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TasteFood: Butternut squash and kale star in this yummy harvest soup

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

A nourishing soup is a welcome and restorative timeout during a busy week. This warming soup brims with harvest vegetables and grains mingling in a tomato-based broth fortified with cheese. Butternut squash and leafy kale contribute a healthy dose of vitamins and antioxidants to the pot; their sweet earthiness balances the tomato’s acidity. Farro, a nutty ancient grain, provides fiber and a boost of protein. (If desired, barley may be substituted for the farro.)A hunk of a cheese rind is the surprise — and key — ingredient, which provides depth of flavor and body to the broth. That’s right: The cheese rind will break down and infuse its essence into the broth while it simmers, providing lip-smacking umami flavor and thickening the soup. It’s also a handy no-waste use for any odd cheese ends you may have lurking in your refrigerator. Choose a hard Italian cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or pecorino Romano for this recipe.Harvest Vegetable Soup With F...

What pushed the mute button on three kittens living under a San Jose deck?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

DEAR JOAN: Have you ever heard of a whole litter of kittens that cannot make any vocal sounds?A cat had a litter of three under our deck. We didn’t have a clue they were there, as they never made any sounds. Not even the mewling sounds babies make when hungry.My son noticed them when they were probably 6 to 8 weeks old. They are now about 7 or 8 months old, and we still have never heard them make sounds.They come up and eat in the evening, so they are on the deck frequently. I sit in my recliner about 6 feet from the screen door. Still haven’t heard any sounds. I’ve had some deaf cats, but even they made noise.— Jill Swanson, San JoseDEAR JILL: Perhaps the cat got their tongues? Sorry, I tried so hard not to say that, but I just had to.Most cats are vocal creatures, as anyone who’s been awakened at 4 a.m. by an insistent meowing over an empty food dish can attest. Cats have a wide range of sounds and chirps, and will chatter day and night. Some breeds – Siame...

Travel Troubleshooter: Avis promised a refund of $1,016, but where is it?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

DEAR TRAVEL TROUBLESHOOTER: I recently reserved a tour, which included a rental car with Avis. But earlier this year, shortly before leaving, I got sick. My doctor said that I should not travel.Christopher Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter I logged on to the Avis website and canceled the reservation for the car rental. I logged on to the same website again approximately one week later to confirm the cancellation. The website confirmed that my reservation was indeed canceled.Two weeks later, I called Avis to check on the status of my refund. A representative said my reservation was never canceled. She promised to cancel it that day and said I should expect my refund in three to five business days.I also received an email from Avis claiming that a refund of $1,016 had been issued and to allow up to 15 business days for the refund to post. But I have not received the money. Could you please help me?— Michael Kivel, Burnsville, MinnesotaANSWER: I’m sorry to hear about ...

Wish You Were Here: Adventures in Spain on two wheels

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Summer is drawing to a close, but our intrepid readers have made the most of these last months, seeing ancient wonders in Cappadocia, Turkey  exploring the towers of Tokyo and trekking through Portugal. And they’ve shared their adventures and practical travel tips with us along the way.This time, we’re hearing from two Los Altos readers who explored Spain on two wheels.Wish You Were HereSPAIN: Los Altos residents Fred Linker and Mary Fran Miller cycled the Andalusia region with VBT Tours in May. “En route from Córdoba to Jaén, we rode on one of Spain´s Vías Verdes — ‘greenways or rails-to-trails paths,” Mary Fran says. “The tour highlights included guided visits to UNESCO sites in the Alcazar in Seville, the Mezquita in Córdoba and the Alhambra Palace in Granada.”Los Altos residents Fred Linker and Mary Fran Miller timed their trip to Spain’s Andalusia region to coincide with the 12-day La Fiesta de los Patios de Córdoba, when vi...

Santa Clara County’s Commission on the Status of Women still fighting for equality 50 years later

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

For Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenberg, the rollback of Roe v. Wade — a landmark ruling that gave women the right to an abortion — is a “torturous example” of how 50 years after the U.S. Supreme Court decision, women’s rights are not safe.“We cannot relax,” she said. “We cannot count on our rights being protected.”2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Santa Clara County’s creation of the Commission on the Status of Women — an advisory board that has established pay equity among the county workforce, provided menstrual products to those who need it and worked with incarcerated women to help reduce recidivism.The commission recently celebrated its golden anniversary on Women’s Equality Day at an event held at LinkedIn’s headquarters in Sunnyvale. The festivities reflected on the last half century of women’s advocacy in the county and across the U.S., making special note of the ups and downs the...

Mountain View: Construction underway on 49-unit homeless housing project

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

Construction is underway on a new supportive housing project in Mountain View set to provide dozens of local homeless people with a permanent roof over their heads.Future residents, including unhoused youth aging out of the foster care system, will have private apartments with kitchenettes and bathrooms, as well as access to on-site case management and life skills counseling. They will contribute 30% of their income toward rent and receive housing vouchers to cover the rest.Work on the 49-unit facility started last month at the site of the former Crestview Motel at 901 East El Camino Real. It’s expected to open next summer.“Converting the Crestview Hotel into permanent affordable housing for at-risk families and youth demonstrates Mountain View’s commitment to addressing the housing crisis,” Mayor Alison Hicks said in a statement.Including buying the property, the project is anticipated to cost about $40.5 million. That comes to around $827,000 per unit, a fi...

Bay Area motorists paying more at the pump

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) -- Gas prices continue to go up all around the Bay Area. Prices have jumped another 0.25 cents in the past week alone, and all Bay Area counties are well within the $5 range.Motorists in Napa County are paying the highest price, with Marin County paying the second highest in the Bay Area. As of 6:05 a.m. Monday, one gas station in San Rafael was selling regular unleaded at $5.79 per gallon.Here's where gas prices are sitting across Bay Area counties, according to AAA:Napa County: $5.67Marin County: $5.65Sonoma County: $5.62San Mateo County: $5.62San Francisco: $5.61Alameda County: $5.55Contra Costa County: $5.55Solano County: $5.53Santa Clara County: $5.50Between flooding in Libya and the Russian-Ukrainian war, gas production is down and causing prices at the pump to go up. The current cost of a barrel of oil is north of $90, which hasn’t been seen in about 10 months.Prices are typically expected to go down after the summer months, but prices have gone up. ...

San Ramon police get $5.6m grant to fight organized retail theft

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

(BCN) -- The San Ramon Police Department has received a $5.6 million state grant to fight organized retail theft.Police said that with the rise in organized retail thefts in recent years, there's an urgent need for targeted measures within San Ramon. The department announced Friday it secured $5,616,613 through the State of California Board of State Community and Corrections Organized Retail Theft Prevention Grant Program.The grant is meant to implement a comprehensive strategy combining proactive law enforcement initiatives with community engagement and education. The department said the money will provide increased staffing to establish a dedicated team focused on suppressing and preventing organized retail theft.It will provide enhancements to the citywide camera network through additional automated license plate readers and situational cameras. It will also enhance the department's drone program and establish a drone as a "first responder program," meant to reduce response times...

BART weekend track closure between Union City and Fremont stations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

(KRON) -- Bay Area Rapid Transit has issued an update for the upcoming weekend.BART passengers traveling between Union City and Fremont stations this coming weekend must transfer to a free bus while crews remove trees and make track upgrades. There is an expected delay of up to 30 minutes for travelers. For more information, visit bart.gov.

New Zealand prop de Groot banned for 3 games for Rugby World Cup red card

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:31 GMT

BORDEAUX, France (AP) — New Zealand prop Ethan de Groot was suspended for three Rugby World Cup games on Monday for his red card against Namibia.He will miss the All Blacks’ last Pool A games in Lyon against Italy on Sept. 29 and Uruguay on Oct. 5. But if New Zealand advances to the quarterfinals, he will be available subject to him completing tackle school.De Groot made contact with the head of Namibia’s Adriaan Booysen and was yellow-carded on Friday in Toulouse. But the card was upgraded to red after a bunker review for charging Booysen without attempting to wrap him.At his judiciary hearing, de Groot admitted to foul play and didn’t think it was worthy of a red card.But the panel said de Groot could have lowered his tackle, which was dangerous and always illegal. The panel’s sanction started at six weeks and was halved because of the prop’s good disciplinary record.De Groot scored a try in the 71-3 win. Booysen suffered a shoulder injury.___AP Rugby World Cup: ...