Photograph by Matthew Suárez

Mike Simpson remembers the shooting at Grover Cleveland Elementary School with his wife, Cristin.

Should have rifled Google

Your article about the Cleveland School shooting (“Ways of Escape”, Nov. 24, 2022.) is rather interesting in terms of its number-one error in the very beginning of the article where it stated that Brenda Spencer used a .52 rifle. That rifle was first used before the Civil War. The .52-caliber rifle was used in the Civil War and afterward for buffalo.

A very simple Google search would have revealed to the author that it was a .22 caliber Ruger rifle. As is typical for a lot of writers, they know nothing about firearms and shooting and very often times have extremely inaccurate information.

Anonymous

Editor replies:

Thanks for correction. That was an error in transcribing the interview. It should have been .22.

Reader romance

It was 1972 when Reader began. I was new to San Diego and took advantage of your Free Classifieds. My ad was:”Good people of San Diego, I need a friend. No lovelorns please. Orphan Annie 233-4456.” I received hundreds of phone calls. Yes, even then, it wasn’t supposed to be wise to give out phone numbers. But, all of the callers were terrific. This note to Reader is to let you know that one of those callers and I are celebrating or 50th anniversary of the best friendship. Thank you, Reader!

Leslie Weidner

Golden Hill

When are trees a heritage, and when are they just a bunch of big plants?

Google Earth

She speaks for the trees

I want to thank Sheila Pell for her article about the Encinitas Melba Forest. (“The fight over Encinitas' Melba Forest”, Nov. 24, 2022.) We own 2 of the Cypress trees that were planted at the same time as the Heritage Tree. They are “boundary trees” with the developer and he has blocked the Heritage application.

I have been doing research on how other cities deal with developers and clear cutting. Encinitas had zero protection but the City has passed a Mature Tree Ordinance of 1:1 replacement. I am waiting for the particulars, as we know an 80-year old, 75-foot Cypress valued at thousands of dollars cannot be replaced with a $500 boxed tree.

Many cities put replacement value on trees removed in an effort to make developers save mature trees or replace them with trees of the same value. Thank you again for addressing our beautiful trees.

I have reminded our council that Encinitas means “Little Oak,” so at the very least they should be protected. :)

Lori Forsythe

Encinitas

Drawing a Blank

Obviously articles are printed without confirmation of accuracy. Howard Blank is a liar and imposter. He has never been or is part of the Outsiders.

He is currently still operating even under a cease and desist order which further describes his character. The Outsider drum head he displays is a direct copy of the real Outsider drum head displayed in the Rock and Rock Museum in Cleveland, which was designed by our original bass player, Mert Madsen.

The closest Howard Blank ever came to the Outsiders was playing in high school with who was to become the founder of the Outsiders, Tom King. But, Howard has been lying so long about his association with the Outsiders that he apparently believes his own lies. I was present when our manager’s wife came up with the “Outsider” name, and when we were formed I never heard of Howard Blank until I saw his advertising in San Diego, inquired about him in Cleveland only to find he only knew of a few of the musicians who became the Outsiders, before the band was formed and named. Howard Blank is a liar and imposter, making a living using an identity he does not own or otherwise possess.

William Bruno

San Diego

Editor replies:

The Reader webpage link provided is not an article but rather a band page in the encyclopedic Local Music Database. The text of that band page has been revised to note the dispute regarding drummer Howard Blank’s claim to latter-day stewardship of the band.