FAIRFIELD
He thought it was a sinus infection, an infliction he often has had after rainstorms.
But Vasquez, despite being vaccinated and boosted, had been infected with the coronavirus, likely catching it from a family member who had been sick, too.
He joins the 53,498 others who are known to have been infected in 2022 – only about 8,900 fewer than the prior 21 months of the pandemic
combined. And that 2022 figure is likely far higher since many positive tests would have never been reported to Public Health because of home testing or people choosing not to be tested at all because of the symptoms have been less serious.
The last report from Public Health on Dec. 29 put the total cases for the pandemic at 115,875.
However, far fewer individuals died or even became sick enough to be admitted into a hospital.
The start of 2022 saw more than 150 residents in hospitals and more than 30 in intensive care units. The end of the year totals put hospitalizations at 35 and fewer than
five in ICUs.
Part of that is due to vaccinations, said Dr. Bela Matyas, the Solano County public health officer,
FAIRFIELD — Sheriff Tom Ferrara wants to develop a police academy in the county, and said having a six-year term instead of the usual four provides a unique opportunity to get that done.
“We can actually focus on furthering the Sheriff’s Office,” Ferrara said.
Ferrara and District Attorney Krishna Abrams get two extra years on their new terms because the state Legislature wanted those offices decided during a presidential cycle when more voters typically turn out than during the gubernatorial cycle.
Ferrara does
not think it really matters that much.
“If you go back, there may be a fewer number of people who voted, but I don’t think the demographics change and the election (result) doesn’t change,” said Ferrara, who took his oath of office on Friday.
Ferrara said his office put on a single corrections academy course at the end of the year, the first time in Solano County.
“Our goal is to do two or three a year,” said the sheriff, who was appointed by the Board of Supervisors in 2012 and won election bids in 2014, 2018 and now 2022.
The bigger project is the nine-month
Benedict XVI, the former pope who spent years in the Vatican upholding conservative Catholic teaching but who upended centuries of tradition by resigning as pontiff, died Saturday, the Vatican announced. He was 95.
tive as well.
Todd R. H ansen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
FAIRFIELD — Glenn Zook is not a newcomer to the Solano County Assessor’s Office, and has been, in essence, groomed for the top job for the better part of a year.
Still, on Friday, Zook took his first oath of office as part of a group that also included the longest sitting elected official.
County Counsel Bernadette Curry administered the oath of office, as a group, to Zook, Charles Lomeli, who will start his seventh term as treasurertax collector-county clerk
at noon Jan. 2, SheriffCoroner Tom Ferrara and Auditor-Controller Phyllis Taynton.
Zook, Lomeli and Taynton, who is starting her second four-year term, are all working on a new property tax system they hope to have up and running in February.
“That is going to be significant. It is going to change how we collect taxes from top to bottom,” Lomeli said.
“The main advantage, and it is a complicated system and will take time to get everyone trained on it, but it is s fully automated system with
a complete (account) history . . . That kind of data will reduce the amount of time we need to do that kind of research.”
All three hope the new Aumentum system will be more efficient, and more user-friendly from the public’s perspec-
It is a project the county has been working on for some time.
But it is not the only thing the county officials have to face in their new terms.
The German-born Benedict lived out his final years in a converted monastery at the Vatican, giving rise to the anomalous situation of two popes in one place, which later inspired the 2019 film “The Two Popes”. But his successor, Francis, accorded him great respect and never appeared fazed at having a possible rival in such close proximity.
Bookish and shy,
Benedict withdrew to a life of study and prayer “hidden from the world” after announcing in February 2013 that he would step down from the throne of St. Peter. The shock decision — the first time a pope voluntarily abdicated in nearly 600 years — followed a decline in his health amid the strain of continued scandals within the Vatican and criticism from without.
He spent his eightyear papacy trying to turn back the rising tide of secularism in Europe, defending the church’s response to widespread allegations of clerical sexual abuse and, toward the end, dealing with the embarrassing leak of his
It’s a new year today, continuing the ridiculous centurieslong tradition of starting a “new year” when we’re 10 days into winter and seven days past Christmas.
New Year’s Day should be the first day of spring! But it isn’t. What New Year’s Day is: an opportunity to make predictions!
Here are seven:
Twitter does a slow-speed crash. Since Elon Musk’s forced takeover of the social media site (he agreed to buy it, tried to back out and was forced to purchase it), people have predicted Twitter’s demise. The return of
banned far-right lunatics, the departure of key engineers, advertisers pulling their money. All would end it. The reality? All of those things will combine to cause a gradual decline of Twitter. The site will still be around at the end of 2023, but it will be far, far less influential.
Sacramento Kings make NBA postseason. A sports prediction! This may seem basic – after all, 16 of 30 NBA teams make the playoffs every year – but the Kings haven’t made the postseason since 2006. That’s 16 years (they had a player on that roster born in
1973. He’ll turn 50 this year). The longest playoff drought in the four major U.S. sports will finally end this spring.
Weird weather continues. It will rain too much. Or too little. It will be a long, hot summer. Or a weirdly cool summer. Fire danger will be high because of the long hot (or weirdly cool) summer. Winter will come too soon or too late. This is life in the 21st century. Climate change is real and so is the fact that the weather is always weird. I don’t know what will happen, but I guarantee we’ll have strange weather in 2023.
Inflation levels out. Prices skyrocketed in 2022, but there were reasons: A global supply chain problem. The recovery
from a pandemic. Corporate greed. Government spending. All those things combined to raise prices in 2022. This year prices may again go up (there is always inflation), but it won’t be a repeat of 2022. Trust me. My father was an accountant.
A great new Taco Bell item. The fast food giant will introduce a new food with a hybrid name. The Enchitaco or the Guacarito. Something like that. It will be an all-new combination of beans, rice, cheese and some sort of tortilla. Brilliant marketing for the 50th consecutive year.
Memorable 49ers-Raiders game. The current and former Bay Area NFL teams play today, something they do every
fourth year. One is playing great, the other is terrible, but today’s game will be memorable because both fan bases will find dumb things to crow about afterward, which will make it memorable.
You’ll forget these. A year from now, Jan. 1, 2024, you’ll have forgotten these predictions and they will seem obvious. It will seem like a long time since Twitter was important, the Kings will still be a playoff contender and you’ll have forgotten the long, cool summer. But you’ll bring in the new year with a six-pack of Guacaritos.
Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.
The WashingTon PosT
Just like a human toddler, the giant panda cub at the National Zoo is reaching his milestones.
The latest: preparing to one day have his own place.
Xiao Qi Ji, now 2 years old, has begun visiting a new habitat area at the Northwest Washington zoo where he could someday live on his own, zookeepers said. He has been living with his mother, Mei Xiang, in an enclosure in one part of the panda area; his father, Tian Tian, lives in another nearby. Pandas eventually live solitary lives, experts noted, and so it was time for Xiao Qi Ji to venture out.
Xiao Qi Ji is coming “of the age to ‘move’ away from his mother and go live on his own,” Pamela Baker-Masson, a spokeswoman for the zoo, wrote in an email. “He will transition to the new yard,” Baker-Masson said, and keepers will watch the pandas for “cues as to when the ‘separation’ has taken place.”
Xiao Qi Ji went into the new area with his mother and showed “no hesitation” in exploring the space, keepers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute said in a statement last week.
Keepers watched Xiao Qi Ji’s behavior closely to make sure he wasn’t intimidated and still ate, slept and played comfortably. The young panda left his scent, ran, climbed trees, and checked out the waterfalls, views and new smells.
His mother sat happily nearby, munching on bamboo. Sometimes, Xiao Qi Ji stopped exploring and ate near his mother. Other times, he rested close to her as she ate, or the two played together.
Xiao Qi Ji also figured out that he can “interact
with his keepers through the glass when they are on their way” to the nearby red panda exhibit, zookeepers said.
Xiao Qi Ji was born in August 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the first giant panda cub in five years at the D.C. zoo. At the time of his birth, mom Mei Xiang was 22 years old, making her the oldest giant panda to give birth in the United States.
Mei Xiang had previously had pregnancy issues, including five false pregnancies during a fiveyear period after giving birth in 2005. In 2012, she was artificially inseminated after unsuccessful natural breeding with Tian Tian and became the first giant panda in the country to give birth after the use of frozen semen, experts said. But that 2012 cub died six days later.
Xiao Qi Ji’s name, Mandarin Chinese for “little miracle,” was chosen in a public naming contest several months after his 2020 birth. The name reflects the “extraordinary circumstances under which he was born” and celebrated “the collaboration between colleagues who strive to conserve this species,” zoo officials said at the time.
China owns and
leases all giant pandas in U.S. zoos.
Pandas have long had a big following at the National Zoo, which this year celebrated the 50-year anniversary of the arrival of its first giant pandas. All three of its current giant pandas – Xiao Qi Ji, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian - are set to go to China at the end of 2023.
One of Mei Xiang’s cubs, the wildly popular Tai Shan, was flown to China in 2010, as part of a breed ing program. Another, Bei Bei, departed in 2019.
As Xiao Qi Ji becomes more acclimated to his new area, keepers said, the zoo will have more flex ibility to move all three pandas around.
Keepers said they expect it will take more time in the new space before Xiao Qi Ji finds his favorite spot to hang out in, as giant pandas usually do. For now, experts said Xiao Qi Ji is showing all the normal behaviors of enjoying his new space as he wanders independently from his indoor space to his new outdoor area.
Still, zookeepers said they have no plans to separate Xiao Qi Ji from his mom immediately. In the wild and in zoos, most panda cubs are weaned between 18 months and 2 years of age.
VACAVILLE — The Boy Scouts worked through the drizzly rain on New Years Eve morning to gather Christmas trees for recycling. This is an annual event which also works as a fundraiser.
Boy Scout Troop 488 along with all the Vacaville troops gathered behind Ulatis Community Center with trucks, large trimmers and went to work cutting branches down.
“Our troops are scheduled to stop by 80 houses,” said Committee Chairperson, Michael Little. “Some troops will do less or even more tree pickups.”
People call each year to make appointments for pickup and make a small donation to go along with it.
“Some people do this yearly,” he said. “Others every other year.”
This year two apartment complexes reached out to them asking for pickup.
“I guess they wanted to do something to support the community,” Little said.
Over the Covid pandemic things had to change for them to be able to comfortably go out and work together to bring the trees in for Recology to pick up.
“We all had to wear masks and the kids could only go in their parent’s cars,” Little said.
This year that wasn’t an issue.
The Vacaville Troops worked with the city of Vacaville to facilitate the cleanup and Recology offered to take the trees and turn them into compost.
Every troop has there own rules for breaking down the trees most importantly the kids are not allowed to use power tools its all done with trimmers or a handsaw.
“It is great seeing kids working together. Kids all have unique personalities but when it comes to Boy Scouts they just get
together and go to work,” Little said.
About 50 kids came out from 8 a.m. to noon along with a number of adults.
Nicholas Martin, 12 has been a Boy Scout for two years and each year he has done the cleanup.
“I like going out and doing stuff like this,” he said. “I get to hang out with my friends. It is also important because you learn life lessons.”
The Boy Scouts will be doing another round of Christmas tree recycling on Jan. 7 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Different troops will
be picking up in different zones: Troop 180 will pick up east of Vine Street and north of Interstate 80; Troop 191 will pick up east of Peabody Road and south of Alamo Drive to the city limits; Troop 265 will pick up west of Dobbins Street and Gibson Canyon and north of Interstate 80; Troop 488 will serve the Leisure Town, Three Oaks, Willow Park, Paden Park, Keating Park, New/Old Fairmont, Will C. Wood, Berryessa and Southwood areas; Troop 897 will handle Meadowlands, Regency Park, Stonegate, Canterfield, Vaca Pena
Contacts for the Boy Scouts troops are:
n Troop 180: 707-724-3133.
n Troop 191: 707-999-4953.
n Troop 265: 707-365-0038.
n Troop 488: 707-455-7549.
n Troop 897: 707-999-5091.
The cost is $15 for a green tree and $20 for flocked trees.
VALLEJO — Touro’s Public Health program has been accredited for seven years.
Accreditation for universities and academic programs “is the process through which students and the community can be assured that the highest educational standards are being adhered to,” Touro University California said in a statement released Friday.
“I could not be prouder of the incredible (Master of
Public Health) programs we have built at TUC and now are offering at (Touro University Nevada). Public Health is truly the backbone of our campus and the health care field as we have seen by the current endemic and racial injustice in our country,” said Lisa May Norton, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences, which umbrellas the Public Health programs.
“We were thrilled to be accredited for a seven-year term, which is the longest accreditation term pos-
sible,” program Director Gayle Cummings added.
The Council on Education for Public Health issued the accreditation. It is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit public health programs.
Only a degree from a CEPH-accredited program
is fully recognized by other educational institutions, including other universities, colleges, schools or programs for students who continue their education in any area related to health and public health.
The Master of Public Health degree has been offered as an independent degree since 2007.
FAIRFIELD —
Members of the Police Department’s Special Operations Team on Thursday arrested a Sacramento man in connection to a stabbing on Dec. 17.
The arrest was made in Sacramento without incident, the department said in the statement.
Kelly Najee Surrell, 24, was booked into Solano County jail on suspicion of attempted murder. The stabbing occurred in Cordelia.
Police said “Surrell fled the area in his personal vehicle on Dec. 17, after stabbing the victim.
Investigators used evidence, including video and Surrell’s vehicle
information to narrow his location to the city of Sacramento.”
The team set up a surveillance operation on Dec. 29, following Surreal from his home to the downtown area where they made the arrest, the department statement said.
“Surrell was transported back to Fairfield, where he was served with a criminal protective order, and booked at the Solano County jail for attempted homicide,” the statement said.
The police said Surrell and the female victim, “who suffered life-threatening injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital,” are known to each other.
FAIRFIELD — Vincente Ray Flores, from Winters, is one of six individuals who President Joe Biden on Friday gave full pardons.
“Today, President Biden is granting six full pardons for individuals who have served their sentences and have demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of those around them,” a White House official said. “These include individuals who honorably served in the U.S. military, volunteer in their communities, and survived domestic abuse.”
Flores, 37, used ecstasy and alcohol while serving in the military. He was 19 at the time. He was sentenced to four months of confinement, forfeited pay and had his rank reduced, according to news sources.
Flores remained on active duty and was awarded a number of
commendations, including the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Meritorious Unit Award. He has also been very active in a number of charitable causes including Habitat for Humanity.
The others pardoned are De Coito III of Dublin; Gary Davis of Yuma, Arizona; Beverly Ann Ibn-Tamas of Columbus, Ohio; Charlie Byrnes Jackson of Swansea, South Carolina; and John Dix Nock III of St. Augustine, Florida.
De Coito, 50, also has a military history.
De Coito had pleaded guilty to involvement in a marijuana trafficking scheme more than 25 years ago. He had previously served in the Army and the Army Reserve, receiving the Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal.
Oct. 1, 1936 — Dec. 17, 2022
Kenneth D. Perkins was born Oct. 1, 1936, at St.
Francis Hospital in Hays, Kansas, to Corl and Margaret Perkins of Russell, Kansas. He was raised in Russell and attended school here before graduating in 1954, during this time Kenneth had also become an Eagle Scout in 1952.
Kenneth then entered Kansas State Teachers college in Emporia, Kansas, before leaving in 1956 to join the U.S. Army.
Upon being discharged, Kenneth returned to school and married Rita Miser of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, on Sept. 5, 1960, before graduating in 1961. Upon completion of school, Kenneth and Rita moved to Santa Ana, California, and began their careers in education.
In 1966, they moved to Fairfield, California, where Kenneth began teaching at Fairfield High School and driver’s training along with coaching football and baseball. He then left Fairfield High to become assistant principal of Crystal Intermediate School and later as principal. Kenneth served as principal to Grange Intermediate School and Armijo High School, where he was also Director of Personnel and Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.
Kenneth retired from the Fairfield-Suisun School District in 1996 but continued consultant work in human resources for several school districts for eight years.
The Perkins family
Ronald Allen Staley was born on April 10, 1946 to Harold Thorne and Dorothy Staley in Brooklyn, New York.
He graduated in 1963 from McKinley Technical High School, Washington, D.C. He went on to attend college at Howard University before joining the Air Force on July 1, 1964. He continued his education in the Air Force and finished his Associate in Applied Science in Resource Management.
Ronald served 30-years and 30-days in the Air Force. He was assigned to many Air Force Bases including Keesler (MS), Hunter (GA), Norton (CA), Wheelus (Libya), Lakenheath (UK), Seymour Johnson (NC), Mather (CA), Aviano (Italy), Alconbury (England). He finished his military career at Travis (Fairfield).
After retirement he became a Correctional Peace Office for the California Department of Corrections from August 1994-August 2000 at the
purchased a condo at Tahoe Donner Golf Course in Truckee, California, where Kenneth enjoyed golfing, working with the yard, and spending time with his family and friends.
Kenneth was also a member of the Fairfield-Suisun Travis Lions Club for many years and had even served as president.
Kenneth passed away Dec. 17, 2022, at his home in Fairfield, California. He and his wife Rita were married for 61 years during which they had two children, his son, David of Sparks, Nevada; and daughter, Ann of Chico, California. They also share three grandsons together, Keith and Kyle Perkins of Chico, California, and Tanner Pettit also of Chico, California, as well as a great-granddaughter, Harmony of Sparks, Nevada.
He is survived by his older brother, Jack Perkins of Flippen, Arkansas.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Corl and Margaret Perkins of Fort Myers, Florida; and his wife, Rita Perkins of Fairfield, California.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, at BryanBraker Funeral Home, 1850 W. Texas St., Fairfield, California.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Alzheimer’s research, www.alz.org.
Arrangements under the care of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 707-4254697, www.bryanbraker. com.
Marilyn Rose Wilson (née Bruns) passed away on Dec. 19, 2022, at her Fairfield home of 54 years. She was 87. Born to Clarence and Elizabeth (Schrage) Bruns of St. Henry and Coldwater, Ohio, where Marilyn was raised as the oldest of four children who all survive her, Jerry (Barbara) Bruns of Sarasota, Florida, Diana Otterbacher of Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and Frederick (Barb) Bruns of Vail, Arizona.
Marilyn graduated from Coldwater High School and completed her nursing degree at St. Elizabeth’s in Dayton, Ohio. She then earned her BSN from the University of Oregon in Eugene and later added a degree in public health. She took great pride in her six decade-long nursing career.
Marilyn met and married James ‘Jim’ Wilson at the school where they were both employed in Yreka, California, in 1963. They were together for 60 years.
She is survived by her husband; five children; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; Susan (Rick) Schmitz of Hamburg, Germany (Denise, Lindt and Thomas); Karen Wilson of San Diego; Gregory (Erin) Wilson of Sacramento (Patrick and Cameron (Lilianne)); Geoffrey (Carolina) Wilson of Fairfield (Brendan, Cian, Aodhan and Aisling); and Stephen (Mary) Wilson of San Francisco (Damian). She also has 12 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.
Marilyn was a devoted wife, mother and community builder. She was very involved with Jane Callahan at Fairfield Parent Co-op Preschool where her
California State Prison Solano. His final job was the head of security for Kaiser Permanente.
Ronald’s life ended after a short battle with cancer on Dec. 16, 2022, in Fairfield, California.
Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife, Evelyn Staley; son, Maurice Staley (Carla Staley) and daughter, Rhonda Staley-Brooks (Bruce Brooks); former daughter-in-law, Tammy Edick; grandchildren, Andre Edick, Donovan Staley, Savannah Manno (Dominic Manno), Darrell Staley Jr. (Promise Staley), Zachary Staley, DeWayne Brooks, DaVon Brooks and Janessa Voyce; great-granddaughters, Annmarie and Ayla Staley; brother-in-law, Charles Johnson; sister-inlaw, Marjorie McCoy (Phil McCoy); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close family friends.
He is preceded in death by his son, Darrell Staley.
Nov. 11, 1930 — Dec. 9, 2022
Lorraine Francis Wesner (English), 92, passed away at home on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. Lorraine was born in Oakland, California, on Nov. 11, 1930. She was raised on Abernathy Lane in Fairfield on the family fruit farm.
She met her husband, John Wesner, on the farm. They were married in 1948 until his passing in 1998.
Lorraine worked for Avon in her younger years and then was a homemaker. She loved cooking, knitting and drawing. She enjoyed gardening and nature very much. But most of all, she loved her animals, usually more than people.
She is survived by her sister, Shirley English of Oregon; brother, Bob English of Fort Bragg; son, Ed Wesner; daughter, Penny Wesner; granddaughters Patty and Paige (David); and four loving great-grandchildren.
Funeral service for Lorraine will be held at 2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 1850 W. Texas St. She will be laid to rest at Fairmount Memorial Park in an interment ceremony following her service.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please make a donation to a local animal shelter in her honor.
five children got their educational starts. She was also involved in her children’s 4H club, teaching homemaking skills for years.
She was the school nurse at Holy Spirit School in the 1970s where her children all attended. Together with her husband she was a communion minister and taught Confraternity of Christian Doctrine ‘CCD’. She was a co-founder of Birthright of Fairfield in the 1970s. She was on the building committee for Our Lady of Mount Carmel church in the 1980s.
She was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, loved music, enjoyed knitting, camping, traveling and a good shot of 20-year-old single malt scotch. She was fascinated with her ancestry, quite active in her local genealogy society and regularly volunteered in the Sacramento research library. This is probably the biggest reason she loved reading the obituaries in the Daily Republic.
Rites of Catholic burial will include viewing, Rosary and Mass, and will be held beginning at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 2700 Dover Ave., Fairfield. Committal and burial following at St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery, 1707 Union Ave., Fairfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement.
Arrangements entrusted to the direction and care of Twin Chapels Mortuary, Vallejo, www.twinchapelsmortuary.com.
Feb. 22, 1934 — Dec. 21, 2022
On Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, George Henry Houston loving husband and father of eight girls went to be with the Lord at the age of 88.
George was born on Feb. 22, 1934, in Jenny Lind, Arkansas, to John and Betty Houston. In February 1951, he met the love of his life, Gloria Rico. They married on Dec. 12, 1951, and together they raised their eight girls.
George enjoyed many things. He loved church and reading the Bible. He liked going on walks, he liked to collect things he found during his walks, he appreciated being with his family, and all who knew him knew that he was a funny man who always played around with his family and cracked the best jokes.
Matthew 25:23:
His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
He is survived by his eight daughters, Susan (Jim) Sluder, Debbie (Tom) Sluder, Betty Peig, Gail Houston, Tammy (Tom) Hanson, Norma Dionne, April (Paul) Giannetti and Shirley Houston; 17 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
George was preceded in death by his father, John; mother, Betty; and with his passing, George now joins his loving wife, Gloria, in the presence of the Lord.
FAIRFIELD — Applications are being accepted for more than $200,000 in scholarships through Pacific Gas & Electric.
College-bound high school seniors and current college and continuing education students of Northern and Central California are eligible to seek the 150 awards.
The scholarships, ranging from $500 to $6,000, were created by PG&E’s 11 employee resource groups and two engineering network groups.
“Many recipients of our ERG and ENG schol-
VACAVILLE — The city Parks and Recreation Commission will review the mid-year budget when it meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The board meets in the City Council chamber of City Hall, 650 Merchant St. The entrance is at the back of the building.
A host of committee and other reports also are on the agenda, including updates on programs and park projects.
FAIRFIELD — The NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement will begin another 10-session “Journey Through Grief” support group series.
The online series begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 10.
They focus on learning about grief and healing from it. Each session is facilitated by a therapist and is offered free to Solano County residents. Each participant must have been bereaved, or in mourning, for three months before beginning the class.
The class is limited to 12 people.
To register, or for information about Adult Grief Support Groups that meet
arships are the first in their families to attend college. These awards help develop our future leaders and breakthrough thinkers and are part of how we’re living our purpose at PG&E – delivering for our hometowns, serving our planet, and leading with love,” Marie Waugh, PG&E vice president and chief Talent, Culture and Inclusion officer, said in a statement.
More than $5 million in scholarships have been awarded since 1989.
For more information, including scholarship criteria and applications, go to the PG&E website. The deadline to submit applications is Feb. 24.
on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, call Brenda Boyd at 707-646-3517.
SUISUN CITY — The City Council will consider two community facility district annexation matters and a discussion on the Citywide Beautification Community Advisory Committee when it meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The public meeting follows a 5:30 closed session during which the council will be updated on labor negotiations, on property negotiations regarding the train depot, and sitting as the successor agency, will be updated on property negotiations involving 1240 Kellogg St. Public hearings are scheduled for the annexation of the Caterpillar Clubhouse Project into Community Facilities District No. 2 and the Zip Thru Car Wash Project into the same district.
The council also will consider, under a single vote, a four-item consent calendar that includes the the Police Department’s use of military equipment; funding for the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project; and the Sidewalk Gap Closure Project along Marina Boulevard and Buena Vista Avenue.
Wesley Brownlee, the Oakland man now accused of killing seven people in Stockton and the East Bay, could be added — if convicted — to the Golden State’s long line of serial murderers if convicted.
Here’s a look back at notorious serial killers who have been caught in Northern California:
The man known as the Golden State Killer started terrorizing California in the 1970s. He began as a burglar in the Central
Valley city of Visalia. From there, he moved across the state, becoming a serial rapist in the eastern part of Sacramento County and a serial killer responsible for the deaths of 13 people.
In 2018, DNA technology helped police identify the man responsible for the crimes. Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer, was arrested at his home in Citrus Heights. He was charged with the murders and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Dorothea Puente was a
serial killer convicted of killing three people and suspected of six other murders in the 1980s. She murdered senior and mentally disabled people who were living in her boarding house on 21st and F Streets in Sacramento, and then collected their social security checks. . After killing them, Puente buried her victims in a shallow graves on her property.
She was arrested in 1988 after police found seven bodies buried in her backyard. She was convicted after a jury trial and sentenced to life without parole.
Leonard Lake and Charles Ng were responsible for killing at least a dozen people at their remote property in Calaveras County, though they are suspected of murdering many more.
Lake and Ng had spent years abducting their victims from as far as
LOS ANGELES —
The year is coming to a soggy and stormy conclusion, with record-breaking rainfall swamping roadways in the San Francisco Bay Area and the expectation of more moisture prompting officials to issue rain-related warnings near some Southern California fire burn areas.
In downtown Los Angeles, the bulk of the rain is expected to last from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., with wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph, according to David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“There could be some minor issues with ponding of water on the roads, a bit of local flooding at times. It’s going to be a rea-
sonably difficult driving experience in the L.A. area tonight,” Sweet said. “It’s going to be a stormy evening, that’s for sure.”
Up to an inch of rain is expected in downtown Los Angeles, while the mountains could experience up to 3 inches of rain and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
The forecast prompted officials to issue an evacuation warning starting at 11:30 a.m. for portions of northern L.A. County, including Lake Hughes and the 2020 Bobcat fire burn area in the Antelope Valley. Rain-related parking restrictions were also imposed on about 25 homes in Duarte, in the area affected by the Fish fire this summer.
In anticipation of rain and possible flooding, the
California Department of Transportation said one lane would be closed starting noon Saturday in both directions on Interstate 15 from Oak Hill Road to Bear Valley Road in San Bernardino County, where construction is currently taking place.
In Orange County, officials issued an evacuation warning for Silverado Canyon and Williams Canyon residents in the area affected by the 2020 Bond fire because of the possibility of debris flows.
Rain also walloped Northern California on Saturday morning. In downtown San Francisco, 2.96 inches of rain had fallen by 11:20 a.m. — breaking the previous daily record of 2.12 inches,
which was set in 2005, according to the National Weather Service.
Major flooding forced CalTrans to shut down all lanes indefinitely on U.S. 101 in South San Francisco.
In Los Angeles County, the wind and rain are expected to subside by Sunday, keeping New Year’s Day sunny and dry with temperatures reach-
ing the 60s. Nice weather should hold for the Rose Parade in Pasadena, which returns Monday without COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in three years.
But the reprieve will likely be short lived, according to Sweet. Another storm is expected Monday night with a continued chance of rain into Tuesday, before
a potentially powerful storm hits the region Wednesday night.
“I can’t really get too specific on how much rain is going to fall, but it looks like it’s going to be stronger than the storm this evening,” Sweet said. “If the current projections do come through … Wednesday night’s system looks very impressive.”
Tribune ConTenT AgenCyWondering where your California Middle Class Tax Refund is? For many Californians, it’ll be in the mail soon.
The final inflation relief refund debit cards will be mailed by no later than Jan. 14, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.
Thus far, the state has issued more than 7 million direct deposits and sent out more than 8.3 million debit cards, totaling more than $8.3 billion and benefiting more than 29 million Californians and their dependents. The program, passed by state lawmakers last summer, is funded for $9.5 billion.
The program started handing out money to Californians via direct deposit in early October, with debit cards starting to go out later than month.
The last wave of debit cards, for those direct deposit recipients who have changed their banking information since filing their 2020 tax return, will be mailed out between Dec. 17 and Jan. 14. The board advises that it can take up to two weeks for the cards to come in the mail.
You’re qualified for the tax refund if you meet the
From Page A4
San Francisco and taking them to their cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills where they tortured them, recording their crimes on a video camera. Lake and Ng abducted and killed two families, including children, as well as 10 other people.
following requirements:
Filed your 2020 tax return by October 15, 2021
Meet the California adjusted gross income limits
Were not eligible to be claimed as a dependent in the 2020 tax year
Were a California resident for six months or more of the 2020 tax year
Are a California resident on the date the payment is issued
What are the income limits?
Single people earning $75,000 or less are eligible for the full payment, as are joint-filers earning less than $150,000.
Single filers earning up to $250,000 are eligible for some payment, while heads of households or joint filers earning up to $500,000 also will receive a partial payment.
It depends on how you filed and how much you made, but the refund will range in size from $200 to $1,050.
The state maintains a 24-hour hotline at 1-800240-0223 where you can get assistance with activating the card, request a replacement or report a lost or stolen card.
The pair were caught in 1985 when police detained Ng for shoplifting. That lead them to the cabin where they found evidence of multiple murders.
Lake committed suicide in police custody and Ng fled to Canada where he was captured later that year. He was extradited to the U.S. in 1991 and convicted of eleven murders. He was given the death penalty.
More state inflation relief payments are going out; here’s when the last checks will arrive
Crouching low among rocky tidepools nearly completely covered with sharp-shelled mussels, California State Parks interpretive manager Robyn Chase gave out a sharp cry.
“I found one!” she yelled excitedly over to another State Parks interpreter accompanying her on a visit to Estero Bluffs State Park just north of Cayucos on Dec. 22.
Chase pointed to a huge, dinner plate-sized purple ochre sea star nestled inconspicuously in a small pool of water.
“Oh, he’s eating well,” she said, noting how the sea star was surrounded by the jet-black mussels, its preferred meal.
The ochre sea star was the first of roughly 15 sea stars found that day by Chase and her small team. It took more than an hour to locate the colorful echinoderms within the expansive tidepools at Estero Bluffs.
State Parks hosted a total of four sea star search parties at tidepool locations along San Luis Obispo County’s coast the week of Dec. 19 — including two in Montaña de Oro State Park near Los Osos and another at Hearst San Simeon State Park.
Members of the public joined State Parks interpreters as they scrounged the rocky shores for the colorful sea stars. Some snapped photos and sent them to iNaturalist, a community science social network used by scientists as a helpful database of biodiversity around the world.
At Corallina Cove in Montaña de Oro, interpreters and community members found about 14 sea stars on Dec. 20, while at Hazard Reef just up the shore, they found 144 after scouring the entire tidepool area on Dec. 21.
While the State Parks interpreters were excited to stumble upon those caches of sea stars, they expressed concerns about the state of the local population.
“It’s honestly very different now,” Chase said.
Sea star population devastated by disease
Sea stars across the West Coast have struggled since 2013 to recover from sea star wasting syndrome, which causes the invertebrates to deteriorate and lose limbs before dying.
Before 2013, scientists could count more than 50 ochre sea stars at the Estero Bluffs in an area no bigger than three semi trucks stacked next to each other. Scientists could count more than 100 in a similarly small spot at Hazard Cove within the tidepool area
Over the past decade, wasting syndrome has nearly wiped out five-armed ochre sea stars in the state and devastated their leggier cousins, sunflower sea stars.
Sunflower sea stars are now considered regionally extinct in California, although a few persist along the Pacific Northwest and Alaskan shorelines.
Scientists are still struggling to find answers to the devastation caused by the mysterious disease.
Melissa Douglas, an intertidal associate research specialist at UC Santa Cruz, has worked with a team of scientists to monitor the sea stars along the West Coast.
Their data, gathered over more than two decades across dozens of tidepool sites along the coast, have all shown essentially the same pattern: abundant populations of sea stars that plummet to near-extinction after the sea star wasting syndrome took hold.
“This is coming up on 10 years, so this is the biggest event of sea star wasting we’ve ever seen,” Douglas said.
Douglas said it’s still difficult to determine what exactly caused the disease to take such a vicious hold on the sea stars — but a few theories floating around surmise that ocean heatwaves and greater amounts of organic material in tidepools had some impact.
Douglas’s research — through the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network, or MARINe, for short — is focused on monitoring the population of sea stars and the impacts of their demise.
Unfortunately, her research has found that the ochre and sun-
flower sea stars simply haven’t been able to repopulate.
The population of ochre sea stars along the Central Coast appears to have pretty much flatlined since the 2013 sea star wasting syndrome event, according to MARINe’s data.
“I don’t want to say there’s no hope, but it’s not looking very good,” Douglas said. “They’re definitely not headed to recovery right now.”
Sea stars are considered keystone species. In other words, without them, ecosystems are thrown out of balance and species diversity can change drastically.
Along the Central Coast, that is particularly obvious in the mussel population along the rocky shores. The surge in the mussel population could shove other intertidal species out, such as algae, barnacles, limpets, sponges and sea slugs, Douglas said.
Sunflower sea stars were also vitally important to keeping sea urchin populations in check.
Without sunflower sea stars, the urchins have completely mowed down kelp forests in some areas, Douglas said.
Kelp forests provide important feeding grounds and shelter for various marine species, including sea otters, fish and birds, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Keeping tabs on the sea stars to learn how their population continues to evolve is vitally important, Douglas said, and the community can help.
Dennis Krueger recently retired from owning Kayak Horizons in Morro Bay but still loves paddling in the Morro Bay estuary.
About once a month, Krueger paddles out to the T Pier in the bay to look for sea stars, count and measure them. He sends the data to Douglas and the team at MARINe.
“I just thought, ‘well, heck, I’m out on the bay all the time and I’d love to help in any way I can,’” Krueger said. “Now I’m gathering data for people to make big decisions with.”
Over the 23 years he’s lived in Morro Bay, Krueger said he’s noticed a change in the sea star population. The species’ struggle has become more apparent since he started sending data
to MARINe about four years ago, he said.
“I used to be able to see 15 to 20 sea stars when I’d take the kids out to paddle,” he said. “We’re now seeing fewer and it’s becoming more common to not see any at all.”
Sending data to MARINe is “pretty easy,” said Krueger, who underwent simple training from scientists on how to properly identify and measure the sea stars.
Anyone interested in doing similar monitoring work can contact the MARINe team at seastarwasting.org.
But even without training, community members can contribute to monitoring the sea star population along the Central Coast, Douglas said.
“If there’s a good low tide and you can head out to the tidepools to search for sea stars,” she said. “Don’t forget a camera.”
Find a sea star while exploring the San Luis Obispo County shoreline?
Simply snap a picture and either send it to the MARINe team at marinedb.ucsc.edu/ssd/ public/observation-log/create or submit it to iNaturalist. You’ll want to know the GPS coordinates of where you found the sea star and what kind of sea star it is.
iNaturalist has a good guide on its website at inaturalist.org/ guides/7857.
Your observation might just help scientists better determine how the sea star population is faring against sea star wasting syndrome in your area.
“If there’s any silver lining out of all of this, it’s been really heartwarming to see how many people are interested in sea stars and becoming involved in the research,” Douglas said.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump’s seven-year battle to keep the public from seeing his taxes ended in defeat Friday as a House committee released six years of returns documenting his aggressive efforts to minimize what he paid the IRS.
Trump and his wife, Melania, paid $750 or less in federal income tax in 2016 and 2017, and zero in 2020, according to the returns released by the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees tax legislation.
In three other years, Trump paid significant amounts of taxes although as a share of his income, the amounts were far below those of the average taxpayer. The returns show he paid $641,931 in 2015, just under $1 million in 2018 and $133,445 in 2019.
The 2018 payment came on reported adjusted gross income of $24.3 million – an effective tax rate of 4%. By contrast, the average taxpayer in 2018 paid $15,322 in federal income taxes, with an average rate of about 13%, according to the IRS.
The release of the returns –redacted to hide Social Security numbers and other private information – marked the final act of a saga that outlasted Trump’s presidency and included two trips to the Supreme Court as Trump resisted public disclosure of his financial records. It came in the final days of Democratic control of the House.
The disclosures raise multiple questions about whether Trump’s tax strategies simply took advantage of the law or broke it. Republicans, who denounced the release of the returns as a violation of Trump’s privacy, are unlikely to inquire further once they take over the Ways and Means committee in January. But in the Senate, where the Democrats continue to have a majority, leaders of the Finance Committee have indicated they may pick up where the House Democrats left off.
During the years in which Trump battled disclosure, much of the information he sought to keep secret about his pre-presidential finances became public anyway, largely from a 2020 New York Times investigation.
The picture that emerged showed that for all Trump’s claims to be a great businessman, his core businesses – a sprawling network of hotels, golf courses and other properties –has lost millions of dollars year after year.
“He’s a staggering loser,” said Steven M. Rosenthal, a senior fellow in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center.
The newly released records, covering 2015-2020, add to that picture.
The returns do not appear to disclose any nefarious sources of income – contrary to speculation over the years by some of Trump’s opponents.
While many of his business ventures operated at a loss, Trump received a large amount of income from his reality television show, “The Apprentice,” and from other efforts to license his name. He also received steady income from a real estate partnership in which he has a partial ownership interest, but no management authority.
As Rosenthal and others point out, it’s not clear how much of the negative income reported by Trump on his tax forms can be attributed to actual business losses as opposed to aggressive use of tax rules.
One widely used strategy that Trump took extensive advantage of involves carrying over losses from one year to reduce tax liability in another. In 2015, for example, Trump carried over an operating loss of $105.2 million. Such carryovers, smaller but still in the tens of millions, continued in subsequent years, until they apparently were used up in 2018 with a carryover of negative $23.4 million.
The source of those carryover losses from 2015 to 2018 is thought to be a $700 million loss posted by Trump in 2009. In a report on Trump’s taxes, the House committee noted that these carryover losses need to
be verified, and there are indications that the IRS may still be looking at whether the massive 2009 loss was valid.
Trump’s ability to zero out his tax liability highlights the extremely favorable treatment the real estate industry receives under tax law as well as strategies that he and other wealthy individuals use to minimize what they must pay.
Beyond the carryover losses, the returns also show a pattern of questionable claims, the committee report noted.
Those include large business-expense and charitable deductions that in some cases lack documentation; financial transactions with three of his children, Ivanka, Donald Jr. and Eric, that the committee report said may have been “disguised gifts”; and millions of dollars in write-offs related to an estate that Trump owns in the New York suburbs. He initially claimed the estate, known as Seven Springs, as a personal residence, then reclassified as a business investment in 2014. The IRS is investigating whether that claim is valid, according to the committee.
The tax returns show a number of other cases, small and large, that were flagged by congressional staff. In one schedule for the 2015 tax year, Trump reported a $50,000 speaking fee that was almost entirely offset by $46,162 in claimed travel expenses.
In 2017, the year Trump paid a net tax of $750, his return shows he took $7.4 million in tax credits, which completely erased the tax he otherwise would have owed. Some of those tax credits were apparently for renovating the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Tax law provides for credit for investments in historic properties and for certain poor communities, but the IRS has not yet determined whether Trump’s claims were valid.
The committee confirmed that Trump’s returns from several years prior to his presidency remain under audits, which ultimately could cost him millions of dollars if the IRS rules against him.
The panel also revealed that the tax agency had not put Trump’s returns under audit during the first two years of his presidency. When it finally did so, it didn’t provide enough resources to fully answer questions about Trump’s claims, the committee suggested.
Since 1977, the IRS has had a stated policy of mandatory audits of tax returns from presidents and vice presidents. But the IRS did not begin auditing Trump’s 2017 and 2018 returns until April 3, 2019, the day that the chairman of the tax-writing committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., sent the IRS a written inquiry, the panel revealed.
Democrats pointed to the failure to follow the audit policy as evidence of possible political interference with the tax agency during Trump’s presidency as well as the broader issue of the agency’s lack of resources to go up against wealthy taxpayers and the lawyers and accounting
firms they can hire.
Some of the delay may be due to the complexity of Trump’s businesses, with multi-tiered partnerships and so-called S corporations in which the entities pass corporate income, losses, deductions and credits through to shareholders.
Over the last 10 years, the IRS had the capacity to audit just one partnership with 100 or more partners in a year, said Richard Prisinzano, a former veteran of the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Analysis who is now at Penn Wharton Budget Model, a think tank.
“I think the IRS is outgunned on this stuff,” he said.
At the Biden administration’s request, Congress this year approved a major increase in funds for the IRS, $80 billion over 10 years, mostly to improve its ability to audit wealthy taxpayers.
As a candidate and then as president, Trump repeatedly used the claim about being under audit to fend off demands that he release copies of his returns. Every president and major-party candidate dating back to President Carter has voluntarily released their tax returns.
Before formally announcing his run for the presidency in June 2015, Trump said he would release his taxes. But he soon began hedging and deflecting, and in February 2016, during a televised debate, settled on the claim that “I can’t do it until the audit is finished,” which he stuck to for the remainder of the campaign. Tax-law experts have repeatedly said that nothing in the audit process prevents a person from releasing copies of returns.
Trump’s effort to keep his taxes secret began to crumble after Democrats regained control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. A federal law dating to 1924 allows the congressional tax-writing committees to obtain copies of any individual’s tax returns – a seldom-used power, but one that provided Democrats with an opening to demand Trump’s information.
When the Ways and Means Committee asked for Trump’s returns in 2019, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin refused, setting off a court fight that stretched across more than three years as Trump sought to block the disclosure.
A year ago, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled against the former president. In August, a federal appeals court in Washington also sided with Congress, saying that the Ways and Means panel had a valid legislative purpose in seeking to know how the IRS was handling Trump’s returns and that the disclosure of the tax information was not overly burdensome on Trump. The Supreme Court in November refused to review that ruling.
“Every president takes office knowing that he will be subject to the same laws as all other citizens upon leaving office,” the appeals court panel wrote. “This is a feature of our democratic republic, not a bug.”
It’s been a year of historic selloffs for U.S. equities.
Marked by surging inflation, jumbo-sized interest rate hikes, a darkening outlook on corporate earnings and recession clouds, the S&P 500 Index has lost 21%, on pace for its biggest slump since 2008. From crypto to former pandemic winners and so-called FAANG stocks, investors have been shaken out of their profit euphoria, sometimes in the blink of an eye.
For those who trod in the wrong places, the outcome has been painful. About half of a $9.1 trillion rout in the S&P 500 Index was the doing of just six megacaps: Amazon. com Inc., Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corp., Tesla Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., each of which erased between $632 billion and $908 billion of market value.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most stunning stock wipeouts of 2022:
The FAANGs – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix Inc. and Google – had it bad this year as surging bond yields prompted investors to flee stocks with the highest valuations.
Yet it was the former, renamed Meta, that suffered most, falling 66% to date. The Facebook owner had the worst day in its stock market history on Feb. 3 when it lost an estimated $251 billion in market value after posting disappointing earnings.
To that can be added regulatory and legal risks, cutbacks from advertisers and a crackdown on targeted ads by Apple. Plus, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg’s bet on virtual reality through the metaverse has cost the company billions and isn’t expected to turn a profit anytime soon.
Still, analysts are looking to a revival in 2023, with the majority having buy ratings and the average price target implying 26% potential upside.
It’s been a disastrous year for stocks with exposure to cryptocurrencies as digital tokens were pummeled by a series of blowups, including the collapse of a so-called stablecoin in May and the unravelling of the FTX crypto exchange in November.
And as the largest public U.S. crypto exchange platform, Coinbase has been among the hardest hit as investors yank coins off exchanges or exit the asset class as a whole. This year’s 87% plunge in the stock has wiped out about $47 billion in market value.
Owning Coinbase shares is “making a bet on the whole crypto token ecosystem,” according to Dan Dolev, an analyst at Mizuho Securities who has an underperform rating on the stock. “You’re better off just owning Bitcoin, if you believe in Bitcoin,” he said.
Not all analysts are so gloomy, with the average price target implying that the stock will more than double in the next 12 months.
It’s been a difficult year for many stocks that not long ago were considered pandemic winners. Prime among them is the online car seller Carvana.
Having lost about 98% of its value in 2022, the company is one of the 10 worst performers in the Russell 3000. The difference with the other nine is that it was by far the biggest at the start of the year when its market value stood at about $39 billion.
Carvana had surged during the pandemic as consumers flocked to the digital platform to buy used cars. But declining prices, soaring inflation and the rising cost of debt cast doubt on the business model. The company struggled to restructure debt, and its bonds signal the market sees a potentially
high chance of default.
“While the company has been aggressively cutting fixed expense, we also see execution risks as elevated,” Truist Securities analyst Naved Khan wrote in a December note, downgrading the stock to hold from buy.
Peloton Interactive Inc.
Another lockdown winner turned loser is Peloton. Having lost a large part of its searing 2020 gains last year, the stock has slumped a further 78% in 2022, and now trades a long way below even its 2019 initial public offering price.
Peloton’s story has moved beyond a reversal in once booming demand for its exercise bikes and fitness classes, with the company scrambling to cut jobs and offload operations following calls by activist investor Blackwells Capital LLC for the departure of Chief Executive Officer and co-founder John Foley. Foley stepped down as part of a leadership shakeup.
“I think we’ll get an answer on whether Peloton survives in the next year,” said Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Brian Nagel, who has an outperform rating on the stock. “Time is not on their side necessarily.”
Analysts mostly look for the shares to rally in 2023, with the average price target implying 59% upside over the next 12 months.
Peloton’s struggles have had a knock-on effect on Affirm, the buy-now-pay-later lender whose revenue was boosted during the pandemic by a partnership between the firms. Affirm last month reduced its forecast for gross merchandise value associated with the fitness company as it posted a loss and cut revenue targets. That prompted a further slide in its stock, which has tumbled more than 90% this year.
After exploding during the pandemic, buy-now-pay-later firms face mounting challenges as rising rates and soaring inflation begin to squeeze household incomes. They’re also facing a high cost of capital and scrutiny over fees. Among payment peers, PayPal Holdings Inc. has fallen 64% this year, while Block Inc. is down 63%.
Piper Sandler analyst Kevin Barker, who has a neutral rating on Affirm, says costlier capital and increasing competition in the space has been weighing on the stock. “They’re just in a very competitive sector,” he said.
Target saw its worst singleday drop since the 1987 Black Monday crash after slashing profit forecasts in May, sinking 25% and giving back much of its pandemic gains.
The stock has failed to recover since, and with a yearto-date slide of 37% is now on course for the biggest annual decline since Bloomberg records began in 1980.
Like most retailers, Target has felt the pain of bloated inventories and higher costs for merchandise, transportation and labor at a time when consumers are cutting back on spending. The company warned in November of a potential drop in comparable sales during the current quarter, the first decline in five years. It also predicted operating profit will shrink to about 3% of revenue – roughly half the previous forecast.
According to Citigroup Inc. analyst Paul Lejuez, the near-term “is likely to remain volatile” for Target. Still, he has a buy rating on the stock, as do many others. Indeed, none of the more than 35 analysts the cover the retailer have a sell recommendation, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
are out; here’s how he was able to pay so little – so often
These are the stocks that kept investorsAlon Skuy/AFP via Getty Images/TNS file Former President Donald Trump, joined by former First Lady Melania Trump, arrives to speak at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, Nov. 15.
It’s a new year, but the Democratic politicians who dominate the state Capitol face a raft of old problems that, if anything, worsened during 2022.
Despite a fairly wet winter – so far –California is still coping with a multi-year drought that’s devastating the nation’s most productive agricultural industry, the electrical grid struggles to meet demand, public school students are struggling with learning losses from Covid-19 school shutdowns, and the state’s chronic housing shortage underlies the nation’s highest rates of poverty and homelessness.
Any one of these crises could be labeled as existential – something that threatens California’s economic and societal future – and collectively they should tell the state’s politicians, including the recently re-elected Gov. Gavin Newsom, that it’s time to stop promising effective responses and start delivering them.
Just before 2022 ended, the state received two statistical jolts that should be wake-up calls on the need for decisive action.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that California’s population declined for the third straight year, largely due to hundreds of thousands of Californians voting with their feet, giving up on the state and seeking more welcoming, stable and less expensive places to live.
California used to be the place where people went to make better lives for themselves, but now we’ve become one of those places that people leave because we make it too difficult for them to prosper. Newsom often disparages states such as Texas and Florida, but they are gaining population while California is losing it.
The second negative data point came from the federal Department of Housing and Community Development, revealing anew that California has the nation’s worst homelessness problem.
The first “point-in-time” count of people sleeping in shelters and cars or living on the street since 2019 found an estimated 172,000 in California, or 44 of every 10,000 people in the state – the nation’s highest rate.
It’s widely acknowledged that the official tally of homelessness probably understates the numbers, too, and it’s also evident that it’s worsened even as federal, state and local governments were spending countless billions of dollars to reverse the trend.
It’s also evident, as a recent article in The Atlantic explained, that the most important factor in California’s embarrassingly high homelessness rate is the state’s failure to build enough housing to meet demand. The shortage of housing drives up costs for both renters and would-be homeowners, thereby pushing some people into the streets and others to pack up and leave the state.
The state is at least a million housing units short and some estimates run as high as 3.5 million. The state’s official goal is adding 2.5 million units by the end of the decade, but that would require tripling the current rate of construction.
The simple fact is that building housing, particularly for low- and middle-income families, is immensely difficult, and therefore immensely expensive, in California.
Local governments tend to make construction difficult because their voters tend to not want the traffic and other impacts of development. The state has adopted some pro-housing policies, but has added to construction costs by imposing its own design mandates.
The Capitol’s politicians have made some efforts to make development easier but they have been unwilling to take big steps, such as reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, which is often misused by antidevelopment activists and labor unions.
The Democrats’ dominance in the Capitol should make it easier for them to do what’s necessary to address housing, homelessness and other major issues. However, the lack of effective political competition also makes it easy for them to avoid making hard decisions.
CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more columns by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.
Here are eight predictions for the coming year in accordance with a hallowed tradition that I have previously not honored. If some of the supporting facts below seem unfamiliar, it could be because they have not received the attention they deserve. But they are real.
First, some good news about the U.S. economy:
n Inflation will likely continue to fall until it becomes obvious that it is no longer a serious concern. Inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) has already fallen precipitously over the last five months; annualized inflation has been 2.5% (July through November), as compared with 11.8% for the preceding five months (February through June). If this looks surprising, it’s because the number most reported in the media is for November 2021-November 2022, which is 7.1%. This is true, but not as informative about what’s been happening more recently.
n The Fed will continue to harm the economy by raising interest rates unnecessarily. That’s the bad news. The economy will slow and unemployment will rise. The latest survey of economists finds a 70% probability of a recession. But, whether it’s technically a recession or “just” a slowdown, the pain will be real for many employees and job-seekers. Sadly, the Fed has caused most of the U.S. recessions since World War II by raising interest rates.
n Pressure on the Fed to change course will increase as the economy worsens. This will come from Dem-
ocrats – e.g., the Progressive Caucus in Congress. Republicans have a stake in a bad economy for the 2024 elections; in 2010, they helped ensure that unemployment was 9.4% in October, and Republicans picked up 63 seats in Congress a month later.
n Congress will intervene again to pressure the White House to end U.S. involvement in the Saudi war in Yemen. Since 2015, the U.S. military has participated in a war led by Saudi Arabia that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, including many thousands of children. More than 6 million Yemenis are facing starvation because of the war. Congress can block U.S. involvement in Saudi airstrikes – which would very likely end the war – by invoking the War Powers Resolution. Congress did so twice under President Donald Trump and recently threatened a new vote, forcing the Biden administration to come to the table. In 2023, Congress will help end the war.
n Congress will pressure the Treasury to allow for massive international aid to developing countries – at zero cost to the United States – as the world economy worsens. The Treasury Department is currently blocking hundreds of billions of dollars of aid to developing countries that would come from the International Monetary Fund. This has zero cost to the U.S. government and involves no loans or conditions. It could save hundreds of thousands of lives. The House of Representatives will pressure Treasury to allow it at the Fund, as it did successfully last year.
n Starbucks workers will win a first contract. Interim CEO Howard Schultz does not appear ready to engage with a labor union. But once a majority votes for union representation – as workers have done at more than 260 Starbucks locations – the employer is required by law to bargain in good faith. With a wave of strike actions, backing from the Service Employees International Union and a stronger National Labor Relations Board, Starbucks workers will get their first contract next year – and change the company for the better.
n The NBA and its players will not opt out of their current collective bargaining agreement. The current contract between the league and the NBA Players Association has an opt-out clause that allows either side to end it a year early. The opt-out deadline was Dec. 15; that’s been kicked down the road to Feb. 8, a sign that talks on a new agreement are progressing. The league is due for a new TV contract after the 2024-2025 season, which could be worth more than $75 billion. Most likely, both sides will want to know more about how that package looks before crafting a new labor deal.
n Oscars 2023 – Spielberg could win. Do you know what people in Hollywood really like? Movies about people in Hollywood. “The Fablemans,” Steven Spielberg’s semiautobiographical tale, could be the front-runner for Best Picture, Best Director, or both.
Mark Weisbrot is co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington.
The simplest way to capture the achievements of Edson Arantes do Nas cimento, Brazil’s unpar alleled Pelé, is to tally the numbers. In two decades, he scored 1,283 goals although the exact number sometimes is disputed – 1,000 of them before he was 30 and 95 wearing the national team colors. He helped bring home three of Brazil’s five World Cups, a feat unequaled by any other player to this day.
But soccer is not a ledger, and Pelé’s magic doesn’t fit in a trophy room. When colon cancer finally killed him Thursday at age 82, the country lost a bit of its soul. From 1956 to 1977, he brought grace and majesty to the world’s most popular sport. He also became Brazil’s most enduring brand, the boyish star with a halogen smile, who put soft power in short pants and joyfully conflated the country’s name with his own.
Ask the Nigerians, who saw combatants in their bloody civil war briefly put down their weapons to watch Pelé perform in a 1969 exhibition game. Or the Brazilian-led United Nations peacekeepers who in 2004 promoted a “peace match” in strife-torn Haiti, parading their national team stars atop armored cars through the streets of Port-au-Prince – a brazen bet on the sort of football diplomacy that Pelé invented. If the truce was short-lived, Pelé’s aura lingered, garnering Brazilian travelers instant bonhomie.
But Pelé’s most enduring effect was at home. More than a star athlete, he was a symbol of a nation in transformation. He came up in an era when Brazil was stirring to international ambitions and world-class industry. Bossa nova was on the Victrola and Carnaval cranked the street
party up to 11. Glissading over the grass, Pelé made impossible moves look effortless and sent parabola kicks home from ridiculous angles, with right foot and left, turning even the missed shot into a thing of beauty. He seemed a dancing emblem of Brazilian confidence and aspiration.
In the 1980s, Brazilian cinemas would play grainy reels of classic soccer matches, scored to the infectious sound of Que bonito é, or “how beautiful it is.” This was the game and the beat that would define Brazil, and Pelé would be its icon.
Pelé never leveraged his charisma for political ends. He repeatedly declined invitations to run for office or even join a party. That suited the generals who ran Brazil from 1964 to 1985, who wanted an authentic cultural hero to add a popular sheen to their brass. It was Pelé’s bad luck that his reign on the pitch coincided with the gutting of democracy. He was constantly feted by the ruling junta, most of all by Gen. Emílio Garrastazu Médici, the hardest of the hard-liners, to whom Pelé’s triumphs and easy smile were collateral advantages.
This fawning attention brought Pelé criticism and unflattering comparisons – not least with Muhammad Ali, his contemporary and international coeval, whose outspokenness against racism and the Vietnam War made him both an exemplar of political defiance and a target of official rancor. Pelé’s diffidence perhaps “prevented him from being a more influential citizen than he was,” Juca Kfouri, a veteran Brazilian sports analyst, wrote yesterday.
But Pelé was a star, not a saint. A World Cup hero at age 17, and soon afterward anointed soccer’s “king”
by the media and fans, he adored distributing autographs and posing in a faux crown. He spoke of himself in the third person. He fathered seven children; five of them were by his side during his final moments.
Yet if Pelé never demurred to the generals, neither did he shill for them. And while his accession to their entreaties frustrated the country’s democratic opposition, Pelé always made his most eloquent statements on the pitch.
And so Pelé’s greatness outshone his murky politics. Playing brilliantly, he arguably helped mend divisions that the dictatorship had inflicted.
Even stalwart opponents of the generalissimos couldn’t help but drop their fists and cheer in 1970 when he led Brazil to its third World Cup in Mexico City. Compared with today’s Brazil, torn by partisan choler, Pelé was a galvanizer.
He was also a beacon. Futebol, the Brazilian anthropologist Roberto DaMatta once told me, isn’t just bread and circus. It’s a game that Brazilians know is fair, has transparent rules and is played on a level playing field. What counts on the pitch is how you play, not your color, your bank account or who you know. “Pelé became king because he worked for it clearly, on an open, green field,” DaMatta wrote on Friday.
In a country as socially fractured and unequal as Brazil, where money is power, and politics has always seemed a rigged game, Pelé represented another possibility. He still does.
Mac Margolis, an adviser to the Brazilian Igarapé Institute, writes frequently about Latin America. He is the author of “The Last New World: The Conquest of the Amazon Frontier.”
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
12:14 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 700 block of EAST TABOR AVENUE 1:51 a.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1000 block of JEFFERSON STREET 2:10 a.m. — Trespassing, 1400 block of HOLIDAY LANE 7:31 a.m. — Commercial burglary, 800 block of WASHINGTON STREET 7:54 a.m. — Grand theft, 1200 block of B. GALE WILSON BOULEVARD 9:43 a.m. — Vehicle theft, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 10 a.m. — Trespassing, 300 block of GREGORY STREET 10:13 a.m. — Vehicle burglary, 2700 block of VIOLET AVENUE 1:01 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1500 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD 1:08 p.m. — Grand theft, 2000 block of CADENASSO DRIVE 1:44 p.m. — Vehicle burglary, 1600 block of UNION AVENUE 2:26 p.m. — Grand theft, 1300 block of SANDERLING DRIVE 3:25 p.m. — Reckless driver,
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Taynton’s office has intensive reporting duties linked to the Covid funding that came into the county –close to $130 million, with a state or federal string seemingly attached to each dollar.
“The first term was kind of interesting,” said Taynton, who worked 29 years in the office before being elected to her first term four years ago. “But Covid hit in 2020 and that’s been kind of a challenging time.”
She, however, agrees with the Lomeli that the silver lining to the pandemic has been it forced the county to more quickly upgrade and implement technologies that, in the long run, will make everyone’s jobs a bit easier.
Lomeli, who was assistant treasurer before being elected to the newly combined office, had some of his top people retire, so he has to get a new tax manager and new county clerk manager up to speed.
He said his father was the tax collector for Contra Costa County and he swore he would never work in an office like that.
Lomeli spent 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as a stock broker before taking the job in Solano County. And in the end, he is working in an office just like his father –only longer.
Of course, when he started, the treasury was
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police academy.
“So putting in a police academy is a big deal, but I have the space and the talent to do it,” Ferrara said.
The space would be at the Claybank jail complex, and he said he will be talking to the Fairfield Police Department about using its firing range for training.
The sheriff said Solano County, like most agencies in the state, is having a difficult time recruiting new deputies and corrections officers. Having an academy in Solano will give the department a large pool of candidates in their house, and might convince more individuals in Solano to think of law enforcement as a career.
“It will save the
FAIRFIELD — Unified Christian Fellowship Church will celebrate the 23rd anniversary and appreciation of its pastor,
GREEN VALLEY ROAD 4:35 p.m. — Fight with a weapon, 2200 block of COX LANE 5:12 p.m. — Trespassing, 1700 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 5:12 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 1900 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 5:41 p.m. — Battery, 1300 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 6:49 p.m. — Drunken driving, AIR BASE PARKWAY 7 p.m. — Arson, 2500 block of SUNRISE DRIVE 7:02 p.m. — Trespassing, 1700 block of WOOLNER AVENUE 9:48 p.m. — Shots fired, 400 block of MARIGOLD DRIVE 11:40 p.m. — Trespassing, 2000 block of WALTERS ROAD
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
2 p.m. — Grand theft, RODONDO AVENUE 2:14 p.m. — Grand theft, 200 block of BENTON COURT 6:22 p.m. — Vandalism, 200 block of CALIFORNIA STREET 11:04 p.m. — Vandalism, 900 block of EDGEWOOD CIRCLE
$3 million to $4 million. Today the county’s treasury is as much as $1.6 billion depending on the time of year.
Zook has 15 years of county government experience he brings to the job: eight in Santa Barbara and seven in Solano.
“Our first hurdle is to get our new software program going. We’ve had some delays with it,” Zook said.
A big advantage to the system is the office will become virtually paperless.
“Right now we are very paper intensive,” he said. After that it is about settling into his new, and bigger, office, and attack the same kind of issues his predecessor, Marc Tonnesen, had to deal with, too. Among those are the tax assessment challenges. He said because the retail industry has been strained with Covid, one of the primary accounts they will be working on is the Solano Town Center.
“We’re working with the mall. Retail has been struggling so we are working with them to get something done,” Zook said.
First-term Supervisor Wanda Williams took her oath on Dec. 21 in front of a packed Event Center audience, while five-term Supervisor John Vasquez will quietly take his oath on Jan. 3. District Attorney Krishna Abrams, starting her third term, took her oath from Lomeli just before Christmas.
A ceremonial public oath will be given to all the elected officials on Jan. 10.
county a ton of money,” Ferrara added.
The other big project is to refashion the job training center at the jail complex. He said the current inmates, mostly individuals serving time for more serious crimes and who used to be in state prisons, are not eligible for the kind of work program the county has.
So the facility sits mostly unused.
“When we built the job training center, it was for low-level (inmates) and we don’t have that anymore,” the sheriff said. “So we have to rethink that.”
Ferrara said he is looking at ways to have probationers leaving jail, and others going through the justice system but not being incarcerated, to use the facility instead.
He thinks it could be adapted to help homeless residents in the right circumstances, too.
the Rev. Hiram Berhel, at 11 a.m. Jan. 8. The featured scripture will be, “Blessing of Reconciliation” from II Corinthians 5:11-21. The church is located at 1390 E. Tabor Ave., Fairfield.
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private documents by his personal butler.
He also hewed unswervingly to strict Catholic orthodoxy, a theological absolutism he honed and enforced during his years as guardian of church doctrine under Pope John Paul II, with a zeal that earned him the nickname “God’s Rottweiler.”
He always seemed more comfortable in such a role, behind the scenes, rather than out in front of the adoring masses. Benedict’s diffident public manner contrasted starkly with the hearty, open-armed, people-loving style of both the pope who reigned before him, John Paul, and the one who came after, Francis.
Indeed, Benedict once compared his election as pope to having the guillotine fall on him, a prospect that made him feel “quite dizzy.”
“I told the Lord with deep conviction, ‘Don’t do this to me. You have younger and better [candidates] who could take up this great task with a totally different energy and with different strength,’” he told a group of German pilgrims soon after his inauguration as leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.
“Evidently, this time he didn’t listen to me,” Benedict added with a touch of the humor he displayed in private but seldom in public.
He had just turned 78 when his fellow cardinals picked him on April 19, 2005, a choice that pleased traditionalists but dismayed liberals who had hoped for a new direction on such issues as women’s role in the church, divorce and homosexuality. As he himself half-predicted, age began to catch up with him; the nonstop stress of visits to foreign lands, audiences with dignitaries, management problems in the Vatican and authoritative papal writings wearied him.
By the time he announced his intention to resign, Benedict was 85, frail and careworn, and had cut down on his public appearances. One visitor said later that the already-diminutive pope seemed thin and “halved in size,” and the Vatican revealed that Benedict had fallen and bloodied his head during a 2012 trip to Mexico.
“After having repeatedly examined my
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and part of that is because there is a higher level of natural immunity after nearly three years of the disease in the county.
Equally true, however, is that the strains of the virus have become less virulent – further evidence to Matyas to say Covid-19 has evolved into an endemic and is no longer a pandemic.
“That means it is in the background. It’s always there . . . It has evolved into a normal winter respiratory illness,” said Matyas, noting, however, that the county still has experienced spring and summer surges, but again, less serious than in past years.
In essence, Covid-19 is closer to the flu and other winter respiratory ailments, even the common cold, than the deadly disease it was early.
Matyas notes that from March 2020 to June 2021, at the generally accepted start of the public pandemic up to when vaccines were readily available to the public, 264 of the 441 Covidrelated deaths occurred despite a lower case rate.
conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” the pope told a group of listeners Feb. 11, 2013, stunning those who understood the import of his remarks, which were delivered in Latin.
Some months later, Benedict revealed that he had decided to resign because “God told me to” during a months-long mystical experience, which had deepened his desire for a closer relationship with the divine. Seeing the galvanizing effect of his successor, Francis, on the church only strengthened his conviction that he had done the right thing, Benedict said.
In many ways, his short papacy was a coda to that of John Paul, whom he had faithfully served. Benedict kept the church on the same conservative path and eased restrictions on elements such as the Latin Mass. He appointed many of his and John Paul’s protégés to the College of Cardinals, ensuring that the upper ranks of the church were filled with men from the same theological mold.
But he took a different evangelistic tack from his globe-trotting, glad-handing predecessor, who had happily played up the church’s international profile and reached out to other religions. Benedict focused on trying to shore up Christianity in his native Europe, which he saw perilously adrift on a sea of godlessness, libertinism and moral indifference.
“We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism, which does
From July 2021 to December 2021 – a period dominated by the Delta strain of the disease –another 122 people died.
There have been 55 deaths in Solano associated with the omicron strains, basically from the end of December 2021 to the present, with only eight deaths since March. The last death was reported in late September.
“So Covid has become more like other winter respiratory diseases and people over 75 are at a far greater risk (of serious outcomes),” Matyas said.
Matyas is among those who believe it is time to call the emergency over. He concedes there are others in the medical field who would fully disagree with him.
“I think we should end the emergency because it alters how we look at the disease,” Matyas said.
He said within the medical community, calling something an emergency brings a greater level of urgency “instead of treating it in a more realistic way.”
“And part of the reason (ending the emergency) would be good is because it causes us to divert resources,” he said. “We are still counting cases.”
The Solano County public, it seems, has
not recognize anything as certain and which has as its highest goal one’s own ego and one’s own desire,” he told cardinals at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica shortly before his election as pope.
He warned against following “the waves of today’s fashions” and exhorted devotees to embrace “an adult and mature faith” that enabled them “to judge true from false.”
God’s blessing and the church’s revival could be achieved by calling the faithful back to basics and promoting theological purity, Benedict believed.
Yet his attempt to rejuvenate the Roman Catholic Church in its own backyard failed by most measures, even as the church grew in faraway places such as Africa and Asia. Europe was the only region of the world where the number of Catholics declined between 1990 and 2010. The pews continued to empty; in France, fewer than one in 10 people reported attending Mass. For many, disenchantment was fueled by what they considered the Vatican’s belated and inadequate response to the avalanche of allegations of priestly sexual misconduct dating back years, sometimes decades. Although Benedict met privately with victims and pledged greater cooperation with civilian authorities, his hesitation in disciplining bishops who covered up incidents of abuse angered those who saw the church as more concerned about its image than those hurt by its representatives.
In addition, the Vatican’s conservative teachings on sex, gender
already put the emergency – and the urgency – behind it.
Fewer people are wearing masks; the routine of life is closer to pre-pandemic; and there is a slowing trend in people getting the next booster shot or even vaccinated at all. Government restrictions have also eased.
“At this time last year,” Matyas said, “we had a mandate for masks indoors (at public places).”
Still, Matyas strongly encourages all eligible residents to be vaccinated and boosted, and if anyone is ill, stay at home. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently also is on his list of necessary precautions. Most importantly, if someone is at a higher risk of illness, masks are still a good idea.
And, as always, anyone who is knowingly going to be around someone at risk, be a good neighbor and take similar precautions for their sake if not your own.
As for the lingering emergency status, Matyas is even concerned that the public’s trust in the medical field – especially the public agencies – is eroding when it comes to emergencies, and that more people may be less likely to follow what can
and family life struck many Europeans as increasingly retrograde. Despite Benedict’s vocal opposition, country after country moved to legalize same-sex marriage during his brief tenure as pope, including Spain, France, Portugal and Britain.
His emphasis on fundamental Christian values and the primacy of the Catholic Church also led to friction with Muslims and the first major crisis of his papacy.
In a 2006 speech at a German university where he once taught, Benedict cited a disparaging medieval quotation on Islam to illustrate the incompatibility of religion and violence. But his failure to mention Christianity’s own bloodstained past and the description of Muhammad’s teachings as “evil and inhuman” ignited a storm of criticism and protest in the Muslim world, including the killing of an Italian nun in Somalia.
He eventually apologized twice for his injudicious remarks but never retreated from his wider point, an example of what one person described as the “timid but stubborn” side to his personality.
Although he visited the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, the pope criticized the way extremists had perverted Islam and argued for “reciprocity,” saying that if Muslims expected to worship freely in Christian lands, the reverse should also be true.
be necessary advice from public health groups.
“We are calling things as emergencies at a greater propensity than we did even five, 10 years ago,” Matyas said. “I don’t think people will react as vigorously as we would want them to (in actual emergencies).”
He does think local residents realize that Solano County tried to be more pragmatic and less restrictive than other Bay Area counties, decisions that often resulted in Matyas and the county being openly criticized by outside agencies. So maybe, the public may still be inclined to listen and respond appropriately.
Matyas, even as the pandemic was in its infancy, favored focusing more on the outcomes of the disease than at a statistical level. That is why the county continues to be vigilant about the senior population, especially those residents in skilled nursing homes and memory care centers.
“I’m less concerned about assisted living facilities,” said Matyas, explaining that the senior residents there tend to be in better health than those in the long-term care facilities.
Can’t remember if you had chicken pox as a child?
Odds are good that you did, as more than 99% of Americans born before 1980 have had the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
And, if you had chicken pox and are over age 50, you are now also susceptible for getting shingles, a painful, burning rash that can develop on one side of the face or body. The rash creates blisters that typically scab over in seven to 10 days and clears up within two to four weeks. However, in immune-compromised people, shingles may cause more serious complications.
It is an unpleasant experience, but it can be avoided by getting vaccinated, and that is something I recommended for those ages 50 and up.
Not only are you more likely to get shingles as you age, but you are also more vulnerable if you have immune suppression, had intrauterine exposure to the varicella zoster virus or had varicella at an age younger than 18 months. Although it can occur at any age, the incidence increases with advancing age due to waning immunity.
About 50% of those who live to age 85 will have experienced shingles.
Shingles is caused by the same virus (varicella-zoster virus) that causes chicken pox, but varicella-zoster remains dormant in the body only to possibly re-emerge in later years. The rash presents as a single stripe around either the left or right side of the body or, in rare cases, on the face, where it can affect the eye and cause vision loss. Other side effects include permanent burning neuralgia and the need to be on chronic nerve medications.
The vaccine that can help prevent an outbreak is called Shingrix. It is appropriate for anyone over the age of 50, including people who previously received the Zostavax vaccine or the varicella vaccine. It is also appropriate if you have had shingles in the past.
Immunity stays strong for at least seven years, according to the CDC.
The most common symptom my patients have after the vaccination is pain and redness at the injection site along with fatigue and malaise that lasts for about three days. This typically happens at the first dose, and the second dose, administered two to six months later.
For more information about shingles and the Shingrix vaccine, contact your primary care provider.
Frances Benko, D.O., is a family medicine physician at NorthBay Health Primary Care in Vacaville.
When you think about the future, do you expect good or bad things to happen?
If you weigh in on the “good” side, you’re an optimist. And that has positive implications for your health in later life.
Multiple studies show a strong association between higher levels of optimism and a reduced risk of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and cognitive impairment.
Several studies have also linked optimism with greater longevity.
One of the latest, published this year, comes from researchers at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health in collaboration with colleagues at other universities. It found that older women who scored highest on measures of optimism lived 4.4 years longer, on average, than those with the lowest scores. Results held true across races and ethnicities.
Why would optimism make such a difference?
Experts advance various explanations: People who are optimistic cope better with the challenges of daily life and are less likely to experience stress than people with less positive attitudes. They’re more likely to eat well and exercise, and they often have stronger networks of family and friends who can provide assistance.
Also, people who are optimistic tend to engage more effectively in problem-solving strategies and
to be better at regulating their emotions.
Of course, a feedback loop is at play here: People may be more likely to experience optimism if they enjoy good health and a good quality of life. But optimism isn’t confined to those who are doing well. Studies suggest that it is a genetically heritable trait and that it can be cultivated through concerted interventions.
What does optimism look like in practice?
For answers, I talked to several older adults who identify as optimists but who don’t take this characteristic for granted. Instead, it’s a choice they make every day.
Patricia Reeves, 73, Oklahoma City. “I’ve had a fairly good life, but I’ve had my share of traumas, like everyone,” said Reeves, a widow of seven years who lives alone. “I think it’s my faith and my optimism that’s pulled me through.”
A longtime teacher and school principal, Reeves retired to care for her parents and her second husband, a Baptist minister, before they died. During the covid-19 pandemic, she said, “I’ve been developing my spirituality.”
When I asked what optimism meant to her, Reeves said: “You can see the good in each situation, or you can see the negative. When something isn’t going the way I wish, I prefer to ask myself, ‘What am I learning from this? What part did I play in this, and am I repeating patterns of behavior? How can I change?’”
As for the challenges that come with aging – the
loss of friends and family, health issues – Reeves spoke of optimism as a “can-do” attitude that keeps her going. “You don’t spend your time concentrating on your health or thinking about your aches and pains. You take them in as a fact, and then you let them go,” she said. “Or if you’ve got a problem you can solve, you figure out how to solve it, and you move on to tomorrow.”
“There’s always something to be grateful for, and you focus on that.”
Grace Harvey, 100, LaGrange, Georgia “I look for the best to happen under any circumstances,” said Harvey, a retired teacher and a devoted Baptist. “You can work through any situation with the help of God.”
Her parents, a farmer and a teacher in Georgia, barely earned enough to get by. “Even though you would classify us as poor, I didn’t think of myself as poor,” she said. “I just thought of myself as blessed to have parents doing the best
married or had children, but she was surrounded by loving family members and former students at her 100th birthday party in October.
“Not having my own family, I was able to touch the lives of many others,” she said. “I feel grateful for God letting me live this long: I still want to be around to help somebody.”
Ron Fegley, 82, Placer
better,” said Fegley, a retired physicist who lives in the Sierra Nevada foothills with his wife.
“Science is a very important part of my life, and science is always on the upwards path,” he continued. “People may have the wrong ideas for a while, but eventually new experiments
“I’m grateful for every moment, every experience, because I know it could end any moment,” says Anita Lerek, a Toronto lawyer andentrepreneur. “It boils down to, ‘Is the glass half-empty or half-full?’ I choose the fullness.” Jacqueline Bunn/TNS
“Not having my own family, I was able to touch the lives of many others,” says Grace Harvey, of LaGrange, Georgia, who turned 100 this year. “I feel grateful for God letting me live this long: I still want to be around to help somebody.”Patricia Reeves/TNS
“You can see the good in each situation, or you can see the negative,” says Patricia Reeves, of Oklahoma City. “When something isn’t going the way I wish, I prefer to ask myself, ‘What am I learning from this? What part did I play in this, and am I repeating patterns of behavior?’ ”
“I’m positive about the future because I think in the long run things keep getting better,” says Ron Fegley, a retired physicist in Placer County. “Science is a very important part of my life, and science is always on the upward path.”
Fegley/TNS
I Suisun City
12:30 p.m. Sunday
Battle of the Bay
Champagne Brunch
Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinalounge suisun.com.
7 p.m. Wednesday
Hot Mic Night
Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinalounge suisun.com.
7 p.m. Thursday
Karaoke Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinalounge suisun.com.
I Vacaville
9 p.m. Friday
Dueling Pianos: Jason & TBD Makse Restaurant, 555 Main St. duelingpianovacaville.com/events.
9 p.m. Saturday
Dueling Pianos: Jason & TBD Makse Restaurant, 555 Main St. duelingpianovacaville.com/events.
I Benicia
7 p.m. Tuesday
Open Mic Night
The Rellik, 726 First St. www.therelliktavern.com.
6 p.m. Wednesday
Cristoffer “Kid” Anderson & John Boyd
Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St. www.empresstheatre.org.
VACAVILLE — Matthew Chamberlain, of Vacaville, participated in Biola University’s Christmas concert, “Radiant Light,” held Dec. 10, one of several performances at various venues on the La Mirada campus.
Chamberlain joined nearly 150 performers in the concert, with music performed by the Biola Chorale, University Chorus, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Combo and the Symphony Orchestra.
Choral ensembles performed at Calvary Chapel, instrumental ensembles at Crowell Hall and both concerts were followed by a finale at the Bell Tower featuring vocal jazz and combo, an audience sing-along and refreshments.
“(Radiant Light is) based on Alexander Gretchaninoff’s work bearing a similar title, “Holy Radiant Light,” a work that was performed by the Biola University Chorale,” said Shawna Stewart, director of choral studies and producer of the concert. “Multiple venues provide students with the opportunity to present more repertoire than in any other format, which we hope parents and friends will enjoy!”
Biola University’s Conservatory of Music, part of Biola’s School of Fine Arts and Communication, is committed to empowering students’ passion for the performing arts. No matter their chosen discipline –whether it’s music performance, theater, composition or another area – students find that Biola’s rigorous curriculum, emphasis on creativity and focus on a biblical foundation for the arts will equip them with the skills they need to succeed beyond graduation.
This month I am happy to share with you three wonderful student writers. They are the winners of the 2022 Solano County Library Teen Writing Contest, Poetry Division. They were judged without names by D.L. Lang, Vallejo Poet Laureate Emerita. These and all the poetry submissions are also hung at The Coffee Bar, 740 Texas St., in downtown Fairfield. Please go support these students and The Coffee Bar.
27 Club
They told you you’d sell as long as you keep giving, like a bass drum pulse that thrums from Camden to Seattle to Greenhouses to Harlem to LA hotels, like a perennial hedonism that will be both your eminence and your execution. So give us your fervor and give us your filth, fly tonight if you think you’ll fall tomorrow, LIVE FAST DIE
YOUNG except they can make dead things look alive; lyrics dissected into disaster warnings get dressed up as a lullaby and you tried to tell them the blood isn’t the color of Scarlet wine it’s just red.
They said you’ve got somethin’ but not what to do if you’ve cheated yourself, to gouge out the ugly and fossilize the agony; this art needs a drum riff heartbeat whether you try to swerve in the other direction or plummet past the exit sign, give us the ugly and give us your bestAnthems with their ultraviolet prayers; a beckoning or a hidden begging that wavers alongside the white lighter flames to the beat of this requiem.
To the unwritten reprises reverberating off the radio towers and the stars outside bedroom windows and candlelit stages before the injected
anchors and the tilting weight of a million yesterdays.
This is remembrance in the form of a skipping CD, a hymn to the carved-out place between the strobe lights and smoke for the listless and the languid, between the chorus and the bridge for the impalpable. An acclaim; an apology.
They told you you’d make it if you didn’t crash with the waves and if you do go down to go down singing and when you’re hollowed out around the unspoken choruses, if the melodies mix with milligrams, no less you are; the good ones keep meeting the sky and leaving us with the echo; death’s just a different waiting venue. Perform a tacenda from the edge, belt it a prayer until you fall. If anyone up there is watching, let’s give them a show.
— Lucy Kuhn, Suisun City - Homeschooled
FAIRFIELD — “Patterns,” featuring artist Sheree Rayford, opens Jan. 12 at the Solano Town Center Gallery.
The Fairfield-Suisun City Visual Arts Association show will include work from more than 70 participating association members who have focused on “this wideopen and inspiring theme.”
“Primarily a photographer, Rayford’s work displays the kind of intimacy that mirrors her other work, that of a therapeutic art life coach. (She) uses photography in combination with acrylic
paints to develop work that excites her and taps into her client’s thoughts and emotions in some interesting ways,” the association said in a statement.
Rayford “tunes into the subtle energy forces around us, which is evident when you see her work.”
The artist is “encouraged by close family and friends to express her voice as an artist. Inspired by ‘everything,’ she has always been in ‘awe’ of what people can dream up as artists,” the association said.
The opening reception is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 21. It is an opportunity to mingle with the artists and art enthusiasts. Wine and snacks will be served.
The show runs through Feb. 17. The gallery is upstairs across from Macy’s at the mall, 1350 Travis Blvd., in Fairfield.
“So much of the life that we see around us is made up of patterns: the patterns of the leaves, the patterns of colors across the landscape, right down to the patterns on our clothes. This show will feature how patterns are interpreted, created, abstracted and expressed. The range of artistic expression of FSVAA artists will be on full display as they interpret the patterns in our daily lives in paint, pastels, mixed media, glass and more,” the statement added.
What do I see?
I see a world full of hate and suffering, anguish, and pain Torn by division and destroyed all together
I see a world filled with people succumbed with sadness Shattered from grieve and revenge Seen their wrongdoings Trying to get better Choosing between doing good and bad
I see a world filled with trash and debris, Covering our oceans and hurting everything in it Plants and animals die because of our mistakes
I see a world getting hotter each and every day, Burning because of our doings The effects? Getting worse Storms rising, increased drought Who is to blame for all of these
I see a world split in the middle Divided by color, race, and gender, Why do we do this to our friends?
People are all equal and deserve respect, love, and everything else all humans need But what else do I see . . .
I see a world full of people rising up and doing good, filled with love and kindness Showing everyone the right path Not everything in this world is bad Doing good is not as hard as you think Little by little the world is growing back
I see a world trying to get better, picking up the mistakes and cleaning them up Learning and relearning all the time
I see a world that can grow and change all the time Never stopping Never stagnant Now the only thing is . . . Can the change be good? Can we grow in a way that is right?
I hope to see a world that is great We can do it now, knowing that one day, someday, we can get there
It doesn’t have to be big things, but many small deeds combined to become great The world doesn’t have to be perfect, but I want it to live, not die, Don’t you?
— Juliana Dionisio, St. Catherine of Siena, Vallejo
I might have been I might have been a mighty oak those many years ago
But fate the cruel was on the prowl bent on haunches low Fate with spiteful pleasure cast me at the feet of the mighty sycamore
There I grew gnarled; straining and struggling for the sunlight I desired more
Only able to taste what sifted through his branches just a phantom of its shine
Beneath his umbrage my trunk grew limp and my leaves waxed yellow as I declined I might have been a mighty oak those many years ago
If only I could have had a dulcet taste of the water below
The glutton’s fat tendrils were raping the earth of its greatest treasure
His obscene indulgence had left me dry and he had desiccated the heathers
Never to have my days in the sun, never to be the crowned king of the glade
Stifled by the greatness of another, destined for the shade I might have been a mighty oak those many years ago
But fate saw greatness as a seed I wasn’t meant to sow.
— Julius Villaneuva, Fairfield - Homeschooled Poems must be sent to Suzanne Bruce at fairfieldpoetlaureate@ gmail.com by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Please include a short introduction about yourself, such as if you are a student, where and why you enjoy writing poetry.
New year, new movies.
A new “Mission: Impossible.” A new “Dune.” A new “Barbie?” Sure, why not.
As Hollywood continues to try to lure moviegoers away from their couches and into theaters – those home viewing options have sure gotten cozy since the onset of the pandemic – studios have lined up another year of sequels, franchise entries and otherwise familiar faces to fill those big screens at the multiplex.
Some of the numbers after those titles are starting to climb pretty high: a fourth “John Wick,” a sixth “Scream,” a seventh “Transformers” and the 10th entry each in the “Fast and Furious” and “Saw” series.
There will surely be some smaller, more personal films that will grab our attention as the year goes on. But this preview is all about the big ones, the headline grabbers which, if they do their job, will pack ‘em in theaters and keep the lights on in Tinsel Town.
Here’s a look at the 20 biggest movies headed your way in 2023, as well as a handful of other titles to keep an eye on over the next 12 months. Remember, as always, dates are subject to change.
Can Top top Tom? “Top Gun: Maverick” proved that Tom Cruise is yet again the biggest star in the galaxy, and it showed that all he wants to do is entertain moviegoers in the biggest way possible. He gets another chance here with the latest installment of his “Mission: Impossible” series, which was delayed two years by the pandemic, in which he gets to do all sorts of crazy stuff that only Tom Cruise would do. Fly high, Tommy boy. (July 14)
Christopher Nolan returns to the big screen with this biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” Nolan regular Cillian Murphy stars in the lead role, and supporting players include Kenneth Branagh, Josh Hartnett, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Benny Safdie, Rami Malek, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Matthew Modine, Casey Affleck and Gary Oldman. Whew! (July 21)
My how the gang has grown up. Twenty-two years after “The Fast and the Furious” (and the death of one major cast member later), the series reaches its 10th installment, which somehow needs to find a way to come back to Earth after the last entry literally brought the series to outer space. The regulars are all back, with Jason Momoa and Brie Larson joining in on the fun. (May 19)
It’s a-me! Chris Pratt voices everyone’s favorite plumber in this animated adventure, which also stars the voices of Anya Taylor-Joy (as Princess Peach) and Charlie Day (as Luigi). You can thank the success of “Sonic the Hedgehog” for this one. (April 7)
13.
The live-action version of the animated 1989 classic stars Halle Bailey (of musical duo Chloe x Halle) in the title role, and is the latest in Disney’s not-so-spiffy live-action remake series. Let’s just hope it’s better than this year’s “Pinocchio.” (May 26)
Keanu Reeves is back, guns cocked and loaded, for the follow-up to 2019’s “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” which might have been the one where he fought somebody with a book but who can really remember and does it even matter anyway? It’s more fights, more Keanu, more cool stuff. Whoa. (March 24)
Michael B. Jordan is back as Adonis Creed, and he’s both in front of and behind the camera in this latest installment of the popular “Rocky” spinoff series, which notably will not feature Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa character. (Stallone retains a producer credit on the project.) This time around, Jordan’s Creed is up against a childhood friend, played by “Devotion’s” Jonathan Majors. Ring the bell! (March 3)
The spice is right. The second part of director Denis Villeneuve’s version of Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel brings back Timothée Chalamet as the Duke of the House of Atreides and hopefully ropes in more of his love interest, played by Zendaya, who barely registered in 2021’s part one. (Nov. 3)
It’s the fourth chapter of the “Indiana Jones” saga, or the fifth if you count 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” which everyone would prefer if no one mentioned again going forward. Harrison Ford is still cracking the whip at 80 years old, and “Ford v Ferrari’s” James Mangold jumps in the director’s chair for the latest adventure with the world’s
most death-defying archaeologist. (June 30)
In 2018, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” put a whole new spin on the friendly neighborhood webslinger, with a mind-blowing animation style that mixed the aesthetics of street art with computer animation to create a different kind of superhero cool. This follow-up promises even more visual razzmatazz and a further immersion into the SpiderVerse. (June 2)
It’s Barbie’s world, we just live in it. Co-writer and director Greta Gerwig whiplashes from “Little Women” to the adaptation of the iconic doll, with Margot Robbie in the lead role and Ryan Gosling as her Ken. To everyone still scratching their head over all of this, just know you’re not alone, and hopefully it will all make sense soon. (July 21)
Groot and the gang return in their third mixtape adventure, which is written and directed by James Gunn, who is also the head of rival comic universe DC. Get ready for more laughs, more adventure and more classic rock throwbacks. (May 5)
The third “Ant-Man” adventure kicks off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Awesome?) Jonathan Majors joins the fold as Kang the Conqueror, which between this and “Creed III” means that Majors is in for a big year. (Feb. 17)
No Neve Campbell? No problem. The series star is out of this upcoming entry (over a reported contract dispute), which moves the series’ action to New York City. Why not call it “Ghostface Takes Manhattan?” (March 10)
Cue Ginuwine. Channing Tatum is back one more time to bump and grind in the final chapter in Steven Soderbergh’s six-pack trilogy. (Feb. 10)
May the odds be ever in the favor of this prequel to “The Hunger Games” movies, starring “West Side Story’s” Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth as the man who grows up to be Coriolanus Snow, the series villain played in the original films by Donald Sutherland. (Nov. 17)
Set in 1994, this “Transformers” entry is reportedly looking to be more like “Bumblebee” and less like Michael Bay’s chaotic “Transformers” entries. Steven Caple Jr. directs. (June 9)
18.
Brie Larson returns as Captain Marvel in this MCU entry which picks up the action from the Disney+ series “Ms. Marvel.” Don’t worry, you have plenty of time to catch up before this hits screens. (July 28)
19.
“Paddington” and “Paddington 2” director Paul King takes on the legendary candy king, with Timothée Chalamet in the role that Gene Wilder made famous and Johnny Depp made creepy. Good day sir! (Dec. 15)
20. ‘Saw X’
Jigsaw’s back, baby. (Oct. 27)
This holiday season is unusual because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. In the 21st century, that has only happened a handful of times: in 2005, 2011, and 2016 prior to this year, and in 2033, 2039, 2044, and 2050 in the near future.
And whenever Christmas falls on a Sunday, so does New Year’s Day the following week. It has become something of a tradition for this period of time to be one in which we reflect on the good news and the bad news of the previous year, and make resolutions for the coming year, which we hope to follow.
In that context, Matthew 11:28-30 is a welcome text to hear. In it, Jesus encourages his followers to take his yoke upon themselves because “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (verse 30) in contrast to the burdens they are currently carrying, burdens which are “heavy” and which are making them “weary” (verse 28).
So this New Year, Jesus
calls his followers to divest themselves of their heavy burdens. What might those heavy burdens be today?
Perhaps they are our unwillingness to reconcile with estranged family members over something that has happened in the past. To be reconciled does not mean that the past is ignored or excused, and it obviously requires a sense of humble repentance from the one who has done the damage. But if both a willingness to repent and a willingness to forgive are present, perhaps the burden of estrangement can be lifted from our shoulders.
Perhaps our burden is a heavy sense of guilt for something we’ve done to someone in our past or something we’ve said to (or even about) someone in the past. Might it be worth picking up the phone, writing a letter or having a face to face conversation with the one we have wronged and asking for their forgiveness for our wrongdoing?
entirely our own – a feeling of prideful self-righteousness that manifests itself in the attitude that everyone who disagrees with me is wrong, evil, sinful or all of the above. A lusting after power and influence that doesn’t care about who we hurt or how we get what we want, as long as we get it and get to keep it. A public playing of the
of loving God, loving our neighbors as ourselves, and loving our enemies.
So as we enter 2023, may we who claim to follow Jesus
Dear Readers:
Wishing you all a very happy new year. I hope it is filled with lots of joy and love. Below are some quotes that I put together in hopes that they inspire you to live your best life. With an open mind, an open heart and a sense of wonder, each year is a new beginning to start fresh. Remind yourself that the best is yet to come.
Annie Lane Dear Annie“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — CS Lewis
“There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” — CS Lewis
“We will open the book. Its
pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” — Edith Lovejoy Pierce
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” — George Eliot
“Ring out the old, ring in the new, / Ring, happy bells, across the snow: / The year is going, let him go; / Ring out the false, ring in the true.” — Alfred Lord Tennyson
“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” — TS Eliot
“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” — Thomas Jefferson
“It takes courage to grow
could really go deep into this study, and there will be big benefits to doing so.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’re knowledgeable on many topics because you love the way your brain feels when it’s lit up and learning. It’s never a chore to keep up with your favorite subjects. Today, you’ll delight new developments.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The spirit of competition is alive and best applied in a contest between you and you. Improvement is what counts. To win, you don’t have to be the best in the world, just the best version of yourself.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A relationship comes into sharp focus. The behaviors that once baffled you now make perfect sense. Understanding other people’s motives gives you options you didn’t have when you were in the dark.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Orderly domestic life is inextricably linked to emotional well-being. There’s satisfaction to be derived from the mundane, and it feels good to get a fresh start with laundry, a clean refrigerator and the like.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Amazing clarity is your cosmic gift today. You wake up with a vision. Take advantage of the creativity and insight coming to you now by writing down every thought and idea. This is your road map to happiness.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Sometimes it’s nice to be needed, but today you might feel anxious about someone’s reliance on you. People who are self-sufficient are extremely attractive to you now, and there is nothing wrong with that!
CELEBRITY PROFILES: We celebrate three notable Americans today: George Washington Carver , who was a botanist and inventor who revolutionized American agriculture; Paul Revere, who famously organized the intelligence and alarm system for the American Revolutionary War; and American flag designer Betsy Ross. Revere was born under the warrior moon of Aries. Ross was born when the moon was in Cancer, the sign of the United States of America and patriotism in general. Born into slavery and kidnapped as an infant, Carver’s birthday is uncertain.
up and become who you really are.” — ee Cummings
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.” — JP Morgan
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” — Socrates
“Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” — Helen Keller
“With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And
next year’s words await another voice.” — TS Elliot, “Little Gidding”
“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘it will be happier.’” — Alfred Lord Tennyson
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each year find you a better man.” — Benjamin Franklin
“What a wonderful thought it is that some of the best days of our lives haven’t even happened yet.” — Anne Frank
“Don’t be afraid to give up
the good to go for the great.” — John D. Rockefeller
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” — William E. Vaughan
“Strength shows not only in the ability to persist, but the ability to start over.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” — Henry David Thoreau
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com.
K eira Dagy FOR THE DAILY REPUBLIC
As a new year approaches, oftentimes people like to think about different lifestyle changes we can individually make to improve our lives one way or another. This year is likely no different, and many have taken health into consideration as a part of their New Year’s resolutions going into a new year after nearly three years that have been especially focused on health.
However, instead of the traditional weight-focused new year’s resolutions, it is also important to look at resolutions through the lens of improving overall wellness. Here are five wellness-focused resolutions you can take into the new year that will improve your overall health.
1. Improve your mental health. This first resolution is both extremely important and oftentimes overlooked when thinking about health. It is also intended to be imprecise in order to customize it to different people who may see improvements in mental health in different ways. This can look like creating a meditation routine, journaling, scheduling self-care time during the week, and being able to say no to activities you can avoid that worsen your mental health.
2. Commit to a healthier sleeping
routine. Sleep is extremely important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Any less can be detrimental to health and lead to increased stress, anxiety and even worsening chronic illnesses. Improving sleep can include shutting down all screens at least 30 minutes before bed, replacing old pillows and blankets to make your bed more comfortable, limiting caffeine intake after 2 p.m., and making sure you are able to get about eight hours of sleep each night.
3. Create an enjoyable workout routine. Discovering a type of exercise that is enjoyable to you will not only keep you physically healthy but will also improve your overall wellness by incorporating activities that are enjoyable and boost endorphins and dopamine. Committing to going on more walks during the day like after work or during lunch, signing up for an exercise class that interests you, getting out for more hikes on the weekend, or anything that gets your body moving will be beneficial in multiple different ways.
4. Fuel your body with nutritious and enjoyable food. What we eat is what gives us energy to get through the day, so being conscious of filling up on nutritious food is important for physical health. It also helps improve
mood, reduce anxiety and gives you more energy when you fuel with nutritious food that keeps you full and is enjoyable to eat as well. This can look like making sure you stay satiated on primarily nutritious food, staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, and adding treats and desserts to your diet in moderation.
5. Prioritize activities that make you happy. When having to manage competing priorities in day-to-day life, it can be difficult to find time to do things that bring joy and happiness into your day. It can be helpful to intentionally schedule in time during your day to bring more happiness and less stress into daily life. This can include scheduling time for fulfilling activities like spending time with family members, reading a book, registering for a class in an interesting subject or volunteering.
These five tips are just a starting point and should be personalized to fit your lifestyle and wellness goals. Be sure to go into 2023 with wellness in mind when deciding on your New Year’s resolutions!
When the Raiders relocated from Oakland to Las Vegas in 2020, the 49ers unveiled a “Faithful To The Bay” motto.
A dig at the Raiders? A tribute to the “49ers Faithful” fan base? A victory lap for now having the Bay Area’s market to themselves?
Tight end George Kittle put a spin on what it all means entering Sunday’s state-line crossing of this
rivalry, as the 49ers (11-4) make their first Vegas trip to visit the Raiders (6-9).
“I’m honestly a fan of the Raiders fans in Oakland. Their team abandoned them. Just left the state completely,” Kittel said Thursday. “But they’re still fans and I
really respect them.
“The Niners, we’re still here,” Kittle added. “We left San Francisco but we’re still close to San Francisco (at Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium since 2014). Our team stayed in California because we’re loyal out here.”
Loyalty. Derek Carr had it for nearly nine seasons with the Raiders, up until his benching Wednesday in favor of them giving Jarrett Stidham his first career start against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense.
The Raiders’ playoff hopes are all but dashed, and they could be eliminated before kickoff if the Miami Dolphins clinch the AFC’s final wild-card spot. Regardless, the 49ers will remain full throttle in an attempt to win their ninth straight game and possibly climb from the NFC’s No. 3 playoff spot.
Here are the five keys for that 49ers’ victory:
Watch out for Waller Who’s a young quar-
terback’s best friend? A top-tier tight end, all due respect to a quality offensive line and a complementary defense. What’s worked for Brock Purdy’s NFL initiation as a starting quarterback could also pay dividends for Stidham, who should seek out Darren Waller.
Waller blossomed into a Pro Bowler and two-time, 1,000-yard receiver since joining the Raiders (and Carr) in 2018.
“The only thing that’s productive is to support
Jarrett going forward,” Waller told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’re rallying around him and letting him know we believe in him and doing what we can to prepare for San Francisco. . . . I see him locked in, as he has been throughout the season. Makes a lot of good throws, and guys have been excited for him and his overall knowledge of the system.”
After missing two
SAN
SAN FRANCISCO —
Since Gary Payton II signed signed a threeyear, $26.1 million contract with the Portland Trail Blazers last summer, the former Golden State Warriors guard has yet to appear in a game as he continues to recover from an offseason surgery.
FAIRFIELD — There were several fine city teams as the Covid-19 pandemic finally started to settle down and bring local athletics closer to normalcy.
Tennis was a big sport this year in Fairfield and several schools, including Solano Community College, had stellar seasons.
Vanden boys and girls basketball and the football team have become synonymous with excellence and there was no exception to that this year. Vanden has the most teams mentioned with six, while Rodriguez has three. The list also includes two Solano squads.
Here is the City’s “Top
11 teams” for 2022:
The Vikings followed up their state championship season in 2021 with an excellent 2022. Vanden went 12-2 overall. A 10-6 win over Capital Christian helped Vanden earn secure back-to-back Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV titles for the first time in school history. The season ended in the NorCal finals where Vikings lost in a downpour in San Jose to Bellarmine College Prep, 35-21.
After another unbeaten Monticello Empire League season, the
Lady Vikings overpowered every Division III section opponent, including Lincoln, 76-36, in the title game. They were pushed up to the Division I tournament in NorCals, earning a first round win before falling to St. Ignatius of San Francisco 54-50. The final record was 26-4 and many of those wins were never close.
The Vanden boys ironically lost their first six games of the 2021-22 season. They finished as champions of the MEL, went 21-13 overall, and beat Central Catholic 57-53 for a Division III championship. The stellar season did
FAIRFIELD — The Armijo High School boys basketball team put up a pretty good fight Friday night at the Ronald D. Thompson Holiday Classic for not knowing they would even be a part of the tournament 24 hours earlier.
Castlemont of Oakland played a full game Thursday night with only five players against Fairfield. By the end of the night, the Knights were informing Fairfield head coach and tournament director Eddie Wilson they wouldn’t be able to compete the next day.
So in stepped Armijo, a team across town without a scheduled tournament. The Royals took the floor for head coach Michael Morris and jumped right into the seventhplace game. They battled Liberty Ranch of Galt for
32 minutes but fell 47-40.
“We couldn’t have been more pleased to play,” Morris said. “Coach called me up and and said, ‘You’ve got a spot.’ I said, ‘Let’s go.’”
Fairfield played the consolation final Friday against Davis, and went toe-for-toe before the Blue Devils pulled away
for a 50-39 win. Vintage beat Natomas 56-54 in the third-place game and Benicia won the title with a 94-63 victory over Vallejo.
At halftime of the 3:30 p.m. game, Armijo was only down 26-22 at halftime after holding Liberty Ranch to just three points in the second period. But Liberty Ranch pulled
away in the third quarter with a 22-9 advantage that moved its lead to 38-31. The Royals outscored the Hawks 9-7 in the final period for the final margin of victory
“We just came out flat,” Morris said. “I told them at halftime we have to keep the momentum going. Momentum changed everything.”
Marcel Longmire led the Royals with 16 points. Demari Combs added eight. Armijo fell to 1-5 Morris isn’t discouraged because he is looking forward to 6-foot-9 Trevor Morris joining the lineup soon.
“We’ll be a totally different team,” coach Morris said. “I can’t wait.”
Brayden Roots and Yousef Diab had 13 points apiece for Liberty Ranch.
For Fairfield, the Falcons trailed 18-9 after
That didn’t make Payton’s return to Chase Center on Friday any less meaningful. Golden State’s former defensive ace finally received his 2021-22 championship ring, even though he was dressed in street clothes. And it gave players, coaches and fans another excuse to reminisce on last season’s success – and Payton’s part in that.
“I thought Gary was one of the big stories from last year’s team,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “To go from a guy who bounced around the league to we release him at the end of training camp –fingers crossed – hoping he can clear waivers and then become such a key guy for us. And we don’t win the championship
without him.”
Since entering the NBA in 2017, Payton had played for the Bucks, Lakers and Wizards between multiple stints in the G League. The 6-foot-3 guard was the last player to make the Warriors’ 15-man roster last season after training camp, appeared in 71 regular-season games with 16 starts and wound up setting a career high in points per game (7.1) while shooting 61.6% from the field.
But though Payton’s offense steadily improved over the course of last season, it was his tenacious defense that made him invaluable to Golden State.
“And the rest is history,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said. “To understand all of that and to understand GP’s journey and to see him go and get his money, but most importantly, to see that he was able to contribute to a championship, I’m extremely excited and honored to be the person that’s presenting him something that matters and that no one can take for the rest of your life.”
FAIRFIELD — Jake and Allison Johnson had a basketball team do something Friday night they have never done before.
The Johnsons’ Vanden High School girls basketball team won two games in one day to close out the West Coast Jamboree.
The Vikings beat Moreau Catholic 77-54. They had a one game break and then went out and beat Canyon of Los Angeles 84-64.
The Diamond Division was one team short of a full bracket.
“We may have done that in AAU but never in high school,” Vanden coach Jake Johnson said.
“I’m proud of the girls. They played hard. Those are not easy teams they are playing, either. They are starting to figure things out.”
Alyssa Jackson led Vanden with 22 points in the win over Moreau Catholic. Gabby Wright scored 13 and Jaylen Kuehnel add 11.
Jackson went for
27 in the win over Canyon.
Kuehnel had 15, Gabby Wright scored 12 and Kalyn Harris had 10.
The two wins pushed Vanden’s overall record to 10-7.
Jackson, Kuehnel and Calonni Holloway were named to the all-tournament team.
FAIRFIELD — The Vanden High School boys basketball team hung on to a 60-59 win over Campolindo for third place at the Modesto Christian Holiday Hoop Classic.
It was the second time this season that the Vikings beat the vaunted Moraga school. Vanden led by as many as 10 in the second half before Campolindo fought back to make it a tight finish.
“I like where we are as a team,” Vanden head coach Micheal Holloway said. “We know we weren’t playing Modesto
Basketball College Men
Cincinnati vs. Temple, ESPN, Noon.
Memphis vs. Tulane, ESPN, 2 p.m.
College Women
Nebraska vs. Indiana, ESPN, 10 a.m.
NBA Sacramento vs. Memphis, NBCSCA (Vacaville and Rio Vista), 5 p.m.
Football
NFL Denver vs. Kansas City, 5, 13, 10 a.m.
San Francisco vs. Las Vegas, 2, 40, 1 p.m.
Minnesota vs. Green Bay, 5, 13, 1:25 p.m.
Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore, 3, 5:30 p.m.
Hockey
NHL N.Y. Islanders vs. Seattle, ESPN, 5 p.m.
EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 26 10 722 Brooklyn 23 12 657 2½ Philadelphia 20 14 588 5 New York 18 18 500 8 Toronto 16 20 444 10 Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 23 12 657 Cleveland 22 14 611 1½ Indiana 20 17 541 4 Chicago 16 19 457 7 Detroit 9 29 237 15½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami 18 18 500 Atlanta 17 19 472 1 Washington 16 21 432 2½ Orlando 13 24 351 5½ Charlotte 10 26 278 8 WESTERN CONFERENCE Northwest Division W L Pct GB Denver 23 12 657 Portland 18 17 514 5 Utah 19 19 500 5½ Minnesota 16 20 444 7½ Oklahoma City 15 20 429 8 Pacific Division W L Pct GB SACRAMENTO 19 15 559 L.A. Clippers 21 17 559 Phoenix 20 17 541 1 GOLDEN STATE 19 18 514 2 L.A. Lakers 15 21 417 5½ Southwest Division W L Pct GB New Orleans 23 12 657 Memphis 21 13 618 1½ Dallas 20 16 556 3½ San Antonio 12 23 343 11 Houston 10 25 286 13 Friday’s Games GOLDEN STATE 118, Portland 112 SACRAMENTO 126, Utah 125 Washington 119, Orlando 100 L.A. Lakers 130, Atlanta 121 Toronto 113, Phoenix 104
LOS ANGELES —
There’s nothing subtle about the shove.
One of the plays the Philadelphia Eagles run in short-yardage situations is a sneak with a pair of players immediately behind the quarterback, each poised to push on his backside as soon as the ball is snapped.
It’s the “double-cheek push,” or at least that’s how NBC’s Cris Collinsworth described it a few weeks ago, and it’s emblematic of what we’re seeing all over the NFL this season. Instead of traditional blocking schemes, these surging clusters of humanity turn the ball carrier into a cork bobbing in a wave.
“It’s one of those ways, if you’re trying to get a yard, it seems like a pretty efficient way to be able to do it,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, whose team plays the Chargers on Sunday. “And maybe you’ll see it this week if we get into those shortyardage situations.”
Remember the “Bush Push”? That was 17 years ago when USC running back Reggie Bush used all his might to help knock quarterback Matt Leinart into the end zone for the winning touchdown at Notre Dame. It was a controversial moment because aiding the runner in that way wasn’t allowed in college football at the time. Compared to what’s happening in the NFL, that shove in South Bend was merely a gentle nudge.
Sports Info Solutions recently looked specifically at quarterback sneaks and calculated through the first 12 weeks that Philadelphia led the league in that department by a wide margin. Heading into December, the Eagles had executed 24 sneaks and 21 of them resulted in first downs.
The next-closest teams were Cleveland (15 of 18), San Francisco (11 of 13), Cincinnati (11 of 11) and Chicago (eight of nine).
Former NFL and UCLA running back Maurice Jones-Drew said it often boils down to a simple calculation: Which 11 players are stronger?
“It’s just a mindset that you have that you’re going to fight for every inch,” Jones-Drew said. “I remember defenders saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to start taking your legs out because we don’t want to hold you up and then these other 300-pounders come in and knock us out.’
“You’ve got to remember, when you get the football it’s 11-on-one. There’s 11 guys trying to tackle you. So how do you even those odds out? Other guys are going to help you with that rugby scrum.”
For decades, NFL rules prohibited offensive players from directly aiding a runner in any way, whether it was pushing or pulling him. But in 2005 – six months before the Bush Push – the league clarified its stance. There would be no pulling of ball carriers by teammates, but pushing was too difficult to legislate.
“What the league found was so difficult was you never were sure who was pushing who,” said Mike Pereira, the former NFL director of officials who became the rules analyst for Fox. “So you’re not necessarily pushing the runner. You could be pushing someone else that’s in contact with the runner. So it became really too difficult to officiate. Therefore, we just said, ‘OK, it’s legal to push.’ “
The difference now is that teams are beginning to incorporate push plays into their repertoire.
“There’s a certain thing [about] pushing guys across the edge,” said Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield, more pushee than pusher. “You talk about it after the game and you see the momentum. You see the offensive linemen getting involved and you see the passion in guys and the will and the want to win.”
0 429 247 288 Carolina 6 9 0 .400 313 337 New Orleans 6 9 0 400 303 325 Atlanta 5 10 0 .333 315 350 West W L T Pct. PF PA xz-SAN FRAN 11 4 0 733 375 230 Seattle 7 8 0 .467 365 379 L.A. Rams 5 10 0 333 281 334 Arizona 4 10 0 .286 292 372
– clinch division
Clinched Playoffs Week 17 Thursday’s Game Dallas 27, Tennessee 13 Sunday’s Games SAN FRANCISCO at Las Vegas, 1:05 p.m. Arizona at Atlanta, 10 a.m. Chicago at Detroit, 10 a.m. Jacksonville at Houston, 10 a.m. Denver at Kansas City, 10 a.m. Miami at New England, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m. New Orleans at Philadelphia, 10 a.m. Carolina at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Cleveland at Washington, 10 a.m. N.Y. Jets at Seattle, 1:05 p.m. Minnesota at Green Bay, 1:25 p.m. L.A. Rams at L.A. Chargers, 1:25 p.m. Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 5:20 p.m. Monday’s Game Buffalo at Cincinnati, 5:30 p.m.
SAN JOSE — It would be easy to look at the San Jose Sharks’ record right now and feel like the team is going backward, not forward.
In fact, it would be downright understandable.
Prior to Saturday’s game with the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, the Sharks have 29 points with a record of 11-19-7, a 12-point dropoff from last season when they held a 20-16-1 record after 37 games.
Barring an improbable second-half turnaround, the Sharks will miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season and likely pick inside the top 10 in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The question that most of the team’s fans have is whether this is part of a protracted rebuild under general manager Mike Grier and coach David Quinn with more painful years ahead, or whether 2023 will mark the beginning of the Sharks’ renaissance.
Right now, the Sharks feel like they’re making strides, even though it hasn’t shown up in the standings. They’re a much better team at scoring goals 5-on-5 and have a power play that, unlike the previous three seasons, now ranks in the top half of the NHL.
Individually, a handful of players are enjoying bounce-back years, with Erik Karlsson having one of the most prolific seasons any defenseman has had in the last 30 years with 50 points in 37 games before Saturday.
Still, it feels like the
Sharks face a long, hard road ahead.
“We’ve made progress in a lot of areas,” Quinn said. “The one area that we haven’t made (progress in) is winning and losing, which is really all it comes down to.”
Here are some ways the Sharks can improve in 2023.
Without question, this is the area that needs the most improvement.
It’s unfair to put all of the Sharks’ struggles on James Reimer and Kaapo Kahkonen. Overall, the skaters in front of them have not done a good enough job at times of limiting turnovers and managing the puck.
Still, the Sharks entered Saturday with a team save percentage of .880, the worst in the NHL and a dropoff from the .900 team save percentage they had last season. Their goalsagainst average before Saturday was 28th-best at 3.59. Among the 53 goalies who have played at least 12 games this season
with 25 points and Justiz Wilson scored 13.
Vanden is now 10-5 overall.
before Saturday, Reimer and Kahkonen ranked 43rd and 52nd, respectively, in goals saved above expected per 60 minutes, per moneypuck.com.
A few more saves in the last three months likely would have gone a long way.
Reimer could get traded by the March 3 deadline, but the greater concern is Kahkonen, who is signed through next season at a salary cap hit of $2.75 million.
If Kahkonen cannot demonstrate before the end of the season that he’s capable of carrying the load, then the Sharks have to go out and find another goalie to make around 40-50 starts next season. Is Eetu Makiniemi that guy? Unlikely, given his lack of NHL experience.
It’s up to Grier to determine whether it’s in the best interest of the Sharks to keep Timo Meier or trade him. If the Sharks are thinking long-term, then the likely move is to trade Meier for draft picks,
regulation. Wood made some crucial stops and tied the game, sending it into the extra period. Wood improved to 9-6.
prospects, or a combination of the two.
But if the Sharks want to try and get back into contention as soon as 20232024, then they likely need to hang onto Meier, at least for the start of the season. The Sharks do not have another winger capable of scoring 35-40 goals, and the team will not be better in the short term without Meier. Finding a replacement in free agency will be expensive, with no guarantee of success.
Trade him by the March 3 deadline, give him a $10 million qualifying offer in the summer to retain his rights for next season, sign him to a long-term extension at some point during the 2023-2024 season, or deal him by the 2024 trade deadline. We’ll see what happens.
We’ll see how many of the Sharks’ top forward prospects are ready for full-time NHL jobs in 2023, but it has to be more than zero.
The Sharks desperately need an injection of dynamism (and hope) and it’s possible players like William Eklund, Thomas Bordeleau, and even Danil Gushchin can provide that element. It’s also possible that by giving these players a chance in the NHL, either after the trade deadline or at the start of next season, it will push other players to be better.
Easy enough, right?
Christian for the championship, so that showed that there is work to be done. You can’t ever be satisfied.”
Sterling McClanahan led the Vikings with 18 points. Jayden Robinson scored 17 and Elijah Lewis added 15. McClanahan was named to the all-tournament team as Vanden continued to play impressively with top scorer Tyler Thompson out with an illness.
Vanden rebounded after losing to Clovis West 71-64 Thursday night. McClanahan led the Vikings in that one
VACAVILLE — The Will C. Wood High School boys basketball team rallied and sent the game into overtime before coming through with a 67-63 win Friday over Bradshaw Christian at the Cordova Tournament.
Isiah Dixon led the Wildcats with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Julian Martinez added 13 points and Jayden Hamilton-Holland scored 11.
The Wildcats were down by five points with two minutes remaining in
On Thursday, Dixon scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, but Wood lost 62-51 to El Dorado. Josiah Chavez dished out four assists in the game.
The first three quarters stayed tight before El Dorado held a 16-9 advantage in the final period to take the victory.
ROCKVILLE — The Solano Community
College women’s basketball team shot only 21% from the field and hit only 8 of 52 attempts on threepointers in a 71-45 loss Thursday night to visiting Laney.
Solano was 17 of 82 from the field and just 3 of 10 from the free throw line. The Falcons fell to 6-8 overall and 1-1 in the Bay Valley Conference.
Julia Wright led Solano with 12 points and seven rebounds. Melody Rafan had 11 points and six rebounds. Jaslyn Woods also had 10 rebounds.
Amira Brown of Laney was tough to stop. She finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds.
Solano is back in action at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night against Marin at home.
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NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: LAURIE ANN AVIST-WOLF AKA LAURIE A. AVIST, LAURIE A. HULL CASE NUMBER: FPR051865
Toallheirs,beneficiaries,creditors,contingentcreditors,andpersonswhomay otherwisebeinterestedinthewillorestate,orboth,of: Laurie Ann Avist-Wolf aka Laurie A. Avist-Wolf, Laurie Ann Avist, Laurie A. Avist, Laurie A. Hull
APetitionforProbatehasbeenfiledby: Jennifer Morgan intheSuperiorC ourtofCalifornia,County of:Solano
ThePetitionforProbaterequeststhat: Jennifer Morgan beappointedaspersonalrepresentative toadministertheestateofthedecedent. ThepetitionrequestsauthoritytoadministertheestateundertheIndependentAdministrationofEstatesAct.(Thisauthority willallowthepersonalrepresentativeto takemanyactionswithoutobtainingcourt approval.Beforetakingcertainveryimportantactions,however,theperso nal representativewillberequiredtogivenoticetointerestedpersonsunlessthey havewaivednoticeorconsentedtothe proposedaction.)Theindependentadministrationauthoritywillbegrantedunless aninterestedpersonfilesanobjectionto thepetitionandshowsgoodcausewhy thecourtshouldnotgranttheauthority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: DATE: FEB. 2, 2023; TIME: 9:00 am; DEPT. 22
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County of Solano Old Solano Courthouse 580 Texas Street Fairfield, CA 94533
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENTHATTHEZONINGADMINISTRATOROFTHECITYOF FAIRFIELDwillholdapublichearingonthefollowingitem: GMPMAJORAUTOMOBILEREPAIRANDVEHICLESTORAGE–ConditionalUsePermit(UP2022-006).ApublichearingontherequestbyTomWilsontoopenamajorautomobilerepairandtowingbusinessat1350NTexasStreet(APN:0030-071-120).The projecthasbeenfoundCategoricallyExemptundertheCaliforniaE nvironmentalQuality Act(CEQA).(Planner:JessieHernandez,(707)428-7450,jhernandez@fairfield.ca.gov)
NOTICEISHEREBYFURTHERGIVENTHATsaidpublichearingwillbeheldonJANUARY11,2023,beginningat2:30PMonthe2ndFloorofFairfieldCityHallat1000WebsterStreet,atwhichtimeandplaceanyandallpersonsinterestedinsaidmattersmay appearandbeheard.Ifyouchallengeanyoftheabove-citeditemsincourt,youmaybe limitedtoraisingonlythoseis suesyouorsomeoneelseraisedatthepublichearingdescribedinthisnotice,orinwrittencorrespondencedeliveredtotheCommunityDevelopmentDepartmentatorpriortothepublichearing.Anypartyaggrievedoraffectedbya decisionordeterminationbytheZoningAdministratorintheadministrationoftheCity s DevelopmentRegulationsmayfileanappealwithin14businessdaysofthedecisionor determinationusingtheappealformavailablefromtheCommunity DevelopmentDepartment.Tofileanappeal,completetheformandsubmititwiththeappropriatefeetoCommunityDevelopmentDepartment,1000WebsterStreet,2ndFloor,Fairfield,CA94533no laterthan14businessdaysfromthedateofthishearing.Postmarkswillbeaccepted.For additionalinformation,pleasecontacttheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment,City Hall,2ndFloor,orphone707-428-7440.
TheCityofFairfielddoesnotdiscriminateagainstanyindividualwithadisability.City publicationswillbemadeavailableuponrequestintheappropriateformattopersonswith adisability.Ifyouneedaccommodationtoattendorparticipateinthismeetingduetoa disability,pleasecontactCindyGarcia,AdministrativeAssistant,at707-428-7452,cgarcia@fairfield.ca.gov,inadvanceofthemeeting.
DR#00060437 Published:January1,2023
If you object tothegrantingofthepetition,youshouldappearatthehearingand stateyourobjectionsorfilewrittenobjectionswiththecourtbeforethehearing. Yourappearancemaybeinpersonorby yourattorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, youmustfileyourclaimwiththecourtand mailacopytothepersonalrepresentative appointedbythecourtwithinthe later of either(1)four months fromthedateof firstissuanceofletterstoageneralpersonalrepresentative,asdefinedinsection58(b)oftheCaliforniaProbateCode, or(2) 60 days fromthedateofmailingor personaldeliverytoyouofanoticeunder section9052oftheCaliforniaProbate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may wantto consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.
You may examine the file kept by the court.Ifyouareapersoninterestedinthe estate,youmayfilewiththecourtaRequestforSpecialNotice(formDE-154)of thefilingofaninventoryandappraisalof estateassetsorofanypetitionoraccount asprovidedinProbateCodesection 1250.ARequestforSpecialNoticeformis availablefromthecourtclerk.
Garner&AssociatesLLP 109N.MarshallAve. Willows,CA95988 (510)934-3324 DR#00060400 Published:January1,4,8,2023
LOCATEDAT2716WaldorfLn,Fairfield CA94533Solano.Mailingaddress2716 WaldorfLn,FairfieldCA94533.ARE HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)KevinCotton2716 WaldorfLnFairfield,94533THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedabove on 12/07/2022. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/KevinCotton INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember6,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December7,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022001999 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00059981 Published:Dec.11,18,25,2022 Jan.1,2023
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS REDESIGN TO ALIGN LOCATEDAT349HopkinsDr,Fairfield CA94533Solano.Mailingaddress349 HopkinsDr,FairfieldCA94533.ARE HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)EightLLCCARedding,96001.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aLimitedLiabilityCompany Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedabov eonN/A. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/CynthiaCowartmemberRedesignto Align INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREIT EXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember6,2027.
THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December7,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002002 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00059988 Published:December11,18,25,2022 January1,2023
AUCTIONNOTICE:ASDEFINEDBY:TheCaliforniaSelfStorageFacilitiesAct,Chapter 10CommencingwithSection21700,Division8oftheCaliforniaBusinessandProfessionsCode,AIRPORTROADSELFSTORAGE–1604AirportRd,RioVista,CA94571 willconductanAuctiononJanuary20,2023,at10:45AM.AUCTIONEER:AWardAuctionJeffVercelli#MS324-27-4.AgentforOwner:DiedePropertyManagement.Unitsbeingsold:CurtisBooth,GloriaHernandez,MatthewHall,NancyDipasquale,LollyCaylor, LauraWilliamson,RoyCondra,RobertASmithItemsbeingsold:Furniture,tools,Vacuum,compressor,wheelbarrowandmisc.tubsandboxes.Thisadwillpublish1-1-2023& 1-7-2023.InaccordancewiththeCaliforniaSelfServiceStorageAct,shouldbidsfall shortagentspredeterminedfairmarketvalueonagivenStorageunit,agentshallhave therighttohaltthesaleofsaidstorageunit. DR#00060420 Published:January1,8,2023
NoticeofPublicAUCTIONasdefinedbytheCaliforniaSelfStorageFacilitiesAct,BusinessandProfessionsCodesections21700-21716.Locationofauctioneditems:Four SeasonsSelfStorageLLC.1600PetersenRd,SuisunCityCA94585.Dateofsale: 1/20/2023.Timeofsale:9:45am.AuctionwillbeconductedatFourSeasonsSelfStorageat1600PetersenRd.SuisunCityCA94585.Auctioneer;AwardAuction:JeffVercelli#MS153-13-71.Phone:408-891-6108.AgentforO wnerDiedePropertyManagement.Propertybeingsoldwillpublish1-1-2023&1-8-2023.Unitsbeingsold:DominequeConnors(D17)NealBowdoin(F82),JulieRuttenberg(A02,A30),FrankieBrown (F28),KaliayahL.Harrison(F197),JamieNickson-Jack(G115),TrevelyonThierry(F167), NancyJones(F42),RhondaChester(F137,G183),LamontPrentice(F130),JonathanR. Richardson(F31),PearlVazquez-Zavaleta(C37) Itemsbeingsold:Tools,DJBox,Treadmills,Shel ving,Electronics,Luggage,Stereo equipment,Games,Magazines,FloorLamps,vacuum,YardTools,Wood,Blinds,Furniture,HouseholdAppliances,Misc.Householditems,Misc.BoxesandMisc.Plastic Tubs.
DR#00060425 Published:January1,8,2023
CASE NUMBER: FPR051814
Toallheirs,beneficiaries,creditors,contingentcreditors,andpersonswhomay otherwisebeinterestedinthewillorestate,orboth,of: Dan Victor Chesada, aka Daniel Victor Chesada, aka Chesada Vuthanavisit APetitionforProbatehasbeenfiledby: Brendon Lee Wakefield intheSuperiorCourtofCalifornia,County o f:Solano ThePetitionforProbaterequeststhat: Brendon Lee Wakefield beappointedaspersonalrepresentative toadministertheestateofthedecedent. Thepetitionrequeststhedecedent'swill andcodicils,ifany,beadmittedtoprobate.Thewillandanycodicilsareavailableforexaminationinthefilekeptbythe court.
ThepetitionrequestsauthoritytoadministertheestateundertheIndependentAdministrationofEstatesAct.(Thisauthority willallow thepersonalrepresentativeto takemanyactionswithoutobtainingcourt approval.Beforetakingcertainveryimportantactions,however,thepersonal representativewillberequiredtogivenoticetointerestedpersonsunlessthey havewaivednoticeorconsentedtothe proposedaction.)Theindependentadministrationauthoritywillbegrantedunless aninterestedpersonfilesanobjectionto thepetitionandshowsgoodcausewhy thecourtshouldnotgranttheauthority.
A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: DATE: JAN. 10, 2023 TIME: 9:00 a.m. DEPT.: 22
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County of Solano Old Solano Courthouse 580 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533
If you object tothegrantingofthepetition,youshouldappearatthehearingand stateyourobjectionsorfilewrittenobjectionswiththecourtbeforethehearing. Yourappearancemaybeinpersonorby yourattorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, youmustfileyourclaimwiththecourtand mailacopytothepersonalrepresentative appointedbythecourtwithinthe later of either(1)four months fromthedateof firstissuanceofletterstoageneralpersonalrepresentative,asdefinedinsection58(b)oftheCaliforniaProbateCode, or(2) 60 days fromthedateofmailingor personaldeliverytoyouofanoticeunder section9052ofthe CaliforniaProbate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may wantto consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court.Ifyouareapersoninterestedinthe estate,youmayfilewiththecourtaRequestforSpecialNotice(formDE-154)of thefilingofaninventoryandappraisalof estateassetsorofanypetitionoraccount asprovided inProbateCodesection 1250.ARequestforSpecialNoticeformis availablefromthecourtclerk. Petitioner: BrendonLeeWakefield 7937VantageAve NorthHollywood,CA91605 224-247-8914 DR#00060258 Published:Dec.25,28,2022Jan.1,2023
THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS RHYNO EPOXY, RHYNO EPOXY FLOORS
LOCATEDAT5095BiancoCir,Fairfield CA94534Solano.Mailingaddress5095 BiancoCir,FairfieldCA94534.IS(ARE) HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)BrianBrown5095 BiancoCirFairfield,94534.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveon 12/14/2022. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/BrianJ.Brown INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember13,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ., BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December14,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002057 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060099 Published:December18,25,2022 January1,8,2023
TOALLINTERESTEDPERSONS: Petitioner: Ian Patrick McCleskey filedapetitionwiththiscourtforadecree changingnamesasfollows: Present Name: a. Ian Patrick McCleskey Proposed Name: a. Ian Patrick Clark
THECOURTORDERSthatallpersonsinterestedinthismattershallappearbefore thiscourtatthehearingindicatedbelowto showcause,ifany, whythepetitionfor changeofnameshouldnotbegranted. Anypersonobjectingtothename changesdescribedabovemustfileawrittenobjectionthatincludesthereasonsfor theobjectionatleasttwocourtdaysbeforethematterisscheduledtobeheard andmustappearatthehearingtoshow causewhythepetitionshouldnotbegranted.Ifnowrittenobjectionistimelyfiled, thecourtmaygrantthepetitionwithouta hearing.
NOTICE OF HEARING
Date: Feb. 3, 2023; Time: 9:00 am; Dept: 4; Rm: 305 The address of the court is:
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SOLANO
Solano County Superior Court 600 Union Ave. Fairfield, CA 94533
AcopyofthisOrdertoShowCauseshall bepublishedatleastonceeachweekfor foursuccessiveweekspriortothedate setforhearingonthepetitioninthefollowingnewspaperofgeneralcirculation,printedinthiscounty:DailyRepublic Pleasefileproofofnewspaperpublication atleast5businessdaysbeforehearing (newspaperdoesnotfilew/court)zoom ok.zoominvitewillbeemailed1-2days beforehearing Date:NOV.28,2022 /s/E.BradleyNelson JudgeoftheSuperiorCourt FILED:DEC.9,2022 DR#00060390 Published:January1,8,15,22,2023
NOTICEISHEREBYGIVENTHATTHEPLANNINGCOMMISSIONOFTHECITYOF FAIRFIELDwillholdapublichearingonthefollowingitem:
TRAINSTATIONSPECIFICPLAN–PLANNINGAREA1MPUDAND ʻ AVIATRIX ʼ –PlannedUnitDevelopmentPermit(PUD2022-001),DevelopmentReview–Community DesignPlan(DR2022-003),TentativeSubdivisionMap(TS2021-005),DevelopmentReview(DR2021-020),andEnvironmentalReview–MitigationMonitoring (ER2022-001).
PublichearingonarequestbyRepublicUrbanProperties/PeterLinforaMasterPlanned UnitDevelopment(MPUD)permittoestablishcirculation,design,andinfrastructurephasingplansforthefuturedevelopmentoftheapproximately131acres,“PlanningArea1”,of theFairfieldTrainStationSpecificPlan(TSSP).Consistentwiththevisionandpoliciesof theTSSP,theproposedprojectincludesamixofhigh,medium,andlow-densityresidentialneighborhoods,aprivaterecreationcenter,threepublicpocketparks,andanextensionoftheLinearPark.Additionally,RepublicUrbanProperties/PeterLinrequestsa TentativeSubdivisionMapandDevelopmentReviewtocreatelotsfor346townhomes,to implementasubareaofthePlanningArea1MPUDproposal.AnEnvironmentalImpact ReportwaspreviouslyadoptedfortheprojecttocomplywiththerequirementsoftheCaliforniaEnvironmentalQualityAct.(Planner:MeilyM.Sheehan,707-428-7474,msheehan@fairfield.ca.gov)
NOTICEISHEREBYFURTHERGIVENTHATsaidpublichearingwillbeheldonJANUARY11,2023beginningat6:00p.m.intheCouncilChambers,1000WebsterStreet, orthepublicmayjointhemeetingviaZoomat https://fairfieldca.zoom.us/j/87687427555?pwd=cjFUemtROWFWelN5Q3VpcW8vcHZNQT09orbyphoneat(408)638-0968WebinarID:87687427555Passcode:7074287440 atwhichtimeandplaceanyandallpersonsinterestedinsaidmattersmayappearand beheard.Ifyouchallengeanyoftheabove-citeditemsincourt,youmaybelimitedto raisingonlythoseissuesyouorsomeoneelseraisedatthepublichearingdescribedin thisnotice,orinwrittencorrespondencedeliveredtotheCommunityDevelopmentDepartmentat,orpriortothepublichearing.Anypartyaggrievedoraffectedbyadecision ordeterminationbythePlanningCommissionintheadministrationoftheCityʼs DevelopmentRegulationsmayfileanappealwithin14businessdaysofthedecisionordeterminationusingtheappealformavailablefromtheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment.To fileanappeal,completetheformandsubmititwiththeappropriatefeetoCommunityDevelopmentDepartment,1000WebsterStreet,2ndFloor,Fairfield,CA94533nolaterthan 14businessdaysfromthedateofthishearing.Postmarkswillbeaccepted.Foradditionalinformation,pleasecontacttheCommunityDevelopmentDepartment,CityHall,2nd Floor,orphone707-428-7440.
TheCityofFairfielddoesnotdiscriminateagainstanyindividualwithadisability.City publicationswillbemadeavailableuponrequestintheappropriateformattopersonswith adisability.Ifyouneedanaccommodationtoattendorparticipateinthismeetingdueto adisability,pleasecontactCindyGarcia,AdministrativeAssistant,at707-428-7452,cgarcia@fairfield.ca.gov,inadvanceofthemeeting.
DR#00060195 Published:January1,2023
Page B6
not end until a 42-41 loss to eventual-champion Elk Grove in the Northern California regional semifinals.
After dominating the MEL, including a win in the final league tournament by 75 strokes, the Lady Mustangs won the Division III title by two strokes over Vista del Lago of Folsom. Rodriguez went on to a fifth-place finish at the Section Masters tournament and the team season ended there. Rodriguez senior Nikki Chindavong was the top individual qualifier at Masters of those team that did not finish in the top three teams, and she advance to finish 10th at NorCals and 11th overall at the state tournament.
The highly-successful season of the Solano Community College men’s tennis team came to an abrupt and tough end in the Northern California semifinals, a 9-0 loss to American River in Sacramento. But the Falcons completed their season 13-2 overall. The Falcons lost their first match of the year and didn’t fall again until their last. They nabbed their first-ever Big 8 South title after an undefeated league run. Solano won its NorCal quarterfinal over Foothill, 5-2.
The Vanden High School girls tennis team was able to win its second straight Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship by edging out Oakmont 5-4. The Vikings finished 13-3 overall under head coach Stan Lewis. The team’s five seniors finished their careers with two Monticello Empire League championships, two section titles and one honor as a section finalist. They played in three section finals in four years,
with one year canceled due the pandemic.
The best season in Rodriguez High boys tennis history ended with a 7-2 loss to topseeded Cosumnes Oaks of Elk Grove in Sac-Joaquin Section Division III finals at the Laguna Creek Racquet Club. The Mustangs went unbeaten in the MEL and were making their first appearance in the finals.
The Vikings went 29-6 overall and finished as co-champs in the MEL with Rodriguez at 13-2 record. Vanden lost the Division II title game 4-2 in eight innings to Del Campo. The season ended with a 5-4 loss to Bellarmine Prep in the first round of the NorCal playoffs.
The Mustangs opened the 2022 season with 23 straight wins. The rest of the season was also pretty solid as Rodriguez finished 26-4 overall and 13-2 in the MEL. They lost to eventual-champion Granite Bay 2-0 in the Division II semifinals.
The Vikings nearly finished the season unscathed. Vanden posted a 20-1 overall record and the only loss was the last, a 3-1 defeat to Vista del Lago in the Section Division III semifinals. They won the MEL title with a 15-0 record and nine times they scored 10 or more runs in a game.
The Falcons finished their season 24-8 overall. Solano went 12-0 in the Bay Valley Conference, winning a fifth straight title and adding to a 47-match winning streak in conference. The season ended with a 3-0 loss at Sierra in the second round of the Northern California playoffs.
months with a hamstring injury, Waller returned two games ago (seven catches, 106 yards). He’s gone over 100 yards in four of his past 11 home games.
The Stidham-Waller connection will be hard pressed to match the chemistry Purdy has going with George Kittle, who has two touchdown catches in each of the past two games. Kittle has 16 catches on 21 targets for 263 yards since Purdy replaced Jimmy Garoppolo on Dec. 4.
“I really love throwing to tight ends, just because of the mismatch on safeties and linebackers that they have, and George’s speed and Charlie (Kolar) in college (at Iowa State) as well,” Purdy said. “… Yeah, I love tight ends.”
Once Emmanuel Moseley suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 5 at Carolina, Charvarius Ward wanted to become a cornerback who’d shadow opponents’ top target. “I want some work,” Ward said.
He’s clocked in against Deandre Hopkins (Cardinals), D.K. Metcalf ( Seahawks), Mike Evans (Bucs), Terry McLaurin (Commanders). Next up: Davante Adams, whom he faced last season with the Kansas City Chiefs against Green Bay.
“He’s one of the best receivers in the game with his ball skills and what he can do at the catch point,” Ward said. “He can go up and get it with one hand, two hand, whatever, he’s just a great receiver at the catch point, but also his route running and his releases.”
“The way he runs routes is hella different. Sometimes it looks like he’s moving in slow motion but he has five yards of separation. He’s really deceptive the way he changes up the speed of his routes.”
Adams came to the Raiders via trade to reunite with Carr from their Fresno State days. Adams may want to use this game’s platform to pay some respect to Carr upon his exit. “You can tell he thrives in that
one-on-one moment,” DeMeco Ryans said of Adams. “I know Mooney is looking forward to the matchup as well.”
Adams has gone three straight games without a touchdown for the first time since 2019. He didn’t score in last season’s divisional playoff loss to the 49ers in Green Bay, but he’s averaged 120 yards and scored five touchdowns in four regular-season games against them.
Crosby beat out Nick Bosa by one vote for second-team All-Pro spot last year. Now, Bosa likely will beat out all comers for NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors this season. But Crosby still remains a productive, dominant force, and it goes beyond his 11 ½ sacks and careerhigh 33 quarterback hits.
Crosby’s 81 tackles and league-leading 19 for loss represent the damage he can do to a run game.
“He presents a unique style,” said Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ run-game coordinator and offensive line coach. “He’s hard to get his hands on and in the run game, he’s kind of like J.J. Watt a little bit, in that he can swim around blocks and still make plays. It’s not only that he’s really talented and really good, it’s unconventional.”
Crosby is heading to his second straight Pro Bowl. But he won’t have Chandler Jones coming in from the other defensive end spot Sunday. Jones is out with an elbow injury.
Protecting Purdy from Crosby’s edge rush will be
tackles Mike McGlinchey and Trent Williams, the latter of whom says he’s “great now” after a highankle sprain sidelined him three games in October.
Facing the NFL’s leading rusher in Week 17 should present drama. Not really? The 49ers possess the league’s No. 1 rushing defense.
Jacobs has six 100yard games this season; the 49ers have not yielded even 60 yards to a single rusher in any game. He’s not racked up 1,539 yards, he’s scored 11 touchdowns on the ground; the 49ers have not allowed a rushing touchdown the past five games.
Jacobs’ frustrations boiled over after the Raiders’ loss Sunday at Pittsburgh, after being held to a seasonlow 2.9 yards per carry (15 carries, 44 yards).
“I’m tired of dealing with this (crap),” Jacobs told reporters after that loss, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. “Every day I come here and bust my (butt) and I see the guys busting their (butt) and the result is not there. For me, the last four years, the result has not been there. And quite frankly, I don’t know what else to do.”
What the 49ers plan to do, Ryans said, is starting their run-defensive plan by setting the edge, with defensive ends Nick Bosa, Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu physically knocking back tight ends and perhaps offensive tackles to keep Jacobs from reaching the perimeter. “Those guys put up a stop sign on the
edge of our defense and funnel them back inside to where all our pursuit is,” Ryans said.
Trey Lance vs. Derek Carr? Nope. Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Derek Carr? Nope. Jarrett Stidham vs. Brock Purdy? Yes, please. It’s a battle of the backups in a rivalry formerly dubbed the “Battle of the Bay.”
Purdy hasn’t played like a neophyte or a nincompoop, not with two touchdown passes each of the past four games since replacing Garoppolo; the 49ers officially ruled out Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel (knee, ankle) this game.
Like Garoppolo, Stidham was a rookie backup to Tom Brady on the New England Patriots, back in 2019, five years after Garoppolo served in that role. Garoppolo got dealt in 2017 for a second-round pick; Stidham was traded in May with a seventh-round pick for merely a sixth-round pick.
Upon the Raiders promotion of Stidham on Wednesday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said: “He hasn’t been out there a lot, so hopefully we’ll confuse him, make it tough for him.”
Why has it looked so easy for Purdy? Aside from a great cast around him and savvy play calls, Purdy’s mobility has extended drives, as has the fact the 49ers have committed only three turnovers in his four games – and only one in their prior four games during this win streak.
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the first quarter but fought back with a 15-8 run in the second to trail only 26-24 at halftime. Fairfield held a 11-9 advantage in the third quarter and the game was suddenly 35-35. It was the only time the Falcons tied the game.
The fourth quarter was all Davis as the Blue Devils held the Falcons to just four points and went on a 15-4 run in the period for the win. Davis hit nine
three-pointers in the game and continually ran out two units of five players each.
Johnnie Jones led the Falcons with 12 points. Evan Smith scored 11 and Amari Bryant scored eight. Jones also had 12 rebounds. Fairfield fell to 3-12.
Will Ackerman led Davis with 16.
The all-tournament team featured Ackerman, Mekhi Byrd of Natomas, Ben Jackson of Vintage, Marus Manalastas of Vallejo, Donovan Saivad of Vallejo, Jacob French of Benicia and Durrell Hurd of Benicia.
