NO. 6 VOL. XXXIII

SEE PAGE 10

How Government Unions will Attackthe Supreme Court’s Janus Ruling

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Read us online:sandiegometro.com

How government unions will attack the U.S.

Supreme Court’s Janus ruling. Some union

advocates have already begun legal

research into removing government union

funding from any direct relationship to

individual government employees.

See Page 10

2018 | ISSUE 6 Volume XXXIII

Our mission is to always provide quality journalism for our readers by being

fair, accurate and ethical and a credible resource for our advertisers.

She Runs Her Business by the BooksSan Diego businesswoman and CEO Susan McBeth has launchedNovelNetwork, the nation’s first “matchmaking” service for book clubs andauthors. It’s much more than a creative way to market books, she says. “It’sa great way to connect with readers who want meaningful discussion withtheir favorite authors.

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Hidden Luxury Around the WorldWriter Marlise Kast-Myers takes us around the world to explore confidentialproperties where privacy, seclusion and tranquility are the name of thegame.

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Local Publisher’s Best-Kept SecretLocal Umbrella Media also known as “LUM,” is a fast growing, locallyowned multi-media group of direct mailed community newspapers andmagazines. LUM plans to launch and develop several newspapers andmagazines across San Diego County in the coming months.

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Table Food+DrinkTable Food+Drink is the restaurant formerly known as Cesar, a secondlocation to the Berkeley flagship restaurant, which is celebrating its 20thanniversary.

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SAN DIEGOSCENE

The San Diego CountyRegional Airport Authority, alongwith officials from U.S. Customsand Border Protection and Turner| PCL Joint Venture, marked thecompletion of a new  130,000-square-foot International Arrivalsfacility at San Diego InternationalAirport’s Terminal 2 on June 28.The new facility will allow theairport to accommodate theincrease in internationalpassengers resulting from recentlyadded overseas flights.

The total cost of the project isestimated at $229.4 million. Thenew facility will serve BritishAirways, Edelweiss Air, JapanAirlines, Lufthansa, AlaskaAirlines, Southwest Airlines andSpirit Airlines.

The airport has experiencedsignificant growth in internationalarrivals in the past quarter-century

– from about 50,000 passengers ayear in the early 1990s to morethan 400,000 a year in 2017. Thatnumber – and the associatedeconomic impact — will continueto grow as more internationalnonstop flights are added.

The new facility improves theprocessing experience forpassengers with reduced waittimes and a more welcomingenvironment. It features thenewest technologies from U.S.Customs and Border Protection.

At 130,000 square feet, the newfacility is five times larger than theprevious facility. It also increasesthe number of international gatesat the airport from three to six.

International Arrivals facility opens at San Diego International Airport

nternational Arrivals Facility. (Photo by Pablo Mason, courtesy of San Diego International Airport)

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Redemption Games, aninnovative  game developmentstudio in Carlsbad, will become thefirst American company to receiveinvestment by Supercell,the Finland-based game companyknown for hit mobile gaming titlesHay Day, Clash of Clans, BoomBeach, and Clash Royale. The $5million Investment will be for aminority stake in  RedemptionGames, which will continue as anindependent studio with fullcontrol of its operations.

“In our investments, we arealways looking for the best teamswith great culture,” saidSupercell  CEO IlkkaPaananen.  “Redemption Gameshas an amazing team ofexperienced developers who have asolid track record and true passionfor making great puzzle games.”

Michael Witz and Dan Lin, co-founders of RedemptionGames,  worked together for 20years, collaborating for 10 of thosein mobile gaming. They sold theirprior company, Mob Science, toJam City (previously SGN) in LosAngeles where they led the designand development of the topgrossing game Cookie Jam. Theirpassion for gaming andentrepreneurial spirit precipitatedthe formation and success ofRedemption Games.

The strategic partnership withSupercell will take advantage of thegrowth model that has allowed it togross $2 billion in revenue, and$810 million in profit in the lastyear; growth that was achieved withonly a few hundred employees.

Caricatures of Redemption Games co-foundersMichael Witz, left, and Dan Linn. (Photo courtesy of Redemption Games)

Supercell invests $5 million in Carlsbad’s Redemption Games

SA N D I EG O S C E N E

By Clark KnappClassic cars surround one of the

oldest local vineyards on this Sunday,June 10. The Deer Park WineryGathering on the Green charity carshow features music and wine tastingsamong the lawns and shady oaks.

Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum,a true hidden gem of San DiegoCounty, features a permanent collectionmany consider unrivaled in all the land:from convertible cars to pre-war radiosto glitzy neon dealership signs. DeerPark will take you back in time whileenjoying locally grown and estate wines.

Founded in 1979 by native SanDiegan Lila and Robert Knapp, it wasone of the original seven wineries in thecounty and the new Vintner’sAssociation founded some years later.

Originally the grapes were harvestedby hand and loaded onto the 1950

Studebaker truck on display, andeventually hauled up to the sister winerydating back to 1891 in the Napa Valley.

Beginning with the 1990 harvest, allproduction of the Escondido winery’sgrapes is conducted on site, making itone of the few estate wineries around.Currently, the only time a bottle leavesthe property is in the hands of thepurchasing visitor or guest.

Every bottle produced from the localvineyard boasts a label with a vintagecar from the collection. The award-winning label designs are crafted fromCalifornia artists. Many summerweekends, and every second Sunday inJune adds to this unmatched venue witha classic car show on the lawns and winerelease tastings.

Clark Knapp is the owner of ownerof Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum.

A Hidden Gem: Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum

Cars on display.

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Carnival Cruise Line will return to the Portof San Diego for the first time in seven yearswhen Carnival Miracle arrives in late2019. Carnival Miracle will operate a winterschedule of three- to 15-day voyages from SanDiego  from  December 2019  to February2020. 

The schedule kicks off with a seven-daycruise to the Mexican Riviera departing Dec.1, 2019, and also includes two longer-lengthCarnival Journeys voyages — 14- and 15-day  Hawaii  adventures visiting populardestinations throughout the Aloha Statedeparting  Dec. 8, 2019  and  Jan. 17, 2020,respectively.  

Carnival Cruise Line to return toPort of San Diego in late 2019

A Detect and Avoid (DAA) avionics  systemdeveloped by General Atomics Aeronautical SystemsInc. was the key technology that enabled an unmannedaircraft flight through the National Airspace Systemafter taking off from Southern California recently.

The DAA system installed on Ikhana, a NASA-owned Predator B/MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System,enabled the UAS to meet the FAA’s requirement to“see and avoid” other aircraft during Tuesday’s flight.

“Our goal of producing UAS that can be certified tofly in non-segregated airspace took a big step forwardtoday,” said Linden Blue, CEO of General AtomicsAeronautical Systems. “Today’s successful flight istestament to the strong relationship that we have withthe FAA, NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Centerand Honeywell to produce the definitive standard forunmanned aircraft operation in congested airspaces.”

The DAA system combines automatic collisionavoidance with the ability for the pilot to remain “wellclear” of other airspace users.

General Atomics has been working with the FAA,NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center,Honeywell, and other industry partners since 2013 todevelop, flight test, and standardize an airborne DAAsystem.

General Atomics system aids FAA-approved flight of NASA unmanned aircraft

Native American casinosgenerated $32.4 billion in grossgaming revenue in fiscal 2017, a 3.9percent increase over the previousyear and the seventh straight year-over-year increase, the NationalIndian Gaming Commissionannounced. San Diego County ishome to 18 Indian tribes, thelargest concentration of any countyin the United States. Eleven of thetribes have gaming operations.

The commission compiled datafrom the independently auditedfinancial statements of 494 gamingoperations owned by 242 federallyrecognized tribes.

“All of Indian Country hasworked very hard to maintain aflourishing and constantly growinggaming industry,”  Jonodev O.Chaudhuri, the commissionchairman, said in a statement.

Tribal casinos’ gaming revenues climbed nearly 4percent last year

Illustration courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc.

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BNBuilders, Alexandria Real EstateEquities Inc. and Vertex Pharmaceuticalscelebrated the grand opening of Vertex’snew research facility in San Diego with aribbon cutting ceremony on June 18.Located at 3215 Merryfield Row, Vertex’snew facility was developed by AlexandriaReal Estate Equities, with the buildingshell designed by LPA and interiorsdesigned by DGA.   

Boston-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals isa biotech company focused on creatingtransformative medicines for people whohave serious diseases.  The company hashad a research and development presencein San Diego for more than 15 years. 

Vertex’s new building in Torrey Pines isat the heart of San Diego’s biotechcommunity. The 170,000-square-footfacility is double the size of Vertex’s formerspace, and can accommodate 250employees.  Within the LEED Gold

certified building, 70 percent of its space isdedicated to laboratory/researchactivities. The site has a 1,500-square-footLearning Lab for STEM educationprograms, a 4,000-square-foot IncubatorSuite for external collaboration, and an aircirculation system designed to bring in 100

percent outside air, the highest qualityavailable. 

BNBuilders and Vertex used virtualreality during the design stage of theproject to review the functionality oflaboratory spaces. 

Vertex Pharmaceuticals opens its new research facility in Torrey Pines

SA N D I EG O S C E N E

Barons Market executive selected as one of 2018’s Top Women in Grocery

Barons Market President of MarketingRachel Shemirani has been selected as oneof 2018’s Top Women in Grocery byProgressive Grocer, for her integral rold atthe family-owned market. The awardrecognizes outstanding women in all

positions of the food industry, fromwholesaler and supplier to marketing andbranding, who have demonstrated above-and-beyond achievements between April2017 and March 2018. 

“Over half of the management team at

Barons Market are women. This award isa testament to their hard work andforward-thinking leadership,” saysShemirani. “I’m proud to work at acompany where women can thrive and bea key part of the market’s success.”

When Shemirani’s father ( JoeShemirani) started Barons Market in1993, Rachel took a job at the store inhigh school days – working at the registerand learning the true meaning ofcustomer experience. Shemirani workedher way up in her family’s company,eventually earning her current role as vicepresident of marketing. 

Shemirani and the other awardees froma variety of fields within the groceryindustry will be honored in Chicago onNov. 8, 2018.

Rachel Shemirani

Vertex Pharmaceuticals lobby. (Photo courtesy of BNBuilders)

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SA N D I EG O S C E N E

Pacific Gate tower

15 acres of vineyard, orchards, picnic grounds and 3 buildings of:Antique Cars (over 100 convertibles) • Radios & TVs

Neon Signs & Ads • Bicycles & Antiquesplus

Americana • Coca-Cola room and Barbie doll room.See a century of American progress! Something for everyone

Open Fri-Sun: 10am-5pm29013 CHAMPAGNE BLVD. ESCONDIDO, CA 92026

(760) 749-1666 • www.deerparkwine.com • deerparkwinery@aol.com

Nat Bosa opens his newest, most lavish Downtown residences — Pacific Gate

Pacific Gate by Bosa, downtown San Diego’s newest bigresidential building, has opened. The 41-story building atPacific Highway and Broadway has 215 residents and is morethan 70 percent sold.

Amenities include an original piece of public art by world-renowned artist Jaume Plensa, and Puffer MalarkeyRestaurants’ newest restaurant concept, Animae.

The building and design team include Bosa Development,New York-based architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, andinterior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates.

“We have built a great and timeless building that peopleshould be proud of and enjoy for a long time; there is nothingelse like it,” said Nat Bosa, chairman of Bosa Development.

One of the most unique offerings is the exclusive accessto Pacific Dream -- a 45-foot Cruisers Yacht. Residents andtheir guests have already been enjoying their time on the SanDiego Bay with the yacht. Additional amenities include accessto a  private luxury fleet of cars,  chef concierge  and  porterservices  to facilitate residents’ needs, from restaurant orentertaining assistance, as well as a 24-hour attended lobby.

Residences range from approximately 1,276 to 2,450 squarefeet and are priced from the $1.1 millions. 

On June 27, the U.S. SupremeCourt issued their decision in thelandmark case Janus vs.

AFSCME, ruling that public sector unionscan no longer force public employees to payunion dues. Janus argued that even so-called“agency fees,” which unions claim are onlyfor collective bargaining and are thereforenon-political, are, in fact, inherently political.As a result, Janus argued that mandatorycollection of agency fees violated his firstamendment right to free speech.

The court agreed, writing “union speechcovers critically important and publicmatters such as the State’s budget crisis,taxes, and collective bargaining issuesrelated to education, child welfare,healthcare, and minority rights.” We mightadd that public sector collective bargainingalso affects work rules, hirings,terminations and promotions, ‘non-political’ lobbying, get-out-the-vote efforts,funding for educational public relationsand academic studies; the list goes on.

Public sector union spending is indeedinherently political, and it is also intenselypartisan, overwhelmingly supporting theparty of bigger government.

While it was generally expected that thecourt would rule in favor of the plaintiff,

Mark Janus, it was uncertain whether thescope of the ruling would extend tomandating opt-in vs. opt-out. Currently,for that portion of government union duesthat are declared by the union to be usedfor explicitly political purposes – roughly20 percent to 30 percent – members haveto go through a laborious and intimidating“opt-out” process. Even as Janus extendsthat opt-out right to cover all dues,including agency fees, it can still be verydifficult for public employees to stoppaying these unions.

As it turns out, the court’s decision takesthe further step of requiring publicemployees to opt-in to paying union dues.The court writes “Accordingly, neither anagency fee nor any other form of paymentto a public-sector union may be deductedfrom an employee, nor may any otherattempt be made to collect such a payment,unless the employee affirmatively consentsto pay.” That is, instead of employees havingto ask the union to stop withholding dues,now the union has to ask the employeeto start withholding dues.

This is a major enhancement to thescope of the Janus decision, butgovernment unions are working tominimize its impact.

How the Unions will use Contracts to getEmployees to Waive their “Opt-In” Rights

A critical variable, not clearly addressedin the Janus decision, is when, and howoften, an employee must “affirmativelyconsent to pay.” Related to this, and alsorequiring expert legal interpretation, is howrequiring an employee to “affirmativelyconsent to pay” may conflict with contractlaw. What if the employee waives that rightwhen signing an employment agreement?What if that waiver is buried in a moregeneral employment agreement? Is thatenforceable?

Take a look at this actual example of anactual recent agreement between anemployee and their government union:

As can be seen, this contract has beenmodified to read “if I rescind mymembership and if existing law changes sothat non-members are no longer requiredby law to contribute,  I agree that thecontributions authorized above shallcontinue and this authorization shallautomatically renew annually, irrespectiveof my membership status, unless and untilI submit a timely signed revocation of thisauthorization. To be timely, a revocationmust be mailed to OCEA’s office,postmarked between 75 and 45 days beforesuch annual renewal date.”

Has an employee who signs this form,likely along with countless other formsthey’ll sign on the first days of their initial

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How Government Unions will Attack the Janus Ruling

C OV E R STO RY

By Edward Ring

Photo credit: Cool Photos

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C OV E R STO RYC O V E R S T O RY

employment, from then on permanentlywaived their right to only opt-in to duespayments? If you opt-in one time, are youstuck having to opt-out from then on?Every year?

To ensure that contracts such as the onefeatured here are signed, California’s unioncompliant legislature offers  SB285  and  AB-2017, bills that make itdifficult, if not impossible, for employers –or anyone else – to discuss the pros andcons of unionization with employees.These bills also refer any alleged violationsto the union-packed Public EmploymentRelations Board instead of the courts.

Then to make the contractuallymandated, Janus altering, opt-out processeven more difficult,  AB 1937  and  AB-2049 prohibit local government agenciesfrom unilaterally honoring employeerequests to stop paying union dues.

There is an even more fundamental waythe unions will try to obliterate the impactof the Janus ruling.

Unions May Attempt to Force State andLocal Governments to Directly FundUnions

Some government union advocates havealready begun legal research into removinggovernment union funding from any directrelationship to individual governmentemployees. In an 6/27 article on Vox titled“How Democratic lawmakers should helpunions reeling from the Janus decision,” theauthor argues that since unions only extractaround 2 percent of wages, and since

studies show that unionization confers a 17percent better wage and benefit package,the employer should simply turn over 2percent of total wages to the unions, ratherthan deduct 2 percent from individualpaychecks. They write: “But if publicemployers simply paid the 2 percentdirectly to the unions – giving the same 15percent raise to employees but notchanneling the extra 2 percent throughemployee paychecks – then there would beno possible claim that employees werebeing compelled to do anything, and thusno constitutional problem.”

An article published in Slate makes asimilar argument. The authors write:“States can replace their fair-share fee lawswith provisions that require or allow publicsector employers to subsidize unionsdirectly.” They even claim that such ameasure would reduce employee’s taxliabilities since their taxable income wouldbe cut by 2 percent in order to fund thestate’s direct union contribution in a“revenue neutral” manner. To support theirargument for this  “direct paymentalternative” the authors cite a law reviewarticle published in 2015 by law professorsAaron Tang of UC Davis, and BenjaminSachs of Harvard.

The political power of public sectorunions in California and other blue statesis almost impossible to overstate.Returning governance to elected officialsby rolling back the power of these unionswill be a long and difficult fight. The highly

visible steps the unions are taking or testing– the direct payment alternative, contractsthat temporarily or permanently waive anemployee’s right to free speech, forced duesfor up to one year after opting-out – canbe challenged in court. They may also bepolitically unpopular – direct payments inparticular would be a hard sell to voters.

The more subtle ways unions arebuttressing their power in the post Janusenvironment may be harder to stop, andcollectively create daunting barriers toreform. Examples including denying right-to-work and pro-free-speech groups accessto public employees, forbidding employersto discuss pros and cons of unionization,mandatory new employee “orientations”with union membership commitmentsfilled with fine print and buried in multipledocuments requiring a signature, handingdispute resolutions over to the union-packed PERB instead of the courts,broadening the base of employees eligibleto join the unions.

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, forgovernment union reformers the post-Janus era “is not the end. It is not even thebeginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, theend of the beginning.”

This article appears in California Policy

Center (californiapolicycenter.org), an

educationa nonprofit focused on public

policies that aim to improve California’s

democracy and economy.

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T R AV E L

Between nosey neighbors, urban sprawl,and family drama, it’s not easy to find apeaceful place where you can escape andsimply “be.” Even some of our favoritehideaways seem to be bustling withtweeting travelers, documenting everythingfrom massages to margaritas. Now you can bypass buffet lines andtimeshare pitches at these confidentialproperties where privacy, seclusion, andtranquility are the name of the game. Don’tbe surprised if your cell signal drops or ifWi-Fi is patchy at times. That just meansyou’ll have to live in the moment, ratherthan post about it. For hidden luxury—thatyou’ll never see from the road—check outthese hush-hush hotels that are invitingyou in on their little secret.

Toscana Resort Castelfalfi(Montaione, Italy)Located between Florence and Pisa, this2,700-acre property in Montaione, Italytransformed from an abandoned tobaccofactory into a luxury estate. In 2007, TUITravel Group awakened the sleepingbeauty and invested $267 million indeveloping a boutique hotel, private villas,and a five-star hotel opening this spring.Despite the rebirth of this medieval ghosttown, the countryside is remarkablysecluded with its own nature reserve whereguests can ride horses, forage for truffles,or tour the vineyards and olive groves.From farm-to-fork cuisine in the historiccastle, to vinotheraphy spa treatments onthe Tuscan hillside, it’s all about serenityand privacy—unless of course, you decideto wander the cobblestone streets ofneighboring villages where civilization stillexists. One night at this Tuscan kingdomwill set you back $650.

The Ranch (Laguna Beach,California)If you’re not in on this So Cal secret, you’dhave no clue this secluded resort evenexists, smack dab in the heart of LagunaBeach. Owned by Hobie founder, MarkChristy, the unpretentious sanctuary acrossfrom the beach opened its doors inDecember 2017. Despite the centrallocation, it’s the 1,000-foot canyon wallsthat keep it hidden from the summer chaosof trendy Laguna Beach. No matter whereyou look, you’ll be safe inside your canyoncradle where laid-back luxury comes out ontop. This microcosm of local surf cultureshuffles out a cool casual atmosphere,beach cottage-style rooms, and family-friendly activities that will keep kidsentertained for days. While you golf andget pampered at the spa, the little ones canlearn how to surf or explore the canyon byhayride. Rooms have canyon–pool–or golfcourse views, but it’s worth splurging forthe hexagonal tree house with a privategazebo perched above Aliso Creek. Even ifyou don’t plan on staying here, stop by fordinner at Harvest Restaurant whereCalifornia comfort food meetsthoughtfully sourced cuisine. The mottohere is “Live like a local,” which means youmight actually become one, even at $500 anight.

Laucala Island (Taveuni, Fiji)Set on a 3,500-acre private island, thishidden property in Fiji’s archipelago ismade up of 25 villas—each with it’s ownswimming pool and private butler—setamid coconut plantations and dazzlingbeaches. It truly is the essence of seclusionwith overwater–

beachfront–or–hilltop lodging thatoverlooks deserted beaches and lushrainforest. Style and sustainability go hand-in-hand with 95 percebt of the islanduntouched, and the rest dedicated toraising livestock and growing crops likevanilla, pepper, tea, orchids, and produce.Accessible by its own airport, the luxuriousresort boasts an 18-hole championship golfcourse, horseback riding, hiking trails, fiverestaurants, submarines for guests, and thehighest staff-to-guest ratio of any hotel inthe world (16 per villa). This level ofprivacy comes with a hefty price tag,however. Prepare to pay $4,800 a night forthe all-inclusive time of your life.

Hidden Canopy Treehouses(Monteverde, Costa Rica)Tucked in the Costa Rican cloud forest ofMonteverde, six luxury tree housesimmerse you in calming nature withwraparound decks, driftwood headboards,waterfall showers, and skylight ceilings. Farfrom your vision of a childhood tree house,these two-story units are cupped in massivebranches high above koi ponds and anetwork of hiking trails. Each tree house(from $395) has a lounge area, privateentrance, and floor-to-ceiling windowswith views spanning over the hills to theGulf of Nicoya. Breakfast and tea areserved in a lovely solarium in the mainhouse, one of the few spots you’ll encounterother guests. Prepare for silence at thispeaceful retreat where the sound ofscreaming children is replaced with that ofchirping birds and howler monkeys (nokids under 16).

Hide and Seek Hidden Luxury Around the World By Marlise Kast-Myers

Castello - PanoramicPhoto courtesy of TUI Travel Group.

Hacienda Uayamón (Campeche, Mexico)One of the most remote haciendas in theYucatan, this exquisite jungle property wasabandoned in 1913 and resurrected acentury later as one of five haciendas in theStarwood Luxury Collection. The originalarchitecture and decor have been carefullypreserved, right down to the ancient ruinsjutting through the swimming pool.Draped across original tile floors are hand-woven hammocks where you can sway inthe historic casitas, each with its owngarden and Jacuzzi. Paying tribute to thepast are such details as sisal rugs, high-beamed ceilings, and the original companystore—now serving as the spa withMayan-influenced treatments. Thisproperty is remarkably challenging to find,meaning it’s best to take advantage of theairport shuttle or avoid traveling by night.Rates start at $570.

Musha Cay (Exumas, Bahamas)If one island isn’t enough, how about awhole chain of ‘em in the southernBahamas? Ironically, these off-the-radarislands in the Exumas are owned bylegendary illusionist David Copperfield. For$39,000 a night, you and 12 of your closestfriends can get a taste of the magic thatincludes five beachside villas, world-classcuisine, and endless water activities from 40sugar-sand beaches. The best part about thishideaway is that the only other guests on theisland are the ones you invited.

Deplar Farm (Troll Peninsula, Iceland)For adventure and solitude far from themadding crowds, this converted sheep farmin the remote Fljot valley is way off thebeaten track but worth the journey—andthe $1,750 a night room rate. The modern13-suite lodge pays tribute to Icelandic

architecture with locally-sourced stone,black timber, and grass-sodded roofs. Wallsdouble as windows with floor-to-ceilingviews of mountains, lakes, and ocean whereguests heli-ski, fly fish, horseback ride,snowmobile, whale watch, hike, and surf.Tired bodies can find healing at the spawith its own floatation tank, or in thegeothermal infinity pool illuminated bysun-lit nights. If cozying up is more yourstyle, head to the library, private theater, orbar where you can nurse your favoritecocktail. If you’d rather have the entireplace to yourself, simply dish out $21,000 anight for the entire farm.

La Troza (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico)Only accessible by boat, privacy is toppriority at this Puerto Vallarta resortcradled between Bahia de Banderas andthe Sierra Madre Mountains.Accommodations for 24 guests are housedin four residences; the villa, the beachhouse, and two casitas, meaning you’ll haveyour own beachfront estate complete witha restaurant, infinity pool, outdoor Jacuzzi,and white-sandy beach. Betweensnorkeling, kayaking, fishing, surfing, andhiking, the only reason you’ll need to visitPuerto Vallarta across the bay is to possiblycatch your flight home. For even moretranquility in your stay, you can bookprivate yoga, cooking classes, or a massageon the beach. Included in the nightly$5,000 buyout rate are activities, airporttransportation, unlimited drinks, andelaborate meals prepared by a five-star chef.

Chalet Pelerin (Le Miroir, France)You might just want to leave your boots onfor this one, where heli-skiing is consideredto be some of the best in the world.Indulgence starts with bubbly by the fireand continues throughout your stay withspa treatments, an indoor saltwater pool,

and a terrace Jacuzzi showcasing views ofMont Pourri while you soak. The five-room chalet offers intimacy aplenty, tuckedaway in the Tarentaise Valley near themountain village of Le Miroir. Namedafter celebrated French landmarks, roomsare woodsy-chic with alpine furnishingslike sheepskin throws and beamed ceilingsbranded from the 1800s. Pack leadersshould claim the master suite with a privatebalcony, log fire, and steam shower. Outsideyour door are the French Alps where youcan snowshoe and snowboard in winter,and rock climb and mountain bike insummer. A room will set you back $884.Big spenders can opt for the 12-guestbuyout at $6,275 a night.

Cal-a-Vie (Vista, California)It’s secrecy at its best when celebrities likeJulia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey can hangout at this destination spa without gettingnoticed. Despite it’s location in the hills ofVista, California, you’ll feel like you’ve diedand gone to a pampering Provençal village.Classic French style prevails in the opulentlounge areas and private villas with marblebaths, Frette linens, antique furnishings,and 200-year-old reclaimed wooden floors.Balconies open onto hillsides blanketed inlavender, where a stone chapel from 1615(imported from Dijon) is utilized formediation and weddings. This luxury spa“camp” is no-holds-barred when it comesto fitness, health, and service with a staff-to-guest ratio of 5:1. Every three-coursedinner is a fine dining experience in theornate setting with its crystal chandeliers,velvet chairs, and 14th century fireplace.The 3-night minimum stay ($4,675)includes meals, spa treatments, fitnessclasses, and access to the private 18-holegolf course.

Marlise Kast-Myers is a journalist, author andfreelance writer based in San Diego. Herwebsite: www.marlisekast.com.

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Credit: Cal-a-vie

T R AV E L

Credit: Chalet Pelerin Credit: Musha Cay

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N O R T H C O U N T Y

North County San Diego is known forits beautiful scenery and relaxed lifestyle,but innovative industrial growth isgarnering attention to the area by storm.Open Source Maker Labs (OSML)opened its doors in 2014 to support thismovement, and there has never been amore exciting time for entrepreneurs toexplore new business opportunities in thearea.

As California continues to expandacross growing industries like informationtechnology, health care, hospitality, andagriculture, city leaders in North Countyhave zeroed in on what their region bringsto the table.

This created a like-minded collaborationbetween OSML and innovation leaders inNorth County who recently launched anew entrepreneurial initiative —

Startup78. The 78 is reference to StateRoute 78 in North County.

With more land to build businesses andby harnessing a community effort tosupport the goals of each city, the NorthCounty cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, SanMarcos, Vista, and Escondido joinedforces to focus on the economic prosperityof the area, creating Innovate78.Recognizing the growing number ofentrepreneurs in North County,Innovate78 along with San DiegoRegional EDC launched a separate actionspecifically for startup companies, thusthe Startup78 initiative was born inspring 2018. Startup78 works to unite andmaximize the resources available toentrepreneurs as they begin to developtheir companies, and support their growthas they become sustainable and successfulbusinesses. 

When entrepreneurs bring their

dreams to life, it creates job growth andeconomic benefit towards thesurrounding communities as well. JenniferSchoeneck, economic developmentmanager for San Diego Regional EDCand program manager for Startup78,explains this role: “98 percent of firms inSan Diego are small businesses. When wegive entrepreneurs the resources they needto be successful, it adds jobs to our localeconomy which in turn helps individualsand families.” With San Diego County’sunemployment rate at 2.9 percent beinglower than the California average (4.2percent) as well as that of neighboringLos Angeles (3.9 percent) and Riverside(4.1 percent), something is clicking intoplace in the small business and startupecosystem of the county.

Simply put, economic growth in NorthCounty creates more career options forlocal residents along with a major cut in

Startup 78: Growing the Startup Community in North County

Dan Hendricks, President of OSML and Jennifer Shoeneck, Startup78 Director for the San Diego Regional Economic DevelopmentCorporation, present a one month membership to OSML as a prize at the event.

By Courtney Cromer

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commute time to dense workplace areasthat lie miles away from home, with oneexample being the technology sector. The78 corridor has created more than 25,000jobs in technology, and the number oftech firms in the area rests at 42 percentabove the national average. The numberof jobs created in technology also inducedupwards of 16,000 additional jobs thatsupport the industry. In the tech sector ofthe 78 corridor, 80 percent of firms aresmall businesses that employ less than 10people each. Residents see theopportunity available in the 78 corridor;this area has transformed into anenvironment that breeds entrepreneursand scalable businesses.

With the emergence of Startup78, asymbiotic relationship between theinitiative and Open Source Maker Labscame into full effect. With OSML beingthe only makerspace in North County, thelabs provide the space for entrepreneursto code, 3D print a prototype, or use avariety of other tools and materials suchas the laser cutter, or metal andwoodworking materials that are otherwisehard to come by. With OSML hostingteams of bright and dedicated collegestudents getting hands-on experience intheir STEM fields, startups have talentpools to draw from for hiring purposes.

Schoeneck also highlighted OSML’srole from the startup community’sperspective. “Volunteering their time,expertise and resources, OSML plays acritical role in the North County startupcommunity,” she explained. “We areproud to have [OSML President] DanHendricks on our Regional EDCStartup78 committee to help drive thestrategic agenda to provide startups withthe resources they need to grow and thrivein North County San Diego.”

Hendricks appreciates seeing thesecompanies and business relationshipsdevelop firsthand. “I enjoy seeing thecreativity and energy in the startupcommunity, and the increase in self-confidence by people as they go throughthe startup journey,” said Hendricks.“We’ve seen a lot of talent develop righthere in our lab through the many projectswe have, and that’s led directly to startup

initiatives and hiring by startups in NorthCounty.”

Hendricks feels that as more attentionis drawn to the businesses in NorthCounty, funding and investment willcontinue to develop, creating rapidgrowth across multiple industries.Compared to larger cities, he said, thesecret ingredient to this area is the newcollaboration that is happening betweenthe five cities along the Innovate78corridor while each city continues toretain its specific characteristics. This willultimately create novel opportunities fortalent and business to locate in NorthCounty. 

From the rise of the technology sector,

to the emergence of numerous localbreweries, economic growth can onlycontinue to expand in North County.Paired with the focus on collaborationbetween the five cities and the holisticmindset of preserving a balanced lifestyleof family, friends, and outdoorappreciation, the synergy of NorthCounty has created a refreshingatmosphere for startups to thrive in. Withevents and resources available throughStartup78 and Open Source Maker Labs,entrepreneurs are encouraged to getinvolved as the 78 corridor brings newbusiness to life.

For more information on Startup78,visit: innovate78.com/startups

Dan Hendricks, president of Open Source Maker Labs.

Darren Charrier, CEO of Voyager Space Technologies, makes his pitch at Startup78's firstquarterly meetup hosted at OSML, North County's only hardware incubator andmakerspace.

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S C I E N C E

Garfield Kwan, a fourth-year Ph.D. student at ScrippsInstitution of Oceanography at the University ofCalifornia San Diego, has a passion not only for science,but also comics. His love for the two resulted in thecreation of Squidtoons, a website he launched in 2013 thatillustrates science with “farts, burps, and giggles.” Kwan hasalways been interested in science, outreach, andcommunication and hopes Squidtoons can help educate thepublic about science through its visually-appealing yetscientifically-accurate comics.

Kwan is now hoping to expand the site’s reach with the June26 release of a new book, Squidtoons: Exploring Ocean Sciencewith Comics. The book covers the anatomy of 19 various organismsincluding the weedy seadragon, the California mantis shrimp, thebone-eating osedax worm, and the tuna crab. While Kwan aimedfor the book to appeal to children, he hopes it will also appeal tomillennials, a generation that grew upenjoying digital media such as The Oatmeal,a popular comics site.  

“Every single piece we created involveslengthy research at the primary literaturelevel,” said Kwan, noting that a single comiccan take months to complete. “Following thescientific paper review process, Squidtoons’comics are drawn and written as accurately aspossible. Our contents are backed by researchpapers, reviewed by qualified scientific experts,internal editors, and myself, before beingpublished.”

In addition to Kwan, the Squidtoons teamincludes chief scientific illustrator Dana Songand editor Kaitlyn Lowder. Each team memberbrings something unique to the table, an assetthat has helped develop the Squidtoons book. As a marine biologystudent, Kwan's studies include how fish otoliths (tiny structures inthe inner ear involved in balance and hearing) calcify, and how theyare affected by future ocean conditions. Song, the artist and co-author of the book, is a UC San Diego alumna with a backgroundin public health. Lowder is a Scripps PhD student studying oceanacidification on crustacean exoskeletons.

Fortunately for Squidtoons, their work was noticed by anaccomplished comic artist who referred the team to AndrewsMcMeel Publishing. Kwan said the publishers were excited to signthem on after being presented with the team’s pitch.

Many of the comics in the book involvedcollaboration with Scripps researchers andalumni. For example, “Gimme Babies orGimme Death,” a comic introducingseadragons and their breeding program,involved Birch Aquarium aquarist LesleeMatsushige and Scripps alumnus JosefinStiller. The comic “Sharktunes” highlights arecent study led by Scripps scientist andalumnus Andy Nosal on the perception ofsharks being influenced by backgroundmusic and “Market Squids Can HandleStress, Yo” highlights a recent study led byScripps alumnus Mike Navarro onembryonic market squid response to oceanstressors.

Kwan hopes to see Squidtoons become his primary outreach toolto communicate his research as he pursues a career in academia. Healso hopes to continue collaborating with other researchers whowant their work illustrated through comics.

Squidtoons: Exploring Ocean Science with Comics  can bepurchased at the UC San Diego Bookstore and the Birch Aquariumgift shop after its release date on June 26. It is also available onlineat Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Indiebound.

For more information on Squidtoons, visit:  squidtoons.com. This

article originally appeared on Scripps News.

Scripps Ph.D. student Garfield Kwan(Photo courtesy of Scripps Institution ofOceanography)

By Shawndiz Hazegh

Ocean Science Getsits Own Comic BookFishes, crustaceans and worms becomecomic book starts in Squidtoons

Sample illustration from Squidtoons. (Courtesy of Scripps Institution of Oceanography)

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B U S I N E S S

Time once was that when an authorsigned a book contract, the publisher’smarketing department handled the detailsof promoting the titles. Life was relativelystraightforward for the authors who had todeliver their manuscripts, then make a fewbookstore appearances to sign copies oftheir books.

Over the past 10 years, authors have beenexpected to do more of their ownmarketing – and pay for it! Even bestsellingauthors are hiring personal publicists toraise awareness of their releases. This isn’tthe only way the industry has changed forauthors. There are more books beingpublished both traditionally andindependently, but fewer bricks and mortarbookstores to display and sell them.

Savvy authors have always known that akey component to success was to have theirbooks chosen by book clubs. More thanhalf of adult women in the United Statesbelong to at least one book club.Additionally, women dominate the bookbuying market purchasing 40 percent morebooks than their male counterparts,according to the Pew Research Center.They are both more likely to read, and readmore books, than men.

So where are these book clubs and howdo authors connect with them?

That’s the question San Diegobusinesswoman and CEO Susan McBethset out to answer three years ago when shebegan research and development ofNovelNetwork, the nation’s first“matchmaking” service for book clubs andauthors.

“NovelNetwork is so much more than acreative way to market books, though,”explains McBeth from her office inTierrasanta. “It’s a great way to connectwith readers who want meaningfuldiscussion with their favorite authors.”

McBeth asks, “What reader wouldn’tenjoy a thoughtful, provocative discussionwith their favorite authors over a bottle of

wine in the comfort of their own home?” This entrepreneur is no stranger to the

literary world. After managing events at alocal independent bookseller for manyyears, she saw a need for more engaginginteractions with authors outside oftraditional venues. She founded Adventuresby the Book, which hosts “multi sensorial”events and travel aimed at connectingauthors and readers more intimately thantraditional book signing events. McBethhas taken dozens of groups as far asThailand, France, and Germany, and asnearby as Quail Aviary in Encinitas, LaParfait Paris downtown, and Queen Maryocean liner in Long Beach. Mc Beth alsocreated a “Weekend at Tiffany” event withMarjorie Hart and the late Susan Vreeland,at the historic Mission Inn, Riverside.

In fact, it was an author visiting SanDiego on her book tour who sparked theMcBeth’s idea for NovelNetwork.

Adventures by the Book hosted an event

for Jenna Blum, NYT and internationalbestselling author of “Those Who SaveUs.” Blum shared with McBeth that shehad visited 800 book clubs in the Bostonarea alone in one year.

Blum credits these book club visits forher ascent from debut novelist to bestseller,and plans to similarly engage with readersonce her new novel The Lost Family isreleased this June.

Blum explains “It’s such a privilege tohear people talking about your work and beable to provide behind-the-scenes answersto their questions. And readers’ perspectivesand comments are inspiring to me as Iwrite more books.”

McBeth kicked off her new venture withan all-day “Book Club Bingo Adventure”on June 10 at the San Diego CentralLibrary. There, readers were able to “speeddate” authors, attend engaging paneldiscussions, and schedule book club visits.In attendance were 22 authors, includinginternational bestsellers Jenna Blum(“Those Who Save Us”), Kate Quinn(“The Alice Network”), and Janelle Brown(“All We Ever Wanted Was Everything”).

Through McBeth’s innovativeNovelNetwork registry, book clubs can optfor an in-home visit with authors who livein (or are visiting) their cities. For example,San Diego residents may schedule bookclubs visits with local bestsellers, such asMichelle Gable (“A Paris Apartment”),Susan Meissner (“Secrets of a CharmedLife”), or Kathi Diamant (“Kafka’s LastLove”). Or book clubs may arrange a Skypevisit with authors who live out of the area.

NovelNetwork boasts an impressive listof authors from Boston to Alaska, NorthCarolina and Texas, with the majority basedin San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco,and Seattle. McBeth adds, “And we’re justgetting started,” says McBeth.

Learn more about having an author visityour book club by visiting novelnetwork.com

Susan McBeth launches national business connecting book clubs and authors

She Runs Her Business by the Books!

‘NovelNetwork is so much more than acreative way to market books, though,”explains McBeth from her office inTierrasanta. “It’s a great way to connectwith readers who want meaningfuldiscussion with their favorite authors.’

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D I N I N G

Table Food+DrinkGather ‘round the Table for conversation,class, and modern American cuisine inFairbanks Ranch.

Table Food+Drink is the restaurantformerly known as Cesar, a second locationto the Berkeley flagship restaurant, whichis celebrating its 20th anniversary. Richardand Terumi Mazzera opened the RanchoSanta Fe Cesar two years ago, and whilethe community loved the place, they wererequesting a different style of food. TableFood+Drink is the Mazzeras’ answer totheir customers’ requests.

So this past December, the restaurantshut down and opened its doors a fewweeks later with a new name and newmenu.

“Renaming your restaurant is likerenaming a child,” Richard said.

They chose Table Food+Drink to keep

it simple and cultivate the idea ofcommunity. Indeed, when we were there,there were several laughing groupsenjoying themselves.

The restaurant boasts high ceilings and ablue-green color palate. You can sit outsideon the small but heated patio, or inside ata high-top table or corner booth (ourfavorite). There’s even a large private roomthat you can reserve.

The bar goes across one whole wall –plenty of liquors available for their creativecocktails. We highly recommend thesangria, our waitress’s favorite to sip. It ismade to order each time with Moscato,brandy and a bit of port. The cocktailwasn’t overly sweet, but still refreshing.

At the back of the bar, two televisionscontinually play old movies, generallythemed to the menu of the night. On an

Italian night – spaghetti western. Japanesespecials? Break out the old samurai films.Of course, Richard notes that all of this istrumped if the Warriors are playing.

But on Halloween, the movie has to be“The Wizard of Oz.” All of the staffdresses up as characters from the film. Lastyear, a drink special was offered to anycustomers dressed as characters from Oz.This resulted in a group of six grown menwith ruby slippers and gingham dressesbellying up to the bar!

Much of the restaurant was not justdesigned, but built, by the owners. Richardpersonally built the tables and laid the tiledbacksplash along the bar. If you want tohear a funny story, ask him why there is asolid square among the mosaic patternhidden in plain sight.

There are plenty of starter options to

Joyell with Miso Soup and Donburi Chicken Hamachi Crudo House-made Truffel Fries

By Mindy Flanary and Joyell Nevins

A NEW NAME AND A NEW MENU

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D I N I N G

begin your meal. Our favorite, hands down,is the tuna poke. While not on the regularmenu, it’s offered as a special almost everyday. The yellowfin is diced finely and mixedwith garlic, tobiko caviar and siracha aioli.The flavor explodes in your mouth. Theyserve wonton chips, but Mindy was eatingit right off the spoon!

The caviar also provided an interestingcrunch on the Hamachi crudo. Now thatis a dish only offered on “TerumiTuesdays,” when Terumi makes a specializakaya menu, including her own ponzusauce. The miso soup was unexpected witha thick broth and large manila clams.

Other themed nights include TacoThursdays (who says tacos can only be onTuesdays?), and an upcoming Italian nighton Wednesdays. Try brunch on theweekends with a build-your-own benedictwith options for your base, vege, proteinand sauce.

For the regular menu, popular dinneritems include the Southern-stylebuttermilk fried chicken and steak frites.We enjoyed the sandwich of the day withmelted Gruyure cheese and smoked ham.The bread dough is brought in from SanDiego-based Sadie Rose Baking Co. andbaked in house daily.

Appetizers range from a whole steamedartichoke to spicy chicken wings and beefand barley soup. We would stay away fromthe roasted cauliflower. It was served witha fermented black garlic vinaigrette that’smore of a paste, and some other flavors wethought clashed with the vegetable.

Any trip to Table has to conclude withchocolate and sour cherry bread pudding.Absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious.It is served with a buttered brandy sauceand homemade, thick whipped cream. Wesavored ours with a cup of Mr. Espressocoffee – you know it’s good when even the

decaf is rich and satisfying. Other dessertson the menu include bananas foster (a littletoo liquidy for us), chocolate mousse, localberry crisp and crème brulee.

The Mazzeras’ restaurant experiencespans several decades. This venture is thesixth restaurant Richard has openedpersonally and the fourth for Terumi. Theystill maintain Cesar in Berkeley, but arecontent living here in Southern California.

And if you miss some of the originalCesar menu down here in RSF, they stillwill serve paella. You can order a family-style pan; just be sure to give 48 hoursnotice. The Valencia Spanish classic is a ricedish including seafood, chicken, chorizo,and vegetables like peas and sweet peppers.

Table Food+Drink is located in the DelRayo Shopping Center. Hours are 11:30a.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Formore information, visit the website atwww.tablefooddrink.com.

The bar goes across one wall — plenty of liquors available for their creative cocktails.Writers, Mindy Flanary, left, and Joyell Nevins

Our favorite, hands down, is the tuna poke.

“Renaming your restaurant is like renaming a child”– Owner, Richard Mazzera

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P U B L I S H I N G

Thousands of La Mesans found asurprise in their mailbox last month withthe arrival of a new community newspaper,La Mesa Village News.

La Mesa Village News is the latest ofmore that 30 hyper-local community directmail newspapers launched by San Diego-based publishing house Local UmbrellaMedia.

In 2015, Local Umbrella acquired thevenerable North Park News, which hasbeen in existence since the 1990s. 

Local Umbrella Media also known as“LUM,” is a fast growing, locally ownedmulti-media group of direct mailedcommunity newspapers and magazines. Inaddition to the new La Mesa VillageNews, LUM recently launched a full-colormagazine, directly mailed to over 20,000residences in La Mesa, earlier this year.LUM plans to launch and develop severaladditional newspapers and magazinesacross San Diego County in the comingmonths.

“Large publishers have all butabandoned smaller communities,” statesLocal Umbrella’s Group Publisher BradWeber. “We like to say ‘The smaller thefocus, the more readers care.’ We chooseonly neighborhoods like La Mesa Villagewhere residents love their community andare proud of it. We celebrate their pride byreminding them how lucky they are to livethere, while helping residents to cherishand appreciate their neighborhood byeducating them and inspiring them tosupport the local business community —as well as the schools, and nonprofitorganizations. This creates connection andgoodwill in their community.”

“Our precept is ‘Community, Kids andCauses,’ and we distribute only good newsabout our select communities, essentiallyreminding folks how lucky they are to livewhere they do, and to cherish theirneighborhood by supporting localbusinesses and organizations that dependon them,” said Weber. “We constantlyremind our readers to ‘Choose Local First’

when making decisionsabout where to spendtheir money. When theysupport local businessesthey insure that theseunique communitiesremain vibrant, whichhelps in a myriad of waysincluding increasedproperty values, lowercrime rates, etc.”

“Although we look like atraditional newspaper, weare different and muchmore,” adds Weber. “Ourpublications are tangibledirect mail communityfocused newsletters whichreally looks and feels likeSocial media – but in print.The papers include resourcesfor residents such as local realestate agents, builders, homeimprovement, doctors, dentistsand places to eat, shop and playwithin their community. Allpositive news and information,‘No Bad News’ is our credo.”

Make it Local:“We developed Choose Local First as

the Local Umbrella Media slogan becausewe know our community based productsdirectly connect independent businesses tocustomers, resources and each other,” saidWeber. “We believe that locally ownedbusinesses are the very backbone of SanDiego’s culture, economy and character andwe are devoted to raising the visibility andviability of locally owned businesses whichfurther the development of stronger andmore sustainable communities.”

Revenue structure:“Advertising revenues support our cause

as the papers are mail free of charge to localresidences, as well as available for pickup atvarious local shops, libraries and offices,”said Weber. “What we bring to our sponsor

businesses of our business model where ourbusiness model concept generates trackablerevenue and convertible leads forparticipating sponsors and advertisers viadirect mail. That is why small to mid-sizebusinesses repeatedly select LocalUmbrella Media as their advertising andmarketing resource. LUM clients haveoptions to either reach a singleneighborhood, or to choose completecounty wide coverage in all editionscovering as far north as Carlsbad andRancho Bernardo, in addition to several inSan Diego and East County. Participatingadvertisers reach their target marketwithout wasting hard earned dollars oncirculation that produces little or noresults.”

Advertisers (or “Community Sponsors” asWeber likes to call them), include the realestate agents who want to brand themselves

A Local San Diego Publisher’s Best-Kept Secret

as not only the “NeighborhoodExpert,” but also as someoneinvolved and invested in the localcommunity. “The real estateindustry had move away fromprint and direct mail several yearsago to online site like Zillow, butmore recently high level industrysources claim the neighborhooddirect mail concept is the ‘newmedia’ for building their brand as ahousehold name within their targetareas,” said Weber. “We typicallywork with a single agent in eacharea. Every month the newspaperwith their name, face and brandappears in the mailboxes of targetedhomeowner. The mailer isn’t all aboutthe Realtor like the ubiquitouspostcard mailer you see coming in themail. Our papers are more like a freegift to the community from the localagent, and when it is time to sell or buy,they call the name they recognize asnot only the ‘neighborhood specialist.’but also a person who they have formeda bond with because of the communitysupport.”

Other sponsors include the smallestbusinesses to major players like LARSRemodeling and Design. “The ability tohave our message land directly into ahomeowner’s hands is invaluable. Throughthis medium, our company has been ableto promote our offerings and make aconnection with key communities. Wetruly value the “feel good” presence that theLocal Umbrella papers have established,and we have seen tremendous value from

our partnership,” states LARS MarketingCoordinator Shelly Meyer.

Craig Enos, owner of Core Electric inEast San Diego County adds, “Weabsolutely love our relationship with LocalUmbrella. We have been advertising forover two years now and when my businessneeds a boost we will absolutely continueto use Local Umbrella. The direct maildistribution of the local papers to qualityhomes in our neighborshood is just whatwe needed. We had tried many expensiveadvertising options before, but we get calls,

good jobs, and referrals from runningour ads in the local papers. Peopleseem to enjoy seeing the papers comein their mailboxes each month. I haveseveral friends in other communitieswho have mentioned getting thepapers and they also like the “smalltown" community aspect. We loveit!”

“No one can beat our targetedadvertising value proposition,” addsWeber.

The Future:“We have a team of incredibly

talented editors, writers andgraphic designers, and we arereally doing well with our coredirect mail program. We are,however, currently working withseveral local technology firms togreatly enhance the social anddigital media offerings to localadvertisers and to our audience,”said Weber.

“Our goal is to become the go-to agencyfor businesses inside our communities. Thename Local Umbrella is a metaphor for ourability to cover the complete ‘marketingagency’ needs of a local independent business,whether it be a logo design, signage, directmail, printing, or more through our LUMBranding division (lumbranding.com). Thisin addition to our core marketing programs,both in print and online.”

Specialty Publications:“We are expanding rapidly and have

recently added staff to help us reach more

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P U B L I S H I N G

We believe that locally owned businesses are the verybackbone of San Diego’s culture, economy and characterand we are devoted to raising the visibility and viability oflocally owned businesses which further the development ofstronger and more sustainable communities. – BRAD WEBER

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P U B L I S H I N G

San Diego County neighborhoods, and anational rollout is in the works based onour success here at home,” said Weber. “Mybackground is in magazine printing andpublishing and we will soon be launchingour custom publishing division which willrelease our Kid Scoop News publication(www.KidscoopSD.com), as well as morecommunity focused magazines, an ‘over age50’ focused magazine, a local pet magazine,a new homeowner targeted publication,and more. Statistics back up that directmail absolutely is the best way to reachhomeowners in a highly targeted way. Theproblem has been to extreme expense of adirect mail program for a small business.We are continuing to create products thatallow our local business partners reach

homes in their area for a fraction of thecost of doing a direct mail programthemselves. It’s working and we are excitedabout the coming months and years.” 

“We listened to our audience and foundthat many residents were starving forsubstance and connection within theircommunities, and that is one of the reasonswhy our readership has grown by leaps andbounds. We ask the questions and we careabout our audience. We are excited toannounce that Local Umbrella Media isrolling out several more communitynewspapers which are slated for fall 2018and early 2019.”

Our Secret“Print isn’t dead! Direct mail is the ‘new

media,’ and hyper locally focused directmail is the very best combination ofaffordability and effective consumertargeting,” said Weber.

People interested in advertising abusiness, or getting articles published, cancontact the sales team to reserve space,including the option of a cover feature oran “Expert Contributor” article, forupcoming editions

Group Publisher Brad WeberBrad@LocalUmbrella.comLocalUmbrellaMedia.comLumbranding.com

The California State University system,in which women now make up the majorityof campus leaders, is leading the charge tofurther diversify its ranks. 

New leaders are taking on the role ofpresident at the CSU’s Bakersfield(Lynnette Zelezny), Dominguez Hills(Thomas Parham) and San Diego (Adelade la Torre) campuses. To date, femalepresidents lead 12 of the 23 CSU campuses.

“In our presidential searches, we strive tofind the person with the skills, experienceand aspirations best suited to lead arespective campus,” said CSU Chancellor

Timothy P. White. “The work to diversifythe pool of candidates has been intentional,as people coming from diverse backgroundsbring a richness of ideas crucial to servingthe diverse students of California who willgo on to work in a global economy.” 

The CSU has engaged in system-wideefforts to diversify faculty, staff and campusexecutives to provide role models andmentoring opportunities, as well as a varietyof backgrounds and ideas, all with the goalof enhancing achievement of the mostdiverse student population in the country.

While women have made up the majority

of students on university campuses acrossthe country since the late 1970s, femaleuniversity presidents remain in the minority.According to a 2016 report by the AmericanCouncil on Education, just 30.1 percent ofuniversity presidents are female — anumber that only grew by seven percentagepoints over the past decade.

Since White became CSU Chancellor atthe end of 2012, the CSU Board of Trusteeshas appointed 16 new presidents, 10 ofwhom were women.S

New presidents take the helm at three CSU campuses

From left: Lynnette Zelezny of CSU Bakersfield, Thomas Parham of CSU Dominguez Hills, Adela de la Torre of San Diego State University. 

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