Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 405
July 29, 2024
Local nonprofit receives $71 million grant to address climate change impacts
SEASIDE >> Cal State Monterey Bay will benefit from the Biden Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, a $575 million program aimed to ensure the coast is able to withstand various impacts of climate change.
As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration led a nationwide grant competition to award the funds. The California Marine Sanctuary Foundation secured $71.1 million to address the effects of flooding and wildfires in the Monterey Bay area. The grant is one of the largest in state history.
One of the focuses of the foundation’s effort is workforce development. CSUMB was chosen to receive $2 million to fund 45 paid internships for undergraduate students, six professional internships, teacher assistant positions as well as some scholarships. Hartnell College and UC Santa Cruz will also participate in the program.
Another $6 million was awarded to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve with funds earmarked to go to adapting marshes and transportation corridors to sea-level rise, climate training for local professionals and eucalyptus treatment and wildfire prevention.
“Thanks to this Administration’s commitment to investing in America, we’re going to continue to help underserved communities across the country develop and implement new strategies to protect themselves from flooding, storm surge, and extreme weather events,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo in a news release.
The foundation’s goal with this grant is to “build climate resilience for the Monterey Bay area’s low-lying, coastal communities threatened by sea level rise, storm surge, and flooding,” according to its website. The recent storms and floods that affected the San Lorenzo, Pajaro, Salinas and Carmel rivers were a big factor in determining what this grant would go toward.
“We were able to tell NOAA the story we wanted,” said California Marine Sanctuary Foundation spokesman Robert Mazurek. “Recent winter storms proved what our community has known for a really long time: that climate change is here and we need to be proactive.”
With the grant, the foundation will establish a revolving fund for a rapid response to urgent environmental needs in the community as well as fund other climate adaptation projects. Another element is the Monterey Bay Climate Adaptation Action Network, which will address future climate resilience projects.
A Pajaro resident salvages belongings from his flooded home on Saturday, March 11, 2023. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file)The foundation is working with 21 local partners and agencies to develop 10 projects they decided are the most urgent needs facing the community, according to Mazurek. Partners include the Monterey Bay Climate Justice Collaborative, Big Sur Land Trust, Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency and more.
“One of our strengths at CSUMB is we have a lot of hands-on learning,” said Gerick Bergsma, associate professor of marine science who will oversee the grant implementation. “Part of this grant supports that (learning) and skill-based coursework. It takes it to a whole other level when you take it to a real word application.”
“Workforce development and collaboration are one of the cornerstones of our proposal,” said Mazurek. “Climate change problems are going to most affect young people and we need to make sure that we have the leadership, the skills and the know-how for young people today to understand what the climate change risks are and grow to become leaders and address these risks.”
Bersgma anticipates students will work with the various partners to monitor water levels in rivers, analyze environmental data, rehabilitate local habitats and more.
“From my experience, taking part in programs like this helps you gain confidence in yourself and in the field,” said Nikki Gigliotti, a fourth-year environmental science major at CSUMB working with the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center and the Habitat Stewardship Project, a program that gets students involved with local habitat restoration.
“This grant aligns perfectly with our goal of helping students find their strength through hands-on experiences,” said CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones in a news release regarding the grant.
With the threats of coastal erosion, flooding and storm surges to the Central Coast, the program will “make our communities more resilient to climate change… and build capacity within our communities that might be affected,” said Bergsma.
“Knowing programs like this exist is reassuring because it shows that there are people who want us to succeed and are actively supporting us in doing so,” said Gigliotti. “Environmental conservation and restoration programs are so important because not only do they support and encourage people to get into the field, but they also benefit the communities that they are in by promoting a healthier environment and protecting the beautiful habitats around us.”
Seaside to appoint former city manager as its interim while search begins
SEASIDE – Former Seaside City Manager Craig Malin says “I’m happy to help Seaside any way I can,” as the City Council considers an executive employment agreement to hire him as the interim city manager.
Since April 18, Seaside has had Chief of Police Nicholas Borges serve as acting City Manager during the leave and ultimate termination of former City Manager Jaime Fontes after nearly two years of service. Fontes began working for Seaside after Malin resigned to spend more time with his family following COVID-19 and serving in his capacity with the city for more than five years.
The city gave direction to its staff last week to start the process of recruiting a new city manager, beginning with the request for proposals for an executive recruiter to fill the permanent position of city manager.
Once the executive contract is approved, the council can appoint Malin, who retired from service in California, as the interim city manager. California’s Government Code of Public Employee Retirement law limits both the number of hours and the compensation which may be paid to a retired annuitant.
The city manager position has a salary of $250,000 per year or $125 per hour, plus additional benefits, including but not limited to retirement, health, vacation, executive and sick leave. Malin can only work 960 hours in fiscal year 2024-2025 to perform city manager services and only during the recruitment process for a new city manager. According to the executive agreement, Malin would be in Seaside for 20-30 hours, he will attend meetings and will have flexibility as to how to handle his work schedule. It is anticipated that he will be in Seaside primarily on Thursday and Friday (and perhaps some Wednesdays), however, this schedule remains flexible.
Malin currently lives in Wisconsin and is the village administrator of Poynette, north of Madison. He will not receive any travel allowance or housing allowance as these benefits would violate the CalPERS rules. Malin will be allowed to work remotely.
“I’ll be splitting my time between Poynette and Seaside,” said Malin via text.
The plan is for Malin to both commute by air and telecommute by technology, while back in Wisconsin.
“I’ll be physically in Seaside Thursday through Saturday and available by Zoom, phone, etc. Monday through Wednesday,” he said.
Malin said he is confident he will be able to serve both communities during his time as interim city manager.
“It has been a real honor to work directly with each department within our city,” said Borges of handling his expanded role. Borges, who returns to his duties as police chief, said when he was given the additional duties the city was in “a challenging position.”
“It was budget season and our finance director had just resigned,” said Borges. “Even with a late start, our acting finance director stepped up in a big way and we were able to get our budget vetted and approved by City Council right on schedule.”
The acting city manager had some notable news and developments since he took on the role — such as having a boat mural go viral and make the national news. He also created the HIGH-5 program, Helping Improve Gardens and High weeds, as a way to help those not able to trim weeds on their property, as a way to be more community oriented instead of making the situation more difficult.
“Our staff really came together in so many ways and enhanced many things,” said Borges. “We included weekly training for all of our department heads during our meetings and we made numerous improvements throughout city hall to include placing large signs above city hall windows to present a more professional and efficient appearance. We also enhanced our conference room and made positive changes to our recruitment process to ensure we are competitive with surrounding agencies.”
Seaside Water Action Team, established under Borges, holds monthly meetings “to ensure the city has a structured and strategic effort as it relates to addressing water needs.”
Borges said that during his time, the city was able to hire numerous people in various departments, and that effort continues.
“We had some challenging times while I was up at City Hall, but we maintained a positive attitude and knew we would overcome anything that came our way,” said Borges. “As I return to the police department, I thank our police staff who all stepped up to keep us on track.”
Montage grant boosts Monterey Fire Department’s life support care
MONTEREY >> New equipment for the Monterey Fire Department will upgrade the department’s level of care, while providing enhancements to pre-hospital treatment.
Monterey Fire received a $100,000 grant from Montage Health that paid for two heart monitors and three CPR devices. This additional equipment will increase the department’s level of care from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support services according to the city in a press release.
“At the Monterey Fire Department, we strive to continually improve care through training and technology,” Monterey Fire Chief Andrew Miller said in the statement. “The expansion of (Advnaced Life Support) service, along with the implementation of the additional CPR devices, makes a significant positive impact to the residents and visitors we serve, and we thank Montage Health for making this possible with their generous donation.”
The Monterey Fire Department has been making a push to get new and upgraded equipment following a change in leadership.
The LifePak 15 Heart Monitors are the most expensive pieces of equipment and will allow firefighters to provide advanced life support while on the fire engine. In addition to basic diagnostic capabilities like monitoring blood pressure, oxygen, and the heart rate, the monitors can do basic and advanced cardiac monitoring.
The department already has one Lucas CPR device for Engine 15 in Carmel. The three new devices will be placed on Medic Engine 11, Medic Engine 12 and Medic Engine 13 in Monterey.
“Montage Health is grateful to enhance community health and safety through our partnership with the Monterey Fire Department,” Montage Health President and CEO Steven Packer said. “These devices provide a significant advancement in pre-hospital treatment, giving cardiac patients a better chance of survival. We are proud to support the firefighters and paramedics who serve our community every day.”
Ever see a star explode? You’re about to get a chance very soon
Noah Haggerty | (TNS) Los Angeles Times
Every clear night for the last three weeks, Bob Stephens has pointed his home telescope at the same two stars in hopes of witnessing one of the most violent events in the universe — a nova explosion a hundred thousand times brighter than the sun.
The eruption, which scientists say could happen any day now, has excited the interest of major observatories worldwide, and it promises to advance our understanding of turbulent binary star systems.
Yet for all the high-tech observational power that NASA and other scientific institutions can muster, astrophysicists are relying on countless amateur astronomers like Stephens to spot the explosion first.
The reason? It’s just too costly to keep their equipment focused on the same subject for months at a time.
“I think everyone will look at it while it happens, but sitting there just looking at it isn’t going to make it happen,” said Tom Meneghini, the director of telescope operations and executive director emeritus at the Mt. Wilson Observatory. “It’s like a watched pot,” he joked.
The star is so far away that it takes 3,000 years for its light to reach the Earth, meaning the explosion occurred before the last of the Egyptian pyramids were built. It will appear about as bright as the North Star for just a few days before fading into the darkness.
Once it’s spotted, some of the most advanced observatories on Earth and in space will join in watching, including NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
“A lot of people are eagerly waiting to spot the new jewel in the crown,” said Mansi Kasliwal, the Caltech astronomy professor who is planning to use the Palomar Observatory in northeast San Diego County to observe the event. The nova will erupt in the Corona Borealis, or Northern Crown, constellation.
T Coronae Borealis, also called the Blaze Star, is actually two stars — a hot, dense white dwarf, and a cooler red giant.
The dwarf star, which ran out of fuel long ago and collapsed to roughly the size of Earth, has been siphoning hydrogen gas from its larger neighbor for about a human lifetime.
This stolen gas has accumulated in a disk around the dwarf like a hot, messy version of Saturn’s rings. Soon, the disk will grow so heavy that it will become violent and unwieldy, and inevitably, explode like a thermonuclear bomb.
Neither star is destroyed however, and the process repeats itself roughly every 80 years.
This time around, there’s an army of enthusiasts like Stephens ready to sound the alarm when the star goes nova.
Far from mere hobbyists, a number of these amateur observers have published their own scientific research. Stephens even built his own observatory as an addition to his house in Rancho Cucamonga.
“The city thinks it’s a sunroom,” Stephens said. After the inspector stopped by, he removed the screws securing the roof, allowing him to roll it off to reveal the clear sky to his telescope.
Every night, he turns on the telescope and spends more than an hour taking data, which he later posts to an online community of amateur astronomers who monitor the star almost nonstop.
Major observatories simply cannot keep such constant watch. Hundreds of scientists compete for time to look at a wide range of astronomical targets every night. For them, keeping these telescopes glued to the Blaze Star is a waste of valuable observation time.
Estimates on when the nova will occur vary, but most astrophysicists agree it will happen before the end of the year, and likely by the end of August.
Once it blows, there are a few alert systems set up to notify amateurs and professionals. Some observatories have even programmed their telescopes to autonomously ditch their current observation plan and look at the star when the notification comes in, Stephens said.
Major observatories also face another complication. Many of their telescopes are designed to look at the faintest and dimmest targets, but the Blaze Star nova will be anything but faint. Pointing these telescopes at the nova would overwhelm sensors, resulting in a washed-out, overexposed picture.
That’s why Palomar Observatory, Caltech’s research station in north San Diego County, isn’t using its iconic 16-foot-wide Hale telescope under its massive white dome. Instead, it’s using a much smaller telescope, called Gattini-IR, located in a small unsuspecting brick building about a quarter mile down the road.
Once the nova happens, Gattini-IR will go from observing the Blaze Star every couple nights to every couple hours.
Scientists say they still have a lot to learn about novas. For example, physicists are still unsure why some erupt every decade while others likely don’t for millennia.
Some researchers suspect that novas like the Blaze Star could be precursors to supernovas. These explosions — billions of times brighter than the sun — destroy the star, often leaving behind a black hole. Supernovas are also a useful tool for astronomers to measure distance.
Studying similar events has already led to discoveries, however.
Recently, scientists determined that novas tend to fling material into space at faster speeds than what would be predicted based on the intensity of the explosion.
“We want to understand the physics of novae, so having a nova that’s as close as T Coronae Borelias, which will hopefully be very well studied by all telescopes … we can get a very full picture,” said Caltech professor Kasliwal.
Some of that understanding will be due in part to amateur astronomers.
Thanks to the rapid development of telescopes, amateurs are working with technology that professionals didn’t have just 20 years ago, let alone 80, said Forrest Sims, an amateur astronomer from Apache Junction, Ariz., who is also observing the star every clear night.
And the amateurs can achieve better coverage than the big telescopes because “we typically have complete control over when and where we can point [our telescopes],” said Sims. “A professional may have to write a grant to get a half hour or two hours time on a big telescope.”
That allows them to collect a lot of data. And with hundreds in the community observing from around the world, they can achieve almost continuous coverage of the Blaze Star. Many, including Sims and Stephens, post their data to the American Assn. of Variable Star Observers website, allowing everyone to use the data.
Stephens remembers reading a journal article from a professional who managed to observe five asteroids over two years. “I thought, I could do that in a month,” Stephens said. He went on to publish a paper with 10 observations.
One professor was so shocked by the number Stephens was able to see that she reached out and agreed to fly to Puerto Rico for an asteroid conference just to meet him. They ended up working together — Stephens had the telescopes; she had the connections in the field.
Today, amateur astronomers’ work is getting so sophisticated, many in the field have a hard time calling them amateurs.
“We call ourselves ‘small telescope scientists,’ ” said Sims. “It sounds more fun, and in some respects, professionals — and not even grudgingly — will admit that the work we’re doing is often professional caliber.”
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©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
What to watch at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30
Simone Biles leads the U.S. women into the gymnastics team final as part of an action-packed slate Tuesday at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Here is a guide of what to look out for:
Biles in gymnastics team final despite injuryThe 27-year-old Biles is in the lineup to compete in all four events of the team final despite a calf injury. Biles tweaked her left calf while warming up for floor exercise during qualifying on Sunday. She still topped the all-around with the highest scores on floor and vault.
Simone Biles of United States, has her ankle taped after competing on the uneven bars during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)Competition begins at 6:15 p.m. CEST (12:15 p.m. EST) at Bercy Arena. The Americans are favored to win gold after finishing runner-up to Russia in 2021.
Biles’ teammate Jordan Chiles also will compete in all four events. Chiles finished fourth in the all-around during qualifying behind Biles, Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade and 2020 Olympic champion Sunisa Lee.
U.S. women start defense of 3×3 basketball titleThe U.S. women begin defense of their 2021 Olympic title in 3×3 basketball when the competition begins Tuesday. Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard of the WNBA join Hailey Van Lith, a college basketball player at Texas Christian University, and former WNBA player Cierra Burdick on the team. They will face Germany at 5:30 p.m. CEST (11 a.m. EST) at La Concorde.
Later, the U.S. 3×3 men’s team will take on Serbia. The U.S. men did not qualify for the Olympics in 2021.
Katie Ledecky back in pool, swimming finals continueLedecky is back in the pool to compete in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle, one of her signature events. The qualifying heats start at 11:44 a.m. CEST (5:44 a.m. EST) at Paris La Defense Arena. Ledecky is the world and Olympic record holder in the event and is a favorite to defend her 2021 title.
Gold medalist Ariarne Titmus, of Australia, middle, stands with silver medalist Summer McIntosh, of Canada, right, and bronze medalist Katie Ledecky, of the United States, after winning the women’s 400-meters freestyle final the at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)The women’s 100 backstroke final will take place at 8:56 p.m. CEST (2:56 p.m. EST). That’ll be followed by the men’s 800 free final. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen qualified in first place in the heats at 7:41.53.
The last swimming final Tuesday is the men’s 4×200 free relay at 10:01 p.m. CEST (4 p.m. EST).
Related ArticlesOlympics | Paris Olympics Day 3: Nadal loses in what is likely his final singles match of storied career Olympics | Paris Olympics: Here’s what’s on TV on Tuesday, July 30 Olympics | A record 191 openly LGBTQ+ athletes are competing in the 2024 Olympics Olympics | Here’s a look at the uniqueness of the Paris 2024 Olympic medals Olympics | Simone Biles to compete on all four events at Olympic team finals despite calf injury Gold in women’s rugby sevensThe gold and bronze medal matches for women’s rugby sevens add to the excitement of Tuesday’s slate. The bronze match at Stade de France will start at 7 p.m. CEST (1 p.m. EST), followed by the gold medal match at 7:45 p.m.
New Zealand, the defending champion, was set to take on China in a quarterfinal Monday night. Britain and the United States were to begin their quarterfinal match Monday at 9:30 p.m. CEST (3:30 p.m. EST). And Tokyo runner-up France was scheduled to face Canada at 10 p.m.
Top 10 historic small towns in the US, from Arizona to Rhode Island
It’s always fun to browse USA Today’s 10Best lists, which rank everything from resorts to festivals to winery tours, chosen by travel experts then voted on by readers. (Voting on that last one is underway right now, by the way, and includes Glen Ellen’s Benziger Family Winery, Sonoma’s Buena Vista, Cline Family Cellars and Donum Estate, among others. You know what to do — go do it here: https://10best.usatoday.com.)
They recently featured readers’ takes on the top 10 historic small towns in the U.S., a list that includes Winterset, Iowa (No. 10 on the list), the county seat of Madison County which is known for its covered bridges — as in the 1995 movie, “The Bridges of Madison County.”
Arizona’s Winslow takes the No. 6 spot not only for its place in pop culture — cue the Eagles’ “Take It Easy” — and setting on historic Route 66, but for its Anasazi history. And 17th century architecture rules supreme in Wickford, Rhode Island, which holds the No. 2 ranking.
Take a peek at the list below, then check out the full story, complete with photos and snippets of history, at https://10best.usatoday.com.
1 Ludington, Michigan
2 Wickford, Rhode Island
3 Abilene, Kansas
4 Ruston, Louisiana
5 San Elizario, Texas
6 Winslow, Arizona
7 Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
8 Cumberland, Maryland
9 Jonesborough, Tennessee
10 Winterset, Iowa
Recipes: Here are 3 ways to make Sangria for your next summer gathering
Sangria, that inviting warm-weather pitcher drink, can be the cornerstone of casual summer gatherings. With my first sip of Sangria, I became an enthusiast. It was decades ago, in a sunny garden at the Hotel Ritz in the heart of Spain’s capital city of Madrid, that I first downed the blood-red libation.
Every drop of the chilly, wine-based concoction was consumed with post-siesta vigor; a combo of fruit juice, and cut-up fruit teamed with the wine, plus something effervescent and a smidgen of liqueur or brandy.
I’d always assumed that the stirred-in-a-pitcher drink originated in Spain. But many sources trace its origins to the Caribbean as far back as the 17th century, noting that it became the national iced drink of Spain in the 20th century.
It’s such a host-friendly libation. Having a pitcher of sangria ready when your guests arrive eliminates last-minute cocktail chores. The bubbly element and ice can be added just before serving.
Here are recipes for some of my favorites:
Summertime Sangria is made with wine, water, sugar, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, strawberries and orange slices. (Photo by Nick Koon, Orange County Register/SCNG)Summertime SangriaA glass of sangria on a hot day is such a refreshing treat. This version is a classic combination of red wine and sparkling water augmented with plenty of tasty fresh berries and stone fruit. Salted almonds are an appealing accompaniment, as are Pepper Spiced Candied Pecans (recipe included).
Yield: 10 servings
INGREDIENTS6 tablespoons water
5 tablespoons sugar
1 cup blackberries
1 cup blueberries
1 cup pitted cherries
1 cup diced, pitted peaches
1 orange, unpeeled, cut in half lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch slices
10 medium strawberries, hulled, quartered lengthwise
5 cups dry red wine
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup orange liqueur
Ice
1 1/2 cups sparkling water
DIRECTIONS1. Prepare sugar syrup: Place water and sugar in small saucepan and bring to boil on high heat and stir. Lower heat to medium and simmer until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool.
2. In large pitcher, combine fruit, wine, orange juice, liqueur and cooled sugar syrup. Gently stir. Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 5 hours.
3. To serve, place several ice cubes in each of 10 glasses. Use slotted spoon to remove most of fruit from pitcher and add about 1/3 cup of fruit mixture to each glass. Add sparkling water to wine mixture in pitcher and gently stir; pour over fruit and ice in glasses. Serve.
Source: “Melissa’s Everyday Cooking with Organic Produce” by Cathy Thomas (Wiley)
Pepper Spiced Candied Pecans are an ideal snack to serve to accompany sangria. (Photo by Cathy Thomas)Pepper Spiced Candied PecansThese candied pecans are quick and easy to prepare. Medium-coarse ground black pepper teams with kosher salt and sugar to give the nuts a tempting edge, especially when teamed with a chilly glass of fruit-amped sangria.
Yield: 1 1/2 cups
INGREDIENTS1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon medium-coarse ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
DIRECTIONS1. In a small bowl combine the sugar, salt, and pepper, stirring to blend well. Set aside next to stove. Set a rimmed sheet pan next to stove.
2. Heat a large deep skillet or wok over high heat until it is hot. Add the pecans and heat the pecans, about 1 minute, occasionally tossing or stirring. Sprinkle half of the sugar mixture and shake pan or stir frequently until sugar melts, about 1 minute. Add the remaining sugar mixture and shake pan or stir until sugar melts. Immediately turn out onto the baking sheet. Spread nuts out and cool completely. Store cooled nuts well sealed.
White SangriaThis robust, sweet-tart sangria shows off white wine rather than red. The recipe was developed at America’s Test Kitchen where the chefs suggested that the sangria is better when made with a cheap white wine, such as an inexpensive Pinot Grigio or un-oaked Chardonnay.
Yield: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS2 large juice oranges, 1 cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices, 1 juiced
1 large lemon, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Triple Sec
1 (750-ml.) bottle fruity white wine (medium-bodied), chilled (see above note)
Ice
Cook’s notes: The longer this sangria sits before drinking, the smoother and more mellow it will taste. A full day is best, but if that’s impossible, give it an absolute minimum of 2 hours to sit. Use large, heavy, juicy oranges and lemons for the best flavor. Doubling or tripling the recipe is fine, but you’ll have to switch to a large punch bowl in place of the pitcher.
DIRECTIONS1. Add orange and lemon slices and sugar to large pitcher; mash gently with wooden spoon until sugar dissolves and fruit releases some juice but is not completely crushed, about 1 minute. Stir in orange juice, orange liqueur, and wine; refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 8 hours.
2. Before serving, add ice cubes and stir briskly to redistribute settled fruit and pulp; serve immediately.
Source: Courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen, All Rights Reserved
Ina Garten’s Rosé Sangria augments the usual ingredients with pomegranate juice. (Photo by Getty Images)Ina Garten’s Rosé SangriaIna Garten’s Rosé Sangria augments the mix with 100% pomegranate juice from Pom Wonderful. It’s a luscious combination, but it gets even better when orange liqueur and either brandy or Cognac are added. She limits the fruit to fresh berries and plums, but I like to also add a sliced orange. The choice is yours.
INGREDIENTS1 (750 ml) bottle good rosé wine
1/2 cup pomegranate juice, such as Pom Wonderful
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
1/4 cup superfine sugar
3 tablespoons Grand Marnier
1 tablespoon Cognac or brandy
Water and ice, plus extra ice for serving
1/2 cup fresh raspberries
8 large fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
2 red plums, pitted and sliced 1/4 inch thick
Optional: 1 orange, sliced, each slice cut into quarters
DIRECTIONS1. Combine the rosé, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, sugar, Grand Marnier, Cognac or brandy, 1 cup of water, and 1 cup of ice in a large glass pitcher. Stir in the raspberries, strawberries, plums, and orange (if using). Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
When ready to serve, fill wine goblets or highball glasses halfway with ice. Pour the sangria over the ice, spooning some of the macerated fruit into each glass. Serve ice cold.
Source: Adapted from “Make It Ahead” by Ina Garten (Clarkson Potter)
Award-winning food writer Cathy Thomas has written three cookbooks, including “50 Best Plants on the Planet.” Follow her at @CathyThomas Cooks.com
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CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Munro Chambers, 34; Jason Belmonte, 41; Josh Radnor, 50; Martina McBride, 58.
Happy Birthday: You can lighten your burden if you keep things moving this year. Use your energy and intellect to recognize what’s no longer essential in your life and to get rid of dead weight. It’s time to find comfort in making yourself happy. Don’t risk your health or emotional well-being when the objective is to heal your mind, body and soul. Your numbers are 6, 13, 21, 25, 32, 43, 46.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): When in doubt, be resourceful. Go directly to the source, and trust and believe in yourself. A chance to make an upward move looks inviting. Please don’t wait until it’s too late. Stay focused, explore the facts and proceed with enthusiasm. Self-improvement and personal growth are favored. 4 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Trust your intuition when dealing with people and situations that can impact your personal life. Protect your home, possessions and family from outside influences. Don’t let anger set in or hinder you from doing what’s best. Discipline will spare you from making a poor decision. 3 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): You’ll gain momentum once you start. What you accomplish will offer insight into what’s possible. Don’t settle for less when you can have so much more. Refrain from overthinking or overanalyzing a time-sensitive situation. A professional change requires attention. Implement anger management. 3 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Weigh the pros and cons of a situation that can influence your financial security. Acting in haste isn’t in your best interest. By paying attention to detail and looking for other options, you will alleviate undue stress and potential loss. A partnership is worth considering. 4 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Protect your reputation. Refuse to let anyone antagonize or bait you into an argument or no-win situation. Seek freedom and peace of mind by concentrating on what you want to accomplish and being grateful for what you have. Follow your heart, not the crowd. 2 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take the necessary precautions, and research before you decide to spend, move or put faith in something you know little about. Decide what you want and how to reach your destination with minimal stress. Think before you act. 5 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A positive attitude will help broaden your scope of possibilities. Set a budget and implement changes to ensure substantial improvements without damage. A move that allows lower overhead, convenience or other benefits will provide new prospects and peace of mind. 3 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Connect with people who make you think and offer insight into what’s possible. Consider what matters to you and how you can impact the outcome of a situation you face at work or in your relationships. Monitor situations, and evaluate the emotional and financial costs. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Keep busy and avoid getting trapped by someone looking for a fight. Make physical contributions your thing, which will speak volumes about your character. Less talk and more action will support your reputation and deter others from trying to manipulate or take advantage of you. 3 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Talk less and act more to accomplish your goals. When discussing matters affecting your character or relationships, put your emotions on the shelf. Observation will help you gain insight into what others are experiencing and how you can achieve the best outcome. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Shimmy your way toward what puts a smile on your face. Engage in events or activities that boost your adrenaline to fulfill your emotional needs. Try to reduce what bugs you and implement what makes you happy. Choose peace and love over aggressive action and confrontation. 5 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Choose your words and actions carefully. You can easily trigger an argument if you aren’t careful. Focus on what you can accomplish without the support and help of outsiders. Avoid situations that cause uncertainty. 2 stars
Birthday Baby: You are enthusiastic, playful and resourceful. You are helpful and generous.
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.
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July 28, 2024
Paris Olympics: Here’s what’s on TV on Monday
Here is the Paris Olympics TV schedule for Monday, July 29, 2024.
Highlights include the U.S. women’s water polo team vs. Spain (4 p.m., USA), the U.S. women’s basketball team vs. Japan (11:45 a.m., USA) and in swimming, the women’s 400 meter IM (11:30 a.m., NBC).
ARCHERY10 a.m.
USA — Men’s Team: Bronze, Gold FinalsBADMINTON1 a.m.
E! — Group Play: Singles, DoublesBASKETBALL11:45 a.m.
USA — Women’s Group C: USA vs. JapanNoon
UNIVERSO — BasketballBEACH VOLLEYBALL11 p.m.
USA — Pool PlayMidnight
USA — Pool Play3 a.m.
TELEMUNDO — Beach volleyball and diving3:15 a.m.
E! — Pool Play7 a.m.
E! — Pool Play10 a.m.
E! — Pool Play1 p.m.
NBC — Pool Play2 p.m.
USA — Pool PlayCANOEING8 a.m.
E! — Slalom: Men’s Canoe Semi, Final5 p.m.
USA — Slalom: Men’s Canoe Semi, FinalCYCLING5:45 a.m.
USA — Men’s Mountain BikeDIVING2 a.m.
E! — Diving, Rowing3 a.m.
TELEMUNDO — Beach volleyball and diving8 p.m.
NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 29)EQUESTRIAN4 a.m.
E! — Eventing: Jumping Team, Individual6 p.m.
USA — Eventing: JumpingFENCING9:15 a.m.
E! — Women’s Sabre & Men’s Foil Eliminations2 p.m.
E! — Women’s Sabre & Men’s Foil Bronze/Gold FinalsFIELD HOCKEY4 a.m.
USA — Women’s Pool B: Spain vs. USAGOLF3 a.m.
GOLF — Golf Central – Paris PreviewGYMNASTICS9 a.m.
UNIVERSO — Gymnastics and swimming8 p.m.
NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 29)HANDBALL3 p.m.
USA — Men’s Group PlayROWING2 a.m.
E! — Diving, Rowing10:45 a.m.
USA — Rowing, ShootingRUGBY6:30 a.m.
USA — Water Polo, Rugby12:15 p.m.
E! — Women’s QuarterfinalsSHOOTING10 a.m.
USA — Men’s Team: Bronze, Gold Finals10:45 a.m.
USA — Rowing, ShootingSOCCER9 p.m.
USA — Women’s Group B: USA vs. GermanySWIMMING2 a.m.
USA — Heats: Men’s 800m Free & more7 a.m.
TELEMUNDO — Swimming and volleyball9 a.m.
UNIVERSO — Gymnastics and swimming11:30 a.m.
NBC — Finals: Women’s 400m IM & more8 p.m.
NBC — Primetime in Paris (July 29)TABLE TENNIS1 a.m.
USA — M&W Singles: Round of 64VOLLEYBALL7 a.m.
TELEMUNDO — Swimming and volleyball8 a.m.
USA — Women’s Pool Play2 p.m.
NBC — Women’s Pool Play8 p.m.
USA — Women’s Pool PlayWATER POLO6:30 a.m.
USA — Water Polo, Rugby11 a.m.
E! — Women’s Group: Hungary vs. Canada4 p.m.
USA — Women’s Pool B: Spain vs. USAWhat to watch at the Paris Olympics on Monday, July 29
Monday’s slate for the Paris Olympics includes a blockbuster tennis match, a handful of the world’s biggest basketball stars, a couple of compelling swimming finals and a gymnastics showdown. Here’s a guide of what to look out for:
Nadal faces Djokovic at Roland GarrosThe biggest highlight of the Roland Garros schedule is Rafael Nadal taking on Novak Djokovic in the second match of the day on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is the 60th meeting of the longtime tennis rivals, more than any other two men have played against each other in the sport’s Open era, which began in 1968.
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Cheered on by an adoring crowd, Nadal beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in the first round Sunday. Nadal made a last-minute decision to remain in the singles bracket, a day after he won in doubles and said he wasn’t sure if he would participate in both events.
Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also play on Monday.
China and Japan set up for exciting final in men’s gymnasticsThe men’s gymnastics team final starts at 5:30 p.m. CEST (11:30 a.m. EST). China and Japan rolled through qualifying on Saturday. China is the favorite to win its fourth Olympic team title after posting a total of 263.028 at qualifying. Japan is a seven-time Olympic champion and finished second at 260.594. Japan’s Daiki Hashimoto will defend his all-around title.
The Japanese won silver in Tokyo in 2021, while China took bronze. Defending champion Russia is ineligible due to the war in Ukraine.
Team USA women’s basketball begins quest for 8th straight goldThe U.S. women’s basketball team opens its pursuit of a record eighth straight gold medal. Team USA will face Japan at 9 p.m. CEST (3 p.m. EST) at Pierre Mauroy Stadium. The U.S. women are on a 55-game Olympic winning streak; they haven’t lost since 1992 in Barcelona. Japan took silver in Tokyo after losing to the U.S. 90-75.
United States’ Breanna Stewart, left, drives around Germany’s Leonie Fiebich during a women’s exhibition basketball game between the United States and Germany at the O2 Arena in London, Tuesday, July 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)The U.S. team is led by two-time WNBA MVPs A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Five-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi returns for her sixth Games.
Also, host France will take on Canada at 5:15 p.m. CEST (11:15 a.m. EST).
Swimming heats upThe women’s 400-meter individual medley final begins at 8:30 p.m. CEST (2:30 p.m. EST) at Paris La Defense Arena. Canada’s Summer McIntosh is a favorite after lowering her own world record (4:24.38) at the Canadian Olympic trials in May. Qualifying heats start at 11 a.m. CEST (5 a.m. EST).
Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes during a heat in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)McIntosh also will compete in the women’s 200 freestyle at 9:41 p.m. CEST (3:41 p.m. EST), the last swimming final of the night. McIntosh won her country’s first medal of the Paris Olympics when she beat out the U.S.’s Katie Ledecky for silver in the 400 freestyle Saturday night.
For the men, the 200-freestyle final starts at 8:40 p.m. CEST (2:40 p.m. EST), followed by the men’s 100 backstroke final at 9:19 p.m. CEST (3:19 p.m. EST).
Other finals around the OlympicsBritain’s Tom Daley will attempt to defend his men’s 10-meter synchronized diving title with partner Noah Williams. Competition is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. CEST (5 a.m. EST) at the Aquatics Centre.
