Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 2

How to watch the 49ers vs. the Jaguars on Sunday

The San Francisco 49ers take on the AFC South’s Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 1:05 p.m. PDT.

The Niners will be without Nick Bosa for the first time this season after he tore the ACL in his right knee. It’s not clear who will start at quarterback as Brock Purdy practiced last week but remained out with a toe injury, while backup Mac Jones played well in key moments for a second straight week in a win over Arizona.

They’ll also face old friend Arik Armstead, who signed with Jacksonville before last season.

Related Articles 49ers’ Brock Purdy is off injury report and will start against Jacksonville Kurtenbach: I’ll take Brock Purdy over Trevor Lawrence — my predictions for 49ers-Jaguars Nick Bosa's gone, so it's on the 49ers' offense to carry San Francisco to the postseason 49ers gear up for the Shohei Ohtani of football in Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Purdy ‘feeling a lot better’ ahead of 49ers-Jaguars

How to watch on local TV

FOX is broadcasting the game in California; in the Bay Area, tune in to KTVU-TV (channel 2) with an antenna or a cable TV provider. You can also log in to the FOX Sports app or website with your cable TV subscription credentials.

How to stream

DirecTV Stream includes Fox in its local channel lineup. Subscriptions currently start at $49.99 for the first month.

FuboTV offers a free trial and $10 off the first month; after that, it is $55.99 per month.

Hulu+Live TV is a premium service with all the local channels and starts at $82.99 per month.

NFL+ is a mobile app that streams all local and primetime games. Plans start at $6.99 per month or $49.99 a year.

YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month, but it’s currently on sale for $49.99 per month for the first two months.

How to watch outside the Bay Area

If you are outside the local coverage area, you have some options.

NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV broadcasts all the games on Sunday afternoon outside of the matchups showing in the local market. If you are a Niners fan living in another state, this is a good option. New users can get the service at the starting price of $34.50 a month for eight months or $85 a month, cancellable anytime.

NFL+ Premium carries live audio of all regular-season NFL games, and video only after the game has concluded. You have the choice of full or condensed replays on a computer, phone or tablet only for $14.99 per month or $99.99 a year.

49ers’ 5 keys to victory against the Jaguars: From stealing signs to intercepting passes

SANTA CLARA – Nick Bosa’s void would be easy to blame if the 49ers lose at home for the first time ever to the Jacksonville Jaguars, albeit in only their third-ever visit. Or it could be pinned on George Kittle’s absence. Or Brock Purdy’s tender toe.

The 49ers haven’t had to resort to such an excuse, so far.

They’re 3-0 by virtue of fourth-quarter escapes in one-score games each Sunday, ever since the season began with Bosa’s win-clinching sack in Seattle.

The 49ers strained this past week to utter the next-man-up cliché when it comes to Bosa’s season-ending knee injury in last Sunday’s 16-15 home-opening win over Arizona. It’ll take a collective effort and/or a rising star to fill Bosa’s void.

“The mission is still the same: We’re going to find a way to get one win this week and figure out the rest later,” linebacker Fred Warner said.

Here are five ways we figure the 49ers can defeat the Jaguars (2-1):

1. D-LINE BY COMMITTEE

The Detroit Lions’ defense survived last season after losing star Aiden Hutchinson in Week 5, and even after injuries shelved a slew other defenders, and they still went 15-2 in the regular season. Cornerback Chase Lucas played on the 2022-23 Lions and watched that 2024 improbable survival while he was on the 49ers’ practice squad.

“It was like the most injured team and it still went to the second round of the playoffs,” recalled Lucas, now the 49ers’ backup nickel back. “It’s all about next man up and we need to find out about the guys behind Bosa. We’ve got good (expletive) guys.”

When the 49ers last faced the Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence in November 2023, they sacked him five times, intercepted him twice and Bosa combined on a strip-sack with Chase Young in a 34-3, post-bye rout that launched the Niners’ playoff push.

Now, the 49ers’ pass-rush threat will come from a defensive end combination of Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams, Sam Okuayinonu, and Yetur Gross-Matos. Williams would love to notch his first career sack and unveil a celebratory dance; it won’t be his fake-money tossing move at Georgia but possibly involve a shoulder shrug as an ode to Bosa.

Look for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to dial up blitzes and be aggressive, perhaps sending a linebacker or defensive back up the gut against Jacksonville’s injured interior linemen.

2. SPY GAMES

Saleh deftly switched this week’s narrative away from a Bosa-baren unit by lobbying sign-stealing accusations Thursday against the Jaguars, as well as the Minnesota Vikings (his last opponent a year ago as the New York Jets’ coach) and the Los Angeles Rams (the 49ers’ next opponent).

“Liam (Coen, the Jaguars coach) and his staff, a couple of guys coming from Minnesota, they’ve got legally, a really advanced signal-stealing type system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation,” Saleh said. “They do a great job with it. They formation you to just try to find any nugget they can.”

Nuggets such as … “whether it’s people from the sideline or whether it’s our individual hand signals,” added Saleh, acknowledging this is “not an uncommon thing” particularly among coaches with ties to the Rams’ Sean McVay, including Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell (Rams offensive coordinator 2020-21) and Coen (Rams OC 2022).

Coach Kyle Shanahan subsequently downplayed the buzz and insisted Saleh actually was complimenting the Jaguars’ preparations.

Coen’s response Friday: “We have typically by formation, by game plan, by working really hard as a coaching staff throughout the week, trying to get indicators by your formation, motion, shift, pre-snap. Those are things you’re doing as a coach to put your players in best position to be successful.”

Three games in and the Jaguars are still seeking the best way to utilize the dual-threat talents of No. 2 overall pick Travis Hunter.

The 49ers’ offense has its own intelligence operative in Mac Jones, who faced the Jaguars’ starting defense in last season’s practices often as the scout-team quarterback. Jones recalled those “competitive days” and doled out respect to starting linemen Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton.

3. TURNOVER RATIO

The 49ers’ rebuilt defense has been surprisingly clutch, even more so considering it’s produced no interceptions through three games for the first time since 2018. Actually, it’s been a 10-game drought dating to last season.

Rather than save a win with last-drive heroics for a fourth straight game, the 49ers’ sixth-ranked pass defense needs to make momentum-seizing plays earlier, especially by creating takeaways.

Drafted first in 2021, Lawrence’s 50 interceptions are the third-most in the NFL since then, trailing Josh Allen (53) and Patrick Mahomes (51). Lawrence is being hurt by his butterfingered receivers this season: 14 drops among 50 incompletions, including four drops by Brian Thomas.

On the flip side, Jacksonville leads the NFL with seven interceptions and nine total takeaways, with multiple in each game. If the Jaguars notch two or more interceptions Sunday, they’ll become only the sixth team since 2000 to do so in each of their first four games. Shanahan credited the Jaguars’ defensive-front pressure and the defensive backs’ hands.

4. KEEP PURDY PROTECTED

Brock Purdy returns from a two-game hiatus, but his big toe surely won’t be at full strength and his mobility may be compromised. The Jaguars’ impressive defensive front is keyed by Hines-Allen and Walker while Armstead, the former 49ers’ mainstay, pairs inside with Hamilton and Maason Smith.

Purdy got walloped for too much in the opener in Seattle. He won’t be a sitting duck, however. He’ll try and escape when needed, rather than hold onto the ball too long like Jones often did.

Quick passes to Christian McCaffrey will be there even if Kittle is not for another two weeks. Adding Demarcus Robinson will help as he comes off a three-game suspension.Related Articles 49ers’ Brock Purdy is off injury report and will start against Jacksonville Kurtenbach: I’ll take Brock Purdy over Trevor Lawrence — my predictions for 49ers-Jaguars Nick Bosa's gone, so it's on the 49ers' offense to carry San Francisco to the postseason 49ers gear up for the Shohei Ohtani of football in Jaguars’ Travis Hunter Purdy ‘feeling a lot better’ ahead of 49ers-Jaguars

5. RUN GAME TOUCHDOWNS

The 49ers are still seeking their first rushing touchdown of the season, which seems ludicrous considering McCaffrey is healthy and hogging the carries circa 2023 (14 rushing touchdowns, NFL rushing title).

McCaffrey has yet to eclipse more than 69 yards (his Week 1 total) and his 176 total yards rank 17th in the NFL. All those ranked above him have scored, except for Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson. And all have a better yards-per-carry average than his (3.4) except for fellow workhorses Saquon Barkley (3.3) and Josh Jacobs (3.1).

His Jaguars counterpart, Travis Etienne Jr., opened with a 143-yard rushing game in Week 1, and he supplied the Jaguars’ winning points last Sunday with a 10-yard touchdown run inside the final two minutes of a 17-10 home win over the Texans.

Horoscopes Sept. 27, 2025: Jenna Ortega, be cognizant of what you want

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jenna Ortega, 23; Lola Kirke, 35; Anna Camp, 43; Tamara Taylor, 55.

Happy Birthday: You’ll tune in to what others are thinking and conversations that can help you use your insight and ingenuity to advance this year. Look at every angle and consider the possibilities before implementing change. Baby steps will allow you the time to calculate every move with precision and confidence. Be cognizant of what you want, need and are capable of manufacturing. Follow through with your plans, and make this a year to remember. Your numbers are 9, 15, 22, 29, 36, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): It’s OK to dream, but more importantly, to turn your aspirations into a reality. Take the initiative; be passionate about who you are and what you want. Direct your thoughts toward those instrumental in helping you achieve your goals. Invest in yourself, not in lavish entertainment or products that promise the impossible. 5 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take time to replenish and to enjoy life’s little pleasures. Kicking back with loved ones or doing something that makes you feel and look your best will boost your confidence. Stick to whatever budget you set to avoid undue stress. Your high energy will require an outlet. Consider doing something to help those less fortunate. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Participate in events that require skill, strength and endurance. Challenge yourself and invest your energy in improving your relationships and gathering information that helps you make informed choices. Volunteer your time, skills or money for a cause that matters to you. Protect your heart from emotional turmoil. Fixate on getting fit mentally and physically. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look at the big picture and analyze your options. Simplicity is the key to longevity. Rethink how you can get the most for the least. Be willing to learn and to do the work yourself. Discipline and determination will pave the way to a brighter future. Trust the facts, not what others tell you. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Anger solves nothing. Focus on what and who you know, and you’ll get what you want. Learn from those with more experience and from the mistakes you’ve made along the way. The impact you can have if you are direct and channel your energy wisely will improve your life and encourage better relationships. 5 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stop letting outside interference determine what happens next. Take control and make your pursuit clear. Set aside your emotions and act on principles, facts and your reputation. Pay attention to detail and present what you can do. Avoid costly changes that alter your looks. Inadequate information will lead to poor decisions. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep an open mind, but avoid being gullible. Avoid excessive behavior or taking on more than you can handle. Your highest return will come from learning, gaining experience and making your surroundings comfortable and convenient. Life can be simple if you are true to yourself, live within your means and know when to say no. 4 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ve got plenty to offer. Approach life with a passionate point of view and an energetic plan to make a difference. Refuse to let anyone stifle or limit what you can achieve. Opportunity is within reach if you observe and contribute to a project, challenge or event that raises awareness for what concerns you. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Emotions will take precedence over what you should or shouldn’t do. Do your best to reflect before you act to avoid having to backtrack. Set aside time to look inward and consider what brings you happiness. Set up a space at home that aligns with your current goals. A positive attitude will pay off. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take care of unfinished business. Catching up will put your mind at ease and get anyone hounding you off your back. The process of elimination will help you focus and give you a chance to reclaim what you want to pursue. Stop wasting time on trivial pursuits. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Motivate yourself, harness your energy and pursue your dreams, hopes and wishes. Choose what makes you happy, live life your way and stop apologizing for problems that don’t belong to you. Shake off negativity, and adopt a positive attitude that can carry you to the victory you deserve. Change begins with you. Dump disastrous situations. 4 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reclaim your right to do what brings you joy. Unleash your desire and motivate your mind to follow your heart. Say no to negative input, and dismiss those who bring you down or take or expect too much. Release what and who no longer benefits you or supports your efforts. Commit to events offering positive reinforcement. 2 stars

Birthday Baby: You are compassionate, helpful and sensitive. You are talkative and questioning.

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.

High School football: Soquel supreme in win over Salinas

SOQUEL — Talk after the game was lets get back in the lab, learn from our mistakes and maintain our course of direction in the second half of the football season.

Improvement has been evident over the first four weeks. Which is what Salinas coach Steve Zenk preaches. Right now, Soquel is playing on a different level.

Owners of 13 straight regular season wins, the reigning Gabilan Division champions sent another message Friday to the rest of the league after a 41-24 win over Salinas.

Through three Gabilan Division games, the Knights are averaging 48 points a game, while having allowed just 38 points — 24 to Salinas.

“Our kids played their butts off,” Zenk said. “I told them after the game don’t hang your heads. There were zero issues with their effort. Soquel is really good.”

On the heels of a Gabilan Division title in just its third year in the league, Soquel came into the meeting having outscored its first two league opponents — both of which played for a CCS title last year — 63-0 in the first half.

The Knights 49-0 win over Carmel two weeks ago marked the first time in 19 years that the reigning State Division 5 AA champs were held without a touchdown.

Yet, when Michael Andrade connected with Hovan Lusk on a 47-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, the Cowboys were within 10 points.

“We had some momentum,” said Zenk, who is one win away from tying the Salinas school record for wins. “Lets get a stop to start the second half. Instead, Soquel went downfield and scored.”

It snowballed from there as the Knights (5-0) ran off 14 straight points to open the second half behind quarterback Sam Whelan and running back Kelton Forbus, extending their lead to 34-10.

“The quarterback is really good,” said Zenk, in speaking of Whelan. “It’s his decision making. He’s hard to get to, runs well and throws a nice pass.”

Whelan, who guided Soquel to a State Division 4 AA title as a sophomore in 2023, came into the game having thrown for 908 yards and nine touchdowns, with just two interceptions in 154 attempts.

“We made some mistakes early in the game,” said Zenk, who was 25-1 in Gabilan Division road games coming into the battle at Soquel. “If you’re playing hard, mistakes will happen. I’m okay with that.”

What is becoming clear is the emergence of a pair of sophomores in Andrade and Lusk, as 14 of Andrade’s 23 completions went to Lusk, who finished with 172 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The 14 catches nearly matched Lusk’s season total of 15 receptions for 194 yards. It was his first multi-touchdown game for the Cowboys.

“I think a lot of good things are coming between those two, and others,” said Zenk whose record in the Gabilan Division dropped to 56-4 over eight seasons, with two of those losses coming from Soquel.

Just seven years removed from being in the Santa Lucia Division (C League), Soquel has become a top-five team in the Central Coast Section, having posted non-league wins over Los Gatos and San Ramon Valley.

“I thought we played hard,” said Zenk, who has never dropped two straight league games. “The ball doesn’t always bounce your way. We’ll start getting ready for Hollister.”

At 2-2 overall, Salinas has actually been outscored 141-111 this year, with the two losses coming from programs a combined 9-1 and ranked in the Top 8 in their respective sections.

Owners of 16 straight playoff appearances, Zenk realizes that Salinas will need some help if it has aspirations about gathering a share of the Gabian Division title.

“The vision doesn’t change,” Zenk said. “We want to get better each day and see where we end up. Sure, we’re in a position of needing help if we want to win league. There’s a lot of football left, a lot of goals to chase.”

High School football: Carmel erupts for 57 points in beating Aptos

MONTEREY — Returning to the site of arguably its greatest finish during its run to a state football title last year, perhaps Carmel could rediscover a little of that magic.

Playing under the lights for the first time this season, the Padres provided flashbacks to last year’s run through the postseason, producing points on their first four drives in the first half.

While Carmel didn’t rack up 62 points like it did in last year’s Central Coast Section Division III title game against Aptos, it put together its best performance since winning the state title after Friday’s 57-13 win at Monterey Peninsula College.

“It was a little different feeling being back here,” Carmel coach Golden Anderson said. “We are pretty comfortable here. Kids are extra excited when it’s a night game. It was homecoming. We had a lot of energy.”

Last fall the Padres closed the season playing four of their final six games at MPC, where they went 4-0, getting a stop on a two-point conversion attempt with no time left in the Northern California title game for a 42-41 win over Acalanes of Lafayette.

“Historically, we’ve played well here,” said Anderson, whose program has won 13 straight games at MPC, with Carmel’s last loss coming in 2013 to Pacific Grove in the CCS Division IV semfinals.

Bumped to the Gabilan Division this season after going 15-0 last fall, the win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Padres, who had given up 98 points in losses to the reigning league champion Soquel and North Salinas.

The 57 points nearly matched its season total of 59 points through Carmel’s first three games of the season.

“We realize losses will occur in this division,” Anderson said. “We thought we got better last week. We had another good week of practice. It’s never as good as you think and it’s never as bad as you think.”

Unlike last week when Carmel was outscored 21-6 in the second half in a 49-26 loss to North Salinas, it outscored Aptos 29-7 in the final 24 minutes behind three rushing touchdowns from freshman Max Goldsmith.

In fact, Carmel put an emphasis on grinding the ball to open the game with seven straight runs before quarterback Kaleb Herro connected with Dean Briant on a 17-yard touchdown pass on his first attempt.

“It was a little of what Aptos was giving us,” Anderson said. “They were trying to defend the whole field. You’re always trying to establish the run and control the pace of the game.”

Forcing the Mariners to respect the running game opened things up for Herro, who tossed three touchdown passes in the first half, two to Stanford-bound pitcher Matt Maxon.

“When you’re executing at a high level and not trying to call the perfect play, it makes things easier,” Anderson said. “I needed to be better, trust our kids to run our plays. We tried to call plays faster. If you can run the ball, you can play faster.”

Carmel found a spark running the ball in the first half with Connor Reilly, who rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns, bolting 80 yards for six in the third quarter.

“The offensive line made good adjustments,” Anderson said. “The kids are getting to see the fruits of their labor. Sometimes you work hard and it’s not good enough. That’s life. You have to prepare to show up the next day.”

As dominant as Carmel’s offense was in scoring on all eight possessions, its defense clamped down on Aptos’ Wing-T attack behind sophomore defensive end David Spencer and linebacker Skyler Madsen, who was making his first start.

Spencer had a huge sack in the first half to halt a drive on fourth down in what was a two-point game at the time, while Madsen came up with numerous tackles.

“Our defense was a big reason why the score was what it was,” Anderson said. “We made some changes. One game isn’t really enough of a sample size before getting into league play. You have to reevaluate with so many young kids.”

SF Giants’ McDonald strikes out 10 in impressive outing to cap off year

SAN FRANCISCO — Trevor McDonald has been on the Giants for roughly a week-and-a-half, but the rookie right-hander hasn’t wasted the few opportunities that he’s received.

After allowing one run over six innings against the Dodgers, McDonald recorded his first career win as he pitched a career-high seven innings of three-run ball and struck out a career-high 10 batters as the Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Friday night at Oracle Park.

“It was a lot of fun,” McDonald said. “We’re trying to finish strong and still win games. It definitely gave me some confidence going into the offseason and coming back for next year.”

Before the sellout crowd applauded McDonald for the best start of his career, they applauded shortstop Willy Adames for being named the .

“It’s an honor,” Adames said. “It’s truly special for me. It’s voted on by my teammates, the coaches, the staff and the fans, so for me, that’s what makes it even more special — the respect from my teammates and the people around me is surreal.”

Melvin said he thought Adames appeared nervous when addressing the crowd, an uneasiness that Adames seldom shows. Adames, himself, even pointed out during his speech that that he was reading off a piece of paper.

While Adames may not have been in his element at the podium, he was very much in his element when he stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning and blasted a two-run homer. With two games remaining, Adames is just one homer away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004.

“Everybody has mentioned that,” Adames said. “It’s a big deal, but for me, I’m just trying to win. I don’t really care about hitting 30. Obviously, I want to do it. … If I don’t do it this year, I’ll do it next year. (Rafael Devers) is going to do it for sure — and (Matt Chapman) if they stay healthy.”

The Willie Mac Award winner iterated that winning — not personal accolades — is his main focus. Adames, despite a slow start, has done his part to contribute to winning baseball, entering Friday with a team-high 3.4 WAR (per FanGraphs), but San Francisco will end this season having failed to make the playoffs for the eighth time in the last nine years.

“There’s a lot of room to improve for next year,” Adames said. “For me, personally, I feel like it hasn’t been my best year. … There’s a lot of stuff that I need to work on for next year and try to be more consistent. The main focus is winning, so for me, it’s just coming in next year with the right mentality to go out there and compete since day one and carry that energy until the last game of the season. I feel like we kind of lost that and it’s tough.”

Adames went on to say he believes the Giants lost their first-half mentality when the second half rolled around, something that he believes the team needs to improve upon. He added that he’s already thinking about what the team can do next year to avoid another second-half skid, proposing that the team’s core should maybe have some dinners in the offseason and “figure out a way to keep the clubhouse together and the same energy throughout the year.”

When he was asked what led to the shift in energy after the All-Star break, Adames provided the following response:

“I feel like there’s a lot of younger guys that still don’t know — I feel like they haven’t played a full season like this in the big leagues. And this is the big leagues. This is not the minor leagues where if you make an error, they’re not going to say anything. Sometimes here, when you’re struggling, people are expecting you to be better. Sometimes, the pressure of that comes with a lot of stress.

“Some of the young guys that are in their first full season, it’s tough to be in that position. Even myself, I’m still sometimes (dealing with) a little bit of pressure and trying to do too much, some stuff leads to bad habits and you go through a slump for like three weeks. … I feel like there’s not a right answer. It’s just a lot of things that need to be better. But I feel like that’s something we need to address inside.”

Having been eliminated from postseason contention on Tuesday, Adames and the Giants will not be able to salvage a season where they can only finish .500 at best. They can only look to the future, and the 24-year-old McDonald has put in his early bid for next year’s Opening Day roster.

McDonald cruised through the first four innings, needing only 51 pitches to retire his first 12 batters of the night. The right-hander allowed a three-run homer to Ezequiel Tovar in the fifth, but he immediately responded by retiring the next seven batters he faced to emphatically end his night.

As things stand, McDonald may not have an extensive enough track record to make a case for next year’s Opening Day roster as a starter. That said, McDonald said he was open to relieving if that possibility arose.

“He’s really impressed me,” Adames said. “I like the way that he’s preparing himself. You saw him in L.A. — he was shoving against the Dodgers. That’s not something easy. Then today, he was competing every at-bat, every pitch. He was dialed in and he looked really good. That’s something that fans should be excited about that he’s finishing the season, and hopefully, he can come next year healthy and go out there and continue to do that.”

Along with Adames, Heliot Ramos hit his 21st home run of the season and Matt Chapman, , notched the 1,000th hit of his career with a bloop single in the bottom of the fifth inning.

“It means he’s been durable and been around for a while and there’s a lot more to come,” Melvins said. “There’s certain milestones and certain hit numbers that my guess is he’s going to keep that ball. 1000 is a big number.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Keeping documents safe

Question: You have written about safe deposit boxes at banks and how they should be titled. Overall, do you think keeping my title documents and other important papers in my safe deposit box is the best place to keep them safe and available to my next-of-kin when they are needed?

Answer: Keeping documents in a safe deposit box is a good option depending on the documents and when they might be needed. I have written that if you have a trust, your safe deposit box should be titled in the name of the trust, rather than in your name. When a box is titled in the name of your trust, the person who is named as trustee in your documents can access the box at any time. This means that during your lifetime, you are your own trustee and have full access to the box. If you were to become incapacitated or after you die, the person named as the successor trustee in your trust will step in as trustee and, by the terms of your trust document, has access to the box.

As with all other legal matters, there are some loopholes. If a trustee is stepping into the trustee position on your death, they will need to present a death certificate along with the trust document to the bank to gain access to the box. Sometimes, if your successor trustee is stepping in during your lifetime because of incapacity, banks require that you, the original trustee, come to the bank to sign off. If you are confined to bed or otherwise semi-immobile, this can cause obvious challenges.

You should be aware that many banks are in the process of closing down their safe deposit box offerings. One major bank is currently contacting all box holders to advise them to come in, remove the contents and close out the box. Banks are concluding that holding safe deposit boxes for customers is not profitable enough so we will, most likely, see more of this in the future.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I was working in a bank and, as you may remember, all banks closed their doors that morning and stayed closed for three or more days. Customers were knocking at the door pleading for access to their boxes – it was awful. Also, if you receive word on a Friday afternoon that you must travel for a family emergency and your passport is in your box, you will need to delay the journey until the bank opens on Monday. Not great scenarios, right?

Rather than having a bank safe deposit box, consider installing a safe at home. Most hardware stores sell fire-slow safes or you can find good ones online. If you decide to go this route, either get a box that is too large to be easily moved or bolt your safe to the floor. You can also conceal the safe in your home. As with all important information, make sure your successor trustee knows where to find your documents and the combination to a safe, if any.

Question: I hear and read about year-end tax planning but seldom hear anything about year-end estate planning. Are there things we should review in our wills and trusts on an annual basis?

Answer: What a great question and the answer is yes, absolutely! While not necessarily driven by a Dec. 31 deadline, it is important to revisit our estate plans regularly. Attorneys differ in their recommendations on the frequency of such a review but at least a quick consideration of the following points on an annual basis should keep your plans in tiptop shape:

Significant changes in the family such as marriage, divorce, a child or grandchild developing an unhealthy addiction, a child or grandchild attaining a certain age, the death or serious illness of a spouse or a beneficiary, or the need to fund a grandchild’s education are all significant factors that can affect planning. Most documents address changes but if you feel the situation is not adequately clarified in your current plans, schedule a review with your attorney.

If you or your spouse received an inheritance, if your Bitcoin finally cashed in or if there have been other significant changes to your wealth, revisit your plans. Also, did you make a loan to a child or grandchild? Remember to document the loan and clarify whether any unpaid balance upon your death would reduce their share of your estate or the loan will be forgiven. Your trustee will thank you.

Confirm that any new purchases like a ski cabin or a new investment account are titled in the name of your trust. If you refinanced your mortgage, the lender may have required that title be taken out of the trust. Be sure it was subsequently transferred back into your trust name.

Finally, revisit the trustee or executor appointment. If you named a family member or friend, is this person still in a position to execute their duties when the time comes? Will the appointment be a burden because they are busy with their own family or career? If you name a professional, be sure they have the information they need to help you when the time comes. Your named successor trustee, whether family or professional, should be provided with current addresses of beneficiaries, asset information and copies of any updated documents.

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

SF Giants’ Willy Adames named 2025 Willie Mac Award winner

SAN FRANCISCO — In his first season as a San Francisco Giant, shortstop Willy Adames has been named the 2025 Willie Mac Award winner.

Since its inception in 1980, the Willie Mac Award, named after Hall of Famer Willie McCovey, goes to the most inspirational Giant in a given season. The award is voted on by players, coaches, fans, training staff and clubhouse staff.

The past winners who were in attendance on Friday included third baseman (2024), designated hitter/first baseman (2022) and former catcher and current president of baseball operations Buster Posey (2012).

“He’s the same guy every day,” said manager Bob Melvin. “He loves playing baseball. Even now, he doesn’t want days off. He wants to keep playing. It’s enthusiasm, it’s support for his teammates, it’s energetic, it’s every day — almost as advertised from what I’ve heard before (he signed).

“And now you look up and you see the numbers, too, the numbers are there as well after a slow start, which can be difficult in a new place. I’m very impressed with Willy Adames.”

Entering Friday, Adames led all Giants in FanGraphs’ WAR (3.7). Over a team-high 157 games, Adames was hitting .225/.318/.415 with 28 home runs, 84 RBIs, 91 runs scored and 12 steals.

Adames had a rocky start to his tenure in San Francisco after signing a seven-year, $182 million deal this offseason, the largest contract in franchise history at the time. By the end of May, Adames’ .620 OPS was the lowest mark among the Giants’ qualified hitters. Adames also rated out as a below-average defender as well, worth -3 outs above average through two months.

The turning point of Adames’ season arrived in early June. On June 8, Adames was given his first off day of the season. On June 9, Adames spent the Giants’ team off day meditating in the mountains of Colorado, which “made me go back to my roots.”

“That (day) put me in a better spot mentally. Since that day, I was like, ‘Just be yourself,’ ” Adames said. “It’s been better. It’s been going in the right direction even though we haven’t been playing the best ball as a team. We’re moving forward.”

Adames has been one of the best players in baseball since receiving that mental respite. Since June 10, Adames ranks 10th among all players in the majors in FanGraphs’ WAR, posting an .840 OPS with 23 homers and 58 RBIs during that span.

The 30-year-old shortstop entered Friday two homers away from becoming the first Giant to hit 30 homers in a single season since Barry Bonds in 2004. His 28 home runs as a shortstop are the second-most in the majors, trailing only the New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (31).

“He took it hard that the offensive numbers weren’t there early on, but again, he’s picked it up and he’s on the verge of hitting 30 homers,” Melvin said.

Worth noting

Despite being eliminated from postseason contention, the Giants plan to keep catcher Jesus Rodriguez on the taxi squad instead of activating him to make his major-league debut.

At annual legislative conference, Black lawmakers confront Trump-era cuts and civil rights setbacks

By MATT BROWN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Black Caucus kicked off its annual legislative conference this week, which has been upended by President Donald Trump’s second term and by the presence of National Guard patrols near the conference’s venue.

The 62-member caucus, all of whom are Democrats, gathered with business leaders, activists, policy experts, local government officials, and other professionals from across the country to strategize how to build its new agenda and to counter Trump’s policies, which have disrupted federal government programs that address civil rights, education, healthcare, housing, immigration and labor policy, among other areas.

While this year’s conference has featured the usual panels, strategy sessions and cocktail parties, many attendees hoped to hear from the “conscience of the Congress” — a moniker bestowed on the CBC for its civil rights work — about what lessons can be learned from American history for the current political climate, and how lawmakers would govern should they win future elections.

Here are some comments from the CBC lawmakers who attended this year’s conference:

Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina

“This is probably going to be one of the most consequential weeks that you have ever spent in your lives,” said Clyburn, the former House Democratic leader, during an address at the outset of the conference. “Take it from me: we are on the precipice of losing this democracy. We are. And if you don’t think so, take a journey through the history of the country.”

“I would hope that I would not leave this Earth, and my children and grandchildren would not be sentenced to having to live the life that their grandparents and parents lived,” said the 85-year-old congressman.

FILE – Incoming Congressional Black Caucus chair Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., discusses caucus priorities for the 119th Congress and the Trump administration, Dec. 4, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York

“This is not a conventional time. This is the time that we make for ourselves our own destiny,” Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said in an address to conference attendees.

“This is not a situation where we can necessarily say, well, look, those people in Congress have got it. Because the Congress is broken,” Clarke said. “We delivered democracy to the United States of America. Were it not for the abolitionists, were it not for the Civil Rights leaders, were it not for the foot soldiers on the ground, we’d still be living in apartheid. So let’s get it straight and let’s straighten up our backs.”

Clarke added: “I believe in us because were it not for the folks who came before me, I wouldn’t be standing here today as chairwoman of the largest Black Caucus in the history of the United States.”

FILE – State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Hanover, speaks at The Call for Action on Gun Safety, Jan. 13, 2023, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/John C. Clark, File)Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginia

“It’s not that if (Democrats) get the gavel, we rebuild back to what we had. We are also taking this opportunity to see what we can start from scratch,” said McClellan.

“There are some Republicans in the committee rooms, or in delegations, who share our concerns on some issues, whether it’s the NIH funding cuts, whether it’s First Amendment issues, or whether it’s clean energy rollbacks. And they are taking their concerns behind the scenes to the administration. And in some cases, they’ve been successful and at least making the bad less bad.”

FILE – Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., joins elected officials and activists in a call to end the presence of National Guard troops in the District of Columbia on the order of President Donald Trump, at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland

“It’s going to be a new day, in part because they’ve changed the governing structure so much,” Ivey said of how Democrats are planning on governing in response to Trump’s changes to the federal government.

“Part of what we’re going to have to do is fire a big chunk of the bureaucracy that he’s putting in right now, just move them out and start over from scratch,” said Ivey, who represents the suburbs of Washington. “And we’ve got to make sure we understand that for a lot of the legislation we’ve done, we rely on particular government agencies to make it work. That’s not going to fly anymore. The Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division is an example of that.”

FILE – Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Sept. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California

“The reality is that some of the bad stuff is just going to happen,” said Kamlager-Dove. “There is no strategy to stop some of the bad stuff except to continue to educate folks about the hypocrisy and the duplicity that is happening.”

“Many of these special elections, many of these local elections that are happening ever since Donald Trump came into office and started implementing his Project 2025, Democrats have been winning,” she said. “The strategy is to engage community-based organizations. The strategy is to work more diligently with our legal community. The strategy is to take everything to the court. The strategy is to create some outrage. The strategy is to fight the battles at the local elections. The facts of strategy are to make sure that we are shored up so that when 2028 comes around, folks are ready.”

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“I think that the air feels a lot heavier than it does normally. That being said, after every session, after every engagement that I’ve had, I leave emboldened and more fortified,” said Pressley.

“It’s so important that we are leaning into community, but also that we are strategizing, that we are being intentional in our thought partnership and in our organizing, in the work of resistance and the work of reimagining,” she said. “So I would say, you know, in this moment right now, I feel very encouraged.”

Monterey council moves forward with city manager search

MONTEREY — An ad-hoc committee, consisting of the mayor, will be created to oversee the recruitment of a new city manager in Monterey.

During the Sept. 16 council meeting, members approved forming the committee to work with the Human Resources Department and the city’s contracted recruiter, Bob Murray and Associates, on reviewing a recruitment brochure and timeline.

The council voted 3-1 with council member Jean Rasch voting no and council members Ed Smith absent.

Essentially, Mayor Tyller Williamson and Human Resources Director Brette Neal will look over the recruiter’s job description and salary description before sending it out on a search for a new city manager.

Concerns came from council members about adding an additional layer of scrutiny to the recruiting agency’s work, especially when the council had promised transparency to the public.

Council member Kim Barber said she preferred having the Human Resources Department handle the process without a committee.

“I am about getting the job done in the most effective way. There’s still enough transparency during interviews, special meetings, and through that process,” Barber said. “I didn’t think we needed to be redundant with an ad-hoc committee.”

Barber said she voted in favor of the committee, because she felt confident in Bob Murray and Associates, and the work that they’ve presented so far.

“I have confidence having the recruitment agency just working with Human Resources,” Barber said. “Brette (Neal) already knows what we want and can handle those preliminary things. But I understand wanting to have representation from the city.”

Meanwhile, Rasch preferred the recruiting agency just came back to the council directly through a special meeting or a presentation during a regular council meeting, negating the need for an ad-hoc committee at all.

“My hope is that we would all be equally involved in the search for a city manager,” Rasch said. “On Sep. 2 we had a great beginning. We all had the same first choice to lead us through the application process. I felt this was a great start. On the 16th I was disappointed. (The committee) was not necessary and it was not the advice that came from the firm.”

Williamson said his thinking was that groups of people can get nit-picky with things like job descriptions and wording, and since all the council members felt confident in the recruiter, that one person was enough to give the okay.

“I feel good with whatever the consultant is going to come up with me,” Williamson said. “I think the entire council is excited about the process, and we are trying to be transparent as possible while trying not to take too much time. and we’re already looking at a gap between the new manager coming on and our current city manager leaving.”

Hans Uslar, the current city manager, announced in July that he would be retiring at the end of the year after nearly three decades working at the city of Monterey.