Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 162

Interactive map of Moss Landing Battery Storage fire effects in the works

The County of Monterey’s Environmental Health Department is working on a geographical information system that will help residents better understand the impacts of January’s Moss Landing battery plant fire, it announced this week

The aim of making a map-based visual representation of the collected environmental data is to make getting information a much more user-friendly experience according to Ric Encarnacion, the county’s director of Environmental Health.

“Our commitment is rooted in transparency, scientific integrity, and collaboration with our community,” Encarnacion said. “We’re here for the long haul.”

During last week’s county briefing, Encarnacion also gave an update on monitoring and how residents can find more information and updates on the county’s website (https://www.countyofmonterey.gov/).

“Our Environmental Health Bureau remains fully engaged in both monitoring and recovery efforts,” Encarnacion said. “We’re working closely with the responsible party, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s on-scene coordinator and our state partners to make sure public health and safety are always the top priorities.”

Since the Jan. 16 fire at the Moss 300 building and a flare-up on Feb. 18, the county has implemented monthly meetings with the Board of Supervisors and listed updates on the county website.

The battery delinking process, or disconnection, for the accessible batteries burned in the initial January fire was completed March 13, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This was part of the first phase of hazard mitigation to reduce the risk of thermal runaway, re-ignition and fire propagation. Officials with the EPA have warned that while delinking the batteries reduces the risk of large fires, there is still a chance for additional flare-ups, as happened  Feb. 18. Crews are continuing work with the possibility of another flare-up.

The batteries that were not accessible are under and near debris in the damaged Moss 300 building. EPA officials say crews will have to wait until more debris is moved and the demolition process starts before starting that delinking process.

Officials with Vistra — a Texas company that owns the battery storage plant where the fire occurred — said they are still months to a year out from starting the demolition process, but are in talks with contractors.

Efforts are currently focused on environmental monitoring and refining a community sampling plan, which will help shape a long-term hazard assessment, according to Encarnacion. Officials say this work is essential for understanding any lingering risks and for guiding the county’s next steps.

PHOTOS: A day at the Sea Otter Classic

The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The expo area of the Sea Otter Classic featured many different exhibitors and vendors throughout the multi-day event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The expo area of the Sea Otter Classic featured many different exhibitors and vendors throughout the multi-day event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Friday's dual slalom event took place in the morning for beginner, intermediate and para qualifying and final rounds. It was off to a foggy start, but the fog cleared as the event went on. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Friday's dual slalom event took place in the morning for beginner, intermediate and para qualifying and final rounds. It was off to a foggy start, but the fog cleared as the event went on. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Friday's dual slalom event took place in the morning for beginner, intermediate and para qualifying and final rounds. It was off to a foggy start, but the fog cleared as the event went on. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The Sea Otter Classic has a kids zone with multiple small courses set up. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Friday's dual slalom event took place in the morning for beginner, intermediate and para qualifying and final rounds. It was off to a foggy start, but the fog cleared as the event went on. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Racers enter the final stretch of a lap of the gravel race on Friday, an endurance race where each lap is approximately 30 miles. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Friday's dual slalom event took place in the morning for beginner, intermediate and para qualifying and final rounds. It was off to a foggy start, but the fog cleared as the event went on. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Sea Otter Classic attendees can ride around on the Laguna Seca race track throughout the event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The expo area of the Sea Otter Classic featured many different exhibitors and vendors throughout the multi-day event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Sea Otter Classic attendees can ride around on the Laguna Seca race track throughout the event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The Sea Otter Classic has a kids zone with multiple small courses set up. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The expo area of the Sea Otter Classic featured many different exhibitors and vendors throughout the multi-day event. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The Sea Otter Classic has a kids zone with multiple small courses set up. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Racers enter the final stretch of a lap of the gravel race on Friday, an endurance race where each lap is approximately 30 miles. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Racers enter the final stretch of a lap of the gravel race on Friday, an endurance race where each lap is approximately 30 miles. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Show Caption1 of 23The dual slalom, a fan-favorite event, made a return on Friday. Beginner, intermediate and para riders raced side-by-side down identical tracks as they navigate the course. (Arianna Nalbach - Monterey Herald)Expand

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: More on children ‘helping’

Question: I found your last column interesting. It was where the children had been with their mother when she passed and they “helpfully” contacted agencies to let them know she had died, cleaned out files and did other things they thought would be helpful for the trustee to take care of the administration of the estate. Your response was that the trustee may have needed some of the information in the files that they so helpfully discarded.

My husband and I have also appointed a professional to take care of things when we are gone so, I wonder, are there things we can do to help our trustee with his job? Is there specific information he should be aware of? Would it be helpful to get rid of most of our furniture, art and jewelry and maybe name certain relatives as beneficiaries of certain accounts, so the trustee doesn’t need to deal with them? Our goal is to make it as smooth as possible. We want to avoid any chaos or delays in getting our money out to our beneficiaries. What do you think is best?

Answer: I think we all hope that when we have departed, the disposition of our estates will go smoothly with as few delays and disruptions as possible. When we lose a loved one, we naturally are faced with grief and loss. To have our pain exacerbated by friction or, to use your word, “chaos,” is unneeded and certainly unwelcome.

It is assumed that you have done your estate planning with an attorney and those plans lay out the disposition of your assets. Oddly enough, it is usually personal property – art, jewelry and even kitchenware — that trigger the most emotions in families when the time comes. Most trusts we see have provisions for distributing personal property and many say something like, “I leave my personal property according to a list that my trustee will find with my other estate planning documents.” This gives you the opportunity to consider those things that have great meaning to you and to whom you would like to pass on these treasures.

If your document has this language, make every attempt to list the items and to whom they should go. You might even add a comment about why the item is important to you and how you acquired it. Was it a gift from your Aunt Shirley? Why did Aunt Shirley value the item? If you and your husband bought that special painting while on your honeymoon in Paris, note that. Such a trust will usually go on to say something like, “Absent such a written list, my personal property is to be distributed equally to the beneficiaries named in my trust.”

Before death, most professional trustees will (and should) review your documents and sit down with you to gain a full understanding of your intentions and what you would like to happen when it is time to distribute your estate. When I sit with clients for this kind of discussion, I ask if they plan to leave a list. If they simply want it to go equally, do they mean equal in value or just somewhat in equal shares? If equal in value, then I understand that the items will be appraised, and those values will be part of that beneficiary’s share of the estate. I also want to know what to do with the items not taken by beneficiaries, should I donate them and, if so, what kind of charity they prefer.

As for naming relatives as beneficiaries of accounts or setting up a “pay on death” designation, this is a truly bad idea. Your trustee will need cash to pay administration expenses. They may need immediate cash to pay funeral home charges, perhaps income taxes and, if you have real estate, pay ongoing utility costs and insurance.

Some professional trustees, in particular bank trust departments, will simply decline to step in as trustee if there are no liquid assets available to use during the administration. Imagine that! We appoint a bank thinking that they will be there when we need them and they simply say “nope, we do not accept the trusteeship.” This can cause real problems.

Provide as much information as possible to your future trustee about your assets, your intentions about the distributions, where to find your current passwords, the keys to a safe deposit box and contact information for your beneficiaries. Your trustee and your family will thank you for it.

Liza Horvath has over 30 years of experience in the estate planning and trust fields and is the president of Monterey Trust Management, a financial and trust management company. This is not intended to be legal or tax advice. If you have a question call (831) 646-5262 or email liza@montereytrust.com

Horoscopes April 12, 2025: David Letterman, take an innovative approach to life

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Saoirse Ronan, 31; Claire Danes, 46; David Letterman, 78; Ed O’Neill, 79.

Happy Birthday: Take an innovative approach to life, love and chasing happiness. Participate in events and activities that give you a voice and make a difference. Keep an open mind and look for opportunities that enhance your reputation, attitude and prospects. Talk is cheap in comparison to living up to your beliefs and promises. Evaluate your strengths and use your connections to ensure a prosperous future. Your numbers are 3, 15, 24, 26, 30, 38, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): You’ll get a unique perspective regarding what’s possible if you deal with corporate or institutional facilities. Patience, intelligence and direct and bold communication will help you zigzag toward your goal. If you want something, it’s up to you to go after it with logic, practical application and determination. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention to detail. Monitor changes to ensure you get what you want. Apply government or corporate incentives to improve your home’s functionality. Only do what’s necessary to keep your costs low. Efficiency is the goal, not one-upping a neighbor or associate. Self-improvements are favored. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Develop outlets for your skills and market yourself for success. Display and discuss your work whenever you can, and word of mouth will spread. Stick to your script, and be careful not to exaggerate. Honesty and integrity will help build reliability and good work relationships. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Put greater emphasis on money; how you earn, save and invest will determine your lifestyle. You’ll impress someone with your savvy way of dealing with people and doing your best in the least amount of time. Set high standards, and everyone will want you on their team. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Sit tight, tidy up loose ends and learn about something you want to pursue that will help improve your life. Change is never easy, but it can be rewarding if you go about it in a regimented fashion. Put more thought and energy into using your talents to subsidize your income. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Hard work, discipline and changing what isn’t working for you anymore will be the highlight of your day and get you back on track. Join forces with an organization, club or someone who can help you bring about positive change. Social events will boost your morale and show signs of promising partnerships. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Slide into your comfort zone. Pursue pastimes that make you feel good about yourself, encourage you to expand your interests and spruce up your appearance. A more efficient lifestyle or living space will help lower your overhead, leaving more cash for personal use. A unique offer is worth checking out. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Stay focused on your responsibilities. You’ll be subject to criticism if you are too accommodating. You are best not to display your actions until everything is in place. It’s OK to be different; use your creative imagination and see what transpires. Romance and socializing are favored. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Bypass anyone or anything aggravating you. You want to keep your head clear and fend off disrupters and those who want to exploit you. Don’t overspend or make unrealistic promises. Protect your investments, assets and possessions, and be cognizant of the latest scams. Attend social events that cater to health and fitness. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Do your research, verify facts and refuse to give in to emotional manipulation and those trying to talk you into something that isn’t good for you mentally, physically or financially. Attending an event that offers something you’ve never encountered will change your perspective. Romance is in the stars. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Check your bank balance, investments and transactions. Review your current job situation and how you get along with your cohorts. Rethink any joint ventures you’re considering and establish guidelines that protect you from loss or unwarranted responsibilities. Invest in yourself and your living space. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reiterate your thoughts, plans and financial position to anyone likely to be affected by the changes you enforce. Promising too much or taking on unnecessary debt or responsibilities will meet with opposition. Source investments that encourage growth, not additional debt. Treat partnerships with respect, incentives and compromise. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are unique, charming and persistent. You are friendly and helpful.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.

2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.

3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.

4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.

5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

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Warriors control play-in destiny after handling Blazers

PORTLAND – With the specter of the dreaded play-in tournament looming over the Warriors, Golden State’s matchup in Portland on Friday night was a must-win game in everything but name.

So was there any doubt that the Warriors veterans – with their Hall of Fame legacies forged in games of the highest stakes – would take care of business against the severely undermanned Blazers?

Against a Portland squad missing its top six scorers, the Warriors routed the home team 103-86.

Jimmy Butler led the way with 24 points and made all 10 of his free throws, while Steph Curry put in 14. Draymond Green scored just three points, but contributed seven rebounds, five assists and a whopping four steals. Buddy Hield scored 16 off the bench and joined the 200 3-pointers made in a season club. 

Golden State improved to 48-33.

Elsewhere, Minnesota (48-33) defeated the hapless Nets to keep pace with the Warriors. Memphis (47-34) lost to Denver (49-33), guaranteeing that the Grizzlies will be in the play-in tournament.

With one game to play, Golden State will finish no worse than seventh and no higher than fifth.

“We’re right in this morass of all these other teams,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We are where we are, and we’re in a good spot. We’re excited about what’s ahead, and we’ve got to do  it.”

If the Warriors defeat the Clippers in the Bay Area on Sunday, the lowest the Warriors can finish is sixth, one spot above the play-in slot. 

The Warriors rebounded from Wednesday’s surprising 114-11 loss to the visiting Spurs, which saw former Golden State champion Harrison Barnes hit a 27-foot buzzer-beating fadeaway over Jimmy Butler. 

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Gary Payton II and Quinten Post, who had both missed the past two games, returned to the rotation. 

Even though the final score was lopsided, that did not mean that the game at the Moda Center lacked drama. 

The Warriors suffered a brief scare in the first quarter when Curry went back to the locker room with 1:59 remaining in the period after hitting his thumb on Portland defender Justin Minaya’s knee on a drive. 

Curry returned midway through the second quarter with a wrap around his right hand. The 37-year-old previously dealt with a thumb injury in January. 

“I’m feeling great, and ready to play game 82 on Sunday,” said Curry, whose postgame X-rays came back negative.

Golden State led 26-20 after one quarter and 50-37 at halftime.

The Warriors used a 17-3 run in the third quarter to pull away. The Blazers got it within 14 late in the third, but a Butler and-1 reverse layup stopped the bleeding. 

SF Giants begin road trip by walloping Yankees in rain-shortened game

NEW YORK — Robbie Ray said it was one of the worst environments he’s ever pitched in, confidently placing it in his personal top three. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said it was probably the “worst conditions we’ve ever experienced.” Jung Hoo Lee said the game never would’ve started in the KBO.

Friday night at Yankee Stadium was not for the casuals or the fairweathers, but rather a frigid, wet, agonizing slog of a ballgame suited exclusively for diehards and fiends of ball. For those of a certain generation, the weather may have evoked memories of those extra-inning night games at Candlestick Park, tests of endurance in which fans were rewarded with “Croix de Candlestick” pins. The Yankees announced a paid attendance of 35,286; it would be generous to assume even half bothered to show up.

Amidst the downpour, San Francisco’s offense poured on runs. Manager Bob Melvin tweaked his lineup and instantly saw results. Lee homered in his first at-bat under Yankee Stadium’s bright lights. Ray somehow grinded through four innings of one-run ball. The environment was atypical, but for these Giants (10-3), the result was familiar enough: a 9-1 walloping of the New York Yankees (7-6) over six rain-shortened innings.

San Francisco has found different ways to win ballgames in the first two weeks of the season. There have been slugfests. There have been barn burners. This victory, a battle between nature and New York, resides in a category of its own.

“Obviously, the conditions were tough,” Melvin said. “It seemed like the conditions were never going to end. But we did some really good things offensively. Anybody pitching in today’s game was having a rough go of it.”

Of the seven combined pitchers to take the mound on Friday, no one had a rougher go of it than the Yankees’ Marcus Stroman, the first starter to see the Giants’ tweaked lineup. With Mike Yastrzemski surging and LaMonte Wade Jr. struggling, Melvin flipped their spots in the lineup. Yastrzemski would bat leadoff, and Wade would bat sixth. The result? Yastrzemski, Wade and Jung Hoo Lee headlined a five-run first inning, one where Stroman recorded two outs before being pulled.

Yastrzemski, fresh off hitting a walk-off home run on Wednesday, began the night by ripping a leadoff double on Stroman’s first pitch. After Willy Adames walked, Lee smashed a line drive that kept carrying and cleared the right-center field fence for his first homer of the year, one that gave the Giants a 3-0 lead.

“That’s pretty cool. That wasn’t lost on me,” Melvin said. “You come into this place and you’ve heard about it and obviously never played in it before. Hits a home run in difficult conditions after we have two guys on right away. Certainly gives us a lift in the first.”

Like the rain, San Francisco’s offense didn’t relent.

Matt Chapman and Heliot Ramos drew back-to-back walks to set the stage for Wade, who pulled a double into the right-field corner. Chapman and Ramos scored, and San Francisco extended its lead to 5-0. The Giants wouldn’t pile on further in the inning but succeeded in chasing Stroman, who was pulled with two outs after allowing a single to Tyler Fitzgerald. As the sky showered Stroman with rain, the relentless crowd showered him with boos.

With a healthy lead established, the game became something of a race against the rain.

Weather forecasts estimated that the precipitation would really pick up around 9:00 p.m. EST, but the game’s start time was curiously pushed back from 7:05 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. With the five-run advantage, the Giants needed to just complete the minimum five innings to secure the win. Getting through five innings in a timely manner on a night like this was easier said than done. Ray, who struck out seven but walked four, can attest to that first-hand.

The left-hander needed an uneconomical 98 pitches to complete four innings, only 56 of which were strikes. Of the 289 total pitches that were thrown, roughly 60 percent of them landed for strikes.

“I felt like the weather, itself, wasn’t that bad, but then the field conditions started to turn a little bit after the second inning,” Ray said.

To that point, Yankees’ grounds crew tried its best to keep the infield dry — especially the mound.

In the second, for example, the Yankees’ Austin Wells hit an RBI double that bounced off the very top of the right-center field wall, and the umpires convened to determine whether it was a home run. As the umpires looked at the call, the grounds crew dumped dry dirt all over the field. To Ray, there was only so much they could really do.

“It gets muddy. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Ray said. “It doesn’t matter how much quick dry you throw down. When it’s raining like that, it turns to mud. It’s just a sloppy situation.”

The Giants and Yankees needed a little over two hours to complete five sloppy innings, but they dragged themselves across that finish line around 9:45 p.m. Just in time, too.

In the top of the sixth, the environment was no longer tenable for baseball — not that it ever really was.

Yankees reliever Yoendrys Gómez nearly hit Adames with an errant sweeper, resulting in a mound visit from pitching coach Matt Blake. Gómez followed up by walking Lee and nearly plunking him on the final pitch, forcing the grounds crew to slather the mound with dry dirt. But after Wade drew a bases-loaded walk, the grounds crew rolled the tarp onto the field at 10:04 p.m. EST and the game entered a rain delay. Finally, at 10:34 p.m., the game was called. The Giants had won, and Ray was rewarded with a victory despite throwing just four innings.

“Everybody has to pitch in it, right? It’s not like it’s going to change. For me, it’s make the pitches that you can and do your best to give your team a chance to win.”

On a night as challenging as any, Ray certainly did his part. The offense handled the rest.

Warriors embracing ‘pretty crazy’ end to NBA regular season

PORTLAND – The NBA playoffs do not officially start until next week, but for the Warriors and most of the Western Conference, the . 

The final week of the season is traditionally a snooze fest, full of good teams resting players and looking ahead to upcoming playoff matchups. 

Not this year. 

Golden State is one of five teams in the West that entered the final weekend of the regular season unsure if they will join the Thunder, Rockets and Lakers in the playoffs or be stuck in the dreaded play-in tournament. 

Depending on how games play out, the Warriors could climb as high as No. 4 or fall to No. 8. 

At least one Warriors veteran is enjoying the frenzied finish. 

“Yeah, it’s pretty crazy, but it makes it fun and exciting,” Gary Payton II told the Bay Area News Group at shootaround on Friday morning. 

Coach Steve Kerr could not recall a season ending with a similar level of mayhem.

“I can’t remember anything like this,” he said. “I saw today, there’s potential for a five-way tie. That’s crazy after 82 games. So I’ve never seen anything like this. ”

Golden State (47-33) entered Friday night’s game at Portland seeded sixth, with Memphis and Minnesota directly below the Warriors. 

The Nuggets and Clippers are ahead of Golden State, but no team’s fate is set in stone. 

Every team in the league played Friday, will take Saturday off and finish the season Sunday.

Has Payton, a nine-year veteran, ever seen such a wild end to the regular season?

“No,” he said. “But you know, all we can do is take care of what we’ve got to take care of. Win out, and then let the rest of the league play out how it plays out.”

Golden State could have been in a much better position but squandered a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to San Antonio on Wednesday. Former Warrior Harrison Barnes made the game-winner over Jimmy Butler as time expired.

It is a loss that stung, but wing Moses Moody said the team has already moved past the setback.   

“There’s no point in dwelling on the past,” Moody said, later adding, “The vibes have been similar to the playoffs for the last two weeks.”

After playing Portland, Golden State will play host to No. 5 seed Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. 

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Post, Payton available

Quinten Post and Payton, listed as questionable for the penultimate game of the season, were cleared to play before tip-off.

Post had missed the past two games with an illness. The rookie center provides rare shooting ability to the frontcourt. His 41% accuracy rate from behind the arc is second among rookies, trailing only New Orleans’ Antonio Reeves. 

Post has made at least three 3-pointers in 12 games this season, all after Jan. 23. 

Payton, the team’s top defensive guard, missed the past two games because of knee inflammation.

His presence figures to toughen up a perimeter defense that teammate Draymond Green, a contender for defensive player of the year, characterized as lacking “grit” in the loss to San Antonio.

Seaside leaders, KB Bakewell, break ground on Campus Town project

SEASIDE – Friday morning as a breeze off the Monterey Bay wrapped a light veil of fog around the proceedings, city of Seaside leaders, along with those of the KB Bakewell family, gathered the community for the groundbreaking of the long-anticipated Campus Town development.

Mayor Ian Ogelsby said that the presence of all in attendance, about 150 people, reflected the shared commitment and mutual support for the equity of opportunities present in Seaside’s prosperity today.

“We gather for more than just a groundbreaking, we mark a defining moment in Seaside’s journey toward its destiny,” said Oglesby. “This part of the city has been imagined, reimagined, defined and redefined for development for over the last 34 years.”

The Campus Town development is a planned mixed-use urban village aimed at revitalizing about 122 acres of former Army base land that is being developed by KB-Bakewell Seaside Venture, LLC.

The mayor honored the vision, courage and purpose of those who led the city to this moment.

“I stand on the shoulders of many, especially some of our late mayors,” said Oglesby, citing Lance McClair, Don Jordan, Jerry Smith and Ralph Rubio, along with current business owner and former mayor, Felix Bachofner.

“Seaside is a community that reflects what America should be all about,” said Danny Bakewell, Sr., chairman and CEO of the Bakewell Company. “It’s a multidimensional community with a lot of love, there’s a lot of neighborhoods … even in this development, the city wanted to make sure that the neighborhoods grew, not just the city.”

Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis said that she knows first-hand how difficult it is to deliver housing in California. But California needs another 2.5 million housing units by the end of the decade, yet only builds about 100,000 per year.

“The challenges of our state – the affordability crisis, the homelessness crisis, the keeping companies in California crisis – everything goes to the housing crisis because the housing crisis is the everything crisis in the state of California,” said Kounalakis. “That is really what we’re up against, and so to Seaside, to everybody that makes this project possible, thank you! You are a model. We are going to do more of it across the state, the kind of quality and the vision of what you’ve done here.”

The Campus Town project envisions a vibrant community consisting of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. The project is planned to include 1,485 housing units catering to diverse household sizes and income levels, a 250-room hotel and a 75-bed youth hostel to accommodate visitors, about 150,000 square feet designated for retail, dining, and entertainment venues, about 50,000 square feet allocated for office spaces, flexible work areas, and light industrial or “makerspace” uses, and about 9 acres of public open space and 3.3 acres of private open space for recreational purposes.

The development will be bound by Lightfighter Drive to the north, Gigling Road to the south, First Avenue to the west and Eighth Avenue to the east.

The Campus Town development aims to create a pedestrian-friendly environment with a variety of building types and uses, including entertainment, retail, housing, visitor lodging and employment spaces. It seeks to provide shopping, employment, and housing opportunities in close proximity to Cal State University Monterey Bay, which would reduce vehicle miles traveled on a per capita basis.

The long-awaited residential and commercial development that is the Campus Town project in Seaside has been on the city’s books for several years. The city of Seaside entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the KB Bakewell Development Partnership in December 2016 to develop approximately 122 acres on what was once the former Fort Ord Army Base. In 2017, KB Bakewell submitted applications to the city for the Campus Town development. The city of Seaside issued a Notice of Preparation for an Environmental Impact Report in February 2018, initiating the formal environmental review process. The project culminated in the City Council’s approval of the Campus Town Specific Plan, with a Notice of Determination filed in March 2020.

KB Bakewell was the developer in the early 2000s of Seaside Highlands.

Those in attendance at the ceremony were the current Seaside City Council including Oglesby, Mayor Pro-tem Dave Pacheco, Council members Alex Miller, and Alexis Garcia-Arrazola, City Manager Greg McDanel, City Attorney Sherri Damon, President of the Bakewell Company Danny Bakewell, Jr., who emceed the proceedings, former LA Congresswoman Yvonne Burke, District 30 California Assemblywoman Dawn Addis, and Monterey County District 4 Supervisor Wendy Root-Askew, among many others.

These five trends have defined SF Giants’ season so far

NEW YORK — The Giants, whose record sits at an impressive 9-3, have yet to play 10 percent of their first season under president of baseball operations Buster Posey. That’s not a ton of ball to examine, but that’s not nothing either.

They’ve been competitive in every single game. They’ve found different ways to win, from slugfests to barn burners. In short, they’ve been one of the best teams in baseball.

Before the Giants begin their gauntlet against the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, here are five early season trends that have defined San Francisco’s season:

Late night heroes

Of the 12 games that the Giants have played, four of them have been won because of swings in the ninth inning or later.

Wilmer Flores hit the dramatic three-run homer on Opening Day to stun the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Willy Adames flipped a two-run single into right field to win the home opener. Flores had the walk-off single to complete the sweep of the Seattle Mariners, then Mike Yastrzemski hit a walk-off homer into McCovey Cove to complete a five-run comeback against the Reds — a walk-off made possible by Flores’ game-tying homer in the eighth inning.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the Giants have a .922 OPS in high-leverage situations, the second-best mark in all of baseball. If we go to the Extreme Cherry Picking Department, Mike Yastrzemski has the fourth-highest OPS in baseball in high leverage situations among all players, minimum five mere plate appearances. Furthermore, Flores, Yastrzemski and the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts are the only players so far with at least two home runs in high leverage situations.

Adames’ struggles

Despite the aforementioned game-winner, Adames has yet to live up to the billing that comes with being San Francisco’s new $182 million dollar man. His slash line is .184/.241/.224. He’s struck out at least twice in half of his games. Including the postseason, he hasn’t homered in his last 121 plate appearances.

Without diving too far into Adames’ struggles, there are a few things that stand out. His chase rate is up from 28.1% last year to 31.4% this year. He’s also swung at 50.7% of the pitches he’s seen, which would be a career high. His walk rate (7.4%) is down from his career average (9.6%) as well.

The Giants aren’t panicking — Adames isn’t the only batter who has started slow — and the Law of Large Numbers says that Adames will eventually produce. It’s also not uncommon for players to struggle after signing a massive contract and joining a new team (e.g. Manny Machado, Bryce Harper). Yankee Stadium, a venue where he has a .307 batting average and five homers over 29 games, could be the place where he takes off. The question of when Adames turns up his offense, though, remains to be seen.

Go, go, go

In ‘23 and ‘24, no team stole fewer bases — or attempted, for that matter — than the Giants; the steal just wasn’t part of their game. This season, they’ve been far more willing to take the extra base.

San Francisco has stolen 13 bases entering Friday, tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the ninth-most in all of baseball. Last season, they didn’t steal their 13th base until the final day of April — and they needed 21 attempts to hit that benchmark, too.

Jung Hoo Lee’s aggressiveness, in particular, has been a welcome development. Last season, Lee only stole two bases in 37 games despite boasting above-average speed. Through 11 games, Lee has already swiped three bags, tied with Tyler Fitzgerald for the team lead. It’s early, but it’s not outlandish to imagine Lee or Fitzgerald becoming the first Giant to steal at least 30 bases in a single season since Dave Roberts in 2007.

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Shut it down

Aside from trading left-hander Taylor Rogers, the Giants didn’t do too much with their bullpen this offseason. Of the team’s eight relievers, only Lou Trivino didn’t pitch for the team last year. So far, that faith is being rewarded.

San Francisco’s bullpen has been one of the best in baseball, ranking third in ERA (1.79) and fifth in left-on-base percentage (80.1%). By WAR, the Giants’ bullpen is tied with the Houston Astros for the fourth-most valuable in all of baseball — even with Camilo Doval’s early struggles.

The early standout of the group has been right-hander Randy Rodríguez, who has pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts to no walks. According to FanGraphs, Rodríguez has been the most valuable reliever in baseball so far. Hayden Birdsong’s efforts (seven innings, no runs, six strikeouts) shouldn’t go unnoticed either, especially as he learns the intricacies of relief life.

Maintain the flow

The last three years of Farhan Zaidi’s tenure featured constant roster turnover, the most notable instance being the franchise-record 66 players the Giants used in 2022. Two weeks into Posey’s first season as president of baseball operations, by contrast, and San Francisco has stuck with the same 26 guys who were on the Opening Day roster.

The Giants, of course, will make a roster move eventually. Injuries happen. Players struggle in the majors; players perform in the minors. But with one of baseball’s best records so far, the roster hasn’t been in need of any shuffling.

Local all-girls robotics team headed to the world championships

The Otternaut is on a 30-by-30-inch drive base, has a rotating arm and was built with sustainability in mind. The robot, in some ways simple compared to others it competes against, has landed the Santa Catalina School’s robotics team a spot in the FIRST Robotics World Championship in Houston next week.

FIRST, which stands for “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” is a nonprofit organization that offers programs and competitions for PreK-12th grade. Every year, the C-Otters code, design and build a new 130-pound robot to compete against other FIRST Robotics Competition teams. This is the furthest the team has made it in the competition since the C-Otters were founded in 2017.

“We kind of made it our personal mission to try to restart this program,” said head coach Dale Yocum. “The girls have gone from not really knowing how to drill a hole to being able to design a robot and build a robot from scratch. I didn’t really expect that it would happen this fast. In my old team, this was like a multi-year project but here, they were just on it.”

As competitive as FIRST is, the organization also places an emphasis on teamwork above all, said Amani Macleod, a sophomore and the team’s mechanical manager.

“It’s really about being kind and gracious to other teams and helping out as you can,” said Macleod. “It’s a very warm and welcoming environment.”

A co-curricular option provided to the students of the Catholic all-girls school, every student can join and take on a leadership position.

“I think what really prompted me to be part of the leadership group on the team and helped grow the team to what it is today, is going through competition and really experiencing and talking to the other students and mentors from across the world and in California,” said Yunah Baek, a junior and the team captain.

The C-Otters working on their robot. (Courtesy of Santa Catalina School)

Speaking with other students and coaches involved in the same robotics competitions inspired Baek to help take her team to the next level, she said.

Last year the C-otters had around eight people on the team and has since more than doubled to 17. Despite this growth spurt, the team is still an underdog seeing as most teams they compete against have around 50-60 people on them.

Being a smaller team has only motivated the C-otters. They are one of 600 teams to make it to the world championships and one of three teams this year that come from all-girls schools.

“It’s really attributable to just how hard the girls worked this year,” said Yocum. “They were here every day and on Saturdays making this thing happen.”

Instead of overworking the Otternaut, the team focused on a few of its core capabilities and perfected them, which has gotten them further than they thought possible.

The team also focused on sustainability with the Otternaut, reusing parts from old robots, using wood instead of plastic materials and scouring their campus for materials that could be used to build the robot. Their efforts earned them this year’s FIRST sustainability award.

Being on the robotics team has provided the girls far more than technical and engineering skills, they said. They’ve learned how to network, communicate and delegate.

“These are the tools that you’re going to need when you’re growing up, when you’re adulting,” said Seline Sakiz, a senior and the C-Otters’ marketing director. “And these are just kind of all the things that you learn in robotics that you need to prepare yourself for in the future.”

The girls have also had some personal insights because of the team.

“The team helped me find a place where I’m comfortable and really enjoyed being with the community that I’m in,” said Debra Wachira, a junior and the team’s software manager.

The journey to the World Championships for the C-Otters has been long and rewarding. Their Sacramento game day in March left them ranked third out of 34 regional teams. Most recently, they showed off the Otternaut at the Contra Costa Regional competition where the team finished 11th out of 40 teams.

“The whole time leading up to the announcement that we qualified, we were just kind of like, ‘how is this happening?’” said Macleod. “Anything that I could have hoped for for the team is happening right now, and so that is really cool to get to be a part of.”

“We’re in the same league as these really big Silicon Valley teams, which is really mind boggling to me,” said Sakiz.

As one of a handful of all-girls teams to compete in these competitions, the C-Otters know what it’s like to be underestimated. At times, even while having other teams or coaches talk down to them, their eye has always been on the prize – not necessarily a trophy, but representing young girls in STEM.

The team is involved with m.e. FIRST, an initiative started by a competition team made up of Girl Scouts, which advocates for menstrual equity. As ambassadors, the C-Otters help make menstrual products accessible at their competition sites in an attempt to destigmatize menstruation.

Seeing how much they can achieve has “helped us kind of build our sisterhood and build our community,” said Wachira.

This sense of sisterhood goes beyond their own team. Some of the team’s favorite memories are speaking to and competing with other girls at competitions, they said.

“We were playing with another all-girls team, and we were up against a world champion team and we were predicted to have an 11% chance of winning the match,” said Wachira.

Baek and the other team’s drive coach “strategized the heck” out of the match. With only 11%  odds, the all-girls teams won the game.