Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 472

CCS track and field finals: North Salinas’ Adams wins 200 title, sets county record in the 400

GILROY — Nerves, excitement and anxiety were just some of the emotions running through the mind of Clara Adams before stepping into the blocks.

The scowl on her 15-year-old face, however, soon turned to pure joy — not once — but twice Saturday as the North Salinas freshman left her stamp on Saturday’s Central Coast Section track and field finals.

“Walking up to the starting blocks before the 400, I was locked in,” said Adams, fighting to catch her breath. “Running 24.62 in the 200 meters into a headwind. I’m not mad at all.”

Adams is headed to the state meet in two events after upsetting the favorite in the 200 at Gilroy High and finishing second in the 400 with a new Monterey County record.

North Salinas freshman Clara Adams is a CCS champion in the 200 pic.twitter.com/AMYYo2QjSQ

— John Devine (@JohnJDevine) May 19, 2024

“This gives me 10 times more confidence going into state,” said Adams, who is No. 8 in the state in the 400. “Lets get under 54 seconds.”

Adams, who became the first North Salinas female to qualify for the state meet in 27 years, was one of four county athletes to advance to the state championships, slated for next Friday at Buchanan High in Clovis.

Joining the sprinter will include Jack Nolan, who is going back to the state meet in the pole vault for Salinas, as well as Mack Aldi of Carmel in the 800 and Angela Ayozie of Alvarez in the shot put.

Blistering the first half of the 400, Adams held a slight lead before being caught by three-time champion Hannah Rutherford of Mountain View, who set a meet record in the process with a mark of 53.81.

Rutherford carried Adams to a county record time of 54.46, breaking the mark of 54.76, set by Monterey’s Sani Roseby in 2000.

“That was crazy,” Adams said. “I felt amazing. I went out so hard. But I made sure I had something left for a kick. Now I’m beat.”

Adams looked like a 400 meter runner in the 200 later in the meet, when she showed her strength over the final 60 meters, overtaking Rutherford in an upset in 24.62 — North Salinas’ first ever girls CCS track and field champion.

“It felt just as good as the 400,” Adams said. “I didn’t panic. That’s when your technique falls apart. I just ran my own race. Now I’m a CCS 200 champion.”

Adams will go into the state championships as the only freshman ranked in the top 8 in the 400, with a shot to advance to the finals in the 200 if she runs closer to her career best of 24.32.

“My pretty good at the 400,” Adams said. “But the 200 is so much fun. There is no strategy in the 200. You either have it or you don’t.”

Nolan, who came in with a season best of 15-feet in the pole vault, matched his state qualifying mark of 14-6 from last year to finish third. The top three in each event earn an automatic spot into the state meet.

“I didn’t have a very good day today,” Nolan said. “We were running into a headwind. I made some corrections at 14-6. I’m just glad I get another day.”

Nolan, who was 13th in the state last year in the pole vault as a junior, knows if he can get over the 15-foot mark, he will have a shot to podium.

“I need a good week of practice,” Nolan said. “I need to get on a bigger pole. Ideally, I just want a personal record.”

Aldi went out aggressively with an eye on breaking 1:54.00 and winning the 800, taking the lead at 100 meters and holding it for nearly 700 meters.

Mack Aldi of Carmel advances to the state meet in the 800 meters at Saturday's CCS track and finals at Gilroy pic.twitter.com/3s6sK8prgu

— John Devine (@JohnJDevine) May 19, 2024

“The goal was to go out at 55 in the first 400,” Aldi said. “I felt super strong until the last 150 meters. Then everything went heavy.”

The junior distance ace slipped to fourth with 80 meters remaining before gathering enough strength to move back into third to earn that qualifying spot.”

“I had a little surge with 80 meters or so left,” said Aldi, a state meet qualifier in cross country as well this past fall. “I wish I could have dug deeper. But I could feel the lactic acid in my legs.”

As exhausted as Aldi was, the belief in his camp is there is room to improve and meet that goal of dipping under 1:54.00 next week.

“I want to learn how to run at state,” Aldi said. “I want to put myself on the map.”

It wasn’t until a two-foot improvement in the shot put at the league finals that Ayozie put her name in the conversation with some of the top throwers in the section.

“The last two weeks I’ve been pretty consistent in the 37-foot range,” said Ayozie, who uncorked the shot 37-feet-1 to finish third. “Last year I was told just go throw the shot put. This year I got some coaching.”

Ayozie, who also finished fourth in the discus with a mark 118-6, credited her 13 plus foot improvement in the discus two weeks ago for elevating her confidence in both events.

“I think it’s sinking in,” said Ayozie, who is just a junior. “I know I’m not showing much emotion. But I’m pretty hyped up. I want that school record.”

It was a heartbreaking end to Emma Beck’s season for Salinas, after the triple jumper missed qualifying for the state meet by a half inch, soaring 36-9.

“It’s just adds a lot more fuel to the fire for next year,” said Beck, as she sat alone regathering her thoughts. “This will be my motivation. Even though it’s a disappointment, improvement is what you strive. I got better this year.”

Nile Glover equaled the third place clearance of 6-2 in high jump for Stevenson, but finished fourth based on more misses.

Jaslyne Coronado podiumed in the 400 for Salinas, finishing sixth in 57.57, as did Rancho San Juan’s Jenna Emerson in the 300 low hurdles (45.48) and Carmel Bella Ortega in the pole vault (10-9).

CCS softball/baseball playoffs: Myers pitches Monterey past Watsonville

MONTEREY — Repeating as section champions is a rare achievement. Three-peats are an endangered species. Monterey and Alvarez High are a step closer to adding to their softball programs legacies.

Central Coast Section Division II softball champions the last two years, the Toreadores opened the Division I tournament on Saturday, using eight strikeouts from Ella Myers in a 10-0, five-inning win over Watsonville at Jacks Park.

Myers, who committed earlier this year to pitch for UC Santa Barbara in 2026, is now just four strikeouts shy of 500 for her career at Monterey. The junior right-hander handcuffed the Mission Division champions, allowing just five hits.

Seeded No. 3, the Toreadores (20-7) will face No. 7 Branham (19-9) –13-2 winners over No. 2 seed Gunn — on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Kathleeen MacDonald’s High in San Jose.

Kylie Goud ignited a balanced attack at the plate for the Gabilan Division runner-ups with a pair of hits and two RBI. Eastin Jennings and Ryanna Elliott both collected two hits.

Alvarez 2, Notre Dame-Belmont 1: Dani Amendola’s walk-off two-run single drove in the game-winning run in the Eagles win over Notre Dame of Belmont in the Division III playoffs.

Champions the last two years in two different divisions, Amendola picked up the win for No. 4 seed Alvarez, who earned a spot in the playoffs after winning a play-in game out of the Gabilan Division.

The Eagles (15-12) will face No. 8 San Mateo (10-11) Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Salinas Sports Complex.

Salinas 5, Sobrato 1: Abi Jones struck out 17 in the circle and drove in four runs as the No. 4 seeded Cowboys opened the Division I tournament with a road win in Morgan Hill.

Finalists the last two years in the CCS playoffs, Salinas (18-9) will face top-seed King’s Academy — 4-0 winners over Notre Dame — on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Los Gatos High.

Jones, who committed earlier this year as a junior to pitch at San Jose State in 2026, needed her defense for just four plays. Ava Thompson contributed a pair of hits at the plate.

North Salinas 12, Del Mar 1: The defending CCS Division V champions opened the Division III tournament with Makayla O’Gan firing a two-hitter, striking out nine in advancing to the semifinals.

Roxy Vargas and Clarissa Corona each had three hits for North Salinas, while Jodi Fortugaliza doubled twice and reached base four times.

North Salinas (12-12) will face No. 2 seed Santa Teresa (15-13) on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Kathleen MacDonalds High in San Jose.

Homestead 8, Pacific Grove 1: Erin Shoemaker collected a hit and scored the Breakers only run in a season ending loss to Homestead in the Division V playoffs.

Savannah Hardy, Felicia Houde, Lili Gaona and Julia San German all had hits for Pacific Grove. Alex Giammanco allowed five hits and just two earned runs in 5.2 innings.

San Mateo 10, Alisal 4: The Trojans first appearance in the playoffs in three decades will be looked upon as experience after they were ousted by No. 8 seed San Mateo in the Division III playoffs.

Champions of the Cypress Division — the programs first softball title, Alisal came in as the No. 1 seed, having set a school record for wins with 21.

King’s Academy 4, Notre Dame 0: The defending CCS Division I champion Spirits were shutout in the quarterfinals by Division I top-seed King’s Academy.

Notre Dame, who reached the Northern California Division I finals last year, finished the season 16-11. Champions of the West Bay Division, the Knights 21-3 went undefeated in league play.

Junior hurler Sophia Cardinale struck out 13 in the circle for the Spirits, allowing just five hits.

Leigh 6, King City 2: Raylie More’s homer was not enough as the Mustangs were ousted in the Division V playoffs at Leigh in San Jose.

Lisa Villanueva, who came into the game with a county high 13 homers, added a double and scored a run for King City, while Alizah Carrillo collected a hit. Makayla Carrillo struck out a pair in going the distance in the circle.

Baseball

Carmel 7, Los Gatos 3: The Padres clinched a spot in the Northern California tournament after opening the CCS Division I playoffs with an upset at No. 3 Los Gatos in the quarterfinals.

Any team in the Division I playoffs for baseball automatically advances to the Northern California tournament with a win.

The No. 6 seed Padres (23-5) will face No. 7 St. Ignatius (19-9), who upset No. 2 Serra on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Excite Park in San Jose.

Sophomore Matt Maxon and multi-sport standout Jackson Lloyd both homered for the Gabilan Division champions during a seven-run fourth inning. Bixby Moranda added three hits, while Justin Lemaster finished with a pair.

Maxon, who committed to Stanford before throwing his first high school pitch, tossed the first 4 1/3 innings to earn the win, with Zander Lunt closing out the game.

Ty Arnold, JJ Sanchez and Bo Landoli all provided clutch hits for Carmel, who captured 19 of its last 20 league games.

Palma 5, Woodside 4: Cal bound slugger Manny Dorantes’ walk-off single lifted the No. 3 seeded Chieftains past Woodside in the Division III playoffs.

Kaleb Shannon ripped a two-run homer for Palma, while Johnny Carnazzo collected three hits and Bubba Martinez a pair. Rocco Razzeca tossed three innings of relief, striking out four to pick up the win.

Palma (17-11) will face No. 2 seed and former Gabilan Division rival Christopher (17-8) on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Hartnell College.

Monterey 3, Soledad 2: Nate Wedderburn tamed the Aztecs, striking out 11 as the No. 4 seeded Toreadores advanced to the semifinals of the Division V playoffs, ending Mission Division champion Soledad’s season.

Wedderburn also delivered a pair of hits and drove in a run for Monterey. Connor Rose and Gino Grammatico each had two hits and two RBI, while Pat Adams adding two hits and three steals.

The Toreadores (13-15) will host top-seed Capuchino on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Sollecito Park.

Alisal 4, Thomas More 1: The No. 2 seeded Trojans are in the Division VI semifinals after knocking off Thomas More (17-9).

Alisal (19-7) closed the season with three straight wins to clinch the No. 2 playoff spot out of the Mission Division. It will face No. 3 Lincoln (23-4) on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Hartnell College.

Luis Matos enters exclusive company as SF Giants finally win 3 in a row

SAN FRANCISCO — When Luis Matos debuted as the second-youngest player in the majors last June, “Matos Mania” was born. The Venezuelan outfield phenom collected hits and scored runs at a rate that put him in the same conversation as Willie McCovey in franchise lore.

Matos, now, is almost a year older. He boasts somewhere in the range of 20 pounds of extra muscle. It’s time for Matos 2.0.

With another six RBIs in the Giants’ 14-4 win over the Rockies on Saturday, Matos surpassed even more exclusive company.

This time around, the inner-circle Hall of Famer with whom the Giants’ young outfielder is keeping company is Orlando Cepeda, who held the franchise record for the most runs driven in over a two-game stretch at 22 years old or younger with nine between June 3 and 4, 1959.

Matos had already matched Cepeda when he stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, then added two more RBIs to his ledger with his third hit of the afternoon. He has 11 RBIs in his past two games, matching Jack Clark (1982) and Bill Terry (1932) for the franchise record by a player of any age.

“Man, that’s a lot of RBIs,” said Bob Melvin, his astonished and appreciative manager.

“I’m just trying to get on base for him,” added Matt Chapman, who reached base five times and was driven home twice by Matos.

The offensive infusion provided by the rookie, who was only called up Sunday, powered the Giants to their third consecutive win, something they hadn’t done in their first 46 games of the season. They were the last of the league’s 30 teams still seeking a three-game win streak after Colorado ripped off seven in a row entering this series.

After accounting for five of the Giants’ 10 runs in their win Friday night, it didn’t take long for Matos to add to his total the following afternoon.

Stepping to the plate in the bottom of the first with Chapman and Thairo Estrada on second and third, Matos cleared the bases with one swing, whacking a cutter left over the plate by Rockies starter Ty Blach into the left-field bleachers for his second home run of the season.

“It just seems like he’s tracking the ball every time up,” Melvin said. “He’s aggressive. He’s wearing that left-center field gap out. … It’s like player of the week stuff that he’s doing right now.”

The home run gave Kyle Harrison a 3-0 lead with which to work, and Matos drove in another run — Chapman again — with a double in his next trip to the plate that made it 6-3 after the Rockies cut into the advantage in the top half of the third.

Pitching on an extra day of rest, Harrison gave the Giants five innings on 79 pitches, striking out four, walking two and surrendering three runs on five hits, but it was enough for San Francisco to win for the seventh consecutive time the 22-year-old left-hander has taken the mound.

“I’d have liked to have him go back out again, but at the time it seemed like they were squaring him up a little toward the end,” Melvin said. “You look at it and it’s five innings and only three runs, two walks, they had some good swings and made him work pretty hard.”

Despite playing in a fraction of the games, Matos has already driven in more runs than anyone on the team besides Estrada (25), Chapman (20) or Michael Conforto (20). In fact, his 17 RBIs are more than anyone in franchise history has totaled in his first six games of a season with a plate appearance.

Led by Matos, the Giants’ dormant offense has awoken the past two games against a Rockies pitching staff that had limited opponents to a 13 earned runs in 63 innings, a 1.86 ERA, over the seven-game win streak Colorado took into the series.

After only scoring in double figures once in 45 previous games, they have done so each of the past two games, totaling 24 runs on 32 hits.

“It’s not just (Matos); it’s been one after the other,” Melvin said. “All the guys that you hear about — guys from our system — are now getting a shot with the big-league team and probably getting their best chance ever. It’s been a jolt of energy for us and been a really good feeling in the dugout.”

Making his second start back from a right shoulder strain, Jorge Soler apparently rediscovered his knack for driving in runs. Coming up twice with runners in scoring position, the designated hitter delivered RBI knocks both times. He had been 3-for-26 (.115) in those situations before being placed on the injured list.

Soler’s RBI double in the second inning was rocketed off the bat at 114 mph, the hardest-hit ball by a Giants batter this season.

The Giants’ nine doubles were their most in any game since moving to San Francisco, not done since a 1912 meeting at Ebbets Field against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

And for as well as Matos has swung the bat, he doesn’t even lead the team in hits the past two games.

That distinction belongs to Chapman, who went 4-for-4 — the second four-hit game of his career — and scored three runs after going 3-for-4 and scoring three times the previous night. The two games alone were enough to raise Chapman’s batting average to .236 from .206 and his OPS to .676 from .599.

“He can get a little streaky at times; now you’re seeing what he has to offer,” said Melvin, who managed Chapman for five seasons in Oakland. “I was pulling for that five-hit game, but he draws a walk and isn’t trying to do too much. He’s getting better balls to hit and using the whole field.

“Typically that’s what he does when he’s swinging the bat well. But this is who he is. He’s made a nice career for himself and we were lucky to get him.”

NotableRelated ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants to give Marco Luciano ‘a good shot’ at shortstop job San Francisco Giants | How Filipina American DJ Umami brings Bay Area ‘flavor’ to SF Giants games at Oracle Park San Francisco Giants | SF Giants snap Rockies’ 7-game win streak, get Blake Snell back next San Francisco Giants | Reggie Crawford could be in SF Giants’ bullpen by end of this season San Francisco Giants | Keaton Winn becomes SF Giants’ latest injury victim with forearm strain

As expected, the Giants transferred Jung Hoo Lee (torn labrum) to the 60-day injured list and used the open spot on the 40-man roster to add outfield depth, claiming OF Ryan McKenna on waivers from the Orioles. McKenna, 25, is a career .224/.302/.332 hitter over 517 MLB plate appearances and can play all three outfield positions.

Blake Snell (adductor strain) will make his next start for the Giants, with a “good chance” of it coming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, Melvin said. In two rehab starts for Single-A San Jose and Triple-A Sacramento, Snell has struck out 19 batters in nine innings while allowing one hit and not issuing a walk.

Alex Cobb (flexor strain) is unlikely to be ready to be activated when eligible next Monday. He has yet to resume throwing after suffering his latest setback and “there just hasn’t been progress,” Melvin said. “He’s still feeling it in his shoulder a little bit and we’re not really sure what’s causing it.”

Up next

RHP Jordan Hicks (3-1, 2.44) vs. RHP Dakota Hudson (1-6, 6.13) Sunday in the series finale, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

SF Giants to give Marco Luciano ‘a good shot’ at shortstop job

SAN FRANCISCO — Bob Melvin perched himself on the top step of the third-base dugout Saturday morning and directed his gaze toward shortstop. Marco Luciano was fielding ground balls while Nick Ahmed made throws to first base, wearing a black brace where his glove would typically be on his left wrist.

As long as Ahmed, 34, remains out, the Giants manager intends to get a good look at the 22-year-old still considered the organization’s shortstop of the future.

“We patched it together with Casey (Schmitt) for a few days and Casey did a nice job,” Melvin said. “But if Marco’s going to be here, Marco’s going to play some shortstop. That’s why he’s here.”

Amid the Giants’ recent rash of injuries, Luciano was one of the last players on the 40-man roster who remained at Triple-A Sacramento. Initially when Ahmed was placed on the injured list, the club called up Schmitt, who played serviceable defense and provided a clutch hit but otherwise went 3-for-22 (.136) in six games.

Prior to this season, injuries limited Luciano to only 74 games and fewer than 300 at-bats between the upper two levels of the minor leagues, and the Giants wanted to get him as much seasoning as possible. As injuries piled up and Luciano’s production improved, it became untenable to keep him down any longer.

“It was a chance to give him a few more reps, but we feel like it’s a good time to get him out there and give him a good shot at this job,” president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said. “We brought him up with the thought that at some point here we were going to get him in the lineup and get him some run at shortstop…Really we think every game he plays kind of builds his case as a major-league shortstop.”

All 32 of Luciano’s games in the field at Triple-A this season came at shortstop, where the club maintains a belief he can stick for the long haul.

Making his first start Friday, Luciano ranged to his right and nabbed a ball in the hole but wasn’t able to complete the play for an out. He fielded a routine ground ball and nearly pulled LaMonte Wade Jr. off the bag at first base with his throw. He turned five ground balls into outs.

“Look, he’s put in a lot of work — a lot of work,” Melvin said. “At some point in time, if he’s going to be here, he’s going to play shortstop. He’s the shortstop of the future here and he was the guy that was playing the most shortstop down there (at Sacramento).”

The consensus among evaluators has long been that Luciano’s bat is more advanced than his glove, but Zaidi said he was impressed by the strides Luciano had made at the plate this season for the River Cats that weren’t necessarily reflected in his .266 batting average or one home run in 128 at-bats.

In 158 plate appearances, Luciano had struck out 44 times and drawn 29 walks. The 18.4% walk rate was the highest of his career, while the 27.8% strikeout rate was his lowest since A-ball. His refined two-strike approach paid dividends in his final at-bat Friday night, poking a slider into right field for his first career RBI.

“We really like the approach,” Zaidi said. “That was something we saw him improve a lot last year. When we saw him up in the big leagues we thought his at-bat quality was good, better than sometimes you expect for a guy coming up for the first time. He’s continued that down there and is having quality at-bats. I’ve watched a lot of Sacramento’s games and been impressed with that.

“The home runs, he’s got so much power, that will come. If he can carry that at-bat quality up here, I think he’s got a chance to get on a roll.”

What that could mean when Ahmed is ready to return is still to be determined.

Before suffering the left wrist strain that has kept him out since last Friday, Ahmed was batting only .236/.274/.291 but had provided some timely hits from the bottom of the lineup and generally lived up to his Gold Glove reputation defensively, rating in the 97th percentile with plus-4 Outs Above Average.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | Luis Matos enters exclusive company as SF Giants finally win 3 in a row San Francisco Giants | How Filipina American DJ Umami brings Bay Area ‘flavor’ to SF Giants games at Oracle Park San Francisco Giants | SF Giants snap Rockies’ 7-game win streak, get Blake Snell back next San Francisco Giants | Reggie Crawford could be in SF Giants’ bullpen by end of this season San Francisco Giants | Keaton Winn becomes SF Giants’ latest injury victim with forearm strain

Ahmed won’t travel with the team when it leaves for its next road trip but plans to begin to ramp up his baseball activity while the Giants are in Pittsburgh and New York and could be nearing a rehab assignment by the time they return home.

In the meantime, Luciano will receive the same shot as his fellow prospects, Luis Matos and Heliot Ramos, who made up two-thirds of the Giants’ outfield after injuries to Michael Conforto and Jung Hoo Lee.

“It’s definitely the plan, and it’s been a lot of fun,” Zaidi said. “It’s been a lot of fun to see Ramos and Matos to come up and play well… You almost start looking at the back end of this (string of injuries) when we’ve got to start picking who can stay on this roster and who can we continue to find at-bats for.”

John Harris, longtime Monterey Peninsula theater owner, filmmaker, dead at 85

John Robert Harris, 85, longtime Monterey Peninsula performing artist, filmmaker and movie theater owner, died on May 8 at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. A beloved figure in this region, he moved here from Hollywood in 1969. He and his partner Alan Weber established the 812 Cinema on Cannery Row, their famous “pillow theater.” Later, the two built the Dream Theater in New Monterey.  The 812 and Dream were lovingly built with creative ingenuity and the spirit of this community in mind.

Many of us who connected with Harris were drawn to his affable intelligence, generous spirit, and passion for films. Harris’s favorite film, Federico Fellini’s “8 ½, ” inspired the location of the movie house with its iconic address of 812 Cannery Row. Its padded flooring, comfortable pillow seating, and wafting incense provided an enticing way to enjoy films such as “El Topo,” Fellini’s “Satyricon” and “Seven Samurai.”

The most watched film at the 812 was the 1970’s cult hit “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” My brother Mark Shuler was projectionist during that era. He says a tribute to Harris’s meticulous care of the new 35 mm projectors was that he insisted on a daily startup routine to ensure that the machines remained in as close to perfect running condition as possible.  “I personally ran the Rocky Horror Picture Show nearly 1,000 times over the years when it was the only movie at the 812,” he says. “Representatives from 20th Century Fox visited the theater once and were astounded at the flawless condition of the print.” He says Harris’s copy of Rocky Horror remained in top condition for years, when other theaters needed replacements as often as weeks into their runs.

The interior pillow seating arrangement in the 812 Cinema. (Facebook)

Harris created a novel intermission show at the 812 by splicing together images from a large cache of donated 16 mm commercials. He took the flashy bits without product content and created a multi-projector visual extravaganza. Mark Shuler says, “Customers lay on the pillows, breathing in the scents of coconut and orange peel, dazzled by kaleidoscopic effects as they listened to ‘The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys’ by Traffic.”

Bert Adams expressed the sentiments of regulars who loved these two establishments in a Facebook post:. “The only movie theaters I can remember are the Dream Theater and the 812. Every other movie theatre I’ve ever been in hasn’t been worth remembering.”

Harris’s enthusiasm for film began as a kid. In 1951, his parents gave him a Crown Graphic Gravlex camera. It held magic that opened a world of expression and discovery, setting a course for the rest of his life.  With this tool, he gained skill, an artist’s eye, and a love of photography. Recently he acquired a used Gravlex of the same vintage. “Camera geekery,” he wrote on Facebook, “It’s old, smells, is wonderful and arrived today … Full circle in honor of my parents’ love for all things creative.”

He explored digital filmmaking with the same zeal he brought to celluloid, mastering computer editing and new technology. When 3-D cameras became affordable, Harris taught himself how to produce his own movies, often featuring footage of our natural surroundings. An animal lover, Harris knew how to communicate with wild creatures to encourage their best Cecille B. DeMille film takes.

Spending time with Harris, one learned about advances in both still photography and filmmaking. He dove into the weeds with anyone who would listen about the advances and importance of 3-D technology and would outfit us with the requisite spectacles to watch his own rushes or the latest 3-D creations out of Hollywood.

And there was always popcorn!

His own 3-D full-length movie, “Steinbeck Country: Monterey to Big Sur,” premiered at Lighthouse Cinemas in Pacific Grove in 2011.  A nature and meditation film, it was, as The Herald’s Dennis Taylor wrote, “his love letter to the paradise that has been his home since 1969.”  And though his “Mystery of Dreams” film remains unfinished, it contains some of his finest 3-D footage.

The sign from the Dream Theater. (Facebook)

Harris, who possessed a crooner’s voice, was also deeply geeky about microphones and audio processors. His last Facebook posting features an image of his new Tascam mixer with the words, “What a monster! Learning curve in motion! Multi track voices…Amazing!”  As a popular singer and pianist on the Peninsula for 25 years, he traveled to gigs with his keyboard and sound systems. He even removed the front passenger seat of his vintage blue Miata to make room for his equipment.

Kelly Productions represented his appearances at local venues as well as for private parties and corporate clients. Arden Eaton, production and promotion manager of the talent agency, says, “John was an infectious force for positivity. Always singing, always smiling with a warm word for all, John’s legacy as an integral part of the Monterey Peninsula’s artistic community will endure.”

Harris excelled at improvisation. When his friend, singer Linda Purdy, would show up for his gigs, the spontaneous fun and hilarity was contagious she said. Their antics didn’t stop there.

John Harris was also known for performing around town. (Courtesy of Kelly Productions)

“John called me numerous times to meet him at one of the beaches on the Peninsula,” Purdy said, remembering. “He would have a plan, so I dared not say no. Nor did I want to. After gathering formal attire and outrageous hats, I would arrive as he was arranging his filming equipment. He then positioned me up and down the beach and would direct me unmercifully.  Within minutes, we attracted crowds of onlookers. John always took time to speak with the people at these gatherings. He was in heaven, his audience enthralled!”

Another incident occurred on Los Laureles grade after a delicate medical procedure. “While driving him home over the Grade listening to his favorite music, he said, `Stop the car at the next turnout and boost the music up as loud as you can! We gotta get out and dance until we drop!’  So we did.  Once again, the crowds gathered.  Uncontrollable laughter ensued. That was life with John!”

Harris grew up in Culver, Oregon, but traveled to Los Angeles as a young man. His talents were quickly recognized by celebrities Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis and Ann-Margret, among others, with whom he collaborated as a back-up singer and dancer. He appeared in Ann-Margret’s Las Vegas debut and worked with her on other projects. They developed a lifelong friendship.  He played the Ed Sullivan Show, the Hollywood Palace, met Elvis Presley, and did a USO tour to Asia and around the U.S. Throughout his Hollywood career, he continued filming and maintained an archive of movies and photos of celebrities from that era.

During his five and a half decades on the Peninsula, he lent his expertise to numerous film and audio projects, theater productions, weddings and still photo shoots. He is survived by his brother Bill Harris and his nieces and nephews.

His agent John Kelly sums it up this way: “John was forever the dreamer, always working on new projects, always improving his craft as a performer, always looking forward. He was an entertainer who engaged with his audience in a positive and authentic way. To borrow some words from Bob Dylan, John was forever young, and those of us lucky to know him were graced by his good vibes and limitless talents.”

An announcement will be made later through Kelly Productions about a Celebration of Life for John. A Go Fund Me Account is being set up to cover expenses left in his estate.

Barbara Rose Shuler, who covers classical music and theater for the Herald, met John Harris shortly after he arrived on the Peninsula in 1969.  In addition to their longstanding friendship, they have collaborated professionally on projects over the years,  including voiceovers for his films and studio work related to her morning announcing job with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Local researchers follow orca flukeprints in Monterey Bay

Each spring gray whales migrate north from Mexico, towing their newborn calves over the formidable Monterey Canyon for the first time. Orcas also come into the bay. to hunt the baby grays.

Now local scientists are following the “flukeprints” orcas leave behind to find clues about their health and identity.

While there’s always a chance of seeing killer whales in Monterey Bay, researchers notice a slight uptick in sightings during the gray whale migration in April and May. This year, the California Killer Whale Project  is partnering with Ocean Wise, a conservation nonprofit based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The researchers, self-dubbed “orca-holics,” are collaborating to try out a new technique to study the orcas. Their goal is to use eDNA, or tiny bits of DNA found in the environment, to learn more about the 200 individuals in the local population. This method has never been used before to study the skin microbiome of marine mammals.

Over the next few months, they will brave the spring wind on Monterey Bay to collect as many biological samples as they can. Their sample analysis in the fall will determine whether this strategy can replace or supplement the standard, much more invasive procedure of blubber biopsy.

For conservationists, killer whales are a triple threat. Socially, they are essential to indigenous communities’ culture, traditions and practices. In the environment, they are essential top-down predators that also contribute to the carbon cycle, which helps maintain the climate. Economically, whale-watching is an entire industry of jobs that fully relies on a healthy population.

Like humans, orcas shed cells everywhere they go. These DNA fragments, known as eDNA, can tell us about their whereabouts, relationships to each other, and even their health.

Ocean Wise Research Technician Gary Sutton explained the collection process is quite simple. “You wait until they dive, and then sample that flat patch of water called the flukeprint, where you can find skin cells. Scoop it up, run it through a machine, and see if we can find out what bacteria live on the skin of whales, which is a good indication of the overall health of the animal,” said Sutton.

Scientists are following the “flukeprints” orcas leave behind to find clues about their health and identity.  (Illustration by Ocean Wise)

In order to control for the dynamic currents, they sample nearby seawater, outside of the whale’s flukeprint. This establishes a baseline for comparison.

After they collect the samples, Killer Whale Project researchers send them to the Ocean Wise Environmental DNA lab in Vancouver. They run the samples through PCR analysis, which allows them to search for specific species. “We can set the primers in our analysis process to look for bacteria on killer whales rather than, you know, salmon,” said Sutton.

Then, they can look at which bacteria and other microorganisms are associated with different whales. Usually, to find out if individuals are healthy or who is related to whom, scientists have to biopsy live whales, which involves using a crossbow dart to take a small chunk of their skin. If it works, eDNA analysis would be a far less invasive way to get much of the same information.

While orcas are not small — even their calves can weigh 400 pounds — Monterey Bay is roughly the size of Connecticut. Killer Whale Project biologist Colleen Talty says that even during the spring surge, the orcas are hard to find. For the past few years, their favorite food source has been suffering an unusual mortality event. The gray whale population has been on the decline since 2019, so orcas might be seeking alternative prey.

“Fewer calves means less of that particular food source for the killer whales, so they could be traveling in different areas to attack different species or dolphins or even attacking gray whale calves in different areas,” said Talty.

Killer whales have plenty of other food sources, but if they bail on the bay to find food elsewhere, they will be even harder to find and study.

After a training period with Ocean Wise, the Killer Whale Project team has collected six samples. They hope to collect at least 20 more before analysis in September.

Dr. Chloe Robinson, Director of the Ocean Wise Whales initiative, has done similar studies filtering out bacteria from eDNA in dolphin breath. She is confident in this technique. “I think it has about 99% chance of succeeding,” said Robinson, “And even if a handful of samples work, then that’s still a success.”

Overall, this joint research venture could be a new way to study orcas in their natural habitat, and better understanding leads to better protection.

“Orcas are important socially, economically, and biologically,” said Robinson, “But more than anything, they are a highly intelligent and emotional species that deserves to be protected.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Plan to live to 120

Question: I am a lady of 77 and am a professional in a highly technical field. Because I have worked in this field for decades, I have a very deep knowledge of it, continue to take educational classes to stay current and am sought after as an expert. Lately, people have been asking me when I plan to retire. I feel young, stay physically active, am in great health and love my job. I don’t have any plans to retire. Furthermore, I enjoy the close working relationships I have with my longtime colleagues. Also, I am not sure that I am in a position, financially, to retire comfortably. Both my parents lived well into their 90s and my sister is now in her late 90s and still walks every day, enjoys great friendships and plays tennis two times a week! What things should I consider if, or when, I start making plans to retire?

Answer: It sounds like you not only won the gene pool lottery but the lottery of life, as well. Good for you! According to the Longevity Genes Project at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, having great genes, like those you have described, indicates that you, too, will live a very long life. Being the sister of a (soon to be) centenarian makes it eight times more likely that you will live into or past your 100th birthday, as well. Brothers of a centenarian are seventeen times more likely to live past age 100. Both these findings are from studies done by the New England Centenarian, Boston University Medical.

In addition to great genes, it sounds like you are doing those things that add up to healthy living: you stay active both physically and mentally and, because of your job, you continue to have meaningful social interaction. When professionals like you, those who are leaders in a “highly technical” field retire, all those decades of knowledge can exit the field, which is a great loss. I hope that in addition to all else you are doing that you take time to mentor younger professionals to pass on some of your great accumulated knowledge.

But let’s face it, retiring at age 60, 65 or even 70 is passe. The amazing advancements in the medical and nutritional fields are making age 65 the new age 45. People are simply not aging as they used to, and the number of centenarians is increasing every year. It would be prudent for all of us to plan to live well past the normal “retirement age.”

I recommend that you work with your money manager and put together a good financial plan for retirement so you can be in a position to retire when you are ready to do so. Your plan should include the fact that you will, most likely, live beyond the age of 100. While I don’t have centenarians in my gene pool, because I am super healthy, my financial plan considers that I will live to 120. If I go sooner, no problem! There will be that much more left for my heirs and favorite charities but, I am comfortable that my lifetime is covered. If your money manager does not do this kind of planning, look for a Certified Financial Planner who can develop a plan to meet your personal goals.

In preparing to plan, read up on the centenarian research available so your financial plan is as accurate as possible. Unhealthy individuals and those without the lucky genes you inherited should plan for five or six years at the end of life when they may need in-home help or must move to a senior facility. This translates to higher end of life costs but does not necessarily apply to centenarians. Studies show that centenarians and supercentenarians (those who reach the age of 110) usually experience a “quick death.” Meaning they are healthy almost right to their death and need little, if any, expensive help or healthcare at the end.

I have a wonderful client who is age 99. When I see her and ask how she is doing, she gives a hardy laugh and says, “I am so healthy, I am really annoying to my heirs.”

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

A mother’s loss launches a global effort to fight antibiotic resistance

By Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES — In November 2017, days after her daughter Mallory Smith died from a drug-resistant infection at the age of 25, Diane Shader Smith typed a password into Mallory’s laptop.

Her daughter gave it to her before undergoing double-lung transplant surgery, with instructions to share any writing that could help others if she didn’t survive.

The transplant was successful, but Burkholderia cepacia — an antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain that first colonized her system when she was 12 — took hold. After a lifetime with cystic fibrosis, and 13 years battling an unconquerable infection, Mallory’s body could take no more.

In the haze of grief and pain, Shader Smith found herself looking through 2,500 pages of a journal her daughter had kept since high school. It chronicled Mallory’s hopes and triumphs as an ebullient, athletic student at Beverly Hills High School and Stanford University, and her private despair as bacteria ravaged her systems and sapped her considerable strength.

In the years since, the journal has become a source of solace for Shader Smith as she has traveled the globe speaking about the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. It is also now the inspiration for two new projects she hopes will spark greater understanding of the public health crisis that ended her daughter’s life prematurely and could claim millions more.

“Diary Of A Dying Girl” excerpts Mallory Smith’s own writings, which chronicle her 13-year battle against an antibiotic-resistant lung infection. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

On Tuesday, Random House published “Diary of a Dying Girl,” a selection of Mallory’s journal entries. The same day saw the launch of the Global AMR Diary, a website collecting the worldwide stories of people battling pathogens that can’t be defeated by our current pharmaceutical arsenal.

An estimated 35,000 people die in the U.S. each year from drug-resistant infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Worldwide, antimicrobial resistance kills an estimated 1.27 million people directly every year and contributes to the deaths of millions more.

Despite the mounting toll — and the prospect of an eventual surge in superbug fatalities — the development of new antibiotics has stagnated.

Shader Smith is acutely aware of what we stand to lose when medicine can no longer save us.

“I don’t want to live in a post-antibiotic world,” Shader Smith said. “Until people understand what’s at stake, they’re not going to care. My daughter died from this. So I care deeply.”

A shrine to Mallory Smith. She fought a drug-resistant bacteria from age 12 to 25, all through high school, then at Stanford. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Over the last 50 years, opportunistic pathogens have evolved defenses faster than humans can develop drugs to combat them.

Misuse of antibiotics has played a large part in this imbalance. Bugs that survive antibiotic exposure pass on their resistant traits, leading to hardier strains.

Crucial as they are, antibiotics don’t have the same financial incentives for developers that other drugs do. They aren’t meant to be taken over the long term, as are medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The most powerful ones have to be used as rarely as possible, to give bacteria fewer opportunities to develop resistances.

“The public does not understand [the] scope of the problem. Antimicrobial resistance truly is one of the leading public health threats of our time,” said Emily Wheeler, director of infectious disease policy at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. “The pipeline for antibiotics today is already inadequate to address the threats that we know about, without even considering the continuous evolution of these bugs as the years go on.”

Despite the global nature of the threat, Shader Smith said, the response from public health officials is curiously disjointed.

For one, no one can agree on a single name for the problem, she said. Different agencies address the issue with an “alphabet soup” of acronyms: the World Health Organization uses AMR as shorthand for antimicrobial resistance, while the CDC prefers AR. Medical journals, doctors and the media refer alternately to multidrug resistance (MDR), drug-resistant infections (DRI) and superbugs.

“It doesn’t matter what you call it. We just have to all call it the same thing,” said Shader Smith, who works as a publicist and marketing consultant.

A shrine to Mallory Smith. She fought a drug-resistant bacteria from age 12 to 25, all through high school, then at Stanford. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

Since Mallory’s death, Shader Smith has made it her mission to get the people and organizations working on antimicrobial resistance to talk to one another. For the Global AMR Diary, she enlisted the help of a dozen agencies working on the issue, including the CDC, WHO, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (the European Union’s equivalent of the CDC), the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and others.

Antimicrobial resistance can “feel abstract given the scale of the problem,” said John Alter, head of external affairs of the AMR Action Fund, one of the organizations involved with the project. “To know there are millions of families at this very moment going through struggles similar to what Mallory experienced is simply unacceptable,” he said.

“Not only does this firsthand experience help others who might be going through something similar, but it also reminds those tasked with creating solutions and care who they are working for. They aren’t just test tubes or charts,” said Thomas Heymann, chief executive of Sepsis Alliance, another contributor.

The stories in the online diary are often harrowing. A 25-year-old pharmacist in Athens had to put her cancer treatment on hold when an extremely resistant strain of Klebsiella attacked. A veterinarian in Kenya suffered permanent disability after contracting resistant bacteria after hip surgery. Around the world, routine outpatient procedures and illnesses have rapidly become life-threatening when opportunistic bugs take hold.

Related ArticlesHealth | Doctors saw younger men seeking vasectomies after Roe v. Wade was overturned Health | Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm Health | Partner talks in their sleep? Here’s how to slumber soundly Health | FDA said it never inspected dental lab that made controversial AGGA device Health | Their first baby came with medical debt. These parents won’t have another

Mallory was 12 when her doctor called to confirm that her cultures were positive for an extremely resistant strain of cepacia, a form of bacteria found widely in soil and water. The pathogen can be deadly to people with underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that impairs the cells’ ability to effectively flush mucus from the lungs and other body systems.

Life expectancies for people with cystic fibrosis have grown since Mallory’s diagnosis in 1995, with many people of them living into their 40s and beyond. The cepacia curtailed that possibility for her.

“This is all we’re ever going to have,” Mallory wrote in June 2011, at the end of her freshman year at Stanford, “so if you’re not actively pursuing happiness then you’re insane. And I don’t think I would have this perspective if I didn’t have resistant bacteria that will likely kill me.”

Mallory’s intuition that her journal could be valuable to others was prescient. “People can easily understand and relate to actual experiences,” said Michael Craig, director of the CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit. “The Global AMR Diary takes this approach and expands on it with a global lens — increasing the potential to get these critical messages to more people around the world.”

An earlier version of Mallory’s diaries was published in 2019 as “Salt in My Soul: An Unfinished Life.” The new book includes entries that Shader Smith said she wasn’t ready to grapple with in the immediate aftermath of Mallory’s passing: ones addressing depression and private despair, concerns about relationships and body image issues complicated by chronic illness.

It also includes a coda about phage therapy, a promising advance against AMR.

As cepacia overwhelmed Mallory’s system in the weeks after her transplant, her family secured an experimental dose of phage therapy. Widely used to treat infection before the advent of antibiotics, phages are viruses that destroy specific bacteria. The treatment arrived too late to save Mallory’s life, Shader Smith writes in a last chapter of the book, but her autopsy revealed that the phages had started to work as intended.

The systems that bring new drugs to patients move slowly, Shader Smith said, and “Mallory might have been saved if they had moved faster.” Her mission now is to make sure that they do.

“Mallory died six years ago. Six years is a long time, day in and day out,” she said. “And I’ve never taken my foot off the pedal.”

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Horoscopes May 18, 2024: Tina Fey, focus on self-worth

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Violett Beane, 28; Tina Fey, 54; George Strait, 72; Reggie Jackson, 78.

Happy Birthday: Let your creativity take over and put any drama that comes your way on the back burner. Don’t believe everything you hear or let anyone pressure you into something that doesn’t benefit you. Focus on self-worth, personal growth and positive personal changes that lead to opportunity and a better quality of life. Observe what others do and research thoroughly. Make peace and happiness your priorities. Your numbers are 3, 12, 17, 28, 32, 34, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take charge and finish what you start. An outlet for your energy will spare you the grief of a heated conversation. You’ll make the most progress using your imagination when managing money. Maintain a positive attitude and you’ll discover what makes you happy. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Mingle, participate and look for people heading in a similar direction. Endurance and insight will help you choose a path that leads to positive change and a more efficient and peaceful lifestyle. Love is in the stars. 5 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): False information will lead you astray. Fact-check before initiating a change that can influence your reputation, direction or physical well-being. Home improvement and dealing with institutions or bureaucracy will help you make an educated decision. Listen, take notes and ask for written offers. 2 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t apply or succumb to pressure. Back away from situations that make you nervous. Align yourself with people who share your concerns. There is safety and strength in numbers that can save you from scams. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Don’t feel pressured to change or move because someone else does or wants you to get involved. Put your energy into what makes the most sense and brings you the highest return. Allocate your cash to something that has merit and satisfies your soul. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You have plenty to gain if you join an interest group that offers insight into people, places and projects that can benefit you or what you want to pursue. Romance is in the stars, and a positive lifestyle change will encourage happy alternatives. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A proactive approach will boost your reputation and encourage others to pitch in and help. Don’t pay someone else to do something you can do yourself. Be direct and helpful, and leave nothing undone. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take part in activities or events that excite you, and interact with people who share your beliefs and offer unique strategies to help you bring about positive change. Partnerships look exciting and will give you the push to make things happen. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Distance yourself from pending problems. You require time and space to rethink your strategy and to determine who is on your team. Examine all the facts and options, and you’ll find the path that leads to possibilities. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You have more power than you realize. Refrain from letting anger take over when insight and creative options will put you in a leadership position. Open your heart, help those less fortunate and make your way to the place that brings you inner peace. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ll meet with opposition and face difficult decisions if you get involved in a joint venture or shared expense. When dealing with friends, relatives or colleagues, offer suggestions, not cash. Sit tight and wait for a better opportunity. Avoid paying for someone else’s mistake. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Trust your instincts, and you’ll devise a plan to eliminate pressure. Refrain from letting anyone step in and take over. Use your experience to create opportunities that address your desire to achieve, and you will gain respect. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are engaging, appealing and opportunity-driven. You are original and thoughtful.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters. 

Doctors saw younger men seeking vasectomies after Roe v. Wade was overturned

By Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times

Kori Thompson had long wrestled with the idea of having a child.

The 24-year-old worried about the world a kid would face as climate change overtook the globe, fearing the environmental devastation and economic strain that could follow. He had been thinking about getting a vasectomy ever since he learned about the sterilization procedure from a television show.

But “the thing that actually triggered it was the court decision,” Thompson said.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade nearly two years ago, paving the way for states to usher in new restrictions on abortion, doctors started seeing more young adults seeking vasectomies or getting their tubes tied, emerging research has found.

An analysis by University of Utah researchers, released as an abstract in the Journal of Urology, found that after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a rising share of vasectomy patients were under the age of 30.

Related ArticlesHealth | A mother’s loss launches a global effort to fight antibiotic resistance Health | Stranded in the ER, seniors await hospital care and suffer avoidable harm Health | Partner talks in their sleep? Here’s how to slumber soundly Health | FDA said it never inspected dental lab that made controversial AGGA device Health | Their first baby came with medical debt. These parents won’t have another

That percentage went from 6.2% to 9.8% after the Supreme Court decision, based on their analysis of a national database that includes hundreds of millions of patients.

Among the young patients who pursued the procedure is Thompson, who decided to get a vasectomy in the aftermath of the court ruling. In Georgia where he lives, abortion is illegal roughly six weeks into a pregnancy — a point before some people may learn that they are pregnant.

“If it’s effectively illegal,” Thompson said, “then I felt that this was necessary.” His girlfriend also disliked the effects of hormonal birth control, “so now I’ve decided to go on permanent birth control. It’s way easier.”

The University of Utah researchers found that before the Supreme Court ruling, vasectomy rates were consistently higher in states categorized as “hostile” or “illegal” for abortion by the Center for Reproductive Rights, compared to states that were not as restrictive. The same was true after the ruling.

Yet researchers also found an overall uptick in vasectomy rates after the Dobbs decision — both in states where abortion is heavily restricted and those where it is not.

In California, where state leaders have vowed to protect abortion rights, the rate of men getting vasectomies rose after the court decision, from roughly 7 to 13 per 100,000 potential patients, the Utah team found.

“We’re just seeing an overall increase in vasectomies — regardless of political climate” in each state, said Dr. Jessica Schardein, a urologist at the University of Utah. Schardein said the Supreme Court ruling and increased marketing for vasectomies may have gotten more people thinking about the procedure.

“People in general, even if they don’t have a uterus, are taking responsibility for their reproductive health,” Schardein said.

Her team also examined tubal sterilizations — a medical procedure often called “getting your tubes tied,” performed on the fallopian tubes connected to the uterus — and found that after the court decision, there was an increase in the percentage of patients ages 18 to 30 among those undergoing the procedure.

“People in general, even if they don’t have a uterus, are taking responsibility for their reproductive health.” —Dr. Jessica Schardein, University of Utah urologist 

In Riverside County, Jacob Snow decided to get a vasectomy after the birth of his third child, concluding it was a safer option than his wife had for sterilization. “There’s no reason why all the blame and stress and trying to stop a pregnancy should be placed on the female when I can stop it at my end,” the 28-year-old said.

Even though Snow was already a parent, the doctor balked because of his age, he said. “They said I might change my mind in the future,” Snow recalled. “They flat out just refused.”

Vasectomies are intended to be permanent. The surgery may be able to be reversed with other procedures, but physicians caution that doing so is not a guaranteed option.

Snow ultimately found another doctor to do the procedure. Besides the pushback from the first physician, Snow said some men have been aghast when he tells them he had a vasectomy, saying it would make them feel like less of a man. But Snow said he doesn’t “feel that reproducing is how I need to prove that I’m a man.”

The University of Utah findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Urological Assn., have been echoed in other recent research.

Last month, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and Boston University published findings in JAMA Health Forum showing “an abrupt increase” in vasectomies and tube tying following Dobbs, with a sharper increase in tubal ligation.

The difference “likely reflects the fact that young women are overwhelmingly responsible for preventing pregnancy and disproportionately experience the health, social and economic consequences of abortion bans,” University of Pittsburgh assistant professor Jacqueline Ellison said in a statement.

Another analysis in the Journal of Urology that included multiple medical centers around the country — including UCLA — found that after the Dobbs decision, the typical patient seeking a vasectomy was younger than before. Researchers also found that an increased share were childless.

There was also a rise in the number of patients consulting doctors about the medical procedure, said Dr. Kara Watts, a urologist at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City — and longer waits to get the surgery after a consultation. If wait times weren’t an issue, Watts said, “the numbers would probably be even more dramatic.”

Researchers detected a similar trend in the UC San Diego health system, where there was a rise in men seeking consultations about vasectomies after the Dobbs decision, as well as increased rates of patients going through with the procedure after their consultations, according to another review presented at the urology meeting.

Even though California has enshrined abortion rights in its state constitution, “I think that vasectomy consultations and completion rates still increased due to the national media coverage on the Supreme Court ruling,” said Dr. Vi Nguyen, one of the authors of the analysis.

And at Ohio State University, urologists surveyed patients about why they chose to get vasectomies and found that after the Dobbs decision, they were more likely to cite concerns about abortion access or say that “they did not want to bring children into the current political climate.”

Other reasons for wanting a vasectomy, such as health concerns, did not change after Dobbs, the survey found. Dr. Jessica Yih, an assistant professor of urology at the Ohio State University, wasn’t surprised.

“Immediately after the Dobbs ruling, many people were extremely concerned about their reproductive rights,” Yih said in an email. “We had a threefold increase in referrals of patients who were wanting to be scheduled to discuss vasectomies and the number of vasectomies performed around this time increased dramatically.”

Abortion has been a sharply contested issue in Ohio, where a law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy initially went into effect after the Dobbs ruling. That ban was later put on hold in court, and Ohio voters have since backed protections for abortion access in its state constitution.

“Many patients told us at our clinics that they wanted their vasectomies done as soon as possible due to concerns about restrictions in abortion access,” Yih said.

©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.