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Open Division
Thursday’s opening round
No. 1 Salesian (25-3), bye
No. 2 Clayton Valley (25-3), bye
No. 5 Moreau Catholic (23-3) at No. 4 De La Salle (22-6), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Dougherty Valley (20-8) at No. 3 Marin Catholic (23-3), 7 p.m.
Division I
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 Bishop O’Dowd 65, No. 16 Windsor 34
No. 9 Acalanes 66, No. 8 Archie Williams 55
No. 4 Liberty 62, No. 13 Freedom 59
No. 5 Dublin 70, No. 12 Berkeley 64
No. 2 Amador Valley 70, No. 15 Redwood 44
No. 10 Livermore 83, No. 7 California 80, OT
No. 3 Granada 62, No. 14 Campolindo 51
No. 6 Monte Vista 50, No. 11 Alameda 47
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 9 Acalanes (18-11) at No. 1 Bishop O’Dowd (20-7), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Dublin (19-8) at No. 4 Liberty (24-3), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Livermore (18-9) at No. 2 Amador Valley (17-11), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Monte Vista (17-11) at No. 3 Granada (19-7), 7 p.m.
Division II
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 16 Pinole Valley (15-13) at No. 1 University-San Francisco (23-5), 7 p.m.
No. 9 Lick-Wilmerding (17-11) at No. 8 Casa Grande (20-8), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Urban-San Francisco (15-11) at No. 4 Piedmont (18-8), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Ygnacio Valley (13-14) at No. 5 Albany (20-8), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Justin-Siena (17-11) at No. 2 Cardinal Newman (26-2), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Heritage (15-11) at No. 7 San Lorenzo (16-10), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Pittsburg (14-11) at No. 3 St. Mary’s-Berkeley (17-10), 7 p.m.
No. 11 El Cerrito (22-6) at No. 6 McKinleyville (19-8), 7 p.m.
Division III
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 Branson 71, No. 16 Napa 38
No. 9 Marin Academy 67, No. 8 College Prep-Oakland 64
No. 4 San Domenico 62, No. 13 Mt. Eden 55
No. 5 Brave Christian 65, No. 12 St. Patrick-St. Vincent 55
No. 2 Cornerstone Christian 75, No. 15 James Logan 53
No. 7 Bentley 58, No. 10 San Rafael 48
No. 3 St. Bernard’s-Eureka 73, No. 14 Miramonte 72
No. 6 College Park 85, No. 11 Washington-Fremont 47
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 9 Marin Academy (17-10) vs. No. 1 Branson (16-14) at College of Marin, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Brave Christian (24-5) at No. 4 San Domenico (18-10), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Bentley (22-6) at No. 2 Cornerstone Christian (21-8), 7 p.m.
No. 6 College Park (16-12) at No. 3 St. Bernard’s-Eureka (24-3), 7 p.m.
Division IV
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 16 Arroyo (11-15) at No. 1 San Marin (14-12), 7 p.m.
No. 9 Head-Royce (13-13) at No. 8 Del Norte (19-10), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Tamalpais (12-15) at No. 4 Mission San Jose (16-10), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Tennyson (16-10) at No. 5 Bethel (13-13), 7 p.m.
No. 15 American Canyon (15-13) at No. 2 Rancho Cotate (20-7), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Montgomery (13-14) at No. 7 Northgate (12-14), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Analy (1413) at No. 3 Benicia (12-15), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Ukiah (16-11) at No. 6 Alhambra (18-8), 7 p.m.
Division V
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 Sonoma Academy 79, No. 16 Roseland University Prep 41
No. 9 Middletown 55, No. 8 Swett 51
No. 4 Drew 65, No. 13 Quarry Lane 43
No. 12 Berean Christian 57, No. 5 Arcata 51
No. 2 Eureka 72, No. 15 Hoopa Valley 51
No. 7 Gateway 73, No. 10 Sonoma Valley 59
No. 3 Redwood Christian 61, No. 14 Fort Bragg 41
No. 6 Kennedy-Fremont 54, No. 11 International 38
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 9 Middletown (19-8) at No. 1 Sonoma Academy (21-5), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Berean Christian (11-10) vs. No. 4 Drew (19-10) at Booker T. Washington Gym in San Francisco, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Gateway (16-12) at No. 2 Eureka (15-12), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Kennedy-Fremont (14-13) at No. 3 Redwood Christian (20-9), 7 p.m.
Division VI
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 1 St. Vincent de Paul (18-10), bye
No. 9 Victory Christian Academy (12-11) vs. No. 8 Jewish Community (8-14) at Kezar Pavilion, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Averroes (16-9), bye
No. 12 Round Valley (7-12) vs. No. 5 Contra Costa Christian (12-12) at Power Sports Academy in Martinez, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Mendocino (20-4), bye
No. 10 Rio Lindo Adventist (13-8) at No. 7 Ferndale (5-10), 7 p.m.
No. 3 San Francisco Waldorf (8-12), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Trinity Prep (13-5) at No. 6 Point Arena (13-10), 7 p.m.
Open Division
Thursday’s opening round
No. 1 San Ramon Valley (24-3), bye
No. 2 Carondelet (23-5), bye
No. 5 Bishop O’Dowd (15-9) at No. 4 Clayton Valley Charter (21-7), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Cardinal Newman (21-7) at No. 3 Piedmont (19-3), 7 p.m.
Division I
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 Redwood (22-6), bye
No. 9 Maria Carrillo 45, No. 8 Dougherty Valley 40
No. 4 Acalanes 51, No. 13 San Marin 34
No. 5 Alameda 57, No. 12 Eureka 56
No. 2 Dublin 53, No. 15 College Park 38
No. 7 Heritage 55, No. 10 Windsor 44
No. 3 Arcata 48, No. 14 Campolindo 37
No. 11 Pinole Valley 54, No. 6 California 45
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 9 Maria Carrillo (21-7) at No. 1 Redwood (22-6), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Alameda (18-9) at No. 4 Acalanes (20-8), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Heritage (21-6) at No. 2 Dublin (21-7), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Pinole Valley (17-12) at No. 3 Arcata (18-4), 7 p.m.
Division II
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 1 Salesian (18-10), bye
No. 9 Pittsburg (18-8) at No. 8 American Canyon (21-8), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Sonoma Valley (20-8) at No. 4 University-San Francisco (18-10), 5:30 p.m.
No. 12 Monte Vista (12-12) at No. 5 Lick-Wilmerding (22-6), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Fortuna (16-10) at No. 2 Moreau Catholic (20-6), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Ukiah (21-7) vs. No. 7 Marin Catholic at Ukiah(11-14), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Washington-Fremont (16-10) at No. 3 Justin-Siena (23-5), 7 p.m.
No. 11James Logan (14-11) at No. 6 American (16-9), 7 p.m.
Division III
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 St. Bernard’s (20-7), bye
No. 8 Liberty 32, No. 9 San Leandro 27
No. 4 Miramonte 61, No. 13 Middletown 41
No. 12 Archie Williams 55, No. 5 Saint Mary’s-Berkeley 51
No. 2 Benicia 42, No. 15 Berkeley 32
No. 7 Bethel 49, No. 10 Del Norte 41
No. 3 Kelseyville 56, No. 14 Antioch 50
No. 11 Mission San Jose 47, No. 6 Urban 46
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 8 Liberty (16-11) at No. 1 St. Bernard’s (20-7), 5:30 p.m.
No. 12 Archie Williams (15-11) at No. 4 Miramonte (15-12), 7 p.m.
No. 7 Bethel (19-10) at No. 2 Benicia (18-9), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Mission San Jose (16-11) at No. 3 Kelseyville (20-5), 7 p.m.
Division IV
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 1 Rancho Cotate (14-12), bye
No. 9 Vintage (13-12) at No. 8 St. Patrick-St. Vincent (10-17), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Kennedy-Fremont (11-14) at No. 4 Las Lomas (14-12), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Northgate (12-15) at No. 12 Vallejo (17-11), 7 p.m.
No. 15 Hayward (10-10) at No. 2 Branson (16-12), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Upper Lake (16-10) at No. 7 Santa Rosa (17-8), 7 p.m.
No. 14 Livermore (11-16) at No. 3 St. Helena (17-6), 7 p.m.
No. 11 Piner (8-6) at No. 6 Marin Academy (15-11), 7 p.m.
Division V
Tuesday’s opening round
No. 1 The Bay School (14-5), bye
No. 9 Gateway 60, No. 8 Berean Christian 34
No. 4 Healdsburg 56, No. 13 Emerald 43
No. 5 Credo 46, No. 12 Quarry Lane 34
No. 2 Albany (15-9), bye
No. 10 Sonoma Academy 42, No. 7 Calistoga 34
No. 3 St. Joseph Notre Dame 43, No. 14 College Prep 31
No. 6 San Domenico 45, No. 11 Redwood Christian 37
Friday’s quarterfinals
No. 9 Gateway (13-11) vs. No. 1 The Bay School (14-5) at Letterman Gym in San Francisco, 7 p.m.
No. 5 Credo (16-10) at No. 4 Healdsburg (11-17), 7 p.m.
No. 10 Sonoma Academy (14-10) at No. 2 Albany (15-10), 7 p.m.
No. 6 San Domenico (10-13) at No. 3 St. Joseph Notre Dame (14-14), 7 p.m.
Division VI
Wednesday’s opening round
No. 1 Cornerstone Christian (21-7), bye
No. 9 Brave Christian (14-5) at No. 8 Anderson Valley (13-7), 7 p.m.
No. 13 Trinity Prep (7-5) at No. 4 Laytonville (19-4), 7 p.m.
No. 12 Averroes (10-12) at No. 5 St. Vincent de Paul (16-12), 7 p.m.
No. 2 Ferndale (17-9), bye
No. 10 San Francisco Waldorf (9-11) at No. 7 Mendocino (16-10), 7 p.m.
No. 3 Grace Christian Academy (18-3), bye
No. 11 Contra Costa Christian (10-12) at No. 6 California School for the Deaf (23-4), 7 p.m.
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A pursuit in Vallejo last week led to the recovery of three loaded firearms and two suspects booked into Solano County Jail.
On Wednesday at approximately 11:18 p.m., officers assigned to the Vallejo Police Department Patrol Division attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Toyota Camry due to its tinted front windows in the area of Sacramento Street and Alabama Street.
However, the driver failed to yield, initiating a vehicle pursuit, which ended in the 200 block of Wilson Avenue, when five occupants immediately exited the vehicle and fled on foot in different directions. Eventually, all five suspects were located and detained without injury after they were found hiding under parked vehicles, inside a full dumpster, and in nearby yards.
Three of the five detained suspects were later determined to be juveniles. One juvenile resided in Walnut Creek, and another resided in Corte Madera.
According to a news release by the Vallejo Police Department, officers recovered three loaded firearms, none of which were confirmed to be lawfully possessed by the individuals involved.
The vehicle, which was not reported stolen, was towed from the scene, and the firearms were booked into evidence.
Two of the three juveniles were transported to the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility, while one juvenile was cited and released to a parent. All parents or guardians were contacted and informed of the situation. The two adult suspects were subsequently booked into the Solano County Jail.
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Attorneys continued presentation of evidence to a judge in Solano County Superior Court Friday, part of arguments over whether a Martinez man charged in connection with two murders, committed months apart, in 2022 can be tried on both allegations at once, or whether the two shooting deaths should be tried separately.
The hearing on the allegations against Richard Raymond Klein, 54, and the motion to sever the two murder charges will resume on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Fairfield courtroom of Judge John B. Ellis.
The 6-foot-7 Klein, clad in a striped jail jumpsuit, his head shaved, listened intently and chatted with his attorney on Friday as the prosecution played several recordings of phone conversations he had had with associates since being arrested and held in Solano County Jail.
In each of the recordings, Deputy District Attorney Barry Shapiro argued, Klein can be heard encouraging friends to contact certain witnesses. “The clips are all attempts by the defendant to prevent witnesses from testifying,” Shapiro argued.
Defense Attorney Dustin Gordon is challenging to sever the cases, arguing that witnesses and issues in each shooting incident are not cross-admissible and that there are issues of the identity of the actual shooters in the matters.
As previously reported, Klein, a previously convicted felon, was indicted for the killings by a Solano County grand jury in June 2023. The Solano County District Attorney’s Office then combined the murder charges into one case, with alleged special circumstances. Court records indicate that the case is no longer a capital case.
The indictment, which essentially replaced the preliminary hearing process, includes the two murder counts and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, committing murder while released on his own recognizance, and a special circumstance for committing multiple murders.
The indictment reflects allegations in the two previously filed criminal complaints that Klein allegedly committed murder on April 21, 2022, at a gathering on Manzanita Avenue in Fairfield, then allegedly again, on Dec 15, 2022, while out of custody on the initial murder charge, allegedly committed a second fatal shooting in Suisun City.
In the Fairfield case, Klein is charged with an enhancement for personally discharging a firearm, leading to the death of Anthony Fuimaono, 56.
Klein was initially scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the Fuimaono shooting on Oct. 28, 2022, and was held to answer as charged. Some two weeks later, and held without bail in Solano County Jail in Fairfield, he was formally arraigned. However, during the proceeding, Gordon asked the court to release his client and reduce bail, arguing two constitutional amendments, including the Eighth (excessive bail).
The prosecution objected, citing a risk to public safety, the risk to the safety of the victim’s family, the seriousness of the charge, Klein’s criminal history, his prior prison time, and that Klein was previously a validated member of the Nazi Low Riders, a White supremacist prison and criminal street gang with origins in the California Youth Authority. However, the court released Klein on a pretrial services contract.
Then, while Klein was out of custody, the Suisun City Police Department on Dec. 15, 2022, responded to a shots-fired call in the Potrero Circle area. When officers arrived, they found a man on the ground in front of 1244 Potrero Circle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite life-saving measures by officers and paramedics, Matthew Muller, 37, died.
After the second shooting, investigators were able to identify Klein as the suspect and locate him. He had fled across the Southern California border. He was taken into custody in Rosarito, Mexico, by U.S. Marshals and Mexican authorities some days after and returned to the United States. He was arrested Jan. 13, 2023, at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
If convicted at trial for the killings, Klein — who was convicted of a felony in 2006 in Contra Costa County — faces 50 years to life for the murders and likely more time for using firearms and being a previously convicted felon, among other enhancements.
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Nathan Canilao, Christian Babcock
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DEAR JOAN: Recently I noticed mushrooms growing at the base of one of the juniper trees in the backyard. It was interesting, so I took a picture.
A couple of days ago, I noticed that the mushrooms were gone, and there were scratch marks in the damp earth at the base where the mushrooms had been.
I am curious as to what animal could have eaten the mushrooms, and if that animal is in any danger from poisoning. I see raccoons, possums, squirrels, and birds on my backyard camera.
Who is the most likely culprit, or victim?
— Nancy McKiernan, Sunnyvale
DEAR NANCY: The winter rains can turn our Bay Area yards into fairylands with mushrooms popping up all over. While it is never a good idea to eat one without knowing exactly what type it is, animals don’t have the benefit of being able to call on a mycologist to determine the identity.
RELATED: California officials warn against foraging wild mushrooms after deadly poisoning outbreak
Instead, they rely on taste, outcome and experience. If a wild animal eats a mushroom that later makes it ill, it will avoid those mushrooms in the future, provided they survive. They’ll likely also stay away from anything that has a same or similar taste. That provides them with some protection against eating the poisonous ones.
In the Bay Area, there are two mushrooms that are unsafe for any creature, and those are the death cap (Amanita phalloides) and the western destroying angel (Amanita ocreata). Both are commonly found near and around oak trees.
As for what animal would eat the golden hued mushrooms you observed, the list is long. Mushrooms are a treat for wildlife as they have a high water content, are a good source of protein, and a good source of vitamins and phosphorus.
Rats, squirrels, deer, box turtles, wild turkeys, and wild boars, just to name a few that might be visiting your yard, all love mushrooms. The scratches you observed lead me to think of turkeys, but there’s no way to know for certain.
DEAR JOAN: I’m already thinking about spring and what I’ll be planting in my vegetable garden. Last year, much of the garden was eaten by rats, birds and squirrels. I’m wondering if one of those plastic owls would scare them away?
— Alice B., Clayton
DEAR ALICE: Decoys do work, however briefly, against the birds but it’s unlikely the rats and squirrels will even raise an eyebrow.
Stationary owl statues and other decoys might keep the birds away for a day or two, but then the birds figure out there’s no threat, and before you know it, they’re perching on the fake owl’s head and having a good laugh.
You want something that will move unpredictably. Objects that are pushed and pulled by the wind, and which add unexpected flashes of light have a better and longer track record of success. You can hang reflective ribbons or old CDs throughout the garden.
For the rats and squirrels, the only thing stopping them are physical barriers. Surrounding your garden with a hardware cloth fence and a shock wire on top will do wonders.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
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Joan Morris, Correspondent
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The end to a wild week of whipsawing weather across Northern California is at hand.
Sunny skies, calmer winds and cooler temperatures are forecast to return to the Bay Area on Saturday and linger into early next week, offering a respite from a weeklong parade of storms that felled trees, flooded roadways and caused power outages affecting thousands of people.
In the Sierra, clouds were expected to part beginning Saturday, potentially allowing skiers easier access over Interstate 80 and Highway 50 to take advantage of several feet of fresh powder around Lake Tahoe.A few final rounds of rain and gusty conditions were expected throughout the day Friday, particularly around midday and into the early afternoon as a final band of storms sweep through the region.
But in a word, the weather should be “beautiful” for the last several days of 2025, said Dylan Flynn, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
“The sun will be shining, the wind will be light — it’s going to be really nice,” Flynn said. “The only potential drawback will be cooler temperatures that could dip overnight into the 30s for parts of the Bay Area, making it “noticeable, especially compared to how warm it’s been,” he added.
The calmer forecast comes after a drumbeat of storms pummeled the Bay Area, bringing with them hurricane-force gusts that toppled trees and left many residents celebrating Christmas in the dark.
RELATED: Horse found roaming North Bay roadway during winter storm
Several thousand people were without power Friday morning, the vast majority in the Santa Cruz Mountains, along with other parts of the Peninsula and in the South Bay, according to Pacific Gas & Electric’s outage map. In all, the storms knocked out power to more than 777,000 people across PG&E’s California network, and about 41,000 of those people remained in the dark late Friday morning, said Paul Moreno, a spokesman for the utility provider.
Overnight Thursday into Friday, the weather service received reports of downed trees affecting Highway 152 and several boats damaged in the Santa Cruz Harbor from more bands of storms that rolled through the area.
Radar indicated a potential water spout in Monterey Bay right outside of Santa Cruz on Christmas Day, Flynn said, though it was not immediately clear whether it came ashore and caused any damage. The weather service also issued a tornado warning over the Santa Cruz Mountains later in the day, though it later appeared unlikely that anything touched down. Formal survey teams have not yet been dispatched.
Perhaps the greatest damage to emerge late this week came at the Lick Observatory atop Mt. Hamilton, where gusts of up to 114 mph on Christmas Day ripped open the shutter to its 36-inch Great Refractor dome, the observatory announced Friday. The dislodged shutter, which weighs more than two tons, “fell outward onto the roof of the Great Hall, crushing several structural beams,” according to a press release.
Though the telescope itself was not damaged, repairs to the facility are expected to take months. Complicating matters are the fact that the telescope’s precision lenses and electrical systems could now be “vulnerable” to precipitation, the observatory said.
“This was a frightening moment for our staff,” said Matthew Shetrone, deputy director of the University of California Observatories, in a statement that lauded his staff’s work to protect the telescope. “When the storm broke, everyone was safe, but the spiritual core of our observatory had been damaged.”
In all, since the first storms came ashore last weekend, Oakland and San Francisco have received more than 4 inches of rain, while the Oakland and Berkeley hills — along with the Santa Cruz Mountains to the southwest — received between 5 and 8 inches of precipitation, the weather service reported. San Jose received about 1.75 inches of rain, while similar totals were measured in Mountain View and Palo Alto and slightly more than 2 inches fell over Fremont.
The highest totals came in the North Bay, where Mt. Tamalpais received 15.11 inches of snow over the last week, according to the weather service. More than 6 inches fell in Tiburon, and Fairfax.
To the east, snow continued to fall over the Sierra — providing a direly-needed lift to Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts that had delayed their openings amid an unseasonably dry start to the season.
Several ski resorts reported another two feet of powder from early Christmas morning to just before dawn on Friday, according to Scott Rowe, another National Weather Service meteorologist. That latest dumping left Soda Springs with 72 inches of snow so far this week, while Kirkwood reported 59 inches of powder, and Bear Valley said it had received 58 inches of snow.
Borreal reported 47 inches of snow this week, as of early Friday morning, while 58 inches of snow had fallen at the summit of Palisades Tahoe.
Accessing those ski resorts remained difficult Friday. Caltrans continued to enforce chain controls over Interstate 80 over Donner Pass and Highway 50 over Echo Summit. Still, the new solid base layer of snow was a welcome sight.
Just a week ago, on Dec. 19, California’s statewide snowpack was at 12% of its seasonal average, with the state’s northern-most peaks registering just 4% of its normal snowpack total for that date, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Central California — including much of the Lake Tahoe region — also was at just 12% of average.
But as Friday, the state stood at 69% of its snowpack average for the day after Christmas, with northern California coming in at 44% of average and the Central Sierra reaching 73%. More snow was expected to continue falling Friday before easing off this weekend.
“We’ll take any snow at this point in time,” Scott said.
Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Re: “Judge closes case for former officer” (Page A1, Dec. 13).
The appointed Alameda County District Attorney, Ursula Jones Dickson, was the endorsed candidate of the Pamela Price recall committee, which promised to end the alleged coddling of criminals. Indeed, Jones Dickson promises justice by prosecuting more children as adults and sending them to adult prisons.
Now, though, she has finally found a judge to drop manslaughter charges against the killer of Steven Taylor, former San Leandro cop Jason Fletcher. This despite then-District Attorney Nancy O’Malley’s Probable Cause Declaration that when he was shot after being tased twice, “Mr. Taylor was struggling to remain standing as he pointed the bat at the ground …” and “posed no threat of imminent deadly force or serious bodily injury to defendant Fletcher or anyone else.” Jones Dickson considers dropping the charges justice.
I would like a district attorney who has only one standard of justice.
Bob Britton
Castro Valley
Re: “Oakland surrenders in ‘coal war’ battle” (Page A1, Dec. 11).
Anyone who truly cares about future generations and acknowledges the impacts of climate change and the health risks of coal-related particulate pollution can’t in their right mind want to locally handle, ship and ultimately facilitate the burning of several million tons of coal annually.
If Oakland Bulk & Oversized Terminal LLC and its partners intend to develop their export terminal for coal, then they should build the specialized, enclosed, dome-shaped terminal they had said they would build to address coal dust health concerns — dust that could harm port workers and nearby residents.
The best outcome would be building a bulk terminal to export hundreds of commodities, excluding coal. If there’s still an option to stop coal as an export commodity here by gathering additional environmental health information, then that pathway should be pursued.
Dan Kalb
Oakland
As your family gathers for the holidays, ask about your family’s health history. Knowing your family’s health history can be key to a longer, healthier life. And it can help your health care provider identify traits that may put you at risk for certain health conditions or diseases.
Talk to immediate family members. Include three generations. Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews may all have helpful information. Gather information about major medical conditions, age of onset, and for deceased relatives, causes of death. If you have a family history of a condition, it’s important to know this. While you can’t change your genetic makeup, there may be steps you can take now that could help you stay healthy.
Felicia Ziomek
Livermore
Our Congress wants health care for all Americans. We all want health care for all Americans. But let’s do it the right way. The current Obamacare program is not sustainable. Replete with the fraud, waste and corruption that has been uncovered — finally — it is obvious that it is costing far more than it should. Extending the existing subsidies without improving the program and its controls is simply throwing good money after bad.
Let’s get control of the current program, drive out the fraud, waste and corruption, so we can see what the existing program would cost if managed properly. Then we can determine how much we can afford to spend and design a well-controlled program that meets our needs. Extending the current payouts without controlling whether the money is spent appropriately, although easier, is simply irresponsible.
John Griggs
Danville
Why has Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered our largest, most lethal aircraft carrier with supporting destroyers and guided missile ships to sail near Venezuela? Donald Trump says it’s to stop drug traffickers, yet, at the same time, he released from prison the Honduran ex-president, who was convicted of massive cocaine trafficking into our country.
The aircraft carrier was moved from the eastern Mediterranean, near the Ukraine conflict. Trump seems to be abandoning our allies in Europe, giving Russia the opportunity to expand its war-stolen territory in Ukraine, while at the same time, he’s picking a fight in our hemisphere with fishermen in small boats.
Is the “emperor” crazy? Are his true loyalties toward aggressive dictators like Vladimir Putin? Americans need to know.
China is watching us closely and assessing whether we would defend Taiwan, Japan and Korea if they pulled a “Putin” in the western Pacific.
Bruce Joffe
Piedmont
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Re: “Neighbors up in arms over cricket field plans” (Page B1, Nov. 22).
It was shocking to read that a few neighbors are opposed to having a cricket field in the proposed Palm Avenue Community Park in Fremont. The main fear is that flying cricket balls could injure a child or elderly person or damage homes or cars. Do baseballs ever fly out of the field and cause personal injury? Balls flying over to the street or neighborhood will be rare and can easily be prevented in the design and construction of the stadium.
It is more likely the fear of the unknown. People here are not familiar with cricket. Both baseball and cricket trace their origins back to medieval European bat-and-ball games and are more like “cousins.” Cricket fields all over the world are in the middle of cities and residential neighborhoods, and they are safe. It is fun to play and or watch cricket, so let us go for it.
Subru Bhat
Union City
Re: “Coal project costs mounting” (Page A1, Nov. 26).
The New York Times article about Phil Tagami’s proposed Oakland coal terminal is very misleading.
The article says, “a state judge ruled in 2023 that the city had to uphold its deal with Tagami.” However, that ruling only provided Tagami with $320,000 in damages. The disappointed coal developers found a judge in Kentucky whose suggestion of hundreds of millions in damages was rejected by Kentucky’s district court on November 21.
The article quotes Tagami as denying that the project “makes a difference in the world.” But several mile-long trains every day would be spewing unhealthy coal dust from Utah to Oakland. And when burned, that much coal would cost the world tens of billions of dollars in damages (using the EPA’s social cost of carbon).
The article says, ”The coal project must now go forward.” Those of us who care about the livability of Oakland will continue to oppose this deadly project.
Jack Fleck
Oakland
Re: “Spelling isn’t a subject we can afford to drop” (Page A6, Nov. 19).
My attention was drawn to Abby McCloskey’s column.
As this article asserts, a strong foundation in spelling in a child’s early learning years leads to reading and literacy proficiency down the road. My personal academic experience bears this out.
In my elementary school years in the 1950s, I had a natural strength in spelling, which was nurtured by my teachers. I still have all of my certificates of achievement, which span local through regional spelling contests that I entered.
Further, this skill led me toward my love of writing — whether it be in the form of a school essay, poetry or, as you are reading now, my penchant for submitting letters to the editor.
While “spell check” is a helpful tool, our brains still rely on the visualization of words to connect the dots in our educational journey.
Sharon Brown
Walnut Creek
As the season of gratitude, peace, joy and hope approaches, recently unbenched San Francisco Immigration Judges Patrick Savage, Amber George, Jeremiah Johnson, Shuting Chen and Louis Gordon have inspired this letter. Although no reason was given for their forced departures, I wasn’t surprised. Having seen several preside over mandatory immigration hearings restored my hope in this country’s future. Unfortunately, the very behaviors that gave me hope put them at risk of losing their jobs. Behaviors like being well-versed in immigration law, diligent in their efforts to fully understand cases from both immigrant and government perspectives, and exhibiting both kindness and respect to all present within their courtrooms.
The current administration has rendered these judges easily disposable obstacles to any campaign promises conflicting with this nation’s laws, Constitution and system of checks and balances. Fortunately, obstacles like integrity and allegiance to oaths of office can’t be as easily disposed of.
Linda Thorlakson
Castro Valley
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The winter holidays are nearly here, which means it’s a great time to gather with friends and family for some festive celebratory drinks. But where to go? If cozy kitsch, the glow of Christmas lights and an abundance of tinsel are your vibe, head for one of these 11 pop-up holiday cocktail bars around the Bay Area.
Sippin’ Santa and Miracle — two pop-up bar organizers — work with existing bars to offer their seasonal cocktail menus. The Sippin’ Santa concept is generally more tropical and tiki-drink focused, while the Miracle bars also offer professionally developed cocktails “and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to.”
Originally launched in 2014 in New York City, the Miracle pop-up has grown since then, and now brings its seasonal pop-ups worldwide, according to its website. Meanwhile, the first Sippin’ Santa started in 2015 in New York City and has since expanded to over 60 locations across North America, especially following the creation of a 2018 partnership with tiki connoisseur, writer and bar owner Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Generally, the menus are the same across the different locations for each concept, and each has a number of collectible cocktail mugs as well.
There are five of each concept open now or very soon around the Bay Area.
Open 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 15-Jan. 4, at 336 St. Mary St., Pleasanton; beerbaronbar.com
Open at 4:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, at 765 Laurel St., San Carlos; faithandspiritssancarlos.com
Open 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 31 (closed Christmas Day), at 32 Third St., San Francisco; konastreetmarket.com
Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 20-Jan. 3, 55 S. 1 First St., San Jose; the55south.com
Open 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2:30-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 31, at 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; lazeawayclub.com
Additional California locations are in Hollywood, Paso Robles, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Barbara.

You’ll also find Miracle pop-up bars at the following bar locations. These cocktail bars are less tiki-themed, more.
Open 4-9 p.m. Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 31, at 1300 First St., Gilroy; popspublichouse.com
Opens 2 p.m. weekdays and noon weekends through Dec. 31, at 2223 First St., Livermore; fatpigeonbar.com
Opens 4 p.m. weekdays and 2 p.m. weekends through Dec. 31, at 2424 Telegraph Ave., Oakland; doublestandardbar.com
Open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 1, at 229 Water St., Petaluma, brewstersbeergarden.com. The location is also hosting Santa visits each Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m., starting Dec. 2.
Open 11:30 a.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. weekend through Jan. 1 at 5000 Roberts Lake Road, Rohnert Park; thewaterhawk.com
Los Gatos Soda Works will also be hosting its own seasonal pop-up with a new, independent holiday cocktail menu and extravagant decorations. Opens daily at 4 p.m. through Dec. 31 at 21 College Ave., Los Gatos; reservations encouraged. losgatossodaworks.com
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Re: “Safety debate at crossroads” (Page A1, Oct. 30).
In a recent meeting held behind closed doors, Contra Costa County and the city of Walnut Creek agreed to use over $6 million in funds from programs designed to promote highway safety and improvements to carve out a three-block-long bicycle path on Treat Boulevard.
The affected area runs from North Main St. to Jones Road, a stretch that currently handles over 40,000 vehicles a day. The proposed path duplicates the existing Canal Trail, which is dedicated to bikers and pedestrians, is located two blocks south of Treat Boulevard and connects directly to the Iron Horse Trail for access to the Pleasant Hill BART station.
The city acknowledged both the high risk to bikers using the proposed paths and the negative impacts on traffic in this highly congested area. So, why is this project going forward?
Larry McEwen
Walnut Creek
Re: “Ethical investment policy approved” (Page B1, Oct. 10).
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) came out in opposition to an Alameda County Ethical Investment Policy at the Oct. 3 Board of Supervisors meeting. The supervisors passed the policy but delayed implementation.
The majority of Jews present at that meeting were mobilized by Jewish Voice for Peace and supported the policy.
A September Washington Post poll found that the majority of U.S. Jews do not support current Israeli policies. The JCRC’s position of opposing a pro-human rights policy is not a mainstream position, and it is not aligned with Jewish values.
The JCRC accused Israel’s critics of antisemitism and expressed concern about Jewish safety. Associating Jews with the acts of a murderous regime makes Jews less safe. Jews are safer in a world that works for all, including Palestinians.
We urge the supervisors to implement the Ethical Investment Policy as soon as possible.
Cynthia Kaufman
Oakland
Re: “Policyholders brace for price increases” (Page A1, Nov. 22).
The recent story harkens back to a pre-ACA time when people went without insurance because of the high costs of insurance premiums. What we need for California is a Cal-Care for all solution. However, this year, a Cal-Care bill was sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and he vetoed it. The main reason is that the federal government is not willing to give money that is due to us, which messes with the state budget.
Staying in the United States is not beneficial to California. In 2022, we gave $83 billion to the federal government, which ends up getting redistributed to other states. The California National Party is the only party that recognizes this and has universal health care (Cal-Care, or Medi-Cal for all) as part of its platform.
Maya Ram
Union City
Re: “Don’t think Trump won’t try for third term” (Page A6, Nov. 18).
A letter writer opined that President Trump could seek a third term as president by being vice president on a ticket headed by JD Vance, and, after Vance won the presidency, Vance could, by prearrangement, resign, and Trump would become president.
However, the 12th Amendment of the Constitution stipulates that one who is constitutionally ineligible to be president is also ineligible to be vice president, which would presumably prevent Trump from becoming president under this subterfuge.
Trump could argue that the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibits him only from being “elected” — but not actually serving — as president for a third term. But the Supreme Court would likely reject this subterfuge on grounds that it conflicts with the plain intent of the 22nd amendment to prevent a person from serving a third term as president through the electoral process, as Franklin Roosevelt did in the 1930s.
Roderick Walston
Orinda
Re: “Don’t cancel comic for having an opinion” (Page A8, Nov. 23).
I am one of the people who have written to request that “Mallard Fillmore” be moved to the Opinion Page, since it is clearly political in nature. I’m not asking that it be censored or removed from the paper, just that it be recognized as political opinion.
In the past few days, “Mallard Fillmore” has implied that the media only looks for bad things about Donald Trump and twists the truth, that liberals are stealing our tax dollars to support their own political party, and only care about disease in an election year, and the media is hypocritically misleading us about the destruction of the White House East Wing. Meanwhile, “Pickles” taught Nelson to say I love you to his grandma, and “Luann” adopted a puppy. Which of these is not like the other?
Incidentally, “Doonesbury” is offering more-than-20-year-old strips. That’s not a fair balance.
Sampson Van Zandt
Walnut Creek
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DEAR JOAN: There is something that I have noticed for years, and I finally decided to ask the only expert I know.
At the southbound Thornton Avenue exit to Interstate 880 in Newark, there are some power lines that extend all the way across the freeway. Every time I go that way I see many birds sitting on the lines, but only on the southbound side, never on the other side.
This is not a once-in-a-while thing; I’ve noticed it for many years.
I’ve never seen them fly away, they all just sit there. Can you think of anything special about these particular power lines?
Inquiring minds want to know.
— Sherry Hughes, Newark
DEAR SHERRY: Not being able to read bird minds, or the minds of any living beings, I can’t say for certain, although I’m sure they have an excellent reason. I can, however, list a few possibilities.
First off, birds really like sitting on elevated lines, whether those are power lines, telecommunication wires or cable lines. The high wires provide an excellent vantage point for surveying the area, giving them a bird’s eye view of the territory. From there, they can look around for food and watch out for predators.
The lines are also a convenient spot for taking a rest and as there are other birds on the line, a chance to converse. They come and go as they please, but it’s not likely they would all fly off at once unless something really frightened the entire flock. It might look like the birds sit there all day and night, but it’s a revolving cast.
Such gatherings also provide some communal support and protection from predators, and in the winter, the combined flocks can offer a little extra warmth.
Considering how much power is surging through the lines, we have to wonder how the birds can casually perch on them and avoid electrocution. The answer? Science.
Just like water, and nature itself, electricity seeks a balance. It flows from high energy points to low energy points. A bird sitting on the wire doesn’t interrupt or redirect the flow, but if it was to have one foot on the wire (high energy) and another on the ground (low energy), the electricity would seek to balance, redirecting through the bird to complete the circuit, with deadly consequences. The birds are remarkably exact about the positioning on the lines, keeping a small but equal distance between them, and avoiding touching anything else.
Why the birds choose one wire and not the other most likely has to do with environmental factors. The wind might be stronger on that side, the wires might not provide the same vantage point, or there could be something on that side of the freeway or the lines themselves, that the birds just don’t care for.
The birds like a clear pathway when they fly off the wire, and the ones on the northbound side might be more advantageous.
Wish we knew for certain, but maybe one day the birds will talk.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.
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Joan Morris, Correspondent
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Saturday’s games
CCS Open Division/Division I
No. 1 Archbishop Riordan 42, No. 8 Salinas 9
The Crusaders scored 28 points in the first quarter and didn’t look back in a rout of Salinas at home. Despite having four touchdowns called back because of penalties, the San Francisco school had no problem moving the ball against the Cowboys. The lead grew insurmountable in the second half as a running clock initiated in the third quarter. Riordan (10-0) will play Serra (7-4) for the Open Division title next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 2 Serra 29, No. 7 Archbishop Mitty 13
The Padres rushed for 312 yards and shut down Mitty’s offensive attack to cruise to a 16-point win at home. Speedy receiver Charlie Walsh led Serra with a rushing and a receiving score. Kicker Saul Marks knocked in three field goals and Serra’s defense forced three turnovers.S Serra will get a rematch with Riordan – after falling to the Crusaders in the WCAL regular season finale – in the Open Division finals next week. Nathan Canilao was in San Mateo and has the story here.
CCS Division II
No. 2 Sacred Heart Cathedral 34, No. 7 Wilcox 21
After trailing by two at halftime, the Fightin’ Irish took over the game behind a second-half surge to down visiting Wilcox at City College of San Francisco. Three second half touchdowns from quarterback Michael Sargent charged SHC’s offense, and the San Francisco school’s defense held Wilcox to just one score in the final two periods to seal the win. SHC (5-6) will host another South Bay powerhouse in undefeated Santa Teresa (11-0) next week. – Nathan Canilao
No. 4 Menlo School 17, No. 5 The King’s Academy 7
Menlo earned a hard-fought postseason win, defeating TKA at home. Quarterback Jack Freehill threw a touchdown pass to Chuck Wynn and Trevor van der Pyl’s 82-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Menlo. Dylan O’ Malley rounded out Menlo’s scoring with a 27-yard first-quarter field goal. Quarterback Jaiden Flores to wide receiver Ricky Gutierrez was the only score TKA had on Saturday. Menlo (9-2) will travel to top-seeded St. Ignatius next week for its semifinal game. TKA ends its season 9-2. – Nathan Canilao
CCS Division V
No. 2 Sobrato 28, No. 7 Santa Cruz 17
Sobrato advanced to the Division V semifinals after defeating Santa Cruz at home. Junior running back Brady Lennon led the way with rushing touchdowns from 35 and 10 yards. Jacob Sorrentino had a 75-yard touchdown grab and senior Jacob Kimerer had a 65-yard touchdown run. Sobrato improved to 7-4 and will host Terra Nova (8-3) next week.
NCS Division V
No. 3 Salesian 38, No. 6 Northgate 33
Quarterback Izeah Buchanan tossed four touchdown passes to lead the Pride to a win over Northgate at home. Basketball star Carlton Perrilliat Jr. caught two touchdown passes while Joseph Tarin had two receiving scores of his own as Salesian will advance to the section semifinals at Ferndale next Saturday. Senior Jahlil Lindsey had a 95-yard scoop-and-score and kicker Roberto Mora knocked in a 27-yard field goal to round out the scoring for Salesian. Northgate (5-6) ends its 2025 season one game under .500. – Nathan Canilao
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