Coronado - September 2023

Ann Young, Paula Richardson, and Deirdre Fabian.

The San Diego International Film Festival Announces their 2023 Festival Footprint

The San Diego International Film Festival announces the footprint for the 22nd Annual Festival (Oct 18-22, 2023). The 22nd Annual San Diego International Film Festival is ‘Celebrating the Power of Film’ with curated screenings that inform, inspire and entertain. Festival events include the Opening Night Film Premiere & Reception, Culinary Cinema, Studio Premieres, curated features, documentaries and shorts from Independent Filmmakers around the world as well as parties, panels and networking events. Count on the Festival to get the conversation started with compelling Social Impact Films and Q&As including: Refugee Experiences, Environmental Sustainability, Individuals with Disabilities and Inclusion, PTSD in the Military, Human Trafficking, LGBTQAI+ Rights, and other topics affecting our world and our communities.

Each year the San Diego International Film Festival receives submissions from over 3000 independent filmmakers from 82 countries. The San Diego Intl Film Festival is strategically positioned in October to premiere potential contenders just prior to the industry nominations and awards shows. Through the years, the San Diego International Film Festival has screened premieres that have garnered 22 ACADEMY AWARDS and 103 NOMINATIONS!

Tonya Mantooth, CEO/Artistic Director shared “Every year, watching the thousands of festival film submissions serves as a snapshot of the compelling conversations happening in the world. Topics definitely emerge that we are collectively examining as a culture. This year promises to unveil some fascinating topics for us to discuss with our community. The festival provides a place where we can use the inspiration of film to look at ideas together - and walk away thinking. We’re looking forward to sharing the full slate in a couple of weeks!”

Selected films for the 2023 Festival will be announced in late August. sdfilmfest.com

2023 SAN DIEGO INTL FILM FESTIVAL FOOTPRINT

WED. OCT 18

Opening Night Film Premiere & Reception

The Museum of Photographic Arts, Balboa Park

Pre-Reception and Screening

Join us on Wed, Oct 18th to kick off the 22nd Annual San Diego International Film

Festival at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. Film lovers, filmmakers, arts patrons, elected officials, and business professionals will gather to ‘Celebrate the Power of Film.’ Guests will enjoy a Pre-screening Cocktail Party followed by a Studio Film Premiere and post reception. THURS. OCT 19—SUN. OCT 22

In-Person Screenings

AMC UTC 14 @ Westfield UTC (formerly Arclight)

Film lovers will enjoy film screenings of Studio Premieres and Independent Features, Documentaries and Short Films. In between film screenings, guests can visit the Festival Lounge for bites, cocktails and conversations with other Film Lovers.

I n - Person Parties

Film lovers will have the opportunity to socialize with other attendees at multiple exciting evening events scheduled over the run of the festival.

SUN. OCT 22

Culinary Cinema

AMC UTC 14 @ Westfield UTC (formerly Arclight)

Culinary Cinema is the perfect recipe for Sunday fun and a dream come true for foodies! The ingredients begin with a cuisine-themed movie. Afterwards everyone adjourns to enjoy dishes inspired by renowned San Diego Chefs. Add some nice wines and good conversation and you have a perfect Sunday afternoon!

There are a variety of Festival Packages available to suit every budget. Individual screenings can be purchased for $16 all the way up to the VIP PASS PACKAGE for $450. Learn more about Festival ticketing options HERE. We are cashless/paperless and badges are printed physically. All tickets can be uploaded digitally and scanned.

PASS PACKAGES:

The Festival’s signature events (Opening Night Film and Pre-Reception and Culinary Cinema) typically sell out. The best way to guarantee reservations at these events is to purchase a pass no later than Labor Day (Sept. 4).

The VIP Pass Package includes: Opening Night Film and Pre-Reception, Culinary Cinema, first access to all film screenings, panels, special events and VIP Lounge The Fest Pass Package includes all screenings on Thursday - Sunday as well as Culinary Cinema.

Individual event tickets to the signature events will go on Sept 5th on a space available basis. https://sdfilmfest.com/ buy-passes/

Annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon

Benefiting United Cerebral Palsy

The 40th annual Celebrity Waiters Luncheon to benefit United Cerebral Palsy of San Diego County took place recently at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa. Guests enjoyed a live and silent auction along with raffle prizes, while being served by some of Southern California’s brightest talent including Christopher Knight from “The Brady Brunch”, along with other Hollywood celebrities. San Diego’s sports teams and media personalities also attended.

UCP is among the largest nonprofit organizations in the country with near -

ly 60 affiliates nationwide providing programs and services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. Statistics show that one out of 325 people have some type of cerebral palsy. Fifty percent of children born with CP are born prematurely. Locally, all monies raised stay in San Diego County, and 86% of all money donated is used for local program services that United Cerebral Palsy provides. UCP of San Diego County was founded in 1958.

To donate or receive updates on future events visit www.ucpsd.org/

Kids Free at the 2nd Annual Walk for Literacy on Oct. 7

Chollas Lake Park is sure to feel more magical on the morning of October 7 when San Diegans, dressed as their favorite story characters, take to the dirt path in participation of the 2nd annual Walk for Literacy presented by Traveling Stories.

The Walk for Literacy is a family and pet-friendly costume walk aimed to celebrate the power of stories and raise awareness for local resources.

Last year the event attracted nearly 200 participants including Pete the Cat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, Waldo, Harry Potter, and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Traveling Stories hopes that more families will attend this year and can’t wait to see all of the costumes.

The Walk will take place at Chollas Lake Park (6350 College Grove Dr, San Diego, CA 92115) on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Registration will open at 9am and the walk around the lake (0.8 mile) will begin at 9:30am. The Kids Zone and Resource Fair will open at 10am.

This year, in the Kids Zone, children will be able to get their face painted by Little Face Creations by Liz, design their own planter, invent a new creation in the builder station, and more! Every child will receive a new children’s book to take home.

The Resource Fair will feature local vendors including Joyride Bookshop, Mr. Ryan’s Music, Storiology, Reading Reach and Madison Williams Youth Tennis & Learning. To learn more about becoming a vendor, visit www. travelingstories.org/walk-for-literacy

Key sponsors for the Walk for Literacy include Local Umbrella Media, the San

Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, First 5 San Diego, North Hills Pediatric Dentistry, North Island Credit Union, and the San Diego Council on Literacy. Tickets are required for all Walk participants but children 12 and under are free. Tickets may be reserved online at www.travelingstories.org/ walk-for-literacy . Early bird tickets are $20 for ages 13 and up, but prices will increase to $25 on September 7th. Tickets will be available for purchase at the Walk day-of for $35. Proceeds from the Walk for Literacy will support Traveling Stories, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps children build confidence and strong reading skills by the 4th grade.

From birth to third grade students learn how to read. From 4th grade on students read to learn. Sadly, only 53% of 4th grade students at San Diego Unified Schools met or exceeded grade level reading standards in 2021-22 (Ed -

Data.org). Students who can’t read at grade level by the 4th grade are up to 15 times more likely to drop out of school.

Traveling Stories is addressing this critical problem and helping students thrive by making one-on-one reading support and mentorship accessible to students in 1st-3rd grade. The organization’s Virtual StoryTent program served over 200 children this year and helped many increase their reading skills, confidence, and interest in reading. In order to serve more children, Traveling Stories seeks volunteers ages 15 and up to volunteer as Reading Mentors next year. To learn more, visit www.travelingstories.org/volunteer .

“The Walk for Literacy is our biggest event of the year,” said Emily Moberly, Traveling Stories Founder/CEO. “We are excited to connect in person with so many San Diegans to celebrate the joy and power of stories!”

Originality Rules the Day at North Park’s Hottest New Restaurant

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

The name alone is attention-grabbing. Add to the equation a hyper-seasonal menu showing off the freshest ingredients possible, and you end up with Long Story Short.

Launched less than a month ago by husband-wife chefs Elliott and Kelly Townsend, the restaurant occupies the former Little Thief Wine Bar & Kitchen on a vibrant block of University Avenue, smack in the heart of North Park. With a credo set in place for adhering to local, seasonal ingredients, the couple impresses with rapidly changing dishes that are loaded with original flavor combinations.

“What grows together, goes together,” Townsend answered when asked how he and his wife concluded that juicy French melons from Chino Farms would pair so exquisitely to stewed bell peppers (peperonata), lemon verbena, and a deep-orange puree of sweet Jimmy Nardello peppers.

Despite appearing on the surface like a very busy dish, the summery components were cohesive and dreamlike on the palate given their sweet and semi-bitter flavors—not to mention wisps of brininess from sea salt and creaminess from burrata cheese that emerged along with way. Though when talking about true farm-totable cuisine such as this, we must keep in mind that what is here today is easily gone tomorrow.

The couple previously cooked at several kitchens, which included Juniper & Ivy for him, and Cowboy Star for her. As San Diego natives, they met at the Art Institute of California-San Diego where they each earned bachelor’s degrees in culinary management.

The concept at Long Story Short is to relay to consumers the couple’s personal culinary adventures acquired from traveling as well as growing up in San Diego. It is the impetus behind the restaurant’s name.

Townsend describes their combined style of cooking as “neo-bistro,” referring to the modern movement in France that relies on the expression of available market-fresh ingredients. The various food sources you see listed at the bottom of the menu attests to the couple’s established relationships with local farms and fish mongers.

Late-summer figs and diced radishes came into play for a chilled crudo using fresh yellow tail. The dish offered a subtle crunch from the radishes, a little sweetness from the figs, and just the right amount of heat from habanero salsa. It was a lovely interplay of textures and flavors.

We followed up with a generous order of charred carrots sourced from JR Organics, a community supported agriculture (CSA) farm in North County. The pairing of the partially cooked whole carrots to curry butter and peanut salsa was nothing short of sensational— and like nothing I’ve encountered elsewhere. Strewn throughout were dragon’s tongue beans, which contrasted to the firm carrots with their yellowy-fleshy pith. Flavor wise, the dish offered sweetness and saltiness amid the bathing of fragrant curry sauce.

We mopped up that precious sauce with a mini loaf of sourdough bread sourced from Wildwood Flour bakery in Pacific Beach. It was served with “street corn butter” that yielded a faint essence of corn. Good stuff, although I would’ve preferred the bread heated instead of fully toasted.

On this particular evening, only two entrees were available. They were listed as “shareables.” Both were fish—a local bluefin tuna steak with summer cabbage, tomato dashi and chili crisp; and a local halibut filet draped in coffee-infused brown butter. We chose the latter with zero regrets.

The flaky halibut sang to the caramelized butter as we soaked it up with the fish as well as the accompanying fingerling potatoes. Bits of preserved lemon and a small amount of herb-dressed greens hanging out in the dish clenched the deal. It was yet another orches -

tra of flavors that registered on the tongue as coolly balanced.

Ditto for our dessert, a whim-of-the-day creation featuring mousse-like semifreddo with tahini, pistachio crumble, and a discernible measure of sea salt. It was garnished with figs. We fell silent while spooning airy puffs of it into our mouths, and realized it was one of the least sugary desserts we ever encountered, and yet the appeal was tremendous.

Long Story Short is off to a robust start at this young age. The interior boasts a sleek blackand-white design replete with tealights, a pillowed banquette, and floral arrangements. The atmosphere complements a focused glass-andbottle wine list and several taps for local craft beers.

The restaurant is located at 3017 University Ave . It is open for dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and starting at 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more information visit www.longstoryshort-sd.com.

(By Frank Sabatini Jr.

A fresh dining option in the heart of North Park

By Frank Sabatini Jr.l

Charred carrots with peanuts in curry butter

By Deanna Sandoval

Chef Kelly Townsend

By Deanna Sandoval

Creative, seasonal offerings rule the menu

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

Chino Farms melon with sweet pepper puree

By Frank Sabatini Jr. Semifreddo dessert with figs

By Deanna Sandoval

Chef Elliott Townsend

A Comprehensive Guide to CBD for Pets

As the conversation around medical marijuana and its many potential therapeutic applications continues to evolve, it’s not just humans who stand to benefit from this powerful plant medicine. Veterinarians and pet owners alike are becoming increasingly interested in the potential applications of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, for the treatment and support of various pet health concerns.

In this comprehensive guide, United Patients Group, the leading source for patient information on medical marijuana, will explore the current state of research and knowledge on CBD for pets, touching on the potential benefits, safety considerations, and best practices for incorporating CBD products into a pet’s wellness regimen. Whether you have a dog, cat, or another animal companion, this guide aims to provide valuable insights to help pet owners make more informed decisions about the role of CBD in their pets’ overall health and wellbeing. From addressing chronic pain and inflammation to supporting mental health, CBD’s potential applications in veterinary medicine are vast and varied. As research into the efficacy and safety of CBD for pets continues to progress, it is crucial for pet owners and veterinarians to remain inf ormed about the latest findings and practices to provide their pets with the best possible care. With a growing number of pet-friendly CBD products hitting the market, understanding the potential benefits, dosages, and proper administration of these products will be essential to navigate the shifting landscape of integrative pet care.

The Science Behind CBD for Pets

To understand the potential benefits of CBD for pets, it’s essential first to comprehend the science behind this powerful compound. As a cannabinoid derived from the cannabis plant, CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in mammals, including humans and animals. The ECS plays a vital role in a wide array of physiological processes, such as immune response, mo od regulation, pain management, and more.

Unlike THC, which is another well-known cannabinoid, CBD does not produce a “high” or psychoactive effects, making it an appealing option for those seeking therapeutic without intoxicating symptoms. Research into CBD’s potential applications as a veterinary treatment is still emerging, but early studies suggest that CBD may offer a range of health benefits for pets, from alleviating chronic pain and inflammation to supporting mental well-being in animals with anxiety or other stress-related issues.

Potential Benefits of CBD for Pets

As interest in CBD as a pet therapy continues to grow, both veterinarians and pet owners are beginning to explore the myriad potential benefits of this plant-based medicine. Some of the most common health issues that may potentially be addressed by CBD for pets include:

1. Pain and inflammation: Similar to humans, animals can also suffer from chronic pain and inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis or injury. CBD may help r educe pain and inflammation by interacting with the ECS, which regulates pain perception and inflammatory responses in the body.

2. Anxiety and stress: Many animals suffer from mental health issues, such as separation anxiety or fear in response to loud noises like thunderstorms or fireworks. CBD may help alleviate these symptoms by impacting serotonin levels, which play a crucial role in mood regulation and anxiety response.

3. Seizure management: Preliminary research and anecdotal evidence suggest that CBD may help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in animals with epilepsy, offering a natural alternative to traditional anti-seizure medications.

4. Boosting appetite and supporting digestion: Certain medical conditions or treatments, such as cancer therapy or gastrointestinal issues, can cause a pet’s appetite to wane. CBD may help stimulate appetite and assist with digestion, ensuring that pets receive proper nutrition during times of illness or stress.

Selecting the Right CBD Product for Your Pet

As the demand for pet-specific CBD prod -

ucts grows, so does the variety of options available on the market. To ensure that you’re selecting a safe and effective product for your pet, consider the following factors:

1. Quality and source: Seek out reputable companies that prioritize transparency and safety in their CBD products, including the use of organically grown hemp, third-party testing, and transparent ingredient lists.

2. Pet-specific formulations: Choose CBD products specifically designed for pets, as these are often formulated with pet-safe ingredients and appropriate concentrations tailored to animals’ unique metabolic systems.

3. Consult with a veterinarian: Always talk to your pet’s veterinarian before incorporating CBD into their care plan. They can offer guidance and recommendations on dosages and products, as well as manage potential drug interactions or contraindications.

A Guide to Proper CBD Dosing for Pets

As with humans, finding the ideal CBD dosage for pets can be a complex and individualized process. To ensure that you are administering the right amount of CBD to your pet, keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. Start low and go slow: Begin by administering the lowest recommended dose based on your pet’s weight and gradually increase as needed, while close -

ly monitoring your pet’s symptoms and reactions.

2. Monitor and adjust: Take note of how your pet responds to the initial dose and adjust gradually to find the optimal balance of symptom relief and minimal side effects.

3. Consult with your veterinarian: Work with your pet’s veterinarian to determine the best CBD dosage for their specific health concerns and keep them in the loop about any adjustments and results as you experiment with CBD therapy.

Conclusion as the medical marijuana landscape continues to evolve, it’s clear that pets ar e becoming an essential part of the conversation surrounding CBD and its potential therapeutic applications. By staying informed about the latest research, best practices, and product availability, pet owners can make informed decisions about how to incorporate this plantbased medicine into their pets’ healthcare plans.

United Patients Group remains committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information on medical marijuana and its potential benefits for both humans and animals. By exploring the exciting possibilities of CBD for pets, we can work to gether to cultivate new avenues of holistic, patient-centered care, and open up a world of natural, saf e treatment options for our beloved animal companions. To learn more about cannabis health care f or pets, get in touch with United Patients Group.

YOUR TRAVEL ADVENTURE BEGINS

Pack Your Bags and Travel with a 5-Star US Chamber Organization

North San Diego Business Chamber invites you, your family, friends, and colleagues to join us for exciting international travel adventures. These international trips are open to anyone 18 and over and all you have to do is pack. We take care of all details. The groups are small and each trip is limited to 30 guests.

"We are offering the opportunity for the community to travel with the Chamber at competitive and inclusive rates," said Chris Thorne, CEO of North San Diego Business Chamber. "The Chamber has traveled to China, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Paris, South Africa, Croatia, Portugal, Vietnam, Spain, and the Rhine River." One does not need to be a member of the Chamber to join the trips.

Chamber traveler, Melissa DeLaCalzada and her friends have been on several of the Chamber trips and she shares, "Chamber trips are ideal for those traveling alone or with friends, and a great deal featuring inclusive travel destinations. I've visited countries I've always dreamed of visiting and felt completely comfortable and safe doing so with the Chamber."

BonVoyage! BonVoyage!

All Trips Include:

Roundtrip International Airfare & Tax

4-5-Star Hotel Accommodations

Daily Breakfast

Deluxe Bus Tours

Fluent English-Speaking Tour Guides

Entrance Fees to Attractions

If you have any questions, e-mail us at travel@sdbusinesschamber.com or call 858-217-8972.

Tierrasanta Resident Aids Afghan Refugees

One local San Diego woman is on a quest to rebuild the lives of so many Afghanistan refugees who have fled their home county in hopes of a better life in America. Most of these refugees are entering through the Mexico-San Diego boarder after traveling halfway around the world, some even through South America, to make it to the United States.

Tierrasanta resident, Barbara Cumings, has been a volunteer for world refugees for many years. In recent years she has witnessed a major change in the amount of Afghan refugees she has encountered who are running for their lives in fear of a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

“I first got a Brazil visa and went to Brazil with my niece. From Brazil we had to travel through 11 countries to arrive in America,” recalls Ali, one of the refugees staying with Cummings. “The biggest problem was going through the Panama jungle. We must walk through the jungle for three days and three nights with all our belongings and no food or water or places to sleep. It was raining all the time, and it was so hot. This was so hard.”

Ali crossed the American boarder on Christmas Day 2022. He is not prepared for how cold San Diego was during that time and they did not have the proper clothes. Once they were taken to the Immigration Detention Center, they were not given any comforts like blankets or pillows. Ali has been in the Immigration system now for almost 10 months with no work permits or places to stay. His niece continued to Canada and was welcomed by the Canadian government with a work permit in two weeks, housing and money. He explains that she is doing well while he still struggles to get basic needs here in the United States.

Cummings, 76, joins friends and fellow volunteers on visits to the refugees to see what they have and what they still need. They then report back to the informal group they have established to help newcomers from Afghanistan.

“Asylum seekers struggle to survive on little to no money or resources since they are not allowed to work until six months after they submit their requests for protection in immigration court,” says Cummings. “This makes finding any stable income or stable housing extremely complicated.”

Cummings has transformed her own home into a hub filled with stacks of donated items now filling up all over her home. Some of the items she hands out to those in need are hygiene bags for women, backpacks filled with school supplies for children, kitchenware for families transitioning into new homes, and blankets collected through a network of neighborhood donations.

Cummings has also opened up her home to a few of the refugees still going through immigration and asylum courts. The group of community members that join her in the efforts to help these refugees work with lawyers, provide clothing and coach these men and women seeking to establish their lives here in the United States.

“Many of these people still have loved ones and children they had to leave behind in Afghanistan,” explains Cummings. “The hope is that eventually they can be reunited with their families by bringing them into the U.S. when their asylum cases are processed.”

This is not the first time Cummings has volunteered to help asylum seekers and refugees, having hosted an asylum-seeking Russian family in her home in 2017. In 2020, she began helping an organization that works to fill some gaps for refugee resettlement. It was then that she first set up a small rack in her living room to store some of the items she would give to newly arrived families.

“I would attend meetings with an organization that helped immigrant families, and in one of those meetings I heard about a Russian family with a very gifted child who was a pianist, and they needed a place to stay for just two weeks while they waited for their immigration hearing,” said Cummings. “I thought, OK I have an empty house so I could do this for two weeks. It turned into 18 months.”

Cummings as well as a few others launched their own organization after another group they were working with started discouraging volunteers from socializing with the families they were helping. She feels particularly moved to help Afghans because they are fleeing the aftermath of the takeover by the Taliban from the U.S. withdrawal.

“One by one we left the organization since we had been doing things that the organization deemed as forbidden, like giving sewing machines, giving bicycles, giving computers. The reason we were told not to give items to the refugees is because we would be enabling them or playing favorites by singling out people or families,” said Cummings. We have become deeply involved, not just with material things.”

As Cummings’ dedication to the work grew, so did the stacks of items stored in her home. Now, there is hardly a room in her house that

does not have something in it waiting for an Afghan refugee or asylum seeker in need. Her living room is filled with bins of stuffed animals, packs of scissors, soap, and underwear. Her garage holds men’s clothing, diapers, and women’s hygiene products.

Upstairs, a spare bedroom has become a storage space for kitchen goods. Even a corner of the bedroom where she sleeps has piles of donated pillows, blankets, and jackets.

Barbara Cummings, however, remains in dire need of financial assistance to provide food for the refugees, and she is continuously searching for individuals willing to open their homes to refugees while they await their work permits. Her unwavering dedication to offering solace and support to those in need serves as an inspiring example of the power of compassion and community.

“What I want people to know is that for every good news story of success you hear in the press there are a thousand other stories of these (refugees) struggling every month for food, to pay the rent,” said Cummings. “The relief agencies who were originally tasked to do what we are doing, are simply not doing it anymore.”

If you would like to contribute donation items or gift cards to help Cummings and the small group of community neighbor volunteers, you can contact her at 619.316.6694 or by email at sdwalker557@gmail.com.

Items collected in Cummings back yard.

Cummings’ grandson teaching Monopoly

Ali on his court day where removal charges were dismissed

Yahya, a very talented young artist who is supporting his whole family. A few members of Cummings’ group who collectively raised $200 for art supplies

Envzn Urban Art Takeover Delights Attendees

This one-of-a-kind visual & performing arts festival transformed numerous warehouses, industrial spaces, and other urban areas of the Commercial Street corridor in Logan Heights with multi-sensory art interventions by creatives from both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.

Programming changed every 30 minutes so that visitors could design their own, unique visual & performing arts lineup. Attendees enjoyed live dance, puppetry, theatre and musical performances on warehouse loading docks, a fashion show by Fashion Week San Diego in an industrial storage lot. Art installations with curated soundscapes by Tijuana-based multimedia artist MALU. A mini film festival was shown inside a cross-fit gym, while delicious food and drink and much more were by local vendors.

Have We Seen the End of War?

Most agree that war is a terrible thing, even a blot upon humanity. One only need read the reporting of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to understand the horrors of war, not just on combatants, but on civilians as well. Sadly, as Plato famously said: “Only the dead have seen the end of the war.” Sometime later, Roman general Vegetius noted: ““If you want peace, prepare for war,” a phrase that President Ronald Reagan later adopted during the Cold War.

This piece isn’t intended to be a history lesson. Rather, it is to emphasize the reality that all nations—and especially the United States, as a nation with global interests and allies—must prepare for war if they want to ensure their own security and prosperity. That said, this is easier said than done.

With a defense budget well in excess of $800B it would be natural to think that the United States is well-prepared for any future conflict. But that money must be spent wisely. To do so requires that our political and military leaders look far into the future to determine what platforms, systems, sensors and weapons will be needed to deal with future adversaries.

It would be easy for lay people to assume that this future thinking about warfare takes place only within the walls of the Pentagon. While the thousands of military and civilian people who work inside the Pentagon are bright and hardworking, their day-to-day demands don’t lend themselves to allowing them to muse about the future of conflict. One only need drive by South Parking at the Pentagon after most people have finished their supper to see thousands of cars still there as those doing the work of the Nation and the Department of Defense perform their duties.

Understanding this situation is why a number of writers—many of us who worked in the Pentagon when we were in uniform—have channeled our military fiction writing into something dubbed “Useful Fiction” or FICINT (Fictional Intelligence). Useful Fiction is generally understood to be not just writing an interesting military thriller, but also imagining future warfare scenarios based on the realities of high-end combat and real-world intelligence—not fantasy.

As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine well into its

second year, many are asking: “Who could have predicted that Vladimir Putin would invade an Eastern European neighbor?” Some of us writing Useful Fiction did foresee this event.

As one specific example of how this genre has evolved, in 2019, when I started writing Fire and Ice (my most recent novel), this is how I determined to make the story not just interesting, but useful: What if there was unrest in Russia due to economic conditions, and what if Vladimir Putin tried to shift the public’s attention from their dreadful circumstances to an outside threat? And what if he decided to invade one of his neighboring countries? And what if he held Europe hostage to Russia’s energy? And what if he committed acts of terrorism and genocide? Fire and Ice told that fictional story and was published in early 2021, a year before Russian forces started massing on Ukraine’s borders.

Many others with similar backgrounds to mine have gravitated to this new genre of Useful Fiction simply because we believe that it is one way to help our Nation’s political and military leaders think out-of-the-box and intuit what future warfare will look like.

To give full credit where credit is due, the U.S. national security community now sees the value of mining the work of Useful Fiction writing to help envision future warfighting scenarios. Not only that, but a number of U.S. military commands such as the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Naval War College, the U.S Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, among others—as well as a growing number of “think tanks”—now sponsor fiction-writing contests to encourage Useful Fiction writers

My goal in writing Fire and Ice was not just to write an entertaining and believable military thriller, but to also open up the aperture of how we think about future warfare. As part of this journey I have encountered other thriller writers dipping their toes into the Useful Fiction genre. This is a positive development that will help enhance the security and prosperity of the United States.

Finally, I have been writing for a long time and have had a great deal of help along the

way. I enjoy paying it forward. If you are looking for help in your writing journey, you can access this information on my website: https://www.georgegaldorisi.com/. Go to Blog at the top of the page and pull down “Writing Tips.”

George Galdorisi is a retired naval aviator. He enjoys writing, especially speculative fiction about the future of warfare. He is the author of fifteen books, including four New York Times bestsellers. Fire and Ice is his eighth novel. Other than writing, he enjoys helping other writers. Readers who go to his website: https://www.georgegaldorisi.com/ can find writing tips for emerging and established writers

Manifesting: Medavog!

Manifesting a meeting with fashion icon Fransisco Medavog was exciting. The San Diego based designer is not only filling the fashion world with fabulous creations, but he is also charming and approachable. I had sent him a few questions before our talk to get a feel for his history and current projects. So many amazing things have happened since I first interviewed him in 2010 for Art Rocks Radio when he was designing bikinis for Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion. Here are some fun facts.

When did you begin your career in fashion? MY FIRST COLLECTION SHOWN JUNE 16TH 1991 - BUT I STARTED FASHION SCHOOL IN 1988 BUT WAS CAPTIVATED BY FASHION SINCE I WAS 13 YEARS OLD.

What would you say describes your style? INFLUENCED BY THE AVANTE GARDE - ORIGINIAL ONE- OF-A-KIND CREATIONS OR UNIQUE PIECES SELDOM WORN. We have done many events together in the past and that’s how we met. How many events a year do you do? IN MY PRIME AS A GO GETTER MAYBE ONCE EVERY 2 MONTHS. AFTER PANDEMIC ONCE ONLY, BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING.

What makes you successful? INTERNET MOSTLY HAS AND WILL FOREVER

What would you say was the most defining moment in your career? SO MANY - I GUESS TODAY IS MY MOST DEFINING MOMENT IM 31 MONTHS SOBER - BUT IN FASHION MANY MOMENTS! POSSIBLY SHOWING AT GWENN HOTEL IN CHICAGO, MY EXHIBITION OF COUTURE AT FASHION WEEK - PLAYBOY MANSION WITH BUNNIES!

Who is your typical client? SOMEONE WITH GREAT APPRECIATION OF FINE SEAMS!

Who would you say influenced you the most? GAULTIER - VERSACE - DIOR - YVES - SCHIAPARELLI MOST OF THE DESIGNERS FROM WORTH TO 1990’S but one person in fashion could be me!

Fransisco recently shared that besides being a designer, he is a collector. Look for more updates on this topic.

For me there are two projects that inspired me to learn more about the current world of Medavog. Project Runway with Tim Gunn and the soon to open atelier in Hillcrest!

Project Runway: Fransisco sent a video to the show. Out of 1000 entries, 20 were picked to invite to the show. Medavog was more than ready to be selected! They loved his engaging personality, his look and most of all his unique fashion sense. He made very in-depth features about the competition, for me it only highlights his incredible perception of style.

In the process of creating, updates to the location have been forthcoming! The keys were given on 8/12/2023 for the most exciting fashion news to reach San Diego!

Memories of 911 in NYC from Coronado

America as we knew it stopped on September 11, 2001. It forever changed the world, time slowed down, planes stopped, and we all suddenly became aware of the impact of terrorism. This Monday, September 11, 2023, the Firehouse of Coronado gathered to pay tribute. Every year since a solemn tribute has taken place here since 2002. Though there are many memorials taking place through San Diego County, the one here

is very special.

In that September, some of the USR Task Force 8 were sent to NYC to assist in the rescue efforts. The community was represented by Mike Blood, Perry Peak, and the Chaplain Mickey Stonier. Some may not want to remember; some can’t forget that time is their lives. The ceremony here in Coronado at 6:53 am is a remembrance for all those who sacrificed, and all those who made it through, forever transformed.

That fateful day called on a response from America. The impact was felt throughout the world. Our nation’s citizens were inspired to be more involved. The actions of that day were to be felt from that day

forward. 911 called Americans to service, to greater Patriotism, to stand up and defend our country. Our nation was feeling a sense of duty to protect our freedom. So many as a result joined the military and other ways to serve our country. On that day we lost 3000+ lives and it began our war on terrorism.

For the 10-year anniversary many from Station 37 went to the memorial in Manhattan. I spoke with Joshua Scarboro, Division Chief about that journey. The feeling was highly emotional, the sense that this attack was in the heart of Manhattan. There was an intensity to the grief, and memorial in the epicenter was dramatic. The team wore dress uniform for three days full of ceremonies throughout the area. Each one commemorating the day that the world for a moment slowed, the planes stopped, and America as we knew it was forever changed.

The ceremony takes about 20 minutes, the flags are set on Orange Ave, the first responders assemble and the community gathers. The bell is rung, the bagpipes play, and our hearts and minds reflect on the solemnity of that day.

Sharp HospiceCare Regatta Raises $350,000 Proceeds Dediticated to

Sharp HospiceCare’s annual benefit dinner was held at the Hotel Del Coronado on Friday, August 25, with a Regatta the following day at the Coronado Yacht Club.

Both events drew 600 approximately guests, and the fundraiser raised $350,000, with proceeds benefiting the fourth residential hospice home for Sharp HospiceCare located in PowayMoore MountainView Hospice Home.

Hosted by Sharp HospiceCare, Coronado Yacht Club and Cortez Racing Association, Saturday’s regatta featured 51

Newest Hospital in Poway.

sailboat racers and the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. Guests boarded 40 yachts to view the race from San Diego Bay.

The weekend festivities support Sharp HospiceCare’s Homes for Hospice program, which offers a unique environment for patients with a life-limiting illness to meet their needs in a comfortable home setting. A highlight from Friday evening’s dinner included a heartfelt video from Leilani Holmes, whose husband Ivan recently passed away at ParkView hospice home. Leilani shared that when they ar -

rived at ParkView hospice home she could once again be Ivan’s wife and not his caregiver. “This is what he wanted as he headed toward his final journey,” says Leilani.

To date, Sharp HospiceCare’s fundraising efforts have led to the completion of three hospice homes in the neighborhoods of La Mesa, Del Cerro and Bonita. Moore MountainView will be the fourth Sharp HospiceCare hospice home built.

Photos by FT Images

Photos by FT Images

Photos by FT Images

Photos by FT Images

Photos by FT Images

Photos by FT Images

How Mom Made It!

“How Mom Made It! is a new podcast dedicated to shining a light on mom creators. Along the way, the podcast is also sparking the creative juices of its listeners.

ideas

If you’re ready to ignite your own creativity, here are three episodes for you. Also, feel free to reach out to Mary or Heather if you have a story to share.

into a kindness movement with more than 19-million youth in 115 countries participating. Through Kids for Peace, Jill and her team are building a worldwide community of kind, compassionate and empowered young people.

Hear how she grew a spark of an idea into a global movement.

veloped to educate and empower the next generation of military-connected entrepreneurs! We had an opportunity to catch up with Stephanie and ask her why she started The Rosie Network and what it means to our community.

How Mom Made It!

Promoting Peace Around the World

Jill McManigal,

Founder of Kids for Peace Global

Jill McManigal is the proud mother of two beautiful children and the co-founder & executive director of the global nonprofit, Kids for Peace. What started in her backyard, right here in San Diego County in 2006 has grown

How Mom Made It!

Helping Military Moms and Families

Start and

Scale Businesses

Stephanie Brown, CEO and Founder of The Rosie Network

The Rosie Network is a non-profit organization founded by local military spouse, Stephanie Brown, after spending hours searching online for a contractor to do repair work on her home. Preferring to hire a veteran, a vision was born to promote military family-owned businesses to the American public. Shortly after, Rosie’s List was launched, the first-of-its-kind search tool featuring verified veteran and military spouse-owned businesses. Understanding the complex needs of small businesses the Service2CEO Program was de -

How Mom Made It!

Playing Pickleball

Jennifer Lucore, Founder of All Pickleball

She is a pickleball champion, pickleball historian and she’s now in the Pickleball Hall of Fame!

California apparently has the most players and, in San Diego County, we have one of the best players in the nation. We recently had a chance to catch up with pickleball champion, Jennifer Lucore. Jennifer is a native Californian and mom living in North County. Jennifer has helped craft the pickleball world during her 15+ years of competition and contribution. In this episode, Jennifer shares her pickleball tips, why she believes it’s become the fastest growing sport in America, and advice for anyone thinking about giving pickleball a try.

Send your ideas and suggestions for “How Mom Made It!” to Mary@MomsTown.com or Heather@MomsTown.com

Produced by MomsTown, and hosted by Mary Goulet and Heather Reider, “How Mom Made It!” is inspiring moms to take action on their

and dreams.

Darian Kambiz – San Diego Limo Transfer

I have been in San Diego since 1977. I grew up in Tierrasanta when it was a dirt road. I have managed hotels for thirteen years and was a department manager in casinos for ten years. I drove a yellow taxi for fifteen months to meet more people and eventually started my limousine business San Diego Limo Transfer in 2012. The freedom and peace my business has brought me so many positive opportunities. I currently hold a five star rating on Google, Facebook, and Yelp. I am known in San Diego as “the connector” due to all the relationships I built over the years. I am a strong believer in spreading love and helping the community..

About Darian Kambiz

Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.

I am close to my mom and dad. My brother Kayvon owns flood restoration company.

Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?

What I love the most about what I do is being my own boss. The relationships I have built over the years are priceless.

Q: What advice would you give to people?

Have a game plan and stick to it. When I drove a taxi for fifteen months it was not the easiest but I was determined to start my business.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?

I am hoping to be retired in the next five to ten years..

Darian Kambiz & Our Community

Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?

Meze Greek Fusion in the Gaslamp Quarter. Fish Market, Oggi’s in Mission Valley. Bullpen; McGregors.

Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?

46 years

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?

David Hasselhoff and Rico and his family from Modern Family

Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?

Tierrasanta Pulse monthly newspaper – reminds me of the community where I grew up, and lets me know what’s new and notable!

Tower 23. The view is peaceful and it reminds me of classic California culture.

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community? We can wake up every day and live in paradise.

Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?

My hero Earvin “Magic” Johnson For Fun

Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?

I like sports related movies such as Field of Dreams and Major League.

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

I play basketball and have a solid threepoint jumper. Nothing but net..

Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10? Giving back to friends and the community.

Q: Who inspires you to be better? Myself and my Family.

Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

Peace, happiness, love.

CREATING CLOSER community is a big part of what we do here at Local Umbrella Media. That’s why we’re proud to bring you The Faces of San Diego. San Diego is a great community with great people. We’ll be featuring conversations we have with members of our community as a way of telling the story of San Diego, one smiling face at a time. The Faces of San Diego shines a light on the people who live and work here. You can read all of the interviews at TheFacesofSanDiego.com, and even nominate someone you think should be featured on the website. Be sure to follow Local Umbrella Media’s Facebook page where we’ll be sharing new Faces of San Diego interviews regularly.

To see more Faces of San Diego interviews scan this code

By Vince Meehan

Island in the Hills Painter Thrives in Balboa Park

ISLAND IN THE HILLS PAINTER THRIVES IN BALBOA

Danielle Deaton is a Tierrasanta resident with a love for watercolor painting. She currently paints at San Diego’s Spanish Village in Balboa Park. The Village serves as a live museum of sorts where guests can watch the artists create their works while interacting with them. Admission is free and it is a great way for budding artists to observe the techniques of the artists or even buy some of the art. Danielle has been painting at the village for 25 years where the artists must be approved for membership by three jurors. The artist must display five finished pieces for the jurors to judge, and if the jurors agree, the membership is granted. This puts Danielle in a very elite group since there are currently only 140 artists in the village.

Danielle’s history with art began with a class she took shortly before she retired. She knew that she would become restless after retiring and was looking for a new way to channel her creative energy. Her teacher told the students that they would be tasked with doing something they never believed they could complete. Then, on the last day of class he would review the projects. Danielle was not convinced that she held any artistic ability, but decided to try it anyway as an answer to her teacher’s challenge. In specific, she chose watercolor as her medium in this fun experiment. It was baptism by fire, but she rose to the occasion and began to try different techniques to achieve different results. By the end of the course, she had created a watercolor painting that she felt very proud of. Her teacher’s praise of her work encouraged her to continue her artistic pursuit and inspired her to raise her skill level. She says that every time she paints a new piece, she comes across new techniques that she utilizes in future paintings.

“Every time I paint, I learn something new!” said Danielle. “Like how to splay my brush to paint palm fronds. Or saturate an area with water, drop different colors into it and watch them blend into something beautiful, something unique. I call them happy accidents. Painting makes you learn to look, to be more aware and to appreciate the world around you. It makes you study light and shadows and how they move.”

Danielle moved to Tierrasanta in 1972 when she and her late husband bought a lot before the house was even built. They had lived across the canyon in Serra Mesa before that, and her husband used to ride his dirt bike in Tierrasanta before it was developed. He liked the area and they jumped at the chance to purchase a lot. Living in the area exposed her to the Spanish

Colonialism motif of architecture, which is popular with a lot of the catholic churches in San Diego, namely the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá where she attended mass. That motif is now one of her favorite subjects to paint. She and her husband even took a road trip to visit 17 of the 21 Missions in California so she could capture the essence of them.

“My favorite subjects are landscapes, historic buildings and boats. When I find something I want to paint, I shoot several pictures that give me a panoramic view of everything around it. I shoot them consecutively so the lighting is con-

sistent. When I paint, I take areas from several of the shots as well as personal memories and combine them. It becomes my unique interpretation – my impression – of that subject.”

One of Danielle’s defining moments as an artist in the Spanish Village was when a young man in a navy uniform wandered into her studio and began to admire her watercolor pieces. The sailor told her that he was assigned to the U.S.S. John Paul Jones, a destroyer based in San Diego. He mentioned that his commander was retiring soon and asked her if she would paint a watercolor of the ship as a going away gift for

Photos courtesy of Danielle Deaton “Flowering Dune”

Photos courtesy of Danielle Deaton

This giant fig tree has been a landmark in Balboa Park for years.

Photos courtesy of Danielle Deaton Artist Danielle Deaton.

him. Danielle accepted the commission and told him he could pick it up in a month. The sailor told her, “Oh no, we’re leaving for the Persian Gulf in one week!” Danielle explained that she would not be able to make that deadline, so he made arrangements to have the completed work picked up in a month and flown out on a helicopter to the ship. Later, she watched on the news as the U.S.S. John Paul Jones was the first ship to launch an attack as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom”. She felt as if that was her ship and her boys out there and thought about that young sailor who came into her studio.

After the destroyer returned to San Diego, Danielle was invited on board by request of the commanding officer which was an experience she will never forget. Later, one of the sailors came by her studio to buy a print of the original painting. He pointed to one of the men on the deck and proclaimed “Hey, that’s me!” Deaton could not understand how that could be because she just painted generic figures on the deck of

the ship. But he explained that the sailors are assigned to special positions on board as the ship leaves port so she could not argue with that!

Danielle was born in France and lived in Paris during WWII, later after the war her family moved to the United States. She then attended the University of Utah where she studied education and met her husband Phil, who she refers to as “the love of her life”. After they married, they moved to San Diego and Phil was offered a job as psychologist for the San Diego school system. Danielle put her education on hold to raise her children, but was able to earn her degree after they left for college for themselves. “When the kids went off to school, so did I!” noted Deaton with ironic laughter. She went on to teach elementary and middle school and taught French

Though retired, Danielle still teaches French once a week at San Diego Oasis, a continuing education program for seniors 50 and older.

But her main passion of course is watercolor and she continues to be a part of the Spanish Village experience where she shares a studio with three other artists. Being in Balboa Park works out spectacularly for Danielle, as there are many, many Spanish-style buildings and fountains to use as subjects as well as a plethora of plants and trees. Danielle is definitely enjoying her retirement and well representing the arts of San Diego.

Danielle’s work can be seen daily from 11am to 4pm in her Studio 34B at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, San Diego. You can meet the artist at the studio on Fridays from 11am to 4pm.

At a Glance:

Danielle Deaton

Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park www. spanishvillageartcenter.com Oasis San Diego https://san-diego.oasisnet.org

Photos courtesy of Danielle Deaton “Balboa Fountain and Tower”

Photos courtesy of Danielle Deaton “The U.S.S John Paul Jones”

BY BART MENDOZA

Adams Avenue Street Fair / 41 Years of Fun!

San Diego’s biggest annual music event, the Adams Avenue Street Fair returns for it’s 41st edition on September 23 & 24. The free, all ages festival takes place along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, this year once again packing in a whole lot of music into the weekend. 65 artists will take part, across six stages, featuring everything from DJ’s to surf rock. Headliners this time out include Lucy’s Fur Coat, Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys, and The Avengers, with something for just about every musical taste.

Of course, The Adams Avenue Street Fair offers up much more than music. There are a plethora of food options, as well as beer gardens and tastings, carnival rides and much more.

(What I love) about the fair is the whole neighborhood coming together to celebrate great local music, food and art,” said guitarist / singer Verdell Smith of Soul Ablaze (Sunday Noon, The Groove Stage). “I am looking forward to celebrating my music with a great band in a place where when I was a kid I would one day call home.”

“It was always one of my favorite festivals growing up,” remarked Jon Hasz of The

Beard and The Bird (Sunday 12:15 p.m. Roots Rock Stage). “We didn’t have enough money to go to the other big touring festivals so it meant a lot for me to be able to connect with new music and be inspired. I think that was the first time I realized that some local bands could actually deliver a better show than national acts.” Does he approach outdoor gigs like this differently than his regular performances? “I’d say the majority of our gigs are actually outside,” he noted. “We play a lot of wineries and outdoor music festivals, sometimes rain or shine! We work to bring the same energy and passion, regardless of venue or audience. We have a blast doing this, and hopefully it shows.”

Guitarist Sidney Merrit of Swive (Sunday Noon, The Casbah Stage) considers that the differences between a live gig and an outdoor one are minor, though important. “We don’t really do anything different when we play outside at a fair compared to inside a club, although we do wear our sunglasses and drink more water,” she said. For Merrit, the AASF is “a way to see a cool assortment

of bands, for free, in a beautiful SD neighborhood. We are looking forward to playing our music for some new folks who haven’t heard of us, and to seeing some great bands!”

Singer Laura Jane Willcock of The Tighten Ups (Saturday 5:45 p.m. Blues Stage) agrees that events like the AASF are a great way for audiences to check out new music, alongside old favorites. “Outdoor festival sets like this can introduce The Tighten Ups to so many new fans,” she said. “So, we like to keep it chock full of our snazzy original songs, high energy cover tunes that everyone loves and pace the energy into a crescendo of sing-a-long dancing mayhem.”

For his part, Hasz is looking forward to hitting the stage. “Festival audiences are always so much fun because they are truly in the mindset to get lost in the music,” he said. “I can’t wait to meet some new bands and entertain a whole new group of people. I’m excited for our first year at the Street Fair!” Meanwhile, Willcock concurs with Hasz’s sentiment. “I most look forward to having a total blast making music - with the bandmates I adore - for so many happy people filling the streets of this beautiful city that has supported our rock and soul mission for 15 years. Thank you, San Diego!”

https://www.adamsavenuebusiness.com/adams-avenue-street-fair

Acoustic Evenings & Hall of Fame!

A new edition of the Acoustic Evenings at the Athenaeum series takes place on consecutive Fridays from October 13 through November 10. Hosted and curated by Jefferson Jay, each concert features a trio of the areas top performers, in one of San Diego’s finest listening rooms.

October 13: Bri Schillings, Sierra Marin, Jamie Shadowlight

October 20: Sue Palmer & Liz Ajuzie, Jack Tempchin, Lisa Sanders

October 27: Jefferson Jay, Hugh Gaskins, Gaby Aparicio

November 10: Marie Haddad, Israel Maldonado, Jimmy Patton & Enrique Platas

Highlights include songwriter Jack Tempchin, best known for writing a string of hit songs that includes “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Slow Dancing” and “You Belong To The City,” Queen of the boogie woogie piano Sue Palmer and Jefferson Jay himself, who will perform a special set of songs by late musician Don Truesdail, who performed at the very first ever concert in the series, back in 2008.

Meanwhile in related news, Jefferson Jay is hosting the 5th Annual Induction Cere -

mony of the San Diego Music Hall of Fame, taking place on November 3rd at VISION: A Center for Spiritual Living. This year’s inductees will be Fred Benedetti, Jeff Berkley, Mary Dolan, Monette Marino, Jamie Shadowlight and Mike Wofford, with performances scheduled from Jeff Berkley & The Banned, Lisa Sanders, Mike Wofford, Jamie Shadowlight, Fred Benedetti, Monette Marino, Rob Deez; Jefferson Jay and Gato Papacitos.

https://www.ljathenaeum.org/acoustics

https://sdmusichalloffame.com

Revelation 69 / Rock and Roll!

Rock ‘n’ roll trio Revelation 69 first got together in 2019, quickly becoming favorites around Southern California. Currently in the studio, the band, which features John Hernandez ( lead vocals, guitar) James Houdek (bass, vocals) and Marc De Jesus (drums), is working on a series of singles to be released later this year, “Cigarette” and “Filling The Hole”. How did the band name choose its name? “Funny thing about the name, because people always ask me what it means and most of the time they have a preconceived idea of what they think it means, but the reality is it doesn’t mean anything,” Hernandez said. “It’s just a word and a number put together that provokes an assumption in peoples mind of what they think it means. I thought about using the word Revolution because ’69 was a very turbulent year in the USA, but decided it was more mysterious with Revelation 69.”

How would he describe Revelation 69’s music? “We are what I call, a power rock band, kind of a punch you in the face from the opening song thru the end of the set, kind of group,” he said good naturedly. “The band Fu Manchu was definitely an inspiration on the musical direction, tuned down a bit and mixed with a touch of the early LA Guns vibe.”

Hernandez found early inspiration to become a musician via Led Zeppelin. “Well, you see pictures of Jimmy Page in his freaking dragon pants and you say to yourself, I wanna be that guy, so you pick up a guitar,” Hernandez remarked.

He considers himself a late bloomer when it comes to playing live. “I really didn’t start playing until I was in High School and it was probably in my senior year I started playing parties. Pretty sure things went well, a bunch of drunk high school kids

getting fed a heavy dose of AC/DC songs, how could you go wrong?”

While Revelation 69 has high hopes for their upcoming record-

ings, they simply enjoy making music. “I do it because I love it, plain and simple,” Hernandez said. “Not a

day goes by that I am not thankful that I have been able to live this life. Music is one of the things in this life that I have been blessed to be good at. I don’t have big expectations because I believe in destiny, and where destiny takes me, that’s where I will go. I’m just enjoying the ride.”

Look for more shows from Revelation 69 over the coming months, but a full tour seems unlikely at the moment. “Unfortunately at this time, touring is not in the picture for us due to conflicting schedules, but we’d do it in a hot second if we could.”

What’s Hernandez’s favorite thing about being a musician? “When someone comes up to you after the show, that has never seen the band and says I love your songs,” he said. “The acknowledgment that what you created is connecting with the audience. That kind of validation never gets old.”

https://revelation69.com

September 23 & 24 – The Adams Avenue Street Fair / Along Adams Avenue, Normal Heights 7 p.m. San Diego’s biggest free music event, with their usual great lineup this year: Lucy’s Fur Coat, The Avengers, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, The Creepy Creeps, Swive, Alvino & The Dwells, The Dave Gleason Trio, Smoke & Mirrors Sound System and dozens more!

September 24 - Gayle Skidmore / The Casbah, Little Italy

Gifted singer songwriter Gayle Skidmore performs a rare hometown show at The Casbah. Skidmore’s latest is “The Prague EP,” but whatever she chooses to play from her lengthy discography, will please fans of song hooks and clever arrangements.

September 27 & 28 – Coldplay / Snapdragon Stadium, Mission Valley

Not many bands could manage two nights in a club, let alone two nights in a stadium, but Coldplay

Top 5 Concerts

isn’t just any group. One of the biggest selling bands in the world, they will be performing two nights in a row at SDSU’s Snapdragon Stadium, showcasing songs from their

latest album, Music of the Spheres.

October 2 – Johnny Vernazza / Humphrey’s Backstage Live Blues guitarist Johnny Vernazza made his name as a member of

the Elvin Bishop Group, playing on the 1976 hit “Fooled Around And Fell In Love.” These days Vernazza leads his own band in San Diego, with his playing as stellar as ever.

October 7 – The Zombies / The Belly Up Tavern, Solana Beach 1960’s era hitmakers, The Zombies, return to San Diego in support of their latest album, Different Game. All the hits will be played, including “She’s Not There” and “Time of the Season,” but make sure to give a good listen to The Zombies excellent new tunes such as “Merry-Go-Round” and “You Could Be My Love,” all wonderful additions to the band’s canon.

New San Diego Music Releases

New and Upcoming Singles: A Lens to the Sun – tbd, Crucial Blend – “Love Her Madly” (Doors cover), Stephen Bishop – “The Heart Is So Willing (Theme from the Money Pit)”, FantomOpra – “Pressure,” The Gravities – “Black,” DJ Pnutz - “Dance Until You Drop,” Charlie Imes –“Sailing to Nowhere,” Jonathan Karrant – “Love Dance” (feat. Jane Monheit & Houston Person), Jeff Ousley – “Mothership,” David Preston –“Hurricane Rose,” Corina Rose – “Big Daddy” (New Version), Safety Orange and The Tones“Almost Over You,” Sitting on Stacy - “Baby Girl,” SeeYouSpaceCowboy - “Chewing The Scenery,” Smoke & Mirrors Sound System – “Wolf Clothes,” Sorry It’s Over - Think I’m Addicted (hold on),” We Are Jack Strong – “Hell To Pay”

New and Upcoming Albums & EP’s: Chloe Lou & The Liddells – XVII, Jim Croce – I Got A Name (50th Anniversary Edition), Riston Diggs – Phantom’s Black, DJ Pnutz - Music Beds for Different Moods, Gayle Skidmore – The Prague EP, Tom Waits: Swordfishtrombones (remastered),

-

Questioning Why, David Whitman – Ode to Joe, Various Artists - Blank

Genera -

tion: A Story Of US/Canadian Punk & Its Aftershocks

1975-1981 (includes The Dils, The Unknowns), Various ArtistsMaking A Scene 2023 Edition 2 (includes Rogues of Chaos),

New and Upcoming Videos:

Rain Dogs (remastered), Franks Wild Years (remastered), Bone Machine (remastered), The Black Rider (remastered), Whiskey & Burlap

Kimmie Bitter – “Aquamarine,” Sandollar – “Little Things,” Scott West – “Fire,” “Yellow Girl Drawing,”

San Diego Music News

This year’s Hallograss Cruise, takes place on October 14 aboard the William D Evans, sailing around Mission Bay. Ken Rexrode of Six String Society has put together one of the best bills to date, with appearances from The Farmers, The Sleepwalkers, The Anthony Cullins Band, Safety Orange, Robin Henkel, Nathan James, A Nightmare on 80’s Street and Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas.

This month The Beat Farmers head out on their first West Coast mini tour in decades, taking place from September 26 (Novato, CA) through October 8 (Long Beach, CA).

Country singer Kimmi Bitter has released a video for her latest single, “Aquamarine.” “We had an absolute blast filming this music video in San Diego Harbor, just hours before the storm rolled

Victoria Robertson and Rosario Monetti.

Ash Easton opens up for ZZ Top at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on October 18, Meanwhile, another local musician, Jack Tempchin, opens

and released it as a digital single via K-Tel Records.

Jason Mraz’s 2008 album, We Buy We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, is being reissued on September 22 in a 2-CD Deluxe Edition. The newly remastered original 12-track album now includes 14 bonus tracks. Meanwhile on August 10, the album was certified 4 X Platinum by the RIAA, while Mraz’s single “I’m Yours” was certified 13 X Platinum, and his duet with Colbie Caillat, “Lucky,” scored an award for 4 X Platinum.

Fans of classic, 1980’s era metal bands, will want to pick up Rhino Records new Ratt best of collection, Now Playing.

2017 SDMA Lifetime Achievement Winner, Wayne Riker, is guesting on three tracks included on Garrison Bailey’s upcoming album, Call My Name.

in,” she said. The clip was shot on a total of twelve minutes of Super 8 Kodak film. “An old timey film for our old timey spirits,” Bitter remarked.

Congrats to singer Audrey Callahan, whose song,“Good Good Energy,” was picked up by ESPN to be used in various spots for the U.S. Open. The song took home the trophy for “Best Pop Song,”

up for Styx at the same venue on September 25.

Rosie Flores has been in the studio recording with legendary producer, Ed Stasium, working on her next album.

Classic rock favorites, The Footloose Band, will be amongst the performers at the St. Michael’s Parish Fall Festival in Poway taking place on October 13 & 14. The band features multi-instrumentalist Billy Tisch.

1960’s hard rock icons, Iron Butterfly have re-recorded their classic song “In A Gadda Da Vida”

Rock and Roll San Diego is now open daily until midnight, with a full line of gear for those last minute gig emergencies, from strings to sticks and beyond.

Congrats to Slightly Stoopid, whose single “Closer to the Sun” was certified Platinum by the RIAA on August 17.

Surf rockers, The Tourmaliners, are on a roll! The band has two movie placements; their song, “Coyote,” from their Pacific Records release, Surfidia, is featured in the new film, “Cocktails With Nick & Lana.” Meanwhile, the new surf film, Some Like It Classic, features the band’s song, “Point Break,” from their earlier album, Tourmaline Dream. Don’t miss The Tourmaliners on KUSI-TV at 9 a.m., on September 23.

On September 22 colored vinyl variants of three recently remastered classic Tom Waits albums; Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs and Franks Wild Years, will be released in colored vinyl editions. Two more albums, Bone Machine and The Black Rider, get the same treatment on October 6.

Due out November 17 is a new box set from Cherry Red Records, Various Artists - Blank Generation: A Story Of US/Canadian Punk & Its Aftershocks 1975-1981, which includes vintage tracks from both The Dils, as well as The Unknowns.

at the San Diego Music Awards earlier this year.

UMR is releasing a 9 LP colored vinyl box set from JJ Cale, Tulsa Sound. Cale’s first eight albums are included, plus a rarities collection of his 1960’s non-lp singles and a book.

Iconic singer-songwriter Jim Croce’s 1973 album, I Got a Name, is being released in a 50th Anniversary Edition, on Bone White Vinyl. The albums hits include the title track, “I’ll Have to Say I Love You In A Song” and “Workin’ at the Car Wash Blues.”

1970’s era punk legends, The Dils, have their classic song, “I Hate the Rich,” included on the free compilation CD, PunkNuggets (15 Rabble-Rousing Rarities... Crank Up Really High!), issued with copies of acclaimed British music magazine, Mojo #358, September 2023 edition.

DivoDiva Coffee & Wine (3650 Fifth Avenue), is the name of the new opera inspired wine bar and eatery opened by opera singers

DEL ISLAND

308-330 ORANGE AVENUE, CORONADO, CA 92118

ONE OF THE LEGACY PROPERTIES ON THE CROWN ISLE

A truly cross-generational opportunity, the likes of which has not been seen in Coronado! This development site, which is easily recognized as one of the Landmark gateway properties when entering Coronado’s main commercial district along Orange Avenue, offers exceptional possibilities. Currently housing 29 residential units with an excellent mix of studios, 1 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms, plus 30 off-street parking spaces. Just 2 blocks NE to the Bay and 4 blocks SW to the main commercial district, Spreckles Park and schools, which invites a bevy of development possibilities. The property has been laced together over many decades and features 4 contiguous parcels totaling 28,000+ sf of highly coveted R4 zoning!

$19,250,000 Detailed Offering Memorandum available by emailing Ken@KenPecus.com.

1014 5th St., #3A, Coronado, CA 92118 | 3 Bedrooms | 3 Bathrooms | 1,815 SF | $3,339,000

Welcome home to the dream of beach town living. Located centrally on the Crown Isle, this home is pure joy from start to finish. The small enclave of five residences has a sophisticated modern street presence and emanates the cool vibe that is Southern California. This penthouse residence features direct elevator access, 3 full bedroom suites and two massive outdoor terraces which includes an expansive rooftop 360 degree panorama of the most beautiful living San Diego has to offer. KEN PECUS | 619 - 977 - 8419 | KEN@KENPECUS.COM

2961 1st Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 | 4 Bedroom | 5 Bathroom | 4,130 SF | $4,385,000

Stunning Urban Estate Home in Bankers Hill with Historic Landmark Designation. Bay views, private back yard with spa, sauna and deck area, ideal for entertaining with friends or family. Custom garage parking with hydraulic lift.

KEN PECUS | 619 - 977 - 8419 | KEN@KENPECUS.COM

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Welcome to the best deal in 92107. As you enter the open concept 2-story townhome, you’ll be delighted by the natural light that pours in. The home offers new carpet, stainless steel appliances and granite counters, which gives you wonderful dining and plenty of space for food prep. ANTHONY MACALUSO | 858-228-6677

3 BR | 2.5 BA | 1,600 SF | $869,000

California Dreaming…the smell of the salty air with a gentle crisp chill of the ocean nearby…or a quick jaunt to the local beach pub or surf shack. Whatever it is that draws you near the water, welcome home to the finest (median priced) coastal new construction offering in all of San Diego County!

KEN PECUS | 619-977-8419 | KEN@KENPECUS.COM

Coronado,

JUST SOLD - STUNNING LUXURY CONDO W/PANORAMIC VIEW DECK

BR | 1.5 BA | 928 SF | $599,000 - $649,000