The Davis Enterprise Friday, June 30, 2023

Hohenwater appointed to Yolo County bench

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff

writer

WOODLAND — California Gov.

Gavin Newsom filled one of two Yolo Superior Court judicial vacancies this week with the appointment of Judge Catherine R. Hohenwater.

Dozens of court officials, staff and other supporters attended Hohenwater’s courthouse swearing-in ceremony Wednesday, with a formal investiture planned for later this summer.

“Gov. Newsom has made an inspired choice,” Presiding Judge Daniel Maguire said prior to giving the oath. “Judge Hohenwater is intelligent, she’s experienced, and most important of all, she’s fair. She’s going to be a great judge.”

Hohenwater, who fills the vacancy created by Judge David Reed when he retired in April, thanked her fellow judges, court staff, family and friends for their support.

“You don’t get here by yourself. You get here with the help and love of everyone that you work with and surround yourself with,” Hohenwater said. “I couldn’t be more proud and appreciative to take this position here today.”

See BENCH, Page A7

Students answer questions at San Antonio Elementary School in Lockwood on March 31, 2022.

Parents seek right to ‘quality’ education

By Joe Hong CalMatters

For the second time in two years, a coalition of advocates wants to make a high-quality education a constitutional right in California.

The push comes in the aftermath of pandemic-era school closures and distance learning, during which parents witnessed firsthand what they considered deficient

instruction.

As educators now try to help students recover, advocates behind a proposed ballot measure say the right to a highquality education is more crucial than ever. But while some see it as a simple and obvious proposal designed to empower families and students, critics anticipate a barrage of lawsuits against schools and districts resulting from the

vaguely defined phrase “highquality education.”

“It seems like the intention is to initiate lawsuits,” said Richard Barrera, a board member at the San Diego Unified School District, the state’s second-largest district. “It seems like it’s written in a way to drain funding from public schools to go into the pockets of lawyers.”

The California Attorney

General’s Office approved three versions of the initiative language, but the authors haven’t yet selected which one they’ll try to get on the ballot. Once they make the decision, they’ll start gathering signatures. There’s currently no organized opposition to the proposed measure.

Supporters of the proposed See QUALITY, Page A7

Applegate Dance celebrates 30 years of moving and grooving

By Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer

From music to art and everything in between, Davis is a town with a rich heritage of creative expression. Synonymous with that heritage is the Applegate Dance Company/Studio which is celebrating 30 years of bringing the delight of dancing to Davis.

James Brown once said, “I got ants in my pants and I need to dance.” Davis local Lisa Applegate, however, required no insects in her clothes to inspire her to dance or to create the Applegate Dance Studio back in 1992. Originally comprising 12 dancers, Applegate and company danced out of a garage

studio for years, embraced collaborative dancing and created more than just a company, but a community.

“I had danced briefly in the professional world, and it was very much everybody for themselves. There was no teamwork and wasn’t an environment that I thrived in. So, I tried to create and offer that environment that was more about working as a team and focusing on the art rather than try to win the competition between each other. That’s what inspired me rather than further my own dance career, I wanted to create a special place for dancers,” said Applegate.

See DANCE, Page A7

Tony nguyen/CourTesy phoTo Applegate Dance Company founder and director Lisa Applegate-Zimany, center, poses with graduating seniors Emily Haws, Em Baltz, Cameron St. Andre and Mayah Moore (and studio mascot Bentley) to mark the studio’s 30th anniversary.

DaviD roDríguez Muñoz/ The Californian, CaTChlighT anD CalMaTTers

Courthouse gets bomb threat

A bomb threat interrupted Yolo Superior Court operations Thursday morning, resulting in the downtown Woodland building’s evacuation for about two hours.

Yolo County Sheriff’s Lt. Juan Ceja said dispatchers received the threat from a female caller at about 8:20 a.m. Officers cleared the Main Street building “out of an abundance of caution” but found nothing suspicious during a search.

Court sessions resumed at about 10:30 a.m.

No suspects were identified, and anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 530-6685280.

Embroiders learn blackwork

The Valley Oak Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America invites interested people to join them at their July meeting to participate in a short course “A Study in Blackwork.”

The program will begin at 10 a.m. on July 5 at the Unitarian Church Library, 27074 Patwin Road in Davis. Participants need to bring scissors. A kit containing the necessary materials to make a blackwork bookmark will be provided.

How we’ll achieve fairness was left till later

THE END OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ... To no one’s surprise, the United States Supreme Court voted 6-3 to eliminate affirmative action programs at this nation’s colleges and universities, even though one of the justices who voted with the majority readily admits that he might not be sitting where he is today but for affirmative action.

Because the six in the majority are strict constructionists who are always trying to follow the “intent” of the Founding Fathers, they were on safe ground with their ruling.

The Founding Fathers, of course, never imagined that the slaves they owned would one day become citizens and be allowed to vote and, for heaven’s sake, actually attend college. For that matter, they didn’t imagine women — of any race — being allowed to vote, either.

It took 244 years from the first slave ship arriving in Virginia in 1619 to the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, so slavery was not some “brief” episode in American history.

But affirmative action is not about blaming anyone alive today for the sins of the past over which none of us had any control. Although implementation has sometimes been bumpy, it has

always been a sincere effort to provide true equality for all Americans, which is something we have yet to achieve.

It’s unfortunate that affirmative action was ever necessary in our country, but 244 years is a long legacy to overcome.

I’m certain, though, that those colleges and universities in certain parts of the country who are cheering the court’s ruling this week will still find a way to admit students of any race who can sprint the length of a football field in 10 seconds flat while catching an oddly shaped ball in full stride.

IN PRAISE OF BILL DODD

I have in the past been critical of California state Sen. Bill Dodd of Napa, particularly for his refusal to support overtime pay for farmworkers, perhaps the hardest-working group of Californians to be found.

However, giving credit where credit is due, Dodd is right on the

money in his attempt to outlaw so-called “junk fees” that hide like cockroaches before the final tab is presented any time we order just about anything.

“This bill will put an end to junk fees that boost corporate profits at the expense of those who can least afford it,” said Dodd.

“For too long, Californians have been hit with dishonest charges being tacked on to seemingly everything. It is time we put the consumer first and create a level playing field for those businesses that advertise the real price up front.”

Oh yes, get your concert ticket for $100. But after you pick your seat and enter your credit card number, you learn there’s a handling fee of $20. What the seller is actually handling is anyone’s guess.

If Dodd has his way, that ticket will cost $100, nothing more, nothing less. If the seller really wants to charge $120 for the ticket, that information will have to be front and center.

Believe it or not, Dodd’s bill was approved by the full Senate on a 31-3 vote, a rare bit of bipartisanship in our divided world. Apparently, even Republicans don’t like hidden fees.

Said co-author Senator Nancy Skinner of Berkeley, “Californians

are sick and tired of deceptive pricing and bait-and-switch practices. The Senate’s passage of SB 478 lets Californians know that we are committed to ensuring that consumers will know in advance how much they’re being asked to pay and not be surprised by hidden junk fees, whether it’s buying tickets to a concert or sporting event or booking a vacation or hotel.”

You mean like that Southern California resort with every amenity known to humankind that advertises rooms for $199 a night, then tacks on a “resort fee” of $189 a night when you check out?

Just the other day I bought six tickets for an out-of-state football game this fall. At 30 bucks apiece, it seemed like a bargain. Last time I checked, 6 times 30 equals 180, but when I got to the final charges, it was suddenly $198. Turns out there was a $3 handling fee per ticket, even though no human being is actually “handling” anything.

I guess we’ve all become so accustomed to these things that we just shrug and pay whatever it says on the bottom line. If Dodd could make his bill retroactive for 50 years, we’d all be millionaires.

— Reach Bob Dunning at bdunning@davisenterprise.net.

ASUCD slams campus leadership over EBT struggles

By Monica Stark Enterprise staff writer

The Associated Students of UC Davis urged the university this month to fix problems it said existed in the school’s Electronic Benefits Transfer system. EBT is used in California for public-assistance benefits, such as CalFresh food assistance.

According to an ASUCD Senate resolution passed on June 14, UCD has repeatedly lost its EBT license due to system failure. The resolution said the agreement with UC Davis was lost in the Fall of 2021, then again in March 2023, and the school had to reapply in May 2022, July 2022, and in March 2023.

According to the resolution, the EBT readers in Tercero and the Silo Markets went down in October and November of 2021 and are still inactive, while the only market accepting EBT on the main campus is the Memorial Union Market, which also periodically experiences reader failure. Segundo Market is the only one on campus that has always been active.

Besides system failure, EBT also canceled the agreement due to inactivity brought on by COVID closures, according to UCD. The university stated Tercero Market’s account was activated on April 4, Silo Market’s account was activated on May 8, and Cuarto Market’s new terminal was installed on May 10.

“The Sage Street Market at the Green made a commitment to offer EBT services and even started advertising the upcoming availability of EBT starting from Fall, yet several quarters have passed, and it has failed to fulfill this promise,” reads the resolution. While owned privately by

CHF-Davis, a nonprofit housing development, The Green at West Village’s agent is UCD Student Housing and Dining Services.

UC Davis said on Tuesday that new EBT devices were due to be delivered Wednesday, June 28, to Tercero Market and Sage St Café. “We have been waiting for the swivel stands/ locks mounting hardware devices to install. A second device for Sage St. Cafe still needs to be activated, and we’re working with Bank of America Tech Support again this week to get it up and running,” said Kat Kerlin, Interim Director of UC Davis News and Media Relations.

Kerlin said all other Market locations were functioning, but the units have been closed for the summer. UCD contacted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and requested a summer pause from Monday, June 19 through Sept. 18 at Segundo, Silo and Cuarto markets.

“UC Davis has been working diligently to get EBT up and running again,” she said. “It can be a long process given the complex challenges of bank and technology support we’ve had to work through when SNAP accounts were rescinded due to inactivity. We’re committed to working through these issues to give students the support they need.”

When ASUCD inquired about EBT status, UCD Dining Services said that they have reached out to Bank of America for support since October 2021 and have worked with BofA and Merchant Support the entire time.

The long lines at the MU Market, coupled with the constant possibility of EBT

UC Davis police investigate several campus burglaries

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer

Andy Fell said the breakins occurred at the Sprocket Building, which houses food science and technology, sometime between the afternoon of June 23 and Monday morning; and Veihmeyer Hall, the Department of Land Air & Water Resources location,

between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. It’s unclear what, if anything, was taken during the incidents.

Fell said police also received a report Monday of two laptops and a key safe stolen from Sproul Hall, which houses linguistics, religious studies, comparative literature and foreign language programs Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the UCD Police Department at 530752-1727.

readers malfunctioning and the excessive dependence on the MU Market, have resulted in significant inconveniences for students and prolonged periods of empty shelves that leave EBT SNAP users with limited food options, according to the resolution.

ASUCD argues there is a stigma surrounding receiving EBT SNAP benefits, and it is essential to ensure

that basic needs resources are distributed across the entire campus rather than confined to a single location, in order to avoid the marginalization or “othering” of students.

According to California Policy Lab’s report on California Community College and the University of California student participation in CalFresh benefits, 14.7% of UCD undergraduate students were enrolled

in CalFresh for the 201920 academic year. Tallied up, that’s 4,809 undergraduates out of a total of 32,677.

Racially, “Other Asian/ Pacific Islander” top the CalFresh list at 27.3%, followed by Black/African American at 23.1% and Hispanic/Latino/Chicano at 21.8%. Those identified as White/Caucasian were at the bottom, with 7.4% of its population on CalFresh.

Deadline for low-income parks and open-space tax refund program is July 31

Enterprise staff

Qualified, low-income homeowners can receive a full refund for the Davis Park Maintenance Tax and the Open Space Protection Tax for 20222023 by returning a completed

Obituaries

city application form by July 31. This is an annual refund program (not an exemption from the tax) that appears on the property tax bill. To be eligible, applicants must be owner-occupants of property in Davis and meet the low-income requirements for the

Carolyn Crowder Pfanner

Oct. 27, 1942 — June 22, 2023

Carolyn Crowder Pfanner passed away on June 22, 2023, peacefully in her sleep.

Born Oct. 27, 1942, in Washington, D.C., Carolyn was the daughter of Elizabeth Barnard Crowder and Robert McPherson Crowder. Carolyn was predeceased by her husband, Ernest (Ernie) J. Pfanner Jr. in 2001, just a few weeks prior to what would have been their 30th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her brothers Scott Peyton Crowder and Robb McPherson (Patricia) Crowder of San Diego.

Carolyn was the beloved mother to two daughters, Rachel Elizabeth Wulff and Rebecca Marie (Steve) Robinson, both of Davis, and appreciated the friendship offered by her husband Ernie’s sons from his previous marriage, William and Hans (deceased) Pfanner. Carolyn enjoyed her grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Growing up, Carolyn’s family lived in Falls Church, Va., where the family built a small home in the woods beside a creek. They then moved to Hawaii for about a year, where her father worked for the National Cash Register company. She told stories of being able to attend Aina Haina Elementary School in Honolulu without shoes and how this was such a novel idea to a young child.

Moving back to the mainland, they ended up in El Cajon, where she attended Chase Avenue Elementary School. The walk to school necessitated traversing a hill on the way to and from school. It was during this walk to school that Carolyn befriended a woman tending to goats, and her passion for animals was sparked, volunteering to clean stalls and show goats at the county fair in

exchange for hands-on experience with the animals.

Carolyn used the opportunity to learn as much as possible from Mrs. Jessie Van Hook, and this experience was a guiding light for her life. The family settled in San Diego when she was in junior high and she began breeding fish and parakeets and selling them to a Mission Hills pet shop, where she was a part-time employee.

In high school, her passion for animals and education led to a once-in-a-lifetime internship opportunity at the world-famous San Diego Zoo Hospital. The story of her working with the animals made national news in Parade magazine. Carolyn loved San Diego High School and her time there as a “Caver.” She was editorin-chief of the school paper and president of the girls' honor society, Demoiselles.

Carolyn was awarded both the Kutchin Memorial Scholarahip and an Elmer H. Hughes scholarship and began studies of animal husbandry at UC Davis in 1960. A well-rounded college student, she was a RA in the dorms, Cal club member, Cal Aggie reporter, Regents Scholar, an active member of the Prytanean Honor Society, Picnic Day Hostess, participant in theater productions and an International Club hostess.

From an early age, she was intent on living life to the fullest and connecting with people from all walks of life. She had a genuine concern for people and made a point to keep in correspondence with the people she met throughout the years. She graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1964.

While she considered the Peace Corps and Veterinary

t y a t 1 5 1 5 S h a s t a D r i v e I a m a r e t i r ed D a v i s t e a c h e r I a m f r i e n d l y & d o n t c o m p l a i n o r c r i t i c i z e

Please write a letter of intro to me Please send letter and resume to dnpoulos@urcad org Debbie Nichols Poulos

gross or total combined household income. Maximum income limits for both taxes are based on 50% of median income for the household size.

For the application, visit www. cityofdavis.org/LIRP or contact

the Finance Department at financeweb@cityofdavis.org or 530-757-5651. Applications will also be available for pick-up at the Davis Senior Center: 646 A St., and the City Hall Finance Department, 23 Russell Blvd.

Return completed applications

by mailing it to City Hall Finance Department, depositing it in the City Hall parking lot drop box, or dropping it by personally at the Finance Department. For questions, contact finance web@cityofdavis.org or 530-7575651.

PFANNER

School post bachelor work, her love of animals lured her to a ranch in Davis, and her focus shifted to an interest in breeding and training thoroughbred horses for racing.

In addition to working with horses, she also worked at the radiobiology lab on the UC Davis campus and waitressed at Mr. B’s Branding Iron restaurant. While doing so, Carolyn was selling fresh vegetables to local restaurants and needed a refrigerated space to hold the produce until delivery day.

This predicament was what created a chance meeting with Ernie Pfanner, and they were wed 30 days later. With a strong partner at her side, she was able to expand the horsebreeding operation, help reopen local Fairfield Elementary School, start a nonprofit transportation company and become a community activist and volunteer.

She touched many lives as “the bus driver who wore a bonnet” and helped thousands of schoolchildren get to and from school after the city of Davis cut student transportation in the 1980s. She then transitioned to a full-time professional driver position with UC Davis Fleet Services and retired in 2014.

A natural-born leader, Carolyn never hesitated to help those in need or serve her community — sharing her vegetables with neighbors and church family, volunteering as a poll watcher, supporting fiscally

conservative issues and encouraging others to better educate themselves on issues and to become involved in the community. She believed that all things were possible with education.

A lifelong learner, she thirsted for knowledge and always took time to share what she was studying. She was very proud of her work with dozens of UC Davis students via internships that taught them animal husbandry and livestock handling skills. Her teaching continued well into retirement as she took on the role of beginning 4-H project leader serving as a mentor to young families.

Carolyn slowed in recent years; however her independent spirit and determination kept her involved — albeit on a limited basis. A series of health complications this past year took her away from the ranching she loved, though her spirit lives on in all the lives she touched.

Scottish Poet Thomas Campbell wrote in his 1825 poem Hallowed Ground “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die” and if this is true, Carolyn’s energy will live on in the many people she impacted over the years.

A celebration of life is planned at the ranch she called home for over 50 years at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 8; Lone Wulff Ranch (26810 County Road 97D, Davis, CA 95616). Interment will be private at the Nicholas Cemetery in Nicholas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to support 4H Youth in Yolo County in memory of Carolyn Pfanner. Donate to CA 4H Foundation 2801 Second St., Davis, CA 95618.

Shannon Peterson Callahan

Dec. 14, 1983 — May 8, 2023

Shannon Peterson Callahan (39), wife, mother and instructor at Sonoma State University, died on May 8, 2023, at the UC Davis Medical Center, just five weeks after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

Shannon is survived by her husband of five years, Landon Christensen; son Lewis Christensen (3); mother Ellen Peterson; sister Megan Callahan (Christopher Sierzchula); nephews Paxton (9) and Xander (6); Landon’s parents, Lynn and Laura Christensen; brother-inlaw Gary Christensen; and sister-in-law Katie Manzer and her family.

Shannon was born in Woodbridge, N.J. Growing up she enjoyed playing trombone with the school

band, acting, choir, soccer, and future problem solving.

Shannon received her Ph.D. from UC Davis and taught social psychology at numerous colleges, including UC Davis and Sonoma State University. There will be a celebration of life at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Davis on Saturday, July 8. Details are available at this Everloved memorial website: https://everloved. com/life-of/shannoncallahan. Guests are asked to RSVP.

CALLAHAN

The Enterprise publishes brief death notices free of charge. These include name, age, city of residence, occupation, date of death and funeral/memorial information. Paid-for obituaries allow for controlled content with the option for photos. Obituaries will be edited for style and grammar. Submissions may be made via www.davisenterprise.com/obit-form.

ORDINANCE NO

2644

AN URGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY OF DAVIS MUNICIPAL CODE SUBSECTION 18 05 060(b)

TO EXTEND THE SUNSET DATE FOR THE TEMPORARY AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE RENTAL HOUSING REQUIREMENTS UNTIL THE ADOPTION OF A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT ORDINANCE

WHEREAS City of Davis (City) declares this Urgency Ordinance to become effective on June 27, 2023 extending the sunset date for the City s temporary Affordable Alternative Rental Housing Requirements to allow time for a permanent amendment to Article 18 05 to take effect; and

WHEREAS California Government Code Section 36937(b) authorizes the City Council to adopt as an urgency measure a n i n te r i m o r d i n a n c e fo r th e i m m e d i a te p r e s e r v a ti o n o f th e p u b l i c p e a c e h e a l th o r s a fe ty ; a n d

WHEREAS, Subsection 18 05 060(b) (the Alternative Rental Affordable Hou sing Requirements ) of the City of Davis Municipal Code which was intended as a temporary measure to address the requirements of AB 1505 (in particular, Government Code Section 65850 01(a)) until a more comprehensive Code update could occur is set to sunset on June 30 2023; and

WHEREAS on June 27 2023 concurrently with approving t h i s O r d i n a n c e t h e C i t y C o u n c i l i n t r o d u c e d O r d i n a n c e N o 2645 whi ch repeals and replaces Section 18 05 060 in its entirety establishing updated inclusionary requirements for rental housing city-wide; and

WHEREAS Ordinance No 2645 establishing new requirements shall take effect 30 days after final adoption Assuming City Council adopts the ordinance, its effective day will be after the expiration of the temporary provisions in Subsection 18 05 060(b) creating a gap in coverage between the ordinances; and

WHEREAS allowing Subsection 18 050 060(b) to sunset by its own terms would cause the City s requirements to revert to the 35 percent inclusionary requirement that was in place prio r t o a d o p t i o n o f t h e t e m p o r a r y t e r m s i n S u b s e c t i o n 18 050 060(b), which were rendered legally indefensible by the passage of AB 1505; and

WHEREAS the City is currently processing or will likely process applications for multifamily rental housing developments that were received prior to the sunset of the alternative option and were proposed with the expectation that 15 percent affordability was the City s inclusionary housing requirement; and

WHEREAS, allowing a gap in coverage to occur between the expiration of Subsection 18 05 060(b) and the adoption of the revised Se ction 18 050 060 would create confusion and potential inconsistency in application of City standards; and

WHEREAS therefore there is a current and immediate threat to the public health safety or welfare with respect to this ext e n s i o n b e c a u s e f a i l i n g t o a d o p t t h i s e x t e n s i o n a s a n U rgency Ordinance would result in the applicable of inclusionary r e q u i r e m e n t s t h a t h a v e n o t b e e n e n f o r c e d b y t h e C it y f o r y e a r s a n d w h i c h a r e l e g a l l y i n d e f e n s i b l e ; a n d WHEREAS the City Council finds and declares that this Ordinance is necessary and appropriate to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the community and all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this Ordinance have occurred NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF DAVIS DOES HEREBY ORDAIN

Four fragrant favorites

By Don Shor Special to The Enterprise

Flowers use scent to attract pollinators. Or, as one scientist put it: “Plants use volatiles to solve fundamental problems that result from their immobility: dispersing offspring and gametes and attracting mates.”

Co-evolution with specific pollinators leads to fragrant compounds being dispersed when those pollinators are most active: daytime for butterflies and bees, nighttime for moths and bats.

Powerful scent

Fragrant flowers have nearly universal appeal, and some are iconic.

Jasmine is so familiar for its scent that plants that are similar often carry the species name ‘jasminoides’ which literally means ‘like jasmine’.

Gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) have a spicy pungency; they are traditional for nosegays and bridal bouquets.

Honeysuckles and lilies are known for their sweet evening fragrance.

For any plant you wish to grow, all you need to know is how it differs from other plants with respect to:

■ sunlight

■ amount of water needed.

■ special soil conditions

■ possibly protection from pests or weather.

Gardenia

Gardenias have extremely fragrant flowers and shiny leaves on shrubs that range from two to five feet or so.

■ Sun: Gardenias bloom best with at least four to six hours of sun each day, but the foliage looks best here if the plants are sheltered from the hottest afternoon sun. An east exposure is ideal, or the light shade of a high tree. In deeper shade the plants grow fine but don’t flower well.

■ Watering: in smaller containers gardenias may need water nearly every day in the summer. In the ground they’re much less fussy. A thorough soaking every few days is usually adequate.

■ Gardenias prefer soils with pH below 7.0, and often show nutrient deficiencies that are attributed to alkaline soils.

■ Protection needed?

Nope. Aphids may show

up in late spring, but usually run their course without injury to the plant.

Gardenias are winter hardy in our area.

■ Grow as a houseplant? Not optimal. You don’t have enough light indoors, and they are shrubs that want to have a large root system. A flowering gardenia in a small container can be enjoyed for a few weeks indoors, but ultimately, they need more light. If you must grow them indoors, consider adding a grow light above the leaves.

■ Grow in containers? Most varieties get too big to sustain in pots for more than a couple of years. A half-barrel that holds 3 cubic feet of soil would be the bare minimum to grow them for several years. But don’t despair: there is a dwarf gardenia (‘Radicans’) suited to smaller containers that grows to just a couple of feet tall and wide. It has small leaves, a dense growth habit, and small flowers, but they’re just as sweet smelling as their bigger counterparts. It sometimes has variegated leaves.

■ Problems: Bud drop. Gardenias continue to initiate flower buds on warm sunny days, even as the nights get too cold for them to sustain the blossoms. It’s normal for the flower buds to drop off without opening when nights start dropping below about 50 degrees F. Yellowing leaves. Older leaves yellowing indicates a need for nitrogen. New growth yellowing can be due to micronutrient deficiency, watering too often, or poor water quality. Gardeners like to pamper gardenias with enriched compost, and light feeding

with soluble plant food, and that does give better growth and deeper green leaves. Our water here is alkaline, so it can be helpful to apply soil sulphur seasonally.

■ New and improved types: several years ago, some nurseries began grafting Gardenia jasminoides onto a vigorous tropical species, Gardenia thunbergiana. The resulting plants grow much faster and stronger and seem to show less nutrient deficiency. A gardener in El Macero who planted these grafted gardenias several years ago reports that he must prune them with hedge shears to control the size.

Jasmine

Jasmine flowers contain a mix of volatile oils that have a very familiar sweet, spicy scent.

There are many species in the genus Jasminum

The ‘true’ jasmine used in tea, leis in Hawai’i, and perfume is Jasminum sambac, also called Arabian jasmine, and there are some other species grown in Asia for medicinal purposes. Sambac, alas, is too cold tender to grow here. But there are several species which are nearly as fragrant that we can grow.

Hardy types include the powerfully sweet-scented Jasminum polyanthum, which blooms heavily for a few weeks in spring, or the more lightly fragrant Jasminum angulare, which hails from South Africa and blooms off and on through the warm season.

Jasmines are evergreen vines, often with great vigor. Your main management strategy involves

placing them where they can’t engulf other plants and where they’ll be easy to prune. They can easily grow 15 feet or more.

■ Full sun gives best bloom. They grow readily in shade but bloom more lightly.

■ No special watering or fertilizer requirements. Jasmines can be reasonably drought tolerant.

Grow as a houseplant?

Not really. One mailorder company has sold it as Winter jasmine for many years planted in a hanging basket, intended to send as a gift for the holidays. The plant initiates flower buds in a greenhouse and those buds will open for you to enjoy the flowers mid-winter. But this is a big, vigorous plant that will outgrow that hanging basket in spring. They’re best in the ground.

There are many plants called jasmine that are unrelated, but which also have very fragrant flowers.

Best-known is Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides). This is common in parking lots where it is often grown as a ground cover, but it is actually a vine and can readily cover your fence. Some people find the fragrance overpowering. A little goes a long way. Star jasmine is very drought tolerant. Chilean jasmine is Mandevilla laxa, a deciduous vine (all the others are evergreen) with sweet-scented flowers in summer.

Honeysuckle

“Walk through a garden – especially at dusk – and you’ll smell honeysuckle way before you see it,” says The Perfume Society, informing us that the fragrance of honeysuckle is “heady and nectarous, a little like jasmine tinged with vanilla.” Especially at dusk that is presumably when their specialized pollinators are most active.

Oh my, be careful where you plant some types of honeysuckle! It’s a large group of plants in the genus Lonicera, with vines and shrubs including some native species.

By far the most widely

planted, unfortunately, is Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’, Hall’s Japanese honeysuckle. It is a very, very vigorous evergreen vine and is truly invasive in many parts of the US, especially the Southeastern and mid-Atlantic states.

Fortunately, we have much tamer honeysuckles for our gardens.

■ The hybrid Lonicera x heckrottii called Gold Flame is very well-mannered, growing to about ten feet, enough for a section of fence or a small arbor.

■ Dropmore Scarlet is another hybrid (Lonicera x

See FRAGRANT, Page A5

Courtesy photo

The hybrid Lonicera x heckrottii called Gold Flame is very well-mannered, growing to about ten feet, enough for a section of fence or a small arbor.

Courtesy photo

Gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) have a spicy pungency; they are traditional for nosegays and bridal bouquets.

Backyard barbecues and other get-togethers at home are even more fun when hosts ensure they have certain must-have items for summer soirees.

Must-have items for summer entertaining in the backyard

Metro

Special to The Enterprise

Summer entertaining season provides ample opportunities to soak up some sun and have some fun with family and friends. Backyard barbecues and other get-togethers at home are even more fun when hosts ensure they have certain musthave items for summer soirees.

Fire features

The days when summer hosts only needed a few extra lawn chairs and some burgers and hot dogs on the grill for a backyard barbecue are long gone. Though those items still have a place at backyard barbecues, summer parties have taken a step up. Fire features, whether it’s a standalone fire pit, one built into a patio or a gaspowered fire table, are now wildly popular. Fire features provide a welcome place to relax and converse with guests after the sun goes down. And much to kids’ delight, a fire feature also paves the way for some post-meal s’mores.

Insulated wine cooler

Coolers are great places to store water, soda, beer, seltzers, and other popular beverages. But what about wine? An insulated wine cooler ensures wine stays properly cooled but doesn’t get too cold, which can happen when wine is stored in a more traditional

cooler filled with ice. Bottles are simply placed in the insulated cooler (much like canned beverages slide easily into can koozies), and the bottle can be kept on the table much like you would for formal dinners indoors. Hosts can go the extra mile by pairing insulated wine tumblers with their wine cooler.

Games

Summer entertaining season might be all about relaxation, but games can up the fun factor at backyard gatherings. Cornhole is a wildly popular game, and customized cornhole boards can help hosts come across as party professionals.

Ladder toss, bocce and wiffle ball are some additional games that can make the festivities more fun. Hosts who don’t have a pool also can invest in an inflatable pool big enough to fit all the kids who will be coming to the party.

Outdoor storage cabinet

Hosts can save themselves the stress and effort of walking in and out for dinnerware and other table accessories by investing in a sturdy outdoor storage cabinet. As meal time draws

near, hosts will appreciate that all the plates, napkins, utensils, and placemats are already outside. The top of the storage cabinet can double as a small but convenient buffet station for sides that aren’t being cooked over an open flame.

Projector and screen

A projector and screen can really up the ante on summer entertaining, turning a backyard barbecue into a great place to watch a game or cuddle up after dinner for a movie night under the stars. Projectors and screens won’t bust the budget, but those who have more to spend may want to consider an outdoor television. Outdoor televisions are built to handle the glare of the summer sun, but a retractable awning may be a good safety net for hosts who plan to spend many a weekend afternoon outside watching games or movies with family and friends.

These are just a handful of items that can up the ante on traditional backyard barbecues. Homeowners should know that there’s no limit to the number of items that can make summer entertaining season more special.

From Page A4

brownie), this one with red tubular flowers and somewhat more vigorous but not a garden thug.

Both have fragrant flowers off and on through the summer, very attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. They are deciduous. The fruit is very attractive to songbirds, and somewhat toxic to people and pets.

■ Pink honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula) is native to the Sierra foothills, the coast, and the coast range, usually in wetter areas but it is easy to grow and can tolerate drought. Also popular with hummingbirds, but only lightly fragrant.

Care of honeysuckles

■ Sun: honeysuckle vines, as well as the shrubby species, can grow in shade and will bloom, but the plants are more compact and have more flowers in sun.

■ No special watering or feeding requirements.

■ Protection needed?

No. They often get black aphids in summer. Watch the populations carefully and you’ll notice they are controlled readily by natural predators, especially tiny wasps that parasitize them. If you can tolerate the presence of some aphids on the vines, you’ll increase the resident population of beneficial insects in your garden, as well as birds. All are winter hardy here.

■ Grow in containers? Not easily. These are big

vines. They’ll be much easier to manage planted in the ground.

Lilies

Arguably the most popular cultivated flowers in the world, certainly if the use of the common name ‘lily’ is any indication. Lots of things are called lilies that aren’t (daylily, Peruvian lily, etc.).

True lilies are Lilium

There are species all over Asia, Europe, and North America, including some species native here in California. The key for gardeners: they are nearly always growing in sunny parts of wooded areas with high organic content in the soils and plenty of water.

Most are quite scented, though some grown for the florist industry are barely fragrant. Lilies have several fragrance types. For example, trumpet lilies smell somewhat musky, others are “fruityhoney.” Fragrance is strongest in the evening

as they attract hawkmoths.

I have been bound and determined to figure out how to grow lilies to sustain the plants for more than just a year or two. Here’s the formula.

■ Use the biggest container you can buy.

■ Put it in full sun where it will get watered regularly.

■ Fill it with rich, highquality potting soil.

■ Plant as many lily bulbs as will fit with about 6 inch spacing.

■ Make sure the plants will have room to grow up and out about six feet.

■ After the bloom, let the plants grow out as fully as possible until they die down on their own.

■ Top-dress the container with two to four inches more of the same soil each spring.

My experience is that if you follow this recipe, your lily bulbs will bloom and increase for several years. Important to note that true lilies are quite toxic to cats.

Courtesy photo

Lilies are arguably the most popular cultivated flowers in the world, including some species native here in California.

Adobe/stoCk photo

Homeowners should know that there’s no limit to the number of items that can make summer entertaining season more special.

Will CalPERS and CalSTRS pensions divest from fossil fuels?

By Grace Gedye CalMatters

Climate activists and retirees have pushed retirement funds in Maine and New York to sell their stocks in fossil fuel companies. The push is called “divestment,” and it’s a move that the University of California has embraced as well.

Now, divestment may be coming to more pensions near you.

The California Legislature is considering a bill that would require the pension funds for state workers and teachers to sell holdings in the 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies by July 2031. The bill would also stop the funds from making new investments in those companies starting in 2024.

These pension funds aren’t simple bank accounts, they’re big-time institutional investors.

The California Public Employees’ Retirement System has about $459 billion in assets, making it the largest public pension fund in the nation and one of the largest private equity investors in the world according to the agency’s website. When it changes tack, the world of finance takes note.

The California State Teachers’ Retirement System is the second largest public pension fund in the U.S. Together, the two pension funds cover more than 3 million Californians and their families.

Proponents of the bill say it’s important that California put its money where its mouth is, so to speak, on climate policy. Foes of the move say anything that might

hurt investment returns should be off the table.

Marcie Frost, CEO of CalPERS, at the regional office in Sacramento on June 26, 2023.

Photo by Rahul Lal for CalMatters

“We’re not saying the intentions around this are not good,” said Marcie Frost, CEO of CalPERS, in an interview with CalMatters. “But they’re not coming through an investor lens. It feels like they’re coming through a morality lens. And we can’t use our own personal values, or our personal morals, to be able to decide how we invest the assets of this portfolio.”

Both pensions are underfunded; if either had to immediately pay out all the benefits they owe, they wouldn’t have enough money.

If CalPERS and CalSTRS shed their investments in the largest oil and gas companies, what would it mean for the teachers and state workers counting on their retirement checks?

Why divest?

For some, it would be a relief.

“When I was younger, I was told by the adults around me that I should work toward obtaining a career with the state of California,” said Francis Macias, a state parks employee who called into a pension fund board meeting in March. A member of the advocacy group Fossil Free California, she said those same adults had told her such a job would come with perks like stable hours — and a nice pension.

But now, Macias said, “I feel like I’m living in a nightmare. Every day, I experience great anxiety knowing my hard-earned pension is funding climate collapse.”

The state worker pension fund has an estimated $9.4 billion in energy company investments it would have to divest under the proposed bill, about 2% of the fund. On the list are companies you’ve probably heard of, including Exxon Mobil and Shell, and ones you probably haven’t, such as Ovintiv Inc. and Cenovus Energy. The teachers’ pension fund would have to divest an estimated $5.4 billion, or about 1.7% of its assets.

The bill’s backers include many environmental and climate groups, as well as some unions representing workers who receive pensions, such as the California Faculty Association and the California Nurses Association. But there are other unions, like the California Professional Firefighters and the State Building and Construction Trades Council, that oppose the effort, along with California State Retirees, an organization for retired state workers, and the leadership of the pension funds themselves.

The goal of divestment pushes, climate advocates say, isn’t to directly reduce emissions.

“It’s about calling (fossil fuel companies) out on their immoral activities, and the political consequences of that, which is weakening them politically, so that politicians stop taking their money and politicians stop doing their bidding,” said Carlos Davidson, a retired faculty member of

San Francisco State University

who receives a pension. He worked on a divestment campaign at the university, and has been involved in the push to divest the state workers’ pension for nearly a decade.

“It is true that divestment does not have direct financial impacts on companies,” Davidson said.

“It’s the political effects that really matter. And that is a harder, longer-term, more fuzzy process.”

Davidson lives in Pacifica, off of a combination of his pension and social security benefits.

“I could not have retired and I could not pay my bills right now if I didn’t have my [state] pension,” he said.

What are the costs?

There’s also a camp that thinks divestment would be a bad move financially. That camp includes the leadership of both pension funds. At the state worker pension fund, the investment and actuarial teams estimated that if the fund sold off its fossil fuel holdings it would get lower returns on its investments, translating to an extra $327.6 million in costs per year for 20 years for employers, like schools, and state and local governments, to meet obligations to retirees.

The state worker pension fund has divested before — from Iran, Sudan, thermal coal, and more. In 2001, the fund divested its tobacco company holdings, worth about $525 million according to news reports at the time. In the

more than 20 years since, that move has translated to about $4.3 billion in lost investment profits, according to a 2022 report from Wilshire Advisors. But some divestments, like those from thermal coal, and Iran, have translated to small gains.

When economists from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland compared the financial performance of investment portfolios with and without fossil fuel company stocks from 19272016, they found that divested portfolios “would not have significantly underperformed” during that period.

“It’s not just the oil and gas industry,” said pension fund CEO Frost. “What’s next? Divestment from the airline industry, who uses a lot of oil and gas?” she said.

A complicating factor is that the pension funds have a “fiduciary duty” under California’s constitution. That means that the people overseeing the funds are legally required to invest prudently, and act exclusively to benefit the fund’s members.

Some of the bill’s opponents say that requiring the funds to divest from fossil fuels would conflict with their fiduciary duty to their members, including the California Professional Firefighters union.

“Forcing any California pension system to make investment decisions that may harm the fund ... violates their fiduciary mandate and puts the retirements of hard-working Californians at risk,” wrote president Brian Rice in a statement.

Peregrine welcomes a cappella group Tune Up for concert series

Enterprise staff

Locally based “a cappella-plus” group Tune Up will perform at Peregrine School on Saturday, July 8. The free concert is the third performance of Peregrine School’s 2023 Second Saturday Concert Series.

The program features vocalists Bill Cavins, Dianna (Dede) Craig, Lane Suarez and Vicky Boesch. Prior to the performance, Craig and Cavins will present a free, 1-hour presentation about the vocal harmony found of doowop. Audience participation is highly encouraged!

Tune Up formed when Cavins, Suarez and Boesch decided to create a trio after years of singing in the Davis Arts Center’s doowop class taught by Craig. The trio eventually grew to a quartet when Craig joined

the group, adding an acoustic guitar and occasionally a fourth vocal part. Though the group continues to perform classic doo-wop tunes, their repertoire has grown to include an eclectic range of material from the 1940s through the 1990s.

Each member of the group brings a rich singing background. Cavins moved to Davis in 1973 and is the former owner of Ganesh Works. Prior to the formation of Tune Up, he had performed in Full House and Two Tone Shoes. In

Forging new links

addition to teaching doowop, Craig has been a local performer for over 30 years and has performed with Biscuits and Honey as well as Now and Then.

Suarez has been singing harmony since the age of 5. After moving to Davis in 2013, she has performed with the Davis Threshold Choir, the Free Range Singers and Kindred Spirits.

Boesch is a local attorney, a UCD alumnus, has a background in theater, and loves to sing. Cavins comments, “Tune Up is lucky to have her.”

The gates of Peregrine’s South campus (2650 Lillard Drive, Davis) will open at approximately 9:45 a.m. Outdoor seating is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.

For additional information, contact Peregrine School at 530-753-5500

and www.peregrineschool. org.

A 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2007, Peregrine School is an independent school that builds children’s capacity to learn, think and do in our everchanging world. The school is the only progressive school in the Sacramento Valley. Located in Davis, Peregrine serves children

from preschool through the sixth grade, drawing students from throughout the Sacramento Valley. Peregrine School educates the whole child, incorporating the latest research on teaching and learning into a child-centered curriculum that integrates handson scientific inquiry, critical thinking, wellness and the arts.

The Davis Odd Fellows Lodge No. 169 initiated six new members this week, bringing its current membership to 367, the Odd Fellows’ largest worldwide. Pictured here, along with some of the initiating officers: front row, Cecilia Gonzalez, Deborah Ralston, Maggie Dorsey, Jonathan Groveman and Elizabeth Lasensky; middle row, Noble Grand Larry Guenther, Steve Cairns and Frits van der Hoek; back row, Nan Klein, Ashley Hill, Marcus Marino, Terry Toy, Mason Harry, Brian Russell and Past Noble Grand Kurt Roggli.

QUALITY: Measure supporters downplay threat of lawsuits

ballot measure argue that critics exaggerate the concerns about frivolous lawsuits. Christina Laster, a parent and the western region’s education director for the National Action Network, said that parents just want to hold districts accountable. She said litigation is a final resort used in extreme cases.

“For the most part, parents have not been willing to file lawsuits,” she said. “They just want conversation and change.”

More than 10 years ago, John Affeldt, the managing attorney at the civil rights advocacy group Public Advocates, represented plaintiffs who unsuccessfully sued the state seeking to guarantee the right to a high-quality education. He argued that the state and local districts have a variety of ways to define a highquality education, whether it be through state standards or test scores.

That detail, he said, can be worked out later, whether in the courts or by the state Legislature and governor. The most urgent need, Affeldt said, is ensuring public schools are serving California’s students.

“We should’ve settled this already,” he said. “If education is going to be fundamental and meaningful… it has to deliver something of decent quality.”

L.A. fight

Students Matter, a coalition of education advocates, authored the proposed measure under the leadership of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

James Liebman, a Columbia Law School professor who helped draft the language, said of the three versions written, the third version will most likely be the coalition’s choice. It reads: “The state and its

school districts shall provide all public school students with high-quality public schools that equip them with the tools necessary to participate fully in our economy, our society, and our democracy.”

Villaraigosa said the measure is largely a response to former Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner’s statements in response to a lawsuit brought by parents frustrated over distance learning during the first years of the pandemic. Beutner said a district is only required to provide a free public education, not a high-quality one.

Villaraigosa said he feared what this complacency might do to future generations of students and voters.

“The less you know, the more easily you can be persuaded by people who are selling you half-baked solutions to complex problems,” he said. “Just look at Trump’s base. They’re less educated people.”

Liebman said the phrase “high-quality” is intentionally broad so that future generations and local districts can each define what a “high-quality” education is. He said even the authors of the U.S. Constitution used broad language that evolved through legal interpretations over time.

“Our nation’s Constitution developed over hundreds of years,” he said. “You can’t predict everything that’s going to happen.”

Liebman added that enshrining a high-quality education as a constitutional right in California will give students and their families another tool for holding their schools and districts accountable. He expects political mobilization, not litigation, to be the main avenue for seeking accountability.

But William Koski, a law and education professor at

Stanford University, remains skeptical that political mobilization, if it materializes, will pressure the Legislature to take action.

“Everyone in the California Legislature knew schools were underfunded,” he said. “Yet they couldn’t do anything about it because of a fear of raising taxes.”

In its analysis, the Legislative Analyst’s Office notes that the measure would not have a direct fiscal impact on the public education system. But the LAO also notes that there could be “unknown and highly uncertain” costs, depending on how courts interpret the measure’s language.

Courts for leverage

For supporters of the measure, those costs are worth empowering families through a constitutional right. But Koski said that, perhaps most significantly, the initiative will open the courts as a venue for shaping education policy, giving parents more power to strike down decisions made by state lawmakers and local school boards.

Koski said this could result in legal battles over actions ranging from teacher layoffs to school closures. Or in the event of another pandemic or public health crisis, parents could challenge a district’s decision to move to remote instruction.

“All of this could land in the courts’ hands,” Koski said.

Students Matter’s 2022 version of this proposed ballot measure more strongly suggested the possibility of legal action against schools and districts. It stated that a parent or guardian could bring “[a]n action to enforce the right to a high-quality public education.” The 2024 ballot versions omit this language.

Villairagosa said the

DANCE: ‘An awesome experience’

“We have two entities. There’s the Applegate Dance Studio which is where we have classes for all different ages. I like to maintain the same idea that I have with the Applegate Dance Company — which is the nonprofit entity — and that is ‘small is beautiful.’”

Very much a proponent of quality over quantity, Applegate opts to keep classes at the dance studio small to bolster the interpersonal relationships with her clients. Although the classes may be small, the plethora of offerings are anything but.

Applegate features a Melt dance class which is something of a self-treatment system that combats chronic aches and pains, bar exercise classes, dynamic classes, hula, entry level to advance ballet, Zumba, mini dance camps for kids in the summer (which there are still openings for in August) as well as classes that are more gentle on the body. Essentially, there’s a class for everybody and every body, and when it comes to the variety of clients, Applegate says there’s dancers in there from ages 3 to 83.

The dance company itself only participates in one or two competitions a year, but truly prides itself in one big, blowout show like the one that took place this past June 22-25 at the Brunelle Theater. Auditions for the dance

company — which is comprised of dancers aged 11 to 18 — usually take place in late August/early September.

“It’s really surreal, amazing and has been the love of my life. I feel incredibly grateful to have been able to live in the arts all this time and for all the incredible, amazing people I’ve been able to work with over the years. It’s kind of cool because the older generations of Applegate dancers are making new generations of Applegate dancers. It’s an awesome experience and hard to find the words to describe it,” Applegate reflected on 30 years of dance.

“I feel lucky that we’re in Davis, and we’re very accepting. Dance can be particular and we just love all body types, all ages and are really inclusive. We just think people want to be treated well, and when you do that, they flourish and when they flourish good things happen.”

There’s 30 years of proof in Applegate’s pudding, as well as dancers who’ve benefited and flourished from this studio/company being in the community.

measure is in no way designed to invite lawsuits. Rather, he said, it’s meant to encourage legislation and funding proposals to better equip the state’s schools.

Villairagosa’s tense history with teachers unions adds a thorny political dimension to the proposal. He enjoyed strong support from charter school advocates during his 2018 gubernatorial bid. Teachers unions have historically opposed charter schools for pulling students, and thus state funding, from traditional school districts. Charter schools are also typically not unionized. As mayor, Villairagosa clashed with United Teachers Los Angeles in his efforts to weaken tenure protections.

As of yet, it remains unclear how the politics for this most recent initiative will unfold. Villaraigosa said his team met with the California Teachers Association to discuss the measure. He didn’t disclose any details from the meeting. But he said he’s open to working with the union to finalize the details of the initiative.

“I think what I made clear is that the only way for us to get a high-quality education is for us to work together,” he said.

Becky Zoglman, an associate executive director for the California Teachers Association, declined to comment on the proposed ballot measure and only said that teachers are already striving to provide a high-quality education to all students.

Both Koski and Liebman pointed to Kentucky as a positive example of what could happen if a state enshrines the right to a high-quality education into its state constitution.

In 1989, the Kentucky Supreme Court found that the state had failed to provide an “efficient” education to all of its students

and ordered the Legislature to overhaul the public school system. A study published in 2004 found that the 1989 decision resulted in more per-pupil funding as well as higher test scores.

But in California, Koski said the vagueness of the proposed language could

invite lawsuits targeting everything from book bans to school closures.

“I do think it’s appropriate to hold school systems accountable,” he said. “But should every decision be subject to scrutiny in a lawsuit? I don’t know about that.”

BENCH: New judge thankful for position

From Page A1

Hohenwater will preside over the court’s arraignment calendar starting in September.

A Woodland resident, Hohenwater began her Yolo Superior Court service in 2007 as a legal research attorney. Since then, she’s held several leadership positions in the court, including family law facilitator, family court services manager and supervising legal research attorney, before her appointment to commissioner in December 2020.

Prior to that, Hohenwater was a sole practitioner from 1999 to 2007, an associate at the Los Altos law office of Robert P.

Kahn from 1994 to 1998, and an associate at Lossing & Elston in San Francisco from 1990 to 1994. Hohenwater graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1985 and earned her law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law. She is registered without party preference and will earn an annual salary of $231,174. Her appointment leaves the Yolo courts with one judicial vacancy, created earlier this month when Judge Peter Williams transferred to a Sacramento Superior Court assignment. — Reach Lauren Keene at lkeene@davisenter prise.net. Follow her on Twitter at @laurenkeene.

“Applegate is my family and a wonderful place to make art! It’s been home to me these past 13 years and though I will sorely miss it, I can’t wait to see all the beautiful dances and art created in future years,” said senior, Emily Haws.

“Applegate to me means home. It’s a place where we can not only express ourselves but be ourselves. It’s a warm environment full of friendly faces and accepting vibes, and it’s a place like no other,” said senior, Em Baltz.

“Applegate means a loving and caring community to create art in,” said senior, Maya Moore.

Although Applegate herself was nervous for her interview with the Enterprise claiming words aren’t her strong suit, she maintains body language was her first language — a universal one in which she is clearly fluent.

To learn this body language at the Applegate Dance Studio/Company, go online to www.applegatedance.com. One can also stop by the studio at 2657 Portage Bay E. Davis or call at 530-304-5266.

Lauren Keene/enterprise photo

Newly appointed Yolo Superior Court Judge Catherine Hohenwater gets a congratulatory handshake from Presiding Judge Daniel Maguire following her swearing in Wednesday.

Life on Mars will offer unique challenges

By Sara Thompson Special to the Enterprise

Traveling and settling on other planets and moons has been part of science fiction media as well as realworld scientific endeavors. Mars is currently the top of the list for other planetary exploration, as it is one of the closest planetary bodies to Earth and we have years of research and data from land-based rovers providing invaluable information.

Despite being comparatively close and having some similarities to our home, there are still numerous challenges that must be overcome before we really begin planning a trip.

Even though Mars has a solid surface that has similar geographical forms as Earth, it is very different. There is no discernible surface water except for ice at the poles. Exploration and samples taken by rovers has shown some water below the surface, but it is still less than the driest dessert on Earth.

The soil, as well, is not like ours. It may look like the same type of sand we have in deserts, but it is much more toxic. It has

much higher concentrations of chlorine, which would kill many plants, and not enough of the nutrient’s plants need to thrive. To set up human life on Mars we would need to establish sustainable means for water, not only for us but our plants, and solve how to properly cultivate plants for food.

Mars has a similar tilt to Earth, just slightly more exaggerated, 25.2 degrees vs. 23.4 degrees, respectively. Day length is also similar, a day on Mars is approximately 24 hours and 40 minutes. However, because its orbit is longer than Earth’s, a year on Mars is equivalent to almost two years on Earth.

Mars does not have a safe atmosphere, either. Even though it is farther away from the sun, it has a much weaker magnetosphere so more solar radiation reaches the surface and would expose any inhabitants to intense radiation. Although this could be a benefit for solar panel

Pets of the week

Enterprise staff

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

Among them is Maui (A201390), a handsome 1-year-old black-andwhite pit bull. Maui loves people, and is a gentle and lovely companion. Maui loves to play and go on long walks, and would make a wonderful addition to an active family. Maui loves adventures and goes out regularly on doggie daytrips. He is laid back, and east up affection..

Also hoping for a good home is Simba (A085616), a mellow, 13-year-old gray cat who prefers sitting in your lap or laying on her

favorite bed near you. Simba’s elderly owner can no longer keep her so Simba is looking for a loving family and a new home. Simba is affectionate, gentle and an indoor cat who will be a loyal loving companion.

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 530-6685287. 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 friendsof ycas.org. To volunteer, sign

efficiency during clear conditions, the problem of the seasonal dust storms on the surface can obscure the sun for months at a time, reducing solar panels ineffective during these times. The temperatures on Mars are also much colder than on Earth and have large fluctuations. Depending on the season, latitude, and if its day or night, temperatures can range from -124 degrees to -32 degrees. The coldest temperature recorded on Earth was -128.5o degrees in Antarctica. It has been suggested for any habitation to be build underground in caves or volcanic dikes to protect inhabitants from

the solar radiation and cold temperature.

There are countless challenges for successful space travel and settling on Mars. Scientists have been working for decades on solving these challenges and continued advances in technology have shown some potential solutions.

All campers in this week’s Mars Challenge camp had to think through these same challenges and come up with solutions. Some ideas are still unattainable with current technologies, but these ideas will always be the precursors to future scientific breakthroughs that might eventually land a

person onto the surface of Mars. Explorit’s coming events:

n Visit our exhibit “Explorit Rocks!” and explore rocks, fossils, minerals, and crystals. Open to the public on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Explorit Members, ASTC, and those age 2 and under free.

n A Membership to Explorit grants the recipient free visits to Explorit’s regular public hours, discounts on events, summer camps and workshops, and gives you ASTC benefits to visit other museums throughout the world. To purchase or for more information visit https://www.explorit.org/membership or call Explorit at 530-756-0191.

n Now booking school programs for the 2023-24 school year. For more information, please visit https://www.explorit.org/programs. To reserve call (530) 756-0191.

— Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. For information, call 530-756-0191 or visit http:// www.explorit.org, or “like” the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/explorit.fb.

up at tinyurl.com/yolovolunteerapp. Follow on at @ ycas.shelter and Instagram at @yoloanimalshelter.

At Rotts of Friends Animal Rescue, you’ll find Tinker, a 7-month-old adorable spayed female Rottweiler. She was apparently well cared for in her last home. She just needs a refresher in her obedience training which Rotts offers adopters for free. Tinker is people- and dog-friendly.

She loves to play and will make a wonderful companion for some lucky person.

Spike is an adorable neutered male 1 year old shepherd/Rott mix — a great combination.

Spike loves to play ball. He’s medium sized, gentle and very friendly. Spike walks calmly on leash, is not dog-reactive and loves being petted. He’s smart, funny and has a great tail

that never stops wagging.

The next Rotts of Friends adoption event is from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at 34505 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, upto-date on their vaccines and come with free lifetime obedience-training classes. For information, visit facebook.com/rottsoffriends.

Simba Tinker Spike

Brian chu/courtESy photo

The Viking 1 orbiter took this shot of Mars’ thin atmosphere.

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’: Fond farewell

By Derrick Bang Enterprise film critic

Spielberg’s absence shows in somewhat uneven romp

This slam-bang adventure opens with a prologue that finds Harrison Ford’s surprisingly youthful Indy battling Nazis as they loot Berlin, prior to the city’s fall in the spring of 1945.

We briefly wonder: Has director James Mangold resurrected unused footage left over from a previous film?

But no, this is CGI “youthifying” to a truly astonishing degree. (The illusion cracks a few times, fleetingly, but only if you watch very closely.)

This fracas establishes what will become the story’s ongoing clashes between Indy and the nefarious Dr. Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), over possession of the Antikythera, an artifact also known as the Archimedes Dial. For reasons unknown when the story begins, the famed Greek mathematician broke the mechanism into two halves, one of which is stashed on a train bearing the Nazis’ stolen plunder.

Cue an action-packed melee within and atop the aforementioned moving train, between Indy — accompanied by his overwhelmed Oxford colleague, Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) — and scores of Nazis led by the hissably unpleasant Col. Weber (Thomas Kretschmann). Voller, on the sidelines, has his own agenda.

(It’s a shame that what ultimately becomes a mano a mano skirmish between Indy and Weber, atop the train, features many of the same stunts, moves and details employed by Tom Cruise in “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One,” due in two weeks. Did these two production teams spy on each other?)

Cut to Aug. 3, 1969, the day the Apollo 11 astronauts are feted with a New York ticker-tape parade; and also the final day of teaching at Hunter College for an older, wearier and somewhat disillusioned Professor Jones. Not that any of his students will notice, since they have absolutely no interest in archaeology.

But one surprise visitor does: Basil’s daughter — and Indy’s goddaughter — Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), whom he hasn’t

‘Indiana

action violence and fleeting Starring: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Ethann Isidore, Toby Jones, John Rhys-Davies, Antonio Banderas, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook

Available via: Movie theaters

seen for years. She’s full of praise and questions, the latter quickly turning to the long-unseen partial Archimedes Dial. Believing her interest to be sincere, Indy reveals that it is indeed in his possession.

Elsewhere, in a posh hotel room, Voller and his neo-Nazi associate, Klaber (Boyd Holbrook) — along with their hulking man-mountain, Hauke (Olivier Richter), and a few other lackeys — have a chilling encounter with the Black porter (Alton Fitzgerald White) who delivers breakfast. Voller is contemptuous; White’s expression, body language and reply are sublime.

Alas, Voller’s men crash Indy and Helena’s reunion, demanding the Archimedes dial. Worse yet, during the ensuing fracas, Helena reveals her true stripes: She’s a career con artist, liar and thief. She snatches the dial, manages to elude everybody, and — to Indy’s disappointment and horror — swiftly departs the country in order to sell the artifact to the highest black-market bidder in Tangier.

Indy’s own escape, with the baddies in hot pursuit, is a true rip-snorter involving the assistance of a four-legged member of New York’s Finest. Then, having been dragged reluctantly into this new adventure, it’s off to Tangier, in order to prevent the blackmarket sale.

Helena isn’t pleased to see him again, particularly when Voller & Co. also crash the party (which subsequently involves a cute tweak on the whip-vs.-gun gag from 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost

Ark”). Helena has a scruffy, resourceful young accomplice: teenage Teddy Kumar (Ethann Isidore). A larkish round of “dial, dial, who’s got the dial?” — backed by a droll John Williams orchestral cue — leads to yet another spectacularly choreographed chase scene, involving a couple of auto-rickshaws.

All of this — and everything that follows — would be a lot more fun, were it not for two glaring problems. The first, alas, is Helena. She’s arrogant, insufferably smug, dismissive, insulting, condescending and a general pain in the ass: characteristics that Waller-Bridge (unfortunately) plays to perfection.

While she can’t be blamed for how her character has been scripted — by Mangold, David Koepp, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth — the sad truth is that Helena repeatedly brings this film down. Even if we accept that this is a Character In Need Of Redemption, she’s so unpleasant, for so long, that we’d just as soon see Klaber shoot her.

Which brings us to this film’s second flaw: the wholly unnecessary murders of far too many sidebar characters, which adds an inappropriately mean-spirited tone. I can’t help thinking that Steven Spielberg, were he directing

instead of merely producing, would have handled things far differently.

We get it: Voller and his men are über-nasty Nazis. They don’t need to keep proving it.

The race to find the rest of the Archimedes Dial — which Voller intends to activate, thereby unleashing its unusual powers — takes everybody to the Aegean Sea, and then Sicily, where…

…but that would be telling.

Suffice to say, the eyebrow-lifting climax — a masterpiece of special effects — moves in a very unexpected direction.

Ford was born to play this role, and it’s great to see him once again grab the whip and don the felt hat. He still radiates authority and resourcefulness, and is quick with a quip; he’s equally persuasive when Indy ruefully reflects on the limitations of old age (particularly during a climb up an interior cave wall).

Age notwithstanding, he still takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin’.

Young Isidore is thoroughly enjoyable as Teddy: bright, impulsive, quick-witted … and an accomplished pickpocket. He proves invaluable.

Shaunette Renée Wilson has a thoroughly incomprehensible role as Mason, a CIA agent somehow in league with Voller (?!), which makes absolutely no sense. Can’t imagine what the writers

were thinking.

The thrills, chills and spills aside, it’s also nice to see John Rhys-Davies return as Sallah, the cheerfully loyal excavator from “Raiders” and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” He now works as a New York cab driver, where his family has settled; he appears long enough to lend an important hand.

Antonio Banderas also pops up as Renaldo, a longtime sailor friend of Indy’s, who is helpful when an expert diver is needed during the visit to the Aegean Sea.

The film’s other key character, it must be noted, is Williams’ music. The heart beats faster — and Wednesday evening’s sell-out preview audience broke into a cheer — each time a given scene is backed by Indy’s iconic main theme.

Given that this really must be Indy’s swansong, it’s nice to see the film conclude with another, gentler reunion. And, perhaps, nostalgia will be enough for most folks to accept this as pure, dumb fun.

Helena notwithstanding.

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

Macabre musical ‘Sweeney Todd’ hits DMTC stage

By Jennifer Goldman Enterprise theater critic

Attend the Tale of Davis

Musical Theatre’s “Sweeney Todd,” to hear the scary and murderous story of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. This tragic story unravels in the dark days of 1840s London. This cast, directed by Steve Isaacson with musical director Kyle Jackson, tells this cautionary tale very well.

The story begins with a hopeful sailor Anthony Hope (Hugo Figueroa) returning to London after a long sea journey, alongside Sweeney Todd (James Croghan), an escaped convict he had rescued from drowning. Sweeney (formerly known as Benjamin Barker, the barber) spent the last 15 years in a penal colony in Australia on trumped-up charges. The evil Judge Turpin (Jeff Nauer) coveted Sweeney’s wife, and so he and the Beadle (Isaiah Bent) sent the naive husband away for life and raped his wife.

When Sweeney returns to his poor neighborhood, he meets up with Mrs. Lovett (Sofia Rosario) who tells him that his wife is gone after poisoning herself. Their infant daughter Johanna (Kat Fio) is now a beautiful teenager and is the ward of Judge Turpin.

After hearing this gutwrenching news, Sweeney vows to seek revenge on the Judge and Beadle. Mrs. Lovett offers Sweeney her upstairs room, the barbershop that was his old home. She returns his razors and

knives (“My Friends”) so he can make a living and she tries to woo him into loving her.

Sweeney drums up business by having a contest with the flamboyant barber Pirelli (Scott Schwerdtfeger), which Sweeney wins easily. Later, Pirelli tries to blackmail Sweeney, which leads to the beginning of his serial killing. It also means that Sweeney inherits Pirelli’s young and innocent child assistant Tobias (Sophia Blake). Meanwhile, the Judge is lusting after the budding Johanna and decides to marry her, at the same time as the sailor falls in love with her.

Mrs. Lovett doesn’t know what to do with Pirelli’s body, and there is a meat shortage in London, sooo … she decides to not let the meat go to waste and goes from having “the worst pies in London” to “God That’s Good.” Since everyone loves her food and ale, she is raking in the money. By far the best and most light hearted song, “A Little Priest,” was sung exceptionally well by Rosario and Croghan. There was a song often repeated by Croghan that described a hole in the world with a deep dark pit, which was a mantra he would fall back on when anything went bad. It helped to explain Sweeney’s murderous appetites.

Croghan is a seasoned actor who portrayed his character well.

mastered the song “Johanna,” one of the most haunting of love songs. In the score Fio sings like an accomplished opera singer and can really hit those high notes in “Green Finch And Linnet Bird” and “Kiss Me.” Nauer was singing and flogging himself simultaneously and still managed to stay on pitch.

The music by Stephen Sondheim is extremely difficult to sing, but is one of his best works. Jackson led the live 13-piece orchestra and they played beautifully. The book was wonderfully written by Hugh Wheeler.

Isaiah Bent really shined with his rendition of “Parlor Songs,” which lightened the mood in the second half of the show. Blake charmed the audience with “Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir” and “Not While I’m Around.” The Beggar Woman (Kaitlyn McEowen) was a little hard to understand but still remained a powerful character in the show. Her tragic life reminds us to listen to the unhoused people, because they actually see everything that is happening around them.

lunatics at an insane asylum that was absolutely fantastic to watch. Each character had their own individual repetitive habits or crazy behaviors and expressions that captivated the audience’s attention. Very well done!

I really did appreciate the lack of huge amounts of blood I was expecting to see. There was blood, but it was tasteful. The set was brilliant with a cool barber chair that you will love. So if you want a macabre night out and like musicals, come see the show.

Figueroa and Fio have a good chemistry on stage and blend well.

Figueroa

The chorus is made up of poor people (Isaacson calls them “human debris“) who are just trying to survive and often sing more of the haunting tale throughout the show. Their ghoulish makeup really set the tone and added to the dark story. There was an outstanding scene in Act II when the chorus sang “City on Fire” and transformed from poor Londoners into

Performances are now through July 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets available at DMTC.org.

Jones and the Dial of Destiny’

Courtesy photo

With countless baddies in hot pursuit, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford, right), his long-estranged goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and their young companion Teddy (Ethann Isidore) attempt to escape via an auto-rickshaw.

Courtesy photos

James Croghan, as Sweeney Todd, picks up the tools of his trade (and his new hobby) in DMTC’s production of the Stephen Sondheim masterpiece musical, “Sweeney Todd.” Below, Mrs. Lovett (Sofia Rosario) coaxes Todd to become a barber again.

Acme presents ‘Dear Harvey’ for the summer

Enterprise staff

Acme Theatre Company presents “Dear Harvey,” an intimate retelling of the life and times of civil rights icon Harvey Milk from July 21 through 30.

Written

by Patricia

Loughrey,

“Dear Harvey” is a documentarystyle play composed of interviews, newspaper articles, and other transcripts. Using photos, video, movement and music, an ensemble of fourteen actors will bring the reflections of Harvey’s friends and colleagues to life.

More than 40 years after he was assassinated, Milk continues to inspire millions globally. He became the first openly gay

elected official in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

He encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens to live their lives openly and to achieve social equality. In the decades since Harvey called the LGBT+ community out into the streets, and into the voting booth, how far have we come in our struggle for equity? And where is that struggle leading us now?

This production is supported in part by by funding from the Yolo Community Foundation and the California Arts Council, a

state agency. Learn more at www. arts.ca.gov

The acting ensemble includes Desmond Beach, Gillian Cubbage, Isabella Dahl, Drew den Dulk, Ainsley DiNunzio, Allie George, Eliot Larson, Julia Menna, Sarah Novick, Ash Millar, Mattias RowenBale, Sawyer Spann, Kyle Watkins, and Brody Welsh.

The design team includes Tessa Clifton & Kylie Nelson (Scenic), Marion Delarue (Costumes), Mattias RowenBale, Sawyer Spann and Zoe Kaplan (Projections), Kyle Blewett (Lighting), Evan Lancet (Sound), Charles Mellema (Properties), Eden

Annual concert featuring music for 7-string guitars returns ... on July 7

By Jeff Hudson Enterprise correspondent

One of the year's more unusual local musical evenings is coming up in the form of a concert on Friday, July 7, (that's 7/7/23), starting at 7:07 p.m. in the Davis Odd Fellows Hall at 415 Second St. in downtown Davis.

Local musician and composer Matthew Grasso is once again organizing a concert showcasing music featuring the seven-string guitar.

The July 7 concert will mark Grasso's 16th annual concert celebrating the instrument, and the music will feature the uncommon opportunity to experience four different guitarists (Matthew Grasso, Miyan Grasso, Harry Stoddard, Eric Rasmussen) who will

perform on extended 7-string guitars, sharing the stage with two vocalists, a sitar player (in the North Indian style), and a musician playing an instrument called a harp-guitar (rarely seen on stage).

This year's program will showcase works by women composers and musicians, drawing on music drawn from four centuries, ranging from the Baroque to the present day.

Composers include Barbara Strozzi (who lived in Italy from 1619-1677), Maria Theresia von Paradis (Austrian, 1759-1824), Lili Boulanger (French, 18931918), Florence Price (American, 1887-1953), Lori Liberman (American, born 1951), and Moira Smiley (American, born 1976).

North Indian sitarist

Joanna Mack will perform feminine ragas. Carrie Smith presents original arrangements on harpguitar.

The ensemble Trio Seven performs original transcriptions of female composers. Vocalist Dr. Aya Ueda and Dr. Melinda de Jesus will perform vocal duets with various guitar ensembles.

This annual concert on July 7 has become something of a midsummer tradition in Davis, and celebrates innovative guitar designs and a wide variety of music that highlights the artistry of multistring guitars.

A donation of $14-$28 is requested at the door. Information online at matthewgrasso.com/concerts. php.

McCoy (Stage Manager), Juna Brothers (Publicity), Ella Del Favero (Web & Social Media), and Cam Engstrom (Front of House).

Performances will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, July 21, 22 and 28, 29, and at 2 p.m. Sunday July 23 and 30 at the air-conditioned Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, on Old Davis Road on the UC Davis Campus.

All audience members must present proof of vaccination, or a proof of negative Covid-19 test within the last 24 hours. Masks are encouraged, but not required. Free masks will be available onsite.

Check it out

Who: Acme Theatre Company

What: Dear Harvey by Patricia Loughrey

When: 7 p.m. Friday, July 21 and 28; 7 p.m Saturday, July 22 and 29; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 23 and 30

Where: Wyatt Pavilion Theatre, Old Davis Road, UC Davis Campus

Tickets: $15 General Admission, $10 Students/Seniors (65+). Sunday matinees are Pay-What-You-Can!

Yolo Community Band presents

‘Disney, Dances and Delights’

Enterprise staff

The Yolo Community Band will entertain the young and the young-atheart at the Woodland Opera House at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 8, with “Feel the Beat: Disney, Dances and Delights.” This family-friendly concert will feature music from three popular Disney classics, “The Lion King,” “Aladdin” and “Encanto.”

In addition, the audience will enjoy the sweeping melodies of Rossano Galante’s “Mt. Everest,” the high-spirited folk dances of “Puszta” by Jan van der Roost, and W. Francis McBeth’s “Air and Dance” with its crisp driving rhythms.

The amateur and professional musicians in the concert band come from

Courtesy photo

The Nickel Slots kick off Winters concert series

Special to The Enterprise

The Winters Friends of the Library 2023 Summer

Concerts at the Gazebo will kick off with The Nickel Slots playing Americana with attitude, on Thursday, July 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Rotary Park, Main Street at Railroad Avenue in downtown Winters.

With influences from early roots Americana music as well as a touch of rebellious ’70s punk, they have won three Sammies (Sacramento Area Music Awards) for Outstanding Americana/Alt-Country and one for Best Live Performer, and are now in the Sammies Hall of Fame. Check them out at www.

thenickelslotsmusic.com. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs or sit on the grass, sip a cool drink, and enjoy some fine live music on a summer evening. The concerts are free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. All proceeds will benefit the Winters Community Library. For more information, visit wfol.org.

communities throughout Yolo County, including Woodland, Davis, Esparto, Capay Valley, Dunnigan, Winters and beyond. They meet weekly under the baton of music director Michael Loya, band director at Woodland High School, who commented that “It is a thrill to work each week with such talented and enthusiastic musicians and to share their music with the community.”

The band recently performed at the Golden Gate Park Band Festival in San Francisco with other northern California community bands. Closer to home, they shared the stage with the musicians from Winters Middle School in an outreach concert to encourage those

young musicians to continue to enjoy music as a part of their lives throughout and beyond their years in school.

For tickets to the July 8 concert, contact the Woodland Opera House Box Office at 530-6669617 or reserve online at https://vivenu.com/event/ feel-the-beat-disneydances-delights-gfx7ov.

Ticket prices are adults $10, children 17 and younger $5, all balcony seating $5.

The band rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. at Woodland High School and welcomes new members on all wind and percussion instruments throughout the year. For information, contact yolocommunityband@gmail.com.

Courtesy photo

Conductor Michael Loya directs the Yolo Community Band in a performance at the Golden Gate Park Band Festival in San Francisco in June.

Catch The Nickel slots at the Winters Gazebo on July 6.

Commentary

Court case could weaken landmark voting-rights law

By Sen. Alex Padilla

Special to The Enterprise

Throughout my public service career, I’ve been guided by the principle that our democracy works best when as many eligible Americans as possible participate. That’s particularly important in a state as big and diverse as California.

For two decades, the California Voting Rights Act, or CVRA, has strengthened our democracy by helping ensure that historically disadvantaged communities have a fair opportunity to elect their preferred candidates without having their collective voting power diluted. The law established criteria for when local jurisdictions must replace at-large elections — which have been shown to disadvantage minority voters — with individual district elections. The success of the California law has served as a model for states that have passed similar voting rights laws.

Unfortunately, that progress is at risk as the California Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Pico Neighborhood Association v. City of Santa Monica this week, a case that threatens to seriously erode the California Voting Rights Act.

That should worry every Californian.

In 2001, we celebrated the passage of the CVRA because it brought us closer to the more equal democracy envisioned during the civil rights movement. The marches and protests led by icons like Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis didn’t stop with the stroke of President Lyndon Johnson’s pen when he signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965. They were fueled by the understanding that America’s democracy is imperfect, and that it’s each generation’s job to bring us closer to that “more perfect Union.”

California’s voting rights law was an important step in that long march — protecting minority voters from effectively being silenced by “at-large elections” that dilute their voting power. But since its passage, we’ve seen the federal voting protections undermined. We’ve also seen Americans’ access to the ballot attacked by Republicanled state legislatures across the country.

This month marked 10 years since a conservative majority of the Supreme Court gutted the heart of the federal Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder. The ruling overturned 50 years of precedent that had prevented state and local governments from discriminating against voters of color.

And in the time since, Republican legislatures in states across the country have enacted laws that make it more difficult for Americans to vote, to stay registered to vote, or to cast their ballot.

These threats to our democracy fueled me during my tenure as California Secretary of State. As the chief election officer, I worked to establish automatic and same-day voter registration, to upgrade California’s voting systems to meet higher security standards, and to expand mail-in and in-person early voting. That’s part of the reason why there are now 22 million Californians registered to vote — a record high. California took a stand because our fundamental right to vote and have a fair say in the outcome of an election is worth fighting for. As voters across the country can no longer rely on the federal government to uphold these protections, California’s voting rights laws are even more important.

Those laws are in danger in Pico Neighborhood Association v. Santa Monica, a case that centers on the accusation that the city’s atlarge election system dilutes Latino voting power. If the city of Santa Monica prevails, the CVRA’s protections against discriminatory at-large elections would be drastically weakened.

In other words, if the city has its way, California would be set back 20 years.

In 2020, I wrote to the California Supreme Court in support of the Pico Neighborhood Association, and proudly stood with community members, civil rights organizations and elected officials — including the Latino, African American, and Asian and Pacific Islander state legislative caucuses.

That’s why I’m speaking out again today. Our democracy is too important, and California’s leadership too vital, for any of us not to participate.

— Alex Padilla represents California in the U.S. Senate. He wrote this for CalMatters, a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s Capitol works and why it matters.

Judge-shopping is commonplace in American courts, lawyers constantly trying to get their cases heard by judges they consider predis posed to rule their way.

But it has been carried to new extremes this spring, in at least two cases with the potential to affect millions of lives and potential lives.

When one district judge ordered the federal Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its approval of the orally taken abortion drug mifepristone and another ruled that the drug must be kept available in 17 states that sued for this in his court, there was no doubt about the judge-shopping in play.

Both courts lacked any semblance of the fairness and objectivity that citizens ought to be able to expect from federal judges with lifetime appointments. It was no accident these cases were brought in the legal backwaters of Amarillo, Tex. and Spokane, Wash., where the two ideologically opposed judges preside.

But let’s first take a look at the general practice of judge shopping, which by all rights should be outlawed, as judges in all cases ideally should be chosen as randomly as possible.

It’s become so accepted that now judges have begun to try it on each other. During the spring, the trend reached a new extreme.

In March, Patrick Connolly,

a conservative state court judge in Los Angeles, asked another court to disqualify fellow Judge Daniel Lowenthal from presiding over the sentencing of a convicted cop killer. The reason: A belief that Lowenthal, son of former longtime Democratic Congressman Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach, is too sympathetic to criminals. Connolly, a former deputy district attorney, prosecuted killer Justin Flint in 2007 for felony murder in the death of a sheriff’s deputy gunned down in her driveway during an attempted robbery.

Connolly objected to a Facebook post from Lowenthal advocating for police to be trained in “civil rights, civil liberties and…(to) understand past inequities and oppression…” that allegedly influence some crimes today.

Lowenthal denied any prejudice in the case and ultimately fended off Connolly’s bid to disqualify him.

If judges can try to get colleagues disqualified because of alleged prior prejudices that affect only one person’s fate, it cannot be sur-

prising that lawyers in widerranging cases carefully seek out precisely the jurist most likely to help them.

Lawyers for the anti-abortion, Roman Catholic aligned Alliance Defending Freedom did just this when seeking to reverse the more than 20-yearold approval of mifepristone for use in pharmaceutically induced abortions.

It’s unknown if those lawyers began by speaking with Amarillo’s Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, but his background includes four years as deputy general counsel of First Liberties Institute, a conservative Christian legal group that has long opposed abortion. Kacsmaryk was among Republican ex-President Donald Trump’s first judicial appointees in early 2017.

So no one should have been surprised when Kacsmaryk ruled that the 1873 Comstock Act – mostly aimed against vice, but also containing a clause criminalizing the mailing of obscenity, contraceptives, abortifacients, sex toys and personal letters with sexual content – makes shipping mifepristone illegal no matter its record of safety or what the FDA might say about it.

It was equally obvious to attorneys general of 17 states including Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan – but oddly not California – that they would get the opposite sort of ruling if they went before federal Judge Thomas Rice in

Spokane, who tried to assure access to the abortion drug in those states and the District of Columbia.

Rice, a former federal prosecutor, was appointed by Democratic ex-President Barack Obama in 2011 and developed a moderately liberal reputation on the bench.

In each venue, the plaintiffs got just what they wanted.

But the American people got confusion, not justice or clarity, and it remains to be seen how this will be resolved.

For sure, the Republican-controlled House shows no inclination to update the 152-year-old Comstock Act, mostly designed to limit damage from snake-oil salesmen who traveled widely during the late 19th Century.

What’s clear from all this action, both in federal and state courts, is that judgeshopping is a dangerous practice likely to continue as long as judges are appointed for their ideology, not their legal acumen.

It’s likely only to become more common and destructive so long as the court system stays as it is today.

— 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

Painting crosswalks

Bob Dunning’s Sunday, June 25, column raised the question that if the Davis City Council allows any group of citizens with any point of view to chalk up or paint crosswalks in town, they must allow any and all groups equal access to chalk up or paint crosswalks in town.

I don’t know how any given court or judge might rule, but I don’t see why the council can’t go out of their way to allow citizens to create a display on public property in support of fellow citizens who are under attack based on who they are. In doing so, the council is not discriminating against citizens based on what they believe or on what they think or on what they say. The council should show special support for people who are under attack because of who they are in the same way, for example, if their skin is black.

And because Bob likes to poke fun at our city government, I would like to be clear that if an LGBTQ+ or black person wants to paint a Nazi swastika in a crosswalk, I

Speak out

President

would urge the city council to turn them down based on what they think or say, not because of who they are.

Dave Hart Davis

Water issues

Water issues in western Yolo County are complex at best. The article of Wednesday, June 21, with the headline, “Parched family farms struggle to survive,” suggests that our local water issues can be solved by stopping those “big, bad, international (and local) agricultural companies” from using “our” water. At least that could be the impression if one only read the first page opening of the article. The rest of the article, over half of the back page, provides much more information and is much more balanced. Still, as a small farmer, I have some questions.

I wonder if the new “ag” wells are drawing from the same aquifer as the house wells have been.

I wonder if the need to replace wells that are 42 years old had to do as much with the age of the wells as with the newly planted acreage south of these wells.

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: https://www. feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/ e-mail-me

Sen. Alex Padilla, 112 Hart Senate Office

I wonder what crops the “local” farmers are raising because the article’s author states that orchards need an “abundance of water.” Do these farmers have crops that use less water than orchards?

I wonder what vocabulary such as “historically non-irrigated” means. How far back are we going to go with the term “historically?”

I wonder why Dave Runsten of the “Community Alliance with Family Farmers” suggests that small farmers shouldn’t have to bear the burden of replacing wells. Anyone who lives or farms on acreage that has a well as the source of water should have a budget that includes the replacement of a well as part of their operation. That is part of the responsibility that goes with the privilege of owning that property.

I wonder why the author waited until the very last column of the article to discuss other specific factors that also come into play for water in western Yolo County. We do need to deal with the realities of living and farming in our current climate. Water is key to all our lives. Let’s treat it as the complicated issue it is.

Susan Viguie Winters

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

By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

Stephan Pastis

Charles M. Schulz

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@ 9:30pm Black Cat, 400 Eddy St, San Fran‐cisco

Yard Sale and Large Flea Market @ 8am Yard Sale and Large Flea Market at Macedonia COGIC Mace‐donia Church of God in Christ, 425 Walters Road, Suisun City. sischeryl martin@aol.com, 707-4253135

Peregrine Welcomes Acapella Group Tune Up, Featuring Tunes from Both Sides of the 60s @ 10am Tune Up presents songs from both sides of the 60s. Prior to the con‐cert, they will present a discussion about the vocal harmony of doowop. Audience. Audience partici‐pation is highly encouraged! Free! Peregrine School, 2650 Lillard Drive, Davis. info@peregri neschool.org, 530-753-5500 San Francisco Symphony w/ Ratatouille in Concert @ 3pm Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

Private Event: David Parker w/Locked-n-Loaded @ 4pm Private Event - Fair�eld, CA, Fair‐�eld

Carolina Lugo presents Tachíria Flamenco’s

Town, 3901 Land Park Dr,

916-808-8884

Town, 3901 Land Park Dr, Sacramento. 916-808-8884

10th - Jul 14th

Town, 3901 Land Park Dr, Sacramento. 916-808-8884

L5 - Little Ranchers

The Dead‐lies at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

@ 12pm Six Flags Discovery King‐dom, 1001 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo

JourneyDay Music @ 5pm Be Bubbly Napa Valley, 1407 2nd St, Napa

Chinatown Dragon: An immersive cultural experi‐ence with kungfu, circus, magic, music, and more @ 7pm / $35

Jul 7th - Aug 20th

Join us for a magical adventure through Chinatown as we search for the elusive Chinatown Dragon!

This one-of-a-kind performance captivates audiences of all ages Great Star Theater, 636 Jackson Street, San Francisco. manage ment@greatstartheater.org, 415735-4159

The Gold Souls at First Friday Oak Park

@ 7pm The Brickhouse Gallery & Art Com‐plex, 2837 36th St, Sacramento VIVA LA SOLTERÍA ¡Baila, Canta, Comparte! 18+

@ 7pm / $15

Ace of Spades, 1417 R St., Sacra‐

530-758-3370

TODAY - A tribute to Green Day: Green Day tribute at Retro Junkie @ 6pm Retro Junkie, 2112 N Main St, Wal‐nut Creek

Chance McCauley @ 6pm River Terrace Inn, 1600 Soscol Ave, Napa

"Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope"

(1977) @ 7pm / $5 Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento

Pher @ 7pm SFJAZZ Center, 201 Franklin St, San Francisco

Lavalove @ 7pm Torch Club, 904 15th St, Sacra‐mento

"Sweeney Todd: the De‐mon Barber of Fleet Street" @ 7:30pm / $11 Jean Henderson Performing Arts, 607 Pena Dr., Davis

"The Tale of Edward Scissorhands" @ 8pm / $12.50 Stage Werx Theatre, 446 Valencia Street, San Francisco

"Predictor" @ 8pm / $20 Capital Stage, 2215 J Street, Sacramento

Secret Improv Society @ 8pm / $16.50 Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter St, San Francisco

Zeker: DJ Clee + House‐keeping 'Family Style' @ 9pm Hawthorn, 46 Geary St, San Fran‐cisco

YoloCares

Grand slam gives River Cats victory over Aces

WEST SACRAMENTO — Trailing by a pair after a big home run from the Reno Aces in the top of the third, the Sacramento River Cats returned the favor in the bottom of the frame before launching a grand slam in the fifth as Sacramento went on to capture game two by a final of 8-4.

Scoring first was the River Cats (35-41) thanks to the fourth homer in just seven games by Isan Diaz, lifting off on a 2-1 count as he led off the second inning.

However, the lead was short lived as the Aces (45-32) found the tying run in the top of the third when a double from Diego Castillo landed in the right-center gap, then ended up making it to the wall after a Sacramento error.

One batter later Reno captured its first and only lead of the game, with Phillip Evans doing the damage thanks to a home run that just curled inside the left-field foul pole for a 3-1 advantage.

Flipping the script, the River Cats stole all three runs back on their second blast of the contest, this time a three-run shot from Brett Wisely. Starting the inning with a free pass was Ford Proctor, and he was joined on base by Dalton Guthrie after he singled just in front of Wisely’s fourth dinger of the campaign.

Reno put a pair on base in the fourth as the Aces tried to build a comeback against Sacramento starter Kyle Harrison, but all came to an end after Nick Avila (9-0)

entered in relief and secured the final out of the frame before setting the side down in order during the fifth.

That gave the River Cats enough time to pour in some insurance runs, and all four scored in grand fashion during Sacramento’s swings in the fifth.

Guthrie found his way aboard on a throwing error while Wisely nearly had another RBI, but his liner to right field bounced over the wall for an automatic double.

Despite the Aces being just one away from escaping the jam after a punchout for the second out of the frame, Reno issued an intentional walk to Diaz in order to keep the force on at any base.

Stepping up to the plate was Joey Bart, who took umbrage with Reno’s decision by uncorking a massive grand slam over the fence in right center.

For Bart, it was his second homer of the campaign and his second in as many games after he left the yard in Wednesday’s contest, and he became the seventh River Cat this season to homer in consecutive games.

Meanwhile, it was the fourth grand slam for Sacramento in 2023, the first since Fitzgerald hit one against Sugar Land on June 18.

Additionally, it was the 98th River Cats grand slam since 2005 when home run data became available, and leaves them two shy of the six that they hit in each 2021 and 2022.

Pleasant winner in track and field award

Enterprise staff

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade announced Rodrick Pleasant of Junipero Serra High is the 2022-23 Gatorade California Boys Track & Field Player of the Year on Thursday. Pleasant is the first Gatorade California Boys Track & Field Player of the Year to be chosen from Junipero Serra High.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Pleasant as California’s best high school boys track & field athlete.

Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Track &

Field Player of the Year award to be announced in July, Pleasant joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Nico Young (2019-20, Newbury Park High), Michael Norman (201516 & 2014-15, Vista Murrieta High), Grant Fisher (2014-15 & 2013-14, Grand Blanc High, Mich.) and Robert Griffin III (2006-07, Copperas Cove High, Texas).

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior swept the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the California Interscholastic Federation championships this past season, leading the Cavaliers to a seventh-place finish as a team.

Pleasant broke the tape in the 100 in a meet-record 10.20 seconds, while capturing the 200 in 20.67. Pleasant’s season-best 100 clocking —10.14 seconds —matched his own state record

and ranked No. 3 nationally among prep competitors this spring. His top 200 (20.53) ranked No. 5 nationally.

The recipient of a West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation Scholarship, Pleasant has volunteered locally as a youth track coach.

Pleasant has maintained a weighted 3.24 GPA in the classroom.

He has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete on a football scholarship at the University of Oregon this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys and girls track & field.

Following that homer there was just one more run scored in the contest, a Reno run during their swings in the sixth on a P.J. Higgins double to left field that resulted in a leadoff walk to Tristin English coming around to score.

Takin the win was Avila, as he now has nine wins without a loss this season which is tied for the secondlongest such streak in Sacramento history since 2005, matching the nine (non-consecutive) victories that was accomplished by Graham Godfrey during the 2012 season.

While Harrison did not factor into the decision, giving up three earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings, his counterpart Bryce Jarvis was charged with the loss by surrendering eight runs (only four earned) on seven hits in 5.0 innings.

Each of the first six spots in the Sacramento lineup tallied at least one-hit, with Bart’s slam helping him collect a multi-hit effort by going 2-for-4. Also earning multiple knocks was Wisely, with both going for extra-base hits while he scored twice and drove in three.

Even at a game apiece, these two teams will line up for game three at Sutter Health Park today with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

Kings getting ready for California Classic

Enterprise staff

SACRAMENTO – The Sacramento Kings announced the roster for the fifth annual California Classic Summer League, which will take place July 3 and 5 at Golden 1 Center.

This summer, the San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets will join the Kings, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat for two days of competition and a world-class entertainment experience at the Golden 1 Center.

The six teams will play games featuring rookies selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, sophomores and athletes competing to make NBA and G League regular season rosters. Similar to other Summer League matches, modified game play rules will be in place, including 10-minute quarters.

Sacramento will play two games, beginning with the team’s first contest against the Golden State Warriors on Monday at 7 p.m. Then the Kings take on the Miami Heat on Wednesday, July 5, also at 7 p.m. Ahead of the California Classic, the Kings will hold a mini-camp Thursday and Friday.

Below is the roster as of Thursday.

Souely Boum, guard, 6-foot-3, 175-pounds, Xavier, rookie; Chance Comanche, center, 6’10, 210, Portland Trail Blazers, first year; Mike Daum,

center, 6’9, 235, Bertram Tortona, rookie; Kessler Edwards, forward, 6’8, 215, Pepperdine, third year; Keon Ellis, guard, 6’5, 175, Alabama, first year; Aleem Ford, forward, 6’8, 220, Leones de Ponce, first year; Jordan Ford, guard, 6’1, 175, St. Mary’s College, rookie; Dane Goodwin, guard, 6’6, 214, Notre Dame, rookie; Colby Jones, guard/forward, 6’6, 205, Xavier, rookie; Keegan Murray, forward, 6’8, 215, Iowa, first year; Justyn Mutts, forward, 6’7, 220, Virginia Tech, rookie; Alex O’Connell, forward, 6’6, 185, Creighton, rookie; Neemia Queta, center, 7-foot, 245, Utah State, second year; Jalen Slawson, forward, 6’7, 218, Furman, rookie; and Jake Stephens, center, 6’11, 270, Chattanooga, rookie.

Luke Loucks will serve as the Kings summer head coach.

Loucks’ assistant coaches are Dutch Gaitley, Deividas Dulkys, Robbie Lemons, Charles Allen, Jawad Williams, Will Scott, Jimmy Alapag.

Single-day tickets start at $22 and include access to three games each day.

Ticketholders for Monday’s games will receive a commemorative California Classic poster.

footBall

Most of the UCD football home crowd, shown here during the Causeway Classic against Sacramento State at UC Davis Health Stadium on Nov. 20, 2021, will have more benefits to enjoy entering this upcoming season.

New additions at Aggie home games for upcoming season

Enterprise staff

One of the new additions to game day is the option to reserve a gathering space at Tailgate Town on Bob Biggs Practice Field just steps from the main entrance of UC Davis Health Stadium prior to UCD football home games this season.

Groups will have their own pre-set tent set up with table and chairs. The area will feature booths from Woodstock’s Pizza and Sudwerk Brewing in case people attending run out of supplies or left them at home.

All those Junior Aggies can stay entertained at the kid’s zone that will feature a bounce house, inflatable pop-a-shot, cornhole, and other lawn games.

Line the streets and welcome members of the Aggies football team, as they come off the bus into the stadium.

Champions Corridor along La Rue Road is blocked off on game day exclusively for tailgaters with assigned spaces.

Join the UCD marching band, dance and cheer teams during the Aggie Walk to set the tone for kickoff.

The most traditional tailgate option, passes are available for Lots 53 and 56 on the south side of the stadium.

Opportunities to reserve grass areas are also available for those purchasing group ticket packages.

For more information, contact the UC Davis Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or visit aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.

The Aggies play their first home game against Southern Utah University on Saturday, Sept. 16.

DHS enjoyed team-bonding experience

By Henry Krueger Enterprise correspondent

Building a winning football program goes beyond the field.

Davis High head coach Nick Garratt took his players on a retreat to Lake Tahoe last weekend, hoping the change of scenery and team-bonding experience would generate positive results.

“A lot of guys have never really been together for that long of a time, or even at all outside of football,” Garratt said. “So it was a great time for them to bond and get to know each other on a different level.”

Garratt has already seen improvements in his team’s chemistry, which he noted following Tuesday’s 7-on-7 scrimmages and linemen challenges against Dixon, Pioneer and Esparto at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium.

“We weren’t immediately trying to blame and get on each other, but we were trying to understand where our pitfalls were and how we can grow from that together,” Garratt said.

Tight end and defensive lineman CJ Millican was also encouraged by the Blue Devils’ cohesiveness during the scrimmages.

“I feel today was a lot better than last week,” Millican said after the event. “I feel like everyone’s a lot more like a lot more united. There was not as much bickering. When someone made a mistake, we just recognized it and moved on.”

Unity is one of many values Garratt has preached to his players.

“It’s also about understanding how you show up to practice, how you commit, how you compete and how you complete,” Garratt said.

The 7-on-7 event marks Davis’ final time practicing with other schools before the Sac-Joaquin Section’s three-week preseason football dead period begins on July 3. The dead period prohibits coaches from communicating with their team until July 24.

Garratt is confident his players will maintain their fitness and game-readiness during their time off from organized practice.

“What’s benefiting us is that I don’t have to tell them that they should go throw on their own, instead they’re calling me saying ‘hey some of us are going to come and throw,’ and so I think that will be something that will continue through July,” Garratt said.

As the season opener against Vacaville on Aug. 18 grows closer, Garratt believes the Blue Devils still have room to get significantly better.

“I think we still have a lot of work to do,” Garratt said. “There’s a lot of guys that have come late, who either need to buy into the culture or need to buy into understanding the schemes.”

Garratt, a second-year head coach, is tasked with turning around a program that has a 4-19 overall record since the 2020 season.

Previous Davis teams have shown drastic turnarounds are possible, such as when the Blue Devils went from finishing winless in 2017 to one-game over .500 in 2018 and then 10-2 in 2019.

“We’re starting on that road to greatness,” Garratt said.

— Henry Krueger is a Gonzaga University student and working as a correspondent for The Enterprise this spring and summer. He was an intern at the newspaper in 2022. Follow him on Twitter: @henrykrveger.

Mike Bush/enterprise file photo

Kings forward Keegan Murray (13), seen here chasing Warriors guard Stephen Curry in Game 7 of the NBA Playoffs Western Division at Golden 1 Center on April 30, is listed on the roster heading into the California Classic.

Christoph lossin/enterprise photo

Davis High football players Eric Garcia (left) and Jamal Gulley (right) try to break up a pass intended for a Dixon receiver in Tuesday’s 7-on-7 passing game at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium.

Mike Bush/enterprise file photo