Simply San Diego January 2023

LIVING IN THE CITY: THIS FORMER CIVIL SERVANT’S NOW A DOWNTOWN SHUTTERBUG

Retired from city politics, Sal Giametta spends his days pointing a camera at faces and places in San Diego’s urban core

By Ron Donoho San Diego Sun

“Living In the City” is the San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A with downtown San Diego residents. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who live here. This is an ongoing series.

Name: Salvatore Giametta

Location: Currently live in TREO (owner) in the Columbia District. Previously lived in Columbia Place (still own) in the Marina District.

Personal deets: I’m a 62-year-old native son of San Diego and have lived downtown for 33 years.

Professional deets: Officially retired.

I’ve held three formal positions since graduating college (San Diego State University, 1984), and all were downtown and walking distance from home.

⊲ Office of Mayor Maureen O’Connor, City of San Diego, 1986 to 1992. (Starting as Assistant to the Mayor and ending as Deputy Chief of Staff.)

⊲ San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau (now the San Diego Tourism Authority), 1992 to 2009. (Starting as Director of Community Relations and ending as Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs.)

⊲ Office of Supervisor Ron Roberts, County of San Diego, 2009 to 2019. (Chief of Staff).

Hobby: Street photography. First picked up a camera in 2014, wanting to take images of everyday downtown life. I gravitate to street portraiture, where people and faces are central. Faces and expressions convey emotion and tell stories. Downtown is an animated environment and provides the perfect backdrop. Parades. Marathons. Concerts. Art exhibits. Street fairs. Political marches/rallies. My weekly go-to event is the Saturday Little Italy Farmers Market. (To see more photos, go to: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.

The Great Good Place: After college, I traveled extensively around the country and the world. I fell in love with what I found in cities: Density. It’s a four-letter word in California, though, where the common aspiration is a detached, single-family home in the suburbs. I’m attracted by the constant activity and hum of city life, the ease of movement and the sense of community and belonging in the inner city. It’s what sociologist Ray Oldenburg dubbed “The Great Good Place.”

During the mid to late 1980s, the City of San Diego and its redevelopment agency, the Centre City Development Corporation (now Civic San Diego), was hyping/promoting the ongoing revitalization of downtown as an exciting urban center where you could live, work and play. I bought into the dream after taking my first job in the mayor’s office and never looked back. What’s missing downtown? Density. We need a lot more people–residents and workers–to create that critical mass required of a truly vibrant, bustling city. We’re getting there, slowly. It will happen someday.

Best part of your building: The great sense of community among longtime owners/residents, as well as the dedicated, attentive and highly responsible TREO building management team.

Worst part of your location: The loud, early morning noise from trash haulers.

Best reason to live downtown: Convenient, efficient and engaging lifestyle, particularly for those who can live and work downtown.

Worst part of living downtown: Despite efforts of downtown improvement districts, neighborhood associations and building management companies, the task of maintaining clean streets and sidewalks is overwhelming. Two reasons: 1. Downtown’s large dog population (and I’m a dog person). 2. The ongoing challenges of a growing homeless population.

Getting around: Walking 70%; driving 25%; trolley 5%.

Scooters: I’m fine with scooters. Though I’ve never ridden one, I see their value to frequent users.

Parking advice: Good luck! (Just kidding.) On the west end of downtown (Columbia, Little Italy and the waterfront), there’s the County of San Diego parking garage. It’s available for public parking weekday evenings and all day on weekends and holidays, for a reasonable flat rate.

Coffee shop: Caffe Italia (1704 India Street) is a longtime favorite. Great coffee, friendly service and a loyal neighborhood clientele. Single cappuccino for me.

Lunch place: Puerto La Boca (2060 India Street) is an Argentinian restaurant in NOLI (North Little Italy). Welcoming staff, quiet ambiance (great for a lunch meeting) and wonderful food. Some of my favorites: Rabas Mixtas, Langostinos al Ajillo, Pulpo la Ribera, Pechugo de Pollo, Entrana.

Dinner fave: Athens Market (109 West F Street) is a classic Greek spot in the Marina District. Always a warm reception from longtime proprietor Mary Pappas and the dedicated staff. My go-to menu items: Lentil soup, Spanakopita, Grilled Baby Octopus, Horiatiki Salad, Chicken Souvlaki.

Bar(s): Dobson’s Bar & Restaurant (956 Broadway Circle) in the historic (1912) Spreckels Theatre in the Civic Core District. Beautiful majestic bar with Tiger oak and mahogany, and original tile floors. The restaurant’s quaint mezzanine dining room overlooks the bar below.

Princess Pub & Grille (1665 India Street) in the heart of Little Italy. Overflowing with British charm. A favorite hangout for international soccer and rugby fans. My favorite menu item (and one of San Diego’s best kept culinary secrets): the best fish tacos in town! Seriously. Try them.

Late-night stop-in: R&G Salumeria & Wine Bar ( 1445 India Street) in SOLI (South Little Italy). Family-run, featuring light Sicilian fare and wines. Cozy/intimate place with a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere and topnotch service. My favorite offerings: Burrata Caprese, Calabria flatbread, Mediterranean Salad, various pasta specials.

Comic-Con: The fun and excitement of Comic-Con is outside the convention center, outdoors and all around downtown.

Favorite downtown memories: The annual Holiday Bowl Battle of the Bands and Holiday Bowl Parade on the waterfront. The Carrera de los Muertos 5K run/walk at Embarcadero Marina Park South. The starting gun/kick off under the Little Italy sign for the annual Campagnolo Gran Fondo bike ride.

Parts of downtown to avoid: I don’t avoid any of the seven downtown neighborhoods. Each has a unique character and special offerings. Yes, homelessness can be found in every neighborhood. The largest concentration is in the Gaslamp Quarter and East Village. It has become increasingly awkward to take visitors/guests there. Especially visitors not accustomed to encountering babbling/incoherent souls experiencing emotional/mental distress or strung out on sidewalks. The sometimes overwhelming stench of urine is also not helpful.

Homelessness, continued: Sadly, it’s become part of the urban landscape that downtown dwellers/enthusiasts have learned to live with, not just here but across the country. Despite the efforts of local government leaders, dedicated nonprofits and caring homeless advocates, homelessness is here to stay. As a community, we must continue our efforts and support solutions designed to improve the plight and reduce the numbers of those suffering from homelessness, as well as lessen the negative impacts on surrounding businesses and communities left to grapple with the fallout.

City infrastructure: The infrastructure is in relatively good shape, save for the aging pipes below the city streets, resulting in occasional breaks. The City of San Diego has been doing a good job replacing them in recent years. The one major shortfall in infrastructure continues to be the lack of public restrooms.

Projects worth being excited about:

⊲ Metropolitan Transit System’s UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley extension. It runs from downtown to the UTC Transit Center and serves nine new trolley stations. Opened in November 2021.

⊲ UC San Diego Park & Market (East Village). Opened May 2022, it provides UCSD with its long-planned presence downtown and an important and prominent academic addition to the urban core.

⊲ The Campus at Horton. The massive, mixed-use project currently going up at the old Horton Plaza mall. Seven city blocks. Ten acres. One million square feet. Slated to open later this year.

⊲ IQHQ. Another massive, mixed-use development currently going up along Harbor Drive in what was formerly known as the Manchester Navy Broadway Complex. Billed as an R&D district (for life sciences). Opening date TBA.

SAN DIEGO NONPROFIT CALLS OUT POLITICAL INACTION ON HOMELESSNESS

The

By Ron Donoho San Diego Sun

Lucky Duck Foundation’s new “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks” list cuts hardest on the City of San Diego

The Lucky Duck Foundation has released its first-ever list of political entities it says demonstrate both “progress” and “ineffectiveness/inaction” when addressing homelessness in the San Diego area.

This b old new initiative by the nonprofit organization is called “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks.”

“ The current trajectory of homelessness and deaths on the streets in San Diego County is nothing short of a humanitarian, public health and public safety crisis,” says Lucky Duck Foundation executive director Drew Moser. “While some positive initiatives are happening, our elected officials must b e more swift and decisive in their approach in addressing unsheltered homelessness.”

The inaugural list of Shamrocks (positive progress) includes: the City of Chula Vista; the City of La Mesa; and one shared by San Diego County and the cities of San Diego, Oceanside and Vista.

Three Shipwreck (ineffectiveness/inaction) designations were given to: The City of Chula Vista; the City of San Diego; and one shared by the City and the County of San Diego.

Weighing positive and negative designations, the City of San Diego fares worst on the list.

“It’s fair to say the City of San Diego is the 800-pound gorilla–with the most homelessness and the most growth of homelessness,” Moser says.

In the past, the foundation and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s interactions in the press and on social media have been heated.

A war of words erupted this past September after a Lucky Duck press conference was held to announce the creation of Shamrocks & Shipwrecks.

NBA legend and San Diego native Bill Walton participated in the press conference and called the mayor “less than useless.”

The mayor subsequently accused Walton and Lucky Duck of disseminating false statements. Gloria has continuously pointed to a list of efforts and programs his administration has initiated to address homelessness.

The Shamrocks & Shipwrecks list went public on December 8, 2022, after feedback from the general public and a consensus

vote by members of The Tuesday Group, an ad hoc group of high-powered local business executives closely connected to The Lucky Duck Foundation, Moser says.

The Tuesday Group was founded by San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler and Feeding San Diego CEO Dan Shea.

The Shamrocks & Shipwrecks moniker is loosely modeled on the “Orchids & Onions” program run by the San Diego Architectural Foundation. That nonprofit annually selects go od and bad examples of recently designed buildings and public spaces.

Moser is not aware of any other foundation in the country that calls out positive

Lucky Duck’s September press conference included, from left: Bill Walton, Dan Shea and Drew Moser. (Photo by Sal Giametta)

Homeless tents line C Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues in downtown San Diego.

ERASE HATE SAN DIEGO

By District Attorney Summer Stephan

This month San Diego County is participating in the statewide United Against Hate Week campaign, an anti-hate awareness effort to call for local civic action to stop the hate and biases that pose a dangerous threat to the safety and civility of neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Unfortunately, hate crimes have increased across our nation, state, and region. By learning about hate crimes and how to stand against them and report them, we can make everyone safer.

For those who don’t already know, prosecuting and preventing hate crimes is a priority for me as District Attorney. In recent years, we’ve tripled the number of hate crimes prosecutions, sending an unwavering message that hate crimes will not be tolerated. Last year alone, we prosecuted 30 hate crimes cases, up from 21 in 2020.

our

•Sexual orientation

San Diego

We recognize the distinctive fear and stress suffered by victims of hate crimes, including the potential for reprisal, escalation of violence, and the far-reaching negative consequences that hate crimes have on our community.

A hate incident is an act, which is bias-motivated, but does not rise to the level of a hate crime. For example, if someone uses a racial slur against another it probably isn’t a hate crime, rather a hate incident. It’s important to understand the difference between an act that is understandably upsetting, and an act motivated by hate or bias that is a crime.

A hate crime is against an individual or property that is substantially motivated by bias against the victim’s:

•Race/ethnicity/nationality

•Religion

what to do:

•If you are seriously injured, call 911 or get to the hospital immediately.

•Whether or not you are injured, report the crime.

•To help yourself, it is important to do at least some of the following:

•See a doctor to treat and document even minor physical injuries.

•Take pictures of any physical injuries or damages to property, even if police already did so.

•If the crime is vandalism, let the police see and photograph the damage before you clean and/or repair.

•If possible, get witnesses’

As your District Attorney, I’m committed to increasing communication and accessibility between the DA’s Office and the public. I hope these consumer and public safety tips have been helpful.

names, addresses and telephone

working on the case and keep in

JANUARY 2023 EVENTS

January Holidays

1/1 New Year’s Day

1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Calendar sponsored by Aging Well Partners

Kids Marathon Mile

LEGOland California joins In Motion to host this special, 1-mile fun run for kids of all ages and abilities.

Location: LEGOland.

Info: www.inmotionevents.com/event/kids-marathon-mile 1/14 6:30 am

San Diego Resolution Run

Take strides to reduce your carbon & physical footprint at the San Diego Resolution Run 5K, 10K and ½ marathon! A healthier you can mean a lighter you – and a lighter footprint.

Location: Tecolote Shores.

Info: www.sandiegorunningco.com/sdrc_events/san-diegoresolution-run-5k-10k-half-marathon 1/14 7:30 am – 10 am

The Oddities & Curiosities Expo

For lovers of the strange, unusual, and bizarre… showcasing vendors, dealers, artists, and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird.

Fix Medical Group

Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds. Info: odditiesandcuriositiesexpo.com 1/14 10 am – 6 pm

Winter Bridal Bazaar

This is San Diego’s largest bridal show of the year, so you’ll find more variety, more choices, more inspiration to plan your day, your way.

Location: San Diego Convention Center. Info: www.bridalbazaar.com 1/15 9:30 am – 4 pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade

One of the largest celebrations of its kind in the US in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The parade is filled with dazzling floats, phenomenal High School Bands, Drill Teams, College Fraternities & Sororities, Churches, Peace & Youth organizations.

Location: Harbor Drive-Embarcadero.

Cannabis 21+

Info: www.sandiegoalphas.com/mlk-parade 1/15 2 – 5 pm

Carlsbad Marathon, Half Marathon, & 5K

The BEST and most scenic winter marathon and half marathon with the BEST swag. Miles and miles of breathtaking ocean views and outstanding course support stations and entertainment at every mile.

Borrego Springs Film Festival

An intimate vibrant festival in one of the most beautiful locations in the United States. An old-school film festival!

Location: Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center.

Info: www.borregospringsfilmfestival.org 1/12 – 1/16 various

Big Salsa Festival

A four-day Latin event featuring some of the greatest names in performing arts and music! Each day is packed with dance classes, amazing performances, live band concerts, and Latin dance parties into the early morning hours.

Location: Marriott Mission Valley.

Info: www.bigsalsafestival.com/san-diego 1/13 – 1/16 Fri 11 am – 4 am, Sat & Sun 9 am – 4 am

Location: the Shoppes at Carlsbad. Info: www.carlsbadmarathon.com 1/15 6:15 am

33th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration

Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a family event with live music, guest speakers, vendors, and more.

Location: WorldBeat Center, Balboa Park. Info: www.worldbeatcenter.org/event/34th-annual-martin-lutherking-day-celebration 1/17 1 – 4:30 pm

San Diego Lunar New Year Festival

Celebrate the New Year with us in a festive environment with dragon and lion dances, firecrackers, games, food, and more!

Location: Officer J. Henwood Memorial Park. Info: www.lunarnewyearfestival.org 1/20 – 1/22 times tba

Jurassic Quest

The world’s largest, most popular dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family.

Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds. Info: www.jurassicquest.com 1/20 – 1/22 Fri & Sat 9 am – 8 pm, Sun 9 am – 6 pm

Monster Energy Supercross

The world’s best two-wheel racers converge for a night of nonstop action!

Location: Snapdragon Stadium. Info: www.supercrosslive.com/tickets/san-diego-ca/jan-21-2023 1/21 6:30 pm

Farmers Insurance PGA Open

San Diego’s premier PGA Tour event returns! Whether you join us for our Full Field Days to watch the pros take on the North and South Courses, or enjoy our Championship Days to witness the battle for

first, we can’t wait to see you at Torrey!

Location: Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Info: www.farmersinsuranceopen.com 1/25 – 1/28 Wed & Thu 9 am, Fri & Sat 9:30 am

San Diego Tết Festival

The annual festival is celebrating the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit! There will be attractions, activities, games, food, and live entertainment.

Location: Mira Mesa Community Park.

Info: www.sdtet.com

1/27 – 1/29 times tba

San Diego Cat Show

The Super Bowl of cat competition, plus vendors, and cats & kittens looking for new homes!

Location: Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Info: www.sandiegocat.org

1/28 – 1/29 Sat 10 am – 5 pm, Sun 9 am – 5 pm

SAN DIEGO COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS

(updated 10/3/2022)

MONDAY

Escondido 3-7pm

8860 Lawrence Welk Dr.

TUESDAY

Coronado 2:30–6pm

1st St. & B Ave.

Escondido 2:30pm-Sunset 200 N. Juniper St.

La Jolla 10am-2pm (Sep-Jun)

UCSD Town Square

Mira Mesa 3–7pm (Feb-Oct), 3-6pm (Nov-Dec)

Mira Mesa High School

Otay Ranch 4-8pm (7pm during COVID)

Birch Rd. & Eastlake Blvd.

Pacific Beach 2-7pm

Bayard & Garnet

San Marcos 3-7pm

250 North City Dr.

WEDNESDAY

Carlsbad Village 3–7pm (Mar-Oct), 3-6pm (Nov-Feb)

State St. & Carlsbad Village Dr.

Little Italy Mercato 9:30am–1:30pm West Date St.

Ocean Beach 4-7pm (Oct-Mar), 4-8pm (Apr-Sept)

4900 Newport Ave.

Santee 3–7pm (Mar-Oct), 2:30-6:30pm (Nov-Feb)

Carlton Hills Blvd. & Mast

South Bay 3-7pm

4475 Bonita Rd.

THURSDAY

Linda Vista 12-6pm

6931 Linda Vista Rd.

North Park 3–7:30pm

North Park Way & 30th St.

Oceanside 9am–1pm

Pier View Wy & Hwy. 101

Scripps Ranch 3-7pm

10045 Carroll Canyon Rd.

FRIDAY

Borrego Springs 7-10am (May-Oct), 7am12pm (Nov-Apr)

Christmas Circle

Imperial Beach 2-7pm (Apr-Oct), 2-6pm (Nov-Mar)

Portwood Pier Plaza

La Mesa 3-7pm

La Mesa Blvd.

Rancho Bernardo 9am–1pm Bernardo Winery

SATURDAY

City Heights 9am-1pm 4300 Wightman St. Del Mar 12–4pm

1050 Camino Del Mar Fallbrook 9am-1:30pm 100 S. Main Ave.

Little Italy Mercato 8am–2pm West Date St.

Mission Valley 8:30am-12pm 7960 Civita Blvd.

Poway 8am–1pm

Old Poway Park

Rancho Penasquitos 9am-1pm 9400 Fairgrove Ln.

Santa Ysabel 10am–6pm

21887 Washington St. Vista 8am–12pm

Melrose Dr., S. of Hwy 78

SUNDAY

Chula Vista 10am-2pm

300 Park Way Hillcrest 9am–2pm

3960 Normal St.

La Jolla 9am–1pm

Girard Ave. & Genter St.

Leucadia 10am–2pm

185 Union St.

Rnch Santa Fe 9:30am–2pm

16079 San Dieguito Rd.

Santa Ysabel 10am–6pm

21887 Washington St.

Solana Beach 12-4pm 444 S. Cedros Ave.

Things are changing daily! For more info and location specifics for San Diego County Farmers Markets visit: sdfarmbureau.org or cdfa.ca.gov

SANTEE MOM HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN FOSTERING

Rachel McKee Selected as Foster Family of the Month

Rachel McKee knew that she and her 12-year-old son Nixon were up for the challenge of serving as a resource family. She has been a kindergarten teacher for six years. Nixon was very open to the idea of helping infants and toddlers who needed a safe, loving home while their parents took the time that they needed to get their lives on track. But Rachel wasn’t sure that Angels Foster Family Network would approve her application, because she is a single mother who works full time.

Thankfully, Rachel attended an information session and discovered that Angels welcomes all people who meet the health and safety criteria, and go through the rigorous screening, training, and certification process. Angels resource parents are singles, same-sex couples, newlyweds, large traditional families, empty nesters, and retirees. Angels is not affiliated with any religious organization.

Rachel’s sister Richelle fostered through Angels and it got Rachel to thinking about it. She had love to give to children, so why not apply? Two years later, Rachel and Nixon have welcomed six children into their lives, including two siblings who are currently with them.

First came an infant who stayed with them for 10 days before going to live with his aunt. Then, a set of boy siblings – a toddler, who was soon followed by a newborn.

Next came a 3-year-old boy who was initially shy, but after just a few days with Nixon and his cousin Austin he was building with blocks, playing with toys, dancing and rapping. “He was such a sweet boy with good man-

ners,” Rachel says. He was placed with an aunt after a weeklong stay with Rachel and Nixon. “The boys were disappointed that he left so soon, but I reiterated to them that these children are not ours,” Rachel says.

For the last year, Rachel has fostered 2-year-old “Kruz.” Her sister, “Baby,” followed six months later.

Rachel says one of the things she enjoys most about fostering is watching the children grow more comfortable and secure. When Kruz arrived, she had a tough time. “She screamed and cried a lot, woke up and went to sleep angry, and was physically delayed,” Rachel explains. Kruz only began walking when she was 18 months old. Prior to that she crawled or walked on her knees. Now she sits in her soft chair with her feet kicked up or snuggles on the couch. “She’s excited to see her mom, so she’s comfortable in both environments,” Rachel says.

Rachel’s son Nixon, says of the foster placements, “I’m happy they have somewhere to go and I like hanging out with them.” His favorite thing to do with the children is read the ‘Brown Bear’ books to them. “Nixon has always been good with kids,” his mother adds.

Rachel is also extremely proud of the parents of the children she has cared for. “A lot of people think that kids come into foster care because their parents are horrible and terrible people, but everyone makes mistakes,” she says. The mother of one of Rachel’s first placements was extremely grateful and said she considered her part of her family. “One of the best parts of fostering is being excited when the parents meet their goals, do better, and get their kids back,” Rachel says.

Courtesy photo: Rachel McKee and her son Nixon love fostering infants and toddlers through Angels Foster Family Network

CANNABIS PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

December 15, 2022

London, United Kingdom: Patients with post-traumatic stress experience symptom improvements following the use of cannabis products, according to data published in the journal Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics.

British investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of cannabis products in 162 PTSD patients with a physician’s authorization. Study subjects were participants in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Study participants consumed either cannabis extracts or THC-dominant flowers for a period of six months

Authors reported that patients showed “statistically significant improvements” in a variety of domains, including sleep, anxiety, and stress. Self-reported adverse events were typically mild in severity.

“This observational study suggests an association between CBMP [cannabis-based medicinal products] treatment and improvement in PTSD-specific, HRQoL [health-related quality of life], sleep, and anxiety outcomes at up to 6-month follow-up,” they concluded. “CBMPs were well-tolerated and adverse events manageable.

… [T]his study can serve to inform future randomized placebo-controlled trials with the aim of confirming these promising effects, whilst informing current clinical practice.”

Observational studies assessing the role of cannabinoids in mitigating symptoms of PTSD have generally yielded mixed results. A 2021 clinical trial reported that the inhalation of marijuana flowers provided limited benefits compared to a placebo in treating symptoms of PTSD.

CONSUMPTION OF COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CBD PRODUCTS ASSOCIATED WITH PERCEIVED IMPROVEMENTS IN PAIN, ANXIETY, SLEEP, AND WELL-BEING

December 15, 2022

Los Angeles, CA: Subjects who consume commercially available CBD products report improvements in their overall well-being as compared to those taking a placebo, according to data published in the journal Integrative Medicine Reports.

A team of investigators affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles and

with the Scripps Institute assessed the health and safety of 13 commercially available CBD products in a cohort of over 2,800 participants. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume either CBD or a placebo for a period of 4 weeks.

Researchers reported: “Well-being, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain significantly improved among those assigned to take a CBD product relative to waitlist controls. Among those assigned to a CBD product, the percentage of individuals with a given condition who experienced an improvement which could be considered clinically meaningful or important was 46.6 percent for anxiety; 47.9 percent for sleep disturbance, and 35.2 percent for pain. … [A]ll products in the study exhibited a favorable safety profile; no severe side effects were reported.”

They concluded: “Our results suggest that the commercially available CBD products included in this study are safe and may serve as potentially effective complementary therapies for management of anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain. These effects appear independent of the prior CBD use and product spectrum.”

Prior analyses of commercially available CBD products have raised concerns about their purity and potency. Survey data compiled by the National Consumers League in 2020 determined that more than eight in ten US voters desire greater federal regulatory oversight over the labeling and marketing of commercially available CBD products.

LIVING IN THE CITY: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE COUGAR OF COMEDY

Comedian Jillie Reil and her dog, Chardonnay, prowl San Diego’s Little Italy streets in search of wine and good times

By Ron Donoho San Diego Sun

“Living In the City” is the San Diego Sun’s feature Q&A with downtown San Diego residents. It’s a way to get to know the city by meeting the people who live here. This is number 25 in an ongoing series.

Name: Jillie Reil

Location: Hanover Little Italy

Personal deets: Born in Delano, Minnesota. Lived in San Diego for two years then moved to Los Angeles. Came back to downtown San Diego’s Little Italy in June 2022.

Work deets: I’ve been doing legal work all my adult life and am a consultant in legal operations for tech companies. I’ve also been an actress and standup comedian known as The Cougar of Comedy® for more than 10 years. I perform in shows around the country and produce some shows locally as well as appear in TV, film and on radio.

But seriously: My jokes don’t translate well in written form and certainly aren’t PG. I can tell you that my favorite jokes are personal and revolve around being a cougar (preferring to date younger men), dysfunctional dating and cosmetic surgery.

Pets: My dog, Chardonnay. (I’ll let you guess my favorite wine.) I talk to her all the time. She’s a three-year-old rescue from Tijuana. She’s half Cocker Spaniel and part Pug and Mini Schnauzer. Chardonnay loves the Little Italy Dog Park. So much that she harasses me most days until we go. If we’re out near the dog park she knows exactly where it is and pulls in that direction. If we’ve been in a restaurant or café that has fed her she’ll pull me inside it. These tend to be places with coffee or wine–so I don’t put up much of a fight.

Why live downtown: Working remotely lets me maintain a car-less lifestyle. I also love walking to the waterfront, dog parks/care, fitness, beauty treatments, restaurants, bars, events and comedy clubs. I switch up my schedule based on my video meetings. And I like to fit Pilates (Vai Fitness) and bike classes (Pure Indoor Cycling) into my day.

Best part of downtown living: There are so many cool things to do and see that are so convenient from this location. There is so much

comedy nearby, with fantastic producers that put on solid shows at private venues! It is also very easy to get anywhere via walking or rideshare. And the train and the airport are close, too.

Worst part: There can be unwanted activity, crime, human waste and debris on the streets. Walking at night can be unsafe. It all doesn’t really bother me, but the overhead plane noise in Little Italy can be pretty intense.

Currently streaming: The White Lotus and Yellowstone.

Transportation breakdown: 75% walking; 25% rideshare.

Scooters: I’m clumsy and they scare me. Almost been hit by people not obeying traffic laws or controlling their e-scooter.

Best aspect of your building: It’s brand new, modern and full of dogs. The rooftop has the most amazing 360-view of the bay and the city.

Worst aspect: Hanover Little Italy is not really in Little Italy…and on weekends and holidays it can get pretty crowded on the rooftop with guests. Also, you have to be careful what you might step into when you leave the building.

Favorite coffee shop(s): I always order a small mocha with an extra shot. Based on quality, Blue Bottle, Pappalecco, Lofty Coffee and Achilles Coffee are my favorites.

Brunch place(s): Café 21 is inspired by Azerbaijan, with very unique omelets and elaborate Bloody Marys and mimosas. Zinque (French) also has a really great brunch menu and atmosphere.

Dinner spot(s): Barbusa has the best Italian. Camino Riviera has a really cool vibe and spin

on Mexican. Nolita Hall and Kettner Exchange are beautifully decorated with great tapas style offerings.

Best bars: The Local is a great sports/casual bar with fantastic customer service. Wolfie’s Carousel Bar actually spins, so that’s fun for a drink. False Idol (a Craft & Commerce speakeasy) is a rainforest experience with tiki bar themed drinks. Trailer Park

After Dark is a downstairs bar that is themed redneck, and it does not disappoint.

Spur of the moment decision: My girlfriend and I made a last-minute decision to attend the Stadium Tour (Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison and Joan Jett), because we were bored at another event. We were wearing cocktail attire. We didn’t fit in, but somehow got floor tickets from the box office at the last minute and had all kinds of people buying us drinks.

Scary moment(s): Had a group of men point me out and follow me in broad daylight while walking Chardonnay. And, as a pedestrian you have to be very careful in the crosswalk. I’ve come way too close to getting hit more than once.

Comic-Con: When Comic-Con (and I) were very young, I played a Marilyn Monroe impersonator for Leo Hamel & Co. even though I’m very tall and I was at my thinnest as a model at the time.

Padres games: Padres games and fans are fun, but getting out of the games is an adventure. Half the time it’s just easier and more fun to walk and bar hop all the way home than try to catch a car.

Favorite event: I headlined and produced a few shows at the Laugh Factory–those were a blast.

Cost of living: This is the most expensive rent I have paid in my adult life for a one bedroom apartment. But that could be the economy. I would say food and drink is higher downtown than a lot of other places in San Diego.

Closing advice: Weekend days are very busy in Little Italy. Be careful where you park your car, and find an indoor lot for overnight parking. Make dinner reservations, especially in Little Italy. Kitchens close at 10 or 11 p.m.

Want to tell your downtown San Diego “Living In The City” story?

Email rondonoho@gmail.com.

Doing standup at Pali Wine Co.

Chardonnay on the computer.

Reil hanging out at Trailer Park After Dark.

Cougar of Comedy Jillie Reil.

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It is impossible to make any home totally accident-proof, so that should not be the main goal of home modification. Instead, the emphasis should be on preserving & strengthening an older adult’s existing capabilities (& anticipating future limitations ). Furthermore, the homeowner(s) must recognize & accept the need for modifying their house & should be involved as much as possible in the process.

REPRESENTING AMONG THE STARS

Engineer Kat Echazarreta inspires from groundbreaking heights

By Nicolle Monico

SCROLLING TIKTOK ONE NIGHT, I came across a video of a little girl watching her mom’s laptop. The child was only half-interested in what was being displayed, music from The Little Mermaid playing in the background.

And then, she stopped all activity and her tiny eyebrows raised. It’s subtle, but her surprise is there. A brown-skinned Ariel had appeared on screen and looked exactly like this little girl—a first for the classic character and the little girl watching it.

Next year, the live-action remake of the 1989 movie will feature an African American actress, Halle Bailey, as Ariel. It’s not only heartwarming, it’s historic. It took Disney 55 years before they introduced a non-white princess, and 70 years before a Black one made her debut in 2009. There are hundreds of these videos, with children lighting up over seeing themselves on the big screen.

This past June, 26-year-old Katya Echazarreta made history when she became the first Mexican-born woman and the youngest woman to travel into space. A San Diego City College alumna and Chula Vista resident, she broke through the earth’s atmosphere aboard Blue Origin on behalf of Space for Humanity, a Denver-based space exploration interest group.

“I don’t really know how it started. I feel like maybe one person started it and then we all just sort of joined in, but every number that went down, we would get louder and louder and louder,” says Echazarreta recalling the moments before blast off.

When I first heard Echazarreta’s story, it reminded me of what I had experienced earlier that summer while watching the Jennifer Lopez

documentary on Netflix, which chronicled her fight to be heard in the industry as a Hispanic woman. It’s the same feeling I had watching her halftime performance with Shakira at the Superbowl in 2020.

I felt seen.

It matters that Echazarreta dons the cover of magazines; that her story is told over, and over, again. It matters that I write it as a first-generation American and Latina. For BIPOC people, our starting line is often 400 meters behind everyone else’s. But stories like hers, and the countless others who have accomplished the seemingly impossible, remind us that our goals—while harder and often requiring more work—are still obtainable.

Echazarreta’s time in space was quick, a total of 12 minutes from takeoff to landing; but her path to the stars took much longer.

Early Obstacles

“My first memory is coming to our first home in Tijuana, after we got off the plane,” says Echazarreta, who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. “The house was empty, so my parents just put together a whole bunch of blankets and comforters on the floor... We all just huddled up on the blankets with our little airplane sandwiches.”

A few years later, when she was nearly eight years old, Echazarreta and her family moved to the U.S. They found a home in Chula Vista, where she remained through high school before attending San Diego City College.

She had always assumed she’d attend a fouryear school and eventually end up in outer space. A driven child, she excelled in her studies. It was never a matter of if she’d go but rather, where. But her parents divorced that year, and the money was no longer there.

So, she did what is normal (and often cultural-

ly expected) in Hispanic families, especially for daughters: she put family first. She stayed local, supporting her mom and caring for her siblings. It was “an opportunity,” she recalls, to adjust her plans, but not to abandon them completely.

“From a very young age, [my mom] always led me to believe that I could do whatever I wanted—that it was really up to me,” says Echazarreta. “I just told myself, ‘Okay, you have an opportunity to go as far as you want to, so let’s take advantage of that.’”

The College Years

Three years later, Echazarreta was accepted to UCLA in 2016 and continued her path toward an electrical engineering degree. But she quickly learned that what had come easy to her in the past would no longer be the case.

“One of the hardest things I had to deal with at UCLA [was that] I was average, and sometimes I was not even average. Sometimes I was lucky just to pass,” she says.

Her health and well-being quickly took a turn. She wasn’t sleeping, wasn’t eating well, and when she would spend 30 minutes in the cafeteria, she’d beat herself up for not using that time to get her grades up.

“You definitely reach these moments where you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, for so long I thought this was going to happen. And yet, everyone in this room is ten times better than me, and I don’t know if I belong here,’” says Echazarreta.

She had a choice to make. Give up and settle for the status quo, or fight like hell to get to where she’s headed. She fought. She turned her GPA around from a 2.8 to a 3.8 by realizing she needed to prioritize her health and mental well-being as much as she prioritized good grades. She slept, ate well, and regained her confidence again to pursue her goal: NASA.

Editors note: This article first appeared in San Diego Magazine and is reprinted with permission of publisher.

The Opportunity of Rejection

During her first summer at UCLA, she had wanted to apply for an internship with NASA but feared rejection. Though she did eventually try and wasn’t selected, her fears were confirmed. So, instead, she took a job at McDonald’s and acted as if she had been accepted. Following her daytime shifts at the fast food restaurant, she took on projects that would give her an edge over other candidates and learned all that she could about space in the evenings.

That fall, she began attending conferences to meet with recruiters and again applied to NASA for the JPL Summer Internship Program. It was around six months before she heard back. She recalls her interviewer giving her one critical piece of advice, regardless of whether she was accepted this round.

“He said, ‘You belong here at JPL,’” she says. “When I heard that, it just took everything in me to not immediately start crying because of… everything else that I had gone through with my family and community college, and feeling like I was crashing and burning at UCLA. So those words really just set me off for the rest of my career.”

She got in.

Reaching the Stars

After some time as an intern, Echazarreta transitioned into a full-time engineer for NASA. In 2022, she was chosen among 7,000 applicants to become Space for Humanity’s first “Citizen Astronaut.”

On June 6, her childhood dreams were finally realized as she zipped up her now famous blue astronaut suit and climbed aboard the New Shephard spaceship.

Three… Two… One…

“The rocket starts to vibrate underneath you and you see orange all around your windows,” she says of moving vertically through the sky. “It felt like a slow ride.” Of course, it’s actually only minutes long. You pass through the first set, then the next, then blue skies, and finally, darkness. You’re in space.

“You feel like everything’s upside down; your body is telling you everything’s upside down,” remembers Echazarreta. “Your blood is not flowing normally. And so it all kind of pools; it feels like it’s all pooling up in your head. So you kind of feel like you would when you do a headstand.” And when headed back to earth, our bodies weigh five times their normal weight—you’re paralayzed, only for a few moments. “I couldn’t even open my eyelids,” she shares.

When Echazarreta first started applying to NASA, she knew she wanted to embody representation for Mexican women, specifically. She knew that just because someone’s starting line was further back, it didn’t mean they’d already lost the race.

“I am someone who has had to go through a lot of different things in order to get to where I am—not only financially and mentally, but also I’ve had to deal with a lot of things like racism and sexism,” says Echazarreta. “People who look at me and what I’m doing and automatically assume due to their own internal, unconscious biases that I have gotten there because of a certain type of handout.”

She finishes our interview with a word of advice for anyone doubting that they can accomplish their goals, for those seeing the obstacles as dead ends rather than reroutes. And for those who are struggling through minimum-wage jobs while taking care of a family and working late nights to keep up their studies:

“Someone is going to get to be that singer. Someone is going to get to be that person that goes into space. So, it’s up to you, whether that someone is you or not.”

Prior to Echazarreta, Mexico had only sent one other person into space. She is seen here with Victor Correa Hespanha, the second Brazilian to fly to space.

Presents

MUSICSCENESD.COM

MUSICSCENESD

BY BART MENDOZA

The Trebels / Casbah Reunion!

Though they ultimately only released a single 45 and a few compilation album tracks, there can be no doubt that for a time, circa the mid to late 1980’s, The Trebels were one of the hottest bands in town. They got their start in the San Diego’s teen clubs of the day, drawing mods, punks, roots rockers and anyone who enjoyed their barroom R&B authentic and gritty. I had the pleasure of both booking them as well as playing on the same bills, and can attest to the fact that onstage they never gave less than 200%. The band was a four headed juggernaut, with each member vital to the band’s energy. Vocalist Jay Wiseman, guitarist Xavier Anaya, bassist Oscar Barajas and drummer John Chilson have all gone on to enough bands and releases to start their own wing of Discogs, but it all started in Imperial Beach with The Trebels, 1981 to 1991.

On January 21, The Trebels will play their first show in decades at The Casbah, topping a great bill that also includes The Loons, Alvino & The Dwells and DJ Tony The Tyger.

Wiseman moved to Melbourne, Australia in 2000 with his wife Mirella Belsito. “It’s actually a really great music town,” he said. “I guess we moved here, mainly because of me, because I wanted a major change scenery, and we both wanted a change. We now have two kids, so I guess you can say we have settled down.”

As for what inspired this reunion?

“Essentially it was my return to visit the United States,” Wiseman said. “Everybody involved thought it would be fun as we always enjoyed playing together , but more so with other people. Frankly we kinda wanted to keep it low key, but eventually we had to expand the idea. We had planned on doing one in 2019, but Covid happened.”

Fans will be happy to hear all four original members are due to take part, with later guitarist Jim Davies also likely to join in on a few tunes. According to Wiseman, despite the distance the concert wasn’t hard to organize. “The show didn’t take that much effort,” he noted. “Rehearsalthat is

another thing. We’ll get together and run through the material. It should be rather like riding a bike...in theory.”

The Trebels were together roughly a decade, coming together by happenstance when Wiseman was looking for musicians for his own project. “I met the rest of the Trebels one day when my other band was rehearsing,” he rcalled. “We were looking for a bass player and heard this band from a couple of blocks away in our hometown, Imperial Beach. We went to investigate and possibly poach the bass player. We knocked on the garage door and I recognized guys from my school, Mar Vista High.” Little did he know that Xavier, Oscar and John had been playing together for at least a year or so. “We listened to what they were doing and I knew one of the songs they were playing, a Yardbirds / Bo Diddly tune, I think it was “Here ‘Tis.” I joined in on harmonica and they ended up asking me if I could sing. I never had, but I tried and it worked. They asked me if I wanted to join - that’s it.”

There were numerous highlights in the bands decade together. “Playing in San Francisco was always a rave,” Wiseman said. “They seemed to get us. Chris Issak was a hoot. Your “New Sounds of the 60s” shows were always alot of fun.” One notable show for The Trebels was opening for Chuck Berry at the Bacchanal on August 16, 1990. “He was a bit grumpy, but we got to shake his hand, get autographs and say “hi”- as well as side stage access. It was something I can tell my kids about,” he said.

Looking back how does he feel about that time in San Diego’s music scene and his own musical development? “The local music scene was fundamental for us,” he said. “Manual Scan gave us our very first show that wasn’t a party and I really do appreciate the fact. The 60s/Mod scene gave us our first home and welcomed us,” he continued. “It was really strange to meet others who were like “us” – as we felt like aliens from outer space in Imperial Beach. The first time I heard the Crawdaddys, it was like clap from the

heavens for me. Sheer talent. God – how could somebody want to do exactly what I wanted to do? But better? LOL. We had a lot to be proud of as San Diegans. Your “New Sounds of the 60s” - huge. One of the first large-scale 60s inspired shows.” He considers that success for musicians isn’t always just financial. “As you know not many made a lot of money, but it truly inspired many people around the world, as I can vouch for.”

Beyond The Trebels reunion, Wiseman is still playing and touring with his band, Thee Wylde Oscars. “We’re planning on a new release in 2023 and tour in 2024,” he said. “It actually is exciting as we’re taking a lot of musical risks this time. We just have to see which labels are willing to go along.” For his part, Wiseman is looking forward to the show. “It’ll be good to get back with the guys and feel that backbeat take hold. Nothing is better than when you get that groove going,” he said. “I just want people we know to hear that from us once again. It’ll be like coming home.”

www.theewyldeoscars.bandcamp.com

Steve Rosenbaum / Cool Summer, Big Stir

Summer! Summer-Pop

& 4-Track Gems 1979-1989, in 2001. Collecting demos recorded during the years mentioned, it’s full of gems, with plenty of powerpop and rock and roll evocative of the era. Asked to describe his sound, Rosenbaum laughs. “Hah. That’s always tough. Elvis Costello meets Tommy Roe meets Brian Wilson meets Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky,” he said. Released by Dead Media Tapes, Have A Cool Summer brought Rosenbaum acclaim, but was only issued on 8-track and reel-to-reel tape. Now, Big Stir Records is reissuing the album for its first ever digital / wide release.

The current drive to find unreleased gems from unsung musical heroes of yesteryear, truly struck gold with the release of Steve Rosenbaum’s Have A Cool Summer! Sum-mer-Pop Demos & 4-Track lost classics1979-1989, in 2001. Collecting demos recorded during the years mentioned, it’s full of gems, with plenty of powerpop and rock and roll evoc-ative of the era. Asked to describe his sound, Rosenbaum laughs. “Hah. That’s always tough. Elvis Costello meets Tommy Roe meets Brian Wilson meets Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky,” he said. Released by Dead Media Tapes, Have A Cool Summer brought Rosenbaum acclaim, but was only issued on 8-track and reel-to-reel tape. Now, Big Stir Records is reissuing the album for its first ever digital / wide release.

Rosenbaum arrived in San Diego at the very end of 2000. “My wife, Mamatha, and I were living in Maryland and growing tired of the gray skies,” he said. “She and I found jobs here in San Diego and we never looked back. I cannot imagine living anywhere else.”

Rosenbaum’s interest in music was piqued as a child by Saturday morning TV cartoons. “Quite frankly, I was not particularly interested in music as a young kid until two things happened,” he recalled. “The first was the endlessly fascinating (to me) Banana Splits TV show. For those who are too young to know, they were a “pre-fab four” group, kind of like the Monkees, but made for an even younger audience. They were presented as four characters in full body suits; a gorilla, a dog, a lion, and an elephant.” The afore mentioned Fleegle, Bingo, Drooper, and Snorky had a Saturday morning show where they ran around an amusement park and told silly jokes. “There was always a music segment where they played a song and some of those were quite good. I still have their vinyl album. The second thing that happened was me getting a plastic guitar as a gift. I would not let go of that thing. After a year or so, I begged my parents for lessons on a real guitar.”

Chicago and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Then, prog and fusion - Genesis, Yes, The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Then the big one: Elvis Costello. THAT’S when I knew I wanted to write songs. At that point, I circled back to classic pop and power pop: The Beach Boys, The Turtles, Raspberries. My inspiration to do home recording against all o dds was the wonderful, inventive, and fearless band, Shoes.”

What was the impetus for Have A Cool Summer’s original release? “Nathan Brown at Dead Media Tapes, God bless him, heard many of these songs when I was randomly posting them on a Facebook Portastudio group,” Rosenbaum said. “He has a company that specializes in releasing boutique 8-track and reel-to-reel tapes. He suggested we release all these solely on those formats. It was kind of crazy, but it got some notice if only for the odd idea to release on just those two formats. From there, it was a dream come true to do the wide digital and streaming release with my friends at Big Stir Records.”

What was the original intent for these demos? “These recordings were made purely for my own enjoyment,” Rosenbaum said. “To some degree, they were useful to teach new songs to whatever band I was in at the time. But, really, I just loved putting the tracks together and singing and harmonizing and stacking up all kinds of parts. Then I loved to listen to what I had done.”

Have A Cool summer has been released on 8-track and reel to reel – any chance of further physical releases? Perhaps a flexi-disc on a cereal box? “Dead Media Tapes still plans a couple more physicals: cassette tape, naturally, maybe vinyl, and minidisc -remember that one?,” he said good naturedly. “I would love to see a 12-song curated version that I have in mind released on CD. But let me tell you something: if I could get a song or two on a flexi-disc on the back of box of Frosted Flakes, my musical journey would be complete.”

https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-coolsummer-summer-pop-demos-and-4-track-gems-1979-1989

The current drive to find unreleased gems from unsung musical heroes of yesteryear, truly struck gold with the release of Steve Rosenbaum’s Have A Cool

Demos

Rosenbaum’s musical inspirations include The Banana Splits “then, probably the Monkees. Then Three Dog Night, The Grass Roots, The Guess Who. Then

WE ARE THE CANYON VILLAS

By Brando Fontane

Nestled in a quiet alcove on the northern edge of Tecolote Canyon sits the Canyon Villas Retirement Community, one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets for those that have reached their Golden Years. The Canyon Villas offers levels of care ranging from independent living to end-of-life hospice care. With on-site kitchen services, the Canyon Villa provides three meals a day that meets the dietary needs of its residents. And it doesn’t end there. Throughout the day there are activities and weekly outings, something is always going on at The Villas.

The ‘Villas’, as it has come to be known in the community, has 133 rooms with lodgings ranging from well-appointed studios, one-bedroom apartments, and very limited two-bedrooms units are available. The various levels of care The Villas offers can adapt to the needs of their residents as those demands change and there is always someone there to help.

The idea for the Canyon Villas was sparked by a desire to offer a community for seniors where care would be provided without a high price tag. The ‘Founders Group’ members created a 501(4) nonprofit called The San Diego Christian Foundation to pursue this endeavor. The Foundation acquired a piece of land from the Canyon View Church of Christ. Funds were donated by members of the Foundation and The Church of Christ and its Elders for the construction of the Canyon Villas. In October of 1980, the Canyon Villas opened its doors to their first residents.

Vonda Boller, The Canyon Villas CEO, is supported by a dedicated staff who are continuously creating new offerings and inclusive programs for the residents to keep things engaging and fresh for them.

“I’m very proud of our staff who strive to uphold the commitments made to our residents by our Founders when the Villas first opened 42 years ago”, Boller says. “Our activities staff spends countless hours developing new and entertaining activities for our Seniors. Our dining room is open and inviting, and our Executive Chef Matt leads a team of excellent cooks and support staff. Chef Matt is very

particular about the food we serve and caters to menus that center around their tastes and for those who require special diets or other needs. We ensure our resident’s health care needs are met by our skilled staff of LVNs, Medication Technicians, and Caregivers who are timely and friendly and our nursing staff is on call around the clock if needed”.

The Canyon Villas provides a welcoming home for seniors that are ready to take the next step forward to living in a retirement community, and these residents arrive at the Villas in different ways.

For some, the children have grown and, in many cases, have children of their own. The once full and busy house is now empty and quiet, it’s time to downsize to enjoy those golden years. This was the case for Donald and Mimi, who discovered the Villas around seven years ago, and knew this was the right place to call home for them. Donald and Mimi’s story is a fantastic tale that could have come from or b ecome a fictional romantic novel or film. Married over 70 years ago and raising 6 children, whose kids are starting to have kids of their own, there is just not enough space here to tell it all.

Just about 8 years ago, Donald and Mimi decided they wanted to come and go as they pleased, travel some, and not be tied to a house with all the upkeep and maintenance that went along with it. They downsized their belongings to just what they wanted and then moved into the Villas. “The Villas gives us the freedom we always wanted, to come and go as we please.” Mimi can be quite the storyteller, she adds “Being here, if we want to plan a trip, we just book it and off we go. Raising 6 children, as they got older, between their schedules for school, sports, and such, vacations took more time to plan than being on them. So, we didn’t have the chance to travel as much as we would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, we love our kids and grandkids, and now great-grandkids. Now if we want to go somewhere, then we just up and go. No house to worry about, no mail or newspapers to stop, and all that. And while we’re away, we don’t have to worry about anybody breaking in. If we want

to go out to eat, we can. Or we can stay in and go to the dining room, if we’re tired or not feeling the best, the kitchen will send our food up to our apartment. This is just the way Donald and I wanted to spend our remaining years. We have been truly blessed.”

For others, it’s the children who are concerned about their aging parent’s care and well-being who were fortunate enough to have stumbled across the Villas in their quest f or a place for them. This is what occurred for Brandon and Karen while seeking a home for Brandon’s Mother. “We’re both looking to retire this June,” Karen says “And we have all these ideas about what we want to do. The downside is Brandon and I both have health problems that our kids are starting to ask about and if we need help. Now, Brandon’s Mother has developed recent healthcare needs, more than we can handle by ourselves. So, we looked around at what was available and didn’t find anything that felt right. One day while we were out, we drove passed the Canyon Villas, I mean we’ve driven passed it like a million times in the past and never thought about it. We got up to the light and made a U-turn, went back, and checked it out. Vonda showed us around, some of the rooms that were open, and the dining room. As we walked around, we saw all the staff there. We left and talked about it and went back and signed up. Now Brandon’s Mom is in a place that’s safe and she’s well cared for, so we don’t have to worry about her like we were. The best thing about this place is that we all loved it at first sight.”

There are many Senior Retirement homes scattered around San Diego County, some are well known, others not so much. For 42 years, The Canyon Villas has served their community with a level of loyalty and dedication to their residents that is seldom found in such businesses today. If you or someone you know are seeking a place like this to call home, call the Canyon Villas, I highly recommend it. Hell, after researching this article and talking with all these people, I want to live there – when I get older, of course.

IS IT REALLY TIME TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS AGAIN?

IS IT REALLY TIME TO MAKE RESOLUTIONS AGAIN? MERRY CHRISTMAS!

By Brando Fontaine

Special Assignments Editor

Happy New Year! By the time most of you read this, you’ll be starting the week back at work by calling in play Grind 23 -- set -– hut hut! It’s game time, where we start all over again for another year. Just a few nights ago, most of us were at New Year’s Eve parties, celebrating the end of 2022 and the arrival of 2023. For many of us, sometime during the night, that word - ‘Resolution’ - came up, a commitment, maybe even a promise, some of you made not just to yourselves, but out loud in front of other people.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! By the time most of you read this, you’ll be starting the week back at work by calling in play Grind 23 -- set -– hut hut! It’s game time, where we start all over again for another year. Just a few nights ago, most of us were at New Year’s Eve parties, celebrating the end of 2022 and the arrival of 2023. For many of us, sometime during the night, that word‘Res-olution’ - came up, a commitment, maybe even a promise, some of you made not just to your-selves, but out loud in front of other people.

Remember, you probably made these resolutions after having a couple of drinks with friends at a New Year’s party, so you feel they don’t really count. OK, we’ll give you a Mulligan (a doover for you non-golfers) for that. But for those of you that have some intention of keeping the ones you made, for your sake, I hope you made ones that don’t send you on Mission Impossible (for me that would be quitting smoking).

The most common New Years’ Resolutions are: “I’m going to go on a diet next year”, or “I’m going to join a gym and lose some weight”. Of course, those two are so high on the list. We just spent a month gorging on ginormous feasts with our families and friends while we snuck in a few too many pieces of candy from all those bowls that seemed to be everywhere last month. For most of us, these resolutions slip away by May if we even started them at all.

But what happens is, perhaps, as the New Year begins, we forget about December and settle into January and the routine grind of our daily lives takes over, we start cycling through each month and the events that take place, like in February, when we all think about romance

because of Valentine’s Day. We know March is set aside for green beer on St. Patrick’s Day as we all become Irish for a day. Easter in April, Mother’s Day in May, Father’s Day in June, and so on until we reach December once again.

The difference between December and the other 11 months lies in that single, special day. It’s that one day that changes the whole month and infects us with good cheer that grows day to day, starting just after Thanksgiving until we reach Christmas Day and then New Years’ Eve. And then most of us forget how we felt during December and let that feeling slide away as the other months take over our lives.

December is that special time of the year when we feel that wonderful joyous spirit that washes over us and we wish goodwill to all. The time of year when we set our petty differences aside and treat one another with good cheer. We sing carols, and even if we sing out of key no one minds. We put a few extra dollars in the red bucket on our way out of the store for the Salvation Army. We exchange gifts and hope we got the right present for that person. We hold ginormous feasts with our families and friends to celebrate the Birthday of Jesus. The bottom line is, we treat others — even strangers — better than we would throughout the rest of the year. And why is that? Why is there so much joy in December that we can’t hold onto over the next 11 months?

So now you might ask, “What is your resolution going to be for 23?” My resolution is to create a personal bottle in my heart called ‘December’. The greatest gift we could give ourselves would be to bottle up this the month of December and splash some of it on throughout the year when the going gets tough and we become forgetful of how we felt throughout the

holiday season.

It’s not a Mission Impossible, “You have to want it”. Bill Murray said it best toward the end of the movie ‘Scrooged’ (with tears streaming down his cheeks), “I get it now… and I want it… and you can have it too.” You just have to want it, and you can have it. When the going gets tough, or maybe depressing, I’m going to open my personal bottle of December and splash a little bit on. There will be some throughout the year that will try to pouch my positive attitude and good cheer, but they will not penetrate the Armor of December I’ll be wearing around my heart, and they will fail. Why, because I want it! I want this feeling all year round and not just in December.

If I missed getting you a gift or sending you a card, please take this as my gift to you by making your own personal little bottle of December to keep in your heart and use it as needed. If you use too much, just take a moment to recall the great feelings and refill your bottle. For me, 2022 started as a very trying year, it felt like it would be one of the worst years ever, but 22 finished like an impossible dream. With this resolution, 2023 shows tremendous promise of being nothing short of Awesome. If 23 is as good as I think and pray it will be, the only way I could top this for 2024…… I might just have to attempt my own Mission Impossible and quit smoking.

Remember, when someone calls in the Grind 23 play, you are your own personal Quarterback, you can change the play, splash on a little December, and then get up to the line and call a new play with the audible 23 Awesome! (set –hut – hut)

From all of us here at Local Umbrella Media, A Happy New Year to all of you.