Daily Republic: Friday, December 16, 2022

State program awards $3.22M in grants to SLT

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — The Solano Land Trust on Thursday was approved for a $2.97 million easement grant and a threeyear, $250,000 capacity building grant as part of the eighth round of funding through the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program.

Tracy Ellison, conservation program manager for the land trust, said the easement grant is targeted for preserv ing 217 acres of prime irri gated row crop land – worked mostly in toma toes – located between Putah Creek and the Putah Creek Canal in the northeast area of the county.

“Now that we have the grant, we have to develop the project,” Ellison said in a phone interview. She hopes to have the easement recorded in 12 to 18 months.

The California Strategic Growth Council approved more than $74 million in its Round 8 awards, aimed at protecting 54,030 acres of agricultural lands “at risk of development,” the agency said Thursday in a statement.

“The Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation program protects agricultural lands with a goal of reducing carbon emissions, supporting rural economies and accelerating conservation efforts,” Lynn von Koch-Liebert, executive director of the California Strategic Growth Council, said in the statement. “SALC

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Cal Fire has released proposed changes to the wildfire severity zones – changes that officials with the local fire safety councils say “are significant to our region.”

“Overall, the map shows increased fire hazards, reflecting California’s increase in wildfire occurrence and severity because of many factors, including a changing climate,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.

That is true in Solano County, too.

David Stevens, president of the Pleasants Valley Fire Safety Council, said there is very little of

the Pleasants Valley area that is not now considered as a high or very high risk for fire.

“I don’t think the map is wrong, but we have to understand the map and which elements we can influence,” said Stevens, noting specifically public education and awareness, clearing away vegetation, evacuation planning and other wildfire prevention steps.

“There is not a shortage of opportunities to improve things, just a shortage of people to do them,” he said.

Rochelle Sherlock, president of the Green Valley Fire Safety Council, agrees the new map is more accurate to the current fire-risk

homeless

few weeks’ with shoulder injury

Fairfield sets Bay North Church as overnight warming center

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Bay North Church will be open overnight through the weekend as a warming center in the city.

Capacity at the church is 25 individuals.

“The center will provide shelter for homeless residents, and those without heat as the cold weather continues,” the city announced. “The center may extend its hours of operation if excessive temperatures continue.”

Bay North Church, located at 2100 Pennsylvania Ave., will be open each night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Friday night and ending Monday morning. The center opened overnight Thursday.

Overnight lows at Travis Air Force Base were projected to dip to around freezing and just below freezing overnight each night through early

Monday after also dipping that low early Friday, the National Weather Service reports. Overnight lows were projected to remain just above freezing each night at the Nut Tree Airport in Vacaville.

The weather service advises residents dress in layers during cold weather, cover exposed skin and limit time outside. Pets should be brought indoors to a warm place with food and water. Sensitive plants should also be brought inside based on the temperature threshold of the plants.

Solano County libraries also serve as warming centers during regular hours.

For more information on the Bay North Church warming center, call 707-428-7300 and press Option 8 to go directly to a dispatcher.

Fairfield artist Michael Green –living a life full of creativity

Artist Michael Green, 82, is an Armijo High School Class of 1957 grad. He was a member of the Pizzarino Boys, a bunch of jocks and pranksters, some of whom still stay in contact 65 years later.

Green had a number of interests in high school, including sports like basketball, football and track, as well as singing with the choir, but his true passion was always art. His senior year he captured the members of the Pizzarino Boys in caricature in a drawing that showed them hanging out on the steps of Armijo Union High School back when it was located on Union Avenue (now the Solano County Hall of Justice).

“I probably started drawing around 9 or 10 years old. My dad was an amateur painter and I had an uncle that was a commercial artist so I grew up thinking that art was something that adults did,” Green said.

“At Armijo I was lucky enough to have Mary Pedri as my art teacher.”

London Square and more,” Green said. “I did architectural renderings of projects, portraits, promotional literature, illustrations for the Chamber of Commerce – it was a wonderful place to work.”

After working there for 13 years, Green was invited to meet with the design directors and the owners of the Nut Tree in Vacaville.

“It really shocked me that I would be considered as a designer. The things they were asking me to do in packaging and special events and such were things I had not dealt with before. It was challenging and an opportunity to grow. I hated to leave the Port of Oakland, but I got rid of that terrible commute,” Green said.

unfortunate events happened and it closed abruptly.

“I was 53 years old, I had no computer skills and I was out of a job,” Green said.

That’s when he applied to be the manager of the Dixon May Fair.

ation of the fair involved dealing with livestock, rides, quinceañeras, ADA requirements and much more, but the concerts were the fun part and the part locals can thank Green for pioneering.

Award and the Heritage Award are being accepted.

The Distinguished Service Award was established in 1988 “to recognize individual members for outstanding service to the organization and agriculture in Solano County over time.”

The Heritage Award was created in 2009 “to provide special recognition, among its membership, to individuals and/or groups that have achieved a level of recognition in a lifelong career in agriculture in the county.”

Applications can be found at https://storage.googleapis. com/production-sitelio-v1-0-2/702/260702/2BZ7xwx8/ ffe831b9744648f8bc752b66d2f9d2af?fileName=Aw ard%20application.pdf.

Bureau announces dinner at Caymus winery

FAIRFIELD — The 105th annual Meeting & Dinner of the Solano County Farm Bureau will take place Jan. 21 at the Caymus Cordelia Winery.

The cost is $50. A reserved table for eight is $500. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com/e/105thannual-meeting-dinner-tickets-476676832237, at the bureau office, 130 Allison Court, Vacaville, or by calling 707-449-8044.

The winery is located at 2560 Cordelia Road.

A story that appeared in Wednesday’s Daily Republic should

After graduating from Armijo, Green majored in art in college and went to the Art Center in Los Angeles. He was a freelance artist for a number of years.

“The Ford Motor Company put out a monthly magazine called Ford Times that had short stories by amateur writers who wrote about things they had experienced when traveling,” Green said. “I worked as the West Coast illustrator and they would send me the manuscript and ask if I was interested in illustrating the story. I was always interested.”

Green, with a wife and three kids, made ends meet by teaching art at the Fairfield Recreation Department, in the school system and to adults. He also taught privately and once he received recognition for his fine art prowess, was able to supplement his income by selling paintings as well.

Green was ecstatic when he got his first regular job with a paycheck and benefits working as an illustrator for the Port of Oakland in 1970.

“The Port of Oakland was and is an autonomous branch of the city of Oakland and owned the airport, the shipping terminals, Jack

The Nut Tree was ahead of its time in terms of design, according to Green, and he dove headfirst into menu design and other items and eventually became design director. His fondest memories are of the annual Scarecrow Contest that began in 1979.

The contest was billed as “the largest collection of scarecrows on Earth in any one spot,” and was designed to encourage and preserve the traditions of scarecrow making in America. The thousands of dollars in prize money attracted artists from all over and it featured celebrity judges like actor Eddie Albert (“Roman Holiday,” “Green Acres”), among others.

One of the winners that sticks out in Green’s memories were children from a junior high school in Orangevale.

“Each year their art teacher would have each young person create a different part of the scarecrow. The first year it was ‘Which Witch is Which?’ It was a huge ceramic witch with a cauldron filled with dry ice where these little monsters that were created by students in his class bubbled up to the surface. The next year it was ‘The Corny Family’ with a father, mother and child and every kernel of corn was made by a student. They were fantastically creative,” Green said.

After working at the Nut Tree for about 10 years, a series of

“It was far away from anything I had done creatively,” Green said. “I had pulled off some really major events, though. For example, the fair only ran for four days while the scarecrow contest ran for five weeks and there were lots of different problems that arose that had to be handled.”

At that time, 1993, the Dixon May Fair, California’s oldest continuous fair, was nearly bankrupt. Green’s solution? Big-name concerts. The concerts were a hook to get people to attend the fair so they analyzed the demographic likely to come and what era of music they preferred. It was generally ’70s and ’80s era artists that topped the list.

Green was ready to try his plan, but needed to do a test run first.

“I had to see if it would work and so we leveled off and enlarged the demolition derby space to make an arena, and it was almost a full acre of land so I needed to cover it with sand,” Green said. “So the question was where to get an acre of sand 6 inches deep? Eventually I got a hold of a guy who knew some truckers and I told them if they hauled sand and dropped it off there, I would give them two free tickets to see Gregg Allman and the Alameda All-Stars. Soon, we had our sand. The show was a success and was so informal a girl walked up on stage and sat next to Gregg Allman.”

The day-to-day oper-

A partial list of the acts Green and his team brought to the fair, which raised both its profile and profits, includes The Doobie Brothers, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Clint Black, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna, Eddie Money, Joan Jett, Huey Lewis and the News, Sammy Hagar, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Heart, Lynryrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson and more.

Bringing those recognizable artists to the second smallest city in Solano County was not without risk as most of them came with hefty price tags. But ultimately the shows were a success, put Dixon on the map and they created fond memories for many fairgoers. When Green retired in 2007, he was touted in newspaper articles as being the focused creative force that saved the Dixon May Fair from a near-certain demise. His solution to the fair’s economic woes was personally satisfying because it brought joy to thousands of people and he reached a goal he had set.

“My last year there was the first time we had great weather for all four days of the fair,” Green said. “My plan had been to do a million dollars in four days and in my final year we did it.”

Fairfield freelance humor columnist and accidental local historian Tony Wade writes “The Last Laugh” on Mondays and “Back in the Day” on Fridays. Wade is also the author of The History Press books “Growing Up In Fairfield, California” and “Lost Restaurants of Fairfield, California.”

THE DAILY REPUBLIC DELIVERS. CALL 707-427-6989.

Tony Wade Back in the day

Courtesy of Michael Green

Michael Green drew this caricature of the Pizzarino Boys on the steps of the old Armijo High School in 1957. Green is the only one wearing glasses in the picture.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Planners gets update on homeless services, strategy Cases continue to rise; RSV trend declines in state

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The RSV threat seems to be rescinding in the state and Solano still has not had anyone with a reported case of the flu in area hospitals, but the Covid-19 trend is still rising.

Dr. Bela Matyas, the Solano County public health officer, said the RSV trend is good news, particularly for children who are more susceptible to bad outcomes from the virus. There is no vaccine for the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

He also noted that Southern California is seeing a lot of flu cases, so he suspects it will hit the area at some point.

Public Health on Thursday reported 654 new positive coronavirus cases since the last update Dec. 8, of which 623 were actually from the sevenday period.

That sets the daily case rate at 89, while the 10-day rate is at 96.1, the county reported. The seven-day daily rate is slightly down from the 90.57 reported Dec. 8, but the 10-day rate is up from 81.4.

The number of residents in area hospitals with positive tests is up from 33 to 36, but the number of patients in the intensive care units with the Covid disease is down from

Medical officials offer tips to stay healthy during holidays

daily Republic sTaff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Getting flu and Covid-19 vaccinations are high on the list of tips to stay healthy through the holiday season.

Solano County health officials joined health officers from the other eight Bay Area counties, plus Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, to recommend to residents “easy steps

See Tips, Page A5

six to three.

The Covid-related death toll held at 441, the county reported. The last reported death was in late August.

Fairfield added 150 new cases to take its pandemic total to 30,952. Vallejo added 226 cases for a case count of 34,801. Vacaville is at 28,777 after 185 new cases, the county reported.

Suisun City (7,994) added 36 cases; Dixon

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FAIRFIELD — Interim City Manager David Gassaway told the Planning Commission on Wednesday he hopes to have the conversion of Shelter Solano into a navigation center by June – or at least started by then.

He noted Vallejo and Vacaville are working on their own centers as well.

Gassaway conceded, after a question by Commissioner Lerecia Evans, that staffing is a challenge to meet the various goals and programs the city hopes to accomplish – the navigation center being one of those.

He also said the city does not have any specific programs to help homeless youth, but said Fairfield works with the school district, which does identify and monitor that population.

Gassaway also noted the homeless problem is far broader than just the individuals residents typically see on the streets. That is why the city is turning to technology to better identify and monitor the whole of the population.

One of the goals, he said, is to improve services for those who are at risk of homelessness, a step that is far more cost effective than providing services to the houseless population.

“It is the chronically homeless that need the

deep services to get back on their feet,” Gassaway said, and that costs money.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development defines the homeless in four ways: Category 1 are those who are literally homeless; Category 2 are those at imminent risk of homelessness; Category 3 are those homeless under other federal statutes; and Category 4 are those who are trying to escape domestic violence situations.

Most of the presentation, however, was about what the city does do.

Gassaway said the city’s homeless response is headed by the Homeless Service Division, which

was founded in 2020.

He discussed the structure and mission of the division, and talked about some of the recent accomplishments, including the restructuring of the CAP Solano JPA with elected members from the county Board of Supervisors and city councils sitting as the board of directors.

CAP Solano has refocused its homeless response toward a regional approach of solving common issues among the jurisdictions, and hopes a united voice will help in getting more state and federal funding.

Gassaway lauded praise on the regional efforts, calling the reformation of CAP Solano a “huge” and “monumental accomplishment.”

Other accomplishments listed were

increasing the number of beds the city pays for at Shelter Solano, now at 25, which are paid for with state Permanent Local Housing Allocation funds. The city receives $600,000 a year.

Gassaway also noted the city has added the CAN-B shelter and transitional living facilities on Ohio Street and just agreed to fund for another year the Mission Samoa Homeless to Work Program.

The city has received $1 million in state grant funds Gassaway said it hopes to leverage with other grant dollars to increase the transitional housing stock. He said it has been a higher priority for the city over the past year.

Transitional housing is

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

A homeless encampment is established near Cordelia Road in Fairfield, Wednesday.

GASSAWAY

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.

Garamendi calls on PBF Energy to release information on recent incident

daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

BENICIA — Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, led a letter to PBF Energy Wednesday demanding information and cooperation with an investigation into the company’s subsidiary refin ery in Martinez for an accidental release of hazard ous materials into the community on Thanksgiving Day.

Reps. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, and Mike Thompson D-St. Helena, and Contra County Supervisor Federal Glover joined Garamendi in sending the letter to Thomas Nimbley, chairman and chief executive officer of PBF Energy.

According to Contra Costa Health, the Martinez Refining Company accidentally released potentially hazardous materials into Martinez beginning at 9:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and continuing into the early morning hours of Nov. 25. Despite being required by law to notify Contra Costa Health and the county’s Community Warning System, health officials

said they were not notified when the release took place.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is investigating the matter.

“While we await the results of a complete investigation, we are deeply concerned by the Martinez Refining Company’s reported failure to notify the relevant public health and safety officials including Contra Costa Health Services and the Contra Costa County Community Warning System,” Garamendi said in a press release. “Moreover, we are concerned that this failure to notify local officials in a timely manner may demonstrate a lack of preparedness at the Martinez Refining Company and standing plan for when things go wrong, not if.”

The letter calls on PBF Energy to cooperate with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. They are also asked to conduct a thorough internal investigation into the incident, specifically the policy for notifying local public health and safety officials.

Dodd introduces bill to expand Water Shutoff Protection Act

daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Sen. Bill Dodd introduced a bill this week to expand provisions of his Water Shutoff Protection Act in an effort to ensure more low-income Californians have uninterrupted access to essential drinking water.

“Access to water is a fundamental right and we must ensure the tap does not get turned off just because someone falls behind on their bills,” Dodd, D-Napa, said in a press release. “This proposal enhances my previous legislation by covering people in smaller, rural communities who are struggling financially. It will allow them to continue using water for drinking, cooking and necessities such as washing clothes while they get caught up on missed payments.”

In response to rising water rates, Dodd had previously authored the Water Shutoff Protection Act of 2018, which extends due process protections to people at risk of service discontinuance because they are unable to pay their bills. Among other things, it affords those served by water systems of 200 customers or more a 60-day grace period to

cover past debt and establishes a system for making payments. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Now, with Senate Bill 3, Dodd proposed Monday to extend those same protections to more people, reducing the threshold for compliance to water systems of 15 customers or more. The change could affect thousands of low-income families across California and extends an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom that has expired.

SB 3 is sponsored by the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.

New board majority in place at Travis School District

SuSan Hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Three new trustees joined the five-member Travis School District governing board Tuesday and quickly shuffled roles.

Manveer Sandhu was selected to lead the newly constituted board as president. This is his first time serving as board president.

The district bid farewell to the former board president, Janet Jackson Forbes, giving her a vase of flowers and a plaque acknowledging her years presiding over school board meetings and serving the community.

“We want to thank you for your service,” Superintendent Pam Conklin said to Jackson Forbes. “This is truly a better place after your service.”

Jackson Forbes did not

seek reelection. Matthew Bidou, the top vote-getter in the Nov. 8 election, was selected to serve as vice president. He was sworn in by his father, Pierre Bidou, who has been a board member for the Benicia School District. The oath was administered just before the board reorganized its officers.

Also taking the oath of office was Will Wade, who won the second of two board seats up for grabs in the Nov. 8 election.

Both Bidou and Wade were elected by the voters of the district to represent Trustee Area 2 and serve from 2022-2026.

Incumbent Riitta DeAnda lost her board seat in the election. She was also honored with flowers and a plaque, along with well-wishes from all the board members and the superintendent.

Also sworn in was appointed board member Zenobia “Z” Muhammad. She represents Trustee Area 1 at Travis Air Force Base. Muhammad was also selected as the new clerk for the board, replacing Meghan Thompson.

Thompson, who previously held the Trustee Area 1 seat, did not seek reelection. Muhammad was appointed to fill the seat in October after no one filed candidacy papers to seek the seat during the Nov. 8 election.

Both Thompson and Sandhu were elected in 2020. Sandhu won a fouryear term. Thompson won a two-year term. She also received flowers and a plaque Tuesday.

Muhammad was selected by the board to

represent the district on the Solano County School Boards Association while Wade was tapped to serve on the Travis Regional Armed Forces Committee.

The board established new dates and kept the old time for meetings in the 2023-2024 school year.

Regular meetings will continue to take place the second Tuesday of each month with the exception of July, when no meeting is held; January 2024, with the meeting on the third Tuesday; February 2024, with the meeting on the first Tuesday; March and April 2024, with the meeting on the third Tuesday; and June 2024, which will see two meetings.

New trustees question handbook restrictions

SuSan Hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Two new trustees at the Travis School District wasted little time Tuesday in placing their stamp on how the district is governed by questioning what could have been routine approval of the board’s Governance Handbook.

Matthew Bidou, who won his seat in the Nov. 8 election and was sworn into office Tuesday, questioned several parts of the handbook and wanted to discuss them further at a special study

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to protect themselves and others from missing holiday moments and to ease the burden on local health systems.”

“Across the Bay Area, respiratory viruses impact the most vulnerable, including young children, the immunocompromised, people living in crowded housing or congregate living facilities, and seniors, especially at skilled nursing facilities,” the joint statement released through the Solano County administration said. “The good news is that there are easy actions everyone can take to stay healthy this season.”

The recommen -

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designed to get individuals out of shelters, but to provide more intensive services until they are ready for placement in permanent housing.

Additionally, there are five ongoing initiatives to address homelessness.

They are the Mission Samoa Pallet Shelter

session meeting before he felt comfortable signing off on document.

One of his concerns was how board members place items on the agenda. Board members currently send a request for an item’s inclusion to the superintendent.

dations are: n Get vaccinated against the flu and Covid. Covid vaccine protection decreases over time, but an omicron Covid booster can rebuild it. In most parts of the Bay Area, fewer than half of eligible people have received the updated omicron Covid booster. More people in the Bay Area are getting the flu this year than earlier in the pandemic. Flu is not the same as the common cold and can lead to sudden, severe illness in the very young, seniors and those with underlying medical conditions. Now is the time to get your flu shot.

n Stay at home if sick. No matter which virus you have, if you are feeling sick, the best way to keep from spreading it to others is to stay home until you have recovered. If you

UpdateProject; the Shelter Solano commercial kitchen, which will include a culinary training element; collaboration with the city’s Homeless Intervention Team, NorthBay Medical Center and county Behavioral Health; the Street Medicine Team; increased marketing and public education; and developing a regional navigation center plan.

The Street Medicine Team, a generic name for

“Wouldn’t it be better to send something for the agenda to the board president?” Bidou asked.

Trustee Will Wade –also elected Nov. 8 and sworn into office Tuesday – said he thought the handbook limited interaction

think it might have Covid, get tested.

n Wear a mask in indoor public places. High-quality masks, such as KN94, KN95 or N95, can prevent transmission of Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses all at once.

n Get tested before an indoor gathering or if feeling ill. Reduce the chances of infecting someone else with Covid by finding out if you have the virus before gathering with others. Remember, Covid symptoms may be mild or absent. Make sure to stock up on home test kits.

n Get treatment, if needed. Free treatments are available if you test positive for Covid. Free medication prevents hospitalization and is available to most adults and some teens with even mild

now, is a county outreach team using a medical prescriber, clinician or specialist for psychiatric intervention and engagement efforts.

Fairfield hopes to link that team with its HIT team.

Gassaway also noted ways residents can help, including volunteering to support groups providing housing and services; donating to those organizations; advocating

with constitutes.

“It feels like it muzzles them in some activities,” Wade said.

After some discussion, it was decided trustees would table the decision until the January meeting.

A study session was to be set between now and then to allow the board to delve into the matter.

Trustee Ivery Hood, a school board veteran, said the Governance Handbook is more of a working document and a quick snippet of procedures for use as reference for board members.

More info

•Vaccines are available at doctors’ offices and pharmacies. To find a flu or Covid vaccine at a location near you, visit https://vaccinefinder. org.

For a list of Solano County community clinics providing low-cost to no-cost flu shots, visit www. solanocounty.com/flu.

•For a list of Solano County community clinics providing the Covid vaccine and booster, visit www. solanocounty.com/ covidvaccine.

symptoms. Talk to your doctor about treatment options or visit covid19. ca.gov/treatment or find a test to treat location near you: https://aspr.hhs.gov/ testtotreat/pages.

at the local, state and federal levels for homeless support; or just by smiling and saying hello to the homeless.

“Sometimes we forget that homeless individuals are people,” the presentation concluded.

SANDHU

BIDOU HOOD WADE

DODD

GARAMENDI

Supes name new Family Justice Center administrator

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance will be paid $1.03 million to take over the administration of the Solano Family Justice Center.

The group takes the reins at the start of the new year. The contract extends to June 30, 2024.

Unlike the open, and often contentious, discussion about the troubles the local center was having, the selection of the Contra Costa group and this contract was part of the Board of Supervisors consent calendar Tuesday with little discussion or fanfare.

Recommendations about what was needed at the center came to the board in December 2021, and the supervisors directed the staff to create a transition plan, with an oversight committee structure, as well as a strategic planning process.

Casey Gwinn, the president and co-founder of Alliance for HOPE International, a recognized leader on developing organizations and systems to address domestic violence and related issues, told the board the Solano center did not come close to meeting the alliance’s standards of what a family justice center is, nor does it comply with the state’s Penal Code definition.

It came up with 21 recommendations, but eight initial steps to reboot the center.

The following March, the proposed transition plan was approved and the county went out looking for some agency to become the justice center administrator.

The Solano Family Justice Center Advisory Committee, headed by retired Judge Robert Fracchia, reviewed applicants and recommended the Contra Costa alliance.

The organization is described in county documents as “an experienced family justice center nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services and programs to support healing for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, and human trafficking for more than 10 years.”

The structure includes a full-time director, project coordinator and project assistant, along with designated time from the alliance’s existing staff.

The budget includes funding for “one-time startup costs, technology, training, supplies, client support, and subcontractors along with a 10% indirect cost rate.”

It was not immediate clear what the status is for the past administrator and the county center staff.

The County Administrator’s Office will continue work with the Alliance for HOPE International and the advisory committee to ensure “that Solano County has a multidisciplinary service center that meets the complexity of needs for adult and child victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking,” the staff report states.

In a related matter, the board extended the contract with Alliance for HOPE International to June 30 without additional cost.

County physicians, dentists reach contract agreement

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the three-year employment agreement with the county’s physicians and dentists.

The agreement under which the Union of American Physicians and Dentists had been working ended in October 2021, according to county documents.

The new contract runs from Dec. 13 through Oct. 25, 2025, except where specifically noted otherwise in the agreement.

The monthly pay range, Steps 1 to 5, for clinic physician is $17,187.01 to $20,890.97; clinic physician (board certified) is $17,616.62 to $21,413.23; dentist is $12,631.94 to

$15,354.23; psychiatrist is $23,062.12 to $28,032.12; psychiatrist (board certified) is $23,638.70 to $28,733.01; and psychiatrist (child-board certified) is $21,425.60 to $26,042.94.

There are longevity rate increases as well.

In other action, the board:

n Modified the hourly rate for the extra-help classifications of Contract Employee-Professional, Contract-Employee Technical, Peer Group CoFacilitator and Student Intern to implement the upcoming increase to the California minimum wage.

n Approved a $278,000 contract with AgreeYa Solutions Inc. through March 22, 2024, for project management to lead the redevelopment of the Solano County website.

Supervisors skeptical housing numbers can be reached

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Solano County and its cities have a target of 10,992 new housing units – ranging from extremely low income to above-moderate income – by 2031.

The county’s share of that number for the unincorporated area is 315, or about 2.86% of the total, the Board of Supervisors were told Tuesday during a presentation of the General Plan Housing Element, which must be updated every eight years.

No zoning changes are proposed in the updated document.

Perhaps a bigger part of the report is packaged in the Fair Housing Assessment, which addresses the needs of the extremely-low, very-low and low-income housing needs, including access to services. It is also intended to keep those housing projects from being segregated from the rest of the community.

“Equity has to permeate throughout this document,” Supervisor Erin Hannigan said. “We need to be equitable and allow people, no matter who (they) are . . . (to be) allowed anywhere.”

Board Chairman John Vasquez objected to the use of the term “special needs” community to describe farmworker housing, adding that even

the term farmworker is outdated and the document should use the term agriculture employee. Moreover, he noted the term bunkhouse as something that has long disappeared in agriculture housing.

The Housing Element is in the final days of the local public comment period that ends Sunday. The draft report will then be sent on to the state Department of Housing and Community Development, which will trigger a 90-day public review from Dec. 29 to April 1.

A final Adopted Housing Element is due in May or June.

The Tuesday meeting was to get feedback from the supervisors on the report. The primary response was that the Regional Housing

Needs Assessment numbers – or RHNA – are unrealistic to meet.

“Are these numbers truly realistic?” Vasquez asked.

The point was accentuated later by the fact that in Solano County, housing growth is intended to be limited to the cities, and the county does not have water and other services for the kinds of developments need to satisfy the RHNA.

“You are correct. Without city services, we are very limited,” Senior Planning Matt Walsh said.

The county is counting mostly on accessory dwelling units and mobile homes to meet the 130 units in the lower income ranges, but again, the general response was that is not likely to happen.

Supervisor Jim

Spering, in his last meeting on the board, was more optimistic the numbers are reachable if the county ties economic development efforts to housing, and specifically more affordable and workforce housing.

There are urban residential zoning areas outside the cities that also can be targeted in joint ventures with the cities, it was reported.

The RHNA numbers for the cities are: Benicia (750, 6.82%); Dixon (416, 3.78%); Fairfield (3,069, 27.92%); Rio Vista (327, 2.97%); Suisun City (620, 5,64%); Vacaville (2,595, 23.6%); and Vallejo (2,900, 26.38%).

Solano is the only county in the Bay Area that opted to be considered as a subregion, so the housing requirements are spread out across all the jurisdictions. It gives the county more flexibility, it was reported.

The numbers are not, for now, required to be met; the various general plans have zoning that allows for the buildout at the various income levels. However, there has been discussion at the state level about making RHNA a requirement or face funding losses. There was no comments from the public during the meeting, though there have been a number of public workshops in recent months.

Fairfield takes step toward state-mandated housing option

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The city Planning Commission on Wednesday night recommended to the City Council a zoning amendment that will make it easier for homeowners to turn their houses into duplexes or split existing lots for a housing project.

The amendment only applies to single-family residential zones, and follows the state Senate Bill 9 zoning package that was enacted to help address the housing shortage in California.

The City Council is expected to introduce the ordinance at its Jan. 17 meeting.

“The California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency Act streamlines the process for a homeowner to create a duplex or subdivide an existing lot. Any new housing created as a result of this bill must meet a specific list of qualifications that protects historic districts, preserves envi-

ronmental quality and the look of communities, and prevents tenants from being displaced,” state documents state.

“This legislation will enable homeowners to create intergenerational wealth, and provide access to more rental and ownership options for working families who would otherwise be priced out of neighborhoods.”

Fairfield’s language does address some local standards. For example, because the setback has been reduced to 4 feet by the legislation, the city set a height standard of 18 feet. The typical singlefamily home has a 35-foot height standard.

“Local agencies may impose objective zoning standards and objective design standards for proposed housing developments eligible under SB 9, provided that the standards do not preclude the construction of up to two units of at least 800 square feet in floor area. A maximum 4-foot

setback may be required along the side and rear lot lines; no setback shall be required for an existing structure or a structure constructed in the same location,” the staff report to the commission states.

“Similarly, local agencies may impose objective subdivision standards for proposed urban lot splits eligible under SB 9, provided that the standards do not preclude the construction of two units on either of the resulting parcels or result in a unit size of less than 800 square feet. Furthermore, proposed urban lot splits cannot result in two parcels where one parcel is smaller than 40% of the lot area of the original parcel, and the newly created parcels are required to be no smaller than 1,200 square feet,” the report states.

There are also rules of owner occupancy that can apply depending on the type of development.

In other action, the Planning Commission recommended to the council

to allow day care centers as a conditionally permitted use in the Service Commercial zoning districts around the city. Because common uses in those zones are workshop-type commercial uses, requiring the conditional permit provides the city the needed flexibility of determining exactly where the centers will be located within the zone.

“Allowing child day care centers as conditionally permitted land use in the CS zone retains the city’s authority to review and regulate CUP applications to determine if the proposed location is appropriate and apply necessary conditions.

Staff recognizes that there are some locations in the CS zoning district that may be appropriate for child day care as is or with conditions. Therefore, staff recommends including child day care centers as conditionally permitted land use in the CS zoning district,” the staff report states.

Supervisors accept Nov. 8 election results

Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

(5,413) added 23; Benicia (4,717) added 21; Rio Vista (1,614) added 11; and the two new cases in the unincorporated area raises that total to 230, the county reported.

Matyas has previously indicated Covid-19 case counts are likely much higher with the use of in-home testing, results of which are not generally reported to government agencies and in many cases are not shared with medical providers if

medical treatment is not needed. He has also said the availability of vaccines and changes to personal behavior have slowed the disease throughout the Bay Area.

The vaccination rates –72% fully vaccinated and 81% at least one shot – continue to hold steady with 112 additional booster shots administered, taking that total to 183,777.

There have been 2,575 vaccine shots (11.4%) given to children 6 months to 4 years, and 15,204 shots (41%) to children 5 to 11, the county reported.

The number of monkeypox cases in the county remains at 42.

FAIRFIELD — Solano County supervisors on Tuesday accepted the certified results of the Nov. 8 General Election.

The results include the election of former Suisun City Councilwoman Wanda Williams as the 3rd District representative on the Board of Supervisors. She has an oath ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the board chamber.

Outgoing Supervisor Jim Spering congratulated Williams and said she would do a good job as his replacement on the board.

A recount of the successful Measure S is ongoing. The initiative for a $249.6 million facility

bond for the FairfieldSuisun School District passed by two votes the 55% threshold.

In other action, the board:

n Recognized Lennette Maniaul, Administrative Services manager for the Probation Department, upon her retirement after more than 35 years with Solano County.

n Recognized Melinda Lamera, deputy probation officer, upon her retirement after more than 30 years the county.

n Recognized Theresa (Tess) Icatar, accountant in the Probation Department, upon her retirement with more than 20 years with Solano County.

n Recognized Joel Quiban, supervising deputy probation officer,

upon his retirement with more than 24 years with Solano County.

n Recognized Michelle Heppner, Legislative, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs officer, upon her retirement after more than 24 years of public service, including more than 15 years with Solano County. She is a member of the United States Navy Reserves.

n Appointed Donnie Patchin as trustee of Reclamation District No. 2136 for a term to end at noon Dec. 1, 2023, and appointed Kenneth Puccini, John Putnam and Lorenzo Bavoso as trustees of the district for terms to end at noon Dec. 5, 2025.

n Appointed Kelli Courson as the business

representative to the Workforce Development Board of Solano County for a term ending Dec. 12, 2026.

n Recognized Dec. 21 as National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day in Solano County.

n Accepted a $50,000 Koret Shelter Medicine grant from the University of California, Davis, Campus School of Veterinary Medicine to increase marketing and advertising to support adoption events and other outreach programs through Aug. 31, 2023.

Approved a $50,000 appropriation transfer to recognize unanticipated grant revenue and related appropriations.

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic a construction crew member works on the site of a housing development along Business Center Drive near Green Valley Road in Fairfield, Wednesday.

A new try for unionization of legislative staff

It’s fair to say that Democrats would not have attained their immense majorities in the California Legislature – more than 75% of its 120 members – were it not for money and other resources from the state’s labor unions.

In return, Democratic legislators have bent over backwards to help unions increase their memberships and expand members’ wages and benefits.

Notable examples are the famous – or infamous – Assembly Bill 5, which tightly restricted employers’ use of contract workers, this year’s bill to make it easier for the United Farm Workers Union to win representation elections, legislation making child care and home health care workers employees so that they could become union members, and innumerable measures essentially mandating union labor in public and private construction projects.

While the alliance of Democratic politicians and unions has been a dominant factor in legislative politics for nearly a half century, ever since then-Gov. Jerry Brown fostered collective bargaining for state and local government workers, teachers and farm workers in the mid-1970s, there is one notable exception: The Legislature’s own employees.

Unionization advocates have made multiple efforts to pass enabling legislation, but all have been sidetracked. Generally, state senators have been amenable to having their staffs become union members, but the Assembly has refused.

The final hours of the 2022 session saw the most recent failed attempt. Assemblyman Mark Stone, a Scotts Valley Democrat, did a “gut and amend” maneuver, using a bill that had already passed the Assembly and was pending in the Senate as a vehicle. The Senate then passed the revised bill handily, sending it back to the Assembly for a final vote on the last night of the session.

The California Labor Federation, headed by former Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, who had championed legislative employee unionization while in the Legislature, made Stone’s bill a high priority. However, the chairman of the Assembly’s Public Employees and Retirement Committee, Jim Cooper, bottled up the measure, denying it a floor vote.

Cooper, a Democrat from Elk Grove, is now gone from the Legislature, having been elected sheriff of Sacramento County. Last month’s election also saw a major turnover of legislative membership, thanks to term limits and retirements. Advocates of legislative unionization are geared up to take another shot.

As the Legislature reconvened this month for a new biennial session, Tina McKinnor, a newly minted assemblywoman from Inglewood who was once a legislative staffer, introduced a new version, Assembly Bill 1, with 26 co-authors.

“Legislative staff aren’t looking for special treatment. They are looking for the same dignity and respect afforded to all represented workers,” McKinnor said.

“We ask our staff to write legislation and staff bills that expand collective bargaining rights for other workers in California, yet we prohibit our own employees from that same right. It is time to stand up for our staff and create a fair, equitable and safe work environment for our hard working and dedicated legislative employees.”

Even those who oppose the pro-union policies of the Legislature should support allowing the Legislature’s employees to join a union, as other states have done. It is simply hypocritical for a Legislature overwhelming controlled by Democrats to be so willing to help unions grow their memberships in other private and public sectors while refusing to allow their own employees to unionize.

If nothing else, unionization of the Capitol would give legislators some realworld experience in being employers of union members.

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.

CALMATTERS COMMENTARY

State embraces wrong strategy for carbon sequestration. Why not algae?

California’s new climate strategy for slashing greenhouse gas emissions and meeting ambitious carbon neutrality goals is bold and transformative at best and an aspirational pipedream at worst.

The California Air Resource Board’s revised climate change blueprint, called its scoping plan, reflects the urgency of the moment, yet overlooks the power of the planet’s greatest natural carbon sink – water – as a means for achieving carbon neutrality.

2022 has been a year of aggressive climate action in California, with dozens of new laws on the books and major spending on the way. But the new climate roadmap’s reliance on carbon capture technology does not align with the moral imperative of ending dependence on fossil fuels. To meet its goals and remove carbon dioxide at scale, California must harness the power of blue carbon –atmospheric CO2 captured and stored in water.

Environmental groups have long criticized carbon capture and storage as a greenwashing sleight designed to extend fossil fuel power plant longevity. Since the 1970s, billions of dollars have been spent on carbon capture projects in the U.S. But a recent study by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis found that most projects have been financially perilous, and the successful ones were in the

natural gas sector, enabling further emissions.

Carbon capture technology is an overhyped underperformer, not feasible at scale, and diverts money and political will away from real climate solutions.

Rapid decarbonization can be achieved more effectively by spending on aquatic ecosystems and the blue carbon sequestered within. The protection and restoration of wetlands, peatlands and tidal marshes, which are rich in blue carbon, have already gained currency. The new frontier in natural carbon removal lies in sinking huge volumes of microalgal biomass.

Toxic algal blooms have exploded in frequency and intensity from California to the Carolinas and beyond. By triggering and accelerating an entire population collapse of toxic algae, fantastic volumes of carbon can be scrubbed from the atmosphere, improving water quality as well as water availability at the same time.

Consider how this might play out in California. Every summer, hundreds of noxious blooms from Clear Lake to Lake Elsinore force residents indoors to escape the stench and avoid the headaches and respiratory problems caused simply by breathing near an infected lake. Remediating toxic algal blooms on Clear Lake alone would remove a significant amount of carbon.

Microalgae are carbon-sucking powerhouses that exist within all natural water bodies. They absorb

atmospheric carbon dioxide at an unparalleled rate, removing gigatons of carbon through their natural process of photosynthesis. When microalgae, such as blue-green algae, multiply rapidly in nutrient-dense waters, they produce toxins and form blooms. These blooms suffocate aquatic ecosystems, poison marine life, endanger human health and damage local economies.

When toxic algae are treated and killed, they sink to the bottom of a water body along with the massive amounts of carbon they’ve sequestered. That carbon remains locked away for thousands – if not millions –of years, allowing healthy algae to grow in their place and restoring the health of ecosystems.

California faces a stark reality: rising air and water temperatures, megadrought, disappearing glaciers and record wildfires. These aggravating climate factors all contribute to the rise in toxic algal blooms in California and around the globe. Every climate plan must include blue carbon strategies.

Water is California’s most precious natural resource and it must be protected. Focusing emission removal efforts on water to sequester carbon at gigaton scale is the only scalable, economical way to achieve California’s ambitious climate goals and further elevate its position as a global leader on climate change.

Eyal Harel is a clean water advocate and the CEO of BlueGreen Water Technologies.

Let’s cut to the chase about election integrity

It doesn’t matter who the candidate, or what the issue on the ballot, if election results are not the result of all lawfully cast votes, accurately counted, we live in an illusion of a democratic republic – no better than a banana republic run by tyrants.

It’s time to take a brutally honest look at our election process across the nation and here in California. There are huge cracks throughout the system – many ways that your voice can be diluted and effectively canceled.

After the 2020 presidential election and recent midterm election, serious issues with our electoral process continue to be exposed on an unprecedented scale. This year, massive ballot harvesting was exposed in several swing states, mules delivering stacks of ballots to unmanned drop boxes. This raises many unanswered questions.

In California, ballot harvesting is perfectly legal. It doesn’t matter how many ballots are stuffed in a drop box.

Interesting, too, the California Election Code mandates at least one unmanned ballot box in every county. Why?

The California Legislature’s failure to require photo identification when voting in-person at the polls makes it easy for anyone to impersonate a voter with no recourse for the real voter. This is huge problem that can be corrected by the Legislature if our elected representatives so choose. “We the People” must apply pressure.

No proof of citizenship is required to register to vote. Just check the box. In California, noncitizens bear no responsibility if they “accidentally” vote. See a problem?

The focus on convenience vs. election integrity has transformed our traditional single Election Day into a 30-day election season. Additionally, ballots are accepted at the registrar’s office up to seven days after Election Day. This extended time is not in the citizens’ best interest. After the 2020 election, researchers discovered that voting machines throughout the state and nation can employ algorithms that manipulate election results. Early voting provides additional time and valuable information to those who might want to affect election outcome in a particular way. Nearly all of those machines were still in use during the 2022 midterm election.

Massive bloated voter rolls across the country have become especially problematic when vote-by-mail ballots are sent to all active voters on the rolls. Rolls likely include deceased voters, those who have moved, some who are double registered, and others ineligible to vote.

“Many in the nation are questioning the validity of the 2020 general election in their states,” said Election Integrity Project California President Linda Paine. “Mass irregularities in California’s registration and voting numbers continue to erode voter confidence here and we are hopeful

Secretary of State Shirley Weber will immediately address our questions.”

(See www.eip-ca.com “EIPCa Voter Roll Research Questions Surround Irregularities in California’s 2020 Election” for more.)

Below are three questions sent to Weber in June 2021. We’re still waiting for answers.

n Why are there almost 124,000 more votes counted in California’s Nov. 3, 2020, election than voters recorded as voting in that election? And why is most of the discrepancy driven by 116,000 vote-by-mail ballots with no apparent voter identified in VoteCal’s voting histories?

n Why do more than 7,700 voters have two Nov. 3, 2020, votes credited to their voting histories? These are two votes credited to each of 7,700 unique (nonduplicated) registration ID numbers in the state database. This indicates mass double voting, a significant programming error in the state’s registration system, or both.

n Why did California’s online and DMV registration systems change 33,000 foreign-born voters’ birthplaces of record to “California” or “United States,” potentially masking noncitizens unlawfully registered to vote?

Similarly, why were 76,000 birthplaces changed from another U.S. state to California?

How do “We the People” fix all this? Demand honest, transparent elections – nothing less

Colleen Britton is the Solano County coordinator for the Election Integrity Project California.

Dan Walters

Eyal Harel

Colleen Britton

(707) 427-1386

Leno opens up about dangerous burn accident

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Jay Leno is revealing the shocking details of his recent alarming burn accident.

”It felt exactly like my face was on fire,” he told People magazine in an interview published Tuesday. “Maybe like the most intense sunburn you’ve ever had, that’d be fair to say.”

Leno, 72, said he was working on one of his many cars, a 1907 White Steam Car, when things went wrong Nov. 12.

“With a steam car, you have gasoline, but you also have a vaporizer which is heated by a pilot light to turn water into steam,” he told People.

Leno said when air was pushed into a clogged fuel line, gasoline came

pouring out onto his face.

“I knew how close I was to the pilot light and I thought, ‘Uh-oh,’ ” he recounted.

The funnyman’s face caught fire, leaving him with serious burn injuries and sending him to the hospital for several days. But somehow during the traumatic incident, Leno kept his cool.

“I’m not a panicky guy, but I knew if I breathed in, I could scorch my lungs,” Leno told People.

“I was under the car maybe 10 seconds before Dave pulled me out. Any longer than that I could have lost my eye.”

He was referring to chum Dave Killackey, who was working on the auto with him.

Zits Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Pearls Before Swine Stephan Pastis

Dilbert Scott Adams

Baby Blues Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott

Baldo Hector Cantú

Crime logs FairField

TUESDAY, DEC. 13

12:49 a.m. — Trespassing, 2100 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 5:16 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1600 block of UNION AVENUE 7:28 a.m. — Trespassing, 2000 block of SAN ANGELO STREET 7:29 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1400 block of ANNANDALE COURT 10:09 a.m. — Shooting into a dwelling, 1900 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 10:31 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 2100 block of NOTTINGHAM DRIVE 12:12 p.m. — Trespassing, 2900 block of MARKELEY LANE 1:42 p.m. — Battery, 300 block of MADISON STREET 1:43 p.m. — Grand theft, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 1:49 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 5000 block of BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE 1:55 p.m. — Grand theft, 100 block of LOPES ROAD 3:54 p.m. — Battery, 300 block of EAST ALASKA AVENUE 4:16 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1600 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD 7:55 p.m. — Trespassing, 100 block of COMMERCE COURT 8:12 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1600 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD 10:27 p.m. — Drunken driver, 200 block of EAST TABOR AVENUE 11:16 p.m. — Battery, 2500 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 11:42 p.m. — Drunken driver, 5000 block of BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 6:36 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 500 block of EAST TABOR AVENUE 7:21 a.m. — Vehicle burglary, 4400 block of CENTRAL PLACE 7:59 a.m. — Vehicle burglary, 300 block of PITTMAN ROAD

8:20 a.m. — Battery, 1900 block of BLOSSOM AVENUE 11:48 a.m. — Trespassing, 1800 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 11:49 a.m. — Battery, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET Noon — Battery, 900 block of LINDEN AVENUE 1:07 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 4300 block of CENTRAL PLACE 1:40 p.m. — Residential burglary, 1200 block of EAST TENNESSEE STREET 2:21 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 1100 block of CHARTER LANE 2:34 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 500 block of PITTMAN ROAD 3:52 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1300 block of GATEWAY BOULEVARD 4:22 p.m. — Trespassing, 2000 block of SAN ANGELO STREET 5:05 p.m. — Forgery, 2700 block of PEPPERTREE DRIVE 5:27 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 1100 block of CHARTER LANE 5:31 p.m. — Hit-and-run with injury, 2200 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET

SuiSun City

TUESDAY, DEC. 13 1:55 a.m. — Trespassing, SUNSET AVENUE 2:28 a.m. — Assault with a deadly weapon, 1100 block of KELLOGG STREET 6:59 a.m. — Burglary, 1100 block of WEST STREET 2:37 p.m. — Burglary, 900 block of JAVAN WAY 3:10 p.m. — Grand theft, 500 block of BLUE WING DRIVE

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14 8:05 a.m. — Trespassing, RAILROAD AVENUE 8:20 a.m. — Trespassing, SPRING STREET 11:45 a.m. — Reckless driver, WOOD DUCK DRIVE

Board schedules special meeting on Solano360 plan

Todd R. H anSen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Fair Association board has scheduled a special meeting Monday to discuss the recent Solano360 presentation at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

The supervisors affirmed the new land uses presented by IRG.

The Fair Board meets virtually at 10 a.m. The public can access the meeting at https:// us02web.zoom.us/j/85098 176713?pwd=alNsOXJvV UxXdXN2MjhhOTkzYXp 6Zz09. The Meeting ID is 850 9817 6713. The passcode is 204950. Access is also available by calling 669-900-9128.

The changes to Solano360 call for a little more retail space in the 149-acre fairgrounds footprint, as well as better defining the residential element at the south end of the property.

In brief

A town square is now envisioned, and was specifically noted as a feature that will benefit the annual county fair.

A new discovery center as part of the library complex and additional convention center space were added, while the space dedicated to production studios was cut. There was some road reconfiguration and a pond in the north area has been removed for a more centralized water feature.

Two Fair Board members – President Valerie Williams, in-person, and Director Jeff Morehead, by phone –spoke at the supervisors meeting, both emphasizing the need for space for a traditional ag-centric fair.

Morehead’s comments on the Solano360 space also reflecting the overall agricultural history of the county was echoed by Supervisor Mitch Mashburn.

Website offers info on ag drought program

FAIRFIELD — A coalition of agricultural associations and the Northern California Water Association have launched the California Drought Grant Program Website, a portal for information on the California Small Ag Business Drought Relief Grant Program.

The site, https://www.agdroughtrelief.org, provides information about the $75 million program, grant eligibility and the ability to sign up to receive instant program updates as it becomes available in the upcoming months.

Applications also will be available through the site.

Newly configured Travis school board signs off on class changes

SuSan Hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Trustees of the Travis School District on Tuesday approved several course changes recommended by staff for the 2023-2024 academic year, each designed to enhance career-technical programs.

The board gave the goahead to changes to the course titles for Video Production 1 to Video Production as the foundation of a two-course Career Technical Education pathway, Video Production 2/3 to Advanced Video Production (the second course in pathway) to allow the course to be repeated for credit, Art 2 Graphic Design to Art 2 Digital Art to better reflect the language used in indus-

Grant

From Page One

grants provide muchneeded direct investment and technical assistance support to the farmers, organizations, and local governments who are tirelessly working to protect our state’s natural and working lands.”

The council executive attended the Oct. 13 ceremony dedicating the 913-acre Dixon Ridge Farms near Winters into a lifetime easement. Russ Lester’s walnut farm was part of 1,100 acres in easements announced at the event, totaling nearly $6.7 million in easements.

The other projects were the 79-acre Schroeder Farm North project and the 101-acre Martin Ranch 3 project – both with 25% local matches funded through Solano

Zones

From Page One

conditions.

She said the map clearly shows the fire risk that runs along the ridge from the Vacaville valleys to Suisun Valley over to Green Valley. Moreover, she said there are a lot of dry and dead trees and vegetation that will fuel wildfires.

“If we ever had a catastrophic fire in Green Valley, it will come down into Middle Green Valley and maybe even down to Cordelia,” Sherlock said.

Fairfield, in reality, is part of that risk.

“A lot of (Green Valley) residents know they are in a fire risk area . . . but I think this will elevate their risk awareness,” Sherlock said.

The good news may be that the higher risk likely frees up more grant money that can be used in Solano County.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal has started a public comment period, with 57 scheduled meetings, concerning changes to the map that captures Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

A public meeting is tentatively set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 in the county Events Center, 601 Texas St., in Fairfield.

“Ensuring Californians know the wildfire hazard in their area is critical to ensuring we all take the appropriate steps to prepare for wildfires,” Chief Daniel Berlant, deputy director of Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation for Cal Fire, said in the statement. “The updated map is the product of

try, and Art 3 Computer Graphics to Art 3 Digital Art to better reflect the language used in industry.

The newly assembled board also voted to add four new classes, including Marketing Through Social Media, the second course in the two-course Career Technical Education pathway (the first is Marketing, which was previously approved by the board); Algebra 1 with Robotics; Geometry with Robotics; and Algebra 2 with Robotics.

The math courses include the same math standards as the current courses, but the teaching methods include instruction in programming and computational thinking. Students would reinforce and extend their knowl edge of mathematical concepts by writing code

that solves math problems, with and without robots.

These courses were written by the UC Davis C-STEM Center and have all been approved by the University of California for math credit.

“Many students struggle with the traditional way of teaching algebra, this is a way to engage them more hands-on,” said Tiffany Benson, director of Curriculum and Instruction. “UC Davis has been studying this method and found it to work very well.”

Incorporating robotics into the teaching course is going to mean math teachers will need to get an upgrade in their own skillset and the answer to that will be those inter-

Supplemental Computer Science Credential.

The marketing course will cost approximately $4,515.82 from the Career Technical Education Incentive Grant. Startup costs for each classroom where math is taught with robotics is about $60,000 for teacher training, a laptop cart, robots for each student, and accessories.

Funding sources include the Educator Effectiveness Grant for professional development and the DoDEA Alliance for Science Grant for computers and equipment. There is an ongoing cost of about $2,200 per year for the C-STEM subscription and online curriculum, which would come from the General Fund, the staff report said.

Transportation Authority mitigation dollars. The mitigation funds were required from the Interstate 80 / Interstate 680 / Highway 12 expansion project.

The Round 8 funding created 25 agricultural easements in 17 counties, as well as 20 capacity building grants. Additionally, three planning grants were awarded.

The capacity grant to

years of discussions and incorporates the latest science to provide a longterm outlook of an area’s wildfire hazard.”

The last map was issued in 2007.

Those zones, the state said, rank California’s State Responsibility Area – or rural, unincorporated areas – “based on the likelihood different areas will experience wildfire.”

“After years of work to develop a sound scientific basis and methodology with a range of experts and stakeholders, updates to this map bring this valuable tool and statutory requirement current in a way that accurately reflects today’s reality for wildfire hazard throughout the state,” Cal Fire said in a statement.

State fire officials “developed the map using a science-based and fieldtested model that assigns a hazard score based on the factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered, such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), predicted flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical fire weather for an area. These zones fall into the following classifications – moderate, high and very high.”

This revision only updates areas in California’s unincorporated, rural areas. This does not include cities or large urban areas.

“This process does not change rules or requirements for homes or properties in these areas related to wildfire prevention, preparedness and mitigation. The same requirements will remain regardless of whether a particular area is reclas-

the Solano Land Trust will allow the agency to pay for staff and further outreach efforts toward more easements to protect critical ag lands.

Ellison said this was the first year the state council opened up capacity grant eligibility to land trusts, and it was Solano’s track record with successful easements that helped win the award. She noted these grant funds will be com-

sified or not,” the fire agency said.

Stevens said it is only a matter of time before urban centers begin to be considered fire-risk areas, and that will have an enormous impact on fire insurance costs and even the availability of insurance.

Sherlock said she is working with the Pleasants Valley Fire Safety Council, fire agencies and others to put on a Fire Safety Expo on April 15 at Solano Community College. It will provide information about the threat of wildfires all around the county, including the cities.

In the meantime, Stevens said resources are available through county Public Works – On-Call Dead Tree Removal Project 2022 – if there are dead or dying trees in the rights of way along roadsides that need to come down. Similarly, through the Solano Resource Conservation District, there are funds for tree removal at creeks and streams, which can also be drainage ditches.

“This is a big year to see if the big oaks are going to make a comeback (three years after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire),” Stevens said about the possibility of even more fire fuel being created.

An online public toolkit and interactive map is available to help answer questions. A hotline is also available.

The department also has issued its first report on climate insurance.

“Insurance companies and researchers, along with insurance agents and brokers, have been involved throughout this process to ensure cooperation between all sectors to better support Californians. And while insurance companies use similar methodolo-

bined with the land trust’s own funding sources for the various projects. That revenue stream comes from endowments, such as the Agriculture Conservation Easement endowment, tax assessments and donations.

“For the most part, the donations from the public allow us to do what we do,” Ellison said. “The public donations are key.”

gies to calculate risk as they price their insurance offerings to consumers, insurance risk models also incorporate many factors beyond this process, and many of these factors can change more frequently than those that Cal Fire includes in its hazard mapping,” the department said.

“Making California safer from wildfires is our top priority, and my Department of Insurance will continue to work closely with the first responders at Cal Fire to better prepare our communities,” Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in the statement.

Lara’s office, Cal Fire and other agencies earlier this year issued the Safer from Wildfires insurance framework.

“Public education about where current wildfire hazards exist is essential to reducing the threat to local communities and maintaining access to affordable insurance. I encourage Californians to ask questions in this public process and to learn more about the tools that exist to help communities and governments reduce their local risks,” Lara said in the statement.

The public comment period runs through Feb. 3. The public may submit written comments to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, c/o FHSZ Comments, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, P.O. Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2460.

To determine the Fire Hazard Safety Zone for a specific property, go to https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/ divisions/communitywildfire-preparednessand-mitigation/wildfirepreparedness/fire-hazardseverity-zones. The automated hotline is 916-633-7655.

SHERLOCK

Robinson Kuntz/Daily Republic file

Landowner Russ Lester speaks at an event celebrating the preservation of farmland near Winters, Oct. 31.

49ers hold off Seahawks, clinch NFC West

CaM inM an BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SEATTLE — As dreaded as “Thursday Night Football” games are for quick turnarounds, the 49ers used their turn to showcase why they own the NFL’s No. 1 defense — and the NFC West title. They also showed why rookie quarterback Brock Purdy is savvy enough to direct their offense into the playoffs, with the help of George Kittle (two touchdown catches),

Christian McCaffrey (one touchdown, 138 total yards) and an overlooked offensive line.

This 21-13 triumph over the Seahawks secured the division title and a third playoff berth in four seasons, which will be the No. 3 seed unless the 49ers (10-4) can overtake the Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) and, more realistically, the Minnesota Vikings (10-3).

With their win streak at seven, the 49ers now get the weekend off ahead of a Christmas Eve visit by the

Washington Commanders (7-5-1). The Seahawks (7-7) have lost four of five in a freefall out of the NFC West race.

The 49ers’ defense wilted a bit in the closing minutes, allowing a 10-yard touchdown pass on a busted coverage with 3:35 remaining. Of course it wouldn’t be a cake walk, not when the 49ers had won only five times in their previous 21 games since Seattle opened this raucous venue in 2002.

Of all Thursday’s plays,

leave it to linebacker Dre Greenlaw to make a heroic one in a NFC West-clinching victory here, just as he did in the 2019 regularseason finale.

The 49ers led just 7-3 in an otherwise dominant half, Greenlaw delivered a supersonic hit to force a fumble near midfield, leading to Charvarius Ward’s return to the 5-yard line and then Christian McCaffrey’s 1-yard touchdown plunge 47 seconds before halftime, for a 14-3 cushion.

Purdy, playing with oblique and rib injuries from Sunday’s starting debut against Tampa Bay, completed his first 11 passes. More impressive, he spotted George Kittle wide open for a pair of touchdowns.

Kittle put the 49ers ahead 7-0 with a 28-yard touchdown reception (17 yards after the catch) and 21-3 on a 54-yard grab (35-yard YAC).

Purdy was 17-of-26 for 217 yards, and, for a second straight start, two

touchdowns and no interceptions. His legs helped ice the win: On thirdand-1, he dashed toward the sideline and slid for a first down, with 2:16 left to kill the clock. Jordan Mason closed things, with a 55-yard run to the 1, then a kneel down

The 49ers’ offense should have put up more points, but so goes life without Deebo Samuel, whose sprained knee and ankle Sunday could

Solano College men’s hoops shows signs of improvement

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

ROCKVILLE —

If John Nagle is seen walking around the Solano Community College campus with brighter spirits, it’s not because of the upcoming holiday season but the return of his top scorer on the men’s basketball team.

Report: Curry expected to miss

‘few weeks’ with shoulder injury

M adeline K enney BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Stephen Curry’s heroics have saved the Warriors numerous times during a tough start to their title defense this season. But the reigning champs will reportedly need to do without their superstar guard for the foreseeable future.

Curry is expected to miss “a few weeks” due to the left shoulder injury he sustained Wednesday night, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Curry left for the locker room toward the end of

the third quarter of the Warriors’ 125-119 defeat to the Indianapolis Pacers after he tweaked his shoulder trying to strip the ball from a driving Jalen Smith. Curry was seen grabbing his shoulder and wincing in pain, prompting coach Steve Kerr to call a timeout. The Warriors guard headed to the locker room and did not return to the game.

Curry was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Thursday afternoon in Philadelphia, where the Warriors play Friday.

If “a few weeks” means four, the Warriors (14-15)

will be without Curry for 14 games through Jan. 15.

Curry has been by far the team’s best player this season as he’s mounting another MVP candidacy.

His shooting splits of 50/43.4/91.9 are among the best of his career.

He’s averaging 30 points per game – 11 more than Andrew Wiggins, who’s second in scoring on the team’s leader board. Curry is also dishing out a team-high 6.8 assists and grabbing 6.6 rebounds, second to only Kevon Looney.

The Warriors are a team-best plus-145 when

Curry is on the court and minus-127 when he’s off it.

The challenge lies on everyone to help fill the void felt by his absence –something the team has struggled to do even with him resting on the bench between outings. But Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole will be especially vital in keeping the team afloat over the next few

The

Sophomore Jonathan Cobb from Vanden High School is back in the lineup after having hip surgery in the offseason. He scored 31 points and pulled down six rebounds Tuesday night in a 88-84 win over Folsom Lake.

“He is so skilled,” Nagle said. “He is a high-level shooter with a good basketball IQ. He scores on three levels. He gets to the rim, he can score from the midrange and he is just a sniper from three.”

The Falcons won two straight games heading into a matchup Thursday night at Cosumnes River. The victories came after seven straight losses to power teams,

three of which Solano gave up more than 111 points in each.

The run was derailed slightly Thursday. Solano fell to Cosumnes River 91-79. Cobbs went for 23 points, Jacque Jones scored 17 and Jacob Ebert had 10.

Solano was down 46-34 at half before playing Cosumnes River to a 45-45 after the break. But the Falcons were in the game.

“We’ve been dealing with injuries and have had to go with a hodgepodge lineup,” Nagle said. “We’re probably at max strength now and should perform better. This is a more realistic look at who we are.”

Nagle is also high on fellow guard Jacob Ebert, who had 28 points Tuesday and six rebounds. He is a sophomore from Cornerstone High in Antioch.

Troy Dawkins of Vallejo and John Finney High contributed eight points and six rebounds in the Folsom Lake game.

Solano was trailing

Big hitters were plenty among area high school team on courts

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Two area teams won league titles and five of the nine teams made playoffs appearances.

All are well-represented on the Daily Republic's 2022 All-Region Volleyball Team.

Vacaville went unbeaten in the Monticello Empire League at 14-0 and finished the season 24-8 overall. The Bulldogs reached the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship match before falling to Whitney 3-0 in the final. The Bulldogs' season ended in the NorCal tournament where they lost 3-2 to University Prep of Redding.

Vacaville Christian posted an unbeaten record of 10-0 to win the Sierra Delta League. The Falcons were an impressive 19-5 overall. VCS won its Division V playoff opener 3-0 over Le Grand before falling to Big Valley Christian 3-0.

Vanden went 12-3 in the MEL and all three losses came to league

champion Vacaville. The Viking were 17-14 overall and had the season come to an end with a 3-2 loss in the playoffs to Lincoln.

Rodriguez was a strong 15-6 and ended its season with a 3-0 playoff loss at El Capitan. Armijo finished 6-10 after losing a play-in match in

Division II to Edison 3-1.

Buckingham went 7-7, Rio Vista was 10-13, Fairfield finished 1-21 and Will C. Wood was 3-18.

DR volleyball top picks

n Coach of the Year: Taylor Ferdinandsen, Vacaville. The Bulldogs head coach guided the Bulldogs to an unbeaten MEL title and a solid 24-8 overall mark.

n Player of the Year: Anaya Thrower, Vanden. The junior was named the MVP of the MEL. She knocked down 177 kills with 93 blocks. Thrower has already committed to play on scholarship at the University of Oregon.

First team

n Sumerlyn Spencer, Vanden. The senior was first-team all-MEL with 141 kills, 92 service aces, 24 blocks and a team-high 244 digs.

n Fran King, Vanden. The

Torres’ penalty kick lifts Armijo boy soccer team

daily r epubliC Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Diego Torres converted a penalty kick in the second half as the Armijo High School boys soccer team netted a 1-0 win Wednesday night over visiting San Francisco International.

Goalie Jackson Harrington turned away a number of shots for a clean sheet. Jorge Rodriguez had many scoring chances for the Royals as well.

“It was a great game tonight by both teams,” Armijo head coach Megan Flores said in an email. “It was a hard-fought battle the entire game.”

Armijo improved to 3-5-0 overall. The Royals play Friday at Benicia.

Armijo’s junior varsity team earned a 3-2 win.

The Royals snapped a two-match losing streak and improved to 6-2.

Artemio Perez scored in the first few minutes of the game and later tallied a goal in the second half for the JV squad. Adrian Amador was fouled and able to convert a penalty kick. Goalie Abraham Martinez also made a big free kick save.

Fairfield boys play to 0-0 draw

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield High School boys soccer team played to a 0-0 draw Wednesday at American Canyon.

“Both teams played hard, going back and forth,” Fairfield head coach Aaron Dickey said in an email. “Both teams created scoring chances and both defenses were

weeks.

Warriors need Green to play like he did in his prime; Thompson to be the lethal shot-hunting

Andy Lyons/Getty Images/TNS

Stephen Curry grimaces after being hurt in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge

Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Wednesday. Curry is expected to be out for several weeks with a shoulder injury.

Courtesy Photo

A poster of Vanden’s Anaya Thrower hangs in the gym at the high school.

CALENDAR

Friday’s TV sports

Basketball

G League

• Ignite vs. Santa Cruz, NBCSBA, 8:30 p.m.

NBA

• Sacramento vs. Detroit, NBCSCA (Vacaville and Rio Vista), 4 p.m.

• Golden State vs. Philadelphia, NBCSBA (Fairfield and Suisun City), ESPN, 4:30 p.m.

• Denver vs. L.A. Lakers, ESPN, 7:05 p.m.

Football College

• Bahamas Bowl, Miami (Ohio) vs. Alabama-Birmingham, ESPN, 8:30 a.m.

• Cure Bowl, Texas-San Antoniovs. Troy, ESPN, Noon.

• FCS Semifinal, Incarnate Word vs. North Dakota State, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

Golf

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

• PNC Championship Pro-Am, GOLF, 9 a.m.

Lacrosse

• NLL, Panther City vs. Las Vegas, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s TV sports

Basketball College Men

• Indiana vs.Kansas, ESPN2, 9 a.m.

• Providence vs. Seton Hall, 2, 40, 9:30 a.m.

• Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 5, 13, 10 a.m.

• Houston vs. Virginia, ESPN2, 11 a.m.

• North Carolina vs. Ohio State, 5,13, Noon.

• UCLA vs. Kentucky, 5, 13, 2:30 p.m.

• Tennessee vs. Arizona, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Football College

• Fenway Bowl, Cincinnati vs. Louisville,ESPN, 8 a.m.

• Celebration Bowl, Jackson State vs. North Carolina Central, 7, 10, 9 a.m.

• HBCU Pigskin Showdown, CNBC, 10 a.m.

• Las Vegas Bowl, Florida vs. Oregon State, ESPN, 11:30 a.m.

• L.A. Bowl, Washington State vs. Fresno State, 7, 10, 12:30 p.m.

• FCS Semifinal, Montana State vs. South Dakota State, ESPN2, 1 p.m.

• Lending Tree Bowl, Rice vs. Southern Mississippi, ESPN, 2:45 p.m.

• New Mexico Bowl, SMU vs. BYU, 7, 10, 4:30 p.m.

• Frisco Bowl, North Texas vs. Boise State, ESPN, 6:15 p.m.

Golf

• DP World, AfrAsia Bank Moritius Open, GOLF, 3 a.m.

• PNC Championship, 3, 11 a.m.

Hockey

NHL • San Jose’s. L.A. Kings, NBCSCA, 7:30 p.m.

Soccer World Cup

• Third-Place Match, 2, 40, 7 a.m.

Volleyball College Women

• NCAA Championship, ESPN2, 5 p.m.

Sharks get mixed injury update as key games loom

Curtis Pashelka BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

SAN JOSE — The Sharks could be getting some injured players back just as they begin a stretch of games against other Western Conference teams.

Defenseman Mario Ferraro, out for the last three weeks with a lowerbody injury, practiced Thursday and might be available to return at some point this weekend when the Sharks (1016-5) play back-to-back games, coach David Quinn said.

Quinn also said injured wingers Matt Nieto and Alexander Barabanov, out with lower-body ailments, are also trending in the right direction.

Nieto and Barabanov did not practice with the team Thursday but are slated to practice Friday, with Quinn saying he “felt good” that both players could be available to play either Saturday in Los Angeles or Sunday at home against Calgary.

Nieto has missed the last three games after he absorbed a big hit from Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin on Dec. 4, and Barabanov was a late scratch from Tuesday’s Sharks game with the Arizona Coyotes.

The Sharks’ next four games before Christmas are all against

teams ahead of them in the Western Conference standings.

The Kings and the Flames came into Thursday in eighth and ninth place, respectively, in the West in terms of points percentage. The Sharks, 14th in the West, also host the Flames on Tuesday, and the Minnesota Wild, who are sixth in the conference, next Thursday.

Quinn said forward Luke Kunin, who was injured on his first shift in Tuesday’s 3-2 Sharks win over the Coyotes, will not play this weekend. Kunin, out with a lowerbody injury, could be a candidate to go on IR to help free up a spot on the 23-man roster if Ferraro or Nieto are healthy enough to be activated.

Ferraro, who has averaged roughly 23 minutes of ice time per game, second-most on the Sharks behind Erik Karlsson (25:06), was placed on IR on Nov. 26, one day after he blocked a shot in a game against the Kings.

Ferraro said he couldn’t be sure when he might be able to play again. He skated briefly about a week after the blocked shot, but didn’t feel well enough to continue and took some more time off.

He’s felt better of late, testing it out again in recent days to the point where he could go through practice.

BASKETBALL

NBA

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 22 7 759 Brooklyn 17 12 586 5 Philadelphia 15 12 556 6 New York 15 13 536 6½ Toronto 13 15 464 8½ Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 20 8 714 Cleveland 18 11 621 2½ Indiana 15 14 517 5½ Chicago 11 16 407 8½ Detroit 8 22 267 13 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 15 15 500 Atlanta 14 15 483 ½ Washington 11 18 379 3 Orlando 9 20 310 5 Charlotte 7 21 250 6½ WESTERN CONFERENCE Northwest Division W L Pct GB Denver 17 10 630 Portland 16 12 571 1½ Utah 16 14 533 2½ Minnesota 13 15 464 4½ Oklahoma City 11 17 393 6½ Pacific Division W L Pct GB Phoenix 16 12 571 L.A. Clippers 17 13 567 SACRAMENTO 15 12 556 ½ GOLDEN STATE 14 15 483 2 ½ L.A. Lakers 11 16 407 4½ Southwest Division W L Pct GB Memphis 19 9 679 New Orleans 18 9 667 ½ Dallas 14 14 500 4½ San Antonio 9 19 321 10 Houston 9 19 321 10 Wednesday’s Games Indiana 125, GOLDEN STATE 119 SACRAMENTO 124, Toronto 123 Detroit 141, Charlotte 134, OT Orlando 135, Atlanta 124 N.Y. Knicks 128, Chicago 120 Miami 110, Oklahoma City 108 Portland 128, San Antonio 112 Cleveland 105, Dallas 90 Denver 141, Washington 128 L.A. Clippers 99, Minnesota 88

Thursday’s Games Miami 111, Houston 108 Memphis 142, Milwaukee 101 New Orleans at Utah, (N) Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, (N) Friday’s Games SACRAMENTO at Detroit, 4 p.m. GOLDEN STATE at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m. Atlanta at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Orlando at Boston, 4:30 p.m. Indiana at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m. Brooklyn at Toronto, 4:30 p.m. N.Y. Knicks at Chicago, 5 p.m. Minnesota at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. Portland at Dallas, 5:30 p.m. Denver at L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games Washington at L.A. Clippers, 1 p.m. Miami at San Antonio, 2 p.m. Dallas at Cleveland, 5 p.m. Portland at Houston, 5 p.m. Utah at Milwaukee, 5 p.m. Memphis at Oklahoma City, 5 p.m. New Orleans at Phoenix, 6 p.m.

HOCKEY

NHL

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Florida 2 Carolina 3, Seattle 2 N.Y. Rangers 3, Toronto 1 Winnipeg 2, Nashville 1, OT Vegas 4, Chicago 1 Buffalo at Colorado, (N) St. Louis at Edmonton, (N) Friday’s Games Chicago at Minnesota, 5 p.m. St. Louis at Calgary, 6 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Arizona, 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s Games SAN JOSE at L.A. Kings, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Boston, 10 a.m. Ottawa at Detroit, 10 a.m. Anaheim at Edmonton, 1 p.m. Dallas at Carolina, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Tampa Bay at Montreal, 4 p.m. Toronto at Washington, 4 p.m. Florida at New Jersey, 4:30 p.m. Buffalo at Arizona, 6 p.m. Nashville at Colorado, 6 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Vegas, 7 p.m. Winnipeg at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL NFL

Thursday’s Game SAN FRANCISCO at Seattle, 5:15 p.m. Saturday’s Games Indianapolis at Minnesota, 10 a.m. Baltimore at Cleveland, 1:30 p.m. Miami at Buffalo, 5:15 p.m. Sunday’s Games Atlanta at New Orleans, 10 a.m. Pittsburgh at Carolina, 10 a.m. Philadelphia at Chicago, 10 a.m. Kansas City at Houston, 10 a.m. Dallas at Jacksonville, 10 a.m. Detroit at N.Y. Jets, 10 a.m. Arizona at Denver, 1:05 p.m. New England at Vegas, 1:05 p.m. Tennessee at L.A. Chargers, 1:25 p.m. Cincinnati at Tampa Bay, 1:25 p.m. N.Y. Giants at Washington, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s Game L.A. Rams at Green Bay, 5:15 p.m.

Sac State names new head coach

Joe DaviDson THE SACRAMENTO BEE

SACRAMENTO — Andy

Thompson arrived plenty early Thursday for his big day. He stood outside Sacramento State’s Welcome Center decked in his new gray suit and green tie, the bright afternoon splashing down on a man who was basking in his moment.

As humble as he can be game-day fierce, Thompson accepted no credit for looking like a sharp-

dressed man, pointing to wife, Mikal, for all of it. She shops for the coach and he coaches teams.

Moments later, Thompson was introduced by Sacramento State president Robert S. Nelsen and athletic director Mark Orr as the Hornets’ 12th head coach since the school started football in 1954. He replaces Troy Taylor, who was hired five years ago this week. Thompson thanked Taylor for bringing him aboard before

the 2019 season to run the Hornets’ defense, a unit that would help the program win three consecutive Big Sky Conference championships and rise to a No. 2 national ranking after a 12-0 start in 2022, all school records.

Taylor is now the head coach at Stanford. Thompson said his Hornets assistant head coach will be the same man who was the assistant head coach the previous four seasons – Kris Richardson.

The offensive coordinator is also a familiar name in Bobby Fresques, who has been on staff as the quarterbacks coach.

Thompson was clear that, should he get this gig, those two coaches would remain, and those coaches were clear that they wanted to remain intact if one of them was named head coach. It’s that sort of unity that moved Nelsen and Orr last weekend and on Monday during interviews.

able to prevent any goals from being scored.”

Dickey said he received strong performances from goalie Uriel Guerrero and the back line of Daniel Zavala, Eduardo Guzman, Angel Lopez and Salvador Vaca.

Fairfield is now 3-4-2. The Falcons host Bradshaw Christian at 3 p.m. Saturday, after the 1 p.m. junior varsity match.

Fairfield’s JV team lost Wednesday to American Canyon, 2-0.

Girls Basketball Antelope nets win against Vanden

FAIRFIELD — Alyssa Jackson made four 3-pointers and had a team-high 26 points for the Vanden High School girls basketball team Tuesday night in a 58-50 loss to visiting Antelope.

Gabby Wright added 11 points and eight rebounds. Vanden fell to 3-4 overall and has lost three straight in a tough preseason schedule that has included state-ranked teams like Archbishop Mitty, Oakland Tech and others.

Vanden is scheduled to play a tournament game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against California High at Liberty High School in Brentwood.

Buckingham Charter girls sink Esparto

VACAVILLE — The Buckingham Charter varsity girls basketball team picked up a 31-22 win Tuesday over Esparto, the Lady Knights’ first win of the season.

Marianne Cabanlig and Kennya Villagrana had eight points apiece. Cailei Caldera and Sophia Lozano scored six apiece.

“The team found so much more rhythm and confidence in this game,” Buckingham head coach Tessa Threets said in an email. “With only limited games last year due to Covid, Cailei, Marianne and Kennya helped balance and focus the team with critical shots and defense.”

Threets also said Lozano made some key shots early in the game and important free throws in the final period.

The Lady Knights improved to 1-2. Buckingham will play Vacaville Christian on three levels Saturday at Vaca Pena Middle School with the JV boys game at 10:30 a.m. followed by the varsity girls at noon and the varsity boys at 1:30 p.m.

Boys Basketball Thompson helps power Vanden to win

FAIRFIELD — Tyler Thompson scored 24 points while Sterling McClanahan had 22 points and five rebounds as the Vanden High School boys basketball team earned an 81-69 win Tuesday at home against Antelope.

Elijah Lewis added 12 points as the Vikings improved to 3-3. Vanden heads to Moraga Friday to take on Campolindo before a four-game tournament next week in Las Vegas.

The Vikings held a 67-45 lead after three quarters before Antelope cut into the margin with a 24-14 edge in the final quarter.

Will C. Wood’s boys upend Elite

VACAVILLE — Nigel Rogers scored 14 points and had seven rebounds Tuesday night as the Will C. Wood High School boys basketball team defeated Elite 62-45.

Jayden Hamilton-Holland added 12 points and

four steals. Eric Lacy contributed 11 points and five rebounds.

Wood improved to 6-2. The Wildcats open play Thursday night in the Davis tournament against Whitney.

Motor Sports Winter Jam drifting event at Sonoma

FAIRFIELD — Northern California’s largest drifting event, Winter Jam, will be held Saturday and Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

The event is hosted by Sonoma Drift and will take place in six different locations around the raceway facility. A pro-am competition called “Shootout” will be held Sunday at Turn 7 with drivers competing for a Formula Drift PROSPEC competition license.

Spectators will also be treated to “Team Tandem Competition” at Turn 11 at 2 p.m. Saturday. Fans 16 and older can get a ride-along pass allowing them to ride as a passenger with drifters on the course. The pass is free with a $20 donation to Speedway Children’s Charities, which gives grants to Sonoma County nonprofits, and is good all weekend.

There is a drifting course for every skill level to gain experience in a safe and regulated environment. Sonoma Raceway’s 2.52-mile track will have closed loop courses throughout the facility.

Visit sonomaraceway. com for a schedule of events, printable map and tickets for both spectators and PROSPEC Shootout participants.

Ride-along passes for ages 16 and older can be purchased at the event, though minors ages 16 and 17 must have a parent present to sign a waiver. If a parent is not able to accompany the minor, a notarized waiver signed

by a parent must be presented. Children 12 and younger are free.

Velocity Invitational returning to Sonoma

FAIRFIELD — Velocity Invitational, a world-class motorsports and lifestyle event, will return to Sonoma Raceway Nov. 10-12.

The event offers curated cars from the highest echelons of racing and manufacturers over a three-day run. McLaren is set to return as a featured partner.

There will be demonstrations of Formula 1 cars. The 2022 Velocity Invitational took place in October and had hundreds of iconic race cars, including some of the most winning from McLaren’s racing history.

Mario Andretti, one of the most successful drivers in the history of motorsports, attended the event, where he piloted a 2013 McLaren MP4/28A around the track. Also in attendance were IndyCar stars Pato O’Ward and F1 driver Mika Häkkinen, and race car drivers Alister McRae and Tanner Foust.

“Velocity Invitational is thrilled to return to Sonoma Raceway for 2023,” event founder Jeff O’Neill said in a press release. “This is the only event in the world that combines the best in food, wine and motorsports at this level. We are amazed by the support and excitement from the community in helping us make this one of the most anticipated events of the year for enthusiasts.”

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, said in the release: “Velocity is one of the real highlights in the motorsport calendar and in 2023 McLaren will be bringing some of the most spectacular and historic vehicles in the world from our heritage collection.”

Tickets and information will be available online at velocityinvitational.com.

I feel like it was my fault he cheated on me while I was pregnant

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

Dear Annie: About two years ago I was pregnant with my firstborn. About five months into the pregnancy, my partner, the father, cheated on me. When I found out about it, I was devastated; I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I felt he did it to me on purpose with the reasoning of “getting even” because I’d cheated on him years before. It was one time, and I felt pushed away and insecure at the time. Of course, cheating didn’t make me feel better; it made me feel worse.

His cheating on me while I was pregnant made me feel that I didn’t mean anything to him. I felt stupid because it was someone we knew, someone I was hanging around thinking that nothing was going on between them. I’ve even hosted her at our house with a few other people even though they were messing around with each other during that time.

Now I feel back in the same place, and I don’t know how to stop this running circle of guilt, like it was my fault he cheated on me. I really wish I could get over it and move on, because

that’s what I should do. But I have flashbacks and make up scenarios in my head. Please give me some advice. I’m tired of feeling this way. I need a way to let go of this heavy weight on my shoulders. — Lost in Love Dear Lost in Love: He needs to help you take that weight off your shoulders. It is possible to move past cheating in a relationship, but only with sincere remorse, a commitment to healing the wounds and a willingness to have trust restored. You both need to either work together toward those tenets or consider separating now and cultivating a respectful nonromantic relationship as co-parents for the long-term.

Dear Annie: My situation is not a unique one in that I know many women experience difficulties with daughters-in-law. I have had discussions with my son about my feelings, but I really do not wish to cause further strife between him and me nor between him and his wife. They live very near her family members and everything they do and every holiday involves just her family. I feel as though my family is an afterthought, and that I am occasionally kept within their lives merely as a resource for gifts and financial help if

Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21-April 19).

You’ve been in those positions where it was important to look busy, but you much prefer to actually be busy instead. Doing nothing is a good look for you too. If you need an excuse, tell everyone you’re pausing for perspective.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It may happen that a friend’s well-meant but terrible advice leaves you wondering why you bother to share. That same friend has been known to come through for you though . . . so don’t put too much importance on any one act.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Fun and productivity sometimes go hand-in-hand, but not always. The thing is to focus. You could laugh and have a good time while making sure that everyone has a common goal that everyone keeps it in mind.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What is actionable? Where are the points of leverage? Instead of shying away from it you should be chasing it. Follow the beams to see where they lead. You have nothing to fear now: your aim is true.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Every decision has consequences. And though the effects of a choice may be slight indeed, you’re paying attention today and you’ll pick up on the

by Holiday Mathis

Today’s birthday

Your studies get more specific, and you’ll delight in a niche expertise. You’ll attract attention for all the right reasons, and it will feel good to be applauded. More excitement: An adventure with a loved one and a new chapter in your personal life and a creative development that leads to a financial breakthrough. Cancer and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 34, 1, 22 and 13.

little things that could add up to a big difference in the end.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).

You trust humanity and believe better angels will prevail. Even if you get burned walking on the sunny side, you’d rather be an optimistic fool than an accurate cynic any day of the week.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).

Much of your time is spent making sure everything runs smoothly for those around you.

Take a step back and ask yourself where you fit in. Assess how you feel and how happy you are with everything that is going on.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

You’ll sync up to those around

and when needed. My question is, because I feel this way, should I cut back on financial gifts, as I’m feeling very used. I know if I confront my son it will surely cause problems. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. — Feeling Used Financially

Dear Feeling Used Financially: We tend to think of boundaries as something we set for others. But we also must set boundaries for ourselves – i.e., be cognizant of how much of ourselves (and our resources) we are truly comfortable giving. If the financial assistance and gifts are causing you resentment, it’s a sign you’re violating your own boundaries.

The next time you’re considering giving them something, think about how you will feel afterward. If you’ll feel frustrated or slighted, don’t do it.

Know that you don’t need to shower them with gifts to be worthy of their time. You are enough. Toward that end, don’t give up on spending quality time with your son and his wife. Keep a dialogue open about potential visits.

You do not need to continue showering them with material gifts and financial assistance in order to be worthy and loved. You are enough.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.

you, physically matching their pacing and movements. They relax and open up to you. You’ll also be a key part of some amazing teamwork.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). You like to have company, but only when you’re in control of the schedule and flow. Stretches of solitude will let you concentrate on what you need to accomplish. Your solo work will be satisfying and lucrative.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19). This is no time to deflect attention out of modesty or spread around the credit that rightly belongs to you. Show that you’re confident now because if you don’t you might receive less opportunity and money than you deserve.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18). Some habits are so much a part of daily life that you don’t even think of them as behaviors; rather, they are just “you doing you.” But you’re changing. You might decide that a certain habit is unnecessary and do away with it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If you can’t communicate with others, working and/ or creating with them will be a joyless process. So, you commit to learning about the various people in your mix so you can build a rapport and thrive together.

MY KINGDOM FOR A DEUCE

Shakespeare, in his play about Julius Caesar, used the line, “He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.”

However, one quality that marks a bridge expert ahead of a less-capable player is the way in which he keeps careful track of the spot cards.

Today’s deal was declared by the late Richard Schwartz, a 13-time

Sudoku

Bridge

MY KINGDOM FOR A DEUCE

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

Shakespeare, in his play about Julius Caesar, used the line, “He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him.”

However, one quality that marks a bridge expert ahead of a less-capable player is the way in which he

by Phillip Alder

national champion.

South’s opening bid showed a balanced 20-22 points. North’s four-diamond response was a Texas transfer to four hearts.

West cashed his two top clubs, East playing first the two, then the nine. Reading the latter play as a suit-preference signal, West switched to the spade king.

There were 10 easy tricks available, but as this deal was from a pair event, it was important to try to make an overtrick.

Schwartz won with the spade ace and cashed the heart ace. “Please play the four, partner.” Next, declarer cashed the diamond ace-king. Then he ruffed the diamond three with dummy’s heart jack to ensure East couldn’t overruff.

“Any heart but the two, please, partner.”

Schwartz won with his king and led the diamond four.

“Ruff with any heart but the two, partner.”

North had received the message. “Now may I play the heart two?” he asked.

“That’s the card I want,” replied Schwartz. He overtook the two with his three and cashed the diamond nine, on which he discarded dummy’s spade loser. The overtrick had been collected for an excellent score on the board.

by Wayne Gould

Bridge

Annie Lane

Dear Annie

WashingTon PosT

The

Last year, as Alma Laprida prepared to relocate from Buenos Aires to Bethesda, Md., the packing wasn’t easy. She gave away some furniture, asked friends to hold on to her books, and sold off a collection of synthesizers that she’d been using as an improviser and composer in the Buenos Aires soundart scene. Then Laprida came across a piece of gear that had been sitting untouched in her closet for years. It was her custom-made trumpet marine: a stringed medieval instrument that, when bowed, generates an ancient sigh.

She remembered learning to play it when she was 19, and how “it totally resonated with my body,” Laprida, now 37, says – so much so that whenever she wasn’t playing the instrument in a medieval music ensemble, she’d be bowing it at home as a means of meditation. On various nights spent navigating the Buenos Aires performance art world, Laprida found herself toting her trumpet marine everywhere, from museums to discos, occasionally playing it on her head.

“There was one performance where I played it dressed up like a nun, but [the habit] was all white, and I was wearing Kiss makeup,” she says.

“There are no pictures. I’m so sorry about that.”

All of those adventures felt significant to Laprida, so when her husband accepted a new job in Washington, D.C., last year, she brought her trumpet marine along –a decision that has since become central to her music making. “My

context has changed radically, and it makes you [ask] a lot of questions about yourself,” she says. “In Buenos Aires, I knew who I was as an artist. When I got here, I didn’t know who I was anymore. So it was [good to have] something that was mine.”

Thankfully, Laprida quickly found her way to a local venue that routinely hosts the area’s most adventurous musicians and audiences – and she’s appeared there semi-regularly since, performing both composed and improvised pieces on her trumpet marine, often running its twostringed sound through amplifiers and effects pedals, learning what it can do in real time. “I don’t want to dominate the instrument,” she says.

“I want to have a dialogue with it. That’s why I play in a very minimalistic way. I’m trying to play as little as I can and let the instrument do its thing. . . . Sometimes, I try to not control what I’m doing at all. Just let your arm go a little loose and these harmonics will appear.”

Turns out, learning this instrument by experimenting with it is somewhat of a necessity. There aren’t many trumpet marine stars out there to idolize. But Laprida says that dynamic speaks the instrument’s appeal, too. It’s capable of creating an age-old sound with almost zero pedagogical baggage.

“So Jimi Hendrix is an influence,” she says. “I’m not comparing myself there. But he invented a way of playing. And there’s always new ways of doing things, I think. I like that. I also like recovering stories that seem lost in time.”

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

Samuel Sahlieh/The Washington Post Composer and improviser Alma Laprida.

The unique hodgepodge that is Keke Palmer

Yvonne villarreal LOS ANGELES TIMES

Keke Palmer could teach a class on how to stay a rising star for two decades.

At age 29, she’s already a seasoned veteran. Since her breakthrough role in 2006’s “Akeelah and the Bee,” Palmer has become a multihyphenate machine whose endeavors in entertainment span movies, TV, Broadway, music, books, podcasts and the internet (as an unwitting viral star) – the list could go on, and if you know Palmer’s drive, it inevitably will. And now her dynamic turn in Jordan Peele’s social sci-fi thriller “Nope” has catapulted her to new heights in her journey.

In the film, she plays Emerald Haywood, the exuberant sister of Daniel Kaluuya’s more contemplative character, OJ. When the siblings discover a threatening alien presence in the sky, they set out to capture it on camera.

For “The Envelope” podcast, Palmer spoke recently about being given the space to bridge her comedic and dramatic abilities, the shadow of young fame and how Dick Clark – yes, Dick Clark – factors into her career ambitions.

Q: What about “Nope” felt new for you? In what ways did you see your capabilities in a new light?

A: I think being able to, first of all, have the space to explore on such a scale with someone that is obviously as gifted and talented as Jordan Peele was incredible, but then also still being able to reach a dramatic place and an emotional spot with Emerald that a character deemed as the comic relief doesn’t usually have. So I was happy about being able to kind of bridge these two archetypes of jester and orphan together to create Emerald.

I’m curious how the themes of the movie resonate with you, because “Nope” gives a unique commentary on the film industry, on Hollywood, especially as it relates to tokenism and the desire to feel seen. You started in the industry at such a young age. How has the idea of feeling seen evolved for you?

There is something very meta about the way this film was cast. It’s interesting, the storyline of Steven Yeun (who plays Jupe, a former child starturned-amusement attraction owner) and then the storyline of my character and the fact that I’m also a child actor playing this character. I feel so similarly about how I’ve been able to not allow the industry to define me and to tear me apart, essentially. Coming from being a child entertainer and thinking that there was one way that I had to be to survive or be validated, to then realizing that nothing validates me as an

entertainer but me entertaining. It’s not how many people are watching me. It’s not who’s watching me. It’s not what awards I’ve received. It’s not the popularity I have, or the trends I’m catching or starting. It’s about the fact that I’m just literally, genuinely an artist.

I think, ultimately, what I took from it was just that being seen in our generation, and definitely for me personally, has been based off of so many things that are not real. And the only thing that really is real in our lives or the only true people that really see us are the ones that have always been there from the beginning, the ones that have always loved us, cared for us, acknowledged us; it’s the ones that sometimes we take for granted.

Q: Was there a time where your childhood years as an actor were annoying, where you were trying to get out of that shadow? And what have you come to appreciate about that time?

A: I remember there was something that people were saying when I came out in Time (magazine) and (the headline) said, “Rising star.” And that offended some people that they said “rising star,” and I’m like, “Well, s–, I don’t wanna be at my destination, you know?” If after 20 years I’m still considered a rising star, well, where the hell y’all

see me going? If I’m still continuously rising, I’m about to be at the god-stratosphere. I don’t know if I hated the shadow of it. I think I was always proud of the work I did as a kid. I think what I hated was that people thought it should end there. Child actors are so often seen as has-beens, especially ones that have reached any type of major success. Once that chapter is over, people are like, “Oh, I remember when . . .” And it’s like, I’m only 18 years old. Even now I still don’t feel like I’ve reached the best chapters of my life. I’m approaching 30 in 2023, and this still is just the beginning for me.

Q: If your performance in “Nope” is a turning point in your career, what does the next half look like to you?

A: I’m hoping it’s a hodgepodge between Dick Clark, Oprah Winfrey and Ron Howard/Jordan Peele. That’s what I’m hoping. I’m hoping that there is some ownerships, some creating spaces for the next generation, some cool, fun original IP, as well as being able to be a host and have fun. Bring fun shows, games, things, to the forefront. I’m just in the middle of everything, and that’s why I have to bring so many names together to kind of say who I am, because I really am a unique hodgepodge of a lot of the things that I admire.

Bridge

by Phillip Alder

were seven tables in play. Every South played in three no-trump. Every West attacked clubs, some leading the ace, others the two. After winning a club trick, the declarers decided to go after three diamond tricks. Six of them did the “normal” thing, playing a spade to dummy’s queen and taking a finesse. It lost, and West cashed his club tricks and exited with a spade. Now a second diamond finesse lost: an unlucky down one.

At the seventh table, South adopted a potentially dangerous “safety-play.” After winning the first trick with the club jack, he cashed the diamond ace. Here, the jack dropped from West. So declarer continued diamonds and had nine tricks.

HOW MUCH LUCK IS INVOLVED?

It is an old question: How much luck is involved in tournament bridge? In rubber bridge or Chicago, if you get no cards, you won’t win. In a tournament, with everyone playing the same deals, the element of luck is greatly reduced. However, it isn’t eliminated completely.

Consider today’s deal, which was played in Newport, some 20 miles east of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There

Sudoku

Bridge

Why was this a dangerous play? Give West honor-doubleton and East honor-third. The ace collects only low cards. Declarer enters dummy with a spade and leads the diamond 10. When East plays low, South has a nasty guess to make. The double finesse eliminates any guesswork.

South was lucky, but East-West were doubly unlucky. They were Tony Disley (a former school friend and bridge partner of mine) and Robert Charlesworth. They finished second. If South had adopted the popular line and finished down one, Disley and Charlesworth would have won. Bad luck! COPYRIGHT: 2022, UNITED

by Wayne Gould

HOW MUCH LUCK IS INVOLVED?

It is an old question: How much luck is involved in tournament bridge? In rubber bridge or Chicago, if you get no cards, you won’t win. In a tournament, with everyone playing the same deals, the element of luck is greatly reduced. However, it isn’t eliminated completely.

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

Barbara Hine/DDP via Zuma Press/TNS file Keke Palmer attends the Michael Kors Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week, Sept. 14.

Vikings' senior was also all-MEL and finished with 49 kills, 84 aces, 186 digs and 282 assists.

n Jada Cuffie, Vanden. Head coach Cindy Scalovino has two all-MEL selections back in Thrower and Cuffie. The junior Cuffie had 143 kills, 27 aces, 90 blocks and 76 digs.

n Mea Todd, Vacaville. The senior Bulldog was all-MEL with 38 kills, 56 aces, 21 blocks, 137 digs and an incredible 532 assists.

n Mackenzie Godden, Vacaville. The senior all-MEL selection knocked down 211 kills to go with 18 aces, 65 blocks, 22 digs and five assists.

n Alexa Simmons, Vacaville. Simmons will be back after a junior all-MEL season that featured 141 kills, 17 aces, 16 blocks and 70 digs.

n Kyra Gossett, Vacaville. The senior all-MEL pick had 29 aces, 206 digs and 11 assists.

n Kaylie Reyes, Armio

and Olivia Apelado, Rodriguez. The junior Reyes was the Royals' lone firstteam, all MEL selection. The Mustangs' Apelado has a very bright future after coaches voted her all-MEL as a freshman.

n Kirra Martin, Vacaville Christian. The Falcons' senior was the MVP of the Sierra Delta League with 139 kills, 35 aces, 37 blocks and 62 digs.

n Olivia Kuch, Vacaville Christian. The sophomore all-leaguer produced 86 kills, 43 aces, 15 blocks and 61 digs.

n Faith Martinez, Vacaville Christian. The senior all-league selection had 41 aces and 76 digs.

n Olivia Immel, Vacaville Christian. The junior all-SDL pick had 265 assists, 61 aces, six blocks and 37 digs.

n Kiara Perkins, Daniela Roman, Rio Vista. Both Rams are seniors and were honored as allSacramento Metro Athletic League selections.

n Wyievee Binda, Buckingham. The Knights' captain had 157 kills this season with 43 aces and 64 digs.

After one electric season, Carlos Rodón leaves Giants for Yankees

By Evan WEBEck BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

What appeared to be increasingly imminent with every Giants move and each morsel of information to emerge this offseason came to fruition Thursday evening: Carlos Rodón will, indeed, go down as a one-season wonder in San Francisco.

The overpowering left-hander, who opted out of the two-year deal he signed with the Giants before last season, found the long-term security he was seeking. Rodón is reportedly in agreement with the Yankees on a sixyear, $162 million deal, the longest and secondlargest contract signed by a pitcher this offseason. The deal, which was first reported by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, has not yet been made official.

From Page B1

alpha he was pre-injury; and Poole to slow down and figure it out after a hitor-miss start.

Poole showed last season that he can step up in big moments. He was key in helping the Warriors weather the storm down the stretch last season when Curry missed the last 12 games of the regular season with a sprained left foot ligament. Poole led the league in 3-pointers made over the months of March and April, making 87 of them at a 41.9% clip.

After Curry went down in March, the Warriors lost six of seven games before rattling out five straight wins to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

This season, the Warriors have lost all three games Curry has sat out. They’re 67-133 all-time without their star.

Curry’s injury comes while the Warriors are

Curryin the middle of their longest road trip of the season. While Golden state has been one of the league’s best teams while at Chase Center, where it’s 12-2, that prosperity hasn’t translated outside the Bay. The Warriors fell to 2-13 on the road and 14-15 overall Wednesday after yet another close loss to the Pacers.

Correcting the Warriors’ road issues will be even more difficult without Curry’s leadership and ability to take over games.

“This has been a tough start to the season, we’re in a tough stretch, maybe it’s going to get tougher if Steph’s out for a little while. I mean, if he’s out, it’ll for sure get tougher,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters Wednesday night in Indianapolis. “But we just got to preserve. You just keep playing and you keep fighting, and it’s a long season.

“The thing I’m very, very confident about is that if we’re healthy, we feel like we can beat anybody.”

For now, though, Golden State will have to try to figure it out their best player

The Giants, under Farhan Zaidi, have historically balked at such deals. They have preferred to find reclamation project pitchers on shortterm deals, as they have this offseason with Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling, and as they did just last year with Rodón after letting his predecessor, Kevin Gausman, walk on a five-year deal.

With the move, the Yankees became the only team to commit more dollars this offseason than

the Giants, who made their big splash Tuesday night, agreeing to a 13-year, $350 million deal with Carlos Correa. While only Bryce Harper has signed a free-agent deal as long as Correa’s, the Giants have still not committed more than three years to a pitcher under Zaidi.

Rodón’s single season in San Francisco couldn’t have worked out better for either side.

Rodón proved his breakout 2021 season was no fluke and that any health issues were behind him, setting career highs in innings and games started. Although he received Cy Young votes in 2021, the only deal available to him after the lockout last spring were short-term ones. He chose the Giants, earned an All-

Star nod, received Cy Young votes again, and was rewarded with one of the largest contracts ever signed by a pitcher.

From the get-go, Rodón exceeded even the Giants’ grandest dreams.

In his first start in a Giants uniform, he struck out 12 over five electric innings, and he would go on to record more doubledigit strikeout games than any pitcher in franchise history. While he was consistently brilliant, no effort was more impressive than his complete game in San Diego on July 9 (the only one of the season by a Giants pitcher); they had lost seven straight games, and Rodón singlehandedly pitched them to victory, while fanning another dozen Padres along the way.

He chased Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes until the end for the National League strikeout crown but settled for the league leads in K/9 and FIP. It wasn’t only one of the most dominant seasons by a Giants newcomer, or a left-hander, but any pitcher in the franchise’s history.

As manager Gabe Kapler said toward the end of the year, “It feels very much like a historic season.”

The task of filling Rodón’s slot in the rotation may already be complete with the additions of Manaea and Stripling, but filling his shoes will be a challenge the Giants face all season.

Logan Webb, their 25-year-old homegrown ace, entrenched himself last year as one of the game’s top pitchers, but it will be his first season without a partner like Rodón or Gausman with him at the top of the rotation. Instead, some combination of Alex Cobb, Alex Wood, Anthony DeSclafani, Stripling and Manaea will follow.

With Rodón joining Aaron Judge in New York, there should be no shortage of storylines for the first series of the season, when the Carlos Correa-led Giants travel to Yankees Stadium.

Brady denies changing Bucs’ gameplan

TriBunE conTEnT agEncy

TAMPA, Fla. — Betraying mild irritation, Tom Brady denied a recent San Francisco Chronicle report that he makes revisions to the Bucs’ offensive game plan the night before the team plays.

When asked during his weekly media appearance Thursday if coaches are learning in real time of changes Brady implemented the night before, Brady said, “No. I have no idea.”

“Anybody can write anything and say whatever they want,” Brady added. “I’m not going to respond to every (report) — next question.”

The story’s author, Michael Silver, a longtime NFL reporter who has written books on Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner, wrote

that Brady runs a separate meeting with Bucs skill players the night before each game.

During those sessions, Silver wrote, Brady “makes tweaks to assignments and formations and provides a revised blueprint – one which first-year head coach Todd Bowles, offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and the rest of the staff are left to discover in real time once the game begins.”

Both Bowles and Leftwich say Brady holds those meetings and has since his arrival in Tampa, but denied they’re surprised by anything on game day.

“We know what’s going on in the meeting and we know all the tweaks,” Bowles said earlier this week. “The defensive guys meet by themselves as well. We have

several position groups that meet by themselves as well to get on the same page together before a game . . . . That’s not new.”

Similarly, Leftwich said he is “aware of everything.”

“We communicate every day on what we’re doing, what we think from the game-plan standpoint,” he said.

“Nothing has changed, status quo. The only thing that’s changed is that we’re not winning as much as we’ve won in the past, so I’m quite sure this type of stuff happens when these types of things happen.”

Brady, whose team enters Sunday’s game against the Bengals at 6-7, is in jeopardy of the first sub.500 season of his 23-year NFL career. The Bucs offense ranks 28th in the NFL in scoring.

From Page B1

sideline him a couple of more games, if not until the playoffs.

Helping matters was the 49ers’ top-ranked defense, especially in the final minute before halftime. Once Jimmie Ward wrapped up Travis Homer on a short catch, Greenlaw arrived on the scene and slammed his right shoulder into Homer. The ball popped free, Ward collected it and dashed to the 5-yard line. The 49ers parlayed that turnover into a McCaffrey touchdown, which came on a 1-yard run through a path cleared by linemen Trent Williams and Aaron Banks, with assists to Jake Brendel and

solano

From Page B1

37-31 at halftime before outscoring Folsom Lake 57-47 in the second half.

“Jacob is also a threelevel shooter,” Nagle said. “He is a high-performance, three-point shooter, is quick off the ball, can push the pace and is tough to stay in front of.”

The rest of the lineup includes freshman

Spencer Burford. Greenlaw was far from the only dominant defender, though his fumble-forcing hit elicited memories of “Big Play Dre’s” 2019 goal-line stop that preserved a win that clinched the division and No. 1-seed.

Nick Bosa enhanced his NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidacy by reclaiming the NFL sack lead, doing so on a thirdquarter effort that marked sack No. 15 1/2 this season, matching last season’s career high. That, somewhat, avenged a questionable, roughingthe-passer penalty he drew earlier on the drive, which negated Deommodore Lenoir’s 37-yard interception return for a touchdown and a potential 28-3 lead.

forecast for Fairfield-Suisun City

Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/TNS file san Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos rodón reacts after striking out the phillies’ Bryson stott at oracle park in san Francisco, sept. 4.

guard Jacque Jones (Vanden), freshman guard Devin Wade (Will C. Wood), freshman guard Andre Nickel (Vanden), soph-

omore guard Samuel Lenjik (Slovakia), freshman guard Dwayne Crosse (Freedom-Pittsburg), sophomore guard Leon Fong (George Washington-San Francisco), freshman wing Isileli Fitita (St. Patrick-St. Vincent), freshman guard Matthew Elliott (Bethel), freshman guard Edwin Akpolki (Rodriguez), freshman wing Isaiah Randle (Monte Vista-Danville) and freshman wing Ajani Monroe (Hercules).

The Falcons play Monday night at Skyline in San Bruno before opening Bay Valley Conference play Dec. 29 at Napa Valley.