enterprise THE DAVIS
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
‘A perfect career’
Car wash goes to planning commission
Longtime firefighter Weist retires
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer
By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer After nearly four decades in the fire service, longtime Davis firefighter Bobby Weist is hanging up his turnouts for good. It was a shoulder injury that ultimately sidelined Weist, who often claimed he’d never retire from what he calls the “perfect career.” “I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend 38 years working,” said Weist, 59, who joined the Davis Fire Department as a student firefighter in 1984. Weist underwent surgery for his injury — the result of a fire station fall that tore his rotator cuff and cartilage in his shoulder joint — back in January 2021. He’s been rehabbing ever since, confident he’d return to the front lines. Eventually, however, reality set in. During a Feb. 14 checkup, Weist’s doctor informed him his firefighting days were over. The news dealt a blow to Weist, who in addition to
Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo
Fire Capt. Bobby Weist, left, stands as former Davis Fire Chief Daryl Arbuthnott speaks at the Fire Department’s 9/11 memorial in 2017. After 38 years on the job, Weist is heading into retirement. his fire captain role has led the firefighters’ union, Local 3494, since 1988. Reluctantly, he announced his retirement on Facebook a week later. “Thank you to all the women and men, past and present, that helped me throughout my career,” he wrote. “Davis Fire has the best and most dedicated people I’ve ever met. And I
believe that can be said about all the city of Davis employees.” Joe Tenney, the last of 10 fire chiefs to serve during Weist’s tenure, said Weist made his mark with his positive outlook, strong worth ethic and “complete dedication” to the department, the union and the entire Davis community. Tenney noted that one of
School board votes to keep masks until April 11 By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer The school district held an important board meeting on Thursday, March 3. While pertinent updates and presentations were given regarding the happenings of the district, taking center stage were discussions surrounding the new masking protocols. Interim Superintendent Matt Best kicked off the meeting with his report which included the district’s celebration of black history month as well as students going to the Good Humus farm for outdoor and agricultural
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education. However, Best — along with the other trustees — took a moment to give their heartfelt sentiments towards the people of Ukraine and all affected by the Russian invasion. Public comments on non-agenda items followed directly after. Similar to past meetings, the comments were filled with more students and teachers pleading for the new bell schedule to be reconsidered. On top of that, many teachers called for better — and more affordable — healthcare.
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WEATHER Today: Frost followed by sun. High 64. Low 39.
the greatest challenges of the fire service is leaving the career after 30-plus years. “You put your life on the line every day, you see the worst and the best of people, protecting your fellow brother and sister firefighters with your life,” Tenney said. “You spend
See WEIST, Page A5
A proposal for an express car wash on Mace Boulevard in South Davis will go before the Davis Planning Commission on Wednesday. The Davis Express Car Wash would be built on a vacant 1.74-acre site at the corner of Mace and Cowell boulevards, a location used in recent years by the Boy Scouts for their annual Christmas Tree sales. The applicants, South Davis residents Thomas and Evan Lyon, envision a 5,758-square-foot building on the site that would house a drive-thru express car wash as well as office and equipment rooms and restrooms. Also included would be 21 vacuum bays, eight parking spaces, three automated pay stations, a bike washing/repair station, bike parking and a dog wash area. The Davis Planning Commission was scheduled to consider the proposal in February but that public hearing was postponed to allow the Lyons time to meet with community members, explain
the project and hear their concerns. That Zoom meeting, held Feb. 24, included more than 40 participants, with some expressing support for the project but others questioning how it would impact traffic in the area and the safety of children bicycling to Pioneer Elementary School, many of whom have to travel through the intersection at Mace and Cowell. That intersection was a key part of the traffic calming and bicycle/ pedestrian safety project completed by the city in 2019 that has since been dubbed the “Mace mess” by many residents who blame the work for increased traffic. Efforts are underway by the city now to ameliorate those issues. One commenter at the community meeting, Jerry Glazer, said, “I think it would be better to wait until Mace Boulevard is fixed,” and added that he believed the project, given its location on a route children travel to school, “would be dangerous from my perspective.”
See WASH, Page A3
UCD students protest housing costs By Caleb Hampton Enterprise staff writer More than 100 UC Davis student workers rallied on campus Thursday afternoon demanding that the university do more to make affordable housing available to students. The rally, which was organized by three student worker unions, coincided with the beginning of new contract negotiations this quarter between the University of California and the unions. “Right now, we’re all entering bargaining around the same time, so we are seeing this historic moment as a chance to demand affordable housing,” said Frangy Pozo, a UCD Ph.D.
Caleb Hampton/Enterprise photo
UC Davis student workers rally on campus Thursday for more affordable housing. student and spokesperson for UAW 2865 and SRUUAW, which represent teaching assistants and student researchers across the UC system.
UAW 5810, which represents UC postdocs, also participated in the rally. Altogether, the three
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Briefly Man accused of firing gun in mother’s house Woodland police searched a Spring Lake neighborhood for an armed man Friday morning after he allegedly broke into his mother’s house and opened fire. Officers later arrested 24-year-old Austin Burkhart of Woodland, who was booked into the Yolo County Jail on charges of shooting into an inhabited dwelling, burglary, vandalism and exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner. Sgt. Victoria Danzl said the incident began with an 8:12 a.m. report of the break-in on Ortiz Avenue, located south of the Pioneer High School and Woodland Community College campuses. “The victim told dispatch that the son was armed with a handgun. Dispatch heard shots fired during the call,” Danzl said. ”The uninjured victim fled to safety inside of her residence.” Arriving officers evacuated the uninjured occupants of the house and launched a neighborhood search for the son, advising residents of the area to stay in their homes as a precaution. Police issued an update around 10:15 a.m. that Burkhart had turned himself in at the Woodland police station and the firearm was recovered.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
Just wait until they see the unfair ones
I
f you’re planning to run for office in the State of California, you’d better read this first. I am now looking at the “Code of Fair Campaign Practices” that comes to us courtesy of Section 20440 of the Elections Code. “At the time an individual is issued his or her declaration of candidacy, nomination papers or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for public office, the elections official shall give the individual a blank form of the code and a copy of this chapter,” it begins. “The elections official shall inform each candidate for public office that subscription to the code is voluntary.” Wait, did I hear that right? I mean, why have a code of fair campaign practices that is voluntary? “There are basic principles of decency, honesty and fair play which every candidate for public office in the State of California has a moral obligation to observe and uphold in order that, after vigorously contested but fairly conducted campaigns, our citizens may exercise their constitutional right to a free and untrammeled
choice and the will of the people may be fully and clearly expressed on the issues.” Fair enough, but anyone who agrees with all of that doesn’t need a code of fair campaign practices, and for those who disagree with any or all of those words, it is, after all, voluntary. So one group of candidates doesn’t need it and the other group isn’t required to follow it. So what’s the point other than making the author of these words feel good about himself or herself? “I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, discussing the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with sincerity and frankness, and criticizing without fear or favor the record and policies of my opponents or political parties that
merit this criticism.” That’s a mouthful. Especially the part about “criticizing without fear or favor.” Why should I be required to criticize my opponent at all? How about if I just talk about myself and not even mention my opponent’s name? “I shall not use or permit the use of character defamation, whispering campaigns, libel, slander or scurrilous attacks on any candidate or his or her personal or family life.”
I
s the family dog off-limits, too? And can you please define “scurrilous”? “I shall not use or permit any appeal to negative prejudice based on a candidate’s perceived race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, sex, including gender identity or any other characteristic set forth in Section 12940 of the Government Code.” Can you say your opponent’s ideas are “goofy”? “I shall not use or permit any dishonest or unethical practice that tends to corrupt or undermine our
American system of free elections including acts intended to hinder or prevent any eligible person from registering to vote, enrolling to vote, or voting.” But are my supporters still allowed to storm the Capitol after the election? “I shall not coerce election help or campaign contributions for myself from my employees.” Indeed, I shall demand it. “I shall defend and uphold the right of every qualified American voter to full and equal participation in the electoral process.’ Now we know which political party insisted that adherence to this code be voluntary. “I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group that resorts, on behalf of my candidacy, to the methods and tactics that I condemn.” Unless, of course, I believe such actions will help me get elected. And remember, this whole thing is voluntary, so if it gets too hard to follow any of these rules, you can opt out whenever the mood strikes you. — Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.
Shasta County ‘kidnapping’ subject accused of lies, fraud
City seeks nominations for Thong Hy Huynh awards
By Lauren Keene
Enterprise staff writer
Enterprise staff writer Authorities announced the filing of federal charges against the purported victim in a Shasta County kidnapping case that has a Yolo County twist. Sherri Papini, now 39, had been missing for several weeks from her Redding-area home when she resurfaced north of Woodland on Thanksgiving Day 2016, claiming she’d been abducted by two Hispanic women who beat and branded her while holding her captive. All lies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI and Shasta County Sheriff ’s Office, who on Thursday jointly unveiled a criminal complaint charging Papini with making false statements to officers and wire fraud, the latter stemming from her collection of victim compensation benefits. “When a young mother went missing in broad daylight, a community was filled with fear and concern,” U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release. “Countless hours were spent following leads, all in an effort to bring this woman back to her family. Three weeks later, she was found 146 miles south of where she disappeared, and the focus went from trying to find her to trying to find her abductors. “Ultimately, the investigation revealed that there was no kidnapping and that time and resources that could have been used to investigate actual crime, protect the community, and provide resources to victims were wasted based on the defendant’s conduct,” Talbert said. The revelation came as a surprise to former Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto, who responded to Woodland Memorial Hospital after Papini was transported there for evaluation. “This one fooled me,” said Prieto, who had no direct contact with Papini but stood in a hallway outside her room as he waited for her husband, Keith, to arrive. “While I was in the hallway I heard this bellow, this scream, like a wounded animal would sound like,” Prieto recalled Friday. “It sent shivers down my spine. So it was convincing to me, that she was in a great amount of pain.” Yolo County authorities ultimately were not involved in the investigation, which concluded Thursday with the filing of a 53-page criminal complaint that lays out the following allegations:
Shasta County Sheriff/Enterprise file photo
Sherri Papini had been missing for weeks when she resurfaced north of Woodland on Thanksgiving Day 2016, claiming she’d been abducted by two Hispanic women. Now she faces charges of lying to authorities. Papini’s husband reported her missing on Nov. 2, 2016, after he returned home to find her gone and their two young children still in day care. He later found her cell phone in an area where she’d gone for a run. Three weeks later, following an extensive search throughout Shasta County and beyond, Papini reappeared chained and heavily battered along Interstate 5 and County Road 17 in the rural town of Yolo, according to Davis Enterprise reporting at time. “Papini had various bindings on her body and injuries including a 'brand' on her right shoulder,” the news release said. “At that time, Papini told law enforcement officers and others that she had been abducted and held by two Hispanic women at gunpoint and held against her will. She also provided details of the alleged abductors to an FBI sketch artist.” “The investigation eventually showed, however, that this was a false narrative Papini fabricated,”
authorities said. “In truth, Papini had been voluntarily staying with a former boyfriend in Costa Mesa and had harmed herself to support her false statements.” According to the complaint, Papini received warnings about the consequences of lying to federal agents during her interviews with Shasta County and FBI officers, who presented evidence of the sham abduction. “Instead of retracting her kidnapping story, Papini continued to make false statements about her purported abductors,” authorities said, adding that Papini also received more than $30,000 in state victim assistance money for therapist appointments and ambulance transportation. “The 22-day search for Sherri Papini and subsequent five-year search into who reportedly abducted her was not only taxing on public resources, but caused the general public to be fearful of their own safety, a fear that they should not have had to endure,” Shasta County Sheriff Michael Johnson said in the news release. Papini remains on a federal no-bail hold at the Sacramento County Jail, where she was booked shortly after 7:30 p.m. Thursday, online records show. If convicted of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer, Papini faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of mail fraud, she faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
By Anne Ternus-Bellamy It’s been nearly four decades since Thong Hy Huynh, a 17-year-old Vietnamese immigrant, was stabbed to death in a racially motivated attack on the Davis High School campus. Huynh died in the arms of a Davis police officer in a courtyard on campus on May 4, 1983. Jay Pierman, a 16-year-old Davis High student at the time, was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter. During the reckoning and soul searching that followed Huynh’s death, the school district installed a memorial plaque in the courtyard where he died, and the city established annual awards in Huynh’s memory recognizing city residents for their contributions to diversity, community, social justice and equal rights. The first awards were presented in 1986 and have been presented annually since. Nominations for this year’s awards are open through Wednesday, March 16. Awards are presented in five categories, each with specific criteria. They include: n Lifetime Achievement: For significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. The recipients may be individuals or community organizations that have promoted positive human relations in the community. n Young Humanitarian: For a person in grades K-16 (elementary though undergraduate or
equivalent) for significant efforts in improving the quality of life in Davis. Nominees have directly addressed the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of human or civil rights or education. n Civil Rights Advocacy: For individual, community organization or business, the civil rights advocacy award recognizes significant efforts in the community and achievement. n Excellence in Community Involvement: Generally awarded to a business or non-profit organization, and occasionally an individual, that has a record of significant efforts improving the quality of life for Davis residents through the areas of health, human services, housing, education, or employment. n Public Servant of the Year: The public servant of the year is one who has promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community. Nominations may be submitted by anyone, including Human Relations commissioners or City Council members. Current commission members or elected officials may not be nominated for an award and commissioners cannot nominate a family member, partner or spouse. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Find more information, and the nomination form, at https://www.cityofdavis. org/about-davis/community-awards/huynhaward-nominations.
From Page One
THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022 A3
Lois Richter’s program is for the birds
H
ave you ever wondered about the little bird with the black head who visits your yard? It turns out, you’re not alone, and Davis resident and longtime birder Lois Richter probably has the answer for you. Known to many in Yolo County for her extensive resumé of volunteer work, Richter said much of what she’d been doing shifted during the pandemic. A longtime radio host on KDRT 95.7FM in Davis, prior to the pandemic, she was a docent at the UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden for over 20 years and spent the past five winters producing an annual “Winter Birds in Davis” program for them. When the pandemic hit, those projects were suspended indefinitely. Somewhere in the middle of
Davis Media Access that, she connected with a group of people and a platform called Office Hours Global, a venture that is itself a product of the pandemic. The organization describes itself as a “global community of over 5,000 media and event professionals who meet each day to learn from each other, work with each other, and forge a new path for their industries. We come from all walks of life and nearly every continent. The only thing common throughout the community is curiosity and passion for what we do.” Richter’s passion for birdwatching resonated with others, and today she said there’s a group of about 20 volunteers who work to make the show
happen on a weekly basis. The live stream is one hour, and features a panel, including Richter and others. Questioners can either submit questions ahead of time, or join and ask their questions live. There’s a short slideshow, and then answers to questions may include visual images or audio sounds, as Richter notes that presenters have access to a “vast library of bird images and sounds.” “I really enjoy sharing information, especially learning something and then turning around and being able to share it on,” Richter says. “The best part is the wonderful community of people who are working to help make this happen every week— including fellow panelists, who may hail from New Brunswick, or Texas, or Hawaii. We’re a diverse group with deep knowl-
edge about the birds in our areas, and we’re always eager to learn more. ” “And at 72, I’ve finally gone global!,” she laughs. “It’s kind of full circle. I started producing public access television at Davis Community Television in the mid-’90s, then gravitated more toward radio when KDRT launched in 2004. But I’ve never lost the the thrill of putting something together in a way that both informs and moves people, and having some fun along the way, and I’m grateful for newfound friendships and a new creative outlet.” People can contact her at birdingwithlois@gmail.com, and she especially encourages anyone who wants to join a panel, ask a question, or get more info about the process to reach out to her.
Tune into “Birding with Lois,” Thursdays at 5 p.m. EST at http://officehours.global. From there, the show is distributed using both YouTube and Discord, and will also be airing on DCTV Channel 15 Comcast in Davis, and on Davis Media Access’s YouTube. And for me, that’s also a full-circle moment, as old friends and old institutions keep figuring out how to do things in new ways. — Davis Media Access is the only nonprofit community media center in Yolo County. Autumn Labbé-Renault has served as its executive director since 2007, where she writes and blogs about a wide variety of media and community issues. Learn more at http://davis media.org, email info@davis media.org, or call 530-757-2419.
PROTEST: Demanding action WASH: Residents worry about safety From Page A1 unions represent about 48,000 student workers. With many students struggling to afford housing, the unions are demanding that the university ensure no graduate student worker is rentburdened, a term defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as spending at least 30% of one’s income on rent. According to the unions, most teaching assistants at UC campuses spend more than half their income on rent, while 90% of them are rent-burdened. “I had to choose between having a roof to sleep under and having enough money to pay the bills,” said UC Davis graduate Conor White. “It didn’t feel good to have to consider moving away and abandoning my goals of research just because of the lack of affordable housing.” In addition to the cost of rent, students mentioned being denied housing due to their disability accommodations, such as having a service dog, as well as being pressured by landlords to renew their lease seven or eight months in advance — long before many student workers have secured employment for the following academic year. Union leaders emphasized that a lack of affordable housing disproportionately affects students who are Black or Latino, those without family wealth or support, and students who are undocumented or from other marginalized communities. To relieve student workers from rent-burden, the unions are demanding that the university increase their wages and, if the raises are insufficient to bring student workers’ housing costs below 30%
of their income, to provide them with housing stipends or subsidies. The unions are also demanding that UC campuses guarantee on-campus housing for graduate students who encounter illegal or discriminatory housing practices offcampus. Because of high housing costs in Davis and throughout California, the university would need to invest heavily to meet the unions’ demands. Graduate student workers, who play a central role on UC campuses in both teaching and research, argue that their housing needs should be a priority. “Without graduate students this institution would grind to a halt,” said Erika Dvorak, a UC Davis graduate student and teaching assistant in the sociology department. “It is completely unacceptable that we are struggling to pay our rent and afford food when we are so vital to the essential functions of the university.” The challenges students at Davis and across the UC system face in affording housing are a consequence of a years-long housing crisis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there is a shortage of nearly a million affordable rental homes in California, where a family must earn more than $80,000 per year to afford a two-bedroom home at market rate. In 2017, more than half of all California renters were rent-burdened. Within that context, administrators at UC Davis and the UC Office of the President said they are doing what they can to make housing more affordable for students. “Affordable housing remains an issue throughout California, a reality that many of our students, faculty and staff face in the communities we call
home,” UC Davis media relations specialist Julia Ann Easley said in a statement. “Increasing access to affordable student housing is a top priority.” UC Davis has the capacity to accommodate roughly 15,000 students on campus, a target the school initially aimed to hit by fall 2023 under the terms of a 2018 agreement with the city of Davis. In 2021-22, UC Davis enrolled roughly 37,000 students at the Davis campus, not including students at the School of Medicine in Sacramento. Over the next two years, UC Davis plans to add more than 600 new oncampus apartments for families and graduate students, which will bring the total number of beds for those students to around 2,000. Most of those units will be in Orchard Park, where the campus is aiming to set rental costs 30% below “comparable new construction within the Davis market,” Easley told The Enterprise. UC Davis is also planning to launch a Need Based Rent Subsidy Program to serve families and graduate students. The program will be phased in next fall for students living at Primero Grove, a 180-apartment complex for families and graduate students, and expanded to Orchard Park residents the following year. Depending on the availability of funding, the subsidies may also be made available to students living in other on-campus neighborhoods. “UC Davis is in the midst of the most ambitious housing program in its history,” Easley said. — Reach Caleb Hampton at champton@ davisenterprise.net. Follow him on Twitter at @calebmhampton.
From Page A1 Others shared that concern. Tiffany Yost, a parent at Pioneer who lives less than a block away from the intersection, said she has seen accidents and near misses at that location and said adding another variable to the intersection is dangerous. “If you are really thinking about protecting our kids … then you wouldn’t add one more variable to that already congested landscape,” she said. Davis school board trustee Betsy Hyder, who represents South Davis on the board, also weighed in, saying she was particularly concerned about young bike riders traveling past the express wash on Cowell as cars are entering and exiting the site in the afternoon. “The business is awesome,” she said. “However, these are our youngest bike riders … that are approaching a large intersection that already has a separate lane for bikes, for cars, for pedestrians. “I think crossing that intersection and entering and/or exiting safely with cyclists between 2:30 and 3:30 as well as on Wednesdays at 1:30… I definitely feel like as a representative I would have to speak out for larger traffic mitigations … “I’m not sure what all the strategies are,” said Hyder, “but I would need more and would hope we could have more dialogue.” Evan Lyon, a father of young children, acknowledged the concerns, saying,
A Plus Design Group/Courtesy graphic
Thomas and Evan Lyon’s proposal for a car wash in South Davis goes before the Planning “our No. 1 priority in this community is to make sure everyone is safe.” The proposal includes bike lane striping and buffer, enhanced green markings at the driveways, signage and driveway speed bumps, but a suggestion made during the community meeting to have a crossing guard at the Cowell driveway or closing that driveway during school commute times was determined to be unfeasible, according to the staff report prepared for the planning commission. Not everyone who participated in the Zoom meeting was opposed to project, with several people saying they hoped the project would be approved and they looked forward to using the express wash. More submitted comments to the planning commission in support. The Lyons estimate an average of 450 cars would use the facility daily
with Saturdays and Sundays the busiest days when an estimated 600 cars would be washed. Hours of operation would be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with shorter hours, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the winter.
On Wednesday, planning commissioners will weigh in and city staff are recommending approval.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is accessible on cable Channel 16; online at https://cityofdavis.org/ city-hall/city-council/citycouncil-meetings/meetingvideos; and via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom. us/j/87252456786.
Local
A4 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
Obituaries 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 thirdgeneration farmer on his family farm in Sutter County. Mary quickly adapted to farm LEISER 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.
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 and Greg were known for growing hardshell gourds. The farm was one of the largest hardshell gourd farms in America and attracted many well-known
When Yolo County proposed to close the Knights Landing Library, she worked tirelessly as a founding member of the Friends of The Knights Landing Library
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
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.
earned her associate degree. It took her seven years while she was being a ADLER 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
to raise funds. She was essential in creating and running 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,
education and home economics at Santa Maria private school 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
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.
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.
Local
THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022 A5
WEIST: Union leadership allowed advocacy for firefighters From Page A1
Corinne Cooke joins Davis firefighters, from left, Dan Wong, Bobby Weist, Kirk Talon (obscured) and Blas Ayala, as they grill corn on the cob at a free community meal in 2017 at the Episcopal Church of St. Martin. The annual barbecue is a gift from the Davis firefighters.
one-third of your life living in the fire house, waking up at all hours of the night to respond, no matter how simple the need might be or how terribly complex and tragic the emergency might be. “And then, the next day, it comes to an end.”
Finding his path Born in San Diego, Weist lived with his family in San Leandro, then Vacaville, where his father, also named Bob, taught aeronautics at Solano Community College. As someone who merely “tolerated” school, Weist graduated from high school uncertain of his career path. Firefighting wasn’t on the radar. “Growing up, I didn’t think it was a real smart move to run into buildings that were on fire,” he said. At age 18, Weist moved briefly to Colorado for a ski-resort job. But the cold winter weather didn’t sit well with the California native, and he soon moved back west. While visiting his father’s classroom one day, a fellow professor — an instructor for the fire service — offered to get him into the fire academy. “He basically challenged me. He didn’t think I could pass it,” Weist recalled. “I went in, and that was it — it was exactly what I wanted. I got to work as a team and I got to help people.” After graduating from the academy near the top of his class, Weist tested for positions at fire departments around California and in Reno. “It was very competitive,” with roughly 500 people testing for three open positions in Davis. The city’s fire chief at the time, Don Sylvia, hired him full-time in October 1983, only to be told by the city manager that he didn’t have hiring authority. “So I was hired and fired in the same day,” Weist said. A permanent offer came through nine months later, and Weist served as a student firefighter and dispatcher before coming on fulltime in March 1985. He admits he initially didn’t want to work in Davis, but rather in San Francisco, where his father-in-law was a fire captain. Although he later got offers for Bay Area jobs, “the people here,
Fred Gladdis/ Enterprise file photo
that’s why I stayed,” Weist said. “There was something about the department that just felt special.” To his colleagues, the feeling was mutual. “Bobby epitomizes everything that the fire service stands for — bravery, sacrifice, loyalty, selflessness, service. No one loves this job more than Bobby,” said Battalion Chief Emily Lo, who worked alongside Weist for the past three decades. “As a firefighter, he fought every fire aggressively, responded to every emergency by providing the highest level of customer care,” Lo said. “He took care of every citizen like they are his own family member.”
Tragedy and triumph Among the thousands of service calls he answered, Weist remembers a few that stand out: a fire that heavily damaged the historic Anderson Bank Building at Second and G streets on Christmas Day 2002, as well as a Mace Ranch house fire in which he and another firefighter suffered injuries after falling through a fire-weakened floor. Weist’s eyes fill with tears when he recalls giving CPR to a teenage boy, who resembled his own son, after he overdosed on medications. “I’m screaming at him inside my head, because I saw Bobby,” said Weist, who delivered the grim news to the boy’s family after he passed away. “There’s a few that just never leave you, and I can still see them.” But Weist prefers to focus on the brighter moments, including the elderly man who suffered a heart attack at Third and F streets while taking a driving test. Weist and his crew arrived to find the man slumped over
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the steering wheel and immediately started CPR. During the lifesaving measure, “he sat up and asked us, ‘What the hell are you doing?’” Weist said. An ambulance transported the man to the hospital, where he made a full recovery. Two weeks later, Weist went to the local DMV office to test for his Class C license for driving the fire engine. His instructor was the same young man who had been testing the heart-attack victim. “He was so appreciative” to learn of the man’s survival, Weist said. “This person had basically died while he was taking his test.” Another highlight was seeing his own son, Bobby IV, follow in his footsteps. He served the Fairfield Fire Department and its union, Local 1186, before he retired due to injury several years ago.
A voice for others Weist took an interest in the Davis firefighters’ union, Local
3494, soon after joining the department. He credits his mother Adriana, a former bottlers’ union president, for instilling his sense of duty to advocate for his fellow workers. A position on the union board led to the role of vice president, and he ascended to president in 1988. His fellow firefighters have re-elected him every two years since then to lobby for their rights. “I wanted to be their voice,” Weist said. “To me, the people who do this job do it for the right reasons.” His union work frequently put Weist on campaign trails on the local, state and national level, and he’s kept company with political big-wigs such as Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Kamala Harris. He campaigned for California Gov. Gray Davis during the 2003 recall election ultimately won by Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom Weist also has met. “I’ve been offered so many opportunities to meet people
and experience things that in my wildest dreams I never would have imagined,” he said. That included attending the Harvard University Trade Union Program, a training course for union leaders, in the late 1990s. “I didn’t go to college, but I went to Harvard,” Weist laughed. Away from the negotiating table, Weist led the union in organizing community events including barbecues, fundraisers, neighborhood Santa Claus visits, the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony and Thanksgiving food basket program for families in need. “He was one of the original driving forces in getting together with others in starting this great program, which now goes into its 35th year,” said Capt. Luis Parrilla, who coordinates the Thanksgiving effort. “He is a great leader both on and off duty, and his dedication to doing what’s right for all members in the firehouse shows why he is so well respected amongst his peers.” Weist still has a year left in his president’s term, and he said he may run for re-election yet again. As for retirement goals, Weist for now plans to enjoy quality time with his family, especially his seven grandchildren: Nicholas, 12; Charlie, 9; Emery, 9; Jack, 6; Ozcar, 4; Kinsley, 4; and Ezekiel, 8 months. “I wouldn’t do anything differently,” Weist said. “If there’s a perfect career, I had it.” — Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene.
Weist collects holiday STEAC donations from local children in November 1996. From left are Jon and Michelle Tinney and Sarah and Michael Neundorfer. Enterprise file photo
Local
A6 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
Summer Science Camp is back for 2022! By Sara Thompson Special to the Enterprise
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xplorit is excited to once again be offering Summer Science Camp this year. Enrollment began on March 1 and there are still some spaces available! All camps run from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and will have both indoor and outdoor components. Price is $175 Members/$200 Non-Members. Need for Seeds: Plants, Pollinators, and People. Dig into Explorit’s New Pollinator Garden and get your hands dirty while learning how seeds grow into plants, some of their unique uses, and the relationship between plants and their pollinator partners. This camp will run from June 20-24 for those entering grades K-2 and June 27-July 1 for those entering grades 3-6. Fur, Feathers, and Scales, oh my! Amazing
Explorit Science Center Animal Adaptations. Campers will observe live animals and study handson specimens to learn the fun interesting ways animals have adapted to survive and thrive in their habitats. This camp will run from July 11-15 and Aug. 8-12 for those entering grades K-2 and July 25-29 for those entering grades 3-6. Out of this World! What would it be like to travel to Mars? How are the moons of Jupiter different from ours? Where could life be found outside of Earth? Campers examine these questions and others through hands-on activities and experiments. This camp will run from July 18 to 22 for those entering grades K through 2 and Aug. 1 to 5 for those entering grades 3-6.
Policies regarding COVID-19 will be assessed closer to camps and families will be notified no later than one week before the beginning of camp. Campers are responsible for bringing their own snack and water bottle. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes. Even though we try to be as clean as possible, but spills happen, and clothing may become dirty over the course of camp. Register for summer camp at https://www. explorit.org/camps. Camp spaces are limited, so sign up now! If the camp you want is full, please call us at 530-756-0191 to be added to a waitlist. ———— Exploit's coming events: n Explorit is open to the public on Fridays from 1-4pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Explorit Members, ASTC, and those age 2 and
under free. n A Membership to Explorit not only supports us but grants the recipient free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer camps and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world. To purchase or for more information visit https:// www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191. n Like many small businesses the closures have had a significant impact on our income and sustainability. Now is a great time to donate and help Explorit continue to educate and inspire the scientists of tomorrow: https:// www.explorit.org/donate. — Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. For information, call 530-7560191 or visit http://www. Courtesy photo explorit.org, or "like" the A camper gets down to science last year’s Explorit Summer Facebook page at www. facebook.com/explorit.fb. Science Camp.
BOARD: Housing prices drive down enrollment numbers From Page A1 Teachers also stated their fiscal situation is forcing them to consider moving to another district. After that came the health and safety update of COVID-19 in Yolo County and the school district. Associate Superintendent of Student Support Services, Laura Juanitas, reported a decline of COVID across all metrics. Although the report brought good tidings, it came in the wake of California announcing the lifting of the school mask mandates on March 11. “I want to emphasize that masks will continue to be strongly recommended indoors,” said Juanitas. “Every school site will be working with students and families to safeguard everyone’s right to make a personal choice based on their risk factors, their family values and their own personal comfort level.”
A flood of public comments ensued, with parents and professionals vying in either direction of the issue. After a discussion amongst the trustees, they voted to lift the district’s indoor mask mandate on April 11 after spring break. After that came an update on Universal Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and early childhood education. Along with Associate Superintendent of Instruction, Rody Boonchouy, was the Director of Elementary Education and Leadership, Matt Duffy to give the presentation. It covered TK’s background, its impact, age eligibility, program details as well as an implementation template. For early childhood education, Duffy covered teacher recruitment, optimal learning environments — like the outdoors — and community/partner engagement to bolster educational opportunities and equity.
“At a high level this is all happening because our state is making a historic expansion and a multibillion-dollar investment into TK. All part of a broader movement toward a national vision for universal preschool,” said Boonchouy. “The statewide efforts have been in the works over the last ten years to make kindergarten readiness more accessible and most important to create more equity in early education for a more equitable foundation and outcomes in public education.” Next came a lengthy presentation of the financial and performance audit reports. The auditor giving the presentation covered bond measures, state and federal funding and stated no issues or deficiencies were identified in the auditing process. At the end of it, the trustees unanimously voted on accepting the financial and performance audit reports.
Following that came an update on enrollment projections from Davis Demographics and Planning senior project manager Scott Torlucci. A variety of factors were discussed including birth rates, housing, TK enrollment and residential developments which ultimately indicated a large decline in enrollment (pandemic related) as well as a continued decline in resident students. “It’s great the district is still attracting students that want to come to the district that don’t live there. That’s an amazing achievement. I haven’t seen it in other districts at this level,” said Torlucci. “From the
demographics standpoint, unfortunately we’re seeing that demographic shift where it’s declining and still seeing they’re moving out and no families are moving in. And it’s all being driven by housing prices and availability.” The next item on the agenda was the second interim budget planning presentation by associate superintendent of business services Amara Watkins. She touched on the budget reporting cycle, increasing pension costs, multiyear projections and other key factors that will impact next year’s budget like enrollment and attendance funding.
Following that was the California School Boards Association Delegate Assembly Election. The board voted to elect Jackie Thu-Huong Wong of the Washington Unified School District.
With that, the meeting ended with the next being scheduled for March 17. It will be taking place in person at the Community Chambers at 23 Russell Boulevard at 6:30 p.m., watch on cable at DJUSD Education Channel 17, or stream it online at djusd. davismedia.org. — Reach Aaron Geerts at aaron.geerts@mcnaugh ton.media.
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Comics Forum Op-ed Living
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THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE — SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
NIL train has left the station
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hile college athletes should be able to make money off their name, imagine and likeness just like anyone else, this dramatic change from what used to be is causing a ton of uncertainly as to the future of college football. Put simply, college athletes are no longer amateurs, as was demanded by the NCAA for years and punished severely when rules were broken. Taking a free meal from a downtown booster or an extra T-shirt on a recruiting trip could sideline the athlete and cost the school a bowl bid. No longer. The bottom line here is that the new rules — or lack of rules — simply put college athletes on even footing with everyone else who would like to make a living. If a college student writes a bestseller, there’s no rule saying she or he can’t collect royalties. If another student has a lucrative modeling career, there’s no limit on what he or she can make. If the guy running the local car wash wants to pay his student employee $50 an hour, so be it. But for years, college athletes were forbidden to take anything of value. The guy coaching these college athletes, however, could earn millions in salary and millions more in endorsement deals with no limit whatsoever,
See DUNNING, Page B2
Davis High batter Reyan Islam makes contact with the baseball in Wednesday’s nonleague game at Granite Bay. Mike Bush/ Enterprise photo
Diamond Utility Company Devils have the bases covered and much more By Lev Farris Goldenberg Enterprise correspondent Some coaches might look askance at a roster loaded with utility players. Not Ethan Guevin. As the Davis High baseball team begins its season campaign, the head coach has high hopes for a young roster that boasts a bunch of guys who play all over.
DHS baseball
Last year, the kids and they’re Blue Devils went able to play a Next game: Monday bunch of different 18-10 overall and finished fifth in the vs. Rocklin at spots well, so we’ll Delta League with be able to ride the Sutter Health Park, an 8-10 record. hot hand.” 6:30 p.m. That flexibility This year, Davis’ will come from (0-2) contribucenter fielder Brian Chin, who tions are expected to come also toes the mound at the top from everywhere. of the DHS rotation. For Guevin, positional flexiUltimate utility-player Koen bility is just one more tool in Carston can slot in behind the the locals’ arsenal. dish, on the bump, or at short“I think sometimes utility stop. can get the label of ‘well, they Catcher Carter Stoltz also don’t have a position,’ and I forms part of the extensive don’t think that’s the case with Davis pitching corps. this team,” Guevin told The Four third basemen — Max Enterprise. “I think truly we Scheiber, Reyan Islam, Keaton just have a bunch of versatile
Carpenter and Jordan Sacramento — can all toss quality innings. Returning senior Max Scheiber is the jack-of-allinfield-positions, able to play all four spots. Then there’s outfielder Gizaw Baker — who can also pitch, because of course he can — last year’s leading hitter at .373. Baker figures to be a key part of the Devil equation. Baker forms part of a strong group of sophomores, along with Islam and outfielder Houston McCray, who is the brother of former DHS products Ava and
See UTILITY, Page B2
Sports
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Recalling one of the NBA’s best
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his week marked the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game. Though slightly forgotten due to the sands of time, it remains one of the most remarkable individual performances of all time in any sport. Playing for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks, Chamberlain made 36 baskets, and was 28 of 32 from the foul line. This latter stat line belied the fact that Chamberlain was a notoriously poor foul shooter, just 51.1% over his 15-year career. He played for the Warriors in both Philly and San Francisco, then with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won an NBA title in 1971. Chamberlain died in 1999 at age 63. Recommended reading: “Wilt, 1962,” a book authored by onetime Washington Post writer and current Stanford University lecturer Gary Pomerantz that details all aspects of Wilt’s historic game. n Since Major League Baseball’s owners and players can’t seem to agree on much of anything at the moment, it doesn’t appear likely we will see the bigleague product until at least April. That, however, doesn’t mean this area soon won’t have games to watch in person. The Sacramento River Cats have 75 scheduled home games at Sutter Health Park. Opening Night is Tuesday, April 5. The UC Davis and Sacramento State seasons are already underway. Players on any MLB team’s 40-man roster are locked out until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. The River Cats initial roster will be comprised of up-and-coming players from the Single-A and Double-A levels. Prospects definitely worth watching. n The annual exercise in bracketbusting, also known as the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, begins the middle of this month. Brackets will be revealed a week from today. A team that no one will want to play in the opening round: Saint Mary’s. Wondering ... what does ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi do the other 11 months of the year? n Ten years ago, according to Forbes magazine, the combined valuation of all MLB franchises was $15.68 billion. Today, that figure has soared to $55.28 billion. In that same time span, average player salaries have gone down, including in each of the past four seasons. Players seek financial fairness, as the overall dollar health of the industry is at an all-time high. Owners demand even more profits than they have now. Memo to each side: There is middle ground to be had. Find it. Quickly. San Francisco Giants retired pitcher and current broadcaster Mike Krukow has no use for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. “I say replace him. He’s got to go.” His comments were heard on KNBR and picked up by the Chronicle’s John Shea. “A lot of this could have been avoided if there had been sincere efforts to negotiate once the lockout first occurred.” As a player, Krukow was part of the 1981 and 1994 shutdowns. He says the players’ resolve is as strong as it’s ever been. “These (players) are not going to break.” n What I wish I’d learned to do: play the guitar. Maybe not like Jimi Hendrix, but who has? n Congratulations to the area high school football players whose academic achievements have earned them the National Football Foundation’s scholarathlete recognition. All will be honored this afternoon at the NFF Sacramento Valley chapter annual banquet. Keynote speaker is Billy Volek, 12-year NFL veteran QB and son of chapter President John Volek, former Sac State head man. n This column erred last week. Buddy Hield was not a Kings draft choice. He was acquired from New Orleans in the DeMarcus Cousins trade. n Two college hoop teams getting hot as tournament time beckons: Duke and Arizona. — The longtime radio and television color man on UC Davis football broadcasts, Doug Kelly is director of communications for Battlefields2Ballfields and managing general partner of Kelly & Associates. Contact him at DKelly1416@ aol.com.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
Blue Devils track down multiple wins By Mike Bush Enterprise sports editor Norah Dulaney is looking to continue her success in long-distance running this spring season. A junior on the Davis High track and field team, Dulaney shined in the 800meter race in Thursday’s home meet against Woodland, Pioneer, Dixon and Winters at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium. Dulaney was neck-and-neck with Woodland’s Mahaila Quintana, then crossed the finish line and won with a time of 2 minutes, 22.31 seconds for a personal record in her high school career. “Norah had, to me, the race of the night,” said Davis assistant coach Tim Groth, who is the associated head coach for the school’s cross-country teams. “She was in a tough battle with Mahaila. There were a lot of great performances from the distance squad on Thursday.” Dulaney was a double winner for the Blue Devils. She was also tops in the 1,600 in 5:27.03. Last November, Dulaney led the Davis High girls cross-country team to a berth in the California Interscholastic Federation Cross-Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno. Nellee Bitners was another double winner for Davis. She won the shot put at 31 feet, 10.5 inches and the discus at an even 115 feet. For the Davis boys, Ray Oldham was a triple winner. He won the 100 (11.44), 200 (23.49) and long jump (20-04). Lucas Tam and Cole Dudley placed first and second, respectively, in the 800. Tam’s time was 2:03.51 and Dudley 2:04.52. Both are also personal records. “Each ran a gutsy and competitive race,” said Groth of Tam and Dudley. In two field events, Blue Devil Andrew Baum won the shot put at 43-00.50 and discus at an even 142 feet.
Mike Bush/Enterprise photo
Davis High’s Alex Valcarenghi clears the bar in the high jump in Thursday’s home meet against Dixon, Winters and Woodland. Valcarenghi took second place at 5 feet, 8 inches. won the 100 in 13.05 seconds. In the 200, Chloe Barr won in 27.80. Emma Vogt, a sophomore, was tops in the 400 in 1:02.94. Brooklin Cienfuegos, a freshman who was on the Davis High girls wrestling team this winter, won the 3,200 in 13:51.41. In the 100 hurdles, Dakota Rutherford won and had a PR in 17.84. The girls 4x100 relay team of Sophia Young, Barr, Isabel Garcia and Yikilmaz won in 50.77. Yikilmaz was part of the 4x400 relay team with Kate Stevenson, Vogt and Peyton Michaelis, as they recorded a time of 4:29.56. Michelle Kang won the high jump at 4-8. Sophia Ballard won the triple jump at 33-01.00.
Boys
Girls Blue Devil freshman Maya Yikilmaz
Blue Devil Ryan Mitchell captured the
1,600 in 4:25.77. Gavin Lynch won the 3,200 in 11:00.95. Moving to the hurdle races, Scott Inouye was tops in the 110 (16.19). Dean Fulks won the 300 in 46.81. The Davis 4x100 team of Ryan Jaramillo, Cole Knutson, Inouye and Trajan Clark won in 44.80. The 4x400 squad of Jacob Schaal, Christopher Ballard, Josiah McCarthy and Connor Cougevan came through in 3:46.96. Eli Ishikawa leaped to a win in the high jump at 5-10. Will Siemens cleared the bar in the pole vault, tops at 14-03.00. Alex Valcarenghi won the triple jump at 39-01.00, which is also a PR. On Saturday, March 12, the Davis teams will host the Halden Invitational. — Contact Mike Bush at mike@ davisenterprise.net. Follow on Twitter: @MBDavisSports.
UTILITY: DHS baseball has a plethora of pitchers From Page B1 Quentin McCray. Joining Baker and McCray on the outfield grass will be Brooks Ochoa and Dillon Rockwell. Grafton Shorts holds down second base, while Joby Antony mans first. Enrique ‘Kiki’ Hernandez and Will Ackerman will slot into the lineup, and James Davis, Benjamin Hanson and Jake Almy round out the roster. The top-heavy pitching rotations of past Blue Devil eras do not figure into this team’s plans. The pitching staff will feature big lefty John Schacherbauer, Nico Dwyer, Jaiden Temple, Sacramento, Keaton Carpenter and a cadre of other hurlers. The Blue Devils opened their season with a tight 3-2 loss to visiting Lincoln of Stockton on Tuesday. That was followed by a 12-2 loss to Granite Bay on Wednesday. “We came out maybe a little tight, a little nervous, made some mistakes in the early innings,” Guevin said of Tuesday’s loss. “And then we put ourselves in a position to win the game later on, we just didn’t get the big hit. “I think we can take a lot from both of those losses and turn them into wins later in the season.” It will not be an easy schedule for DHS. But when is it? Davis High lives and dies in the hyper-competitive Delta League, where superpowers like Jesuit and Elk Grove play. Add to that the Fresno Easter Classic — which kicks off April 10 — and the Devils have their work cut out for them.
Davis High pitcher Nico Dwyer throws a pitch in Wednesday’s nonleague game at Granite Bay. Mike Bush/ Enterprise photo
“We have a bunch of really great kids,” Guevin said. “I don’t think they’ve quite realized how good they could be. And I don’t think they’ve quite realized the work that’s required to be as good as they
can be, but we’re making progress in that direction.” On Monday, Davis will host its annual game versus Rocklin at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, home of the Sacramento River Cats, a
Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The Blue Devils and Thunder are scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. — Follow Lev Farris Goldenberg on Twitter at @levgoldenberg.
DUNNING: Money a bigger draw than education From Page B1 even though it was his players who were scoring the touchdowns and making the coach marketable. What’s happening now, though, isn’t pretty. High school seniors are evaluating which colleges offer the best opportunity for them to make money right away rather than what kind of education they’re likely to get. Last fall, one talented incoming college freshman quarterback signed over $1 million in endorsement deals before he’d even taken one snap on the field of play. Current college players are instantly transferring to schools where the offers are likely to be more lucrative.
Some states have laws about how much NIL a player can receive, while other states have none. Some universities are openly aiding students in setting up NIL deals, while other universities strictly prohibit such arrangements. Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who has won more national championships than anyone around, is fed up. “When we start using name, image and likeness for a kid to come to our school, that’s where I draw the line, because that’s not why we did this,” he says. Even if Alabama doesn’t advertise how lucrative things are in Tuscaloosa and doesn’t use such language in official recruiting pitches, 18-year-olds have been known to talk to each other.
It’s common knowledge among recruits as to how much money a starting quarterback at Alabama might make compared to a starting quarterback at Panhandle State. Saban claims, “We never paid players to come to our school,” and I believe him, but in the same breath, he laments that “People are making deals with high school players to go to their school.” The deals will continue, coach. And as long as you keep winning, your players will be handsomely rewarded, whether or not you set up the payoff. This train has left the station and is heading at breakneck speed down the tracks, destination unknown. — Contact Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.
THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
YOLOlaughs
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Commentary Wildfire risks increase with continued drought By Llewellyn King Special to The Enterprise
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ildfires aren’t just for summer anymore. In the West and Southwest, the fire season will begin earlier this year and last longer. If you live in a western state, take heed: That adorable cottage of yours in the woods may be consumed in flames. Small towns may feel the heat of nature’s wrath. The threat and consequences are real. The drought that began two decades ago continues; it just gets a bit worse each year. That is the collective view of a group of western utility executives and an eminent long-range weather forecaster who participated in a virtual press briefing which I organized and moderated for the United States Energy Association. The prognosis of a long, hot fire season beginning in spring and extending into fall was delivered by Paul Pastelok who leads the team of long-range forecast scientists at AccuWeather. He said, “We feel with confidence that the drought will cover a large section of the western U.S. and will extend out into the Plains, similar to the trend we saw in 2018. The Northern Plains, Four Corners region, are going to experience some pretty extreme drought but for a shorter period of time.” The good news, if there is any, is that the authorities — yes, them — are working on mitigation in wide-ranging cooperation between the Electricity Subsection Coordinating Council (ESCC), the influential but little-known, CEO-led utility organization which liaises with government departments on cybersecurity and other issues. In this instance, the cooperating departments include the Department of Energy and some of its national laboratories; the Agriculture Department’s Forest Service; the Department of Transportation; the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency; and the Federal Aviation Administration. Maria Pope, president and CEO of Portland General Electric, said she would like the FAA to expedite its regulations for drones, which are used to surveil utility lines and will be on the front lines.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
L.A. a microcosm of housing crisis
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alifornia’s chronic housing shortage stems from specific shortfalls in several key elements needed to reach a level of construction that would relieve the crisis. The recent issuance of two documents pertaining to housing in Los Angeles, the state’s largest city and an epicenter of the housing conundrum, illustrate the corrosive effect of those shortcomings. The first is a warning from the state Department of Housing and Community Development that Los Angeles isn’t fully complying with the state’s mandate that it zone enough land to meet the city’s housing quota. To comply with the law, the city would have to designate potential sites for an additional quarter-million units and do so in ways that make way for much-needed housing of low- and moderateincome families. Los Angeles is not alone in being out of compliance with quotas that the state sets every eight years — numbers that have increased sharply in the latest cycle because of sub-par development in previous years. Many of the state’s 482
cities are also tardy and those that fail to do what the state directs could face a loss of state housing funds. City officials have complained about the higher quotas, some have adopted creative ways to evade them and there was a short-lived proposal by some officials to free them from state housing decrees. Were Los Angeles to have its state housing subsides diminished, however, it’s questionable whether it would feel much impact because it appears to be unable to effectively spend the housing money it already has, a report from the city’s controller, Ron Galperin, indicates. Five years after Los Angeles voters approved a $1.2 billion bond issue to house the homeless or those in danger of becoming unhoused, Galperin’s audit found, the
city has 8,091 housing units “spread across 125 projects in various stages of development.” Galperin said the projects are taking from three to six years to complete and costs have increased rapidly, reaching an average of $596,846 per unit in 2021. Fourteen percent of the units are exceeding $700,000 per unit and one project topped $800,000. Thus, the $1.2 billion that Los Angeles voters approved will, at best, house a small fraction of the city’s estimated 41,000 homeless — a number that is growing faster than the rate of construction. The 41,000 figure comes from a 2020 count and is 45% higher than the city’s homeless number when the bond issue was passed.
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os Angeles had about a quarter of the state’s 161,000 homeless people that the annual statewide count found in 2020. The count was cancelled in 2021 due to COVID-19 but the annual event was resumed last month. While the numbers are still being tallied, there’s little doubt it will show a hefty increase and it’s widely
believed that whatever figure emerges will fall short of reality because of the pandemic’s economic disruption. The Los Angeles experience framed in the two official documents — not enough land for housing and not enough money to make more than a small dent in the housing shortage due to high construction costs — afflicts other communities as well. As a recent CalMatters article points out, while the state has spent billions on housing, particularly aimed at the homeless, the problem appears to be growing worse, at least visually. “I know (the governor) is frustrated, I know the Legislature is frustrated, the public is frustrated,” Assembly Budget Chairman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, said during a recent hearing on the housing crisis. “We have appropriated billions and billions of dollars to this issue. And it’s not clear where we’ve made progress.” — CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to Commentary.
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ut the brunt of the fire onslaught will be borne by communities and their fighters with help, where possible, from the states. Think the National Guard. The ESCC has a wildfire working subcommittee which is headed by Pope, a star in business circles and a key figure in wildfire management. Not only does she head a utility that has been in the eye of the storm but earlier in her career, she was an executive in the forest products industry. She knows the forest as a benefactor and a malefactor. For utilities, the issues are multiple. Many wildfires start with trees in high winds landing on power lines that arc and spark when they hit the ground. If the forest floor is tinder dry, the result is known. Last year a late-season fire, on Dec. 30, started in the Boulder area and destroyed 1,000 homes. The cause of the fire hasn’t been identified positively. After the threat to life and property has subsided, and the fires have either burned out or been extinguished, the painful inquests begin with accusations often directed against the power companies because they are large and visible and can be sued. But fires start in many ways. There is, indeed, the issue of arcing and sparking from utility lines. But there is also, as Pastelok noted, lighting and hundreds of activities that can go wrong from burning refuse to picnic fires and, sadly, arson. Technology is increasingly important in identifying the root cause and mitigation of fires. This includes data management coming from smart meters; better line surveillance with drones and sensors; and instant communications, so that if a line fails, it can be de-energized instantly, maybe in one second. Ruth Marks, who manages distribution for the Denver-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, said “problem trees” – dying or dead trees near a power line — need to be identified and harvested. She also said the fire season now lasts the whole year, from January to December. Sobering. — Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. His email is llewellynking1@gmail.com and you can follow him on Twitter @Llewellyn King2. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
Letters Ukrainian sister city Did you know, Uman, Ukraine, is a Davis sister city? Uman is about a third larger than Davis, with a current population of 90,000-plus people. It is also a college town, with two universities within its boundaries. When taking the 200-mile journey from the capital city Kyiv to Uman you would see the similarities between Uman and Davis. Uman is surrounded by thousands of square miles of rich, flat farmland. The soil is so fertile it is black which is why the area had been dubbed the “Soviet Union’s breadbasket.” Uman’s proudest landmark is the magnificent Sofivka Park. This 200-year-old park has a long and interesting history that is essentially a love story with soap opera subplots. Uman became a sister city to Davis on May 17, 1988. Kenneth Firestein Davis
Greatest catastrophe Russian President Putin told the Russian people that the end of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the last century. Putin is wrong. The greatest catastrophe of the last century for Russians
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and the world was that Russia was not able to firmly transition from a communist country to one that follows democratic traditions and respects it neighbors. This catastrophe has now spilled over into the new century, where Russia has become a dictatorship and is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine killing thousands and creating millions of refugees. In his declaration of war to the Russian people last week, Putin stated that he started the war to eliminate neo-Nazis and drug addicts in the Ukrainian government and to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine from harm. This is a Soviet-style falsehood. The Ukrainian government is democratically elected and the only Nazi tactics in Ukraine are being carried out by Putin and his henchmen. During World War II, Hitler invaded Ukraine from the west and now Putin has invaded from the north, east and south. Russian speakers — both Ukrainians and in the Russian military — are indeed being killed, not because of the Ukraine government persecution, but because of the Russian invasion. President Biden called Putin “a killer.” Putin has surpassed that shame by becoming a mass murder and war criminal. In response to the gathering storm, democracies have rightfully stood together under the NATO umbrella to provide military equipment to the heroic defenders of Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia to dissuade it from continuing the invasion. Sanctions and equipment are valuable, but
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;
they are probably not enough to stop the larger Russia and its blitzkrieg. If we learned anything from World War II is that democracies cannot let a dictator grow his territory by aggression against another democracy. I favor expanding U.S. and NATO assistance to include defensive and humanitarian air support to Ukrainian cities, because if we do not provide more help soon, there may not be much of Ukraine left to defend. David Sandino Davis
Supporting future generations
I want to ensure future generations are able to enjoy our planet with clean air and water. The Earth has already been impacted by plastic pollution, and so we need to stop it as soon as possible. One small change can impact future generations to come. Supporting Assembly Bill 2026 would do just that: make sure that plastic is no longer being needlessly created then discarded onto our planet. If you could get this message out there somehow, it would undoubtedly impact many people if such a thing were to pass. California needs to be a beacon of inspiration that the rest of the world aspires to be. This bill banning single use plastics would be a small step in the right direction. Gregory Silveira 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/
Op-Ed
THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022 B5
Marking 45 years of helping families
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arch 2022 marks Empower Yolo’s 45th Anniversary. Empower Yolo has a rich history of providing services for survivors of abuse and helping families in need. Over the past 45 years, Empower Yolo has had a strong presence in Yolo County, and services and programs have expanded to meet the changing needs of the community. “Forty-five years ago there was no hotline, no rape crisis center, no shelter for victims of abuse, there were no safe places for victims of intimate partner violence to go, but a group of women from Davis changed that and founded the Yolo County Sexual Assault Center,” says Lynnette Irlmeier, Empower Yolo executive director. “It wasn’t long before the agency became the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center. The newly formed agency taught the community that for some women in our county, the most dangerous people were not strangers but the people who claimed to love them. Those women also started a movement in this county,” says Irlmeier. In 1980, the agency received a federal grant to open Harper House, the county’s first shelter for battered women and children. In November 1999, the Wallace and Vanucci Shelter, the current, confidential facility opened to residents. To meet the increased need for shelter, the building has been renovated and expanded to include 35 beds. In December 2020 Empower Yolo’s shelter kitchen remodel project was completed. The staff and clients love the new kitchen as it dramatically improves our ability to support individuals and families who come to us at the most difficult times of their lives. “As a board member, I’d like to expand Empower Yolo’s
Empower Yolo outreach to notify our local community that we offer FREE services to clients during their most vulnerable life experiences. I’m particularly proud of Empower Yolo’s confidential shelter that offers a safe place for traumatized victims of domestic violence to heal. Domestic violence and abuse affect individuals, especially women and children, in all socio-economic situations. Empower Yolo has the resources and ability to help and it’s gratifying as a board member to be part of this community effort,” says Susan Gefter, Empower Yolo board secretary (board member from 20122018; rejoined in 2021 for a new term). In 2010, the agency moved into the Dowling Center, the former Maxwell school building in Woodland named after principal Rhoda Maxwell. The building, generously donated by Dan Dowling, has been Empower Yolo’s home since then, providing services such as a 24-hour crisis line, emergency response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, legal assistance, and counseling services. “I am grateful that 45 years ago the founders understood the problem of sexual assault and domestic violence and the need for a safe place for survivors to go. I am amazed at the breadth of services Empower Yolo now provides to Yolo County residents in need, far beyond those that started it in 1977,” said Cathy Farman, Empower Yolo board member, past board chair (board member from 20142019; rejoined in 2022 for a new term).
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hildren have always been important to SADVC. In 1982, the agency began offering a child abuse prevention program and in January of 1994, the agency added a child abuse treatment program, partnering
with the Yolo Family Resource Center and the Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center. In January 2014, in an effort to more effectively encompass our vast programs and services, as well as highlight the connection between client, organization, and community, the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center became Empower Yolo. The new name, Empower Yolo, is a reminder that domestic and sexual violence doesn’t define who you are, not as individuals, advocates, and survivors or as an organization. “The name change was for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and child abuse. We wanted them to know that this county is behind them. Empower Yolo is here to help victims heal and most of all, to find the strength that makes them survivors,” says Irlmeier. The new name also allowed the agency to expand in many other ways. On January 1, 2016, the Center for Families, a non-profit established in 2002, whose mission was to engage families in accessing support and resources promoting health, stability, and self-sufficiency merged with Empower Yolo allowing it to expand its reach by including more services and resource centers in Davis, Woodland, Knights Landing, and West Sacramento. Through the merger, Empower Yolo remained dedicated to helping survivors but added services to help families stay healthy, stable, and selfsufficient — such as health insurance enrollment, food distribution, homeless prevention, rapid rehousing assistance, financial coaching, income tax assistance, case management, exercise classes, playschool experience and the After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program which partners with schools and communities to provide academic support
and safe, constructive alternatives for high school students.
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ince the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Empower Yolo has been unwavering in providing services to victims of abuse and vulnerable families throughout Yolo County. Empower Yolo has risen to the challenge of supporting the community’s increased need for services in almost every department. Domestic violence rates were higher because shelter in place and quarantine at home was not safe for victims of abuse. The board of directors has supported the agency throughout this challenging time, and staff members have been working tirelessly for nearly two years to support clients in any way possible. Empower Yolo has seen an increase in the need for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and help with rent, utilities, and childcare. There is also an increase in need in several program areas including food distribution, counseling services, legal services, and other services for survivors of abuse, vulnerable families, homeless and immigrant clients. Empower Yolo continues to grow and improve to meet the needs of its clients. Empower Yolo revamped its housing department in 2021 to meet the increase in the need for housing services, a problem that was exacerbated by the pandemic. Empower Yolo’s Housing Team is focused on program collaboration and wrap-around housing advocacy for Yolo County residents fleeing domestic violence, experiencing homelessness, and those affected by COVID-19. Housing advocates are available to provide case management and emotional support during the process of assisting clients in finding and maintaining permanent housing. Empower Yolo’s Housing Team also provides application
assistance for clients and landlords eligible to apply for Housing is Key, the California COVID-19 Rent Relief program. Empower Yolo is thrilled to be kicking off its 45th-anniversary campaign in mid-March — celebrating its history of providing services to survivors and families in need for 45 years in Yolo County. Our anniversary theme will be “Welcome Home.” Our goal is to raise $145,000 through the end of the fiscal year and to move 45 victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking into permanent housing during our 45th year. The April “Shower for the Shelter” will be a “rooms-to-go” drive so that every one of those 45 households receives the necessary items to complete a bedroom, bathroom or kitchen. “My hope for Empower Yolo moving forward is that we are able to continue providing the services that support safety, stability, and health for individuals and families in Yolo County — making our communities stronger and more resilient,” said board chair Evan Schmidt. “Empower Yolo has grown and evolved over the years and has become Yolo County’s key service provider for individuals and families in need. I hope that Empower Yolo will keep evolving to meet changing needs while still delivering on the promise to help people become safe from violence and more equipped to live healthy, stable, and selfsufficient lives.”
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elebrate and support Empower Yolo’s 45th anniversary year by donating $45 or more, following our campaign in the spring through “Shower for the Shelter” and Big Day of Giving on May 5, and help us continue in our mission of promoting safe, healthy, and resilient communities. — Natalia Baltazar is the Director of Development and Community Relations of Empower Yolo.
Thanks to community support, Paul’s Place moves ahead By Bill Pride, Reed and Susan Youman, and Marty West Special to The Enterprise Many of us have been challenged in many ways during the ongoing COVID pandemic, including all of us seeking to address homelessness in our community. For those of us building Paul’s Place, a four-story vertical tiny home village that will provide housing and support services to the most vulnerable, we’ve been challenged, too. When Davis Community Meals and Housing (DCMH), the nonprofit organization that will own and operate Paul’s Place, started construction, it already had raised the $5 million needed to build the multi-functional structure.
COVID and increased costs When COVID hit, our costs, like those of all other construction projects, rose dramatically and we faced a shortfall of more than $2 million. We began exploring all options to close this significant budget increase. Gratefully, given the
compassion and generosity of many in our community, we raised another $400,000 but still faced a gaping budget deficit. Thankfully, both the city of Davis and Yolo County received federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to mitigate the impacts of COVID. With the help of Davis Vice Mayor Lucas Frerichs and Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, who both have Paul’s Place in their districts, we were able to work with city and County staff to secure ARP funds that will ensure we can complete construction. Paul’s Place is an ideal project for ARP funding because it is: n An urgent financial need resulting from the impacts of COVID. n A one-time expense. n Addressing COVID and its impacts on homeless and at-risk individuals, as well as needy families. n A project that aligns with County and City homeless response plans. n A project where ARP funds could be maximized for greatest impact with the City and County matching each other’s investment.
We cannot overstate the impact the City-County matching ARP funds will have on this project and our community. With the ARP allocations, we can continue construction uninterrupted and stay on track to open the doors to Paul’s Place later this year.
Future plans Now that construction costs are met, we want to ensure ongoing maintenance and operation of this unique facility, which also will provide day services to nearly 1,000 people a year. Supporters of Paul’s Place will continue fundraising activities to establish a permanent endowment that covers ongoing maintenance for years to come. These future needs will be funded with contributions from private sources — no ARP funds will be used for the endowment. Future operating revenue for Paul’s Place will come from resident rent payments (based on ability) as well as federal, state, and local funding sources, and private donations to DCMH.
Unique tiny village Paul’s Place is a unique, vertical, tiny home village designed by nationally recognized architect Maria Ogrydziak, who lives in Davis. It will provide critically needed, expanded services and shelter to the most vulnerable. n This is a multi-functional structure designed with input from City and County officials, law enforcement, service providers and other members of the community. n It is designed to provide a continuum of care and support services that will effectively move people from the streets to stability. n The project will provide day services, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supported shelter. Paul’s Place includes: n 18 300-square-foot private units of permanent supported micro-housing on two floors, with two units accessible to those with physical disabilities. n Permanent supported housing is affordable housing tied to supportive services, such as ongoing addiction or mental health treatment, case
ICYMI: Our top 5 stories of the week News n Davis police arrest suspect in catalytic-converter thefts: http://wp.me/p3aczg-489k n State lifts mask mandate for unvaccinated: http://wp.me/p3aczg-47XY n Sheriff brings back resident deputies: http://wp.me/p3aczg-47R8
Sports
Feature
n Ex-Blue Devil inks deal with Rockies: http:// wp.me/p3aczg-47WN
n The Davis Music Fest is back: http://wp.me/ p3aczg-47V0
These were the most clicked-on news, sports and feature posts at www.davisenterprise.com between Saturday, Feb. 26, and Friday, March 4
management and help with life skills. n 10 single residence units of transitional housing, including a communal kitchen, family room, bathrooms, and laundry. n Transitional housing is supportive — yet temporary — shelter that is meant to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by offering structure, supervision, and support for addictions and mental health. n Four emergency shelter beds. n Emergency beds were requested by law enforcement. n Enhanced day services including enlarged shower, restroom, and laundry facilities. n Expanded access to critical social services, life skills support, job training, and coordinated referrals with other resources and service providers. n Important health services and programs to address the unique physical, mental, and emotional health needs of homeless individuals. n A welcoming and functional design that supports 24-hour staffing and treats residents with dignity as they transition
from the streets to stability.
Why Paul’s Place? Every night, some 190 people barely eke out an existence, living homeless in Davis. Every year, some 900 homeless or extremely low-income people visit DCMH for critical services. Regardless of who, how, or why, homelessness is always a demoralizing, traumatic and hostile existence — for both individuals who are homeless and the caring community in which they live. This nationwide crisis will only be solved, community by community, when local people of good will work together to effect meaningful change. If would like to know more about Paul’s Place and the work of DCMH, please visit us at https:// daviscommunitymeals.org, https://paulsplacedavis. org and follow us at www. facebook.com/DavisCommunity-Meals-andHousing. — Bill Pride is the executive director of Davis Community Meals and Housing. Reed and Susan Youmans and Marty West are Paul’s Place fundraising co-chairs.
Editors’ choice for web comment of the week “Yup, this is Davis! Turkeys everywhere!” From Eleanore Garnett
In response to “Unitrans marks milestone”
Living
B6 THE DAVIS ENTERPRISE
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2022
Why do we remember so many details? H ere are some things I do well. I remember the names of the birds that visit my home river near Coloma: merganser, heron, kingfisher and, occasionally, bald eagle. I remember the names of the people who write the books I read. I don’t recall every single author’s name, especially as I get older, but most. Similarly, if I read The Davis Enterprise one evening and the next morning you ask me which staff member wrote which article, I can tell you. A week later, I will have forgotten, but while I’m actively reading something, it matters to me who wrote it. My mind is alert to details about people in other situations as well. In fact, when any new person comes into my life, I start registering details immediately. Soon I know whether this is a morning person or an evening person, if she enjoys eating or struggles with diet, and how many children she has. These items stay with me. Even if I don’t see the person for years, his or her number of children is a fact I’ll remember.
Before you conclude I’m brilliant, here are things that don’t work so well. Although I can tell you how many children all my friends have, and many of those children’s names, I have not yet been able to remember the names of the three trees that grow in my front yard. I have a similar problem when reading. Every time I read a book that has more than five characters, I need to keep a notecard tucked between the pages where I write all their names and key relationships, like “John, murdered husband of Samantha” or “Quentin, sells knives.” When the book is a mystery novel and anybody might turn out to be the villain, I record so many details that reading becomes a chore. My skills at recognizing birds on the river, while respectable, are nothing next to my friends who are “real” birders. When we’re out on a walk and I’m using terms like “flock” or “bunch” or “little brown bird,” they’re telling me that this small brown bird is a junco while that nearly identical one is a sparrow. Some can tell a house sparrow
from a song sparrow. I wish I could do that, but the names and identifying characteristics refuse to stick in my head. So I permit myself a daylong knowledge of birds, remembering the ones my friend shows me long enough to cheerfully discuss them as we walk, and to spot more of the same variety. I know, but don’t always mention, that by next weekend, the names will have escaped me and I need to start over. ———— m I a person who remembers details or not? Real birders are clearly more able to remember than I am, no matter how many book authors’ names I know, but let’s take
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kayaking. Even there, differences emerge. Some of the people I paddle with are “gearheads.” These boaters, mostly male, know the names of every kayak manufacturer, the models they’ve produced, the tweaks they’ve made, and the reasons to choose a boat, depending on your size, skill level and the type of water you’ll be paddling. When on the river in a new boat, the gearheads are trying to figure out every nuance — speed, maneuverability, comfort — and evaluating special features like “accentuated rocker” or a “rotomolded seat.” If they remember how many screws hold down the cockpit, I might use the word “obsessed.” Meanwhile, I still paddle the boat I bought 10 years ago which is identical to the one I owned before that. I notice new colors more than I notice new models, but even when a new color attracts me, I feel no urge to buy. I’m loyal to Scarlett, my faithful red Mamba, and I hope she will last forever. ———— Why do some people remember
more details? Do they have more brain cells, or is it about desire? Supporting the “desire” explanation, I offer my experience with French. Inspired by a teacher in junior high, I came to believe that I could learn more about people and my relationships with them could be more genuine if I could talk to them in their own language. I wanted to know people who were not American. I wanted to speak French. Memorizing vocabulary lists, the most boring task in the world, was something I did voluntarily and with vigor. Each word I learned was like a piece of kayak equipment to someone else, part of a vast, attractive and useful reservoir of information. A person can be fluent in kayak, in French, in birds and in counting children. It’s all about what’s important to you. I also remember the names of columnists. — Marion Franck has lived in Davis for more than 40 years. Reach her at marionf2@gmail. com.
Eastman earns freshman excellence award from Oklahoma State Special to The Enterprise Georgia Eastham of Davis is a recipient of the inaugural Ferguson College of Agriculture Freshman Excellence Award from Oklahoma State University. Eastham is a junior at Oklahoma State studying plant and soil sciences with a concentration in plant biotechnology and improvement and biochemistry. She is the daughter of Dave and Kathy Eastham. “Georgia’s enthusiasm for learning extends well beyond her academic coursework,” said Dr. Cynda Clary, Ferguson
By Andy Jones Special to The Enterprise 1. Internet Culture. Every day, almost every writer glances at the letters BIU. What does the letter B stand for? 2. European Geography. If one were to drive from Kyiv, Ukraine, to Berlin, Germany, what capital city would one most likely pass through along the way?
Name Droppers College of Agriculture’s associate dean of academic programs. “As a student, a leader and a volunteer, she works to build the skills needed to pursue a scientific career that will benefit society.” During her freshman year, Eastham served as a freshman and transfer council member, worked as a student assistant in the wheat quality lab and volunteered with Stillwater Mobile Meals. “My favorite part of being in the Ferguson College of Agriculture is the connection between
students and the professors,” Eastham said. “My connection with my advisor and professors in my department is strong and has made me feel comfortable in the college.” Eastham’s campus involvement includes serving on the Student Government Association as a Ferguson College of Agriculture senator and serving as a member of the Agronomy Club. The Ferguson College of Agriculture believes in the value of hands-on education and the importance of having a well-rounded student experience. The college’s award-winning
resulted in the birth of what A word?
3. Science. Starting with the letter P, what do we call a type of protein that can trigger normal proteins in the brain to fold abnormally? 4. Another Music Question. The wedding song “Sunrise, Sunset” was written for what 1964 Broadway musical? 5. Revolutions. The Neolithic Revolution was the critical transition that
Answers: Bold (or Bold, Italicize, Underline on a word processor), Warsaw, prions, “Fiddler on the Roof,” agriculture. — Dr. Andy Jones is the former quizmaster at de Vere’s Irish Pub and author of the book “Pub Quizzes: Trivia for Smart People.” His pub quiz is now seeking a new home. Meanwhile, Dr. Andy is also sharing his pub quizzes via Patreon. Find out more at www.yourquizmaster.com.
faculty members are dedicated to developing students and are passionate about adding value to the total educational experience. With 16 majors, a variety of study options, plus more than 60 student organizations, the college is committed to expanding minds and inspiring purpose. Learn more at agriculture.okstate.edu. ———— Kasidee Pascoe of Woodland was named to Biola University’s Dean’s List for academic excellence. Pascoe, a Comm Sciences Disorders major, was one of nearly 1,800 students who
were named to the dean’s list in Fall 2021. Biola students are placed on the dean’s list to honor those with a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.2. “Inclusion in Biola University’s Dean’s List is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional performance in their academic studies. This honor signifies hard work, engagement and investment in scholarship,” said Tamara Anderson, associate provost of academic effectiveness and administration. “These attributes are the building blocks of
continued success, not only in the classroom but in the workplace and in the students’ personal lives. We celebrate these students and their achievement, and look forward to their future accomplishments.” Biola University in La Mirada is a nationally ranked Christian university in the heart of Southern California. It was recently recognized as one of America’s best colleges, earning a spot in the top tier of the “best national universities” category of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges 2021 rankings.