mercurynews--2020-04-16--Raiders wary of loaded wide receiver class that could be a minefield

It ’ s a good year to need a wide receiver or two .
That ’ s the unanimous verdict on the position in this year ’ s NFL draft .
Close your eyes , pick one and there ’ s a potential Jerry Rice just waiting to reinvigorate a struggling offense when player selection begins April 23 .
“ I think there ’ s just as many misses up top at wide receiver as there are at quarterback , ” Mayock said at the NFL scouting combine .
With picks at Nos .
12 and 19 in the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raiders will take one of this year ’ s Big Three : Jerry Jeudy ( Alabama ) , CeeDee Lamb ( Oklahoma ) or Henry Ruggs III ( Alabama ) .
Jeudy is the most polished route runner , Lamb a physical specimen who breaks tackles and finds the end zone , and Ruggs has the most game-breaking potential ( think Tyreek Hill ) .
“ They ’ re all different types , ” Arizona general manager Steve Keim said .
“ Ruggs is the straight-line , vertical guy .
Jeudy is athletic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routes and is sudden in and out of breaks .
Then you ’ ve got CeeDee , who ’ s extremely physical and attacks the ball .
: ” Then again , given that Mayock estimates 20 to 25 receivers with third-round grades or better , the Raiders could address other issues and still come up with another target for Derek Carr given they currently have three third-round picks ( Nos .
80 , 81 and 91 ) to go with two in the first .
Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential starting pass catcher on Day 3 .
“ We think this year that there ’ s a really good chance to get a guy that can probably be a starter for you in the fifth round of the draft.
” There have been no more than 14 receivers drafted within the first three rounds in each of the last five drafts .
Last season , Oklahoma ’ s Marquise Brown ( Baltimore ) and Arizona State ’ s N ’ Keal Harry ( Arizona State ) were taken at No .
25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outperformed by second-rounders Deebo Samuels of South Carolina ( 49ers ) and A.J .
Brown of Mississippi ( Tennessee ) .
Neither of the first round picks approached the production of Mississippi ’ s D.K .
Metcalf ( Seattle ) and Ohio State ’ s Terry McLaurin ( Washington ) , third-round picks at No .
64 and 76 .
Two of the most productive wideouts in 2019 were Chris Godwin by Tampa Bay ( No .
84 ) and Kenny Golladay of Detroit ( No .
96 ) , both taken in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two combined for 151 receptions , 2,523 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for the Bucs and Lions .
The 2015 draft , during which the Raiders took Amari Cooper No .
4 overall , finds only two of 14 receivers with the same organizaton that drafted them — DeVante Parker of Miami ( No .
14 ) and Tyler Lockett of Seattle ( No .
69 ) .
The other 12 are with new teams or out of the league .
Nelson Agholor , a first-round pick in 2015 ( No .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Raiders on a minimum veteran deal “ prove it ” deal ) as a free agent .
As it stands , the top two receivers on 2020 roster for the Raiders are Tyrell Williams , undrafted out of Western Oregon and originally signed by the Chargers in 2016 , and Hunter Renfrow , a fifth-round pick by the Raiders out of Clemson last season .
Zay Jones , a former second-round pick by Buffalo , was acquired for a fifth-round pick last season .
Also on the roster are Marcel Ateman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a hit or miss position , and Mayock has his theories on why it ’ s so difficult to determine the wheat from the chaff .
First is the quality of NFL defensive backs , particularly in press man-to-man coverage .
“ When you ’ ve got a grown man trying to keep you from getting off the line of scrimmage , that ’ s a different issue , ” Mayock said .
“ The way college football is a little bit there ’ s not as much man-to-man coverage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a lot more zone .
“ You don ’ t always get to see a developed receiver .
And it takes time to develop a guy .
So you never know how long that ’ s going to take.
” Some of the fastest receivers in college football discover they ’ re not nearly as fast when processing all the information in an NFL pass route .
“ You could go from being the third option on the back side to the first option on the front side , ” Mayock said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to filter that on the run without slowing down .
Why do guys not look as quick as they were in college ?
They ’ re confused.
” The sheer volume of an NFL playbook is in contrast to no-huddle systems where receivers are essentially playing with crib notes in the form of sideline coaches giving their routes by hand signals .
That ’ s in contrast to a Raiders system where Jon Gruden wants every receiver to understand both outside positions as well as the slot .
“ I ’ ve met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year and half of them are doing this pre-snap , ” Mayock said .
“ They look over at the sideline and they have their own individual coach telling them what route to run .
Jon Gruden ’ s head would explode .
You ’ d better get in the huddle and you ’ d better learn three positions , and what he ’ s asking you to learn is mind-boggling.
” It helps when coaches are able to put receivers in positions that play to their strengths .
The Raiders got little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
7 pick in the first round of the 2009 draft , continually trying to get him the ball downfield .
Heyward-Bey , however , had trouble adjusting to balls in flight .
He had his most productive season when then offensive coordinator Hue Jackson allowed him to use his size and tackle-breaking ability with short passes desinged to get yards after catch .
Heyward-Bey caught 64 passes for 954 yards in 2011 , the best season of his career .
Then , of course , there ’ s an occasionally overlooked aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position .
One that also was an issue with Heyward-Bey .
• On this date , April 14 : Why Oakland team changed from Señors to Raiders • NFL Draft to be on 3 TV networks , raise funds to fight COVID-19 • Have Raiders seen the last of Alameda facility ?
“ Let ’ s start with a guy who can catch the football , ” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said .
“ I think people look past that sometimes.
” The Raiders scouted normally through the combine , but retreated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decree in March due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The trick will be figuring which receivers can make the mental adjustment to being an NFL receiver — especially if it ’ s a first-round pick counted on to contribute immediately .
“ What I ’ m most nervous about , if you ’ re going to draft a wide out , is can we get first-year production out of the guy ?
, ” Mayock said .
“ Because if you look at the numbers , it ’ s not real good .
@

It’s a good year to need a wide receiver or two.
That’s the unanimous verdict on the position in this year’s NFL draft. Close your eyes, pick one and there’s a potential Jerry Rice just waiting to reinvigorate a struggling offense when player selection begins April 23.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock knows better.
“I think there’s just as many misses up top at wide receiver as there are at quarterback,” Mayock said at the NFL scouting combine.
With picks at Nos. 12 and 19 in the first round, conventional wisdom has it the Raiders will take one of this year’s Big Three: Jerry Jeudy (Alabama), CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) or Henry Ruggs III (Alabama).
Jeudy is the most polished route runner, Lamb a physical specimen who breaks tackles and finds the end zone, and Ruggs has the most game-breaking potential (think Tyreek Hill).
“They’re all different types,” Arizona general manager Steve Keim said. “Ruggs is the straight-line, vertical guy. Jeudy is athletic and bendy and can run multiple cut routes and is sudden in and out of breaks. Then you’ve got CeeDee, who’s extremely physical and attacks the ball.:”
Then again, given that Mayock estimates 20 to 25 receivers with third-round grades or better, the Raiders could address other issues and still come up with another target for Derek Carr given they currently have three third-round picks (Nos. 80, 81 and 91) to go with two in the first.
Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters he liked the odds of landing a potential starting pass catcher on Day 3.
“We think this year that there’s a really good chance to get a guy that can probably be a starter for you in the fifth round of the draft.”
There have been no more than 14 receivers drafted within the first three rounds in each of the last five drafts.
Last season, Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown (Baltimore) and Arizona State’s N’Keal Harry (Arizona State) were taken at No. 25 and No. 32. They were outperformed by second-rounders Deebo Samuels of South Carolina (49ers) and A.J. Brown of Mississippi (Tennessee).
Neither of the first round picks approached the production of Mississippi’s D.K. Metcalf (Seattle) and Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin (Washington), third-round picks at No. 64 and 76.
Two of the most productive wideouts in 2019 were Chris Godwin by Tampa Bay (No. 84) and Kenny Golladay of Detroit (No. 96), both taken in the third round in 2017. The two combined for 151 receptions, 2,523 yards and 20 touchdowns last season for the Bucs and Lions.
The 2015 draft, during which the Raiders took Amari Cooper No. 4 overall, finds only two of 14 receivers with the same organizaton that drafted them — DeVante Parker of Miami (No. 14) and Tyler Lockett of Seattle (No. 69). The other 12 are with new teams or out of the league.
Nelson Agholor, a first-round pick in 2015 (No. 20) by Philadelphia, came to the Raiders on a minimum veteran deal “prove it” deal) as a free agent.
As it stands, the top two receivers on 2020 roster for the Raiders are Tyrell Williams, undrafted out of Western Oregon and originally signed by the Chargers in 2016, and Hunter Renfrow, a fifth-round pick by the Raiders out of Clemson last season.
Zay Jones, a former second-round pick by Buffalo, was acquired for a fifth-round pick last season. Also on the roster are Marcel Ateman, Rico Gafford and Anthony Ratliff-Williams.
It’s a hit or miss position, and Mayock has his theories on why it’s so difficult to determine the wheat from the chaff.
First is the quality of NFL defensive backs, particularly in press man-to-man coverage.
“When you’ve got a grown man trying to keep you from getting off the line of scrimmage, that’s a different issue,” Mayock said.
Coach Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers agrees.
“The way college football is a little bit there’s not as much man-to-man coverage,” Shanahan said. “There’s a lot more zone. “You don’t always get to see a developed receiver. And it takes time to develop a guy. So you never know how long that’s going to take.”
Some of the fastest receivers in college football discover they’re not nearly as fast when processing all the information in an NFL pass route.
“You could go from being the third option on the back side to the first option on the front side,” Mayock said. “And you’ve got to filter that on the run without slowing down. Why do guys not look as quick as they were in college? They’re confused.”
The sheer volume of an NFL playbook is in contrast to no-huddle systems where receivers are essentially playing with crib notes in the form of sideline coaches giving their routes by hand signals. That’s in contrast to a Raiders system where Jon Gruden wants every receiver to understand both outside positions as well as the slot.
“I’ve met with some of the college wideouts this year and half of them are doing this pre-snap,” Mayock said. “They look over at the sideline and they have their own individual coach telling them what route to run. Jon Gruden’s head would explode. You’d better get in the huddle and you’d better learn three positions, and what he’s asking you to learn is mind-boggling.”
It helps when coaches are able to put receivers in positions that play to their strengths. The Raiders got little from speedy Darius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 pick in the first round of the 2009 draft, continually trying to get him the ball downfield.
Heyward-Bey, however, had trouble adjusting to balls in flight. He had his most productive season when then offensive coordinator Hue Jackson allowed him to use his size and tackle-breaking ability with short passes desinged to get yards after catch. Heyward-Bey caught 64 passes for 954 yards in 2011, the best season of his career.
Then, of course, there’s an occasionally overlooked aspect that is the defining characteristic of the position. One that also was an issue with Heyward-Bey.
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The Raiders scouted normally through the combine, but retreated to virtual scouting and video conferencing by NFL decree in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The trick will be figuring which receivers can make the mental adjustment to being an NFL receiver — especially if it’s a first-round pick counted on to contribute immediately.
“What I’m most nervous about, if you’re going to draft a wide out, is can we get first-year production out of the guy?,” Mayock said. “Because if you look at the numbers, it’s not real good.”


mercurynews--2020-04-16--Letter: Farmworkers exposed to pesticides, at greater risk

Re : “ Farm workers should be next in line for masks ” ( Letter to the editor , Mercurynews.com , April 7 ) : Not only are our farmers in contact with other farmworkers , but they are exposed to pesticides that can compromise their immune systems and place them at greater risk .
A majority of our farmworkers do not have documentation to be in the United States legally .
Our state governors need to take action and look into not only making sure our farmers have the correct masks but also that they have the sufficient medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fields they are at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 .
These actions need to be taken so our farmers can have the comfort of going to work knowing that they are safe and will have the resources to be treated if necessary .
This will help our farmers stay healthy and safe .
• Letter : Aren ’ t we all Americans and isn ’ t this our stockpile ?
• Letter : In New York , COVID-19 patients may be moved into tents Our farmers are what help us keep food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive masks now .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Re: “Farm workers should be next in line for masks” (Letter to the editor, Mercurynews.com, April 7):
Not only are our farmers in contact with other farmworkers, but they are exposed to pesticides that can compromise their immune systems and place them at greater risk.
A majority of our farmworkers do not have documentation to be in the United States legally. Our state governors need to take action and look into not only making sure our farmers have the correct masks but also that they have the sufficient medical coverage.
Every day out in the fields they are at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19. These actions need to be taken so our farmers can have the comfort of going to work knowing that they are safe and will have the resources to be treated if necessary.
This will help our farmers stay healthy and safe.
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Daisy Rivas
San Jose
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mercurynews--2020-04-16--Horoscopes April 16, 2020: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jon Cryer share advice.

Happy Birthday : Don ’ t settle for less when you can have so much more .
Expand your interests , and explore what life has to offer .
Take a step forward using all your skills and experience to reach the next level .
Refuse to let someone ’ s indulgent behavior hold you back or discourage you from doing your best .
Your numbers are 8 , 13 , 24 , 26 , 32 , 36 , 47 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : What you offer others will help you get what you want in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dedicate more time to reaching your goal .
Say what ’ s on your mind , and follow through with your plans .
Romance is on the rise .
4 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Go about your business .
Give others the benefit of the doubt , and don ’ t interfere .
A move or change may tempt you , but stay put and take care of unfinished business before jumping into something new .
2 stars GEMINI ( May 21-June 20 ) : Take pride in what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you feel good as well as raise interest in what you have to offer .
You can make personal gains and useful connections .
Speak up , and press forward with confidence .
Romance is featured .
5 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Keep the past where it belongs .
Loss , anger and upset will not help you reach your goal , but an innovative approach coupled with the willingness to adapt to the changes taking place will encourage a positive outcome .
3 stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or your reputation will be jeopardized .
Don ’ t give in to someone putting pressure on you to make a move .
Bide your time , look over your options and sit tight until you feel comfortable with an offer you receive .
3 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Push for what you want , but don ’ t force others to take part .
Don ’ t be fooled by someone who makes a big splash but never follows through .
Make a change based on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone else .
3 stars LIBRA ( Sept. 23-Oct. 22 ) : Use intelligence and sophistication to get your way .
Your ability to charm your way to the top will help , but make sure you have the goods to honor the promises you make along the way .
Keep your plans and your life simple .
5 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Emotional upset will surface if you can ’ t agree with someone close to you .
If you want the freedom to do your own thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same in return .
Concentrate on fleshing out a good plan before moving forward .
2 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : The effort you put into pursuing a better position or making a change that will enhance the way you live or how you handle your money will pay off .
Home improvements will add to your comfort and revive a meaningful relationship .
4 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : A change is useful only if it benefits you .
Don ’ t give in to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or expensive .
Moderation will be the best way to avoid loss and protect your reputation .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Anger and revenge won ’ t lead to satisfaction .
Don ’ t make a premature decision if you feel uneasy .
Stick close to home , pamper yourself and nurture your soul .
Follow your heart .
Do what will benefit you .
3 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : Check references before you get involved in something that may not be right for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give someone the upper hand .
Protect your assets , and don ’ t buy in to something that has too many risks .
3 stars Birthday Baby : You are imaginative , intense and motivated .
You are sensitive and helpful .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jon Cryer, 55; Martin Lawrence, 55; Ellen Barkin, 66; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 73.
Happy Birthday: Don’t settle for less when you can have so much more. Expand your interests, and explore what life has to offer. Take a step forward using all your skills and experience to reach the next level. Refuse to let someone’s indulgent behavior hold you back or discourage you from doing your best. Your numbers are 8, 13, 24, 26, 32, 36, 47.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): What you offer others will help you get what you want in return. Call in favors, and dedicate more time to reaching your goal. Say what’s on your mind, and follow through with your plans. Romance is on the rise. 4 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Go about your business. Give others the benefit of the doubt, and don’t interfere. A move or change may tempt you, but stay put and take care of unfinished business before jumping into something new. 2 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take pride in what you do. Hard work will make you feel good as well as raise interest in what you have to offer. You can make personal gains and useful connections. Speak up, and press forward with confidence. Romance is featured. 5 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Keep the past where it belongs. Loss, anger and upset will not help you reach your goal, but an innovative approach coupled with the willingness to adapt to the changes taking place will encourage a positive outcome. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Stick to the truth, or your reputation will be jeopardized. Don’t give in to someone putting pressure on you to make a move. Bide your time, look over your options and sit tight until you feel comfortable with an offer you receive. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Push for what you want, but don’t force others to take part. Don’t be fooled by someone who makes a big splash but never follows through. Make a change based on what’s right for you, not someone else. 3 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Use intelligence and sophistication to get your way. Your ability to charm your way to the top will help, but make sure you have the goods to honor the promises you make along the way. Keep your plans and your life simple. 5 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Emotional upset will surface if you can’t agree with someone close to you. If you want the freedom to do your own thing, you will have to give others the same in return. Concentrate on fleshing out a good plan before moving forward. 2 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The effort you put into pursuing a better position or making a change that will enhance the way you live or how you handle your money will pay off. Home improvements will add to your comfort and revive a meaningful relationship. 4 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A change is useful only if it benefits you. Don’t give in to someone pestering you to do something risky or expensive. Moderation will be the best way to avoid loss and protect your reputation. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Anger and revenge won’t lead to satisfaction. Don’t make a premature decision if you feel uneasy. Stick close to home, pamper yourself and nurture your soul. Follow your heart. Do what will benefit you. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Check references before you get involved in something that may not be right for you. Avoid sharing plans that can give someone the upper hand. Protect your assets, and don’t buy in to something that has too many risks. 3 stars
Birthday Baby: You are imaginative, intense and motivated. You are sensitive and helpful.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


mercurynews--2020-04-16--Word Game: April 16, 2020

Word Game: April 16, 2020

TODAY ’ S WORD — ECCENTRIC ( ECCENTRIC : ek-SEN-trik : Departing from a recognized or conventional norm or pattern @ @ @ @ @ 31 or more words in ECCENTRIC ?
The list will be published tomorrow .
To @ @ @ @ @ , visit WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
@ @ @ @ @ of four or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the @ @ @ @ @ ” such as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
@ @ @ @ @ by adding a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used @ @ @ @ @ “ bake ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words @ @ @ @ @ explicit words are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — ECCENTRIC (ECCENTRIC: ek-SEN-trik: Departing from a recognized or conventional norm or pattern.)
Average mark 23 words
Time limit 35 minutes
Can you find 31 or more words in ECCENTRIC? The list will be published tomorrow.
YESTERDAY’S WORD — CRITERIA care carer caret cart carter cater cire cite crate
crater crier race racer racier rare rate rater react rear rice ricer rite icier irate tare
tear terra tier tire trace tracer trice erratic acre airier
To purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Words must be of four or more letters.
2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.
3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.
4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.
Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-04-16--Bridge: April 16, 2020

Bridge: April 16, 2020

The focus of my columns this week , safety plays , would be lost on Joe Overberry .
Joe believes it ’ s nobler to go down trying for overtricks than to make what he bid .
That costs him — and his long-suffering partners — thousands of points in my club ’ s penny games .
Joe was today ’ s South , and he and North did well to reach six spades .
West led the jack of diamonds , and Joe took the A-K to pitch his heart loser .
He next cashed the A-K of clubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s four of trumps .
East overruffed and returned a trump , and Joe ’ s last club was a loser .
Down one .
“ Wonderful , ” North groaned .
“ The man tosses a cool 1,430 points out the window trying for a 30-point overtrick.
” Even Joe should be willing to play safe for 12 tricks in this deal .
He must ruff the third club with the king of trumps , return to his hand with the ace of hearts and ruff his last club with dummy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or discard , but he gets one trump trick and nothing else .
You hold : S K 4 H J 6 4 3 2 D A K 5 4 C J 6 .
Your partner opens one diamond , you respond one heart and he bids two clubs .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : If you judge to force to game , and a jump to three diamonds is forcing in your partnership , that bid is fine .
If , as many pairs agree , three diamonds would only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
Your options would be a forcing “ fourth-suit ” bid of two spades or a jump to 3NT .

The focus of my columns this week, safety plays, would be lost on Joe Overberry. Joe believes it’s nobler to go down trying for overtricks than to make what he bid. That costs him — and his long-suffering partners — thousands of points in my club’s penny games.
Joe was today’s South, and he and North did well to reach six spades. West led the jack of diamonds, and Joe took the A-K to pitch his heart loser. He next cashed the A-K of clubs and ruffed a club … with dummy’s four of trumps. East overruffed and returned a trump, and Joe’s last club was a loser. Down one.
“Wonderful,” North groaned. “The man tosses a cool 1,430 points out the window trying for a 30-point overtrick.”
THIRD CLUB
Even Joe should be willing to play safe for 12 tricks in this deal. He must ruff the third club with the king of trumps, return to his hand with the ace of hearts and ruff his last club with dummy’s four.
East can overruff or discard, but he gets one trump trick and nothing else.
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 4 H J 6 4 3 2 D A K 5 4 C J 6. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids two clubs. What do you say?
ANSWER: If you judge to force to game, and a jump to three diamonds is forcing in your partnership, that bid is fine. If, as many pairs agree, three diamonds would only invite, you might still choose that call. Your options would be a forcing “fourth-suit” bid of two spades or a jump to 3NT.
South dealer
N-S vulnerable
NORTH
S K 4
H J 6 4 3 2
D A K 5 4
C J 6
WEST
S 3
H K 8 5
D J 10 9 6
C Q 10 8 5 2
EAST
S 10 9 8 5
H Q 10 7
D Q 7 3 2
C 9 7
SOUTH
S A Q J 7 6 2
H A 9
D 8
C A K 4 3
South West North East
1 S Pass 2 H Pass
3 C Pass 3 D Pass
3 S Pass 4 S Pass
6 S All Pass
Opening lead — D J
(C)2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-04-16--Ask Amy: I don’t need a stimulus check. What should I do with it?

DEAR AMY : I ’ m in my mid-30s .
I am married , with no kids .
My mortgage payment is low , my student loans are paid off , and both my husband and I work for “ essential ” businesses — I in the defense sector ( working from home ) , and he in infrastructure .
We aren ’ t rich , but in comparison to so many families , we are in an enviable situation during this crisis .
Right now , I don ’ t need a stimulus check .
Since I ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do with it to help during this pandemic ?
So Far , So Good DEAR SO FAR : As of this writing , stimulus payments have not started arriving .
However , assuming that these payments find their way into many bank accounts , I urge you — and anyone else in this position — to consider donating your stimulus check to a worthy nonprofit that helps people in your community .
My funds will go to Foodnet Meals on Wheels in my home county of Tompkins in New York .
Meals on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to homebound seniors and is a Godsend in the many small and isolated villages in the rural area where I live — especially now .
• Ask Amy : My mom thinks I ’ ve been brainwashed • Ask Amy : She ’ s living in my house , and I don ’ t know how to get her out • Ask Amy : My brother doesn ’ t know it , but his fiancee is a psycho • Ask Amy : The gym ’ s treatment of my daughter infuriates me • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my new neighbor I can hear what he ’ s doing Because of the pandemic , the need has grown , and in my area , Meals on Wheels has already delivered two-weeks ’ worth of frozen meals to their clients , in case the organization itself is forced into quarantine .
Healthy social distancing dictates that volunteers can not closely connect with clients in the way they are used to doing , but these volunteers are valued “ first responders , ” as they visit elders whose own family members may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the current travel restrictions .
To help those on the other end of the generational spectrum , Save the Children is partnering with No Kid Hungry to distribute funds to local communities in order to ensure that the estimated 22 million schoolchildren who rely on school lunches for daily nutrition have access to food during this pandemic .
Check Savethechildren.org to see how you can help .
DEAR READERS : I recently heard from Karl Pillemer , author of “ 30 Lessons for Living : Tried and True Advice from the Wisest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pillemer , a professor of gerontology at Weill Cornell Medicine , interviewed over 1,000 elders for his 10-year research project .
This is a great time to absorb some of the lessons they imparted .
Following is an excerpt from a recent interview with the Cornell Chronicle .
Pillemer notes : “ The elders can provide us with the long view , confirming in a literal sense that ‘ this , too , shall pass . '
” “ I met Holocaust survivors , refugees from many of the early 20th century @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who lost everything in the Depression , ” Pillemer said .
“ By the time I sat with them 40 , 50 , 60 , or 70 years later , they had built comfortable , often successful and fulfilling lives .
Their message was extraordinarily clear : Crises occur , societies change , and , with resilience , we recover and move on.
” “ Focusing on what your future can be a decade or more from now can provide an antidote to worry , the elders advise .
This lesson is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future stories of how we survived .
What story do we want to tell ?
“ If you want to help yourself , the elders said , help others .
Pillemer noted that their own poor families helped out even poorer ones during the Great Depression .
They remember World War II as a time when communities came together , and everyone joined hands and hearts to support one another at home .
“ Generously assisting other people to the extent that we can is a major way people are able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was helping other people during the Great Depression or assisting the war effort during WWII .
Generously helping others is a very good , self-interested strategy.
” DEAR AMY : I ’ m responding to a question a while back from “ Wondering Diners.
” These two lucky people were eating out and were dumbfounded when a stranger paid for their meal .
I had a similar experience a few years ago .
My wife and I went to a steakhouse for dinner .
After we ordered , a server informed us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the room had paid for our meal .
I was wearing a cap with “ Korean War Veteran ” printed on it .
I wanted to thank him , but he had already left .
I am so grateful there are a few nice people left in the world .
DEAR PROUD : It feels good to be able to thank veterans for service to the country .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her on Twitter @ askingamy or Facebook .

DEAR AMY: I’m in my mid-30s. I am married, with no kids. My mortgage payment is low, my student loans are paid off, and both my husband and I work for “essential” businesses — I in the defense sector (working from home), and he in infrastructure.
We aren’t rich, but in comparison to so many families, we are in an enviable situation during this crisis.
Right now, I don’t need a stimulus check. Since I’ll get one anyway, what can I do with it to help during this pandemic?
So Far, So Good
DEAR SO FAR: As of this writing, stimulus payments have not started arriving. However, assuming that these payments find their way into many bank accounts, I urge you — and anyone else in this position — to consider donating your stimulus check to a worthy nonprofit that helps people in your community.
My funds will go to Foodnet Meals on Wheels in my home county of Tompkins in New York. Meals on Wheels (mealsonwheelsamerica.org) delivers nutritious meals to homebound seniors and is a Godsend in the many small and isolated villages in the rural area where I live — especially now.
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Ask Amy: I’ve told them they need therapy, and they refuse to do it. What now? Advice | Ask Amy: The man I love is my grandchild’s uncle, and things have gotten messy Because of the pandemic, the need has grown, and in my area, Meals on Wheels has already delivered two-weeks’ worth of frozen meals to their clients, in case the organization itself is forced into quarantine.
Healthy social distancing dictates that volunteers cannot closely connect with clients in the way they are used to doing, but these volunteers are valued “first responders,” as they visit elders whose own family members may not be able to get to them because of the current travel restrictions.
To help those on the other end of the generational spectrum, Save the Children is partnering with No Kid Hungry to distribute funds to local communities in order to ensure that the estimated 22 million schoolchildren who rely on school lunches for daily nutrition have access to food during this pandemic. Check Savethechildren.org to see how you can help.
DEAR READERS: I recently heard from Karl Pillemer, author of “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.” (2011, Avery). Pillemer, a professor of gerontology at Weill Cornell Medicine, interviewed over 1,000 elders for his 10-year research project. This is a great time to absorb some of the lessons they imparted.
Following is an excerpt from a recent interview with the Cornell Chronicle. Pillemer notes: “The elders can provide us with the long view, confirming in a literal sense that ‘this, too, shall pass.'”
“I met Holocaust survivors, refugees from many of the early 20th century’s other major conflicts, and people who lost everything in the Depression,” Pillemer said. “By the time I sat with them 40, 50, 60, or 70 years later, they had built comfortable, often successful and fulfilling lives. Their message was extraordinarily clear: Crises occur, societies change, and, with resilience, we recover and move on.”
“Focusing on what your future can be a decade or more from now can provide an antidote to worry, the elders advise. This lesson is also a reminder: Present actions are the future stories of how we survived. What story do we want to tell?
“If you want to help yourself, the elders said, help others. Pillemer noted that their own poor families helped out even poorer ones during the Great Depression. They remember World War II as a time when communities came together, and everyone joined hands and hearts to support one another at home.
“Generously assisting other people to the extent that we can is a major way people are able to feel a sense of control, whether that was helping other people during the Great Depression or assisting the war effort during WWII. Generously helping others is a very good, self-interested strategy.”
Want Ask Amy delivered to your inbox for free on weekdays?
DEAR AMY: I’m responding to a question a while back from “Wondering Diners.” These two lucky people were eating out and were dumbfounded when a stranger paid for their meal.
I had a similar experience a few years ago. My wife and I went to a steakhouse for dinner. After we ordered, a server informed us that a gentleman on the other side of the room had paid for our meal. I was wearing a cap with “Korean War Veteran” printed on it.
I wanted to thank him, but he had already left.
I am so grateful there are a few nice people left in the world.
Proud Veteran
DEAR PROUD: It feels good to be able to thank veterans for service to the country.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-04-16--Letter: Rental owners squeezed by taxes, moratoriums

Governments reminding people that property taxes are still due in nearly all Bay Area and California counties on April 10 only shows that those governments are incapable of helping citizens during the economic havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
While federal and state governments have extended deadlines for filing and paying income taxes , county governments have exhibited their greed by rationalizing as to why they can not extend the April 10 property tax payment deadline .
Many cities in those counties have passed ordinances placing moratoriums on evictions by property owners for non-payment of rent .
Thanks to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of rental property owners have been economically squeezed both ways .
• Letter : Contra Costa ’ s words on worship like acid in believers ’ wounds • Letter : Aren ’ t we all Americans and isn ’ t this our stockpile ?
• Letter : In New York , COVID-19 patients may be moved into tents Also , it is surprising that tax officials in a few of those counties have not shown any initiative or desire to provide any relief in paying the property tax .
Remember those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Submit your letter to the editor via this form Read more Letters to the Editor

Re: “Property taxes: Tax deadline arrives amid virus fallout” (Page B1, April 10):
Governments reminding people that property taxes are still due in nearly all Bay Area and California counties on April 10 only shows that those governments are incapable of helping citizens during the economic havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
While federal and state governments have extended deadlines for filing and paying income taxes, county governments have exhibited their greed by rationalizing as to why they cannot extend the April 10 property tax payment deadline.
Many cities in those counties have passed ordinances placing moratoriums on evictions by property owners for non-payment of rent. Thanks to those city and county governments, a number of rental property owners have been economically squeezed both ways.
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Letters: Insulate wires | CDE was wrong | Functional Chromebooks | Trump’s ego | Healthy debate | A new path Letters to the Editor | Letters: Local solar | Titan resources | Activism helps Also, it is surprising that tax officials in a few of those counties have not shown any initiative or desire to provide any relief in paying the property tax. Remember those who are elected at the next election time.
Kirit Shah
Fremont
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-01-07--Worker killed when tower collapses at Petaluma shell mill

A man was fatally injured when a conveyor system he was dismantling collapsed on him at a Petaluma industrial site , Sonoma County sheriff ’ s officials said .
Adolfo Sanchez , 31 , of Fairfield , died Friday at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital , according to Frank Polizzi , a spokesman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health .
Sanchez , an employee of Lind Marine , was operating a cutting torch earlier that day on a silo at the inactive facility near the D Street bridge over the Petaluma River , Polizzi said .
Witnesses said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around noon and heard Sanchez screaming for help , Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Costa said .
Firefighters used a 35-foot ladder to reach Sanchez , then lifted the structure to free him .
He was airlifted to the hospital , Costa said .
• IKEA to pay $ 46 million to family of California boy killed when recalled dresser tipped over • Motorcyclist who died after crash in rural Clayton identified • 1 killed when small plane crashes off the 14 Freeway in Southern California The facility is owned by Petaluma-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marine salvage and barge services .
It had been used to crush oyster shells to produce a calcium additive for livestock and poultry feed and soil amendments .

A man was fatally injured when a conveyor system he was dismantling collapsed on him at a Petaluma industrial site, Sonoma County sheriff’s officials said.
Adolfo Sanchez, 31, of Fairfield, died Friday at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, according to Frank Polizzi, a spokesman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
Sanchez, an employee of Lind Marine, was operating a cutting torch earlier that day on a silo at the inactive facility near the D Street bridge over the Petaluma River, Polizzi said.
Witnesses said they saw a large metal tower collapse around noon and heard Sanchez screaming for help, Petaluma Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Costa said. Firefighters used a 35-foot ladder to
reach Sanchez, then lifted the structure to free him. He was airlifted to the hospital, Costa said.


mercurynews--2020-01-07--Letter: Leaders just overpaid administrators of the climate status quo

We have overpaid leaders of the climate status quo Re : “ 30-year goals are not enough to fight climate change ” ( Letter to the editor , Eastbaytimes.com , Dec. 15 ) : We don ’ t have the leadership to tackle climate change .
All these discussions are useless .
Science and now the United Nations are begging for our elected leaders to do something , but it will come to naught because to do something is politically dangerous .
Our leaders are essentially overpaid administrators of the status quo .
Kudos to letter-writer Richard Jesse who offered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from our administrators ; they are all waiting for a leader to come forward .
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Submit your letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more Letters to the Editor

We have overpaid leaders
of the climate status quo
Re: “30-year goals are not enough to fight climate change” (Letter to the editor, Eastbaytimes.com, Dec. 15):
We don’t have the leadership to tackle climate change. All these discussions are useless.
Science and now the United Nations are begging for our elected leaders to do something, but it will come to naught because to do something is politically dangerous.
Our leaders are essentially overpaid administrators of the status quo. Kudos to letter-writer Richard Jesse who offered suggestions. We will not hear anything from our administrators; they are all waiting for a leader to come forward.
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Robert Sinuhe
Oakland
Submit your letter to the editor via this form
Read more Letters to the Editor


mercurynews--2020-01-07--After Cal State Fullerton flameout, here’s where Gabe Kapler went from boy to man

Moorpark College , a 13,756-student community college nestled into the rolling green hills of southeastern Ventura County , certainly doesn ’ t look as if it would have any real importance to one of Major League Baseball ’ s most storied franchises .
Since the school was founded 52 years ago , it has produced seven major-league players , only three of whom have appeared in more than 100 games .
The most famous is a former Division I washout who arrived at Moorpark in August 1994 hoping to resuscitate his career and prove to himself that he wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greats Bochy and Posey among stars signing for ARF roof • Giants sign former All-Star , Bay Area native as search for rotation depth continues • Don Larsen , who threw only perfect World Series game , dies at 90 “ Moorpark was a turning point of , ‘ Hey , this is what I ’ m going to do for the rest of my life , ’ ” Ryan Briggs — the starting shortstop on the 1995 Raiders — said of his former teammate , new San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kapler returns to Moorpark ’ s baseball facility — a batting cage , metal bleachers and well-kept field wedged into a dirt hillside on the western edge of campus — to thank his old coach Mario Porto , now in his 29th year with the Raiders .
Without Moorpark , Kapler might not have gone from an immature 18-year-old to a 12-year major leaguer to , ultimately , the successor to future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy in San Francisco .
Though Kapler spent just 10 months with the Raiders , he considers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the more than two decades since he left the two-year school in a bedroom community of 36,576 , Kapler has struggled to find stability , playing for six major-league teams — as well as one in Japan — before controversial stints as the Dodgers ’ farm director and the Phillies ’ manager .
With the Giants , Kapler seeks the same acceptance that makes him come back to Moorpark annually .
In August 1994 , when Kapler first approached Porto and then-head coach Ken Wagner hoping to try out , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost a near-full-ride scholarship to national powerhouse Cal State Fullerton .
“ We start Aug. 22 , Gabe , ” Porto recalled telling Kapler .
“ We line them up , and the best guys play.
” Thanks in part to the recommendation of a local scout , Cal State Fullerton head coach Augie Garrido had recruited Kapler , an athletic outfielder from Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley , more on potential than production .
The offer was a surprise : Thinly-muscled , Kapler had a good eye and quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was going to require him to be very organized and get his work done , ” said Judy Kapler , Gabe ’ s mother .
“ He was going to have to be a student and a baseball player , and he just wasn ’ t ready.
” During his lone semester in Fullerton , Kapler spent most evenings driving more than an hour one way to see his first serious girlfriend , Lisa .
He spent most other nights partying .
The late hours he kept led to weeks of blown-off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kapler — now a noted health freak — wrote on his personal blog in 2014 , “ My go-to meal was a Double Del Cheeseburger ( from Del Taco ) , those special wrinkly fries and a big ol ’ Coke with a lot of ice .
… I quickly developed an affinity for beer , malt liquor in particular.
” When Garrido pulled Kapler ’ s scholarship before the end of that first semester , it wasn ’ t without warning .
Said Judy : “ He knew he screwed up.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and drove home that night .
Over the next eight months , Kapler lived with his parents in Reseda and delivered pizza in his black Ford Mustang convertible .
“ He didn ’ t do anything except try and explore and think about what had happened , and what he wanted to do next , ” Judy said .
“ He was pretty introspective.
” His baseball future in jeopardy , Kapler re-prioritized his life with the singular goal of being selected in the Major League Draft .
He became a regular at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he found much-needed structure and discipline in weightlifting .
Instead of enrolling at nearby Pierce College or Los Angeles Valley College , he chose Moorpark and its much less prestigious baseball program because he wanted to get away from those who knew of his embarrassing failure .
Then , as now , Moorpark ’ s talent base is hyper-local , with players coming from Ventura County and Simi Valley .
Kapler — who grew up a 40-minute drive south in Reseda — was an unknown to both players and coaches .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Porto said .
“ You look at him , and you go , ‘ Holy cow , this guy ’ s put together.
’ You hoped his talent matched his physique.
” Kapler tried out for shortstop , and the first time he took batting practice with the Raiders , he put on a show with his new muscle .
Briggs , the team captain , turned to Porto and asked , “ Do I need to start trying out for second base ?
” “ He was going to hit third , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was just a matter of where he was going to play .
… Our third baseman ended up hurting himself , so we put Gabe at third base.
” Moorpark ’ s no-frills isolation allowed Kapler to quietly and meticulously focus on his work .
He hit until his hands blistered and he lifted weights alone long after his teammates had gone out partying , before he made his nightly drive back to the San Fernando Valley .
“ He was there first , and he was the last one to leave , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell him to lock up.
” Kapler credits a Moorpark nutrition class for teaching him the importance of eating right .
When his team stopped at McDonald ’ s on the way back from a game at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo , Kapler , having forgotten to pack his usual tuna-on-rye sandwich , peeled the skin off of all 40 of his Chicken McNuggets .
“ I ’ m going , ‘ Dude , that dude is real , ’ ” said Briggs , who was in the same car .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mouth is.
” “ Gabe was serious about it , and I think it affected the players around him , ” Porto said .
Initially reserved during his time at Moorpark , Kapler slowly became more comfortable , speaking up at the Raiders ’ weekly meetings at a Round Table Pizza in Simi Valley .
It didn ’ t take long for even the team captains to start following his lead .
Kapler delivered in-game scouting reports to his teammates and demonstrated good instincts for situational baseball , knowing just the right time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is a side of him foreign to those in Philadelphia who derided Kapler for his overreliance on advanced analytics .
During his lone season at Moorpark , Kapler hit .337 , with seven home runs and 52 RBIs , for a 27-15 team that finished second in the conference and reached the playoffs .
The habits Kapler built with the Raiders were a driving force behind him becoming the only player signed out of the Major League Draft ’ s since-eliminated 57th round to make the big leagues .
When Giants president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in November , he banked that the leadership , diligence and discipline Kapler first flashed at Moorpark would allow him to shepherd the team back into playoff contention after three straight losing seasons .
This was a calculated risk : After accusations that he mishandled assault allegations against his Dodgers minor leaguers and a sub-.500 tenure with the Phillies , Kapler has become a polarizing figure , especially when compared to his predecessor , Bochy .
Like when he enrolled at Moorpark after a disappointing stop in Fullerton , Kapler is eager for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ met with season-ticket holders multiple times to address their concerns and talked with Bochy about managing ’ s nuances .
Two days before his hire became official , Kapler took a walking tour of San Francisco , going from Oracle Park to Nob Hill to the Financial District .
He felt the same sense of belonging he still feels at Moorpark as he acquainted himself with his new home .
“ I connect with the city , ” said Kapler , who was inducted into Moorpark ’ s athletic Hall of Fame in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be one of the most diverse and accepting cities on the planet , and that probably excites me more than anything else about coming to San Francisco .
”

Moorpark College, a 13,756-student community college nestled into the rolling green hills of southeastern Ventura County, certainly doesn’t look as if it would have any real importance to one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises.
Since the school was founded 52 years ago, it has produced seven major-league players, only three of whom have appeared in more than 100 games. The most famous is a former Division I washout who arrived at Moorpark in August 1994 hoping to resuscitate his career and prove to himself that he wasn’t a failure.
Gabe Kapler, the San Francisco Giants’ new manager, returns to Moorpark at least once a year to thank his old coach Mario Porto, now in his 29th year with the Raiders.
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SF Giants coach Nakken is pregnant, husband announces San Francisco Giants | SF Giants call up 2022 draft pick batting nearly .400 in the minor leagues “Moorpark was a turning point,” Ryan Briggs says of his former teammate. Briggs, the shortstop on the 1995 Raiders, said Moorpark is where Kapler dicsovered, “‘Hey, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life.’”
Without Moorpark, Kapler might not have gone from an immature 18-year-old to a 12-year major leaguer to, ultimately, the successor to future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy in San Francisco.
Though Kapler spent just 10 months with the Raiders, he considers Moorpark a core part of his identity. In the more than two decades since he left the two-year school in a bedroom community of 36,576, Kapler has struggled to find stability, playing for six major-league teams — as well as one in Japan — before controversial stints as the Dodgers’ farm director and the Phillies’ manager.
With the Giants, Kapler seeks the same acceptance that makes him come back to Moorpark annually. In August 1994, when Kapler first approached Porto and then-head coach Ken Wagner hoping to try out, they didn’t know he’d lost a near-full-ride scholarship to national powerhouse Cal State Fullerton.
“We start Aug. 22, Gabe,” Porto recalled telling Kapler. “We line them up, and the best guys play.”
Thanks in part to the recommendation of a local scout, Cal State Fullerton head coach Augie Garrido had recruited Kapler, an athletic outfielder from Taft High School in the San Fernando Valley, more on potential than production. The offer was a surprise: Thinly-muscled, Kapler had a good eye and quick hands, but lacked power.
“It was going to require him to be very organized and get his work done,” said Judy Kapler, Gabe’s mother. “He was going to have to be a student and a baseball player, and he just wasn’t ready.”
During his lone semester in Fullerton, Kapler spent most evenings driving more than an hour one way to see his first serious girlfriend, Lisa. He spent most other nights partying. The late hours he kept led to weeks of blown-off classes and missed morning workouts.
As Kapler — now a noted health freak — wrote on his personal blog in 2014, “My go-to meal was a Double Del Cheeseburger (from Del Taco), those special wrinkly fries and a big ol’ Coke with a lot of ice. … I quickly developed an affinity for beer, malt liquor in particular.”
When Garrido pulled Kapler’s scholarship before the end of that first semester, it wasn’t without warning. Said Judy: “He knew he screwed up.”
Kapler packed up his room in shame and drove home that night. Over the next eight months, Kapler lived with his parents in Reseda and delivered pizza in his black Ford Mustang convertible.
“He didn’t do anything except try and explore and think about what had happened, and what he wanted to do next,” Judy said. “He was pretty introspective.”
His baseball future in jeopardy, Kapler re-prioritized his life with the singular goal of being selected in the Major League Draft. He became a regular at the Mid-Valley Athletic Club in Reseda, where he found much-needed structure and discipline in weightlifting.
Instead of enrolling at nearby Pierce College or Los Angeles Valley College, he chose Moorpark and its much less prestigious baseball program because he wanted to get away from those who knew of his embarrassing failure.
Then, as now, Moorpark’s talent base is hyper-local, with players coming from Ventura County and Simi Valley. Kapler, who grew up a 40-minute drive south in Reseda, was an unknown to both players and coaches.
“He looked like a specimen,” Porto said. “You look at him, and you go, ‘Holy cow, this guy’s put together.’ You hoped his talent matched his physique.”
Kapler tried out for shortstop, and the first time he took batting practice with the Raiders, he put on a show with his new muscle. Briggs, the team captain, turned to Porto and asked, “Do I need to start trying out for second base?”
“He was going to hit third,” Porto recalled thinking. “It was just a matter of where he was going to play. … Our third baseman ended up hurting himself, so we put Gabe at third base.”
Moorpark’s no-frills isolation allowed Kapler to quietly and meticulously focus on his work. He hit until his hands blistered and he lifted weights alone long after his teammates had gone out partying, before he made his nightly drive back to the San Fernando Valley.
“He was there first, and he was the last one to leave,” Briggs said. “I would tell him to lock up.”
Kapler credits a Moorpark nutrition class for teaching him the importance of eating right. When his team stopped at McDonald’s on the way back from a game at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Kapler, having forgotten to pack his usual tuna-on-rye sandwich, peeled the skin off of all 40 of his Chicken McNuggets.
“I’m going, ‘Dude, that dude is real,’” said Briggs, who was in the same car. “He puts his money where his mouth is.”
“Gabe was serious about it, and I think it affected the players around him,” Porto said.
Initially reserved during his time at Moorpark, Kapler slowly became more comfortable, speaking up at the Raiders’ weekly meetings at a Round Table Pizza in Simi Valley. It didn’t take long for even the team captains to start following his lead.
Kapler delivered in-game scouting reports to his teammates and demonstrated good instincts for situational baseball, knowing just the right time to bunt or steal a base. This is a side of him foreign to those in Philadelphia who derided Kapler for his over-reliance on advanced analytics.
During his lone season at Moorpark, Kapler hit .337, with seven home runs and 52 RBIs, for a 27-15 team that finished second in the conference and reached the playoffs. The habits Kapler built with the Raiders were a driving force behind him becoming the only player signed out of the Major League Draft’s since-eliminated 57th round to make the big leagues.
When Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi hired Kapler in November, he banked that the leadership, diligence and discipline Kapler first flashed at Moorpark would allow him to shepherd the team back into playoff contention after three straight losing seasons.
This was a calculated risk: After accusations that he mishandled assault allegations against his Dodgers minor leaguers and a sub-.500 tenure with the Phillies, Kapler has become a polarizing figure, especially when compared to his predecessor, Bochy. Similar to when he enrolled at Moorpark after a disappointing stop in Fullerton, Kapler is eager for a measure of redemption.
He has met with season-ticket holders multiple times to address their concerns and talked with Bochy about managing’s nuances. Two days before his hire became official, Kapler took a walking tour of San Francisco, going from Oracle Park to Nob Hill to the Financial District.
He felt the same sense of belonging he still feels at Moorpark as he acquainted himself with his new home.
“I connect with the city,” said Kapler, who was inducted into Moorpark’s athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. “I believe it to be one of the most diverse and accepting cities on the planet, and that probably excites me more than anything else about coming to San Francisco.”


mercurynews--2020-01-07--Life on the edge: Alameda County mobile therapists treat low-income moms suffering postpartum depres

Life on the edge: Alameda County mobile therapists treat low-income moms suffering postpartum depression

Click here if you ’ re unable to view the photo gallery on your mobile device .
Cieara Porter sat on her mother ’ s living room couch in San Lorenzo , holding her sleepy four-month-old son , Mekhi , on her lap .
It was Tuesday evening , and therapist Maria Pilecki had just arrived from the Alameda County Department of Public Health .
For weeks , she ’ d been meeting with Porter to help her cope with depression symptoms that flared during her pregnancy .
“ How are you ?
” inquired Pilecki , settling herself next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to allow the baby ’ s little hand to curl around it .
“ Just taking it day by day , ” said Porter , 33 .
“ You have your moments when you want to cry , but then you just suck it up.
” “ Crying isn ’ t always bad , ” Pilecki reassured her .
“ Sometimes you just need to get it out.
” Porter is one of many new and expectant moms who suffer from prolonged depression during pregnancy or after giving birth , a condition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s surprisingly common , affecting more than one in 10 California women on average .
But among low-income women like Porter , a single mom who survives on a part-time caregiving job and lives with her mom and grandma , the rate is almost one in five .
Yet unlike most women who struggle with pregnancy-related mood disorders , Porter doesn ’ t have to travel to a clinic for treatment .
Instead , Pilecki visits Porter — who doesn ’ t own a car — at her home twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are free , and part of a pioneering program called Blue Skies , an experiment launched by the Family Health Services Division of Alameda County ’ s Department of Public Health in 2017 .
The division oversees several other home visiting programs for pregnant and new mothers focused on parenting and child health .
Nurses and outreach workers in those programs screen women for depression and anxiety and make referrals to Blue Skies , which then sends licensed therapists to meet with them , wherever they are .
Often , the visits don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than a quarter of the approximately 90 women served by Blue Skies each year are homeless or housing insecure .
They live with their children in shelters , cars , garages , on friends ’ couches , or doubled up with other families .
The problem has grown more dire as the Bay Area ’ s housing costs spiral out of reach for low-income families .
As a result , Blue Skies therapists often have to get creative , holding sessions in vehicles , at libraries , public parks , fast-food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regular therapy is going to the office of the therapist , ” said Pilecki , who works with 12 to 15 women at a time .
“ We go to find the client wherever they are.
” The therapists work with the moms for up to a year — weekly at first and then twice a month .
If they need ongoing treatment after that , they ’ re connected with the county ’ s behavioral health agency .
Experts say it ’ s important that pregnant women and mothers with mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorders such as postpartum depression can be debilitating , and also interfere with a mother ’ s ability to care for and bond with her baby .
Children whose moms have postpartum depression can suffer delayed language development , learning and behavior problems , and difficulty sleeping and eating .
One therapist described how some moms she meets are so depressed they don ’ t even have the energy to take their other children to school .
“ When a mom is depressed , she can ’ t connect emotionally with her baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she doesn ’ t smile back .
She doesn ’ t play with the baby , ” said Pilecki .
“ She doesn ’ t respond when the baby cries , and the baby can be crying for a very long time .
That ’ s very damaging for the baby ’ s emotional development.
” Moms have their babies with them during the therapy sessions , and the therapists encourage them to hold them close , respond to their cries , and sing and talk to them .
For her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought an educational peek-a-boo toy , to encourage Mekhi ’ s brain development .
Many of the women are wrestling with other problems too , such as domestic violence , broken relationships , and a history of abandonment or abuse by their own parents .
These situations can make them more susceptible to mental health disorders during and after pregnancy , said Rita Lang , the marriage and family therapist who founded the program .
Some already suffer from mental health difficulties before getting pregnant .
“ A lot of these moms would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d never get it for free , ” said Lang .
“ They ’ re just trying to survive .
They ’ re not thinking about their relationship with their child or personal development.
” Lang developed Blue Skies after joining the county health program as a contractor seven years ago .
At the time , the county wanted to explore the idea of integrating mental health care into its existing home visiting programs .
Public health nurses were frequently encountering women with obvious signs of depression : They cried constantly , couldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the morning , or sat at home all day with the blinds drawn .
But the nurses didn ’ t have the skills to handle it .
With the help of a federal grant obtained through the Alameda County First Five Association , Lang began visiting women in East Oakland that public health nurses identified as needing help .
She found moms who were falling apart emotionally , often in precarious living conditions or abusive relationships , unable to properly care for themselves or their children .
“ I was like , ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The need was so great in that community , and continues to be .
The moms were so depressed , so overwhelmed with day-to-day survival that often the baby was just an afterthought… I had to start thinking , what can make a difference.
” Lang gradually brought on two more full-time therapists , and a part-time addiction specialist .
Another part-time therapist is expected to join the team soon .
Today , the county has made Blue Skies a permanent program , with a budget of around $ 500,000 a year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal grant money , California Mental Health Services Act dollars , and Medi-Cal .
Other California counties have taken note of Alameda ’ s success .
Lang has served as a consultant to San Francisco , Fresno and Nevada counties on how to embed mental health care into their home visiting programs .
As a result , San Francisco has hired three therapists to work with moms both individually and in groups , and to help home visitation workers identify mental health needs .
The county dedicated general fund money to continue the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because officials agreed the work was so valuable , said Diane Beetham , director of public health nursing for San Francisco ’ s Department of Public Health .
“ It ’ s critically important , ” Beetham said .
“ I think that this is a really good model for helping get the services directly to these mothers.
” Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties don ’ t have mental health home visitation programs specifically targeted to new and expectant moms .
But San Mateo County runs a comprehensive , $ 5-million behavioral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those with young children that provides in-home and clinic-based therapy with the help of over 20 staff , including licensed therapists , social workers , and a psychiatrist .
Noelle Bruton , unit supervisor for the program , called “ Pre-to-3 , ” said the initiative started in 1996 and is funded through a mix of grants and local taxes .
In Alameda County , much of the therapy focuses on helping moms figure out what ’ s causing their depression , and finding solutions .
Therapist Simone Taylor , who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , said she encourages clients to envision what they want for themselves and their children , and take small steps to get there .
She refers them to resources such as food assistance and support groups .
She tells them their experience handling adversity is actually a source of strength .
“ I do a lot of pumping them up , ” Taylor said .
“ It ’ s setting a foundation of trust , and that I ’ m here for you .
A lot of these moms … feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or care about them.
” Sheri Roberson , 30 , of Oakland was going through multiple crises when a county caseworker referred her to Blue Skies in 2017 .
At the time , Roberson was pregnant with her daughter , Azarieyah , now 2 .
She ’ d just lost her job at a local youth center , was living at home with her mom , and in an abusive relationship with her daughter ’ s dad .
She ’ d also suffered a previous stillbirth , and was terrified her new pregnancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was trying my hardest not to stress , but I just couldn ’ t help it , ” Roberson said .
“ I felt like my life was going downhill.
” Roberson met with Blue Skies therapist Taylor , who helped her extricate herself from the relationship with her boyfriend , and focus her energy on taking care of her health and pursuing her dreams , including going back to school .
She encouraged Roberson to take time for herself by going for walks and getting fresh air , and to not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been through .
In May , Roberson graduated from Cal State East Bay with a Bachelor ’ s degree in sociology , and is now working as a behavioral technician for children with autism .
She and Azarieyah recently moved into their own apartment .
“ I feel like I ’ ve come a long way , ” said Roberson , who hopes her story can serve as an example for other women like her .
“ You can make something of yourself , regardless of your environment , regardless of what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Center for Health Reporting at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics .
Reporting was supported by a grant from First 5 LA .

Click here if you’re unable to view the photo gallery on your mobile device.
Cieara Porter sat on her mother’s living room couch in San Lorenzo, holding her sleepy four-month-old son, Mekhi, on her lap.
It was Tuesday evening, and therapist Maria Pilecki had just arrived from the Alameda County Department of Public Health. For weeks, she’d been meeting with Porter to help her cope with depression symptoms that flared during her pregnancy.
“How are you?” inquired Pilecki, settling herself next to Porter, and holding a finger out to allow the baby’s little hand to curl around it.
“Just taking it day by day,” said Porter, 33. “You have your moments when you want to cry, but then you just suck it up.”
“Crying isn’t always bad,” Pilecki reassured her. “Sometimes you just need to get it out.”
Porter is one of many new and expectant moms who suffer from prolonged depression during pregnancy or after giving birth, a condition referred to as perinatal or postpartum depression. It’s surprisingly common, affecting more than one in 10 California women on average. But among low-income women like Porter, a single mom who survives on a part-time caregiving job and lives with her mom and grandma, the rate is almost one in five.
Yet unlike most women who struggle with pregnancy-related mood disorders, Porter doesn’t have to travel to a clinic for treatment. Instead, Pilecki visits Porter — who doesn’t own a car — at her home twice a month.
The in-home therapy sessions are free, and part of a pioneering program called Blue Skies, an experiment launched by the Family Health Services Division of Alameda County’s Department of Public Health in 2017. The division oversees several other home visiting programs for pregnant and new mothers focused on parenting and child health. Nurses and outreach workers in those programs screen women for depression and anxiety and make referrals to Blue Skies, which then sends licensed therapists to meet with them, wherever they are.
Often, the visits don’t happen in a typical home. More than a quarter of the approximately 90 women served by Blue Skies each year are homeless or housing insecure. They live with their children in shelters, cars, garages, on friends’ couches, or doubled up with other families. The problem has grown more dire as the Bay Area’s housing costs spiral out of reach for low-income families. As a result, Blue Skies therapists often have to get creative, holding sessions in vehicles, at libraries, public parks, fast-food restaurants, and community centers.
“Regular therapy is going to the office of the therapist,” said Pilecki, who works with 12 to 15 women at a time. “We go to find the client wherever they are.”
The therapists work with the moms for up to a year — weekly at first and then twice a month. If they need ongoing treatment after that, they’re connected with the county’s behavioral health agency.
Experts say it’s important that pregnant women and mothers with mental health problems get prompt treatment. Perinatal mood disorders such as postpartum depression can be debilitating, and also interfere with a mother’s ability to care for and bond with her baby. Children whose moms have postpartum depression can suffer delayed language development, learning and behavior problems, and difficulty sleeping and eating. One therapist described how some moms she meets are so depressed they don’t even have the energy to take their other children to school.
“When a mom is depressed, she can’t connect emotionally with her baby. The baby is smiling at her, and she doesn’t smile back. She doesn’t play with the baby,” said Pilecki. “She doesn’t respond when the baby cries, and the baby can be crying for a very long time. That’s very damaging for the baby’s emotional development.”
Moms have their babies with them during the therapy sessions, and the therapists encourage them to hold them close, respond to their cries, and sing and talk to them. For her recent meeting with Porter, Pilecki also brought an educational peek-a-boo toy, to encourage Mekhi’s brain development.
Many of the women are wrestling with other problems too, such as domestic violence, broken relationships, and a history of abandonment or abuse by their own parents. These situations can make them more susceptible to mental health disorders during and after pregnancy, said Rita Lang, the marriage and family therapist who founded the program. Some already suffer from mental health difficulties before getting pregnant.
“A lot of these moms would never get therapy, and they’d never get it for free,” said Lang. “They’re just trying to survive. They’re not thinking about their relationship with their child or personal development.”
Lang developed Blue Skies after joining the county health program as a contractor seven years ago. At the time, the county wanted to explore the idea of integrating mental health care into its existing home visiting programs. Public health nurses were frequently encountering women with obvious signs of depression: They cried constantly, couldn’t get out of bed in the morning, or sat at home all day with the blinds drawn. But the nurses didn’t have the skills to handle it.
With the help of a federal grant obtained through the Alameda County First Five Association, Lang began visiting women in East Oakland that public health nurses identified as needing help. She found moms who were falling apart emotionally, often in precarious living conditions or abusive relationships, unable to properly care for themselves or their children.
“I was like, ‘wow’,” Lang said. “The need was so great in that community, and continues to be. The moms were so depressed, so overwhelmed with day-to-day survival that often the baby was just an afterthought… I had to start thinking, what can make a difference.”
Lang gradually brought on two more full-time therapists, and a part-time addiction specialist. Another part-time therapist is expected to join the team soon. Today, the county has made Blue Skies a permanent program, with a budget of around $500,000 a year. Funding comes from a mix of federal grant money, California Mental Health Services Act dollars, and Medi-Cal.
Other California counties have taken note of Alameda’s success. Lang has served as a consultant to San Francisco, Fresno and Nevada counties on how to embed mental health care into their home visiting programs. As a result, San Francisco has hired three therapists to work with moms both individually and in groups, and to help home visitation workers identify mental health needs. The county dedicated general fund money to continue the effort after federal grant funding ran out because officials agreed the work was so valuable, said Diane Beetham, director of public health nursing for San Francisco’s Department of Public Health.
“It’s critically important,” Beetham said. “I think that this is a really good model for helping get the services directly to these mothers.”
Santa Clara and Contra Costa counties don’t have mental health home visitation programs specifically targeted to new and expectant moms. But San Mateo County runs a comprehensive, $5-million behavioral health program for mostly low-income pregnant women and those with young children that provides in-home and clinic-based therapy with the help of over 20 staff, including licensed therapists, social workers, and a psychiatrist. Noelle Bruton, unit supervisor for the program, called “Pre-to-3,” said the initiative started in 1996 and is funded through a mix of grants and local taxes.
In Alameda County, much of the therapy focuses on helping moms figure out what’s causing their depression, and finding solutions. Therapist Simone Taylor, who’s worked at Blue Skies for three years, said she encourages clients to envision what they want for themselves and their children, and take small steps to get there. She refers them to resources such as food assistance and support groups. She tells them their experience handling adversity is actually a source of strength.
“I do a lot of pumping them up,” Taylor said. “It’s setting a foundation of trust, and that I’m here for you. A lot of these moms … feel like they have no one to help them or care about them.”
Sheri Roberson, 30, of Oakland was going through multiple crises when a county caseworker referred her to Blue Skies in 2017. At the time, Roberson was pregnant with her daughter, Azarieyah, now 2. She’d just lost her job at a local youth center, was living at home with her mom, and in an abusive relationship with her daughter’s dad. She’d also suffered a previous stillbirth, and was terrified her new pregnancy would end the same way.
“I was trying my hardest not to stress, but I just couldn’t help it,” Roberson said. “I felt like my life was going downhill.”
Roberson met with Blue Skies therapist Taylor, who helped her extricate herself from the relationship with her boyfriend, and focus her energy on taking care of her health and pursuing her dreams, including going back to school. She encouraged Roberson to take time for herself by going for walks and getting fresh air, and to not feel ashamed about what she’d been through.
In May, Roberson graduated from Cal State East Bay with a Bachelor’s degree in sociology, and is now working as a behavioral technician for children with autism. She and Azarieyah recently moved into their own apartment.
“I feel like I’ve come a long way,” said Roberson, who hopes her story can serve as an example for other women like her. “You can make something of yourself, regardless of your environment, regardless of what the statistics say.”
Claudia Boyd-Barrett writes for the Center for Health Reporting at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics. Reporting was supported by a grant from First 5 LA.


mercurynews--2020-01-07--Girls basketball rankings: Bay Area Preps HQ Top 25

The more things change , the more they stay the same .
After a little bit of reshuffling , 2020 ’ s inaugural rendition of the Bay Area Preps HQ ’ s girls basketball rankings find Archbishop Mitty alone at the top , with Pinewood and Salesian not far behind .
It ’ s the identical 1-2-3 order to last season ’ s final rankings , even after each team lost key players to graduation who are now playing in the Pac-12 — Mitty ’ s Haley Jones and Pinewood ’ s Hannah Jump at Stanford , with Salesian center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No .
4 Bishop O ’ Dowd and No .
5 Miramonte , defeating the latter 75-65 in the West Coast Jamboree .
Out of the five newcomers , No .
16 Alameda and No .
19 St. Mary ’ s-Berkeley both managed to the crack the Top-20 .
Meanwhile , No .
23 St. Francis , No .
24 Lick-Wilmerding and No .
25 Aptos round out the list .
If you have not already , we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital subscription , which gives you access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and East Bay Times websites for just $ 1 a week .
With your support , we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens .
Here ’ s where to sign up for the season pass : Mercury News , East Bay Times .
Votes this week were cast by Bay Area Preps HQ ’ s Darren Sabedra , Vytas Mazeika , Phil Jensen and Mike Lefkow , with first-place votes worth 25 points , second-place 24 points and on down the line .
On to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Six months after death of standout Marin teen athlete , school jersey is stolen in Oakland *Tiebreaker determined by each team ’ s highest and lowest vote totals .

The more things change, the more they stay the same.
After a little bit of reshuffling, 2020’s inaugural rendition of the Bay Area Preps HQ’s girls basketball rankings find Archbishop Mitty alone at the top, with Pinewood and Salesian not far behind. It’s the identical 1-2-3 order to last season’s final rankings, even after each team lost key players to graduation who are now playing in the Pac-12 — Mitty’s Haley Jones and Pinewood’s Hannah Jump at Stanford, with Salesian center Angel Jackson at USC.
Salesian leapfrogged No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd and No. 5 Miramonte, defeating the latter 75-65 in the West Coast Jamboree.
Out of the five newcomers, No. 16 Alameda and No. 19 St. Mary’s-Berkeley both managed to the crack the Top-20. Meanwhile, No. 23 St. Francis, No. 24 Lick-Wilmerding and No. 25 Aptos round out the list.
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If you have not already, we strongly encourage you to sign up for a digital subscription, which gives you access to all content on the Mercury News and East Bay Times websites for just $1 a week. With your support, we can continue bringing these stories — and much more — to your screens. Here’s where to sign up for the season pass: Mercury News, East Bay Times.
Votes this week were cast by Bay Area Preps HQ’s Darren Sabedra, Vytas Mazeika, Phil Jensen and Mike Lefkow, with first-place votes worth 25 points, second-place 24 points and on down the line.
On to the rankings …
Records through last weekend
No. 1 Archbishop Mitty (9-3)
Voting points: 98
Previous ranking: No. 2
No. 2 Pinewood (9-0)
Voting points: 95
Previous ranking: No. 4
No. 3 Salesian (10-1)
Voting points: 93
Previous ranking: No. 6
No. 4 Bishop O’Dowd (6-3)
Voting points: 89
Previous ranking: No. 1
No. 5 Miramonte (13-2)
Voting points: 83
Previous ranking: No. 3
No. 6 Cardinal Newman (12-2)
Voting points: 76
Previous ranking: No. 8
No. 7 Menlo School (10-1)
Voting points: 73
Previous ranking: No. 7
No. 8 Heritage (7-2)
Voting points: 69*
Previous ranking: No. 9
No. 9 St. Joseph Notre Dame (6-3)
Voting points: 69*
Previous ranking: No. 5
No. 10 San Ramon Valley (10-3)
Voting points: 65
Previous ranking: No. 10
No. 11 American (11-1)
Voting points: 63
Previous ranking: 13
No. 12 Presentation (11-0)
Voting points: 58
Previous ranking: No. 15
No. 13 St. Ignatius (10-3)
Voting points: 50*
Previous ranking: No. 14
No. 14 California (7-5)
Voting points: 50*
Previous ranking: No. 12
No. 15 Valley Christian-San Jose (9-4)
Voting points: 36
Previous ranking: No. 16
No. 16 Alameda (11-2)
Voting points: 29
Previous ranking: Not ranked
No. 17 Marin Catholic (11-3)
Voting points: 28
Previous ranking: 18
No. 18 Mission San Jose (10-2)
Voting points: 27
Previous ranking: 23
No. 19 St. Mary’s-Berkeley (10-4)
Voting points: 22
Previous ranking: Not ranked
No. 20 Oakland (7-3)
Voting points: 20
Previous ranking: No. 11
No. 21 Palo Alto (6-4)
Voting points: 17
Previous ranking: No. 19
No. 22 Woodside Priory (6-2)
Voting points: 14*
Previous ranking: No. 20
No. 23 St. Francis (7-4)
Voting points: 14*
Previous ranking: Not ranked
No. 24 Lick-Wilmerding (9-1)
Voting points: 11*
Previous ranking: Not ranked
No. 25 Aptos (10-3)
Voting points: 11*
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Also received voting points: San Leandro 9, St. Patrick-St. Vincent 9, Clayton Valley Charter 7, San Marin 4, Sacred Heart Prep 4, Lynbrook 3, Oakland Tech 3, Sequoia 1
*Tiebreaker determined by each team’s highest and lowest vote totals.


mercurynews--2020-01-07--Dancin’ Elon? Tesla boss Musk shows moves at Shanghai Model 3 event

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is known for many things .
In addition to running Tesla , Musk is the Chief Executive of SpaceX .
He ’ s attempting to alleviate traffic congestion with the Boring Company , where he is also a proponent of what is called the Not a Flamethrower .
He was also instrumental in the early days of PayPal .
It ’ s safe to say that Musk has range .
Now , add Dancing Machine to Musk ’ s many titles .
Musk took to the stage Tuesday in Shanghai for a ceremony to deliver @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China to Tesla customers , and he didn ’ t just hand over the proverbials sets of car keys .
Instead , Musk showed his enthusisam for the occasion by putting on his dancing shoes .
and putting on a few moves on the stage to the delight of an assembled crowd of Shanghai factory workers and Tesla customers .
And since Musk is Musk , it should come as no surprise that the Tesla boss posted a video of the scene on Twitter .
Musk began by handing a microphone to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his jacket aside before putting on the kinds of nervous moves that are familiar to any middle school boy attending his first-ever school dance .
He threw in a bit of the “ Walk Like an Egyptian , ” for good measure .
Let ’ s just say that no one is going to confuse Musk with John Travolta in “ Saturday Night Fever.
” Still , Musk showed a sense of humor about his dancing ability .
Along with his video , Musk also tweeted out , “ At Tesla Giga Shanghai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
!
” But , why shouldn ’ t Musk dance ?
Tesla is delivering cars built in Shanghai less than a year after breaking ground on the factory .
The company had a successful 2019 , with the debut of its Model Y crossover vehicle and the Cybertruck , and set a record for vehicle deliveries in year with sales of 367,500 cars .
And during 2019 , Tesla ’ s share price rose by more than 25 % , and has so far risen another 10.5 % this year , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
Sure , Musk is a busy guy .
But , he seems to make time for the things he finds interesting .
Maybe a spot on “ Dancing With the Stars ” could be next ?

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk is known for many things.
In addition to running Tesla, Musk is the Chief Executive of SpaceX. He’s attempting to alleviate traffic congestion with the Boring Company, where he is also a proponent of what is called the Not a Flamethrower. He was also instrumental in the early days of PayPal. It’s safe to say that Musk has range.
Now, add Dancing Machine to Musk’s many titles.
Musk took to the stage Tuesday in Shanghai for a ceremony to deliver the first Model 3 cars built in China and delivered to Tesla customers. And he didn’t just hand over the proverbial sets of car keys to the new Model 3 owners.
Instead, Musk showed his enthusiasm for the occasion by putting on his dancing shoes, and putting on a few moves on the stage to the delight of an assembled crowd of Shanghai factory workers and Tesla customers. And since Musk is Musk, it should come as no surprise that the Tesla boss posted a video of the scene on Twitter.
At Tesla Giga Shanghai NSFW!! pic.twitter.com/1yrPyzJQGZ — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2020
Musk began by handing a microphone to an associate, raising his hands and tossing his jacket aside before putting on the kinds of nervous moves that are familiar to any middle school boy attending his first-ever school dance. He threw in a bit of the “Walk Like an Egyptian,” for good measure. Let’s just say that no one is going to confuse Musk with John Travolta in “Saturday Night Fever.”
Still, Musk showed a sense of humor about his dancing ability. Along with his video, Musk also tweeted out, “At Tesla Giga Shanghai NSFW (not safe for work)!!”
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Automakers unite to build EV charging network Business | Fatal Tesla crash in Lake Tahoe draws federal investigators to site of head-on collision But, why shouldn’t Musk dance? Tesla is delivering cars built in Shanghai less than a year after breaking ground on the factory. The company had a successful 2019, with the debut of its Model Y crossover vehicle and the Cybertruck, and set a record for vehicle deliveries in a year with sales of 367,500 cars. And during 2019, Tesla’s share price rose by more than 25%, and has so far risen another 12% this year, to a record high close of $469.06 on Tuesday.
Sure, Musk is a busy guy. But, he seems to make time for the things he finds interesting. Maybe a spot on “Dancing With the Stars” could be next?


mercurynews--2020-01-07--California gorilla gets cataract surgery

SAN DIEGO — A team of eye experts has operated on an unusual patient — a gorilla .
A cataract was removed on Dec. 10 from the left eye of a 3-year-old western lowland gorilla who lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park , the park announced Monday .
The gorilla , named Leslie , was given a muscle blocker to keep her still while a team that included vets along with anesthesiologists and an ophthalmology team from UC San Diego Health removed the cloudy lens and replaced it with an artificial lens that should last for life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diego Zoo Global ’ s Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center .
Cataract surgeon Chris Heichel , who led the team and has performed thousands of operations , said it was his first on a gorilla .
“ Fortunately , the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication , ” Heichel said in a statement released by the park .
“ The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health , indicating exceptional vision potential for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Great white shark attack : Diver ’ s wife witnesses it , goes into shock • Lafayette reports progress in its war against wild pigs in the city • Mountain lions killed for eating a human ; how they got the body is a mystery Cataracts can occur naturally with aging .
But given that Leslie is a youngster , her problem more likely stemmed from an injury , either from a fall while practicing her climbing or from “ an overly rambunctious play sessions with other young gorillas in her troop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will need antibiotics and steroids to prevent infection and inflammation , but she is already back with the troop at the park .

SAN DIEGO — A team of eye experts has operated on an unusual patient — a gorilla.
A cataract was removed on Dec. 10 from the left eye of a 3-year-old western lowland gorilla who lives at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the park announced Monday.
The gorilla, named Leslie, was given a muscle blocker to keep her still while a team that included vets along with anesthesiologists and an ophthalmology team from UC San Diego Health removed the cloudy lens and replaced it with an artificial lens that should last for life.
The operation was performed at the San Diego Zoo Global’s Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center.
Cataract surgeon Chris Heichel, who led the team and has performed thousands of operations, said it was his first on a gorilla.
“Fortunately, the similarities between the anatomy of human and gorilla eyes are great enough to allow us to safely navigate the procedure without complication,” Heichel said in a statement released by the park. “The remainder of the eye appeared to be in excellent health, indicating exceptional vision potential for the rest of Leslie’s life.”
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Leslie will need antibiotics and steroids to prevent infection and inflammation, but she is already back with the troop at the park.