The Davis Enterprise and Home Seller Friday, December 16, 2022

Ballot blocker: Industry shields itself with votes

By Ben Christopher and Jeanne Kuang CalMatters

For a reported cost of just more than $4 million, California’s fast food industry may have bought itself a two-year reprieve from one of the most contentious state labor laws in recent memory.

Last week, a coalition led by the International Franchise Association and national business groups announced it had collected enough signatures to qualify a referendum for the 2024 ballot. If at least 623,212 of the 1 millionplus submitted signatures are valid, that would give voters the opportunity to overturn a first-in-thenation law that would create a state council to set wages and other workplace standards for a large swath of California’s burger-flipping, taco-hawking industry.

Ring in changes

New terms, mayor get started

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

The mayorship of Davis will pass next month from one graduate of the Davis High School Class of 1997 to another.

Will Arnold will become mayor of Davis effective Jan. 3, succeeding current Mayor Lucas Frerichs, who will vacate the council and be sworn in to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors that same day. Arnold

and Frerichs were classmates at Davis High.

Arnold has served as vice mayor for much of 2022, a position that Councilman Josh Chapman will assume in January. Both are oneyear terms.

The council voted unanimously in favor of that succession plan on Tuesday.

Arnold, a lifelong Davis resident, has served on the City Council since 2016, while Chapman was first

elected in 2020 to represent District 5 in South Davis.

Both Arnold and Chapman “humbly” accepted their appointments on Tuesday.

“I look forward to working with you,” Chapman told Arnold.

Former mayor Gloria Partida — who was sworn in Tuesday for a second term on the council — said appointing Arnold “makes the most sense.”

She noted the considerations previously laid out

Discord goes on around music program

By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer

The Davis Joint Unified School District’s renowned music program underwent staffing changes that took effect at the beginning of this school year. The changes, however, are raising concerns from within the community about the program’s future.

Before summer break last year, the district sent out an email to parents and students informing them the music programs at Harper Jr. High and Emerson/DaVinci Jr. High schools would be led by one music teacher each.

The email said changes were being made to ensure the sustainability and

coherence of the music program and that having a single instructor at each site would be a more sustainable staffing model that would reduce the need for traveling teachers.

The music program itself comprises of the disciplines of choir, band and orchestra, which had been taught by specialists in the past. Although the educators taking the reins of teaching music at these schools are credentialed to do so, Holmes and Davis High

orchestra director Angelo Moreno has voiced — and continues to voice — his discontent with the changes — he contends that they are leading to the regression of the district’s music program. He is not alone in this regard, as music students and parents have voiced their concerns as well at recent school board meetings.

“Emerson has shown a massive decline in enrollment,” Moreno said. “I went there to do my highschool outreach discussions about the audition process for the ninth graders. I walked in and there were only 20 kids in the room when there were 45 last

by the council for selecting a mayor included everything from tenure on the council to consensus-building acumen.

“Will … has been here for a good chunk of time and that’s clearly on the list,”

she said, telling Arnold, “but more than that, I listen to you as you deliberate and make decisions and you’re very good at it and you definitely are great at

City Council gives approval to Downtown Specific Plan

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

The long awaited Downtown Davis Specific Plan was unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday.

The council voted 4-0 (with Councilman Josh Chapman abstaining, as he owns a downtown business) to certify the environmental impact report, amend the General Plan to designate land use downtown as mixed use, and approve a resolution repealing the Core Area Specific Plan and adopting the downtown specific plan instead.

Five years in the making, with extensive citizen input, the plan will guide the longterm development of downtown Davis, establishing a vision for downtown and implementing a form-based code for the area. That code will replace existing zoning for properties, making development more predictable by focusing on physical form, rather than uses, for buildings.

The plan covers a 32-block area and envisions up to 1,000 new residential units and up to 600,000 square feet of

Bapu Vaitla, left, takes his oath of office Tuesday in the community chambers. Vaitla, who will represent District 1 on the council, was sworn in by longtime friend and mentor Mark Van Horn, center, and Ethan Wolfe. City of Davis/Courtesy photo

City of Davis/Courtesy photo

Councilwoman Gloria Partida received a hug from her grandson, who swore her in to her second term on the City Council Tuesday evening.

MORENO Music teacher

Confrontation leads to arrest

A Davis man faces weapon-related charges following a confrontation at a West Davis intersection.

Davis police Lt. Dan Beckwith said the Tuesday incident began with an apparent misunderstanding as two pedestrians crossed the Lake Boulevard at Arlington Boulevard in front of a pickup truck.

One pedestrian told police they attempted to alert the driver to a broken turn-signal light, and the driver responded by “getting out of the truck and yelling obscenities,” Beckwith said. The man then pointed an unknown object at the pair before leaving.

Responding police stopped the truck in the 500 block of Sycamore Lane and conducted a search, finding five loaded pistols and ammunition inside, Beckwith said. The driver, 57-year-old Richard Frank Carpenter, was arrested on suspicion of carrying loaded, concealed firearms in a vehicle.

FBI investigating child porn

The FBI assistance, including residents of the Davis area, to identify victims in a sexexploitation investigation.

Last month, 27-yearold Jacob Jacobsen of Modesto was indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a child and child pornography.

Anyone who believes they were victimized in this case can fill out a confidential questionnaire at forms.fbi.gov/ jacobjacobsen.

Court sets judicial assignments for 2023-24

Enterprise staff

Yolo Superior Court judges have re-elected Judge Daniel Maguire as the court’s presiding judge for the 2023-24 term, also electing Judge Peter Williams as assistant presiding judge.

Both terms begin Jan. 1, 2023, and extend until the end of 2024.

With the assistance of the Court Executive Officer, the presiding judge leads the court, establishes policies, allocates resources to promote public access to justice and promotes efficiency in court operations and service to the public.

The presiding judge also maintains his regular judicial duties, which for Maguire will comprise the juvenile and Mental Health Court calendars.

“Like many other institutions, Yolo Superior Court was challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we adapted by embracing remote appearance technology, which not only helped us to limit backlogs, but also increased access to justice by making it easier for everyone to appear in court,” Maguire said. “I look forward to continuing to work with our judges, staff, and justice partners to meet tomorrow’s challenges.”

Appointed to the bench in 2010, Maguire received his law degree degree from Harvard Law School

in 1992, then clerked for Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

He worked in private practice for 12 years before serving as a deputy legal affairs secretary for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appointed him to the Yolo court. Maguire has overseen criminal, family, probate and civil assignments during his tenure, as well as his current juvenile-court assignment.

Judge Williams was appointed to the bench in 2019 by Governor Jerry Brown. Prior to his appoint-

National retailer resolves hazardous waste allegations

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer

A Massachusetts-based corporation with three retail stores in Yolo County last week resolved allegations that its employees improperly disposed of hazardous waste — its second such settlement in eight years.

The TJX Companies Inc. agreed to pay $2.05 million in penalties and other costs in the judgment, entered Dec. 9 in Monterey County Superior Court, according to a Yolo County District Attorney’s Office news release.

TJX owns about 340 stores in California, including T.J. Maxx in Davis and Marshalls and HomeGoods in Woodland.

Local environmental regulators took part in the investigation, which revealed that TJX workers “improperly disposed of hazardous waste into its regular trash bins that were destined for municipal landfills, which are not

authorized to accept hazardous waste,” the news release said.

Prosecutors said the improper disposals comprised aerosol cans, batteries, electronic devices and cleaning agents, along with other hazardous waste items that should be separated into labeled containers to prevent incompatible wastes from mixing and causing dangerous chemical reactions.

TJX cooperated during this investigation, agreeing to pay $1.8 million in civil penalties, $300,000 in supplemental environmental projects and $250,000 for reimbursement of investigative and enforcement costs.

The settlement also requires TJX to continue its employment of at least one California compliance worker to oversee its hazardous waste compliance program, and to undergo waste audits in some of its California stores to ensure proper hazardous waste disposals.

ment, Williams worked as deputy secretary, general counsel at the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Prior to that, he was an attorney for 15 years in the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General.

Williams earned his law degree in 1995 from the University of San Diego School of Law. His judicial assignments have included arraignments/master calendar and civil cases, and he currently has a criminal court assignment.

Court officials also announce the following 2023-24 calendar assignments, effective Jan. 1:

Department 1 arraignments — Judge Daniel Wolk Department 2 traffic/small claims/unlawful detainers — Commissioner Catherine Hohenwarter Department 3 family law — Judge Paul Richardson Department 4 family law — Judge David Reed Department 5 juvenile court/ Mental Health Court — Judge Daniel Maguire Department 6 juvenile court/ Addiction Intervention Court — Judge Janene Beronio Department 7 criminal court — Judge Tom Dyer Department 8 criminal court — Judge Peter Williams Department 9 criminal court —

Judge Sonia Cortés Department 10 criminal court — Judge Samuel McAdam Department 11 civil/probate/ mental health conservatorships — Judge Timothy Fall Department 12 AB 1058 child support — Commissioner Katherine Taylor Department 14 civil/probate/ care court — Judge David Rosenberg

For more information about Yolo County’s judicial assignments, visit www.yolo.courts.ca.gov.

Armed man arrested in Winters standoff

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer

Residents of a Winters neighborhood sheltered in place Tuesday while police and Yolo County sheriff’s deputies negotiated with an armed man barricaded inside his own house.

The incident began shortly after 2 p.m., when deputies were summoned to a Putah Creek fishingaccess point along Highway 128 west of Winters.

“Several callers reported that a male armed with an assault rifle and possibly wearing a bulletproof vest was approaching vehicles, acting erratically,” the

Winters Police Department reported in a Facebook post.

That person was no longer on scene when deputies arrived. Further investigation identified him as Fernando Ponce Jimenez, a 32-year-old Winters resident, who was on felony probation supervision for a prior offense.

“Further information was also developed via an independent witness that Jimenez had been observed with an assault rifle earlier in the day and he was currently at his residence on the 700 block of Lupine Way in

Winters,” police said.

Winters police and sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter around Jimenez’s house, sending an alert to surrounding residents to shelter in place. A sheriff’s crisis negotiator made contact with Jimenez by phone, convincing him to surrender peacefully after about 30 minutes.

“A subsequent search of the residence located a loaded semi-automatic pistol with drum magazine and a loaded shortbarrel assault rifle with a 40-round magazine,” police said.

Bob Dunning is on vacation. The Wary I returns Wednesday.

Courtesy photo

Judge Peter Williams, Yolo Superior Court’s assistant presiding judge for 2023-24.

Courtesy photo

Yolo Superior Court Presiding Judge Daniel Maguire.

Briefly

Local giving on ‘Davisville’

The end of the year is a big time for giving. On the current edition of “Davisville,” program host Bill Buchanan talks with Jessica Hubbard, executive director of the Yolo Community Foundation, about what people in Yolo County give to, as well as what inspires them to donate — and what doesn’t — as measured by the foundation’s 2022 donor survey.

The topics also include the results and limits of the survey, the source of local wealth, concern for arts-and-culture nonprofits and other “second responders,” and the outlook for 2023.

“Davisville,” appears on Davis radio station KDRT-LP, 95.7 FM on Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 5 p.m., Fridays at 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m.

The current program will be broadcast through Dec. 24, and is available anytime at https://kdrt. org/davisville or on Apple podcasts.

AI algorithms on ‘Backdrop’

A new study from UC Davis suggests that artificial intelligence recommendation algorithms on sites like YouTube and TikTok can play a role in political radicalization. The research team trained “sock puppets” — artificial entities that act like users. Each sock puppet was given a series of right- or left-leaning videos to watch every day, and then the team would compare the recommendations on the sock puppet’s homepage to see if its recommended videos gradually became more biased.

In this episode of “The Backdrop,” UC Davis

computer science Ph.D. student Muhammad Haroon, who led the study, discusses how the study was designed, what the team found, and a new digital tool they created to mitigate the radicalizing effect of social media platform AI algorithms.

“The Backdrop” podcast is a monthly interview program featuring conversations with UC Davis scholars working in the social sciences, humanities, arts and culture. It is available free, on demand at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Stitcher, Spotify and YouTube. “The Backdrop” is hosted by public radio veteran Soterios Johnson.

Tax relief for fire survivors

On Dec. 9, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Alex Padilla, DCalif., led members of the California delegation in calling on Congressional leadership to include vital tax relief for wildfire survivors in any end-ofyear legislative package.

“No wildfire survivor should have to pay taxes on their settlement awards. These families and individuals have lost their homes. Survivors should be entitled to the full amount of their award, and should not owe taxes on payments made to lawyers they never hired.”

The PG&E Fire Victim Trust was established following California wildfires in 2015, 2017, and 2018. Thompson introduced H.R. 7305 on Mar. 30, 2022 with LaMalfa to ensure that wildfire survivors are not taxed on the settlements they receive from the Trust.

Gliding along on a cutting edge

By Sara Thompson Special to The Enterprise

Ice skates were developed around 5,000 years ago in Finland and were made from animal bones. Skates would not have metal attachments until nearly 3,000 years later, when leather boots were fitted with folded copper strips. Today, skates have blades permanently attached to the boot or shoe with a housing structure. Different ice sports use different kinds of skates that perform differently.

Figure skates are used by figure-skaters and ice dancers. This style is often used for rentals at recreational rinks. The blade is not straight, but curved slightly to give skaters the ability to change their balance and shift their foot orientation. The blade also has a groove running the length of the blade to create a distinct inner and outer edge. This gives the skater greater glide and precision with movements. One of the most identifiable parts of a figure skate is the toe pick. This is the jagged edge near the toe of the boot. This is used for footwork, spins and jumps

Explorit SciEncE cEntEr

during routines.

Skates used for hockey have a thicker boot to protect the skater from pucks, sticks and other players. Similar to the figure skate, the blade is curved to help with maneuverability and changing direction quickly. It also has a groove running the length of the blade. Hockey skates lack a toe pick, however.

Hockey goalies also have a different skate from other players. Their boot has even more reinforcement and protection from pucks being shot at them. Their blade also has little to no curvature as goalies do not need the turning maneuverability, but can use a blade that to helps them move side-to-side quickly in front of the net.

Speed skates differ from the models for figure skating and hockey. The blade is not curved, lacks a groove, extends beyond the boot slightly for more contact with the surface. For short-track races, the blade is fixed to the boot at multiple points. For long

track races, the blade is attached near the toe with a hinge so the heel of the boot can detach from the blade. This ensures the blade has constant contact with the ice during the race and each stroke.

Exploit’s coming events: nWinter Science Camp at Explorit! From the science of snow to animal adaptation, we hope that your camper can join us for this exciting dive into the fascinating science of Winter. Spaces are still available for our afternoon session, Dec.19-22 from 1 to 4 p.m. $175 for members/ $200 for nonmembers. nWinter Break extended hours: Dec. 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 27-29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Dec. 30, 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m.

nNoon Year Celebration, Saturday, Dec. 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Celebrate the New Year early with fun crafts and activities. $5 per person, Members and children under 2 free.

nExplorit will be closed Dec. 24-26 and Sunday, Jan. 1.

nGive the gift of Science this holiday season! A Membership to Explorit grants free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours. Visit https://www.explorit. org/membership.

— Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. For information, call 530-7560191 or visit http://www. explorit.org, or “like” the Facebook page at www. facebook.com/explorit.fb

Gift Basket Central returns to the Davis Farmer’s Market

Special to The Enterprise

On Saturdays in December, shoppers can compile items for custom gift baskets, and have them wrapped for free at the market’s Gift Basket Central station. There are red, green and blue tissue options, neutral and red baskets, cellophane wrapping and various colored ribbons. The service is available to anyone who purchases three or more items at the Davis Farmers Market, at 301 C St. in Central Park.

The market will be open

regular hours (8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), every Saturday, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. It will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Looking for ideas? Besides the abundant produce, market sellers offer preserved jams and sauces, lemon curd, honey, balsamic vinegars, olive oils, dried herbs, nuts and nut butters. There are sweets like dried fruit or chocolate-covered almonds, pistachio brittle, and local wines. Other items include handmade soaps and lotions, wreaths, hats and

scarves. Enjoy coffee and hot food, and peruse artisan crafts, market-logo merchandise, and surprising local ingredients for gift baskets.

There’s also “The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook, Revised Edition,” which features seasonal recipes from market produce. Also at the Market Shed, there are shopping baskets, market-logo aprons, hats, totes, mugs and T-shirts. Shoppers have access to an ATM, and the Market Shed accepts credit and debit cards.

Still need inspiration?

Market staffers are prepared with a list of gift basket ideas for chefs, bakers, party hosts, chocolate lovers, and youths, or with themes like breakfast or relaxation.

The rest of the year, the Davis Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Wednesday hours are 3 to 6 p.m. November through March, and 3 to 7 p.m. April through October.

For information, visit https//davisfarmersmarket .org or visit it on Facebook or Instagram.

WikimEdia commonS/courtESy photo

Different blades for different folks, ice skates take shape to match their use.

MUSIC: Parents putting on pressure

year. After talking to some students, in the first seven days of school, half the kids dropped out of the Emerson music program.

“From a teacher’s perspective who spends 80 percent of my time every year doing outreach to build enrollment in the orchestra program, to hear a program has been destroyed in seven days after spending 23 years building it, it’s heartbreaking and beyond frustrating.”

According to Moreno, the Emerson parents are communicating their grievances with their principal, district and school board.

Meanwhile, the Davis High School music program and the Holmes Jr. High orchestra are supporting the Emerson music program in this regard.

Moreno also expressed his concern for Harper Jr. High, where he claims they have the lowest band enrollment they’ve seen in years.

“All of this is a ripple effect from the main issue which is to focus on the choir program and bring in a specialist who is willing to build it back up at the

Obituaries

junior high level into two choirs per junior high, the way it used to be, so that the choir program at the high school can continue to thrive and build from there,” said Moreno. “We now have an amazing choir director at the high school, Amanda Bistolfo. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to build the feeder programs, but the district needs to put a focus on hiring that person at the junior high level that’s going to revive the junior high choir program.”

Moreno, who was recently named one of the “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” by the national magazine, School Band and Orchestra, continues to advocate for specialists and the overall bolstering of the music program.

Although the district declined comment, the concerns raised have not fallen upon deaf ears. In a recent email sent from the district administration to staff, it states that in response to the concerns from parents and the

community members regarding the music program that it will be hosting community and staff forums to discuss the future of the music program in hopes of creating a shared vision. It also states that with the passage of Prop 28, they will need to develop potential uses for new funds designed to enhance art and music offerings. The music community forum is scheduled for Jan 12.

— Reach Aaron Geerts at aaron.geerts@ mcnaughton.media.

Saturday

n The annual Davis model train display will be up and running at the Davis train station (Amtrak) at 840 Second St. in downtown Davis. Sponsored by the Davis Sunrise Rotary Club (davisrotary.org) and the Davis Model Train Club, admission is free. Any donations received will be directed to local charitable programs. The electric train display will be open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and features two layouts (Lionel O and HO gauges) with interactive components for children as well as examples and history of local Davis points of interest.

Sunday

n Join the Congregation Bet Haverim community for a Hanukkah “hike” through the north Davis greenbelt from 10 a.m. to noon. Hot cocoa, coffee and sufganiyot (donuts) will be provided, along with trivia and prizes along the course. All ages, congregational partners and non-partners are welcome. Friendly pets may attend. Heavy rain will cancel the event. CBH is at 1715 Anderson Road. Contact Bonnie with questions at 530-4000321.

Lincoln to Marshall Streets, and numerous blocks of Second, Third, Fourth, Cross and Pendegast streets. The best viewing times are between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Visitors are asked to drive slowly while viewing the luminaries or to park outside the area and enjoy a candlelit stroll through the neighborhoods. A coat collection will take place during the evening. Bins will be at the intersection of First and Oak Streets. Or make a donation directly to the Woodland Food Closet at https://www. woodlandfoodcloset.org/

Wednesday

n Tickets are on sale for the 19th annual Home for the Holidays concert, benefiting the Davis School Arts Foundation. Acts include Boot Juice, Joe Craven, Way Out West, Rita Hosking Trio, Hattie Craven, Alaina Rose, the Tyrobeys and special guests. The show is at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Theater, 203 E. 14th St. in Davis. Tickets available at Armadillo Music, Watermelon Music or online at Eventbrite.com. For information, contact www. billyfairfield.com or 530758-2455.

Kathy Leipham, a longtime resident of Davis, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. While dealing with three separate cancers over three decades, she lived with a sense of joy and love of life throughout. A teacher for 40 years, she was also an avid gardener, a world traveler, a student of Italian language and culture, a lover of life and a voracious reader. She was a passionate wife, mother of two and grandmother of four.

Born on Jan. 22, 1947, in Detroit, Katherine Mary Koepcke was the third daughter of Margaret (Peg) Pinkerton Koepcke and Albert Frazier (Bud) Koepcke. She was educated at the Convent of the Scared Heart in Chicago, Boston and Detroit.

Kathy graduated from the University of Michigan. She started her teaching career in Oakland. In 1971, Kathy met Bill Leipham and they were married in 1974. They had 2 daughters, Jennifer and Amy. Kathy completed her Master’s in special education at CSUS.

When their family moved to Davis in 1988. Kathy continued her career for the next 30 years with Sacramento City Unified School District. She was a dedicated resource teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

Kathy and Bill traveled to Italy, many times over the next two decades. During that time, they also studied Italian and learned about the

country’s food, history and literature. Once her daughters married and started families of their own, she delighted in being an involved grandmother to her four grandchildren.

In early 2020, Kathy was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. Over the next two-and-a-half years, the support of family and friends and her unwavering determination gave her the strength to keep going.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Bill Leipham; daughters Jennifer Leipham (Colin Klück) and Amy Kenney (Darren); four grandchildren; sister Grace Maslyn and sons; and the Goudreas, close nieces and nephews. A private service will be held. If you wish to contribute in Kathy’s memory to Conquer Cancer, The ASCO Foundation or Yolo Hospice.

n The Episcopal Church of St. Martin in Davis will present an Advent Lessons and Carols service, “The Journey to Bethlehem: An Advent Meditation on Las Posadas” at 4 p.m. This short service will be followed at 5 p.m. by a Posada, a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay. The Episcopal Church of St. Martin is located at 640 Hawthorn Lane, Davis, CA 95616. For more information on this event, please see St. Martin’s website at www. churchofstmartin.org.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Bill (Will) Marshall, a longtime resident of Davis, passed away after a short illness. He was surrounded by his wife and children. Bill was a graduate of UC Davis, department of engineering.

He went on to work as a civil engineer for city governments, working in the Department of Public Works for the city of Davis for more than 30 years. Upon retirement, he worked as a surveyor for several years. In whatever role Bill took on in his life, he was a mentor and teacher.

Bill was an active member of St. James Parish in

Davis. He was active in the Davis community in many ways. He was an AYSO soccer referee for several years when his children were young. He was an election poll worker for more than two decades. He served on the Davis Cemetery Board. Bill was very generous to many charities and reached out to the unsheltered, giving $2 bills for luck and treating those he saw in need to a meal. Each year Bill and his family would

adopt a family for the STEAC Holiday Program.

Bill was an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed camping, backpacking and hiking. Most of all, he enjoyed family time and had a great love of dogs. He will be missed by his wife Nina, children William, Susan and Stephen (Jenna) and his granddaughter, along with extended family

and dear friends. A rosary will begin at 7 p.m. Monday evening, Dec. 19, at the Smith Funeral Home, 116 D Street.

The funeral mass will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, at St. James Catholic Church, 1275 B St. in Davis, with a gravesite service for family and those who would like to attend, immediately following. A reception will be held at St. James Parish directly after the mass.

For the online obituary see www.smith-funerals. com.

n The 18th annual Woodland luminary display will light the lights in the historic neighborhoods of Woodland, including College and First streets, from

n The Davis Odd Fellows are bringing back their New Year’s Eve dance party with Mumbo Gumbo. This has always been a sell-out show and this year the Odd Fellows are limiting the number of tickets they're selling. The night will be a dance party upstairs with a no-host bar, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Downstairs is the quiet lounge, with a no-host bar, complimentary appetizers and desserts all evening, and the big screen tv showing celebrations around the world. All of this for $65. Doors will open at 8:30 p.m. (no sooner) and the music starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Kathy Leipham

LEIPHAM

William H. Marshall Nov. 1, 1954 — Dec. 10, 2022

MARSHALL

aarOn Geerts/enterprise file phOtO

Teachers and music students gather in front of City Hall on ahead of the Davis School Board meeting in November.

DOWNTOWN: Hibbert’s height at issue

new commercial space downtown, with more intense development — and taller buildings — in the core area and less intensity going outwards.

Allowed building heights range from seven stories around the E Street Plaza and east toward the Amtrak Station, then down to five, four and three stories moving north, east and west of downtown.

A key issue in recent weeks has been what building height would be allowed at the old Hibbert Lumber site at Fifth and G streets.

The Hibbert family and developers have urged the city to allow a building five stories high at that location and the City Council on Tuesday agreed to that request despite opposition from some Old North Davis residents.

The same request had been put to the Davis Planning Commission several weeks ago, and while several commissioners appeared to favor a fivestory allowance, the commission made no recommendation to the council.

During that commission meeting, Doug Buzbee, who is working with the Hibbert family, said, “we believe the benefits of allowing this parcel to be developed one story higher are great.

“A fifth floor on a project at the Hibbert site could provide 30 to 40 additional housing units over a fourstory project. This increase is significant and is more than many other downtown sites could provide in an entire project. This opportunity to provide more housing units in downtown is exceedingly rare.”

Wesley Sagewalker, a member of the team working on the Hibbert development project, also encouraged the change, saying, “this site will address a significant portion of the 1,000 units that are envisioned to be developed in downtown as a

result of this plan and, frankly, one of maybe four or five sites that is likely to see redevelopment as a result of this plan.”

Had the council stuck with the draft plan’s four stories for the Hibbert site, developers still could have come to the city with a request for five, but that likely would have added months to the approval process as it would require a zoning change.

“The whole idea here is to streamline and make development in the downtown easier,” said Sherri Metzker, the city’s community development director. “And going through the public hearing process is a much longer effort than it would take for us to do at the staff level.”

Still, some believe the change to the Hibbert site at the request of the owner and developers violates the spirit of the lengthy citizenled process that culminated in the plan before the council Tuesday

John Meyer, former city manager who served on the Downtown Plan Advisory Committee and now as president of the Old North Davis Neighborhood Association, noted that “the principles that started this process in the first place… was certainty for the development community; that every project isn’t challenged, that we don’t add two years for legal challenges and delay and cost increases.

“But equally so, that there’s some certainty and comfort for neighborhoods in knowing what can be allowed in the spaces.”

He noted that many had in mind the legal

Courtesy photo

challenges that arose over the Trackside development and “trying to avoid that circumstance.”

Regarding density on the Hibbert site, Meyer told the council Tuesday, “we have folks that still are very concerned about that, that get very emotional at meetings and with good cause. But we thought it is one of the prime properties in town. It is a real opportunity to show what this plan can do. And we think we should lead with a great project.

"We think also sticking with what’s in the draft plan sort of honors that process,” he said.

But council members appeared focused on the additional housing that would come with a taller building at the Hibbert site.

“I would argue that there are benefits beyond just the benefits incurred by the developer,” said incoming Mayor Will Arnold. “We continue to be in a housing crisis."

He noted the benefits of folks living where they shop and near where they access transit, and said the "benefit of increased density is more folks having the opportunity to live in downtown and all the benefits that come from it.”

He added that “the action that we’re taking tonight doesn’t actually build anything. No building goes up based upon the approval we’re making tonight.”

Outgoing Mayor Lucas Frerichs acknowledged the concerns of neighbors of the Hibbert site, but said, “I personally try to make decisions that are in the best interests of the entire

community and there’s going to continue to be… occasional times that people think that I made a decision that affects their neighborhood, that is against their neighborhood.”

However, he said, given the need for housing “is so great,” and the fact that Davis residents have consistently voted again peripheral development, “one of the places that appropriate development should occur and can occur is in the core area.”

He and others also said the city should take advantage of the opportunity presented at the Hibbert site.

“We don’t know that there’s going to be a guaranteed project that comes through the door,” Frerichs said, “but we certainly hear that there might be.

“I do think that it’s a very good site for increased density (and) why I’m supportive of the potential of it being up to five stories.”

Council members also recommended to staff that any proposal for a fivestory development of the Hibbert site be bumped up to the Planning Commission for a public hearing and review.

In the end, the council voted 4-0 in favor of rezoning the Hibbert site as well as all of the documents related to the downtown specific plan, and thanked community members for their work on the plan.

“There have been many, many people who have been engaged in this process for a number of years now,” Frerichs said. “Nobody expected a twoyear, two-and-a-half-year worldwide pandemic to sort of throw a massive monkey wrench into the process.

“I’m just excited about the continuation of this phase of the downtown plan,” he added. “The next chapter is where we can see some of this vision realized.”

— Reach Anne TernusBellamy at aternus@ davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @ATernusBellamy.

From Page A1

AAron rosenbl Att/CAlMAtters photo

consensus building. I think that you’ll be a great mayor and I look forward to serving with you.”

Meanwhile, Frerichs participated Tuesday evening in his final City Council meeting, and the council will decide Jan. 3 how to fill his vacated seat representing District 3.

Frerichs, who was elected to the Board of Supervisors in June, was honored by the council and community Tuesday for his lengthy service to the city. He was first elected to the City Council in 2012 and reelected in 2016 in at-large elections and then elected in 2020 to represent District 3 after the city transitioned to district elections. He was selected as mayor by his colleagues in June 2022.

Prior to his service on the council, Frerichs served the city in other capacities, including as a member of the Social Services Commission and the Planning Commission, “making this a total of 18 years as a council member and city commissioner,” Arnold noted.

Frerichs said serving the city has “been an honor of a lifetime.”

“To think that a kid who grew up in Alaska and moved here for his senior year of high school would 25 years later be the mayor of the same city is pretty unthinkable to me,” he said.

“This community has given me more opportunities than I could ever have imagined. That was something I was so struck by when I first moved here. It was unlike any other

community I had been in. I moved around a bunch (during childhood) and I was given immense amounts of opportunities to really get involved in almost anything you want to get involved in.”

“There’s no sad moments here,” he added. “I’m so honored to continue to serve this community. The geography is changing a little bit — Central Davis, UC Davis, and all the way

out to Lake Berryessa, including the great city of Winters. But it will literally be just an office across the parking lot over here going to the Board of Supervisors. And I am really looking

forward to continuing the work together as partners.”

— Reach Anne TernusBellamy at aternus@ davisenterprise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @ATernusBellamy.

Unlike initiatives — ballot measures that enact new laws — referenda, which overturn statutes passed by the state Legislature and signed by the governor, have an added feature that benefit their backers even if they ultimately lose on Election Day. As soon as a referendum campaign qualifies for the ballot, the law that it targets is put on hold. And because state law only allows referendum votes to be held during regular general elections, that reprieve can last as long as two years.

That could explain why the “people’s veto” seems to be having a moment of late. With Democrats dominating the Legislature and governor’s mansion and proving ever more willing to aggressively regulate, penalize or phase out specific industries, those targeted interest groups have turned to the will of the electorate.

In 2014, after state lawmakers passed a bill barring stores from distributing single-use plastic bags, manufacturers took the battle to the ballot. The referendum

campaign failed, leaving the law in effect, but only after a lengthy delay.

Then in 2020, when the Legislature voted to end cash bail, the entire bail bond industry qualified a referendum to put bail reform on hold. The industry ultimately succeeded, persuading voters to nix the law.

Then this year, voters were asked to reconsider the Legislature’s work once again. This time, the law in question was a ban on most flavored tobacco products. Tobacco giants including Philip Morris and R.J. Reynold ponied up the money to qualify a referendum. By nearly a 2-1 margin, voters opted to keep the long-delayed ban.

The 2024 ballot is shaping up to be more of the same.

First, there’s the effort by the fast food industry. On Friday, the Secretary of State’s office directed county election officials to start verifying a random sample of signatures and gave them until Jan. 25 to finish. Second, oil and gas producers are mounting their own effort to overturn a law that bans new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, hospitals and other “sensitive” facilities.

The industry had until Thursday to submit signatures, and its campaign committee announced Tuesday it has collected 978,000, with 623,212 valid ones required.

ARNOLD New Mayor

A downtown Davis fixture since 1947, Hibbert Lumber closed its doors in 2019.

The 2024 election is still nearly two years and many millions of dollars away, but the likely qualification of the referendum constitutes its own victory for the franchisees: It would buy them some valuable time.

Bay Area fast-food workers march on Nov. 15 toward the Starbucks regional office in downtown San Francisco. Fast-food workers demanded industry leaders drop efforts to overturn Assembly Bill 257 and to negotiate to find solutions to longstanding issues.

BALLOT: More fights on way in next vote

Great gifts for physical-fitness buffs

Metro Special to The Enterprise

Holiday shopping is a fun way to show loved ones just how much they’re appreciated. Though it’s not always so easy finding the right gift, identifying a passion of each person on your holiday shopping list can make finding the perfect present that much easier.

No two families are exactly the same, but that doesn’t mean they don’t share similar characteristics and personalities. For example, many families have at least one person who qualifies as a physical fitness buff. A passion for fitness can serve as a great starting point when shopping for a loved one who can’t wait to exercise each day. This holiday season, shoppers can stoke that passion for exercise with some gifts designed to help people reach their fitness goals.

■ Insulated water bottle: On the surface, a new water bottle might not seem like the most impressive gift. However, fitness buffs know

just how much water bottles have changed in recent years and how invaluable it can be to have a good one at the ready. A highquality insulated water bottle can keep water cold for hours, ensuring endurance athletes accustomed to long runs or cycling sessions won’t need to hydrate with warm drinks no matter how long it’s been since they started their workouts.

■ Fitness trackers: Fitness trackers run the gamut from low-cost options with useful yet limited capabilities to more expensive items that can seemingly give athletes all the information they need about variables such as their heart rate and performance metrics. If the fitness buff on your list has his or her heart set on an expensive device, speak to other family members about pooling your resources.

■ Fitness app subscription/gift card: The popularity of various exercise apps spiked dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic because they made it easy to get

professional fitness instruction at home. A subscription to a service like ClassPass (classpass.com) provides access to classes at thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons, and spas across the globe. This can help fitness buffs find new exercises if their existing routines have grown stale or simply stay in shape even if they don’t always have time to get

to the gym.

■ Home exercise equipment: Though the darkest days of the pandemic might be in the rearview mirror, the world has grown accustomed to periodic spikes that could compromise workout routines. That needn’t be the base for fitness buffs who keep some simple exercise equipment at home. A set of dumbbells, a new

weight bench or even a new yoga mat can ensure fitness buffs won’t miss a workout even if they can’t get out of the house.

Exercise is an essential part of fitness buffs’ daily routines. Holiday shoppers can keep that in mind as they look for gifts to make this season even more special for their fitness-focused family members.

Make holiday shopping a cinch

Special to The Enterprise

There’s nothing quite like the joy of watching a loved one’s face light up when opening a gift you selected with care, but holiday shopping can be a chore.

If you’re a shopper at heart, it may be a challenge you enjoy, but if the idea of holiday shopping brings out the Grinch in you, consider these ideas for gifts to delight those you love this holiday season.

Look for more ideas to make this holiday season magical at eLivingtoday.com.

Step up gifting with fashion-forward footwear

Every fashionista knows there’s no such thing as too many shoes, and that includes ankle boots and booties that never go out of style. These low-slung styles can be dressed up or down, depending on the look you’re wearing. Among this season’s hottest designs are faux animal prints, such as cheetah or snakeskin, that add some playful color and texture to complete an ensemble.

If you’re not sure about the color or style, a classic black or brown bootie with well-padded soles and a moderate heel is a versatile choice with universal appeal.

Brrr-ing gifts of warmth and good cheer

Give loved ones an easy way to brighten a cold, dreary day with a cute and cozy matching hat and glove set. It’s a thoughtful and practical gift that brings a smile to recipients’ faces each time they don those warm layers to face a blustery day. What’s more, with all the options for personalization, it’s an affordable way to show you care. When choosing the perfect duo, keep your loved ones’ tastes and preferences in mind. You can find hats and gloves to match virtually any interest, whether it’s a favorite color, sports team or pop culture reference.

Shoppers can stoke fitness enthusiasts’ passion for exercise with some gifts designed to help people reach their fitness goals.

Metro/Stock photo

UnSpla Sh/coUrte Sy photo

According to the Alliance for Children and Families, approximately 217,000 children are treated at hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries each year.

Safety first when buying toys for children

Metro Special to The Enterprise

December is a special time of year for children, millions of whom await the arrival of Santa Claus and the bounty of toys he delivers each year. When buying

holiday gifts for youngsters, adults must consider safety.

According to the Alliance for Children and Families, approximately 217,000 children are treated at hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries each

year. Holiday shoppers are urged to stick to agerelated recommendations on product packaging and avoid toys that do not contain the ATSM (American Society for Testing and Materials) label.

GIFTS: Holiday shopping hot list

From Page A6

Turns out, Santa may be onto something. Making your list and checking it twice can help you save money (and your sanity) during the holiday season.

■ Set a budget and stick to it. Remember to include all your seasonal expenses, including Secret Santa and teacher gifts, ingredients for dishes you’ll take to potluck gatherings and admission to special holiday activities.

■ Make a list. Having an

idea of what you’d like to buy can help you stick to your budget and avoid frustration when you’re in the stores. You’ll be more likely to avoid costly impulse purchases and you’ll be more efficient while shopping. If you can, jot down a couple of backup ideas just in case what you want proves hard to find or exceeds your budget.

■ Shop for deals. Before you head out shopping, research specials on the items on your list. You

may be able to adjust your timing to take advantage of sales or find steep discounts at stores you don’t normally visit.

■ Give yourself plenty of time. If holiday shopping stresses you out, it’s a good idea to start early. That way you can tackle a little at a time and avoid feeling the pressure of a ticking clock. Also try shopping during off-peak hours, such as during the week, when stores are likely to be less crowded.

— Family Features

Metro/Stock photo

Pets of the week

Special to The Enterprise

Lots of animals are waiting for “forever homes” at the Yolo County Animal Shelter, 2640 E. Gibson Road in Woodland.

Among them is Knuckles (A199347), a 12-week-old male tabby kitten who loves playdates with the other cats he has met at the shelter. Knuckles has a superfluffy, soft coat and loves snuggling at nap time.

Also hoping for a good home is Blitzen (A200020), a 15-weekold male orange tabby kitten in need of a caring home to spoil him with TLC and help him to continue to grow into a healthy, handsome, hardy boy. Blitzen came to the shelter needing medical care but has fully recovered.

Blitzen

County Road 29 in Woodland. Come by 10 a.m., as it takes at least an hour to meet and adopt a dog; everyone who will be living with the dog should come out to meet it.

Bring proof of homeownership, such as a mortgage statement or property tax bill. If you rent, bring proof that you are allowed to have a dog in your home, such as a pet clause in your lease or a note from your landlord.

All dogs adopted from Rotts of Friends are healthy, microchipped, up-to-date on their vaccines and come with free lifetime obedience-training classes. For information, visit facebook.com/ rottsoffriends.

Pet gifts to get them playing

By Evelyn Dale Special to The Enterprise

Looking for pet gifts that won’t break your budget? Want to keep kids busy during the Holidays? Here are a few ideas to get you started. Remember, pets don’t care how much you spend on a gift, it just needs to be interesting. As with all toys, supervise pets while they’re enjoying them.

Paper Rolls: Make Christmas Crackers from toilet paper rolls with something your pet really likes. For dogs, favorite treats that smell yummy. For cats, catnip and a jingle bell or other small toy. Fill paper roll with appropriate items and stuff tissue paper into each end to keep items inside. Alternatively, use wrapping paper 4 inches wider than the roll to wrap around the paper roll before twisting each end to close. If your cat likes to play with ribbons, secure the twisted ends with curly ribbon.

Braided Dog and Cat Toys: Use old T-shirts, bedding, towels, etc. Cut strips of fabric to desired length and width — for dogs: 2 or more inches; for cats 1 inch or less. Knot three strips together and braid them. When there are a few inches left, knot the other end. If the toy is too long, tie a knot in the middle. For cats, put the toy in a zip lock bag with some catnip until it’s time to play.

Fun in a Box: A simple cardboard box with favorite toys, balls, and treats in a Kong, wrapped in a towel or just sprinkled in the box can enrich a dog’s or cat’s life. Simply put items in the box and lightly close the lid.

Food Puzzles: Put treats in cupcake tins. Then place

SPCA hosts adoption event

Special to The Enterprise

For information on adopting, contact adoptycas@gmail. com. All shelter animals are up-to-date on vaccinations, microchipped, and spayed or neutered.

Staff is available to assist via phone during business hours at 530668-5287. Shelter hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. To meet any adoptable YCAS animals, visit friendsofycas.org. To volunteer, sign up at tinyurl. com/yolovolunteerapp. Follow at @ycas.shelter and Instagram at @yoloanimalshelter.

At Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue, you’ll find Clark, a 1½-year-old neutered male setter/ pointer mix. He’s very friendly, crate-trained, walks on leash, gentle and well-socialized. He would make a great family dog.

Pistol is a lovely, purebred 1½-year-old spayed female Rottie. She is super-sweet, smart and loving. On warm days, Pistol loves swimming and water play. She is crate-trained and walks well on leash.

The next Rotts of Friends adoption event is from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at 34505

Yolo SPCA will conduct a cat-adoption event Saturday, Dec. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pet Food Express in Oakshade Shopping Center, 2171 Cowell Blvd. in south Davis.

There will be an array of kittens and some older cats waiting for their forever home for the holidays. To see the cats available for adoption with some information about them as well, see the Yolo SPCA website at https://www.yolospca. org/adopt.html. If you are interested in adopting, it helps to fill in an adoption request form ahead of time online at https:// form.jotform.com/ 52328506444151/.

For additional information, contact Yolo SPCA at yolospcafoster@gmail. com.

Paws for ThoughT

tennis balls on top. Vary the challenge by putting treats in only some of the tins. Turn old tennis balls into food puzzles. Cut an X into the ball or cut along the seam to make a flap and stuff kibble inside. Note: be sure the ball is large enough so it can’t be swallowed.

Repurpose Plastic Bottles: Transform plastic bottles into treat-dispensers. Cut treat-sized holes in a bottle, put treats inside, and screw on the lid. Treats should fall out when it’s pushed around. Make a toy. Put an empty plastic water bottle inside an old, fuzzy sock and tie the open end securely. Add a bell with ribbon for kitty.

Bake Treats: Make your own pet treats to put in toys you’ve made or in an empty jar you’ve decorated festively to either store or give to another pet you know and love.

Tuna treats for dogs and cats are quick and easy to make. Most dogs as well as cats like tuna fish but you can always substitute another option. Blend together 2+ cups whole wheat flour, 1 egg, 1 can (5 oz) tuna in water, no salt. On floured surface, roll dough to pie crust thickness. Transfer to greased baking sheet. Use knife or pizza cutter to cut dough into small pieces. Bake 15 minutes in 350 degree oven. For crunchier treats, leave them in the oven while it cools down.

Don’t forget about presentation. Make your gift fun to open. Maybe put it

in a gift bag or inside a box or two? Whatever works and is safe for the pet is good.

Happy Tails

December is an especially festive month for Jasper. In 2021, Haley Waugh adopted him on Dec. 3, so he began this month with a special party on the anniversary of his adoption and is enjoying his second Holiday Season with his “furever” family.

When Jasper arrived at the Front Street Animal Shelter, he had many medical issues and an uncertain future.

Thanks to Jasper’s big smile and adorable personality, he quickly won the hearts of staff and volunteers before heading to foster care with Front Street staff member Haley Waugh. After many vet visits, trips to the shelter, and hours of time together, Haley decided to make Jasper an official member of her family.

Haley writes, “Jasper is doing so well! He is happy and loves to play with the other dogs in his home. He goes on weekly outings with his parents and makes friends wherever he goes. He is always stopped by at least one person who knows who he is already!

“He still sees his specialist at UC Davis to make sure he is doing well. His doctor says he is stable and continuing to live a good life. Jasper and his parents can’t thank Front Street and their donors enough for making it possible to give him the best life ever.”

— Evelyn Dale of Davis is a volunteer and advocate for shelter animal welfare. Contact her at pawsforthought.comments@gmail.com This column appears monthly.

CourTesy PhoTo

Jasper is all smiles as he heads out for more holiday fun with Haley Waugh.

To support and continue their work helping animals, Yolo SPCA welcomes and appreciates mone tary donations which can be made online under “donate” at https:// www.yolospca.org.

CourTesy PhoTo

Peppermint Mocha, a 6-month old tabby male.

Pistol

Sac Ballet puts on hometown ‘Nutcracker’

By Timothy Nutter Special to The Enterprise

This December, Sacramento Ballet will present a delicious confection for the whole family, its hometown version of the “Nutcracker” at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. This new version of the “Nutcracker” premiered just last year and features original choreography by current and former dancers of the company, as well as Tchaikovsky’s musical score played by the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Andrew Grams, a conductor specializing in ballet music.

Artistic director Anthony Krutzkamp envisioned the show as “a ‘Nutcracker’ that is Sacramento’s own,” with original staging and dances by three choreographers, each of whom has strong connections to Sacramento: Julia Feldman, Colby Damon and Nicole Haskins. Beside the talents of Sacramento Ballet’s professional dancers and a collective cast of more than 150 local children, audiences can look forward to gorgeous costumes, magical sets and scenery,

Curtain up

7-year-old girl, Maria, who receives a Nutcracker doll for Christmas from her godfather, Drosselmeier. Overflowing with magic, dreams and eerie dopplegängers, the story stresses the natural goodness of children against their oppressive parents, children who find room for play, imagination and growth in their toys and dreams.

and enchanting music by an orchestra of 38 musicians.

The original “Nutcracker” ballet was staged in Saint Petersburg in 1892 as a double-bill with Tchaikovsky’s opera “Iolanta,” with choreography and staging by Lev Ivanov and Marius Petipa. The ballet’s libretto was loosely based on a short story written by an early 19thcentury German polymath Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann.

A classic tale of Romanticism, “Nutcracker and Mouseking” recounts the adventures of a

When I spoke with Krutzkamp and Feldman by phone, both emphasized how meaningful it was to build a new “Nutcracker” made by dancers who had worked with the company and had memories and connections to the city. Even though the company already had good choreography for the “Nutcracker,” Krutzkamp felt the extra work was more than worth it: “Finding a ‘Nutcracker’ that was more Sacramento’s own was really important for us because we really hadn’t tapped into what resources we had as far as choreographers that came out of Sacramento Ballet or, like Julia (Feldman), who were here.”

The three choreographers met a half-dozen times to discuss what the overall approach would

be, wrangling over the possibilities for hours on end — all before setting a single step. In question was what to adjust, what to change outright, and what to keep traditional. Feldman explained that “for all three of us it was really important to be very thoughtful in creating it in a way that was cooperative and all three of us were giving input … The storyline throughout is where we spent a lot of time talking and making sure that we were on the same page, as far as the narrative, and the journey of Clara.”

Each choreographer brought different strengths and values derived from having worked in numerous Nutcracker productions throughout their respective careers. And limiting their imagination was the imperative to use most of the existing costumes and scenery (though this year will see the addition of new Peppermint costumes). But in the end, a strong consensus emerged from their summits. “The three of us together,” Haskins said, “were much better than the sum of each of us individually.”

The new version keeps the traditional story and most of the

characters audiences expect, while providing extra opportunity and ownership for these local artists. All of the second act divertissements now portray things and qualities the choreographers felt would appeal broadly to children: Mother Ginger, a dancing gnome, sapphires, orchids, cinnamon and peppermint. But you can bet the mice still run riot. Clara still throws her shoe. And the chance of snow is still 100 percent.

Each of the three choreographers took primary responsibility for one of the large group sections of the ballet. Damon took on the Act 1 party scene, Feldman the beautiful Waltz of the Snowflakes, and Haskins the iconic Waltz of the Flowers in Act 2. Yet the three choreographers also took care to communicate and plan so that the ballet could be “as cohesive and thoughtful as possible.”

Feldman grew up in Davis, while attending a Natomas performing-arts charter school, which led her to study at Pamala Hayes’ ballet studio in Sacramento. She joined the company

MaxiMillian TorToriello/CourTesy phoTo

Daniel Kubr takes off in the Sacramento Ballet production of “The Nutcracker.”

MaxiMillian TorToriello/CourTesy phoTo

Sacramento Ballet’s Wen Na Robertson performs in this season’s “Nutcracker.”

DaviD BearDen/CourTesy phoTo

Andrew Grams will conduct the Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra to provide the music for Saramento Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

MaxiMillian TorToriello/CourTesy phoTo

The Sacramento Ballet presents “The Nutcracker.”

Two Saturday performances wrap up season

By Jeff Hudson Enterprise arts writer

The December concert season in Davis wraps up with two concerts this weekend — a performance by the American Bach Soloists at the Mondavi Center, plus a concert by the visiting Telegraph String Quartet, plus members of the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento at Davis High School’s Brunelle Performance Hall. Both concerts are on Saturday night, Dec. 17.

■ The American Bach Soloists — a highly-regarded early music group from the Bay Area that features a period instrument orchestra plus a top-notch choir and vocal soloists — will present a program titled “A Baroque Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Mondavi Center’s

Jackson Hall.

The program includes the first portion of the Handel oratorio “Messiah” (the portion that depicts events surrounding the birth of Christ) plus Christmasrelated selections by Italian composer Giuseppe Valentini (1681-1753), French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704), and German composer Johann Christoph Pez (1664-1716), all of whom led lives that overlapped with Handel (1685-1759).

Tickets are $50-$95 general, with discounts for students, at https://www.mondaviarts.org/ and at the door.

■ The Telegraph String Quartet, joined by musicians from the Chamber Music Society of Sacramento, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Brunelle

Performance Hall at Davis High School, 315 W. 14th St. in Davis.

The Telegraph Quartet is a Bay Area group that was founded in 2013. They soon became nationally prominent, receiving the prestigious Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 2016, which led directly to their Carnegie Hall premiere in 2017. More recently, the Telegraph Quartet joined the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as that institution’s string quartet in residence.

On the program will be the famous Octet by composer Felix Mendelssohn (completed in 1825, when Mendelssohn was in his teens, and commonly regarded as one of the greatest chamber music works from any era); the “Emperor” String Quartet of Josef Haydn (dating from 1797, when Haydn was a much

honored musical celebrity); and the String Quartet No. 4 of Polish composer Graznya Bacewicz (1909-1969). Tickets are $30 general, $25 seniors (60-plus) and $12 students/children, CMSSacto.org and at the door.

Among other events, the Mondavi Center also has two particularly notable concerts coming up in January:

■ The venerable violinist Itzhak Perlman — who is now in his late 70s, and began his performing career back in the 1950s, when he was a boy — returns to Jackson Hall on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 7:30 p.m., along with pianist Rohan de Silva, who often accompanies Perlman when he goes on tour.

Tickets are $125-$75, with discounts for students at MondaviArts.org. The seats on the

Orchestra, Orchestra Terrace and Grand Tier are mostly sold at this point, but there will probably be some seats in the Upper Tier available at the door on the night of the performance.

■ The all-star lineup of pianist Emmanual Ax, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and cellist Yo-Yo Ma — each of whom maintain a busy career as an orchestral soloist — will perform chamber music by Beethoven in Jackson Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

This much-anticipated concert is basically sold out at this point, but you can still check with the Mondavi Center box office, since there are always a few turnedback tickets that become available during the days leading up to the concert. The best seats, if they become available, are $195.

MondaviArts.org.

NUTCRACKER: Six separate casts of the principals will be performing

From Page B1

in 2011 and has choreographed numerous works for the company’s annual Beer and Ballet shows, for the School of Sacramento Ballet, as well as works for the affiliated Capital Dance Project.

While Feldman began with the Royal Ballet curriculum taught by Hayes, she has drawn an eclectic mix of influences into her performance and choreographic toolkit since then: “I think one of the cool things about dancing (at Sacramento Ballet), and maybe in America in general, is that you can pull different styles that you like or that fit best for whatever you’re dancing.” Feldman expressed her appreciation for this rare opportunity to collaborate on new choreography for the “Nutcracker,” calling it “an awesome honor.”

Damon currently works for Sacramento Ballet as their Education and Outreach Coordinator but he previously danced with the company from 2002 to 2007, as well as with numerous other professional companies. He has received choreography commissions from BalletX, Nashville Ballet and American Repertory Ballet, as well as many other dance companies and university programs.

He grew up in Richmond, Va., but since landing his first professional dancing gig at Sacramento Ballet, he has found a second home here. Damon views the annual “Nutcracker” cycle as much more than just holiday entertainment. “‘The Nutcracker,’ in a big-picture sense, is really a communal ritual,” Damon said. “It’s always seasonal, it corresponds with the solstice, it’s about renewal and rebirth. And all of those themes are present in the

story and just the involvement of what it means to grow over time … To see it year after year, to be in it year after year, to grow in the roles, and to revisit it and revisit the music. It mimics that celebration of cycles, which is ultimately what this time of year is about.”

Haskins danced professionally for Sacramento Ballet, Washington Ballet, and Smuin Contemporary American Ballet, but since 2019 has turned exclusively to choreography, with commissions coming from Sacramento Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theater, as well as many ballet schools around the nation. When I asked her how she approached choreographing the sugar plum fairy variation, with its universally recognized celesta melody, she gave credit both backwards and forwards.

On the one hand, she kept some traditional choreography, allowing her to “rest on the shoulders of giants.” On the other hand, she empowered the several performers to tailor the ending “manège” section of the variation to steps which that dancer performs best. “I definitely helped shape what they created but I allowed them the freedom to come in with their own voice and their own artistic sentimentalities and abilities.” Haskins emphasized that this kind of freedom has been more often reserved for men than for women.

The Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with the dancers at every show, with Grams conducting. Originally from Severn, Md., Grams studied at the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. He recently concluded an eight-year tenure as music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in

Illinois and will be traveling this year to conduct in such places as the Netherlands, Croatia, Chicago and Oakland.

He developed a deep appreciation for the score while playing violin for seven seasons in the New York City Ballet Orchestra, which would give some 45 to 50 performances of the Nutcracker each year. “Just like any great work of art, whether it is performance art, a piece of writing, or film, or a TV show, the more time you spend with a great work of art, the more you get out of it, the deeper your relationship to that work of art becomes.” Grams praised Tchaikovsky’s score as “exceptionally crafted” with many sections that are “sublime.”

The three choreographers worked with Grams to match the steps and music together. Particularly important was finding the right tempi for the particular steps and performers involved.

For example, the trepak divertissement (originally a traditional Russian and Ukrainian dance but in this version involving a gnome and mushrooms) needed to be played more slowly to accommodate the acrobatic steps choreographed by Damon.

Krutzkamp explained that a dancer’s height can also play a role in determining the right tempo: “If you have someone who’s 6-foot-3, you know, we’re going to talk to Mr. Grams and ask him to slow it down a little bit.” Grams also noted that the interaction of keeping time with each other through the vagaries performance is part of what makes the show fun and interactive for the musicians and dancers.

All the artists I spoke with expressed their deep appreciation for “The Nutcracker” as a work of art and social tradition that brings children and the arts

together in a unique way. “During ‘Nutcracker’ season,” Grams said, “one of the things that you as a musician in the pit see then, that you don’t really see that often through the rest of the season, is the presence of little kids, so excited to be there … You can see in their faces that they are in awe of being at this important tradition with elements they can relate to.”

Similarly, Damon described how “The Nutcracker” plays a special role in bringing kids from Sacramento into the arts as performers. The new choreography includes dancing roles for children, which he encourages the young performers to commit to with “mind, body, and soul.”

One new addition this year, which you’ll have to look closely to see, will be a sprung floor of interlocking panels made by Harlequin Floors. The panels will lie between the stage deck and a vinyl floor covering, known as “marley”, which provides the dancers with more consistent surface traction. This sprung floor gently gives when dancers land on it, helping ease wear-and-tear on their bodies.

Audiences will have a chance to see this show on three weekends, Dec. 10-24. If you can believe it, six separate casts of the principals will be performing, so make sure to check the date twice if you are hoping to see a particular snowflake or sugarplum. Astonishingly, Krutzkamp sees this kind of extreme organizational challenge as just another day at the office, all part of his plan, the same plan that motivated the hometown Nutcracker in the first place: “Always, in my opinion, the more you share the wealth, the better the company becomes.” And, we might add, the better the city.

Lisa Marie Mazzucco/courtesy photos

Left, The American Bach Soloists will present “A Baroque Christmas” this weekend on campus. Above, The Telegraph Quartet will be at the Brunelle Performance Hall on Saturday.

MaxiMiLLian tortorieLLo/courtesy photo

Sacramento Ballet “Nutcracker” dancers Alexa Herman, Maia Lee, Isabella Velasquez, Mesa Burdick and Dominique Wendt.

MaxiMiLLian tortorieLLo/courtesy photo

MaxiMiLLian tortorieLLo/courtesy photo

MaxiMiLLian tortorieLLo/courtesy photo

‘Empire of Light’: Radiant vision

Memorable characters inhabit this ode to vintage moviegoing

By Derrick Bang Enterprise film critic

Writer/director Sam Mendes’ handsomely mounted, intensely intimate character study is enchanting on so many levels, it’s difficult to know where to begin.

First and foremost, this is a loving valentine to the transformational magic of old-style film palaces: perhaps also a sad farewell to a manner of moviegoing likely to disappear within the next decade.

We’re also reminded, ever so gently, of the healing power of art in general — music, poetry, film itself — and the connective warmth of community, however unusual the “family unit” might be.

And this poignant story’s emotional impact comes from the powerhouse starring performance by Olivia Colman, whose bravura work here may be the high point of an already astonishing acting career.

The setting is an English coastal town, where Hilary (Colman) is the shift manager of the Empire, a fading palatial cinema house that still looks quite fancy — to a point — while nonetheless being a shadow of its glory days.

It’s Christmas Eve, 1980; Hilary arrives for the day’s shift, unlocking doors and cabinets, turning on lights. The rest of the crew soon follows: notably projectionist Norman (Toby Jones), junior manager Neil (Tom Brooke) and 18-year-old worker-bee

Janine (Hannah Onslow).

Everybody answers to supervising manager Mr. Ellis (Colin Firth), prone to outbursts of temper, and soon revealed as a tightlipped bully who uses and abuses people. (Firth is thoroughly convincing as an unapologetic bastard.)

Business is light, despite the allure of top-drawer, second-run fare on the theater’s two screens; we sense that a long time has passed, since the Empire enjoyed anything approaching a full house.

Despite her obviously capable skills, Hilary is quiet, withdrawn and oddly muted. It’s as if her eyes have become motion detectors: dark and inert at rest, erupting suddenly with life — and a smile that feels forced, existing only because it’s expected — only when somebody interacts with her.

A doctor’s visit explains all, when he asks if Hilary has “adjusted to the lithium.” She answers this and other questions rotely; the doctor jots notes into a folder, looking down the entire time, failing to observe the expressions on Hilary’s face, as she copes with each response. If she

lied, would he notice?

Back at the Empire, one of the “casuals” fails to show up for work one day; he’s replaced by Stephen (Micheal Ward), a relentlessly positive young man eager to fit in, but clearly not in his element. He navigates a frequently unfriendly realm at a perilous time: his opportunities limited by Thatcherite politics, his black skin a lightning rod for racist skinhead thugs who believe he has stolen their job possibilities. All this notwithstanding, Stephen always puts his best foot forward.

Hilary is dazzled.

Responding to Stephen’s curiosity, she takes him to the Empire’s long-closedoff upper level, which houses two more full-size theaters and a massive ballroom, complete with abandoned grand piano. This vast expanse now is occupied solely by the numerous pigeons that have found their way inside.

Hilary and Stephen bond

‘Nutcracker Sweet’ at Opera House

Special to The Enterprise

“The Nutcracker Sweet” is back at the Woodland Opera House from Dec. 17 to 18.

This annual production is a short-and-sweet retelling of the traditional Christmas ballet, “The Nutcracker.” Young Clara is taken on a magical journey into a Land of Sweets by her favorite Christmas present, a Magic Nutcracker. All performers are members of the Woodland Opera House Education Program, ranging from 3 to 18 years old. Music composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Reserved seats are $16 for adults and seniors 62-plus, and $8 for children 17 and under. Balcony tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Flex Pass specials and group

Gallery 1855 hosts Eldred

Special to The Enterprise

Gallery 1855 presents the artwork of Margaret Eldred from Jan. 3 through 31. The artist will host a reception from 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13.

The gallery is on the grounds of The Davis Cemetery at 820 Pole Line Road, and is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This local gallery, managed by the Davis Cemetery District. invites local artists to display their work. For information, or to request a spot on the calendar, email Judy Fisher at judy@ daviscemetery.org.

More information about Gallery 1855 is online at http://daviscemetery. org/gallery-1855/.

Get cracking

What: “The Nutcracker Sweet”

Where: Woodland Opera House, 340 Second St. in Woodland

When: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16; 2 p.m and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

rates are available.

Tickets on sale online at https://www.etix.com/ ticket/e/1030053/the-nutcracker-sweet-2022-woodland-woodland-operahouse and at the box office at 530-666-9617, at 340 Second St. in Woodland.

Hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Opera House is

located

Many

while tending to a pigeon with a broken wing (an obvious metaphor).

Come New Year’s Eve, they bond a bit more. And then even more.

At which point, happier and more “connected” than she has felt in months, Hilary decides that she no longer needs her meds. And stops taking them.

And we viewers groan, horrified, knowing full well what soon will follow.

To say that Colman subsequently navigates vast emotional mood swings would be the worst of understatements; she owns them. Hilary becomes charming, heroic, spiteful and terrifyingly savage in her mania.

Ward’s work is equally compelling, albeit more quietly so. Stephen enjoys people, is excited by life’s opportunities, loves to connect with music and movies, and refuses to be defined by an oppressive society. Watch Ward’s eyes, and the set of his mouth, when Stephen is con-

fronted by a cranky older customer with a chip on his shoulder (Ron Cook, memorably loathsome in a fleeting role).

Although Colman’s Hilary is this story’s centerpiece, in a way Stephen emerges as the more crucial character; this is his coming-of-age story. His growing bond with Hilary is crucial for both.

Jones’ Norman is this story’s unabashed romantic: often squirreled away in a projection booth plastered with classic movie stills — a refuge of necessity, since reels must be changed every 15 minutes — and something of an enigma. Until, quite suddenly, he isn’t. We hears Mendes’ passion through Norman’s words, when he speaks reverentially of the power of that beam of light, which emanates from the booth window and then displays transformational images on the screen.

Tanya Moodie pops up in the third act as Delia, Stephen’s wise, observant and

devoted mother. She works long hours and falls asleep each evening, exhausted, while attempting to watch some telly.

The era, and passage of time, are marked cleverly by the films shown at the Empire: “Being There,” “Gregory’s Girl,” “Chariots of Fire” and others. This story’s mostly gentle nature notwithstanding, we’re never allowed to forget the rising toxicity of Enoch Powell and the National Front, and the many riots that shattered England in 1981, particularly in Brixton and Toxteth.

Mendes’ best films place compelling, intimate character dramas against periods in history that we cannot allow to be forgotten. That certainly was the case with his previous masterpiece, “1917” … and it’s equally true here.

— Read more of Derrick Bang’s film criticism at http://derrickbang. blogspot.com. Comment on this review at www. davisenterprise.com.

WTC opens auditions for ‘Art’

Special to The Enterprise

Winters Theatre Company will hold auditions for the play “Art” by Yazmin Reza at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 3 and 4 at the Winters Community Center, 201 Railroad Ave. in Winters. The cast comprises three males. How much would you pay for a white painting? Would it be considered

Courtesy graphiC

art? Three friends express their opinions over such a painting when one of them buys it. Their views become personal and come close to destroying their friendships.

“Art” will run FridaySunday from March 17 to 26.

For information, call 530-795-4014 or go online to winterstheatre.org.

Home for the Holidays back at Vets Memorial

Special to The Enterprise

Tickets are now on sale for the 19th annual Home for the Holidays concert, benefiting the Davis School Arts Foundation.

Acts include Misner and Smith, Boot Juice, Joe Craven, Way Out West, Rita Hosking Trio, Hattie Craven, Alaina Rose, the

Tyrobeys, and special guests. The show is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at the Veterans Memorial Theater, 203 E. 14th St. in Davis.

Tickets available at Armadillo Music, Watermelon Music or online at Eventbrite.com.

For information, contact www. billyfairfield.com or 530-758-2455.

In the longdeserted upper level of their majestic cinema palace, Hilary (Olivia Colman) watches, transfixed, as Stephen (Micheal Ward) gently tends to a pigeon with an injured wing.

Courtesy photo

Starring: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke

Available via: Movie theaters

in historic downtown Woodland, just 20 minutes from Sacramento.

wonderful shops and restaurants are within walking distance from the theater.

Courtesy photo

Maya Chessher leaps into the Woodland Opera House’s production of “The Nutcracker Sweet.”

Wrong strategy for carbon sequestration

By Eyal Harel Special to CalMatters

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Microalgae are carbon-sucking powerhouses that exist within all natural water bodies. They absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide at an unparalleled rate, removing gigatons of carbon through their natural process of photosynthesis. When microalgae, such as bluegreen algae, multiply rapidly in nutrient-dense waters, they produce toxins and form blooms. These blooms suffocate aquatic ecosystems, poison marine life, endanger human health and damage local economies.

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

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

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

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

Radical ruling could backfire

Ever since ex-President Donald Trump placed three conservative justices there, the U.S. Supreme Court has seemed to many like an extension of the extreme right wing of the national Republican Party.

Now, after an early December court hearing on a lawsuit aiming to give state legislatures — and only the legislatures — power over almost every aspect of how federal elections are conducted, there suddenly arises the possibility of a major backfire from any such decision by America’s highest court.

The reason for this potential backfire resides most prominently here in California. This state is so large and leans so strongly Democratic that if legislators here reverse some longstanding state election policies, they could cause big changes nationally.

Especially if some potential California actions were imitated in other large-population blue states like Illinois and New York and Oregon and Washington.

Here are the stakes in the Supreme Court case brought by North Carolina Republican legislators: State legislatures could be authorized to draw future legislative and congressional district boundaries any way they like, with no say for either governors or state courts. The North Carolina GOP sued because that state’s Supreme Court wouldn’t let

Letters

Kudos to DHS choirs

them get away with patently partisan district maps guaranteed to perpetuate big Republican majorities in its legislature and congressional delegation.

If the Supreme Court, as some justices have indicated it might, awards such ultimately extreme powers to state legislatures, it could also be permitting state lawmakers to substitute presidential Electoral College members of their preference for those elected by voters. This would be a prescription for election irrelevance, and would make voter suppression laws of the recent past look like mild, amateur tactics.

Essentially, it would let state Legislatures and not the voters of any or all states make the most important civic decisions virtually unchecked.

Except … California legislators would have it in their power to reverse much of what multiple other states might do. They could create a whole new kind of check and balance for the court and those other legislatures to consider.

In a way, California voters created today’s small

Republican majority in the House of Representatives when they used ballot propositions to set up independent redistricting commissions for legislative and congressional districts here.

The new GOP majority exists only because California elected 40 Democrats and 12 Republicans to the House in November, using district lines drawn by the independent commission, which had equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats.

But if the Supreme Court says legislatures — and not voters — have ultimate power over redistricting, state lawmakers here could overturn the independent commission’s district lines anytime they like. With Democrats holding twothirds-plus majorities in both houses of this state’s Legislature, they could draw any lines they wished, should the Supreme Court find for the North Carolina Republicans.

Does anyone seriously think a Democratic-drawn plan here would have enabled narrow victories for Republican representatives like John Duarte, Michelle Steel, Mike Garcia, David Valadao, Kevin Kiley or Young Kim, without whom there is no GOP majority?

Does anyone seriously think a Democratic-drawn plan would have set up Orange County Democrat Katie Porter for several nail-biting post-election weeks?

There’s not a chance of that. Nor would there be any chance for Republicans, as they just did, to take away a formerly Democratic seat in Oregon and maintain all its seats in Washington state. The same in Illinois and New York, scene of a major Republican upset.

So there is plenty of room for backfire if the Supreme Court goes extreme in granting state legislators almost unchecked power.

And what if the high court gave Republican-led legislatures in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania authority to substitute presidential electors different from those chosen by voters, and those legislatures then actually did that and reversed a national election outcome?

Does the Supreme Court seriously believe only extremist far-right activists are capable of reacting with an insurrection? If so, they’ve forgotten the almost anonymous leftists of Antifa, who in 2020 and 2021 rioted and took over parts of cities like Portland and Seattle.

So here’s a cautionary word to the conservative Supreme Court majority: If you open Pandora’s Box and sow the wind by changing America’s traditional political and electoral checks and balances, you could live to reap whatever whirlwind might follow.

— Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com.

I got to attend the Davis High choirs’ Winter Concert last night. This was not my first rodeo — I was expecting to enjoy some nice music, focusing rather a lot on my grandchild.

“Nice music” doesn’t come close. These were actual choirs making whole, roundtoned, glorious music ... the kind that only many beautifully blended voices can make. Kudos to their director Amanda Bistolfo (DHS class of ’07). Really good.

Jan Peiffer Woodland

Rain, wind couldn’t stop holiday giving

Not even pouring rain or severe wind gusts could dampen the holiday spirit the Short Term Emergency Aid Committee, held its 55th annual Holiday Program

enterprise

A McNaughton Newspaper Locally owned and operated since 1897

Foy S. McNaughton President and CEO R. Burt McNaughton Publisher

Sebastian Oñate Editor

Official legal newspaper of general circulation for the city of Davis and county of Yolo. Published in The Davis Enterprise building, 325 G St., Davis, CA. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617. Phone: 530-756-0800. An award-winning newspaper of the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

Speak

President

Distribution Day. On Saturday, Dec. 10, recipients lined up in their cars at the First Baptist Church of Davis for a drivethrough distribution of food and gifts donated by Davis families, groups and individuals who “adopted” them for the holidays.

First, I want to thank the volunteers who braved the weather on Saturday to make sure all the donations made it into the recipients’ cars. Their smiling faces and positive attitudes made one of the most weather-challenged Distribution Days in recent memory a success. In all, there were 125-plus volunteers who invested their time and energy to distribute all food and gifts to our cherished recipients.

STEAC is very grateful to the staff and congregation of First Baptist who donate their facilities and grounds for an entire week.

STEAC would like to thank Scott Love with the Yolo County Library and Scott Thompson with DJUSD for allowing us to host qualification sessions at the Davis library branches and providing access to laptop computers.

The families benefitted from the

out

The Hon. Joe Biden, The White House, Washington, D.C., 20500; 202-456-1111 (comments), 202-456-1414 (switchboard); email: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact U.S. Senate

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 331 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3841; email: http://feinstein. senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me Sen. Alex Padilla, B03 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510;

202-224-3553; email: padilla.senate. gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

House of Representatives

Rep. John Garamendi (3rd District), 2368 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202-225-1880.

District office: 412 G St., Davis, CA 95616; 530-753-5301; email: visit https://garamendi.house.gov/contact/ email

Governor

Gov. Gavin Newsom, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916-4452841; email: visit https://govapps.gov. ca.gov/gov40mail/

donations of gift cards from St. James Church parishioners and our partnership with Salvation Army of Davis. Each year we are awed by the hundreds of handmade blankets from Project Linus of Yolo County, led by Diane McGee.

Tiffany Clements at The Home Depot in Woodland, coordinated a donation of two Christmas trees with lights which provided décor during the week, and were delivered to two raffle winners at the end of Distribution Day.

We are so thankful to work with Li Yao at Empower Yolo; Harmony Scopazzi, Becky Morigo and Synda Whitmer at Davis Community Meals and Housing; Jeni Price at NAMI; Rachel Nervo at the Department of Veteran’s Affairs; Tiffany Cruz at Summer House; Shelley Arizaga at Hope Cooperative; and Yvonne Page and Jamallah Green at Davis Respite Center.

And, of course, we are incredibly grateful for the individuals, families, groups and organizations that banded together to support STEAC or adopt our 464 low-income individuals and families.

Kelly Coleman

STEAC Holiday Program chair

We welcome your letters

Addresses and phone numbers should be included for verification purposes; they will not be published.

Limit letters to 350 words. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. We reserve the right to edit all letters for brevity or clarity.

Mail letters to The Davis Enterprise, P.O. Box 1470, Davis, CA 95617; bring them to 315 G St.; fax them to 530-756-1668; or email them to newsroom@davis enterprise.net.

By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

By Scott Adams

By Stephan Pastis

Classic Peanuts

By Charles M. Schulz

Pearls Before Swine

Ambitious Sudoku 2

Have a friend give you NOUNS, ADJECTIVES and VERBS. Then read the silly story aloud. Prepare for big laughs!

NO VE st Standards Link: V isual Discrimination: Find similarities and differences in common objects.

Everyone knows that Santa slides down chimneys to deliver presents to children on Christmas Eve. But what happens when a home has no ____________?

Santa has a magic ___________ that can open any lock in the world. So he can quietly ______ through a door and to leave ___________ in stockings or under the ____________

Santa also has many helpers. This way, if he is running behind schedule, the helpers _______ to the rescue and deliver the

Some people like to leave fresh __________ for Santa’s reindeer This gives them energy and helps them __________ through the chilly winter air

Back at the North Pole, Santa rests for several days after his _____________ journey But plans for the following Christmas begin right away, as the elves begin making _______ and ___________ in the workshop. They ________ long hours throughout the year. In addition to bikes and dolls, they make a surprising amount of which are very popular gifts.

selected. Can he or she find out which is the Christmas mystery picture?

a sentence in which all (or nearly all) of the words start with the same letter Example: Wendy walks with wonder when the weather warms.

Blue Devils soccer keep Wolfpack quiet

Enterprise staff

The Davis High boys soccer team scored plenty in Wednesday’s Delta League road game at Cosumnes Oaks.

That led to DHS to a 4-1 win over the Wolfpack.

Rigo Guerra scored twice for the Blue Devils.

Lucas Liu and Simon Vaca-Lorenzi scored a goal each.

Liu had two assists and Caleb Yoon had one.

Davis (2-0 in the Delta League, 4-0-1) play a nonleague game at Vacaville on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

River Cats

WEST SACRAMENTO

The Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have bolstered their fan-favorite Giant Pack for

the holiday season with the release of the Giant Pack Marvel Edition.

The Giant Pack Marvel Edition, which is exclusively through today, has over a $500 value and can be purchased online for $279 at www.rivercats. com.

The pack already consists of nine of the best games on the schedule, seven fireworks nights and six guaranteed giveaways.

The River Cats Marvel Edition is powered up with a ticket to Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond Night and a Marvel-inspired River Cats hat that the team will be donning during the Defenders of the Diamond game.

More information can be found about the 2023 Giant Pack Marvel Edition, at rivercats.com.

BLUE DEVILS: Squad will play in the winner’s bracket today

From Page B8

McCabe followed with a two-point make as well, and Anderson hit the Blue Devils’ first threepointer of the game. Davis then held a 18-5 edge.

After Anderson made one of two free throws, Aidan Crawford sunk two baskets at the 35 and three-second marks.

Going into the second quarter, the Blue Devils led the Panthers 23-6.

Ackerman led off the second frame with a basket at 7:06 for a 25-6 score.

Jadyn Coaker made a bucket at 6:51 and was given an extra point free throw, which he made for a 28-6 lead.

Crawford followed with a basket at 5:50 and a three-pointer at 5:20. Ten seconds later, McCabe sunk a shot as well. The Blue Devils continued to hold the advantage, 35-6.

After Florin missed two free throws, Crawford hit a bucket, followed by a three-pointer from his teammate, Anderson. Davis then led 40-6.

The Panthers scored their first points of the second quarter at the 3:45 mark on a two-point basket.

At halftime, DHS led FHS 60-13.

Anderson led scoring for DHS in the game, with 21 points overall.

Crawford and Coaker scored 15 points apiece. Ackerman had 11 and McCabe had 10.

Davis will face Del Oro High in the semifinal round of the tournament today at 8:30 p.m.

LEAGUE: Next game in January

From Page B8

four games this young season.

The Blue Devils’ next game will be on Wednesday, Jan. 4 in Delta League game at Elk Grove.

Davis is scheduled to play four home games in January.

That includes hosting rival St. Francis on Jan. 18.

— Follow Rebecca Wasik on Twitter:

AGGIES: Northern Arizona visits Monday

mimicking that,” Gross said. “Not taking our foot off the pedal.”

UC Davis kept its intensity going in the third quarter. The Aggies outscored the Warriors 22-10 for a 58-25 lead.

The Aggies continued their scoring spree in the final quarter with an 18-5 advantage.

Behind Turner and Epps in scoring for the Aggies were guard Sydney Burns with eight points, Makaila Sanders seven, Tess Susan and Gray six each, Harris five, Sabel four and Norris two.

William Jessup for-

ward Kayla Vieira was the leading scorer with six points. Guard Maila Lepolo followed with five points and forward Makaila Napoleon and guard Andrea Jovicevic had four points each.

The Aggies host Northern Arizona in another nonconference game on Monday at 5 p.m.

Then UCD begins Big West Conference action at Hawai’i on Thursday, Dec. 29.

— Contact Mike Bush at mike@davisenterprise.net. Follow on Twitter: @MBDavisSports.

racheL Kreager/enterprise fiLe photo

Dinger, the Sacramento River Cats’ mascot, pumps up the crowd before a game at Sutter Health Stadium over the summer.

From Page B8

christoph Lossin/enterprise photo

Aggie guard Sydney Burns (13) eyes the basket in the first half of Thursday’s non-conference home game against William Jessup.

Soccer

DHS girls open league play with shutout

By Rebecca Wasik Enterprise correspondent

Three different Davis High girls soccer players lifted the team to victory on Wednesday.

That led to Davis (4-0) shuting out Cosumnes Oaks (4-3) in the Delta League opener, 4-0 at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium.

“We’re early in league,” said Davis head coach Sara Stone. “Before the game, I checked to see how we did against Cosumnes Oaks last year to jog my memory and recall what that game looked like. I am super happy with tonight’s result. We’ve maintained shut outs for a few games now. We were dangerous in the attack.”

The Blue Devils’ first shot on goal came at the five-minute mark by Lindsey Fitzpatrick. However, the Wolfpack’s goalie pulled up the save.

In the eighth minute, Una Keller kicked a shot on goal that went over the net.

Blue Devils’ Miya Alamares had a large running lead to the goal, but her kick hit the right goalpost.

Then DHS found the back of the net for the first time in the eleventh minute. Sophomore midfielder, Mia Simmons scored the goal for a 1-0 advantage.

Alamares also had shots on goal in the 19th and 29th minutes, but Cosumnes

Oaks’ goalie recorded two more saves.

Kailiani Compton, a sophomore midfielder, then scored a goal at the 30-minute mark to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.

Throughout the first half, DHS was able to keep the ball on their side of the field, withholding any chance of scoring from the Wolfpack.

Davis held onto a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Blue Devil sophomore midfielder Audrey Aguirre scored the first goal of the second half at the 59th minute. This gave Davis a 3-0 edge.

In the 68th minute, Cosumnes Oaks took a shot, but the ball was easily stopped by DHS goalie freshman Aubrey McClin.

The Blue Devils tacked on one more goal to their tally in the 73rd minute when Compton scored her second goal of the game.

Stone was happy to see contributions from several players offensively in the match.

“The opponent doesn’t have to just rely on the one goal scorer on our team, they have to be aware of multiple players,” said Stone. “The more players we have, that are dynamic in those situations, the harder it is for teams to be organized.”

Davis has shut out its opponents in

curry invitational

BaSketBall

Blue Devils take care of Panthers

By Rebecca Wasik Enterprise correspondent

An 86-point edge got the Davis High boys basketball team off to the perfect start in the Les Curry Invitational on Thursday night in the North Gym.

In its opening game, DHS (4-3) crushed Florin High of Sacramento in a 101-15 blowout.

The Blue Devils came out strong in the first quarter; the Panthers scored the first field goal of the game but after that the Devils never looked back.

Once Florin took that 2-0 lead, Aidan Crawford, Will Ackerman and Jack Anderson each answered with a two-point basket of their own to take a 6-2 advantage.

The Panthers then added another two points to their tally at 5:45, cutting DHS’ lead to 6-4.

Ackerman answered right back with a two-point basket 15 seconds later for an 8-4 advantage.

Florin scored their final field goal of the first frame at the 4:45 mark.

Following two missed free throws from Marcell Gentles, Alden McCabe scored a two-point basket for DHS. This made the score 10-5.

Collin Carpenter earned two free throws at 3:11 and made one. He was given two more free throws at 3:03 but missed both. Davis continued to hold a 11-5 lead.

The Panthers followed with two missed free throws as well at 2:53.

Anderson got the scoring going again at 2:35 with a field goal. DHS then led 13-5.

Aggies too fast for Warriors

By Mike Bush Enterprise sports editor

Nya Epps took the open shots coming off the bench.

Her UC Davis women’s basketball teammates also found their groove sinking baskets in Thursday’s nonconference game against William Jessup’s squad.

Together, Epps and the Aggies used a fast run in the second quarter to break open a close game and post a 76-30 win inside the University Credit Union Center in front of 251 fans.

UC Davis (4-5) kicked on from a 15-13 score after the first quarter. At halftime, the Aggies sat on a 36-15 advantage, thanks to a 21-2 run.

“We had a slow start,” said UCD head coach Jennifer Gross. “Credit William Jessup came out firing.”

Gross started the second quarter with guards Evanne Turner (gameleading 18 points) and Campbell Gray, while the frontcourt consisted of forwards Mazatlan Harris and Tovah Sabel and center Megan

Norris on the court. After William Jessup (8-5) hit a bucket, the Aggies started the scoring spree with a 3-pointer for an 18-15 score.

“We talked about increasing our pressure,” Gross said. “We talked about pushing the pace a little bit. Just making plays. We were just kind of cautious to start the game, and I’m not sure why.”

Then Sabel hit her only basket of the game, which was followed by Gray’s make off the glass and Turner hitting a pair of free throws, to give UCD a 24-15 lead at that point a 9-2 run.

Guard Victoria Baker (seven points) also had a shot off the glass for the Aggies, to build the lead to 26-15. Baker’s shot inside the paint was one of a total of 18 for UCD.

Epps, a freshman from El Cerrito, came off the bench halfway through the quarter, in which she scored 10 of her 13 points.

“We’ve been working a lot on transition during practice, and

that’s been a big emphasis,” Epps said. “We’ve been working on a lot of swing passes, just running down to the corner and transition.

Gross added, “She’s doing a tremendous job. She’s a great 3-point shooter, so she stretches the defense. She’s really becoming someone that we can rely on.”

UC Davis made 6 of 17 field goals for a 35.29 shooting percentage in the quarter. Combined with 3 of 11 3-pointers and 6 of 8 free throws, it had a whopping 75 percent shooting percentage overall.

“We were able to kind of pick it up and thought we were able to get points in transition,” Epps said.

The Aggies’ defense played a huge role in the quarter, and game. UC Davis forced nine William Jessup turnovers.

“We talked about the feeling that we had, the difference between the feeling at the start of the game versus the second quarter and just

Mike BuSh/enterpriSe photo Davis midfielder Lauren Lemmo (12) battles two Cosumnes Oaks players for the soccer ball in Wednesday’s Delta League game at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium. To view more photos, visit www.davisenterprise.com, click on the Sports tab and look for the story.

chriS toph loSSin/enterpriSe photo

UC Davis guard Nya Epps (4) looks at a William Jessup player and move the basketball in Thursday’s non-conference game at the University Credit Union Center. Epps scored 13 points coming off the bench for the Aggies.

Mike BuSh/enterpriSe file photo

Blue Devil forward Jack Anderseon (10), seen here in action against Granite Bay at the Titans Holiday Classic on Dec. 10, and his teammates had a big second quarter to beat Florin in the first game of the Les Curry Invitational on Thursday.

Landlord could be sued if police given access to tenant’s unit without a search warrant

Q: I own a duplex here in Solano County. I live in one of the units and I rent the other one out. Two police officers came to my door and told me the guy I’m renting to is on parole. Apparently he wasn’t home, because I think he was at work, and the police wanted to search his unit. They asked me to give them a key to the place. I asked them if they had a search warrant, but they said they didn’t need one because allowing the police to search at any time was a condition of his parole. I didn’t know what else to do, so I gave them the key. After they opened the door, one of the officers returned the key to me. Was that the right thing to do? I need to know because I suspect this won’t be the last time the police will be asking. Thanks.

A: Any time law enforcement wants to enter someone’s place of residence without a proper search warrant it requires some in-depth analysis of the law and the obligations of the parties involved. One of the biggest concerns the Founding Fathers had was that government would usurp its authority by forcing its way into private property. That’s why specific constitutional protections, such as the Fourth Amendment, have been in both our federal and state constitutions from their inceptions.

This is a very interesting question, and one that requires we look at things from your legal perspective. I took the time to research both the law and appellate court cases on the matter.

I found nothing that specifically addresses a landlord’s obligations to the police and the tenant under this circumstance. So, we’re forced to look at more general principles of the law.

Let me jump up and say I don’t practice criminal law, but I have no reason to believe the police officers were not correct in explaining they had a right to search without a warrant. But whether they did or did not is a matter between them, your tenant and possibly the courts.

However, you, as the landlord, don’t have a right to search, or even unlock the door for someone, without giving the tenant reasonable notice of your intent to do so. Whatever rights the police have doesn’t change that fact. And besides, you, the landlord, don’t actually know if the guy is really a parolee and what the conditions of his parole are.

While there are many times you must follow the directions of the police, the law never requires you to accept as true a statement of fact or law from a police officer. In fact, the police are specifically allowed to deliberately misstate both when conducting an investigation, and often do.

The danger you face by letting the police in, even if they instructed you to do so, is finding yourself in a lawsuit with your tenant. Doing something illegal, even under the direction of a police officer, will be no defense in court.

If the police had a right to search, then they’re off the hook. But if you illegally gave them the key, you’re still subject to being sued by the tenant.

The ultimate issue of whether they can use what they found in court, given that you had no right to let them in, is a different issue. But by giving the police the key, you, in effect, may be deemed to have illegally entered the unit. If the tenant claims something was broken or stolen, you could be liable.

The reaction of many readers will undoubtedly be, “that’s not fair if the police told me to do it.” Many have been taught that part of being a good citizen is to cooperate fully with the police. You trust that if you follow the direction of the police, you are doing the right thing.

Frankly, that belief is just what the framers of the Constitution were afraid of.

But, to be fair to the police officers, they may well have felt they were just

Tim Jones

Pantone 2023 Color of the Year is bold, very ’90s

THE WASHINGTON POST

The world’s color authority has spoken, and this year, the smoke that wafted up from the Pantone conclave was tinged a deep, pinkish red: All hail Viva Magenta, Pantone’s 2023 color of the year.

The carmine tone “merges the warmth of the natural world with the endless, rich possibilities of the digital space,” said Elley Cheng, Pantone’s vice president and general manager, during the announcement on Thursday. (Which, sadly, did not actually involve any Vatican-esque smoke. It was more like a TED Talk or an Apple product reveal.)

This year’s decision, Pantone

Solano real estate transactions

said, involved an experimental merging of human trend experts and artificial intelligence. After the humans at Pantone determined that Viva Magenta would be their pick, folks at the design firm Huge entered text descriptors of the hue into the AI art generator Midjourney to come up with the images that Pantone is using to express the shade. Attendees at Art Basel Miami will be able to “Enter the Magentaverse” and immerse themselves in the color.

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, connected Viva Magenta to the way our lives have changed during the coronavirus pandemic.

See Pantone, Page 6

trying to do their jobs and had no reason to know about the legal problems they are creating for you.

What if the police did have a search warrant?

Surprisingly, unless you are named in the warrant, I could find nothing that authorizes you to give them the key to your tenant’s unit.

If you had legal possession of the unit, you are required to allow the search. But as long as your tenant resides there, you don’t have possession and therefore, at least in theory, are legally incapable of giving access.

These are the local homes sold recently, provided by California Resource of Lodi. The company can be reached at 209.365.6663 or CalResource@aol.com.

DIXON

TOTAL SALES: 3

LOWEST AMOUNT: $475,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $785,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $650,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $636,667

1435 Blossom Way - $785,000

11-10-22, Previous Sale: 02-09-21, $4,572,000

615 Brians Way - $650,000

11-10-22 [4 Bdrms - 2531 SqFt - 2000 YrBlt]

1019 Parkgreen Drive - $475,000

11-10-22 [2 Bdrms - 1257 SqFt - 1987 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-07-18, $352,000

FAIRFIELD

TOTAL SALES: 6

LOWEST AMOUNT: $426,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $684,500

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $525,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $547,083

1118 2nd Street - $472,000

11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1000 SqFt - 1954 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-19-21, $365,000

2769 Ambrosia Way - $684,500

11-10-22 [4 Bdrms - 2385 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt]

2901 Gulf Drive - $535,000

11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1799 SqFt - 1982 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 10-03-98, $139,000

2841 Marigold Drive - $515,000

11-10-22 [5 Bdrms - 1992 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt]

5220 Mayrene Bates Lane - $650,000

11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1946 SqFt - 2012 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-07-12, $361,500

1301 Woolner Avenue - $426,000

11-07-22 [3 Bdrms - 1446 SqFt - 1929 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 08-18-16, $294,500

RIO VISTA

TOTAL SALES: 2

LOWEST AMOUNT: $485,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $510,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $497,500

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $497,500

147 Gardiner Way - $485,000

11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1531 SqFt - 1952 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 03-31-17, $310,000

1026 Linda Vista Way - $510,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1542 SqFt - 1990 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 04-19-19, $350,000

SUISUN CITY

TOTAL SALES: 1

LOWEST AMOUNT: $510,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $510,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $510,000

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $510,000

802 Greenhead Way - $510,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1320 SqFt - 1976 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 05-02-20, $410,000

VACAVILLE

TOTAL SALES: 9

LOWEST AMOUNT: $357,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $1,650,000

MEDIAN AMOUNT: $550,000 AVERAGE AMOUNT: $723,556

321 Anders Court - $525,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1853 SqFt - 1989 YrBlt] 2025 Atherton Court - $920,000 11-08-22 [4 Bdrms - 3492 SqFt - 2005 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 05-09-12, $380,000 518 Davis Street - $400,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1580 SqFt - 1910 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-09-22, $300,000 555 Galway Court - $550,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1268 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 01-31-17, $388,000 785 Hydrangea Drive - $765,000 11-10-22 [4 Bdrms - 2970 SqFt - 2021 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-01-21, $722,500 169 Lassen Circle - $357,000 11-08-22 [2 Bdrms - 1152 SqFt - 1964 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 00/1992, $122,500 112 Manzanita Drive - $455,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1472 SqFt - 1967 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 11-13-08, $153,000 359 Sage Sparrow Circle - $890,000 11-10-22 [5 Bdrms - 3584 SqFt - 2004 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 07-25-08, $420,000 3945 Solar Hills Drive - $1,650,000 11-09-22 [5 Bdrms - 4318 SqFt - 1998 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 00/1992, $190,000

VALLEJO

TOTAL SALES: 12

LOWEST AMOUNT: $284,000

HIGHEST AMOUNT: $750,000 MEDIAN AMOUNT: $552,500

AVERAGE AMOUNT: $539,292

180 Adele Drive - $618,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1614 SqFt - 1988 YrBlt]

184 Amherst Avenue - $535,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1478 SqFt - 1966 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 03-15-16, $225,000

8720 Aquamarine Drive - $750,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 2050 SqFt - 2019 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 09-05-19, $630,500

168 Bidwell Way - $525,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1102 SqFt - 1955 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-25-18, $360,000

4421 Celeste Court - $628,000 11-07-22 [3 Bdrms - 1742 SqFt - 2001 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-04-12, $330,000

1428 Hale Street - $645,000 11-08-22 [3 Bdrms - 1941 SqFt - 1985 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 10-23-17, $467,500

1945 Indiana Street - $535,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1366 SqFt - 1939 YrBlt]

355 Parkview Terrace #F3 - $292,000 11-10-22 [2 Bdrms - 918 SqFt - 1973 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 07-22-10, $45,000

1712 Sacramento Street - $570,000 11-08-22 [1 Bdrms - 744 SqFt - 1919 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 06-24-10, $35,000

125 Skyway Drive - $610,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 1536 SqFt - 1970 YrBlt]

69 Werden Street - $284,000 11-10-22 [3 Bdrms - 988 SqFt - 1978 YrBlt],

Previous Sale: 11-15-00, $111,000

18 Winslow Avenue - $479,500 11-08-22 [2 Bdrms - 1158 SqFt - 1942 YrBlt], Previous Sale: 04-16-14, $230,000

It’s amazing to me that a landlord’s rights and responsibilities are so muddled in this regard. When the police show up on your doorstep and demand entrance it really puts you, the landlord, between the proverbial rock and hard place. If you turn over the keys, you may get sued. If you don’t, the police may kick in the door at your expense, or even arrest you for obstruction of justice.

Since the law isn’t clear, here’s the best advice I can give.

See if your tenant will sign a release that specifically gives you permission to give the key to the police any time they request it.

Otherwise, if I were you, I would not provide a key to the police unless they have a search warrant. If they have one, and only after you’ve read it, I would cooperate because I believe it’s the most legally defensible action to take.

Tim Jones is a real estate attorney in Fairfield. If you have any real estate questions you would like to have answered in this column, you can send an email to AllThingsRealEstate@ TJones-Law.com.

PANTONE/THE WASHINGTON POST

Pantone’s Color of The Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, is “rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength,” according to the company.

Prioritize your wants, needs as a homebuyer in today’s market

There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher now than they were last year.

And if you’re thinking about buying a home, this may be top of mind for you. That’s because those higher rates affect how much it costs to borrow money for your home loan. As you set out to make a purchase this winter, you’ll need to be strategic so you can find a home that meets your needs and budget.

Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com, explains: “The key to making a good decision in this challenging housing market is to be laser focused on what you need now and in the years ahead . . . . Another key point is to avoid stretching your budget, as tempting as it may

Don McDonald

be given the diminished pur-

In other words, it’s important to be mindful of what’s a necessity and what’s a nice-to-have when searching for a home. And the best way to understand this is to put together a list of desired features for your home search.

The first step? Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Pre-approval helps you better understand what you can borrow for your home loan, and

that plays an important role in how you’ll craft your list. After all, you don’t want to fall in love with a home that’s out of reach. Once you have a good grasp of your budget, you can begin to list (and prioritize) all the features of a home you would like.

Here’s a great way to think about them before you begin:

n Must-Haves: If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your lifestyle. Some examples include distance from work or loved ones, the number of bedrooms/ bathrooms, etc.

n Nice-To-Haves: These are features that you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-ToHaves aren’t dealbreakers, but if you find a home that hits all the

Keep poinsettias healthy through holidays, beyond

THE WASHINGTON POST

Forget Christmas trees and mistletoe. There’s one plant that rules the holiday season above all others: the Santa-red poinsettia. Before going further, though, let’s clear up the widespread misconception that its brightly colored points are flowers. Nope, they’re bracts (leaves). However, if you look closely, there are tiny, petal-less yellow flowers known as cyathia hiding among the attention-grabbing foliage.

must-haves and some of the these, it’s a contender. Examples may include a second home office, a garage, etc. n Dream State: This is where you can really think big. Again, these aren’t features you’ll need, but if you find a home in your budget that has all the musthaves, most of the nice-to-haves and any of these, it’s a clear winner. Examples include such things as a farmhouse sink, multiple walk-in closets, etc.

Finally, once you’ve created your list and categorized it in a way that works for you, discuss it with your real estate adviser. They’ll be able to help you refine the list further, coach you through the best way to stick to it and find a home in your area that

meets your needs.

Bottom Line

Putting together your list of necessary features for your next home might seem like a small task, but it’s a crucial first step on your homebuying journey today. If you’re ready to find a home that fits your needs, let’s connect.

Don McDonald (DRE License No. 01436448) is a founding partner of Re/Max Elite Partners (License No. 01215931) in Fairfield. Reach him at 707-4950774, don@remaxelitepartners. com or www.remaxelitepartners. com. Locally Focused-Globally Connected.

The poinsettia is the No. 1-selling potted plant in the United States, with roughly 35 million sold every year, according to the National FFA Organization.

The festively hued plants were introduced to the United States from Mexico in the early 19th century by Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first ambassador to Mexico and a passionate amateur botanist, who brought home several samples of what is known south of the border as flor de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve flower). They became known as poinsettias in the United States in honor of their importer. Initially, the plants weren’t very hardy

See Poinsettia, Page 13

FRAN/PEXELS

Surefire Red with green leaves has won 26 awards and is known for blooming 200-plus days in the south. Here it is combined with Heart to Heart caladiums, Diamond Snow euphorbia, Color Guard yucca and Unplugged So Blue salvia.

ON GARDENING

Cherry Cordials now and debuting in 2023

If you are like the Winter Family, Cherry Cordials are hanging around your house now and until New Year’s. There is just something about that bite that releases a sweet ecstasy of flavor. As you look at those Cherry Cordials, whether at home or on the store shelf, let it be a reminder to you that the hottest new begonia for 2023 is Surefire Cherry Cordial.

The name tells you everything: deep chocolate leaves and vivid red flowers. “Surefire” tells you all you need to know, as the Surefire Red has won over 26 awards across the country, with Surefire Rose packing a big trophy case as well. Both The Garden Guy and son James have been more than surprised at how carefree these are in the landscape. Surefire Begonias are the plants you aren’t watching for insects, diseases and –

most shocking to me – I don’t have to babysit for water. Lastly, mine have been returning in the spring in my zone 8a garden.

The Surefire series of begonias will now offer four colors with the addition of Cherry Cordial and White. In the South they are going to reach 2 feet tall and wide. In the North, probably slightly smaller. Whether you have sun, shade or filtered light, this is the begonia for you, boasting self-cleaning flowers and zero maintenance. The most enjoyable aspect will be thinking of all the plant combinations you can do. I’ll admit I have paled in comparison to the son.

My favorite combination planting ever was his partnership of Surefire Red, which has green leaves, with Heart to

NORMAN WINTER/TNS

Norman Winter

Grand Opening - Open Hous e Event

Sunday, December 18th, 12-3PM 159 Farallon Drive, Vallejo

Incredible VIEWS! This newly remodeled single story is “move-in” ready just for you. This amazing home has so much to offer. 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, approx. 1514 square feet of living space with a 2 car garage on a large corner lot. Lot is almost a quarter of an acre. It’s located in the highly sought after Vistas community. Fully remodeled kitchen has beautiful solid surface countertops and newer appliances. Brand new energy efficient windows and sliders were all installed in 2021. Newer flooring was installed in 2020. The incredible garden area includes many varieties of fruit trees. This impressive home is a great location for commuters as it is minutes away from I-80, Hwy 37. Fruit tree varieties include: apple, peach, nectarine, plum, pear, lemon, orange, fig, pomegranate, grapefruit, pineapple guava, citrumelo, persimmon and avocado. Offered at $599,000

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and displayed their trademark red for only a short while. “But in the 1960s, hybridizers managed to give it more strength and extended periods of coloration,” says Bobby Lewis, vice president of the Great Big Greenhouse & Meadows Farms Nurseries, headquartered in Chantilly, Va. “That’s when its popularity really took off.”

These days, there are more than 100 cultivars of poinsettias on the market – ranging from whites and yellows to purples and pinks – with colorful new offerings added every year. According to the National FFA Organization, it is the No. 1-selling potted plant in the United States, with roughly 35 million sold every year. And almost all are sold in roughly six weeks, between mid-November and Christmas.

Here are six points from a trio of poinsettia experts on how to keep them vibrant throughout the holiday season and beyond.

1. Protect the plant from the cold

Because poinsettias are from a hot environment, they don’t handle cold weather well. Unfortunately, most poinsettias aren’t usually bundled up in protective wrapping, so you can kill a plant before you even get a chance to enjoy it. “I’ve seen people just throw them into the car and then keep shopping even though it’s 25 degrees out,” says Jerry Goodspeed, director of the Utah State University Botanical Center, who advises wrapping the plant in newspaper and taking it home immediately, so it doesn’t have a chance to freeze.

2. Choose the right spot

Find a window that gets at least four to six hours of strong

sunlight a day, and place the plant about six feet away from it, says Lewis. In addition, keep it away from drafty spots, such as near the front door, by fireplaces or in hallways. It’s fine to park it near a radiator or heat vent, though; poinsettias love a warm climate.

3. Water wisely

To determine whether it’s time to water your poinsettia, stick a finger in the dirt, says Goodspeed. If you detect any moisture or coolness, leave it alone. You will know it’s time to water if the soil is completely dry or if the leaves are starting to wilt, yellow or fall off. Expect to hydrate your plant every seven to 10 days, but don’t simply pour on the water. Poinsettias are often sold in pots wrapped in metallic foil to up their festive vibes, but this extra layer traps water, which can lead to root rot and kill the plant. Goodspeed suggests removing the foil, setting the potted plant in a sink or tub, spraying it until water drips out the bottom, then letting it rest for half an hour or longer before putting the foil back on and returning the plant to its sunny spot. If you live in a drier, highheat home, consider misting the plant regularly as well.

4. Skip the fertilizer

If you plan on keeping your poinsettia only for the holiday season, don’t bother feeding it. “Normally, it will have been fertilized in the greenhouse where it was grown,” says Goodspeed. “That will be more than enough.”

5. Poinsettias can irritate skin – and stomachs

Poinsettias contain a sticky white sap that can cause skin irritation. Julie Weisenhorn, extension horticulture educator at the University of Minnesota, recommends always wearing gloves and cleaning your pruning

shears after you trim your plant. Don’t let your pets (or children, for that matter) nibble on the bracts, as it may cause mild gastrointestinal stress. There’s no need to rush to the emergency room, though, because poinsettias aren’t poisonous. (That’s just another popular misconception.)

6. How to make poinsettias last beyond the holidays

Most people toss out or compost their poinsettia after Christmas, but you can keep it around for holiday seasons to come – if you’re willing to put in a little work. Early in the new year, Weisenhorn suggests feeding it an all-purpose houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the fertilizer’s container. Around Memorial Day, trim the plant, transplant it to a slightly larger container with good drainage and move it outdoors for the summer. About the time of the autumnal equinox, bring it inside to a space that receives no light, such as a closet or windowless basement room. You must keep it in the dark for 16 hours a day, then bring it into the light for the remaining eight hours, watering and fertilizing it regularly the entire time, until Thanksgiving, when the bracts will change colors again.

7. Poinsettia varieties worth considering

If you’re tired of the ubiquitous red poinsettias, there are plenty of other options worth considering. Here are a few options:

Ice Crystal – Lush pale pink with a whitish center.

Luv U Pink – Hot pink that really pops.

Plum Pudding – Rich purple recalling the stone fruit.

Mars White – Radiant pure white or creamy butter-toned.

Viking Cinnamon – Lemony yellow centers give way to rosy pink edges.

Autumn Leaves – A bouquet of peaches, pinks and yellows.

Top 10 real estate markets in US are all in the South

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

Real estate in Atlanta, Raleigh, North Carolina and Dallas-Fort Worth is expected to outperform most other metro areas in 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors.

In a report released Tuesday, the organization ranked the metro area in its top 10 real estate markets to watch next year, all of which were in the South.

These were the top 10 markets: 1. Atlanta 2. Raleigh, N.C. 3. Dallas-Fort Worth 4. Fayetteville, Ark. 5. Greenville, S.C. 6. Charleston, S.C. 7. Huntsville, Ala. 8. Jacksonville, Fla. 9. San Antonio 10. Knoxville, Tenn.

Atlanta ranked No. 1 and was the only market that met all factors that NAR looked for in its markets to watch next year, such as having homes that are affordable for more than 20% of renters to buy, major tech companies opening offices in the region and fast population growth.

The share of first-time home-

buyers in the U.S. is at an all-time low due to the higher interest rates and home prices.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist and senior vice president of research for the National Association of Realtors, forecasts that 4.78 million existing homes will sell in 2023, which would be a 6.8% decline from 5.13 million in 2022.

He expects home sales to decline 6.8% compared with 2022 and the median home price to reach $385,800, up just 0.3% from $384,500 in 2022.

“Half of the country may experience small price gains, while the other half may see slight price declines,” Yun said.

However, he expects some California markets to be an exception. He said San Francisco is likely to see home prices drop 10% to 15%.

Yun predicts foreclosure rates will remain at historically low levels in 2023, less than 1% of all mortgages.

He said the U.S. GDP will grow by 1.3%, half the typical historical pace of 2.5%, and that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will settle at 5.7% as the Fed slows the pace of inflation-related rate hikes.

Porterproval process.

From Page 6

2003 to 2007.

Now would be a good time for renters to get prequalified and look at what the numbers would be to purchase in Solano County. There is no cost to do this with most local lenders and believe me, us mortgage brokers and loan officers are not too busy. I don’t think it would be a terrible mistake to wait for three to six months to buy a house, but it is never too early to get the ball rolling on the free preap-

Fannie Mae is suggesting we will see rates below 5% in 2023 but gee whiz, I don’t think you or your adult kids should wait for the market to change to a seller’s market. Buy now and you won’t cry later.

Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.

Heart Bottle Rocket and Snowdrift caladiums, Diamond Snow euphorbia, Color Guard Yucca and Unplugged So Blue salvia. It was like a “holy wow” feast for the eyes. There really is a magical affinity between Heart to Heart caladiums and Surefire Begonias. In Proven Winners’ online promotional information, they demonstrate the Surefire Cherry Cordial in a mixed container with the new Heart to Heart Scarlet

Flame caladium, also making its debut in 2023. Although simple in design, it will take your breath away. Son James used his opportunity with Surefire Cherry Cordial Begonia in a mixed container as the thriller with Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoas and Supertunia Mini Vista White petunias.

The one common thread in all our plantings is they were all planted in soil that drains really well. Some beds have had more organic matter than others, but the performance has been steady with all of them. The drainage has definitely been a factor in those

that we let return after winter. You will want to space your Surefire Begonias 12 to 18 inches apart. To reach their true potential, maintain consistent moisture and feeding throughout the long summer. Not too many plants bloom nonstop for over 200 days, which is a Surefire reason you need to incorporate them into your landscape planting in 2023.

Norman Winter is a horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.”

NORMAN WINTER/TNS

Surefire Cherry Cordial begonia, Superbells Grape Punch calibrachoa and Supertunia Mini Vista White sizzle in this mixed container.