Daily Republic: Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Dizon gives up recount for District 1 seat on council

Fairfield-Suisun

schools

Measure S recount set to start

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

“K. Patrice Williams is the new council member. The 12 uncounted ballots had genuine signature problems,” Dizon stated in an email to the Daily Republic.

Williams was already the official winner after the election had been certified Nov. 30. That result was challenged by Dizon, but never overturned.

Dizon also stated in her email that she never intended to sue the county, which apparently some area residents believed she was going to do after she had suggested there were issues with the election.

DIZON

Williams will take her oath Tuesday along with new Mayorelect Catherine Moy, new District 3 Councilman-elect Doug Carr and returning District 5 Councilwoman Doriss Panduro. The ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. after a reception at 5 p.m. in the City Hall lobby.

Spering stays on as Solano representative to MTC

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Anna Conger quipped how she did not exactly pull down the best of grades in her early academic career, but found her calling as a teacher.

She also told a story about how on a return trip from a vacation to Baja California – and landing at an airstrip in a small village – the tire on a plane piloted by her husband broke.

“So when we landed, we kind of skidded, and that upset us because it wasn’t our plane,” Conger, of Fairfield, said in her video.

Born March 13, 1922, she was one of 42 centenarians who were honored Tuesday as part of the 16th annual Centenarian Celebration by the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

The event was held virtually for the third year

FAIRFIELD — Supervisor Jim Spering had orchestrated a no-fanfare departure from the board Tuesday – his last meeting in a four-term, 16-year tenure – only to be lassoed into a continued assignment as the county representative on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.

Not only will Spering finish out the current term that expires Feb. 9, but he was unanimously appointed to four more years after that.

However, Spering made it clear the board will have to appoint someone to replace him sooner or later.

“There is no way I will be there for four years,” Spering said.

See Dizon, Page A9 See Spering, Page A9

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed into law Tuesday a bill to protect same-sex marriages, at a White House ceremony resembling a victory lap set to a soundtrack of pop music stars Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper.

The South Lawn ceremony featured performances from the two artists, as well as speeches from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and the couple that brought the lawsuit that prompted a Massachusetts court to

legalize same-sex marriage in that state.

Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, Lauper performed her song “True Colors,” which also shares the name of a group to fight LGBTQ homelessness she co-founded in 2008. Smith, who performed the hit song “Stay With Me,” came out as gay in 2014 and nonbinary in 2019.

Biden, in a speech, emphasized the importance of congressional action to formally repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and codify federal recognition of same-sex marriages. Supporters said the law in part would

be a backstop in case the Supreme Court ever reversed its 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriages nationwide.

“It is one thing for the Supreme Court to rule on a case, but it is another thing entirely for elected

TRibune ConTenT agenCy

FAIRFIELD — Nora Dizon has stopped the recount of the District 1 election for the Fairfield City Council.

Fairfield planning panel to discuss homeless strategy A3

Argentina defeats Croatia to advance to World Cup final B1

centenarians,

Tuesday.

Dan Child speaks during a video presentation celebrating Solano County’s centenarians at the Government Center in Fairfield, Tuesday.

You can change the world with a smile

Editor’s note: Sharon Randall is taking the week off. The following column is from 2019.

It was a quick stop at the market at 5 p.m. – yes, the worst time of day to shop – to pick up a few essentials: Cream for coffee, eggs for breakfast and Advil for my splitting headache.

I’d been rushing all day, running errands, checking things off a lengthy to-do list. I did not want to play Demolition Derby with throngs of other weary shoppers. But I told myself it was my last stop before going home to put my feet up and watch my husband make dinner. Maybe I’d buy some pesto. The man is half Italian. He loves pesto pasta.

So I scored a parking place in a green zone, grabbed a bag from the trunk and found a cart that was left on the curb. Then I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath and dove into the fray.

It wasn’t quite as crowded as I expected. I stopped briefly to rummage through a bucket of sunflowers and picked out the least wilted bunch. I can’t prove it, but sunflowers always seem to lower my blood pressure.

Next I grabbed a package of linguini and some pesto at the deli and moved on to the dairy aisle for eggs and cream. That’s when I saw her. She was sitting in the seat of a shopping cart, padded all around with a blanket. She looked to be maybe 9 months old. Short blond curls. Blue eyes as big as hubcaps. Wearing a white lace dress with tights and shiny black shoes.

I would describe her mother, but I barely saw her. I couldn’t take my eyes off the child.

We stared at each other, she with her baby blues and I with my bloodshot browns.

Then I did what I always do with children: I gave her my best smile. It looks a bit goofy, but it comes from my heart.

That’s a habit I formed long ago when I became a mother. Maybe I did it as a child, but I remember it best as a mom.

It started with my firstborn, in that unforgettable, life-changing moment when he was laid upon my chest and I watched him turn his tiny face up to find mine.

I could not stop smiling at him. I still can’t.

2022 midterm elections yield little in terms of education policy

ten readiness.

Randall

At times, over the years, my smile would fade into a look of fear or worry or furious anger. But it never left my face for long. It always came back, even on occasion through tears.

It happened that same way with his sister and brother. Just to look at them lit me up like Christmas. It still does. And now, after all these years, I can’t stop smiling at their children.

But here is what I’ve learned: All children, young and old, need someone to smile at them. Not just their parents and grandparents, but their teachers and coaches, family and friends. And, yes, even strangers at the market in a rush to get home.

The toddler in the cart took her time deciding just what to make of my smile. But finally, she lit up like Christmas.

I wish you could’ve seen her. I laughed and waved goodbye. And then, she blew me a kiss.

That put a lasting smile on my face that got a smile in return from every shopper I passed, even from a guy at the checkout stand who got a call from his wife telling him not to get fish (it was already bagged) because she wanted to go out to dinner.

I was still smiling when I got home and realized I’d forgotten to get Advil. Luckily, I didn’t need it. My headache was gone.

I don’t do everything right. Ask my husband. He’ll tell you. But I smile at children. And old people. And every one between. Almost always they smile back. And somehow, in that simple, magical exchange of human pleasantry, this weary old world becomes a slightly better place.

Want to change the world? Try smiling. At children, young and old. At yourself in the mirror. At people you don’t like and strangers on the street.

Someone will smile back at you. I guaran tee it. Maybe they’ll even blow you a kiss and make your headache go away.

Sharon Randall is the author of “The World and Then Some.” She can be reached P.O. Box 922, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 or www.sharon randall.com.

What changes to K-12 education will emerge from the midterm elections? Will a new Republican majority in the House or a Democratic majority in the Senate engender bold new ideas about how to better educate America’s children? The answer is – probably not.

Stephen Davis Eye on education

While public education rarely takes center stage in national election cycles, in 2022 it wasn’t even on the stage. Instead, any political energy around educational issues among congressional candidates was completely eclipsed by candidates in state and local races.

So what can we say about the state of American public school policy and where it appears to be headed in the wake of the 2022 midterms?

According to Rick Hess (American Enterprise Institute), “this wasn’t an election about education. But it will have a big impact on education policy. Who controls the purse strings in Washington will matter when school districts start hitting the fiscal cliff.”

Libby Stanford (Education Week) maintains political ambivalence over public education among congressional candidates has left many educators feeling uncertain about the future.

Moreover, highly charged issues like critical race theory, school

choice, parents’ rights and school support for LGBTQ students resonated differently around the country in gubernatorial, state school superintendent, state legislative and local school board races. For example, 11 of the 36 GOP candidates for governorships favored expanding parents’ rights policies, while 17 states passed laws limiting how divisive concepts like race, gender and sexuality are discussed in the classroom.

Across America, Democratic Party candidates in local and state ballot races continued to push for raising school district revenue limits, early childhood education, social and emotional support programs, and support for teacher recruitment and retention. Republican Party candidates focused their attention on opposing “culture war” issues like teaching critical race theory and gender identity while supporting school choice plans and religion in schools.

Almost no attention was given at any level to broader school improvement or reform agendas.

Existing reforms like the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015), which succeeded the No Child Left Behind Act (2001), modified but did not

eliminate the focus on standardized testing. Despite ongoing controversies over the value (and fairness) of standardized testing, there was virtually no political energy on the issue one way or the other in the lead-up to the 2022 midterms. Likewise, despite their alignment with most state testing protocols, the highly controversial Common Core State Standards received very little attention during the midterm elections. The politics surrounding the Common Core remain relatively unchanged (e.g., adopted by 40 states, never adopted by four states, partially adopted by two states, and repealed by four states).

With the exception of a handful of states (most notably Florida and Texas), voters had little appetite for culture war issues. Instead, they preferred lawmakers focus on repairing pandemicera online learning gaps and student welfare issues (e.g., social-emotional support, safety).

A look at the post-midterm policy agenda in California reveals the state’s recent efforts to support the phase-in of universal transitional kindergarten continues as planned. Transitional kindergarten bridges the gap between preschool and elementary school, providing an extra year to acquire kindergar-

Additionally, according to Emily Hoeven (Cal Matters) the reform forecast for California schools includes a $649 million state grant for the development of “community schools” that offer wraparound services such as mental health care, pediatric appointments and other programs designed to assist students and their families.

Finally, the policies that support California’s goal of facilitating continuous school improvement continue to revolve around the state’s 10-year-old Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control and Accountability Plan.

So, to recap – the 2022 midterm elections in some parts of the country ginned up partisan efforts to push culture war agendas, but these efforts were frequently met with tepid voter support.

Moreover, culture war issues have had almost no effect on federal education policy – yet. Under a divided Congress, for now it is unlikely we will see much federal legislative action related to public schools.

Stephen Davis is a career educator who writes a column that publishes every other Wednesday in the Daily Republic. Reach him by email at stephen davis71@gmail.com.

Sharon

Equestrian project in Quail Canyon ignites neighbors’ wildfire concerns

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VACAVILLE — Plans for a horse boarding and riding project at Double T Ranch on Quail Canyon Road have drawn concerns from neighbors in the area.

At the top of that list is wildfire and what neighbors say is already a dangerous and difficult evacuation situation for residents and animals, and the project could add as many as 48 more horses.

“We have had several major fires out here,” said Liann Stubblefield, who lives off of Pleasants Valley Road, about a quarter-mile from the canyon entrance, adding horses and other livestock died or were severely injured during the LNU Lightning Complex Fire.

She said the one thing that burned at her place was a manure pile from her three horses. She said it was located in the middle of a dirt area, so an ember must have hit and it went up. She said this project calls for 48 horses.

“For those who chose to evacuate during the LNU fire, it was a problem,” Stubblefield said, noting how difficult it was to get livestock out, or even know where to go.

Water supply, noise and the extra lights – and their potential impact on neigh-

bors – are other concerns that also have been raised.

Tina Tomei has a conditional use permit application going through the Solano County planning process.

It calls for two covered riding arenas – the largest being 18,000 square feet –three training pens, three barns to house 48 horses, a ranch shop and storage structures and a caretaker’s home on 47.7 acres at 8325 Quail Canyon Road. No horse shows are planned, Senior Planner Nedziene Ferrario said.

Tomei was not available for comment. A call to the project architect was not returned.

A community meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the county Events Center, 601 Texas St., in downtown Fairfield.

The property is zoned Agriculture with a minimum lot size of 160 acres. The proposed

Fairfield planning panel to discuss homeless strategy

Crash on Highway 12 sends 1 to trauma center

daily Republic sTaff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

RIO VISTA — A crash Monday involving a big-rig sent one person to a regional trauma center and blocked traffic in both directions on Highway 12 for several hours.

The head-on crash happened at approximately 11:15 a.m. and blocked the intersection of Highway 12 and Church Road.

The Rio Vista Fire Department reports one person had “significant injuries” and was treated

ter to a trauma center.

The person who was injured was identified in initial CHP reports as a 55-year-old man.

A regional traffic alert was issued shortly after 11:40 a.m. A hard closure of Highway 12 was established at Summerset Road at the entrance to Trilogy, the CHP reports.

Traffic along Highway 12 was rerouted around the crash site.

by Rio Vista firefighters and Medic Ambulance Service personnel before

being flown by a California Highway Patrol Air Operations helicop-

Courtesy photo

sTaff

FAIRFIELD — The city’s homeless strategy will be presented to the Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Council Chamber

The Homeless Services Division in the City Manager’s Office manages the city’s response to homelessness by coordinating efforts with various city departments, which includes activities and planning for service providers, stakeholders and affected residents “to ensure an efficient and effective system offering everyone access to shelter, food, employment, housing and other basic needs and opportunities,” according to a staff report.

The commission also

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

A homeless encampment is set up near Beck Avenue in Fairfield, Monday.

See Panel, Page A5

See Project, Page A5

‘For those who chose to evacuate during the LNU fire, it was a problem.’

— Liann Stubblefield

Maxine Bradshaw-Clayton April 6, 1931 — Dec. 12, 2022

June Maxine Bradshaw-Clayton left this life on Dec. 12, 2022. Max was an Air Force veteran, a world traveler and a wisecracking mom. She was a walking fashion statement who loved to sing and could always be counted on for deviled eggs.

Max was a longtime resident of Fairfield and Vacaville, and active in Fairfield Women in Action, Eastern Star, Beta Sigma Phi and the Solano Yacht Club.

She is survived by children, Jill Bradshaw (Curtis Slover), Kent Bradshaw and Marcia Bradshaw-Angier (Martin); five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Max was preceded in death by husband, Henry Clayton Jr. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St., Vacaville, with military honors following at 3 p.m. at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon. Food and fellowship will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Bud’s Pub & Grill, 100 S. 1st St., Dixon, California.

Susan Long (née Craig) was born on Aug. 10, 1952, in South Bend, Indiana, to Jack and Marilyn (née Crothers) Craig and her beautiful soul left this world on Nov. 3, 2022, to return to the Lord.

Susan was the epitome of love and kindness and we are thoroughly convinced that her photo is in the dictionary next to each of those words. There was never a mean bone in her body. The worst thing we ever heard her tell someone was to ‘have a nice trip – see ya next fall!’

She attended and graduated Elston Senior High School in Michigan City, Indiana. After graduating, she followed her passion for the arts to Purdue University. She was a talented designer and had a beautiful eye for color, and would tell you honestly if something wouldn’t look nice with the kindest of voices and sweetest of smiles, but always with a nod of encouragement for trying. Some of her body of works include designing a kitchen for a Burt Reynolds movie and a multiple photo spread in Better Homes and Gardens showcasing some of her many talents. She graced multiple companies with her presence including Walt Bukva Studios, Whirlpool and Target.

She had the most incredible sense of humor and never passed up an opportunity for a good chuckle – whether it was over something modest or inappropriate there was always a giggle to be found. She found a similar sense of humor in husband Theodore Louis Long and they married on Oct. 5, 1985.

She was an avid collector

of both stray kids and dogs alike and acquired many over the years who called her ‘Mom’.

She always made a little more room in her heart for each of those wandering souls and she loved all of them dearly.

However, if you asked her who her favorite kid was her answer was always the same – ‘Beau and Gemma’. The grandkids always won.

She was always the biggest fan and supporter of her kids and family –whether it was their creativity, sports or passion for higher education – she was everyone’s best cheerleader. She had this profound love for her life and family. We will miss her laugh, her smile and her voice. We will miss her sense of exploration and adventure – from trekking through the mountains and sitting on military flight lines, to her lifelong love of Notre Dame sports –she was an unstoppable force of escapades and love.

Susan is survived by her husband of 37 years, Theodore Long of Vacaville, California; son, Christopher Long of Vacaville, California; daughter, Katrina (Jonathan) Hawes; and her two beloved grandchildren, Beau and Gemma Hawes; she is also survived by her brother, Eric (Deb); sisters, Karin (Gerry) and Nancy (Steve); and two Yorkie dogs, Chewy and Keira; as well as many other much loved family members and friends.

Susan’s ashes will be given to family members to be spread on their adventures to places she loved visiting. A memorial service is still being decided.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in honor of Susan.

Asa Jackson

Nov. 10, 1931 — Dec. 8, 2022

Asa Jackson, 91, of Fairfield, California (2015-2022), and Albany, California (1965-2015), passed away peacefully on Dec. 8, 2022, in her sleep.

The SGI Bay Area community lost a pivotal member. Asa was a devoted SGI member and she loved to help those in need. She will be remembered for her delicious, traditional Japanese food, gorgeous flower arrangements and Japanese crafts.

She will leave a tremendous gap in the lives of those who knew and loved her and will be sorely missed.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Jackson, Joyce Jackson and Helen Jackson; and her grandchildren, Naymon Frank, Miya Frank, Marin Gibson, Alyssa Brouwers, Kathryn Jackson and Jessica Jackson.

She is predeceased by her husband, Robert Jackson; and her sons, Ricky Jackson and Russell Jackson.

She will be laid to rest with her husband at Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

Matthew Garcia

Matthew Garcia was born in Richmond, California, on June 12, 1964. He loved his family and friends. He loved all kinds of music, but he really enjoyed the Oldies and Motown. His hobbies were old cars and his beloved Ford Mustangs. He was known for his quick wit and ability to make people laugh.

He is survived by his children, Briana Owen (William), JoJo Garcia (Jessica) and Lilianna; grandchildren, Ansel, Landon, Mylah and Lilly; mother, Chris; and brothers, Mike, Marty and Mark.

He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph; brother, Joe; daughter, Alianza; and son, Matt.

He was very proud of his late son Matt Garcia, who is a former Fairfield City Council member and was one of the youngest council members elected in the state of California at age 21.

Viewing and service will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at the Fairfield Funeral home, 1750 Pennsylvania Ave., Fairfield. Immediately following, a reception will take place at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2200 Gateway Court, Fairfield, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests to please make donations to The Matt Garcia Foundation, P.O. Box 3301, Fairfield, CA 94533.

Millions will hit the roads, airways for the holidays

FAIRFIELD — The roads and sky will be busy for the end-of-year holidays with 112.7 million Americans expected to travel for Christmas and New Year’s.

That includes 15 million Californians on the move, AAA Northern California reported.

“With Christmas and New Year’s (days) falling on a Sunday, heavier traffic can be expected through the end of the year,” Brian Ng, senior vice president of Membership and Travel Marketing for AAA Northern California, said in a statement.

Nationwide, nearly 101.8 million people will travel by car, an increase of nearly 2% from 2021’s total of 99.8 million. About 7.2 million people will fly, an increase of 14% over the 6.2 million who flew for the holidays in 2021, AAA Northern California reported.

The travel numbers are forecasted for Dec. 23 to Jan. 2.

School trustees to select new officers; welcome newest board member

SuSan HilanD SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield-Suisun School District trustees will shuffle roles this week and welcome the newest member.

The board will elect a president, vice president and a clerk from among its members Thursday. Teresa Lavell from the Solano County Board of Education will administer the oath of office to newly elected Trustee Jack Flynn prior to the meeting.

Trustees will also discuss changing meeting nights for the coming school year.

Options include having meetings once a month on the third Thursday with a start time of 5 p.m. for closed session; and continuing with two meetings a month on the second and fourth Thursdays unless there is a conflict with a holiday or school event such as graduation.

Trustees will also look at readopting the Board Governance Handbook, Board Governance Calendar and Board Bylaws

and Exhibits as well as the adoption of the Cultural Proclamation Calendar for the coming school year.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the central office, 2490 Hilborn Road, Fairfield.

An agenda for the meeting is available at https://go.boarddocs. com/ca/fsusd/Board. nsf/Public.

It will be the busiest year since 2019 when 119.3 million traveled for the holiday, AAA Northern California reported.

AAA Northern California offers these tips for travelers:

n Check the forecast. Weather is unpredictable and can cause flight delays or cancellations.

n Travel during offpeak periods: before 2 p.m. or after 8 p.m., if possible. Road traffic peaks on the Friday before Christmas and Dec. 27 and 28.

n Plan for delays. Drivers can expect up to 25% longer travel times nationwide.

n Have your vehicle inspected prior to leaving. Nearly 900,000 travelers will call AAA for roadside assistance nationwide.

SUBSCRIBE. CALL 707-427-6989.

Susan Long Aug. 10, 1952 — Nov. 3, 2022

AIR FORCE VETERAN

‘12 Planes of Christmas’ on display at museum

VACAVILLE — The Rowland Freedom Center will host the “12 Planes of Christmas” on Sunday.

In brief Doors opening, ‘eventually,’ on critical mental health treatment facility

Santa Claus and the Grinch will be on hand for photos at the military and aviation museum located at the Nut Tree Airport. Twelve planes, decorated for the season, also will be on display.

The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. The cost is $5 for adults. Children 12 or younger are free. The center is located at 300 County Airport Road, Suite C4.

Panel

From Page A3

will consider a zoning ordinance change that will allow child day care centers as conditional uses within Service Commercial zoning districts.

The board also will consider a zoning ordinance change providing guidelines and regulations for housing projects and subdivisions that qualify under the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act, which, according to a state website, “streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing lot.

Any new housing created as a result of Senate Bill 9 “must meet a specific list of qualifications that protects historic

Project

From Page A3

project is an allowed use with a conditional use permit, Ferrario said.

The total acreage of the ranch was not immediately available.

The Planning Commission would have to approve the permit. There is no commission date set for consideration of the project, nor has a timeline for environmental review been established.

That section of Quail Canyon Road is a private,

districts, preserves environmental quality and the look of communities, and prevents tenants from being displaced.”

City Hall is located at 1000 Webster St.

Members of the public may observe the meeting on Comcast Cable Channel 26, ATT U-Verse 99 and web-streamed live at www.youtube.com/user/ FFCATV/live. The public may join the meeting via Zoom at https://fairfield ca.zoom.us/j/97065607 498?pwd=a1dnaVY2U zFINU4xaU5sS0FET0 9qZz09 or by phone at 408-638 0968. The Meeting ID is 970 6560 7498; the Passcode is 66781819.

A full agenda for the meeting is available at https://eservices.fairfield. ca.gov/WebLink/Browse. aspx?dbid=0&startid=430 42&row=1&cr=1.

two-lane road. Ferrario said access to and from a second private road may also be available for the ranch, but that has not been confirmed.

Stubblefield said Solano County is not prepared for these kinds of events, and if the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection is taxed to the point it cannot send resources –which happened during the LNU fire – then the situation only gets worse.

Neighbors also expressed their frustration over what they consider the lack of information that has been released about the project.

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Fourteen months after turning over the first shovels full of dirt on a new residential mental health facility, officials on Tuesday cut the ribbon on the project.

“The buildings are beautiful,” Supervisor Monica Brown said in a phone interview Tuesday.

“I’m extremely excited that we are going to be able to help people . . . I’m excited it is happening, especially at Beck Avenue where there are other resources available,” Brown said.

However, Solano County is still waiting for the state to approve the licenses for the facility, so it isn’t clear when they will be able to treat clients.

“We can’t get the clients in the facility until they get the licensing,” Gerald Huber, the director of the Department of Health and Social Services, said in a phone interview. He said he hopes that is soon, but cannot say when that actually will be.

“I’m a little disappointed in that,” said

Huber, who also was one of the speakers at the event.

Supervisor John Vasquez, County Administrator Bill Emlen and Emory Cowen, director of Behavioral Health, also spoke.

Supervisors Erin Hannigan and Mitch Mashburn, former Supervisor Ruth Forney and four members of the Fairfield City Council – Mayor Harry Price, Vice Mayor

Rick Vaccaro and Council members Scott Tonnesen and Doriss Panduro – also were among those who attended the event.

The facility is located at 2261 S. Watney Way, near the county Health and Social Services campus. Brown noted the business neighbors of the facility have been supportive.

The facility consists of three buildings totaling 11,900 square feet: a 5,500-square-foot,

single-story administration building and two 3,200-square-foot, singlestory residential buildings.

“One residential building will be a 16-bed board and care housing unit and the other will be a 16-bed intensive residential mental health treatment unit,” the county reported. Each requires its own license.

The facility will be

Board approves $3M for food distribution capacity

Todd R. H ansen

THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Solano County supervisors allocated $3 million in federal pandemic relief funding to five organizations Tuesday for building capacity to provide emergency food services.

Three organizations – The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano ($515,000), Catholic Charities of Yolo-Solano Inc. ($250,000) and St

Mark’s Lutheran Church Manna Food Pantry ($40,000) – received their full funding request.

Two others, including $1.835 million to Meals on Wheels of Solano County, received a lesser amount than they had asked for, the county staff reported. Food Is Free Solano was the other, receiving $360,000.

Meals on Wheels had requested $2.2 million to acquire a new service center in Fairfield. The

facility will provide an expanded commercial kitchen, and food and supply storage. Food is Free Solano asked for $521,488 to purchase equipment to increase on-site food distribution, primarily through the purchase of a refrigerated truck and van and refrigerated storage containers.

The food bank is using its funding to launch a food delivery component to its services, while Catholic Charities will

expand its food storage and staffing capacity, with increased monthly pop-up and street outreach food distribution events, and St. Mark’s has plans for building two ramps to improve access for clients with disabilities.

A committee of five reviewed and evaluated the seven applications for the pool of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Two applicants, 4th See Board, Page A6

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic Visitors check out a bedroom while touring the new solano County Mental Health Residential Treatment Facility in Fairfield, Tuesday.

Fairfield police escort Santa to Laurel Creek Park neighborhood

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — City police escorted Santa on Monday to the Laurel Creek Park area in a makeup visit for one that was rained out over the weekend.

The visit was a con-

tinuation of similar trips throughout the city that began early this month with the start timed to coincide with the city’s Christmas kickoff celebration downtown.

Santa’s remaining schedule includes two stops: n Friday: Woodcreek

Park, at Woodcreek and Astoria drives; Mankas Neighborhood Park, along the 2800 block of Owens Street; Meadow Glen Park, along Parkview Terrace; and Rolling Hills Elementary School at 2025 Fieldcrest Ave. n Saturday: Nelda

Mundy Elementary School at 570 Vintage Valley Drive; Oakbrook Academy of the Arts at 700 Oakbrook Drive; Cordelia Community Park off Gold Hill Road; and Cordelia Hills Elementary School at 4770 Canyon Hills Drive.

comes to Vacaville

Daily Republic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VACAVILLE — Starbound Theatre will present live performances of “Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer Jr.” this weekend.

This children’s musical adaptation of the holiday television special will feature all of the children’s favorite characters including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph. Can Rudolf’s shiny nose save Christmas?

There will be five performances in all. Show dates and times are set for 7 p.m. Friday; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. All shows take

place at The Saturday Club of Vacaville, 125 W. Kendal St. The show runs 90 minutes, including intermission.

Tickets may be purchased at starboundtheatre.com.

This production of

Rudolph features students ages 4-17 from across Solano County who are enrolled in Starbound Theatre’s Performing Arts Academy, which features a training program designed to develop skills of young performing arts

students. The program offers five levels based on age and skill. For more information on Starbound Theatre shows and programs, call 707-416-8990 or visit the theater group’s website.

Mental

From Page A5

used by Health and Social Services clients diverted from the criminal justice system or the homeless.

Yolo Community Care Continuum will be the on-site operator. It was one of seven applicants to run the facility. The county will pay $3.347 million through

utive director of Yolo Community Care Continuum, attended the event.

The project cost was $14.7 million, about half the funding coming from the state mental health and substance use treatment services program, and the remaining costs covered by county Public Facility fees and grant funds from the California Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention program.

From Page A5

BoardSecond and Cultivate Community Food Co-Op, did not receive any funding.

There were concerns about whether either could sustain the services, describing them as start-up type ventures, according to staff comments. That did not sit well with either group.

Representatives of each said their projects were misrepresented as startups, and said they have been working in the community for many years, but that work was interrupted by the pandemic.

4th Second had requested $1.74 million to expand infrastructure, staffing and capacity, including the acquisition of two properties in Vallejo, pre-development and development costs, three manager positions, and co-op membership subsidies for 700 low-income households.

“These costs comprise 90% of the funds requested,” the staff report states.

The co-op membership went hand-in-hand with the $500,000 requested by Cultivate Community Food Co-Op, which is working to develop a grocery store in south Vallejo.

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Gurmann seth, 5, meets santa Claus at laurel Creek Park in Fairfield, Monday.

Flint Builders was the

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic officials participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new solano County Mental Health Residential Treatment Facility in Fairfield, Tuesday.

Which state school districts are run well?

Gov. Gavin Newsom is fond of characterizing his state as a national – or even global – model in all things good, from economic clout to fighting climate change.

One conspicuous absence on his list of California’s virtues is its public education system, for good reason.

In statewide and nationwide tests of K-12 academic achievement, California lags badly behind. Learning is especially deficient among children from poor families, but even children from affluent California families tend to lag behind those in other states.

To the extent this educational crisis receives any attention in the state Capitol, the discussion is almost always confined to money, on the fanciful notion that spending more will automatically increase academic attainment.

One reason money doesn’t solve the problem is the state provides very little oversight on how the money is spent, including the extra funds local school systems receive specifically to close the achievement gap. State education officials intervene only when local systems are flirting with insolvency.

Some school districts spend their money wisely and effectively and some don’t and outcomes largely hinge on the quality of their governance. Those with engaged and committed boards and administrators tend to have better outcomes than those with inconsistent, politics-driven and often chaotic governance.

That’s why a massive effort to judge how well California’s local school systems are structured and managed is welcome.

Arun Ramanathan, CEO of Pivot Learning, an Oakland-based nonprofit organization that advises school systems on improving instruction, created a series of benchmarks to gauge how well school districts are prepared to embrace reforms. He also created a website that allows the public to view the results for every school district with at least 2,500 students.

“Despite billions in investment and decades of effort, new reform efforts rarely have intended impacts at the district, school and classroom level, and sustained improvement is rare,” Ramanathan told EdSource, a website of education journalism. “There are rarely insights into why. The District Readiness Index resulted from that questioning.”

The ratings cover five “domains” – community relations, finance, leadership, personnel policies and workplace conditions. Users can see how the districts score in each, with overall ratings designated by colors. Blue is the best, yellow is in the middle and orange is the worst.

The grading process resulted in about half of the 420 districts getting yellow grades and about 40% blue marks with roughly two dozen placed in the orange category, meaning they have “few foundations” for achieving needed reforms.

(Local school districts offer a mixed bag. The index lists the Fairfield-Suisun School District as yellow, although the district was ranked blue for finance and leadership. The Travis School District was also designated as yellow but received blue rankings for leadership, personnel policies and workplace conditions. The Vacaville School District was likewise designated as yellow but earned blue rankings for community relations, leadership and workplace conditions. The Benicia School District was set at yellow but earned blue designations for community relations, finance and personnel policies. Meanwhile, the Vallejo City School District was designated as orange but had blue rankings in leadership and workplace conditions. The Dixon School District was also set at orange but earned blue designations for leadership, personnel policies and workplace conditions.)

Some of the state’s largest districts are colored orange, including Los Angeles Unified, whose enrollment approaches 10% of the state’s 6 million public school students.

It’s not surprising that LA Unified, Oakland Unified, San Francisco Unified and Sacramento Unified received low marks because all have been in constant political turmoil and financial distress of their own making.

Three of the large districts – San Diego Unified, Elk Grove Unified and San Juan Unified – escaped the orange designation and are marked as yellow.

A few large districts achieved blue status for being well prepared, including Fresno Unified, Long Beach Unified and San Bernardino Unified. But most of the blue districts tend to be either in affluent suburbs – no surprise there – or in rural areas.

Most interestingly, the blue list includes a number of districts with large numbers of poor students, such as Brawley and Calexico in poverty stricken Imperial County.

The District Readiness Index provides new ammunition for the school reform movement in California, which seeks to elevate students’ welfare over petty politics, particularly in Los Angeles Unified and other large districts, that sabotage their educations.

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more columns by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.

COMMENTARY

The lies of Twitter, the damage done

From shock to anger to outrage: That describes my arc of reaction to “The Twitter Files,” especially Bari Weiss’s revelatory installment, #TwitterFiles2.

Using Twitter’s own internal files, released with the blessing of new owner Elon Musk, Weiss demonstrates that Twitter was indeed censoring conservatives, despite vigorous and repeated denials from company brass over the years.

“I want to read a few quotes about Twitter’s practices, and I just want you to tell me if they’re true or not,” Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), asked the company’s then-CEO Jack Dorsey in a 2018 hearing. Bear in mind: Dorsey was under oath.

Doyle’s first quote: “Social media is being rigged to censor conservatives. Is that true of Twitter?”

“No,” Dorsey responded.

“Are you censoring people?” Doyle asked next.

“No,” Dorsey answered.

“Twitter’s shadow-banning prominent Republicans . . . is that true?” Doyle followed.

“No,” Dorsey said.

Those may not have been lies in Dorsey’s mind. But they are deceptive, to say the least, when read in light of the Weiss revelations. Verified accounts of such prominent conservatives as activist Charlie Kirk (who like me hosts a radio show for Salem Media Group), radio host Dan Bongino and many others were flagged so that Twitter algorithms would not highlight their tweets.

Dorsey’s smoke screen masked other kinds of deception, too. Conservatives were led to believe they had equal access to the Twitter audience. People and organizations on the right invested time, effort and sometimes money to craft messages in the belief the results could be read on a level playing field. In truth, any message out of favor with Twitter management – or somehow offensive to lowerlevel content moderators – might find only a small fraction of its intended readership.

The Twitter reporting has met with ferocious pushback, including on the app itself, in part because the company handpicked the journalists it wanted for the task: independent-minded iconoclasts Matt Taibbi, Michael Shellenberger and Weiss. We don’t know what terms may have

But don’t let the attacks stop you from considering the reporting. Imagine the hours you would invest in preparing a lecture, a sermon or simply an advertisement if you were told it might be heard by 1,000, 10,000 or 100,000 people. Only after you have finished do you discover your time has been wasted and you can never get it back, because your message was blocked or filtered.

Digital communication is still young. I understand the promise sometimes exceeds the reality. Fans of the Cleveland Browns saw our NFL Sunday Ticket feeds crash two weeks in a row earlier this fall.

That’s not what happened at Twitter. Producers of companyapproved tweets enjoyed a fair shot at reaching the platform’s audience. Conservatives were singled out, secretly muffled, as Twitter robbed them of the one thing that cannot be made good: time.

Meanwhile, Twitter was happy to have the large crowds of followers some conservatives have built. These numbers helped Twitter hit the levels of “engagements” they sold to advertisers – advertisers who might be rethinking their investments on a platform they were assured would have full-spectrum reach. Has the Securities and Exchange Commission begun a hard look into the investor statements of this formerly publicly traded company?

Another apparent deception targeted Twitter users who counted on the platform for breaking news or bubbling

debates. They relied on Dorsey’s promise of neutrality. When former president Donald Trump’s account was canceled, and information about Hunter Biden was tightly rationed, at least the decisions were public, and Twitter users could factor them into their perceptions of the world. Not so with secret protocols.

Finally, there are the folks – I raise my hand here – who defended Twitter to our conservative friends and followers. Over and over, I and others on the center-right knocked down talk of behind-the-scenes activists busy silencing dissidents from the approved party line. We were trying to contain what political scientist Richard Hofstadter famously called “The Paranoid Style in American Politics.” But the folks paranoid about Twitter have been proved right, and those of us who dismissed their concerns: wrong, wrong, wrong. Try getting anyone on the right to believe assurances of good faith from Big Tech again.

The most damaging result of this scandal will be the further erosion of faith in elections in the social media era. The Twitter Files license an endless series of counterfactuals that cannot be proven or disproven. “If Twitter hadn’t tipped the scales, then [fill in the blank] wouldn’t have happened.” Once again, conservatives have been told to trust a public square that turns out to be rigged against them. Each time it happens, more damage is done.

“Russia, Russia, Russia” is going to be supplemented by “Twitter, Twitter, Twitter.”

Hugh Hewitt is a nationally syndicated radio host on the Salem Radio Network. He is also a professor at Chapman University School of Law, where he has taught constitutional law since 1996.

Foy McNaughton President

T. Burt McNaughton

Glen Faison Managing Editor

been imposed or agreements made with the company. So, sure, it’s fair to read with a radar for opinion and bias – as one should with all journalism. I would prefer it if Musk made every document available to everyone. Like his tweets.

Dan Walters

Hugh Hewitt

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Spivey tapped for ‘Mean Girls’ movie musical

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

NEW YORK — Broadway actor Jaquel Spivey has landed his first feature movie role.

The Tony-nominated star of “A Strange Loop” has been cast to play the role of gay best friend Damian Hubbard in the film adaptation of the “Mean Girls” musical, based on Tina Fey’s 2004 high school comedy.

Spivey will join Renée Rapp, who reprises her role as superficial teen queen Regina George during the musical’s Broadway run, which ended in March 2020, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Little Mermaid Live” star Auli’i Cravalho has been cast as Janis and “Spider-

Man” movie franchise star Angourie Rice is set to play Cady Heron in the eagerly anticipated project.

Production and release timetables for the film are not yet known.

Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried starred in the original film the musical is based on. The 2018 Broadway show, produced by “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels, was nominated for 12 Tony awards and lost out in all categories.

“Mean Girls” garnered the Drama Desk Award for outstanding book of a musical for Fey.

Spivey, 24, made his Broadway debut in “A Strange Loop.”

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Pearls Before Swine Stephan Pastis

Dilbert Scott Adams

Baby Blues Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

Baldo Hector Cantú

Deal reached on framework for omnibus spending bill

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

WASHINGTON —

Democrats and Republicans have reached a topline spending agreement for a fiscal 2023 omnibus, three of the four top appropriators on Capitol Hill said late Tuesday.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., said in a statement that negotiators had “reached a bipartisan, bicameral framework that should allow us to finish an omnibus appropriations bill that can pass the House and Senate and be signed

Crime logs FairField

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

1:14 a.m. — Shots fired, 2100 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 1:52 a.m. — Grand theft, 5200 block of JACQUE BELL LANE 2:27 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, WHITNEY DRIVE 4:21 a.m. — Trespassing, 200 block of JASMINE STREET 9:31 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 100 block of DIAMOND COURT 10:21 a.m. — Residential burglary, 2900 block of MONTCLAIR WAY 10:53 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1900 block of DOWNING COURT 1:04 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 700 block of EAST TRAVIS BOULEVARD 1:39 p.m. — Grand theft, 600 block of PARKER ROAD 2:01 p.m. — Vandalism, 1900 block of GRANDE CIRCLE 2:23 p.m. — Reckless driver, GREEN VALLEY ROAD 5:29 p.m. — Grand theft, 5200 block of JACQUE BELL LANE 5:33 p.m. — Grand theft, PEABODY ROAD 6:15 p.m. — Battery, 1300 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD 6:37 p.m. — Vandalism, 1800 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 6:59 p.m. — Trespassing, 3500 block of NELSON ROAD 8:29 p.m. — Hit-and-run with injury, EASTBOUND INTERSTATE 80 10:19 p.m. — Reckless driver, PHOENIX DRIVE 10:33 p.m. — Battery, 4100 block of FALL CREEK COURT 10:57 p.m. — Reckless driver, AIR BASE PARKWAY SUNDAY, DEC. 11 12:25 a.m. — Drunken driver, MANUEL CAMPOS PARKWAY 1:15 a.m. — Brandishing a weapon, 1400 block of HOLIDAY LANE 2:39 a.m. — Sexual assault, 4900 block of RIDGEFIELD CIRCLE 7:04 a.m. — Trespassing, 2000 block of WALTERS ROAD 7:39 a.m. — Trespassing, 2100 block of LARCHMONT CIRCLE 8:33 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 2200 block of CLIPPER COURT 10:31 a.m. — Trespassing, 4400 block of CENTRAL WAY 10:53 a.m. — Trespassing, CLAY BANK ROAD 12:39 p.m. — Forgery, 2000 block of CADENASSO DRIVE 2:48 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1300 block of PHOENIX DRIVE 3:58 p.m. — Shots fired, 1000 block of EVERGREEN COURT 7 p.m. — Vandalism, 200 block of BEGONIA BOULEVARD 8:59 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1900 block of GRANDE CIRCLE 9:36 p.m. — Reckless driver, TABOR AVENUE MONDAY, DEC. 12 12:14 a.m. — Fight with a weapon, 900 block of HARDING STREET 12:42 a.m. — Sexual assault,

1000 block of WEBSTER STREET 5:53 a.m. — Battery, 1500 block of PHOENIX DRIVE 6:47 a.m. — Indecent exposure, 1000 block of TEXAS STREET 7:13 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 2200 block of CONDOR WAY 8:36 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 2700 block of VIOLET AVENUE 9:11 a.m. — Battery, 1600 block of KIDDER AVENUE 10:58 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 1:14 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 4900 block of VANDEN ROAD 1:37 p.m. — Vandalism, 1100 block of ALASKA AVENUE 2:25 p.m. — Trespassing, EASTBOUND HIGHWAY 12 3:02 p.m. — Sexual assault, 900 block of HARDING STREET 4:05 p.m. — Shooting into a dwelling, 2500 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 4:45 p.m. — Trespassing, 1000 block of JEFFERSON STREET 5:12 p.m. — Trespassing, 1300 block of EMPIRE STREET 5:15 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 6:11 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 6:14 p.m. — Vandalism, 800 block of FIRST STREET 7:31 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 3300 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 7:56 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 8:04 p.m. — Battery, 1900 block of GRANDE CIRCLE 8:08 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, EAST TABOR AVENUE 8:23 p.m. — Grand theft, 1500 block of KANSAS STREET 9:31 p.m. — Robbery, 1600 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD

into law by the president.”

Leahy said he cut the deal with House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Senate Appropriations ranking member Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., who released similar statements.

CRIME Biden

due to concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year’s honorees are, from Benicia, Muriel Mines, 101, and Rosita Cruz, 102; and from Fairfield, Arthur Child, 100, Anna Conger, 100, Phyllis Craig, 100, Walter McDaniel, 100, Farideh Amirkhizi, 101, Richard Betchley, 101, Juliette Thomas, 101, Margaret Koehler, 101, Earl Chinnock, 101, Robert Dittmer,

None disclosed the terms of the agreement, but it’s expected to set defense spending at $858 billion, which is in line with the annual authorizing bill the Senate is considering this week.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,

said Tuesday that negotiators were getting close on a deal that he said would be “broadly appealing” and set defense at the $858 billion level “without having to pay a bonus above what President Joe Biden asked for, for domestic priorities of

the Democrats.”

The two sides had been $26 billion apart on the level of nondefense spending in recent days, with Republicans refusing to go above the topline level of Biden’s budget request, at $1.65 trillion.

SuiSun City

SATURDAY, DEC. 10 6:43 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1700 block of DOVER CIRCLE 11:33 p.m. — Vandalism, 900 block of BEECHWOOD CIRCLE SUNDAY, DEC. 11 1:39 a.m. — Hit-and-run no injury, 200 block of RAILROAD AVENUE MONDAY, DEC. 12 9:50 a.m. — Trespassing, CIVIC CENTER BOULEVARD 10:18 a.m. — Assault, 400 block of WHISPERING BAY LANE 5:28 p.m. — Reckless driver, WOOD DUCK DRIVE / EAST WIGEON WAY

for the Fairfield-Suisun School District, will move forward Wednesday.

From Page One

representatives of the people to take a vote on the floor of the United States Congress and say loudly and clearly, ‘Love is love,’ ” Biden said.

The bill, which passed both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support, is one of the last major pieces of legislation that Democrats will pass before handing control of the House over to Republicans next Congress.

Pelosi noted that the law served as a bookend to her own time as House speaker. She had prioritized LGBTQ issues such as funding to fight HIV and AIDS from her first term as Congress. Her first term as speaker concluded with her shepherding a bill into law that ended the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, allowing openly LGBTQ people to serve in the military.

“With courage, fortitude and unity, we have achieved a landmark victory in equality,” Pelosi said. “For millions of Americans, the impacts of this law are necessary and fundamental.”

Irene Bruce, 104, LaVonne Eyres, 105, Charlotte Hahn, 105, Maria Luz Tobias Galang, 105, and Hazel Booher, 108.

From Vacaville are Evelyn Ewing, 100, Shirley Helmich, 100, Angie King, 100, Robert Kuznick, 100, Joe Pearl, 100, Blanche Richardson, 100, Xanthia Warren, 101, Virginia Ruth Plunkett, 101, John Gonge, 101,

crimination protections for LGBTQ people.

Biden emphasized Pelosi’s central role in pushing for the legislation. “Equality and dignity for the LGBT community have always been her North Star,” Biden said. The president also expressed a desire to go further than the legislation signed into law Tuesday, particularly for federal protections against discrimination.

“When a person can be married in the morning and be thrown out of a restaurant for being gay in the afternoon, this is still wrong,” Biden said.

Such a bill is unlikely to pass in the next two years with a Republicancontrolled House and a closely divided Senate.

The new law celebrated Tuesday, known as the Respect for Marriage Act, passed the House on a 258-169-1 vote last week, with 39 Republicans voting to support the measure. Last month it passed the Senate on a 61-36 vote after months of bipartisan negotiations led by Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.

100, Philomae Dixon, 101, Leona Young, 101, CW Callaway, 102, and Navarre Marshall, 106.

The individuals who were featured in the video display were born in a dozen states and three foreign lands. They grew up in big cities and in small rural towns.

“Being 100 years old is not for sissies,” Dan Child said, adding, “Getting up,

getting down, everything. But it’s better than the

His comment brought a laugh to those in the gallery, as did a number of other statements made by other honorees. They also offered more than a few life lessons.

Many talked about the importance of being kind to each other and helping each other.

“When you look back on history and the people who came before us,” board Chairman John Vasquez said, “you can still learn from them.”

From Page One

John Gardner, the assistant Registrar of Voters, said the recount on the successful Measure S ballot initiative, a $249.6 million facility bond

He said he was meeting with members of the Central Solano CitizenTaxpayer Group about the recount parameters.

The measure met the 55% threshold to pass by two votes across both Solano and Napa counties.

Pelosi, who did not run for another term as Democratic leader, said she and others still want to push further on legislation, including bills that would establish federal anti-dis-

The law repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, the 1996 law that prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages, which the Supreme Court ruled largely unconstitutional in a 2013 decision. Language in the law also codifies

federal recognition of same-sex marriages that were legal in the state they were performed.

Other provisions in the bill would require state government entities to recognize legal same-sex marriages from other states and provide a private right of action for couples to sue if they have been discriminated against.

A compromise worked out by Baldwin, Collins and the other Senate negotiators added provisions to protect the tax-exempt status and other government benefits of religious institutions.

Many conservatives still opposed the bill, saying the religious protections did not go far enough or that the law invited litigation that would force entities like religious adoption agencies to fold.

Democrats prioritized the same-sex

marriage legislation after the Supreme Court ruling issued earlier this year in Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women’s Health that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. In a separate concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas called for the court to revisit other decisions, including the one establishing a right to same-sex marriage.

Vice President Kamala Harris praised the new law as a victory but pointed to Thomas’ decision to say it was “part of a larger fight.”

“The Dobbs decision reminds us that fundamental rights are interconnected, including the right to marry who you love, the right to access contraception and the right to make decisions about your own body,” Harris said, referring to the decisions Thomas said the court should reconsider.

From Page One

six months to a year when several big financial decisions are expected to be made with what was described as “hundreds of millions of dollars” in the balance for Solano County.

Board Chairman John Vasquez noted how critical it is to have longevity on a regional board such as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission because building relationships is a key element to that work.

“I just want to get us through the end of this,” Spering said.

As for comments on his leaving the board – and a 36-year tenure in public service that included 20 years as Suisun City mayor – he was heralded by several of the supervisors for his leadership.

Supervisor Mitch Mashburn said there is no part of Solano County that has not benefited from Spering’s time on the board.

Supervisor Erin Hannigan noted that while the two are on the far ends of the political spectrum, they were able to work together, and through disagreements, going so far as to call Spering a mentor.

Spering recalled how he had actually worked with Hannigan’s father,

the late Assemblyman Tom Hannigan, on a transportation project, and how politics then had not gotten in the way of getting the work done, either.

“The one thing the four of you,” Spearing said of his board colleagues, “you have not lost sight of who you serve.”

Spering also noted he leaves satisfied that a number of big projects he has worked on over the years are coming to fruition, a comment he made as the board affirmed the latest land-use plan for the Solano360 fairgrounds redevelopment effort.

The county expects to execute a grounds lease and development agree-

ment with IRG by the second quarter of the new year, with the firm assuming responsibility of the fairgrounds property by Aug. 1. An amended Specific Plan is expected to come back to the board for review and approval during the fourth quarter of 2023.

The other big project Spering has commented on in the recent past is the Middle Green Valley Specific Plan, the first subdivision application for which – including two tentative maps – was recently approved by the board.

Tuesday’s was also the last scheduled board meeting of 2022.

Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS

President Joe Biden signs the Respect for Marriage Act during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday.

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic LaVonne Eyres is honored during a video presentation celebrating Solano County’s centenarians, Tuesday.

Welcome to Evelyn’s Big Italian Pizzeria!

Evelyn’s Big Italian Pizzeria features their signature classic Southern Italian fare with a little New York twist and attitude. Founder Piero, was born in Avellino, Naples, the same town in Italy where the Sopranos originated. Piero was raised in the Bronx, N.Y. but, looking to wear shorts all year round, he and his wife moved to sunny California. Once there, they became the original founders of New York Pizza Kitchen in Napa and Fairfield, Parry’s Pizzeria in American Canyon, and Evelyn’s Big Italian here in Fairfield. They hope you make yourselves at home and chow down! Grazie!

The Tropeano Family

Bucks able to bully Warriors in Milwaukee

M aDeline K enney THE MERCURY NEWS

MILWAUKEE — The Warriors were slapped with five technical fouls in their disappointing 128-111 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on a night when nothing seemed to go right for the reigning champs.

The Warriors felt like the calls weren’t coming their way Tuesday. Jordan Poole was assessed a technical foul in the first quarter after making a contested layup. Then,

later in the opening frame, Stephen Curry and coach Steve Kerr were slapped with techs of their own furiously arguing a noncall on a made Curry 3.

In the third quarter, Andre Iguodala, who still hasn’t played a game this season, received a technical foul arguing with an official during an official review. Jonathan Kuminga picked up a tech early in the fourth after notching his fifth personal foul on the night.

But missed calls

surely couldn’t be the only thing the Warriors should be frustrated with in their disappointing loss to the Bucks.

Transition and interior defense were both problems for the Warriors, who were already at a size disadvantage against the Bucks. Milwaukee bullies Golden State in the paint, scoring 48 points there to Golden State’s 30. The Bucks went 33-for-53 inside the arc (62.2%) while the Warriors, who made 20 triples,

made only 18 of their 45 two-point attempts. Milwaukee also outrebounded Golden State 55-37.

The Warriors pulled within six of the Bucks in the second quarter, but that was the closest they would get. The Bucks jumped out to a 26-point lead midway through the third.

At one point, Draymond Green ushered an official down the court while pointing in the direction of the baseline seats. A fan was escorted out of the

game by security.

With the game out of reach, Kerr pulled his starters. Patrick Baldwin Jr., who played last season at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, checked in at the 8:14 mark to play in front of 50 or so family and friends. He made two 3-pointers and finished with six points.

While Jordan Poole seemed poised for a big night in front of his hometown crowd, sinking his first 3 of the game, the fourth-year guard

ultimately fell flat. He finished with 18 points on 6 of 17 shooting, making only three of his 10 3-point attempts. He had three assists and four turnovers.

Curry led the Warriors with 20 points, and Kuminga added 19 points and three 3s off the bench.

Meanwhile, the Bucks were led by Antetokoumpo, who had 30 points and 12 rebounds. Khris Middleton added 20 points and Bobby Portis contributed 25 off the bench.

Fairfield boys soccer team earns road win against Dixon

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield High School boys soccer team earned a 3-1 road win Monday night at Dixon.

Messi, Argentina defeat Croatia to advance into World Cup final

by K evin baxteR LOS ANGELES TIMES

LUSAIL, Qatar — Lionel Messi scored one goal and set up two others Tuesday, leading Argentina to a 3-0 victory over Croatia in a World Cup semifinal, keeping alive his quest to win the one trophy that has eluded him during a stellar career.

Argentina will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Morocco and defending champion France in Sunday’s final.

Messi put Argentina ahead to stay with a penalty kick in the 34th minute.

Argentine forward Julián Álvarez drew the foul that sent up the penalty, charging into the 18-yard box a couple of steps clear of Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic, forcing Croatia goalkeeper Dominik

Livakovic to come off his line. When Livakovic’s clumsy challenge and took Álvarez down, Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed at the spot immediately.

At the other end of the field Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez turned his back and looked the other way, unable to watch as Messi drilled his left-footed shot into the upper right corner. The crowd’s reaction told Martínez that Messi had scored, him giving him an Argentine-record 11 World Cup goals and five in this tournament, matching France’s Kylian Mbappe for the scoring lead.

It wouldn’t be the last time Álvarez and Messi, who was playing in his 25th World Cup match, tying Germany’s Lothar Matthaus’ record, would get together.

Álvarez got the next goal himself five minutes later, doubling Argen-

tina’s lead with a brilliant individual effort. Released by Messi at the halfway line, Álvarez charged up the center of the field, weaving his way through the Croatia defense. In the box he steered around defender Josip Juranovic and away from Borna Sosa, got help from a fortunate deflection, then poked the ball in with his right front from close range.

The goal gave Álvarez, 22, six scores in eight starts for Argentina in all competition. It also marked the first time in 29 World Cup games that Croatia has trailed by two goals at the intermission.

Messi and Álvarez hooked up in the 69th minute, this time with Messi doing most of the work, battlingJosko Gvardiol up the right wing before turning into the penalty area and delivering a beautiful ball for Álvarez in the center of the box.

Purdy excited about leading 49ers into raucous Seattle on Thursday

caM inM an BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SANTA CLARA —

For Brock Purdy’s next heroic feat, he must overcome a sore body and win at the NFL’s ultimate amphitheater in Seattle, a historically cruel place for 49ers quarterbacks.

“This is probably the most hostile environment you could probably play in, either (Seattle) or Arrowhead (in Kansas City),” Purdy said Tuesday. “I’m excited for it. All these guys have played here a bunch of time, so I’m just hearing them out, in terms of communication and operation. We’ll be ready to roll for it.”

Tuesday’s practice.

“I haven’t been out to practice or tried to throw the football, yet.,” Purdy said. “So it’s how I feel walking around or doing movements in the pool. I can still jog and run but I haven’t tried playing football yet. . . . It wasn’t excruciating pain. I was just sore after the game.”

Purdy was slated to be limited in Tuesday evening’s practice at Levi’s Stadium. “We’ll find out as these two days go,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s health. “We’ll not try to figure that out today or tomorrow. It’ll be Thursday when it’s the best chance

Fairfield got on the scoreboard first with a build-up play that started with center midfielder Nicolas Martinez. Martinez threaded a 20 yard pass to teammate Ryan Patterson. Patterson then was able to turn the Dixon defender and was able to play a through ball to right midfielder Fabian Montes. Montes scored with a shot into the bottom left corner of the net.

In the 35th minute, Fairfield’s Caleb Aguilar had a strong corner kick on the near post that Marcos Horta put away past the goalkeeper for a second goal.

Dixon closed the gap in the 65th minute, scoring off a rebound from a save by the Falcons goalie. Ten minutes later, Patterson drew a foul for Fairfield in Dixon’s box that led

to a penalty kick. Patterson was able to convert for the final goal for the Falcons and the final margin of victory.

Head coach Aaron Dickey said Aguilar was Fairfield’s Man of the Match.

Basketball Will C. Wood boys take 3rd at Galt

VACAVILLE — The Will C. Wood High School boys basketball team finished in third place Saturday at the Galt tournament.

Wood beat the host school 52-31 in the tournament finale. Nigel Rogers led the Wildcats with 16 points. Isiah Dixon and Jayden Hamilton-Holland added nine points apiece. Dixon also had 10 rebounds and earned all-tournament.

“We played better and corrected some things we did poorly the night before,” Wood head coach Mark Wudel

Vaca, Wood on court as Menlo meets Jessup

M att MilleR MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The regular season men's basketball matchup Saturday night between Menlo College and William Jessup University featured a pair of players who have squared off locally on Vacaville courts.

Jordan Adams is a senior guard at Jessup and a graduate of both Vacaville High and Solano Community College. Adams scored eight points, pulled down four rebounds and had one steal and an assist as Jessup defeated Menlo 96-94 in overtime in Rocklin.

On the other side was Landon Seaman, a junior forward for Menlo who graduated locally at Will C. Wood. Seaman continued his recent torrid play

with a double-double that featured 19 points, 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal.

The previous week, Seaman was named the Golden State Athletic Conference Player the Week. He stepped in for an injured Corey Le'aupepe and scored 38 points in a win over Life Pacific and 27 points in a victory over Vanguard.

Here is what other area athletes did at their four-year schools:

College football

Senior linebacker Armon Bailey (Vanden) closed out his collegiate career at Sacramento State with three solo tackles and three assists for the Hornets in a wild 66-63 loss to

Will he, though? Purdy, because of oblique and rib injuries in winning his first start Sunday, will be a game-

time decision Thursday night when the 49ers play at the Seahawks’ Lumen Field, coach Kyle Shanahan said before

Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez, left, and Lionel Messi celebrate after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the World Cup

semifinals between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha, Tuesday.

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy talks to Tom Brady after the 49ers’ 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Sunday.

Giants add a former Dodger as potential starter

By Evan WEBEck THE MERCURY NEWS

SAN FRANCISCO —

Faced with the possibility of Carlos Rodón accepting a long-term contract elsewhere, it appears the Giants are taking a “strength in numbers” approach to filling the void in their starting rotation.

On Tuesday, they agreed to terms with righthander Ross Stripling, bringing their number of capable starters to seven, after adding lefty Sean Manaea on an identical deal Sunday night. The deal, which was first reported

by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and later confirmed by the club, will pay Stripling $7.5 million next season and $12.5 million in 2024 if he opts in for a second year. It also includes a $5 million signing bonus.

Stripling, 33, went 10-4 with a 3.01 ERA for the Blue Jays in 134⅓ innings last season. He gives the Giants flexibility, in that he can both start and pitch out of relief. Of his 32 appearances, 24 were in the starting rotation, and eight were out of the bullpen.

Stripling also fits the Giants’ profile in that he walks very few batters:

His career 5.7% walk percentage is well below the MLB average (8.4%), and his career-best 3.7% rate last season ranked in the top 2% of the league. While 2022 was a career year – he set personal bests in run prevention (3.01 ERA), home run prevention (7.7% HR/FB) and overall value (3.1 fWAR) – he also posted ERAs below 4.00 in his first four big-league seasons with the Dodgers from 2016-2019.

President of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi is certainly familiar with Stripling from that time, when Zaidi was the

Embiid, 76ers power by Kings

TriBunE conTEnT agEncy

The Kings welcomed point guard De’Aaron Fox back to the lineup following a two-game injury absence, but they didn’t welcome the sight of Joel Embiid.

Embiid recorded his fifth consecutive 30-point game to power the Philadelphia 76ers to a 123-103 victory over the Kings on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center, Sacramento’s biggest loss of the season.

Embiid posted 31 points and seven rebounds for the

76ers (15-12), who have won three in a row. James Harden had 21 points, seven rebounds, 15 assists and five steals. Tobias Harris added 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.

Domantas Sabonis produced his fifth consecutive double-double and his NBA-leading 18th of the season for the Kings (14-12), finishing with 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Malik Monk came off the bench to score 16 points.

Fox was held to 13 points on 5-of-15 shoot-

ing. He watched the end of the game from the bench with Sacramento’s other starters after coach Mike Brown waived the white flag with over six minutes remaining.

Sacramento now faces another daunting task on its current six-game road trip with a rested Toronto Raptors team waiting to play the Kings on the second night of a back-toback Wednesday.

“Embiid was a load for us,” Brown told reporters in Philadelphia. “We didn’t do a great job on our double-teams.”

Dodgers’ general manager. He joins Alex Wood and Joc Pederson as former Zaidi-era Dodgers to join the Giants.

The Giants now have seven pitchers under contract with the ability to start games – Logan Webb,

Alex Cobb, Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Manaea, Stripling and Jakob Junis (who is expected to be used in relief) – plus whatever contributions they receive from top prospect Kyle Harrison, Sean Hjelle and the two young

Congratulations to our NOVEMBER WINNER CAPTAIN NEMO

arms recently added to the 40-man roster, Tristan Beck and Keaton Winn.

It is a deep and formidable group – and built with less risk, in the way Zaidi prefers, without handing out a long-term, high-dollar contracts to just one.

From Page B1

said in an email.

Wood improved to 5-2.

The Wildcats stormed past Woodland 61-18 in the opener Thursday. Rogers led the team with 18 points and Noah Bergman scored 13. Dixon pulled down eight rebounds.

Wood lost the semifinal matchup Friday to McClatchy, 45-40. Dixon and Rogers each scored 12 points. Dixon also had seven rebounds.

Wrestling

Vaca takes second at tournament in Gilroy

VACAVILLE — The Vacaville High School wrestling team finished

Localsecond overall and had several placers Saturday at The Bay Area 59, a tournament at Castro Valley High School in Gilroy.

Ethan Busby (107 pounds) was the lone Bulldog to come away with a title. Wyatt Sandoval (121), Ben Giangrosso (146) and Brady Wright (171) were second. Landon Borchers (113), Aidan Ducharme (139) and Jai Gueva (221) were third.

Pablo Lopez (285) added a sixth-place finish.

Will C. Wood shines at weekend tourneys

VACAVILLE — Will C. Wood High School had wrestlers place at three different tournaments Saturday.

The varsity boys competed at a tournament in Castro Valley. Vaea Salt finished second in his

weight class and Isaiah Howard came in fifth.

Varsity wrestlers will compete Dec 28-29 at the Sierra Nevada Classic.

The varsity girls competed at a tournament in San Leandro. Sophia Villoria finished third, Josie Mays was sixth and Djesire Emerson was also sixth.

Wood junior varsity wrestlers Kali Daniel, Elias Delos Reyes, Jaden Vang, Alex Kristensen, Andre Sandoval and Kevon Restauro also placed in tournament competition.

The JV Wildcats will have their next action Saturday at Will C. Wood High School for the Brett Fafard Memorial Tournament.

Area coaches are encouraged to email game result to Daily Republic sports editor Matt Miller at mmiller@ dailyrepublic.net.

Was I wrong to not let my 35-yearold son move back in with me?

Editor's note: Annie Lane is off this week. The following column was originally published in 2019.

Dear Annie: I am writing in hopes that you can provide a different and fresh perspective. I have two sons: "George," 28, and "Fred," 35. George has lived with us on and off for the past 10 years. I call him my "boomerang kid." He has finally landed a decent job, and we are giving him six more months of living with us to get his finances in order so that he can get a place of his own.

The issue is Fred. We have had a strained relationship for all of his adult life. He became a drug addict in his teens and was in and out of facilities, to no avail. During his time of using, he was abusive to me, both verbally and emotionally, kicking me out of his life multiple times, causing me to miss large chunks of time with my grandchildren. I missed the entire first year of my granddaughter's life.

At one point, things got so bad that we had to notify the police because I was fearful for my husband and me. His drug use cost him his marriage, and he almost lost his children. Finally, he became clean two years ago, and I thought our relationship would improve. It

did for a bit. I always attributed his behavior to drugs but have now come to realize that he is a narcissist and his behavior is toxic.

He has been living with his girlfriend for the past two years; however, she recently broke up with him, and he wanted to move in with us.

My husband is not the father of my sons, and our marriage has been put to the test with George bouncing in and out, so I told Fred "no." I told him this not only for the sake of our marriage but also because he had no exit plan. I had no idea how long he would be with us.

He has a good job and could go for an extended period of time before he found an apartment. Plus, our house is small and it would be utter chaos with four adults, two children (several days a week) and our three dogs.

He now has cut me off completely and blocked my number. I had hoped, after going through this many times, that I would handle it better, but I am not. I have no access to the grandchildren, other than reaching out to his ex-wife and hoping she would be kind enough to allow us time. Annie, was I wrong to say no? Should I try to move on and realize it may be best not to have him in

Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21-April 19).

Problematic teammates may actually be good for the group, as they disrupt the status quo, causing everyone to look at things they otherwise wouldn't notice. Agents of chaos keep group dynamics from getting stale.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You have high expectations for your social life, but the party hasn't met those standards lately. It is inevitable that the tide will turn. It's a fortunate time to get out and go searching for someone as playful and fun as you are.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Go through your possessions and assess what you no longer need, as well as what you're missing and would like to try. Assessing your material world will be a lucky start to attracting good things in the next phase.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You could use the help of an expert and will have no trouble finding one who will take your money, though you might solve the problem quickly and for free with an online video tutorial. Asking the right question will be key.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Focus on what will enhance your bottom line and ignore what won't. You're still learning to tell the difference. The faster you get at figuring this out, the more productive and effec-

by Holiday Mathis

Today’s birthday

The best leaders have also been followers. You’ll toggle between the two roles in 2023, sometimes unsure about which to take. The fact that you wonder indicates your readiness to lead, and indeed when you’re in charge you will be brilliant. More highlights: a connection with someone who fills your heart and a wellearned certificate. Gemini and Leo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 13, 17, 10, 36 and 1.

tive you'll be.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).

Over time, the task at hand goes from being pleasant to tolerable to tedious. You can make the "pleasant" phase last longer, though, especially by taking breaks and altering your approach to keep a fresh mindset.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).

Matters of image come up, and you may decide to make some changes. This might include updating your skills or finding a new way to tell your story. Image is about so much more than how a person looks.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

You've become masterful at what you do and will continue

my life or should I try to reconcile, if that is an option? I am very torn and appreciate your insights. — Looking for Peace

Dear Looking for Peace: Peace is within you. Make a decision that you will not let any outside situation take away your sense of inner peace. The real question is how to do that.

For starters, don't second-guess your decision. Fred needs your emotional support, but you can only give it while protecting your personal boundaries and well-being. You made the right choice by not allowing him, at 35 years of age, to move back in with you.

This will force him to find a place of his own and keep his job. Both of those things will build Fred's self-esteem and, hopefully, help him to stay sober. It is natural that you have thought of shutting him out. He has done the same to you.

But your letter shows me how important Fred is to you. Stay grounded in that, and write him an email or a letter telling him how much you love him and how grateful you are for him. Remember what Fred was like as a boy to soften your anger and hurt. It is easier to come around when what is greeting you is unconditional love. One day, hopefully, Fred will come around and thank you for forcing him to do it on his own.

to turn out a fantastic result. Others want to know your secret, but it's not something you can share. It comes so naturally to you that you have no idea how you do it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). There's no perfect amount of socializing that fits every individual. The amount that works well for you will change in different seasons of life. You're happiest when you heed signals telling you when you've had enough or need more.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19). A clash of wills doesn't show who is more powerful; it only shows who is more stubborn. Today will offer the opportunity to sidestep a conflict, which may be the wisest use of your feet. Most arguments aren't worth taking on.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18). Perplexing entanglements and ridiculous plot twists are part of the fun. Don't expect to sort it out quickly, but at least you'll be entertained. Ultimately, without the complications there would be no story.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Having friends who truly enrich your life begins with being adept at spotting people who have great potential. Notice how you feel about yourself when you're around them. The importance of first impressions cannot be overstated.

BRIDGE IN THE AMICABLE SKIES

Richard J. Ferris, the former president of United Airlines, said, “It is now possible for a flight attendant to get a pilot pregnant.” And why not?

Many years ago, in-flight magazines contained several puzzle pages, which always included a bridge column. Nowadays, though, a crossword and a few sudoku are usually

Sudoku

BRIDGE IN THE AMICABLE SKIES

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repeats. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

Richard J. Ferris, the former president of United Airlines, said, “It is now possible for a flight attendant to get a pilot pregnant.” And why not?

Many years ago, in-flight magazines contained several puzzle pages,

by Phillip Alder

the only challenges to a passenger’s analytical mind.

Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Turkish Airlines in-flight magazine contained an interesting chess problem and today’s bridge deal. The reader was shown all 52 cards and asked – I think – to analyze the play in three no-trump. Well, how do you think it should go?

North’s bid of three no-trump is aggressive, but he has a good five-card suit and excellent controls. Still, Edgar Kaplan’s 4Cs method rates the hand at only 16.65.

You start with six top tricks. The other three winners can come from the heart suit, but while establishing that suit, the lead must be lost twice. If the opponents can establish and cash three diamond tricks to go with their two heart winners, you will fall to defeat.

The danger is a 5-2 diamond split. If that is the situation, you must cut the defenders’ communication in the suit. The key play is to duck the first trick completely.

Win trick two in the dummy and lead a heart toward your 10. West may win and establish his diamonds, but he has no entry remaining. If East wins this trick, he has no diamond to play.

If the opponents are trying to establish a suit, always consider a ducking play.

COPYRIGHT: 2022, UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

by Wayne Gould

Bridge

Annie Lane

Dear Annie

H.E.R. and Josh Groban star in an animated and live-action special honoring the animated classic story on “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration.”

THURSDAY AT 8 P.M. ON CHANNELS 7, 10

Janet Jackson announces ‘Together Again’ 2023 US tour

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Janet Jackson is set to launch her first concert tour since 2019 with a 33-city trek in the coming year.

The “Together Again 2023” tour opens April 14 in Florida and concludes June 21 in Seattle. Veteran rapper Ludacris will be the opening act for all of the shows.

Jackson performed at four festivals in 2022. Those were her only live dates since 2019, the same year she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Her “Black Diamond” tour was announced in early February 2020. It was subsequently canceled as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and her “Black Diamond” album release was shelved.

That yet-to-be-heard album reunites Jackson with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who first teamed with Jackson on her 1986 breakthrough album, “Control.” Her collaborators on “Black Diamond” include Siedah Garret, Darrel Randle, Earth, Wind & Fire’s Ralph Johnson and Marcel East, the brother of San Diego-bred bass great Nathan East.

Will Jackson’s new tour coincide with the belated release of “Black Diamond?” That remains to be seen.

On Sunday evening, Jackson posted a message on her Facebook page that read: “Hey you guys, tune into my instagram live page at 8:50 am est for a special announcement!”

On Monday morning, she announced: “There will be new music,” but offered no specifics. She also said: “You guys have no idea, I’ve missed you so much, so much, and I can’t wait to be with you. I’m so excited.”

Tickets for her 2023 tour will go on sale to the general public Friday at 11 a.m. local time.

There will a presale for Citi credit card holders, from 11 a.m. Tuesday local time to 10 p.m. Thursday, and for Jackson fan club members, from 3 p.m. Tuesday local time to 10 p.m. Thursday.

An online presale

will run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time Thursday on the websites for Live Nation, the tour’s promoter, Ticketmaster and the individual venues.

Janet Jackson

“Together Again 2023” tour dates

•April 14: Hollywood, FL, Hard Rock Live

•April 19: Orlando, FL, Amway Center

April 21: Savannah, GA, Enmarket Arena

•April 22: Birmingham, AL, Legacy Arena

•April 25: Columbia, SC, Colonial Life Arena

•April 27: Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena April 29: Memphis, TN, FedEx Forum

•April 30: St Louis, MO,

Enterprise Center

•May 2: Kansas City, MO, T-Mobile Center

•May 4: Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena

May 6: Bristow, VA, Jiffy Lube Live

•May 9: New York, NY,

Madison Square Garden

•Friday May 12: Charlotte, NC, PNC Music Pavilion

•May 13: Baltimore, MD, CFG Bank Arena

May 14: Virginia Beach, VA, Veterans United Home

Loans Amp

May 18: Mashantucket, CT, Foxwoods Casino May 19: Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center

•May 20: Atlantic City, NJ, Hard Rock Live at Etess

Arena

•May 23: Toronto, ON, Budweiser Stage

•May 24: Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena

•May 26: Noblesville, IN, Ruoff Music Center

May 27: Tinley Park, IL,

Hollywood Casino

Amphitheatre Chicago May 28: Milwaukee, WI, American Family Insurance

Amphitheater

May 30: St. Paul, MN, Xcel Energy Center

June: 2 Dallas, TX, Dos

Equis Pavilion

•June 3: Houston, TX,

Cynthia Woods Pavilion

•June 4: Austin, TX, Moody Center

June 7: Phoenix, AZ,

Ak-Chin Pavilion

June 9: Irvine, CA, FivePoint

Amphitheatre

•June 10: Los Angeles, CA, Hollywood Bowl

•June 11: San Diego, CA, North Island Credit Union

Amphitheatre

•June 16: Mountain View, CA, Shoreline Amphitheatre

•June 20: Portland, OR,

Moda Center

June 21: Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Pearls Before Swine Stephan Pastis

Dilbert Scott Adams

Baby Blues Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

Baldo Hector Cantú and Carlos Castellanos

From Minneapolis to ‘AGT,’

Starks sings for healing

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

MINNEAPOLIS

— The song was originally about his struggles hiding his queer identity while growing up on Minneapolis’ North Side.

When Wyn Starks sang “Who I Am” to millions of TV viewers and a tearful Sofia Vergara on “America’s Got Talent” this past June, though, the tune garnered new meaning as a tribute to his twin brother, who died a year earlier.

“It took on a whole new life,” the 39-year-old soul-pop singer said. “I’m just happy it’s touching people one way or another, and hopefully helping them.”

His song’s rave reception on “AGT” has certainly helped Starks’ already budding music career. As Simon Cowell told him from behind the judge’s table, “This could be a lifechanging moment for you.”

Now based in Nashville, Tennessee, Starks remains thankful for the boost from “AGT,” and he hopes to add to the momentum on his first headlining tour.

Talking by phone from Nashville before hitting the road, the 2001 North High School grad said he is also grateful for the exposure the TV show brought to his late brother, Caine Starks.

“I want people to know his story, too,” Wyn said of his twin, who struggled with addiction and a heart condition. He died in Minneapolis in 2020 shortly after getting out of prison on drug-trafficking and weapons charges.

“It was really hard for him to get acclimated back into society.”

Wyn said his brother was there with him in spirit when he sang “Who I Am” in the “AGT” TV studio – and that was the big reason his performance did not suffer from nervousness, despite the song being both personally

and musically challenging.

“I could hear in my head being like, ‘You got this [expletive]!’” Starks recalled with a laugh.

While he later lost in fan votes during the “AGT” finals after singing Benson Boone’s “In the Stars,” Starks said he has still felt his brother egging him on during subsequent performances – including another hometown gig during halftime at the Minnesota Vikings game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium in October.

“He was one of my biggest supporters. Even when someone was upset with him, he’d be saying, ‘Have you heard Wyn’s EP yet?’”

As was recounted to the “AGT” audience, Caine’s favorite song was purportedly “Who I Am,” a dramatic piano ballad that’s equal parts John Legend and Adele. Wyn had first issued the song in 2021 on “Black Is Golden,” his debut album for reputable Nashville label Curb Records.

“I gotta be me/ Gotta be who I know I am inside,” Starks sings in it.

“Lookin’ back, back on a little boy/ Never gave him a chance to ever be more/ I didn’t love him but I’m gonna love him right now and forever/ It’s time to push open the door.”

Starks said the tender, highpitched voice that adds to the song’s emotional impact is ironically one of the personal traits he used to hide while growing up in north Minneapolis.

“I grew up in church, I’m queer, and I had a high voice when I was young, so I got made fun of a lot and went through a lot of self-discovery,” he recounted. “I put on a mask and tried to be somebody else to avoid the hate.

“Now, though, I embrace all of it.”

Starks grew up with four other siblings and a single mom,

Cheryl, who worked at Honeywell. She was the one who first pushed him into singing in his early teens at Berean Missionary Baptist Church.

Wyn moved to Dallas for a while to pursue a gospel music career. When he relocated to Nashville in 2017, he said, “I finally started to find myself.”

“It was all about finding my own path, and then saying, ‘This is the kind of music I want to create,’” he explained.

Alongside a couple more “Who I Am”-style ballads, the other kind of music on “Black Is Golden” ranges from the Sam Cooke-style retro-soul groover “Circles” to more disco-y, Chicmeets-the Weeknd tunes such as “Perfect” and the title track. Starks said the latter song partially sums up the statement he wanted to make with the record.

“I want to pay homage to all the Black creatives, and the idea that Black is beautiful,” he said.

Taking that idea even further, Starks revisited his Minneapolis gospel roots and recently rerecorded four of his songs with Nashville’s Fisk Jubilee Singers, a historic vocal group that dates back to the Reconstruction era. One of those songs, “Sparrow,” he said he co-wrote in reaction to George Floyd’s murder.

Starks also returns to his gospel upbringing in “At the End of the River,” which is the song he actually wrote about his late brother. But he also now sees “Who I Am” as a tribute to Caine after hearing widespread response to his “AGT” performance of it.

“I’ve heard from a lot of other people who’ve been through similar pain, including people who’ve also lost a twin sibling,” he said, tying those connections back to the song’s original meaning.

“It’s all about healing.”

SUCCESS MAKES ONE A HAPPY CAMPER

John Stuart Mill said, “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.” To me, that is a rather depressing, defeatist attitude. Why not fight to achieve ambitions, however extravagant?

Today’s deal doesn’t require anything quite so extreme. It just needs

Sudoku

Bridge

SUCCESS MAKES ONE A HAPPY CAMPER

John Stuart Mill said, “I have learned to seek my happiness by limiting my desires, rather than in attempting to satisfy them.” To me, that is a rather depressing, defeatist attitude. Why not fight to achieve

by Phillip Alder

declarer to remember what didn’t happen in the bidding, what did happen in the play, and where he has dummy entries.

Against four hearts, West leads the diamond ace. When East signals encouragement with the 10, West continues with the diamond king and his third diamond.

Now it could easily be right for East to lead the 13th diamond. If West has, say, queen-doubleton in hearts, this defense results in a trump promotion to defeat the contract. Here, though, the play will doom them. South discards his spade loser and has an easy ride home.

So let’s suppose that East switches to the spade 10. It isn’t instantly fatal but is sufficiently revealing to a thoughtful South. As this shift marks West with the spade queen and jack, declarer has “seen” 10 points in West’s hand. Therefore, since West passed as dealer, East surely has the club queen.

Displaying excellent technique, South wins the spade switch with his ace and draws three rounds of hearts ending in the dummy. He runs the club jack, crosses to the club ace, plays a spade to the king and discards his spade loser on the club king.

Always remember what didn’t happen, both in the bidding and the play.

by Wayne Gould

Bridge

JC Olivera/Getty Images/TNS file

Wyn Starks performs at the 90th Anniversary of The Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, Nov. 27.

Alumni

From

Incarnate Word in the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals. The all-Big Sky selection helped the Hornets to an overall record of 12-1.

Men's basketball

In another matchup Thursday that featured a pair of local players, Cal Maritime beat Pacific Union College 99-90.

Senior guard Braxton Adderly (Rodriguez, Napa Valley) scored 13 points to go with one rebound, two assists and one steal for Cal Maritime. Junior guard Ricky Hamilton-Holland (Will C. Wood) had five points, three rebounds and two steals for Pacific Union

in the loss.

Senior guard Dunnell Stafford (Solano) scored 14 points with five rebounds and an assist for Fort Lewis of Colorado in an 83-74 win over New Mexico Highlands. Stafford had eight points, six rebounds and three steals in a 69-65 win over Colorado State Pueblo.

Senior forward Jay Nagle (Will C. Wood) had two points, three rebounds and a steal for Idaho State in a 61-53 win over Montana Western. He added two points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal in a 76-70 loss to St. Thomas.

Sophomore guard Jeremiah Jones (Salesian, Vacaville resident) played for Stanislaus State in an 80-46 loss to Sonoma State and had two points and five assists.

Sophomore guard Teiano Hardee (Vanden) saw action but did not score for Sacramento State in a 76-74 loss to Long Beach State.

Women's basketball

Senior guard Myli Martinez (Vanden) was on the court twice last week for Chico State. Martinez scored eight points and had two rebounds and four assists in a 75-63 win over Cal Poly Humboldt. She added 10 points, one assist and one steal in a 70-69 loss to Sonoma State.

Sophomore forward Joia Armstrong (Vanden) and Ashreem Sran (St. Patrick-St. Vincent, Solano) took the court for Stanislaus State. Armstrong scored 17 points, had six rebounds, two assists and two steals in a 72-71 loss to Sonoma State. Sran had

three points, one rebound and two assists. Sran had two rebounds and an assist in a 77-52 loss to Cal Poly Humboldt. Armstrong saw action in that game but did not score.

Senior guard Taimane Lesa-Hardy (Salesian, Fairfield resident) had eight points, three rebounds and blocked a shot for San Francisco State in a 78-59 loss to Cal State San Marcos. She had two points, 10 rebounds and one steal in a 76-65 loss to Cal State Los Angeles.

Freshman guard Kiki Roberts (Vanden) filled the stat sheet for Eastern New Mexico in an 83-48 win over Northern New Mexico. Roberts had nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and one steal.

49ers

From Page 1

to be known.”

If Purdy can not play, Josh Johnson would become the 49ers’ fourth starting quarterback this season, and, either way, Shanahan will have a fourth different quarterback in six seasons going to Seattle.

“I’ve never been anywhere louder,” Shanahan said. “I know how the fans are and how the stadium is. You can’t expect to hear not just at the line of scrimmage but in the huddle, at times. It’s a big difference playing there.”

“That will be different and more hostile than he’s probably played in, even in college,” Richard

CALENDAR

Sherman, former cornerback for the Seahawks and 49ers, said on a Tuesday media call as part of Amazon Prime’s broadcast team. “That (Seattle noise) will have an effect on him. But he’s a playmaker. Everybody has to go through it. I’m sure he’ll find a way to manage.”

The 49ers are 5-16 since that pseudo-opera house opened downtown in 2002. Heck, that’s only one more win than that venue has had names ( Seahawks Stadium, Qwest Field, CenturyLink, Lumen).

These 49ers (9-4) enter on a six-game win streak, and a victory would clinch the NFC West. The fading Seahawks (7-6) have lost three of their past four.

A win also would give Purdy as many as any other 49ers quarterback who’s ever started there.

Wednesday’s TV sports

Basketball College Men

• Ohio vs. Florida, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

• Western Kentucky vs. Louisville, ESPN2, 6 p.m.

G League

• Santa Cruz vs. South Bay, NBCSBA, 8 p.m.

NBA

• Golden State vs. Indiana, NBCSBA (Fairfield and Suisun City), 4 p.m.

• N.Y. Knicks vs. Chicago, ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

• Sacramento vs. Toronto, NBCSCA (Vacaville and Rio Vista), 4:30 p.m.

• Minnesota vs.L.A. Clippers, ESPN, 7:05 p.m.

Hockey NHL

• Detroit at Minnesota, TNT, 4:30 p.m.

• Vancouver vs. Calgary, TNT, 7 p.m.

soccer

World Cup

• France vs. Morocco, 2, 40, 11 a.m.

Thursday’s TV sports

Football

NFL

• San Francisco vs.Seattle, 2, Amazon Prime (Live Streaming Service), 5 p.m.*

Golf

• AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, GOLF, 3 a.m.

Volleyball College Women

• Texas vs. San Diego, ESPN, 4 p.m.

• South Carolina vs. South Dakota State, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

• Louisville vs. Pittsburgh, ESPN, 6:30 p.m.

* The San Francisco 49ers game Thursday night will air in the Bay Area on KTVU Channel 2. Otherwise, it is being aired nationally on the streaming service Amazon Prime.