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With all the rain, expect plants to grow and pests to proliferate

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

1. With all the rain we have had in recent weeks, expect an explosion of vegetative growth and the pests likely to appear along with it. There is a tried and true non-toxic contact bug spray that you can make by mixing a tablespoon of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap (available at drbronner.com) into a gallon of water. Not only will this mixture effectively zap aphids and mites, but it will control ants, who do not damage plants themselves, but facilitate damage by carrying sucking insects or their eggs from one plant to the next. It is advisable to spray in late afternoon so that the solution stays on the leaves and stems instead of quickly drying out if you were to spray earlier in the day.2. Where mildew on roses is concerned, Tom Carruth, a famed rosarian, has controlled spider mites by adjusting sprinklers so that they spray the undersides of rose leaves, where the mites spin their webs, since “they drown easily.” He also employs sprinklers early in the morning to deter the growth...

The seven most expensive reported home sales in Palo Alto the week of March 6

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

A house in Palo Alto that sold for $3.9 million tops the list of the most expensive real estate sales in Palo Alto in the past week.In total, 7 real estate sales were recorded in the area during the last week, with an average price of $2.8 million, $1,733 per square foot.The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded during the week of March 6 even if the property may have been sold earlier.7. $1.6 million, single-family home in the 3300 block of Saint Michael DriveA sale has been finalized for the single-family residence in the 3300 block of Saint Michael Drive in Palo Alto. The price was $1,585,000 and the new owners took over the house in January. The house was built in 1955 and the living area totals 1,679 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $944. The house features 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.Saint Michael Drive6. $1.8 million, condominium in the 100 block of Emerson StreetThe 1,656 square-foot condominium in the 100 block of E...

First Disneyland appearance for rare Disney character older than Mickey Mouse

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

A Disney character created before Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Rabbit will make his first meet-and-greet appearance at any Disney theme park in the world when the villain-turned-pal debuts at Disneyland.Pete will make photo op appearances along with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto when Mickey’s Toontown reopens on Sunday, March 19 after a yearlong renovation of the kid-centric land at the Anaheim theme park.The gruff, cat-like anthropomorphic cartoon character was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1925 — three years before Mickey Mouse appeared on the scene in 1928 and two years before Oswald the Rabbit in 1927.The former arch-nemesis to Mickey and later Donald, Pete has seen his demeanor softened and appearance changed over the decades by Disney artists.Pete will pose for photos in Mickey’s Toontown. (Disney) Known through the years as Peg Leg Pete, Black Pete and Bad Pete, the rival-turned-pal now tries his best to be thankful, warm and welcoming alongside...

Mailbag: UCLA and Arizona as bluebloods(?), SMU’s potential, Colorado State’s future, issues for the WCC and MW and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

The Hotline mailbag is published every Friday. Send questions to [email protected] and include ‘mailbag’ in the subject line — or hit me on Twitter: @WilnerHotline.*** Please note: Several topics related to Pac-12 media rights and expansion will be answered separately, in forthcoming articles.(Some questions have been edited for clarity and brevity.)What is it about Arizona’s one national championship that causes people to mistake them for a powerhouse blueblood program? — @scottyrevThe blueblood debate is tricky, but we’re perfectly willing to dive right in.Many UCLA fans, or folks who simply don’t like Arizona, are quick to mock any reference to the Wildcats as a college basketball blueblood.But there isn’t a firm definition of the term, and the Hotline would argue that UCLA’s status as a blueblood program is questionable.If you’re semi-relevant on the national scene for a half-century, are you actually a blueblood?The Bruins hav...

Is Guinness beer really ‘good for you’?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

By Lisa Drayer | CNNGuinness, like other Irish stouts, enjoys a seasonal popularity every St. Patrick’s Day. It has also been touted as being “good for you,” at least by its own advertising posters decades ago.But can this creamy, rich and filling beer really be added to a list of healthy beverages? Or is its reputation just good marketing? We researched the beer’s history and talked to brewing experts and break out the good, the not-so-great and the ingenuity of Guinness.The goodThe original Guinness is a type of ale known as stout. It’s made from a grist (grain) that includes a large amount of roasted barley, which gives it its intense burnt flavor and very dark color. And though you wouldn’t rank it as healthful as a vegetable, the stouts in general, as well as other beers, may be justified in at least some of their nutritional bragging rights.According to Charlie Bamforth, distinguished professor emeritus aof brewing sciences at the University...

Malian music stars Amadou & Mariam bring ‘Eclipse’ tour to Bay Area

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

At its best, music can ease the barriers for empathic experience, imbuing a room full of individuals with a shared consciousness.For the superstar Malian couple Amadou and Mariam, a catalog of incantatory, relentlessly grooving tunes is fuel enough to turn just about any assembly into a writhing celebration. But a decade ago they were looking for a different kind of communion, and set about to create a concert experience that invited audiences into their world.Guitarist and vocalist Amadou Bagayoko and vocalist Mariam Doumbia return to the Bay Area on a tour marking the release of their new live album, “Eclipse,” a project inspired by the 10th anniversary of the much-discussed Manchester International Festival concert where they performed completely in the dark. They won’t be replicating the black-out conditions during their four-night run at the SFJAZZ Center March 16-19 or at Kuumbwa Jazz’s March 20 Rio Theatre show, at least not for the audience.Bagayoko lost his vision at 16, wh...

After conspiracy conviction, reputed Oakland gang member racked up 18 parole violations in three years, feds say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — An East Bay man was sentenced to 33 months in state prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm that police found during a traffic stop last year, court records show.Zayonta Casmire, 31, was sentenced March 9 by U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. Casmire pleaded guilty in November to being a felon in possession of a firearm, a federal offense that carries up to 15 years in prison. He was indicted in August 2022, two months after San Francisco police say they found a gun in his car during a traffic stop.Casmire was paroled in 2019 from a 15-year state prison term for conspiracy to commit attempted murder. From his release date to the June arrest, he racked up 18 parole violations, prosecutors said in court records.Casmire was part of a major 2013 prosecution targeting an Oakland-based gang, and in 2016 pleaded no contest to the conspiracy charge in exchange for the 15-year prison term. The case was based on a wiretap that allegedly captured pl...

Elizabeth Holmes court updates: Holmes arrives in federal court

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) -- The disgraced Silicon Valley entrepreneur is back in court Friday. A federal judge is slated to make a ruling over how much restitution she must pay her victims. Elizabeth Holmes, 38, of Woodside, defrauded sophisticated investors out of hundreds of millions of dollars through Theranos. Judge to rule on Elizabeth Holmes’ restitution, freedom U.S. District Judge Edward Davila sentenced Holmes to serve 11 years in prison and she is scheduled to report to prison next month. Friday will mark Holmes’ first court appearance as a mother of two. She recently gave birth to her second child. The baby’s father is Holmes’ current boyfriend, millionaire Billy Evans, who accompanies her for every court appearance.In court documents filed recently by her attorneys, Holmes cited her newborn baby as a reason why she should be allowed to delay when she reports to prison. Holmes argues that she deserves to remain free while appealing her conviction, a legal process that co...

Gun discharged in fight aboard BART train

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- An argument between two men on an SFO-bound BART train approaching Embarcadero Station on Thursday night resulted in a gun being discharged aboard the train, BART police said. The incident occurred just before 10 p.m. Thursday. Oakland PD warns residents as burglaries involve suspects disguised as Amazon workers During the argument, one man produced a handgun and pistol whipped the other man. It was at that point that the gun went off. The bullet grazed the other man's head.The approaching train was intercepted by officers, but they were unable to locate the suspect of the victim, according to BART police. Surveillance video was pulled to determine what occurred. A man believed to be the victim was located by the San Francisco Police Department at 10:45 p.m. at 16th Street Station. He was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.The suspect has not been located. BART police say the incident is under investigation.

McMahon’s maturity has Buckeyes optimistic in March Madness

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:00:39 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cotie McMahon couldn’t wait to get to Ohio State, so much so that she graduated from high school early so she could acclimate to college life quickly.That precociousness also tested McMahon’s patience. The talented 6-foot forward watched Ohio State’s run to the Sweet 16 on television a year ago.Her viewpoint will be different Saturday when the third-seeded Buckeyes (25-7) face 14th seed James Madison (26-7) in the opening round. Sixth-seeded North Carolina (21-10) takes on 11th-seeded St. John’s (23-8) in the other game at the Schottenstein Center.McMahon is a vital cog on a team that believes two-plus months excelling in arguably the nation’s best conference in the Big Ten has prepared it for what Ohio State hopes is a long stay in the tournament.“This team has got a certain amount of grit to them,” coach Kevin McGruff said. “You know, we’ve been in some tough situations, but we always keep fighting and figure out a way to come ba...