Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 230

Draymond Green exits game against Wizards with left calf tightness

Draymond Green will not return to Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards due to left calf tightness, the Golden State Warriors announced on X.

Green exited Saturday’s contest just three minutes into the first quarter. He limped to the bench and eventually went to the Warriors’ locker room. Green’s injury wasn’t apparently clear, but the four-time All-Star looked noticeably slower in the few possessions before the timeout.

Green dealt with calf injuries earlier this season as he was inactive for two games in early December with the same ailment. He missed the Warriors’ last three games with an illness.

This story will be updated.

‘Nothing’s guaranteed’: SF Giants react to Dodgers signing of Roki Sasaki

NAPA — Around three o’clock on Friday afternoon, Roki Sasaki announced he was signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Less than 24 hours later, the San Francisco Giants hosted the first leg of their FanFest Tour in Napa to garner excitement for the coming season.

Talk about timing.

“At the end of the day, he chose that team,” left-hander Kyle Harrison told this news organization. “That’s the way you have to look at it. I think that’s probably where he thought he was going to get better after going through all those processes. … Maybe he found that was the best fit along with some other guys he knew on the team. I don’t know. We have to beat the Dodgers, though, so I could care less about that.”

For the Giants, Sasaki’s decision to join the Dodgers especially stings because San Francisco’s brass wasn’t shy about expressing its interest.

At the Winter Meetings, president of baseball operations Buster Posey and general manager Zack Minasian both had raving review for “The Monster of the Reiwa Era.” Posey, in particular, described the possibility of Sasaki pitching for the Giants in the playoffs in front of a raucous Oracle Park. Those hopes were dashed, though, when Minasian revealed during Justin Verlander’s introductory press conference that the Giants were out of the running. Days later, Sasaki declared he was bound for Southern California.

Los Angeles, unsurprisingly, isn’t just the heavy favorite to win the NL West, but to become the first back-to-back champions since the New York Yankees. For the Giants who attended Saturday’s FanFest, they’re not looking at this season as a foregone conclusion.

“Nothing’s guaranteed,” third baseman Matt Chapman told this news organization. “You have to go out there and do it. On paper, your team can look great. It can be all these things. Obviously, they’re probably the favorites, but that doesn’t change anything for us. That doesn’t change our goals. Our goals are to win the division. Our goals are to make the playoffs. So, regardless of who the Dodgers add or what other teams in our division keep improving — the Diamondbacks got better, the Padres are good — this is a tough division with four teams that are really trying to win.

“It doesn’t matter to us. We have to take care of our business.”

Sasaki’s decision to join the defending World Series champions embittered countless baseball fans, generally, and Giants fans, specifically. Some fans went as far as to compare Sasaki signing with the Dodgers to Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors in 2017.

The Dodgers now boast one of baseball’s most talented rotations with Sasaki in the fold, a unit that will also feature Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow with Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Landon Knack in the mix. Clayton Kershaw is still a free agent and recovering from offseason surgeries, but he’ll likely be along for the ride as well. That rotation compliments a lineup that features anchored by three MVPs (and likely Hall of Famers) in Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, as well as All-Stars Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith and Max Muncy and newly-signed super utility man Hyeseong Kim.

“When you come to this division, you already know what it’s going to be,” Hicks told this news organization. “At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion. It’s baseball. You battle every single day. You can beat any starting pitcher. They definitely have a good starting rotation on paper. … It seems like he has a really electric arm and good splitter, good fastball.

“They’re going to have a good rotation. It’s going to be a tough matchup, but I think our hitters will be well-prepared, and hopefully, we can catch them on a World Series slump and then go get our ring this year. You can’t count us out against anybody.”

SF Giants’ Harrison, Hicks aiming to take steps forward in 2025

NAPA — The temperature at Napa Yard hovered in the low 40s for much of Saturday’s FanFest. Every breath, every word produced clouds of vapor. But in several weeks’ time, pitchers Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison will venture down to Scottsdale, Arizona, where they’ll be greeted by true baseball weather.

And heightened expectations, too.

“Anytime this comes around, we get the itch,” Harrison told this news organization. “Baseball season is right around the corner, so we’re excited to be out here. Can’t wait for the offseason to be over.”

Willie Mays jerseys are popular at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event, where starting pitcher Kyle Harrison took the stage at the Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

With the Giants failing to lure right-handers Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki to San Francisco, they’ll be leaning heavily on Harrison and Hicks to take steps forward and provide more — both quality and quantity — than they did last season.

Harrison, 23, and Hicks, 28, are at different points in their careers, but last year, they both recorded career-highs in innings, regardless of level. Hicks, who threw 109 2/3 innings, transitioned from reliever to starter after signing in free agency; Harrison, who totaled 124 1/3 frames, cracked an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career.

That volume wasn’t without turbulence. Hicks started hot (1.59 ERA in March/April), faded as he accumulated innings (5.40 ERA from May-July) and ended the season in the bullpen. Harrison had spurts where he looked like a rotation mainstay but dealt with a shoulder injury towards the end of the season as he, too, pitched more than he ever had, ending the year with a 4.56 ERA.

Despite the mixed results, Harrison and Hicks acknowledged that taking on that workload was important because it gave them a foundation to build upon. Prior to 2024, neither had experienced the grind of a full major-league season as starters — mentally or physically. Entering this offseason, they had a clear blueprint of what they needed to address.

Hicks, who hopes to sit in the high 90s with his fastball, has spent a good chunk of the offseason working out at Oracle Park with left-handed reliever Erik Miller, putting an emphasis on strengthening his legs and improvising his conditioning through more biking and running. Prior to Willy Adames’ introductory press conference, Hicks and Miller could be seen throwing on the field. Harrison, too, has put an emphasis on strength training in conjunction with mobility work, describing how he underwent a “total analysis” of his body to identify the areas where he was deficient.

“My goal is to go out there and make 30-plus starts and be there from start to finish and hopefully make a really good playoff push,” Hicks told this news organization. “That’s my goal, and I hope that’s everybody else’s goal: to be a winning ballclub and make that deep playoff run.”

Harrison and Hicks enjoyed the luxury of learning from some of baseball’s best pitchers in their first full season as starters. In 2024, Harrison and Hicks shared a rotation with Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Blake Snell, the latter two having won Cy Young Awards while Webb finished second to Snell in 2023. Snell traded in the orange and black for the Dodger blue this fall, but now Harrison and Hicks will have the chance to soak up wisdom from a future Hall of Famer in Justin Verlander.

Mekeyla Espinosa,11, gets a Jordan Hicks autograph at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

“It’s going to be awesome,” Harrison said of Verlander, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal. “It’s crazy to think about because of how long he’s been doing it. That’s everyone’s goal. That’s what I want to do one day. That’s what I’m sure every pitcher here wants to do one day — be like him, still be pitching at that age. He’s a Hall of Famer, and I’m going to be all ears and listening.”

“Anybody that can play even past 10 is someone that I’m willing to learn from,” Hicks said. “I’m willing to learn from anybody, but JV definitely knows what he’s doing up there on the bump. I’m excited to pick his brain.”

Harrison and Hicks are the likeliest candidates to land the latter two spots in San Francisco’s rotation behind Webb, Ray and Verlander, but president of baseball operations Buster Posey emphasized earlier this week that he expects competition during spring training. When Posey told Hicks earlier this offseason about bringing on another starter, Hicks told Posey that he welcomed the competition. During a Q&A session on Saturday, Hicks shared that Posey gave him.

“I always found it created a great atmosphere in spring training when there was competition for any spot on the field,” Posey said.

“We have a lot of really good young arms, and I think the competition is going to be good for us,” said third baseman Matt Chapman to this news organization. “It’s going to make us stronger.”

Matt Chapman signs autographs at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman signs autographs at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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The San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman mingles during a FanFest event at the Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman checks out a Lego portrait of him assembled by children attending the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Mekeyla Espinosa,11, waits at the front of the line for a Jordan Hicks autograph at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Daniel Luna, 7, of Tulare County, gets an SF logo painted on his face by Sandra Leathley at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman signs autographs at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman warms up his hands after signing autographs for 90 minutes at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at chilly Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Vivi Linares, 5, of Rohnert Park, gets an SF logo painted on her face at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman checks out a Lego portrait of him assembled by children attending the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Giants hold a FanFest event at the Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Matt Chapman displays his defensive techniques during a live interview at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Giants Matt Chapman smiles during a FanFest event at the Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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Matt Chapman signs autographs at the San Francisco Giants FanFest event at Napa Yard, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Napa, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

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Monterey People’s March brings community in support of equal rights

MONTEREY — The Women’s March Monterey Bay hosted the People’s March Saturday, inviting hundreds to Window on the Bay Park for the annual demonstration happening all across the country.

Nationally, the march was rebranded as the People’s March this year to broaden support and allow for more inclusivity.

More than 150 people gathered at Window on the Bay with signs, decorative costumes and clothing. They blew horns to garner attention. The group held their demonstration on the corner of Del Monte Avenue and Camino El Estero before marching across the street chanting for democracy and rights for all people.

Each year the Women's March takes on different themes depending on the state of the country's politics. This year the name was rebranded to the People's March to allow more inclusivity. (Kyarra Harris -- Monterey Herald)

Each year the Women's March takes on different themes depending on the state of the country's politics. This year the name was rebranded to the People's March to allow more inclusivity. (Kyarra Harris -- Monterey Herald)

Nearly 200 people participated in the People's March in Monterey at Window by the Bay Park. Many held signs and wore bright colors, waving at cars who honked in support. (Kyarra Harris -- Monterey Herald)

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Each year the Women's March takes on different themes depending on the state of the country's politics. This year the name was rebranded to the People's March to allow more inclusivity. (Kyarra Harris -- Monterey Herald)

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Esther Hobbs, with Women’s March Monterey Bay, said she was happy with the turnout, expecting about 50 people.

“It’s empowering,” Hobbs said. “I found out that lots of other people were sharing information online and there’s events in Big Sur and Watsonville which I love because it’s all about including everyone and making sure everybody feels like they have a place to come.”

Hobbs said she is a big supporter of women’s rights and wasn’t sure about the rebrand at first, but thought back to how much support women’s rights movements have received in the past from other groups and communities.

“I recognized that with the first Women’s March in  2016, I remember showing up and just feeling like there were so many people that showed up and made me feel less alone in my despair,” Hobbs said. “So I think back to that and thought, we need to hold a space for our community to come together and know they’re not alone too.”

For many attendants, the afternoon was a way to convene with other politically-minded community members before Monday’s presidential inauguration.

More than 63 percent of voters in Monterey County voted for the Democratic nominees, and 3 percent voted for third-party candidates.

Those attitudes were reflected in the signs and outfits people wore, championing issues like women’s health, equal pay, gender equality and disavowing the Trump administration.

“I’m worried about the next four years and all the things that could impeach our rights,” said Leah Beets from Monterey. “I’ve raised my kids here, it’s a great place to be, but I worry about our (federal) government. Today shows there’s a lot of us and we’re not going to back down.”

Beets dressed as a handmaid from the dystopian novel and television show “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

“I’ve had this since the first administration (2016),” Beets said. “I really worry that we’re headed in the wrong direction.”

Many attended the march with friends and family. Beets came with her best friend Fleur Burke, from Monterey. Burke said she is happy to live in Monterey County where the community has many like-minded individuals who champion women’s rights.

“Hearing the things that the vice president says about women is frightening,” said Burke. “It’s not our reality here in Monterey County, but we (Beets and Burke) understand that some people are very worried about their future.”

Judy Claire, from Monterey, has attended the Women’s March since its inception.

“I come every time there’s an opportunity to support democracy. I love this community, it’s my favorite part about this. We know in bigger cities there will be a big turnout, that’s why it’s important to support smaller communities,” Claire said.

Karen Gunby, from Pacific Grove, said her children are adults now, but she wants to continue serving as a role model for them by participating in the march.

“It’s wonderful to be a part of something that’s resisting something that’s happening to our (federal) government,” Gunby said. “I want my kids to know their vote matters and everyone deserves equal rights.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: More on political gifts from trusts

Readers: In my last column, I responded to a reader who wanted to include gifts to particular political organizations in his trust document. His estate attorney advised him that political gifts could not be done through a trust, which is not entirely accurate. A trust can make charitable donations and my column outlined the strict parameters within which it could be accomplished. I also wrote that there are charities that will make donations to political parties to further the charity’s mission and outlined an example by using a “local land trust.”

I was contacted by a representative of two of our local land trusts to clarify that, while the land trusts can (and do) lobby and support conservation bond measures, there is a strict prohibition against funding candidates. I am appreciative of the reader’s email, and it gives me an opportunity to clarify that while the land trusts he represents are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, only a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization can engage directly in political activities. An example of a 501(c)(4) organization is the Sierra Club which can make political donations and may engage in legislative activities in furtherance of its purposes.

Always great to receive comments from readers and have the opportunity to clarify. The bottom line is that if you are including political donations in your trust, there are extremely strict guidelines. It is easy to run afoul of the comprehensive and sometimes confusing regulations surrounding politics and donations. Who would have thought?

Question: My wife and I set up our trust to keep our children’s funds in a trust and provides that they can receive money for their “health, education, maintenance and support.” My attorney explained that this will keep the money safe but make it available for their needs. We plan to name my brother as the trustee but have named a professional trustee as his backup in case he dies before our kids reach age 55 which is when they get all the trust’s assets. With a provision like this, how will the trustee dole out the funds? We are concerned it may be restrictive.

Answer: We get this question often. Generally, your trustee has the discretion to distribute the funds for the purposes outlined and, most likely, the trustee will make every effort to make funds available to your kids in a way that best reflects how you would have supported them, if you were still here. To help your trustee make the best decisions, I recommend that you write out what you believe your kids may need and any parameters within which you would like funds expended.

Support, for example, may mean paying rent for an apartment, providing a down payment on a home or buying a home outright for the child. What would be your preference? Health could mean paying the premiums on health insurance, providing a monthly stipend to be used for health care, paying for sex reassignment surgery or only providing funds “in a medical emergency.” Similarly, “maintenance” could mean buying a car so your child can get to work, providing a monthly allowance, paying off a credit card every month or buying them clothes.

As you can see, there is a broad spectrum when we say “health, education, maintenance and support.” In the instructions you leave for your trustee, try and be as descriptive as possible. You may not be able to hit on every instance that may arise, but the instructions will, at least, give your trustee an idea of your values and provide insight into how you would like to best support your kids. Finally, your instructions should be couched as recommendations and suggestions and not as a “direction.” We don’t want your kids using the written suggestions to legally challenge your trustee. They should be additive, not directive.

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

Former Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio is hired by Paris Musketeers

PARIS (— American football team the Paris Musketeers hired former NFL coach Jack Del Rio as their new head coach on Friday.

The Musketeers are the only French team in the European League. Home games are at the 19,500-capacity Stade Jean Bouin, which is directly opposite soccer club Paris Saint-Germain’s stadium.

Related ArticlesSports | High School football: Central Coast all-star game Sports | Warriors avoid upset, defeat Wizards behind strong play in second half Sports | Draymond Green exits game against Wizards with left calf tightness Sports | ‘Nothing’s guaranteed’: SF Giants react to Dodgers signing of Roki Sasaki Sports | SF Giants’ Harrison, Hicks aiming to take steps forward in 2025 “We are proud to announce to you that the NFL legend Jack Del Rio is the new HC of the Paris Musketeers,” the club posted on X along with a list of his achievements.

The 61-year-old American formerly guided the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders.

Del Rio had a 93-94 record in a 12-year NFL head coaching career that included stints with the Jaguars (2003-11) and Raiders (2015-17). He played linebacker in the NFL from 1985-95 after a stellar college career at Southern California.

He stepped down in November from his previous position as a senior adviser on Wisconsin’s coaching staff after he was arrested near campus for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

Before Wisconsin, he spent four years as the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

California is years behind in implementing a law to make homes more fire resistant

By TRÂN NGUYỄN | Associated Press

SACRAMENTO  — Reeling from destructive wildfires, including the deadliest in California history, state lawmakers in 2020 passed new requirements for clearing combustible materials like dead plants and wooden furniture within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of homes in risky areas.

The rules were set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. But as Los Angeles grapples with blazes that have destroyed thousands of homes in what could be the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history, the regulations still haven’t been written. The state Board of Forestry and Fire Protection has no firm timeline for completing them.

“It’s frustrating at every level of government,” said Democratic state Sen. Henry Stern, who was part of a group of lawmakers who authored the legislation. “I feel like a failure on it, being quite frank.”

Most of the neighborhoods ravaged by the Palisades Fire are in areas that must follow state requirements to keep the immediate surroundings of their homes free of combustible materials and would be subject to the new rules because they are deemed at highest fire risk by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire, driven by hurricane-force winds that spread embers by air, destroyed at least 5,000 structures across areas including Pacific Palisades, Malibu and Topanga Canyon.

Under the latest proposal, existing homes would have three years to comply with the regulations, so it’s not clear how many homes would have been saved. But clearing the immediate area around homes likely would have made some difference, several experts said.

“We feel really strongly that it would” have made a difference in some cases based on previous research, said Steve Hawks, a former state firefighter who now works for an insurance industry research group that supported the law. “There’s no guarantees, of course, particularly when you have a high intensity wildfire like these.”

So-called defensible space laws require homeowners in fire-prone places to keep the area immediately around their homes free of landscaping and other materials that could catch fire. California already enforces some of the most stringent defensible space laws in the West. The state began requiring homeowners in high-risk areas to clear flammable materials within 30 feet (9 meters) of their houses in the 1960s and then expanded the rules to include areas within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of structures in 2006.

The latest measure creates a new “ember-resistant” zone, dubbed “zone zero,” that bars things like brush, wooden fencing, furniture, sheds and mulch within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of homes. The idea is to clear all materials that could catch fire from flying embers carried by winds and spread to the structure. State officials and researchers said embers are responsible for 90% of structures destroyed by wildfire.

The zone-zero law passed with bipartisan support after California experienced record-breaking fires in 2017 and 2018, including a fire that wiped out the town of Paradise, destroying more than 17,000 structures and killing 85 people.

Homes have a much better chance of surviving a wildfire when homeowners follow defensible space requirements and various home-hardening recommendations like using vent covers to keep out flying embers, said Yana Valachovic, a fire scientist with the University of California’s Cooperative Extension in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. She is helping CalFire survey the L.A. fires’ destruction this week.

“I’m hesitant to put a number factor on exactly how much greater survival rate we’ll get,” she said. “But, you know, we have to do everything to push the equation.”

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection said it’s still in “the pre-rulemaking phase” while it finds money to alleviate the potential costs under the new requirements. State officials said in a November meeting that the draft language likely won’t be considered by the board until late this year, though CalFire has already encouraged homeowners to take up the practice on its website. The agency recommended the adoption of zone zero requirements as part of a report on fire strategies requested by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2019.

Lawmakers last year also passed legislation to extend the deadline to comply — from one year to three years — for existing homes once the regulations are adopted. Some cities and homeowners are already taking on the practice voluntarily.

“There are many facets to consider as part of this complex process,” Edith Hannigan, executive officer of the board, said in a statement to The Associated Press. “This topic remains a priority for the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, and staff aims to have a draft proposal to present to the Board as soon as is feasible.”

Some of the most effective strategies include clearing dead vegetation and debris off a structure’s roof and out of gutters and replacing bark with pea gravel, said Kimiko Barrett, who authored a 2024 study looking at the costs for retrofitting existing structures in California. Replacing wooden fencing could cost more, but it also helps better protect a home.

“The cost of not doing anything could be far, far greater,” Barrett said.

Zone zero discussions have been underway for the past decade, and the idea isn’t always popular. Stern, the state senator who also lost his home in another Los Angeles fire in 2018, said he struggles to convince his family to follow the practice. His parents dismissed his advice like clearing out the rosemary bush next to their home as minor things, Stern said.

“What I don’t know is whether people are going to see that as a headache,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, a Democrat who led the effort to pass the zone-zero law in 2020 as a state assemblymember, said the implementation “shouldn’t have taken years and years.” She then deferred questions to the state.

“I hope that the state acts with the urgency that the issue and these guidelines deserve,” she said.

Under the latest draft, the rules would immediately apply to new homes and allow existing buildings three years to comply.

Horoscopes Jan. 18, 2025: Kevin Costner, put more thought into where you want to go

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jason Segel, 45; Jesse L. Martin, 56; Mark Messier, 64; Kevin Costner, 70.

[image error] Jason Segel

Happy Birthday: Put more thought into where you want to go and what you want to achieve. Travel, educational pursuits, and mental and physical changes you can make to ensure a safe and successful journey will unfold. Err on the side of caution when putting a budget in place, and it will ease stress, allowing more time to perfect how you launch your plans. Romance is in the stars. Your numbers are 2, 8, 15, 21, 27, 36, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Evaluate your current source of income and do what’s necessary to adjust your lifestyle to match or find additional sources of employment. Reach out for help through community services, institutions and those offering insight into job opportunities. Networking functions will provide insight. Refrain from getting angry when positive action is required. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Use your intelligence and make a change at home that offers peace of mind and lowers your overhead. Going further into debt to maintain something you don’t need will be detrimental. Focus on what’s important and invest more time in modifying your qualifications to meet job market demands. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Distance yourself from temptation and those who want to take advantage of you. Stick close to home and avoid expensive entertainment and unnecessary purchases. If you want to be excessive, try putting your energy into something that will benefit your health or help you raise your earning potential. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Attend functions. Use your charm, and you’ll attract attention, not to mention newfound friends and potential partners. A networking event will allow you to show off and reach people who can directly link you to something worthwhile, but don’t offer the impossible. Personal growth, self-improvement and romance are favored. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do your homework before initiating a change. Don’t count on getting valid information; take your time and assess your needs first to avoid being misled or giving someone the wrong impression regarding your offer. Truth and trust matter, and your reputation and prospects depend on how you respond. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Stretch your imagination, and you’ll find other ways to use your talents, skills and experience to bring in additional cash. Reach out to people who can offer insight into what’s trending. It will help point you in a direction that connects you to an industry you have yet to tap into. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Change begins with you and how you live. Evaluate your health and emotional well-being, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations, consider the transformation necessary to satisfy your soul. Rely on expert advice and helpful people and services to ensure you reach your goals promptly. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Spend time reflecting, initiating the changes at home that add to your comfort and convenience, and tapping into your creative and innovative ideas to fulfill your dreams. A commitment that changes your life, livelihood or relationship with someone special will positively impact you emotionally and financially. 4 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Caution is necessary when dealing with people looking out for their interests, not yours. Question everything you hear and see before you respond. You’ll be led astray by hype and empty promises. Put your energy, time and money into self-investment and learn something new about yourself and what you can do. 2 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Pay attention to investments, joint ventures and who you share information with, and you’ll forgo criticism and interference. Put a cap on spending, generosity and what’s disposable. Someone unique will stimulate your mind with interesting options. A partnership will be worth considering. Love and romance are apparent. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Get ready to act on instinct and counter any attempts made by outside influences to limit your actions. A change at home will be costly. Consider your options carefully before you commit to something you don’t need or can’t afford. Refrain from folding under emotional pressure and demands. When in doubt, decline. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Socialize, network, participate and expand your interests. The people you encounter will enrich your life by sparking your imagination. Consider the possibilities, review the costs and follow through with an affordable plan. Consider your physical health and well-being and how you can maintain strength and integrity while chasing a healthier lifestyle. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are practical, ambitious and hardworking. You are unusual and visionary.

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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Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki says he plans to sign with Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move many baseball executives have long expected.

The San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were said to be the other finalists still in pursuit of Sasaki, who has until next Thursday to finalize a contract.

“I have signed a minor contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” Sasaki’s post said, in Japanese. “It was a very difficult decision, but I will do my best I can feel this was a correct decision, once I look back on my life as a baseball player. At my news conference for joining the club, I hope to wear my Dodgers uniform, feeling gratitude for all those who have supported me.”

Los Angeles has up to $5,146,200 available in its international signing bonus pool, though the Dodgers could make trades in the next week to increase the amount by up to 60%.

The Dodgers are planning to use a six-man rotation, which could ease Sasaki’s transition to Major League Baseball, as the Dodgers attempt to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000.

Sasaki was made available to MLB teams for a 45-day window by the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League under the posting agreement between Nippon Professional Baseball and MLB. Because he is under 25 and does not have six years of service time in NPB, Sasaki is considered an international amateur by MLB and limited to a minor league contract subject to the signing pools.

The Marines will get a release fee calculated at 25% of the amount of Sasaki’s signing bonus.

During a news conference at the winter meetings last month, Sasaki’s agent, Joel Wolfe, denied an agreement with the Dodgers was already in place. Wolfe said MLB had investigated.

“There was a lot of discussion in the media, in the league, in NPB about Roki’s situation,” Wolfe said. “There were some accusations, allegations, all of them false, made about predetermined deals, things like that. However, MLB rightly wanted to make sure that this was going to be a fair and level playing field for everyone, so they did their due diligence and interviewed numerous parties ahead of time to make sure that that was the case.”

Sasaki was 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 games last year, striking out 129 hitters in 111 innings during a season limited by shoulder inflammation. He went 7-4 with a 1.78 ERA in 15 starts in 2023, when he had an oblique injury. He has a 29-15 career record with a 2.10 ERA over four seasons with the Marines and pitched a perfect game against Orix in April 2022.

The Dodgers’ first spring training workout is on Feb. 11 at Glendale, Arizona, ahead of their opening two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.

Worst-case scenerio: County official calls for ‘independent investigation’ of Moss Landing fire

MOSS LANDING – Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church and State Assemblymember Dawn Addis are calling for the Vistra Moss Landing Battery Energy Storage facility in Moss Landing to stay offline until officials can explain what caused the fire that started Thursday and be able to guarantee the public that the plant is safe.

“We cannot see another battery energy storage fire,” Addis said in a press conference Friday afternoon. “This can’t happen again.

Earlier in the day, Church called for a “full independent investigation at all levels on what exactly happened.”

The fire appeared to flare up again Friday afternoon but Addis and Church said they had been briefed that the fire would flare up as additional batteries within the structure where the fire is ignite.

The fire resulted in an evacuation affecting about 1,200 people and the closure of Highway 1 in both directions, among other roadways.

Flames from a fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant on Thursday night. (Van Niven -- Special to the Herald)

Road closures remain in effect until further notice from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. (Kyarra Harris — Monterey Herald)

Smoke stems from the Vistra Battery Plant in Moss Landing hours after a fire erupted. (Kyarra Harris — Monterey Herald)

The moon rises over Elkhorn Slough as fire blazes Thursday night at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Fire blazes Thursday night at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Law enforcement patrols Dolan Road in Moss Landing as fire blazes at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility Thursday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Fire blazes Thursday night at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

The fire at the Moss Landing power plant is reflected in Elkhorn Slough. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

A home along Elkhorn Road is illuminated as Thursday night’s fire sends up a column of smoke. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

A haze wafts across Dolan Road in Moss Landing Thursday night as fire blazes at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Elkhorn Slough winds toward the Monterey Bay as fire blazes Thursday night at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

A vehicle travels on Highway 1 as the fire rages at the Moss Landing power plant Thursday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Fire blazed Thursday night at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing in northern Monterey County. Highway 1 was closed and evacuations were ordered in Moss Landing and the Elkhorn Slough area. Due to the fire, Santa Cruz County Public Health officials advised residents to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, limit outdoor exposure and turn off ventilation systems. In a social media post Thursday night, the city of Watsonville recommended that residents limit their outdoor activities to reduce exposure to smoke. The fire, which was raging out of control Thursday night, sending up huge flames and clouds of hazardous black smoke, was reported around 3 p.m. at the plant, located on Highway 1, Monterey County spokesman Nicholas Pasculli said. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

The fire at the Vistra power plant’s battery storage facility in Moss Landing is reflected in Elkhorn Slough as law enforcement patrols on Highway 1 Thursday night. (Shmuel Thaler - Santa Cruz Sentinel)

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Flames from a fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant on Thursday night. (Van Niven -- Special to the Herald)

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“There needs to be some accountability,” Church said in the Friday morning press conference, noting this was the fourth fire in five years at Moss Landing battery facilities.

The fire at one of the world’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems was in a building housing 300 lithium-ion batteries, of which an unknown number burned and continue to burn. The hazardous materials within smoke plumes from lithium-ion batteries include hydrogen fluoride, a colorless gas that can cause severe damage to the body.

Supervisor Glenn Church representing District 2 called for accountability and a full investigation into the cause of the fire during a press conference Friday. “It’s not too soon to look ahead,” Church said. “We need to get the information out and it needs to be transparent.” (Kyarra Harris — Monterey Herald)

North County Fire Protection District Chief Joel Mendoza said a fire-suppression system in a battery rack failed to contain the fire. The fire was most intense Thursday night, he said, and by Friday morning it had mostly gone out. But the plume remained a concern and was being monitored by both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and CTEH, a Vistra outside consultant.

Mendoza reported that the preliminary information from monitoring the plume showed no hazardous hydrogen fluoride was detected.

Friday afternoon, flames could once again be seen coming from the plant and the plume had grown exponentially.

Friday morning Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said evacuation orders would still be in effect and was waiting for the advanced air-monitoring systems report, to “err on the side of caution so nobody is hurt,” before the county and the Sheriff’s Department lifted the evacuation orders

Pete Ziegler, regional vice president who oversees the Moss Landing power plant and energy storage facility, said that monitoring started immediately after the fire began.

He acknowledged the system failure, but added, “We don’t know what started this event yet.”

Church labeled the fire a “worst-case scenario of a disaster here,” and added that it is a “wake-up call for this industry.”

The fire at the Vistra Power Plant began about 3 p.m. Thursday and there have been no injuries or fatalities reported from the event.

Vistra and Pacific Gas and Electric/Tesla operate battery energy storage facilities at the Moss Landing power plant.

Smoke stems from the Vistra Battery Plant in Moss Landing Friday morning. (Kyarra Harris — Monterey Herald)

The Moss Landing power plant site has been producing energy by various means since 1950. It has the infrastructure and zoned land that makes it a prime location for battery energy storage systems. The energy storage facilities exist there after going through the public process and were approved by commissions and boards before construction and operation.

Vistra had incidents that occurred at its battery energy storage system Sept. 4, 2021 and Feb. 13, 2022. Pacific Gas and Electric/Tesla, also known as Elkhorn Battery Energy Storage System, had an incident Sept. 20, 2022.

Both Vistra incidents at its Moss Landing facility in 2021 and 2022 were caused by water leaks from its mitigation system. This led to grounding, arcing and localized smoke. Both events were contained to the site and did not impact air, water, soil, or nearby communities.

Legislation that was created in response to fire breaking out in 2022 at the Elkhorn Battery Energy Storage System facility at Moss Landing was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, 2023.

Senate Bill 38, authored by State Senator John Laird, D-Santa Cruz and co-authored by Assemblymember Dawn Adddis, D-Morro Bay, requires battery storage facilities to establish safety and communication protocols.

“If renewable energy is going to be the future, it really needs to rest on safe energy,” said Church.

Herald reporter Kyarra Harris contributed to this report.