Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 449
June 14, 2024
Celebrating the women who saved Monterey Bay
MONTEREY >> The Democratic Women of Monterey County will be highlighting decades of work that have gone into restoring Monterey Bay’s ocean ecosystems after their decline in the 19th and 20th centuries in a luncheon later this month.
The talk will be hosted by speakers Stephen Palumbi and Fionenza Micheli. It will focus on community leaders and scientists who helped to make the restoration of Monterey Bay a success story, including:
• Julia Platt, the former mayor of Pacific Grove and doctor of marine zoology. She turned the City Council’s energy toward saving the bay by requesting a burial at sea when she died in 1935, highlighting a bay in need of help. Platt also created two marine parks that protected the life of the coastline, both a political and biological milestone.
• Frances Clark, a marine biologist who ran the California State Fisheries Laboratory from 1941-1956. She focused her work on saving sardines and earned worldwide acclaim as a marine scientist.
• Isabella Abbott, known on the Peninsula in the 1960s and ’70s as the “Seaweed Lady,” wrote over 150 papers and eight books on sea algae. She was also the first woman and minority professor in Stanford University Biology Department. Abbott was also the first Kamehameha graduate and the first native Hawaiian to receive a doctorate in science.
• Julie Packard, a Monterey Bay Aquarium co-founder and executive director since the aquarium opened in 1984. Packard is an international leader in the field of ocean conservation. She has served on many boards and committees related to conservation, including being chair of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute board of directors.
• Nancy Burnett, who is is one of the founders of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. She has helped make the linkage between forest protection and climate, which resulted in the Climate and Land Use Alliance and was a former member of The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Board of Trustees.
• Violet Sage Walker, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council chairwoman and proposer of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which would neighbor the south border of the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary.
Palumbi, the former director of the Hopkins Marine Lab, is currently the Jane and Marshal Steel Jr. professor of marine sciences and professor of oceans and of biology at Hopkins Marine Station – Stanford University. He has authored multiple books, including “Death and Life of Monterey Bay: A Story of Revival,” which was written with Carolyn Sotka and has lectured on things including human-induced evolutionary change. Currently, he is developing genomic methods to help find ocean species resistant to climate change.
Micheli is Chair of the Ocean Department, co-director of Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions, and a marine ecologist at the Hopkins Marine Station, where she is the David and Lucile Packard professor of Marine Science. Her research centers around the processes that shape marine communities and coastal social-ecological systems.
The luncheon will be June 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on 1000 Aguajito Road, Monterey. Reservations can be made online at https://dw-mc.org/events/2024/6/27/the-women-who-saved-monterey-bay or checks can be sent to DWMC, P.O. Box 408, Monterey, CA 93942. It is $40 for members, $45 for non-members and $25 for students and low-income individuals. All reservations must be received by June 25 in order to attend.
Lighthouse superlatives: Exploring Florida’s oldest, tallest and most haunted lights
The word “lighthouse” probably conjures images of idyllic beachside scenes or historic postcards that invoke a certain sense of nostalgia. They might be seen as beacons of hope to guide those in need during challenging or stormy conditions.
Every lighthouse has a story involving keepers, their families, pets and a lifestyle that could sometimes prove hard and solitary. At several lighthouses, such as Ponce Inlet and St. Augustine, it’s possible to tour keepers’ houses to be transported into the past with a simpler way of life. Other exhibits focus on Fresnel lenses, shipwrecks or the evolution of lamps from oil to electric.
While many lighthouses have been automated, eliminating the need for a full-time keeper, these historic structures serve as time capsules that take visitors into the pages of Florida history. Along different stretches of coastline, it’s possible to climb the state’s tallest lighthouse or its most haunted tower or even to stay overnight in a New England-style replica built in the 1980s.
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is Florida’s tallest, standing at 175 feet tall. The tower and grounds are open daily for visitors who can explore the museum’s exhibits and informational displays. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Tallest: Ponce Inlet LighthouseWhile Florida doesn’t offer mountaintop vistas and overlooks from atop high cliffs, it does have a 175-foot lighthouse at Ponce Inlet, providing visitors who climb its 203 steps with a 360-degree view of the Halifax River, the Atlantic Ocean and nearby Smyrna Dunes Park. In 1835, a 45-foot tower was constructed on the south side of what was then known as Mosquito Inlet, but it collapsed into the sea in April 1836 following strong storms. The current lighthouse, now a national historic landmark, was completed in 1887 and cost nearly $200,000 with a first-order Fresnel lens.
Modern-day guests can witness this still-working lighthouse (which now uses a third-order Fresnel lens) constructed of 1.25 million bricks and wander between three original keepers’ homes, a lens exhibit building, an oil storage building and a pump house.
It’s 203 steps up to the gallery deck at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest, standing at 175 feet. The tower and grounds are open daily for visitors. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)If you go: The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse & Museum is open daily at 10 a.m., closing hours vary by the season (6 p.m. through May 24, then 9 p.m. May 25-Sept. 2) at 4931 South Peninsula Drive in Ponce Inlet. Admission costs $6.95 per adult and $1.95 per child aged 3-11 (free for infants). Pets are not allowed except for service animals. More information: ponceinlet.org
The Amelia Island Lighthouse is Florida’s oldest existing lighthouse. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Oldest: Amelia Island LighthouseIt might not tower over the landscape (at only 67 feet tall) or appear particularly impressive at first glance, but the Amelia Island Lighthouse has a few unique claims of fame. In addition to being the Sunshine State’s oldest existing lighthouse, it’s also the westernmost lighthouse on the east coast of the United States. When the lantern was taken down from Cumberland Island, moved to Amelia Island and illuminated in 1839, Florida wasn’t yet a state.
The lighthouse isn’t open for visitors to climb, but tours are available on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. In addition, the surrounding property is open for public viewing on Saturdays.
If you go: The Amelia Island Lighthouse grounds are open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays, with tours available on select dates for $10 per adult and $5 per child at 215 O’Hagan Lane in Fernandina Beach. Views of the lighthouse are also available from nearby Fort Clinch State Park. More information: fbfl.us
The St. Augustine Lighthouse glows in the nighttime as seen from Anastasia State Park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Most Haunted: St. Augustine LighthouseAmerica’s oldest city, which celebrated its 450th anniversary several years ago, has a storied past that includes Indigenous people, Spanish colonists and a brief British occupation. Long before the current St. Augustine Lighthouse was constructed, a Spanish watchtower sat closer to the ocean, evolving to meet security and navigation needs. When it became evident that the first lighthouse tower was doomed to fall into the sea, a new 165-foot tower was constructed beginning in 1871. It remains as St. Augustine’s first and oldest surviving brick structure.
Though the tower and keepers’ house have received major restoration work in recent decades, the tower modern-day guests can climb is the same one that has stood for nearly 150 years. With such a long history, there are rumored to be ghosts of young sisters who died on the property and the spirit of a keeper who fell to his death while painting the outside of the tower. Try to spot these spirits who haunt the grounds during nighttime ghost tours.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is open for visitors daily. Guests can opt to climb 219 steps to the top observation deck to see a first-order Fresnel lens that stands 9 feet tall. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)If you go: The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at 100 Red Cox Drive in St. Augustine. The grounds also include museum exhibits in four historic structures, a children’s play area and Heritage Boatworks, where volunteer boatwrights build small craft using historic techniques. Admission is $14.95 per adult and $12.95 for seniors ages 60 and older and children younger than 12 (who must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the tower). Tours cost extra. Animals are welcome on the grounds but not in the historic buildings. More information: staugustinelighthouse.org
Unique Overnight: Katie’s LightWhile most lighthouses give daytime visitors a glimpse into what life was like for keepers living and working in the 19th and 20th centuries, one gives guests the chance to stay overnight on Amelia Island. Katie’s Light, named for the deceased daughter of hoteliers David and Susan Caples, is a 1980s replica of Maryland’s Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. Beth Anne Caples, the couple’s other daughter, and her husband, William Kaner, gave the vacation rental property a facelift in recent years but stuck to the historic, seafaring character of the house. Though prices vary, it costs an average of $783 per night to stay in this three-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom beachfront abode, complete with a wrap-around deck and a central spiral staircase inside.
If you go: Visit katieslight.com to find booking links on Airbnb and Vrbo for the property in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.
Aerial photos from March 1, 2023, show Sanibel Island five months after Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in late September 2022. While the Sanibel Lighthouse lost a leg in the storm, it has since received a new one and is undergoing exterior restoration work. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Most Resilient: Sanibel LighthouseHurricane Ian, which ravaged the coast of Southwest Florida in September 2022, is forever etched into the minds of Sanibel Island’s residents and the community’s collective history. In a remarkable show of resilience, the Sanibel Lighthouse lost a leg during the catastrophic storm but remained standing, shining once again five months after the storm. Though the surrounding keepers’ cottages and buildings were leveled in Ian’s rage, the lighthouse now has a new leg and is undergoing a restoration project with a new exterior paint job.
If you go: Lighthouse Beach Park on the southern tip of Sanibel Island is open from dawn to dusk daily. Parking is $5 per hour. The lighthouse tower is not open to the public for climbing or tours.
Best Comeback: Alligator Reef LighthouseThough Alligator Reef might sound like a menacing place to pull up on a boat for lunch, it’s situated in the Florida Keys where there aren’t many alligators. The lighthouse is named after the USS Alligator, a U.S. Navy schooner that ran aground on the reef in 1822 and sank. The lighthouse was dark for about 10 years and then illuminated again in 2023 with solar-powered lights as an Islamorada community group is spending $6 million on a restoration and preservation project.
If you go: The Alligator Reef Lighthouse is located about five nautical miles off the coast of Islamorada and is only accessible by boat.
A restored lighthouse built in 1887 is the main focal point at Anclote Key Preserve State Park. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Off-grid Oasis: Anclote Key LighthouseThis national historic landmark is situated a few miles west of Tarpon Springs on state park land along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Although the lighthouse was battered by Hurricane Idalia, which tore through the Big Bend region of the state in late August 2023, it recently received an $800,000 facelift, including a fresh coat of paint inside and out. The cast iron structure with a supportive exoskeleton was constructed similarly to the Sanibel Lighthouse. An off-grid residence sits just north of the tower where a ranger lives full-time and uses reverse osmosis to make freshwater from saltwater. The lighthouse is solar-powered.
If you go: The Anclote Key lighthouse, situated about three miles west of Tarpon Springs on the Gulf Coast, has open houses for visitors to climb the tower during the second weekend of each month November-May (not during summer months). Boaters can see the lighthouse and visit the island, which has no amenities, from dawn to dusk daily. Primitive camping is available on the north end of Anclote Key. Alcohol and dogs are prohibited on the island; shoes are encouraged. More information: anclotecso.org or floridastateparks.org
A stroller walks by the Mount Dora Lighthouse as the sun sets on Lake Dora in Mount Dora. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Most Inland: Mount Dora LighthouseVisitors to Mount Dora, a quaint Central Florida city with plenty of small-town charm, might be surprised to see a lighthouse so far from the coast. At Grantham Point Park, next to the Mount Dora Marina, take a walk around the 35-foot lighthouse and Florida’s only inland navigation aid. It illuminates at night to help boaters on Lake Dora after dusk.
If you go: Grantham Point Park or “Lighthouse Park” is open daily at 311 S. Tremain St. in Mount Dora. More information: whattodoinmtdora.com
Rain clouds skirt the coast at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a media open house March 3, 2021. The lighthouse is open to public tours on select dates by appointment for U.S. citizens only due to its ownership by the U.S. Space Force. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)Citizens Only: Cape CanaveralOwned by the United States Space Force and maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse has stood for more than 150 years, now located on an active military installation. Canaveral Tours offers shuttles to the lighthouse and tours since visitors cannot drive their vehicles onto the base. Only U.S. citizens who go through security clearances are allowed access to the lighthouse due to Department of Defense restrictions.
If you go: Visit canaverallight.org for more visitor information.
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
The St. Marks Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on Florida’s Gulf Coast located in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel)Other Florida Lighthouses Open to the Public (From the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast)Pensacola LighthouseCape San Blas LighthouseCape St. George LightCrooked River LighthouseSt. Marks LighthouseCedar Key (Seahorse Key) LighthousePort Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island) LighthouseKey West LighthouseCape Florida (Key Biscayne) LighthouseJupiter Inlet Lighthouse
The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum are open daily. One building houses Fresnel lenses in an informational exhibit. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Lighthouse 101In the late 1800s and early 1900s, lighthouse keepers were responsible for hauling 40 lbs. of kerosene or whale oil up to the top of the tower each evening. Keepers would also be responsible for cleaning the lens, lamp and tower, plus managing every aspect of the light station. This could include first aid, repairs, tending buoys and daily logs of activities.Iron braziers and candle chandeliers were once used to illuminate lighthouses before oil lamps and reflectors were implemented to amplify the light output.In 1814, French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel made a breakthrough in lighthouse illumination by pioneering a lens that used glass prisms to focus rays of light to shine in a specific direction. These are classified from first-order through sixth-order, from largest to smallest. First-order lenses can stand 10-11 feet tall and cast light that can be seen for up to 22 nautical miles.In 1789, the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment was created to allow for federal oversight of aids to navigation. In 1852, U.S. Congress passed legislation to create a U.S. Lighthouse Board to modernize lighthouses with Fresnel lenses and standardized procedures. By 1910, there were 11,713 aids to navigation of all types in the country, during the same year when the Bureau of Lighthouses was created and operated as the U.S. Lighthouse Service.A “daymark” refers to a unique paint pattern on each lighthouse tower to help identify one’s location on the coast. A “nightmark” is a distinctive flash pattern of the light at night.Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
Why you should consider train travel in Europe
By Elina Geller | NerdWallet
If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Europe this summer and eating gelato in Italy or visiting the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Spain, good news: Airfare is down 8% compared to this time last year, according to Hopper’s 2024 Summer Travel Outlook.
And once you’re in Europe, you may be able to save money if you travel by train. Traveling by train in Europe is convenient and sustainable. Plus, some trains, like the Glacier Express in Switzerland, are designed to travel through scenic destinations so you can sightsee while you relax.
If you’re considering incorporating train travel into your European itinerary, here’s what you need to know about getting around and how to save money on tickets.
Train system in EuropeThere are several train companies in Europe. Some only offer regional train service, while others offer trains between countries. As you plan your trip, familiarize yourself with the train companies that serve your intended destination so you can determine if traveling by train makes sense for you.
Here are some train companies that serve different countries in Europe:
Eurostar trains travel between the U.K., France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. (Although the U.K. is not in Europe, it’s a popular destination on its own and often coupled with a European itinerary.)NS is the leading train company in the Netherlands.Renfe is the national train company in Spain.Deutsche Bahn (DB) offers long-distance and regional trains in Germany.SNCF Connect offers high-speed train travel in France.Trenitalia is the state-run train company in Italy.Glacier Express offers scenic trains within Switzerland.Some of these train companies have partnerships with each other to offer convenient connection options. For example, DB-SNCF is a joint venture between DB and SNCF that links travel between Germany and France.
Booking train travel in EuropeBuying train tickets in Europe is fairly straightforward. You can purchase your tickets through:
An online travel agency (OTA): Several OTAs that sell train tickets in Europe include Trainline, Rail Europe, Eurail and Omio.The train company: If you know which train company serves your destinations, consider booking directly on the train company’s website in case you need make any changes, since booking travel through an OTA adds an extra layer of complexity.At the train station: If you don’t know (or plan) your schedule in advance, you can purchase a ticket at the train station. Keep in mind purchasing at the train station is running a risk that the train time you want might be sold out, or more expensive, since it’s a last-minute purchase.
A train of the Harzer Schmalspurbahn (Harz narrow gauge train) makes its way through the snowy landscape at the Brocken mountain near Schierke in the Harz region, central Germany, on February 6, 2018. (KLAUS-DIETMAR GABBERT/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)3 ways to make your European train fare cheaperDepending on when and where you buy your tickets, there are a few ways to save money on train travel within Europe.
1. Comparison shopIf the train company and an OTA offer tickets, compare prices to see where those seats are cheaper. We searched for a train from Paris to Amsterdam in August 2024 on the Eurostar site and on Trainline to see which option is cheaper.
If you pay in euros, tickets on Eurostar and Trainline are the same price (60 euros). But if you pay in U.S. dollars, the fare is slightly cheaper on Trainline ($68.30 versus $70). If you don’t have a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, you’d want to book the ticket from Trainline in U.S. dollars.
Generally though, if you’re going to Europe — or really anywhere outside of the U.S. — consider using a credit card that waives foreign transaction fees, because these pesky fees are usually between 1% to 3% and can quickly add up.
2. Take advantage of discountsThere are often discounts available for students, seniors and families.
For example:
Spanish train operator Renfe, offers up to a 30% discount on tickets for those ages 14 to 25.Eurail offers a family discount, a 10% senior discount and up to 25% off for travelers age 27 or below.Eurostar offers discounted rates for those under age 26 and 60 and up.Other discounts or sales may be available, so be sure to shop around. Booking early can also score you a deal. For comparison purposes, we searched for a ticket from Rome to Milan on Trenitalia one week and three months out. Most of the available tickets a week out were priced at $108, while the tickets three months in advance hovered around $48.
3. Consider travel insuranceAccording to NerdWallet’s annual summer travel survey, an impressive 84% of Americans plan on vacationing in 2024, with 45% of Americans going on a summer trip (June-August). Summer travelers plan to spend $3,594, on average, for their flights and hotel stays.
When considering an expensive vacation, travel insurance can be a good option, particularly if your trip plans are nonrefundable and you want overseas medical coverage. Even if you have a credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance, most U.S.-based medical plans don’t protect you for medical care abroad.
In addition to travel medical coverage, a comprehensive travel insurance plan includes benefits such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, baggage delay and lost luggage coverage. If you don’t need travel medical insurance, and the coverage provided by your travel credit card is sufficient, you may not need to purchase a standalone travel insurance policy.
Train travel in Europe recappedTraveling around Europe by train can be a great way to explore one or several countries, all while avoiding the hassle of the airport or renting a car. There are many options for finding train tickets, but generally, purchasing tickets in advance and directly from the train company can save money.
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There Are New Digital Nomads on the Block: FamiliesMexico’s Pueblos Mágicos: Visit These 4 Lesser-Known TownsIs Anyone in Charge of Making Your Airbnb or Other Rental Safe?Elina Geller writes for NerdWallet. Email: egeller@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @themissmiles.
The article Why You Should Consider Train Travel in Europe originally appeared on NerdWallet.
Why Maisie Dobbs author Jacqueline Winspear says it’s time to end the series
Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs novels immerse you so deeply into 20th-century British life that you could get lost in the past.
Just ask the author.
“I was sitting in my office, working away; air conditioning was on. I’m in London on a foggy, cold day in winter, and I thought I’d better stop for a bite to eat,” says Winspear during a Zoom interview a few days before the June 4 publication of her latest book, “The Comfort of Ghosts.” “I came out of my office into the garden, and went, ‘Oh my god!’ I had a real culture shock.”
Turns out, that dank London fog had all been in her imagination. She was at home in 21st-century California.
“I was in Ojai writing. I’d had the curtains closed because, you know, it’s bright and sunny out there and it was a very hot day,” says the British-born author who has lived in the United States for 34 years, mainly in California and the Pacific Northwest.
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“I just was so immersed I didn’t realize where I was. It’s easy to do that, but I guess I’m so well-practiced now that I can really drop into the era I write about. I can drop into the story.”
However, the author says she isn’t planning to drop in on Maisie Dobbs anymore.
After 18 books about psychologist and investigator Dobbs and her supporting cast of characters, Winspear announced that “The Comfort of Ghosts” is the final book of the series, which she began writing 24 years ago and first published in 2003. Winspear says the novel, without giving away spoilers, aims to provide a satisfying accounting for all the main characters.
“It’s not a new decision,” she says about ending the series. “I wanted there to be an arc to the overall body of work, not just an arc to each story.
“It’s bittersweet because I’m saying goodbye to the characters. But the great thing is, I have my body of work. It’s there, it’s solid, and it’s not drifting off anywhere,” she says. “I didn’t see the point of carrying on a series or coming up with plots just to carry on … I had done what I needed to do with them, what I wanted to do.”
The novel’s publication also brings Winspear back to her first publisher, Soho Crime, which first launched the series. “The Comfort of Ghosts” is dedicated to the late Laura Hruska, Soho’s co-founder and Winspear’s first editor.
“There was just something right about the idea of coming full circle,” she says. “It was as if, you know, it was the arc to my story.”
Way Out West
Winspear wrote a moving tribute to the character Maisie Dobbs in a newsletter published June 4, in which she also revealed the very California origins of this very British character. (She followed up with another update on June 10 to say she’d broken a bone in her foot while at the airport and needed to put her appearances on hold.)
“You certainly changed my life, the day you walked into my imagination while I was stuck in traffic,” writes Winspear about Maisie Dobbs. “By the time I reached the office, I had your whole story in my head, even though I had not written a word of fiction since childhood.”
Considering that Winspear has lived here so long, does she consider herself a California writer?
“I think a lot of there’s a lot of California in me,” she says in a crisp British accent, adding that she’s occasionally mistaken for an American when visiting friends in the U.K. “Have I changed? There are things about me that have changed, but there are also my foundations, which are very firmly British.”
Speaking from her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she spends a lot of time, she explained how she landed in Ojai.
“When I first came to California, I lived in Ventura County, and I always liked Ojai very much because it’s got that small-town feel, and it has a great bookshop, good old Bart’s books,” says Winspear. “It was actually for my husband’s health; he needed to live in a more stable climate. And also, my brother lived there … it’s nice to have family close by.”
Winspear speculated on another reason that might have led to her move out West. “My dad loved cowboys. We watched American TV shows when I was a kid,” she says. “America was the shining star on the hill.”
Family stories
Winspear’s 2020 memoir about growing up in rural England, “This Time Next Year We’ll Be Laughing,” is rich in detail about her early life and provides glimpses into the inspirations for her work. Her interest in the past was piqued during her peripatetic childhood, which at times involved living on a farm without indoor plumbing
“Storytelling was big in my family … Everything became something to talk about,” she says. “Where we lived, there weren’t many kids; there were actually a lot of elderly people. And ever since I was a little girl, someone only had to say, ’Well, in my day…’ and I was ears flapping, you know? I couldn’t wait to hear about ‘their day.’”
Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs historical-mystery novels, discusses “The Comfort of Ghosts,” the final book in the series. (Covers courtesy of Soho Crime, Henry Holt, Harper)The Maisie Dobbs novels, which span the period between the two World Wars, combine history and mystery, often exploring the visible and invisible effects of violence and trauma upon soldiers and people back home. Winspear’s interest in the experiences of soldiers in the First World War arose in part from her interactions with her own grandfather.
“Veterans don’t have finite dates for their wars. My grandfather, who was severely wounded at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was still removing shrapnel from his legs when he died, aged 77, in 1966,” says Winspear, who wrote in her memoir about seeing her grandfather massaging his scarred legs and picking metal splinters from out of his skin.
She recounts a beloved teacher and neighbor who told her about seeing a WWI veteran with severe facial wounds, a story that both haunted her and helped inspire elements of the first novel. That teacher, Ken Leech, and his wife Pat, influenced Winspear in other ways: their passion and care for animals found a willing audience in the author. (In her recent essay, Winspear, a dog lover who trains in the equestrian sport of dressage, praises her “writing buddies,” the dogs who dozed under her desk as she wrote. During our conversation, she talked about volunteering at the Humane Society and spoke passionately about aiding horses endangered by the war in Ukraine.)
Winspear says the memoir helped her unearth memories that had played an important part of her life, but she’d not been consciously aware of.
“When I wrote my memoir, I recounted a conversation between me and my mother that I realized has underpinned everything I’ve written for the last 24 years,” says Winspear. “I only realized it a few years ago when I wrote the memoir.”
Winspear’s formidable mother – who told her daughter many stories, including that she’d been pulled from the rubble of a bombed-out building during the London Blitz – at one time worked as an administrator in Britain’s prison system, and Winspear recalls asking her mother about the young offenders at the detention center and how they had ended up there.
“She said, ‘You know, Jackie, it’s because someone, somewhere along the line, didn’t care enough,’” says Winspear. “That had such an impact, and I didn’t know it. It was almost as if it nestled in my heart and stayed there.
“I realized it’s underpinned the character of Maisie Dobbs. I wanted to write about people who cared enough amid everything that’s happened,” she says. “I wanted to write about a character that cares enough through the best and worst of times.”
Farewell, Maisie
Having concluded the series, Winspear has “several” new projects underway, including a more lighthearted story about a character who’d previously had a small role in the saga. For that one, or perhaps another, Winspear is already doing prep.
“I’m doing the research right now, and I’ve got a trip planned later in the year. I’m not even going to tell you where I’m going,” she says. “Because I’ll give the game away.”
So she’s got plenty to do, but it must be asked: Won’t it be hard to say goodbye to Maisie Dobbs?
“My story is wrapped up in the story of Maisie Dobbs,” she says. “I don’t think she’s ever going to leave my head.”
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Erewhon Market, an upscale grocery store in Los Angeles, has become well known for its Smoothie collaborations with celebrities. Similar to the famed Millions of Milkshakes celebrity endorsed drinks of the early 2000s, Erewhon partners with various A-listers on beverages that typically coincide with promoting their work.
From Temecula’s own Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 Ur Guts smoothie, reality star Kendall Jenner’s Peaches & Cream smoothie and model Winnie Harlow’s Island Glow smoothie, these collaborations have fans lining up to spend around $20 on the drinks. Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin smoothie became so popular that it inspired a new ice cream pint flavor with Cosmic Bliss. The grocery store’s latest collaboration isn’t even with a celebrity: the brand Vacation collaborated on a sunscreen drink inspired by its classic lotion.
@healthadeJUST DROPPED
Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 ur Guts smoothie featuring our Pomegranate Kombucha….now available at @Erewhon Market for a limited time. Good 4 ur gut, good 4 u #livies #guthealth #healthade #guthappy #erewhonsmoothie
So it wasn’t surprising to many this week when news spread on social media that the latest celebrity endorsed smoothie was with singer Charli XCX to promote her latest album “Brat.” The only thing? The smoothie isn’t real.
Creator Daniel Preda, @misterpreda on TikTok, used his account to share the new smoothie. Preda has a series on his channel where he tests viral food and drinks to determine if they’re “number one hater approved.” Preda has reviewed a few Erewhon treats on his channel in the past, so it didn’t surprise viewers when he started off his video introducing the drink.
“Charli XCX has just collabed with Erewhon to create the exclusive BRAT smoothie,” said Preda. “It’s $31 dollars, let’s see if it’s number one hater approved. This is your world exclusive.”
@misterpredaLET’S RIDE
@Charli XCX just dropped the BRAT smoothie at @Erewhon Market — a brazilian matcha lemonade smoothie for $31…lol..let’s see if she’s Number One Hater approved
#smoothie #review #brat #charlixcx #viral #fypシ゚viral #food #foodreview #foodietiktok #vondutch #brazil #lemonade #matcha #hater #organic #brazil
#brazilian #brasil #bratsummer #charli @Vital Proteins @Bee better @Vimergy @Moon Juice @Kin Euphorics
@Cymbiotika @Guayakí Yerba Mate
♬ original sound – misterpreda
In the video, which has been viewed over 500,000 times, Preda goes into Erewhon and picks up the smoothie from the counter before trying it in his car. “I got to give them points for creativity, because this is probably their coolest looking smoothie yet.” After listing out the ingredients, he gives the smoothie a try. “The flavor profile is so interesting, you get the bitterness from the lime. Brazilian lemonade is water, limes and condensed milk and it’s so good, one of my favorite drinks ever.”
Preda continues to rave about the drink throughout the video, “Dare I say, this might be my favorite smoothie yet, I’m going to give Erewhon their points for creativity, ingenuity.”
He appears to close out the video by stating that the Brats smoothie in collaboration with Charli XCX is number one hater approved — only it isn’t actually the end of the video.
After cutting to black, Preda continues filming at the 2:48 mark. With just under a minute left in the video, Preda reveals to viewers that the smoothie is an “imaginary collaboration that I created on my own.” Preda says he dreamt up the smoothie to pay some respect to his love of Charli XCX and her sixth studio album. He put together his own drink filled with his favorite brands, ingredients and flavor profiles that he loves.
But despite Preda clarifying that the smoothie does not exist, fans and pop culture social media accounts ran with the news of a new beverage collaboration from the high-end grocery store.
In a now deleted post, PopCrave, a popular Twitter account known for sharing headlines focused on entertainment news, shared an announcement about the beverage. “Charli xcx just dropped her new ‘BRAT’ smoothie @ErewhonMarket. The brazilian matcha lemonade smoothie goes for $31.” The post was viewed over 160,000 times before it was deleted and no correction was posted.
Screenshot of a now deleted post shared on X, formerly Twitter, by PopCrave on June 11, 2024 at 9:16 p.m. about the Charli XCX ‘Brat’ smoothie with Erewhon Market. The smoothie is not a real collaboration but rather a fan made drink that gained popularity on TikTok.Another creator on TikTok, Alyssa Yung, @_alyssayung_ on TikTok, vlogged her journey to get the new Erewhon smoothie, only to discover that it didn’t exist. When commenters informed her that the original creator had clarified in the end of his video that the smoothie wasn’t real she replied to other users comments sharing she hadn’t watched the whole video.
@_alyssayung_CHARLI PLS MAKE THE SMOOTHIE REAL #charlixcx #brat #360brat #erewhon #erewhonmarket #erewhonsmoothie
The day after Preda’s original video about the smoothie was posted, he uploaded a follow up video sharing a recipe on how to make the drink at home.
@misterpredaHere’s how you can make the viral @Charli XCX x @Erewhon Market BRAT smoothie at home for yourself (p*ppers not included)
Tag Erewhon below if you want this to actually happen, its time. @Kin Euphorics
♬ original sound – misterpreda
Horoscopes June 14, 2024: Lucy Hale, take action quickly
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lucy Hale, 35; Kevin McHale, 36; Diablo Cody, 46; Boy George, 63.
Happy Birthday: Fact-checking is necessary if you want to avoid mistakes. Be ready, willing and able to do the work yourself. Relying on anyone will leave you struggling to right a wrong. Put your energy where it counts and use intelligence, intuition and common sense to ensure you ward off temptation and anyone trying to beat you at your own game. Change what’s necessary. Take action quickly if someone gets in your way. Your numbers are 6, 14, 21, 23, 34, 42, 46.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be open and receptive toward others and their offers. Communicating and following up are your best routes to getting what you want. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or make suggestions, but don’t expect complete transparency. Being observant will help you determine where you stand and what’s possible. 3 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Modification is your friend. If you don’t like something, change it. Time is precious, and the longer you mull over what to do, the less time you can spend enjoying and living in the moment. Stand up for what you want and make it happen. 5 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Temptation will be challenging to resist. It’s OK to have fun, but set boundaries and surround yourself with trusted friends. Expect someone to try to convince you of something that isn’t right or best for you. Your intelligence is crucial in making decisions. 2 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Channel your energy into creativity, home, family and striving to reach your goals. Refuse to let outsiders cause self-doubt. Fact-check all information you receive before passing it along or relying on it to help you progress. Use your personal space creatively. 4 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Adjust to your surroundings and circumstances to avoid stress and emotional interference. Having a clear headspace will help you get things done on time and ward off disagreements with anyone trying to push you in a direction that doesn’t suit your needs. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Make positive adjustments. Take charge and correct what is no longer working for you. Instead of criticizing or trying to change others, look inward and consider what you can do to make your life flow better. Change is your responsibility. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put energy and thought into learning, improving your lifestyle and routine, and eliminating dead weight. A fresh start will impact what you do and encourage you to embrace life courageously. Everything will fall into place. 3 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Let go of people, pastimes and subscriptions costing you too much financially or emotionally. Put more thought into who and what puts a smile on your face, and gravitate in that direction. Take responsibility for your happiness. 3 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Honesty is the best policy, but don’t expect others to be honest regarding what they want or their intentions. It’s up to you to be bold and clarify what you are willing to contribute and where you draw the line. Don’t neglect yourself. 4 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Keep moving. Idle time will lead to trouble. Learn all you can before starting something new. Preparation is vital to making an impression on someone of interest. Opportunity is apparent if you remain calm, helpful and forgiving. 2 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Let others be and do what they want. Put yourself first and implement alterations that make you feel good about yourself and your direction. Refuse to fall into someone else’s agenda when what’s essential is developing a routine that suits your needs. Romance is favored. 5 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Be careful when dealing with domestic matters, reform or bureaucratic issues. An opportunity to talk to an expert will help clarify what’s possible. Finding solutions will take more thought and ingenuity to improve your lifestyle and relationships. 3 stars
Birthday Baby: You are complicated, empathetic and insightful. You are gregarious and distracting.
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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June 13, 2024
How Brent Burns helped convince the Celebrini family that San Jose was OK
SAN JOSE – Turns out former San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns had a hand in helping Rick Celebrini finalize his decision to move his family from Vancouver to the Bay Area after he accepted a position with the Golden State Warriors six years ago.
Celebrini was hired by the Warriors as their director of sports medicine and performance in 2018 after Chelsea Lane, then the team’s head of physical performance and sports medicine, left to join the Atlanta Hawks.
But before he and his wife Robyn moved their family to Northern California, Celebrini wanted to make sure his two oldest boys, Aiden and Macklin, could continue their hockey development in a proper setting.
Enter Burns, whose reassurance gave Celebrini some peace of mind. After all, Burns’ young son, Jagger, was already in the Jr. Sharks program.
“The kids were born and grew up in Canada, up until six years ago when I accepted this position with the Warriors,” Rick Celebrini said Thursday night on ABC7’s “After the Game.”
“So we packed up and headed down as a family. Part of that decision-making was to make sure that there was a good hockey program down here for the boys to continue their development. I talked to Brent Burns at the time and some of the (Sharks) players and they sort of reassured me that it was a great program down here for the boys to continue their path.”
The Celebrini family then rented a home in San Jose close to Sharks Ice, “and that’s where the boys kind of spent a year of their development before going on to Minnesota.”
During the 2019-2020 season, Macklin had 101 points, including 54 goals, in 61 games for the 14U AAA Jr. Sharks, and Aiden, a right-shot defenseman, had 20 points in 56 games for the 15U AAA Jr. Sharks. Aiden also had 22 points in nine games for Willow Glen High School.
Both Aiden and Macklin, now 19 and 18, respectively, went on to play at Shattuck St. Mary’s for two more seasons. To start, Macklin joined the 14U AAA team at the Faribault, Minnesota school and Aiden played on the 15U AAA team.
They then both committed to Boston University after visiting the school during the 2022 NBA Finals when the Warriors played the Celtics.
Aiden was a third-round draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks last year, and Macklin is expected to go first overall to the Sharks at the NHL Draft later this month in Las Vegas.
“It’s exciting. You run the gamut of emotions,” Rick Celebrini said of Macklin likely being the No. 1 draft pick. “It’s surreal, it’s hard to believe at times, and yet, it’s around the corner and we’re so excited. It’s been exhausting as well.”
Macklin Celebrini was just in South Florida, where he met with the media and spoke with Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. Right before that, he was in Buffalo, New York, for the NHL scouting combine, where he also met with reporters and interviewed with eight teams.
“Just all the demands on Macklin and then, secondarily, our family. Just different interviews and asks and requests,” Rick Celebrini said. “So for a 17 year old kid, to see what he has gone through and how he’s kind of handled it and conducted himself, that’s what probably makes me the most proud right now.”
The youngest Celebrini brother, RJ, plays youth hockey in the Bay Area.
“We have a little 11-year-old, a sort of aspiring hockey player as well,” Rick Celebrini said. “Growing up in Canada, you’re so immersed in it. Everywhere you look, it’s hockey. You really can’t get away from it.”
Before moving to California, the family lived near the North Shore Winter Club in North Vancouver, which counts former Sharks Martin Jones and Evander Kane among its alumni.
“It was just such an incredible environment for the kids to drop off in the morning and they would stay there as sort of a safe place that they could jump on the ice come off, grab something to eat, jump in the pool, jump back onto the ice,” Celebrini said. “And it was just such an incredible environment for them, so it wasn’t a coincidence that they fell in love with the game and sort of followed their passions in that area.”
Fans mourn passing of Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest otter
MONTEREY >> The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s oldest sea otter, Rosa, died after age-related health conditions were deemed to be compromising her quality of life. Rosa lived to the age of 24.
Along with being the oldest otter at the aquarium, Rosa was one of the longest-lived individuals of her species. In the wild, female sea otters live for about 15-20 years, according to the aquarium.
Staff noticed a change in her behavior and decline in her condition in the days leading up to the decision to euthanize her according to the aquarium.
“She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her caretakers,” said Monterey Bay Aquarium veterinarian Dr. Ri Chang in a press release.
Rosa was found at about four weeks old stranded on a beach in Santa Cruz County and was taken into the aquarium’s sea otter program in September 1999. She was released back into the wild in April 2000 but with reports of her climbing onto kayaks and interacting with scuba divers, officials deemed she had too much interest in humasn. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined she should be removed from the wild due to the potential risk to herself and people.
Rosa, named after a character in John Steinbeck’s “Tortilla Flat,” found permanent residence at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2002 and played a pivotal role in the aquarium’s sea otter surrogacy program as one of the most productive surrogate mothers in the program’s history, raising 15 pups, according to the aquarium.
Of the 15 pups Rosa raised, at least one of the females has raised multiple offspring in the wild, contributing to the recovery of the threatened species. Selka, another one of Rosa’s pups, is currently on exhibit at the aquarium and is continuing Rosa’s legacy, acting as a surrogate mother herself.
Rosa also acted as an ambassador for her species, as she contributed to a number of research studies and contributed to the scientific body of knowledge on southern sea otters while she was in the wild. Both Monterey Bay Aquarium scientists and University of California researchers were able to collect data on Rosa’s caloric intake, core body temperature and behavior.
Throughout her residency at the Aquarium, Rosa garnered a fanbase online who watched her through livestreams of the Sea Otter Cam and, in recent years, taking part in virtual birthday celebrations that raised money for the aquarium.
After learning of Rosa’s death, people took to the internet to share condolences and the impact she had on them. The aquarium’s Instagram post sharing the news has received over a thousand comments, while other community members have taken to the aquarium’s Discord server and X (formally known as Twitter) to talk about her passing and share art they had drawn for her upcoming birthday.
Melanie Oerter, curator of marine mammals, said Rosa was one the most playful otters at the aquarium and could often be seen playing with the younger otters, even at 24 years old. While normally patient with staff, Rosa could be stubborn at times and would not be easily convinced to do something she didn’t want to do the aquarium said.
“She would often just look at us or swim away. I believe she was the one who was really training us all of these years. I certainly learned a lot from working with such an incredible otter,” said Oerter on the aquarium’s Instagram. “It has been a privilege and to say we will miss her is understated.”
Salinas man pleads guilty to robberies, gang-affiliated crimes
Justin Solorio, 27, also known as “Perico,” pleaded guilty to a series of robberies, narcotics sales and an assault on several deputies with Norteno gang members in Monterey County Jail the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
Solorio is slated to be sentenced on July 11, to 24 years in prison.
Solorio is a Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteno gang member, according to the district attorney. His arrest was part of Operation Dead End, an investigation conducted by the Salinas Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The racketeering investigation focused on Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteno gang-related murders, attempted murders, robberies, narcotics sales, and arms trafficking over the past 15 years and resulted in state and federal charges of over a dozen members.
According to a press release from the District Attorney’s Office, in September 2023, Solorio entered a Salinas residence and pointed a firearm at a woman living there, demanded money but fled the home without anything. Less than an hour later, he committed an armed robbery at a Salinas gas station and robbed the female gas attendant. Two weeks later, he committed an armed robbery of a Salinas business and stole $1,000 from the business owner who was also a woman according to the release.
When police reviewed surveillance footage in their investigation, they identified Solorio as a suspect because of his unique hairstyle. In November, Solorio was arrested and a search of his home revealed more than $6,000 worth of cocaine.
Police also searched his cell phone which had videos of him before and after the robberies, with him wearing a mask and showing off the money he had stolen. Police also found texts that suggested Solorio had been selling cocaine throughout 2023.
While he was in Monterey County Jail on March 17, 2024 officers tried to confiscate a tattoo gun from a group of Nortenos housed inside the jail. Solorio and four other Nortenos joined in a group attack that injured three deputies.
Juneteenth event in Seaside to feature speakers Mistah F.A.B., Danny Glover
SEASIDE – An event to mark Juneteenth Independence Day, the federally observed holiday also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, will be celebrated this weekend with festivities in Seaside.
“Juneteenth has always been an important event in Monterey County, especially in Seaside,” said Monterey County Black Caucus Founder and Director Rosalyn Green.
Green’s organization will present the fifth-annual Juneteenth Monterey County event at Laguna Grande Park this Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., showcasing local black businesses, food vendors, speakers, and activities for the whole family.
The headliner for this year’s event is artist, motivational speaker and comedian Mistah F.A.B., from Oakland. F.A.B. is a community activist who the city of Oakland recognized in 2014 with his own day lauding his work as a community organizer and a positive change-maker.
In addition to the accomplished rapper and songwriter, Hollywood icon, actor, producer and political activist Danny Glover will be on hand to celebrate along with the community. During his 45-year acting career, in movies such as “Lethal Weapon,” and “The Color Purple,” Mr. Glover has received numerous accolades including the NAACP’s President’s Award as well as nominations for five Emmy awards and four Grammy awards. In 2021, Glover received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The June 19 anniversary is celebrated in reference to the 1865 date which saw Union troops informing the remaining enslaved people in Texas that they were emancipated. It was more than two years after President Lincoln legally freed the enslaved people with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
For about 150 years, Juneteenth has been celebrated as America’s second Independence Day by Black communities, and after becoming a federal holiday in 2021, has become more universally recognized.
Green said she remembers attending jubilant Juneteenth celebrations as a young girl in Seaside. The Black Caucus re-imagined and revitalized Juneteenth in the wake of the George Floyd murder at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020.
Juneteenth, 25 days after Floyd’s death, was a way to regain the sense of belonging, unity and cohesiveness that Green said she had experienced as a young girl in the city of Seaside with its large black community.
“It brought a sense of peace and joy to our community by celebrating the end of slavery,” said Green.
The organizers of the Juneteenth Monterey County event welcome everyone to the free celebration. Green describes it as an intergenerational and intercommunal celebration where she hopes people will come away with a sense of the joy and belonging in the community while seeing the contributions Blacks make through the vendors, entertainers and information booths.
The recipients of this year’s Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth award are Ron Johnson and Annalisa Mitchell, who will be celebrated for their contributions to the community. The organizers say that honoring these positive individuals is an opportunity to give thanks to those who make such a difference to the fabric of the Central Coast.
During the Juneteenth celebration, Green hopes people will be sure to visit the Dinosaur Adventure Kids Zone, where there will be music, jump houses, a game truck, face painting, gymnastics, outdoor games, a mechanical bull, and much more.
Green said the Juneteenth celebration is not only for the Black community but a way for others to see, and share in Black culture and experience.
“Everyone is welcome to come out,” she said.
