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3 awesome whale festivals in spring 2024 to see in Northern California

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

Every year from winter to spring the California coast sees a huge migration of gray whales, commuting between their breeding grounds off Baja California, Mexico, to their feeding spots in the Arctic. To celebrate the passing of these big creatures, California holds big whale festivals in the spring where you can enjoy chowder, good wine, live music and, with luck, see whales blowing spouts on the ocean horizon. (Fun fact: Gray-whale spouts look like hearts.)The dates for several of Northern California’s whale fests for 2024 include three great ones within striking distance of the Bay Area. With COVID rising and dipping all the time, it’s best to check the status of the fests before hitting the road; but without ado, here are the cetacean celebrations scheduled so far:Fort Bragg Whale Fest: March 15-17, 2024This Mendocino city has a fully loaded schedule for this year’s Whale Fest – “like the migrating leviathans we celebrate, bigger and better than ever,̶...

Animal life: Have marmots taken over a Saratoga backyard?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

DEAR JOAN: I have an acre and half of land, and the bottom half is covered with large twig houses that the marmots are building. They are stealing my persimmons and I am sure they are storing them.There are at least seven large mounds and I need to get rid of them. Do you have any  suggestions?I think they are also tearing off the leaves of the persimmons, probably for nesting material. They are also going after my neighbors trees.Diana Anderson, SaratogaDEAR DIANA: I think we might have a case of mistaken identity. Yosemite and the higher elevations are home to the yellow-bellied marmot, which also is known as a groundhog. The Yosemite variety is much smaller than the groundhogs we associate with Groundhog Day and Punxsutawney Phil.So while we don’t have any of the large- or medium-sized marmots in the Bay Area, we do have plenty of their smaller cousins, the ground squirrels. However, the marmots, groundhogs and ground squirrels do not build stick nests. They dig tunnels and creat...

Richmond is dreaming big for its vacant Hilltop Mall — can city officials finally make it happen?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

RICHMOND – The worst type of mall is a dead mall.But this years-long, morbid reality has not yet galvanized Richmond officials and developers to settle on a clear vision to resurrect the former Hilltop Mall — a once-buzzing community jewel that started financially faltering years before shuttering in April of 2021.After the 1.1-million-square-foot mall opened its doors in September 1976, decades of patrons reveled in its name-brand retailers, indoor ice skating rink and dual movie theaters — all tucked within Richmond’s northern borders with San Pablo, Pinole and El Sobrante.These days, a 24 Hour Fitness and Walmart are the last lingering operators at “The Shops at Hilltop,” echoing how the pandemic accelerated the demise of legacy shopping centers across the nation.Questions abound as to whether or not the 143-acre mall site can realistically be transformed into a space that serves the modern needs of residents living nearby and across West Contra Costa County. It could...

Offense fuels Sharks’ resurgence, but more concerns lay directly ahead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

The San Jose Sharks returned home early Monday morning after an 11-day road trip with as much confidence in themselves as they’ve had all season.Consider it a byproduct of beating three Eastern Conference teams that are in the mix for a playoff spot, and almost knocking off the defending Stanley Cup champions.The Sharks nearly capped off what had already been a positive road trip with another stirring victory Sunday, scoring twice in the final 3:45 of the third period to send their game with the Vegas Golden Knights into overtime.But after a scoreless extra session, Kevin Labanc and Mikael Granlund could not capitalize on their shootout attempts, and Jonathan Marchessault and Jack Eichel finished theirs as the Golden Knights handed the Sharks a 5-4 loss at T-Mobile Arena.Still, after losing their first 10 road games without picking up so much as a point, the Sharks went 3-1-1 to finish the trip, which included dramatic comeback wins over the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings....

Two people injured in massive San Francisco fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

(KRON) – The San Francisco Fire Department is working on containing a massive fire on the 700 block of Masonic.  Multiple buildings are evacuated with a partial floor collapse. According to SFFD, one person was rescued and transported to a local area hospital. Masonic Avenue between Hayes Street and Fulton Street is closed to traffic. Please avoid the area and find alternate routes.Update-- San Francisco officials are now reporting that two people have been injured due to the fire.

DUI stop led police to drugs, loaded handgun 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

(KRON) –The Central Marin Police Department arrested a man for suspicion of DUI and allegedly found multiple drug substances. Central Marin officers were dispatched to Corte Madera Avenue regarding a report of a vehicle that had driven into a fence at 1:49 a.m. on Dec. 9.  Gilroy PD requests community’s help in finding alleged thief Upon arrival, officers located a man behind the wheel of the crashed vehicle. According to police, a search of the man and the vehicle resulted in the finding of 1.3 ounces of suspected cocaine, 1.25 ounces of suspected ecstasy, paraphernalia relating to drug sales, and a loaded handgun.The suspect was arrested and booked for felon in possession of a firearm, having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance for sale.

BART trains running slow due to wet weather

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

(BCN) -- BART trains are running slower by due to the wet weather, transit officials said early Monday morning.Travelers using the transit line are advised to expect delays of up to 10 minutes, BART officials said in an advisory around 5:40 a.m.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Airport cargo employees to rally at DIA due to safety concerns

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Cargo workers at Denver International Airport announced they will be striking Monday morning. Swissport employees who load and handle essential packages and freight at DIA said they delivered the strike notice Sunday night. Striking workers say their main complaint is unsafe working conditions. Where and when Colorado roads will be most congested this holiday season According to Swissport’s website, they’ve provided airport ground services and managed a modern air cargo warehouse at DIA since 2006. Workers say they are striking due to faulty and broken equipment, dangerous working temperatures at facilities and inadequate safety training.They say the conditions are preventing them from making sure packages are delivered on time.Earlier this year, Swissport workers at DIA alleged a warehouse fire broke out after a loading truck hit an exposed floor heating machine and no protections were in place.Andrew Guttman, who works at Swissport as a cargo agent said:“We’ve ...

Florida woman accused of package theft and striking officer in New Jersey

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

GLOUCESTER TWP, N.J. (WSVN) — A Florida woman is causing a stir in New Jersey as she faces accusations of swiping packages off people’s front porches and, most recently, allegedly endangering law enforcement officers during a traffic incident.According to authorities, a New Jersey detective received a tip regarding a woman captured on home surveillance cameras over the weekend stealing freshly delivered packages. The suspect, identified as Ebony Gomez from Jacksonville, Florida, is believed to have targeted more than one community in the area.“The officer pulled in, approached the vehicle to try to get the driver out of the vehicle, at that point she backed up and went forward, striking our officer, the officer went up onto the hood of the vehicle, then fell onto the pavement, and then the vehicle fled,” Gloucester Township Police Captain John Stollsteimer said.The incident occurred as the detective attempted to apprehend Gomez, who had been reportedly steali...

Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny missing from prison, says his team

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 15:16:00 GMT

(CNN) — Lawyers for Alexey Navalny said Monday they have lost contact with the jailed Russian opposition leader, who was last known to be imprisoned in a penal colony east of Moscow, and his whereabouts are unknown.Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August, after he was found guilty of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities and numerous other crimes. He was already serving sentences of 11-and-a-half years in a maximum security facility on fraud and other charges he denies.Supporters of Navalny claim his arrest and incarceration are a politically motivated attempt to stifle his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.Lawyers have made several attempts to get access to two penal colonies near Moscow where Navalny, who has suffered serious health issues, was believed to be, spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said on X on Monday. They were informed that the 47-year-old was not at the IK-6 or IK-7 penal colonies, Yarmysh added.“On Friday and throughout t...