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New businesses open, old ones reopen in downtown Saratoga

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

Over 500 friends, family and fans gathered to say one last goodbye to former Saratoga High School football coach Benny Pierce. Hugh Roberts, Dan Wilson, Mike Machado and Ryan Iwanaga were among the many former Saratoga High coaches, teachers and players who paid tribute to the man who served as a role model for many. A flower arrangement from the Class of ’68 included a trophy to Pierce for winning the “Super Bowl of Life.” He was one in a million.The corner of Fifth and Big Basin has been the site of many favorite eateries, including The Basin. Just opened is Darla Cafe, a breakfast, lunch and soon-to-be dinner place. Co-owners Nina Summers and Mookie Varunthorn are gracious longtime friends and culinary school graduates. Rave reviews are already coming in for Darla’s French toast, a custard-soaked croissant pudding with fresh fruit and caramel sauce, as well as a duck confit waffle. They looked far and wide for a location and chose Saratoga Village for the friendly people. Darla C...

Latest line: A good week for Rob Bonta, a bad week for Antioch police

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

Rob BontaCalifornia attorney general secures a $175 million settlement with electronic cigarette giant Juul for targeting children with ads. The money will fund campaigns to teach young people about the dangers of vaping.    Antioch PoliceNew report that is part of an FBI and DA investigation shows that two dozen Antioch officers sent numerous racist text messages to each other for several years, including using the N-word and other slurs.   Eric EarlyRepublican LA lawyer announces a run for Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat next year after she retires. He could finish in the top two in the March primary, but would have little chance of winning the general election in deep-blue California. 

Berkeley prepares to transform its marina — and keep labor relations there ship-shape

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

The Berkeley Marina has long been a bustling destination for residents looking to take in stunning natural views, fly a kite, learn to sail or enjoy an upscale bayside meal.But the area has faced challenges in the last few years, especially around the Berkeley pier, which remains closed in disarray on the San Francisco Bay. Now, as preliminary plans are underway to transform the waterfront, city leaders are working to ensure that future workers are happy and business runs smoothly.On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved adding a “labor peace policy” to its municipal code, which requires that any hospitality operation which inks a new (or amended) lease on city-owned marina property vow to work in good faith with labor unions and employees that want to request or negotiate benefits.In exchange, employees agree to avoid economic actions like picketing, boycotts and work stoppages while union recognition discussions are underway — a compromise supported by Berkeley’s...

Why do all the new apartment buildings in the Bay Area look the same?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

Walk through the heart of just about any Bay Area city and you can’t miss them: boxy, Lego-like apartment buildings with bright multi-colored paneling rising above downtown streets and suburban thoroughfares.The creeping sameness of the new developments — decried as “ugly” or “soulless” by some and “gentrification buildings” by others — is true for luxury apartment complexes and low-income housing projects alike. And as the region plans for the addition of hundreds of thousands of new multifamily units over the next decade to ease its deepening housing shortage, the bulky designs are likely to become more ubiquitous.“Even the most high-end buildings look the same,” said Mary Comerio, an architecture professor at UC Berkeley. “It doesn’t matter whether they’re designed by the average corporate firm or a more sensitive, well-known architect.”Why do so many new apartment buildings look alike? Housing and arch...

They said it: Tired of racism

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

“I ask everyone for patience, including myself . . . But after reading some of those texts . . . it was personal to me. All I heard was n…er, n…er, n…er. That should be personal to everybody in this room. Every single person. That should be personal to you, too.”— Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe, who is Black, after a heated discussion at a city council meeting last week on revelations of racist text messages among members of the city’s police force.

Highway 17 construction will continue into July: Roadshow

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

Q: What will it take to force these bumbling bureaucrats to realize that closing a single lane during the afternoon commute hours on Highway 17 is a really dumb idea? For example, traffic was at a standstill in Los Gatos one recent day. It took me 10 minutes to travel two blocks. It was that way for everyone.Terry Swinggi, AptosA: I know this is frustrating. It will be better when work is complete. Just a reminder that Caltrans will close one lane of Highway 17 in each direction from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., starting Monday, April 17. This is for pavement rehabilitation, highway striping, guardrail repair and highway maintenance from Hebard Road to Highway 9. Work will be completed in July.Q: I agree with your advice to call the police, not contact the business owner, when finding handicap spaces blocked by non-handicap vehicles, especially large trucks. Recently I was at the Walgreens in Scotts Valley and a delivery truck was occupying two handicap spaces. I pointed out to the man unloadi...

Mission Paradise project could propel Hayward to forefront of affordable housing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

On Monday, a group of state and local dignitaries gathered in Hayward on a patch of dirt wedged between a taqueria, a church and a bus stop to celebrate a new affordable housing development for seniors.But amid the upbeat small talk, table of hors d’oeuvres and soft, beachy licks of a solo guitarist, there was something else—a collective sigh of relief.“This project could have died,” said Sasha Kergan, the deputy secretary of housing and consumer relations at the Business Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “It’s that bit of hope that we need.”To Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas, the Mission Paradise project that will be completed by 2025 establishes Hayward as a leader in affordable housing for the region.“We’re leading the East Bay in providing housing for all income levels,” Salinas said. “I’d put us up against anybody.”The development will accommodate several underserved communities, with units earmarked for everything from low-income seniors to formerly homeless households to...

Struggling Hertha brings Dárdai back for 3rd stint as coach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Hertha Berlin is bringing Pál Dárdai back for a third stint as coach after firing Sandro Schwarz in a bid to escape relegation.The Bundesliga club said Sunday that the 47-year-old Dárdai will take over for the rest of season. He has six games to save Hertha from demotion.Hertha has been flirting with relegation every season since investor Lars Windhorst first backed the club in 2019.On Friday, however, the team dropped to last in the Bundesliga with a 5-2 loss at fellow struggler Schalke, which was previously bottom. It stretched Hertha’s run without a victory to six games. The next six games – against Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne, Bochum and Wolfsburg – will need to be better if Hertha is to avoid another drop to the second division following its last demotion in 2012. The club had maintained its faith in Schwarz as coach even as the team struggled to transfer reported good work in training to competitive games. Schwarz remained in charge when Hert...

2 hurt after shooting in Green Valley Ranch neighborhood

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver Police investigated a shooting that happened in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood before 4 a.m. Sunday morning. Shots are believed to have been fired at a home on E. 48th Place near Green Valley Ranch Boulevard. & Piccadilly Road. Police said one of the victims is a juvenile male in critical condition and the other victim is an adult man and has non-life-threatening injuries. Both went to the hospital in private cars. Originally DPD reported that both victims were minors but then released an update. It’s still unclear the circumstances leading up to the shooting. SWAT and DPD K9s were on the scene early in the morning but had since left. FOX31 was told by RTD officials that a bus was called to the scene to keep people warm, while a few homes were evacuated.  Police have not said why people were asked to leave their homes in the area.   No arrests have been made at this time and there does not seem to be any immediate threat to the...

Denver Weather: Warm and windy trend

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:18:53 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s weather will transition from showers to sunshine and warmer temperatures through Tuesday. Wind will also pick up each day, meaning high fire danger.Weather today: Seasonal sunshineAfter a cool start to the day, sunshine warms Denver to seasonal highs in the mid-60s. Not as windy as yesterday but still a breeze around. Looking ahead: High fire danger before showersThe warming and windy trend continues through Tuesday - main concern will be the high fire danger. Unsettled weather returns midweek through Friday with showers and cooler temperatures. We look to stay cool for next weekend but back to sunshine and dry skies.