Summer is a busy time for outdoor activities, increasing the odds of sunburns, insect bites and other potential hazards. We reached out to Dr. Natalie Yvonne Nasser, a dermatologist at Kaiser Permanente, Riverside, for skin care advice and other health-related tips.

Question: Among summertime health hazards, we’re guessing that sunburns are near the top of the list. What are the most effective things people can do to avoid getting a sunburn?

Answer: I would recommend applying a thicker coat of sunscreen than what you’re used to, about a shot glass full for the body, and a tablespoon full for the face, ears and neck.

Also, don’t forget to reapply at least every two hours, and more often after swimming or excessive sweating. I usually carry around a sunscreen stick for quicker reapplications.

For ladies who wear makeup, sunscreen powders are also available. These are great for touch ups throughout the day. And don’t forget your part line as the scalp can burn easily.

It’s so important to seek shade. And remember that UVA can pass through windows (not UVB). UVA contributes to skin cancer and also to premature aging of the skin, including wrinkles and brown spots!

Avoid the peak hours of sun, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Plan your outdoor work or play around the cooler times of day.

When working outside, drink plenty of water and take lots of breaks. Make sure your most sensitive parts, like the ears and tops of your feet, are protected. And don’t forget the top of your head! This is a common place we see skin cancers, especially in older men with thinning hair.

Please don’t forget the protective clothing: broad-brimmed hat, thin long sleeve shirt and long pants, or a cover up made for the sun. There are a number of companies that manufacture special material for clothing that is treated for UV protection (often marked UPF 50+).

They even make long one-piece bathing suits for kids, cutting down on the amount of sunscreen you need to apply to these squirmy little ones. I put my children in the pool with their waterproof sun hats on too.

Regarding sunscreen ingredients, a good rule of thumb is to look for zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These are both physical blockers with broad coverage across the full UV spectrum.

Always look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 30 or higher. Preferably one that is water resistant if you’re planning to get wet or sweat a lot.

Question: If you do get a sunburn, what are the best treatment options?

Answer: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) can help the inflammation, as can a cortisone/steroid cream (either over the counter or a stronger one by prescription). I recommend keeping it chilled in the refrigerator so it cools down your sunburned skin when you apply it.

Drink plenty of water and get enough protein, as well as other nutrients and electrolytes. Get some rest and stay cool.

Don’t try to peel off the skin yourself. Let it heal on its own. Soothing skin moisturizers/emollients can also help.

Make sure they’re bland without a lot of extra ingredients like fragrances or preservatives.

I recommend seeking professional help if you have severe blistering and/or skin ulcerations, severely painful skin, or systemic symptoms like fever, chills, or if you’re generally feeling unwell with your sunburn.

Question: Summer seems to be when mosquitoes are most active. Are there natural mosquito repellents that actually work?

Answer: Plant-derived repellents usually don’t measure up to the tried and true chemical repellent DEET, which is considered to be the most effective option. DEET has been repeatedly proven to protect from a variety of insect bites and insect-borne diseases.

It is the most commonly recommended ingredient by physicians for the best protection against bites.

Question: What about stings from bees and wasps? Is it possible to know in advance if you’re allergic to them?

Answer: Unfortunately, you can’t really know ahead of time if you’re allergic to them unless you’ve experienced a reaction previously.

Symptoms to be on the lookout for: redness and swelling out of proportion to the usual insect bite. Itching that is more severe or more generalized.

Hives starting to develop on other areas of the body. Any systemic symptoms like lip/tongue/throat swelling and difficulty breathing or swallowing. And generally feeling unwell, including dizziness, low blood pressure or low pulse.

Emergency treatment should be sought right away.

For typical insect bites, I would recommend cleaning them and applying a cortisone/steroid cream or ointment (weaker ones are available over the counter, or stronger more effective ones are available by prescription). These really help with the itching, and also with the inflammation. Keep bites covered and protected to avoid scratching them! Scratching will only cause more redness and swelling.

Taking an oral antihistamine can help with the itching and swelling. If severe, a doctor may prescribe you a systemic steroid like prednisone.

Question: How common are heat-related illnesses in the urgent care and/or emergency room at Kaiser Riverside?

Answer: Given Riverside’s especially warm climate, heat-related injuries are seen a fair amount of time in the urgent care and ER. The people most commonly affected are the very young and the very old, as wellas those who have chronic medical conditions or are taking certain medications, which make them more susceptible.

Whether you’re at work or play out in the heat, you should always seek shade and wear protective clothing, take lots of breaks, drink plenty of water, and if you’re feeling any signs of heat exhaustion, please listen to your body and get out of the sun right away.

Get into a cool safer place. Speak up and take action before things get worse.

Stay safe this summer!

Editor’s note: A version of this story appeared in the summer 2018 issue of Riverside Magazine.

Less is more.

As Keb’ Mo’ has moved into his third decade as a recording and touring artist, he has realized that old adage applies to what he wants to do in his live shows.

That idea of stripping things back is easy enough when Keb’ Mo’ is playing a solo acoustic gig, but the less-is-more ethic won’t really apply to the shows where Keb’ Mo’ teams up with fellow blues/roots artist Taj Mahal.

They’ll take the stage in support of their collaborative 2017 album, “TajMo,” complete with a big band that is supplemented by horns and backing singers, giving the pair the instrumentation needed to re-create the music on “TajMo” as well as songs from their solo careers.

“It’s going to be a big production,” Keb’ said. “We love it. It’s so cool.”

The tour, which includes a stop at Pala Casino Spa and Resort on Saturday, Aug. 4, will be another chapter in what has been a high point in Keb’ Mo’s 25-year career.

Keb’ Mo’ first encountered Taj Mahal in high school when in 1969 Mahal, then a rising star on the scene, played a concert at his high school. Mahal’s brand of gritty acoustic- centered blues, mixed in with country, folk, jazz, as well as African, Caribbean and other world music influences was an eye opener for the young Kevin Moore.

“You had Motown, and it was the ‘60s and it was hippies,” Keb’ Mo’ said. “But this was just, it just woke me up. ‘Wait a minute. Get up, get up. Get out of your bed.’”

A native of Los Angeles, he spent time in a calypso group (playing steel drums and upright bass, no less) as well as an assortment of cover bands before he got his first taste of national exposure in 1973. That’s when Keb’ Mo’ was hired by Papa John Creach, the late violinist who recorded with Hot Tuna and Jefferson Starship, for what became a three-year stint of touring and recording. But his first chance to release a solo album fizzled when his 1980 release, “Rainmaker,” stiffed.

After that setback, Keb’ Mo’ joined a group founded by producer Monk Higgins called the Whodunit Band that introduced Keb’ to blues music. This came in handy when in 1990 he was invited to portray a musician playing Delta blues music in a play produced by the Los Angeles Theater Center called “Rabbit Foot.”

It was not long after that production that Keb’ got to meet Mahal and begin what has turned into a lasting friendship and now a collaborative musical relationship.

The “TajMo” album is a diverse mix of rootsy tunes and more modern upbeat numbers. Keb’ Mo’ has been pleased that the project has been well received and received major honors, including a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

“It’s really nice,” Keb’ said. “We worked really hard on it (“TajMo”). We just wanted it to be good for the people. We put in a lot of hours. The fact that people are getting it is really rewarding. We’re really grateful.”

If you go

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4

Where: Pala Casino Spa & Resort, 11154 Highway 76, Pala

Admission: $55-$75

Information: 877-946-7252, palacasino.com

GARDEN GROVE — A man was shot in a leg inside a home in Garden Grove on Monday, prompting a search for two suspects.

Officers responded to a report of a shooting about 5:30 p.m. in the 11000 block of Jerry Lane and found a 45-year-old man with a single gunshot wound to a leg, according to Sgt. Brian Dalton with the Garden Grove Police Department.

A motive for the shooting is unknown and an investigation is on-going, Dalton said.

A detailed description of the suspects was not immediately available, with police saying they were in their early 30s and wearing dark clothing.

The victim’s condition was not immediately disclosed.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Garden Grove police at (714) 741-5704.

The Register contributed to this story.

By MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ and SUDHIN THANAWALA

The Associaed Press

LAKEPORT, Calif.  — Twin wildfires tearing through vineyards and brushy hills threatened some 10,000 homes in Northern California Tuesday — yet another front in the seemingly endless summer of wildfires that have ravaged some of the most scenic areas of the state.

The two fires straddling Mendocino and Lake counties had burned seven homes by Monday night along with some 107 square miles of rural land.

About 100 milesnorth, the so-called Carr Fire that has burned more than 800 homes and killed six people has become the ninth most destructive wildfire in California history, said Scott McLean, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

In Lake County, evacuation orders were in effect for the 4,700-resident town of Lakeport along with some smaller communities and a section of Mendocino National Forest. In all, some 10,000 people have been warned to flee, fire officials said.

Lakeport, north of San Francisco, is the county seat and a popular destination for bass anglers and boaters on the shores of Clear Lake. But by Monday night it was a ghost town, the main streets deserted.

A few miles away embers, ash and smoke swirled through vineyards where at least one home had gone up in flames. Firefighters set blazes at the bottom of hills in order to burn up the tinder-dry brush before flames cresting the ridge tops could feed on it and surge downhill. A fleet of aircraft made continuous water and fire retardant drops on the blaze, filling the air with the roar of their engines.

But not everyone heeded orders issued Sunday and Monday to evacuate.

Derick Hughes II remained behind at his property in Nice, California, where he ran sprinklers on his roof and removed yard plants that could catch fire.

The 32-year-old Marine Corps veteran sent his wife and two daughters to safety along with three carloads of belongings. But he said he had too much at stake to leave himself. He bought his three-bedroom house last year using a loan from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“This is everything I bled for, and I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am, and I’m just not willing to give it up so easily,” he said over the phone. “Some people may think that’s selfish of me, and I have insurance. But the way things go, I’d rather not start over.”

Farther north, police said five people were arrested on suspicion of entering areas evacuated due to the explosive wildfire around Redding.

The blaze, which killed two firefighters and four civilians including two children, has now destroyed 818 homes and 311 outbuildings and damaged 165 homes, McLean said.

More than 27,000 people remained evacuated from their homes although another 10,000 were allowed to return Monday as fire crews reinforced lines on the western end of Carr Fire.

Some 12,000 firefighters were battling the blaze. Fire officials were hopeful that they could make progress containing the blaze, which was 23 percent contained.

The fire’s northwestern corner continued to be active.

“It’s still putting up a fight,” McLean said.

Those fires were among 17 burning across the state, where fire crews were stretched to the limit.

In Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, an arson fire that destroyed seven homes last week was 82 percent contained Monday.

Fire crews also have battled numerous small brushfires this summer, most charring only a few acres but still threatening homes in built-up areas along parched foothills. A 10-acre fire damaged 13 homes and apartments Monday in Santa Clarita, northwest of Los Angeles, county fire officials said.

McLean, the state fire spokesman, said there was no guarantee of safety in a state that has been ravaged by years of drought that has turned trees and brush to tinder.

“Anything could happen anywhere. That’s the nature of the beast for all of these fires,” he said. “The vegetation is so dry all it takes is a spark to get it going.”

Thanawala reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Lorin Eleni Gill and Olga Rodriguez also contributed to this report.

What keeps you from visiting a theme park? Is it the cost? Blockout dates on an annual pass? Crowds?

For many Americans, as well as theme park fans around the world, a top reason keeping them away from the parks is the weather. Rain or extreme heat can make visiting parks miserable. People might save and splurge to visit a crowded Disneyland, but they won’t do it on a day when the temperatures soar over 100 or the forecast calls for a soaking.

That’s why whenever theme park chains such as Six Flags or Cedar Fair need to explain slower-than-expected financial performance, they cite inclement weather more than any other reason. That’s also why Southern California and Central Florida are home to the nation’s 12 most-attended theme parks. It’s all about the weather.

But even the typically mild climate in Southern California and Central Florida has turned toward the extreme this summer, with record-breaking temperatures in the West and even nastier-than-usual storms in the East. So is there a better solution for theme parks that want to keep their visitors comfortable?

How about an indoor theme park?

Trouble is, no one has built an indoor park at the level of quality and on the scale of a Disney or Universal theme park. That is, until now.

Warner Bros. World in Abu Dhabi opened recently, featuring six themed lands devoted to popular Warner Bros. animated franchises, from Batman and Superman to Looney Tunes. Designed by Southern California’s Thinkwell Group, the park never feels like a carnival in a box.  Each elaborately decorated land convinces you that you’ve stepped inside an animated world, from Superman’s Metropolis to the Roadrunner’s Dynamite Junction and The Flintstones’ Bedrock.

With Abu Dhabi enduring heat that makes Southern California’s worst days seem mild and Orlando’s humidity seem refreshing, of course Warner Bros. World needed to be indoors to have any chance to attract the millions of international visitors that its developers hope will visit. But is this destination a model for theme parks in era of increasingly volatile weather?

While Thinkwell Group has shown that a creative team can develop an amazing park in an indoor setting, few other challengers to Disney and Universal would be able to afford the reported $1 billion that this 38-acre park cost. But a company that could would no longer be limited in building in snow-free markets or operating just for part of the year. It could develop a year-round park in Chicago, New York or some other under-served major metropolitan area, with a local market of millions of potential customers – not to mention tourists.

Disney or Universal could respond with an indoor park of their own as a hedge against both the weather and potential new competition up north. Universal Orlando has amassed hundreds of acres near the Orange County, Florida, Convention Center for a new park. Could a weather-proof indoor park become part of its plans?

Who knows, at this point? But if anyone wants to see what the future of theme parks looks like in the 21st century, it might have just opened in the Abu Dhabi desert.

“Gaack!” I shouted, as I took a step back to the safety of my bathroom.

“Mumph!” said a familiar voice as he flinched from my verbal attack.

“What are you doing here?”

“I live here. Remember that little ceremony 30 years ago?”

“Very funny.”

Over our many years together, George and I have synced into similar “break times” in the wee hours of the morning, each going to our separate break rooms down the hall. So while it’s not unusual for us to meet in the hallway returning to the bedroom, this time was different.

He was wearing a black mask. It was reminiscent of Zorro, Batman, or The Lone Ranger! Upon reflection, I realize that those are the good guys.  Also, a real bad guy would have cut eye holes in his mask. Anyway, that, and the nightlight making huge shadows of him, plus my half-asleep state, set me up for terror.

A few months ago, he ordered a memory foam pillow online. It arrived with a black sleep mask. It allowed me to read with the light on without disturbing him if he fell asleep first, which he almost always does.

So if I knew about the mask, what was the problem?

Well, it’s one thing to see your husband sleeping next to you with his eyes covered by a mask, looking quite peaceful and definitely harmless. It’s quite another to unexpectedly encounter his shadowed image with said mask pushed up on his head giving him a zombie-like appearance.

Back in bed, at least one of us was wide-awake. “Are you still up?” I asked gently. “I can’t tell with the mask over your eyes.”

“I am now,” he replied in a slightly annoyed voice.

“Sorry, go back to sleep,” I said. My heart was still pounding from being scared out of my wits in the hall several moments before.

“Maybe I should get a sleeping mask too,” I pondered. I didn’t even realize I was saying it out loud until I heard the familiar voice:

“Do they make those for mouths?”

Email Patricia Bunin at patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net. Follow her on Twitter @PatriciaBunin.

Lance Bass is one of “at least” five prospective buyers who have put in offers on a Studio City house portrayed as the home of “The Brady Bunch” on the popular TV sitcom, the real estate agent says.

“Lance did submit an offer for the property and we all wish him the best outcome, of course,” said Ernie Carswell of Douglas Elliman of California on Tuesday morning. “We have received at least five offers before the trustee deadline, which is tonight.  There may be more submitted before end of day.”

The former *NSYNC star went public over his desire to buy the house recently on the “Big Brother” after-show “Off the Block.”

“I’m obviously obsessed with The Brady Bunch. I mean, I grew up watching that show. Reruns! Reruns,” he told Ross Mathews.

“I’m going to go look at it, because I want to buy this house, yeah,” Bass said. “I’ve got to fight, like, 1,000 other people, because now, unfortunately, everyone’s talked about it.”

But he already had a plan. “I’m going to turn it into the TV house, because you know it doesn’t have a second floor and all that kinda stuff, but I’m going to go back to the original, original house,” the singer said.

The exterior of the home at 11222 Dilling St. was shown at the beginning and end of “The Brady Bunch,” but the interior shots were filmed in a studio.

He might not be the only celebrity to step up. It’s not unusual for rumors to surface when high-profile properties are for sale, but non-disclosure agreements keep real estate agents from namedropping. And celebrities seldom go public about placing offers.

The traditional, 2,477-square-foot house on almost a third of an acre was built in 1959. It has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, and is priced at $1.885 million.

It’s on the market for the first time in 45 years.

Inside, the home is a flashback, with flowery wallpaper, a MusiCall wall intercom, wood paneling and a stone fireplace. One bedroom is non-stop pink print.

“Whether inspired by the TV family or the real life surrounding neighborhood, this residence is a perfect postcard of American 70’s style and its special culture,” the listing says.

The house has drawn so many lookie-loos that the agent described it as “reportedly the 2nd most photographed home in the United States after the White House.”

The home also has its own Yelp page, and a fan of the show created a GoFundMe page to preserve the residence. As of Monday, 11 days after the page went up, though, it had collected only $55.

That’s one battle Bass won’t have to fight.

See more Hot Homes here

For William “Will” Odell and the thousands of people he represents, a seat at the table is more than a symbolic gesture.

It’s a chance to have a voice in making decisions that could change peoples’ lives.

At least that’s the hope for the 54-year-old former high school teacher’s new role on the board of directors of American Family Housing — the same nonprofit that got him into a shared apartment about two years ago after he spent the better part of a decade homeless.

So far, he has attended two meetings in a conference room at the 12th-floor Irvine offices of Pacific Premier Bank.

He sits quietly among other directors from completely different walks of life — members of the corporate world, business owners, clergy, social workers.

He is the first board member who has experienced homelessness.

For now, Odell wants to absorb as much as he can about the initiatives being undertaken by the 33-year-old organization that started as a modest Orange County operation once known as Shelter for the Homeless. American Family Housing has expanded to provide affordable housing and other services to homeless and low-income residents in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

“I’m just meeting everybody,” Odell said. “I’m just getting into knowing what they are doing.”

But as a tenant in one of the organization’s more than 280 units of affordable housing, Odell is uniquely positioned to inform the board from the twin perspectives of someone who was once in need of a place to stay, and someone now living in one of their properties.

“I’m the one there to say, hey, this affects us in ways you may not know about.”

That’s exactly what American Family Housing’s chief executive director, Milo Peinemann, is looking for from Odell — a direct opinion on the condition of the organization’s housing and how staff are treating tenants.

“He really gets it,” Peinemann said of Odell. “That’s experiential awareness.”

No place to rest

Odell, who holds college degrees in chemistry and biology, heard about American Family Housing through a homeless friend he met at a church where he took meals, in January 2016. There was an opening for temporary shelter at the Jackson Street facility in unincorporated Midway City, and Odell made his way over.

“By luck, I got in there,” Odell said of the bed he got soon after. “I was tired, scruffy and desperate.”

Before that, Odell says, he was “constantly traveling.” But his circuit was mainly up and down Westminster Boulevard.

“One thing you don’t want to do is end up sleeping on the sidewalk,” Odell said, explaining that to him that would mean “utter failure.”

Born and raised in Long Beach, Odell graduated from Chapman University in 1989. He had wanted to go to medical school, but his grades weren’t good enough, he said.

He’s worked various jobs that have included airport shuttle driver, computer technician, and teaching at schools in Long Beach and Los Angeles.

While he dealt with attention deficit disorder and severe asthma growing up, Odell wasn’t diagnosed as bipolar until he was in his late 30s.

By then, he was teaching full-time at the newly opened and troubled Santee Education Complex in south Los Angeles, where violence, crime and teacher turnover plagued the campus in its early years. In 2006, Odell married a woman he met through an online dating website.

His world imploded in 2008.

He went on stress leave from his teaching job. That same year, his wife, a collections agent who suffered from depression and anxiety attacks, hung herself while visiting her family in Utah.

Odell ran through his savings three years later and tumbled into homelessness.

He spent seven years without a place to rest his head, other than the bus he rode all night — disembarking at route’s end to wait an hour before boarding again — just to avoid sleeping on the streets. Sometimes during the day he’d bed down on the sand at Huntington Beach.

He managed to keep a $29-a-month gym membership at 24-hour Fitness, where he would shower and also spend part of the night swimming. At one point, Odell qualified for general relief and food stamps. But he never had enough to keep a roof over his head.

He said he was unaware of mental health programs that might have provided other support. He had applied several times for disability, but it wasn’t until he turned 50 and sought the help of a lawyer that he was approved. Before that, his only income came from general relief, which he qualified for along with food stamps because of his mental health.

Odell looks at his years on the street in unforgiving terms: “Utter failure.”

Good timing got him into his American Family Housing apartment, he said. Odell didn’t expect much when he put his name on a waiting list. A few days later, he got a surprising call.

“The lady was like, ‘I told you we’d have something.’ And I was like, I’ve heard this before.”

Ready to advocate

Odell now pays about half of his monthly disability income of $973 toward his rent. He and his roommates each have their own bedrooms in a remodeled three-unit apartment complex off Westminster Boulevard.

Through American Family Housing, he’s also connected to the county’s mental health program, which helps keep him stable.

A few months ago, a social worker with the nonprofit approached him about joining the board of directors. He was ready.

“I thought, here’s a chance to give something back,” Odell said.

From the time he has spent so far around the board of directors at American Family Housing, Odell says he sees a little bit of a disconnect between what he experienced and what the board sees as solutions.  In his mind, it can’t be one size fits all.

Something else Odell learned from his days being homeless: “I noticed if you’ve got an advocate, things get done.

“You hear about the lucky ones like me, but I needed help all the way.”

One of the coolest food trends to hit Southern California recently is rolled ice cream.

Also known as stir-fried ice cream and ice pan ice cream, the dessert is created to order using an ice grill and served in a bowl topped with fruit, candy, cookies and other treats. Stores have been popping up all over Southern California, and we spoke with people who’ve opened shops in the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire and Orange County to talk about the trend and its future.

The origin of rolled ice cream is said to be traced to 2009 Thailand, and by 2015 it had hit the east coast of the United States.

That same year, Louis Kim was talking to a New York friend, who suggested that they go into the business together. Kim’s idea was to take the trend a step further by tapping into the advantage of California’s dairies and using organic ingredients, as well as less sugar to create his ice cream. He spent months developing recipes.

“I saw the potential,” Kim said. “New York and Manhattan is for visitors, travelers, but L.A., especially Southern Californians, they’re so picky for organic ingredients.”

Kim opened Holy Roly Ice Cream in Los Angeles in 2017 and a second store in Arcadia in June 2018.

And of course there’s the taste, but part of the fun of rolled ice cream is watching it being made.

After an order is placed, the “ice cream artist,” as Kim calls his employees, gathers the cream base and mix-ins. The artist begins making the ice cream by crushing the mix-in ingredients, such as fruit, graham crackers or Oreo cookies, on the metal ice-pan. The ice-pan is maintained at a temperature of -15 degrees which causes the ingredients to freeze rapidly.

Once they are broken down, the mix-ins are spread evenly on the ice-pan and the cream base is poured over them. The two are blended with a spatula until the mixture begins to solidify. The mixture is then spread out on the ice-pan and pushed into a square shape. Using a spatula, the ice cream artist gradually works along the square rolling slices. The finished rolls of ice cream are placed on end in a bowl, graced with toppings and served.

“Rolling is important because it gives more texture – and it’s Instagram-worthy,” Kim said. “I prefer to use chopsticks (when I eat rolled ice cream) because I can really feel the layers. When you pick it up with the chopstick, you are not crushing it like with a spoon so you can chew the layers, so it is a new experience with the texture, but the problem is many people don’t use chopsticks. So I changed to spoons.”

Kim started Holy Roly with eight flavors and now adds a new selection every month based on suggestions from his staff or Instagram followers. His biggest sellers are Strawberry Graham, Banana Nutella and Oreo with either a vanilla or coffee base.

Holy Roly also has vegan ice cream, which presented an extra challenge for Kim to create, as the base needed to be non-dairy. Milks like coconut and almond are watery and freeze too quickly to be rolled, so he had to find other organic ingredients to help the mixture stick together while keeping the cost affordable. Currently Holy Rolly offers vegan coconut and mango rolled ice cream.

Holy Roly also serves scooped ice cream, which helps when orders for rolled ice cream get backed up. If the store is busy, it’s not uncommon to have a 30-40 minute wait time for orders.

Kim believes that the rolled ice cream trend will drop off within a couple of years. There are many shops popping up all over, but he thinks people will get bored with it, like they have with frozen yogurt. For this reason, he will be adding smoothies, juices and shakes to Holy Roly’s menu and is planning to eventually spread out into a range of desserts.

“I want to serve all kinds of dessert with the ice cream, like ice cream waffles, ice cream crepes, beginning with fresh ingredients,” Kim said, “I want to make more healthy desserts. There are good desserts everywhere, but there’s nothing healthy.”

•

Danny Vo, owner of The Joint Creamery in Garden Grove, said that rolled ice cream is popular because it’s different in that you can watch it being made, you can create a wide variety of flavors and it usually has a fresher taste that pre-made ice cream.

“I make everything in-house from milk, cream, sugar, all the good stuff,” Vo said. “I know a couple of other stores buy their bases pre-made already and add their own flavorings.”

Vo says he is realistic that rolled ice cream is a trend and that the increase in shops serving it may contribute to its diminishing demand.

“My partner and I jumped into when there were no other shops around in Orange County, however, we were a little slow in our build-up and a couple of other places opened before we did,” Vo said. “Most likely we’re going to have to be doing other things. My partner and I have been experimenting lately and have a couple ideas. We haven’t figured out what we want to do next yet.”

•

Moe Alshari, owner of Cherry Chill in Ontario, said that the best thing about serving rolled ice cream is seeing the customers’ reactions when they watch it being made.

“We’re different from many of the places that make it,” Alshari said. “Here, we allow the customers to create their flavor.”

Cherry Chill uses a gelato base and customers may select from a range of fresh ingredients, such as strawberries and a slice of cheesecake or their favorite candy bar, for a customized flavor.

Alshari isn’t concerned about the eventual waning of the rolled ice cream trend because his shop offers a diverse range of treats, including more than 12 flavors of frozen yogurt, organic fruit smoothies, protein shakes and edible arrangements. It also serves several flavors of non-dairy soft serve ice cream and will be adding a non-dairy almond milk base for rolled ice cream.

Often people come to the shop in groups so this variety is an advantage, as people want different things, Alshari said.

“You just continue to be creative and what we do here is every now and then we come up with a new flavor. I’m working on a mint ice cream made with actual, fresh mint,” Alshari said.

When Mexican rock icons Café Tacvba headline La Tocada Festival at the Los Angeles State History Park Saturday, Aug. 4, there will be one notable song missing from the set list.

Although “La Ingrata” is perhaps one of the band’s biggest songs, and a surefire crowd-pleaser at concerts, the band has essentially retired the 1994 tune that talks about a heartbroken man who considers shooting his former ungrateful lover, although he still plans on attending her funeral.

“It’s been a while since we played that song,” lead singer Rubén Albarrán said in Spanish in a recent telephone interview. “We’ve always been very sensitive to gender issues, violence against women, and a journalist friend asked us about that song and that was the moment we decided to let it rest.”

Café Tacvba joins other Latin acts, including Mexico City-born ska-fusion band Panteón Rococó, rock-rap act Molotov and Chilean singer Mon Laferte at the day-long downtown L.A. festival.

The last time the band played a major festival in the area was the 2017 Tropicalia Music and Taco Festival at the Queen Mary, where the absence of the song was bemoaned by some fans after the group’s main stage set.

Albarrán realizes there are some fans who may be disappointed that they’re not going to jump along to the polka-driven beats of “La Ingrata,” and even reason that the band shouldn’t stop playing the song because of its lyrics.

But the song’s absence shouldn’t surprise loyal fans because for a band also known for their social activism, it isn’t just about the hits.

“What I’m more interested in now is the conversation that can come from that. Although some people may say we shouldn’t stop playing it because it’s one of the biggest hits and just because a song says something doesn’t mean you’re going to become an aggressor or violate women’s rights, etc. But you can also say that songs create culture, and culture creates mechanisms for certain behaviors,” he said.

However, Albarrán still plans a set full of other crowd-pleasers at La Tocada.

“It’s a festival so that’s where people like to hear the music they know, the songs they want to sing along to and dance to, and that’s what we’re going to give them,” he said.

So you could hear songs like the upbeat folk-punk tune “La Chica Banda,” the beautifully soothing ballad “Maria,” the sweet “Eres,” their cover of Leo Dan’s “Como Te Extraño mi Amor,” maybe even the hip hop laced “Chilanga Banda” or the sing-along favorite “El Baile Y El Salón.”

Don’t call it a movement

The band, which includes original members Quique Rangel, Joselo Rangel, and Emmanuel del Real, formed in the late 1980s during the height of rock en Español, which saw the international rise of groups such as Caifanes, Maldita Vecindad, Fobia and La Lupita.

“It was a great time but I wouldn’t call it a movement because we all had very different musical styles, so maybe it was a non-movement. But we were part of that because we were all looking for something for us, having a voice that would identify us, and that in a way united all of us. There was so much creativity and that was so beautiful,” he said.

While some of their contemporaries have stuck to successful musical formulas that got them noticed outside of Mexico, Café Tacvba is known for re-inventing itself with albums like 1994’s “Re,” a genre-hopping record that goes from Norteño music and boleros to folk and punk. The 2007’s Grammy-winner “Sino” featured more old school rock while the band’s 2017 album, “Jei Beibi” (pronounced “Hey Baby”), incorporates dubstep, reggae and rock.

Expect the unexpected

While fans have come to expect this eclecticism from the band, they may be surprised to hear that this constant creativity comes from a proven formula.

“Some of the reasons why we can reinvent ourselves is that we have found a natural cycle for the group where we compose, arrange, produce and record music and then we go on tour. Once we’re done we take time to rest so that each of us can focus on other activities, whether artistic, musical or other things,” Albarrán said.

“And that time is very important because we let fresh air in and we can work with other people and we enrich ourselves that way,” he added.

So when the band comes back together, these experiences are blended together to create that eclectic sound, he explained.

And when the group reunites for a new album they also meet a new lead singer since Albarrán tends to take on various personalities and names for each record.

Some of his previous alter-egos have included Cosme, Xixxi Xoo and  Élfego Buendía.

For this album, however, it’s just Rubén Albarrán. But unlike the retirement of “La Ingrata,” this change is for much simpler reasons.

“I just got bored with it, it’s just simply that,” he said with a laugh.

La Tocada

When: 2 p.m. Aug. 4

Where: Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N Spring St., Los Angeles

Tickets: $69-$125

Information: www.latocadafestival.com

Rolled ice cream shops are popping up everywhere, and so we compiled a list of spots for you to try:

LOS ANGELES

10Below Ice Cream: Noon-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 232 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, 213-278-0123,  www.10belowicecream.com.

Cate’s Ice Cream: 12:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8400 Alondra Blvd., Paramount, 424, 296-5562, https://cates-icecream.business.site.

Chelo Creamery: Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-midnight Friday and Saturday and noon-11 p.m. Sunday, 18558 Gale Ave. #158,  Industry, 626-965-5817, www.chelocreamery.com.

Class 502 Rolling Ice Cream: Noon-10:30 p.m. daily, 137 W. Main St., Alhambra, 626-545-2583, www.facebook.com/class502alhambra.

Cold Rolled Ice Cream Company: 12:30-11:30 p.m. daily, 7266 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, 323-452-0881, www.coldrolledicecream.com.

Covina Tasty: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. daily, 1063 N. Citrus Ave., Covina, 626-332-8816, www.facebook.com/Covina-Tasty-145978088773581

Dahlicious Creamery: Noon-11 p.m. daily, 4172 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, 424-383-1432, https://bit.ly/2zY2biX.

The Freezin’ Point: Noon-10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and noon-midnight Friday and Saturday, 111 N. Atlantic Blvd. #244, Monterey Park, 626-872-0337, www.facebook.com/thefreezinpoint.

Gobi Ice Cream: Noon-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday and noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11430 ½ South St., Cerritos, 562-357-3687, www.facebook.com/pages/Gobi-Ice-Cream/835598919950019

Holy Roly Ice Cream: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Westfield Santa Anita, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., Suite 2220, Arcadia, 626-623 – 6307, and 12:30 p.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday and 12:30 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 3450 W. 6th St., Suite 109A, Los Angeles, 323-739-8823, www.holyroly.com.

Igloo Parlor: 2-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 2-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 14545 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, 562-774-4566, www.iglooparlor.com.

N2: Noon-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 13502 Whittier Blvd., Suite A1, Whittier, 562-693-8887, https://n2-ice-cream,business.site.

Negative 8 C: 11:45 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:45 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday, 1630 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. #3, Gardena, 310-808-3618, https://bit.ly/2LpzL5T.

Rolling Factory: 1-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday and Thursday, 1-9 p.m. Wednesday and 1-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 138 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, 818-396-5327.

Sweet Wonders: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Glendale Galleria, 2131 Galleria Way, Glendale, www.glendalegalleria.com.

 ORANGE COUNTY

The Frozen Meets Rollin’: Noon-10 p.m. daily, 665 North Tustin St., Suite G-H, Orange, 714-912-4655, www.facebook.com/frozenmeetsrollin.

Joint Creamery: Noon-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 13281 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, 714-989-6518, www.thejointcreamery.com.

The Roll Ice Cream: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, 126 Main St. #104, Huntington Beach, 323-272-9279, https://therollicecream.com.

Rollin’ Creamery: Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 17908 ½ Magnolia St., Fountain Valley, 714-203-7021, www.instagram.com/rollincreamery.

Rollin Deep Ice Cream: Noon-10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-10 p.m. Sunday, 891 Baker St., Suite 819, Costa Mesa, 714-760-4311, www.rollindeepicecream.com.

Sky Roll: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Mainplace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-547-7800, www.shopmainplacemall.com.

Sweet Rolled Tacos: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9930 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove, 714-300-4607, www.sweetrolledtacos.com.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Jonnik’s Dessert Factory: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Moreno Valley Mall, 22500 Town Circle, Moreno Valley, 951-653-2118, www.morenovalleymall.com.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Cherry Chill: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-11:30 p.m. Sunday, 2448 S. Vineyard Ave., Suite 110, Ontario, 909-947-7711, www.cherry-chill.com.

Crepito Ice: 1-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 1-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday, 9339 Foothill Blvd., Unit J, Rancho Cucamonga, 909-755-5557, www.crepito-ice.com.

Space Roll: Noon-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4108 Edison Ave. #110, Chino, 909-274-0850, www.facebook.com/spaceroll.

Our magazine’s creative director has configured the layout of this page to allow a mere 465 words of type. That’s not a lot of space in which to talk about hunger and need, and social responsibility. I suppose I am the boss so I could demand more, but like any manager I’ve learned that it’s often best to just shut up, let smart professionals do their jobs and follow their recommendations.

Besides, what I have to say is simple: Hunger is still a thing.

This month as Coast celebrates the rich gastronomic culture blossoming around us, it behooves us to acknowledge this sad truth. A shocking number of people in this very county – and too many of those are kids and seniors – still have to worry about where their next meal will come from. I won’t quote statistics; numbers often don’t reach inside the human heart. But if you care to, just listen to what the knowledgeable and insightful Nicole Sudyam, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, has to say about this. “If you are hungry, it is very hard to be a good citizen,” Nicole told an Orange County Register columnist. “A lot of people are struggling.”

There are a mountain of thorny issues facing society that have no easy answers, but this, Dear Reader, is not one of those. In a book I grew up knowing – some of you might know it too – there is a line from a chapter titled Matthew that goes, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…”

So many local activists working in soup kitchens, food pantries and school lunch programs heed these words every day, and I am inspired by their example. I think of former luxury hotel chef Bill Bracken, whose food truck “Besty” serves up thousands of gourmet meals to our neediest residents every year. Bill doesn’t work 12-hour days just to cook food. He’s nourishing on a far deeper level. As Bill told us in a feature story we published last year, “It’s the idea that someone cares, that there is hope.”

And let’s not forget beloved chef Bruno Serato. When fire decimated his landmark Anaheim restaurant The White House in February 2017, it wasn’t only his livelihood that went up in smoke. How could he carry on Caterina’s Club, his internationally recognized program that feeds 2,000 children a day throughout our region? But first with the help of local restaurants and catering companies and then Christ Cathedral, those children kept being fed as Bruno worked to get The White House rebuilt. Happily, his doors reopened early in May.

The truth is we have so much bounty. Let us look for ways to share.

Buen provecho,

Samantha Dunn, Executive Editor

samantha@coastmagazine.com

Twitter @SamanthaDunn

At many times in his life, Will Schmidt said he has suffered from depression and anxiety.

Mostly, he said, he found ways to cope by calming his mind with something outdoors such as stand-up paddling or running.

In 2009, when a high school friend, who had served in the U.S. Army and had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, killed himself, Schmidt said it hit him hard because he understood battling those demons.

“I knew I had to do something to turn my life around,” said Schmidt, a Marine veteran who was based at Camp Pendleton. “The fact that I found something I loved was what saved me.”

Schmidt took his passion for stand-up paddling and struck out on an adventure from Catalina Island’s Avalon to Dana Point in 2010. The 40-mile trip raised $6,000 for his friend’s wife and daughters.

Then he looked around for his next opportunity to help and decided to start a nonprofit called AreYouInspiredYet.com that would be dedicated to helping others. Since then, he’s raised more than $50,000 for causes including depression and cancer.

On Saturday, Aug. 4, Schmidt, 38, of Dana Point, will debut his documentary, “Through My Eyes,”  chronicling his ultimate challenge so far. In the film, to be shown at the Starlight Triangle Square Cinemas in Costa Mesa, he provides an inside glimpse  into his 2014 solo and unassisted stand-up paddle of the Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico. The film has taken him nearly four years to complete.

He hopes those who see his film will be inspired to do “the impossible.”

“It’s shaky, wet and dark,” Schmidt said. “But it’s 100 percent exactly how it happened.”

How it began

Schmidt  started his trip on May 24, 2014 in Neah Bay, Wash., and paddled out to the Swifsure Bank (the latitude and longitude that separates Canada and the U.S.), then around Cape Flattery to Makah Bay and then down the coast landing at Border Field State Park in San Diego on July 27. The trip raised $10,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project.

The adventure took 61 days, with 58 days spent on the water along the 1,386 route.

And it all started as a rumor.

Schmidt had barely mentioned the idea of a coastal trip to some friends and soon the word that had spread left him little opportunity to dismiss it. When someone else said it would be “impossible,” Schmidt was in.

“I get a kick out of foamy water and big bumps,” he said. “I can’t think of any sport where the playing-field constantly changes. It’s a dance where you’re on borrowed time. If the ocean doesn’t want you, it will tell you.”

As a Marine, Schmidt said he wasn’t one to back away from a challenge. He also saw it as an opportunity to raise more awareness of PTSD and its place in the lives of many who served in the U.S. military.

Schmidt, who when he’s not paddling works in the dental research field in Newport Beach, spent 10 months training and planning.  He does much of his training in Dana Point outside the harbor in what’s left of the Killer Dana break outside the Headlands.

He traveled up the coast and talked with locals to get perspective on the coastline.  He planned how to carry all his gear, including a tent and sleeping bag that packed into a 12 ounce Shaker bottle. He also practiced making repairs to his 16-foot SIC F16 downwind board in the surf and water off Dana Point.

“I ripped out my cable system, took out all the screws and put it back together again,” he said. ” I unpacked and re-packed all my gear in the water.”

He also sent himself care packages to await him along the coast. He said he considered getting a chase boat to accompany him, but realized the cost would defeat his purposes.

His goal was to 30 miles a day, he averaged 24.5. Some days he’d do as little as six miles, others like going along Big Sur, he caught a good wind and did 44 miles.

On board, he also carried three Go Pros and two cell phones to capture his adventures.

Challenges along the way

The trip wasn’t easy. Besides dealing with churning waves, rain, fog and wind, Schmidt  said he had some interesting encounters with marine life. An elephant seal attacked while he was paddling through bull kelp near Cape Medecino.

He also got raked across a clam reef where he cracked two ribs and broke a toe.

That set him back a day.

He used bungee cords to wrap his chest, holding his ribs in place.

“You could never get complacent,” he said. “The days I thought were starting out as the nice ones were the one I thought, ‘I’m going to die today.”

Still, he stayed committed to his cause.

“There were moments when I thought it was the greatest idea and I wrestled demons,” he said. “Never once, did I deal with the demons of anxiety and depression.

“The hardest part was finishing,” he said. “It’s like you’re in the limelight and then it’s ‘what’s next?’”

What’s next, is Schmidt has his eyes set on the Channel Islands again. This time he wants to complete touching all eight of the islands.

“It’s a personal vendetta,” he said. “I haven’t stopped thinking about it and won’t until I get another chance at it.”

If you go

What: A screening of “Through My Eyes”

When: 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4

Where: Starlight Triangle Square Cinemas, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa

Cost: $15 for adults, $10.50 for children under 12-years-old

Tickets: AreYouInspiredYet.com

Dear readers,

Last week, we discussed some options for S.K., who is in her mid-60’s, lives alone and has no children. She wants to know about her options when the time comes that she may need help, knowing there are no children or grandchildren to look after her. This week, we’ll talk about opportunities for relocating.

Continuing Care Communities (or CCRCs): Sara Zeff Geber, author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” recommends these, which are also known as life care communities, particularly for those without children because they provide safety, security, community and care. CCRCs offer a tiered approach of independent living units, assisted living units and skilled nursing facilities that accommodate residents’ changing needs for their lifetime. CCRCs attract older adults who want to live independently when entering but also want the security of knowing they can receive needed care without leaving. The arrangement also allows residents to stay close to their spouse, partner and friends as they may move through different levels.

Of all of the long-term options, CCRSs are considered the most expensive, requiring a hefty entrance fee as well as monthly charges. Entrance fees can range from $100,000 to $1 million — an upfront sum to prepay for care as well as to provide the facility money to operate. Monthly charges can range from $3,000 to $5,000. Fees depend on a variety of factors including your health, the type of housing, whether buying or renting and the type of service contract.

Most CCRC’s have a policy that requires new residents to be relatively healthy and able to live independently when they move in. Many continue to work and drive.

Here are three types of contracts; the details vary according to the facility.

• Life Care or Extended Contract: This is the most expensive, which requires an entrance and monthly fee with unlimited assisted living, medical treatment and skilled nursing care. The contract guarantees the facility will provide care as needed for the rest of the resident’s life.
• Modified Contract: This contract typically offers a lower entrance fee and monthly rate than the life care contract. Although residents are guaranteed access to a higher level of care, the contract typically limits the amount of health care services that may be accessed without an increase in the monthly fee.
• Fee for Service Contract: The initial enrollment fee for this type of contract may be lower. Assisted living and skilled nursing costs would be paid at the facility’s market rate. The risk of large long-term-care expenses remains with the resident not the facility.

Assisted living residences: These are for older adults who do not need medical care but do need assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, bathroom visits and walking. Housekeeping, transportation, medication management and enriching activities also are provided. Some have recently offered independent living; some others are licensed for memory care.

The average cost of assisted living in California in 2018 is $4,070 a month. Based on the geographic region of the state, the average monthly cost can range from $1,020 to $10,720.Board and Care Homes. These are private dwellings, which typically are converted homes. The homeowner, usually with paid staff, provides care for individuals who have some limitation or need help with activities of daily living. Board and Care homes are less institutional and less expensive than CCRC’s and nursing homes. They provide a safe and supportive environment. Most states have their own licensing requirements.

Nursing homes: These also are called skilled nursing facilities and are the only facilities licensed to provide medical care and attention around the clock. Some serve as rehabilitation facilities. Nursing home residents require a higher level of care than provided by assisted living residences. According to a 2016 National Nursing Home Survey, a semi-private room ran $225 daily or $82,125 per year. The average nursing home stay was a little over two years.

Finances can be an issue. With the 85-plus as the fastest growing segment of our society, we are faced with a challenge of caring for those who need care, who do not have family and who cannot afford care. This is a topic for another conversation.

S.K. I hope these descriptions are helpful in your planning. And kudos to you for thinking ahead.

Headed to the fair today? Here are some things to know.

Hours: Noon to midnight

Admission: $12 adults; $7 ages 60 and older, $7 ages 6 to 12; free 5 and younger

Deals:

• We Care Wednesdays offer free admission and a carnival ride with a valid donation, which rotates between causes each week. From noon to 3 p.m. today, donate three new or gently used children’s books for entry, to benefit THINK Together.
• Free admission for veterans and active-duty military with ID
• Buy a $35 wristband until 5 p.m. for unlimited rides; may be used until 8 p.m.

Things to do:

• Youths who raise rabbits will be displaying their showmanship at 1 p.m. in the livestock area.
• Take a Garden Crawl with a master grower as your tour guide at 1, 3 and 5 p.m.; sign up at the Garden & Floral tent’s information booth.
• The Conjurer will be dispensing his own style of predictions at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. He sets up at different spots.
• Playing at the Hangar: I am King – the Michael Jackson Experience; requires a ticket
• Playing at the Pacific Amphitheatre: Hunter Hayes with Runaway June and Coffey Anderson; requires a ticket
• Action Sports Arena: Extreme Rodeo; requires a ticket

Look ahead:

• On Thursday, Aug. 2, watch plein air artists paint a scene of the fair in an afternoon. They will be set up at locations throughout the fairgrounds from noon to 5 p.m.
• The Oasis Camel Dairy will be demonstrating milking at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., daily through Aug. 12.
• Danny Maika headlines the Meadows Stage from 8 to 11 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 5.
• The Fab Four will play a tribute to the 50th anniversary of “Yellow Submarine” at the Pacific Amphitheater on Saturday, Aug. 4; requires a ticket
• The Broncs & Bulls Rodeo is at the Action Sports Arena on Aug. 2 and 4; requires a ticket

By DEB RIECHMANN | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — As alarms blare about Russian interference in U.S. elections, the Trump administration is facing criticism that it has no clear national strategy to protect the country during the upcoming midterms and beyond.

Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the administration’s response as fragmented, without enough coordination across federal agencies. And with the midterms just three months away, critics are calling on President Donald Trump to take a stronger stand on an issue critical to American democracy.

“There’s clearly not enough leadership from the top. This is a moment to move,” said Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “I don’t think they are doing nearly enough.”

Various government agencies have been at work to ensure safe voting. The FBI has set up a Foreign Influence Task Force and intelligence agencies are collecting information on Russian aggression.

But Trump himself rarely talks about the issue. And in the nearly two years since Russians were found to have hacked into U.S. election systems and manipulated social media to influence public opinion, the White House has held two meetings on election security.

One was last week. It ran 30 minutes.

The meeting resulted in no new presidential directive to coordinate the federal effort to secure the election, said Suzanne Spaulding, former undersecretary of homeland security who was responsible for cyber security and protecting critical infrastructure.

“Trump’s failure to take a leadership role on this, up until this (National Security Council) meeting, misses an opportunity to send a clear message to states that this is a very serious threat,” Spaulding said. “We did not get out of this NSC meeting a comprehensive, interagency strategy. It was each department and agency working in their silos.”

Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the NSC, said the government response is robust. He said NSC staff “leads the regular and continuous coordination of the whole-of-government approach to addressing foreign malign influence and ensuring election security.”

At a cybersecurity summit on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence said he was confident officials could prevent further meddling by foreign agents.

“We will repel any efforts to interfere in our elections,” he said.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said government agencies are “doing a lot of good work, but nobody knows about it.” He lamented Trump’s contradictory statements about whether he accepts the U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election.

“What I think he needs to do is lead this nation to make sure the 2018 election is protected,” Graham said recently on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” ”He needs to be the leader of the movement — not brought to the dance reluctantly. So, I hope he will direct his government, working with Congress, to harden the 2018 election before it’s too late.”

The debate over safeguarding U.S. elections comes as evidence of cyber threats piles up. Facebook announced Tuesday that it has uncovered “sophisticated” efforts, possibly linked to Russia, to influence U.S. politics on its platforms.

The company said it removed 32 accounts from Facebook and Instagram because they were involved in “coordinated” political behavior and appeared to be fake. Nearly 300,000 people followed at least one of the accounts.

Earlier this month, Microsoft said it discovered that a fake domain had been set up as the landing page for phishing attacks by a hacking group believed to have links to Russian intelligence. A Microsoft spokesman said Monday that additional analysis has confirmed that the attempted attacks occurred in late 2017 and targeted multiple accounts associated with the offices of two legislators running for re-election. Microsoft did not name the lawmakers.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., has said Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network in 2017.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., who is not running for re-election, told The Associated Press on Monday that someone contacted her office “claiming to be an official from a country.”

A frequent critic of Russia, Shaheen said she didn’t know if Moscow was behind the email received in November but had turned the matter over to the FBI.

Shaheen said another senator had been targeted besides McCaskill. “It’s my understanding that there is, but I don’t want to speak for other senators,” she said. When asked if it was a Democratic senator, Shaheen nodded yes.

“People on both sides of the aisle have been beating the drum for two years now about the need for somebody to be accountable for cybersecurity across the government,” Shaheen said.

National Intelligence Director Dan Coats said U.S. intelligence officials continue to see activity from individuals affiliated with the Internet Research Agency, whose members were indicted by U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller. Coats said they create new social media accounts disguised as those of Americans, then use the fake accounts to drive attention to divisive issues in America.

In the Obama administration, synchronizing federal agencies’ work on election security would have likely been the job of the White House cybersecurity coordinator. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, abolished the post in May to remove a layer of bureaucracy from the NSC flow chart.

Under the current structure, the point man for election security is Rear Adm. Douglas Fears. Trump tapped Fears in early June as his deputy assistant to the president and homeland security and counterterrorism adviser.

Fears oversees the election security and other portfolios of the NSC’s Cybersecurity Directorate and coordinates the federal government’s response to disasters.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says cyber threats are “an urgent, evolving crisis.”

“Our adversaries’ capabilities online are outpacing our stove-piped defenses,” Nielsen said Tuesday. “In fact, I believe that cyber threats collectively now exceed the danger of physical attacks against us. This is a major sea change for my department and for our country’s security.”

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Matthew Daly, Zeke Miller, Colleen Long and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report.

If an employee or student is missing on Sept. 20, you might want to look for signs they’ve been surfing: sandy feet, the smell of surf wax, or salt water dripping from their noses.

In fact, they may have a state-recognized excuse for their absence: California Surfing Day is now, officially, a thing.

A group of dignitaries and surfers gathered on the Huntington Beach Pier on Tuesday to proclaim “California Surfing Day,” which recently passed both the Assembly and Senate as a resolution (SCR 122).

Diane Dehm, executive director of the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, said a group of surfers rallied in Sacramento a few months ago to get the resolution passed; it received unanimous approval from the senate.

It’s a way to “celebrate the heart and soul of the surfing lifestyle, riding the waves up and down the California coastline, while protecting our coastal playground – our ocean and our beaches,” Dehm told a crowd that gathered Tuesday just above where surfers were competing during the U.S. Open of Surfing.

State Senator Janet Nguyen (R-Fountain Valley) who helped bring the resolution to the senate floor, spoke to the crowd about the importance of announcing California Surfing Day in Huntington Beach.

“There’s no doubt that surfing has become part of Huntington Beach’s identity, and I’m personally proud to honor a sport that has given so much to our community,” Nguyen said. “Since surfing was brought to the California coast in the 19th century, the sport has transcended beyond the ocean, to impact our language, music, fashion and art.

“Surfing is a part of the social economic and coastal fabric of our state.”

There are an estimated 3.3 million surfers in the United States who spend between $1.9 and $3.3 billion each year on local surf trips, according to the news announcement: “The surfing industry, almost exclusively based in California, generates over $6 billion in United States annual retail sales.”

California is also home to several “culturally significant” surfing museums in coastal towns of Huntington Beach, Oceanside, Santa Cruz, and San Clemente.

SoCal surf craze

Huntington Beach this week plays host to the U.S. Open of Surfing, a giant competition that brings some of the world’s best surfers and draws hundreds of thousands of people throughout the nine-day event.

Surf City also stakes claim to three surfing Guinness World Records, including the largest surfing paddle-out in the world, the largest surfboard in the world combined with the most people riding a surfboard at the same time.

Other beach towns have rich surfing histories. In the South Bay, the International Surf Festival kicks off this week for beach competitions in Hermosa, Manhattan, Redondo and Torrance. Santa Cruz in Northern California, which battled Huntington Beach for years for the use of “Surf City,” is where the modern-day wetsuit was created by Jack O’Neill.

That’s not to mention the countless surf breaks dotting the coastline, from iconic Malibu and the story of “Gidget” that spread the sport’s popularity, to the South Bay’s rich history and influence as the sport started to take off in the ’60s.  The city of Dana Point is trying to promote its significance in the surf world by recognizing icons such as Hobie Alter and Bruce Brown, whose innovations and creations changed surf culture.

Even California’s agricultural farmland is embracing the surf culture, with the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch that opened up recently with a man-made wave. 

Jericho Poppler, the first U.S. women’s world champion, is the woman in the depicted in the official logo shown on surfboards at the announcement.  She talked about competing in Huntington Beach in 1970.

Iconic surfer Paul Strauch — the male surfer in the logo being used to promote the day — spoke to the crowd about attending the 1965 United States Surfing Championships, the predecessor to the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Strauch told the crowd about sitting next to surf legend and Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku, who helped bring surfing from Hawaii to the mainland, at that event decades ago.

“Duke, see what you started?” Strauch said to the audience. “It must put a warm spot in your heart that you inspired so many people to enjoy the ocean, and leave the ocean with a smile on their faces.”

California Surfing Day is not to be confused with International Surfing Day, which happens on the third Saturday in June.

The latest resolution may not be the only government push to embrace surfing.  The bill AB 1782, co-authored by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D-Whittier) earlier this year, proposes making surfing the official sport of the state.

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Wednesday cleared the way for insurers to sell short-term health plans as a bargain alternative to pricey Obama-law policies for people struggling with high premiums.

But the new policies don’t have to cover existing medical conditions and they offer limited benefits. That may not translate to broad consumer appeal among people who need an individual policy.

“For many who’ve got pre-existing conditions or who have other health worries, the Obamacare plans might be right for them,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar acknowledged on Fox & Friends. “We’re just providing more options.”

Officials say the plans can now last up to 12 months and be renewed for up to 36 months. But there’s no federal guarantee of renewability. Plans will carry a disclaimer that they don’t meet the Affordable Care Act’s requirements and safeguards.

Unable to repeal much of the Obama-era law, Trump’s administration has tried to undercut how it’s supposed to work and to create options for people who don’t qualify for ACA subsidies based on their income.

Officials are hoping short-term plans will fit the bill. Next year, there will be no tax penalty for someone who opts for short-term coverage versus a comprehensive plan, so more people might consider the option. More short-term plans will be available starting this fall.

But critics say the plans are “junk insurance” that could lead to unwelcome surprises if a policyholder gets sick, and will entice healthy people away from the law’s markets, raising premiums for those left. Under the Obama administration, such plans were limited to three months’ duration. Some states do not permit them.

A major insurer group quickly expressed disapproval.

“The broader availability and longer duration of slimmed-down policies that do not provide comprehensive coverage has the potential to harm consumers, both by making comprehensive coverage more expensive and by leaving some consumers unaware of the risks of these policies,” said Justine Handelman of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, whose members are a mainstay of ACA coverage.

President Donald Trump has been enthusiastic. “Much less expensive health care at a much lower price,” he said, previewing the plans at a White House event last week. “Will cost our country nothing. We’re finally taking care of our people.”

The administration estimates that premiums for a short-term plan could be about one-third the cost of comprehensive coverage. A standard silver plan under the Obama law now averages $481 a month for a 40-year-old nonsmoker. A short-term plan might cost $160 a month or even less.

But short-term insurance clearly has fewer benefits. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey of current plans found none that covered maternity, and many that did not cover prescription drugs or substance abuse treatment — required under the Obama law. They can include dollar limits on coverage and there’s no guarantee of renewal.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Democrats will “do everything in our power” to block the administration. It wasn’t immediately clear how that might happen.

Short-term plans have been a niche product for people in life transitions: those switching jobs, retiring before Medicare eligibility or aging out of parental coverage.

Azar said the new plans are tailor-made for the “gig economy.”

Some in the industry say they’re developing “next generation” short-term plans that will be more responsive to consumer needs, with pros and cons clearly spelled out. Major insurer UnitedHealthcare is marketing short-term plans.

Delaware insurance broker Nick Moriello said consumers should carefully consider their choice.

“The insurance company will ask you a series of questions about your health,” Moriello said. “They are not going to cover anything related to a pre-existing condition. There is a relatively small risk to the insurance company on what they would pay out relative to those plans.”

Nonetheless, the CEO of a company that offers short-term plans said they’re a “rational decision” for some people.

“It’s a way better alternative to not being insured,” said Jeff Smedsrud of Pivot Health. “I don’t think it’s permanent coverage. You are constantly betting that for the rest of your life you won’t have any health issues.”

Smedsrud said most plans restrict coverage for those who have sought treatment for a pre-existing condition over the past five years.

Short-term plans join “association health plans” for small businesses as the administration promotes lower-cost insurance options that cover less. Federal regulations for association health plans have been approved. Such plans can be offered across state lines and are also designed for self-employed people.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that roughly 6 million more people will eventually enroll in either an association plan or a short-term plan. The administration says it expects about 1.6 million people to pick a short-term when the plans are fully phased in.

About 20 million are covered under the Obama law, combining its Medicaid expansion and subsidized private insurance for those who qualify.

Enrollment for the law’s subsidized private insurance is fairly stable, and HealthCare.gov insurers are making money again.

But a recent Kaiser Foundation analysis found turmoil in the unsubsidized market.

It’s that time again.

The 46th annual Knott’s Scary Farm will be open select evenings Sept. 20-Oct. 31. It will feature 14 mazes and haunted attractions, including a new scare zone.

Tickets for Knott’s Scary Farm are available now online. Advance prices are currently $42 and up per night, $120 with Fright and Fast Lane and $149 with Fright and Fast Lane, Boo-fet and parking. A season pass for the event is currently $95.

Related: Monster hopefuls try to frighten at Knott’s Scary Farm auditions

This year the entire park has become the attraction and will boast a number of upgrades, including themed landscaping and decor and enhanced ride lighting, such as HangTime’s Halloween design. There will also be select roller coasters in the dark.

The Ghost Town Streets, Carnevil and The Hollow scare zones will be back for some screaming fun, plus gothic creatures from the new murky Forsaken Lake will be wandering the area under the Silver Bullet roller coaster.

In Fiesta Village, there will be a new dance party with Awaken the Dead, sugar skull go-go dancers and live DJs throughout the night.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Scary Farm Season Pass holders are invited to the official Knott’s Scary Farm announcement event with complete information Aug. 30.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump called Wednesday for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to put an end to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, a day after Trump’s former campaign chairman went on trial.

Taking to Twitter to complain about the ongoing Russia investigation, Trump said Sessions “should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further.”

The relationship between Sessions and the president has been strained for more than a year, since the attorney general recused himself from investigations relating to the 2016 election because of Sessions’ role on the Trump campaign. Mueller’s team is accountable to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Tuesday marked the first day of Paul Manafort’s trial on charges of tax evasion and bank fraud brought by Mueller’s team, charges that stemmed from Manafort’s consulting work for Ukraine, for which he allegedly received millions he did not report to the U.S. government.

Seeking to distance himself from his ex-campaign chairman, Trump said, “He worked for me for a very short time.”

But Manafort’s involvement in the Trump campaign spanned six months, and he led efforts to secure the GOP nomination for Trump in 2016.

Trump said the charges against Manafort “have nothing to do with Collusion.” Potential coordination between Russian government agents and the Trump campaign is still a matter of investigation by Mueller’s team, which is also investigating potential obstruction of justice by the president. Trump called claims of collusion “a Hoax.”