The Davis Enterprise Friday, March 4, 2022

Movies

Sports

Pets

How can this man face his accuser … when it’s a drone?

Aggie women fall to 49ers

Gloria needs a new home

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enterprise THE DAVIS

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

UCD will end mask mandate By Caleb Hampton Enterprise staff writer

The 911 call came from another volunteer for

Beginning March 19, UC Davis will no longer require people on campus to wear face coverings in most indoor settings, the campus announced Wednesday in a press release. UC Davis’ termination of the public health measure, which was adopted to prevent transmission of COVID19, follows the ending of mask mandates by several other entities, including the State of California and Yolo County. In announcing its decision to end the requirement, UC Davis also cited new guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which say that it is safe for people in most of the United States to stop wearing masks. The guidance is based on county-specific numbers of new COVID-19 hospitalizations, existing hospital capacity and new cases, all of which have improved since the last wave of the virus, fueled by the Omicron variant, peaked in January. UC Davis’ termination of its mask mandate will apply to its main Davis campus as well as the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento,

See HOMELESS, Back page

See MANDATE, Page A2

John Vasquez, 61, sorts through the remains of a fire at a homeless encampment under Interstate 80, near 14th Street, in Sacramento on Feb. 24. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./ CalMatters photo

State counts homeless population But can official keep track of the money? By Manuela Tobias CalMatters As she headed to her car after two hours of counting and surveying Sacramento’s homeless population, the state’s top housing official acknowledged there is a long road ahead. “We’re building the system,

building the capacity, building the data, and communities are rising to the occasion. I know people are really frustrated because they feel like they don’t see that change,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “But I don’t think you can see change that is going to be long-lasting overnight.” As she spoke, just a few

blocks away, a homeless encampment was going up in flames.

firefighters sprayed hundreds of gallons of water at the inferno they had once called home.

No one was injured, unlike a fire earlier the same day at a San Francisco encampment that killed a woman and that Gov. Gavin Newsom called “unconscionable.” But dozens of people — who had been camping beneath the on-ramp to Highway 50 on one of the coldest nights of the year — watched as

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said John Vasquez, who said he had been living there for nearly two years. “We don’t have anything. Everything got burned. Clothes, tents, IDs.”

Council extends respite center By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer Since opening its doors in February 2020, the daytime respite center near Fifth and L streets in Davis has served 524 unsheltered people, providing services ranging from showers to laundry and assistance with primary and mental health care, access to housing and more. There were a total of 10,032 individual visits to the center over the last two years. Now the Davis City Council has voted unanimously to extend services at the center through June 2023, using $460,000 in American Rescue Plan funds.

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City allocates remaining ARP funds; $2M in reserve By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

Anne Ternus-Bellamy/Enterprise photo

The City Council voted to extend services at the Homeless Respite Center at Fifth and L streets through June 2023. The respite center, conceived and championed by former Mayor Brett Lee, was launched in late February 2020, just weeks before

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the start of the pandemic. Lee’s vision was a place for the unsheltered to go near downtown where they

See RESPITE, Back page

The Davis City Council on Tuesday allocated most of the city’s remaining $12 million in American Rescue Plan funds to a variety of programs and services, but also set aside about $2 million for a reserve fund. The city is receiving a total of $19.7 million in ARP funds as part of the federal government’s COVID relief legislation and previously allocated about $7 million. Under federal guidelines, ARP funds do not need to be encumbered until December 2024 and

fully spent until December 2026, giving the city time to decide what to do with reserve funds.

Creating a reserve was a priority for Councilman Dan Carson, who said Tuesday his support for the package was contingent on that.

“There’s an argument for a reserve in very uncertain times,” he said, noting, in particular, “the possibility of that thug in Moscow deciding to place an oil embargo that could drive almost overnight oil prices to $150 bucks a barrel and who knows

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Local

A2 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

Briefly Fruit trees for sale in Winters The Winters Friends of the Library website, wfol.org, has a detailed list of all the fruit and nut trees that are being sold at its annual Fruit Tree Sale on Saturday, March 5. The sale will be in the parking lot on Railroad Avenue between Baker and Edwards streets in Winters. The trees were donated by Sierra Gold Nurseries in Yuba City and are on sale for $10 each. There is a limit of 10 trees per person. Proceeds from the sale will be used to improve library collections and programs.

For the record Sunday, Feb. 20’s YoloCares column was mislabeled with the name of a different organization. The new Center for Caregiver Support does not offer crisis respite care for the community. YoloCares offers adult day services at 1909 Galileo Court in Davis, but does not accept drop-off participants in order to maintain the safety of registered participants. The CCS offers educational opportunities for caregivers and does offer on-site respite care for those community members who have registered in advance for workshops, as well as volunteer-led respite programs that are designed to support the patient and caregiver in their homes.

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Get out there and party like it’s 1958

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alifornia and Arizona share a common border for nearly 200 miles, with Arizona on one side of the Colorado River and California on the other. For some odd reason — maybe cactus fever — politicians in the two states have wildly different ideas about the “right” to vote. Arizona Rep. John Fillmore from Apache Junction lined up 14 co-sponsors for his bill that would pretty much end absentee voting in the state unless you are on your death bed. No early voting, either. If you can’t vote in person on Election Day, Fillmore says you shouldn’t be able to vote at all. Fillmore seems to think voting is a privilege, not a right. And the fewer people who vote, the better. Unless they plan to vote for him or his buddies. Fillmore’s strategy: If you can’t beat ’em, ban them. “We need to get back to 1958style voting,” Fillmore said tellingly. The boldest item in Fillmore’s proposal would require the

By Lauren Keene

Enterprise staff writer

Enterprise staff writer A year-long rash of catalytic converter thefts in Davis has led to the arrest of one suspect, who now faces felony theft and conspiracy charges. Steven Mitchell Rush, 42, of Woodland, was taken into custody shortly before 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the result of a monthslong investigation by the Davis Police Department’s Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving unit. According to a police news release, Rush emerged as a suspect during detectives’ investigation into more than 300 catalytic converters stolen within the city limits over the past year. The part, which comprises as portion of a vehicle’s exhaust system and contains precious metals, can make for costly and time-consuming repairs

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when they’re stolen. The thefts, which can take less than a minute, often occur during the night but also occasionally in broad daylight. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Rush’s vehicle and for two residences in Dunnigan and Woodland, where they reported finding one catalytic converter as well as multiple tools typically used during the thefts. Rush, who according to the charges filed against him already was freed from jail on his own recognizance following an earlier arrest, was booked into the Yolo County Jail on grand theft, attempted grand theft, conspiracy and vehicle-tampering charges. Victims of catalytic converter thefts are urged to report the crime to police by filing an online report or calling the Davis Police Department’s nonemergency number at

530-747-5400. “The theft reports helps the police department catch would-be thieves and develop data to establish trends where officers can be better utilized to conduct more focused patrols,” the news release said. Meanwhile, police announced that Center City Automotive, 300 Madson Place in Davis, has volunteered to etch vehicle information into a current customer’s catalytic converter, free of charge, while at the shop for other services. “Officers will sometimes conduct vehicle stops and locate catalytic converters, but without some kind of identifying information, are unable to link the property back to a victim,” police said. — Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Even as Yolo County’s COVID-19 case rate and test positivity rate continue to decline, the death toll continues to rise. Deaths are a lagging indicator, following a spike in cases by two to eight weeks, and the county is about seven weeks out from the peak of the Omicron case surge. County officials reported six more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, bringing to 301 the total number of county residents who have died from the virus since the pandemic began. Forty-five of those deaths have been reported since the first week of December when the UC Davis Genome Center detected the first case of the Omicron variant locally.

At that time, Delta was the predominant variant, but within three weeks, Omicron was responsible for the majority of new cases found through Healthy Davis Together testing and it still is. No Delta variant cases have been detected since the end of January. Of the 114 positive samples sequenced by the Genome Center during the week of Feb. 20-26, 96 were the original Omicron variant and 18 were the BA.2 subvariant. Both numbers were improvements over the prior week when the Genome Center reported 162 cases caused by the original Omicron variant and 43 by BA.2. On Thursday there were six COVID patients in the county’s two hospitals, three of them in intensive care. — Reach Anne TernusBellamy at aternus@ davisenterprise.net.

Pets of the week Special to The Enterprise Lots of animals are waiting for “forever homes” at the Yolo County Animal Shelter, 2640 E. Gibson Road in Woodland. Among them is Coco (A192182) a 5-year-old tricolor terrier mix. Coco is learning to walk on a leash and likes to spend his time relaxing in a cozy lap. Coco is a little shy at first but warms up quickly to new friends. Also hoping for a good home is Gloria (A191741), a 7-year-old pit bull who is always the life of the party. Gloria never fails to make you smile with her playful silliness and outstanding personality. For information on adopting, contact adoptycas@gmail.com. All shelter animals are up-to-date on vaccinations, microchipped, and spayed or neutered. Staff is available to assist

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ccording to Anne TernusBellamy’s story in The Davis Enterprise, “Under the draft plan, Yolo County would have 13 Voter Assistance Centers, with three open for 11 days and 10 open for four days.” Fillmore doesn’t like the idea of Voter Assistance Centers. To his way of thinking, if you need assistance, you shouldn’t be voting. “An additional 14 ballot drop boxes will be placed throughout the county for 30 days leading up to Election Day. All told, a minimum of 28 voting locations, including the elections office in

Woodland, would be available for voters, who can also continue to return their ballots via the postal service.” Better yet, you can drop your ballot at any designated spot in the county, no matter where you live. Under Fillmore’s stop-thevote plan, you can vote only at your own precinct and only on Election Day. In Yolo County, you can fill out your ballot while enjoying the almond blossoms in the Capay Valley and drop it off at a variety of locations on your way home. In the good old days — 1958 by Fillmore’s reckoning — polls were generally open only from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, a total of 13 hours. In Yolo County they will now be open 93 full hours over 11 days. And with that knowledge, I won’t be surprised to hear that John Fillmore is proposing Arizona build a 50-foot wall in the middle of the Colorado River. — Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.

County reports six more COVID-19 deaths

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Arizona Legislature to go into special session after every election to review the ballots and “accept or reject the election returns.” In other words, even with all the voting restrictions we plan to put in place, if the people dare to vote for someone we don’t like, the legislature can simply “reject” the results, without any reason at all. John Fillmore meet Jesse Salinas, the Yolo County assessor/ clerk-recorder/registrar of voters. Seems that Salinas has some different ideas about people voting. It could be that Salinas isn’t afraid of raw democracy the way Fillmore is. Believe it or not, Salinas sees part of his job as making voting as

easy as possible for as many eligible voters as possible, all the while safeguarding the integrity of the process. In accordance with California state law, we’ll all get a ballot in the mail whether we ask for one or not. Fillmore apparently doesn’t trust the mail service in Arizona, where residents sometimes confuse “desert” with “dessert” when addressing envelopes.

Davis police arrest suspect for catalytic-converter thefts

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Coco

via phone during business hours at 530-6685287. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. To meet any adoptable YCAS animals, visit friendsofycas. org. To volunteer, sign up at tinyurl.com/yolovolunteerapp. Follow on at @ycas. shelter and Instagram at @ yoloanimalshelter. At Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue, you’ll find Jetta, an adorable 3-yearold spayed female Maltese cross. She was not well socialized in her earlier home so she is somewhat fearful and needs a patient

Gloria

Jetta

Bean owner. She would do best in an adult home or one with older children. There are also two precious young shepherd mixes needing homes. Bean

and Lenox are crazy and fun-loving 6-month-old pups who need separate homes. They are sweet and moldable. They come with free lifetime obedience. The next Rotts of Friends' adoption event is from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at 34505 County Road 29 in Woodland. Come by 10 a.m., as it takes at least an hour to meet and adopt a dog; everyone who will be living with the dog should come out to meet it. Bring proof of homeownership, such as a

mortgage statement or property tax bill. If you rent, please bring proof that you are allowed to have a dog in your home, such as a pet clause in your lease or a note from your landlord.

All dogs adopted from Rotts of Friends are healthy, microchipped, upto-date on their vaccines and come with free lifetime obedience-training classes. For more information, visit facebook.com/rottsof friends.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 A3

ARP: ‘We’re giving ourselves the maximum flexibility’ From Page A1 what recessionary impact it could have on us. “And there’s all sorts of other threats like that looming out there in these times,” Carson said. The funding plan brought to the full council Tuesday night by a subcommittee of Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs and Councilman Will Arnold did include $385,000 for a COVID response reserve, but Carson suggested a general ARP reserve closer to $2 million. Getting there required shifting money around, including replacing part of the $3 million allocated to homeless services and affordable housing with $1.37 million in Home ARP dollars (which are a separate funding stream from the general ARP stream); using the city’s cannabis tax revenue reserve to fund a $300,000 downtown streets team program rather than using ARP dollars; and moving the $385,000 in COVID response reserve over to a general reserve. “That does not do any harm to any of the programs that our hardworking subcommittee chose to fund,” said Carson. That subcommittee of Frerichs and Arnold agreed to the plan, albeit with some reservation. “If that’s all it takes for unanimity here, I’m going to support this motion,” said Arnold.

However, he noted, “to some degree, saying it’s not reducing our expenditures for these homeless services isn’t necessarily true.” In his mind, Arnold said, the $1.37 million in Home ARP funds was intended to be used for housing assistance anyway, along with the proposed $3 million before the council Tuesday and the $1 million in ARP funds already committed to Paul’s Place, the vertical tiny-home village being built on H Street. “Same goes for the cannabis funds,” Arnold said. “While using cannabis funds that are being held in reserve, so that we can create a reserve that has the ARP stamp on it, really to me doesn’t have a net benefit. It’s not new money. It’s just money we had in a different account.” Carson countered that “under the funding formula, the way it works is virtually all of these dollars are used for general governmental services, so we’re giving ourselves the maximum flexibility in uncertain times. “Are there tradeoffs for doing that? Absolutely. But we all agreed at the start of this process that creating a reserve was one of our guiding principles.” Prior to Tuesday, the council had already allocated the following ARP funds: n $2.3 million in revenue backfill for the 2021-23 budget;

n $832,000 in furlough restoration for city employees; n $1.17 million for a Crisis Now pubic safety response program; n $790,000 for the creation of a Department of Housing and Social Services; n $750,000 for continued Healthy Davis Together community testing; n $663,000 for new firefighters to operate the city’s new ladder truck; and n $1 million for Paul’s Place. On Tuesday night, the council voted unanimously to allocate funds for the following programs as well: Critical city services: n $100,000 for four changeable message boards (for traffic, construction, events and more); n $450,000 to replace public safety radios and equipment; and n $350,000 for replacement and expansion of a portable building at city hall. Social Services: n $3 million for homeless services ($1.37 million of which will come from the city’s Home ARP tranche) including sanctioned camping, overnight shelter, the respite center and a program providing veterinary services to the pets of unsheltered individuals, as well as for affordable housing; n $250,000 for a community needs assessment to identify pri-

ority support programs including a youth focus; n $50,000 for a scholarship program for recreation programs; n $500,000 for the Yolo Food Bank n $300,000 for First 5 Yolo’s Welcome Baby program, which provides home visits to at-risk new mothers and babies; n $225,000 for the Yolo Adult Day Health Center’s expansion project; and n $500,000 for the Yolo Crisis Nursery’s expansion project Downtown programs and services: n $25,000 for downtown security cameras; n $250,000 for downtown cleaning and maintenance; n $20,000 for off-cycle pruning in the E Street Plaza and parking lot; n $10,000 for city banners n $15,000 for porch improvements at the Hunt Boyer mansion; n $40,000 for maintenance at the First and F streets garage; n $150,000 for a Thursday night market and music services; and n $1.2 million for enhancements to downtown infrastructure, including beautification, landscaping and trees, and improvements to the city building at Third and B Streets and E Street Plaza.

Community building: n $990,000 to renovate Playfields Park’s synthetic fields; n $600,000 for a bike pump track in Community Park; n $450,000 for a Veterans Memorial Theatre roof and facility rehabilitation; n $400,000 for a climate resilience hub/climate action needs; and n $30,000 for a mobile stage. Economic assistance to organizations: n $600,000 in arts grants to be administered by the Yolo Community Foundation; n $105,000 to the assist the Davis Chamber of Commerce with COVID recovery; n $100,000 to the Explorit Science Center for COVID recovery. Prior to the council’s vote on Tuesday night, about 35 people called in during public comment to support various components of the plan, with many focusing on assisting the Yolo Crisis Nursery as well as arts and cultural organizations in the city that were hard hit during COVID shut downs. Thus ends a process that began a year ago when the city received it’s allocation of ARP funds and created the subcommittee of Frerichs and Arnold to create a funding plan.

See ARP, Page A5

Obituaries Barbara Adler

December 1931 — February 2022 Barbara Adler, daughter of Martha (Leibovitz) Stone and Morris Stone, was born in 1931 in Clayton, Mo. She graduated University City High School where she was voted funniest girl in her class. She attended two years of business school at Miss Hickey’s School of Business where she learned all the skills of a successful private secretary. She was set up on a blind date by her good friends where she met her husband of 70-plus years, Howard. A year later they married and had their daughter Diane. They were living in St. Louis but due to a job offer moved to Walnut Creek where they lived for 29-plus years, they also lived in Blackhawk in Danville, for 29 years. Subsequently, their two other daughters were born, Denise and Dayna. They moved 10 years ago to Davis to be closer to their daughters. While in her 30s Barbara attended Diablo Valley Junior College where she earned her associate degree. It took her seven years while she was being a wonderful mother to her three daughters, playing doubles tennis, winning many tournaments, dabbling in golf, being a Girl Scout leader, learning to knit on her knitting machine, making many personalized items, and singing in a local choir. She also very much enjoyed

teaching physical education and home economics at Santa Maria private school ADLER in Orinda for a few years, being president of the Walnut Creek Civic Arts League and excelling at bridge games with Howard. She is survived by her husband Howard; daughters Diane (Andy Monheit) of Davis, Denise Adler (Andy Jefts) of Penngrove and Dayna (Steve Sisack) of Galt; grandsons Adam Monheit (Kristi) of Austin, Texas, Evan Monheit of Los Angeles, Jason Sisack of Sacramento, and Shaun Sisack of Sacramento; great-grandchildren Milana Monheit and Ari Monheit of Austin; and brother Harold Stone (Jan) of Princeton, Mass. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Jack Stone, and sisters Doris Goldman and Anita Reznikoff. There will be a private service for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes to thank the hospice organization YoloCares of Davis, where donations can be made, or to Bet Haverim in Davis, to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund, The Alzheimer’s Association or to a charity of your choice.

Mary E. Leiser d. Dec. 21, 2021

Mary E. (MacLeod) Leiser, formerly of Arlington, Mass., entered into eternal rest Dec. 21, 2021, at her home in Knights Landing. She was the daughter of Marjorie (MacAuley) and Herbert MacLeod. Mary attended Arlington Public Schools and graduated in 1966. Upon graduation, she was employed at the Lahey Clinic in Boston as an administrative assistant. She was instrumental in the development of the Clinic's initial Tumor Registry, laying the foundation for its certification. Mary settled in California in 1972 where she met her husband, Gregory Knox Leiser, a UC Davis agricultural student and third-generation farmer on his family farm in Sutter County. Mary quickly adapted to farm life and managed the farm’s business by applying her background in accounting, record keeping, and administrative organization. Mary was also no stranger to farm work, personally operating farm equipment

essential at harvest time ranging from forklifts to hulking bankout wagons. Mary and Greg were known for growing hardshell gourds. The farm was one of the largest hardshell gourd farms in America and attracted many wellknown artists throughout the West who would select their gourds directly from their fields. They hosted gourd classes and festivals which were well attended by the public and artists alike. Mary believed in the importance of community service and was well known and respected throughout Yolo County for her activism. She spearheaded many campaigns that contributed to the wellbeing of the Knights Landing community, including the adoption of the community growth and development plan and the Senior Citizen Meal Program. When Yolo County proposed to close the Knights Landing Library, she worked tirelessly as a founding member of the Friends of The Knights

Obituary policy The Enterprise publishes brief death notices free of charge. These include name, age, city of residence, occupation, date of death and funeral/memorial information. Paid-for obituaries allow for controlled content with the option for photos. Obituaries will be edited for style and grammar. Submissions may be made via www.davisenterprise.com/obit-form/. For further information about paid obituaries or free death notices, call 530-756-0800.

Landing Library to raise funds. She was essential in creating and running LEISER the community thrift store known as the Friends of The Knights Landing Library Rerun store. Her steadfast efforts led to the permanent establishment of the Knights Landing Library at a much larger building in town and many programs for children. Mary came from a large family with relatives in the U.S. and Canada. She enjoyed her visits back to Massachusetts, which often included a trip to the Canadian Maritimes, where she spent many childhood summers. She leaves behind a son, Peter Leiser; his wife Janice Parmar; grandson Killian;

cousin Clairelee Bulkley (Ralph) of Knights Landing; and brothers and sisters Camilla MacPhee, of PEI, Canada, Helen Thomson (Captane) of Davis, William James of Shrewsbury, Mass., Audrey Pfeiffer (Donald) of Middletown, R.I., David of Knights Landing, Charles (Cynthia) of Hampton Falls, N.H., and Peter (Joanne) of Sandwich, Mass. Mary also had numerous nieces and nephews with whom she remained close and who dearly loved her. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents and her brother Herbert John. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Friends of the Knights Landing Library, care of Susie Richter, PO Box 517, Knights Landing, California, 95645. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. April 30 at the Methodist Church in Knights Landing.

Forum

A4 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

Commentary

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Let’s celebrate César Chávez

Climate change O represents a clear and present danger By Bill Dodd Special to The Enterprise

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limate change is a clear and present danger. It’s triggered record heat, drought and flooding, while sparking wildfires that have taken life and property. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the North Bay. We must address this existential threat. At the same time, we must focus on the underlying cause — our dependence on fossil fuels — and develop realistic solutions. Few things are more important today. Democratic lawmakers in California are making it a priority, backing proposals to decrease our carbon emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. It’s an ambitious but necessary step to prevent further devastation of the planet — and we need to build on it. Ensuring we achieve this milestone in a thoughtful way is the motivation behind much of my current legislation. One piece I introduced this year, Senate Bill 852, would allow local jurisdictions to form “climate resilience districts” to take on the responsibility of developing plans and budgets for projects directed at the specific impacts of climate change in their area. While state and federal money for projects has increased, not enough exists at the community level to combat problems such as sea level rise and drought. This would fill that need. Another bill, SB 833, responds to the need to better utilize renewable energy like solar and reduce the need for carbonemitting generators during outages. The Community Energy Resilience Act would help local governments develop plans to instead use clean distributed energy resources, reducing the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere and sparing us tens of millions of dollars in related healthcare costs.

ne of the common denominators of the people I admire most is that they were people who went through major tribulations in the midst of their success. In the face of those challenges, they were made stronger, and they shaped our world for the better. This can certainly be said of César Chávez, the late civil rights leader and labor activist. We will observe César Chávez Day on March 31, a time to reflect on his enduring contributions to civil rights and social justice. At UC Davis, Chávez inspires our commitment to diversity and equity. He inspires our dedication to providing an accessible education to students of all backgrounds. Chávez and Dolores Huerta were founders of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, a predecessor of the United Farm Workers (UFW) that formed in 1965. This union was instrumental in improving the working conditions of farm workers, many from Mexican and Filipino backgrounds, through fair wages, access to clean water and mandated breaks. They often faced pushback and outright hostilities for their efforts. However, Chávez was decidedly nonviolent in his methods of protest, which included hunger strikes and marches to raise

awareness for the plight of farm workers. Through these turbulent times, Chávez and the UFW pushed forward and created historic successes. One of their most significant gains happened in 1975, when the UFW won passage of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act. It established the right to collective bargaining by the state’s farmworkers, a first in the nation, and set the stage for farmworkers around the country to organize. Over the decades, Chávez has emerged as an icon of workers’ rights and social justice. He was a champion for education and the need for equity, once saying, “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community — and this nation.” Chávez passed away in 1993, but like I said, his influence is still felt around campus. I’m thinking of the César Chávez Youth Leadership

Conference, which this spring will celebrate its 20th anniversary at UC Davis. This is a definitive event for campus, one that brings together hundreds of students, parents and community members from around the state. With Chávez as their guiding light, the participants learn more about the value of attending college and the resources available to them. This free event is not only empowering but fun, with live entertainment and cultural celebrations. I’m looking forward to the conference returning in-person this year, which will be held on May 14 at the University Credit Union Center.

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e feel Chávez’s good works in a broader sense as well. His influence is felt in our Principles of Community, which help us maintain a climate of mutual respect, equity, inclusion and social justice. We understand that a commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence contributes to our success as a university. We also think of Chávez as UC Davis approaches its designation as a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The designation occurs when at least

25% of our undergraduate enrollment is of Hispanic/ Latinx descent. Right now, we’re about 2% away from this threshold. HSI designation will benefit all students, in the form of grant funding, eligibility for student internships, and other opportunities for our diverse student population. We’re making solid progress toward HSI designation. In September, we appointed Lina Mendez as our inaugural director of Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives. She’s a proud UC Davis alum and former director of the university’s Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success. She’s working closely with Lorena Oropeza, our associate vice chancellor for academic diversity and leader of UC Davis’ HSI Implementation Task Force. So, we continue to stay focused on building equity at UC Davis and beyond, especially through the challenges of the given day. We’ve all been through a lot together, but our story in Davis is one of pushing forward with optimism. No matter what comes our way, we can turn to the inspiration from Cesar Chávez and the UFW’s rallying cry: “Sí, se puede!” (Yes, we can!) — Gary May is the chancellor of UC Davis; his column is published monthly.

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elting polar ice caps have triggered sea level rise, which is projected to submerge coastal areas in the coming decades. The Legislative Analyst’s Office predicts up to $10 billion of California property will be under water by 2050 with an additional $10 billion imperiled during high tides. This will have a profound effect on our roads, especially locally, where Highway 37 along the San Pablo Bay is forecast to be inundated in even less time — about 20 years. I’ve introduced two related bills: SB 1049 would direct nearly $2 billion in federal money at climate-adaptive transportation projects, including on Highway 37. And SB 1050 would create tolling authority to pay for improvements along the critical transportation artery that are currently in the planning stages. A dedicated revenue stream is the only realistic way to ease congestion and keep the highway above water. We’ve seen firsthand the destruction wrought by wildfire, so I’ve introduced a bill to help prevention through expanded use of prescribed burning. Clearing our lands of tinder-dry fuels before they explode into mega-infernos is a proven way to keep our communities safe. SB 926 will help us do that. A related bill, SB 896, encourages the creation of vegetation-free defensible spaces around our homes. It appears our wildfires are only getting worse. We need to protect ourselves. The problem needs to be attacked from multiple angles that address both the causes and the effects. These measures alone won’t solve the climate crisis. But they are a step in that direction. A step toward a more resilient California. I urge your support as together we face the reality of these changes on our planet and do our part to adapt for generations to come. — State Sen. Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information is at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.

Letters A different perspective Much has been debated about the physiological effects on American students who were required to work from home instead of attending school during the pandemic. Not able to socialize with friends and the stress of learning remotely has been cited as factors leading to long term psychological difficulties. As a former teacher, I understand how stressful these circumstances were to American students. I now look to the horrific situation in Ukraine and the conditions which exist for Ukrainians including the children affected by this horrific act and the trauma from this experience will be a lifelong remembrance. America has never experienced war at home, or the long-term effects that would have on our children. A pandemic is a discomfort (with deaths) that will pass, while war (deaths and destruction) is a wound that may never heal. John Clark Davis

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Official legal newspaper of general circulation for the city of Davis and county of Yolo. Published in The Davis Enterprise building, 315 G St., Davis, CA. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617. Phone: 530-756-0800. An award-winning newspaper of the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

Davis Picks It Up (DPIU), a brandnew volunteer group, is hosting their first litter/garbage pickup day along Second Street: north side of the railroad tracks. On Sunday, March 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a group will gather in the Davis Target parking lot exit on Second Street for instructions and safety tips. The DPIU goal is to pick up the litter in the City of Davis on a continual basis to help our environment and keep our communities safe and clean. We wish to spread the word and inspire other like-minded residents to join in the litter cleanup effort. More information is on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/680390876328575 and our email address is davispicksitup@gmail. com. We are an extension of Sacramento Picks It Up (also on FB), who have inspired us to join in the Litter Pickup Movement. We would like to encourage our Davis

Speak out President The Hon. Joe Biden, The White House, Washington, D.C., 20500; 202-456-1111 (comments), 202-456-1414 (switchboard); email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

U.S. Senate Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 331 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3841; email: http://feinstein. senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me Sen. Alex Padilla, B03 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510;

residents to join us in our local cleanup efforts. Cathie Bullis Davis

Mace Fix As I watched the construction of the Mace Boulevard fix and subsequent traffic snarls from my home on El Macero Drive, I often wondered if the designers of the fix had ever run any computer models to see what happens when you put the same number of cars through half the available lanes. Perhaps such computer modeling is not possible in the city budget. Perhaps some local grade school children could construct a model of the forthcoming Mace “fix” and run varying numbers of dinky toy cars through the model to simulate traffic on different days and different times. They couldn’t do worse than the traffic engineers who came up with the present mess. Robert Neuman Davis

202-224-3553; email: padilla.senate. gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

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Addresses and phone numbers should be included for verification purposes; they will not be published. Limit letters to 350 words. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit all letters for brevity or clarity. Mail letters to The Davis Enterprise, P.O. Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617; bring them to 315 G St.; fax them to 530-756-1668; or email them to newsroom@davis enterprise.net.

Rep. John Garamendi (3rd District), 2368 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202-225-1880. District office: 412 G St., Davis, CA 95616; 530-753-5301; email: visit https://garamendi.house.gov/contact/ email

Governor Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-4452841; email: visit https://govapps.gov. ca.gov/gov40mail/

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ARP: Council looks ahead with trouble brewing overseas From Page A3 Several community meetings and council discussions were held over the past year and more requests came in for funding than the city had ARP funds. But council members expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “This ARP process represents an unprecedented effort for unprecedented times,” said Frerichs. “I’m grateful that we are able to fund needed projects and organizations that will support healthy children and families, a robust arts and culture sector, ensure a vibrant down-

town, and those that strive to end homelessness, food insecurity and poverty in our community.” Carson noted that the council’s action will help “the wide array of Davis groups who were hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic — small businesses and their employees, seniors and children in need, struggling families and the homeless. “We made progress on addressing climate change, fixing and upgrading our parks, implementing a Crisis Now system to help persons in mental health crises, and stabilizing city finances. These actions will

keep us on the road to Covid recovery,” Carson said. He added that he was “proud my colleagues also agreed unanimously Tuesday night to set aside $2 million or 10 percent of our ARP allocation in a city reserve fund in the event of a resurgence of a new COVID strain, worsening drought conditions, or a severe recession triggered by the land war in Europe. “Our actions were responsible and were taken in a way that preserved all of our funding commitments but also ensured that we have the resources if

they are needed to carry out our highest priority — preserving the day to day city services we all count upon.” Councilman Josh Chapman, who owns the Armadillo Music store downtown, recused himself from the discussion and vote on funding for downtown projects, but said he was “thrilled to be a part of the team that distributed nearly $19 million dollars in ARP funds into our community. “The COVID-19 pandemic has touched everyone in our community and the significant investments made on Tuesday night will

have profound and lasting impacts. These investments will provide much needed support to some of the most vulnerable populations, deliver funding for the arts community, update city infrastructure, and fund initiatives to help our downtown thrive. “I am pleased that the subcommittee and the City Council allocated these funds across the community to ensure that the investments lead to an equitable recovery,” said Chapman. “I want to thank all the organizations who will be putting these funds to use and look forward to seeing

the results in our community.” Said Mayor Gloria Partida: “The funding provided through the American Rescue Act ensures that we will continue to sustain a quality of life in Davis that provides the ability for everyone to thrive. “I am grateful to the subcommittee for tackling the hard job of sorting through the requests, and I am hopeful for a positive postCOVID future.” — Reach Anne TernusBellamy at aternus@ davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @ATernusBellamy.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

HOMELESS: Population reaches unprecedented levels From Page A1 Sacramento’s point-intime count, a Census-like tally of people experiencing homelessness that took place across California last week. As those numbers trickle in over the summer, experts believe the data will help illustrate the reality Californians can no longer ignore: Homelessness has reached a tipping point. California last tallied its homeless population in January 2020, and found at least 161,000 people without a roof over their heads on any given night, with the biggest concentration in Los Angeles. Most were single adults, about a third were chronically homeless and Black Californians were overrepresented in the count nearly fivefold. The world has changed a lot during the deadliest pandemic in a century. The state poured billions of dollars into alleviating homelessness, creating thousands of new shelter beds and housing units. But the affordability crisis

— to which most experts attribute homelessness — only worsened as millions lost their jobs and rents skyrocketed. Shelters also reduced bed capacity and federal officials urged local law enforcement not to disband camps like the one in Sacramento to guard against the coronavirus, making tent cities more visible than ever. That’s why most researchers aren’t wondering whether the new homeless numbers will show an increase. The only question is, by how much. The result of California’s tally is very likely to be an undercount, in part because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which orders the count, excludes people who are couch-surfing or staying in cheap motels in their definition of homelessness. Researchers say that means families with children who are teetering on the edge are most likely to be overlooked. It also relies largely on volunteers to count what they think they see, and on local agencies to calculate

the population of the areas they don’t cover, estimations later verified by HUD. “I’m counting one, two, three, four, five, six down there, seven, maybe eight tents on this side,” said Jason Pu, HUD’s regional administrator in charge of California, Arizona, Hawaii and Nevada, pointing across the dimly lit street at a string of tents and tarps beside Highway 50. “What do you think?” Cities with a dropoff in volunteers because of the ongoing pandemic may report a drop in the homeless population, even if it actually grew, said Chris Weare, a UC Berkeley lecturer who researches homelessness. Weare believes some jurisdictions keep their count artificially low for political optics. “Think of the headlines,” he said.

Money matters For all its flaws, the count is still an invitation for policymakers to interact with the people affected by their decisions, Castro

Ramírez said at a small kickoff event at CSU Sacramento. “Very few people come over here and talk to us,” said Jessica Hud, who’s been homeless for five years, and had been staying in the encampment on X and 10th Street for about seven months. But like their housed neighbors — who in recent polls have expressed despair over the government’s handling of homelessness — many also say the situation is at its worst. “I’ve lived in Sacramento all my life and I’ve never seen it like this,” said Rocknie Simon, Hud’s partner, who has been homeless for about 10 years. Why isn’t the state’s generous spending more visible on the state’s streets? Officials and advocates chalk it up to decades of disinvestment. ​In 2012, for example, the state began unwinding its redevelopment agencies, which were in charge of revitalizing “blighted” areas across the state.​With the end of redevelopment came the end of

the single largest source of non-federal money for affordable housing in the state, and California lawmakers didn’t begin to plug that hole until around 2019. “We’re trying to correct decades of disinvestment, lack of prioritization, gentrification gone wild,” said Jennifer Loving, chief executive officer of Destination: Home, a homelessness nonprofit in San Jose. For every two people who are housed in her community, another three become homeless. But if tracking data on how many people are homeless is difficult, tracking the payoff from billions of dollars the state is now spending to help them is even more challenging. “I know (the governor) is frustrated, I know the Legislature is frustrated, the public is frustrated,” Assembly Budget Chairman Phil Ting, a D-San Francisco, said during a recent hearing. “We have appropriated billions and billions of dollars to this issue. And it’s not clear

where we’ve made progress.”

The reason for the limited available data is, in part, because local entities serving people on the ground hadn’t always been required to report outcomes to the state, and no state body provided effective oversight of the myriad agencies that address homelessness, the State Auditor found. A slew of laws passed last year are supposed to change that.

This summer, using $5.6 million, the newly created Interagency Council on Homelessness is set to release a report detailing the outcomes of state spending between 2018 and 2021, to be followed by a final report in December. Newly appropriated dollars are tied to more stringent planning and reporting requirements: Cities and counties will set goals for the $2 billion they will receive over two years from the state to address homelessness, and about a fifth of that money will be set aside as bonus funds for those who meet their goals.

RESPITE: Council looks to assuage neighborhood’s concerns From Page A1 could find shelter from inclement weather, food, showers and bathrooms, laundry services and more. CommuniCare Health Centers was brought on board to provide case management services to every individual who came to the center. At the time, overnight shelter was available in the winter months thanks to the former Interfaith Winter Rotating Shelter and year-round, albeit with limited beds, by Davis Community Meals and Housing. But there wasn’t a daytime center accessible to the homeless. As is usually the case with a program like this, location was the biggest stumbling block. At one point city staff were looking at locating the respite center near the Dave Pelz bicycle/pedestrian overpass on Second Street, but that location drew significant opposition, particularly from parents whose children use the overpass to get to school and back. The council ultimately settled on the current location at 530 L St., the west end of the city’s corporation yard facility. Originally launched as a pilot project, funding for the respite

center was extended for a second year in January 2021 and has now been extended again through June of next year. But even as council members hailed the program and unanimously approved its extension, there have been challenges. City staff, in a report to the council on Tuesday, noted that “the city and CommuniCare staff are both continuing to work to keep the area around the center safe and well-kept. “Numerous individuals hang out around the center but do not access services, and often engage in behaviors in the vicinity of the center that are not appropriate and result in calls for service or increased frustrations from business and residential neighbors,” the staff report said. According to a recent survey of neighbors, 76 percent of respondents said they had experienced negative impacts to their neighborhood since the center opened, including an increase in trash and littering and general safety concerns. Calls for service to the Davis Police Department related to suspicious activity and drug and alcohol use have increased since the center opened, though calls for violent crime, nuisance and

property theft have decreased or remained stable, according to city staff. During public comment on Tuesday night, one resident of the Davis Manor neighborhood cited incidents of graffiti, indecent exposure, trash, people living in their cars on Colgate Drive and close calls between cars and individuals jaywalking on L Street. “Our neighbor, who is a senior citizen, told us that she used to love walking her dog (in that area) but no longer feels safe as she has witnessed too many fights and gets scared,” said the resident. Another neighborhood resident said, “what we would like to see is a little more cooperation from the respite center, some beautification of the grounds, some paint, some greenscapes …” “The neighborhood is happy to do our part overall to be part of the solution,” he said, “but I think it’s important that we expand to look at public campsites and other parts of the city need to help and it all can’t be one area.” Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs, who represents the district where the respite center is located, thanked the neighbors for their engagement, including through public meetings with city staff

held throughout the last two years. “They have been very engaged and very responsive and appreciate of the city’s outreach,” said Frerichs, who added, “we can do better.” “It is absolutely an invaluable resource and I also think we can do better for the neighborhood as well.” He specifically called for mitigation measures, including making the entrance to the respite center more attractive, as well as neighborhood investment, saying, “if we’re going to ask neighborhoods to take on responsibilities, (we need) to basically also ensure we are the best neighbor we can be as the city.” Councilman Will Arnold echoed Frerichs, saying, “I really do appreciate the surrounding community for understanding the special place that this has and for the challenges that everybody faced … “Places like this have to go somewhere,” said Arnold, “and we had to come to the conclusion that there’s no good place to put it but it’s got to go somewhere. But the work that’s being done, the positive impact on folks’ lives is evident… this is really something

that provides a needed service in our community.” In fact, said Arnold, “it’s always going to be in whatever top five list I have of things I was able to do in my tenure on the council. This is something that’s really important to the community and I’m so glad we’re able to continue it.” Mayor Gloria Partida said “most of the neighbors there want to be of service and want this to be successful so I think it’s really important for the city to be instrumental in that success. “If there is a way that we can beautify the area or that we can mitigate the places that people will hang out, and sort of funnel people away from certain places and over to the respite center… that would be very helpful for folks who are on foot or on bicycle in that area and that would help them feel a little more comfortable being in those spaces.” “I’m just so grateful that we have this resource,” Partida added. “The fact that we have placed people into housing shows that we can do this. This is something that we can be successful at and I’m very grateful that we are making this effort.”

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THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

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The Oscar Shorts: Amusing, engaging, shocking By Derrick Bang

‘Oscar Shorts’

Enterprise movie critic I always look forward to the live action and animated Academy Award nominees; it’s fun to wonder if we’ll see the first efforts of the next Spielberg, Kurosawa or Scorsese, or the next Miyazaki or Lasseter. Most of this year’s live-action nominees show plenty of promise. The animated nominees are, um, more challenging. And be advised: Two of them absolutely are not for children. Starting with live action, Polish director Tadeusz Lysiak’s tender, deeply moving “The Dress” is fueled by Anna Dzieduszycka’s terrific starring performance as Julia, a lonely woman who works as a maid in a rundown rural motel. Lysiak’s story is a bittersweet “first sexual encounter” saga, but Julia isn’t a fresh-faced youth; she’s an embittered, sexually frustrated, middle-aged woman who has spent her entire life deflecting rude comments about her diminutive stature as a “little person.” The pain is palpable in Dzieduszycka’s expression and posture, as she angrily chain-smokes and feeds endless coins into slot machines. Then she chances to meet Bogdan (Szymon Piotr Warszawski), a trucker who smiles and treats Julia with respect; the flicker of hope that illuminates Dzieduszycka’s eyes is heartbreaking. Lysiak doesn’t pull back from subsequent details; the difficulty she has buying a suitable “date dress,” for example, is particularly touching. Swiss filmmaker Maria Brendle’s “Ala Kachuu (Take and Run)” is a harrowing “statement drama.” Nineteen-year-old Sezim (Alina Turdumamatova) lives in a small, rural Kyrgyz village. She’s smart enough to attend university in the capital city of Bishkek: a goal her traditional parents forbid, knowing they’d be “shamed” by a daughter who made such a lifestyle choice. Sezim nonetheless runs away to Beshkek, moves in with her friend Aksana (Madina Talipbekova),

Rating: Not rated, and patently adult Available via: Movie theaters and gets a job in a bakery while awaiting the results of a university entrance exam. One day, totally without warning, she’s kidnapped by three young men; they drive her to an even more remote Kyrgyz village, where she’s forced to marry one of them (Nurbek Esengazy Uulu, as Dayrbek). The village women, themselves former victims of “bride-kidnapping” — which apparently is endemic in Kyrgyzstan — offer no sympathy. Turdumamatova’s performance is shattering; Sezim’s despair and desperation are palpable. Brendle’s plot beats are unrelenting; we Western viewers can’t help being shocked by her helplessness, and the callous “traditions” that tolerate such treatment of young women. Danish filmmaker Martin Strange-Hansen’s “On My Mind” is slight, but quite sweet. Henrik (Rasmus Hammerich) wanders into a bar at closing time; owner Preben (Ole Boisen), running receipts, wants him to leave. Bartender Louise (Camilla Bendix), sensing pain in this customer, is more accommodating. Henrik spots the bar’s karaoke machine, and asks to sing a song; this further fuels Preben’s impatience. The question, of course, is why the agitated Henrik so desperately wishes to sing this particular song; the touching answer comes via the persuasive work by all three actors. British director Aneil Karia’s “The Long Goodbye,” co-written with star Riz Ahmed — and designed to accompany his recent rap album of the same title — is a violently angry indictment of institutionalized racism. Alas, Karia and Ahmed drastically overplay their hand, and the resulting 12-minute film is likely to alienate viewers inclined to be

Can a delicate ballerina and a battered boxer find true love, or are their diverging career paths destined to keep them apart? Courtesy photo

sympathetic to the message. The setting is a dystopian nearfuture (although that isn’t made clear), when roving gangs of thugs (police?) routinely raid the homes of “foreigners” — despite their British roots — and execute them in the street. The film’s deplorable first half is merely a set-up for Ahmed’s subsequent lengthy, vitriolic rap, the core message of which is “We’re citizens just like you are.” But the set-up doesn’t work. Given the premise, Ahmed’s character’s family is oddly clueless, like lambs waiting to be slaughtered; the result is more a rap video than anything approaching a coherent narrative. Mexican American filmmaker K.D. Dávila’s brilliant “Please Hold,” also set in the near future, is by far my favorite: science fiction that’s the ultimate cautionary tale. And it doesn’t seem that unrealistic; this is the nightmarish, highly probable result of bottom-line corporate indifference, drone surveillance, tedious phone menus and sub-menus, and a lot of other dehumanizing things that have insidiously wormed their way into our lives. Mateo (Erick Lopez), heading to work one day, is apprehended and arrested by a police drone that subsequently takes him to a booking station, and then to a prison cell: a wholly automated

process lacking human involvement. But Mateo hasn’t done anything, and he has no means of contacting anybody to prove this. Dávila and co-writer Omer Levin Menekse are relentless with this mistaken-identity trauma: bits that are simultaneously hilarious (we laugh nervously) and terrifying. The overseeing Correcticorp AI (“Reforming one life at a time!”) botches Mateo’s guaranteed phone call; the price of his meals, as days and weeks pass, are charged against his depleted savings; the only way he can earn funds is pennies-by-thehour crocheting for Handmade … which is, of course, a subsidiary of Correcticorp. Lopez’s emotional disintegration — confusion to disbelief, to anger and frustration, to barely controlled patience, to dismay and finally weary resignation — is totally persuasive. Moving on, English animator Joanna Quinn’s “Affairs of the Art” is the newest chapter in the wacky life of Beryl, the workingclass eccentric previously seen in three earlier shorts: “Girls Night Out” (1987), “Body Beautiful” (1990) and “Dreams & Desires: Family Ties” (2006). Quinn’s loose, painterly, handdrawn style is strongly reminiscent of American animator/ cartoonist Bill Plympton; both create aggressively misshapen

burlesques whose behavior borders on distasteful, even repugnant. Although Beryl’s determination to become an artist is this new short’s core plot, numerous detours explore the lunatic quirks of her husband (Ifor), their son (Colin) and her sister (Beverly), along with their repulsively peculiar childhoods. I guess it’s all supposed to be funny, but my reaction can be summed up with one of Beryl’s own rhetorical questions: “Why am I wasting my time on this s---?” But if “Affairs of the Art” is merely distasteful, Chilean director Hugo Covarrubias’ “Bestia” is downright disgusting. The main character is inspired by Íngrid Olderöck, a ruthless DINA agent with the Chilean military dictatorship ruled by Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to ’90. Her stop-motion counterpart here is based on a porcelain doll, as a means of conveying this woman’s coldness. That said, this 16-minute nightmare is best described as the revolting thoughts, desires and actions of a woman sliding into insanity; two brief sequences are beyond repugnant. Academy voters felt this was worth sharing with the world? Seriously? Spanish director Alberto Mielgo’s often abstract “The Windshield

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‘Don Giovanni’ an intimate, bare-bones production By Jennifer Goldman Enterprise theater critic Attention all opera lovers! Verismo Opera is back on stage at the Bay Terrace Theater in Vallejo. I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of W.A. Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” directed by Eric Coyne and conducted by Michael Moran. “Don Giovanni” is fashioned after the Spanish Don Juan character. The opera follows the womanizing Don Giovanni (Julio Ferrari) and his servant Leporello (Chris Langton) as they try to avoid Donna Anna (Diane Squires), his latest female victim, and her current boyfriend Don

Octavio (Darron Flagg), who are seeking revenge for his misdeeds and for killing Donna Anna’s father in a duel. He also is being sought after by his “wife” Donna Elvira (Courtney Daniels) and soon is chasing yet another young woman, Zerlina (Cristin Williams), on her wedding day no less. Trickery, deceit and high emotions dominate the opera with plenty of humor thrown in to boot. Don Giovanni is still one of the most loved operas of all time. The Verismo Opera is a wonderful way to view opera in an intimate setting. The small orchestra was fully visible during the

entire performance which was a joy to watch. Even though they were volunteer musicians, Moran conducted flawlessly and they didn’t miss a note. This is the first time I have heard Mozart sung in English instead of the traditional Italian. The set was minimal and the costumes were set in what appeared to be a 1950s style; functional but not elaborate. The theater itself does need some repairs and it was announced that a leaky roof had necessitated the closing of the men’s room and a gender-neutral restroom was made available. The theater was a bit chilly inside and I would recommend a warm jacket and to

dress in layers. This is a bare-bones production. I enjoyed the charismatic acting and blissful singing that the cast brought to the stage. This is the first opera performance after a very long forced hiatus. I was told that due to the pandemic, they had two years of preparation to present their best work. And it showed — Ferrari commanded the stage with his good looks and killer smile. He clearly enjoyed every moment. His charisma carried the show as Giovanni; he showed no regrets for his actions and seemed born to give and take pleasure from as many women as he could. My favorite line was

when Leporello asks him to give up women and Don Giovanni replies,”Leave the women alone? You’re mad! You know that they are more necessary to me than the bread I eat! Than the air I breathe!” Somehow it struck me that he found all women desirable and indeed he woo’d all the women in the cast at one point or another, in all shapes, sizes and different ages, which made me, as a woman, also feel desired. Bravo. Daniels wowed the crowd in her love/hate relationship with Giovanni and the crowd went wild when she sang her powerful aria during Act 2. Masetto(John Iosefa) and Zerlina(Cristin

Williams) were both hilarious with their wacky expressions and physical comedy all while singing beautifully. Squires and Flagg hit the classic highs and lows like the pros. Ximena (Jennifer Rineman in her first opera appearance), also doubled as the only chorus member and brought more humor to the performance. The Commendatore (Coyne) — who begins and ends the show — sang the most well known song with gusto (think of the movie “Amedeus”) to a grateful audience. You can catch this show Sundays, March 6 and 13, and buy tickets for $20 at Verismoopera.org.

sports THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE — FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Too many good memories of Arco Arena D o you remember what you did on March 28, 1988? That is the date I first set foot inside Arco Arena in Sacramento. Little did I know that I would be attending and covering many events at the arena through April 9, 2016. On Wednesday, the Sacramento Kings announced that Arco Arena, where the Kings played their preseason, regularseason and NBA playoff games, is going to be demolished. In the fall of 2016, Golden 1 Center in Sacramento became the new home for the Kings, although former Beatles in Paul McCartney officially performed the first concert inside the new arena. Most of you know that Arco Arena hosted more than just NBA games. There were many Sac-Joaquin Section boys and girls basketball playoff games, plus California Interscholastic Federation State NorCal and state title games, arena football games, concerts, ice shows and

monster truck shows. Circle your calendar for Saturday, March 19. That is when Kings fans can visit one more time before the arena is demolished. There are plans to redevelop the area, which include a new teaching hospital and medical school for California Northstate University. The arena, which could seat more than 17,000 fans, was known as Arco Arena from 1988-2011. Then Power Balance Pavilion in 2011-12 and Sleep Train Arena from 2012-16. Time to share some of my good memories of Arco Arena. n Back to March 28, 1988. A female friend of mine, who we met in college and worked together at the, now defunct, Golden Corral Buffet and Grill in Turlock, traveled to Sacramento to see the rock ‘n’ roll band Kiss — without the makeup — and opening act Anthrax in concert. Being inside of a new arena was very joyful for my friend and me. Plus, anyone else who was

inside the arena to see Kiss. If you remember Anthrax appearing in an episode of “Married With Children” in 1992, then, clearly, you are/were a fan of the band and/or one of my favorite 1990s TV shows. n On Dec. 16, 1992, I saw Kiss again at Arco Arena on their Revenge Tour. This time, I was lucky enough to score two backstage passes, thanks to a friend of mine. Unfortunately, those of us who had backstage passes to see, then members of co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, plus Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer, didn’t get to see them, as they,

supposedly, left the building after the concert. n Fast-forward to Aug. 28, 1996. Yes, I saw Kiss again, but this time in makeup and original members in Stanley and Simmons, plus Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. Do you want to know what was the best part of this concert? I was blessed and fortunate to land a photo press pass. The only downside was those of us who landed that elite pass could only photograph the first two songs of the concert, and if we wanted, come back for the encore songs. n During the 2000-01 high school basketball season, some friends of mine and I went to check out the California Interscholastic Federation State Boys Basketball Championship. Modesto Christian, which anyone who follows basketball in Northern California knows is a basketball powerhouse, played for a state title. I forget which division it was, and I usually remember information like that.

n The 2001-02 marked the first time I photographed a SacJoaquin Section girls basketball title game, which was the Division IV girls between Patterson and Colfax. I was a reporter for the Patterson Irrigator at the time. In case you’re wondering, Colfax won 40-35. n As the 2000s continued, I was blessed and fortunate to cover and photograph many Kings home games. Too many games that I covered from the 2002-03 season until April 9, 2016. But some games that stand out was photographing the Kings-Dallas Mavericks game on Christmas Day in 2003. Snapping photos of the Kings’ playoff games in the first and quarterfinal rounds of the NBA Western Conference playoffs during the 2003-04 season. Sacramento beat the Mavericks 4-1, but the Minnesota Timberwolves

See BUSH, Page B3

Long Beach St. steals win from UCD women By Mike Bush Enterprise sports editor Three UC Davis women basketball players scored in double figures in Thursday’s Big West Conference home game against Long Beach State. The Aggies were also solid in rebounds and assists against the Beach. But a 3-point play turned what seemed to be another conference win for the Aggies into Long Beach State’s favor, as it posted 65-60 victory inside University Credit Union Center. “It came down to, obviously, too many turnovers,” said UCD head coach Jennifer Gross, whose Aggies were guilty of 26 turnovers in the game to the Beach’s 17. “We talked about if they are going to score, it has to be in the half court. They did such a good job scoring off their turnovers.” Aggie center Sage Stobbart recorded the team’s final field goal of the game with more than two minutes left in the fourth quarter. That gave UCD (13-11 overall, 7-7 BWC) a 59-56 lead. Then Long Beach State (19-6, 9-6) started its late rally, which led to the ultimate win. After a missed field goal, Beach forward Maddi Utti (16 points) got the ball back on offense, thanks to an Aggie turnover, and dropped a bucket to cut the lead to 59-58 with 2:06 left in the game.

Arya Lalvani/Enterprise photo

UC Davis senior Sage Stobbart, with ball, looks to pass as teammate Kayla Konrad (23) races by Long Beach’s Justina King. Then Beach guard Kianna Hamilton-Fisher (15 points) canned a 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the game to change the lead in favor of Long Beach State at 61-59. Long Beach State made 4 of 4 free throws in the final minute of the game. The Beach made 13 of 16 from the line in the game. Meanwhile, UCD only made 1 of 2 from the line in the final two minutes of the final quarter. Forward Cierra Hall (9 points) sank 1 of 2 with 6.6 seconds left in the

The Beach 65, Aggies 60

Next game: Saturday vs.

Cal State Fullerton, 2 p.m. Listen: KDVS 90.3 Watch: ESPN+

game, which cut into the Beach’s lead at 63-60. The Aggies were 7 of 13 from the free-throw line in the game. Any hopes of an Aggie come-from-behind victory after Hall’s free shots were eliminated at 4.8 seconds remaining on the clock.

Beach guard Justina King (13 points) made her two free throws, which led to the final score. UCD led most of the fourth quarter until the final two minutes. Aggie guard Sydney Burns (12 points) started the final quarter with a 3-pointer to break a 49-49 tie, now at 52-49. Stobbart made it 53-49 after making one of two free throws. Burns hit a basket at the buzzer to end the third quarter to tie the game. As the minutes on the

clock ticked away after Burns’ basket, UCD held a 57-51 advantage. The score remained the same until a minute later when Long Beach State scored a basket to make it 57-53. Then the Beach’s defense forced another Aggie turnover, which led to a 3-pointer for a 57-56 score. “We had that (six-point) lead in the fourth quarter, and then we just struggled offensively,” Gross said. Burns played a bigger role for the Aggies in the quarter and game. She registered six

assists, as Burns moved the ball smoothly to guard Evanne Turner (11 points), plus inside the paint to forwards in Kayla Konrad (team-high 15 points) and Hall. Long Beach State entered the third quarter with a 36-32 advantage. That was a huge momentum factor for the Beach, who saw UCD start the second quarter with a 20-12 lead. In the early minutes of the first quarter, UCD held a comfortable 13-2 lead, which was led by Burns, Konrad and Turner. The trio’s scoring and the Aggies’ pressure on defense forced the Beach into most of their turnovers early in the game. The Aggies had 35 rebounds in the contest, compared to the Beach’s 28. Konrad and Hall had eight each, and Stobbart pulled seven, with five on defense “I thought our hustle on defense and rebounding was very solid,” Gross said. UCD was 22 of 49 from the field for a 44.9 percent shooting. Long Beach State was 22 of 53 at 41.5 percent. “It was transition defense and points off turnovers,” said Gross of how the Beach scored most of their points in the game. On Saturday, UCD will play its final regular-season home game, as Cal State Fullerton pays a visit to the University Credit Union Center. Tipoff is scheduled at 2 p.m.

Dixon out-hits Blue Devil softball By Rebecca Wasik

“She was great,” said Gibson. “She’s technically on the JV team. This was her first varsity season game, and she A three-run rally in the third inning was great. Even at the plate she had was not enough for the Davis High great at-bats. On the mound she came softball team in a home game against in and she pitched really well for her Dixon on Wednesday. first outing.” Three late-inning runs by Dixon Blue Devils starting pitcher Erika gave it a 6-3 victory over Davis (1-2). Wenner pitched two scoreless But, a Blue Devil freshman impressed innings. Then the Rams were able to with a solid pitching get to her. outing in the first varsity Audrey Graham of game of her high-school the Rams was hit by a career. pitch and stole second Alessandra Trask was base. A single by Felesha brought up from the Next game: Saturday, Lepenske moved Grajunior varsity team to ham to third. Then DH at Woodcreek pitch in relief. Trask Graham came home in Roseville: came into the game in when Blue Devil catcher the third inning with vs. Woodcreek, 9 a.m.; Naomi Kalanetra threw one out. She recorded a vs. Rosemont, 2:15 p.m. to second base in an ground out and strikeattempt to catch Lepenout to complete the inning. She ske stealing — who was safe — and pitched a hitless fourth and fifth the throw back home came too late to inning as well. catch the speedy Graham. Trask gave up two hits and one run Another single by Lexi Coyle in the sixth inning and three hits and moved Lepenske to third base. A two runs in the seventh. At the plate, double by Ashley Garcia scored Lepshe recorded a walk and a single. enske and moved Coyle to third base. Davis head coach Tyler Gibson was As Trask came in to relieve Wenner, proud to see Trask make an impact in Coyle scored on a fantastic diving her first varsity contest. ground out play by Blue Devils

Enterprise correspondent

Rams 6, Devils 3

shortstop Carolena Morales, who threw to first base. Trask struck out the next Rams hitter to end the offensive stretch. Davis had an offensive showing of its own in the third inning. The inning began with a single by Trask. After a strikeout by Cloe Lamoureux, Morales was hit by a pitch, which moved Trask to second base. Kalanetra singled that moved Trask to third and Morales to second. After a strikeout from Isabella Lester, all three baserunners were brought home on a timely triple by Ella Shorts. The score remained tied until the sixth inning, when the Rams added a run after an Alexandria Mendes single brought in Garcia from third base. Back-to-back lineouts to Morales ended the half inning. Dixon hitters added two insurance runs in the seventh inning. A double by Garcia scored Lepenske from third base. A sacrifice fly from Camryn Elliot brought in Garcia for Dixon’s sixth and final run. Shorts came in to pitch for Davis in the seventh with one on base and one out.

See SOFTBALL, Page B3

Michael Trask/Enterprise photo

Erica Wenner started in the circle for the Davis High softball team on Wednesday against Dixon.

Sports

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Heartbreaking loss for Aggie men’s basketball Special to The Enterprise Aggie guard Elijah Pepper stared down the host Long Beach State student section with 7.9 seconds remaining in regulation and promptly sank three free throws to knot the score at 65-65. However, The Beach’s Colin Slater responded with a clutch play of his own as the senior guard drove down the court and pull up for a long-range trey with one tick on the clock to give Long Beach State a 68-65 Big West Conference win and send the student section into a frenzy at the Walter Pyramid. “We had what we wanted (on the floor),” said UCD head coach Jim Les in a radio interview following the contest when asked why he didn’t call a time out. “We subbed on the free throw and had our best defender on their best shot maker. We stayed in our gaps, and made him pull up.” How good was the Aggie defense? Slater, who entered the contest averaging 14.2 points per game, was 0 for 12 from the field before hitting the game-winning shot.

Local roundup “We’re all going to look back, me included, and wish we’d done some things differently,” said Les, whose time dropped to 12-9 overall and 5-5 in conference. “There were some 50-50s … and 18 turnovers on the road, way too many.” The Beach (17-11, 11-3) turned those turnovers into 15 points. UCD clawed its way back into the contest after Long Beach State used a 14-2 run to go up 56-49 with 7:44 remaining. The Aggies went on a 8-0 run, capped by a Caleb Fuller trey, to tie the score at 60-60 with 3:39 left on the clock. Long Beach retook the lead on a layup by Jordan Roberts. UCD went cold from long range and back-to-back 3-point attempts rattled in and out. Beach forward Aboubacar Traore appeared to seal the game with just over a minute to play. The 6-foot-5 freshman from Cote D’ivoire made 1 of 2 free-throw attempts to put Long Beach up 63-60. His miss was grabbed by teammate Jadon Jones, who

found Slater, who promptly missed the layup. Traore skied to snag the loose ball in the air and slam it through to make it 65-60 with 1:17 remaining. Aggie Ezra Manjon was fouled with 45 seconds remaining and hit both free throws to make it a one-possession game, 65-62. On the defensive end, the Aggies stymied Beach players and forced shot-clock violation. It was then Pepper time. He was fouled by Jones on a 3-point attempt and sank all three to knot the score and set up Slater’s heroics. Pepper finished with 11 points. Manjon finished with 16 points to put him at 999 for his Aggie career with one regular-season game remaining Saturday at Cal State Fullerton at 6 p.m. Kane Milling had 14 points, and Fuller finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.

DHS ski team The Davis High boys and girls alpine ski team’s victory overcame any car-lag from an eight-hour bus ride home from Alpine

Meadows as they captured first place at the Central II Giant Slalom on Feb. 22. On top of that, a combined 18 team members secured places to compete in the upcoming CNISSF State Championships. The Blue Devil boys won all their regular-season races this season. The Davis girls was first in all but one race. As a result of their stellar performances on the slopes, Davis dominated the boys lineup for Central II Division going into the championships, contributing nine of 12 qualifiers for the giant slalom and eight of 12 qualifiers for the giant slalom. The Blue Devil girls also controlled the rosters for their events, qualifying racers for six of 12 spots in both slalom and giant slalom. Competing for the Blue Devil girls are Ariel Bukowski, Keira Emmett, Megan Lovell, Athena Leckie, Anna Szymoniak, Lily Schroeder, Alena Voss and Katie McMullen. Davis boys who are scheduled to compete are Lucas BreitbardRasmussen, Parker Giovannetti, Gavin Lynch, Griffin Starr, Lukas

Voss, Izak Rutherford, Ayden Morgan, Joe Mellema, Max McMullen and sophomore June Watterson. The state championships will at Mammoth Mountain on March 9 and 10.

River Cats WEST SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the 2021 National League West champion San Francisco Giants, are preparing for the return of baseball at Sutter Health Park and celebrating with their annual Preseason Party on Sunday. The Preseason Party, which is free to all attendees, is from 1 to 4 p.m. with early entry for seasonticket members starting at noon. The River Cats’ Opening Night is Tuesday, April 5, against the Sugar Land Space Cowboy, who are a Houston Astros affiliate. Season ticket memberships and packages are available by calling the River Cats ticket hotline at (916) 371-4487, email tickets@ rivercats.com, or visit rivercats. com.

SOFTBALL: Devils played scrappy BUSH: Saw the last playoff game From Page B2 Despite a leadoff single in the seventh by the Blue Devils, two groundouts and a fly out brought the game to a close. “We played a good game and we lost today,” said Gibson. “Our pitchers did a good job. We played good defense. (Dixon) had some timely hits against us. We’re certainly not doing all the little things perfectly, but with this group, our main emphasis is on control. Today, we had

good at-bats and some timely hits ourselves, but we ultimately lost.” Dixon finished the game with 10 hits. Davis had eight. Lamoureux, Tuss and Shorts each recorded two hits. Kalanetra and Trask had one hit apiece. “We have to scrap for runs against really good teams, especially in our league,” said Gibson. “In the third inning, we got the bases loaded and Ella got into a hitters’ count and was ready. That’s what

we preach to these girls — you might get one good pitch in an at-bat and you have to cash in. We had a few more of these chances, but we didn’t cash in and that was the difference in this game.” Davis will play a doubleheader at Woodcreek of Roseville on Saturday. The Blue Devils will play host Woodcreek at 9 a.m. and Rosemont of Sacramento at 2:15 p.m. — Follow Rebecca Wasik on Twitter: @BeccaFromTheBay.

From Page B2 got past the Kings in the quarterfinals, 4-3. n On May 5, 2006, the Kings, who were the No. 8 seed in the Western Division of the NBA playoffs, played their final playoff game. That is where the San Antonio Spurs won 10583, eliminating the Kings in six games. As you know, the Kings have not made the playoffs in the last 15 seasons. To this day, I still

remember, former Kings head coach Rick Adelman leaving the media room. Anyone who was there could sense that he probably wasn’t going to return after a successful run, as he was in his final year of his contract. On May 9, The Sacramento Bee reported that his contract would not be renewed. n On April 9, 2016, it seemed almost every member of the media in Northern California, including yours truly,

descended into Arco Arena for the last time for an NBA game. I was working as a sportswriter at the Lodi News-Sentinel. This time, the Kings were playing the Oklahoma City Thunder. And the Kings finished a 28-year run at Arco Arena with a 114-112 win over the Thunder. — Contact Mike Bush at mike@davisenterprise. net. Follow on Twitter: @MBDavisSports.

B4 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

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Arts

B6 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022

Uncommon concerts at Mondavi SHORTS: Works hit multiple emotions

By Jeff Hudson Special to The Enterprise Two concerts in the Mondavi Center this weekend will feature some uncommon and unusual concert experiences. n On Saturday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m., the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra (UCDSO) will give a concert titled “Pastoral Moods,” featuring one of the most popular symphonies of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, as well as two premieres of recent works by composers from the United States and South America. Joseph Peterson’s “Three Pieces from the Pandemic” is made up of three movements that reflect the present “uncertain times.” Peterson is a grad student at UC Davis, and this piece won the 2022 UCDSO Composition Award. “Kuyén” is a new violin concerto drawing on indigenous South American traditions and myths, which was commissioned for the UCDSO with funds from Ibermúsicas, an organization focused on Latin American music. The composer is Miguel Farías (b. 1983 in Venezuela, lives and teaches at a Chilean university). The soloist will be KoreanAmerican violinist Rachel Lee Priday, who studied at Juilliard and at the New England Conservatory under famed teachers including Dorothy DeLay, Itzhak Perlman and Miriam Fried. The Dvorák Eighth Symphony (written in the composer’s Bohemian homeland in 1889) is regarded as one of his best. UCDSO conductor Christian Baldini noted that he and the orchestra first started rehearsing the piece in March 2020 for a planned performance that year. Then the pandemic hit, and the Mondavi Center went dark for almost a year-and-a-half. Now, in March 2022, Baldini and the orchestra will finally get a chance to perform the piece. Tickets are $24 general,

From Page B1

Courtesy photo

Violinist Rachel Lee Priday will be the soloist for “Kuyén” is a new violin concerto drawing on indigenous South American traditions and myths Saturday at the Mondavi Center. $12 students and children, available online at MondaviArts.org and at the door. n On Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m., the Mondavi Center will host a two-piano recital featuring two highly regarded pianists with international careers. Garrick Ohlsson was born in 1948 in metropolitan New York and studied at Juilliard. Ohlsson rocketed to fame in 1970, becoming the first (and thus far only) American to win first prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Poland; he has since appeared with major orchestras, string quartets and in solo recital all over the world. Over the decades, he’s appeared on several dozen recordings , and received a Grammy Award. In recent years, Ohlsson has lived in San Francisco. Kirill Gerstein was born in 1979 in the Soviet Union to a Russian-Jewish family, and isnow a U.S. citizen based in Berlin. Gerstein began winning music competitions in his teens; he relocated to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. In 2010, Gerstein won the Gilmore Artist Award

(which includes a $300,000 grant), as well as an Avery Fisher Career Grant, and went on to appear with many major orchestras. Gerstein appeared at Mondavi in 2018 with the San Francisco Symphony, performing the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 under guest conductor David Robertson. Ohlsson and Gerstein’s program features some seldom-heard treats, including: n A two-piano suite by British composer Thomas Adès, drawn from his 1995 opera “Powder Her Face.” Gerstein has previously performed this two-piano suite with Adès as the other pianist. n Sergei Rachmaninoff’s two-piano version of his “Symphonic Dances” (best known in its orchestral version, premiered in 1940 — it was the composer’s last major symphonic work). n The “Fantasia Contrapunntistica” by Italian-born Ferruccio Busoni (18661924), from 1910. Busoni published a multivolume “Bach-Busoni Edition,” in which Busoni adapted J.S. Bach’s keyboard works (originally for harpsichord or organ) with a 20th Century concert grand piano in

‘Urinetown’ opens at DMTC Special to The Enterprise

“Urinetown,” the Tony awarding winning musical with the self-proclaimed terrible title parodies everything from musicals to corporations and government comes to Davis Musical Theatre Company from March 4 to 27. Directed by Steve Isaacson, musical directed by Kyle Jackson and choreographed by Sherilyn Turton, “Urinetown” is a satirical comedy musical that pokes fun at the everything, from government bureaucracy and the legal system to corporate America’s mismanagement and social irresponsibility. The show even parodies the Broadway musical itself. With music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann, and book by Greg Kotis, “Urinetown” brings a surprise ending to this unorthodox and thoughtprovoking musical. It tells the story of a Bobby Strong (newcomer to DMTC and to America, Paul Mollitt), an assistant custodian at the local municipal restroom, and Hope Cladwell (another newcomer to DMTC, Sierra Isola), as their ill-fated romance gets swept up into the resistance of the people against Hope’s father, Caldwell B. Cladwell (played by Clocky McDowell) who runs the evil UGC (Urine Good Company). A 20-year drought has taken its toll creating an incredible water shortage that has outlawed private restrooms. The bathroom

facilities are now a pay as you go proposition with public toilets controlled by an evil conglomerate called Urine Good Company. The laws are harsh with offenders that can’t pay for the “privilege to pee” being sent to Urinetown, never to return. The Public Amenity is run by Ms. Penny Pennywise (played by Morgan Bartoe); eventually, the Poor People revolt, led by Bobby Strong. The inspiration for “Urinetown” came when Greg Kotis was a poor student traveling through Europe using pay toilets. After his return to the U.S., he began to write “Urinetown.” The subject matter turned off many producing company and after initial starts and stops was finally mounted for the New York Fringe Festival. “Urinetown” was nominated for 10 Drama Desk Awards and 10 Tony Awards including Best musical, winning three Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Score. “Urinetown” runs March 4-27, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m, at the Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center, 607 Peña Drive in Davis. Tickets are $18 general, $16 students and seniors, and $14 per person for groups of 10 or more (all tickets are subject to a $2 per ticket Facility Fee, in person, online or over the phone). Tickets are available online at dmtc. org or by calling 530-756-3682. For information, contact info@dmtc.org.

mind. As a teen, Garrick Ohlsson won first prize in Busoni International Piano Competition in 1966. And in 1989, Ohlsson made a landmark recording of the Busoni Piano Concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra. n Maurice Ravel’s “La Valse.” Composed “ just after World War I, “La Valse” opens with a toe-tapping European waltz, but the music gradually morphs into something darker, faster, and even a bit menacing, like a speeding train about to derail. Many listeners regard “La Valse” as a commentary on World War I (during which polite European society was left reeling after bombardment by heavy artillery, the miseries of trench warfare, and poison gas attacks. Ravel always maintained that “La Valse” was a “choreographic poem for orchestra,” and not programmatic music with a message. But it could be interesting to hear this two-piano version of “La Valse” in the context of the current military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Tickets are $90-$35 general, with discounts for students, online at Mondavi Arts.org or at the door.

Wiper” isn’t unpleasant, but viewers may find it similarly impenetrable. The episodic narrative begins with a philosopher chain-smoking in a café, who poses a question: “What is love?” Rather than attempting an actual answer, subsequent vignettes mostly convey the difficulty of love in our modern world. Mielgo’s style is all over the map: hand-drawn, CGI, painted backdrops, graphic novel-style cityscapes, surreal countrysides and even photonatural figures that appear to be rotoscoped. A late-night homeless man mistakes a store window mannequin for a former lover; a couple sitting wordlessly on a beach appears to be in the throes of a break-up; a young man bearing flowers is ignored when (one assumes) he buzzes for entry into his lover’s apartment; and (this one’s an ironic hoot) two people standing next to each other in a market are too focused on scrolling through a dating app to notice that they’re perfect for each other. Mielgo made this film while he worked as a production designer on 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” (His explanation of this short’s unusual title is too lengthy to include here, on top of which … I ain’t buyin’ it.) Russian director Anton Dyakov’s tender “Boxballet” is a clearer, more wistful treatment of love, with a conventional narrative that follows the unlikely pairing of a delicate ballerina (Olya) and the battered boxer (Evgeny) who develops a crush when he rescues her cat from a tree. Dyakov’s animation style whimsically exaggerates

their dissimilar physicality; Olya’s limbs are matchstick thin, while Evgeny is a hulking, oversized bruiser. The story’s resolution is delightful (and a breath of fresh air, after the previous trio). “Robin, Robin,” finally, is a captivating, Christmas-themed treasure from Aardman Animations, the British folks best known for Wallace & Gromit. The story concerns a small bird raised by a benevolent family of mice, when her unhatched egg falls out of the nest. Alas, Robin proves to be “a very poor mouse” when it comes to sneaking into “Who-man” homes to forage for food. At 32 minutes, this almost feels like a feature film; Robin’s droll adventures include encounters with a curmudgeonly magpie (voiced by Richard E. Grant) and a malevolent cat (Gillian Anderson). Unlike the plasticene wellroundedness of Wallace & Gromit, the stop-motion characters here are all feathers and fur: utterly charming. It defies comprehension that something this sweet and gentle would be selected by the same folks who picked “Affairs of the Art” and “Bestia.” “Robin, Robin” is like a single rose sprouting from a pile of cow dung; it’s not merely beautiful in its own right, but its very presence is miraculous. And, given this anomaly, I’m sure “Robin, Robin” hasn’t a chance of winning. More’s the pity. Participating movie theaters and show times for this package, presented by ShortsTV, can be found at https://tickets.oscarshorts.com — Read more of Derrick Bang’s film criticism at http://derrickbang.blog spot.com.