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Opinion: Santa Clara County families should take advantage of transitional kindergarten

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

As we begin a new school year, and the second of an ambitious five-year plan to roll out transitional kindergarten (TK) in schools throughout California, I can’t help but recall the passion and “stick-to-it-iveness” demonstrated by two of our local teachers more than a dozen years ago.I was in my last term in the California State Senate at the time. Kindergarten teacher Diana Argenti and Natalie Bivas, a support teacher and reading specialist, approached me with a petition signed by nearly 300 local teachers pushing for legislation that required prospective kindergartners to be at least 5 years old by Sept. 1 instead of Dec. 2. This was something that had been tried unsuccessfully by governors and legislators (both Democrats and Republicans) for over 25 years. So understandably, I thought it was a long shot but worth trying, nonetheless.And let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve seen hundreds of kindergarten teachers swarm the state Capitol to call to attention the fact tha...

GOGA restaurant moves from Shanghai to Saratoga

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Finding GOGA might prove challenging for some, and once diners have sampled the fare at the new Saratoga restaurant, they may feel as though they’ve been transported to Shanghai.GOGA recently opened at the former location of Indo Café, in back of the UPS Store, which is next to Saratoga Eyes, at the east end of the Village.Chef/owner Brad Turley first opened GOGA in Shanghai, where he was living with wife Helen Li after stints in Hawaii, New York City and Vietnam. Like the current incarnation, GOGA (short for Golden Gate) in Shanghai was tiny, intimate and quickly became the “it” place that attracted fellow chefs, as well as American expats and locals.The couple were back in California for what they thought was a temporary stay when the pandemic hit. Three years later, they have re-created much of the menu and vibe that attracted their original loyal following back in China.The couple now lives in Los Gatos, and Turley’s nephew, Tristan, works with him in the open kitchen. Another n...

Nominations open for Saratoga’s Leadership in Courage Award

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Leadership awardSaratoga residents can nominate a friend, neighbor or business associate for the 2023 Leadership in Courage Award, to be presented at the State of the City on Sept. 9 at Wildwood Park.The award recognizes a Saratogan who is a silent leader or has demonstrated unexpected courage or resilience, taken a stand for something they believed in, or has led their life with dignity and perseverance through an extraordinary challenge.Nominations are due by Sunday, Aug. 27 at 11:59 p.m. to www.saratoga.ca.us/courage.Celebrating Saratoga’s diversityThe City of Saratoga, Santa Clara County Library District and Saratoga Library and Community Engagement Commission are celebrating Saratoga’s diversity one story at a time. Submit your Saratoga story using words, artwork or photos by Sept. 1 to www.saratoga.ca.us/CelebrateDiversity.New opioid workshop setThe Santa Clara County Library District and the County of Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department have scheduled a second O...

Tickets on sale for Campbell’s fall wine walk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Fall wine walkTickets are on sale for the fall wine walk in downtown Campbell, set for Sept. 21. Organizers at the Downtown Campbell Business Association expect 20 wineries to be pouring at the event.Advance tickets are $50 through Sept. 17 and $55 the week of the event at https://www.downtowncampbell.com/winewalk.CEQA exemption for housingThe California State Assembly and State Senate have both unanimously passed legislation by Sen. Dave Cortese intended to speed up housing development in the state. Cortese’s District 15 includes Campbell.SB 406 aims to cut repetitive reviews under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) while keeping California’s main environmental law intact. The bill is headed to the Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for consideration.“SB 406 cuts red tape without compromising on environmental protection. This bill will streamline permitting and speed up affordable housing production for people with the greatest need,” Cortese said in a statement.To tackle Califo...

A Brief History of China’s Global Warming Hoax, From 1863 to Right Now

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Air conditioner units on a building in Shanghai, China, on June 23, 2023.Photo: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesWildfires in Hawaii killing over 100 people. Antarctic sea ice hitting record lows. This past July breaking records as the hottest month in known history.All these purported “events” and more have been drilled into the heads of every American. Except — none of it is actually happening. Nothing about global warming has ever happened. It is all a hoax concocted by China.The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012Many people, when forced to confront these facts, will respond “wrong” or “no” or “Do you consume enough iodized salt to prevent ‘brain collapse’?”Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS – Whatever happened to Global Warming?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2018Let’s take a quick look ...

England’s Lionesses heralded as ‘game changers’ back home despite loss to Spain in World Cup final

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The wait for a World Cup title goes on for England, but the Lionesses were still heralded as game changers back home after their loss to Spain in Sunday’s final in Sydney.King Charles III, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and a host of other politicians, royals and celebrities were quick to praise the England players on social media despite a 1-0 loss in the Women’s World Cup title match. “Although it’s the result none of us wanted, Lionesses you have done yourselves and this nation proud,” Prince William, who is the president of England’s Football Association, posted on social media. “Your spirit and drive have inspired so many people and paved the way for generations to come.” After winning the European Championship at home last year, England reached the championship match in the women’s global tournament for the first time. It was also the first time an England team had reached a World Cup final since the men’s team won in 1966.“You lef...

With super conferences and CFP expansion on horizon, 2023 is the end of an era in college football

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Welcome to the final season of college football as we know it. Extreme? Maybe, but 2023 has an end-of-an-era feel. Texas and Oklahoma are taking their last lap in the Big 12. The Pac-12 is still a Power Five conference. Will it even be a conference in 2024 after the Big Ten opens its West Wing and the Big 12 expands yet again? The College Football Playoff is a four-team event for the last time this year before tripling in size. Everything about the collegiate sports model seems ripe for radical changes. But not quite yet. “It does seem like it will feel like a lame-duck year at some point in time,” former Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said.Before the maps are redrawn (again) and the stakes are remade (again), there is one more season to left to appreciate what is being lost — or long for what’s being gained. “I’m resigned to it,” said ESPN’s Rece Davis on The AP Top 25 College Football Podcast. “There are parts of it I will miss very much because I consider mysel...

Today in Sports – U.S. Men’s Basketball team wins third straight Olympic Gold Medal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

Aug. 211901 — William Larned wins the first of seven men’s singles titles in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association championship.1914 — Walter Hagen captures the U.S. Open golf title by edging Chick Evans.1920 — Jock Hutchinson wins the PGA golf tournament with a 1-up victory over J. Douglass Edgar.1931 — Babe Ruth of New York hits his 600th home run as the Yankees beat the St. Louis Browns 11-7.1932 — Helen Hull Jacobs beats Carolyn Babcock to win the women’s singles title in the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association.1982 — Mystic Park becomes the first 3-year-old trotter to win the American Trotting Championship.1985 — Mary Decker sets the world record in the mile run with a time of 4:16.71 in Zurich.1990 — Kelly Craig becomes the first female starting pitcher in Little League World Series history, opening for Trail, British Columbia. She fails to retire any of the three batters she faces but the Canadian champions rally for an 8-3 victory over Matamoros, Mexico.2003 — Paul Hamm puts together a ...

Sports on TV for Monday, August 21

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsMonday, August 21LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL1 p.m.ESPN — Little League World Series: Willemstad, Curaçao vs. Maracaibo, Venezuela, International Bracket – Winners Game, Williamsport, Pa.3 p.m.ESPN — Little League World Series: Nolensville, Tenn. vs. Seattle, United States Bracket – Winners Game, Williamsport, Pa.5 p.m.ESPN — Little League World Series: Tokyo vs. Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, International Bracket – Winners Game, Williamsport, Pa.7 p.m.ESPN2 — Little League World Series: Needville, Texas vs. El Segundo, Calif, United States Bracket – Winners Game, Williamsport, Pa.MLB BASEBALL6:30 p.m.MLBN — Regional Coverage: San Francisco at Philadelphia OR St. Louis at Pittsburgh (7 p.m.)8 p.m.FS1 — Seattle at Chicago White SoxNFL FOOTBALL8 p.m.ESPN — Preseason: Baltimore at WashingtonTENNIS11 a.m.TENNIS — Cleveland-WTA, Winston-Salem-ATP Early RoundsTRACK AND FIELD1 p.m.USA — World Championships: Day 3, B...

Where do the 2024 presidential candidates stand on abortion? Take a look

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:36:07 GMT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party’s 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the first GOP campaign debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:REPUBLICANS DONALD TRUMP The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often sidestepped the issue of abortion, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision.In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restr...