Posted by Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/monday-morning-lights-riordan-meeting-high-expectations-entering-wcal-play/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204015

Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our weekly feature that sheds more light on the high school football weekend and peeks ahead to the new week. If you haven’t already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.

So far, Archbishop Riordan has lived up to the hype.

The San Francisco school finished nonleague play undefeated, capping a 3-0 start to the season with a 42-35 victory at home over Pittsburg on Saturday. The result followed wins over McClymonds 41-18 and Monte Vista 34-0.

Now, after having a bye this weekend, Riordan will set its sights on West Catholic Athletic League play. The Crusaders open their league schedule on Sept. 26 at St. Francis, a team they beat 34-24 last year in San Francisco.

St. Francis went on to share the league championship with St. Ignatius, with Riordan finishing third.

For the Crusaders, this season is about reaching the top, which they haven’t done in the WCAL since 2000.

“Go undefeated,” running back Adonyae Brown said of Riordan’s goals in league play. “We’re a great team. It’s coming together, man. I believe we can go to state.”

Riordan is loaded with talent – the Crusaders have at least seven Division I prospects on offense and more on defense. But Brown says Riordan is closer off the field this year, which could set the stage for a special season.

“I feel like we made a big statement on who we are,” Brown said after the win over Pittsburg. “We’re not last year’s team. We’re more of a brotherhood. It’s not just cliques of a football team. It’s not special players. We’re actually like a football team this year.”

— Christian Babcock

PITTSBURG: PIRATES JUGGLING TWO QBS

Entering this season, Pittsburg was looking for the quarterback to replace Marley Alcantara, last year’s Bay Area News Group player of the year.

To this point, the Pirates have replaced their former star with two players – senior Carlos Torres, a backup last season, and sophomore JaVale Jones, a transfer from Clayton Valley Charter.

Torres has gotten most of the snaps. But Jones has factored into every game and led a late comeback on Saturday as Pittsburg nearly overcame a 21-point second-half deficit against Riordan.

“It could probably look like that maybe for the next two or three games,” Pittsburg coach Charlie Ramirez said about the quarterback rotation. “Just how the game goes, and not necessarily the hot hand, if you will, but really who’s moving the chains, who’s not turning the ball over. That’s where we’re going to go.”

— Christian Babcock

ACALANES: CONDITIONING MATTERS

After his team’s 42-35 comeback win over St. Ignatius, Acalanes coach Joel Isaac had his team line up on the sideline and run a set of gassers before they left the field.

While most players would agonize over doing more conditioning, especially after a hard-fought win, the Dons ran sideline to sideline with smiles on their faces.

“We love gassers. We love to run. And that’s the type of team we are,” offensive lineman Joey Martin said. “We’re well conditioned and we’re going to kick the crap out of you off the ball.”

Acalanes has little room for injuries, rostering just 39 players. But Isaac said the team combats its lack of depth with mental toughness.

“We don’t have a lot of guys on our side, but they got to be in shape. They know that,” Isaac said. “They’re learning to overcome adversity and letting them know that gassers are your friend.”

– Nathan Canilao

ST. IGNATIUS: STANDARDS HAVEN’T CHANGED

The Wildcats are still figuring some things out.

St. Ignatius returned just seven starters from last year’s Central Coast Section Open Division title team and have a new coach at the helm, JaJuan Lawson. The nonleague schedule wasn’t entirely smooth as the San Francisco school went 1-2, losing to Acalanes and San Marin.

But the bar had not lowered for Lawson and the Wildcats.

“The standard is the standard,” Lawson said. “We only had seven returning starters combined on both sides of the ball off last year’s team. So we’re teaching a lot of guys what the standard is, and it’s understanding how hard you have to push every single day for every single rep.”

– Nathan Canilao

SARATOGA: AIMING FOR A STRONG FOUNDATION

A number of football programs in the Bay Area struggle with numbers.

Saratoga is one of them. The Falcons have 27 varsity players this season and 25 on junior varsity after not being able to field a JV team last season. Their starting quarterback, Anson Hulme, also runs the defense at safety.

It hasn’t been for lack of effort, either. Saratoga coach Archie Ljepava, who also works on campus, has been putting his day job to use to build his squad.

“This year, we had 20 freshmen show up,” Ljepava said. “Basically, we’re running with a freshman (JV) team, and they’re fighting. They’re learning. I’m proud of them.”

Saratoga was once a proud football power that won three of the first nine Central Coast Section championships in the highest classification. The Falcons have a long way to go to get back to that level, and it may ultimately be impossible with long-term shifts in demographics in the area.

Ljepava simply wants to make football relevant in Saratoga, which was the case for decades under the late Benny Pierce.

“It’s a tough thing to have in your mind all the time that you know you’re trying to live up to a legend,” Ljepava said. “But I think our coaching staff and our players understand where we want to be.”

— Christian Babcock

OVERFELT: ROYALS MUST PLAY ‘IRONMAN FOOTBALL’

Overfelt didn’t play on the opening weekend of the season because it couldn’t find an opponent. So the Royals’ 12-6 win on Friday at Saratoga was the second of 10 consecutive games that the East San Jose school will play.

Given that only 20 or so players suited up for Overfelt on Friday, depth could be an issue as the season unfolds.

“It’s tough, man,” co-head coach Alan Plascencia said. “It’s tough when guys go down, but we just have to tell our guys to be resilient. They know they have to play different positions that they might not have played before.

“They have to know mental toughness and next-play mentality in order to put themselves in a successful position. It speaks to the whole theme around our season of ironman football. It’s going to be tough, but we just have to play through it.”

— Christian Babcock

PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 4

Thursday

Lincoln-San Jose (3-0) at Gunderson (3-0), 7:15 p.m.: Gunderson is 0-8 against Lincoln since 2004.

Friday

Las Lomas (3-0) at Alhambra (2-1), 7 p.m.: Las Lomas’ Kane Sekulich has rushed for 481 yards, six TDs.

Foothill (2-1) at San Leandro (3-0), 7 p.m.: Jaymieon Bradley, Justin Ammons lead rushing attack for San Leandro.

De La Salle (3-0) at Grant-Sacramento (2-2), 7 p.m.: When these teams met last season, DLS won 42-14.

Los Gatos (1-2) at Burlingame (2-1), 7 p.m.: Los Gatos aiming to bounce back after 41-40 loss at Clovis.

Dublin (2-1) at Windsor (3-0), 7 p.m.: Big test in North Bay for much improved Dublin.

Alameda (3-0) at Mt. Diablo (3-0), 7:30 p.m.: Mt. Diablo won last season’s game between teams 34-26.

Saturday

The King’s Academy (2-0) at Sacred Heart Prep (2-1), 2 p.m.: SHP is 13-2-1 in series since 2004, including 24-14 win last year.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/monday-morning-lights-riordan-meeting-high-expectations-entering-wcal-play/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204015

Posted by John Beck

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/unbeknownst-to-point-reyes-ranchers-10-million-in-restoration-funds-lined-up-by-nature-conservancy-long-before-landmark-deal-2/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204017&preview=true&preview_id=12204017

It was a small blip in the blizzard of recent news about the future of Point Reyes National Seashore.

A California agency that finances habitat improvement projects approved $10 million in late August for restoration of land that’s set to be vacated by seashore ranchers under a historic settlement announced this year in the final days of the Biden administration.

The grant is going to The Nature Conservancy, the same group that brokered the closed-door talks with ranchers and spearheaded a reported $30-million-plus package accepted by a dozen of those families to exit the seashore – and end years of litigation by environmental groups critical of the ecological impact of private farming in the public park.

The first $2.7 million from the Wildlife Conservation Board is set to be used by The Nature Conservancy, a global giant in land protection and resource restoration, “to modernize the fencing and water infrastructure,” and make other changes on the roughly 16,700 acres, where the involved ranches are shutting down by next spring.

Grazing is set to continue there, but under a lighter footprint geared to promote improved water quality and wildlife habitat, according to Nature Conservancy and state officials.

Somewhat lost in the discussion of those ground-level details, however, is the story about how the state came to commit millions of dollars in taxpayer money to management of a federal park – and how the group lined up to receive that money, The Nature Conservancy, lobbied for it long before finalizing the deal with most seashore ranchers to exit the park.

Jennifer Norris, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Board, which is issuing the first of several installments to The Nature Conservancy, said that while using state funding in a national park happens infrequently, it has occurred before in Yosemite and other national parks in California.

The $10 million was appropriated and added to the state budget in June 2024  – six months before The Nature Conservancy and other parties signed off on the landmark deal that includes paying ranchers more than $30 million, raised from private donors, to shut down their farms and leave the leased land.

RELATED: Niman Ranch founders sue US over Point Reyes land deal

In effect, state funding was already set aside to restore land that ranchers had not agreed to vacate. Some are asking now whether it could instead have been tapped at the outset to resolve management issues targeted by environmentalists and keep farms operating in the park.

“It’s shocking to me,” said rancher Kevin Lunny.

Along with other Point Reyes dairy and cattle ranchers, he said he had no idea back in June 2024, in the middle of intense negotiations, that The Nature Conservancy was lined up for millions in state money to restore lands farmed for generations by their families.

“All I know is when they appropriated this money, it was far from being settled,” said Lunny, who accused The Nature Conservancy of “hiding their hand.”

He has received a multimillion-dollar payment from the group after vacating his ranch and moving to Auburn in May. He is still involved in talks between ranchers, The Nature Conservancy and the seashore, as a past president of the Point Reyes Seashore Ranchers Association.

The Nature Conservancy entered the longstanding fray in Point Reyes as a highly-regarded kind of peacemaker – brought in at the behest of Rep. Jared Huffman and others in 2022 to seek a more permanent resolution to the battles that several environmental groups have waged for a decade to curtail or end ranching in the seashore.

Lead representatives of The Nature Conservancy and some of its donors have told The Press Democrat it was committed by fall 2023 to a far-reaching settlement involving some compensation for ranchers willing to exit.

But behind the scenes, the group was also lining up state funding to stake future restoration work in the park, something it did not widely share at the time.

“I recall when (the bid for state funding) was being put together, we didn’t have assurance that there would be a settlement,” said Michael Bell, protection strategy director at The Nature Conservancy, who played a lead role in the Point Reyes deal. “And so that was one of the questions I remember folks asking us, ‘What if it doesn’t happen? And we said, ‘Well it’s a huge place with all kinds of conservation restoration needs. There’s plenty of work to be advanced out there, sort of regardless of outcome.’ It’s just more optimal if we were able to reach this settlement.”

“I know (Rep. Jared) Huffman was a champion of it,” Bell said of the plans for state-funded restoration inside the federal park.

Rodd Kelsey, director of land programs at The Nature Conservancy, also described the San Rafael Democrat as a “champion of the project.”

Huffman’s staff said he was unavailable for comment

State earmark for federal park

The money in question came through Senate Bill 108, signed on June 29, 2024 by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Under Section 106, Item 3640-101-0001, the amount of $10,200,000 was appropriated to the Wildlife Conservation Board. Of that money, $200,000 was targeted for studying wildlife corridors around the former Sonoma Developmental Center property in Glen Ellen – something that is described in great detail for several paragraphs.

But the money earmarked for the seashore simply reads, “Of the funds appropriated in this item, $10,000,000 shall be available for Point Reyes.”

Norris, the Wildlife Conservation Board director, said if the brokered deal to buy out ranchers had not been reached, they would have found other ways to spend the $10 million on Point Reyes.

“It would be used to fund other restoration at the seashore,” she said. “There’s plenty of work to be done, and we have funded other stuff, as we discussed at different national parks, so it wouldn’t go to waste. We would just use it in different ways than we’re using it now.”

But Lunny, the seashore rancher, wonders how that information – that there was $10 million in state funding, issued almost like a blank check for unspecified conservation and restoration work in the seashore – might have affected negotiations over a year ago had it been common knowledge.

“I think it would have been a key piece to discuss this with the people appropriating the money and asking how it could be used. Because, part of (the plaintiffs’) claims were air quality problems or water quality problems,” said Lunny. “If we could have used those dollars to address some of their concerns, that $10 million could go a long way with making improvements if somebody needed a manure separator and some fencing around riparian zones.”

Leading up to the funding approval in June 2024, Bell said there were likely talks involving staff or directly with California Senate President Mike McGuire of Healdsburg and Assembly member Damon Connolly of San Rafael. Point Reyes National Seashore falls in their districts.

Michael Mantell, a former California undersecretary for natural resources, also lobbied the current secretary, Wade Crowfoot, for Point Reyes funding.

Mantell, founder of the Sacramento-based Resources Legacy Fund, paid $30,000 to cover fees for Point Reyes parties to enter mediation in 2022 and donated $1 million to The Nature Conservancy’s buyout package. He was one of the first allies Huffman approached back in the spring of 2022, when he was encouraging all parties – plaintiff environmental groups, the park and intervening ranchers – to enter mediation.

“I did weigh in with Wade on the importance of some state funding for restoration since I want there to be sound restoration of these important resources and public access to them where appropriate and this is a solid use of state funds,” said Mantell.

Katie Talbot, acting deputy secretary for communications at the state natural resources agency, said Crowfoot was unavailable for comment, deferring to the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Next era for park’s pastureland

The settlement forged in secret –  with all parties involved and even some on the sidelines like Huffman under non-disclosure agreements – was announced Jan. 6. The 12 participating ranches and dairies must vacate the land by March 2026, leaving only two ranches that were not part of the deal and are suing to overturn the seashore transformation.

A Republican-led committee in the House of Representatives also launched a sweeping investigation this summer into the settlement.

If it stands, The Nature Conservancy is set to lease the vacated grazing land, for up to 45 years, starting with a five-year lease option, followed by a 20-year lease offered by the park, with options to renew for two additional 10-year terms.

In addition to state funding for restoration on that acreage, The Nature Conservancy has also secured a $1 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior to “help with restoration,” said Bell.

The group is plotting out a grazing regime designed to “achieve ecological goals” and “to restore the natural native diversity of this landscape and address fire risk and climate resilience of the landscape,” Kelsey said.

Also, “research and monitoring will be implemented to understand how this landscape is responding to the targeted grazing and restoration,” he said.

Bell said hopes that private donations will eventually help fund more focused restoration projects down the road. “I definitely think that there is a philanthropic community that would like to get involved, and we’ve gotten signals of interest there from that philanthropic community, who hasn’t really been involved because the land was in private leases.”

Meanwhile, the exodus of ranchers and farmworkers at Point Reyes continues, with many uncertainties hanging over the West Marin community that is set to lose a significant share of its agricultural workforce and nearly a third of its dairies.

Lunny, one of the most vocal of the Point Reyes ranchers, said he is left to wonder why the ranchers were “once again the last to know” about the state funding for seashore restoration.

“When you pull back the curtain, you start to maybe understand a little bit more about what happened,” said Lunny. “Once this was approved, it should have been made known to everyone in mediation that there are two ways to use $10 million – one is if we leave, and one is if we don’t leave, and that didn’t happen.”

You can reach John Beck at john@beckmediaproductions.com.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/unbeknownst-to-point-reyes-ranchers-10-million-in-restoration-funds-lined-up-by-nature-conservancy-long-before-landmark-deal-2/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204017&preview=true&preview_id=12204017

Posted by Anna Armstrong

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/10thsantarosahomicide/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204045&preview=true&preview_id=12204045

Authorities have identified a woman found dead inside a Santa Rosa home early Tuesday morning, the Santa Rosa Police Department reported.

Mollie Schefer, 47, was found on the staircase of a house with gunshot wounds to the chest around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday when police were dispatched to Cecilia Drive after a neighbor reported hearing gunshots and screaming.

Schefer was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two dogs were also found with gunshot wounds. One dog was dead and the other was wounded.

Officers discovered that a back gate had been opened and a glass sliding door at the rear of the house was shattered in the area where the shots were heard.

As of Friday, police said they have not identified a suspect or the firearm used in the incident.

Officials are now asking the public for help. Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to call the tip line at 707-543-3590.

The Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Fund is offering a $5,000 reward for information relating to the arrest of the suspect or suspects involved, officials said. The reward has been doubled since the news of Schefer’s death was first announced on Sept. 9.

Though the suspect is still at-large, police say they believe the incident was isolated and there is no ongoing public safety threat.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/10thsantarosahomicide/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12204045&preview=true&preview_id=12204045

Posted by Randy McMullen

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/why-did-mountain-view-coyote-snarl-at-worker-who-meant-no-harm/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12199990

DEAR JOAN: My employment requires me to check equipment that is located in a small open area surrounded by trees. One day, I turned on a blind corner and two coyotes were walking towards me about 15 feet away.

I checked the equipment and started walking back in their direction to exit. One coyote turned around and showed me its teeth and a death stare. It shortly turned around and started being playful with the other.

Why that reaction to me from the coyote, when it saw me already walk past them?

— Don Markley, Mountain View

DEAR DON: The coyote was exhibiting a very healthy wariness of humans.

Coyotes are, on the whole, uncomfortable and suspicious of humans. We’re somewhat unpredictable to them, which makes them want to keep their distance and keep watch to see what we’re up to. They took note of your arrival and whether you were aware of it or not, kept an eye on you as you went about your work.

When you came back toward them, they gave you a reminder that they were aware of you and weren’t going to tolerate any aggressive moves on your part.

You should be just as wary of the coyotes as they are of you. Attacks are rare, but it’s always wise to know where they are and avoid actions that might be considered hostile to them. If they appear at all aggressive and advance on you, throw objects at them, make noise and make yourself appear as large as you can. Back away, but don’t turn your back on them.

DEAR JOAN: I was hoping you could give me some advice on how to get my 4-year old tortoiseshell cat to eat her flea medicine pill (Credelio). I have tried putting it in a pill pocket, with no luck. I also tried putting it in her favorite food, but she just eats around it.

I can’t use the topical flea medicine on her because she is very hyper and would scratch me to shreds!   Any ideas you may have would be appreciated.

— Beverly Colclough, Walnut Creek

DEAR BEVERLY: Cats are far less trusting than dogs and rarely fall for the pill-in-the-treat ploy.

Ask your vet for a tutorial, but the way I do it is to wrap the cat in a towel or pillow case, making sure all limbs are securely held in place by the material.

Hold the cat between your legs, place one hand on the cat’s head, in front of the ears, and gently squeeze at the jaw hinges. With the other hand, pinch the pill between your index finger and thumb and use your middle finger to press down on the cat’s chin, opening her mouth wide. Quickly push the pill to the back of the cat’s tongue and let go. The cat should automatically close its mouth and swallow.

You’ll get better each time and eventually you won’t even need to wrap the cat first.

You might reconsider the topical flea medicine. Wait until the cat is relaxed and sitting in your lap. Get her accustomed to the application by mimicking the action a few times a day while petting her and offering treats.

The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/why-did-mountain-view-coyote-snarl-at-worker-who-meant-no-harm/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12199990

Posted by Jake Richardson

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/fall-into-these-end-of-summer-events-in-the-bay-area/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12184344

South Bay and Peninsula

Sept. 19

Hispanic Heritage Month: A bilingual (Spanish/English) celebration of music with IndiviDúo. This program is recommended for ages 0 to 5 years and their caregivers. No registration is required, but space is limited. 11 a.m., Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale. bit.ly/46bhAIx

Emily Butterfly Storytelling Show: Emily Butterfly is an interstellar story teller who lives to delight children with her magically unique form of puppetry, storytelling and song. For ages 3 to 10. 4 p.m., Los Gatos Public Library, 100 Villa Ave., Los Gatos. losgatosca.libcal.com/event/14836642

Sarang Sathaye Live: A comedy show by the co-creator of Bhadipa and one of the most loved Marathi voices in digital satire and humor. 7:30 p.m., Montgomery Theater, 271 South Market St., San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org/calendar

Sept. 20

Bark Ranger Sunset Hike: Bring your dog to the park to become a Bark Ranger. Enjoy the company of other dog owners and their furry friends in our special off-leash area, make a doggy print craft, pose for a photo and then get ready for an on-leash hike through Halls Valley at sunset. 6 p.m., Joseph D. Grant County Park, main park entrance: 18405 Mt. Hamilton Road, San Jose. 408-274-6121. parks.santaclaracounty.gov/bark-ranger-sunset-hike

Toys for Dogs in Need: Learn how to make dog toys for local shelters with local nonprofit Pupcycled. Participants of all ages can braid or sew used, machine-washed clothing into dog toys for local shelters. 1:30 p.m., Mission Branch Library, 1098 Lexington St., Santa Clara. santaclaraca.gov/Home/Components/Calendar

Pancakes in the Park: Members of Palo Alto’s police and fire departments and Office of Emergency Services fire up the griddle and serve up pancakes for all. Pre-registration is required. 9 a.m., 777 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto. bit.ly/3JTqvXD

Friends of the Sunnyvale Library Book Sale: Books for children and adults, movies on DVD and Blu-Ray and music CDs will be on sale. There will be items in English as well as other languages. 10 a.m., Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale. bit.ly/4ggKs6N

Shahzia Sikander — Collective Behavior: For more than three decades, Shahzia Sikander (born in 1969 in Lahore, Pakistan) has been reframing South Asian visual histories through a contemporary feminist perspective. 10 a.m., Cantor Arts Center, 328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way, Stanford. 650-723-4177. events.stanford.edu

Sept. 21

Palo Alto Community Health Fair: This year’s free event focuses on healthy weight and nutrition, tobacco use and seven FDA-approved medications for cessation, and the link between alcohol and cancer. 11 a.m., Mitchell Park Community Center, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. bit.ly/3VFs1Pw

West Valley Friends of the Library Book Sale: Choose from a large collection of books, both donations and discarded library items. Proceeds go toward funding library programs, books and supplies. West Valley, noon, 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose. bit.ly/4nnT5yz

Corvette Spectacular: Come join the fun in downtown Los Altos, where Corvettes will be on display along the full length of Main Street. 8 a.m., Main Street, Los Altos. downtownlosaltos.org/events

Sept. 22

Band of Horses with Iron and Wine: Band of Horses’ five studio albums include the Grammy-nominated “Infinite Arms.” 7:30 p.m., The Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com/events

Sept. 23

Trekking in Japan: Join Seiji Kawamura for a presentation on five multiday treks in Japan. 7 p.m., Cupertino Public Library, 10800 Torre Avenue, Cupertino. bit.ly/4mOGIvI

Jeannie Simms-Holt Visiting Artist Exhibition: Presented by the Department of Art and Art History, the Holt Visiting Artist Exhibition transforms the gallery into a hybrid exhibition/classroom/atelier. Monday–Friday, noon-5 p.m., McMurtry Building, Coulter Art Gallery, 355 Roth Way, Stanford. events.stanford.edu

Sept. 24

UB40 and the English Beat: World-famous reggae stars UB40 are set to mark their 40th anniversary with a U.S. tour and first album release in over four years. 7:30 p.m., Mountain Winery, 14831 Pierce Road, Saratoga. mountainwinery.com/events

Eladio Carrión: The Latin Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper and singer-songwriter performs. 8 p.m., San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org/calendar

Sept. 25

Clave Especial: The billion-streaming sensation from Salinas is taking over regional Mexican music. Their songs blend corridos and urban-infused production with introspective lyrics, giving voice to a generation raised between worlds. 8 p.m., San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose. sanjosetheaters.org/calendar

East Bay

Sept. 19

Funny Women of a Certain Age: Fierce, funny women deliver sharp, unapologetic stand-up. 8 p.m., Bankhead Theater, Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center, 2400 First St., Livermore. livermoredowntown.com/do/funny-women-of-a-certain-age-2

Taste of City Center: From quick bites to leisurely dinners, enjoy special prix fixe menus, limited-time dishes and curated pairings. 11 a.m., City Center, Bishop Ranch, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon. citycenterbishopranch.com/events

Sept. 20

Preschool Kids Night Out: A fun night of camp games, sports   and activities. A pizza dinner is included. Kids must be able to use the restroom independently. cspruiell@larpd.org or 925-373-5746. 8:30 p.m., 4444 East Ave., RLRC Elbow Room, Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, Livermore. bit.ly/41GEnKY

Home Hardening for Wildfires: Experts on wildfire and home hardening from the Berkeley Fire Department will share what can reduce your risks and get your property in compliance with new recommendations and requirements. 2 p.m., Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch, 1901 Russell St., Berkeley. berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/14107695

Making Tamales: This “community tamalada” will include a demonstration of the steps of making tamales from scratch. Participants will also have the opportunity to make their own tamales to take home and steam. 1 p.m., Melrose Branch, 4805 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. bit.ly/41GEnKY

Sept. 21

Patterson Ranch Trail Hike: Take in the beautiful views of the Tri-Valley along the newest trail in the park. Ranger Danny will lead a 2-mile uphill hike to the view of Patterson Ranch. Please bring water and sunscreen. 8 a.m., Ranger Station Picnic Area, 5035 Arroyo Road, Sycamore Grove Park, Livermore. bit.ly/47x1o6I

Berkeley Sun Day Celebration: Get tips and resources to help you switch your home and life to clean electric energy. Join with neighbors to start taking meaningful action on climate change. 2 p.m., Willard Clubhouse, 2720 Hillegass Ave, Berkeley. bit.ly/3VFzvlB

Sept. 22

Quartet San Francisco: The quartet presents “Motown Unplugged” with vocalist Kenny Washington. 8 p.m., 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland. 510-238-9200. yoshis.com/events

Sept. 23

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Malinky Bilingual Music leads a program and designed for ages 0-5. 10:30 a.m., Bay Farm Island Library, 3221 Mecartney Road, Alameda. alamedafree.org/Events-directory

Tarwa N-Tiniri: The band represents the soul of the Amazigh people and the landscapes of the desert. 8 p.m., The Freight, 2020 Addison St., Berkeley. 510-644-2020. secure.thefreight.org

Alex G: The prolific singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist performs. 8 p.m., Fox Theater, 1807 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. thefoxoakland.com/events

Sept. 24

Sewing Machine Open Studio: This is a self-directed opportunity to use the library’s sewing machines on site for your own project. Some basic supplies and staff help with setting up a machine will be available. If you need a specific color of thread for your project, please bring it with you. 5 p.m., North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda, Berkeley. berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/12919766

Sept. 25

Slice of Our Markets: A tour led by ecology center staff, sharing the market through the eyes of the farmers who bring fresh, sustainable ingredients to the community each week. 5:30 p.m., Vintage Berkeley, 2113 Vine St., Berkeley. cynthia@ecologycenter.org, 915-421-9574, bit.ly/4n12cFO

Celebrating 45 Years at the Ruth Bancroft Garden: A special evening honoring Brian Kemble and his 45-year tenure stewarding the Ruth Bancroft Garden, featuring a conversation between Kemble and Dick Turner, Ruth Bancroft Garden’s first executive director. 6 p.m., The Ruth Bancroft Garden, 1552 Bancroft Road, Walnut Creek. ruthbancroftgarden.org

Have an entertainment event to add? Submit it online at forms.gle/Cu9J6Ks2fQiQUcKk8.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/09/15/fall-into-these-end-of-summer-events-in-the-bay-area/

https://www.mercurynews.com/?p=12184344