Category: Bay Area

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is there a polite way to deal with those relatives who constantly tease you, make fun of you and remind you of the stupid, mean things you did when you were young? Naturally enough, I avoid these relatives whenever possible. But there are inevitably two or three occasions every year when I am in their presence. I have tried to laugh good-naturedly at these “jokes,” but as the years go by, their barbs seem less and less humorous and more mean-spirited. I did once confront one of them privately, just to be told I was “too sensitive.” Although you could say I love these people, I don’t really like them anymore, and already I am dreading the next family function. Since I have been dealing with this for decades now, I suppose I can continue to laugh and pretend it doesn’t bother me, but I am wondering if there is a polite, Miss Manners-approved way to respond. GENTLE READER: Didn’t being sensitive used to be a virtue, not a fault? And insensitivity, such as haranguing others with the same tiresome criticisms, a

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — When San Jose Sharks rookie centerman Macklin Celebrini was younger, he and his older brother, Aiden, sometimes got to skate on the ice surface at Rogers Arena. They often imagined themselves playing an NHL game in front of thousands of fans. “It was probably (from) eight to 12,” Celebrini, a North Vancouver native, said of his age at the time. “Aiden and I would hop on the rink and battle it out.” Celebrini was back inside the downtown Vancouver arena on Sunday. That dream of playing an NHL game on that ice surface will come true Monday when the Sharks play the Canucks in their final game before Christmas break. “It’s a little weird,” Celebrini said during a 15-minute question-and-answer session with about a dozen media members inside the arena. “Skating here when I was younger, kind of trying to put myself in an NHL player’s situation or shoes and pretend to be them, and now to practice here and get ready for the game tomorrow, it’s pretty surreal.” Celebrini’s father, Rick, used to work for the Canucks in health sciences

The 49ers lost 29-17 Sunday in Miami, not that it impacted their playoff hopes as they were eliminated from postseason contention just before kickoff when Washington beat Philadelphia. Brock Purdy threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, completing 26-of-40 attempts, but his fourth-quarter interception as he was being hit by Calais Campbell ended a potential game-winning drive. The Niners’ two leading rushers were not running backs, as Purdy amassed 26 yards on four carries and Deebo Samuel ran four times for 25 yards. Patrick Taylor Jr., the starting running back who began the season as a fifth-stringer, had 24 yards on eight carries. Samuel had a touchdown catch-and-run to add to his 96 yards on seven receptions, while George Kittle had eight catches for 106 yards. Tight end Eric Saubert also caught a touchdown, a 2-yarder that brought the 49ers within two points in the second half. Eleven penalties for 90 yards and several key injuries bit the 49ers, as linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Dee Winters went down along with offensive linemen Jaylon Moore and Aaron Banks. Here’s what the 49ers had to say after

You can’t fault the 49ers’ effort in Sunday’s 29-17 loss to the Dolphins. You can, however, knock the team’s execution — or lack thereof — in the loss. The 49ers had ample opportunities to win in South Florida — and it’s clear they wanted to win — yet 11 penalties for 90 yards, a missed field goal and terrible situational play on both sides of the ball did San Francisco in. Have we heard that from the 49ers before? Oh, right, we’ve heard it nearly every week this season. Here are the studs and duds from a game that was, overall, a dud: Deebo Samuel • WR Where has this guy been all season? Samuel looked like his old self on Sunday, breaking tackles, dragging defenders and making critical plays while chipping in as a running back. Samuel had seven catches for 96 yards, a touchdown (his second receiving touchdown this season) and added 25 yards on the ground. He broke at least a dozen tackles, too. If this guy had been playing all year, I wonder where the Niners would be today. George Kittle

MORGAN HILL — Three people died Sunday morning in two separate car accidents, prompting the Morgan Hill Police Department to caution people to drive safely ahead of the holidays. The first solo accident was reported at 3 a.m. Sunday and involved a rolled-over vehicle that had collided with multiple trees and a fire hydrant along Third Street and Monterey Road. The driver of that vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, the police department said in a press release. A second unrelated collision occurred just hours later at 8:44 a.m. on Monterey Road near Middle Avenue. A preliminary investigation found that a driver of a vehicle traveling at high speeds northbound on Monterey Road lost control of their car and collided with a vehicle driving southbound. Drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead on scene. “As the holiday season approaches, we at the Morgan Hill Police Department want to remind everyone in our community of the importance of safe driving during this festive time of year. Celebrations, gatherings, and travel can bring joy, but they also bring increased risks on our roads,” the department said

Washington (CNN) — President-elect Donald Trump’s team is assessing multiple options to fulfill his long-promised pledge to end birthright citizenship, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, teeing up a legal fight with the expectation that the Supreme Court would ultimately have to rule on the matter. Trump has railed against birthright citizenship, which is protected by the 14th Amendment, for years and suggested he’d use executive action to ban it. “We’re gonna have to get it changed, or maybe I would go back to the people, but we have to end it. We’re the only country that has it,” Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker, echoing a false statement he’s made in the past. “If we can, through executive action. I was going to do it through executive action, but then we had to fix COVID first, to be honest with you.” In private, his allies have been crafting strategies to do that, including directing the State Department not to issue passports to children with undocumented parents and tightening requirements for tourist visas to crack down on “birth tourism,” according to two sources familiar

By Jake Coyle | Associated Press NEW YORK — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend, according to studio estimates. With strong reviews (86% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and a high score from audiences (an “A” on CinemaScore), “Sonic 3” is well positioned to be the top choice in cinemas during the busiest moviegoing period of the year. It was telling of some wider trends that “Sonic 3” — made for $122 million — bested one of Disney’s top properties. Videogame adaptations, once among the most derided movie genres, have emerged as one of the most dependable box office forces in recent years. The two previous “Sonic” movies together grossed more $700 million worldwide and the third installment appears likely to do better than both of them. A fourth “Sonic” movie is already in development. “Mufasa,”

ROME (AP) — Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain reopened on Sunday ahead of the inauguration of the 2025 Jubilee Holy Year, following the completion of extraordinary maintenance. The three-month renovation work included removing dirt, pollution and limescale from the 18th-century monument, one of the main attractions for tourists visiting the Italian capital. To avoid overcrowding, the monument will now be limited to 400 visitors at a time. For now, visitors won’t be required to pay a ticket, although the introduction of a fee has not been ruled out in the future, Rome’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri said on Sunday. During maintenance work, a walkway was installed to enable tourists to view the Roman landmar k while it was being cleaned. Visitors were also allowed to make their traditional coin toss into a makeshift pool from the walkway, honoring the world-known tradition. City lore has it that tossing a coin into the Baroque fountain will ensure a return trip to Rome. This tradition generates an estimated 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) annually, which has been donated to the Catholic charity Caritas for the past 15 years. To manage

Since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency has worked collaboratively with the automotive industry to reduce air pollution from light duty vehicles. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the EPA’s Automotive Trends Report, an annual publication that explains the agency’s complex regulatory framework and documents the compliance of individual automakers. The authoritative report features a comprehensive dataset on every light duty vehicle sold in the United States since 1975and provides sophisticated analysis of the major trends shaping the industry’s environmental outcomes. The 2024 report includes finalized data from the 2023 model year and is prefaced by a letter from EPA Administrator Michael Regan acknowledging the 50-year milestone. The congratulatory statement honors the agency’s career professionals, highlighting achievements that “ultimately led to an impressive 99 percent reduction of common vehicle tailpipe pollutants, such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.” The letter goes on to emphasize the scientific value of the dataset as the auto industry struggles to mitigate tailpipe carbon dioxide, an inevitable byproduct of gasoline combustion and a substantial contributor to climate change. Carbon

Marin County plans to open its emergency shelter for the storm expected next week. The shelter is at the Marin Health and Wellness campus at 3240 Kerner Blvd. in San Rafael. The shelter will be available from 5 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco will operate the shelter. The Marin County Department of Health and Human Services announced the decision on Friday, saying the National Weather Service forecast meets criteria for opening the shelter. The criteria include days of rain, cold temperatures and other factors. The forecast includes three storms beginning Saturday. The first will bring an inch of rain on Saturday, followed by light, scattered rain the next day, said Joe Merchant, a meteorologist for the agency. The third storm will start late Monday night and strengthen on Tuesday. Merchant said rainfall totals in Marin will include up to 2 inches on the coast. Gusts could reach 40 to 45 mph on Tuesday morning, he said. “We dry out on Christmas,” Merchant said. “The winds will ease and break from the Tuesday storm.” Another storm is expected early

The 2025 BMW M4 Competition xDrive offers the legendary attributes the German carmaker’s enthusiasts enjoy — performance to bravado to astute steering. But the brand’s dubious traits, from uncomfortable seating to rigid driving to arrogant pricing, remain. The latest example of BMW’s unbridled machismo is a track-oriented vehicle presented as a four-seat luxury sports car for daily driving. It’s an attention-grabbing, visually polarizing beast. Defining the entry-level M as the base trim is a misnomer. It’s the least powerful with 473 horsepower and a six-speed transmission, but it’s plenty performance-oriented. The reviewed Competition xDrive is the boastful option. It gets a power increase of 20 horsepower to 523, an eight-speed automatic and acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. Gas mileage averages are 16 miles per gallon in city driving, 22 mpg on the highway.  The new BMW’s sports-heavy status also includes a new spoke design on the flat-bottom steering wheel. Convertibles in all price ranges share a universal trait. They’re more enjoyable with their tops down. The M4 Competition xDrive is a prime example. As bombastic as its specs indicate, the BMW

What is an ID Buzz? The ID Buzz is an all new electric minivan built in the Hanover, Germany, assembly plant and sold worldwide by Volkswagen. The 2025 ID Buzz is considered a minivan class vehicle, with a retro design inspired by the classic 1960’s VW Microbus that includes modern features and a focus on pure EV electric power. The ID Buzz is based on the same platform as the other VW electric cars, including the ID 4 SUV. The American version of the ID Buzz has 3 rows of seats and can carry up to 7 people in the RWD models. It’s about the same length and width as the VW Atlas Cross Sport, and is roughly 195 inches long, 78 inches wide, and 75 inches high. Then add a few inches for the roof top cross bars and some more for the surfboards too. To showcase this all new minivan, this week Volkswagen sent me a 2025 ID Buzz to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this 1st Edition 4Motion van is $69,995. There are no extra cost options

Six reactions to the inaugural opening round of the College Football Playoff … 1. The first on-campus playoff games in college football history resulted in the following score: Home teams 145, visitors 68. Average margin of victory: 19.3 points. Four games over 28 hours and not a competitive fourth quarter among them. The in-stadium atmosphere was fantastic, but it was bad television. And bad television is bad for college football. In fairness, lopsided playoff games are nothing new. There were plenty of blowouts in the semifinals during the playoff’s four-team era. There are blowouts in the early rounds of the NFL playoffs. There are blowouts in the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament. But there’s a difference, which we’ll address momentarily. 2. The primary competitive takeaway from the weekend is more reminder than lesson. The four winners played at home, were the higher seeds and, crucially, had bigger, stronger and better players at the line of scrimmage. The sport’s postseason has changed dramatically, but the foundation for success has not. Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas and Ohio State were dominant up front and, as a

As I reflect on these past dozen years and what we’ve been able to achieve, both in my Santa Clara County Supervisorial District 5 and countywide, I’m ever mindful that so much of the work we do comes to fruition over time and in collaboration. Often it’s not possible for just one person — even an elected official — or just one organization to successfully tackle the complex challenges facing our county. But together we can accomplish a lot. In partnership with community members, nonprofits, the private sector and civic entities, I’m proud of the tangible progress we’ve made through the years on initiatives my office and I championed to improve affordable housing, health services, support for youth and seniors, the environment and more. Long-term projects like the ones below won’t be wrapped up by the time I complete my term and walk out the doors on Dec. 31. But I remind myself that patience is a virtue (along with persistence and a sense of urgency) when it comes to the pace of institutional progress. For elected officials it’s best to think of the work

Repairing shepherd skulls and broken camel necks: How a Bay Area community restored one of the area’s most unique Christmas traditions The Shadi Holiday Display is celebrating its 75th anniversary through December 26 The Sundar Shadi Holiday Display glows above a stormy sky, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2024, in El Cerrito, Calif. The city’s annual display was started 75 years ago by the late Sundar Shadi. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) In preparing for the 75th anniversary, dozens of volunteers partnered with local folk artists to fully restore more than 500 handmade elements that make up the beloved Shadi Holiday Display.

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority is looking for a few good residents to join its 2025 Volunteer Cohort. Volunteers can take on a variety of roles to help advance the authority’s mission to care for open spaces and connect people to nature. Land stewards assist with habitat restoration, trail maintenance, fencing and cleanup projects. Community outreach volunteers act as agency ambassadors at community festivals and public events in Santa Clara Valley. Trail patrol volunteers engage with visitors at open space preserves, share rules and guidelines, submit patrol observations and report hazards to staff. Preserve stewards serve the public at open space preserves, greet and assist visitors and support guest safety. Interpretive docents lead informational hikes and provide education about the natural environment. Trail masters complete trail maintenance and fieldwork alongside authority staff. Opportunities are scheduled weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year, and on the third Saturday of every month. Interpretive docent training is essential for volunteers who wish to lead public hikes. All training resources will be provided. Virtual training is scheduled Wednesdays, Jan. 15, 22 and 29 and Feb. 4

New water board chair The Valley Water Board of Directors on Dec. 10 elected Tony Estremera as the board chair for 2025. Richard P. Santos was elected as vice chair. Estremera has been a member of the Valley Water Board since 1996 and is serving his fifth term as chair. He represents District 6, which encompasses areas of Central and East San Jose, including the Mayfair neighborhood. Santos is beginning his fifth term as vice chair. He represents District 3, which includes Alviso, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Milpitas and the Berryessa/Alum Rock area of San Jose. Funding tech education Metropolitan Education District (MetroED) has been awarded a grant of almost $1 million from a state program that helps community colleges expand career technical education and workforce training to prepare students for high-wage employment in industries that meet regional labor market needs. MetroED’s Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE) received $989,645 through the K12 Strong Workforce Program. This funding will support SVCTE’s efforts to meet the increasing demand for green technology, providing students with skills needed for sustainable industries. These industries include electric vehicle technology, eco-friendly HVAC

TODAY’S WORD — HUCKSTER HUCKSTER: HUK-stur: Peddler, especially one who sells in an aggressive or annoying way; hawker. Average mark 47 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 59 or more words in HUCKSTER? TODAY’S WORD — HUCKSTER: heck hers hurt husk husker user usher chest chute crest cruet cruse crush crust cure curse curt cute cuter ketch sect shuck shut shute sketch struck stuck such suck sucker suer suet sure tech thru thus trek truce truck true tuck tucker tusche tusk tusker ecru eruct etch rectus recut rest retch ruche ruck ruse rush rusk rust ruth 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

Dear Eric: I have a nephew who is disrespectful and condescending to me. He has been since he was a little boy but is now over 30. My husband and son tell me he just always needs to be the smartest person in the room and not to take it personally. But I’m tired of it. Last holiday season I vowed to push back, softly and politely, but he did his condescending thing in front of and in the hearing of a dozen relatives and I worried even a polite rebuke would sound mean, so I sat there and took it silently, like I always have, and I’ve felt like a wuss ever since. The holidays are coming up again. How can I stand up for myself without turning the family against me? – Annoyed Aunt Dear Aunt: I’m curious why the family would turn against you for speaking up. Are they also bullies? Or is your hesitation about how you feel you’ll be perceived? Part of bullying, sometimes, is convincing the bullied person that self-advocacy is rude, or socially unacceptable, or even bullying in

DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and I recently bought our first house together. It has an outdoor kitchen and other features he really likes. I like it too, but there have been some issues already in the first month or two. Lately, he’s been wanting to have BBQs and get-togethers for his family. He invites all these people whom I don’t know. He does it to show off the house. We did have a housewarming party, but he always wants to have more. I’m not comfortable having people over all the time, and I’m exhausted from all these parties. Although I have expressed to him that I’m not comfortable, he still does it without asking me. He doesn’t seem to care. I am a private person and want to enjoy my home. I don’t know what to do anymore. He gets upset, and I’m always stuck cooking and cleaning. To him, I’m a party pooper and a grump. I just want my voice heard and for him not to be so selfish and a show-off. I also want him to consider my family, too. How do

Today is Sunday, Dec. 22, the 357th day of 2024. There are nine days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 22, 1984, New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shot and wounded four young Black men on a Manhattan subway, alleging they were about to rob him. (Goetz was acquitted of attempted murder and assault charges but convicted on a weapons possession charge, ultimately serving eight months of a one-year sentence.) Also on this date: In 1894, French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of antisemitism. (Dreyfus was eventually vindicated.) In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, U.S. Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe rejected a German demand for surrender, writing “Nuts!” in his official reply. In 1990, Lech Walesa (lek vah-WEN’-sah) took the oath of office as Poland’s first popularly elected president. In 2001, Richard C. Reid, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami, tried to ignite explosives in his shoes, but was subdued by flight attendants and fellow passengers. (Reid is serving a life sentence