Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 84

Melvin makes plea for SF Giants’ ‘fireman’ to get All-Star Game nod

WEST SACRAMENTO – Set-up men do not usually get invited to pitch in MLB’s All-Star Game, as staff aces, household names, and premier closers are traditionally the ones selected to fill out the American and National League rosters for the Midsummer Classic.

But Giants manager Bob Melvin feels that given what he’s done this season, right-handed reliever Randy Rodriguez deserves strong consideration, if not an outright invitation.

Including his work in the Giants’ 7-2 win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Saturday, Rodriguez, dating back to May 1, has now allowed just one earned run in his last 24 1/3 innings.

Rodriguez pitched got the Giants out of a jam on Saturday night. With two on and two out, Rodriguez got Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson, who was voted into the All-Star Game earlier this week, to pop up to shortstop Willy Adames to end the threat.

Going into Saturday, Rodriguez’s 0.72 ERA was the second-lowest among all MLB relievers, trailing only Newark native and Cubs righty Chris Flexen (0.62).

Before Saturday, left-handed batters were hitting .088 (6-for-68) off him, and his 37.9% strikeout rate was the second-highest among NL pitchers (min. 100 batters faced).

Rodriguez has now been charged with runs in just two of his 38 appearances. The last one came on April 29, when he allowed a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts in San Francisco’s 7-4 loss to the Padres.

Melvin feels set-up guys have valuable roles on big-league rosters, too. So why shouldn’t Rodriguez get a nod?

“I don’t know that there’s a better setup man or a guy that’s come in and been a fireman and done what he’s done this year,” Melvin said of the 25-year-old Rodriguez, now in his second big-league season. “What’s his ERA now, (0.71)? And look at his numbers against lefties too, which for a righty, that’s quite the luxury to have.”

Other NL relievers thought to be in the mix for the All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15 are Edwin Diaz (Mets), Robert Suarez (Padres), Trevor Megill (Brewers) and Emilio Pagan (Reds), all closers.

Starters Robbie Ray and Logan Webb and reliever Tyler Rogers also have cases for inclusion once rosters are announced on Sunday. Rafael Devers could get an invitation as a designated hitter.

“We’re not going to get all those guys,” Melvin said, “but I know I’m probably a little biased as well.”

MILLER UPDATE: Melvin didn’t sound overly concerned about left-handed reliever Erik Miller, who was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 3 with a left elbow sprain on Saturday.

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“It’s been bothering him a little bit. I certainly hope it’s not something that’s significant, and at this point, we don’t feel like it,” is, Melvin said of Miller. “It wasn’t one of those things where he just felt something go. It was just kind of a progressive thing for the last few days, where he’s felt it a little bit warming up.

“So, hopefully, we caught it at the right time.”

Miller is having a strong season with a 4-1 record and a 1.50 ERA over 30 innings.

Melvin said Miller, a Stanford alum, had an MRI on Saturday and said “it doesn’t look like it’s a big structural problem in there, and I haven’t heard talk of any bad things. We just shut him down for a little bit, and then, you know, hopefully, it heals.”

Chapman makes big impact and Webb shines in homecoming in SF Giants win

WEST SACRAMENTO – It was touch and go there for a while, but the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night once again looked like a playoff-caliber team.

Matt Chapman shined in his return to the lineup, Willy Adames had his most productive night of the season, and Logan Webb did not disappoint his friends and family members in attendance in a 7-2 win over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

Chapman singled and scored twice in his first game since June 8, and Adames had a season-high four RBIs as the Giants won for the third time in the last eight games.

Heliot Ramos, who was hit by a Luis Severino pitch in the first inning, responded with his 14th home run of the season in the fifth inning. That gave San Francisco a 5-1 lead, much to the delight of the thousands of Giants fans present at the intimate minor league park.

Second baseman Brett Wisely doubled a Sean Newcomb fastball to right center to score two more runs and give his team a 7-1 lead, as the Giants went on to level the series at one win apiece with the rubber match on Sunday night. San Francisco was blasted 11-2 by the A’s on Friday.

“It feels like the energy was different today,” Adames said. “Obviously, we played terrible yesterday, so we had to make an adjustment and play as a team, take team at-bats. I feel like that’s what we did throughout the game. We ended up scoring a lot of runs and having a lot of fun.”

Webb, a native of nearby Rocklin, allowed two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings — surviving a delicate sixth inning — as he improved to 3-1 in his last five starts and 8-6 for the season.

“It was a blast,” Webb said. “I love being here, and I’m happy I was able to get the win here.”

In the sixth, Webb allowed two doubles, including an RBI double to Nick Kurtz that cut the A’s lead to 7-2. But with one out and the bases loaded, Webb used a 91 mph sinker on a 2-2 count to get A’s outfielder Tyler Soderstrom to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and end the threat.

Giants manager Bob Melvin allowed Webb to come out for the seventh, and Webb responded by striking out Max Muncy and Zack Gelof to start the inning. But after Webb allowed a Denzel Clarke double and a walk to Lawrence Butler, Melvin took him out and replaced him with Randy Rodríguez, who got Jacob Wilson to pop up.

Webb exited the game to a standing ovation from the mostly orange-and-black crowd of 12,298.

“That was pretty cool,” said Webb, who threw 108 pitches. “I wish I gave like a wave or something. It’s always awkward in those moments. I don’t know why. You don’t know whether to wave or do something. But I feel the love from the Sacramento crowd. It was awesome to pitch at home.”

Chapman missed 23 games with right-hand inflammation after he injured himself on a dive back to first base on an attempted pickoff play in a game against the Atlanta Braves. The Giants went 9-14 in his absence, going from being in a tie for the National League’s first wild-card position to being one game out of a playoff spot.

Melvin was fuming during the top half of the first inning.

Back-to-back Giants hitters were hit by inside 95 mph sinkers from Severino. Ramos was hit on the left hand, knocking off his padding, and Chapman, who had just been activated off the injured list, was hit on what appeared to be his left triceps.

One batter later, Adames made Severino and the A’s pay with a two-run single up the middle to score Chapman and Rafael Devers, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

In the third inning, an Adames single to left scored Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee for a 4-1 Giants lead.

Melvin and the Giants had eagerly awaited Chapman’s return.

In his last 11 games before he landed on the IL in June, Chapman had been playing his best baseball of the season, going 15 for 38 (.395) with five doubles, three homers, five RBIs, and five walks.

“It’s huge to have him back,” Melvin said before Saturday’s game. “Not just the production part and what he does on the field, it’s his presence in the dugout, on the field and the clubhouse.”

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Webb was pitching in the park that’s about a half-hour away from his childhood home in Rocklin. It unclear how many of Webb’s friends and family members, but it was more than enough for him and the Giants to feel like it was their home and not one for the A’s.

Webb, who lasted at least six innings in each of his previous 11 starts, first pitched in West Sacramento in 2019, when he made a start for the River Cats in his Triple-A debut. In that game on Aug. 12 against Nashville, Webb struck out seven and allowed one earned run in seven innings.

Saturday, Webb needed just 31 pitches to get through the first three innings.

Pro Soccer: Union blanked by Indy Eleven

INDIANAPOLIS — The hope was a new month would alter the course of direction.

Instead, Monterey Bay FC remains in its worst slump of the year after dropping its fourth consecutive match, falling 3-0 Saturday at Indy Eleven in Indianapolis.

With three straight United Soccer League Championship losses, the Union (5-7-4) have fallen to seventh in the Western Conference with 19 points.

Since opening USL Championship play 4-1-2 to vault themselves into first place in the Western Conference for two weeks, the Union have gone 1-6-2, having been shut out four times during their slide.

Monterey Bay FC’s struggles on the road continued as well as it fell to 1-5-3. That does not include the 2-1 loss to Oakland in the USL Jägermeister Cup on June 28.

The Union will look to turn their season around at the friendly confines of Cardinale Stadium next Friday when they host Orange County — a team they have beaten twice this year — at 7 p.m.

Monterey Bay FC has been a different team at home with a 4-2-1 record in USL play. In fact, its last win came at Cardinale Stadium on June 7 when it knocked off Lexington SC 2-1.

Despite their struggles over the last eight weeks, the Union still hold down one of the postseason positions if the season ended today, and is just three points away from climbing into the top four in the Western Conference.

For Indy Eleven, it was its second straight win over the Union — its first against them at home, evening the overall series record between the franchises at 2-2-0.

With three wins in its last five matches on the pitch, Indy Eleven (4-5-5) sits in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. It was the first time Monterey Bay FC failed to score against their mid-west rivals.

Monterey Bay FC faced off against former teammate and midfielder James Murphy, who leads Indy Eleven in minutes played and appearances this season. Jack Blake’s fourth goal of the season moved him into a tie for the team lead.

Despite suffering an injury in the sixth minute that ended his night, goalie Nico Campuzano still leads the USL in saves with 52 between the pipes for Monterey Bay FC, while Anton Sojberg has three goals.

NBA Summer League: Three takeaways from Warriors’ California Classic opener vs. Lakers

Rookies missing, Bronny James a healthy scratch

Warriors fans who made the trip to Chase Center on Saturday hoping for a glimpse of recent second-round picks Alex Toohey and Will Richard were left disappointed when both were held out of the California Classic opener against the Lakers.

The Warriors told the Bay Area News Group that the duo cannot play for the team until the draft-day trades that brought them to Golden State are made official on Sunday. Summer League coach Lainn Wilson said he did not know if the two would play in Sunday’s matchup with the Spurs. 

Toohey is a forward from Australia, and Richard was the starting shooting guard on Florida’s National Championship-winning team. Those two were not the only high-profile players held out of action during the Warriors’ 89-84 victory over Los Angeles. 

Bronny James, the eldest son of arguably the greatest player of all-time, LeBron James, did not suit up. James averaged just 2.3 points per game in 27 regular season games last season, but put up 22 points a night in the G-League. 

Rowe displays versatility, Armstrong shows skill

Second-year guard Taran Armstrong got into a minor scuffle with Lakers guard DaJuan Gordon after the Warriors guard was fouled hard going to the rim late in the first half. 

He made most of his chance as the team’s 6-foot-6 point guard, scoring seven points and dishing six assists. Armstrong’s best play was a lob pass to Jackson Rowe (13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks), who finished the tough layup for two points as Steph Curry watched.  

“My favorite plays were the defensive plays, getting blocks and trying to change the game that way,” Rowe said after the Warriors held Dalton Knecht to 3 of 13 shooting. “It’s been a long journey from Santa Cruz to here, and hopefully we can keep it going.”

Armstrong, the Australian 23-year-old, did not play during the regular season after being signed in February, but did average 11 points and 7.8 assists per game with Santa Cruz. 

“He helps us settle down with his ballhandling and playmaking ability,” coach Wilson said.

Golden State Warriors’ Taran Armstrong (1) dribbles against the Los Angeles Lakers in the third quarter of an NBA Summer League game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Unheralded name, big game

The big names might have been missing, but others stepped up for the Warriors. Among them was Vanderbilt’s Chris Manon, who finished a pair of Rowe-led showtime fast breaks in the third quarter with a big dunk and a layup in the third quarter en-route to an eight-point night. Manon also had three steals and two blocks as he was dubbed a “game-changer” by his coach. 

“I’m detail-oriented, and I try to do everything I can, from rebounding, getting steals and blocks. Obviously my offensive game has to come along, but I think everything else, I try to do to the best of my ability,” Manon told the Bay Area News Group. 

Buzzer beaters

Oakland native and San Leandro High alum Keshad Johnson scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Heat in their 82-69 victory in the other game at Chase Center. …. Johnson was the 2019 West Alameda County Conference Foothill co-MVP and a 2019 all-Bay Area News Group first-team selection who averaged 14.4 points per game. A year after tearing his Achilles in Summer League, Marques Bolden grabbed eight rebounds for the Warriors. Sacramento native Coleman Hawkins had seven points and five rebounds. Isaiah Mobley, brother of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan, had 13 points.San Jose State was well-represented on the Spurs’ summer league roster. Omari Moore, the 2023 Mountain West Conference player of the year, grabbed four rebounds but was held scoreless in 19 minutes. …. Josh Uduje, who led the 2024-25 Spartans in scoring at 16.4 ppg, scored seven points and made 3 of 5 shots in just 5:43 of action. 

Sputtering SF Giants activate Matt Chapman, and not a moment too soon

WEST SACRAMENTO – The Giants activated third baseman Matt Chapman off the injured list Saturday and, as expected, inserted him into the lineup right away as the cleanup hitter against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

Chapman might not be a savior for the sputtering Giants, who entered Saturday one game out of the National League’s third and final wild-card spot. But his play this season before he sprained his right hand last month – and how the Giants have performed since — suggested he would greatly benefit the team’s lineup.

“I can’t say enough good things about (Chapman) and just how bad he wants to be out on that field with his teammates,” Giants general manager Zack Minasian said on KNBR earlier this week. “It’s such a presence that he brings to the field every day. It’ll be a welcome addition.”

Before Saturday, the Giants were 37-28 with Chapman in the lineup as he was 10th among all big league third baseman in fielding percentage (.960). He also had a team-leading 2.7 WAR rating.

But how the Giants played without Chapman perhaps spoke even more to his value.

Since Chapman’s last game on June 8, when he hurt his hand against the Atlanta Braves diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt, the Giants, before Saturday, had gone 9-14, losing three-game sets to the below-.500 Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.

Friday, starter Justin Verlander was roughed up, and the Giants made three errors in an 11-2 loss to the Athletics to open the three-game series, which concludes Sunday.

On June 8, the Giants were 38-28 and tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the NL Wild Card race. Before Saturday, they were a game behind the San Diego Padres for the third and final wild-card spot.

Notable

In a corresponding move Saturday, the Giants designated infielder Sergio Alcántara for assignment. In his Giants debut Friday, Alcántara went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. … The Giants also recalled Tristan Beck from Triple-A and optioned fellow right-hander Mason Black to the River Cats. Black pitched four innings Friday and allowed five hits, including two homers, and three earned runs.

SF Giants’ Chapman activated from injured list, returns to lineup

WEST SACRAMENTO — The production alone does not fully encapsulate third baseman Matt Chapman’s value to the Giants. To manager Bob Melvin, Chapman is also the team’s unquestioned leader.

“The intensity he brings on the field every day — he’s kind of the heartbeat of the team,” Melvin said Friday.

Following a one-game rehab assignment with the Triple-A River Cats on Friday and a nearly monthlong absence, that heartbeat returned Saturday as Chapman was activated off the injured list and back in the Giants’ lineup.

Chapman was the Giants’ cleanup hitter, right behind designated hitter Rafael Devers, for the second game of their three-game series against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

“I wanted to come back as fast I could,” said Chapman, who missed 23 games after he sustained a right-hand injury on June 8 against the Atlanta Braves. “I don’t like watching. I want to be out there, helping the guys. I (rehabbed) as fast as the Giants would let me.”

Chapman was injured when he dove back to first base on a pickoff attempt, and he said he was able to beat his expected return date by about a week.

It couldn’t have come soon enough for Melvin, who saw his team go 9-14 in Chapman’s absence. The swoon included losing two of three to the rebuilding Chicago White Sox and getting swept by the below-.500 Miami Marlins.

The Giants’ 11-2 loss to the A’s on Friday marked their eighth defeat in 11 games, and entering Saturday, San Francisco was one game out of a playoff spot.

This season, the Giants were 37-28 with Chapman in the lineup before Saturday as he was 10th among all big league third baseman in fielding percentage (.960). He also had a team-leading 2.7 WAR rating.

“From the minute he’s gotten here, he’s embraced the leadership role, and he plays a certain style of baseball that we play,” Melvin said of Chapman. “It’s huge to have him back, not just the production part with what he does on the field, it’s his presence in the dugout, on the field and in the clubhouse. He’s a big part of the group.”

In Chapman’s absence, the Giants had to patch together the third base position.

Casey Schmitt took over for Chapman and put together one of the best stretches of baseball in his career. He got injured after taking a sinker to the hand,

Christian Koss, in turn, took over for Schmitt. He, too, played well. He, too, got injured, sustaining a left hamstring injury that will sideline him until the second half.

After losing Koss — their third-string third baseman — Melvin had to get creative.

Wilmer Flores made a rare appearance at third base on Tuesday. Brett Wisely got the starting nod on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, Sergio Alcántara started at the hot corner in his first action with San Francisco this season, and he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

With Chapman’s return, the Giants designated Alcántara for assignment, and Schmitt is getting better after he started a rehab assignment Saturday night in Triple-A.

“We’re getting closer to having more of a stable lineup,” Melvin said. “Since (Chapman’s) been out, we’ve had to mix and match a little bit get our hotter guys up (in the lineup). When we were playing our best baseball, I think we had more of a stable lineup. So hopefully, we can get to that.”

Saturday also marked the first time Chapman was able to play alongside Devers, whom the Giants acquired from the Red Sox on June 16. In 17 games with the Giants before Saturday, Devers hit .215/.307/.369 with two homers and nine RBIs.

“I’d like to think I can make an impact,” Chapman said. “I think that being out there every day, playing third base, being next to (shortstop) Willy (Adames), I think the more guys you have in the lineup, more consistently, the better.

“They’ve had a lot of guys playing third base and a lot more movement in the lineup. Once you get more of a set lineup and your guys are in the lineup, everybody gets more comfortable.”

NOTABLE: Shortly before Saturday’s game, the Giants placed left-hander Erik Miller on the 15-day IL, retroactive to July 3, with a left elbow sprain. Fellow lefty Scott Alexander was selected from Triple-A. … The Giants also recalled Tristan Beck from Triple-A and optioned fellow right-hander Mason Black to the River Cats. Black pitched four innings Friday and allowed five hits, including two homers and three earned runs. Melvin said he liked how Black pitched, adding he could be an option to return at some point.

Staff writer Curtis Pashelka contributed to this story.

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Death of the boomer

Dear Readers, this column was originally published in 2013. I wanted to reiterate what a great generation we are so I dusted it off, updated it to conform to today’s laws and hope you will enjoy reading!

If a python eats a pig, the huge lumpy meal can be visually tracked as it makes its way through the comparatively slender body of the snake. Some baby boomers, those born between 1943 and 1964, may not be aware of this, but we are the pig in the python. I am a boomer and as our segment of the population moves through life, our needs, desires and evolving beliefs and commitments not only shape our lives, but the lives of those around us and the economy as a whole.

A 1948 Newsweek magazine article titled “Babies Mean Business” put the world on alert that the baby boomer demographic would be the largest consumers of services and products and that marketers would be well advised to advertise directly to this generation. Additionally, with so many same age and ostensibly like-minded peers, this generation could band together and form cohesive strategies to remedy the “wrongs” of the world.

For six decades boomers have dominated not only the economy, but the political and cultural landscapes, as well. Things have, indeed, changed. Smoking cigarettes is out – medical marijuana is in. Formal religious observance is dropping, spirituality is growing. Woodstock, the Beatles and Bob Dylan changed the face of music.

Death – the final frontier – has also changed. Far too many boomers have been witness to a parent’s or a partner’s deterioration into mental or physical incapacity and felt helpless either because the parent or partner did not share their wishes and desires regarding end of life care or due to the fact that the means by which we could ease the suffering and pain was either unavailable or illegal.

Boomers want a good life and, when it is done, pull the plug. Boomers want to live well, we are not interested in enduring pain or prolonged suffering and, unless there is a way to give us that good life again, most boomers want a smooth exit. Palliative care has come to the forefront and boomers are the early adopters. We do not want to suffer – even if it may hasten the moment of death.

Choosing death over suffering is a top priority for boomers as evidenced by the passage of laws legalizing aid in dying in Vermont, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Hawaii, New Jersey and Colorado. In 2016, California enacted such a law which we call the End of Life Option Act. Despite having such a law on the books, using it can be challenging. The individual must have received a terminal diagnosis with a life expectancy of six months or less. They must make three separate requests for the aid-in-dying medication, a consulting physician must determine that the individual is qualified to receive the aid-in-dying medication and the individual must have mental capacity.

If we cannot qualify for the aid-in-dying or if for some reason we decline to use this method, a “good death” is still achievable. It is all about planning, communication and support. Boomers can, using an Advance Health Care Directive document, make thoughtful decisions about end-of-life care, commit those choices to writing and task a friend or loved one with making sure those wishes are followed. By having frank and honest conversations with medical care providers, family and friends, boomers can state their wishes clearly and, by doing so, retain control over the outcome.

In life, as in death, we – the pigs in the python – continue to seek reformation of the landscape. Here’s to living a full, independent life and, when our time to exit arrives, taking care of it on our own terms.

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

COVID, 5 years later: Monterey County health care, the first line of defense

MONTEREY – While most people were vaguely aware of something called SARS-CoV-2 or 2019 Novel Coronavirus leading up to the statewide lockdown in March 2020, Monterey County hospitals were gearing up as best they could.

“The height of COVID now feels like a distant memory, but it was an incredibly intense time – especially for those of us in health care,” said Dr. Allen Radner, Salinas Valley Health president and CEO. “There was a lot of fear, anxiety and uncertainty.”

(Graphic by Arianna Nalbach)

From March 2020 when the World Health Organization first declared the world in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic until its official end in May 2023, health care systems were challenged and tested by the impact of the crisis. Monterey County’s health care institutions adapted to the new landscape through collaboration, innovation, enhanced infection prevention methods and an agility in dealing with the ebbs and flows of the virus. Therapies, vaccines and natural immunities contributed to its relative taming, but COVID still remains. Though many of the protocols once deemed necessary have faded away or have been transformed, some still are in use today.

“The lessons learned from COVID are long-lasting. Although the emergency response structure was in place before COVID, working together through a sustained emergency activation has allowed us to be more comfortable and nimbler in our response,” said Dr. Martha Blum, Montage Health medical director of infection prevention. “It has left us with ‘muscle memory’ that will allow us to quickly react and respond efficiently should a similar situation arise.”

COVID-19

Area health care facilities – Salinas Valley Health, Natividad and Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula – all say they were not blindsided by the onset of the pandemic.

“We may not have known exactly what we were facing, but we were fortunate, in a sense, that the virus spread from Asia to Europe to the United States, and even traveled east to west,” said Radner, who is also a practicing infectious disease specialist. “By the time it reached us, we had already seen the devastation unfolding in Italy, Europe, New York City and major cities like Detroit. In some ways, we knew what was coming. What we didn’t know was how long it would last.”

In addition to vaccination clinics, Natividad hospital hosted several drive-thru testing events that were extremely well attended including in Castroville, King City, Salinas, Chualar, Monterey, Seaside and Marina. (Photo courtesy of Natividad)

Blum said that as the situation rapidly escalated, it prompted Montage Health, the Monterey health care organization that is the parent company to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, to quickly increase its preparedness.

“By the first week of March, we had already started coordinating plans with all Monterey County hospitals and public health authorities for triage, testing, treatment and isolation of suspected patients,” Blum added.

She said that coordination between all area hospitals and with public health was invaluable in maintaining continuous access to high-quality medical care even when system capacities were stretched beyond normal limits.

“At no point did we have to ration treatments,” said Blum.

Natividad Chief Medical Officer Dr. Craig Walls said that before the lockdown, his health care organization took proactive measures to prepare for the anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Our engineering team played a pivotal role by swiftly converting the hospital rooms into negative-pressure isolation rooms, significantly enhancing safety for both patients and staff,” said Walls. “Simultaneously, our nursing leadership mobilized teams to reconfigure various areas into fully operational patient care rooms.”

He said this effort demonstrated the collaboration and dedication across departments.

When the wave hit

But as health care facilities began to fill up with the sick, there were many challenges to face.

“Initially, while we understood the gravity of the situation, there were still many unanswered questions about how the disease behaved. Diagnostic testing was extremely limited, and there were no specific treatments available,” said Radner.

Salinas Valley Health focused on patient and staff safety, providing basic supportive care, enforcing fundamental isolation precautions and sharing public messaging, said Radner. Its goal was to keep the community as informed as possible to help protect one another.

“Our health care workers were consistently protected with sufficient personal protective equipment,” said Walls. “The dedication and resilience demonstrated by our staff were truly inspiring – they consistently provided compassion, support and comfort to patients and their families during incredibly challenging times.”

Nurse Maria Koscar stands in the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula respiratory triage tent in April, 2020. The respiratory triage tent, located outside the emergency entrance to Community Hospital was the front line of care for people who arrived with symptoms of COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Montage Health)

Part of that response included the hospitals and their partners in the community using outdoor tents. Salinas Valley Health, Natividad and Montage Health used them to screen and triage patients suspected of having COVID away from the general hospital population, reducing possible exposure. Some tents were also equipped for potential ICU overflow.

They were also part of an effort by the County of Monterey to provide temporary alternative housing and isolation sites at the Monterey County Fairgrounds and Events Center in Monterey, Sherwood Hall in Salinas and San Lorenzo Park and the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds both in King City.

Though Monterey County’s Public Health Officer Dr. Edward Moreno played a pivotal leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not respond to inquiries for this story.

Joby Aviation’s “mega-tent” at its facility at the Marina Municipal Airport was also considered for use during the pandemic, but an expected surge of the virus at the time never materialized and it was not utilized.

The county and Coalition of Homeless Services provided stays in area motels in a program that took in people, mostly those without homes, at higher risk of contracting the disease.

Reaching out with information

“As an organization and as a community, we did an outstanding job managing what became a prolonged crisis,” said Radner. “Through our outreach efforts – going into the fields and providing education – we addressed the needs of the entire community.”

Salinas Valley Health deployed staff to support the predominantly Spanish-speaking agricultural community with education in the fields about the virus and measures they could take to protect themselves and their families. (Photo courtesy of Salinas Valley Health)

Salinas Valley Health formed the Community and Staff Support Project to support the community in areas of need, such as in the agricultural fields, where a predominantly Spanish-speaking workforce was in need of education about the virus and measures to protect themselves and their families. In partnership with the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, bilingual registered nurses were dispatched to the fields and processing plants to provide personal protective equipment and COVID-19 education to these essential workers. The nurses helped move workers into quarantine housing and access food and necessities. They also made regular visits to answer questions, help manage symptoms and provide any needed medications.

Aside from the area’s health care organizations, the Community Foundation for Monterey County, a nonprofit philanthropic organization, played an important role in providing key resources and services to ensure the health of the community.

Community Foundation for Monterey County formed and led the COVID-19 Collaborative, a county-wide, multi-sector initiative that partnered with local public health, nonprofits, businesses and philanthropic funders to align and amplify mitigation efforts, especially outreach and services for farmworkers and non-English speaking communities. It secured nearly $2 million for services including obtaining free testing kits and vaccinations to vulnerable people through its nonprofit partners.

The Community Foundation for Monterey County would also create the COVID-19 Relief Fund which provided more than $4 million in relief to nonprofits to support the county’s most vulnerable populations facing the pandemic’s economic and social ramifications.

Working with the County of Monterey, Community Foundation for Monterey County secured $5 million to fund and create the VIDA (Virus Integrated Distribution of Aid) program. More than 110 community health workers were trained in culturally- and linguistically-tailored outreach in English, Spanish and indigenous languages such as Triqui, Zapoteco and Mixteco, to provide information about services to historically underserved communities. One of its key services was education and prevention messaging that explained COVID-19 safety, testing, quarantine and vaccine benefits. Zip codes in which community health workers were active achieved some of the highest vaccination rates in the county.

Treatments and vaccines

Local health care systems and their partners in the community continued to work to stem the tide of COVID-19 cases as antiviral medications and vaccines were still on the horizon.

“There were several turning points of the pandemic. First was the availability of the antiviral medication Remdesivir, which offered us a specific therapy to counteract the virus,” said Blum. “Next, and most significantly, was the arrival of the vaccine in December 2020. For me, the start of vaccination for health care workers in December 2020 was very emotional as it was the point when I first felt there was going to be an end in sight.”

Walls said the arrival of the first vaccines was a moment of hope and transformation.

Salinas Valley Health President and CEO, Dr. Allen Radner, receives the first COVID-19 vaccine shot in Monterey County in Dec., 2020. At the time, he was the Chief Medical Officer and infectious disease physician at the healthcare facility. (Photo courtesy of Salinas Valley Health)

“It felt as if we were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Our team mobilized swiftly to offer vaccinations to our community,” he said.

When COVID-19 vaccines became available, Radner wanted to send a message to the community and demonstrate his scientific belief in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. He became the first person in Monterey County to receive a dose of the vaccine on Dec. 17, 2020, followed the same day by staff at Salinas Valley Health.

Community Foundation for Monterey County President and CEO Dan Baldwin said the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the need for community trust. VIDA’s community health workers literally walked door-to-door – covering nearly 25,000 homes – and discussed the benefits of COVID vaccinations.

“They helped people get vaccinated who have a deep mistrust of the ‘system’ but knew they needed to protect each other,” said Baldwin. “It is the ‘trusted messenger’ approach – neighbor speaking to neighbor.”

Baldwin added that the Community Foundation’s role in disaster response showed it can convene groups and support local government in different ways.

“This work then helps us inform donors, which brings more funds in to address urgent needs,” he said.

Once they became available, Montage, Salinas Valley Health and Natividad quickly offered vaccinations to the community through clinics contributing to protecting tens of thousands.

“The successive waves of COVID variants and development of more widespread immunity resulted in the de-escalation of the state of emergency in May 2023,” said Blum.

Walls said the effort embodied a spirit of collaboration and community service.

“To this day, I continue to hear from residents throughout Monterey County about how much they appreciated our vaccination clinics,” said Walls.

But going through something as earthshaking as a pandemic is certain to leave an indelible mark, hopefully for the better.

Lessons learned

“The COVID-19 pandemic was a defining moment that transformed our health care system in lasting ways,” said Blum. “It challenged us like never before – but it also accelerated innovation, deepened our commitment to safety and strengthened our resilience.”

Blum said Montage has enhanced its infection prevention protocols, expanded its telehealth capabilities, opened three urgent care locations and improved its ability to respond rapidly to emerging health threats.

“We’ve risen to challenges before, and we’ll continue to do so with compassion and dedication. Our experiences throughout the pandemic only solidified our dedication to the health of our community, including the most vulnerable among us,” said Walls. “In addition, I believe that we and the other local hospitals have benefited from a more collaborative approach to addressing community health needs.”

Walls said Natividad is “absolutely better equipped to handle another pandemic,” adding that the lessons learned during the COVID pandemic have been invaluable.

The expanded use of telehealth is one of the innovations that have taken off after the COVID pandemic made it a necessity. (Photo courtesy of Natividad)

And as some habits and actions have stayed with individuals when it comes to avoiding illness, so too have health care systems brought forward policies and procedures from the experience of the pandemic.

“We continue to test, isolate, and treat individuals for COVID-19,” said Blum. “There’s also a growing recognition of the importance of staying home when sick and wearing masks to reduce the risk of spreading or contracting respiratory viruses.”

The Community Foundation says that while it was not created during the pandemic, COVID-19 did inspire the need for its newly created Community Organizations Active in Disaster manager position which has begun coordinating response and preparedness for future disasters and has already been put to use playing a critical role in disseminating funds in the aftermath of the Vistra fire in Moss Landing. Community Foundation has also been exploring ways to make long-term community health workers efforts sustainable for local nonprofits.

Moving forward

More than 101,000 Californians, and more than 1 million Americans, have died from COVID-19 — exceeding by a wide margin American service member casualties in every war combined, according to Cal Matters.

But there are currently a host of other threats to public health, such as H5N1 (highly pathogenic avian influenza or “bird flu”), fungi such as aspergillus and valley fever, and drug-resistant bacteria, among others, that the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations are monitoring.

“We believe we made a significant impact,” said Radner. “Our vaccine outreach and clinics saved lives. COVID is still with us, and there will be other pandemics. It’s critical that we don’t forget the lessons we’ve learned.”

Before LA immigration raids, California prisons tried to help ICE deport its top targets

After launching immigration sweeps that sparked weeks of protests in Los Angeles, the Trump administration faulted California policies for protecting those they described as “the worst of the worst,” meaning immigrants convicted of violent crimes.

“Why do Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass care more about violent murderers and sex offenders than they do about protecting their own citizens?” said Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a news release announcing a group of LA detentions.

However, records and a CalMatters analysis show the state had previously coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempting to hand over two of the agency’s top targets in LA:  Roland E. Veneracion-Enriquez and Cuong Chanh Phan, both of whom had served time in state prisons for violent offenses.

That cooperation undercuts the Trump administration’s characterization of why it launched a massive immigration crackdown in the nation’s second-largest city.

Chanh Phan, who had served time after being convicted of murder, was released directly to ICE in 2022, records show.

As for Veneracion, state prison officials in May told ICE about the prisoner’s upcoming release, but the feds did not pick him up. Instead, the convicted sex offender was released, and ICE trumpeted his arrest in Los Angeles two weeks later.

California’s so-called sanctuary law does not apply to unauthorized immigrants convicted of serious crimes, and state prisons have handed over more than 9,000 people with those backgrounds to ICE since Gov. Gavin Newsom took office in 2019, state data show. The same rules apply to county jails, where sheriffs sometimes complain that ICE fails to pick up people who they believe should be deported in compliance with the sanctuary law.

In those cases, prison or jail employees communicate with federal immigration authorities before someone’s release.

Four others on the “worst of the worst” list had served time in Los Angeles and Orange County jails, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Officials at those jails said they did not know whether sheriff’s deputies had been in communication with ICE about those men prior to their release.

Top Trump officials have repeatedly said they’re targeting “criminal illegal aliens,” but immigrant and civil rights groups allege federal authorities have launched an indiscriminate enforcement blitz that’s mostly netted day laborers and workers from Latino communities who are not threats to public safety.

Between June 6 and June 22, immigration enforcement teams arrested 1,618 immigrants for deportation in Los Angeles and surrounding regions of Southern California, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed to CalMatters last week. During that time, masked agents have arrested car wash employees, farmworkers, U.S. citizens, and people attending their immigration court hearings.

Federal data obtained by the Cato Institute shows 65% of the people booked into ICE detention since October 2024 have no criminal convictions. More than 93% of those booked were never convicted of violent offenses, according to the libertarian research center. Data shows immigrants — including those who are undocumented — commit crimes at much lower rates than U.S.-born citizens do.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to emailed questions from CalMatters about the arrests of Veneracion and Chanh Phan.

How ICE detainers work

An ICE detainer – or an “immigration hold” – is a written request between a jail or prison and federal immigration authorities to coordinate the prisoner’s release directly to immigration authorities, typically to start the process for deportation.

ICE holds or detainers are the primary method immigration authorities use to find people for deportation. Immigrant Legal Resource Center, a national nonprofit that provides legal training and does pro-immigrant policy work in California and Texas, estimated in January that 70 to 75% of ICE arrests in the interior of the U.S. were historically handoffs from another law enforcement agency, such as local jails or state or federal prisons.

When a person enters the state prison system, the corrections department is required to identify people who may be subject to deportation within 90 days and send an initial inquiry to ICE. Typically, ICE will respond about whether the person can be deported and, if so, issue a detainer. The detainer means ICE will take custody of the person upon their release.

Shortly before an individual is released, state prison employees again contact ICE and let them know the person’s release date is approaching. ICE then decides whether or not they will pick the person up.

So far in 2025, ICE has picked up 587 people of 11,231 inmates released from the state prison system. They pick up about 87% of the people whom they’ve placed detainers on, state data shows.

What we know about former prisoners detained in LA

Veneracion-Enriquez, 55, was released from a California state prison in May after spending 28 years in prison for rape, according to the California Department of Justice’s sex offender database and the corrections department. The corrections department was ready to hand him over to ICE, but a day before his release, ICE cancelled his detainer, state officials confirmed in response to questions from CalMatters.

That month, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation contacted ICE about Veneracion’s pending release, as required by law. Emails show that they notified ICE that Veneracion was going to be released within 15 days. Typically, the federal immigration agency prefers to apprehend criminals in a controlled location directly outside a state prison.  But on May 19, ICE cancelled the hold, according to state officials. He was released a day later.

Veneracion was released and given an ankle monitor to wear that broadcast his location to law enforcement authorities. His address was included in the sex offender registry. According to state records, his last registered address was at an apartment complex in Long Beach.

Immigration authorities then arrested Veneracion, a citizen of the Philippines, on June 7 during his regularly scheduled ICE check-in at the Los Angeles ICE office. It’s unclear if he’s been deported.

Chanh Phan, the other former state prisoner highlighted on the Homeland Security Department’s “worst of the worst” list, was released directly into ICE’s custody in August 2022 during the Biden administration, according to corrections department records.  He was on parole until Aug. 14, 2024.

“Criminal Illegal Alien Arrested during Los Angeles ICE Operation Committed Notorious Gang-Affiliated Murder of Two Teenagers at a Graduation Party” is the headline on the press release the Department of Homeland Security sent out to publicize its arrest of Chanh Phan, a 49-year-old from Vietnam. He had spent 24 years in prison for second-degree murder.

“This criminal illegal alien is who Governor Newsom, Mayor Bass, and the rioters in Los Angeles are trying to protect over U.S. citizens,” the Department of Homeland Security wrote in the press release.

It is unclear what happened after California released him to ICE, such as whether Chanh Phan remained in ICE detention or whether he was released by ICE into Los Angeles and then re-arrested last month. CalMatters does not have details about where or how Chanh Phan was arrested by ICE last month.

Federal immigration authorities face off against protesters during an ICE raid at Ambiance Apparel in Downtown Los Angeles on June 6, 2025. (J.W. Hendricks - CalMatters)Newsom vetoed bills to expand sanctuary law

California adopted its sanctuary law during the first Trump administration. It’s meant to shield unauthorized immigrants accused of minor infractions from facing deportation.

The law allows state corrections officials to continue working with federal immigration agencies regarding individuals in state custody who are facing deportation after serving their sentences. It also allows local law enforcement officials to work with the feds for individuals convicted of serious or violent felonies, such as assaults, child abuse, felony DUI, and other crimes.

At the local level, at least one sheriff wishes ICE would pick up more people.

In March, the Orange County sheriff made headlines for complaining that ICE wasn’t picking up all of the people it could. Sheriff Don Barnes told the Orange County Board of Supervisors that out of 48,000 suspects booked into jail in 2024, 733 were deportable, but the state’s sanctuary law prevented deputies from alerting ICE about 456 inmates. Of the remaining 277, 49 were not picked up by federal authorities, Barnes told the board.

“Those who are not picked up by ICE continue to victimize our community and consume law enforcement resources,” he told the county board.

State lawmakers have tried expanding the sanctuary protections to people in prison. In 2019 and 2023, Newsom vetoed two bills that would have restricted the corrections department’s cooperation with ICE.

In the most recent veto, he said that the current law  “strikes the right balance.”

Newsom has long positioned California as a bastion of immigrant rights, often clashing publicly with federal officials over deportation policy. But under his watch, the state has facilitated thousands of transfers from prison to ICE – a point he recently emphasized in a back-and-forth on social media with Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

“Yes, we seek sanctuary from your stupidity,” Newsom’s press office recently posted, responding to criticism from a former Trump aide in April. “P.S. Voldermort, you should know the state has coordinated 10,588+ times with ICE to remove dangerous criminals from the state since Governor Newsom took office.”

Horoscopes July 5, 2025: Megan Rapinoe, keep your options open and focus on your dreams

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Megan Rapinoe, 40; Dave Haywood, 43; Edie Falco, 62; Huey Lewis, 75.

Happy Birthday: Keep your options open and focus on your dreams. Put your energy where it counts, and show your passion as you shoot for the stars. Opportunity is present; all you must do is believe in yourself and your ability to turn your vision into a reality. Refuse to let vacillation and self-doubt cost you what you deserve. Stand tall, embrace what life offers and see what happens. Your numbers are 3, 14, 23, 26, 30, 36, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to detail and make changes regarding how you invest and handle your cash. Search for a way to enhance what you can offer and rub elbows with people who can help you advance. Refuse to let unrealistic domestic issues stand between you and your goals. Address a partnership issue with honesty. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Only promise what’s doable. Being a reliable source for others will help you build a solid reputation. Expanding your interests and qualifications is a good idea, but prematurely offering something you aren’t fully licensed to do will lead to trouble. Know your limits, and set standards that live up to your expectations. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Research, scan the internet and look for the best deal before placing an order. Refuse to let your emotions lead the way when dealing with domestic issues. Listen, evaluate and talk to experts. You can buy time and save money by determining what’s necessary and considering what you can do yourself. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Stop second-guessing and start doing. Consider where you belong and what you can do to make a difference. Use your home as a gathering place for those who share your concerns or interests and want to collaborate on experiences, ideas and plans. The prospects look good if you join forces with like-minded people. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Take a break and see what life offers: Go on a mini vacation, attend a conference or have a reunion. The important thing is to relax and bask in the possibilities. The more you experience, the greater the diversity you’ll encounter. Refuse to let your worries tag along when a fabulous experience can help you redefine them. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Make the first move, start a conversation, listen attentively and take mental notes, and you will discover helpful information. Socializing will offer insight into what’s trending, and someone is likely to provide inside information that can help you make better financial or medical choices. Keep your emotions hidden and display your poker face. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Concentrate on gathering information rather than offering what you know. Participate in activities or events that help you connect with someone of interest. Put your energy into gaining ground and building a solid base for your next venture. Opportunity is apparent, but patience, knowledge and experience are required. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If you share your feelings, you will gain insight into how to proceed with personal matters. A reaction, body language or verbal response will reveal what’s to come. Don’t shy away from or ignore the truth. Don’t be bashful; you cannot move forward until you deal with the present. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Get ready to change things and deal with any mismanagement slowing you down. Review your expenses, medications and home environment, and consider what’s not working for you anymore. Put on your thinking cap and delve into adjustments that encourage greater productivity, peace of mind and fun times. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take an interest in how you can hone or use your skills differently. Expanding your attributes and networking or socializing with industry people will offer inroads to better opportunities. Partnerships look promising, but be aware of competitors trying to undermine or steal your thunder. Use your charm to navigate your way forward. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Embrace change and enjoy the results. How you set up your home or deal with relationships will set the tone for the day. If you want things to flow, start with a positive mindset, a happy attitude, discipline and generosity with your money. Love and romance are in the stars. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Home in on your target and muster up the energy to carry through with your plans. Make personal relationships your priority, and enjoy what you can accomplish when collective minds work together to get things done. Let your passion lead the way. Romance is favored. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are friendly, energetic and supportive. You are attentive and generous.

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

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