enterprise THE DAVIS
SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 2022
Lawmakers push for gas rebates Davis own Jeff Likes cleans up at the 2022 Window Cleaning World Cup competition, where contestants must clean three panes of glass as fast as possible.
Bills aim for relief from high fuel prices By Caleb Hampton Enterprise staff writer On Thursday, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, along with Reps. John Larson, D-Ct., and Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., introduced the Gas Rebate Act of 2022 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, which is meant to address high gas prices, would send Americans an energy rebate of $100 per month — plus and additional $100 for each dependent — for each month for the rest of 2022 in which the national average gas price exceeds $4 per gallon. Thompson is running this year to represent California’s new 4th district, which includes Davis and most of Yolo County, in the House of Representatives. The Democratic members of Congress introduced the gas rebate legislation weeks after gas prices, already elevated, surged to their highest in more a decade, topping $6 per gallon in much of California. (According to AAA, today’s national average gas price is $4.27.) According to experts, there are
See GAS, Page A3
Courtesy photo
Championship glass in Davis By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer Jeff Likes of Jeff Likes Clean Windows & Gutters isn’t Davis’ average window washing professional. He is, in fact, an international window washing champion who employs his gold standard of work in every job he does. Suffice to say, Jeff Likes loves what he does. Prior to the competition aspect, the International Window Cleaning Association (IWCA) was formed back in 1989 to bolster the industry’s notoriety, represent its concerns and assist its members in professional development.
Fast-forward to 2018, the IWCA held its first Window Cleaning World Cup competition, where contestants must clean three panes of glass as fast as possible. Likes’ friend told him about the industry’s world cup, and in 2019 he tried his hand in wiping out the competition. “I was nervous and did horribly that first year. I was all over the place and forgetting to clean the ledges,” Likes went on to talk about his redemption. “After that I did a little practicing and the following year in 2020, I ended up winning it and became an international
champion.” With a time of 13.44, Likes won $1,000 — which he donated to charity — and a World Wrestling Entertainment-style championship belt. Per competition tradition, Likes was bidden to flaunt the belt the rest of the day, which had him walking around Savannah, Ga., taking pictures with passersby. Although he’s now retired from individual speed competition, Likes has taken on something of a player-coach role in team medley competition. “I love clean windows, but unfortunately I don’t do it
anymore. I have teams working for me now, and I just guide and teach them how to do it,” said Likes. “It’s funny with that recent team medley competition, my teammate had zero mistakes while I had seven. I guess I trained him well.” Likes hasn’t become complacent after his victory, however. He’s as transparent as a window cleaned by a world-class champion in his ambitions for the future. “I’ve got my name on that cup, so I don’t need it on there again. My next goal is actually
See GLASS, Page A3
UCD: Gardening a pandemic outlet Search firm halfway to
finding new superintendent
By Emily C. Dooley Special to The Enterprise People who turned to gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic did so to relieve stress, connect with others and grow their own food in hopes of avoiding the virus, according to a survey conducted by researchers at UC Davis, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources and international partners. The survey report, “Gardening during COVID-19: experiences from gardeners around the world,” highlights the positive role gardening plays in mental and physical health, said Alessandro Ossola, an assistant professor of plant sciences. “Connection to nature,
VOL. 124, NO. 34
INDEX
Business ���������� A6 DIY ��������������������B1 Obituaries �� A3-A4 Classifieds ������ A5 Forum ��������������B4 Sports ��������������B6 Comics ������������B5 Living ����������������B4 The Wary I �������� A2
By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer
UC Davis/Courtesy photo
UC Davis lead gardener Julia Schreiber picks sunflowers at the Student Farm in 2021. relaxation and stress relief were by far the biggest reasons gardeners cited,” Ossola said. The researchers sent links to online surveys via
WEATHER Today: Warmer and clearer. High 68. Low 46.
targeted emails to gardening groups, in newsletters and on social media between June and August
See GARDENING, Page A3
The search for Davis’ next superintendent of schools highlighted Thursday’s school board meeting, as the search firm spearheading the effort, McPherson & Jacobson, gave an update to the trustees. McPherson & Jacobson’s representative, Bill Huyett, said the firm is a little over halfway into the process, and that all applicants have been received. Huyett also touched on the community feedback from an open-ended survey asking about things
people liked and disliked about the district, the problems they see as well as the attributes and characteristics they want in their next superintendent. “In generality, it was a very strong response from educational partners that they love what they’re doing, they love what they’ve created and want to make sure they have a leader that invests in that,” said Huyett. “They want somebody who will come to this position knowing the district well, become a part of the
HOW TO REACH US www.davisenterprise.com Main line: 530-756-0800 Circulation: 530-756-0826
http://facebook.com/ TheDavisEnterpriseNewspaper http://twitter.com/D_Enterprise
See SEARCH, Page A3
SUNDAY • $1.50