Friday to Sunday Jul 14-16, 2023

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.

Senate panel hears Loíza Street residents’ concerns over safety, displacement

By THE STAR STAFF

The Senate Community Initiatives, Mental Health and Addiction Committee, chaired by Sen. José A. Vargas Vidot, heard complaints Thursday from residents of the Loíza Street area of San Juan related to safety, housing and displacement of residents.

Over the past few years, there has been an economic boom in Loíza Street with the opening of new businesses, but that has been accompanied by the gentrification of the area.

“This hearing must become an inventory of strategies, specifically, given the insensitivity of the authorities that are consistently absent or when they are present, they take the community very little [into account],” Vargas Vidot said.

“I know of meetings scheduled with the municipality [of San Juan] that were canceled the same day because the representative forgot about the meeting, leaving the participants awaiting follow-up,” he said.

During her deposition, Moscoso expressed various ideas for addressing the issue, such as “that this Legislative Assembly establish mechanisms to recognize that communities are at risk; that they draft legislation so that we can be declared vulnerable communities and approve providing forms of self-defense and protection.”

“In addition, we need to repeal a 2018 law that declared us a gastronomic and cultural district,” she said. “We understand that in this way we can face the massive displacement plan, which, as we know, has a name.”

In his turn, Cardona Roig, the urban planner, noted that “in this context, we have a toxic commercial density.”

INDEX

The hearing was held in accordance with Senate Resolution 77, which proposes to investigate the various problems and threats that affect the sustainability and development of communities. While the Senate committee cited the Municipal Police of San Juan, the Permits Management Office of the Municipality of San Juan, the Municipality of San Juan, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture and Discover Puerto Rico to appear, no representatives of any of those entities showed up at the hearing.

Meanwhile, Tania Moscoso from the Machuchal Revive Residents Association; Raquel T. Díaz Rosario, a resident of Loíza street; Pedro M. Cardona Roig, a planner and urban architect; and Amaury Rivera, a Condado community leader occupied the seats of the hearing rooms.

Rivera said “I know first-hand the challenges faced by the Machuchal and Calle Loíza community. … I have witnessed the neglect, incompetence, and mistreatment they have received over the years.”

“When the reasonable limits of commercial activity are exceeded, it begins to cause some impacts on third parties that compromise privacy, stability, security, and other aspects …” he said. “At the core of this is a huge problem that is not being attended to, which are short-term rentals. Short-term accommodations are commercial activities, but since they are disguised under the cloak of residential activities, they are not measured correctly. That means that the community’s conflicts cannot be analyzed.”

Another of the deponents, Raquel Díaz Rosario, a Loíza Street resident, stated that “it is crucial to urgently address the problem of displacement and the deterioration of the quality of life that affects our community.”

“In this sense, it is imperative to establish a moratorium on the granting of permits for entertainment businesses and the conversion of properties for short-term rental,” she said. “This measure will make it possible to face the crisis that the community of Loíza Street is experiencing.”

Loíza Street resident Raquel Díaz Rosario

Sen. José A. Vargas Vidot

Incentive program to cover part of solar system & installation cost

By THE STAR STAFF

Housing Secretary William Rodríguez Rodríguez, announced Thursday that on Aug. 10 he will open the application period for the Solar Incentive Program, which will allow homeowners in Puerto Rico who need support to acquire solar panel systems to receive an incentive that will cover 30% or up to $15,000 of the total cost of a system and its installation.

The program, funded by Community Development Block Grant Disaster Mitigation funds, has a maximum of 6,000 spaces available.

“As announced by Governor Pedro Pierluisi, we are launching a new program to help families acquire a system of solar panels, and this time focused on middle-income families, who will have the opportunity to opt for this aid,” Rodríguez said. “These technologies not only provide energy security and reduce dependence on non-renewable sources, but also allow families to save on their bills in the long run.”

As noted, the new program will consider middle-income families, as the governor announced in recent weeks, in order to offer help to the middle class.

A family consisting of a person with an income of up to $84,000 may qualify.

To participate in the single round of the Solar Incentive Program, interested parties must meet certain requirements, such as presenting evidence of income, owning single-family homes, U.S. citizenship and not having initiated the installation of any renewable energy system, among others.

In addition, applicants must have an “Installation Contract” with one of the renewable energy installation companies (REICs) authorized by the program. The contract should include essential details such as the name of the installer, the contract number, the specific amount of the contract and the date of execution. It is important to note that the installation contract must be formalized before Aug. 10, 2023, the start date of the program.

Rodríguez emphasized that “by ensuring that participants have a formal agreement with a licensed renewable energy installer, the program maintains transparency and collaboration with trusted renewable energy installers.”

for municipal recovery projects in Barranquitas, Vega Baja

By THE STAR STAFF

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated over $3.3 million to the municipalities of Barranquitas and Vega Baja to repair several recreational facilities that will benefit communities and visitors.

The allocations for damage following Hurricane Maria are aimed at addressing what are known as alternate projects. Alternate projects under FEMA’s Public Assistance program take place when a community benefits from a different project, as opposed to restoring the project to its original pre-disaster state.

“The needs of communities can change over time and our agency keeps this in mind when evaluating permanent projects with the municipalities,” said Deputy Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator Andrés García Martinó.

“By working as a team, we strive to ensure that the works represent not only reconstruction but new and better opportunities for all the residents of our towns.”

The Calle Abajo Pablo Pérez Figueroa Community Center in Barranquitas is one of the projects under Public Assistance funds. What was previously a basketball court will now serve as a multipurpose space for around 200 families to celebrate social and educational activities, while strengthening plans to repopulate the urban area. Meanwhile, Vega Baja also received obligations for two alternate projects. On the one hand, the basketball court, the baseball park and the butterfly garden for El Trece Recreational Area will be renovated, and new areas such as a hostel, a restaurant, a game room and a swimming pool will be built within the facilities. About $2.3 million will be addressed to these works, which will include mitigation

measures for the baseball park and recreational park.

El Trece receives about 600 people during the summer season. Once the alternate project is completed, the municipality estimates that number could double, while also encouraging tourist visits to the area.

Likewise, the Puerto Nuevo Recreational Area and La Casona Kiosks in Vega Baja will be consolidated into better-quality facilities for citizens and tourists with the help of over $802,000 from FEMA. The space, which could create some 15 jobs, will have 14 kiosks, a concrete path, bike corrals and restrooms, aAmong other arrangements.

To date, FEMA has awarded over $30.6 billion for more than 10,700 Public Assistance projects aimed at rebuilding a more resilient Puerto Rico. Of that sum, more than $3.8 billion is earmarked for over 6,400 municipal projects throughout the island.

Suspect held in Condado double homicide

By THE STAR STAFF

Police said Thursday that in the early morning hours, federal marshals and personnel from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) Strike Force arrested Apolinar Rondón Santiago, 30, on an arrest warrant with a bail of $4 million for a double homicide that occurred Monday at the Ropa Vieja Grill restaurant on Ashford Avenue in El Condado.

Rondón Santiago reportedly faces charges of first-degree

murder, attempted murder, risk to safety or public order by firing a firearm, carrying, transporting or using firearms without a license, and firing or pointing firearms.

Judge Sonya Nieves Cordero of the San Juan court, after examining the case, had determined cause for arrest in absentia and imposed a bail of $4 million. The investigation was given to officer José González Pérez of the Criminal Investigations Corps of San Juan. Prior to the arrest, agents from the PRPD’s Intelligence and Arrests Division were in charge of the search for Rondón Santiago.

The Solar Incentive Program, funded via the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Mitigation program, has a maximum of 6,000 spaces available.

FEMA allots over $3.3 million

Apolinar Rondón Santiago reportedly faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder, along with several weapons charges.

‘They don’t have the people with the proper experience’

Disaster mitigation expert says COR3’s distribution of recovery funds to island churches & nonprofits is badly lagging

By RICHARD GUTIÉRREZ richardsanjuanstar@gmail.com

Churches and other nonprofit organizations are currently receiving funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) corresponding to disaster claims; however, a prominent adviser to religious and nonprofit entities in Puerto Rico says the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3) has placed a serious stranglehold on religious groups and nonprofit organizations when it comes to the timely delivery of those funds.

“Anything that is positive and can bring in some sort of help is a good thing. I have to be grateful to FEMA in that they have taken care of my cases,” Iván Casals told the STAR. “Sure, they are distributing money to these religious groups, but it’s not like the money is already secured, and the way they are trying to do this is so ill-advised and blurry, that I find it nearly impossible not to have some sort of fear.”

Casals noted that a few weeks ago, COR3 held a conference in the Puerto Rico Convention Center where they assembled hundreds of nonprofit groups, and where they had seven tables occupied by the General Services Administration, the Office of the Inspector General, among a sizable number of lawyers.

“The pastors I work with came out of this conference terrified,” Casals said. “I genuinely think they [officials] are focusing way too much on the fact that this money could be used erroneously instead of recognizing that this is done innocently. They have been mistaken in the way they explain the consequences of using the money erroneously, scaring the churches. They are trying to turn everything into a crime when that’s not the case -- this is a public service program.”

Apart from what smacks of fear mongering, Casals believes that the way COR3 is handling the distribution of the money is extremely poor.

“For example, if someone makes a $1 million contract with a construction contractor and asks for a payment in advance, COR3 gives them $200,000,” the specialist in disaster recovery said. “Once the contractor gets there and works on the reconstruction, people go back to the COR3 stating that they just paid the contractor $200,000 and ask for the next batch of money; they’ll be waiting about six months for that next batch.”

The issue gets even worse, he said. It isn’t just that they take six to eight months auditing the money, but that contractors begin to charge late fees after a certain amount of time, and by the time COR3 pays up, the churches themselves will basically have to end up paying the money they owe.

Casals added that something else the COR3 isn’t considering is that the damage estimates were made close to six

years ago, and since that time inflation has had a significant impact on the cost of materials.

“Everything has gotten a lot more expensive, so without counting any late fees the contractors may charge the churches, those estimates won’t be enough to cover the base cost of these projects in 2023,” he said. “They are working with old information that isn’t updated to today’s cost of materials; lumber has doubled in price, nails have doubled in price, you name it.”

Casals also believes that COR3 is being hypocritical with what he says are its excessive demands for the churches to follow regulations, yet they themselves are not following the regulations, he said.

“The Stafford Act, and United States federal law demands that governments pay the funds as early as 30 days after the claim has been made,” he said. “Thirty days, not 30 months. They frankly don’t care.”

The spokesman for island faith-based communities also noted the lack of experience that he says COR3 has with disaster recovery work.

“I can certainly say that whenever any country goes through a natural disaster, dealing with it is not an easy task -- millions of people’s lives are involved and a lot of situations need to be addressed,” Casals said. “There’s a different scenario in every corner, but frankly, COR3 has no experience dealing with these things. The system needs to change; the regulations need to be followed. It’s a very difficult agency to control -- too many clients and too many things -- they don’t have the people with the proper experience.”

Casals went on to say that no contractors want to work

with FEMA because COR3 is not paying on time, and that’s on top of the lack of understanding of FEMA’s processes.

“FEMA’s regulations state that if an engineer sees there is storm damage in a building, simply with that engineer certifying that there is damage in the building caused by the storm, the money has to be distributed immediately,” he said. “But that’s not what they are doing. Here they have to go through six months of deciding whether the building is going to be fixed or not.”

Casals also believes that, in a sense, it was the churches that truly helped people in Puerto Rico when Hurricane Maria struck in September 2017.

“I’m not a very religious person myself, but I saw the churches being the ones moving and helping people as much as possible,” he said. “I don’t think FEMA or any other agency moved as efficiently as the churches. As a consultant I had a client once who fixed more than 150 rooftops for private houses with their own money. The churches have done so much work for the people. Some denominations even brought over construction companies to help rebuild things in the community.”

“It is wrong that after so much work that the churches have been putting into Puerto Rico, COR3 comes and doesn’t pay them the money they need to fix their own establishments,” Casals said. “

A lot of churches have lost the people they had [in their congregations] because their buildings are not sustainable anymore.”

The disaster consultant stated that what comes next is a meeting with FEMA to fix the situation, which will be announced in an upcoming press conference. However, if FEMA doesn’t agree to such a meeting, he said, a class action lawsuit will be filed against the agency in federal court.

“If FEMA does not meet with us we will have a class action lawsuit filed against them for the $43 billion that they owe Puerto Rico,” Casals said. “We all knew COR3 was a mistake, but this is FEMA’s issue and they have to solve it, because otherwise the reconstruction of the island will take more than 20 years.”

Iván Casals (Photo courtesy of Wilson Nazario)

Book on first bishop of the Americas to be presented in Cayey on Saturday

By THE STAR STAFF

Abook about don Alonso Manso, the first bishop of Puerto Rico and the Americas, will be presented by its author, Juan Alberto Delgado Negrón, this Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Casa Histórica de la Música Cayeyana, in front of the Ramón Frade public square in Cayey.

Don Alonso Manso was an illustrious academic who ended up being the first bishop of the Americas and left a notable imprint, particularly in Puerto Rico. His legacy has been summarized in Delgado Negrón’s book entitled “Bishop Alonso Manso: His Vision and Evangelizing Mission in America.”

Cayey Mayor Rolando Ortiz Velázquez said “this Saturday’s event is another manifestation of the many open doors we have in Cayey for all sectors of Puerto Rican and universal culture.”

“On this occasion, the author Delgado Negrón will take us through the life of a representative figure of Christianity in Puerto Rico, but he was also an example of the enlightened thought of that moment,” the mayor said. “We invite you all to participate in this event with free admission.”

Few know that Manso was a student who became chancellor of his university

and brought with him that renewing spirit of thought and broad vision to education. In all likelihood, the first university in the Americas must have sprung up in San Juan. Manso wanted his cathedral, like his city, to have the grandeur of Seville or Salamanca.

His legacy was appreciated by Count Cumberland who, in attacking Puerto Rico,

admired the buildings he found, mostly ecclesiastical, which were comparable to those of the Gothic city of Oxford, one of the most beautiful cities in the Old World at that time, Delgado Negrón said.

In 1512, Manso embarked from Seville to the island of San Juan Bautista, accompanied by two clergy, becoming the first

bishop of Puerto Rico and all of America. He landed in the west, arrived at the Villa de San Germán, and from there, moved by land to the town of Puerto Rico (what was formerly called Caparra) to take possession of his diocese, in May 1513.

During his work in Puerto Rico, Manso preached the gospel to the native Tainos, brought the first library to the New World, built the San Ildefonso hospital and began work on the new Cathedral of San Juan. On Sept. 27, 1539 he died without having finished the work.

He was buried in the presbytery next to the Gospel.

Those who attend the book presentation will become acquainted with the Casa Histórica de la Música Cayeyana, a large two-story wooden building with an interior patio.

The historic family home was built between 1828 and 1850, and when it fell into disuse, it deteriorated until Ortiz Velázquez determined that the municipality would acquire the property in 2003 to restore it, and deliver it to the town as a cultural, musical and artistic center. The conceptually unique building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C. as Casa Espada Cervoni.W

Economic activity index rose in May

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico’s economic activity index (EDB-EAI) reached 127.5 points in May, a report from the Economic Development Bank for Puerto Rico said.

The EDB-EAI index recorded in May was 1.8% higher year-over-year (YoY), according to the 21-page report. A preliminary EDB-EAI was calculated for the last quarter of 2022 and the first five months of 2023.

During fiscal year (FY) 2021, the EDB-EAI decreased by 0.8% when compared to FY 2020, but advanced by 4.9% during FY 2022.

Moreover, a preliminary increment of 1.9% was registered during calendar year 2022, after an increase of 4.9% dur-

ing calendar year 2021. For the first 11 months of FY 2023 (July-May), it remained flat, preliminarily, with 0.0% growth when compared to the same period from the previous year, the report said.

Total non-farm payroll employment averaged 958.2 jobs in May, which represents an improvement of 0.8% on a month-to-month basis, and an annual increase of 4.6%.

Electric power generation, seasonally adjusted, for May 2023 totaled 1,616.5 million kilowatt-hours, indicating 6.6% growth on a month-to-month basis, and an annual drop of 0.2%.

The preliminary estimate for gasoline consumption, seasonally adjusted, in May 2023 totaled 69.6 million gallons, 0.2% below the 69.7 million gallons estimated

for April 2023 and a 2.9% improvement compared to the same month from the previous year. Cement sales, also seasonally adjusted, totaled 1.281.4 bil-

lion 94-pound bags for May 2023, with increases of 0.5% on a month-to-month basis and 1.0% when compared to May 2022.

Casa Histórica de la Música Cayeyana in Cayey

Legal fights and charges of discrimination send Latino group into turmoil

By JAZMINE ULLOA

One of the nation’s oldest and most venerated Latino civil rights organizations is at a critical juncture that some members say could determine its direction — or have dire implications for its future.

A messy legal dispute, rooted in a decades-long debate over whether Puerto Rico should become a state, has led to infighting among the members and leadership of the group, the League of United Latin American Citizens, known as LULAC.

Some have accused its president of fueling the very discrimination the organization first set out to eliminate. Half a dozen current and former members contend that Domingo Garcia, a Dallas lawyer who has led the group since 2018, is seeking to marginalize Puerto Rican members after he almost lost his seat last year to a candidate of Puerto Rican origin.

They said the organization had suspended Puerto Rican members and fired, without cause, some of its most prominent leaders of Puerto Rican descent. Two amendments to the group’s constitution are up for consideration, one of which threatens to purge all island residents from its ranks.

LULAC has become instrumental in turning out the vote in Democratic politics, as most Latinos have historically tended to lean Democrat. The civil rights organization will be among major Latino advocacy organizations looking to play a pivotal role in the 2024 presidential election as Latinos have emerged as important swing voters.

They are now one of the fastest-growing and quickly diversifying racial and ethnic voting blocs in the United States. An estimated 34.5 million Hispanic Americans were eligible to vote in the 2022 election alone.

Next month, the organization is set to hold its national convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and some members worry that the tension may feed into historical perceptions of a division between Mexican Americans in the Southwest and Puerto Ricans on the East Coast. There is also concern that the amendments could empower a small clique within the group who have long sought to shut out its Puerto Rican members.

Others argue that the infighting could distract from the issues they say should be front and center for the organization, such as increasing access to education or the lingering effects of the pandemic on Latinos, among the hardest hit by the health and economic crises.

Founded in 1929 in South Texas by a group of mostly Mexican American veterans of World War I, LULAC has weathered bitter infighting before. Early on, its founders limited group membership solely to U.S. citizens, barring undocumented workers and Mexicans in the borderlands who sought to join.

As the group gained influence and expanded its reach, rifts developed among its membership. Latinos, once often seen as a monolithic group, have grappled in recent years

with questions about political and cultural identity, as they have become the second largest ethnic voter bloc behind white people. The suspensions and proposed changes to the organization’s constitution could be a harbinger for its future.

The first proposed amendment would rewrite a provision in the constitution to limit group members to residents of the United States of America, “meaning the 50 states and the District of Columbia” — but not Puerto Rico. If that fails, another would mandate that Puerto Rican membership be proportional to the Puerto Rican population in the United States.

Carlos Fajardo, whose position as Puerto Rico LULAC state director is in limbo — the group said he was among Puerto Rican leaders “currently suspended” — called the suggested amendments “bigoted” and “the latest act of discrimination” against Puerto Ricans.

“It is sad,” Fajardo said, adding that the group’s president had also done a lot for Puerto Ricans, who were accepted into the group more than 30 years ago. “We are having to fight for our civil rights within a civil rights organization.”

Joe Henry, who is the group’s state political director for Iowa and Mexican American, said it did not make sense for the organization to exclude residents of Puerto Rico, who are American citizens. He argued that such a move would run counter to the group’s spirit and mission. “Our organization is about — an injury to one is an injury to all,” Henry said.

Garcia, the group’s president, who is also a Mexican American, rejected the claims of discrimination.

“No such thing,” Garcia responded in an interview when asked about claims that he was trying to limit the power of Puerto Rican members. He said the issue was that organization had not been able to confirm whether the group’s councils in the territory had been funded by a political party, which could jeopardize its status as a nonprofit.

“We have had Puerto Rican councils for 30 years, it has never been a problem,” he said. “This is only an issue of where the funding comes from.”

Amendments to the group’s constitution have rarely been approved, Garcia and other leaders said, requiring a two-thirds vote from all registered delegates present at the national assembly. The group has about 132,000 members and supporters in the United States and Puerto Rico, but not all attend its conference.

Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans historically have composed the two largest Latino subgroups in the United States, with Mexicans and Mexican Americans accounting for nearly 60% of the Latino population, or about 37.2 million people, according to the Pew Research Center, more than four times the number of people of Puerto Rican origin.

The tension within LULAC started to build last year when hundreds of members gathered in Puerto Rico for the group’s 2022 conference. The event was brought to a halt abruptly, the night before group’s elections, including a contest between Garcia and Juan Carlos Lizardi, the son of Elsie Valdés, a longtime board member and Puerto Rico statehood activist.

A Texas judge ordered the organization to pause its proceedings after five leaders filed a lawsuit in Dallas County against the group’s board members, arguing that the New Progressive Party in Puerto Rico had been working with LULAC insiders like Valdés to sway the election outcome. After being informed that the conference was suspended, about 900 members still gathered in Puerto Rico and held a symbolic voice vote in support of Lizardi.

Bernardo Eureste, who drafted the amendments that seek to deny Puerto Rican residents membership, said the proposal only sought to clarify what was already in the group’s constitution and to stop what he said was “a takeover” of the organization.

When asked if the amendments went against the group’s spirit of unity, as some members claimed, he responded: “Were you sent to me by the Puerto Ricans? Or the people from the mainland?”

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A heated debate over whether Puerto Rico should become a state has grown more intense, raising questions about the direction of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

House Republicans criticize FBI in contentious hearing

Committee Republicans, led by the chair, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, treated Wray as if he were a hostile witness — repeatedly interrupting his attempts to answer their rapid-fire queries with shouted rebuttals. Most sought to portray the nation’s premier law enforcement agency, and Wray, who was appointed by Trump, as a political tool of the Democrats.

Time and again, Wray, a registered Republican, rejected accusations that he had sought to shield President Joe Biden or his son, Hunter Biden, or that he had targeted Trump. The FBI’s search of the former president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in August as agents sought to recover sensitive documents from his time in office, Wray added, was lawful, restrained and prompted by a court order.

questions about open investigations but at times was visibly annoyed. Still, the hearing highlighted a political reorientation of sorts for Republicans. In decades past, they defended the bureau as a bulwark of law and order, but are now seeking to erode public confidence in the agency’s impartiality, stoked by Trump’s anger and mistakes the FBI made while investigating him.

Since his appointment in 2017, Wray has been under constant pressure from Republicans, who have simultaneously denounced lawlessness in cities run by Democrats and attacked the FBI’s role in political investigations.

Wray infuriated Trump, who viewed the director’s declaration of independence as disloyalty.

By ADAM GOLDMAN and GLENN THRUSH

Republicans bombarded Christopher Wray, the FBI director, earlier this week with criticisms about his role in investigating former President Donald Trump, efforts to address extremist violence and the bureau’s electronic surveillance practices during a contentious House Judiciary Committee hearing.

“The idea that I’m biased against conservatives seems somewhat insane to me, given my own personal background,” Wray said, responding to Rep. Harriet M. Hageman, R-Wyo., who unseated Liz Cheney last year, as she claimed that he had perpetuated a “two-tiered” system of justice. In earlier questioning, he flatly denied that the bureau was being weaponized.

“The FBI does not and has no interest in protecting anyone politically,” he said when another committee Republican asked if he was “protecting” the Bidens.

The five-hour session produced little in the way of new information. Wray, who has adopted a cautious approach in previous congressional testimony, repeatedly refused to answer

Trump and his supporters — as well as a vocal group of former FBI officials who have aligned themselves with Republicans in Congress — say the government is trying to silence and punish conservatives and see the bureau as a dangerous extension of that effort. Jordan has even hired former FBI officials to help with his investigations.

Already, House Republicans have voted to investigate law enforcement, creating the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government in January. And last month, House Republicans on the Oversight Committee moved to hold Wray in contempt of Congress. (They called off a planned vote days later.)

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

That dynamic was on full display Wednesday, as Jordan opened the hearing by accusing the FBI of a litany of abuses. He urged Democratic lawmakers to join Republicans in blocking the reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program known as Section 702 and raised questions about funding for the bureau’s new headquarters.

“I hope they will work with us in the appropriations process to stop the weaponization of the government against the American people and end this double standard that exists now in our justice system,” he said.

For the most part, Democrats defended Wray. But some on the committee grilled him about the FBI’s practice of extracting the personal information of American citizens from the internet, and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., took aim at the bureau’s history of surveilling progressive movements.

Jordan and his allies pursued several areas of questioning raised in earlier hearings where other federal law enforcement officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, testified.

Several Republicans took issue with the FBI’s role in monitoring misinformation and threats on social media, claiming that Wray had conspired with social media companies to suppress reports on the contents of Hunter Biden’s laptop, which he denied.

In one exchange, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., grilled Wray about the FBI’s use of Section 702, pointing to a court ruling in May that found that the bureau violated rules governing the program.

The opinion, which was partly redacted, said that the FBI had improperly searched a database of communications intercepted under the law for information on people suspected of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Republicans also criticized the FBI for a memo, drafted by an analyst in the bureau’s Richmond, Virginia, field office, that cited potential threats from Catholic extremists in the runup to the 2024 election. Jordan said several bureau officials,

including a lawyer in the Richmond office, apparently approved the memo. Wray, describing himself as “aghast” after seeing it, replied that he immediately shelved the memo and that the matter was under internal review.

There was one area in which Wray and Republicans mostly agreed: the criticisms of the bureau raised in the final report from John H. Durham, the Trump-era special counsel, who examined the origins of the FBI’s investigation into ties Trump’s campaign had with Russia but found no evidence of politically motivated misconduct.

Wray said he had enacted a series of changes and referred employees involved in the Russia inquiry, known as Crossfire Hurricane, to the FBI’s office of professional responsibility.

Even as Trump and his loyalists insisted that Durham’s investigation would unearth a “deep state” conspiracy intended to damage him politically, Durham never charged high-level government officials.

Instead, he developed only two peripheral cases involving accusations of making false statements, both of which ended in acquittals, while using his report to cite flaws in the FBI’s early investigative steps that he attributed to confirmation bias.

Wray said talk on the right that the bureau be defunded and dismantled was an “ill-conceived effort.”

“It would hurt the American people, neighborhoods and communities all across this country — the people we are protecting from cartels, violent criminals, gang members, predators, foreign and domestic terrorists, cyberattacks,” he said.

From left: Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Chip Roy (RTexas), and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) speak during a hearing where FBI Director Christopher Wray testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Royal Caribbean bets on a giant candy-colored cruise ship

By JESÚS JIMÉNEZ

When the Icon of the Seas sets sail early next year, it will take some time to disappear from the horizon. At 1,198 feet long and a gross tonnage of 250,800, it is hard to miss.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship will have 20 decks packed with more than 20 bars and restaurants, seven pools, nine whirlpools, and six waterslides, as well as mini golf, rock climbing and an arcade. It will carry up to 7,960 people — up to 5,610 guests and a crew of 2,350 to pour drinks, turn back covers, swab the decks and keep the vessel on course.

Since Royal Caribbean announced this newest ship last year, it has helped to boost the company’s sales with high demand for advanced bookings.

It has also become an object of fascination (and scorn) on social media.

Some can’t wait to climb aboard, with rooms already selling out for the ship’s first voyage. But others have criticized its size and bright colors, calling it a “monstrosity.” One critic called an artist’s rendering a “Candy Crush version of the dystopian underground world” from science-fiction series “Silo” on Apple TV+.

Some critics even drew comparisons to an ill-fated ocean liner of yesteryear, noting it is five times “larger and heavier than the Titanic,” and about 300 feet longer.

Royal Caribbean bills the older Wonder of the Seas as the “biggest ship in the world.” When the new one is ready, it will be 10 feet longer, heavier and will carry more people, perhaps giving it bragging rights as the world’s largest.

Royal Caribbean said in a statement last month that the Icon of Seas had passed its first round of sea trials, traveling in the open ocean for the first time near Turku, Finland. The ship will have another round of trials later this year before its maiden cruise in January, the company said.

Interest in the ship comes as the cruise industry tries to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, when multiple outbreaks onboard ships led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to chastise the industry and ban cruises.

But now the voyages have resumed and

vacationers have returned to the sea, even as the industry still faces health and environmental concerns.

This year, for example, the CDC has recorded 13 norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships, four of them on Royal Caribbean International cruises.

And environmentalists like Marcie Keever, program director of oceans and vessels at Friends of the Earth in Washington, contend that cruise lines “continue to build bigger ships that rely on fossil fuels, dump toxic wastewater into our oceans and burden coastal communities with air, water and garbage pollution.”

Royal Caribbean referred a request for comment on Tuesday seeking more details about the ship to its website. The company said it could not comment about environmental concerns, citing a quiet period required ahead of its next earnings report.

However, the company has touted the effect that the Icon of the Seas is already showing on its bottom line, saying in a statement that advance bookings during the first quarter were “significantly higher” than the first quarter of 2019.

Jason Liberty, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group, said during an earnings call in May that the Icon of the Seas has been “significantly more booked” for its inaugural season “than any other Royal Caribbean ship launch.”

Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, said during the call that the ship was “the best performing new product launch we’ve ever had in the history of our business.”

“It’s really driving a huge amount of demand,” Bayley said.

An artist’s rendering of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, provided by Royal Caribbean International.

Wall St ends up, extends recent gains on cooling US inflation

U.S. stocks extended recent gains to end higher on Thursday, with the Nasdaq rising more than 1% for a second straight day, as data showed the annual increase in U.S. producer inflation was the smallest in nearly three years.

The data provided more evidence that inflation pressures were subsiding. Wednesday’s CPI report showed U.S. consumer prices registered their smallest annual increase in more than two years.

The reports have helped to support the view the Federal Reserve will stop hiking rates after an expected 25 basis points rate increase later this month.

“PPI is another confirmation this week that inflation continues to trend in the right direction even as we see better overall labor market and consumer data. That is a good sign,” said Mona Mahajan, senior investment strategist at Edward Jones.

In the 12 months through June, the producer price index climbed 0.1%. That was the smallest year-on-year gain since August 2020 and followed a 0.9% increase in May.

Technology-related shares provided the most support to the S&P 500, and an index of tech-focused shares including megacaps gained 2.7% and registered a record high close.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 47.71 points, or 0.14%, to 34,395.14, the S&P 500 gained 37.88 points, or 0.85%, to 4,510.04 and the Nasdaq Composite added 219.61 points, or 1.58%, to 14,138.57.

U.S. chip stocks also rallied, with Nvidia jumping to a record high during the session and the Philadelphia semiconductor index rising 2%.

Offsetting some of the day’s upbeat tone, a separate report showed weekly jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week, indicating that the labor market remains tight.

Focus also is shifting to the second-quarter U.S. earnings season kicking off this week. Shares of JPMorgan Chase ended up 0.5% ahead of its quarterly results due before the opening bell Friday.

“We might have another quarter here where the positive sentiment will continue,” said Alan Lancz, president of Alan B. Lancz & Associates Inc. in Toledo, Ohio.

“As long as expectations and guidance are in line, that’s what a lot of institutional investors will be looking at.”

Delta Air Lines ended near flat after rising on news it lifted its full-year profit outlook, citing a relentless post-pandemic travel boom.

PepsiCo shares jumped 2.4% after the company raised its annual revenue and profit forecasts for the second time.

Among the day’s other gainers, shares of Google parent Alphabet Inc shot up 4.7%. It said it was rolling out its artificialintelligence chatbot Bard in Europe and Brazil, easing worries about overseas regulatory issues.

Recent weakness in the U.S. dollar could be among positives for U.S. multinational companies for future earnings, strategists said.

MOST ASSERTIVE STOCKS

PUERTO RICO STOCKS

Volume on U.S. exchanges was 10.82 billion shares, compared with the 11.11 billion average for the full session over the last 20 trading days.

Fired Russian general’s remarks the latest sign of disarray in military leadership

Gobierno de Puerto Rico DEPARTAMENTO DE RECURSOS

El peticionario, Sr. Amed Ortiz Acevedo, Presidente Sea View Suites, cuya dirección postal es PO Box 1473, Hormigueros, PR 00660, ha solicitado al Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) la renovación del Permiso de Operación para un sistema de inyección subterránea (SIS) Clase VC-I, bajo las disposiciones del Reglamento para el Control de la Inyección Subterránea (RCIS), y la Ley Federal de Agua Potable Segura, según enmendada 42 USC 300f et seq. (LFAPS).

El SIS 001 consiste de una planta de tratamiento una planta de tratamiento secundaria Modelo IV-175 con una capacidad de tratamiento de 9,211.0 galones por día y dos (2) lechos de percolación, la dimensión del lecho # 1 es de 63.0 pies de largo por 20.0 pies de ancho con un área de percolación de 1,260.0 pies cuadrado y el lecho # 2 es de 73.0 de largo por 20.0 pies de ancho con un área de percolación de 1,460.00 pies cuadrados para la disposición de agua sanitarias provenientes de la facilidad. El referido SIS, está ubicado en la Carretera 107, Sector Playuela, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

Luego de realizada la evaluación correspondiente de los documentos sometidos, el DRNA tiene la intención de emitir la renovación del Permiso de Operación para la instalación antes indicada, en conformidad con los requisitos del RCIS y de la LFAPS.

Esta notificación se hace para informar que el DRNA, ha preparado el borrador de los permisos de forma tal que el público interesado pueda someter sus comentarios con relación al mismo. Los permisos contienen las condiciones y prohibiciones necesarias para cumplir con los requisitos reglamentarios aplicables.

El público puede evaluar copia de la solicitud de permiso que sometió el peticionario ante el DRNA, el borrador del permiso y otros documentos relevantes en la Oficina Regional de Mayagüez (ORM) cuya oficina está localizada en la Carr. PR-2, Km 164, Edificio Plaza Monserrate, en Hormigueros, Puerto Rico. Copia de dichos documentos pueden adquirirse en la Oficina del Secretario localizada en el Edificio de Agencias Ambientales Cruz A. Matos, Urbanización San José Industrial Park, Ave. Ponce de León 1375, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00926 o en la ORM, entre las 8:00 am y las 4:00 pm de lunes a viernes o escribiendo a la dirección: Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales.

Las partes interesadas o afectadas pueden enviar sus comentarios o solicitar una vista pública por escrito al Gerente del Área de Calidad de Agua, Director de la ORM y a la Secretaria del DRNA, respectivamente, a la dirección antes indicada.

Los comentarios por escrito o la solicitud de vistas públicas deberán ser sometidos a la DRNA, no más tarde de treinta (30) días a partir de la fecha de publicación de este aviso. La fecha límite para someter comentarios puede ser extendida si se estima necesario o apropiado para el interés público. La solicitud para una vista pública deberá señalar la razón o las razones que en la opinión del solicitante ameritan la celebración de la misma. De realizarse una vista pública los interesados o afectados tendrán una oportunidad razonable para presentar evidencia o testimonio sobre si se emiten o deniegan los permisos, el Secretario determina que dicha

Anaís Rodríguez Vega Secretaria

Ammunition and litter in a trench of a former Russian position in Novodarivka, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, on July 6, 2023. The latest sign of disarray within the Russian military emerged with the release, late on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, of a four-minute recording in which a top Russian general, fired from his post commanding troops on the critical Zaporizhzhia front, accused the military leadership of inflicting a blow on his forces at a challenging time.

By PAUL SONNE and ANATOLY KURMANAEV

Turmoil has engulfed the leadership ranks of the Russian military nearly three weeks after a failed mutiny, posing new distractions and risks for Moscow’s forces as they try to fend off a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

The latest sign of disarray emerged with the release late Wednesday of a four-minute recording in which a top Russian general, fired from his post commanding troops on the critical Zaporizhzhia front, accused the military leadership of inflicting a blow on his forces at a challenging time.

Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov had been commanding Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army until he was removed in what he described as retribution for voicing the truth about battlefield problems to senior leadership behind closed doors.

“The soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine couldn’t break through our army from the front,” Popov said in farewell talk to his troops, a recording of which was released by a Russian lawmaker. “We were hit in the rear by our senior commander, who treacherously and vilely decapitated our army at the most difficult and tense moment.”

The general’s dismissal came as recriminations have reverberated through the ranks of the Russian military in the

aftermath of a failed June 24 mutiny by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner private mercenary company.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that at least 13 senior Russian officers had been detained for questioning in the days since the insurrection, with some later released, and around 15 had been suspended from duty or fired.

It was not immediately clear whether Popov’s firing was connected to the Wagner uprising, but the removal of a high-level general whose forces appeared to be performing successfully on one of the most important stretches of the front line in Ukraine left many Russian observers shocked.

“The removal of Popov is a monstrous act of terrorism against army morale,” Russian military blogger Roman Saponkov wrote on the Telegram app, saying that the failure of the Wagner uprising had emboldened the Russian military leadership to purge its ranks.

Alexander Sladkov, a war correspondent for Russian state television, said that Popov was not an insurrectionist and would most likely reappear in a different position on the front. He warned that the Russian military should be preserving every soldier and general in combat because “we have great trials ahead of us.”

The fired general’s remarks added to a picture of internal discontent with the battlefield leadership of Gen.

Valery Gerasimov, who was tapped by the Kremlin in January to replace Gen. Sergei Surovikin and lead the war effort in Ukraine. Since then, Gerasimov has commanded Ukraine operations while serving simultaneously as chief of the Russian General Staff, an unconventional conflation of duties for a military at war.

Prigozhin, before leading his uprising, regularly launched public tirades against Gerasimov for incompetent leadership. He said his actions on June 24 were aimed at dethroning the general and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu — not at seizing power from President Vladimir Putin.

In the recording of his farewell speech, Popov said he had been fired after raising problems with the Russian military’s top leadership, including a lack of counter battery and artillery reconnaissance capabilities, as well as excessive deaths and injuries that Russian troops were suffering on the battlefield.

In addition to losing Popov as a commander, Russian forces fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region also saw another top general killed in recent days.

Lt. Gen. Oleg Tsokov, the deputy commander of Russia’s Southern Military District, died in a Ukrainian airstrike Tuesday on the occupied city of Berdiansk, marking one of the highestlevel losses Russia has suffered on the battlefield since the start of the war.

Guatemala’s election thrown into turmoil after top party is suspended

By JODY GARCÍA, EMILIANO RODRÍGUEZ MEGA and SIMON ROMERO

Guatemala’s presidential election was thrown into turmoil Wednesday night after a top prosecutor moved to suspend the party of a surging anti-corruption candidate, threatening his bid to take part in a runoff and potentially dealing a severe blow to the country’s already fraying democracy.

The move could prevent Bernardo Arévalo, a lawmaker who jolted Guatemala’s political class in June with a surprise showing propelling him in the Aug. 20 runoff, from competing against Sandra Torres, a former first lady.

Rafael Curruchiche, the prosecutor who mounted the case to suspend the party, has himself been listed among corrupt Central American officials by the United States for obstructing corruption inquiries.

The development places even greater stress on Guatemala’s political system, after the barring of several top presidential candidates who were viewed as threatening to the political and economic establishment, assaults on press freedom, and the forced exile of dozens of prosecutors and judges focused on curbing

corruption.

“They are stealing the election in broad daylight, using one of the very institutions which is supposed to protect us,” Gustavo Marroquín, a history professor and columnist, said on Twitter.

The prosecutor’s move fueled confusion and anger in Guatemala’s capital, where hun-

dreds of people gathered in protest Wednesday shortly after Curruchiche’s announcement. The prosecutor took the action as Guatemala’s election authority was preparing to officially dismiss efforts to delay the runoff, allowing the vote to proceed as planned.

When asked by reporters about the prosecutor’s move against Arévalo’s party, Irma Elizabeth Palencia, the election authority’s leader, said, “It is definitely something that worries us.”

Brian Nichols, the top State Department official for the Western Hemisphere, said on Twitter that the United States government was “deeply concerned” by what he described as Curruchiche’s “threats to Guatemala’s electoral democracy.” “Institutions must respect the will of voters,” Nichols added.

Arévalo’s party can appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a legal battle and potentially sending the issue to Guatemala’s top constitutional court.

Curruchiche said the case against Arévalo’s party, called Semilla, or Seed, involved claims that it used fraudulent signatures to qualify as a political party. After his office looked into the case, a criminal judge ordered the suspension of Semilla’s registration, which could ef-

fectively prohibit the party, and Arévalo, from competing in the runoff.

Speaking on CNN en Español, Arévalo said he would proceed with his candidacy, contending that under Guatemalan law political parties cannot be suspended during an electoral process (the first round of voting took place June 25 and the runoff is set for Aug. 20.)

“The powerful no longer want the people to freely decide their future, but we will defeat them,” Arévalo also said on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Legal experts questioned the move by Curruchiche, an ally of the outgoing president, Alejandro Giammattei. Edgar Ortiz Romero, a constitutional law expert, said the move was “absolutely illegal” since a criminal judge cannot suspend a party’s registration under Guatemalan election laws.

“This places us in the sad group of countries with advanced authoritarian features in which the legal system is used to attack opponents,” Ortiz Romero said.

The independent watchdog group Mirador Electoral said in a statement that the suspension “attempts to consummate an electoral coup equivalent to a coup d’état.”

Protesters gathered Wednesday in Guatemala City after a prosecutor ordered the suspension of the Semilla Party, whose candidate is in the runoff for the country’s presidential election.

On the front line of a war over bullfighting traditions

By JASON HOROWITZ

After a nearly seven-hour journey, the bus carrying “The Popeye Bullfighter and his Dwarf Sailors” slowed to a stop around the brick bullfighting ring in Teruel. A brass band, clowns, children, wives, babies, the company’s leader and seven performers th achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that causes the more common type of dwarfism, spilled out into the sun.

“Teruel,” Jimmy Muñoz, a 57-year-old comic bullfighter with the condition, said as he stepped off the bus. “A very difficult place.”

Teruel, in eastern Spain, is known mostly for its Islamic Mudejar architecture, its starcrossed Medieval lovers and a population density so low it spawned a political party called Teruel Exists.

But Muñoz was referring to the town’s new status on the front line of a culture war with political overlays between Spain’s conservative defenders of bullfighting traditions and liberals who find them brutal, retrograde and, in the case of comic bullfighting shows in which some of the performers with achondroplasia take on smaller 1-year-old bulls, illegal.

For its annual fiesta this July, Teruel — which traces its founding to Christian soldiers repelling a Muslim attack of bulls with their horns on fire and especially one that survived to take a siesta — has rejected a May law passed by the Spanish Parliament that seemed to prohibit comic bullfights. The law banned “shows or leisure activities” that use a disability “to provoke public mockery, ridicule or derision.”

“These shows ridicule, humiliate, mock and denigrate people,” said Felipe Orviz Orviz, 43, a lawyer and activist who also has achondroplasia.

As the Popeye bus wound its way toward Teruel, the lawyer threatened legal action if the show went on and recounted how people have mistaken him for a performer and shouted, “Look at the dwarf bullfighter,” at him during fiestas. The shows, he said, “are illegal.”

But defenders of the show cited another clause of the law, which states that “people with disabilities will participate in public shows and recreational activities, including bullfighting, without discrimination.”

Benito Ros, an official with the Aragon region who is based in Teruel, argued that the comic bullfighters were getting laughs for their antics, not their stature, and that to ban them was to discriminate against their right to work.

“Our legal experts say it can go ahead because they are not provoking mockery,” Ros said. “I have a clean conscience.”

At 12:22 p.m. on the day of the show, his

office sent the event’s organizer, David Gracia, 47, final authorization as he checked on the bulls fuming in the stalls. “We are defending freedom. They are trying to turn this country into a moral dictatorship,” Gracia said. “I have goose bumps talking about this.”

A few minutes later, the bus arrived.

“Let’s go, little ones,” barked Juan Ajenjo — Popeye, who does not have achondroplasia — using the term the performers also used to describe one another. In the business for 42 years, he had seen the number of shows crater in the last 15. “It’s not good,” he said of the new law. “The politicians don’t want the little ones to work.”

But work they did. Amid all the back and forth between activists, lawyers and politicians, the performers — several of whom confront real bulls during the show — said they needed the money, earning between 150 and 400 euros a day. Unlike their gigs as servers or as entertainment in discos, this was a performance they took pride in, several of them said. And they had to get on with the show.

“We are artists, and this is our dream,” said Muñoz, a married father of two, who came to Spain from Ecuador 30 years ago. “This is the right to work; they can’t take it away from us,” he said. “There is a family that eats behind this.”

The troupe hit the streets to hand out stacks of flyers, which, like the front page of that day’s Diario de Teruel, advertised them as “dwarf sailors.” A band playing trombones and tubas followed behind.

“We’re not OK with the bullfighting,” said Mariano Mateo, 66, a retired psychology professor who got a flyer. “And this is even worse.”

The performers crossed a bridge and entered the main Plaza del Torico, where the evening before, local children ran away from wheelbarrows fitted with bull heads and horns, and now hundreds waited in line to ascend on a crane to the top of the city’s trademark column, topped by a small brass bull wearing a red fiesta scarf.

The band played, and the performers danced at the foot of the column, and Ezequiel Gonzalez, 67, clapped along with his grandchildren.

The show was “fun and educational,” he said, adding, “the children asked if they’re real,” referring to the performers.

About a half-hour later, some of the performers took a breather in the shade. One slipped away for a day on the town, and others accepted the local delicacy of bread, ham and red peppers that the mayor handed out to hundreds to celebrate the fiesta.

Here’s what the experts say about managing Putin

By NICHOLAS KRISTOF

Many Americans and Europeans flatter themselves by seeing the war in Ukraine through a false prism.

Too often, we think we have sacrificed for the Ukrainians. We pat ourselves on the back for providing expensive weapons and paying higher heating bills to help Ukrainians win their freedom — and we wish they’d get on with it.

In fact, what’s clear here in the Baltic countries is that it’s the other way around: The Ukrainians are sacrificing for us. They’re the ones doing us a favor, by degrading the Russian military and reducing the risk of a war in Europe that would cost the lives of our troops.

“We have by our support for Ukraine defended ourselves,” said Egils Levits, who concluded his term as Latvia’s president this month. He used his last full interview before leaving office to argue that the West should provide Ukraine with more weapons to ensure that it recovers all its territory, including Crimea — so that Vladimir Putin’s aggression is thoroughly discredited.

The NATO summit here this week moved toward adding Sweden to the fold, kept everyone united and generally went well; the only loser was Russia. But the

real test isn’t whether fine words are offered in front of cameras, but whether Western countries step up their arms transfers to Ukraine to increase the prospect that the war can actually end.

“We all have to do more,” Estonia’s prime minister, Kaja Kallas, told me. She’s right, and I’m not sure that everyone in the West gets that. President Joe Biden has done an outstanding job of alliance management — one reason the summit went so well — but I believe he has been too cautious and reactive in providing weaponry that Ukraine needs, such as precision long-range missiles and fighter aircraft.

As one looks back over the past couple of decades, many in Germany and across Western Europe and America were lulled into the fiction that post-Communist Russia was a gentler bear. In contrast, the Baltic countries — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — were ahead of the curve in their warnings about Putin, so in the run-up to the summit I’ve traveled through the three nations to get their take on Ukraine and Russia.

To be frank, they still think we’re somewhat naive.

“We should give more support now so that Ukraine can prevail,” Levits insisted, and he warned that it would be a great mistake to end the war with a deal that gives Crimea or other parts of Ukraine to Russia.

“That’s absolutely a bad idea, because it would provoke the next war,” he said. “The conclusion for Moscow would be clear: The West is weak.”

The Baltic countries are cleareyed about Russia because of their history. The Soviets seized all three countries during World War II and ruled them harshly until they won independence in 1991. Kallas’ own mother was deported by cattle car to Siberia.

Yet Russia has never fully confronted this history, and that may be why 70% of Russians said in a 2019 poll that they approve of Josef Stalin — and why they say in polls today that they approve of Putin.

To break this cycle, Kallas said, it’s important to make Putin fail, and to hold him accountable in a war crimes trial.

If Putin ends the war with a chunk of Ukraine, she said, dictators would get the message that aggression pays, and “nobody could really feel safe.”

The Baltic countries are motivated because they fear that if Ukraine falls, they could be next on the chopping block. Estonia has contributed more to Ukraine’s war effort as a share of gross domestic product than any other country — from howitzers to mobile sauna units (Estonians love their saunas). Kallas wishes that other countries had done more to accelerate their arms transfers to Ukraine, rather than send them in dribs and drabs.

“I sometimes think: Would the outcome be different if we had given all the military aid we are giving now already in March” last year, Kallas mused. “Because then maybe Russia would have realized sooner they made a mistake.”

One reason Biden has been slow to send long-range missiles and fighter aircraft to Ukraine is concern about provoking Putin into using tactical nuclear weapons. Both Levits and Kallas dismiss that argument, and it’s worth listening to them given their record of being right.

“Russia or Putin is provoked by weakness, and not provoked by strength,” Levits said. He noted that while we don’t know the full story yet, it seems that when mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin crossed every red line and directly challenged Moscow, Putin’s response was to negotiate, conciliate and de-escalate.

Kallas likewise wants to see the West provide more weaponry — including cluster bombs — to help Ukraine win.

“If we give out signals that threatening us with a nuclear bomb actually will get you what you want, all the dictators will want to have a nuclear bomb,” she added. “That is waking up to a much more dangerous world.”

We’re right to celebrate a successful NATO summit. But especially if Ukraine struggles to recover large swaths of territory in this counteroffensive, there’ll be feckless grumbling in Western capitals about the price we’re paying and the favors we’re doing Ukraine. Anyone tempted to think that way should listen to the Baltic leaders, because they’ve learned the hard way how best to manage unruly bears.

Dr.

María

Ukrainian soldiers with the 79th Air Assault Brigade at work in the front-line village of Novomikhailivka, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, June 8, 2023.

POR EL STAR STAFF

SAN JUAN – Con una inversión de $1,268,064.00, el Municipio de San Juan adquirió un total de 136 unidades de vivienda, a través del Programa de Vivienda Asequible: Project Based Voucher, para brindar residencias en la Ciudad Capital a adultos mayores de 62 años y de bajos ingresos económicos.

Así lo anunció en conferencia de prensa el alcalde de San Juan, Miguel A. Romero Lugo, quien detalló que

por cada unidad de vivienda se otorgará un subsidio de $699.00, que permitirá cubrir los gastos de alquiler o renta de la vivienda con el fin de que los adultos mayores tengan un lugar seguro y digno para vivir. Según explicó, el subsidio está vinculado directamente a la unidad y no al participante.

“La vivienda es una de las necesidades fundamentales del ser humano y en el caso particular de nuestros envejecientes, tiene un impacto significativo en su bienestar físico y mental. Desde la administración municipal de San Juan, hoy anunciamos un extraordinario programa con el cual garantizamos el que nuestros envejecientes puedan lograr calidad de vida, independencia y seguridad. Continuamos identificando fondos y proyectos para desarrollar que nos permitan fomentar más proyectos como este, que a su vez sean modelos para otros pueblos y ciudades”, afirmó el primer ejecutivo municipal.

Romero Lugo informó que Casa Metropolitana y Urbana I y II, son los dos proyectos de vivienda que se unieron al

Project Based Voucher, con 63 y 73 unidades residenciales disponibles, respectivamente.

El alcalde hizo el anuncio durante la entrega de los primeros 54 vouchers para adultos mayores que solicitaron y cumplieron con los requisitos de elegibilidad para residir en Casa Metropolitana.

Cada apartamento cuenta con un cuarto, totalmente equipado con nevera, estufa eléctrica, calentador de agua y detector de humo. Además, los condóminos cuentan con estacionamiento para los residentes, elevador, control de seguridad y un salón de actividades.

Los adultos mayores interesados en cualificar para un vale de vivienda en estos proyectos pueden comunicarse al 787-480-5455 o visitar las oficinas del Departamento de Vivienda del Municipio de San Juan, ubicadas en la Urbanización La Riviera, esquina calle 54 SE Avenida De Diego #130, Puerto Nuevo.

POR CYBERNEWS

CAROLINA – La Policía informó el jueves que busca a Heidy Michelle Marmolejo García, sospechosa de supuestamente planificar y contratar a un individuo para cometer el asesinato de su expareja en octubre de 2022.

Según la División de Homicidios del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Criminales de Carolina, Marmolejo García supuestamente pactó con Giovany J. Maldonado Ortiz para asesinar a Edgar Paul Tejada García, también conocido como “El Ministro” y a Kaleymi Angelí Cosme Feliciano, su nueva pareja. Maldonado Ortiz supuestamente reclutó a Giovann Stella Laboy para ejecutar el crimen.

De acuerdo con la investigación del agente Pedro Medina, los imputados supuestamente siguieron a Tejada

García desde su casa durante la madrugada del 29 de octubre de 2022, disparándole hasta llegar a la avenida Baldorioty de Castro en Carolina. Allí, le causaron la muerte por múltiples heridas de bala, mientras que su pareja sobrevivió al atentado.

La jueza Geiza Marrero del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Carolina determinó causa probable para arresto por asesinato en primer grado, tentativa de asesinato y violaciones a la Ley de Armas de Puerto Rico. La fianza global para los imputados es de 6,550,000 dólares.

La Policía solicita a cualquier persona con información que pueda ayudar a encontrar a Marmolejo García, que se comunique con la División de Homicidios de Carolina al 787-257-7500 extensión 1610 o a la línea confidencial del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico 787-343-2020.

Buscan a mujer como supuesta autora intelectual de asesinato de su expareja en Carolina

Administración Municipal de San Juan anuncia program de vivienda asequible para adultos mayores: Project Based Voucher

Andrew Ridgeley on George Michael and life after Wham!

By ERIK PIEPENBURG

If you weren’t a teenager in 1984, it might be hard to understand this, but here goes: There are Gen X-ers who remember where they were the first time they saw the video for the Wham! clap-along pop anthem “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.”

In it, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, the heartthrob frontmen of Wham!, wear big smiles and beachy short shorts as they perform their infectious bop — titled after a note Ridgeley had once left on his family’s refrigerator — for a small crowd of adoring fans. There were fingerless gloves, neon face paint, white “Choose Life” T-shirts that had nothing to do with abortion: It was a new-wave dance party for cool kids who thought Mötley Crüe sucked.

Ridgeley, who turned 60 in January, remembers making it as great fun.

“It was our first video with an audience,” he said during a recent video interview from his home in London. “The atmosphere was really quite excitable and exciting.”

Ridgeley and his bandmate are the subject of “Wham!,” a documentary that premieres on Wednesday on Netflix. Directed by Chris Smith, it charts the British group’s climb to pop stardom, beginning with its ferocious appearance on the music show “Top of the Pops” in 1982, through the global success that followed the albums “Fantastic” (1983) and “Make It Big” (1984), and finishing with the 1986 farewell concert in London.

The film, which is itself directed like a power-pop video, explains how the duo’s modern mix of disco, funk, pop and soul, in songs like “Young Guns (Go for It),” “Careless Whisper” and “Freedom,” helped make Wham! one of the biggest pop groups of the late 20th century, even though it lasted just four years. Unlike bands that split over artistic or personal disagreements, Wham! didn’t have a rise and fall. “It was just a rise and they called it a day,” Smith said. They didn’t break up either, said Ridgeley, but rather “brought Wham! to a close in a manner of our own choosing.”

Fans might be disappointed to learn that in the documentary Ridgeley is heard but not seen as he appears today: debonair and patrician, with silver hair and a still-cheeky smile. Smith said it would have thrown the film’s mythic aspirations off balance if Ridgeley were on camera but not Michael, who died seven years ago at 53.

After Wham!, Ridgeley told me, he and Michael were “no longer living in each other’s

pockets” as they had done since they were kids. But their bond was fixed.

If Ridgeley is tired of being known mostly for his friendship with Michael, he didn’t show it. He brightened when chatting about Michael, whose loss left Ridgeley feeling “like the sky had fallen in,” as he said in 2017. But he didn’t seem into talking much about his life now, other than to say he enjoyed cycling.

The documentary includes archival media coverage and tons of concert footage, including scenes of groundbreaking shows in 1985, when Wham! became the first Western pop group to perform in China.

But it’s Ridgeley’s mother who supplied the most personal treasures. Since her son’s grade-school days making music with Michael, she kept about 50 meticulously organized scrapbooks stuffed with photos, reviews and other ephemera. They include snapshots from the mid-1970s when Ridgeley first got to know Michael as Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, the son of a Cypriot father and a British mother.

Ridgeley was also the son of an immigrant father — his dad was Egyptian — and a British mother, and he hit it off immediately with the boy he called Yog, a nickname he used often in our interview. The scrapbooks paint a vivid portrait of boys who loved Queen and “Saturday Night Fever” and desired to make music a career.

“The only thing I ever wanted to do from the age of 14 was to be in a band, write songs and perform,” Ridgeley said with a 14-year-old’s enthusiasm in his voice, adding that fame and celebrity “were never a motivating factor for either of us.”

Ridgeley said he and Michael knew

Wham! would have a finite life span because Michael’s songwriting began “developing and evolving in a way and at a speed” that Wham! couldn’t accommodate. In November, Michael will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

When Michael came out to him after they filmed the video for “Club Tropicana” (1983), 15 years before he did so publicly, Ridgeley said he supported him with love and a shrug. Michael was more freaked out by how his father might react than how the public would, Ridgeley said; had Michael come out during the Wham! years, Ridgeley said he and fans would have had his back.

“I didn’t think it was going to affect our success, and in the long term it probably wouldn’t,” he said. “It would have been difficult for a while for him, there’s no doubt about that. It would have required management by us all. But after the initial sensationalism, it’s on the table isn’t it?”

After Wham!, Ridgeley released a 1990 solo album that flatlined and he did a short stint as a Formula Three driver, but he has otherwise stayed out of the limelight. The British tabloids have kept breathless tabs on his love life — including his 25-year relationship with Keren Woodward, a member of another ’80s pop group, Bananarama — much as they did when they gave him the Wham!-era nickname Randy Andy. Ridgeley said “few stones remain unturned” as he’s worked the past five years on projects that are all-things-Wham! In 2019, he published a memoir, “Wham! George Michael & Me,” and had a cameo that year in the romanticcomedy “Last Christmas,” which was inspired by the group’s eponymous chart-topping holiday single. Later this month comes “Echoes From the Edge of Heaven,” a Wham! singles collection. He still seems to be in awe of what he and his best friend made together.

“I could never quite really get that we had achieved the same kind of success as the artists that we revered like gods when we were growing up,” he said. “We were playing Wembley Stadium, the same place Elton John played. You can say, ‘I am the same.’ But in your own mind, you’re never the same.”

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Ridgeley said his bond with Michael endured even after Wham! ended.

Valentino: More is more

By IRIS EDÉN SANTIAGO Special to The STAR

It was all about the earrings.

Shoulder-grazing chandelier earrings -- eye-catching, bold, huge -- accessorized almost every look in Valentino’s haute couture Fall Winter 2023-2024 collection. The earrings were worn by models parading in ultra sophisticated Red Carpet looks in shades of red, olive, emerald, gold, co balt, lavender and periwinkle. The same earrings also elevated casual looks, like the embroidered pair of jeans (Levi’s 501, according to online reports) and crisp white shirt worn by Kaia Gerber, who opened the show at the grand fairytale chateau in Chantilly, France.

The ever fabulous white shirt, a staple for Carolina Herrera in countless glam looks, was featured big time by Valentino. And it has to be said, it was done very well. Another repetitive element, but equally charming and in different colors, bowed kitten heels and ballerina flats. Valentino’s creative director, Pierpaolo Pic cioli, knows the way to a woman’s heart: girly shoes, glitter and earrings.

For Piccioli, more is more. And in that tone we must mention the variety of capes, stoles, coats and explosion of feathers complementing floral print ball gowns and

metallic sheaths. We loved the strategic cutouts, the bubble dress es and the draped bodices. Valentino presented maxi dresses, mini dresses and barely there dresses. Also winning? Colorful suits for men

In Pierpaolo Piccioli’s own words: “The strength of this collection is noth ing but a paradox. What you see is not what it is, denim is made out of beads, draping is sculpted, feath ers are made lighter (if this was even possible). Ate liers went beyond the definition of what is possible to do. They did something that is quite close to a magic trick.”

It’s not summer without a tinto de verano

By REBEKAH PEPPLER

If you’re convinced that red wine should be reserved for the colder, more sweater-worthy months, consider the tinto de verano.

A fizzy, ruby-hued combination of red wine and citrusy soda served over ice, it’s to summer in Spain what a chilled bottle of rosé is to l’été in Provence.

“It’s a fun, easy beach or pool drink,” said Sandra Cordero, the owner of Gasolina and the soon-to-open Bar Xuntos in Los Angeles. “I wouldn’t drink a tinto de verano below 80 degrees.”

To make it, start by choosing the right tinto or red wine. The Spanish traditionally opt for more robust and tannic table wines: Look to tempranillo, garnacha or monastrell grape varieties, or ask your neighborhood wine shop to recommend a bottle. The short ingredient list means each element strongly influences the drink, so Cordero suggests picking a bottle you’d have on its own.

Pour your chosen (and preferably chilled) tinto over ice, then cut the wine with a citrus-forward soda to brighten and add effervescence. In Spain, La Casera, a citrusy soda so pervasive that it is simply referred to as “gaseosa,” or “soda” in Spanish, is the soft drink of choice. But you can use another lemon-forward soda, such as 7Up or Sprite, cutting it with a splash of soda water to counter any sweetness.

These three ingredients — wine, soda, ice — are all you need for a proper tinto de verano. But, that said, there’s plenty of room to play.

Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice — or dare to make your own citrus simple syrup as in this recipe. Muddle lemon and lime peels with sugar and a pinch of salt, add fresh lemon juice, heat just enough to dissolve the sugar, and then set aside to steep. In about an hour, you have a sweet-tart syrup ready for your tinto de verano. Combine any extra with soda or tonic water for lemonade, add it to another cocktail recipe that calls for citrus and standard simple syrup such as a sherry margarita or Tuxedo Cobbler, or just keep it in the refrigerator for your next round of tintos de verano.

There’s even room to swap your tinto. Cordero suggests trying a dark rosé. (Call it a Rosado de Verano?) Should you prefer a drink that leans a bit rounder and more herbal, add sweet vermouth. Serve over ice in a wineglass, a small highball or a larger lowball — whatever you have on hand — or allow friends to pour their own according to their tastes. However you choose to tinto, the result is a light, refreshing cocktail ideal for hot weather drinking.

Tinto de verano

A drink built and named for summer, Spain’s effervescent tinto de verano (summer red wine) matches the season’s easygoing nature. At its most traditional, the recipe sticks to just three ingredients: ice, red wine and citrus soda. (La Casera, from Spain, is most classic, but 7Up and Sprite also work.) This version includes an option for a bright lemonlime syrup mixed with soda water to stand in for the classic’s soft drink, plus a pour of vermouth for rounder, herbal notes. But, should you prefer your tinto de verano adhere to tradition, feel free to add more red wine in place of the vermouth. While the below recipe will yield a balanced, light and fizzy tinto de verano, there’s no need to get overly caught up on perfect measurements, the drink readily adapts to personal preference — and eyeballing ounces.

Yield: 1 drink

Total time: 20 minutes, plus 1 1/2 hours for optional syrup

Ingredients:

For the lemon-lime syrup (optional):

1 lemon, peeled

1 lime, peeled

3/4 cup sugar

Pinch of fine sea salt

3/4 cup/6 ounces fresh lemon juice (from about 2 1/2 large lemons)

For the drink:

Ice

2 ounces dry red wine

3/4 ounce sweet vermouth (optional)

4 ounces lemon-lime soda, such as La Casera, 7Up or Sprite (or use 3/4 ounce Lemon-Lime

Simple Syrup, plus 2 to 4 ounces soda water)

Lemon wheel, for garnish

Preparation:

1. If making the lemon-lime syrup, place the citrus peels in a small saucepan, and add the sugar and salt. Use a muddler or the end of a rolling pin to break down the mixture, working the sugar mixture into the peels until they start to express their oils. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine. Heat over low, stirring frequently, just until the sugar dissolves. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and set aside to steep for 1 to 2 hours. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids. (You should have about 1 cup syrup. The syrup can be stored, in an airtight container in the refrigerator, for up to 3 weeks.)

2. In an ice-filled cocktail shaker, combine the wine, vermouth and syrup, if using. Cover and shake until cold, then strain into an ice-filled highball or wineglass. Top with soda (or soda water), and mix gently to combine. Garnish with the lemon wheel and serve.

A tinto de verano in New York, June 23, 2023. The irresistible combination of red wine and citrusy soda has been a longtime favorite in Spain — and it’s perfect for at-home bars, too.

By MELISSA CLARK

Apple pie may rule fall, but cherry pie is summer’s queen, lording over all other flavors for the few brief weeks when fresh cherries are in season. Because, while cherry pies made with frozen fruit are perfectly delightful, nothing beats the juicy bite of seasonal cherries, baked until syrupy and wrapped in a buttery crust.

The only question is, sour cherries or sweet? Each has its virtues. Sweet cherries are complex and gently spicy, with a crisp flesh that holds its shape even after baking. Sour cherries are tangier and more perfumed, with a tendency to break down to something between a compote and a glossy jam. You can make this recipe using either kind of cherry, with a few small adjustments.

To play up the acidity of mellow sweet cherries, I stir the grated zest and juice of a lemon into the fruit. Lime also works, adding floral notes along with its bite. You can skip this step with sour cherries, which are born zippy.

Sour cherries do need more sugar than sweet, but how much more depends on exactly how sour they are. Taste one. If you squint forcefully and uncontrollably, use the whole cup of sugar; threequarters of a cup will probably do it for a fluttering-eyelid kind of tang.

You have options for the tapioca thickener, too. Use less for a slice of pie whose juices stream all over your plate, possibly mingling with some vanilla ice cream alongside. Using the full amount of tapioca will give you a pie that’s neater to cut and serve, with a wobbly, jellylike filling.

I used to prebake the bottom crust of all my fruit pies, just to make sure it stayed nice and crisp. Nowadays, I find that using a metal pie pan (for good heat conduction) set on a piping-hot baking sheet in the bottom third of your oven works nearly as well and saves a whole step. But, if you’re using glass or ceramic pans, which don’t conduct heat as well, consider prebaking, or simply baking the whole pie a bit longer. (Glass pans let you see the color of the crust, so leave it

in the oven until it’s well bronzed.)

The cherries will remain just as vibrant, because for the next few weeks, they reign supreme.

Cherry Pie

In this classic and adaptable cherry pie recipe, you can use either sour cherries or sweet ones, fresh or frozen. Lemon zest and juice are mixed with the sweet cherries to add brightness and tang. But you can skip this step with sour cherries, which have their own natural acidity. Serve this pie warm or at room temperature, preferably within 24 hours of baking for the flakiest crust. Ice cream or whipped cream are optional, but very nice with the syrupy filling.

Yield: 8 servings

Total time: About 2 hours, plus at least 3 hours’ chilling and cooling

Ingredients:

For the pie dough:

2 1/2 cups/320 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for surface

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 cup/226 grams cold unsalted butter, cut

into 1/2-inch cubes

3 to 7 tablespoons ice water, plus more as needed

For the filling:

1/2 to 1 cup/100 to 200 grams granulated sugar

2 to 3 tablespoons instant tapioca

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or cardamom

2 pounds sour or sweet cherries (about 6 cups), pitted (or 20 ounces pitted frozen cherries)

1 lemon (optional)

3 tablespoons heavy cream

Demerara sugar, for sprinkling

Preparation:

1. Make the crust: In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a food processor, whisk or pulse together the flour and salt. Add the butter.

2. If using a bowl, toss with your hands until the butter pieces are well coated with flour. Cut the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your fingertips, flattening the cubes into big flakes and continuing to toss them in the flour to recoat the flakes. If using a food processor, pulse butter into the flour until the pieces are about the size of lima beans.

3. Mix or pulse in 3 tablespoons ice water, tossing it with the flour in the bowl if working by hand. Continue to add ice water, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, pulsing briefly or tossing well, until the dough begins to come together. Press the dough together if working by hand.

4. Form the dough into two disks about 1-inch thick. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 2 days before using. (It can also be frozen for up to 3 months, then thawed overnight in the refrigerator.)

5. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place a baking sheet on the bottom rack.

6. Make the filling: In a bowl of a food processor (you don’t have to wash it out if you used it for the dough), combine sugar (use 1/2 cup for sweet cherries and up to 1 cup for sour cherries), tapioca (use more for a thicker, solid filling, and less for looser, juicier filling), and cinnamon or cardamom. Run the motor until tapioca is finely ground.

7. Place cherries in a large bowl, and add sugar and tapioca mixture. Toss gently to combine. If using sweet cherries, zest the lemon into the bowl, then squeeze in the juice and toss well. (Sour cherries don’t need the extra acidity, so skip this if using.)

8. Using a rolling pin, roll out one disk of the dough on a lightly floured surface and into a 12-inch round, about 3/8inch thick. Fit the dough into a 9-inch pie plate, preferably metal for the crunchiest crust. Roll remaining dough for the top crust into an 11-inch round.

9. Pour the cherry mixture into the crust and top with the remaining round of dough. Press the edges together, trim the excess dough, and crimp the edges with your fingers or press down with the tines of a fork. Cut a few steam vents in the center of the pie.

10. Brush the top crust with cream and sprinkle generously with Demerara sugar. Carefully place pie on the hot baking sheet in the oven. Bake until the crust is dark golden brown and the filling bubbles up, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer pie to a wire rack to cool for at least 2 hours, allowing the filling to set before serving.

A cherry pie that’s as sweet (or sour) as you want it to be

Cherry pie in New York, June 15, 2023. Use whatever kind of cherries — fresh or frozen, sour or sweet — in this adaptable cherry pie from Melissa Clark. Food styled by Simon Andrews.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAYEY

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, como agente de FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC

Demandante Vs. CARLOS L. COLON ORTEGA

Demandado

CIVIL NÚM.: NJ2023CV00003

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO ORDINARIO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: CARLOS L. COLON ORTEGA

56 AVE. MAIN

BOULEVARD, URB

TERRA CAYEY, PUERTO RICO, LLC..

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://unired. ramajudicial.pr. 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 a los abogados de la parte demandante, la Lcda. Natalie Bonaparte cuyas direcciones son: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección natalie.bonaparte@ orf-law.com, edwin.serrano@ 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 13 de junio de 2023. En Caguas, Puerto Rico, el 13 de junio de 2023. Lisilda Martínez Agosto, Secretaria. Jessenia Pedraza Andino, Secretaria Auxiliar.

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Parte Demandante Vs. MARIO X LOPEZ PEREZ

Parte Demandada CIVIL NÚM. SJ2022CV09318

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

A: MARIO X LOPEZ PEREZ85 RES LLORENS TORRES APT 1671 , SAN JUAN PR 00913. 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://unired. ramajudicial.pr. 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 a los abogados de la parte demandante, la Lcda. Natalie Bonaparte Servera cuya dirección es: P.O. Box 71418 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936-8518, teléfono (787) 993-3731 a la dirección natalie.bonaparte@ orf-law.com, y a la dirección notificaciones@orf-law.com. EX-

TENDIDO BAJO MI FIRMA y el Sello del Tribunal, en San Juan, Puerto Rico, hoy día 13 de junio de 2023. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 14 de junio de 2023. Griselda Rodríguez Collado, Secretaria Regional. F/Loyda

M. Convertir Reyes, Secretaria Servicios a Sala.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYA-

MÓN SALA SUPERIOR BANCO POPULAR DE

PUERTO RICO COMO AGENTE DE SERVICIO DE MASSACHUSETTS

MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(MASS MUTUAL)

Parte Demandante Vs. ERNESTO MOJICA

ÁLVAREZ T/C/C

ERNESTO GERÓNIMO MOJICA ÁLVAREZ

T/C/C ERNESTO G. MOJICA ÁLVAREZ, ARLENE HERNÁNDEZ

TORRES T/C/C ARLENE

MOJICA ÁLVAREZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR

AMBOS

Parte Demandada

Civil Núm.: BY2022CV03958.

(505). 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 en Rebeldía dictada el 19 de abril de 2023 y notificada el 24 de abril de 2023, la Orden de Ejecución de Sentencia del 12 de junio de 2023 y el Mandamiento de Ejecución del 12 de junio de 2023 en el caso de epígrafe, procederé a vender el día 23 DE AGOSTO DE 2023, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en el Cuarto Piso de la Oficina del Alguacil de Subastas, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Centro Judicial de Bayamón, Sala Superior, ubicado en la Carretera Número Dos (#2), Kilómetro 10.4, Esquina Calle Esteban Padilla, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda de los Estados Unidos de América, cheque de gerente o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal; todo título, derecho o interés de la parte demandada sobre la siguiente propiedad:

URBANA: Solar radicado en el Barrio Mucarabones del Municipio de Toa Alta, marcado en el plan de inscripción con el Número veintinueve (29) del bloque Número 1P de la Urbanización Terrazas del Toa, con una cabida de 321.51 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE: con el Lote Número treinta y tres (33), en una distancia de 10.56 metros; por el SUR: con la Calle Número nueve (9), en una distancia de 17.40 metros; por el ESTE: con el Lote

Número veintiocho (28), a una distancia de 23.00 metros; y por el OESTE: con el Lote Número treinta (30), en una distancia de 23.00 metros. Afecto a una servidumbre de ancho de 5 pies a lo largo de su colindancia Sur a favor de Puerto Rico Telephone Company. Enclava una estructura tipo individual dedicada a vivienda, construida de hormigón. La propiedad consta inscrita al folio 121 del tomo 270 de Toa Alta, Finca 13126. Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III. La escritura de hipoteca consta inscrita al folio 122 del tomo 270 de Toa Alta, Finca 13126. Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III. Inscripción segunda. La primera y la segunda escritura de modificación de hipoteca constan inscritas al folio 123 del tomo 270 de Toa Alta, Finca 13126. Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III. Inscripción tercera (3ra) y cuarta (4ta). La tercera y cuarta escritura de modificación de hipoteca constan inscritas al tomo Karibe de Toa Alta, Finca 13126. Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III. Inscripción quinta (5ta) y nota marginal 5.1. Dirección Física: Urb. La Providencia, 1P29 Calle 9, Toa Alta PR 00953-4535. Número de Catastro: 12-084098-231-42-001. El tipo mínimo para la primera subasta será de $102,450.00. De no haber adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA, el día 30 DE AGOSTO DE 2023, A LAS 9:30 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, $68,300.00. De no haber adjudicación en la segunda subasta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA EL 6 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 2023, A LAS 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar, en la cual el tipo mínimo será la mitad del precio pactado, o sea, $51,225.00. 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 esta 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 $101,137.81 de principal, más intereses sobre dicha suma al 4.75% anual desde el 1 de marzo de 2019 hasta su completo pago, más $553.62 de recargos acumulados, los cuales continuarán en

aumento hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más la cantidad estipulada de $11,497.00 para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados, así como cualquier otra suma que contenga el contrato del préstamo. Surge del Estudio de Título Registral que sobre esta propiedad pesan los siguientes gravámenes posteriores a la hipoteca que por la presente se pretende ejecutar: a. Embargo Estatal: Anotado sobre esta finca, como perteneciente a Ernesto Mojica Álvarez y Arlene Hernández Torres, por la suma de $17,511.46 a favor del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, según certificación de fecha 30 de mayo de 2019. Anotada al asiento 2019-004379-EST del Libro de Embargos Estatales Karibe. Número de Orden: BAY19-1477. b. Aviso de Demanda: Pleito seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico como agente de servicio de Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Mass Mutual) Vs. Ernesto Mojica Álvarez t/c/c Ernesto Gerónimo Mojica Álvarez t/c/c Ernesto G. Mojica Álvarez y su esposa Arlene Hernández Torres t/c/c Arlene Mojica Álvarez, ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior Bayamón, en el Caso Civil Número BY2022CV03958, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, en la que se reclama el pago de hipoteca, con un balance de $101,137.81 y otras cantidades, según Demanda de fecha de 5 de agosto de 2022. Anotada al Tomo Karibe de Toa Alta. Anotación A. 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 Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy 29 de junio de 2023. EDGARDO ELÍAS VARGAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #193, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, CENTRO JUDICIAL DE BAYAMÓN, SALA SUPERIOR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE BAYAMON ORIENTAL BANK

Demandante V. NESTOR CABRERA MATOS, Y IA SUCESION DE MARITZA ARCHILLA ROBLES COMPUESTA

POR GABRIEL COSME ARCHILLA, JOY COSME ARCHILLA, MARIA GISELA COSME ARCHILLA, DAVID ROBLES ARCHILLA, FULANO Y FULANA DE TAL

Demandados.

CIVIL NÚM.: BY2022CV04102

SOBRE: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA. EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE.UU. EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE P.R. SS. AVISO DE PUBLICA SUBASTA. El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de BAYAMÓN, hago saber a Ia parte demandada, NESTOR CABRERA MATOS, y la SUCESION DE MARITZA ARCHILLA ROBLES compuesta por GABRIEL COSME ARCHILLA, JOY COSME ARCHILLA, MARIA GISELA COSME ARCHILLA, DAVID ROBLES ARCHILLA, FULANO V FULANA DE TAL y al PUBLICO EN GENERAL; que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia expedido el 12 de junio de 2023, por la Secretarla del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor pagadero en efectivo, cheque de gerente o giro postal, a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal, la siguiente propiedad con dirección física: Comunidad Puente Blanco 61 Barrio Palma, Cataño PR 00962 y que se describe como sigue: RUSTICA: Solar #61 de la Comunidad Rural Puente Blanco

en el Barrio Palmas de Cataño, Puerto Rico. Área 147.19 metros cuadrados. Lindes NORTE: con paseo público; SUR con Solar #63; ESTE con solar #62; OESTE con paseo público. Finca 5792 inscrita al Folio 195 del tomo 120 de Cataño, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección IV. La finca antes descrita se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: (i) HIPOTECA constituida por Néstor Cabrera Matos y esposa Maritza Archilla Robles, en garantía de un pagaré, a favor de La Autoridad para el Financiamiento de la Vivienda, o a su orden, por $37,000.00, al 6.50%, vencedero el 1 de marzo de 2036, según Esc. #35, en San Juan, a 24 de enero de 2006, ante Jean Paul Vissepó Garriga, inscrita al folio 204 del tomo 179 de Cataño, finca #5792, inscripción 5ta., bajo Ley #216. MODIFICADA la hipoteca de Ia inscripción 5ta., a $37,386.20, vence el 1 de junio de 2051, al 3.850%, por 36 meses, luego al 6.50%, según Esc. #122, en San Juan, a 31 de mayo de 2011, ante Luis Yamil Rodriguez San Miguel, inscrita al folio 204 del tomo 179 de Cataño, finca #5792, inscripción 6ta. (ii) Embargo Estatal: A favor del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, para responder de la suma de $2,143.41, por concepto de Contribución sobre Ingresos, como propiedad de Néstor Cabrera Matos y Maritza Archilla Robles, según Certificación del 2 de septiembre de 2011, anotado a! folio 110 del Libro #1 de Embargo, Orden #435, del 16 de septiembre de 2011. La hipoteca objeto de esta ejecución es la que ha quedado descrita en el inciso (i). Será celebrada la subasta para con el importe de Ia misma satisfacer la sentencia dictada el 27 de abril de 2023, mediante Ia cual se condenó a Ia parte demandada pagar a Ia parte demandante la cantidad adeudada y vencida desde el 1 de marzo de 2022 ascendiente a $34,503.55 de principal, más $878.92. de segundo principal, más intereses acumulados, que continuarán acumulándose al 6.50% hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más cargos por demora, más costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, según pactado, más cualquier otro desembolso que haya efectuado o efectúe Ia parte demandante durante Ia tramitación de este caso para otros adelantos de conformidad con el Contrato Hipotecario. La PRIMERA SUBASTA será celebrada el día 22 de agosto de 2023, a las 10:00 de la mañana en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de BA-

YAMON, Puerto Rico. Servirá de tipo mínimo para la misma, la cantidad de $37,000.00 sin admitirse oferta inferior. De no haber remate ni adjudicación, celebraré SEGUNDA SUBASTA el dIa 29 de agosto de 2023, a las 10:00 de Ia mañana, en el mismo lugar, en la que servirá como tipo mínimo, dos terceras (2/3) partes del precio pactado para la primera subasta, o sea, $24,666.67. Si no hubiese remate ni adjudicación en Ia segunda subasta, celebraré TERCERA SUBASTA el dIa 5 de septiembre de 2023, a las 10:00 de la mañana, en el mismo lugar en la que regirá como tipo mínimo, la mitad (1/2) del precio pactado para la primera subasta, o sea, $18,500.00. El Alguacil que suscribe hizo constar que toda licitación deberá hacerse para pagar su importe en moneda legal de los Estados Unidos de America, de acuerdo con la Ley y de acuerdo con lo anunciado en este Aviso de Subasta. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en Ia Secretarla del Tribunal durante horas laborables. Se entiende que todo licitador que comparezca a la subasta señalada en este caso acepta como bastante la titulación que da base a la misma. Se entiende que cualquier carga y/o gravamen anterior y/o preferente, si la hubiere al crédito que da base a esta ejecución continuará subsistente, entendiéndose, además, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de estos, sin destinarse a su extinción cualquier parte del remanente del precio de licitación. La propiedad para ejecutar será adquirida libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a Ia inscripción del crédito del ejecutante o 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, para que puedan concurrir a Ia subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. Vendida o adjudicada la finca o derecho hipotecado y consignado el precio correspon-

diente, en esa misma fecha o fecha posterior, el alguacil que celebró la subasta procederá a otorgar Ia correspondiente escritura pública de traspaso en representación del dueño o titular de los bienes hipotecados, ante el notario que elija el adjudicatario o comprador, quien deberá abonar el importe de tal escritura. El alguacil pondrá en posesión judicial al nuevo dueño, si así se lo solicita dentro del término de veinte (20) días a partir de Ia confirmación de la venta o adjudicación. 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 deudor la ocupen. Y PARA CONOCIMIENTO DE LOS LICITADORES Y DEL PUBLICO EN GENERAL y para su publicación de acuerdo con la Ley, expido el presente Edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, hoy 28 de junio de 2023. Maribel Lanzar Velázquez Placa 735.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU-

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. LA SUCESIÓN DE JAVIER RIVERA VEGA

T/C/C JAVIER RIVERA COMPUESTA POR

KEYCHA CARIDAD RIVERA VELÁZQUEZ, BÁRBARA FRANCHESKA

RIVERA VELÁZQUEZ Y

KEVIN JAVIER RIVERA, T/C/C KEVIN JAVIER

RIVERA RODRíGUEZ; DEPARTAMENTO DE HACIENDA; DEPARTAMENTO DE JUSTICIA

Demandado

Civil Núm.: TB2023CV00096.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA

POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO.

ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S.S.

A: KEVIN JAVIER RIVERA

T/C/C KEVIN JAVIER

RIVERA RODRÍGUEZ.

Por la presente se le emplaza y notifica que debe contestar la demanda dentro del término de treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación del presente edicto. 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://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 apercibe que de no contestar la demanda dentro del término aquí estipulado, se le anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia sin más citarle ni oírle. Por la presente el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, conforme al caso de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria vs. Latinoamericana de Exportación, Inc., 164 D.P.R. 689 (2005), le ordena que en el término de treinta (30) días, haga declaración aceptando o repudiando la herencia de la SUCESIÓN DE JAVIER RIVERA VEGA T/C/C JAVIER RIVERA. Se le apercibe que de no expresar su intención de aceptar o repudiar la herencia dentro del término que se le fijó, la herencia se tendrá por aceptada. Los abogados de la parte demandante son: Lcdo. Guillermo A. Somoza Colombani, P.O. Box 366603, San Juan, PR 00936-6603. Tel. (787) 9190073, Fax (787) 641-5016. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 26 de junio de 2023. LCDA.

LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. LUREIMY ALICEA GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE GUAYNABO

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. MANUEL ALFREDO

MOREDA TOLEDO Y

NEUSA MARIA BACH

KOETZ POR SI Y COMO

MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESION DE MANUEL

ANTONIO MOREDA BACH

Demandado(a)

Civil: GB2022CV00927 SALA

202 Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: MANUEL ALFREDO

MOREDA TOLEDO Y NEUSA MARIA BACH

KOETZ POR SI Y COMO

MIEMBROS DE L A

SUCESION DE MANUEL ANTONIO MOREDA BACH.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que 30 de junio de 2023, 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 5 de julio de 2023. En Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, el 5 de Julio de 2023. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. F/ Sara Rosa Villegas, Secretaria Auxiliar del Tribunal.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL

GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR MUNICIPAL DE SAN JUAN ORIENTAL BANK

Parte Demandante Vs. FELIPE SERRANO SÁNCHEZ, MARGARITA

LÓPEZ PUMAREJO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES POR ÉSTOS COMPUESTA

Parte Demandada Civil Núm.: SJ2023CV00410.

(604). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO; EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: FELIPE SERRANO SÁNCHEZ, MARGARITA

LÓPEZ PUMAREJO Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES POR ÉSTOS COMPUESTA.

EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 28 de junio de 2023, 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 7 de julio de 2023. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 7 de julio de 2023. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ COLLADO, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. ELSA MAGALY CANDELARIO CABRERA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR DEL TRIBUNAL I. LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL DE BAYAMON ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES Y RECREATIVA CAMINO DEL MAR, INC.

Demandante Vs. AGUSTÍN RAFAEL

GARCÍA MARTE; MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES ANDÚJAR IRIZARRY

AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandado(a)

Civil Núm.: TB2022CV00306.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO (R.60). EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: AGUSTÍN RAFAEL GARCÍA MARTE, MARÍA DE LOS ÁNGELES ANDÚJAR IRIZARRY, AMBOS POR SÍ Y EN REPRESENTACIÓN DE LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS.

FÍSICA: URB. CAMINO DEL MAR, CE-18 VÍA CANGREJOS, TOA BAJA, PR, 00949. POSTAL: 4132 WHISPERING OAKS LN, DANVILLE, CA 94506-5838.

PÚBLICO EN GENERAL:

El Alguacil del Tribunal que suscribe anuncia y hace constar: 1. Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento que me ha sido dirigido por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Bayamón, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor de contado y en moneda de curso legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América, todo derecho, título o interés que tenga la Parte Demandada en el bien inmueble

que se describe a continuación: URBANA: RÚSTICA: URBANIZACIÓN CAMINO DEL MAR de Toa Baja. Solar: CE-18. Cabida: 405.37 Metros Cuadrados. Linderos: Norte, en 17.00 metros, con el solar número 17; Sur, en 13.50, metros y una distancia de 5.50 metros, con la calle número 9, Este, en 20.50 metros, con la calle número 9. Oeste, en 24.00 metros, con el solar número 20. Finca #26360, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección II. Dirección física: Urb. Camino Del Mar, CE-18 Vía Cangrejos, Toa Baja, PR 00949. 2. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. 3. 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 ejecutante, continuaran subsistentes, entendiéndose que el remanente los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. 4. La propiedad para ejecutar se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. 5. Que el licitador y/o mejor postor pagará el importe de su oferta en efectivo, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil de Tribunal. 6. La propiedad se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes: a. Hipoteca: Afecta a Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor de RG Premier Bank of Puerto Rico; por la suma principal de $211,00.00, con intereses al 7.875% anual, vencedero el 1 de noviembre de 2015, tasada en una cantidad equivalente al principal, en virtud de la escritura número 155, otorgada en San Juan el 6 de noviembre de 2000, ante Luis Ángel Pérez Chabier, según inscripción 2. b. Hipoteca: Afecta a hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Puerto Rico; suscrito bajo affidávit núm. 39080, por la suma principal de $277,696.00, con intereses al 12% anual, vencedero a la Presentación, tasada en una cantidad equivalente al principal, en virtud de la escritura número 43, otorgada en San Juan, el 5 de marzo de 2007, ante Ernesto A. Meléndez Pérez, según inscripción 4. c. Anotación de Demanda: Afecta a anotación de demanda a favor de WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB d/b/a Christiana Trust, as indenture trustee for the CSMC 2015 PR1 Trust, Mortgage- Backed Notes, Series 2015-PR1; por la suma de $74,029.27, Demanda número de caso TB2019CV00386 sobre COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VIA

ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, DBA CHRISTIANA TRUST AS IDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE CSMC 2015-PR1 TRUST, MORTGAGE BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2015-PR1 demandante v. AGUSTIN RAFAEL GARCIA MARTE; SU ESPOSA MARIA DE LOS ANGELES ANDUJAR IRIZARRY Y LA SOCIEDAD DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA demandado a 10 de junio de 2019, según anotación C. d. Anotación de Demanda: Afecta a anotación de demanda a favor de General Electric Capital Corp of Puerto Rico; por la suma de $30,550.00 en virtud de Demanda, expedida 4 de enero de 2012, por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, sala de Toa Alta, en el caso civil núm. CD09-1342, sobre Cobro de dinero y ejecución de Prenda; según anotación A. e. Anotación de Demanda: Afecta a anotación de demanda a favor de Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Puerto Rico; por la suma principal de $247,824.81, en virtud de Demanda, expedida por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, sala de Bayamón en el caso civil núm. DCD11-2028 sobre Cobro de Dinero y ejecución; según anotación B. f. Anotación de Demanda: Afecta a anotación de demanda a favor de Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, D/B/A Christiana Trust, As lndenture Trustee, For The CSMC 2015-PR1 Trust, Mortgage Backed Notes, Series 2015-PR1 quien adquirió por Anotación de Demanda, por la suma de $74,029.27, demanda número de caso BY2022CV00802 sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca por la Vía Ordinaria ante el Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de Bayamón Wilmington Saving Fund Society, FSB, D/B/A Christiana Trust, as identure Trustee, for the CSMC 2015-PR1 Trust, Mortgage Backed notes, Series 2015PR1 demandante v. Agustín Rafael García Marte y otros demandados; a 25 de febrero de 2022, según inscripción D. g. Anotación de Embargo (Judicial, Ley 209): Afecta por sí a Anotación de Embargo, (a favor de la Asociación de Residentes y Recreativa Camino del Mar, lnc., por la suma de $7,712.23, en virtud de Orden en el caso civil número TB2022CV00306 sobre R.60 ante el Centro Judicial de Toa Baja ASOC. DE RESIDENTES Y RECREATIVA CAMINO DEL MAR demandante v.s AGUSTIN RAFAEL GARCIA MARTE, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES ANDUJAR IRIZARRY demandados de fecha de 15 de marzo de 2023, anotado en sistema, según anotación letra “E”. 7. Dicha subasta se ce-

lebrará para con el importe de la misma satisfacer a la parte demandante la suma principal de $6,273.00, por concepto de cuotas de mantenimiento vencidas y no pagadas al 8 de julio de 2022, más intereses desde que se dicte la sentencia al 5.00% anual ($1.04 diario), a partir de esa fecha en la cantidad de $233.42, al 15 de mayo de 2023; más $100.00 de costas y gastos según sentencia, más $950.00 por concepto de honorarios de abogado otorgados según sentencia; más $250.21 por memorando de costas y gastos del pleito de la sentencia, concedidos mediante Orden de fecha de 26 de octubre de 2022; totalizan la cantidad de $7,806.63; más las costas y gastos, del proceso en la ejecución de la sentencia mediante Venta en Pública Subasta. La subasta se llevará a cabo en mi oficina localizada en el local que ocupa en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Municipal de Bayamón, el día 23 DE AGOSTO DE 2023 A LAS 9:00 DE LA MAÑANA. Y para la conveniencia de los licitadores expido el presente Edicto para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general y por un término de catorce (14) días en los lugares públicos que determine la ley. En Bayamón, Puerto Rico, a 7 de julio de 2023. EDGARDO ELÍAS VARGAS SANTANA, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #193.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL DE BAYAMÓN ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES RÍO HONDO

II, VALLE VERDE I Y II, INC.

Demandante Vs. CARLOS JOEL ZAPATA MORALES

Demandado(a)

Civil Núm.: BY2022CV05593. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO (R.60). EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: CARLOS JOEL ZAPATA MORALES. FÍSICA & POSTAL: URB. RIO HONDO II, AN-13 CALLE RIO MARAVILLA, BAYAMÓN PR 00961.

PÚBLICO EN GENERAL:

El Alguacil del Tribunal que suscribe anuncia y hace constar: 1. Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento que me ha sido dirigido por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Bayamón, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta

y al mejor postor de contado y en moneda de curso legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América, todo derecho, título o interés que tenga la Parte Demandada en el bien inmueble que se describe a continuación: “URBANA: URBANIZACIÓN ESTANCIAS DE RIO HONDO II de Bayamón Norte. Solar: 13 BLOQUE AN. Cabida: 348.348 Metros Cuadrados. Linderos: Norte, en arco de 17.31 metros con los solares número 25 y 26. Sur, en arco de 13.266 metros con la Calle número 32 t/c/c Calle Río Maravilla. Este, en 23.00 metros con el solar 12. Oeste, en 23.00 metros con el solar número 14. Viene del folio 167 del Tomo 1175 de Bayamón Sur Finca antes 52109. Finca 1023, Registro de la Propiedad de Bayamón, Sección III.” Dirección física: Urb. Rio Hondo II, AN-13 Calle Río Maravilla, Bayamón, PR 00961. 2. Que los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas laborables. 3. 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 ejecutante, continuaran subsistentes, entendiéndose que el remanente los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. 4. La propiedad para ejecutar se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores. 5. Que el licitador y/o mejor postor pagará el importe de su oferta en efectivo, cheque certificado o giro postal a nombre del Alguacil de Tribunal. 6. La propiedad se encuentra afecta a los siguientes gravámenes:

A. Anotación de Embargo (Judicial, Ley 209): Afecta por sí a Anotación de Embargo a favor de Asociación de Residentes Río Hondo II, Valle Verde I y II, lnc., por la suma de $6,956.09, en virtud de Orden en el caso civil número BY2022CV05593 sobre Cobro de Dinero Regla 60 ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Bayamón, ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES RIO HONDO II, VALLE VERDE I Y II, INC., demandante v. CARLOS JOEL ZAPATA MORALES demandado a 30 de mayo de 2023, anotado en sistema Karibe, MORALES demandado a 30 de mayo de 2023, anotado en sistema Karibe, según anotación letra “B”. 7. Dicha subasta se celebrará para con el importe de la misma satisfacer a la parte demandante la suma principal de $5,029.50, por concepto de cuotas de mantenimiento vencidas y no pagadas al 25 de octubre de 2022, más intereses desde que se dicte la sentencia al 8.00% anual ($1.30 diario), a

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 julio de 2023. En HUMACAO, Puerto Rico, el 6 de julio de 2023. Dominga Gómez Fuster, Secretaria. Arsenia Martínez Sánchez, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE CARO-

LINA

LEGACY MORTGAGE

ASSET TRUST 2019-PR1

Demandante V. NANCY CRUZ

ANDINO POR SÍ Y EN LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA DE LA SUCESIÓN DE GASPAR BULTRÓN

RIVERA COMPUESTA

CON JONATHAN HOMAR BULTRÓN

FIGUEROA, NADYA

MARIE BULTRÓN CRUZ Y AZARYA BULTRÓN CRUZ

COMO HEREDEROS

CONOCIDOS; FULANO DE TAL, FULANA DE TAL, ZUTANO DE TAL, ZUTANA DE TAL, A, B, Y C COMO HEREDEROS

DESCONOCIDOS; SECRETARIO DE HACIENDA Y SECRETARIO DE JUSTICIA DEL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PR

Demandados

Civil Núm.: CN2022CV00245.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA

POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA

SUBASTA. Yo, GRETCHEN M.

JEREZ SEDA, Alguacil de la División de Subastas del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Carolina, a la demandada y al público en general, les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Mandamiento que se ha librado en el presente caso, por el Secretario del Tribunal, con fecha 1 de mayo de 2023 y para satisfacer la Sentencia por la cantidad de $16,401.56 de principal; dictada en el caso de epígrafe el 3 de marzo de 2023, notificada y archivada en autos ese mismo día y publicada mediante edicto el 13 de marzo de 2023, en el periódico “The San Juan Daily Star”; procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor pos-

tor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, todo derecho, título e interés que haya tenido, tenga o pueda tener la deudora demandada en cuanto a la propiedad localizada en el: Municipio de Loíza, Puerto Rico, los bienes inmuebles se describen a continuación: CC-24 Calle 45-A 10St. Villas de Loíza, Canóvanas, PR 00729. URBANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Villas de Loíza, situada en el Barrio Canóvanas del Municipio de Loíza, Puerto Rico que se describe en el plano de inscripción de la Urbanización con el número, área y colindancias que se relacionan a continuación que contiene una casa de concreto reforzado, diseñada para una sola familia: Solar número 24 del bloque CC. Área del solar: 230.00 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, en 23.00 metros con solar 25; por el ESTE, en 23.00 metros con solar 23; por el ESTE, en 10.00 metros con calle 45A; y por el OESTE, en 10.00 metros con solar 13. Afecto a una Servidumbre de 1.5 metros por su colindancia Norte para mantenimiento. Consta inscrita al folio cuarenta y tres (43) de tomo doscientos diecisiete (217) de Canóvanas, finca número diez mil ciento cuarenta y siete (10147), inscripción primera, Registro de la Propiedad, Sección Tercera de Carolina. Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satisfacer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, según la Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Carolina, cuyas cantidades ascienden a $16,401.56 balance principal más intereses al 7% los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; un balance diferido de $2,803.30 y más el 20% del principal del pagaré, equivalente a $8,651.99, para cubrir costas, gastos y honorarios de abogados pactado. El tipo mínimo para la subasta será la suma de tasación pactada, la cual es $43,259.99 para la propiedad descrita. Si no produjere remate o adjudicación la primera subasta, se procederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo la cantidad ele $28,839.99. Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se procederá a una tercera subasta, en ésta el tipo mínimo será la cantidad de $21,630.00. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta se dará por terminado el procedimiento, pudiendo adjudicarse a opción del demandante. Para el lote descrito, la PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a cabo el día 1 DE AGOSTO DE 2023, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una SEGUNDA SU-

BASTA el día 8 DE AGOSTO DE 2023, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 15 DE AGOSTO DE 2023, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localizada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Carolina. De Estudio de Título realizado no surgen gravámenes preferentes ni posteriores que deban ser cancelados. Se le advierte a los licitadores que la adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el mismo acto de la adjudicación en moneda de curso legal de los Estados Unidos de Norteamérica, giro postal o cheque de gerente a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal y para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda(s) aquella(s) persona(s) que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, y para conocimiento de los licitadores y el público en general y para su publicación en un periódico de circulación general, una vez por semana durante el término de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida. Se les advierte a todos los interesados que todos los documentos relacionados con la presente acción de ejecución de hipoteca, así como la de la subasta, estarán disponibles para ser examinados en la Secretaría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titulación y que las cargas y gravámenes anteriores y los preferentes, si los hubiere al crédito de ejecutante, continuarán subsiguientes entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Registrador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos posteriores. Y para conocimiento de la demandada, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspondientes. Librado en Carolina, Puerto Rico, a 28 de junio de 2023. GRETCHEN M. JEREZ

SEDA, ALGUACIL.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA MUNICIPAL DE MANATÍ

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE RICARDO ENRIQUE SEIJO MALDONADO COMPUESTA POR SUS HEREDEROS CONOCIDOS IRISBELSY SEIJO ÁLVAREZ, LOURDES SEIJO ÁLVAREZ, RICARDO E. SEIJO ÁLVAREZ Y JOSÉ SEIJO ÁLVAREZ; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERÉS EN DICHA SUCESIÓN Demandado(a)

Civil: AR2023CV00349. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: SUCESIÓN DE RICARDO ENRIQUE SEIJO MALDONADO COMPUESTA POR SUS HEREDEROS CONOCIDOS IRISBELSY SEIJO ÁLVAREZ, LOURDES SEIJO ÁLVAREZ Y JOSÉ SEIJO ÁLVAREZ; FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANA DE TAL COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS Y/O PARTES CON INTERÉS EN DICHA SUCESIÓN - BARRIO SELGAS, COMUNIDAD RURAL SELGAS, PARCELA 32-E, CALLE RAMÓN PÉREZ, FLORIDA, PR 00650 Y 70 CALLE RAMÓN PÉREZ, FLORIDA, PR 00650Y - BO. ESPERANZA, SECTOR CIENEGUETE, SOLAR 82, ARECIBO, PR 00612.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 7 de julio de 2023, 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 12 de julio de 2023. En Manatí, Puerto Rico, el 12 de julio de 2023. Vivían Y. Fresse González, Secretaria. Carmen J. Rosario Valentín, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA CENTRO JUDICIAL DE PONCE SALA SUPERIOR 605 LOURDES T. MEDINA CARRERO

Parte Demandante Vs RAMONA MEDINA VILLANUEVA; ISABEL MEDINA VILLANUEVA

Parte Demandada

Civil Número: PO2021CV02730. Sobre: DIVISIÓN DE COMUNIDAD HEREDITARIA. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: ISABEL MEDINA VILLANUEVA, A SER NOTIFICADA POR EDICTO POR CONDUCTO: LCDO ELVIN N. OJEDA BONILLA, PO BOX 288, CABO ROJO, PUERTO RICO, 006230288; LCDO.OJEDA@ GMAIL.COM.

SECRETARIO(A) que suscribe le notifica a usted que el 30 de junio de 2023, 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 representado 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, el 05 de julio de 2023. En Ponce, Puerto Rico, el 05 de julio de 2023. Carmen G. Tirú Quiñones, Secretaria Regional.

Brenda L. Santiago López, Secretaria Auxiliar I.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYAGÜEZ FIRSTBANK

PUERTO RICO

Parte Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE ÁNGEL

GABRIEL DUFORE

HERNÁNDEZ, T/C/C ÁNGEL G. DUFORE

HERNÁNDEZ Y COMO ÁNGEL DUFORE HERNÁNDEZ, COMPUESTA POR NIKKI C. DUFORE WILLIAMS, JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; SUCESION DE AZALIA

MILAGROS PALMER MARRERO COMPUESTA

POR ANGEL PALMER

Y JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO

POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS

MUNICIPALES; Y ADMINISTRACION

PARA EL SUSTENTO DE MENORES

Parte Demandada Caso Civil Núm.: MZ2022CV00194. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA Y COBRO DE DINERO. EMPLAZAMIENTO Y NOTIFICACIÓN DE INTERPELACIÓN POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS DE AZALIA MILAGROS PALMER MARRERO. 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 notifique con copia a los abogados de la parte demandante, Lcda. Marjaliisa Colón Villanueva, al PO BOX 7970, Ponce, P.R. 00732; Teléfono: 787-8434168. 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 julio de 2020, 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 $52,473.821 de principal, el cual se compone de un primer principal por la suma de $51,128.54 y un principal diferido por la suma de $1,345.28, más los intereses sobre la suma de $51,128.54 al 5 1/4% 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 la suma estipulada 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: Apartamento de una sola planta, identificado con e número ciento dos guión B (102-B). del Condominio Cristina del Mar, radicado en el Poblado de Boquerón del término municipal de Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Este apartamento se encuentra en a primera planta o el primer nivel del Edificio Norte, también conocido como Edificio B. colinda dicho apartamento por el NORTE, con el apartamento número ciento uno guión B (101-B); por el SUR, con el apartamento número ciento tres guión B (103B); por el ESTE, con el pasillo comunal que conduce a las escaleras, al área recreativa, el área de jardines centrales, área de jardines frontales, el apartamento y de la calle Muñoz Rivera de Boquerón, Puerto Rico y por el OESTE, con el área de jardines frontales que lo separan del estacionamiento. Al igual que los demás apartamientos del primer piso, éste tiene entrada tanto por su parte Este desde los pasillos comunales como por su parte Oeste desde el área del jardín frontal. Este apartamento tiene una cabida superficial de aproximada-

mente mil sesenta y dos punto cincuenta (1,062.50) pies cuadrados, equivalentes a noventa y ocho punto setenta y seis (98.76) metros cuadrados. Se compone de un recibidor que conecta la puerta de entrada en el lado Oeste, con el resto del apartamento a la derecha o Norte de la entrada, siguiendo con la cocina, comedor y sala, a la izquierda o Sur de la cocina tiene un cuarto dormitorio de diez por trece pies (10 x 13’) con “walk-in-closet” y un baño completo, a la izquierda Sur de la sala tiene un pasillo con closet, que conduce a un baño completo y otro cuarto dormitorio. Este segundo dormitorio de una medida diez por quince pies (10 x 15’), tiene un closet a lo largo de la pared Oeste que divide el baño. Al extremo Oeste del apartamento tiene una terraza techada a todo lo ancho del apartamento. Esta terraza tiene unas medidas de veinte por ocho pies (20 x 8’) y una mira hacia el área del jardín frontal y área de estacionamiento. Le corresponde al titular de este apartamento el dominio o derecho exclusivo sobre los elementos comunes limitados y además, una participación en común por-indiviso con los demás titulares en los elementos comunes del inmueble equivalentes a tres punto tres uno siete tres por ciento (3.3173%) el total del valor conjunto de inmueble así como sus gastos comunes. Inscrita al folio ciento veinticuatro (124) del tomo cuatrocientos noventa y dos (492) de Cabo Rojo, finca número diecisiete mil ochocientos treinta y dos (17,832). Registro de la Propiedad de San Germán. 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 Azalia Milagros Palmer Marrero 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 Azalia Milagros Palmer Marrero y por consiguiente, responderán por las cargas de dicha herencia conforme dispone el Art. 957 del Código Civil, 31 L.P.R.A. S2785. En Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, a 30 de mayo de 2023. LIC. NORMA G. SANTANA IRIZARRY, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. NILDA TORRES ACEVEDO, SUB-SECRETARIA.

Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and the power of vulnerability

By MATTHEW FUTTERMAN

Carlos Alcaraz is nearly always a killer on the court, suffocating opponents with relentless aggressiveness.

He did it once more on Wednesday, beating his childhood rival, Holger Rune of Denmark, in straight sets to land a spot in a Wimbledon semifinal for the first time. Alcaraz brims with confidence and never hesitates to answer when asked about his goal.

“To win the tournament,” he said more than a week ago.

So it always comes as a surprise when, sometimes in the next sentence, Alcaraz, the 20-year-old Spanish star, reveals one of his insecurities. Perhaps it’s his lack of experience on grass courts, or his fear of Wimbledon’s hallowed Centre Court, or even the stress-induced panic that, combined with exhaustion, caused his entire body to cramp during the French Open semifinal last month against Novak Djokovic.

“I was really, really nervous,” he said of his emotions before his 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Rune.

So maybe it’s fitting then that his opponent Friday (10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN) will be Daniil Medvedev, another player who, although he is third in the world and has been ranked No. 1, has no problem seeing himself as the goof who has crashed the party at the top of elite tennis.

For a long while in his five-set quarterfinal against the American Chris Eubanks, the suddenly hot, sixth-year overnight sensation, things were not going well for Medvedev. At one moment, a ball kid bounced a ball over to him. He dropped it onto his foot, and the ball rolled away.

“Nice job,” he said to himself out loud, as he fetched it.

Such is the essence of Medvedev, who won the match.

“When I go on the court, I always try to be myself,” Medvedev, a 27-year-old Russian, said early in the tournament. “If you tell the truth, it’s easier.”

Tennis and sports psychology have come a long way. Not so long ago, the idea of admitting to nerves or weakness was seen as a surefire recipe for defeat. In recent years, sports psychologists and wiser veterans have been encouraging their clients and protégés to understand the value of embracing their frailties.

“So many of us, and especially athletes, wear this mask, like it’s a piece of armor,”

said Ben Crowe, who spent years working with former world No. 1 Ash Barty, who retired last year at 25. “We think it makes us safe. But we need vulnerability.”

Billie Jean King, one of tennis’s greats and a trailblazer for equal rights, chimed in on the subject just before Wimbledon, discussing how concerned she had become over watching so many players struggle with their mental health because they try to achieve the impossible.

“Boys are taught they always have to act brave, and girls are taught they are supposed to be perfect,” King said at a ceremony earlier this month celebrating the 50th anniversary of the WTA Tour’s founding. “Well, boys can’t always be courageous, and no one can be perfect, so I think we all ought to stop trying.”

King does not have to worry about Alcaraz or Medvedev. Neither man has any problem talking about being scared or uncomfortable, or sharing whatever thoughts are running through his head, no matter the thousands of people watching in stadiums and the millions more watching on television.

And neither player is the worse off for wearing insecurities on his sleeve. Among men, Alcaraz and Medvedev are the only players younger than 29 to have won a Grand Slam singles title: a reflection of how dominant Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been during the past decade, too.

Alcaraz has been wearing a bucket hat

around the All England Club for much of the past two weeks, as if he is headed to an outdoor music festival with his buddies rather than playing in the world’s most important tennis tournament.

“Lucky hat,” Alcaraz said Wednesday night, as he walked into his postmatch news conference.

He then proceeded to talk about the nerves he was experiencing during the tight first set with Rune on Centre Court, the stage that he said last week rattles him every time he walks onto it — especially so on Wednesday.

“I couldn’t control it at all,” he said of the tension with which he played on a day when Queen Camilla watched from the Royal Box.

He played tight for 65 minutes, the entirety of the first set. But when he clinched it with a backhand return winner down the line, he finally let it all out, he said, with two, full-body roars and two screams of “Vamos.”

Only then, he said, did he start to enjoy the moment, and to smile, which is part of his secret sauce.

“Smiling for me, as I said a few times, is the key of everything,” he said.

Medvedev doesn’t smile much on the court, and for weeks now Medvedev has told everyone not to expect very much of him at this tournament. He hasn’t done very well at Wimbledon in the past. Until this year, he never exceeded the fourth round. He doesn’t have much of a liking for grass-court tennis, preferring the true, predictable bounces produced by hard courts.

And there he was Wednesday afternoon on the No. 1 court against Eubanks, who was blasting serves and following them up with drop volleys that Medvedev would barely run for. As Eubanks surged to a two-sets-to-one lead, Medvedev was struggling to focus, he said, and could not understand what was happening to him.

The crowd was firmly in the corner of Eubanks — a massive underdog whom the British fans backed, even though he eliminated their top-ranked player, Cameron Norrie, last week. At one point, Medvedev rolled a perfect running backhand winner past Eubanks and put his finger to his ear, asking for some cheers. When they weren’t loud enough, Medvedev shook his hands in disgust.

With the score so lopsided, he thought back to five years ago, long before he broke through as one of the most promising players of his generation. He was not having all that much success then, and he had yet to achieve a lot of the things he never thought would be possible: multiple Grand Slam finals, a U.S. Open title in 2021, some stints as the world No. 1.

“That’s when I was like, ‘OK, I need to try to turn this match around and to do like I did many times to win these tough, tough battles at the Grand Slam,’” he said.

And that’s just what he did, earning a spot in the semifinals against Alcaraz. Still, Medvedev was not ready to say he was at all comfortable on grass. May the most vulnerable man win.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Holger Rune on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. His next opponent is Daniil Medvedev, whom he beat earlier this year at Indian Wells.

Far from the Tour de France, Colombia falls hard for cycling

By JAMES WAGNER

The route up Las Palmas starts near the valley floor, but it doesn’t stay there for long. It is 10 miles up to the summit, an arduous climb of roughly 3,400 vertical feet, a journey of long rises and sharp turns, of straining muscles and heaving lungs.

Some riders stop at the lookout point halfway up for the views of the city and don’t continue. A few take extended breaks. The reward comes at the top, where restaurants, bike stores and coffee shops await, and where this month amateur riders have gathered day after day to watch their countrymen competing a continent away in cycling’s biggest race.

“Not everyone dares come up here,” Anderson Murcia, 37, said in Spanish as he stopped briefly to drink water and snap photographs on a recent morning.

The top of Las Palmas, though, is more than a vantage point, a rest stop high above Medellín and its 2.5 million residents. In some ways, the popular route is also a perfect place to take the measure of a sport that has made Colombia the cycling epicenter of Latin America.

Amateur cyclists take on Las Palmas’ challenge every day, but so have professionals, including some of the Colombians racing in this year’s Tour de France. A pro can do a version of the ascent in 30 minutes. A weekend warrior will need nearly twice as long, or much more. The pride is in the punishment, and the achievement, and in being part of a sport that, among Colombians of all ages, has become an unexpected national pastime.

“Soccer beats all, but cycling is the second-biggest sport in the country,” said Jorge

Mauricio Vargas Carreño, the president of the Colombian Cycling Federation. “It’s the sport that has the most affection among all Colombians because of the successes we’ve had at the international level.”

The roots of that connection go back decades. Colombians have been riding on cycling’s biggest stages, like the Tour de France, since the 1970s. In 1984, Luis Herrera, known as Lucho, became the first Colombian to win a stage at the race. Three years later, he became the first to win one of the three so-called European grand tours, prevailing at the Vuelta a España.

Herrera passed the baton to riders like Santiago Botero, who won the king of the mountains title at the Tour de France in 2000, and Nairo Quintana, who finished second overall in the race in 2013 and in 2015. Colombian women have since won

Olympic medals in road cycling and BMX.

Their countryman Egan Bernal, however, did them all one better: In 2019, he became the first Latin American to win the Tour de France.

“It’s part of our culture,” Bernal, 26, said in a recent telephone interview. “In Colombia, I think 90% of the homes have a bike. And a lot of people use them as a mode of transportation, especially the more humble people, and over the years they’ve used it more.”

He added: “Everyone in Colombia is happy when they’re given their first bike.”

The main reasons cycling blossomed in Colombia, according to cyclists, officials and coaches, are the nation’s socioeconomics, history and topography (large swaths of the country are at higher elevations, such as Medellín, at 4,900 feet, or the capital, Bogotá, at 8,600).

“Cycling has become very important in our country,” said Rigoberto Urán, 36, a Colombian cyclist who has finished second in the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Olympics. “Colombia is a country with a lot of problems — political problems — and our history is stained by narcotrafficking. So cycling has sort of given us a new image for some time.”

José Julián Velásquez, the sporting director of Team Medellín-EPM, a professional team founded in 2017 to develop cycling in a city and region known more for the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar, said many Colombians were raised riding hills and mountains since bikes are a more affordable way to get around. Quintana, for example, grew up in a town 9,300 feet above sea level and

had to pedal up steep gradients every day just to get home from school.

As a result, many Colombian cyclists are known as escarabajos, or beetles, for their doggedness as climbers.

Colombia is the only Latin American country in the top 20 of the rankings by Union Cycliste Internationale, the sport’s global governing body. In a sport dominated by and centered in Europe, Colombia was ranked 10th.

The coronavirus pandemic only deepened Colombia’s connection with the sport, with people buying more bicycles to get around and exercise.

Martha Gómez grew up around cycling because her father was a fan, following the careers of the Colombian riders and watching the Tour de France every year. She said she learned to ride as a child but didn’t start taking cycling more seriously until 2021. She now averages as many as 60 miles a week.

“Women were more about being in the gym or walking,” Gómez, 41, said. “But with the pandemic and being locked up indoors, it led us to find a healthier life. Riding up Las Palmas, you didn’t use to see many women, but now you see more. And women aren’t just riding on the road but up the mountains, too.”

On Sunday mornings and holidays in M edellín, as in Bogotá, the local authorities shut down main roads, including the highspeed lanes of the city’s biggest highway, for exclusive use by cyclists. On a recent morning, they dotted its lanes and inclines. Several wore the jerseys of professional cycling teams, or the Colombian national squad. One child pedaled away in a Quintana shirt.

“I feel like that when something starts to take off, everyone gets that craving,” said Sara Cardona, 39, a pediatrician who averages about 40 to 60 miles a week.

It is not uncommon, Cardona said, to run into Colombian stars and even their European rivals on training rides. Amateur riders, both competitive and hobbyist, like to measure themselves against the times posted on familiar climbs like Las Palmas on the popular cycling app Strava.

Last week, Cardona left her house at 7:30 a.m. to make sure she made it up the mountain in time to catch the end of that day’s Tour de France stage on television. On the way to the Safetti bike store and coffee shop, she ran into a store employee who was also cycling up Las Palmas. They made a friendly wager on who would win the Tour de France stage. The prize: a strong cup of Colombian coffee.

Colombia’s topography and socioeconomics have created a nation of eager cyclists.

Sudoku

How to Play:

Fill in the empty fields with the numbers from 1 through 9.

Sudoku Rules:

Every row must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every column must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Every 3x3 square must contain the numbers from 1 through 9

Crossword

Answers on page 30

Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

A friend may seem in a dark and gloomy mood and unwilling to talk about it. Don’t force the issue. This probably has more to do with your friend’s circumstances than with you, Aries. It’s best if you continue to pursue your cherished goals. Not only could you advance your interests but you might also inspire your friend and bring him or her out of the dumps. Go for the gold.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Professional interests might temporarily interfere with your social life, Taurus. This might cause a little friction between you and a close friend or romantic partner. Your friend is more apt to want to brood than discuss it with you. Don’t worry. This person will come out of the funk and be more understanding. Explain the situation the best you can and then continue with your work.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Responsibilities to work, family, or both could temporarily delay plans for a much-needed vacation. This could be a bit depressing, Gemini, but don’t let it get you down. Take care of your responsibilities as quickly as you can and then move ahead with your plans. All signs are that this trip is important to you and should go ahead as scheduled.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Responsibilities to work, family, or both could temporarily delay plans for a much-needed vacation. This could be a bit depressing, Gemini, but don’t let it get you down. Take care of your responsibilities as quickly as you can and then move ahead with your plans. All signs are that this trip is important to you and should go ahead as scheduled.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

Today it may seem like home and family responsibilities are interfering with your social life, Leo, including a get-together you really want to attend. Don’t worry. All signs are that something unexpected will occur at the last minute that makes it possible for you to proceed with your plans. Try to take care of your duties as efficiently as you can so you can enjoy the evening.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

You may wake up feeling strong and energetic, but as the day wanes, stress could cause you to feel tired and worn out. Be careful, Virgo. You could become short-tempered around others. This won’t happen if you avoid the temptation to go like a house afire first thing in the morning. Pace yourself and your relations with others should remain excellent throughout the entire day.

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

A temporary lack of funds might interfere with creative projects or your ability to have fun, Libra. You might encounter an apparent coolness from a close friend or romantic partner that you might not understand. Don’t make too much of it. This probably relates more to the person’s general mood than to anything you’ve said or done. Your friend should be back to normal in a few days.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

A temporary lack of funds might interfere with creative projects or your ability to have fun, Libra. You might encounter an apparent coolness from a close friend or romantic partner that you might not understand. Don’t make too much of it. This probably relates more to the person’s general mood than to anything you’ve said or done. Your friend should be back to normal in a few days.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

Today you might be waiting for a letter or call from a close friend or love partner, Sagittarius. Its delay could cause a powerful feeling of gloom. Don’t let it spoil your day. The communication will come, and if not today, then within a few days. Meanwhile, this is a great time to try your hand at writing or music. Be creative while you wait. You might also call another friend.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

Whatever skills or talents you’re using to accomplish your present goals may seem blocked, Capricorn. This could give rise to a sense of frustration if you let it, but don’t fall into this trap. If you can’t get motivated, focus on something else, perhaps an activity you’ve never tried before. This could get your mind going again while allowing your other skills to pick up steam.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

You might feel creative, artistic, and full of ideas for new projects. However, Aquarius, other responsibilities could keep you from starting on them. At the same time, your mind could be so focused on them that your other work takes longer than it should. Write down your ideas before they escape, then concentrate on the tasks at hand. Finish those and then you can pursue what you really want.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

Spiritual matters could be very much on your mind, Pisces. You may want to delve into metaphysical studies and meditation, but work or family responsibilities could interfere with making those desires a reality. Don’t let this get you down. Instead, stay focused on the mundane chores and finish them. Then you can move on to the really fascinating matters.

Speed Bump