Tuesday Feb 13, 2024

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

San Juan

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House Probes PRASA’s Actions to Prepare for Expected Drought P4

DAILY 50¢

5 Years & 3 Months Ex-Guaynabo Mayor Sentenced to Prison in High-Profile Public Corruption Case P3

J&J to Expand Manufacturing Operations in Manatí P6

NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL P 16

Puerto Rico Shines on the New York Catwalk

P19

2 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

GOOD MORNING 3

February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star, the only paper with News Service in English in Puerto Rico, publishes 7 days a week, with a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday edition, along with a Weekend Edition to cover Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Ex-Guaynabo mayor sentenced to 63 months in jail in corruption case

Today’s

Weather Day

By THE STAR STAFF

F

ormer Guaynabo Mayor Ángel Pérez Otero was sentenced to five years and three months in prison Monday for his role in a construction bribery scheme.

He also must perform 160 hours of community service.

Pérez Otero had been convicted last year of conspiracy, federal bribery and extortion, the U.S. Justice Department said. He faced a maximum penalty of 20 years for extortion and 10 years for bribery.

His defense lawyers said they would be appealing the sentence.

Court documents show that between 2019 and 2021, Pérez Otero, also a former lawmaker who chaired the Treasury Committee in the island House of Representatives, received thousands of dollars in kickbacks from a local construction

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Former Guaynabo mayor Ángel Pérez Otero

company in exchange for awarding them municipal contracts.

In March 2023, a jury made up of 10 women and two men found him guilty in federal court.

The courtroom was presided over by U.S. District Judge Aida Delgado Colón.

Pérez Otero was placed under arrest by FBI agents on Dec. 9, 2021, after a Colombian businessman, Oscar Santamaría, along with former Cataño Mayor Félix “el Cano” Delgado Montalvo, agreed with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office to reveal a scheme in which businessmen paid bribes in exchange for contracts.

Federal authorities revealed images in which Santamaría gave the money to Pérez Otero, a former president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Federation.

For similar types of schemes, the mayors of Guayama, Eduardo Cintrón Suárez; Aguas Buenas, Luis Arroyo Chiqués and Javier García Pérez; and Trujillo Alto, José Luis Cruz Cruz, reached plea agreements.

Pérez Otero was the only mayor who did not accept a plea deal.

According to the accusation, Pérez Otero received about $5,000 a month from the end of 2018 to August 2021 from Santamaría in exchange for contracts for the company Island Builders.

The case was prosecuted by attorneys Nicholas Cannon, of the Justice Department’s criminal division’s public integrity section and Myriam Fernández-González of the District of Puerto Rico.

Pierluisi insists schools are being repaired

By THE STAR STAFF

G

ov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia insisted on Monday that his government has repaired damaged school infrastructure, but acknowledged that there is still much to do.

He made his remarks in reaction to videos posted in social media by students from a public school in Camuy showing deteriorated restrooms without water or soap. The governor also denied that officials were retaliating against the young female students who made the public complaint.

“We are making a lot of progress, but obviously, we are not at 100%, and here we have around 850 schools in Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi said in response to questions from the press. “So, what I have already said publicly is that for me, it is not important who the messenger is; it is the message. It is also not important how the information arrives, if it comes from communication networks, from social networks, or if it comes from the media or if it comes

from an inspection.”

“Wherever it comes from, deficiencies must be addressed, and I see that the secretary is very proactive and is visiting the campuses,” the governor added. “Not only [is she] confirming that there are deficiencies, because there are times when the information may not be correct, but she also engages with the students.”

“So, she is doing what she has to do in terms of responding to the complaints that we have had, but again we have around 850 schools,” he noted. “If there are any indications, we are going to deal with them.”

In August, there were many complaints from students about the lack of air conditioning in the sweltering heat at the island’s schools.

The Education Department, an oft-criticized bureaucratic behemoth that oversees one of the largest school districts in a U.S. jurisdiction with more than 259,000 students and more than 850 schools, has been criticized because resources often do not reach schools.

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The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

House probes PRASA’s actions to deal with drought

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Jorge Rivera Segarra (Griselle Rosario)

By THE STAR STAFF

T

he House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing Monday to investigate and learn about the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) action plans to face drought conditions in Puerto Rico.

“Water is essential for a good quality of life and we do not want our people to be affected by the lack of a resource as important as water,” Committee Chairman Jorge Rivera Segarra said.

PRASA executive adviser Francisco Torres Vega said the government agency begins to take actions when reservoir levels go down in coordination with the Drought Management Committee. Actions are implemented according to the state of supply, he said.

“Among the measures carried out are: making operational adjustments, urgently addressing leaks, guiding citizens on the prudent use of water resources, regulating the use of drinking water for certain activities during a

state of emergency due to a drought declaration, and imposing fines, if necessary, to prohibit the waste of water,” Torres Vega said.

Regarding climate change, Torres Vega noted that the manifestations of the greenhouse effect are increasingly continuous, with periods of rain deficit that cause states of drought.

“In the last 10 years, the island has experienced a greater frequency of drought periods, some more severe than others,” he said.

When asked by the committee chairman when the last meeting of the Drought Committee was held, Torres Vega replied that “this committee is activated when there are times of drought.”

“The committee has its functions, but we [PRASA] are monitoring conditions at each of the supply sources,” the official said.

The Drought Management Committee is made up of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, PRASA, the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), the Agriculture Department (DA), the Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Planning Board and the Statistics Institute.

“What is the plan for dredging the reservoirs and lakes?” the legislator asked, to which Torres Vega responded that “the only [dredging] project that PRASA has is for Lake Carraízo, and it is expected to begin at the end of the year.”

Rivera Segarra commented that “one of the options is to dredge the reservoirs … so that they can contain more water.”

DA Secretary Ramón González Beiró high-

lighted meanwhile that “carrying out dredging is something significant.”

“However, this does not imply we will have another month of water,” he said. “The reality is that we must take steps to preserve and use water more efficiently.”

The DA secretary noted how risk systems are managed at land authority farms and private estates.

“There are established protocols where all the agencies concerned participate in the event of a drought and, in the face of climate change, we have not experienced major droughts, but we have experienced changes in rain patterns,” he said.

Regarding farmers’ water supply, González Beiró added that he works together with PREPA. “The majority of agriculture is cultivated in the south,” he said. “Lately, there has been an increase in the number of ponds to use more water from the canals and alternate with the aquifers in times of drought.”

Puerto Rico is expected to face an extreme drought this year, and the DA secretary added that the mountain region is the one that would be most affected.

At the hearing’s conclusion, Rivera Segarra, called on the deponents to have a plan that supports the mountain region’s water supply needs during drought.

“Our mountain people need this essential resource …” he said. “We cannot wait for a drought to happen before taking action.”

LUMA unable to specify metrics on addressing complaints

By THE STAR STAFF

L

LUMA spokespeople said the company’s intention is that service breakdowns are already resolved when the customer receives a response within a period of time, no longer than 20 days, as provided in the Energy Transformation and Relief Law. (Gerardo Moya)

UMA Energy could not specify on Monday the established metrics and the average time in which the complaints from customers are referred, although company officials insisted that “it has improved” since the private consortium took over the management of the transmission and distribution system on the island.

At a public hearing before the Energy Committee in the House of Representatives, LUMA spokespeople said however that the intention is that service breakdowns are already resolved when the customer receives a response within a period of time, no longer than 20 days, as provided in the Energy Transformation and Relief Law (Law 57-2014).

The public hearing was convened by Energy Committee Chairman Jesús Hernández Arroyo to consider House Resolution 1077, which mandates an investigation into the procedure implemented by LUMA Energy from the moment a subscriber files a complaint until it is addressed and resolved.

“LUMA’s intention is, before answering within 20 days, to solve the problem,” said Juan Méndez, a lawyer for the company.

“By the time we answered, we were trying to solve the problem.

Sometimes we ask for additional time because there are cases, and then there are cases.”

LUMA officials highlighted in their presentation that customer requests are worked on according to the priority of each case for emergencies and service interruptions that occur on the island. Méndez also said that a month ago the company implemented the first phase of a text messaging project for addressing complaints.

The new service will allow the subscriber to receive the status of a complaint as soon as it is open until it is finished, he said.

“Right now we don’t have, in all honesty, a process for following up on every complaint that comes to light that we have pending,” said Noriette Figueroa, vice president of customer service. “It’s the reason why we’re implementing other mechanisms that give more power to the customer and more information.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

5

Citizen ombudsman panel rejects confirmation of consumer rep to PREPA board

By THE STAR STAFF

A

five-member panel in the Office of the Citizen Ombudsman has rejected confirming Giancarlo González Ascar as consumer representative to the governing board of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).

In an interview with the STAR, Citizen Ombudsman Edwin García Feliciano said Monday that González Ascar was given until Feb. 6 to turn in all required documents, which he did the week before the deadline.

However, he needed to have certified that he had 10 years of experience in the field of energy or business administration and show that he had energy expertise. He also did not submit a sworn statement detailing his personal information.

“When the candidate was asked to elaborate a little more on these aspects, the information he submitted was not to the committee’s satisfaction,” García Feliciano said.

“So, for the purposes of that committee, he did not comply with the conditions.”

González Ascar told the ombudsman that he would

be appealing the decision after he was informed via email.

González Ascar was slated to be informed of the decision by regular mail Monday.

He was the only candidate for the position. The five-year term of the current consumer representative, Tomás Torres Placa, expires next month. The governing board, currently, has three vacancies. Once Torres Placa leaves, the board will not have the quorum needed to make decisions.

García Feliciano also said he submitted a letter to Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia and legislative leaders seeking changes to the law because at this time, it does not allow his office to launch a second process to choose the consumer representative regardless of whether González Ascar goes to court. He also said he wants LUMA Energy to participate in the process and to have money allocated to the Citizen Ombudsman Office to finance the process.

The members of the panel that made the decision were Daisy Ramos, José O. Pérez, Nilsa Vázquez, Marissa Rivera, all of whom work in the Citizen Ombudsman Office, and Giancarlo González Ascar (LinkedIn) Maricarmen Boria Goitía, who works with PREPA.

Governor: All accusations of false endorsements must be investigated

By THE STAR STAFF

G

ov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, the New Progressive Party (NPP) president, said Monday that all allegations of phony endorsements must be investigated.

“What happens when they talk to me about fraud-

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

ulent endorsements or false endorsements, those are big words. There, the person who processed the endorsement did an improper act that can lead to criminal liability,” the governor said in response to questions from the press. “So, what I have seen that the [State Elections] Commission has done, is that when it detects that one of the people, one of the endorsement processors, has

acted improperly, it disqualifies them.”

“The other thing is that they make referrals -- either you can file a complaint with the police or you can make a referral to Justice -- and I saw that made in terms of the fraudulent or false endorsement that surrounds the widow of former governor Rafael Hernández Colón.

In this case, I understand that it was already referred to the police. And we’ll see if Justice also comes into it. If there is any other situation of false or fraudulent endorsement, that must be investigated; that is, whoever it is, and it must be seen. The worst thing would be for the pre-candidate to have something to do with the matter. Now that would be big news. If at the level of a processor, that processor acted badly, that’s one thing.

Another thing is that the candidate or his campaign manager or something like that has something to do with it. … Everyone who is behind any false or fraudulent endorsement has to answer for it.”

The governor’s remarks were in response to the latest public denunciation of a false endorsement given to NPP resident commissioner hopeful WilliamVillafañe Ramos.

Villafañe on Monday rejected alleged irregularities in the collection of endorsements.

“In light of the recent informal allegation on social media about an endorsement, we immediately investigated. No irregularity was found on the part of our campaign,” Villafañe said in a written statement. The endorsement was validated and was never rejected.

We emphasize that the campaign had more than 700 [endorsement] collectors and that it has been certified for more than five weeks. In December, we were the only campaign that carried out over 200 street endorsement collection activities.”

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The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

J&J expands Ethicon manufacturing operations in Manatí

By THE STAR STAFF

G

ov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, along with the Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its Spanish acronym) Secretary Manuel Cidre Miranda, participated on Monday in Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s announcement of the expansion of its operations at the Innovative Medicine manufacturing plant in Manatí to increase the capacity of Ethicon’s key products.

“With this expansion of Innovative Medicine’s manufacturing plant in Manatí, Ethicon will increase its product offering in what means a new commitment to Puerto Rico as an ideal location for its $168 million investment,” the governor said in a written statement. “This is resulting in the creation of more than 300 new well-paying jobs, increasing its workforce of about 1,500 employees at the sister plant in San Lorenzo.”

Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s manufacturing facility in San Lorenzo is at the limit of its space capacity, so the company conducted a review to identify how to adapt to growing production demand. As a result, an investment was made to renovate the Manatí plant, allowing uninterrupted manufacturing

operations and continuity of product supply.

The expansion will add nearly 100,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity.

The governor added that “in addition to having a great economic impact at the national level, it allows us to support our academia, develop scientific research and promote research centers from which our young people and scientists in Puerto Rico benefit.”

“The industrial sector on our island, which includes the sophisticated manufacturing of medical devices as is done here at Ethicon, is an integral part of the growth we are experiencing,” Pierluisi said. “This industry produces about 84,000 direct jobs, a growth of more than 8,000 jobs in the past three years and, in the area of biopharma, has an impact of more than 30 percent of our gross domestic product.”

The DDEC secretary added that “the expansion of Ethicon in Manatí confirms the confidence of the pharmaceutical industry in Puerto Rico.”

“This operation, which will manufacture surgery, orthopedics, vision and surgical intervention solutions, will be carried out by a team of Puerto Rican professionals who are distinguished by their experience, knowledge

Due to space limitations at Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s manufacturing facility in San Lorenzo, an investment was made to renovate the Manatí plant, allowing uninterrupted manufacturing operations and continuity of product supply. The expansion will add nearly 100,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity. and capacity in the pharmaceutical industry, an important pillar for the island’s economy,” Cidre Miranda said. “This investment strength-

Tax returns available for electronic filing A

By THE STAR STAFF

Acting Treasury Secretary Nelson Pérez Méndez

cting Treasury Secretary Nelson Pérez Méndez announced Monday that the Individual Income Tax Return for the 2023 tax year, whose due date is Monday, April 15, is available for electronic filing.

“Today we begin the tax cycle corresponding to the 2023 tax year,” the official said in a written statement.

“Form 482 is available on the Department’s website, www. hacienda.pr.gov, in the Returns, Forms, and Schedules Section, Income Tax area. We urge taxpayers to comply with their fiscal responsibility and take advantage of the incentives available this year.”

Pérez Méndez stressed that everything is ready to receive the electronic filing of returns, start the payment of refunds before the end of February and open the Payroll Filing Centers, in March, to assist citizens who need it.

In the current tax cycle, individuals who file through SURI will find more information integrated into their returns, so the process will be much faster and easier.

“In the 2022 tax year return, the Withholding Vouchers (Form 499R-2/W-2PR) and Form 480.6 were integrated, for primary taxpayers (non-spouses). This year you will also find Forms 480.6A, 480.6B and 480.7C,” Pérez Méndez said. “This represents an important advance, both for

ens Puerto Rico’s competitiveness as a global center for pharmaceutical manufacturing and increases the island’s productive capacity.”

citizens and for the Department, because we continue to work to make the experience with filing more agile and simple.”

He urged taxpayers to check their eligibility for several available credits, including the Earned Work Credit. This year, gross earned income and the maximum qualifying credit increased, according to an inflation adjustment certified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The maximum amount of this benefit to the working class fluctuates from $1,656 to $7,173, depending on each taxpayer’s Gross Earned Income, filing status, and the number of qualified dependents.

“This year, the benefit to the working class will have an estimated increase of $178 million, which represents an additional $233 million to the original cost of the program in 2021,” the acting Treasury chief said. “You can refer to the special section of 2023 Returns, available on our website, to find out about the new lines, which we have available on the page.”

Also available in the current tax cycle is the exemption of up to $40,000 of gross earned income for wages and services rendered during the 2023 tax year for youth between the ages of 16 and 26.

“I remind taxpayers that the Child Tax Credit is still available this year,” Pérez Méndez added. “This credit is requested on the federal return and just like last year, the Department will be supporting the IRS, assisting citizens who qualify, when we begin the Electronic Return Preparation and Filing Centers services in the month of March.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

7

GOP officials, once critical, stand by Trump after NATO comments

By MAGGIE HABERMAN and JONATHAN SWAN

A

fter Donald Trump suggested he had threatened to encourage Russia to attack “delinquent” NATO allies, the response among many Republican officials has struck three themes — expressions of support, gaze aversion or even cheerful indifference.

Republican Party elites have become so practiced at deflecting even Trump’s most outrageous statements that they quickly batted this one away. Trump, the party’s likely presidential nominee, had claimed at a Saturday rally in South Carolina that he once threatened a NATO government to meet its financial commitments — or else he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to that country.

In a phone interview Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina seemed surprised to even be asked about Trump’s remark.

“Give me a break — I mean, it’s Trump,” Graham said. “All I can say is while Trump was president nobody invaded anybody.

I think the point here is to, in his way, to get people to pay.”

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the Republican Party’s topranking official on the Senate Intelligence Committee, struck a matter-of-fact tone as he explained on CNN on Sunday why he was not bothered in the least.

“He told the story about how he used leverage to get people to step up to the plate and become more active in NATO,” Rubio said on “State of the Union,” rationalizing and sanitizing Trump’s comments as just a more colorful version of what other U.S. presidents have done in urging NATO members to spend more on their own defense. “I have zero concern, because he’s been president before. I know exactly what he has done and will do with the NATO alliance. But there has to be an alliance. It’s not America’s defense with a bunch of small junior partners.”

Trump’s comments from the rally stage were not part of his teleprompter remarks, according to a person close to him who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. But the remark — a new version of a story he has been telling for years — quickly inflamed in Europe what were already severe doubts about Trump’s commitment to NATO’s collective-defense provision.

That provision, known as Article 5, states that an armed attack on any member “shall be considered an attack against them all.”

Trump has been using his power over the GOP to try to kill recent bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill to send Ukraine more weapons and vital resources for its fight against Russia.

Ukraine is not a NATO member, but helping Ukraine preserve its independence has become the alliance’s defining mission since President Vladimir Putin of Russia began his military invasion in February 2022. And where Trump might land on a commitment to Ukraine has, for the international community and foreign-policy experts, become something of a stand-in for how he will approach NATO, America’s most important military alliance, in any potential second term.

Officials from smaller and more vulnerable NATO countries are especially worried because Trump has already suggested that it’s not in America’s national interest to get in a war with Russia to defend a tiny nation like, say, Montenegro.

The international reaction to Trump’s Saturday remarks

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks to reporters outside of the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. Rubio strongly defended former President Donald J. Trump in an interview on Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” (Anna Rose Layden/The New York Times) included a rare public rebuke from Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary-general. Stoltenberg said that “any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.”

The defense of Trump by several Republican officials such as Graham reflected the trajectory of a party that the former president has largely bent to his will.

Eight years ago, when Trump was in the thick of his first campaign for president, Graham would have given a very different response. In that campaign, Graham — initially one of Trump’s competitors in the primary, whom Trump quickly vanquished — saw himself as a defender of the Republican Party’s internationalist values against what he perceived as the acute threat of Trump’s isolationism.

As a wingman of the late Republican hawk and war hero Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Graham traveled the country warning anyone who would listen about the dangers of Trump. But after Trump won the presidency, Graham set about becoming a friend and close adviser and was welcomed into Trump’s inner circle. Many others followed a similar path.

In 2016, Rubio, another foreign policy hawk who competed against Trump for the party’s nomination, called Trump a “con man” and warned how dangerous he would be if entrusted with the nation’s nuclear codes. But after Trump won, he put those feelings aside, became friendly with Trump and is now among a handful of Republicans in contention to be his running mate.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, among the most hawkish Republicans on national defense, suggested European nations in the alliance needed to do more to sustain their own defenses against Russian incursions.

“NATO countries that don’t spend enough on defense, like Germany, are already encouraging Russian aggression and President Trump is simply ringing the warning bell,” Cotton said in an interview. “Strength, not weakness, deters aggression.

Russia invaded Ukraine twice under Barack Obama and Joe Biden, but not under Donald Trump.”

Several former national security and foreign policy offi-

cials in the Trump administration declined to speak about the anecdote that Trump told about threatening a NATO member nation’s head of state with encouraging Russian aggression. But they said they recalled no such meeting actually taking place.

Trump is fond of outright falsehoods in relaying stories to make himself look like a tough negotiator. His former national security adviser John Bolton, who has warned that Trump would withdraw the U.S. from NATO in a second term, said he had never heard Trump threaten another country’s leader that he would encourage a Russian invasion.

Trump often praises Putin — he has described the invasion of Ukraine as the work of a “genius” — and has long admired him as a “strong” leader.

But as president, Trump’s policies toward Russia were sometimes tougher than his predecessor’s — a point that Trump’s allies highlight when they dismiss statements such as Saturday’s as rhetorical flourishes. Trump’s allies, who claim he would not undermine NATO in a second term, point out that in his first term he approved sending anti-tank weapons to Ukraine, which Obama had not done after Russia seized Crimea in 2014.

As he runs to take back the White House — and as polls suggest he has a good chance of doing so — Trump has been coy about his intentions for NATO. His campaign website contains a single cryptic sentence: “We have to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally reevaluating NATO’s purpose and NATO’s mission.”

When pressed on what that means, Trump and his team have refused to elaborate.

Trump has been focused in private conversations about treating foreign aid as loans, something he has posted about on social media, as Senate Republicans tried again Sunday to pass an aid package, after Trump helped tank their earlier efforts. But the Russia comment appeared to catch most on his team by surprise.

Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Trump’s campaign, when asked to explain the former president’s statements — including whether it was an invitation for new aggression from Russia — did not directly address the question.

“Democrat and media pearl-clutchers seem to have forgotten that we had four years of peace and prosperity under President Trump, but Europe saw death and destruction under Obama-Biden and now more death and destruction under Biden,” Miller said. “President Trump got our allies to increase their NATO spending by demanding they pay up, but Joe Biden went back to letting them take advantage of the American taxpayer. When you don’t pay your defense spending, you can’t be surprised that you get more war.”

NATO countries’ spending on their own defense grew during the Trump administration, but it has expanded by an even larger amount during the Biden administration, after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Keith Kellogg, a retired lieutenant general who worked in the Trump administration, has remained close to Trump and who has also been outspoken on the need to defend Ukraine, spoke at the request of the Trump campaign, saying that he did not believe Trump was opening the door to fresh aggression.

Trump, Kellogg said, has a “track record of deterrence.”

8

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Two cases. Two judges. One high-stakes week for Trump.

By BEN PROTESS, JONAH E. BROMWICH and WILLIAM K. RASHBAUM

I

n two courthouses, two blocks apart, two New York judges could well ruin Donald Trump’s week.

On Thursday, one of the judges, Juan M. Merchan, may schedule the first criminal trial of a former American president for as early as next month — raising the specter that Trump might end up behind bars.

The following day, according to two people with knowledge of the matter, the second judge is expected to deliver a ruling that threatens not Trump’s freedom, but his family business. The judge, Arthur F. Engoron, oversaw the former president’s civil fraud trial and is weighing the New York

attorney general’s request to penalize Trump hundreds of millions of dollars and sever him from the company he ran for decades.

The dual threats represent a turning point in Trump’s legal odyssey, a week that could reshape his personal and presidential fortunes as he marches toward the Republican nomination. Engoron’s ruling could drain Trump’s cash coffers, and if the former president leaves Merchan’s courtroom as a felon, it would send the country’s already bitter politics into uncharted realms.

Trump has used the New York cases to falsely portray himself as a victim of a Democratic cabal bent on persecuting him and aiding his presumptive general election opponent, President Joe Biden. And he has repeatedly attacked the two Democrats who

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg during a news conference about his prosecution of former President Donald Trump on charges related to the alleged payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York, April 4, 2023. This week, Trump faces a ruling in a civil fraud case that could drain his cash coffers, and may also receive a court date for what would be the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times) brought the cases — Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who filed the criminal charges, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who led the fraud lawsuit.

But Trump’s New York week underscores the limitations of one of his battletested legal strategies: delay. James had to fight through two years of litigation before filing her lawsuit, and it took the district attorney’s office five years to bring an indictment. Both cases have wound their way through the legal system to become immediate threats to the former president, and at an inopportune time.

His legal imbroglio, of course, does not stop in NewYork. Trump faces 91 felony counts across four criminal cases, in Washington, Florida and Georgia as well as Manhattan. On the civil front, he must contend with Engoron’s fraud ruling and with the $83.3 million he owes from a recent defamation case.

Thursday will be particularly hectic.

On the same day, and at the same hour that Merchan is expected to rule, the Georgia prosecutor who accused Trump of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election will face a hearing about her romantic relationship with a lawyer she hired to work on that case.

As of Monday morning, Trump was still in discussions about whether he would attend one of the hearings, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

At Merchan’s hearing, the judge is

expected to rule on Trump’s long-shot bid to dismiss the Manhattan criminal case. If he declines to throw out the charges, which stem from a hush-money payment to a porn star in the final stages of the 2016 presidential campaign, he will set a trial date.

Court watchers have been doing calendar calculus, seeking to predict which of Trump’s cases will come first.

For months, the front-runner seemed to be another case in which Trump was charged with subverting democracy after the election: the federal indictment brought by a special counsel in Washington.

That case, originally scheduled for March 4, is widely viewed as the most consequential of Trump’s criminal trials — and perhaps, for him, the most politically problematic. That trial would serve the electorate a steady diet of reminders about Trump’s worst day as president, when a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Bragg, even as he has presented his case as an instance of Trump’s interfering with an election, has suggested that he would not object if the Washington case were to go first.

But the Washington trial has been delayed by appeals, and might go before the Supreme Court. The judge in that case, Tanya Chutkan, scrapped the March 4 date, leaving the Manhattan trial, which has been tentatively set for March 25, first on the calendar.

That could still change. As Merchan considers whether to cement the Manhattan date, he is likely to weigh the significance of the Washington case against the uncertainty of its schedule. He and Chutkan have coordinated in the past and they may again this week.

Ultimately, however, the decision is his: If Merchan decides to keep March 25, Trump’s first criminal trial will be in his hometown.

The case centers on what prosecutors say was Trump’s effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 election. His former fixer, Michael Cohen, who is expected to be the star witness in the case, and whom Trump has called a liar, paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 in the days before voters went to the polls to keep quiet about her story of a tryst with Trump.

Prosecutors say that once Trump was elected, he reimbursed Cohen from the White House, and hid the true purpose of the payments. Trump’s family business, the Trump Organization, falsely recorded the reimbursements as legal expenses.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

9

Austin taken to hospital for bladder issue

By EDWARD WONG

T

he Pentagon announced Sunday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been taken to a military hospital to be treated for “symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue,” and doctors at the hospital later said it was not clear how long he would remain there.

Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, at 2:20 p.m., a Pentagon spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said in the military’s initial statement. He added that the deputy defense secretary and the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been notified, as well as the White House and members of Congress.

In a second statement Sunday evening, Ryder said that Austin, 70, had “transferred the functions and duties” of his office to the deputy defense secretary, Kathleen Hicks, about 4:55 p.m.

Another statement, issued late Sunday by two senior doctors at Walter Reed, said that Austin had been admitted to the hospital’s critical care unit that night after a series of tests. The doctors, John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut, said it was not clear how long he would be hospitalized.

Last month, Austin spent several days at

Walter Reed being treated for complications related to a recent prostate cancer surgery. The doctors said in their statement Sunday that his bladder issue “is not expected to change his anticipated full recovery” and that his cancer prognosis remained excellent.

The announcements appeared to be aimed at showing transparency around Austin’s medical condition and stressed the fact that multiple top officials across the U.S. government had been informed.

Austin came under widespread criticism last month after initially keeping his hospital visit a secret from top administration officials, including President Joe Biden, the White House national security adviser, the secretary of state and senior officials in the Pentagon, including those immediately under him in the office.

Austin also had not informed the president that he had undergone the original surgery in December.

Lawmakers called for the Pentagon to provide answers on why so many officials were kept in the dark. Biden said on Jan. 12 that he still had confidence in Austin. But when the president was asked whether it had been a lapse in judgment for Austin not to have informed him that he had been out of commission, Biden said, “Yes.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin leaves a news conference at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Feb. 1, 2024. The Pentagon announced on Sunday, February 11, 2024, that Austin had been taken that afternoon to a military hospital to be treated for “symptoms suggesting an emergent bladder issue.” (Yuri Gripas/The New York Times) Austin, a retired four-star Army general and former commander of the U.S. Central Command, had served in the military for more than 40 years when he took the top Pentagon

job in 2021. Throughout his career, he has sought to avoid attention and has tried to keep many parts of his life out of the public spotlight.

Mayorkas says he’s undeterred by Republicans’ impeachment drive

By HAMED ALEAZIZ

A

lejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, said Sunday that he was not dwelling on congressional Republicans’ continued efforts to impeach him over his handling of the southern border.

“They’re baseless allegations, Kristen, and that’s why I really am not distracted by them and focused on the work of the Department of Homeland Security,” he said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with Kristen Welker. “I’ve got a busy day today.

After the show, a busy day of work. I’ve got a busy day Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and so on.”

Republican leaders in the House suffered a stunning defeat last week in their first effort to impeach Mayorkas, but they have vowed to try again.

They have contended that Mayorkas should be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors for not enforcing immigration

laws. Mayorkas has denied these claims, and the United States allows for a presidential administration to have flexibility on border

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 15, 2023. The Homeland Security secretary called the allegations “baseless” and said he was focused on his work. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times)

policies.

He said that it was up to Congress to fix a “broken” immigration system, just days after a bipartisan deal to overhaul policies at the southern border was stymied in the Senate.

“It certainly is a crisis, and, well, we don’t bear responsibility for a broken system,” Mayorkas said. “And we’re doing a tremendous amount within that broken system. But fundamentally, fundamentally, Congress is the only one who can fix it.”

Mayorkas, the first Latino to run the department, has testified before Congress more than any other member of President Joe Biden’s Cabinet — a total of more than two dozen times. He has told House Republican officials that their effort to impeach him will not affect the work he is doing and has maintained that he will not resign if their push is successful.

In a January letter to Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., chair of the Homeland Security

Committee, Mayorkas said the drive to impeach him had not shaken him.

“I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted,” he wrote.

One of the Republicans who broke with his party to vote against the impeachment effort, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., said Saturday that he would not seek reelection.

Gallagher wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece last week that the impeachment effort was misguided.

“I disagree with my Republican colleagues who voted on Tuesday to impeach Mr. Mayorkas,” he wrote. “Impeachment would not only fail to resolve Mr. Biden’s border crisis but also set a dangerous new precedent that will be used against future Republican administrations.”

10 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

For power companies, new tests for the grid are rising in winter

By IVAN PENN

F

or decades, managers of electric grids feared that surging energy demand on hot summer days would force blackouts.

Increasingly, they now have similar concerns about the coldest days of winter.

Largely because of growing demand from homes and businesses, and supply constraints thanks to aging utility equipment, many grids are under greater strain in winter. By 2033, the growth in electricity demand during winter, compared with the current level, is expected to exceed the growth in demand in summer, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp., a nonprofit organization that develops and enforces standards for the utility industry.

Just 10 years ago, winter electricity use ran about 11% less than in summer, according to the group. By 2033, that gap is expected to shrink to about 8%. And by 2050, winter demand could surpass electricity use in the summer.

“We’re seeing both summer and winter peaks growing, but we’re seeing winter peaks growing faster,” said Jim Robb, CEO of the reliability corporation. “The demand curve just shoots up very, very quickly.”

For years after the 2008 financial crisis, annual electricity demand was essentially flat.

The Obama administration promoted energy efficiency as a way to address climate change, and consumers used less electricity to save money.

But that trend has reversed in recent years as businesses have built hundreds of large data centers, each of which can use as much power as a small city, and as individuals have bought more electric cars and appliances. A

A pizza is prepared in the kitchen of Star Pizza’s original location in Houston, on Jan. 23, 2024. Star Pizza lost power in its 50-year-old location in Houston during a winter storm in 2021. (Danielle Villasana/The New York Times) major contributor in the winter is the increasing use of electricity to power heaters at homes and businesses that previously used oil or gas furnaces.

While they are very efficient overall, electric heat pumps become less efficient when the temperature outside is below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, Robb said. As a result, electric utilities have to work harder when it’s very cold and during winter storms.

On Jan. 17, as bitter cold swept across many of the seven states it serves, the Tennessee Valley Authority hit its highest peak electricity demand ever. The public power system, which has more than 10 million customers, was able to handle it because of upgrades it

had made to handle higher winter demand. The previous record was set on Aug. 16, 2007.

“We are already, in our region, seeing higher winter peaks and more challenges than with summer peaks,” said Aaron Melda, a senior vice president for transmission and power supply at the authority.

PJM, which is the nation’s largest grid and serves 65 million people in 13 states, also exceeded its projected demand on Jan. 17 as snow, sleet and freezing rain blanketed the Mid-Atlantic. The system met that demand and supplied energy to neighboring grids. A year earlier, PJM needed help from its neighbors during a major winter storm.

U.S. grids are also struggling because they are importing less power during the winter from Canada. Demand for electricity in that country is growing strongly, and a decline in rain and snow has reduced supply from its hydroelectric power plants, said Robert McCullough of McCullough Research, an energy consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon.

Aging and poorly maintained U.S. power lines and utility equipment are another major problem, he said. The electric grid serving much of Texas collapsed during a 2021 winter storm in part because natural gas pipelines and power plant equipment froze or malfunctioned.

Nearly 250 people died because of the storm and power outage, state officials said.

“It’s pretty clear we’re entering a period where we don’t know what’s going to happen next,” McCullough said. “Electrification is

clearly going to change it and make it worse.”

Like many Americans, Michael Pittman had grown used to strains on the electric grid from summer heat waves or storms. He lives just outside of Houston, where he works as the general manager of Star Pizza, a restaurant that has two locations in the city.

The 50-year-old restaurant’s original store — where the dough and sauce for both shops are made — lost power in the 2021 storm.

“There was a very helpless feeling,” said Pittman, who has worked at the restaurant since 1994 and previously experienced power outages during hot summer days and hurricanes.

“Now it gives everyone that shock feeling when you hear a freeze is coming. The news immediately goes to the grid.”

The restaurant considered getting generators for backup power, but Pittman said doing so would cost too much. Instead, he braces for the worst when freezing temperatures come and hopes to keep operating from his second location, in an area that tends to lose power less often during bad weather.

“There are certain things you take for granted,” Pittman said. “The electric grid is one of them.”

The grid faces many challenges as the country moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And growing electricity demand in the winter makes many of them more difficult.

In much of the country, electric grids were designed to handle high demand in the summer when people crank up air conditioners. As a result, utilities typically shut some power plants and other parts of the grid for maintenance and upgrades during the rest of the year.

High demand in multiple seasons, energy experts said, could make it more difficult to repair and improve stressed and aging systems.

The North American Electric Reliability Corp. believes that winter electricity use could surpass summer demand in New York and other Northeastern states within six years. That would also mean higher electric bills, which have been rising steadily in recent years. In November, the average U.S. homeowner paid $162 for the typical 1,000 kilowatt-hours of use, up from $156 a year earlier, according to the Energy Information Administration.

“As more and more jurisdictions transition to all-electric, you’re going to see that peak change,” said Calvin Butler, CEO of Exelon, which owns regulated utilities in New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

“We are going to start seeing more of a winter peaking seasons.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

11

Nasdaq slips from near all-time high, Dow and S&P 500 up modestly

By ROY FURCHGOTT

T

he Nasdaq slipped on Monday afternoon after briefly surpassing its record closing high from November 2021, but the Dow and the S&P 500 rose modestly ahead of two U.S. inflation reports this week that could influence Federal Reserve policy.

Nvidia overtook Amazon.com in value, but Nasdaq lost some steam after nearing its all-time intra-day high of 16,212.229.

Over the past four months, megacaps with greater exposure to artificial intelligence have spearheaded a bull market on Wall Street as other stocks also rose on hopes of imminent rate cuts and an upbeat outlook from businesses.

The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab remained above the 5,000-point level it crossed on Friday and was trading at record high levels along with the blue-chip Dow (.DJI), opens new tab.

Leading the charge, Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab surpassed Amazon.com (AMZN.O), opens new tab in market capitalization, as the euphoria around AI catapulted the chipmaker to the fourth-most valuable U.S. company. Nvidia was up 0.1%, while Amazon dipped 1%.

“Earnings are coming in better than expected, the forecast for inflation continues to decline and the Fed is still likely to lower rates, Wall Street is having a hard time finding something to go wrong with the stock market rally,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research.

Traders awaited January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) this week to gauge prospects for interest rate cuts this year. This week the market also gets data on industrial production, retail sales and preliminary University of Michigan consumer sentiment.

“An inflation number that’s really hot might get some investors a bit nervous, but other than that the Fed is going to be in the same mode,” said Joe Saluzzi, comanager of trading at Themis Trading.

With data reflecting a robust economy, central bankers have shown less eagerness for early rate cuts.

The odds for at least a 25-basis-point rate reduction in May have dropped to 52.2%, from over 95% at the start of 2024, as per the CME FedWatch Tool.

At 1:52 p.m., the S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab gained 6.01 points, or 0.12%, to 5,032.62 points, while the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), opens new tab lost 12.13 points, or 0.08%, to 15,978.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), opens new tab rose 196.04 points, or 0.51%, to 38,867.73.

The small caps Russell 2000 index (.RUT), opens

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new tab also surged 1.8%.

“Investors are rotating into those areas that have not kept pace with the broader market because that’s possibly where there is greater value,” said Stovall. “Today could be sort of a bottom fishing day for the market.”

Among other movers, Diamondback Energy (FANG.O), opens new tab jumped 9.2%, helping energy

(.SPNY), opens new tab to top the 11 S&P 500 sectors with a 1.16% gain. Diamondback announced a $26-billion deal to buy the largest privately held oil and gas producer in the Permian basin, Endeavor Energy Partners.

Joby Aviation (JOBY.N), opens new tab gained 6.6% as the electric-powered aircraft maker signed an agreement to launch air taxi services in the United Arab Emirates by early 2026.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 4.3to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 2.32-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

12 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Israel rescues 2 hostages; Gaza officials say dozens of Palestinians are killed

By PATRICK KINGSLEY

I

sraeli special operations forces raided a building in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah early Monday to free two hostages held by Hamas, the military said, as Israel launched a wave of attacks overnight that killed dozens of Palestinians in Rafah, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The operations were met with elation in Israel, and grief and foreboding in Gaza, where more than 1 million Palestinians have crowded into Rafah, fleeing their homes and seeking refuge from Israeli military actions farther north. Palestinians feared the raid — and the accompanying death toll — portended a more prolonged Israeli operation to capture Rafah.

The nighttime rescue operation marked only the second time Israeli forces said they had rescued captives in Gaza since the war began in October. The fate of more than 100 hostages captured at the start of the war on Oct. 7 has become one of the country’s highest priorities, along with the defeat of Hamas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has signaled that Israeli ground forces will enter Rafah with the

goal of eliminating Hamas battalions there, though the precise timing is unclear. The prospect of street battles inside the crowded city, which is bracketed by a closed Egyptian border, has created worldwide alarm over the risks to civilians who say they have nowhere else to flee.

The hostage rescue showed Israel’s determination to press ahead with its offensive despite criticism from the United States and other allies, and pressure to reduce civilian casualties and destruction. President Joe Biden on Thursday called Israel’s campaign “over the top” and said the suffering of innocent people has “got to stop.”

At 1:49 a.m. Monday, Israeli special forces soldiers broke into a building where the two hostages were being held, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military’s chief spokesperson, said at a news conference. About a minute later, Israeli forces fired on nearby buildings in an effort to disrupt Hamas’ communications and to allow the soldiers to safely bring the hostages out, he said. He also said that Israeli warplanes had fired on Hamas targets in the area.

Drone footage later released by the Israeli military appeared to show roughly a dozen Israeli troops entering a building by foot from a street lined with detached and flatroofed houses. Other footage showed a blast at the building

Vehicles with the International Committee of the Red Cross believed to be carrying hostages released by Hamas head through the border crossing with Egypt in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Israeli special operations forces raided a building in Rafah early Monday to free two hostages held by Hamas, the military said. (Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times)

next-door, caused by what the Israeli military said was an Israeli strike.

Images captured by Palestinian photographers in the aftermath of the attack showed several badly damaged concrete buildings, one of them reduced to rubble. Both the Palestinian images and the Israeli video appeared to have been taken from the same location, next to several rows of tents.

The Health Ministry in Gaza said at least 67 people had been killed overnight in Israeli strikes in Rafah. News outlets reported deadly attacks on two mosques in Rafah.

Neither the Israeli account nor the toll reported by the Health Ministry — which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths — could be verified independently.

Ziad Obeid, a customs official who had fled to Rafah, described being awakened at 2 a.m. by a barrage of explosions so bright that it was “as if we were in the middle of the day, not the night.” He added: “It was a horrible night.”

The Israeli military said the soldiers forced their way inside a second-floor apartment to rescue the two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70.

The military said the ensuing strikes were intended to prevent Hamas commanders in the surrounding area from contacting the hostages’ guards and completing “an operational picture” of the raid.

The military did not reveal how the commandos reached the house, but Israeli news media reported that they forced open a door with an explosive, and that the hostages were evacuated by helicopter.

The operation was greeted joyfully in Israel, where the fate of the hostages has exacerbated social divisions and trauma.

Some Israelis want their government to agree to a deal that would free the remaining hostages in exchange for ending the war, fearing that the Israeli offensive puts the captives in jeopardy.

The rescue was a major boost for Netanyahu, who said in a statement Monday that “only continued military pressure, until total victory, will bring about the release of all of our hostages.”

Netanyahu, vowing to end Hamas’ control of Gaza, has ignored warnings — from the United States, the United Nations, aid groups and others that an advance on Rafah would be devastating to civilians and risk exacerbating a catastrophe that is already unfolding, with residents running low on food, clean water and medicine.

Netanyahu has ordered the military to draw up plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah, but aid groups and others say there is no place left for them to go. On Sunday, he promised to offer Palestinians safe passage to northern areas of Gaza before an invasion of Rafah, though he offered no details.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

13

Finland elects Alexander Stubb president as it ushers in NATO era

By ERIKA SOLOMON and JOHANNA LEMOLA

F

inns elected center-right politician Alexander Stubb as their new president Sunday, in the first national election since the country joined NATO, filling a post that will be critical to shaping Finland’s role in the alliance at a time of increasingly fraught relations with Russia.

The election might typically have gained little notice beyond the borders of the northern European country of 5.6 million people.

But Finland, the newest member of NATO, shares the longest border with Russia — some 830 miles — and its politics have taken on special interest to its European and American allies as the geopolitical order shifts.

U.S. power is being challenged by Moscow and Beijing, and Europe is grappling with its largest land war since World War II. At the same time, the American commitment to aiding Ukraine looks increasingly in doubt, and an unpredictable American presidential election looms.

Finland has a parliamentary system of government, but its presidency is not a ceremonial role. The president is responsible for foreign policy, and the winner will play a pivotal role in steering the country through a changing world.

“What kind of a NATO country Finland is going to become is an open question at the moment,” said Jenni Karimaki, a political analyst at the University of Helsinki. “The new president is going to have a lot of say on that matter.”

Finland’s decision to join NATO was a sharp break from its decades of nonalignment, and the risks and responsibilities of the country’s new place in the world had dominated the campaign over who should succeed the popular Sauli Niinisto, whose second six-year term expires next month.

Stubb, of the National Coalition Party, went into the runoff election Sunday against Pekka Haavisto of the center-left Green League.

Stubb won with 51.6% of the vote, while Haavisto had 48.4%.

“We’re in a new situation in international policy, where rules are challenged, institutions are challenged, we have war near us, and Russia behaves aggressively,” the president-elect said after the vote was called.

“But we’re also facing a new era — because we’re militarily aligned, and we’re a NATO member.”

Finnish Army conscripts with the 2nd Military Police Company during a training exercise in a suburb of Helsinki, Sept. 6, 2023. After decades of going it alone in security issues, Finns are finding that life in a large alliance is complex, expensive and deeply political.

(Ivor Prickett/The New York Times) The two candidates expressed very similar views on the issues most on the minds of voters — they have both strongly supported joining NATO and take a tough line on Russia. The differences between them are largely stylistic.

During his campaign, Stubb, a former prime minister who went to college in South Carolina, emphasized his desire to bolster trans-Atlantic relations on the campaign trail and regularly played up his hard-line stance.

“I’m as hawkish as the best of them, there’s no question about that,” he told The New York Times in an interview before the vote.

He said countering Russia had become more difficult in an era of hybrid warfare.

A section of the Balticconnector, a gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, was damaged by a Chinese ship as it traveled between two Russian ports. Although an investigation into the episode is still underway, many security experts suspect sabotage.

There also has been a surge in cyberattacks, some of which Russia has claimed responsibility for.

One issue particularly concerning to voters has been a sudden sharp increase in asylum-seekers crossing into Finland over the Russian border, which many in Finland view as a signal from Russia in response to its NATO membership. Moscow had warned

there would be “countermeasures” for Finland joining NATO. “The line between war and peace has been blurred,” Stubb said.

Haavisto, who was foreign minister from 2019 to 2023, used his credentials as one of the main negotiators for Finland’s entry into NATO to show that his stance on Russia is equally tough. But the former United Nations peace negotiator shied away from more hawkish positions.

Stubb showed himself keen to push a more robust Finnish military role within NATO than Haavisto. Stubb raised the idea

of permanently hosting a small number of NATO officers in the country.

He also said he would support letting the alliance transport its nuclear weapons on Finnish territory — but that possibility remains a hypothetical, as current Finnish law prohibits nuclear weapons on Finnish territory, and the president cannot legislate.

Stubb’s party, however, now holds nearly complete control on foreign policy matters for the country. In addition to the presidency, the National Coalition Party also holds the role of prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister in the government.

Voter turnout for the runoff election was around 71% of the electorate, and around the capital blue and white Finnish flags were hoisted on buildings to honor the day. The custom in Finland is to have coffee and cake after voting, and lots of families turned out to polling stations Sunday with their children, who could share in the treats with their parents afterward.

Beyond their border with Russia, however, there is another concern for Finnish voters across the Atlantic: What is in store for Finland’s NATO membership should former President Donald Trump, an outspoken critic of the alliance who has even suggested the United States might leave it, win the presidential election in November?

“The whole decision of joining NATO banked on the idea that the U.S., the Americans, are here to stay and that U.S. commitment is long lasting,” said Matti Pesu of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. “If the U.S. decided to weaken its commitment, it would be a huge irony, and it would weaken the deterrence value of Finland’s NATO membership.”

14

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Short on soldiers, Ukraine debates how to find the next wave of troops

Troops from the 24th Mechanized Brigade in a trench in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, Jan. 19, 2024. Short on soldiers, Ukraine debates how to find the next wave of troops; a potential expansion of the nation’s military draft to replenish the exhausted, battered army has become an emotional, politically charged issue.

(Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)

By ANDREW E. KRAMER

S

oldiers fight in freezing, muddy trenches bombarded by artillery, or in warrens of burned and blown-up houses in urban combat. Casualty rates are high and dangerous missions, such as storming enemy-held tree lines, abound.

As they planned for a renewal of Ukraine’s military under extreme conditions, both the country’s former top commander and his replacement have emphasized the same looming problem: a need to relieve exhausted, battered troops whose combat tours have stretched nearly two years.

In a tumultuous week for Ukraine’s war effort, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed his commanding general, Gen. Valery

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Zaluzhny, on Thursday, while aid from the country’s largest source of weapons and ammunition, the United States, hung in doubt in Congress.

While Ukraine relies on allies for weaponry, replenishing the ranks is a domestic challenge. Small protests have broken out in opposition to a parliament proposal to expand the draft to include younger men, but so far, lawmakers have slow-walked the measure.

Military analysts have mostly coalesced around the idea that Ukraine will, at best, hold existing front lines in ground fighting this year with a new influx of American weaponry — and risk falling back without it. It plans to replenish its ranks through mobilization while keeping Russia off balance with longrange drone strikes and sabotage operations behind enemy lines and inside Russia.

In announcing the appointment of Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky to command the military, Zelenskyy said he wanted a “new management team” for the armed forces. He has signaled a search for a new strategy that accounts for exhausted front-line soldiers in Ukraine’s million-man army, which is fighting the largest war in Europe since World War II. He suggested a partial fix by cycling more soldiers from positions in the rear into combat, but he also signaled “a new ap-

proach to mobilization and recruitment,” without elaborating.

Mobilization had been a factor in Zaluzhny’s dismissal. The plans for calling up more soldiers to fight in grim trench warfare were something nobody in Ukraine’s military or civilian leadership wanted to be associated with. Zaluzhny and Zelenskyy had been in open, public disagreement over mobilization since December.

Zelenskyy, at a news conference that month, said Zaluzhny’s staff had asked to draft 450,000 to 500,000 men, a comment that appeared intended to shift responsibility to the military for a decision to call up so many more soldiers, opposition politicians said.

Zaluzhny responded that the decision was not up to the military. He said the armed forces had prepared estimates of their manpower needs to allow for rotations of those serving now, replace soldiers killed or wounded in combat and anticipate future losses.

“We need shells, weapons and people,” Zaluzhny said. “Everything else is done by the bodies that have the authority.”

In a statement after his appointment Thursday, Syrsky listed among his priorities “the life and health of servicemen,” and said the military would seek a “balance” for units between front-line deployments and training.

On this extraordinarily delicate issue for Ukraine, “the unity is gone,” Iryna Friz, a member of parliament with the opposition European Solidarity party, said in an interview. “The question of mobilization was sabotaged for politics.”

The bill on mobilization has passed a first reading in Ukraine’s parliament. It would lower the conscription age to 25 from 27 and stiffen penalties on draft dodgers.

Ukraine currently drafts men between the ages of 27 and 60. Under martial law, all men ages 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving the country, lest a decision be taken to draft them.

Men with three or more children are exempted, but men with three children or fewer who volunteered, or whose families expanded as they served, have not been permitted to leave the military.

The bill in parliament also allows for the demobilization of troops after three years of service, holding out the prospect of a reprieve about a year from now for soldiers who have been fighting since the invasion in 2022.

The law is expected to pass this month and

take effect in March, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, a member of the opposition Holos party, wrote on Telegram.

For draft-eligible men, trench warfare is a harrowing prospect. Soldiers die from artillery, exploding drones and snipers, as well as in close-quarters combat with Russian forces. Russia’s ubiquitous land mines have blown legs or feet off thousands of Ukrainian men. And bunkers where soldiers slept last winter were overrun by rodents drawn to the warmth of the log or rough timber structures, worsening the unpleasant conditions on the front.

Soldiers on the front typically spend three days or so sleeping in shifts in trenches and bunkers under fire, followed by three days in less-risky reserve positions, such as abandoned houses in nearby villages.

Friz, the lawmaker, said Ukraine’s government and parliament must design the draft to balance the needs of the army and the economy and to maintain political stability, all issues beyond the scope of the military’s duties.

Lowering the draft age, for example, would bring more lithe, healthy soldiers to the fight, but would pose long-term risks for sustaining Ukraine’s population given the country’s demographics.

As in most former Soviet states, Ukraine has a small generation of 20-year-olds because birthrates plummeted during the deep economic depression of the 1990s. Because of this demographic trough, there are now three times as many men in their 40s as in their 20s in Ukraine.

Drafting more men in their 20s, given the likely battle casualties, would risk reducing the number of births in this small generation of Ukrainians, resulting in declines of draft- and working-age men decades from now and endangering the country’s future security and economy.

In one move to ease the concerns of men who are called up but want to have children, parliament is considering a bill to pay medical bills for soldiers who wish to freeze their sperm to allow partners to become pregnant if they die in combat.

Ukraine’s labor pool is already vastly diminished by women fleeing war and men joining the army.

A crowd angry about the draft blocked a road outside a western Ukrainian village last week in a rowdy confrontation with drivers and police that illustrated the political risks of expanding mobilization.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

15

Yes, Biden’s age matters

By DAVID FRENCH

O

ne of the most difficult conversations you can have in life is with a parent or peer who is becoming too old and infirm to work. Whether the infirmity is physical or mental, often your loved one is the last person to realize his own deficiencies, so he may interpret respectful, genuine concern as a personal attack.

This conversation is difficult enough when it’s conducted entirely in private with friends and family. It’s infinitely more difficult when it plays out in public and involves the president of the United States.

The top-line conclusion of special counsel Robert Hur’s report regarding the discovery of classified information at Joe Biden’s home is good for the president. It found, in no uncertain terms, that “no criminal charges are warranted in this matter.” It said prosecution would be inappropriate “even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.” The report even did the president the favor of clearly and unequivocally distinguishing his treatment of classified materials from Donald Trump’s vastly worse misconduct in his own retention-of-documents case.

But the report presented what may be a worse assessment for Biden than the matter of guilt, which is its description of one reason he won’t be prosecuted: The special counsel found that Biden lacked the requisite degree of criminal willfulness in part because of his fading memory. The report characterized him as

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a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and said he had “diminished faculties in advancing age.” To bolster this assertion, the report provided some damaging details, including claims that Biden couldn’t remember the dates when he was vice president and couldn’t remember “even within several years” when his son Beau died.

The report understandably angered Biden, but in a fiery news conference after the report was released, he confused the president of Egypt with the president of Mexico. In isolation, the gaffe was minor — less serious, for instance, than Trump recently confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi — but the timing was terrible. The mistake, coming on the heels of two incidents in recent days in which Biden confused French and German leaders with their deceased predecessors, only served to bolster the special counsel’s conclusions.

Democratic partisans may be furious that the special counsel was so blunt about Biden’s memory. But willfulness and intent are necessary elements of the underlying crimes, so Hur had to explore Biden’s mental state, and include illustrative details.

Witnesses are frequently instructed to say “I don’t remember” when they don’t recall all relevant facts completely and accurately. I’ve taken countless depositions in my career, and “I don’t remember” is one of the most common answers I’ve heard.

In such cases, I do not presume this person is incapable of remembering. By including the details of Biden’s memory lapses, however, Hur demonstrated that the president’s responses were well outside the norm. That does not mean that every embarrassing detail in the report was appropriate to include. But including some details was necessary to support its legal conclusions.

Of course, none of this means that Trump is a better candidate for the presidency than Biden. But “better than Trump” is the lowest bar imaginable. Trump is a corrupt and confused 77-yearold who’s facing trial on dozens of felony counts in four separate criminal cases and has recently been found liable for sexual abuse and defamation.

But I can know that Biden would be far better than Trump and still be concerned that he’s not up to the challenge of governing for four more years. “Better than Trump” doesn’t mean that he’d continue to respond to profound foreign and domestic challenges with clarity and energy. “Better than Trump” doesn’t mean we can count on him finishing a second term. “Better than Trump” doesn’t even necessarily mean that he can beat Trump in November.

Compounding the problem for Biden, age is not a challenge that improves with time. It’s likely that Biden’s memory and energy are better now than they’ll be next year, not to mention four years from now. Moreover, millions upon millions of Americans have direct experience with the challenge of advanced age — either as their own minds and bodies ultimately slow down or as they watch it happen to friends and relatives. That same experience makes Americans immune to political spin on the issue. No matter how powerful your rhetoric, you can’t browbeat Americans out of a concern as obvious and relatable as the fact that age matters.

Biden does have a response. He can point to the score-

President Joe Biden at The White House in Washington on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. “One of the most difficult conversations you can have in life is with a parent or peer who is becoming too old and infirm to work,” David French writes. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) board. He has a solid case for reelection given the successes of his first term. I am a conservative, so Biden, while absolutely preferable to Trump, was hardly my first choice for the presidency.

But I’ve been mostly impressed by his handling of the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. We’ve also seen enough legislative compromises during his administration to raise glimmers of hope that Congress can still function on occasion. And the American economy, while hardly perfect, is the envy of the world.

Biden’s record includes its share of missteps, most notably at the border. But he can tell concerned Americans that the best predictor of the next four years is the last four years, and that his verbal slips and stumbles are of little consequence compared with his accomplishments. That’s certainly a fair argument. But Biden has to make it himself, repeatedly and eloquently. The only real answer to the charge that he is in decline is for him to publicly demonstrate that he is not.

If the prospect of Biden making this case fills you with alarm — if you’re concerned that he can’t do so consistently and repeatedly on the campaign trail without triggering a cascade of mistakes and gaffes that compound the problem — then it’s time to ponder a different course of action. Should Biden step aside?

Not only is this suggestion tremendously delicate — as we saw in the news conference Thursday, Biden is now quite angry and defiant — it would also trigger a cascading set of chaotic consequences for the Democratic Party. The party would have to jump-start a primary season, fight through a series of divisive state contests and then coalesce again, all while Trump and the GOP prepare for the general election, raising money and lobbing rhetorical grenades at the divided Democrats.

The Democrats obviously want to avoid such an outcome.

But Biden’s polling numbers are grim. Yes, there are good reasons to think that his support might be at a low ebb, and that continued good economic news, combined with continued Republican dysfunction, could be enough to lift him past Trump. But it should be deeply concerning that Biden’s single greatest weakness is the one that he cannot alter: his age.

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The San Juan Daily Star

Lisie Burgos demanda al presidente de la Cámara de Representantes por orden de uso de mascarilla POR CYBERNEWS

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L CAPITOLIO – La representante de Proyecto Dignidad (PD), Lisie Burgos Muñiz, presentó el lunes ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia de San Juan, una solicitud de Sentencia Declaratoria, Entredicho Preliminar y Permanente en contra del presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez, el Administrador de dicho cuerpo legislativo, Manuel Díaz Espino, el Sargento de Armas de la Cámara de Representantes, Luis Ramos Rivera, y su Secretario, Javier Gómez Cruz que solicita se declare inconstitucional la orden administrativa que implementa la obligatoriedad del uso de la mascarilla en todas las facilidades del cuerpo legislativo.

“Tal proceder es una violación a los derechos de las minorías y una violación al libre ejercicio de la expresión política en el recinto donde el Estado debe salvaguardar la más amplia protección de este derecho. Apoyar el proceder del presidente de la Cámara, y los demás demanda-

dos, constituye un nefasto precedente para los miembros de esta Cámara de Representantes, que estoy segura en un futuro podrían sufrir en carne propia la restricción de derechos en el ejercicio de sus funciones que hoy Yo he

decidido defender. Esperamos que el Honorable Tribunal atienda con premura nuestro reclamo y evite que siga siendo atropellado mi derecho como legisladora electa, el de todos mis compañeros legisladores, así como el de nuestros constituyentes, a los cuales represento”, explicó Burgos Muñiz , en declaraciones escritas.

“Lisie, en su capacidad de representante elegida por el pueblo, es portavoz en la Cámara de Representantes de la minoría política que representa a Proyecto Dignidad, y como legisladora ha sido una defensora, mediante legislación y mediante el debate en las comisiones, y en el hemiciclo, de una política pública contraria a la imposición mediante ordenes administrativas y ejecutivas de la obligatoriedad de mascarillas y vacunas, promoviendo que el Estado implemente una política pública de educar a la ciudadanía y proveer la información certera y fidedigna a su haber, permitiendo que la ciudadanía tome decisiones informadas sobre su salud”, indicó Javier Jiménez, presidente del partido Proyecto Dignidad.

Alcalde de Aguadilla declara estado de emergencia por la falta del servicio de agua POR CYBERNEWS

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GUADILLA – El alcalde de Aguadilla, Julio Roldán, firmó el lunes, una declaración de emergencia por falta del servicio de agua potable.

“La semana pasada informé a la ciudadanía de la cantidad de conversaciones con el ingeniero Eric Rosa, director regional de la Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AAA) cuestionando las continuas interrupciones de los servicios en los barrios Camaseyes, Victoria, el Palmar, Urb. García, Pueblo, Poblado San Antonio, Borinquen, Ramey, Martinica, Vista Verde, la Charca, Urbanización El Verde, Caimital Alto y Caimital Bajo de nuestro pueblo, esto representa sobre más de 70 por ciento de la ciudad sin servicio de agua potable. Tuvimos una conversación con la directora ejecutiva de AAA, Doriel Pagán quien nos informó que el problema estaría resuelto en 48 horas y que el mismo se debía a complicaciones en los trabajos de reparación de la línea de aguas crudas del Rio Culebrinas, hoy nuestra ciudadanía continúa siendo víctima de la ineptitud gubernamental en torno a la falta de suministro de agua potable”, dijo Roldán Concepción en declaraciones escritas.

“Viendo la falta de acción y la problemática que sigue en aumento por la falta de agua potable nos hemos amparado en la Ley Número 107 de 14 de agosto de 2020, según enmendada, mejor conocida como Código Municipal de Puerto Rico, en su Artículo 1.003 reconoce que los municipios son la entidad gubernamental más cercana al pueblo y el mejor intérprete de sus necesidades y

aspiraciones. Por lo cual, se declara política pública del Gobierno de Puerto Rico otorgar a los municipios el máximo posible de autonomía y proveerles las herramientas financieras y fiscales, así como los poderes inherentes a su subsistencia y las facultades necesarias para asumir una función central y fundamental en su desarrollo urbano, social y económico. Firmamos la Orden Ejecutiva número: 21 serie 023-1021EJECUTIVA NÚMERO: 21 SERIE 20232024 para declarar un estado de emergencia en el municipio de Aguadilla por la falta del servicio de agua potable en nuestras comunidades”, expuso.

“Es frustrante saber que hoy se cumplan más de dos semanas donde miles de familias en Aguadilla no cuentan con este servicio esencial. Esto no solo afecta la calidad de vida, sino que afecta el desarrollo económico y provoca perdidas en nuestros comercios. Para afrontar esta situación el primer ejecutivo municipal ordenó la colocación de camiones cisterna en puntos de fácil acceso a la ciudadanía convirtiéndolos en Oasis. A las Familias que por alguna razón se les imposibilita llegar hasta alguno de estos Oasis, brigadas municipales le están haciendo entrega de cajas de agua para minimizar la falta del preciado líquido en sus hogares. Ya la inversión asciende a sobre 30,000 dólares”, continuó.

“No estamos hablando de ningún fenómeno natural que provoque la falta del suministro de agua, es una situación que debió haber sido resuelta. A las más de comunidades 10 comunidades afectadas se une gran parte del casco urbano de aguadilla, motor económico y donde se están viendo afectados pequeños y medianos comerciantes que

depende del preciado líquido para operar sus negocios, la falta de agua en más de tres hogares de ancianos, así como otras facilidades de servicios a nuestra ciudadanía”, denunció Roldán.

Finalmente Roldán ha estado ejecutando su plan de contingencia de emergencias y ha firmado la Orden Ejecutiva para así poder organizar, dirigir y supervisar todas las funciones y actividades administrativas del municipio, coordinar los servicios municipales entre sí, para asegurar su prestación integral y adecuada en la totalidad de los límites territoriales del municipio, velar por que la población tenga acceso, en igualdad de condiciones, al conjunto de los servicios públicos mínimos de la competencia o responsabilidad municipal y promulgar estados de emergencia, mediante orden ejecutiva al efecto.

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

17

Usher brings precise details to pop’s biggest stage: The Super Bowl

By JON CARAMANICA

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few minutes into Usher’s dynamic and sly Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performance Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas came a moment of uncommon, almost startling calm.

Alicia Keys had just appeared, in a sequined red jumpsuit and matching encrusted gown, and rather gratuitously flubbed the opening note of her hit piano ballad “If I Ain’t Got You.” She recovered, and as she approached the end of the chorus, you could hear Usher singing in quiet harmony as the camera panned back, settling on the two of them at opposite ends of Keys’ piano. Usher picked up the final line of the chorus — alone, smooth and confident, almost whispered — before Keys returned to share the last note.

Allegiant Stadium holds approximately 65,000 people, but in that instant, there were only two. It was one of the quietest sequences in halftime history, a remarkable testament to the gifts of Usher, a performer of precise detail who is enjoyed best with rapt attention.

Most of the rest of the performance — which touched on more than a dozen songs — was grander in scale, designed to fill a football field: A small-bore, granular-gestured showcase gave way to an explosive party. But what this set did so well was make plain that Usher’s commitment to minutiae and his capacity for grandeur are fired in the same cauldron. He can control the stage when it is packed to the gills, and he can do it alone.

Thirty years into Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon perform during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime his career, Usher, 45, is Show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (Doug Mills/The New a showman with his voiYork Times) ce, to be sure, but also — and maybe more so — with his body and his songs about sexual infide- dency at the Park MGM Hotel and Casino just 10 minutes up the feet. From the opening, lity in pop history. After a road — holding down an impossibly grand presentation.

From that point on, everything was loose, unburdened the telecast was careful brief detour through “Nice not to waste any of his & Slow” (with a brief ack- fun. H.E.R. played some thrusting guitar, and shifted into the movements, the camera nowledgment of the song’s silky funk of “Bad Girl.” Soon, the stage was cluttered with resting on him as he worrecent afterlife as a meme) dancers on skates — an embrace of Atlanta’s Black roller-rink ked through careful footand the saucily urgent culture. Usher himself, now wearing a glittering black-and-blue work and body-bending “Burn,” he came to “U Got motorcycling getup, was on skates, too, and nimbly at that.

An Atlanta party had commenced. He did a tiny bit of routines. The fact that he It Bad,” in which he did an was doing many of these extended dance routine “OMG,” a collaboration with Will.i.am that mostly served to moves on grass, especiawith an agreeable micro- underscore the common threads between pop-EDM and the Atlanta crunk music that preceded it by almost a decade. Lil Jon lly in the first segment — Usher performs during the Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Halftime phone stand.

“Caught Up,” “U Don’t Show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024.

Up until this point, arrived for some motivational shouting, and then transitioned Have to Call” — was es- (Bridget Bennett/The New York Times) Usher had been in a steady into “Yeah!” That 2004 collaboration took some of the most sepecially impressive. procession of dishabille — rrated textures in hip-hop and made them inescapable pop. LuHe began with a white fur coat giving way dacris was there, too, managing to sneak in a few of his bawdiest dance-centric hits with indelible opening lines, took a brief to a cropped white blazer giving way to a heavily sequined lyrics on this most sanitized of stages.

This finale was a halftime-show bonanza: a 20-year-old spoken interlude to acknowledge God and his mother, then sleeveless T-shirt. Here, he completed the journey, stripping to offered a sprinkle of the ballad “Superstar” before being joined, a tank top and then down to nothing above the waist but his hit that still sounds like it’s from the future, a rip-roaring party of loudly, by a marching band on “Love in This Club.” Keys’ subse- signature U diamond pendant. (In fairness, the jokey preshow hundreds, a link between Black college marching bands and the quent set piece ended with the two vocalists singing “My Boo” warning did say that the performance may cause “possible rela- hip-hop and R&B that they often interpret on the field. Everyone onstage did the A-town stomp, the muscle, the thunderclap, the while tenderly sashaying. tionship issues.”)

Then the transition to party mode began. Atlanta proThis was the show’s peak: his strongest singing with his rockaway. “I took the world to the A,” Usher chanted, reminding ducer Jermaine Dupri did some crowd warmup work before most detailed dancing. It was small-stage Usher — not dissimilar everyone that in his hands, the global and the local are one and Usher delivered “Confessions Part II,” one of the most upbeat to the one who spent much of the last year performing a resi- the same.

LIFESTYLE

18 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Taylor Swift’s journey to Las Vegas ends with Super Bowl win

By BENJAMIN HOFFMAN

T

he Kansas City Chiefs won their third Super Bowl title in the past five seasons by beating the San Francisco 49ers in overtime 25-22 on Sunday. While some NFL players go their entire career without winning a championship, one of Kansas City’s newcomers came away a winner in their 13th game.

Taylor Swift, who has been dating Travis Kelce, Kansas City’s star tight end, changed the NFL conversation all season, attracting a new audience for the league and inspiring strong emotions (both positive and negative) among fans. And, as expected, she was at the stadium and cheering on Kelce and the Chiefs in their come-from-behind win.

After the game, Swift celebrated on the field with Donna Kelce and the rest of Kansas City’s friends and family as Travis Kelce sang a truly memorable rendition of “Viva Las Vegas.”

She then found Kelce to celebrate after his speech.

“It was unbelievable,” she said to him in a video shot on the field after the game. “It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever experienced.”

Kelce was asked after the game if any couple had ever had a better week than Swift winning two Grammys and Kelce winning the Super Bowl.

“On top of the world right now, baby,” he said. “It’s a good feeling.”

Was there any doubt she’d go?

Swift, as you may have heard, is good at keeping secrets. Her plans, beyond concert dates, are rarely announced in advance. That has led some to devise their own methods for figuring out what she’s up to. Before a Kansas City game in October, for example, an NBC producer said he had a spotter plane searching the area around MetLife Stadium for police escorts in hopes of alerting the television crew if she showed up. (She did.)

Kelce was inundated with questions about Swift last week, and although he said he had heard some of her upcoming album — spoiler: he likes it — he did not offer any details about whether she would be at the game.

But she arrived at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday afternoon in time for the game. She walked the tunnels of the stadium wearing a black top and pants while carrying a red jacket over her shoulder — and wearing a custom diamond and gold necklace by Stephanie

father, mother and brother came with her to a game on Christmas. During Swift’s trip to New Jersey for a Chiefs-New York Jets game, she was seated with friends including actors Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

At a playoff game in Buffalo last month, she and Kylie Kelce were among those shown reacting to Jason Kelce’s shirtless bellowing and fraternizing with the crowd.

And at the AFC championship game in Baltimore, she was surrounded by Travis Kelce’s family and associates, including Donna and Ed Kelce, Jason and Kylie Kelce, and Kelce’s managers, Aaron and André Eanes.

There were also a few of Swift’s friends, including actress Keleigh Teller and model Cara Delevingne.

For the Super Bowl, it was a similar crowd, with the Kelces, the Eanes brothers and Lively there with Swift and her family. AdTaylor Swift embraces Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the Chiefs won ditions to the typical crew, in terms of whom Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on she was shown with during the game, included rapper Ice Spice — who entered the staSunday, Feb. 11, 2024. The pop singer had to travel across the globe (and through time, dium with Swift — and singer Lana Del Rey. in a sense) to make the game. (Doug Mills/The New York Times) Why did this get so much attention?

No one ever seemed to mind Jack NichGottlieb with Kelce’s No. 87 on it — and then towards the sun, and the days therefore diolson being a fixture at Los Angeles Lakers headed up to the luxury suites. minished for him as many times four minutes The CBS broadcast did not show her as he crossed degrees in this direction. There games, or Spike Lee being more associated much in a quiet first half for Kelce and Kansas are three hundred and sixty degrees on the with the New York Knicks than most of the City, but she was shown routinely as the team circumference of the earth; and these three team’s players. Drake got only a slap on the came back to win the game, with Kelce pro- hundred and sixty degrees, multiplied by four wrist when he began walking onto the court viding several key plays in the fourth quarter minutes, gives precisely twenty-four hours — during timeouts at Toronto Raptors playoff that is, the day unconsciously gained. In other games. But even though Swift receives relaand overtime.

But wasn’t she in Tokyo … Saturday words, while Phileas Fogg, going eastward, tively little airtime during the broadcasts of saw the sun pass the meridian eighty times, Kansas City’s games, she has become a target night?

She sure was. Her Eras Tour resumed his friends in London only saw it pass the me- for those who still think she’s getting outsize recently, and on Saturday night in Tokyo, she ridian seventy-nine times. This is why they attention.

“The attention is there because the auperformed yet another marathon set of her awaited him at the Reform Club on Saturday, dience wants to see it,” Jason Kelce said in extensive catalog of songs. With flights from and not Sunday, as Mr. Fogg thought.

Tokyo to Las Vegas often taking 13 hours or For older generations, that helped ex- an interview during last week’s Pro Bowl fesmore, and human beings requiring sleep, plain the logistics of the international date tivities. “If people didn’t want to see it, they some worried she might not make the game. line. For Generation Z and younger, their wouldn’t be showing it.”

As Swift put it, “a few dads, Brads and The Japanese Embassy in Washington, frame of reference will probably be … when D.C., pointed out that timing was not a real Taylor Swift flew to Las Vegas for the Super Chads” may be angry, but the TV networks are thrilled. A ratings analysis by The New York hurdle for Swift. First of all, a private jet short- Bowl.

Times indicated that she very well may be a Who did she sit with? ens the journey (and provides a place to sleep During the regular season, Swift at- driving factor for the league’s increased audipeacefully if needed). Second of all, the international date line was her friend. tended numerous games in Kansas City while ence. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has repeatedly In 1873, before the international date seated in a luxury suite controlled by Kelce’s said that he’s happy to have her around, and line officially existed, author Jules Verne close friend and longtime teammate, Pat- the NFL, which is enjoying an unexpected exmapped out Swift’s time advantage in “Around rick Mahomes. She appeared to become fast pansion of its built-in audience, has fully emthe World in 80 Days.” In the book, the pro- friends with Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, and was braced her association with the league.

“NFL fans come in all types — even tagonist, Phileas Fogg, believes he has lost his regularly seen with other members of the Maglobal sensations,” said Alex Riethmiller, an bet only to realize the distance and direction homes family. of his travels had saved him: She has also spent time at games with NFL spokesperson. “We’re glad to have Taylor In journeying eastward he had gone Kelce’s parents, Donna and Ed, and her own on board.”

The San Juan Daily Star

Februaru 2-4, 2024

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Puerto Rico shines

19

FASHION

on the New York catwalk

By JAVIER MUÑIZ Special to The STAR

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select group of designers from Puerto Rico presented their collections at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) last Thursday. A joyous atmosphere filled with music and an audience that was ready to sing popular songs like ‘Yo soy boricua pa’ que tú lo sepas’ marked a new chapter that began when 16 designers accepted an invitation to showcase at “Made in Puerto Rico.”

The group of designers earned the well deserved spot at the NYFW since the three blocks of fashion shows hosted by Runway 7 at the Paramount Hotel’s Sony Hall in Manhattan attracted influencers, celebrities and fashion lovers. Although it was the first time that a delegation from the island was represented at NYFW, they conquered the scene like veterans as they managed to sell out everybody’s block of shows. Alexandra Lúgaro, Nicole Chacón, Guaynaa and his wife Lele Pons are some of the public personalities who were among the audience.

The vibrant energy that characterizes La Isla del Encanto could easily be used to describe the way people were vibing at a catwalk that was far from ordinary. That was mainly because there were several musical interventions designed to make the audience dance to the beat of bomba y plena. One of the most memorable moments of the night happened when in the middle of his show, Reynaldo José demonstrated he’s a skilled tenor as he sang the famous song “O Sole Mio.” Another special moment that brought many to tears was when livvery respected because she was an educator who followed the vocational call, but ing legend Carlota Alfaro addressed also as she is celebrated as a fashion pillar for all Puerto Ricans. the audience as she received an That is what we saw in New York, an interest in starting to collect the pieces of homage for her career and contribua missing past to prove how styling is linked to history. tions to the development of the fashIn the article “Fierce Fashion from 19th Century Puerto Rico,” Tashima Thomas ion business in Puerto Rico. During examines a picture of a woman in Old San Juan and concludes that a fashion sense her speech, she said it was a historic has been present since colonial times. moment that will be remembered for “Through a brief study of her self-fashioning we can learn so many years to come. The work of Alfaro is things about the complexities of social exchanges, global economies, ethnicity, literature, and history,” Thomas writes. “From the artistry of her stance Alexandra Lúgaro (below left), Lele to her multicultural couture -- the subject in the photograph is a nineteenth Pons (right) and Nicole Chacón century fierce fashionista.” (below right) were some of the ceWith this the researcher is able to show how fine clothing was part of lebrities in the audience. the items traded on the archipelago.

Although fashion in the Caribbean could be underestimated, since the beginning the first settlers and the population that was born in the New World had a wide-ranging multicultural knowledge. Because of that unique environment of migration and assimilation, lots of fashion trends were born.

A few centuries later, the influence of Puerto Ricans in urban music has positioned the island as a one of the meccas of the urban style. Meanwhile, the island is well known for the unmatched work of the boricua dresses at beauty pageants.

The works of Gax Company, Marissa Santiago, Rosa Mercedes, Mythik, Reynaldo José, Mateo Manuel, The Only One, Norma Nazario, Monarch, Soleata, Carlotta Alfaro, RuCarlota Alfaro received an homage for her cadeth León, A Pereira, Lorraine Ortiz and Carlos Alberto exemreer and contributions to the development of plify the complexity of the fashion industry and the capacity the fashion business in Puerto Rico. of local talent to export couture to the world.

20 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

In the Yukon, minus 35 is perfect weather to get outside

By FIONA McGLYNN

F

rozen hair is a nuisance in most places, but at the Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs in Whitehorse, Yukon, it’s a higher calling. Every winter, hundreds of people try to freeze their hair into a troll-doll-like coif for a chance to win cash prizes of 2,000 Canadian dollars, or nearly $1,500.

And just in case that doesn’t give you goose bumps, Andrew Umbrich, 36, the hot springs’ owner and general manager, has opened a designated snow-rolling area to let bathers cool off without banging into the rocks surrounding the pool. “I have to give them a safe place to roll because they’re going to kill themselves on these boulders,” Umbrich said.

These are the kinds of safety considerations that tend to arise in rugged places like the Yukon, a roughly 186,000-squaremile wedge of northwestern Canada that extends from British Columbia across the Arctic Circle to the Beaufort Sea. Its long winter nights and boreal location make it a prime destination for viewing the northern lights, and with the sun’s magnetic field approaching the peak of its 11-year cycle, sending more charged particles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere, 2024 could bring the best displays in years (one reason Whitehorse landed on this year’s New York Times 52 Places to Go list).

The Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs, which holds an annual hair-freezing contest and set a Guinness World Record in 2020 for the largest frozen-hair competition, in the Yukon capital of Whitehorse, Canada, Jan. 22, 2024. In this rugged wedge of northwestern Canada, winter means shimmering northern lights as well as hot soaks, dog sleds and hair-freezing contests.

(Manu Keggenhoff/The New York Times) Those long subarctic nights also make for plenty of pent-up energy, which Yukoners let off just as the sun begins to make

Eclectic wall decor in a tavern known as The Pit inside the Westminster Hotel, in the Yukon town of Dawson City. (Devon Berquist/The New York Times)

its resurgence in February, with the joyous — and decidedly offbeat — Yukon Rendezvous, a festival in Whitehorse that celebrates its 60th anniversary this year from Feb. 9-25 with events like chain saw chucking and flour packing, not to mention the hair freezing.

Fishnets, feathers and mittens In 1988, Luann Baker-Johnson, 64, of Whitehorse, carried 494 pounds of flour for 30 feet to place second in Rendezvous’ flour-packing contest, a grueling challenge that has its roots in the late-1890s Klondike gold rush.

Baker-Johnson, a glass blower and owner of Lumel Studios, now makes some of the prizes, including a nearly 3-foot-long glass ax, for the festival’s competitions. Baker-Johnson’s daughter Shanta Ferguson, 31, a Rendezvous champion, threw a chain saw 32 feet, winning the 2019 women’s competition, an event whose appeal will be selfevident to anyone who’s ever struggled to start a chain saw in freezing temperatures.

Ferguson and her husband, John Fer-

guson, 32, run the Gather Café and Taphouse next door to the glass-blowing studio.

The menu features fresh local ingredients — no small logistical feat in the remote, frozen North, where imported produce can look a bit haggard. The Arctic char tacos are served with greens grown hydroponically in nearby shipping containers. “People are surprised by the quality and caliber of restaurants up here,” Ferguson said.

With thousands of people expected to converge on Whitehorse for Rendezvous in the next few weeks, local residents are getting ready. “What I love about Rendezvous is that everyone has the opportunity to enter. They can toss logs, throw an ax, chuck a chain saw and it doesn’t matter if you win a competition or not, it’s such bizarre fun,” Baker-Johnson said.

The territorial government’s tourism office provides 100,000 dollars in operational funding to the festival and promotes it on the Travel Yukon website and social media, even offering tips on Rendezvous dress code — typically suspenders, feathers

The San Juan Daily Star and other 1890s garb, along with plenty of warm clothing.

That last bit is sage advice, as Stephanie Hammond, 49, discovered in 2011, shortly after moving to Whitehorse, when she joined the local roller derby group’s float in the Rendezvous parade. When temperatures dipped to minus 35 Fahrenheit, she assumed the parade would be canceled — it wasn’t — and was surprised when her team piled into the back of a pickup truck in roller derby costumes, fishnets and all.

A taste you won’t forget Dog sleds have crisscrossed the Far North since long before the days of “White Fang.” But with climate change making the snowpack unreliable, dog-sled races have run into some difficulties. In 2016, a mild winter in Anchorage forced organizers of the Iditarod, the world’s most famous dog-sled race, to rely on snow brought in by train.

The year before that, the Babe Southwick Memorial, a dog-sled race originally held on the Yukon River during Rendezvous, was relocated because the ice had become unsafe. Rendezvous no longer holds dog-sled races (the FirstMate Babe Southwick Memorial Race continues under different organizers), but there’s still plenty of action at the Yukon Quest, a roughly four-day dog-sled race from Whitehorse that reaches Dawson City, about six hours northwest by car, this week.

Dawson City, a major destination for

Shops along Main Street, downtown in the Yukon capital of Whitehorse, Canada. (Manu Keggenhoff/The New York Times)

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

fortune hunters in the 1890s (including Jack London, the author of “White Fang”), still draws travelers today. The town of about 2,400 is home to Canada’s first gambling hall, museums and other colorful buildings — many of them tilting ominously as the permafrost thaws under their foundations.

Warming permafrost is a widespread problem in the Yukon, causing landslides and destabilizing soil. Dawson City residents must occasionally jack up the buildings to keep them level.

Dawson City hosts the Thaw di Gras Spring Carnival (March 15-17), a Rendezvous-like event where you can cheer on dog-sled teams, toss an ax or watch adults race on tricycles. The town also challenges those with iron stomachs to sample a local tradition, the Sourtoe Cocktail, at the gold-rush-themed Sourdough Saloon. After taking the “Sourtoe Oath,” initiates drink a shot of whiskey (“Most club members prefer Yukon Jack,” the saloon advises) garnished with a preserved human toe. It doesn’t count if your lips don’t touch the toe. Over the years, the club has acquired 25 toes (all donated).

Once initiated, you may want to clear your palate at BonTon & Company (reservations recommended), a Yukon culinary landmark famous for its housemade charcuterie. After dinner, take in live music most weekends down the block at the Westminster Hotel, which locals lovingly refer to as the Pit. If you’re in town between March 2831, you can catch a movie at the Dawson City International Short Film Festival.

The days are especially short in Dawson, a mere 165 miles south of the Arctic Circle, but there are plenty of outdoor activities, such as snowshoeing the Midnight Dome, a viewpoint overlooking the Yukon River and Klondike Valley (and often the only place to catch a few rays of direct sun).

‘You can hear the quietness’ At her home just outside Whitehorse, Teena Dickson, 53, answered the phone for an interview from her “night office” — her hot tub. “Oh wow. She’s coming out early to visit us!” Dickson said, referring to the green curtains of light waving above. Many Indigenous cultures have a special connection with the northern lights. Dickson, who is Chipewyan, described them as returning ancestors: “It’s our spirit world coming to visit.”

Dickson owns and operates Who What Where Tours, a company that not only offers northern lights tours, but also takes visitors to the Yukon Wildlife Preserve,

The northern lights in Whitehorse, Canada, which was once served by paddle-wheelers like this one, the SS Klondike, in the Yukon capital. (Manu Keggenhoff/The New York Times) where they can ride a bus, walk or kicksled — a small, self-propelled device — around a 3-mile loop to see northern animals like musk ox, bison, caribou, moose, lynx and arctic fox in a natural landscape. “In the Yukon, you can hear the quietness,” she said.

Visitors who want to learn about the area’s Indigenous population can tour Long Ago Peoples Place, a First Nations camp, where they can hear about Southern Tutchone history and culture. “In the winter, people want to know how we survived,” said Meta Williams, a Yukon First Nations

21

TRAVEL

member and camp manager. Imagine what it was like for it to be minus 69 Fahrenheit, she said, “living in a brush shelter, packed with snow and sprinkled with water” (a way to add a layer of insulation from the wind and cold).

Indigenous tourism has expanded rapidly in Canada, outpacing the overall growth rate of tourism in the country. The Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association works with 15 to 20 Indigenous tour operators across the territory who offer dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing and traditional drum making, among other activities. Many First Nations economic development corporations have invested in tourism-related businesses like airlines and hotels.

If You Go Where to stay in Whitehorse: The new Raven Inn & Suites, in downtown Whitehorse, offers modern suites and apartments (from 238 dollars a night).

Northern Lights Resort & Spa’s three glass chalets make it possible to enjoy the northern lights from the comfort of your bed. Three-night packages start at 1,690 dollars a person.

Black Spruce has everything you’d need for a cozy forest retreat: a full kitchen, locally roasted coffee, sauna and board games (229 dollars a night).

Where to stay in Dawson City: Bombay Peggy’s, a lovingly restored gold rush inn — and former brothel — has nine colorful rooms, with Victorian décor and claw-foot tubs (189 to 289 dollars a night).

A competitor in the chain saw chucking event at Yukon Rendevous, an annual festival in the Yukon capital of Whitehorse, Canada. (Manu Keggenhoff/The New York Times)

22 LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCE

NORMA IRIS TORRES DE JESÚS Peticionaria

Ex Parte

CASO NUMERO: PO2023CV03637 SOBRE: EXPEDIENTE DE DOMINIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EEUU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. POR LA PRESENTE se le notifica que la peticionaria de epígrafe ha presentado una Petición para que se declare a su favor el dominio de la siguiente finca: RUSTICA: Predio de terreno localizada en la Carretera 501 Barrio Marueño, Km 7.8 del término municipal de Ponce, Puerto Rico con una cabida superficial de TREINTA Y CINCO MIL QUINIENTOS SIETE PUNTO OCHO MIL OCHOCIENTOS NOVENTA Y DIEZ MILESIMAS (35,507.8890), equivalentes a NUEVE PUNTO CERO TRECIENTOS CUARENTA Y DOS CUERDAS (9.0342 cdas). En lindes por el NORTE con una quebrada, por el SUR con terrenos del Fideicomiso de Conservación de Suelos, por el ESTE, con terrenos de Abigail Colón López y por el OESTE con la Carretera 501. Este Tribunal ordenó que publique la pretensión de tres (3) veces durante el término de veinte (20) días, en un periódico de circulación general diaria para los que tenga algún derecho real sobre el inmueble descrito, las personas ignorada quienes pueda perjudicar la inscripción y en general a toda persona que desee oponerse dentro del término de veinte (20) días de la última publicación del presente edicto debe notificar con copia de sus alegaciones a la representación legal del promovente, Lcdo.

Luis M. Barnecet Vélez, Urb. Paraíso de Coamo, 608 Calle Paz, Coamo, PR 00769, Tel. 787- 603-2396 email: barnecet@hotmail.com EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, hoy 17 de enero de 2023. Carmen G. Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria Regional. Daisy Quiñones Vázquez, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

PUERTO RICO Demandante V.

SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: DARWIN SANTIAGO SANTOS, COMO HEREDERO CONOCIDO DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ELIEZER SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, COMPUESTA POR: IVÁN SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RIGOBERTO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, RAÚL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, ÁNGEL LUIS SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SERGIO SANTIAGO FIGUEROA, SAMUEL SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; “JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE” COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE LA SUCESIÓN DE ONEIDA SANTIAGO FIGUEROA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES (C.R.I.M.)

Demandados Civil Núm.: PO2022CV01628.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. AVISO DE SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judicial de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico, hago saber, a la parte demandada y al PÚBLICO EN GENERAL: Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el día 29 de diciembre de 2023, por la Secretaría del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el numero K-17 del plano de inscripción de la Urbanización San Francisco II, radicada en el Barrio Almácigo Bajo del LEGAL NOTICE término municipal de Yauco, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Puerto Rico, con una cabida DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUde doscientos noventa y cuaNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA tro punto trescientos ochenta SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE y uno (294.381 m/c). En lindes BANCO POPULAR DE por el NORTE, con solar K-19;

@

por el SUR, con calle dos; por el ESTE, con solar K-16; y por el OESTE, con solar K-18. Según plano esta afecta a una servidumbre a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Company que mide uno punto cincuenta y dos metros de ancho que corre por su colindancia con la calle. Enclava edificación. Inscrita en la finca número 16,406, al folio 34 del tomo 492 de Yauco. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección II de Ponce. La propiedad ubica en: K-17 San Francisco II Yauco, PR 00698.

Además, el Alguacil que suscribe, hago saber a todos los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surjan de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante: Aviso de Demanda de fecha 17 de junio de 2022, expedido en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Ponce, en el caso civil número PO2022-CV01628, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, contra Eliezer Santiago Figueroa y Oneida Santiago Figueroa, por la suma de $68,252.98 de principal más otras sumas, anotado el día 30 de junio de 2022, al tomo Karibe de Yauco, finca número 16,406, anotación A. El producto de la subasta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde alcance, la SENTENCIA dictada a su favor, el día 22 de agosto de 2023 y notificada el 29 de agosto de 2023, por la cantidad de $68,252.98 por concepto de principal; generando intereses a razón de 6.625% desde el 1ro de diciembre de 2021; cargos por demora los cuales al igual que los intereses continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda reclamada en este pleito, y la suma de $10,380.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado; y demás créditos accesorios garantizados hipotecariamente. La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo

staredictos@thesanjuandailystar.com

de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del alguacil del Tribunal. LA PRIMERA subasta se llevará a efecto el día 11 DE MARZO DE 2024 A LAS 1:45 DE LA TARDE, en el cuarto piso, Oficina de Alguaciles de Subastas de Centro Judicial de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

El precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es por la cantidad de $103,800.00. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una SEGUNDA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 18 DE MARZO DE 2024 A LAS 1:45 DE LA TARDE, en el cuarto piso, Oficina de Alguaciles de Subastas de Centro Judicial de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de $69,200.00, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 26 DE MARZO DE 2024 A LAS 1:45 DE LA TARDE, en el cuarto piso, Oficina de Alguaciles de Subastas de Centro Judicial de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SUBASTA será de $51,900.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm.

210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015 conocida como “Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6.

Una vez confirmada la venta judicial por el Honorable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en posesión física del inmueble de conformidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) sema-

(787) 743-3346

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 nas consecutivas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado pueden concurrir a la subasta si les convienen o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. b. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en Ponce, Puerto Rico, hoy día 24 de enero de 2024. Miguel A. Torres Ayala, Alguacil Auxiliar Placa #560, División De Subastas, Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Sala Superior De Ponce.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS SALA SUPERIOR

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante Vs.

JIM HENRY COLON CARRASQUILLO (DEUDOR HIPOTECARIO); BORINQUEN VALLEY, S.E. (TITULAR REGISTRAL)

Demandados CIVIL NUM.: CG2021CV02865 SALA: 701 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA (VÍA ORDINA-

RIA). EDICTO DE SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente CERTIFICA, ANUNCIA y hace CONSTAR: Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia que le ha sido dirigido al Alguacil que suscribe por la Secretaría del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS, SALA SUPERIOR, en el caso de epígrafe procederá a vender en pública subasta al mejor postor en efectivo, cheque certificado en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de América el día 4 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA, en su oficina sita en el local que ocupa en el edificio del TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS. SALA SUPERIOR, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble de su propiedad que ubica en #478 CALLE CAPUCHINO, URBANIZACION BORINQUEN VALLEY, CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO 00725 y que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número cuatrocientos setenta y ocho (478) en el Plano de Inscripción de la Urbanización Borinquen Valley Phase II en el término municipal de Caguas, Puerto Rico, con un área superficial de trescientos punto cero cero (300.00) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, en doce punto cero cero (12.00) metros con la Calle Capuchino; por el SUR, en doce punto cero cero (12.00) metros, con el Buffer Zone; por el ESTE, en veinticinco punto cero cero (25.00) metros, con el solar número cuatrocientos setenta y siete (477); y por el OESTE, en veinticinco punto cero cero (25.00) metros, con el solar número cuatrocientos setenta y nueve (479).

En este solar está enclavada una residencial construida de hormigón armado de una sola planta con tres (3) dormitorios, dos (2) baños, cocina extendida, sala-comedor y marquesina doble. Este solar está afectado por una servidumbre a favor de la Puerto Rico Telephone Company por toda su colindancia con la Calle Capuchino con un ancho de uno punto quinientos veinticuatro (1.524) metros. La propiedad antes relacionada consta presentada al Asiento 964 del Diario 1,151 y en su día será segregada de la Finca número 52,592, inscrita al Folio 230 del Tomo 1,538 de Caguas, en el Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección Primera.

El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta del inmueble antes relacionado, será el dispuesto

The San Juan Daily Star en la Escritura de Hipoteca, es manifiesto en la SECRETARIA decir la suma de $168,300.00. DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMESi no hubiere remate ni adju- RA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUdicación en la primera subasta DICIAL DE CAGUAS, SALA del inmueble mencionado, se SUPERIOR durante las horas celebrará una segunda subasta laborables. Se entenderá que en las oficinas del Alguacil que todo licitador acepta como bassuscribe el día 11 DE MARZO tante la titulación del inmueble DE 2024, A LAS 9:00 DE LA y que las cargas y gravámenes MAÑANA. En la segunda su- anteriores y los preferentes, si basta que se celebre servirá los hubiere, al crédito del ejecude tipo mínimo las dos terceras tante continuarán subsistentes partes (2/3) del precio pacta- entendiéndose que el rematando en la primera subasta, o te los acepta y queda subrosea la suma de $112,200.00. gado en la responsabilidad de Si tampoco hubiere remate ni los mismos, sin destinarse a su adjudicación en la segunda extinción el precio de remate. subasta se celebrará una ter- La propiedad no está sujeta a cera subasta en las oficinas del gravamen anterior y/o prefeAlguacil que suscribe el día 18 rente según las constancias DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS del Registro de la Propiedad.

9:00 DE LA MAÑANA. Para Por la presente se notifica a la tercera subasta servirá de los acreedores desconocidos, tipo mínimo la mitad (1/2) del no inscritos o presentados que precio pactado para el caso sus derechos sobre los bienes de ejecución, o sea, la suma hipotecados con posterioridad de $84,150.00. La hipoteca a a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutarse en el caso de epí- ejecutante o acreedores de cargrafe fue constituida mediante gos o derechos reales que los la escritura número 269 otorga- hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoda en San Juan, Puerto Rico, teca del actor y a los dueños, el día 29 de octubre de 2009, poseedores, tenedores de o ante el Notario René Avilés interesados en títulos transmiPérez, la cual consta inscrita sibles por endoso o al portador al Asiento 965 del Diario 1151, garantizados hipotecariamenen el Registro de la Propiedad te con posterioridad al crédito de Caguas, Sección Prime- del actor que se celebrarán las ra. Dicha subasta se llevará subastas en las fechas, horas a cabo para con su producto y sitios señalados para que satisfacer al Demandante total puedan concurrir a la subasta o parcialmente según sea el si les conviniere o se les invita caso el importe de la Senten- a satisfacer antes del remate el cia que ha obtenido contra la importe del crédito, de sus inteparte demandada ascendente reses, otros cargos y las costas a la suma de $140,789.33 por y honorarios de abogado aseconcepto de principal, desde gurados quedando subrogados el 1ro de diciembre de 2018, en los derechos del acreedor más intereses al tipo pactado ejecutante. La propiedad objeto de 5.00% anual que continúan de ejecución y descrita anterioracumulándose hasta el pago mente se adquirirá libre de cartotal de la obligación. Ade- gas y gravámenes posteriores más, la parte co-demandada una vez el Honorable Tribunal Jim Henry Colón Carrasquillo expida la correspondiente Or(Deudor Hipotecario), adeuda den de Confirmación de Venta a la parte demandante los car- Judicial. Y para conocimiento gos por demora equivalentes a de licitadores del público en ge4.00% de la suma de aquellos neral se publicará este Edicto pagos con atrasos en exceso de acuerdo con la ley por esde 15 días calendarios de la pacio de dos semanas en tres fecha de vencimiento; los crédi- sitios públicos del municipio en tos accesorios y adelantos he- que ha de celebrarse la venta, chos en virtud de la escritura de tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribuhipoteca; y las costas, gastos nal y la Colecturía. Este Edicto y honorarios de abogado equi- será publicado dos veces en valentes a $16,830.00. Ade- un diario de circulación general más, la parte co-demandada en el Estado Libre Asociado de Jim Henry Colón Carrasquillo Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos (Deudor Hipotecario), se com- semanas consecutivas. Expido prometió a pagar una suma el presente Edicto de subasta equivalente a $16,830.00 para bajo mi firma y sello de este Tricubrir cualquier otro adelanto bunal en Caguas, Puerto Rico, que se haga en virtud de la es- hoy día 31 de enero de 2024. critura de hipoteca y una suma Ángel Gómez Gómez, ALGUAequivalente a $16,830.00 para CIL DE SUBASTAS TRIBUNAL cubrir intereses en adición a los DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA garantizados por ley. Que los CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAautos y todos los documentos GUAS SALA SUPERIOR. correspondientes al ProceLEGAL NOTICE dimiento incoado estarán de

The San Juan Daily Star ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS SALA SUPERIOR.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

PARTE DEMANDANTE VS.

LA SUCESIÓN DE MERCEDES CALCAÑO GUZMÁN COMPUESTA POR FRANCISCO JAVIER DÍAZ CALCAÑO T/C/C FRANCISCO J. DÍAZ, FULANO Y MENGANO DE TAL, POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS

PARTE DEMANDADA CIVIL NÚM. CG2023CV00220 (701). SOBRE: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA “IN REM”. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. AVISO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe por la presente anuncia y hace constar que en cumplimiento de la Sentencia dictada el 12 de junio de 2023 y notificada el 20 de junio de 2023, la Orden de Ejecución de Sentencia del 23 de agosto de 2023 y el Mandamiento de Ejecución del 31 de agosto de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender el día 26 de febrero de 2024, a las 9:15 de la mañana en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial de Caguas, Sala Superior, en la Carretera Número Uno (PR 1), Intersección PR 189, Kilómetro 0.4, Barrio Bairoa, (Entrada norte Pueblo Caguas), Caguas, Puerto Rico, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América todo título, cheque de gerente o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal; derecho o interés de la parte demandada sobre la siguiente propiedad: RÚSTICA: Parcela marcada con el Número trescientos cuarenta y seis (346) en el plano de parcelación de la Comunidad Rural Celada de los Barrios Celada y Hato Nuevo del término municipal de Gurabo, con una cabida superficial de 358.79 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE: con la Parcela Número trescientos cuarenta y siete (347) de la comunidad; por el SUR: con Parcela Número trescientos cuarenta y cinto (345) de la comunidad; por el ESTE: con la Calle Número treinta (30) de la comunidad; por el OESTE: con las Parcelas Números trescientos veintinueve (329) y trescientos treinta (330) de la comunidad.

La propiedad consta inscrita al folio 89 del tomo 206 de Gurabo, Finca 7944. Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas,

Sección II. La escritura de hipoteca consta inscrita al folio 53 del tomo 374 de Gurabo, Finca 7944. Registro de la Propiedad de Caguas, Sección II. Inscripción sexta (6ta). Dirección Física: Urb. Parcelas Nuevas, 346 Calle 30, Gurabo, PR 00778-2924. Número de Catastro: 47-200-036-277-16-000.

El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta será de $74,400.00.

De no haber adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará una segunda subasta, el 4 de marzo de 2024, a las 9:15 de la mañana en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será de dos terceras partes del tipo mínimo fijado en la primera subasta, o sea, $49,600.00. De no haber adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una tercera subasta el día 11 de marzo de 2024, a las 9:15 de la mañana en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será la mitad del precio pactado, o sea, $37,200.00. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente.

Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor. Dicho remate se llevará a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a la demandante el importe de la Sentencia por la suma de $12,968.95 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 5.50% anual desde el 1 de junio de 2022 hasta su completo pago, más $76.77 de recargos acumulados, los cuales continuarán en aumento hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más la cantidad estipulada de $7,440.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo, incluyendo pero sin limitarse a gastos de mantenimiento, inspecciones y otros adelantos “corporate advances”. Surge del Estudio de Título Registral que sobre esta propiedad pesa el siguiente gravamen posterior a la hipoteca que por la presente se pretende ejecutar: a. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico Vs. Sucesión de Mercedes Calcaño Guzmán compuesta por Francisco Javier Díaz Calcaño también conocido como Francisco J. Díaz, Fulano y Mengano de Tal, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Caguas, en el Caso Civil Número CG2023CV00220, sobre Ejecución de Hipoteca por la vía ordinaria “IN REM”, en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca, con un balance de $12,968.95 y otras cantidades, según Demanda de fecha 24 de enero de 2023. Anotada al Tomo Karibe de Gurabo. Ano-

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 tación A. Se notifica al acreedor posterior o a su sucesor o cesionario en derecho para que comparezca a proteger su derecho si así lo deseaba. Se les advierte a los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como los de Subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados, durante horas laborables, en el expediente del caso que obra en los archivos de la Secretaría del Tribunal, bajo el número de epígrafe y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general en Puerto Rico por espacio de dos semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana; y para su fijación en los sitios públicos requeridos por ley. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante, continuarán subsistentes; entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate y que la propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores tal como lo expresa la Ley Núm. 2102015. Y para el conocimiento de los demandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, EXPIDO para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes, el presente Aviso de Pública Subasta en Caguas, Puerto Rico, hoy 01 de febrero de 2024. Alejandro Urbina Roque, Alguacil Auxiliar Placa 997, ALGUACIL, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAGUAS SALA SUPERIOR.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS.

ORIENTAL BANK DEMANDANTE VS.

MIGDALIA ADORNO RIVERA

DEMANDADA CIVIL NÚM.: CG2022CV03230.

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EDICTO ANUNCIANDO PRIMERA, SEGUNDA Y TERCERA SUBASTA. El Alguacil que suscribe, funcionario del Tribunal de la Sala Superior de Caguas, Puerto Rico, por la presente anuncia y hace saber al público en general que en cumplimiento con la Sentencia dictada en este caso con fecha 28 de septiembre de 2023, y según Orden y Mandamiento del 16 de enero de 2024 librado por este honorable Tribunal, procederé a vender en pública

subasta al mejor postor, y por dinero en efectivo, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal con todo título derecho y/o interés de la parte demandada sobre la propiedad que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Urbanización Montefiori de Caguas.

Solar 113. Cabida: 338 metros cuadrados. Linderos: NORTE, en una distancia de 26.00 metros con el solar número 114.

SUR, en una distancia de 26.00 metros con el solar número 112. ESTE, en una distancia de 13.00 metros con el solar 88. OESTE, en una distancia de 13.00 metros con la calle Magnolia de la urbanización.

Enclava una residencia para una familia. FINCA NÚMERO: 62,454, inscrita al Sistema Karibe de Caguas, sección I de Caguas. Dirección Física: URB. MONTEFIORI 113 CALLE MAGNOLIA CAGUAS PR 00725. Se anuncia por medio de este edicto que la primera subasta habrá de celebrarse el día 26 de febrero de 2024, a las 9:30 de la mañana, en mi oficina sita en el edificio que ocupa el Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala Superior de Caguas. Siendo ésta la primera subasta que se celebrará en este caso, será el precio mínimo aceptable como oferta en la Primera Subasta, eso es el tipo mínimo pactado en la Escritura de Hipoteca para la propiedad, la suma de $244,800.00. De no haber remanente o adjudicación en esta primera subasta por dicha suma mínima, se celebrará una segunda subasta el día 4 de marzo de 2024, a las 9:30 de la mañana, en el mismo lugar antes señalado en la cual el precio mínimo serán dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo pactado en la escritura de hipoteca, la suma de $163,200.00. De no haber remanente o adjudicación en esta segunda subasta por el tipo mínimo indicado en el párrafo anterior, se celebrará una tercera subasta en el mismo lugar antes señalado el día 11 de marzo de 2024, a las 9:30 de la mañana, en la cual el tipo mínimo aceptable como oferta será la mitad (1/2) del precio mínimo pactado en la escritura de hipoteca, la suma de $122,400.00.

Si se declare desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo mínimo de la tercera subasta, si el tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor.

Con el importe de esta venta se habrá de satisfacer el balance de la sentencia dictada en este caso el cual consiste en el pago de $225,241.22 de principal, más intereses convenidos al 2.99% anual más recargos has-

ta su pago, más el pago de lo pactado en la sentencia para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados. Se dispone que una vez celebrada la subasta y vendido el inmueble relacionado, el alguacil pondrá en posesión judicial a los nuevos dueños dentro del término de veinte (20) días a partir de la celebración de la Subasta. Si transcurren los referidos veinte (20) días, el tribunal podrá ordenar, sin necesidad de ulterior procedimiento, que se lleve a efecto el desalojo o lanzamiento del ocupante u ocupantes de la finca o de todos los que por orden o tolerancia del demandado/deudor la ocupen. El Alguacil de este Tribunal efectuará el lanzamiento de los ocupantes de ser necesario. Si la subasta es adjudicada a un tercero y luego se deja sin efecto, el tercero a favor de quién se adjudicó la subasta solo tendrá derecho a la devolución del monto consignado más no tendrá derecho a entablar recurso o reclamo adicional alguno (judicial o extrajudicial) contra el demandante y/o el acreedor y/o inversionista, dueño pagaré y/o su abogado. Si se anula la venta, el comprador tendrá derecho a la devolución del depósito de la venta judicial menos los honorarios y costos incurridos en el proceso de venta judicial.

No tendrá ningún otro recurso contra el acreedor hipotecario ejecutante ni la representación legal de éste. Por la presente, también se notifica e informa a Eurobank, hoy Oriental Bank, por éstos contar con una hipoteca a su favor por la suma de $27,200.00, intereses al 2.99% anual y a vencer el 1ro de octubre de 2015, según consta de la escritura #63, otorgada en San Juan, el día 8 de septiembre de 2009, ante la Notario Diana Lopez Feliciano, inscrito al Sistema Karibe de Caguas, finca #62,454, inscripción 3ra.

Adicional, se notifica e informa a la Asociación de Residente de la Urbanización Montefiori Inc., por éstos contar con una Sentencia a su favor por la suma de $7,455.08, anotado el 5 de octubre de 2020, en Sistema Karibe, finca #62,454, Anotación A y última. También se notifica e informa a Apex Bank por éstos contar con una anotación de demanda a su favor por la suma de $22,930.52, mas intereses y gastos, bajo el civil #CG2021CV01331 presentado el 3 de noviembre de 2023 al asiento 2023-136691-CA01.

También se notifica e informa a Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal, personas desconocidas que puedan tener derechos en la propiedad o título objeto de este edicto. La Venta en Pública Subasta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga y gravamen posterior que afecte la mencionada

23

finca, a cuyo efecto se notifica y se hace saber la fecha, hora y sitio de la Primera, Segunda y Tercera Subasta, si eso fuera necesario, a los efectos de cualquier persona o personas con algún interés puedan comparecer a la celebración de dicha Subasta. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento del caso de epígrafe están disponibles en la Secretaría de este Tribunal durante horas laborables y para la concurrencia de los licitadores expido el presente Edicto que se publicará en un periódico de circulación diaria en toda la Isla de Puerto Rico por espacio dos (2) semanas y por lo menos una vez por semana y se fijará, además, en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Alcaldía y la Colecturía de Rentas Internas del Municipio donde se celebrará la Subasta y en la Colecturía más cercana del lugar de la residencia de la parte demandada. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente que firmo y sello, hoy día 30 de enero de 2024.

ANGEL GOMEZ GOMEZ, ALGUACIL, SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE AÑASCO

FIRSTBANK PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs.

SUCESION DE MIGUEL RIVERA DUCOS COMPUESTA POR MIGUEL RIVERA Y ADA RIVERA, Y JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE MIGUEL RIVERA DUCOS

Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: I2CI2012-00054.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR VÍA ORDINARIA Y COBRO DE. ANUNCIO DE SUBASTA. El suscribiente, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Añasco, a los demandados de epígrafe y al público en general hace saber que venderá en pública subasta en la Oficina de Alguaciles, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Añasco, al mejor postor, en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América en efectivo, cheque certificado, o giro

postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, el derecho que tenga la parte demandada en el inmueble que se relaciona más adelante para pagar la SENTENCIA por $79,064.55 de balance principal, los intereses adeudados sobre dicho principal y computados al 6.50% anual hasta su total pago y completo pago desde el primero de noviembre de 2011; cargos por demora devengados, más la suma de $8,670.00 estipulada para honorarios de abogado pactada en la escritura de hipoteca y cualesquiera otras sumas que por cualesquiera concepto legal se devenguen hasta el día de la subasta. La propiedad a venderse en pública subasta se describe como sigue: RUSTICA: Predio de terreno radicado en el Barrio María del término municipal de Añasco, Puerto Rico, identificado con el número dos (2) en el plano de inscripción de la Extensión de la Urbanización Los Flamboyanes, con un área superficial de TRESCIENTOS VEINTIDOS METROS CUADRADOS CON NUEVE CENTIMETROS DE METRO CUADRADOS (322.09). En lindes por el Norte, con una calle a dedicarse a uso público, por el Sur, con un área de faja verde a dedicarse a uso público, por el Este, con el solar número uno (1) y por el Oeste, con el solar número tres (3).

Inscrita al sistema Karibe, finca numero trece mil cuatrocientos veinticinco (13425) de Añasco, Registro de Mayagüez. Dirección Física: Urbanización Los Flamboyanes, #2, Barrio Maria, Añasco, Puerto Rico, 00610.

Dicha propiedad se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes posteriores: Embargo a favor de los Estados Unidos de América contra Miguel Rivera, Notificación numero 466353423, seguro social número xxx-xx-5076, por la suma de $70,823.59 de fecha 20 de enero de 2023, anotado al sistema Karibe bajo asiento 203001711-FED, presentado el 14 de febrero de 2023. Embargo a favor de los Estados Unidos de América, contra Miguel Rivera, notificación numero 469349823, seguro social número xxx-xx-5076, por la suma de $7,161.52 de fecha 14 de marzo de 2023, anotado al sistema Karibe bajo asiento 2023003093-FED, presentado el 31 de marzo de 2023. La PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a cabo el día 7 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, y servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma la suma de $86,700.00 sin admitirse oferta inferior. En el caso de que el inmueble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en la primera subasta, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA el día 14 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE

LA MAÑANA, y el precio mínimo para esta segunda subasta será el de dos terceras partes del precio mínimo establecido para la primera subasta, o a sea la suma de $57,800.00.

Si tampoco hubiera remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 21 DE MARZO DE 2024, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA, y el tipo mínimo para esta tercera subasta será la mitad del precio establecido para la primera subasta, o sea, la suma de $43,350.00. El mejor postor deberá pagar el importe de su oferta en efecto, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se dará por terminado el procedimiento, pudiendo adjudicarse el inmueble al acreedor hipotecario dentro de los diez días siguientes a la fecha de la última subasta, si así lo estimase conveniente, por la totalidad de la cantidad adeudada conforme a la sentencia, si ésta fuera igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta y abonándose dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta fuera mayor.

Se avisa a cualquier licitador que la propiedad queda sujeta al gravamen del Estado Libre Asociado y CRIM sobre la propiedad inmueble por contribuciones adeudadas y que el pago de dichas contribuciones es la responsabilidad del licitador. Que se entenderá por todo licitador acepte como suficiente la titulación y que los cargos y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes en entendiéndose que el rematador los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse su extinción al precio rematante. Todos los nombres de los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimiento de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamente con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surgen de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Y para conocimiento de licitadores, del público en general y para

24 su publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria en Puerto Rico y en los sitios públicos de acuerdo a las disposiciones de la Regla 51.7 de las de Procedimiento Civil, así como para la publicación en un periódico de circulación general diaria y en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, por espacio de dos semanas con antelación a la fecha de la primera subasta y por lo menos una vez por semana. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento indicado estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables. (Art. 102 (1) de la Ley núm. 210-2015). Expedido el presente en Añasco, Puerto Rico, a 10 de enero de 2024. IRIS D. PÉREZ RAMOS, SUPERVISORA PLACA #626, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA DE AÑASCO.

zada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de San Juan, sobre el inmueble que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Propiedad Horizontal: Oficina #505. Colinda por el OESTE, en 28’ 6”, con pared interior que lo separa de la oficina #504; por el ESTE, en igual medida, con pared interior que lo separa de la oficina #506; por el NORTE, en 15’ 5”, con pared que lo separa de parte de la oficina #504 y con el pasillo común; y por el SUR, en igual medida, con la pared exterior del edificio hacia su colindancia con la calle denominada “Rolan”. Comprende un área de 443 pies cuadrados, aproximadamente, y tiene su entrada y salida hacia el Norte, por el pasillo común con el cual colinda por ese lado. La oficina descrita se separa del quinto piso del edificio denominado Condominio Condado. Le corresponde una participación en los eleLEGAL NOTICE mentos comunes equivalente ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO a un porcentaje del 0.017%.

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- FINCA NÚMERO: 4921, inscriNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA ta al folio 60 del tomo 153 de SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN Santurce Sur, Registro de la JUAN. Propiedad, Sede Metropolitana, sección primera de San Juan.

607-609 Dirección física: 609 Condado CONDADO ST., LLC. St., Oficina 505, San Juan PR Demandante, v.

00907. La subasta se llevará LA SOCIEDAD a cabo para con su producto INTERNACIONAL DE satisfacer al demandante, total INVESTIGADORES o parcialmente, según sea el PROFESIONALES, INC. caso, de la referida sentencia que fue dictada por la siguiente Demandado CIVIL NÚM.: SJ2022CV01381. suma: $9,573.72 por concepto SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO de cuotas de mantenimiento POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. AVI- vencidas y no pagadas; más la suma de $4,189.28 por SO DE PÚBLICA SUBASTA. A: LOS CODEMANDADOS concepto de intereses, más la suma de $947.99 por concepto DE EPÍGRAFE Y AL de penalidad, para un total de PÚBLICO EN GENERAL: $14,710.99, más las costas, El Alguacil que suscribe por la gastos penalidades, recargos presente anuncia y hace consy una suma razonable por hotar que en cumplimiento de una norarios de abogado. Esta suSentencia en Rebeldía dictada basta no tiene fijación de tipo en el caso de epígrafe el 13 de mínimo por tratarse de una ejeseptiembre de 2022, notificada cución de sentencia por embarel 14 de septiembre de 2022 y go. Y PARA CONOCIMIENTO publicada el 23 de septiembre DE LAS PARTES INTERESAde 2022, una Orden de EjeDAS y del público en general, cución de Embargo emitida se advierte que los autos de el 15 de marzo de 2023 y un este caso y demás instancias Mandamiento de Ejecución de están disponibles para ser insEmbargo emitido el día 17 de peccionadas en la Secretaría marzo de 2023, que le ha sido del Tribunal de Primera Instandirigido por la Secretaria del cia Sala Superior de San Juan, Tribunal de Primera Instancia, durante las horas laborables.

Sala de San Juan, procederá Se entenderá que todo licitador a vender en subasta, y al mejor acepta como bastante la titularipostor, por separado, de condad del inmueble y que las cartado y por moneda de curso gas y gravámenes anteriores legal de los Estados Unidos de y los preferentes al crédito del América, y/o giro postal, dinero ejecutante, incluyendo el graen efectivo, cheque de gerente vamen por las contribuciones o cheque certificado a nombre sobre la propiedad inmueble del Alguacil del Tribunal, o letra adeudadas, si los hubiere, conbancaria, con similar garantía tinuarán subsistentes, entende todo título, derecho o interés diéndose que el rematante los de los demandados de epígraacepta y queda responsable de fe sobre el inmueble que adelos mismos sin destinarse a su lante se describe. Se anuncia extinción el precio del remate. por la presente que la subasta La propiedad a ser ejecutada habrá de celebrarse el día 4 de se adquirirá libre de cargas y marzo de 2024, a las 11:00 de gravámenes posteriores. En la mañana, en mi oficina locali-

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

testimonio de lo cual, expido el presente aviso, el cual firmo y sello, hoy 29 de enero de 2024, en San Juan, Puerto Rico. Edwin López Mulero, ALGUACIL, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA DE SAN JUAN. ***

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCESUPERIOR

gmail.com Enmendada a los fines de notificar el formulario 686. En Ponce, Puerto Rico, a 5 de febrero de 2024. Carmen G. Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria. F/ Ereina Agront León, Secretaria Auxiliar.

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SUCN. DE FRANCISCO VEGA RUIZ ET AL

vs

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BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUDE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- CASO: JCD2016-0945 SO- NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA BRE: COBRO DE DINERO. SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN NOTIFICACIÓN ENMENDADA JUAN SALA DE COMERIO DE SENTENCIA OR EDICTO.

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC COMO AGENTE DE ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC

FIRSTBANK A: FULANO DE TAL Y PUERTO RICO ZUTANO DE TAL, COMO Demandante Vs. POSIBLES HEREDEROS SUCESIONES DE DESCONOCIDOS DE Parte Demandante Vs. FRANCISCO GONZÁLEZ LA SUCESION DE EDWIN O PERIS T/C/C FRANCISCO FRANCISCO VEGA SANTOS MORALES GONZÁLEZ T/C/C RUIZ; ESTHER EMILIA Parte Demandada FRANCISCO ARMANDO CIVIL NÚM. BQ2023CV00085 VEGA RODRIGUEZ, GONZÁLEZ Y DE SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. TAMBIEN CONOCIDA CARMEN MARTÍNEZ EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICCOMO ESTHER E. VEGA GONZÁLEZ T/C/C TO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE RODRIGUEZ, POR SI Y CARMEN MARTÍNEZ AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. COMO MIEMBRO DE LA DE GONZÁLEZ T/C/C SUCESION DE ESTHER CARMEN M. GONZÁLEZ EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. EMILIA RODRIGUEZ COMPUESTAS POR; A: EDWIN O RODRIGUEZ, TAMBIEN FULANO Y SUTANO SANTOS MORALES CONOCIDA COMO DE TAL COMO SECTOR VILLA CASINO ESTHER E. RODRIGUEZ POSIBLES HEREDEROS CARR 156 K 17 H 2 INT, RODRIGUEZ; DESCONOCIDOS EN BARRANQUITAS PR FULANO DE CUAL Y AMBAS SUCESIONES; 00794.

ZUTANO DE CUAL, CRIM POR LA PRESENTE se le COMO HEREDEROS Demandados emplaza y requiere para que DESCONOCIDOS DE LA CIVIL NUM: SJ2023CV08103 conteste la demanda dentro de SUCESION DE ESTHER SALÓN NÚM. 604 SOBRE: los treinta (30) días siguientes EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA EMILIA RODRIGUEZ a la publicación de este Edicto.

Y COBRO DE DINERO. EMRODRIGUEZ, TAMBIEN PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del CONOCIDA COMO E INTERPELACION. ESTASistema Unificado de Manejo y ESTHER E. RODRIGUEZ DOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. Administración de Casos (SUEL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE. RODRIGUEZ P/C: MAC), la cual puede acceder UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOLIC. ADELA SURILLO utilizando la siguiente direcCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SUGIERRE PO BOX 11550 ción electrónica: https://www.

SS. poderjudicial.pr/index.php/tri- SAN JUAN PR 00922-1550 A: JORGE FRANCISCO bunalelectronico, salvo que se EL SECRETARIO(A) que susGONZALEZ MARTINEZ represente por derecho propio, cribe le notifica a usted que Y FULANO Y SUTANO en cuyo caso deberá presentar el 31 de enero de 2024, este su alegación responsiva en la Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, DE TAL COMO secretaría del tribunal. Si usted Sentencia Parcial o Resolución POSIBLES HEREDEROS deja de presentar su alegación en este caso, que ha sido debiDESCONOCIDOS responsiva dentro del referido damente registrada y archivada DE LA SUCESIÓN término, el tribunal podrá dic- en autos donde podrá usted DE FRANCISCO tar sentencia en rebeldía en enterarse detalladamente de su contra y conceder el reme- los términos de la misma. Esta GONZÁLEZ PERIS T/C/C dio solicitado en la demanda o notificación se publicará una FRANCISCO GONZÁLEZ cualquier otro sin más citarle ni sola vez en un periódico de T/C/C FRANCISCO oírle, si el tribunal en el ejerci- circulación general en la Isla ARMANDO GONZÁLEZ cio de su sana discreción, lo en- de Puerto Rico, dentro de los Y DE LA SUCESIÓN DE tiende procedente. El sistema 10 días siguientes a su notificaCARMEN MARTÍNEZ SUMAC notificará copia al abo- ción. Y, siendo o representando gado de la parte demandante, usted una parte en el procediGONZÁLEZ T/C/C Edwin Serrano Peña cuya miento sujeta a los términos CARMEN MARTÍNEZ dirección es: P.O. Box 71418 de la Sentencia, Sentencia DE GONZÁLEZ T/C/C San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936- Parcial o Resolución, de la cual CARMEN M. GONZÁLEZ. 8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 puede establecerse recurso de a la dirección edwin.serrano@ orf-law.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Comerío, Puerto Rico, hoy día 2 de enero 2024. Mayra L. Cabrera García, Secretaria, Carmen L. Aponte Flores, Secretaria Auxiliar.

revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 5 de feLEGAL NOTICE brero de 2024. Lic. Surillo GuESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO tiérrez, Adela. Adela.Surrillo@

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://

www.poderjudicial.pr/index. php/tribunalelectronico, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente.

El sistema SUMAC notificará copia al abogado de la parte demandante, Lcdo. Roberto C. Latimer Valentín, al PO BOX 9022512, San Juan, P.R. 00902-2512; Teléfono: (787) 724-0230. En dicha demanda se tramita un procedimiento de cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipoteca bajo el número mencionado en el epígrafe. Se alega en dicho procedimiento que la parte Demandada incurrió en el incumplimiento del Contrato de Hipoteca, al no poder pagar las mensualidades vencidas correspondientes a los meses de marzo de 2023, hasta el presente, más los cargos por demora correspondientes.

Además, adeuda a la parte demandante las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado en que incurra el tenedor del pagaré en este litigio. De acuerdo con dicho Contrato de Garantía Hipotecaria la parte Demandante declaró vencida la totalidad de la deuda ascendente a la suma principal de $25,701.58, más intereses a razón del 6.625% anual, desde el 1 de febrero de 2023, hasta el presente y los que se continúen acumulando hasta su total y completo pago, más los cargos por demora que se corresponden a los plazos atrasados desde la fecha anteriormente indicada a razón de la tasa pactada de 5% de cualquier pago que éste en mora por más de quince (15) días desde la fecha de su vencimiento, más adelantos para el pago de seguros y contribuciones, entre otros; más una suma equivalente al 10% de la obligación original del pagaré ($7,097.50), por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado todo según pactado. La parte Demandante presentará para su inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad correspondiente, un A VISO DE PLEITO PENDIENTE (“Lis Pendens”) sobre la propiedad objeto de esta acción cuya propiedad es la siguiente: Apartamento: URBANA: Propiedad Horizontal: Apartamento Residencial número Uno B (1-B) adyacente al edificio “Torre del Mar” en el Sector Santurce Norte, de la ciudad de San Juan, Puerto Rico, con un área total de cuatrocientos diez y ocho pies cuadrados, equivalentes

a treinta y ocho metros cuadrados con ochenta y cinco centésimas de metro cuadrado, midiendo trece pies tres pulgadas en su mayor ancho por treinta y tres pies cuatro pulgadas en su mayor longitud. Consta de salacomedor - dormitorio, baño, closet, vestidor, cocina con closet, una mesa de trabajo, gabinetes de pared, estufa - horno, fregadero y terraza cubierta de frente (Oeste). Colinda por el SUR, con espacio exterior en una longitud de treinta y tres pies cuatro pulgadas; por el NORTE, con la pared que lo separa del apartamento Dos -B (2-B), en una longitud de veinte y siete pies dos pulgadas y con partición ornamental que lo separa del vestíbulo común en una longitud de seis pies dos pulgadas; por el OESTE, con espacio exterior en una longitud de nueve pies nueve pulgadas y con vestíbulo común de entrada en una longitud de tres pies seis pulgadas; y por el ESTE, con espacio exterior, en una longitud de trece pies tres pulgadas. Este apartamento tiene su puerta de entrada que lo comunica con el vestíbulo de entrada que da acceso a la escalera de salida al exterior del edificio. Le corresponde en los elementos comunes una participación equivalente a tres mil quinientos setenta y dos diez milésimas de uno por ciento (.3572%). Esta finca responde por la cantidad de $66,690.00, en cuanto la hipoteca reclamada. Consta inscrita al folio 95 del tomo 730 de Santurce Norte, Finca Número #26,655. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección I de San Juan.

Estacionamiento: URBANA: Propiedad Horizontal: Apartamento de Estacionamiento número Once Romano (XI).

Está situado este apartamento en el sótano del Condominio Torre del Mar, Avenida Ashford, esquina Calle Nairn, área de Condado, Santurce, Puerto Rico, y está construido con piso de concreto armado y techo de igual material el cual cubre toda su área superficial, cuyas dimensiones con las siguientes: quince pies once pulgadas de ancho por dieciocho pies de fondo, que hacen doscientos ochenta y seis pies cuadrados con sesenta pulgadas cuadrados. Colinda por el NORTE, en una longitud de dieciocho pies con el espacio para almacenaje del edificio; por el SUR, en una longitud de dieciocho pies con el apartamento número doce (XII); por el ESTE, en una longitud de quince pies once pulgadas con pared de concreto que limita la construcción; y por el OESTE, en una longitud de quince pies once pulgadas con área de circulación, que conduce a la salida. Este apartamento tiene su acceso por su lado Oeste, por el cual se

sale al área de circulación del sótano en el cual se encuentra y de ahí da acceso a la salida a la vía pública, esto es a la A venida Ashford. Le corresponde en los elementos comunes una participación equivalente a trescientos noventisiete diez milésimas de uno por ciento (.0397%). Esta finca responde por la cantidad de $5,040.00, en cuanto la hipoteca reclamada. Consta inscrita al folio 100 del tomo 730 de Santurce Norte, Finca Número #26,656.

Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección I de San Juan. SE LES ORDENA a ustedes a que dentro del término legal de treinta (30) días, contados a partir de la fecha de notificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participación que les corresponda en la herencia de las Sucesiones de Francisco González Peris t/c/c Francisco González t/c/c Francisco Armando González Y de Carmen Martínez González t/c/c Carmen Martínez De González t/c/c Carmen M. González. De no hacerlo dentro de dicho término, se dará la herencia por aceptada. SE LES APERCIBE que de no hacer sus alegaciones responsivas a la demanda dentro del término aquí dispuesto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictara sentencia, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en San Juan, Puerto Rico. A 6 de febrero de 2024. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. F/Brenda Báez Acaba, Secretaria Servicios a Sala.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMON

COMPU-LINK CORPORATION DBA CELINK Demandante Vs.

SUCESIÓN DE ANDREA ACEVEDO VÉLEZ COMPUESTA POR SHARON D. MEDINA ACEVEDO, ROBERT LÓPEZ ACEVEDO, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES; Y LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados CIVIL NÚM.: TA2023CV01295 SALA: 703 SOBRE: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA IN REM. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E INTERPELACION ESTA-

The San Juan Daily Star DOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE. UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. EDICTO A: Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como miembros de nombres desconocidos como herederos de Andrea Acevedo Vélez. POR LA PRESENTE, se les emplaza y se les notifica que se ha presentado en la Secretaria de este Tribunal la Demanda del caso del epígrafe solicitando la ejecución de hipoteca y el cobro de dinero relacionado al pagaré suscrito a favor de Master Mortgage Corp., o a su orden, por la suma principal de $205,500.00, con intereses computados sobre la misma desde su fecha hasta su total y completo pago a razón de la tasa de interés de 3.567% anual, la cual será ajustada mensualmente, obligándose además al pago de costas, gastos y desembolsos del litigio, más honorarios de abogados en una suma de $20,550.00, equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original.

Este pagaré fue suscrito bajo el affidávit número 972 ante el notario Jennifer Córdova Córdova. Lo anterior surge de la hipoteca constituida mediante la escritura número 379 otorgada el 29 de junio de 2009, ante el misma notario público, al folio 1959 tomo 556 de Toa Alta, finca número 9,437, inscripción 4ta. La hipoteca grava la propiedad que describe que describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número TREINTA y UNO (31) del bloque AG de la Urbanización Toa Alta Heights, localizado en los Barrios Piñas y Mucarabones del término municipal de Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, con un área superficial de DOSCIENTOS OCHENTA y CUATRO punto SETENTA y OCHO metros cuadrados (284.78); en lindes por el NORTE, con los solares número VEINTIUNO (21) y VEINTIDOS (22) del bloque AG, con un arco de longitud de DIEZ punto TREINTA y UN metros (10.31); por el SUR, con la calle número VEINTISEIS (26), con un arco de longitud de DIEZ punto SETENTA y OCHO (10.78) metros, por el ESTE, con el solar número TREINTA (30) del bloque AG guión TREINTA (AG-30), con una distancia de VEINTISIETE punto CERO UNO (27.01) metros; y por el OESTE, con solar número TREINTA y DOS del bloque AG guión TREINTA y DOS (AG-32), con una distancia de VEINTISIETE punto CERO UNO (27.01) metros.

Sobre dicho solar enclava una casa construida de concreto armado y bloques para fines residenciales. Finca número 9,437, inscrita al folio 90 del tomo 186 de Toa Alta. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto

Rico, Sección de Tercera de Bayamón. Se apercibe y advierte a ustedes como personas desconocidas, que deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección: https://unired.ramajuducial.pr, salvo que se represente por Derechos Propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del Tribunal De no contestar la demanda radicando el original de la contestación ante la secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de San Juan, y notificar copia de la contestación de esta a la parte demandante por conducto de su abogada, GLS LEGAL SERVICES, LLC, Atención: Lcda. Yadira López González Dirección: P.O. Box 367308, San Juan, P.R. 00936-7308, Teléfono: 787-758-6550, dentro de los próximos 60 días a partir de la publicación de este emplazamiento por edicto, que será publicado una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general en la isla de Puerto Rico, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia, concediendo el remedio solicitando en la Demanda sin más citarle ni oírle. INTERPELACION Se les ORDENA a ustedes a que dentro del término legal de TREINTA (30) días, contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, acepten o repudien la participación que les corresponda en la herencia de Andrea Acevedo Vélez a saber: Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como herederos de nombres desconocidos. Se les APERCIBE que de no expresarse dentro de ese término de TREINTA (30) días en torno a su aceptación o repudiación de herencia, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. También se les APERCIBE que luego del transcurso del término de TREINTA (30) días antes señalado contados a partir de la fecha de la notificación de la presente Orden, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia de los causantes Andrea Acevedo Vélez; y, por consiguiente, responden por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone el Artículo 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico de 2020, según enmendado. Se ORDENA a la parte demandante a que, en vista de que la sucesión de Andrea Acevedo Vélez a saber: Fulano de Tal y Sutano de Tal como herederos de nombres desconocidos; proceda a notificar la presente Orden mediante publicación de un edicto a esos efectos una sola vez en un periódico de circulación diaria general de la Isla de Puerto Rico.

Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal hoy 6 de febrero de 2024. Laura I. Santa Sánchez,

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Secretaria. Lureimy Alicea CASO NÚM: FA2023CV00684 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO González, Sub-Secretaria.

- ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN LEGAL NOTICE DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO A: CHRISTOPHER DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUROSADO CARMONA, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA URB ESTANCIAS DE SAN CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR DE PEDRO V-5, CALLE SAN MARCOS, FAJARDO PR. BAYAMÓN

JEFFREY ANDINO HERNANDEZ Demandante v.

PAOLA ZOE SANTIAGO FERRER

Demandado(a) CARMEN E. ALFONSO ARROYO ALFONSOABOGADA@GMAIL.COM CASO NÚM.: BY2023RF01954 (SALÓN 3006 FAMILIA Y MENORES) SOBRE: DIVORCIO - RUPTURA IRREPARABLE. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: PAOLA ZOE SANTIAGO FERRER

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 1 de febrero de 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 1 de febrero de 2024. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 1 de febrero de 2024. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/Normary A. Alamo Arriaga, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE FAJARDO SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO AGENTE DE ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC Demandante V.

CHRISTOPHER ROSADO CARMONA

Demandado(a) KEVIN SÁNCHEZ CAMPANERO KEVIN.SANCHEZ@ORF-LAW.COM

00738.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 6 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 7 de febrero de 2024. En Fajardo, Puerto Rico, el 7 de febrero de 2024. Wanda Segui Reyes, Secretaria. F/Linda I. Medina Medina, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC COMO AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC Demandante V.

JULISSA ZAYAS MALDONADO

Demandado(a) KEVIN SÁNCHEZ CAMPANERO KEVIN.SANCHEZ@ORF-LAW.COM CASO NÚM.: BY2022CV04352 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO - ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JULISSA ZAYAS MALDONADO

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 5 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada

en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 7 de febrero de 2024. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, el 7 de febrero de 2024. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/Vivian J. Sanabria Ortiz, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE FAJARDO SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO AGENTE DE ACE ONE FUNDING, LLC Demandante V.

HECTOR F GARCIA ESCUDERO

Demandado(a) KEVIN SÁNCHEZ CAMPANERO KEVIN.SANCHEZ@ORF-LAW.COM MIGUEL A. MAZA PÉREZ MMAZA@MAZA.NET CASO NÚM.: LU2023CV00166 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO - ORDINARIO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO

A: HECTOR F. GARCIA ESCUDERO, URB BRISAS DEL MAR, N-5 CALLE 9, LUQUILLO PR 00773.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 6 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la

25

publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 7 de febrero de 2024. En Fajardo, Puerto Rico, el 7 de febrero de 2024. Wanda Segui Reyes, Secretaria. F/Linda I. Medina Medina, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALA SUPERIOR DE PONCE.

FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSER LLC Demandante v.

SUCN JOSE MANUEL MARRERO URBAY Y OTROS

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: PO2022CV02642 (SALÓN 406 - CIVIL SUPERIOR). Sobre: EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA: PROPIEDAD RESIDENCIAL. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO ENMENDADA. YADIRA LOPEZ GONZALEZ YADIRA.LOPEZ17@HOTMAIL.COM

A: FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO TAL COMO MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESION DE SUCESION DE JUAN MANUEL MARRERO URBAY

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 18 DE ENERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 08 de FEBRERO de 2024. Notas de la Secretaria: SE ENMIENDA A LOS FINES DE CORREGIR EL NOMBRE DE LA SUCESION A LA CUAL PERTENECEN LOS DEMANDADOS En PONCE,

Puerto Rico, el 08 de FEBRERO de 2024. CARMEN G TIRU QUIÑONES, Secretario(a). f/ MARIELY FELIX RIVERA, Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE AGUADILLA SALA SUPERIOR DE AGUADILLA.

JASON SAUL FIGUEROA MARTINEZ Demandante v.

JANICE INES ABREU PACHECO

Demandado(a) Caso Núm.: AG2023RF00558 (SALÓN 404 RF). Sobre: DIVORCIO - RUPTURA IRREPARABLE. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO. LUIS A GONZALEZ GONZALEZ LUISGONZALEZGONZALEZ100@ HOTMAIL.COM

A: JANICE INES ABREU PACHECO URBANIZACION PRADERAS DE ISABELA 225 CALLE MONTE ISABELA PR 00662

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 02 DE FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 05 de FEBRERO de 2024. En AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico, el 05 de FEBRERO de 2024. SARAHI REYES PEREZ, Secretario(a). f/LISSY S. MATIAS VEGA, Secretario(a) Auxiliar del Tribunal.

ADMINISTRATION Demandante V.

FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL

Demandado(a) PEDRO J. LÓPEZ BERGOLLO PEDRO.LOPEZ-BERGOLLO@SBA. GOV Caso Núm.: CA2023CV02963 (CIVIL 402) SOBRE: CANCELACIÓN O RESTITUCIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FULANO DE TAL Y FULANA DE TAL.

(Nombre de las partes que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 2 de FEBRERO DE 2024, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debidamente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted enterarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta notificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circulación general en la Isla de Puerto Rico, dentro de los 10 días siguientes a su notificación. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedimiento sujeta a los términos de la Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución, de la cual puede establecerse recurso de revisión o apelación dentro del término de 30 días contados a partir de la publicación por edicto de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 6 de febrero de 2024. En Carolina, Puerto Rico, el 6 de febrero de 2024. Kanelly Zayas Robles, Secretaria. F/Lourdes T. Díaz Medina, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN JUAN SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

CONDOMINIO BAHÍA PROPERTIES, LLC Demandante V.

BELKIS JACQUELINE RAMIREZ TCC BELKYS JACQUELINE CRUZ RAMÍREZ Y OTROS

Demandado(a) ALEJANDRO BELLVER ESPINOSA ALEJANDRO@BELLVERLAW.COM CASO NÚM.: SJ2023CV05601 (SALÓN 603) SOBRE: COBRO LEGAL NOTICE DE DINERO - ORDINARIO. ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENDE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- CIA POR EDICTO NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA A: NIGAL ENRIQUE CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CACARPIO CALDERÓN, ROLINA SALA SUPERIOR DE POR SÍ Y EN CAROLINA

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS

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Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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POR SUS HEREDEROS: en el epígrafe. Se alega en Héctor L. Cintón Miró la suce- DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- sin más citarle ni oírle. Por la dio solicitado en la demanda o DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA presente el Tribunal de Primera cualquier otro sin más citarle ni (A) RODOLFO ARMANDO dicho procedimiento que la sión de Norma Albino Serrano NAL parte Demandada incurrió en y la Sucesión de Ana Patricia SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJAR- Instancia, conforme al caso de oírle, si el tribunal en el ejerciTRENCHE CINTRON; el incumplimiento del Contrato Cintrón Albino. De no hacerlo DO. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argenta- cio de su sana discreción, lo en(B) ASHLY ROSARIO de Hipoteca, al no poder pagar dentro de dicho término se dará BANCO POPULAR DE ria vs. Latinoamericana de Ex- tiende procedente. El sistema POR LA PRESENTE se le emportación, Inc., 164 D.P.R. 689 SUMAC notificará copia al aboCINTRON; (C) PATTY las mensualidades vencidas la herencia por aceptada. Se PUERTO RICO plaza para que presente al tri(2005), le ordena que en el tér- gado de la parte demandante, correspondientes a los meses les apercibe que de no hacer ZARET ROSARIO DEMANDANTE v. bunal su alegación responsiva de treinta (30) días, haga Edwin Serrano Peña cuya su alegaciones responsivas a de diciembre de 2022, hasta CINTRON; (D) LOU ANN LA SUCESIÓN DE LUIS mino dentro de los 30 días de haberdeclaración aceptando o repu- dirección es: P.O. Box 71418 el presente, más los cargos la demanda dentro del término (Nombre de las partes que se le MABEL ROSARIO; (E) ENRIQUE FERNÁNDEZ diando la herencia de la SUCE- San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936se publicado el emplazamiento notifican la sentencia por edicto) por demora correspondientes. aquí dispuesto, se le anotará la FABIOLA RODRIGUEZ Además, adeuda a la parte de- rebeldía y se dictará sentencia RIVERA T/C/C LUIS E. SIÓN DE LUIS ENRIQUE FER- 8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus- por edicto, excluyéndose el día CINTRON; (F) PATRICIA mandante las costas, gastos y concediéndose el remedio soli- FERNÁNDEZ RIVERA, NÁNDEZ RIVERA T/C/C LUIS a la dirección edwin.serrano@ cribe le notifica a usted que de la publicación. Usted debeE. FERNÁNDEZ RIVERA y la orf-law.com y a la dirección el 3 de febrero de 2024, este rá presentar su alegación resRODRIGUEZ CINTRON; honorarios de abogado en que citado de la Demanda, sin más COMPUESTA POR SUCESIÓN DE ISABEL CRES- notificaciones@orf-law.com.

Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, ponsiva a través del Sistema incurra el tenedor del pagaré citarle ni oírle. Expedido bajo FULANO Y SUTANO FULANO DE TAL Y PO RODRÍGUEZ. Se le aper- EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA Sentencia Parcial o Resolución Unificado de Manejo y Adminisen este litigio. De acuerdo con mi firma y sello del tribunal en DE TAL COMO MENGANO DE TAL, cibe que de no expresar su in- y el sello del Tribunal, en Bqts en este caso, que ha sido debi- tración de Casos (SUMAC), al dicho Contrato de Garantía Hi- Carolina, Puerto Rico, A 7 de POSIBLES HEREDEROS potecaria la parte Demandante febrero del 2024. Lcda. Kanelly POSIBLES HEREDEROS tención de aceptar o repudiar la en Comerío, Puerto Rico, hoy damente registrada y archivada cual puede acceder utilizando DESCONOCIDOS Y LA herencia dentro del término que día 2 de enero 2024. Mayra en autos donde podrá usted en- la siguiente dirección electróni- DESCONOCIDOS DE LAS declaró vencida la totalidad Zayas robles, Secretaria RegioTRES (3) SUCESIONES; de la deuda ascendente a la nal. Rosa M. Viera Velázquez, SUCESIÓN DE ISABEL se le fijó, la herencia se tendrá L. Cabrera García, Secretaria terarse detalladamente de los ca: https://unired.ramajudicial. términos de la misma. Esta no- pr, salvo que se represente por suma de la suma principal de Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

CRIM CRESPO RODRÍGUEZ, por aceptada. Los abogados de Interina, Carmen L. Aponte Flotificación se publicará una sola derecho propio, en cuyo caso $221,737.74, la cual se desDemandados COMPUESTA PORJOHN la parte demandante son: Lcdo. res, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE Guillermo A. Somoza Colombavez en un periódico de circula- deberá presentar su alegación CIVIL NÚM. CA2023CV02302 glosa a continuación: la suma DOE Y JANE DOE, LEGAL NOTICE ni, P.O. Box 366603, San Juan, ción general en la Isla de Puer- responsiva en la secretaría del SALÓN NÚM. 401 SOBRE: principal de $147,224.54, más ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO to Rico, dentro de los 10 días tribunal. Si usted deja de pre- EJECUCION DE HIPOTECA Y un interés de 6.00% anual, des- DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- POSIBLES HEREDEROS PR 00936-6603. Tel. (787) 919- ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DESCONOCIDOS; 0073, Fax (787) 641-5016. Ex- DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUsiguientes a su notificación. Y, sentar su alegación responsiva COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLA- de el 1 de noviembre de 2022, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA pido este edicto bajo mi firma y NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA siendo o representando usted dentro del referido término, el ZAMIENTO POR EDICTO E hasta el presente y los que se CENTRO JUDICIAL DE SAN DEPARTAMENTO sello de este Tribunal, hoy 23 SALA DE ARECIBO una parte en el procedimiento tribunal podrá dictar sentencia INTERPELACION. ESTADOS continúen acumulando hasta JUAN SALA SUPERIOR DE DE HACIENDA; de ENERO de 2024. WANDA sujeta a los términos de la Sen- en rebeldía en su contra y con- UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. EL su total y completo pago, más SAN JUAN ISLAND PORTFOLIO DEPARTAMENTO DE l. SEGUI REYES, Secretario tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Re- ceder el remedio solicitado en PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU. una suma principal diferida por ANNABELLE CONCEPCION SERVICES, LLC COMO JUSTICIA. General. LINDA l MEDINA MEsolución, de la cual puede esta- la demanda, o cualquier otro, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIA- la cantidad de $74,513.20 (piHERNANDEZ AGENTE DE ACE ONE DEMANDADOS si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de DINA, Secretaria Auxiliar. blecerse recurso de revisión o ggyback), la cual ¡no genera DO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. Demandante V. CIVIL NÚM. FA2023CV00782.

FUNDING, LLC apelación dentro del término de su sana discreción, lo entien- A: (1) NORMA MARESSA intereses, más los cargos por HECTOR RAUL MATOS SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO LEGAL NOTICE Parte Demandante Vs. 30 días contados a partir de la de procedente. A tenor con las CINTRON ALBINO; (2) demora que se corresponden Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO ANEILIS M RIVERA GRAU HERNANDEZ disposiciones de los artículos publicación por edicto de esta a los plazos atrasados desde la HECTOR LUIS CINTRON fecha anteriormente indicada a POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EM- DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUDemandado(a) Parte Demandada notificación, dirijo a usted esta 1569, 1570 y 1578 del Código PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CIVIL NÚM. AR2023CV00862 CASO NÚM.: SJ2023RF01407 ALBINO; SUCESION DE civil de 2020 ó del artículo 959 notificación que se considerará razón de la tasa pactada de 5% Estados Unidos de América SALA DE BQTS EN COMERÍO SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. hecha en la fecha de la publi- del anterior Código civil (depen- ANA PATRICIA CINTRON de cualquier pago que éste en SOBRE: DIVORCIO - RUPTUde los Estados Unicación de este edicto. Copia de diendo la fecha del fallecimienALBINO COMPUESTA mora por más de quince (15) RA IRREPARABLE. NOTIFI- Presidente ISLAND PORTFOLIO EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICdos Estado Libre Asociado de CACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR to por nosotros desconocida) ESTADOS UNIDOS DE esta notificación ha sido archidías desde la fecha de su venPOR SUS HEREDEROS: SERVICES, LLC COMO TO. Puerto Rico. S. S. AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE vada en los autos de este caso, se le compele e interpela a uscimiento, más adelantos para el EDICTO. (A) RODOLFO ARMANDO AGENTE DE ACE ONE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. A: FULANO DE TAL Y A: HECTOR RAUL con fecha de 5 de febrero de ted a que dentro del término de pago de seguros y contribucioTRENCHE CINTRON; FUNDING, LLC treinta días a partir del emplaEL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIAMENGANO DE TAL, LOS 2024. San Juan, Puerto Rico, el nes, entre otros; más una suma MATOS HERNÁNDEZ Parte Demandante Vs. (B) ASHLY ROSARIO DO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. (Nombre de las partes que se le 5 de febrero de 2024. Griselda zamiento comparezca a acepequivalente a ($20,825.00), POSIBLES HEREDEROS notifican la sentencia por edicto) EFREN CINTRON; (C) PATTY A: ANEILIS M Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria. tar o repudiar la herencia. Se le para costas, gastos y honoraDESCONOCIDOS DE RODRIGUEZ BLASINI F/Lucrecia Pagán Morales, Se- apercibe que de no comparecer rios de abogado. La parte De- EL SECRETARIO(A) que susZARET ROSARIO RIVERA GRAU • 7 RES LA SUCESIÓN DE LUIS dentro del término dicho se tenParte Demandada cretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal. mandante presentará para su cribe le notifica a usted que CINTRON; (D) LOU ANN LAS MESETAS APT 209, ENRIQUE FERNÁNDEZ drá la herencia por aceptada y CIVIL NÚM. CY2023CV00318 en el Registro de la el 7 de febrero de 2024, este MABEL ROSARIO; (E) inscripción ARECIBO PR 00612-2901.

LEGAL NOTICE Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, responderán con su patrimonio RIVERA T/C/C LUIS SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. Propiedad correspondiente, un POR LA PRESENTE se le FABIOLA RODRIGUEZ AVISO DE PLEITO PENDIEN- Sentencia Parcial o Resolución EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICE. FERNÁNDEZ ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO hasta los límites establecidos emplaza y requiere para que CINTRON; (F) PATRICIA TE (“Lis Pendens”) sobre la en este caso, que ha sido debiTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- por la legislación vigente al RIVERA. JOHN DOE conteste la demanda dentro de damente registrada y archivada óbito de la señora Vargas.

Esta AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA RODRIGUEZ CINTRON; propiedad objeto de esta acción Y JANE DOE, LOS los treinta (30) días siguientes en autos donde podrá usted acción es de cobro de dinero DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CAcuya propiedad es la siguiente: FULANO Y SUTANO enterarse detalladamente de POSIBLES HEREDEROS EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIA- a la publicación de este Edicto. por cuotas de mantenimiento.

GUAS SALA SUPERIOR URBANA: Solar marcado con DE TAL COMO Usted deberá presentar su aleCONSEJO DE TITULARES Expedido bajo mi firma y sello POSIBLES HEREDEROS el número 31 del bloque “FF” los términos de la misma. Esta DESCONOCIDOS DE LA DO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. gación responsiva a través del notificación se publicará una del Tribunal, hoy 12 de enero SUCESIÓN DE ISABEL en el plano de la Urbanización A: EFREN DEL CONDOMINIO Sistema Unificado de Manejo y de 2024. Lisilda Martínez Agos- DESCONOCIDOS DE LAS Lomas de Carolina, localizada sola vez en un periódico de CRESPO RODRÍGUEZ. RODRIGUEZ BLASINI Administración de Casos (SUCAGUAS TOWER to, Secretaria. Eneida Arroyo TRES (3) SUCESIONES en el Barrio Trujillo Bajo de Ca- circulación general en la Isla • 363 ST. 9 BO. GUZMÁN Demandantes Vs. - BO PALO HINCADO MAC), la cual puede acceder Vélez, Sub-Secretaria.

POR LA PRESENTE se les rolina, Puerto Rico, con un área de Puerto Rico, dentro de los ABAJO COM S, RÍO LA SUCESIÓN DE CARR 143 KM 51.0 INT, utilizando la siguiente direcemplaza y requiere para que de 389.496 metros cuadrados. 10 días siguientes a su notificaLEGAL NOTICE electrónica: https://www.

ANGELINA VARGAS, conteste la demanda dentro de En lindes por el NORTE, en una ción. Y, siendo o representando GRANDE, PUERTO RICO, BARRANQUITAS PR ción poderjudicial.pr/index.php/triTAMBIÉN CONOCIDA ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO los treinta (30) días siguientes distancia de 15.685 metros con usted una parte en el procedi- 00745 • PO BOX 43001, 00794.

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU- a la publicación de este Edicto. el solar 1-FF, por el SUR, en miento sujeta a los términos RÍO GRANDE, PUERTO POR LA PRESENTE se le bunalelectronico, salvo que se COMO ANGELINA represente por derecho propio, NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA Usted deberá radicar su ale- una distancia de 12.185 metros de la Sentencia, Sentencia RICO, 00745 emplaza y requiere para que en cuyo caso deberá presentar VÁZQUEZ RODRIGUE SALA SUPERIOR DE CARO- gación responsiva a través del con la calle 10, por el ESTE, en Parcial o Resolución, de la cual Por la presente se le emplaza conteste la demanda dentro de su alegación responsiva en la COMPUESTA POR LINA Sistema Unificado de Manejo y una distancia de 25.00 metros puede establecerse recurso de y notifica que debe contestar la los treinta (30) días siguientes secretaría del tribunal. Si usted SHARMARIE CRUZ revisión o apelación dentro del Administración de Casos (SULEGACY MORTGAGE con el solar 30-FF, por el OESdemanda dentro del término de a la publicación de este Edicto. deja de presentar su alegación VARGAS Y SUTANO ASSET TRUST 2022-GS1 MAC), al cual puede acceder TE, en una distancia de 21.500 término de 30 días contados a treinta (30) días a partir de la Usted deberá presentar su ale- responsiva dentro del referido partir de la publicación por edicutilizando la siguiente dirección metros con la calle número 9 publicación del presente edicto. gación responsiva a través del DE TAL Demandante Vs. término, el tribunal podrá dicto de esta notificación, dirijo a Demandada LAS SUCESIONES DE electrónica: http://unired.rama- y por el SUROESTE, en arco usted esta notificación que se Usted deberá presentar su ale- Sistema Unificado de Manejo y tar sentencia en rebeldía en judicial.pr/sumac/, salvo que se de 5.498 metros con radio de gación responsiva a través del Administración de Casos (SUCIVIL NUM.: CG2023CV04465 HECTOR LUIS CINTRO presente por derecho propio, su contra y conceder el reme3.500 metros con las calles 9 y considerará hecha en la fecha Sistema Unificado de Manejo y MAC), la cual puede acceder SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO dio solicitado en la demanda o MIRO Y DE NORMA de la publicación de este edicen cuyo caso deberá radicar el 10. Consta inscrita al folio 176 Administración de Casos (SU- utilizando la siguiente direc(VIA ORDINARIA); ACCIÓN cualquier otro sin más citarle ni ALBINO SERRANO original de su contestación ante del tomo 925 de Carolina, finca to. Copia de esta notificación MAC), al cual puede acceder ción electrónica: https://www.

PARA HACER CUMPLIR CON oírle, si el tribunal en el ejerciha sido archivada en los autos el Tribunal correspondiente y COMPUESTA POR SUS número #37,477 Registro de utilizando la siguiente direc- poderjudicial.pr/index.php/triLA LEY DE CONDOMINIOS. cio de su sana discreción, lo de este caso, con fecha de 8 de ción electrónica: https://unired. bunalelectronico, salvo que se EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDIC- HEREDEROS: (1) NORMA notifique con copia a los abo- la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, entiende procedente. El sistegados de la parte demandan- Sección II de Carolina. Se le febrero de 2024. En San Juan, ramajudicial.pr. salvo que se represente por derecho propio, TO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE MARESSA CINTRON ma SUMAC notificará copia al Puerto Rico, el 8 de febrero de te, Lcdo.

Roberto C. Latimer a ustedes a que dentro represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE abogado de la parte demanALBINO; (2) HECTOR Valentín, al PO BOX 9022512, ordena 2024.

Griselda Rodríguez Codel térmico legal de (30) días en cuyo caso deberá presentar DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. alegación responsiva en la dante, Edwin Serrano Peña LUIS CINTRON ALBINO; San Juan, P.R. 00902-2512; contados a partir de la fecha llado, Secretaria. F/Oria Ivette su alegación responsiva en la su EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIAsecretaría del tribunal. Si usted (3) ANNETTE MABEL Teléfono: (787) 724-0230. En de notificación de la presente Santana Caro, Secretaria Auxi- secretaría del tribunal. Se le deja de presentar su alegación cuya dirección es: P.O. Box DO DE PUERTO RICO. 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico liar del Tribunal.

CINTRON ALBINO; (4) dicha demanda se tramita un orden, acepten o repudien la apercibe que de no contestar responsiva dentro del referido A: LA SUCESIÓN DE 00936- 8518, teléfono (787) procedimiento de cobro de diparticipación que les corresla demanda dentro del término término, el tribunal podrá dic- 993-3731 a la dirección edwin.

SUCESION DE ANA LEGAL NOTICE ANGELINA VARGAS, nero y ejecución de hipoteca ponde en la herencia de la suaquí estipulado, se le anotará la tar sentencia en rebeldía en PATRICIA CINTRON serrano@orf-law.com y a la diTAMBIÉN CONOCIDA bajo el número mencionado cesión de Héctor Luis Miró t/c/c ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO rebeldía y se dictará sentencia su contra y conceder el remerección notificaciones@orf-law.

ALBINO COMPUESTA LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA ENTRE ÉL Y BELKIS JACQUELINE RAMÍREZ T/C/C BELKYS JACQUELINE CRUZ RAMÍREZ.

COMO ANGELINA VÁZQUEZ RODRÍGUEZ COMPUESTA POR SUTANO DE TAL

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Arecibo, Puerto Rico, hoy día 2 de enero de 202__. Vivian Y. Fresse González, Secretaria.

Vanessa M. González Malvavé, Secretaria Auxiliar.

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE SAN JUAN

LEGAL NOTICE

Parte Demandante Vs.

LEGAL NOTICE

FIRST BANK PUERTO RICO

SUCESION DE ANGEL LUIS BERBERENA MALDONADO COMPUESTA POR ISLAND PORTFOLIO MARIEL SORAYA SERVICES, LLC BERBERENA REBELO, COMO AGENTE DE EFRAÍN JULIO FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS BERBERENA FELICIANO FUND, LLC Y MILDRED YAMILETTE Parte Demandante Vs. BERBERENA FELICIANO JEAN D ALVARADO COMO HEREDEROS DE SANCHEZ LA SUCESIÓN DE ANGEL Parte Demandada LUIS BERBERENA CIVIL NÚM. JD2021CV00606 MALDONADO; JOHN SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. DOE Y RICHARD EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE ROE HEREDEROS AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DESCONOCIDOS, DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. ADMINISTRACIÓN EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIAPARA EL SUSTENTO DE DO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. MENORES Y CENTRO DE A: JEAN D RECAUDACIÓN SOBRE ALVARADO SANCHEZ INGRESOS MUNICIPALES • URB. VALLE TOLIMA Parte Demandada CALLE JOSSIE PEREZ Caso Civil Núm.: P-38, CAGUAS PR 00727 SJ2023CV09632. Sobre: EJE• BO LOMAS G-29 CALLE CUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA Y 1, JUANA DIAZ PR 00795. COBRO DE DINERO POR ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAGUAS

POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto.

Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), la cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://www. poderjudicial.pr/index.php/tribunalelectronico, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda o cualquier otro sin más citarle ni oírle, si el tribunal en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente. El sistema SUMAC notificará copia al abogado de la parte demandante, Kenmuel J. Ruiz Lopez cuya dirección es: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 009368518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección kenmuel.ruiz@ orf-law.com y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Caguas Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de enero de 2024. Lisilda Martínez Agosto, Secretaria. Ana H. Lugo Muñoz, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU., EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: MARIEL SORAYA BERBERENA REBELO; MILDRED YAMILETTE BERBERENA FELICIANO Y EFRAÍN JULIO BERBERENA FELICIANO POR SÍ Y COMO MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE LUIS ÁNGEL BERBERENA MALDONADO Y JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE ANGEL LUIS BERBERENA MALDONADO.

POR LA PRESENTE se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días siguientes a la publicación de este Edicto. Usted deberá radicar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: http://unired.ramajudicial.pr/ sumac/, salvo que se presente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá radicar el original de su contestación ante el Tribunal correspondiente y notifi-

que con copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcda.

Marjaliisa Colon Villanueva, al PO BOX 7970, Ponce, P.R. 00732-7970; Teléfono: 787843-4168. En dicha demanda se tramita un procedimiento de cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipoteca bajo el número mencionado en el epígrafe. Se alega en dicho procedimiento que la parte Demandada incurrió en el incumplimiento del Contrato de Hipoteca, al no poder pagar las mensualidades vencidas correspondientes a los meses de mayo de 2023, hasta el presente, más los cargos por demora correspondientes.

Además, adeuda a la parte demandante las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado en que incurra el tenedor del pagaré en este litigio. De acuerdo con dicho Contrato de Garantía Hipotecaria la parte Demandante declaró vencida la totalidad de la deuda ascendente a la suma de $59,562.87, más intereses a razón del 3.75% anual, así como todos aquellos créditos y sumas que surjan de la faz de la obligación hipotecaria y de la hipoteca que la garantiza, incluyendo $7,110.00, pactado para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. La parte Demandante presentó para su inscripción en el Registro de la Propiedad correspondiente, un AVISO DE PLEITO PENDIENTE (“Lis Pendens”) sobre la propiedad objeto de esta acción cuya propiedad es la siguiente: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número 25 de la manzana “E” en el plano de la Urbanización de Villa Granada, sita en el Barrio Sabana Llana de Río Piedras, con un área de trescientos cuarenta y cuatro punto con cincuenta (344.50) metros cuadrados. En lindes por el Norte, en veintiséis punto con cincuenta (26.50) metros, con el solar E-24; al Sur, en veintiséis punto con cincuenta (26.50) metros, con el solar E-26; por el Este, en trece punto (13.00) metros, con la calle número 1; al oeste, en igual medida, con el solar E-16. Enclava casa. Inscrita al folio noventa y uno (91), del tomo ciento veintiséis (126) de San Juan, finca número cinco mil cuatrocientos sesenta y nueve (5,469), registro de la Propiedad de San Juan, Sección SE LES APERCIBE que de no hacer sus alegaciones responsivas a la demanda dentro del término aquí dispuesto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará Sentencia, concediéndose el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, sin más citarle ni oírle. Además, como miembro de la Sucesión de Ángel Luis Berberena Maldonado se ha presentado una solicitud de interpelación judicial para que sirva en el término de treinta (30) días aceptar o repudiar la herencia. Se le apercibe que si no

compareciera usted a expresarse dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto en torno a la aceptación o repudiación de la herencia, se presumirá que han aceptado la herencia del causante Angel Luis Berberena Maldonado y por consiguiente, responderán por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone el 1578 del Código Civil de Puerto Rico, 31 L.P.R.A. sec.

11021. Expedido bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal en San Juan, Puerto Rico. día 25 de enero de 2024. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ COLLADO, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. BRENDA BÁEZ ACABA, SECRETARIA DE SERVICIOS A SALA.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ.

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

PARTE DEMANDANTE VS.

PEDRO LUIS PALERMO SANTIAGO T/C/C PEDRO PALERMO SANTIAGO

PARTE DEMANDADA CIVIL NÚM. MZ2023CV01964 (207). SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E.E.U.U. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A LA PARTE DEMANDADA: PEDRO LUIS PALERMO SANTIAGO T/C/C PEDRO PALERMO SANTIAGO A SUS ÚLTIMAS DIRECCIONES CONOCIDAS: COLINAS DE BALLAJÁ, C-05, CABO ROJO, PR 00623, COLINAS DE BALLAJÁ, C-05 CALLE 1 ESQUINA CALLE 2, CABO ROJO, PR 00623, 8321 IBERIA PL, TAMPA, FL 336376539, CARR 3301, KM 2, HM 6 INT, BO. EL COMBATE, CABO ROJO, PR 00623, PO BOX 1019, BOQUERÓN, PR 006221019.

Queda usted notificado que en este Tribunal se ha radicado demanda sobre ejecución de hipoteca por la vía ordinaria en la que se alega que se adeuda las siguientes cantidades $140,166.72 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 4.375% anual desde el 1 de abril de 2023 hasta su completo pago, más $276.48 de recargos acumulados, los cuales continuarán en aumento

hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más la cantidad estipulada de $10,720.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo, incluyendo pero sin limitarse a gastos de mantenimiento, inspecciones y otros adelantos “corporate advances”. La propiedad que garantiza hipotecariamente el préstamo es la siguiente: RÚSTICA: Solar marcado con el número C-5 en el plano de inscripción de la Urbanización Colinas de Ballajá, radicada en el Barrio Monte Grande del término municipal de Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, con cabida superficial de 411.95 metros cuadrados, equivalentes a 0.1048 cuerdas.

Colindando por el NORTE, con la calle #1 a dedicarse a uso público; por el SUR, con el solar C-4 del plano de inscripción; por el ESTE, con servidumbre pluvial que separa del solar C-6 de plano de inscripción; y por el OESTE, con la calle #2 a dedicarse a uso público. Contiene una estructura de concreto y bloques dedicada a vivienda.

La propiedad, la hipoteca y la modificación constan inscritas al folio 16 del tomo 987 de Cabo Rojo, Finca 33851, Registro de la Propiedad de San Germán.

Inscripción segunda y tercera. La segunda modificación consta inscrita al tomo Karibe de Cabo Rojo, Finca 33851, Registro de la Propiedad de San Germán. Inscripción cuarta. La tercera modificación fue presentaba bajo el asiento 2023-002490-SG01 de Cabo Rojo, Finca 33851, Registro de la Propiedad de San Germán.

Pendiente de inscripción. La demandante es tenedora por endoso en blanco, por valor recibido y de buena fe del referido pagaré objeto de la presente acción. La parte demandada deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Administración y Manejo de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://unired.ramajudicial. pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal. Se le advierte que si no contesta la demanda, radicando el original de la contestación en este Tribunal y enviando copia de la contestación a la abogada de la Parte Demandante, Lcda. Belma Alonso García, a: PO Box 3922, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 009703922, Teléfono y Fax: (787) 789-1826, (787) 708-0566 correo electrónico oficinabelmaalonso@gmail.com, dentro del término de treinta (30) días de la publicación de este edicto, excluyéndose el día de la publicación, se le anotará la rebeldía y se le dictará Sentencia en su

27

contra, concediendo el remedio solicitado sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPEDIDO bajo mi firma y el sello del Tribunal, hoy, 25 de enero de 2024, en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. LCDA NORMA G SANTANA IRIZARRY, SECRETARIA (O) REGIONAL. BETSY SANTIAGO GONZALEZ, SUBSECRETARIA(O) AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMON

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC COMO AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC PARTE Demandante Vs.

MERLY JIMENEZ PAGAN

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO Demandada DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUCIVIL NUM.: CA2023CV03804 NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA (404) SOBRE: COBRO DE DISALA DE PONCE NERO POR LA VÍA ORDINAISLAND PORTFOLIO RIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR SERVICES, LLC EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS COMO AGENTE DE DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENFAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS TE DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE FUND, LLC PUERTO RICO. SS. Parte Demandante Vs.

JOSE A QUILES MARCUCCI

Parte Demandada CIVIL NÚM. PO2023CV03438 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: JOSE A Parte Demandada QUILES MARCUCCI• CIVIL NÚM. BY2023CV03808 SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. URB VISTAS DEL MAR EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDIC2710 CALLE SIRENA, TO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE PONCE PR 00716 • 45 AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE MARBLE HILL AVE APT DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. 5E, BRONX NY 10463 EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIAPOR LA PRESENTE se le DO DE PUERTO RICO. SS. emplaza y requiere para que A: MERLY JIMENEZ conteste la demanda dentro de PAGAN - COLINAS DEL los treinta (30) días siguientes SOL II 46 CALLE 4 a la publicación de este Edicto.

APT 4611, Usted deberá presentar su aleBAYAMON PR 00957. gación responsiva a través del POR LA PRESENTE se le Sistema Unificado de Manejo y emplaza y requiere para que Administración de Casos (SUconteste la demanda dentro de MAC), la cual puede acceder los treinta (30) días siguientes utilizando la siguiente direca la publicación de este Edicto. ción electrónica: https://www.

Usted deberá presentar su ale- poderjudicial.pr/index.php/trigación responsiva a través del bunalelectronico, salvo que se Sistema Unificado de Manejo y represente por derecho propio, Administración de Casos (SU- en cuyo caso deberá presentar MAC), la cual puede acceder su alegación responsiva en la utilizando la siguiente direc- secretaría del tribunal. Si usted ción electrónica: https://www. deja de presentar su alegación poderjudicial.pr/index.php/tri- responsiva dentro del referido bunalelectronico, salvo que se término, el tribunal podrá dicrepresente por derecho propio, tar sentencia en rebeldía en en cuyo caso deberá presentar su contra y conceder el remesu alegación responsiva en la dio solicitado en la demanda o secretaría del tribunal. Si usted cualquier otro sin más citarle ni deja de presentar su alegación oírle, si el tribunal en el ejerciresponsiva dentro del referido cio de su sana discreción, lo entérmino, el tribunal podrá dic- tiende procedente. El sistema tar sentencia en rebeldía en SUMAC notificará copia al abosu contra y conceder el reme- gado de la parte demandante, dio solicitado en la demanda o Kenmuel J. Ruiz Lopez cuya cualquier otro sin más citarle ni dirección es: P.O. Box 71418 oírle, si el tribunal en el ejerci- San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936cio de su sana discreción, lo 8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 entiende procedente. El siste- a la dirección kenmuel.ruiz@ ma SUMAC notificará copia al orf-law.com y a la dirección abogado de la parte deman- notificaciones@orf-law.com. dante, Edwin Serrano Peña EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA cuya dirección es: P.O. Box y el sello del Tribunal, en Pon71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico ce, Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de 00936- 8518, teléfono (787) enero de 2024. Carmen G. Tirú 993-3731 a la dirección edwin. Quiñones, Secretaria. Hilda J. serrano@orf-law.com y a la di- Rosado Rodríguez, Secretaria rección notificaciones@orf-law. Auxiliar. com. EXTENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el sello del Tribunal, en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy día 3 de enero de 2024. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria.

Militza Mercado Rivera, Secretaria Auxiliar.

MARIE J. MANZANO MELENDEZ

LEGAL NOTICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAROLINA

ORIENTAL BANK, Demandante V.

A: MARIE J. MANZANO MELENDEZ

POR MEDIO del presente edicto se le notifica de la radicación de una demanda en cobro de dinero por la vía ordinaria en la que se alega que usted adeuda a la parte demandante, Oriental Bank, ciertas sumas de dinero, y las costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado de este litigio.

El demandante, Oriental Bank, ha solicitado que se dicte sentencia en contra suya y que se le ordene pagar las cantidades reclamadas en la demanda.

POR EL PRESENTE EDICTO se le emplaza para que presente al tribunal su alegación responsiva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días de haber sido diligenciado este emplazamiento, excluyéndose el día del diligenciamiento. Usted deberá presentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente dirección electrónica: https://www.poderjudicial. pr/index/php/tribunalelectronico/, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberá presentar su alegación responsiva en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra, y conceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discreción, lo entiende procedente, sin más citarle ni oírle. El abogado de la parte demandante es: Jaime Ruiz Saldaña, RUA número 11673; Dirección: PO Box 366276, San Juan, PR 00936-6276; Teléfono: (787) 759-6897; Correo electrónico: legal@jrslawpr. com. Se le advierte que dentro de los diez (10) días siguientes a la publicación del presente edicto, se le estará enviando a usted por correo certificado con acuse de recibo, una copia del emplazamiento y de la demanda presentada al lugar de su última dirección conocida: Cond.

Tropicana, 600 Apto. 608-A, Carolina, PR 00987-7345. Expedido bajo mi firma y el sello del Tribunal en Carolina, Puerto Rico, hoy día 26 de enero de 2024. Lcda. Kanelly Zayas Robles, Secretaria Regional.

Myriam T. Figueroa Pastrana, Secretaria Auxiliar.

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Tuesday, February 13, 2024

The San Juan Daily Star

Is soccer ready to retire its last taboo?

By RORY SMITH

A

s a teenager, Collin Martin felt he had to make a choice. For as long as he could remember, his ambition had been to become a professional soccer player, to make a living doing the thing he loved. He had a sense, though, that it was not compatible with who he was.

Martin was gay, and there were — as far as he knew — no gay soccer players.

The two things, he came to believe, could not coexist.

He could either play soccer or he could be himself. In his telling, he approached the choice with a cool rationality.

“This doesn’t seem like something I can take with me while I pursue my dreams,” he said of his logic. “I was more than ready to be in the closet. Forever.” Or at least, he thought, long enough “for me to live out my dream.”

In reality, that contrast was not quite that stark. In 2018, at age 23, and while he was playing for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer, Martin came out as gay.

He was thought to be the only openly gay male professional soccer player in the world at the time. There were, he said, occasional awkward moments with teammates, but he found the status bearable. His fear had been misplaced. His sexuality and his profession were not in conflict.

And then, a couple of years later, his “nightmare” came to pass. During a crucial, end-of-season game with San Diego Loyal, in the USL Championship, Martin heard an opponent call him a homophobic slur. He reported it to the referee. Martin was immediately sent off; the official had assumed Martin was using the slur toward him.

What followed was messy and confusing and, from Martin’s perspective, excruciating. In footage of the game, the referee seems bewildered, lost. Martin’s teammates surround him, explaining the misunderstanding. His coach, Landon Donovan, implores his counterpart, Phoenix Rising coach Rick Schantz, to remove the implicated player. When he refuses, San Diego’s players take a knee and then walk off the field.

That scene is the climax to “The Last Taboo,” a German documentary charting the experiences of the handful of openly gay players in men’s soccer over the last half century. Compared to the story with which the film opens — the ostracism, abuse and eventual suicide of Justin Fashanu, England’s first openly gay professional — it is hard not to feel encouraged.

Martin might have been abused, and Schantz might not have understood the gravity of the situation, but the player had the support of his teammates, his coach and his club. They were all prepared to sacrifice a game — and a crucial one — for a principle. That alone illustrates that soccer is certainly a more welcoming place now than it was in Fashanu’s day.

So, too, does the story of Jakub Jankto, the Czech international who came out as gay last year. In the weeks after his announcement, there was a considerable amount of concern in the Czech Republic over how he would be treated. Not so much by his teammates — they were “fantastic,”

particularly in film — to capture the meaning of a story that is no longer a story. Silent disinterest does not make for an especially compelling or emotional finale. It is, in many ways, a triumph, proof that a battle has been won, but it feels somehow unsatisfactory.

And yet it is crucial that those stories are told. That there are many more gay players in the men’s game than the handful who have come out publicly is not really in doubt, even if the evidence for it is necessarily anecdotal, the mathematics sketchy and the tone of the discussion around it somewhere between gleeful gossip and outright witch hunt.

It is equally clear that the majority still feel as Martin once did, as if who they are and what they do are in irreconcilable tension. At one point in “The Last Taboo,” Matt Morton, a player and manager in England’s lower leagues, lists all of the openly gay players in the professional game.

He only needs to use their first names.

There is a chance, of course, that will never change, that soccer will never create a safe enough environment for everyone to feel comfortable being who they are.

Martin is a little more positive than that. He is, by disposition, quite a sunny character. He has a wealth of stories detailing how hard it is to be out and a soccer player; the fact that he has been able to build a steady career, to fulfill his dream, does not mean it has not been a challenge.

He prefers, though, not to dwell on the hardest times.

“Telling those stories does not help the next person,” he told the filmmakers. Far more constructive, he believes, is to focus on the aspects of his life and career that will reassure others that who they are and what they do are not diametriCollin Martin (Wikipedia) cally opposed.

His experience in that game he said — but by the opposition’s fans. against Phoenix is instructive. As his In the film, the angst is centered teammates leave the field, Martin on a match against Banik Ostrava, one lifts his jersey above his head. The of the fiercest rivals of Jankto’s club at thing he had feared above all else the time, Sparta Prague, a few weeks was coming to pass: His sexuality is, after his announcement. Their meetings in a literal sense, preventing him and are always tense, the sort of occasions his team from playing soccer. He is that warrant riot police and prowling visibly distraught.

Belgian shepherds. Ostrava’s fans, evAs his teammates file past him, eryone believed, would shower Jankto though, they stretch out their hands in homophobic abuse; soccer’s shameto pat him on the back, to ruffle his ful recidivism would be on display hair: tiny and potent gestures of solionce again. darity and sympathy. They cannot When match day came, nothing have understood precisely what he happened. Jankto came on as a substiwas going through, but they knew tute. His name was announced to the he was suffering, and they were on stadium. There were no boos, no jeers his side. and no coordinated expressions of ho- Justin Fashanu (Wikipedia) Looking back, now, that is mophobia. He ran onto the field. The what Martin chooses to take away game restarted. Everyone got on with from that incident. Not the suffering — agonizing and acute their lives. “It is not a story anymore,” as Thomas Hitzls- — but the support he received and the symbolism of the perger, the former German international who came out after moment. He believes that is what will help others know that his retirement, said. deciding between who they are and what they do is not a It is hard — no matter the medium, but one imagines choice they have to make.

The San Juan Daily Star

GAMES

29

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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HOROSCOPE 30 Aries

(Mar 21-April 20)

Things that require restriction and discipline on your part may be causing tension and opposition in your world today, Aries. The good news is that your mind is clear and you should feel in tune with the people around you. Know your allies and take care of them.

Remind others of how much they mean to you. The most important aspects of your life are your friends and family, so treat them with unconditional love.

Taurus

The San Juan Daily Star

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

(April 21-May 21)

Your internal fire may be feeling a bit smothered by a fierce reality check today, Taurus. Give people the benefit of the doubt. They are more perceptive than you may think. In fact, it may behoove you to get some honest feedback today from some people you trust. It could be difficult for you to sort out the truth in your present situation, since you’re the one caught in the middle of the maelstrom. Consider the perspective of another.

Libra

(Sep 24-Oct 23)

You’ll find that a sensitive mind that’s open to everything and every possibility is exactly the thing you need at this time in order to be successful in reaching all the goals you’re working toward, Libra.

You’ll find that your sense of duty and need for plans and solid goals are key elements for getting to where you need to be. Gather information and create a plan of attack that is well thought out.

Scorpio

(Oct 24-Nov 22)

Today is a good day to be receptive to other people’s energies, Scorpio. You’ll find that a sensitive attitude toward the people around you, combined with a bit of hard work and willingness to fulfill your responsibilities, will make for an unstoppable winning combination. Use this day to collect data and plan your goals. Take responsibility for your actions and don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes.

Gemini

(May 22-June 21)

Sagittarius

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

Careful planning on your part is starting to pay off, Gemini, but be careful that you don’t alienate others in your quest to be the best. You may not realize how your harsh words affect the people around you. Be more sensitive to the feelings of others. Focus and be brave in your actions. Hesitation may cause you to lose control of the situation. Know your boundaries, but push beyond them.

You’ll find that your mind is sharp and penetrating today, Sagittarius. Make sure you stay focused and organized. You have the power of discipline behind you that will help you manifest quite a bit on a day like today. Keep in mind that your openness to others and your incredible sensitivity are some of your greatest gifts. Use your power to create prosperity for yourself, but do it without hurting or manipulating others.

Cancer

(June 22-July 23)

Capricorn

(Dec 22-Jan 20)

A little foreign culture could be the thing you need right now to spice things up a bit, Cancer. It could be that you aren’t feeling a very strong connection with the environment around you. You could be anxious to spread your wings and explore your freedom. Start small but think big. There’s a sobering, disciplined feeling to the day that could help you think realistically about your situation and where you want to go with it.

Leo

(July 24-Aug 23)

Some days it may be hard for you to get motivated, Leo, but if ever there were a day in which it was easier than others, this would be the day. You’ll find that your mind is quite attuned to the situation around you and that your sense of grounding is helping you manifest that which you wish to bring to life. There’s a sense of time restriction and limitation to the day that is prodding you to act now.

Virgo

(Aug 24-Sep 23)

You may feel a bit of restriction working to hold you back from your current plans today, Virgo. It could be that your mind is feeling restless and that you’re anxious to go, but there’s a feeling of discipline and caution nagging you and urging you to slow down.

This might not be a bad idea. Discipline and willpower may be exactly the things you need in order to get where you’re going.

There is a rough stubbornness to the day that you may find hinders your progress, Capricorn. There may be undercurrents of opposition that are slowly wearing away at your psyche. Make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of feeling guilt or regret. These are useless emotions that you simply can do without.

If people are being negative or unreasonable, simply walk away from the situation and find a better one.

Aquarius

(Jan 21-Feb 19)

There are forces working in your favor that you should be sure to latch onto and take advantage of, Aquarius. You’ll find that your sense of duty and ability to plan are paying off in a very positive way. You’ll find that you’re able to check quite a few things off your list today. Think before you act and take a time-out to rest and regroup if you need to.

Pisces

(Feb 20-Mar 20)

Missed connections and unfortunate misunderstandings will happen less frequently if you slow down and focus.

Remember that you can do things yourself, Pisces. Don’t feel like you absolutely need approval from others before tackling the projects that you wish to complete. Your mind is urging you to take the initiative today, so feel free to do so. Just make sure you aren’t too hasty in your actions.

You’ll be more productive if you think before you act.

Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

31

CARTOONS

Herman

Speed Bump

Frank & Ernest

BC

Scary Gary

Wizard of Id

For Better or for Worse

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Ziggy

32 Tuesday, February 13, 2024

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