The Davis Enterprise Wednesday, March 29, 2023

DAVISt Voting in District 3 begins next week

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

Residents of Davis City Council District 3 who will be voting in the special election called for May 2 will have several options for returning their ballots.

The election, which will decide who succeeds former mayor Lucas Frerichs (now a Yolo County supervisor), is by mail only, with ballots being mailed out next week to registered voters in District 3. In addition to returning those ballots via the postal service, voters can also deposit them in drop boxes that will be open in four locations beginning Monday, April 3.

Those locations are:

n Davis City Hall parking lot, 23 Russell Blvd. (open 24 hours)

n UC Davis campus, 282 Tennis Court Lane (open 24 hours)

n Nugget Markets, 1414 E. Covell Blvd., Davis (open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.)

n Yolo County Elections Office, 625 Court St., Room B-05, Woodland (open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

See VOTING, Page A3

Spectators crowd into the roach race arena to take images of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology’s cockroach races during the 2022 Picnic Day.

Off to the cockroach races

n Editor’s note: A full guide on Picnic Day will be published in the April 12 issue of The Davis Enterprise. A truncated version of this story will be included in a larger piece on the day’s events.

Ready, set, and we’re off to the cockroach races at UC Davis’ Picnic Day on Saturday, April 15.

Taylor Kelly, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Attardo Lab, a

Recology worker wins national ‘Driver of the Year’ award

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

Davis refuse collector Gustavo Arriaga

has been named residential “Driver of the Year” by the National Waste & Recycling Association.

Arriaga, who works for Recology, has served the Davis community for 35 years, hauling away millions of pounds of waste.

In addition to being an exceptional driver, the association said, Arriaga is known “for taking extra steps to assist his customers.”

“As a skilled carpenter, Arriaga has fixed customer gates and trash bin storage shelters after completing his route,” the association said, and customers describe him

See DRIVER, Page A3

Laboratory of Vector and Reproductive Biology in the Department of Entomology and Nematology, has helped with the department’s Picnic Day activities since 2019.

Kelly breaks down the races, which will be held in front of Briggs Hall: “Each run, we hand-select three feisty competitors from a batch of raceready roaches (adults with all six legs intact, ideally). The

roaches can get stressed by the runs, so we cycle the roaches rather than having a bracketstyle advancement system. Each roach is partially propelled or encouraged forward by an air pump pushed by the roach coach (volunteer participants). If a race is too close to call, the roach coaches can duke it out over a game of rock paper scissors.”

Running into a small pouch

at the end of the track, the roaches have no real incentive to win. “We are blasting them with air at the opposite end of the tube, which seems to annoy them,” Kelly said.

She says the roaches run the course in about 30 seconds, and if none win, a redo is declared, and the race is reset. A tip for the roaches: don’t

See COCKROACH, Page A4

State announces updated COVID-19 recommendations

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

The California Department of Public Health has announced changes to COVID-19 recommendations and requirements, with varying effective dates. Yolo County previously rescinded all local orders related to COVID19 and aligns with the updated CDPH guidance.

The changes include:

Recology Davis refuse collector Gustavo Arriaga has been named “Driver of the Year” by the National Waste & Recycling Association.

n Isolation: As of March 13, individuals with COVID-19 infections are no longer asked to test negative before leaving isolation and returning to normal activities. Instead, they

can return to normal activity after five days of isolation if their symptoms have improved and they have not had a fever for 24 hours.

This change applies to the general public; more stringent requirements are in place in healthcare and long-term care settings. Those with COVID19 infections should wear a mask in public for 10 days after their infection began.

n Masking: Beginning April 3, masking will no longer be required of everyone in healthcare, correctional and shelter

See UPDATED, Page A3

Kathy Keatley Garvey/ Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Briefly

Davis cops make battery arrest

Davis police officers responded to a battery report on Saturday, March 25, around 5:43 p.m. in the area of E Street Plaza. The female victim reported that a transient male had been harassing patrons in the plaza area. When she asked him to leave, he allegedly slapped her in the face and left the area. Officers located the suspect, 28-year-old Candelario Garza IV of Woodland, and arrested and booked him at the Yolo County Jail.

ATV team finds injured dirt biker

The Yolo County OffHighway Vehicle Team conducted a searchand-rescue mission in an area of County Road 40 that is closed to vehicles but open to hikers, bicyclists and other offhighway vehicles.

The OHV Team searched for a victim who was injured on Saturday, March 25, riding a dirt bike. GPS coordinates were given to the OHV Team and the area. The victim was located and transported by medical helicopter to a hospital.

Responding agencies included CAL Fire, the Capay Valley Volunteer Fire Department, the Yocha Dehe Fire Department, the Williams Fire Department, CHP, REACH Air Medical Services, Yolo911 JOBS and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office.

Newsom signs watered-down oil profit penalty into law

By Alexei Koseff CalMatters

For six months, Gov. Gavin Newsom waged a highly public battle against the oil industry, accusing companies of fleecing Californians as gasoline prices soared to record levels last year and urging lawmakers to claw back the excess profits to return to taxpayers.

He finally got to take a victory lap today as he signed a first-in-the-nation law that could lead to a cap on earnings for oil refiners.

“We proved we can actually beat Big Oil,” Newsom said during a ceremony under the state Capitol rotunda.

But the measure Newsom signed is still a far cry from what he initially suggested in the fall, reflecting the political perils inherent in taking on an industry that may be a major villain for liberals but also provides a product used daily by millions of Californians.

Nor is this particular showdown likely over.

A representative for the oil industry, which fiercely fought the governor’s efforts, said refiners who operate in the state will closely monitor the development of regulations under the law and whether the Legislature pursues additional bills to address their lingering concerns before deciding whether to mount a legal challenge.

“Then we’ll have a better sense of, will this work, and do we need to step in?” said Kevin Slagle, a spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association.

Newsom set off a frenzy at the end of September, as the average price of gas at the pump surged past $6 past per gallon, when he called for a windfall tax on oil company profits, an idea favored by progressives that has never gained traction at the Capitol. Within a week, he announced that he would open a special legislative session later in the year to push for the proposal, using a penalty on excess profits to fund a rebate for taxpayers.

At issue were California’s retail gasoline prices, which are not only expensive, but far more expensive than the rest of the country — by last fall, the gap had grown to more than $2.60 per gallon higher than the national average, an ignominious record. The oil industry says this is caused by greater taxes and regulations in the state, but Newsom argued that greedy companies were taking advantage of global shortages.

“This is one of the greatest rip-offs in modern American history that’s been happening here in California,” Newsom told reporters after signing the bill.

Though many legislators agreed with the governor’s assessment that taxes and regulations alone could not explain the steep prices their constituents were paying, his initial plan — to set a cap on refiner profits and fine those who exceeded the threshold — stalled for months at the Capitol without action. Even Democratic allies feared that, without more information, they might unintentionally create a disincentive for gasoline production, further constraining supply and leading to even higher costs for drivers.

The compromise, unveiled less than two weeks ago, shifts the

Project Linus blanket makers gather April 12

Special to The Enterprise

Do you enjoy quilting, knitting or sewing? Join Project Linus to make blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need.

Come to the gathering at the Davis Senior Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, to share ideas and patterns. All are welcome to attend the meeting and help sew Linus labels on handmade blankets that will be given to Yolo County organizations that serve children in

need. Project Linus members may take home donated fabrics and yarn each month to complete a blanket. Finished blankets can be brought to the next monthly gathering or to the Joann Fabric store in Woodland.

Contact Diane McGee at dmmyolo@gmail.com for drop-off location questions, fabric and yarn donations, or to sign up for the email list to receive detailed information and updated meeting time changes.

Get biomolecular at Science Café

Special to The Enterprise

Davis Science Café presents “Biomolecular Condensation: the Chemistry of Salad Dressing and Cellular Organization” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at G Street Wunderbar, 228 G St. in Davis.

Each month, Professor Jared Shaw of the UC Davis department of chemistry hosts the Davis Science Café, featuring scientists studying cutting-edge topics. This month’s speaker is Professor Dylan Mur-

process to state regulators.

Oil refiners will be required to report additional data about their operations and a new watchdog division of the California Energy Commission will investigate alleged price gouging by the industry. That could inform the commission to establish a profit threshold above which companies would be assessed a financial penalty, though the rule-making process is merely authorized by the new law, not mandated. It will be years before that happens, if it ever does at all. Newsom said today that it will take nine to 12 months to establish the new division of the energy commission. But he insisted that it would be an improvement over his original plan for a windfall profits tax, because of the long-term oversight of the oil industry that it could provide.

“This is 10x better,” he said. “This is more than we even could have imagined in late September when we had the first conversations around this.”

Legislative Democrats raced over the past week to pass the proposal before they leave town at the end of the month for their

spring recess, earning howls of disapproval from the oil industry and Republican lawmakers, who argued that the rushed timeline did not allow them to fully vet the bill. Because it was passed through a special session, which the Legislature closed on Monday after a final vote in the Assembly, the law takes effect in 90 days.

“The Governor’s proposal, modeled after ideas that have empirically failed, will disrupt the energy market and ignore economic reality where ultimately every single Californian will bear the direct as well as the unintended consequences and costs,” Assemblymember Vince Fong, a Republican who represents part of oilproducing Bakersfield, said in a statement.

Slagle of the Western States Petroleum Association said oil refiners take issue with the amount of data they will be required to report, the lack of privacy safeguards for that sensitive information and a provision of the bill that they contend would allow the state to interfere with their maintenance schedules.

If those points are not

resolved in follow-up legislation, Slagle said the industry could potentially sue over the law. An unfavorable profit cap rule developed by the California Energy Commission would also be ripe for a legal challenge.

“We’re concerned about how that all turns out,” Slagle said. But, he added, with this heavily politicized clash at the Capitol now over, “We’re hopeful that we can shift to having a conversation about the real issue here, which is the supply of fuels.”

Newsom sarcastically dismissed the notion of making the changes that the oil industry is seeking. He said he did not trust the industry’s talking points, which he characterized as an attempt to push back on an outcome that it does not like.

“What are they going to do? Spend some of their billions of dollars, try to go after us, try to demean us, try to lie to you, try to manipulate,” he told reporters. “That’s status quo here. Give me a break. I’m just sick and tired of those guys.”

ray from the department of chemistry, who works on understanding the physical chemistry of low sequence complexity protein domains and how these properties relate to their macroscopic behavior in cells.

The event is free, with complimentary soft drinks courtesy of the UCD College of Letters and Science. Contact Shaw for information at jtshaw@ucdavis. edu or https://twitter.com/ DavisSciCafe1.

Bob Dunning is on vacation. The Wary I will be back on Wednesday, April 5.

Miguel gutierrez Jr./CalMatters photo

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in anticipation of signing a bill on his proposed profit penalty plan in Sacramento on March 28.

Calendar Today

n Join the League of Women Voters Davis Area and Davis Media Access for a candidates’ forum on the upcoming Davis City Council election for a new representative from District 3. The free Zoom event will be from 7 to 8:15 p.m. District 3 represents residents in Central Davis. The elected council member will replace Lucas Frerichs, who was elected to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors in November. The all-mail ballot special election will be on May 2. The forum will feature candidates Donna Neville and Francesca Wright. Local LWV board member Michele Van Eyken will moderate the event. Audience members will be able to submit questions before and during the forum. The LWV is a non-partisan organization committed to voter registration and education. To learn more about the League and to sign up to this event, go to www.lwvdavisarea.org.

Friday

n The UC Davis Arboretum hosts a Folk Music Jam Session from noon to 1 p.m. Folk musicians can bring their acoustic instruments and play together informally during this jam session at Wyatt Deck (next to the redwood grove). All skill levels welcome and listeners are invited. Shortterm parking is available in Visitor Lot 5 on Old Davis Road at Arboretum Drive. Hourly rates start at $1.75.

Wednesday, April 5

n The Valley Oak Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America will host a Zoom presentation at 11 a.m. by Youngmin Lee on Bojagi, a traditional form of Korean hand quilting. Ms. Lee holds a master’s degree in fashion design and a bachelor’s degree in clothing and textiles

VOTING: Race to replace Frerichs on council

and conducts classes and demonstrations of Korean arts and crafts. If you are interested in attending, contact Linda Wayne at laws999@ gmail.com by March 31, to add you to the Zoom list.

Saturday, April 8

n The Yolo County Library, the Yolo County Library Foundation and Stories on Stage Davis will present an evening of science fiction with author Kim Stanley Robinson at at 7:30 p.m. in the Richard Brunelle Performance Hall at Davis High School (DSHS), 315 W. 14th St. in Davis. Tim Gaffaney will read Robinson’s short story, “Arthur Sternbach Brings the Curveball to Mars,” followed by a question-andanswer period with Robinson, moderated by Dr. Andy Jones. To register for this free event, visit: tinyurl.com/scifievening2023. Yolo County Library Foundation and Stories on Stage Davis are accepting donations through the registration link to further support early childhood literacy, literature and theater arts.

Wednesday, April 12

n Join Project Linus to make blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Come to the gathering at the Davis Senior Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. to share ideas and patterns. All are welcome to attend the meeting and help sew Linus labels on handmade blankets for Yolo County organizations that serve children in need. Members may take home donated fabrics and yarn each month to complete a blanket. Finished blankets can be brought to the next monthly gathering or to the Joann Fabric store in Woodland. Contact Diane McGee at dmmyolo@gmail.com for detailed information.

DRIVER: Customers happy with Arriaga’s professionalism

From Page A1

as gracious and friendly.

“From his energetic leap from his truck to handle my neighbor’s bins (she cannot get them to the curb) to his greetings to everyone who is out and about when he comes by every week, Mr. Arriaga elevates the neighborliness of all,” wrote one customer.

Every year, the NWRA honors residential and commercial collection drivers from national and regional companies who exemplify outstanding customer service, road safety, and job performance. Arriaga was selected from hundreds of applicants across the country.

“His dedication to the community he serves and his volunteerism make him a true standout,” the association said.

“Police officers, firefighters, teachers, public works employees, and trash collectors are the unsung heroes of our

From Page A1

Drop boxes will be open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2. Meanwhile, the Yolo County Elections Office will provide many of the same services that have been provided at voter assistance centers in recent elections. Those services include picking up a replacement ballot, using an accessible ballot marking device and obtaining conditional voter registration or a provisional ballot.

Monday, April 17, is the last day to register to vote in the special election, after which residents must vote using conditional voter registration at the county elections office. That option is available through Election Day on May 2.

There are two candidates on the ballot for the special election — Francesca Wright and Donna Neville. Both are seeking to repre-

sent a district that encompasses much of the central part of Davis, from downtown in the south to Northstar Park in the north.

Frerichs was elected to represent District 3 in 2020 and did so until he was sworn in to the Board of Supervisors in January 2023. Prior to that (and prior to the city’s move to district elections in 2019), Frerichs represented the city at large.

Back in January, following Frerichs’ departure, the remaining four members of the City Council voted to hold a special election to fill the District 3 seat rather than appointing someone. By then, both Neville and Wright had declared their intentions to run.

Wright is a retired sole proprietor of a research and evaluation consultancy business and recipient of the city’s Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Award for civil

rights advocacy in 2021.

In her official candidate statement, Wright says, “I am eager to collaborate with our commissions, city staff and community members to lead Davis into a new era of innovation as we address the challenges of climate change, escalating cost of living and the desperate lack of affordable housing.

“I am excited to represent the people of Davis as a visionary, pragmatic city councilwoman with decades of experience serving our community and a career dedicated to improving public services.”

Neville is an attorney currently serving on the Davis Planning Commission. She previously chaired the city’s Finance and Budget Commission as well as the DJUSD Measure M Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.

In her official candidate

statement, Neville says, “If elected, I will listen closely to your concerns and work hard to implement effective solutions to the city’s most pressing problems.

“My top priorities include ensuring that the infrastructure and services you need and depend on are serving you; promoting fiscal and climate resiliency through smart planning and action; and addressing homelessness and housing affordability.”

Whichever candidate wins on May 2 will likely be sworn in in early June and serve out the remainder of Frerichs’ term, which ends in December 2024.

District 3 will be back on the ballot in November 2024, as will Districts 2 and 5.

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

UPDATED: County still recommends indoor masking

From Page A1

settings. Rather, masking will be recommended in these settings based on COVID-19 community levels published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with masking of all staff, patients and visitors strongly recommended in high community levels; recommended in medium; and considered in low community levels. Yolo County is currently in the low COVID-19 community level. Facilities are encouraged to develop their own policies related to masking.

n Vaccination: Beginning April 3, California will no longer require healthcare and adult care workers to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. However, the federal government continues to require healthcare workers in many settings to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with a

community,” said Justina Vega, general manager of Recology Davis. “It’s time to give these workers the support and praise they deserve, especially workers like Gustavo. He makes our community a better place. Much better.”

Arriaga’s positive outlook and continuous commitment to go above and beyond inspire his coworkers to provide superior service, according to Vega, and impress his customers as well.

“Driving a garbage truck can sometimes be a thankless job,” said one such customer, Richard Tsai. “It is reward programs such as these to recognize outstanding drivers who go above and beyond which provide incentives for all drivers to achieve their best.

“I look forward to seeing Mr. Arriaga be presented with the award and title of Garbage Driver of the Year so that he can be an inspiration to his co-workers,” said Tsai.

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

The city’s Parks and Community Services Department invites students ages 12 to 18 years old who are looking to get a head start on their journey

Obituary

Betty Joanne Brickey passed away peacefully at her former home in Winters. She was born on Aug. 17, 1935, in Marshall, Mo., to Ernest and Virnelle Triebsch.

Mom’s parents Ernest, Virnelle and 9-month-old Betty came to San Francisco by train in 1936. In Davis, they lived on University Avenue and Third Street. This home became the hangout for many of Betty and Bob’s friends as it was close to all schools and many kids in the neighborhood. Throughout high school Betty worked at the Varsity Theater and was a cheerleader at Davis High School, class of 1953.

After graduating from high school, she attended secretary school, married Jack Brickey and started her family.

At this period of time, Betty was very involved in raising her family and being involved in the Woodland community. Mom would experience two more moves; first being

primary series. “With effective treatments, vaccines and tests widely available for COVID19, it is appropriate to loosen previous requirements and bring our response to COVID-19 in line with our response to other infectious diseases,” said Yolo County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson.

SISSON County health officer

“Shifting from masking requirements to masking recommendations in healthcare settings is an important step into a post-emergency world. If the COVID-19 situation changes, we will revisit masking and other policies as needed.”

While masking will no longer be required of everyone in healthcare settings, protective policies and

upgraded ventilation systems remain in place, according to Sisson. Prior to the pandemic, healthcare settings had policies and procedures in place to provide masks to persons with respiratory illness or weakened immune systems, and for staff to wear masks around patients with respiratory illness. These policies will be reinstated.

Additionally, during flu season, workers in healthcare settings in Yolo County are required to wear a mask if they aren’t vaccinated against influenza. This requirement continues through April 30 of this year.

Masking continues to be recommended for everyone 2 years and older in indoor settings in Yolo County based on ongoing circulation of multiple respiratory viruses. For more information on masking, visit www.yolocounty.org/masks.

Teenagers invited to city’s ‘University of YOU’ program

toward adulting to attend “University of YOU,” on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E 14th St. This teen-focused event will provide an introduction on how to become a

successful and responsible grown-up. Topics covered will include finances and budgeting, college navigation, job and school interview preparation and mental health and wellbeing. Light refreshments will be provided.

The cost is $10 per student. To register, visit the Parks and Community Services office, 23 Russell Blvd., or online at www. cityofdavis.org. For information, contact Becky Beaman at bbeaman@cityof davis.org or 530-757-5626.

Tempe, Ariz., and second coming back to Yolo County, knowing that this would be her home. Betty made her home in Winters, making friendships that would last a lifetime. She was active in Beta Alpha Beta and volunteered for school functions. Returning to work led to a lifetime career of selling real estate. Betty loved being a realtor. In 1981, Betty and her husband divorced and she started a new chapter in her life.

Betty met her life partner, Clem Bruhn and they celebrated 40 years together this year. They loved to travel, going on many trips to Europe, the UK, Asia, and all over the United States. The purchase of a ’66 Mustang convertible gave them much joy. They met many new friends through

participation in car clubs and travel adventures. They had a lot of fun!

She often said the best times of her life were when she was raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren. She was always ready to make cookies, cakes and pies for any occasion or fundraiser. Her banana bread was infamous. She loved to cook and entertain her friends and family. Betty considered everyone family. Her grandchildren loved her dearly. Grandma Betty/ Bayou was always there, willing to give advice, cheer you on and most of all, love them.

She leaves behind her brother Bob Triebsch and his family; son and

daughter-in-law Matt and Lawren Brickey of Winters; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren — Muriel and Sergio Schilardi, and Sofia (11), Gemma (9) and Roman (7); Georganna and Jeremey Nunes, and Jacob (3 months); Georgie Shields, who predeceased his grandmother; Taylor and Katie Brickey, and Liam (1); Austin and Haley Brickey; Connor and Molly Brickey; and Audrey Mae Brickey. Graveside services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Davis Cemetery. Betty’s celebration of life will follow at noon at Stonegate Country Club, 919 Lake Blvd. in Davis. Friends are respectfully invited to attend.

Betty Joanne Brickey BRICKEY

COCKROACH: Champion insect named for UCD professor

get too annoyed by the air blasting; go with the flow. Move forward and fear not because roach coaches will be on hand if a race ends in a photo finish.

Asked if he’d participate in this year’s Picnic Day events, Forensic Entomologist Bob Kimsey, “aka Dr. Death” says the graduate students use him as one of their exhibit pets stationed inside Briggs Hall starting at 9 a.m. through the day. “Great fun, actually,” he said.

Because he’s busy each year educating the public about how insects have played a role in forensics, he hasn’t had the opportunity to participate in the roach races. A tradition that originated before 1973 when he arrived at UC Davis, “(the roach races) have been hugely popular ever since,” he says.

Kimsey explained that the same cockroach colony or lineage is used in the races: an Orlando Normal strain of American Cockroach, Periplaneta americana. He said Orlando Normal used to be a designator for a strain of insects that had never been exposed to insecticides.

The colony derives from the laboratory of Charles Judson (1926-2015), a Professor Emeritus of

Insect Physiology active from the 1960s to the 1980s. Kimsey said the name American cockroach is misleading. “This species was introduced to the new world probably in the 1600s from Africa. They can be amazingly fast, achieving speeds greater than 3 miles an hour.”

So, who has the record of being the fastest cockroach? “We don’t keep their times; we should,” Kelly says but mentioned that they named the participating roaches after UCD Entomology faculty during the Virtual Picnic Day.

A successfully run event, Kelly said they placed a webcam above the arena, and people cheered for their favorite roach at home and that they ran a poll for people to vote on who would win.

The roach they named after Dr. Lynn Kimsey, distinguished professor of entomology and director of The Bohart Museum of Entomology, won about half of those races.

“Too funny!” Kimsey said when asked how being the namesake of the winningest roach made her feel. “I think it’s great they name (the roaches) after faculty. I have no idea if there’s been one named after me or not.” Like her husband Bob Kimsey,

170 sq ft office space for rent at 130 D St Downtown Davis $700 per month (626)375-8336

2004

Kids race roaches at the UC Davis Bohart Museum on Picnic Day. The feisty bugs can complete the course in about 30 seconds. Owen Yancher/ enterpirse file phOtO

Lynn Kimsey hasn’t made it out to the races to see for herself because she’s been busy running the Bohart Museum exhibits. “Bummer,” she said. “The races are super popular.”

One of the largest student-run events in the country, Picnic Day will be held on Saturday, April 15. The day’s events include a parade, children’s fair, dachshund races, and musical and dance

performances. — Contact Monica Stark at monica@davisenter prise.net.

Please

These

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case Number: CV2023-0441

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Amanda Jean Aguilar filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

The City of Davis City Council will conduct a public hearing on the item as described below at a meeting beginning at

i n t h e C o m m u n i t y Chambers, City Offices, 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, California Please contact the Department of Public Works Engineering and Transportation for the approximate time this item will be heard

Project Name: Article 35 08 Trench Cut Fee Ordinance

Project Location: City Wide

Applicant: City of Davis

Project Description

The proposed ordinance adds Article 35 08 to Chapter 35 of the Davis Municipal Code requiring that at the time any permit is issued improvement plan approved or work performed that causes an excavation of a paved City street the applicant shall pay a trench restoration fee that partially recovers the cost of mitigating the damage caused to the street surface by the excavation The proposed ordinance also provides that the amount of the fee shall be established by resolution of the City Council

The fees adopted by the City Council through this ordinance shall be collected up front at the time a permit is issued improvement plan approved or work performed that causes an excavation of a paved City street All monies paid to the City pursuant to Davis Municipal Code Section 35 08 030 shall be deposited in a special fund or funds and shall be expended only for the resurfacing maintenance administration and protection of City streets where excavation has occurred after adoption of the proposed ordinance

Environmental Determination

The ordinance is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ( CEQA ) because adoption of the ordinance is not a project within the meaning of CEQA

G u i d e l i n e s S e c t i o n 1 5 3 7 8 a n d i s e x e m p t u n d e r C E Q A

G u i d e l i n e s S e c t i o n 1 5 0 6 1 ( b ) ( 3 ) T h i s o r d i n a n c e i s n o t a p r o j e c t a s d e f i n e d b y S e c t i o n 1 5 3 7 8 b e c a u s e S e c t i o n 15378(b)(4) provides that a project does not include the crea t i o n o f g o v e r n m e n t f u n d i n g m e c h a n i s m s o r o t h e r g o v e r nment fiscal activities, which do not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment ” The ordinance accordingly is not a project because it creates the type of funding mechanism described in Section 15378(b)(4) for the purpose of mitigating the cost of resurfacing, maintenance, and repair of City streets as a result of street excavation and does not involve any commitment to a project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment because it does not approve the construction nor cause the construction of any specific excavation or other improvements Further this ordinance is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) on the grounds that it can be se en with certainty that the ordinance will have no significant impact on the environment pursuant to Section 15301 which exempts existing facilities and 15305 which exempts minor alterations in land use limitations

Availability of Documents

The proposed resolution outlines the fee structure, the ordinance and the Trench Cut Fee Study which was used to develop the proposed fee structure There are no costs associated with the implementation of the proposed ordinance All d o c u m e n t s a r e a v a i l a b l e v i a t h e f o l l o w i n g l i n k : https://www cityofdavis org/city-hall/finance/fee-schedules; or for review at the Department of Public Works Engineering and T r a n s p o r t a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t P e r m i t C o u n t e r 2 3 R u s s e l l Boulevard, Davis, California, 95616 Staff reports for the public hearing are generally available five (5) days prior to the heari n g date City C o un ci l r e po rts a re po ste d o n th e C ity’ s web site a t: http ://c ity o fd a vi s or g /c ity- ha l l/ci ty- co u nc i l/ci tycouncil-meetings/agendas

Public Comments

All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting or send w r i t t e n c o m m e n t s t o t h e p r o j e c t e n g i n e e r a t : C i t y o f D a v i s , Public Works Engineering and Transportation Department c/o M e l i s s a M a r s h a l l P r i n c i p a l C i v i

Present name a Amanda Jean Aguilar to Proposed name Amelia Jean Anaswot

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause if any why the petition for change of name should not be granted Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted If no written objection is timely filed the court may grant the petition without a hearing NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: 4/21/2023 Time: 9:00 a m Dept : 11 Room: The address of the court is Yolo Superior Court Clerks Office - Civil 1000 Main Street Woodland CA 95695 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county: The Davis Enterprise Date: March 9 2023 Timothy L Fall Judge of the Superior Court

Published March 29 April 5 12 19 2023 #2226

DHS Origami Club puts work on display

By Kevin Wong Special to The Enterprise

If you ask anyone what origami is, one might think of paper cranes, animals, or boxes. They might also think of complex origami like different insects or dragons. These are great examples of origami, but as new technology has been developed, so has the “art” of folding.

Many disciplines such as aerospace, biomedical, and robotic engineering have emerging applications for origami. Many of these applications benefit from the folding processes of origami with the ability to fold and compress different materials. These materials can include metals, plastics, rubber and, of course, paper. These new applications of folding redefine origami not just as an art, but as a field of study.

These emerging applications were the focus for a recent display done by the Davis High School Origami Club. The exhibition, “Stories of Paper,” set up in the Stephens Branch Library, 315 W. 14th St. in Davis. Exhibiting for the month of March, this display is aimed at spreading origami in the community and to educate people on the different applications of origami.

A month ago, if you asked me to fill three large display cases with origami, you would get a blank stare. Filling three large display cases with origami was a big challenge. For lack of better words — I didn't want the display to fold. But, with the entire club’s help, getting everything ready shouldn’t be tear-able.

The first thing to do was to divide the club into various groups. Each group would be assigned to a prompt, or “story.” These stories have significance to the history of origami and to its applications.

The displays include:

n Sadako and 1,000 cranes

n Japanese Culture and its significance to origami

n Origami toys

n Tessellations

n Grandfather of origami: Akira Yoshizawa

n A crane tree

n Invention of various paper products

n Origami in rockets

All these displays have a significant importance to origami as it stands today. Whether it symbolizes peace or hardship, origami has a story to tell.

During the entire month of February, I gave club members time to work on their project. This time was used to research a topic and fold origami models — without cutting corners (literally and figuratively).

As February came to a close, the displays were almost ready for display.

These displays, all made by members of the DHS Origami Club, all represented origami in a different way. Some were stories that represented hope, while others represented technological advancement.

One such example of these stories is the famous Sadako and the 1,000 crane story. The tale describes the life of a Japanese girl who became ill after the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although she survived the bomb, she was diagnosed with leukemia by the age of 12.

After hearing about a legend, Sadako decided to fold 1,000 cranes — hoping to get better. Although she folded well over 1,000 cranes, she passed away two years after the bombings. Although a tragic story, this event solidified the symbolism of a crane as one of peace and hope, continually renewing itself as a powerful symbol in times of hardships.

But origami isn’t just a symbol of peace, it’s one of progress. Progress that shows the development of aerospace technology. Many telescopes are engineered to take very precise photos of planets and other celestial bodies. But light from stars could possibly obstruct a telescope from taking a good photo.

A new device has recently been developed to combat this problem by blocking the sunlight. This device, called a Star Shade, helps the telescope capture an image of planets by blocking light from nearby stars. The Star Shade will need to be folded and unfolded from a 16-footwide launch vehicle to the size of a baseball diamond!

This repeated compression and expansion is only possible due to precise creases that are inspired from origami. Our display went into detail about this new technology and also included a Flasher, a pattern similar to the Star Shade.

As someone who has been doing origami for a long time — my secondgrade teacher first taught me — I am excited to know there are almost infinite possibilities with origami. Many design techniques have theoretically infinite possibilities. Nowadays, you can design a bug with 1,000 legs (if you had the paper to fit that, I would be amazed). There are also many ways origami is used in the classroom as a hands-onlearning approach to teach kids elementary level math.

Although these topics weren't part of the display, they are all equally important. With all these possibilities, origami is a part of the future. Origami isn’t just one-fold, but with the progression of technology,

it has spread across the globe tenfold from just a century ago.

— Kevin Wong is the DHS Origami Club president.

Courtesy photo

Complex models folded by Kevin Wong — Wirt and Greg from Cartoon Network’s “Over The Garden Wall” — displayed in the kids room at the Stephens Branch Library.

Courtesy photo

Complex models folded by Kevin Wong — Wirt and Greg from Cartoon Network’s “Over The Garden Wall” — displayed in the kids room at the Stephens Branch Library.

Courtesy photo

DHS Origami Club members Alice Chen, left, and Holy Ji show off the kids’ room display case at the library. Below, Tomoko Fuse designed this origami shell, depicting a spiral that takes inspiration from the Fibonacci sequence.

Kings playoff berth will arrive

On Saturday, I went to the Sacramento Kings’ home game against the Utah Jazz at the Golden 1 Center.

I felt more than certain that the Kings, who are 45-30 and are currently in the No. 3 spot of the Western Conference, would finally end their 16-season NBA playoff drought against the Jazz.

But for anyone who follows the Kings know that Utah posted a thrilling 121-113 win.

“You like to see us respond the way that we need to get a win,” said Kings head coach Mike Brown. “It’s about trying to find someway to be consistent a little bit closer to 48 minutes.”

Fast-forward to Monday. I wasn’t at the Kings’ home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the very athletic T-Wolves left Golden 1 Center with a 119-115 victory.

So, scratch celebration in the Sacramento region again.

On Tuesday, the Kings were hoping that the New Orleans Pelicans would knock off the Golden State Warriors. A Warrior loss would officially put the Kings into the playoffs.

But Golden State came from behind to post a 120-109 win over the Pelicans.

Now comes today, as the Kings are in Oregon to take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Game time is 7 p.m.

Brown pointed out to the media that there’s somethings to remember that is off the court.

“At the end of the day, man, this is a game, you know?” Brown said. “It should bring pleasure to you. Everyone has been playing hoops since they were this high (Brown used his hands to note the height of a child) and playing for free. It’s a game.

“It’s been a long time since this franchise, this city, has had an opportunity to experience something like that,” Brown continued. “I don’t want to take that away from the players that have earned it in the locker room or the staff, the coaching staff, the medical team, anybody. I want them to enjoy the moment in what we’ve done as a group.”

The NBA Playoffs are scheduled to start Saturday, April 15.

No matter what seed the Kings are and who they play in the first round, the feeling inside the Golden 1 Center should be electrifying prior and leading up to the tipoff of the basketball.

“You know, our goals are big,” said Brown, “and the way that we’re playing it at times is going to be hard to sustain in the playoffs if we can’t find some level of consistency, especially defensively.”

UC Davis swept by Fullerton Titans

By Mark DeVaughn Enterprise correspondent

Establish himself on a new team.

Survive physiology class.

Escape a late-inning jam against a familiar powerhouse.

UC Davis pitcher Braydon Woolridge has already met two big two goals in his freshman season. But during a 4-1 Big West Conference baseball loss to Cal State Fullerton at Dobbins Stadium on Sunday, one more prize eluded him. It clanged off the foul pole.

The left-hander allowed a three-run home run in a scoreless game’s biggest moment. With two outs in the seventh, Nate Nankil pulled Woolridge’s 1-1 curveball over the left field wall and off the fateful pillar.

Fullerton completed a three-game sweep of UCD (1-6 in the Big West, 7-13 overall).

“I made one mistake, and they took advantage of it,” explained Woolridge (0-1), who retired the first six hitters he faced in relief.

“We were going to pitch smart, but not pitch scared. It wasn’t a horrible pitch, but I left a

curveball over the plate.”

Against Fullerton, sophomore first baseman Nick Leehey went 2-for-3 with an RBI single. UC Davis left 10 runners on base Sunday. The Aggies outhit the Titans by a 9-8 margin. All nine hits were singles.

Ironic. Unforgiving. Either term describes what happened during and leading up to Nankil’s blast. The previous frame, UCD showed its power stroke. With two on and two out in the sixth inning, Aggies designated hitter Jack Gallagher crushed Peyton Jones’ pitch above and beyond the left-field foul pole.

An eerily silent Dobbins Stadium awaited the third base umpire’s verdict.

Foul ball.

Fullerton (5-1 in the Big West, 11-8) seized its new life. On the next pitch, Gallagher stuck out looking.

Right fielder Mark Wolbert began the sixth with a single. With two out, Leehey drew a walk. Gallagher worked the count full. UC Davis head coach Tommy Nicholson saw the next swing differently than did third-base

softBall

umpire Mathias Fromelt.

“From my view, I thought it was fair,” Nicholson said. “We hit it too high, where it’s a coin-flip. (Cal State Fullerton) hit it low enough where it hits the pole and it’s definitive and it’s fair.”

One Titan swing negated an impressive UCD pitching effort. Starter Carter Delaney went four scoreless innings.

While craftwork turned wild at times — he surrendered a walk, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch — the sophomore from El Dorado Hills dodged trouble. Fullerton went 0-for-6 against Delaney with runners aboard.

“All we ask is that they give us a chance to win, to be in the ballgame,” Nicholson said of his team’s pitching, “If we do that enough, we’re going to be on the other side of things soon. It’s just frustrating going through it right now.”

A human development major, Woolridge made just his third appearance of 2023 on Sunday. The shoulder he injured diving in the See SWEPT, Page B2

No runs for Aggies in loss to Long Beach State

By Mike Bush Enterprise sports editor

Three UC Davis softball players found their way on the base paths.

One of those Aggie players, who is the team’s leading hitter, got on the bases twice in Sunday’s Big West Conference game against Long Beach State at La Rue Field.

But Long Beach State wrapped up the weekend series with a narrow 2-0 victory over UCD (2-4 in the Big West, 15-11 overall) in front of 204 fans. Long Beach keeps its record perfect in conference play at 6-0 and 16-14 overall.

The Aggies and Long Beach had four hits each in the game. But the visitors executed when it put runners on the bases.

“That was our whole issue the whole weekend,” said UCD head coach Erin Thorpe, whose squad lost 10-2 and 6-4 in a doubleheader on Saturday.”(Saturday) we had (22) runners in scoring position and couldn’t win. It’s just one of those frustrating weekends. It’s a bummer, but it is what it is.”

After Long Beach took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, two Aggie players reached

base with one out.

Designated player Gia Felice and right fielder Anna Dethlefson, who is team’s leading hitter at .377, had back-to-back singles.

Felice lined her shot to left field while Dethlefson’s hit went to right field.

“It was a middle-outside pitch that didn’t have much movement,” described Dethlefson of the pitch she hit.

But Felice and Dethlefson were left stranded on second and first bases respectively. Leah Polson, an El Dorado Hills product, struck out and Libbie McMahan flew out to center field to end the Aggies’ threat.

Aggie catcher Grace Kilday recorded a big out in the top of the fourth inning. Long Beach’s Sara Olson, who doubled in the inning, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt. Then Kilday tagged out Olson, who was sliding, at home plate for the second out.

“We’re really fortunate to have two athletic catchers, so they can take control of that whole area,” said Thorpe of Kilday and Dethlefson.

The Aggies tried again in the bottom of the

fourth frame with two outs.

Kilday, another El Dorado Hills product, smacked the softball past the left side of the infield into left field for a single. But Rylie Costa, a junior from Tracy, flew out to left field to end the inning.

Long Beach scored its final run in the top of the fifth frame. Cassie Camou reached first base on a fielder’s choice, and eventually touched home plate when Lilyanna Martinez tripled to the corner in right field.

Corissa Sweet tripled to center field with one out in the top of the sixth inning for Long Beach. But the Aggies quickly registered two outs to leave Sweet stranded at third base.

Long Beach made a final attempt to add another run in the seventh inning with one out. Cecil walked but was thrown out trying to steal second base to give UCD a double play.

The Aggies went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame to end the game.

Both teams combined to leave seven runners on the bases. The Aggies had three

See RUNS, Page B2

UC Davis pitcher Taylor Fitzgerald (10) sends a delivery to a Long Beach State batter in Sunday’s Big West Conference game against Long Beach State at La Rue Field. Fitzgerald, a junior from Rocklin, went five innings and gave up three hits. Christoph

Christoph lossin/enterprise photo

UC Davis catcher Grace Kilday tags out Long Beach State’s Sara Olson in Sunday’s Big West Conference game at La Rue Field. Olson was out, but Long Beach left Davis with a sweep that included a 2-0 win over the Aggies.

UC Davis squad bounces back to tame the Lions

Enterprise staff

The UC Davis baseball team bounced back Monday at Dobbins Stadium.

Entertaining Loyola Marymount in a non-conference game, UCD (7-13) posted a 10-3 win over the Lions.

The win also eclipses the team’s total for 2022, when they went 6-35.

Alex Gouveia and Mark Wolbert had three RBIs each in the game. Gouveia went 3-for-4 at the plate.

Wolbert and Braydon Wooldridge had two hits each. Aggie batters Damian Stone, Nick Iverson, Nick Leehey, Leighton Helfrick and Joey Wright had a hit apiece. UCD banged out 14 total hits in the game.

The Aggies led 3-0 entering the top of the third inning. That is when the Lions scored a run to make it 3-1.

But the Aggies scored twice in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 5-1, and cruised the rest of the way.

The Lions had six hits in the game.

On the mound, Aggie pitcher Zach Romero, a freshman, picked up the win coming out of the bullpen. He went 2 2/3 innings, gave up two hits, allowed one run and struck out one.

Another freshman in Avery Thau started the game on the bump, threw 1.1 scoreless innings, gave up no hits, no walks and fanned two Lion batters before leaving the game early due to injury.

Before Monday’s game, CSU Fullerton swept the Aggies in three games, also at Dobbins Stadium.

DHS baseball

A seven-game winning streak came to an end for the Davis High squad on Monday, as Franklin flexed its muscles and posted a 3-0 Delta League win. Davis (6-1 in the Delta League, 7-3) was held to three hits. Blue Devil players Gizaw Baker, Andrew Keegan and Christian Reyes had a hit each.

Weather permitting today, the Blue Devils will host Franklin (7-0 in the Delta League, 11-1) at 4 p.m.

The series comes to an end Friday on the Wildcats’ diamond, also at 4 p.m.

Aggie men’s tennis

RENO, Nev. — The UC Davis men’s tennis team fell to the University of Nevada 4-3, at the McArthur Tennis Center on Monday.

Brett Brinkman and Andras Necz got UCD (7-5 overall, 1-0 in the Big West Conference) off to a good start with a win in the first doubles matchup.

But Nevada (7-5, 1-0 in the Mountain West) came back and won the next two doubles matches to earn the opening point of the contest.

photo

christoph

UC Davis’ Leighton Helfrick slides safely into home plate in Monday’s non-conference win over Loyola Marymount at Dobbins Stadium. The Aggies begin an 11-game road trip starting Friday when they return to Big West Conference action at CSU Bakersfield for a three-game series. Friday and Saturday’s game start at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

KINGS: Home game Sunday RUNS: Plaing at Bakersfield on Friday

From Page B1

What if the Kings don’t beat the Blazers tonight?

Good question.

Let the NBA give us the an update on that at some point today or Thursday.

What I can tell you, in the meantime, is that win or lose, Sacramento will play the Blazers again in Portland on Friday.

Then the Kings return

to Northern California, hosting the San Antonio Spurs in a rare Sunday afternoon game at the Golden 1 Center.

Game time is scheduled at 3 p.m.

The Kings will host the Warriors on Friday, April 7.

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

From Page B1

and Long Beach State four.

Over the weekend, Long Beach outscored UCD by an 18-6 margin.

“We were looking to get three wins this weekend,” Thorpe said. “I think we’ve been doing well this year. We have some confidence. We hope to come out showing better, and we just didn’t,

unfortunately. ”

Dethlefson went 2-for-3 in Sunday’s game.

Felice and Kilday had a hit each.

Thorpe feels her players will be motivated going into a stretch of road games starting this weekend.

“I think we’re pissed,” Thorpe said. “We’re upset, we’re not happy with our performance. I think we want to get to work to

SWEPT: Pitcher had good outing

make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

The Aggies continue Big West action play in Kern County this weekend at CSU Bakersfield.

The Aggies and Roadrunners will play a doubleheader on Saturday.

The first game starts at noon and the nightcap is scheduled at 2 p.m. UCD and Bakersfield wrap up their series on Sunday at noon.

From Page B1

outfield during a fall scrimmage looked healthy.

The freshman from Chino Hills struck out three in 2 2/3 innings. Cal State Fullerton is Woolridge’s most personal college opponent. — Follow Mark DeVaughn on Twitter: @OrangeMarkD.

Lossin/EntErprisE

By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Charles M. Schulz

Corporations are some of the worst polluters

By Brianna McGuire and Charles Kieser Special to CalMatters

In January, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, introduced the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, a first-inthe-nation measure that would require all companies doing business in California with over $1 billion in revenue to report all of their carbon emissions to the public. Transparency matters. This disclosure would make it harder for polluting companies to pretend that they have been benevolent actors, and easier for the public to hold them accountable for their failures.

Senate Bill 253 is a major step to combating corporate greenwashing, which is a major obstacle to tackling the climate crisis. Most greenhouse gas emissions are released by corporations — in fact, 71% of historic emissions can be traced to just 100 corporations.

Not only that, some corporations brazenly gaslight the public about it. Fossil fuel companies deliberately misled the public about the effects of burning fossil fuels and lied about their own (accurate) predictions of rising temperatures, delaying climate action. Nowadays, fossil fuel companies engage in greenwashing when the spotlight is on them, only to walk back their promises to reduce their pollution when they fade from the news.

Polluting corporations often reassure the public that they’re reducing emissions without actually doing anything, making it difficult to distinguish the corporations only claiming to improve their practices from the ones actually doing so.

Youth social movements such as #JustStopOil and #FridaysforFuture, transit and environmental justice activists, and divestment campaigns show that people want stronger action by institutions and corporations to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Some institutions, like the state of California, have made a $54 billion climate investment over five years, and the Inflation Reduction Act made a down payment on federal climate action for the next decade. Many corporations actively supported the Inflation Reduction Act, even though it paid for climate investments by raising the corporate tax rate.

It’s time for all corporations to move towards action and accountability as well.

SB 253 would enable transparency at an institutional level, and allow regulators to take notice of the worst polluters while allowing businesses already tracking or reducing their emissions (and there are quite a few!) to highlight their sustainable practices. Emissions reporting under SB 253 would follow an internationally accepted standardized process, meaning it wouldn’t be difficult or expensive for billion-dollar corporations to implement.

Companies that already report all of their emissions through the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol could just copy over their existing reports.

SB 253 wouldn’t only be for wonks in Sacramento, either. It makes individual-level climate choices easier. When folks know which corporations are polluting more than others, they can vote with their wallets more easily. Younger workers seek shared values with their employer, so people with job mobility seeking a sustainable place to work can do so. ESG funds will have even greater visibility into the companies that are least dependent on fossil fuel infrastructure, providing greater security to those investing in the growing low-carbon economy.

There are no downsides to increased corporate accountability, especially where climate change is concerned. Corporations are responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions, and corporate action is absolutely necessary to reduce future emissions and improve the lives of ordinary people. If corporations are not able to hold themselves accountable, then the public will need to do it instead.

— Brianna McGuire is a plant pathologist and climate organizer. She is the secretary of UPTE-CWA 9119 Local 6 and serves on the Berkeley Environment and Climate Commission. She is on the political team of Sunrise’s Bay Area hub. Charles Kieser is an independent artist and writer based in San Francisco. He is on the communications team of Sunrise’s Bay Area hub.

Gas-gougers’ win streak ending?

California’s wealthy cadre of gasoline goug ers were on a major, lucrative roll. Every few months, they added another big victory over consumerist forces seeking to limit or somehow claw back their gains of the last 14 months.

That will probably now end.

The win streak for the state’s five big refiners – who make 97 percent of all gasoline in California – began in February 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine for what he expected would be a quick conquest of territory once held by the Soviet Union.

Things have not gone quickly or easily for Putin, now wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, based in the Netherlands.

Immediately on news of the invasion and President Biden’s cutoff of Russian oil imports, gasoline prices shot up more than $2.50 per gallon in California, even though Russian oil accounted for under 3 percent of crude oil refined here.

This was pure price gouging, defined as using events for a pretext to raise prices when those events have little or nothing to do with supplies on hand or expected. Nor was there any perceptible increase in demand for gasoline.

Affirm kids

So the first win for California refiners came when no one rolled back their price increases. The scope of this victory for the refiners became known when they filed quarterly and annual profit statements. All five big California refiners (Marathon, Valero, Phillips 66, Chevron and PBF) reported record returns both for the first two quarters of last year, and also for the entire year. Several more than tripled their best previous returns. That sent their stock prices soaring, which led to the gougers’ next big win. That came when executives and other oil company insiders sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of stock at big profits.

Just 60 executives and directors at the five main refiners took out more than $240 million. The Slim family of Mexico, owners of more than 10 percent of PBF stock, sold off $350 million of their holdings. At Chevron, executives and directors cashed out $150 million. PBF executives sold off $12 million in securi-

Affirming all our students the way they identify lets them thrive.

When my daughter told us she wasn’t a boy, she was 4.

When she wasn’t affirmed her behavior became a problem. This showed up clearly at day care; when she was called a boy, she would throw tantrums. This was the first time she would seem to do things with the intention to hurt people. Her behavior required her to be picked up in the middle of the day multiple times.

Kids don’t misbehave because they’re bad. Kids, especially kids this young, are just trying to get what they need.

Once we identified that the problem was that she wasn’t being treated like a girl, the staff were able to affirm her, and she and her class got to go back to learning and growing.

I’m so glad that she had a strong sense of self and stood up for what she needed.

ties, Marathon executives and directors took home $48 million and Valero officials $24 million, while the CEO of Phillips 66 cashed out a “measly” $3 million, according to the Consumer Watchdog advocacy group.

It was the biggest insider selloff of oil company stock in more than a decade, opportunistically aiming to milk the gas price situation.

In response to these actions, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered a special session of the Legislature to consider a windfall profits tax or other limits on the oil companies’ ability to raise prices suddenly and with little or no justification.

That set up the refiners’ third victory of the last 14 months, as the special session appeared to fizzle out in midMarch.

It was clear from the first moment of Newsom’s special session that no Republican lawmaker would vote to OK any kind of price limit on gasoline. Democrats then began to defect, under pressure from oil industry lobbyists and oil company campaign donors, who claimed any profit limit at all would interfere with their efforts to develop new energy sources. The industry win came when Newsom gave up on assessing any windfall profit tax or fee.

She’s learned better ways to communicate her needs, and part of that is her confidence that, we will take her seriously.

Using the wrong pronouns for someone is denying who they are. It will hurt them, especially if it’s something they are stuck dealing with frequently. We all know how hard it is to behave, much less learn, when we’ve been hurt.

It makes our schools run smoother, and our students better able to succeed if we affirm students.

Even if children can deal with being misgendered they will spend energy they could spend learning and growing dealing with having their identity attacked.

Parenting is different for every parent, but when we learn that something is harmful to our children, we need to change how we parent.

Now we know that transgender children are much more likely to consider and attempt suicide and self-harm than their cisgender peers, and we know that this likelihood drops to match their cisgender peers when they are affirmed.

Affirm kids. Let kids, like my

Building, Washington, D.C., 20510; 202224-3553; email: https://www.padilla. senate.gov/contact/contact-form/

House of Representatives

Rep. Mike Thompson, 268 Cannon Office

Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; 202225-3311. District office: 622 Main Street, Suite 106, Woodland, CA 95695; 530-753-5301; email: https:// https:// mikethompsonforms.house.gov/contact/

But Newsom then changed tacks, and now the refiners’ win streak appears almost over. He worked a deal with legislative leaders to create a new office within the Energy Commission, whose sole task would be holding refining companies accountable when they price gouge. The new office quickly passed muster in the state Senate and likely will soon be authorized to levy penalties on refiners when their profits become excessive by historical industry standards.

It's what Newsom originally wanted, but with a different structure. Only time will tell if it helps consumers while leaving enough incentive in place to assure adequate supplies.

Of course, oil company lobbyists immediately went to work against this plan, claiming it would create “a new, unaccountable bureaucracy (imposing) hidden taxes on oil.”

This time they appear to be failing, so the likelihood is great that the refiners’ win streak will end soon.

— Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough: The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Government’s Campaign to Squelch It," is now available in a softcover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net

perfect girl, thrive.

Kay Williams Davis

A widespread problem

Declining school enrollment is not unique to Davis. The number of students enrolled in the California public school system dropped below 6 million last year for the first time in two decades.

EdSource reports that Daniel Domenech, executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. said enrollment declines will result in school closures in the years ahead, both in California and nationally.

The cost of living is high in California, and families have been leaving the state. California lost a seat in the U.S. Congress in 2020, for the first time in the state’s history.

Declining school enrollment in Davis is one small indicator of larger problems statewide.

Julia Lutch Davis

202-224-3841; email: https://www. feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/

e-mail-me

Sen. Alex Padilla, 112 Hart Senate Office

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

Heritage pigs feed outdoors at local farm

Some years ago, my wife Diane and I found ourselves at a mid-afternoon Iberian ham-tasting experience in southwestern Spain. Not a bad day at all. The two of us, plus a knowledgeable Spanish acquaintance.

This came to mind as I gathered the inside story of Golden Acorn Farm, sequestered in a valley in tiny Volcano, Calif., up in Amador County. It’s a small, heritage-breed pig farm, where the animals savor the acorns they graze. It echoes of Spain.

In both settings the pigs live and graze outdoors on range or in the forest. If you’re a pig, you have reason to grin, relative to industrial hog operations.

(Can pigs grin? In much younger days I cared for about a dozen pigs in a country barn, and I swear they grinned at my arrival with a slop bucket of food waste each day.)

And if you’re a person who appreciates pork, this is something different. The acorns lend flavor, as does the lifestyle of these Red Wattle pigs, which get plenty of exercise. It’s a large, reddish hog that traces its lineage, according to The Livestock Conservancy, through Texas. And Texas is a good place to start this story.

Jeffe Campbell grew up in West Texas, with show pigs in his life. He moved on to become a technician, traveling a lot to keep wireless cell-phone towers at our beck and call. And he also put in time around Half Moon Bay, bartending, doing restaurant work.

Meagan Monaghan was there as well, working in restaurants. A relationship took root, and we find the couple living today in what had been her granddad’s former house in Volcano.

Their notion to farm in California began at her granddad’s house and two acres. Today, just six years later, they have 52 acres and enough breeding stock to raise more than 200 pigs for market. Their goal is 350 pigs, birthed by 25 sows.

It doesn’t take long, listening and taking notes, to feel their passion for this endeavor. I specifically asked Meagan what

lights her fire for this line of work.

“I’m a meat eater,” Meagan explained. “I tried being a vegetarian, but I couldn’t. I love knowing where the animal has been since birth, how it was raised, everything until the very end.

“I really love knowing that the animal had a happy life. I’m OK with that.”

They bring in heritage grain from Glenn and Colusa counties as one food source for their pigs. Behind that decision, said Jeffe, is research citing the benefits of nutrient-dense grains.

As for pens, they have created a Korean Natural Farming Piggery with Biochar. That’s a specific USDA-recognized method of having pigs in a containment

where logs, wood chips, sawdust and the like microbially create a rather odorless deep-litter system.

A lot of technicality, that. But it exemplifies what I increasingly hear from younger farmers about thoughtful farming, about enhancing the soil. (Back in my day I’d shovel the pig poop out an opening in the side of the barn, no great fun, and it would periodically be hauled off into the alfalfa fields along with the cattle manure.)

Tree trimmers on Amador County’s roads drop off wood chips at Golden Acorn Farm at the rate of 100 truck loads annually. And their pigs play a further outside role in their ecosystem.

We’ve all seen goats and sheep grazing along roadsides within electric fence containments that their minders shift every few days. Well, pigs play that game too. They gobble their way through invasive species, brambles, manzanita leaves, and poison oak in penned-in areas, even at wineries.

“I feel like we’re rebuilding soil at the headwaters, which eventually feeds into the bay,” said Jeffe,

taking the big view.

And, as can happen sometimes on a farm, one thing leads to the next. They’ve introduced some Berkshire pigs. It’s a heritage breed that’s already known in Davis, as Nugget stores carry flavor-rich Berkshire pork in their meat sections.

Also, Meagan and Jeffe have recently brought some rabbits and heritage-breed chickens into the mix at their farm. (I’m humming “Old McDonald had a farm ...” to myself right now.)

Where’s the current market for

all this, six years after inception?

Initially it was just nearby, serving customers in Sutter Creek, Tahoe and Folsom. But these days they’re sellers at the Davis Farmers Market on Saturdays.

As with other meats displayed at farmers’ market stalls, a customer has to realize the cost inputs that factor into the high prices. Golden Acorn has to truck live pigs, typically at 220 pounds, to a USDAapproved slaughterhouse hours away.

The carcasses, with 180-pound hang weight, next are shipped west to a USDA-approved butcher in Sonoma County. The next step is trucking the meat back to Volcano, and then it must be driven to the point of sale ... all with rather small quantities to sell.

Golden Acorn observes noseto-tail practices, wasting as little as possible. They bring to market a wide range of offerings — numerous sausages, three types of pork belly, several types of bacon, and varied cuts of meat, such as spare ribs and rib chops.

The snowy weather we’ve had hasn’t made things any easier. But spring weather is ahead, and they’ll be grinning, too.

— Dan Kennedy has a long history with local food and the people who provide it to their communities. He serves on the Davis Farmers Market Board of Directors.

Savor spring flavor with fresh seafood

Special to The Enterprise

Fresh, flavorful ingredients take springtime meals to another level, and it’s hard to top seafood as a seasonal favorite. Skip the wait at restaurants and instead create your own savory seafood dishes by taking advantage of easyto-make recipes.

While takeout may be an easy option, the satisfaction of enjoying a delicious, home-cooked meal like Shrimp Pad Thai with Jasmine Rice can make you feel like you’re enjoying a restaurant-quality dinner. Next time you’re craving Asian cuisine, swap out traditional rice noodles for this version with Jasmine rice as an aromatic, quick-cooking solution for your own spin on a classic.

Take the guesswork out of cooking rice with an option like Success BoilIn-Bag Rice, which offers a heat safe, BPA-free and FDA-approved solution for fluffy, flavorful rice that cooks up perfectly. The high-quality grains are quick, easy, mess-free and ready in 10 minutes, so you can enjoy hassle-free dishes such as Successful Crab and Rice Cakes.

These crispy crab cakes come together easily and are served with a zesty, homemade aioli that tastes just like you’re on the coast. If you’re new to making crab cakes, it’s simpler than it may seem — just cook rice beforehand so it can cool then mix in beaten eggs, seafood and seasonings.

Refrigerating and resting the mixture helps it hold together before frying to a mouthwatering golden

brown for a delicious appetizer, snack or side dish.

— Family Features. Visit SuccessRice.com to find more springtime meal ideas.

Shrimp Pad Thai with Jasmine Rice

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 bag Success Jasmine

Rice

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon chili garlic

sauce

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon minced garlic

3 green onions, thinly sliced

1 cup bean sprouts

¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

2 tablespoons dry roasted peanuts, chopped

4 lime wedges

Putting it together: Prepare rice according to package directions. Set aside.

In small bowl, combine brown sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, soy sauce and chili garlic sauce. Set aside.

In large wok or skillet over high heat, heat tablespoon oil. Quickly scramble egg. Remove from pan and reserve.

Add remaining oil to wok over high heat. Add shrimp and garlic; stir-fry 5 minutes, or until shrimp are cooked. Add reserved sauce and rice; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add green onions and reserved egg; toss to

combine. Divide pad Thai between four bowls. Top each with bean sprouts, cilantro and peanuts. Serve with lime wedges.

Successful Crab and Rice Cakes

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Crab Cakes:

1 bag Success Brown Rice

2 eggs

1 pound lump crabmeat

2 tablespoons seafood

seasoning

2 tablespoons olive oil

Aioli: 1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 lemon, zest and juice only lemon wedges (optional)

To make crab cakes: Prepare rice according to package directions. Allow to cool.

In medium bowl, beat eggs lightly. Stir in rice, crabmeat and seafood seasoning; mix well. Refrigerate 5 minutes. Shape mixture into eight patties.

In large, nonstick skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Working in batches, carefully place patties in skillet. Cook 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.

To make aioli: Stir together mayonnaise, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice.  Serve aioli with crab cakes and garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.

Dan KenneDy/Courtesy photo

Red wattle pigs graze outside at Golden Acorn Farm.

Meagan Monaghan, owner, and Jeffe Campbell, the partners at Golden Acorn Farm in Volcano.

Dan KenneDy/ Courtesy photo

Successful Crab and Rice Cakes.

DJUSD approves ethnic studies course

By xoChitL arMién HUB Staff

Fueled by a six year community effort to make Ethnic Studies a Davis Joint Unified School District graduation requirement, a freshman year Ethnic Studies semester class is set to replace world geography class fall of 2023.

The Ethnic Studies course was approved by the DJUSD school board on Jan. 19 and will be required for gradua tion by 2024, getting a head start on the California state mandate.

Due to the state requirement for all K-12 Ethnic Studies teachers to have a social studies teaching degree, Superin tendent Matt Best says that finding and retaining educa tors with experience with the Ethnic Studies pedagogy centered around student voices with an anti racist, social justice lens has been more difficult.

“The thing about Ethnic Studies that is different than most courses is (educators) have to have a particular mindset. You have to be a skilled facilitator of what can be challenging conversations that may occur in class,” Best said.

A team of teachers is currently developing the Ethnic Studies curriculum units and identifying the readings, potential guest speakers and projects that will be included. The curriculum should be complete by summer.

Anoosh Jorjorian has been working with community coalition of community advo and Ethnic Studies professionals. Jorjorian says that because Ethnic Studies is inseparable from communities of color, those communities need input into how the Eth nic Studies program is taught and would like to see teach ers use the tools that the community offers.

“Anyone who teaches Ethnic Studies is going to need outside resources, outside voices who can speak from that experience, and we want to make sure that the district is thinking about that, and that we can guide them to appro priate experts who can support teachers,” Jorjorian said.

Natalia Deeb-Soss, UC Davis professor of Chicano/a studies and community advocate, says that including the four core groups of Eth nic Studies (Native Americans, African

Americans, Asian Americans, Chicane and Latine Americans) into K-12 curriculums is important because their exclusion sends a signal that they have not been valuable or important to the development and creation

retained, to graduate, to have greater well being, to be actually happier… they’re more likely to actually go to college or community college, because they’re interested. You study things that you’re In addition to seeing themselves the curriculum, Engotto ing teachers of color is crucial as their personal connection to the content allows for safe and open conversations.

“The impact will definitely be a lot stronger (if) people are able to see the real world implications of what they’re learning without just being presented with stories, statistical data and inforwide teacher shortage which DeebSossa says could be solved by increasing teacher pay.

“Davis is one of the wealthiest school districts… so if we really value education, and the education of our children, are we willing to invest and pay the teachers what we believe they deserve and attract them, and retain them here,” DeebSossa said.

The college choice: go big or stay small? Career Center helps students seek college scholarships

Students factor in school size as they make college decisions

By aLex MiyaMoto HUB Staff

Seniors with post-high school education plans refresh their inboxes on the daily in March, hoping to get into their top university.

Deciding whether to go to a bigger or smaller school takes time.

Marcos Zaragoza, who has already gotten into his university of choice, New York University, prefers the larger school atmosphere.

“It wasn’t really the school as much as it was the city and the big mix of people that’s going to be there and the diversity of people,” Zaragoza said.

Zaragoza got in for his selected major of choice, music technology.

“I just want people to hear my music. There are good places to

play live and open mic nights,” he said.

Eda Chen is the president of Elan Advising, where she guides young adults in their lives and in their careers. Part of her job is advising high school students during the admission process.

“There is a number of reasons why a student in high school might prefer or think about a larger school, in terms of different communities all meshing together or do you want something cozier ... maybe a small liberal arts college.”

At NYU, Zaragoza will get the best of both worlds. With under 50 people in his major, he will get to participate in small classroom discussions while living in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

“I kind of like that it’s really big.” Zaragoza said. “I kind of liked that it was in its own world.”

Zoe Kaplan, who has not yet committed to her college of choice, is still waiting for acceptance letters.

Unlike Zaragoza, Kaplan

prefers a smaller college environment.

“The ability to connect with teachers is easier. I have a friend who currently is attending a smaller university somewhere and already has an internship this summer as a freshman …if you were to attend a UC or a larger school, you most likely wouldn’t have that big of an opportunity this soon to work with a professor.”

Chen also points out that in a smaller school setting you may be able to find more individualized help.

“Maybe your intro classes are already going to still be smaller, so (it’s a) better professor to student ratio,” Chen said.

When it boils down to it, Chen has some counseling advice for picking the right school.

“If you can go visit, wonderful. If you can actually talk to some students that are on campus, that’s great too,” Chen said.

By Luis CarvajaL HUB Staff

The Career Center, situated in the All Student Center, provides students with assistance on subjects ranging from “college and career planning, financial aid, scholarships … and more,” center director Julie Clayton said.

Scholarships available to all prospective college students are listed on the scholarship bulletin, posted on the Career Center’s website and updated biweekly. Some promise opportunities for internships, mentorships and even trips to organization headquarters.

With a shifting assortment of over 50 scholarships, the criteria are varied; GPA, financial need and community and volunteer service are all considered.

“Students should apply for all scholarships they are even remotely eligible for because

they just might qualify,” Clayton said.

Many scholarships are not limited to four-year colleges, also providing awards to students attending two-year, technical, vocational or trade schools.

Several offer awards without any postgraduate education required.

National scholarships tend to offer larger sums of money, with the trade off of increased student applications and competitiveness.

Local scholarships usually offer smaller sums of money. However, only Davis students are eligible, and as such the likelihood of selection is much higher.

Students can also apply and receive multiple local scholarships.