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February 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

The 2021 Presidential Inauguration

LATEST LISTINGS INSIDE Pages 16 & 17

Brokers Corner

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Renovate Now, Pay Later Read on page 14

Shay After Dark

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Travelling with Troy

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Safety Tips Read on page 18

Da Mole Report

OPINION BY RAY SHAY

“Don’t go to Washington!” My older brother Johns’ voice was firm and unwavering as he provided me with a long list of reasons why it was too dangerous for me to visit Washington, DC, due to the recent civil unrest and an ongoing worldwide pandemic.

As a civil disturbance expert and independent journalist, I could feel the guttural draw to personally witness history at our nation’s capital while also increasing my expertise in civil disturbance preparations.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2.

Better Call Ray Shay!

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Paparazzi

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

BROKERS CORNER

The Inauguration (continued)

RAY SHAY BROKER I OWNER DRE 01946504

I frequently travel to local, national, and international hot spots to witness protests, riots, and civil disturbances. In the last eighteen months, I have visited Hong Kong, China, Los Angeles, California, Kenosha, Wisconsin, Seattle, Washington, Raleigh, North Carolina, and of course, multiple trips to witness the continuing re-run of riots in Portland, Oregon.

Kenosha, Wisconsin Riots - August 26, 2020

As my brother John continued speaking, I began wondering how to break the news to him that I was also taking my 16-yearold son, Ryan, with me to Washington, DC. I already knew what his response would be.

In my past travels, Ryan had never shown any interest in coming along. When Ryan heard of my upcoming trip to our nation’s capital, he hurriedly blurted out, “Dad can I go?”

I paused and looked at his curious face and simply said, “Yes, of course, you can, Ryan.” I love our country, and as I get older, I am firmer on our constitutional rights and beliefs and softer when it comes to time with my children. To be with any one of them is like a little slice of heaven.

Just before leaving San Diego, my Airbnb host in Washington called and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Shay, but I have to cancel your reservation.” He then added, “I tried telling them you were a retired San Diego Police Lieutenant, a reporter, and you were traveling with your son, but they told me I still had to deny you lodging. I’m sorry you do not have a place to stay.” His words made me more committed to go.

After arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, Ryan and I drove into our nation’s capital. As we looked out the front window of our rental car, it felt like we were going into a movie set or a bizarre science fiction novel.

Our Federal Government had established a hardened perimeter around our national monuments with multiple layers of barriers that included nonscaleable fencing, concrete freeway dividers, huge dump trucks, and commercial busses. Some locations even had concertina razor wire strewn across the top of the fencing.

We stopped at a perimeter checkpoint, and the armed National Guard Troops accompanied by local police asked what our business was in Washington. I bit my tongue (as I often did over the next few days) as I handed them my press credentials and explained we were there to report on the Presidential Inauguration. The National Guardsman turned his rifle away and politely waved us through.

After checking into our hotel, which we found was filled with off-duty law enforcement officers, Ryan and I went for a walk.

We saw a literal alphabet soup of local state and federal agents wearing heavy body armor and openly carrying weapons, including the United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, Capitol Police, and even police officers from as far away as Austin, Texas. Yes, Austin.

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Over the next 48 hours, Ryan would complete his classwork in the mornings, and then we would meet up. The best part of the trip was watching my son’s eyes and hearing his views on what is occurring in America.

We soon developed the peculiar habit of walking down the middle of the double yellow lined empty streets, just because we could. It was creepy to see every freeway, mass transit system and, even electric rental scooters shut down. Ryan commented, “Dad, this place is a ghost town.”

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I walked over to the Vietnam Memorial and ran my fingers along those thousands of engraved names on the black granite. The font used to memorialize all those heroes is so small.

It is such a solemn place. It is as if you can feel the families’ sadness that sacrificed everything for our country.

A few minutes later, I looked towards the Washington Monument as the sun rose and saw my son Ryan walking towards me. Again, we were alone as the sun cast Ryan’s shadow against Vietnam Memorial black granite and all those names.

Ryan and I joined hundreds of international press representatives outside the inauguration. We could not see or hear any of the inauguration. We could only listen to the repeated wail of sirens and watch as marked emergency vehicles escorted shiney black vehicles into the inner perimeter. To many of us, it felt like we were standing outside the green zone, in Baghdad, Iraq.

The day after the inauguration, Ryan and I prepared to head back to San Diego. Before we left, I insisted we do everything possible to try and visit the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials.

Reluctantly, tears welled up in the corner of my eyes as I watched him and we walked along in silence. As the names stood in witness, we had a private and emotional conversation about wars and how those names are no different from Ryans and his brothers Troy and Raymond. I hoped his generation would make better decisions and learn from our shared history.

We began our quest in the early morning, but as you can likely imagine, Ryan being 16 years old and having a cell phone, his interest in this adventure soon faded. I was the dad that would not give up. “Dad, they won’t let us see the monuments. It’s all barricaded, Let’s just go to the airport. We will get in trouble.”

I reminded Ryan these were “our” monuments and they belong to every American and not a political party. After 48 hours of Ryan only hearing, “no’s” I wanted him to hear a “yes.”

I discovered a place to park with signs threatening that we would be immediately towed, as workers began to take down the fences. That is when Ryan stared intently at his cell phone with his head down and loudly made the decision he was not going to get out of the car. That is when I threw my press credentials on the dashboard, and I became the National Guardsman. Sitting in our car was not an option.

I watched Ryan from a distance as he walked past the reflecting pond and up the many steps to the Lincoln Memorial. Like the previous few days, it was just him and I and a spattering of a few other people in one of the most historical places in our country.

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As we walked back towards the car Ryan stopped and turned towards me and asked, “Hey Dad, aren’t you going to walk up to the Lincoln Memorial?” I returned his half kidding smile as I hoped this was a trip he would never forget.

To read more articles, watch videos of first hand civil disturbances visit www.rayshay1097.com or search on the world wide web: Twitter @rayshay1097.

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

By Mia Bertelsen

LOCAL DOCTOR WINS FITNESS COMPETITIONS IN LAS VEGAS

Today I sat down with Dr. Melinda Silva at her medical practice in Chula Vista, California. Dr. Silva is a bioidentical hormone specialist who is highly trained and uses her medical knowledge in both holistic and traditional medicine to come up with a personalized health plan for her patients with a goal of feeling sexier, looking younger, leaner and stronger. Her vast medical experience includes being a specialized Board Certified physician with more than 23+ years of clinical experience and fellowship training in Integrative and Functional Medicine. Get ready for an amazing look at her personal journey that started with the death of her father and the deep sadness she felt. She took herself from this very low point in her life and turned it around to create personal growth.

Dr. Silva is not intimidated by challenges and is always pushing herself to reach the next goal.

“When I was going through hormonal changes, I didn’t want to take synthetic hormones that have been proven to cause cancer,” she explained. “So ten years ago I left my very comfortable job at Kaiser and took a chance to offer this life changing treatment to other people. It was a risk and a challenge, but my father helped me to realize that there is no greater risk you should take than the investment in yourself.”

Her big risk to change jobs has paid off and her patients are so grateful to have her on their team. “Sometimes it is the simple steps and choices we can make that can make a big difference,” Dr. Silva explained. “I am a medical doctor who helps people to lose weight. I don’t have a weight loss clinic. It is very, very different. When I talk to someone about weight loss I want to know their goals. The weight scale is a guidance for us, but we shouldn’t be so occupied about the number. Most women will tell you to the pound where they feel the most comfortable. It could be any number and it doesn’t really matter. They know it and that is what I trust. Where do you feel your ideal weight is?

The solution to weight loss is very multifactorial and there are a lot of moving pieces. Simple changes can get you in the right direction. If somebody wants to lose weight, I can make one change in their diet that can help them to lose five pounds in a month. It could be so simple like avoiding potato chips this month. If I can get them to commit to one simple change, then they can see that other changes they can make are cumulative.

“For me, this journey started because my heart was in despair,” she shared. “I had lost my father on February 27, 2020 right before the COVID shutdown hit and I wasn’t expecting it. He was doing so much better after suffering three strokes in a week two years prior. He was getting stronger, he was talking, laughing and smiling. He was such a good provider as a grandfather, father and as a husband. He was just one of my greatest heroes. For him to leave so abruptly, it was hard. I still remember the last time I saw him was a Tuesday morning and I would have breakfast with him every Tuesday.

He looked at me straight in the eye and said, ‘I am good.’ And right before I left he added, ‘I love you and thank you.’ Little did I know, those would be his last words to me. It is a sweet memory and the best parting gift to know that he was at peace when he passed. It was just like my dad to not have my last memory of him to be negative.

“He also encouraged my mom to go out that night to celebrate a friend’s birthday. His last words to her were, ‘enjoy yourself, have fun and I love you.’ And so my mom left and when she came home, he had passed. So she never saw him suffer. It was the greatest gift that he could have given to her. I felt that somehow he had done that on purpose. I don’t know how he did that, but my dad would do things for us and take care of us, even at the very end of his life.

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Dr. Melinda Silva looks stunning in her red swimsuit.

“So I was in despair and through that sadness, of course, you don’t take care of yourself.

And then COVID hit and I gained the “COVID 10” then the “Quarantine 15” and in my despair, I let myself go. All four of my kids were home and I wanted to bake and cook comfort foods.

One of my favorite memories of my father is cooking with him. In my culture, we celebrate life with food!

“A friend of mine, Brett Davis, asked me while I was doing a podcast, ‘what is wrong with you?

You don’t have your joy that you usually have, your spark.’ I told him that I am just sad. I didn’t practice self-care. I didn’t know how to come out of it. I used up all my energy for work and my family. He said, ‘let’s change that and do some physical training and some exercise so you can focus on something positive.’

“During this journey when I focused on my physical strength, it tremendously helped my emotional strength. You can’t divorce the two.

It is the strength of my spirit and of my soul. It was hard for me to exercise just to exercise. I am very results-oriented and when he told me about a fitness competition in four weeks, I thought to myself there is no way that I could be ready in that short amount of time. He said, ‘yes you can.’ So I convinced myself that I could do it. Even though I knew I wasn’t going to be perfect in four weeks, I knew I was going to be better than I was at this moment and that’s what was important. I accepted the challenge and committed to succeeding. /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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“A lot of people are afraid to take a new journey because they might fail. The journey is not the destination, it is the process of getting to the destination. One of the first things that I needed to change was my diet. If I was going to be in fitness shape, I wasn’t going to eat sugar which was really tough for me. Some studies show that sugar addiction is stronger than heroin. My fear of walking in public in a bikini was greater than my desire to eat that cookie! I figured out what I needed to do and it was very multifactorial, not one thing that helped, but a lot of changes that helped me to get to my goals.

Fitness is not just the physical strength, but the emotional strength. Harder than pumping the physical iron, was the motivation and discipline to not eat poorly.”

Her diet was mainly plant based, and consisted of whole foods like vegetables, low glycemic fruits as her natural sugar, healthy fats and lean meats. She increased her consumption of water greatly. “When I took care of my body physically, I was really nourishing my soul too,” Dr. Silva reflected.

Her training schedule was every day before work and weekends. “I had to get up before 6 am to train for at least 45 minutes with a very focused workout,” she said. “I had done weights before, but I didn’t have a trainer. Having two personal trainers made all the difference for me, especially because I have injuries and physical limitations from previous car accidents.” She worked out with her personal trainers in a ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

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Dr. Silva is the Runway Model Champion and the Sports Model Champion.

private garage gym and outside at Imperial Beach Fitness. She credits the support from her two trainers as key. Brett Davis, an amateur champion bodybuilder, kept her accountable for daily training and was a great emotional support. Jewelyn Merrill, professional champion bodybuilder, helped her with a personalized nutrition plan, posing and training specific body parts.

Cardio was really important for Dr. Silva to shed fat. She rode her Peloton indoor exercise bike for 30 minutes at night. “I would think about what I was putting in my mouth and how much time I would have to spend on my Peloton bike to burn it off,” she laughed. “Thinking about weight loss is calories in and calories out.

It is not rocket science. If you use up more calories than what you take in, you are going to lose weight. It is better for it to not be empty calories. Some mornings when I was not motivated to exercise I could feel my dad’s spirit poking me and tell me, ‘Come on baby get up. You can do this!’ Even in his death, he was still my greatest motivator. I knew that this fitness journey was not just for me. It was also for the spirit of my father. It helped me to heal my despair. People could see the physical transformation, but the emotional transformation was more important to me. Especially during this time of COVID, there is so much despair, anxiety, depression and higher suicide rates. It is just horrible. I am grateful that my training proved to be a healthy outlet and helped me to cope better through this difficult time.”

At 57 years old, Dr. Silva was ready for her first fitness competition ever. She was able to reduce her body fat by 19% in two months! “I was skinny-fat,” Dr. Silva laughed. She explained she was skinny on the outside and fat on the inside.

Eliminating sugar and processed food had the greatest impact on reducing the fat around her visceral organs and reduced the inflammation and bloating in her abdomen. This also helped with reducing blood pressure and diabetes risk.

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The first competition was on October 3rd, 2020 in Las Vegas and she won the title of “Miss World’’ from AAU (Amateur Athletic Union).

It is an amateur bodybuilding fitness competition. She was the Masters Overall Champion in the age category of 55-59 years.

“When you are presenting yourself, confidence does matter,” she shared. “If you are feeling like a winner, you are more likely going to be a winner. If that is what you want, you have to really feel it.”

The second competition included AAU and ICN (I Compete Natural) and was in Las Vegas a month later on December 7th. ICN is based out of Australia but hosts international competitions. There were about 40 women competing that day, including competitors from Australia and the UK. Dr. Silva competed in 6 different categories and won all 6 of them! She was awarded Masters Overall Champion 2020 for Bikini, Classic Swimwear, Runway Model and Sports Model. She also won USA and Universe titles.

“There were girls in the overall bikini category 15 years younger than me and I was surprised to win,” she explained. Dr. Silva took home a lot of huge plaques and medals to mark the happy occasion. She wasn’t expecting to win all 6 categories that she competed in. “It was just my day,” she shared. “All the girls there were gorgeous and strong, but I could tell that some of them were not as confident. So I made it a point to change the energy of the room by sincerely complementing the girls. I could find beauty in each of them and I shared my feelings with them. Everybody who was there, deserved to be there. I felt so blessed that I was able to be there too.”

More than anything she was in competition with herself. “I think that helped me a lot,” Dr. Silva said. “I had so much confidence because I earned my spot to be there and I knew the sacrifices I made to be there.”

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again and having a goal of doing this once a year to keep herself in shape. She is in maintenance right now and has gained about four pounds.

Over the winter holidays she ate what she wanted to (in moderation) and is ok with the few pounds she gained. She also took a break from going to the gym and working out with a trainer each morning. She rides her Peloton bike daily for at least 15 minutes. She doesn’t neglect keeping her arms strong and loves a Peloton ride that incorporates upper arm exercise in between bouts of cycling. “I think it is very sexy for women to have strong arms,” she said. “And that was the one thing I didn’t have before the fitness competition.”

“I used all the tools that I have in my office to get the best body that I could have,” she explained. “I took natural supplements, I followed my own weight loss program that I recommend to my patients, I used the machines that I have to burn off pockets of fat with CoolSculpting, a non-surgical fat burning device. I built muscles with EmSculpt, a non-surgical muscle toning device. But, the very best tools I had were diet modification and regular exercise. The struggle is real and it is a lot of work to get the body that you want. My kids were so surprised how disciplined I was during my two-month training period. I ate zero sugar. I was not hungry, because my food was enough. I also helped a woman to start up a wine company, Sasy Wines, and I had no wine, not even a sip, during this time. If you want something bad enough, you find a way to get there.”

And Dr. Melinda Silva did find a way to get there. Congratulations! We hope that by learning about her personal journey, you can find your own inspiration for personal health and wellness. If you would like to contact Dr. Silva her office is located at Village Arts Medical 890 Eastlake Pkwy Ste 103, Chula Vista, CA 91914, (619) 761-1574. Learn more about weight loss, hormones and cosmetics at DrMelindaSilva. com. ■ ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

Local TV reporter Jenny Milkowski

e h T s e v o L t h g i l t o Sp

By Jeanne Rawdin

TV personality Jenny Milkowski embodies a delightful mix of on-air reporter, comedienne and over-achiever. She epitomizes the role of multi-tasker in the local TV news arena as the morning show host, social media anchor, features reporter and traffic anchor at KFMB TV, San Diego’s CBS affiliate, and CW. Along with dozens of other videos on her personal website and social media, she also prominently displays her blooper reel. It’s obvious that, despite her talents, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. For an on-air type, she’s pretty good at poking fun at herself.

A two-time Emmy Award winner, she’s currently considered the “social content leader” at KFMB/CW and was voted “Best TV Personality” in San Diego in the Union Tribune 2019 Readers’ Poll. Born and raised in Chicago by Polish immigrants, Polish was Jenny’s first language growing up, and she embraces her Polish heritage on air. She started her TV career in Chicago, where she was ranked the number-one digital talent in the Chicago market. She’s also had several roles as an actress.

Local Umbrella Media recently caught up with her to find out more about her past, her present, and where she sees herself headed.

Both of your parents were born in Poland, and Polish is the first language you learned as a kid. What was that like?

My mom came to the United States when she was 21 years old. Meanwhile, my father came to Chicago when he was about 7 years old. I was first generation born in America, specifically on Chicago’s Northwest Side (which by the way, has a huge Polish population). My parents wanted to be sure to keep my Polish heritage alive and spoke the Polish language at home. I even went to Polish school on Saturday mornings in addition to regular school during the week. I didn’t learn English until I went to preschool and was surrounded by English-speaking children. I had to learn fast! I was fluent in English by the time I enrolled in first grade.

You’ve talked about Polish foods on the air, including the correct pronunciation of certain dishes. What’s your favorite dish?

It’s really hard to pick my favorite Polish food. But I would have to say kielbasa, also known as Polish sausage, is most definitely up there. That, and pasztet, which I used to eat a lot as a kid. In case you don’t know, pasztet is usually made from cooked liver, beef, pork or venison and served in slices on top of bread.

Can you share a favorite memory from your childhood?

Wow, a favorite memory from my childhood? Man, I can barely remember last week, let alone when I was a kid. I’m kidding. Sort of. My childhood was great--I grew up with a younger sister and parents who made sure we always went on travels and were able to partake in extracurricular activities. As a kid, I was a gymnast, dancer, actress--you name it! My fondest memories including traveling with my cousins and laughing with my little sister.

When did you figure out you wanted to be in front of the camera?

I was recently at home helping clean out my parent’s basement when I came across boxes of my childhood items from school. I found a book I wrote when I was just barely a teenager, outlining what I wanted to be in life. For some reason, it was just always in me to entertain and inform.

I started reading books and writing stories and poems at an extremely young age. I remember cutting out Polaroids of myself and sending them to modeling agencies when I was 12 years old. There are home videos of my cousins and me playing -- except they were playing and I was pretending to interview them using a hairbrush as a microphone. I guess I never had to think too much about it. I always knew I wanted to be on television and tell stories. Plus, I love making people laugh.

When did you get your first job in TV news?

My first job in broadcast journalism was straight out of college. I’ve LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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always worked in TV news. I went to the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and graduated with a degree in broadcasting. I studied radio, documentary, writing and even studied abroad in Peru conducting interviews and investigations in Spanish.

Almost my entire broadcasting and acting career has been in Chicago.

After graduating from college, I worked in Northern Wisconsin working as a reporter and weather anchor for one year. After that, I came back to Chicago and worked at many of Chicago’s top TV stations as a writer and producer.

At that time, I studied the art of improvisation and acting at the prestigious The Second City Chicago, as well as other acting studios. While in Chicago, I filmed several commercials, worked as a digital TV host -- hosting shows ranging from food to technology -- and was on Chicago’s top radio stations delivering traffic reports. For many years, I worked as a traffic anchor and TV host at Fox Chicago--until I left to host my own radio show called “Jenny Milk and Jay” on WSHE 100.3. It was then that I was offered a dream job in California, hosting and doing my own daily feature segments. I report on everything from surfing to restaurants and put my own comedic spin on my reports. I love being out in the community and bringing a smile to people’s faces!

I know you’re a big animal advocate. You were involved in Paws Chicago, an animal shelter in the city of Chicago. What organizations are you involved with here in San Diego?

Here in San Diego, I created my own fundraiser to raise money for local shelters. I thought of the #StayPawsitive campaign while working from home and fostering shelter animals. I got together with a local shirt company, and we designed a shirt and started selling it, with profits going to help The Cat Lounge in La Jolla (a cat shelter), and Second Chance Dog Shelter.

How has the pandemic affected you -- good and bad?

Honestly, I am very lucky. I am healthy, I am employed. I am happy.

The pandemic has been a time for me to reflect and talk more with my family. And let’s face it, I’m saving more money because I’m not shopping or eating out. But that being said, I am using my time at work to highlight small businesses that need our support during this time. My entire family is comprised of small business owners, so helping local and small has a huge spot in my heart.

Name three things you are most passionate about.

I am passionate about animals, working out, making people laugh and exploring the community I live in -- and the world.

What gets you angry?

I get angry when people don’t strive to be better and are complacent. I also get angry when people abuse animals.

What are your hobbies?

My hobbies include dancing, working out, hiking, reading, writing and making social media videos!

How do you hope to change the world?

I hope to change the world by making people smile and showing people that it’s good to be authentic. I also want to further help animals by promoting animal adoption.

Where would you like to be in ten years?

In ten years, I would like to be hosting my own travel show. I want to showcase cultures and food and activities around the world in a fun, quirky and humorous way.

To see more on Jenny Milkowski, go to Jennymilkowski.com or Jenny Milkowski TV, or follow her on social media: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter. ■ @LocalUmbrellaMedia

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

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Jenny Milkowski on the day she adopted her cat from The Cat Lounge in La Jolla. Her name is Pickle.

Jenny says, “Despite the look on my face, I like when people tell me I’m good at stuff and things.”

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“Quarantine is hard for me. I need structure, pants, and social interaction,” Jenny said recently.

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

Photos Courtesy of San Diego Humane Society

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Happy Birthday to Benji the Black Bear!

Please join San Diego Humane Society in wishing a beary happy birthday to Benji, a black bear animal ambassador at the Ramona Wildlife Center! Benji turned 3 years old on February 2nd, 2021 and his caretakers celebrated him with a cake made of apples, bananas, grapes and assorted berries, with mashed potato ears and date eyes! His cake was completely vegan, made with love by one of the San Diego Humane Society’s volunteers.

Along with some stuffed animals and “box friends,” there was also a birthday song, card and presents for Benji to enjoy.

Local Umbrella Media spoke with Nina Thompson, the San Diego Humane Society’s Director of Public Relations to learn more about this adorable bear.

How long has Benji been living with you?

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Where did he come from?

Benji arrived July 3, 2019 from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CADFW) as a yearling. He had a neurological health concern and a history of approaching people at the Northstar California Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe. For both those reasons, he could not be released back into the wild.

What are some interesting facts about him?

Benji serves as an ambassador of his species at San Diego Humane Society so we can teach people about our native black bear, how to cohabitate safely and why it is important to not habituate these animals to humans — for our safety and theirs.

Are you open to the public? Could you tell us some details about being open with

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COVID-19?

San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center is not open to the public. However, our campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside and San Diego are – with modified operations during the pandemic. For everyone’s safety, all of our services are by appointment only.

Our adoption consultations are virtual as well.

You can make an appointment and learn more about our COVID-19 modified operations at sdhumane.org How can the public support your mission?

San Diego Humane Society relies on support from the community in order to care for nearly 50,000 animals each year, including companion animals, livestock and wildlife. To support our mission, you can make a lifesaving donation at sdhumane.org/donate. ■

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

MEET ANA DETOMMASO: DOG RESCUER HERO

By Mia Bertelsen

Neighborhood Publications Reaching Over 125,000 San Diego Area Mailboxes Every Month!

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On most days you will find Ana busy rescuing her next dog. Ana is a resident of Imperial Beach and is constantly on the move. So much so, that she laughs that her car has taken such a beating with all the miles she has driven it and the dogs, food and supplies she has skillfully packed into it! She works in Baja California, mostly in the Tecate region, and organizes all of the details to save canine lives. She can’t say no to a dog in distress. People from Mexico alert her of a dog needing help and she takes them to the vet in Mexico, finds them a foster family to help them heal and then places them for adoption in the U.S. She does all of this with private donations, her own generosity and working with rescue groups here. In our next issue we will have a full-length story detailing more on her amazing work.

Browse all editions online at www.LocalUmbrellaNews.com HYPER-LOCAL COMMUNITY PUBLICATIONS Local Umbrella Media publishes hyperlocal, positive, upbeat, community publications, focusing on supporting local businesses, lifestyle articles, upcoming events, talents and contributions of the locals who live and work in our communities. i ADVERTISING INQUIRIES BRAD WEBER | 619-375-2889 brad@localumbrella.com i GRAPHICS & DESIGN Provided by MAINE ST. MEDIA www.mainestmedia.com info@mainestmedia.com i EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS brad@localumbrella.com

Brad Weber, Group Publisher MEDIA CONSULTANT C. CHRISTIE CRAIG TOM SHESS CONTRIBUTORS MIA BERTELSEN BART MENDOZA JEN COBURN MANNY CRUZ JENNY WERTH VERONICA TALIA MERILEE KERN KINSEE MORLAN AMANDA PETERSON FARIMA TABRIZI MARLISE KAST-MYERS RON DONOHO PHOTOGRAPHY JIM CHILDERS FARIMA TABRIZI DAWN SEBAUGH NICKY INCANDELA

Maggie is at the vet getting life-saving treatment.

Ana shared with me her excitement because a local pet store, IB Pet, has just generously donated 400-500 pounds of food for dogs, dog treats, a big doggie bed and a huge wire crate. “Everything goes to Baja and it helps so many dogs,” she explained. “I have a lot of puppies and some of them have mange and the salmon protein helps them to heal. IB Pet is so amazing to give me a huge donation. I know a lot of people who need these donations desperately.” Lots of people in Baja have contacted her right away to ask for the food.

“I give the majority of it to people who have 30 plus dogs,” Ana said.

I spoke to Teresa Rubio, IB Pet Marketing and Merchandising Manager. Teresa learned about Ana’s rescue work through Facebook and mutual friends who also have their own rescue. “IB Pet wants to encourage the community to adopt so we can get more pets out of the shelter and off the streets into a forever home,” she explained. “IB Pet loves supporting local rescues with food donations. The more support that local rescue workers have means the more animals they can save.”

“IB Pet is a family and veteran-owned pet store. We

have three locations in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, and Rancho San Diego,” Rubio explained. “We take pride in providing the best customer service. Our staff is constantly learning new things about pet food and making sure that we make knowledgeable based recommendations rather than just trying to sell customers on anything. We get to build relationships with the community by offering free microchipping events, donating food to local rescues, and in general getting to know our customer and their fur babies.”

In today’s business climate the message to shop local is strong and so important. “We hope that more people continue to shop local to help small businesses in need,” Rubio emphasized. “Rather than eating at a fast food restaurant, support a local restaurant. Need an anniversary gift? Find a local gift shop and shop small! Amazon and Chewy may be convenient but our customer service is invaluable” Meet Maggie: She was found on the streets of Tecate by a very kind lady. She reached out to me and of course I couldn’t say no to a dying dog. She was so anemic and her tick disease was very advanced. So we gave her an emergency blood transfusion. (See the picture of her at the vet.) Maggie is getting better every day. She can walk around and play now when before she couldn’t do any of this. Maggie also has extremely dry eyes causing her a great deal of pain. Maggie is about 3 or 4 years old and is 12 pounds. She is extremely sweet with humans and is good with smaller dogs. She is available for adoption. Maggie is a very lucky pup. She could have been dead by now if not for the compassion of others to help her. (Compiled from Ana DeTommaso’s Facebook page) Ana is always looking for foster families, adoptive families and donations to keep their work going. If you would like to help, please contact her on Facebook or you can email her at: ana.anet@gmail.com

©2021 COPYRIGHT BY INSPIRED MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Local Umbrella Media Newspaper Publications are printed monthly and distributed freely throughout San Diego County. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Local Umbrella Media is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented in the newspaper. Local Umbrella Media Newspaper Publications are produces and published by Local Umbrella Media, and no part of this publication bay be reproduced or transmitted without permission of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: Paid advertisements contained herein are not endorsed or recommended by publisher; therefore, publisher shall not be held liable for business practices of advertisers. Publisher not liable for images accepted in good faith.

Maggie is healthy, happy and ready for adoption.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

Local Umbrella Team Covers Super Bowl LV!

11

Local Umbrella in conjunction with Dr. Richard Ambrozic was proud to launch Regenerative Medicine Magazine Featuring Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski

The Gronks hosted incredible VIP parties & pre-Super Bowl activities & events Sponsored by Vue Drink www.vuedrink.com c4leadmachine.com localumbrella.com RegenCare.life

Gordie Gronkowski & Dr. Rick Ambrozic Rob Gronkowski signed Jersey “#1 Doc”

Coach Harry Shaughnessy & C. Christie Craig

Gordie Gronkowski Volleyball Group

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Tampa Hotel Super Bowl murals Wrestler Mojo Rawley, Dr. Rick Ambrozic

Dr. Rick Ambrozic with reporter

Mark Politi & Dr. Rick Ambrozic

Dr. Rick Ambrozic, Gordon Gronkowski Sr. (Papa Gronk), C. Christie Craig & Gordie Gronkowski © 2021 NFL Enterprises LLC. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League. The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. NFL footage © NFL Productions LLC. @2021 GRONKNATION. All RIGHTS RESERVED. GRONKNATION Images and likeness used with permission from GRONKNATION. Photographic images in this publication are copyrighted and owned by C4 Lead Machine and Local Umbrella Media. Copyright 2021. All RIGHTS RESERVED.

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

Comicon Museum Accepts $100,000 Donation The Roddenberry Foundation donated the funds

The Comic-Con Museum accepted a $100,000 donation from the Roddenberry Foundation that will go toward supporting the 2021 opening of the museum’s physical space in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

The foundation’s namesake Gene Roddenberry was the creator of “Star Trek,” and the non-profit foundation supports his legacy through initiatives that encourage innovative approaches to create a more inclusive, progressive, and harmonious society. The donation also coincides with the year of the late Gene Roddenberry’s centennial, or 100th birthday.

“We are incredibly honored to have received this commitment from The Roddenberry Foundation as it affirms our direction in creating innovative spaces that foster and celebrate creativity through comics and popular art forms,” said Melissa Peterman, VP of development for the Comic-Con Museum. “One of the exciting things about comics and popular arts is their ability to reflect and recognize many voices of our diverse society and that is something that was so important to Gene Roddenberry. We are thrilled that this funding allows us to honor Gene’s vision which aligns so well

with our own mission.”

The main lobby of the museum will be named after the Roddenberry Foundation in recognition of it donation. The donation is the latest of a series of contributions the Comic-Con Museum is attracting from those who see the development of the Museum as a much-needed participatory and experiential space

OUR MISSION

The SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION (Comic-Con International) is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms, including participation in and support of public presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture.

OUR VISION

The vision of the Comic-Con Museum is to: Thrive as a world-class attraction and gateway to popular art, culture, and life-long learning for San Diego residents and visiting tourists.

Serve as a pop culture focal point, enhancing the ways San Diego celebrates its unique place in the popular culture landscape.

Enhance the economic strength of the community.

Become a sustainable model for equitable and environmentally-sound community service through our practices and offerings.

OUR VALUES

These values are the core beliefs of ComLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

that connects people to comics and popular art forms.

The Foundation has planned a year filled with initiatives celebrating Gene Roddenberry’s legacy and supporting a permanent museum that celebrates pop culture and the creative nature of the human spirit is seen as a fitting way to honor the legacy of Gene Roddenberry and all

ic-Con and the Museum. They will be shared by the institution, its stakeholders, staff and volunteers alike. They will also be evident to visitors in each and every offering put forth by the Museum.

Access. The Museum is a place where everything is made to be accessible. Intentionally placed within reach—physically, intellectually, and financially.

Equity. The Museum will treat its diverse audiences fairly. Equity is being equivalent without sameness. Everyone will have an opportunity to get what they need based on where they are and where they want to go, taking into account their physical, intellectual, and financial abilities.

Inclusion. The Museum embraces diversity of all types and is a place where the audience has a voice and a sense of authorship. The Museum will actively seek to provide opportunities for engagement to all people.

OUR HISTORY

Comic-Con began in 1970 when a small group of comics, movie and science fiction fans from San Diego put on an event attended by just 300 people. Since then, Comic-Con has grown into a global phenomenon and is widely recognized as the premier pop culture convention in the world. Annually, the organization is focused on: /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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those who #ThinkTrek in 2021.

“The Roddenberry Foundation is very pleased to support the development of the Comic-Con Museum in San Diego. The Comic-Con Museum’s commitment to offering innovative programs that encourage access and inclusivity through the work of remarkable artists and creators aligns strongly with that of the vision of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and the Roddenberry Foundation,” Rod Roddenberry said.

The Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park will offer programming day and night as well as rotating exhibits and venues to celebrate and promote various forms of popular art.

The museum is moving forward with a multi-year renovation project and renovations will begin with the creation of the Education Center with learning-focused labs, classes and seminars.

The museum will feature 25,000 square feet of space for rotating exhibits, including a 4K video theater and presentation space; a year-round schedule of programs and experiences such as panels; creator meet-andgreets, experiential cinema, watch parties, eSports, cosplay shows, concerts and more.

Educational Programming. Core to Comic-Con’s work is using the educational power of popular culture to engage learners of all ages. We accomplish this through panels, and seminars as well as graphic novel clubs, conferences for teachers and librarians, how-to classes, and other activities.

World Class Events. Each year, we put on two large-scale events that blend education and entertainment in San Diego (Comic-Con) and Anaheim (WonderCon). In 2019, we celebrated our 50th convention with nearly 2,000 programs and panels, including hands-on workshops, presentations, costuming competitions, art shows, and more.

Arts Promotion. Comic-Con celebrates the popular arts by raising their visibility and public awareness in an effort to fuel creativity, imagination, and innovation. Examples include, the annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Comic-Con Independent Film Festival, Artists’ Alley (showcasing original works by artists at the convention) and Artist Portfolio Reviews (where up-and-coming artists are paired with experts to gain career guidance).

Community Collaboration. Giving back is of the upmost importance to Comic- Con. We work with key stakeholders to strengthen our community through blood drives, charitable donations, and training more than 6,000 event volunteers annually.

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

13

BABY BOOMERS USE CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL REASONS TWICE AS MUCH AS MILLENNIALS

By Michael Patterson NHA, OTR/L, CEAS

A recent survey by cannabis company Verilife found that baby boomers (age 56-76 years old) use cannabis medically at twice the rates of millennials (22-38 years old).

Fifty percent of the baby boomers surveyed said they consumed cannabis primarily for medical reasons, with 28% saying they use cannabis solely for recreational reasons, and 22% using cannabis for both. The figures are completely opposite for millennials with 49% said they use cannabis recreationally, 22% saying they use for medical reasons, and 29% using cannabis for both medical and recreational reasons.

One area in which both age groups agreed was on the medical benefit of cannabis, with 92% of millennials and 89% of baby boomers agreeing that cannabis has medical benefits. Also, if they are given the option, 68% of millennials and 61% of baby boomers would choose using cannabis for a medical condition rather than a prescription drug to relieve pain.

The medical conditions millennials use cannabis for were chronic pain (27%), migraines (13%), nausea (11%), arthritis (8%), weight loss (8%), autism (8%), and irritable bowel syndrome (4 %). For boomers the most common medical conditions were arthritis (15%), chronic pain (13%), cancer (11 percent), migraines (8%), weight loss (8%), and autism (7%).

In regards to using cannabis recreationally, millennials said the reason for use was relaxation (34%), social reasons (23%), anxiety (22%), sleep (9%), and enhancing physical activity (9%). For boomers, relaxation was the primary reason for

recreational use (42%), followed by anxiety (17%), socialization (17%), and physical activity enhancement (17%).

The most common method of cannabis use for both age groups is smoking (50% millennials, 39% boomers). However, boomers prefer edibles, capsules, vaping, and

tinctures more than millennials (23% Boomers, 10% millennials).

Neither age group preferred dabs or topicals for a use method for cannabis (2%).

The survey was conducted from May 29 to June 5, 2020 and included 1,000 current cannabis consumers from each generation.

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For millennials, the average age was 31. Of this group, 63 percent were employed full-time and 80 percent completed some type of post-secondary education. For baby boomers, the average was 59, 66% were employed full-time and 79% completed some type of post-secondary education.

Analysis Cannabis is becoming more mainstream and trusted as an option for use to treat medical conditions. For the medical community, a shocking statistic is 61% of boomers would use cannabis to relieve pain rather than a prescription drug. This shows that the public trusts cannabis as a medicine more than a prescription drug. If your medical practice is not addressing cannabis as a medicine for your patients, eventually your patients will either seek other medical advice to use cannabis or will use cannabis and not tell you. If patients cannot trust their physician enough to verbalize they are using cannabis, then eventually the patient will find another physician.

Cannabis use with seniors and boomers will continue to increase.

With cannabis being legal for medical purposes in Florida (with over 350,000 medical cannabis patients and growing 5,000 patients per week), we are seeing an average patient age of 52 years old. I have been educating medical professionals and the public for years that cannabis is an accepted form of treatment for many medical ailments. Traditional healthcare must understand that patients now have a choice of which healthcare practitioner they use and patients are driving the trend to acceptance of cannabis as a medicine (regardless of how the mainstream medical community thinks).

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14

February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

BROKERS CORNER:

Making the most from your home investment!

These really are unusual times. Last month you likely saw we advertised a new estate listing in the beautiful gated community of Salviatti in 92127. One of about a dozen amazing gated estate developments in 92127.

We followed all of our established protocols to fully expose the home in local, state, national, and international markets.

I expected we would have a large turnout, but even I was surprised when about 24 well-qualified buyers toured the 2.3 million dollar estate home in only 48 hours.

In addition to the changing strategies to get the most for your home in today’s market, we are seeOur marketing reach even resulted in potential buyers flying ing more of the off-market “pocket listing” sales in from northern California and even outside the country to and an increase in neighbors selling to neighbors. see the home.

Sold $2,500,000.00

The turnout was so substantial, I called one of our top home inspection teams and had them do a complete home inspection on Sunday morning. Then with each offer that came in, we provided the potential buyers with the home inspection report, disclosures, and other documents related to the home.

In the last scenario, I had to bite my tongue when a long time friend and resident of the area called me and said that his neighbor had purchased his home off-market as he was preparing to leave the state. When he told me the price, I knew immediately that they left about $75,000,00 of potential profits on the table. But, that’s OK as I was happy for him and his family. I wished him the best.

By taking these additional steps, I believe it further added to the interest in the home and allowed potential buyers to feel Selling to an individual and avoiding realtors is more confident to increase their written proposals to puralways an option but there are a variety of pitfalls chase it. you would want to avoid. In addition to special protocols and liability releases due to the worldWithin four days we received multiple offers over the asking wide pandemic, be cautious of the possibility you price with additional terms that were also beneficial to our will undersell your home . sellers. At the end of a long weekend, our client’s accepted an all-cash offer at 2.5 million that closed in just seven days.

To many people, your home is your biggest in-

vestment. If your thinking of selling or buying please consult with your Realtor® or give us a call.

We would be happy to advise you of your options in this highly competitive and unpredictable real estate market.

Call Ray to maximize your net proceeds!

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

SHAY AFTER DARK WITH TINA Happy Lunar New Year & support our local businesses

15

TRAVELING WITH TROY Travel Deals & Steals

Hi my travel friends, I wanted to first checkin and see how everyone is doing? In times like these, I feel that it is very important to take a step back and check-in. So here is your kind reminder to do so :) I realize there is only so much travel advice I can provide during a pandemic but I am determined each time to bring you value to your life through my articles. Thus, I wanted to touch upon a new location that I hope you will have something to look forward to.

The Lunar New Year—celebrated in several Asian countries, and best known for the Chinese New Year celebration that’s also called Spring Festival—is a time to bring families together. That’s one reason why the “reunion dinner,” eaten by Chinese and Vietnamese families on the night before, is such an important new year’s tradition. Putting an ample variety of food on the table is a must. The foods traditionally eaten during Chinese New Year hold a symbolic place within the festivities. Foods like fish, fruit, and dumplings are more than mere snacks; they’re symbols of luck and prosperity and eating them is thought to invite both into your life in the new year to come.

Recently, I came across this random channel presenting a young woman on a kayak going through massive caves with crystal clear water underneath her. She traveled to an incredible forest with pristine rivers and towering mountains that made you think she was in a fairytale. I have never heard or seen a place that was able to offer so much diverse scenery, culture, and fresh food. It seriously looked like a dream. At first, I thought it was the south of France or somewhere near Capri but with pleasant surprise, it was much closer and was in Quebec, Canada.

See I have been to Montreal once and was only there for a few days in the winter so I didn’t feel like I got the true experience. After that trip, I didn’t have much interest to go travel anywhere in Canada until now.

Quebec has been a Canadian Provence for over 400 years and with that being said it holds an enormous amount of culture. As a predominately French-speaking population, there are many shared characteristics of the French culture which has such deep roots and rich history.

One of the many highlights of Quebec is the abundance of food options. There are even cafes that have an actual system that brings in fresh milk from the farm next door.

The first destination on our list is “Old Harry Beach” which is noted by many tourists as “one of the nicest beaches in the world. Kilometers long, easily 300 meters wide, white and fine sand, shallow water... just amazing.” Kayaking, paddle boarding, and even surfing are among the most popular activities for both locals and foreigners alike. The beaches are not the typical San Diego or French waters, they are spread out and include a unique landscape.

My family loves the drive down to convoy to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

What makes Convoy such a rich cultural attraction for us is the wide array of restaurants from first- and second-generation Asian Americans. Our go-to has always been Jasmine restaurant for its Dim Sum. Dim Sum is a family tradition—two, three generations dining out with grandchildren, great-grandchildren who get to see their grandparents and cousins on special occasions like the New Year.

Sadly with COVID, the restaurants like this have been greatly impacted. What was thought to be a few weeks of the dining restrictions that now is going over a year. Dim Sum carts are no longer going from table to table. Instead, the strip mall parking lots are filled with huge white canopies and tents strung with lights, reminiscent of the Night Market in Asian countries. Some restaurants on Convoy like Common Theory had spent good money installing a handsome wooden deck with a pergola to attract customers. One benefit of outdoor dining is that it exposes the different cuisine and with the fragrances of the food in the air, it helps to attract people who otherwise wouldn’t have gone inside to eat.

The Lunar new year is on Friday, February 12th this year. My family will celebrate the Year Of Ox at home with these delicious dishes from Convoy: Whole fish from 99 Ranch market, roast duck from Sam Woo BBQ, dumplings from Shanghai Saloon, seafood pan fried noodles from Jasmine seafood restaurant and to top it off with the sweet Boba from Meet Fresh! Don’t forget to end your feast with an orange as it will bring you good fortune!

Tina Wu

Realtor® CalDRE #02070656

Direct: (760) 473-8649

Next on our list is the Sea Caves of les Îles de la Madeleine. It may be a trek but the final destination will be far worth more than the effort. Just think the La Jolla caves but on steroids. The water may be a little chilly, however, you will most likely be kayaking and through what seems like an endless amount of caves.

Take a stroll down to the traditional wooden house on Grande Entree island. Here you will find breathtaking views of blue waters while also turning around to see red farmhouses that are a unique touch to the island.

Saving the best for last is, Jacques-Cartier National Park, a place that I thought was from a movie but turned out to be a real place. Located only 30 minutes from Quebec City, another wonderful town to visit, it is very accessible and brings in a lot of nature enthusiasts. The Visitors Center has a good deal of information about trails, which range from beginner to advanced. You can also rent kayaks, tubes, and canoes there. The fee for entry includes parking. Ranked as one of the top National Parks, it is a must-see destination that is perfect for any type of group.

Despite Quebec not being too far, as it is still in North America, short flights can be hard to come by so based on my research I would recommend flying into Vermont and spending a few days exploring that beautiful state and then book a short flight over to Quebec.

Thank you, my travel friends and I hope I convinced you to put a new destination on your bucket list. Until next time!

For more travel tips, Follow my blog for all my adventures around the globe and any cool tips that may come in handy, especially when it comes to saving money. www.troyjamesshay.com

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16

February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

YOUR 92127 COMMUNITY EXPERTS

TM

SOLD DEL SUR NEIGHBORHOOD

STYLE

Auberge Cassero Bridgewalk Veridan Garretson Garretson

DET TOWNHOUSE DET TOWNHOUSE TOWNHOUSE TOWNHOUSE

DAYS ON BEDS BATHS EST SF MARKET 7951 Lusardi Creek Lane 3 2 1,604 18 15503 Bristol Ridge Terrace 3 3 2,424 5 8405 Katherine Claire Ln 3 3 1,930 50 16266 Veridan Circle 3 3 2,086 9 16160 Paseo Del Sur 3 3 1,641 3 16659 Gill Loop 3 3 1,628 44 ADDRESS

Median Sales Price – Single Family Rolling 12-Month Calculation

All MLS — 92127 —

$1,400,000 $1,200,000

SOLD PRICES CLOSE DATE $1,040,000 $910,588 $870,000 $810,000 $777,000 $735,000

Median Sales Price – Townhouse-Condo Rolling 12-Month Calculation

$600,000

1/11/21 1/21/21 1/11/21 1/12/21 1/13/21 1/8/21

All MLS — 92127 —

$500,000

$1,000,000 $400,000 $800,000 $300,000

$600,000 $400,000

5-2013 3-2014 1-2015 11-2015 9-2016 7-2017 5-2018 3-2019 1-2020 11-2020

$200,000

5-2013 3-2014 1-2015 11-2015 9-2016 7-2017 5-2018 3-2019 1-2020 11-2020

Call Today For your FREE Home Market Valuation Sold properties taken from Sandicor from 1/1/2021 to 1/31/2021 and may represent listings from other brokerages. Information accurate but not guaranteed.

Ray Shay REALTOR®

BROKER ASSOCIATE CALDRE#01354548 Ray@ShayRealtors.com Ray.ShayRealtors.com

DIRECT 858.449.4970

OFFICE 858.449.7355

KELLERWILLIAMS

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

YOUR 92127 COMMUNITY EXPERTS

TM

SOLD 4S RANCH NEIGHBORHOOD

STYLE

ADDRESS

Talavera Amherst Amherst Rosemary Lane Ravenna Summit Chanteclair

DET DET DET DET ATT ATT DET

16167 Deer Ridge Ct. 16603 4S Ranch Parkway 16550 Cimarron Creek Dr 10317 Silver Pine Way 10412 Shelborne Street Unit 54 17161 Alva Rd Unit 213 17148 Montery Ridge

DAYS ON BEDS BATHS EST SF MARKET 5 6 4 4 3 2 6

5 3 4 3 3 2 3

4053 3663 3411 2455 1642 968 3281

7 8 4 8 27 19 43

SOLD PRICES CLOSE DATE $1,660,000 $1,295,000 $1,295,000 $1,120,000 $727,000 $450,000 $1,240,000

1/25/21 1/27/21 1/22/21 1/14/21 1/13/21 1/25/21 1/29/21

SOLD GATED COMMUNITIES NEIGHBORHOOD

STYLE

ADDRESS

Santaluz The Estates Salviati The Lakes Sterling Heights Avaron The Crosby The Crosby Santaluz

DET DET DET DET DET DET DET DET DET

7912 Entrada De Luz E &KHV¿HOG &RXUW 17013 Castello Circle 8123 City Lights Way 8139 Goldspring Lane 15610 Hayden Lake Place 16622 Sweet Leilani Lane 7935 High Time Rdg 14596 Caminito Lazanja

DAYS ON BATHS EST SF MARKET 6 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 4

8 5 6 6 5 5 5 5 3

7851 5252 6189 4613 4283 4328 3638 2903 2990

122 14 5 35 39 101 10 20 7

SOLD PRICES CLOSE DATE $6,250,000 $3,025,000 $2,500,000 $2,477,000 $1,897,602 $1,825,000 $1,715,000 $1,600,000 $1,475,000

1/22/21 1/8/21 1/26/21 1/19/21 1/15/21 1/8/21 1/15/21 1/15/21 1/21/21

Current as of January 31, 2021. All data from the San Diego MLS. Report © 2020 ShowingTime. Percent changes are calculated using rounded figures.

Call Today For your FREE Home Market Valuation Ray Shay REALTOR®

BROKER ASSOCIATE CALDRE#01354548 Ray@ShayRealtors.com Ray.ShayRealtors.com

DIRECT 858.449.4970

OFFICE 858.449.7355

KELLERWILLIAMS

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18

February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

SAFETY TIPS WITH LOCAL REAL ESTATE ADVISOR

TU NGUYGEN

It has been a year since Covid-19 consumed and decimated our normal ways of life as we knew it. Things we took for granted, something as simple as dining out, going to the gym, getting a haircut, going to the theater, and the list goes on and on. Who would’ve thought Thanksgiving and Christmas would be cancelled for a lot of people, but it did. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on when it comes to Covid-19, or what political party you affiliate with, your lives have been and will be affected by how Covid-19 is being handled.

Politics is a hot topic for everyone, including my own family, so I’ll do my best to keep politics out of it (if even possible). Like everyone else, I have questions and there are not a whole of places I can go to get answers that are non-bipartisan.

I keep hearing the survival rate of Covid-19 is about 99%, but yet hospitals are reporting their ICU beds for Covid-19 related patients are filling up faster than they can handle, and the death tolls are on the rise. At the same time, I hear hospitals are false reporting Covid-19 numbers so they can get more funding from the State and/or Federal grants. I have seen posting on social media from nurses, who are front line workers at hospitals, telling us the numbers are rising and how deadly and contagious this virus is. Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a non-bipartisan institution out there that would investigate and report the facts to the people every day at a specific time so we can decide for ourselves, and not report only what they think we should hear? If there were such an institution, we would call them the News.

If this virus is as deadly and contagious as they are portrayed, then I don’t disagree with the shut down at all. In fact, I’m all for it to help keep the spread of the virus down until we can come up with a plan to control it, and deal with it. But here is where I don’t understand or agree with. If we’re going to shut down businesses to keep the spread of the virus down, then why certain businesses are allowed to stay open while others are not? Aren’t we all in it together as a country, state, or community to combat this virus? I understand certain businesses are deemed essential, such as grocery stores, and that’s why Costco, Walmart, and Target are allowed to stay open because they have a grocery department within their stores. If that was the case, then why are they allowed to sale items such as furniture, jewelry, clothing, and so on while furniture, clothing, and jewelry stores are forced to be shut down? Shouldn’t they only be allowed to sell the essential products, such as food? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, so the saying goes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a republican or a democrat, your lives have been affected by it; and if you’re a small business owner, you’re even more affect by it.

DA MOLE REPORT DA MOLE REPORT Hey Boss,

A few new things are coming to the community soon.

First, looks like Del Sur is getting a few pickle ball courts.

While it seems like many residents are excited about them, residents whose homes are situated next to them have conrcerns about the increase in traffic and noise to their neighborhood park.

I also wanted to give your readers a little update on Avion at Del Sur which is the new developement going in behind Sprouts. Lennar released the site map and it will be a collection of 14 homes. We will keep you updated as soon as we have more info. The Mole is out!

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It’s time for us to come together as Americans, not political parties, to beat this virus or learn how to live with it, like any other viruses in the past.

If you want to discuss more on this topic, I’m always available. If you have questions about real estate, I’m also available to you.

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Gathering of Art Exhibit Creativity during COVID-19 has been on the rise as many local artists find themselves with lot of time to create art. Local artist Jody Abssy shared with us her latest project.

“Not far from my precovid life as a Docent at the Mingei International Museum I hunkered down in my detached studio,” Abssy explained. “Instead of feeling the loss of my students and colleagues, I turned my energies towards bringing contemporary goddesses into focus for all to see. These women are celebrated in cultures around the globe. For the first time in my life I had uninterrupted painting time and I painted with a passion. I had just completed a painting which depicted 50 ancient goddesses. I decided to honor each of these contemporary goddesses with individual paintings.”

Why Goddesses?

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“A goddess embodies a quality that all women have, but that quality is amplified in her,” she said. “Whether it is merciful kindness, erotic power, a relation to earth energies or seeking justice, whatever attribute the goddess has, it comes into full focus when honoring her.”

What is the art like?

“Each goddess is depicted close to life-size,” she added. “The paintings are in acrylic 24 x 36”.The face of most goddesses is the face of a contemporary woman from that culture. This gives us a better sense of who reveres that goddess today.”

The Exhibition called “Gather ye Goddesses” is at Gallery 21 in Spanish Village in Balboa Park. It will house all that female energy from March 1 – 21, 2021.

COVID-19 precautions will be in place in the gallery. Each viewer will get a catalogue listing the paintings by number and name and a brief story behind the painting.

The paintings are for sale. Prints of the goddesses will be forthcoming.

Abssy has an aspirational number of 40 pieces to paint. She is still painting and currently working on #32. They will all be on exhibit. ■

Gallery 21

Normal business hours are 10am – 4pm daily.

See: www.jodyabssy.com for a preview of the painting under the heading ‘Inspired by the Goddess’.

Contact Jody at jodyabssy@gmail.com

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February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

Ask The Dentist ABOUT I M P L A N T S

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are titanium posts that are placed into the jaw bone to provide a strong foundation for the permanent replacement of teeth. They are strategically placed in the area where the tooth/teeth are missing. A crown then attaches to the implant post by way of an abutment that screws into the post directly.

Are there different types of implants?

Yes, there are different lengths and widths based on the location of the placement in the mouth and/or the amount of bone in the placement area. This is strategically planned ahead of time using advanced digital software before the implant placement process begins. Depending on individual needs, implants can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth.

How long does the implant process take?

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The entire process from start to finish is approximately ten to sixteen weeks.

Once the implant post has been placed, it will need time to fuse to the jawbone.

After it has successfully integrated to the bone, the crown is ready to be designed, made and placed.

How does the dental implant process work?

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Our office uses a very advanced and precise technique to ensure that the placement of the implant is exactly where it needs to be in the jaw bone. This ensures the implant’s optimal success. We use digitally CAD/CAM scans and overlay it on the CT scan so we can digitally design a custom fit surgical guide.

The surgical guide directs the drill in the exact optimal location to avoid any dangerous anatomical structures such as nerves or sinuses when placing the implant post. All of the planning leads to very efficient placement of the implant.

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Placement of the implant is a very quick procedure once the surgical guide has been designed and fabricated in-office. The placement of a single implant usually takes less than 20 minutes under optimal conditions and no incisions are required.

This results in a lot less discomfort post-placement. Either a cover screw or a healing cap is screwed into the newly placed implant at this appointment which keeps the gums from filling into the implant and promotes quicker healing.

A one-week follow-up appointment is the next step to make sure there is no swelling and to make sure the healing abutment is still tightly sealing the implant.

Nine to ten weeks later an X-ray and evaluation of the implant take place. If the implant has properly integrated, the healing abutment comes off and we place a scan post into the implant so we can take digital impressions of the area. This is when the crown is designed. The healing abutment goes back into the implant until the crown delivery appointment. The crown and abutment are fitted and screwed into the implant. We use a “screw-retained” technique which means that there is no cementing inside the mouth. We do this for several reasons: a) most implant failures are due to bacteria collecting around excess cement so, with this method, we have taken this risk out of the equation, and b) we can easily access the implant and remove the crown if there is ever a problem with the crown due to fracturing, etc. This completes the implant process.

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Will my implant look like a real tooth?

Absolutely! We have had great success and satisfaction with matching to the perfect shade and shape of the existing teeth. We pride ourselves on being able to restore implants so they look and feel natural.

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What are the benefits of an implant versus a bridge?

We preserve healthy tooth structure on neighboring teeth with conventional restoration which results in reduced bone loss. Additionally, implants last longer, are economically sound, and are more aesthetically pleasing, especially in the front of the mouth. Lastly, oral hygiene is seamless since it acts and feels like a normal tooth.

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MAYOR GLORIA APPOINTS CITY’S FIRST CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER

Mayor Todd Gloria has appointed San Diego native Kirby Brady to be the City’s first chief innovation officer. As a Black woman, Brady is one of the few women or people of color to be named CIO of a major American city.

“I couldn’t be prouder to have Kirby Brady as San Diego’s first chief innovation officer,” Gloria said. “Kirby’s unique experiences coupled with her creativity, drive, and passion for civic innovation are going to help our City harness the data and technology we need to stretch taxpayer dollars while providing world-class service for people in every neighborhood.”

Brady has been the director of the City’s Performance and Analytics Department for the past year and will continue to lead the department in her new role. Her experience has provided her with a deep understanding of the City’s robust datasets and a strong relationship with department leadership across the City to help them work more efficiently and effectively.

“I’m thrilled to help usher in a new era that puts data and equity at the forefront of decision making at City Hall,” Brady said. “Over the past year, I’ve seen firsthand the innovative spirit of so many of our City employees and welcome the opportunity to serve them so they can better serve the public.”

Mayor Gloria shifted the Performance and Analytics Department to report directly to the Mayor’s office and created the CIO role to support his efforts to use data to solve complex problems and develop innovative solutions that promote equity, advances economic prosperity, achieves justice, and builds a stronger, more resilient San Diego.

Brady and her team in the Performance and Analytics Department support the City’s ongoing efforts to use data to drive decisions, develop a more efficient financial practice and offer more online services, such as the City’s popular “Get It Done” application.

In her new role, Brady will also be responsible for creating and promoting a culture of innovation among the City workforce. She and her team will foster a workplace where employees are empowered

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to take smart risks, think outside the box, and become change agents for their departments and the City as a whole.

Prior to joining the City of San Diego, Brady spent four years working for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation where she oversaw the research efforts of the organization. Her team’s work focused on analyzing local economic trends, including quantifying the economic activity of regional industries and evaluating policy impacts. Brady spent seven years working for the San Diego Association of Governments where she managed the long-range population and housing forecast program for the region.

Brady holds a bachelor’s in regional development from the University of Arizona and a master’s in urban planning from the University of Southern California.

REGISTRATION OPENS FOR COUNTY ONLINE AUCTION FEATURING 695 PROPERTIES

San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister announced bidder registration is now open for the 2021 online property tax auction. A total of 695 properties will be up for sale.

Anyone around the world can bid during the online property tax auction from March 12-17. To participate, bidders must register before March 4 at the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s tax auction website, sdttc.mytaxsale.com. They must also submit a refundable $1,000 deposit and a nonrefundable $35 processing fee (some parcels may require a larger deposit).

“We have 53 residential or commercial properties, 558 timeshares, and 84 parcels of land for sale. If all properties are sold for the minimum bid, the county would bring in $15,512,100,” McAllister said.

“Prospective bidders should sign up for e-notifications for our property tax auction at sdttc.com to receive email reminders before important deadlines.”

Owners of the auctioned properties can still avoid going to sale; they have until 5 p.m. on March 11 to redeem their parcel and pay all

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taxes and fees owed.

SAN DIEGO CONTINUING EDUCATION ADDS ‘COLLEGE’ TO ITS NAME: SAN DIEGO COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION

The largest adult noncredit educational institution of its kind in the nation, San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE), has added the word college to its name. The new name, San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE), better reflects the organization's status and mission to transition adult students to credit college and careers.

SDCCE is the adult education division of the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) and serves 40,000 students annually at seven campuses in San Diego spanning from the Miramar community in the north to Barrio Logan in the south. The institution has been serving adult students in San Diego since 1914.

The legacy of the organization’s first century of teaching is deeply rooted in serving immigrant populations with basic skills such as learning English and also serving unemployed populations by preparing adults for the workforce.

Adding the word college to the name provides a foundation for SDCCE’s second century of serving adults, with a continued focus on helping students transition to college and careers.

The decision to change the name was years in the making and required a thorough process that started with insight from faculty and classified professionals who have been serving students for decades.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES HONORED FOR OUTREACH EFFORTS

The San Diego County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its outreach efforts in 2020 to be inclusive to all members of the diverse San Diego community.

Federal officials recognized the child Support department by @LocalUmbrellaMedia

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highlighting their email flyer outreach program in the December/ January edition of Child Support Report, the official publication of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement.

DCSS is using a new way to communicate directly with parents who receive Child Support services and also identify Spanish as their primary language to improve engagement and access to child support information.

Jennifer Hellerud, Deputy Director of DCSS, said the office created outreach materials in both English and Spanish to highlight events, general information, and specific services and delivered the information using Peachjar, a company that specializes in sending digital flyers to the parents of K-12 students.

Children of the Immaculate Heart opens new youth facility following litigation A San Diego organization that helps women and girls overcome the devasting effects of sex trafficking is celebrating the purchase of a new location, a dedicated shortterm residential treatment facility for minors.

Litigation over licensing of Children of the Immaculate Heart’s planned expansion has been resolved, their property has now been purchased, and the group has opened its new youth facility, The Refuge, after successful representation by the Thomas More Society and its special counsel attorneys of LiMandri and Jonna LLP. Children of the Immaculate Heart offers a housing and rehabilitation program for adult women and their children and sought to expand their services to include a short-term residential therapeutic program for sex-trafficked youth.

When the ministry ran into licensing issues due to religious discrimination at the California Department of Social Services, the national not-for-profit public interest attorneys initiated legal action.

SALK SCIENTISTS AWARDED $1.2 MILLION TO STUDY BRAIN AGING AND DEMENTIA A collaborative team of Salk scientists led by Professor John Reynolds will receive $1.2 million over four years as part of a

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Network Grant from the Larry L. Hillblom Foundation to examine aging across the life span, including age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The research will advance our understanding of aging mechanisms at the cognitive, genomic and cellular levels with potentially direct translatability to humans.

For this newly funded project, the Salk team will examine the link between metabolism of the aging brain and cognitive decline.

Neurons use nearly 10 times the amount of energy as any other cell type, making them especially susceptible to metabolic dysfunction. The main energy source for neurons are the cells’ powerhouses, the mitochondria, which experience significant deterioration as the brain ages. The scientists will test whether mitochondrial impairment is driving the cognitive decline observed in neurodegenerative diseases.

PADRES PROMOTE ERIK GREUPNER TO CEO, AND A.J. PRELLER TO PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER

The San Diego Padres announced the promotions of Erik Greupner to chief executive officer and A.J. Preller to president of baseball operations and general manager. The two Padres executives have each signed contract extensions through the 2026 season.

Greupner originally joined the Padres in December 2010, making this his 11th season in San Diego.

He oversees the Padres’ business operations and leads the growth and development of the Padres’ business and culture.

Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Greupner served as president of business operations from December 2018 through December 2020 and chief operating officer from November 2016 to November 2018.

Before joining the Padres, Greupner worked as a corporate and transactional attorney with the international law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Preller originally joined the Padres as executive vice president/ general manager in August 2014.

Under his leadership, the Padres

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ended a 14-year postseason drought in 2020 with a 37-23 (.616) regular season record, their best winning percentage in club history. He previously served as assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers, overseeing the player development and scouting departments and serving as a key advisor on all player acquisitions.

NEW LAW ENFORCEMENT COURSES TRAIN OFFICERS ON COMMUNITY POLICING AND ORGANIZATIONAL WELLNESS

National University has received two grants totaling $700,000 from the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training to develop courses that will train law enforcement personnel on the importance of community policing and organizational wellness.

Faculty experts at National University in collaboration with law enforcement and The Institute for Violence, Abuse, and Trauma developed the course curriculum.

Shelley Zimmerman, a chancellor appointee at National University and former San Diego police chief, endorsed the programs. “This past year has been an undeniably challenging time in the history of policing across our country, but with every challenge comes an opportunity,” said Zimmerman.

Zimmerman teaches and guest lectures on a variety of public safety and leadership topics.

GIRL SCOUTS LAUNCH SOCIALLY DISTANCED COOKIE PROGRAM

With our county in the purple risk level, San Diego’s young entrepreneurs are foregoing doorto-door and booth marketing this cookie season. Instead, they’re using both time-honored and innovative techniques in a socially distanced manner to provide a contactless cookie experience.

Customers have two new options to purchase Girl Scout Cookies this year, including a partnership that allows customers to order and

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pay for cookies through Grubhub’s websiteor app. “Girls are involved, gaining hands-on e-commerce experience by using Grubhub’s backend technology to track orders and manage inventory,” said Carol M. Dedrich, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts San Diego.

Through the new E2B (Entrepreneur-to-Business) initiative, corporations, departments, book clubs, service clubs, and other groups welcome a Girl Scout to one of their virtual meetings. She delivers a five-minute marketing pitch and provides a secure and personalized “Digital Cookie” website where the group can order and pay for cookies, and arrange for contact-free delivery or donation to deployed U.S. military troops. Girls hone their presentations and develop valuable skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, and business ethics. To schedule a presentation, email cookies@ sdgirlscouts.org with “E2B” in the subject line.

Cookie fans who know a Girl Scout may ask her about her Digital Cookie site. Others seeking cookies may visit sdgirlscouts.org/ cookies.

Paul United Methodist Church, San Diego, announced they have jointly awarded $52,500 in Racial Justice Grant funding to 10 local nonprofits that either engage in anti-racist policy advocacy, or provide direct services to People of Color in San Diego County.

The grants are part of a long-term commitment by the churches to anti-racist work throughout San Diego, which led to the establishment of their newly created Racial Justice Endowment.

The Endowment will announce their next grant cycle focus and open applications for it on April 1, 2021.

Grantees: • Pillars of the Community • San Diego Young Artists Music Academy • DETOUR (Depositing Empowerment through Outreadh and Urban Development) • The Blue Heart Foundation • San Diego chapter of the National Council of Negro Women’s Workshop • National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Delta Upsilon Chapter, San Diego’s Y.E.S. Program • Man Up Club at Wilson Middle School • Neighborhood House Association’s Project in-Reach • Mustard Seed Wood Inc. • SD Urban Warriors

USS GABRIELLE GIFFORDS RETURNS TO NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego on Sunday following a 17-month rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet and U.S. 4th Fleet areas of operation.

“I am incredibly proud of the Gabrielle Giffords team and all they have accomplished,” said Cmdr.

Rion Martin, the commanding officer of Gabrielle Giffords. “From Executive Officer to Culinary Specialist Seaman Norfleet, we have all led and followed one another.”

For more information on Gabrielle Giffords, visit https://www. public.navy.mil/surfor/lcs10/Pages/ default.aspx.

SAN DIEGO METHODIST CHURCHES AWARD $50,000 GRANTS TO NONPROFITS ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE

First United Methodist Church of San Diego, in partnership with St. @LocalUmbrellaMedia

REPORT FINDS $12 MILLION IMPACT OF LOCAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Legal taxation on cannabis yielded a combined total of more than $12 million to the cities of San Diego, La Mesa and Vista in 2019, according to an economic impact report on the San Diego cannabis industry by Cal State San Marcos’ College of Business Administration.

The report was developed by the CSUSM Office of Business Research and Analysis (OBRA) in partnership with Blue Water Government Affairs. The cannabis consulting group worked with OBRA, an office that unites faculty expertise with student researchers to produce business analyses, to collect data on the San Diego cannabis industry. The student team used public records from the three San Diego County cities that allow legal sales of recreational and medical cannabis to examine how it influences community finances, police enforcement and public health.

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■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ The report includes research on the diversity of the cannabis industry in the county, revealing that 68 percent of cannabis business license holders are white and 87 percent are male.

The report also explores recent studies conducted by the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) that show cannabis storefronts are not positively associated with increased crimal activity, as well as national research on the reduction of opioid overdose deaths in states with legalized medicinal cannabis.

CITY OF SAN DIEGO OFFERS LOW-INTEREST RATE LOANS TO HELP BUSINESSES ADAPT DURING PANDEMIC

In order to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of San Diego is providing access to financial assistance to cover expenses such as furniture, safety equipment, website development and digital marketing. The financial assistance, in the form of low-interest rate loans, is aimed at helping businesses adapt by moving their operations outdoors or expanding services online.

The city’s Economic Development Department (EDD) will be issuing business loans ranging from $25,000 to $95,000 to qualified businesses as part of the CARES Act Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

The non-forgivable, term loans are intended to help entrepreneurs adapt their business models to operating under pandemic restrictions while retaining or creating jobs. The City may only make RLF loans that are reasonably expected to be repaid in full.

“We hope many of the business that qualify will take advantage of this unique opportunity,” said Christina Bibler, director of the Economic Development Department. “We recognize many businesses are struggling with payrolls, overhead and other expenses as they try to adapt to changes in this new environment. As a City we want to stand by them to help them modify their businesses as they weather this economic storm in the hopes that brighter days are ahead.”

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The RLF loans come with a 3 percent fixed annual interest rate and a general term of 54 to 78 months, depending on the size and use of the loan. No payments or interest are accrued for the first six months and the range of loans available is between $25,000 to $95,000.

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ONE OF THE FASTEST RECOVERING AIRPORTS NATIONWIDE

San Diego International airport ranked 13 on the top 15 list of airports recovering the fastest from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new travel survey by FinanceBuzz based on U.S. Bureau of Transportation data.

“We are a year-long leisure destination. People want to come here because of our weather and beaches,” said Sabrina Lopiccolo, public information officer for the airport.

In the survey, April shows close to 40,000 departing passengers from the airport. Then in June, that number jumped to 200,000.

“In April, we were down like many other airports -- down 95 percent,” said Lopiccolo. “Month to date in October, we are down 68 percent.”

Lopiccolo added that as states have been lifting restrictions and more businesses have opened, air travel has increased.

LENNY LESZCZYNSKI NAMED CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEM

San Diego native Lenny Leszczynski, who joined the San Diego Automotive Museum as the executive director in January 2020, has been booted up to chief execu-

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tive officer. Leszczynski brings more than 25 years of nonprofit professional experience to the Automotive Museum. His experience also includes more than 15 years of developing, managing, and reporting budgets for community programs and over 10 years of fundraising experience.

Leszczynski prides himself on having advanced skills in organizational leadership, program development, fiscal management, fundraising, and forging community collaborations. He has a degree in Child and Adolescent Development from California State University Northridge and has a Master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership from WGU.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES HONORED FOR OUTREACH EFFORTS

The San Diego County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its outreach efforts in 2020 to be inclusive to all members of the diverse San Diego community.

Federal officials recognized the child Support department by highlighting their email flyer outreach program in the December/ January edition of Child Support Report, the official publication of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement.

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR CHANCELLOR OF SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT The search for the San Diego Community College District’s (SDCCD) next chancellor has been narrowed to four candidates with strong credentials in community college leadership.

Barbara Kavalier, president of St. Charles Community College in St. Charles, Mo., previously served as district president of Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.

Lee Lambert, chancellor of Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz., previously served as president of Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, Wash.

Pamela Luster, president of San Diego Mesa College, previously served as interim vice president of academic services/permanent vice president of Student Services at Las Positas College in Livermore, Calif.

Carlos O. Turner Cortez, president of the San Diego College of Continuing Education, previously served as vice president of instruction at Berkeley City College in Berkeley. @LocalUmbrellaMedia

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The board is aiming to make a final selection and announce the new chancellor in late March with the goal of having the new chancellor start July 1.

FORMER PROSECUTOR TO REVEAL ‘ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS’ San Diego County Credit Union will host “Online Romance Scams,” a complimentary educational webinar presented by former San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The online webinar format allows the community to attend from the comfort of their home and is part of SDCCU Financial Wellness Wednesdays, launched in partnership with the San Diego County Library System in support of Live Well San Diego.

Online dating has become increasingly popular among single men and women searching for love, but unfortunately, this popularity has also piqued the interest of scam artists. During the webinar, Greenwood will cover current scams, romance scams and strategies to protect yourself while online. Virtual seats are limited and registration is required. To register, visit sdccu.com/webinar.

BALLAST POINT BREWING CO. LAUNCHES ‘BREWING FOR DIVERSITY’ SCHOLARSHIP

Ballast Point announced the launch of the inaugural Brewing for Diversity annual scholarship initiative in partnership with the UC San Diego Extension Brewing Program. Ballast Point’s Brewing for Diversity scholarship seeks to advance diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the brewing community by providing avenues for education and opportunities for future professional employment.

The scholarship will grant underrepresented students the funds and tools they need to participate successfully in UC San Diego Extension’s Brewing Certificate Program.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply online between now and May 15 at extension.ucsd.edu/ brewing.

To learn more about the Ballast Point’s Brewing for Diversity Scholarship and how to apply, please visit, extension.ucsd.edu/brewing.

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:

Janet F. Williams’ latest romance novel is a dose of fun Staff Report

Close the cover on those old bodice rippers and make room on your nightstand for a growing genre: lesbian romances. Same-sex storylines are attractive to straight and LGBT readers alike, part of a billion-dollar business with dedicated imprints. San Diego County author, Janet F. Williams, whose novels are written under the pen name Zoe Amos, will release her latest book TALK TO ME (Sapphire Publishing) on March 1, 2021.

We had a chance to sit down with the author and discuss lesbian romance novels, coming out in midlife, and the wild world of radio talk shows. Find out how much of her upcoming novel is pure fiction and how much is drawn from Williams’ real life.

Tell us a little bit about your book, Talk to Me. Talk to Me is a lesbian romance that explores what it means to come out in midlife. The story starts when Claire applies for work at a fictional San Diego AM radio station to start a new life.

You might say Claire is “newly” gay; she’s already out and separated from her husband. She lands a job as a call screener and has no idea what’s she’s getting into with Marly, the lesbian hostess of the radio show, Gayline. At first, everything seems normal, but when Marly launches into outrageous dialogues, Claire realizes Marly is a shock jock! This is a huge departure from Claire’s former life as a housewife and mother of two older teens. She stays at her job because she can’t deny the attraction she feels to Marly, even while she struggles to settle her upended family relationships. Without saying too much, it’s an over-the-top comedy drama, and definitely follows the romance genre.

Why was it important to tell the story of a woman who comes out later in life?

I felt this should be talked about because it happens all the time and it’s a topic often side-stepped in the lesbian romances I’ve read.

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mid-40s, her children are mostly grown, and at her midlife stage, it’s not uncommon to take a look at who you are and reevaluate the direction of your life.

You were a radio co-host and have had relationships with men and women. How much of your own life did you draw on to develop your story and characters?

The radio aspect is closely tied to my own life.

Back in the mid-90s, I unexpectedly ended up learning board operations and then co-hosting a jazz program at KBNN for two years. Let me tell you, it was scary being on the air, but I figured it out and grew to like it a lot.

As for relationships, I always knew I was gay, but when I was young, I dated men because that’s what you did, and I liked men. I also had no idea how to find gay women. In adulthood I experienced a pronounced shift toward women, and on that gray scale we call sexuality, I’ve moved to a place where I’ve been exclusively interested in women for twenty-some years.

What do you hope readers will take away from Talk to Me? My primary objective is entertainment—I write stories I want to read. As an author, I know you have to rewrite and edit, rewrite and edit—it never stops, so you better like your story. Romances are often dominated by the same tropes. Instead, I had an idea for a lively original story where the protagonist had to resolve a strong family conflict in addition to her finding her way to the woman she desires. This story has elements anyone can relate to, no matter their sexuality, or even if they weren’t interested in romances. I think a lot of us could use a dose of fun right now and some extra love. I hope readers finish with a smile, a few warm fuzzies, and a better understanding that people often share the same emotions over life’s ups and downs.

Is this your first novel or do you have others?

I self-published a futuristic novella, Superior: Adventure Romance, that takes place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The romantic element is /LocalUmbrellaMedia

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affected by what I imagined could be a realistic, yet dysfunctional society by including the kinds of social division we’re seeing today, tied in with the effects of climate change. I’ve had short stories published in lesbian anthologies under Zoe Amos, my pen name, and others self-published.

They’re all available online.

I published You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get under my given name, Janet F. Williams. The book is about how to ask for what you want and increase your chances for getting it. Kirkus awarded it Best Specialized Instruction Book of the year. It won three awards and is popular because it’s still relevant today.

It’s not easy to get your book traditionally published. How did you do it?

I did a lot of research and Sapphire was my publisher of choice because they cater to the lesbian romance market. They put me under contract before assigning the book to their editor, another plus. It doesn’t always happen that way.

If you were casting the movie version of your book, who would play the leads and why?

For Claire, I’d say Sarah Paulson. She has this prim side, but can break out of it for her excitable moments. And for Marly, it’s gotta be Kate McKinnon with her crazy energy. Both of them have the comedic timing and versatility needed for the roles, for ad-libbing, and for when it gets serious. They’re the right age, both gay, which for the sex scenes, um, okay, I’ll just stop there.

What are you working on currently?

There’s the romance at the car dealership, the romance with corporate subterfuge, a road trip adventure, short stories, a non-fiction book on giving and a memoir. I’ve considered writing a prequel to Superior, which supposedly takes place after the Second Civil War. Yow! Maybe that was too prescient.

Where can readers find Talk to Me? It’s available for Kindle pre-order on Amazon and at sapphirebooks.com for a March 1st release, and will soon be available in paperback. ■ ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

D N A Z JAZ E T A E R C T E L BAL N I N O I T A V O N IN H G U O R H T C I MUS E C N A D San Diego is famous for its mild weather and beautiful beaches, but the local jazz and ballet communities do not draw as much attention.

However, that is changing with a synergistic collaboration between the San Diego Ballet (SDB) and our local jazz music community.

Under the direction of artistic director Javier Velasco, SDB has created new programs and commissioned original music for the enjoyment of local audiences. Most prominent among the works are two suites for dance, composed and performed by the legendary saxophonist Charles McPherson. An innovative recording of these original compositions is now available on a CD entitled Jazz Dance Suites.

Charles McPherson began his musical career under the tutelage of jazz pianist Barry Harris, and achieved fame playing alto saxophone with bassist Charles Mingus for 12 years. Charles then embarked on a successful solo career that continues to the present day. Charles has toured throughout the world and appeared on over 70 LP and CD recordings. In 1978 Charles moved to San Diego and lives here with his wife Lynn Sundfor-McPherson (a classical pianist and teacher), and their daughter Camille McPherson, a professional ballerina in her 9th season as a soloist with San Diego Ballet.

Charles’ collaboration with SDB began 5 years ago through their Jazz/Latin Series initially supported by San Diego Foundations Creative Catalyst grant. The end result, Jazz Dance Suites, is dedicated to and inspired by Camille.

Ballet is a traditional dance form from Europe that is usually associated with romantic era music such as Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake or LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com

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an Diego oloist with S S n o rs e h cP hnson Camille M Credit: Tariq Jo Ballet. Photo

The Nutcracker, and the dance and music tothe founder Rudy Van Gelder who was the gether often tell a story. Jazz is an American art recording engineer for many of the legendary form that evolved from blues, folk and other Blue Note jazz records in the late 1950s and popular music forms, and is often an abstract early 1960s. The recording is free from any form rather than attempting to tell a specific technical defects and the mix has perfect balstory. At first glance the combination of ballet ance of the instruments with the close presence and jazz may appear to be an odd couple, but that makes you feel like you are in the room the result that we hear (and seen in the live with the musicians. Any music or dance lovdance performances) is a complimentary relaer who seeks a high quality recording will be tionship that advances the boundaries of both pleased with the sound of this recording. dance and music.

Personnel: The British journalist and historian James Charles McPherson – alto sax Burke stated that new ideas and advancements Terrell Stafford – trumpet in human arts and sciences are the result of the Lorraine Theresa – voice interaction of ideas from separate and distinct Jeb Patton & Randy Porter – piano realms that combine to produce a new idea Billy Drummond – drums through their synthesis. Jazz Dance Suites sucDavid Wong – bass ceeds in this synthesis: it tells a story through Yotam Silberstein – guitar sound and dance, and is also thoroughly enjoyJazz Dance Suites has received a number able as abstract musical art that stands on its of awards including a Top Jazz Recording for own independent of the story.

2020 from DownBeat magazine, a Top 20 Jazz Jazz Dance Suites includes a variety of muRecordings of 2020 from Glide Magazine, one sical styles: Bebop jazz (that Charles is usually of the 10 Albums You Need To Know from associated with), beautiful ballads, Latin and JAZZIZ, and more: https://charlesmcpherson.

African influences, big band and a taste of com/reviews/ Middle Eastern scales and textures. It contains Wynton Marsalis, a longtime admirer said, a mix of composed melodies and improvised “Charles is the very definition of excellence in solos, with a variety of voice and instrumental our music. He’s the definitive master on his combinations. The compositions are new and instrument. He plays with exceptional harimaginative while respecting the jazz traditions monic accuracy and sophistication. He perof the past. Charles has brought together some forms free-flowing, melodic and thematically of the top jazz talent from both the East and developed solos with unbelievable fire and an West coasts to perform on the recording. unparalleled depth of soul.”

The audio quality of the recording is outFor more information on Jazz Dance Suites standing. Most of the tracks were recorded at and to order a CD or download digital files, the renowned Van Gelder Studio, named after please visit https://charlesmcpherson.com/store. /LocalUmbrellaMedia @LocalUmbrellaMedia ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com

February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

SOMETIMES JULIE

FEBRUARY 2021

BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD // MUSICSCENESD.COM

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? u o Y e r Where A Recording and releasing a new album can be a difficult proposition at the best of times, but the past year has seen even more challenges for musicians. Indie rockers Sometimes Julie, have just released their fourth album, Where Are You? with a video due soon for key track, “Own Kind of Savior,” but as with much of the world at the moment, it’s anything but business as usual.

“We are planning to get all of Sometimes Julie back together to rehearse as soon as we all feel safe, probably once we’ve all been vaccinated,” said singer Monica Sorenson. “The whole band hasn’t been together since March 2020, and I really miss my band family.” She notes the group, which features Sorenson (vocals) and songwriting partner Rick Walker (guitar) with Bruce Paul Allen (bassist), Anthony Sarain (keyboards, sax, flute), Alberto Moreno (lead guitar), and Dave Fuller (drums), has kept in touch with venues “so that we are ready to hit the ground running as soon as things open up again for live band performances,” she said. “Not being able to perform live has certainly been hard on us mentally and emotionally, but it is a small problem for us in comparison to what many other people are going through during the pandemic.”

The band has used recent downtime to

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work on Where Are You?, with a bit of luck early in the project. “We laid the foundation for the album in the months right before the first stay-at-home order,” Sorenson said. Sessions were held at Pacific Beat Recording Studio with Grammy winning producer Alan Sanderson (Rolling Stones / Fleetwood Mac) engineering.

“We are very fortunate to have been able to lay down the initial tracks then, because we have not been in the same room with everyone in the band since then,” she said. Completing the remaining overdubs, such as percussion, guitar solos, saxophone, etc., was accomplished with social distancing and isolation, or recorded remotely at band members’ home studios.

The mixing and mastering process was also affected by social distancing. “Andy Machin of Bigrock Studios did both remotely, with input from Rick and me on video conference calls. The process was unique, to say the least, but we couldn’t be happier with the results. The passion, and overall quality, really shines through,” Sorenson said.

Where Are You? is not named for a song, instead its title is taken from the second tune on the album, “Knew it All Along”, with lyrics written by Sorenson and Allen.

“This song, like so many of our songs, is a conversation,” she said. “In the moment

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

of the song, it is about two people trying to connect in a romantic way.

But the idea of the album is bigger than romance. With what is happening in the world right now, we can all be lost in our own minds, preoccupied or even willfully distracted.

The question “where are you?” re-

flects a hope for connection amid all of the noise.”

ing part,” she said. She notes that Walker handles the business side of things for the band. “Don’t get me Sorenson considers the music biz wrong - I want Sometimes Julie to to be difficult but ultimately rebe successful from a business standwarding. “I know there is a business point - but to me, true success is in side to music, but I really just stay creating something beautiful and focused on the creating and connect- meaningful, that people relate to and connect with. If we do that, then the rest will fall into place,” Sorenson said. “Every opportunity to create, record, and perform is a gift.” www.sometimesjulie.com

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s d or c e R ! g n a a T February, 2021 | VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2

San Diego has quite a few homegrown record labels, but one of the best known, Taang!, is actually a transplant.

Headquartered at their retail location, 3834 Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest, the label, which has 222 releases to date was founded by Curtis Casella in Boston, circa 1984, moving to San Diego in 1992. At least initially due to a local band.

“I originally came to sign (punk band) Battalion of Saints,” Casella said. At the time he had stores in Boston and Los Angeles. “They were open for seven years. I was tired of going back and forth, so I moved to L.A. where I had a DJ gig at the first online radio station, Spike Radio.”

stock of collectables and new bands as well as San Diego music from Buck O Nine to Frankie Laine.” The shop is indeed a treasure trove a collector could get lost in for days.

Does Taang! Have a particular sound?

“No,” said Casella. “We’ve put out a lot of different sounds over time; powerpop, glam, hardcore, shoe gaze, punk, ska, ambient and so on.”

The label has been largely focused on reissues in recent years, in fact one of their next releases is a Negative Approach demos collection, with upcoming Record Store Day releases set to include The Lemonheads, The Bruisers and Negative Approach. But they are still working with new talent. “We recently signed a band from Pittsburgh, While in San Diego to sign the band, Casella “found an abandoned building, Killer of Sheep,” Casella noted. with 706 as the address. 706 is the magic number for rock n roll,” he said. 706 When it comes to formats, Casella considers vinyl to be king. “It’s 85% vinyl Pismo Court in Mission Beach soon became legendary to music fans. “I was in the U.S. 10% CD and 5% cassette,” he pointed out. “It varies a little from drawn to it,” Casella said. “The area at country to country, but it’s in that the time was the wild west.” Casella range. That said, in Poland and Malaylived above the store. “I’ve got some sia cassettes are the favorites, believe it great memories in Mission Beach,”” or not,” he remarked good naturedly. he said. “Motorhead played a private party there. Sublime played our shop The next year sees Taang! busier than when we first opened.” ever. “Right now I’m pressing twelve Many of the labels touring bands were titles that have gone out of print in the past nine months ,” Casella said. “And regulars at defunct venue, Cane’s, including The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, then theres another twenty five that need to be pressed.” Indeed, the label Dropkick Murphy’s and Stiff Little has been so busy, some rumored plans Fingers. have been abandoned, but due to a Now located in Hillcrest, how import- good cause. “As far as the store goes, we were going to do a cafe in the back, ant is the store to the Taang! empire?

“The store sells all the titles of course, but at this point we have to expand the store,” Casella said as well as band merchandise,” Casella said. “But the store also has a large www.taang.com

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VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 2 | February, 2021

Beloved North Park venue, Queen Bee Art & Cultural Center needs our help! A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help keep the doors open, with a pair of fundraising events in the works, Charlie Arbelaez & Friends February 10 and a Valentine’s Vintage Sale on February 13. www. gofundme.com/f/savequeen-bees-for-the-loveof-the-arts

Music Notes

the February issue of iconic British Magazine, Mojo (#327).

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the same night. Rare Bird includes contributions from fiddler Bobby Furgo (Leonard Cohen, Nancy Sinatra) and guitarist Mike Butler (Billy Bob Thorton’s Boxmasters) with production from the late Grammy-winning producer David Bianco The album includes a live (Tom Petty, Lucinda Wilbonus track, “Straight to liams, Bob Dylan) and the Top.” 1960’s rockers Iron Butter- co-producer/engineer Ben fly’s In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Moore. The first single is New albums include: Chuck Charles – Hi Ya, album has been reissued “The Misfits.”

The Slashes - Embalmers as the latest in the MoBlues favorites Black Ratt frontman Stephen Blush, jazz guitarist Patbile Fidelity Sound Lab Market III will be feaPearcy will be filming rick Yandall - Someday tured on the Broadstairs Original Master Recordpart of his new docuseSomewhere, David Yuter – Blues Festival live stream ing Series Ultra Analog ries, Backstage Past, in Volume 1 from Broadstairs, U.K. the LP 180g Series San Diego this month. weekend of Feb. 19-21.

New Singles include: The L.A. Edwards song “Trou- Airing on ASY TV, the show will include a look Dreamcoats “Love Game” ble” was featured on the Deathgrind band Cattle & “Chill With You,” back at his days as a loCW series, Walker. The Decapitation have reStainGlass “Step Inside,” cal rocker with Mickey network also made a leased a new video, for custom music video with Ratt. Pearcy also recently alt rockers Sky Walker the song “Finish Them”.

“Orange and Gray,” Robreleased a video cover of clips from the show. A The track is from their Duran Duran’s “Girls on ert Rankin Walker with a new album is scheduled latest album, Death Atcover of 80’s classic “NoFilm.” for March. las and features footage where Girl,” originally of the groups 2019 tour Kenny Loggins has writby the British new wave of Australia. During the ten an exclusive tune, band B-Movie trek Cattle Decapita“The Great Advention raised more than ture,” for the San Diego $25,000AUD for the CoZoo Kids TV channel. bargo Wildlife Sanctuary, The non-commercial, to help with extensive closed-circuit TV netdamage done by bushwork will also be using fires that year. his “Danny’s Song,” “I’m Alright” and “Go Fish” for New Videos include: Alupcoming videos.

Scott Samuels is releasing most Monday – Live Forever, Hip Hop / rapper a new album, Sunshine Benjiboy Dom – “Filthy”, and Starlight, in March.

The first single is a cover indie combo Cambrian Shores – “So Fine” reof Bay City Rollers clascorded live at Rock ‘n’ sic “Rock and Roll Love Roll San Diego, Thea The Letter,” written by Tim Band – “The Worm,” WarMoore. ish - “Say To Please” Andra Day portrays jazz On March 12 Pacific Resinger Billie Holiday in cords is releasing Grapethe new film, The United fruit Moon: The Songs of States vs Billie Holiday. Out Country rock singer Sara Tom Waits (remastered) via Hulu on February 26 featuring legendary rock/ Petite releases a new alblues singer Southside Hot Snakes song “I Need bum, Rare Bird, on February 26, complete with a Johnny and LaBamba’s A Doctor” is the lead Big Band, led by tromvirtual release party live track on the free cover mountLOCAL CD included with from The /LocalUmbrellaMedia bonist Richie Rosenberg.

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