How to Find Lost Things ___ Guaranteed

This is such an easy thing to write because the answer is only three words ___ Buy a Replacement. Feel free to test this hypothesis by simply laying aside your sunglasses as I did (the clip-on type with sturdy steel case) and wait an hour or two until you reach for them.

Not there, right? Pat, pat, pat. Okay. Not in the usual pocket. Grub under the car seat. Rifle the glove box. Double check wife's purse. Feel head (I'm embarassed to recall finding my glasses there once).

But nada. Feeling the urgent need to have sunglasses you rush down to the nearest Walgreens and put out twenty for a new pair. Sans steel case but with a convenient crush-guaranteed plastic holder.

Strut home with your new set. Polarized, unlike the old pair.

Greet wife at front door who has a glowing smile. "Guess what I found!"

End of story.

People Selling Magazines in Lake Shastina

SUMMER TIME SCAM BEWARE
By Officer Rusty R. Owens
Lake Shastina Police Department

Chief of Police
Rick Alves

“Our organization was founded to give kids like me summer jobs so we can stay off the streets and avoid gangs and drugs. Can you help us by buying our product?”

“I’m selling magazine subscriptions to earn a college scholarship. For each magazine I sell, the group I work for provides scholarship funds for my education, or I win a trip.”

Sound familiar? Every year crews of teenagers and young adults travel to towns across the country peddling magazines, cleaning products or other items. They show up on your doorstep with stories such as how you can help them avoid inner-city troubles by buying their product. The cause sounds admirable, they appear to be hard working, so why not help out?

Before making a decision, The Lake Shastina Police Department and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises you to consider the following: The National Consumers League estimates that 50,000 children nationwide are involved in traveling sales crews selling consumer items door-to-door and on city street corners. The youth groups are transported hundreds of miles from their homes, often across state lines. Unfortunately, many of these young people are victims. The League has consistently ranked traveling crews among the worst jobs available for youth and indicates that they can also constitute a dangerous environment

Employing the young plays on your sympathy, it may also violate state wage and employment laws. Various news media have reported abusive treatment of young sales crews. Minors report having been sexually harassed and physically assaulted some have been left stranded with no means of transportation home. In addition, the young people are typically expected to work long hours with little rest and it is not uncommon for them to be exposed to illegal drugs or underage drinking. Parents often discover too late the perils to which their children have been exposed.

Certainly, there are legitimate youth fundraisers. In addition, yes, they may come knocking. However, the next time a youth sales crew appears on your doorstep, it may be wise not to assume that it represents a local school or youth group. Ask for the name of the organization and other details. You may also want to inquire about the welfare of the young worker. Siskiyou County requires licensing for door-to-door sales, so do inquire and verify that aspect of any door-to-door sales presentation.
Sunday, June 21, 2010: The Lake Shastina Police in an ongoing investigation of door-to-door salespersons complaints, charged one man for selling items without permits and obtaining money by false pretenses. He had extensive criminal backgrounds; there were also active warrants out California for him, one for $25, 000.00 and another for $10,000.00. for soliciting with no permits or business license. During the on going investigation, officers contacted several Lake Shastina and Weed residents who said that the man gave different names, and stories to why he was selling the magazines.
Some included 1) Helping the military soldiers in Iraq
2) Just graduated from Mt. Shasta High School
Options: If you have been contacted by one of these sales person by federal law you have 3 business days to cancel the order with the company. You can cancel your check or credit card transaction by calling your bank or credit card company.
If you have any questions or concerns please call or e-mail investigating Officer Rusty Owens at the Lake Shastina Police Department, 530-938-2226, rusty@lakeshastina.com.
Information contained in this bulletin has been taken from Lake Shastina Police Department, Better Business Bureau, California Attorneys Generals Office and the Federal Trade Commission websites and news articles.

The Brooklyn

This pub in Seattle is your classic oyster bar / steak house. The bank of ice behind the lady shows the days oyster, clam, and mussel specials and at any given time the Brooklyn offers a minimum of a dozen different species of oyster.

I realize many people either cannot or prefer not to think about oysters. They are after all best appreciated raw, on the half-shell. Accompanied by vinagrette, shaved horseradish, and sauce as pictured below. I think those are glasses of Chardonnay behind which is suggested but they may be candles, I'm not sure.

We ordered the appetizer mixed dozen and each type was listed in the menu with the same fruity descriptions they use with wine . . . "briney, with a buttery aftertaste" and so on. My favorite was the Rainier from Hood Canal. Large, salty, and fullsome.

Now I'm from the East Coast where they invented oysters. My dad taught me that TRUE oyster lovers do not even chew them, that would be gouche. The favorite in Boston was the Blue Point oyster and they are small, best enjoyed with a dip in butter. I still remember the glaze in Dad's eyes when he had a plate of them.

So, but, the Rainier would likely choke you it enjoyed in this manner and besides if I tried to claim oyster prescedence based on the ole blue blood clambake thing I might not have left the Brooklyn in one piece.

So anyway, since I cannot find a single oyster bar in Northern California except in Eureka on the coast, the Brooklyn is a fond memory that I shall cherish for some time.

Killer Whales and a $250 Breakfast

Our daughter Ami lives with her husband Paul in Seattle and they invited us to sit their home last week while they vacationed on the coast so we made the ten hour drive up and celebrated Sally's 70th and Father's Day by 'doing the town' as they say.

And what a town. For starters we did brunch at Salty's in West Seattle which was on their way to the coast. It's a very famous place and our friends Ted & Nancy Pfeiffer who used to live in Tacoma raved about it so we thought we would treat Ami and Paul in thanks for the kindness they were showing us. Salty's is a two-story affair on Alki Beach, right on the water, with outdoor dining when the weather is nice which it was that day (we'd brought it with us).

But the food! Both floors were taken up almost entirely with buffet tables spilling over with everything from eggs and pancakes to oysters and crab legs. The spread was just mind boggling. Each floor was nearly the size of your average basketball court. They must surely employ dozens of chefs who start Saturday morning and work through the night. The choices were endless and world-class. Even Paul who is an EMT and noted for his big appetite only made one refill.

So, with four of their equally renown Bloody Marys and tip we dropped two and a half bills. The most we've ever spent on any meal, anywhere, anytime. But unforgettable.

Anyway we also did an overnight on San Juan Island, famous home to the Orca or killer whale pods that reside in the San Juan de Fuca Strait. San Juan is one of four large islands in the group served by the Washington State Ferry system so we drove north to Anacortes where the ferry terminal is and caught an early one on Wednesday, Sally's birthday.

It's incredibly lush on the island and we immediately started out on the loop road that encircles it just looking to explore. We spotted cars pulled over with people pointing and shooting cameras and without realizing what it was all about we just fell into an amazing scene ___ the arrival of a pod of killer whales. Not having my wits about me I only took still shots rather than video but at least I can share them more easily. We were on a bluff overlooking the water and shooting downward. We could not have been more fortunate or close, even the whale watching tour boats farther out by law cannot approach these animals.

The island is a millionaire's retreat, yachts and private aircraft clog the many harbors including famous Roches Harbor where rooms go for $400+ per night. We had fish tacos and crab quesadilla for lunch there and Sally bought alpaca yarn at Krystal Acres, the huge luxurious alpaca ranch in the photo. There were several thoroughbred horse and alpaca operations on the island all worthy of a Hollywood movie. A local bragged that San Juan had more pilots per capita than most places in the world.

This is getting long, best quit while I'm ahead.

Lost and Found ___ Collins the cat

I'm having some trouble with the classified section this week so until I figure out how to enable (or disable, I'm not sure) cookies and find out what a cache is and how to empty it I'll put here what I started there under Pets__Lost, Found, Adoption.

This is Collins and he belongs to Larry Hood on Indian Island. He was last seen June 3 outside their home at 5085 Indian Island Road. If you see this animal please call him day or night at 938-1772 or Lake Shastina Animal Control 938-2226 and report.

If you have a lost, found, or pet for adoption just email me and if I can't get the classified section to work, I'll run a story like this for you. Please enclose a photo if you have one.