General Excellence 2023, Press Democrat, Dec 16-17 by www.pressdemocrat.com

SANTA ROSA » Airport edges

USA CYCLING » Sebastopol

ART OF WEAVING » Sebastopol

closer to another record year for passenger numbers. B6

teen wins her 4th national title in cyclocross. C1

woman uses homegrown wool for her creations. D1

WINNER OF THE 2018 PULITZER PRIZE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM

SONOMA COUNTY » Two families strike conservation deals to protect hundreds of acres of Laguna de Santa Rosa ranchland, key waterways

For love of the land

U.S CRISIS

More in nation without housing Survey ﬁnds 12% hike in reported homelessness as rents soar, aid lapses By KEVIN FREKING ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Landowner Ken Lafranchi, left, walks Nov. 29 with Sonoma County Ag + Open Space acquisition specialist Olivia Fiori and community relations specialist Lauren Alpert to view the area of Lafranchi’s property that is part of a conservation easement project, in Santa Rosa. By EMMA MURPHY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

pen ﬁelds dotted with large, native oak trees and expansive views stretching across acres of ranch land in west Sonoma County have been in the Denner and Lafranchi families for generations. Those years on the land have instilled a love for the natural landscapes among the family members who call it home and are determined to keep the properties whole. Now, because of that determination, 676 acres across the families’ neighboring properties will be preserved and restored through conservation easement deals with Sonoma County’s Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. The county recently ﬁnalized its purchase of development rights on the two properties for $15.9 million, ensuring they will remain much as they are now in perpetuity. TURN TO LAND » PAGE A2

WASHINGTON — The United States experienced a dramatic 12% increase in homelessness to its highest reported level as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more Americans, federal officials said Friday. About 653,000 people were homeless, the most since the country began using the yearly point-in-time survey in 2007. NUMBERS The total in the DIP HERE January count Sonoma County represents an sees drop in increase of number of homeabout 70,650 less people from from a year prior year / A5 earlier. The latest estimate indicates that people becoming homeless for the ﬁrst time were behind much of the increase. A rise in family homelessness ended a downward trend that began in 2012. “For those on the frontlines of this crisis, it’s not surprising,” said Ann Oliva, chief executive officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an advocacy group. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge said the data underscored an “urgent need” to support proven solutions that help people quickly exit homelessness and that prevent homelessness in TURN TO HOMELESS » PAGE A5

FIRE VICTIM TRUST A portion of the Denner Ranch, as viewed from the Lafranchi family’s property, is part of a conservation easement project by Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, in Santa Rosa.

“We were determined that we were going to keep our promise and make sure that this land stayed in one piece.”

Fund sells last shares of PG&E stock By ANDREW GRAHAM AND MARISA ENDICOTT

JOANNE DENNER, who manages Denner Ranch with her family

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

chest height. They also prohibit conversion of oak woodlands, though broad exemptions exist in each case for situations involving diseased or hazardous trees, fuels management and ﬁre prevention, insurance mandates, necessary tree care and development permits already granted. Trees covered by approved timber harvest plans also are exempt. The decision to impose temporary rules came Tuesday in the second of two recent public hearings at which the board had hoped to resolve concerns about draft language expanding the number of native trees whose removal already is re-

The Fire Victim Trust sold its remaining shares of Pacific, Gas and Electric stock, drawing closer to concluding a process that has raised more money than initially expected but will still leave victims of the utility’s wildfires far short of the damages they’re owed. On Wednesday, a record-setting day for the Dow Jones stock market index, the Trust dumped its remaining chunk of 67.7 million PG&E shares, clearing $1.2 billion for the fund. That brings the fund’s overall value, long a question of intense interest for fire victims, to more than $14 billion, which is higher than the $13.5 billion awarded through the bankruptcy court but woefully short of the

TURN TO TREES » PAGE A6

TURN TO STOCK » PAGE A5

County bars removal of native trees Supervisors adopt temporary emergency moratorium to save oak woodlands, other species By MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Foothill Ranch Road winds past land parcels containing oak trees Nov. 30 near Santa Rosa. New zoning policies seek to safeguard local trees.

Advice Business Classiﬁed

B5 B6 D3

Comics Crossword Editorial

B4 B5 A8

Horoscopes B2 Nation-World B1 North Coast A3

Sonoma County supervisors have adopted an emergency ban on removal of native trees and oak woodlands until they ﬁnalize new zoning policies designed to safeguard local trees from needless or avoidable eradication. The restrictions, now in place until at least Jan. 26 in the unincorporated area, restrict removal of 31 tree species if they are at least six inches in diameter at

Obituaries Scoreboard Sports

B3 C2 C1

DAMAGE AWARD: Jury awards $148 million to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Guiliani for defamation. / B1

SANTA ROSA High 67, Low 38 THE WEATHER, C6

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

GOOD MORNING, SONOMA COUNTY TODAY'S WEATHER IN SANTA ROSA

NUMBER OF THE DAY

degrees with sunny to partly cloudy conditions today. For more local weather, turn to Page C6.

Increase in homelessness nationally, according to federal officials, which runs counter to local numbers. To read this story, turn to Page A1.

12%

FROM THE COMICS

‘PEARLS BEFORE SWINE’

From Santa Rosa’s own Stephan Pastis. For more “Pearls Before Swine,” visit gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine. To read more of today’s comics, turn to Page B4 or visit pressdemocrat.com/comics

WHAT YOU’RE READING Here are the three most-read local stories on pressdemocrat.com. ■ Winemaker whose Napa Valley wine outscored French vintages in historic tasting dies ■ Fire Victim Trust sells its last PG&E shares to take advantage of record stock market levels ■ In split vote, Santa Rosa board endorses return of campus police officers SONOMA COUNTY SIGHTS Want your image in the paper? Submit a photo describing who, what, where, when, author of the photo and where they live. Low-resolution or missing caption information will not be selected for print. Email images in a JPEG format to pdsights@gmail.com.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Hartman Creek area Nov. 29 in Santa Rosa at the border between the Denner and Lafranchi ranches, that is part of a Sonoma County Ag + Open Space conservation easement project.

LAND

CONTINUED FROM A1 The two easements, combined with a previously secured easement on a neighboring property will create a large, contiguous conservation area near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, a critical watershed that feeds into the Russian River. Officials expect the easements will open the door for significant habitat restoration and improve water quality in the laguna and nearby creeks. “We have these protected buffers where the water flowing into them can be filtered and so we have cleaner water going through our streams, going to our coasts, in our oceans, so that we have better fisheries and our oceans,” said Steph Tavares-Buhler, senior acquisition specialist with Ag and Open Space who worked with the Denner family on their deal. The easements have been years in the making, with both families wrestling with the idea of giving up property rights. But the opportunity to keep the properties intact and protect the natural landscapes that contribute to west county’s picturesque vistas proved decisive, the families said.

Denner Ranch DON STRATTON / PETALUMA

Forestville’s community holiday tree.

SONOMA COUNTY REFLECTIONS A daily slice of life written by our staff and our readers.

Holiday music a balm to officials’ ears We contacted several Sonoma local elected officials to learn about their favorite holiday songs. Here’s what they had to say. Sonoma City Council member Patricia Farrar- Rivas wrote she “loves the lyrics exposing class differences with guitar licks,” and cited “Father Christmas” by the Kinks. While not addressing the holiday song question directly, Sonoma City Council member Jack Ding provided a heartfelt response. Music, it seems, is international and knows no speciﬁc holiday. The ﬁrst music I heard, I believe, was my grandma singing a cradle song for me and other younger cousins: ’Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Till the Grandma Bridge),” Ding said. Sonoma County Supervisor Susan Gorin said, “I love Christmas songs — I have my CDs on all the time from Thanksgiving on, especially when I am baking,” she wrote. —— Tim Curley, Sonoma Index-Tribune

FOR THE RECORD If you ﬁnd an error on our news pages, please let us know; call 707-526-8585 or email pdnews@pressdemocrat.com.

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Spanning 489 acres, the Denner Ranch is home to Mark West and Hartman creeks, large valley oak trees, 91 acres of federally designated critical habitat for California tiger salamander and remnants of Ballard Lake, according to the county. Russell Alexander Denner established the ranch in 1890. The property’s varying uses — ﬁrst as a dairy farm and later for raising beef cattle — have shaped the property as it passed through generations. Today Russell and Joanne Denner manage the land with their son Brian Denner, his wife, Mary Calla Denner, and their children Silas, Josephine and Fiona. The family manages a vineyard on part of their property and leases another part of the land for produce farming and livestock grazing. The county’s conservation easement, bought for $11.5 million, covers all 489 acres. Russell and Joanne

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Rancher Russell Denner, center, talks Nov. 29 with Sonoma County Ag + Open Space community relations specialist Lauren Alpert, left, and acquisition specialist Olivia Fiori while touring Denner Ranch. The easement project involving the ranch was years in the making.

A portion of the 489-acre Denner Ranch in Santa Rosa. The county’s conservation easement covers the whole property. decided to sell an easement covering the whole property after a cousin asked them to buy her out. Russell and Joanne were determined to keep the property in its entirety to pass on to the next generation, preserving the family’s legacy. The thought of letting a portion of the land be sold or subdivided was “unacceptable,” Russell Denner said. “The way our family has run this business for many, many years is that it gets bought and then it gets handed down to the next generation,” Joanne Denner said. “ … we were determined that we were going to keep our promise and make sure that this land stayed in one piece to be handed down to the next generation.”

Lafranchi property The Lafranchi property, owned by Ken Lafranchi, provides critical access to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, one of Sonoma County’s most sensitive riparian ecosystems, and the subject of water quality concerns for years. Those concerns prompt-

ed Sonoma Water to approach Lafranchi about restoration efforts, said Neil Lessettre, principal environmental specialist at Sonoma Water, the region’s wholesale drinking water supplier. Lying in the 100-year ﬂood plain of the Laguna, the property boasts three key streams — Hartman, Olivet, and Mark West creeks — and other wetland, marshland and oak woodland habitat, according to Ag and Open Space. Lafranchi said he needed some time to consider what a conservation easement would mean but decided to move forward because the money would help cover deferred maintenance projects on the ranch, and the move would keep the property intact and support the environment. The county’s $4.37 million conservation easement covers 187 acres of the 263-acre property, where Lafranchi lives with his wife, Sheila, and their three sons Marco, Justin and Dante. Lafranchi’s grandfather started a dairy ranch on

the property which ran until the 1960s, when the operation moved to Petaluma, Lafranchi said. Around 1976 the family moved the dairy operation back. In 2006, Lafranchi and his parents, Arthur and Diane Lafranchi, started a vineyard, which Lafranchi later expanded when he purchased his mom’s and siblings’ portions of the ranch in 2014 after his father died. The purchases meant Lafranchi took on signiﬁcant debt, which the easement has helped to reduce, he said. Choosing to move forward with the conservation deal was difficult, he said. But his father’s passion for the land rested at the heart of Lafranchi’s decision. “He was a great man,” Lafranchi said. “He really inspired me to try to hang on.”

What happens next With the easements ﬁnalized, it is now up to Sonoma Water to lead the restoration efforts. The agency must ﬁnalize the details of a plan and secure funding, likely through grants, to carry out the work, Lessettre said. Lafranchi hinted at collaborations to come possibly with local environmental and educational groups. “I think it's gonna be wonderful,” he said. You can reach Staff Writer Emma Murphy at 707-5215228 or emma.murphy@ pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MurphReports.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

The North Coast Theater’s doors may close this month MONTE RIO » Venue’s last ﬁlm shows Dec. 24 if funding goal not met By DAN TAYLOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The Monte Rio Theater, a unique Russian River venue since 1950, will show its last ﬁlm Christmas Eve unless a $50,000 fundraising goal is met. So far, the theater’s WeFunder

campaign has raised $18,550, said Kim Lockhart, co-owner of the property with her husband, David Lockhart, since 2021. Dan Jahns is their partner in the business. The deadline is Dec. 31. If the money is not raised, “Wonka,” which opened Friday and closes Dec. 24, will be the last ﬁlm to play at the theater. “The WeFunder campaign will give us time to apply for grants and pursue other sourc-

es for funding to reopen the theater in 2024,” Lockhart said. The theater went up for sale last August and is listed at $995,000. The 1.26-acre property includes the 8,000-square-foot Quonset-hut theater. At the time, Kim Lockhart explained that the owners’ plan from the start was to get the theater up and running and turn it over to someone else. “We’ve also applied for a conservation easement grant to pos-

sibly turn the lawn area into a public gathering space or park. We’ll ﬁnd out if we are approved in mid-January,” Lockhart said. The Lockharts moved to Sonoma County from Santa Monica in 2020 and bought River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe, based in Healdsburg, which they continue to operate. The couple reopened the theater in October 2021. The closing ﬁlm at the Monte Rio Theater is the musical fan-

tasy “Wonka,” the third ﬁlm based on the 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. In the classic story, Willy Wonka announces he has hidden golden tickets in chocolate Wonka Bars, and that those who ﬁnd them will win a factory tour and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Together, the Monte Rio TheTURN TO THEATER » PAGE A4

HIGHWAY 37

FUN AND GAMES AT PINER ALL-SCHOOL RALLY

State provides $50M for project Grant will replace Tolay Creek Bridge, beneﬁting bay’s tidal marshes By CHASE HUNTER SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE

The California Transportation Commission approved a $50 million grant Dec. 7 to replace and lengthen Tolay Creek Bridge on Highway 37 that will promote restoration of the San Pablo Baylands. The project will widen the bridge to two lanes in each direction, easing the bottleneck that often affects drivers on the thoroughfare connecting North Bay counties. The bridge replacement will also allow more water to flow in and out of Tolay Creek to alleviate concerns of sea-level rise that threatens San Pablo Bay marshes, according to the Bay Area transportation planning agency Metropolitan Transportation Commission. “Together, these improvements will comprise the first phase of an estimated $430 million project to improve traffic flow along the 10-mile stretch of Highway 37 between Sears Point and Mare Island… reduce flooding along the corridor, as well as restore North Bay marshlands,” MTC wrote in an announcement Dec. 7. While the project’s priority is to ease traffic congestion and protect Highway 37 from the expected 7 feet of sea level rise by 2100, there are benefits to the surrounding environment. The replacement and lengthening of the Tolay Creek Bridge will widen the creek channel and reduce the vulnerability of flooding on Highway 37, according to Sonoma County Transportation Commission. The marshes in San Pablo Bay are vulnerable to ecological change from rising sea levels and human activity, like water diversions for agricultural uses, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “About 85% of the historic tidal marshes of San Pablo Bay have been altered, negatively affecting the ability of the remaining tidal marshes to accept winter rainfall and purify water in the bay,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Santiago Camara Chimal, above during a table surﬁng contest. The team cheer for Chimal after taking ﬁrst place in the contest.

TURN TO HIGHWAY » PAGE A4

- Today’s nonprofit is sponsored by -

TE COM RA

MU N ITY

C E LE B

A proud Celebrate Community Partner

To learn more about us visit: celebratecommunity.org A R CelebrateCommunity.org I T SH P

cherished west Santa Rosa campus tradition saw its latest edition continue Friday in singing, races and other campus games as Piner High hosted Monroe Elementary students at an all-school rally. The assembly marked the return-leg of a visit Piner students paid to Monroe kids on Thursday, handing out donated gifts for all of the younger students, from kindergarten through third grade. It was the 24th year Piner students have created that special day for students at their nearby feeder school. Piner High School students, pictured top left, have fun wrap- game during the rally. The Piner High School boys ping Monroe Elementary School soccer team propels Monroe student Laylah Flores in wrapElementary School student ping paper as part of a relay

NER

NORTH COAST / STATE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

FTC reviewing Kroger buyout of Albertsons Grocery takeover worth $26B largest in retail history By MARIA HALKIAS TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Federal regulators have more time to decide on Kroger’s pending $26.4 billion takeover of Albertsons. The companies and the Federal Trade Commission agreed to move a key decision date from December to Jan. 17, according to a ﬁling in a lawsuit pending in California that seeks to block one of the largest retail takeovers in U.S. history. The FTC and Kroger both declined to comment on the timing of regulators’ plan to disclose their assessment of the deal. The agency could allow Kroger to move ahead or force it to divest more than the 413 stores it has proposed to sell to clear antitrust concerns. It also could sue to stop the merger. The California lawsuit was ﬁled in February by San Francisco attorney Joseph Alioto on behalf of consumers there and in other states. It claims the merger of the two largest supermarket chains “may substantially lessen competition and tend to create a monopoly” in several areas of the U.S. Last month, Kroger gave the FTC its plan to sell 413 stores, including 26 in Texas and two in Louisiana, to C&S Wholesale Grocers. The FTC review will take the planned divestiture into account. The Teamsters and progressive members of Congress have been critical of the sale to C&S as part of their overall opposition to Kroger’s acquisition of its largest competitor. Critics cite the 2015 acquisition of Safeway by Albertsons as a warning that divesture cures haven’t achieved the desired outcomes. Scott Moses, an investment banker advising Albertsons in the pending transaction, said in a statement that it’s not correct to compare the prospects of C&S as a buyer to Haggen, a grocer that failed after buying stores as part of the Albertsons purchase of Safeway. Haggen was an 18-store chain operating in Oregon and Washington when it swallowed 146 storesin Southern California, Ari-

zona and Nevada and converted them to its brand. Those stores were “over 1,000 miles away from where most anyone had ever heard of Haggen,” Moses said. “C&S is a radically stronger buyer than Haggen in several critical ways,” he said. It’s a family-owned grocery wholesale business with $30 billion in annual revenue and operates stores in multiple regions, he said. It’s also pro-union and will assume collective bargaining agreements, he added. Most divested stores won’t be abruptly changing brand names above the door. The sale to C&S includes three banners — QFC in Washington and Oregon, Mariano’s in Illinois and Carrs in Alaska. C&S also will be able to use the Albertsons banner in four states: Arizona, California, Colorado and Wyoming. It’s not clear what would happen to the 26 divested stores in Texas, but C&S could turn them into Piggly Wiggly stores, a brand it controls. “The C&S transaction clearly avoids Haggen’s mistakes,” Moses said. The Kroger-Albertsons merger will create “another strong grocery competitor” to compete with national chains Walmart, Target, Amazon, Whole Foods Market, Costco, Aldi and Dollar General, Moses said Those retailers for the most part have grown organically. Kroger and Albertsons have mostly grown through acquisitions. Multiple regional chains compete successfully against the nationals, such as H-E-B and Brookshire’s in Texas, Publix in the Southeast, Wegmans in the Northeast and Schnucks in Missouri. Alioto said he is seeking a trial before the FTC makes a ruling. In addition to its Kroger brand, the Ohio-based grocer operates Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Fry’s, QFC, City Market, Owen’s, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker’s, Gerbes, Harris Teeter, Pick ‘n Save, Metro Market, Mariano’s, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less and Foods Co. Albertsons’ additional banners are Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s.

ROBERT GAUTHIER / LOS ANGELES TIMES

Asylum seekers from Colombia huddle against the cold and rain at a makeshift camp Nov. 24 in Jacumba while waiting to be transported by the U.S. Border Patrol.

Over 1,000 family separations Advocacy groups report migrant divisions near border since September By ANDREA CASTILLO LOS ANGELES TIMES

Nearly 1,100 migrant families have been separated while being processed at the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego since September, immigrant advocacy groups said in a letter sent Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security that seeks an investigation into the matter. The separations stem from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ongoing practice of releasing high volumes of migrants to street locations around San Diego County without coordinated reception plans, according to the UCLA Center for Immigration Law and Policy and three other groups that signed the letter. As migrant arrivals at the California-Mexico border have increased, Customs and Border Protection has turned to street releases and holding migrants between border walls to reduce the number of people in its short-term facilities. According to the letter, immigration law group Al Otro Lado documented 1,081 family separations among the hundreds of migrants it serves each day at a border welcome center in San Diego, where it provides legal aid and translation services. Of that total, there were almost 400 separations of spouses and about 200 separations of adult children from the parents they were traveling with, including 43 children between age 18 and 21. Separations of those in other family relationships, such as adult siblings, cousins and common-law partners, make up the remainder of the total. In at least 39 cases, families remained separated after one or more members were transferred to longterm immigrant detention facilities. In at least two cases, one family

member was deported while the others remain in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. “The trauma families experience during the periods of separation is compounded by CBP’s lack of communication and the near-total opacity of their practices,” states the letter to the Department of Homeland Security’s office of civil rights and civil liberties, which was also signed by the ACLU Foundation of San Diego and Imperial Counties, and Jewish Family Service of San Diego. To prevent further separations, the organizations are asking Homeland Security to broaden the definition of a family group under agency practice to include parents with adult children, couples without marriage certificates, adult siblings and extended family members. The groups are also asking that Homeland Security agents document all relationships among family groups and ensure families are released together, or to communicate the whereabouts of any family members that aren’t released at the same time. The letter comes after a federal judge in San Diego approved a court settlement last week that bars widespread separations of parents from their underage children at the U.S.-Mexico border for the next eight years. The settlement stems from a 2018 ACLU lawsuit over the separations, including those that took place under the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that led to the prosecutions of migrant parents who crossed the border without authorization. The settlement doesn’t affect family separations like those documented by Al Otro Lado, which the group believes are undercounted. In October, Customs and Border Protection detained nearly 30,000 migrants near San Diego, up from nearly 18,000 in October 2022, according to agency figures.

Meghan Zavala, data and policy analyst for Al Otro Lado, said these kinds of separations aren’t unique to San Diego. Just under half of the families recently separated at the border near San Diego are from Colombia, with smaller numbers from China, Brazil, Afghanistan and Peru, according to Al Otro Lado. Some separations have lasted hours or days, while others documented by the organization have lasted more than a month. Separations involving families who speak languages other than Spanish are particularly difficult, causing advocates to scramble to ﬁnd interpreters, Zavala said. Some families spend days in crowded San Diego shelters waiting to see whether their relatives will be released, she said. “Our organization along with others continue to be very strained in our capacity and yet are given all these additional hurdles,” Zavala said. “We try to do our best to get information for these families who are quite desperate to know where the person they were traveling with is now being held.” In one case documented by Al Otro Lado, a husband and wife from Colombia were taken into Border Patrol custody in September. The husband was released just across the border from Tijuana in San Diego’s San Ysidro district without his wife, who had been transferred to a detention facility in Louisiana and was deported before she could speak with a local attorney. In another case, a husband and wife were separated during Customs and Border Protection processing. The husband was released without his wife at the San Ysidro Transit Center and returned to the center for weeks, hoping to ﬁnd her. He later learned she had been transferred to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas, where she experienced medical complications. They were separated for 49 days.

THEATER CONTINUED FROM A3

JOHN BURGESS / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2021

Highway 37 is at risk from rising seas as global warming threatens the link between Vallejo and Novato.

HIGHWAY CONTINUED FROM A3

These changes threaten the thousands of species who forage, breed and nest in the baylands, including over 1 million birds that use it as a stop during seasonal migration on the “Paciﬁc Flyway.” “In the short term (upcoming decades) this will likely provide net environmental beneﬁts vis-à-vis wetland enhancement/ restoration,” said Steven Lee, senior scientist and research program manager. “But, big picture, this is a transportation planning project, not a wetland improvement project.”

The $50 million grant comes from the California Transportation Commission’s Local Transportation Climate Adaptation Program. The program was established in 2022 to support resilient infrastructure against the hazards created by climate change. The funding will be shared between MTC, Caltrans and Sonoma County Transportation Authority among other project partners in Marin, Napa and Solano counties as part of the Resilient State Route 37 Program. Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.

ater and Fleur Sauvage Chocolates have hidden 10 golden tickets in stores around the Windsor Town Green and the Monte Rio Theater. Customers who ﬁnd a winning golden ticket can redeem it for chocolate from Fleur Sauvage, a free movie ticket to “Wonka” and a chance to win a personalized gold-colored nameplate on the back of a Rio Theater chair. Clues to ﬁnd the tickets will be posted on their Instagram and Facebook social media, at instagram. com/fleursauvagechocolates, instagram.com/ monteriotheater and facebook.com/monteriotheatre. On Dec. 23, the ticket winners can compete in a Wonka trivia contest at the Rio Theater to win their name engraved on a gold-colored nameplate on the back of a chair. “Wonka” will be shown Saturday and Sunday and Dec. 22-24. For more information, go to monteriotheaterandextravaganza. com. The theater under the Lockharts has a history of imaginative and colorful

CHAD SURMICK / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The nearly 75-year history of the Monte Rio Theater, housed in a former World War IIera Quonset hut, has taken a new turn. Co-owners Kim and David Lockhart have put the property up for sale and plan to close the theater Dec. 24. ﬁlm promotions. “When we reopened the theater with Sony’s ”The Truffle Hunters,” we brought in real trufﬂe-hunting dogs along with truffle-themed snacks and paired wines from Kendall-Jackson,” Kim Lockhart said. “For ‘Barbie,’ we painted

the theater pink, had pink champagne and a ﬂeet of pink canoes to turn it into a Barbie Dream Theater,” she added. The theater also displays remaining fabric from Christo’s “Running Fence,” an installation art piece by internationally renowned artist duo Christo

and Jeanne-Claude that extended for miles across the hills of Sonoma and Marin counties for two weeks in 1976. You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5243. On Twitter @ danarts.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2017

Bill Stites watches his Fountaingrove neighborhood burn in Santa Rosa during the Tubbs Fire.

STOCK

CONTINUED FROM A1 $18 billion that trust claim administrators have awarded in damages to victims. The trust covers victims of PG&E-caused wildfires from 2015 to 2018, including the 2017 North Bay fires and the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise. The fund was created out of the utility’s 2019 bankruptcy, a filing which set off an intense struggle among shareholders, bondholders, insurers and other creditors vying for compensation from the company’s limited assets. The more than 70,000 fire victims were squeezed during that process and ended up with a fund that was supposed to contain $13.5 billion, but started with only half of that in cash. The other half was in the form of 477 million shares of PG&E stock, whose share price at the time the utility left bankruptcy was at a low water mark. The stock didn’t significantly rebound until 2022, when the trust began to sell its shares off in large tranches. In November, trust administrator Cathy Yanni reported the trust had raised $6 billion through eight previous stock sales and was down to the last 67.7 million shares. On Wednesday, trust administrators sold that final chunk at $18.15 a share, around double the share price when the fund was first established. Because of the dynamics of the stock market, the trust usually sells its shares at a discount, and also pays a fee to the investment bank Morgan Stanley, which manages the sales. But $1.2 billion was the net gain for the trust on this week’s sale, a spokesperson for the fund said. The fund also raised hundreds of millions of dollars through lawsuits against other actors in the buildup to PG&E’s catastrophic wildfires, including vegetation man-

agement contractors and a group of the utility’s directors and officers. While much of that money went to settle claims from the federal government, those lawsuits have also added more than $132 million to the fund. To date, the trust has paid 60% of people’s claims. Wednesday’s stock sale clears the way for a final payment, though the trust has not yet provided a timeline for cutting the last set of checks to victims. The fund has paid out $10.8 billion to claimants so far. Stock fees and discounts are far from the only thing dipping into the amount of dollars actually available to fire victims. The trust has run up considerable expenses processing the claims of 70,000 people, reporting around $96 million in annual expenses in 2022 and $93 million in 2021. The trust has not yet reported its expenses in 2023, but administrators have said the numbers are expected to drop. Another drain on the fund has come from corporations and government entities whose large claims were lumped in with those of individual fire victims. Comcast and AT&T both settled claims with the trust for amounts that have not been publicly disclosed. But the corporations each claimed tens of millions in losses, with AT&T angling for more than $180 million — but likely settling for considerably less than that. A third large corporation, the faith-based health care nonprofit Adventist Health, settled its claim with the trust for $200 million. Like other claimants, Adventist was only paid 60% of that amount. You can reach Staff Writer Andrew Graham at 707-526-8667 or andrew. graham@pressdemocrat. com.

JAE C. HONG / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A tarp covers a portion of a homeless person’s tent on a bridge overlooking the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles on Feb. 2. The United States experienced a dramatic 12% increase in homelessness as soaring rents and a decline in coronavirus pandemic assistance combined to put housing out of reach for more Americans, federal ofﬁcials said Friday.

HOMELESS CONTINUED FROM A1

the first place. Going back to the first 2007 survey, the U.S. then made steady progress for about a decade in reducing the homeless population as the government focused particularly on increasing investments to get veterans into housing. The number of homeless people dropped from about 637,000 in 2010 to about 554,000 in 2017. The numbers ticked up to about 580,000 in the 2020 count and held relatively steady over the next two years as Congress responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with emergency rental assistance, stimulus payments, aid to states and local governments and a temporary eviction moratorium. Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, a federal agency, said the extra assistance “held off the rise in homelessness that we are now seeing.” He said numerous factors are behind the problem. “The most significant causes are the shortage of affordable homes and the high cost of housing that have left many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and one crisis away from homelessness,” Olivet said. Within the overall rise, homelessness among individuals rose by nearly 11%, among veterans by 7.4% and among families with children by 15.5%. People who identify as Black make up about 13% of the U.S. population but comprised 37% of all people experiencing homelessness. People who identify as Hispanic or Latino make up about 19% of the population but comprised about 33% of those ex-

SACRAMENTO BEE

Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to insist that low-wage Californians are taxed less in the state than their counterparts in Texas and Florida. He’s right about those making up to roughly $55,000 a year. Those earning more generally pay more in taxes in California. Assessing tax burdens is an inexact science, ﬁlled with variables such as a person’s deductions, property ownership, sales purchases and other factors. Newsom contended this week in a tweet that “Republican led states like Florida and Texas tax lowwage workers more than we tax millionaires and billionaires.” And, he added, “They talk about how they are for the working folks and middle class — they are not. Look at who they tax.” He spoke about the subject on the “No Lie with Bryan Tyler Cohen” podcast. “And they call us the

high tax state,” Newsom said on the podcast. “How can you play that? It’s who are you for and it’s exposed in this. They talk about this populism for the working folks and the middle class and they’re not. Look at who they tax. Look at their policies. Look who they beneﬁted.” California has the highest state income tax rate in the country for wealthier people, 13.3% for millionaires. But it is progressive, meaning those with lower incomes pay a lower percentage of income tax. Texas and Florida have no state income tax. Newsom’s office cited a 2018 study from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a respected left-leaning research group in Washington. “Many states that tout themselves as ‘low tax’ states are often only low tax for the wealthy, and high tax for lower-income families,” said Jon Whiten, ITEP communications director. ITEP’s “inequality in-

The number of homeless people in Sonoma County actually decreased from last year, according to a report released in August and based on a census taken in January. According to the annual Point In Time Census, the number of people experiencing homelessness decreased 22% from the previous year’s one-day count. The numbers, however, also showed major areas of concern, including: ■ Rising Black homelessness. Black residents make up 2.5% of the county, but constitute 9% of the county’s homeless population. That percentage is up from 6% in 2020. In addition, 7% of the chronically homeless are Black. ■ Chronic homelessness. More than two-thirds of the homeless people surveyed during the count said they have been homeless for a year or more. That’s the same as in 2022 and up from 56% in 2018. The federal government defines chronic homelessness as being homeless for a year or more or being homeless four or more times in three years. ■ Increasing first-time homelessness. The percentage of people who said they were newly homeless continues to rise. This year, 35% of those surveyed in January reported that they were experiencing homelessness for the first time. That’s up from 32% last year and 30% in 2019. periencing homelessness. Also, more than a quarter of the adults experiencing homelessness were over age 54. HUD said that rental housing conditions were “extraordinarily challenging” in 2022, with rents increasing at more than twice the rate of recent years. It noted that trend has

subsided since the January count. Such relief could show beneﬁts when volunteers and housing officials around the country begin the next homeless count in just a few weeks. Officials also noted that President Joe Biden’s budget for this ﬁscal year has recommended guaranteed vouchers for low-income veterans and youths aging out of foster care, among other investments designed to reduce homelessness. More than half the people experiencing homelessness in the country were in four states: California, New York, Florida and Washington. While about 28% of the nation’s homeless are estimated to be in California, its increase was only about half the national rate. New York’s homelessness went up more than three times the national rate, according to HUD’s report. New Hampshire, New Mexico and Colorado along with New York saw the largest percentage increases in homelessness. In all, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased in 41 states and the District of Columbia, and decreased in just nine states. HUD also sought to highlight improvements and noted that some communities bucked the national trend. Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the surrounding region, for example, saw a 49% drop from the 2022 count to this year’s. Chattanooga increased efforts to more rapidly connect people to permanent housing. Other communities highlighted for a drop were Dallas, which experienced a 3.8% decrease, and Newark and Essex County, New Jersey, which saw a 16.7% drop. Houston has closed numerous homeless encampments across the city and saw a 17% reduction in unsheltered homelessness. San Jose, and Tucson, Arizona, were also cited for improvements.

“The most signiﬁcant causes are the shortage of affordable homes and the high cost of housing that have left many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and one crisis away from homelessness.” JEFF OLIVET, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

Newsom insists working-class taxes higher in Texas, Florida By DAVID LIGHTMAN

SONOMA COUNTY BUCKS NATIONAL TREND

dex” rated Texas as the second most unfair tax system, followed next by Florida. California was the fairest. The study includes state and local sales, property and income taxes. “Many low- and middle-income families pay lower taxes under California’s moderately progressive tax system than they would under the highly regressive systems used to fund public services in Texas and the other more conservative states.,” ITEP said. ITEP also found for people earning $56,000 or more in Texas, or $49,800 in Florida, the rates are lower than for Californians in the same income grouping. These income earners, the fourth highest 20% of incomes, pay 8.6% in taxes in Texas, 8.1% in Florida and 9% in California. The study found California had a “comparatively high combined state and local sales tax rate and comparatively high cigarette tax,” among other differences.

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STATE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

Autopsy reveals Perry died from effects of ketamine By ANDREW DALTON

Perry had played pickleball earlier in the day, the report says, and his assisLOS ANGELES — Mat- tant, who lives with him, thew Perry died from the found him face down in the acute effects of the anes- pool after returning from thetic ketamine, errands. according to the reThe assistant sults of an autopsy told investigators on the 54-year-old Perry had not “Friends” actor rebeen sick, had not leased Friday. made any health The Los Angeles complaints, and County Departhad not shown eviment of Medical dence of recent alExaminer said in cohol or drug use. the autopsy report Matthew Postmortem that Perry also Perry blood tests showed drowned in “the “high levels” of heated end of his pool,” ketamine in his system, but that it was a secondary which could have raised his factor in his Oct. 28 death, blood pressure and heart deemed an accident. rate and dulled his impulse People close to Perry told to breathe. investigators he was underBuprenorphine, comgoing ketamine infusion monly used in opioid addictherapy, an experimental tion and found in therapeutreatment used to treat de- tic levels in Perry’s blood, pression and anxiety. But could have contributed to the medical examiner said the breathing problem, the the levels of ketamine in autopsy said. It would have Perry’s body were in the been risky to mix the cenrange used for general an- tral nervous system depresesthesia during surgery, sant with ketamine “due and that his last treatment to the additive respiratory 1 ½ weeks earlier wouldn’t effects when present with explain those levels. The high levels of ketamine,” drug is typically metabo- according to the autopsy lized in a matter of hours. report. The report says coroThe report said his coronary artery disease and bu- nary artery disease would prenorphine, which is used have made him more susto treat opioid use disorder, ceptible to the drugs’ efalso contributed. fects. The amount of ketamine Perry was among the bigdetected “would be enough gest television stars of his to make him lose con- generation when he played sciousness and lose his pos- Chandler Bing alongside ture and his ability to keep Jennifer Aniston, Courhimself above the water,” teney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, said Dr. Andrew Stolbach, Matt LeBlanc and David a medical toxicologist with Schwimmer for 10 seasons Johns Hopkins Medicine from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s who reviewed the autopsy megahit sitcom “Friends.” report. Perry was open about “Using sedative drugs in discussing his struggles a pool or hot tub, especial- with addiction. ly when you’re alone, is A woman whose name extremely risky and, sadly, is redacted in the autopsy here it’s fatal,” said Stol- report told investigators bach, who noted that both that Perry had been in good ketamine and buprenor- spirits when she spoke to phine can be used safely. him a few days earlier, but Perry was declared dead had been taking testosterafter being found unrespon- one shots. She said he had sive at his home in the Pa- quit smoking two weeks ciﬁc Palisades area of Los earlier. The woman said Angeles. he had been receiving the The actor had taken ketamine infusions for his drugs in the past but had mental health, and that his been “reportedly clean for doctor had been giving them 19 months,” according to to him less often because he the report. had been feeling well.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TREES

CONTINUED FROM A1 stricted and creating new rules to reduce conversion of oak woodland habitat. But despite getting closer to revised regulations they could approve, only Supervisor Susan Gorin was ready to cast a vote Tuesday, noting that updated protections for cherished tree and forest resources had been on the county’s work plan for a decade already. Other board members still had reservations about unintentionally impeding important fuels management work, hazard abatement or other necessary actions because of unforeseen consequences of the new restrictions, despite numerous additions and revisions to the exemp-

tions so those needs would be covered. “I personally feel that we are at like 90% with this ordinance, like solid A-minus, right? Like we’re very close,” Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said. “And this is one that I don’t want to get wrong, because I feel like the unintended consequences are substantial.” She urged adoption of a moratorium “so we don’t see any kind of backsliding while we work to get that extra 10 percent.“ Supervisor James Gore agreed. “I think our job is to do it right, and I think there are still too many questions,” Gore said. The emergency measure was passed by a necessary 4-1 vote, without the support of Supervisor David Rabbitt, who described such a move as “a nuclear option” too often used by

PHOTOS BY TRAVIS VANZANT / CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Released beavers linger near kennels waiting for their mother and the youngest kit to join them Oct. 18, before swimming away into their new habitat in Plumas County.

‘Back where they belong’ Beavers released into state tribal waters in effort to boost breeding population By EMMA HALL SACRAMENTO BEE

For the first time in almost 75 years, beavers were released into California waters as a part of conservation efforts by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Maidu Summit Consortium. A family of seven beavers swam their way through Tásmam Koyóm, a tribal community in Plumas County that are ancestral land to the Mountain Maidu people. This new family will join a “single resident beaver in the valley” with the goal to reestablish a breeding population, according to the CDFW. Ben Cunningham, chairman of the Maidu Summit Consortium, said the valley had beavers years ago, but due to pioneer interference, the population disappeared. “It’s good to have them back home again,” said Cunningham, who is also Northeastern Maidu. “The beavers are back where they belong.” Not only will these beavers be important for local tribes and groups like the Maidu Summit Consortium, but broader conservation efforts. Beavers are what CDFW Environmental Program Manager Valerie Cook called “keystone species.” Beavers, she said, provide a significant ecological benefit to their landscape, species around them, and help build up climate change resilience. Re-

the board and unwarranted in his view in this case. “A moratorium is there is imminent danger and catastrophe looming if we don’t take immediate action today through an urgency action that just freezes everything,” Rabbitt said. “I don’t see that for this particular issue, quite honestly. What I do want is an ordinance where all the consequences are really explained and spelled out that encourage people to participate … to actually want to participate to move forward.” His fellow supervisors disagreed, however, particularly Gorin, whose district includes the Sonoma Valley and growing vineyard acreage, much of it planted at the expense of oak trees that formerly covered those sites. She recalled a reported rise in tree removal and

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One of the three yearling beaver kits ﬂoats while awaiting the rest of the family group to join him in exploring their new home in Plumas County, moval can be detrimental to a local ecosystem. “There’s a cascade of effects where you see (once beavers are gone), other species are no longer there,” Cook said. “Beavers really play a critical ecosystem management role.” Described as an “ecosystem restoration tool,” Cook said the beavers are vital to engineering aquatic habitats. Having beavers in the area can lead to increased groundwater recharge and increased seasonal water ﬂow. Rather than spend millions of dollar on ecosystem restoration efforts that include mimicry like beaver dam analogs, beavers can do their part. “This new opportunity to have beavers translocated into restoration efforts is truly a nature-based solution where we can bring them in and just let them do the work. Let them do their thing,” Cook said. “Let

them play their role in the ecosystem. The CDFW said their efforts will continue in the spring on the Tule River Reservation, which is located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Charlton H. Bonhom, the director of CDFW, said this project is the product of leadership from local tribal communities. If it weren’t for communities like the Tule River Tribe of California or other tribes, he said, an effort like this wouldn’t be possible. “We would not be here without the Tule River Tribe of California who have been out front advocating for these actions for years, tribes around the state like (the) Karuk, and, of course, Maidu Summit Consortium leaders,” Bonham said in a news release. “The future looks much better because of these leaders.”

COUNTY’S DEFINITION OF OAK WOODLAND A contiguous stand of trees dominated by native oak trees with at least a half acre of cover. A “contiguous stand” means a stand where all individual oak trees with diameter at breast height equal to or greater than 6 inches have canopies located within 200 feet of one another on a parcel. Oak woodland includes lands that supported native oak trees as indicated in the 2013 Sonoma VegMap. This term is inclusive of both oak woodlands and savannas, where canopy gaps may be more present, and oak forests, where canopy gaps are less present. Oak woodland is inclusive of associated vegetative strata including canopy, subcanopy, shrub, herb and bryophyte. SOURCE: Permit Sonoma

hillside conversions years ago in advance of the board’s approval of updated vineyard erosion rules, as growers rushed to avoid oncoming restrictions that closed loopholes in those rules, known as VESCO, or the Vineyard and Orchard Site Development Ordinance. “I saw acres and acres of trees coming down in anticipation of developing VESCO, ” Gorin said. “That’s exactly what we need to prevent today.” Chairman Chris Coursey also voted for the urgency measure. His central Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park district has the least amount of unincorporated territory out of all the board members. County planners, commissioners and supervisors have been formulating new rules for the past three years to stem the loss of local trees, given the increasingly critical ecosystem services they provide, including carbon sequestration, air puriﬁcation, temperature moderation, erosion control, wild-

life habitat provision and beautiﬁcation. Oak woodlands, in particular, host thousands of species at some point in their lives, including more than 300 birds, mammals and other vertebrates, 2,000 plant species and 4,000 insect species. But a tree protection ordinance approved in 1989 only protects 11 different tree species and only if they reach 9 inches in diameter. Proposed revisions would allow protection of 31 species, expand the instances when the rule is applicable and substantially increase the offsets required of those who do get permits for tree removal. A discretionary use permit would be required for the removal of redwood trees exceeding 48 inches in diameter or oak and other hardwood trees exceeding 36 inches. A new Oak Woodland Combining Zone would revise zoning requirements for nearly 13,000 properties in the unincorporated county identiﬁed in the county’s 2013 mapping and

TREES PROTECTED BY MORATORIUM Big leaf maple Black oak Blue oak Box elder California bay California black walnut California buckeye Coast live oak Two cottonwood species Two cypress species Grand ﬁr Interior live oak Madrone Oregon ash Oregon oak Six native pine species Red or White alder Redwood Valley oak Western hemlock Two willow species Natural hybrids of the trees listed above SOURCE: Permit Sonoma

lidar program as having a contiguous stand of oak trees with at least a halfacre of cover. Property owners would have the right to convert up to half an acre of oak woodlands on undeveloped parcels. A use permit otherwise would be required that includes provisions for tree replacement and mitigations. You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan (she/her) at 707-521-5249 or mary. callahan@pressdemocrat. com.

STATE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

‘Nothing left’ after yacht club ﬁre MARINA DEL REY » Residents mourn loss of a beloved boating spot By ANTHONY DE LEON LOS ANGELES TIMES

In an instant, an overnight seaside blaze engulfed decades’ worth of boating trophies, historical artifacts and cherished memorabilia at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey on Monday. Fire crews attempted to control the blaze as heavy smoke and flames consumed the two-story building. By the time they had subdued the fire two hours later, only the skeletal remnants of the clubhouse were left standing. John Myers, senior vice president of the club, said the blaze was reported by an employee working late in the clubhouse Monday night. The fire spared the remainder of the facilities on the ground, including the docks and the yachts moored there. But the clubhouse, and its second floor, was all but wiped out. “We are working closely with the Los Angeles County Fire Department in their investigation of the cause of the incident and will share those findings when they become available to us,” Myers said. Members are left mourning, comparing the loss to the death of a loved one. Jennifer Dakoske Koslu awoke in Rancho Mirage at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, before the sun had risen, to find her phone inundated with text messages from club members. The first message she read simply stated, “The CYC is gone.” “As soon as I opened my phone, it went to a link on the Citizen app and saw a video of the club burning. I was shocked,” Dakoske Koslu said. For the last 24 years, Dakoske Koslu and her family have been dedicated members of the CYC, whose clubhouse is a few miles

IRFAN KHAN / LOS ANGELES TIMES

Two firefighters were injured fighting a massive overnight blaze at the California Yacht Club in Marina del Rey Monday. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. away from their home in Playa del Rey. She said it is where her children have grown up, familiarizing themselves with every inch. “I remember taking my son there on the Fourth of July when he was just 3 weeks old. It was the first place we went with him as a newborn,” Dakoske Koslu said. She and her husband biked to the club in the aftermath of the fire, greeted by the charred remains of the building on Wednesday afternoon. “The destruction is unbelievable. It’s clear that the fire was burning intensely on the second floor,” Dakoske Koslu said. “There’s nothing left.” The second floor once housed a collection of the club’s prestigious racing trophies, kept on display for members and visitors. The fire melted all but a single salvageable California Cup.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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PUBLIC NOTICE Extra Space Storage, on behalf of itself or its affiliates, Life Storage or Storage Express, will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: Extra Space Storage: 2053 West Steele Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, on December 27, 2023 at 9:30AM Eddy Alvarez: Furniture, Household Items; Miguel Grimaldi: Household Items, Bed; Jack Cicala: Household Items; Luchi Gador: Household Items. Extra Space Storage: 496 Hearn Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407, on December 27, 2023 at 9:30AM Sarah Kling: Household Items; Renee Wernli: Furniture, Clothes; Andrew Mayer: Household Items; Shelly Ross: Boxes, Clothes, Shoes. Extra Space Storage: 555 Roseland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407, on December 27, 2023 at 9:30AM Steve Gordinier: Furniture, Tools; Jose Soltero: Furniture, Boxes; Robert Borders: Furniture, Household Items, Clothes; Maribel Ramirez: Household Items; David Gilford: Household Items, Furniture; Michelle Walters: Household Items; Kimberly Bryant: Furniture, Appliances; Richard Arrona: Tools, Landscaping Tools. Extra Space Storage: 4495 Streamside Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95409, on December 27, 2023 at 9:30AM Rory Pryle: Household Items. Life Storage: 601 Martin Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, December 27, 2023 at 9:30AM Julie Jewsbury: Furniture, Household Items, Records, Sales Samples. The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storagetreasures.com. Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property. 189207 – Pub Dec 9, 16, 2023

approved the ﬁrst clubhouse in 1922, designed by famed architect Edwin Bergstrom, co-designer of the Pentagon. In 1965, the yacht club submitted a proposal for an all-encompassing $1-million, two-story, 10,000-square-foot clubhouse on four acres off Admiralty Way. Members envisioned a stateof-the-art facility with 170 boat slips, a guest dock, a small boat hoist and a dry land storage facility for boats. The clubhouse that resulted was dedicated on June 10, 1967. Then-Commodore William A. DeGroot Jr. told The Times that the triangular parcel of land on which the clubhouse still sits is a “perfectly logical place for a club facility, and a commanding view down the main channel of the marina.” Though the building has his-

PUBLIC NOTICE

00 11 33 NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District (“District”) will receive bids up to, but not later than 02:00 p.m. on February 1, 2024, sealed bids for the award of a contract for: BID NO. 23-020 University Elementary School Building A Re-Roof and HVAC Bids shall be received at COTATI-ROHNERT PARK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES 7165 Burton Avenue, and shall be opened and publicly read aloud at the above state time and place. Responses must be sealed and clearly marked “University Elementary School Building A Re-Roof and HVAC, BID NO. 23-020.” Facsimile or electronic copies of the bid will not be accepted. Bids received after the above-specified time may be rejected. The Project modernization of mechanical systems to classroom building A; includes, replacement of the HVAC System, Cover open Mechanical well to match existing building roof line and new fire alarm system. There will be a mandatory Pre-Bid Conference at the 8511 Liman Way, Rohnert, CA 94928, on January 4th, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. for the purpose of acquainting all prospective bidders with the bid documents and the work site. Please notify Josh Savage; josh_savage@crpusd.org. Failure to attend this mandatory prebid conference may disqualify the non-attending bidder from the bid. Each bid must conform and be responsive to this notice and all other documents comprising the contract documents. All interested parties may obtain additional information by contacting Josh Savage; josh_savage@ crpusd.org. All forms must be completed, signed, and returned with the bid. No bidder may withdraw its bid for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the date set for the receipt of bids. The successful bidder shall file a payment bond issued by an admitted Surety authorized to conduct business in the State of California approved by the District. A performance bond will also be required. This Project is a public works project and is subject to the payment of prevailing wages. The Director of Industrial Relations has determined the general prevailing rate of per diem wages in the locality in which this work is to be performed for each craft or type of worker needed to execute the contract that will be awarded to the successful bidder, copies of which are available to the public on the internet at https://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/ or from the District Purchasing Department, upon request. The successful bidder and all subcontractor(s) shall comply with all applicable Labor Code provisions, which include, but are not limited to, the payment of not less than the required prevailing rates to all workers employed by them in the execution of the Contract, the employment of apprentices, the hours of labor and the debarment of contractors and subcontractors. Each Bidder submitting a bid must be a Department of Industrial Relations registered contractor pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 (“DIR Registered Contractor”), unless an exception expressly provided in the Labor Code applies. This project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR. If awarded the Contract, at all times during performance of the work, the Bidder and all Subcontractors of any tier shall be DIR Registered Contractors and continue to comply with all DIR requirements. This Contract is subject to prequalification pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20111.6. Disabled Veteran Contractors are encouraged to submit bids. This bid is subject to Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise requirements. Each bidder shall be a licensed contractor pursuant to the Business and Professions Code and shall be licensed in the following classifications: B; No bid will be accepted from a contractor who has not been licensed in accordance with the California Business and Profession Code at the time the bid is submitted. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to accept or reject any one or more items of a bid, or to waive any irregularities or informalities in the bid or in the bidding process. Date: December 5, 2023 Publication Dates: December 9, 2023 and December 16, 2023 189027 - Pub Dec 9, 16, 2023

Most notably, the priceless King of Spain Trophy, acquired in 1929 from King Alfonso XIII, was lost. Additionally, the club lost cherished photographs of every past commodore, a signiﬁcant position within a yacht club. Members said they didn’t know if anyone had digitized the images of the commodores or of the club’s founders. “We would tell yachting stories at the bar around lots of memorabilia, and the yachting artifacts behind the bar are all gone now,” Tom Materna said. “The yacht club provided us a facility for the off-the-water celebrations after hard-fought competition on the water.” The CYC dates to the early 1920s, started by boat owners from the Los Angeles Athletic Club and other yacht clubs. The Board of Harbor Commissioners

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PUBLIC NOTICE

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 6457 Summary of An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending The Official Zoning Database To Rezone Specific Parcels For Recommended Housing Sites. At its regular meeting on December 5, 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 6457, “An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending The Official Zoning Database To Rezone Specific Parcels For Recommended Housing Sites.” Ordinance No. 6457 rezoned six parcels identified for inclusion in the Housing Element Site Inventory to be suitable for multifamily residential housing as follows: • For the site identified as GRA-2 in the Housing Element and Housing Element EIR (3400 Ross Road) (APN 130-090-009), rezone from Limited Urban Industrial (M1) to the High Density Residential (R3) zone at a density of 20 dwelling units per acre; and • For the unincorporated parcels within the City of Santa Rosa identified in the Housing Element and Housing Element EIR as SAN-18, SAN-19, and SAN-20 (APNs 036-111-009, 036-111-010, 036-111-016) (0, 1696, 1601, and 1607 Lance Drive, Santa Rosa), together with two smaller adjacent parcels not identified in the Housing Element (APNs 036-111-002 and 036-111-011) (1680 and 1705 Lance Drive): o Rezone from Rural Residential (RR) at a density of 5 acres per dwelling unit to Medium Density Residential (R2) at a density of 11 dwelling units per acre, High Density Residential (R3) at a density of 20 dwelling units per acre, and Retail Business and Service (C2); and o Add the LG/LAN (Local Guidelines – Lance Drive) Combining District. Ordinance No. 6457 will take effect on January 4, 2024. A copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 6457 is posted and available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A, Santa Rosa, California, during regular business hours, and on the Board of Supervisors website at https://onbaseprodext.sonoma-county.org/PublicAccess-BOSEP5/services/document-search/ index.html. SUPERVISORS: Gorin: Aye Rabbitt: Aye Gore: Absent Hopkins: Aye Coursey: Aye Ayes: 4 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 Abstain: 0 M. Christina Rivera, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma By: ________________________ Deputy Clerk 189889 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

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SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 6455 Summary Of An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending The Official Zoning Database To Correct Technical Errors, Resolve Inconsistencies, And To Efficiently Satisfy Conditions Of Prior Project Approvals. At its regular meeting on December 5, 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 6455, “An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending The Official Zoning Database To Correct Technical Errors, Resolve Inconsistencies, And To Efficiently Satisfy Conditions Of Prior Project Approvals.” The proposed ordinance amends the Official Zoning Database reclassifying the zoning of 33 parcels in various locations across the County to correct technical errors, resolve inconsistencies, and satisfy conditions of prior project approvals. The ordinance takes effect on January 4, 2023. A copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 6455 is posted and available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A, Santa Rosa, California, during regular business hours, and on the Board of Supervisors website at https://onbaseprodext.sonoma-county.org/ PublicAccess-BOSEP5/services/document-search/index.html. SUPERVISORS: Gorin: Aye Rabbitt: Aye Gore: Absent Hopkins: Aye Coursey: Aye Ayes: 4 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 Abstain: 0 M. Christina Rivera, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma By: ________________________ Deputy Clerk 189941 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

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Sonoma County Fire District Windsor, CA LED Electronic Sign Project Request for Quotations (RFQ 23-04)

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF SONOMA 3055 Cleveland Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Case No. 23CV01406 Petition of: Dylan Fong and Danielle Javadi for change of name TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS Petitioner Dylan Fong and Danielle Javadi filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Remi Lizette Fong to Remy Lizette Fong. THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why this petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING JAN 24 2024 at 3:00PM in Dept 19, located at 3055 Cleveland Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95403/Zoom. Zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 160-421-7577 Password: 410765 Phone Number: *67 1 669 900 6833 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Press Democrat. Dated: NOV 21 2023 Hon. Oscar A. Pardo Judge of the Superior Court W0049391 - November 25,December 2,9,16 2023 4ti.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 202303430 The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: AFFORDABLE DETAILED HOUSE CLEANING located at 705 CAMELLIA CT, SANTA ROSA , CA, 95407; Sonoma County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Nora Montes 705 Camellia Ct, Santa Rosa, Ca, 95407 An Individual The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on N/A. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Nora Montes This statement was filed with the County Clerk of SONOMA COUNTY on 11/29/2023 I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. DEVA MARIE PROTO Sonoma County Clerk By /s/ Julio Montes Lopez Deputy Clerk SEAL W0049495 - December 2,9,16,23 2023 4ti.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 202303418 The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Fernandez Tree Service located at 1025 Kenmore Ln , Santa Rosa , CA, 95407; Sonoma County, is hereby registered by the following owner(s): Fernandez Masonry Inc 1025 Kenmore Ln , Santa Rosa , CA, 95407 A CA Corporation The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious name or names above on 11/03/2021. I declare that all information in this statement is true and correct. Signed: Elmer Fernandez This statement was filed with the County Clerk of SONOMA COUNTY on 11/28/2023 I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. DEVA MARIE PROTO Sonoma County Clerk By /s/ Julio Montes Lopez Deputy Clerk SEAL W0049551 - December 9,16,23,30 2023 4ti.

To place a Legal/ Public Notice, Please call

SONOMA COUNTY HISTORY

Sonoma County Fire District is requesting quotes for LED electronic signs at: Station 1, 8200 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, CA and Station 10, 510 Hwy. 1, Bodega Bay, CA RFQ packages which include submittal requirements may be secured in person from the Sonoma County Fire District, 8200 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, CA 95492 or online at sonomacountyfd.org RFQ Opening Date: December 19, 2023 Sealed RFQ Proposals must be received by 2:00pm on January 15, 2024 at 8200 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, CA 95492 or by email at tbolduc@sonomacountyfd.org 189902 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

torical significance to its members, it does not have a historic designation, according to Linda Dishman, president of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and so grateful for the outpouring of support from the community and our members,” Myers said. “CYC has been a beacon for the nautical community for the past 101 years.” Materna, 68, first found out about the fire through Facebook as friends posted videos and photos of the damage Tuesday morning. Then he began receiving calls and text messages from friends. “Everybody woke up in the morning and realized we’d lost a significant part of the sailing community,” Materna said. His connection to the club dates back nearly 52 years, to when he was just 16 years old. After spending 30 years sailing professionally with Hobie Cats, mainly racing catamarans — a watercraft with two parallel hulls of equal size — he recently served as a crew member on other club members’ racing yachts. The CYC is pivotal in the boat racing community, organizing and hosting events such as the Optimist National Championship and Junior Olympic trials, Materna said. He fondly remembers the hundreds of people from across the globe converging on the marina for similar events. The main topic among members now is what’s next for the club. Dakoske Koslu noted that the club’s ownership changed over the last few years, and many are unsure and concerned about the club’s continuation after the fire. The club relocated to the marina in 1967, leasing the land it sits on from the county. “I don’t think the county has really valued the contributions of the California Yacht Club as an important part of the Marina. They value Trader Joe’s because it’s more money for them,” Dakoske Koslu said.

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www.sonomacountyhistory.org

SONOMA COUNTY HISTORY

In 1842 Capt. Stephen Smith brought the ﬁrst steampowered sawmill to Bodega by ship and opened the ﬁrst commercial sawmill. Copyright © 2010 Sonoma County Historical Society P.O. Box 1373, Santa Rosa, CA 95402

www.sonomacountyhistory.org

Stefanie Puckett at: 707-526-8508 Or send an email to: legals@pressdemocrat.com

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 A PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSPAPER

The Press Democrat Santa Rosa, California

Eric Johnston, Chief Executive Officer NEWS John C. D’Anna, Interim Executive Editor

OPINION Jim Sweeney, Editorial Director Mick Menendez, Editorial Board Community Member Bay Jones, Editorial Board Community Member Brenda Speth, Editorial Board Community Member

EDITORIAL

Let agreement be ‘beginning of the end’ for fossil fuels This editorial is from the Los Angeles Times:

t took nearly three decades, but world leaders this week finally acknowledged the obvious: There is no way to slow climate change without winding down fossil fuels. The agreement reached Wednesday by nearly 200 nations at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai is something of a breakthrough. For the first time, world leaders called for moving away from fossil fuels in energy systems. It’s easy to criticize this deal, which followed two weeks of tough negotiations, as weak and insufficient. It is nonbinding and full of caveats and loopholes. It includes support for carbon capture technology and “transitional fuels,” code for natural gas, that would enable the continued burning of planet-warming hydrocarbons. It calls for “transitioning away” from fossil fuels, rather than phasing out, which many entities, including the United States, the European Union and vulnerable island states, were pushing for. The weaker language is the reflection of heavy influence from polluting industries, OPEC and oil-rich nations that lobbied fiercely against targeting fossil fuels. But the agreement is a milestone nonetheless. There is now a baseline global consensus on the need to move beyond fossil fuels. Whether this deal truly signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, as U.N. officials have said, depends entirely on what steps countries take next to scale up clean, renewable energy and hasten

the demise of planet-warming coal, oil and gas. Now governments must quickly take action to avoid a disastrous future, including the collapse of ecosystems and mounting human suffering from worsening storms, fires, heat waves, floods and other climate-fueled disasters. This will be a particular challenge for the U.S., which is the world’s top oil producer and is pumping out record amounts even as the planet records its hottest year. Oil and gas companies are doubling down on fossil fuels with big acquisitions and expansion plans, while using their record profits to attack, delay and undermine climate solutions, including renewable energy and electric vehicles. But there are also signs of hope. The historic clean energy investments under the Inflation Reduction Act are beginning to transform the U.S. economy. In California, 1 in 4 new cars sold are now zero-emission and Los Angeles officials last year banned new oil drilling and will phase out existing wells. Perhaps future generations will look back on 2023 as a turning point when the world’s leaders — hosted by a petroleum company executive in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, of all places — changed course and finally got on a path toward ending fossil fuels that endanger our planet and the life it sustains. But it’s up to all of us to hold our government accountable for delivering on these words and taking all necessary actions to close the door on the fossil fuel era.

CONTACT US LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK: Email letters of no more than 200 words to letters@pressdemocrat.com. Writer’s name, address and phone number must be included. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

STAFF CONTACTS: Editorial Director Jim Sweeney Phone: 707-521-5201 Email: jim.sweeney@pressdemocrat.com ONLINE: Editorials, letters to the editor, cartoon galleries and online extras are available at pressdemocrat.com/opinion.

LET THE PUBLIC SPEAK Value of high-speed rail EDITOR: It will indeed be exciting to follow California’s two high-speed rail projects. Your recent editorial incorrectly stated that Brightline’s privately owned Florida train is the “the nation’s only high-speed rail line” (“A high-speed rail test in California,” Dec. 8). In fact, Amtrak’s Acela train reaches a top speed of 150 mph, while Brightline barely qualiﬁes with a top speed of 125 mph. Operating since 2000, Acela carried over 2.1 million passengers in 2022, connecting Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, while Brightline carried 1.2 million. Because we need to wean quickly off domestic airplane travel and gas-powered road trips, we do need many more trains that bring people between “arbitrary population centers,” such as San Francisco and Bakersﬁeld and Los Angeles. The cost of climate catastrophe far outweighs the billions needed to connect all major population centers in the U.S. with effective electric rail and electric buses. Let early successes point the way to a full network of high-speed rail.

EMMETT HOPKINS Sebastopol

Resource officers needed EDITOR: Sal Rosano “begs to differ” with the school board regarding recent gang activity in our schools (“School district is to blame,” Letters, Dec. 5). I beg to differ with his simplistic description of how well things used to work. He claims that during 30 years of having school resource officers on campus, there was “no major violence,” and the officers were able to resolve the differences. I taught at Santa Rosa High during those years, and that’s not the way I remember it. I recall several dangerous incidents, one involving gangsters coming onto campus swinging

chains. Teachers did what they could. Police cars soon surrounded the school while students hid in classrooms. I taught students who lived in neighborhoods with high gang activity. They told me that when they got off the bus, recruiters would be waiting. I asked our resource officer if they could police those bus stops and was ignored. I invited another officer to come and talk to my students. He never showed. That said, we need to have police back in the schools. We are undergoing another surge of gang activity that has seeped down to 13-year-olds. Resource officers need to be reinstated immediately, and they need to work with the students most at risk.

JANYCE BODESON Santa Rosa

Killing civilians EDITOR: I think any country that deliberately kills civilian in a war should be condemned by the rest of the world and pressured to stop. Taking sides is pointless.

KAREN COOPER Hilo, Hawaii

Rejecting hate EDITOR: There is no peace in the Holy Land this holiday season. Christmas celebrations have been canceled across most of Israel, the West Bank and Jordan. The tree in Manager Square will not be decorated, and there will be no Christmas lights in Bethlehem. Christmas markets have been canceled, and traditional public festivities and displays will be absent. At a time of great suffering in Gaza and Israel, church leaders from across the region have wisely agreed to forgo outward displays of holiday celebrations. In solidarity with the suffering wrought by the

Israel-Hamas war, Holy Land churches will focus on religious services and the spiritual meaning of Christmas. In our country, Jewish celebrations of Hanukkah have been tempered not only by the war, but by hate and antisemitism. We should follow the lead of church leaders in the Holy Land and reject hate. Instead, we should embrace the true meaning of the season: peace, love and hope.

KURT DUNPHY Santa Rosa

Helping veterans EDITOR: In October, Petaluma Elks Lodge No. 901 held our 20th annual Veterans Appreciation Dinner for 120 residents and staff of the Veterans Home in Yountville. The dinner of barbecue ribs and chicken was enjoyed by all, including a number of members of our lodge. The event is one of the highlights of the year for the Yountville veterans and our lodge. Everyone looks forward to the next event. The lodge also spends time purchasing much-needed clothing, toiletries and other items requested by the facility staff on behalf of the residents. There are 600 residents and patients at Yountville, including approximately 50 women. Funding for the dinner and holiday gift program came from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant and generous donations from our lodge members. I believe we live up to the Elks promise: “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” Petaluma lodge members also give monthly gifts and prizes to the Yountville vets. If you’re interested in contributing to this program, email veterans_ chair@elks901.org. For more information, go to elks901.org.

ANTHONY MORGAN

Veterans chair, Petaluma Elks Lodge

The biggest threat to America’s universities T

hese are troubling times for American higher education. On one side, some students at a handful of elite universities have made harsh anti-Israel statements, some crossing the line into outright antisemitism, and some university presidents have been diffident and mealy-mouthed in their responses. Ugly as these events have been, however, there isn’t much reason to believe that the quality of education at these institutions — which, in any case, account for a small fraction of America’s college enrollment — is under serious threat. On the other side, the State University System of Florida, which has more than 430,000 students, is under intense political assault by the state’s Republican government. The American Association of University Professors recently released a report titled “Political Interference and Academic Freedom in Florida’s Public Higher Education System,” which details a takeover of key administrative and oversight positions by partisan appointees and growing pressure on faculty members to avoid teach-

PAUL KRUGMAN

ing anything that might be considered woke. This political assault almost certainly will degrade the quality of higher education for large numbers of students, in ways I’ll talk about in a minute. But first, let’s ask the obvious question: Which of these two education issues has been absorbing our collective attention, and which has flown mostly under the radar? You know the answer. Consider: Total undergraduate enrollment in America is about 20 million; around 70,000 of these students are at the Ivies, with only a bit over 7,000 at Harvard. It’s true that we are a much more elitist and class-ridden society than we like to admit and that graduates of elite institutions have an outsize influence on public life. (Full disclosure: I didn’t go to Harvard — they rejected my application — but was, as a result, forced to get

my bachelor’s degree from, um, Yale.) But even given this inﬂuence, I’d argue that we pay far too much attention to institutions that educate so few Americans and are so unrepresentative of the national education scene. What explains this disproportionality? To some extent, it’s because the people who shape public discourse are often themselves graduates of elite institutions. To some extent, it’s a spillover from celebrity culture — a focus on lifestyles of the soon-to-be rich and famous. To be clear, the reemergence of antisemitism among some factions on the political left is indeed disturbing. There are people with ugly views — antidemocratic as well as antisemitic — on the left as well as the right. While political scientists often criticize the horseshoe theory of politics, which says that the far-left and the far-right may resemble each other more than either resembles the political center, I’ve always found that theory plausible. And I’m not going to make any excuses for college presi-

dents who bobble this issue. After all, navigating their institutions through intellectual and political mineﬁelds is, to a large extent, these presidents’ job. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to keep a sense of perspective. The extreme left may be morally no better than the extreme right. But in America, the extreme left has almost no political power, while the extreme right controls one house of Congress and a number of states. Which brings me back to Florida’s universities. The American Association of University Professors report goes into considerable detail about the legal and administrative actions taken by the Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, and his appointees so far. But the general overview is that public higher education has become a key front in DeSantis’ “war on woke.” What counts as woke? The answer isn’t clear, but that lack of clarity is, in a way, the point. Teaching students anything that might be considered politically liberal or progressive could be construed as wokeness. According to the report, one Florida professor “was told

not to teach that the Civil War was a conflict over slavery” — a proposition with which, for example, Ulysses S. Grant, who knew something about it, would beg to differ. This slipperiness creates a climate of fear that inhibits teaching on many subjects and appears to be driving out some of the system’s best teachers. And anyone who imagines that there are clear limits to how far the intimidation might reach — hey, maybe it’s a problem for social science and history, but hard science is safe — is being naive. Do you really find it hard to imagine pressure on faculty members to stop presenting the evidence for human-made climate change? So, yes, let’s hold college presidents’ feet to the fire when they bungle on a major issue. And let’s denounce calls for violence wherever they come from. But let’s also focus on the biggest threat to our system of higher education, which is coming not from left-wing student activists but instead from right-wing politicians. Paul Krugman is a columnist for the New York Times.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

OPINION

A speedy trial is best for the nation THE LAST WORD WRITE-A-CAPTION

By RUTH MARCUS

t would be best for the country if defendant Donald Trump were tried before the general election campaign is in full swing. Special counsel Jack Smith was correct to ask the Supreme Court to take the unusual step of leapfrogging the appeals process to hear Trump’s argument that he is immune from prosecution. Notice that I say tried before the election — not tried and convicted. The outcome of Trump’s trial on charges that he sought to subvert the 2020 election is irrelevant to my argument. Yes, a conviction might dissuade some voters if he becomes the GOP nominee, but, as a technical matter, would not disqualify him from winning the presidency. If elected, he could pardon himself, or try to, and it is hard to see how such a move could be challenged in court. But voters are entitled to know: Is Trump a felon? The calendar is unforgiving. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has set the trial for March 4, which seems unattainable given Trump’s right to appeal her ruling that he is not immune from prosecution for his actions while president. Meantime, the election looms. Even if the justices were to agree to hear the case on an expedited schedule, it would take months to issue a ruling, and pretrial proceedings would likely be suspended in the interim. Consider the timeline in United States v. Nixon, in which both sides asked the Supreme Court to step in to decide whether the president had to comply with a subpoena for the Watergate tapes: The request was ﬁled May 24, 1974, and the court’s unanimous ruling was issued July 24, two months later. A splintered outcome, far more likely in the current circumstances, would take even longer. And time is of the essence — for reasons of fairness to Trump as well as the needs

impeachment trial — are borderline frivolous. The court has ruled that presidents, in office and after leaving, are absolutely immune from civil lawsuits involving their presidential conduct, but the operating assumption has always been that criminal cases are different and that presidents can be prosecuted once out of office. If not, why would Richard Nixon have accepted a pardon immediately after resigning in 1974? Whether Trump is immune from criminal prosecution is not a hard case. As Smith JACQUELYN MARTIN / ASSOCIATED PRESS told the court, “The ConstiSpecial Counsel Jack Smith asked the Supreme Court to expedite a tution’s text, structure, and review of Donald Trump’s claim that he is immune from prosecution. history lend no support to that novel claim.” But it is one that meets the court’s test of the electorate. The rules of appeals process offers opporcriminal procedure require tunities for delay that Trump for granting certiorari before judgment, a case “of such the defendant to be present at would surely exploit. He has imperative public importance “every trial stage.” At some already demonstrated his point that imperative will intention to run out the clock: as to justify deviation from collide with Trump’s ability Trump’s lawyer told Chutkan normal appellate practice and to require immediate determito campaign. The Republican in a hearing Aug. 28 that the convention is set for middefense team would ﬁle a mo- nation in this Court.” Notably, Smith’s petition July; would the nominee not tion to dismiss on the grounds made no reference to the be able to attend because he of presidential immunity the election. “The United States is mid-trial? Imagine debate following week; that did not recognizes that this is an expreparation — not that preshappen until Oct. 5. idential debates are certain Other speed bumps abound. traordinary request,” Smith — in the midst of trial. At If Trump were to lose before a wrote. “This is an extraordisome point, Trump’s basethree-judge panel, as is highly nary case.” Yes, and part of what makes it extraordinary less claims that the charges likely, he could seek review is the fact of the defendant’s against him constitute “elecby the full appeals court. He candidacy. It is prudent on tion interference” would have would then have 90 days to Smith’s part to avoid mensome merit. take the case to the Supreme tioning that fact, but it is the The answer is not, as Court, although Smith could “brooding omnipresence,” to Trump has argued, to delay seek again to jump-start quote Oliver Wendell Holmes the trial; the proper course that process. And while the on a different topic, that is to try Trump as quickly as justices can hear emergency hangs over the question of possible. The right to a speedy cases over the summer, their timing. trial is not only to protect last oral arguments are ordiTo acknowledge that defendants. As the U.S. Court narily held in April. political reality is not to say of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit All this argues for bypassthat Smith is behaving as a wrote in assessing Chutkan’s ing the appeals court now political partisan, seeking to recent gag order ruling, and going directly to the top. delays “entail serious costs to Trump’s assertion that he en- aid President Joe Biden’s bid for reelection. His motivation the (judicial) system … and joys immunity from prosecuisn’t to help Biden — it’s to frustrate the public’s intertion presents a question that est in the swift resolution of the justices have not previous- vindicate the public interest in speedy justice. Whatever criminal charges.” ly decided, but the issue preyour political affiliation, havOne solution would be to sented is not so complex that speed proceedings in the apthey would beneﬁt much from ing this prosecution interfere with the general election peals court. The D.C. Circuit having it percolate through campaign or cloud a future has proved itself capable of the lower courts. acting expeditiously. For exIf anything, Trump’s claims presidency is not in the best interest of the nation. ample, Trump appealed Chut- — he also insists that the kan’s gag order on Oct. 17; the prosecution violates his right panel ruled on Dec. 8. against double jeopardy after Ruth Marcus is a columnist But even an accelerated he was acquitted in the Senate for the Washington Post.

“We don’t seem to have porch thieves anymore.” BOB LIEBERMAN, Santa Rosa

“Honey, a drone just crashed at our front door.” JOEL CROCKETT, The Sea Ranch

“I don’t think you got the message to buy local!” JIM RIEDY, Santa Rosa

“I guess this house didn’t make it on the porch pirate map.” JANET ELLIS RIEDY, Rohnert Park

“The Amazon driver told me ‘I just quit and you can keep all this junk!’ ” LARRY HEMSTREET, Santa Rosa

“Honey, I know you’ve almost maxed out our credit card, but you’ve deﬁnitely maxed out our front porch space.” NANCY HANN, Santa Rosa

HOW TO ENTER ‘THE LAST WORD’: Go to pressdemocrat.com/opinion where you will ﬁnd this cartoon by Gary Varvel. Write a caption or vote for your favorites. Our top picks will be republished here. Be sure to include your real name and city. Entries also may be emailed to jim.sweeney@pressdemocrat.com

A modest gesture to counter holiday division and isolation By SETH D. KAPLAN

bors. But we should not underestimate the strength of the bonds that shared e are living in an age of placegeography can create between people less possibility: a time when we who might otherwise feel little conneccan instantly get in touch with tion and may even be on opposite sides another person no matter where they of ideological divides. Like family and are on the planet through any number of friends, neighbors are “relational nutrimedia. We can catch up with friends and ents to a healthy person,” noted Howard family, network and even date virtually. Lawrence of the Abundant Community We can connect with hundreds simulInitiative in Edmonton, Canada. taneously Zooming in from far-flung Neighborhood ties are especially locations. important in times of crisis. During a Based on all this, it would be easy to deadly 1995 heat wave in Chicago, the assume that place no longer matters. North Lawndale neighborhood suffered But in a world that is going increasingly more than six times as many fatalities virtual, place actually matters far more as South Lawndale even though the two than we realize. While technology can places were socioeconomically similar. increase the quantity and efficiency of In his “social autopsy” of the incident, our connections, the relationships that the sociologist Eric Klinenberg attributmatter — the ones we depend on so ed the difference to South Lawndale’s much for our well-being — are rooted healthy social life, robust civic organizafirmly in physical places. tions and low crime rate, which nurtured At the same time, “an increasing greater social connectivity and stronger portion of the U.S. population now norms related to helping those in need. experiences isolation regularly,” wrote Our culture prizes the ability to work Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a Brigham Young through our issues and figure things University psychology professor who has out for ourselves. If a child gets sick at studied the problem extensively. We are school and needs to be picked up in the more likely to live alone, less likely to be middle of the workday, many of us are married and having fewer children than more likely to muddle through than call previous generations. on a grandparent, family friend or neighMany of us live across the country or bor. And fewer of us can turn to local even the world from our closest friends organizations, religious congregations or and family. A 2020 study by Cornell Uni- other place-based support networks that versity’s Karl Pillemer found that more were pervasive in earlier generations. than a quarter of us are estranged from Too many of us are unwittingly choosa close relative. Put another way: We ing efficiency over depth of connection. have fewer guests at our holiday gatherWe might think our time is much better ings than we used to. spent at the gym than at a neighborhood Our growing social disconnection and block party or community fundraiser. isolation have become a public health Corporate culture reminds us that time crisis, harming childhood development, is money, so we hoard our precious few contributing to more deaths of despair hours of free time to ourselves. and exacerbating polarization and It’s time to reverse course. What is efmistrust. Many studies have shown that ficient in the moment may not be what’s health and happiness depend on the best for us or our society over time. strength of our relationships — not just Holiday celebrations often revolve with family and friends but also with around family, but this season also acquaintances, neighbors and the rest provides great opportunities to extend of our broader social support networks. a hand to those who live nearby, espeAnd as the COVID-19 shutdowns taught cially those who might be alone or going us, online relationships are not compara- through a difficult time. Do your part to ble stand-ins for in-person interactions. reduce isolation and division and take We often feel helpless in the face of the initiative to invite a neighbor over for this large-scale social disconnection. But dinner. each of us can take a step to address it Seth D. Kaplan is a lecturer at Johns this holiday season by inviting a neighHopkins University and the author of bor to join us for a meal. “Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing Modern life downplays the importance of the relationships, commitments American Society, One Zip Code at a Time.” From the Los Angeles Times. and experiences shared among neigh-

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NATION

A10

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

More women east, men west New Census data shines light on U.S. gender gap across nation’s regions By MIKE SCHNEIDER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anyone who has suspected that there are more women than men where they live, or vice versa, will find fodder for their suspicions in new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Whether it refutes or confirms their suspicions likely depends on where they live. Women outnumber men in the largest urban counties east of the Mississippi River, along the Eastern Seaboard and in the Deep South, while the West skews male, according to data released last week from the 2022 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most comprehensive source of data on American life. Those numbers were also backed up by age and sex figures from the 2020 census released earlier this year. There are limitations to what can be concluded from the data. Still, Nancy Averbach, 57, doesn’t find the numbers surprising. She lost her husband eight years ago, and has since found it hard to meet a compatible partner. Across the U.S. in 2022, the most recent year that figures are available, there were 96.6 adult men for every 100 adult women — and in the Atlanta suburb of DeKalb County, where Averbach lives, that ratio was 87.1, according to the survey. An equal ratio of men to women would be 100. “It’s really tough to find quality men who share similar values,” Averbach said. There aren’t many singles groups that cater to her age group, she says, and when such groups put on events, they usually attract more women than men. Her county has a low sex ratio, which means there are more women than men. A high ratio indicates there are more men than women. The sex ratio numbers don’t reflect sexual preference, gender

PHOTOS BY MATT ROURKE / ASSOCIATED PRESS

People mingle at a Philadelphia Distilling Daters Mixer Hosted by Date Him Philly, in Philadelphia, on Nov. 14. Some of the most populous urban areas in the United States have an imbalanced sex ratio. Professional matchmaker Michal Naisteter speaks with attendees at a Philadelphia Distilling Daters Mixer Hosted by Date Him Philly in Philadelphia on Nov. 14.

identity or whether those surveyed are looking for partners. The figures also don’t reflect intersex people, who, historically, have had relatively scant data collected on them. The ratios vary by geography, in part because of the presence of certain institutions and industries with gender imbalances. In the most populous counties in the West, this is especially discernible. San Diego, for instance, has several male-dominated military bases, which is reflected in the sex ratio. In Austin, San Francisco, Seattle and San Jose there are plentiful jobs in tech, a sector where men account for around three-quarters of the workforce. This is in contrast to areas with large numbers of colleges or universities, which typically have more women, according to a Census Bureau report from May. Adding to the imbalance are

the effects of historic racism in the U.S., including high rates of incarceration and the mortality gap, which have lowered the number of men in some communities, said Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina. Among U.S. counties with 500,000 residents or more, the ar-

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eas where adult women outnumber adult men most noticeably were in Baltimore, New York, Atlanta and Philadelphia, as well as Birmingham, Alabama; and Memphis, Tennessee; where the ratios ranged in the mid-80s. The biggest imbalances of men to women, with ratios above 103 for those age 18 and over, were recorded in the West, in

counties that are home to Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Austin, as well as California counties that are home to San Francisco, San Jose and Bakersﬁeld, where agriculture and energy are two of the biggest industries. At birth, the sex ratio in the U.S. has historically been 105 men for every 100 women. The ratio inverts around age 30. Since the mortality rate is higher for men than it is for women at almost every age group — due to violence, drinking, smoking, job hazards and suicide — that ratio decreases with age, until at age 90 or above there are typically about two women to every man. Compared to the previous decade though, more men are now living into older age, according to the 2020 census. Michal Naisteter, a professional matchmaker in the Philadelphia area, has given the imbalance some thought — and mostly in terms of the dating market because of her work. She thinks single women are more likely than men to live within the city limits of Philadelphia, but that single men are more willing to commute from the suburbs than vice versa. She advises people looking for a partner to put in the effort, perhaps even to expand the geographical reach of their day-today lives. “It should take work,” Naisteter said. “Because nothing is sweeter than something you have to work for.” In communities with more men than women, people tend to marry at an earlier age than in places where women outnumber men. Women are more likely to live with a partner without getting married in places where they outnumber men, and if they do marry, it is more often to men who are less educated or earn less than they do, Guzzo said. That’s not likely to happen with Averbach, who is doing just ﬁne on her own in suburban Atlanta. “Why would I want to settle?” she said. “I don’t need a guy to make me happy.”

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ANSO PROPERTIES

Nation World ■

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION B

Inside

NewsWatch » 2 Life Tributes » 3 Comics » 4 Advice » 5 Business » 6

Jury to Giuliani: Pay $148 million Damages awarded to election workers over defamer’s 2020 vote lies By LINDSAY WHITEHURST AND ALANNA DURKIN RICHER ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment.

GAZA STRIP

The damages verdict the $75 million award follows emotional tesin punitive damages timony from Wandrea for the women. Moss “Shaye” Moss and her and Freeman were mother, Ruby Freeeach awarded another man, who tearfully deroughly $36 million in scribed becoming the other damages. target of a false con“Money will never spiracy theory pushed solve all my problems,” Ruby by Giuliani and other Freeman told reporters Freeman Republicans as they outside Washington’s tried to keep then-Presfederal courthouse ident Donald Trump in power after the verdict. “I can never after he lost the 2020 election. move back into the house that I There was an audible gasp call home. I will always have to in the courtroom when the be careful about where I go and jury foreperson read aloud who I choose to share my name

with. I miss my home. I miss my neighbors and I miss my name.” Giuliani didn’t appear to show any emotion as the verdict was read after about 10 hours of deliberations. Moss and Freeman hugged their attorneys after the jury left the courtroom and didn’t look at Giuliani as he left with his lawyer. The former New York City mayor vowed to appeal, telling reporters that the “absurdity of the number merely underscores the absurdity of the entire proceeding.” “It will be reversed so quick-

ly it will make your head spin, and the absurd number that just came in will help that actually,” he said. It’s not clear whether Giuliani will ever be able to pay the staggering amount. He had already been showing signs of ﬁnancial strain as he defends himself against costly lawsuits and investigations stemming from his representation of Trump. In September, his former lawyer sued him, alleging Giuliani had paid only a fraction of nearly TURN TO GIULIANI » PAGE B2

HAWAII » BACK TO SCHOOL

Hostages killed by Israeli forces Military says 3 Israelis fatally shot by mistake during battle in city By NAJIB JOBAIN AND JACK JEFFERY ASSOCIATED PRESS

RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops on Friday mistakenly shot to death three hostages in a battle-torn neighborhood of Gaza City, and an Israeli strike killed a Palestinian journalist in the south of besieged territory. The deaths underscored the ferocity of Israel’s more than 2-month-old onslaught in Gaza, as a U.S. envoy was trying to persuade the Israelis to scale back their campaign sooner rather than later. The hostages were killed in the Gaza City area of Shijaiyah, where troops have been engaged in fierce fighting with Hamas militants in recent days. The soldiers mistakenly identified the three Israelis as a threat and opened fire on them, said the army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. He said it was believed that the three had either fled their captors or been abandoned. “Perhaps in the last few days, or over the past day, we still don’t know all the details, they reached this area,” Hagari said. He said the army expressed “deep sorrow” and was investigating. Hamas and other militants abducted more than 240 people in their Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, and the hostages’ plight has dominated public discourse ever since. Their families have led a powerful public campaign calling on the government to do more to bring them home. Demonstrations in solidarity with the hostages and their families take place nearly every day. Israeli political and military leaders often say freeing all the hostages is their top aim in the war alongside destroying Hamas. Still, in seven weeks since ground troops pushed into

PHOTOS BY MARK ABRAMSON / NEW YORK TIMES

A group of soldiers at the Army’s jungle training school make their way through the forest, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, Nov. 29. Far from the deserts of the Middle East, the Army is instructing troops in Hawaii on the skills needed for a potential clash with China.

Welcome to the jungle Military training troops on islands for potential conﬂict with China BY DAMIEN CAVE

A soldier at the Army’s jungle training school wades across a river, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, on Nov. 29.

NEW YORK TIMES

OAHU, Hawaii ne by one, the American soldiers slid down a muddy hillside to a river deep in the Hawaiian jungle. With guns on top of rucksacks, they kicked their way across, wobbling in the current, trying to stay quiet. It was a sluggish advance stinking of sweat and silt — reminiscent of Vietnam and similar to what they might face in a potential fight with China almost anywhere in the Pacific. “It’s incumbent on us to become resident professionals,” said Col. Christopher Johnson, who traversed the river arm in arm with a junior officer. “Firemen don’t figure out how to work a fire engine at the fire, right?” Military strategists like to say the jungle is neutral, helping neither friend nor foe, but for most of the 79 students last month at the U.S. Army’s only jungle school, “the J” was just plain new. It was nothing like

home or deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, which explained why they were there: To deter China and work effectively with partners in the region, U.S. ground forces need more jungle expertise. The Marine Corps has been assigning a signiﬁcant portion of its force to the muggy, rainy terrain of Okinawa, Japan, and

training with partners near the equator. For the Army, Hawaii has become a regional proxy. Commanders are pushing more soldiers through its jungles as the 25th Infantry Division expands instruction at its expeditionary school and leads a new

TURN TO GAZA » PAGE B3

TURN TO JUNGLE » PAGE B3

Prince Harry claims vindication in court LONDON » Judge ﬁnds British tabloid hacked phone of estranged royal, then tried to cover up the crime By BRIAN MELLEY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prince Harry’s phone was hacked by journalists and private investigators working for the Daily Mirror who invaded his privacy by snooping on him unlawfully, a judge ruled Friday, delivering an historic victory for the estranged royal who

broke from family tradition to take on the British press. Phone hacking was “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspapers, and executives at the papers covered it up, Justice Timothy Fancourt said in his 386-page ruling handed down in the High Court. The newspapers were ordered to pay the Duke of Sussex

140,000 pounds ($180,000) for using unlawful information gathering in 15 of the 33 newspaper articles examined at trial. Prince Harry said Harry the ruling was “vindicating and affirming” and should serve as a warning to other news media that used similar practices,

an overt reference to two tabloid publishers that face upcoming trials in lawsuits that make nearly identical allegations. “Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability,” Harry said in a statement read by his lawyer outside court. “I’ve been told that slaying dragons will get you burned. But in light of today’s victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.”

Fancourt awarded the duke damages for the distress he suffered and a further sum to “reﬂect the particular hurt and sense of outrage” because two directors at Trinity Mirror knew about the activity and didn’t stop it. “They turned a blind eye to what was going on and positively concealed it,” Fancourt said. “Had the illegal conduct been stopped, the misuse of the TURN TO HARRY » PAGE B2

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

NEWSWATCH NATION ATLANTA

Judges weigh Meadows’ bid to move case A lawyer for Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff under former President Donald Trump, faced tough questions from a panel of judges Friday as Meadows renewed his bid to move a Georgia election interference case from state court to federal court. The panel of three appeals court judges heard brief oral arguments in the case, in which Meadows is accused of working with others to overturn Trump’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Judges seemed particularly skeptical of arguments by Meadows that allegations against him concern actions he took as a federal officer and thus should be dealt with in federal court.

WASHINGTON

Feds probe lead levels in kids’ applesauce With dozens of U.S. children suffering from lead poisoning, federal regulators are investigating whether the culprit is cinnamon that was added to some applesauce pouches. In November, the Food and Drug Administration announced a national recall of 3 million pouches of cinnamon applesauce made in Ecuador and sold at dollar stores and other outlets under the WanaBana, Schnucks and Weis brand names. The poisoning cases, affecting as many as 125 children, has highlighted a broader gap in FDA food oversight. There is no federal requirement to test for lead in food made domestically or imported into the United States.

HARRY

CONTINUED FROM B1

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts

Early Harvard admissions applications dip The number of students who applied to Harvard under the university’s early action program — giving them the possibility of an admissions decision in December instead of March — fell about 17%, the university said this week. The deadline for the early admissions cycle was Nov. 1, by which time Harvard had faced more than three weeks of turmoil tied to Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip. An announcement in the Harvard Gazette, the university’s official publication, noted that 7,921 people had applied under its early action protocol. Last year, there were 9,553 early action applicants.

WORLD KYIV, Ukraine

Zelenskyy returns home with little aid With his soldiers fighting in trenches and his cities under attack from Russian missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to Ukraine on Friday from a flurry of diplomatic meetings without major aid packages from the United States and Europe. Political infighting in Washington and the European Union has blocked further aid to Ukraine. Early Friday, EU leaders conceded they could not pass a multiyear, 50-billion-euro ($54.5 billion) aid package over the objections of Hungary. Ukraine relies on foreign aid for about half of its federal budget and most of the ammunition and weaponry sustaining its army, meaning any substantial delays in Western support could imperil the country’s ability to fight Russia.

BRUSSELS

Railway earned millions from Holocaust The Belgian national railway company earned the equivalent of millions of dollars for deporting nearly 25,000 Jews and Roma, as well as forced laborers and members of the resistance, to Nazi concentration camps during World War II, a report has found. From 1942 to 1944, the Belgian railway sent 28 trains carrying 25,843 Jews and Roma people to Auschwitz; only 1,195 survived, according to the report, which was compiled by a war research center attached to the State Archives of Belgium. It noted that the rail company had been paid 51 million Belgian francs for the transports. The report was commissioned by Belgium’s Senate in 2022. The ﬁndings were presented this month. — Press Democrat news services

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS TODAY: You have a wonderful imagination. However, you are also grounded and logical. You are intelligent and sharp-witted. This year has been a time of recognition of your achievements. In 2024, you will ﬁnish a nine-year cycle by letting go of people, places and possessions that might have held you back. ARIES (March 21-April 19) ★★★ Avoid arguments about politics, religion and philosophical ideas. It’s easy to get carried away with your thoughts. Don’t waste your breath. Meanwhile, a friend might surprise you by taking a certain stance. You also might meet a real character today. Tonight: Healthy skepticism. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★ Parents and bosses (as well as the police) might surprise you today. This could be because you are confused about something concerning shared property, taxes, debt, inheritances or something related to the wealth and resources of someone else. Tread carefully today! Tonight: Check your ﬁnances. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) ★★★ Travel plans are unpredictable today. Meanwhile, conversations with partners and close friends are loosey-goosey and impressionable. No one seems to know exactly what’s happening. Therefore, be smart and don’t believe everything you hear. Nothing is reliable. Tonight: Listen carefully. CANCER (June 21-July 22) ★★★ Postpone important decisions about how to divide or share something, especially an inheritance or shared property. Nobody is in the frame of mind to make an intelligent decision today. It’s easy to make

KIN CHEUNG / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Prince Harry leaves the High Court on June 7 after giving evidence in London. Prince Harry won his phone hacking lawsuit Friday against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and was awarded over 140,000 pounds ($180,000).

assumptions, especially wrong assumptions. Meanwhile, check banking details, because something might surprise you. Tonight: Be precise. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) ★★ Expect to be surprised when talking to a friend, spouse or partner today. They might make an unexpected suggestion. They might want to turn the tables on something. Meanwhile, romance is disappointing, and certainly confusing. Parents should be vigilant with toddlers. Tonight: Possible disappointment. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★ Your work routine might be interrupted today. Equipment failures or computer glitches are likely. This could be further exacerbated if you work at home, because family discussions and issues at home are even more confusing. Nevertheless, you are keen to press on! Be careful about false conﬁdence. Tonight: Be clear. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Parents should be vigilant, because this is an accident-prone day for your kids. Meanwhile, everyone will encounter cancellations with social plans and unexpected events regarding sports, fun outings and the arts. Daily conversations are rife with confusion and assumptions. Tonight: Daydreams. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) ★★ Do what you can to keep the peace today, because domestic harmony is threatened. This could be because of a minor accident at home. Appliances might not work. Power outages are likely. In addition, something to do with money and cash ﬂow is confusing, which is always unsettling. Tonight: Check your money. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21) ★★ Today you don’t have

duke’s private information would have ended much sooner.” Harry, 39, the alienated younger son of King Charles III, had sought 440,000 pounds ($560,000) as part of a crusade against the British media that bucked his family’s longstanding aversion to litigation and made him the ﬁrst senior member of the royal family to testify in court in over a century. His appearance in the witness box over two days in June created a spectacle as he lobbed allegations that Mirror Group had employed journalists who eavesdropped on voicemails and hired private investigators to use deception and unlawful means to learn about him, other family members and associates. “I believe that phone hacking was at an industrial scale across at least three of the papers at the time,” Harry asserted in the High Court. “That is beyond any doubt.” But Harry had little proof of his own. The Mirror’s lawyer showed him examples of stories that mirrored those published previously in competing papers and even stories that had come from Buckingham Palace and, in one instance, a story from an interview the prince himself had given to mark his 18th birthday. Harry repeatedly insisted there was no way the papers could have landed their scoops legitimately. The judge said Harry had

the full confidence and energy that you usually do. This could be because your daily routine is interrupted. Do note: This is an accident-prone day, both verbally and physically. Therefore, pay attention to everything you say and do. Tread carefully. Tonight: Fantasy world. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) ★★★ Keep an eye on your money and your possessions. Something unusual might impact them. Guard what you own against loss, theft or damage. Meanwhile, you feel vaguely confused about something today. Don’t worry, because everyone feels this way. Be careful about impulse spending. Tonight: Quiet solitude. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) ★★★ This is a tricky day! On one hand, issues regarding money, cash flow and your possessions are confusing and cannot be trusted. Furthermore, you feel restless. In fact, this is an accident-prone day for you. However, ironically, you also feel confident and proactive. Be careful! Tonight: Possible confusion. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★ When listening to authority figures, bosses or parents, take everything with a grain of salt, because there is a general air of confusion everywhere. People are not really sure of things. This is why you feel restless and unsettled. When in doubt, do nothing. Tonight: Clarify instructions.

a tendency in his testimony “to assume that everything published was the product of voicemail interception because phone hacking was rife within Mirror Group at the time.” Fancourt said Mirror Group was “not responsible for all of the unlawful activity directed at the duke” by the press, but found it had eavesdropped on his messages as early as 2003 and when hacking was “extensive” at the newspapers from 2006 to 2011. Mirror Group welcomed the judgment for providing the “necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago,” Chief Executive Jim Mullen said. “Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologize unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation,” Mullen said in statement. Attorney Philippa Dempster, who wasn’t involved in the case, said hundreds of people who had articles written about them decades ago that contained private information from questionable sources may now be inspired to bring a claim against the newspapers. “This is a landmark victory for the privacy rights of individuals and marks another clear line in the sand for press standards,” Dempster said. “It shows that the courts are willing to reach back into the past, sift through evidence and hold those who practiced the so-called ‘dark arts’ of the press to account.” The case is the ﬁrst of three lawsuits Harry has ﬁled against the tabloids over allegations of phone hacking or some form of

unlawful information gathering. They form the front line of attack in what he says is his life’s mission to reform the media. Harry’s beef with the news media runs deep and is cited throughout his memoir, “Spare.” He blames paparazzi for causing the car crash that killed his mother, Princess Diana, and he said intrusions by journalists led him and his wife, Meghan, to leave royal life for the U.S. in 2020. Harry alleged that Mirror Group used unlawful means to produce nearly 150 stories on his early life between 1996 and 2010, including his romances, injuries and alleged drug use. The reporting caused great distress, he said in sometimes emotional testimony, but was hard to prove because the newspapers destroyed records. Of the 33 articles at the center of the trial, Mirror denied using unlawful reporting methods for 28 and made no admissions concerning the remaining ﬁve. Fancourt previously tossed out Harry’s hacking claims against the publisher of The Sun. He is allowing Harry and actor Hugh Grant, who has made similar claims, to proceed to trial on allegations that News Group Newspapers journalists used other unlawful methods to snoop on them. Another judge recently gave Harry the go-ahead to take a similar case to trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail, rejecting the newspaper’s efforts to throw out the lawsuit. Harry is joined in that litigation by Elton John, actors Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and others. Attorney Michael Gard-

ner, who was not involved in the case, said the judgment will get the attention of other publishers facing trial, particularly after the judge called out higher-ups who were aware of the unlawful activity. “Overall, the media organizations that Harry is still suing will be worried that this will give him a lift and strengthen his determination to pursue them,” Gardner said. “To the extent that Harry’s other cases could implicate individuals at other media groups, then clearly there will be concerns there.” Phone hacking by British newspapers dates back more than two decades to a time when unethical journalists used an unsophisticated method of phoning the numbers of royals, celebrities, politicians and sports stars and, when prompted to leave a message, punched in default passcodes to eavesdrop on voicemails. The practice erupted into a full-blown scandal in 2011 when Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World was revealed to have intercepted messages of a murdered girl, relatives of deceased British soldiers and victims of a bombing. Murdoch closed the paper. Newspapers were later found to have used more intrusive means such as phone tapping, home bugging and obtaining ﬂight information and medical records. Mirror Group Newspapers said it has paid more than 100 million pounds ($128 million) in other phone hacking lawsuits over the years, but denied wrongdoing in Harry’s case.

GIULIANI

CONTINUED FROM B1 $1.6 million in legal fees he racked up. Giuliani had already been found liable in the case and previously conceded in court documents that he falsely accused the women of ballot fraud. Even so, the former mayor continued to repeat his baseless allegations about the women in comments to reporters outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse this week. Giuliani’s lawyer acknowledged that his client was wrong but insisted that Giuliani was not fully responsible for the vitriol the women faced. The defense sought to largely pin the blame on a right-wing website that published the surveillance video of the two women counting ballots. Giuliani’s defense rested Thursday morning without calling a single witness after the former mayor reversed course and decided not to take the stand. Giuliani’s lawyer had told jurors in his opening statement that they would hear from his client. But after Giuliani’s

JOSE LUIS MAGANA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani speaks outside the federal courthouse in Washington, Friday. A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Giuliani for defamation. comments outside court, the judge barred him from claiming in testimony that his conspiracy theories were right. The judgment adds to growing ﬁnancial and legal peril for Giuliani, who was among the loudest proponents of Trump’s false claims of election fraud that are now a key part of the criminal cases against the former president. Giuliani is still facing his biggest test yet: ﬁghting criminal charges in the Georgia case accusing Trump and 18 others of working to subvert the results of the 2020 elec-

tion, won by Democrat Joe Biden, in that state. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty. Jurors in the defamation case heard recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the election workers of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines. Trump also repeated the conspiracy theories through his social media accounts. Lawyers for Moss and Freeman, who are Black, also played for jurors audio recordings of the graphic and racist threats the women received.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

JUNGLE

CONTINUED FROM B1 Pacific training rotation that brought together 5,300 troops in November for simulated battles with other services and nations. The jungle buildup, with roots in the “pivot to Asia” under President Barack Obama, highlights the challenge the U.S. military faces as it tries to prioritize China and unbind itself from decades of war in the Middle East, even as conflict there pulls America back in. For Hawaii, the shift has been slow but undeniable: Government records point to new command centers, piers, runways and barracks, along with a boost in training tempo, sending more planes over beaches and warships in and out of Pearl Harbor. Residents have expressed ambivalence about the escalated activity. But some military officials worry they are still not doing enough to prepare U.S. troops, especially the Army’s 452,000 soldiers, for what they might face in the region. Tensions have been increasing around Taiwan, with China sending more fighter jets near the island democracy, where the capital sits in the middle of a mountainous jungle. In the South China Sea, China’s coast guard last week rammed ships from the Philippines — a country that the United States is sworn by treaty to defend, and where it is expanding military bases in areas with dense vegetation and king cobras. Gen. Charles Flynn, the commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said that China had been on “an incremental, insidious and irresponsible path for decades.” Now more than ever, the “total Army,” he said, needs to prioritize relevant Pacific experience. “It’s more pragmatic,” he said in an interview at the Army’s new headquarters in Honolulu. “Hawaii gives us an invaluable platform,” he added, “to train and generate readiness.”

‘Learn to live with it’ On the ﬁrst day of jungle school at Lightning Academy, Adam Elia, a staff historian for the 25th Infantry Division, posted a presentation on the wall of an outdoor classroom.

GAZA

CONTINUED FROM B1 northern Gaza, troops have not rescued any hostages, though they freed one early in the conﬂict and have found the bodies of several. Hamas released over 100 in swaps for Palestinian prisoners last month, and more than 130 are believed to still be in captivity. The three hostages were identiﬁed as three young men who had been abducted from Israeli communities near the Gaza border — 28-year-old Yotam Haim, 25-year-old Samer Al-Talalka and 26-year-old Alon Shamriz. Netanyahu called their deaths an “unbearable tragedy” vowing to continue “with a supreme effort to return all the hostages home safely.” In southern Gaza, the Al Jazeera television network said an Israeli strike Friday in the city of Khan Younis killed cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa and wounded its chief correspondent in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh. The two were reporting at a school that had been hit by an earlier airstrike when a drone launched a second strike, the network said. Speaking from a hospital bed, Dahdouh told the network that he managed to walk to an ambulance. But Abu Daqqa lay bleeding in the school and died hours later. An ambulance tried to reach the school to evacuate him but had to turn back because roads were blocked by the rubble of destroyed houses, it said. Dahdouh, a veteran of covering Israel-Gaza wars whose wife and children were killed by an Israeli strike earlier in the war, was wounded by shrapnel in his right arm. Before Abu Daqqa’s death, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported at least 63 journalists killed in the war, including 56 Palestinians, four Israe-

MARK ABRAMSON / NEW YORK TIMES

A group of 79 soldiers at the Army’s jungle training school on Nov. 29 prepare to enter the river, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Far from the deserts of the Middle East, the Army is instructing troops in Hawaii on the skills needed for a potential clash with China. He showed grainy photos of the division from World War II, ﬁghting in Guadalcanal, where it earned its nickname Tropic Lightning for a quick assault against Japanese troops. He stressed that history offered several lessons about jungle warfare: The climate and terrain slow down efficiency, separate units into small teams, make communication difficult and increase the chance for disease. “It’s not the enemy,” Elia said. “Learn to live with it.” The soldiers nodded. Their class of 90 had already lost 11 students to a swimming test and a hilly, humid run that had to be completed in 40 minutes. Those who remained were mostly from the 25th, playing various roles, but their ranks and patches had all been replaced with a number scrawled on their fatigues. Maj. Gen. Marcus Evans, who came to Hawaii in August to lead the 25th after serving at U.S. Special Operations Command, said the school aimed to build “leadership, and physical and mental toughness, and then, ﬁnally, the ability to work with your peers.”

When the course started a decade ago, after the military’s jungle school in Panama was closed in the 1990s, it was more about getting a feel for the environment. But instructors sent to other programs, from Brunei to Brazil, soon developed a more demanding regimen. During downtime between classes on how to waterproof a rucksack or set up an ambush, last month’s jungle students worked on ropes and pulleys for a test they have to pass to graduate. Map and compass navigation has also become mandatory. The analog instruction remains necessary even with the Pentagon’s relentless push for new technology. Army commanders note that artiﬁcial intelligence and drones cannot hold territory or manage resupply in soggy gulches where electricity and clean water are scarce. For many American soldiers, learning about the jungle — including jaguars and trench foot — has meant confronting the limits of the United States’ technological prowess, inspiring a greater degree of humility.

During the river crossing, even competent officers drifted and needed help. At one point, as the cloudy sky turned charcoal gray at sunset, a soldier’s M4 machine gun fell to the murky bottom, slowing everyone down until it could be recovered. “You can’t underestimate the water,” said 2nd Lt. Kendall Elms, a skinny Midwesterner drip-drying by the river. “Never underestimate nature.”

Sense of urgency The landscape of the 50th state — more than a century after the U.S. military overthrew the Hawaiian monarchy — is still heavily tattooed with the marks of militarization. The sunken steel digging into Pearl Harbor is well known, but the Army controls around 175,000 acres of Hawaiian land, out of 222,000 under military management. And with an eye toward China, U.S. military designs continue to ﬁnd new forms. In a coastal corner of Oahu, about 40 miles from Honolulu, two giant white globes sit atop a hillside. A sign for the U.S. Space

Force hints at their links to distant satellites. A few hundred yards up the road, fences block access to the Makua Valley, a training ground where old ordnance lurks beneath a carpet of green foliage. After residents lobbied against it, the Pentagon has agreed to never again conduct live fire training there, but it has resisted returning the land. For commanders like Evans and Flynn, now isn’t the time to let go of anything that might be useful. As every branch of the U.S. military does more with regional partners like the Philippines — which will host a major training exercise next year, with a lot of jungle activity — there is a profound sense of urgency. Flynn said he wanted the National Guard and Reserves to train in Hawaii. Evans said he wanted the 25th to tailor its approach to the region’s challenging geography. “Our mission command posts have got to get smaller; they’ve got to become more agile,” Evans said. He listed two more areas of needed growth: protecting supplies in a contested environment and working more effectively with the armies of other nations. All three skills could be vital in a battle for Taiwan, which China has threatened to take by force, and Hawaii has become a testing ground for them all. The latest rotation for the Army’s Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center involved an exercise with a handful of nations simulating a fight against a major power, island-hopping across Hawaii and to Palau. But even as the military’s posture shifts, questions remain about whether more must be done. Army leaders still often struggle to give the region its due. Lightning Academy is on track to graduate only around 600 students this year, and today’s jungle warriors have yet to receive at least one sign of respect. Under current rules, the jungle tab they earn for finishing the course can be worn only by those assigned to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. If they take a job at the Pentagon, they must take off their jungle patch, as if their expertise is no longer relevant.

Life Tributes IN THIS SECTION CAVIN, Donna Arlene Kweller

Donna Arlene Kweller Cavin

August 18, 1950 - November 22, 2023 Donna Kweller Cavin passed away peacefully at her home in Sebastopol on November 22, 2023, ending a courageous 10-year battle against cancer. By her side was Curtis Cavin, her husband of 46 years. Born in Pittsburgh PA on August 18, 1950, to Edward and Frances Kweller, Donna was the youngest of three siblings.She grew up NASSER NASSER / ASSOCIATED PRESS on Squirrel Hill and attended Alderdice High school. On New Palestinian children inspect the demolished house Friday that belongs to Hamed Sabbah, Year’s Day 1971 with a foot in the West Bank village of Urif, near Nablus. The Israeli army demolished the apartment of of snow on the ground, Donna Zeyad Safadi and Hamed Sabbah’s house Friday; both were arrested earlier this year. boarded a plane to join her sister Ruth in San Francisco. The temlis and three Lebanese. it without wiping out the since late Thursday beperature was a balmy 72 degrees, Israel’s offensive, trig- entire territory. cause of fighting. and she was not going back. gered by the unprecedentIsraelis remain strongly In meetings with Israeli ed Oct. 7 Hamas attack on supportive of the war and leaders on Thursday and In 1974 on a chilly November Israel, has flattened much see it as necessary to pre- Friday, U.S. national secuevening at sunset, Donna went of northern Gaza and vent a repeat of the Hamas rity adviser Jake Sullivan on a first date with Curtis, riding driven 80% of Gaza’s pop- attack, in which militants discussed a timetable for topside on the Sausalito ferry, ulation of 2.3 million from killed around 1,200 people, winding down the intense hiding out on board to avoid the their homes. Displaced mostly civilians. A total combat phase of the war. return fare. Three years later they people have squeezed into of 116 soldiers have been Israeli Defense Minister set off on a three-year adventure shelters mainly in the killed in the ground offen- Yoav Gallant told Sullivan to Southeast Asia. They married south in a spiraling hu- sive, which began Oct. 27. that it would take months on Aug 5, 1977, in Satahip, manitarian crisis. U.S. President Joe to destroy Hamas, but he Thailand. While living and workIt has killed more than Biden’s administration did not say whether his ing in Bangkok teaching English, 18,700 Palestinians, accord- has expressed unease over estimate referred to the Donna developed a passion for ing to the Health Ministry Israel’s failure to reduce current phase of heavy airpreparing local foods, learning in Gaza. Thousands more civilian casualties and strikes and ground battles. skills from Thai friends, and are missing and feared its plans for the future of “There is no contrawatching native cooks in open-air dead beneath the rubble. Gaza, but the White House diction between saying markets. The ministry does not dif- continues to offer whole- the fight is going to take ferentiate between civilian hearted support for Israel months and also saying Donna and Curtis moved back and combatant deaths. Its with weapons shipments that different phases will to San Francisco, where son Noah latest count did not spec- and diplomatic backing. take place at different was born in 1982. Four years latify how many were womIsraeli airstrikes and times over those months, er they purchased their first home en and minors, but they tank shelling continued including the transition located in a charming woodland have consistently made up Friday, including in the city from the high-intensity opsetting near Sebastopol. Daughter around two-thirds of the of Khan Younis — the main erations to more targeted Cayla was born in 1989. Before dead in previous tallies. target of Israel’s ground of- operations,” Sullivan said retiring in 2012, Donna held While battered by the fensive in the south — and Friday. executive assistant positions at Israeli onslaught, Hamas in Rafah, which is part of Sullivan also met with Creative Leisure, the Humane has continued its attacks. the shrinking areas of tiny, Palestinian President Society of Sonoma County, and On Friday, it fired rockets densely populated Gaza to Mahmoud Abbas to disSSU Administrative Services. from Gaza toward central which Palestinian civilians cuss Gaza’s postwar fuIsrael, setting off sirens in have been told by Israel to ture. A senior U.S. official Donna cherished her family Jerusalem for the first time evacuate. Details on many said one idea being floated more than anything. The recent in weeks but causing no of the strikes could not be is to bring back Palestinbirth of her first grandchild injuries. The group’s resil- confirmed because com- ian security forces driven brought tremendous joy. She loved ience called into question munications services have from their jobs in Gaza by everyone, had a great sense of whether Israel can defeat been down across Gaza Hamas in its 2007 takeover. humor, fun-loving, voracious read-

er, prolific quilter, a freethinker, a humanitarian, and a strong advocate for social justice. Donna loved to prepare exotic meals for friends. In the mid 1990’s she joined an International Gourmet Food Group, a regular gathering of well-traveled friends exploring cuisines of various countries. For the past 18 years she was an active member of e Vampus Clitus, an unceremonious group of close-knit North Coast women. A passionate traveler with an affinity for straying off the beaten path, Donna preferred backroads over freeways, in addition to most US states, she and Curtis visited 26 countries together, including Europe, Asia and South America. Donna was predeceased by her parents and sister Ruth Goldhammer. She is survived by husband Curtis, Sebastopol, brother Robert Kweller (Debby), Sonoma, son Noah (Rebecca), Santa Rosa, daughter Cayla Tankersley (Ben) and son Rowan, Mountain View and nephews Ben Goldhammer, Alex Goldhammer and Joshua Kweller. She leaves behind many friends, several decades-long, and all will miss her deeply. In lieu of services, a memorial is planned for early 2024. In leiu of flowers, plant a tree in her memory, or perhaps a contribution to World Central Kitchen at wck. org.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

PEOPLE

ADVICE + GAMES pressdemocrat.com/games DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips

CROSSWORD Thomas Joseph

Spouse can no longer tolerate wife’s lifestyle

LEE JIN-MAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Greta Gerwig attends a media event in July in Seoul, South Korea. The actor, writer and ﬁlm director has been chosen to preside over the jury of the 77th Cannes Film Festival in May.

Gerwig chosen to lead jury at Cannes This year’s Cannes Film Festival didn’t host the biggest movie of the year — “Barbie” — but the film’s director and co-writer, Greta Gerwig, will have a significant role at next year’s event. Cannes’ organizers announced Thursday that Gerwig will lead the jury at the 77th edition of the glitzy festival, scheduled to run from May 14-25, a role in which she will help decide the winner of the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. Gerwig said she was “stunned and thrilled and humbled.” Gerwig will be the first-ever female American director to take the role. And at 40, she will be the second youngest person to be jury president, following Italian actress Sophia Loren, who was 31 when she chaired the jury in 1966. “As a cinephile, Cannes has always been the pinnacle of what the universal language of movies can be,” Gerwig added: “I cannot wait to see what journeys are in store for all of us.”

Blanchett backs pipeline for filmmakers Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and her Dirty Films production company partner Coco Francini have teamed up with USC professor Stacy L. Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative to launch an accelerator program for filmmakers telling stories centered on the perspectives of women, and trans and nonbinary people. Cate Announced Thursday, the Proof Blanchett of Concept Accelerator Program will provide funding and mentorship to select filmmakers to create short films as proofs of concept for features or TV series. With support from the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, each member of the program’s inaugural class will receive $50,000 as well as one-on-one guidance from leaders within the industry. “Providing tangible financial and career support for filmmakers who often get overlooked will not only give them a fantastic launchpad to success, it will also expand the future of film and television,” Blanchett said in a release about “establishing this pipeline to discover and nourish the creativity and success of new voices with compelling stories.”

Exchange on ‘The View’ angers McCain

Meghan McCain

Meghan McCain may still have an ax to grind when it comes to “The View.” The former co-host of the daytime talk show has threatened to sue after being compared to Hunter Biden on live TV. The famous daughter of late Republican Sen. John McCain took umbrage to a Hot Topic segment in which Ana Navarro seemingly suggested that McCain “inﬂuence-peddled” her family name — much like what President Joe Biden’s scandal-ridden son has been

accused of. “I have never been accused of a crime in my life and am a patriotic American — I would never and have never ‘inﬂuenced-peddled’ in my life, let alone with foreign adversaries. Not all politicians’ children are the same — and I am no Hunter Biden.”

Birthdays Civil rights attorney and co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center Morris Dees is 87. Actor Liv Ullmann is 85. CBS news correspondent Lesley Stahl is 82. Tony Hicks (The Hollies) is 78. Benny Andersson (ABBA) is 77. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) is 74. Actor Sam Robards is 62. Actor Jon Tenney is 62. Actor Benjamin Bratt is 60. Actor Miranda Otto is 56. Actor Daniel Cosgrove is 53. Actor Krysten Ritter is 42. Country musician Chris Scruggs is 41. Actor Theo James is 39.

Dear Abby: Is it normal to be disgusted by your wife’s lack of concern about her appearance and her belongings? My wife drives a $50,000 car that never gets washed and is so filled with “stuff” that seldom can she take even one passenger. Her side of the bedroom is just as bad. She never makes the bed and can no longer get to her dresser because there are so many clothes piled in front of it. It’s the same down the hall. She also doesn’t take care of herself. She often doesn’t shower for days. Her clothes are frumpy, and I can no longer count how many pounds she keeps adding. It is embarrassing for me, especially when she proclaims she “will never be concerned about her weight again.” I feel it’s disrespectful to me when she says those things, and I can’t let this continue. I am supposed to get used to it? It doesn’t seem right. Most of her time is spent listening to and reading about politics. Some would be OK, but she has dived so far down the self-righteous religious rabbit hole, she has no other perspective. She can’t work. She believes she’s some sort of activist

because she forwards memes on Facebook. It amazes me that she can see neighbors who are older than she is have full-time careers and take care of themselves and their things and yet still believe she’s normal and even judge others. I think she has a chemical imbalance of some sort and needs help, but how do you even start? If it wasn’t so complicated, I’d move out. By not doing so, is my complacency making things worse? — At My Limit in Texas Dear Limit: Was your wife like this when you were dating? In the year or two after your marriage? If the answer is no, it is important that she be evaluated by a doctor because what you describe could be symptoms of depression or a mental or emotional problem. The way I would handle this if I were in your place would be to tell her you love her, but you can no longer live the way things have become. Then offer her a choice: Get help, or you are leaving. Write Dear Abby at P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles 90069 or www.DearAbby.com.

PET CONNECTION Kim Campbell Thornton

Here’s the next big thing in pet geriatric medicine We all want our dogs to live longer and be healthier in their senior years. No surprise, then, that the study of canine aging and health is a hot topic among scientists who focus on dogs. One of their goals is to develop a frailty instrument for dogs: a tool to measure physical, mental and emotional changes associated with aging. As senior pets live longer, the ability to measure frailty and determine associated conditions in pets is becoming more important in veterinary medicine. What’s called “frailty syndrome” — a weakened immune system, weight loss, diminished muscle mass, low-grade inflammation, and a decline in movement and pace — affects humans, cats and dogs, as well as other animals. More than age alone, frailty can predict overall condition and health. In humans, for instance, frailty is associated with increased risk of falls or fractures, hospitalization, functional decline or disability, and the need for long-term care. Gerontologists for humans can use a frailty index to accurately predict how well a person will recover after an event such as a broken hip or serious illness. Researchers with the Dog Aging Project are working to develop a frailty instrument for dogs. Rachel L. Melvin, DVM, at Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, is lead author of a study of the first steps in that process. A frailty instrument should be low-tech and low-

cost, Melvin says — something that any pet owner could complete in less than 15 minutes with no need for expensive diagnostics. This basic screening step might start with a short, simple survey asking about physical condition, activity level, mobility, strength, cognitive performance, mood and social relations. It would, cleverly enough, be called the Frailty Instrument for Dogs, or FIDo. Owners might be asked to choose the best description of their dog’s lifestyle or how much time per day their dog is physically active; type of activity; the amount of time it takes them to walk a specific distance over a flat surface, both on and off a leash; how long it takes them to climb stairs; whether they can perform certain cognitive tasks involving memory; and whether dogs display social avoidance, such as walking away from being petted. Having access to a frailty score could help veterinarians determine a pet’s prognosis as well as help people decide whether a pet facing surgery or other treatment might need additional postop care, be more prone to complications such as incision site infections or have an extended recovery period. In humans, frailty can sometimes be reversed when identified early. The same is likely true for pets. Targeted interventions may be able to delay, prevent or reverse the progression of frailty.

ACROSS 1 Sacred bird of Egypt 5 Milky gems 10 Hedgehog of games 12 Studio work 13 Game with a drawing 14 Not napping 15 Moody music 16 Cariou of “Blue Bloods” 18 Lasso of TV 19 Muscle connector 21 Buds 22 Journal words 24 Suspicious 25 Grassland rodent 29 Without 30 To some extent 32 Botch 33 Corp. or Sgt. 34 Summer sign 35 Fad 37 City on the Mohawk River 39 Forum garments 40 Shades 41 Cleaned, in a way 42 Mosquito or gnat DOWN 1 Key 2 Sounded like thunder

3 Chant 4 Remain unused 5 Mideast sultanate 6 Punch sound 7 Film set on Pandora 8 Probable 9 Gardener’s buy 11 Salon worker 17 Natural 20 Valleys 21 Settle the bill 23 Resolve 25 Scopes trial lawyer 26 Incense 27 Like tears 28 Puts up 29 Splinter groups 31 Tribute, of a sort 33 Egg holder 36 Ray-gun sound 38 Pointer

YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE

JUMBLE David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

SUDOKU Michael Mepham

Today: Moderate Complete the grid so each row, column and 3 x 3 box (in bold border) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk.

Write to Pet Connection c/o this newspaper, or email petconnection@gmail.com.

YESTERDAY’S PUZZLE

BRIDGE Frank Stewart “It was a Christmas miracle,” Unlucky Louie told me. “Actually, it was a double miracle. When I took the tree lights out of the box I stored them in last year, they weren’t all tangled up. And not only that, they still work!” Louie’s providence didn’t last in today’s deal. After he and North bid to a 28-point slam, West led the queen of diamonds. Louie took dummy’s ace, drew trumps, cashed the A-K of clubs, ruffed a club, went to the king of hearts and ruffed a club. Then the last club was good, but dummy had no more entries. Louie lost a diamond and a heart. Louie makes six spades if he untangles his entries. After winning the first trick, he must start the clubs immediately: ace, king, club ruff. He leads a

trump to dummy’s ace and ruffs a club. Then Louie can draw trumps and go to the king of hearts to take the good club for his 12th trick. Daily Question: You hold: S A 5 H K 7 2 D A 8 3 C K 9 6 4 2. Your partner opens one heart, you respond two clubs and he bids two diamonds. What do you say? Answer: In “Standard” methods, jump to three hearts, forcing. A bid of two hearts would be invitational. In the dominant “two-over-one” style, in which your two clubs forced to game, you can bid two hearts, forcing. That style may gain here by keeping the bidding low; it has drawbacks as well, for instance by requiring a forcing 1NT response with invitational hands.

DOW 37,305.16 +56.81

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

Business NASDAQ 14,813.92 +52.36

S&P 500 4,719.19 -0.36

STRICTLY BUSINESS SEATTLE

Union seeks to reopen 23 Starbucks stores The nation’s top labor body wants Starbucks to reopen 23 shuttered stores across the U.S., including seven in Seattle and one in Everett, because the closures allegedly targeted union organizing in violation of labor law. Starbucks’ decision to close these 23 stores was “because its employees engaged in union and/or protected, concerted activities,” said the complaint ﬁled Wednesday by a Seattle-based regional director of the National Labor Relations Board. The complaint consolidated similar cases from different parts of the country into one. The NLRB prosecutors also want Starbucks to “offer immediate employment” to the workers who were employed at the shuttered stores when they closed.

Airport near passenger record CHARLES M. SCHULZ » Facility estimates 640K travelers will fly this year By CHERYL SARFATY NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport ﬂew nearly 60,000 passengers last month, edging closer to another record year, airport officials said Thursday. “The airport is estimating 640,000 total passengers, compared to the 614,000 for 2022,” said Airport Manager Jon Stout. Overall, year to date, the airport is down 11% on the total

number of ﬂights compared to a year earlier, Stout said. However, there has been an increase in the number of passengers ﬂown, thanks in large part to Alaska Airlines using bigger planes at the airport, a move it made in October 2022. “So that size increase in aircraft allowed us to have more seats to sell, which gave us (a) 4% increase in passengers,” Stout said. Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, the regional airport’s largest commercial air carrier, to date has carried roughly 65% of the airport’s passengers, he said. The airport in January will release December’s passenger

numbers, which will tell the story for its performance for all of 2023. Looking at the airport’s figures for the month of November, 59,535 passengers traveled through Santa Rosa, up 13.7% from a year earlier. In October, the airport flew 62,305 passengers. Eleven months into the year, the airport’s three commercial carriers — Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines and American Airlines — collectively flew 592,872 passengers, up 4.1% from November 2022. The total through October of this year was 533,337 passengers. Alaska Airlines in November flew 37,293 passengers through the Sonoma County airport, up

8.3% from a year prior. Its load factor — the measure of how full airplanes are on average — was 95%. Alaska flew 38,942 passengers through the airport in October. Avelo Airlines flew 11,288 passengers in November, up 18.1% from a year prior. Its load factor was 75%. Avelo in October flew 11,568 passengers through the county facility. American Airlines last month flew 10,954 passengers through the regional airport, up 30.7% from a year earlier. Its load factor — the measure of how full airplanes are on average — was 84%. American in October flew 11,795 passengers.

STREAMING SERVICE » RETURN OF THE RERUNS

Studios sending old shows back to Netﬂix

WASHINGTON

U.S. inflation rate seen nearing Fed’s 2% goal The U.S. inflation rate is seen easing closer to the Federal Reserve’s 2% target next year in the latest forecast from the Congressional Budget Office, as economic growth and labor market activity cools. The agency expects personal consumption expenditures — the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation — cooling to 2.1% in 2024, according to the CBO’s semiannual forecast published Friday. Excluding energy and food costs, the gauge is set to ease to 2.4% from this year and hit 2.3% by 2025, according to the data, which incorporates economic developments through Dec. 5.

WASHINGTON

Season’s hottest shopping trend: falling prices PAUL SAKUMA / ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2021

American shoppers, burned by more than two years of rapid inflation, are getting some welcome relief this holiday season: Prices on many products are falling. Toys are almost 3% cheaper this Christmas than last, government data shows. Sports equipment is down nearly 2%. Bigger-ticket items are also showing price declines: Washing machines cost 12% less than a year ago, for example. And eggs, whose meteoric rise in prices last winter became a prime example of the country’s inflation problem, are down 22% over the past year. Economists view the moderation in goods prices as an important step toward putting the high inflation of the past 2½ years more firmly in the rearview mirror. They expect it to continue.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Rocket Lab launches a Japanese satellite California-based Rocket Lab, which specializes in putting small satellites into orbit, launched a Japanese satellite on Friday from the space company’s complex on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission, named “The Moon God Awakens,” was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was postponed due to forecast strong winds. The rocket successfully carried the TSUKUYOMI-I satellite into orbit on behalf of Japanese startup Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space Inc, Rocket Lab said in a statement more than two hours after the launch. — Press Democrat news services

The exterior of Netﬂix headquarters is seen in Los Gatos. Entertainment studios have held onto their older shows and movies to stream on their own platforms, but now, they’re handing them back over to Netﬂix.

In search of cash, entertainment companies give content back to service By JOHN KOBLIN AND NICOLE SPERLING NEW YORK TIMES

or years, entertainment company executives happily licensed classic movies and television shows to Netflix. Both sides enjoyed the spoils: Netflix received popular content like “Friends” and Disney’s “Moana,” which satisfied its ever-growing subscriber base, and it sent bags of cash back to the companies. But around five years ago, executives realized they were “selling nuclear weapons technology” to a powerful rival, as Disney CEO Robert Iger put it. Studios needed those same beloved movies and shows for the streaming services they were building from scratch, and fueling Netflix’s rise was only hurting them.The content spigots were, in large part, turned off. Then the harsh realities of streaming began to emerge. Confronting sizable debt burdens and the fact that most streaming services still don’t make money, studios like Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have begun to soften their do-not-sell-to-Netflix stances. The companies are still holding back their most popular content — movies from the Disney-owned Star Wars and Marvel universes and blockbuster original series like HBO’s “Game of Thrones” aren’t going anywhere — but dozens of other films like “Dune” and “Prometheus” and series like “Young Sheldon” are being sent to the streaming behemoth in return for much-needed cash. And Netflix is once again benefiting. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at an investor conference last week that the “availability to license has opened up a lot more than it was in the past,” arguing that the studios’ earlier decision to hold back content was “unnatural.” “They’ve always built the studios to license,” he said. As David Decker, the content sales pres-

ident for Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “Licensing is becoming in vogue again. It never went away, but there’s more of a willingness to license things again. It generates money, and it gets content viewed and seen.” In the coming months, Disney will start sending a number of shows from its catalog to Netflix, including “This Is Us,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Prison Break” and several editions of ESPN’s sports documentary series “30 for 30.” “White Collar,” a Disney-owned show that used to be part of the same lineup as “Suits” on the USA Network, will also join the service. (Old episodes of “Suits” have been one of Netflix’s biggest hits this year.) The popular 2000s-era ABC hit “Lost,” which left Netflix in 2018, is also returning next year. Jeremy Zimmer, CEO of the United Talent Agency, said the studios’ about-face was a “financial necessity.” “They said, ‘Wow, in order for us to compete in streaming, it’s costing us billions to create new content to drive subscriptions,’” Zimmer said. “‘Where are we going to find the money? Oh! We have this stuff that’s been sitting here. We can sell that.’ It’s a very logical progression.” Acknowledging the motivation, Dan Cohen, the chief content licensing officer for Paramount, said one of the biggest advantages to licensing for traditional media companies was that “the margins tend to be high.” Movies and series from other studios have long provided a vital backbone to Netflix, allowing executives to populate the service with established favorites to complement its original series like “The Crown,” “Wednesday” and “The Diplomat.” The company said Tuesday that from January to June, 45% of all viewing on the service came from licensed shows and movies. Studios are also licensing content to services like Amazon, Tubi and Hulu, of which Disney is the majority owner. And,

in most cases, Netflix does not have exclusive access to the movies and series it’s getting; many titles will also be available on entertainment company services like Max and Hulu. Still, the return to Netflix is notable. When Warner Bros. was beginning to build out its streaming service — now known as Max — in 2020, it held back content from Netflix, which was now a direct and formidable competitor. Netflix has 247 million subscribers worldwide, while Max has less than half that. David Zaslav tossed that policy aside soon after he took over as CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery in April 2022. Last month, several seasons of “Young Sheldon,” a CBS show that Warner Bros. produces, became available on Netflix. The series quickly found itself on the service’s top 10 most-watched list. Many Warner Bros. movie titles also began appearing on Netflix recently, including the 2021 blockbuster “Dune,” and DC films like “Man of Steel,” “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Wonder Woman.” For years, Netflix had been trying to get its hands on HBO content. Though HBO had a history of licensing several of its shows — “Sex and the City” to the E! Network, for instance, or “The Sopranos” to A&E — the company steadfastly refused to license to Netflix. That abruptly changed several months ago when Netflix bought the rights to stream HBO series like “Insecure,” “Ballers,” “Six Feet Under,” “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” Nearly all of the shows quickly became hits on the streaming service. “I am comfortable with it, and so far, it seems to be working,” Casey Bloys, HBO’s chair, said at a news media conference last month, adding that any show that has become available on Netflix has also seen an “uptick” in viewing on the Max streaming service.

Sports

Inside

Sidelines » 2 NFL » 3 Prep sports » 5 Weather » 6

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION C

Top runners highlight bowl game COLLEGE FOOTBALL » Cal’s Ott, Texas Tech’s Brooks set to meet in tonight’s Independence Bowl By ROY LANG ASSOCIATED PRESS

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — If not for Cal running back Jaydn Ott and Texas Tech ball carrier Tahj Brooks, the Golden Bears and Red Raiders might have missed the bowl season. Instead, they’ll meet in an Independence Bowl matchup

Saturday night that will showcase two of the better rushers in the nation. Brooks’ 1,443 yards rank fourth in the nation. Ott, a sophomore, has piled up 1,260 yards on the ground — 13th-best nationally. It could a nightmare for opposing defenders or an opportunity to measure up.

Cal running back Jaydn Ott, center, celebrates with wide receiver Taj Davis, left, and offensive lineman Tyler Murphy after scoring a touchdown against Auburn Sept. 9 in Berkeley.

TONIGHT’S GAME Independence Bowl Shreveport, Louisiana Cal. vs. Texas Tech Time: 6:15 p.m. TV: ESPN Radio: 810 “I like games like this,” Cal defensive lineman Ricky Correia said. “It gives both sides the TURN TO CAL » PAGE C3

GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS

PREP FOOTBALL

BASEBALL » GIANTS’ NEW STAR?

Welcome to the bay NICHOLAS VIDES / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Windsor wide receiver Hayden Anderson catches a touchdown pass against El Cerrito in the North Coast Section Division 2 title game Nov. 24 in Pleasant Hill.

Windsor closes year at No. 1 St. Vincent rises in ﬁnal rankings with state title By GUS MORRIS THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

PHOTOS BY JEFF CHIU / ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee poses for photos on the ﬁeld at Oracle Park after Friday’s news conference in San Francisco.

Club introduces Korean slugger Lee as ‘perfect ﬁt’ for team’s roster needs By JOSH DUBOW ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO hen the San Francisco Giants set out this offseason to improve on a disappointing 2023 season, adding athleticism, defense and the ability to put the ball in play were priorities. South Korean star Jung Hoo Lee ﬁlled all those roles. “We think this is an absolutely perfect ﬁt,” Giants president of baseball operations Farhan

Zaidi said Friday at a news conference introducing Lee to the Bay Area. “As we’ve talked about entering this offseason, our goals were to get more athletic as a team from an offensive standpoint, to make more contact and play the kind of baseball where the industry seems to be trending toward,” Zaidi said. “Honestly, as we looked at our options this offseason, there was no player, no target who TURN TO GIANTS » PAGE C6

Jung Hoo Lee speaks during Friday’s news conference held to introduce him Friday in San Francisco.

Football season stretched well into December this year as St. Vincent captured Sonoma County’s second-ever state title and first for the city of Petaluma. With the Mustangs’ 27-6 win over Wasco in the Division 6-AA championship last week, the 2023 high school football season has finally come to a close. And so, it’s time for The Press Democrat’s final team rankings of the year. The final top seven, in order, are Windsor, Cardinal Newman, Rancho Cotate, St. Vincent, Casa Grande, Ukiah and Vintage. This was easily the most hotly debated set of rankings this season among our staff and it’s understandable if there are readers who also disagree with our list. Ukiah beat St. Vincent and Casa Grande beat Ukiah by 23; how could St. Vincent be ranked above them? Fair points, and TURN TO RANKINGS » PAGE C5

Sebastopol teen wins 4th national title in cyclocross Lopez de San Roman, 17, triumphs in wet, muddy Kentucky race By AUSTIN MURPHY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

TORY HERNANDEZ / EVRGRN PHOTOGRAPHY

Vida Lopez de San Roman raises her arms in triumph after leaving the ﬁeld behind in Saturday’s USA Cycling Cyclocross junior women’s national championship race in Louisville, Kentucky.

Some riders grimaced when dark clouds gathered and the heavens opened, dumping rain on the start line at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. Those downpours on Dec. 9 transformed the dirt track into a 1.6-mile-long mud pit. One racer smiled. Vida Lopez de San Roman, a 17-yearold from Sebastopol, enjoys — indeed, prefers — muddy,

miserable racing conditions. Lopez de San Roman attacked her main rival halfway through the race, steadily pulling away to win the star-spangled jersey in the junior women’s 17-18 category — her fourth age group national title. Rain complicates the race in a way she likes, Lopez de San Roman explained in an email from Europe, where she will spend this month training and racing in World Cup events. It requires “resilience and adaptability” — strong suits of hers. That’s why her anxiety “immediately turned to excitement,” she recalled, when those rains came. That storm created “kind of my favorite conditions — super

rainy, super muddy,” she told USA Cycling. “It was a good battle between Alyssa and I. She had a little mistake and then I was able to pull away.” Lopez de San Roman rides for the Bear National Team, a development squad stocked with young all-stars from across the United States. Of the four Bear riders to compete in Louisville, three won championships. Lopez de San Roman crossed the line nearly a minute ahead of second-place ﬁnisher Alyssa White of Elkins, West Virginia. Cyclocross is an often-muddy blend of road cycling, mountain biking and steeplechase, requiring participants to frequently TURN TO CYCLING » PAGE C5

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 NFL

THE LINE

Standings NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Dallas 10 3 0 .769 421 Philadelphia 10 3 0 .769 342 N.Y. Giants 5 8 0 .385 183 Washington 4 9 0 .308 261 South W L T Pct PF Atlanta 6 7 0 .462 251 New Orleans 6 7 0 .462 285 Tampa Bay 6 7 0 .462 262 e-Carolina 1 12 0 .077 197 North W L T Pct PF Detroit 9 4 0 .692 340 Minnesota 7 6 0 .538 266 Green Bay 6 7 0 .462 280 Chicago 5 8 0 .385 270 West W L T Pct PF x-49ers 10 3 0 .769 380 L.A. Rams 6 7 0 .462 299 Seattle 6 7 0 .462 280 Arizona 3 10 0 .231 230 AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Miami 9 4 0 .692 411 Buffalo 7 6 0 .538 348 N.Y. Jets 5 8 0 .385 201 e-New England 3 10 0 .231 169 South W L T Pct PF Jacksonville 8 5 0 .615 312 Houston 7 6 0 .538 287 Indianapolis 7 6 0 .538 314 Tennessee 5 8 0 .385 241 North W L T Pct PF Baltimore 10 3 0 .769 361 Cleveland 8 5 0 .615 289 Cincinnati 7 6 0 .538 280 Pittsburgh 7 6 0 .538 210 West W L T Pct PF Kansas City 8 5 0 .615 292 Denver 7 6 0 .538 287 Las Vegas 6 8 0 .429 265 L.A. Chargers 5 9 0 .357 303 e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot Thursday’s Result Las Vegas 63, L.A. Chargers 21 Saturday’s Games Minnesota at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Pittsburgh at Indianapolis, 1:30 p.m. Denver at Detroit, 5:15 p.m. Sunday’s Games Atlanta at Carolina, 10 a.m. Chicago at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Houston at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Kansas City at New England, 10 a.m. N.Y. Giants at New Orleans, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Miami, 10 a.m. Tampa Bay at Green Bay, 10 a.m. 49ers at Arizona, 1:05 p.m. Washington at L.A. Rams, 1:05 p.m. Dallas at Buffalo, 1:25 p.m. Baltimore at Jacksonville, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s Game Philadelphia at Seattle, 5:15 p.m. Thursday’s box score

PA 233 321 314 395 PA 269 261 270 341 PA 314 242 267 309 PA 205 290 318 331 PA 294 244 257 272 PA 290 279 330 282 PA 218 272 287 250 PA 228 309 280 345

Las Vegas 63, L.A. Chargers 21 L.A. Chargers 0 0 7 14 — 21 Las Vegas 21 21 14 7 — 63 First Quarter Las—White 1 run (Carlson kick), 8:10. Las—Tucker 30 pass from O’Connell (Carlson kick), 4:41. Las—Meyers 22 pass from O’Connell (Carlson kick), 3:07. Second Quarter Las—Mayer 11 pass from O’Connell (Carlson kick), 9:15. Las—Bolden 26 run (Carlson kick), 3:50. Las—Tucker 20 pass from O’Connell (Carlson kick), :31. Third Quarter Las—Adams 3 pass from Meyers (Carlson kick), 10:42. LAC—Palmer 79 pass from Stick (Dicker kick), 10:27. Las—Jenkins 44 fumble return (Carlson kick), :00. Fourth Quarter Las—Jones 16 interception return (Carlson kick), 14:31. LAC—Erickson 13 pass from Stick (Dicker kick), 8:39. LAC—Johnston 6 pass from Stick (Dicker kick), 2:38. A—61,654. LAC Las First downs 18 20 Total Net Yards 326 378 Rushes-yards 28-92 26-124 Passing 234 254 Punt Returns 3-44 2-24 Kickoff Returns 5-116 1-25 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-16 Comp-Att-Int 23-32-1 22-36-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-23 1-6 Punts 5-49.2 6-51.667 Fumbles-Lost 5-4 0-0 Penalties-Yards 6-65 4-30 Time of Possession 30:09 29:51 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—L.A. Chargers, Spiller 16-50, Kelley 5-22, Stick 2-11, Ekeler 5-9. Las Vegas, White 17-69, Abdullah 6-32, Bolden 2-25, Tucker 1-(minus 2). PASSING—L.A. Chargers, Stick 23-32-1-257. Las Vegas, O’Connell 20-34-0-248, Meyers 2-2-0-12. RECEIVING—L.A. Chargers, Everett 5-41, Palmer 4-113, Ekeler 4-29, Smartt 3-15, Johnston 2-23, Guyton 2-19, Erickson 1-13, Kelley 1-6, D.Davis 1-(minus 2). Las Vegas, Adams 8-101, Mayer 4-39, Tucker 3-59, White 3-16, Meyers 2-32, Abdullah 2-13. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Notable men’s scores Mount St. Mary’s 72, St. Francis (Pa.) 65 ETSU 105, Tusculum 43 Elon 104, Bridgewater (Va.) 70 NC Central 102, St. Andrews 50 Butler 96, Saginaw Valley St. 70 Cleveland St. 76, Bradley 69 Texas St. 73, Sam Houston St. 60 Colorado 90, N. Colorado 68 Texas A&M-CC 86, Texas Rio Grande Valley 76

Standings

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG at CINCINNATI 1½ 3 40½ Minnesota at INDIANAPOLIS 1½ 1½ 42½ Pittsburgh at DETROIT 4½ 4½ 47½ Denver Sunday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 49ers 13 12½ 48 at ARIZONA at GREEN BAY 3½ 3½ 42½ Tampa Bay Atlanta 3 3 33½ at CAROLINA Kansas City 11½ 8½ 37 at N. ENGLAND at CLEVELAND 3½ 3 38½ Chicago at NEW ORLEANS 5 5½ 39½ NY Giants at MIAMI 13½ 9½ 37 NY Jets at TENNESSEE 3 3½ 36½ Houston at LA RAMS 5½ 6½ 50½ Washington at BUFFALO 1½ 1½ 50 Dallas Baltimore 6½ 3 42½ at JCKSN’VILLE Monday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Philadelphia 4½ 3 47½ at SEATTLE

WESTERN CONFERENCE Paciﬁc W L Sacramento 14 9 L.A. Clippers 14 10 L.A. Lakers 15 11 Phoenix 13 11 Warriors 10 14 Southwest W L Dallas 15 9 Houston 13 9 New Orleans 15 11 Memphis 6 18 San Antonio 4 20 Northwest W L Minnesota 18 5 Denver 17 9 Oklahoma City 15 8 Utah 9 16 Portland 6 17 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Boston 19 5 Philadelphia 17 7 New York 13 10 Brooklyn 13 11 Toronto 10 15 Southeast W L Orlando 16 8 Miami 14 11 Atlanta 10 14 Charlotte 7 16 Washington 4 20 Central W L Milwaukee 17 7 Indiana 13 10 Cleveland 13 12 Chicago 10 16 Detroit 2 23 Friday’s Results Philadelphia 124, Detroit 92 New Orleans 112, Charlotte 107 Washington 137, Indiana 123 Atlanta 125, Toronto 104 Boston 128, Orlando 111 San Antonio 129, L.A. Lakers 115 Houston 103, Memphis 96 New York at Phoenix, late Saturday’s Games Detroit at Milwaukee, 3 p.m. Philadelphia at Charlotte, 4 p.m. Atlanta at Cleveland, 4:30 p.m. Chicago at Miami, 5 p.m. Indiana at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Brooklyn at Warriors, 5:30 p.m. Dallas at Portland, 6 p.m. Oklahoma City at Denver, 6 p.m. Utah at Sacramento, 7 p.m. New York at L.A. Clippers, 7:30 p.m.

College football FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U Myrtle Beach Bowl, Conway, S.C. Georgia Southern 1½ 2½ 48½ New Orleans Bowl Jacksonville State 1½ 2½ 57½ Cure Bowl, Orlando, Fla. Appalachian State 4½ 6½ 41½ New Mexico Bowl New Mexico State 1½ 3½ 51½ LA Bowl UCLA 2½ 5½ 48½ Independence Bowl, Shreveport, La. Texas Tech 1½ 3½ 58½

UNDERDOG Ohio Louisiana Miami (OH) Fresno State Boise State Cal

NBA FAVORITE LINE at WARRIORS 3½ at MILWAUKEE OFF Philadelphia 9 at CLEVELAND OFF at MIAMI 4½ at MINNESOTA 7 at DENVER 5 Dallas 6 at SACRAMENTO 11 at LA CLIPPERS OFF

O/U 235½ OFF 234½ OFF 217½ 247½ 237½ 235 242 OFF

UNDERDOG Brooklyn Detroit at CHARLOTTE Atlanta Chicago Indiana Oklahoma City at PORTLAND Utah New York

College basketball FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG at TEXAS 6½ LSU Lindenwood 1½ at IUPUI at MIAMI (FL) 15½ La Salle at PENN STATE 2½ Georgia Tech Kansas 6½ at INDIANA at RUTGERS 26½ LIU at NIAGARA 6½ NJIT at PROVIDENCE 20½ Sacred Heart Baylor 2½ at MICHIGAN STATE at HOFSTRA 9½ Norfolk State Towson 2 at BRYANT at BOWLING GREEN 5½ UMKC at MERCER 2½ FGCU James Madison 15½ at HAMPTON at DREXEL 11 Albany (NY) Kennesaw State 3 at PRESBYTERIAN at VCU 8½ Temple at PITTSBURGH 25½ South Carolina State at TULANE 13½ Southern at UIC 12 Western Michigan Dartmouth 4 at LE MOYNE at NOTRE DAME 5½ Georgetown at MICHIGAN 21½ Eastern Michigan Houston 7½ at TEXAS A&M Missouri State ½ at TULSA UNC Wilmington 9 at GA. SOUTHERN Rice 7½ at NORTHWESTERN ST. at W. KENTUCKY 9½ Austin Peay Ohio State 2½ at UCLA at MEMPHIS 2½ Clemson at SAMFORD 4½ Belmont at ST. JOHN’S 13½ Fordham Radford 4½ at BUCKNELL Florida Atlantic 9½ at ST. BONAVENTURE at VALPARAISO 4 Chicago State at BELLARMINE 3 Evansville at MURRAY STATE 9½ SE Louisiana at SOUTH FLORIDA 1½ Loyola Chicago at VIRGINIA TECH 8½ Vermont North Alabama 2 at TENNESSEE TECH at UTAH STATE 2½ San Francisco at NORTHERN ARIZONA 3 Southern Utah Appalachian State 7½ at GARDNER-WEBB at UTAH 16½ Utah Valley at DELAWARE 3½ Rhode Island at PURDUE 1½ Arizona at LOY. MARYMOUNT 3½ UCSB at IOWA 21½ Florida A&M Western Carolina 4½ at S. CAROLINA UPST. at UT ARLINGTON 1 Air Force UC Davis 7 at PACIFIC at UMASS-LOWELL 11½ Cent. Conn. St. at GEORGIA 9½ High Point Northwestern 9½ at DEPAUL North Carolina 1½ at KENTUCKY at SOUTH CAROLINA 23 Charleston Southern at VIRGINIA 17½ Northeastern at GEORGE MASON 15½ Loyola (MD) at ARKANSAS 11½ Lipscomb at WEST VIRGINIA 2½ UMass Cincinnati 4½ at DAYTON UNC Greensboro 2 at MARSHALL Saint Joseph’s (PA) 7 at IONA at SAINT MARY’S (CA) 5 UNLV at RICHMOND 4½ Charlotte at WICHITA STATE 4 Southern Illinois at PURDUE FT. WAYNE 13½ Bethune-Cookman at XAVIER 11½ Winthrop at TEXAS TECH 8½ Vanderbilt at OLE MISS 3½ Cal at FLORIDA STATE 4 SMU Chattanooga 9 at ALABAMA A&M at CREIGHTON 5½ Alabama Louisiana Tech 2½ at SAINT LOUIS Cal Baptist 1½ at UC RIVERSIDE at UTAH TECH 4½ North Dakota at OKLAHOMA 24½ Green Bay at BYU 22½ Georgia State at WYOMING 1½ Weber State Texas Southern 11½ at N.C. A&T at TCU 7½ Arizona State at UC IRVINE 15 South Dakota

TRANSACTIONS Baseball

Notable women’s scores Cal 78, E. Washington 70 NJIT 68, St. Francis (Pa.) 41 Bethune-Cookman 114, Trinity Baptist 37 E. Kentucky 79, Tennessee St. 69 Marshall 102, Jacksonville 77 North Carolina 96, W. Carolina 36 Presbyterian 63, SC State 52 South Alabama 67, SE Louisiana 60 E. Michigan 84, IUPUI 74, OT Ill. Chicago 76, Chicago St. 46 Mayville St. 75, North Dakota 68 Milwaukee 59, E. Illinois 52 Ohio St. 73, Grand Valley St. 49 Xavier 68, SIU-Edwardsville 43 Tulsa 82, Texas Southern 45

GOLF AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open At Heritage Golf Club, Bel Ombre, Mauritius Purse: $1.2 million Yardage: 7,331; Par: 72 Second Round Leaders Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden 69-65 Jacques De Villiers, South Africa 68-67 Marcel Schneider, Germany 67-68 Daniel Brown, England 68-68 Antoine Rozner, France 62-74 Paul Waring, England 63-73 Pedro Figueiredo, Portugal 68-69 Dylan Naidoo, South Africa 68-69 Wilco Nienaber, South Africa 69-68 Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa 68-69 Lyle Rowe, South Africa 66-71 Jeff Winther, Denmark 69-68 Darren Fichardt, South Africa 66-72 Joakim Lagergren, Sweden 68-70 Pieter Moolman, South Africa 67-71 Marcel Siem, Germany 69-69 Brandon Stone, South Africa 68-70 Lars Van Meijel, Netherlands 67-71 Bradley Bawden, England 68-71 Louis De Jager, South Africa 67-72 Dan Erickson, United States 66-73 Kristian Krogh Johannessen, Norway 69-70 Jaco Prinsloo, South Africa 67-72 Jayden Trey Schaper, South Africa 65-74 Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, Germany 68-71 Angel Ayora Fanegas, Spain 69-71 Oliver Bekker, South Africa 71-69 Soren Broholt Lind, Denmark 71-69 Laurie Canter, England 66-74 John Catlin, United States 69-71 Kazuki Higa, Japan 70-70 Casey Jarvis, South Africa 67-73 Guido Migliozzi, Italy 73-67 Santiago Tarrio, Spain 68-72 Ryan Van Velzen, South Africa 68-72 Matthew Baldwin, England 73-68 Steven Brown, England 71-70 Oliver Farr, Wales 69-72 Chase Hanna, United States 69-72 Rupert Kaminski, South Africa 67-74 Haydn Porteous, South Africa 68-73 Jake Redman, South Africa 68-73 Matthew Southgate, England 72-69 Tom Vaillant, France 71-70 Daniel Van Tonder, South Africa 72-69 Sam Bairstow, England 71-71 Deon Germishuys, South Africa 68-74 Andrew Johnston, England 71-71 Alexander Levy, France 69-73 Andrew Martin, Australia 70-72 Anthony Michael, South Africa 69-73 Renato Paratore, Italy 68-74 Toto Thimba Jr., South Africa 72-66 Thomas Aiken, South Africa 68-75 Jens Dantorp, Sweden 71-72 Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Spain 73-70 Jordan Gumberg, United States 70-73 Angel Hidalgo, Spain 74-69 Daan Huizing, Netherlands 70-73 Peter Karmis, South Africa 72-71 Jacques Kruyswijk, South Africa 72-71 Andrea Pavan, Italy 68-75 Garrick Porteous, England 74-69 Danie Van Niekerk, South Africa 71-72 Marc Warren, Scotland 71-72

NBA

NFL

American League CLEVELAND GUARDIANS — Agreed to terms with C Austin Hedges on a one-year contract. Designated 1B Alfonso Rivas for assignment. KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to terms with RHP Chris Stratton on a one-year contract. NEW YORK YANKEES — Traded LF Bill McKinney to Pittsburgh in exchange for cash considerations. National League CINCINNATI REDS — Agreed to terms with RHPs Moises Castillo and Luis Pimentel on minor league contracts. COLORADO ROCKIES — Agreed to terms with RHP Angel Ynfante on a minor league contract. PITTSBURGH PIRATES — Agreed to terms with 1B Rowdy Tellez on a one-year contract. Designated 1B Alfonso Rivas and RHP Roddery Munoz for assignment. Acquired OF Edward Olivares from Kansas City in exchange for 2B Deivis Nadal. SAN DIEGO PADRES — Acquired OF Drew Campbell from Atlanta in exchange for DH/INF Matt Carpenter, LHP Ray Kerr and cash considerations.

Basketball — 134 — 135 — 135 — 136 — 136 — 136 — 137 — 137 — 137 — 137 — 137 — 137 — 138 — 138 — 138 — 138 — 138 — 138 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 139 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 140 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 141 — 142 — 142 — 142 — 142 — 142 — 142 — 142 — 138 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143 — 143

National Basketball Association INDIANA PACERS — Re-signed F James Johnson to a rest-of-season contract. NEW YORK KNICKS — Signed F Taj Gibson to a rest-of-season contract. SACRAMENTO KINGS — Signed F Juan Toscano-Anderson to a rest-of-season contract.

Football National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Signed LB Tyreke Smith from the Seattle practice squad. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Placed TE Hayden Hurst and OL Justin McCray on injured reserve. DENVER BRONCOS — Promoted TE Lucas Krull from the practice squad to the active roster. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS — Placed DE Derek Rivers on the practice squad injured reserve. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS — Fired head coach Brandon Staley, general manager Tom Telesco and defensive run game coordinator/DL coach Jay Rodgers. Named OLB coach Giff Smith interim head coach and JoJo Wooden interim general manager. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Designated DE Payton Turner to return from injured reserve to practice. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS — Signed DE Hamilcar Rashed to the practice squad. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Waived RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn. TENNESSEE TITANS — Waived DT Teair Tart. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Reinstated OL Saahdiq Charles from injured reserve. Placed TE Curtis Hodges on injured reserve.

Hockey National Hockey League ARIZONA COYOTES — Activated C Jack McBain from injured reserve. COLORADO AVALANCHE — Acquired a 2024 ﬁfth-round draft pick from Seattle in exchange for F Tomas Tatar. DETROIT RED WINGS — Assigned C Zach Aston-Reese to Grand Rapids (AHL). Reassigned F Jonatan Berggren to Grand Rapids. FLORIDA PANTHERS — Returned D Uvis Balinskis to Charlotte (AHL). LOS ANGELES KINGS — Recalled G David Rittich from Ontario (AHL). NEW YORK RANGERS — Recalled C Adam Edstrom from Hartford (AHL). PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Reassigned G Felix Sandstrom to Lehigh Valley. SEATTLE KRAKEN — Loaned LW Tye Kartye to Coachella Valley (AHL). Recalled F Shane Wright from Coachella Valley.

Soccer Major League Soccer ATLANTA UNITED — Signed D Garrison Tubbs to a one-year contract. D.C. UNITED — Claimed M Ethan Dobbelaere off the end-of-the-year-waiver list from Seattle. FC DALLAS — Signed M Tomas Pondeca to a two-year contract. SPORTING KC — Signed F Alenis Vargas to a three-year contract.

COMING UP

NHL Standings Pct .609 .583 .577 .542 .417 Pct .625 .591 .577 .250 .167 Pct .783 .654 .652 .360 .261

GB — ½ ½ 1½ 4½ GB — 1 1 9 11 GB — 2½ 3 10 12

Pct .792 .708 .565 .542 .400 Pct .667 .560 .417 .304 .167 Pct .708 .565 .520 .385 .080

GB — 2 5½ 6 9½ GB — 2½ 6 8½ 12 GB — 3½ 4½ 8 15½

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Upcoming bowls Saturday Myrtle Beach Bowl Conway, S.C. Georgia Southern vs. Ohio, 8 a.m. New Orleans Bowl New Orleans Jacksonville St. vs. Louisiana, 11:15 a.m. Cure Bowl Orlando, Fla. Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian St., 12:30 p.m. New Mexico Bowl Albuquerque, N.M. New Mexico St. vs. Fresno St., 2:45 p.m. LA Bowl Inglewood, Calif. UCLA vs. Boise St., 4:30 p.m. Independence Bowl Shreveport, La. Cal vs. Texas Tech, 6:15 p.m. Monday Famous Toastery Bowl Charlotte, N.C. W. Kentucky vs. Old Dominion, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 Frisco Bowl Frisco, Texas UTSA vs. Marshall, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, Fla. USF vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22 Gasparilla Bowl Tampa, Fla. Geogia Tech vs. UCF, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala. Arkansas St. vs. N. Illinois, 9 a.m. Birmingham Bowl Birmingham, Ala. Troy vs. Duke, 9 a.m. Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas No. 24 James Madison vs. Air Force, 12:30 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, Idaho Georgia St. vs. Utah St., 12:30 p.m. 68 Ventures Bowl Mobile, Ala. South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan, 4 p.m. Las Vegas Bowl Las Vegas Utah vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Bowl Honolulu, Hawaii Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl Detroit Bowling Green vs. Minnesota, 11 a.m. First Responder Bowl Dallas Texas St. vs. Rice, 2:30 p.m. Guaranteed Rate Bowl Phoenix Kansas vs. UNLV, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl Annapolis, Md. No. 23 Tulane vs. Virginia Tech, 11 a.m. Duke’s Mayo Bowl Charlotte, N.C. North Carolina vs. West Virginia, 2:30 p.m. Holiday Bowl San Diego No. 16 Louisville vs. USC, 5 p.m. Texas Bowl Houston No. 22 Oklahoma St. vs. Texas A&M, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 Fenway Bowl Boston No. 17 SMU vs. Boston College, 8 a.m. Pinstripe Bowl New York Rutgers vs. Miami, 11:15 a.m. Pop-Tarts Bowl Orlando, Fla. No. 19 NC State vs. Kansas St., 2:45 p.m. Alamo Bowl San Antonio, Texas No. 12 Oklahoma No. 14 Arizona, 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. Clemson vs. Kentucky, 9 a.m. Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas No. 15 Notre Dame vs. No. 21 Oregon St., 11 a.m. Liberty Bowl Memphis, Tenn. Memphis vs. Iowa St., 12:30 p.m. Cotton Bowl No. 7 Ohio St. vs. No. 9 Missouri, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Peach Bowl No. 10 Penn St. vs. No. 11 Mississippi, 9 a.m. Music City Bowl Maryland vs. Auburn, 11 a.m. Orange Bowl No. 4 Florida St. vs. No. 6 Georgia, 1 p.m. Arizona Bowl Toledo vs. Wyoming, 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1 ReliaQuest Bowl No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin, 9 a.m. Citrus Bowl No. 20 Iowa vs. No. 25 Tennessee, 10 a.m. Fiesta Bowl No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 18 Liberty, 10 a.m. Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Alabama, 2 p.m. Allstate Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas, 5:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 CFP National Championship Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

TENNIS WTA Open BLS De Limoges At Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges, France Purse: EUR. 100,000 Surface: Hardcourt indoor Women’s Singles, Quarterﬁnals Cristina Bucsa (5), Spain, def. Lois Boisson, France, 7-6 (3), 6-2. Anna Blinkova (2), Russia, def. Harmony Tan, France, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3). Elsa Jacquemot, France, def. Anastasija Sevastova, Latvia, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-5. Erika Andreeva (7), Russia, def. Elisabetta Cocciaretto (1), Italy, 6-0, 6-2. Women’s Doubles, Semiﬁnals Oksana Kalashnikova, Georgia, and Maia Lumsden (2), Britain, def. Natela Dzalamidze, Russia, and Angelica Moratelli, Italy, 7-5, 6-4. Yana Sizikova, Russia, and Cristina Bucsa, Spain, def. Arantxa Rus, Netherlands, and Anastasia Detiuc, Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4.

TODAY

WESTERN CONFERENCE Paciﬁc GP W L OT Pts Vegas 30 20 5 5 45 Vancouver 30 20 9 1 41 Los Angeles 26 16 6 4 36 Edmonton 27 13 13 1 27 Calgary 30 11 14 5 27 Seattle 31 10 14 7 27 San Jose 29 9 17 3 21 Anaheim 29 10 19 0 20 Central GP W L OT Pts Colorado 29 18 9 2 38 Winnipeg 28 17 9 2 36 Dallas 27 16 8 3 35 Nashville 30 17 13 0 34 St. Louis 29 14 14 1 29 Arizona 28 13 13 2 28 Minnesota 27 11 12 4 26 Chicago 29 9 19 1 19 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic GP W L OT Pts Boston 28 19 5 4 42 Toronto 27 15 6 6 36 Florida 29 17 10 2 36 Detroit 29 15 10 4 34 Tampa Bay 31 14 12 5 33 Montreal 29 12 13 4 28 Buffalo 30 12 15 3 27 Ottawa 24 11 13 0 22 Metropolitan GP W L OT Pts N.Y. Rangers 28 20 7 1 41 N.Y. Islanders 29 14 7 8 36 Philadelphia 29 16 10 3 35 Carolina 30 16 12 2 34 Washington 26 14 8 4 32 New Jersey 27 15 11 1 31 Pittsburgh 28 13 12 3 29 Columbus 31 10 16 5 25 Friday’s Results Sharks at Arizona, late N.Y. Rangers 5, Anaheim 1 Nashville 6, Carolina 5, OT Boston 5, N.Y. Islanders 4, SO Ottawa at Dallas, late Buffalo at Vegas, late Saturday’s Games Vancouver at Minnesota, 11 a.m. Colorado at Winnipeg, 4 p.m. Detroit at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Montreal, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at Boston, 4 p.m. New Jersey at Columbus, 4 p.m. Pittsburgh at Toronto, 4 p.m. Dallas at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Washington at Nashville, 5 p.m. Buffalo at Arizona, 6 p.m. Florida at Edmonton, 7 p.m. Los Angeles at Seattle, 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at Calgary, 7 p.m.

GF 105 115 94 96 89 85 64 75 GF 105 91 98 101 84 90 84 67

GA 73 74 65 92 107 102 117 101 GA 88 74 88 98 96 86 90 105

GF 96 99 85 107 103 79 85 85 GF 94 94 89 104 67 94 83 93

GA 74 90 77 94 110 101 101 81 GA 79 98 79 103 76 96 74 111

SOCCER English Premier League GP W D L GF GA Pts Liverpool 16 11 4 1 36 15 37 Arsenal 16 11 3 2 33 15 36 Aston Villa 16 11 2 3 35 20 35 Man City 16 10 3 3 38 18 33 Tottenham 17 10 3 4 35 23 33 Man United 16 9 0 7 18 21 27 Newcastle 16 8 2 6 33 21 26 Brighton 16 7 5 4 33 28 26 West Ham 16 7 3 6 26 30 24 Fulham 16 6 3 7 26 26 21 Brentford 16 5 4 7 23 22 19 Chelsea 16 5 4 7 26 26 19 Wolverhampton 16 5 4 7 21 26 19 Bournemouth 16 5 4 7 21 30 19 Crystal Palace 16 4 4 8 15 23 16 Nottingham Forest 17 3 5 9 17 30 14 Everton 16 7 2 7 20 20 13 Luton Town 16 2 3 11 17 32 9 Burnley 16 2 2 12 16 34 8 Shefﬁeld United 16 2 2 12 12 41 8 Friday’s Result Tottenham 2, Nottingham Forest 0 Saturday’s Games Bournemouth vs. Luton Town, 7 a.m. Chelsea vs. Shefﬁeld United, 7 a.m. Man City vs. Crystal Palace, 7 a.m. Newcastle vs. Fulham, 7 a.m. Burnley vs. Everton, 9:30 a.m. Sunday’s Games Arsenal vs. Brighton, 6 a.m. Brentford vs. Aston Villa, 6 a.m. West Ham vs. Wolverhampton, 6 a.m. Liverpool vs. Man United, 8:30 a.m.

Germany Bundesliga GP W D L GF GA Pts Leverkusen 14 11 3 0 39 12 36 Bayern 13 10 2 1 44 14 32 Stuttgart 14 10 1 3 34 16 31 RB Leipzig 14 9 2 3 34 15 29 Dortmund 14 7 4 3 28 23 25 Hoffenheim 14 7 2 5 28 24 23 Eintracht 14 5 6 3 24 16 21 Freiburg 14 6 3 5 17 23 21 Monchengladbach 15 4 5 6 30 33 17 Augsburg 14 4 5 5 23 27 17 Wolfsburg 14 5 1 8 18 25 16 Bremen 15 4 3 8 22 29 15 Heidenheim 14 4 2 8 21 30 14 Bochum 14 2 7 5 15 29 13 Union Berlin 13 3 1 9 15 28 10 Cologne 14 2 4 8 10 24 10 Mainz 14 1 6 7 12 26 9 Darmstadt 14 2 3 9 17 37 9 Friday’s Result Monchengladbach 2, Bremen 2 Saturday’s Games Mainz vs. Heidenheim, 6:30 a.m. Bochum vs. Union Berlin, 6:30 a.m. Augsburg vs. Dortmund, 6:30 a.m. Darmstadt vs. Wolfsburg, 6:30 a.m. RB Leipzig vs. Hoffenheim, 9:30 a.m. Sunday’s Games Freiburg vs. Cologne, 6:30 a.m. Leverkusen vs. Eintracht, 8:30 a.m. Bayern vs. Stuttgart, 10:30 a.m.

Spain La Liga GP W D L GF GA Pts Girona 16 13 2 1 38 20 41 Madrid 16 12 3 1 34 10 39 Atletico 15 11 1 3 32 14 34 Barcelona 16 10 4 2 30 18 34 Athletic Bilbao 16 8 5 3 31 19 29 Sociedad 16 8 5 3 29 18 29 Betis 16 6 8 2 19 17 26 Las Palmas 16 7 3 6 14 13 24 Getafe 16 5 7 4 18 20 22 Rayo Vallecano 17 4 8 5 16 23 20 Valencia 16 5 4 7 17 21 19 Osasuna 17 5 4 8 19 26 19 Alaves 16 4 4 8 14 20 16 Villarreal 16 4 4 8 22 29 16 Mallorca 16 2 8 6 14 20 14 Sevilla 15 2 7 6 20 21 13 Cadiz 16 2 7 7 13 23 13 Celta Vigo 16 1 7 8 15 25 10 Granada 16 1 5 10 20 36 8 Almeria 16 0 4 12 17 39 4 Friday’s Result Osasuna 1, Rayo Vallecano 0 Saturday’s Games Celta Vigo vs. Granada, 5 a.m. Athletic Bilbao vs. Atletico, 7:15 a.m. Sevilla vs. Getafe, 9:30 a.m. Valencia vs. Barcelona, Noon Sunday’s Games Almeria vs. Mallorca, 5 a.m. Sociedad vs. Betis, 7:15 a.m. Las Palmas vs. Cadiz, 9:30 a.m. Madrid vs. Villarreal, Noon

Italy Serie A GP W Inter 15 12 Juventus 16 11 AC Milan 15 9 Roma 15 7 Bologna 15 6 Fiorentina 15 7 Napoli 15 7 Atalanta 15 7 AC Monza 15 5 Lazio 15 6 Turin 15 5 Frosinone 15 5 Lecce 15 3 Genoa 16 4 Sassuolo 15 4 Cagliari 15 3 Udinese 15 1 Empoli 15 3 Verona 15 2 Salernitana 15 1 Friday’s Result Genoa 1, Juventus 1 Saturday’s Games Lecce vs. Frosinone, 6 a.m. Napoli vs. Cagliari, 9 a.m. Turin vs. Empoli, 11:45 a.m.

D 2 4 2 4 7 3 3 2 6 3 5 4 8 4 3 4 9 3 5 5

L GF GA Pts 1 37 7 38 1 24 10 37 4 26 18 29 4 28 17 25 2 18 12 25 5 24 18 24 5 26 18 24 6 24 18 23 4 16 14 21 6 16 16 21 5 13 16 20 6 20 24 19 4 17 20 17 8 16 21 16 8 22 28 15 8 15 27 13 5 12 25 12 9 10 27 12 8 13 22 11 9 11 30 8

D 3 5 3 6 4 5 5 2 3 5 7 4 6 6 7 4 6 5

L GF GA Pts 1 38 12 36 1 16 6 32 4 31 21 30 2 19 11 27 4 19 15 25 4 22 16 23 4 19 15 23 6 21 21 23 7 19 25 18 6 14 20 17 5 13 17 16 7 15 23 16 6 20 21 15 6 17 20 14 6 14 21 13 9 15 27 13 7 20 29 12 8 9 21 11

DEC. 17

DEC. 18

DEC. 19

DEC. 20

DEC. 21

DEC. 22

49ERS 800-746-0764, sf49ers.com RADIO: 680 AM/810 AM,107.7 FM Cardinals 1:05 p.m. CBS

WARRIORS 888-479-4667, warriors.com RADIO: 95.7 FM,1350 AM Nets 5:30 p.m. NBCSBA

Blazers 6 p.m. NBCSBA

Celtics 7 p.m. TNT

Wizards 7 p.m. ESPN

SHARKS 408-287-7070, sjsharks.com

RADIO: Sjsharks.com

Avs 5 p.m. NBCSCA KEY:

HOME

AWAY

Kings 7:30 p.m. HULU

Coyotes 7:30 p.m. HULU Radio coverage varies by time, location

ON THE AIR

TIME BOXING Super middleweights: David Morrell vs. Sena Agbeko 6 p.m. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Men: Georgia Tech vs. Penn State 9 a.m. LSU vs. Texas 9 a.m. La Salle at Miami 9 a.m. Kansas at Indiana 9:30 a.m. Sacred Heart at Providence 10:30 a.m. South Carolina State at Pittsburgh 11 a.m. Baylor vs. Michigan State 11 a.m. Santa Clara at Washington State 11 a.m. Georgetown at Notre Dame 11:15 a.m. Eastern Michigan at Michigan 11:30 a.m. Texas A&M vs. Houston 11:30 a.m. Ohio State vs. UCLA Noon Fordham at St. John’s 12:30 p.m. Vermont at Virginia Tech 1 p.m. Fla. Atlantic vs. St. Bonaventure 1 p.m. Utah Valley at Utah 1 p.m. Florida A&M at Iowa 1:30 p.m. North Carolina vs. Kentucky 2:30 p.m. Northwestern at DePaul 2:30 p.m. High Point at Georgia 2:30 p.m. Northeastern at Virginia 3 p.m. West Virginia vs. Massachusetts 3:30 p.m. Winthrop at Xavier 4:30 p.m. Cal vs. Mississippi 4:30 p.m. SMU at Florida State 5 p.m. Alabama at Creighton 5 p.m. N.C. State vs. Tennessee 7 p.m. Arizona State vs. TCU 7 p.m. Jackson State vs. Howard 9 p.m. Women: Louisville at Connecticut 9 a.m. Cleveland State at Iowa 4 p.m. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio 8 a.m. Celebration Bowl: Howard vs. Florida A&M 9 a.m. New Orleans Bowl: Jacksonville State vs. Louisiana 11:15 a.m. Cure Bowl: Miami (Ohio) vs. Appalachian St. 12:30 p.m. FCS semiﬁnal: North Dakota State at Montana 1:30 p.m. New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Fresno State 2:45 p.m. LA Bowl: Boise State vs. UCLA 4:30 p.m. Independence Bowl: Cal vs. Texas Tech 6:15 p.m. GOLF PNC Championship 11:30 a.m. Korn Ferry Q-School ﬁnals 11:30 a.m. DP World Mauritius Open 11:30 p.m. HOCKEY Canucks at Wild 11 a.m. Women: United States at Canada 2 p.m. Capitals at Predators 5 p.m. NBA Hawks at Cavaliers 4:30 p.m. Nets at Warriors 5:30 p.m. Jazz at Kings 7 p.m. NFL Vikings at Bengals 10 a.m. Steelers at Colts 1:30 p.m. Broncos at Lions 5:15 p.m. SOCCER English Premier League: Crystal Palace at Manchester City 7 a.m. Everton at Burnley 9:30 a.m. TENNIS Ultimate Tennis Showdown 8 a.m., Noon

RADIO

SHOWTIME Big Ten ESPN2 KRON CBS FS1 ACC Net Fox P12 Net KRON Big Ten ESPN2 CBS FS1 ACC Net ESPNU P12 Net Big Ten CBS FS1 SEC Net ACC Net ESPNU FS1 SEC Net ACC Net Fox ESPN2 ESPNU ESPNU

560

Fox Big Ten ESPN ABC ESPN ABC ESPN2 ESPN ABC

1050

ESPN

810

NBC Golf Ch. Golf Ch. NHL Net NHL Net NHL Net NBA TV NBCSBA NBA TV

1350, 95.7

NFL Net NFL Net NFL Net

104.5, 680 104.5, 680 104.5, 680

USA Net NBC Tennis Ch.

SIDELINES GOLF

Woods, son playing in PNC event again Tiger Woods jokingly refers to the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, as his fifth major. Maybe he’s not joking. It’s a chance to play a 36-hole tournament with his 14-year-old son, Charlie. They’re part of the 20 teams of major champions and family members and finished runner-up two years ago. Woods felt good enough to turn down a golf cart and walk 18 holes in a strong wind during the pro-am, which is not to suggest he is completely on the mend. “I felt like I was physically fit to do it,” Woods said. “Also, walking is better for my back. I just wanted to keep it loose and keep it going, and we’re having so much fun it doesn’t really matter.”

French Ligue 1 GP W PSG 15 11 Nice 15 9 Monaco 16 9 Lille 15 7 Brest 15 7 Marseille 15 6 Lens 15 6 Reims 15 7 Nantes 15 5 Strasbourg 15 4 Le Havre 15 3 Metz 15 4 Rennes 15 3 Montpellier 15 3 Toulouse 15 2 Lyon 16 3 Lorient 15 2 Clermont Foot 15 2 Friday’s Result Lyon 1, Monaco 0 Saturday’s Games Le Havre vs. Nice, 8 a.m. Lens vs. Reims, Noon

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Mississippi State QB Rogers to join Huskies Washington has added another quarterback who could take over once Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. says farewell. Former Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers is headed to Seattle, putting him in the mix to start for the Huskies next season. Rogers told ESPN that he had committed to the Washington staff while on a visit to the campus Friday. Rogers is the No. 2 passer in Southeastern Conference history after throwing for 12,315 yards during four seasons with the Bulldogs. — Associated Press

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

Armstead, Hargrave sidelined Chargers fire

coach, GM after latest debacle

49ERS » Starting defensive tackles will get more time to heal lower-body injuries By JERRY MCDONALD SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

SANTA CLARA — With an eye toward a postseason future, the 49ers will be without both starting defensive tackles Sunday when they visit the Arizona Cardinals. Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead were both officially ruled out Friday as part of a length injury list. Also out are running back Elijah Mitchell (knee), tight end Ross Dwelley (ankle) and linebacker and core special teams player Oren Burks (knee). Listed as questionable were cornerback Charvarius “Mooney” Ward (groin), starting guards Aaron Banks (hip) and Spencer Burford (knee) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (hip, ankle). Armstead wasn’t present during the media window during the 49ers’ ﬁnal practice, while Hargrave was working apart from the position group with the athletic training staff along with Ward. Hargrave has a hamstring strain, while Armstead has foot and knee issues. The 49ers (10-3) have already clinched a playoff spot and can wrap up the NFC West title with a win over the Cardinals (3-10). After the Arizona game, the 49ers get an extra day to heal up as they host Baltimore in a Monday night game on Christmas. In a 28-16 win over Seattle, Hargrave played a season-low 28 snaps and reported hamstring tightness. In his eighth season, Hargrave missed just three games with Pittsburgh (2016-19) and Philadelphia (2020-22) and he has played in 13 games with six sacks for the 49ers after signing a four-year contract worth a maximum of $84 million. With both starters out, the 49ers will look to Javon Kinlaw and Kevin Givens, with Kalia Davis in reserve. Coach Kyle Shanahan said another player could be added from the practice squad, which includes defensive

CAL

CONTINUED FROM C1 ability to showcase what they have. This is great for a defensive lineman like me. I just want to go out and showcase what I can do.” Ott earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors, while Brooks enters the matchup as an All-Big 12 first-teamer and Doak Walker Award semifinalist. Ott “is very patient in the hole and he will make you miss,” Texas Tech defensive back C.J. Baskerville said. “Our goal is to stop the run, make them one dimensional and make their freshman quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) have to make throws and beat us that way.” Neither team looked like it was going to be playing a postseason game as November arrived. The Bears (6-6) had to win their final three games — including the finale at UCLA — to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2019. “We had the playoff mindset. It’s win or go

JOHN RAOUX / ASSOCIATED PRESS

49ers defensive end Clelin Ferrell sacks Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence as Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead close in during their Nov. 12 game. tackles T.Y. McGill and Spencer Waege. Ward’s “questionable” designation echoed some optimism from Lynch, although Ward didn’t actually practice in the presence of reporters Friday. “I think Mooney is very much in play,” GM John Lynch said in a radio interview Friday. “He came out of the game early last week but we had him out there and Charvarius was comfortable going back in if we need him. Having said that, there was an injury. I think today’s going to be a big day to see where we can get him and we’ve still got time.” If Ward doesn’t play, the 49ers would start Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir as outside corners with Isaiah Oliver at nickel corner. Oliver, who started the season as the slot corner, has received minimal time on defense since the bye week, with Lenoir playing nickel and Thomas outside along with Ward. After Ward was injured in a 28-16 win over Seattle, Oliver played 39 snaps on defense.

that the Cardinals are better than their record. During his radio appearance, Lynch said he thought the 49ers learned a valuable lesson in losing three straight games after a 42-10 win over Dallas in Week 5. “We’ve gone through our adversity this year, our period of us feeling great about ourselves,” Lynch said. “Our best players are our hardest workers. That sets a tone, but I do believe that earlier in the year after Dallas, everybody was, ‘Hey, this team is unbeatable’ and we found out very quickly you can get punched in the mouth.”

Notable

■ With 100 yards from scrimmage, Christian McCaffrey would tie Roger Craig for the team record of seven consecutive games with 100 or more. McCaffrey, Frank Gore (2007) and Craig (1985 and 1987) each have streaks of six. Craig’s seven game streak was in 1988. ■ Deebo Samuel has a rushing and receiving touchdown in each of his last two games. If he does it again against Arizona, he joins former Cincinnati fullback Pete JohnLessons after Dallas son (1981) as the only player with a Shanahan has spent the week rushing and receiving touchdown in demonstrating to his team on ﬁlm three straight games.

NFL NOTES » 63-21 loss to Raiders last straw for Staley

JoJo Wooden as interim general manager. Los Angeles’ next game is against Buffalo on Dec. 23.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rodgers makes progress

Dean Spanos has decided he isn’t “All In” anymore on Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco leading the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers owner ﬁred Staley as coach and Telesco as general manager Friday morning after one of the worst losses in franchise history. Los Angeles made the playoffs last season but is one of this year’s biggest disappointments at 5-9, with losses in ﬁve of their last six games. The Bolts dropped into last place in the AFC West after Thursday night’s 63-21 loss at Las Vegas. It was the most points allowed in franchise history and the 42-point margin was the third-worst. Spanos thanked Staley and Telesco in a statement for their hard work, dedication and professionalism, but he did not mince words on in why the move was made with three games remaining in the regular season. “Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they’ve earned more,” he said. Giff Smith will serve as the interim head coach and

Pac-12 swan song

ANNOUNCEMENT

MICHAEL THOMAS / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas Tech wide receiver Drae McCray runs the ball during the ﬁrst half Nov. 24 against Texas in Austin. both dynamics.” Texas Tech isn’t going anywhere, but the Big 12 will expand thanks to some Pac-12 defectors. “Colorado, they’re a fun team,” Baskerville said. “To play against them

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and legendary (coach) De- a third straight season. ion Sanders is going to be But when he looked at the schedule and saw the Indeamazing.” pendence Bowl was among Scheduling conﬂict the seven games to kick off Texas Tech coach Joey the postseason Saturday, he McGuire was happy his knew there’d be an issue. team earned a bowl for This also happens to be

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Texas Tech and Cal have played one another just once before and never during the regular season. Their only meeting came nearly two decades ago in the 2004 Holiday Bowl in San Diego. The Red Raiders prevailed in that game in a 45-31 shootout. This game could be a lot different, with both teams relying heavily on the running game. Plus, two of Tech’s top three receivers — Jerand Bradley and Myles Price — are sitting out after entering the NCAA transfer portal.

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Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco has been ruled out of Sunday’s game in New England after having a “cleanup” surgery on his ailing shoulder, coach Andy Reid said Friday. It’s the second game he’ll miss. “We probably anticipate getting him back next week,” Reid said.

Rare meeting

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graduation weekend in Lubbock, Texas. “I thought, ‘I’m ﬁxing to get a lot of moms upset with me,’” McGuire said. “But our president and every dean of my college and my guys that graduated did a ceremony on Monday. “It was pretty incredible. If you ask the parents and the players, it was probably better than a regular graduation because it was an intimate setting. It worked out.”

home,” said Correia, whose team topped the Bruins, 33-7, at the Rose Bowl. “We just wanted to dominate and that’s what we ended up doing.” Texas Tech (6-6) was on the brink of postseason elimination after a 3-5 start. They then opened November with three straight wins before dropping their most recent game against No. 3 Texas. The Independence Bowl will be Cal’s last as a member of the Pac-12. The ﬂight from the San Francisco Bay Area to Shreveport wasn’t even as long as the road trips the Bears can expect to make next season, when they move into the ACC. Cal redshirt freshman tight end Jack Endries said he knows it’ll take even longer to go play ACC opponents like Florida State, but adds that he’s up for new experiences. “It’s good timing for me. I played two seasons in the Pac-12 and will have two or three in the ACC,” he said. “It will be really cool to get

Aaron Rodgers took a few more steps — and provided a highlight play — in his comeback attempt from a torn left Achilles tendon. Coach Robert Saleh said Friday the 40-year-old quarterback “pushed it a little bit” at practice Thursday, when he was listed as a limited participant after sitting out Wednesday. He was limited again Friday and ruled out for the game, but impressed his teammates when he made a leaping grab. “He’s been moving great,” wide receiver Garrett Wilson said. “He jumped up and made a catch today. It’s kind of scary. I’m like, ‘Chill!’ That’s what I want to say, but he looks ahead of schedule, for sure.” Saleh said Rodgers, who was hurt four snaps into his debut with the team on Sept. 11, took some snaps Thursday under center, ran some bootleg plays and jogged during practice.

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PUBLIC NOTICE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 6460 AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM PROHIBITING, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS: (1) THE REMOVAL OF PROTECTED TREES; AND (2) TYPE CONVERSION OF OAK WOODLAND, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF SONOMA COUNTY (EXCLUDING THE COASTAL ZONE), UNTIL JANUARY 26, 2024. (URGENCY ORDINANCE - 4/5 VOTE REQUIRED) The Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, State of California, ordains as follows: Section I. Authority and Purpose. This Urgency Ordinance (“Urgency Ordinance”) is enacted pursuant to California Constitution, article XI, section 7. The purpose of this ordinance is to establish a temporary moratorium, with limited exceptions specified below, that prohibits: (1) the Removal of Protected Trees greater than six inches (6”) diameter at breast height (dbh); or (2) any Type Conversion of Oak Woodland, as herein defined, throughout the unincorporated area of the County excluding the Coastal Zone, until January 26, 2024. Section II. Findings. The Board of Supervisors finds that the adoption of this ordinance on an urgency basis is necessary to immediately preserve the public peace, health, and safety of the county and protect against the current and immediate threat to the public health, safety or welfare posed by the approval of projects that involve the Removal of Protected Trees and Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. The Board of Supervisors further finds that the facts constituting the basis for the urgency and the need for the temporary moratorium are as follows: A. The Tree Protection Ordinance (County Code Section 26-88-010(m)) was adopted in 1989 by Ordinance 4014. Since its adoption in 1989, the effectiveness of the ordinance has been limited by its narrow applicability. With current declines in forest health resulting from drought, pests, disease, wildfire and human disturbance, the Planning Commission discussed the increasing importance of tree protection and the need for tree removal impacts to be appropriately mitigated. B. The County of Sonoma General Plan 2020 (adopted in 2008) includes an Open Space and Resource Conservation Element which sets forth goals, objectives and policies to increase protections of native trees, woodlands and forests, and the wide range of ecosystem services they provide, including but not limited to facilitation of groundwater recharge and water quality, stream bank stability, air quality, carbon sequestration, localized climate moderation, wildlife habitat, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic value; and C. In the years since the adoption of the Tree Protection Ordinance and later the General Plan 2020, forest and woodland resources and the benefits they provide to the community have been diminished by a variety of factors including: urban and rural development, agricultural conversion, forestry practices, historical fire suppression, and climate related phenomena including drought, fire, pests and pathogens; and D. Forests and woodlands absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in different repositories which include trees (both living and dead), root systems, undergrowth, the forest floor and soils and live trees have the highest carbon density, followed by soils and the forest floor, and existing mature trees help sequester carbon at greater volumes than young trees or sapling planted as mitigation for large tree removal; and E. Approximately 23% of Sonoma County’s land area has been affected by wildfire since 2017, and though the ecosystems are home to many fire adapted species, the intensity of recent fires has, in some cases decimated local forests and woodlands, and climate change, in addition to post-fire salvage logging and development both challenge the ability of trees, woodlands and related ecosystems to recover; and F. The Removal of Protected Trees and Type Conversion of Oak Woodland are in conflict with proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments that Permit Sonoma is currently reviewing, pose a current and immediate threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, and the approval of additional subdivisions, use permits, variances, building permits, or any other applicable entitlement for use which is required in order to comply with the currently enacted Zoning Ordinance would result in that threat to public health, safety, or welfare. G. Previously, Sonoma County has experienced a rush of permit applications and development activity when it has announced with specificity upcoming regulatory changes to ordinances that impact residential and agricultural development, from and by those persons seeking to avoid compliance with the pending proposed specific regulations; and H. The Planning Commission held public workshops and meetings on tree protection regulations between November 2021 and August 2023, ultimately making its recommendation on the draft Tree Ordinance and draft Oak Woodland Combining Zone in August 2023; and I. The Board of Supervisors held a combined hearing on the proposed Tree Protection Ordinance and Oak Woodland Combining Zone changes on November 28, 2023, heard public testimony, and provided feedback and direction to staff to revise the draft ordinances and return for further Board consideration of the revised code amendments; and J. For the reasons stated herein, the Board of Supervisors finds that it is necessary to adopt, on a temporary basis, a moratorium on the Removal of Protected Trees greater than six inches (6”) diameter at breast height (dbh) or any Type Conversion of Oak Woodland, as provided below. Section III. Definitions. Native Oak Tree. A native oak tree to Sonoma County of the genus Quercus, that is classified as any one of the following: blue oak (Q. douglasii), interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), coast live oak (Q. agrifolia), canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis), Oregon oak (Q. garryana), California black oak (Q. kelloggii), valley oak (Q. lobata), Shreve oak (Q. parvula var. shrevei), or naturally occurring hybrids of two or more of the preceding listed trees. Oak Woodland. A contiguous stand of trees dominated by Native Oak Trees with at least one-half (0.5) acre of cover. For purposes of this definition, “contiguous stand” means a stand where all individual oak trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) equal to or greater than 6 inches have canopies located within 200 feet of one another on a parcel. Oak Woodland includes lands that supported native oak trees as indicated in the 2013 Sonoma VegMap. This term is inclusive of both oak woodlands and savannas, where canopy gaps may be more present, and oak forests, where canopy gaps are less present. Oak Woodland is inclusive of associated vegetative strata including canopy, subcanopy, shrub, herb and bryophyte. Protected Tree. Any tree species considered native to Sonoma County and includes the following: Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum), Black Oak (Quercus kelloggii), Blue Oak (Quercus douglasii), Boxelder (Acer negundo), California Bay (Umbellularia california), California Black Walnut (Juglans californica), California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Cottonwood species (Populus fremontii, P. trichocarpa), Cypress species (Hesporcyparis macrocarpa, H. macnabiana), Grand Fir (Abies grandis), Interior Live Oak (Quercus wislizenii), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Oregon Ash (Fraxinus latifolia), Oregon Oak (Quercus garryana), Pine species (Pinus attenuata, P. contorta, P. lambertiana, P. muricata, P. ponderosa, P. sabiniana), Red or White Alder (Alnus rubra, A. rhombifolia), Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Willow species (Salix laevigata, S. lucida), and any natural hybrids of these tree species. Removal. To sever or displace the above-ground portion of a Tree using manual, mechanical, or chemical means, which results in the death or stumping of the Tree. This does not include the use of fire as part of a permitted prescribed burn. Type Conversion. The removal of the capacity of the land to grow oak trees or Oak Woodlands by a person. This includes but is not limited to, clearing, grading, or otherwise modifying land for roads, driveways, buildings or building pads, utility easements, and Agricultural Crop Cultivation within an Oak Woodland. Maintenance such as pruning and removing dead branches from living oak resources is not included, provided that the maintenance does not include crown reduction resulting in death or conversion of the oak resource. Section IV. Temporary Moratorium on Removal of Protected Trees and Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. This Urgency Ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium prohibiting the following: A. Any Removal of a Protected Tree greater than or equal to six inches (6”) in diameter at breast height (dbh). B. Any Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. Section V. Applicability This Ordinance applies to any and all properties within the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, except for the Coastal Zone. Section VI. Exceptions. Notwithstanding anything contained in Chapters 25 and 26 of the Sonoma County Code to the contrary, the following activities are exempt from the requirements of this Urgency Ordinance: A. Evacuation Routes and Emergency Activities. A tree removed to maintain existing evacuation routes, or for emergency response purposes during a natural disaster. B. Immediate Danger. A tree in a hazardous condition which presents an immediate danger to health or property where trimming alone cannot reduce the hazard. C. Diseased. A tree or trees in a diseased or infected state as verified at a reasonable time either before or after the removal by the Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department, where removal of the tree will be beneficial to the plant community or will avoid developing a hazardous condition. If recommended by a County-approved tree consultant, adjacent healthy trees may also be removed in order to prevent or curtail the spread of pathogens and infectious diseases, such as sudden oak death. D. Utilities and Rights-of-Way. Trees which require maintenance or removal for the safe operation and maintenance of public rights-of-way, existing electrical power lines, communication lines, gas pipelines, or other property of a public agency or utility, as determined by the public agency or utility, its employees, or designee(s). E. Trimming and Pruning. Trimming and pruning of no more than 30 percent of an individual tree’s canopy, provided the trimming or pruning does not result in the death of a tree. F. Fire Safety. a. Trees removed for compliance with fire safety laws and regulations, in connection with activities necessary to comply with local defensible space requirements, or if removal is required by an insurance company that insures an occupied dwelling or occupied structure in accordance with the California Public Resources Code and applicable state law. b. Trees removed for fuel management purposes. G. Existing or Previously Approved Development Permits or Land Use Entitlements. Any permit or entitlement that has been approved by Sonoma County prior to the effective date of this Urgency Ordinance, regardless of whether it involves the Removal of Protected Trees or Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. H. Housing. Removal of Protected Trees as a result of the development of a by-right housing project located within an urban service area. I. Timber Harvest: A tree removed in connection with a CalFire approved Timber Harvesting Plan or timber harvesting permit. J. Residential Maintenance: A tree removed in connection with activities necessary to maintain or protect an existing residential structure, provide for its heating, maintain or protect a septic system, or utilities connected to a residential structure. Section VII. Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures For the duration of the moratorium, the Sonoma County Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures shall not issue any permits under Chapter 36 of the Sonoma County Code that involve the Removal of a Protected Tree or Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. Any permits issued pursuant to Chapter 36 prior to the effective date of this Urgency Ordinance shall not be subject to the prohibition of Removal of Protected Trees or Type Conversion of Oak Woodland, regardless of whether the permit authorizes the Removal of Protected Trees or Type Conversion of Oak Woodland. Section VIII. Enforcement A violation of this Urgency Ordinance is deemed to be a violation of Chapter 26 of the Sonoma County Code. In the event of a violation of this Urgency Ordinance or any requirement imposed pursuant to this Urgency Ordinance, the County may, in its discretion and in addition to all other remedies, take such enforcement action as is authorized under Chapter26 of the Sonoma County Code and/or any other action authorized by law. Section IX. Environmental Determination. The Board of Supervisors finds and determines that this ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15307 and 15308 of the State CEQA Guidelines as an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of natural resources and the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The basis for this determination is that this ordinance establishes a temporary moratorium prohibiting actions that would remove Protected Trees or Oak Woodland and have an impact on the County’s natural carbon sinks, associated habitat, and related natural resources. Protected Trees and Oak Woodland are an important part of the environment and would be further protected and preserved by this ordinance. This moratorium will not result in any significant adverse direct or indirect physical changes to the environment. This ordinance is further exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guideline § 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. The Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department is directed to file a notice of determination that this ordinance is exempt from CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines. Section X. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and every section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid. Section XI. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be and the same is hereby declared to be in full force and effect immediately upon its passage and shall continue in effect until January 26, 2024, unless extended or terminated by subsequent action of the Board of Supervisors. This ordinance shall be published once before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after said passage, with the names of the Supervisors voting for or against the same in The Press Democrat, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sonoma, State of California. In regular session of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, passed this 12th day of December, 2023, on regular roll call of the members of said Board by the following vote: SUPERVISORS: Gorin: Aye Rabbitt: No Gore: Aye Hopkins: Aye Coursey: Aye Ayes: 4 Noes: 1 Absent: 0 Abstain: 0 WHEREUPON, the Chair declared the above and foregoing Ordinance duly adopted and SO ORDERED. ___________________________ Chair, Board of Supervisors County of Sonoma ATTEST: ___________________________ M. Christina Rivera, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors 189892 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDINANCE NO. 6456 AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING DATABASE OF THE COUNTY OF SONOMA, ADOPTED BY REFERENCE IN SECTION 26-02-110 OF THE SONOMA COUNTY CODE, TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY FROM THE LIA B6 20 Z, F1 RC50/25 RC100/50 SR ZONING DISTRICTS TO THE LIA B6 20, F1 RC50/25 RC100/50 SR ZONING DISTRICTS FOR 3.41 ACRES LOCATED AT 2150 W. DRY CREEK ROAD; APN 089-190-034 The Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, State of California, on recommendation of the Planning Commission, ordains as follows: Section I. The Board of Supervisors finds that adoption of this ordinance is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the proposal to remove the Z Combining District is a minor alteration in land use limitations in an area with an average slope of less than 20% that does not result in any changes in land use or density. This ordinance is a minor alteration in land use limitations that does not alter the base zoning or allowable uses or density because under state law, the addition of one accessory dwelling unit may not be considered to exceed the allowable density for the lot upon which it is located (Government Code § 65852.2(a)(8)). Adoption of the proposed ordinance is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.17, adoption of an ordinance by a city or county to implement the provisions of Government Code section 65852.2, regarding permitting of accessory dwelling units. The proposed rezoning would provide for the creation of an accessory dwelling unit in an area zoned to allow residential development. Section II. The Board of Supervisors finds that adoption of this ordinance is consistent with the General Plan. Removal of the Z Combining District is consistent with the Land Intensive Agriculture land use designation and will not significantly alter any of the potential uses that are allowed by the base zoning of the site. Section III. The Board of Supervisors finds that adoption of this ordinance is consistent with Chapter 26 of the Sonoma County Code (Zoning). Removal of the Z Combining District would allow for an accessory dwelling unit on the parcel. Accessory dwelling units are allowed in the LIA Zoning District (Sec. 26-06-030, Allowed land uses). The parcel meets the Zoning Ordinance requirements for an accessory dwelling unit. Section 26-88-060 of the Zoning Ordinance allows an accessory dwelling unit in zoning districts that allow single-family dwellings. The subject parcel meets this standard. This parcel does not meet any of the conditions provided in Sec. 26-76-005 for retaining the Z combining district, for the following reasons: a. The parcel is located primarily within a Class 1 major groundwater basin. The applicant provided a dry-weather well yield test confirming there is sufficient groundwater to serve the site, including the existing residence and future ADU. b. Adequate wastewater disposal is available. The parcel and the development facilitated by the project would be served by a septic system with sufficient capacity to serve a primary and accessory dwelling. c. The parcel is not located in an area with existing traffic hazards and the addition of an accessory dwelling unit to this site would not increase the burden on streets, roads, or highways in the area as they are all operating acceptably and are not projected to become impacted in the foreseeable future. d. While the parcel is located in a high fire hazard severity zone as shown on Permit Sonoma’s hazards mapping tool, the site is not within a State Responsibility Area. The site is within a Local Responsibility Area, and the County Fire Mashal has determined that the establishment of an accessory dwelling unit would not create a significant fire hazard or substantially increase the fire risk due to topography, access, or vegetation. Future building permits would be subject to applicable building and fire construction standards. Section IV. The Official Zoning Database (OZD) of the County, adopted by reference in Section 26-02-110 of the Sonoma County Code, is hereby amended to reclassify the following real property from LIA B6 20 Z, F1 RC50/25 RC100/50 SR zoning districts; and shall be reclassified LIA B6 20, F1 RC50/25 RC100/50 SR zoning districts, for 3.41 acres located at 2150 W. Dry Creek Road; APN 089-190-034 File No. ZCE21-0012. The Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department is directed to reflect this amendment in the OZD of the County. Section V. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and every section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional or invalid. Section VI. This Ordinance shall be and the same is hereby declared to be in full force and effect from and after thirty (30) days after the date of its passage and shall be published once before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after said passage, with the names of the Supervisors voting for or against the same, in The Press Democrat, a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Sonoma, State of California. In regular session of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Sonoma, passed and adopted this 5th day of December, 2023, on regular roll call of the members of said Board by the following vote: SUPERVISORS: Gorin: Aye Rabbitt: Aye Gore: Absent Hopkins: Aye Coursey: Aye Ayes: 4 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 Abstain: 0 WHEREUPON, the Chair declared the above and foregoing Ordinance duly adopted and SO ORDERED. ____________________________ Chair, Board of Supervisors County of Sonoma ATTEST: ____________________________ M. Christina Rivera, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors 189888 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

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SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 6458 Summary of An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending Sonoma County Code Chapter 26 (Zoning Regulations), To Implement The 20232031 Housing Element And Ensure Consistency With State Law. At its regular meeting on December 5, 2023, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 6458, “An Ordinance Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Amending Sonoma County Code Chapter 26 (Zoning Regulations), To Implement The 2023-2031 Housing Element And Ensure Consistency With State Law.” Ordinance No. 6458 includes the following changes to Sonoma County Code Chapter 26 (Zoning): A. Amendments to Article 4 (Definitions) listing Low Barrier Navigation Centers and State Regulated Small Employee Housing as new terms. B. Amendments to Articles 06 (Agricultural and Resource Zones), 08 (Residential Zones), 10 (Commercial Zones), and 14 (Special Purpose Zones), including: 1. Amendments to the land use tables in Sections 26-06-030, 26-08030, 26-10-030, and 26-14-030 adding Low Barrier Navigation Centers and State Regulated Small Employee Housing as permitted and conditionally permitted land uses as mandated by state law; C. Amendments to Article 24 (Residential Use Standards), including: 1. Addition of new Section 26-24-210 (Low-Barrier Navigation Center) providing definitions and standards consistent with the requirements of state law; 2. Amendments to Section 26-24-230 (Permanent Supportive Housing) to clarify standards in compliance with state law; 3. Amendments to Section 26-24-240 (Residential Community Care) to clarify definitions and standards in compliance with state law; 4. Replacing text of Section 26-24-260 (State-regulated Small Employee Housing) adding definitions and standards consistent with the requirements of state law, and renumbering and making no amendments to the substance of existing Section 26-24-260 and subsequent sections. 5. Amendments to 26-24-270 (Transitional Housing) to clarify standards in compliance with state law. 6. Amendments to correct and update text and table references and make similar non-substantive changes. D. Amendments to Articles 63 (Local Guidelines Combining District) and 90 (Local Area Development Guidelines) to establish a new Local Guidelines Combining District (LG/LAN - Lance Drive Local Guidelines) and add definitions and development standards, including: 1. Amendments to Section 26-63-030 to add a reference to the newly Lance Drive Local Guidelines Combining District. 2. Amendments to Section 26-90-020 to add Lance Drive Combining District definitions and development standards. E. Amendments to Article 86 (Parking) to update parking standards for Low Barrier Navigation Centers and Homeless Shelter uses for compliance with state law. F. Amendments to Article 88 (General Exceptions and Special Use Standards) to update definitions, standards, and requirements as required by state law, including: 1. Amendments to Section 26-88-010(k) (General Use Provisions and Exemptions) to add clarify permitting compliance with the Employee Housing Act. 2. Amendments to Section 26-88-060 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to update Accessory Dwelling Unit definitions, standards, and requirements for compliance with state law. 3. Amendments to Section 26-88-127 (Homeless Shelters) to update Homeless Shelter standards and requirements for compliance with state law. G. Amendments to Article 88 (General Exceptions and Special Use Standards) to update definitions, standards, and requirements as required by state law. H. Amendments to Article 89 (Affordable Housing Program Requirements and Incentives) to update definitions, standards and requirements for compliance with state law, including updates to Section 26-89-010, 26-89-030, 26-89-040, 26-89-050, and 26-89-090. Ordinance No. 6458 will take effect on January 4, 2024. A copy of the full text of Ordinance No. 6458 is posted and available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 575 Administration Drive, Room 100A, Santa Rosa, California, during regular business hours, and on the Board of Supervisors website at https://onbaseprodext.sonoma-county.org/PublicAccess-BOSEP5/services/document-search/ index.html. SUPERVISORS: Gorin: Aye Rabbitt: Aye Gore: Absent Hopkins: Aye Coursey: Aye Ayes: 4 Noes: 0 Absent: 1 Abstain: 0 M. Christina Rivera, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma By: ____________________ Deputy Clerk

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189890 – Pub Dec 16, 2023

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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Bruce I. Potterton CASE NO. 23PR00358 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the Will or estate, or both, of: Bruce I. Potterton A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Halle C. Potterton in the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. The Petition for Probate requests that: Halle C. Potterton be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. X The Petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/19/2024 at 9:30am in Dept. 23, located at 3055 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. To join online go to: Zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 160 825 4529 Passcode: 611386 Or join by phone dial: 1-669-254-5252 If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (FORM DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code §1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. FILED: 12/08/2023 Halle C. Potterton 95 Sea View Avenue Piedmont, CA 94611 510-610-5049 Petitioner W0049635 - December 13,16,19 2023 3ti. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Nancy Kay Webb CASE NO. 23PR00361 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the Will or estate, or both, of: Nancy Kay Webb A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Lori J. Ingram in the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. The Petition for Probate requests that: Lori J. Ingram be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. X The petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. X The Petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 01/26/2024 at 9:30am in Dept. 23, located at 3055 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. To join online go to: Zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 160 825 4529 Passcode: 611386 Or join by phone dial: 1-669-254-5252 If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (FORM DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code §1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. FILED: 12/08/2023 Tricia A. Shindledecker, Esq. 3554 Round Barn Blvd., Ste. 312 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-284-1424 Attorney for Petitioner W0049646 - December 13,16,19 2023 3ti.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Northern Sonoma County Fire Protection District invites and will receive competitive proposals for the provision of Professional Planning and Management Services for Vegetation Management Projects in support of a Strategic Control Network in the Cloverdale Fire Protection District. NOSOCO Project #: DR4482-PJ0587. More information at www.northernsonomacountyfire.org/ fuel-reduction-projects-bidding-information 189881 - Pub Dec 16, 23, 2023 2ti.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

RANKINGS CONTINUED FROM C1

they were discussed as we put these together, but at the end of the day St. Vincent deserves to be rewarded for what it accomplished this postseason. For the Mustangs to run through the North Coast Section Division 6 playoffs with an average margin of victory of 35 points and then beat two schools with 10 times their enrollment to win a state title is nothing short of remarkable. Would Casa Grande and Ukiah have accomplished the same if they faced the same competition? Maybe, but we’ll never know for sure. This season also fed our desire to see St. Vincent matched up against the area’s top programs, like Cardinal Newman, Windsor or Rancho Cotate. Wondering how this small-school power stacks up against the big dogs has been a fun hypothetical the last three years during their rise to prominence. Now we’re starting to think it’s not so far-fetched to say that they belong in the conversation with those three for best teams in Sonoma County. Outside of St. Vincent, Windsor closes out the season at No. 1 for the second straight year. The Jaguars came up agonizingly short in another NCS title game, but their 31 wins over the last three years is the best stretch in program history. This outgoing senior class will be remembered fondly, especially for bringing home

the school’s first wins over Cardinal Newman, two straight league titles and two runner-up finishes in the section playoffs. Cardinal Newman also had a strong run through the NCS playoffs but still couldn’t get past Marin Catholic in the Division 3 title game. The Wildcats went on to win the Division 3A state title and will be league foes with the Cardinals next year in the top division of the new Redwood Empire Conference. The Cardinals are slated to bring back a ton of talent next year, so we’ll see if the matchup can swing in their favor in the coming years. Rancho Cotate also jumps a spot to close out the year with their strong play in the NCS Division 2 playoffs. The Cougars upset No. 3 seed Granada 40-18 on the road in the first round and then held Windsor to just 14 points in a one-score loss in the semifinals. Despite losing five games — their most since 2013 — the Cougars’ resume is better than it might appear at first glance. Of those losses, three of them came against NCS finalists (Windsor twice and Cardinal Newman) and another to a state runner-up (Pleasant Valley in Division 5-AA). Looking ahead to next year, our rankings may change form once again. We added Napa County schools midway through this season and we’re considering bringing Marin teams into the fold next year with league realignment. More on that closer to the start of next season.

CYCLING

CONTINUED FROM C1

KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

St. Vincent players celebrates their state title win last week in Pasadena.

FINAL RANKINGS 1. Windsor (10-2-1) Last ranking: 1 Since last ranking: Finished as North Coast Section Division 2 runners-up. Beat No. 7 Vintage 49-13, then-No. 4 Rancho Cotate 14-7, lost to El Cerrito 34-31. 2. Cardinal Newman (11-2) Last ranking: 2 Since last ranking: Finished as NCS Division 3 runners-up. Beat American Canyon 49-14, Las Lomas 54-28, lost to Marin Catholic 24-3. 3. Rancho Cotate (7-5) Last ranking: 4 Since last ranking: Finished in semiﬁnals of NCS Division 2 playoffs. Beat Granada 40-18, lost to No. 1 Windsor 14-7. 4. St. Vincent (13-2) Last ranking: 6 Since last ranking: Won Division 6-AA state championship and NCS Division 6 title. Beat Kennedy-Richmond 56-12, Fortuna 45-21, Salesian-Richmond 48-12, Palo Alto 28-26 and Wasco 27-6. 5. Casa Grande (9-2) Last ranking: No. 3

Since last ranking: Lost to Tamalpais 34-28 in first round of NCS Division 3 playoffs. 6. Ukiah (7-4) Last ranking: No. 5 Since last ranking: Lost to Las Lomas 17-7 in first round of NCS Division 3 playoffs. 7. Vintage (5-6) Last ranking: No. 7 Since last ranking: Lost to No. 1 Windsor 49-13 in first round of NCS Division 2 playoffs. On the bubble: American Canyon (6-5) Last ranking: Not ranked Since last ranking: Lost to No. 2 Cardinal Newman 49-14 in first round of NCS Division 3 playoffs. Analy (7-5) Last ranking: Not ranked Since last ranking: Finished in semifinals of NCS Division 5 playoffs. Beat Justin-Siena 49-7, lost to St. Bernard’s 49-0. Maria Carrillo (6-6) Last ranking: Not ranked Since last ranking: Finished in semifinals of NCS Division 4 playoffs. Beat Petaluma 24-14, lost to San Marin 59-7.

dismount and carry their bikes. Saturday’s victory was the latest in a succession of strong results for Lopez de San Roman, who has sharpened her skills in this discipline by training and racing in Europe last season, and earlier this fall. To prepare for that quantum leap in competition, she worked at the Euro Cross Academy in the Netherlands under Geoff Proctor, a former national team coach who praised her “coachable spirit” and referred to her as “a quick study.” The teenager also has benefited from the tutelage of coach Kristin Armstrong, a three-time Olympic gold medal winner in the time trial. Based in Boise, Idaho, Armstrong has overseen Lopez de San Roman’s training plans this season. “She’s got the engine, she’s got the desire,” said Julia Violich, the Marin County-based founder of the Bear team. In the past, Violich noted, Lopez de San Roman could sometimes be an impulsive, impatient rider whose attacks were not always well timed. “She’s learning.” After finishing 12th twice, along with a ninth and seventh place in four UCI World Cup races last season, Lopez de San Roman finished fourth at a World Cup event in Troyes, France on Nov. 19, then fifth a week later at a World Cup race in Dublin, Ireland.

“That is huge,” said Violich, whose team sent Lopez de San Roman back to Europe earlier this week for another block of racing and training. At those races in France, then Ireland, “Vida was calm at the start line, she was so smart and strategic, and she crushed it,” said Violich. Riding the momentum of those successes into the nationals in Louisville, “Vida showed up knowing she had more experience, a bigger engine and more passion than anyone else. And she did it.” Racing in the rain in Kentucky, Lopez de San Ramon recalled, “I didn’t think about winning. Instead I thought about section of the course, each feature, and the present moment.” This latest win was especially meaningful, she reﬂected, following her disappointing result at the 2022 national championships. Favored to win, she’d “overtrained” and “under-fueled” and placed 11th, a galling disappointment. The victory also was a tad bittersweet. On social media, Lopez de San Ramon said she’d raced “with our dear friend Magnus in my heart.” She was referring to Magnus White of Boulder, Colorado, a rising star on the U.S. cycling scene who was killed in July while on a training ride. On Tuesday, 20 weeks after his death, police in Longmont, Colorado, charged a woman with vehicular homicide in connection to White’s death.

ALL-LEAGUE GOLF, TENNIS, WATER POLO GOLF NBL-Oak Player of the Year Ella Foley, So., Cardinal Newman First Team Keely Collins, So., Cardinal Newman Taryn Rubins, Cardinal Newman McKenna Murphy, Sr., Windsor Ava Lewis, Jr., Rancho Cotate JoJo Robertson, So., Windsor Second Team Marrisa Adams, Sr., Rancho Cotate Katelyn Martin, Jr., Montgomery Maddie Bugbee, Cardinal Newman NBL-Redwood Player of the Year Tehya Mitchell, Jr., Healdsburg First Team Payton Bunch, So., Analy Alex Negrevski, Sr., Maria Carrillo Julia Jenkins, Jr., Maria Carrillo Simran Sahni, Fr., Analy GemmaGuerra, So., Analy Second Team Savanna Conwell, Sr., Analy Kylie Malm, Sr., Maria Carrillo Makenzie Binkley, Sr., Ukiah

VVAL Player of the Year Kaya Prosser, Justin-Siena All-League Stella Persinger, Napa Nicki Haubold, Napa Brooklyn Blankenship, American Canyon Lizzie Quick, Vintage Addie Rode, Vintage Aubrey Freeman, Petaluma Vannia Dagnino, Justin-Siena Natalie Krystal, Justin-Siena Marley Sennott, Justin-Siena TENNIS NBL Player of the Year Caroline Beard, Sr., Montgomery First-Team Singles Sophia Manville, Jr., Cardinal Newman Caitlin Feng, Fr., Maria Carrillo Bella Gee, So., Analy Maia Raﬁdison, Sr., Windsor Second-Team Singles Suzanna Hextrum, Sr., Cardinal Newman Maritza Jacobs, Sr., Ukiah Annie Lee, So., Maria Carrillo Kailyn Shin, Sr., Maria Carrillo

First-Team Doubles Isabella Finnerty, Sr., Cardinal Newman Alena Bardashova, So., Cardinal Newman Victoria Cawthon, Sr., Ukiah Izzy Nickerson, Sr., Ukiah Isabel Lickey, Jr., Healdsburg Ruby Leffew, Jr., Healdsburg Momo Zingg, Fr., Maria Carrillo Sebin Park, Jr., Maria Carrillo Ava McMinn, Sr., Maria Carrillo Tessa Tappe, Sr., Maria Carrillo Second-Team Doubles Abby Sieg, So., Analy Maya Squires, So., Analy Matisse Gallo, Jr., Cardinal Newman Lilian Roache, Jr., Cardinal Newman Sitlaly Morales, Sr., Ukiah Sarah McGrath, So., Ukiah Soﬁa Nielsen, Sr., Windsor Victoria Gutenu, Sr., Windsor Ida Likitprakong, Jr., Montgomery Julie Alabrash, Jr., Montgomery VVAL Player of the Year Natalie Vale, Vintage All-League Naveena Jacson, Justin-Siena Micaela Pucci, Justin-Siena Bryn Hogan, Justin-Siena

Ezrielle Llave, American Canyon Lydia Zhou, American Canyon Dee Dee Alpet, Petaluma Annie Bober, Petaluma WATER POLO Boys Player of the Year Ben Gradius, Sr., Ukiah Co-Goalies of the Year Francis Mulligan, Sr., Vintage Braden Land, Sr., Ukiah First Team Brody Hansel, So., Cardinal Newman PO Casey, Sr., Vintage Andrew Dillon, Sr., Napa Joseph Barerra, So., Petaluma Tyler Trantow, Jr., Sonoma Valley Juli Klieman, Jr., Napa Second Team Noah Zipay, Jr., American Canyon Jack Chavez, Sr., American Canyon Nicolas Exter, So., Sonoma Valley Josh Gradius, So., Ukiah Thomas McCarthly, Fr., Cardinal Newman Christian Mills, Sr., Vintage Honorable Mention Aidan Velicaria, Sr., American Canyon Cameron Scargle, Sr., Napa Nick Larson, Sr., Ukiah

Benjamin Binder, Sr., Vintage Clare Cuneo, So., Justin Siena Mason Ballard, Fr., Cardinal Newman Girls Player of the Year Kirin Sidhu, Jr., Vintage Goalie of the Year Kayden Shalhout, Jr., American Canyon First Team Izzy Mosing, So., American Canyon Abby Smits, Sr., Cardinal Newman Hannah Bickel, Sr., Cardinal Newman Alex Loxley, Sr., Cardinal Newman Jessica Kramer, Jr., Ukiah McKenna Stone, Jr., Vintage Second Team Mary Miller, Fr., Sonoma Valley Kate Llodra, Sr., Sonoma Valley Katie Grant, Sr., Cardinal Newman Ani McKay, Sr., Ukiah Maia Medalle, So., American Canyon Aya Hassan, Sr., Vintage Honorable Mention Abby Sapida, Sr., American Canyon Lydia Cunnigham, So., Cardinal Newman Abbigail Kalt, Jr., Sonoma Valley Claire Lawrence, So., Vintage Addy Soffner, Jr., Vintage

CLICK AND CLACK TALK CARS Hybrid’s battery should long By Ray Magliozzi outlast its warranty

Don’t got nuts with the lighter-weight lug nuts

Dear Car Talk: You’ve got the most fun column in the paper. In 2014, I bought a new Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid. It’s the best car I’ve ever owned. It’s got about 72,000 miles on it. Everything is working great. But the 10-year warranty on the “big” hybrid battery will expire next year. Replacing that battery costs between $3,000 and $5,000 at a shop. Is this a DIY job? If not, do I wait until the battery “dies” or just bite the bullet and replace it now before it wears out? Thank you. -- Eric

Dear Car Talk: Can you explain the physics and engineering for the concept of “un- sprung weight?” I see people who drive cars like mine (a 2006 BMW Z4) talking about how to “reduce un-sprung weight.” What are they looking to do? Thanks. — Russ

No, and no. If you like the idea of 200 volts of electricity coursing through your most sensitive body parts, then, sure, Eric. Go ahead and replace the hybrid battery yourself. On the plus side, you’ll also get a free, Bob Ross-style perm. Those battery packs are labeled “high-voltage” as a warning to people like us to not mess with them. So, I’d definitely let a well-trained shop handle the hybrid battery replacement. The good news is that you may never need to have that battery replaced. Your battery warranty “only” runs for 10 years. But that doesn’t mean the battery won’t last longer than that. Sometimes much longer. We’ve had more experience in the shop with

Toyota Priuses than with Camry Hybrids, since they’ve been around a lot longer. But the hybrid systems are very similar. We have some customers with 250,000 or more miles on their hybrid Priuses, and they’re still on the original battery. There are even some that are used as taxis, so they’ve arguably been subjected to the toughest stop-and-go conditions imaginable, and many of those have their original batteries, too. That doesn’t mean yours will necessarily last that long, but it could. So, under no circumstances should you replace your hybrid battery proactively. It’d be like replacing a car’s gasoline engine at 72,000 miles just because the warranty was about to run out. That doesn’t make any economic sense, does it? My advice is to start putting $10 a week in a jar. And by the time your battery fails, if it ever does, you’ll have the money to replace it. And if the battery never fails, you’ll have a down payment on your next Camry Hybrid.

“Un-sprung weight” is an automotive engineering term. So don’t feel bad that you didn’t learn it in 6th grade vocabulary class, Russ, along with “egregious.” In the simplest terms, “un-sprung” is everything below the car’s springs. So, it’s things like wheels, tires, axles, and brakes. If you want to get picky, there is some weight that’s considered partially sprung weight. There are some suspension parts that attach both above and below the springs. But for the purposes of explaining the concept, think of it as mostly wheels and tires. Why do people want to lose un- sprung weight? Well, aside from making your car look better in a bathing suit, people with performance cars want less un-sprung weight because it improves the car’s handling. When you drive over bumps, the tires and wheels get bounced up in the air. The lighter they are, the quicker the springs can force them back down on to the pavement and keep them there. The more time the tires spend in

full contact with the road, the better the car’s handling. Heavier wheels and tires react more slowly, and when they hit the ground, they’re more likely to bounce up again. It’s more weight for the springs and shocks to manage. This is not a perfect analogy, but imagine you were friends with my uncle Nunzio, and he gave you a pair of cement shoes. How maneuverable would you be? Not very, right? Your feet would be slow to pick up and move. So, to reduce un-sprung weight, manufacturers (or car owners) replace steel wheels with lighter, aluminum alloy wheels. That’s probably the most cost-effective change you can make. And for people who drive on the streets (as opposed to the track), doing more than that is probably not worth the money. Still, some zealots will look for narrower wheels that can be fitted with narrower, lighter tires. And they might even replace steel brake calipers with alloy calipers and use carbon ceramic rotors. You can go nuts with this stuff and even try to save a few ounces with lighterweight lug nuts. But by then, your family will have left you, Russ. (c) 2020 by Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

WEATHER REPORT

TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY Flurries finally flew over Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 16, 1998, which is the latest ever first date for measurable snow.

Photo by CHARLES MAXWELL / Kenwood TO SUBMIT A PHOTO: Email the photo with your full name and city to pdweatherphoto@gmail.com. Photos should be horizontal.

SANTA ROSA

TODAY’S FORECAST

TODAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

MENDOCINO COUNTY: Sunny to partly cloudy today; pleasant at the coast. Some clouds tonight; a shower in spots at the coast. A brief shower or two Sunday.

Fort Bragg 68/46

Ukiah 69/36 Mostly sunny

A shower or two

Rain at times

REGIONAL OUTLOOK: Sunny to partly cloudy today. Some clouds tonight. Cloudy most of the time Sunday. A brief shower or two; arriving in the afternoon near the bay. There can be a rumble of thunder. EXTENDED: Monday: rain at times. Tuesday: cloudy with showers. Wednesday: periods of rain.

FRIDAY LOG

24-hour totals Hi/Lo Ending at 4 p.m.

Rain

Bodega Bay Boonville Calistoga Cazadero Cloverdale Fort Bragg Guerneville Healdsburg Lakeport Middletown Napa Petaluma Rohnert Park Santa Rosa Sea Ranch Sebastopol Sonoma St. Helena Ukiah Windsor

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

64/52 61/50 67/38 61/49 64/38 64/44 63/37 65/30 63/40 60/43 66/41 62/37 67/36 61/33 69/52 61/39 62/35 67/38 66/34 61/34

NORTHERN COAST: Wind from the southeast at 7-14 knots today. Wind waves 3-5 feet with a west-northwest swell 6-10 feet at 13-second intervals. Visibility generally clear.

Cloverdale 69/42

3.02 6.80 3.54 6.89 5.02 6.74 3.77 4.05 3.43 4.48 2.36 4.11 5.85 3.69 5.27 3.26 2.92 3.51 4.93 3.95

3.98 9.14 5.50 7.55 7.95 9.59 5.29 5.17 5.98 6.90 3.86 5.10 4.60 5.40 6.67 7.44 4.61 6.95 6.04 6.73

Guerneville 66/41

Date Time High Time Low Dec. 16 2:14 a.m. 4.8’ 6:52 a.m. 3.3’ 12:29 p.m. 6.1’ 7:51 p.m. -1.0’ Dec. 17 3:01 a.m. 4.9’ 8:01 a.m. 3.2’ 1:28 p.m. 5.6’ 8:42 p.m. -0.5’

Bodega Bay 64/50

Last qtr. Jan. 3

Record low: 28 in 1999 Average rainfall since Oct. 1: 7.69 inches

CALIFORNIA

Friday Hi/Lo Prec. 52/19 71/39 64/34 57/23 74/40 57/34 62/40 62/43 55/38 68/38 62/38 83/51 79/55 80/52 60/36 66/44 57/28 70/45 59/46 76/49 76/51 72/31 67/34 63/40 77/44 63/36 72/44 77/45 64/46 62/48 67/42 79/38 62/42 82/49 77/41 73/45 74/38 81/47 63/34 42/21 44/20 45/16 64/40 64/29

Today Hi/Lo Sky 55/17 s 68/42 s 66/36 s 64/21 s 73/43 s 65/39 s 66/37 s 62/44 pc 66/41 pc 67/39 s 67/38 s 79/50 s 79/54 s 76/52 s 64/36 s 70/48 s 55/29 s 71/48 pc 64/42 s 80/52 s 77/53 s 73/39 s 69/34 s 68/45 s 78/41 s 65/36 s 75/46 s 73/45 s 64/46 s 68/49 s 72/47 s 81/48 s 63/43 s 77/50 s 77/47 s 69/50 s 74/44 s 76/50 s 66/37 s 48/21 s 49/19 s 50/14 s 65/42 s 67/37 s

New Jan. 11

First qtr. Dec. 19

Source: Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences

Today Sunrise Sunset Sunday Sunrise Sunset

Braves get inﬁelder Carpenter from Padres First baseman Matt Carpenter was acquired by the Atlanta Braves along with left-hander Ray Kerr and cash from the San Diego

Eureka 66/41

PACIFIC JET STREAM

Redding 69/34

Sacramento Tahoe 65/36 49/19 San Francisco 68/49 Yosemite San Jose 67/37 72/47 Monterey 70/48

Bakersfield 68/42

Lake Mendocino Capacity: 116,500 acre-feet. Storage: 57,371. Water supply pool: 68,400, 83.88% Elevation: 730.69 feet. Release: 154 cfs.

Death Valley 69/49

San Bernardino 78/44

Santa Barbara 77/47 Los Angeles 79/54

NATIONAL FORECAST

Palm Springs 80/52

The jet stream from the southwest will strengthen over the Pacific and shift into California on Sunday, bringing bouts of rain into next week.

San Diego 73/45

Lake Pillsbury Capacity: 74,933 acre-feet. Storage: 30,393. Water supply pool: 74,993, 40.53% Elevation: 1,883 feet. Release: 157 cfs. Russian River At Hacienda Bridge: 3.13 feet; 316 cfs.

Source: Sonoma County Water Agency Operations Department readings as of 7 a.m. Friday

Clear Lake 2.17 feet Rumsey. (The Rumsey scale starts at 1,318.26 feet above sea level.)

Source: USGS

INDEX

AIR QUALITY

Ultraviolet: 2

Pollution: 105

11+

Low

Mod.

High

Low Mod. High 0-50 Good, 51-100 Moderate, 101-150 Unhealthy (SG), 151-200 Unhealthy, 201+ Very Unhealthy.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

50 100 150 200

Wood Burning: Prohibited

Jet Stream

Cold

-10s -0s

Report: Dodgers have deal for Glasnow The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to a tentative trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire righthander Tyler Glasnow and outﬁelder Manuel Margot for pitcher Ryan Pepiot and outﬁeld prospect Jonny Deluca, according to reports late Thursday. The teams have until 8 a.m. Sunday to complete the trade.

Showers T-storms

Rain

Flurries

Snow

Ice

10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s

PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM FOR CONTINUOUS NEWS AND WEATHER

Source: www.sparetheair.org

Padres on Friday for outﬁelder Drew Campbell. A three-time All-Star with St. Louis, the 38-yearold Carpenter revived his career with the New York Yankees in 2022. He signed a $12 million, two-year contract with the Padres for 2023 that included a $5.5 million player option for 2024. Kerr, 29, was 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in 29 relief appearances for the Padres over the last two seasons, striking out 38 and walking 13 in 32 innings.

Warm Stationary

GIANTS

Santee Crested Butte, Colorado

85 -4

NATIONAL

Today Tomorrow City Hi/Lo Sky Hi/Lo Sky Albuquerque 50/28 pc 56/30 s Anchorage 24/20 c 36/17 c Atlanta 54/46 pc 55/40 r Atlantic City 53/42 s 56/54 r Baltimore 56/38 s 56/49 r Bismarck 38/24 s 40/10 pc Boise 39/24 pc 42/29 pc Boston 47/38 pc 52/48 c Buffalo 49/42 c 50/40 c Burlington, Vt. 38/33 c 44/42 c Cheyenne 55/38 s 53/26 s Chicago 43/41 r 46/27 c Cincinnati 56/44 c 48/36 sh Cleveland 55/41 pc 48/38 r Columbia, S.C. 60/49 pc 56/45 r Dallas-Ft. Worth 60/35 s 66/41 s Denver 59/33 s 56/25 s Des Moines 41/30 r 47/23 s Detroit 49/41 c 48/35 sh El Paso 64/32 pc 67/39 s Fairbanks 11/5 pc 13/2 pc Flagstaff 55/19 pc 57/21 s Hartford 49/35 pc 49/47 r Helena 46/30 pc 45/24 s Honolulu 79/66 pc 77/67 r Houston 64/42 s 66/42 s Indianapolis 52/43 r 46/31 sh Jackson, Miss. 58/44 r 58/39 pc Kansas City 44/29 sh 53/29 s Las Vegas 65/42 pc 66/45 pc Little Rock 58/36 r 58/39 s Louisville 60/47 c 51/39 sh Medford, Ore. 50/29 pc 51/39 pc Memphis 55/39 r 53/39 s Miami Beach 76/71 r 80/61 t Milwaukee 46/42 r 44/28 c Mpls-St. Paul 42/30 sn 39/17 pc Nashville 61/47 pc 52/38 c New Orleans 64/52 r 62/45 pc New York City 54/44 pc 54/52 r Oklahoma City 52/31 s 62/35 s Omaha 41/26 pc 45/24 pc Orlando 70/65 r 74/56 sh Philadelphia 56/42 s 57/53 r Phoenix 78/47 pc 77/46 pc Pittsburgh 57/42 pc 49/41 r Portland, Ore. 49/35 pc 49/41 c Providence 49/33 pc 51/50 r Raleigh-Durham 61/46 pc 60/48 r Reno 54/27 s 52/35 pc Richmond 59/38 pc 58/50 r St. Louis 52/41 r 47/33 c Salt Lake City 44/27 pc 45/27 pc San Antonio 68/37 s 70/44 pc Santa Fe 44/25 pc 51/26 s Seattle 48/34 pc 49/39 c Spokane 35/26 pc 37/28 pc Tampa-St. Pete. 69/66 t 72/59 sh Tucson 76/46 pc 79/45 s Washington, D.C. 56/42 pc 56/51 r Wichita 49/27 s 57/30 s s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, r-rain, sf-flurries, sn-snow, t-thunderstorms, i-ice, T-trace

INTERNATIONAL

Fresno 67/39

San Luis Obispo 81/48

LAKES & RIVERS Lake Sonoma Capacity: 381,000 acre-feet. Storage: 216,310. Water supply pool: 244,833, 88.35% Elevation: 439.71 feet. Release: 109 cfs.

SAN FRANCISCO: Mostly sunny today. Some clouds tonight. A brief shower or two Sunday. Monday: occasional rain. Oakland, 64/42.

Chico 65/39

7:22 a.m. 4:52 p.m.

Scherzer to miss first part of season Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss a signiﬁcant portion of next season, the Texas Rangers said Friday. The 39-year-old righthander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, had surgery Thursday after injections and other less-invasive treatments didn’t relieve the pain. Scherzer, who was removed from the roster during the World Series because of back discomfort, had surgery Thursday, Rangers general manager Chris Young said. Young said the team is hopeful Scherzer will be fully healed and recovered by June or July.

San Francisco 68/49

Mt. Shasta 55/29

7:21 a.m. 4:51 p.m.

BASEBALL NOTES

ASSOCIATED PRESS

San Rafael 63/43

Crescent City 62/44

The waxing crescent moon is located against the stars of Capricornus the Sea-Goat, forming a conspicuous triangle with the planet Saturn in Aquarius the Water-Carrier and the star Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish. Venus rises at 4:00 a.m. Mars rises at 6:43 a.m. Jupiter sets at 3:29 a.m. Saturn sets at 10:10 p.m.

RUSSIAN RIVER/COAST: Sunny to partly cloudy today. Some clouds tonight. Forestville, 67/39.

Napa 69/40 LAKE COUNTY: Sunshine and patchy clouds today. Increasing clouds tonight. A brief shower or Vallejo two Sunday. 65/42

Petaluma 66/39

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

SONOMA/NAPA: Sunshine and patchy clouds today. Some clouds tonight. Mostly cloudy Sunday with a brief shower or two. Monday: a touch of rain.

SANTA ROSA PLAIN: Sunny to partly cloudy today. Some clouds tonight. Rohnert Park, 67/38.

Sonoma 68/39

Sebastopol 67/38

STATE FORECAST

SUN & MOON

Calistoga 68/43

Santa Rosa 67/38

BODEGA BAY TIDES

Full Dec. 26

Middletown 66/40

Healdsburg 68/39

SAN FRANCISCO BAY: Wind from the northeast at 4-8 knots today. Waters mostly smooth on the bay. Visibility generally clear.

RECORDS FOR FRIDAY

City Alturas Bakersfield Barstow Bishop Blythe Chico Concord Crescent City Eureka Fresno Livermore Long Beach Los Angeles L.A. Airport Marysville Monterey Mt. Shasta Needles Oakland Palm Springs Pasadena Paso Robles Redding Redwood City Riverside Sacramento Salinas San Diego San Francisco S.F. Airport San Jose San Luis Obispo San Rafael Santa Ana Santa Barbara Santa Cruz Santa Maria Santa Monica Stockton Susanville Tahoe Valley Truckee Vallejo Yosemite Valley

Gualala 65/47

Season Last year To date To date

*Season runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 Lakeport temperatures temporarily unavailable.

SANTA ROSA Average temperatures: High 59, Low 38 Record high: 78 in 2013

Lakeport 64/37

Cloudy, showers

Nation’s hottest and coldest (for the 48 contiguous states)

City Acapulco Amsterdam Athens Auckland Baghdad Bangkok Beijing Berlin Buenos Aires Cairo Calgary Cancun Caracas Copenhagen Dublin Frankfurt Geneva Havana Ho Chi Minh Hong Kong Istanbul Jerusalem Johannesburg Kabul Lima Lisbon London Madrid Manila Mecca Mexico City Montreal Moscow New Delhi Oslo Paris Rio Rome Sao Paulo Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Tokyo Toronto Vancouver Vienna Warsaw

Today Hi/Lo Sky 89/72 pc 50/42 c 68/55 r 74/59 c 69/45 s 93/79 pc 26/18 sn 41/32 c 82/77 c 77/58 s 31/21 sn 81/75 sh 91/74 sh 45/33 sn 52/45 c 46/37 sh 46/34 pc 81/70 c 95/77 s 82/75 pc 56/55 sh 65/47 s 81/62 c 52/35 pc 76/67 pc 59/46 s 48/43 c 57/37 s 87/79 pc 95/65 s 67/51 c 46/34 pc 18/12 sn 76/44 pc 35/15 pc 52/45 pc 90/75 s 61/48 s 90/72 s 43/41 r 88/75 t 30/12 sn 84/68 s 68/47 r 55/36 s 50/43 c 37/35 sh 37/32 sn

Tomorrow Hi/Lo Sky 89/72 s 52/48 c 58/48 sh 73/57 pc 74/44 c 95/78 pc 20/3 s 46/44 c 89/74 pc 77/58 s 40/22 pc 84/68 pc 91/75 c 48/46 c 54/49 c 41/36 c 41/32 s 77/71 r 94/77 t 68/50 r 50/42 r 67/47 pc 79/61 t 48/29 pc 76/67 pc 62/43 s 54/45 c 58/26 s 91/78 pc 90/63 s 66/46 sh 35/26 pc 21/18 c 72/49 s 45/35 pc 47/34 pc 86/74 s 57/36 s 90/70 pc 30/10 sf 87/77 r 43/28 c 91/69 pc 70/53 sh 42/39 c 47/41 pc 45/34 pc 42/40 c

excitement and energy around the organization. You can definitely feel that today.” CONTINUED FROM C1 San Francisco has was more of a perfect fit missed the playoffs in for what we were hoping each of the past two seato achieve than Jung sons after winning a franHoo.” chise-record 107 games The baseball skills were and the NL West in 2021. evident from the extenThe Giants had missed sive scouting the Giants out on some big-ticket did of Lee’s play in the free agents the last two Korean league and only offseasons, including reinforced with his play when Shohei Ohtani last spring in the World decided last week to sign Baseball Classic. with the rival Los AngeThat earned Lee him les Dodgers. a $113 million, six-year They also lost out to contract. the New York Yankees Lee also showed off a bit in the pursuit of slugger of his personality during Aaron Judge last offseahis news conference, son and then decided not punctuating an opening to finalize a $350 million, statement he gave in 13-year agreement with English with an emphatic shortstop Carlos Correa “Let’s Go Giants” and giv- after concerns arose from ing himself the nickname his physical dating to a “Grandson of the wind” 2014 surgery on his right in homage to his father, leg. Jong Beom Lee, who was The 25-year-old Lee was called “Son of the wind” posted by South Korea’s for his speed that the Kiwoom Heroes on younger Lee said he won’t Dec. 4, and if he stays for be able to match. the entire contract, the “It’s an exciting day,” Giants would owe the HeZaidi said. “Obviously, roes an $18,825,000 posting he’s got a personality that fee. really shines through, If he chooses to opt out even through a translator. after four years, the postI think for us it’s a great ing fee would be reduced baseball fit, but we’re also to $12,675,000. mindful about creating San Francisco also

would owe the Korean team an additional fee of 15% for any earned bonuses or escalators. San Francisco was so committed to Lee that general manager Pete Putila traveled all the way to Korea just to see one brief appearance in October. “It’s really nice to tell a player an organization’s interest level is where they will fly 30,000 miles to watch, really, one at-bat,” said Scott Boras, who represents Lee. Lee batted .318 with six homers and 48 RBIs in 86 games this year but broke his left ankle during a game against the Lotte Giants on July 22 and was sidelined the remainder of the season. Lee said he is 100% healed from the injury and looks forward to the challenge of playing in the majors against a higher level of competition. But he’s confident that he will be able to make the transition and is slated to be the team’s opening day starter in center field. “I’m a little embarrassed to say this, but from opening day on, the fans (will) be impressed with the skill set,” he said through an interpreter. Last year, he hit

.349 with career bests of 23 home runs and 113 RBIs in 142 games, while striking out only 32 times. He was voted rookie of the year in 2017 and MVP in 2022. Lee also batted .429 with two doubles and five RBIs for South Korea in this year’s WBC, where South Korea failed to advance from its first-round group. “What we’ve seen of him in international play is almost as meaningful as what we saw from him in all of his time in the KBO,” Zaidi said. He hit .241 with three doubles, one homer and three RBIs in the 2021 Olympics, where South Korea lost to the United States in the semifinals and then to the Dominican Republic for the bronze medal. Lee has a .340 career average with 65 homers and 515 RBIs for the Heroes, who were renamed from Nexen to Kiwoon ahead of the 2019 season. He is a six-time Golden Glove winner. His father, Jong Beom, was Korean League MVP in 1994 and played in Japan for the Central League’s Chunichi Dragons from 1998 to 2001.

LIVING WITH PETS, PLANTS » Keep your indoor garden safe from felines and vice versa. D7

FIND IT » Your guide to searching, shopping and selling an array of great things locally. D3

SonomaHome SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION D

FRESH CUTTINGS

Woven dreams SEBASTOPOL » Jessica Green Switzer uses homegrown wool to create functional art

SONOMA COUNTY

Reduce waste from holiday entertaining The holidays are fun but the waste left in their wake, generated by all that decorating, wrapping and convenience cooking, takes a toll on the environment. The City of Santa Rosa offers these tips to reduce your environmental footprint during the busy time of entertaining and celebrating. Avoid disposable supplies: This is a good time to bring out your real china and ﬂatware. Avoid defaulting to disposable plates, cups and napkins. Entertain the old-fashioned way instead, like Grandma did. It may be a bit more work to clean up, but your garbage bin won’t be overﬂowing at the end of the evening. If you don’t have enough glassware or plates, encourage guests to bring their own. (Thrift stores also have lots of cheap plates, many quite nice. And they don’t have to match. An assortment is more interesting.) Reuse materials: As often as possible, reuse or use materials you already have for gifts. Reuse cardboard boxes for storage or moving, and reuse gift bags and wrapping paper. You can also wrap gifts with materials you have on hand such as cloth fabric, leftover paper from the previous year, newspaper or magazines, paper bags and even baskets or jars. The gift itself is truly what matters, and if you are creative with your reused wrapping, your resourcefulness and consideration for the environment will be appreciated and remembered. You might even inspire a new gift-giving tradition among your loved ones. Keep it simple with food: You don’t need to go overboard with food. Don’t buy or prepare more food than you’re going to eat and wind up with good

By MIRIAM SILVER FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

n a crisp, wintry afternoon, a jubilantly attentive border collie, Argo, greets visitors at the gate of the Switzer country home in south Sebastopol. Jessica Green Switzer arrives shortly after, apologizing for the outgoing canine ambassador, then leading the way to her pride of place, the nine Wensleydale and Merino sheep that are both her source and inspiration for the spectacular luxury woolen blankets, pillows and other household items and art that she makes and sells from her Sebastopol store, JG Switzer. “This is Clarence and Albert. And Agatha, the brown one — some of the pillows have TURN TO WOOL » PAGE D8

PHOTOS BY CHAD SURMICK / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Jessica Switzer Green, as the designer JG Switzer, looms blankets and other woolens using ﬂeece from locally raised sheep. She prepares wool for the loom Monday at her factory in The Barlow in Sebastopol.

Jessica Switzer Green creates heirloom blankets using wool from her Wensleydale and Merino sheep.

TURN TO CUTTINGS » PAGE D2

ADVICE TO GROW BY » SONOMA COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS A multipurpose Hori Hori, center, with pruners and gardening gloves, is a useful holiday gift for beginning gardeners. Taken at Garret Hardware in Healdsburg. FAY MARK

Gifts for budding gardeners For those starting out, ﬁnd perfect tool for task

uestion: I am a novice gardener looking to replace some garden tools for the new year. I also would like to buy some as gifts for friends and relatives. Can you provide some suggestions for tools I need for my garden? Answer: Sure! Having a good set of gardening tools is essential for successful gardening. As a new gardener, you don’t need fancy or expensive tools. However, investing in sturdy, well-made tools will save you money in the

long run. Gloves: The best way to protect your hands from injury is to wear gloves. In addition to keeping your hands and ﬁngernails clean and dry, gloves can protect them from harmful chemicals, insect bites and bacterial or fungal infections. Choose a glove that ﬁts your hand snugly so it doesn’t slip off but not so tight that it restricts your ability to do your gardening tasks. Different tasks require different gardening gloves. Cloth gloves keep your hands clean and cool but offer little protection. Leather gloves are usually waterproof and protect against injury from thorns, cuts

and scrapes. Rubber-coated gloves are best for when you’re using chemicals, but they can be hot and may cause an allergic reaction. Neoprene or nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rubber and are breathable and ﬂexible, which increases dexterity. Nitrile palms give you extra durability and grip. However, thorns can still penetrate this material. Hand pruners: These tools are essential for garden tasks such as deadheading and pruning. There are two types of pruners: those with bypass blades and those with anvil blades. TURN TO ADVICE » PAGE D2

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

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Director - Human Resources Under the general supervision of the County Superintendent, direct, plan, organize, coordinate, develop, and oversee the activities of the Human Resources Department; plan, organize, control, and direct the human resources activities for the recruitment, screening, selection, processing, classification, and compensation of County Office certificated and classified employees; coordinate and participate in labor relations, credential functions, communications, and information to meet human resources services and needs; ensure smooth and efficient operations; supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned personnel; and perform related duties as assigned.

PETS / PET SUPPLIES & SERVICE

ESTATE SALES / CRAFT FAIRS / FLEA MARKETS GARAGE SALE NORTHEAST SANTA ROSA

GARAGE SALE OAKMONT / KENWOOD

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www.edjoin.org/home/districtjobposting/1866219

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

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Q: Bodega Bay is best known for what classic movie? A: The Birds

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Restrictions apply.

The County is accepting applications for these exciting employment opportunities: APOSD Administrative Coordinator $5,965 - $7,249/Monthly Apply Now Bilingual Public Health Investigator - (English/Spanish) $5,734 - $6,970/Monthly Apply by 12/29/23 Child Protective Services Social Work Supervisor $8,414 - $10,228/Monthly Apply by 01/09/24 Public Health Laboratory Technician I & II $4,605 - $6,153/Monthly Apply by 12/27/23 Senior Client Support Specialist - Time Limited $6,409 - $7,788/Monthly Apply by 01/03/24 Voter Registration Clerk – Extra-Help $21.68 - $26.34/Hourly Apply Now For more information, including minimum qualiﬁcations, beneﬁts, & to apply online, visit www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org or call HR, 707-5652331. EOE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RENTALS

LOST AND FOUND - ANIMALS

ROOMS

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Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Q: Sonoma Plaza was used to film scenes from what 2001 comedy starring a contestant from the reality show “Survivor”? A: The Animal, co-starred Colleen Haskell, who was on the first season of Survivor.

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE / SERVICES

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Need to sell your Helicopter? Use The Press Democrat Classifieds!

Home selling tip:

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Make any minor repairs so buyers are not distracted by potential problems. Patch holes, fix leaking faucets, replace burned-out light bulbs and touch up paint if needed.

Sip, savor and swirl. Check out what PD readers picked as the best restaurants, breweries and wineries in Sonoma County at

pressdemocrat.com/best

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

REAL ESTATE

MERCHANDISE

MOBILE HOMES

ANTIQUES

WANTED TO BUY

Auto buying tip: Before buying a used vehicle, check the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) online site at www.dmv.ca.gov for information on smog requirements, to search the storm-damage vehicle database and check previous smog reports.

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

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Place your free ad at pressdemocrat.com/placead. Sorry, no phone orders.

Place a Bargain Hunt ad for free! Restrictions apply. Place your free ad at pressdemocrat.com/placead. Sorry, no phone orders.

Green tip: Donate your unsold items to a local nonprofit

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Auto buying tip:

Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Place a Bargain Hunt ad for free! Restrictions apply.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Do a VIN check when purchasing used autos to verify title and history

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Sonoma County Movie Trivia:

Q: What 2008 movie about the wine industry was filmed at multiple wineries around Napa and Sonoma, and featured locals as extras in some of the scenes? A: Bottle Shock

Q: What Santa Rosa hotel was featured in the movie “Bandits” starring Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton? A: The Flamingo

Auto selling tip:

Collect all documentation including the pink slip, registration, owners manual and maintenance records in a folder for potential buyers to review. Make sure you have a DMV bill of sale form on hand.

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Sonoma County Movie Trivia: Q: Armstrong Woods was the setting for some scenes in what SciFi movie? A: A. I. Artificial Intelligence

Sonoma County Movie Trivia: Q: Sonoma Plaza was used to film scenes from what 2001 comedy starring a contestant from the reality show “Survivor”? A: The Animal, co-starred Colleen Haskell, who was on the first season of Survivor.

Auto selling tip: Create an ad that sells. Make sure and list the year, model, trim level, mileage, condition, color, popular options and price.

Garage sale tip: Make sure all your items are clean and in good condition. Organize your items so they are easy to see and group similar items together.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

$899,000 4Br/2.5Ba Sun 1-3 pm 8233 Grape Avenue Forestville DIR: River Rd to Mirabel To Park To Mirabel to Grape McBride Realty, Barbara Lynch (707) 696-4431

$799,000 4Br/2Ba 12/17/2023 12PM4PM 4957 Sea Wolf Dr Santa Rosa DIR: Jack London Dr to Sea Wolf Dr Engel & Völkers, Ehrlicher Styles Group 707 540-2000

$$1,999,500 5Br/4Ba Sun 12-17 / 1-4pm 5903 Mountain Hawk Dr in Skyhawk DIR: Hwy 12 to Mountain Hawk Dr Christopherson Properties, Brian Flinn 707 695-7653

$148,900 2Br/1Ba 12/16 1:00 to 4:00 63 Roundelay Ln. Santa Rosa DIR: Sebastopol Rd. to Roseland MHP entrance BHGRE, Mari Giblin 707-360-8274

$815,000 2Br/2Ba Sat. 12/16 & Sun., 12/17, 1-3pm 712 Oregon St. Sonoma DIR: (x st, 7th St. W.) DRE# 01977204 Sotheby’s Int’l Realty, Amanda Shone 707.338.8241

$$545,000 2Br/2Ba Sat 1-4 517 Oak Vista Lane Santa Rosa DIR: Oakmont Drive to Oak Vista Lane (not Court) C21 VOM, Carol Castetter 858-442-0200

$2,999,000 5Br/4.5Ba 12-17 / 2-4:30pm 3945 Shelter Glen Way Fountaingrove DIR: FG Parkway to Rincon Ridge Dr to Shelter Glen Christopherson Properties, Stephanie Pile 707 486-8727

$749,990 4Br/3.5Ba Sat 11 to 2PM 2022 Ravello Way, Santa Rosa DIR: Guerneville Road to Ravello Way W Real Estate, Gary Negri 707-975-0321

$1350000 3Br/2Ba Sat/Sun 12 - 3 471 Pleasant Hill Ave N Sebastopol DIR: Covert Lane Vanguard Properties, Lori Sacco 707-529-8655

$590,000 2Br/1Ba Sun., 12/17, 2-4pm 970 Grove Street, Sonoma DIR: (x st, Arnold Dr.) DRE# 02198756 Sotheby’s Int’l Realty, Haley Doeppers 707.332.3014

Auto buying tip:

Before buying a used vehicle, check the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) online site at www.dmv.ca.gov for information on smog requirements, to search the storm-damage vehicle database and check previous smog reports.

Auto selling tip: Collect all documentation including the pink slip, registration, owners manual and maintenance records in a folder for potential buyers to review. Make sure you have a DMV bill of sale form on hand.

For information on how to submit a Life Tribute: 1. Visit our submission web page at www.pressdemocrat.com/news/obits 2. Call (707) 526-8694 to talk to our Life Tributes specialist

We regret that we cannot accept handwritten notices or take submissions by phone.

Home selling tip:

Give your house curb appeal! Mow, pull any weeds, trim shrubs and plant fresh flowers for a good first impression.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

Concrete

General Contractor

Electrical

Antillan Concrete

PG&E SHUTDOWNS?

Concrete pool decks,

Generators, Solar, & Batteries & Anything Electrical Home & Business

Stamp concrete, Retaining walls, Foundations, Driveways, Pavers, Stone and Masonry work, Grading and Drainage work. Lic# 778246. Fully Insured 707-527-9139 • 707-328-1392

I RETURN CALLS & SHOW UP! RON DORRIS ELECTRIC 707-578-0678 Since 1978 Lic. 978117

Fencing

We Will Beat Any Contractor’s Price! Blow out sales on redwood fencing & chain link fencing installed. Call for details Save $$$ Lic# 841560. 25 years exp.

S&S Concrete

We are an eager and ambitious company with over 15 joint years experience in wood fencing, wood retaining walls, custom Metal fencing, and Driveway gates. We take great pride in our work and expect nothing but near perfection. Visit our website at www.YGFenceCo.com, Call (707) 596-1645 or email: YGfenceco@yahoo.com.

YG Fence Co.

CALL (707) 623-0828 License # 859374

Drafting

Baths & Kitchens • 707-695-4928 Curbless Showers • Financing Available www.MaxConstructionUSA.net

Since 1993

(707)537-8711 DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS, SIDEWALKS Stamped Concrete, French Drains, Demolition, etc.

Siding Repair/Replace • ADUs Interior/Exterior Doors/Windows Water/Fire/Tree Damage • Retaining Walls

CONSTRUCTION

707-481-1865 or 415-887-8374

License #715840

New Construction ❚ Remodels Additions ❚ Decks Dry Rot Repair

STICKS& & SStones TONES Sticks Construction, Inc.

VILLEGGIANTE CONCRETE Driveways, Patios, Stamping, All Phases

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Flooring RECOAT HARDWOOD FLOORS • Work Completed In One Day • Less Dust Than A Full Refinish • Eliminates Surface Scratches • Helps Protect Existing Hardwood

EMPIRE FLOORS 707-524-2594 www.empirefloorsca.com 1735 PINER RD SANTA ROSA CSL#504918

Remodels: KitchenIn: & Bath, Specializing Additions, Kitchen & BathDecks, Remodels Remove & Replacement, Additions & DecksRepair, TileConstruction. & Stone & New New No Job TooConstruction Big or Too Small. Since 1993

Call or Text Bill

Call or707-477-6333 Text Bill 707-477-6333 License #679007 License #1110578

Vincent’s Yardwork / Handyman We Work By The Job; Starting at $25 and up • Tree Pruning • Landscape demolition • Tree service • Property Cleanups • Yard Maintenance • Fence Building • Carpentry • Hauling

(707) 328-6052 A HANDYMAN All kind of Jobs. Repairs, Installs, Carpentry, Plumbing, Drywall, Texture Int and Ext Paint, Fence-Deck Repairs & Stain, Dry Rot, Siding, Gutters Cleaning/Repair

707-703-3363

Handyman

Repairs Piling Up? Call Ray 707-280-2699 No Job Too Big or Too Small Heating, Water Heaters, Plumbing, Electrical, Mobile Welding, Drywall, Patching, Painting, Appliance Repairs, Honey Do’s, Etc. Quality & Affordable

CRYSTAL CRYSTAL CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION + AND CONSULTING CONSULTING Expert ++ ExpertHandyman Handyman Crew. 49 years exp.

Construction crew

To place an ad, please email classifieds@ pressdemocrat.com Deadline is

We do pretty much everything, We do pretty much everything, large and small. Additions, large and small remodeling, dry rot, electrical, etc. Great References.

Noon on

MartinL.L.Espinosa, Espinosa, licensed Martin licensed GC,GC, 48 years experience Builder/Consultant/Inspections/Permits

Tuesday.

crystalconstructionconsulting@gmail.com CrystalConstructionConsulting.com (707) 865-5157 (office) (786) 290-4363 (cell)

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

Grooming houseplants keeps your indoor garden looking its best and plants contained to the available space. You can use some of the trimmings to start new plants.

Keep plants safe from feline friends By MELINDA MYERS

Pinch, prune, propagate of the leafy stem. These stem pieces can be used to start new plants. Some gardeners pinch with their ﬁngers, but I prefer using sharp By MELINDA MYERS snips like Corona Tools ComfortGel TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE micro snips with stainless steel blades that resist the buildup of hether your indoor garden plant residue or Corona bypass has outgrown its location pruners that make a clean cut that or you are looking to excloses quickly and looks better. pand your garden, a bit of pinching, When pinching and pruning pruning or propagating may be the your houseplants make the cuts answer. just above a set of leaves. The plant Grooming houseplants keeps your remains relatively attractive while indoor garden looking its best and you wait for new leaves and stems to plants contained to the available grow. Avoid leaving stubs by making space. You can use some of the trim- cuts elsewhere as these detract mings to start new plants. from the plant's appearance and can Give plants with long, leggy stems create entryways for insects and a pinch. Removing a small or large disease. portion of the growing tip encouragHouseplants can be propagated in es the plant to form more branches several different ways. Avoid propaand compact growth. Pinching gating patented plants protected by removes a growth hormone propatent laws. These laws are designed duced in the stem tip called auxin. to protect the investment of the This hormone encourages upward plant breeder. Respecting patent growth of the stem. Removing the laws allows companies to continue stem tip reduces the auxin and albreeding improvements into plants lows more branches to develop along for all of us to enjoy in the future. the stem. Use leaf stem cuttings to start A soft pinch removes just the a variety of houseplants like inch uppermost portion of the stem with plants, philodendron, pothos, developing leaves and the stem tip. dieffenbachias, dracaenas, jade A hard pinch, more like pruning, plants and many more. Use a sharp removes the tip and several inches knife, snips or bypass pruner to cut

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3- to 6-inch-long pieces from firm, mature, non-woody stems. Remove the lowest leaf or two that will be buried in the potting mix. This is where new roots will form. If you have had trouble rooting cuttings in the past, try using rooting hormone labeled for use on houseplants. It contains fungicides to fight disease and hormones to encourage root development. Root cuttings in a small container filled with vermiculite or a welldrained potting mix. Make a hole in the mix, insert the cut end and gently push the potting mix around the stem. Loosely cover the potted cutting with a plastic bag left open at the top. This increases the humidity around the cutting to compensate for the lack of roots. Set the container in a bright location out of direct sun for several weeks. Give the stem a gentle tug to see if roots have formed. Move the rooted cutting into a container filled with well-drained potting mix, place where it gets the proper amount of sunlight and water as needed. You'll be amazed at how a bit of grooming and propagating can perk up a tired indoor garden. Share or trade extra rooted cuttings with family and friends so each of you can grow your garden and memories.

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avoid those that are toxic. Deter cats with the smell of citrus. Spray a mixture rowing houseplants of lemon, lime or orange when curious cats juice diluted with some are in the house can water on the leaves of your be challenging. We want plant. Or purchase one of our cats to be safe and the commercial mixes. If happy — all while keeping you don't want to spray our houseplants intact. your plants, place citrus You can accomplish both peels in the pot. with a few simple strateCoat the soil. Prevent gies. potted plants from turning Create a list of all the into litter boxes by coverplants you are growing. ing the soil surface with Include both common coarse mulch, like cork or and botanical names for large nugget mulch. If this accurate identiﬁcation. is not an option, spray the Do a bit of research on the soil surface with the citrus care they need and their and water mix to help toxicity to your pets. discourage digging. Consult with your Give your cat a pot of veterinarian and visit the grass. Most cat grass kits American Society for the contain wheatgrass, oat Prevention of Cruelty to grass, ryegrass or a mixAnimals website for a list ture of these. These can of pet-safe and toxic plants. help entertain your cat, If you suspect your pet provide ﬁber and micronuhas ingested a toxic plant, trients and aid in digestion. you'll have the proper plant And, give cats something name when contacting else to nibble on instead of your veterinarian. your houseplants. Keep toxic plants out of Prevent curious cats the reach of curious cats. from knocking over plant This can be challenging if containers with the help of your cat is skilled at jump- mounting putty. A couple ing and climbing. There of pieces of this hardware are so many beautiful store staple on the bottom houseplants out there that of a pot will help reduce it may be safer to simply the risk of toppling. MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

WOOL

CONTINUED FROM D1 Agatha in it. And Miss Frizzle, she is very old,” she says. Wearing knee-high rubber boots to muck about in the thick, muddy pasture, Switzer grabs a bucket of grub and a few pitches of hay, and the sheep shuffle over for their dinner, noisily munching in near rhythm. On the other side of the low fence and barn, her other pets, two donkeys and a miniature horse, approach, obviously looking for their turn at supper. Across the muddy terrain, Argo is joined by the rescue shepherd mix Uschi. The two dogs pad after Switzer, whose attention is diverted as Miss Frizzle, the oldest of the herd at 15, still manages a deep bleating across the pasture. Just a few miles from her store in The Barlow, Switzer’s little bit of paradise evolved meanderingly, weaving together her art, upbringing in the wild forests of southern Oregon, professional life in technology marketing, collaborations with environmentally sustainable companies and a brief but memorable tenure with Elon Musk. Her journey culminates in a return to her roots, ﬁrmly grounding her on the land. A thick, orange sun sets on a backdrop of shadowing trees, and beyond them are 15 acres of a neighbor’s protected land. It’s an expansive view with the sounds of birds cawing, coyotes yowling and her sheep baying. As the temperature drops outside, a gray tabby, one of her three cats, settles easily on top of one of JG Switzer’s handmade blankets already covering her lap. A rustic and environmentally conscious lifestyle inﬂuenced Switzer’s early years. She was the

LEARN MORE JG Switzer’s website offers a wealth of information and links. Check it out: jgswitzer.com. Jessica Switzer’s art can be found at studioahead.com. For information on Fibershed, go to fibershed.org. ney start with the sheep on her land, the time in Oregon, the blanket Jessica Switzer Green feeds her flock of sheep at her Sebastopol home. As the designer JG Switzer, she creates heirloom from her grandmother, a blankets and other home goods using wool from locally raised sheep. deep-seated respect for the environment and nature oldest of five kids born in but memorable stint as in- ing for something signifiCalifornia that connects Berkeley and living in a augural vice president of cant to do. farmers, producers and ar- practically embedded in her DNA? house bordering Tilden marketing at Tesla Motors, Considering herself a tisans involved in natural Cozy under a blanket of Park, where her mothwhere she contributed to wool artist, an environfibers or dyes. er, an early-day hippie, the development of its first mentalist and a feminist, From a Fibershed mem- her own creation, Switzer sits in contemplation, allowed pet goats to roam electric car. she thought, “I always ber in Point Arena, she close to the land, observinside. When Switzer was Her clash with the wanted to make stuff. It’s obtained a 7½-ton needle 6, her mother moved the renowned CEO Elon Musk different than marketing loom for crafting blankets ing geese soaring south, family to the middle of led to an abrupt terminasomeone else’s dream.” and fabrics. These textiles swallows hovering above a national forest, off the tion, chronicled briefly in She decided on blankets, were destined for high-end and the distant sound of a coyote catching prey. It’s grid, in southern Oregon. Walter Isaacson’s recent still cherishing the blue se- designers in San Francisa tranquil scene, with her One of the family activbiography of Musk. Soon curity blanket her grandco and New York. Upon 12-year-old rescue shepities was counting trees after, Switzer launched mother gave her for her opening her shop in 2018, herd snoring in his bed, the to make sure the forest Blue Practice, a Sausalihigh-school graduation. Switzer initially focused border collie claiming his service was not cutting to-based marketing firm “Then I thought, I am on the art of “painting down too many. It wasn’t specializing in sustaingoing to make the world’s with wool.” She gradually spot on a woolen blanket until she was a senior in able companies engaged most beautiful blanket. I expanded her product line, and a gray striped tabby high school that Switzer in solar energy, electric am going to find the best especially during the pan- nudging onto her lap. Beyond expansive glass yearned for a city vibe and motorcycles and cars. natural woven fiber,” she demic, “when people were windows, the stars deliver moved in with her San With all four kids grown says. hungry for small-batch, a show of unimpeded Francisco great-grandand on their way to college At the same time, she cozy home goods.” magnificent light. This mother and graduated and careers — a blended was working on her art Along with the busy connection to nature and from the progressive family, two of hers and two with Graton artist Charles shop, Switzer is proud to Haight-Ashbury Urban of husband Eddie’s — the Becker, while her sheep be part of a commissioned, her creations root her to the present. High School. Later, she empty nesters itched for proved to be prolific wool three-person art show “I can’t imagine living graduated from UC Santa a more rustic life. So they producers. That prompted at Studio Ahead in San Cruz and then started sold their Marin County Switzer to explore creative Francisco, described in its anywhere else,” she says. her 30-year career in tech home and moved up to avenues for this abundant catalog as “an example of Miriam Silver, formerly marketing. their 8-acre idyllic piece of resource. feeling your way through a Press Democrat reportSwitzer started a paradise in west Sonoma Motivated by her many chapters of life, er, is a freelance writer “boutique” consumer County. passion for sustainable trusting your inner voice and writing coach. You technology PR firm, In her 50s and nominally practices, she became a and nature’s wisdom as can reach her at miriam. which she later sold. She retired after selling her member of Fibershed, true guides.” silver94@gmail.com. followed that with a brief company, she was searcha network in Northern Did her artistic jourPHOTOS BY CHAD SURMICK / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Jessica Switzer Green watches the sunset Monday from her Sebastopol home staying warm and cozy using her own blankets, pillows and throws.

Baptist Community Baptist Church Wheelchair Accessible

Worship Service Sundays at 11:00am 1620 Sonoma Avenue Santa Rosa, CA 95405 (707) 546-0744 www.cbcsr.org

Jodo Shinshu Buddhism Enmanji Buddhist Temple Wheelchair Accessible

Services held on selected Sundays. All are welcome to attend. Please see the calendar on the Temple’s website. 1200 Gravenstein Hwy S Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-823-2252 www.EnmanjiTemple.com

CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL OF ST. EUGENE 2323 Montgomery Dr. Santa Rosa 707-542-6984 MASS TIMES Daily Mass (Mon-Fri) 6:45am and 8am Saturday 8am; Vigil Masses 4:30pm and 6:30pm (Spanish) Sunday 7:30am, 9am, 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm (Tridentine/Latin High Mass), 5:30pm Tuesday Tridentine/Latin Low Mass 5:30pm

Wool is stored by the name, color and type of sheep it comes from at JG Switzer in The Barlow in Sebastopol.

CENTERS FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING SANTA ROSA

EASTERN ORTHODOX STS. PETER & PAUL RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Creating a World that Works for Everyone

LITURGY: Sun, 10am; VIGIL Sat., 6:00pm. Rev. Alexander Krassovsky 850 St. Olga Ct, SR 584-4092 www.stspproca.org

Join us in person Sundays 9 and 11am Sunday Youth Program 11am Wednesday Evening Service 7pm Christmas Eve Services In person Sunday morning: 11am In person Candle Lighting: 6 and 8pm Watch Sun Service YouTube.com/cslsr “Spiritual Living with Edward Viljoen” Sundays 8:30am on KSRO 103.5 FM Stepping Stones Books & Gifts Open Sun, Tues, Wed Details at www.cslsr.org

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH, SANTA ROSA 330 Hope St. Sunday service and Sunday School 10:00 am, Wed. 12:10 (in Reading Room) and 7:00pm by Zoom See links on website christiansciencesantarosa.net Reading Room: M-F, 11-2:00 909 Fourth St., Santa Rosa 707-542-7980

JEWISH CONGREGATION SHOMREI TORAH (REFORM) Wheelchair Accessible

Shabbat services, educational & cultural programs with Rabbi George Gittleman. 2600 Bennett Valley Rd. Santa Rosa, 707-578-5519, www.cstsr.org.

Methodist FIRST UNITED METHODIST Celebrate This Joyous Holiday Season With Us Music & Messages to Lift Your Spirits 9am-Traditional, 11am-Contemporary 11am-Vakaviti, Sunday School 10:45am or online www.fumcsantarosa.org Sunday-Dec.24-CHRISTMAS EVE 10am-Joint Service in Fellowship Hall 11am-Vakaviti Service in the Sanctuary in addition..... 4pm-Fun Family Service-Fellowship Hall 8pm-A Service w/Carols & Candlelight In our Beautiful Sanctuary (Eng./Vak.) Pastors Janette Saavedra & Peter Park 1551 Montgomery Dr.,Santa Rosa, Ca. 707-545-3863

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE ROSES Reaching out with Nurturing Love to ALL. Join us in person, by Zoom or Facebook Live on Sundays 10-11 am. Listen Sundays at 7:30 am on KSRO 103.5 FM. The first Saturday of the month is a contemporary service at 5 pm. Home of the Montgomery High Free Breakfast and Rosebud Preschool (Lic.#493005596). Rev. Dr. Cindy Alloway. 2500 Patio Ct. (across Lucky’s & Montgomery Vlg). (707) 542-4272. www.churchoftheroses.org.

Unity Unity of Santa Rosa Birthing a New Advent Story Join us Sundays at 10:30am 4857 Old Redwood Hwy. Larkfield Dec. 24th 12 Power Candlelighting Dec. 31st Burning Bowl Ceremony | unityofsantarosa.org |

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INSIDE TODAY’S PAPER » Puzzles, games and brain teasers » Advice on sleep, diet, more for

Democrat reporter goes along for a 100-mph ride at Sonoma Raceway. C1

health and well-being

LAST LAP BEFORE REPAVING » Press

2024

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 • SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA • PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM

EDUCATION

The death of

Patient 19139

Web tool tracks student progress District dashboards displaying performance return after 3 years By ADRIANA GUTIERREZ THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Karen Alves holds a photograph of her brother, Mark, on Dec. 1 at the Sonoma Developmental Center. Alves’ brother, who had cerebral palsy, was housed in the Tallman Building, background left, in 1958 when he was 3 years old. Mark died there three years later.

Karen Alves’ little brother was institutionalized at Sonoma State Hospital. Haunted by questions about his time there, the Windsor woman has spent years trying to unearth the truth behind his ﬁnal days. By PHIL BARBER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

he digitized home-movie reel is a remarkable piece of documentation. It features Sonoma County and one of its working-class families, the Dal Molins, in the 1950s and ’60s. There are ﬂickering, silent, color images of ﬂoods, car crash scenes,

the Rose Parade in downtown Santa Rosa. There is the half-constructed Richmond Bridge and a public ceremony at which the family dog is presented with an award for saving their grandmother from a violent mental-hospital escapee. Karen Alves happened upon the family movie three or four years ago, in the drawer of a dresser ﬁlled with old reels and slide ﬁlm.

The Windsor woman watched with fascination. Then a piece of footage made her gasp. On her screen, it was Christmas, circa 1956, and the Dal Molins were a picture of wholesome cheer. There was young Karen and her even-younger sisters, Chris and TURN TO PATIENT » PAGE A13

SPECIAL REPORT

■ Part 1: The boy who disappeared ■ Part 2: Two autopsies, four death certiﬁcates ■ Part 3: Atmospheric releases and radioactive oatmeal ■ Part 4: A voice for the voiceless

For the ﬁrst time since the pandemic, Californians can get a direct measure of their schools’ performance through a web-based dashboard designed to improve accountability and performance. The California Dashboard, which was suspended during the state’s COVID lockdowns, measures chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, English learner progress, graduation rates, literacy rates for English language arts and mathematics, and college and career readiness. The scores are displayed in hues of red, orange, yellow, green and blue on a meter where an arrow points to a color that corresponds with very low, low, medium, high or very high performance ratings in the given categories. If the dial points toward the red, a district has very low performance. The closer the dial points to blue, the better. This year’s classiﬁcation considers the current status of a district’s performance in the 2022-23 school year while also comparing it to the district’s performance in the previous year. College and career readiness is the only category that did not have data from the previous year to track improvement because COVID interrupted testing in 2021. TURN TO STUDENTS » PAGE A10

PARADE TODAY

SALUTE TO ST. VINCENT:

‘Spokes’-men add special sauce to Taco Tuesday rides THE PRESS

T • SUNDAY, DEMOCRA

R 17, 2023 DECEMBE

TORENCE POWELL

SUNDAY,

AUSTIN STEEVES

17, 2023 DECEMBER

• SECTION

24 2024 TO WATCH

MARK HEINE

ELECE HEMPEL

Check out our

ANGIE SANCHEZ

akers, list of newsm

MARREYA

shakers movers and

BAILEY

PREETI MISTRY

KEITH ROGAL

LER JOSH WINDMIL

MIKE MCGUIRE

RIVERA CHRISTINA JUAN CHAVEZ

AND CHAD

HUNT

APRIL SANTOS

S EMILY CORNELIU

TREVOR HUDSON

BROMLEY

INSIDE

FEATHER-CRUZ MADONNA

RIETTA HOHMAN

SAWYER WILSON

Check out more movers and shakers on our list of 24 to Watch in 24. / W1

ROGELIO GARCIA

he way Juan Chavez remembers that ﬁrst meeting, it went so something like this: He w was driving through Santa R Rosa and caught a glimpse o the billowing (dare I of s say, majestic) hair of Chad H Hunt’s son, Juanez. But what really caught his attention was the sleek stretch bike the k was on, riding around kid with his dad. An aﬁcionado of the custom-made bikes, Chavez actually pulled over to talk to Juanez about his ride.

KERRY BENEFIELD

A parade celebrating the Mustangs’ state football championship takes place at 10 a.m. today and will begin and end at Walnut Park in Petaluma.

SANTA ROSA High 63, Low 47 THE WEATHER, C8

Chavez suspects Hunt thought something different was happening. “He thought we were going to take the bike,” Chavez said, laughing. “Chad pulled up on us and said, ‘Hey what’s going on here?’” The misunderstanding TURN TO BENEFIELD » PAGE A12

Business E1 Classiﬁed E4 Community F5 Crossword D19 Forum F1 Horoscopes D17

Nation-World B1 North Coast A3 Obituaries B4 Sonoma Life D1 Sports C1 Towns D15

JOHN BURGESS / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Taco Tuesday riders head down Fourth Street from Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Nov. 21, a night with an ugly Christmas sweater theme.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

GOOD MORNING, SONOMA COUNTY TODAY'S WEATHER IN SANTA ROSA

NUMBER OF THE DAY

degrees and lots of clouds today, maybe even a brief shower or two. For more weather, turn to Page C8

Number of years southern Sonoma County’s Tolay Lake has been a healing refuge for Native Americans. To read this story, turn to Page D15.

4,000

FROM THE COMICS

‘PEANUTS’

From Santa Rosa’s own Charles M. Schulz. For more “Peanuts,” visit peanuts.com. To read more of today’s comics, turn to Page V1 or visit pressdemocrat.com/comics WHAT YOU’RE READING Here are the three most-read local stories on pressdemocrat.com. ■ How Santa Rosa’s raucous Taco Tuesday rides got their start — and continue to thrive ■ Sonoma County supervisors restrict tree removal under emergency moratorium ■ Best local — and global — holiday wine picks from Trader Joe’s QUOTABLE TODAY What community members are saying in today’s newspaper.

“I recall when he was born that something was wrong just by the atmosphere around the house.” KAREN ALVES, talking about her brother Mark. Read

more on Page A1.

TODAY IN HISTORY 1944: The U.S. War Department announced it was ending its policy of excluding people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. 1969: The U.S. Air Force closed its Project “Blue Book” by concluding there was no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings. 1992: President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North American Free Trade Agreement. 2018: A Senate intelligence committee found that Russia’s political disinformation campaign on U.S. social media was working to discourage Black voters and “blur the lines between reality and ﬁction” to help elect Donald Trump. FOR THE RECORD If you ﬁnd an error on our news pages, please let us know; call 707-526-8585 or email pdnews@pressdemocrat.com.

The Press Democrat Owned locally by

Darius Anderson, Managing Member Eric Johnston, Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Board of Advisers Darius Anderson, Chairman Bill Jasper, Norma Person, Jean Schulz, Les Vadasz and Sandy Weill

NEWSROOM 707-526-8585 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Outside Santa Rosa: 800-675-5056 Fax: 707-521-5330

Email: info@pressdemocrat.com Volume 166 ■ Number 351

Interim Editor: John C. D’Anna Chief Digital Ofﬁcer: Annika G. Toernqvist Staff directory: pressdemocrat.com/contactus

FRANCINE ORR / LOS ANGELES TIMES

Denise Fractious, 68, gets inoculated Oct. 12 during a ﬂu and COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Kaiser Permanente Pasadena.

COVID, ﬂu cases on rise Holiday uptick expected in state, but how bad it will be is anyone’s guess By RONG-GONG LIN II LOS ANGELES TIMES

COVID-19 and ﬂu are rising across California, sparking new warnings from health officials to take precautions as the wider winter holiday season looms. The uptick is modest and not wholly unexpected — wintertime surges have been an annual occurrence since the coronavirus ﬁrst emerged. But experts say lagging uptake of the latest reformulated vaccines has left some populations particularly vulnerable to severe health outcomes that are largely preventable at this point. Over the week that ended Dec. 9, 2,449 Californians were newly admitted to hospitals with a coronavirus infection, up 40% over the last month, according to federal data. California was considered to have “high” viral illness activity level as of Dec. 9, among the worst designations in the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. “Respiratory illness activity is rapidly increasing across the United States,” the CDC said in a bulletin Thursdayn. “Millions of people may

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get sick in the next month or two, and low vaccination rates mean more people will get more severe disease. Getting vaccinated now can help prevent hospitalizations and save lives.” A rise in viral illness is expected this time of year, but the prevalence of COVID-19 adds a considerable health burden that didn’t exist before the pandemic. COVID-19 remains the primary cause of new respiratory hospitalizations and deaths nationally, causing 1,000 fatalities a week. “COVID is still causing the most number of cases, the most number of hospitalizations and the most number of deaths,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the CDC, said Tuesday. “So while we all wish we could leave COVID in the rearview mirror, it is still here with us, and so we need to make sure we are continuing to take it very seriously.” Cohen urged people to take precautions like getting vaccinated, avoiding people who are sick and staying home when ill, regular hand-washing, improving air ventilation and wearing a mask.“And get tested, so you know what you have and you can get treatment,” she said. COVID-19, ﬂu and another ailment — respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — aren’t at the heights they were this time last year, when their simultaneous circulation spawned a “tripledemic” that stressed health care

facilities across the state, especially children’s hospitals. Kaiser Permanente Southern California began noticing more COVID-19 illness starting in mid-November, with the rise accelerating after Thanksgiving, said Dr. Nancy Gin, regional medical director of quality and clinical analysis. In the San Francisco Bay Area, coronavirus levels in the San Jose watershed’s sewage have been at a “ high “ level for weeks. Rising viral levels in wastewater is “like the canary in the coal mine,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert. Higher concentrations could be followed by more illness. “I’m just worried that it’s going to translate into hospitalizations around Christmastime,” he said. Chin-Hong said he’s especially concerned about seniors who haven’t received their updated vaccinations this fall. Among Californians ages 65 and older, just 27% have received the latest COVID-19 vaccination. Flu vaccination rates are slightly lower than at this time last year, according to CDC data. As of early November, 36% of U.S. adults had received their ﬂu shot, compared with 38% at that time last year. For RSV, just 16% of adults ages 60 and older had received the newly available vaccine as of Dec. 2.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

The North Coast Storm to bring several days of rain NORTH BAY » Some ﬂooding likely to occur on low-lying streets By SARA EDWARDS THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The National Weather Service is expecting moderate rainfall throughout the week starting Sunday evening. National Weather Service me-

teorologist Brayden Murdock said drizzly, showery conditions could start either Sunday evening or Monday morning with the main rain producer starting Monday morning and lasting throughout the day. Murdock said the storm will then become disorganized with moderate rain chances until Thursday. “The main rain band that comes in Monday morning will

probably be some of the highest rates we see and even the hourly rainfall amounts aren’t looking too high,” he said. “(Rainfall) will probably be an inch over three hours ... then afterwords when we head into Tuesday, we do have individual chances for storms but otherwise pretty light to moderate rain midweek.” Murdock said some ﬂooding is to be expected in areas that

SANTA ROSA

typically see ﬂooding, such as low-lying streets. But widespread ﬂooding like what the North Bay experienced earlier this year is not expected with this system. “Some of our soils are still a bit on the dry side so they’ll be able to absorb more rain,” he said. “River systems aren’t at capacity yet so those can also handle a good amount of rainfall.” Murdock said overall tem-

You can reach Sara Edwards at 707-521-5487 or sara.edwards@ pressdemocrat. com.

JOHN D’ANNA

Jeanette Ambriz-Diaz gets a smooch Saturday from Cesar Cuellar, aka the Grinch, as they sell their wares during the So-Ho-Ho Holiday Market at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa.

So-Ho-Ho Holiday Market

peratures won’t see much variation with highs reaching the lower 60s and lows sitting in the lower 50s for much of the North Bay. Overnight lows will eventually fall back into the lower 40s with some areas reaching the 30s as well.

Inaugural food drive’s grand total pretty grand

know you’ve all been waiting with bated breath (or baited breath if you like anchovies) for the results of my Give The Editor The Bird holiday food drive for Redwood Empire Food Bank. The deal was if we raised $10,000, I’d kick in a grand from the money I swipe from the newsroom swear jar. I figured it would take six or eight weeks, and it would give me plenty to write about without having to do actual, you know, research. But you guys really stepped up to the plate and put one right through the uprights. You blew past $10,000 before most of us could even find our Sunday papers in the bushes. So, I upped the ante, figuring $25,000 would be safe. And not wanting to ask you all to do something I wouldn’t do myself, I kicked in an extra $1,000 because, well, it’s a really big swear jar. (Little-known fact: Most of our journalists are at least bilingual — we speak English and profanity.) TURN TO D’ANNA » PAGE A4

NAPA

PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Kyle Herron steadies son Christopher, 6 months, for a portrait Saturday at the So-Ho-Ho Holiday Market at the fairgrounds in Santa Rosa.

City Council to vote on $1.28M art playground

eople from around Sonoma County and beyond browsed, shopped and generally got in the holiday mood Saturday at the So-Ho-Ho Holiday Market. Held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, the event drew thousands — a mix of teenagers, young families and older visitors — throughout the six hours it was open. More than 120 vendors offered wares ranging from vintage items to clothes to hand-fashioned jewelry. A line of food trucks outside the main pavilion offered sustenance to shoppers. The event, in its second year, was produced by SoCo Market, a craft market for millennial-owned businesses that operates in Cotati and Santa Rosa.

By EDWARD BOOTH THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Napa city staff have worked to craft a proposal over the past two years for the city’s most expensive public art project so far. Its fate will be decided next week. On Tuesday, the Napa City Council is scheduled to decide whether the proposal to create a playable art playground that would replace the 21-year-old play structure at Fuller Park, at a cost of about $1.28 million, will move forward. According to Breyana Brandt, director of Napa City Parks

Thousands of people over the course of the day Saturday shopped for clothes and one-of-akind items during the So-Ho-Ho Holiday Market at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

TURN TO NAPA » PAGE A4

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

D’ANNA

CONTINUED FROM A3 Anyway, I even got my boss, Eric Johnston, the Queso Grande of Sonoma Media Investments, to kick in a grand of his own dough, which I thought was pretty cool, given that the folks upstairs are all too nice to even have a swear jar. Turns out we blew past that goal, too. Last I looked we were at a little over $45,000, which coupled with my donation and Eric’s comes out to $48,000. The cool thing about it is that with Redwood Empire Food Bank’s economies of scale, that money will have triple the food-buying power of anything we could do as individuals. So, that’s like $144,000 that will put food on the table over the holidays for people whose kids might otherwise go hungry. (You can still donate at refb.org/givethebird.) I have to confess something, though. This isn’t my ﬁrst food drive. In a former life I was a humble suburban editor and columnist in a far-off state (can’t spell crazy without AZ) and ran a similar holiday turkey campaign, though with admittedly less impressive results. Most of the time my

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Redwood Empire Food Bank volunteers provide food for hundreds of clients during a Redwood Empire Food Bank distribution event in May at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa. column consisted of me trying to sneak fart jokes past the copy desk, and one day, with deadline looming, I was desperate for a tidbit to wrap up that day’s effort. A reader happened to have emailed me a picture of a broom lying in the middle of a busy Phoenix freeway, asking how then-Arizona Gov.

Jan Brewer got to work that day. It was clearly a sign from the news gods. The sender, whom I’d never met, was a guy named Dave Trotter, a proud, disabled veteran who had founded a very successful company. Dave was thrilled with the item, which he cut out and kept

on his refrigerator for years. And thus grew our friendship. Dave had a huge heart and couldn’t stand the thought of kids going to bed hungry. We both did a lot of volunteer work at a school for homeless children in our community, and whenever anybody at the school needed

anything, Dave was always ﬁrst to whip out his checkbook. His generosity didn’t end there. Every Thanksgiving, as I’d inch toward my food drive goal, Dave would call me up at the last minute and ask how many I needed to put me over the top. Whatever the number, he’d donate that

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the inﬂuence during a Santa Rosa DUI checkpoint Friday night at Stony Point Road and Stony Point Circle. Between the 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. checkpoint hours, 747 cars went through the Santa Rosa Police Department checkpoint with 10 drivers evaluated for a DUI. According to a news

CONTINUED FROM A3

release from the Santa Rosa Police Department, 37 drivers were cited for operating a vehicle without a driver’s license and three drivers were cited for operating a vehicle on a suspended or revoked driver’s license. Two drivers were also arrested for other misdemeanor warrants. You can reach Staff Writer Sara Edwards at 707-521-5487 or sara. edwards@pressdemocrat. com.

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NAPA

2 drivers arrested on suspicion of DUI By SARA EDWARDS

plus one. Dave was never in the best health, and a few weeks ago I received a call from his wife telling me the bad news. It was about the time I wrote my ﬁrst Give The Editor The Bird column. I’d sort of been counting on Dave to put me over the top this year, but it turns out he didn’t need to. The 400 of you who donated this year (including some guy named Anonymous who donated 47 times!) did that and then some, and I can’t thank you all enough. It’s truly humbling to see your responses online and on my Redwood Empire Food Bank page. And on behalf of the hundreds or maybe even thousands of people you’ve helped, I thank you from the bottom of my heart (which most reporters describe as cold and hard for some reason). Anyway, I’ll be dropping my check off to the food bank next week, and, assuming my bosses let me do this again next year, I plan to rename the food drive in my friend’s honor. “Give Dave Trotter The Bird” has a nice ring to it, I think. Somehow, I know he’d approve.

BETH SCHLANKER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A structure with missing swings Nov. 28 at the playground at Fuller Park in Napa.

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and Recreation, funding sources for the project include: ■ $750,000 from the city’s dedicated Public Art Fund, which developers pay into when pursuing Napa projects. ■ $350,000 from the city’s playground replacement fund. ■ $178,000 via a Proposition 68 grant program. City Council approval is required for the city to enter into a contract agreement with lead designer Daniel Wodarcyk’s S2 Associates, Inc. — Wodarycyk was a lead designer for Napa’s 2019 Playground Fantástico rebuild — and Belmont-based Specified Play Equipment Co. Ali Koenig, a management analyst for the city’s parks department who’s leading the project, previously said the playground proposal would go through a thematic development phase should the council approve. That would include forming a 16-person committee, with local youth and public art representatives, to help figure out the design. Ultimately, the council would need to approve the final design. You can reach Staff Writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or edward. booth@pressdemocrat. com.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Feds investigate 5 college campuses Civil rights inquiries may be linked to Israel-Hamas war By TERESA WATANABE LOS ANGELES TIMES

LOS ANGELES — Federal authorities have launched civil rights investigations into ﬁve California campuses — UCLA, UC San Diego, Stanford, San Diego State and Santa Monica College — since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two months ago, but it is not known how many may involve allegations of antisemitism or harassment against Arabs and Muslims. At least one university, San Diego State, said the complaint triggering the federal action involved a June 2023 incident that “is in no way related to the Israel-Hamas War or any dispute between Israelis and Palestinians.” The campus, in an email, declined to share further information, citing privacy rights of those involved. The California campuses are the latest to draw the scrutiny of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, which released an initial list of seven colleges and K-12 schools under investigation on Nov. 16. Federal education officials at the time called it part of “aggressive action to address the alarming nationwide rise in reports of antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and other forms of discrimination and harassment.” Five of the November cases on the initial list involved complaints of antisemitism and two involved charges of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab harassment, education ofﬁcials said then. An Education Department spokesperson

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES

A group of people on a guided tour of the UCLA campus stand in front of the Powell Library. UCLA is one of ﬁve college campuses in the state facing federal civil rights investigations. declined Thursday to specify the nature of the complaints against the California campuses. UCLA, UC San Diego and Stanford issued statements this week pledging full cooperation with federal authorities and reiterating their commitment to inclusive campus environments free of harassment and discrimination. They declined to provide further details of the basis for the investigations. Santa Monica College said the complaint that triggered the federal action involved the failure of a student government council to install “Students Supporting Israel at SMC” as a campus club in October. The college said it promptly intervened to resolve the issue, demonstrating “the college’s commitment to a discrimination-free environment for all students.” Colleges and universities nationwide have erupted in acrimony and tension since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war, with dueling campus rallies, protest

letters and widespread allegations of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab harassment. On Oct. 7, Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking some 240 hostage, according to the Israeli government. Israel’s bombardment and ground war in Hamas-ruled Gaza has killed more than 18,000 people, according to health authorities in the Palestinian territory, and set off a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United Nations estimates the war has displaced 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The Anti-Defamation League reported this week that it recorded 400 antisemitic incidents on college and university campuses between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, compared with 33 incidents during the same period in 2022. Overall, the New Yorkbased nonproﬁt recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents during that period —including 40 cases of physical

assaults — up from 465 the year before. The ADL included 905 campus rallies in the overall count, saying they involved “antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism.” Palestine Legal, a Chicago-based nonproﬁt, has seen a tenfold increase in requests for help since the Israel-Hamas war began. The organization, which provides legal assistance

in support of the Palestinian solidarity movement, received 449 requests for aid between Oct. 7 and Dec. 13 this year, compared with 40 requests last year. The Department of Education will investigate whether the campuses violated Title VI, which requires colleges, universities and K-12 schools that receive federal funding to provide all students “a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.” Such harassment can include slurs, taunts, stereotypes, or name-calling, as well as racially motivated physical threats, attacks or other hateful conduct, according to the Education Department website. Although the federal laws don’t expressly address religious discrimination, civil rights officials can investigate harassment of students with Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other faith backgrounds if they are subjected to “ethnic or ancestral slurs,” stereotypes based on perceived shared ancestry or ethnicity or appearance or behavior linked to their backgrounds. Although campus of-

ficials have been challenged by conflicts over free speech and offensive conduct, federal officials say schools are obligated to respond to allegations of discriminatory harassment involving speech if it contributes to a “hostile environment.” Possible interventions include publicly rejecting stereotypical or derogatory opinions and ensuring that competing views are heard. Schools that violate the law and refuse to address the problems can ultimately lose federal funding or be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for further action. Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary of Education for civil rights, said in a statement last month that it was releasing the names of institutions under investigation for transparency and public awareness, and that “a school’s appearance on this list does not reflect a conclusion that the law has been violated.” Other universities and colleges under investigation for possible Title VI violations include Cornell, Columbia, Harvard, Wellesley, University of Pennsylvania, University of Washington, Tulane, Oberlin and Rutgers.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

‘General Hospital’ dominates DAYTIME EMMYS » Susan Lucci wins lifetime achievement

Shemar Moore, right, presents the Lifetime Achievement Honor to winner Susan Lucci during the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles.

By BETH HARRIS ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Thorsten Kaye and Jacqueline MacInnes Wood of “The Bold and the Beautiful” won lead acting honors at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday night, when “General Hospital” collected six trophies, including four for acting. Kaye, who plays Ridge Forrester on the CBS soap, wasn’t on hand to accept. “Thorsten would have thanked me because I help him through everything,” joked co-star John McCook, last year’s lead actor winner who presented the lead actress award this year. MacInnes Wood collected her third trophy for her role as Steffy Forrester, the daughter of Ridge. “Wow! Awesome! Oh my gosh,” MacInnes Wood said. “I’m so grateful for this ride.” “General Hospital” capped a dominating night by winning outstanding drama series. “This is really a special night and I feel very ap-

PHOTOS BY CHRIS PIZZELLO ASSOCIATED PRESS

preciative and a little anxious,” executive producer Frank Valentini said. “We’d like to dedicate this to Sonya Eddy and N’Neka Garland, we love you so much.” Eddy won supporting actress honors for her 16year role as no-nonsense head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the venerable ABC show. She died in December 2022 at age 55 from an infection after surgery. Garland worked as a producer at “General Hospital” for 22 years before dying of a heart attack in March at age 49. Robert Gossett, who plays Marshall Ashford on “General Hospital,” claimed the supporting actor trophy. He also won last

year in the guest performer category for the same role. Eden McCoy won for outstanding younger performer as Josslyn Jacks. The 20-year-old actor debuted on “General Hospital” in 2015. Her mother, Natasha McCoy, died of cancer in November. “This is for and because of my mother,” McCoy said. “It’s not lost on me what an absolute privilege it is to be able to do something, not only I like to do but love to do for a living, and I love what I do. It’s really easy to be grateful on nights like this, but I am grateful every day.” Alley Mills, best-known for her role as the mother on “The Wonder Years,” won for guest performance

on a daytime drama. The 72-year-old actor began playing Heather Webber on “General Hospital” when the role was recast last year. Her husband, actor Orson Bean, was killed in 2020 after being hit by two cars while crossing a street in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles. “I had just lost my beloved husband — it was pretty traumatic — and then I get asked to play a seriously traumatized person who kills a lot of people, but she’s got a heart of gold,” Mills said. “And she’s barreling towards the light all the time and it gave me that ability to keep going and barrel towards the light. The world is so

screwed up right now that all I can say to all of you traumatized people out there, just keep barreling towards the light.” “General Hospital” also won for its directing team. Susan Lucci received the Lifetime Achievement Honor for her 40-year run as Erica Kane on “All My Children.” The actor, who turns 77 next week, was nominated 18 times in the lead actress category without winning before she ended the wait in 1999. Shemar Moore, who shouted, “The streak is over!” when presenting her with the trophy back then, returned to introduce her. “She’s the leading lady of daytime,” Moore said before Lucci was greeted with a standing ovation. “How lucky am I to dream my dreams of becoming an actress and grow up to have my dreams come true?” said Lucci, who sniffled during her remarks. “There were obstacles and roadblocks. I mean, there were wannabe obstacles and roadblocks.” “The Young and the Restless” was honored for outstanding writing team. Kelly Clarkson earned her third consecutive trophy for a daytime talk se-

ries and won as daytime talk host. The singer, who didn’t attend, moved her syndicated show from Los Angeles to New York this year. “It’s a pleasure to work with her. She makes it fun, she’s a joy every day and that makes it a little easier,” executive producer Alex Duda said. “She wanted me to thank all of our viewers for sticking with us on this migration as we moved.” “Entertainment Tonight” won its eighth trophy as outstanding entertainment news series. Kevin Frazier and Nichelle Turner, who hosted Friday night, came out of the audience to accept. The 50th annual ceremony honoring talk shows and soap operas is the ﬁrst major awards show to return since the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes ended. It was pushed back from its scheduled June date. To celebrate the awards’ golden anniversary, the previous winner of a category was paired with a long-ago winner as presenters. Attendees sat at tables spread out in a ballroom at the Westin Bonaventure hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

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Jacqueline MacIness Wood accepts the award for outstanding performance by a lead actress in a daytime drama series for “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

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Alley Mills, winner of the award for outstanding guest performance in a daytime drama series for “General Hospital,” attends the awards on Friday in L.A.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Vote keeps Diablo nuclear plant open Energy officials extend reactor life an extra 5 years By TONY BRISCOE LOS ANGELES TIMES

LAURA DICKINSON / SAN LUIS OBSIPO TRIBUNE, 2022

Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is the last of its kind in California.

California energy officials have voted to extend the operation of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant through 2030, extending the life span of the state’s last nuclear plant an additional ﬁve years. The California Public Utilities Commission approved a proposal to keep Diablo Canyon’s twin reactors online, overturning an

earlier agreement to close the plant in 2025. Three commissioners — Alice Busching Reynolds, John Reynolds and Karen Douglas — voted in favor. Commissioner Darcie Houck abstained and Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma was absent. Thursday’s decision is expected to preserve a large bloc of the state’s zero-emission power supply. But it also raises concerns over the high cost and potential safety issues associated with operating an aging nuclear power plant. The state utilities commission acknowledged that the costs associated with the plan were still unknown but were expected to exceed $6 billion. A federal safety review will be conducted. State energy commissioners emphasized that the extension should serve as a bridge to renewable energy and that the plant was not expected to operate beyond 2030. The decision, they said, was intended to bolster the reliability of California’s grid, which has narrowly avoided rolling blackouts during heat waves in recent years. “The short-term extension of the power plant as proposed is a transitional strategy to help California weather the challenges of the energy transition, including the weather and climate extremes that we have experienced ... and the cost challenges that we face in scaling up the clean energy transition so quickly,” Douglas said. At a state meeting ﬁlled with heated discourse, supporters argued that Cali-

fornia needed the power supply from Diablo Canyon to avert outages and meet the state’s climate goals. The plant supplies about 9% of the state’s electricity and 17% of the state’s zero-emission power. But a chorus of critics warned that the extension could bring rate hikes from the plant’s operator, Paciﬁc Gas and Electric Co. Opponents also argued that the plant’s proximity to several fault lines makes it susceptible to earthquakes. The plant, which sits along the Paciﬁc Ocean about 10 miles outside of San Luis Obispo, opened in 1985. A report by Digby Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Nuclear Engineering, suggested one of the plant’s nuclear reactors “poses an unreasonable risk to public health and safety due to serious indications of an unacceptable degree of embrittlement,” or deterioration. “If you approve overturning the Diablo shutdown agreement, you risk culpability for a nuclear catastrophe,” he said. As part of the approval, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to evaluate safety conditions at Diablo Canyon after PG&E submits a new license renewal application at the end of 2023. Gov. Gavin Newsom has argued the state still needs the nuclear plant as global warming drives higher demand for air conditioning, and as California increasingly relies on solar farms that stop generating electricity after sundown.

Hiker: ‘I’m going to die up here’ Man rescued after being pinned under boulder for 10 hours By YAN ZHUANG NEW YORK TIMES

The sun slipped behind the mountains and darkness fell as Kevin DePaolo lay in the freezing sand, a boulder weighing as much as 10,000 pounds bearing down on his right leg in the California mountains. As the hours stretched on, he oscillated between a Zen-like calm and a seizing terror that rescue would never come. At his lowest, he asked his friend, who was by his side, to call his mother and tell her, “This is it. I’m going to die up here. There’s no way I’m going to make it through.” But his friend refused. Help eventually arrived, in the form of Inyo County Search and Rescue, freeing DePaolo after he had spent about 10 hours trapped beneath the boulder. In his ﬁrst interview since the accident, which happened Dec. 5, DePaolo said he felt as if he had been “given a second chance at life.” That day, DePaolo and his friend, Josh Nelson, had hiked to a spot near the Santa Rita Flat, in the Inyo Mountains in California, to look for “cool rocks.” He was digging in the sand of the steep hillside, about 1 foot below the boulder, when it dislodged and rolled down, ramming straight into him. The boulder, which he estimated to be the size of a grand piano and several times heavier, knocked him ﬂat, DePaolo said. DePaolo, 26, and Nelson, 38, managed to shift the boulder enough to get it off his chest and free his left leg. But his right leg was trapped. “I could feel the weight of the boulder coming down harder and harder on my leg. I was screaming, in agonizing pain and freaking

out,” said DePaolo, adding that the boulder pinned him by his ankle and knee. Just as concerning was his left leg, which had taken the brunt of the impact and was “fully ripped open.” “I could see all this weird stuff in my leg you’re not supposed to see,” he said. Nelson called 911, prompting a multiagency rescue operation. As they waited for rescuers to locate them in the remote wilderness, Nelson looked after DePaolo and tried to keep him calm. He tied his sweater around DePaolo’s bleeding left leg, built a ﬁre and piled warm clothing on him. At about 10 p.m., lights cut through the darkness, heralding the arrival of the rescue team, DePaolo said. Two rescuers were dropped in by helicopter, while seven more followed in vehicles, navigating fourwheel-drive roads, Inyo County Search and Rescue said. To shift the boulder off DePaolo’s leg, rescuers rigged a complicated system in a precarious operation that used a pulley system anchored to a rock lower on the hillside to shift the boulder away while a jack lifted it in increments, Nelson said. “If any point in the connection between the jack and the boulder had failed or something happened, the thing would have just slammed right back down on top of him,” Nelson said. A Navy medic rappelled out of a helicopter from the Naval Air Station Lemoore and hoisted DePaolo, who was ﬂown to a hospital in Fresno where he underwent surgery. DePaolo cracked his pelvis in two places, severed the femoral artery in his left leg and had his “femur smashed into my pelvis on my left side.” Although he’s recovered enough to be able to leave the hospital soon, he has not regained feeling in his right foot and fears he might have serious nerve damage.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 Regular Taco Tuesday rider Amy Loukonen pedals down Fourth Street from Courthouse Square in Santa Rosa on Nov. 21, a night with an ugly Christmas sweater theme. JOHN BURGESS THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

ERIK CASTRO / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2021

Riders head down Orchard Street to make a pit stop at the Russian River Brewing Co. before heading to the taco trucks in the Roseland neighborhood in Santa Rosa.

BENEFIELD CONTINUED FROM A1

was swiftly cleared up and they have been friends ever since.

‘You are a kid again’ The two men and their sons started riding around Santa Rosa together. The rides would sometimes end up at the taco trucks on Sebastopol Road where they’d have a family-style dinner together. They started to invite a few friends. They gave the ride a name: Taco Tuesdays. Hunt, a third grade teacher at Sheppard Accelerated Elementary School who has spent three decades in the classroom, invited some students, current and former, along. He rightly assumed some could use a hit of outdoor exercise and a bit of fun. The rules were few and largely unspoken: Be kind, be courteous, bring lights — the funkier the better. In those early days, they met at Humboldt Park on Paciﬁc Avenue and wound their way through the Santa Rosa Junior College neighborhood, down McDonald Avenue and into downtown Santa Rosa and then onto Sebastopol Road. After dinner, riders would head back and stop at Yogurt Farms on Mendocino Avenue for dessert. "Anytime you get on a bike, as soon as you start riding, you are a kid again,“ Hunt, 52, said. The natural fun factor made the ride a magnet for newcomers. And Chavez and Hunt are nothing if not “the more the merrier” kind of people. Soon the group rides hit 20 people, then 25 by midsummer. When the fun was featured in this column that July, there was no turning back, said Chavez, 46. The ride now regularly pulls in 200 people during the summer. The costumed Halloween ride drew 401 merry riders. Riders are singles. They come in couples, in groups. Riders are aboard stretch bikes, or BMX bikes, or mountain bikes, or road bikes. There are tricycles. One fellow regularly shows up on his unicycle. This is a distinctly no judgment zone. “That is one thing we wanted to convey at the very beginning — we were an all-encompassing bike ride,” Chavez said. “It doesn’t matter what you ride, if it was a mountain bike or a tall bike or BMX, doesn’t matter.” Agreed, Hunt said. “As long as you get on a bike and you are kind and nice to the people around you, that’s it,” he said. The group essentially deputizes riders each week to monitor traffic lights and keep the massive group together. Hunt, ever the teacher, will usually tap students and young riders to accept responsibility. At larger intersections (think Humboldt Street and College Avenue) a rider will press the overhead ﬂashing pedestrian light when the entire group has gathered and usually have three or four other riders hold back traffic for a light cycle if not every rider has made it. If this irks anyone,

WANT TO JOIN THE RIDE? OF COURSE YOU DO The Taco Tuesday Ride gathers at Franklin Park, 2095 Franklin Ave. Santa Rosa, every Tuesday. Gathering begins at 5:30 p.m., riders take off at 6 p.m. Rain cancels. Find out more on the group’s Facebook page under “Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Ride and more.” The Taco Tuesday Ride is co-hosting, with Bikeable Santa Rosa, a Holiday Lights Ride on Dec. 23. Riders gather at 4 p.m. at Julliard Park, 227 Santa Rosa Ave. The group departs at 5 p.m. “Two years ago we gave a kid a bike and now 15 of his family members ride with us,” Hunt said. “I love that because it changed the culture of that entire family.” ERIK CASTRO / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2021 For Hunt, who has coached middle school Organizer Juan Chavez addresses riders at Humboldt Park before they set out on their Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Bike Ride. basketball in Roseland for years, said bikes can offer the bikes.” a different kind of identity He loves the generosifor kids. They can also ty, the diversity and the open-heartedness of people provide transportation and freedom. who build those bikes and “What I love about who he rides with. cycling is you can get them He wants to share that all,” he said. “It’s much with others. more inclusive. There “It brings everybody back to childhood, the days isn’t that contrary feeling. You aren’t going against before worries,” Chavez anybody, we are all in this said. “For me, that is what it is. The trials and the trib- together.” Loukonen said that is the ulations of the day, they magic behind Taco Tuesare gone for me.” days — the giving spirit of Today Chavez is like its founders. the Taco Tuesday cruise “Chad has probably got director. He does bike the biggest heart I have prep for first timers, he ever seen,” she said. “Both uses a bullhorn to make Chad and his wife, Lupe, announcements, he rides are amazing, deeply caring with a massive boom box individuals.” pumping out everything And Chavez? Well he from Marvin Gaye to ERIK CASTRO / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2021 Christmas carols. blows Loukonen away. He recently floated to It’s Chavez’s openness Riders enjoy tacos and burritos from the taco trucks in the Roseland neighborhood during a Loukonen an idea to build and his willingness to Taco Tuesday Bike Ride in Santa Rosa. something for people who share his story that draws can’t ride a bike so they can he lost his job. He lost cuspeople to him, Hunt said. ride with them. tody of his children. He lost Hunt said people feel, Not a sidecar or trailer, his home. and gravitate toward, Chavez wants to find a way And he lost his freedom. Chavez’s “realness.” “I spiraled for five “It’s his authenticity,” he to build something to help years,” he said. said. “He knows everybody, people grip handlebars, turn peddles and feel like In court he asked for he remembers everybody, a shot at rehab, he said. he’s so good with checking they are truly feeling the joy of riding a bike. Instead, he was sentenced in and following through. “That’s next level,” to 14 months in Alameda That, to me, is inspiring.” County’s Santa Rita Jail. Plus the guy just loves to Loukonen said, getting emotional. “Those are the Upon release, he was re- ride bikes. kind of statements that quired to take part in Adult “He is contagious with make me want to be a betDay Reporting — essential- his passion,” Hunt said. ter person.” ly a daily check-in. “He’s the magic.” ERIK CASTRO / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2021 But meantime, Chavez “It was the accountabil‘The biggest heart I and Hunt just keep riding ity I needed,” he said. “It Juan Chavez straps on his boombox to crank some tunes as and pulling along others was random drug testing. I have ever seen’ riders depart on a Santa Rosa Taco Tuesday Bike Ride. When one regular Tues- to join. was sent to that for a year day night rider died, the helps with some of the Chavez launched a Sunbut I voluntarily stayed Chavez and Hunt haven’t following week everyone group’s social media and day Funday ride in Windthree years.” heard it. It’s hard to honk wore pink, the man’s favor- sor, where he now lives. administrative tasks — like It helped him to help at a rider whose bike is ite color, in his honor. parade entry. He’s thinking about putothers. decorated like a jellyfish. The group celebrates They care about the ting together a dance party “I just enjoyed it,” he “We don’t get mad honksuccess of the endeavor, ride where folks roll, stop said. “Being able to tell my birthdays each month, ers. We get happy honkusually with cupcakes after and dance, roll on, stop and but they care about the story and see it help other ers,” Chavez said. dinner. Chavez said he tries dance a little more. You get participants more, she said. people in there. Letting They are respectful to make remarks about They check on people the idea. other people who are just and grateful for drivers’ every celebrant. midride and midweek. And while Taco Tuescoming into the (adult day patience. He wants to make sure They make people feel wel- reporting) know that they days are Chavez and Hunt’s “We smile, we wave, we come. They make people proverbial baby, both say it can recover. … People think people feel seen. say ‘Thank you,’” Hunt When another rider let has taken on a big, wonderyou will never recover, but said. “Our philosophy from feel seen. folks know that her grand- ful, wild life of its own. The consistency that you can. But it’s not easy.” Day 1 was to try not to father, who lives along the Chavez says is a key to A life that could, if necesNo longer having that impact motorists. ride route, had suffered a Taco Tuesday’s success is a daily check-in made sary, roll on down the road ‘Secret sauce’ key to his personal success Chavez incredibly nervous, stroke, riders signed a get without them if they ever There are reasons why well poster and Chavez and decided to park their bikes too. he said. this ride works and why it Hunt made sure everyone He is six years clean and or hand the reins to some“No search and seizure, has sustained so successcheered and waved to Bill. sober. Bikes have helped one else, so to speak. no probation office, and fully. Now the greeting is an him get there. And stay But it will always have that accountability and caAnd the reasons are ingrained part of the ride. there. a place in the founders’ maraderie with the group. Chavez and Hunt. “He sits on the porch “In 2012 I lost everyhearts. I’m not saying it was keepSure, a Taco Tuesday so we all yell, ‘Hey Bill!’” thing,” he said. “The Taco Tuesday thing ing me sober, but it helped bike ride is an awesomeHunt said. Up until that time, he means a ton to me,” Hunt me stay sober,“ he said. ly fun idea. But it’s the Hunt, who actively enhad been clean for 13 years. said. “The whole communiBack then he felt like he leaders who have been the courages his Roseland stu- ty of it.” He was a dad. He was man- needed something else to enthusiastic, organized, dents and families to show aging apartment complexkeep him busy. consistent glue. up, quietly outfits them if es. He spent some of his You can reach Staff ColSo he turned back to his “There is definitely a they don’t have something free time working on bikes early love of bikes. umnist Kerry Benefield Juan-and-Chad secret to ride. He runs a loaner for kids in the apartments at 707-526-8671 or kerry. “I found stretch bikes sauce,” said Amy Louprogram out of his garage he managed. benefield@pressdemocrat. and that was it,” he said. konen, a longtime Taco at home, housing donated When he started using com. On Instagram @ “And I fell in love with the Tuesday rider who now methamphetamine again community that came with and otherwise gifted bikes. kerry.benefield.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

PATIENT

CONTINUED FROM A1 Gale, dressed for the holiday, faces alight as they contemplated the presents under the tree. And suddenly, there he was. Mark, the boy who disappeared from the household, and practically from history, just a few years after the movie was shot. The boy whose absence splintered the family. The boy whose memory burned a hole in Karen Alves that, 65 years later, she’s still trying to patch. The images of Mark, a couple minutes in length, filled her with sadness, guilt and longing. But they also offer vindication, because they confirm what she had always known in her heart to be true — that her brother was not a “vegetable” or an “idiot” or any of the other evocatively derogatory terms doctors used to justify his institutionalization. The towheaded boy in the movie follows faces with his clear blue eyes and brightens when his sisters dote on him. He holds his head up. He looks as if he is trying to mouth words. And when his mother helps him stand and move, you can read the effort in his expression. “See how he’s trying to figure out crawling?” said Alves, 72, watching the disc once again at her house in Windsor. “Does he look like a vegetable to you? No. Now he’s trying to roll. Oh, he did roll!” Alves had come to doubt her own memories. But the old home movies were affirmation. She had not been wrong to devote so much of her life to uncovering the truth about her brother’s death at Sonoma State Hospital in 1961, when he was 6 years old — a quest that unexpectedly plunged her into the troubling history of human experimentation in American institutions. More than 60 years af-

A13

homemaker responsible for three daughters. Karen was born in 1951, Chris in 1952 and Gale in 1953. Mark’s arrival in January 1955 presented a huge challenge — and an emotional blow to the thriving family. According to medical reports Alves retrieved, he spent 45 minutes on a ventilator after his delivery at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. “I recall when he was born that something was wrong,” Alves said. “Just by the atmosphere around the house.” Soon after, Mark began experiencing “mild convulsive seizures,” as doctors wrote. He would live with cerebral palsy throughout KAREN ALVES his short life. He was unable to speak or walk, and A screenshot from family movies captured by the Dal Molin family in the mid-1950s. Mark Dal Molin, foreground, was institutionalized at Sonoma State Hospital in 1958. He died there he had trouble swallowing. His sisters lavished afthree years later, at the age of 6. His sister Karen Alves, right, has spent much of her life fection on him nonetheresearching the circumstances of Mark’s death. Also pictured are sisters Gale and Chris. less, performing whatever antics it took to get a reaction. “When we came home from school, you could hear him screeching in his room with excitement,” Alves said. But one day, when Karen was 7 and Mark was 3, she opened the door to an uncanny stillness. “I remember coming through the front door, turning and looking at my sisters, and we all had that look of ‘oh no.’ And I went to my room and shut the door and went to bed,” Alves said. “And my life was never the same.” Mark’s parents had relinquished him to the care of Sonoma State Hospital. Formerly Sonoma State Home, among other names (and ultimately known as Sonoma Developmental Center when it closed on the last day of 2018), it housed about 3,500 developmentally disabled children and adults when Mark arrived. For years, Alves blamed A copy of Mark Dal Molin’s death certiﬁcate. her parents for her brother’s absence. She now unter Mark died, she’s still Molin, was an accom- houses in and around San- derstands there were other searching. plished mason; his craft- ta Rosa. His wife, Rosmarie, forces at work. Rosmarie Alves’ father, Bill Dal work graces midcentury a Swiss immigrant, was a and Bill had merely accept-

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LEARN MORE To read this series online, go to pressdemocrat.com ed the advice of family doctors who convinced the Dal Molins they wouldn’t be able to devote enough attention to their daughters with a disabled child in the house. The physicians pushed the family to institutionalize Mark, and the parents listened. Mark moved into the state hospital on Nov. 18, 1958. Rosmarie Dal Molin went to see Mark every Wednesday. The girls joined her during school breaks, but they were difficult visits. Rosmarie told her daughters that children weren’t allowed inside. Years later, Alves would learn it wasn’t true. The sisters would stand outside the Tallman Cottage nursery, at the curb, waiting for the moment when their mom would bring Mark to the window. Then they’d dance and somersault and do headstands to entertain him. “It was a very sad, quiet car on the way home,” Alves recalled. “We didn’t have seat belts back then. And I remember turning around in the back seat, looking out the back window — all three of us, like this — watching that big, looming historical building at SDC get smaller and smaller and smaller.” And then, the darkest day. It was May 27, 1961. “I picked up the phone and I heard a voice say, ‘Is Mrs. Dal Molin in?’ And I just knew,” Alves said. “They didn’t even say where they were calling from. But this dread came into my heart, and I got my mom and I left. I ran. I hid. Nobody told me. I knew he was dead.” Next: Two autopsies, four death certiﬁcates You can reach Phil Barber at 707-521-5263 or phil.barber@pressdemocrat.com.

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Inside

NewsWatch » 2 Life Tributes » 4

The perils of post-Roe pregnancy In Ohio, a Black woman was criminally charged after a miscarriage By JULIE CARR SMYTH ASSOCIATED PRESS

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio was in the throes of a bitter debate over abortion rights this fall when Brittany Watts, 21 weeks and 5 days pregnant, began passing thick blood clots. The 33-year-old Watts, who had not shared the news of her pregnancy even with her fami-

ly, made her ﬁrst prenatal visit to a doctor’s office behind Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s Hospital in Warren, a working-class city about 60 miles southeast of Cleveland. The doctor said that, while a fetal heartbeat was still present, Watts’ water had broken prematurely and the fetus she was carrying would not survive. He advised heading to the hospital to have her labor induced, so she could have what amounted to an abortion to deliver the nonviable fetus. Otherwise, she would face “signiﬁcant risk” of death,

according to records of her case. That was a Tuesday in September. What followed was a harrowing three days entailing: multiple trips to the hospital; Watts miscarrying into, and then flushing and plunging, a toilet at her home; a police investigation of those actions; and Watts, who is Black, being charged with abuse of a corpse. That’s a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Her case was sent last month to a grand jury. It has touched off a national firestorm over the

treatment of pregnant women, and especially Black women, in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump elevated Watts’ plight in a post to X, formerly Twitter, and supporters have donated more than $100,000 through GoFundMe for her legal defense, medical bills and trauma counseling. Whether abortion-seekers should face criminal charges is a matter of debate within the

anti-abortion community, but, post-Dobbs, pregnant women like Watts, who was not even trying to get an abortion, have increasingly found themselves charged with “crimes against their own pregnancies,” said Grace Howard, assistant justice studies professor at San José State University. “Roe was a clear legal roadblock to charging felonies for unintentionally harming pregnancies, when women were legally allowed to end their pregnancies TURN TO CHARGED » PAGE B6

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Odalys Arevalo

ELECTION 2024

‘Repeal’ threat rises again ‘Insurance godmothers’ signing up Florida’s Latinos for Obamacare By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI — Salsa music blares from the food court in a rundown Miami shopping center as Latinos head to a kiosk and an office showing signs for “ Obamacare,” where they hope to renew their health coverage plans before the year ends. It’s areas near this mall where former Democratic President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul is more popular than anywhere in the country, according to federal data. The region has also shifted away from Democrats to Republicans in recent years, with Donald Trump hosting several rallies here as part of his outreach to Latino voters. Trump, the current front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, has pledged to renew efforts to repeal and replace the 2010 law — something that would be felt heavily in the region and could possibly reverse some of the GOP shift among South Florida’s Latinos, experts say. President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign has already seized on Trump’s statements about “Obamacare,” which was enacted when Biden was vice president, as part of its broader efforts to shape the widely expected rematch with Trump next year. “Health insurance is something that is extremely needed for everyone,” said Odalys Arevalo, one of the managing

PHOTOS BY MAHMOUD ILLEAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

People walk Saturday in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. World-famous Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem have been put on hold due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Under the shadow of war Traditional birthplace of Jesus cancels annual Christmas festivities By JULIA FRANKEL AND JALAL BWAITEL

People visit the Grotto, under the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on Saturday.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BETHLEHEM, West Bank ethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy. But joyous revelry is untenable at a time of immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, said Mayor Hana Haniyeh. “The economy is crashing,” Haniyeh told the Associated Press on Friday. “But if we compare it with what’s happening to our people and Gaza, it’s nothing.” More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel’s blistering air and ground offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers,

according to health officials there, while some 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The war was triggered by Hamas’ deadly assault Oct. 7 on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 240 hostages. Since Oct. 7, access to Bethlehem and

other Palestinian towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass military checkpoints. The restrictions have also prevented many Palestinians from exiting the territory to work in Israel.

TURN TO INSURANCE » PAGE B6

TURN TO CHRISTMAS » PAGE B2

As holidays approach, no room at the inn? IMMIGRATION » Migrants facing eviction from shelters in N.Y.; other cities imposing shelter limits By PHILIP MARCELO ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — It could be a cold, grim New Year for thousands of migrant families living in New York City’s emergency shelter system. With winter setting in, they are being told they need to clear out, with no guarantee they’ll be given a bed

elsewhere. Homeless migrants and their children were limited to 60 days in city housing under an order issued in October by Mayor Eric Adams, a move the Democrat says is necessary to relieve a shelter system overwhelmed by asylum-seekers crossing the southern U.S. border. That clock is now ticking

down for people like Karina Obando, a 38-year-old mother from Ecuador who has been given until Jan. 5 to get out of the former hotel where she has been staying with her two young children. Where she will end up next is unclear. After that date, she can reapply for admission to the shelter system. A placement might not happen right away. Her family could wind up getting sent to one of the city’s huge tent shelters far from where her

11-year-old son goes to school. “I told my son, ‘Take advantage. Enjoy the hotel because we have a roof right now,’” Obando said in Spanish outside Row NYC, a towering, 1,300-room hotel the city converted into a shelter for migrants in the heart of the theater district. “Because they’re going to send us away and we’re going to be sleeping on the train, or on the street.” A handful of cities across the U.S. dealing with an inﬂux of homeless migrants have im-

posed their own limits on shelter stays, citing a variety of reasons, including spiraling costs, a lack of space and a desire to put pressure on people to either ﬁnd housing on their own, or leave town entirely. Chicago imposed a 60-day shelter limit last month and is poised to start evicting people in early January. In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, has capped the numTURN TO MIGRANTS » PAGE B2

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

NEWSWATCH NATION BALTIMORE

Exhumation in 1969 killing raises hopes More than 50 years after his sister was killed, Darryl Malecki watched Thursday as her body was lowered into her grave, for a second time, in Baltimore. No one has been charged with the killing of Joyce Malecki, who disappeared in November 1969, when she was 20, and was found dead days later on the Fort Meade military base south of Baltimore. But the exhumation of her remains for DNA samples has raised her family’s hopes that the case will ﬁnally be solved. The Netﬂix series “The Keepers” examined Malecki’s death in connection with the killing of a nun who taught in Baltimore. The women went missing within days of each other, and their bodies were found a few miles apart.

HOUSTON

Alex Jones, Sandy Hook families fight on Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones proposed paying Sandy Hook families who won more than $1 billion in damages against him last year a combined total of at least $5.5 million annually over a decade, while the families aim to liquidate his Infowars media empire, according to competing plans filed late Friday. The proposals, while far apart, signal that efforts to resolve Jones’ and his company’s bankruptcy are entering a final phase, after dragging on for more than a year. Final hearings are slated for late February in a Houston bankruptcy court. Twenty first graders and six educators died in the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

PRAYERS NEAR THE FRONT: Chaplain Ivan of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine reads a prayer Friday for Ukrainian servicemen of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade during the sacred liturgy before the upcoming Christmas at the frontline near Vuhledar, Ukraine.

WASHINGTON

WAD MADANI, Sudan

A powerful geomagnetic storm could set off a colorful display of the northern lights this weekend, appearing in parts of the United States where they are not usually visible, weather officials said Friday. The National Weather Service issued a geomagnetic storm watch for Saturday and Sunday after the agency said it observed multiple coronal mass ejections from the sun on Thursday and Friday. These storms can produce captivating streaks of green or reddish light known as aurora borealis, or northern lights. Lights produced by this weekend’s storm could come into view in Iowa, Maine, New York and Washington.

Fighting in Sudan has spread to the outskirts of a major city that is a refuge for displaced people and a center for aid groups, threatening to open another deadly front in a war that has devastated Africa’s third-largest nation. The Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been clashing on the edges of Wad Madani, a city about 100 miles from the capital, Khartoum, that tens of thousands of people ﬂed to after the war began in April. Linda Thomas-Greenﬁeld, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Saturday that she was “gravely concerned” by the reports of the attack on the city.

spread disruptions caused by wintry conditions and heavy rains, including a subway collision in Beijing that left hundreds of commuters hospitalized. Across China, meteorologists issued low temperature and strong wind warnings on Saturday, saying that a “strong cold wave” was spreading icy winds nationwide that were expected to continue into the coming week. In some parts of China, temperatures could drop to historical lows, according to the China Meteorological Administration. And colder-than-average conditions are expected until the end of the year in northern China, forecasters said.

CULVER CITY

OSHYKHLIBY, Ukraine

LISBON

Mayim Bialik is out as ‘Jeopardy!’ host

‘Snatchers’ use harsh tactics to ﬁll ranks

Portugal’s Socialists pick Santos as leader

Mayim Bialik, who received an Emmy nomination for her work on “Jeopardy!” after the death of longtime host Alex Trebek, said Friday that she had been removed from the popular game show, as Sony conﬁrmed it would leave Ken Jennings as the sole host. Bialik began hosting “Jeopardy!” on an interim basis in 2021, and on a permanent one last year. She has not appeared on the program or its “Celebrity Jeopardy!” offshoot for the past few months. In May, the entertainment news site Deadline reported that she had stepped away from

With Ukraine’s military facing mounting deaths and a stalemate on the battleﬁeld, army recruiters have become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to replenish the ranks, in some cases pulling men off the streets and whisking them to recruiting centers using intimidation and even physical force. Recruiters have conﬁscated passports, taken people from their jobs and, in at least one case, tried to send a mentally disabled person to military training, according to lawyers, activists and Ukrainian men who have been subject to coercive

Portugal’s ruling Socialists picked former minister Pedro Nuno Santos to be the new party leader ahead of a snap election in March that was called after his predecessor unexpectedly quit as premier. Santos won party elections held on Friday and Saturday, Socialist official Pedro do Carmo told reporters in Lisbon late on Saturday. The 46-year-old beat current Home Affairs Minister Jose Luis Carneiro, 52, who presented himself as being more moderate than Santos. — Press Democrat news services

VALENTYN KUZAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

“Jeopardy!” in solidarity with the Hollywood writers strike.

WORLD

tactics. In Oshykhliby, the recruiters became known as the “people snatchers,” local residents said.

BEIJING

Cold snap grips China, causing havoc

across China were forecast to plunge Northern lights could appear farther south Fighting in Sudan spreads to city of refuge thisTemperatures weekend, as parts of the country reel from wide-

MIGRANTS CONTINUED FROM B1

ber of migrant families in emergency shelters at 7,500. Denver had limited migrant families to 37 days but paused the policy this month in recognition of winter’s onset. Single adults are limited to 14 days. In New York, the ﬁrst families were expected to reach their 60day limits just days after Christmas, but the mayor’s office said those migrants will receive extensions through early January. Roughly 3,500 families have been issued notices so far. Unlike most other big cities, New York has a decades-old

“right to shelter — obligating the city to provide emergency housing to anyone who asks. But officials have warned migrants there is no guarantee they will get to stay in the same hotel, or the same city borough, for that matter. Adult migrants without children are already subject to a shorter limit on shelter stays: 30 days. Those who get kicked out and still want help are told to head for the city’s so-called “ reticketing center “ that opened in late October in a former Catholic school in Manhattan’s East Village. Dozens of men and women, many with their luggage and other belongings in tow, line up every morning in freezing weather where they must petition for a

renewed stay. They are offered a free, oneway ticket to anywhere in the world. Most people decline. Some are able to secure another shelter for 30 days, but many others say they leave empty-handed and must line up again the next day to try their luck. “I’m scared of dying, sleeping on the street,” Barbara Coromoto Monzon Peña, a 22-yearold from Venezuela, said as she spent a second day waiting in line on a recent weekday. Obando said her eldest son, who is 19, hasn’t been able to ﬁnd a place to rent since he and his wife exhausted their 30 allowed days at the Row NYC hotel. “As a mother, it hurts,” she said, breaking down in tears.

“He’s sleeping on the train, on the street, in the cold. He’s in a lot of pain, and now it’s our turn. They told me that this country was different, but for me it’s been hell.” Adams has insisted the city is doing a lot more for migrant families than almost anywhere else. New York is on track to spend billions of dollars opening shelters, paying for hotel rooms, buying meals and offering assistance overcoming bureaucratic hurdles for asylum-seekers. The mayor also has warned repeatedly that the city’s resources are stretched thin, with more than 67,200 migrants still in its care and many more arriving every week. “We’re doing everything in our power to treat families as

humanely as possible,” said Kayla Mamelak, a spokesperson for Adams. “We have used every possible corner of New York City and are quite simply out of good options.” She stressed that the administration intends to avoid having families sleeping on the streets and said there will be an orderly process for them to request another 60-day stay. Advocates for immigrants say the end result will still uproot vulnerable families during the coldest months of the year and disrupt schooling for new students just settling into classes. “It’s maybe the most Grinch move, ever,” said Liza Schwartzwald, a director at the New York Immigrant Coalition.

CHRISTMAS CONTINUED FROM B1

LEARN YOUR WAY Apply today  Spring Classes Start January 16  WWW.SANTAROSA.EDU The Sonoma County Junior College District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnic group identification, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic condition, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures or practices; nor does the District discriminateagainstanyemployeesorapplicantsforemploymentonthebasis oftheir age.This nondiscriminationpolicycoversadmission,accessandtreatmentin Districtprogramsandactivities--includingbutnotlimitedtoacademic admissions,financialaid,educationalservicesandathletics--andapplicationforDistrictemployment.TheSonomaCountyJuniorCollegeDistrictis anequalopportunityemployer.

City leaders fret about the impact the closures have on the small Palestinian economy in the West Bank, already struggling with a dramatic fall in tourism since the start of the war. The Palestinian tourism sector has incurred losses of $2.5 million a day, amounting to $200 million by the end of the year, the Palestinian minister of tourism said Wednesday. The yearly Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem — shared among Armenian, Catholic and Orthodox denominations — are major boons for the city, where tourism accounts for 70% of its yearly income. But the streets are empty this season. With most major airlines canceling ﬂights to Israel, over 70 hotels in Bethlehem have been forced to close, leaving some 6,000 employees in the tourism sector unemployed, according to Sami Thaljieh, manager of the Sancta Maria Hotel. “I spend my days drinking tea and coffee, waiting for customers who never come,” said Ahmed Danna,

MAHMOUD ILLEAN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

An installation of a scene of the Nativity of Christ with a ﬁgure symbolizing baby Jesus lying amid the rubble, in reference to Gaza, inside the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Dec. 10. a Bethlehem shop owner. Haniyeh said that while Christmas festivities have been cancelled, religious ceremonies will take place, including a traditional gathering of church leaders and a Midnight Mass. “Bethlehem is an essential part of the Palestinian community,” the mayor said. “So at Midnight Mass this year, we will pray for peace, the message of peace that was founded in Bethlehem when Jesus Christ was born.” George Carlos Canawati, a Palestinian journalist, lecturer, and scout leader, called his city “sad and

heartbroken.” He said his Boy Scout troop will conduct a silent march across the city, in mourning of those killed in Gaza. “We receive the Christmas message by rejecting injustice and aggression, and we will pray for peace to come to the land of peace,” said Canawati. Across the Holy Land, Christmas festivities have been put on hold. There are 182,000 Christians in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. The vast majority are Palestinians.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Awarded for providing world-class care in Santa Rosa We’re honored to be recognized for high-quality care to our communities. Our commitment to your well-being is at the heart of our award-winning care.

Learn more about our award-winning care at Providence.org/NorCalLife

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Life Tributes IN THIS SECTION ANTONINI, James Harold, Jr. BENNETT, Robert

Frank Haeg

April 7, 1933 - October 6, 2023 Haeg, Frank C. 1933 - 2023 Frank Haeg died at his home in Santa Rosa, CA, on October 6, 2023 after a short illness. He was 90 years old. ~ He was born in Minneapolis, MN on April 7, 1933.

CAVIN, Donna Arlene Kweller HAEG, Frank JANOVER, Robert

Donna Arlene Kweller Cavin

He graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1951. He attended the University of Minnesota first majoring in animal husbandry and then majoring in Education, graduating in 1957. During his undergraduate days, he was active in campus student events, and musical and theatre productions. He also attended the University of California at Berkeley where he received a certificate in Public Administration. ~ After completing military service as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Frank moved to CA. He was employed by the City of Berkeley as Director of Recreation until his retirement in 1994.

Born in Pittsburgh PA on August 18, 1950, to Edward and Frances Kweller, Donna was the youngest of three siblings.She grew up on Squirrel Hill and attended er, prolific quilter, a freethinker, In addition, he was responsible Alderdice High school. On New a humanitarian, and a strong for grant writing, which secured advocate for social justice. over a million dollars of grants for Year’s Day 1971 with a foot of snow on the ground, Donna parks, recreation facilities, and boarded a plane to join her sister Donna loved to prepare social programs for the City of Ruth in San Francisco. The temBerkeley. ~ Mr. Haeg also gave exotic meals for friends. In the mid generously of his time to charities. perature was a balmy 72 degrees, 1990’s she joined an International and she was not going back. He served on the Board of Gourmet Food Group, a regular Directors of Canon Kip Community gathering of well-traveled friends In 1974 on a chilly November exploring cuisines of various Center of San Francisco. He evening at sunset, Donna went countries. For the past 18 years was Board member, President, on a first date with Curtis, riding she was an active member of e and Chair of the Yuba River topside on the Sausalito ferry, Vampus Clitus, an unceremonious Recreation Group. In addition, group of close-knit North Coast he was Chairman of the Board of hiding out on board to avoid the return fare. Three years later they women. the Bay Area Seafarers Service set off on a three-year adventure in the International Maritime to Southeast Asia. They married He was honored on his A passionate traveler with an Center, Port of Oakland, which on Aug 5, 1977, in Satahip, retirement by the City Mayor affinity for straying off the beaten provided social, counseling, and Thailand. While living and workwho designated May 31, 1994, path, Donna preferred backroads emergency services to seafarers as Frank Haeg Day in the City ing in Bangkok teaching English, and the maritime community. over freeways, in addition to most of Berkeley. Previously, he held Donna developed a passion for ~ Frank loved to travel in his US states, she and Curtis visited positions with the Alameda County younger days. His many travels preparing local foods, learning 26 countries together, including Health Dept., the City of Oakland included countries in the region skills from Thai friends, and Europe, Asia and South America. Recreation and Parks, and the watching native cooks in open-air consisting of the Caribbean Sea, City of Richmond Recreation markets. its islands (including the West Donna was predeceased and Parks. He also served as Indies), and Costa Rico. Also, by her parents and sister Ruth Director of Recreation for the City on several occasions, many Donna and Curtis moved back Goldhammer. She is survived of Columbia, MD from 1967 to to San Francisco, where son Noah by husband Curtis, Sebastopol, counties in Europe. One of the 1969. ~ Mr. Haeg moved to Santa most exciting were trips to South was born in 1982. Four years lat- brother Robert Kweller (Debby), Rosa on his retirement from the er they purchased their first home Sonoma, son Noah (Rebecca), American countries; Columbia, City of Berkeley and became an located in a charming woodland Venezuela, Peru (Machu Pichu) Santa Rosa, daughter Cayla active volunteer in community and Ecuador. His last exciting trip setting near Sebastopol. Daughter Tankersley (Ben) and son Rowan, affairs. He served on the Sonoma was to the Galapagos Islands, a Cayla was born in 1989. Before Mountain View and nephews Ben County Civil Grand Jury, the Pacific Ocean archipelago on the retiring in 2012, Donna held Goldhammer, Alex Goldhammer Santa Rosa Board of Community equator, about 650 miles west of executive assistant positions at and Joshua Kweller. She leaves Services, the Santa Rosa Water Ecuador, noted for giant tortoises Creative Leisure, the Humane behind many friends, several Ways Advisory Committee for and many other endemic species. Society of Sonoma County, and decades-long, and all will miss her Creek Restoration, the City of SSU Administrative Services. These were the sites of Charles deeply. Santa Rosa Master Plan Update Darwin’s 1835 observations, Committee, the City of Santa Rosa which helped him to form his Donna cherished her family In lieu of services, a memorial Merit Awards committee, and more than anything. The recent theory of natural selection ~ is planned for early 2024. In leiu The Luther Burbank Home and birth of her first grandchild of flowers, plant a tree in her Gardens Board, where he was the brought tremendous joy. She loved memory, or perhaps a contribution He is survived by a sister and chairperson for five years. ~ Frank brother-in-law, Betty and Bill Engel everyone, had a great sense of to World Central Kitchen at wck. was honored by the Santa Rosa humor, fun-loving, voracious read- org. of Shakopee, MN; brother and City Council on May 25, 2010, sister-in-law, James and Dianne with a special proclamation for Haeg of Austin, TX, and brother his outstanding volunteer service and sister-in-law, Jerome and to the Santa Rosa Community. Patricia Haeg of Turtle Lake, WI. The Santa Rosa Merit Awards Also, there are many nieces, and Committee also presented him nephews - great and great-great. with a plaque recognizing him He was pre-deceased by his for his outstanding leadership sisters Nancy Miller of Keokuk, IA, and volunteer work. ~ Frank also Marguerite Dean of Coon Rapids, taught at City College of San MN, and his brother Stephen Francisco for over 42 years as an Haeg of MN. ~ Frank’s reputation adjunct professor of Supervision was legendary for his keen sense November 23, 1933 - November 30, and Management. His innovative of humor, admired and appreciat2023 teaching methods won recognition ed by his many friends. from students, his colleagues, and Robert L. Bennett, affectionately administrators. He leaves behind a wide circle known as Bob (November 23, of close friends and admirers. 1933-November 30, 2023) of He retired in 2017. ~ Mr. Haeg ~ Contributions can be sent Healdsburg, CA, passed away was a member of CA Parks and to the Community Foundation peacefully in the early morning of Recreation Society. In 1979, while of Sonoma County, Luther November 30th at the age of nineDirector of Recreation for the City Burbank Foundation Fund, 250 ty. Bob was a beloved husband, of Berkeley, he was the catalyst D Street, Suite 205, Santa Rosa, grandfather, great grandfather, in developing the first Adventure CA 95404, in his memory. ~ and friend to many. Bob was Playground in CA, at the Marina Private family burial, Grandview preceded in death in 2020 by his in Berkeley, CA. It is still in Cemetery in Hopkins, MN. wife of 63 years, Christine (Cris) operation at the Berkeley Marina. Bennett, who was the love of his life. Bob is survived by his sons Conty Wine Library. Scott Bennett and Steve Bennett, Bob and Cris loved to travel and his daughter, Lynne Klatt. Bob and have enjoyed trips to Europe, will be deeply missed by all who the Far East, and all over the know him. United States. They enjoyed

Robert Bennett

Gail Thorn

October 2, 1940 - December 13, 2023

Bob lived a beautiful life. He was born and raised in New accomplishment for her. After On December 13, 2023, our Jersey and upon graduating from many years away she decided Mother Gail Thorn passed away High School, attended Dartmouth to move back to California to be after a sudden illness at age 83. College with the class of ‘55. After near her children and grandchilAs well as being our mom she his sophomore year, he left to dren. was a beloved grandmother and serve in the army and returned to great grandmother. Gail had a Dartmouth to graduate with the Gail is preceded in death passion for animals and gardenclass of ‘57. by her parents as well as her ing as well as an eye for interior After Dartmouth, he relocated son Robert W. Landolfi. She is decorating. Her favorite season to San Francisco to pursue a survived by her children, Tammy was Christmas. Gail’s house was career in logistics. He married his Sutherland, Lisa Valdovinos always decorated beautifully. All sweetheart, Christine in 1957 and the grandchildren loved spending (Steve), Traci Brians, and Joann raised three children in California. time with her during the holidays. LeJeune (Larry). Grandchildren Upon retirement, Bob and Cris William Landolfi and Kristina Her house was like a winter moved to the great wine country Landolfi, Lindsay Clark (Derrell), wonderland. of Sonoma County, where they Cody Gibbs (Jill), Kourtnie Gail spent her career working Landolfi, Noah and Maggi Brians, planted and grew award winning as a psychiatric technician at and Kayla and Jarrod LeJeune as wine grapes that were sold to home winemakers and commercial Sonoma Development Center. She well as her great grandchildren. wineries. went above and beyond her duties Sisters Sharon Everette, Terri to ensure the best quality of care Landolfi and brothers Dick and Bob and Cris started a home for her clients. Her compassion Tim Minnick. winemaking club called Garage was unmeasurable as she would arrive to work before the start of Gail will be missed by all who Enologists of North County her shift to apply makeup to her knew her. In lieu of services dona- (Genco) almost 30 years ago. The female clients. tions may be made in her name to club has now grown to nearly 100 members. Bob taught winemaking a charity of your choice. classes in his garage, judged amAfter retirement Gail relocated ateur winemaking competitions, to Salem, OR where she purand conducted fundraising winery chased a home after many years tours on behalf of the Sonoma as a renter. This was a very proud

LAVIN, Michael MCDONELL, Jack S. THORN, Gail

James Harold Antonini, Jr.

September 27, 1971 - December 13, 2023 James H. Antonini, Jr. 52, passed away in a fatal crash on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Dedicated father, brother, and son—husband to Shannon (Maloney) Antonini. Born in San Francisco, CA and raised in Petaluma, CA. He lived a life filled with love of sports and supporting his children in their endeavors. Jimmy attended St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School in Petaluma and later went on to St. Vincent de Paul High School, graduating in 1989, as a celebrated athlete. A multi-sport talent, he took his passion and knowledge into coaching over many years and on many fields. He was known for his kindness and dry wit, as well as his huge, lasting hugs. Jim is survived by his parents James & Terri Antonini; sisters, Elizabeth Seargeant (Jack) and Kate Corierro (Tim). His devoted wife of 25 years, Shannon Antonini. His legacy lives on with his five children: son, Myles (Lexie); daughter, Haley (fiancé John Green); sons, Giovanni, Dante, and Nico, and blessed with three grandchildren, Laurel, Wesley and Baby Antonini due July 2024.

December 21st at 1 p.m., followed by private interment at Cypress Hill Memorial Park. A celebration of life will follow at St Vincent de Paul High School at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to/ St. Vincent de Paul High School Football Program or the Jimmy Antonini Student Athlete Scholarship. St. Vincent de Paul Football Program donations may be mailed to: St. Vincent de Paul College Prep, c/o Trent Herzog 849 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA 94952

Scholarship donations may be mailed to: Jimmy Antonini Student Athlete Scholarship c/o Petaluma Educational Friends are invited to attend a Foundation viewing on Wednesday, December 200 Douglas St., Petaluma, CA 20th from 5-8 pm at Parent94952 Sorensen Mortuary in Petaluma. A service will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church, on Thursday,

Robert Janover

June 15, 1962 - November 25, 2023 Robert Craig Janover was born in San Francisco, CA on June 15th, 1962, to the late Patricia Ingram Janover and Lee Robert Janover. He passed away on November 25th, 2023. Robert spent his early childhood in San Francisco before relocating to Lexington, Kentucky. After graduating from Lafayette Senior High School (where he Lettered in soccer), Robert attended The University of Kentucky, but the West was calling him back. Robert returned to the Bay Area in 1981. Northern California was where he felt most at home. He became an accomplished, self-taught photographer. Not one to sit still for long, he traveled to 42 of the 50 states over the years, seeking out the beauty of the American landscape in search of the perfect shot for his growing portfolio. He eventually settled amongst the redwoods in the Russian River region of west Sonoma County. In addition to photography, Robert also self-published his Sonoma County picture book, numerous poster and note card projects along with 30 years of his well-known and popular annual Sonoma County Events Calendar.

Robert was enormously proud of his father’s service in the Air Force and of his maternal Grandfather’s (George T. Ingram), distinction of being the duty officer dining, playing bridge, excursions at Hickam Field the morning of December 7, 1941. Robert took to beautiful Lake Tahoe, and the California coast, and especially treasured a glass of their own Bennett Ridge wine while playing board games and puzzles, Jack S. McDonell, 80, passed enjoying the beautiful view from away on November 30, 2023, in their deck. Sebastopol.

great care as the steward of the Silver Star his grandfather was awarded for his actions that morning. Robert (Bobby) is survived by his sister, Lisa Janover (Sonoma), his beloved niece Morgan Rivera (Sonoma), and an extended network of aunts, uncles, and cousins spread far and wide. Celebrations of Life will be planned for this spring in Sonoma County and this summer in Lexington, Kentucky. Updates will be made on Robert’s Facebook page as plans move forward. If desired, charitable donations may be made in his name to the Sonoma County Humane Society or the Stewards of the Coastal Redwoods. Robert will be missed enormously, but he left behind a vast and beautiful legacy through his photography. In his own words, “These are pictures to everyone else, to me they are my life experiences.”

Jack S. McDonell

Bob and Cris loved to volunteer. Bob spent 12 years as a Library Commissioner for Sonoma County, he was President on the Board of Senior Advocacy Services (having been an Ombudsman himself) and participated on the board of the County Wine Library. He donated time and effort to arrange fund-raising events for non-profits. He was President of Suburban Investments Club, and President of SIRS. Bob strongly believed in giving time and effort to his community, and his wife Cris helped him greatly with activities. He loved remaining active and believed that it kept him relatively young, alert, and involved. A celebration of life will be held in February or March at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Healdsburg. Friends and family will be notified with details.

Jack was born in Sebastopol in 1943 to Marjorie and Donald McDonell. He and his twin sister Judy were the first set of twins to be born at Palm Drive Hospital. He graduated from Analy High School in 1961. Jack served honorably in the United States Army from 1961 to 1963. He then worked for the City of Sebastopol for 37 years. Jack, affectionately known as “Action Jackson”, loved his family and spending time with them. He spent his retirement years enjoying his many hobbies, including hunting, fishing, camping, kayaking, and riding his Harley Davidson.

He is survived by his children Eric (Lisa) McDonell, and Dari (Mike) Lopez, and five grandchildren: Mitchell, Morgan, Jamarron, Eternity, and Eric; his twin sister Judy Viale and brother Bob McDonell and many more extended family members and friends. Everyone who knew Jack loved him.

Jack was preceded in death by his loving parents, his brother Dick McDonell and his son Donald Hockett.

There will be a celebration of life at Parent-Sorensen in Sebastopol on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

NATION

Kids injured and dying while rooﬁng Migrant children work in one of the most dangerous jobs By HANNAH DREIER AND BRENT MCDONALD NEW YORK TIMES

On social media, they call themselves ruferitos. They wake before dawn to be driven to distant job sites, sometimes crossing state lines. They carry heavy bundles of shingles that leave their arms shaking. They work through heat waves on black-tar rooftops that scorch their hands. Federal law bars minors from roofing because it is so dangerous, but migrant children are doing this work across the United States, the New York Times found. Over more than a year, the Times spoke with more than 100 child roofers working in 23 states, including some who began at elementary-school age. In New Orleans, Juan Nasario said he had been replacing roofs during 12hour shifts nearly every day since arriving from Guatemala four years ago, when he was 10. He would like to go to school or at least join a soccer team, but he needs to pay rent to his older cousin. In Dallas, Diego Osbaldo Hernández started roofing at 15, after coming to the United States from Mexico last year to live with an older friend. His jobs take him all across Texas, but his favorite place to work is San Antonio. “They are the shortest houses,” he said. Roofing work is plentiful and pays better than many of the other jobs these children can get. But it is also dangerous: One slip can be fatal. The federal government pledged to crack down on child labor this year. But the workforce continues to grow as fast as children arrive, anxious to find a way to support themselves and help their families.

A 30-foot plunge At 15, Antoni Padilla was helping crews replace roofs in South Carolina and posting TikTok videos that captured the sweeping views from the rooftops where he worked — as well as the dizzying heights. Like many child roofers, Antoni had come to the United States to help his family escape extreme poverty. One of ﬁve siblings, he left his one-room home in Honduras in 2021, and moved in with an uncle near Myrtle Beach. Rooﬁng left Antoni little free time, but his earnings covered room and board, and he started sending money home. In March 2022, he was working on the roof of a beach house, inching backward as he collected old shingles, when he slipped and plummeted about 30 feet to a cement patio. As Antoni lay in a coma at a hospital, with severe brain trauma and a breathing tube in his neck, his family said their goodbyes over speakerphone. His skull was fractured, a lung was punctured and he was bleeding internally throughout his body. “Very poor outcome anticipated,” his surgeon wrote. But after three months, he woke up, and the doctors said he could leave. No rehabilitation facility would accept him without health insurance. Unable to speak or stand, he went back to the trailer he had been sharing with his uncle’s family. He stayed inside for several months.

Severe injuries Children working on construction sites are six times as likely to be killed

as minors doing other work, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Rooﬁng is particularly risky; it is the most dangerous job for minors other than agricultural work, studies show. But death is not the only hazard. Labor organizers and social workers say they are seeing more migrant children suffer serious injuries on rooﬁng crews in recent years. A 15-year-old in Florida was burned when he slipped from a roof and onto a vat of hot tar. A 16-year-old fell off a roof in Arkansas and shattered his back. A child in Illinois stepped through a skylight and fractured his spine. When children get hurt, contractors often refuse to pay medical bills. Terry Coonan, who runs a human rights center at Florida State University, often comes across children after they have been discarded by their employers. One 15-year-old boy from Central America who had been traveling around the country with a crew boss was abandoned last year after he was injured on a work site. The boy was found alone and crying in a ditch. “He was of no more use,” Coonan said.

9 workers, 6 harnesses About 100 roofers are killed on the job each year, most often in falls, according to the Department of Labor. The government does not publish data about injuries or fatalities among child roofers — a category of workers that is not supposed to exist. But the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is part of the Labor Department, sometimes finds them while investigating workplace accidents. Juan Ortiz, 15, was installing metal roofing at a plant in Alabama in 2019 when a patch of insulation gave way and he fell 50 feet onto a concrete floor. After his death, OSHA found that the employer had “nine laborers on the crew, but only six harnesses.” Andrés Toma, 16, was not clipped into a harness when he fell to his death while replacing a roof in Florida this past April. “This incident may have been prevented,” OSHA wrote. His older sister said the family had not known he was roofing, just that he had found a good job that paid well. He had been earning $70 a day. Crisanto Campos, 17, was electrocuted while raising a pallet of shingles onto a rooftop in Louisiana last year. It was his first time operating a forklift. The OSHA report said another worker had survived a similar “near miss” the previous day. None of those deaths resulted in child labor fines. Children find roofing work through churches, in Facebook groups and at day labor sites, where workers of all ages gather in the mornings in hopes of being chosen for jobs. They sometimes say they are older than 18, but subcontractors rarely ask them to prove it. Itzel Sánchez, a subcontractor building roofs in South Carolina, said she hires underage workers because there are not enough adults willing to do the work, and she doesn’t like to turn away children who are in need. They are also much cheaper to employ. Sánchez said she does not worry about getting in trouble for hiring minors. She said workplace inspectors do not often come around.

DAWN VILLELLA / ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2004

A gray wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. Colorado voters approved the reintroduction of wolves in 2020, and wolves could be on the ground in the state as early as Monday.

Wolves coming to Colorado Reintroduction of species cleared after state efforts contested by ranchers By ELISE SCHMELZER AND KATIE LANGFORD DENVER POST

DENVER — The reintroduction of wolves in Colorado this month will proceed as planned after a federal judge on Friday denied ranchers’ request to stop the state’s efforts to allow for further environmental analysis. U.S. District Judge Regina Rodriguez denied a request by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association to halt the reintroduction of the controversial canines, finding it “contrary to the public’s interest in seeing gray wolves released in Colorado.” Voters approved the reintroduction in 2020, and wolves could be on the ground in Colorado as early as Monday. The request for the delay was filed as part of a federal lawsuit the two ranching groups filed Monday against Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lawsuit alleges the government agencies violated the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to prepare an environmental impact statement about the wolves while renewing a cooperative agreement between the two agencies about conserving endangered species. But Rodriguez found the agencies

did comply with the National Environmental Policy Act through “extensive public involvement,” including several opportunities for public comment and peer review. “While the Petitioners who have lived and worked on the land for many years are understandably concerned about possible impacts of this reintroduction, neither these possible impacts nor their assertions under the Administrative Procedures Act are sufficient for this Court to grant the extraordinary relief they seek,” Rodriguez wrote in the ruling, which was published late Friday. The lawsuit and subsequent ﬁlings by the livestock groups asked to halt the reintroduction, which is mandated to take place by the end of 2023. The cattlemen’s lawsuit alleges the reintroduction could harm the endangered Gunnison sage grouse populations and kill or stress cattle. Andrew Spann, president of the Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ Association, testiﬁed during a court hearing Thursday that he wants to see an analysis of how the eventual population of hundreds of wolves would affect the lands, recreation and economies of Colorado. “This issue is not just producers worried about their cows being killed. … This about what are the impacts and how are we going to address those going forward,” Spann said. But potential harm to sage grouse or cattle does not rise to the level of irreparable harm that would cause the court to intervene, Rodriguez

wrote in the ruling. “To satisfy its burden of proving irreparable harm, the party seeking injunctive relief must show that the harm is ‘certain and great’ and not speculative,” Rodriguez wrote. “Here, Petitioners have not presented evidence demonstrating that harm will occur if their requested relief is not granted, nor have they demonstrated such harm, if it did occur, would be irreparable.” During the Thursday hearing, Lisa Reynolds, attorney for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said the ranchers’ lawsuit was a “last-ditch effort” to halt the reintroduction, which has been in the works since voters in 2020 approved the reintroduction. “Now, at the eleventh hour they want to put a halt to the three-year plan for reintroduction under the guise of a need for more study and analysis,” Reynolds said. Attorneys for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday argued that they did not need to conduct an environmental impact review to renew the cooperative agreement, which has been in place for decades. The federal agency has never prepared an environmental impact statement when renewing similar legal agreements across the country, said Brian Herman, attorney for the Fish and Wildlife Service. Further, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did conduct an environmental impact review for the reintroduction of wolves, although under a different federal process, Herman said.

Life Tributes Michael Lavin Michael Lavin passed away over the Thanksgiving holiday. He is a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Born in Portland, Oregon, Mike graduated from Seattle University, where he met his college sweetheart and wife of 62 years, Maxine. After graduation, the two started their lives together in New Orleans, exploring The Big Easy. Three years and two sons later, work brought them to California, where they settled in Sonoma County and continued to build their family and extraordinary life. The son of a U.S. Merchant Marine and a homemaker, he paid his way through college by working as a parking attendant. Mike became an executive with American Express and Fireman’s Fund, receiving numerous awards throughout his career. He was one of the early businessmen to break into the Chinese markets. He would later become a marketing consultant in the financial services industry. Mike lived a full and passionate life filled with enthusiasm for all things family, food, travel, and learning. His sense of adventure endured throughout his 82 years, traveling through (the former) Yugoslavia, Turkey, Morocco, and most of Europe with his family. His brilliant wit, deep knowledge of history, and amusing storytelling kept everyone engaged and entertained. He loved the sunshine, opera, beautiful views, especially those from his home in Bennett Valley, and books, completing at least one a week on top of the three morning papers.

For information on how to submit a Life Tribute: • Visit our submission web page at www.pressdemocrat.com/news/obits All who knew Mike will remember him for his love of life, curiosity, strong handshake, exceptional cooking skills, generosity, and engaging nature. His life was filled with appreciation for the family he adored, the connections he made during his daily routines, the beauty of nature, the music that filled his days, and the books he devoured. His absence leaves an immeasurable gap, but his warmth and passion remain. Mike is survived by his wife Maxine; five children: Tom, Sean (Cathy), Michelle (Andrew), Patrick, and Jennifer; sister Susan; and his beloved grandchildren: Myles, Matthew, Alexandra, Declan, Harper, Emily, and Nolan. A private funeral will be followed by a Celebration of Life at Matanzas Creek Winery in Bennett Valley for his family and friends on Friday, December 29, 2023 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in memory of Michael Lavin to Mayo Clinic for Cancer Research. Donations can be made online at philanthropy.mayoclinic.org.

• Call (707) 526-8694 to talk to our Life Tributes specialist • Send an e-mail to LifeTributes@pressdemocrat.com

We regret that we cannot accept handwritten notices or take submissions by phone.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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partners of a health insurance agency serving Spanish-speaking clients in Miami. “And I know that everybody that supports the Republican Party that has health insurance through Obamacare would not support the fact that it would be taken away from one day to another. That is a fact.” Arevalo and her business partner, Mercy Cabrera, started enrollment centers to help people navigate the Affordable Care Act’s insurance marketplaces and remember how some Cubans would walk away uttering “no, no, no,” after seeing the name “Obamacare,” which was coined by Republicans opposing the overhaul as an expensive government takeover of health insurance. Insurers could no longer deny coverage based on preexisting medical conditions, and that drew many Latinos to consider it, Arevalo says. In the following years, the women started enrolling tens of thousands, earning the nickname of “Madrinas del Obamacare,” or “Obamacare” godmothers, evoking the crucial role godparents play in Latino culture. They have since renamed themselves “Las Madrinas de los Seguros,” or “insurance godmothers,” because they offer other plans. But they continue to feature the word “Obamacare” on their office walls and in their ads. “Obamacare” is seen throughout Miami in advertising ﬂags, businesses and bus signs. Federal data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services indicates how widely used it is here. About 3.4 million Hispanics are signed up with insurance through the health law. Florida leads enrollment with more than 3.2 million consumers selecting a plan during last year’s enrollment period from November 2022 to January. Miami-Dade is the county with the most people enrolled, with about 750,000 consumers, or more than one-fourth of the total population.

REBECCA BLACKWELL / ASSOCIATED PRESS

An insurance agent talks with clients Dec. 5 inside the main location of Las Madrinas de los Seguros, Spanish for “The Godmothers of Insurance,” at a shopping center in Miami. Florida is also one of 10 states that has resisted expanding Medicaid coverage under a provision of the health law. The two Zip codes with the most sign-ups last year and this year are in Doral and Hialeah, hubs for the Venezuelan and Cuban communities that are just north of Miami and are common stops for Trump’s visits and rallies. Last month, Trump posted on his Truth Social social media site that “the cost of Obamacare is out of control, plus, it’s not good Healthcare.” While he said he is looking at alternatives, he has not shared any plans. But Trump said he would not give up on terminating it — recalling when the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., blocked the then-president’s effort to repeal the law in July 2017. During Trump’s administration, Republicans managed to pass a provision that reduced the penalty for not having health insurance to zero, the most unpopular part of the law and something that people in South Florida say made them feel more at ease with the plans. The Miami Herald, in a recent editorial, called the plans by

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump says he wants to reopen the contentious ﬁght over the Affordable Care Act. ERIC GAY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trump — also echoed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, another 2024 GOP presidential candidate — “exceedingly out of touch with voters.” Biden’s campaign quickly mobilized a response and the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, speciﬁcally mentioned an area where “Obamacare” is popular. “Miami-Dade County would be hardest hit by Trump’s anti-health care agenda,” Fried said. According to a KFF poll conducted in May 2023, 59% of Americans say they have a favorable opinion of the Affordable Care Act. The same poll by the

nonproﬁt organization focused on health policy found that 66% of Hispanics say they have a favorable opinion of the law. According to APVoteCast, a wide-ranging survey of U.S. voters, 62% of 2022 midterm voters in Florida said it should be the responsibility of the federal government to make sure that all people in the country have health care coverage. About onethird of Florida voters in the 2022 midterm elections said that shouldn’t be the government’s job. Among Latino or Hispanic midterm voters in Florida, 77% said ensuring health care coverage for all should be the responsibility of the federal government,

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through abortion,” she said. “Now that Roe is gone, that roadblock is entirely gone.” Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, and author of “Policing The Womb,” said those efforts have long overwhelmingly targeted Black and brown women. Even before Roe was overturned, studies show that Black women who visited hospitals for prenatal care were 10 times more likely than white women to have child protective services and law enforcement called on them, even when their cases were similar, she said. “Post-Dobbs, what we see is kind of a wild, wild West,” said Goodwin. “You see this kind of muscle-ﬂexing by district attorneys and prosecutors wanting to show that they are going to be vigilant, they’re going to take down women who violate the ethos coming out of the state’s legislature.” She called Black women “canaries in the coal mine” for the “hyper-vigilant type of policing” women of all races might expect from the nation’s network of health-care providers,

AMANDA ANDRADE-RHOADES / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators rally for reproductive rights in front of the White House in Washington during the Jan. 22 Women’s March. law enforcers and courts now that abortion isn’t federally protected. In Texas, for example, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton mounted an aggressive and successful defense against a white Texas mother, Kate Cox, who sued for permission to skirt the state’s restrictive abortion law because her fetus had a fatal condition. At the time of Watts’ miscarriage, abortion was legal in Ohio through 21 weeks, six days of pregnancy. Her lawyer, Traci Timko, said Watts left the

hospital on the Wednesday when, coincidentally, her pregnancy arrived at that date — after sitting for eight hours awaiting care. It turned out the delay was because hospital ofﬁcials were deliberating over the legalities, Timko said. “It was the fear of, is this going to constitute an abortion and are we able to do that,” she said. At the time, vigorous campaigning was taking place across Ohio over Issue 1, a proposed amendment to enshrine a right to abortion in Ohio’s con-

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stitution. Some of the ads were harshly attacking abortions later in pregnancy, with opponents arguing the issue would allow the return of so-called “partial-birth abortions” and pregnancy terminations “until birth.” The hospital did not return calls seeking conﬁrmation and comment, but B. Jessie Hill, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, said Mercy Health-St. Joseph’s was in a bind. “These are the razor’s edge decisions that health care providers are being forced to make,” she said. “And all the incentives are pushing hospitals to be conservative, because on the other side of this is criminal liability. That’s the impact of Dobbs.” Watts had been admitted to the Catholic hospital twice that week with vaginal bleeding, but she left without being treated. A nurse told the 911 dispatcher that Watts returned no longer pregnant on that Friday. She said Watts told her, “the baby’s in her backyard in a bucket,” and that she didn’t want to have a child. Timko said Watts insists she doesn’t recall saying the pregnancy was un-

while 1 in 5 said it should not be. Zulina Ruiz, a 72-year-old retired lawyer from Venezuela, said she found out about the Affordable Care Act options quickly after arriving in the U.S. in 2017. She said she is particularly grateful for having access to drugs to treat her high blood pressure. Greencard holders, refugees and other migrants who have been granted temporary protected status or who have come recently with humanitarian parole also qualify for coverage under the law. “This is very important for me. I don’t think a candidate can just make this program disappear,” she said. “They would leave millions of low-income people without insurance.” Ruiz became a U.S. citizen in May, but has not registered with any party. She does not know whom she will vote for next year. “I am still not decided, and we don’t have official candidates yet,” Ruiz said, adding that she still feels more connected politically to Venezuela. Much of the growing support for Republicans in Miami is owed to Trump’s record opposing socialist leaders across Latin America, including imposing White House sanctions on Venezuelan officials. “But health policy is a top priority for me,” Ruiz said. The Biden campaign has run advertising in battleground states contrasting his efforts to lower drug costs with Trump’s renewed promise to repeal the health overhaul. The ad campaign did not include markets in Florida. Arevalo, one of the “Obamacare godmothers,” thinks voters in Miami may not necessarily approve of all the positions of the candidates they ultimately back. But as far as a local verdict on “Obamacare,” and despite initial hesitations about it, the program grew on people in Miami once they understood it, she said. “When Trump was elected, some people came and said they wanted nothing to do with Obamacare. We said ‘Obamacare, Trumpcare, whatever,’” she said of what they told people. “The important thing is that everybody has access to health insurance and that they can take care of their health.”

wanted; it was unintended, but she had always wanted to give her mother a grandchild. Her lawyer believes Watts may have meant that she didn’t want to fish what she knew was a dead fetus from the bucket of blood, tissue and feces that she’d scooped from her overflowing toilet. “This 33-year-old girl with no criminal record is demonized for something that goes on every day,” she told Warren Municipal Court Judge Terry Ivanchak during Watts’ recent preliminary hearing. Warren Assistant Prosecutor Lewis Guarnieri told Ivanchak that Watts left home for a hair appointment after miscarrying, leaving the toilet clogged. Police would later find the fetus wedged in the pipes. “The issue isn’t how the child died, when the child died,” Guarnieri told the judge, according to TV station WKBN. “It’s the fact the baby was put into a toilet, was large enough to clog up the toilet, left in that toilet, and she went on (with) her day.” In court, Timko bristled at Guarnieri’s suggestion. “You cannot be broadcasting any clearer that you just don’t get it,” she said in an interview, suggesting Watts was scared, anxious and traumatized by the experience. “She’s trying to protect Mama. She doesn’t want to get her hair done. She wants to stop bleeding like crazy and start grieving her fetus, what she’s just been through.” As chief counsel to the county’s child assault protection unit, Assistant Trumbull County Prosecutor Diane Barber is the lead prosecutor on Watts’ case. Barber said she couldn’t speak specifically about the case other than to note that the county was compelled to move forward with it once it was bound over from municipal court. She said she doesn’t expect a grand jury finding this month. “About 20% of the cases get no-billed, (as in) they

do not get indicted and the case does not proceed,” she said. The size and stage of development of Watts’ fetus — precisely the point when abortion crossed from legal to illegal in most cases — became an issue during her preliminary hearing. A county forensic investigator reported feeling “what appeared to be a small foot with toes” inside Watts’ toilet. Police seized the toilet and broke it apart to retrieve the intact fetus as evidence. Testimony and an autopsy confirmed that the fetus died in utero before passing through the birth canal. In regard to abuse, the examination identified “no recent injuries.” Ivanchak acknowledged the case’s complexities. “There are better scholars than I am to determine the exact legal status of this fetus, corpse, body, birthing tissue, whatever it is,” he said from the bench. “Matter of fact, I’m assuming that’s what ... Issue 1’s all about: at what point something becomes viable.” Timko, a former prosecutor, said Ohio’s abuseof-corpse statute is vague. It prohibits treating “a human corpse” in a way that would “outrage” reasonable family or community sensibilities. “From a legal perspective, there’s no definition of ‘corpse,’” she said. “Can you be a corpse if you never took a breath?” Howard said clarity on what about Watts’ behavior constituted a crime is essential. “For rights of people with the capacity for pregnancy, this is huge,” she said. “Her miscarriage was entirely ordinary. So I just want to know what (the prosecutor) thinks she should have done. If we are going to require people to collect and bring used menstrual products to hospitals so that they can make sure it is indeed a miscarriage, it’s as ridiculous and invasive as it is cruel.”

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

WORLD

SHEIKH NAWAF AL AHMAD AL SABAH » 1937–2023

Women and Kuwait’s ruling emir dies at 86 children ﬁrst? Not so much Known for diplomacy and peacemaking, his reign of oil-rich nation was brief

Experts: Most crises, it’s more everyone out for themselves By LAURIE KELLMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

LONDON — So much for women and children ﬁrst. The phrase and its grave implications about who to save ﬁrst in a catastrophe are rooted in the shipwrecks of centuries past and popularized by Hollywood’s treatment of the Titanic disaster. It is getting another airing at a time when, in many societies, women are expected to do most everything men do. Experts say the unwritten law of the sea is a Hollywood-fed myth and a relic of Victorian-era chivalry. At the center of this round of questions is the prisoners-for-hosta g es deal between Israel and Hamas in November that prioritized releasing women and children after negotiators agreed that mothers and their children should not be separated. Israelis are overwhelmingly supportive of this approach. But it leaves behind elderly and injured men during the most chaotic phase of the war, a result that has angered some families. On Friday, Israel said the army had mistakenly killed three of the remaining hostages, all men. “To say ‘women and children’ in the 21st century — as if families can be whole without the fathers, as if children that have come back with their fathers still there can in any way start recovering from the trauma — is unthinkable,” Sharone Lifshitz, whose mother was freed in October and whose 83-year-old father, Oded, remains in captivity, told The Associated Press. Of about 240 people who were kidnapped during Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage, 86 Israelis were released. Seventeen Thai men also were let go. That left 119 men — many of them injured or elderly — and 17 women and children as hostages in Gaza. In a private meeting on Dec. 5, Israeli media reported, the families of the remaining captives ripped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for agreeing to prioritize women and children — then resuming Israel’s bombardment of Gaza with no known plans to negotiate the release of anyone else. “You think the men are strong? It’s too hard for them. Bring them all home,” Sharon Cunio, whose husband, David, and other family members are still hostages, told Netanyahu and Israel’s war cabinet, according to local media.

Behind the notion “Children first” seems to be a widely agreed-upon crisis action plan, whether it’s a rescue from a natural disaster or a hostage-taking. And women and children generally pay an outsized price in crises: The death toll from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza tops 18,700 — around two-thirds of them women and children. But other standards, such as women before men, can lead to fraught judgments about whose lives are most valuable — and reflect the human impulse to sort each other. Experts say the choice nowadays often is to save the most vulnerable first, which would include children but also older people and those who are sick and the injured, no matter their gender. When everyone can’t be rescued at once, the critical factors seem to be the exercise of leadership and all players making a choice — typical-

ly between themselves and others. Other dynamics weigh heavily, such as how much time people have before a ship sinks as well as the societal and cultural norms of the people involved. “What is considered ‘valuable’ is determined by the actors controlling the situation,” says Edward Galea, a professor at the University of Greenwich who specializes in evacuation and human behavior.

Hollywood tradition In a fire or other disaster, it’s those directly involved — say, a ship captain or passengers. In a hostage situation, he says, “it’s external actors” — in the case of the Gaza war, it’s intense politics and a watching world. “For example, it could be considered valuable to be seen to attempt to release the most vulnerable first or to release women and children first or to be gender and age neutral,” Galea said in an email. There’s no law or regulation that says women and children must be saved first; rather, he’s said, it’s a tradition ingrained by Hollywood. In real time, human behavior in catastrophes often plays out more like every person for themselves, according to experts who have studied the dynamics. There’s often no time to consider who belongs to which group, or to fight over terms as in a wartime hostage release. Leadership is key; someone has to go first. In Italy in 2012, that someone was Francesco Schettino, the captain of the luxury liner Costa Concordia who slammed it into a reef, capsizing off the Tuscan island of Giglio. Thirty-two people died. Schettino is serving a 16-year prison sentence for manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship before all the passengers and crew had evacuated. On the Israel-Hamas prisoners-for-hosta ges deal, the negotiators agreed that mothers and children should not be separated. Hamas, which broke hostage-taking norms by abducting women and children, was more open to their release because they were getting in the way. Not all women were released, however: Some are in the army, and some have died. After Israel resumed its bombing of Gaza on Dec. 1, Netanyahu reportedly told the families of the male hostages that Hamas was now making demands that even they, the relatives of those still missing, would not have accepted in exchange for their loved ones.

The Birkenhead drill The women-and-children ethos is widely attributed to the 1852 sinking of the HMS Birkenhead a few miles off the coast of South Africa. In the wee hours of Feb. 25, with about 638 people aboard, the steam paddler hit a rock off Danger Point. Water flooded the forward hull and the equipment used to lower most of the lifeboats malfunctioned, according to accounts at the time. British Lt. Col. Alexander Seton, 38, is widely credited with understanding as the ship sank that fleeing men would swamp the few functioning lifeboats, which were filled with women and children. He gave the order to his crew: “I implore you not to do this thing and I ask you all to stand fast.” They did, according to multiple survivor accounts. Britain’s National Army Museum says the 193 survivors included all 26 women and children aboard.

By JON GAMBRELL ASSOCIATED PRESS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Kuwait’s ruling emir, the 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, died Saturday after a three-year, low-key reign focused on trying to resolve the tiny, oil-rich nation’s internal political disputes. Kuwait state television broke into programming with Quranic verses just before a somber official made the announcement. “With great sadness and sorrow, we — the Kuwaiti people, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the friendly peoples of the world — mourn the late His Highness the emir, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, who passed away to his Lord today,” said Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Sabah, the minister of his emiri court, who read the brief statement. Authorities gave no cause of death. Kuwait’s deputy ruler and his half-brother, Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Jaber, now 83, is believed to be the world’s oldest crown prince. He is in line to take over as Kuwait’s ruler and represents one of the Gulf Arab countries’ last octogenarian leaders. In late November, Sheikh Nawaf was rushed to a hospital for an unspeciﬁed illness. In the time since, Kuwait had been waiting for news about his health. State-run news previously reported that he traveled to the United States for unspeciﬁed medical checks in March 2021. The health of Kuwait’s leaders remains a sensitive matter in the Middle Eastern nation also bordering Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which has seen internal power struggles

NASSER WAGGI / ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2014

Kuwait’s ruling emir, the 86-year-old Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has died, state television reported Saturday. behind palace doors. Those from Sheikh Nawaf’s lifetime, born before oil fully transformed Kuwait from a trading hub into a petrostate, have been fading away with age. That, as well as other Gulf Arab nations putting younger and more assertive rulers in power, has increasingly put more pressure on the Al Sabah to pass power onto the next generation. In neighboring Saudi Arabia, King Salman, 87, is widely believed to have placed day-to-day rule of his nation in the hands of his 38-yearold son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sheikh Nawaf was sworn in as emir in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, following the death of his predecessor, the late Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. The breadth and depth of emotion over the loss of Sheikh Sabah, known for his diplomacy and peacemaking, was felt across the region. Sheikh Nawaf previously served as Kuwait’s interior and defense minister. His political fortunes were never certain despite being part of the ruling Al Sabah family.

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As defense minister, Sheikh Nawaf oversaw the rapid collapse of his forces during Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s invasion of his country in August 1990. He faced widespread criticism for his decisions during the war. A letter reportedly sent to the country’s ruler at the time alleged Sheikh Nawaf ordered tank crews not to ﬁre on the approaching Iraqi forces. The reasoning behind the alleged order remains unclear. Iraq’s battle-hardened forces, after years at war with Iran, easily overwhelmed the country. A U.S.-led, multinational force later expelled the Iraqis from Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. The Al Sabah never published the ﬁndings of its investigations into the government’s actions around the invasion. “Our main target is the liberation. After we return, we will repair our own house,” Sheikh Nawaf said in 1991. “You have to reform yourself and correct any previous mistakes.” He faced a demotion and then didn’t hold a Cabinet-level position for about a decade afterward, serving as a deputy chief of the country’s National Guard. Even on his return, analysts viewed him as not particularly active in government, though his low-key approach later appealed to some Kuwaitis who ultimately moved on from his wartime performance. Sheikh Nawaf was largely an uncontroversial choice for emir, though his advancing age led analysts to suggest his tenure would be short. Kuwait, a nation home to some 4.2 million people, has the world’s sixth-largest known oil reserves. It has been a staunch U.S. ally since the 1991 Gulf War. Kuwait hosts some 13,500 American troops in the country, as well as the forward headquarters of the U.S. Army in the Middle East.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF WINDSOR Windsor, California NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR 2024 PARKS AND FACILITIES PAINTING PROJECTS Public notice is hereby given that the Town of Windsor, California will be receiving sealed bid proposals for the 2024 PARKS AND FACILITIES PAINTING PROJECTS at the office of the Town Clerk, Attention Denise Alcala, Building 400, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Windsor, CA. Bids may also be submitted by U.S. mail or reputable overnight delivery service. However, bids that are delivered to an incorrect location or which fail to arrive on time will not be considered. General Work Description: Painting the Windsor Senior Recreation Center iron fence, staining the Town Green Park arbor, and exterior painting of seven (7) buildings at the Public Works Corporation Yard. Bids must be received no later than 3:00 p.m. on January 11, 2024, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. Said bids will be referred to the Windsor Town Council for consideration. If your firm submitted a bid, please provide an email to Management Analyst Denise Alcala, at dalcala@townofwindsor.com as soon as possible stating a bid was submitted. A mandatory bid walk thru is scheduled for January 2, 2024, at 10:00a.m. Meet at the Senior Recreation Center, 9231 Foxwood Drive, Windsor, CA 95492. Questions regarding the bid specifications shall be addressed to the Project Manager, Parks and Facilities Superintendent Charlie Johnson by email at cjohnson@townofwindsor.com. The last day for questions is January 4, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. The Contractor shall possess a State of California Class “C-33” contractor’s license at the time bids are received by the Town and throughout the execution of the contract. Bids are required for the entire work described herein. This contract is subject to State contract non-discrimination and compliance requirements pursuant to Government Code, Section 12990. Electronic copies of the Contract Documents, including Proposal Forms, Plans, and Specifications will be available at no charge beginning at 10:00 a.m. on December 15, 2023, at the Town of Windsor website (www.townofwindsor.com). Bidders will need to fill out a short informational form in order to gain access to the bid documents. All forms and documents listed under Bidder’s Book heading in the Table of Contents should be printed on single sided sheets. Each bid shall be accompanied by a certified or cashier’s check payable to the Town of Windsor or a satisfactory bidder’s bond in favor of the Town of Windsor executed by the bidder as principal, and a satisfactory surety company, licensed as such in the State of California, as surety, in an amount not less than 10% of the maximum amount of the bid. The check or bidder’s bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall execute the contract, if awarded to him, in conformity with the contract documents and shall provide the statutory faithful performance bond, and labor and materials (payment) bond for 100% of the contract price, conditioned upon the faithful performance of said contract, said bonds to be provided within ten (10) days, not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after notification of the award of the contract to the bidder. Notice is further given that pursuant to Section 22300 of the Public Contract Code, substitution of securities for any monies withheld by the Town to ensure performance under the Contract is permitted. At the request and expense of the Contractor, securities equivalent to the amount withheld shall be deposited with the Town, or with a state or federally chartered bank, in California as the escrow agent, who shall then pay those monies to the Contractor. Upon satisfactory completion of the contract, the securities shall be returned to the Contractor. Alternatively, the Contractor may request, and the Town shall make payment of retentions earned directly to the escrow agent at the expense of the Contractor. At the expense of the Contractor, the Contractor may direct the investment of the payments into securities and the Contractor shall receive the interest earned on the investments upon the same terms provided for in Public Contract Code Section 22300 for securities deposited by the Contractor. Upon satisfactory completion of the Contract, the Contractor shall receive from the escrow agent, all securities, interest, and payments received by the escrow agent from the Town, pursuant to the terms of these provisions. Securities eligible for investment under this provision shall include those listed in Section 16430 of the Government Code, bank or savings and loan certificates of deposit, interest-bearing demand deposit accounts, standby letters of credit, or any other security mutually agreed to by the Contractor and the Town. The Contractor shall be the beneficial owner of any securities substituted for monies withheld and shall receive any interest thereon. Pursuant to Section 1720 et seq. and 1770 et seq., of the Labor Code of the State of California, the successful bidder shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Directors of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Copies of such prevailing rate of per diem wages are on file in the principal office of the Town of Windsor, to which reference is hereby made for further particulars. Said prevailing rate of per diem wages shall be made available to any interested party on request. The successful bidder shall post a copy of such determinations at each job site. This project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial relations. No contractor or subcontractor may be listed on a bid proposal for a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 1725.5 of the Labor Code of the State of California (with limited exceptions from this requirement for bid purposes under Labor Code Section 1771.1(a)). Bids submitted not in accordance with this Code Section will be rejected. No contractor or subcontractor may be awarded a contract for public work on a public works project unless registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5. The Contractor must post job site notices prescribed by regulation. All contractors and subcontractors must furnish electronic certified payroll records directly to the Labor Commissioner (aka Division of Labor Standards Enforcement) and to the Project Manager. The Windsor Town Council reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to determine which proposal is the lowest bid of a responsible bidder. The Windsor Town Council also reserves the right to waive any nonconformity not material to the cost of performance in the said proposals or bids. No bidder may withdraw their bid for a period of 60 (sixty) days after the date set for the opening of bids. Questions may be referred to the Parks and Facilities Maintenance Department (707) 838-5399. DATED: This 14th day of December, 2023. TOWN OF WINDSOR State of California By the order of the Parks and Recreation Director

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR PRELIMINARY AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Analy High School HVAC and Roof Replacement Project The West Sonoma County Union High School District (District) issues a Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFP) to invite the submission of statement of qualifications and proposals (Response(s)) from contractors to perform construction services and preliminary (preconstruction) services for the District’s Analy High School HVAC and Roof Replacement Project pursuant to the lease-leaseback delivery method. (Ed. Code § 17406.) The RFP can be found on the District website at https://www.wscuhsd.org/ page/bid-documents or by contacting Jennie Bruneman at jbruneman@ wscuhsd.org. Responses must be received by 12:00 p.m. on February 2, 2024 and delivered to the WSCUHSD District office located at 462 Johnson St. Sebastopol CA 95472. There is a mandatory Zoom Meeting on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 2:00 pm to go over the project details. Attendance at the meeting is required for submitting a response. The meeting link can be obtained by contacting Jennie Bruneman at the email address above. The successful contractor(s) shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if awarded a contract for the Project(s). The successful contractor(s) and its subcontractors shall pay all workers on the Project(s) not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed within the boundaries of the District, pursuant to Labor Code sections 1770 et seq. Prevailing wage rates are available from the District or on the Internet at: <http://www.dir.ca.gov>. Contractors shall comply with the registration and qualification requirements pursuant to Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1. If the District issues addenda to this RFP, contractors are solely responsible for and must acknowledge receipt of addenda in the contractor’s Response. Failure to acknowledge and respond to any addenda issued by the District may, in the District’s sole discretion, render the contractor’s Response to be deemed non-responsive. The District, at its discretion, may award the Project, as further set forth in the RFP. WEST SONOMA COUNTY UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT By: Jennie Bruneman, Director of Facilities, Bond and Technology Publication Dates: (1) December 17, 2023 (2) December 24, 2023

189894 – Pub Dec 17, 24, 2023

www.sonomacountyhistory.org

2ti.

189819 – Pub Dec 17, 24, 2023

2ti.

SONOMA COUNTY HISTORY

In 1912

In 1842

Santa Rosa built a new city hall on Hinton Ave. near the county courthouse. Pilot Weldon Cooke made a successful flight over Santa Rosa, soaring to 2,500 feet. Sonoma opened a Carnegie Library with major support from the Sonoma Women’s Club. Jennie Colvin became the first woman to register to vote in the county; women voted in Santa Rosa’s city election in April; Atty. Francis McCaughey Martin and Sarah Latimer Finley, mother of editor Ernest Finley, led the suffrage fight. An explosion from an automobile fire on Main St. killed James Mott, Petaluma’s first paid fireman. The first Russian River water carnival was held.

Capt. Stephen Smith brought the ﬁrst steampowered sawmill to Bodega by ship and opened the ﬁrst commercial sawmill. Copyright © 2010 Sonoma County Historical Society P.O. Box 1373, Santa Rosa, CA 95402

www.sonomacountyhistory.org

To place a Legal/ Public Notice, Please call

Stefanie Puckett at: 707-526-8508 Or send an email to: legals@pressdemocrat.com

WORLD

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

3 slain hostages had white ﬂag New details released following mistaken killing of Israelis By JULIA FRANKEL AND NAJIB JOBAIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM — Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white ﬂag and were shirtless when they were killed, military officials said Saturday, in Israel’s ﬁrst such acknowledgement of harming any hostages in its war against Hamas. Anger over the mistaken killings is likely to increase pressure on the Israeli government to renew Qa-

COURTESY OF THE SHAMRIZ, AL-TALALKA AND HAIM FAMILIES

This combination image of three undated photos shows, from left, Alon Shamriz, Samer AlTalalka and Yotam Haim. Israeli troops mistakenly shot the three hostages to death Friday in a battle-torn neighborhood of Gaza City. tar-mediated negotiations with Hamas over swapping more of the remaining captives, which Israel says

number 129, for Palestin- only be achieved through ians imprisoned in Israel. military pressure. Israeli leaders have said A senior Hamas offithe hostages’ release can cial, Osama Hamdan, re-

iterated on Saturday that there will be no further release of hostages before the war ends and Israel accepts Hamas conditions for an exchange. Hamdan, a member of the militant group’s decision-making political bureau, said he had no information on unconfirmed reports of a meeting between Israeli and Qatari officials regarding a possible exchange. Israel’s account of how the three hostages died raised questions about the conduct of its troops. Palestinians on several occasions have reported that Israeli soldiers opened fire as civilians tried to flee to safety. Hamas has claimed other hostages were previously killed by Israeli fire

or airstrikes, without presenting evidence. An Israeli military ofﬁcial, who spoke on condition of anonymity to brief reporters in line with military regulations, said it was likely that the hostages had been abandoned by their captors or had escaped. The soldiers’ behavior was “against our rules of engagement,” the official said, and was being investigated at the highest level. The hostages did everything they could to signal they weren’t a threat, “but this shooting was done during ﬁghting and under pressure,” Herzi Halevi, chief of the military’s general staff, said in a statement later Saturday.

U.S. military shoots down 14-drone wave “Due to this incident Shippers avoiding and to protect the lives Red Sea following and safety of our seafaruntil the Red Sea pasattacks on commerce ers, sage is safe, MSC ships

By BRENDAN MURRAY AND CHARLES CAPEL BLOOMBERG NEWS SERVICE

EDUARDO VERDUGO / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A green scarf with a message that reads in Spanish: “To decide is sacred, just and necessary” adorns an altar to the Virgin Mary on Monday in the ofﬁce of the Catholics for the Right to Decide in Mexico City.

Years of guilt and anguish Catholic activists in Mexico help women reconcile their faith with abortion rights By MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — In a corner of their Mexico City office, activists from Catholics for the Right to Decide keep an image of the Virgin Mary close to a green scarf that reads: “Mary was consulted to be mother of God.” For these Catholic women, prayer does not conﬂict with their ﬁght for abortion access nor does their devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe prevent them from supporting LGBTQ+ rights. “You might think that one cannot be a feminist and a Catholic,” said activist Cinthya Ramírez. “But being women of faith does not mean that we oppose progressivity, human rights or sexual diversity.” The organization was founded in 1994 by theologians and activists following in the footsteps of Catholics for Choice in the United States. Now present in 10 Latin American countries, its members denounce the invisibility of women in some religious environments and advocate for the reinterpretation of sacred

texts with a feminist perspective. “Assuming our right to decide and dissent with the ecclesiastic hierarchy allows us, as Catholics who embrace our faith, to make decisions in freedom and choose our own life project,” said activist Maribel Luna. Believing the Virgin Mary made a choice to be a mother instead of just obediently fulﬁlling an archangel’s request is unusual in Mexico, where conservatives frequently dress in light blue to protest against the decriminalization of abortion. The Catholic archbishop of Mexico City, Carlos Aguiar Retes, advocated for an anti-abortion presidential candidate months ago and religious groups are used to praying outside abortion clinics, using Catholic symbols to strengthen their message. “May the Blessed Virgin intercede for all vulnerable lives and inspire us to be instruments of love and compassion,” the Mexican branch of 40 Days for Life published on Facebook days ago. To address the complexity of terminating a pregnancy in this context, Catholics for the Right to Decide created a spiritual accompaniment group. The team is led by theologians and faith leaders — among them, a Presbyterian and a Lutheran pastor — who listen and comfort women who struggle to rec-

oncile their faith with their decision to get an abortion. “We created a guide with a biblical and theological foundation, but it also has a sense of freedom,” said the Rev. Rebeca Montemayor, a Baptist pastor who is part of the group. Most women make contact by phone or social media. Some communicate shortly after having an abortion, or when trying to decide whether to have one. Others contact the organization after decades of feeling overwhelmed with guilt. “I have encountered women who have drawn this out for 30 years,” said the Rev. Julián Cruzalta, a Dominican friar and one of the founders of Catholics for the Right to Decide. “They have never felt free,” Cruzalta said. “It is very difficult to remove years of guilt, to watch their anguished eyes.” The group keeps the women’s identity anonymous, but its members discuss their general impressions to update their strategies and understand Mexico’s social context. According to Montemayor and Cruzalta, many of the women who contact them feel tormented with remorse and doubt. “Did I commit murder? Will I go to hell?” they ask. Others think that not only them, but their families, will be condemned.

The U.S. military said it shot down 14 drones in the Red Sea launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen as attacks on commercial carriers continue from the Iranian-backed group, threatening havoc for world trade. Major shippers MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA and CMA CGM were the latest to announce on Saturday that they won’t send their vessels through the Red Sea for now in the face of rising threats. The unmanned aerial systems “were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, the social media plaform formerly known as Twitter. “Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.” The drones were struck down by the USS Carney guided missile destroyer early on Saturday. The U.K.’s Royal Navy also repelled a suspected drone attack. MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA, the world’s largest container line, joined competitors in diverting ships away from the Red Sea. The MSC Palatium III was attacked on Friday in the Red Sea, the company said in a statement on its website, conﬁrming earlier reports. There were no injuries among the crew of the container ship, though there was “limited ﬁre damage” and the vessel has been taken out of service.

will not transit the Suez Canal eastbound and westbound,” the company said in its statement. “Some services will be rerouted to go via the Cape of Good Hope instead,” it said, referring to the southern tip of Africa. Separately, the French group CMA CGM instructed its container ships scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to pause their journey in safe waters until further notice. U.K. naval forces shot down a suspected attack drone that was targeting merchant ships in the Red Sea, Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a post on X on Saturday. The HMS Diamond used a Sea Viper missile to down the target, he said, without giving more details. Flexport Inc., a freight forwarding platform based in San Francisco, said in a blog post that taking the route around Africa prolongs the journey by seven to 10 days compared with using the Suez Canal. Rebels in Yemen escalated a threat against ships with ties to Israel in November, calling them “legitimate targets,” and appear to be targeting vessels in the vicinity more generally. Rerouting the world’s container ﬂeet around the conﬂict zone during Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza threatens to increase freight rates and cause delays rippling across global supply chains. About 5% of global trade depends on the Panama Canal and 12% depends on Suez, according to Marco Forgione, director general at the Institute of Export & International Trade.

Cardinal sentenced to 51⁄2 years for corruption By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO NEW YORK TIMES

ROME — A Vatican criminal court on Saturday sentenced Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, once one of the church’s most powerful Vatican officials, to 5½ years in prison for financial crimes, a high-profile case that raised questions about the prevalence of financial malfeasance and incompetence at the highest levels of the church. The conviction was a steep fall from grace for an official who had served years ago as Pope Francis’ chief of staff. For some, it cast a shadow over Francis’ pontificate, while for others, it showed his commitment to getting the church’s financial house

in order. But for many, the trial — which lasted years and brushed up against many of the church’s top officials and Angelo players, includBecciu ing Francis himself — raised as many questions about the Vatican’s judicial system, the competence of its officials and the pope’s style of governance as it did about what crime Becciu actually committed. Francis changed Vatican law to allow Becciu to stand trial in a Vatican criminal court — the ﬁrst cardinal ever to do so —

rather than allowing him to be tried by a court of his cardinal peers. Scholars scrambled to ﬁnd historical precedents, but the most recent, by some accounts, was in the 16th century. Prosecutors formally indicted him months later. The various charges in the case, which also involved nine other defendants, included fraud, embezzlement, abuse of office, money laundering and extortion, and mostly centered on a London real estate deal in which the Vatican lost millions of euros. Becciu was convicted of embezzlement and fraud, and was acquitted of several other charges. In addition to the prison sentence, he was also banned from holding public office.

After the verdict was read, his lawyer, Fabio Viglione, said his client stood by his innocence and would “certainly appeal.” The written court ruling is expected within a couple of months. Becciu would not go to jail before the appeal trial was heard, the lawyer said. One of the nine defendants was acquitted on all charges; the others were each convicted on some counts and acquitted on others. The group included former Vatican employees, London-based ﬁnanciers, ﬁnancial consultants and even an intelligence expert who had been hired to help pay the ransom of a Colombian nun kidnapped by jihadist militants in Mali, a case that the Vatican had not previously made public. The

nun, who was kidnapped in 2017, was released in 2021. The sentence was read by the presiding judge, Giuseppe Pignatone, who had acknowledged earlier in the day that the trial had been “certainly unusual” because of its complexity. The case centered on a 350 million euro, or about $382 million, London real estate deal handled by the secretariat of state, the Vatican’s top administrative body. Vatican prosecutors said the deal had hemorrhaged church money while enriching middlemen, to the Vatican’s detriment and deceit. Becciu had been No. 2 at the secretariat of state when it invested in a fund that bought into the London property.

Sports

Inside

NFL » 2 College football » 3 Scoreboard » 6 Weather » 8

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION C

49ers can clinch division with win NFL » SF will win NFC West title for ﬁrst time since 2019 with road victory against Cardinals today By DAVID BRANDT ASSOCIATED PRESS

GLENDALE, Arizona — The Arizona Cardinals have been reasonably competent since quarterback Kyler Murray returned last month. They’ll need a lot more than competence when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The NFC West-leading Niners have looked like the league’s best team during their current fivegame winning streak. San Francisco clinched its third straight playoff berth last week and can clinch its first division title since 2019 with a win this weekend. “When you watch the tape, all three phases jump out to you,” first-year Cardinals coach

49ers defensive end Nick Bosa tackles Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray during the ﬁrst half of a 2021 game in Glendale.

TODAY’S GAME Time: 1:05 p.m. TV: CBS Radio: 104.5, 680 Jonathan Gannon said. “They’ve got good players, they’re well coached and they win games, so that’s what everybody in the NFL is trying to do.” DARRYL WEBB / ASSOCIATED PRES

TURN TO 49ERS » PAGE C2

BASEBALL

MOTORSPORTS » SONOMA RACEWAY

High-speed thrills JEFF CHIU / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fans watch a game between the A’s and the Texas Rangers in July 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum.

A’s to pay $45M owed in Oakland Franchise reverses course on paying so soon for half of Coliseum site By SHOMIK MUKHERJEE AND JASON MASTRODONATO SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

PHOTOS BY DARRYL BUSH / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Reporter Kienan O’Doherty of The Press Democrat holds his video camera as he gets set to begin his ride Thursday in a Toyota pace car with a professional driver at Sonoma Raceway.

With track set for big repaving job, reporter takes in ‘last lap’ experience By KIENAN O'DOHERTY THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

hings are a lot quieter at Sonoma Raceway when it isn’t packed with race

fans. As I drove into the complex through gate one, I headed toward the John Cardinale Media Center. On my right were the garages, which took me a while to recognize from seeing on race days — since they’re always chock full of cars and team members preparing for

the day’s event. Stepping out of my car, I looked around and experienced the rolling hills of Sears Point area in all their glory. The raceway complex, which totals 1,600 acres, is nestled perfectly at the bottom of those rolling hills, looking out toward Skaggs Island. To the left of that parking area is the main grandstand, ever imposing even with no one in the seats on this sunny yet TURN TO RACEWAY » PAGE C5

Reporter Kienan O’Doherty of The Press Democrat adjusts his helmet Thursday as he gets set to begin his ride in a Toyota pace car at Sonoma Raceway.

OAKLAND — The A’s will cough up $45 million owed to Alameda County to acquire its half of the Coliseum property, resolving the latest chapter of a messy saga involving one of the Bay Area’s most notable plots of land. The baseball franchise, which initially had tried to get out of sending the money so quickly, sent a letter Thursday to Nate Miley, chair of the county’s Board of Supervisors, acknowledging that it will “satisfy the obligations” that remain outstanding from the parties’ 2019 agreement to purchase the land for $85 million. The sale entitles the A’s to 50% ownership of the Coliseum complex, which includes the ballpark, the nearby arena and the vast parking space in between, even though the 2024 season may be the team’s last there. And while the deal doesn’t formally close until 2026, its TURN TO OAKLAND » PAGE C7

Clock running on Warriors’ time for turnaround ANALYSIS » With Green suspended, mounting playoff run gets harder By SHAYNA RUBIN SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

RYAN SUN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Warriors guard Klay Thompson sits on the bench Thursday during the second half against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES — The clock on this Warriors season, and perhaps the dynasty, started before the Warriors’ loss to the Clippers on Thursday. Specifically, at around 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday — when news broke of Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension. The seismic decision shook the NBA world, prompting pundits and talking heads to declare the Stephen Curry era dead and bid good riddance to Green.

MORE ONLINE The Warriors were hosting the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. For game result and details, see pressdemocrat.com/sports Inside Warrior Land, the suspension was just another domino to fall. Add it to an ever-growing list of ways the Warriors’ season hasn’t gone at all by their own book. The team isn’t pinning this 10-14 start on Green alone, but seems to have pinned it as an evaluation starting point. What happens in the next month could determine whether this roster can get it together for a realistic playoff run, or if

general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. will be taking advantage of the expiring contracts around the Feb. 9 trade deadline. Is there enough good to retool, take a step back, and run again? Or is it time to sell this $400 million roster for parts, dip under the luxury tax, and regroup? The Warriors have Klay Thompson’s expiring contract with one emotional string attached to swap, in theory. They could trade Chris Paul’s expiring deal or, despite Dunleavy’s vote of conﬁdence, trade Green after continued issues one year into his four-year extension. One thing Dunleavy was certain of: Curry can still carry a TURN TO WARRIORS » PAGE C4

NFL

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Chiefs pair fined $150K NOTES » Reid ﬁned $100,000, Mahomes $50K for criticism ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was fined $100,000 and quarterback Patrick Mahomes was fined $50,000 for criticizing officials following Kansas City’s 20-17 loss to Buffalo last week, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the fines weren’t announced. Reid and Mahomes violated the NFL’s policy about public criticism of game officials for comments about an offside penalty that negated a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Kadarius Toney clearly lined up offside on a play in which he caught a lateral from Travis Kelce and ran for what would have been a go-ahead score. Reid said officials normally warn players about being offside and called the penalty “a bit embarrassing” for the NFL. Mahomes slammed his helmet on the sideline and screamed at officials afterward. He said the penalty call was “elementary school” stuff.

Stroud out for Texans C.J. Stroud will miss Houston’s game against Tennessee on Sunday after sustaining a concussion last week. The Texans announced Saturday that the star rookie quarterback did not travel with the team to Tennessee and would miss the game. Stroud was injured in last Sunday’s 30-6 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf after taking a hit in the fourth quarter. He did not practice all week and coach DeMeco Ryans said Friday that he remained in the concussion protocol. With Stroud out, the Texans will look to Davis Mills or Case Keenum to start against the Titans.

Giants activate Waller The New York Giants activated tight end Darren Waller from injured reserve and waived veteran safety Bobby McCain on Saturday. Waller was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at New Orleans. The Giants will be looking for their fourth straight win. Waller, who was acquired in a trade with Las Vegas last spring, practiced this week for the ﬁrst time since injuring a hamstring and missing ﬁve games. His 36 receptions still rank second on the Giants.

‘Big Dom’ ban extended The NFL has banned Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro from being on the sideline for the remainder of the regular season after he was ejected from a game earlier this month for a scuffle with 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, two people familiar with the league’s decision told the Associated Press on Saturday. DiSandro is still allowed to travel with the team to Seattle for its Monday night game and he can perform all other work duties but is not permitted on the sideline. Both people said DiSandro can return to the sideline for the playoffs. DiSandro pulled Greenlaw off Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith and shouted at him after a reception Dec. 3. Greenlaw, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play, popped up and put his hand in DiSandro’s face.

CAROLYN KASTER / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reaches for the end zone to score over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans on Saturday.

Bengals, Colts stay alive for playoffs Browning leads Cincinnati to fourth-quarter rally, OT victory; Indy rolls past struggling Steelers ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trailing 17-3 at home late in the third quarter behind an offense that had struggled to move the ball, the Bengals needed Jake Browning to be nearly perfect — and he was. Browning led Cincinnati to three fourth-quarter touchdowns and directed the winning drive in overtime in his latest extraordinary performance since taking over for the injured Joe Burrow, and the Bengals beat the Minnesota Vikings 27-24 on Saturday to improve their position in the playoff race. Browning won his third straight start and improved to 3-1 since Burrow suffered a season-ending right wrist injury in a loss at Baltimore. This time, he threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overtime, becoming the fourth QB in the past two years to throw for at least that many yards and two or more scores after three quarters. “I feel like I need a beer,” said Browning, who beat a team that cut him from its practice squad two years ago. Tee Higgins went high over a Vikings defender to catch a 16-yard pass from Browning and make a twisting move at the goal line for the tying touchdown with 39 seconds left in regulation. Then, in overtime, a scrambling Browning found Tyler Boyd for a 44-yard completion that got Cincinnati (8-6) into Vikings territory and set up Evan McPherson’s game-ending 29-yard ﬁeld goal.

“Jake’s just so steady, you know?” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “He really is. He doesn’t get rattled by a negative play. He doesn’t overreact to it.” Browning was 29 for 42 for 324 yards with two touchdowns — both to Higgins — and an interception. He completed passes to 11 receivers and has a 110.9 passer rating in his four starts.. Nick Mullens, the fourth quarterback to start a game this season for the Vikings, was solid in defeat. He passed for 303 yards with two TDs but threw two interceptions. “An absolute grind of a football game,” Mullens said. “But those are the types of games you want to be in.” Minnesota (7-7) has lost three of four, the only win in that stretch a 3-0 decision at Las Vegas that led to Joshua Dobbs being benched in favor of Mullens, who had more success finding the Vikings’ playmakers. Jordan Addison had six catches for 111 yards and two TDs. Justin Jefferson had seven receptions for 84 yards in his first full game since returning from a hamstring injury. He suffered a chest injury in the Raiders game. “Nick did a fantastic job today,” Jefferson said. “Especially with just a week of preparation of him being the starting quarterback. I feel like he came out today with confidence.” Backup Ty Chandler had a career-high 132 rushing yards and a touchdown for Minnesota. Chandler got the start in place of Alexander Mattison, who has a sprained ankle. With five teams a half-game behind them in the NFC standings, the Vikings could be out of playoff position by the end of the weekend. “Very unfortunate,” Minnesota coach Kev-

in O’Connell said. “Come on the road and battle a team that’s playing well right now. Felt like we let one slip away.”

Minshew sharp as Indianapolis wins Gardner Minshew threw three touchdown passes and the Indianapolis Colts rushed for 170 yards, improving their playoff prospects with a 30-13 home win over the sagging Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. Minshew was 18 of 28 for 215 yards and matched his career high for TD passes while leading a Colts offense lacking its usual complement of playmakers. Leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. left the game with a concussion, top rusher Zack Moss departed with a right arm injury, and former 2021 rushing champ Jonathan Taylor (right thumb) didn’t play. The Colts (8-6) have won five of six and temporarily moved a half-game ahead of three teams for the AFC’s seventh and final playoff spot. The Steelers (7-7) dropped their third straight and fell into last place in the rugged AFC North, putting coach Mike Tomlin’s run of 16 straight seasons at .500 or better in jeopardy. Pittsburgh took an early 13-0 lead behind backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky, but by late in the fourth quarter, the Colts had scored 30 consecutive points and third-stringer Mason Rudolph was in for the Steelers. Trey Sermon ran 17 times for 88 yards to lead the Colts after logging only 11 runs this season. Pittman finished with four receptions for 78 yards, giving him 99 catches and the second 1,000-yard season of his career. Trubisky went 16 of 23 for 169 yards with one TD pass and two interceptions.

49ERS

Bosa, who has 6½ sacks in the past ﬁve games after having just three in the ﬁrst eight. Murray and Bosa were taken No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the 2019 draft. “I respect Nick a lot,” Murray said. “I love to go against great players. Us coming in together, I think that’s pretty cool. I think we both take pride in that. It’s a special deal to be in the NFL, so to be able to go against these guys — we’ve both been in the same organization for a long time. Hopefully, we’ll continue to be here even longer and go against each other for the rest of our time here.”

CONTINUED FROM C1 Aside from a midseason three-week swoon when some key players were hurt, San Francisco has delivered. Its current streak includes victories over Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Philadelphia and Seattle again. All of those teams are still in the playoff hunt. The Cardinals have no such aspirations — at least for this season. But since Murray’s return, Arizona has gone 2-2 with wins over the Falcons and Steelers. The Cardinals are coming off their bye week, enjoying some rest after playing 13 straight weeks. Niners defensive end Nick Bosa said Murray has been impressive on video. The ﬁfth-year quarterback has thrown for 864 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while also running for 106 yards and three TDs. “I think he looks great moving around and I think he’s actually playing this scheme better than the previous regime there,” Bosa said. “He’s kind of sitting in the pocket and playing quarterback more. Then obviously the run game and the scrambles, he’s an added element there.” For his part, Murray said the 49ers have unparalleled defensive depth.

GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ / ASSOCIATED PRESS

McBride rising

Trey McBride has al49ers receiver Deebo Samuel runs against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of a ready tied the Arizona January game in Santa Clara. franchise record for catch“They’ve got a ton of has 900 yards from scrim- average more than 90 yards es by a tight end in a season guys over there, more mage and nine TDs this on the ground over the final with 56. He has 440 yards than probably anybody in season despite missing four weeks, which is plau- receiving and two touchthe league,” Murray said. two full games and part sible considering he ran for downs over his past six “And we know, since I got of a third with injuries in 105 yards and two touch- games. Murray said he’s appredowns in a win against the into the league it’s been October. ciated McBride’s success “Since coming back Steelers on Dec. 3. like that. I’m not going to San Francisco, however, but has just one criticism. say I’m used to it, but we’ve from injury, I can see the “His celebrations are a level of play just getting ranks No. 1 in the league in got to be ready for a war.” little awkward,” Murray better and better, week in rushing defense. Dominant Deebo said, grinning. “I think and week out,” he said. Pressure package Niners receiver Deebo his swag will get better as The trade-deadline ac- he keeps having success. Samuel is back to the All- 1,000 in sight Cardinals running quisition of Chase Young Tight ends, you never Pro form he showed in 2021. The versatile play- back James Conner has a has provided a big boost know what you’re getting maker has 288 yards from chance to top 1,000 yards to San Francisco’s pass with them, but I love it scrimmage and five TDs rushing in a season for the rush. The Niners have a though. Love it. Want him the last two weeks, be- first time in his career de- league-high 22 sacks in to play with that edge, coming the second player spite having missed four the five games since Young want him to play with that ever to have back-to-back games with a knee injury. arrived from Washing- chip. A little bit of craziThe 28-year-old has ton. Young’s presence has ness, you’ve got to have it games with at least 100 yards receiving, a TD run 631 yards rushing and four opened things up for his and he’s got a good mix of and a TD catch. Samuel touchdowns. He’ll need to former college teammate all of it.”

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

FSU’s playoff snub subject of probe And because they’re not competitors, he said, antitrust laws might not apply.

Florida attorney general issues subpoena over team’s CFP rejection

Does the playoff have to respond?

By MATT BAKER

Yes, or it risks being held in contempt of court. But the playoff might not have to provide everything by the ﬁnal Jan. 11 deadline. The playoff — officially called CFP Administration, LLC — can ask for more time. It could also ask the Attorney General’s Office to narrow the scope of its requests. Those negotiations could play out behind the scenes or publicly through the courts.

TAMPA BAY TIMES

The fallout from Florida State’s exclusion from the College Football Playoff ramped up last week when Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody made the ﬁrst step in an antitrust investigation into the playoff. It’s a complicated case, even by the standards of the handful of antitrust experts we consulted. Attorney Hal K. Litchford called it a “fairly advanced antitrust issue.” Here are some questions and answers on why the state is looking into a 13-member committee picking 12-1 Alabama over undefeated FSU.

What happened last week? Moody issued an antitrust civil investigative demand, or CID. It acts like a civil subpoena. In this case, the Attorney General’s Ofﬁce asked the playoff for a broad range of information and documents about its decision-making process. The topics include: protocols, votes, revenue ﬁgures and communications with ESPN, the SEC and ACC.

What is antitrust law? The core idea is that healthy competition powers the economy, helping the individuals in each marketplace and society as a whole. Activities that stiﬂe that healthy competition — like collusion between competitors or price-ﬁxing — could violate

Does this mean the playoff did something wrong? Not necessarily. The legal bar for issuing a civil subpoena is relatively low, and Doran said the investigation is in the top of the first inning. It’s too early to know what, if anything, the Attorney COLIN HACKLEY / ASSOCIATED PRESS General’s Office will uncover. “That’s the whole purpose Florida State head coach Mike Norvell listens to quarterback Jordan Travis during a Nov. 11 game against Miami. of the CID,” Litchford said. those laws. whether there were forces at play Those requests suggest another “They’re trying to see is there, beyond what’s sort of been the possible antitrust avenue to ex- (or) is there not a case here.” What does that have to do stated rationale for selecting the plore: Have major conferences with college football? four teams,” said Richard Doran, tried to monopolize the playoff Why is the state “That’s the $64,000 question,” a former Florida Attorney Gen- at the expense of mid-majors of Florida involved? That’s a key question for two said Litchford, senior counsel eral under Jeb Bush. “... Were (like UCF’s undefeated 2017-18 reasons. One is practical: Is this with Orlando’s Baker Donelson there other factors involved that teams)? law firm. drove decision makers to make “There’s an undercurrent a good use of the state’s time and Think of the playoff as a mar- the selection they did?” here about the P5,” said Doran, money? Politicians have argued ketplace. In this case, some comIf so, were those factors de- a shareholder at the Tallahas- yes if an unfair process harmed petitors (selection committee signed to restrict competition see law firm Ausley McMullen. Florida citizens (FSU players members who are employees of (like promoting the SEC at the “That remains to be seen how and coaches) or hurt a state institution (FSU) financially. other schools) picked one com- expense of the ACC)? Were they that gets explored.” The other is legal: Why should petitor (Alabama) over another done as part of a conspiracy to the state of Florida have author(FSU). There’s nothing inher- limit certain groups’ access to Could ESPN be at fault? Not necessarily. Suppose ity over a group based in Texas? ently wrong with that. Trade the playoff market? Those factors ESPN pushed for Texas to make One argument is that the playoff groups, for example, have some could cross antitrust lines. does business in the state through leeway to make their own rules. It’s noteworthy, too, that the the playoff instead of FSU. “ESPN’s not in competition the Orange Bowl and teams like Some can be subjective. Attorney General wants infor“What this civil investigative mation related to the Power Five with Florida State or Texas,” Li- FSU. This jurisdictional issue could come up in court. demand is trying to do is to see and Group of Five conferences. tchford said.

Jacksonville State holds off Louisiana in OT BOWL ROUNDUP » Ohio tops Georgia Southern; Appalachian State wins ASSOCIATED PRESS

Zion Webb completed a fourthdown pass to Perry Carter for an 18-yard, tying touchdown with 1:46 left in regulation, Garrison Rippa hit a 27-yard field goal in overtime, and Jacksonville State capped off its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision with a 34-31 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette in the New Orleans Bowl on Saturday. Ron Wiggins rushed for 126 yards and a score for Jacksonville State (9-4), which had to overcome four turnovers — three of which were returned for touchdowns — just to force overtime. Safety Jalen Clark scored touchdowns on a 46-yard fumble return and a 16-yard interception return for Louisiana-Lafayette (6-7). Fellow safety Tyree Skipper had a 43-yard interception return for a score that gave the Cajuns a 31-24 lead in the fourth quarter. Louisiana-Lafayette quarterback Chandler Fields ran for 1-yard TD — the only time the Cajuns ended an offensive possession in the end zone. Kenneth Almendares added a 33-yard field

AIMEE CRONAN / GAZEBO GAZETTE

Jacksonville State running back Ron Wiggins runs away from Louisiana Lafayette defensive tackle Jordan Lawson during the New Orleans Bowl. goal that tied the game at 24-all in time in program history. And they did it without their the fourth quarter. top two rushers, Sieh Bangura Ohio 41, and O’Shaan Allison, and their Georgia Southern 21 starting quarterback, Kurtis In Conway, South Carolina, Rourke, who has committed to reshman Rickey Hunt ran for Indiana. four touchdowns and caught a Hunt, who had played two fifth as Ohio overcame a host of games this season, had scoring transfer portal losses to win its runs of 2, 6, 40 and 9 yards along fifth straight bowl game in the with an 18-yard TD catch off a Myrtle Beach Bowl. jump pass by Parker Navarro. He The Bobcats (10-3) forced finished with 115 yards rushing. five turnovers, four by Georgia Navarro passed for 120 yards and Southern quarterback Davis ran for 71. Brin. They reached 10 wins in Brin finished 32 of 42 for consecutive years for the first 350 yards and two touchdowns

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for the Eagles (6-7). He was in rainy conditions in the Cure picked off three times and lost a Bowl. Aguilar’s scoring run capped fumble. an 11-play, 73-yard drive and gave Florida A&M 30, Appalachian State a 13-3 lead afHoward 26 ter Michael Hughes kicked field In Atlanta, Jeremy Mous- goals of 29 and 22 yards in the sa threw three fourth-quarter first half. touchdown passes, including two The game was played in a to Kelvin Dean Jr., and Florida steady rain. There were 13 fumA&M rallied past Howard in the bles, with Appalachian State losCelebration Bowl. ing two and Miami losing three. Florida A&M (12-1) closed the Appalachian State (9-5) season with 11 consecutive wins. rushed for 151 yards in the secMoussa connected with Dean on ond half. Anderson Castle had scoring passes of 21 and 53 yards 119 yards on 18 carries for the as the Rattlers recovered after Mountaineers. trailing 14-0 in the first quarter Rashad Amos had a caand 16-10 to open the fourth. reer-best 180 yards on 33 carries Carson Hinton’s 26-yard pick- and scored the only TD for the 6 gave Howard a 26-24 lead. The RedHawks (11-3). Rattlers answered with a 38-yard, flea-flicker touchdown pass from Fresno State 37, New Mexico State 10 Moussa to Jah-Marae Sheread. In Albuquerque, Mikey Keene Linebacker Isaiah Major intercepted Howard quarterback threw for a career-high 380 yards Quinton Williams with 1:45 left with three touchdown passes and a rushing TD, and Fresno to seal it. Williams threw three picks. State routed New Mexico State Jarrett Hunter and Kasey Haw- in the New Mexico Bowl on Satthorne ran for touchdowns for urday, the Bulldogs’ fifth straight victory in a bowl game. the Bison (6-6). Malik Sherrod rushed for Applalachian State 13, 90 yards on 20 carries and had Miami (Ohio) 9 eight receptions for 81 yards for In Orlando, Florida, Joey Fresno State (9-4). Aguilar threw for 197 yards and Fresno State finished with scored on an 8-yard run in the 491 yards of offense and held third quarter to lead Appala- New Mexico State (10-5) to just chian State past Miami of Ohio 200.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

AJ MAST / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Purdue center Zach Edey shoots over Arizona center Oumar Ballo in the second half of Saturday’s game in Indianapolis.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Purdue hands No. 1 Arizona first loss of year to push the Santa Clara Santa Clara tops lead to six, but Isaac Jones Washington State; dunked with :49 left to it 63-59. Tyeree BrySF falls to Utah State make an hit four straight from ASSOCIATED PRESS

Purdue knew it could count on Zach Edey’s powerful inside presence. Once Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith provided the outside game to go with it, the Boilermakers had all they needed to knock off visiting No. 1 Arizona. Loyer tied a career high with 27 points, Smith added 26 and No. 3 Purdue handed the Wildcats their first loss with a 92-84 victory Saturday. Edey added 22 points and nine rebounds, with the 7-foot-4 All-American handling the middle while Smith and Loyer supplied the outside firepower in the Indy Classic. Loyer was 5 of 9 on 3-pointers and Smith was 4 of 7 while falling one point shy of his career high. The Boilermakers (10-1) defeated a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since beating Arizona 72-69 on Nov. 25, 2000, which also was played in Indianapolis. Caleb Love scored 29 points and Keshad Johnson added 24 for the Wildcats (8-1). Oumar Ballo had 13 points.

Santa Clara 69, Washington State 61 Adama Bal scored 23 points and Santa Clara converted six straight free throws in the final minute to hold off Washington State 69-61 to win the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix on Saturday. Myles Rice hit a 3 to get WSU within five, 62-57, with 1:50 left but missed a jumper to make it a one-possession game with just over a minute to play. Carlos Marshall Jr. hit the first of two free throws

the line while Rice missed two 3-point attempts. Marshall hit two free throws before the Cougars’ Jabe Mullins missed from deep and Andrej Jakimovski put back the offensive rebound to set the final margin. Bal hit 6 of 9 from the field, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc and went 8-for-8 from the line to lead Santa Clara (8-4). Johnny O’Neil put in 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Isaac Jones led Washington State (8-2) with 16 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double.

Utah State 54, San Francisco 53 In Logan, Ian Martinez scored 20 points and Kalifa Sakho had a tip-in for the winning points with 15 seconds remaining as Utah State defeated San Francisco on Saturday for the Aggies’ 10th straight win. Martinez also added eight rebounds and five steals for the Aggies (11-1). Sakho finished 3 of 4 from the floor to add seven points. Great Osobor had six points and was 2 of 8 shooting and 2 of 4 from the free throw line. The Aggies extended their winning streak to 10 games. The Dons (8-4) were led in scoring by Jonathan Mogbo, who finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Malik Thomas added 13 points and two steals. ■ Ty Johnson scored 30 points as UC Davis beat Pacific 82-61 on Saturday night. Johnson also contributed four steals for the visiting Aggies (4-5). The Tigers (4-8) were led in scoring by Moe Odum, who finished with 15 points.

LYNNE SLADKY / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heat guard Tyler Herro, right, watches from the sideline during the second half Wednesday against the Hornets in Miami.

Injuries can be costly come awards season NBA » League’s new minimum-games rule affects eligibility for honors By TIM REYNOLDS ASSOCIATED PRESS

MIAMI — Tyler Herro’s season was off to a great start. He was averaging career-bests of 22.9 points, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the Miami Heat, shooting the 3-pointer better than ever before and looking very much like one of the league’s top players. And then he landed on Jaren Jackson Jr.’s foot in Memphis, badly turning his ankle. Herro’s season didn’t end on that play. His candidacy for postseason NBA awards did. The NBA added and tweaked some policies this season with hopes of getting players to appear in more games and take fewer nights off to rest. Part of the enticement to play more was adding a rule where players, in most cases, need to be in 65 games so they can be eligible for postseason award voting. The league’s stance is clear: if you can play, you better be playing. But should someone miss a few weeks with a legitimate injury, they’re also out of the awards mix. Herro said he isn’t ready to play yet, meaning Saturday’s Chicago-at-Miami game was the 18th that he missed this season — and that will officially mean he’s going to fall short of that 65-game minimum. “I don’t know what the right thing to do is,” Chicago coach Billy Donovan said. “I see both sides of it. But the other thing is if you have a guy that’s been healthy and plays 70, 75, 80 games, those guys should also be rewarded for having the durability to endure a season that long.” Herro was one of the players who spoke out in support of the league’s

push to have players appear more often this season. His stance hasn’t changed, even though his ankle injury has doomed his award hopes. “I’m OK with it,” Herro said this week. The 65-game rule (it can be less in limited cases) is part of the new collective bargaining agreement that went into effect this summer and determines whether players are eligible for things such as the MVP award, an All-NBA Team, Defensive Player of the Year, an All-Defensive Team, or Most Improved Player. The league also approved the terms of the player participation policy in September, that focusing primarily on star players — someone who has been an All-Star or on the AllNBA team in any of the prior three seasons. The league just didn’t like the look of star players resting, especially in nationally televised games. “It’s not just coming from the league office. I think whether it’s our teams, our Players Association, individual players, I think there’s an acknowledgment across the league that we need to return to that principle, that this is an 82-game league,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in September. “That, of course, doesn’t mean that we’re turning the clock back, that players are expected to play through injuries or that players, frankly, never need rest. “But I think there’s a statement of a principle that, if you’re a healthy player in this league, that the expectation is that you’re going to play.” It’s not just Herro who’s in the club of seeing award hopes dashed by an early-season injury. Portland’s Anfernee Simons is averaging 24.6 points, but he missed 18 games because of a torn thumb ligament — so he, too, is already assured of not playing in 65 games. Among the big names who already have missed signiﬁcant time and

WARRIORS CONTINUED FROM C1

team far. But the future of this team could be determined in the coming weeks. “The bigger impact will be how we do in the next 15-20 games and that will determine where we go more than this speciﬁc incident,” Dunleavy said Thursday. “The reality of the situation is if you evaluate Draymond, his ability this year has been great. His availability is not. We need him more available. I don’t need more evaluation of him as a player, we need a little bit more evaluation of this team, the chemistry, the lineups.” The pressure is on for this team to form an identity amid turmoil. It’ll require Kerr to gather up all these scattered pieces and glue something together. Golden State’s loss to the Clippers pushed the team four games under .500 and forced Kerr to rip the Warriors’ blueprint into shreds. Rookie Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga started

RYAN SUN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts during the second half Thursday against the Clippers in Los Angeles. in place of Green and a wildly struggling Andrew Wiggins, who came off the bench in a regular-season game for the first time in his 10-year career. Kerr will run with this starting unit for the time being. “Changes were necessary and your team is struggling to find an identity and find momentum

to win basketball games consistently, you have to experiment,” Curry said. “You can’t keep doing the same thing and expect results.” The ﬂipped bench gave the Warriors new challenges they’ll have to work through in the next few weeks. Without Green against the Clippers, they

lacked the defensive edge needed to quell easy scoring from Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Wiggins has to learn how to channel an aggression that has lacked off the bench and Curry must adjust to a new group around him. Podziemski has to embrace a signiﬁcant role just 18 games into his NBA

can’t miss much more: Phoenix’s Devin Booker (28.1 ppg, has missed nine games), Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball (24.7 ppg, missed eighth game Friday) and Terry Rozier (23.9 ppg, nine games missed), Utah’s Lauri Markkanen (23.7 ppg, nine games missed), Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas (23.4 ppg, nine games missed), Dallas’ Kyrie Irving (23 ppg, seven games missed), Miami’s defensive player of the year hopeful Bam Adebayo (22.3 ppg, nine games missed), New Orleans’ CJ McCollum (20 ppg, 13 games missed) and Denver’s Jamal Murray (18.3 ppg, 14 games missed). “It’s unfortunate that that’s the way it is,” Miami guard Duncan Robinson said. “But I do understand it to an extent. There has to be a line somewhere.” Charlotte coach Steve Clifford remembers his days as a New York Knicks assistant when the team had what it called a durability chart: players would get a point for a game, point for a practice, point for a shootaround. If any were missed, the total went back to zero. “Those guys would be upset if they missed something,” Clifford said. “People, they pay a lot of money. Some people only get to come to one or two games a year. They pick the games in the summer. Listen, without the players, coaches wouldn’t have these great lives. Without the fans, none of us would. I think it’s more than fair, in my opinion, for all of us to expect guys to get out there and play — unless they’re injured.” Herro is hoping to be back in the Heat lineup in the next few days. He didn’t know at the time he got hurt that it would cost him this many games, and he was hopeful of being in the awards mix this season. He’s already made his peace with the reality. “Next year, then,” Herro said. “Or the year after that.”

career and Kuminga must check his shot selection on offense and his hands on defense to cut down on costly mistakes. “You been around the league long enough, you try to hold onto the fabric of how we do things with the group we’ve done it with,” Curry said. “Now you’re in a position where that’s threatened a bit. That’s OK. Acknowledge it. We have a lot of talented guys trying to find a way to increase their roles and I have a lot of confidence in what this group can do. That’s our challenge. The deeper you get into this run, the first 20 games have signaled it might look a little different.” On some level, the Warriors and Kerr may have to embrace the freedom they haven’t had since the 202021 season — when they were reeling from Thompson’s injuries and Kevin Durant’s departure, traded for Wiggins and found themselves without the burden of expectation. As some in this locker room have said, it was that successful run to the play-in tournament at the end of the year that fueled their

hot start to the championship season. After that title, the Warriors have approached the day buttoned up, trying to repeat history by the rules outlined in their own book. Green will be gone for a good chunk of it, which hinders any defensive progress. Curry said he and the organization support Green as he works through a counseling period they hope can stop him from lashing out on the court. “He can’t do what he’s been doing. He knows that,” Curry said. “We know that. Everyone knows that. What that means to change, I think, that’s the search to the answer.” Now, they’ll have to unbutton and embrace the chaos. “It’s OK to take small bites at this thing because we’re obviously a long, long away from the tier we want to be in,” Curry said. “So let’s just win Saturday.” In search of an identity isn’t exactly where a supposed contender wants to be. But the pieces are there. And the clock has started.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

ALL-LEAGUE NCL SOCCER NCL I, II, III

Rainier Coenen, Sonoma Academy Boys Elian Diaz-Zepeda, NCL I Sonoma Academy Co-Most Valuable Players Noel Sarabio, Calistoga Pedro Parra, Sr., Lower Lake Jesús Espinoza, Calistoga Guillermo Fernandez, Sr., Ruben Rubio, Calistoga Lower Lake Quinn Craven-Pittman, Credo First team Lucas DiSimas, Credo Juan Perez, So., Lower Lake Roberto Bucio, Anderson Valley Raul Reyes, Sr., Clear Lake Eric Perez, Anderson Valley Edson Aguilar, Sr., Middletown Noel Gutierrez, Tomales Miro Knuutinen, Sr., Eric Tamez, Tomales Middletown NCL III Bodhi Moore, Jr., Middletown Jacob Colcleaser, Jr., Upper Lake Most Valuable Player Trinidad Arroyo Villagomez, Juan (Samuel) Santana, Fr., Sr., Point Arena Lower Lower All-League Alexander Gonzalez, So., Cody Chavez, Jr., Point Arena Middletown Fernando Lopez, Jr., Elias Smith, Sr., Fort Bragg Point Arena Kevin Perez, Sr., Fort Bragg Jesus Zuniga, Sr., Point Arena Luis Mandujano, So., Willits Jose Bernal, So., Point Arena Honorable mention Theo Hahn, Jr., Mendocino Agustin Sanchez, So., Jack Wilson, Sr., Mendocino Lower Lake Marcus Olivera, Jr., Mendocino Daniel Fernandez, Fr., Lower Lake Grayson Worden Sr., Technology Audias Pamatz, Sr., Middletown Marcos Renata Martinez Sr., Technology Alex Hernandez, Jr., Middletown Ricardo Geusen, Sr., Technology Sebastian Mello-Garcia, Sr., Fort Bragg Kevin Pisqui Tayum, So., Redwood Academy Ricky Ceja, Sr., Fort Bragg Honorable mention Tommy Torres, Sr., Willits Julian Villagomez, So., Ethan Winters, Sr., Willits Point Arena Kyler Brothers, Jr., Upper Lake Jael Orsini, Jr., Point Arena Xavier Snow, Sr., Upper Lake Ethan Miller, Sr., Point Arena Angel Martinez, So., Clear Lake Leo Donley, Fr., Mendocino NCL II Gavin Evans, Fr., Mendocino Co-Most Valuable Players Bohdi, Briggs, Sr., Mendocino Carlos Aviña, Calistoga Sebastian Padilla, Fr., Julian Mahrer, Technology Sonoma Academy Sam O’Halloran, So., First team Technology Charlie De Alessi, Winston Westhafer, So., RedSonoma Academy wood Academy Ian Ross, Sonoma Academy Ezekiel Ramos, Jr., Kellen Kramer, Redwood Academy Sonoma Academy Aiden Ponciano, Fr., Gale Gearinger, Redwood Academy Sonoma Academy Girls Josue Perez, Calistoga NCL I William Ulloa, Calistoga Most Valuable Player Jaime Valadez, Calistoga Jenna Tufo, So., Middletown Diego Flores, Calistoga All-League Patch Moser, Credo Shay Tufo, Jr., Middletown Kevin Hernandez, Credo Sophie Yebra, So., Middletown Ty Schoeningh, Credo Autumn Clark, So., Honorable mention Middletown Logan Castro, Jayme Zimmerschied, Sr., Sonoma Academy Upper Lake

Nya Marks, Sr., Upper Lake Ruby Wurm, Sr., Upper Lake Arion Martin, So., Willits Kara Wilkes, Sr., Willits Yamilet Saucedo, Sr., Lower Lake Ermelinda Trejo, Jr., Lower Lake Giselle Cabajal, So., Clear Lake Honorable mention Karina Lopez, So., Middletown Diana Montes, So., Middletown Kali Minnis, Jr., Upper Lake Ashlyn Rhodes, Jr., Upper Lake Madison Bouthillier, Jr., Willits Mariah Rodriguez, Sr., Willits Avery Epperson, Sr., Fort Bragg Isliana Morris, So., Fort Bragg Esmeralda Lopez, Jr., Lower Lake Penelope Stark-Sully, Sr., Lower Lake Kambhrea Cresto, So., Clear Lake NCL II Most Valuable Player Maitri Gilbert, So., Credo All-League Aidyn Cresalia-Clark, So., Credo Kendelle Lannert, Sr., Credo Emily Sheehan, Jr., Credo Sage Starkweather, Jr., Mendocino Stevie Lundquist, Sr., Mendocino Niyah Bolton, Jr., Mendocino Maliea Deniz, Jr., Technology Ashlyn Byous, Sr., Technology Alexa Navarette, Jr., Calistoga Marlen Pereira, Jr., Roseland Collegiate Prep Natalia Gutierrez, Sr., Tomales Honorable mention Maria Teresa Kaufman-Ott, Sr., Credo Roma Duffy, Jr., Credo Alexys Lenhart, Jr., Mendocino Mea Parker, Sr., Mendocino Bella Godleski, Sr., Tech Eliana Hersh, Fr., Tech Isabella Apolinar, So., Calistoga Angelique Vasquez, So., Calistoga Jeanette Banuelos, So., Roseland Collegiate Prep Esthefany Batres, Sr., Roseland Collegiate Prep Evelyn Rodriguez, Sr., Tomales

Casa soccer parents blast sons’ ‘unfair’ suspensions Four seniors must sit after playing in Florida tourney By AMELIA RICHARDSON PETALUMA ARGUS-COURIER

Four players from Casa Grande High School’s boys varsity soccer team were suspended for six games by the California Interscholastic Federation after they participated in a tournament in Florida during the ﬁrst weekend of December, according to the team’s head coach. Suspending the players, who are all seniors, was a “terrible and unfair ruling by CIF, which will have a profound impact” on the team in the 2023-24 season, head coach Jordan Schlau said. The players have already begun their six-game suspension, he said. “This is a heartbreaking story for anyone who knows these players, as they are outstanding sportsmen,” Schlau said. “This CIF ruling takes away so much from them that cannot be replaced in their ﬁnal senior year season.” Pat Cruickshank, commissioner of athletics for the CIF’s North Coast Section, defended the move in an emailed statement, saying that “On Dec. 6, 2023, the administration of Casa Grande High School self-reported multiple rules violations of CIF Bylaw 600 to the CIF-North Coast Section. The school administration has acknowledged the violations and has implemented the corresponding penalties.” Cruickshank did not respond to a request last week asking him to elaborate on his statement. According to a bylaw published on the CIF website, “a student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an ‘outside’ team, in the same sport, during the student’s high school season of sport.” The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for all high school sports in California, for both public and private high schools. It is broken into 10 individual sections, including the North Coast Section, or NCS. Ashley Rader, whose son Jackson was among those

receiving suspensions, said all four players are in a club travel team outside of Casa Grande. This past fall, Rader said, she and others involved in the travel team were told about a showcase tournament that players in the club were required to attend, or would have to pay a fine if they did not. “Knowing that this tournament overlapped with the high school soccer season — and typically all club play has to stop once the high school season starts — we reached out to our coach, Jordan Schlau, to see if there was any way the league would let them attend the tournament, or if we should just pay the fine,” Rader said. “The coaches have never heard of this tournament, and therefore we contacted (Casa Grande Athletic Director) John Antonio for guidance,” Schlau said. “John, also unsure, contacted our league commissioner Scott Davis. Scott and John discussed and thought it was a permissible event.” “We went last weekend, had an amazing tournament,” Rader said last week. “We come back on Monday and find out that this has been escalated to the NCS state administrator, who is now saying that the athletic director, John Antonio, and the League Commissioner, Scott Davis, made a mistake in their conversation and that they ‘did not have the authority to give permissions like that or allow that tournament to happen.’” But when asked about it, Davis said that neither he nor anyone from the Vine Valley Athletic League had given the players permission to compete in the Florida tournament. “To say they were given (permission) is 100% not accurate,” Davis said. In an email to parents and coaches, Petaluma City Schools Superintendent Matthew Harris said he has asked Esmeralda Sanchez Moseley, the district’s assistant superintendent of student services, to look into the matter. “Based on the information I have received thus far from our parents, student athletes and coaches, it seems that (they) did everything within their abilities

to ensure they were acting with integrity and were upholding CIF bylaws,” Harris said in the email. He added, “At the conclusion of Ms. Sanchez Moseley’s investigation, as long as this is accurate, we will be contacting CIF to request a review and reversal of this decision.” Antonio did not comment on the matter, but referred the Petaluma Argus-Courier to Sanchez Moseley, who did not respond to a request for comment. The four players suspended are Jackson Rader, Hayden Holbrook, Angel Altamirano and Jose Chavez. The team is scheduled to play a total of 18 games this season. Melissa Holbrook, whose son Hayden was among those who received suspensions, added her voice to those of parents outraged by the situation. Had they known about the conﬂicts with the CIF bylaws, “we would not have gone to the college showcase in Florida,” she said. “This is entirely unfair and wrong, as we the parents and coaches have been transparent,” Holbrook said. “We expect our kids to make responsible decisions and be held accountable. However, the information we were given is now not being upheld.” Even with the Gauchos down four starters in their Dec. 6 matchup against crosstown rival Petaluma, they tied the Trojans 3-3. Both the Casa Grande boys and girls soccer teams dominated the Vine Valley Athletic League last year. “As parents, we watched the game with pride and absolute heartbreak,” Rader said. “These four upstanding young men, our children, stood on the sidelines in street clothes, shouting words of encouragement and guidance to their teammates on the ﬁeld — all through tears in their eyes because they are absolutely devastated that this season, (which) means everything to them, is being taken away from them due to someone else’s mistake.” Amelia Richardson is a staff writer for the Petaluma Argus-Courier. She can be reached at amelia. richardson@arguscourier. com or 707-521-5208.

RACEWAY CONTINUED FROM C1

cool fall day. You could feel winter coming. I showed up Thursday to take part in the raceway’s “last laps” event, getting to take a ride around Northern California’s largest motorsports facility before the track undergoes a historic construction. In a project that began last week, the road course is set to be repaved for the ﬁrst time in 23 years. The construction schedule calls for an early-March ﬁnish in order to be ready with plenty of time until the raceway’s two biggest events of the year: the NASCAR Toyota/Save Mart 350 on June 9 and the NHRA Sonoma Nationals drag races July 26-28. As I headed down the ramp toward the pit area, I noticed my ride for the day — an official Sonoma Raceway pace car. A souped-up Toyota Camry, it is decked out with decals: The Toyota Save/ Mart 350 logo emblazoned across the front hood, the NHRA logo on the back and the official Sonoma Raceway insignia across the top of the windshield. On the back window is an outline of the road course. The siding is beautifully decorated with the rolling green and gold hills of the location, and “Sonoma Raceway” written in the biggest font I’ve ever seen.

Press Democrat reporter Kienan O’Doherty watches from the pit area Thursday after his ride at Sonoma Raceway. we reached the infamous carousel, perhaps the tightest turn on the track. My heart was pumping. We overtook the car in front of us and were in the clear as we made our way into turn 7 at 100 miles per hour. At that point, I had PHOTOS BY DARRYL BUSH / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT questions. Press Democrat eporter Kienan O’Doherty rides with Angelo Zucchini, instructor and driver, “This is what NASCAR in a Toyota pace car Thursday at Sonoma Raceway. drivers do every day? This is their livelihood?” On Thursday, I was as he’s been a driver and William Byron in the 2022 But I was having a blast. in the second group of instructor there for years. Toyota/Save Mart 350, in As we came down the guests to go for a ride, so He wore an orange helmet which he maxed out at a hill toward turn 8, the I got ready to go with a with a blue tint to the speed of just over 93 miles grandstand and the start balaclava over my head visor and small flag decals per hour. of the track came back and an all-white helmet. It on the mouth guard: Italy, We were second in line into view. It disappears for took me a couple of tries Switzerland and the Unit- as we started to get going, multiple turns, just showto get the balaclava on, ed States. and we headed down ing how big the complex, but once I did, the helmet Zucchini told me of pit road at the allotted and course, really is. (I opted for a large) fit nice the plan, which is one 45 miles per hour. I actualMaking our way and snug. full lap of the course that ly said out loud, “Not bad through turn 10 and on to As the first group came would include crossing so far!” turn 11, another car overonto pit road after the the start-finish line. Our Big mistake. took us. In fact, two cars conclusion of their laps, it top speed, he said, would Not a millisecond after, overtook us as we crossed was time to rock ’n’ roll. be anywhere from 100-110 Zucchini put his foot to the start/finish line. I was motioned toward miles per hour, which I the pedal and we were off, Fully comfortable the second car, where soon found out is quite the reaching turn 2 in just now, I told Zucchini we I met Angelo Zucchini, clip at this track. In fact, over a couple of seconds. couldn’t finish in third. my driver. Zucchini is no the track record is 1 minThat was followed by So, he obliged, going even stranger to the course, ute, 37.194 seconds, set by turns 3, 3-A, 4 and 5, until faster as we headed back

toward our starting point. We ended up passing both other vehicles just before turn 7, and I was a happy man. Heading back to pit road in what I call ﬁrst place (just let me have the moral victory!), my smile — although covered by the helmet — was as big as could be. As I took the helmet and balaclava off, I noticed the return of the cool Sonoma County breeze in my hair. As the other participants took their laps, I was taking it all in, grateful for what I had just experienced. And if I get the chance to do this again, it will be on a brand new track. See you in 2024, Sonoma Raceway. You can reach Staff Writer Kienan O’Doherty at 415-887-8650 or kienan. odoherty@pressdemocrat. com. On Twitter @kodoherty22.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 NFL

THE LINE

Standings NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Dallas 10 3 0 .769 421 Philadelphia 10 3 0 .769 342 N.Y. Giants 5 8 0 .385 183 Washington 4 9 0 .308 261 South W L T Pct PF Atlanta 6 7 0 .462 251 New Orleans 6 7 0 .462 285 Tampa Bay 6 7 0 .462 262 e-Carolina 1 12 0 .077 197 North W L T Pct PF Detroit 9 4 0 .692 340 Minnesota 7 7 0 .500 290 Green Bay 6 7 0 .462 280 Chicago 5 8 0 .385 270 West W L T Pct PF x-49ers 10 3 0 .769 380 L.A. Rams 6 7 0 .462 299 Seattle 6 7 0 .462 280 Arizona 3 10 0 .231 230 AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF Miami 9 4 0 .692 411 Buffalo 7 6 0 .538 348 N.Y. Jets 5 8 0 .385 201 e-New England 3 10 0 .231 169 South W L T Pct PF Jacksonville 8 5 0 .615 312 Indianapolis 8 6 0 .571 344 Houston 7 6 0 .538 287 Tennessee 5 8 0 .385 241 North W L T Pct PF Baltimore 10 3 0 .769 361 Cleveland 8 5 0 .615 289 Cincinnati 8 6 0 .571 307 Pittsburgh 7 7 0 .500 223 West W L T Pct PF Kansas City 8 5 0 .615 292 Denver 7 6 0 .538 287 Las Vegas 6 8 0 .429 265 L.A. Chargers 5 9 0 .357 303 e-Eliminated from playoffs x-clinched playoff spot Thursday’s Result Las Vegas 63, L.A. Chargers 21 Saturday’s Results Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24, OT Indianapolis 30, Pittsburgh 13 Denver at Detroit, late Sunday’s Games Atlanta at Carolina, 10 a.m. Chicago at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Houston at Tennessee, 10 a.m. Kansas City at New England, 10 a.m. N.Y. Giants at New Orleans, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Miami, 10 a.m. Tampa Bay at Green Bay, 10 a.m. 49ers at Arizona, 1:05 p.m. Washington at L.A. Rams, 1:05 p.m. Dallas at Buffalo, 1:25 p.m. Baltimore at Jacksonville, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s Game Philadelphia at Seattle, 5:15 p.m. Saturday’s box scores

PA 233 321 314 395 PA 269 261 270 341 PA 314 269 267 309 PA 205 290 318 331 PA 294 244 257 272 PA 290 343 279 282 PA 218 272 311 280 PA 228 309 280 345

Standings

FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG 49ers 13 12½ 48 at ARIZONA at GREEN BAY 3½ 3½ 42½ Tampa Bay Atlanta 3 3 33½ at CAROLINA Kansas City 11½ 8½ 37 at N. ENGLAND at CLEVELAND 3½ 3 37½ Chicago at NEW ORLEANS 5 5½ 39½ NY Giants at MIAMI 13½ 8½ 36½ NY Jets at TENNESSEE 3 3 36½ Houston at LA RAMS 5½ 6½ 50½ Washington at BUFFALO 1½ 1½ 49½ Dallas Baltimore 6½ 3½ 41½ at JCKSN’VILLE Monday FAVORITE OPEN TODAY O/U UNDERDOG Philadelphia 4½ 3 47½ at SEATTLE

WESTERN CONFERENCE Paciﬁc W L Pct Sacramento 14 9 .609 L.A. Clippers 14 10 .583 L.A. Lakers 15 11 .577 Phoenix 13 12 .520 Warriors 10 14 .417 Southwest W L Pct Dallas 15 9 .625 Houston 13 9 .591 New Orleans 15 11 .577 Memphis 6 18 .250 San Antonio 4 20 .167 Northwest W L Pct Minnesota 19 5 .792 Denver 17 9 .654 Oklahoma City 15 8 .652 Utah 9 16 .360 Portland 6 17 .261 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic W L Pct Boston 19 5 .792 Philadelphia 18 7 .720 New York 14 10 .583 Brooklyn 13 11 .542 Toronto 10 15 .400 Southeast W L Pct Orlando 16 8 .667 Miami 15 11 .577 Atlanta 10 15 .400 Charlotte 7 17 .292 Washington 4 20 .167 Central W L Pct Milwaukee 18 7 .720 Indiana 13 11 .542 Cleveland 14 12 .538 Chicago 10 17 .370 Detroit 2 24 .077 Saturday’s Results Brooklyn at Warriors, late Milwaukee 146, Detroit 114 Philadelphia 135, Charlotte 82 Cleveland 127, Atlanta 119 Miami 118, Chicago 116 Minnesota 127, Indiana 109 Dallas at Portland, late Oklahoma City at Denver, late Utah at Sacramento, late New York at L.A. Clippers, late Sunday’s Games Orlando at Boston, 12 p.m. New Orleans at San Antonio, 12:30 p.m. Houston at Milwaukee, 4 p.m. Washington at Phoenix, 5 p.m. Warriors at Portland, 6 p.m.

NBA FAVORITE LINE Warriors 4½ at BOSTON 8½ New Orleans 8 at MILWAUKEE 7 at PHOENIX 12½

O/U UNDERDOG 232 at PORTLAND 227½ Orlando 236½ at SAN ANTONIO 230½ Houston 245 Washington

College basketball FAVORITE LINE Oregon 4½ at AUBURN 8½ at ILLINOIS 15½ Stony Brook 3½ at LONGWOOD 17½ at NORTHERN IOWA 16½ at OMAHA 1 at LOUISVILLE 2½ at FAIRFIELD 6½ at KANSAS STATE 5½ at OREGON STATE 9½ at ILLINOIS STATE 4½ at MCNEESE 6½ at ABILENE CHRISTIAN 1½ at MISSISSIPPI STATE 5½ at BOISE STATE 11½ at E. KENTUCKY 2½ at STANFORD 16½ at MISSOURI 1½ at OKLAHOMA STATE 7½ at SAN JOSE STATE 3½ at IOWA STATE 32½ Washington 4½ Nevada 2½

UNDERDOG at SYRACUSE USC Colgate at ARMY VMI Alcorn State Stetson Pepperdine Wagner Nebraska UTSA North Dakota State Louisiana UTEP North Texas CSU Fullerton Northern Kentucky Idaho Seton Hall Oral Roberts Montana Florida A&M at SEATTLE U at HAWAII

TRANSACTIONS Baseball National League LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Acquired RHP Tyler Glasnow and OF Manuel Margot and cash considerations from Tampa Bay in exchange for RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca; Glasnow also agreed to a ﬁve-year contract with Los Angeles.

Basketball National Basketball Association CHICAGO BULLS — Signed F Henri Drell to a two-way contract.

Cincinnati 27, Minnesota 24, OT Football Minnesota 7 0 10 7 0 — 24 Cincinnati 3 0 0 21 3 — 27 First Quarter Cin—FG McPherson 34, 8:41. Min—Chandler 1 run (Joseph kick), 2:23. Third Quarter Min—Addison 37 pass from Mullens (Joseph kick), 10:46. Min—FG Joseph 39, 4:32. Fourth Quarter Cin—Higgins 13 pass from Browning (McPherson kick), 14:56. Cin—Mixon 1 run (McPherson kick), 7:46. Min—Addison 1 pass from Mullens (Joseph kick), 3:48. Cin—Higgins 21 pass from Browning (McPherson kick), :39. First Overtime Cin—FG McPherson 29, 3:11. A—66,376. Min Cin First downs 24 22 Total Net Yards 424 378 Rushes-yards 30-143 22-80 Passing 281 298 Punt Returns 4-22 3-18 Kickoff Returns 1-14 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 1-1 2-16 Comp-Att-Int 26-34-2 29-42-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 3-22 5-26 Punts 3-50.667 4-48.0 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 4-22 3-26 Time of Possession 33:41 33:08 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Minnesota, Chandler 23-132, Mullens 6-10, Nwangwu 1-1. Cincinnati, Mixon 10-47, C.Brown 7-23, T.Williams 1-10, Browning 4-0. PASSING—Minnesota, Mullens 26-33-2-303, Jefferson 0-1-0-0. Cincinnati, Browning 29-42-1-324. RECEIVING—Minnesota, Jefferson 7-84, Addison 6-111, Hockenson 6-63, Chandler 3-25, Oliver 2-14, Mundt 1-3, Osborn 1-3. Cincinnati, Hudson 5-49, Chase 4-64, Higgins 4-61, C.Brown 3-28, Mixon 3-14, Boyd 2-53, Wilcox 2-20, I.Smith 2-18, C.Jones 2-10, Iosivas 1-5, T.Williams 1-2. MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.

Indianapolis 30, Pittsburgh 13 Pittsburgh 6 7 0 0 — 13 Indianapolis 0 14 10 6 — 30 First Quarter Pit—Trubisky 1 run (kick failed), 1:12. Second Quarter Pit—D.Johnson 4 pass from Trubisky (Boswell kick), 14:07. Ind—Moss 16 pass from Minshew (Gay kick), 11:21. Ind—Montgomery 14 pass from Minshew (Gay kick), :22. Third Quarter Ind—Alie-Cox 18 pass from Minshew (Gay kick), 13:16. Ind—FG Gay 29, 9:02. Fourth Quarter Ind—FG Gay 31, 9:17. Ind—FG Gay 42, :48. A—64,171. Pit Ind First downs 13 19 Total Net Yards 216 372 Rushes-yards 24-74 34-170 Passing 142 202 Punt Returns 0-0 3-38 Kickoff Returns 2-65 0-0 Interceptions Ret. 0-0 2-43 Comp-Att-Int 18-26-2 18-28-0 Sacked-Yards Lost 4-30 3-13 Punts 4-40.0 2-28.5 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Penalties-Yards 8-101 2-10 Time of Possession 26:40 33:20 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING—Pittsburgh, Warren 10-40, Harris 12-33, Trubisky 2-1. Indianapolis, Sermon 17-88, Goodson 11-69, Moss 4-13, Minshew 2-0. PASSING—Pittsburgh, Trubisky 16-23-2-169, Rudolph 2-3-0-3. Indianapolis, Minshew 18-28-0-215. RECEIVING—Pittsburgh, Warren 5-28, D.Johnson 4-62, Pickens 3-47, A.Robinson 3-19, Freiermuth 3-16. Indianapolis, Pittman 4-78, Moss 3-20, Downs 3-19, Montgomery 2-48, Alie-Cox 2-21, Goodson 2-10, Pierce 1-13, Granson 1-6. MISSED FIELD GOALS—Indianapolis, Gay 56, Gay 43

GOLF PGA PNC Championship At Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Fla. Yardage: 7,106; Par: 72 Purse: $1.85 million First Round Team Kucher 29-28 — 57 -15 Team Langer 30-30 — 60 -12 Team Singh 30-30 — 60 -12 Team Goosen 28-32 — 60 -12 Team Duval 32-38 — 60 -12 Team Daly 30-31 — 61 -11 Team Cink 32-30 — 62 -10 Team O’Meara 31-31 — 62 -10 Team Annika 32-30 — 62 -10 Team Lehman 30-32 — 62 -10 Team Leonard 30-34 — 64 -8 Team Korda 32-32 — 64 -8 Team Stricker 33-31 — 64 -8 Team Woods 32-32 — 64 -8 Team Thomas 33-31 — 64 -8 Team Furyk 33-33 — 66 -6 Team Harrington 32-35 — 67 -5 Team Faldo 35-33 — 68 -4 Team Price 34-34 — 68 -4 Team Trevino 33-36 — 69 -3

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open At Heritage Golf Club, Bel Ombre, Mauritius Purse: $1.2 million Yardage: 7,331; Par: 72 Third Round Leaders Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa 68-69-65 Jacques De Villiers, South Africa 68-67-68 Laurie Canter, England 66-74-65 Jaco Prinsloo, South Africa 67-72-67 Jayden Trey Schaper, South Africa 65-74-67 Pieter Moolman, South Africa 67-71-69 Lyle Rowe, South Africa 66-71-70 Darren Fichardt, South Africa 66-72-70 Dylan Naidoo, South Africa 68-69-71 Marcel Schneider, Germany 67-68-73 Marcel Siem, Germany 69-69-70 Paul Waring, England 63-73-72 Daniel Brown, England 68-68-73 Louis De Jager, South Africa 67-72-70 Antoine Rozner, France 62-74-73 Thomas Aiken, South Africa 68-75-67 Oliver Farr, Wales 69-72-69 Kazuki Higa, Japan 70-70-70 Casey Jarvis, South Africa 67-73-70 Joakim Lagergren, Sweden 68-70-72 Jeff Winther, Denmark 69-68-73 Oliver Bekker, South Africa 71-69-71 John Catlin, United States 69-71-71 Deon Germishuys, South Africa 68-74-69 K. Krogh Johannessen, Norway 69-70-72 Sebastian Soderberg, Sweden 69-65-77 N. Von Dellingshausen, Germany 68-71-72

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NBA

NFL

National Football League ARIZONA CARDINALS — Activated OL Elijah Wilkinson from injured reserve. ATLANTA FALCONS — Activated LaCale London from injured reserve. Placed DL Kentavius Street on injured reserve. Promoted OL Tyler Vrabel and TE Tucker Fisk to the active roster from the practice squad. CAROLINA PANTHERS — Promoted G Gabe Jackson and OT J.D. DiRenzo to the active roster from the practice squad. CHICAGO BEARS — Signed LB DeMarquis Gates to the active roster. CLEVELAND BROWNS — Promoted S Tanner McCallister and LB Charlie Thomas III to the active roster from the practice squad. DALLAS COWBOYS — Promoted DT Carl Davis and RB Malik Davis to the active roster from the practice squad. DETROIT LIONS — Promoted K Michael Badgley and DL Bruce Irvin to the active roster from the practice squad. GREEN BAY PACKERS — Activated CB Eric Stokes from injured reserve. Promoted RB Kenyan Drake and WR Bo Melton to the active roster from the practice squad. HOUSTON TEXANS — Promoted WR Steven Sims and LB Garret Wallow to the active roster from the practice squad. Activated K Ka’imi Fairbairn from injured reserve. Placed DB Tavierre Thomas on injured reserve. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS — Activated WR Jamal Agnew from injured reserve. Promoted TE Josh Pederson to the active roster from the practice squad. Waived QB Nathan Rourke. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — Signed S Deon Bush to the active roster. Promoted NT Mike Pennel and RB Deneric Prince to the active roster from the practice squad. Waived LB Darius Harris. LOS ANGELES RAMS — Activated WR Tyler Johnson to the active roster from the practice squad. MIAMI DOLPHINS — Promoted CB Ethan Bonner and RB Darrynton Evans to the active roster from the practice squad. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Promoted RB Kevin Harris to the active roster from the practice squad. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS — Promoted WR Marquez Callaway and OT Cameron Erving to the active roster from the practice squad. NEW YORK GIANTS — Activated TE Darren Waller from injured reserve. NEW YORK JETS — Signed OL Xavier Newman to the active roster. Placed LB Zaire Barnes on injured reserve. Promoted DL Jalyn Holmes and LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball to the active roster from the practice squad. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Designated CB Avonte Maddox to return from injured reserve. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Promoted DT T.Y. McGill and RB Jeremy McNichols to the active roster from the practice squad. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — Signed DT Deadrin Senat to the active roster. Promoted DB Richard LeCounte and Derrrick Pitts to the active roster from the practice squad. TENNESSEE TITANS — Signed WR Mason Kinsey to the active roster. Promoted DL Marlon Davidson and LB JoJo Domann. Waived DL Teair Tart. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS — Promoted RB Jonathan Williams to the active roster from the practice squad.

Hockey National Hockey League BOSTON BRUINS — Returned D Ian Mitchell to Providence (AHL). DETROIT RED WINGS — Reassigned F Alex Doucet to Toledo (ECHL) from Grand Rapids (AHL). FLORIDA PANTHERS — Recalled RW William Lockwood from Charlotte (AHL). PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Reassigned D Mason Millman to Lehigh Valley (AHL) from Reading (ECHL). SEATTLE KRAKEN — Recalled C Tye Kartye from Coachella Valley (AHL). Reassigned C Shane Wright to Coachella. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS — Reinstated D Timothy Liljegren from injured reserve. Recalled C Pontus Holmberg from Toronto (AHL). VANCOUVER CANUCKS — Recalled C Jack Studnicka from Abbotsford (AHL) loan. Loaned D Nick Cicek to Abbotsford (AHL)

Soccer Major League Soccer NEW YORK RED BULLS — Signed to a three-year contract with an option for 2027, as a designated player and completed the transfer of Emil Forsberg from RB Leipzig, pending receipt of his Visa and International Transfer Contract (ITC). ORLANDO CITY SC — Transfers D Antonio Carlos to Fluminense FC of Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Notable men’s scores Mississippi 88, Cal 78 Saint Mary’s (Cal.) 69, UNLV 67, 2OT Santa Clara 69, Washington St. 61 UC Davis 82, Paciﬁc 61 Utah St. 54, San Francisco 53 Delaware 67, Rhode Island 56 FAU 64, St. Bonaventure 54 Georgia Tech 82, Penn St. 81, OT Marshall 72, UNC-Greensboro 65 Pittsburgh 86, SC State 50 Providence 78, Sacred Heart 64 Rutgers 83, LIU 61 Saint Joseph’s 83, Iona 58 St. John’s 77, Fordham 55 UMass 87, West Virginia 79 Georgia 66, High Point 58 Kentucky 87, North Carolina 83 Memphis 79, Clemson 77 Miami 84, La Salle 77 Rice 76, Northwestern St. 51 South Carolina 73, Charleston Southern 69 VCU 87, Temple 78 Virginia 56, Northeastern 54 Virginia Tech 73, Vermont 51 Dayton 82, Cincinnati 68 Georgetown 72, Notre Dame 68, OT Iowa 88, Florida A&M 52 Kansas 75, Indiana 71 Michigan 83, E. Michigan 66 Michigan St. 88, Baylor 64 Northwestern 56, DePaul 46 Purdue 92, Arizona 84 Wichita St. 69, S. Illinois 68 Houston 70, Texas A&M 66 Texas 96, LSU 85 Texas Tech 76, Vanderbilt 54 Texas-Arlington 76, Air Force 73 Tulsa 73, Missouri St. 72 N. Arizona 76, S. Utah 74 Ohio St. 67, UCLA 60 Utah 76, Utah Valley St. 62

Notable women’s scores Air Force 70, Weber St. 58 BYU 79, Idaho St. 76, OT Fresno St. 68, Sacramento St. 47 Nevada 88, CS Stanislaus 53 New Mexico St. 70, Utah Valley St. 39 Paciﬁc 90, Long Beach St. 86 Pepperdine 80, CS Bakersﬁeld 60 San Francisco 74, Portland St. 63 Utah 96, S. Utah 60 Washington 64, Saint Mary’s (Cal) 32

COMING UP

NHL Standings GB — ½ ½ 2 4½ GB — 1 1 9 11 GB — 3 3½ 10½ 12½ GB — 1½ 5 6 9½ GB — 2 6½ 9 12 GB — 4½ 4½ 9 16½

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

TODAY

WESTERN CONFERENCE Paciﬁc GP W L OT Pts Vegas 31 20 6 5 45 Vancouver 31 20 9 2 42 Los Angeles 26 16 6 4 36 Edmonton 27 13 13 1 27 Calgary 30 11 14 5 27 Seattle 31 10 14 7 27 Sharks 30 9 18 3 21 Anaheim 29 10 19 0 20 Central GP W L OT Pts Winnipeg 29 18 9 2 38 Colorado 30 18 10 2 38 Dallas 28 17 8 3 37 Nashville 30 17 13 0 34 Arizona 29 14 13 2 30 St. Louis 29 14 14 1 29 Minnesota 28 12 12 4 28 Chicago 29 9 19 1 19 EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic GP W L OT Pts Boston 29 19 5 5 43 Toronto 28 16 6 6 38 Florida 29 17 10 2 36 Detroit 30 15 11 4 34 Tampa Bay 31 14 12 5 33 Montreal 30 13 13 4 30 Buffalo 31 13 15 3 29 Ottawa 25 11 14 0 22 Metropolitan GP W L OT Pts N.Y. Rangers 29 21 7 1 43 Philadelphia 30 17 10 3 37 N.Y. Islanders 30 14 8 8 36 Carolina 30 16 12 2 34 New Jersey 28 16 11 1 33 Washington 26 14 8 4 32 Pittsburgh 29 13 13 3 29 Columbus 32 10 17 5 25 Saturday’s Results Minnesota 2, Vancouver 1, SO New Jersey 6, Columbus 3 Philadelphia 1, Detroit 0 Montreal 5, N.Y. Islanders 3 Winnipeg 6, Colorado 2 Toronto 7, Pittsburgh 0 N.Y. Rangers 2, Boston 1, OT Dallas at St. Louis, late Nashville 3, Washington 1 Buffalo at Arizona, late Florida at Edmonton, late Los Angeles at Seattle, late Tampa Bay at Calgary, late Sunday’s Games Vancouver at Chicago, 12 p.m. Washington at Carolina, 3 p.m. Anaheim at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Ottawa at Vegas, 5 p.m. Sharks at Colorado, 5 p.m.

GF 107 116 94 96 89 85 64 75 GF 97 107 102 98 91 87 86 67

GA 78 76 65 92 107 102 118 101 GA 76 94 91 94 86 98 91 105

GF 94 106 85 107 103 84 90 85 GF 96 90 94 99 100 68 83 96

GA 73 90 77 95 110 104 103 83 GA 80 79 100 98 99 78 81 117

SOCCER

Bowl schedule

English Premier League

Saturday’s Results Myrtle Beach Bowl Ohio 41, Georgia Southern 21 New Orleans Bowl Jacksonville St. 34, Louisiana 31, OT Cure Bowl Appalachian St. 13, Miami (Ohio) 9 New Mexico Bowl Fresno St. 37, New Mexico St. 10 LA Bowl UCLA vs. Boise St., late Independence Bowl Cal vs. Texas Tech, late Monday Famous Toastery Bowl Charlotte, N.C. W. Kentucky vs. Old Dominion, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 Frisco Bowl Frisco, Texas UTSA vs. Marshall, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21 Boca Raton Bowl Boca Raton, Fla. USF vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22 Gasparilla Bowl Tampa, Fla. Geogia Tech vs. UCF, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 Camellia Bowl Montgomery, Ala. Arkansas St. vs. N. Illinois, 9 a.m. Birmingham Bowl Birmingham, Ala. Troy vs. Duke, 9 a.m. Armed Forces Bowl Fort Worth, Texas No. 24 James Madison vs. Air Force, 12:30 p.m. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, Idaho Georgia St. vs. Utah St., 12:30 p.m. 68 Ventures Bowl Mobile, Ala. South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan, 4 p.m. Las Vegas Bowl Las Vegas Utah vs. Northwestern, 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Bowl Honolulu, Hawaii Coastal Carolina vs. San Jose St., 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl Detroit Bowling Green vs. Minnesota, 11 a.m. First Responder Bowl Dallas Texas St. vs. Rice, 2:30 p.m. Guaranteed Rate Bowl Phoenix Kansas vs. UNLV, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27 Military Bowl Annapolis, Md. No. 23 Tulane vs. Virginia Tech, 11 a.m. Duke’s Mayo Bowl Charlotte, N.C. North Carolina vs. West Virginia, 2:30 p.m. Holiday Bowl San Diego No. 16 Louisville vs. USC, 5 p.m. Texas Bowl Houston No. 22 Oklahoma St. vs. Texas A&M, 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28 Fenway Bowl Boston No. 17 SMU vs. Boston College, 8 a.m. Pinstripe Bowl New York Rutgers vs. Miami, 11:15 a.m. Pop-Tarts Bowl Orlando, Fla. No. 19 NC State vs. Kansas St., 2:45 p.m. Alamo Bowl San Antonio, Texas No. 12 Oklahoma No. 14 Arizona, 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 Gator Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. Clemson vs. Kentucky, 9 a.m. Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas No. 15 Notre Dame vs. No. 21 Oregon St., 11 a.m. Liberty Bowl Memphis, Tenn. Memphis vs. Iowa St., 12:30 p.m. Cotton Bowl Arlington, Texas No. 7 Ohio St. vs. No. 9 Missouri, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30 Peach Bowl Atlanta No. 10 Penn St. vs. No. 11 Mississippi, 9 a.m. Music City Bowl Nashville, Tenn. Maryland vs. Auburn, 11 a.m. Orange Bowl Miami No. 4 Florida St. vs. No. 6 Georgia, 1 p.m. Arizona Bowl Tucson, Ariz. Toledo vs. Wyoming, 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 1 ReliaQuest Bowl Tampa, Fla. No. 13 LSU vs. Wisconsin, 9 a.m. Citrus Bowl Orlando, Fla. No. 20 Iowa vs. No. 25 Tennessee, 10 a.m. Fiesta Bowl Glendale, Ariz. No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 18 Liberty, 10 a.m. Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal Pasadena, Calif. No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 5 Alabama, 2 p.m. Allstate Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal New Orleans No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas, 5:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8 CFP National Championship Houston Semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.

GP W D L GF GA Pts Liverpool 16 11 4 1 36 15 37 Arsenal 16 11 3 2 33 15 36 Aston Villa 16 11 2 3 35 20 35 Man City 17 10 4 3 40 20 34 Tottenham 17 10 3 4 35 23 33 Newcastle 17 9 2 6 36 21 29 Man United 16 9 0 7 18 21 27 Brighton 16 7 5 4 33 28 26 West Ham 16 7 3 6 26 30 24 Chelsea 17 6 4 7 28 26 22 Fulham 17 6 3 8 26 29 21 Brentford 16 5 4 7 23 22 19 Wolverhampton 16 5 4 7 21 26 19 Bournemouth 16 5 4 7 21 30 19 Crystal Palace 17 4 5 8 17 25 17 Everton 17 8 2 7 22 20 16 Nottingham Forest 17 3 5 9 17 30 14 Luton Town 16 2 3 11 17 32 9 Burnley 17 2 2 13 16 36 8 Shefﬁeld United 17 2 2 13 12 43 8 Saturday’s Results Chelsea 2, Shefﬁeld United 0 Man City 2, Crystal Palace 2 Newcastle 3, Fulham 0 Everton 2, Burnley 0 Bournemouth vs. Luton Town, ppd. Sunday’s Games Arsenal vs. Brighton, 6 a.m. Brentford vs. Aston Villa, 6 a.m. West Ham vs. Wolverhampton, 6 a.m. Liverpool vs. Man United, 8:30 a.m.

TENNIS WTA Open BLS De Limoges At Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges, France Purse: EUR. 100,000 Surface: Hardcourt indoor Women’s Singles, Semiﬁnals Cristina Bucsa (5), Spain, def. Anna Blinkova (2), Russia, 6-3, 6-2. Elsa Jacquemot, France, def. Erika Andreeva (7), Russia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Germany Bundesliga GP W D L GF GA Pts Leverkusen 14 11 3 0 39 12 36 Bayern 13 10 2 1 44 14 32 RB Leipzig 15 10 2 3 37 16 32 Stuttgart 14 10 1 3 34 16 31 Dortmund 15 7 5 3 29 24 26 Hoffenheim 15 7 2 6 29 27 23 Eintracht 14 5 6 3 24 16 21 Freiburg 14 6 3 5 17 23 21 Wolfsburg 15 6 1 8 19 25 19 Augsburg 15 4 6 5 24 28 18 Monchengladbach 15 4 5 6 30 33 17 Heidenheim 15 5 2 8 22 30 17 Bochum 15 3 7 5 18 29 16 Bremen 15 4 3 8 22 29 15 Cologne 14 2 4 8 10 24 10 Union Berlin 14 3 1 10 15 31 10 Mainz 15 1 6 8 12 27 9 Darmstadt 15 2 3 10 17 38 9 Saturday’s Results Heidenheim 1, Mainz 0 Bochum 3, Union Berlin 0 Augsburg 1, Dortmund 1 Wolfsburg 1, Darmstadt 0 RB Leipzig 3, Hoffenheim 1 Sunday’s Games Freiburg vs. Cologne, 6:30 a.m. Leverkusen vs. Eintracht, 8:30 a.m. Bayern vs. Stuttgart, 10:30 a.m.

Spain La Liga GP W D Girona 16 13 2 Madrid 16 12 3 Barcelona 17 10 5 Atletico 16 11 1 Athletic Bilbao 17 9 5 Sociedad 16 8 5 Betis 16 6 8 Getafe 17 6 7 Las Palmas 16 7 3 Valencia 17 5 5 Rayo Vallecano 17 4 8 Osasuna 17 5 4 Alaves 16 4 4 Villarreal 16 4 4 Mallorca 16 2 8 Sevilla 16 2 7 Celta Vigo 17 2 7 Cadiz 16 2 7 Granada 17 1 5 Almeria 16 0 4 Saturday’s Results Celta Vigo 1, Granada 0 Athletic Bilbao 2, Atletico 0 Getafe 3, Sevilla 0 Valencia 1, Barcelona 1 Sunday’s Games Almeria vs. Mallorca, 5 a.m. Sociedad vs. Betis, 7:15 a.m. Las Palmas vs. Cadiz, 9:30 a.m. Madrid vs. Villarreal, Noon

L GF GA Pts 1 38 20 41 1 34 10 39 2 31 19 35 4 32 16 34 3 33 19 32 3 29 18 29 2 19 17 26 4 21 20 25 6 14 13 24 7 18 22 20 5 16 23 20 8 19 26 19 8 14 20 16 8 22 29 16 6 14 20 14 7 20 24 13 8 16 25 13 7 13 23 13 11 20 37 8 12 17 39 4

Italy Serie A GP W D L GF GA Pts Inter 15 12 2 1 37 7 38 Juventus 16 11 4 1 24 10 37 AC Milan 15 9 2 4 26 18 29 Napoli 16 8 3 5 28 19 27 Roma 15 7 4 4 28 17 25 Bologna 15 6 7 2 18 12 25 Fiorentina 15 7 3 5 24 18 24 Turin 16 6 5 5 14 16 23 Atalanta 15 7 2 6 24 18 23 AC Monza 15 5 6 4 16 14 21 Lazio 15 6 3 6 16 16 21 Lecce 16 4 8 4 19 21 20 Frosinone 16 5 4 7 21 26 19 Genoa 16 4 4 8 16 21 16 Sassuolo 15 4 3 8 22 28 15 Cagliari 16 3 4 9 16 29 13 Udinese 15 1 9 5 12 25 12 Empoli 16 3 3 10 10 28 12 Verona 15 2 5 8 13 22 11 Salernitana 15 1 5 9 11 30 8 Saturday’s Results Lecce 2, Frosinone 1 Napoli 2, Cagliari 1 Turin 1, Empoli 0 Sunday’s Games AC Milan vs. AC Monza, 3:30 a.m. Fiorentina vs. Verona, 6 a.m. Udinese vs. Sassuolo, 6 a.m. Bologna vs. Roma, 9 a.m. Lazio vs. Inter, 11:45 a.m.

DEC. 18

DEC. 19

DEC. 20

DEC. 21

DEC. 22

DEC. 23

49ERS 800-746-0764, sf49ers.com RADIO: 680 AM/810 AM,107.7 FM Cardinals 1:05 p.m. CBS

WARRIORS 888-479-4667, warriors.com RADIO: 95.7 FM,1350 AM Blazers 6 p.m. NBCSBA

Celtics 7 p.m. TNT

Wizards 7 p.m. ESPN

SHARKS 408-287-7070, sjsharks.com Avs 5 p.m. NBCSCA KEY:

HOME

Kings 7:30 p.m. HULU

Blazers 5:30 p.m. NBCSBA

RADIO: Sjsharks.com Coyotes 7:30 p.m. HULU

Canucks 7 p.m. NBCSCA

Radio coverage varies by time, location

AWAY

ON THE AIR

COLLEGE BASKETBALL Men: USC at Auburn Oregon vs. Syracuse Colgate at Illinois Pepperdine at Louisville UTSA at Oregon State Idaho at Stanford Howard vs. Texas Southern N. Carolina A&T vs. Jackson St. Women: Purdue at Notre Dame Northwestern State at LSU Missouri at Illinois Virginia Tech at Rutgers Arizona at Arizona State COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL NCAA championship: Texas vs. Nebraska GOLF PNC Championship Korn Ferry Q-School ﬁnals NBA Warriors at Trail Blazers NFL Chiefs at Patriots 49ers at Cardinals Cowboys at Bills Ravens at Jaguars NHL Canucks at Blackhawks Capitals at Hurricanes Sharks at Avalanche SOCCER English Premier League: Brighton at Arsenal Manchester United at Liverpool Women: Paris FC vs. Paris Saint Germain TENNIS Ultimate Tennis Showdown

TIME

10 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 5:30 p.m.

ESPN CBSSN Big Ten ACC Net P12 Net P12 Net ESPNU ESPNU

9 a.m. Noon 1 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 4 p.m.

ACC Net SEC Net Big Ten FS1 P12 Net

Noon

ABC

RADIO

9:30 a.m., Golf Ch., 10:30 a.m. NBC 10:30 a.m. Golf Ch. 6 p.m.

NBCSBA

10 a.m. 1:05 p.m. 1:25 p.m. 5:20 p.m.

Fox CBS Fox NBC

Noon 3 p.m. 5 p.m.

NHL Net NHL Net NBCSCA

6 a.m. 8:30 a.m.

USA Net NBC

Noon

CBSSN

8 a.m.

Tennis Ch.

1350, 95.7 104.5, 680 810

SIDELINES SOCCER

Expansion draft boosts Bay FC NWSL team After completing the National Women’s Soccer League expansion draft Friday night, Bay FC general manager Lucy Rushton has now successfully participated in expansion drafts in both the men’s and women’s professional soccer leagues in America. Rushton left her job at Reading Football Club in England to help start Atlanta United FC as an expansion team in Major League Soccer in 2016. Atlanta won the MLS Cup the very next season. Friday night was the NWSL expansion draft and Bay FC had the first overall pick, selecting 24-year-old fullback Alyssa Malonson from OL Reign. “We were really delighted when we saw Alyssa’s name on that sheet,” Rushton said. “She’s a young player. She’s so exciting. Her ability and her ceiling is so high. Most importantly she fits our style of play. She’s a fullback who wants the ball.” Bay FC made five selections in the expansion draft to bring its roster to 12 players. Clubs are allowed to take between 22 and 26 players into the regular season, which begins in March. Rushton said she expects to start utilizing free agency and international signings to build the rest of the roster.

Luton captain collapses during EPL game Luton captain Tom Lockyer was responsive in the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest and collapsing on the field during the English Premier League match at Bournemouth on Saturday. The 29-year-old Lockyer received about seven minutes of treatment on the field as fans at Vitality Stadium looked on with concern. The game was abandoned soon after he was carried away on a stretcher. The score was 1-1 at the time and referee Simon Hooper made the decision to abandon the game, with the clock having stopped in the 65th minute. “Our medical staff have confirmed that the Hatters captain suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch, but was responsive by the time he was taken off on the stretcher,” Luton said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. “He received further treatment inside the stadium, for which we once again thank the medical teams from both sides.” The club said players from both teams “were in no state of mind to continue with the game” after seeing Lockyer collapse. They returned to the field later to applaud the supporters who stayed back and chanted Lockyer’s name.

French Ligue 1

NBA

GP W D L GF GA Pts PSG 15 11 3 1 38 12 36 Nice 16 9 5 2 17 9 32 Monaco 16 9 3 4 31 21 30 Lille 15 7 6 2 19 11 27 Lens 16 7 5 4 21 15 26 Brest 15 7 4 4 19 15 25 Marseille 15 6 5 4 22 16 23 Reims 16 7 2 7 21 23 23 Le Havre 16 4 7 5 16 18 19 Nantes 15 5 3 7 19 25 18 Strasbourg 15 4 5 6 14 20 17 Metz 15 4 4 7 15 23 16 Rennes 15 3 6 6 20 21 15 Montpellier 15 3 6 6 17 20 14 Toulouse 15 2 7 6 14 21 13 Lyon 16 3 4 9 15 27 13 Lorient 15 2 6 7 20 29 12 Clermont Foot 15 2 5 8 9 21 11 Saturday’s Results Le Havre 3, Nice 1 Lens 2, Reims 0 Sunday’s Games Nantes vs. Brest, 4 a.m. Toulouse vs. Rennes, 6 a.m. Lorient vs. Strasbourg, 6 a.m. Metz vs. Montpellier, 6 a.m. Marseille vs. Clermont Foot, 8:05 a.m. Lille vs. PSG, 11:45 a.m.

Abdul-Jabbar breaks hip in fall at concert Kareem Abdul-Jabbar underwent surgery for a broken hip Saturday after falling at a concert in Los Angeles. The NBA Hall of Famer was attending a show Friday night when he was injured. Paramedics at the undisclosed venue responded and the 76-year-old was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. His business partner, Deborah Morales, declined to provide a further update Saturday and referred only to a statement posted on Abdul-Jabbar’s social media. “We are all deeply appreciative of all the support for Kareem,” it said. The 7-foot-2 center was the NBA’s career-scoring leader until being passed by current Laker LeBron James in February. Abdul-Jabbar owned the mark for 39 years. — Associated Press

BASEBALL

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Ohtani’s contract could Dodgers add Glasnow to mostly avoid state taxes boost pitching With bulk of $700M salary deferred, player could leave state after career to collect ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SACRAMENTO — If $700 million wasn’t enough, Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers could also include a bonus: skipping most of California’s famously high income taxes. Not even the mighty Dodgers have the power to exempt Ohtani from paying his taxes. But they and the player can control when Ohtani gets paid. The Dodgers will pay Ohtani $20 million over the next decade, when the baseball star will be hitting and, health permitting, pitching for the National League powerhouse. It’s the decade after that when the Dodgers will really start to pay Ohtani — $68 million per year from 2034-43. Ohtani will turn 40 in 2034, an age when most Major League Baseball players have retired. By then, Ohtani could stop playing baseball and choose not to live in California, potentially avoiding for the bulk of his salary the state’s 13.3% income tax and 1.1% payroll tax for State Disability Insurance. With 97% of Ohtani’s Dodgers income deferred, it means California — where there is an estimated $68 billion budget deficit this year — will have to wait at least a decade before it can collect taxes on the bulk of his salary, if it can collect at all. California could collect taxes from Ohtani’s significant endorsement deals, assuming Ohtani is a California resident. It’s impossible to know for sure how much state tax Ohtani will pay. California law doesn’t let state officials provide information about a single taxpayer. The California Franchise Tax Board — the state agency that collects income taxes — says the amount of income subject to tax payments and the timing of those payments vary depending on the technical details of the contract, which are not publicly available. But the details of Ohtani’s contract that are publicly known appear to fit nicely within the confines of a federal law that specifically bans states from taxing the retirement incomes of former residents, said Kirk Stark, a law professor at UCLA who specializes in tax law and co-authored a textbook on state and local taxes. That law, Stark says, applies to deferred compensation arrangements

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their second major move this offseason on Saturday, acquiring Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-player trade after the pitcher agreed to a $136.5 million, five-year contract. Los Angeles also received outfielder Manuel Margot and sent the Rays young right-hander Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca. A week after signing free agent Shohei Ohtani to a record $700 million, 10-year contract to bolster an already potent lineup, the Dodgers addressed a need for pitching help with the addition of an often-injured, hard-throwing righthander with a track record of being a dominant performer when healthy. A 30-year-old righthander, Glasnow had one season remaining at $25 million and would have been eligible for free agency after next season. The teams reached a tentative agreement on the trade Thursday and were given a 72-hour window by Major League Baseball running through Sunday for the Dodgers to negotiate with Glasnow on a new deal. Glasnow went 10-7 with a 3.53 ERA while setting career highs for starts (21), innings pitched (120) and strikeouts (162) in 2023. Without a new contract, he would have been eligible to become a free agent after the 2024 World Series. Margot, a .255 career hitter, batted .264 with four home runs and 38 RBIs in 99 games with the Rays in 2023. Parting ways with him enabled Tampa Bay to save even more money as the 29-year-old outfielder is owed $10 million next season, plus a $2 million

buyout on a $12 million option for 2025. The Rays acquired Glasnow, along with outfielder Austin Meadows and pitcher Shane Baz, at the trade deadline in 2018 in a deal that sent one-time Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Saturday’s cost-cutting move continues a trend that’s seen the team depart with other front-line pitchers. Right-hander James Shields also was an AllStar before being dealt to the Kansas City Royals in December 2012. Lefties David Price and Blake Snell both won AL Cy Young awards with Tampa Bay before being dealt to the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres in July 2014 and December 2020, respectively. In each case, the return for the Rays has included promising young prospects or players who helped the budget-minded franchise remain playoff contenders while also keeping the club’s payroll at a manageable level. Pepiot, 26, made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2022 and has appeared in 21 games, going 5-1 with a 2.76 ERA with 80 in 78⅓ innings. He was 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts and five relief appearances this year after beginning the season on the injured list after straining his left oblique in his final spring training start. DeLuca, 25, is a right-handed hitter who batted .262 with two homers and six RBIs in 24 games for Los Angeles last season. Glasnow had Tommy John surgery in August 2021 and missed most of the following season before returning to the major leagues on Sept. 28, 2022. He sat out the first two months of 2023 due to a left oblique strain suffered during spring training, returned to the rotation in late May and helped the team reach the playoffs.

following the vote, commissioner Rob Manfred said: “We’re exploring a variety of alternatives, including staying at the Coliseum for the remaining years in the interim.” In order to qualify for their hefty payouts from NBC Sports California — the A’s reportedly

received $67 million from the regional sports network last year — the A’s must play at least half their home games in Northern California. Both MLB and the MLB Players’ Association will have to sign off on any plans before they can be ﬁnalized.

Pitcher OKs $137M extension as part of four-player trade

By ADAM BEAM

OAKLAND CONTINUED FROM C1

terms required the A’s to pay out the rest of what they owed to the county if the team ever announced it was leaving Oakland — which it did in April, when the team ﬁrst secured a land deal for a Las Vegas ballpark. That detail of the agreement — and the notion that the A’s owed the county $45 million within 180 days of the announcement — garnered attention after an opinion columnist for the San Jose Mercury News pointed it out last month, prompting weeks of confused responses from both the team and county officials. County officials, including Miley, did not respond Friday to requests for comment, nor did the A’s. The team hasn’t said what it intends to do with the 155-acre property, which has a murky future. A’s president Dave Kaval said at the time of purchase that the deal would help keep the team in town, but that outcome now appears off the table. “I have not had any discussions with board members about what the A’s want to do with the property, because the A’s have never articulated them,” said Henry Gardner, the head of the Joint Powers Authority, which oversees the site on behalf of the city and county. “I haven’t seen or heard from the A’s what a redevelopment would look like.” The other half of the property is owned by the

ASHLEY LANDIS / ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani listens to questions during a news conference Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. as long as the income is received in substantially equal payments over a period of not less than 10 years. That scenario seems to apply to Ohtani’s contract, meaning he could potentially avoid paying California income taxes were he to live outside of the state once his playing career ends. “Are they, in fact, doing that? I have no idea. It would require a sort of more granular evaluation of the actual contractual language,” Stark said. “Probably even Ohtani doesn’t even know for sure, other than the lawyers or whoever else was involved in drafting the contract.” During Thursday’s introductory news conference at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani said he structured the contract to help the Dodgers, not himself. He wants the Dodgers to be free to spend more money on other good players. Professional athletes’ taxes are also much more complicated than the average taxpayer. In the U.S., people must pay taxes based both on where they live and where they work. That means when the New York Mets play the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Mets players can be taxed for the days they played in California. Most states have a formula for how to calculate this, known as “jock tax,” according to Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects for the Tax Foundation. It doesn’t apply to states that have no income tax, like Texas, Tennessee and Florida, where many professional athletes move. Ohtani’s contract highlights the outsized impact California’s wealthy residents have on the state’s ﬁnances. Of the state’s more than 39 million residents, only about

city, which is in negotiations with the African American Sports and Entertainment Group, a Black-led development group, to transform the site into a large commercial hotspot with live sports, hotels and nightlife, though the project has faced difficult early hurdles. A local soccer franchise, Oakland Roots SC, has made overtures to play in an adjacent lot or even on the ballpark grounds after the A’s lease at the Coliseum expires at the end of 2024. Separately, though, the A’s purchase is tied up in litigation after the lobbyist group Communities for a Better Environment challenged the county’s decision to sell the property. The Bay Area’s chapter of the group alleged that the county did not sufficiently follow the Surplus Lands Act, a long-standing California law that requires public agencies to prioritize affordable housing for land. Meanwhile, the deal cannot close until bonds taken out by the city and county in the 1990s for improvements at the ballpark and arena are fully returned, with the ﬁnal payments expected in early 2026. Where the A’s will play after their lease at the Coliseum expires remains a mystery. Back in June, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president Steve Hill said the A’s could play in Reno in the interim. Since then, three other options have been presented by Kaval: staying at the Coliseum and extending

8,500 people account for a quarter of the state’s income tax revenue each year. That’s one reason why state budget officials closely monitor the number of companies each year that decide to sell stock to the public — a process that increases the state’s population of millionaires. “Mr. Ohtani already has and will continue to put up otherworldly numbers on the field; however, it is fair to say it will take much more than his remarkable success to close next year’s budget gap,” said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for California’s Department of Finance, said of the state’s estimated multibillion-dollar budget deficit. The California Center for Jobs and the Economy estimated California could miss out on as much as $98 million in taxes from Ohtani — an estimate based on a lot of assumptions. Brooke Armor, the group’s president, said it would take 317 similar contracts to cover California’s budget deficit. “That’s a very small number of people, and every time somebody leaves — a high income earner — the budget feels it,” she said. “It just shows the volatility and fragility of the state’s revenue system.” Chris Hoene, executive director of the California Budget and Policy Center, said it’s only fair for the wealthy to pay more in taxes than people with lower incomes. “The whole point of California’s tax structure is to say those of you who are benefiting more and are therefore wealthier and have higher incomes should be paying more in taxes than someone who is making the minimum wage,” he said.

the lease, playing at the A’s Triple-A home in Las Vegas or sharing Oracle Park with the San Francisco Giants. ESPN reported in September that MLB owners would want to know the A’s plan for a temporary home before voting to approve their move to Las Vegas

at the owners’ meetings in November. But the vote was unanimous in approving the relocation — without the A’s announcing their intentions. Fisher has said that MLB will ultimately make the decision. Asked about it at a press conference immediately

COLDER WEATHER IS HERE!

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

WEATHER REPORT

TODAY IN WEATHER HISTORY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

MENDOCINO COUNTY: Mostly cloudy today. A brief shower or two; arriving in the afternoon inland.

Fort Bragg 62/53

Ukiah 64/49 A shower or two

Breezy with rain

Cloudy, showers

REGIONAL OUTLOOK: Rather cloudy today. A brief shower or two; arriving in the afternoon near the bay. There can be a rumble of thunder. Breezy tonight with periods of rain; there can be a rumble of thunder. Breezy Monday with rain at times. EXTENDED: Tuesday: cloudy with showers. Wednesday: breezy with periods of rain. Thursday: clouds and sunshine.

SATURDAY LOG 24-hour totals Hi/Lo Ending at 4 p.m.

Rain

Bodega Bay Boonville Calistoga Cazadero Cloverdale Fort Bragg Guerneville Healdsburg Lakeport Middletown Napa Petaluma Rohnert Park Santa Rosa Sea Ranch Sebastopol Sonoma St. Helena Ukiah Windsor

0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

68/56 68/51 72/38 68/54 70/38 65/48 66/35 65/29 69/41 65/46 70/39 64/35 68/34 67/33 74/51 65/37 66/34 72/38 72/32 65/33

Breezy with rain

3.98 9.14 5.50 7.55 7.95 9.62 5.30 5.18 5.98 6.90 3.86 5.10 4.60 5.40 6.68 7.44 4.61 6.95 6.04 6.73

Last qtr. Jan. 3

First qtr. Dec. 19

Today Hi/Lo Sky 54/30 c 66/49 pc 67/42 pc 63/29 pc 75/42 pc 58/47 pc 62/48 sh 60/48 c 63/49 sh 63/51 pc 65/49 sh 79/56 pc 80/58 pc 76/57 pc 58/47 pc 70/54 sh 51/36 pc 74/49 pc 63/50 sh 81/54 pc 79/57 pc 67/49 sh 63/44 pc 65/54 sh 79/47 pc 61/49 pc 70/54 sh 74/52 pc 63/51 sh 65/54 sh 69/54 sh 76/52 sh 60/48 sh 76/55 pc 75/53 pc 66/51 sh 72/51 sh 76/56 pc 61/48 pc 43/30 pc 45/32 pc 45/29 pc 62/48 sh 65/46 pc

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

San Francisco 65/54

LAKE COUNTY: Mostly cloudy today with a shower or two in the afternoon; start of a stretch of wet weather. SAN FRANCISCO: A brief shower or two today. Oakland, 63/50.

Crescent City 60/48

At nightfall, the five-day oldwaxing crescent moon and the ringed planet Saturn are three degrees of arc apart in the southwest against the stars of Aquarius the Water-Carrier. Three degrees is about the thickness of two fingers held together at arm’s length.

PACIFIC JET STREAM

Mt. Shasta 51/36 Eureka 63/49

Redding 63/44 Chico 58/47

Venus rises at 4:02 a.m. Mars rises at 6:42 a.m. Jupiter sets at 3:24 a.m. Saturn sets at 10:07 p.m. Source: Morrison Planetarium, California Academy of Sciences

Today Sunrise Sunset Monday Sunrise Sunset

Vallejo 62/48

San Rafael 60/48

STATE FORECAST

New Jan. 11

SANTA ROSA PLAIN: Rather cloudy today with a brief shower or two. A couple of showers, then a steadier rain tonight. Rohnert Napa Park, 63/47. 66/47

Sonoma 63/48

Sebastopol 63/47 Petaluma 62/47

SUN & MOON

Full Dec. 26

Calistoga 65/47

Santa Rosa 63/47

Bodega Bay 61/52

Date Time High Time Low Dec. 17 3:01 a.m. 4.9’ 8:01 a.m. 3.2’ 1:28 p.m. 5.6’ 8:42 p.m. -0.5’ Dec. 18 3:49 a.m. 5.1’ 9:22 a.m. 2.8’ 2:37 p.m. 5.0’ 9:36 p.m. 0.0’

Record low: 25 in 1965 Average rainfall since Oct. 1: 7.91 inches Saturday Hi/Lo Prec. 53/16 69/37 66/36 63/23 74/43 66/32 66/37 70/43 62/40 69/37 67/35 83/55 80/55 79/56 67/34 70/44 61/27 72/51 64/41 80/51 80/52 73/28 73/34 64/39 80/39 67/33 77/43 77/49 65/46 63/46 70/42 79/42 65/42 83/50 77/41 72/44 76/38 81/49 68/32 47/19 47/19 55/16 70/40 66/33

Guerneville 62/48

RUSSIAN RIVER/COAST: Mostly cloudy today with a brief shower or two; there can be a rumble of thunder. A couple of showers, then a steadier rain tonight. Forestville, 63/48.

Middletown 62/43

Healdsburg 64/48

BODEGA BAY TIDES

RECORDS FOR SATURDAY

CALIFORNIA

Cloverdale 65/50

SAN FRANCISCO BAY: Wind from the northeast at 4-8 knots today. Waters mostly smooth on the bay. Visibility less than 3 miles at times in afternoon showers.

*Season runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 Lakeport temperatures temporarily unavailable.

SANTA ROSA Average temperatures: High 59, Low 38 Record high: 70 in 2011

Gualala

62/52 NORTHERN COAST: Wind southeast 7-14 knots today. Wind waves 3-5 feet with a southwest swell 6-10 feet at 10-second intervals. Visibility under 3 miles in showers.

Season Last year To date To date

3.02 6.80 3.54 6.89 5.02 6.74 3.77 4.05 3.43 4.48 2.36 4.11 5.85 3.69 5.27 3.26 2.92 3.51 4.93 3.95

SONOMA/NAPA: Mostly cloudy today. A brief shower or two; arriving in the afternoon in eastern areas.

Lakeport 60/46

Sacramento Tahoe 61/49 45/32 San Francisco 65/54 Yosemite San Jose 65/46 69/54 Monterey 70/54

7:22 a.m. 4:52 p.m.

Bakersfield 66/49

San Luis Obispo 76/52

7:23 a.m. 4:52 p.m.

Lake Sonoma Capacity: 381,000 acre-feet. Storage: 216,116. Water supply pool: 244,833, 88.27% Elevation: 439.63 feet. Release: 110 cfs. Lake Mendocino Capacity: 116,500 acre-feet. Storage: 57,135. Water supply pool: 68,400, 83.53% Elevation: 730.54 feet. Release: 154 cfs.

Death Valley 66/51

San Bernardino 79/49

Santa Barbara 75/53

LAKES & RIVERS

Palm Springs 81/54

Los Angeles 80/58

The jet stream will dig south off the California coast Sunday while a ridge of high pressure pulls northward into eastern Nevada, Utah and southern Idaho.

San Diego 74/52

NATIONAL FORECAST

Lake Pillsbury Capacity: 74,933 acre-feet. Storage: 30,239. Water supply pool: 74,993, 40.32% Elevation: 1,883 feet. Release: 154 cfs. Russian River At Hacienda Bridge: 3.11 feet; 312 cfs.

Source: Sonoma County Water Agency Operations Department readings as of 7 a.m. Saturday

Clear Lake 2.14 feet Rumsey. (The Rumsey scale starts at 1,318.26 feet above sea level.)

Source: USGS

INDEX

AIR QUALITY

Ultraviolet: 1

Pollution: 107

11+

Low

Mod.

High

Low Mod. High 0-50 Good, 51-100 Moderate, 101-150 Unhealthy (SG), 151-200 Unhealthy, 201+ Very Unhealthy.

The higher the AccuWeather UV IndexTM number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

50 100 150 200

Jet Stream

Cold

Warm Stationary

-10s -0s

Showers T-storms

Rain

Flurries

Snow

Ice

10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110s

PRESSDEMOCRAT.COM FOR CONTINUOUS NEWS AND WEATHER

Wood Burning: Prohibited Source: www.sparetheair.org

Today Tomorrow City Hi/Lo Sky Hi/Lo Sky Albuquerque 55/31 s 52/31 pc Anchorage 36/22 sf 23/14 c Atlanta 56/41 r 55/28 c Atlantic City 57/54 r 59/34 r Baltimore 56/51 r 55/34 r Bismarck 40/12 pc 33/16 s Boise 40/29 pc 43/36 sh Boston 53/49 c 61/43 r Buffalo 51/42 c 44/25 sn Burlington, Vt. 45/43 c 57/35 r Cheyenne 51/26 s 54/39 s Chicago 46/30 c 31/20 sf Cincinnati 50/36 sh 39/23 sf Cleveland 48/39 r 41/27 sn Columbia, S.C. 56/44 r 59/30 pc Dallas-Ft. Worth 68/42 s 61/36 s Denver 57/25 s 54/35 pc Des Moines 46/24 s 33/19 s Detroit 46/37 r 38/23 sf El Paso 66/39 s 65/41 pc Fairbanks 12/-1 c 8/-4 c Flagstaff 58/22 s 56/25 c Hartford 49/46 r 61/39 r Helena 44/25 s 45/31 pc Honolulu 79/67 sh 77/69 r Houston 67/44 s 68/42 s Indianapolis 47/32 sh 36/20 sf Jackson, Miss. 57/38 pc 60/31 s Kansas City 51/29 s 39/26 s Las Vegas 66/46 pc 63/45 c Little Rock 59/39 s 55/28 s Louisville 52/38 sh 42/24 sf Medford, Ore. 47/39 pc 55/49 r Memphis 55/39 s 50/29 s Miami Beach 79/61 t 74/54 s Milwaukee 46/32 c 35/21 sf Mpls-St. Paul 38/17 pc 25/19 s Nashville 53/37 c 46/23 c New Orleans 61/46 pc 64/42 s New York City 55/54 r 59/38 r Oklahoma City 62/35 s 51/28 s Omaha 49/24 s 37/23 s Orlando 74/56 t 67/46 s Philadelphia 56/54 r 60/36 r Phoenix 79/47 pc 78/53 pc Pittsburgh 51/40 r 44/25 r Portland, Ore. 50/40 c 47/44 r Providence 53/51 r 61/40 r Raleigh-Durham 56/49 r 59/32 pc Reno 49/34 pc 53/40 c Richmond 57/50 r 58/34 c St. Louis 49/33 pc 40/23 s Salt Lake City 44/27 pc 46/35 pc San Antonio 71/45 pc 69/42 pc Santa Fe 50/26 s 48/27 pc Seattle 48/39 c 49/44 c Spokane 36/28 pc 37/34 c Tampa-St. Pete. 70/58 sh 67/48 s Tucson 80/48 s 78/47 pc Washington, D.C. 55/51 r 55/34 r Wichita 57/30 s 47/28 s s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, r-rain, sf-flurries, sn-snow, t-thunderstorms, i-ice, T-trace

INTERNATIONAL

Fresno 63/51

86 -14

NATIONAL

TO SUBMIT A PHOTO: Email the photo with your full name and city to pdweatherphoto@gmail.com. Photos should be horizontal.

TODAY’S FORECAST MONDAY

Anaheim Antero Reservoir, Colorado

Photo by TERI SWALLOW / Sebastopol

SANTA ROSA TODAY

Nation’s hottest and coldest (for the 48 contiguous states)

An ice storm in Illinois caused more than $21 million in damages on Dec. 17, 1924. Ice accumulated almost 2 inches.

Today Hi/Lo Sky 89/74 s 52/43 c 56/54 sh 72/57 pc 77/43 pc 95/81 pc 20/6 s 46/41 c 86/77 pc 77/59 s 39/30 pc 82/71 sh 91/75 c 48/37 sh 54/48 pc 48/39 pc 43/30 pc 73/72 r 91/79 pc 68/62 r 49/47 r 68/46 pc 78/56 t 48/34 pc 77/68 pc 61/48 s 53/43 c 54/30 s 88/75 pc 95/64 s 65/53 sh 37/32 pc 25/7 sn 75/45 s 39/10 c 52/38 s 88/77 s 57/45 s 88/70 pc 30/28 sf 88/77 r 41/27 sh 91/69 pc 75/57 sh 45/39 c 48/43 c 48/34 pc 45/35 sh

Tomorrow Hi/Lo Sky 89/72 s 51/44 pc 53/44 pc 75/63 pc 72/45 c 93/75 pc 24/3 s 50/41 c 82/72 r 75/60 c 32/28 pc 81/61 pc 92/76 sh 49/46 c 56/52 sh 42/33 pc 43/31 pc 81/62 sh 94/76 s 59/55 c 48/38 c 67/49 pc 84/63 pc 49/29 s 76/67 c 60/40 s 52/47 s 55/26 s 88/77 pc 91/63 s 70/43 pc 45/42 c 36/24 sn 73/51 pc 41/33 c 45/33 pc 84/74 c 57/35 s 89/71 t 21/9 s 87/77 t 40/35 c 77/68 pc 60/41 pc 47/39 c 47/42 pc 47/31 pc 47/43 c

Woods makes round a family affair GOLF ROUNDUP » With son as playing partner, daughter caddies for dad ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tiger Woods has never had a family outing quite like the PNC Championship on Saturday, even in the rain. He was competing with his 14-year-old son, Charlie, and his 16-year-old daughter, Sam, on the bag as caddie for the ﬁrst time. The only thing missing were enough birdies. “It couldn’t have been any more special for us,” Woods said after the ﬁrst of two rounds at the Ritz-Carlton Club in Orlando, Florida, where they beat the worst of the rain and fell behind 10 other teams. Matt Kuchar and his son Cameron led the way with a 15-under 57, building a three-shot lead over the teams of Bernhard Langer, Vijay Singh, David Duval and Retief Goosen. Woods and his son were at 8-under 64, leaning on Charlie’s booming drives even while having to move back a set of tees, with Woods delivering most of the approaches and neither converting enough birdie chances.

/KEVIN KOLCZYNSKI / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tiger Woods, center, son Charlie, right, and daughter Sam, left, look on during the ﬁrst round of the PNC Championship on Saturday. “I drove the ball really good today,” Charlie said. “Didn’t miss a fairway and still managed to shoot 8 under. We just suck at putting.” That caused Woods to close his eyes and grin. “That sums it up right there,” he said. So much attention is on their similarities in their swings and other mannerism, but the needle and the trash talking is not to be overlooked. Charlie Woods piped a drive

on the par-5 ﬁfth hole and waved it goodbye, as Justin Thomas could only watch and smile. The 14-year-old also hit a big drive on the 11th, some 65 yards short of the green, hit wedge to a few feet and turned and shrugged. The PNC is restricted to 20 teams of major champions from any tour, or The Players Championship winners, and a family member. That’s what got Steve Stricker (three senior major victories this year) into the

field for the first time. He played with his youngest daughter, Izzi, because Bobbi Maria had Epson Tour status this year. They also had a 64 while Izzi played with her favorite tour players — Nelly Korda — and now gets Woods and son in the final round. Kuchar, a Players Championship winner, has played with both his sons. Carson is leaning more toward tennis and Cameron is all about golf. He recently took a trip to Europe with the family, caddying for his father in the Dunhill Links Championship and the Andalucia Masters. “It’s been a fun deal and his progression has just kind of been everywhere,” Kuchar said. “You watch the whole game get better, whether it’s off the tee, he has an advantage with length and irons are great. I think anybody that sees him with a wedge in his hand comes away impressed. He’s got a great short game.” Singh and Duval are trying to win the PNC Championship for the second time. John Daly and his son, who plays at Arkansas, won it two years ago. They were four shots behind. Sam Woods mainly plays soccer, and her debut as a caddie

went smoothly. All players were in carts that had covers for the clubs when it rained. Woods said his daughter might come out to the backyard at home to watch them practice, but rarely gets to the golf course. Her mother, Elin, watched from outside the ropes. Woods is playing for only the second time since having ankle fusion surgery in April, and he’s sticking to his goal of trying to play once a month in 2024, presumably starting at Riviera in February for the Genesis Invitational, where he is the tournament host.

European tour Louis Oosthuizen moved into position to win on the European tour for the second straight week after making three eagles in a 7-under 65 to take the thirdround lead at the Mauritius Open on Saturday. Oosthuizen was at 14-under par for the tournament and one shot clear of fellow South African Jacques De Villiers (68), with Laurie Canter (65) a further two strokes back in third. Oosthuizen’s remarkable round at La Réserve Golf Links included back-to-back eagles at Nos. 5 and 6.

DINING OUT » Don’t want

TOWNS » Retired Petaluma

to cook for the holidays? Plenty of places offer sitdown or to-go meals. D3

brothers tackle big dreams of preserving local railroad history. D15

SonomaLife SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION D

PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Cheryl Wagner embraces her Budderball the Clown persona Dec. 2 during the Kentucky Street Marketplace in Petaluma.

A laughing matter

PETALUMA » Cheryl Wagner has enjoyed a decades-long career as Budderball the Clown

By JAVIER HERNANDEZ FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

hat does a decades-long career as a clown look like? Cheryl Wagner of Petaluma, aka Budderball the Clown, can tell you. Wagner hasn’t always been a clown, but she’s always been self-employed through her own business ventures, and she’s proud of that. She started her career as the owner of Circle of Friends gift shop in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The store’s inventory changed seasonally, but staples included greeting cards, jewelry, T-shirts and candles. One day at Circle of Friends, a woman named Zipp McCright walked in to ask Wagner for advice on opening a retail store. The two women talked for TURN TO CLOWN » PAGE D10

Cheryl Wagner, aka Budderball the Clown, paints Samantha Reynolds’ face Dec. 2 in Petaluma.

Sonoma chef’s dish wins Slider Showdown Yoshiharu Sogi gets free White Castle burgers for a year with brunch entry in White Castle contest By EMMA MOLLOY SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE

YOSHIHARU SOGI

Sonoma chef Yoshiharu Sogi won White Castle’s 2023 Slider Showdown contest with his French Sliders Brunch take on the original slider.

onoma Valley chef Yoshiharu Sogi has taken White Castle’s iconic original sliders to the next level. His French Sliders Brunch, a sweet and savory dish made from the fast-food chain’s staple, led to him winning the White Castle 2023 Slider Showdown and free sliders for a year, even though the closest White Castle to Sonoma County

is almost 700 miles away — in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sogi, formerly the executive chef of Ledson Hotel’s Zina Lounge in Sonoma (which closed in 2018), also won a trip to Columbus, Ohio, to visit the company’s headquarters and test out the White Castle kitchen. “I am proud to have this recipe help take the White Castle Slider — which everyone loves, to the next level,” he said. “I’m also happy and grateful that my

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dish has received the win.” In addition to free sliders and a visit to the Midwest, Sogi received recognition and swag from the U.S.’s ﬁrst fast-food hamburger chain, founded in 1921. White Castle launched the competition in July to discover creative recipes that featured its renowned beef patty as the main ingredient. Participants had to use at least six sliders, bought at a store or restaurant, and post the ﬁnal product and recipe on Instagram or TikTok. TURN TO SLIDERS » PAGE D10

TELEVISION

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Which Netﬂix shows were viewed most in ’23? By J. CLARA CHAN

“The Night Agent,” an action thriller series based on the book of the same name, was Netflix’s t long last, Netflix is pull- most-watched hit, raking in 812.1 ing back the curtain on million hours of viewership. The how well — or poorly — series was followed by the second the majority of its original and season of “Ginny & Georgia,” licensed shows are performing the South Korean thriller “The on the streaming service. Glory” and the first season In a new report released on of “Wednesday,” all of which Tuesday, Netflix shared the glob- reached more than half a billion al viewership data for more than hours viewed. 18,000 titles on its service during Streaming services have long the first half of 2023, which the been criticized for being coy with company said represents 99% viewership data, though Netflix of all viewing on the streamer has generally been more transduring that time. parent than its rivals when it

LOS ANGELES TIMES

comes to divulging numbers. The issue of data visibility in streaming became a key negotiating point during the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Between January and June, 55% of all Netﬂix viewing went toward the streamer’s original TV shows and ﬁlms, while the remaining 45% came from licensed titles like “Suits,” which gained renewed popularity after it became available on the streamer earlier this year. “In the earliest days, it really wasn’t really in our interest to

be that transparent because we were building a new business and we also needed room to learn but we also didn’t want to provide roadmaps to future competitors,” Netﬂix Co–Chief Executive Ted Sarandos said in a call with reporters. “The unintended consequence of not having more transparent data about our engagement was it created an atmosphere of mistrust over time with producers and creators and the press about what was happening on Netﬂix,” Sarados said. “So we’ve been on this continuum of opening things up.”

The Netflix engagement report is expected to be released twice a year and will include the hours viewed for all shows that were watched for at least 50,000 hours. The report includes both films and TV shows, though TV shows tend to rise in the rankings since multiple episodes result in a longer total viewing time. The rankings closely follow Netflix’s top 10 lists, which the streamer began releasing — without viewership numbers — in early 2020 amid growing calls for increased transparency.

‘Reacher’ review Season 2: The big guy is back, guns blazing By NINA METZ CHICAGO TRIBUNE JORDIN ALTHAUS / NBC

The cast of the comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” is made up of Stephanie Beatriz, from left, Andre Braugher, Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero and Joe Lo Truglio. Braugher earned four Emmy nominations for his role as Ray Holt.

Where to stream late actor’s work ‘Brooklyn NineNine’ actor’s career spanned decades By MAIRA GARCIA LOS ANGELES TIMES

ndre Braugher’s career spanned over three decades and was filled with several notable roles across film and television. The actor, who died Monday at 61, became a household name after starring in “Homicide: Life on the Streets” as Det. Frank Pembleton. The series ran from 1993 to 1999, earning him his first Emmy in 1998 for lead actor in a drama. His second Emmy came in 2006 for his leading role in the FX thriller miniseries “Thief,” in which he played master criminal Nick Atwater. Braugher also received an Emmy nomination for his performance as Dr. Ben Gideon in ABC’s “Gideon’s Crossing” in 2001, in the gap between the two series. Several of his films and some of his more recent TV shows are available to watch online.

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Perhaps in one of his best-known roles in the

last decade, Braugher starred as Ray Holt, a gay police captain leading a Brooklyn police precinct. “Braugher plays his part straight without actually being a straight man and grounds the wackiness,” L.A. Times television critic Robert Lloyd wrote in his review of the show. The actor’s deadpan delivery and relationship with his fellow police officers showcased his comedic abilities, and earned him four Emmy nominations for supporting actor in a comedy series. Fellow cast members include Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Chelsea Peretti and Terry Crews. The eighth and ﬁnal season aired in 2021. (Watch on Peacock)

movie was among the first projects to spotlight the ‘The Good Fight’ Tuskegee Airmen and the A spinoff of “The Good “Fighting 99th,” the first Wife,” “The Good Fight” squadron of Black combat was the first original script- fighter pilots formed ed series for the streaming during World War II. platform CBS All Access, The film starred Launow Paramount+. Starring rence Fishburne, Cuba Christine Baranski as Gooding Jr. and Courtney Diane Lockhart, the legal Vance. Braugher plays drama ran for six seasons. Col. Benjamin O. Davis Braugher joined the cast Jr., the commander of the in the final season, playing unit, who was a real-life Ri’Chard Lane, a partner in war hero and the first the newly formed Reddick, Black general in the Air Ri’Chard & Associates. Force. The role earned The season premiered in Braugher his second 2022, making it the last of Emmy nomination for his television work to air best supporting actor in before his death. ( Watch on a miniseries or special. ( Paramount+) Watch on Max) in 2010. (Watch on Max)

‘Glory’

In 1989, Braugher landed one of his first breakout roles, starring alongside Denzel Washington, Mor‘Men of a Certain Age’ gan Freeman and Matthew This TNT series ran Broderick in “ Glory,” a Civfrom 2009 to 2011, and il War film about the 54th starred Braugher, Ray Massachusetts Regiment, Romano and Scott Bakuthe first all-Black infantry la as three best friends regiment in the Union dealing with midlife crises. army. The screenplay was Braugher played Owen, a based on the books “Lay car salesman who beThis Laurel” by Lincoln grudgingly works for his Kirstein and “One Gallant father and is dealing with Rush” by Peter Burchard, various health problems. and the film was directed It earned him two Emmy by Edward Zwick. In his renominations, and the seview of the film, L.A. Times ries won a Peabody Award critic Kevin Thomas called Braugher’s performance as Thomas Searles “one of the film’s primary strengths, as he tries desperately to meet the psychological as well as physical rigors of his predicament.” (Watch on Pluto TV)

TOGETHER, WE CAN BE A VOICE FOR CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE.

SPEAK SPE K UP Become a CASA Volunteer! 707-565-6375 sonomacasa.org

‘She Said’

Universal Picture’s “She Said” was the last film released before Braugher’s death. The actor portrayed Dean Baquet, the now-former executive editor of the New York Times (and former editor of the Los Angeles Times). Along with reporters Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) and Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and editor Rebecca Corbett (Patricia Clarkson), Baquet shepherds the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative stories about the powerful film producer Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment of actors and his employees over the years. In her review of the film, Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh wrote that he and Clarkson are “particularly fantastic as tough but supportive ‘The Tuskegee Airmen’ editors.” (Watch on Prime This 1995 HBO television Video.)

s Jack Reacher, mountain of a man that he is, the kind of guy who can stroll into any old thrift store and find a pair of jeans that fit, let alone a jacket big enough for those arms? Probably not. But that’s the sly joke of “Reacher,” which is back for a second season on Amazon. Adapted from the book series by Lee Child (he’s written 28 in all), Reacher is an exaggerated cliche of masculinity, letting his muscles do most of the talking (that square jaw is best used for taking punches) and resisting anything so “soft” as putting down roots or (shudders) domestication. If there’s a reason to suspend your disbelief and just go with it, that would be Alan Ritchson’s performance, which allows for flickers of humor and a subtle grin occasionally playing around his lips. Ritchson takes the role seriously, but he’s in on the joke, and it’s a great tonal balance. Which is why he can deliver ridiculous lines without losing the audience. “A hundred thousand years ago, there were people who stayed by the campfire and people who wandered. I’m pretty sure I’m a direct descendant of the wandering type. It’s just who I am.” He will not be contained by a mortgage! And he prefers to not get involved in other people’s problems, unless they’re in danger — which means he always gets involved. His size and moral compass demand it. Season 2 is based on the novel “Bad Luck and Trouble.” In an earlier life, Reacher headed up a military police unit of special investigators. He’s

ex-Army now, but one of his former subordinates has turned up dead. Then a few more go missing. Reacher and what’s left of his old team reunite to find out what’s going on. As a group, they’re as indistinct as the cast of a CBS procedural. But the quips and violence push the story forward, bit by bit, in mostly entertaining (if somewhat generic) ways. The cops are not happy about these offthe-books methods. No more cowboy stuff, says a police detective played by Domenick Lombardozzi, channeling some of the same intense energy he brought as Herc on “The Wire.” After he leaves, someone turns to Reacher: What now, boss? Saddle up, he tells them. We’re about to do a whole lot of cowboy stuff. It’s the fist-pumping equivalent of the Bruce Willis yelling “yippeeki-yay” in “Die Hard,” and I defy anyone to be immune to the outsized pleasures of this kind of thing. The series is well-made and makes no bones about the kinds of stories it wants to tell. This season is unabashed in its proliferation of guns. Showrunner Nick Santora has a real flair for the character and finds a canny balance between quieter moments and all-out carnage. Robert Patrick is the antagonist this season, but the show doesn’t rely on household names to draw you in, and that feels like a higher level of difficulty than a lot of what’s coming out of Hollywood. The show has to work on its own merits, and that comes down to the writing, which tweaks the Reacher persona in some delightful ways.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Dining Out

SONOMA COUNTY TOURISM

A table is set for a holiday meal at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.

SONOMA COUNTY » EATING OUT

HEATHER IRWIN / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Mustard baked ham, Swedish meatballs, sausages and ginger-glazed spare ribs at Stockhome in Petaluma.

Where to feast for the holiday Merry alternatives to cooking at home this season By HEATHER IRWIN

Holiday sugar cookies made by Melissa Yanc at Quail & Condor Bakery in Healdsburg.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

tanding in front of a hot stove trying to get the lumps out of Grandma's gravy just isn’t a festive thought. Nor is washing a mountain of dishes after everyone else has retired for a long winter’s nap. So ditch the toil and trouble and go out for dinner. Here’s a list of where to go in Sonoma County on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day if you don’t feel like cooking, or cleaning. Or you can pick up a decadent meal (and desserts) and claim it as your own. We won’t tell.

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Dec. 23 Spinster Sisters: Feast of the Seven Fishes is a multicourse seafood dinner celebrating the Italian tradition of a ﬁshy feast just before the holidays. $125 per person, 401 S. A St., Santa Rosa, 707-528-7100, thespinstersisters.com

Christmas Eve Dinner

JOHN BURGESS / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

One of three dining areas at The Madrona in Healdsburg.

Chalkboard at Hotel Les Mars: Five-course dinner available from 3 to 9 p.m. for $125 per person. 27 North St., Healdsburg, 707-433-4211, hotellesmars.com Della Fattoria: Tamales for the holidays are a Latin tradition happily adopted by many households in California. The Della team will make a buffet of tamale pies, lime Jell-O salad,

IN YOUR GLASS » SARAH DOYLE

dessert and wine. $50 per person. Also available for takeout. 141 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma, dellafattoria.com Farmhouse Inn: The Holiday Truffle Menu runs Thursday through Dec. 30, but Farmhouse Inn will offer a five-course tasting menu with Perigord, Burgundy and white truffles on Christmas Eve. Dinner includes Maine scallops with black truffle, cabbage potage with white truffle, beef strip loin in Perigord sauce and apple mooncake for dessert. $275 per person. 7871 River Road, Forestville, 707-887-3300, farmhouseinn.com Flamingo Resort: This prix-fixe dinner with a few tastes of sunnier locales includes first and second courses of butternut squash soup, grilled sunchoke or jumbo prawns with smoked yuzu butter. Main courses include Busan Hot Chicken celery root puree, grilled New York steak with Yukon potatoes or sweet potato tart with wild mushrooms. There’s vanilla custard tart for dessert. $100 per person. 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, 707-545-8530, flamingoresort.com John Ash & Co.: Prix fixe at the upscale, white-tablecloth Vintner’s Resort includes lobster bisque, portobello Wellington, beef tenderloin and Bouche de Noel for dessert. $125 per person. 4350 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, 707-5277687, vintnersresort.com/john-ash-co Layla at MacArthur Place: Open for Christmas Eve and Christmas-Day brunch ($65 per TURN TO FEAST » PAGE D6

BITE CLUB » HEATHER IRWIN

TJ’s wine picks for holidays What’s up, Homeslice?

he wine section at Trader Joe’s is not glitzy. It’s not high-end. But it is a godsend for budget-conscious wine drinkers seeking delicious bargains — especially during the holidays when special releases are plentiful. Given Trader Joe’s wines vary by location, we are particularly lucky in Sonoma County, where local wines frequently pop up on shelves. On a recent visit to the store’s Santa Rosa Avenue location, Pedroncelli winery’s 2021 Mother Clone Zinfandel was a fantastic ﬁnd, along with Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Sonoma County Brut Rosé, a perennial favorite from Rack & Riddle in Healdsburg. TURN TO WINE » PAGE D4

CHRISTOPHER CHUNG / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Some wines to buy at Trader Joe’s include Boeger Winery’s 2020 barbera, left, sauvignon blanc from French winemaker Claire Patelin, zinfandel from Pedroncelli and a Trader Joe’s cabernet sauvignon.

he former Ricky’s Eastbound in Rincon Valley (5755 Mountain Hawk Drive, Santa Rosa) has reopened as Ausiello’s Homeslice, a new restaurant from the owners of Ausiello’s Fifth Street Bar and Grill in Santa Rosa. In a whirlwind transformation, Leeanna Kane, daughter of Ausiello’s founder Armand Ausiello, announced her family’s intention to open a family-friendly, cocktail-forward restaurant in late September, just days before Ricky’s shuttered. Kane will co-own the restaurant with her husband, Matt; her parents Debbie and Armand; and brother and sister-in-law Mario and Casey Ausiello. It’ll be very much a family

business. The opening menu looks promising, with face-smashers like hot cheese dip with toasted crostini, pesto bread rolls with ranch sauce, tritip sliders, a smash burger, smoked baby back ribs, salads and pizzas, including a Korean short rib pizza with gochujang barbecue sauce and kimchi slaw. There is a kid’s menu with picky-eater-friendly macaroni and cheese, pizza and a burger. Grown-ups can enjoy a full bar with signature cocktails (the Sesame Street has chile-infused liqueur, lime, coconut, charred pineapple and sesame-seed syrup) along with mocktails, TURN TO BITE CLUB » PAGE D4

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

BITE CLUB CONTINUED FROM D3

wine and beer. Open 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Monday for dinner (closed Tuesday), with happy-hour specials from 3 to 6 p.m. 707-595-3923, auseilloshomeslice.com ON A HAWAIIAN ROLL: Californians have a special relationship with Hawaii. And our cousin to the west has close ties to Pacific-Rim cuisine that have strongly influenced our own culinary landscape with a comfort-food twist. Think Spam musubi, Hawaiian barbecued ribs or loco moco (fried eggs, hamburger, rice and gravy). That’s why new Hawaiian restaurants are always much anticipated in Sonoma County. Two new spots are on the horizon — Hapa’s Mainland in Larkfield and a new Hawaiian restaurant near Oliver’s Market on Stony Point. Hapa’s is a new project

island design to transport our guests to the Big Island.” The restaurant will have a tiki lounge featuring an extensive rum and sake selection and will be “an elevated but approachable dining experience fit to become a neighborhood favorite,” according to the website. More details to come, but the restaurant is anticipated to open in 2024. The new Hawaiian restaurant near Oliver’s Market (447 Stony Point Road), Luau Hawaiian BBQ is still under construction, with few details other than signage announcing the new eatery. Here are some other NICOLETTA CAMERIN great Hawaiian-inspired Mario Ausiello, Debbie Ausiello, Armand Ausiello, Leeanna Kane and Matthew Kane are restaurants in Sonoma co-owners of the new Ausiello’s Homeslice. Not pictured is Casey Ausiello, also an owner. County: Kapu Bar: A richly from the owners of Sweet homes in the nearby Mark Chinese influences,” says themed tiki bar with a panT’s Restaurant in Windsor. West Springs area. the forthcoming restauAsian/Hawaiian menu. The newly constructed “Hawaii is a melting pot rant’s website (hapasmain- Best bets include garlic restaurant is located on of ethnic cultures, and land.com). chicken, adobo rice, poke the grounds of the former nowhere is this influence “Hapa’s will merge the nachos, fried noodles and Cricklewood Restaurant more profound than in its attraction of Hawaiian-in- their authentic Mai Tai. (4618 Old Redwood Highcuisine: a fusion of Haspired cuisine, the warmth 132 Keller St., Petaluma, way), which burned down waiian, Japanese, Korean, and hospitality of the 707-559-3665, kapubar.com in 2017, along with many Portuguese, Filipino and aloha spirit and beautiful Hawaiian Grill & BBQ:

Walk into what looks like a chicken-wing restaurant, and you’ll ﬁnd a hidden Hawaiian barbecue menu. There’s nothing fancy here, but the barbecue chicken, chicken katsu and short ribs are legit. 342-A Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa, 707-308-4294, hawaiiangrillbbq.com Ohana Hawaiian Barbecue: The half-and-half combos are a steal at this casual chain restaurant. Favorites include kalua pork with cabbage, chicken katsu and pineapple chicken. The macaroni salad is the best in the area. Saimin (noodle soup), spam musubi and Hawaiian Sun juice are a taste of the islands. 2150 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707571-8882, ohanasantarosa. com. Also located at 205 S. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. Aloh-o: A quick-bite stop for fried takoyaki and popcorn chicken. Serviceable ramen, poke and sushi rolls plus bubble tea. 2032 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, 707-303-7008, aloh-o.com

blanc, sauvignon blanc and colombard. The 2022 Claire Patelin sauvignon blanc reminds me why I adore this maritime region. With flavors of lemon and passionfruit, it’s easy-drinking and fun. Vin De Bordeaux, 2019 B by Fonbadet ($7.99): Neighboring one of the premier first-growth estates in Bordeaux, France, Chateau Fonbadet takes credit for this delicious, ruby-hued blend of cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Elegant and mildly earthy with notes of blackberry, tobacco and a firm but drinkable finish. Get it before it’s gone. Florianan, 2022 Grüner Veltliner, Dunatul, Hungary ($6.49): This fresh, zesty grüner vetliner from Floriana is one I return to again and again, especially at just $6.49.

Widely planted in Austria, the thin-skinned white grape is also found in Hungary where it’s known as zöldveltelini. This selection from Floriana is bright and cheerful, with mouthwatering acidity, lemon, green apple and a lovely spritz. Loudenotte, 2022 Cuvée Reservée Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays d’Oc, France ($7.99): Surprisingly plush, this Loudenotte pinot noir from the Languedoc-Rousillon region of southern France is ripe and juicy with notes of black cherry, black raspberry and dried herbs. Bring it to a party for a crowd-pleasing ﬁnd at just $7.99. Ooh la la.

WINE

CONTINUED FROM D3 But if you’re curious who makes Trader Joe’s other private-label wines, you’re out of luck. The company works hard to keep under wraps most of the wine producers it buys from, which prevents competition in the marketplace. If you do find a Trader Joe’s wine you enjoy, check to see if the label has a lot number, which signifies a particular bottling. Keep that lot number in mind next time you’re shopping, to find the same wine. But how does a frazzled holiday shopper navigate a sea of bargains? Check out our list of Trader Joe’s holiday wine picks. (These wines may not be available at every Trader

Joe’s location, but all were recently purchased at store No. 178, at 2100 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa.)

Local wines Boeger Winery, 2020 Barbera, El Dorado ($12.99): Grown on high-elevation vineyards in El Dorado County, this 2020 barbera from Boeger Winery is a super cheery, drinkable red with notes of raspberry, red cherry and dried herbs, plus a healthy acidity. This medium-bodied wine includes a hint of cabernet sauvignon that provides tannins for a balanced ﬁnish. Pedroncelli, 2021 Mother Clone Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

($16.99): Zinfandel fans rejoice! This gem from Pedroncelli winery in Dry Creek Valley offers a taste of history with fruit sourced from the winery’s second-generation vineyard and historic century-old vines. Awarded Best of Class at the 2023 Sonoma County Harvest Fair, the Mother Clone zinfandel offers aromas of raspberry candy and dried cherries and a waft of jasmine, with a palate of juicy black cherry, black plum and welcome acidity. Trader Joe’s, Reserve Brut Rosé, North Coast ($14.99): Produced by Rack & Riddle, this reserve sparkling brut rosé is easy on the palate and the pocketbook. Produced using méthode champenoise (a lengthy winemaking method that fosters wine complexity), this unfussy bubbly touts bright ﬂavors

of strawberry and watermelon and a dry ﬁnish. Trading Post by Trader Joe’s, 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley ($19.99): The ﬁrst release of Trader Joe’s new Trading Post wine label, this 2022 cabernet sauvignon from Napa Valley is wonderfully ripe and juicy with notes of blackberry jam, baking spice and a full mouth feel. Self-assured yet user-friendly, this worthy wine will please a variety of palates.

European wines Claire Patelin, 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Côtes de Gascogne, France ($5.99): The Côtes de Gascogne in southwest France happens to be one of my favorite wine regions, a lesser-known mecca for dry, aromatic white wines made with local grapes like gros manseng, ugni

You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Doyle at 707-5215478 or sarah.doyle@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @whiskymuse.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

North Bay Leadership Council’s 2024 Youth Power Speech Competition

North Bay Leadership Council Wants to Hear from Teen Leaders in the North Bay! North Bay Leadership Council is hosting a Youth Power Speech Competition for students ages 1620. The winning applicant will be chosen to be the keynote speaker at our annual Leaders of the North Bay Awards Luncheon and receive a college scholarship.

Selected Competitors Receive: First place: Wins the opportunity to deliver the Keynote Speech at our Leaders of the North Bay Awards luncheon and a receives a $5,000 scholarship Second place: Receives $1,000 scholarship Third and Fourth place: Receive $500 scholarships

Deadline to enter:

February 8, 2024

The events listed here support our local community and nonprofits

For more information email: info@northbayleadership.org

This space is made possible by:

www.northbayleadership.org CelebrateCommunity.org

Lighting and decoration displays

Light up the Holidays! Submit a photo or video of your festive decorations today for your chance to shine. Entries will be added to our gallery and included on a map of standout holiday displays throughout the North Bay.

Visit pressdemocrat.com/holidayinlights or scan the QR code above to enter.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Tips to beat holiday depression

Parents, be cool, during holidays

By JASON HOWLAND

our college kid is returning home for the holidays. They want to see you, you want to see them. It’ll be a joyous reunion. “And it’ll last 24 hours,” said St. Joseph’s University sociologist Maria Kefalas, “before many parents start micromanaging their children’s lives again.” What were your grades? What classes are you taking spring semester? Have you applied for that summer internship? “This is the crazy time of year,” said Kefalas, who participated in the MacArthur Foundation’s Research Network on the Transition to Adulthood, which studies people ages 18 to 30. “Now’s when parental helicoptering goes into full gear.” First attributed to baby boomers in the 1980s, helicopter parenting — hovering over your child, primed to swoop in — is currently linked to a different set of pilots: Gen-X moms and dads, ages 43 to 58. “I know many absurd helicopter parents,” said attorney Genevieve McCormack, 47, a mother of matriculating twins. “My generation’s gone off the rails with that.” According to Merriam-Webster, a helicopter parent is “overly involved in the life of their child,” not just in school but sometimes when they enter the workforce. Rather than allow students to solve their own problems, such parents are ready to descend should a professor issue an F or a coach relegate a player to the sidelines. And with the simplicity of texting, cell phones have expedited helicoptering, becoming “the world’s longest umbilical cord,” according to Richard Mullendore, co-author of the book “Navigating the First Year of College.” Other extreme parenting styles are also compared to a form of machinery: Lawnmower, snowplow, or bulldozer parents try to clear paths to success with force, from pushing for undeserved admission into an honor society to threatening faculty. Here’s some advice to parents as students start winter break: “Tread lightly,” said Laurence Steinberg, an adolescence expert and professor of psychology and neuroscience at Temple University. His latest book, “You and Your Adult Child: How to Grow Together in Challenging Times,” came out in April. “Of course, you want to know how things are going,” Steinberg said in an interview. “But if they want privacy, don’t pry. This is the stage of life when young adults try to establish autonomy from parents. You want to enable, not hinder that.” For some parents, disregarding the minutiae of their kids’ lives is impossible. The best evidence of that: Facebook parent groups.

MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK

he holiday season can invite unwelcome guests into your life, such as loneliness, money problems, family demands and unrealistic expectations. The stress and anxiety that accompany those issues can lead to sadness and depression. But Debbie Fuehrer, a clinical counselor at Mayo Clinic, has some tips to take back your holiday happiness. Most people expect the holidays to be a happy, jolly time. But that doesn’t match reality for everyone. “Maybe your relatives aren’t showing up for dinner. Or you are estranged from a family member. Or there are ﬁnancial concerns,” says Fuehrer. “And it’s not ﬁtting with the way the holidays are supposed to be.” She says people are bombarded by the media during the holidays with expectations of having the next best thing. And that can make you feel depressed because nothing is good enough. “At that point, it’s time to switch to gratefulness and connections with other people,” says Fuehrer. For example, take time every day to share a treasure with someone. “The treasure could be a funny story, a kind story, something new you’ve learned or something beautiful in nature,” says Fuehrer. And try lowering your anxiety by being mindful. “[Pay] attention to your senses,” she says. “What do you hear, smell, see, taste and touch?” And pay it forward with random acts of kindness. It will brighten your day and someone else’s too.

By ALFRED LUBRANO PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Experts say many parents will understandably express concerns about their kids’ challenges, mental health and other crucial issues, but there’s no need to be a helicopter parent. “I’ve been following these pages for years,” said the mother of a University of Pennsylvania student. The Gen-X professional from Mount Airy, who concedes to having been a helicopter parent in the past, asked for anonymity in exchange for describing what parents post on the Penn parent Facebook site. She said many people will understandably express concerns about their kids’ challenges, mental health, and other crucial issues. But, she added, “you’ll also meet cra-cra parents who get so deep into their kids’ lives, you’ll roll your eyes.” One asked where her son could get a haircut. “Your 19-year-old can’t figure that out?” the Mount Airy mother asked. Another queried, “Should my daughter wear slippers from the dorm room to the bathroom? And where can she find them?” Several asked where to complain about the “poor” quality of Philadelphia water. (“I never thought it was bad,” the Mount Airy mother said.) Janet Chrzan, a nutritional anthropologist at the Penn School of Nursing, said a student would text her mother daily to solicit detailed advice on things like what color socks to wear. “Another student,” Chrzan continued, “got a D on a final, and the mother somehow got my home number and called extremely irate, threatening me.” Girija Kaimal, a professor in creative art therapies at the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions, said that the parents of 23-year-old graduate students have

inquired about fellowship opportunities. “I can’t understand that,” she said. At La Salle University, said social work professor Rosemary Barbera, “parents who don’t like something go right to the president’s office without even talking to their kid. What are you teaching that student?” Steinberg of Temple can understand over-zealous parents — to a point. “A lot of what they do is well-intentioned,” he said. “But the college experience for students is more than academic. There’s a lot of psychological growth going on, and kids need to make their own decisions and mistakes.” If a parent gets a call from a depressed kid, rather than helicoptering to the rescue, advise them to avail themselves of university resources that help students, Steinberg said, adding, “They have to learn to do these things on their own.” Charlie Huemmler, 25, of Brewerytown, who has a master’s degree in city planning from Penn, said that he was once a student in a class taught by his father, engineering faculty member Andrew Huemmler. Even at that close proximity, “my dad never interfered,” Huemmler said. “A too-involved parent can be stiﬂing.” Money is a big cause of parental anxiety, said Demie Kurz, a research affiliate in Penn’s sociology department. She interviewed 100 mothers for a forthcoming book, “Letting Go: Parenting Teenagers and Adults in a Time of Uncertainty.” Ultimately, parental pressure can have long-term effects.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

D10

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

CLOWN

CONTINUED FROM D1 three hours and after the conversation, Wagner refused to take any sort of payment for her advice. So McCright offered a trade. She was a professional clown and taught classes. Would Wagner like to try them? Wagner accepted and took her ﬁrst set of clown classes in 1986 in Pleasant Hill. From there, she took the classes twice a week for two months. That same year, Wagner and her husband, Joe, moved to Petaluma from San Francisco. After a few years, they moved their Circle of Friends store too, to Kentucky Street in Petaluma. In 2001, they closed the store after seven years as the business was not doing as well as they predicted. It was then that Wagner decided to pursue clowning as a full-time job. “When I was looking for a new career after my retail career ended, I wanted to still be self-employed. I wanted the wage to be enough that I didn’t have to work full-time, because I still had younger kids. And I wanted to make people happy,” Wagner said. Twenty-two years later, Wagner is still a full-time clown, just as passionate about her job as when she started. Budderball the Clown performs a comedy magic show, paints faces, gives glitter tattoos and makes balloon animals. Wagner also entertains as “Miss Daisy” for clients who don’t want a clown for their party but still want some of the party activities, like face painting. “I think because we’re all unique individuals, our shows are unique because they’re an extension of our personality,” said Wagner about what makes her shows special. Wagner’s favorite part about her job is seeing the joy and happiness her show brings to others. She loves seeing people smile and having a good time while she is performing. It’s something she’ll never tire of, she said. “Oh, just seeing their faces, hearing their laughter; I would say that is No. 1,” she said. Years ago, her husband attended a party with her where she was performing as Budderball. He told her he realized why she loves what she does so much — because of the reactions and smiles from children. “Children are the most important thing. That’s it. They’re the most important. Their needs, their experience, their health, mental and physical health. It’s just of paramount importance. So when you see a child break into this huge smile and want to hug you or just seeing them

PHOTOS BY KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Cheryl Wagner, performing as Budderball the Clown, makes a balloon animal during the Kentucky Street Marketplace Dec. 2 in Petaluma.

Cheryl Wagner, who is Budderball the Clown, paints the face of Milena Bresciani, 7, of Petaluma, during the Kentucky Street Marketplace on Dec. 2. ﬁlled with delight, you know that’s the best part,” Wagner said. Wagner works all kinds of events, not just those for kids. She recently worked at an event for elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. When she painted one elderly woman’s face, it gave the woman so much joy and happiness, Wagner recalled. “I painted a beautiful design on her hand ﬁrst and then on her face with a jewel on it. And she was so delighted. And she said, ‘I’m going out to dinner tonight. Family’s taking me out, and I’m so excited to show them.’ And then she said to me, ‘You know, this is the best day I’ve had in months.’ “Hearing that kind of thing from someone whose life has changed, I’m sure, very dramatically from what she knew, losing a certain amount of your independence — and then

A portion of Cheryl Wagner’s face painting palette.

Cheryl Wagner wears clown shoes at the Kentucky Street Marketplace in Petaluma. to have her say that it was one of the best days she’s had in months — that’s my reward,” Wagner said. Constant reinvention is something Wagner still focuses on even after decades in the clown profession. “I’m always learning new things and buying the newest supplies and learning the newest techniques. It’s fun; it keeps it interesting. I just always

want to improve. I want to get better and better. But the main thing is making people smile and laugh and bringing joy and fun to any gathering.” Of course, being self-employed in a profession that relies on gatherings was a challenge during the pandemic. Wagner went a year and a half without working any events and ultimately be-

came a notary to compensate for the loss of income. “I would say that the challenge is that I’m dependent on certain outside circumstances and that it is not consistent. There is a certain consistency in it, but it’s not like somebody who has a 40-hour-a-week job. I have to rely on repeat business, new business and always reaching out. I keep my website updated (budderballtheclown. com). I have a Yelp page. I just have to rely on people ﬁnding me and wanting me,” she said. Wagner wishes more people recognized her profession as an actual career and not just a hobby. “I think people don’t know how legitimate it is that we do. We belong to clubs, we have magazines, we have newsletters and

we have conventions. It’s a profession just like anything else, with education, insurance, licensing and the ongoing improvements. I’ve invested so much money into all of my supplies, making sure I carry insurance, making sure I keep getting educated and training to improve.” Even so, Wagner said she hopes to continue clowning for a very long time. “Every person who sits in the (face painting) chair is a new face and a new experience. And I hold the mirror up and they see themselves and they break into a big smile,” she said. “I’ve had a couple of kids this week jump up and down. They couldn’t contain their excitement and they were jumping up and down when they saw themselves.”

SLIDERS

CONTINUED FROM D1 “We are so excited to introduce Yoshiharu’s winning recipe and share it with our fans nationwide,” said Lynn Blashford, White Castle chief marketing officer. “His creation is a true testament to the culinary creativity and passion that exists among our loyal customers.” Following the idea of “recipes that express the diversity of sliders,” Sogi said he was inspired to transform the classic burgers into the unexpected: breakfast. Sogi’s creation combines strawberries, yogurt, cream cheese, bacon, maple syrup and slider patties. The top buns are baked into cinnamon french toast waffles and the bottoms are used for croutons in a side salad. “I considered the best combination of each ingredient to create the desired taste. I made French toast with the buns and eggs,” he said. “Then I used spices to add aroma and seasoning on the beef patty, cream cheese to add richness in the yogurt

YOSHIHARU SOGI

Sonoma chef Yoshiharu Sogi won White Castle’s 2023 Slider Showdown contest with his French Sliders Brunch recipe. He transformed slider buns into French toast wafﬂes with bacon, yogurt, cream cheese and strawberries. and ripe strawberries to elevate ﬂavor.” The panel of judges included Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle; other White Castle employees; and actor and TV host Adam Richman, whose credits include the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food.” Recipes were evaluated on taste, presentation, appeal, originality and video

and photo quality. The Sonoma chef came in first, ahead of a vast field of slider-based burritos, onion rings, meatballs and more. Sogi said his wife, Fumi, learned of the contest and encouraged him to enter. His dish does have a Wine Country flair. “I thought this recipe would be a great sweet and

JAY LAPRETE / ASSOCIATED PRESS

A White Castle restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, where the hamburger chain has its headquarters. White Castle, known for its square “slider” burgers, was started in 1921. savory meal to have at a stylish Sunday brunch, where you can relax and have wine or cocktails,” he said. Sogi and his wife own and operate Yatai Japanese Food Catering in Sonoma. They serve Wine Country cuisine that reﬂects his 40 years of experience as a chef in Japan, France and the U.S. and 23 years as a certiﬁed

sommelier. As a wine and food-pairing expert, Sogi recommends enjoying his dish with an extra-dry sparkling wine or a sparkling wine cocktail, like a mimosa. “I occasionally hold classes for the people in my home country of Japan to help them learn about wine from California and around the world on my

social network,” he said. He said he hopes to expand classes to U.S. residents if the opportunity arises. “I’m always looking for ways to share the wonders of wine and food pairing with people in Sonoma, Napa and beyond.” You can reach Staff Writer Emma Molloy at emma. molloy@sonomanews.com.

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

D11

Outdoors

BEYOND SIGHTSEEING » Here are tips on how to enjoy physical activity wherever you are

Outdoors abroad

By LILA SEIDMAN LOS ANGELES TIMES

iking wasn’t my primary concern when I RSVPed to a destination wedding in an architecturally stunning town in central Mexico. Sipping margaritas and strolling romantic cobblestone streets sprang to mind — as well as the thrill of witnessing an old friend’s major milestone. San Miguel de Allende instantly charmed me with its friendly aura and glorious colonial buildings. I swooned at the sight of carved stone features and stately door knockers — one in the shape of an ear of corn. My heart leaped when my friend, Times reporter Andrew Campa, said “I do” in a perfectly pink Catholic church that doubles as the town’s iconic landmark. My partner Emanuel and I feasted, visually and literally. But on our third day, itching for movement — and insight into what lay beyond the crowded main square — we abandoned the vacay vibes and set out to hike a route listed on the All Trails app. The grip of tourist trappings quickly melted away. We trekked through a small hamlet, then up long, dusty roads, past ranches and a monastery. A turnoff took us on to a dirt trail that hugged a dry stream bed b Earlier that day, I wondered if it was absurd to spend hours hiking in a destination known for its urban delights. Now I longed to venture deep into the wild hills. Without enough time to complete the whole route — a loop of 16 miles — we turned around after two hours. Hiking, jogging and even walking in a new city can provide a unique perspective — and allow you to break away from the typical tourist haunts. The snag is that it can feel daunting to hike in a foreign place, particularly if you don’t know the language or the terrain. A trip to the Alps might be straightforward, but journeying into the backcountry of countries without well-developed or maintained trail systems can be tricky. Understanding the lay of the land, from local customs to available infrastructure, is key to successfully adventuring abroad, according to experienced travelers I spoke to to get a sense of how they prepare for their adventures. Eva zu Beck, travel blogger and vlogger who has ventured into some of the most remote corners of the world, recommends learning about the local norms and social rules and sticking to them — particularly for women traveling to areas where it’s unusual to see others of their gender in the great outdoors. “You’re only passing by, right? So don’t expect to be able to change anything, even if you think that that change would be good,” Poland-born zu Beck, 32, told me over a video call. Sometimes she adjusts the way she dresses, noting, “It may not be cool to wear shorts in Pakistan, whereas in California it’s perfectly OK. Maybe in some places you might want to wear a head covering.” (Fun fact: zu Beck was my boss at a travel-focused

Above, tourists hike amid ruins of an ancient structure in Lima, Peru. Walking through neighborhoods and cityscapes is one way to better understand a nation’s culture. COLLEEN THOMAS TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Left, getting outside among the locals in a foreign country can be educational and exhilarating, but also dangerous and frustrating if you don’t do your homework. FRANCINE ORR / LOS ANGELES TIMES

TURN TO ABROAD » PAGE D12

VENTURING OUT » MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Immerse yourself in nature with outdoor tours DEC. 17

Jenner: Head up to Fort Ross

State Historic Park for a guided fort tour. The tour is one hour long and focuses on the history of Fort Ross, including the Russian settlement and the Native Americans who inhabited the land. Tours start at 1 and 3 p.m. in the visitor center at Fort Ross, 19005 Highway 1. Tickets are $10; kids 10 and under are free. Find more information at fortross.org.

DEC. 23

Petaluma: Join docent Larry Model with LandPaths for an early-winter hike at Lafferty Ranch Open Space. Sonoma Mountain brims with life in the wet season, making for an exciting hike for all ages. The hike

will feature views of the Petaluma Valley and various mountains, as well as ﬂora and fauna. The hike runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Lafferty Ranch. Register online to receive driving and parking directions. Free, but bring your own water and food. Register and ﬁnd more information at pdne.ws/480WYSM. DEC. 24

Sonoma: A living Nativity scene

is set to appear in the Casa Grande courtyard on Christmas Eve. There will be live animals including a sheep, goat, donkey and even a camel. Live role-players will gather around the manger. The event starts at 1 p.m. in the Casa Grande courtyard, 20 E. Spain St. Free,

no registration required. Find more information at pdne. ws/3GxaZvE. DEC. 26

Kenwood: Join the staff of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park for a family hke on the day after Christmas. Visitors will hike through the woods on 2 miles of trails that are suitable for all ages and learn about the nature and history that surrounds them. The event runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Meet outside the visitor center at Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, 2605 Adobe Canyon Road. Free, but registration is required to attend. Parking fees apply. Register and ﬁnd more information at pdne.ws/3t8UAua. — Owen Ruderman

WILL BUCQUOY / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Head over to Fort Ross State Historic Park for a guided fort tour.

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Stay active outdoors though daylight wanes By LILA SEIDMAN

Even California legislators can’t make up their minds. Golden State t’s the least wonderful voters in 2018 approved a time of the year — at ballot measure that gives least for many who lawmakers the ability favor late-in-the-day recto tinker with daylight reation. saving time — including Earlier this month, for extending it year-round. reasons no one can seem But a proposed 2019 bill to to keep straight, time do away with the biannual snapped back an hour. clock change died in comJust like that, we lost an mittee. Another bill pushhour of precious daylight ing for year-round daylight and were delivered to the saving time withered three relative darkness of stanyears later. A woman runs on the beach at sunset. If it’s getting dark, dard time. If California legislators choose a path you’re familiar with and pack a headlamp. Even prior to the rolldid vote to stick to daylight back, the shortening days saving time, it would still following the summer It’s not just casual Times colleague Ryan Fon- require an amendment to solstice reduced my winweekday outings that are seca conducted to source federal rules. And so far dow to run or walk outside affected. An all-day slog readers’ opinions on the the U.S. Congress similarly after a long day clacking in the mountains can be time change — a testament hasn’t acted. on the keyboard. It’s parhampered by an early to how much passion the So it seems we’re stuck ticularly tricky to maneusunset. An alpine start debate inspires. And most in the temporal ping pong ver on trails once all the in the darkness beneﬁts respondents expressed a game for at least the near sunlight’s drained away. from knowing daylight ﬁrm desire to stay in the future — and potentially While I’ve long wished to will come, but motivation current standard time, much longer. But, lovers be able to spring out of bed often dissipates once night calling daylight savings of the outdoors and long at 5 a.m. and get my jog on sets in. “illogical,” “archaic” and days don’t have to throw before the work day starts, Of course, not everyone “insane.” Meanwhile, I up their arms in defeat. life has taught me I’m not shares this view. Hundreds prefer to describe it as While conditions might a morning person. responded to a survey my “wonderful” and “warm.” not be ideal for after-work

LOS ANGELES TIMES

ABROAD

Intrepid types from all over the world post in English, he said. “These are the kind of CONTINUED FROM D11 people who travel all over,” publication about 10 years Gilbertson said. “I can ask ago.) them if they know anyHere are four tips on thing.” how to safely access the While researching how outdoors anywhere: to ascend the highest point 1. Research, research, in Uzbekistan, Gilbertson research. — who teaches mechanical Before you set foot on engineering at Seattle Uniforeign soil, do some web versity — reached out to searching and ask around. two friends who had travThere might be governeled nearby. They gave him ment guidance, articles, critical advice: Approach videos or forums that shed the peak on Alpomish, a light on the outing you mountain Gilberston said want to have. had never been climbed beResearch is often more fore, through the Tajikistan challenging, but more cru- side. That allowed him to cial, when you’re heading avoid land mines and red to a lesser-visited area. Eric tape, he said. On Aug. 23, Gilbertson, who is attempt- Gilbertson and a partner ing to summit the highest became the ﬁrst souls to point in every country (he’s reach the roughly 15,300at 140 out of 196), often foot summit. turns to peakbagger.com. 2. Tap local knowledge.

Both zu Beck and Gilbertson highlighted the importance of sourcing locals’ knowledge when visiting an unfamiliar area. This can be the quickest way to gain insider info, especially when it comes to matters of personal safety. Zu Beck advised hiring a local guide. Not necessarily to accompany you on your trip, she said, but to answer all your burning questions over a meal or city walk. Guides typically know what areas are safe and when. Gilbertson said his strategy is always to seek a local driver, who can provide safety insights as well as avoid paying bribes to local authorities. Connecting to locals can require thinking outside the box. Running and hiking communities in a given

country can be a gold-star resource, said zu Beck, a dedicated ultra runner. She sometimes follows groups on Facebook or Instagram and checks to see if they’re having upcoming meetups she can join or reach out to the organizers for advice. When visiting Afghanistan about three years ago, prior to the Taliban takeover, zu Beck connected with a local sports organization for women. Zu Beck said it was challenging for a woman to run or even walk alone at the time, but she was paired with a woman who took her on a run through a local neighborhood. They took precautions: dressing appropriately and running in the middle of the day and in an area that didn’t have a road next to it. They still received stares. Zu

warriors like myself, there are ways to stay active throughout the truncated winter daylight. If your schedule isn’t ﬂexible enough to move things around to allow for an earlier outdoor call time, there are other options. ■ Stick to well-lit areas, such as city streets or parks with ample light ﬁxtures. For once, light pollution is your friend! When I’m not able to break away early enough to run under full sun, I generally avoid areas where it would be difficult to see the ground. Tripping over a rock or colliding with a bush is not fun. ■ If it’s getting dark, choose a path you know well. Sometimes I begin a trail run late in the day and end up returning in the dark. When I think that will be the case, I pick an area I’ve been before and have some feel for. Muscle memory can help prevent

you from getting lost. ■ Pack a headlamp. A head torch won’t provide visibility on par with the sun, but it can light the immediate path in front of you. This can be a lifesaver if you ﬁnd yourself hiking sans daylight. Pro tip: Make sure the batteries are working or charged before heading out. ■ Dress in layers. The warmth you feel while powering your way to a hilltop dissipates once you stop moving. It’s a big relief to have a jacket or beanie on hand when the chill sets in. This is particularly important if you’re hiking in wilderness or high elevation areas where temperatures plummet at night and weather conditions change on a dime. ■ Try a treadmill. Once upon a time, I turned to the treadmill when it wasn’t feasible to run outside because it was too cold or too late. I promise I won’t judge you if you opt for this.

Beck described it as “really interesting insight into how women get outdoors in that part of the world.” 3. Check on what permission you need. It would be devastating to travel halfway across the world and ﬁnd out you don’t have the necessary documents to go forward with your trip. Gilbertson said understanding what permission you need can be confusing and require signiﬁcant research — and potential assistance. To get approval to climb the highest peak in Mauritania, he had to negotiate in person with a mining company that controlled access. He brought along an Arabic translator and driver. 4. Pack — and plan — appropriately. As with all outdoor adventures, it’s important to gear up for what

you plan to do and the conditions you expect to encounter — all based on the extensive research you’ve conducted. Don’t count on being able to buy speciﬁc camping supplies or clothing abroad. If there are lingering unknowns — such as the exact terrain you’ll encounter— you may want to bring extra food or supplies. Planning extends to familiarizing yourself with the landscape via navigation apps and maps. And, for those traveling to farﬂung locations, investing in a satellite communication device — such as a Garmin inReach — that can signal for help and send text messages. It’s also a good idea to provide a detailed itinerary of your trip to at least one emergency contact (as in someone not adventuring with you).

Be Someone’s

Sonoma County’s Secret Santa brings joy to tens of thousands of children and families in need during the holidays. Adopt a heart or letter online or drop by a partner retail location and look for Secret Santa’s trees with hearts!

To Fulﬁll A Gift, Follow These Steps: Visit Secretsantanow.org 1. Find a participating Secret Santa location on secretsantanow.org and select a heart from their holiday tree. Shopping instructions are available with every heart. 2. Adopt a “heart” or “letter” online, shop, and drop off your gift(s) by Dec. 19th. 3. Or, make a donation, and Secret Santa’s elves will do the shopping for you! Visit Secretsantanow.org or scan below to adopt a heart, ﬁnd a secret santa location, or donate!

THANK YOU Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County would like to thank everyone for helping support our mission the past 39 years. Through your donations, volunteerism, and shopping at ReStore we look forward to continuing to help support Sonoma County. From our partner families, Volunteers, Board of Directors, and staff of Habitat, thank you.

Have Questions? secretsanta@cvnl.org or call 707.890.8880 www.secretsantanow.org

Donate and Shop at ReStore: We accept home improvement and construction materials that meet certain criteria. Proceeds are used to build affordable homes in Sonoma County — a good deal for you, your community, and the environment. Contact: (707) 568-3228—donate@habitatsoco.org Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm—Saturday 9am-5pm Donation Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm 1201 Piner Rd., #500, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 (Enter at Industrial Dr.)

WE PICK UP!

Donate or volunteer today! Habitat Office (707) 578-7707— info@habitatsoco.org Habitatsoco.org Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County Brings People Together to Build Homes, Communities, and Hope.

The events listed here support our local community and nonprofits

This space is made possible by:

CelebrateCommunity.org

This space is made possible by:

CelebrateCommunity.org

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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For many people, feelings of loneliness and social isolation often strike during what is supposed to be the happiest time of year.

Lonely during holidays? You’re not the only one Social isolation, especially over age 60, can hurt health

as high as the health risks of obesity, of smoking, of physical inactivity, of excessive alcohol consumption,” Shah says. By DEB BALZER And that can lead TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE to increased risks of stroke,heart attack as well he holiday season, as depression, anxiety and billed as the happiest suicide. time of the year, can “It’s not just a ‘it would be lonely, especially for be nice to have friends those without close family ‘ sort of a thing. It is and friends. Loneliness actually something that and social isolation, recwe know, that chronic ognized as an epidemic by loneliness especially can the World Health Organireally impact the health of zation and the Centers for people,” Shah says. Disease Control and PreWhile loneliness and vention, have signiﬁcant social isolation are found health implications. in all age groups, people Dr. Amit Shah, a Mayo over 60 are the most affectClinic geriatrician and ed. And it can compound internist, says loneliness other health issues. is a subjective feeling or For instance, Shah perception when a person says, “If you’ve fallen and is not feeling connected to you’re socially isolated, others. Social isolation is how does anyone know a lack of connections or that you were down with engagement with others. a hip fracture if no one’s And both can lead to phys- ever been checking in ical and mental health on you or you’re socially issues isolated?” “The health risks of There are many ways loneliness, they can be just to address these issues —

The events listed here support our local community and nonprofits This space is made possible by:

CelebrateCommunity.org

and that includes looking at sensory deprivation. For example, hearing loss can cause withdrawal when understanding conversations becomes difficult. “We always encourage patients to go and get their hearing checked, make sure they’ve got a really good hearing aid or learn how to use it properly,” he says. Simple outreach to others can be a step toward better overall health. Shah says social media is a great tool to ﬁnd like-minded people, but if it’s not creating real connections, it can contribute to feelings of loneliness and isolation. “To have just a basic human connection is an innate human need that we see from babies onwards. And that doesn’t go away in the modern times,” says Shah. Shah says understanding why someone is feeling lonely or is socially isolated is important. Depression, for instance, can be treated.

Our little club on the Russian River has raised over $600k in the last ten years, and we are so thankful to be part of community with giving hearts. All proceeds go right back into our community, assisting babies to students to senior adults. Thank you for keeping us going. See you at the Crab feed on Saturday, January 20th, 2024!!! www.russianriverrotary.org

37th Annual ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CRAB and Pasta Feed! • Crab Dinner Tickets: $$90/each, before 12/31/23, $100 in 2024. • Sponsorships: $1250 (Includes a table-of-honor with 8 meals, two bottles of wine, and much more . . .) Buy your tickets: https://russianriverrotary.ejoinme.org/TICKETS Buy your sponsorship table: https://russianriverrotary.ejoinme.org/SPONSORSHIPS Donate silent auction items or to read all about them: https://russianriverrotary.ejoinme.org/AUCTIONDONATION Here’s a link to get onto our 2024 Crab Feed Home Page: https://russianriverrotary.ejoinme.org/CrabFeedHome

RELATIONSHIPS

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THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

5 dating goals Let’s talk age gaps in dating, for next year knowing when to move on By ERIKA ETTIN TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

h, December. The time to think about a fresh start in the new year. It’s like a clean slate, especially for those in the dating pool. Let’s look at eight dating goals and mantras for the new year of dating:

1. Date NATO This term has entered the dating lexicon more recently. Inspired by the Amazon Prime show “Transparent,” NATO (in this case) stands for “not attached to outcome,” and it sums up much of the advice I give to my clients about not viewing a relationship that doesn’t lead to marriage/a long-term commitment as a failure. Instead of approaching each first date as the first step leading to your ultimate relationship goal, start at the beginning — meeting a new person — and be receptive to wherever it leads. Don’t start at the end and backfill someone into your desired outcome. Rather, start at the beginning and get to know someone.

2. Your value Recognize and undestand your value. Don’t settle for those who don’t. If someone doesn’t see you for who you are, that’s OK. It’s just not someone you’ll spend a signiﬁcant amount if time with. If someone declines another date, breaks up with you, or otherwise hurts you in the dating realm, it’s not a reﬂection on you or your worth.

3. Go with the ﬂow Along the lines of No. 1, it’s sometimes difficult to go into a new dating

scenario with no expectations, but it always helps to keep an open mind. Whether you’re meeting someone for the ﬁrst time or seeing someone for a few months, try not to be constantly thinking about the next step. (Are we exclusive? When will I meet their family? Is it too early to discuss kids?) Instead, let the relationship progress naturally… and try to enjoy every step of the process of getting to know someone. You only get one chance at the early stages.

4. Take dating breaks Dating can become overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance it with work, family, friends and all the other responsibilities that come with being an adult. Your own well-being should come ﬁrst, even if that means taking a few weeks off of the dating apps here and there. Don’t worry — Bumble isn’t going anywhere! And you’ll come back more refreshed, meaning you’ll be a better dater.

5. Negatives are OK Not every date is going to leave you feeling butterflies and seeing fireworks. In fact, most won’t. And that’s OK. Instead of looking at these situations as a waste of time, approach them as a learning experience. Each time you meet someone, you find out a bit more about what you are (and are not) looking for in a partner, which is valuable information. And maybe you’ll learn about a different profession, find a new bar or restaurant, or get a pointer on a holiday sale. Who knows?

By ANNA PULLEY TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

ear Anna, I am a 28-year-old woman who has recently started dating again after ending a long-term relationship last year. My friends are a supportive bunch, yet when I revealed my new love interest is a man in his late 40s, their reactions ranged from concern to shock. This age difference doesn’t bother me — in fact, I appreciate his maturity and viewpoint that naturally comes with age. However, I can’t shake off my friends’ reactions; they worry that our age gap could lead to issues down the line. And now, it’s made me wonder as well. So, my question is, what’s wrong with dating older men? Is this age gap really a big deal, or is it my friends who When you’re looking at long-term compatibility, you’ll want to ask yourself need a more modern viewpoint? I’d questions about what kind of future you see together. appreciate your guidance as I naviespecially after sharing three years gate this new relationship territory. I’ve been in a relationship with my boyfriend, who is the same age, for together. — Gently Aged Person three years now. Recently, I’ve noticed Before making any rash decisions, Dear GAP, that we don’t seem as happy together it’s crucial that you do some deep There’s nothing wrong with introspection. Identify the reasons dating an older person. We’re drawn as we used to be. Our conversations seem monotonous, our dates don’t feel behind your unhappiness: Are they to individuals for a multitude of special anymore and the spark that related to your boyfriend, the relareasons, and age is one considerwe once had seems to be missing. tionship or something else entirely? ation, but it’s far from the only one, We have tried to communicate Are your needs for intimacy, conor even all that high on the list. nection and mutual support being When you’re looking at long-term and work things out, but it’s been a struggle, and our efforts haven’t gone satisfied? Can you envision a future compatibility, you’ll want to ask anywhere. Despite all this, I find the with this person, five or 10 years yourself questions about what kind down the line? Are you growing as a of future you see together, how your thought of breaking up with him exdifferent life and cultural experienc- tremely difficult, even though a part of person? me thinks it might be the right thing That said, at the end of the day, es mesh (or don’t mesh) and potento do. I’m not sure why I’m hesitant you don’t need a “reason” to want to tial health issues that might come to take that step. Why don’t I want end a relationship. Wanting to end it up as you age. is reason enough. Sometimes there That said, these are issues that all to break up with my boyfriend even are no easy answers. There are only couples grapple with, not only those when we don’t seem happy together anymore? — Confounded in Love gut feelings, primal desires and urgin May-December romances. More important than your boyDear CIL, es from our innermost selves that friend’s date of birth is to keep an You’re in a tough spot. You recog- can’t necessarily be put into words. open line of communication about nize a decline in the happiness and Remember that preserving your these topics, address them honestly enjoyment in your relationship but happiness and well-being are prime. and make sure you share similar things aren’t “bad” enough necesIf you genuinely feel the relationvalues and goals. Your feelings and sarily to outright end it. We’ve all ship isn’t what it used to be and isn’t comfort level in this relationship are been there and there are no clearserving your happiness, it might be paramount. As long as there is love, cut answers. time to consider the difficult option respect and understanding, age differYour hesitancy to break up despite of moving on. It’s essential to listen ences can and do work out just fine. your feelings of unhappiness could to your gut feeling and to decide Your friends’ concerns are proba- stem from various factors like fear what will bring you peace and happibly well-intentioned, but remember, of being alone, remembering past ness in the long run. Always rememthe one living this relationship is good times or hope that things might ber, it’s OK to prioritize yourself. you. improve in the future. It’s natural As author Robert Tew put it, “If Dear Anna, to feel attached and comfortable you’re going to trust one person, let I’m a 25-year-old woman, and even in situations that aren’t ideal, it be yourself.”

The events listed here support our local community and nonprofits

This space is made possible by:

CelebrateCommunity.org

This space is made possible by:

CelebrateCommunity.org

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

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Towns

EXPLORE SONOMA » The shallow freshwater lake has been a healing refuge for Native American people for at least 4,000 years

A history of Tolay Lake

By CHASE HUNTER

SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE

olay Lake, a shallow freshwater lake in southern Sonoma County, is nestled within the the Sonoma Mountains, has operated as both a refuge and reﬂection of the health for Indigenous people dating back at least 4,000 years. The lake is located with in Tolay Lake Regional Park, which is bordered by hills between the Petaluma River and Sonoma. “We heard and we were always told that medicine people traveled far and near to come

to Tolay Lake,” said Greg Sarris, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “I believe it was something analogous to a Stanford or UC medical center where people, Indian doctors and spiritual people, would come.” Tolay, said to be named after a word used to signify the chief of local tribes, was historically one of the largest freshwater lakes in Sonoma County, at more than 500 acre-feet. EuroAmerican settlement disrupted the water table and destroyed the lake’s natural dam, causing the lake to shrink to one-ﬁfth its previous size. TURN TO EXPLORE » PAGE D17

“These doctors would heal and pull out the disease, the sicknesses and the poison, if you will, with these stones. They often would throw them in the water to drown them.”

GREG SARRIS, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

KENT PORTER / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

For the ﬁrst time in several years, Tolay Lake in the Tolay Lake Regional Park, is once again nearly full on April 5. Tolay, said to be named after a word used to signify the chief of local tribes, was historically one of the largest freshwater lakes in Sonoma County, at more than 500 acre-feet.

Meet the Millerick brothers from Petaluma By HARLAN OSBORNE PETLAUMA ARGUS-COURIER

ooking forward to retirement can be exhilarating or daunting— depending on how you approach it. For retired boat-building brothers Jeff and Don Millerick, it was an opportunity to tackle a once-in-a-lifetime project and fulﬁll their dream of preserving railroad history. Their interest in history and railroads inspired a gargantuan rehabilitation project — to restore a century-old steam locomotive purchased new, in 1921, by the Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway and

used to haul passenger cars from Mill Valley to the summit of Mount Tam and back again. Engine No. 9 — the last steam engine acquired by the railway that operated from 1896-1930 — is the only surviving piece of stock from the “Crookedest Railroad in the World.” “We’ve always had an interest in local history and railroads, so we decided to make this one our retirement project,” Jeff said. While this isn’t the ﬁrst historical preservation project for Jeff, 83, and Don, 79, it’s perhaps the most signiﬁcant. The Mill Valley and Mount Tamalpais Scenic Railway, as

Brothers, Jeff, left, and Don Millerick own and operate a boat-building shop in Sebastapol where they are now restoring an Engine #9 train car that used to run up to Mt. Tamalpais. Behind them is an old Pullman car that was once a diner.

it was known until 1913, was one of the ﬁrst steam-powered trains that carried visitors to remote scenic locations. Its engines pushed passenger cars and towed the famous gravity cars up 8.2 miles of winding tracks to the grand Tavern of Tamalpais for dining, dancing and unparalleled views of San Francisco, the Sierra and the Paciﬁc Ocean. Engine No. 9, an all-wheel drive locomotive similar to those used in coal mining and logging, spent four years on Mount Tam before being sold to TURN TO BROTHERS » PAGE D17

CRISSY PASCUAL / PETLAUMA ARGUS-COURIER

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Towns

WEST COUNTY • THE RIVER • CLOVERDALE GEYSERVILLE • HEALDSBURG • SEBASTOPOL

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WINDSOR • SANTA ROSA • ROHNERT PARK SONOMA VALLEY • NAPA VALLEY • PETALUMA

Sonoma Treasure Artist ready for 2024 Folklórico director has always been actively involved in community By CHASE HUNTER SONOMA INDEX-TRIBUNE

n an El Verano Elementary School classroom, Victor Ferrer orchestrated a class in classical ballet as part of a new program from Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen. The renowned dance group has carried on traditional folklórico dances from the mountains of Michoacán to the Yucatán Peninsula and brought them to Sonoma Valley. Ferrer was named as the city of Sonoma’s 2024 Treasure Artist, but the road to recognition was not paved — in fact, Ferrer did not aspire to be a folklórico dancer, nor the group’s executive director. Yet through determination and will, with a bit of happenstance, Ferrer has brought the heritage of Mexico into the spinning, vibrant performances of Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen. “When I immigrated to the United States, I only had, as a folklórico background, experiences in elementary school,” Ferrer said. “I was able to do many things in Sonoma, and never in my mind, was I planning to go back to folklórico.” Born in Mexico City, Ferrer and his family moved almost annually because of his stepfather’s job. His experience of different cultures across Mexico birthed a passion for knowledge — aided by his uncle. He and his uncle attended lectures, conventions and cultural events at National Autonomous University of Mexico, which, he said, other children in Mexico did not regularly experience. “There was always something for me to see outside of the regular stuff that other children were seeing,” he said. “I remember since I was a child, one of my uncles would say that I would be a radio host because I remember he would say things like, ‘You talk too much.’” Ferrer immigrated to the U.S. in 2001 and attended Casa Grande High School in Petaluma. In English as a Second Language classes there, he felt the Spanish speaking students were lost behind a language barrier. “I noticed that many of them, they didn't know what was happening at the school, like after school activities and sports,” Ferrer said. “So back then, I was translating the school newspaper into Spanish, and I was doing my own newspaper ... with material from the school newspaper, plus my own content plus my cartoons.” With dreams of becoming a journalists and while holding a job at a gas station at 17, Ferrer approached a man from Mexico

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY IS TODAY: You are an honest, straightforward, practical realistic. You speak your mind and say what you mean. This year you have wrapped up many things and let go of what was no longer relevant. Next year, in 2024, you will open new doors and explore new avenues. MOON ALERT: Avoid shopping or important decisions from 4 a.m. to noon. After that, the Moon moves from Aquarius into Pisces. ARIES (March 21-April 19) ★★★ Just coast for the early part of today during the Moon Alert because things are confusing. Don’t shop except for food or gas. Make no important decisions. After the Moon Alert is over, you will suddenly feel confident. Tonight: Contentment. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) ★★★ Agree to nothing important this morning. However, after the Moon Alert is over, you can move forward with confidence. People will help you. Friends will be reliable. You also might make an appeal to groups or organizations. Tonight: Friendships. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) ★★★ Travel plans are loosey-goosey, especially this morning. However, after the Moon Alert is over, your day begins to take shape in a solid way. Discussions with authority figures will be important and will very likely entail increased responsibilities about something. Tonight: You’re admired. CANCER (June 21-July 22) ★★★★ Postpone important

PHOTOS BY ROBBI PENGELLY / SONOMA-INDEX-TRIBUNE

Victor Ferrer, the director of Grupo Folklórico Quetzalén, and the recipient of the Sonoma’s 2024 Treasure Artist, participates in a classical ballet class on Nov. 8 along with some of students at El Verano Elementary School in Boyes Hot Springs. City in search of a reporting job at Sol de Sonoma, a now closed Spanish-language publication in Sonoma Valley that worked out of the Sonoma Bungalows. The man was Romulo Hernandez. “He told me they were looking for someone in Sonoma to work for a newspaper. And then he showed me this ad, and they said that they were looking for someone who was willing to learn,” Ferrer said. But he got more than he bargained for when Hernandez left a year later, around 2008. So just as suddenly as Ferrer received his first reporting job, he was elevated to editor at 18 years old. He said he may have been the youngest editor of a publication in California. A similar case played out with Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen. Following the closing of Sol de Sonoma due to the rise of social media, Ferrer entered the field of graphic design and worked to create designs for Sonoma Valley nonprofits, gaining a greater foothold in the Sonoma Valley with each design. Ferrer was eventually recruited to join Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen in 2010 when the group was seeking male dancers for performances. “So I show up. I took the class, and I wasn't sure if that was something that I was planning to do for, for more than one (per-

decisions about shared property and money issues during the Moon Alert today. Be smart. Wait until it’s over. Meanwhile, discussions with ex-partners and old friends might tell you something important. Tonight: Explore! LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) ★★★ Be cooperative with others, especially this morning. However, agree to nothing important until the Moon Alert is over today. When it’s over, you can make decisions about shared property with confidence. You might feel financially squeezed. Tonight: Check your finances. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) ★★★ Your focus on home and family continues, especially relating to past issues with kids or social events. After the Moon Alert is over today, discuss responsibilities, duties and obligations with ex-partners and old friends. Tonight: Cooperation. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) ★★★ Don’t be too eager to act today. Check the limitations of today’s Moon Alert. However, once the Moon Alert is over, you will be surprisingly productive. Finish old business related to family or home repairs. Tonight: Be helpful. SCORPIO (Oct. 23Nov. 21) ★★★★ Although this is an excellent time for you to buy wardrobe items, do not do so until the Moon Alert is over today. Old flames might be back in your life today. Meanwhile, children could be an increased responsibility. Tonight:

the absence of a dedicated dance studio and the financial burden of performance costumes, paid for by Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen members. Still, the group performs folklórico styles from 18 different states in Mexico and is expanding its catalog of dances with a new initiative in classical ballet through a scholarship from the Sonoma County Catalyst Fund. “When I get this recognition,” Ferrer said of being Sonoma’s 2024 Treasure Artist, “I want to give a voice to the community for the folklórico community here in Sonoma with Quetzalen, Victor Ferrer is the director of Grupo Folklórico Quetzalén, a Mexican folk and be an example for the other folklórico leaders and help to dance ensemble, and has been named Sonoma’s 2024 Treasure Artist. improve the situation of artists like myself.” formance),” Ferrer said. “But ... As the default, self-taught Now, 37, Ferrer has two chilI really loved the energy of the teacher, Ferrer knew he needed dren, but his soft features, full people.” to find more experts who could face and the youthful exuberance Ferrer was a self-described give him the knowledge to lead “beginner” when he joined Gru- Grupo Folklórico Quetzalen. He of his voice is ageless. Combined with a boundless energy, Ferrer po Folklórico Quetzalen, but he found mentors in Los Angeles has captured the loyalty of the learned under a professor from and sought out trainings. folklórico community and the the Mexican state of Jalisco who “I brought teachers from was the artistic director. Mexico to give us some training, admiration of Sonoma Valley. “For the future generation, In 2013, the professor left did Catalan workshops ... like a along with nearly half of the 100 personal one-on-one, and I went it has to be easier,” Ferrer said. “That's one of the things students. to festivals,” Ferrer said. “Anythat I will try to do with all the “I had to step in because thing that was around me and I opportunities that I have now — the parents asked me to stay,” was able to attend, that was the to give them a voice and tell the Ferrer said. “I didn’t have any way I learned how to be more people who are in charge of supexperience in teaching, and I just prepared.” porting art to do a better job in jumped in and learned by myself. A decade later, Grupo FolkI tried to use as many resources lórico Quetzalen has become one finding all those people who are working every day and trying to as I had in my hand to keep getof the premier dance groups in create a change.” ting more prepared for classes.” Sonoma Valley. That’s despite

Creativity! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21) ★★★ This morning is a fun-loving time; however, it’s a poor time to make important decisions or to shop. Once the Moon Alert is over, everything will shift and family responsibilities will take on a serious note. Tonight: Mutual sympathy. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19) ★★★ Wait until the Moon Alert is over today before you make important decisions. Ultimately, this is a good day to deal with the past and wrap up old business. Tonight: Daydreams. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 18) ★★★ Today the Moon Alert takes place in your sign, which might make you feel indecisive. Make no important decisions during this time. Once it is over, you can deal with shopping and ﬁnancial matters with conﬁdence. Tonight: Be frugal. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) ★★★★ After the Moon Alert is over today, things will tend to go your way. You will be serious about something and willing to take on duties and responsibilities. However, you will do this with a positive attitude. Tonight: Happy times.

EXPLORE

due to everything from retching, draining to dynamiting,” Sarris said. Press clips, historical CONTINUED FROM D15 documents and academic “Within 100 years of Eu- studies of the artifacts ropean contact, the water found in the lake bed — table here dropped approx- notably, “charmstones” imately 50 feet everywhere, used by tribal healers to

BROTHERS CONTINUED FROM D15

a logging company. Since 1950, it was on display in Scotia, where rain and harsh weather caused severe deterioration before it was eventually hauled to a siding near Sonoma. Long before Engine No. 9 became their retirement project, the brothers built ﬁshing boats, sailing vessels, oyster barges and other watercraft at their construction yard near Sebastopol. Born in Petaluma, the boys grew up in Cotati and graduated from Petaluma High School. Their ancestors immigrated from Ireland at the turn of the 20th century, and Millerick family members lived in Petaluma and Schellville, where they operated the rodeo grounds. Millerick Lane

is named for them. In the early 1900s their great-uncles, Mike and Ed Millerick, ran Millerick Bros. Horseshoers at 213 Western Ave. in Petaluma. Their grandparents, Jim and Anna Millerick, lived on a Corona Road ranch, where their father Theodore, a 1939 graduate of St. Vincent de Paul High School, was raised. By 1970, the brothers were fabricating metal parts for dune buggies and had started their own business, Millerick Brothers Ornamental Iron, producing products for several east Petaluma developers. Later, they built a 64foot boat “Ruby,” which today is the longest running charter boat on San Francisco Bay. Construction took between six to eight months, then someone else did the outﬁtting. Boats intended for passengers were Coast

cast away illness — show the divided history of Tolay Lake. While the Coast Miwok, Southern Pomo and other Native communities used its shallow depths as a healing center, TURN TO EXPLORE » PAGE D18

Guard-inspected throughout the process. Their largest boat was the 66-foot, 100-ton “Alicia Dawn,” which, after the wheelhouse was removed, was transported by truck to its launching behind Van Bebber Bros. They also built the side-wheeler “Tule Princess,” which once brought Santa Claus to town and appeared at the Petaluma River Festival. Their ﬁrst venture from waterways to railways came in 2000, when they took on the rehabilitation of a circa-1904 vintage trolley car, car No. 8, an original electric baggage and express motor trolley owned by the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railroad Company. The brothers have two historic Pullman cars that are in disrepair. The Millericks rescued it and are looking for a buyer to restore it.

D18

WEST COUNTY • THE RIVER • CLOVERDALE GEYSERVILLE • HEALDSBURG • SEBASTOPOL

this season

Towns

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

WINDSOR • SANTA ROSA • ROHNERT PARK SONOMA VALLEY • NAPA VALLEY • PETALUMA

GIFT SONOMA

explore organic wine gift sets Shop collection here:

DARRYL BUSH / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, 2022

Matthew Johnson, a tribal citizen of Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, co-leads educational ﬁeld trips for children visiting the park. He stands next to a park sign at Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma. The park also boarders Sonoma.

EXPLORE

CONTINUED FROM D17 later settlers viewed its fertile soil as a place for commercial crops and source for proﬁt.

1883 LON DON R A NCH ROA D, GL E N E L L E N, C A 8 8 8.4 9 0. 2 7 3 9 | W W W. B E N Z IG E R .C O M

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Drowning the sickness Human use of the lake can be traced back two millennia, to when the ﬁrst charmstones were deposited in the lake’s soils. “These doctors would heal and pull out the disease, the sicknesses and the poison, if you will, with these stones,” Sarris said. “They often would throw them in the water to drown them.” “People came from far and near, as evidenced — if you didn't believe the stories that have been passed down in our families — as evidenced in the stones that came from areas as far away as Mexico and Canada,” Sarris said. As colonization advanced over the 19th century, Native American people saw their rights infringed and their territories seized or settled, often abetted by the law. In 1850, for example, the California Legislature passed a law permitted the slavery of Native Americans. A host of California laws effectively sanctioned rape, kidnap and murder of Indigenous people, according to the Native American Heritage Commission of California. The toll on the environment, especially in the wake of the state’s Gold Rush, was also extensive and rapacious. Sarris said he would ask tribal

Petaluma Courier newspaper. Culp later shipped the charmstones to Seattle for an exhibit titled, “California Indian Museum,” which featured romanticized scenes of Indigenous people from North America and the Paciﬁc islands. In 1873, the Petaluma Argus newspaper reported that a wealthy German immigrant named William Bihler dynamited the natural dam at the southern end of Tolay Lake, causing its water to ﬂow into San Pablo Bay.

EDITOR’S NOTE Our Sunday Towns highlights the people, places and events that make the North Coast so vibrant. We feature a different community in each issue. In the coming weeks, look for stories on Mendocino County, the Sonoma Coast, Windsor, Lake County, Sonoma Valley, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Sebastopol. Want to suggest a story? Contact Towns Editor Elissa Torres at elissa. torres@pressdemocrat.com.

Parkland comanaged by park

elders about the white people who came to Sonoma County and altered its landscape. The elders would call the white people the Coastal Miwok word for “miracles.” “‘Why do you call the white people miracles?’ Sarris said he recalled tribal elders. “And they said, ‘When they came here, they were chopping down the trees, killing animals, killing people, damming up the water. And instead of getting punished and poisoned, more of them kept coming.’”

Drained by dynamite The charmstones found in bed of Tolay Lake became the source of one of the largest collections of Native American artifacts in California. The stones were displayed at the Dime Museum in Petaluma where visitors could be charged a dime to enter. The owner of the store, J.B. Lewis, closed the museum in 1907 due to his poor health, and the charmstones were sold to Charles H. Culp, according to a series of articles from the

Today, Tolay Lake is part of Sonoma County Regional Parks system, its 3,400 acres comanaged with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, which gave its initial $500,000 donation to support park operations in 2011. Tribal members return to the park for an annual picnic. They have not sought return of the charmstones, which Sarris said at one point were offered to the tribe for sale by the ranch family that used to own the land. “We did not buy them … I can't speak for all tribal members, but certainly the tribal councils over the time, we don't want them.” Sarris explained that the charmstones remained imbued with the sickness transferred to them by long ago tribal healers. The tribe would never pay to recover them for that reason, he said. “It’s a little bit ironic,” he said. “And in fact, it’s analogous to the exploitation of the Earth. You take these things, and they're going to poison you.”

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PEOPLE

D19

ADVICE + GAMES pressdemocrat.com/games NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD By Tracy Bennett

Freestyling

CHARLES SYKES / INVISION

Madonna speaks at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sept. 12, 2021, in New York.

Fans rip Madonna for late start to show A Material Girl or just plain rude? Madonna upset an arena full of fans Wednesday when she started a pivotal Celebration tour concert about an hour later than usual. But, apparently, she was worth the wait. The superstar kicked off the U.S. leg of her retrospective tour at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday close to 11 p.m. — several hours after doors opened. Fans took to social media to air their grievances for nearly three hours while they waited for the “Vogue” singer to appear. Some called her rude, others demanded refunds and another reported that the crowd of 14,000 started chanting “b—” as the minutes ticked by. “I love Madonna but it's really f— up how she's literally like 2 hours late for her FIRST show in the us,” another added. “At Madonna and she's like two hours late and we have done the wave like ﬁfteen times,” wrote another. The "Like a Virgin" and "Like a Prayer" singer took the stage at 10:50 p.m.

New ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ trailer released Eddie Murphy’s Detective Axel Foley is back in beautiful Southern California in the new trailer for the next “Beverly Hills Cop” sequel. The comedian teams up again with former co-stars Kevin Bacon, Paul Reiser, John Ashton, Bronson Pinchot and Judge Reinhold, taking on the cushy law-enforcement culture of Beverly Eddie Hills in the Netflix comedy “Beverly Murphy Hills Cop: Axel F.” The fourth sequel, due on the streaming platform this summer, features the Detroit cop back on the beat in the affluent enclave. This time, he's joined by his daughter (Taylour Paige), whose life is threatened, and a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to investigate the demise of a longtime confidant and uncover a conspiracy. “They love me in Beverly Hills,” Murphy's Foley declares in the trailer, which includes plenty of Southern California landmarks — in and around Beverly Hills — car chases, shootouts and explosions naturally set to Notorious B.I.G.'s “Going Back to Cali.” Director Mark Molloy’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is the first installment of the highly popular franchise in 30 years. The original comedy, which debuted in 1984 and established Murphy's big-screen prowess, was followed up by sequels in 1987 and 1994.

71 See 81-Across 72 Given the name 73 Peacock show? 74 What a token may resemble 75 Pleased as punch 76 Abandon without warning 77 Figure in the Hindu trinity 81 With 71-Across, participant in some fertility treatments 82 Picks to win 83 “The Handmaid’s Tale” airer 84 First Nations group of the Great Lakes region 85 “Let’s Make a Deal” option 87 Prompt from the chronically forgetful 90 Accessibility concern 91 Walk in place? 92 Leafs 93 Set of books with maps, perhaps DOWN 1 Stimulates 2 “Siddhartha” author 3 Where sacriﬁces may be made

4 Planet Earth 5 Actress Mireille ____ of TV’s “Hanna” and “Lucky Hank” 6 Trail behind 7 Made scents? 8 Lasting for an immeasurable time span 9 How legal papers may be signed 10 Die-hard fan, in modern lingo 11 Turner of American history 12 Wrapped around 13 Mark who was the world’s highest-paid actor in 2017 14 Military trainees 15 Turkish money 16 Port city in Algeria 17 Badger 18 Having equal angles 19 Like some golf courses 20 They may need ﬁllings 28 Snooze 31 Who said, “Football is not about one or two or three star players” 32 Rough fabric with a loose weave 33 Investigators: Abbr.

34 Leave hurriedly, in quaint usage 35 Capital on the island of Luzon 36 Passage from one party to another 37 “Va-va-voom!” 38 It cuts the cheese (but not the mustard) 39 Got some shut-eye? 40 Pulitzer-winning poet Gary 41 Rang, as a bell 42 Use a divining rod 43 Like some decals 44 Compulsory payments of old 46 List of ranked favorites 47 Purchase at a sports stadium 49 Seasonal Russian cottages 50 Intruded, with “in” 51 Items usually sold in boxes of 25 52 Mountaintop homes 53 Enough to go around 54 Utopias 56 Played the rat 58 Outschemed, in a way 60 Period from 1945 to 1953 62 Evergreen tree with

fragrant bark 63 Indian dish of potatoes and cauliﬂower 64 Putt-putt 65 Loads 66 “Carmina Burana” composer 67 Landed 69 Units of RAM, for short 70 Character defamation 72 Family emblems 73 They’re found beside exclamation marks on keyboards 75 Inkling 76 Coup group 77 Sweet stuff in asparagus (if you read it backward)? 78 Many a Shiite 79 It may be raised in an argument 80 Auntie ____ (pretzel chain) 82 Pasta recipe instruction 83 Inkling 84 Largest of the lagomorphs 86 Flag thrower, informally 88 Time to get back to work: Abbr. 89 Otherworldly sorts, for short

DEAR ABBY Jeanne Phillips

Man proves to be more crybaby than caretaker

Birthdays

Pope Francis

ACROSS 1 Sarcastic response to an unsurprising development 14 That makes two of us! 21 Gold-rush camp that became a state capital 22 Carrier out of Kuala Lumpur 23 Hormone-therapy product 24 They’re seen on the flags of Bhutan and Wales 25 Alexanders I-III 26 Legal claim 27 Retailer headquartered in Freeport, Maine 29 “____ Up Offa That Thing” (1976 hit) 30 “Will be,” in Spanish 31 Map out 32 The Stepford wives in “The Stepford Wives,” it seems 33 Host city of the 2022 FIFA World Cup 34 ____ Vogue 35 Acronymic devices in atomic clocks and radio telescopes 36 Part of a woodworking joint 37 ____ the Lucky Rabbit, character in early Disney shorts 40 Much sketch comedy 41 “Media impressions,” “influencer marketing,” etc., informally 42 Emulate 43 Diamond division 44 Sore spots for kids? 45 QB-protecting group 46 Difficult 47 San ____, capital founded in 1521 48 Super-sillyous? 50 Apocalyptic scene 55 What nocturnal polysomnography may detect 56 Mainstay of a sci-fi defense system 57 Canal inspector 58 Most serious, in law 59 It’s a question of timing 60 Metric weight units 61 Actor Wilson of “The Office” 62 Month that goes by fast? 66 “Jeepers!” 67 Stops over in France? 68 Billionaires and such 69 Badly injured 70 Elegant and refined

Pope Francis is 87. Actor Wes Studi is 76. Pop musician Jim Bonfanti (The Raspberries) is 75. Actor Bill Pullman is 70. Actor Barry Livingston is 70. Country singer Sharon White is 70. Rock musician Mike Mills (R.E.M.) is 65. Country singer Tracy Byrd is 57. Actor Sean Patrick Thomas is 53. Actor Sarah Paulson is 49. Actor Marissa Ribisi is 49. Actor Giovanni Ribisi is 49. Actor Milla Jovovich is 48.

Dear Abby: I was just released from the hospital, and I suspect my husband is tapping his foot waiting for me to fix him lunch. He isn’t doing or saying anything overt, like “Get up and make me lunch,” but it’s more like he is whining about the options in front of him — peanut butter, frozen leftovers, etc. I’m on a liquid diet and do not feel well. I may be well enough to get out of the hospital, but I’m far from 100%. My husband hasn’t offered to make me so much as a cup of tea. Instead, on my first morning home, he waited to get up until I had made the coffee and fed the cats. I didn’t feel like getting up to feed the cats and make the coffee, I just knew he wouldn’t get out of bed until I did. Last night, I made my own dinner while he whined

own health and getting stronger. that chicken broth and rice just Next would be to open your mouth didn’t do it for him. Now he wants and tell your lazy, entitled huslunch. We’ve been married for 40 years. band EXACTLY what you need and He has been a good husband, but EXPECT from him. That includes in retirement he has become selfhim making the coffee, feeding ish and petulant. I’m no longer the animals and buying things he sure I want to spend the rest of would LIKE to have on hand while my life fending for myself with a he makes his lunch — and yours, if babyman in tow. you need it. This is what partnerListening to him complain while ship is all about. And if he really I’m in pain and feeling weak, I just isn’t up to it, you need to know so want to cry. He takes any criticism you can plan accordingly. personally. We’ve always been two I am unsure whether you spoiled strong-willed personalities, but your husband or he came to the I can’t push back right now — I marriage fully self-entitled, but don’t have the energy. I need him if he wants you on hand in case to step up and take care of me, but he gets sick or injured, this is the I’m afraid saying that will bring “investment” he is going to have to more hard feelings than help. make now. — Sick of It in Texas Dear Sick: The most important Write Dear Abby at P.O. Box 69440, Los thing you can do is focus on your Angeles 90069 or www.DearAbby.com.

TELL ME ABOUT IT Carolyn Hax

Wife insists he needs in-laws’ help with the kids Dear Carolyn: My wife and I are two busy professionals with three children in grade school. My wife just left for a week-long work trip. Without consulting me, she arranged for her parents to stay at our house “to help you with the kids.” It’s a bit of a rougher week, but I can manage the kids alone fine. I told her before she did this that, considering the inconvenience to her parents and the minimal benefit to me at best, they should stay home and I’d manage alone. My father-in-law was too busy, so my mother-in-law came alone. Confirming my concerns, having to explain things to her during the morning rush was actually more work for me. I also feel the need to entertain her, whereas I would otherwise finish my workday and just wind down on my own. To be clear, my mom-in-law is cool, we get along very well, she is full of good intentions, but I was looking forward to this week alone to work from home. My wife works from home and basically does not let me do that as well, even though I could, so I commute to work.

My wife says I am ungrateful and everyone is making sacrifices to help me, and my kids are happy to see their grandmother. To be honest, I also feel this is in small measure a way for her to control my comings and goings. I’m a perfectly normal if not boring guy, but she hates not knowing where I am at all times. Am I ungrateful? — Normal Guy Normal Guy: So it’s not enough that no one listens to you and you can’t get your share of the last word in your own home, but you also need to say thank you? And you’re a jerk if you don’t? It took you a while to get there, but you got us there: Your marriage is a power struggle, and you’ve been on the losing end of it so long, I’m not sure you know it could be otherwise. Who works where is a decision both halves of a couple make together — but you’re commuting by fiat. Who stays in your home is a decision both halves of a couple make together — but she booked her mom by fiat. What one parent needs when the other’s away is a decision the home-based parent

makes for himself ! — but she sent help by fiat. How you feel about all of the above is your business — but she’s presuming to correct how you feel. Your unwanted, wife-ordered houseguest says your “comings and goings” are spousally controlled — and you don’t assert your valid, due claim to decide everything on your side of the line for yourself. So please, in counseling if needed, find that line and hold it. Email Carolyn at tellme@washpost. com and follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/carolyn.hax SOLUTION TO TODAY’S CROSSWORD

D20

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Travel Handy tips when traveling with kids this season By HOLLY JOHNSON TRAVELPULSE

sk anyone traveling with kids for their thoughts on the issue, and they’ll tell you that taking them on vacation is a labor of love. Parents bringing the kids along will need to plan for more downtime and rest, and they’ll also have to pack extra patience for the trip. Of course, traveling with kids also makes every aspect of a trip much more expensive, and parents typically wind up spending a lot more on conveniences or splurges just to keep the kids happy and entertained. But traveling with kids can be a lot less stressful if you learn what to do and what not to do ahead of time. In fact, the best trips with kids usually come about when the parents aim to create an environment similar to home. Overplanning, overpacking or messing up a kid’s sleep schedule on a trip can make everyone miserable. If you’re planning a trip with children in tow this year, there are a range of steps you can take, and things to avoid that can make the entire experience a lot more fun.

Do: Bring snacks and entertainment If you want to keep your kids fed and give them something to do, make sure to pack some simple snacks in your bag for travel in a car or a plane. While you can bring nearly any foods your kids will eat, it can help to pick non-messy snacks like chips, pretzels, granola bars and fruit snacks over foods that melt or leave kids with sticky hands. Also make sure to bring phones, tablets and other devices that can keep your kids entertained while you get from place to place.

Don’t: Forget chargers and cords Bring all your family’s devices you might want to use on your trip, but don’t forget to bring charging cords and charging blocks along. If you’re taking a cruise where plug-ins may be scarce in your cabin, you can also bring along a plug adapter or power strip. We recommend packing a charging bank and keeping it charged so you can power up devices in your car, on the plane or even on the beach if you have to.

Do: Bring headphones for kids Nobody — and I mean nobody — wants to listen to your kid’s show or game on blast while in the airport or on a ﬂight. Many airlines have even started stating this fact in their security announcements, and they will come over to your seat and have you turn the volume off if you ignore their requests. Bring headphones for your kids with you on every trip. This lets them listen to their device for the entire ride.

Don’t: Let kids kick plane seats If you’re ﬂying with kids, you should go out of your way to ensure passengers in your immediate area aren’t impacted by your decision. This means not letting your kids do whatever they want or move around too much. Speciﬁcally, don’t let your kids kick the back of the seat in front of them or slam their tray table over and over again.

Do: Let your kids help with planning Ask your kids what they want to do on vacation, and actually listen to what they have to say. Your kids may be more interested in your destination or the type of trip you’re taking than you realize, but you won’t know what their interests are unless you ask. If you’re visiting a new country, consider sharing information on the country or showing them how to look it up themselves.

Don’t: Let the kids decide everything That said, don’t let your kids plan everything and don’t ignore your own intuition when it comes to their limits. Ideally, you’ll take your children’s opinions into account when planning your trip. However, you should get the ﬁnal say on what to do and when.

Do: Consider kid-friendly vacation options Some types of trips are a lot better for kids in general. For example, cruises and all-inclusive resorts are ideal for picky eaters and parents who want plenty of time to relax with all their activities built-in. These trips also tend to offer supervised kids camps on-site, so parents can get some downtime and a break from the kids.

Cozy retreats UNITED STATES » Enjoy winter wonderland around the country with plenty of activities, relaxing amenities By STEPHANIE ROSENBLOOM NEW YORK TIMES

he season of mittens and hot chocolate is upon us and if you’d rather spend a tranquil afternoon beside a ﬁre than brave the crowds at a big ski resort, these snowy getaways are for you. Picture yourself in a luxury treehouse in the woodlands of Vermont, or a quiet cottage in the Catskills, or a retro motor lodge near Grand Teton National Park. Consider a new boutique hotel in Rhode Island from which you can tour Gilded Age mansions trimmed for the holidays. Or check into a stately newcomer in Germany and browse Christmas markets in places you thought existed only in fairy tales. From Bavaria to Wyoming, winter wonderlands await.

Vermont Twin Farms: This luxury estate in Barnard, Vermont, about 15 minutes north of Woodstock, recently added eight places to stay that are likely to capture the imaginations of travelers in search of quiet and perhaps a bit of childlike wonder. Known as the Treehouses — the ﬁrst new accommodation category the property has introduced in 30 years — each is around 800 square feet and cantilevered about 14 to 20 feet above ground. Observe birds from your private balcony, have a soak in the oversize tub. The eight Treehouses — each is reached via its own wood-andmetal pedestrian bridge — were designed to blend into their natural surroundings and are in addition to the intimate property’s other accommodations, which include four rooms in the main house, 10 cottages, a two-bedroom lodge and a four-bedroom farmhouse. When you descend from your aerie, take your cues from the season. Visit the Furo, a bathhouse with salt water heated to 104 degrees, amid the woods. Explore the property’s more than 300 acres where you can try winter activities such as ice ﬁshing, snowshoeing and fat-tire biking. Meals and drinks are included. Twin Farms allows guests ages 14 and older. Rates include all meals, beverages, cocktails, wine and use of the on-site recreational offerings and equipment. Treehouse prices are from $3,500 a night for two people; main house winter prices are from $2,600 a night for two people.

Rhode Island Gardiner House: While Newport is widely considered a summer destination, this time of year has its own charms. You can tour the city’s Gilded Age mansions now bedecked with Christmas trees, poinsettias, garlands and wreaths. And you can check out special events like the holiday lights show at the Breakers estate, built in the late 19th century by Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Just in time for this year’s festivities, there’s a new place to linger. Gardiner House, a waterfront boutique hotel with 21 rooms and suites, some with harbor views, all with dreamy hues and bamboo and rattan touches. It’s a short walk from the hotel to the shops, bars and restaurants of Thames

AARON KRAFT

Guests chat around a firepit at the Virginian Lodge in Jackson, Wyoming. Street, and to the Sailing Museum, which opened last year. Yet for some of the loveliest views of Newport Harbor, you need not go anywhere at all. The hotel’s Studio Bar has a fireplace where you can keep warm on chilly nights with cocktails and conversation. Bites include warm olives, hummus, yellowfin tuna, arancini, charcuterie and Kobe beef sliders. Prices from $725 a night.

Wyoming The Virginian Lodge: This motor lodge dating to the 1960s is just 10 minutes from Grand Teton National Park and about 2½ hours from Yellowstone National Park. Recently, it became part of Outbound Hotels, a nascent hotel group offering affordably priced properties in locations that are close to nature and lively towns. There are two Outbound Hotels so far (the other is in Mammoth Lakes) and more are in the works, including properties in Stowe, Vermont, and Yosemite National Park. At the Virginian Lodge you’ll ﬁnd 165 retro-style rooms, some with bunk beds, and 20 suites (there’s also a seasonal recreational vehicle park). But the real fun happens beyond your sleeping quarters. Gather in pop-up igloos and hot tubs, or around a ﬁre pit for s’mores. Go for a dip in the all-season pool. Walk to the town’s shops and restaurants and visit the area’s parks and hot springs. To mingle with fellow guests and locals, head to the Virginian Saloon, where cocktails and beer are accompanied by karaoke nights. At Billy’s Burgers you’ll not only

ﬁnd pub fare like burgers and waffle fries, but falafel and Greek salad, too. Save room for softserve ice cream. For food and drinks on the go, Midtown Liquor has adventure essentials like coffee and grab-andgo breakfast burritos. Stop by the walk-in and drive-thru window for wine, beer and sloshies, a local favorite, made with liquor and ingredients such as sugar, ice, and frozen fruit or juice. Prices from $118 a night, plus a $20 nightly resort fee (not including tax).

New York Shandaken Inn: Built in the late 1920s as a golf course clubhouse and reborn as an inn, this escape in the Catskill Mountains beckons with a fireplace indoors and more than 12 acres outdoors. In addition to its 15 rooms and suites, some with fireplaces, the inn is now expanding with three stand-alone cottages. Each cottage aims to deliver “rustic charm,” as the inn puts it, and is more than 1,300 square feet, with two bedrooms, a kitchenette, a washer and dryer, and mountain views. (After a soft opening, the grand opening of the cottages is slated for Jan. 1.) Wander outside for a hike, or pull up a chair and indulge in s’mores around a fire pit. Dinner is available most days of the week at the Clubhouse Restaurant and Bar where you can relax over burgers, beer, small plates and entrees that incorporate local ingredients and change with the day and season. Prices from $274 a night for a room; from $980 a night for a cottage. Daily breakfast is included.

Don’t: Overpack Deﬁnitely bring along some of your children’s favorite things on your trip, including stuffed animals, games and comfort items. Remember that traveling with kids is a lot more work especially with oversized bags and totes ﬁlled with kids’s stuff.

Do: Pay for conveniences when you can While saving money on travel may be one of your biggest priorities, don’t forget that some travel conveniences are well worth paying for. If you try to pay as little as possible no matter what, you can wind up with crabby kids who aren’t having fun and go out of their way to make sure you’re not, either. With that in mind, pay for conveniences when you can, including in-flight wi-fi for your plane, checked bag fees so you don’t have to lug your bags around, seat selection fees on your flight, airport lounge day passes and more.

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Business AND PERSONAL FINANCE

Inside

Stocks » 3 Classiﬁeds » 4

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023 • THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SECTION E

SONOMA COUNTY » Sonoma watermelon importer, Penngrove soap maker prosper following expansions fueled by small business loans

MICHELLE SINGLETARY

It’s the season of joy, layoffs

Here are some things that people shouldn’t say to someone losing a job

CHAD SURMICK / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Soap Cauldron owner Emma Mann shows freshly cut handmade soap, made from plant oils and natural botanicals, while working in her production facility last month in downtown Penngrove. Mann and her 20 employees make and distribute bath salts, sea salt scrubs, shampoo, conditioner, body butters and massage oils, which are sold in Whole Foods, Oliver’s Market and Good Earth stores.

Secrets of their success By SUSAN WOOD NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

riselda Mata is quite familiar with what it takes to put food on the table these days. The Sonoma entrepreneur, who founded the Farms to Table Corp. watermelon import business, began by distributing the melons through her produce company that launched in 2019. Since then, the operation supplying these summer staples year round to markets in California and Texas has grown 40% yearly. In 2020 the company had $500,000 in gross sales. Mata expects to close out 2023 with $3 million. The niche family business she shares with her husband, Jose Carrasco, and their two children, Alexandra and Tony,

is a success story like many local businesses with humble beginnings. As retailers were getting ready for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25, a day set aside to support such businesses, the Business Journal took a look at two different operations with fewer than 100 employees (defined as small) that each tapped into specifically-designed business loan resources. In 2021, a record-breaking 5.4 million new business applications were filed in the nation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported. Many in the North Bay over the last few years have indicated the pandemic spurred them to launch their own business. Mata’s profits speak volumes about her ambition and the TURN TO SUCCESS » PAGE E2

GRISELDA MATA

Sonoma entrepreneur Griselda Mata, left, who founded Farms to Table Corp., in a ﬁeld with her two children, Tony and Alexandra.

hen my eldest daughter was 7, she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease with a low rate of survival. There was no known cure, so physicians tried a battery of drugs to find a way to keep her alive. That meant frequent blood draws for a child already terrified of needles. It took a lot of coaxing and time to keep her still long enough to complete the procedure. INSIDE Once, an impatient phleBay Area tech botomist, said, companies cut “I do this all the hundreds more time. This is no jobs. / E2 big deal.” With a maturity that surprised me, my daughter said, “It’s a big deal to me. It is a big deal because you’re taking something that’s supposed to be in my body. It might not be a big deal to you because it’s not happening to you.” I’ve been thinking about what my daughter said all those years ago, though in an entirely different context. By the end of the year, dozens of my colleagues at the Washington Post will leave, having chosen to take a “voluntary separation package.” The company wants to reduce its workforce by 240; if it falls short, there will be involuntary layoffs. For many people, the season of joy can be a time of financial and psychosocial trauma. Companies often conduct layoffs around December as they try to balance their books ahead of the new year. Job cuts are hitting a lot of industries, from media to tech to automotive. This week, the game and toymaker Hasbro said it would shed about 1,100 employees. You may want to offer comfort to someone losing TURN TO SINGLETARY » PAGE E6

Court hears challenge to rooftop solar rules CALIFORNIA » Agency’s decision lowered credits homeowners, businesses get for power they generate By ROB NIKOLEWSKI SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

hree appeals court judges on Wednesday grilled lawyers on both sides of a controversial California Public Utilities Commission decision issued last year that affects the 1.6 million customers who have installed rooftop solar on their

homes and businesses across the state. “We have a lot of questions for you,” Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal Alison Tucher said at the start of the proceeding that lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes in the First Appellate District in San Francisco. At issue is a 5-0 vote the

utilities commission, known as the CPUC for short, made that overhauled the Net Energy Metering rules that determine the size of the credits solar customers receive on their utility bills when their rooftop systems generate more energy than they consume. In one of the key provisions of the CPUC’s complicated 260page December 2022 decision, new rooftop solar customers TURN TO SOLAR » PAGE E6

Open 24 hours a day -7 days a week. Always here for Families Who Need Us Donating Your Vehicle Makes Our Work Possible

Employees of the solar company Sunrun install solar panels on the roof of a home in Granada Hills in Los Angeles. MEL MELCON LOS ANGELES TIMES, 2020

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Tech companies slash 350 more jobs BAY AREA » 31,900 in industry have lost their jobs since January 2022

filed with the state Employment Development Department. Analog Devices, ForgeRock, Nextdoor and Flex are the latest tech companies to reveal By GEORGE AVALOS job cuts in the Bay Area, the MERCURY NEWS EDD documents show. These four companies have decided to ech layoffs have resurfaced cut a combined 350 jobs in the just ahead of Christmas nine-county region. and New Year’s, with highSeparately, non-tech comtech companies, finance firms panies Charles Schwab and a and a Pac-12 unit revealing plans unit of the Pac-12 are cutting to slash hundreds of jobs in the hundreds more positions in the Bay Area, state files show. Bay Area, according to the state The latest rounds of layoffs documents. that tech companies have disHere are some details of the closed will eliminate another 350 most recent layoff disclosures jobs in the still-wobbly industry, that have been posted with the according to official notices state EDD:

■ Analog Devices, a semiconductor manufacturer, is cutting 111 jobs at its Rio Robles office complex in north San Jose. The cuts are slated to take effect on Jan. 12, 2024. ■ ForgeRock, a digital identity software ﬁrm, is slashing 109 positions in San Francisco. These cuts are slated to occur over several months during 2024, starting in January and ending in June. ■ Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social network, has cut 99 jobs in San Francisco. These layoffs were effective on Nov. 7 but the EDD posted these cuts a few days ago. ■ Flex, a provider of con-

tracted electronics manufacturing services, is eliminating 31 positions in Milpitas. These are scheduled for Jan. 6, 2024. The layoffs are all described as permanent, according to posts on the EDD’s public site. Separately, two high-profile non-tech companies have also decided to cut a significant number of positions. Charles Schwab, the iconic financial services firm, is cutting 155 jobs in San Francisco, effective Jan. 5. Pac-12 Enterprises, a unit of the Pac-12 athletic conference, is cutting 141 jobs in San Ramon. Those are also scheduled to occur on Jan. 5.

The Pac-12 is undergoing a wrenching realignment that has prompted the vast majority of its member universities to decamp to other athletic conferences nationwide. In January of this year, the Pac-12 unit signed a lease to move its production studio to San Ramon’s Bishop Ranch office park. Tech companies, including the most recent disclosures of job cuts, have now chopped more than 31,900 jobs in the Bay Area during a nearly two-year period that began in January 2022, according to this news organization’s compilation and analysis of hundreds of state-mandated letters warning of job losses.

SUCCESS

CONTINUED FROM E1 ability to make a microbusiness investment loan count. She wanted to invest in her company’s infrastructure and day-to-day operations. “Because we were so new, banks wouldn’t give us loans. They require two years of taxes,” she said. Last year, she received a two-year, $50,000 loan through TMC Community Capital, a Soap made with local Gravenstein apples at Three Sisters Apothecary Nov. 28 in nonprofit Penngrove. Emma Mann makes her soaps with plant oils and natural botanicals. organization designed to support startups with financing. It Barbara was spun Morrison out of Oakland-based TMC Financing, a top U.S. Small Business Administration 504 lender run by Sonoma’s Barbara Morrison. “We’re still lending as much as ever,” Morrison said of her flagship company that started in 1981. TMC Community Capital, which was launched five years ago, is seeing a steady flow of applications. “There’s still a long-standing need and a long-standing gap,” Morrison said of the nonprofit. With the loan, Mata bought a 3,000-square-foot warehouse on Riverside Drive in Sonoma and offset operational expenses for the watermelons she supplies to 15 stores including Glen Ellen Market in Sonoma Valley and Rancho MendozaSupermercado in Santa Rosa. Mata works with eight growers, including her husband.

Freshly cut handmade soap at the Soap Cauldron production facility last month in downtown Penngrove.

Say hello to help To high-ranking executives like Morrison and Elizabeth Gore, who make their living offering others a leg up, Mata’s story lines up with the latest findings Elizabeth on the Gore obstacles that define business success and failure. Gore’s Hello Alice, the online financial technology platform with a Houston headquarters and Sonoma County roots, services 1.4 million diverse, small business owners in all 50 states. The fintech platform offersbusiness expertise and guidance as well as capital investment dollars in the form of grants and loans. By teaming up with the nonprofit Global Entrepreneurship Network, it has secured a $70 million fund that provides access to credit for small businesses. “Access to capital is their biggest challenge,” the Hello Alice president and co-founder said, referencing one of the most telling statistics (30.2% of California small business owners) cited by a recent Hello Alice survey. “Banks have really tightened up, and our economy is not as flush with cash as

PHOTOS BY CHAD SURMICK / THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Soap Cauldron owner Emma Mann mixes up a batch of lavender soap Nov. 28 at her production facility in downtown Penngrove. it was during the pandemic,” Gore said. On top of that, Gore explained the circumstances are more dire for people of color, who are “twice as likely” to be turned down for a loan. Over the last 18 months, Gore has discovered that the number of new business startups in the state has increased ﬁvefold. “People are still going into business,” she said. Gore said she’s heard that brick-and-mortar shops still have a place in society because a large portion of the population working remotely still wants to get out to socialize and shop. “The pendulum is swinging. We’ve come to an era of consumer behavior where we crave connection,” she said, adding that translates to more entrepreneurs needing to gain capital to support that presence and those growth opportunities. “The hyperlocal banks and credit unions are doing a better job at catering to these businesses with no credit history. This may (equate to) women in the core economy and returning military (personnel).” Gore shared ﬁndings that “80% of small businesses have a sense of

grown to 20 employees making and distributing bath salts, sea salt scrubs, shampoo, conditioner, body butters and massage oils sold in Whole Foods, Oliver’s Market and Good Earth stores. The self-taught chemist calls the $10,000 grant with Hello Alice a “cathartic moment” to financial stability with her budget and her business. “When the pandemic hit, I knew we were at a make-it or break-it moment,” she said. “With Hello Alice, it was the first time I saw a path forward.” Hello Alice had also begun as a small startup, getting its name from its founders, Gore and co-founder Carolyn Rodz, The Soap Cauldron production facility and Three Sisters Apothecary store in Penngrove. who shared a living space and she tapped into Hello while caring for and readoptimism about 2024. This profits. Her daughter was born prematurely in Alice, the Small Busiing to their children when cohort of business will 1996, prompting her to ness Administration and they were just beginning. have much less failure adopt a healthier lifestyle Redwood Credit Union to “Alice in Wonderland” was because they’ll have the secure financing for a $1 the reading material of tools they need. As long as where she grew her own vegetables and made her million, 5,000-square-foot choice at the time. you have broadband, you own soap. Three years barn on Main Street, the “We are the embodiment can have a business.” later, her friends started site of her production of entrepreneurship,” From melons to soap benefiting from her soap facility and retail store. Be- Gore said. Penngrove’s Emma creations made with plant fore that, she was spending Mann started Soap Cauloils and natural botaniSusan Wood covers law, $60,000 per year. dron in 2011 on a shoecals. The investment paid off. cannabis, production, tech, string budget that included She equates the process In 2015, Soap Cauldron energy, transportation, help from family members to making cookies with the made $900,000 in gross agriculture as well as and cashing in on a $20,000 best ingredients. sales. Last year, that figure banking and finance. She life insurance policy. The former transportagrew to $4.5 million. Mann can be reached at 530Mann was motivated by tion executive’s business 545-8662 or susan.wood@ started the company with something greater than grew through the years busjrnl.com just herself, but now has

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT • SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

Week Ahead

Confidence check

Consumer confidence The Conference Board delivers its by month latest monthly snapshot of U.S. est. 120 114 109 consumer confidence on Wednes105 104 99 102 day. Analysts expect that Americans’ confidence increased in December from November. Consumer spending 60 accounts for around 70% of U.S. economic activity, so economists pay close attention to gauge how it may affect the broader economy. Rising 0 J A S O N D consumer confidence would bode 2023 well for the ongoing holiday shopping season. Source: FactSet

Home sales

Inflation barometer

The National Association of Realtors on Wednesday reports data on home sales in November. Analysts forecast that sales of previously occupied homes fell for the sixth month in a row amid high mortgage rates and a dearth of properties for sale. Homes sales slumped in October to their slowest pace in more than 13 years while home prices kept climbing.

The Commerce Department delivers its November snapshot of U.S. consumer spending and inflation on Friday. The personal consumption expenditure price index, a gauge of inflation that’s closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, is expected to show that inflation eased further in November. The Fed began raising interest rates in March 2022 in a bid to cut inflation to 2%. It has held rates steady over its last several meetings as it monitors easing inflation.

Bay Area Stocks COMPANY

TICKER

52-WK RANGE LOW HIGH

FRIDAY CLOSE

WK VOL’000s PE YLD

Adobe Inc

ADBE

318.60

633.89

584.68 -25.33

-4.2

73.7

82.3

33,102

...

AMD

60.05

141.82

139.15

10.23

7.9 114.8

92.9

430,989

>99

1.1

Agilent Tech

96.80

160.27

136.78

9.58

7.5

-8.6

-14.6

14,447

0.7

Alphabet Inc C

GOOG

85.57

142.38

133.84

-2.80

-2.0

50.8

39.8

164,507

...

Apple Inc

AAPL

124.17

199.62

197.57

1.86

1.0

52.1

36.7

378,603

0.5

Applied Matls

AMAT

93.68

163.06

161.95

14.23

9.6

66.3

41.5

37,552

0.8

Autodesk Inc

ADSK

179.61

242.63

242.29

18.28

8.2

29.7

15.7

11,510

...

Bank of Marin Bncp

BMRC

12.89

34.82

21.56

0.84

4.1

-34.4

-32.4

469

4.6

BioMarin Pharma

BMRN

76.02

117.77

97.16

4.22

4.5

-6.1

-7.9

8,408

>99

...

Calix Inc

CALX

31.95

77.44

42.93

1.03

2.5

-37.3

-43.6

4,302

...

Chevron Corp

CVX

140.72

187.81

149.35

5.04

3.5

-16.8

-13.2

76,972

4.0

Cisco Syst

CSCO

45.56

58.19

49.87

1.49

3.1

4.7

3.2

155,998

3.1

Clorox Co

CLX

114.69

178.21

141.91

0.36

0.3

1.1

1.9

6,690

>99

3.4

Constellation Brds A

STZ

208.12

273.65

236.46

2.02

0.9

2.0

2.2

6,758

1.4

eBay Inc

EBAY

37.17

52.23

41.75

0.46

1.1

0.7

-1.7

79,372

2.4

Electronic Arts

108.53

143.47

138.83

1.69

1.2

13.6

13.9

13,497

0.5

Enphase Energy Inc

ENPH

73.49

338.10

123.92

20.91

20.3

-53.2

-67.0

48,433

...

Equinix Inc

EQIX

640.92

824.86

803.73

1.96

0.2

22.7

16.6

3,390

2.1

Fair Isaac Corp

FICO

575.39

1185.42 1129.78

Franklin Rescs

BEN

21.88

-4.61

-0.4

88.7

88.0

1,430

...

29.39

3.82

14.9

11.4

4.1

26,148

3.5

Gap Inc

GPS

7.22

22.08

21.31

-0.37

-1.7

91.5

56.9

53,651

>99

2.8

HP Inc

HPQ

25.22

33.90

30.78

1.60

5.5

14.6

8.1

76,606

3.3

Hewlett Pack Ent

HPE

13.66

18.14

16.72

0.63

3.9

4.8

5.1

85,078

3.1

Intel Corp

INTC

24.73

47.07

46.16

3.46

8.1

74.7

57.7

276,060

...

1.1

Intuitive Surgical

ISRG

222.65

358.07

324.35

13.93

4.5

22.2

16.8

10,560

...

Juniper Networks

JNPR

24.87

34.53

29.31

0.32

1.1

-8.3

-8.8

24,621

3.0

4,800

18.07

21.26

63.39

12.46

-0.36

MON

TUES

WED

THUR

FRI

15,000

4,400

14,000

4,200

13,000

S&P 500

4,000 3,800

INDEX Dow Jones industrials Dow Jones trans. NYSE Comp. Nasdaq Comp. S&P 500 S&P MidCap Wilshire 5000 Russell 2000

37347.60 16131.04 16774.06 14855.62 4738.57 2779.43 47978.55 2009.08

36231.19 15198.95 16194.93 14324.57 4593.39 2629.57 46346.27 1870.34

158.53

14.20

9.8

-7.3

-17.8

13,863

...

65.16

49.52

5.49

12.5

-5.1

-16.1

6,818

...

Luther Burbank Corp

LBC

7.73

12.27

10.47

0.65

6.6

-5.8

-12.1

507

4.6

McKesson Corp

MCK

331.75

476.35

439.47 -18.42

-4.0

17.2

24.8

8,085

0.5

Meta Platforms Inc