The Davis Enterprise Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The berry that says love — Page B3

Blue Devil grappler pins down title

— Page B5

Sports

Psychedelic drugs may fix impairments of the brain

— Page B2

en erprise

Ground zero

The Savory Basin outside of Fresno, on Jan. 27, was built two years ago to refill the aquifer with captured stormwater. The Fresno district spent millions to buy farmland and create basins for percolating water underground to help meet the requirements of state groundwater management regulations. larry

By Alastair Bland CalMatters

The powerful storms that clobbered California for weeks in December and January dropped trillions of gallons of water, flooding many communities and farms. But throughout the state, the rains have done little to nourish the underground supplies that are critical sources of California’s drinking water.

Thousands of people in the San Joaquin Valley have seen

their wells go dry after years of prolonged drought and overpumping of aquifers. And a two-week deluge — or even a wet winter — will not bring them relief.

Even in January, as California’s rivers flooded thousands of acres, state officials received reports of more than 30 well outages, adding to more than 5,000 dry residential wells reported statewide in the past decade.

“Just one wet year is nowhere

near large enough to refill the amount of groundwater storage that we’ve lost, say, over the last 10 years or more,” said Jeanine Jones, a drought manager with the state Department of Water Resources.

Water from heavy rains can reach shallow groundwater basins in a matter of days, but in places where wells must pump from deep underground aquifers — like those in the San Joaquin Valley — this can take months. And even a season’s worth of storms is not usually enough to restore wells left high and dry by years of overdraft.

Restoring California’s groundwater is not as simple as

Davis law firm has role in

whistleblower settlement

By Lauren Keene Enterprise staff writer

Two plaintiffs represented by Davis and Sacramento law firms in a whistleblower lawsuit will share in a multimilliondollar settlement that alleged their former employer — an online birth-control provider — engaged in fraudulent practices.

Cindy Swintelski Schwartz and Happy Baumann, who worked as nurse practitioners for The Pill Club (formerly Favor), claimed the company knowingly defrauded government and private insurers

by submitting false claims for contraceptive prescriptions and services.

Under the settlement agreement, announced Tuesday by the California Department of Justice and the women’s lawyers, Michael Hirst of Davis' Hirst Law Group and M. Anderson Berry of the Arnold Law Firm in Sacramento, The Pill Club will pay $15 million to the DOJ and $3.275 million to the California Department of Insurance.

For their roles, Schwartz and Baumann, See SETTLEMENT, Page A5

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2023

Yolo County proclaims Gun Violence Survivors Week

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

With recent mass shootings still on the minds of many Californians, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday proclaimed this first week of February “Gun Violence Survivors Week” in Yolo County.

The proclamation was presented to local representatives of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action at the board’s meeting Tuesday morning.

waiting for rain and letting it seep into the ground. It requires detailed planning and scientific analysis of project sites, and uses tens of millions of dollars in state funds. Land has to be purchased or growers must be compensated for flooding their fields. And it also means that growers — and to a lesser extent, communities — must reduce the water they pump.

Graham Fogg, a UC Davis professor of hydrogeology, said the recent rainfall could substantially help minimally impacted areas, like much of the Sacramento basin, where

See GROUND, Page A5

“As we know, every year, 40,000 Americans are killed with guns, approximately 76,000 more are shot and wounded, and, in California, unfortunately, at least 18 people died and at least 10 more were injured in just a three-day period in our state,” said Supervisor Jim Provenza of Davis, who brought the proclamation forward to the full board.

That proclamation noted that 59 percent of American adults, including 71 percent of Black and 60 percent of Latinx Americans, or someone they care for, has experienced gun violence in their lifetimes.

Additionally, noted Provenza, “firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens.”

“By commemorating Gun Violence Survivors Week,” he said, “we raise

See SURVIVORS, Page A3

Picnic Day names parade marshal

By Monica Stark Enterprise staff writer

Cecelia “Cece” MaikaiBeard, a beloved principal food-service worker at UC Davis, will serve as the parade marshal for the university’s 109th Picnic Day, the Picnic Day Committee announced on Friday.

Maikai-Beard, who has worked at UCD for 13 years, will address the opening ceremonies of the university’s annual open house and ride in the parade that will go through the campus and downtown Davis on Saturday, April 15. As part of her grand marshal responsibilities, she will also judge various contests that day.

“Cecelia Maikai-Beard exemplifies what it means to be a UC Davis community member — making her impact with her dayto-day selflessness and through her consistent and countless experiences with students here at UC Davis,” said Jesse Goodman, chair of Picnic Day’s board of directors.

“Cece is awesome, and it is a testament to the positive energy she exudes that our students want to celebrate her in this way,” said Mike Sheehan, the Associate Vice Chancellor for Housing, Dining and Divisional Operations at UC Davis.

The board of 15 students chose Maikai-Beard as the parade grand marshal. “We feel she embodies this year’s theme, ‘Ignite the

Moment,’ for inspiring students — rain or shine — through her constant positivity,” Goodman added. The board selected the theme to showcase the bright passion the students have for UC Davis and the community.

Students appreciate her friendly smile and cheerful demeanor when they enter the Cuarto Dining Commons after a long day. Maikai-Beard is known for her motivational mottos such as “Marvelous and Magnificent Mondays,”

“Turn-It-Up Tuesdays,”

“Wonderful Wednesdays,” “Thumbs up Thursdays,” and “Fantastic Fridays.” Maikai-Beard, who hails from the island of Oahu, brings a bit of “Aloha”

Jeremiah James Noel/Courtesy photo

Picnic Day Marshall Cecelia Maikai-Beard meets Picnic Day chair Jesse Goodman, left, and vice chair Bradford Martin.

Rainstorms bring little relief to California’s depleted groundwater

About us

The rockets’ red glare will be back

Iremember a number of years ago when someone complained that Davis’ annual Fourth of July celebration in Community Park was “too patriotic.”

That thought came back to me as our beloved City Council spent way too much time last week debating whether to continue or ban the fireworks display that regularly concludes July 4 activities in the City of All Things Right and Relevant and Rigorously Regulated.

I hadn’t realized it was such a pressing issue.

The council, as it turns out, was sharply divided on this explosive issue, with two members wishing to keep the traditional show alive and two wishing to banish it to the dustbin of history.

And what about the fifth and deciding vote? Well, that would have been cast by the level-headed and clear-thinking Lucas Frerichs, but guess what? Lucas moved up the road to Woodland and is now an elected member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, a body that has no say on how the city of Davis celebrates — or doesn’t celebrate — national holidays.

If Davis wishes to ban Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, the Supes can do nothing about it.

The Davis City Council decided to fill Frerichs seat with a special election in May rather than appointing someone to fill the vacancy immediately. All of which is fine, but for the fact it leaves the very real possibility of a 2-2 vote on pressing matters, which is precisely what happened with the fireworks controversy.

Newly crowned Mayor Will Arnold, who grew up in Davis, was firmly on the side of bombs bursting in air, while Vice Mayor Josh Chapman was also in favor of the rockets’ red glare.

On the Silent Night side were council members Bapu Vaitla and Gloria Partida. who expressed concern about the nasty effects that booming fireworks might have on dogs and cats and pet hamsters.

(You might have noticed at this point that there is a city ordinance requiring all council members to

Davis police officers make burglary arrest

Lt.

“When

One resident left the house and confronted three people at nearby Playfields Park, determining one was a likely suspect in the burglary. Officers arrived on scene and searched the park, ultimately locating the suspect — identified as Stephanie L ouise Manzano, a local transient — and locating some of the allegedly stolen property, Munoz said.

Manzano, 30, was booked into the Yolo County Jail.

have at least one “A” in their last name.)

A 2-2 vote keeps things as they are, but council members had a number of options to consider before casting their final votes.

No. 1 was keeping the existing fireworks display, which features 18 solid minutes of thunder and lightning at a cost of $27,000.

As for the noise, I suggest the city partner with the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to develop specialized animal earplugs to block out the noise from their tiny ears, but unfortunately, I don’t have a vote.

Interestingly, our cat seems to enjoy the fireworks, mostly because they bother our dog. Our pet tortoise, meanwhile, just burrows deeper under the back lawn until all the sonic booms subside.

No. 2 was a quieter, low-level display of 15 minutes for $20,000, with the downside that it likely wouldn’t be visible outside the confines of Community Park.

No. 3 was a hybrid laser and fireworks show of 18 minutes for $40,000 that would actually have fewer fireworks.

No. 4 was a drone show of just 9 to 11 minutes with costs as high as $150,000.

No. 5 was to contract with the Chinese government to send 40 well-lit and brightly colored spy balloons over Davis at the very moment darkness falls on July 4, with each one methodically shot down by aircraft from Travis Air Force Base at no cost to the city.

Mayor Arnold voted for No. 1, noting that “I have landed squarely on the side of upholding this longtime community tradition, not wanting to mess with it, lessen it in any way that leads to less enjoyment for our community members. It’s something that is so beloved as an annual tradition in our community.”

Here, here. Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.

Partida, though, while acknowledging that “I love the fireworks,” voted to stop this tradition dead in its tracks. Partida noted that “we talk about doing the right thing even if it means we have to sacrifice things. Clearly, that stops at the Fourth of July. But I just feel like we’re Davis. If anybody’s going to do something different and quirky, it’s going to be us.” Indeed, fireworks be damned. Let’s be different and quirky. Clearly qualities we can all get behind.

— Reach Bob Dunning at bunning@davisenterprise.net.

‘Davisville’ radio show looks at ChatGPT

Special to The Enterprise

ChatGPT is a new tech tool that can write articles and other documents by using advanced technology and vast databases of text. So is this ability a good thing? Or does use of ChatGPT reduce the need for people to learn how to think and write coherently?

On the current edition of “Davisville,” host Bill Buchanan talks with Andy Jones, a longtime writing instructor and educational technologist, and Margaret Merrill, a senior instructional design consultant,

both at UC Davis. They list pluses and minuses of ChatGPT, their encounters with the tool, how they can tell when someone has used ChatGPT, and how they approach this latest evolution in artificial intelligence.

“Davisville” appears on Davis station KDRT-LP, 95.7 FM on Mondays at 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 5 p.m., Fridays at 12:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. The current program will be broadcast through Feb. 18, and is available anytime at https:// kdrt.org/davisville or on Apple podcasts.

MARSHALL: Picnic Day festivities set for April 15

From Page A1

every day to her students:

“Let me tell you when I get to work, I’ve got a smile on my face. When I leave work, I have a smile on my face,” she said.

She feels like this position enables her to give back because she knows what sending a child away to college is like. “I call them my students because, you know, they’re away from home. So we need to treat this as their home as well. I could be their grandma. I could be their mom. I could be the big sister in their eyes.”

The Picnic Day board said Maikai-Beard supports the UC Davis community through her passion for the students, always being an open ear and becoming a part of their support system.

Felipe Becerra, director of residential dining, sent the following comments from her supervisors regarding Maikai-Beard’s performance and dedication to the campus:

“Cece has continued to be an amazing driving force for our operations at Cuarto. Cece is the first and last face each of our guests sees, and she has made a point of creating personal connections with nearly each and every student in our neighborhood. Cece greets our guests by name, making them feel like they are at home.

“She has continually gone above and beyond by assisting with opening duties throughout our dining room, taking on additional tasks of menu signage, and assisting with maintaining cleanliness and stocked product throughout each shift.

SURVIVORS: Stories behind statistics

From Page A1

Cece communicates professionally with all coworkers and brings a very positive attitude.

“Cece consistently offers additional support to stay late or cover weekend shifts when staffing shortages arise and has offered invaluable support to our catering and concessions departments to help our overall campus needs. Cece’s positive attitude and influence on our students have been recognized throughout the campus community as she has made many connections with our residents, guests, and staff who have the pleasure to interact with her on a regular basis.”

Thankful for the recognition from the students and support from UCD, Maikai-Beard said she loves it here. “The empowerment leadership gives us career individuals: it’s unbelievable. It’s what you make out of everything, you know. In life, you’re in a certain spot at a certain time for a certain reason. It’s up to us to take that and run with it. And I was given that opportunity, and daily I’m given that opportunity from leadership here.”

To be held on Saturday, April 15, one of the largest student-run events in the nation, Picnic Day celebrates the richness of campus life; highlights the diverse achievements of UC Davis students, alumni, staff and faculty; and provides a day of education, information and entertainment. The day’s events include a children’s fair, and musical and dance performances.

awareness of gun violence and honor those who are working so hard against it.”

Moms Demand Action, he noted “brought us some local ordinances that we passed and they’re going to continue that work both at the local level and state level, continuing to inform people but also taking concrete action.”

Those ordinances recently focused on safe storage of guns, in both homes and vehicles. The group has also worked with local police departments to pass out free gun locks and with school districts to provide safe-storage materials and trainings.

Jennifer Borenstein, Yolo County local group lead for Moms Demand Action, said the proclamation passed by the board on Tuesday is “an important step in raising awareness about the need to take concrete actions to reduce gun violence in our communities and our country.”

She noted that Moms Demand Action, which is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, is a national, grassroots, non-partisan group of nearly 10 million supporters.

“We are not just moms,” Borenstein said. “We’re dads, students, families, from all walks of life, concerned citizens working together to support and

pass common-sense gun laws, promote responsible gun ownership and elect and support gun-sense candidates.

“We will continue this work and more, because as this resolution states, there’s a tragic amount of preventable gun violence and gun deaths in our country. This is a uniquely American public health crisis that requires immediate action.”

The two UC Davis students who serve as co-leads for the campus’s Students Demand Action chapter were also on hand Tuesday.

“We’re part of a youthled movement of over 500 chapters of high schools

and colleges nationwide organizing to end gun violence,” said Kayla GarciaPebdani.

“National Gun Violence Survivors Week is one of our most important events of the year. Survivors are at the center of the gun violence prevention movement and providing a platform to share their experiences to help break stigma and improve the public’s understanding of our national gun violence crisis.

“It is unacceptable that we continue to live this way and we must do more to honor survivors of gun violence with recognition and action,” she said.

Her co-lead at UC Davis, Roan Thibault, told county supervisors, “I need not remind you of the recent gun violence that has shaken our state, from Monterey Park to Half Moon Bay to the daily gun violence that doesn’t make the headlines.

“It’s an all-too-common American experience to process and heal from the trauma of gun violence, including at my high school in my hometown which just last week experienced its second shooting scare in just four years.”

He cited an incident when he was at the high school which prompted a lock down and left lingering fears of his life being

cut short by gun violence.

“That’s an experience felt across America,” Thibault noted

“Survivors Week is always a poignant reminder that the work to end gun violence is … about the countless stories behind every gun violence statistic. Of parents who drop their kids off to school and never got to pick them up. Of families heartbroken by the suicides that make up half of gun deaths here in California. Of communities forever shaped by the trauma of gun homicides.”

In passing the proclamation proclaiming Gun Violence Survivors Week, county supervisors renewed their commitment “to reduce gun violence and pledge to do all we can to keep firearms out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves or others and encourage responsible gun ownership to help keep our communities safe.”

Courtesy photo

Members of Students Demand Action line up at the Mondavi Center on Jan. 22 for a “Wellness Walk” to promote of gun-violence prevention.

Briefly

Today

n Davis Science Café presents “Preventing Broken Hearts: Understanding and Treating Heart Disease in Women” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at G Street WunderBar, 228 G St. in downtown Davis. Each month, Professor Jared Shaw of the UC Davis Department of Chemistry hosts the Davis Science Café, featuring scientists who are studying some of today’s cutting-edge topics. This month’s speaker is Prof. Amparo Villablanca from UC Davis Health who studies the sex differences in the molecular and cellular determinants of cardiovascular disease. The event is free to attend, with complimentary soft drinks courtesy of the UCD College of Letters and Science. Contact Shaw for information at jtshaw@ucdavis.edu or https://twitter.com/ DavisSciCafe1.

Friday

n The UC Davis Arboretum hosts a Folk Music Jam Session from noon to 1 p.m. Folk musicians can bring their acoustic instruments and play together informally during this jam session at Wyatt Deck (next to the redwood grove). Pull out your fiddles, guitars, mandolins, penny whistles, pipes, flutes, squeezeboxes (you name it) and join your fellow musicians for a little bluegrass, old-time, blues, Celtic, klezmer and world music over the lunch hour. All skill levels welcome and listeners are invited. Short-term parking is available in Visitor Lot 5 on Old Davis Road at Arboretum Drive. Hourly rates start at $1.75.

n The Kiwanis Club of Davis will host its 41st all-you-can-eat Crab and Pasta Feed on Friday, Feb. 10, at the Veterans Memorial Center, 203 E. 14th St. in Davis. The social hour starts at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75, available by calling George Barden at 530756-1332 or Rich Seropian at 530-400-4830.

Proceeds benefit Kiwanis charities.

n Logos Books will host a 2nd Friday ArtAbout reception from 6 to 8 p.m. for artist Karen Fess-Uecker as part of her show, “A little bit of Davis, a lot of California,” plein air and studio oil paintings. Fess-Uecker’s work will be up at the bookstore, 513 Second St. in downtown Davis, through March 3.

Saturday

n Stories on Stage Davis will present two novel excerpts at the Pence Gallery, 212 D St. in downtown Davis. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the event starts at 7:30. Masks are strongly encouraged but not required. Martha Omiyo Kight will read from “Meadowlark” by Melanie Abrams, and Larry Lew will read from the novel “The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu” by Tom Lin. Stories on Stage Davis is a sponsored project of YoloArts, a nonprofit arts organization. The event is free to attend, and Stories on Stage appreciates donations at the door. For more information, including previous podcast episodes and live events, go to the Stories on Stage Davis website: storiesonstagedavis.com.

Thursday, Feb. 16

n The Davis Friends Meeting will sponsor a talk by Craig McNamara about “Coming to Terms with the Legacy of My Father Robert McNamara, One of the Architects of the Vietnam War,” at 7 p.m. at 345 L St. in Davis. Craig McNamarea, a Winters-area farmer, will discuss his recently published memoir, “Because Our Fathers Lied,” which is a moving reflection upon his relationship with his father. Craig relates in his memoir his life’s journey from protesting the Vietnam War, learning agricultural practices from indigenous farmers in South America, studying agriculture at UCD, and starting his own farming business.

James A. Sontag Sr.

April 10, 1938 — Feb. 2, 2023

Born in Princeton, N.J., to an heiress and a historian, Jim lived a life of contradictions and juxtapositions. He grew up in Berkeley, where his father was a professor, and he grew up in Washington, D.C., while his father — on leave from Cal — worked with the CIA.

He was in high school in 1954 when schools were integrated, and his descriptions of that time reflect a man who was an anti-racist before the term was created. Back in Berkeley as a high-school student, he found his place at the YMCA, and so began his lifelong love of boxing.

He was a gentle man who once sparred with boxing legend George Foreman. A man in his 80s who was shadowboxing and volunteering at a prison, Jim defied and resisted stereotypes and social pressures, creating a life that reflected service, authenticity, and meaning.

Jim married Rosemary Jurgens in 1958, and they had five children in quick succession, as Catholic families were wont to do. He earned two degrees from UC Berkeley, including an MBA.

He had a mind for business, but not the heart. He loved his family but lost himself — and them — in alcohol.

But his is a redemption story. A

Karen, bride of Ron for 60-plus years, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother, fluttered her wings and flew toward The Lord on Jan. 19, 2023, from a hospital in Santa Clara. Karen passed peacefully knowing her family was there and together. Karen was born in Oakland on Sept. 15, 1941, to Dr. Lauren E. Rosenberg and Marion L. Palm Rosenberg, both native to Galesburg, Ill. She married the love of her life, Ron Cassel, on Feb. 3, 1962.

She is survived by her husband Ron; children Douglas A. Cassel (Gillian) of Lincoln and Deborah L. (Shawn) Smith of Tehachapi; grandchildren Kimberly, Nicole and Kristen; one great-grandson.

Karen and parents moved from Berkeley to Davis when Karen was 5. Karen and Ron met in a first-grade classroom, dated in high school and married during college years. Karen attended UC Davis for two years, majoring in home economics and received a degree in catering and food services from a local college.

The Sale will end at 10:00 AM, Feb. 23, 2023. Goods must be paid in CASH at site and removed at completion of sale. Sale is subject to cancellation in the event of settlement between owner and obligated party.

StorQuest Express Woodland 1610 Tide Ct. Woodland, CA 95776 (530) 383-7737 2/8, 2/15 #2162

story about humility, grace and forgiveness. Jim had several decades of sobriety.

The fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous is powerful and real. They gave us back our father. Jim was a lot of things in his lifetime, but he did not measure the worth of a person by roles, money, or status. His mother was raised in a mansion by a governess, but Jim went hiking and camping with his kids, took them to Oakland A’s games, made them milkshakes, read books to them, taught them to play softball and touch football, and was that dad in the neighborhood all the other kids envied. In a word — he was fun.

Jim loved playing cards with his family (thank you, Zoom), the redwoods, sports, Hank Williams and Carl Jung. He was a voracious reader with a keen intellect and a curious mind who loved to talk about existentialism and spirituality, and he also enjoyed his years as a substitute middle school teacher(!).

He was simple and humble, complicated and complex. Most of all, he was genuinely accepting — of everyone and everything. A rare gift he gave to all, including himself.

Jim loved his family, his friends and

She loved to experience different foods and cultures. Karen travelled to more than 30 countries and across the United States twice via a fifth-wheel travel trailer with her husband by her side.

Karen was the first Creative Memories representative in Silicon (Santa Clara) Valley. She gave many classes in preserving family photos in an archival environment. She was an administrative assistant for 15 years at SBC (a subsidiary of IBM) that worked with the Dallas Cowboy football team, Los Gatos Christian Church (now Venture) in Missions, Los Gatos High School, and West Valley College.

During her teens, she was a 4-H member for nine years achieving the level of Gold Star. She produced a coat in 4-H that was awarded second overall in California in 1958. Later in life, her passion was being an active quilter up to her passing, having quilted more than 15 quilts of various complexities — several with a Hawaiian theme.

Notice of Public Sale: Self-Storage unit contents of the following customers containing household and other goods will be sold for cash or credit card by CubeSmart Self Storage 541 Harbor Blvd. West Sacramento, Ca 95691 to satisfy a lien on Feb15 2023, approx. 12:00pm on storagetreasures.com.

Garth Brown, Judy Patrick, Isaiah Peoples, William Mattos, Daniella C Hogan, Rosemary Moreno, Corazon Fernandez, Nootan Blue, Jeremy Owings, David L Hailey

Published February 1, 8, 2023 #2149

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME

Case Number: CV2023-0088

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Brittany Priscilla Frus filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present name a. Brittany Priscilla Frus to Proposed name Brittany Priscilla Sadeghini

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

his cat, Molly. He will be deeply missed by his children Mary-Ann, Christine (Stewart Holden), Jim Jr., Peter (Heather) and Julie Sontag; his grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by wellloved nieces and nephews, his brother, Jack, and his sister, Molly; his identical twin, Bill, predeceased him.

We express gratitude to Jim’s many anonymous friends — you know who you are, and we hope you understand that you change lives.

We acknowledge with deep appreciation Jim’s amazing physician, Dr. Paul Koenig, and the staff at Sutter Davis Hospital whose compassionate and skilled care made Jim’s final hours comfortable and safe.

Jim recently told one of his daughters that he was working on grieving the loss of himself. Typical conversation with Jim. And now we join him in that endeavor — grieving the loss of all that was — and is — Jim Sontag.

A memorial gathering for Jim will happen in the spring. In his honor, we invite generosity and kindness. Please consider adopting an animal from a local rescue or shelter (naming it Jim would be nice, but is not required), or making a donation to Muttville, a senior-dog rescue and hospice. In addition, please be generous with the gift of unconditional acceptance. With yourself and others.

She was a member of Santa Clara Valley Quilt Guild. She was president of Los Gatos Rotary’s spousal auxiliary — Inner Wheel — for two years, was co-chair of District 517 Inner Wheel (200506) and Trustee of Inner Wheel USA Foundation — Myoelectric Limb Project for

children and teens. One of her greatest talents was bringing people together. She showed love in all she did for and with others. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Saratoga Federated Church, 20390 Park Place (near Highway 9 and Saratoga Avenue) in Saratoga. Contributions can be sent to Saratoga Federated Church in her memory or to the national Arthritis Foundation.

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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF Gail Lyn Blue

CASE NO. PR2023-0011

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: Gail Lyn Blue

A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Jason Blue in the Superior Court of California, County of: Yolo

The Petition for Probate requests that: Jason Blue be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as fol-

lows: Date: March 2, 2023 Time: 9:00 A.M. Dept.: 11 Room:

Located at 1000 Main Street, Woodland, CA 95695.

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: Soohyun King Garafola King & McCardle, LLP

SONTAG

Karen A. Cassel Sept. 15, 1941 — Jan. 19, 2023

CASSEL

GROUND: Still high and dry in the Valley

groundwater tables are only 25 to 30 feet down. But it’s a far different story in the San Joaquin Valley, where the water table is 100 to 300 feet down, even 700 feet in some places.

“That’s where most of the dried-up wells have occurred,” Fogg said, “and that’s where it will take years, maybe decades, of not only managed aquifer recharge, but also reduced pumping from wells, to raise groundwater levels back to more appropriate elevations.”

According to state officials and other groundwater experts, most wells in the San Joaquin Valley have virtually no chance of recovering unless groundwater pumping is drastically curbed.

“I’ve seen about 2,000 wells go dry, and we don’t see wells recover on their own,” said Tami McVay, director of emergency services for Self-Help Enterprises, a San Joaquin Valley nonprofit that provides funding to residents who need new wells. “They sometimes recover for a couple of days, but then they go dry again.”

Liquid gold

Groundwater is among California’s most precious natural resources, providing about 40% of the water consumed in most years. It is an inexpensive, local source in a state where many cities rely on imported water and rural

towns have no other sources. And its importance is magnified in dry years, when reservoirs fed by rivers are depleted.

The San Joaquin Valley’s groundwater reserves have been relentlessly pumped by farmers for decades. Tens of millions of acre-feet have been pumped from the ground, causing the water table to steadily drop and thousands of wells to go dry.

A handful of communities, largely home to lowincome Latino residents, have run out of water, forcing people to use bottled water for everything. The true scope of the problem, in fact, may be underestimated, since many dewatered wells are unreported. East Porterville, Tooleville, Tombstone Territory, Fairmead, Lanare and Riverdale are just a few of the San Joaquin Valley communities that have been hit hard with dry wells.

“There’s so much politi-

cal pressure to maintain the status quo, and to continue pumping, because it’s tied up with economic profits. And the end result is community members who can’t rely on their wells for safe water,” said Tien Tran, a policy advocate with the group Community Water Center, which advocates for water equity.

Almost a decade ago, California enacted a law that is supposed to protect groundwater reserves from overpumping. The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires local groundwater agencies to halt long-term depletion and achieve sustainability, defined by specific criteria. But the deadlines are almost 20 years away, and basins are still being overdrafted.

The San Joaquin Valley’s major groundwater basins are designated critically overdrafted by the California Department of Water Resources. A year ago, the agency rejected the region’s

groundwater sustainability plans on the grounds that they inadequately considered the needs of residential wells, among other impacts.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s water strategy released last August called for increasing groundwater recharge by an average of half a million acre-feet each year. On Jan. 13, state water agencies announced a program to expedite approval of recharge projects.

Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth said the voluminous mountain snowpack dumped in January offers a prime opportunity, and a time-sensitive one, to recharge aquifers.

“We’ve got a heck of a lot of snow in the Central Sierra,” she said. “That snow is going to melt, and we want the local water districts to be positioned to capture some of that excess snowmelt and get it underground.”

Compelled in part by state law, and often supported by millions in state funds, some farmers and other land managers have dug large recharge basins to capture stormwater and allow it to sink. Cities design similar projects, and in recent months alone, they’ve put tens of thousands of acre-feet of water into underground storage.

While not enough on their own to reverse overdraft, these programs could serve as models for scaling up recharge efforts statewide.

SETTLEMENT: Several allegations at issue

From Page A1

along with their attorneys, will receive a shared $4.59 million whistleblower award.

“Ms. Schwartz and Ms. Baumann are being rewarded for their courage in reporting conduct that they knew was wrong and needed to be stopped,” Hirst said.

“Women deserve safe and effective contraceptives provided with their best interests in mind, not the financial interests of a contraceptive prescriber and dispenser. By blowing the whistle, Ms. Baumann and Ms. Schwartz have saved public and private insurers millions of dollars.”

Added Berry: “Ms. Baumann and Ms. Schwartz stood up for what is right. I hope more medical professionals in this field stand up and let us know who else is committing these frauds against women and their government or private insurers.”

Filed under seal in March 2019, the women’s complaint alleged that The Pill Club violated California’s False Claims Act and Insurance Fraud Prevention Act by “routinely” defrauding insurers in multiple ways, including failing to provide required physician supervision for contraceptive services, as well as overbilling for their products.

Specifically, the lawsuit settlement resolves the following allegations that The Pill Club:

n billed for female condoms in excess of what was medically necessary;

n billed for emergency contraceptives in excess of what was medically necessary;

n billed for improperly coded telemedicine visits;

n used billing codes that inaccurately reflected the amount of time providers spent with patients;

n used place of service modifiers that falsely indicated an in-person visit occurred at a healthcare provider’s office, and

n billed for prescriptions dispensed by a pharmacy not licensed to provide pharmacy services to California patients.

“The whistleblowers alleged that The Pill Club pressured nurse practitioners to spend very little time online with patients — sometimes only seconds — before assessing, diagnosing, and prescribing birth control,” Hirst said.

“Rarely did the nurse practitioners even speak by telephone with patients. The products were then delivered by mail, with no delivery charge, and accompanied by chocolate and gift items, to encourage further sales,” he added.

Metro/stoCk photo

Plan for post-retirement medical expenses

Metro Special to The Enterprise

When individuals retire, they not only walk away from work, but also relinquish thier steady paychecks. For many, retirement can be a potentially risky financial endeavor. Saving for retirement is a great way to mitigate such risk, but unforeseen expenses, such as medical bills, can quickly derail a retirement plan.

Many people have a greater need for medical care as they get older. The

Fidelity Investments

Retiree Health Care Cost

Estimate indicates health care can be one of the biggest expenses a person will take on in retirement. The average 65-year-old couple who retired in 2021 in the United States can expect to spend $300,000 on health care and medical expenses during retirement. The financial resource The Street says other studies suggest it’s wise for retirees to plan to spend between $3,000 and $7,700 per year on health care. Financial advisors warn that relying exclusively on

Medicare to cover health care costs isn’t going to cut it. Benefits under the Medicare program often aren’t enough to pay for all of a retiree’s needs. There may be gaps for chronic treatment of illnesses and specialty treatment for certain conditions. Long-term care services also typically are not covered. It’s important to note that Medicare will cover general doctor’s visits, but it does not cover the cost of deductibles or copays.

Individuals need to be proactive and plan for medical expenses in retirement. After housing, healthcare is the most significant expense for retirees. Health spending accounts and long-term health insurance are two options for people looking for ways to cover their health care costs in retirement.

As of 2022, people can contribute up to $3,650 for an individual or $7,300 for a family per year into a health savings account. After age 55, an additional $1,000 per year is allowed. Money in an HSA grows tax-free and it can be spent

tax-free on qualified medical expenses. Once a person has Medicare, he or she no longer is eligible to contribute to the HSA, but can use money already in the account to pay for qualified medical expenses that are not covered by Medicare. Long-term care insurance is another option, and many people invest in such an account during their 50s or 60s. The earlier an individual enrolls in a program, the lower the premium. According to Personal Capital, most policies will not start until a patient has needed assistance for 90 days and other qualifying guidelines are met. Generally speaking, long-term care insurance also is useor-lose. If there’s never a need to use the insurance, it will not be refunded. This is a risk that certain people are willing to take. In addition to these options, people may consider gap insurance programs. When putting together a retirement plan, it can be wise to speak with financial advisors who can customize products based on their expected needs.

Larry VaLenzueL a, CaLMatters/CatChLight LoCaL photo

Tulare Irrigation District general manager Aaron Fukuda stands near the Cordeniz Basin outside of Tulare on Jan. 26.

People need to be aware of the potential costs of medical care in retirement and plan ahead so they can meet those obligations if and when the need arises.

City opens nominations for Thong Hy Huynh awards

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Enterprise staff writer

The nomination period for the city’s Thong Hy Huynh Memorial Awards is now open.

Established in 1986, the awards recognize local individuals or organizations promoting civil rights, civic engagement or positive human relations, helping to improve the quality of life for Davis residents and visitors.

The awards were created in memory of Davis High School student Thong Hy Huynh, who was killed four decades ago.

The 17-year-old Vietnamese immigrant was stabbed to death

in a racially motivated attack on campus, dying in the arms of a Davis police officer in a campus courtyard on May 4, 1983. Jay Pierman, a 16-year-old Davis High student at the time, was later convicted of voluntary manslaughter.

During the reckoning and soul searching that followed Huynh’s death, the school district installed a memorial plaque in the courtyard where he died, and the city established annual awards in Huynh’s memory recognizing city residents for their contributions to diversity, community, social justice and equal rights.

The first awards were presented in 1986 and have been

presented annually since.

“By continuing to honor the memory of Thong Hy Huynh, we can raise awareness for social justice and acknowledge the important civic engagement work being done in our community,” said Davis Mayor Will Arnold. “Everyone, regardless of background or identity, deserves to live in Davis peacefully without fear of discrimination or bias.” Awards will be presented in the

following three categories: ages under 18; ages 18 and over; and community organizations. Community organizations can consist of members of any age.

Award nomination forms and guidelines are available online at www.cityofdavis.org. Nominations will be accepted until Thursday, March 16, at 5 p.m.

Qualities to consider in nominating an individual or organization include:

n Promoting civil rights and/or civic engagement

n Creating positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community

n Improving the quality of life

Tuesday, February 14th

in Davis for residents and visitors through health promotion, human services, housing, education, employment, cultural awareness or peaceful means of conflict resolution.

Additional information about the award, including past recipients, can be found at https:// www.cityofdavis.org/about-davis/ community-awards#huynh. For more information about the awards, contact Carrie Dyer at 530-747-5863 or at cdyer@ cityofdavis.org.

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

Plan a special Valentine’s Day

Metro

Special to The Enterprise

Couples have been commemorating their love for one another in February for quite some time. Couples may go about such celebrating in their own unique ways, but it’s not uncommon to focus on a night out on the town.

Valentine’s Day is a busy holiday for many businesses, but especially so at restaurants and other romantic venues. So it’s best to plan ahead to ensure a perfect evening. These tips can help you organize a Valentine’s experience to remember.

Reserve early

The closer to Valentine’s Day, the more likely popular restaurants will be all booked up. If the goal is to dine at a particularly trendy spot — or anywhere but the most obscure establishment — be sure to make a reservation well in advance. Start planning the Valentine’s Day dinner in December so you won’t have to look far and wide to book a reservation. If a restaurant does not take reservations that far out, ask when they will start collecting names for Valentine’s Day and book the moment you can.

Secure transportation

One way to make the night more romantic is to snuggle in the back seat of a vehicle and have someone else do the driving.

This also is a safer option if you plan to pop a bottle of bubbly or sip some wine while celebrating. Hiring a limousine, luxury car, horse-drawn carriage, or something similar also will require advanced reservations. However, going the extra mile can make the night memorable.

Emulate a favorite film

The person you love may adore a romantic movie, whether it’s a classic or more recent tear-jerker. When planning a romantic evening out, consider reenacting a movie scene with you and your special someone in the starring roles. For example, recall when Tom Hanks met Meg Ryan at the top of the Empire State Building in “Sleepless in Seattle.” Include a visit to the observation deck or roof as part of a whirlwind Valentine’s Day experience.

Attend live music performances

Music can touch the heart and soul. That makes an evening watch-

Organize a Valentine’s experience to remember.

Metro/Stock photo

ing a band play or enjoying a musical on the stage even more memorable if it occurs on Valentine’s Day. Select an intimate venue to add to the romantic

ambiance of the night.

Think outside tradition

While dinner and a movie are Valentine’s Day favorites, any activity done together can be memorable and romantic. Why not book a couple’s cooking class?

Or enjoy a winter sport

like skiing or ice skating? Or warm up after window shopping on Main Street by sipping hot cocoa and snuggling on the sofa under a blanket at a nearby B&B?

Romantic nights out on Valentine’s Day can be made even more special with some forethought and planning.

HUYNH Killed in 1983

Students donate at Red Cross Club blood drive

Top: A volunteer nurse checks on senior Devin Gagnon as his blood is drawn at the Jan. 19 blood drive.

Bottom: Red Cross Club officers Marley Michel and Joanne Kim sit at check-in desk with a Red Cross volunteer.

New coach brings big goals to Davis High speech and debate

By Mattias RowenBale HUB Staff

The speech and debate team has recently welcomed a new coach, Quest Sandel. Sandel served as the director of the John F. Kennedy High speech and debate team from 2016 to 2022, and is currently in his fourth year as the head coach for congressional debate at James Logan High School.

“Speech and debate is an area where we teach students to embrace (their) voice, find (their) voice, and … advocate for (their) community. And that’s why I love speech (and debate),” Sandel said.

Sandel was hired to join the DHS team in November of 2022 after the former coach left to pursue another career opportunity.

When Sandel took over, the team was small and rapidly dwindling.

“(There were) probably me and five other team members towards the end of the year (who were) seriously still competing,” speech and debate co-president Claire Miller said.

“It was very chill; it was very self motivated. You kind of got out what you put in, maybe even a little bit less,” Miller said. “It wasn’t a big commitment from anyone and it wasn’t like we all had big goals or anything.”

However, Sandel is bringing big goals to the team.

“My hopes for this team are that eventually we’d be able to get into the national award stage top 20 teams in the country. These are all very prestigious awards that Davis has not been able to achieve in the past I’d say 10 years, but I think that it has potential,” Sandel said.

Miller agrees that the future of the team looks bright under Sandel.

“(Last year), I saw a lot of people with a lot of potential (but) I didn’t know how to get them to get these big goals and really work to achieve them. But Coach Sandel obviously has more experience with that than me and I really trust him to bring

the team to new heights,” Miller said.

Under Sandel, the team has shifted towards structured practices and specific event focuses.

Despite the intensity of the new structure, Miller says that the newcomer retention rate under Sandel is higher than it has been previously.

Congressional captain Olivia Sagayaradj agrees that the structure has encouraged people.

“I think because now that we have a more cohesive environment where everyone’s working towards a goal that they’ve set for themselves, a lot more people are more inclined to stay on and keep working on it throughout the year,” Sagayaradj said.

Under Sandel’s tutelage, some goals are already being reached. At the first tournament DHS competed in this year, senior Mark Davis placed 10th in congressional debate and senior Rudy Mahajan placed 7th in international extemporaneous speaking.

At their second tournament of the year, DHS students secured four of the five top spots in congressional debate.

Correction

In the article “Is TikTok a reliable mental-health resource for teenagers?” published on Jan. 18, a student journalist fabricated two quotations.

UC Davis psychologist Micheal Dickerson and UC Davis community counselor Jon De Paul Dunbar were not interviewed by the student and did not say the quotes attributed to them.

The HUB deeply regrets this violation of journalistic ethics. While ethics have always been part of the Davis High multimedia journalism curriculum, we will be taking additional steps to prevent this from happening again, including conducting a one-day teach-in on ethics, requiring student journalists to sign an integrity statement when submitting their articles and requiring all students to use a common email account when contacting sources to use for source verification.

FFA ‘not just cows, sows and plows’

By Jake schaal HUB Staff

As the school year rolls on, the time to choose classes for the next academic year comes ever closer. As students scour the catalogs they may be left wondering what the FFA classification on certain classes means.

FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, but FFA president Lauren McGilvray, a senior, explains that, “It’s not just cows, sows and plows.”

FFA focuses a large deal of energy into teaching leadership skills to its students. With a variety of positions and responsibilities to fill, students are encouraged to take on leadership roles in their chapters or in the larger national FFA organization.

On top of learning leadership skills, students are offered a large variety of agriculture and leadership related activities to participate in.

According to McGilvray, in FFA students have the opportunity to raise animals and show them in county fairs; conduct agriscience research projects and submit them for judging and awards; earn an officer position and lead their chapter; attend leadership conferences at a chapter, section, state, national level and so much more.

McGilvray highly encourages interested students to join the program. She has learned a lot from the program.

“My time in FFA has taught me a lot about personal responsibility,” she said. McGilvary has gained important skills from her involvement with FFA.

“I’ve been an officer for the majority of my time here at DHS, which has forced me to expand my time management, public speaking, and listening skills.”

She leaves prospective students with a warm welcome. “Even if it’s just for one year, I encourage all students to sign up for an agricultural course, get to know the advisers (and) officers here at DHS, and discover what the national FFA organization has to offer.”

Sophia Young/hub photo

After having her blood drawn, junior Michelle Barerra waits and scrolls through her phone while being monitored as a precaution.

Mark DaviS/courteSY photo

Coach Quest Sandel, sophomore Jackson Chelius, senior Mark Davis and senior Olivia Sagayaradj at the January Martin Luther King Jr. Invitational tournament. alexanDer heSS/courteSY photo

FFA students dress up as snowmen at their Jan. 12 chapter meeting.

Sophia Young/hub photo

Sophia Young/hub photo

students.

Trans kids need our support, despite threats

The Davis Schools Foundation was founded almost 20 years ago to support our greatest resource — the kids in our community and the educators who teach them. Scholarship is in our town’s DNA and empowering our children’s intellectual potential means ensuring that the whole child is developed and nurtured – including their social and emotional well-being, the essential foundation to optimal learning and growth.

Equity is absolutely critical. Education should level-set the playing field so that every student is given the opportunities to succeed in well-resourced classrooms and supported to help them grow up physically and emotionally healthy.

Davis is a wonderful place, in large part because we share strong community values and a love of learning. Our community sometimes appears to exist beneath a bubble that insulates it from the passions and perils impacting the larger world outside our town.

Unfortunately, our kids, our schools, and our community have recently come under assault. In recent weeks , Davis Parent University received hostile communications and felt pressured to cancel the latest installment of its lecture series.

The speaker, Rachel Pepper, is a therapist who wrote the book, “The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals to Support Transgender and Nonbinary Kids.” Unbowed by adversaries, Rachel Pepper’s lecture went forward, despite inflammatory threats made to her online. The presentation was recorded and released on the DPU website and is available now, free of charge for everyone. We suggest that you watch the entire talk (https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=19WiJ-NXtng). It is important to learn the best ways to create space for those who need our support.

Davis Schools Foundation serves as the fiscal sponsor for Davis Parent University, providing fiduciary oversight and administrative assistance. While independent entities, DSF shares DPU’s love of education and support for intellectual and social-emotional development. Though we have a limited administrative relationship, we are united via shared goals and a syncretism of our distinct missions. As part of DSF’s mission of “helping to ensure effective and equitable learning environments that emphasize social, emotional, and physical well-being for all students,” we wholeheartedly and unequivocally support the latest DPU-sponsored event led by distinguished speaker Rachel Pepper.

For trans and non-binary kids, the pain is real. Numerous studies, as referenced in the 2022 World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care, have found that trans youth suffer from higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than in the general population. The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that 45% of the nearly 35,000 surveyed LGBTQ youth had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and non-binary youth.

Seventy-five percent of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity at least once in their lifetime. Socially acceptable hate and discrimination harm the kids who are trans and non-binary and create inequitable outcomes. The good news is that support is at hand. We encourage everyone to learn about the resources available to kids and families. A good starting point is the DPU online padlet of resources, which includes information on the local organization, Davis Phoenix Coalition (https://padlet.com/davisparented/mudszk9fbgjq0djq).

Davis is strong when it comes together, and Davis Schools Foundation stands in allyship for equity, love and decency. We, the undersigned, members of the DSF Board of Directors, stand with Davis Parent University, Davis Joint Unified School District, and the LGBTQ+ students, staff, and educators in our schools, in our communities, and beyond.

— Kelly Heung, president; Sigrid Asmundson; Elizabeth Campi; Jean Kridl; Erin Autry Montgomery; Evan Jacobs; Dave Miller; Elizabeth Wisnia; Christa Millstein; Maren Heise

Psychedelics may help with brains

Not counting people killed by drunk drivers, alcoholism takes about 95,000 American lives every year, according to the CDC. Imagine if that compulsion to drink to excess could be ended by rewiring a person’s brain.

Using psychotherapy and psilocybin — the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms” — researchers at the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine published a paper last August showing that 48% of diagnosed alcoholics stopped drinking. Patients “given psilocybin reduced heavy drinking by 83% relative to their drinking before the study began.”

I was unaware of the medicinal promise of hallucinogenic drugs until seeing, “Can Psychedelics Cure?” — an October 2022 episode of Nova on PBS. The research globally and especially in the United States is widespread. Scientists hope to find new treatments for mental, behavioral, psychiatric and other brain disorders using natural and synthetic psychedelic drugs. There are ongoing clinical trials for patients with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, drug addiction, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

The substances being studied include psilocybin, LSD, mescaline (peyote), ecstasy (MDMA), dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and derivatives of these drugs that have no hallucinogenic effect.

Last week, UC Davis announced the establishment of its own Institute for Psychedelics and Neurotherapeutics.

The idea is to use a multidisciplinary approach — neurology, chemistry, biochemistry, psychiatry and molecular medicine — to understand the therapeutic effects of psychedelic substances and to produce commercially available products to treat mental disorders.

In recent years, UC Davis academics have produced important studies in this area.

Invitation to auction

David Olson, John Gray and others published an influential 2018 paper that demonstrates, “psychedelics promote structural and functional neural plasticity.”

Olson, an associate professor in the department of chemistry and the department of biochemistry and molecular medicine, will serve as the IPN director. Dr. Gray, an associate professor in the Department of Neurology, will run an IPN lab.

Prof. Olson’s team “published a 2020 paper in Nature describing the first nonhallucinogenic analogue of a psychedelic compound capable of promoting neuroplasticity and producing antidepressant and anti-addictive effects in preclinical models,” according to UCD.

Many of the current studies build on research begun in the 1950s and ’60s, but suspended when President Nixon declared a “war on drugs” in 1970.

According to Italian research scientist Maurizio Coppola and his coauthors, “Recent clinical studies have tried to fill the methodological errors presented by the past studies, including the small size of the enrolled samples, absence of double-masking design, non-use of validated tools for measuring the life expectancy of patients and non-use of biomarkers …”

While the exact understanding of how psychedelics work is still imprecise, it is increasingly believed patients with various brain disorders lack connections between different areas of the brain that are necessary to function normally.

People with PTSD, for

The Montgomery Elementary PTA is excited to invite you to our 20th Annual PTA Auction. We would love to see many members of our wider community there to celebrate this milestone year with us.

Speak out President

example, often have trouble putting aside negative thoughts they associate with their trauma. This can be due to overactivity of certain circuits. Happening again and again, their brains and bodies repeatedly experience detrimental stress.

In 2020, researchers at Johns Hopkins University showed what happens to the claustrum — a sheet of neurons embedded in white matter, located deep in the neocortex — when people are treated with psychedelics.

It calms their brain activity, allowing them to make connections.

The claustrum contains receptors targeted by psychedelic drugs. Brain scans taken after patients ingested psilocybin demonstrate the claustrum becomes less active. This part of the brain is turned down when on the drug.

Dr. Fred Barrett, a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins, explains how the rewiring process works: “When it’s functioning normally, the claustrum is essentially acting like a switchboard. It’s trying to help other brain regions figure out when to turn on and when to turn off.

“But when we experience a psychedelic drug, we believe that it’s binding to specific receptors in the claustrum and, somehow, disrupting or disorganizing the claustrum. It’s almost as if the switchboard walks away.”

That alters the way regions in the brain communicate with each other.

“It may be within this context that we’re experiencing learning and even rewiring … the circuits that govern our behavior,” Barrett said last year. “And it may be that it’s that radical reorganization that allows people to encounter new psychological insights that they hadn’t encountered before.”

A consequence of repeated excessive drinking is

Our theme this year is “Enchanted Evening.” Please join us: March 11, 2023 from 5:30-10 pm as we eat, drink and while away the hours in an enchanted forest setting at the Davis Veterans Memorial Center. Tickets for this event and a preview of our auction catalog are available at https://mmepta.schoolauction. net/enchanted2023/homepages/show.

If you have questions or would like to

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

dysfunction of the amygdala — the integrative center for emotions, emotional behavior and motivation. When an alcoholic’s amygdala is impaired, his desire to drink will override everything else.

By treating alcoholism with psilocybin and psychotherapy, that malfunction of the amygdala appears to allow the brain (in roughly half of all patients) to repair itself. It’s not merely suppressing the urge to drink. It is ridding the mind of that destructive desire.

In a paper published last November, researchers at Trinity College Dublin found that “psilocybin with psychological support could be a beneficial therapeutic strategy for people with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).”

This is especially valuable for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Approximately one-third experience a major depressive disorder. According to the double-blind Irish study of 233 people from 10 countries, psychotherapy plus a single 25mg dose of psilocybin led to a greater than 50% reduction in depressive symptoms in 37% of patients in three weeks.

In a May, 2022 article titled, “New Paradigms of Old Psychedelics in Schizophrenia,” Danish Mahmood, et al., write that psilocybin and LSD, while not yet proven as therapeutics for schizophrenia, show promise.

“Psychedelics could be an excellent scientific tool for the development of novel drug molecules for a wide range of intractable neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and particularly drugresistant schizophrenia …” Addiction, psychosis, Alzheimer’s and other diseases of the brain are huge problems the world over. It’s encouraging to see scientists at UC Davis and elsewhere figuring out how psychedelic therapeutics can help cure these personal and societal ailments. — Rich Rifkin is a Davis resident; his column is published every other week. Reach him at Lxartist@yahoo.com.

make a donation for our auction, please reach out to Anne Slinkard at slinkard. anne@gmail.com. If you are interested in volunteering, please find volunteer spots here: https://www.signupgenius. com/go/10C0A49AAAA23A6F49-19th

We are excited to bring you this amazing event and we hope to see you there!

Anne Slinkard, MME PTA Auction Co-coordinator/ PTA President

We

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

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/

It’s the berry that just says love

n Editor’s note: This column first ran in February 2020.

Strawberries are the world’s happiest fruit.

Growing up in Montana in the 1970s, I remember Smucker’s Strawberry Jam in the cupboard and Nestle Strawberry Quik in my milk. There was always Strawberry Jell-o in our fridge and I remember eating tiny wild strawberries that tasted like candy from the side of a trail in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.

What I don’t remember is ever eating a fresh, farmers’ market or grocery store bought strawberry.

Later in my life, as a new resident of California, I had the opportunity to work Saturday mornings, selling California strawberries at the Davis Farmers’ Market. It was hard work and very part-time. And it was, perhaps, my happiest job. There was great joy in handing out those little green baskets heaping with bright-red strawberries for three hours every Saturday morning.

In the Aug. 21, 2017, issue of New Yorker magazine, in her article, “How Driscoll’s Reinvented the Strawberry,” Dana Goodyear reported the following:

“According to Frances Dillard, Driscoll’s global brand strategist and a veteran of Disney’s consumer-products division, berries are the produce category most associated with happiness. (Kale, in contrast, has a health-control, “me” focus.) On a slide that Dil-

lard prepared, mapping psychographic associations with various fruits, strawberries floated between Freedom and Harmony, in a zone marked Extrovert, above a word cloud that read “Social, pleasure, joy, balance, conviviality, friendship, warmth, soft, natural, sharing.”

Bright red, sweet, tart, juicy and heart-shaped, strawberries are available year round, but the best California strawberries begin to flood the market this month, just in time for Valentine’s Day. This year, in addition to the sweet paper valentines I know you’re already busy preparing, I suggest you include a special treat. In addition to your traditional valentine, add a homemade chocolate-covered strawberry for your sweetie.

Before you head off to the farmers’ market or grocery store, I humbly recommend the following when buying and caring for

strawberries:

n Inspect the top and the bottom of the clam shell or basket to check the condition of the strawberries. Sometimes, the strawberries on the bottom will be moldy or mushy.

n Avoid buying strawberries with too much white surface on the tips or the shoulders.

n Choose strawberries that are bright-red and have bright green, fresh-looking leaves.

n Don’t wash until you’re ready to use. Rinse in cold water, giving special attention to the green leaves at the top where any residue or dirt might have settled.

After you prepare your chocolate strawberries, place each one in a small, clear cellophane bag and tie with pretty red ribbon to give to your sweetheart, classmate, teacher, grocery clerk or favorite kid.

Because nothing says, “Happy Valentine’s Day” like a homemade, hand-dipped, chocolatecovered strawberry.

— Shelley Dunning is a Davis resident and a mom of four. Reach her at dunningsm@gmail.com.

Chocolate-Covered

Strawberries

Ingredients:

1 pound high-quality baking chocolate

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 pound strawberries

Optional:

8 ounces white baking chocolate (melted for drizzling)

mini chocolate chips

chopped nuts

sprinkles

cookie crumbs

coconut flakes

Putting it together: Prepare a tray or cookie sheet by

lining with parchment or wax paper.

If you are planning to decorate your chocolate strawberries, prepare small plates or bowls with optional ingredients.

Rinse strawberries thoroughly in a colander, making sure all dirt and residue is removed (pay close attention to the stem and green leaves). Pat strawberries with a towel to remove all moisture and set aside for at least 30 minutes to dry completely and allow to come to room temperature. Put one to two inches of water in lower portion of a doubleboiler and bring to a simmer on the stovetop. In top level of doubleboiler, add preferred chocolate and coconut oil and stir until melted and smooth. Turn heat to low.

Gently grasp each strawberry by the leaves, being careful not to remove or tear. Dip each strawberry in the melted chocolate, swirling to coat the strawberry just up to the shoulders. The area

This year, in addition to the sweet paper valentines I know you’re already busy preparing, I suggest you include a special treat. In addition to your traditional valentine, add a homemade chocolate-covered strawberry for your sweetie.

just beneath and around the stem should be chocolate-free. Hold the strawberry above the pan for a moment to let the chocolate drip off the end, then gently scrape the end against the edge of the pan to remove excess chocolate and prevent “puddling” when you set the strawberry on the tray.

If you plan to decorate with mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, cookie crumbs or coconut flakes, immediately sprinkle all sides of the chocolate strawberry with the desired topping.

If you are planning to add a drizzle of white chocolate, place the chocolate-covered strawberries on the prepared tray to set. When chocolate is completely set, spoon melted white chocolate into a pastry bag and quickly shake your hand back and forth, move from one strawberry to the next, drizzling each individual strawberry from top to bottom

Mired in a bog? New wines to the rescue

In “The Pilgrim’s Progress” there’s a bog in which sinners become mired called the Slough of Despond, where “many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions” all get together and settle in one bad place.

It’s a great phrase; when fears, doubts, and apprehensions abound (and when don’t they?) and my life seems stagnant, I think of this “slough” as a temporary and unwelcome dwelling that will swallow me right up if I don’t get out fast.

And I admit that it’s such an evocative phrase I’m tempted to use it for less existentially threatening situations than utter despair.

Right now, for example, our dwelling (the literal one, not that bog) begins to show its age — cracks, leaks, dry rot, and all those other (budgetdestroying) homeowner nightmares. I’m in the slough of despond! That lovely stack of books I checked out of the library? I realize I’ve already read (and forgotten) half of them. Slough of despond!

In the last column I mentioned the deterioration of the Co-op’s wine section, which made me think of other local wine sources that disappoint or that have dis-

appeared — like Valley Wine Company.

Slough of despond for a wine columnist. But then a hand reaches down to pull me out — this time Wines in Tandem, a lovely little wine bar/shop on D Street nestled between The Pence Gallery and The Mustard Seed.

Ryan Crosbie (who started out in wine, gave in to the tech startup temptation for a decade, and now returns to his real passion) opened it just last week. Wine in Tandem’s mission is “to highlight family-owned wineries and vineyards that are 100% focused on sustainability and respecting the land. These wineries and vineyards exist in every corner of the wine world, and many are historic sites that have been farmed by hand, and meticulously managed for generations ... our name is short for ‘wines in tandem with the Earth,’ for it is the vine that brings us these liquid treasures.”

A tall order, this mission, but give him time and some loyal customers. Despairing Davis wine lovers: emerge from that slough.When I visited, Ryan was pouring a flight of chardonnays. Ho, hum, I thought. Didn’t sound terribly exciting to me. Until I saw and tasted the four wines he had opened, three California examples (two under 13% alcohol) and a French Chablis (imported by Kermit Lynch, 12.5%). No butter, no heavy oak, just beautifully pure chardonnay that will restore your interest in the grape if you’ve become mired in the never-chardonnay slough. Taste all for — just $10.

The bottle I brought home, though, was not chardonnay but 2018 Arancia, from Slovenia—with a fun, quirky label. How could I resist? This unusual wine is made from organic/biodynamic, estate-grown rebula (or ribolla), a high acid, white grape native to its area, which borders on Italy. As the name suggests, it’s an orange wine (that is, made from white wine grapes), fermented and aged in acacia for three years with additional time in the bottle.

UCD appoints interim vice chancellor

Special to The Enterprise

UC Davis Chancellor

Gary S. May appointed

Professor Emeritus Jeffery

Gibeling to serve as the interim vice chancellor for research, effective March 1. May will form a recruitment advisory committee soon to conduct a nationwide search for the next vice chancellor. He anticipates Gibeling will serve in the interim role for approximately six months.

Gibeling has a deep record of academic leadership at UC Davis. He served as interim dean of the College of Engineering in 2021 and as vice provost of graduate education and dean of Graduate Studies from 2002 until 2016. He served as chair of the College of Engineering’s department of materials

science and engineering for four years. He served as chair of the Academic Senate from 1999 to 2002.

“I’m grateful that Jeff has agreed to step forward once again to lead a major enterprise for UC Davis,” May said. “With his robust understanding of how the university operates and the respect he’s earned across the campus, I’m confident he’ll keep our research endeavors moving.”

During his time as dean of Graduate Studies, Gibeling developed a comprehensive professional development program that became the GradPathways Institute for Professional Development to promote the success of graduate students during their studies and in their

careers. He also established the Excellence in Postdoctoral Research award. One of his most significant accomplishments was to conceive of and plan for the Graduate Center in Walker Hall to strengthen support for the graduate student and postdoctoral communities.

“I’m honored to be chosen for this new opportunity to serve UC Davis,” Gibeling said. “Research is clearly one of our core strengths, and I’m committed to supporting our entire research community as they engage in their passion to discover and create.”

— Do you know of someone who has won an award or accomplished something noteworthy? Email it to newsroom@davisenter prise.net.

We tried it with a “things” dinner, including sourdough bread, spicy sardine pate, green salad, an Italian sheep’s milk cheese, and sautéed escarole with currents and pine nuts. Definitely a food wine, the Arancia worked with everything — and changed with every sip and every bite. Just the kind of wine that makes a meal an event. I liked it best as it warmed to room temperature (67 degrees in these mid-winter days) and gave off more of its floral aroma. The charmingly labeled bottled looked great on the table, too. I’m much looking forward to future visits to Wines in Tandem and more delicious and unusual bottles to beckon me out of the slough.

Imentioned in the last column that I had, inspired by Alice Feiring’s “To Fall in Love, Drink This,” ordered two bottles of wine from La Clarine Farm (Sierra foothills). I drank them both with great pleasure and immediately ordered more. The first was the 2019 zinfandel, a fresh, spicy pure zin with no new oak, no residual sugar, no added anything. If you avoid the usual sweet-ish highalcohol California zins, have

no fear — this one’s bonedry and just 12.4%. I served it with mushroom-and-fennel red sauce over linguine, which appreciated it almost as much as I did.

The second bottle was the 2019 “Sumu Kaw” Syrah, Sumu Kaw being a 3,000foot elevation vineyard on volcanic loam soil. The footcrushed grapes were aged for two years and bottled unfiltered last June. Like the best syrahs, it’s earthy, a tad smoky, spicy with some dark cherry and has a nice long finish. The roasted butternut squash studded pizza was most grateful.

My first sip of both these wines puzzled me. I even thought for a moment (maybe two moments with the zinfandel) that I might not like them nearly so much as Alice Feiring did. A little too acidic perhaps? A bit tannic? But by the time I was several sips into the first glass, I was hooked. The moral of the story: give wine air. And food. And don’t make snap judgments (I’d be hopeless as a competition judge, but then most competition judges are, judging from the wine they give medals to, hopeless anyway.)

I opened both these bottles about an hour before dinner, but next time (and there will

be a next time — I ordered a case) two or three — or I’ll decant.

Another lesson I relearned from my La Clarine experience is that signing up for a small winery’s newsletter is not only fun and educational but brings you bargains as well. Shortly after supplying my email address, I got their latest message — a January sale of which I took full advantage. And this is generally my experience with winery newsletters — a great way to replenish your wine supply and support small, creative wineries at the same time.

I’m no longer in that wine slough, now that I have a shelf full of La Clarine (with the prospect of new releases coming soon) and Wines in Tandem to explore. Plus I have a new stack of books from the library that I’m pretty sure I haven’t read. If only the metaphorical mud from the house bog could be so easily washed away.

— Reach Susana Leonardi at vinosusana@gmail. com. Comment on this column at www.davisenterprise.com.

Courtesy photo

Name Dropper

Wrestling

Greenway, Blue Devils find success at tournament

By Mike Bush Enterprise sport editor

ELK GROVE — Davis High wrestler

Ian Greenway used fundamental moves to capture a Delta League title on Saturday.

“Ian has been working hard all season,” said Davis head coach John Rosendale of the 182-pound junior. “We practice a lot over and over again. We lecture how to have good head position... to have good footwork. Ian is definitely getting better at.”

Greenway was the lone Blue Devil champion at the Delta League Tournament, held at Pleasant Grove High’s gym. He is also one of 12 wrestlers who placed in the top five of their weight classes.

Next stop for the Blue Devil boys qualifying from the league tournament is the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I Wrestling Tournament, which will be held at Tokay High of Lodi on Saturday.

He is also the third wrestler during Rosendale’s six-year tenure in running the program to pin down a league crown.

Greenway pinned Jesuit’s Angelo Vela in their championship match in the third round. The Blue Devil held a 9-4 score on Vela before the pin in the third period.

“There were times, in the match, he

wrestled fundamentally,” said Rosendale of Greenway. “There were times that he made a couple of mistakes. Overall, he wrestled really well.”

Greenway recorded most of his points in the first period, which allowed him to take a 5-2 lead on Vela.

Then Greenway used a reversal in the second period to increase his lead to 7-2.

Then the Blue Devil wrestler captured the hard-earned title with a pin in the final period.

“One of the strongest kids I’ve ever had since I’ve been coaching,” said Rosendale of Greenway. “He was able to make for some of those very minor issues and mistakes, and he fought hard. Ultimately, one of the reasons he won is because he’s a warrior. He just kept fighting. He did a really good job.”

Blue Devil wrestler Joshua Prudhomme (134) took second place, going undefeated through the championship match.

Prudhomme faced Franklin’s Ahmaad Lewis, who posted an 11-5 decision in their meeting on the mat.

TJ Mueller (140) and Sam Reising (154) took third place in their respective

soccer

Blue Devil forward Rigo Guerra scored a goal in Friday’s Delta League game against Franklin at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium.

Boys squad capture Delta League crown

minutes.

By Rebecca Wasik Enterprise

correspondent

The Davis High boys soccer team clinched the Delta League title on Friday night.

Taking on Franklin, Davis posted a 2-0 victory at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium on Senior Night.

Although Davis (10-0 in the Delta League, 13-0-2 overall) were dominant in the first half both defensively and offensively, the game remained scoreless at halftime.

“I think our performance was pretty good,” said Blue Devil senior midfielder Caleb Yoon. “We clinched league on Senior Night, so a lot to celebrate.”

Davis was able to bank a goal on a shot from Rigo Guerra at the 49th minute.

Then two minutes later, Simon Vaca-Lorenzi scored a goal for Davis to make it 2-0 on Franklin (3-6-1 in the Delta, 10-72).

Jason King had a shot on goal for DHS in the 67th minute, but the kick was caught by the Wildcats’ goalie.

Blue Devils goalie

Declan Fee stopped two shots on goal from Franklin in the 70th and 73rd

Davis midfielder Oliver Fleet closed out the game with a kick that sailed to the right side of the goal.

“We were dominating in the first half, so we weren’t scared but we knew we had to finish,” said Yoon.

In the first half, Davis was able to keep the ball on its side of the field throughout.

Franklin goalkeeper Pierce Lavine was busy, with the Blue Devils recording several shots on goal.

A minute into the game, Lucas Liu had a shot on goal that was stopped by Lavine.

Holt Klineberg recorded a shot on goal five minutes later that was again stopped by Lavine.

A free kick by Guerra was pushed away by Lavine in the 15th minute.

Blue Devil goalie Joey Clark stopped a Franklin shot on goal a minute later.

Seniors on this year’s Blue Devils team include Fee, Clark, Klineberg, Colin Morris, Ayush Tuladhar, Tames-Kaimowitz, Liu, Zayn Dmeiri, Nicolas Montano, Guerra, Yoon, Riley McCormick, King, VacaLorenzi and Andrew Yang. — Follow Rebecca Wasik on Twitter: @BeccaFrom TheBay.

Late goals give DHS girls victory

By Rebecca Wasik Enterprise correspondent

A trio of goals allowed the Davis High girls soccer team to maintain its undefeated status on Monday night.

Davis shut out Pleasant Grove 3-0 at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium on Senior Night.

This was the team’s fifth shutout in a row.

“Tonight was an emotional night,” said Davis head coach Sara Stone, whose squad is now 10-0-1 in the Delta League and 12-0-1 overall. “We have eight seniors who are playing hard for each other and underclassmen who are playing hard for them as well.

“I’m super proud of them coming together and working so hard for each other. It was an important game.”

Davis has allowed only one goal this season, against another undefeated Delta team in St. Francis.

The Blue Devils’ game against St. Francis on Jan. 18 ended in a 1-1 tie, marking DHS’ only tie of the season.

Now DHS will face St. Francis (10-0-1 in the Delta, 15-0-3) in the final game of the league season today in Sacramento at 4 p.m. This

game will determine the winner of the league crown.

At halftime of Monday’s game, the Blue Devils held a 1-0 lead on Pleasant Grove (4-6-1 in the Delta, 7-8-2).

Junior forward Grace Fabionar sent a kick sailing to the right of the goal in the 49th minute.

But a minute later, Fabionar banked her second goal of the night for a 2-0 Blue Devils lead.

Fabionar had another shot on goal that was stopped by Pleasant Grove’s goalkeeper in the 52nd minute.

In the 70th minute, the Eagles took a penalty kick, but it was stopped by DHS goalie, freshman Aubrey McLin.

Davis added an insurance goal to its tally at the 72nd minute when senior forward Olivia Johnson deposited a shot, giving her team a 3-0 advantage.

The Blue Devils took a considerable number of shots in the first half as well, including many attempts from Fabionar and freshman forward Madison Lujan.

Davis also displayed strong defense, keeping the Eagles offensive opportunities at bay.

Fabionar was responsible for Davis’ first goal of the night when

she found the back of the net in the 23rd minute.

“We’re ending this season with three tough games; Franklin, Pleasant Grove and Wednesday we play at St. Francis,” said Stone. “It’s been a great ride that we will continue riding as long as we can. But this last week has been challenging, especially so late in the year.”

Before the game began, seniors on this year’s Blue Devils team were celebrated in a pregame ceremony.

Those seniors include Lindsey Fitzpatrick, Charlotte Lee-Smith, Reese Quick, Johnson, Mia Williams, Lauren Lemmo, Una Keller and Isabella Altofer.

Now DHS shifts its focus toward St. Francis.

“They need to remember the importance of mentally and physically being prepared,” said Stone of Wednesday’s matchup. “If we play well, and we have been playing very well together and very unselfish, we’ll get the result we deserve and win the league. We’re hopeful for that.”

— Follow Rebecca Wasik on Twitter: @BeccaFromTheBay.

Mike Bush/enterprise photo

Davis wrestler Ian Greenway (left) locks up the right arm and legs of Jesuit’s Angelo Vela in their 182-pound championship match at the Delta League Tournament on Saturday. To view more photos, visit www.davisenterprise.com, click on the Sports tab and look for the story. See LEAGUE, Page B6

Mike Bush/enterprise photo Davis forward Madison Lujan (16) battles Pleasant Grove midfielder Natalie Underwood (2) for the ball in Monday’s Delta League girls soccer game at Ron and Mary Brown Stadium. To view more photos, visit www.davisenterprise.com, click on the Sports tab and look for the story.

christoph lossin/enterprise photo

Big West ConferenCe

UCD men’s hoops on the road

By Bob Dunning Enterprise staff writer

Coming off an impressive win over Hawaii, the UC Davis men’s basketball team heads south for a pair of critical Big West Conference matchups, beginning Thursday at UC Riverside (6 p.m.) and concluding Saturday at league-leading UC Santa Barbara on Saturday (7 p.m.).

The Aggies, 7-4 in the Big West, remain in the thick of the conference race with seven wins in their last nine games after an 0-2 start. Their only losses during the last nine games were 74-72 against Riverside and 75-72 to Long Beach State.

Riverside brings an 8-4 mark into Thursday night’s game, but is hoping to regain its footing after suffering a pair of road losses to Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Fullerton last week. Santa Barbara, meanwhile, was

cruising along at 9-1 heading into last Saturday’s game at lowly Cal State Northridge, which brought a 1-10 record into the contest.

Well, as many coaches have claimed, anyone can beat anyone on a given night in the Big West as CSUN shocked the world — or at least Big West basketball followers — by dropping the Gauchos, 72-67.

Santa Barbara head coach Joe Pasternack was not amused.

“We got really good looks and they didn’t go down,” explained the Gaucho boss.

“But when you don’t make shots, you have to be able to defend for two halves. We only defended for one. Basketball is a game of percentages. You have to play two halves. We didn’t do that.”

The Aggies are currently alone in sixth place in the 11-team Big West, two games behind Santa Barbara.

While UC San Diego is not eligible

LEAGUE: Next stop is SJS D-I tournament

weight classes.

Flynn Smith-Lottritz (115) took fourth place for the Blue Devils.

Earning their trip to the section’s D-I tournament were Arnoldson Nguyen (122), Emmanuel Lopez (128), Aiden Ojeda (162), Paco Castillo-Brown (172), Ian Best (197) and Eli Tweddale (222).

“I was very impressed with all of our wrestlers,” said Rosendale of the 14 Blue Devils who competed.

The first round of the D-I tournament, which features 16 in each weight class, is expected to start at 9 a.m. The medal round is scheduled to run between 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The top eight place winners in each weight class — no alternates — will qualify to the Section’s Masters Tournament at Stockton Arena on Feb. 17-18.

DHS girls

Natalie Foreman (123) and Yoriko Campero (133) were the only Blue Devil girls who competed at the league tournament in which they faced competition in their respective weight classes. They took fourth place in their weight classes.

The duo will join eight DHS teammates in taking part at the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section North Regional Girls Wrestling Tournament, which will be held at Natomas High of Sacramento.

The two-day tournament will feature 32 girls competing in each weight class.

The tournament begins Friday and runs through Saturday. Friday’s action is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. The medal round is start at 3 p.m.

The top eight place winners in each weight class — no alternates — will also qualify to the Section’s Masters Tournament at Stockton Arena on the same days as the boys’ tournament.

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

for the season-ending conference tournament in Henderson, Nev., as it continues its transition from Division II to Division I, the remaining 10 teams will gather in the Dollar Loan Center beginning March 7, with the tournament winner advancing to the NCAA’s Big Dance.

The top six teams from the regular season all earn first-round byes, while the four bottom-dwellers square off in the first round to fill the remaining two brackets.

If the tournament began today, the Aggies would be in the top six, but seventh-place Cal State Fullerton is close behind at 7-6.

UCD’s Eli Pepper remains a strong candidate for Big West Player of the Year honors, topping all scorers at 20.4 points per game after pouring in 85 points in his last three games.

Teammate TY Johnson is fourth in scoring at 16.3, with Christian

Mike Bush/enterprise photo

UC Davis forward Niko Rocak (20) shows two Hawaii players how he dunks in Thursday’s Big West game at the University Credit Union Center.

Mike Bush/enterprise photos

Blue Devil Joshua Prudhomme (top) took second place in the 134-pound class at the Delta League Tournament. Flynn Smith-Lottritz (below) took fourth place in 115. From