Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 49

Texas AG files suit in Tehama County Superior Court to force absent Democrats home

The redistricting controversy in Texas has reached Tehama County.

Shawn Cowles, an attorney representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, filed suit in Tehama County Superior Court on Friday, looking to force the return of Democrat legislators, Rhetta Andrews Bowers (District 113), Gina Hinojosa (District 49), Ann Johnson (District 134), Ray Lopez (District 125), Mary Ann Perez (District 144), and Vincent “Vince” Perez (District 77).

The suit states the Texas AG’s office holds the belief that Bowers, Hiinojosa, Johnson, Lopez, and Perez are in California and asks the court for help in returning them.

It does not claim any of the legislators are in Tehama County — but they do not have to be for the court to act.

“Venue is proper pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 395 because all Defendants are nonresidents of California and are temporarily located in California; therefore, an action may be commenced in any county,” the suit reads.

The suit argues that the “Full Faith and Credit Clause of the United States Constitution” compels California to help.

The suit argues “this Court should issue such orders to effectuate the Quorum Warrants, just as if they were acts of the state of California and treat the Quorum Warrants as its own civil order.

“Texas respectfully requests the Court issue a rule to show cause why Defendants should not be held in contempt for their knowing efforts to evade Texas’s duly issued Quorum Warrants,” the suit reads.

It also argues that the Texas Constitution limits special sessions of the Texas Legislature to 30 days, and the current session will end no later than Aug. 20.

The suit stressed that, absent immediate action by the court, the Texas Legislature will be unable to address any of the 18 matters presented by the governor, including disaster flood relief and matters involving the Texas public school system.

The suit asks the Tehama County court to consider this matter on an emergency basis and that the court issue a rule to show cause:

1. Initiating contempt proceedings against defendants for unlawfully seeking to evade Texas’s duly issued quorum warrants;

2. Setting a hearing as soon as practicable at which plaintiff may present evidence of defendants’ willful attempts to circumvent Texas law.

High School football tour: Familiar face to bring in new era at Soledad

EDITOR’S NOTE: Herald sports writer John Devine is spending most of this month visiting Monterey County schools to get a sneak peek of their football teams. This and other previews will be available at www.montereyherald.com.

SOLEDAD – He stepped down as the head coach four years ago for professional reasons. But Eric Rodriguez never really left the Soledad High football program.

Having built a bond over the years with his players, not to mention a tenacious defense, Rodriguez remained on staff as an assistant coach, providing stability for the new head coaches.

Soledad football coach Eric Rodriguez. (Courtesy photo)

Yet, circumstances saw the Aztecs change head coaches twice in the past three years. When approached about returning as a head coach, Rodriguez saw the gleam in his players’ eyes when word began to leak that he was coming back.

“I’m more comfortable with my job,” said Rodriguez, the director of facilities for the Soledad Union High School District. “The kids, though, are what brought me back. I see their passion.”

With the urging of his returning players in the off-season, Rodriguez accepted the challenge for a second tour of duty as the Aztecs’ head coach, although this time it’s a roster built around youth and a sprinkling of seniors.

Rodriguez has brought up an infusion of sophomores to help fill needs at numerous positions, as Soledad’s roster hovered around 25 players in the first week of the season.

“What I like about this team is the hunger and fight that we have,” Soledad senior quarterback DJ Valenzuela said. “A concern is we have small numbers, and we don’t have the experience we’ve had the last few years.”

DJ Valenzuela begins his third season as Soledad's starting quarterback. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Two years removed from a Pacific Coast Athletic League Cypress Division title, the Aztecs missed the postseason last season after dropping their last two league games.

Soledad, which finished 5-5 overall, went into its final two Mission Division South games sitting in a tie for second at 3-1.

“Looking back, we just didn’t finish,” Rodriguez said. “We let it slip away. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances. I don’t know if the moment was too big. Chalk it up to a learning experience.”

What Soledad showed last year — even with its youth — is that it’s capable of competing, not only in the Mission South, but outside its division.

One of its losses was to playoff-bound Branham of San Jose on a Hail Mary pass with no time left . It embraced the challenge of facing West Catholic Athletic League power Sacred Heart Cathedral.

“That’s the mentality that we have,” said Rodriguez, who has state champion Carmel for its season opener this year. “We don’t shy away from competition. We embrace it. Those type of games prepare us for our league.”

Having been a part of Soledad’s football program at various levels for 22 years, Rodriguez witnessed a dedicated group of players committed to an off-season program without a head coach.

“That convinced me to take the job,” Rodriguez said. “Our turnouts were fantastic. We haven’t missed a beat. We’re young, but we are excited about being young. We get to build off that.”

As the head coach of the Aztecs in 2018, Rodriguez guided them back to the playoffs by closing the season with three straight wins. The 2019 team went 5-5 in his final season as a head coach before COVID canceled the 2020 season.

With Rodriguez still running the Aztecs’ defense the past four years, the program flourished in 2022, running off a school record nine straight wins to win the Cypress Division title.

Last season the Aztecs’ defense, anchored by freshman linebacker Daniel Garcia, shut out one opponent, while holding two others to six points or less.

Linebacker Daniel Garcia started as a freshman last season for Soledad, sharing the team lead in interceptions. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Erase the two losses to Sacred Heart Cathedral and Carmel, and Soledad gave up 103 points over eight games.

“One of my assistants is taking over the defense,” Rodriguez said. “He knows the defense I like to bring. He’ll continue that model. We’ll be a stingy bunch to face.”

Garcia, who earned all-Mission Division South honors last year as a freshman, averaged 8.1 tackles a game as an inside linebacker, while recovering a fumble and sharing the team lead in interceptions.

“He’s only been playing football for four years,” Rodriguez said. “But he’s mature beyond his years. He reads the field really well. He’s the key to our defense. He has a high football IQ.”

Garcia’s versatility could see him fill a void in the backfield as a fullback for Soledad, serving as an extra blocker for Valenzuela, a three-year starting quarterback.

Valenzuela, who is drawing attention from colleges as a baseball catcher, has a rocket for an arm, which is an asset when playing in the wind for home games in Soledad.

“We’ve always been a run-heavy team,” Valenzuela said. “We pound the rock. That’s what Soledad is known for. But we can put the ball in the air effectively. We’ll be a mixture of both this year.”

Valenzuela, who is expected to start at safety as well for Soledad, threw for nearly 1,000 yards and added 300 yards on the ground, compiling 10 touchdowns for the Aztecs.

Soledad's DJ Valenzuela. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

“He’s going to be our rock,” Rodriguez said. “We need him to take that next step. We’ve worked on developing his passing. I think he understands his role as a senior. I made sure of that.”

Losing a 1,200-yard running back won’t be easy to replace. However, Rodriguez has another sprinter-type tailback in Gio Gallegos, along with sophomore Christian Zarco.

In limited touches last year, Gallegos averaged 9.8 yards each time he touched the ball, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns in one game.

The senior is a threat on special teams as well, returning a punt 65 yards for six last fall, and can be used as an extra receiver in passing situations.

“He (Gallegos) should get a lot more touches,” Rodriguez said. “He’s faster than what people think. Gio is a shifty guy. He made some plays last year when called upon.”

Valenzuela will have a familiar target to get the ball out to in the flat in Erik Sandoval, who came up last fall as a freshman and made an immediate impact.

A concern moving forward for Rodriguez is a lack of size in the trenches. In fact, the Aztecs are thin on the offensive and defensive lines, which may force him to convert a few players into linemen or dip into his junior varsity program.

“We’re going to be fine at the skill positions,” Rodriguez said. “Right now we’re hurting up front. … We could use some help.”

Lineman Xavier Ovalle proved the moment wasn’t too big last year when he was brought up as a freshman to fill a need, providing stability in the trenches, creating holes for the running game while pancaking opponents.

Soledad's Xavier Orvalle. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

“We’re still piecing it together,” Rodriguez said. “We’re excited about the future. But I explained to these seniors that they need to lead by example. No one is going to outwork us.”

49ers defense opens preseason with growing pains while a Hall of Famer comes to watch

SANTA CLARA – Patrick Willis, inducted last summer into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, stopped behind a Levi’s Stadium end zone Saturday night and relayed how excited he was to watch live football.

Yes, even a preseason opener that would yield first impressions of a new defensive cast.

So, which of the next-gen linebackers might eventually make plays like Willis did from 2007-14? Stay tuned. We’re only one preseason game into this, and the 49ers’ growing pains showed as a 9-0 lead flipped into a 30-9 defeat against the Denver Broncos.

That early lead came via the 49ers’ would-be backups against the Broncos’ legitimate starters, however.

“I felt pretty good with the defense in the first half,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “Mental mistakes kept a couple of drives going. I didn’t feel a lot with pass rush out there but have to watch the tape for sure.”

All-Pro Fred Warner got the night off with most other of the 49ers’ projected regular-season starters. But Dee Winters, Warner’s wingman in the starting lineup throughout camp, did play the opening two series as the weakside linebacker next to Tatum Bethune, Warner’s impressive understudy.

San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) stands on the field during warm-ups before their NFL preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

“Dee is going into his third year, but this is really my first year seeing him. Man, it looks like he’s hungry and ready to take that next step,” Willis told the Bay Area News Group. “Obviously it’s all about doing it. It starts with the will to want to, and he’s been practicing his tail off and looking good. I see a lot of upside to him.”

Winters didn’t have a tackle in the 10 snaps over the opening two series, but he’s had an otherwise impressive camp through 12 practices.

Another option next to Warner is Nick Martin, a third-round pick who replaced Winters Saturday night. Martin had multiple missed tackles in the third quarter, with one open-field whiff nullified by a Broncos penalty. Shanahan acknowledged those gaffes, including his coverage on a third-down shallow cross, but otherwise praised Martin’s camp and learning opportunities that await.

“Nick, when you’re a freshman, the only thing you can do is show up each day and work your tail off, and he’s been doing that,” said Willis, who attended Thursday’s joint practice against the Broncos. “Obviously there’s things we can always get better on, and it’s a matter of just working on those things.”

Martin’s late coverage allowed a touchdown catch to tight end Caleb Lohner with 2:15 left.

“He’s going to be very valuable. Special teams is really going to need him,” Willis added in pregame about Martin. “And then when you get a chance to come in on third downs, make a play here or there, but most important, be sound and get the confidence of your teammates you can do the right thing.”

Bethune made three tackles on Saturday’s opening drive, and he returned to action in the second quarter after treatment on his right ankle. Willis was aware of him beforehand: “Bethune, I really feel could be that third linebacker and step in and be someone they can trust to get the job done.”

The 49ers, of course, have a void to fill next to Warner because Dre Greenlaw left in free agency for the Broncos; a quadriceps strain kept him out of action against his old team in practice and this game.

“I don’t think you can just replace someone like Dre Greenlaw,” Willis said. “But when you have someone like Fred, all you need is someone beside you that you’re confident they’ll be where they’re supposed to be.”

For Willis, that sidekick became NaVorro Bowman, and they helped lead the 49ers to three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl in Willis’ final three full seasons before foot issues prompted his 2014 exit.

From the first night they roomed together in camp at the Santa Clara Marriott, Willis knew Bowman would be a perfect fit, because Bowman didn’t need Willis’ advice to dive into the playbook. “I’ll never forget, true story, I walk in our room and he’s already in his playbook,” Willis said. “It hit me right away. The rest is history. We chopped it up and I won’t tell you the things we talked about, but I was, ‘I think we’re going to be alright.’ ”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Carter Bradley (17) or Jordan Watkins (17) reaches for a pass during warm-ups before their NFL preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

EARLY LEAD

Once Winters and the 49ers defense took the field, they had a 7-0 lead to protect, courtesy of a game-opening drive that culminated in Patrick Taylor Jr.’s 5-yard touchdown run.

Mac Jones, starting at quarterback in place of Brock Purdy, had a fourth-and-1 conversion plunge on the preceding snap, and Jones really sparked the drive with a 50-yard completion to rookie Jordan Watkins to the Broncos’ 16-yard line, where former 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga made a touchdown-saving stop.

Jones went 4-of-7 over three series, with his final pass intercepted when Ja’Quan McMillan undercut an out route by Watkins in 49ers’ territory. Carter Bradley took over early in the second quarter and threw an interception on his second series.

San Francisco 49ers’ Darrell Luter Jr. (28) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos’ Courtland Sutton (14) in the second quarter of their NFL preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

DEFENSE’S DEBUT

In Robert Saleh’s return as defensive coordinator after four years away, his unit produced points on its second series. Nickel back Chase Lucas’ blitz forced Bo Nix to retreat into the end zone and throw the ball away toward the sideline, resulting in a safety and 9-0 Niners lead.

Then the Broncos scored 20 unanswered points before halftime, including touchdown catches against starting cornerbacks Darrell Luter Jr. and Dallis Flowers. Luter’s apparently blown coverage allowed tight end Lucas Krull to get wide open for an 8-yard scoring catch, then Jarrett Stidham found ex-49er Trent Sherfield for a 36-yard touchdown over Flowers.

Earlier, the Broncos settled for field goals thanks to a Luter pass defense in the end zone against Courtland Sutton, then sacks on the next series by Robert Beal Jr. and Kalia Davis.

San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) walks on the field during warm-ups before their NFL preseason game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

INJURY UPDATES

Marques Sigle, a rookie starter at safety, recorded seven tackles before sustaining a first-half knee injury that Shanahan believes is a bruise. “He flashed a lot tonight. He got a late start. A few days into camp was when he got going,” Shanahan said. “He had a heck of a week and finished it off today.”

Sigle started next to veteran Jason Pinnock while the 49ers were without a trio of starters from last season — Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle), Malik Mustapha (knee) and Hufanga.

Running back Ameer Abdullah sustained a rib injury while fumbling on a third-quarter run. Defensive end Robert Beal Jr. strained his groin in the fourth quarter.

Defensive lineman Mykel Williams indeed sustained a left-knee hyperextension and may need only one more week to recover, Shanahan said.

JENNINGS’ CALF

Shanahan insisted that wide receiver Jauan Jennings’ absence the last two weeks is due to a calf injury, similar to one he had not only in the spring organized team activities but also last training camp. Asked if Jennings told him he’s holding out for business purposes in quest of a contract extension, Shanahan replied: “Not at all.” Jennings was the first player to exit the locker room after Saturday’s game.

MOST STARTERS SHELVED

Healthy scratches on offense were Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Rickey Pearsall and linemen Trent Williams, Jake Brendel, Dominick Puni and Colton McKivitz, along with injured wide receiver Jauan Jennings (calf). Ben Bartch started at left guard, where the 49ers have him pegged to replace Aaron Banks (Green Bay Packers).

Defensively, the 49ers sat Warner, Nick Bosa, Mykel Williams (knee), Jordan Elliott (back), Kevin Givens (pectoral), Renardo Green (hamstring), and Brown (ankle). Rookie nickel back Upton Stout did not suit up because of a tight calf.

Shanahan said 19 didn’t suit up because of injuries and seven were healthy scratches.

The Broncos played their usual starters, including defensive linemen Nick Bonitto and John Franklin-Myers, who had sacks on the 49ers’ second series.

Related Articles A look at every new 49er heading into exhibition opener against Broncos Guy Haberman has Greg Papa’s support as fill-in for 49ers local TV broadcasts Ex-49ers enjoy preseason return visit to Santa Clara with Broncos How to watch the 49ers vs. Broncos preseason opener 49ers-Broncos practice recap: McCaffrey looks refreshed; Mykel Williams hurts knee

PREGAME TRANSACTIONS

The 49ers brought back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to fortify a running back corps that didn’t suit up McCaffrey, Isaac Guerendo (shoulder) and rookie Jordan James (finger). Vaughn came off the 49ers’ practice squad last season for three games. Offensive lineman Zack Johnson was waived in Saturday’s corresponding roster move.

On Friday, the 49ers re-signed Mordecai, a week after his release yielded No. 3 reps for Bradley. Also, wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown was placed on Injured Reserve (foot); he was signed July 22 on the eve of camp, released on July 31 and re-signed Aug. 5.

 

Whisenhunt allows three solo homers as SF Giants fall to Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO — Carson Whisenhunt’s third start in the majors encapsulated why he’s far from a finished product, as well as why he’s the Giants’ top pitching prospect.

Regarding the former, Whisenhunt allowed three runs on three home runs over four innings and took his first loss as the Giants fell 4-2 to the Washington Nationals on Saturday. He also walked three batters and allowed lots of hard contact. Regarding the latter, Whisenhunt struck out five batters and induced 19 swings-and-misses, including 11 with his signature changeup.

“I didn’t have my best stuff,” said Whisenhunt, who has a 5.02 ERA through his three starts. “The home runs, I left them pretty much middle of the plate.”

Rafael Devers’ solo homer in the sixth — his second in as many days — and Wilmer Flores’ pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the eight constituted San Francisco’s only offense of the day. The Giants’ offense had its opportunities to do damage, loading the bases in the third and eighth innings, but finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Devers, who had two hits and two walks on Saturday, has shown spurts of his ability to carry an offense since coming to San Francisco, but has yet to go on a tear for an extended period of time.

The three-time All-Star opened up the second half by going 10-for-26 with two homers and five RBIs during the Giants’ road trip against the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves. Upon returning home, Devers went 2-for-22 as the Giants were swept by the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates. But now, Devers is 9-for-28 with three homers, seven RBIs and eight walks since the trade deadline.

All in all, Devers is slashing .276/.389/.526 with five home runs and 13 RBIs during the second half.

“I’ve been doing the same thing I’ve been doing all year, just making sure that I take advantage of all my at-bats,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I don’t think that it’s necessary for me to change anything. I’m just being the type of player that I am, and things are just beginning to work out for me.”

Opposing hitters were 1-for-18 against Whisenhunt’s sinker in his first two starts, but the left-hander allowed four hits against Washington on his sinker — including all three solo homers. Along with the hits, the Nationals generated six batted balls of at least 103 mph, the hardest-hit being Josh Bell’s 107.8 mph home run.

“They were on his fastball — they hit some fastballs for homers,” said manager Bob Melvin. “His stuff was as good as we’ve seen it today, but kind of middle-middle with three fastballs and they hit three homers off him.”

Whisenhunt immediately put San Francisco into a 1-0 deficit by allowing an opposite-field solo homer to leadoff hitter James Wood, who hadn’t homered since July 9.

Two innings later, Whisenhunt allowed two more homers in back-to-back at-bats. Former Giant Paul DeJong pulled a solo shot into the Giants’ bullpen, then Bell followed up with his own opposite-field blast to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

Washington expanded its lead to 4-0 in the top of the sixth as Wood drove home a run against Carson Seymour, but Devers got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to cut it to 4-1.

The Giants had an opportunity to put up a crooked number in the bottom of the eighth when they loaded the bases with one out, prompting Nationals manager Miguel Cairo to summon left-hander Jose A. Ferrer to face the left-handed hitting Dominic Smith. Melvin countered by going with a pinch-hitter in Flores, who drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and brought the Giants within two runs.

The Giants entered the bottom of the ninth trailing 4-2 but put the tying run on base with one out on a pair of singles from Jung Hoo Lee and pinch-hitter Christian Koss. Ferrer ended San Francisco’s chances of a comeback by getting Patrick Bailey to hit into a game-ending double play.

“Those are things that just happen,” Devers said of the Giants’ struggles with runners in scoring position. “You go out, you take your at-bat, you try to do the best you can and you try to drive in the runner from scoring position. Those are the things that are going to happen during a campaign.”

Pro Soccer: Union’s slide continues in loss to Sacramento

SACRAMENTO —  Losing its identity on the pitch couldn’t be coming at a worse time.

Yet, second half of the season collapses are becoming a theme for Monterey Bay FC.

A team record 11-game winless streak last summer took them out of the playoff picture. If the season ended today, the Union would be absent from the postseason for the fourth straight year after a 1-0 loss Saturday to Sacramento.

The Union have slide into the ninth spot in the United Soccer League Championship’s Western Conference — two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot, although they are also just two points from jumping back into the sixth spot.

Owners of three straight USL setbacks, the Union have stumbled to a 2-8-0 USL record over their last 10 matches on the pitch, slipping to 6-10-4 in the USL.

Monterey Bay FC’s biggest struggles continue to be on the road, where it fell to 1-7-3 away from Cardinale Stadium, with its only win coming back on March 22 at Orange County.

Failing to score marked the ninth time this season that the Union have not been able to punch in a goal, with eight of those matches coming on the road.

Six of Monterey Bay FC’s final 10 matches are at home, where it is 5-3-1 at Cardinale Stadium in USL play. Six of those final 10 games, however, are against opponents that would be in the postseason if the season ended today.

Since opening the season 4-1-2 and occupying first place in the Western Conference, the Union — who fell on Wednesday 3-2 to first place Tulsa — have gone just 2-9-2.

A handful of saves from Monterey Bay FC goalie Nico Campuzano gives him the USL lead between the pipes with 60.

Sacramento, who is 5-0-1 in its last six matches to climb into second place in the Western Conference, is 5-2-1 lifetime against the Union.

 

Perseid meteor shower: How and when to watch

Ready to set your alarm?

The annual Perseid meteor shower, which NASA has called the best meteor shower of the year — and which inspired John Denver to write “Rocky Mountain High” more than 50 years ago — is underway now. It’s expected to peak Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning.

The astronomical show often generates as many as 50 to 75 shooting stars per hour over California and much of the United States. This year, however, the view will be limited by a nearly-full moon on the peak night.

“You’ll still be able to see meteors,” said Ben Burress, staff astronomer at Chabot Space & Science Center in the Oakland Hills. “You might miss some of the fainter meteors, but the moon is not going to overpower the major meteors of the shower. It’s nice to have a very dark sky. But if your goal is to see a meteor, this is a good time, moon or no moon.”

The “shooting stars” that zip across the night sky during the Perseid shower aren’t really stars. They are space pebbles.

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The meteor shower occurs every year between mid-July and mid-August when Earth, as it orbits around the sun, crosses a trail of dust and dirt from the famous Swift-Tuttle comet, which itself orbits the sun once every 133 years. The comet is just a huge ball of ice, with rocks, dust and other debris inside it. With each pass around the sun, some of that debris breaks away, and is left behind in the comet’s wake, creating a giant oval that extends from beyond Pluto to around the sun.

As Earth passes through that debris field each year, some of those tiny bits of sand, metal and rock burn up when they come into Earth’s atmosphere, creating the flashing trails we see across the night sky.

“It’s like a car driving into a cloud of insects,” Burress said.

The best time to see the Perseid meteor shower this year will be early in the morning Wednesday, a few hours before the sun rises at 6:23 a.m., said Andrew Fraknoi, chairman emeritus of the Astronomy Department at Foothill College.

You can look for them anywhere in the sky. But the view is best out in the country.

“Get away from city lights and find a location that’s relatively dark,” Fraknoi said.

Be patient, he advised. It takes a few minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. And don’t use a telescope or binoculars — they restrict your view and it’s important to see the whole sky to have the best chance at seeing shooting stars.

If you can drive to a dark rural location, like a road or park in the hills around the Bay Area away from city lights and fog, you’ll have a better chance of seeing more meteors.

Chabot Space & Science Center will open its observation deck to the public for a watch party from 11 p.m. Tuesday until 3 a.m. Wednesday, with experts on hand to explain the show. Cost of admission is $15 for adults and $7 for kids.

The Perseid meteor shower was first documented by Chinese astronomers in 36 A.D.

Apart from inspiring people about nature and space for hundreds of generations, the Perseids also inspired a famous song. In 1971, singer John Denver and several friends took a camping trip to Williams Lake, near Aspen, Colorado, to watch the Perseids. Denver, then 27, was so moved he wrote “Rocky Mountain High,” which became a smash hit for lyrics like “I’ve seen it raining fire in the sky” and “shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby.”

“Imagine a moonless night in the Rockies in the dead of summer and you have it,” he wrote later in his autobiography. “I had insisted to everybody that it was going to be a glorious display.”

Denver died in 1997 after a light plane he was piloting crashed into Monterey Bay. Ten years later, state legislators named his Perseid-inspired ballad one of Colorado’s two official state songs.

“Even though this kind of event requires you to get up early or stay up late, people are never disappointed,” Burress said. “It’s a good reminder to slow down and smell the roses and decouple from our busy lives and take a moment to observe nature. This is an opportunity to observe something special.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Can my home title get stolen?

Question: My neighbor recently purchased a title monitoring service and she is insisting that I should do the same. She said that her sister recently found out that someone had stolen the title to her home and her sister is now responsible for the payoff of a mortgage of over $200,000! I am wondering if my title insurance would protect me in this kind of situation or if I should also pay an annual fee to have a company monitor my title.

Answer: It sounds like your neighbor’s sister is a victim of home title fraud also known as deed theft or mortgage fraud. The most common way this occurs is when someone either illegally transfers the title of your home into their name or steals your identity and uses it to forge a mortgage or line of credit application. This kind of scam does not happen as frequently as you would think from the hype of the title lock company commercials but, unfortunately, it does happen.

Most victims of home title theft are homeowners with paid off mortgages and owners of properties that are unoccupied and unmonitored. Would-be fraudsters research property ownership records through the county recorder’s office, learn the ownership of property, create fraudulent identification documents and obtain a mortgage or line of credit. The fraud then takes the money and runs. The homeowner often has no knowledge of the theft until they begin to receive mortgage payment notices from a lender they have never heard of. In essence, the thief has stolen the equity in the home.

Less common is when a fraudster “sells” your property to an unsuspecting buyer. The “new owner” shows up with a moving van, ready to move into their new house and the true homeowner has the displeasure of letting the buyer know they’ve been conned.

It is important to know that your neighbor’s sister and the homeowner of a property that has been fraudulently “sold,” are not responsible for any monetary loss, in either case. While it takes some legal work to undue a stolen title or a fraudulently sold home, the true homeowner is not liable to the lender or the would-be buyer. In other words, your neighbor’s sister is not responsible for repayment of the $200,000.

Title insurance will not be helpful in these kinds of situations. When we buy property, the escrow company researches the title of the property we are buying to be sure there are no mortgages or other liens on the property, determines any easements on the property and confirms any taxes or other obligations that may “cloud” the title. Once the title company has confirmed that any of these issues are addressed, they will issue title insurance and make sure you are fully informed of what you are buying. Title insurance is a “look back” and not a “look forward” so once the insurance is issued, the title insurer is essentially done with their work and cannot help with a later title theft.

Title lock companies monitor your title and let you know if title to your property is transferred to another name or if a lien gets recorded against your title. But, as you can see, the notification may be too late as the lien or transfer has already taken place by the time you hear about it.

The easiest way to protect yourself from home equity theft is to freeze your credit with all four credit reporting agencies. This way, if someone steals your identity and applies for a mortgage or line of credit, the lender runs a credit check, finds that they are blocked and the loan is not given. With so many types of fraud going on, all of us should freeze our credit whether or not we have concerns about title theft. Without a freeze on our credit, identity thieves can obtain credit cards and other loans in our name so do this today! You can always unfreeze your credit if needed, but it is just wise to cut off this avenue of theft.

Liza Horvath has over 30 years 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 

Watsonville’s Redman-Hirahara house to be delisted from historic inventories

WATSONVILLE — The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors decided to delist the Redman-Hirahara house in unincorporated Watsonville from the county’s historic inventory, which begins a process of removing it from the national Register of Historic Places and, ultimately, clears the way for its eventual demolition.

Each supervisor expressed a high degree of consternation as they mulled things over at Tuesday’s meeting. Concerns revolved around the desire to preserve the important history embodied by the structure while recognizing the eyesore it has become and unsafe condition it has been in for decades. But in the end all supervisors, with the exception of Justin Cummings, approved the move.

“If this house was going to be saved, if there was enough community support to save it, then that would have happened by now,” said Supervisor Manu Koenig. “It’s too bad that the support wasn’t there to make it happen. I think at this point, it’s time to delist it.”

The two-story, Queen Anne-style unit sitting next to the border of Watsonville was built in 1897 and added to the nation’s historic registry in 2004. However, the home has been uninhabited since 1986 and, aided by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, has fallen into extreme disrepair that would require an investment of millions of dollars to restore it to its former glory.

County staff explained at the meeting that the home has received no maintenance work since the 1980s and now rests in a state of advanced decay. Last year, the county’s building inspector studied the 128-year-old structure and prepared a report concluding that its condition was dangerous and it remained uninhabitable.

This led the county’s Historic Resources Commission to unanimously recommend in February that the board delist the home from the county’s historic inventory — a call that was answered this week.

“It’s a sad situation,” said Supervisor Monica Martinez. “And, also, it’s time to make a decision.”

While the county can remove all barriers to demolition, the authority to bring the building down is held by Elite Agriculture, a Watsonville-based farming and land development business that acquired the property in 2015.

Embodied history

The home — located on Lee Road near the Riverside Drive exit and easily spotted from Highway 1 — is the work of William Weeks, responsible for more than 150 structures in the Watsonville area and one of the most prolific architects in California’s history, according to local historian and Sentinel columnist Ross Eric Gibson. It was commissioned by the Redman family, who grew potatoes and sugar beets, among other crops, on the famously fertile farmland in South County. Labor was provided by a diverse swath of migrant farmworkers, including many from Japan.

James Redman, son of the home’s original patriarch Patriarch Kendrick Redman, sold the stylized homestead in 1937 after the death of his wife, Ella. It was purchased by J. Katsumi Tao, but the deed was transferred shortly thereafter to Fumio Hirahara — a naturalized American citizen — in 1940 for a $10 fee. After the Pearl Harbor attack, the Hiraharas were among the 120,000 people of Japanese descent, most of whom were American citizens, that were forcibly incarcerated in camps in the early 1940s.

Fumio Hirahara managed to tap an attorney to act as guardian of the 14-acre property during his family’s internment in exchange for a $50,000 lease. This allowed the Hiraharas to eventually return to their home after release and they used it, in part, to house other displaced Japanese American families. The property was eventually sold to Palo Alto real estate developer Ryland Kelley in 1982 and the home was declared vacant in 1986 following the death of matriarch Tayo, the final Hirahara family member to live there full-time.

The 1989 earthquake made the home completely uninhabitable, and it was red tagged by county authorities. Then, in 1998, a nonprofit called the Redman Foundation was formed as part of an effort to restore and preserve the old gem. But apart from lifting the structure up onto stilts in order to repair its foundation, the restoration effort was a failure and the nonprofit declared bankruptcy in 2009.

Vocal opposition

A handful of attendees from the public voiced displeasure at the county’s proposal, arguing that the decision should be deferred so that the community can make another attempt at restoration.

Larry Hirahara, who has no relation to the building’s namesake, has been involved in efforts to preserve historic buildings in Salinas and pushed the board to get a second opinion for assessing the home’s condition.

“It’s a very historic building,” he said. “I think it’s something that deserves extreme consideration for continuation.”

The item also sparked loud protest from Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner, whose frequent outbursts nearly forced her removal from the meeting. Steinbruner blamed the board for not stepping in sooner to prevent the building’s continued degradation, which served as the basis for delisting.

Cummings was sympathetic to some of these arguments and suggested that the building was left in disrepair for years so that its dilapidated state could later be used as justification for its eventual dismantling.

“I’m really conflicted with us allowing some of our historical buildings to just deteriorate and then wiping that history away in our communities,” said Cummings, who registered the lone “no” vote.

Juggy Tut from Elite Agriculture told the Sentinel just after the vote that he had no plans for the Redman-Hirahara house to share yet.

“I’m not going to tear it down tomorrow,” said Tut. “They (the county) wanted to clean up their registry, so I said ‘fine.’”

According to county staff, once the delisting has been submitted to state and national partners, the county, using funds supplied by the property owner, will engage the services of an architectural historian to document the home and preserve artifacts and building materials. Before any demolition, the county will seek to offer the structure to the general public for removal or dismantling for salvage at no cost.

Board Chair Felipe Hernandez, a Pajaro Valley native, said he’s long been a fan of Weeks’ architecture, but said if there was a financially feasible path to preserve the home, it would have emerged by now.

“I’d hate see that go away, both the history and the history of architecture here in the Pajaro Valley,” said Hernandez. “But we’re left at this difficult point and I think that’s where the difficult decisions are made.”

Orozco set to return to the pitch this fall for Santa Clara University

Having redshirted last year after suffering a season-ending injury, Mailin Orozco is expected to be a contributor this fall for the nationally ranked Santa Clara women’s soccer team.

During her freshman season in 2023, Orozco was named to the West Coast Conference All-Freshman team after producing three goals — including a game-winner — and three assists in 18 starts for the Broncos.

The 5-foot-2 forward had 28 goals in 13 matches for Notre Dame in 2022, where she was named the Santa Lucia Division Player of the Year.

During her first season at Santa Clara, Orozco recorded a goal and an assist in matches against Oregon State and the University of Pacific.

Rated No. 8 in the Class of 2023 by Top Drawer Soccer, Orozco has been invited to the National Team training camp five times, and was part of the 2019 USSDA National Championship San Jose Earthquakes youth team.

Horoscopes Aug. 9, 2025: Anna Kendrick, show your strengths, pitch in and lend a hand

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Adelaide Kane, 35; Anna Kendrick, 40; Gillian Anderson, 57; Hoda Kotb, 61.

Happy Birthday: Show your strengths, pitch in and lend a hand. Use your bravado to seal deals and enforce your support and leadership qualities. If you want something, stand up and make yourself heard. It’s your high energy and insight that will carry you forward and encourage you to reach for the stars. Let your thoughts lead the way and your actions fulfill your promises. Partnerships look promising. Your numbers are 4, 10, 17, 28, 34, 43, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep your emotions well-hidden, and be observant. Your strength will come from your ability to decipher what others want or expect from you before you negotiate your position. Whether dealing with personal or professional concerns, keeping a poker face will help you outmaneuver any opponent you encounter. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pay attention; some of the changes others try to implement will not suit your needs. If you make a fuss, it will raise a red flag, causing setbacks. Make the necessary adjustments and continue. If you direct your attention toward personal growth, your appearance and expanding your mind and interests, you will make progress. 2 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Carry out personal obligations first, and you’ll feel more relaxed moving on to what brings you joy. Participating in something you feel passionate about will provide a platform to share your thoughts, concerns and solutions. Put your energy where it counts, and you’ll come out on top. Live, learn and love what you do. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Look inward, consider your needs and satisfy yourself before taking on other people’s drama. Put your energy into behind-the-scenes activities that encourage you to improve your surroundings, making them more accommodating and peaceful. Love is on the rise, and putting your best foot forward and mingling with people of interest will help you strengthen your friendships. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Dig in and do what you do best. Your determination and innovative insight will help you outmaneuver anyone who gets in your way. Focus on research, connecting to contributors and distancing yourself from those who insist on getting in your way. Life choices are yours. Do what’s best for you. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s what you do to help others that will draw attention. Be the do-gooder that you are, and you’ll make a difference. Work quietly behind the scenes where you can concentrate on what’s important to you and your concerns. Expand your relationships with those who share your passion for reform and fairness. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The clocks are ticking, and your options are open for investigation. Stop procrastinating and start making your dreams come true. Refuse to let criticism or insecurity set in and waste time that you need to put to better use. Trust your instincts, speak up on your own behalf and take the initiative to make things happen. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Do your research, expand your mind and consider how you can fulfill the promises you made to yourself. Don’t hesitate to share your feelings with someone you love and find out where you stand. A shift is about to take place, but first, you must accept the facts and position yourself by knowing the possibilities. 2 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Strut your stuff and enjoy being part of the entertainment. Life is too short to miss out on the people, places and pastimes that put a smile on your face. Engage in memorable events and tell others how you think and feel about them. Make someone’s day, and it will bring you joy. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t expect everyone to have your best interests at heart. Be observant, verify information and refrain from making premature alterations that can influence your lifestyle, position or a meaningful relationship. Look for opportunities that bring you closer to someone who has your back. Avoid indulging in irresponsible behavior, scams and abuse. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take the changes happening around you seriously and consider your options carefully. Your input will add value and consideration to the outcome of any situation you face. Refuse to let your emotions interfere with your ability to see what’s best for you and those you encounter. Change begins with you; start by looking inward. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Listen, elaborate and embark on projects or pastimes that interest you. Taking physical action to improve your health and fitness will be uplifting and prompt others to compliment you on your progress. Make commonsense choices rather than relying on your emotions, which can lead to irrational decisions that are time-consuming and expensive. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are creative, questioning and changeable. You are energetic and adoring.

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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