Wednesday Oct 12, 2022

INDEX

MORNING

LUMA threatens to sue Ponce over contracting outside workers to repair grid

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

LUMA’s incapacity, and therefore, we will continue to publicly demand that this campus be energized, so that the educational process does not continue to be interrupted.”

Ponce

Mayor Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón on Tuesday denounced LUMA Energy for threatening to file a legal complaint over the southern municipality accepting help from Villalba Power to re-energize communities and electricity-deprived “pockets” in Ponce.

“To the people of Ponce, I say that LUMA Energy does not serve the communities that are still without electricity, but opposes this mayor resolving it,” Irizarry Pabón said in a written statement. “Now they want to file a complaint against us because the Villalba Power brigades work to help our citi zens. We will do whatever it takes to give Ponce light now!”

According to the latest data offered by LUMA Energy, the Ponce region supposedly had been 95% reconnected on Tuesday, 23 days after the passage of Hurricane Fiona through the southern and southwestern parts of the island.

LUMA said Monday that a total of 1,447,464 customers had power throughout the island, for 99%.

LUMA brigades were reportedly in the area of Pontifical Catholic University of Ponce on Tuesday, replacing power poles and controlling vegetation, according to the social media accounts of the private operator of the island’s energy transmission and distribution system.

Meanwhile, District 27 Rep. Estrella Martínez Soto charged on Tuesday that Francisco Prado Picart School in Juana Díaz continued to be without electricity service, thus preventing the resumption of classes there.

“It seems incredible that at this point LUMA Energy continues to take the long view and doesn’t prioritize energizing schools in our district,” Martínez Soto said. “The demand of parents, teachers, stu dents and the mayor, juanadino Ramón Hernández Torres, is that they energize the school once and for all, an action with which I concur.”

Martínez Soto said she s one of the legislators who has raised her voice to denounce the indifference, insensitivity and inefficiency that LUMA Energy has shown for restoring electricity service for people in southern Puerto Rico.

“In a few days it will be one month since the passage of Hurricane Fiona through the island and still our schools are suffering from neglect and LUMA’s lack of priorities,” the legislator said. “This is already unsustainable and we are not going to remain silent in the face of so much ineptitude.”

“Beyond the demand we make today, we also urge the secretary of the Department of Education to echo our statements and to join our efforts to ensure that Francisco Prado School has energy service,” Martínez Soto said. “Our students should no longer pay the consequences for the

“Now they want to file a complaint against us because the Villalba Power brigades work to help our citizens,” said Ponce Mayor Luis Manuel Irizarry Pabón, referring to LUMA Energy. “We will do whatever it takes to give Ponce light now!”

Bill filed to decriminalize marijuana possession for personal use

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

With

the announcement of President Joseph Biden to pardon federal convictions for simple possession of marijuana, independent Sen. José Vargas Vidot filed Senate Bill 1042 on Tuesday to decriminalize the personal use of cannabis.

“President Biden had the courage that many have lacked here. To say out loud that it makes no sense that there are penalties for simple possession of cannabis,” Vargas Vidot said. “Puerto Rico took the step to make med ical marijuana legal but lacked the courage to decriminalize it. Yes, if we are saying that cannabis has medical benefits, then it is not logical to criminalize its consumption. It is time to change this.”

The bill would establish a non-contro versial presumption of personal consumption, provided that the amount possessed does not exceed five grams, in this way decriminalizing personal use. The intended effect is to ensure that a person is not accused of distribution, and in turn establishes a minimum number to differentiate personal consumption from distribution, the senator said.

According to data from the profile of the imprisoned population published by the

Sen. José Vargas Vidot

island Department of Correction and Reha bilitation (DCR), in 2019, 65% of inmates had problematic drug use in jail, resulting in around 5,000 people out of a total of 7,000.

The same DCR report notes that 8% of men and 11% of women started to use substances when they entered prison.

“Undoubtedly, these figures reflect a problem of availability of substances within

the country’s prison institutions,” Vargas Vidot said. “So, people who report that they were not users of substances prior to conviction initiate this process of consumption and ad diction within the institution. For those people who were already fighting the disease of drug addiction when entering the penal system, the condition intensifies within it.”

However, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia

announced that he will not be complying with Biden’s executive order in Puerto Rico since, he said, DCR data reveals that there is no one confined for possession of marijuana in Puerto Rico.

“Already the governor said that he will not enforce the executive order, lacking will and courage to take an important step for justice,” Vargas Vidot said. “It is statistically impossible to know the number of people confined for simple possession of marijuana, because when arriving at prison they tell you the law you violated, not the specific drug. Now the question is, who will have the courage to join me and make way for this in Puerto Rico?”

The independent senator was the first legislator to bring to the table a proposal to eliminate all penalties established against any person for simple possession of a controlled substance with Senate Bill 912 in 2018, and although the new measure is focused on marijuana, Vargas Vidot emphasized his desire to decriminalize the simple use of all drugs.

“Even though the goal should be the decriminalization of all drugs, as several advanced jurisdictions have already done successfully, with this proposal we advance the decriminalization of cannabis or marijuana, taking the first step in that direction,” he said.

Rep. Méndez Núñez: Transition to new corporate tax law on track

By JOHN McPHAUL jpmcphaul@gmail.com

The New Progressive Party minority leader in the island House of Representatives, Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez, said Tuesday that the transition from Law 1542010 to Law 52-2022, which represents over $1.7 billion of the annual operational budget of the government of Puerto Rico, is on track to avoid any disruption in the flow of cash to the Treasury Department.

“We have been clear since last year, the replacement of Law 154-2010 is one of the most important government actions during the past two decades,” Méndez Núñez said. “Today, Treasury Secretary Francisco Parés Alicea confirmed that three of the multinational companies covered by Law 154 have moved to the contributory parameters of Law 52, thus beginning the much-needed transition, which was ordered by the federal Treasury Department, and will culminate in a transparent change and without raising taxes on our people.”

On Sept. 16, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) endorsed the statutes of Law 52-2022, which establishes a new tax platform for controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) with operations on

the island, and under a tax exemption decree through Law 135-1998, Law 73-2008 and Law 60-2017.

“The advantage of this new law (52-2022) is that it retains that part of the government’s budget without affecting other businesses, just as it assists foreign corporations in their deal ings with the federal Treasury,” the lawmaker added. “The fact that three of the largest companies have already migrated to the new contributory parameter is a sign that it will have great success guaranteeing the fiscal health of the government of Puerto Rico.”

In essence, corporations that take advantage of the new parameter would have to pay the Treasury Department a fixed contribution of 10.5 percent on the industrial income associated with development, as well as a similar one for royalties linked to the sale of products.

Méndez Núñez echoed the statements of the Treasury sec retary in ensuring that the 13 CFCs that apply the parameters of Law 52 will enter it in a very short time.

Law 154 established a special contribution of four percent to foreign corporations in the acquisition of tangible movable property manufactured, in whole or in part, in Puerto Rico and services provided in connection with such property by

a related entity on the island whose gross sales exceed $75 million annually.

About 38 entities were subject to the statutes of Law 154. Of those, 10 contributed 75% of the contributions, while 40 companies contributed the remainder.

Since the entry into force of Law 154 in January 2010, until June 2021, some $19.5 billion has entered the treasury for that purpose.

UTIER sues LUMA, Quanta Services, others for defamation & cyber harassment

By ALEJANDRA M. JOVER TOVAR Special to The STAR alejandra.jover@gmail.com

Electrical and Irrigation Industry Workers Union (UTIER by its Spanish acronym) President Ángel Figueroa Jaramillo filed a lawsuit in San Juan Superior Court on Tuesday against several companies, including LUMA Energy and Quanta Services (a LUMA parent company) for defamation, slander, cy ber harassment, abusive attacks on the honor, reputation and dignity of individuals and for the improper and unauthorized use of the image and name of UTIER and its president.

The defendants are LUMA Energy; BPUMF (Boricuas Por Un Mejor Futuro/Bo ricuas For a Better Future) and its subsidiaries BPUMF LLC, BPUMF Inc.; Denise Malone, president of BPUMBF Inc. and chief financial officer of several subsidiaries and affiliates of Quanta Services; and Ramón Alejandro Pabón, resident agent and the person autho rized to represent BPUMF in Puerto Rico.

According to the lawsuit, which seeks $2 million in damages, BPUMF managed and paid for advertisements on the “Tumba el Tumbe” social media pages for the afore mentioned purposes alleged in the lawsuit.

“We have filed this lawsuit against the companies and individuals who have defamed and who, with full intent, have tarnished the image and reputation of UTIER and myself with false and misleading pub lications,” Figueroa Jaramillo said at a press conference, where he was accompanied by union members and attorney José Rodríguez Jiménez, UTIER’s legal representative. “All of this with the intention of exposing me and UTIER to the hatred and contempt of the

people in order to influence public opinion and seek support in favor of the privatization of the transmission and distribution opera tions, customer service, and administration of the Electric Power Authority (PREPA) through the contracting of LUMA and for the benefit of LUMA, Quanta, and others. These publications were designed to harass UTIER members and attack their honor, reputation, and dignity.”

“This has to be stopped at some point; we have to tell the country that the fact that one is a public figure cannot be subject to that, in a consensual, prepared, thought out way, a company is set up to discredit the image, to despise the person, to harass the person by cybernetic means and to create hatred toward the person,” Figueroa Jaramillo continued. “You can see that here everything is paid for. Some people said, ‘But on so-andso’s page, it says that this is deserved.’ And other people also repeated publicly what the public page said. Other media, other so-called commentators or, as this is called, entertainers of the audience. There is a page where they collude to do that. There are videos paid for by them.”

Rodríguez Jiménez said the defendants, directly or through third parties, created in

Puerto Rico a limited liability company with the name BPUMF LLC on April 8, 2021, just a week after BPUMF, Inc. was incorporated in the state of Delaware by Malone.

Figueroa Jaramillo recounted the pattern of cyber harassment and defamation.

“These ‘Tumbe al Tumbe’ people carried out a smear campaign of cyber harassment and defamation against us for more than a year,” the union leader said. “They spread all the lies and false information they could invent. They accused us of being liars, chauvinists and thieves. They accused us of committing acts of electrical sabotage. They blamed us for the disaster and bankruptcy of PREPA when everyone here knows that UTIER does not manage PREPA. They said that we had to end the thefts and blackouts produced by UTIER’s administration and that I was earning $250,000 when UTIER pays my salary. By reg ulation, it is the same as that of a lineman IV. All this campaign against us, a union responsible for the information it shares with the country, favors LUMA and the privatization process.”

The postings made on social networks were accessible to the public from when they were posted, in March 2021, until the “Tumba al Tumbe” pages were closed on Aug. 26 of this year.

More WIC beneficiaries to receive funds via electronic transfer

By THE STAR STAFF

More than 7,000 participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) who receive services at the Satellite Clinic in Plaza Las Américas will now receive their nutritional benefits through the electronic transfer system instead of cashing checks.

Over 12,591 participants from the Fajardo and Caguas regions have the EBT card to redeem their nutritional plan payments at participating businesses. Simultaneously with the Plaza Las Américas Clinic, the implementation began in the Ponce Region. Likewise, satellite clinics are located at the Integrated Services Center in Río Piedras, at the University Hospital in Centro Médico, and the clinic located on the 6th floor of the shopping center in Carolina.

“We are going from strength to strength with the im plementation of the new system,” said Nilmarie Albarrán Fernández, the WIC executive director in Puerto Rico. “Our participants are very happy with the change. Now they don’t have to redeem all the products at the same time, but can acquire them as needed during the month.”

She noted that the federal government endorsed the work plan established to continue implementing the transition to EBT

cards in Puerto Rico and to support the emergency response to Hurricane Fiona for WIC participants.

The official announced that next week they would begin implementing the new system at clinics in the Arecibo Region, which includes the municipalities of Vega Baja, Morovis, Manatí, Ciales, Florida, Barceloneta, Arecibo, Utuado, Hatillo, Camuy, Quebradillas, and Lares.

“We are projecting the completion of the electronic sys tem throughout the island in December,” Albarrán Fernández said. “Once we finish this region, we will continue in Mayagüez, Bayamón and [San Juan] Metro.”

Currently, the WIC program provides nutrition assistance to more than 80,546,000 people. The Food and Nutrition Service approved Puerto Rico for $15 million to implement the initiative, with 100 percent federal funds.

Pregnant mothers, postpartum mothers, infants, and children up to five can benefit from the program. Albarrán Fernández said “the federal government updated eligibility tables per family and allowed more families to benefit from the nutritional program.”

“It is important that families orient themselves and complete the eligibility process through the MiWICPR mobile application or by calling 787-969-1040,” she said.

Nilmarie Albarrán Fernández, the executive director of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) on the island, said the federal government endorsed the work plan established to continue implementing the transi tion to EBT cards in Puerto Rico and to support the emergency response to Hurricane Fiona for WIC participants.

Ángel Figueroa Jaramillo, president of the Electrical and Irrigation Industry Workers Union

As parties go for mediation & litigation, governor says he’ll push for fair debt deal for PREPA

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov.

Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia said Tuesday that he and the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (AAFAF) are seeking a reasonable and sustainable restructuring of the debt of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).

“The Electric Power Authority has been in the process of bankruptcy and nonpayment of its debt since 2014,” the governor said in a written statement. “Currently, we are negotiating the restructuring of the debt before the court and are seeking to reach an agreement that ends the bankruptcy of PREPA with a reasonable and sustainable payment.”

“In the past, the creditors of the public corporation proposed onerous agreements to get debt payments. The Government of Puerto Rico rejected those proposals, so the process has now continued to the litigation stage,” he added.

“AAFAF continues to represent the Government before the Federal Court,” Pierluisi noted. “We trust that this will prove us right by addressing our claims to guarantee an affordable and fair restructuring with the interests of Puerto Rico’s people.”

A lawyer for the Electrical Industry and Irrigation Workers Union (UTIER), Rolando Emanuelli Jiménez, said the Financial Oversight and Management Board proposed a charge of up to $23 for each LUMA Energy subscriber

to cover the payment to PREPA’s creditors. The creditors said the payment should be $26. The charge was just one of several items discussed during the failed mediation that fell through last month. The details of the proposals by the parties were published in the Sept. 21 STAR.

That report also said that to the extent that the oversight board wished to lower the rates that would otherwise be charged to customers, the bondholders suggested that the board and the AAFAF could eliminate PREPA subsidies, such as the contribution in lieu of taxes with municipal ities, or require the commonwealth to reimburse PREPA for the subsidies.

“PREPA ratepayers have long been required by the Commonwealth to pay for subsidies to municipalities, business, agriculture and PREB [the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau], with little to no justification or benefit to PREPA,” the report said. “In FY 2022, these subsidies are forecasted to cost ratepayers $191 million, or 1.14 cents per kWh [kilowatt-hour] for residential ratepayers.”

Besides mediation, the oversight board informed the Title III bankruptcy court of the names of the parties that will be intervening in its lawsuit challenging the validity and extent of the purported liens securing about $8.5 billion in PREPA bonds.

The so-called PREPA lien challenge was stayed in 2019 but last month the court allowed the oversight board to resume it when talks to restructure PREPA’s $9 billion debt failed. Besides allowing the litigation to move forward, U.S.

District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who is presiding over the PREPA bankruptcy case, ordered the board to file a plan support agreement by Dec 1.

The lien challenge is an adversary proceeding filed against U.S. Bank National Association, which is the bond trustee, asking the Title III court to declare that the 1974 Trustee’s security interest in PREPA’s property is limited to funds deposited to the credit of the “Sinking Fund” and “Subordinate Funds” under the 1974 Trust Agreement.

The oversight board said the intervenors in the case are the the Ad Hoc Group of PREPA Bondholders, Assured Guaranty Corp., Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp., National Public Finance Guarantee Corp. and Syncora Guarantee Inc., the fuel line lenders, UTIER, PREPA’s Em ployees Retirement System and AAFAF.

The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of all Title III Debtors will be allowed to participate as a co-plaintiff with the oversight board in the case.

Gov. Pedro Pierluisi

mark World Mental Health Day

By THE STAR STAFF

Under

the slogan “Let Go, Get Busy and Smile,” or ganizations dedicated to providing mental health services in Puerto Rico celebrated World Mental Health Day with a meeting on the south side of the Capitol on Monday.

“To have gathered here … is a great achievement; it

is something that fills us with joy and offers hope that we can impact the population on the importance of ‘October is Mental Health Awareness Month,” said the head of the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA), Dr. Carlos Rodríguez Mateo.

“It seems to me that this is a very positive response to the effort we are all making to address the problems faced by the population affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, and the COVID pandemic, which has caused an increase in drug use, suicide attempts, and above all, the manifestation of depressive conditions in the population, which lives a stressful life,” he added.

The organizations gathered in San Juan were Hospital San Juan Capestrano, ASSMCA, Mennonite Health Sys tem-CIMA, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, Pavia Metro System and Hospital Panamericano.

The San Juan Capestrano System, in coordination with Toro Verde Urban Park, has developed a project to reach the population of young people, who are the most vulnera ble, using the tools offered by the challenges of adventure, exercise, games and direct contact with nature.

“As part of the S.O.S. Movement for Mental Health, we will be offering workshops and mental health assessment clinics for the general public” on the last three Fridays in October, said Marta Rivera Plaza, CEO of Sistema San Juan Capestrano.

On Oct. 14 and 28, San Juan Capestrano will offer

workshops at the T-Mobile District’s Toro Verde Urban Park facilities. On Oct. 21, citizens can gather at the Cabo Rojo Public Plaza and receive services free of charge as part of a campaign to help those impacted by Hurricane Fiona.

“We urge anyone who feels the need for help to come to these clinics so that our team of mental health professionals can provide support and services confidentially and free of charge,” Rivera Plaza said.

The organizations that gathered in San Juan to mark World Mental Health Day were Hospital San Juan Capestrano, the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration, Mennonite Health System-CIMA, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, Pavia Metro System and Hospital Panamericano.

‘Our bubble has been burst’: Older storm victims face an uncertain future

By EMILY COCHRANE and JULIE BOSMAN

Morethan two decades ago, Jane and Del Compton stumbled upon Fort Myers while on vacation in southwest Florida. This was where they would retire, they decided on the spot, in a place where they could grow old in peace and sunshine.

They bought a double lot with a mobile home and a few small luxuries: a fan with a remote and his-and-hers televisions so she could follow her soap operas and he could watch cowboy shows.

But Hurricane Ian ravaged their piece of paradise, soa king the photos from four decades of marriage, destroying their car and leaving them without a place to live. They had no homeowner’s insurance; their policy was canceled in June because of the age of their home, a 1978 model.

Now the Comptons — she at 77, he at 81 — are resigned to abandoning their retirement dream. They will return to their native Louisville, Kentucky, in the coming weeks to stay with their daughter and figure out their next steps, although they are loath to leave their beloved church community and friends. Spending their twilight years in Florida seems suddenly out of reach.

“We have talked about it; we have argued about it; we have screamed about it; we have cried about it,” said Jane Compton, sitting outside the church where the couple has stayed with the one box of sentimental treasures they managed to salvage. “Our bubble has been burst.”

Official tallies of deaths related to the storm suggest that older Americans died in disproportionate numbers. Ages or approximate ages have been released for 96 of the hurricane’s 126 victims in Florida and North Carolina. At least 70 people who died were 60 or older. Many victims were found dead at their homes. But Ian not only killed more older people; it also created uniquely wrenching situations for those who survived.

Even if they can afford to rebuild, those people may not have the time or energy required for such a difficult task, and the prospect of tighter building codes might make that more expensive than ever. Many, like the Comptons, live on fixed incomes, lack flood insurance or purchased their homes before the housing boom of the past decade, when the region was far more affordable. Recapturing their paradise may not be possible — a cruel and abrupt blow.

In interviews, several residents said they had defiantly ridden out the storm in the homes they had poured their sa vings into, partly to ensure they could easily begin cleaning up the damage.

Richard Hoyle, 75, moved with his wife to Pine Island, near Fort Myers, in December, after she asked to move to the region from the mountains of Tennessee. He had insisted that they stay through the hurricane, but the storm surge lapped the second flight of stairs to their home, and they watched boats fly across the canal in winds that topped 150 mph.

“We’d already decided, this is our retirement home, and we’ll stay and fight for it,” said Hoyle, a former Marine and firefighter. “I’m glad that we stayed — some battles are worth fighting.”

Likewise, Garland Roach, 79, said he had no intention

of leaving his badly damaged home in a modest neighborhood of North Fort Myers, where the lone palm tree in his front yard was now surrounded by drain pipes, siding and other debris.

“My daughter wants me to come back to Ohio, and I told her I would in my ashes,” he said, adding that he was hoping the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the National Guard would provide a tarp for his mangled roof. “I couldn’t last another winter up there with my arthritis.”

Two deaths from the storm, Florida officials said, were men in their 70s who shot themselves after seeing the des truction to their property.

“I think it’s a breaking point for a lot of people,” said Carol Freeman, 75, pausing as she cleaned the muddied floor of her home on Pine Island, which was ravaged by the storm.

Since the hurricane, Freeman, a retired postal worker who lives with her parrot, Jose, had been without power, for ced to use baby wipes to keep clean and, at least once, eat a donated military-style meal for dinner. She had spent days debating whether it was worth staying.

It may be time, she said, to return to her native Chicago after about four decades on the island. “Too old to be doing this,” she said.

Some retirees who wintered on the Gulf Coast are already planning their exits from the state.

In Fort Myers Beach, an island town that attracted tourists and Midwestern snowbirds, entire groups of friends were gathering recently to inspect the wreckage — and to start mourning the end of their Florida lives. At Gulf Cove, a

mobile home community near the base of a bridge, residents were trying to salvage belongings from their ruined properties. Some said that they expected that the patch of waterfront land where they had cultivated tight-knit friendships over the years would be sold to developers and razed.

“Even if something miraculous happened that we could get back together, there are a lot of couples in their 80s or 90s,” said one of the residents, Deb Macer, 69. “They’re just not going to come back.”

Before the hurricane, days in their neighborhood had a familiar, comforting rhythm. The retirees who lived there planned coffee hours and daily walks over the bridge to Estero Island. Macer planned crafting get-togethers, and her husband, Stacy, 70, was known as the community handyman.

“I fear it’s gone,” said their friend Paul Wasko, 75. “This way of life is gone.”

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Del and Jane Compton on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, outside the church in Fort Myers, Fla., where they have been staying since their home was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. They are planning to move back to Louisville, Ky.

Biden, storyteller in chief, spins yarns that often unravel

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and LINDA QIU

a “tsunami of untruths” and CNN described as a “staggering avalanche of daily wrongness.”

Standing

in front of Floridians who had lost everything during Hurricane Ian, President Joe Biden on Wednesday recalled his own house being nearly destroyed 15 years ago: “We didn’t lose our whole home, but lightning struck and we lost an awful lot of it,” he said.

Biden has mentioned the incident before, once saying he knows what it’s like “having had a house burn down with my wife in it.”

In fact, news reports at the time called it little more than “a small fire that was contained to the kitchen” and quoted the local Delaware fire chief as saying that “the fire was under control in 20 minutes.”

The story is not an isolated example of embellishment.

The exaggerated biography that Biden tells includes having been a fierce civil rights activist who was repeatedly arrested. He has claimed to have been an award-winning student who earned three degrees. And last week, speaking on the hurricanedevastated island of Puerto Rico, he said he had been “raised in the Puerto Rican community at home, politically.”

For more than four decades, Biden has embraced storytell ing as a way of connecting with his audience, often emphasizing the truth of his account by adding “Not a joke!” in the middle of a story. But Biden’s folksiness can veer into folklore, with dates that don’t quite add up and details that are exaggerated or wrong, the factual edges shaved off to make them more power ful for audiences.

Biden’s instances of exaggeration and falsehood fall far well short of those of his predecessor, who during four years in office delivered what the Washington Post fact checker called

Former President Donald Trump lied constantly, not only about trivial details (such as insisting it hadn’t rained during his inauguration when it clearly had) but about consequential mo ments — misleading about the pandemic, perpetrating the “big lie” that Biden stole the 2020 election and claiming falsely that the Capitol was not attacked by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.

Biden’s fictions are nowhere near that scale. But they are emblematic of how the president, over nearly five decades in public life, has been unable to break himself of the habit of spinning embellished narratives, sometimes only loosely based on the facts, to weave together his political identity. And they provide political ammunition for Republicans eager to tar him as too feeble to run for reelection in two years.

His stories have been repeatedly and publicly challenged, as far back as his 1987 campaign for president, when his attempts to adopt someone else’s life story as his own, and his false claims about his academic record, forced him to withdraw.

White House officials disputed the characterization of Biden as a serial exaggerator and emphasized the contrast with his predecessor.

“President Biden has brought honesty and integrity back to the Oval Office,” said Andrew Bates, a White House spokes person. “Like he promised, he gives the American people the truth right from the shoulder and takes pride in being straight with the country about his agenda and his values; including by sharing life experiences that have shaped his outlook and that hardworking people relate to.”

But ethicists said contrasting himself with Trump does not excuse Biden.

“I worry about the corrosive effects on democracy, of making ‘more honest than Donald Trump’ the standard for politicians,” said Michael Blake, a professor of philosophy, public policy and governance at the University of Washington.

Two days before his remarks in Fort Myers, Florida, Biden made his comments about the Puerto Rican community back home in Delaware as he toured the destruction on the island.

I’m one of you, he seemed to be saying.

But Biden made not a single mention of Puerto Rico in either of his biographies. Officials could not point to specific instances when Biden had worked on issues involving the island, although Ted Kaufman, Biden’s former chief of staff, defended his close friend’s description, saying Biden had personally engaged with Puerto Ricans early in his career, in the same way he had with other groups, such as the Black or Jewish communities.

Biden’s critics have seized on his falsehoods to depict him as either a purposeful liar or a forgetful old man.

“When you lie about big things, you lie about small things,” Greg Kelly, a host on the conservative network Newsmax, said this year, “and always in a political sense, always in a way to try to get people to like him, and exaggerating along the way.”

Biden has been delivering exaggerations at least as far back as his first presidential campaign.

During his first presidential run in 1987, Biden said he “went to law school on a full academic scholarship,” bragged that he “ended up in the top half” of his law school class and insisted that he “graduated with three degrees from undergradu ate school.”

If fact, as he later admitted, he had only a partial schol arship, was 76th out of 85 law school student and graduated with one bachelor’s degree (with a double major in history and political science).

The most curious stories that Biden continues to tell may be the ones about his interactions with the law.

Earlier this year, Biden suggested during a speech in Atlanta on voting rights that he had been arrested while protesting for civil rights.

“Because I’m so damn old, I was there as well,” he said. “You think I’m kidding, man. It seems like yesterday the first time I got arrested.”

There is no evidence he was ever arrested during a civilrights protest.

During the 2020 campaign, he said he had been arrested while visiting Nelson Mandela in South Africa. He later admitted he had been blocked from moving by police but not arrested. In 2008, he said he had been arrested as a college student follow ing a group of women into an all-female dorm. He hadn’t, as he conceded years later. In 2007, he recounted being arrested by a Capitol Police officer as a 21-year-old student in 1963. But in his memoir, he writes that the officer “didn’t arrest me or anything.”

Blake suggested that there could be a cumulative effect even if Biden had excuses and explanations for individual in stances of inaccuracy.

“It’s an attempt to create a sort of picture of who he is as someone who has empathy and knowledge and connection with people who are unlike him,” Blake said.

“But the problem is,” he added, “when it’s verifiably a false story, at that point trust in that story, it fails.”

President

The origins of the GOP tactic of sending migrants to blue states

By MAGGIE HABERMAN and MICHAEL C. BENDER

Inthe fall of 2018, President Donald Trump was pushing aides on an idea he wanted to carry out on the border — transporting immigrants who entered the country illegally to so-called sanctuary cities.

The idea had simmered for months, culminating in a call Trump placed to Kirstjen Nielsen, his homeland security secretary.

Trump, Nielsen’s former chief of staff recalled, wanted to round up migrants in Republican-controlled states and “bus and dump” them in major cities. He wanted to bus migrants who had been deemed to be “murderers, rapists and criminals” to places, such as California, where officials had declined to help carry out the administration’s rigorous deportation policies, according to the former chief of staff, Miles Taylor.

The idea never advanced in the Trump administration, in part because of legal concerns. But four years later, three Republican governors have brought it to visceral life, busing and flying thousands of migrants — not just criminals — from the border and dropping them off in Martha’s Vineyard, New York City and other Democratic-leaning areas.

The former president’s influence on the Republican Party can be measured not only in the electoral victories and losses of the candidates he endorses but also in the nativism that has come to define the party’s immigration politics. The Republican governors of Arizona, Florida and Texas turned an abandoned Trumpian notion into action, inspired by his hard-line immigration policies as well as his taste for a combative style of political theater.

“The immigration policies of the Trump administration are now the baseline even for Republican congressional leadership and Republican candidates across the country,” said John A. Zadrozny, a former Trump administration official.

In recent weeks, the three governors — Greg Abbott of Texas, Ron DeSantis of Florida and Doug Ducey of Arizona — have been criticized for treating desperate migrants fleeing Venezuela and other countries as political pawns. Migrants have been sent to blue cities, states and even vacation spots where local officials were caught by surprise and lacked a support network for people seeking refuge.

Trump routinely pushed his administration to exceed the bounds of what the law would allow. The practice of shipping humans across the country to score political points — an echo of the Reverse Freedom Rides of the early 1960s, when Southern segregationists sent Black families to Northern cities as a racist stunt — underscores how far to the right Republicans have shifted on immigration since Trump’s rise, often with a callousness that they believe appeals to their voting base.

Todd Schulte, the president of the immigration advocacy group FWD.us, said he viewed Trump’s family separation program and the Republican governors’ migrant bus and plane trips as two similar “cruel efforts to manufacture chaos” at the border.

A spokesperson for the former president, Taylor Budowich, said Trump had fought to secure the United States’ southern border and noted that others were doing what he had proposed. “Republicans across our country continue to follow his lead on this important issue and others in support of his America First movement,” Budowich said.

But the idea’s origin story is murky.

Three years before Trump promoted the migrant-transportation concept in the White House in 2018, Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, publicly floated similar ideas while he was running for president.

At the time, refugees from the Syrian civil war were arriving in the United States. Huckabee suggested sending them to politically sensitive spots, including Chappaqua, New York, where Hillary Clinton owned a home; Burlington, Vermont, where Sen. Bernie Sanders had been mayor; and the Obama White House.

“You got a lot of people out there on the left who think that that’s what we ought to be doing,” Huckabee said in a November 2015 interview on CNN. “Fine. Let’s put them in their neighborhoods.”

Mark Krikorian, the director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative think tank that advocates restricting immigration, said that the notion of sending migrants to other cities was “kind of an old chestnut,” adding, “It’s just that nobody pulled the trigger on it.”

In the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump began discussing the idea with his advisers, according to former officials. But it was not until 2018 that he explicitly demanded that officials make such a move, former Trump administration officials recall.

Around the same time, Huckabee’s daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, then the White House press secretary, had suggested transporting migrants in such a way, former officials recalled. But it appeared to be raised as more of a talking point than as a serious policy request. There was never a budgetary consideration about it, one former senior administration official said.

Former officials said that Stephen Miller, a senior policy adviser to Trump and an immigration hard-liner, was in touch with officials at the Department of Homeland Security about the concept at one point, but they emphasized that it was not his idea.

The administration’s immigration lawyers questioned the legality of such a move. Congress had not approved money for that purpose, they noted. There was also some reluctance among White House aides who believed that Trump’s immigration policy had been tailored around deportations — not helping send immigrants without legal status deeper into the country.

Of the Republicans who have appropriated Trump’s public call to send migrants to Democratic-led places, Abbott has had a particularly close relationship with the former administration, especially with Miller.

Texas was involved in lawsuits related to the administration’s immigration efforts. The state’s attorney general also threatened to sue if the White House did not follow through on its desire to end the Obama-era policy known as DACA, in which immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. when they were younger were spared deportation.

Miller had what one Republican called a “solid relationship” with Abbott during the Trump administration. But a person close to Miller said that he had not advised any of the governors on their recent actions.

Andeno Co

Tasa mínima, promedio ponderado, y máxima para préstamos personales pequeños otorgados

la semana

terminó el sábado,

de octubre

President Donald Trump delivers remarks on networks providing 5G service to rural areas in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Washington, on April 12, 2019. In 2019, President Donald J. Trump said at a news conference that his administration was “strongly” considering sending migrants to so-called sanctuary cities.

Inside Zuckerberg’s metaverse struggles

By RYAN MAC, SHEERA FRENKEL and KEVIN ROOSE

LastOctober, when Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook, announced that the company would change its name to Meta and become a “metaverse company,” he sketched a vision of a utopian future many years off in which billions of people would inhabit immersive digital environments for hours on end, working, socializing and playing games inside virtual and augmented worlds.

In the year since, Meta has spent billions of dollars and assigned thousands of employees to make Zuckerberg’s dream feasible. But Meta’s metaverse efforts have had a rocky start.

The company’s flagship virtual-reality game, Horizon Worlds, remains buggy and unpopular, leading Meta to put in place a “quality lockdown” for the rest of the year while it retools the app.

Some Meta employees have complained about frequent strategy shifts that seem tied to Zuckerberg’s whims rather than a cohesive plan.

And Meta executives have butted heads over the company’s metaverse strategy, with one senior leader complaining that the amount of money the company had spent on unproven projects made him “sick to my stomach.”

The company’s struggle to reshape the business was des cribed in interviews with more than a dozen current and former Meta employees and internal communications obtained by The New York Times. The people spoke on the condition of anony mity because they were not authorized to speak about internal matters.

On Tuesday, Meta is expected to unveil a new VR head set at a developer conference, along with other new metaverse features. The stakes are high for the company, which is racing to transform itself to make up for declines in other parts of its business. TikTok is siphoning younger users away from Facebook and Instagram, Meta’s two big moneymakers, and Apple made privacy changes to its mobile operating system that have cost Meta billions of dollars in advertising revenue.

The company’s stock price has tumbled nearly 60% in the past year — a reflection not just of broader market turbulen ce, but of some investors’ skepticism that the metaverse will be highly lucrative anytime soon. In late September, the company announced that it would freeze most hiring, and Zuckerberg has warned employees that layoffs may be coming.

“The pressures Meta’s business is facing in 2022 are acu te, significant and not metaverse-related,” said Matthew Ball, an investor and metaverse expert whose advice Zuckerberg has sought. “And there is a risk that almost everything Mark has out lined about the metaverse is right, except the timing is farther out than he imagined.”

In a statement, Andy Stone, a Meta spokesperson, said the company believed it was still on the right path.

“Being a cynic about new and innovative technology is easy,” Stone said. “Actually building it is a lot harder — but that’s what we’re doing because we believe the metaverse is the future of computing.”

Zuckerberg successfully overhauled his company a decade ago, getting it to focus on how its products worked on smartpho

nes instead of desktops. He signaled a similar shift last year, sa ying that investing in the metaverse would allow Meta to make the leap from one technological era to the next.

There are some signs that Meta’s bet has put it ahead of competitors. The company’s consumer VR headset, the Quest 2, is the most popular VR headset on the market with more than 15 million sold, according to outside estimates. Its Oculus VR app — which has since been rebranded Meta Quest — has been installed more than 21 million times on iOS and Android devices, according to an estimate by Sensor Tower, an app analytics firm.

But Meta’s future success depends on the company’s abili ty to bring virtual and augmented reality tools to far more people.

Meta said in February that its Horizon Worlds game had grown to roughly 300,000 monthly active users — an increase from a few months earlier, but minuscule in comparison with Facebook’s more than 2.9 billion monthly active users. The com pany declined to provide more up-to-date figures for Horizon Worlds.

Adding to Meta’s woes is that U.S. regulators appear de termined to prevent the company from acquiring its way to suc cess, as it did by buying Instagram and WhatsApp. In July, the Federal Trade Commission sued Meta to block it from acquiring Within, the maker of a popular VR fitness app. Meta is fighting the agency’s lawsuit, which it has called “wrong on the facts and the law.”

Zuckerberg, determined to recast his public image after years in the limelight for unpopular decisions about political speech on Facebook, has surprised some employees by making himself the innovator face of the metaverse push. Demonstrations and mock-ups of Meta’s latest metaverse technologies feature footage of Zuckerberg performing VR versions of his hobbies, in cluding fencing and a surfing-like watersport called hydrofoiling. The CEO recently went on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he told the popular comedian that building an immersive metaverse was his “holy grail.”

Zuckerberg’s zeal for the metaverse has been met with skepticism by some Meta employees. This year, he urged teams to hold meetings inside Meta’s Horizon Workrooms app, which allows users to gather in virtual conference rooms. But many employees didn’t own VR headsets or hadn’t set them up yet, and had to scramble to buy and register devices before mana gers caught on, according to one person with knowledge of the events.

In September, Vishal Shah, the vice president in charge of Meta’s metaverse division, wrote on an internal message board that he was disappointed in how few Meta employees were using Horizon Worlds, according to a post obtained by The Times.

In his post, which was first reported by The Verge, Shah said that managers would begin tracking workers’ use of Horizon Worlds, and said that testing their own technology was essential.

“Why don’t we love the product we’ve built so much that we use it all the time?” Shah asked. “The simple truth is, if we don’t love it, how can we expect our users to love it?”

Shah, who declined to comment to The Times, also said in his post that Horizon would undergo a “quality lockdown” for the rest of the year to “raise the overall craft and delight of our product.”

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, introducing the Oculus Quest virtual-reality headset in 2019.

One prominent insider who has objected to Zuckerberg’s approach to the metaverse is John Carmack, a well-known game developer and former chief technology officer of Oculus, the VR company Facebook acquired for roughly $2 billion in 2014. He continues to work part time at Meta as an adviser.

In a podcast interview in August, Carmack said the scale of Meta’s metaverse bet — last year, it reported a $10 billion loss in the division housing its AR and VR units — made him “sick to my stomach thinking about that much money being spent.” He added that Meta’s development of the metaverse has been ham pered by big-company bureaucracy and concerns about issues such as diversity and privacy.

Carmack has also spoken out on Workplace, Meta’s inter nal message board. In posts obtained by The Times, Carmack, who is speaking at the developer conference Tuesday, criticized features of the company’s VR headsets, calling the need to run software updates before using them “extremely bad for user en joyment.”

Carmack did not respond to a request for comment.

Carmack’s criticism has put him at odds with executives such as Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, who oversaw VR efforts for years and is a close ally of Zuckerberg’s. Carmack, according to four employees who have worked with him, has urged the company to think about the metaverse pri marily from the immediate user experience, while Bosworth has approached it from a longer-term point of view with a focus on business opportunities.

As the pressure grows, Zuckerberg has sent a clear messa ge to Meta employees: Get on board or get out. In a June mee ting first reported by Reuters, the 38-year-old billionaire noted that “there are probably a bunch of people at the company who shouldn’t be here” and that he’d be “turning up the heat” on expectations and goals, according to copies of his comments that were shared with The Times. Since then, the company has frozen most hiring and reduced budgets, and Zuckerberg asked mana gers to start identifying low-performing employees.

Faced with possible layoffs, some Meta employees have started to convey more enthusiasm for the metaverse. More teams have been conducting meetings inside Horizon Workrooms in recent months, several employees said.

But the transition has been rocky. Earlier this year, Boswor th tried to lead a staff meeting inside Horizon Workrooms, accor ding to an employee who was present.

The meeting was thwarted by technical glitches and the team ended up using Zoom, the employee said.

Stocks tumble globally on raft of economic, political worries

MSCI’s

global index of stocks hit its lowest level in almost two years on Tuesday while oil prices sank on fears about the potential for a global recession as central banks rapidly increase interest rates in an effort to tame inflation.

Adding to pressure were concerns about the upcoming third quarter earnings season and a U.S. inflation report, along with escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19 cas es in China.

In addition, the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday warned of a disorderly repricing in markets, saying global fi nancial stability risks have increased, raising the risks of con tagion and spillovers of stress between markets.

U.S.-led NATO said member states were boosting se curity as G7 leaders condemned Russia’s escalating attacks in Ukraine. Russian missiles pounded Ukraine for a second straight day, after dozens of air raids on Monday that killed 19 people, wounded more than 100 and cut power supplies.

“It’s just the consistent lack of good news. Russia’s in creased attacks on Ukraine is probably the larger story, but the continued fear about inflation and the concern about coming earnings numbers are all weighing on the market,” said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average .DJI rose 41.48 points, or 0.14%, to 29,244.36; the S&P 500 .SPX lost 24.5 points, or 0.68%, to 3,587.89; and the Nasdaq Composite .IXIC dropped 117.27 points, or 1.11%, to 10,424.83.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index .STOXX lost 0.70% and MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe .MIWD00000PUS was down 1.00%. Earlier in the session, the MSCI index had fallen 1.5% to 549.19, its lowest level since Oct. 30, 2020.

Emerging market stocks .MSCIEF were down 2.25% after hitting their lowest level since April 2020 and are on track for a near-30% tumble year-to-date, its biggest annual decline since the 2008 global financial crisis.

Exacerbating global growth worries was news from Chi na that Shanghai and other big Chinese cities have ramped up testing for COVID-19 as infections rise, with some local authorities hastily closing schools, entertainment venues and tourist spots.

Also impacting the global market was the Bank of Eng land’s latest efforts to shore up the battered bond market.

Citing a “material risk” to financial stability, the BoE said it would buy up to 5 billion pounds of index-linked debt per day from Tuesday until the end of the week.

Bonds globally have been sideswiped by the rout in UK government bonds, known as gilts, pushing yields on U.S. Treasuries up sharply on fears that UK pension funds were being forced into fire sales of assets.

Benchmark 10-year notes US10YT=RR were up 2.5 basis points to 3.910%, from 3.885% late on Friday. The 30-year

bond US30YT=RR last fell 28/32 in price to yield 3.8963%, from 3.842%. The 2-year note US2YT=RR last rose 2/32 in price to yield 4.2786%, from 4.308%.

The U.S. dollar edged higher in choppy trading, adding to recent gains ahead of a key inflation report later this week that is expected to show persistently strong price pressures.

Overall, dollar sentiment has remained positive as wor

LOCAL MORTGAGE

ries about rising interest rates and geopolitical tensions have unsettled investors, while Japan’s yen hovered near the level that prompted last month’s intervention.

In currencies the euro EUR= was up 0.05% against the dollar at $0.9705. The Japanese yen JPY= was flat versus the greenback at 145.70 per dollar, while Sterling GBP= was last trading at $1.108, up 0.23% on the day.

G-7 leaders pledge ‘undeterred’ support for Ukraine after Russian strikes

high probability of rocket attacks” throug hout the day. By the afternoon, the intensity of strikes did not appear to be as severe as Monday, although several targets were hit, including three power plants in western and central Ukraine, far from the front lines.

A dozen rockets also struck the embatt led southern city of Zaporizhzhia, killing at least five people and hitting a school, medi cal facility and car dealership, local officials said.

Here are the latest developments:

By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ, ANDREW E. KRAMER and MEGAN SPECIA

PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy asked the leaders of seven major industria lized nations for more “modern and effective air defense systems” on Tuesday, a day after Russia launched an intense aerial assault against civilian targets in his country. Additional defense systems are neces sary to counter Russian missiles and drones, particularly those supplied by Iran, Zelens

kyy told the leaders of the Group of 7 na tions, who held an emergency meeting a day after Russian missile strikes killed at least 19 people across the country. After the mee ting, the leaders pledged “undeterred and steadfast” financial and military support for Ukraine, and emphasized “severe conse quences” for Russia if it were to use chemi cal, biological or nuclear weapons.

The strikes across Ukraine on Monday knocked out waterworks and power stations, plunging cities temporarily into darkness. But

the strikes, in retaliation for an attack on a bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea, did not appear to seriously damage Ukraine’s ability to wage war, analysts said.

On Tuesday, Ukraine said that it had shot down numerous Russian cruise missiles, a sign that its air defenses were still effective against what analysts say is Moscow’s decli ning stockpile of precision weapons.

Many Ukrainians again sought shel ter underground Tuesday morning after the country’s emergency ministry warned of “a

— Russia’s latest assault renewed ques tions about its military capacity, with analysts saying Moscow’s use of dozens of precision missiles, of which it has a dwindling supply, would leave it fewer to use on the battlefield against advancing Ukrainian forces.

— Zelenskyy said in his nightly ad dress that electricity had been mostly or fully restored in several regions. He asked Ukrai nians to limit their energy consumption from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. to avoid overloading the system.

— The U.N. human rights office said that Russia appeared to have deliberately tar geted civilians and critical infrastructure in its bombardment Monday, which the agency said constituted a war crime.

Coronation of King Charles III is set for May 6

By MARK LANDLER

KingCharles III and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, will be crowned May 6 at Westminster Abbey, Buc kingham Palace announced Tuesday, the first coronation in Britain in seven decades and one that will be pared back considerably from the extravagant ceremony held for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Charles is expected to shorten the length of the service, reduce the guest list and dispense with some of the more an tiquated rituals, a person with knowledge of palace planning said. Those changes reflect the cost-of-living squeeze that is afflicting Britain, as well as the king’s longer-term push for a more streamlined royal family structure.

The palace offered few details about the ceremony, which is still in the preliminary planning stages, but suggested that it was trying to strike a balance.

“The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look toward the future,” the statement said, “while being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry.”

Charles ascended to the throne Sept. 8 automatically on the death of his mother. He was proclaimed as king two days

later in a formal ceremony conducted by an Accession Coun cil. The coronation is a religious ritual in which the new mo narch is “anointed, blessed and consecrated” by the archbis hop of Canterbury.

Much about the ceremony will be familiar, part of a tradi tion of crowning kings and queens that goes back nearly 1,000 years. Westminster Abbey, for example, has been the site of coronations for 900 years. Justin Welby, the archbishop of Can terbury, will follow his predecessors, dating to 1066, in con ducting the service.

Charles may also travel to the abbey from Buckingham Pa lace in the same golden state coach that conveyed his mother. And this coronation will also feature a queen, although Cami lla, as the king’s wife, is known as the queen consort — a title that Elizabeth secured for her daughter-in-law a few months before her death.

Elizabeth’s coronation, which took place 16 months after she ascended to the throne in February 1952, was the first to be televised, drawing an estimated global audience of more than 250 million people. More than 3 million lined the streets of London to watch her procession. Estimates put the cost of the coronation at 1.57 million pounds, or 54 million in inflation-

adjusted dollars.

The queen’s state funeral last month was a similarly ma jestic ceremony, and few Britons questioned the pomp or pa geantry. At 96, she was a revered figure, the longest-serving monarch in British history. Now, though, with the country in the grip of near-double-digit inflation and facing a prolonged recession, the palace is more sensitive to issues of opulence and cost for the king’s coronation.

Even before the recent economic strains, Charles had pus hed to make the royal family more streamlined and less of a drain on the public purse. The number of working royals has dwindled, with the departure of Prince Harry and his wife, Me ghan, and the internal exile of Prince Andrew, Charles’ younger brother, who has been banished from public life because of his links to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Charles has kept a low profile since the queen’s funeral, partly because the mourning period for the royal family con tinued for several more days after she was buried at Windsor Castle. He decided not to attend a U.N. climate-change sum mit in Egypt next month, after consulting with Prime Minister Liz Truss.

With attacks on Ukraine, Putin gives hard-liners what they wanted

By VALERIE HOPKINS and ANTON TROIANOVSKI

Formonths, Russia’s state media insisted that the country was hitting only military targets in Ukraine, leaving out the suffering that the invasion has brought to millions of civilians.

On Monday, state television not only re ported on the suffering but flaunted it. It showed plumes of smoke and carnage in central Kyiv, along with empty store shelves and a long-range forecast promising months of freezing tempera tures there.

“There’s no hot water; part of the city is without power,” one anchor announced, describ ing the scene in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv.

The sharp shift was a sign that domestic pressure over Russia’s flailing war effort had esca lated to the point where President Vladimir Putin believed that a brutal show of force was neces sary — as much for his audience at home as for Ukraine and the West.

His military has come under increasingly withering criticism from the war’s supporters for not being aggressive enough in its assault on Ukraine, a chorus that reached a fever pitch after Saturday’s attack on the 12-mile bridge to the an nexed Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea — a symbol of Putin’s rule.

With Monday’s devastating escalation of the war effort, Putin appears to be responding, in part, to those critics, momentarily quieting the clamors of hard-liners furious with the Russian military’s humiliating setbacks on the battlefield.

“This is important from the domestic politi cal perspective, first and foremost,” Abbas Gally amov, a Russian political analyst and former Putin speechwriter, said of Monday’s strikes. “It was important to demonstrate to the ruling class that Putin is still capable, that the army is still good for something.”

But with his escalation, Putin is also betting that Russian elites — and the public at large — do indeed see it as a sign of strength rather than a desperate effort to inflict more pain on Ukrainian civilians in a war that Russia appears to be losing militarily.

“The response was supposed to show power, but in fact it showed powerlessness,” Gal lyamov said. “There’s nothing else the army can do.”

The attacks killed at least 14 and wounded scores of others, while countless more in cities across Ukraine were terrified by dozens of incom ing missiles explicitly targeting civilian infrastruc ture.

After the strikes, some of the invasion’s harshest critics among the Russian hawks de clared that the military was finally doing its job. The strongman leader of the Chechnya, Ramzan

Kadyrov — who recently excoriated the army’s “incompetent” leadership — said in a Telegram post that he was now “100% happy” with the war effort.

“Run, Zelenskyy, run,” he wrote, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Other cheerleaders of the war triumphantly recalled Putin’s declaration in July that Russia had not “started anything yet in earnest” in Ukraine.

“Now, it seems, it’s started,” said a state television talk show host, Olga Skabeyeva.

Hard-liners in Russia have been pushing this strategy for a very long time, said Greg Yudin, a professor of political philosophy at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. “Like, we have to scare them into submission,’’ he said of the hard-right viewpoint. “So, in order to do that, we have to be really, really violent.”

The strike on the Crimean bridge, Yudin said, meant that the Kremlin “had no choice but to give in” and escalate the attacks on Ukraine.

Putin described the strikes as a response to Ukrainian “terrorist acts,” casting them as a onetime assault to deter future Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory. In his home city, St. Petersburg, where he had traveled Friday for his 70th birthday, Putin spoke on national television for just over 3 minutes in what the Kremlin characterized as the start of a meeting with his Security Council.

He made a point of saying the strikes had occurred at the military’s initiative, an apparent ef fort to head off assertions that he was plotting the war effort in isolation.

“This morning, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Defense and according to the plan of the Russian General Staff, a massive strike with air, sea and land-based high-precision long-range weapons was launched against Ukrainian energy, military command and communications facilities,” Putin said. “If attempts to carry out terrorist attacks on our territory continue, the measures taken by Russia will be tough and in their scale will corre spond to the level of threats posed to the Russian Federation. No one should have any doubt about it.”

In his speech, Putin made one notable omission: He did not mention the West as the ulti mate culprit behind Saturday’s Crimean bridge ex plosion or other suspected Ukrainian attacks. That was a departure from the typical Kremlin rhetoric that portrays Washington and London as the pup peteers behind Ukraine’s resistance.

The shift was a possible signal that the Rus sian leader was interested in controlling the esca lation of the war and that he was not on the verge of provoking a direct conflict with NATO.

Still, the deadly and seemingly indiscrimi nate strikes, while satisfying the bloodthirstiness of Russian hawks, carry some risk for Putin, not least because they clash with the Kremlin’s claims that Russia was not targeting Ukrainian civilians and was simply conducting a “special military opera tion.”

They could also put pressure on Putin to es calate further in the case of additional Ukrainian attacks or front-line successes, potentially increas

ing the discord within Russia’s ruling elite over how hard to push in Ukraine.

Indeed, pro-Kremlin figures, while celebrat ing the strikes, struggled to explain the incongru ence of the fiery assault on cities that, in Putin’s telling, are core to Russia’s cultural heritage. Some justified the mayhem by blaming Ukraine and the West.

“It is bitter for us to see missile attacks on one of the most beautiful cities in the world, our Kyiv,” Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin commenta tor who is frequently on state television, wrote on Telegram. “All responsibility for the attacks on Kyiv lies with the occupiers and their collabora tors. That is, on Biden and Zelenskyy personally.”

Inside Russia, few voices on Monday urged restraint. Even as the hawks praised the attacks, some lamented that Putin did not go far enough; Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current vice chair of Putin’s Security Council, said on Telegram that the only way to protect Rus sia was to “completely dismantle” the government in Ukraine.

Some signs pointed to Putin’s being pre pared for a wider escalation of the war. On Sat urday, he appointed a general known for his ruth lessness, Sergei Surovikin, to lead the war effort in Ukraine. And Putin’s closest international ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, de clared Monday that thousands of Russian soldiers would soon arrive in the country to form a joint military group with Belarusian forces — creating the specter of a new threat to Ukraine’s north.

Vladimir Pastukhov, a Russian political scientist and lawyer, said Putin’s escalations “run counter to his own intuition” and seriously limit his policy options by backing him into a corner.

“All of Putin’s actions today are aimed at getting out of this corner from which the only way out is the nuclear button,” Pastukhov, an honor ary senior research associate at University College London, said in a phone interview. “In a sense, what has just happened really increases risks for him.”

In central Moscow, many people said they had been unaware of what happened in Ukraine. People soaked up the sun in the chic neighbor hood around the central Tsvetnoy Boulevard or rushed to work or appointments.

Some younger people, more attuned to so cial media, said they were aware of the strikes on Ukraine but felt powerless to assign blame. “It is bad when people are killed for any reason,” said Sasha, 19, a university student. Still, she added, “In any fight, both sides are responsible.”

In Russia, the penalties for criticizing the war — or even using the term war — come with hefty fines or jail time, so many Russians are cau tious about making comments that might have a negative connotation about the war.

President Joe Biden discusses the economy and job creation policy at IBM’s campus in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Oct. 6, 2022.

Landslides leave at least 35 dead, and dozens missing in Venezuela

By GENEVIEVE GLATSKY and TIBISAY ROMERO

Heavy rains and landslides have left dozens of people dead and dozens more missing in a single town in north-central Venezuela, officials said Sun day.

Authorities believe that an unknown number of other people in the town, Las Tejerías, remain trapped in their homes by the mud.

The Venezuelan armed forces planned to deploy canines and drones to find the missing residents and to deliver food and medicine, one top military officer, Remigio Ceballos, said at the news conference in Las Tejerías, about 40 miles southwest of the capital, Caracas.

Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Ro dríguez, said at the news conference that authorities were making every effort to get them out alive, but almost two dozen peo ple were known to be dead. “We have lost children, girls, all very regrettable,” Rodrí guez said.

On Monday, Rodríguez said the num ber of dead had increased to 35 from initial reports Sunday of 22 confirmed deaths. At least 52 people were reported missing.

The rains began late Saturday after noon, and intensified throughout the night.

Overflowing streams carried away trees and electricity poles, and damaged homes and businesses. Cellphone service, already spotty in the region, was almost wiped out by the storm.

Some 20,000 homes throughout the surrounding Santos Michelena municipality were affected, according to the Red Cross in Aragua state.

On Sunday, Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, declared the area a disas

ter zone and announced three days of na tional mourning. His vice president said the government would provide shelter for vic tims, support for damaged businesses and aid to farmers who lost crops.

This is ordinarily Venezuela’s rainy sea son, but it has been especially bad this year.

“The effects of the climate crisis are causing this tragedy,” Rodríguez said.

On Sunday night, it was reported that it had started to rain again in the region.

Elsewhere in the region, a tropical storm, Julia, strengthened to a hurricane and set off flash flooding and mudslides in parts of Central America over the weekend.

Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, said on Twitter that Julia had left two in jured, two houses destroyed and 101 dam aged on the Colombian island of San An dres.

On Sunday morning, the hurricane made landfall in Nicaragua before weaken ing and becoming a tropical storm, bringing with it heavy rains.

The storm formed just 10 days after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida, bar reling across the state as a powerful Catego ry 4 storm, destroying neighborhoods and infrastructure, unleashing floods, wiping out power and killing at least 120 people, according to state and local officials.

Ian, which later regained hurricane strength before making landfall in South Carolina, followed a relatively quiet start to the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June through November. There were only three named storms before Sept. 1 and none in August, the first time that has hap pened since 1997.

Storm activity picked up in early Sep tember with Danielle and Earl, which formed within a day of each other, and Ian, which formed on Sept. 26.

Richardson ‘cautiously optimistic’ about deal for Brittney Griner

By ZACH MONTAGUE

Bill Richardson, the former New Mex ico governor and ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that he is “cautiously optimistic” that a deal will be reached to release Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, two Americans imprisoned in Rus sia.

Richardson — who has been unoffi cially negotiating with Russian officials as a private citizen — told CNN’s “State of the Union” that a deal could be feasible by the end of the year, saying that Russia appeared to be willing to move forward on an agree ment to exchange Griner, a WNBA all-star, and Whelan, a former Marine, for two Rus sian prisoners held by the United States.

“I got the sense that the Russian offi cials that I met with, that I’ve known over the years, are ready to talk,” Richardson said.

Griner, who was arrested just before Russia invaded Ukraine in February, was sentenced to nine years in a Russian penal colony after pleading guilty to a drug pos session charge. Whelan was sentenced to 16 years on espionage charges in 2020.

The White House has recently ramped up efforts to secure their release. Last month, President Joe Biden and his nation al security adviser, Jake Sullivan, met with members of Whelan’s family and Griner’s wife, Cherelle Griner, and her agent, Lind say Kagawa Colas.

But without much public progress in the negotiations, members of Griner’s fam ily have also looked for help from Richard son, who has previously worked behind the scenes to secure the release of American prisoners from countries such as Iran, North Korea and Sudan.

Richardson’s unofficial diplomacy has put him at odds with the Biden administra

tion as relations between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated over Russia’s ag gression in Ukraine.

He has also drawn criticism from hu man rights advocates, who have said his trips — such as his meeting with mem bers of Myanmar’s military junta last year — lend legitimacy to authoritarian govern ments and distract from the White House’s official efforts.

On Sunday, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Richardson to respond to comments last month from John Kirby, the former Penta gon press secretary, in which he implored Richardson and other private citizens not to negotiate on behalf of the U.S. government.

“I respect that. I think any decision, for instance, release of prisoner exchange, has to be made by the president,” Richardson said.

But he insisted that there was still value for him and other like-minded individuals

to continue pushing for Griner’s release in private channels.

“There are a lot of nervous Nellies in the government that think they can know it all, and that’s not the case,” he said. “Look at my track record over 30 years — I’m go ing to continue these efforts.”ud.

Bill Richardson in New York City in November of last year.

The landslides left at least 22 people dead and 52 missing in the Venezuelan town of Las Tejerías, about 40 miles southwest of the capital, Caracas.

Tracking the coming economic storm

By PAUL KRUGMAN

analysts like to say, may well be “rolling over.”

Meteorologists

tell us that global warming has crea ted new problems for forecasters. Not only are hurricanes getting stronger, they’re also intensi fying more rapidly than they used to, making it difficult to issue early warnings for communities in their path. Notably, officials in Florida’s Lee County waited for definitive evi dence that they would be hit hard by Hurricane Ian befo re ordering evacuations — and by then it was too late for many people.

Is something similar happening with economic poli cy? Recently I wrote about the growing buzz from eco nomists and businesspeople to the effect that the Federal Reserve, which has been trying to slow the economy to fight inflation, is braking too hard. Since then the buzz has intensified. And I’m increasingly convinced that, despite a disappointing inflation report and what still looks by some measures like a robust job market, the Fed is getting behind the curve.

We are, I’d now argue, just starting to see the effects of the interest rate hikes the Fed has been making since early this year. Never mind what inflation and jobs data are saying right now; there’s a lot of reduction in inflationary pressures — and a lot of drag on output and employment — already in the pipeline. The economy, as some business

And the risks a hard-mo ney policy poses to financial stability and the world eco nomy in general are looming larger.

Part of the problem is that the Fed hasn’t done what it’s doing now — dras tically tightening money to fight inflation — for a long time, indeed since the early 1980s. And some analysts, perhaps including people at the Fed, may have forgotten one important lesson from monetary policy in the bad old days. Namely, it takes a significant amount of time before higher interest rates translate into either an eco nomic slowdown or a drop in the inflation rate.

Consider how Fed policy affects the real economy. One of the main channels is through housing. Higher interest ra tes lead to reduced demand for houses, which leads to a fall in construction; as incomes earned in housing construc tion slide, this leads to reduced demand for other goods, and the effects spill over to the economy at large.

But all of this takes a while. The Fed’s rate hikes have in deed led to a sharp fall in applications for building permits. However, construction employment hasn’t yet even begun to decline, presumably because many workers are still busy finishing houses started when rates were lower. And the wider economic effects of the coming housing slump are still many months away.

The other major channel through which the Fed affects the economy is via the value of the dollar. A strong dollar makes U.S. products less competitive on world markets; falling exports and rising imports will eventually be a major economic drag. But it takes time to shift to new suppliers, so this effect won’t really happen until next year.

In short, current inflation and employment are basically telling us about the past; we need to look at other data for a glimpse of the future.

For example, a new report shows that unfilled job offe rings fell sharply in August. Why is this important? Many economists — especially economists who have been war ning about persistent inflation — argue that the tightness of the labor market is better measured by the ratio of job va cancies to unemployment than by the unemployment rate itself. But this ratio, while still elevated, has already drop

ped substantially; as Goldman Sachs puts it, almost half of the gap between jobs and workers has been eliminated over the past few months.

Another new report shows that demand for apartments has stalled, which will eventually translate into a decline in rent growth — which basically drives official estimates of the cost of shelter, a key component of most measures of underlying inflation.

Oh, and remember all those supply-chain problems that disrupted the economy and raised inflation some months back? Well, the cost of shipping a container across the Paci fic, which was $20,586 in September 2021, is now $2,265.

I’d argue that these indicators tell us that the Fed has already done enough to ensure a big decline in inflation — but also, all too possibly, a recession.

Am I completely sure about this? No, of course not. But policy always involves a trade-off between risks. And the risk that the Fed is doing too little seems to be rapidly receding, while the risk that it’s doing too much is rising.

And add in the risk of financial crisis. Britain’s recent bond-market mess was homegrown, but it may nonetheless be a harbinger of the potential mayhem from rapidly rising interest rates (and the rising dollar, which is causing stress around the world). We don’t want to let financial markets dictate the Fed’s policy, but that doesn’t mean it should ignore financial dangers.

Again, I can’t offer any certainty about what’s coming. But we really, really don’t want the Fed to do a Lee County, and refuse to act on warnings of an economic storm until all the uncertainty is gone. By then it will be too late to avoid the worst.

Presidente PPD elige a secretario general y subsecretaria de esa colectividad

S

AN JUAN – El presidente del Partido Popular Demo crático (PPD), José Luis Dalmau Santiago anunció el martes, el nombramiento del exrepresentante Luis Vega Ramos como secretario general de esa colectivi dad y a Nina Valedón como subsecretaria.

“Los convoqué para anunciarles el nombramiento del licenciado Luis Vega Ramos como secretariuo ge neral del Partido Popular Democrático. Y de la misma forma, anunciar el nombramiento de Nina Valedón como subsecretaria del Partido Popular Democrático”, dijo Dalmau Santiago en conferencia de prensa.

“Ustedes saben que en estos procesos nosotros to mamos en cuenta las personas que están disponibles, pero que a la misma vez, reu nen unos requisitos que son muy importan te para nosotros. El compañero Luis Vega Ramos, una persona de un comportamien to incuestionable, líder de grandes luchas y grandes batallas en nuestro partido, gran fiscalizador, un conocedor de nuestras es tructuras del partido y de sus componentes, legisladores y alcaldes. La compañera Nina Valedón también tiene una trayectoria. Es una joven feminista, abogada, colaboró en los cuarteles centrales de la campaña de Hilary Clinton, ha colaborado con la campaña de los alcaldes de Caguas, Wi

lliam Miranda Marín y William Miranda Torres, ha co laborado con este servidor y en las organizaciones de Mujeres Populares y otras organizaciones cívicas en el país”, añadió.

Expuso que actualmente Vega Ramos posee un con trato de asesoría en el Senado.

Por su parte, el nuevo secretario general señaló que “recibo este nombramiento con un alto sentido del de ber y expreso que los tres principios que regirán nues tra gestión lo serán promover la unidad institucional, fortalecer la fiscalización responsable contra el presen te gobierno del PNP y concluir la reorganización de la colectividad. Mi mensaje a los populares es a que estén tranquilos que hoy comienza una nueva jornada de tra

bajo para rescatar a Puerto Rico y que sepa el PNP que los tiempos de la pasividad en la fiscalización contra el gobierno han terminado”, dijo Vega Ramos.

Por su parte, la nueva subsecretaria expresó su agra decimiento a Dalmau por su nombramiento y afirmó que “con este nombramiento habré de redoblar los es fuerzos para adelantar las causas de justicia social y de la participación ciudadana”.

De otra parte, el presidente del PPD anunció que ha convocado a la Junta de Gobierno del PPD para este próximo viernes, 14 de octubre desde las 10:00 de la mañana, en donde se discutirán las enmiendas al Reglamento y el calendario de actividades políticas y electorales luego del huracán Fiona.

“El Partido Popular hoy inicia una nueva fase de trabajo en donde la agenda de unidad y de fiscalización, tomará un rol protagónico. Igualmen te, las finanzas y el reclutamiento de nuevos talentos que formarán parte del liderato de futuro camino a las próximas elecciones. Le agradezco a Luis y Nina el aceptar esta encomien da y le aseguro al Partido Popular que, en estos rostros y su trabajo, veremos el compromiso con los postulados más importantes de este instrumento de servicio que es el Partido Popular”, indicó Dalmau Santiago.

Roberto Vaquero es nombrado director de la Oficina de San Juan de Operaciones de Campo para CBP

SAN

JUAN – Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza de Es tados Unidos (CBP) anunció este martes, el nombra miento de Roberto Vaquero como director de la Oficina de San Juan de Operaciones Campo, la cual cubre los puertos de entrada en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes estadounidenses.

El señor Vaquero tiene más de 21 años de servicio federal y se ha desempeñado en posiciones críticas de liderazgo dentro de CBP. Recientemente fungió como director Interino de Operaciones de Campo de la Oficina de Campo de San Juan supervisando a más de 630 empleados en Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes.

Ha ocupado una variedad de puestos clave de li derazgo dentro de CBP, incluso dentro de la oficina

de campo de Miami y la oficina de campo de Nue va York. El Sr. Vaquero también se desempeñó como director Interino del Programa de Asesoramiento de Inmigración de CBP, supervisando operaciones en 13 países.

El señor Vaquero sirvió en la Reserva del Ejército de los Estados Unidos, así como en la Guardia Na cional de Puerto Rico.

6 muertes y 638 casos nuevos por COVID-19 según informe del DS

POR CYBERNEWS

S

AN JUAN – El informe de COVID-19 del De partamento de Salud (DS) reportó el martes, sobre 121 casos positivos confirmados, 517 ca sos probables y seismuertes.

Las personas fallecidas fueron 4 hombres y 2

mujeres entre las edades de 74 a 102 años de las regiones de Bayamón, Caguas y Mayagüez. Todos estaban sin vacunas al día.

El monitoreo cubre el periodo del 25 de sep tiembre de 2022 al 9 de octubre de 2022.

La tasa de positividad está en 12.89 por cien to.

Hay 152 adultos hospitalizados y de ellos, 24 están en intensivo. Mientras, 22 menores están hospitalizados y un menor está en intensivo. 11 adultos están en ventilador y un menor.

Las personas con vacunas al día son 1,052,451 personas.

El total de muertes atribuidas es de 5,189.

Loretta Lynn

Top 10 anyway.

“I wasn’t the first woman in country music,” Lynn said in an Esquire interview in 2002. “I was just the first one to stand up there and say what I thought, what life was about. The rest were afraid to.”

Loretta

By JON PARELES

“Loretta

created an

that

Lynn’s forthrightness — along with the ho mely details that make her songs so believable — has become a foundation of country songwriting over the last half-century: through Reba McEntire, the Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Margo Price and Ashley McBryde, to note just a few names from a list that could run into the hundreds.

Lynn Writes ’Em and Sings ’Em.”

Plain-spoken and unassailable, that was not only the title of an album she relea sed in 1970, but also a typically laconic summation of what made her a titan of American music.

Lynn, who died Oct. 4 at 90, was nobody’s mouthpiece but her own, and she created an ar chetype that spoke to the heart of country mu sic and reached far beyond it. Her songs were terse, scrappy and so skillfully phrased that they sounded like conversation, despite the neatness of their rhymes. With each three-minute vignette, she sketched a down-to-earth version of lives she knew and understood, refusing to pretty things up.

Lynn was a coal miner’s daughter who kept her Kentucky drawl and remembered clearly what it was like growing up poor in Butcher Holler. She was a loyal wife but hardly a doormat. Drawing on the experiences of the turbulent 48-year ma rriage that she began in her teens, she sang about desire, cheating, heartache and righteous reven ge. With anger and just a hint of humor, she set strict boundaries for both her husband and any would-be rivals in songs like “Don’t Come Home a-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind),” “Your Squaw Is on the Warpath,” “Fist City” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough.”

“The more you hurt, the better the song is,” she told me in a 2016 New York Times interview, when I visited her at her home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. “You put your whole heart into a song when you’re hurting.”

During the 1970s, Lynn chose and wrote songs, like “One’s on the Way” (by Shel Silvers tein) and “The Pill,” that were bluntly and realisti cally resentful about the drudgery of parenthood. “The Pill” — with a narrator who compares her self to a brood hen and declares, “You’ve set this chicken your last time/’cause now I’ve got the pill” — was banned by many country stations when it was released in 1975, but reached the country

Her voice helped make her songs indeli ble. The Appalachian traditions Lynn had grown up on lingered in her music; she wrote tunes in the familiar forms of waltzes, ballads and honkytonk shuffles. As a singer, Lynn applied what she learned from the twang and vibrato of Kitty Wells and the torchy intensity of Patsy Cline to her own voice: reedy and tart with steely underpinnings, ready to summon tearfulness or indignation, slyly eluding the beat to hesitate at one moment and blurt something the next.

She was broadly comic in her duets with Conway Twitty, like “You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly,” and she could open up her voice to grapple with Jack White’s electric guitar on their 2004 collaborative album, “Van Lear Rose.” Yet her more subtle moments were just as arresting.

Her 1969 single “Wings Upon Your Horns,” sung by an “innocent country girl” who was sedu ced and betrayed — with an overlay of religious imagery that was controversial at the time — has a placid midtempo backup. But Lynn’s vocal makes every line a tangle of conflicted emotions. “You called me your wife to be,” she sings, with a bitter downward swoop on “wife”; she sings “You tur ned a flame into a blaze” with an upward leap on “flame” and a quaver on “blaze” that make the fire almost visible. It just sounds natural.

Lynn had her prime hit-making years from the 1960s into the 1980s, as the 1980 film “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” an adaptation of the 1976 book, made her life story public. While mains tream country moved away from Lynn’s lean traditionalism toward arena-scale production, she persevered, touring through the decades and earning generation upon generation of new ad mirers.

In recent years, Lynn embarked on a new spurt of recording with John Carter Cash, Johnny’s son, both revisiting her catalog and writing new songs. By the time she released “Still Woman Enough” in 2021, her voice had lowered a bit and taken on some grain. But it still held the ring of truth.

Kitten Natividad, movie star in Russ Meyer’s bawdy world, dies at 74

By NEIL GENZLINGER

and make clandestine trips to a disreputable stretch of road where they would peek in on strip shows.

Kitten

Natividad, who brought audacity and am ple physical attributes to some of the final films of Russ Meyer, whose over-the-top sexploitation movies acquired a certain cachet in some quarters and influenced John Waters, Quentin Tarantino and other di rectors, died Sept. 24 in Los Angeles. She was 74.

Eva Natividad Garcia, her sister, said the cause was complications of kidney failure.

Natividad had little film experience and was work ing as a go-go dancer and stripper when, in the mid1970s, she met Meyer, who was by then near the end of his notorious filmmaking career.

In the 1960s Meyer, who died in 2004, became known for outlandish films like “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and “Vixen,” most of which featured absurd plots and insatiable naked women with large breasts.

According to Jimmy McDonough’s “Big Bosoms and Square Jaws: The Biography of Russ Meyer, King of the Sex Film” (2005), Meyer was already editing his 1976 feature, “Up!,” when he decided to add a part for a dancer who had been suggested to him by an actress from one of his earlier films. He asked film critic Roger Ebert, who was one of the writers of “Up!,” to throw together some dialogue for a character he named the Greek Chorus.

“It doesn’t matter what she says,” Ebert recalled Meyer saying. “She just has to say something. And it should sound kinda poetic.”

The newcomer was Natividad, and what Ebert wrote for her paraphrased Imagist poet Hilda Doolittle.

“Armed with Ebert’s lofty gobbledygook,” Mc Donough wrote, “Meyer took the New Girl out in the woods, stripped her down, and made her recite all this complex, arcane narration while she hung from trees and hid in bushes.”

Meyer also fell for Natividad, who was married at the time, and they began a relationship that lasted for the rest of the 1970s. And he made her the star of his next movie, which would be his final feature film: “Be neath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens” (1979).

Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune, Ebert’s televi sion partner on the film review show then known as “Sneak Previews,” wrote that Meyer’s “Vixen,” released in 1968, had been “an enjoyable nudie film because it featured the first joyfully aggressive woman we’d seen in a skin flick.” But he added, “Meyer hasn’t grown up in 10 years; if anything, he’s deteriorated.”

“Beneath the Valley” would be Meyer’s last hurrah, but it held a special place in his heart. In a 1999 inter view with Pop Cult magazine, he called Natividad his favorite leading lady.

“She could just go and go and go,” he said. “It was just marvelous. You really had to measure up to this girl,

or you caught hell.”

McDonough said that Meyer had “met his match in Kitten Natividad.”

“Meyer’s productions were mercenary boot camps, with the woman inevitably in an adversarial role,” Mc Donough said by email. “And in 1979’s ‘Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens,’ Meyer puts Kitten through the usual insane challenges, perching her buck naked atop mountains, in rivers at the bottom of canyons, and shot from below a metal bed frame (sans mattress) while she bounced vigorously atop metal bedsprings.

“She blew through Meyer’s challenges like a mara thon runner, always a wide, gung-ho smile across her face, and try as he might, Meyer could not vanquish her. That movie is a dazzling, obsessive tribute to Na tividad.”

Francisca Isabel Natividad (she later used the first name Francesca) was born Feb. 13, 1948, in the Mexi can state of Chihuahua to Juan and Delia Davalos Na tividad. In 2018, when she received the Legend of the Year award from the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Ve gas, she told an audience that when she was growing up along the U.S. border, she would gather other children

“When I looked in there and I saw these beauti ful women with the big breasts, the red lipstick, the big hairdos,” she said, “I wanted to grow up to be just like them.”

Her mother later moved the family to the United States, and at 14 Natividad worked as a house cleaner for actress Stella Stevens, getting a taste of the Holly wood crowd.

She got a job as a key punch operator, but when she learned that a neighbor who worked as a stripper was making twice as much as she was, she changed careers, taking her first job as a go-go dancer in 1969 and soon moving to stripping. When an agency urged her to adopt a stage name, she chose “Kitten,” she said, because she was considered the shyest among the danc ers she worked with.

In 1973 she won the Miss Nude Universe title in San Bernardino, California.

She was dancing at the Classic Cat, a club in Hol lywood, when a fellow dancer, Shari Eubank, who had starred in the 1975 Meyer film “Supervixens,” suggested she introduce herself to the director. She is said to have done so by poking him in the back with her bare breasts.

That got her into “Up!,” which she once described this way: “I’ll skip over the plot, which had something to do with Hitler’s daughter and sadomasochism. The film starts with me perched in a tree, nude.”

Meyer paid for her to have breast augmentation, replacing an earlier enhancement. He also paid for a voice coach to help her lose her Mexican accent. (Her dialogue in “Up!” was dubbed.)

When she and Meyer were together, he would rev el in the attention her body and her bubbly personality brought. In 2004 Natividad joined three other Meyer favorites in a round-table discussion for The New York Times; one of them, Erica Gavin, the star of “Vixen,” recalled the couple’s entrance at her birthday party.

“Kitten walked in first,” she said. “Russ loved to walk behind Kitten, because then he could see all the reactions after she passed people. She was wearing a nude-colored chiffon sheer outfit with no underwear at all.”

After Meyer’s career died out, Natividad appeared in numerous other movies, including some hard-core pornography, and had small parts in “Airplane!” (1980), “My Tutor” (1983) and a few other mainstream films. She had a double mastectomy in 1999 as part of treat ment for breast cancer.

Natividad was married and divorced three times. In addition to her sister and her mother, she is survived by six half siblings, Teresa Natividad, Amelia Natividad, Diana Ramirez, Victor Ramirez, John Natividad and Es tella Ramirez.

Ms. Natividad in 2011. In her later years, she had small parts in mainstream movies like “Airplane!”

By IRIS EDÉN SANTIAGO Special for The STAR

Everything gender-fluid. No sparkle. Very little color. Just un deniable superb tailoring and ample attention to construc tion. And deconstruction.

Lanvin, the oldest couture house in Paris, presented its SS23 collection this week. It was all about the fabrics: silk tulle, wool gazar, organza cloqué and silk soutache, among others. The tex tures are either raw or highly refined, always fabulous.The looks are subdued but memorable! Models paraded down the runway in different moods and looks. We saw sheer, semi-sheer, silky, papery, crisp, iridescent and wrinkled. One reaction: the designs make you want to go backstage to get close and touch the clothes.

FASHION

Artistic director Bruno Sialelli presented suits for men and women in black, ecru, biscuit and creamy yellow. Except for a few accents in blue and orange, everything was done in a neutral pal ette.

The stars of the show were the interesting tops in macrame. Embroidered with tiny silver flowers and worn with sleek trousers and 3-D skirts, these textured tops are boho chic and fantastic. Also great? Garments in eel skin and sexy mesh tops for both sexes.

“Taking direct inspiration from spring, clothes are sensual, di rect and pure,” said Sialelli. “Materials explore the sensorial encour aging touch, feeling and including emotion.”

The sheer organza suit for men was daring, a first for me. Only the risky and confident can wear that edgy new look.

Lanvin’s no frills SS23 collection

Boneless chicken thighs are the star of these easy dinners

BY ERIC KIM

For tired home cooks, the boneless, skinless chicken thigh can feel like a dinnertime paragon of protein.

There are many reasons to love it: Unlike its more finicky cousin — the boneless, skinless chicken breast — the dark-meat thigh is able to retain its moisture even when blasted with high heat, so it’s difficult to dry out. And without the bone, the cut, sometimes referred to as a “chicken thigh fillet” in England, is easier and quicker to prepare, not to mention more flavorful.

It is, arguably, the best cut of chicken for everyday cooking.

But its popularity is fairly recent, and we might have Gene Gagliardi — the inventor of Steak-umm — to thank for increasing its modern availability at supermarkets in the United States. In the early 1990s, Galiardi sold KFC a patented method for deboning thighs with a machine, resulting in the invention and great commercial success of popcorn chicken, Craig Cavallo wrote on the website Serious Eats.

While people have probably boned and skinned chicken thighs for as long as we’ve been eating chicken, the USDA began reporting prices for this particular cut in 2003, and the demand for boneless meat has been ris ing steadily since. (Sales for deboned chicken thighs have grown about 50% in the past year alone, said Stephen Silzer, a senior director of marketing for Tyson. “It is the fastest growing form of fresh chicken,” he said.)

Those of us who partake in the many delights of boneless thighs know that they need little more than salt and pepper, and a couple turns in a hot oiled skillet, to become dinner. One common misconception is that dark meat takes longer to cook than white, but the difference in cooking time is minimal when it comes to boneless chicken and it always stays juicy.

The following dishes, each anchored by a flavorful marinade, showcase the potential of this cut, which, like any protein, can be dressed up in all manner of ways (though a fried chicken sandwich is never a bad idea).

The main draw is this: If you marinate your chicken in the morning or the night before, then dinner will be waiting for you, not the other way around. The cooking method is up to you; boneless thighs can be roasted, sau téed or pan-fried.

Chicken and orzo with sun-dried tomato and basil vinaigrette

This comforting pasta dish tastes great warm, right off the heat, as well as cold, straight from the fridge, mak ing it a top contender for lunch. The deeply savory sundried tomato and basil vinaigrette marinates the chicken,

to keep it tender when stir-fried, and doubles as a sauce for the orzo and feta.

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes’ marinating 8 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, plus 6 tablespoons oil from the jar

2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

Kosher salt and black pepper

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2inch cubes

1 large tomato, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 pound orzo

1 (4-ounce) block feta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1. In a food processor, blitz the sun-dried tomatoes and their oil, the basil, vinegar, red-pepper flakes, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth. Transfer half of this vinaigrette to a medium bowl, add the chicken and turn to evenly coat. Cover and refrigerate the chicken for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

2. While the chicken marinates, transfer the rest of the vinaigrette to a large bowl. Add the diced tomato and toss.

3. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally. Drain the orzo and transfer it to the bowl with the tomato; toss to combine.

4. Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook, stirring occasion ally, until golden on all sides and no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken and all of its juices to the orzo. Add the feta and toss to combine. Taste and add more salt as desired. Serve warm or at room tem perature, or refrigerate, covered, and enjoy cold for up to 4 days.

Pan-seared chicken thighs with parsley and lemon

Parsley stems are puréed in a bold and garlicky buttermilk marinade that tenderizes the meat, then the leaves and their tender stems are sautéed like spinach and spritzed with fresh lemon. After a quick sear on the stovetop, the well-marinated chicken thighs gain cara melized edges — and their bright, herbaceous flavor will make you think, “Oh, that’s what parsley tastes like.”

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 30 minutes, plus 30 minutes’ marinating 1 bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley (3 to 4 ounces)

10 garlic cloves, peeled 1 jalapeño, stemmed

2 tablespoons capers

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus wedges for serving 2 teaspoons granulated sugar Kosher salt and black pepper

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs Olive oil, as needed

1. Separate the tough parsley stems from the leaves and tender stems. Coarsely chop the tough stems.

2. In a food processor, add the chopped parsley stems, garlic, jalapeño, capers, lemon juice, sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and the buttermilk; blitz until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl and add the chicken; turn to evenly coat. Cover and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

3. Heat a large, preferably nonstick skillet over me dium-high and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the re served parsley leaves and tender stems and cook, stirring occasionally, until considerably wilted and bright green but charred in spots, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; transfer to a platter.

4. In the same skillet over medium-high, add enough oil to coat the bottom. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook until browned and caramelized in spots, 7 to 8 minutes per side. Transfer to the platter with the parsley and serve with lemon wedges, for spritzing.

After giving up on cancer vaccines, doctors start to find hope

By GINA KOLATA

It seems like an almost impossible dream — a cancer vaccine that would protect healthy people at high risk of cancer. Any incipient malignant cells would be obliterated by the immune system. It would be no different from the way vaccines pro tect against infectious diseases.

However, unlike vaccines for infec tious diseases, the promise of cancer vac cines has only dangled in front of research ers, despite their arduous efforts. Now, though, many hope that some success may be nearing in the quest to immunize people against cancer.

The first vaccine involves people with a frightening chance of developing pancre atic cancer, one of the most difficult can cers to treat once it is underway. Other vac cine studies involve people at high risk of colon and breast cancer.

Of course, such research is in its early days, and the vaccine efforts might fail. But animal data are encouraging, as are some preliminary studies in human patients, and researchers are brimming with newfound optimism.

“There is no reason why cancer vac cines would not work if given at the earli est stage,” said Sachet Shukla, who directs a cancer vaccine program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. “Cancer vaccines,” he added, “are an idea whose time has come.” (Shukla owns stock in companies developing cancer vaccines.)

That view is a far cry from where the field was a decade ago, when researchers had all but given up. Studies that would have seemed like a pipe dream are now un derway.

“People would have said this is in sane,” said Dr. Susan Domchek, principal investigator of a breast cancer vaccine study at the University of Pennsylvania.

Now, she and others foresee a time when anyone with a precancerous condi tion or a genetic predisposition to cancer could be vaccinated and protected.

“It’s super aspirational, but you’ve got to think big,” Domchek said.

A less grim prognosis

Marilynn Duker knew her family tree was dotted with relatives who had cancer. So when a genetic counselor offered her testing to see if she had any of 30 cancer-

causing gene mutations, she readily agreed.

The test found a mutation in the gene CDKN2A, which predisposes people who carry it to pancreatic cancer.

“They called and said, ‘You have this mutation. There really is nothing you can do,’ ” recalled Duker, who lives in Pikes ville, Maryland, and is CEO of a senior liv ing company.

She began having regular scans and endoscopies to examine her pancreas. They revealed a cyst. It has not changed in the past several years. But if it develops into cancer, treatment is likely to fail.

Patients such as Duker don’t have many options, said Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee, deputy director of the Sidney Kimmel Com prehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University. A person with more-advanced cysts could avoid cancer by having their pancreas removed, but that would imme diately plunge them into a realm of severe diabetes and digestive problems. The dras tic surgery might be worthwhile if it saved their lives, but many precancerous lesions never develop into cancer if they are sim ply left alone. Yet, if the lesions turn into cancer — even if the cancer is caught at an early stage — the prognosis is grim.

But it also offers an opportunity to

make and test a vaccine, she added.

In pancreatic cancer, Jaffee explained, the first change in normal cells on the path to malignancy almost always is a mutation in a well-known cancer gene, KRAS. Other mutations follow, with six gene mutations driving the cancer’s growth of pancreatic cancer in the majority of patients. That in sight allowed Hopkins researchers to devise a vaccine that would train T cells — white blood cells of the immune system — to rec ognize cells with those mutations and kill them.

Their first trial, a safety study, was in 12 patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who already had been treated with surgery. Although their cancer was caught soon after it had emerged and despite the fact that they were treated, pancreatic can cer patients typically have a 70% to 80% chance of having a recurrence in the next few years. When pancreatic cancer returns, it is metastatic and fatal.

Two years later, those patients have not yet had a recurrence.

Now, Duker and another patient have been vaccinated to try to prevent a tumor from starting in the first place.

“I am really excited about this oppor tunity,” she said.

The vaccine seems safe, and it has elicited an immune response against the common mutations in this cancer.

“So far, so good,” Jaffee said. But only time will tell if it prevents cancer.

Preempting a precancer

Dr. Mary Disis, director of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at the University of Wash ington, wants to prevent breast cancer in women with gene variants that put them at high risk. Her initial hopes, though, are more modest.

One goal is to help women who have ductal carcinoma in situ, which doctors call a precancer. Surgery is the standard treatment, but some women also have che motherapy and radiation to protect them selves from developing invasive breast can cer. “Ideally, a vaccine would replace those treatments,” she said.

She began by looking at breast can cer stem cells. These cells, found in early cancers, are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation, and they can metastasize. They drive recurrences of breast cancers, said Disis, who has received grants from phar maceutical companies and is a founder of EpiThany, a company that is developing vaccines.

Disis and her colleagues found a number of proteins in these stem cells that were normal but produced at a much high er level in cancer cells than in noncancer ous cells. That offered an opportunity to test a vaccine that produced some of those proteins.

Their vaccine was tested in women with advanced cancers that were well es tablished. It did not cure the cancers but demonstrated that the vaccine could pro vide the sort of immune response that might help earlier in the course of the disease.

Disis plans to try vaccinating patients with ductal carcinoma in situ or another precancerous condition, atypical ductal hy perplasia. Her group has a vaccine they de veloped to target three proteins produced in abnormally high amounts in these lesions.

The hope, she said, is to make the le sions shrink or go away before the women have surgery to remove them.

“This would be proof the vaccine has a cleansing effect,” she said. If the vaccine succeeds, women may feel comfortable for going chemotherapy or surgery.

Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee, deputy director of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, speaks in New York, Jan. 15, 2019. Encouraging data from preliminary studies are making some doctors feel optimistic about develo ping immunizations against pancreatic, colon and breast cancers.

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO A ACREEDORES

DE DON JUAN JOSE

DONESTEVEZ DE PARA SOBRE FORMACIÓN DE IN VENTARIO EN SEDE NOTA RIAL ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E.E.U.U. ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO. SS.

A: ACREEDORES DEL CAUSANTE

Juan José Donéstevez de Para

POR LA PRESENTE se les notifica que se ha iniciado la preparación del inventario de los bienes relictos del causan te Juan José Donéstevez de Para. Se les requiere para que toda reclamación con los co rrespondientes comprobantes bajo juramento sea presenta da y dirigida al peticionario por conducto de su abogada a la siguiente dirección y dentro del plazo de treinta (30) días con tados desde la publicación del presente edicto:

Lcda. Ana Cristina Gómez Pérez

Abogada de la albacea de Donésteves de Para RUA 15092 PO Box 13762

San Juan, Puerto Rico 00908

Se le advierte que de no res ponder a este Aviso, los pro cedimientos para la formación y liquidación del caudal del causante continuarán sin más citarle ni oirle.

LEGAL NOTICE

IN THE UNITED STATES DIS TRICT COURT FOR THE DIS TRICT OF PUERTO RICO PNH CAPITAL, LLC.

Plaintiff V. FOUNTAINEBLEU PLAZA, S.E; SEDCORP. INC. AND EDWIN LOUBRIEL ORTIZ

Defendants

Civil No.: 3:17-cv-01383. (GLS). COLLECTION OF MO NIES, FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE AND OTHER CO LLATERAL. NOTICE OF SALE.

To: DEFENDANTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC.

On January 21, 2022, this Ho norable Court issued Judgment in favor Bautista Cayman Asset Company, now PNH Capital, LLC, and against defendants, Fountainebleu Plaza, S.E., Se dcorp, Inc., and Edwin Loubriel Ortiz (“Defendants”). Defen dants were ordered to pay plain tiff as of November 19, 2021, the amount of $1,531,182.92 in connection with the Loan Agreement itemized as follows: Principal: $851,109.26. Inter est: $454,997.44. Late Fees: $19,301.72. Legal Expenses: $200,000.00. Environmental:

$550.00. Insurance: $342.00. Valuation Expenses: $4,882.50.

Pursuant to said judgment and the Order of Execution of Judg ment, the undersigned appoin ted Special Master was ordered to sell, at public auction for U.S. currency in cash or certified check, without appraisement or right to redemption, to the highest bidder, at the office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, Room 150 - Fe deral Building, Carlos Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, or at any other place designa ted by said Clerk, to cover the sums adjudged to be paid to the plaintiff, the following property: RÚSTICA: Predio de terreno radicado en el Barrio Mamey de Guaynabo, Puerto Rico con una cabida superficial de ochenta y seis mil doscientos treinta y dos metros cuadrados con mil cuatrocientos ochenta y cuatro diez-milésima de otro (86,232.1484), equivalentes a veintiuna cuerdas con nueve mil trescientos noventa y ocho diez-milésimas (21.9398); en lindes por el NORTE, en varias alineaciones que totalizan una distancia de 377.708 metros lineales con el Sr. Tito Con cepción, Fountainebleu Plaza, S.E. antes Salveg, Inc., Sr. Andino Cancel y el Sr. Andrés Salazar; por el SUR, en varias alineaciones que totalizan una distancia de 138.7535 metros lineales con solar número 9 que proviene de esta finca y cuyo dueño es el Sr. Oriel Ra mírez Rodríguez, con camino municipal y el Sr. Andrés Sa lazar; por el ESTE, en varias alineaciones que totalizan una distancia de 294.9143 metros lineales con el Sr. Felipe Baer ga, Sr. Félix Urbina García y el Sr. José María Martínez; por el OESTE, en varias alineaciones que totalizan una distancia de 569,1409 metros lineales con el Sr. Loreto Meléndez, servidum bre de paso segregada de esta finca y camino municipal. Es remanente esta finca luego de segregado solar con cabida de 5,120.2426 metros cuadrados. Equivalentes a l.3028 cuerdas, inscrito al folio 133 del tomo 1,428 de Guaynabo. Property Number 16,778 is recorded at page 191 of volume 301 of Guaynabo, Registry of Proper ty of Puerto Rico, Section of Guaynabo. Physical Address: Avelino Cancel Road, North of Kilometer 1.6, Road 835, Ma mey Ward, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The property is subject to the following liens: By its origin: Free of liens. By itself: EASEMENT: In favor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, according to the Resolution

issued in the Court of First Ins tance, Court of San Juan, dated June 29, 1983, Civil #E83-22 1 to E83-223, recorded at page 192 of volume 301 of Guayna bo, 3rd inscription. TRANSFER OF EASEMENT: In favor of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewage Authority, as stated in the Resolution dated April 6, 1994 issued by the Supe rior Court of Puerto Rico, San Juan, recorded at page 192 of volume 301 of Guaynabo, 4th inscription. EASEMENT: In favor of Puerto Rico Power Authority, for the value of $1.00. According to the Certification dated January 15, 2003, sworn under affidavit 4406 and signed before the Notary Public Os valdo Pérez Marrero, recorded at page 140 of volume 1425 of Guaynabo, inscription 8ª.

MORTGAGE: In guarantee of a mortgage note in favor of Bea rer, or to its order, for the sum of $950,000.00, with interest at the rate of 2% per year on the preferential interest (Prime Rate), as established from time to time by Citibank, N.A in the City of NY, whose interest will never be less than 6.25%, and due upon presentation, as per deed #6, executed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 31, 2003, before Notary Public Ma nuel Correa Calzada, recorded at page 140vto of volume 1425 of Guaynabo, 10th inscription.

MORTGAGE MODIFICATION: To modify the Mortgage of $950,000.00 to the amount of $2,000,000.00, which arises from the 10th inscription, as per deed #77, executed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Decem ber 29, 2003, before the Notary Public Manuel Correa Calzada, recorded at page 140 of volume 1425 of Guaynabo, Marginal Note inscription of February 11, 2010. COMPLAINT: The object of this entry is the Mortgage in favor of Bearer, for the sum of $950,000.00, which arises from inscription #10. Plaintiff: Doral Bank; Defendant: Holder, Amount Owed $860,219.00, for principal plus interest, Complaint, Bayamón Court in civil case #DCD2014-0264 on January 28, 2014, recorded at page 218 of volume 1480, Annotation A of date of May 21, 2014. Potential bidders are advised to verify the extent of preferential liens with the hol ders thereof. It shall be unders tood that each bidder accepts as sufficient the title and that prior and preferential liens to the one being foreclosed upon, including but not limited to any property tax, liens, (express, ta cit, implied or legal), shall con tinue in effect. It being unders tood further that the successful

bidder accepts them and is su brogated in the responsibility for the same and that the bid price shall not be applied toward their cancellation.

The amount of $2,000,000.00, as set forth in the mortgage deed, shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the first public sale. Should the first public sale fail to pro duce an award or adjudication, two-thirds of the aforementio ned amount or $1,333,333.33 shall serve as the minimum bidding amount for the second public sale. Should there be no award or adjudication at the se cond public sale, the minimum bidding amount for the third pu blic sale shall be $1,000,000.00. Said sale to be made by the appointed Special Master is subject to confirmation by the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the deed of conveyance and possession to the property may be executed and delivered after the judicial sale. Upon confir mation of the sale, an order shall be issued canceling all junior liens. THEREFORE, pu blic notice is hereby given that the appointed Special Master, pursuant to the provisions of the Judgment herein before re ferred to, will, on the NOVEM BER 14, 2022, AT 10:30 A.M., in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, 350 Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico, will sell at public auction to the highest bidder the property des cribed herein, the proceeds of said sale to be applied in the manner and form provided by the Court’s Judgment. Should the first judicial sale set herei nabove be unsuccessful, the SECOND JUDICIAL SALE of the property described in this Notice will be held on the NO VEMBER 21, 2022, AT 10:30 A.M., in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, 350 Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Should the second judicial sale set hereinabove be unsuccessful, the THIRD JUDI CIAL SALE of the property des cribed in this Notice will be held on the NOVEMBER 28, 2022, AT 10:30 A.M., in the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, Federal Building, 350 Chardon Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. The records of the case and of these proceedings may be examined by the parties at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, Federal Building, Chardón Avenue, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, this 29th day of September, 2022. AGUEDO DE LA TORRE, APPOINTED

SPECIAL MASTER.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE CARO LINA

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. SUCESIÓN DE AMPARO HERNÁNDEZ MERCADO T/C/C AMPARO HERNÁNDEZ AVILÉS T/C/C

AMARO CONFESORA HERNÁNDEZ AVILÉS COMPUESTA POR NYDIA MERCADO HERNÁNDEZ; LA SUCESIÓN DE ENRIQUE MERCADO HERNÁNDEZ, COMPUESTA POR TANIA MERCADO MUÑOZ, AYNEX MERCADO MUÑOZ, FULANO(A) DE TAL, SUTANO(A) DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; JOHN DOE EN LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES; SECRETARIO DE LA VIVIENDA Y DESARROLLO URBANO DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Demandados Civil Núm.: CA2020CV02190. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS E.E. U.U., EL ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS. Yo, HÉCTOR L. PEÑA RODRÍGUEZ, ALGUA CIL PLACA #278, Alguacil del Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala de Carolina, al públi co HAGO SABER: Que en cumplimiento de un Manda miento de Ejecución de Senten cia que se me libró con fecha de 6 de septiembre de 2022 por la Secretaria de este Tribunal, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor con dinero en efectivo, cheque de gerente o letra ban caria con similar garantía, todo título, derecho o interés de la parte demandada de epígrafe sobre la siguiente propiedad perteneciente a la parte deman

dada, la cual se describe a con tinuación: “URBANA: Residen tial Apartment 5-J of irregular shape, located in Laguna Gar dens Condominium IV, 5th floor, which is located at km.8, hm.2 of State Road number 26 in the Ward of Cangrejo Arriba, muni cipality of Carolina, with a total private area of 1409.89 square feet, (gross), equivalent to 131.03 square meters, being its lineal measurements 35’8” long by 52’3” wide and its bounda ries, access and description as follows: by the NORTH, with exterior yard (park area) in a distance of 35’8”; by the EAST, with exterior yard (facing buil ding III) in a distance of 52’3”; by the SOUTH, with exterior yard (parking area) in a distan ce of 20’11” and common stair in a distance of 3’8”; and by the WEST, with exterior yard, in a distance of 25’1”, with a com mon corridor in a distance of 8’3” with the common stairs in a distance of 14’11” and with fa mily unit 5-I in a distance of 4’2”. Its main door in the West boun dary has access to the corridor of the floor. This family unit con sists of the following rooms, li ving-dining, terrace facing South, master bedroom with one (1) closet and bathroom, which includes bathtub, lava tory and water closet, kitchen with double bowl sink laundry facilities and space for refrige rator. Corresponds to this apartment .006722% in the ge neral common elements of the building. Le corresponde un (1) estacionamiento con el mismo número del apartamento.”

Consta inscrito al Folio Dos cientos Cuatro (204) del Tomo Quinientos Sesenta y Uno (561) de Carolina, Finca Núme ro Veintiocho Mil Setenta y Dos (28,072), Registro de la Propie dad de Puerto Rico, Sección Primera (I) de Carolina. La finca 28,072 está gravada con la si guiente hipoteca cuya ejecu ción se solicita en la subasta objeto de este edicto: Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a fa vor de Popular Mortgage, Inc., o a su orden, por la suma prin cipal de $185,000.00, con inte reses al 7% anual, vencedero a la presentación, constituida me diante la escritura número 89, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 19 de marzo de 2008, ante la notario Ana V. Pi ñero Parés, e inscrita al folio 168 del tomo 991 de Carolina, finca número 28,072, inscrip ción 9na. La propiedad está afecta a los siguientes gravá menes: A. Hipoteca en garantía de un pagaré a favor del Secre tario del Departamento de Vi vienda y Desarrollo Urbano, o a su orden, por la suma principal

de $185,000.00, con intereses

al 7% anual, vencedero a la presentación, constituida me diante la escritura número 90, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 19 de marzo de 2008, ante la notario Ana V. Pi

ñero Parés, e inscrita al folio 168 del tomo 991 de Carolina, finca número 28,072, inscrip ción 10ma. B. Aviso de Deman da de fecha 3 de noviembre de 2014, expedido en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Carolina, en el Caso Civil nú mero FCD2014-1363, seguido por el Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, contra La Sucesión de Amparo Hérnandez Mercado, compuesta por Enrique Merca do Hernández y posibles here deros desconocidos, y Estados Unidos de América, por la suma de $208,026.41 y otras, anota do al tomo Karibe de Carolina, finca número 28,072, Anotación

A. C. Aviso de Demanda de fe cha 19 de octubre de 2020, ex pedido en el Tribunal de Prime ra Instancia, Sala de San Juan, en el Caso Civil número CA2020CV02190, sobre cobro de dinero y ejecución de hipote ca, seguido por Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, contra Amparo Hernández Mercado, también conocida como Amparo Her nández Avilés y como Amaro Confesora Hernández Avilés, por la suma de $359,896.37, más intereses y otras sumas, anotado el día 27 de octubre de 2020, al tomo Karibe de Caroli na Norte, finca número 28,072, Anotación B. La venta se lleva rá a cabo para con su producto satisfacer a Popular Mortgage, Inc., total o parcialmente el im porte de la Sentencia emitida el 21 de julio de 2022. La venta se llevará a cabo para con su pro ducto satisfacer a Banco Popu lar de Puerto Rico total o par cialmente el importe de la Sentencia emitida el 21 de julio de 2022. El importe de la Sen tencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe asciende a las siguien tes cantidades: $368,649.10 al 31 de enero de 2021. Dicha cantidad continuará acumulán dose a razón del 7% hasta el completo pago de la deuda. La demandada adeuda, además, una cantidad equivalente a $18,500.00 por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado, $18,500.00 para cu brir cualquier otro adelanto que se haga en virtud de la escritura de hipoteca y $18,500.00 para cubrir intereses adicionales a los garantizados por ley, según pactado. El precio mínimo de licitación con relación a la antes descrita propiedad y la fecha y hora de cada subasta es como sigue: PRIMERA SUBASTA: Se celebrará el día 27 DE OCTU

BRE DE 2022, A LAS 2:30 DE LA TARDE. TIPO MÍNIMO: $185,000.00, suma pactada entre los contratantes en la es critura de constitución de hipo teca. Si no se produce remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta se celebrará la SE GUNDA SUBASTA el día 3 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 2:30 DE LA TARDE. TIPO MÍNI MO: $123,333.33 dos terceras (2/3) partes del precio pactado entre los contratantes en la es critura de constitución de hipo teca. Si tampoco se produce remate ni adjudicación en la segunda subasta se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 10 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 2:30 DE LA TAR DE. TIPO MÍNIMO: $92,500.00, la mitad (1/2) del precio pacta do entre los contratantes en la escritura de constitución de hi poteca. Las subastas de dicha propiedad se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina situada en el local que ocupa este Tribunal en el Centro Judicial de Carolina, ad virtiéndose que el que obtuvie re la buena pro de dicha propie dad consignará en el acto del remate el importe de su oferta en moneda legal, en adición a los gastos de la subasta, siendo éste el mejor postor. En cual quier momento luego de haber se comenzado el acto de la su basta, el Alguacil podrá requerir de los licitadores que le eviden cien la capacidad de pago de sus posturas. Del producto ob tenido en dicha venta, el Algua cil pagará en primer término los gastos del Alguacil, en segundo término las costas, gastos y ho norarios de abogado hasta la suma convenida, en tercer tér mino los intereses devengados hasta la fecha de la subasta, en cuarto término las sumas esta blecidas en la Sentencia para el pago de recargos por demora, contribuciones, seguros y en quinto término la suma principal adeudada conforme con la sen tencia dictada. Disponiéndose que si quedara algún remanen te luego de pagarse las sumas mencionadas, el mismo deberá ser depositado en la Secretaría del Tribunal para ser entregado a la parte demandada, previa solicitud y orden del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante el título del inmueble y las cargas o gra vámenes anteriores y los prefe rentes al crédito del ejecutante, si los hubiere, continuarán sub sistiendo, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda responsable de los mismos sin destinarse a su extinción el pre cio del remate. Se le apercibe a los tenedores de gravámenes posteriores al que se ejecuta que, para proteger cualesquie

ra derechos que tengan sobre el inmueble, deberán compare cer a la subasta, pues de no hacerlo así y de no igualar el precio de venta del gravamen hipotecario que se ejecuta, el Tribunal ordenará la cancela ción de todos los gravámenes posteriores. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de cargas y gravámenes posterio res. Si se declara desierta la tercera subasta se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la totalidad de la cantidad adeu dada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo mínimo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente. Se abo nará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si ésta es mayor. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedi miento del caso de epígrafe están disponibles en la Secre taría del Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico, Sala Superior de Carolina durante horas labora bles. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda persona que tenga interés ins crito con posterioridad a la ins cripción del gravamen que se está ejecutando, si alguna, y para la concurrencia de licitado res y para el público en general el presente edicto se publicará en un diario de circulación ge neral en el Estado Libre Asocia do de Puerto Rico una vez por semana por un término de dos (2) semanas con un intervalo de por lo menos siete (7) días entre cada publicación. Se fija rá además, en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio donde ha de celebrarse la subasta, estos lugares serán la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía de dicho Municipio. Se notificará a la parte demandada copia del edicto de subasta mediante co rreo certificado con acuse de recibo a su dirección que obra en autos. Una vez efectuada la correspondiente venta judicial, otorgaré la escritura del traspa so al licitador victorioso, quien podrá ser la parte demandante, cuya oferta podrá aplicarse a la extinción parcial o total de la obligación reconocida por la Sentencia. Colocaré al licitador victorioso en posesión física de la Propiedad mediante el lanza miento de los ocupantes en el término legal de veinte (20) días desde la fecha de la venta en pública subasta y para ello procederé a romper candados de ser necesario. Si transcurren los referidos veinte (20) días, el Tribunal podrá ordenar, sin ne cesidad de ulterior procedi miento, que se lleve a efecto el desalojo o lanzamiento del ocu pante o ocupantes de la finca o de todos los que por orden o tolerancia del deudor la ocu pen. El Registrador de la Pro piedad cancelará, libre de dere chos, todo gravamen posterior a la fecha en que se otorgó la

hipoteca que ha sido ejecutada mediante esta acción, y proce derá a la inscripción de la venta a favor del comprador en su basta libre de todo gravamen posterior a la fecha en que se otorgó la hipoteca que ha sido ejecutada mediante esta ac ción. Expido el presente edicto bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Carolina. En Carolina, Puerto Rico, a 13 de septiembre de 2022. HÉCTOR L. PEÑA RO DRÍGUEZ, ALGUACIL PLACA #278, ALGUACIL DEL TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTAN CIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE CA ROLINA.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE MAYA GÜEZ

BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO Demandante V. ESTHER MARÍA OLIVERAS ALICEA Demandados Civil Núm.: SG2019CV00335. Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE GARANTÍAS. EDICTO DE SUBASTA. ESTA DOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS ES TADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: EL PÚBLICO EN GENERAL.

El Alguacil del Tribunal que sus cribe anuncia y hace constar: A. Que en cumplimiento del Man damiento que me ha sido dirigi do por la Secretaria del Tribunal de Primera Instancia de Puerto Rico, Sala de Mayagüez, en el caso de epígrafe, venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor de contado y en mone da de curso legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América y cuyo pago se efectuará en efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Al guacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, todo derecho, título o interés que tenga la Parte De mandada en el bien inmueble que se describe a continuación: RÚSTICA: Parcela marcada con el número 36 en el Plano de Parcelación de la Comu nidad Rural La Tea del Barrio Retiro del término municipal de San Germán, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de 361.12 metros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con par cela número 37 de la Comuni dad; por el SUR, con parcela número 35 de la Comunidad; por el ESTE, con Calle núme ro 2 de la Comunidad; y por el OESTE, con parcela número 34 de la Comunidad. Dirección Física: Barrio Tea, K.m. 4.3, 36 Calle C, San Germán, PR

00683. Finca 12,627, inscrita al folio 1 del tomo 381 de San Germán, Registro de la Propie dad de Puerto Rico, Sección de San Germán. B. Que los autos y todos los documentos corres pondientes al procedimiento incoado están de manifiesto en la Secretaría del Tribunal durante las horas laborables bajo el epígrafe de este caso.

C. 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, continuarán subsistentes, entendiéndose que el rematente los acepta y queda subrogado en la respon sabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el pre cio del remate. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes pos teriores. D. Dicha subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer a la parte demandante el importe de la sentencia que ha obtenido ascendente a la suma principal de $18,296.36, más la suma de $9,208.71, que incluye intere ses según pactados, cargos por demora y otros cargos, que se acumulan diariamente hasta su total y completo pago, más la suma de 10% del principal, por concepto de costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado. La

PRIMERA SUBASTA se cele brará el día 15 DE NOVIEM

BRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE

LA MAÑANA, en la Oficina del Alguacil del Tribunal de Prime ra Instancia de Mayagüez, por el tipo mínimo de $40,000.00.

De declararse desierta dicha subasta se celebrará una SE

GUNDA SUBASTA el día 22 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar antes menciona do. El precio para la segunda subasta lo será 2/3 partes del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $26,666.67. De declararse desierta dicha segunda subas ta, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el 29 DE NOVIEM

BRE DE 2022 A LAS 11:30 DE

LA MAÑANA en el mismo lugar antes mencionado. El precio para la tercera subasta lo será 1/2 del precio mínimo de la primera, o sea, $20,000.00. Y PARA QUE ASÍ CONSTE, y para su publicación en un pe riódico de circulación general y por un término de catorce (14) días en los sitios públicos con forme a la ley, expido la presen te bajo mi firma y sello de este tribunal, hoy 14 de septiembre de 2022 en Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. IVELISSE FIGUEROA VARGAS, ALGUACIL PLACA #924.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE AGUADILLA

LUNA COMMERCIAL II, LLC

Demandante V.

NORBERTO VELAZQUEZ

TROCHE; JOSUE GUIDEL

VELAZQUEZ MORALES;

SU ESPOSA JOSEFA TROCHE HERNANDEZ Y

LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES POR AMBOS COMPUESTA Demandada Civil Núm.: SS2021CV00553.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLI CA SUBASTA.

A: NORBERTO VELAZQUEZ TROCHE; JOSUE GUIDEL VELAZQUEZ MORALES;

SU ESPOSA JOSEFA TROCHE HERNANDEZ

Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES POR AMBOS COMPUESTA; Y AL PUBLICO EN GENERAL:

El que suscribe, Alguacil del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior, Centro Judi cial de San Sebastian, San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, hago saber a la parte demandada, y al PUBLICO EN GENERAL: y a todos los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del ejecutante, o de los acreedores de cargas o derechos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca ejecutada y las personas interesadas en, o con derecho a exigir el cumplimien to de instrumentos negociables garantizados hipotecariamen te con posterioridad al crédito ejecutado, siempre que surjan de la certificación registral, para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les convenga o satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus in tereses, costas y honorarios de abogados asegurados, que dando entonces subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante a saber. Que en cumplimiento del Mandamiento de Ejecución de Sentencia ex pedido el día 6 de abril de 2022, por la Secretaria del Tribunal, procederé a vender y venderé en pública subasta y al mejor postor la propiedad que ubica y se describe a continuación: Dirección de la Propiedad: SR445 KM 7.9 Moca, Puerto Rico 00676: RUSTICA: Radicada en el Barrio Rocha del municipio de Moca, Puerto Rico, con una cabida superficial de quinientos ochenta y seis punto siete mil quinientos cincuenta metros cuadrados (586.7550 m.c), en lindes por el NORTE, en cuatro (4) alineaciones y un total de

veintiséis punto cero treinta y un metros con parcela dedica da a uso público que separa en parte de la Carretera Numero 112 y en parte de la carretera #445; por el SUR, en veintidós punto seiscientos metros con el remanente de la finca principal, o sea Bienvenido Caleb Vélez; por el ESTE, en veintitrés punto setecientos sesenta y ocho me tros con la parcela identificada con la letra “C” en el plano de inscripción; por el OESTE, en veintiséis punto seiscientos no venta y seis metros con parcela identificada con la letra “A” en el plano de inscripción. Encla va una estructura dedicada a vivienda y comercio. Inscrita al folio 200 del tomo 270 de Moca, finca número 5,585; Re gistro de la Propiedad de San Sebastián. El producto de la su basta se destinará a satisfacer al demandante hasta donde al cance, la SENTENCIA dictada a su favor, el día 24 de junio de 2022 en el presente caso civil, la cual asciende a la suma de $149,684.19 de principal, mas $7,905.22 de intereses no pa gados al 6.5%, mas $7,783.58 de intereses acumulados de 8/1/2021 al 5/20/2022, mas $393.17 de intereses morato rios no pagados: mas $644.32 de cargos por mora acumula dos; mas $6,447.31 de cuenta plica (“Escrow Balance”), y los intereses que se sigan acumu lando hasta el pago total de la obligación, más cualquier ade lanto adicional realizado por la demandante, conforme a los términos pactados, y las par tidas pactadas y garantizadas en la escritura de hipoteca y pagare, costas, gastos y hono rarios de abogado ascendentes a 10% del principal según pac tados, para cubrir el principal adeudado, disponiéndose que si quedare algún remanente luego de pagarse las sumas antes mencionadas del mis mo deberá ser depositado en la Secretaria del Tribunal para ser entregado a la con interés previa solicitud y orden del Tri bunal. La venta de la referida propiedad se verificará libre de toda carga o gravamen que afecte la mencionada finca. La adjudicación se hará al mejor postor, quien deberá consignar el importe de su oferta en el acto mismo de la adjudicación, en efectivo (moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América), giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del algua cil del Tribunal. LA PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a efecto el día 1 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022

A LA 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina del referido Alguacil, localizada en el Centro Judicial de San Sebastian, San Sebas tián, Puerto Rico. Que el precio mínimo fijado para la PRIMERA SUBASTA es de $200,000.00. Que de ser necesaria la ce

lebración de una SEGUNDA

SUBASTA, la misma se llevará a efecto el día 8 DE NOVIEM

BRE DE 2022 A LA 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la SEGUNDA SUBASTA será de $133,333.33, equivalentes a dos terceras (2/3) partes del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Que de ser necesaria la celebración de una TERCERA SUBASTA la misma se llevará a efecto el día 15 DE

NOVIEMBRE DE 2022 A LA 9:30 DE LA MAÑANA, en la oficina antes mencionada del Alguacil que suscribe. El precio mínimo para la TERCERA SU BASTA será de $100,000.00, equivalentes a la mitad (1/2) del tipo mínimo estipulado para la PRIMERA subasta. Si se declarase desierta la tercera subasta, se adjudicará la finca a favor del acreedor por la tota lidad de la cantidad adeudada si ésta es igual o menor que el monto del tipo de la tercera subasta, si el Tribunal lo estima conveniente; se abonará dicho monto a la cantidad adeudada si esta es mayor, todo ello a tenor con lo dispone el Articulo 104 de la Ley Núm. 210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015 conocida como “Ley del Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico”. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquiere libre de toda carga y gravamen que afecte la men cionada finca según el Artículo 102, inciso 6. Una vez confir mada la venta judicial por el Ho norable Tribunal, se procederá a otorgar la correspondiente escritura de venta judicial y se pondrá al comprador en pose sión física del inmueble de con formidad con las disposiciones de Ley. Para conocimiento de la parte demandada y de toda aquella persona o personas que tengan interés inscrito con posterioridad a la inscripción del gravamen que se está eje cutando, y para conocimiento de todos los licitadores y el público en general, el presente Edicto se publicará por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecuti vas, con un intervalo de por lo menos siete días entre ambas publicaciones, en un diario de circulación general en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico y se fijará además en tres (3) lugares públicos del Municipio en que ha de celebrarse dicha venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colecturía. Se les informa, por último, que: a. Que los autos y todos los documen tos correspondientes al proce dimiento incoado estarán de manifiesto en la secretaría del tribunal durante las horas la borables. b. Que se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anterio res y los preferentes, si los hu

biere, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsistentes. Se entenderá, que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. EXPIDO, el presente EDICTO, en San Se bastian, Puerto Rico, hoy día 6 de octubre de 2022. LUIS A. NIEVES RIVERA, ALGUACIL, DIVISIÓN DE SUBASTAS, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA, SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN SEBASTIÁN.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

CENTRO JUDICIAL DE HU MACAO SALA SUPERIOR BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO

Demandante V. FAUSTO ORTIZ CARRASQUILLO, EVELYN RODRÍGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES

COMPUESTA POR AMBOS Demandados

Civil Núm.: HSCI201600511. (208). Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA POR LA VÍA OR DINARIA. AVISO DE VENTA EN PÚBLICA SUBASTA. Yo, BENEDICTO VELÁZQUEZ FÉ

LIX, Alguacil de la División de Subastas del Centro Judicial de Humacao, a los demandados y al público en general les notifico que, cumpliendo con un Man damiento que se ha librado en el presente caso por el Secreta rio del Tribunal de epígrafe con fecha de 11 de marzo de 2020 y para satisfacer la Sentencia por la cantidad de $101,720.25 de principal, dictada en el caso de autos el día 23 de septiembre de 2016, notificada y archivada en autos el 27 de septiembre de 2016, procederé a vender en pública subasta, al mejor postor en pago de contado y en moneda del curso legal de los Estados Unidos de América, mediante efectivo, giro o che que certificado a nombre del Alguacil de este Tribunal todo derecho, título e interés que ha yan tenido tengan o puedan te ner los deudores demandados en cuanto a la propiedad locali zada en el Municipio de Huma cao, Puerto Rico, el bien inmue ble se describe a continuación: 326 (G-5) Caoba St. Los Sauces, Humacao PR 00791. URBANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Los Sauces, situado en el Barrio Collores de la municipalidad de Humacao, Puerto Rico, que se describe en el plano de inscripción de la urbanización con el número, área y colindancias que se re lacionan continuación: número

de solar G-Cinco. Área del so lar Trescientos Noventa y Cinco punto Cero Setenta y Dos me tros cuadrados. En lindes por el NORTE, con el solar cuatro del bloque G, en una distancia de veintiocho punto ciento setenta y un metros; por el SUR, con el solar seis del bloque G, en una distancia de veintiocho punto doscientos treinta y dos metros; por el ESTE, con la Urbaniza ción El Retiro, en una distancia de noventa y seis punto cua trocientos diecinueve metros y por el OESTE, con la calle Caoba (cuatro), en una distan cia de catorce metros. Enclava una casa de concreto para re sidencia de una familia. Inscri to al folio 45 del tomo 471 de Humacao, finca número 21,368 del Registro de la Propiedad de Humacao. Con el importe de dicha venta se habrá de satis facer a la parte demandante las cantidades adeudadas, según la Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, por el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Hu macao, cuyas cantidades son las siguientes: $101,720.25 de principal, 7.00% de intereses, los cuales continúan acumu lándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda; $1,596.16 de gastos por mora, los cuales continúan acumulándose hasta el saldo total de la deuda, más costas, gastos y honorarios de aboga do. El tipo mínimo para la su basta será la suma de tasación pactada, la cual es $111,600.00 para la propiedad descrita. Si no produjere remate o adjudica ción la primera subasta, se pro cederá a una segunda subasta y servirá de tipo mínimo de 2/3 partes del valor de la tasación, $74,400.00 Si tampoco hubiere remate ni adjudicación en esta segunda subasta, se proce derá a una tercera subasta, en ésta el tipo mínimo será de la 1/2 del valor de la tasación, $55,800.00. Para el lote des crito, la PRIMERA SUBASTA se llevará a cabo el día 1 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. De no comparecer postor alguno se llevará a efecto una SEGUNDA SUBASTA el día 8 DE NOVIEM BRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MAÑANA. De no compare cer postor alguno se llevará a cabo una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 15 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:00 DE LA MA ÑANA. La subasta o subastas antes indicadas se llevarán a efecto en mi oficina, localiza da en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Humacao. Del Estudio de Titulo realizado surgen los siguientes gravámenes posteriores los que serán objeto de ejecución por esta subasta: Sentencia dictada el 2 de abril de 2014, en el Tribunal de Primera Ins tancia, Sala de Humacao, Caso Civil Num. HACI2014-00235,

sobre Cobro de Dinero, segui do por Asociación de Emplea dos del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico versus Evelyn Rodríguez Rodríguez, por $2,859.39, anotada al Folio 43 del Tomo 9 de Sentencias, el 6 de abril de 2015. Embar go Estatal bajo la Ley #12 del 2010 contra Evelyn Rodríguez Rodríguez, $12,264.69, según Certificación expedida por el Departamento de Hacienda el 22 de noviembre de 2015, anotado al Folio 153 del Tomo 2 de Ley #12 el 22 de mayo de 2015. Sentencia dictada en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Humacao, Caso Civil Núm. HACI2014-01000, sobre Cobro de Dinero, seguido por Asociación de Propietarios Las Sauces versus Fausto Ortiz Carrasquillo y Evelyn Rodrí guez Rodríguez, por $2,817.73, anotada al Folio 51 del Tomo 9 de Sentencias el 22 de junio de 2015. Embargo Estatal bajo la Ley #210 del 8 de diciembre de 2015, contra Evelyn Rodríguez Rodríguez, por $8,778.97, nú mero cuenta 581-51-3053, se gún Certificación expedida por el Departamento de Hacienda el 7 de marzo de 2018, anotado al Asiento 2018-001934-EST el 6 de abril de 2018, al Tomo de Embargos y Sentencias Karibe. Aviso de Demanda, dictado el 17 de abril de 2012, en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Humacao, Caso Civil Núm. HSCI2012-00441, sobre Cobro de Dinero y Ejecución de Hipoteca, seguido por Doral Bank versus Fausto Ortiz Ca rrasquillo y Evelyn Rodríguez Rodríguez, donde se solicita el pago de la deuda garantizada con la hipoteca de la inscripción 4ta. reducida a $103,443.56 o la venta en pública subasta, anotado al Tomo Karibe el 21 de noviembre de 2019, finca #21368 de Humacao, Anota ción “A”. 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 Uni dos de Norteamérica y para co nocimiento de la parte deman dada 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 co nocimiento 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 me nos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de cele brarse la venta, tales como, la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colec turía y se le notificará además a

la parte demandada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección conocida. La propiedad a ser ejecutada se adquirirá libre de cargas y gravámenes posteriores, previa orden judicial dirigida al Regis trador de la Propiedad de la sección correspondiente para la cancelación de aquellos pos teriores. 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, durante horas laborables, en la Secre taría del Tribunal. Se entenderá que todo licitador acepta como bastante la titularidad y que las cargas y gravámenes anterio res y los preferentes, si los hu biere, al crédito de ejecutante, continuarán subsiguientes; en tendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabilidad de los mismos, sin destinarse a su extinción el precio del remate. Y para conocimiento de los de mandados, de los acreedores posteriores, de los licitadores, partes interesadas y público en general, expido el presente Aviso para su publicación en los lugares públicos correspon dientes. Librado en Humacao, Puerto Rico, a 30 de agosto de 2022. JENNISA GARCÍA MO RALES, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #796.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE FAJARDO

ANTONIO CASAS CRUZ, HECTOR MUJICA ORTIZ, BEATRIZ OCASIO RIVERA, LUIS ESBRI RIVERA

Demandante V. MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE FELIPE ENCARNACIÓN PIMENTEL Y MARÍA HERNÁNDEZ CORTÉS, COMPUESTA POR TOMÁS ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, LUIS FELIPE ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, LUZ MARÍA ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, CARMEN LYDIA ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, CARMEN ENCARNACIÓN COSS, HÉCTOR ENCARNACIÓN HERNÁNDEZ Y NÉSTOR ENCARNACIÓN HERNÁNDEZ

Demandado(a) Civil: CN2018CV00010. Sobre: LIQUIDACIÓN DE COMUNI

ACCIONES. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: TOMÁS ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, LUIS FELIPE ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, LUZ MARÍA ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, CARMEN LYDIA ENCARNACIÓN DELGADO, CARMEN ENCARNACIÓN COSS, Y NÉSTOR ENCARNACIÓN HERNÁNDEZ.

CARRETERA 958 KM. 10, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745; CARRETERA 958 KM. 10.5, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745; CARRETERA 958 KM. 10, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745; CARRETERA 958 KM. 19, RIO GRANDE, PR 00745; CARRETERA 185 KM. 5, CANÓVANAS, PR 00729; HEREDEROS Y/O LAS PERSONAS IGNORADAS Y DESCONOCIDAS A QUIENES PUDIERA PERJUDICAR LA INSCRIPCION DEL TITULO A FAVOR DE LA PARTE DEMANDANTE EN EL REGISTRO DE LA PROPIEDAD DE LA FINCA QUE MAS ADELANTE SE DESCRIBE. Y A TODA PERSONA EN GENERAL QUE CON DERECHO PARA ELLO DESEE OPONERSE A ESTE CASO.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 06 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente 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 notifica ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedi miento 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 conta dos 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 notifica ción ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 06 de octubre de 2022. En FAJARDO, Puerto Rico, el 06

de octubre de 2022. WANDA I.

SEGUÍ REYES, SECRETARIA

REGIONAL. SHEILA ROBLES HERNÁNDEZ, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

FAMILY COURT. SUMMONS COMPLAINT FOR DIVORCE OR DIVORCE FROM BED AND BOARD.

Plaintiff Michael Roselo

V.

Defendant Ivette M. Pardo-Vega

Civil Action File Number K20221574.

Noel Judicial Complex

Kent County 222 Quaker Lane Warwick RI 02886

* (401) 822-6725

Case Type

Nominal Divorce Complaint

Attorney for the Plaintiff EDWARD P. NOLAN, Jr.

Address of the Plaintiff’s Attor ney or the Plaintiff 999 WESTMINSTER STREET PROVIDENCE RI 02903

Address of the Defendant

No Known Address

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DE FENDANT You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon the Plaintiff or the Plaintiff’s attorney, whose name and address appears above, an answer to the complaint which is herewith served upon you. Under the Rhode Island Family Court Rules of Domes tic Relations Procedure, your answer must be in writing and filed with the court within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, complaint, Langua ge Assistance Notice, and all other required documents, ex clusive of the date of service.

A copy of your answer should also be forwarded to the Plain tiffs attorney. Failure to answer may result in a judgment by default against you for the re lief requested in the complaint.

Under the Family Court Rules of Domestic Relations Procedu re, your answer must state as a counterclaim any related claim you may have against the Plain tiff. Failure to do so may prohibit you from making such claim in any other action. TO THE ABO VE NAMED DEFENDANT You are hereby ordered to appear at the court location listed above for the following hearings: Motion Hearing Nominal Hearing: APPEARANCE DATE: 11-2-22.

TIME: 9:00 am.

Case Status Hearing

This Summons was generated on 10/5/2022.

/s/Ronald J. Pagliarini

Administrator/Clerk

If you need language assistan ce, please contact the Office of Court Interpreters at (401) 2228710 or by email at interpreter

feedback@courts.ri.gov before your court appearance.

* If an accommodation for a disability is necessary, plea se contact the Family Court Clerk’s Office at the telephone number listed above as soon as possible. TTY users can con tact the Family Court through Rhode Island Relay at 7-1-1 or 1-800-745-5555 (TTY) to voi ce number. Witness the seal/ watermark of the Family Court. FC-CMS-2 (revised June 2020)

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE HUMACAO

LUIS ALFONSO DÍAZ LEBRÓN, T/C/C LUIS ALFONSO DÍAZ Y

OLGA IRIS CLAUDIO RODRÍGUEZ, T/C/C OLGA IRIS CLAUDIO DE DÍAZ Y LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS

Demandante Vs BANCO POPULAR DE PUERTO RICO; RICHARD ROE COMO DEMANDADO DESCONOCIDO Demandado(a) Civil: HU2022CV00795. Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO (REPOSESIÓN D E VEHÍCULO). NOTIFICA CIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: RICHARD ROE COMO DEMANDADO DESCONOCIDO. P/C LIC. FERNANDO JOSÉ RIVERA CASELLAS.

EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 4 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente 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 notifica ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedi miento 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 edic to de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edic to. Copia de esta notificación

de este caso, con fecha de 4 de octubre de 2022. En Humacao, Puerto Rico, el 4 de octubre de 2022. IVELISSE C. FONSECA RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETARIA

REGIONAL. IVELISSE M.

MONCLOVA CRUZ, SECRE TARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

SALA SUPERIOR DE GURA BO GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, F/K/A KONDAUR CAPITAL, LLC

Demandante V. CARMEN NIVLA

DÁVILA COLÓN

Demandados

Civil Núm.: GR2022CV00218.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPO TECA POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA - IN REM. EMPLAZAMIEN TO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA, PRE SIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, S.S.

A: CARMEN NIVIA

DAVILA COLON.

Queden emplazados y notifi cados que en este Tribunal se ha radicado Demanda sobre Ejecución de Hipoteca in rem en su contra. 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 y deberá pre sentar su alegación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SUMAC), el cual podrá acceder utilizando la si guiente 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 pre sentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dictar Sentencia en Rebeldía en su contra y con ceder el remedio solicitado en la Demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su discreción, lo entiende pro cedente. Los abogados de la parte demandante son:Lcdo. Andrés Sáez Marrero

T.S.P.R. Núm. 18074

TROMBERG, MORRIS & POULIN, LLC 1515 South Federal Highway, Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33432 Tel. 877-338-4101 / Fax: 561-338-4077 prservice@tmppllc.com / asaez@tmppllc.com Expido este edicto bajo mi fir ma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 27 de septiembre de 2022. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ AGOSTO, SECRETARIA GENERAL. LIZ WHARTON ROSA, SECRETA RIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE CAROLINA

PUERTO RICO

PROPERTIES SOLUTIONS LLC.

Demandante Vs. FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO; JOHN DOE; RICHARD ROE

Demandados

Civil No: CA2022CV03201.

Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PAGARÉ EXTRAVIADO. EM PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, EL PRESIDENTE DE LOS EE. UU., EL ESTADO LI BRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO.

A: FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE, como posibles tenedores del pagaré.

Por medio del presente edicto se les notifica de la radicación de una Demanda de Cancela ción de Pagaré Extraviado en la que se solicita la cancelación del siguiente pagaré hipoteca rio, que se ha extraviado, luego de haber sido saldado por el deudor hipotecario: Pagaré a favor de First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Puerto Rico, o a su orden, por la suma de $23,050.00 con intereses al 9 1/4% anual, vence el 1 de mayo de 2008, según consta de la escritura #498, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 21 de abril de 1978 ante Mariano Acevedo Defilló e inscrita al folio 235 del tomo 956 de Caro lina, Finca número 38,979, ins cripción primera, Registro de la Propiedad de Carolina, Sección Segunda. La parte demandante solicita del Honorable Tribunal que declare Con Lugar la de manda y en su consecuencia ordene al Secretario del Tribu nal que expida Mandamiento al Registrador de la Propiedad correspondiente, para que di cho funcionario proceda a can celar en los libros a su cargo la referida hipoteca dejando la propiedad aquí descrita libre de dicho gravamen hipotecario.

POR EL PRESENTE EDIC

TO se les emplaza y requiere para que conteste la Demanda radicando el original de su con testación ante el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Ca rolina, y notificándole con copia de dicha contestación al abo gado del demandante, Lcdo.

Ricardo J. Cacho Rodríguez, 54 Calle Resolución, Suite 303 San Juan, PR 00920 Tel: (787) 722-2242; Fax: (787) 722-

2243, cachor@microjuris.com dentro del término de treinta (30) días siguientes a la fecha de publicación de este Edicto; si dejaren de así hacerlo, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia contra ustedes con cediendo el remedio solicitado sin más citarle ni oírle. EXPE DIDO bajo mi firma y el sello del Tribunal de Carolina, Puerto Rico, hoy 30 de septiembre de 2022. LCDA. MARILYN APON TE RODRÍGUEZ, SECRETA RIA REGIONAL. MARICRUZ APONTE ALICEA, SECRETA RIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBUNAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA SALA SUPERIOR DE CAGUAS ASOCIACIÓN DE RESIDENTES URBANIZACIÓN

TOSCANA

Demandante Vs. JENNIFER MARRERO SANCHEZ

Demandado Caso Núm.: GR2022CV00141.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO. NOTIFICACIÓN DE SENTEN CIA POR EDICTO.

A: JENNIFER MARRERO SANCHEZ.

(Nombre de las partes a las que se les notifica la sentencia por edicto)

EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 30 de septiembre de 2022 este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en terarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta no tificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circula ción general en la isla de Puer to 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 Sen tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Re solución, de la cual puede esta blecerse 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 publi cación de este edicto. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archi vada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 3 de octubre de 2022. En Caguas , Puerto Rico, 3 de octubre de 2022. LISILDA MARTÍNEZ AGOSTO, SECRE TARIA REGIONAL. JESSENIA

PEDRAZA, SECRETARIA AU XILIAR.

LEGAL NOT ICE ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA

BO ADMINISTRACIÓN DE LOS SISTEMAS DE RETIRO DE LOS EMPLEADOS DEL GOBIERNO Y LA JUDICATURA

Demandante V. MARÍA

MORALES ROSADO

Demandado

Civil Núm.: AR2022CV01542.

Sobre: COBRO DE DINERO

Y EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA

POR LA VÍA ORDINARIA. EM

PLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉ RICA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, ESTADO

LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUER

TO RICO, S.S.

A: MARIA MORALES ROSADO.

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 ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción 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 senten cia sin más citarle ni oírle. Los abogados de la parte deman dante son: Lcdo. Guillermo A. Somoza Colombani, P.O. Box 366603, San Juan, PR 009366603. Tel. (787) 919-0073, Fax (787) 641-5016. Expido este edicto bajo mi firma y sello de este Tribunal, hoy 4 de octubre de 2022. VIVIAN Y. FRESSE

GONZÁLEZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL. ALEXANDRA ÁL VAREZ NATAL, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS

TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE SAN JUAN

REVERSE MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC

Demandante

JOSE MANUEL

GONZALEZ SAMPAYO

T/C/C JOSE M.

GONZALEZ SAMPAYO

T/C/C JOSE GONZALEZ

SAMPAYO; ELSA IGLESIAS DE GONZALEZ

T/C/C ELSA MARIA

IGLESIAS ZELLER

T/C/C ELSA Y. DE GONZALEZ T/C/C ELSA

M. IGLESIAS ZELLER Y

LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA

Demandado (a)

Civil Núm.: SJ2021CV06394. Sala: 508. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA. NOTIFICA CIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOSE MANUEL GONZALEZ SAMPAYO

T/C/C JOSE M. GONZALEZ SAMPAYO

T/C/C JOSE GONZALEZ

SAMPAYO; ELSA IGLESIAS DE GONZALEZ

T/C/C ELSA MARIA IGLESIAS ZELLER T/C/C ELSA Y. DE GONZALEZ T/C/C ELSA

M. IGLESIAS ZELLER Y

LA SOCIEDAD LEGAL DE BIENES GANANCIALES COMPUESTA POR AMBOS.

EL SECRETARIO (A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 28 de abril de 2022, este Tri bunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en terarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta no tificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circula ción general en la Isla de Puer to Rico, dentro de los diez (10) días siguientes a su notifica ción. Y, siendo o representando usted una parte en el procedi miento 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 edic to de esta notificación, dirijo a usted esta notificación que se considerará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edic to. Copia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 4 de octubre de 2022. En San Juan, Puerto Rico, el 4 de octubre de 2022. GRISELDA RODRÍGUEZ COLLADO, SECRETARIA RE GIONAL. MARTHA ALMODÓ VAR CABRERA, SECRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF

AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2018-HB1

Demandante V. JOSÉ RAMÓN CASTRO DOMÉNECH, T/C/C JOSE R. CASTRO T/C/C JOSÉ R. CASTRO DOMÉNECH; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandado(a) Civil: BY2022CV01417. Sala: 504. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPOTECA - IN REM. NOTIFI CACIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: JOSÉ RAMÓN CASTRO DOMÉNECH, T/C/C JOSE R. CASTRO T/C/C JOSÉ R. CASTRO DOMÉNECH.

EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 5 de octubre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en terarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta no tificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circula ción general en la Isla de Puer to 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 Sen tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Re solución, de la cual puede es tablecerse 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 consi derará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Co pia de esta notificación ha sido archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 5 de octubre de 2022. En BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico, el 5 de octubre de 2022.

LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA. MARILYN CO LÓN CARRASQUILLO, SE CRETARIA AUXILIAR.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE PONCE REVERSE MORTGAGE FUNDING, LLC.

Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE RAMONA MOLINARES PÉREZ, T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS, T/C/C AUREA RAMONA MOLINARIS DE PÉREZ COMPUESTA POR FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS,

NYDIA DE TAL Y A TONY DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS Y MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE RAMONA MOLINARES PÉREZ, T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS, T/C/C AUREA RAMONA MOLINARIS DE PÉREZ T/C/C RAMONA MOLINARIS PEREZ T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS DE PEREZ; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES MUNICIPALES; Y A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados

Civil Núm.: PO2021CV01418.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPO TECA POR LA VÍA ORDINA RIA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

Al: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL. A: SUCESIÓN DE RAMONA MOLINARES PÉREZ, T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS, T/C/C AUREA RAMONA MOLINARIS DE PÉREZ COMPUESTA POR FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS, NYDIA DE TAL Y A TONY DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS Y MIEMBROS DE LA SUCESIÓN DE RAMONA MOLINARES PÉREZ, T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS, T/C/C AUREA RAMONA MOLINARIS DE PÉREZ T/C/C RAMONA MOLINARIS PEREZ T/C/C AUREA MOLINARIS DE PEREZ; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIONES MUNICIPALES; Y A LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA.

Yo, MIGUEL A. TORRES AYA LA, Alguacil del Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia, Sala de Ponce, a los demandados, acreedores y al público en general con inte rés sobre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al públi co en general, por la presente CERTIFICO, ANUNCIO y HAGO CONSTAR: Que el día 01 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:30 DE LA MAÑANA, mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Supe rior de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico, procederé a vender en Pública Subasta, al mejor pos tor, la propiedad inmueble que más adelante se describe y cuya venta en pública subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, la cual se notificó y archivó en autos el día

27 de diciembre de 2021. Los autos y todos los documentos correspondientes al procedi miento incoado, estarán de ma nifiesto en la Secretaría durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudi cación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se celebrará una SEGUNDA SUBASTA para la venta de la susodicha propie dad, el 08 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:30 DE LA MA ÑANA, y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se cele brará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 15 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 11:30 DE LA MA ÑANA, en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. Que en cumplimiento de un Manda miento de Ejecución de Senten cia que ha sido liberado por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia, Sala Superior de Ponce, en el caso de epígra fe con fecha de 17 de agosto de 2022, procederé a vender en pública subasta y al mejor pos tor, todo derecho, título e inte rés que tenga la parte deman dada de epígrafe en el inmueble que se describe a continuación: URBANA: Solar marcado con el número ciento dieciocho (118) del Bloque “H” del plano de ins cripción de la Urbanización Buena Vista, radicada en el Ba rrio Machuelo Abajo del término municipal de Ponce, Puerto Rico, con una cabida de cuatro cientos cuarenta y un punto ochenta y dos metros cuadra dos (441.82 m/c). En linderos: NORTE, con el solar número ciento treinta y tres (133), por donde mide quince punto cin cuenta y cuatro (15.54) metros; por el SUR, con la calle “A” por donde mide catorce punto no venta y tres (14.93) metros; por el ESTE, con el solar número ciento diecisiete (117), por don de veintinueve (29.00) metros; y por el OESTE, con el solar número ciento diecinueve (119), por donde mide veinti nueve (29.00) metros. Finca número 18,741, inscrita al folio 128 del tomo 656 de Ponce. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sección I de Pon ce. Dirección de la Propiedad: Buena Vista Dev 1452 H-118 Aloa St, Ponce, PR 00728. La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer, hasta donde alcan ce, el importe de las cantidades adeudadas a la parte deman dante conforme a la sentencia dictada a su favor, a saber: de 157,246.76, con interés al 2.916% anual, por concepto de balance principal del préstamo el cual incluye intereses y otros gastos acumulados, y los cua les continúan acumulándose, así como la cantidad líquida estipulada en los documentos del préstamo para costas, gas tos y honorarios de abogado en caso de reclamación judicial y que correspondan a intereses y

cargos por demora posterior a dicha fecha, y la suma de $25,500.00, equivalente al 10% de la suma principal original pactada, estipulada para cos tas, gastos y honorarios de abogado; más recargos acumu lados hasta la fecha en que se pague la deuda; más cualquie ra suma de dinero por concepto de contribuciones, primas de seguro hipotecario y riesgo, así como cualesquiera otras sumas pactadas en la escritura de hi poteca, todas cuyas sumas es tán líquidas y exigibles. La hipo teca a ejecutarse en el caso de epígrafe fue constituida me diante la escritura número 176 otorgada el día 27 de noviem bre de 2013, Ponce, Puerto Rico, ante el Notario Público Jose M. Biaggi Junquera y consta inscrita al folio 139 del tomo 2124 de Ponce, finca nú mero 18,741, Registro de la Propiedad de Ponce, Sección I de Ponce. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscritos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipo tecados con posterioridad a la inscripción del crédito del eje cutante o acreedores de cargos o derechos reales que los hu biesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del actor y a los dueños, posee dores, tenedores de o interesa dos en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantiza dos hipotecariamente con pos terioridad al crédito del actor que se celebrarán las subastas en las fechas, horas y sitios se ñalados para que puedan con currir a la subasta si les convi niere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honora rios de abogado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecu tante. Entiéndase: Hipoteca re vertida en garantía de un paga ré a favor del Secretario de la Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano, o a su orden, por la suma princi pal de $255,000.00, con intere ses al 2.916% anual, vencede ro el día 20 de marzo de 2071, constituida mediante la escritu ra número 177, otorgada en Ponce, Puerto Rico, el día 27 de noviembre de 2013, ante el notario José M. Biaggi Junque ra, e inscrita al folio 140 del tomo 2124 de Ponce, finca nú mero 18,741, inscripción 7ma. Que la cantidad mínima de lici tación en la primera subasta del inmueble antes descrito será la suma de $255,000.00 según se establece en la escritura de hi poteca antes relacionada. En caso de que el inmueble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en su primera subasta se orde na la celebración de una se gunda subasta de dicho inmue ble, en la cual, la cantidad mínima será una equivalente a 2/3 parte de aquella, o sea la suma de $170,000.00; desierta

también la segunda subasta de dicho inmueble, se ordena la celebración de una tercera su basta en la cual, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado para la primera subas ta, es decir la suma de $127,500.00. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el im porte de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el mo mento de la adjudicación, en tiéndase efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia, y que las car gas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsis tentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabili dad de los mismos, sin desti narse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad no está sujeta a gravámenes ante riores y/o preferentes según surge de las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad en un estudio de título efectuado a la finca antes descrita. Una vez efectuada la venta de dicha propiedad, el Alguacil procede rá a otorgar la escritura de tras paso al licitador victorioso en subasta, quien podrá ser la par te demandante, cuya oferta po drá aplicarse a la extinción par cial o total de la obligación reconocida por la sentencia dictada en este caso. La propie dad a ser ejecutada se adquiri rá libre de cargas y graváme nes posteriores. Si el producto de la venta fuere insuficiente para satisfacer la cantidad re clamada, se procederá a la eje cución de la sentencia en con tra de la parte demandada por el remanente de las sumas no satisfechas, mediante embargo y venta en ejecución de cuales quiera otros bienes propiedad de la parte demandada en can tidad suficiente para dejar cu bierta y totalmente satisfecha a la parte demandante cualquier deficiencia o parte insoluta de la sentencia dictada a su favor según dispuesto en la senten cia dictada en este caso. Se dispone, conforme con la sen tencia dictada en este caso que, una vez efectuada la su basta y vendido el bien inmue ble, los adjudicatarios sean puestos en posesión del mismo dentro del término de veinte (20) días por el Alguacil de este Honorable Tribunal y los actua les poseedores lanzados del referido inmueble. Y para la concurrencia de licitadores y para el público en general, se publicará este Edicto de acuer do con la ley, mediante edicto, en un periódico de circulación general en el Estado Libre Aso ciado de Puerto Rico, una vez por semana, por espacio de dos (2) semanas consecutivas con un intervalo de por lo me

nos siete (7) días entre ambas publicaciones, y para su fijación en tres (3) lugares públicos del municipio en que ha de cele brarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribunal y la Colec turía, y se le notificará además a la parte demandada vía co rreo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última dirección co nocida. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta para conoci miento y comparecencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Ponce, Puerto Rico, a 7 de septiembre de 2022. MIGUEL A. TORRES AYALA, ALGUACIL AUXILIAR PLACA #560, TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA, SALA DE PONCE.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE HUMACAO WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES ACQUISITION TRUST 2019-HB1 Demandante Vs. SUCESIÓN DE MARCOS GONZALO RODRIGUEZ ALONSO T/C/C MARCOS G. RODRIGUEZ ALONSO T/C/C MARCOS RODRIGUEZ ALONSO A/K/A MARCOS G. RODRIGUEZ T/C/C MARCOS GONZALO RODRIGUEZ T/C/C MARCOS RODRIGUEZ COMPUESTA POR MARCOS RODRIGUEZ

PIDAL, ENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ PIDAL Y CONCHITA RODRIGUEZ PIDAL, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; SUCESIÓN CONCEPCIÓN PIDAL RODRIGUEZ T/C/C CONCEPCION PIDAL DE RODRIGUEZ T/C/C CONCEPCION PIDAL ANIA T/C/C CONCEPCION PIDAL COMPUESTA POR MARCOS RODRIGUEZ

PIDAL, ENRIQUE

RODRIGUEZ PIDAL Y CONCHITA RODRIGUEZ PIDAL, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS

DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS;

CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS

MUNICIPALES; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA

Demandados

Civil Núm.: HU2021CV00031.

Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HIPO

TECA POR LA VÍA ORDINA

RIA. EDICTO DE SUBASTA.

Al: PÚBLICO EN GENERAL. A: SUCESIÓN DE

MARCOS GONZALO

RODRIGUEZ ALONSO

T/C/C MARCOS G. RODRIGUEZ ALONSO

T/C/C MARCOS

RODRIGUEZ ALONSO

A/K/A MARCOS G. RODRIGUEZ T/C/C

MARCOS GONZALO

RODRIGUEZ T/C/C

MARCOS RODRIGUEZ

COMPUESTA POR

MARCOS RODRIGUEZ

PIDAL, ENRIQUE

RODRIGUEZ PIDAL Y CONCHITA RODRIGUEZ

PIDAL, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; SUCESIÓN CONCEPCIÓN

PIDAL RODRIGUEZ T/C/C CONCEPCION PIDAL DE RODRIGUEZ T/C/C CONCEPCION PIDAL ANIA T/C/C CONCEPCION

PIDAL COMPUESTA POR MARCOS RODRIGUEZ

PIDAL, ENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ PIDAL Y CONCHITA RODRIGUEZ PIDAL, FULANO DE TAL Y SUTANO DE TAL COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DE NOMBRES DESCONOCIDOS; CENTRO DE RECAUDACIÓN DE INGRESOS

MUNICIPALES; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA.

Yo, JOSÉ L. RODRÍGUEZ HERNÁNDEZ, Alguacil del Tri bunal de Primera Instancia, Sala de Humacao, a los de mandados, acreedores y al pú blico en general con interés so bre la propiedad que más adelante se describe, y al públi co en general, por la presente CERTIFICO, ANUNCIO y HAGO CONSTAR: Que el día 30 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina, sita en el Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Su perior de Humacao, Humacao, Puerto Rico, procederé a ven der en Pública Subasta, al me jor postor, la propiedad inmue ble que más adelante se

describe y cuya venta en públi ca subasta se ordenó por la vía ordinaria mediante Sentencia dictada en el caso de epígrafe, la cual se notificó y archivó en autos el día 7 de marzo de 2022. Los autos y todos los do cumentos correspondientes al procedimiento incoado, estarán de manifiesto en la Secretaría durante horas laborables. Que en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación en la primera subasta a celebrarse, se cele brará una SEGUNDA SUBAS TA para la venta de la susodi cha propiedad, el día 7 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA; y en caso de no producir remate ni adjudicación, se celebrará una TERCERA SUBASTA el día 14 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2022, A LAS 10:00 DE LA MAÑANA en mi oficina sita en el lugar antes indicado. Que en cumplimiento de un Mandamiento de Ejecu ción de Sentencia que ha sido liberado por la Secretaría del Tribunal de Primera Instancia, Sala Superior de Humacao, en el caso de epígrafe con fecha de 26 de agosto de 2022, pro cederé a vender en pública su basta y al mejor postor, todo derecho, título e interés que tenga la parte demandada de epígrafe en el inmueble que se describe a continuación: RÚS TICA: Localizada en el Barrio Santiago de Lima del término Municipal de Naguabo, Puerto Rico, descrita en el Plano de Inscripción de la Urbanización como el solar número dieciséis (16), con una cabida de mil dos cientos sesenta y ocho punto cuatrocientos (1,268.400) me tros (así surge). En lindes por el NORTE, en una distancia de veintiuno punto cuatrocientos sesenta (21.460) metros, con el solar número quince (15); por el SUR, en una distancia de nue ve punto cuatrocientos treinta (9.430) metros, con el solar nú mero cuarenta y uno (41); por el ESTE, en una distancia de cin cuenta y nueve punto cuatro cientos ochenta y dos (59.482) metros, con la Calle A; y por el OESTE, en una distancia de veinticuatro punto cero cinco (24.05) metros, y en una distan cia de catorce punto cincuenta (14.50) metros, con los lotes números cuarenta y dos (42), cuarenta y tres (43) y cuarenta y cuatro (44). Finca número 12,293, inscrita al tomo móvil 218 de Naguabo. Registro de la Propiedad de Puerto Rico, Sec ción de Humacao. Dirección de la Propiedad: Mar Caribe, Prin cipal St. Lot 16, Naguabo, PR 00718. La subasta se llevará a cabo para satisfacer, hasta donde alcance, el importe de las cantidades adeudadas a la parte demandante conforme a la sentencia dictada a su favor, a saber: $291,294.08 por con cepto de balance principal del

préstamo, con interés al 5.060% anual, cual acumulan a un total de $594,091.35, equi valente al 10% de la suma prin cipal original pactada, estipula da para costas, gastos y honorarios de abogado; más recargos acumulados hasta la fecha en que se pague la deu da; más cualquiera suma de di nero por concepto de contribu ciones, primas de seguro hipotecario y riesgo, así como cualesquiera otras sumas pac tadas en la escritura de hipote ca, todas cuyas sumas están líquidas y exigibles. La hipoteca a ejecutarse en el caso de epí grafe fue constituida mediante la escritura número 52 otorgada el día 15 de mayo de 2012, San Juan, Puerto Rico, ante el Nota rio Público Roberto Soto Tapia y consta al tomo Karibe de Na guabo, finca numero 12,293. Por la presente se notifica a los acreedores que tengan inscri tos o anotados sus derechos sobre los bienes hipotecados con posterioridad a la inscrip ción del crédito del ejecutante o acreedores de cargos o dere chos reales que los hubiesen pospuesto a la hipoteca del ac tor y a los dueños, poseedores, tenedores de o interesados en títulos transmisibles por endoso o al portador garantizados hipo tecariamente con posterioridad al crédito del actor que se cele brarán las subastas en las fe chas, horas y sitios señalados para que puedan concurrir a la subasta si les conviniere o se les invita a satisfacer antes del remate el importe del crédito, de sus intereses, otros cargos y las costas y honorarios de abo gado asegurados quedando subrogados en los derechos del acreedor ejecutante. En tiéndase: Hipoteca Reverse en garantía de un pagaré a favor de Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, o a su or den, por la suma principal de $652,500.00, con intereses al 5.060% anual, vencedero el día 29 de julio de 2082, constituida mediante la escritura número 53, otorgada en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 15 de mayo de 2012, ante el notario Rober to Soto Tapia, e inscrita al tomo Karibe de Naguabo, finca nú mero 12,293, inscripción 3ra.

Que la cantidad mínima de lici tación en la primera subasta del inmueble antes descrito será la suma de $652,500.00 según se establece en la escritura de hi poteca antes relacionada. En caso de que el inmueble a ser subastado no fuera adjudicado en su primera subasta se orde na la celebración de una se gunda subasta de dicho inmue ble, en la cual, la cantidad mínima será una equivalente a 2/3 parte de aquella, o sea la suma de $435,000.00; desierta también la segunda subasta de dicho inmueble, se ordena la

celebración de una tercera su basta en la cual, la cantidad mínima será la mitad del precio pactado para la primera subas ta, es decir la suma de $326,250.00. La propiedad se adjudicará al mejor postor, quien deberá satisfacer el im porte de su oferta en moneda legal y corriente de los Estados Unidos de América en el mo mento de la adjudicación, en tiéndase efectivo, giro postal o cheque certificado a nombre del Alguacil del Tribunal de Pri mera Instancia, y que las car gas y gravámenes preferentes, si los hubiese, al crédito del ejecutante continuarán subsis tentes, entendiéndose que el rematante los acepta y queda subrogado en la responsabili dad de los mismos, sin desti narse a su extinción el precio del remate. La propiedad no está sujeta a gravámenes ante riores y/o preferentes según surge de las constancias del Registro de la Propiedad en un estudio de título efectuado a la finca antes descrita. Una vez efectuada la venta de dicha propiedad, el Alguacil procede rá a otorgar la escritura de tras paso al licitador victorioso en subasta, quien podrá ser la par te demandante, cuya oferta po drá aplicarse a la extinción par cial o total de la obligación reconocida por la sentencia dictada en este caso. La propie dad a ser ejecutada se adquiri rá libre de cargas y graváme nes posteriores. Si el producto de la venta fuere insuficiente para satisfacer la cantidad re clamada, se procederá a la eje cución de la sentencia en con tra de la parte demandada por el remanente de las sumas no satisfechas, mediante embargo y venta en ejecución de cuales quiera otros bienes propiedad de la parte demandada en can tidad suficiente para dejar cu bierta y totalmente satisfecha a la parte demandante cualquier deficiencia o parte insoluta de la sentencia dictada a su favor según dispuesto en la senten cia dictada en este caso. Se dispone, conforme con la sen tencia dictada en este caso que, una vez efectuada la su basta y vendido el bien inmue ble, los adjudicatarios sean puestos en posesión del mismo dentro del término de veinte (20) días por el Alguacil de este Honorable Tribunal y los actua les poseedores lanzados del referido inmueble. De ser ello necesario, el Alguacil podrá dili genciar el Acta de Subasta que se expida en horas laborales, de día, los 5 días de la semana y podrá romper cualquier cerra dura o candado que dé acceso al inmueble objeto de este des alojo. Y para la concurrencia de licitadores y para el público en general, se publicará este Edic to de acuerdo con la ley, me

diante edicto, en un periódico de circulación general en el Es tado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, una vez por semana, por espacio 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) luga res públicos del municipio en que ha de celebrarse la venta, tales como la Alcaldía, el Tribu nal y la Colecturía, y se le notifi cará además a la parte deman dada vía correo certificado con acuse de recibo a la última di rección conocida. EN TESTI MONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edicto de Subasta para conocimiento y compare cencia de los licitadores, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Humacao, Puerto Rico, a 29 de septiembre de 2022. José L. Rodríguez Hernández, Alguacil Auxiliar Placa #796, Tribunal De Primera Instancia, Sala De Humacao.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO

DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU

NAL GENERAL DE JUSTICIA

TRIBUNAL DE PRIMERA INS

TANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYAMÓN

ISLAND PORTFOLIO SERVICES, LLC, COMO AGENTE DE FAIRWAY ACQUISITIONS FUND, LLC

Demandante V. DIEGO OCASIO RIVERA

Demandado(a) Civil: TA2022CV00197. Sala: 503. Sobre: COBRO DE DINE RO ORDINARIO. NOTIFICA CIÓN DE SENTENCIA POR EDICTO.

A: DIEGO

OCASIO RIVERA. (Nombre de las partes a las que se le notifican la sentencia por edicto) EL SECRETARIO(A) que sus cribe le notifica a usted que el 21 de septiembre de 2022, este Tribunal ha dictado Sentencia, Sentencia Parcial o Resolución en este caso, que ha sido debi damente registrada y archivada en autos donde podrá usted en terarse detalladamente de los términos de la misma. Esta no tificación se publicará una sola vez en un periódico de circula ción general en la Isla de Puer to 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 Sen tencia, Sentencia Parcial o Re solución, de la cual puede es tablecerse 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 consi derará hecha en la fecha de la publicación de este edicto. Co pia de esta notificación ha sido

archivada en los autos de este caso, con fecha de 4 de octubre de 2022. En BAYAMÓN, Puerto Rico, el 4 de octubre de 2022. Lcda. Laura I. Santa Sánchez, Secretaria. Ivette M. Marrero Bracero, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA DE MOROVIS FIRSTBANK

PUERTO RICO

Demandante Vs. FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION COMO SUCESOR EN DERECHOS DE R-G PREMIER BANK OF PUERTO RICO; VIVIAN ESCOBALES ESCOBALES; BANCO POPULAR PUERTO RICO ; JOHN DOE Y RICHARD ROE COMO POSIBLES TENEDORES CON INTERÉS

Demandados Civil Núm.: MV2022CV00091. Sobre: CANCELACIÓN DE PA GARÉ HIPOTECARIO EXTRA VIADO. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. A: VIVIAN ESCOBALES ESCOBALES. 613 ALBOL DV MIRAMAR FL 33023 (PERSONAS DESCONOCIDAS CON POSIBLE INTERÉS).

En este caso la parte deman dante ha radicado Demanda para que se decrete judicial mente el saldo de un pagare a favor de R-G PREMIER BANK OF PUERTO RICO, o a su or den, por la suma principal de $135,000.00, con intereses al 7.125% anual, vencedero el día primero (1ro) de MARZO DE 2035, constituida mediante la escritura número 25, otorga da en San Juan, Puerto Rico, el día 21 DE FEBRERO DE 2008, ante el Notario Público Jose D. Hernández Toro ins crita al folio 39 vuelto del tomo 326 de Morovis finca 14,668 inscripción 4ta., Registro de la Propiedad Sección de Manatí, y está garantizado por hipoteca sobre la propiedad sita en A 2 AZALEA ST VALLE BARAHO

NA MOROVIS PR 00687 que se describe como sigue: UR BANA: Solar radicado en la Urbanización Valle Barahona sito en el Barrio Barahona del termino municipal de Morovis, Puerto Rico, que se describe en el plano de inscripción de la urbanización con el número, área y colindancias que se re lacionan a continuación: bloque y número A-2 area 350.00 mc. En lindes por el Norte, en una distancia de 25.00 metros con el solar A-3; por el Sur, en una

distancia de 25.00 metros con el solar A-1 ; por el Este, en una distancia de 14.00 metros, con el solar A-9; y por el Oeste, en una distancia de 14.00 me tros, con la calle número 1 de la Urbanización. Inscrita al folio 39 del tomo 326 de Morovis, finca número 14,668, Registro de la Propiedad de Manatí. Por tratarse de una obligación hipotecaria, y pudiendo usted tener interés en este caso o quedar afectado por el remedio solicitado, se les emplaza por este Edicto que se publicará en un (1) periódico de circulación general una (1) sola vez y que su no comparecen a contestar dicha Demanda radicado el ori ginal de la misma a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), al cual pueden acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción electrónica: https://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se representen por derecho pro pio, en cuyo caso deberán pre sentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaría del Tribunal Superior de Puerto Rico; Sala de Utuado, con copia al abo gado de la parte demandante, Lcdo. Jorge García Rondón, de PMB 538, 267 Sierra Morena, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00926 dentro del término de treinta (30) días contados a partir de la publicación del Edicto, se les anotará la rebeldía y se dictará sentencia en su contra conce diendo el remedio solicitado en la De anda sin más citarles ni oírles. EN TESTIMONIO DE LO CUAL, expido el presente Edic to por orden del Tribunal, bajo mi firma y sello del Tribunal, en Ciales, Puerto Rico, hoy 28 de septiembre de 2022. Vivian Y. Fresse González, Secretaria Regional. Sandra I. Maldonado Vega, Secretaria Auxiliar.

LEGAL NOTICE

ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO TRIBU NAL DE PRIMERA INSTANCIA SALA SUPERIOR DE BAYA MÓN

WILMINGTON SAVINGS

FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR FINANCE OF AMERICA STRUCTURED SECURITIES

ACQUISITION TRUST 2018-HB1

Demandante Vs. MARTIN PAGAN PAGAN T/C/C MARTIN PAGAN T/C/C MARTÍN PAGAN

PAGAN T/C/C MARTIN PAGAN-PAGAN POR SI Y EN LA CUOTA VIUDAL USUFRUCTUARIA; SUCESIÓN CARMEN AMELIA DIAZ COLON T/C/C CARMEN AMELIA

DIAZ T /C/C CARMEN AMELIA DIAZ - COLON COMPUESTA POR OMAR PAGAN DIAZ, ERIC MARTIN PAGAN

DIAZ, DENISSE PAGAN

DIAZ; JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES HEREDEROS DESCONOCIDOS; ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMERICA; CENTRO DE RECAUDACION DE INGRESOS MUNICIPALES

Demandados Civil Núm.: BY2022CV03719. Sobre: EJECUCIÓN DE HI POTECA. EMPLAZAMIENTO POR EDICTO. ESTADOS UNI DOS DE AMÉRICA, EL PRE SIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS, EL ESTADO LIBRE ASOCIADO DE PUERTO RICO, SS.

A: ERIC MARTIN PAGAN

DIAZ, DENISSE PAGAN DIAZ; JOHN DOE Y JANE DOE COMO POSIBLES MIEMBROS DESCONOCIDOS DE LA SUCESIÓN CARMEN

AMELIA DIAZ COLON T/C/C CARMEN AMELIA DIAZ T/C/C CARMEN AMELIA DIAZ- COLON. POR LA PRESENTE se le emplaza para que presente al Tribunal su alegación respon siva a la demanda dentro de los treinta (30) días a partir de la publicación de este edicto. Usted deberá presentar su ale gación responsiva a través del Sistema Unificado de Manejo y Administración de Casos (SU MAC), al cual puede acceder utilizando la siguiente direc ción electrónica: http://unired. ramajudicial.pr, salvo que se represente por derecho propio, en cuyo caso deberé presentar su alegación responsiva en la secretaria del tribunal. Si usted deja de presentar su alegación responsiva dentro del referido término, el tribunal podrá dic tar sentencia en rebeldía en su contra y conceder el remedio solicitado en la demanda, o cualquier otro, si el tribunal, en el ejercicio de su sana discre ción, lo entiende procedente.

Greenspoon Marder, LLP Lcda. Frances L. Asencio-Guido R.U.A. 15,622

TRADE CENTRE SOUTH, SUITE 700 100 WEST CYPRESS CREEK ROAD FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33309 Telephone: (954) 343 6273 Frances.Asencio@gmlaw.com

Expedido bajo mi firma, y sello del Tribunal, en Baya món, Puerto Rico, hoy 29 de septiembre de 2022. LCDA.

LAURA I. SANTA SÁNCHEZ, SECRETARIA REGIONAL.

WANDA L. TRINIDAD SILVA, SECRETARIA DEL TRIBUNAL CONFIDENCIAL I.

Just walk Judge? These days, pitchers may have different intentions.

By JAMES WAGNER

Aaron Judge had one of the greatest of fensive seasons in baseball history this year. He led the big leagues or was tied in many major categories: home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs scored, total bases, RBIs, extra-base hits and wins above replacement. He narrowly missed out on the rare feat of a triple crown, in which a batter leads their league in batting average, home runs and RBIs.

With such an imposing hitter, the expec tation is that some opposing teams would want to avoid facing him in situations with the game on the line, opting instead to in tentionally walk him and let someone else on the New York Yankees try to beat them. Under the practices of this era of baseball, driven by data and probabilities, that is no longer the case.

Despite hitting .311 with 62 home runs, 131 RBIs and a 1.111 on-base plus slugging percentage in 696 plate appearances this season, Judge was intentionally walked only 19 times. He did not even lead the majors, with that honor falling to José Ramírez, the Cleveland Guardians slugger who is facing the Yankees in their best-of-five American League Division Series that started Tuesday night in the Bronx. Ramírez, a switch-hitting third baseman, was intentionally walked 20 times.

Both are a far cry from the days of Barry Bonds. On his way to 762 career home runs over 22 seasons, Bonds was intentionally walked an average of 31 times a year. Dur ing his prime, when he averaged 44 home runs per year from 1993 to 2004 with the San Francisco Giants, that ticked upward, with an average of 41 intentional walks per season. In 2004 alone he was intentionally walked 120 times.

Like anything in life, baseball evolves. And given today’s strategies, teams have shied away from intentional walks. In 1993, with a 28-team league, there were 1,477 in tentional walks across Major League Base ball during the regular season. This year, in a 30-team league with more regular season games, there were only 475.

With pitchers’ velocities, pitch move ment and strikeout rates rising dramatically over the years, statistics show that it is nearly always better for teams to attack rather than to roll over in defeat. And with home runs rising to record rates recently, the next batter after the feared slugger is more likely than

ever to make an opponent pay for an inten tional walk.

“The odds of that guy coming around to score with you pitching to him or creating a run with you pitching to him versus put ting him on intentionally without challeng ing him generally say that it’s in your best interest to just go after the hitter,” said Matt Blake, the Yankees’ pitching coach, explain ing the modern rationale. (His pitching staff issued only 10 intentional walks this season, the fifth-lowest total in MLB.)

But come playoff time, when the op portunities are much more limited than in a 162-game regular season and one at-bat can swing an entire best-of-five or -seven series, perhaps opposing managers will be more in clined to intentionally walking Judge?

“I don’t know what other teams will do,” said Dillon Lawson, the Yankees’ hitting coach. “I would think that it has a chance to be more likely.”

He continued, “But to think that it would ever even come close to what Barry Bonds was back in the day, baseball is different from that, at least, the strategy behind some of that is different. I think that they’re going to try to take the approach where it’s like, ‘Hey, we don’t want Aaron Judge to beat us.’ But I also think that he’s been intentionally unintentionally walked a hell of a lot more

and that won’t show up in the stats.”

By that, Lawson meant that teams have pitched Judge carefully, nibbling around the plate in hopes that he would chase balls out of the strike zone. As he was pursuing home runs Nos. 61 and 62 down the stretch, Judge encountered a fair share of that cautious ap proach. The strategy can work: Judge was second in the majors with 111 walks this sea son but also seventh in strikeouts with 175.

“A lot of teams throughout the year just kind of say, ‘Hey, we’re going to go after him and see what happens,’ or ‘We’ll be a little careful with him and if he swings out of the zone, he swings. If he doesn’t, he’ll take his walk,’” Judge said, adding later, “But in the postseason, I expect teams to have scouting reports and do what they need to do. There’ll be certain situations where they come after me or other guys. There will be certain situ ations where they pitch around me or other guys just to get the right matchup.”

Craig Counsell, a former player and the current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, explained that intentional walks have de clined throughout the sport over the decades because run expectancy charts — which show the average number of runs that scored based on which bases were occupied and the number of outs — provide evidence that intentional walks aren’t needed.

If Bonds were playing in this analyti cally influenced era of baseball, Counsell hypothesized that he would “logically” be intentionally walked less than before. Bonds, though, he said, was unique.

“If you looked to past generations, Barry Bonds was walked more in three seasons than any other player in his career,” he said. “And probably was having better seasons than Aaron Judge. That’s the standard. If you look at the Barry Bonds intentional walks, it’ll never be done again.”

Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, two other former sluggers with 60-homer sea sons, were intentionally walked much less than Bonds, with McGwire topping out at 28 in 1999 and Sosa at 37 in 2001. But because Bonds was a better all-around hitter — his career batting average (.298) and OPS (1.051) were markedly higher — he was treated more carefully.

In 2001, when Bonds hit an MLB singleseason record 73 home runs, he was inten tionally walked 35 times. Three years later, his 120 set a major league record. The next closest marks are 68, in 2002, and 61, in 2003; he holds both.

“A lot of teams understand how tough it is to hit, especially with the major league pitching that we have in this day and era,” Judge said. “I feel like every single starter is throwing 95-plus and every guy in the bull pen is throwing 100. It’s still tough to square up the baseball and go out there and try to do something productive.”

During the postseason, Yankees man ager Aaron Boone said he felt like it might be the same: Some teams may be more likely to consider the intentional walk when fac ing Judge. “And I’m sure there’ll be situations where it’ll be obvious to slightly more gray, and then you have a decision to make,” he said.

One way for the Yankees to ensure teams aren’t as tempted to walk Judge in the playoffs — intentionally or not — is for the batters behind him in the lineup to carry their weight. First baseman Anthony Rizzo, who smashed 32 home runs this season, returned from a back injury in mid Septem ber and the designated hitter and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, with 31 home runs, be gan hitting better over the final two weeks of the season.

“We’ve got to be huge behind him,” Stanton said. “We’ve got to make sure we capitalize when they do walk him and make it known that you can’t just do that.”

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees stands in the dugout during a game against the Baltimore Orioles, at Yankee Stadium in New York, on Oct. 2, 2022. Intentional walks have fallen out of favor, but with every run in the postseason being precious, teams may be tempted to force a different Yankees batter to beat them.

The Dodgers raise the bar, but the mandate never changes

Hall of Fame pitcher and a postseason ana lyst for TBS. “They are too good. They are too deep. They have invested a lot to make that franchise the kind of franchise that they are.”

Friedman, 45, grew up in Houston rooting for the Astros. He still laments a wrenching loss to the New York Mets in the 1986 NL Championship Series, when the Astros’ 16-inning home loss robbed their ace of a chance to win the pennant.

“Little Andrew was crestfallen in that crazy extra-inning Game 6,” he said. “Mike Scott was teed up to pitch Game 7.”

It was an early lesson in the capricious nature of the baseball postseason, which now includes six teams and four rounds per league, although the Dodgers got a bye from the new wild-card series. In seven postseasons under Friedman, the Dodgers have gone 46-36 in the postseason — im pressive enough, considering the competi tion, but light on championship bling.

started arriving regularly in trades: Yu Dar vish, Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Max Scherzer, Trea Turner.

“Over the last five years, we’ve been as aggressive, if not more so, than every other team in baseball in terms of trading away young talent, and we’ve obviously held on to some key ones,” Friedman said. “I can’t say enough about our amateur and pro scouting department, as well as our playerdevelopment group, for our ability to trade as many young players as we have and still have our farm system in as strong of a posi tion as it is — especially with the current system that is designed to make that next to impossible.”

The Dodgers’ resources — polite baseball-speak for money — have been prodigious: a payroll of about $248 million in 2021 and $281 million in 2022. Those riches, however, led to a notorious over reach: a three-year, $102 million contract in 2021 for pitcher Trevor Bauer.

By TYLER KEPNER

There was no fanfare in early Au gust when the Los Angeles Dodgers earned their 70th victory of the sea son. They held a double-digit lead in the National League West and had outscored their opponents by hundreds of runs. It was part of a 12-game winning streak in a season of 111 victories, the most in the NL since 1909.

For Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, 70 wins was once a milestone. At least it was to his team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who had never reached that mark in their young his tory. It was 2004, Friedman’s first season in baseball, and he did not need his finance background to calculate that 70-91 was a terrible record.

“They won 70 games, and they did a Champagne toast after it,” Friedman said. “And I remember thinking: This is really not something to celebrate. We’ve got loftier goals than that.”

Soon, the rebranded Rays would do more than just meet Friedman’s initial goal of playing meaningful games in September. They raced all the way to the World Series in 2008, setting a new standard for efficien cy and innovation, and making Friedman a star.

When the Dodgers hired him after the 2014 season, Friedman had a jewel fran chise in a major market to sculpt as he wished. The result is an annual master

piece; the latest edition hosted the San Di ego Padres on Tuesday night in the opener of an NL Division Series.

“It’s pretty amazing, really,” said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who starred in his first year as a Dodger. “If you take a step back and see the success that’s been sustained — that is so hard to do, especially in sports in general, to keep running a ship that produces talent. But it’s just what they do.”

The Dodgers are the first team to win at least 106 games in three consecutive full seasons. They recently completed the best 1,000-game stretch of any team in the expansion era, which began in 1969, with 636 victories. This year, they outscored op ponents by 334 runs, the widest run differ ential for any team since the 1939 Yankees.

Those Yankees, led by a young Joe DiMaggio, might have been the greatest team in baseball history. They advanced di rectly to the World Series — playoffs were still decades away — and won their fourth title in a row.

And that is where the Dodgers’ legacy gets complicated. They have won the NL West in nine of the past 10 seasons, and went 106-56 as a wild card last year. Yet, they have captured just one World Series title in three appearances in that time, against the Rays in 2020. Their mandate never changes.

“The Dodgers need to continue to show the world that it wasn’t just that single ring that they got,” said Pedro Martinez, a

“I try to compartmentalize that as much as possible,” Friedman said. “We have a regular-season goal, which is to win the division, which puts us in a better posi tion to accomplish our ultimate goal. But I can’t subscribe to the theory that there are 29 failures each year and only one suc cess.”

It is important, Friedman added, to appreciate “the art of trying to do all you can to be as successful as you can in that current year, but keeping yourselves in the best position possible to be able to main tain. We’ve seen a lot of large-revenue teams go on a run of success and fall off the side of a cliff.”

The Mets eliminated the Dodgers in 2015 but have not won a division title since. The Chicago Cubs knocked out the Dodg ers in 2016 but now are mired in a rebuild. The Boston Red Sox stomped the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series but have finished in last place in two of the past three sea sons. (Let’s not even mention the woes of the neighboring Los Angeles Angels.)

The team that comes closest to ap proaching the Dodgers’ high-level consis tency has only one title itself: the Astros, who edged the Dodgers in the World Se ries in 2017, the year of their electronic sign-stealing scheme.

Friedman could have made more winnow trades early in his tenure, but the mis sion then was to add depth to the farm system while holding on to top prospects such as Julio Urías, Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager. By 2017, high-impact talent

The Mets also tried to sign Bauer, whom the Dodgers did not really need; they were coming off a championship and already had a deep staff. Bauer made 17 starts last season and is now serving a two-year, unpaid suspension for violating baseball’s domestic violence policy. Fried man would not comment on Bauer, citing Bauer’s unresolved appeal.

Last offseason, the Dodgers made a safer high-end investment: Freeman, who got a six-year, $162 million deal to leave Atlanta, where he had deep roots as a fran chise cornerstone. From the start, Freeman said, the Dodgers empathized with him and did not try to rush his transition. His tearful news conference in Atlanta, when the Dodgers played there in June, was a turning point.

“I called Andrew and I was like, ‘I’m sorry it took three months,’” Freeman said. “And he said, ‘Sorry? I didn’t think you were going to do it for a year, to get that closure.’ That’s just how wonderful they are. They knew what I was going through. They let me go through my feelings. And I think that’s why I played so well, because of how amazing they were with me and my family in getting us acclimated.”

Paying Freeman — who ended up leading the NL in hits, runs, doubles and on-base percentage — was the easy part. The trick was building an infrastructure where Freeman and so many others could thrive. That is why the Dodgers have the best chance to toast a whole lot more than 70 wins this November.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a powerhouse created through, from left, free agency (Freddie Freeman), trades (Mookie Betts) and the draft (Gavin Lux).

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Answers to the Sudoku and Crossword on page 29Aries (Mar 21-April 20)

As inquisitive Mercury relocates into companionable Libra, the coming weeks may be filled with more interactions. This trend can be good for relationships and your social life. And with the planet of talk and thought joining Venus and the Sun, this could be an opportunity to develop warm friendships and new business connections, or to spend time with a romantic partner, Aries.

Taurus (April 21-May 21)

Feel an urge to get organized, and streamline your affairs so you can get more done? Gathering your thoughts could be a good place to start. Don’t jump into the biggest projects right away, as you’ll need a sound strategy, Taurus. As Mercury heads back into Libra after its rewind phase, this is the ideal time to stop and reflect. Once you know what you want, it will be easier to get it.

Gemini (May 22-June 21)

Life takes on a more dynamic focus, as Mercury joins Venus and the Sun in Libra. It’s a chance to let your fun, creative and sociable side out. And if you’re looking for romance, this could be an ideal opportunity to start dating. You’ll enjoy flirting and talking up a storm, and you won’t be averse to giving yourself a makeover, if it would net you the person of your dreams, Gemini.

Cancer (June 22-July 23)

Ready to spend time with your family? You’ll enjoy working on domestic projects and getting some downtime when possible. As Mercury glides into Libra, joining Venus and the Sun, it can set the stage for you to do more entertaining. Keen to beautify your place? There’s plenty of ideas out there if you know where to look. Prepared to look around? You could get a fabulous deal.

Leo (July 24-Aug 23)

This weekend ushers in a positive phase, as Mercury moves back into your sector of communication. Use this uplifting vibe to network, engage with friends and become acquainted with new developments in your local area. Plus, this can be the perfect time to learn new skills, enhance your social media presence or to promote your business. You only need make a start.

Virgo (Aug 24-Sep 23)

You could feel a tad disheartened if you feel you aren’t getting anywhere. This may be down to a low-energy Mars/Neptune angle and planets currently in reverse. There is some good news on the horizon though, as lively Mercury moves back into Libra, so ideas about how to drum up extra cash can come thick and fast. Have something vintage to sell? Go for it!

Libra (Sep 24-Oct 23)

You might begin to feel more focused, as Mercury moves into your sign and out of the realm of psychological and spiritual matters. If you’ve made decisions on how best to tackle issues in your life, it’s now time to put those plans into action. The coming weeks are perfect for showcasing your best side to the world. You’ll get noticed and applauded for just being you.

Scorpio (Oct 24-Nov 22)

As talkative Mercury joins Venus and the Sun in a sensitive zone, you’ll find it easier to connect with your feelings, and to talk about them if needed. And if there have been difficulties with someone, this soothing blend of energies can help bring healing and peace, if you’re willing to reach out and resolve matters. Your dreams may be sweet and very nourishing too, Scorpio.

Sagittarius (Nov 23-Dec 21)

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to invites for events, dates and other get-togethers. As Mercury moves back into your social zone and joins Venus and the Sun, the coming weeks could be some of the best, with new friends, exciting contacts and sizzling opportunities on the cards. Need to spice up your relationship? Getting out and about can give it back its mojo, Archer.

Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 20)

This is your chance to stand out from the crowd and to promote your skills. Inquisitive and expressive Mercury re-enters a prominent sector, enticing you to link with others who share your goals and ambitions, and to reach out to those on your wavelength. Pooling ideas and resources with someone you trust, might be a recipe for success. It’s likely you’ll make a great team.

Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb 19)

Need a respite? Getting away for a break could give an opportunity to get some distance from issues that may be a concern. And new surroundings can make it easier to come up with fresh ideas and healing insights. Your love life might flourish in relaxed surroundings, or a new romance could spring up. Don’t short-change yourself. If you need time out, then take it.

Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)

It’s time to forget about past disagreements by putting them behind you. With a major focus on your sector of transformation, you can turn things around by being totally honest with key people and loved ones, and encouraging them to be honest with you. Everyone will know where they stand, and with things in the open, it will be easier to make the right decisions and act on them.