index to previous Novembers, while it’s slightly below November 2020 (when sales were pushed to later in the year because of the pandemic), it’s well above the previous three years.

The takeaway for you: There are purchasers in the market, and they’re ready and willing to buy.

2. Other Sellers Plan To List Earlier This Year The law of supply and demand tells us that if you want the best price possible and to negotiate your ideal contract terms, put your house on the market when there’s

strong demand and less competition.

A recent study by realtor.com reveals that, unlike in previous years, sellers plan to list their homes this winter instead of waiting until spring or summer. The study shows that 65% of sellers who plan to sell in 2022 have either already listed their home (19%) or are planning to put it on the market this winter.

Again, if you’re looking for the best price and the ability to best negotiate the other terms of the sale of your house, listing before this competition hits the market makes sense.

3. Newly Constructed Homes Will Be Your Competition in the Spring In 2020, there were over 979,000 new single-family housing units authorized by building permits. Many

of those homes have yet to be built because of labor shortages and supply chain bottlenecks brought on by the pandemic. They will, however, be completed in 2022. That will create additional competition when you sell your house. Beating these newly constructed homes to the market is something you should consider to ensure your house gets as much attention from interested buyers as possible.

4. There Will Never Be a Better Time To Move-Up If you’re moving into a larger, more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by approximately 5% over the next 12 months. That means it will cost you more (both in down payment and mortgage payment) if you wait. You can also lock in your 30-year housing expense with a mortgage rate in the low 3’s right now. If you’re thinking of selling in 2022, you may want to do it now instead of waiting, as mortgage rates are forecast to rise throughout the year.

5. It May Be Time for You To Make a Change Consider why you’re thinking of selling in the first place and determine whether it’s worth waiting. Is waiting more important than being closer to your loved ones now? Is waiting more important than your health? Is waiting more important than having the space you truly need?

Only you know the answers to those questions. Take time to think about your goals and priorities as we move into 2022 and consider what’s most important to act on now.

Bottom Line If you’ve been debating whether or not to sell your house and are curious about market conditions in your area, talk with a local real estate professional who can help you decide the best time to put your house on the market. Source: Keeping Current Matters, January 2022

Farima Tabrizi

Broker Associate ® SRES, GRI, SFR 858-382-8698 www.farimarealty.com • fgtabrizi@yahoo.com Powered by HomeSmart Realty West DRE#01341835

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*If your home is currently listed with another Brokerage, this is not meant as a solicitation of that listing. *Independently owned & operated member of Homesmart Realty West Affiliates Inc. Information deemed reliable, not guaranteed.

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LET US HELP YOU TO FIND THE RIGHT PLACE TO LIVE!

Key Trends in the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report Homes provide different types of value. This study tracks one that proves to be a critical conversation starter.

The release by Zonda of the 34th annual Cost vs. Value report finds exterior improvement projects continuing a multiyear trend of providing the greatest return on investment (ROI) for homeowners.

When it comes to finding the perfect senior housing situation for yourself or your loved one, the process can be overwhelming. In San Diego County, the local Oasis Senior Advisors team of owner Brenda-Lee Smith, BSN, and Ronda Provencal helps sort out the many options in senior housing and resources.

Indeed, 11 out of the 12 projects with the highest ROI were exterior improvements. At the top is the replacement garage door (No. 1), sidings (including manufactured stone veneer at No. 2), and windows.

The indoor exception, sitting at No.3, is the minor kitchen remodel a modest face lift of kitchen surfaces that offers a relatively high return when done prior to the sale of a house.

By Clayton DeKorne 02, 12, 2021

“In any given area, there are hundreds of options to choose from and finding the ‘right’ place can be challenging,” stated Smith, who combines her experience as a nurse with certifications as a dementia provider and senior adviser.

Oasis Senior Advisors acts as a community-based service that is free to seniors and their families. Smith and Provencal offer a personal, compassionate touch, tailored around each client’s needs.

“Because we develop personal relationships with every community we refer to, we become an important part of the village that supports our family clients,” Provencal said. “We begin with an assessment of the clients’ individual home situations and help identify issues that may not have yet been considered.”

Rancho Bernardo Senior Services

Providing FREE Services for Seniors since 1974  Financial Planning  Legal Counseling  Help with Medicare & Insurances Options  Pre-Funeral Planning

The team’s knowledge about current care options is combined with Proprietary Oasis IQ software, which analyzes a client’s lifestyle, finances, and other factors and helps the team sort the best possible matches.

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The team specializes in residential care homes, independent living options, assisted living, memory care, hospice care, and skilled nursing homes.

“We also have access to multiple referral sources and trusted partners including real estate services or attorneys that specialize in senior care,” Provencal said.

Tax Preparation & Filing Veterans Counseling Inf Senior Housing Options Referrals to Caregivers, Nursing and Handyman, and etc …..

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If you are thinking of selling your home, call me to help you!

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

JOHN DUNN: NORTH PARK CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR Celebrates Read Across America Day by Donating His New Book to Schools On March 2, schools and families celebrate the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day, a time to uplift inclusive stories so that kids across the country can see themselves ref lected in a book. Because of Covid restrictions, local author, John Dunn, can’t read his popular children’s book Boo and Ted’s Amazing Adventures – Beach Rescue to kids in their classrooms, but he’s sending free copies to teachers at several San Diego schools.

Dunn took a break from drafting his next book Boo and Ted’s Amazing Adventures - Saving Christmas to chat with us about how making up bedtime stories for his daughters several years ago led to him authoring children’s books.

Tell us about Boo and Ted’s Amazing Adventure.

My daughters loved for me to make up bedtime stories when they were younger. They especially like stories about our two dogs, Boo and Ted, and their adventures when we left them home alone. Boo and Ted’s beach rescue is based on one of their favorite stories about our two dogs. I decided to write the story down as part of a family Covid project and it grew from there. It is a light-hearted tale about how adventurous Boo and timid Ted save a swimmer from drowning at Coronado Beach.

I hope this story communicates an important message to young children: Being brave doesn’t mean you are not afraid. Courage is about facing your fears and overcoming them, whether it is trying something new, standing up for a classmate who’s being bullied, or just returning to classroom learning.

Why is this message especially important now?

Teachers and parents have seen increased levels of anxiety in children during the Covid-19 pandemic. School shutdowns, sick loved ones, and family stress have all taken their toll on children. I’m hopeful that my story about two friendly dogs facing a stressful situation might bring some comfort and fun to children, especially those who may be struggling right now.

Is there evidence that stories can provide that sort of comfort for children?

In a recent study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists who studied the effect of storytelling and riddle-based games on children hospitalized in an intensive care unit found that listening to stories lowered young patients’ stress hormone levels and reduced their pain.

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Researchers also hint that storytelling could have a powerful effect on children’s well-being beyond the hospital setting — including those whose home and school lives have been left in disarray by the coronavirus.

Stories help young people identify their own feelings through the thoughts and experiences of characters. I’ve been gratified by the responses I’ve received from parents and children who have told me how much they’ve enjoyed Boo and Ted’s Amazing Adventures – Beach Rescue. This is such a tough time for families and I’m glad to offer a fun story that can also serve as a powerful tool to discuss fear and bravery.

Who are the real Boo and Ted? I must first explain, that for the book, I switched the genders of our actual dogs. In real life Boo (Ted in the book) is a timid 65-pound Labradoodle who we bought from a breeder in Bonita. Ted (Boo in the book) is an adventurous 20-pound Poodle-Chihuahua mix we found at the pound.

The gender switch is a little confusing for those who know our dogs Boo and Ted.

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I switched the genders because having daughters, I wanted the girl dog to be the adventurous leader in the story. Regardless, they’re great dogs and although they have very different personalities, they’re best friends. They love to go on walks at the park, to go to dog beach, and best of all, they love to wrestle with each other.

How long have you lived in San Diego?

My wife and I first moved here in January 2007 when I was a Marine stationed at MCAS Miramar. We moved to Northern Virginia in December 2009 and then back here when I left active duty in August 2012.

We’ve lived here ever since.

San Diego is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Everyone knows about the great weather, but what I really enjoy are the people – San Diegans are kind, generous, relaxed, and down-to-earth. I love going to Balboa Park and its museums, hiking in Mission Trails Park, and going to the beach.

Boo and Ted’s Amazing Adventures – Beach Rescue is available on Amazon for $9.99

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ON THE BRINK OF CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF WILD ANIMAL WELFARE

By Karen Pearlman

Among the many jobs she had in the food service industry, Bobbi Brink once worked at a waitress for a San Diego restaurant known as “Hungry Hunter” and another one called “Hungry Tiger.”

It is just a little bit of irony for the 54-year-old El Cajon native. Never when she was in her 20s did she imagine she would be at the forefront of legislation to stop the exotic animal trade while running a no-kill big cat and bear sanctuary in rural Alpine.

“I didn’t have any idea I would be doing this,” Brink said. “I guess God had other plans for me.”

Brink has driven cross country in big vehicles with towing capabilities, to pick up and bring abandoned and abused animals to live out their lives at her sanctuary. She has also many times helped transport and deliver needy animals to other accredited sanctuaries.

But on a sunny January day in 2022, Brink was in a less stressful vehicle -- tooling around an oversized golf cart around some of the 93-acre land she founded in 2002, the sanctuary that is Lions, Tigers & Bears.

Stopping at several spots on the sprawling grounds, Brink hopped out to feed a snack to Nola, a rescued white tiger for Louisiana, explained how medicated drops are put into the eyes of Baloo, one of the sanctuary’s aging bears, and showed where raccoons scamper across the roof of the house she shares on the premises with her husband, Mark.

Lions, Tigers & Bears has nearly 70 rescued animals on site – 17 species in all. Their habitats are roomy, homey, places in which the wild ones are free to roam inside secure gates, their grassy habitats filled with enrichment toys and pools with circulating, running water and other natural features.

The animals are fed well – at a cost of about $15,000 a year for food for each one -- and are treated by a group of 12 veterinarians, with proper medication available for the myriad health challenges most of the animals face.

The inhabitants that are doted on by the 16-member Lions, Tigers & Bears staff and about 25 core volunteers were largely treated inhumanely or were neglected. Some are elderly with issues that particularly affect seniors.

She said one of the most difficult things about running the sanctuary is when the animals in their fall sick – or worse.

“The hardest thing is when they die, it never gets any easier,” Brink said. “It’s hard because a lot of them are so messed up physically and mentally when they get here. It takes a while to get their health back, just like us when we get older.”

Brink has been working for decades on the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a piece of federal legislation that would end the private possession of big cats as pets. She is adamant that animals should no longer be considered “property” but rather are sentient beings that will get the protection and care they are supposed to have.

She said that today, five states allow exotic animals to be kept as pets: Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin and Texas.

photo by Karen Pearlman, taken Jan. 7, 2022

Mocha the tiger at LTB

photo by Karen Pearlman, taken Jan. 7, 2022

Bobbi Brink of Lions, Tigers & Bears feeding Nola the white tiger

photo by Karen Pearlman, taken Jan. 7, 2022

Bobbi Brink and Liberty the bear at Lions, Tigers & Bears

“To this day I don’t understand why animals are considered property,” Brink said. “Nothing ever happens to people who abuse animals. It seems like they never get in trouble for the animal abuse. So in my lifetime I’d like to see animals not be considered property and to have rights where we can prosecute people for animal abuse, and that they’re not used for and exploited for nothing more than profit.

“If you’re taking on one of these animals, it should be for life just like a dog or a cat. There’s no difference.

The more I work around these animals the more I know they’re wild, and they don’t belong in a cage.”

Brink and other groups that are part of the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance are working to stop the trade of “pet” wildcats and the commercial exploitation of exotic cats around the country.

According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, it is estimated that more tigers are held in captivity across the United States than remain globally in the wild. Cub cats are used for photo opportunities and unscrupulous breeders looking for big payoffs instead bring physical and create psychological damage to these animals born outside of legitimate zoos and sanctuaries.

The Big Cat act aims to put a stop to exploitative practices and protect the public from possible deadly encounters with the wild animals. It has been supported by IFAW, Animal Welfare Institute, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries and others.

As much as she works to see to it that tigers, leopards, jaguars, lions, servals and other felines are no longer treated as “things” to be bought

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photo by Karen Pearlman, taken Jan. 7, 2022

Another bear at LTB, not sure the name but “cute” bear is Baloo.

and sold, Brink is just as committed to the bears under her care.

The Lions, Tigers & Bears website https://www.lionstigersandbears.org gives background details on all the animals under its care.

One of the bears, Liberty, was brought to the site in 2010 by the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the group that taught Brink the phrase, “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

Liberty was living in the Angeles National Forest and had to be removed from it because she had learned how to get food from campers, Brink said. Bears like Liberty who become dependent on humans for food, continue to frequent campgrounds and become dangerous.

Bears typically have to be relocated and if not, are euthanized.

Liberty was one of the lucky ones, Brink said, coming in as an emaciated 54-lb. cub, and blossoming into a 300lb. bear living comfortably for nearly 12 years now with several other black bear brothers and sisters.

Brink started in the hospitality business and was in Texas in the 1990s when a brush with animal welfare first took root. She saw advertisements for the sale of big cats and answered one of them.

Brink described how she found herself inside a woman’s mobile home with young tigers, leopards and cougars crawling inside, walking around.

She said the woman was selling the cats to commercial places and also to “regular people.” She said she became increasingly concerned as she learned more about the exotic pet trade.

As Lions, Tigers & Bears embarks on its 20th year, Brink said she is still horrified by what goes on, but is at least heartened by the changes she sees in protecting the animals of the @LocalUmbrellaMedia

wild. She said she sees social media as being key in exposing what goes on behind in the scenes in the exotic animal world.

Running the sanctuary “is a 24/7 thing,” Brink said, adding that she has no plans to retire anytime soon.

“There’s no turning it off, there’s no vacation -- you’ve got to live it, eat it, breathe it,” she said. “One of the best parts for me is when new animals come in, not about seeing what terrible condition they come in with but in knowing what we can do for them. There’s a lot of love here.

We’ve got about 100 volunteers, they all love each other, and they are very passionate about this work.”

Brink said she enjoys seeing the animals help people. There are groups of physically and emotionally challenged adults who visit regularly as well as troubled teenagers who work off probation hours at the sanctuary.

“Animals are incredible therapy,” Brink said. “It’s amazing how animals can help people, where people can’t help people. Animals can’t talk but they listen -- and it helps.”

Brink said fundraising at the nonprofit can be a challenge, especially when costly things are needed such as updating a jaguar habitat for a new resident cat, special habitat needs for a bear who suffers from seizures who will be coming to the sanctuary in the coming months, laser treatment for arthritic geriatric animals, and a needed Xray machine.

She said the sanctuary counts on its 10,000 to 12,000 annual visitors, donations, but also benefits from people sharing photos and stories about its work on social media, volunteering and attending events at Lions, Tigers & Bears such as its coming “Wild in the Country” fundraiser in May.

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SENIORS WHO USE CANNABIS ARE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE THAN NON-CANNABIS USERS

By Michael Patterson

A study published in the July 2020 issue of American Journal of Health and Behavior found that persons over 60 years old who use cannabis exercise more and have a lower BMI than non-cannabis users. A link to the study can be found below: Adults, over ager 50 are the fastest growing population of cannabis users in the United States, with people over 65 demonstrating the largest increase in usage. The reasons for cannabis use are varied, but typically center around some of the common complaints associated with aging, including pain. The more data demonstrating the benefits of cannabis for seniors, the better physicians and health care practitioners can use cannabis to decrease the symptoms of aging and increase quality of life for their patients.

By age 75, approximately 33% of men and 50% of women are no longer physically active. This inactivity can decrease functional mobility and increase health problems related to being sedentary (muscle atrophy, increased falls, increased pain, decreased physical independence). The goal of the research was to understand if cannabis use impacted results of an intervention to increase physical activity in sedentary adults aged 60 and over.

The study was performed by the University of Colorado-Boulder Department of Psychology and Neuroscience. It consisted of a FORCE study (FORCE- Fitness, Older Adults, and Resting State Connectivity Enhancement) in which adults 60 and over would be randomly assigned to either a low or moderate-intensity in a 16-week supervised exercise program. A total of 164 participants were included in the study.

Participants were recruited through multiple methods including advertisements in senior community centers, ads on social media, and publication bulletins in AARP magazine. Data from the study showed the body mass index (BMI) for cannabis users was significantly lower than non-cannabis users (p=.007). Also, Cannabis users reported .70 more days of exercise on the Stanford 7-Day Physical Activity Recall than non-users (p=.068).

Analysis The study clearly shows that the use of cannabis for Seniors does not inhibit but increases functional mobility, exercise, and overall physical activity. The study did not address the cannabis dosage per patient who used cannabis and the method of ingestion. Therefore, the standardization of a dose and method of ingestion of cannabis specific to each patient prior to exercise in unknown. However, from a physician standpoint, cannabis use continues to demonstrate positive outcomes and few side effects compared to traditional pharmaceutical medicines.

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From my experience in over 26 years of healthcare management (SNFs, ALFs, Home Health, outpatient), the longer a patient remains functionally independent in their daily living skills, the better the overall physiological and psychological health is for the patient. With over 350,000 medical cannabis patients currently in

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Florida, and new patients increasing 3,000-5,000 per week, the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is not going away. This study provides more clarity and proof that cannabis is a safe and effective “tool’” of Physicians to increase functional mobility and quality of life for their patients.

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Son of Kane / Singing The Blues

BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD // MUSICSCENESD.COM

NOVEMBER 2021

It’s rare for a musician to switch focus and musical aspirations midcareer, but that’s precisely what Evan Caleb Yearsley has done.

Most recently known as drummer with Casey Hensley’s band, his new project is Son of Kane, where he takes the role of frontman, singing a mix of originals and heartfelt covers. Active since November 2021, he has just released the first Son of Kane single, “Cry For You.” It’s a bit of a family affair, recorded at Thunderbird Analog Studio by Thomas Yearsley (The Paladins), the recording includes Caleb’s regular backing musicians, Anthony Cullins (guitar), Justice Guevara (Bass) and Danny Campbell (drums).

Is Son of Kane a solo project or a band? “It’s my project,” Yearsley said. “I also will have as many members as the gig can afford,” he continued good naturedly.

“So, sometimes it’s a duo, trio or four piece.” Which does he prefer – frontman or drummer? “I love them both,” he said. “I’m having a great time getting out from behind the drums and singing. It’s been a great experience for me, everyone is really digging the show.” He plans to continue drumming for other bands, but for now he’s enjoying the change. “I do love drumming,” Yearsley said. “It’s been a huge part of my life and has made it possible for me to play and be a part of so many bands, recordings and friendships over the years. It’s been an amazing ride, but now that I’m fronting my own show I get to rock out with whoever I hire to play the drums on the gig, so it’s been a blast! It’s nice to be able to move around on the stage, as simple as that may be. With drums you’re stuck on the throne, so it’s nice to be able to dance and have fun up front.”

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Yearsley is the son of blues singer Candye Kane, a big source of inspiration for this new project.

“My inspiration for this musical entity has definitely been my mother,” Yearsley confirmed. “I intend to carry on her legacy by making music that comes from the heart.” His family’s life in music has had a major impact on his life.

“Growing up as a kid watching mom, and The Paladins, along with all the other amazing acts that were playing shows at the time, there was always amazing music being played either live or coming off the turntable, at house parties. It’s been one huge inspiring journey.”

While the band is only month’s old, Son of Kane has already received notable encouragement. “I did one of my first shows this past November and after the gig I got a message from Dave Alvin, who is a great friend of the family, saying that he loved the name, saw the live video online and to ‘keep it up man, mom would be proud of me!’

The support means a lot to me.”

As for the band name? “It’s obviously from being the son of Candye Kane. I had a couple @LocalUmbrellaMedia

of other choices, but a couple of other friends mentioned this as well. It’s a perfect choice. It keeps mom’s name going and in the conversation now.”

Upcoming plans for Son of Kane include recording a full album and touring Europe as well as Australia.

In the meantime, Yearsley is simply having a great time making music.

“My favorite thing about Son of Kane would be just getting to let it all hang out there, sing it out, jam it out with my homies, share some laughs and cheer each other on.

Making music is so much fun!”

Yearsley is well aware that as a musician he is carrying on the family tradition. “As a kid I grew up around all of it; amazing shows, people like Country Dick Montana sleeping on the floor while I ate cereal before I walked to school in the morning.” It was inevitable that he would become a musician. “I started playing drums around the age of 16 with a bunch of friends one of who was Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless / The Black Crowes). All the time we would be practicing after school in the garage. I’d get phone calls from mom saying, “my drummer is stuck in traffic, you have to come to the Belly Up right now and start the show, so hurry up and get over here!” Trial by fire is what mom called it. Good memories for sure.” Sometime after high school Mitchell also joined Kane’s band. “We toured all over the world together for many years. It was fun rocking around the world with some of my best friends. I really cherish all the memories we had together, so for me to be fronting my own show now, finally, means the world to me. I am very honored to carry on the legacy,” he said. “That’s what life is all about.” www.sonofkane.com

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Gayle Skidmore swing and jazz pop for years and have wanted to work on something like this but didn’t really know where to start,” she said. “I was really inspired working with Brandon O’Connell and felt like he really made it happen. I loved getting to stretch myself by working in a different genre and mood. It was refreshing to focus on the message of the song, which is not how I usually write.”

The single is just out, but Musician Gayle Skidmore may have traded San Diego for her current home, Denmark, The Netherlands, but longtime fans will find her latest single, “Viva La Vita,” to have the same adventurous spirit of her best work. A multiple San Diego Music Award winner, including Best Singer-Songwriter (2013), Best Pop Album (Sleeping Bear / 2014) and Best Pop Artist (2015), since relocating she’s added De Best Singer-Songwriter van het Groene Hart (2017) to her trophy shelf.

“Viva La Vita” finds Skidmore expanding her musical palette.

“I’ve been really into electro

Skidmore is already looking ahead. “I am working on three new albums for this year,” she said. “I released a song a week for

two years on Patreon, and have now grouped those into albums and am working on production.”

The prolific Skidmore has penned thousands of songs in her career. “I think I have eight albums in total, but I’m aiming just for three this year,” she said good naturedly. The first will be an indie folk pop album, Gills & Wings. “I’m producing and engineering that release myself.”

It’s the second release where she’s helmed all the production.

“I released “The Naughty List” before Christmas, which was my first release done entirely by just me in my studio, The Liger Loft, and mixed and mastered by my husband Rob Teeuwen.”

Ever restless, Gills & Wings follow up takes Skidmore’s music in a completely different direction. “After Gills & Wings is released, I will be focusing on my solo piano album,” she said. “I am composing several pieces around a particular historical event in the 1800s that is tied to one of my relatives. Did I get very deep into my family history in lockdown?

Yes, yes I did.”

Skidmore hopes to hit the road in support of her new

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recordings, but no firm plans have been made yet. “It’s been such an uncertain year and trying to plan a tour has been difficult with everything fluctuating,” she commented. “But I am working on a late spring tour, knock on wood.” www.gayleskidmore.com

Mystery Machine / She’s Not Mine

San Diego has a long history of great ‘blink and you’ll miss them’ bands, short lived, but memorable. That said, none have left a mark quite like The Mystery Machine, a sixties inspired combo, that managed three gigs, and one recorded song a bit later, back in the summer of 1983. The seeds planted then still reverberate through the music community today, with the young players in the band now respected scene veterans: Ray Brandes (vocals), Carl Rusk (guitar), Mark Zadarnowski (bass), Bill Calhoun (keyboards) and David Klowden (drums). Now nearly forty years since The Mystery Machine roamed the Southland (if briefly) an EP has been issued by Spain’s Dralasite Records.

Available in black, green or orange vinyl, with artwork by acclaimed artist Darren Grealish, the vintage track – “She’s Not Mine” penned by Rusk LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

is joined by two 2012 recordings by the band. The latter lineup replaces keyboardist Calhoun with David Fleminger.

“The Mystery Machine The Mystery Machine was started by Carl Rusk and myself in the summer of 1983,” explained Brandes. “We had previously been playing British beat music in the Hedgehogs but were listening to a lot of folk rock and sixties punk that summer, in particular the Byrds, Love, the Leaves—the sound of Los Angeles, 1965.” “She’s Not Mine” originally appeared on the 1984 Voxx Records compilation album, Battle of the Garages Volume III. Fans of the song have always wondered if there might be more music in the vault. “Over the years we’ve had a few requests to release some more Mystery Machine material,” Brandes confirmed. “In 1983 we had recorded four or five songs with Steve Epineter at Studio 517 on a two-track machine, but that tape had long been lost. In 2012, Carl was in town, and we were kicking around the idea of recording a few tracks to add to “She’s Not Mine.” The thought was that since we couldn’t find the old tape, we’d release an EP of old and new material.” The songs were recorded at David Fleminger’s Kearny Mesa rehearsal space. “It was a pretty spontaneous plan, and unfortunately the logistics of flying Bill out here to record on short notice were too much to overcome, so we just had Dave sit in on one of the songs. Carl and I each brought a few ideas to the studio. I had recently finished a demo of “Wood and Smoke” and I thought it might make a good Mystery Machine song. We recorded that, as well as a cover of The Free-for-All’s “Show Me the Way.” Fans will be sad to hear that there were almost more recordings. “There were a few more songs we were rehearsing, among them the Golden Earring’s “Dream” and the Poor’s “She’s Got the Time” but /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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they never made it onto tape,” Brandes recalled. Fast forward nearly a decade and it was a fan from Spain who finally got the ball rolling on this release. “A few years later I was contacted by Manuel Ortiz, a Mystery Machine and Tell-Tale Hearts fan who was starting a label, Dralasite Records,” Brandes said.

“He wanted to release “She’s Not Mine” and anything else we had. That was the impetus to remaster the song and complete the mixing and mastering of the other two.”

This release has been a long time coming but Brandes considers it to have been worth the wait.

“I’m quite proud of the EP—it sounds fantastic, and is a very high quality package with a couple of color postcards, a beautiful cover design by Darren Grealish, and liner notes by Mike Stax.” With the players all still active, might there be further music from the Mystery Machine in the future? “There are no current plans to record anything else or to perform live,” Brandes said good naturedly. “But one never knows, does one?”

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The Tourmaliners / Point Break

Surf combo extraordinaire The Tourmaliners have a new video out, Point Break. Making this more than a cut above the typical performance clip, “Point Break,” is a mini crime drama, directed and produced by Stephen Tavares for KiwiBird Productions.

What inspired the band to do a long form clip? “Well, it all started on the set of a TV appearance

by The Tourmaliners on KUSI’s Good Morning San Diego show last August,” said the band’s leader, guitarist Deven Berryhill. “We were performing a few songs on the show in support of our nomination for a 2021 San Diego Music Award.” After filming the performance, KUSI videographer Stephen Tavares came up and introduced himself. “He told us

that he really liked our sound and that it reminded him of the cool 60’s surf sounds of The Ventures,” Berryhill continued. “He said he was also a film director and was in the process of filming a feature length film about a bank heist in Miami. He asked if we would be willing to be a part of a music video that would feature our band, one of our songs and some of the actors from the bank heist film. He said it would be kind of like a test reel for the movie. We said sure, we’d love to!”

The video project took several months to complete. “Before filming started, Stephen and I met a number of times to walk through the overall concept,” Berryhill said. “Stephen did most of the filming with the

actors and all the final editing during the months of October, November and December. We filmed the band shots right before Thanksgiving in a four hour session at the Mankoa Style warehouse in Kearny Mesa. A few weeks later we came back and filmed the final shot with me rolling down the warehouse door.”

With the video now available for online viewing Berryhill is still a bit surprised at how the clip came together. “When Stephen first pitched us the idea of shooting a music video, we were a little surprised at the offer,” he said. “He brought up ideas like

shooting a music video using our band as the backdrop of a heist movie, ie. Heat with Al Pachino and Robert Di Nero and Point Break with Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. We loved both of those movies, Stephen seemed to be doing a good job at KUSI, so we decided to go for it!

We chose our song “Point Break” as the best fit for the “heist” concept. Stephen brought in his talented cast of actors including Ryan Balfour as The Ringleader, Elias Questenberg as The Wildcard and Dylan Winston as The Skeptic.” The Tourmaliners had one lighting request. “We used seafoam green lighting throughout most of the video to give it that Tourmaliners look!,” he said. “Overall, we are very pleased with how the video came out!” www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkym1et6T6E www.kiwibirdstudios.com

Upcoming / New Releases album… The Punch Brothers new album, Hell On Church Street, is a tribute to the late bluegrass icon, Tony Rice.

Out on January 14 via Nonesuch Records… The Sully Band’s latest album, Let’s Straighten It Out!, is due on March 11. The first single is a cover of Albert Collins “If You Love Me Like You Say”,

• The Chunky Hustle Brass Band’s debut album, CHuBB, is out now. The album does include a pair of wide-ranging cover tunes, “St. James Infirmary” and “Sesame Street,” but it’s the spirited originals that stand out. “All these just came together real beautifully mostly during the pandemic from playing under a big tree in the park, hence the album cover,” said the band’s percussionist, Ron Bocian. “I’m really proud to keep cultivating New Orleans brass band music in San Diego.”

• Indie garage rockers the Hiroshima Mockingbirds have their second album out now, appropriately enough called, 2. Compared to their debut, “this new record was far more thought out,” said guitarist Brian Reilly. “We took a bit

more time in the studio but above all else we were harder on ourselves with this one. Also, the subject matter was a lot less “burn the system to the ground” and a lot more songs about lost love.”

Favorite thing about this new release?

“The sounds we managed to get,” Reilly noted. “The first record sounded like a strange mix of polarized sentiment.

This one.... well.... it just sounds more connected. Smarter. And all with a much more intentional range of tones.

The first record was a firefight. The second, a love note. To certain people and the normal we once took for granted.”

• Ace pianist Sue Palmer has a new 5 song EP out, Movin’ Along. Backed by her Motel Swing Orchestra, the EP is a mix of originals and choice covers such

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as a nifty version of Nina Simone’s “Do I Move You?”. Produced by Thomas Yearsley (The Paladins) the new release includes performances from guitarist Laura Chavez, who also contributes a tune, “Last Chance,” as well as trombonist April West. Digital or CD for now. “I plan to put it on vinyl, but that will take longer,” Palmer said.

• New Albums: Author & Punisher - Kruller via Relapse Records (February 11). The album includes guest appearances from drummer Danny Carey and bassist Justin Chancellor of Tool…

Hard rockers Rough Cutt’s new album is III. The band includes Paul Shortino, Amir Derakh and Matt Thorne, with Carlos Cavazo guesting on the @LocalUmbrellaMedia

• New EP’s include: A Lens to the Sun – s/t, Bloodstone the Street Preacher and DND - Tha REINSTATEMENT’ EP , Michael J. Dwyer - Borderlands Vol. 2, Oez on the Beat - Beats and Bars Vol. 3 • New Videos Include: Sluka with a video for “SOS” from his latest album “Figure It Out”

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San Diego Music News • Look for an announcement on this year’s 31st Annual San Diego Music Awards on February 13, via a livestream. More details tba at www.sandiegomusicawards.com • Music Scene editor Bart Mendoza’s 1980’s era band, Manual Scan will reunite for the Mods Mayhem Festival taking place June 3-5 in Los

“It makes sense to record things at the same time, but ultimately they’ll be part of very different projects, there’s hard rock and then there’s some quieter things set to poetry. No titles for the albums yet, but I’ve been working with (drummer) Mike Nielsen (Cage).”

• Jason Mraz has a new 11 track ‘best of ’ album out on February 11 via Atlantic Records, Lalalalovesongs. The album focuses on Mraz’s romantically inclined hits.

• North County country music icon Juice Newton has a new greatest hits album out on

• Drummer Jake Najor has a new project, Iota. They perform at Hob Nob Hill Restaurant on January 22 • The J Kreml Combo has a monthly Jazz Residency at the Bluewater Grill in Carlsbad, each second Sunday, from 5 – 8 p.m.

• Singer-songwriter Jewel has won the sixth season of Fox-TV’s, The Masked Singer. To celebrate she has released a seven song covers EP, Queen of Hearts, featuring covers as heard on the show, including tunes originally by Lady Gaga (“Born This Way”), Marvin Gaye (“What’s Going On”) and Sia (“Bird Set Free”)

Angeles. Highlights of the event include a rare U.S. appearance from legendary British DJ Eddie Piller, while bands set to take part include The Untouchables, The Chords UK, The Odd Numbers and more.

January 14, Angel of the Morning - The Very Best Of, via Goldenlane Records. Available in pink vinyl, with a gatefold sleeve

• Additionally, a limited edition 10” vinyl album of rarities from the bands performing at Mods Mayhem will be released via Outro Records exclusively for the event, with Manual Scan providing an unreleased version of their song, “Confidence and Love” from 1985. Tickets go on sale February 1 at www.modsmayhem. com • Beatles fans won’t want to miss Beatlesfair 2022 taking place at Queen Bee in North Park on March 26. On hand will be John Lennon tribute performer John Leo, 1963 tourmate Chris Montez (“Call Me” “Let’s Dance”), The Original Starfires featuring Laurie Beebe Lewis, performing Beatles classics from Abbey Road + other favorites, author John Borack and more tba • Meanwhile on January 30 there will be a special Beatles Tribute concert at the Organ Pavilion with organist Raul Prieto Ramirez, joined

by Richard Larson (drummer) and Lauren Leigh (vocals). This is a free concert. 2 p.m.

• Part time Rugburn Steve Poltz’s latest solo opus, Stardust & Satellites, is due out on February 18

• To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her album Jewel has also recently added a number of remixed vintage tracks to her discography, including “Standing Still” with duo Pure Shores, “Intuition” with Initial Talk and “Stand” with Bright Light Bright Light. A new album is reportedly due later this year.

• MohaviSoul’s 5th album, Stories and Memories is out now

• Six String Society, helmed by Ken Rexrode have two big events coming up. On February 10, The 27 Club, takes place at the Belly Up Tavern, with Whitney Shay, Lauren Leigh, Laura Chavez, Robin Henkel and more. Meanwhile look for the annual Mardi Gras Cruise to return on March 26 aboard the Bahia Belle, bands TBA. • Cajun/Americana/Blues fest, Gator By The Bay, takes place at Spanish Landing Park on May 5- 8. The lineup includes touring artists such as Michael Doucet and Debbie Davies, as well as a strong local lineup that includes rock n roll from The Farmers, swing band Big Time Operator, blues singer Whitney Shay and Cumbiabilly band, The Sleepwalkers

• Reggae rock favorites Slightly Stoopid have their classic album, Everything You Need, reissued on red-splatter colorway vinyl by Surfdog Records • There will be a second fundraiser for The Spice Pistols to help with post fire damage expenses.

Taking place on January 27 at the Pourhouse, bands taking part include rAdolescents, The Hajj, Moxi & Loon. Last month’s event at The Casbah featuring Mike Watt + The Missing Men, Peter DiStefano, Jeff Berkley & The Banned and Joe Wood’s Change Today, was a success, but the band members still need our help!

• Indie rockers The Stereotypes, with Mike Kamoo and John Finkbiner, have been recording at Earthling Studios

• Pop punk favorites the Bombpops next tour opens February 21 in Reading, Pennsylvania

• Billed as “a weeklong adventure” the Switchfoot Getaway will take place June 20 – June 23 2022. The four day event includes recording sessions, concerts, sunset cruise and more

• Indie rockers Falling Doves are heading out on the Double Vision World Tour this spring, with plans to make up dates previously cancelled due to the pandemic. The tour, in support of their latest album, Electric Dove, opens in London this April, more details TBA

• Sweet soul band Thee Sacred Souls head out this month on a cross country tour that will wrap up in Saint Paul, MN on March 25.

• Guitarist Mark Langford of legendary metal band Bible Black is currently in the studio working on several album projects at the same time. “I’ve got more than 30 songs, it seemed like the perfect time to get them down,” he said.

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• Sixties era hitmakers Gary Puckett & The Union Gap have postponed their tour of Australia, originally set to start February 8, until 2023

• Former Bad Radio frontman Eddie Vedder releases his first solo album in a decade on February 11. Earthling’s first single is called “The Haves.” /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

DINING IN THE DIGITAL AGE

By: Molly Galliher

In this day and age, the importance of a digital presence for businesses can’t be understated.

When it comes to running a successful business, your digital footprint is a major factor in your success. This is something Shawn Walchef knows from experience. Owner and operator of Cali BBQ Media, Shawn learned the importance of digital marketing when he opened his barbecue restaurant in San Diego in 2008. Utilizing the then-new frontier of digital marketing, Shawn was able to create a successful restaurant amid the recession. Now, he helps other small business owners navigate online platforms and tell their stories in the digital sphere.

Cali BBQ Media is all about learning how to create your brand in a digital world. With a presence on every major social media platform, multiple podcasts, and hopes for a streaming show in the future, this company has made a name for itself not only on the local barbecue scene but in the media world as well. Cali BBQ Media is all about innovation and strives to keep up with the ever-changing landscape around all of us. With an eye on the future, Cali BBQ Media has maintained its spot on the forefront of innovation in both the restaurant and media worlds. With new “ghost kitchen” locations to better serve our delivery needs and new forms of media being created regularly, Cali BBQ Media is truly a company to watch.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?

A: We are Cali BBQ Media. It’s both a barbecue brand and a media brand. We’ve been in San Diego for 13 years. In 2008, we opened up a barbecue restaurant in a difficult part of town.

We had to rely on the internet and, new at the time, social media and digital marketing to get people to care about what we were doing. In the

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beginning, we heavily relied on all the apps on the smartphone, which a lot of small business owners didn’t have to do. Focusing on digital marketing was one of the best things we could have done. We ended up creating a media company alongside our restaurant where we create media content for all of our vendor partners.

We utilize Instagram, Tik Tok, LinkedIn, Twitter- every social media platform you can think of for marketing. We also have 2 podcasts and a blog where we teach other small business owners how to tell their own stories. There’s never been an easier time to get your message out and we all have the technology in our pockets to do that.

Q: What made you start the media side of your business?

A: We worked so hard for years to create a profitable business in Spring Valley and to make people care about what we were doing.

We wanted to get the local TV station, or local food writer, or the radio to talk about us but we never got that traction. That’s when we decided to tell our own story. We started using Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. With podcasting, we saw it was a way for us to turn our different marketing tactics into media. We’ve learned how to tell our own story and how to brand ourselves and talk about ourselves, which is a great skill to have, but then once you can do that, we can start telling other stories. We saw we could tell the stories of the people that inspire us and the people that we want to learn from so we started connecting with people all over the globe. We’ve worked with people from the barbecue space to restaurant-based media, digital marketing, influencers, sports, entertainment- anyone that inspires us to do better.

By doing that, we started to create content that other people found engaging and we have a

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network of people all over the globe that come to us for small business marketing advice.

Q: What is Digital Hospitality?

A: Digital Hospitality is the name of our podcast and basically our thesis statement. Every business needs to be digital first, and every business needs to be in the hospitality business.

Our show tries to simplify social media. It’s very complicated and people understand they need to interact with it if they’re a business owner, but they don’t know how to do it or where to start. Every Thursday, we release our Digital Hospitality podcast on all of the major platforms. We interview the best of the best- people that are doing a really good job sharing their stories online.

Q: Can you talk about your new podcast?

A: Digital Hospitality has spun off into an even more niche podcast specifically for restaurant influencers called Restaurant Influencers.

We’re creating Restaurant Influencers in partnership with Entrepreneur Magazine and Yelp.

We have two huge legacy media and technology companies that are helping us get the next podcast out to more restaurant hospitality professionals. Looking at the most popular apps, Facebook, Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, we find the people excelling on those apps and talk to them so that a small business owner or someone in restaurants or hospitality can learn why it’s important that they have an account and, if they do have an account, how they can build a following and create good content that makes people want to come in and buy what they have.

Q: What is your favorite part about your job?

A: My favorite part about my job is I get to chase my curiosity every day. There’s never a day that I’m upset about going to work because I’m always creating something new. This isn’t

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just about small businesses. This isn’t about restaurants or bars or barbecue: it’s about storytelling. It doesn’t matter what business you’re in, you need to tell stories. In today’s world, you need to tell these stories in a way that works for Twitter, which is different than the way that it works for LinkedIn, which is different than how it works for all of the other platforms. Once you start to lean into that, and you get good at it, you start to connect with people all over the globe and you can really do some exciting stuff.

Q: How do you juggle all of these different ventures?

A: I have to have a great team and I have my general manager here at Cali BBQ. He’s really in charge of operations and spearheading the growth of the business. We made ourselves so successful all of a sudden people were coming from all over the county to buy barbecue and were waiting over an hour in line. Now we need to figure out how to get people barbecue on their terms. I have a great team on the restaurant side. On the media side, Stover runs our Cali BBQ Media and helps produce the podcasts and write the blog. He really helped spearhead the digital media and digital marketing side of our business. Every business needs to be a media business. Every business is in the business of telling its own story. The amount of money that people spent on marketing, on PR, on networking can be used in more efficient ways. People just need to start using the thing that’s in their pocket to talk about their business and the things that they care about.

Q: Where do you get your motivation from?

A: I think my biggest source of motivation is my grandfather. My grandfather was born in Bulgaria in 1919. He was born to be a farm boy, but his love of learning his love of curiosity, of wanting to be better, made him so much more.

He instilled all of that into me. We’ve evolved so much from a breakfast restaurant to a sports bar, to a barbecue brand that turned into a barbecue media brand and he was a big part of that.

Q: What is your biggest piece of advice for others looking to start their own businesses?

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A: The biggest piece of advice for someone starting their business would be that they’re in the storytelling business. No matter what, wherever you are in the lifecycle of your business, nothing’s more important than learning how to tell your story, especially online. People know how to tell their story in real life: you can’t get into business unless you can convince one person, whether that be a significant other or a family member that you can. Someone is going to tell you you’re crazy but continuing to share your story is so important. You have to convince a bank, you have to convince investors, and you have to get someone to come in and work for you. People do that really well in real life, they just haven’t learned how to do that online. The internet rewards people that are willing to share their vulnerabilities. The problem is we all want a perfect Instagram feed but that isn’t what works. The more that people are willing to share the vulnerabilities or the things that went wrong while they were building their business, the more you can build a real community.

Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced while creating your business?

A: The biggest challenge was the fear that goes along with doing something that goes against the grain. Everyone told us we were crazy to open up a business in the first place yet we listened to our hearts and we went all in. We told people we’re going to be a media company as a barbecue brand and they laughed at us and we went all in anyway. Chase after what you want but be willing to ask for help. I think that’s probably one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in 13 years. Try to find people that are sitting in the place that you want to be and ask them for directions.

Q: How has COVID impacted your business?

A: COVID sped up our plans. We were already a digital restaurant and truly became a digital-first restaurant during COVID. During COVID, we switched our technology partner and it allowed us to continue to pursue opening up ghost kitchens to become the “Amazon Prime” of barbecue. We plan to open up kitch-

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23 VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1 | ens all over the city to allow for easy access to our food from anywhere. We are essentially building this network in public on our social media pages and our podcast. If people want barbecue, they can go on their phone and order barbecue and we will guarantee whatever they want. Before we have to come into the restaurant in Spring Valle, you’d hope that our ribs weren’t sold out. Now we have the technology in place to do that. COVID only sped up what we already knew was happening and allowed us to double down and focus on what we do best.

Optimizing, making barbecue easy for people to get takes time. It takes expertise and now we have the technology to get it to people on their terms.

Q: Besides the ghost kitchens and your new podcast, are there any new developments in the works for your company?

A: Absolutely. We’re currently working on getting a streaming show together because we feel we are in a position to teach small business owners and restaurants this technology. That’s our big goal for this year.

Q: What is your favorite part about the San Diego community?

A: I think, to be honest with you, it’s the hospitality. I love that San Diego is so open. One of the things that we’ve done with barbecue here in San Diego is we’ve modeled it after the craft beer industry. So much of what they believe is that a rising tide lifts all ships. They never tried to cannibalize each other. They share secrets to lift each other up to better the industry and it’s because of that that it’s become the envy of the world. The craft beer scene here in San Diego is so friendly and we’ve tried to do the same thing.

There are so many incredible people in San Diego that are doing incredible things and that’s why we’re just excited to be a part of that.

At A Glance: Name: Cali BBQ Media Location: 8910 Troy Street Spring Valley, CA 91977 Website: www.calibbq.media Email: team@calibbq.media Phone: (619)337-0670

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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1

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