Daily Republic: Sunday, January 29, 2023

Todd R. h ansen

THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VACAVILLE — It will likely take more than a month for all the repairs to be completed on Mix Canyon and Gates Canyon roads – storm-

“Mix

The WashingTon PosT

Fallout from the brutal Memphis police beating of Tyre Nichols continued Saturday, as the department shut down the specialized unit that had included the officers charged with seconddegree murder in his death while a broadening web of investigations scrutinized additional local authorities.

In a reversal, the Memphis police announced Saturday that it was dismantling the

Scorpion unit that had employed the five officers in the case. Only a day earlier, the Memphis police chief had defended the Scorpion unit, saying it “did good work” at combating crime but that this particular group of officers “went off the rails that night.”

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was stopped while driving in early January by police officers with that unit.

Video footage released

susan hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — The Fire Department welcomed eight of the newest members to the family Friday night with the ringing of a bell.

Division Chief Brian Kermoade; Capts. Ryan Esparza, Japen Soto and Dean Martin; and Engineers Justin Duchscher, Jason Vander Meer and Jian Eddinger, who is the city’s first female fire-

fighter, each received their badges from family members and then rang a bell that signaled their time on watch had come.

The pinning ceremony was the final step into the Fire Department, with oaths administered Tuesday.

Chief Brad Lopez spoke at the ceremony, saying the department has experienced a 42% increase in calls for service over usan hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — A subcommittee of the Fairfield-Suisun School District’s governing board will begin work soon to develop plans for how best to spend nearly $250 million in facilities property tax funding approved by voters

in November.

“We are just in the beginning stages of discussing Measure S,” Superintendent Kris Corey wrote in an email to the Daily Republic.

The first Facilities Subcommittee meeting of the year will begin at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7.

The district developed a

priority list before putting the $249.6 million Measure S on the Nov. 8 ballot. The property tax measure passed the required 55% threshold in Solano and Napa counties by two votes. The district has pledged that Measure S will not raise property taxes

What do these descriptive words really mean?

My friend Alex is a stickler for details. That is helpful professionally, since a fair amount of work she does involves editing.

Often technical language. The type of language that doesn’t appear in this column, where I’m looseygoosey with words (an example: Alex probably has never had to check to see how to spell “loosey” in that context, because it’s likely never come up in the documents she edits. By the way, it’s correct. L-O-O-S-E-Y.)

Anyhoo, (another word she likely hasn’t had to edit), Alex’s precision extends beyond words on a page. Because I discovered recently that she has specific definitions for words I suspect most of us use in a loosey-goosey manner (again, that’s correct).

According to Alex, the word “multiple” means more than one. “Couple” means two. “Several” means more than two, but not many. “A half-dozen” means six. “A dozen” means 12. “A baker’s dozen” means 13.

Correct so far, right?

(Although I suspect some of us may have forgotten about “baker’s dozen,” not having heard it since 1974.)

But Alex has precision beyond that, defining words in a way we might dispute. And by “we,” I mean you and me. I also could mean someone saying “yes” in French, I guess. And a stereotypical Irish person saying “tiny.” But mostly you and me. So play along with me. When I write a specific word, see if you have a specific definition for it.

For instance, what does “a few” mean? Got it?

Alex insists that “few” means three. Maybe four, but generally three. If you have five things, you don’t have a few, according to Alex, the precisionist.

(If I didn’t already say it –and a quick look at what I’ve already written confirms I didn’t – I admire Alex’s commitment to precision for these words. I only have a few words that I feel that way about. It’s possible that it’s more than four words, by the way, so Alex would insist it’s not a few.)

OK. Back to the Alex definitions.

What do you think of when someone says they have a “handful” of something?

To Alex, that means five. Exactly five, because you have five fingers (presuming you consider a thumb a finger, which is a different discussion.

Also, I presume six-fingered former relief pitcher Antonio Alfonseca gets a pass on this one). To Alex, having a handful of options means you have five options. Not four. Not six. I guess having a handful of sand means you have five grains? Or five ounces? Not sure, but Alex is committed to a handful meaning five.

What about “many?”

What do you think of when someone says that?

Alex says many means more than five. Someone who has many dogs has at least six. If you have many ailments, it’s six or more. And, of course for another baseball gag, if you have Manny Mota, you have the greatest pinch-hitter of the 1970s.

There’s one more specific figure Alex cites, although there may be more (a handful of them? Or just a few?) that she secretly harbors. Numerous

What do you think of when you hear numerous? Alex says that means more than 10 Numerous traffic tickets? At least 11. Numerous marriages? Only if it’s more than 10. Here’s the magic of it. Alex has an 8-year-old son and I remember being that age and trying to figure out some of these words. What does it mean to do something “a few” times? What does it mean when my parents say this has happened “numerous” times?

Alex’s son probably has those thoughts. He might even ask about them. And you know what the magic is? He has a mom who actually thinks about such things and has a passionate opinion. There are only a few moms like that. That means three or four, of course.

Reach Brad Stanhope at bradstanhope@outlook.com.

Want to adopt Ralphie the ‘demon’ dog? There’s a lot of competition

The WashingTon PosT

Even Ralphie’s advocates admit they don’t have many nice things to say about him. They concede that he’s a jerk, a terror, a demon. They caution that anyone choosing to engage with him should do so at their own risk.

Given that stipulation, his supporters have just one request: Will you please welcome him into your life forever?

Niagara SPCA, a no-kill shelter that serves 12 communities just north of Buffalo, takes in thousands of animals each year and writes loads of Facebook posts to showcase them to people looking to adopt, Executive Director Amy Lewis told The Washington Post. Normally, Lewis and her staff focus on the positive attributes of the pets that come to their shelter. When compelled to touch on an animal’s shortcomings, they try to do so in a lighthearted or humorous way. A dog that doesn’t like children or other pooches becomes a pet that “prefers to be an only child.”

That tactic didn’t work with Ralphie, a 26-pound, 14-month-old French bulldog who was surrendered by his owners about two weeks ago. The Niagara SPCA focuses on adopting out strays and doesn’t normally take pets surrendered by their owners, Lewis said. But since Ralphie was cute and a highly desirable breed, the shelter made an exception.

“We were like, ‘Why not? We’re pretty sure we can find a suitable placement for him,’” Lewis said.

But his previous owners had withheld information about Ralphie’s “less desirable traits,” which shelter staff members soon learned about. He started guarding his crate and lashed out at anyone who came near. He attacked vacuums, brooms and mops. Lewis and company developed a working theory about the backstory that had been hidden from them.

“Our best guess is that Ralphie’s cute face got him whatever he wanted and boundaries are something he heard people talk about, but they didn’t apply to him,” his adoption advertisement speculated. “His first owners took him to board and train, but their relationship was built on the premise that Ralphie was the boss so things ended abruptly. He was rehomed. Two weeks into this new home and he was surrendered to us because [he] ‘annoys our older dog.’”

“What they actually meant was: Ralphie is a fire-breathing demon and will eat our dog.”

The shelter decided not to make the same mistake when announcing his

availability to the world. “We knew we needed to be honest so we would weed out all of these inappropriate homes,” Lewis said.

They didn’t hold back. Acknowledging that Ralphie is an adorable young dog and that wouldbe pet owners should be banging down the shelter’s doors to snatch him up, they assured people that, in the end, few would want him. Why?

“Ralphie is a terror in a somewhat small package. What could go wrong with a 26lb dog, right?” the shelter wrote in its adoption post, which racked up thousands of reactions on Facebook and made headlines across the country. “We’re sure you’re thinking: my ankles will be just fine. We’d caution- proceed at your own risk.”

The Ralphie bashing continued.

“He’s a whole jerknot even half. Everything belongs to him. If you dare test his ability to possess THE things, wrath will ensue. If you show a moment of weakness, prepare to be exploited. Sounds fun, huh?”

Who might be the best future owners for such a difficult dog?

“The ideal home for Ralphie is the Mother of Dragons, or an adult home free of other animals, with an owner who will lead him calmly and sternlyputting up with zero crap.”

On Thursday, Lewis said Ralphie is not a lost cause. If shelter staffers believed that, they wouldn’t be trying to foist him off on some unsuspecting dog lover. They think he can thrive in the right environment, a quieter home led

by a patient but firm owner willing to set and maintain boundaries. His new home should have minimal distractions – no children or other dogs competing for human attention.

“We really see potential in him,” she said, “but anyone who adopts him needs to know that he has these issues.”

The radical transparency is having the desired effect: attention, and lots of it. The SPCA has received hundreds of calls and emails about Ralphie from Florida to California, Washington state to Rhode Island, and from all over Canada. Some hopefuls are upfront: They say

they’d like to own Ralphie but don’t meet all the criteria listed in the adoption post. Lewis said she doesn’t even have time to answer the voice mails from people who say their kids or other dog would love Ralphie.

Not all of the feedback has been positive. One woman from Seattle told them they should euthanize him, Lewis said. A more common response has been criticism of the SPCA for maligning Ralphie. Lewis said she gets that, but the goal of the post was to resonate with people so that it got in front of as many eyeballs as possible, including those of his

future forever owner. Lewis thinks she might have found “a perfect fit.” She received an email Thursday morning from a woman in the Miami area who said she had once owned a Frenchie that sounded like a Tasmanian devil or, as Lewis put it, “Ralphie reincarnated.”

Lewis said she expected Ralphie’s adoption ad to be popular but not this popular. She has a theory about why it struck a chord with so many people from so many different places. “A lot of it is, obviously, that Ralphie’s adorable,” she said, “and I think everyone loves an adorable jerk.”

Niagara SPCA courtesy photo Ralphie, the 26-pound French bulldog and “fire-breathing demon,” according to the ad.

Police arrest man sought in failed attempt to kidnap girl

FAIRFIELD — Police announced the arrest Friday of a man who authorities suspect tried to kidnap a young girl Wednesday as she was walking home from school.

Ronald McKinney, 61, of Vallejo, was seen by Officer Josh Smith while Smith was performing a security check Friday around local schools, police report. Smith contacted School Resource Officer Zack Sandoval, who confirmed McKinney was the man suspected in the incident Wednesday.

McKinney, who police describe as a high-risk sex offender out in parole, had an outstanding parole violation warrant for his arrest. He was taken to the county jail.

Police report the incident happened at around 3:15 p.m. near a church on the 2600 block of North Texas Street. That’s where police report a man approached the girl and tried to kidnap her.

The girl’s age was not released. She reported the incident Thursday morning to school officials, at which point the police were notified.

Police report the man – who police suspect was McKinney – approached the girl and asked her for her name. She refused, at which point the man said her parents sent him to pick her up and told her to go with him. She refused to do so and threatened to call the police. The man moved away from her, got into a nearby SUV and drove away, police report.

‘Stranger-Danger’ safety tips

The Fairfield Police Department provided a list of safety tips for parents to share with their children.

n First, define “stranger” with your children. You can say, “A stranger is someone we don’t know at all or know very well. Many people are kind and have good intentions, but we cannot tell who is kind just by looking at them.”

n Reiterate that children should never walk off with or get into a car with a stranger.

n Children should never accept anything from a stranger – including gifts, sweets or an

See Kidnap, Page A4

Sheriff’s Office spotlights new hires, longevity and honors

todd R. H anSen THANSEN@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — The Solano County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday welcomed 14 new staff members during a ceremony that also included recognition for 20 or more years of service and nine performance awards.

The awards included three distinguished service medals presented to Correctional Officers Michael Roark, David Kanemoto and Brian Houle, and certificates of commendation to Custody Sgt. Bradley Kamman; to Correctional Officers Rex Moffett, Phillip Elder, Roberto Chaides and Jake Gardner; and to Meraldine Maulino, a registered nurse with Wellpath, which provides some medical services in the county jail.

“On March 20, 2022, Sgt. Kamman was respon-

sible for directing and coordinating response efforts, which resulted in the preservation of two lives and potentially many more. The leadership Sgt. Kamman displayed and his management of resources during and after this incident resulted in not only two lives being saved, but also the location and removal of additional contraband, making the section/facility safer for staff and inmates,” the Sheriff’s Office reported. Moffett, Elder, Chaides and Gardner were recognized for the same incident.

“On March 30, 2022, an inmate was seen to be unconscious in his cell.

Officer David Kanemoto, Officer Michael Roark and Nurse Meraldine Maulino responded to the man down call for medical assistance and noted it

See Sheriff’s, Page A4

SuSan Hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Children were able to hear “The Umbrella Tree” read in two languages Saturday when the Mandarin-English Storytime at the Fairfield Cordelia Library returned after a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Volunteer Harrison

Paul chose two stories to read to children ranging in age from 4 to 10. The first book was “The Umbrella Tree,” which he alternated reading in English and then Mandarin for an audience of about

20 parents and children.

Then Paul played them a Happy New Year song in both languages since this is the Chinese New Year.

“This is like a Spring Festival,” he told them. “Some might compare it to Thanksgiving and Christmas all wrapped together.”

Paul said everyone celebrated it a little differently, but one of the big things that happens is a red envelope is given as a gift.

“That is exciting because it usually has money in it,” he said.

Each Chinese New Year has a different animal theme, which was

highlighted in “12 Lucky Animals,” the second book Paul read.

“This year is the year of the rabbit,” he said.

Paul, who received a master’s degree in philosophy from San Francisco State University, has taught Mandarin and technology. He has been an educator for the past 12 years at Mare Island Technology Academy in Vallejo, where he teaches philosophy and science.

“I learned Mandarin when I was a missionary in Taiwan for The Church of (Jesus Christ of) Latterday Saints,” he said.

He left when he was

19 and stayed in Taiwan for two years.

Paul’s wife saw the library was looking for volunteers to do the reading program and Paul thought it would be a good idea.

Mandarin Reading Time is an hour-long program the last Saturday of the month at the Fairfield Cordelia Library. It is free and open to everyone. The library offers arts and crafts as well as sing-alongs in both languages.

“This is a way for the children to learn about their culture or another culture,” Paul said.

See Library, Page A4

SuSan Hiland SHILAND@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VACAVILLE — The price of books is measured by the inch this weekend at the Vacaville Friends of the Library annual book sale.

They have hundreds of books in all genres just waiting for the next bibliophile.

“It’s not just books, we also have CDs, cookbooks, DVDs and even some special books,” volunteer Helen Vinson said.

Vinson has been a volunteer at the library for 33 years. She said she swore last year she was retired for good but she couldn’t stay away Saturday at the Vacaville Public Library-Cultural Center.

“That is it,” she said.

A resident of Vacaville since 1958, Vinson

started out as an aide in the library when her children were young. She thought it would be good to do something else and joined the Friends of the Library group.

“I helped out with the books and the money,” she said.

The Friends of the

Library is a nonprofit organization that promotes reading and learning through sponsorship of library services and events, and is supported by an active and involved membership.

Vinson came to California from a rural area where there were no libraries readily available when she was younger.

“This was the first library I had access to, to get books and the kids loved it,” she said.

Vinson started to read for pleasure. Volunteer Michelle Simonis has only been part of the library for a year.

“A friend asked if I could help by volunteering and since I was retired, I had nothing else to do,” she said.

Simonis thought volunteering would lead her back to reading for the fun of it.

“I used to love reading

See Deals, Page A4

Susan Hiland/Daily Republic

Lynda Ready of Vacaville looks for some good reads at the annual Friends of the Library Book Sale at the Vacaville Cultural Center Library, Saturday.

SafeQuest raising funds with St. Paddy’s Day event in Suisun

SUISUN CITY — SafeQuest Solano is hosting a “Puttin’ on the Green” St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser March 17 at the Joseph A. Nelson Community Center.

Proceeds support the agency’s domestic violence shelters and related services.

“SafeQuest has served victims of sexual and domestic violence since 1976. As one of Solano County’s most long-standing community-based nonprofits, it remains after 47 years the area’s only state-certified rape crisis

Kidnap

From Page A3

invitation to see something “interesting” or “exciting.”

n Children should never wander off on their own without telling a parent or a trusted adult first.

n Tell your children it’s fine to “break the rules” if they are in danger. They should yell, kick, lie, scream, run away and do whatever it takes to escape or bring attention to themselves if someone attempts to take them.

n Create a code word or sign that only you and your children know. If you send someone in your place to pick them up, that person should know the code word/sign as well.

n Children also need to know there are some strangers it’s safe to turn to for help. Familiarize them with the uniforms of police officers, paramedics and other public safety members. Let them know they should speak to these people if ever they feel lost or afraid.

n Likewise, help your children identify safe spaces. Let them know they can also seek help in buildings identifiable as police departments, post offices, libraries, hospitals and grocery stores, etc. –places where many people are often gathered.

Deals

From Page A3

all day long,” she said.

That hasn’t exactly worked out because she does get busy with her new puppy and other things.

Simonis said she hopes more people will see the value in volunteering at the library. Both women love spending time in the library and helping patrons out.

Lynda Ready of Vacaville brought a list of book club books she hoped to find at the sale.

“I am hoping for some good finds,” she said Saturday. “The nice thing is that they also have CDs and I have a few musicians that I haven’t listened to, and this is a cheap way to listen to new music.”

The book sale is quarterly. Membership is available at the door in the lobby for those interested. One of the benefits of being a member is they get in a day early for all the book sales, Simonis said.

Also, volunteers are needed since coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the loss of many people who just haven’t returned.

“It is very hard to find volunteers,” Simonis said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can go to the customer service desk at any of the local Solano County libraries.

The book sale continues from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at 1020 Ulatis Drive.

center and state-designated domestic violence agency,” SafeQuest said in a statement.

“The agency offers trauma-informed, comprehensive, appropriate response to the needs of victims of violence and their families, providing immediate access to critical community-based services including crisis stabilization, emergency housing and supports to regain self-sufficiency. SafeQuest currently offers emergency shelter in both Fairfield and Vallejo and is in the process of developing a third shelter

sheriff’s

From Page A3

was likely from a possible controlled substance overdose. The teamwork, training utilized and quick response from Officer Kanemoto, Officer Roark and Nurse Maulino saved the life of this inmate,” the Sheriff’s Office reported.

“On Sept. 26, 2022, Officer Brian Houle was working his assigned position as a Team 1 (dayshift) receiving officer at the Justice Center Detention Facility when an inmate acquired the attention of staff through banging on the cell window and hand gestures indicating that he was choking. Medical staff advised that the inmate required the Heimlich or abdominal thrust maneuver.

Officer Houle stepped up and applied the maneuver to the inmate giving two thrusts, which dis-

library

From Page A3

After singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” the children made red paper lanterns they could take home to remember the Chinese New Year.

Vicky Gao of Fairfield was happy to be able to bring her two children to something that was close to her home. Her son, Jeffery Liu, 6, was happier to be cutting paper to create the lantern. Her daughter, Emily Liu, 4, was also helping.

The big tradition

in Benicia.”

The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and includes traditional St. Patrick’s Day fare, craft beer and live music with the Breedloves. Every ticket includes entry into a door prize chance to win an all-inclusive Caribbean trip for up to eight people. Airfare is not included. A prize drawing and silent auction also are on the activities list.

Tickets are $45 and are available at https://safequestcheersandbeers2023. eventbrite.com.

“We are really looking to the community to find other ways to support us,”

lodged the obstruction and cleared the inmate’s airway,” the Sheriff’s Office reported.

Taking their oaths of office were a sheriff’s deputy: Tuan Le; six correctional officers: Paulo Bien, Vincent Crespo, Jackie HernandezVeliz, Alexander Ziegler, Ricardo Moreno and Isiah Mozon; three security officers: William Glennon III, Shawn Saunders and David Short; two animal control specialists: Sandra Oliveira and Marianna Wentzel; a veterinary technician: Chelsey Graciano; and a staff analyst: Erika Manuel. Paul Wright, a reserve deputy sheriff, topped the longevity list at 40 years, with Michael Thompson, also a reserve deputy sheriff, and Denise Munoz, a sheriff’s services technician, each with 35 years.

Recognized for 30 years in the department were Undersheriff Brad DeWall, Custody

in Gao’s family is the dumplings for the eve of the Chinese New Year, she said.

“They must be eaten at midnight for good luck,” Gao said. “The new year’s tradition here and in China is very different.”

The focus for most celebrations is a big family meal, and for some families it’s an exchange of gifts that also accompanies the food.

“I think that coming here is important for them to learn both English and Mandarin,” Gao said.

Getting back to a sense of normal in terms of library programming

FAIRFIELD FUNERAL HOME

Executive Director Mary Anne Branch said in the statement. “Our community and public partners have really stepped up to make sure that we have the resources to do the work, but the need is ever-increasing.”

The agency is seeking prize and auction donations, and local business partners.

Tickets, tables and a limited number of sponsorships are available. For additional information, call Michalle Hoehn at 775-815-3200 or send an email to development@ safequestsolano.org.

Sgt. Neil Wakabayashi, Correctional Officer Ken Kerr and Sean Wink, a reserve deputy sheriff.

Recognized for 25 years were Sheriff’s Lt. Jonathan Mazer; Custody Lt. Dennis von Ting; Sheriff’s Sgt. Corey McLean; Correctional Officers Alex Hambright, Cathleen Bidou, Rex Moffett and Scott Wilson; Public Safety Dispatcher Jessica Abbott; and Darren Dembski, a reserve deputy sheriff.

Recognized for 20 years were Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Pimentel; Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Sayre; Sheriff’s Sgt. Jason Speakman; Custody Sgts. Jeff Poblete, Kate Brunke and Stacee Kamman; Correctional Officers Daniel Chapman, Gary Thornton, James Castro, Joseph Hilyer and Mark Lagrisola; Supervising Public Safety Dispatcher Megan McCarthy; and Office Assistant III Kellie Sayre.

has been a challenge.

“We haven’t had this since prepandemic,” Anjeli Woreol, library volunteer and Children’s Library associate, said of the Mandarin-English Storytime. “It is getting hard to find volunteers.”

Relaunching regular programs is like starting everything from scratch, Woreol said.

More information on library programs may be found at https://solano library.com.

Suisun’s Measure S committee sets session to consider spending reports

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN CITY — The city’s General Tax Oversight Committee will review various Measure S financial reports when it meets Feb. 10.

The reports include the 2021-22 annual statements audit; an update on the Measure S financial status for 2021-22 and 2022-23; and a 2022-23 midyear budget review. City Manager Greg Folsom also is scheduled to provide his own update.

When the sales tax measure was approved by the voters in November 2016, with 68.43% support, the vision was for the estimated $1.8 million

in annual income to be used for a better 911 response, increased police patrols, more street repair and maintenance, fixing city lights, maintaining parks and sustaining city services. It is largely a public safety fund. The committee meeting is set to begin at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Access is available by going to https://us06web. zoom.us/j/83304054880. The Webinar ID is 833 0405 4880. Access is also available by calling 707-438-1720.

A full agenda is available on the city’s website at https://www.suisun. com/measure-s-over sight-committee.

Frankl in Lee ‘Frank’ Smith

Frank, a resident of LaPlace, LA, passed away on Friday, January 13, 2023 at the age of 71.

(707)

HARLEYS IN HEAVEN

Frank was the beloved father of Danielle Zimmer (Dustin), Amber Stacey (Rob), and the l ate Brandi Smith. He was the be loved husband of the late Jeannine Bercageay Smith.

Frank is survived by 3 siblings: Sue Galvez (Dave), Mike Smith (Debbie), Melissa Smith Powell (Reggie) as well as many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by Cleo and Virginia Smith; George and Richie Smith; and Lori Thompson.

Until we meet again.

The service will be held at a future date

Rogelio Escobedo

Rogelio “Shorty” Escobedo, 88, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2022.

He was born May 1, 1934 in San Rafael, Michoacan, Mexico to Jose and Christina Escobedo

He married Jovita Carranza on May 9, 1964 in Michoacan, Mexico. Until her passing in 2020 after 56 years of marriage. Once he arrived in the United States in the early years of 1950’s, Rogelio did many odd jobs from Arizona to Southern California until he finally settled working for Cadenasso Winery for 40 plus years. He always enjoyed gardening and telling stories about early years growing up and the special family bonding he had the Cadenasso family. He also enjoyed being an active member at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. He also enjoyed walking down the neighborhood with his friends.

He is survived by his sons Miguel (Tisha) Escobedo, Felix (Lucy) Escobedo, grandchildren Angelo (Lupita) Escobedo

Corina Escobedo, Nicholas Escobedo; 4 great grandchildren, Ariceli, Ronnie, Jamie, Lorenzo and Isaiah Escobedo; 3 sisters, 2 brothers and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Ricardo Escobedo, 2 brothers, Rigoberto and Filimon Escobedo.

Visitation will be Feb. 1, 12:00pm-5:00pm. With a rosary at 2:00pm at Bryan -Braker Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Services will be Feb.2 10:30am-11:30 am at the Holy Spirit Catholic church in Fairfield. Burial will be at St. Alphonsus Catholic Cemetery in Fairfield

Arrangement are under the care of Bryan-Braker Funeral Home, 707-425-4695.

Juliette Thomas

Julie Thomas, Fairfield resident, passed gracefully at 101+ years young earlier this January 2023. She was born and raised in Oak Park, Illinois, along with younger brother Stan Hone, by parents Bernard and Sybil. Julie was active in high school sports and academics before attending MacMurray College as a freshman, and then transferring to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor to complete a nursing degree.

During World War II, she enlisted as an Army nurse. After a zig-zag voyage with her unit and 3 infantry divisions across the Atlantic to shake German U-boats, Julie ser ved in southern England at the 112th General Hospital (a US tent and “hut” hospital) as a 2nd Lt handling a ward of 30. Wounded arrived by air directly from the front around midnight. Julie volunteered to take on soldiers with warcaused mental problems as well as significant physical wounds. At VE Day she and her unit received orders to transit on one of the first ships back to New York bound for reassignment to the Pacific. On the way, she was reunited with a young Army medical officer, George Thomas, whom she’d met prior to her service in Europe and who had written her ever y day. She and he were married in the Chicago area in June of 1945.

After the war, Julie was placed in the inactive Army nurses reserve. She went back to college, this time at UC Berkeley. With husband George (by the early 50’s a dentist in Walnut Creek), Julie dedicated herself to raising a healthy family, which included 4 rambunctious boys, sons Randall, Brian, Scott, and Stanton, on a small ranch (and quite a garden) in the hills of Contra Costa County.

During this period Julie began her community volunteering. In 1978 (near the time her youngest son graduated from High School), she began a 40-year volunteer role as an ombudsman for Contra Costa County residents in eldercare facilities.

Moving to Benicia in the early 80’s, Julie took on additional volunteer roles that included looking after and caring for the landscaping at the Benicia Yacht Club, the Episcopal Church in Benicia, and her own residential community. She was an active volunteer with Benicia’s Welcome Wagon, and the Benicia Museum, and for many years helped run the Benicia Yacht Club races.

Julie later moved to Fairfield’s militar y retirement community at Paradise Valley Estates (PVE). There she became an active volunteer for another 18 years in the PVE Health Care Center, their residents’ Health Committee, Sunday service organization, choir, show tune extravaganzas, and sports activities.

Interested in the world, learning, and public affairs, Julie was involved with her husband in one of the first medical group exchanges with China following the end of the Cultural Revolution. After George passed, she continued her explorations abroad, to both Europe and Asia, and explored the Buddhist philosophy and faith through a Japanese friend, remarking on the similarities to the compassion and love core elements that she knew in Jesus’ teaching.

Julie is much loved, and will be missed by her children, family, friends, and acquaintances. She is survived by her brother, three sons, daughter in-law Susan, 5 grandchildren and their mothers, 4 great grandchildren, and many nephews, nieces, and relatives here and abroad. Her son Scott died while serving the US as an aerial firefighter pilot. Her legacy to all is a spirited commitment to service, community, and sharing the joy of life. When you think of her, please remember these qualities to help them live on …

The family asks that donations be sent to your favorite charity in honor of Julie Thomas. Her final resting place will be at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery

ARMY VETERAN

Police: LA shooting that left 3 dead, 4 wounded not random

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

LOS ANGELES

— At least three people were killed and four wounded Saturday morning in a shooting in an upscale neighborhood in the Benedict Canyon area of Los Angeles, authorities said. Three people were killed inside a vehicle on the street and four were wounded outside, a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times. All three killed were women, who were in their mid-20s to early 30s, another law enforcement source said. The suspect or suspects remain at large.

Sgt. Bruce Borihanh from the Los Angeles Police Department said the property was a “shortterm rental home” and that a gathering was going on at the time.

“We called it a gathering, until we can interview some of the people that were here to determine exactly what kind of gathering it was,” he told reporters at the scene.

He said the attack was not random. Neighbors reported seeing several cars driving away from the scene within minutes of the gunfire. Authorities towed a black Mazda SUV Saturday afternoon that had bullet holes on both sides of the car and in the passenger-side window.

Los Angeles Fire

In brief

Department officials responded to the shooting at 2:55 a.m. in the 2700 block of Ellison Drive, a street of large hillside homes north of Beverly Hills. Los Angeles police were also on the scene.

Few details were immediately available, but police said the wounded were taken to local hospitals, according to LAPD Capt. Jonathan Tippet. Two are listed in critical condition and two were stable. A coroner official said around 10 a.m. that investigators were still at the scene and they had not yet identified the victims.

The entire block was cordoned off with crime

Coast Guard offers boating safety course

RIO VISTA — The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 453 North Solano, will host a full-day boating safety class Feb. 4 at the Coast Guard Station Rio Vista, 900 Beach Drive.

California requires all boat operators 50 or younger to take a certified safe boating class and carry the California Boater Card to operate a motorboat.

The course covers an introduction to boating, boating law, safety equipment, safe boating, navigation, boating problems, trailering, storing and protecting your boat, hunting and fishing, water skiing and river boating. It meets the requirements to earn the lifetime California Boater Card. Some insurance companies offer a discount to boat owners who successfully complete this course.

To register, call Margie Balch, coordinator, at 925768-1608. Seating is limited.

Measure M parks review on tap at meeting

VACAVILLE — The city’s Park and Recreation Commission will be updated on Measure M-funded parks when it meets Wednesday.

Presentations on the Recreation Expo, “The Great Outdoors” and from the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre also are on the agenda.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the City Council chamber at 650 Merchant St.

A full agenda is available on the city’s website at https://www.ci.vacaville.ca.us/government/ agendas-and-minutes.

Man who drove Tesla off cliff booked into jail

SAN JOSE — The man who authorities allege may have intentionally driven a Tesla carrying his wife and two young children off a 250-foot oceanside cliff south of Pacifica earlier this month – a crash first responders called a “miracle” after everyone survived – has been released from the hospital and taken to jail, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, a doctor from Pasadena, was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder and child abuse, the district attorney’s office said Friday night.

Prosecutors will finish reviewing the case Monday morning. If they decide to bring charges, Patel will be arraigned in court in Redwood City on Monday afternoon.

US general sees China war risk for 2025

An Air Force general said in an internal memo that the U.S. and China risk going to war in two years and told officers under his command to prepare, including with target practice, NBC News reported.

Gen. Mike Minihan, head of the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, said he has a gut feeling that the fight will happen in 2025, while saying he hopes he’s wrong, according to NBC. He said presidential elections in the U.S. and Taiwan in 2024 would create an opportunity for China to move against Taiwan.

NBC quoted a Defense Department official as saying the comments don’t represent the Pentagon’s view on China. An Air Mobility Command spokesperson told NBC that the memo is part of its effort to prepare for conflict if deterrence fails.

Minnesota passes bill to codify abortion rights

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota is on the verge of enshrining language into law guaranteeing the right to abortion for the first time in the state’s 165-year history.

The proposal, known as the Protect Reproductive Options Act – PRO Act for short – passed the state Senate early Saturday on a 34-33 vote after 15 hours of debate. The bill already cleared the Minnesota House and upon Senate passage now heads to the desk of Gov. Tim Walz, who has said he will sign it into law.

Staff, wire reports

scene tape early Saturday, and multiple police vehicles were on the scene. LAPD forensic scientists are on the scene scouring for evidence.

Investigators were also collecting video footage from security cameras in the neighborhood, according to a law enforcement source. Ellison Drive is a culde-sac tucked away in a warren of streets lined with attractive homes and tidy landscaping.

“It’s a pretty quiet neighborhood. My family has been here forever,” said Rachel David, a resident in her late 20s.

David left the house

to meet friends around 11 p.m. Friday night. When she returned the next morning around 5 a.m. and saw rows of flashing police cars, she initially wondered if it was a film shoot, a fairly common occurrence in the area. Then she spotted a large white van she believed to be the coroner’s. “I wait for my Ubers right at that corner,” David said, pointing at the intersection of Ellison and Arby drives, where the slash of yellow police tape was. “Not anymore.”

David’s mother, who declined to give her name, said the sound of police

helicopters woke her around 3 a.m.

“Now you know why moms worry about their children when they’re out late,” the woman said.

“I just feel terrible,” she added, gesturing with her coffee mug toward the blocked-off street where the three victims’ bodies were still in the car.

The women live around the corner from the crime scene with David’s grandmother, who has lived in the house as its original owner since the 1960s. For decades, it was a quiet neighborhood of longtime residents. In the last five years, as many of the original owners have died, many of the homes have been converted into rental properties, the women said.

“Literally, I don’t even lock my car at night, it’s so safe,” David said. “Even people trying to find our house can’t find it.”

An Ellison Drive resident who declined to give her name said the sound of police helicopters circling the neighborhood also woke her up at 3 a.m.

She assumed police were looking for suspects involving a lesser crime, perhaps a robbery. Then her phone pinged a few hours later.

“My dog walker woke me up at 6:30 and said, ‘Oh my God, are you OK?’ ”

the woman said. “Then I realized it was way more serious than someone getting their jewels stolen.”

A resident of the neighborhood for several decades, she described it as a quiet area that in recent years had seen an influx of short-term occupants.

Several houses had recently undergone renovations and appeared to have been converted to short-term rentals.

“There are some party houses up there,” she said. “I’ve always been curious what was gonna happen up the hill.”

Several homes in the neighborhood are listed on Airbnb and Vrbo, ranging from $600 to $7,500 a night.

Frank Coraci, a film director who has lived in the neighborhood for the last 20 years, said he occasionally rents out his home.

He’s had a tenant for the last eight months and now lives about 10 minutes away. When he heard of the shooting, he headed right over.

“It freaked us out, three people dead. I could have been walking my dog,” he said. The cul-de-sac has been home to several celebrity occupants, Coraci said. A sleek modern mansion across the street from the murder scene is often rented out for high-end parties, he said.

Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/TNS a los angeles Police Department officer stands on the 2700 block of Ellison Drive in Beverly Hills, saturday. The street is blocked off due to a police investigation after a shooting that left three dead and four others critically wounded.

Benicia chamber hands out top 2022 business honors

BENICIA — Pedrotti

Ace Hardware and Estey Real Estate and Property Management were named the Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year, respectively, at the Benicia Chamber of Commerce’s 76th annual Installation and Business of the Year Awards Ceremony on Jan. 20.

Luke George Photography is the first business to be selected in the new category as the Rookie Business of the Year.

The 2022 Ambassador of the Year is Julia Allen.

“Julia embodies the true spirit of a chamber ambassador. Julia served as the chief ambassador since 2020 ensuring the ambassador continued on during the pandemic. Her hard work and dedication is the very reason why our ambassador team is thriving today,” the chamber said in a statement.

Pedrotti, owned by Gene Pedrotti, was honored for being a “constant supporter of our community and our local organizations. They were a staple throughout the pandemic, helping to ensure that the public had even the basic supplies to get through the craziness.”

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Bat-

teries Plus, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, lightbulb, key fob and phone repair franchise, is opening its newest locally owned and operated store

Monday at 1575 Holiday Lane, Suite C.

Batteries Plus Fairfield will provide residents with services for their automotive needs, such as free car battery testing and installations on most vehicles, and help keep their cellphone, key fob, laptop and tablet batteries lasting longer and more efficiently, according to a aocmpany press release.

Each staff member has experience working with top brands and operating systems to give the best inspection for a device, including phone repair for broken and cracked screens, according to the company press release. The company also offers a range of products, such as automotive batteries (ATV, snowmobile, motorcycle, car, marine and golf cart), chargers, cellphone batteries, phone essentials, SLA batteries, alkaline batteries and generators.

The new Batteries Plus location is owned and

Solano EDC Speaker Series adds new panelist

The company is celebrating its 100th year in business and 32 years as a chamber member.

About Estey Real Estate, and owners Jill and Eric Hoglund, the chamber stated, “Throughout their 68 years as a chamber member, they have continually supported the chamber day in and day out through their sponsorships, on various committees throughout the years, as well as sitting on the board and becoming a past chair of the board. They have been instrumental in helping us achieve so much with our facelift downtown. In 2022, they celebrated 75 years in business in Benicia.”

On the its top rookie, the chamber added, “This new member wasted no time and set the bar high. Immediately becoming active with every mixer and event, joined our BizNet Committee and has graciously donated countless hours providing us with professional images of all our events in 2022.”

The chamber also announced Dawson Urban, of Hire My Husband, as the new chair of the chamber’s board of directors. The immediate past chair is Carey Morgan of Sailor Jack’s.

Luke George Photography/courtesy photo

FAIRFIELD — The Solano Economic Development Center Speaker Series returns Tuesday with a webinar that will focus on policy and advocacy exploring the legislation agenda for economic development.

Panelists include Gurbax Sahota, Tracy Rhine, Daniel Carrigg and Evan Schmidt, who replaces scheduled panelist Micah Weinberg, CEO of California Forward.

Sahota is president and CEO of the California Association of Local Economic Development –the state’s largest economic development association – and is the executive director of the California Academy for Economic Development. She also holds a senior position with the California Economic Development Authority. Through her various positions she collaborates with 800 economic development member peers throughout the state to support the start, growth and sustainability of private enterprise in California. She believes in the importance and need to collaborate and create meaningful partnerships in order to accomplish the goal of creating healthy, wealthy communities. She turns this belief into action by leading multiple organizations aligned with the goal of helping businesses thrive in order to create economic opportunity for California’s residents.

operated by local resident and entrepreneur Ashwant Singh and his wife Daljit.

Ashwant Singh, a first responder, and Daljit, a homemaker, were attracted to the Batteries Plus brand because of the benefits it can provide for others in Fairfield, according to the press release.

“Our goal is for Batteries Plus to be an active member in the community by providing jobs and improving the economy,” Ashwant Singh said in the press release. “We look forward to working with local organizations in the area to give back while educating consumers on

the proper use of various batteries and keeping their devices running longer.”

Batteries Plus can make on-site assessments at each location and will provide services for lighting and fixtures, helping technology operate efficiently, repair damaged items and more, the company reports. Batteries Plus of Fairfield will be another option for customers and local businesses to fulfill their essential needs.

Foun ded in 1988 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Batteries Plus has become the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb and smartphone/tablet

repair company.

“Ashwant, and the new Batteries Plus location will be an excellent addition to our team,” Scott Williams, CEO of Batteries Plus, said in the press release. “We are excited for Ashwant and his location to grow within their community and provide our products and services to his neighbors in Fairfield.”

To find out more information about the new Fairfield location, visit https://www.batteriesplus.com/store -locator/ca/fairfield or call 916-826-1020.

Southwest Airlines leaders defend tech, schedules and staffing after holiday meltdown

tRibune content agency

Southwest Airlines’ top executives say the company’s technology, staffing and scheduling plans didn’t fail in late December, even after a holiday meltdown in which 16,700 flights were canceled and the carrier forced the shutdown of two-thirds of its operations.

Facing a Department of Transportation inquiry for “unrealistic scheduling of flights” and a slowdown in bookings to start the year, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan defended the company’s maligned

technology systems and operating plans. He also tried to assure travelers that a breakdown of the magnitude that happened in December won’t “ever happen again.”

“Based on what we know at this point, our processes and technology generally worked as designed,” Jordan said during the company’s year-end financial results call Thursday in which Dallas-based Southwest announced a $220 million loss for the last three months of 2022. That includes an $800 million hit from the

operational meltdown and another $300 million to $350 million revenue loss from fewer bookings in January and February “associated with the operational disruptions in December 2022.”

Southwest also refused to back down on calls to reduce the number of flights to start 2023 while it steadies its operational issues, saying it will hold with plans to fly about 10% more in the first quarter than it did a year ago.

While Southwest’s cancellation problems have settled since December, Southwest is still outpacing

other carriers, said Cowen analyst Helane Becker.

“We are surprised to see that capacity growth expectations have not changed significantly for FY23 or the March quarter,” Becker wrote in a note to investors. “This could be a cause for future concern given the severe operational issues previously experienced in their network over the holiday season and in the months prior.”

Southwest has been under pressure to deliver solutions to the problems

Carrigg is senior policy adviser of Renne Public Policy Group. He is a political consultant with an extensive network of professional contacts and broad experience in legislative analysis, policy

development, strategy and advocacy on issues affecting local government agencies developed over his 30-year career in Sacramento. He also serves as an adviser for California Association of Local Economic Development. He has served as deputy executive director and legislative director for the California League of Cities, where he oversaw the organization’s lobbying and policy development activities for many years. Prior roles include serving as senior consultant to the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, as well as serving as a legislative representative on public works, real estate and contracting for the state Department of General Services. Rhine is senior policy advocate of Rural County Representatives of California. She joined the organization in 1026 as a legislative advocate and new represents RCRC on a variety of issues that include telecommunications, insurance, land use, and housing finance. She previously served as chief deputy director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and prior to that worked in the Legislature both as a member consultant with the Speaker’s Office of Member Services and as a committee consultant with the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions. She began her career as a graduate research assistant with the Governor’s Office for Innovation in Government.

Schmidt is the CEO of Valley Vision, a social impact organization leading regional and statewide initiatives that

Hispanic Chamber names new board members, officers

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Lisa

Castillo, owner of Castillo’s Legal Life Support, has been named the new president of the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

The vice president for Fairfield/Suisun/Rio

Vista is Sandra Jacobson, recycling coordinator at Republic Services. The vice president for Vacaville/Dixon is Francisco Marin, financial professional and insurance agent with New York Life Insurance Co. The vice president for Vallejo/ Benicia is Jerry Gonzales, business advocate with Beyond.

“Together, with the new leadership and the support of our dedicated members and community partners, we are confident that we can make a real difference in the lives of those we serve,” Castillo said in

a statement.

Other officers include Treasurer Kim Castaneda, vice president of Development and Communications at Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano; Chief Ambassador Damian Alarcon, community relations director at Travis Credit Union; and Parliamentarian Yajaira Rubio Machado, owner of Lunitas Kitchen.

Other chamber directors are Fairfield Councilwoman Doriss Panduro; Juan Vallejos, owner of Bay Hauling; Marbeya Ellis, Family Resources manager at the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District; Mario Saucedo, president and chief executive officer for the Solano AIDS Coalition; and Fairfield police Sgt. Pedro Arroyo.

Additionally, Leo Callejas has been appointed as the new executive director of the chamber. He started his duties on Jan. 1.

SCHMIDT RHINE CARRIGG

Batteries Plus opens this week in Fairfield

Jill and Eric Hoglund of Estey Real Estate and Property Management won Benicia Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Small Business of the Year award.

Luke George Photography/courtesy photo

Luke George of Luke George Photography won Benicia Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Rookie of the Year award.

Courtesy photo

See Defend, Page A7

Defend

From Page A6

behind December’s cancellation event in which its crew rescheduling software was unable to keep up with a large number of flight cancellations caused by a winter storm that hit important airports in Denver and Chicago.

Other airlines including Fort Worth-based American and Chicagobased United have taken shots at Southwest for the cancellations.

“We were very adequately staffed to operate our fourth quarter flight schedule, feel very confident in our aircraft network, and we have a sophisticated technology product that we call ‘the Baker’ that produces new aircraft solutions during irregular operations,” Southwest chief operating officer Andrew

Watterson said. “At no time during the disruption did the point-to-point journeys of the aircraft present us with an unsolvable problem.” Even while defending the technology shortfalls, Jordan said the company is on track to spend $1.3 billion this year on technology and infrastructure upgrades, not including money to

upgrade Wi-Fi and add power outlets to flights. That includes existing plans to upgrade technology for its ground operations team, flight planning and operations.

“The recent disruptions will likely accelerate some of our plans to enhance our processes and technology,” Jordan said.

Southwest has hired consulting firm Oliver

Wyman to dissect the meltdown and figure out what is needed to prevent another.

Company leaders initially blamed the company’s crew rescheduling software, calling it “overmatched in situations of this scale.”

During the crisis between Dec. 21 and 29, Southwest Airlines was unable to keep up with the need to reassign pilots and flight attendants to new flights after their old flights were delayed or canceled. At one point, Southwest lost track of many of its crew members while pilots and flight attendants waited on hold for eight hours or more to talk to crew scheduling representatives.

Those problems grew after bad weather cleared on Dec. 23 until Dec. 26, when the crew scheduling fiasco became so unmanageable that the company had to shut down twothirds of its flights for the

next three days to “reset” the network.

Union pilots and flight attendants at Southwest have called for technology upgrades for years after smaller-scale meltdowns in 2021 and early 2022 that left crew members without hotels and transportation during stretches of heavy cancellations.

But now Jordan is saying the company’s crew rescheduling software, a GE Digital product commonly called SkySolver, worked as designed.

“I wouldn’t call it a GE Digital issue,” Jordan said. “That software they sold to us and others performs well in normal times.”

Instead, Watterson called it a “functional gap” because of the large number of cancellations causing reassignments for hundreds of pilots and flight attendants across the country in a short period of time.

EDC

From Page A6

advance livability. Valley Vision’s work for more than 25 years has been in support of the “three E’s” – social equity, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability. Schmidt’s leadership over the organization’s research and strategic initiatives spans six impact areas of Workforce Development, Clean Economy, Food and Agriculture, Broadband and Digital Equity, Healthy Communities, and Leadership and Civic Engagement. She also serves as co-chairwoman of the California Stewardship Network.

The webinar takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m.

To register, visit https://us02web. zoom.us/webinar/reg ister/WN_E_mMh p7oSXe37NJKOj4NFw.

(TLC)

Sisters “The Sweet and Sour

1000-Lb. Sisters ’ 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way ’ 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way Counting down to the new season.

Eliza (Kate Phillips) is hired to investigate a case of police corruption in “Miss Scarlet and the Duke on Masterpiece.”

Liesbeth Powers/The Dallas Morning News/TNS file (2022) Denise Simon Mattei, left, checks bags for herself and Elaine Simon’s, right, journey back to Baltimore with a Southwest Airlines agent at Dallas Love Field Airport, Dec. 27, 2022.

California economy surges, but future cloudy

Last year was a strong one for California’s $3.4 trillion economy.

The state added 621,400 jobs, finally regaining the nearly 3 million that were initially lost during the Covid-19 pandemic as Gov. Gavin Newsom shut down major economic sectors. The year ended with a near record-low 4.1% unemployment.

“California continues leading the nation’s economy,” Newsom boasted after the December employment report was issued this month. Earlier he projected that if California were a nation, it would be close to surpassing Germany as the globe’s fourth most powerful economy. All good. In fact, some economists believe California’s job growth is so strong that only a shortage of workers – due to a decline in the number of Californians seeking work – is a major impediment to expansion.

That’s the economic upside.

The downside is that no one seems to know whether the good times will continue or the state will experience one of its periodic recessions, which tend to hit about once a decade.

For the past few months, the Federal Reserve System has been attempting to dampen inflation by raising interest rates. Its stated hope is the economy will cool off enough to curb inflation but avoid a sharp downturn into recession.

It’s not yet clear whether the system’s efforts will work as planned and economists are mixed in their projections of what lies ahead economically for the nation, not only because of the Federal Reserve’s actions but other factors, such as the war in the Ukraine.

Newsom’s proposed 2023-24 budget reflects that uncertainty.

“The uncertain future paths for inflation and Federal Reserve policy pose short-term risks,” the budget declares. “If high inflation persists longer than expected or if the Federal Reserve policy causes greater pullbacks by businesses or individuals, the economy could tip into a mild recession.

“This could lead to a steeper decline in investment and interest-sensitive consumption, which in turn could cause a larger decline in economic growth and reduced nonfarm employment and personal income growth.”

“The biggest economic threat is continued inflation,” an analysis by the Public Policy Institute of California contends. “While December consumer data marked six straight months of slowing inflation, prices have not yet abated enough. Until that happens, the Federal Reserve will likely continue to take steps to slow the economy, increasing the risk of a recession.”

Recession fears and other factors are already having an effect on the budget, turning what Newsom and legislators thought was a nearly $100 billion surplus last summer into a multibillion-dollar deficit due to sharp declines in projected revenue, mostly taxes from highincome Californians.

The most powerful engine of California’s economy, and therefore of the state’s revenue stream, is the Bay Area-centered technology industry, whose major firms are sharply reducing payrolls through layoffs after expanding during the pandemic to serve the shift to workat-home employment.

Despite the layoffs, the region was still adding jobs during December – in fact 84% of the jobs California gained during the month, which attests to the mixed economic signals the state is experiencing.

“We don’t see anything catastrophic happening with tech,” Patrick Kallerman, vice president of research with the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, said. “I don’t see the tech industry collapsing.”

While economists debate over the economic future and Capitol politicians dicker over how to deal with the projected deficit, their constituents are turning sour.

A November poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found high pessimism about the economy with 69% of Californians surveyed saying they expect bad times in the next year and 62% expecting periods of higher unemployment during the next five years. 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 Commentary.

Iwrote in 2018 about guns in America after a particularly horrific mass killing made it to the front pages of newspapers across the state and nation. I renew my thoughts now that California has experienced a series of mass killing since the start of 2023 that have left two dozen people dead.

One saw a teen mother and her infant child killed executionstyle – along with many of her family members – in a small town in the Central Valley. The shooting, which authorities believe was carried out by two gunmen, left six people dead. Another left 11 people dead at a dance hall in Monterey Park near where a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration had taken place hours earlier. Nine others were wounded. Yet another brought terror to Half Moon Bay on the coast south of San Francisco when a gunman killed seven people and wounded one other person.

The latter two occurred with days of one another within the past eight days.

The outrage we’re experiencing now will fade, then come roaring back, tragically, maybe before or right after you read this. That’s what happened after 12 people were killed at a Thousand Oaks country and western bar in 2018, and again after three people were killed and 17 others were wounded at the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival, and again after nine workers at a San Jose rail yard were killed in 2021.

It’s like a national curse – a curse that clearly includes California.

It was hard enough in 2018 to discuss this not-so-desirable example of American exceptionalism without outside agitators, but we know now that for some time we’ve had “help” from Russian internet trolls putting gasoline on our heated national debate on all sorts of subjects, including guns, gun rights and gun violence. That remains true today. So be it. We must rise above that if we are worthy of the nation our Founders gave us. Part of that legacy was the Second Amendment, which now lies at the center of the debate, and we have to deal with it. They trusted we would “deal with it,” as they did with the whole idea of a democratic republic.

So let’s give it a try.

The Second Amendment states, in its entirety: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

I have previously discussed what

those words mean. The original intent has been lost to subsequent events and interpretations, but the Supreme Court has held that (1) the right “to keep and bear arms” alluded to in the Second Amendment is rooted in an individual’s fundamental right of self-protection; (2) no government law or regulation may infringe upon that right, but the right is not unlimited and may be regulated for public safety; and (3) the right extends at least to an individual’s ability to keep a gun at home appropriate for personal protection; the interest in and need for a “wellregulated militia” may have waned, but the individual right persists.

I have also discussed where we might go from here to make our lives safer.

We don’t know the limits of an individual’s right to “keep and bear arms” until there are more cases before the Supreme Court, but the court has already ruled that government may ban or regulate “dangerous and unusual weapons” and those “not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.”

Furthermore, the government may regulate gun transfers and where guns may be carried. The courts have upheld restrictions on military-style weapons and large-ammunition magazines. Gun registration laws and laws setting a minimum age to purchase a gun are constitutional so far. So are limits on the number of guns a person may possess. The Second Amendment creates no barrier to such regulations.

So, while we may argue their wisdom, there are many actions we can take – through our government –to make our lives safer, well within the restrictions of the Second Amendment. The problem is we don’t do anything for fear of doing too much, or because of specious arguments about what the Second Amendment allows, when, in fact, it allows

much, and no one knows how much until we try.

The pattern plays out again and again. There is a tragic mass killing. Then there are calls to do a lot to prevent a recurrence, accompanied by calls to do nothing until things cool down. The powerful gun lobby uses the hiatus to bring politicians in line, and we generally end up doing nothing.

But maybe things are changing. The state of Florida, very much a pro-gun-rights state, in 2018 enacted some new laws against the wishes of the gun lobby. Florida was on the right track, but we can and should do more.

Certainly the killing capacity of the hardware available to private owners is worthy of regulation, but right now I would be satisfied with:

n A thorough, uniform national system of background checks with no loopholes, avidly enforced, before a person can obtain a firearm, even as a gift.

n Requiring people to resubmit their qualifications for possession on a regular basis so we can be sure they are still competent.

n Having the world’s best mental health intervention and care system, paid for in large part (not totally) by sales and excise taxes on firearms and ammunition. (I call those “the price of the Second Amendment” taxes.)

n Creating a culture that believes and expects armed people are the most responsible among us, so that we question and can intervene when a nut case, for example, is armed, before he or she pulls the trigger.

Let’s do those things now, and then debate the hardware. With the setting I’ve described, most people could tolerate more. And wouldn’t gun advocates like that?

Richard L. (Rick) Wood retired from the city of Fairfield’s Public Works Department and lives in Fairfield. Reach him by email at rlw895@gmail.com.

CALMATTERS COMMENTARY

SOLANO VOICES

Dan Walters

Richard L. Wood

Crime logs

FairField

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

12:27 a.m. — Battery, GREEN VALLEY ROAD

12:30 a.m. — Residential burglary, 1700 block of KIDDER AVENUE

2:57 a.m. — Assault with a deadly weapon, 1200 block of TEXAS STREET

4:04 a.m. — Trespassing, 1400 block of WOOLNER AVENUE

5:11 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 2200 block of FALCON DRIVE

5:38 a.m. — Vehicle burglary, 700 block of KENTUCKY STREET

8:32 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 6200 block of CARDINAL WAY 9:04 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 2700 block of NORTH TEXAS

block of ENTERPRISE DRIVE

1:33 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 100 block of BODIN CIRCLE

1:39 p.m. — Brandishing a weapon, 2800 block of OWENS STREET

2:35 p.m. — Battery, 1700 block of CATLIN DRIVE

2:35 p.m. — Reckless driver, PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE

2:39 p.m. — Reckless driver, 1000 block of UNION AVENUE

2:50 p.m. — Battery, 1700 block of ENTERPRISE DRIVE

3:57 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, 5000 block of RED TOP ROAD

4:10 p.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, VANDEN ROAD

4:52 p.m. — Fight with a weapon, 1900 block of MANOR PLACE

6:07 p.m. — Robbery, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD

6:54 p.m. — Battery, 1300 block of TRAVIS BOULEVARD

7:19 p.m. — Vehicle theft, VILLA

CIRCLE

7:29 p.m. — Robbery, 5100 block of BUSINESS CENTER DRIVE

8:21 p.m. — Battery, 200 block of EAST ATLANTIC AVENUE

9:33 p.m. — Reckless driver, 1900 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET 10 p.m. — Trespassing, 1400 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 10:10 p.m. — Brandishing a weapon, 1300 block of WEST TEXAS STREET 11:03 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 1900 block of MOOSUP COURT

SuiSun City

THURSDAY, JAN. 26

9:26 a.m. — Vehicle theft,

JAN. 27

3:22 a.m. — Trespassing, 2100 block of NORTH TEXAS STREET

8:25 a.m. — Hit-and-run property damage, CLAY BANK ROAD 10:25 a.m. — Battery, 500 block of MARIGOLD DRIVE

12:19 p.m. — Vehicle theft, 2500 block of AUTO MALL PARKWAY

12:27 p.m. — Battery, 1700

interlocking block gravity retaining wall, backfilling with two-sack slurry cement and performing miscellaneous roadway restoration work.

“Gates Canyon Road has experienced a downslope slip at 2.5 miles west of Pleasants Valley Road. The road has experienced major distresses and is not safe for traffic,” Bezak stated.

The work outlined is the same as for Mix Canyon Road with the addition of installing a concrete foundation, geotechnical subsurface reinforcement and installing aggregate backfill with a PVC subsurface drain.

The crews catch a break in that no significant rain is forecast in the immediate forecast. Solano County could see some sprinkles Sunday, the National Weather Service in Sacramento reported, with the next larger system probably another week away and that will likely stay in the northernmost reaches of the state.

Temperatures this weekend will be cold, below freezing overnight, with some gusty winds, the Weather Service reported.

The Solano County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday issued the evacuation warning. It is not clear how many residents are affected by the situation.

the past five years, and noted since 2019 with support by Measure S resources, has graduated from a basic life support agency to an advanced life support agency,

“This will help us provide for a more effective response to fires and a greater level of emergency medical care to our citizens,” Lopez said.

Suisun City Mayor Alma Hernandez said she saw the importance of having more fire staff and equipment when she went to a fire.

“It was a most humbling experience seeing

them work and holding the hand of someone whose house was on fire,” Hernandez said.

Funding for the eight positions was approved in June by the City Council. The fire house received a second staffed engine company that went into service Dec. 19.

“This accomplishment and milestone did not happen overnight,” Hernandez said, noting it took years to come together.

Aaron Klauber, president of the IAFF Local 1186 and a Vallejo fire captain, spoke during the ceremony about the excitement of seeing new members of the department.

“This is not the end of your journey, it is just a stepping stone in your

career,” he said.

Klauber emphasized the importance of paying attention to details, and of teamwork.

Lopez welcomed the newest team members of the 200-year-old fire department by reading the Firefighters Creed written by retired Chief Bobby Halton before family members came up and pinned badges on the firefighters’ uniforms.

“It is more than being hired for a job,” Lopez said. “It is a long and daunting journey with many spending years becoming EMTs, paramedics.”

After the ceremony, the only female Suisun City firefighter, Jian Eddinger said it was during the wildfires in Napa, where

Satellite access to field.

she worked in a medical office, that she decides to rethink her career path.

The Air Force brought Eddinger’s husband to Travis Air Force Base. She has a degree in psychology but the fires brought home that her path needed to change.

“We brought blankets to those who were displaced and I couldn’t help but feel like I could be doing more,” she said.

So began her journey into the fire service in Alameda County and as a volunteer in Suisun City since 2018.

Family members and friends went to the fire house after the ceremony for some refreshments and for some to start their shift.

for those who live within the district.

A Facilities Master Plan list was developed in 2016 with an estimate of $1.3 billion in what the district described as its facilities needs at the time. That plan was developed in the lead-up to Measure J, a $249 million general obligation bond approved by voters June 7, 2016, that’s being repaid through current property tax assessments.

The third and final Measure J bond sale occurred Feb. 20, 2020.

Seven schools received upgrades for security reasons to the main offices, the district reports. Bond funds went to projects to upgrade five kitchens. Upgrades and additional parking was included for seven lots. The school district also worked to improve 209 bathrooms that were showing their age, the district reports.

The Facilities Master Plan was updated last September in the lead-up to Measure S, with project priorities at each school.

The newest plan took more than five months to develop with input provided from district staff, site staff, parents and students, the district reports.

10. Armijo High School: New sports complex.

The total cost of the priority projects in 2016 was $139.6 million. Current estimates for the projects – the scope of which for some have been revised since 2016 – is roughly $750 million, the district reports.

That list includes things like needing to secure the entrance to the Public Safety Academy and redo its parking lot. The list also has what are described as “significant CTE facility upgrades” at Armijo High School.

The district offers students 16 Career Technical Education pathways across four secondary schools: Armijo High School, Fairfield High School, the Public Safety Academy and Rodriguez High School. Each pathway spans 11 different industry sectors, all of which are relevant to local workforce opportunities, the district reports.

“I do know that most of the people who live up there live below the closure (areas),” Robyn Rains, acting manager of the Solano County Office of Emergency Services, said in a phone interview Friday.

Part of the unknown of who is above the closure areas is how many of those residents have rebuilt after the LNU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020, Rains said.

The good news is that Blue Ridge Road, a private road that connects Gates Canyon and Mix Canyon roads, is OK for travel, so as soon as one of the roads can be used again, area residents will be able to get in and out.

Until then, not even emergency service vehicles are allowed through, the Sheriff’s Office said. Gates Canyon Road is expected to be closed for 30 days. Mix Canyon Road could be open in a week’s time.

Residents in the affected area were told they could shelter-in-place or temporarily relocate.

Any residents unable to shelter-in-place or temporarily relocate due to hardship may contact the Solano County Office of Emergency Services at 707-784-1600 or send an email to oes@solanocounty.com.

Visit https://bit. ly/3X093lH to view a map of the affected area. This link will be updated when either Mix Canyon or Gates Canyon roads reopen.

Measure J money paid for such things as the replacement of the synthetic tracks and fields in the stadiums at all three comprehensive high schools in 2016. Money from Measure J was also used to fix up 14 gymnasiums and locker rooms and to meet other related sports facility needs, the district reports.

A total of 107 new classrooms for eight schools were completed through Measure J; updates and modernization of seven other district sites occurred; and old and outdated school facilities were removed.

Measure J funded projects to build new or to upgrade eight libraries throughout the district.

The top 10 priority list includes:

1. Anna Kyle Elementary School: New main office and expanded parking lot.

2. Public Safety Academy: Reconfigure administration.

3. Armijo High School: Restrooms.

4. K.I. Jones Elementary School: kitchen expansion.

5. Armijo High School: Career Technical Education programs (auto shop, welding).

6. Fairfield High School: Career Technical Education programs (auto shop, wood shop).

7. H. Glenn Richardson School: Restroom.

8. Additional kindergarten classrooms at various sites.

9. Sem Yeto High School:

There are 15 Career Technical Education pathways in California. Building and Construction Trades is one of the pathways and includes four focus areas: Cabinetry, Millwork and Woodworking; Engineering and Heavy Construction; Mechanical Systems Installation and Repair; and Residential and Commercial Construction. The Transportation pathway includes three focus areas: Operations; Structural Repair and Refinishing; and Systems Diagnostics, Service and Repair. The Manufacturing and Product Design pathway includes four focus areas: Graphic Production Technologies; Machining and Forming Technologies; Welding and Materials Joining; and Product Innovation and Design.

Corey in her email spoke of the final projects being paid for by Measure J. “We are finishing up our last three projects for Measure J which include a library, administrative building and new classroom wing at Cleo Gordon; the Visual and Performing Arts Center at Fairfield High School; and a gym, changing room, and upgraded kitchen at B. Gale Wilson,” Corey wrote in her email.

Corey wrote that the district “is extremely grateful to the taxpayers” for approving Measure J in 2016 and Measure S in November.

“The students in our community have and will continue to benefit greatly,” she wrote.

Trustee Bethany Smith is chairwoman of the Facilities Subcommittee. Trustees Craig Wilson and Helen Tilley also serve on the subcommittee. Board President David Isom is the alternate member.

Friday evening captured what happened after, showing officers pummeling an unarmed Nichols, who cried out for his mother during the beating. In the aftermath, the videos show, officers conversed among themselves while a bloodied Nichols was left propped against a car, waiting minute after agonizing minute for an ambulance to arrive. It didn’t come until 22 minutes after the police said Nichols was in custody.

Nichols died three days after the beating. Five officers involved, all of them Black, were fired from the Memphis police and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and other counts.

But while the video recordings – captured by police body cameras and a security camera on a nearby utility pole – provided an extended look at the beating and its aftermath, they also left key moments undocumented and raised other questions. The footage does not capture the actual police stop, for instance. But it does depict officers claiming that Nichols grabbed for their guns – something not seen on any videos released Friday.

The video footage was widely condemned on Friday and Saturday, with a procession of politicians, law enforcement officials and other prominent figures and groups all excoriating what they saw

captured on camera. With Nichols’s death, Memphis is the latest city facing nationwide scrutiny over law enforcement actions and behavior, joining Minneapolis, Chicago, Baltimore, Cleveland, Atlanta and Ferguson, Mo.

Before the footage was released, local officials in Memphis repeatedly described it as horrifying. The videos released Friday only magnified a wave of criticism and outrage in Memphis and across the country. Demonstrators marched in Memphis on Friday, calling Nichols’s death a murder, and other protests were held from Los Angeles to New York.

On Saturday, demonstrations continued in Memphis, New York and Raleigh, N.C. In Memphis, about 200 people marched peacefully on Saturday afternoon around the city police headquarters and the Shelby County Government Center. The group stopped at intersections frequently to make demands of authorities, including calling for the Scorpion unit to be shut down.

Nakia Harris led the march for part of the way, along with her three sons, who are ages 5, 8 and 11.

“I have three boys, and it is hurtful as a mother seeing that video,” said Harris, a 30-year-old Black woman. Harris said she does not want her children to fear for their lives when they see the police. “I want them to not be afraid when they see blue lights, or want to run,” she said.

Condemnation of the police actions in the

Nichols case also poured in from law enforcement officials, including Cerelyn Davis, the Memphis police chief, who said her former officers lacked “basic humanity.”

Her comments were echoed Friday evening by other policing leaders, including in places where officers have been criticized and prosecuted for their own use of force.

Keechant Sewell, the New York City police commissioner, denounced what she called “disgraceful actions,” while David O. Brown, the Chicago police superintendent, called the video “horrific.”

Nichols’s family has praised the official response recently, with Rodney Wells, his stepfather, saying Friday they were “very satisfied with the process, with the police chief, with the D.A.” Earlier, attorneys for the family called for the Scorpion unit to be scrapped, something the police chief initially pushed back on.

The unit – whose name came from an acronym for Street Crimes Operations to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods –consisted of 40 officers. It was created in 2021, the same year Davis took over the department and the city was struggling with a record-setting number of homicides.

It was billed as combating violent crime, and Mayor Jim Strickland last year touted the group, highlighting that it made hundreds of arrests and seized hundreds of weapons in its initial months. At first, Davis merely suspended the unit’s activities, asking for

outside reviews of each specialized unit within the Memphis police, while she also defended it.

“These teams have worked really hard, and they’re under a cloud now,” Davis said in an interview on Friday. “People want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

On Saturday afternoon, though, the Memphis police abruptly reversed course, announcing that Davis had met with the unit and it was being shuttered.

“In the process of listening intently to the family of Tyre Nichols, community leaders, and the uninvolved officers who have done quality work in their assignments, it is in the best interest of all to permanently deactivate the SCORPION Unit,” the department said in a statement.

Police officers still with the unit “unreservedly agree with this next step,” the department said. In the Nichols case, “the heinous actions of a few casts a cloud of dishonor” on the Scorpion group’s name, the department said.

Before the video footage of Nichols’s beating was released, Davis acknowledged that it did not capture the initial traffic stop. Davis said Friday that the officers claimed Nichols “was driving on the wrong side of the road but we have not been able to prove that.”

The officer who stopped Nichols was driving a new, unmarked police car not equipped with dashboard cameras, Davis said.

Trump kicks off presidential campaign in New Hampshire

Tribune Con

Donald Trump kicked off his White House bid in New Hampshire, where he maintained that he won the 2020 election and framed Joe Biden’s bid to move the first presidential primary out of the state as the pres ident taking “revenge” for losing “badly” there three years ago.

Trump, former pres ident and the keynote speaker at the Republican State Committee meeting held at the high school in Salem, New Hampshire, on Saturday, vowed to a friendly crowd of supporters that he would ensure New Hampshire keeps its “first-in-the-nation” primary status, should he return to the White House.

“You have it,” Trump said. “You’re first and you’re going to remain first.”

Trump said he won the Republican presidential primary twice in New Hampshire – and believes he “also won two general elections” – and stated that Biden’s fifthplace finish there in the 2020 Democratic primary was influencing the president’s bid to change the

2024 voting calendar.

“Now he’s taking revenge (on) the voters of your state, by clearly and disgracefully trashing this beloved political tradition,” Trump said. “And I hope you’re going to remember that during the general election.”

The Democratic National Committee voted to place New Hampshire second on the 2024 presidential primary calendar, behind South Carolina and on the same day as Nevada, a move that drew opposition from

the state’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and local Democrats.

Sununu, who is also expected to challenge Biden for president, said last week that New Hampshire plans to vote first “no matter what,” despite penalties the national party said states could face for refusing to comply, USA Today reported.

The New Hampshire Republican Party has already decided to keep the state first in the GOP primary lineup, according to Matt Mowers, former NHGOP executive director and a senior White House adviser to Trump, who said that lineup has “served our country really well.”

States that vote early have more say and influence than those that vote later in the process.

“I think it’s a shame that Joe Biden’s bringing boss-style politics here,” Mowers said. “He’s rewarding states that supported him, where all he had to do was get one endorsement. But he’s neglecting the state that has arguably the most open political process in the country.”

Trump spoke for just

Scientists: Zero-emission steel won’t happen without trade-offs

The WashingTon PosT Cars. Toasters. Paper clips. The buildings we live in and the machines we use rely on one of the most polluting industries on Earth: steel. Production of the iron-based alloy is responsible for some 7 to 9% of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions. But according to a new analysis, committing to zero-emission steel will also require committing to less steel overall.

In a paper published in Nature Sustainability, experts write that while zero-emission steel is within reach, it will require a big trade-off in production capacity.

Most modern steelmaking requires coke, a coal byproduct that fuels the furnaces used to transform iron ore into steel. As a result, it’s a major source of emissions. But although zero-emission steel is needed to mitigate human-caused climate change, the authors say it’s still unclear whether that goal is attainable, and how future climate policies and manufacturing processes would affect supply.

As an example, the researchers cited Japan, which has committed to zero emissions by 2050. But the strict carbon

budget that will require could reduce steel production dramatically, they write, with the amount of high-quality steel available for automobile production reaching just 40% of current levels and crude steel production reaching 35% of current levels.

The industry will need abundant electricity, hydrogen and scrap to produce net-zero steel, the authors write.

The steel industry is working on solutions.

According to the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, at least 73 green steel projects are in progress. But the researchers say the technology just isn’t there yet.

under an hour at Saturday’s meeting, where he laid out his early presidential agenda, which included mainly a series of plans to continue what he started in his four years as president and undo measures Biden has taken since defeating him in 2020, describing his time in office as a colossal failure.

“It’s strange, but I think of the United States – every day is April Fool’s Day,” Trump said.

Trump said he would crack down on illegal immigration by re-securing the border between Mexico and the United States, replace Chinese

imports of essential goods with American-made products, and boost the economy by lowering taxes and ending “Joe Biden’s war on American energy.”

He also said he would impose congressional term limits, institute a lifetime ban on lobbying by former members of Congress, keep America out of “foolish foreign wars” and defend election integrity, which he suggested was impacted by early mail-in voting that was introduced during the pandemic.

Trump also fell back on familiar refrains, leveling insults at political rivals, referring to President

Biden as “Brandon” and the former House speaker as “Crazy Nancy Pelosi.”

He referred to the gathered media as “fake news” and brought up the laptop controversy involving the president’s son, Hunter Biden, saying that the FBI covered up massive corruption revealed on the computer by telling the media it was Russian disinformation.

He also suggested that crime was on the rise because of calls for defunding the police, quipping that, “You go to New York. No one gets prosecuted. I’m the only guy they go after.”

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Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

OPPOSITE DAY

ACROSS

1 Cat’s attentiongetter, maybe

4 Car once advertised as a “well-built Swede”

8 Endpoint for some boots and skirts

13 Like cookies soon after the Cookie Monster spots them

18 Equine parent

20 Anti-censorship org.

21 Provençal mayo

22 Only just

23 Drill sergeant, perhaps?

27 New York, for one

28 Lubricate

29 Return

30 Audrey Hopburn letters

31 Distribution parties

34 Ellington composition

35 Inning’s trio?

36 Collective action by society women?

41 French bread?

43 Part of an underwater forest

44 One-eighty

45 Movie trailer?

47 Pick up

49 Farm bird that never topples?

55 Wrath

56 Honeycomb unit

57 Rep. from the Bronx

58 WWF, e.g.

59 Mountain goats’ terrain

62 Temperamental

63 Org. with the largest-circulation magazine in the U.S.

65 Corner store

66 Amendment proposed by a technophile?

70 Cut and paste, say

71 Ibex range

72 Drops

73 Invite for 74 Gretchen of “Boardwalk Empire”

75 La Liga cheer

76 Contact

77 Carol contraction

78 Like a typical ride on a mechanical

By Brian Thomas & Brooke Husic

with Mexico

15 BOGO deal

16 Weather-affecting

Pacific current

17 Politburo nos

19 Noblezada of “Easter Sunday”

24 Bumping heads

25 Drops the ball, say

26 __-free plastic

30 Brief “Beats me!”

32 Fit of pique

33 Great Basin native

34 Sends off the soccer pitch

37 Far from relaxed

38 Color TV pioneer

39 Offline, briefly

40 Kenan’s “Good Burger” co-star

42 Sch. that competes against Notre Dame for the Jeweled Shillelagh

46 [Crossing my fingers!]

48 German “first”

49 Bright shades

50 Ye Shoppe

51 Eschew a co-pilot

52 Real talent

53 Wading bird

54 “Au contraire!”

56 Member-owned grocery

59 Espresso froth

60 Free from

61 Fleet of foot

62 Chemistry class model

63 Filling with wonder

64 Children’s song marchers

65 Text in a longdistance relationship,

maybe 67 Tibia neighbor

68 Spilled salt, to some

69 Thinking a song is about oneself, say

75 Music store supply

77 Roll the dice, say

79 Pacific Northwest sch. 80 Hawaiian for “white” 81 Texting tech 82 “If we must die, O us nobly die”: McKay 83 Herb used in some smudging rituals 84 Big hands? 85 Word in an Arthur Miller title 87 RPG with a

20-sided die 89 Acid initials 90 Strawberry 91 Highfalutin 93 “All __!” 94 Rolls

Scott Eisen/Getty Images/TNS

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the New Hampshire Republican State Committee’s Annual Meeting in Salem, New Hampshire, Saturday.

Dog bites are more serious than you think

Here’s how to avoid risky situations

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

DALLAS — With 2023 now well underway, you may find yourself hitting the local walking trails – home to new athletes like yourself, and their well-meaning, but sometimes aggressive dogs, which can deliver a serious bite if you’re not careful.

Even if you’re minding your own business while on your new year’s jog, dogs can bite you. More than 4.5 million people in the United States are bitten by dogs each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

And according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dog bites present a serious health risk to humans, especially for children, who make up half of bitten victims. Nearly one in five victims require medical attention.

In 2022, the nonprofit Friends of the Katy Trail said it didn’t receive any reports of dog bites. Ashley Navarrette, clinical assistant at Texas A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science, said that in her veterinary practice, she has seen many instances of dog-on-dog aggression, adding that dog bites are an issue in Texas.

The good news is that most dogs only attack humans when provoked – and most bites are preventable. But even the sweetest of dogs can deliver a mean bite.

Here’s what to know about dogs and their ability to bite, and some tips on how to avoid getting into risky situations involving canine aggression.

When and why do dogs bite?

Just like other animals, dogs have a self-defense mechanism in place to fend them from dangerous situations.

When dogs find themselves in a stressful situation or feel threatened, they may bite to defend themselves and their territory, the AVMA says.

“I would say, more often that not, the highest incident is fear-based,” said Navarrette, who is a director of primary care services at A&M’s veterinary school. “They’re fearful of whatever situation it is.”

During times of fear, dogs can either run away or fight. Oftentimes dogs can’t run away, so they resort to fighting.

Mother dogs may employ aggression if they feel their puppy is in danger. Other dogs may bite if they feel sick, sore from injury or want to be left alone, according to the AVMA.

Which dogs bite?

A dog’s ability to bite does not depend on their breed. Naverette added that cats also have the capacity to bite people and other animals.

The AVMA cautions that an individual dog’s behavior determines their capacity to bite, meaning any dog can bite – big or small; male or female; young or old.

Naverette noted that she sees heightened levels of aggression in intact dogs, or dogs who haven’t been neutered or spayed.

Who is most vulnerable to dog bites?

Children face a much higher risk of getting bitten by a dog, especially

those who are unsuper vised and may not know how to act around dogs.

Due to their height, some children may are more likely to be at the same level of a dog, which makes them more vulner able to facial bites. These wounds tend to be more traumatic than injuries on hands and feet, Nav erette said.

How to avoid dog bites

In order to avoid getting into a risky situation, it’s important to pay attention to dogs’ body language, Naverette said.

Fortunately, there are some tell-tale signs. In addition to barking and growling, dogs often lick their lips or try to lean away from a situation that could escalate. Other common indicators of impending aggression include dilated pupils and perked-up ears.

“Another thing you’ll notice is when they’re getting closer and closer, you will start to notice that their mouth will start to tense,” Naverette said.

She also recommends parents educate their children on how to appropriately and safely interact with dogs. Not all dogs are comfortable around humans and could have a history of aggression.

“I think most of us were probably taught the way to greet a dog is to put your hand out . . . and that’s actually not great because that’s entering their space,” she said.

The clinician noted that it’s better for the dog to approach you instead, and “make the conscious decision to interact with you.”

If you get bitten by a dog, it’s best to seek medical attention soon and consult with a physician to get treatment. Bites can vary in size and severity.

Mayo Clinic Minute: What are eye floaters?

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

Spots, flashes of light or darkness on any side of your vision could be a sign of eye floaters. Most often noticeable when looking at a plain, bright background, such as a blue sky or a white wall, eye floaters are a symptom of age, according to Dr. Amir Khan, a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist. And they can lead to a sight-threatening condition that requires immediate attention.

Having vision problems? Do you see black or gray specks, strings or cobwebs that drift about when you move your eyes?

It could be eye floaters.

“In the back of our eyes, we have a substance called ‘the vitreous.’ When we’re young, it’s a firm clump of jelly. As we age, this firm clump of jelly can liquefy and break up into smaller pieces. Those smaller pieces are what you may notice as floaters,” says Dr. Khan. Eye floaters are more common as you get older and if you’re nearsighted. The biggest concern is they can cause retinal tears.

“If a tear develops in the retina, fluid can get underneath that tear and just lift the retina like wallpaper off a wall,” says Dr.

Khan. “And that’s a retinal detachment.”

And that can cause blindness, which is why it’s especially important to have a dilated eye exam within days of noticing new floaters or changes in vision.

Most eye floaters don’t require treatment, but your eye doctor likely will recommend regular eye exams to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen.

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Rome’s starlings create a stunning spectacle, huge mess

The WashingTon PosT

ROME – This time of year in Rome, the evening sky is a marvel.

Just before sunset, there among the cupolas, starlings mass by the hundreds of thousands, performing an aerial dance. They dip and soar, bunch together and spread out. Seen from the ground, their ephemeral parabolas look like calligraphic brushstrokes.

But when the sun sets, the magic ends. The birds descend – and wreak havoc.

They spend their nights roosting, sometimes thousands to a tree and overloading the branches. They poop prolifically, and their droppings – thanks to their olive-heavy diet –are oily and slick. Those droppings can cause street closures and motorbike accidents. They can bury cars, bus stops, business awnings, even gravestones, under a Jackson Pollock coating of black and white.

“Abundant manure,” Rome’s environmental department called it in a report on the starlings.

The contrast between the transfixing 30-minute murmuration and the subsequent mess makes for an uneasy relationship between the starlings and their chosen winter home.

For Romans, life would be a bit more convenient if the birds went elsewhere. But what’s become increasingly evident, amid attempts to manage the birds, is that the starlings have more say in the matter than the people do.

“It’s impossible to move that many animals,” said Alessandro Montemaggiori, an ornithologist at Rome’s Sapienza University.

The mysterious murmurations

Starlings are one of the world’s commonest bird species, but Rome stands out in Europe as one of their primary gathering points. The starlings have been migrating here annually since the 1920s, attracted by the mild climate. The traffic and paved surfaces and lights make it several degrees warmer than even the surrounding countryside.

The birds venture south from Germany, Hungary and as far away as Russia, arriving in October and November and remaining for a few months. During the day, they commute outside the city, seeking out farmland and olive groves.

They return to Rome, bellies full, soon after 4 p.m. They meet in the sky.

The birds move with such synchronicity that one pioneering British orni-

thologist, Edmund Selous, hypothesized that the starlings were telepathic.

Modern experts have concluded that the movements are not orchestrated by any one leader, but rather by a chain reaction of microsecond influences.

Giorgio Parisi, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, found that each bird interacts with six or seven other starlings in its immediate vicinity. In an interview, Parisi said the birds tend to move in a formation that resembles a “pancake.” But its shape-shifting appears more dramatic from the ground, depending on how the pancake is angled in the sky.

“It’s based on perspective,” he said.

The murmurations work like signals to the returning birds – a way for starlings, which are highly sociable, to gather together.

But they are also thought to have a defensive

purpose. With so many birds swirling together, it’s hard for a predator, like a peregrine falcon, to lock in on any one target. Falcons are fearsome foes, capable of reaching 200 mph in the air. There’s a small population of falcons living year-round in Rome. Others migrate south with the starlings.

“When you see the starlings make these tight balls, that means there is a falcon next to them,” said Montemaggiori, the ornithologist. “It’s strength in numbers. That is their success.”

On a mission to contain the damage

As the sun sets in Rome most winter days, small teams of workers put on white protective smocks and grab their bullhorns. They’re part of a program, deployed throughout Rome, to disturb the starlings and prevent them

from roosting where they cause the greatest annoyance.

“If we can move them to a greener area, then that is a victory,” said one of the workers, Alexia Ferrantini, soon after she’d put fresh batteries in a music player connected to a bullhorn.

When The Washington Post embedded with a work crew in late December, the birds had taken to congregating in a particularly troublesome spot: EUR, a suburb conceived as a fascist showpiece by Benito Mussolini that today serves as a hub for office headquarters.

One late afternoon, the birds arrived above EUR in such numbers that they prematurely darkened the sky. By 4:35 p.m., they resembled an airborne tidal wave, and even then, more and more birds –returning late from their countryside foraging –kept joining the mass.

At ground level, crews waited to see which trees the birds would choose for their roost. At 4:58, the birds began descending in astonishing columns, crowding so thickly in the branches that it looked like certain trees had suddenly sprung to life.

The workers took off, aiming their bullhorns upward.

“Screeeeech. Screeeeech,” went the bullhorn soundtrack on repeat.

The noise was shrill, projecting a kind of guttural terror: It was a recording of a starling in distress. The noise echoed off the buildings so that all of EUR – in its full commuting buzz – seemed to be letting out eerie screams. The tactic worked: The birds, apparently sensing that one of their own was signaling danger, kept taking to the air, looking

for new roosting spots.

“You can see they are agitated,” Ferrantini said.

Soon, the birds moved elsewhere.

Starlings are common across North America, and Washington at one point even tried spraying eyeirritating fog into trees. (The solution proved only temporary.) Other parts of the world have found starlings so troublesome that they’ve tried to kill them off with poison. But experts say the birds are so adaptable, and have such short life spans anyway, that culling tends not to work that well.

Rome, since the 1990s, has used the recorded distress calls, a strategy devised by Bruno Cignini, a longtime leader of the city’s environmental department. Cignini borrowed a starling from a center that rehabilitates wounded animals, brought it to his office and recorded its noise as it reacted to the stress. Through trial and error, Cignini found the parts of the recording that registered more viscerally with other birds.

Typically, after three days of hearing the noises in a given spot, the starlings abandon the roosting site until at least the next season.

“Once they were chiefly in the city center, and now they’re being pushed a bit to the suburbs,” Cignini said.

In the 1980s, Montemaggiori said, some Rome administrators suggested trying to expand the falcon population as a way to contend with the starlings. But it was quickly pointed out that falcons prey on only one bird a night.

“Can you imagine how many falcons we’d need?” Montemaggiori said.

Federica Valabrega/The Washington Post

A sunset sky full of starlings beginning their night murmuration as seen from the Altare della Patria in Piazza Venezia in Rome. The birds’ beauty is offset by the havoc their “abundant manure” wreaks on the places they roost.

I Fairfield

12:30 and 6 p.m. Sunday Farnsworth Dance Academy: 2nd Annual Company Showcase Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St. www.downtowntheatre.com.

8 p.m. Saturday Greg Proops Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St. www.downtowntheatre.com.

I Suisun City

Noon Sunday Jazz Sunday Brunch Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

7 p.m. Wednesday Cultural Exchange Wednesdayz Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

7 p.m. Thursday Karaoke Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

6 p.m. Friday

Fish Fry & Game Night Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

1 p.m. Saturday Black History Month Celebration Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

6 p.m. Saturday Maxine Jones & Guest Eddie G Marina Lounge, 700 Main St., Suite 106. www.marinaloungesuisun.com.

I Vacaville

2 p.m. Sunday

The Grand Feature Film Orchestra:

‘Plan 9 from Outer Space’ Journey Downtown, 308 Main St. www.journeydowntownvenue.com.

7:30 p.m. Friday The Fleetwood Mac Concert Experience Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. https://vpat.net.

9 p.m. Friday and Saturday Dueling Pianos: Jason Marion & James Michael Day Makse Restaurant, 555 Main St. duelingpianovacaville.com/events.

7 p.m. Saturday

MarkMe on Stage Journey Downtown, 308 Main St. www.journeydowntownvenue.com.

I Benicia

6 p.m. Sunday Poker Night The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

7 p.m. Tuesday Open Mic Night The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

7 p.m. Wednesday Karaoke The Rellik, 726 First St. www. therelliktavern.com.

5 p.m. Thursday Larc and LeBlanc The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

9 p.m. Thursday

DJ Glenn Snyder

The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

4:30 p.m. Friday Tam Funk Railroad

The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

8:30 p.m. Friday

Rendishun The Rellik, 726 First St. www. therelliktavern.com.

4:30 p.m. Saturday

Clay Bell

The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

8:30 p.m. Saturday

Sixteen Scandals

The Rellik, 726 First St.  www.therelliktavern.com.

I Vallejo

5:30 p.m. Wednesday Allen Vega Band Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St. www.empresstheatre.org.

6 p.m. Saturday Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St. www.empresstheatre.org.

Solano youth

in spotlight

as Solano Symphony Orchestra returns to stage

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

Maestro Semyon Lohss and the orchestra will accompany winners of the 2022 Young Artists Competition during the annual Salute to Youth concert Feb. 5.

All three winners are active music students at Davis Senior High School: Lero Wang performs Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Op.18, 1st movement; Sarah Son performs Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61, 1st movement; and Rudy Mahajan performs Carl Reinecke’s Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 283, 1st movement.

The program will also showcase local youth ensembles of string and wind players. These include:

n The Vacaville High School Premiere Orchestra, with Music Director Melinda Ellis, joins the strings in the well-known Holberg Suite by Edvard Grieg.

n The Wind Ensemble of Vanden High School, led by Music Director Troy Symington, joins the winds performing English Folk Song Suite by R. Vaughan Williams.

Finally, the full orchestra and the youth ensemble players will fill the stage to perform “Gershwin in Concert” – a medley featuring several of George Gershwin’s best-known works.

The Solano Symphony’s annual Salute to Youth concert is underwritten in part

by the support of the Margaret Beelard Community Foundation. It’s an opportunity to showcase local talent and inspire young musicians to continue developing in their technique and dedication to artistic excellence.

The performance starts at 3 p.m. at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. Tickets may be purchased through VPAT by phone at 707-469-4013 or via the website, www.vpat.net.

Ticket prices are $35 for adults; $30 for seniors 62 and older; $15 for military and veteran with ID; and $15 for students with high school or college ID and children and teens younger than 18. These prices are inclusive of a $2 VPAT theater preservation fee.

Six Flags brings Mardi Gras Festival to Vallejo Arts group seeks artists for Spring Forward Art & Demo Days

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

VALLEJO — Six Flags Discovery Kingdom announced Friday a new celebration for its guests – the Six Flags Mardi Gras Festival. The festival will occur on weekends from Feb. 11 through Feb. 26, including the Presidents Day holiday.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will “let the good times roll” as the park brings the New Orleans tradition of Mardi Gras to Northern California for an inaugural festival. Guests can join in on the festivities with an array of Cajun food offerings, live entertainment, colorful décor and characters, along with rides and animal attractions.

“Six Flags continues to be a leader in providing fun and memorable new experiences for our guests,” Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Park President Don McCoy said in a company press release. “Our team is incredibly excited to bring the sights, sounds and flavors of Mardi Gras to our park guests.”

Featured food and drink options include chicken and

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

SUISUN VALLEY — The FairfieldSuisun City Visual Arts Association is looking for artists to participate in the 2nd Annual Spring Forward Art & Demo Days.

Artists will have the opportunity to display and sell their artwork. All booths will be located inside the conference rooms at the Village 360. Artists will be permitted to share a booth. due to limited space There is a maximum of two artists per booth.

Participating artists will display acrylic, oil, watercolor paintings, black and white and color photography, mixed media artwork, jewelry and items created with fused glass.

For the Demo Days, the public is invited to participate in several interactive art demonstrations. Each demonstration can be up to one-hour long and may be held one or both days of the event. Some of the artists may charge a small fee for the interactive demonstrations to cover their costs.

Demo Days participants can either create art on canvas, learn how to create digital art or create greeting cards.

The Spring Forward Art & Demo

Courtesy photos

Lero Wang, Rudy Mahajan and Sarah Son will play with the Solano Symphony Orchestra during the Salute to Youth concert Feb. 5.

Yountville Int’l Short Film Festival returns to Napa

YOUNTVILLE — The 6th Annual Yountville Int’l Short Film Festival returns Thursday through Feb. 5 to Napa Valley.

The film festival offers 20 dedicated screening blocks, filmmaker Q&A sessions and VIP winetasting events. The festival will screen more 100 films at two pop-up cinemas: the Yountville Community Center’s Heritage Room; and Bardessono Hotel & Spa. The Heritage Room will once again have cabaret-style seating.

“We’re looking forward to the return of our VIP wine-tasting events and screenings. These events include Cuvée Cinema, Cabernet Cinema, Jessup

Festival

From Page B1

sausage gumbo over rice with cornbread; shrimp and sausage gumbo over rice with cornbread; shrimp po’ boy sandwich; festival fried okra; shrimp boil with sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes and cornbread; New Orleans King Cake cinnamon roll; Big Easy cotton candy; carnival churros; traditional powdered beignets; chocolate filled powdered beignets; and classic

Arts

From Page B1

Days will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 11-12 at the Village

Cellars Gourmet Popcorn & Wine Pairing Screening, and Sunday’s Bubbles & Brunch Cinema,” Yountville Int’l Short Film Festival co-founder and coproducer Bill Hargreaves said in a press release.

“New for 2023 is our A Taste of Cinema screening presented by Lloyd Cellars and Prescription Vineyards on Friday evening, with all the films having culinary themes.”

Opening night festivities start at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Heritage Room in downtown Yountville.

Screening blocks will offer everything from animation and suspense to fantasy and science fiction, to the best in drama and foreign film selections,

according to the press release. Organizers said in the release the festival “will deliver many special cinematic moments.”

The filmmaker Q&A sessions will offer behindthe-scenes stories of the filmmaking process after many of the film blocks.

Passes are now on sale. Visit www.YISFF. com to review all ticketing options.

“Every year we look forward to the Yountville International Short Film Festival coming to town. It is the perfect pairing of food, wine, art and the beauty of Yountville.” Yountville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Whitney Diver McEvoy said in the press release.

A sample of the food that will be available during the Mardi Gras celebration at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. Courtesy photo

mint julep. Other Six Flags Mardi Gras Festival highlights included with park admission are:

n The Mardi Gras Parade, where guests can walk away with their very own beads.

360, 4949 Suisun Valley Road, Fairfield. The event coincides with Daylight Saving Time weekend. Food will be available to order from the Landing Restaurant and wine will be available from Back-

n Live bands playing music from New Orleans.

n Meet-and-greets with holiday-inspired characters. For more information on the Six Flags Mardi Gras Festival, visit sixflags.com/ discoverykingdom/events.

Roads Vines Winery. For more information or to register, visit www.fsvaa.art/fsvaa-artfestivals or call Dennis Ariza at 707-688-8889.

Is lab-grown steak kosher? Religious leaders weigh meaty questions

Is lab-grown meat truly meat?

The question is increasingly being asked as consumers prepare for the proliferation of cultivated meat, which is grown from animal cells in a lab, no slaughter involved. But whether it qualifies as meat is not being debated just by vegetarians and vegans. Faith leaders are grappling with how to treat it under religious dietary guidelines.

Last week, the leader of Israel’s Chief Rabbinate – a bellwether rabbinic council for religious certifications in Judaism – declared that an Israeli company’s labgrown steak is “pareve.” That means, in his view, it is not milk or meat and that therefore the eating of the two together by those who follow a kosher diet is not forbidden.

But the declaration was greeted with surprise by Rabbi Menachem Genack, the chief executive of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division in New York.

Orthodox Union Kosher is an influential federation of Orthodox synagogues in the United States and Canada. Genack, in an interview with The Washington Post, suggested that his

organization may take a different view.

This debate is the latest example of how this novel form of meat, which is about to arrive on the U.S. market, is shaking up norms and raising vexing questions. Cultivated meat is being hailed as a humane and climate-friendly solu tion to traditional animal agriculture, which has increasingly come under fire for its contribution to the warming of the planet.

As of now, Singapore is the only country in which these products are legally sold to consumers. But the U.S.

Jonathon Gruenke/Associated Press file (2021) Lexi Duscher works in a lab at the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center in downtown Hampton, November 2021.

Food and Drug Administration concluded late last year that cultivated chicken from a California company is safe to eat, likely to open the floodgates for lab-grown meat to be available for sale in the United States in the coming months.

Many religions – including Islam, Hinduism, Seventh-day Adventism and Judaism – have practitioners who adhere to faith-based dietary restrictions.

The spiritual question, at its most basic, is: If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, tastes like a duck, but you’re not sup-

posed to eat a duck, does God consider this “cheating”? Some faith leaders suggest that if technology enables humans to eat foods that are more environmentally sustainable, reduce animal suffering and potentially improve human health, surely any divinity would applaud this development. Others focus more on faithfulness to original intent.

“I used to think talking about Israel was the third rail,” said Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, the executive director of Jewish Initiative for Animals in Los Angeles. “Talking to people about food? Oh, my goodness.

UNITED 1011 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville, CA 95687

Israel is child’s play. Food is so intimate, so personal and touches so many elements of our lives. The way forward is going to be messy.”

Anticipating conflicting opinions, Bernhard says individual communities will make different decisions, potentially causing “fissures.” He predicts, “it will be more polarizing within the Orthodox community.”

And, already, it has been.

Genack, of the Orthodox Union Kosher Division, said on the evening of the Chief Rabbinate’s decision, “The Orthodox Union is taking a different position. One opinion is it’s considered meat; they took the position that it’s completely pareve [and thus not meat].” The OU is the largest organization of Orthodox synagogues in the United States, responsible for certifying more than 400,000 industrial and consumer products.

Fresh off a flight from Israel, Genack said of Israeli Chief Rabbi David Baruch Lau, “I have a high regard for him. He wrote four or five pages discuss-

ing his position. we are going to have to review his responses. Applying ancient law to brand new technology is fascinating.”

At issue for Genack: Anything derived from something not kosher is also not kosher. Kosher certification confirms that a food product has been properly vetted and monitored for rigorous compliance with traditional Jewish dietary law. These are rules about which foods are allowed or forbidden, but also about how permitted foods must be produced, processed and prepared for eating.

“We thought that the stem cells had to come from an animal that was kosher-slaughtered or it is non-kosher stem cells,” he said. The OU has not yet made a ruling.

Still, he conceded that approving cultivated meat as kosher would be a huge help in reducing the carbon footprint of the meat people consume. Bernhard, similarly, said, “If cultured meat fulfills the promise of being less destructive to the environment and people’s health and less cruel to animals, then it would be preferable.”

METHODIST

ROCKVILLE PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP

Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 455-7790

www.tfh.org

Service Times Sunday: 9am & 11am Live Stream at tfhvacaville tfhvacaville tfhvacaville

Vacaville Church of Christ 401 Fir St., Vacaville, CA 95688 (707) 448-5085

Minister: Elliott Williams

Sunday Morning Bible Study..........9:30 AM

Sunday Morning Worship............10:30 AM

Sunday Evening Worship...............6:00 PM

Wednesday Evening Bible Study.....7:00 PM www.vacavillecofc.com

If you would like to take a free Bible

correspondence course contact:

Sam Alexander Pastor

“Not your grandparents’ sermons”

Sunday Service 9:30

am See our website for the Zoom link www.rockvillepresbyterian.org click “This Week” (707) 863-0581 4177 Suisun Valley Rd Fairfield

My son neglects his responsibilities as a father

Dear Annie: Recently, my 25-yearold son, “Bill,” decided to no longer be a dad to his 4-year-old son, “Greg.” We had taken Bill back into our home after he and his ex-girlfriend, “Andrea,” broke up. Greg was two at the time when Bill broke up with Andrea. Bill moved up to the mountains with us, and we allowed him to pay the bare minimum for his portion of the rent and basics for him and his son.

Annie Lane Dear Annie

Fast forward 18 months. After our last weekend with him

and the baby, he texted his ex and told her that he needed to focus on himself and his new relationship. He blames his dad and me for making him too financially responsible, and he’s mad at me for insisting that he have a relationship with his little boy. His ex, Andrea, is a good person and tries really hard. She works full-time and is going to college and trying to spend as much time with Greg as she can. My husband and I take Greg four days a week to help out because

Horoscopes

by Holiday Mathis

Today’s birthday

Love and kindness are all around you in abundance this year, lending just what you need to go bravely into a new project. You’re full of ideas and able to organize them better than you ever have. Seek the company of talented people. Emotional riches come to you as you extend your network. Capricorn and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 1, 44, 48, 13 and 20.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). It’s not every day you get to come first, but that’s what will happen. You’ll get the best seat, and it’s as though the whole show is just for you. It’s simply your turn to have your wishes honored, and you should take it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In some ways you expect to be lucky. You’ve done the work and you know the opportunities are out there, so it’s just a matter of time before you meet up with your destiny. Keep making your pitches. A prime connection is coming.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You love all kinds of problems today, especially the tricky psychological ones that money can’t solve. You’re so good at working them! Today’s solution requires creativity, of which you’ll have plenty.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Wanting, like so many other things in life, is best done in moderation. Sometimes you can’t control what you want, but you can change your environment and eliminate the cues that keep you thinking about it.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You see the minor slights or obstacles as par for the course – the kind of insignificant anomalies that everyone experiences from time to time. You brush them off, as you should, and open your arms for an embrace of the good stuff.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Some say you can’t be successful until you pay your dues, but put that idea out of your head for now. You don’t yet know what the “dues” entail, so you won’t know when you’re paying them. You may as well just enjoy your work.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You could tell the story of one event in hundreds of different ways depending on what you focus on. What way will empower you and help you get the resources you’ll need for the next story?

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You have good relationships, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be better. Even when conflicted in your dealings, it will be a positive for your life. The clash shows you what you need and gives you a chance to articulate that.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). When does optimism become nonsensical? You’ll have fun finding out. Stretch the boundaries of your imagination to include a wildly idealistic version of the future. There’s something useful in the exercise.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s as true now as it ever was: You can be who you want to be. To some degree, personality is a construct that can be reconstructed as you wish. Your next move is influenced by someone you admire.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Acting in accordance with your personal system will bring health and vitality to all aspects of your life. You’re fully aware that everyone doesn’t share your beliefs, and you find peace in being strictly concerned with your own business.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are times during the day you’ll feel like a logical adult and other moments you experience as a child would, full of fun and playfulness as well as the naive sensitivities of someone much younger.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Whether she’s celebrating her friend Gayle King’s birthday, paying tribute to the great Barbara Walters or supporting the world at large with continuous inspiration through her many channels, Oprah Winfrey shines Aquarian ideals. Natal sun, Venus and Mercury in the sign of philanthropy makes complete sense for the mogul who gives millions to charities including several foundations of her own creation. Her fiery Sagittarius moon points to a sophisticated worldview and an unstoppable heart fire.

Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

my own child dropped the ball. Bill told Andrea that he’ll let her know when he can spend more time with Greg. She’s left paying for everything on her own. He moved in with his girlfriend in an RV. We have a three-bedroom house that was set up for Bill and Greg. Bill now resents me for making him be an adult, even though he is one in terms of age. He wants to only spend time with his girlfriend and focus on himself. He’s seen Greg for two hours in

FOR YOUR HEALTH

made. He’s abandoned his only child for a woman who’s closer to my age than his. Counseling isn’t helping. I won’t talk to him because I’m so angry. I never thought I’d hate my own child, yet here I am. How do I fix this? — Hate My Son Dear Hate: Hate is a very strong word and puts a lot of guilt on yourself. You don’t hate your son, but you hate the way he is behaving. You are rightfully disappointed and angry with the choices he is making in

with his son. You can’t control your adult son, but you can control how you respond to him and your wonderful grandson and exdaughter-in-law. Continue to support them emotionally and, if you can, financially. One step you could take would be to not allow your son in your house if he is going to treat his son so poorly. The saddest part of this story is that Bill will regret his behavior when he is older.

Free web app connects residents to local mental health services

Dr. Carinne BroDy, a laina Star

anD Valentina K elly FOR THE DAILY REPUBLIC

Are you looking for mental health resources for yourself or someone you care about? We’re here for you.

A study revealed approximately 1 in 4 people in Solano County who suffer from mild or moderate mental health conditions do not get the mental health treatment they need. SolanoConnex aims to change those statistics by providing a way to easily access mental health care services. SolanoConnex is a partnership between Touro University California and Solano County to improve resident and provider access to existing mental and emotion health services.

SolanoConnex is a free, online referral service that can help direct you to the mental and emotional health resources you need. To find mental or emotional health services, you can visit SolanoConnex.org on any device with internet; call or text one of our trained mental health navigators at 877-266-6390; or email us directly through our website.

Our mental health navigators are available to help guide callers through the SolanoConnex website from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Satur-

day. These mental health navigators are a great resource and are trained to provide the following services: guide callers through the SolanoConnex website; support individuals in finding the appropriate mental health services; help individuals overcome barriers to accessing services; and ensure services on the website are upto-date and accurate.

As of this summer, we now have four kiosks containing the SolanoConnex website that may be used by anyone. They can be found at the Dixon Public Library, Fairfield Civic Center Library, John F. Kennedy Library in Vallejo and the Solano County Courthouse in Vallejo.

Who should use SolanoConnex?

Anyone in the Solano County community. Whether you are an individual looking for services for yourself or for a loved one, or a provider trying to direct your clients to resources, SolanoConnex can be your starting point.

Mental health is a vital component of our daily lives, which affects us from the time we are children to throughout adulthood. Mental health affects the way we handle stressful situations, feel included among our family and peers, and make choices that are good for our own well-being. We encourage anyone to seek help if

needed – you are not alone.

Together, we help connect users to more than 100 mental health service providers located throughout Solano County. Check out SolanoConnex today.

Connect with us to learn more

Interested in learning more about mental health and the different resources offered in Solano County?

Tune into our weekly SolanoConnex Resource of the Week Minicast by subscribing to the SolanoConnex YouTube Channel. Each week we interview a different organization or individual who either offers services in Solano County or is an expert about a topic related to mental health. New episodes are released each Thursday.

Are you interested in being a guest on the podcast? Email us at solano connex@gmail.com.

For more information and to see SolanoConnex program updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SolanoConnex.

Dr. Carinne Brody is the associate director and associate professor for the Public Health Program; Alaina Star is a program manager; and Valentina Kelly is a project coordinator from Touro University of California, a partner of Solano Public Health.

Ahmad Faizal Yahya/Adobe Stock

A study revealed about 1 in 4 people in Solano County who have mental health conditions do not get the treatment they need.

49ers, Eagles square off for NFC title

PHILADELPHIA — Anytime a championship slips from your grasp, “you have to deal with that forever,” Kyle Shanahan said.

Like the Super Bowl six years ago when he was the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator. Like the Super Bowl three years ago as the 49ers coach, as well as last year’s NFC Championship Game.

“That’s what kind of hardens you to it and makes you get back to the reality of what it really is,” Shanahan said.

It, simply put, is a contest pitting two teams, 11-on-11, over 60 minutes, with, at this time of year, a trophy on the line.

Sunday’s NFC Championship Game matches Shanahan’s second-seeded 49ers (15-4) with the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles (15-3) for the George Halas Trophy and a spot in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12.

“It’s a really good football game that I loved watching growing up,” Shanahan continued. “It was probably my favorite thing to do in the world and I feel very blessed that I get

to be somewhat a part of it. And you prepare so hard during the week, you don’t think about that other stuff.”

Defensive end Nick Bosa and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, rookies on that 2019 team that blew a 10-point Super Bowl lead, insisted they’re focused on this game, even if the 2019 team’s lost Lombardi Trophy remains motivation.

“You still just have that bad taste in your mouth,” Samuel said. “Last year, we were a couple of plays from going back to the Super Bowl. You’re like, ‘What’s it really going to take for

us to get there?’ “

Since he asked, here are a few ways the 49ers can win a NFC title on the road like their 1988 team (in Chicago) and 2012 squad (in Atlanta):

Early lead

George Kittle’s sage solution to avoiding fourth-quarter collapses: “Win the game earlier.”

That’s what the Eagles have done all season. They raced to double-digit leads in the first half of 11 games, and they’ve led at halftime in 14 of 18. In their 38-7 rout Saturday against

Trevor Morris continues to grow at Armijo under dad’s tutelage

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

FAIRFIELD — Trevor Morris has seen his game continue to grow after transferring to Armijo High School where he has slowly blossomed under his dad and head coach Michael Morris.

Trevor Morris is averaging just over 20 points a game with 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. The wins continue to be hard to come by for the Royals, but the father and son are enjoying their time together, continuing to build their bond through basketball.

Armijo headed into a Saturday game at Fremont of Oakland at just 2-16 overall and 0-6 in the Monticello Empire League.

MEL REPORT

“It’s been a blessing,” Michael Morris said. “What dad wouldn’t want to coach their son. I wanted to make sure he had a good senior year.”

Michael Morris is a bit of a local legend himself. This year he was named to the Fairfield High School Athletics Hall of Fame. He scored 982 points in two big seasons for talented Falcons teams in 1987 and 1988.

Michael Morris played at American River College, Solano College and Dickinson State, making an impact at all his stops. Beginning in 1995, he played professionally for the Willetton Tigers of Perth, Australia, the Dakota Wizards of

the International Basketball Association, the Magic City Snowbears in Minot, North Dakota, and B.K. Klistemburg of Vienna, Austria.

“That first winter in Minot was the opposite of hell,” Morris laughed. “It was cold hell. It was ridiculous. I kept telling my mom it was the coldest winter ever, minus67, minus-71.”

Morris went on to coach varsity girls basketball at Carondelet High School from 2018-2020 and prior to that coached boys and girls teams at Vacaville Christian. Now he is giving it a go at Armijo and hoping to help his son fulfill his dreams.

Trevor Morris is starting to gain some collegiate interest along with

Kerr: Steph Curry ‘looked like he had his pop back’ in Warriors’ win

SAN FRANCISCO — Turns out all

Stephen Curry needed was seven games under his belt and a week in his own bed to rediscover his groove after a monthlong absence.

Curry scored a gamehigh 35 points and led the Warriors to a 129-117 win over the Toronto Raptors Friday.

“I felt good, moving well,” Curry said after Golden State’s second straight victory. “I’ve been doing that for a couple games now, just everything being in sync in terms of what I’m trying to get to on the offensive end.

Don’t nobody tell [coach Steve Kerr] but I played a lot of minutes and I felt really good for all 39, so I want to keep that up.”

The words slump and Steph rarely align. But Kerr thought Curry was off his

game on the team’s most recent road trip, the nownine-time All-Star’s first since returning from an 11-game absence because of a shoulder injury.

Curry’s production had taken a dip since he partially dislocated his left shoulder last month. In his first six games back, he averaged 25.8 points,

5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists while posting shooting splits of .424/.356/.906. He had eclipsed 30 points only once in that span when he dropped 41 in a road win over the Wizards.

“I didn’t think he was as sharp as he usually is on that trip,” Kerr said. But it was a different story Friday. Curry was in

control all night, despite the game remaining close until the fourth quarter. He played with high energy and got to the rim with ease en route to finishing with his ninth double-double of the season.

“When Steph plays like that, the whole game opens up,” Kerr said. “He looked like he had his pop back.”

Curry’s gravity was able to make the Raptors’ defense collapse, which opened the floor for the rest of his teammates. He delivered 11 assists while also dishing out a few hockey assists along the way.

“He had a lot of plays, too, where he just pulled the defense in and then kicked the ball to someone else, and we were able to find open looks from there,” Kerr said. “Steph is always the key for us and when he’s playing at a high level.”

the Cowboys, the Eagles turned a 14-0 first-quarter lead into a 28-0 margin by halftime.

As for the 49ers, they’re outscoring foes 265-160 in the first half, and they’ve yet to allow a first-quarter point in the playoffs. That aside, Kittle suggested everyone look back on their playoff losses.

In Super Bowl LIV, the 49ers’ first possessions resulted in a field goal and an interception. They fell into a 10-3 hole, climbed back for a 20-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, then

See 49ers, Page B8

Solano down in softball depth, up in versatility

M att Miller MMILLER@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

ROCKVILLE — What the Solano Community College softball team may lack for in depth is made up in versatility and chemistry, head coach Taryn Sigl said.

“We’re pretty good,” she said. “We are a little slimmer numbers-wise but we have great camaraderie and we are very close to each other. We are also consistent across the board: pitching, fielding and hitting.”

The Falcons open the 2023 season Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Cosumnes River. The first game starts at noon with the second to follow.

Sigl is back for her third season at the helm of the Falcons. Solano went 16-22 overall last season but won the Bay Valley Conference title with a 10-2 record. The Falcons lost in the first round of the state playoffs but can take some solace in the fact that the team that beat them, San Mateo, won it all.

“I thought we did well last year,” Sigl said. “We’re definitely confident we can be there again this year and hang in there with the rest of the teams in our league.”

Freshman righthander Alexis Wright will be the No. 1 starter for the Falcons and get the bulk of the work this season in the circle. Lefthanded freshman Nayzeth

LOCAL REPORT

Gonzalez will also see a lot of action.

Freshman Kayla Hawkins will catch most of the innings for Wright and Gonzalez as their batterymate. Versatile sophomore Bianca Belo-Diaz can also work behind the plate, along with playing shortstop on the infield and also in the outfield.

Sophomore Naiya Watts will not only play first base, but she can also play third and can pitch when called upon. Freshman Alyssa Sellers is backing Watts up at first.

Sophomore Alexis Certeza in the second baseman with Azaria Sanchez backing her up. Sanchez is the No. 1 shortstop with freshman Mia Valenzuela and freshman Kaylee Hawkins also capable of playing the position. Valenzuela is the starting third baseman.

The outfield features sophomore center fielder Kristy Regalado, along with freshman Madalyn Bruce, sophomore Isa Alegre, sophomore Kaelani Hernandez and freshman Lindsay Feinberg.

Sigl knows she will have to be careful not to overwork her team. She recently had them play a scrimmage game. And instead of returning to practice the next day, they turned to yoga to deal with the “sore muscles.”

“I wanted to make sure they are 100% ready to go for Tuesday,” she said.

Solano baseball swept in opening series with Butte

Daily r epublic Staff

DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

ROCKVILLE —

The Solano Community College baseball team opened the season by dropping three straight games to Butte.

Solano was edged out 3-2 in the first game before losing 8-5 in the second game Friday in Oroville. The series moved to Solano Saturday and Butte earned an 8-3 win..

In the opener, Miles Meadows was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Conner Ross and Dylan Snider had singles.

Kevin Parker added an RBI. Miles Phillips started and worked five strong innings with no

runs allowed, one hit, one walk and one strikeout. Meadows again had two doubles and scored a run in the second game. Victor Vega doubled and drove in a run. Ryan Mitchell doubled and drove in two runs. Ross also singled in two runs. Cash McCrory and Gregory Ryan combined to work 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

On Saturday, Parker and Vega had two hits apiece. Vega doubled. Ross also singled and Snider had an RBI. Dillon Nostri and Parker pitched a combined 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.

Solano will be back in action at 2 p.m. Tuesday

Aaron Rosenblatt/Daily Republic

Armijo High School head basketball coach Michael Morris talks to his son, Trevor, during Thursday’s game at Rodriguez in Fairfield. Trevor Morris’ game continues to grow under the leadership of his father.

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/TNS file (2021) Stephen Curry celebrates against the Dallas Mavericks in the third quarter at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Feb. 6, 2021.

See MEL, Page B8

CALENDAR

Sunday’s TV sports

Basketball College Men

• Saint Joseph’s at George Mason, USA, 9 a.m.

• Michigan State at Purdue, 5, 13, 9:15 a.m.

• Memphis at Tulsa, ESPN2, 2 p.m.

College Women

• South Carolina at Alabama, ESPN2, 10 a.m.

• NotreDame at N.C. State, ESPN, Noon.

Extreme Sports

• X Games, 7, 10, 10 a.m.

• X Games, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.

Figure Skating

• U.S.Championships, 3, Noon.

Football NFL

• NFC Championship, San Francisco at Philadelphia, 2, 40, Noon.

• AFC Championship, Cincinnati at Kansas City, 5, 13, 3:30 p.m.

Scoreboard

Sharks’ Quinn: ‘Nobody’s had a more hurtful season than us’

CurTis PAshelk A BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka poses with the trophy after defeating Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina during the women’s singles final at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Saturday.

Sabalenka rallies to win Australian women’s final

Tribune ConTenT AgenCy

MELBOURNE, Aus-

tralia — Aryna Sabalenka fought back from a set down to defeat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and claim her first Grand Slam title in a terrific Australian Open women’s singles final on Saturday.

In a battle of two of the biggest hitters in the women’s game, Belarusian Sabalenka seized the initiative after dropping the opening set to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and became the first singles player to win a major under a neutral flag.

The 24-year-old could not bring herself to watch Kazakh Rybakina claim the title at the All England Club, so disappointed was she at being banned from competing because of Belarus’ role in supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But Sabalenka, fueled

by a remodeled serve and a commitment to keeping her emotions in check, has been a woman on a mission all tournament.

One sloppy service game cost her the opening set, but Sabalenka did not lose belief or take a step back and Rybakina could not resist the powerful hitting of her opponent.

The final game was full of tension, but Sabalenka made it across the line on her fourth opportunity before falling to the court in delight.

Remarkably, this was the seventh successive Grand Slam match she has won having lost the opening set. There were a disappointing number of empty seats on Laver for the match, a far cry from 12 months ago, when Ashleigh Barty gave Australia a long-awaited home champion.

Local scores

Bocce Fairfield Bocce Federation

Bocce League

The San Jose Sharks lead the NHL in overtime and shootout losses, and, according to coach David Quinn, heartache.

The Sharks on Saturday morning were still smarting from their 5-4 overtime loss to Carolina the night before, one where the Hurricanes scored twice in the final 1:37 of the third period to tie the game.

Martin Necas then scored 55 seconds into overtime, handing the Sharks their fourth straight loss on a fivegame road trip that concluded Saturday with a stunning 6-4 win over the Penguins.

“Today was a tough day,” Quinn said Saturday morning. “We all felt like crap last night, probably as painful a loss as it was all year, which is saying something.” The Sharks are 3-11 in games that have gone into overtime. Of the 21 games they’ve played this season that have been decided by one goal, the Sharks have won just five of them.

Perhaps there are no bigger reasons why they entered Saturday 13th in the Western Conference and 28th in the NHL at 14-25-11.

The Sharks might have had modest expectations coming into this season, but few could have predicted that they would have just 11 regulation-time wins in their first 50 games. “No one’s been knocked down more than we have this year and nobody’s had a more hurtful season than we have,” Quinn said. “I know there are some

teams with worse records but I don’t think anybody’s hurt the way we have because of the way we’ve lost games and the season we’ve had.

“I feel bad for our players. They put a lot into it and we just haven’t got the results we needed. As we’ve touched on over and over again, when you think you’ve seen it all, we find a different way to lose.”

Quinn said a few Sharks players are under the weather and wasn’t 100 percent sure what the lineup would look like Saturday. The Pen-

guins are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games and entered the day holding the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen will make his second start in the last seven games. Kahkonen allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Sharks’ 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 21 to start the road trip that continued with losses to Boston and Detroit before Friday’s game in Carolina.

This will be Kahkonen’s first career start against the Penguins. Casey DeSmith, Saturday’s starter for Pittsburgh, has a 1-2-0 record, a 3.72 goals-against average and a .885 save percentage in three career games against San Jose.

Reunion game

Quinn coached Saturday against good friend Mike Sullivan, now in his eighth season coaching the Penguins. The two used to be roommates and teammates at Boston University.

Martin Keep/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group/TNS file (2022)

San Jose Sharks head coach David Quinn leads his team from the bench against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Oct. 27, 2022.

49ers

From Page B8

collapsed in a 31-20 loss to the Chiefs.

In last season’s NFC title game at Los Angeles, they opened punt-punt, fell behind 7-0, climbed back for a 20-10 lead entering the fourth quarter, then collapsed in a 20-17 defeat to the Rams.

“Maybe let’s just come out to a hot start, get some points on the board, so we’re not playing from behind or having to make miracle plays at the end of the game,” Kittle said.

Clutch passing

The 49ers don’t want to fall behind big early because that would set up a one-dimensional, pass-oriented comeback. The Eagles set a franchise record 70 sacks this season. “You don’t get 70 sacks without speed,” 49ers center Jake Brendel said. “We have to have a good plan for them and just have to execute.”

We, meaning a cohesive offensive line in protection, such as right tackle Mike McGlinchey vs. Eagles sack leader Hasson Reddick. It means sure-handed receivers on crisp routes, whether it be Christian McCaffrey out of the backfield or slot, Deebo Samuel in open space, Brandon Aiyuk over the middle or Jauan Jennings on third down.

It means Kittle extending his dominance over the Eagles (19 receptions, 19 targets, 200 yards in 2020 and ’21 meetings), as well as continuing his bromance with Brock Purdy on improvised plays. In his eight wins, Purdy’s led a charmed life, not only via his own diligence and talent but defensive gaffes such as dropped interceptions.

Cover deep

Jalen Hurts’ long-ball threat could cripple a 49ers defense that’s given up some big games this season to big receivers. The 49ers must be wary of DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, but the bigbody receiver to also watch is A. J. Brown, who the Eagles traded for last March.

Brown wrecked the 49ers for 145 yards (11 catches, 16 targets) in a December 2021 win with the Tennessee Titans. Limited to just 22 yards on three catches in the Eagles’ 38-7 divisional win over the Giants, the 49ers are aware Brown (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) will be hungry to make an impact.

“He’s big where he can go down the field and make plays on the deep balls, but also he’s catching the 5-yard routes and turning it up field and turning that into an explosive, that’s where he’s been really good this year,” said defensive coordina-

Local

From Page B8

against Skyline.

Solano women top Marin in basketball

ROCKVILLE — The Solano Community College women’s basketball team held host Marin to under 10 points in each of the first two quarters Friday night in earning a 54-38.

The Falcons held a 22-11 lead at halftime before expanding the lead with a 32-27 second half. Solano improved to 14-9 overall and 8-2 in the Bay Valley Conference.

Julia Wright led the Falcons with 13 points. Ale Ibarra scored 12 points, while Dominique Eaglin and Melody Rafan had 10 apiece. Wright pulled down eight rebounds.

Solano will be back in action Friday at Merritt in Oakland.

Girls Basketball Vanden overpowers

Will C. Wood on court

FAIRFIELD — The league-leading Vanden High School girls basketball team overpowered second-place Will C. Wood at home Friday night for an 84-32 victory.

Vanden led 23-6 after the first quarter and made it 57-14 at halftime. The Vikings improved to 17-7 overall and 6-0 in the Monticello Empire League.

Alyssa Jackson led Vanden with 18 points. Maalia Cherry had 13 and Calonni Hollo-

Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group/TNS file (2023)

MEL

From Page B8

looks on the international front, though if he went to play abroad his dad wants him to continue his studies.

“Education is important to me,” Michael Morris said.

Vanden in a 71-50 win at Will C. Wood. In that game, he eclipsed 1,000 career points despite being just a junior. Thompson also had 30 in a marque 55-50 nonleague win Monday over Redondo Union in San Pablo.

behind. Rodriguez (2-3-1) beat Armijo on Thursday night 2-1 to put the Royals two games behind the Bulldogs.

Vacaville plays Tuesday at Armijo with Vanden at Fairfield and Wood at Rodriguez. Thursday’s matches feature Rodriguez at Fairfield, Vacaville at Vanden at Wood at Armijo.

Notables:

49ers tight end George Kittle (85) celebrates his twopoint conversion in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC wild-card playoff game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Jan. 14. tor DeMeco Ryans. The 49ers have allowed 100yard games since December to WR1s Tyreek Hill ( Dolphins), Davante Adams (Raiders), D.K. Metcalf ( Seahawks), and CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys). The Rams’ Cooper Kupp had 152 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s NFC title game.

None of the 49ers defensive backs were among the seven players brought to the media podium this week – a dais typically only for quarterbacks during the season. Ryans won’t mind if the spotlight shines Sunday, however, on cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Jimmie Ward, Tashaun Gipson Sr. and Talanoa Hufanga.

“When the ball is up, it’s an opportunity for us to go up and make the play,” said Ryans, well aware that pass-rush pressure from Nick Bosa and others will help the secondary.

Hurts rushing lanes

Hurts is not the same quarterback from last season’s 17-11 home loss to the 49ers, when he passed for just 39 yards after halftime. Then again, he ran for just 12 yards in that first half before tacking on 70 rushing yards in their second-half rally.

Hurts morphed into a MVP candidate this season as a dual-threat quarterback that inspires confidence and elevates teammates. What makes mobile quarterbacks so menacing to the 49ers defense is their pass rush’s aggressive nature leaves potential escape lanes, as exploited this season by Marcus Mariota ( Falcons), Jarrett Stidham (Raiders) and Dak Prescott (Cowboys), not to mention Justin Fields (Bears) with his late slids that drew two penalties on Dre Greenlaw.

“I think we got tested in that Raiders game kind of unexpectedly and it reminded us of what the Kryptonite could be of the way we play,” defensive end Nick Bosa said.

Bosa, whose 18 ½ sacks gave him the NFL’s sack title, is still seeking his first in the playoffs. But the 49ers’ defensive front can block Hurts’ path with Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Samson Ebukam, Kerry Hyder Jr. and Charles Omenihu, whose availability was in question

way added 12. Athena Brombacher paced Will C.Wood with 11 points. The Wildcats fell to 10-8 overall and 4-2 in the MEL. Vanden will host Fairfield on Wednesday and Wood will be home for Rodriguez.

Rodriguez starts strong, sinks Armijo

FAIRFIELD — The Rodriguez High School girls basketball team opened with a dominating first quarter and rolled to a 54-35 win Friday night at Armijo.

The Lady Mustangs had a 21-5 advantage after the first eight minutes. Mia Marquez led Rodriguez with 17 points and Roniya Vaughn had 12 as Rodriguez improved to 8-15 overland 4-2 in the Monticello Empire League.

Alayah Gibson scored 15 points to pace Armijo. The Royals fell to 1-18 overall and 0-6 in the MEL. Rodriguez will play at Will C. Wood on Wednesday. Armijo will travel to Vacaville.

Headrick’s huge night powers Vaca

FAIRFIELD — Brynlie Headrick had the highest scoring game in northern Solano County this season when she went for 39 points Friday night in leading the Vacaville High School girls basketball team to a 52-43 win at Fairfield.

Headrick hit two 3-pointers and was 17 of 21 from the free throw line. Vacaville improved to 12-8 overall and

more so to last game’s oblique injury than Monday’s arrest for suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence.

Hurts will be a tough out. He ran for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns this season, after 784 yards and 10 scores last season. He passed for career-highs of 3,701 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. A late-season shoulder injury put his clout in doubt, until he opened the playoffs with touchdown passes on their first two drives.

The blueprint

All the 49ers have to do is copy the Washington Commanders’ winning recipe two months at Lincoln Financial Field. You know, just run 49 times for 152 yards, hog the ball for 40 minutes, and force four turnovers. Simple! But, seriously, running the ball and winning the turnover ratio is Shanahan’s tried and true method to victory, too.

When safety Jaquiski Tartt dropped a potential interception in last season’s NFC Championship Game, that invited the Rams to rally and eventually lay claim to the Lombardi Trophy.

Go back two years before that and you’ll recall Raheem Mostert running for a franchise-record 220 yards and four touchdowns in the 49ers’ NFC Championship win over the Green Bay Packers. He had 160 yards and three touchdowns before halftime, just the kind of start the 49ers would love to repeat with Christian McCaffrey this title bout.

McCaffrey has not fumbled away any of his 244 touches in a 49ers’ uniform. They’re 12-0 with him in the starting lineup, and all four of their preceding losses came when they lost the turnover battle.

The most impressive ball security to this point belongs to Purdy, who hasn’t fumbled and has had just three passes intercepted in the past eight wins. “Honestly, I hope I don’t have to scramble, so that’s not something that I have in my mind,” Purdy said. “But it is part of the game.”

Protecting Purdy’s blindside is All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who noted: “We’re all starving to win. Everybody wants that ring.”

Prediction: 49ers win 24-23.

3-3 in Monticello Empire League games. Fairfield fell to 5-16 overall and 1-5 in the MEL. No Fairfield individual statistics were made available. Fairfield will play Wednesday at Vanden. Vacaville will be home for Armijo.

Boys Basketball Bryant ignites

Fairfield in upset

VACAVILLE — Amari Bryant had a game-high 22 points as the Fairfield High School boys basketball team upset league-leading Vacaville 72-58 Thursday night.

Bryant made four 3-pointers and finished 6 of 8 from the line. Johnnie Jones and Evan Smith had 11 points apiece. Amarre Davis and Nicko Ignacio added 10 each.

Fairfield had the lead throughout the game and finished strong with a 25-16 edge in the fourth quarter. The Falcons were also 21 of 29 as a team from the free throw line.

Nathan Schnell led Vacaville with 20 points.

Fairfield improved its record to 6-17 overall and 3-3 in the Monticello Empire League. Vacaville fell to 17-7 overall and 5-1 in the MEL. Fairfield will host Vanden on Tuesday night. Vacaville will play at Armijo.

Rodriguez scores early, often in rout

FAIRFIELD — The Rodriguez High School boys basketball team

Trevor’s game is still in its infancy – his father call’s him a “basketball baby” – but like his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame it continues to grow. He’s only been playing seriously since his freshman year. He started out at Vanden, going through the Covid-19 pandemic limited season before seeing limited minutes as a junior. He became eligible to play at Armijo just this month.

“He has really improved in all facets of the game,” Michael Morris said of Trevor. “His midrange game has been exceptional. He’s a good free throw shooter. And he is a good rim protector. He just needs more basketball experience and more minutes on the court.”

Boys basketball

Vacaville and Vanden are now tied atop the MEL race at 5-1. Rodriguez is close behind at 4-2 and Fairfield is 3-3. Fairfield shook up the standings with its 72-58 win Thursday night at unbeaten Vacaville. Rodriguez nearly got Vacaville on Tuesday night but the Bulldogs pulled out a 52-48 win.

Vanden will host Vacaville on Tuesday night. The Vikings will be seeking some payback. Vacaville beat Vacaville 60-59 in the first meeting at a raucous Harold Youngblood Gymnasium.

Also Tuesday, Armijo will be at Will C. Wood and Rodriguez heads to Fairfield. Thursday’s games offer Vacaville at Armijo, Vanden at Fairfield and Wood at Rodriguez.

Notables:

n Amari Bryant scored a game-high 22 points for Fairfield in its 72-58 upset win over Vacaville. He hit four 3-pointers and was 6 of 8 from the free throw line.

n Tyler Thompson scored 25 points for

jumped out to a big lead early and cruised to an 82-43 win Thursday night over visiting Armijo.

Rodriguez led 25-4 after the first quarter and stayed consistently strong. Ian Gutierrez had 15 points, Isaiah Apelado had 11 and Gianni Miles added nine as the Mustangs improved to 12-11 overall 4-2 in the Monticello Empire League.

Trevor Morris led Armijo with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Daniel Williams also had 10 points and five rebounds. The Royals fell to 2-16 overall and 0-6 in the MEL.

Rodriguez plays at home Tuesday against Will C. Wood. Armijo has a nonleague game at 3 p.m. Saturday against Fremont of Oakland before resuming the MEL schedule Tuesday night at home against Vacaville.

Thompson hits 1,000 points for Vikings

FAIRFIELD — Tyler

Thompson had a gamehigh 25 points and the junior eclipsed 1,000 points for his career as Vanden High School’s boys basketball team earned a 71-50 win Thursday night at Will C. Wood.

Thompson got his 1,000th point with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Sterling McClanahan had 14 points and Luka Radovanovic added 10 for the Vikings. Vanden improved to 16-8 overall and 5-1 in the Monticello Empire League.

Isiah Dixon led the Wildcats with 17 points. Jayden Hamilton-Holland scored 12 and Julian Martinez scored 10. Wood fell to 11-12 overall and

n Nicko Ignacio went for 18 points but his putback with six seconds left helped Fairfield defeat Will C. Wood 54-52.

n Isiah Dixon had 26 points and 11 rebounds for Wood in the loss to Fairfield.

n Vacaville’s Nathan Schnell had 22 points as the Bulldogs held off Rodriguez on Tuesday, 52-48, and 20 points in the loss to Fairfield.

Girls basketball

The MEL race continues to be all Vanden. The Vikings are off to a 6-0 start by averaging 81.8 points per game to their opponents’ 27.2. They have been beating opponents by more than 50 points per game. Friday’s matchup between the league-leaders and runner-up Will C. Wood ended up being an 84-32 victory by Vanden.

The new week begins Wednesday with Armijo at Vacaville, Fairfield at Vanden and Rodriguez at Will C. Wood. Friday’s games feature Armijo at Wood, Fairfield at Rodriguez and Vanden at Vacaville.

Notables:

n Roniya Vaughn scored 20 points in a 58-43 win by Rodriguez over Vacaville on Tuesday night.

n Vacaville’s Brynlie Headrick net a game-high 31 points in the loss to Rodriguez. She followed it up with a 39-point game in a 52-43 win over Fairfield.

n Athena Brombacher scored 19 points for Will C. Wood in a 61-21 win over Fairfield.

n Alyssa Jackson, the reigning league MVP, had 18 points in the win Friday night over Wood.

Boys soccer

Vacaville is unbeaten with a 6-0 record and has increased its lead in the league by two games. Armijo (4-2) and Will C. Wood (4-2) are right

1-5 in the MEL. Vanden plays Tuesday night at Fairfield. Wood will play at Rodriguez.

Boys Soccer

Big save by Duggan helps Rodriguez

FAIRFIELD — Goalkeeper Joseph Duggan made a big penalty kick save as the Rodriguez High School boys soccer team held off Armijo 2-1 at home Thursday night.

Carl Osifo scored a goal for the Mustangs. Matteo Arias converted a penalty kick. Rodriguez improved to 4-6-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the Monticello Empire League.

Armijo fell to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in the MEL. No individual statistics were made available for Armijo.

Rodriguez plays Tuesday at Fairfield. Armijo will be at Will C. Wood.

Armijo won the junior varsity game 3-1. Aaron Coria scored the Mustangs’ lone goal.

2 Bulldogs have hat tricks in big victory

VACAVILLE — Alex Verdugo and Nathan Beltran had three goals apiece for a pair of hat tricks as the Vacaville High School boys soccer team rolled to a 9-1 win Thursday night over Fairfield.

Oscar Rangel, Sammy Arevalo and Dylan Gonzalez also scored for the Bulldogs. Vacaville improved to 11-2 overall and 6-0 in Monticello Empire League matches. Freddy Brenes contributed two assists

n Alex Verdugo and Nathan Beltrans both had hat tricks in Vacaville’s 9-1 win over Fairfield.

n Edwing Saucedo Pacheco had a pair of second-half goals Tuesday as Armijo posted a 4-1 win over Fairfield.

n Rodriguez goalkeeper Joseph Duggan stopped a key penalty kick in a 2-1 win over Armijo.

Girls soccer

No teams reported Friday night scores. Vacaville and Rodriguez were tied atop the MEL at 4-0-1 after Wednesday’s matchups. Fairfield will play Wednesday at Rodriguez with Vacaville at Vanden and Wood at Armijo. Armijo will be at Vacaville on Friday with Fairfield at Vanden and Rodriguez at Wood.

Wrestling

Vacaville went 5-0 in the MEL duals, closing out the regular season schedule with a 75-0 win over rival Will C. Wood. The Bulldogs and second-place Rodriguez were scheduled to compete Saturday at the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Duals at Lincoln of Stockton.

The postseason run then takes off in earnest for area grapplers. The MEL tournament will is Saturday at Vacaville. The divisional tournaments are Feb. 11 at different host sites. The Section Masters follows Feb. 17-18 at the Stockton Arena. The state tournament will take place Feb. 23-25 in Bakersfield.

Reporting scores

Varsity coaches are asked to report scores and provide game information to the Daily Republic by emailing Sports Editor Matt Miller at mmiller@ dailyrepublic.net.

for Vacaville. Arevalo, Verdugo, Elias Ordonez and Gonzalez also had assists in the win. No individual statistics were made available for Fairfield. The Falcons fell to 4-8-4 overall and 1-4-1 in MEL matches. Vacaville hosts Vanden on Tuesday. Fairfield will be home for Rodriguez.

Girls Soccer Mendoza scores twice in Armijo win

FAIRFIELD — The Armijo High School girls soccer team earned a 4-2 win Wednesday night over Fairfield.

Lesly Mendoza scored twice for the Royals, while Mia Ponce and Joselyn Godinez also had goals. Midfielders Mendoza, Hannah Brackfield, Dianna Solorzano, Isabel Rojas, Bessy Monge and Joselyn Godinez created lots of opportunities to attack and helped slow down Fairfield’s attack.

Defenders Kayla Smith, Kayla Chrum, Leslie Silva and Miranda Rodriguez shut down the Fairfield attack in the second half. Lilly Fenn made some big saves as the goalkeeper.

Armijo improved to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in Monticello Empire League matches. The Royals were scheduled to play host Friday night to Rodriguez. Fairfield fell to 2-8 overall and 0-5 in the MEL. No individual results were made made available for Fairfield. The Falcons were scheduled to play at home Friday night against Vacaville.

Armijo’s junior varsity team lost to Fairfield 1-0.

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CONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveonN/A. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.)

/s/DeanLaing INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary24,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ET SEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January25,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023999151 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#0060958 Published:Jan.29Feb.5,12,19,2023

Kaur4006RoxburyWayFairfield,94533 #2GurdipSingh4006RoxburyWayFairfield,94533.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aMarriedCouple Theregistrantcommencedtotransact b usinessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveonN/A. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/KulvinderAnzayKaur INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember7,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon:

December8,2022

NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002011 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060510 Published:Jan.8,15,22,29,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS 1ST CHOICE TAX SERVICES LOCATEDAT1207EssexDr,Fairfield, CA94533Solano.Mailingaddress1207 EssexDr,Fairfield,CA94533.IS(ARE) HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)EsmeraldaCervantes1207EssexDrFairfield,94533. THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nam eornameslistedaboveon 11/30/2017. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/EsmeraldaCervantes INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary3,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January4,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023000014 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060518 Published:Jan.8,15,22,29,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS 707 PARTY RENTALS LOCATEDAT1721NorthTexasSt,Fairfield,CA94533Solano.Mailingaddress POBox110,Fairfield,CA94533.IS (ARE)HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHE FOLLOWINGOWNER(S)J.S.J.J.J.HoldingsLLC.CA.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aLimitedLiabilityCompany Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslis tedaboveon 12/01/2022. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/IsaiahLivingston INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember11,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December12,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002027 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060667 Published:Jan.15,22,29Feb.5,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS KHINDA BROTHERS TRANSPORT LOCATEDAT726BridleRidgeDrive, FairfieldCA94534Solano.Mailingaddress726BridleRidgeDrive,FairfieldCA 94534.IS(ARE)HEREBYREGISTERED BYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)Khinda BrothersTransportIncCAFairfield, 94534.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aCorporation Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictit iousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveon 01/04/2023. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/JaspreetSinghKhindaPresident INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary3,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMON LAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January4,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023000012 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060520 Published:Jan.8,15,22,29,2023

BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS COTTAGE COUNTRY HOME DECOR & GIFTS, STUDIO 7 JEWELERY CO. OLD GLORY RUSTICS LOCATEDAT331BluebellCourt,VacavilleCA95687Solano.Mailingaddress331 BluebellCourt,VacavilleCA95687.IS (ARE)HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHE FOLLOWINGOWNER(S)DavidWeatherwax331BluebellCourtVacaville,95687. THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregist rantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveonN/A. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/DavidWeatherwax INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY C LERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary17,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHER UNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January18,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023000087 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060819 Published:Jan.22,29Feb.5,12,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS BOSS BITCHES LOCATEDAT2531EAtlanticCt,FairfieldCA.Mailingaddress2531EAtlantic Ct,Fairfield.IS(ARE)HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)TaraCruz2531EAtlanticCtFairfield,94533.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveonN/A. I declarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/TaraCruz INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFA CTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary3,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January4,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023000016 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060527 Published:Jan.8,15,22,29,2023

REAL ESTATE &

The Best Place To Find The Best Place!

terestedinthismattershallappearbefore thiscourtatthehearingindicatedbelowto showcause,ifany,whythepetitionfor changeofnameshouldnotbegranted. Anypersonobjectingtothename changesdescribedabovemustfileawrittenobjectionthatincludesthereasonsfor theobjectionatleasttwocourtdaysbeforethematterisscheduledtobeheard andmustappearatthehearingtoshow causewhythepetitionshouldnotbegranted.Ifnowrittenobjectionistimelyfiled, thecourtmaygrantthepetitionwithouta hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: Feb. 17, 2023; Time: 9:30 am; Dept: 22; Rm: III The address of the court is SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County of Solano Old Solano Courthouse 580 Texas Street Fairfield, CA 94533

AcopyofthisOrdertoShowCauseshall bepublishedatleastonceeachweekfor foursuccessiveweekspriortothedate setforhearingonthepetitioninthefollowingnewspaperofgeneralcirculation,printedinthiscounty:DailyRepublic Pleasefileproofof newspaperpublication atleast5businessdaysbeforehearing (newspaperdoesnotfilew/court)zoom ok.zoominvitewillbeemailed1-2days beforehearing

Date:JAN.3,2023 /s/AlesiaJones JudgeoftheSuperiorCourt FILED:JAN.11,2023

DR#00060662

Published:Jan15,22,29Feb.5,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS SULLIVAN FAMILY FARM LOCATEDAT5007GordonValleyRd, FairfieldCA94534Solano.Mailingaddress5007GordonValleyRd,Fairfield CA94534.IS(ARE)HEREBYREGISTEREDBYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)#1MichaelSullivan5007Gordon ValleyRd.Fairfield,94534#2KarinSullivan5007GordonValleyRd.Fairfield, 94534.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aMarriedCouple Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveon 11/01/2022. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.)

/s/MichaelSullivan INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember28,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OF THERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December29,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002121 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060951 Published:Jan.29Feb.5,12,19,2023

ANNOUNCEMENTOFPRE-QUALIFICATIONPROCEDURESANDOPENDATESFOR

ANNUALPRE-QUALIFICATION

NoticeisgiventhattheSuisunResourceConservationDistrict(SRCD)hasdetermined thatallbiddersonpublicworkstobeundertakenbySRCDmustbepre-qualifiedpriorto submittingbids.ItismandatoryforallLicensedContractorswhointendtosubmitbids fullycompletethepre-qualificationquestionnaire,provideallrequestedmaterials,andbe approvedbySRCDtobeonthefinalBidderslist.NobidwillbeacceptedfromaContractort hathasfailedtocomplywiththeserequirements.

I.Pre-qualificationQuestionnairescanbeobtainedbycontactingSRCDat2544Grizzly IslandRd.,Suisun,CA94585ordownloadedathttp://www.suisunrcd.org/

II.Paperordigitalfilledquestionnaireswillbeaccepteduntil5:00PMPacificStandard TimeonWednesday,15February2023,atSuisunResourceConservationDistrict,2544 GrizzlyIslandRd.,Suisun,CA94585

III.SRCDreservestherighttowaiveminorirregularitiesandomissionsintheinformation containedinthepre-qualificationapplicationsubmitted,tomakeallfinaldeterminations andtodetermineatanytimethatthepre-qualificationprocedureswillnotbeappliedtoa futurepublicworksproject.

Foradditionalinformationorquestions,pleasecontactJohnTakekawaat jtakekawa@suisunrcd.orgor707-425-9302x2.

DR#00060859

Published:January25,27,29,30,February1,3,5,6,8,10,2023

OPEN HOUSE

Omar Hampton & Associate REALTOR® DRE#01242723 (707) 529-7545

OPEN HOUSE

P051904

Toallheirs,beneficiaries,creditors,contingentcreditors,andpersonswhomay otherwisebeinterestedinthewillorestate,orboth,of: Clarence Hubbard APetitionforProbatehasbeenfiledby: Burman Hubbard intheSuperiorCourtofCalifornia,County of:Solano ThePetitionforProbaterequeststhat: Burman Hubbard beappointedaspersonalrepresentative toadmin istertheestateofthedecedent. Thepetitionrequeststhedecedent'slast willandcodicils,ifany,beadmittedtoprobate.Thelastwillandanycodicilsare availableforexaminationinthefilekeptby thecourt. ThepetitionrequestsauthoritytoadministertheestateundertheIndependentAdministrationofEstatesAct.(Thisauthority willallowthepersonalrepresentativeto 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: MARCH 6, 2023 TIME: 8:30; DEPT. 4 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, County of Solano 600 Union Avenue 600 Union Avenue Fairfield 94533-6306 Probate

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.

AttorneyforPetitioner: LisaLindsey Moss&Locke 3600AmericanRiverDrive,Suite108 Sacramento,CA95864 (916)569-0667 DR#00060931 Published:Jan.21Feb.1,5,2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

THE FOLLOWING PERSON (PERSONS) IS (ARE) DOING BUSINESS AS YNGZAYTV, SL33P SH33P, STVMP EYE, RINNEEGAN EYEZ LOCATEDAT2043EagleWay,Fairfield, CA,94533Solano.Mailingaddress325 MerganserDr#603,SuisunCity,CA, 94585.IS(ARE)HEREBYREGISTERED BYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)Isaiah Livingston2043EagleWayFairfield, 94533.THISBUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: anIndividual Theregistrantcommencedtotransact busi nessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveon 12/14/2022. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/IsaiahLivingston INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVID EDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONDecember14,2027. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOFANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATE ORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: December15,2022 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2022002063 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060663 Published:Jan.15,22,29Feb.5,2023

NEIGHBOR EXCHANGE, UTILITY EXCHANGE LOCATEDAT2065BenningtonDrive, VallejoCA94591Solano.Mailingaddress2065BenningtonDrive,VallejoCA 94591.IS(ARE)HEREBYREGISTERED BYTHEFOLLOWINGOWNER(S)#1EdwardThomas2065BenningtonDrive Vallejo,94591#2ShandraLynnAdolf 2065BenningtonDrVallejo,94591THIS BUSINESSISCONDUCTEDBY: aMarriedCouple Theregistrantcommencedtotransact businessunderthefictitiousbusiness nameornameslistedaboveonN/A. Ideclarethatallinformationinthisstatementistrueandcorrect(Aregistrantwho declaresastrueinformationwhichheor sheknowstobefalseisguiltyofacrime.) /s/EdwardThomas INACCORDANCEWITHSUBDIVISION (a)OFSECTION17920AFICTITIOUS NAMESTATEMENTGENERALLYEXPIRESATTHEENDOFFIVEYEARS FROMTHEDATEONWHICHITWAS FILEDINTHEOFFICEOFTHECOUNTY CLERK,EXCEPTASPROVIDEDIN SUBDIVISION(b)OFSECTION17920, WHEREITEXPIRES40DAYSAFTER ANYCHANGEINTHEFACTSSET FORTHINTHESTATEMENTPURSUANTTOSECTION17913OTHERTHAN ACHANGEINTHERESIDENCEADDRESSOFAREGISTEREDOWNER. ANEWFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAME STATEMENTMUSTBEFILEDBEFORE THEEXPIRATIONJanuary2,2028. THEFILINGOFTHISSTATEMENT DOESNOTOFITSELFAUTHORIZE THEUSEINTHISSTATEOFAFICTITIOUSBUSINESSNAMEINVIOLATION OFTHERIGHTSOF ANOTHERUNDER FEDERAL,STATEORCOMMONLAW (SEESECTION14411ETSEQ.,BUSINESSANDPROFESSIONSCODE). FiledintheOfficeoftheCountyClerkof SolanoCounty,StateofCaliforniaon: January3,2023 NewASSIGNEDFILENO.2023000003 CHARLESLOMELI,SolanoCountyClerk DR#00060505 Published:Jan.8,15,22,29,2023

Janet

Harrison

or 01982678 (707) 372-2950 or 365-4880

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Adorable cottage/bungalow, 2 bedroom, 1 bath and has been updated. Larger back yard with patio & raised garden beds for your vegetables. Kitchen has been remodeled & there is an inside laundry & single car garage. Walk to town! $315,000

Open House Saturday 1:30-3:30PM 71 8 Allender Way, Rio Vista

Gorgeous 3bd/2ba home, look no further!! Renovated w/new flooring/baseboards, exterior/interior paint, painted kitchen cabinets, quartz counters & new fixtures. New front hardscape/drought resistant landscape. Extended driveway & solar. $514,999