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Rancho Bernardo Edition
| VOLUME 8 | ISSUE 3
Assisted Living and Memory Care Shedding Some Light on the Subject See Page 5
See Page 3
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
TURKEY UNMASKED By Marlise Kast-Myers
As a world traveler, I had put one destination on hold until three things aligned: finances, timing, and motivation. But with rumors of a travel ban on the horizon, I accepted the reality that money burns, time melts, and memories are the only impressions we can brand on our minds. Before masked smiles and elbow bumps became an international form of communication, my husband Benjamin and I stacked hands on Turkey, going all in on what would be our last trip for 18 months. We’d been craving the sub rosa side of Turkey by dividing our trip into three parts: city, country, coastal. It was our own geographical version of Eat, Love, Pray without the soul-searching. From LAX, we traveled nonstop with Turkish Airlines, offering complimentary city tours and hotel accommodations for layovers over five hours. For us, part of going “all in” meant this would be a journey of firsts (and possibly lasts) including flying Business Class. I just had to try everything including Turkish delight, turndown service, and Versace amenities. Fifteen hours later, we landed at the Istanbul Airport — the world’s largest costing $12 billion. We checked into Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, adorned with marble columns and chandeliers bigger than my truck. As the only Ottoman palace-cum-hotel on the Bosphorus, it introduced us to this narrow strait between Europe and Asia. The best water views were from the hotel’s restaurant, Tura. Black-tie waiters, candle-lit tables, and paintings by Fausto Zonaro had me wide-eye my husband in financial fear. Ottoman and Turkish dishes of lamb shank and duck tandir were served with oil-bathed olives, hummus, eggplant, feta, and other meze. Benjamin leaned over and whispered, “Exhale. An entrée costs less than $30.” Living large without regret, we decided to go full-Sultan-mode. By day we would sightsee, and by night we would sink into tasseled pillows while devouring desserts from housekeeping: Dried fruits, flaky baklava, and chewy lokum cubes of pomegranate, orange, and honey. Calories were burned during our four days in Istanbul with Sea Song Tours. From the meditative Süleymaniye Mosque, to the Constantine column of the Byzantine Hippodrome, history came alive in this tangible textbook. While Benjamin absorbed insights on religion and architecture, I found myself charmed by the 250,000 stray dogs and cats that roamed the city. These healthy-looking fur-babies were everywhere, passed out on pavement with bellies to the sky. Local government provides food and medical care, so technically, they are “home” at the gates of a 16th century mosque. How could they not be? Between the mosaics and domes of Hagia Sophia, we too felt the comforting reverence of this architectural masterpiece. Built in 537 AD, this Orthodox cathedral-turned-Ottoman mosque honors both the Christian and Muslim faiths as a tribute to one of the most important Byzantine structures created. Religious freedom seemed almost celebrated in Istanbul, morphing my preconceived ideas of a turbulent nation into one of peace. On the Asian side of the Bosphorus, the artisan neighborhood of Kuzguncuk — known for its colorful townhouses with gingerbread balconies — had mosques, synagogues, and churches practically sharing walls. English worship belted from Christian churches as the Islamic call to prayer rang from 3,000 mosques in the distance. In a city of 15 million, this testament of religious pluralism and multicultural identity triggered a sense of coexistence and prosperity. Waterfront mansions framing the Bosphorus put Beverly Hills to shame, yet despite the affluence, locals were unpretentious and inviting, especially in Bomonti. This Brooklyn of Turkey has a community vibe where everybody knows their neighbor. At the House Hotel we connected with locals who invited us for Turkish coffee at Halisünasyon and dinner at Bâtard. We stumbled on farmers markets, the Ara Güler Museum, and Glories Chocolate to sample truffles with rose hips and lemon. LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Photo by Benjamin Myers.
Beneath Cappadocia are 36 underground cities dating back to B.C 3000.
Void of burkas, brawn, and bluster, Istanbul was brilliantly alive, poised in an urban posture with European game. I was hooked on Karaköy, a maritime trading center turned trendy art-, fashion-, and food district. Framing cobblestone alleys were funky cafés and hookah bars, stowed beneath grand-old apartments veined with ivy and graffiti, as if the hipster offspring of Marseilles and San Francisco. Paradoxical Istanbul calmed us in the Serefiye Cistern, and awakened us in the Grand Bazaar. Among merchants haggling copper and carpets were courtyards delivering respite from chaos. Pungent aromas of leather, coffee, tobacco, and spices were landscaped by a vibrancy that dismantled false perceptions of a dark and monochromatic city. Our second hotel certainly helped. In the Zorlu Center of the Beikta district, Raffles Istanbul is the nucleus of some 3,000 boutiques, restaurants, and galleries. This cosmopolitan property boasts an impressive art collection, Michelin Star chefs, and the largest spa in Istanbul. From the hand-blown chandeliers, to the custom murals in every room, design is in the details with Byzantine silks, Turkish textiles, and gold mosaics. After Pan-Asian fusion at Isokyo, we headed to the spa for a traditional hammam treatment. If laying naked on a marble slab wasn’t foreign enough, we then had our hair washed, our bodies scrubbed, and buckets of water poured down our thighs. With sandpaper mitts in full motion, I rolled over to find Benjamin buried in a mountain of foam. “I think I’m missing a mole,” I whispered. Post-exfoliation, my skin felt like butter and my hair like silk. Yet, once was enough as we embarked on the “country” portion of our trip to Cappadocia. Carpeting the Anatolian steppes of central Turkey were fairy chimneys, cliff-hewn pigeonholes, and Dr. Seuss-like rock formations sculpted by centuries of wind and rain. Beneath this moonscape are 36 underground cities including Kaymakli, dating back to B.C 3000. Complete with storage, stables, and cellars is this human ant-farm that sheltered 2,000 people during Arab-Byzantine wars. To maximize our experience, we leaned on Ismail from Travel Atelier. From the rock sanctuaries at Göreme National Park, to the tandir lamb at Aravan Evi, Ismail delivered on all fronts, including a last-minute hot air balloon ride at 4 AM. Floating 1,500 feet above Rose Valley, we were one among 100 hot air balloons peppering the sky. Perhaps the most impressive vantage point of the balloon colony was from our hotel, Argos in Cappadocia. In the hilltop village of Uçhisar, this ambitious transformation project turned 51 caves into luxury rooms with reading nooks and in-suite plunge pools. From their SEKI Restaurant are sweeping views of Pigeon Valley with vineyards, apricot orchards, and stone spires jutting from the earth. It’s in this historic cradle of silence where monks withdrew into solitude, and today, travelers enter a monas/LocalUmbrellaMedia
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tery of stillness, stirred only by the songs of nightingales and pigeon wings. Our trip could have happily ended there, but eastward we went to Alaçatı on Turkey’s Çeme Peninsula. This seaside playground near Izmir is famous for its beaches, vineyards, and stone houses, but it was boutique hotel, Alavya that wooed us. Six historical houses face an open courtyard of white mulberry and olive trees, where a lap pool, garden restaurant, and yoga pavilion find shade beneath the canopies. Elegant rooms have beamed ceilings, linen robes, patchwork rugs, and Carrera-marbled bathrooms. Our breakfast was almost sinful, with mounds of figs, plums, olives, and cheese soaked in honey. We would have never left our hotel had the town not been our winning temptress, enticing us with whitewashed storefronts draped in bougainvillea. Lazy dogs posed beneath Greek-blue shutters in Instagram-able moments, perfected only by kissing couples, yellow sundresses, and shiny Vespas. That evening we dined at Asma Yapraı (Vine Leaf), where Chef Ayse Nur invites guests into her kitchen. Among the pyramids of Mediterranean-and-Turkish dishes were braised artichoke, stuffed zucchini flower, and baked pumpkin with sundried tomatoes. Despite our morning desire to beach-lounge, we couldn’t leave Alaçatı without visiting the wine region. As the birthplace of vitis vinifera (grape vine), Turkey’s Aegean Coast accounts for 20% of the country’s wine production. After an hour’s drive we arrived in Urla, where we traced seven vineyards pouring award-winning blends like Urla Vourla and Nero D’Avola. Finally, we got our day in the sun in Bodrum on Turkey’s southwest coast. This gateway to beach towns and 5-star resorts landed us at Mandarin Oriental. Golf carts zipped guests between nine restaurants, a private beach, and rooms with views of Paradise Bay. As hot air balloons are to Cappadocia, so are sailboats to Bodrum. Joining the masses, we cruised the mesmerizing peninsula to cradled coves, where we sprung from the top sundeck into the turquoise sea. I must have snorkeled for five hours, hovering over florescent coral and chasing schools of glitter. We lunched on roasted octopus, tuna tartar, and lobster tagliolini. And then, I stretched out on the bow, lulled to sleep, and dreamt of Turkey. In my dream were utopian visions of a unified metropolis with many faces. There were mysterious caves, satin pillows, and dogs and cats that lived in harmony. I saw a coastline splashed in 5-hues of blue. There were hundreds of hot air balloons floating above stone walls etched in time; And in the distance, was the resounding cry of prayers echoing across valleys and canyons. My reverie ended with a familiar voice. “Wake up sleepy head,” Benjamin said. “It’s time to go home.” ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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AUTHORS FOR PEACE FUNDRAISING EVENT
Like most Americans, local founder of Adventures By the Book, Susan McBeth, was heartbroken about the invasion of Ukraine. So she did what she does best – sprang into action to assist the people of Ukraine and local workers who are assisting their families in the war-torn region. Her literary travel and events organization is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday April 3 at Pushkin Restaurant, a local business that has been targeted by threats of boycott because they serve Russian food. “Most of their staff is from Ukraine and left Russia because of the oppression they faced,” McBeth said. “We want to show our support of these good people by hosting a luncheon there as we raise money for the International Rescue Committee.” At the luncheon, guests will indulge in an authentic feast prepared by Pushkin’s Ukrainian head chef as they hear insights on the invasion of the Ukraine from two New York Times bestselling authors, Kaylie Jones and Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman. They will also dine with local authors, such as Susan Meissner, Georgeanne Irvine, Kristin Rockaway and dozens more. Info about event, authors, and venue on following pages
About the Event
Ukrainian families in need, and (3) unite in our support for Ukraine. As you indulge in an authentic feast prepared by their Ukrainian head chef, hear from two award winning authors, Kaylie Jones and Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman, who will share their insightful and brilliant thoughts on the situation in Ukraine. Your event includes a deliciously authentic multi-course luncheon created by Pushkin’s Ukrainian head chef, and served by their Ukrainian staff, from appetizers, to entrees, to desserts, all served family style to allow you a taste of many traditional dishes. Cost includes the luncheon feast, tax, and a soft beverage, but does not include gratuity, and we have a good reason for that! We kindly ask you to bring cash for tipping, so that you can donate as much or as little as you are able. There will be two tip jars available, one of which will be divided amongst the Ukrainian staff to send home to their families, and one of which will provide donations to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for emergency supplies of food and medical care to refugee families. Donate your tips to one or to both and let’s show Ukraine that we Adventurers by the Book are indeed changing the world, one book at a time! Adventures by the Book and its marketing team are volunteering their services for this event. All proceeds from the event will be divided between the Ukrainian staff at Pushkin and the IRC.
About the Authors and Books
Her book, American Umpire, offers a powerful new framework for reassessing the country’s role over the past 250 years. Amid urgent questions about future choices, this book asks who, if not the United States, might enforce these new rules of world order? Commentators frequently call the United States an empire: occasionally a benign empire, sometimes an empire in denial, and often a destructive empire. Elizabeth Cobbs asserts instead that, because of its unusual federal structure, America has performed the role of umpire since 1776, compelling adherence to rules that gradually earned collective approval. Kaylie Jones is the author of seven critically-acclaimed and award-winning books, including a memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me, and her most recent novel, The Anger Meridian. Her novel, A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries, was adapted as a Merchant Ivory film in 1998. Kaylie studied Russian language and literature for many years and spent a total of seven months at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow, during the summer of 1984 and winter/spring of 1987. Kaylie has been teaching for more than twenty-five years, and is a faculty member in the Stony Brook Southampton MFA in Creative Writing & Literature program and in Wilkes University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. She is the author of Speak Now and the editor of Long Island Noir. Her newest endeavor is her publishing imprint with Akashic Books, Kaylie Jones Books. In her riveting memoir, Lies My Mother Never Told Me, Kaylie—the daughter of author James Jones (From Here to Eternity) and an acclaimed author in her own right—tells the poignant story of her relationship with her famous father and her alcoholic mother, and of her own struggles with the disease. A true story of privilege, loss, self-discovery, and redemption, Lies My Mother Never Told Me is Jones’s unforgettable account of a not-quitefairy-tale childhood and adulthood defined by two constants: literature and alcohol.
About Pushkin Restaurant
Adventures by the Book was founded eleven years ago with the goal of connecting people and communities, one book at a time. In a world that is often divided and disconnected, this is our way of bringing people together in unique, interesting, and adventurous ways through the power and magic of books. So when we recently heard disturbing news that Pushkin Restaurant has been the target of mean spirited and hateful attacks that have caused them much distress and loss of business (having already suffered from the economic effects of Covid), how could we turn our backs on these lovely people who are so passionate about books that they named their restaurant after the famous Russian author, Alexander Pushkin. We hope you will join us for this special fundraising Adventure where our goals are to (1) show our solidarity and support of this fabulous restaurant, (2) raise much needed funds for Pushkin’s Ukrainian based staff and other LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Elizabeth Cobbs Hoffman is an award-winning historian who brings fresh, unexpected perspectives to our understanding of the past and present. Building upon worldwide research and extraordinary life experiences, Elizabeth writes bestselling fiction and non-fiction that is both scholarly and witty. Her path-breaking books, articles, and documentary films reveal a world that is as intriguing and surprising as it is real. Elizabeth earned her Ph.D. in American history at Stanford University. She now holds the Melbern Glasscock Chair at Texas A&M University. Her books have won four literary prizes, two for American history and two for fiction, and she has won four prizes for documentary filmmaking. Elizabeth has been a Fulbright scholar in Ireland and a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. She has served on the Historical Advisory Committee of the U.S. State Department and on the jury for the Pulitzer Prize in History. /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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Pushkin Russian Restaurant proudly bears the name of the great Russian author Alexander Pushkin (1799 – 1837) – the poet, playwright, and prose writer who is credited with establishing modern Russian literature through his reinvention of classical Russian poetry. Since our opening in October 2015, we have focused on bringing out the authenticity and deep history of cuisines from all across the former Soviet nations, which had a tremendous impact on dishes that are popular in Russia today. Offering classic Russian/Ukranian cuisine with French and modern touch, the main idea for their dishes comes from classic recipes but is modernized in a new and unique way. ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
The crew eating lunch. The crew gathers in their lounge area (l to r): Steve Asaro, Captain Scott Fuller, Tim Troncone, and Lauren Thiel.
Captain Scott Fuller boarding the station’s fire truck.
Fire Station 18 serves both Normal Heights and Kensington.
Lauren Thiel stocking the kitchen pantry.
LUNCH AT FIRE STATION 18
Creativity and Careful Planning Go Into Crew Meals By Frank Sabatini Jr.
It was a quiet, late morning at Fire Station 18 in Normal Heights, where two crew members had just returned with groceries from a nearby Vons. One of them, firefighter Lauren Thiel, enjoyed a quick workout on gym equipment situated within the station’s roomy garage amid the presence of an imposing shiny-red fire truck. She would soon join firefighter and paramedic Tim Troncone inside the firehouse’s well-equipped kitchen to help prepare lunch for their four-member team. On the menu was a veggie-loaded salad augmented with pollo asada. Thiel did the slicing and dicing while Troncone cooked the Mexican-seasoned chicken thighs on a new outdoor smoker-grill he recently secured from Dansons in Arizona. Valued at around $1,000, he exclaimed, “It was a huge, awesome gift for the station that came after I had emailed them from their online donation page.” As lunch came together amid a wide choice of commercial salad dressings, Captain Scott Fuller and guest engineer Steve Asaro credited Thiel and Troncone for often taking the culinary reins within this particular crew. “They do most of the shopping and always have a plan,” said Fuller while pointing out that meal budgets at any fire station are always out-of-pocket. City employers do not foot the bills. “We each pay $12 per shift, so we’re operating on a $48 budget every day based on lunch and dinner,” he said. “For breakfast we’re on our own.” The station employs three divisions, with each crew working 24-hour shifts spanning up to four days at times. Fuller further explained that $4 from their daily “chow fund” is earmarked for condiments and pantry items. The perishable ones are kept in a designated refrigerator known as “the condo fridge,” which takes in a host of spreads, dressings, pickles and jams purchased by other rotating divisions as well. Food shopping occurs daily, and always with bargains in mind and coupon apps in hand. “I go right to the sales in the stores,” said Asaro, who normally works at Fire Station 9 in La Jolla. “If we’ve been thrifty with our budget and have extra money to spend, I might look for sales on seafood and rib eye steaks—or chuck roast, which I’ll turn into a big batch of shredded beef for tacos or Mexican lasagna.” Thiel says, “I’m more of a Sprouts person because of the better produce prices.” Although places such as Costco in Mission Valley and Panchos Villa’s Market in North Park are never ruled out. As I lunched with the crew at a large, rectangular table in a dining area just off the kitchen, Thiel and Troncone had already planned the day’s dinner. It would be chicken stir-fry in coconut and sesame oils, and cooked in a wok with fresh ginger and veggies. Cooking backgrounds vary among the crew memLOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Lauren Thiel gives the salad a final tossing.
bers. Thiel says she knew a little bit about cooking before becoming a firefighter, but that she learned a lot about timing techniques and food textures over the seven years she has worked at stations throughout the city. Asado, too, learned mostly from experience on the job, although he absorbed some of the recipes made by his Sicilian grandmother when growing up. In addition, the workplace made him a fan of cast-iron cookware, which can be found in nearly every fire-station kitchen in San Diego, he said. “I like using cast iron for making smash burgers and big breakfast scrambles,” he added while sorting through the station’s sizable collection of skillets. Troncone, the youngest member of this team, learned his way around the kitchen from senior members on the job. And since the arrival of the new smoker, he’s been eagerly exploring its capabilities for making everything from kalua pork roast with pineapple to garlic bread and eggs. As for the captain, Fuller joked that he’ll jump into the ring out of guilt when he sees his crew always doing the cooking. His specialty dish is Ecuadorian “seco,” which was taught to him by his mother-in-law. It’s a chicken-based stew that incorporates cilantro, bell peppers, garlic and tomatoes. “It’s phenomenal. The aromas permeate the entire station when I cook it,” he said while noting that his recipe also calls for a full can of beer. The team’s culinary virtues and budget climb up a few notches during holidays and special occasions, when family members are invited to dine at the station. “We go big for the holidays with prime roast, turkey or leg of lamb,” said Troncone. Or for last year’s Superbowl, Thiel orchestrated a big spread consisting of chicken wings, jalapeno poppers, spring rolls, and nachos. Although for birthdays, the honoree is responsible for bringing in a cake or dessert, either store-bought or homemade. My visit was unfortunately cut short because just as I was finishing a bowl of the colorful salad I drizzled /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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Steve Asaro shows off one of the station’s cast-iron skillets.
Tim Troncone tends to pollo asada at the station’s new grill.
in jalapeno-ranch dressing, the crew was called out for an emergency. I don’t know whether it was fire or medical-related since there was no time to ask. Within seconds, we sprinted from the table to the garage. There, the team hopped into their overalls as Asaro took to the wheel of the fire rig. Then off they went, with lights flashing and siren activated. Prior to our sudden departure, I asked specifically what happens in these scenarios when pasta is boiling on the stove, or if there is a roast cooking is in the oven? And what about when crew members are in the middle of grocery shopping? “Everything in the kitchen gets turned off. We don’t leave anything on,” Fuller emphasized. As for meals that are barely consumed when emergencies arise, those plates are naturally abandoned with never any time for putting them in the fridge. “We have to write off that food as a loss,” he added. Even while food shopping, Thiel says “We are always on duty. So I like to find someone who works at the grocery store to store away whatever we already picked out as we run out the door.” Despite the abrupt ending to what was a relaxing lunch—and over a game of “firehouse cribbage” a few members played—these were among the most welcoming and skilled meal hosts anyone could ask for. ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE Shedding Some Light on the Subject
Assisted Living Homes and Communities Assisted living as an alternative to living at home is a relatively new phenomenon. It began in the early 1980s when neighborhood residents began helping their elderly neighbors with anything from cooking and cleaning to showering and grooming as a way to help them avoid placement in the nursing home setting. Some neighbors started opening their homes to those elderly people living near them, offering to help them with all their activities of daily living, including showering, grooming, cooking, cleaning, and transportation to doctor’s visits and the grocery store, again to avoid these beloved aging neighbors being placed in nursing homes to live out their “golden years”. Assisted living is now a heavily regulated industry in California through the Health and Human Services Agency and the Department Social Services. To operate an assisted living home or community, one must attend 80 hours of training and pass a stringent three-hour exam to gain their Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) Administrator license. Continuing education units must be maintained yearly to keep this certification current. People enter assisted living homes and communities for a variety of reasons, the biggest of them being that they can no longer care for themselves in a safe and healthy manner at home (or alone) any longer. A typical scenario is one where an aging adult has suffered an illness or injury and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. From the hospital, they are usually discharged to a skilled nursing facility where they continue rehabilitation until they have attained their care plan goal or they reach a plateau (additional progress is unlikely), at which point they are discharged into the care of an assisted living home or community. Assisted or supportive living comes in all shapes and sizes – from the small 6-bed residential homes to the 200+ apartment style living in the larger communities. So how do you choose an assisted living home or community for yourself, or an aging loved one? The best way to search for assisted living homes and communities is by working with a credential placement person or agency – specifically, look for Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Local placement specialists are far more likely to have firsthand experience with the various homes and communities they may refer to you. They will speak with you about any care needs you or your loved one may have, budgetary constraints that must be adhered to and any geographic preferences that may be voiced. Once your placement specialist has gathered this necessary information, he or she will go about narrowing down the
over 600 RCFE options in San Diego County to a manageable 3-5 places. Often, a placement specialist will schedule the tours for you with these homes and communities and accompany you as you look at each of the suggested homes and/or communities selected. Your placement specialist is there to answer your questions and advocate for your best interests. If you choose to use online agencies, be advised that the person you are speaking to may not even live in the area you are interested in. They may not have firsthand knowledge nor experience with any of these homes and communities and you will be on your own when scheduling and going on tours of each place. One final note about working with an online agency when it comes to finding the right care setting for you or an aging loved one: once you or a family member has started down the path of working online, you may be hard pressed to find a local placement specialist who can then help you if you run into challenges or issues.
Memory Care When searching for memory care for a loved one, you want to be especially careful about who you are going to work with to find the right place for your loved one. The type and severity of dementia is crucial to the placement process, which is why a thorough care discovery should be done by your placement specialist before any potential home or community is discussed. Some residential care homes will take residents with
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dementia while others may not have adequately trained staff nor an ideal living space to care for someone with dementia. Some communities may be unwilling to care for certain kinds of dementia due to the behaviors that typically accompany that kind of dementia. Therefore, it is imperative your placement specialist know the various RCFE providers – what they can care for, what they cannot care for, who they prefer as residents and who they will likely decline as a resident. This knowledge of memory care providers can mean the difference between a less stressful situation for you, the person searching for care, or a time consuming and often times disappointing series of rejections by the providers. Whether you are looking into the independent living/assisted living communities for yourself, or an aging loved one, this journey of finding the right place is as unique as the individual looking for it. This is a “one size fits one” type of industry and don’t let anyone tell you differently. What may have worked for your neighbor, who went looking for independent living and assisted living community because she got tired of trying to keep up a 4-bedroom/3 bath/3200 square foot house, may not work for you. Furthermore, many of the larger communities offer their current residents a cash bonus or reduction in rent for referring a friend who ends up moving into the community. Just remember that there are many options when it comes to independent living, assisted living and memory care homes and communities from which to choose here in San Diego @LocalUmbrellaMedia
County. Allow an experienced, credentialed, and knowledgeable placement specialist work on your behalf to find exactly what you are looking for. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, most placement specialists are free of charge to you, the client. They are paid by the RCFE providers; utilize their knowledge and expertise to help you find that needle in the haystack that is the best fit for you or a loved one. Resources https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/58/4/e260/5037052?login=false https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/07/26/despite-theirimportance-many-nursing-homes-lack-social-workers/?sh=b4a1ab12e5e9 https://www.alz.org/news/2021/new-alzheimers-association-reportexamines-racial
Aging Well Partners empower aging adults in finding vetted and trusted resources and services that meet their specific needs.
Local partners Certified Senior Advisors™ FREE SERVICE (619) 789-1839 agingwellpartners.com
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
DESSERT PARADISE
When Your Sweet Tooth Strikes, San Diego Renders the Goods Supreme carrot cake
By Frank Sabatini Jr.
From traditional to flamboyant, dessert options throughout San Diego offer a wide spectrum of flavors and textures that even restrained eaters can’t resist. Whether you are the type who enjoys an occasional sweet moment after dinner, or who savors confections before, after and in-between meals, save your guilt for later. Because we’ve summoned our sugar angles to steer us to some of the area’s most joyous desserts.
Twiggs Bakery & Coffeehouse, North Park (additional location in University Heights) 2804 Adams Ave.; twiggs.org
Dark chocolate marquis Parc Bistro-Brasserie, Bankers Hill 2760 Fifth Ave.; parcbb.com By Facebook By Frank Sabatini Jr.
A tall-standing carrot cake and a strawberry-cream cake at Twiggs.
By Frank Sabatini Jr.
Dark chocolate marquis at Parc Bistro-Brasserie.
Even if you’re indifferent to chocolate, this decadent puck of creamy chocolate mousse enrobed in dark chocolate will send your eyeballs rolling backwards. The endorphin rush occurs upon first bite, when the mousse and its delicate shell melts rapidly on the tongue. The experience intensifies when your fork hits the dark Oreo-like crust. As far as French restaurants go, this happy ending takes the cake.
Twiggs is a coffeehouse in the front, and a serious bakery in the back. The shop has been belting out retail and custom-made cakes since the early 1990s. Customers ever since consistently rate their carrot cake as the best in San Diego. Available whole or by the slice, the cake stands tall and balances layers of tangy cream cheese frosting with a tamely sweet-tasting crumb. Walnuts in the batter give the cake a nice, toasted flavor. And if you’re a fan of strawberry-anything, you won’t go wrong with Twiggs’ strawberries-and-cream chiffon cake.
Oh My Cake’s apricot-yuzu macarons.
Puffles Boba Bar and Desserts, Kearny Mesa (additional locations in Kearny Mesa and National City) 4619 Convoy St.,
Spindrift cappuccino cobblestone pie The Marine Room, La Jolla 2000 Spindrift Drive; marineroom.com
Hand pies Pop Pie Co, University Heights (additional locations in Point Loma and Costa Mesa) 4404 Park Blvd.; poppieco.com
By Instagram
A matcha puffle at Boba Bar and Desserts.
By Chemistry PR
Spindrift cobblestone pie at The Marine Room.
Crank up the decadence of Mississippi mud pie and you end up with the Marine Room’s version—and with close-up views of the ocean to boot. The dessert has been on the menu for a long time. It features a melange of hazelnuts, chocolate nuggets, and Maker’s Mark bourbon sauce. The restaurant’s newest executive chef, Mike Minor, has added his own touch to the dessert with tableside pour-overs of hot caramel. Bread & Butter PR
Several dessert pies share the menu with the savory ones at Pop Pie Co.
Sure, we love the round mini pies as well as the nine-inch whole ones at this popular eatery. But the “hand pies” are as wonderfully utilitarian as sliced bread. Shaped like half moons, their all-butter crusts are filled with either guava and cream cheese, or lemon curd and mixed berries. We’re partial to the latter, which offers a tangy bouquet of citrus, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. They are the perfect portable desserts when you’re on the go. LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
These bubbled-surfaced egg waffles are a staple on the streets of Hong Kong. Here, they serve as partial cones to a plethora of sweet ingredients such as vanilla or chocolate custard, cheesecake bites, graham crackers, marshmallows, tropical fruits and more. In the case of “The Perfect Matcha,” the puffle contains green tea and it’s complemented by matcha-vanilla custard, red bean, and condensed milk drizzle. It’s a toothsome Far-East iteration of an American sundae.
Blood orange cupcakes Babycakes, Hillcrest (additional location in Imperial Beach) 3795 Fourth Ave., babycakessandiego.com
Stuffed macarons Oh My Cake, Hillcrest 3650 Fifth Ave.; ohmycakecalifornia.com A single display case inside Pappalecco’s in Hillcrest shows off an inventory of fine desserts created by Ukrainian pastry chef Daria Nadar. The lineup includes double-stuffed macarons capturing such ingredients as fresh fruit purees, cream, yuzu, and toffee. Understandably, they are big sellers. As of early March, Nadar has committed to donating 25 percent of all sales to organizations providing aid to Ukrainian refugees. /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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By Courtesy photo
Babycakes offers the best blood orange cupcakes in town.
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 | Amid a plethora of fabulous cupcake flavors that include tres leches, chocoholic, lemon Bavarian, and pistachio is the unbeatable blood orange creation. It has been a hands-down favorite over the years thanks to how tastefully the citrus infuses the white cake. The raspberry center is a surprise bonus. And cream cheese frosting with an orange slice on top seals the deal. The shop also makes custom and signature cakes for all occasions.
Banana cream pie Urban Plates, La Jolla (additional locations in Del Mar and Carlsbad) 8707 Villa La Jolla Drive; urbanplates.com
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This gluten-free treasure is a well-engineered layering of vanilla cake, mascarpone mousse, and bright-tasting raspberry mousse. There’s a unified play of flavors in every bite: sweet, tangy, and fruity. A plethora of other fine desserts can be found here as well, such as chocolate domes, espresso-buttercream opera cake, and classic crème brulee.
Princess Kaiulani cheesecake Extraordinary Desserts, Little Italy (additional location in Bankers Hill) 1430 Union St.; extraordinarydesserts.com By Frank Sabatini Jr.)
Toran Grays shows off his latest pudding flavors.
The ultimate cinnamon roll Cardellino, Mission Hills 4033 Goldfinch St.; cardellinosd.com
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Irresisitable banana-cream pies from Urban Plates.
This modern-casual eatery cranks out individual-size banana cream pies deserving of a blue ribbon. Their graham cracker crusts are vessels for ripe bananas, scratch-made caramel sauce, vanilla-bean pastry cream, and fresh whipped cream. Chocolate shavings serve as a poetic garnish.
Red Berry mascarpone Figaro Dessert Cafe, North Park 3011 University Ave.; figarodesserts.com
By Figaro Desserts
Red berry mascarpone.
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Luscious Princess Kaiulani cheesecake at Extraordinary Desserts.
If you’re lucky enough to sink your choppers into this masterpiece, you’ll end up with mouthfuls of mildly sweetened cream cheese, caramelized pineapple, and coconut cream held together by a gluten-free cookie crust. Pop down one of the tropical blooms garnishing the top to add a floral note to the flavor profile. The cake rotates sporadically through the cafe’s vast repertoire based on the availability of ingredients. When it comes around, it can be ordered whole or purchased by the slice.
Banana pudding
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Extraordinary Banana Pudding, La Mesa 8257 El Paso St.; extraordinarybananapudding. com In what is considered the only shop in the U.S. that exclusively sells pudding to go, we find entrepreneur Toran Grays giving us a taste of his late great-grandmother’s recipes. Yes, the banana pudding made with whole milk, light cream, and wafer cookies is dreamy. But so are all of his other flavors, which include lemon, butterscotch, pistachio, coconut, chocolate, and more. The puddings are sold in 8 and 12-ounce containers, as well as 12-x-12-inch trays.
Cardellino’s ultimate cinnamon roll.
If you want to go straight to the sweet stuff during brunch at Cardellino (9 AM to 2:30 PM Saturdays and Sundays), then look no further than this sinful cinnamon roll. It’s a far cry above what you’ll find at malls and airports, thanks to the additions of pecan ice cream, bean glaze, and currants. The menu changes monthly, so there’s no guarantee this gem will stick around past the end of March. (We vote that it does.)
| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 1
HOMEMADE ENGLISH MUFFINS FOR EASTER BRUNCH By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
Homemade English muffins can elevate your Easter breakfast, or brunch, and they are not difficult to make. And making the homemade version can be a family affair that can include multiple generations. If there are any left after your Easter brunch, they can be used to make homemade egg sandwiches. Easter is April 17, but these muffins can add to any weekend breakfast or saved for a workday on-the-go sandwich. While labelled as English the history of the muffin, or toaster crumpet, is credited to a British ex-pat, Samuel Bath Thomas. According to a story by Anna Goldfarb in kitchn, published Sept. 26, 2019, Thomas invented the “English muffin” in his bakery in the New York City neighborhood of Chelsea in 1874. Thomas’ muffins differed from the traditional crumpet---his were drier and flatter and produced the “nooks and crannies” that most consumers like for holding runny egg yolks, jams such as Jackie’s Jams, or jellies. In Southern California some might prefer a “hot” jelly such as jalapeno. Or, for adventurous cooks making their own champagne jelly to add a fancy touch to their menu. The recipe can be adapted to a vegan version by using a milk substitute and coconut oil. Ingredients: 1 cup of milk (or a vegan substitute), 2 tablespoons of white sugar, 1 cup of warm water, 1 pack of active dry yeast, ¼ cup of melted shortening (or preferred vegan substitute), 6 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon
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Photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson
salt, and ¼ cup of cornmeal. Directions: warm the milk, add sugar, and let cool. Dissolve yeast in the warm water in a bowl. Let stand for about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the milk, yeast mixture, shortening and 3 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Add the rest of the flour and salt. Knead, Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place, covered by a small kitchen towel, until it doubles in size for about an hour. Punch down the dough. Roll out to about ½ inch thick. Using a biscuit cutter, glass, or
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round cookie cutter—cut out the rounds. Sprinkle waxed paper with cornmeal and let rise for about ½ hour. Dust both sides with cornmeal. Heat greased griddle, transfer the muffins from the wax paper to the griddle, and cook for about 10 minutes on each side at medium heat. Either serve warm or cool and store for future use. Some prefer whole wheat flour, others like the Portuguese version which use eggs in the recipe, and some cooks like to bake theirs in the oven at 325 degrees monitoring for preferred golden or light brown tone.
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
BUYER AND SELLER BEWARE: DON’T FALL FOR FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE SCAMS
Neighborhood Publications Reaching Over 125,000 San Diego Area Mailboxes Every Month!
Facebook is a platform where you can seemingly get it all: updates about your friends, cute baby pics, news stories or romantic dates. But its marketplace, where people go to quickly buy and sell merchandise, is also a place fraught with scams. One billion users buy and sell goods on Facebook Marketplace each month. Unfortunately, like with most things in life, there are bad actors ready to take advantage of a technology for their own financial gain. Scams are an unfortunate reality on any selling platform. Oftentimes the scam is one we’ve seen before but made new using this new service. Here are Facebook Marketplace scams to be aware of:
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Fake vehicle listings • Same type of scam as phone apartment listings in which the bad actor asks for a deposit or payment up front. • In this scam the scammer does not own the car and does not intend to provide it. • They may claim the vehicle has eBay purchase protection, but this only applies to vehicles bought on eBay.
Shipping insurance scam • This scam occurs where the buyer agrees to buy an item and pay for the shipping if seller pays for the insurance. • The phony buyer then generates a fake shipping invoice from UPS/USPS/FedEx and often quotes $50-100 shipping insurance. • Once the seller pays the buyer the insurance, they never hear from the buyer again.
Fake home and apartment listings
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• Scammers pose as property agents, owners or landlords to post properties they have no right to sell or rent. • They then use high pressure tactics to get the victim to send money, such as “this is a hot market,” “I have tons of bidders,” “If you send the deposit or down payment now, I can reserve you the apartment.” • Sometimes they use properties they know are unoccupied and invite the buyer to view the property without them. Use caution if you cannot get into a property. • To protect yourself, use
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Stealing your information scam • Once a seller or buyer agrees on a purchase, the other party claims they want to verify your ID to protect themselves. • They will ask for your personal identifying information, which can be used to create fake
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verified real estate services. • Use Google reverse image search to see if the property is posted elsewhere. • Do not pay without signing paperwork.
By District Attorney Summer Stephan
A Unique Urban Community On Olive
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Get Your Summer Glow Listen to Your Heart
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accounts, to obtain credit in your name or to answer questions if they try to hack into your online accounts. • The fraudster may tell you that you’ll receive a text code to your phone number and ask for the code to verify who you are. The scammer then uses your number as verification or set up a Google Voice number connected to your phone number.
It may be a scam if • If you are asked to switch to a different platform, such as text or WhatsApp, it may be a scam. • If the deal is too good to be true, the goods may very well be fake, broken, stolen or non-existent. • Being asked to pay via gift card or cryptocurrency is a red flag. Facebook Marketplace is convenient and useful platform, but make sure you are aware of common scams, so you don’t get defrauded. Remember, when meeting in person to exchange goods and payment, be sure it is in a lighted, public and safe space. Also, consider using Facebook Messenger’s “checkout” feature, which keeps a record of all transactions. 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.
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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MY JOURNEY TO WELLNESS By Karen Lustman
On April 2011 I missed a 2” step and fell like a ton of bricks. I landed on the hard concrete, hitting my head, my elbows, and my knees. I was stunned. I couldn’t move. I thought I was paralyzed. For years the pain remained, but oddly it moved from place to place although it was always most prevalent in my knees. The sensations were never ending but took various forms. A hammer pounding on my knees, worms running over my kneecaps. Hot flashes in my legs. Ice cold blue knees. Pain in my feet so bad it was nearly impossible to walk. Cramps that felt like vices turning every muscle in my legs. Electrical shocks from my feet to my thighs. Tree trunk legs, so heavy I dragged them when I walked. A touch of a hand or a skirt on my knees would send a shock wave through my entire body. For seven years I saw doctor after doctor. Pain management, acupuncture, physical therapy, epidurals many pills, and even the insertion of a spinal cord stimulator that was supposed to mask the pain. And more prescription medicines. Last count, I was up to six 800 mg Gabapentin a day. The closest I came to fully understanding what was going on with me was through a neurologist who conducted 6 MRIs. I was diagnosed with Heredity Spastic Paraplegia Syndrome which affects my ability to walk, maintain balance, vision and communications. I struggle with words. Shadows, patterns, and uneven pavement trips me up and I use a cane when necessary…but I do rock it. On one particularly bad day, my husband and I were visiting our daughter and sonin-law in San Diego. Knowing me as the fun loving, always active, lady he’d known for decades, my son-in-law could tell my pain level was too much to bear. Bob was a passionate pot aficionado and invited me to join him in the garage where he kept the same bong he had had since high school. I had never smoked marijuana as a teenager, and I felt that doing so would lead to no good. However, I was in so much pain I was willing to try anything. Not knowing what to do, I put my entire mouth over the nasty bong and breathed in the smoke. I coughed and spewed and took in too much, however within a minute my pain was gone. It was a miracle. And I was higher than a kite. After many hours of the euphoric feeling, my high wore off and I was once again mired in the pain and anger of missing my life. This experience was an epiphany. But how could I enjoy the relief from pain without being high? I had to go to work, I had to be responsible, so I had to find my own medicine because no other option worked for me. I started talking to anyone who knew anything about cannabis. I attended workshops, I studied products, I followed physicians and CEOs of cannabis companies to constantly keep myself informed. I spent time with budtenders and thought of the dispensary as my pharmacy. I took certification classes though UCI’s Physician’s Council on Cannabis and Healer.Com. I used numerous products and ruled out many but finally found the products that fit my needs. Five years later, I still maintain that same regimen to control my pain. During this time, I became a true advocate for other seniors, advising them as to my findings and how cannabis as medicine could be right for them. LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Senior-High was founded, and five years later I still maintain that cannabis should be legalized and should be available for all who are in need of medications without harm. As cannabis becomes legal throughout the United States and the rest of the world, and as the population of seniors continues to increase, it’s time an educational resource that promotes the medicinal values of cannabis products that address the ailments that come with aging. And we welcome them all to Senior-High, which offers seminars, one-on-one consultations, a store that carries CBD products we have personally found helpful for ailments ranging from aches and pains to insomnia, factual articles, blogs, videos, podcasts and other resources to provide the information so many seniors desire. It’s my heartfelt ambition to share my journey to wellness so seniors seeking a healthy alternative to prescription medications that may deliver dangerous side effects can make an educated choice. I, like a growing number of seniors throughout America, are discovering cannabis products may offer a safe, effective, and enjoyable path to once again feeling good.
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Senior-High was created by Karen Lustman to gather information about cannabis products and how they can help active adults alleviate specific health issues, disseminate factual information about these products to seniors, and help our communities in which medical cannabis is legal enjoy safe, effective medicinal alternatives to expensive and occasionally dangerous pharmaceuticals. Frustrated with the lack of information available to consumers who use legal products to help with disease, chronic pain, and inflammation, Karen decided to partner with the people she trusts…the medical community that studies cannabis, the health care providers that prescribe it to their patients, and the seniors who know what really works for them. Armed with a laptop, an AARP membership and a Medical Marijuana card, Karen and her team are determined to gather and share the latest developments and experiences from people like you who have found relief of pain and discomfort by using cannabis
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
AUTHOR BOOK REVIEW: WHEN THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE DIDN’T KILL YOU By Kim Boykin
Have you ever met someone who has a light about them that brightens every room they enter? My dear friend, Michelle Pinard, is that person. She has a warm and welcoming smile and a laugh that makes you happy just to be in her presence. She never meets a stranger and what I admire most about her is her honesty. She is an open book and has always been one to share her experiences and struggles in order to help others. Our friendship started back in 1989 when we were living in the dorms going to SDSU. I always saw her decked out in her running gear. I love to jog, but Michelle was a runner. She ran too fast for me so she would run with the guys on our floor. She was often too fast for them, as she was just a natural athlete. After college, I moved away and did not see Michelle for over twenty years. We reconnected when I moved back to San Diego in 2012. We got into a steady routine of going out to dinner once every three months with another mutual friend who lived in the dorms with us. We called our dinner dates “mandatory meetings.” There is something special about friendships that span decades, we would laugh, share our parenting struggles and it always felt like the night went by in a matter of minutes. Six years ago, Michelle would share that she was feeling numbness in her leg. The numbness would catch her off guard and sometimes she would trip and fall. She started going to various doctors trying to get to the root of the problem. Each time I saw her, her level of frustration would increase. Her doctors were great at telling her what she did not have, but nobody was able to diagnose what was causing the numbness. Though the numbness would throw her off balance, she still continued to get up every morning and hit the trails. Running was a daily habit for Michelle, she never missed an opportunity to get out and go for a long run. Even when the numbness would cause her to lose her balance, she would grab hold of her running partner’s arm to help steady herself. As the years passed, she felt like her condition was getting worse and she had to get to the root of the problem. In 2020 she traveled to the Mayo clinic in Arizona and it was there where she learned what her body had been battling all these years. She was diagnosed with Cerebellar Ataxia. How she handled the diagnosis and what she has done since that fateful day has been nothing but awe-inspiring. She figured out how to live her best life by writing a best-selling book and speaking to audiences on how to carry on with life when you just feel like giving up. I recently sat down with Michelle and asked her to share her story with our readers. Kim: Tell us about your love of running. When did it start and how has running been a part of your life all these years? Michelle: I started running at the age of seven. I was the new girl in Roseville. The local track coach came to my classroom and asked if anyone would like to join the team. I did! I met friends and started running for the next 43 years. Running has always been my sidekick and release. Good and bad - a constant in my life! There is something beautiful about being outside, feeling your lungs pump life into your body. Kim: When did you notice a change in your body? Tell us about what you went through to find a diagnosis. Michelle: I have run 50 half marathons and five marathons. After my last marathon in Long Beach in October 2015 I noticed something was off. I was kicking myself, tripping, and falling. My legs were disconnected. I spent five years seeing all kinds of doctors without a diagnosis. I was told that I was getting older and that I should expect to change. I KNEW something was wrong. In September 2020 I flew out to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. I spent four days going through extensive testing. On the fourth day I finally got a diagnosis of Cerebellar LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Ataxia. It’s a rare neuro brain disease. My cerebellum is shrinking. My cerebellum looks like that of a 90 year old woman. The cerebellum is responsible for balance, involuntary movement, and motion. When I sent my neurologist the MRIs from the prior six years it was all there. There is no current cure for this disease. It was a hard pill to swallow. Kim: How did you process your diagnosis? Michelle: I got mad, sad, and eventually decided that I wanted to live the best life I could. I started journaling my thoughts, memories, and life as an athlete, mom, wife and friend. I realized after I reflected back on my journal, that I could maybe help someone else struggling with challenges. We all have challenges, it’s how we deal, adapt, and grow from them. I also wanted to bring awareness to my disease. Without awareness there is no funding for research and clinical trials. I also wanted to bring awareness to those living with /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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disabilities. My eyes are wide open and I need to help! My next venture is to start a non-profit helping the disabled navigate their path. Everyone celebrates births, graduations, and marriage. Nobody is there for those who need help and encouragement charging through life’s daily obstacles. I want to help. Kim: Tell us about the book you published. Michelle: I wrote a book titled When The Worst Day of Your Life Didn’t Kill You, The Morning After. It is a fictional story, but it is based on my journey from being a runner to my Cerebellar Ataxia diagnosis. I have kids and changed names and some details in the book in order to maintain a sense of privacy for me and my family. That said the message and lessons learned are true to my struggle. It was cathartic to write this story and my hope is that someone who is struggling with health challenges will find themselves in my journey. It has been far from easy, but most things ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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in life that challenge us are, and the rewards have been so gratifying. Kim: What keeps you going? Michelle: The book and the bike have kept me strong, positive and alive. I can’t thank CAF, Challenged Athletes Foundation, enough. It is truly the most beautiful group of humans I have ever met! I have a new reason to continue. I can’t wait to help, mentor others. I look forward to every Saturday morning - a ride with my new peeps! My bike is a recumbent bike and it is a very good option for me. The rider’s body is reclined and you don’t need to worry so much about balance with the three wheels. These bikes can be easily controlled with one hand. Kim: Tell us more about CAF, Challenged Athletes Foundation.
“The Universe had not abandoned her or cursed her with this affliction. It was teaching her to have faith in something such bigger than her, that it would take care of her even when she couldn’t take care of herself,” from the book When the worst day of your life didn’t kill you. Michelle: When I could no longer run, I reached out to CAF to see if I could try an adaptive bike. This was the best decision I have made in a long time! CAF has given me a bike, a beautiful community, and a new path to staying active. I’m an athlete again! I’m a proud challenged athlete! My husband and I just completed the Santa Barbara to San Diego portion of the Million Dollar Challenge. It is a 220 mile bike ride over three days. We raised $12,000 for CAF. I can’t wait to see how it will help the next athlete in need. I plan to continue mentoring other challenged athletes and advocate for a cure for my disease, Ataxia. I’m speaking next week with Hope for Ataxia. I can’t wait to share my story and maybe inspire other people with Ataxia to not give up! Kim: How has your family handled all of this? Michelle: Family, WOW! I can’t thank my husband Mike, my kids and my dear friends for all of the encouragement, help and support! It really does take a village and without them I don’t know where I would be. LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Michelle Pinard will be at Barnes & Noble, 1040 N El Camino Real Drive, Encinitas doing a book signing on March 26th from 12-3 pm.
Kim: What advice would you give to others? Michelle: Go for a run or walk just because you can. Enjoy your surroundings and smile! /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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Kim Boykin is a Navy wife, mom, runner, dog lover, writer and an entrepreneur. You can check out her unique jewelry of Desert Diamonds and Rodan & Fields skin care at: https://www.desertdiamondbar.com https://kimboykin.myrandf.com ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
CAN I CLAIM MY ELDERLY LOVED ONE AS A DEPENDENT ON MY TAXES? The last three tests are explained in detail below. If all these requirements are met, then you can claim your care recipient as your dependent.
The Relationship or Member of Household Test
Images credit: thecaregiverspacea
By Marlo Sollitto, AgingCare
Family caregivers contribute both their time and money to help support those they love. When tax time rolls around, it’s important to understand that you may be able to claim your care recipient as a dependent on your federal income tax return and lower your tax bill.
Fundamental IRS Rules for Claiming Dependents To begin, there are a few rules that determine who may claim a dependent and who may be claimed as a dependent: • You can’t claim any dependents if you (or your spouse if filing jointly) could be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer. • You can’t claim a married person who files a joint return as a dependent unless that joint return is filed only to claim a refund of withheld income tax or estimated tax paid. • You can’t claim a person as a dependent unless that person is a U.S. citizen, U.S. resident alien, U.S. national, or a resident of Canada or Mexico. • You can’t claim a person as a dependent unless that person is your “qualifying relative.”
The IRS Qualifying Relative Test There are four additional criteria that must be met for a care recipient to be considered your qualifying relative. The first is very simple: they cannot be the qualifying relative of any other taxpayer.
A qualifying relative must be related to you by blood or marriage or must live with you all year as a member of your household (& your relationship must not violate local law). However, a person cannot be your qualifying relative if they were your spouse at any point during the tax year. Direct relatives do not have to live with you to count as a qualifying relative for tax purposes. Examples of direct relatives include your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, stepmother, stepfather, mother-in-law, father-in-law, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, stepsibling, and half sibling. If you wish to claim a non-relative as a dependent, such as a friend, they must have lived with you for the entire year to count as a qualifying relative in the eyes of the IRS. A non-relative is still considered to be living with you even if they spend time in the hospital or reside in a nursing home indefinitely. These scenarios are considered temporary absences, just like vacations or biz trips.
This is the amount you could expect to charge a stranger for the same kind of lodging, and it might include a reasonable percentage of your mortgage payment, utilities expenses, use of furniture and other household costs. Again, direct relatives do not have to live with you to count as a qualifying relative. Whether they live in their own home, in an assisted living facility or in a nursing home, the expenses you cover for their support at those locations count toward the IRS support test for dependents. To calculate the amount of support you provide, compare your total contributions for the calendar year to the total amount of support your loved one received from all sources for the year (including tax-exempt income). This latter figure includes personal funds, but only those spent on supporting themselves. Caregivers can use the IRS Work-
The Gross Income Test A qualifying relative’s gross income for tax year 2021 must be less than $4,300. The IRS defines gross income as “all income in the form of money, property, and services that isn’t exempt from tax.” If a senior’s only income consists of Social Security benefits, generally they aren’t considered taxable. However, if they have other income from sources like retirement accounts, pensions, interest and dividends, then a portion of their benefits may be taxable. According to the Social Security Administration, approximately 40 percent of Social Security beneficiaries have to pay income taxes on their benefits. IRS Publication 915 can help you determine if a loved one’s Social Security benefits are taxable.
The Support Test You must have provided more than half of your potential dependent’s financial support for the year, including food, housing, clothing, medical expenses, transportation, etc. If the person lives with you, you must calculate the fair rental value of their accommodations.
Images credit: thecaregiverspacea
sheet for Determining Support to break down this financial comparison.
Shared Caregiving Responsibilities and Multiple Support Agreements Often more than one person is involved in providing care and support for an elderly loved one. For example, you, your brother and your sister help support your mother. Together, you three provide more than half (60 percent) of her support. You provide 25 percent; your sister provides 25 percent, and your brother provides 10 percent. The IRS rules state that an individual must provide more than half of a person’s support to claim them as a dependent, but cases like yours are treated differently. According to the IRS, a multiple support agree-
Farima Tabrizi
Broker Associate ® SRES, GRI, SFR 858-382-8698 www.farimarealty.com • fgtabrizi@yahoo.com Powered by HomeSmart Realty West DRE#01341835
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 | ment may be needed “when two or more persons, each of whom would be able to claim the person as a dependent but for the support test, together provide more than half of the person’s support. When this happens, you can agree that any one of you who individually provides more than 10 percent of the person’s support, but only one, can claim that person as a dependent. Each of the others must sign a statement agreeing not to claim the person as a dependent for that year.” So, continuing with this example, your brother does not qualify to claim your mother as a dependent because he does not provide enough of her support. Both you and your sister qualify to claim Mom as a dependent, but you must decide between you who will do so since she can only be claimed once. If it’s decided that you will claim Mom, then your sister will need to sign a statement waiving her right to claim Mom as a dependent for that tax year (you’d save this for your own records). You’ll also need to file Form 2120 (Multiple Support Declaration) along with your tax return. If you collaborate with others to support a loved one, make sure you are all on the same page, so you don’t run into trouble with more than one person claiming the individual on their tax returns.
How Claiming a Dependent Can Affect Your Taxes You may qualify for tax credits, such as the Credit for Other Dependents and/or the Child and Dependent Care Credit, if the criteria above are met and you can claim your loved one as your dependent. Additionally, if you itemize deductions instead of taking the standard deduction, you may be able to deduct your loved one’s unreimbursed medical expenses and dental expenses. Claiming your care recipient as your dependent can lower the taxes you owe and help you recoup some of the outlays you have made on their behalf. If you are unsure about what credits and deductions you are eligible for, it is always best to consult a qualified tax professional for assistance.
For more information on claiming an elderly relative as a dependent, see IRS Publication 501: Dependents, Standard Deduction and Filing Information.
HOUSING PRICES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AHEAD OF THE SPRING FEVER Springtime ushers in new life, greener grass, blooming flowers and homebuying excitement. And this year, it will also bring considerably higher listing prices according to realtor.com®’s February Housing Report. Last month, median listing prices hit a record high of $392,000. What’s more, several of the nation’s 50 largest metros, including Las Vegas, Miami and Tampa, all saw increases of at least 31%. For the first time since the fall of 2021, inventory declines improved slightly in February. During the last two weeks of the month, more new sellers entered the market than during the same time last year. Key findings: • The U.S. inventory of active listings declined 24.5% YoY in February, improving slightly over last month’s annual gap (-28.4%). However, there were still 122,000 fewer available listings than during a typical day in February 2021 and inventory was down 62.6% from February 2020. • Relative to all active inventory, annual declines in new listings improved more significantly in February, down just 0.5% nationwide versus the 9.1% drop registered last month. Additionally, new listings grew on a year-over-year basis in the final two weeks of the month. • Inventory remained below February 2021 levels in 46 of the 50 largest U.S. markets, but grew in Riverside, California (+6.3%), Phoenix (+4.2%), Austin, Texas (+1.5%). • In another early Spring sign of rising for-sale homeoptions, more new sellers entered the market than last year in nearly half (23) of the 50 largest markets. • In February, the typical U.S. homespent 47 days on market, over two weeks faster (-17 days) than in 2021 and over a month (-38 days) faster than typical February timing from 2017-2019. • Homes moved even more quickly in the 50 largest U.S. metros, at an average of 39 days on market in February. • Among large metros, February’s biggest declines in time on market were registered in Miami (-34
days), Orlando (-29 days) and Indianapolis (-21 days). The takeaway: “Over the last five years, we have seen home prices break records early in the season as buyers try to get ahead of the competition. But this is the first time the record has been broken in February, signaling that competition is already heating up weeks before the start of the Spring buying season in a typical year,” said Realtor.com® chief economist, Danielle Hale. “While the number of homes on the market remains woefully behind buyer demand, in February, we saw declines in new listings improve for the first time since November 2021, indicating potential hope on the horizon. Rancho Bernardo Senior Services
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
SD VODCAST SERVES SAN DIEGO By Vince Meehan
Business marketing has changed a lot in the past five years, and savvy business owners must know how to navigate the ever-changing marketing landscape in order to stay relevant in the digital world. But it is equally important to come up with a plan and strategy of how to use media to best showcase your story as well as your brand. And that is where SD Vodcast comes in. Florentino Buenaventura is the CEO of SD Vodcast, and along with his co-founder and COO Paul Berezetsky, runs the digital studio located on Miramar Road near several of the breweries that have made the area a Mecca. The term vodcast is a hybrid label they use to combine the idea of a podcast with video. The result is a medium where clients can share their unique stories with a lot of visual input as well. “We want people to be entertained,” noted Buenaventura. “We want people to be informed, and we want people to get some good insights into these really cool businesses. It’s a really cool show, it’s all very conversational.” The partners make it a point to seek out unique stories from local businesses that have deep ties to the community, especially those who give back to the community, including non-profits and foundations. “It’s a great way to discover the local businesses in San Diego, there’s some really cool creative companies out there that are doing great work,” added Berezetsky. Both Buenaventura and Berezetsky are musicians and have solid ties to the music scene. In fact, musicians make up a good portion of their clients. Livestreaming performances, a service already offered by SD Vodcast before the Covid pandemic, became an invaluable solution for bands during the lockdowns and proving to be a popular new medium even after the restrictions were lifted. A uniquely valuable way to market, livestreaming essentially has no limit to the audiences it can reach, with virtually anyone able to tune in online from around the world. Buenaventura sees this as an organic way of bridging the music and the business world to create fruitful content creation. And content creation is really the heart and core of SD Vodcast. Berezetsky noted that he and Buenaventura have seven years of experience together in content creation and have now expanded to marry this experience with marketing. Content creation is their passion and helping clients develop a strong media brand presence is the name of the game. Utilizing the rich media aspects of video and audio is their way of capturing audience attention and interaction, and livestreaming takes that to another level. SD Vodcast also produces traditional audio podcasts, as well as offering both social media management and website design to help with brand marketing. They offer custom video production in the form of ads, product demos, interviews, and event production, including fundraising events. The SD Vodcast locale is a 1700 square foot LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
studio, which features a green room, dressing room, and a 20 x 20 foot stage with a complete backline of guitars, basses, amps and drums. It also features full stage lighting for that professional concert look. Networking and connections are key to SD Vodcast’s success and Buenaventura says that over the years, those relationships have blossomed into a component that helps his clients reach an audience that helps promote their business. Even partnering with other media companies has proven a valuable tool for maximizing the impact and extending the range of his clients’ messaging. “One of the media companies we ended up partnering with was SD Metro, and together we created a vodcast called San Diego Metro Business Rock Stars. We combined our musical passion with the idea of creating content that helps spotlight businesses with a really interesting story. We focus on three key areas - the passion that inspired the founding of the business, what makes that business unique, and most importantly, the ways in which it gives back to the community. What difference are they making in this new, dynamic world? We have met a lot of people throughout this business – we’re working with our partners to let them know about what we’re doing. It’s really a lot of networking.” The partnership with SD Metro Magazine helps to showcase the various businesses they cover. “We’re here to help businesses build their brands and we are really happy to work with SD Metro magazine to create a show that spotlights that.” /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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Other partnerships include Local Umbrella Media and Bart Mendoza with Music Scene SD. And being at the right place at the right time surely can help with that. Buenaventura noted that they applied for a loan with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and that led to them being introduced to their education arm, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). A meeting with the SBDC leadership and San Diego City Board of Supervisors was a chance to demonstrate SD Vodcast’s multi-camera livestreaming capability. Thoroughly impressed and recognizing that broadcast TV Quality could be accessible by average businesses, the SBDC commissioned Buenventura to produce their awards shows and their SBDC Day livestrem events. This also led to him becoming a regular instructor for their small business learning program, conducting a monthly workshop on Content Marketing. “I learned when I was doing these classes with the SBDC, there was a big demand to learn what content marketing is. Many weren’t familiar with how to do it and weren’t fully sure why they need to do it. It’s the way that almost every company is going to have to go in the future. And they need some really good direction on how to make that happen. So we started doing those classes.” SD Vodcast is looking to expand their online content to what Buenaventura refers to as a “terrestrial media format”, specifically broadcast television. “We don’t have any official word yet, but we are talking to a couple of local networks about doing this because it really is a community piece – we’re really going out there to find some of the more interesting businesses and their stories. Content is sharing what you do and then, more importantly, sharing what you do that impacts people’s businesses and their lives. Create the content, help design it, produce it, and then help you figure out how to get it to the people in ways that will affect the success of your marketing program.” For more info go to: www.sdvodcast.com ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
MIND BODY SOUL MAGAZINE SET TO EXPAND DISTRIBUTION IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY Connection – Creativity – Community
Connection – Creativity – Community
FA L L 2 0 2 1
MIND BODY SOUL
MIND BODY SOUL
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Revival Issue
Get Your Summer Glow
Wild Wish Living MIND B ODY S OUL
MIN D B O DY S O U L
S UMMER 2021
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Nature
Elevating you to your highest potential by nurturing your mind, body, soul connection.
The
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Listen to Your Heart
A Unique Urban Community On Olive
Issue
“Nature has endless resources to heal.” — Lori Halliday, WiseHorseWoman
HYBRID FITNESS
EXPLORE OUTDOORS
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Stacy Oliver, Publisher of MIND BODY SOUL Magazine which distributed debut editions is distributed in St. Louis, Aspen, and select areas Diego 2021, uary 29, 2022 — of 10San a.m. to 4in p.m. announced partnership with Local rontenac, St. Louis, Missouri Umbrella Media to increase distribution in San Diego County and other West Coast markets beginning this Spring. This partnership means distribution in San Diego County will be much wider and more extensive, including select areas which will receive the magazines via direct mail distribution. MIND BODY SOUL Magazine will be seeking for Affiliate Publishers for additional territories throughout the US to further expand distribution. “I can help anyone launch a magazine in 12 weeks,” says Stacy 50Oliver. Vendors “I have a deep passion to help others live healthier lives, iring Health Wellness and I’ve&been publishing since 2004. I recognize Speakers – 10 a.m. that we all have a tangible need to approach a into society with inspiShow re-entry & Giveaways – 1 p.m. ration, creativity, and holistic o’s / Eileen Fisher / J. Jill / lululemon athletica resources. I am excited for this partnership to help people move o forward with their lives and to support our advertisers and sponsors by providing a means for their stories. There’s a power to the print that allows us to unplug, stop-drop, ored by Magazine and pause to heal.” “I am excited about this partnership,” says Brad Weber. “I’ve shared copies of the current editions with both readers and businesses and the feedback is extremely positive. I see the demand for this product
our Power! Expo
BODY SOUL Magazine and grow the magazine here to make it a true valuable real resource for the locals. There are more people who want this product to and there are certainly local businesses who want to reach this market.” MIND BODY SOUL print magazine currently reaches 30,000 affluent females per issue 4 times per year. MIND BODY SOUL gives advertisers 130,000 touches of a very specific target reader and follower: affluent females, 35–65 years old, who are interested in health, wellness, inner and outer beauty. In addition to the printed magazine, advertisers also benefit from: Feature articles posted on the Mind Body Soul website blog – 30,000 reach, monthly Facebook and social The media platform postings – 30,000 reach, Monthly Exclusive Email Blast – 30,000 reach, and Quarterly Podcast Videos. Local Umbrella Media serves communities, kids, and causes throughout Southern Issue California with thousands of hyper-locally targeted Direct Mailed publications mailed to SHAKE OFF WELLNESS MINDFUL EXPLORATION local residents, and continues STRESS TRENDS TOUCH OF SELF to expand to new communities inside and outside of San Diego County. has here in San Diego, and we are determined For advertising opportunities contact to put more issues out for readers, as well as Publisher Stacy Oliver at: include more local San Diego content in MIND StacyOliver@MindBodySoul.Media Connection – Creativity – Community
WI N TER 2022
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M IND BO DY SOU L WINTER 2 02 2
Empower You!
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
17
SHADOW DANCING: HOW TO HANDLE DEPRESSION By Olivia Fellus, L.A.c, Dipl.OM
Perched on the cliff ’s edge, the girl dances. Waves thunder in the distance. She seems oblivious to the elements. A few people stop to watch, mesmerized by her flowing movements. They wonder at her serenity, stamina, and confidence. What they do not realize is the girl is actually not alone. She sways along freely, clasping the hands of her shadow. Depression is often described as a shadow, a dark looming figure, separate from us. A presence meant to combat, destroy, or suppress. From my own personal experience, I have learned otherwise. Rather than be ashamed and run, what if we curiously leaned into the all the unpleasant emotions, the fear, the despair, the anxiety, the pain, and moved through it? Rather than wrestle the shadow we could learn to dance with it. Face, accept, and embrace all the aspects of the self that we had once fractured and hid from others, and most of all from ourselves. In this radical acceptance we can channel the intensity into growth and self empowerment. It’s a delicate balance, veer too far towards the edge and we become consumed with it, and run in the opposite direction we become fragmented and disembodied, only half a version of ourselves. The key is in the merging of both light and dark; an awareness of the shadow without reacting to or acting upon it. It is not a conquest, nor a race towards a magical destination, but rather a journey that invites yielding. It is the ultimate dance. Some days we may stumble, forget the moves, feel self conscious, or less precise with our footing, which is all normal. The important thing is to stand back up, and continue on moving, and to never forsake ourselves. In the Metamorphasis a short novel written by Franz Kaf ka, the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, who awakens to find himself transformed into a giant insect, expresses his embarrassment and distress, “I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.” Many suffering with depression, especially without any external cause, tend to feel this way. Guilt and confusion plague those feeling such voracious emotions without tangible reason; emotions that return seemingly at random. Sometimes these feelings are triggered by external circumstances, but they often remain erratic and unexplainable. Chinese Medicine appealed to me most because it embraced all aspects of the being, every organ and meridian is intertwined in a constant homeostatic dance. No emotion is left unaccounted for. There is an explanation and a cohesion between the physiology, the mind and the spirit. Sadness is associated with the lungs and large intestine, whose functions remind us of the natural process of letting go, the remedy such surrender brings during times of grief, and the physical repercussions and manifestations of such grief should it become overwhelming to one’s system. Often times patients entering my office suffering from sudden acute bronchitis or pneumonia have recently suffered a loss in their lives as well. The Chinese sages understood the concept of sadness and its physical markers thousands of years ago and made sense of it through the development of the five phase theory. This theory utilizes the five elements observed in nature- earth, metal, water, wood, fire- to explain how each organ is connected to, and balances out another through various cycles. The core emotions of depression: sadness/ surrender and will/fear, are each deeply interconnected through the actions of their associated organs, the lungs and kidneys. The lungs LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
take in oxygen, which is pulled in deeper, and “anchored” into the body by the kidneys. The kidneys, located in the lower back, represent our metaphorical trunk, the foundation of our Jing, or life essence. Weak kidney qi commonly manifests as difficulty with inhalation. Many suffering from depression experience a lack of will to engage in reality, and tend to breathe more shallowly. As respiration represents a constant reaffirming of life, this lung- kidney disharmony that is present in such individuals becomes quite symbolic. The kidneys’ role in depression is highlighted through concept of Jing. Each of us are born with the precise amount of material substance or Jing available to use during our lifetime. The quality of Jing we receive is determined by the DNA from both of our parents. The kidneys contain our Jing, which is why this organ is considered the source of our vitality. Perhaps some people are born with weaker kidney Jing, which accounts for a predisposition towards depression from birth. In Western medicine this would be classified as a chemical imbalance within the brain, an assertion that coincides with Chinese medical philosophy, which correlates the kidneys with the brain and spinal cord. Granted, congenital depression does not excuse one to take a victim’s stance. Instead, those who find themselves experiencing baseless melancholy must work all the harder at self care and at managing the episodes when they arrive. Laying face up on the treatment table during my first acupuncture treatment at age sixteen, with ultra fine needles gently inserted into various points in my body, I watched the fragrant plumes of smoke rise up lazily from the burning moxa near my abdomen. Tears of relief slipped down my cheeks. For the first time since childhood I felt a sudden deep sense of tranquility suffuse my muscles, and in turn a calm acceptance for my entire being as it was in that very moment. Regular and consistent acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal therapy treatment help treat depression by restoring resonance between all of the organs, sometimes with a stronger focus on boosting the kidney and lung qi (this will differ depending on the patient). Of course, ensuring people receive adjunctive care from a trained and licensed psychologist may be necessary. I have found that acupuncture and Chinese medicine help ground the concepts learned in talk therapy, and together, these two healing modalities are extremely affective at alleviating the severity as well as lessening the duration of depressive episodes. Here are also a few suggestions to help guide you or a loved one through a depressive episode: 1. Consciously deepen your breath. Reaffirm life by taking deep breaths through your nose, allowing your diaphragm, and then your belly to expand. Hold your breath for 3 seconds, and the release it with an open mouth exhale. Do this at least 3 to 4 times, and repeat throughout the day. 2. Detach from thoughts, and allow yourself to feel whatever emotion arises fully, without resistance. Focus on the physical sensations in your body. Where do you feel the emotions? Fully feel whatever arises, and then let it go. 3. Remove labels - remind yourself that you are a vessel through which emotions travel. You are not your emotions, nor are you your thoughts. You are the observer of them. Know that all emotions are temporary and are in constant motion. Like ocean storms that tussle a ship, even the most intense depressive episodes eventually pass on. 4. Constantly remain aware of your energy and how it affects others. Treat your loved ones with kindness. You may be experiencing /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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inner turmoil but this does not give you a free pass to unload negative energy onto someone else. Be gracious if your friends inquire after you and be gentle with those who may be less understanding. You are responsible for your own actions. 5. Anchor your day with nourishment, even if you do not feel like it. Poor eating habits are common when experiencing depression, whether under or overeating. Release any self judgement first of all, and then make sure you begin the day with a healthy, satisfying and delicious breakfast, and end your day with a grounding dinner. Repeat daily. This ritual will help keep you anchored. Try to limit overly processed foods if possible. Treat your body as kindly as you would a small child. 6. Spend time outside. Make sure to spend at least 15-20 minutes in natural sunlight. Mindful sun exposure stimulates the body to produce Vitamin D, which is essential in alleviating depression. 7. Do something kind for another. Depression by nature can make one self absorbed and insular. If you lack the energy to either visit someone ill or cook for someone, perform the following loving energy mediation: Visualize a bubble of light surrounding you, and any depressive energy as dark smoke sealed within the confines of this boundary. Eventually envision this dark smoke transforming into emerald green light, that grows more vibrant. Then feel that light penetrating your heart, filling it with love. Once you truly feel the love infuse your heart and overflow into your whole being, send that vibrant energy outside of yourself to anyone else who needs it. Most of all, please remember: your shadow can be your greatest strength. And you are not alone. * If you think you or a loved one is in danger of hurting themselves, please contact the suicide prevention hotline 1 800-273-8255.
Olivia Fellus is a double board certified licensed acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine herbalist. She owns and operates a private practice in the North Park, and University Heights neighborhood of San Diego. Please visit www.ascendhealing.com to find out more about Olivia and to book a complimentary consultation where you can have any questions answered and find out how she can help you achieve your ultimate physical emotional and mental wellness. ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
EXTC / This Is Pop!
BY BART MENDOZA © MUSICSCENESD // MUSICSCENESD.COM
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English quartet XTC were one of the best groups to emerge from late 1970’s England, with a long string of classic singles over the next two decades, including “Senses Working Overtime,” “Earn Enough For Us,” “Making Plans For Nigel” and “Mayor of Simpleton.” The songs, which ranged in tone from punk to pastoral, were a great mix of hooks, melodies and inspired performances from the players, Andy Partridge (guitar), Colin Moulding (bass), Dave Gregory (guitar) and Terry Chambers (drums). The band has long since split, but on March 25, fans will have the opportunity to hear these great songs once more, when EXTC performs at the House of Blues. Featuring original member Chambers, alongside Steve Tilling (guitar), Steve Hampton (guitar) and Matt Hughes (bass), the band does an amazing job of playing these songs. For aficionados of the band, the March 25 date holds special significance. “This will be my first visit to San Diego since 1982 which makes it almost a 40th anniversary of the last live appearance of XTC,” noted Chambers. It was nearly four decades ago that the band gave what would be their final concert, on April 3, 1982, just a few blocks from the House of Blues, at the California Theatre. “I recall the show went very well,” Chambers said. “In those days, we never saw much of the cities we were playing in. All LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
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we saw was the inside of hotels and venues. I would have loved to explore San Diego but never had that opportunity. Hopefully I will this time.” After 40 years, what inspired Chambers to play these songs again? “(Guitarist) Steve Tilling and I put in a lot of work to get a whole bunch of these songs together for a project called TC&I, with Colin Moulding from XTC,” he recalled. “But we only played eight gigs. Steve and I felt there was sufficient interest to continue, which is why we put the EXTC thing together.” The band’s eventual lineup came through personal connections. “Steve and I found each other during the TC&I project. Steve Hampton was recommended to us by a friend in London, Simon Parrish; and Matt Hughes, the bass player, had played with Steve Hampton before. They fit very well,” Chambers said. Interestingly, it was Andy Partridge that came up with the EXTC name. “I met Andy Partridge socially and we discussed my plans to move forward with a live band,” Chambers said. “Several names cropped up but in light of the material we’re playing, Andy concluded it couldn’t be called anything other than EXTC.” Did he consider it important to have Partridge’s approval for the band? “I would have continued this project whether it met with band approval or not and, as it turns out, they don’t disapprove.” The current tour includes songs from throughout XTC’s @LocalUmbrellaMedia
extensive discography. “Steve and I already knew 50% of the songs through the TC&I project,” Chambers said. “So we felt it best to start there and add what we thought were some of Andy’s strongest songs that we could do justice to live.” Being on the road after such a long gap, has he noticed many differences between touring now and back in the day? “Touring is certainly on a smaller scale regarding venues and equipment, but the distances between gigs remain the same,” Chambers said. “Right now, the biggest difficulties for touring involve Covid-related issues.” Looking back, how does he feel about the impact XTC’s music has made and how inf luential his playing is? “I don’t see XTC’s music as being particularly inf luential as we were inf luenced by many bands before us,” Chambers replied modestly. “Any musical impact we’ve had has just filtered through. I think it’s for others to decide.” For his part Chambers is happy to once again be making music, with EXTC. “Performing with EXTC is a joy because we don’t have the pressure of a record company or manager pushing us, we decide where we go, what we play, and how much we play. These are extremely talented musicians,” he said. “They’re great fun to be around and old enough to know how to get the job done while having a good time. www.extc.co.uk
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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Tamar Berk / Start at the End There is no question that musician Tamar Berk made an impact in 2021. A veteran of numerous bands, her debut solo album, The Restless Dreams of Youth, showed up on numerous music critic / DJ / blog Top Ten lists around the world. Meanwhile, on April 19 Berk will be a performer at the 2022 San Diego Music Awards, where she scored two nominations, for “Best Pop Album” and “Album of the Year.” It’s just the latest chapter for this gifted performer. With the buzz still strong on her first album, new music is already on the way. Berk recently released a terrific keyboard based pop single, “Your Permission,” in advance of her sophomore album, Start at the End, due out on April 22. In the meantime, she will be issuing a second single from it, “Tragic Ending,” on March 29. It’s all a boon for fans of hook filled pop rock, though how to describe Tamar’s music can be hard to pin down. “My music has been described by others as indie pop, pop, powerpop, indie rock, singersongwriter…literally everything! Except metal,” she said good naturedly. Berk’s music is basically pages in the story of her life. “My songs have
always been personal,” she said. “The stories I tell are my own. It’s really the only way I’ve ever written. I’ve always been prolific. There was just a span of years in which I was sort of a lost soul with my music. Those years were rough.” Start at the End is perhaps Berk’s most introspective collection of songs. “I had started writing casually in the spring working on the song “Your Permission” and writing lyrics and recording little riffs into my phone,” she said. “I worked out a couple of song sketches but in June, my father became sick and did not seem to be getting better. I dropped everything and took a red-eye to Florida because I had a
terrible feeling. I felt uneasy and really anxious. When I landed in Florida, he had already been admitted to the hospital and a week later, he was gone. My life just kind of stopped. I was crying all the time and couldn’t really understand what had happened. I felt like everything was so meaningless. I was literally exhausted from crying all the time, so I just started writing more and more until I noticed a theme emerging.” She soon realized a new album would be possible from the pieces. “I started to feel the songs coming together. Looking at them now, I think some of the songs on the “Start at the End” album are my most favorite songs I have ever written, but also, the most personal
and most difficult to have written. Completing this album took a lot out of me.” While Berk may tour a little and there are plans for a livestream show, what she loves most “is making little mini-movies and videos. I love creating, so my favorite thing to do is the artistic side of promoting, through photos, videos or more,” she said. “Videos are very important…especially when you are trying to enhance the meaning of the song. It can be daunting to come up with just the right concept! But I do enjoy editing. So far, I’ve made my own videos.” Plans are for there to be four videos from the new album. How does Berk feel about the success her first album has had ? “I am overwhelmed. For real,” she said. “I loved this album and every song. I just had no idea that others would feel the same. It’s have spent many nights crying happy tears!” She’s particularly happy with her SDMA nominations. “I’ve lived in many cities, played in many bands, and I work so hard at my songwriting,” she said. “It’s an incredible feeling to be actually recognized for it!” www.tamarberk.bandcamp.com
San Diego Music Awards / April 19 at Humphrey’s
San Diego musicians party of the year, the 31st Annual San Diego Music Awards, take place on April 19 at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. Beginning at 7 p.m., in addition to the handing out of trophies, a cross section of San Diego’s best musicians will perform, including R&B combo Thee Sacred Souls, rock band Mrs. Henry, soul rockers The Sully Band, Ira B. Liss’s Big Band Jazz Machine, powerpop rocker Tamar Berk, Hawaii inspired Slack Key Ohana and rapper / actor Riston Diggs. Meanwhile the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be soul music legend Jesse Davis, best known for his classic 1967 single “Gonna Hang On In There Girl.” The event is open to the public, with an edited twohour version of the show set to be televised on Fox 5 KSWB-TV on May 14 at 6 p.m. Appearing at the awards ceremony, Hawaii inspired combo, Slack Key Ohana, is up for Best World Music Album and Best New Artist. The band features the core duo of Kamaka Mullen and Brian Witkin (also Pacific Records CEO). “Being nominated as an artist is a first for me even though I’ve been attending the SDMAs for years as a music producer and on behalf of the label,” Witkin said. “So, it’s sort of a full circle moment I’m experiencing.” For this show he will be joined by a member of rock ‘n’ roll royalty, his father, keyboardist Joe Witkin. The elder LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Witkin was a founding member of iconic 1950’s revivalists, Sha-Na-Na, famously performing at Woodstock on Jimi Hendrix’s recommendation and right before his famous set. “Having him there onstage with me, as well my mom, Carol Witkin, who will be playing uke, just adds more significance to an already special night for me,” Witkin remarked. Guitarist Patrick Yandall is nominated for both Best Jazz or Blues Album and Album of the Year, for his album, Chasing the Light. “I am always honored to be recognized for my work,” he said. “I have been nominated numerous times in different categories over the years and have not won, but it feels great to be recognized with your peers. With all the incredible musicians in San Diego, it really gives you a sense of pride to be recognized with them, and know your hard work has been appreciated.” Sande Lollis has the rare distinction of being nominated twice this year, but with different projects, including with her band, Enter the Blue Sky (Best Americana Artist) and for her solo album, Being Human (Best Americana Album) How does it feel to be nominated this year? “We stayed busy through the shut down with sporadic gigs, but especially our driveway concerts, I think that kept us visible. It was a labor of love, both for being able to share our music and perform, and for it to be received. There’s that lovely give and take relationship with our fans, in /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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only the best ways. For the SDMAs to see that, to feel it, that means the world,” Lollis said. Meanwhile, nominations are once again a family affair for the Raney family, with Jerry Raney nominated for Best Rock Artist alongside his band, The Farmers and his son Nathan Raney nominated for his album, Season of Serenity (Best Rock Album). He concurs with Lollis assessment. “It always feels good to be nominated, it makes me feel that people appreciate what I do and want to let me know that,” the elder Raney said. “What I look forward to the most is seeing the performances of the nominees, it’s nice to see how they present themselves on stage,” he continued. “Since there are so many genres, I usually haven’t seen a lot of them play. It’s also always fun to hang out with friends that you don’t get to see that often since we’re usually all out gigging in different areas of town.” Nominated for his album, Tehachapi Line in the category of Best Folk or Acoustic Album, Dave Preston is succinct in his thoughts on the SDMA’s. “Man, being nominated by the San Diego Music Awards is such a special thing,” he said. “We work so hard putting a record together, then getting out there on stage and putting that work in front of a live audience, and then to be noticed and honored for it by your peers and fellow brothers and sisters, it’s really motivating and inspires you to work even harder.” For Preston, as well as many others in attendance, the camaraderie on the night amongst the musicians, fans, producers, DJ’s, TV personalities and others in attendance is what makes the San Diego Music Awards the years biggest event. “What I’m looking forward to most on the night of the awards itself is to feel that love and inspiration as a musical family coming together in unity to celebrate each other’s creativity and success,” he said. www.sandiegomusicawards.com ADVERTISE | Press@LocalUmbrella.com
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SDMA 2022 Showcases In addition to the main event there will be six showcase concerts featuring nominated artists. All performers and venues are donating their services, with funds raised going to the San Diego Music Foundation and Guitars for Schools Programs. These shows are a great way to take in a lot of great talent, and through your ticket purchase, also do a good deed. The dates and venues are: April 8: Navajo Live / Machine Politik, Jon Campos & The Incurables, Evening’s Empire, A Lens To The Sun, The Nathan Raney Band April 9: Pour House Oceanside /
San Diablo All Stars, Shane Hall, Nathan Hubbard Trio April 10: Humphreys Backstage Live / SDMA presents a live music tribute to our 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, soul music legend, Jesse Davis April 8: Navajo Live / Astra Kelly, Ron Houston & The Berry Pickers, Lauren Leigh, Jeff Berkley & The Banned April 13: The Casbah / Main Stage: Authentic Sellout, Signal for Pilot, Avenue Army. And in the Razzmatazz Room: Bloodstone, Crhymes
April 14: Humphreys Backstage Live / San Diego Blues Buffet Featuring Chickenbone Slim and The Biscuits, with appearances from Sue Palmer, Liz Ajuizie, Mercedes Moore, Whitney Shay April 15: The Holding Company / Suede Radio, Chunky Hustle Brass Band, Casey Hensley, Euphoria Brass Band, Imagery Machine April 16: 710 Beach Club / Lords of the Satellite, Dewey Defeats Truman, Nights Like Thieves, Subsurfer, King Whisker
Beatles Fair / Fab Four Fun! Chris Montez / Let’s Dance!
The 19th Annual San Diego Beatles Fair takes place at Queen Bee’s on March 26. A full day of fab four fun, attendees will be treated to music on indoor and outdoor stages, a pop culture shopping area with clothes, records and more, as well as an acoustic sing-a-long stage. With the recent excitement of over The Beatles Get Back Disney+ documentary series, the timing couldn’t be better. This year’s event will be headlined by iconic Mexican-American hitmaker, Chris Montez, best known for classic hits such as “Let’s Dance,” “Call Me” and “Some Kinda Fun,” the events performers are varied by design. “We try to give audiences a wide ranging musical experience,” said Beatles Fair organizer (and Queen Bee owner) Alma Rodriguez. “It’s a mix. We have an original rock legend in Chris Montez. He toured with the Beatles in 1963 and has wonderful stories to tell. Then for the people who like tribute artists, we have John Leo, who does a great solo era John Lennon and the Revolution Band, from Tijuana, who wear the suits. Something a little different might be The Young Lion’s Jazz Conservatory under the direction of award winning bassist Ron Thorsen. It’s super talented kids playing Beatles jazz, so you know it’s going to be amazing. And that’s just for starters, it really is a full day of music.” Other performers set to take part include Laurie Beebe Lewis (Mamas & Papas / The Buckinghams), The 63eatles, Falling Doves, True Stories,
Courtney McKenna and Funhouse, a new duo featuring ex Four Eyes rockers, Mark DeCerbo and John Chatfield. Why does Beatles music still resonate with music fans more than 50 years since the band split? “That’s a good question, there might be more than one answer to that,” said Leo good naturedly. “But ultimately, the answer is simple: It is very good music. Why do I say so? Just research what fellow musicians say about The Beatles, most bands list The Beatles as one of their influences, even other rock legends like David Gilmour, Brian May or Ozzy Osbourn have declared themselves Beatlefans.” McKenna also considers the key to the bands popularity to be the quality of the music. “The Beatles wrote such a variety of music. It feels like each record they put out was a new evolved version of themselves and personally I relate to that,” she said. “I think the music still resonates with people because it continues to be used today in modern culture.” Leo has plans for a special show for Beatles Fair “It’s always a great experience to play for fellow Beatles fans because we get to do songs that we normally don’t play,” he said. “When we play to a general audience, we have to focus on the “greatest hits”, but when we play for fans, we get to do other songs that weren’t as popular but are loved by us.” Rodriguez is looking forward to putting another memorable Fab Fest in the history books. “We’re doing our best to give San Diego a great day of music,” Rodriguez said. “The Beatles continue to be inspiring. There is such a range to the music they’ve made, but there is also their inspirational, positive message. If you are a fan of the Beatles you’ll have a lot of fun on March 19, but then any rock ‘n’ roll fan is going to enjoy themselves at Beatles Fair!” www.sandiegobeatlesfair.com
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It’s likely that few rock fans aren’t familiar with Chris Montez’s 1962 classic “Let’s Dance.” Alongside “Twist & Shout,” “Wipe Out” and a few others, the song perfectly encapsulates the era of it’s release, decades later still retaining both it’s cool and fun status. It’s likely the reason “Let’s Dance” has shown up in numerous places, ranging from period films, such as “Animal House,” to more recent TV productions such as “Riverdale.” But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Montez, who headlines Beatles Fair on March 26. He scored a number of additional hits, including “Call Me,” “The More I See You” and “Some Kinda Fun,” appearing on TV programs from American Bandstand to Top of the Pops. Amongst the highlights of a career now in its sixth decade, is a 1963 tour of England with Tommy Roe, featuring opening act, The Beatles. “It’s been a wild ride,” Montez said good naturedly. “I was just a kid who really loved music. I’d come home and watch the Dick Clark show. I never thought I’d be a singer, but I made a demo for $25. It was the producer that sent it to the label. The next thing I know my mom says, you’ve had a phone call. Before I knew it I was on the Dick Clark show.” What’s @LocalUmbrellaMedia
his favorite place he’s heard his music? “The radio,” he says without hesitation. “There’s nothing like the first time you hear your song played.” Interestingly, despite being a Southern California resident, Montez’s appearance at Beatles Fair, is the first time San Diego audiences have a chance to catch a full set from the legendary artist. In 2019 he played a few songs before a pair of performances of the jukebox musical, 33 1/3 House of Dreams, but fans at Beatles Fair will get a terrific set that takes in all the hits and influences, plus a few newer favorites, plus a Q & A and autograph session. “I did a lot of tours with different performers on a bus, just part of a group” he said. “But I don’t think we ever made it to San Diego.” Montez has over a dozen albums to his credit, but unfortunately for fans, little from that era remains unreleased. “In those days you would use a tape once and then erase it, so there’s no alternate takes or things of that sort,” he said. However, there may yet be more music ahead from Montez. “I’ve got songs I’d like to record, but I haven’t been able to find the right studio,” he remarked. After all this time, for Montez, it’s still about the live performance. “It’s great to be able to play again after too long a break, but I’m keeping busy, with shows in Florida right before I head to San Diego.” Indeed, there is talk of a tour with other rock legends in the near future. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to Beatles Fair. “Live shows like this are when people can really see what you can do,” he said. “When they come to the shows, that’s my ‘thanks’, that’s what makes me happy. I’m really honored to perform at this year’s event.” www.chrismontez.com
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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San Diego Music News • The Rolando Street Fair has had a change of lineup, with the B-Side Players now headlining in place of Buck-ONine. It’s a terrific bill with Whitney Shay, The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble, Boostive and James Sutton. A free fun day of music. All ages. • On Sunday March 20, Navajo Live will host a special tribute night for Dan Sartain on the anniversary if his death. The free event kicks off at 7 p.m. with Jeremy Mercers (drums) and Bobbi Baur (bass) backing a host of local musicians including Tara Reis, Maggie Esquivel, Nicholas Rey and more. “This Tribute is dedicated to keeping his music and memory alive in the hearts and minds of fans old and new.” • Powerpop-centric music gathering, The International Pop Overthrow Festival, returns to San Diego for the first time since 2016, on July 8 and 9, at the Black Cat Bar. Performers tba. • The Album Leaf is releasing a special album for Record Store Day, Past and Future Tense (June 18, 2022) via Nettwerk Records. The release collects three long out-of-print EPs, packaged together with an EP of brand new material. Limited to 950 copies, the album will be pressed on opaque galaxy vinyl with four album-sized art cards by Alex Deamon. • Angels and Airwaves scifi feature film, LOVE, has been released in an extended anniversary digital edition. It now features deleted music video sequences. • Jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos is in the studio finishing up the long awaited follow up to his 2013 album, the Federal Jazz Project. Recorded at Rarefied Recording in North Park, the album is engineered, mixed and mastered by Chris Hobson of HOBSound and co-produced/arranged by Joshua White. Castellanos is backed by White on piano, Christopher Holliday on alto sax, Tyler Kreutel on drums and bassist John Murray. • Mark DeCerbo and John Chatfield, exFour Eyes and Rockola members, have teamed up once again for a new band, Funhouse. The reason behind the new team up is an old friendship. “It was just John and I getting together to play for a backyard party that started it off. We practiced some songs, we played, had some libation, we had fun and it rocked like the old days,” DeCerbo said. The combo specializes in classic Beatles, Elvis, Band and Buddy Holly songs, as well as some Four Eyes favorites. “I’d say we have a pub rock sound where we sing and play our own versions of songs and we use a thing called Digitech Trio Plus looper pedal for our rhythm section, which John programs, and it gives us the sound of a full band with only two guys. Playing with the programmed rhythm keeps us on our toes and if there are any mistakes, it’s always on us,” he joked. Being that Funhouse is the title of one of the best known albums / songs by Iggy Pop’s Stooges, is there any chance of an Iggy cover? “That’s funny, but, no, at least not yet. We do Four Eyes covers, though. And when you come to see Funhouse, you might catch a few 3 Stooges moments, as well. Ha!” • Pacific Records signed rockers, Falling Doves 2022 world tour kicks off March 25 in Tarzana, California, with upcoming shows set in England, Scotland, Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico. The band, featuring Chris Leyva (guitar, vocals) and Greg Smith (drums) will play several U.S. dates in between legs of the tour, with the road trip set to wrap in December, in Australia • Jewel’s first album in seven years, Freewheelin’ Woman, is due out on April 15th via her own label, Words Matter Music. The album’s first single “Dancing Slow,” features Train, who she’ll be touring with this summer, including LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
July 26 at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre. Other guests on the new album include Darius Rucker on the song “No More Tears” • The King Taylor Project have released thier debut single, “High Road,” with a follow up, “Devil in the White City,” due March 25. Meanwhile the band’s Joshua Taylor will release a new single, “Cars Don’t Run Forever” in April, from his forthcoming album, Unscene. • King Whisker has added Francisco Ramirez-Arzeta to their lineup on bass, “mean-
ing we’ll be touring our debut DIY album, Relaxing With Aunt Janine soon,” said the bands lead singer Charlie Rohlfs. The album was nominated for Best Indie/Alt album at this years San Diego Music Awards. • Darlene Love has a new compilation of her classic session work, The Many Sides of Love: The Complete Reprise Recordings Plus!, out via Real Gone Music / The Second Disc, for Record Store Day. Of particular note is the inclusion of the great 1963 Barney Kessel single, “TV Commercials.” • The Nephews and a Niece, featuring Tim Ellison has a new EP, John’s Fishing Village, recorded at Singing Serpent in Kensington with Ben Moore producing • Acclaimed violinist Alicia Previn has a new single, “Le Brusc,” out now. Previn can be heard on numerous classic 80’s and 90’s tracks. “It is always kinda nerve wracking for a pop singer to work with a classically trained musician,” said Dave Wakeling (English Beat / General Public) of Previn. “They have the science, you are learning as you go! So it is a blessed relief when you get to work with someone like Alicia, who speaks both languages! The solo on General Public’s “Come again” was instant ear candy, whist also adding a soaring solemnity. A pleasure to record, and a still a pleasure to listen to.” Previn has a number of residencies in town, including Jacked Up Brewery every Wednesday, Partake Gastro Pub every third Friday and regular shows at Ebullition Gastro Pub • Ratt’s first album appearance, on the 1982 Metal Massacre Volume I compilation, is being reissued in a 40th Anniversary edition by Metal Blade Records. Other bands include Metalli-
ca, Black & Blue and Cirith Ungul. There will be two vinyl versions; ruby red (5000 copies) and clear vinyl (2,000 copies). The first 250 US pre-orders at the label website will receive an exclusive patch. • Guitarist Drew Shirley has parted ways with Switchfoot. “He joined us shortly after the release of our 4th album and we’ve shared an incredible journey, full of countless highs and lows together. We love Drew dearly, and we are so thankful for the time and memories we have had,” said the band in a statement. • Surf combo extraordinaire, The Tourmaliners are back in the studio recording a third
album, tentatively called Surfidia, with producer Miles Clowminzer. • Zachary Goode, formerly of numerous area bands including Geezer, Divided by Zero, Secret Seven and Ghoulspoon, is the new lead singer of Smash Mouth. His first recording with the band is out now, a version of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Let You Go.” New Albums Include: Durell Anthony, heard on TV’s The Voice, releases a new single, “Be With U,” on March 25, …classic rockers Daring Greatly - Gird Valley,… Americana based Ron Houston -The Streets of West Monroe (July 4). The first single will be “Just An Empty Bottle,”… Marcelo Radulovich’s new album Merry Go Down: Flashbacks consists of re-recordings of songs by his 90’s era band, Merry Go Down… rock trio Rotten Cabal, featuring guitarist Mike Ruggirello are working on their debut (summer),… Sister Speak has a new album, Love For All, out April 1. The First single is “Run Away.” New Singles Include: Nick Harvey featuring Audrey Callahan - “No More Heartache,” has singer songwriter Callahan branching out into
dance / EDM territory,… Chloe Lou & The Liddells – “Wrong” is a soulful gem, highlighted by terrific vocals and a great band that includes Chris Davies, David Fleminger and Richard Larson, … Howlin Rain, featuring Dan Cervantes, has teamed up with Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes) for a limited edition 7-inch single, “Sucker” (a Mott the Hoople cover) b/w “Death May Be Your Santa Claus.” It’s available as a blacklight screen-printed version, autographed test pressings, or a Record Store Day edition due out April 23. /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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PUESTO CREATES IT’S OWN CRAFT BEER By Vince Meehan
Douglas Hasker is the brew master at Puesto Mexican restaurant in Mission Valley. He has been a brewer for 30 plus years and is currently tasked with the job of creating a line of craft beers that matches the quality and authenticity of their menu. Luckily for Puesto, Hasker is the perfect man for the job. “I’m 30 years making beer, I started with Gordon Beirsch in 1990 and learned –mastered – the German style lager,” Hasker said. “Puesto was taking over the building and they wanted to keep me and make Mexican beers, so here I am!” Puesto is located in the western section of the Westfield Mission Valley shopping center in a building that was the former home of Gordon Beirsch for over 20 years. Gordon Beirsch was a brewing company from up in the bay area that opened up restaurants across California that featured their German-styled craft beer as a compliment to their food menu. The restaurant was built with a fully operational brewery as a way to not only showcase the chain’s brewery roots, but to ensure that the guests were treated to freshly brewed craft beer as part of their culinary experience. The eatery had to close in 2019 and a year later shut down operations altogether. Puesto took over the building and decided to keep the brewery as a way to provide fresh craft beer for all of its nine locations. Hasker was instructed to produce a line of authentic Mexican beers to compliment the gourmet tacos on the Puesto menu. The idea was to replicate the traditional Mexican lagers that have historically been a favorite south of the border. Luckily for Hasker his years of making German-style lagers made him the most qualified guy for the position. “It was tasked to me when I got hired – ‘Can you do Pacifico better than Pacifico? And can you do Dos Equis Amber better than Dos Equis does it? Negra Modelo better than Modelo?’ And we have!” bragged Hasker. “But it was daunting at first, cause I really wasn’t sure how I was
going to do it. I had confidence that I could make lagers, but I wasn’t sure about the transition. And it turned out that it was easier than I thought, and I think we nailed them all!” Puesto is a local Mexican food restaurant that started here in San Diego and has now grown to 9 locations throughout California. The first location opened in La Jolla 10 years ago, followed by a second at The Headquarters center Downtown. The Mission Valley location was opened in 2020 and was the seventh location in the chain, but
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the only one to feature an active brewery on the premises. This was due to it being the former Gordon Beirsch location and Puesto decided that it was a good idea to keep the brewmaster who was running the show. This made sense for a couple of reasons, the first being that Hasker was intimately familiar with the brewery and how it operated. The second was that Gordon Beirsch specialized in lager beers, which take more finesse to brew due to the cooled fermentation process that gives lagers their unique taste. And with Puesto wanting to create their
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own line of unique Mexican lagers, Hasker turned out to be the perfect brewmaster for the task. “We have some core lagers – Mexican lagers – and they’re really similar to German beers so it was really an easy transition for me,” noted Hasker about the selection of craft beer at Puesto. “I have six beers currently – basically it’s light, medium, and dark for the Mexican lagers – so it’s a Clara, an Amber and a Negra. We also do an IPA since we’re in San Diego – so we rotate that around.” In addition to the lagers, Hasker has created a couple of specialty beers for Puesto that are limited editions that you need to grab while the supplies last. “Right now I have a celebration beer – it’s a Vienna-style lager. Recently, it was Puesto’s ten-year anniversary of being in business, so they asked if I could make a ten-year beer. So we did sort of an original Vienna-style beer that the Mexicans would have made in the 1860’s or so. I also have one keg left of Navidad that I left over, which is a Mexican version of a winter bock beer – a German winter bock beer.” Hasker’s craft beers add another level of quality to the Puesto experience, which features top of the line Mexican food and specialty items such as home-made chicharrones, something that is not typically found on many menus. Hasker sees it as the exclamation point to a fun dining experience. Mexican lagers have become a new hit in the last few years with many local breweries now offering them on their line. But none have mastered them like Hasker, and just like Mexico’s original lager beers, he has a German beer-making heritage that makes that possible. “It’s Quality, it’s what we’re big on. The food is upscale tacos, something you’d see in a high-end restaurant in Mexico City. We’ve already won awards for our margaritas, we’ve won awards for our tacos, and we’ve won one award now for our beer. We won a silver award for our Negra at GBF (Great American Beer Festival), which was a really big honor for us. So the idea is to make the best of everything!”
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
For too long our world has measured success incorrectly. We have championed, promoted, and followed some inappropriate people along the way. We’ve judged others on the symmetry of their cheek bones, salary package, neighborhood of residence, eloquence of speech, designer of clothing, or model of car. We’ve been focused on the incorrect things. We’ve likely made some terribly awful judgments along the way—both personally and collectively. Might I take a moment and recommend some new measurements? Some new measurements that are not external in nature, but are internal—measurements that weigh the very essence of humanity that begin to give us a far better sense of who to trust, who to follow, and who to champion.
18 New Ways to Measure Success 1. Character In Solitude - Our character is best revealed not in the public eye, but in private. What we do when nobody is looking is the truest mark of our character. Those who display character in the dark will always ref lect it in the light. 2. Contentment In Circumstance - Often times, contentment remains elusive for both the rich and the poor. It is a struggle for humanity no matter their lot in life. Rich is the man or woman who can find contentment in either circumstance. 3. Courage During Adversity – Courage (which differs from bravery) can only be revealed when it is required. Only those who have displayed it and acted upon it during adversity can lay claim to its possession. This adversity can take on many different forms, but courage will always look the same: soulful action in the face
of fear. 4. Faithfulness In Commitment - Those whose words are true ought to be highly lifted up in our world today. Whether our word is given with a handshake, a contract, or a wedding ring, those who hold true to their oaths (and are not easily swayed by other’s opinions, the need for acceptance, and demands of daily life) are worthy of commendation. 5. Generosity In Abundance - To those who have received much, much should be given away. Often times, this abundance comes in forms other than material possessions. In that way, we each have been given much— and each ought to be generous in our use of it. 6. Graciousness Towards Others - Those who routinely extend grace to others are among my greatest heroes. They have a healthy realization that this world is largely unfair, that people come from a variety of backgrounds, and that nobody is truly self-made… even themselves. As a result, they are quick to extend grace and mercy to others. 7. Gratitude Despite Circumstance - Those who can find enough good in any circumstance to express gratitude are typically focused on the right things. Those who are focused on the right things tend to bend their lives towards those things… and draw others along with them. 8. Honesty In Deprivation - It is when we are deprived of something desired that honesty is the most difficult. Whether we are deprived of something physical or intangible (like a desired outcome), dishonesty is often used to quickly take gain of something. Those who show honesty during deprivation reveal how highly they esteem it. 9. Hope During Heartache When heartache cuts at such a
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deep level that simple optimism is not enough… only hope can emerge. When it does, it is undeniably from a source far greater than ourselves. Those who find it, discover one of the greatest powers in the universe. 10. Humility In Accomplishment - Those who are quick to def lect praise in accomplishment ought to be first in receiving it. 11. Inspiration In Relationship - We are all in relationship with others – sometimes in person, sometimes in print, sometimes in other ways. These relationships should not be used solely for personal gain, but for bringing out the best in others. Those who inspire others to become the best they can be should be gifted with more and more and more relationships. 12. Integrity In The Details Integrity is found in the details. Those who show integrity in the little things of life will typically display it in the bigger things as well. 13. Kindness To The Weak - It is usually the weakest among us that are in most need of our kindness… and yet they receive it the least because they have no way to immediately repay it. When kindness is only shown for the sake of repayment, it becomes an investment and is no longer true kindness. Our true measure of kindness is shown in how we treat those who will never repay us. 14. Optimism Towards Others - See the good in everyone. There is simply no way to bring out the best in others if you haven’t seen it first. 15. Perseverance In Failure Failure reveals much about who we truly are within. It reveals our character, our humility, and our perseverance. We will all at some point face failure and those who get back up and try again ought @LocalUmbrellaMedia
to be esteemed in our mind. 16. Purity In Opportunity While character is revealed in solitude and integrity is revealed in the details, purity is revealed in the face of opportunity. When dishonest gain (money, power, sex, etc.) presents itself, those who choose purity ought to be praised. Not only do they personally sleep better at night, but they make this world a better place for all of us. 17. Responsibility For Mistakes - From the weakest to the strongest, most people tend to pass the blame. I can see it in my 9-year aged son, and I can see it in my government leaders. We are a people that are slow to accept responsibility for our mistakes (and quick to point out other’s). Only those who can acknowledge their mistakes have the opportunity to learn from them. 18. Self-Control In Addiction - We are a people that too often give control of our most precious asset to another. We fall under the inf luence of substances, possessions, or entertainment. When we do, our life is no longer our own. Those who retain self-control in the face of addiction ought to be recognized as unique and judged accordingly. When we all begin to properly esteem, champion, and follow those who lead from the inside, we will make far better choices who to follow and invite to accompany us. Daniel Allen is a writer, speaker, and spiritual & emotional counselor on the subject of relationships (including the one we hold with ourselves), and an advocate for Love and raising consciousness. For more information or article suggestions please visit www.SoulExpansion. com, email info@SoulExpansion. com or call (619) 832-2750.
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VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3 |
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COMMEMORATIVE PLANT NAMES: CLARK AND CLARKIA By Millie Basden, Trail Guide
William Clark was a soldier, mapmaker, and naturalist. He is perhaps best known as the co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1803 to 1806. Clark and Merriweather Lewis led a group of explorers west from near St. Louis, Missouri, through the lands recently acquired in the Louisiana Purchase to the Pacific Coast. Clark kept detailed journals about the plants and animals they found along the way and in doing so, revealed himself to be a terrible speller (e.g., “slices of water million”). The expedition’s journals filled 13 volumes and weighed 30 pounds. The journals contained the first descriptions by European Americans of species such as Clark’s Nutcracker, a bird related to crows and jays, first seen by Clark in what is now Idaho, but which occasionally visits the mountains of San Diego County. After the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Clark served in various capacities including governor of the Missouri Territory. Clark died in 1838 at the age of 68. The plant genus Clarkia was named after William Clark in 1814 by botanist Frederick Pursh who was involved in the review of specimens from the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In Mission Trails Regional Park, we have three plant species in the genus Clarkia: Delicate Clarkia (Clarkia delicata), White or Canyon Clarkia (C. epilobioi-
Canyon clarkia.
Delicate Clarkia.
Fourspot Clarkia.
des), and Four-spot Clarkia (C. purpurea subsp. quadrivulnera). Delicate Clarkia has a rank of 1B.2 on the
California Native Plant Society’s Inventory of Rare Plants (rare throughout its range and moderately threatened). The flower’s four petals are rosy to pale pink and contrast with 4 four bright orange-red anthers. It can be found blooming in April and May along Father Junipero Serra Trail north of the Climber’s Loop North trailhead. Canyon Clarkia has white petals that may turn pink with age. It can be found along Father Junipero Serra Trail and in Oak Canyon. The petals of Four-spot Clarkia may be deep wine red or more lavender with a purple spot near the middle. Four-spot is the most common of the three species and may be found in multiple locations in the park, but especially in the area near Old Mission Dam.
THE SMALL WORLD OF MTRP: LARGE-TAILED APHIDEATER By Patricia Simpson, Trail Guide
Let’s face it: flies get a bad rep! When I say fly, most people will picture a buzzing house fly, the pesky fruit flies that roam around a bunch of bananas, the little gnats that follow you on the trail, or dare I mention those shiny green flies that flock to the present the dog left on the backyard lawn: Shoo fly! These examples however represent a very small portion of one of the largest groups of insects: the order Diptera. So today, let’s look at a very special hover fly (family Syrphidae) commonly known as the Bird Hover Fly or Large-tailed Aphideater (Eupeodes volucris) (as seen in this observation on iNaturalist https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105228445) and see how it compares. First, hover flies are Olympic athletes. They get the gold medal in the flight precision event with the highest wing-beat frequency of any living animal, which allows them to fly in place and dart off in any direction in the blink of an eye. Another mind-blowing fact is that hover flies are champions in the garden. They are the most important pollinators after wild bees! Garden duty is a family affair: while the adult Bird Hover Fly focuses on helping with plant propagation, the larva tackles pest control duties by feeding on aphids and scale insects. In addition to helping the garden thrive, the adult Large-tailed Aphideater can escape some predators by practicing Batesian mimicry (when a harmless species resembles a more harmful species to fool predators into thinking they are the latter). Their gold-colored abdomen and black bands are reminiscent of the more aggressive bees and wasps. Hover flies however are completely harmless. Is this enough to sway you from the ‘shoo fly’ to the ‘hello you fly’ camp? I hope so. For more, you can also check out this great video: https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XU1EmY9G5c LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
Craig chaddock large tailed aphideater
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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 3
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