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Brook Lopez, one of few veterans on young Lakers team, might be biggest kid of all

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  • Twin NBA stars, Brook Lopez, left, and his brother, Robin Lopez, carry souvenirs for family and friends as they walk out of the World of Disney store at Disneytown at the Shanghai Disney Resort on June 14, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Twin NBA stars, Brook Lopez, left, and his brother, Robin Lopez, carry souvenirs for family and friends as they walk out of the World of Disney store at Disneytown at the Shanghai Disney Resort on June 14, 2016. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Lakers center, Brook Lopez, takes questions at his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

    Lakers center, Brook Lopez, takes questions at his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

  • Rob Pelinka, general manager for the Lakers, right, introduces new center Brook Lopez in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The Lakers acquired Lopez and forward Kyle Kuzma from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

    Rob Pelinka, general manager for the Lakers, right, introduces new center Brook Lopez in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. The Lakers acquired Lopez and forward Kyle Kuzma from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov and D’Angelo Russell. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

  • Brook Lopez and his brother Robin participated in a Disneyland ceremony where Chewbacca was presented with the medal he never received at the end of “Star Wars.” (Photo courtesy of Robin Lopez/Twitter)

    Brook Lopez and his brother Robin participated in a Disneyland ceremony where Chewbacca was presented with the medal he never received at the end of “Star Wars.” (Photo courtesy of Robin Lopez/Twitter)

  • Lakers center Brook Lopez at his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

    Lakers center Brook Lopez at his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

  • Brook Lopez has visited several of the Disney properties, and shows up in a lot of people’s selfies from the theme parks. The new Lakers center even purchased a homesite in Walt Disney World’s Golden Oak community in Orlando. (Twitter)

    Brook Lopez has visited several of the Disney properties, and shows up in a lot of people’s selfies from the theme parks. The new Lakers center even purchased a homesite in Walt Disney World’s Golden Oak community in Orlando. (Twitter)

  • Brook Lopez, left, a new member of the Lakers, addresses reporters during a news conference at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif., on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

    Brook Lopez, left, a new member of the Lakers, addresses reporters during a news conference at Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, Calif., on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

  • Lakers center Brook Lopez points to the retired jerseys after his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

    Lakers center Brook Lopez points to the retired jerseys after his introductory news conference in El Segundo on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

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SANTA MONICA — After visiting Disneyland twice in his first three days living in Los Angeles, Brook Lopez knew he had to rein things in if he had any hope of getting himself ready for his 10th NBA season and first with a new team.

“I’ve been trying to be good,” he said last week, “trying to temper myself.”

The 7-footer’s love of comics, animation and, especially, Disney can be traced to his early days growing up in North Hollywood, before his family moved to Fresno. His mother, Deborah Ledford, would wedge family trips to Disneyland into a schedule full of basketball games for Lopez, his twin brother Robin, now a center for the Chicago Bulls, and their two older brothers.

“I loved it,” Lopez said over lunch at a Santa Monica steakhouse. Outside, a black SUV idled on Ocean Avenue waiting to take Lopez to Disneyland for a restrained sixth visit of the summer.

Inside the park, Lopez likes to head to Pooh Corner in Critter Country, grab a Tigger Tail – four marshmallows dipped in caramel, coated with orange sugar, drizzled with chocolate and served on a stick – and lose himself in less popular attractions like the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Once this summer, he and a friend made a special trip to see Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln, and happily headed home after paying homage to the animatronic Abe.

He is 29. And yet, on a team whose 19-year-old point guard, Lonzo Ball, will be one of nine Lakers players 22 or younger when training camp begins next week, Lopez might be the biggest kid of them all.

Lopez said he has already established a connection with the Lakers’ young stars. He is excited to play with the pass-first Ball.

“I’m just going to wear this huge target instead of my (jersey number) ‘11’ and just be waiting for Lonzo to throw it,” Lopez said.

Just three years ago, Lopez, who had been an All-Star in 2013, was the youngest starter on a veteran Brooklyn Nets team that had just added Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to a veteran core of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Now he is among the oldest Lakers.

“It’s super weird to me,” he said.

Only Luol Deng, 32, recently signed Andrew Bogut, 32, and Corey Brewer, 31, are older than Lopez, and none of them figure to have as prominent a role.

Lopez arrived in a June 20 trade that allowed the Lakers to shed the burdensome financial obligation of Timofey Mozgov and the troubling attitude of former No. 2 overall pick D’Angelo Russell. The Lakers also picked up the late first-round draft pick that became rookie forward Kyle Kuzma.

When General Manager Rob Pelinka introduced Lopez, he said, “What today is not about is players we traded away. It’s not about creating cap space. It’s about this phenomenal human being and player that we’re so excited to have join the Lakers.”

Of course, it was those other things that generated the most interest. Not Lopez, phenomenal human or not.

The organization already boasts Ball, who is vastly more hyped; Brandon Ingram, who coaches believe could become an All-Star in future seasons; and Ivica Zubac, oft-hailed as the center of the future.

Still, by any objective measure, it is Lopez who is the Lakers’ best player, at least for now. Owed $22 million on the last year of the max contract extension he signed in 2015, he is also their highest-paid player.

In his first eight NBA seasons, Lopez made three shots from beyond the 3-point arc. Last season, he recast himself as the league’s premier floor-spacing big man and averaged 20.5 points while attempting more than six 3-pointers per game.

He made 134 of 387 3-point attempts, startlingly similar to Russell’s 135 of 384.

Under normal circumstances the arrival of a former All-Star center in the prime of his career would generate significant excitement.

However, Lopez’s pending free agency and the Lakers’ known interest in using every cent of their cap space to lure LeBron James and Paul George next summer has made Lopez something of an afterthought compared to the buzz around Ball and factors beyond this season.

“I’ve definitely noticed it,” Lopez said. “There’s lots of reasons obviously for that excitement, no question. But I’m a super unassuming guy myself, so I’m all right with that.”

He said “the variables and unknowns” will make the upcoming season “a fun process.”

The Lakers would love to see Lopez match his numbers from a year ago, assuming he stays healthy. Though Lopez has played at least 72 games in seven of his nine seasons, he missed all but five games in 2011-12 with a broken foot and all but 17 games two years later with a foot injury.

Some within the Lakers organization fear offseason back issues will follow Lopez into training camp, if not beyond. Those concerns factored into the team’s decision to sign veteran center Andrew Bogut earlier this week.

Last week, Lopez quickly dismissed any concerns about his health, saying, “I’ll be going at training camp for sure.”

He has been a regular presence at the near-daily workout sessions at the new UCLA Health Training Center, calling the workouts “amazing.” Never, he said, has he been around a team that has had such consistent offseason turnout from so many players.

“Another thing,” he said, “is how impressively quick this group has formed a pretty strong bond.”

The player-run workouts and scrimmages have been so regular and intense that, with the season approaching, Coach Luke Walton has had to insist that players take some days off to allow their bodies to recover.

“He’s had to close the gym off a few times,” Lopez said, “just to keep people from coming in, just officially locking up, no one’s allowed in.”

Walton becomes Lopez’s 10th coach in 10 seasons, a rate that Lopez joked must be an NBA record.

“It’s just cool being around him,” Lopez said. “I feel like he’s put a lot of trust in me in terms of being a vet on the team and going out there and being a leader and I think it’s an honor, I take a lot of pride in taking that responsibility that he’s given me.”

Lopez had not lived in Los Angeles since childhood, despite figuring that his love of Disney and show business would one day lead him back. Recently he and his older brother, Chris, drove around the family’s old neighborhood to see what had changed over the course of two decades.

By now, he is used to change, although throughout his career it has usually taken place around him. Now, he is the change. The other day, he caught himself staring at the Lakers logo on his shower shoes.

“I’m on the freaking Lakers,” he remembered thinking. “I grew up watching this team, grew up on Magic, Shaq, Kobe. All of those guys.”

Now, he is close enough with Johnson that in conversation he shortens “Magic” to “Madge.”

“Being such a big Lakers fan, I think I’m just so excited,” Lopez said.

The new-look Lakers first take the court on Sept. 30 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Honda Center, just a few short miles east of Disneyland’s front gate.

If he plans it right, there might even be time to stop by for a Tigger Tail.


Firefighters extinguish house fire in Orange, garage damaged

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Firefighters made quick work of a house fire in Orange Thursday night, Sept. 21 as residents hurried to remove valuables from the home.

When firefighters arrived at the 8:47 p.m. fire, they found smoke and fire coming from the garage. Orange Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Boyd said the residents of the two-story home in the 4600 block of East Hastings Avenue were already outside.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in about 10 minutes.

No one was injured, but there was significant damage to the garage. People could be seen removing guitars and trophies from inside the home as firefighters evaluated the damage inside the garage.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Day 1 scores, quarterfinal matchups for the South Coast Tournament

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Thursday scores and quarterfinal matches for Friday at the South Coast Tournament:

At Costa Mesa

OLu 15, Capo Valley 6

Northwood 9, Ventura 7

Loyola 22, Costa Mesa 11

Agoura 16, La Canada 4

Second round

Orange Lutheran 18, Northwood 9

Loyola 8, Agoura 6

Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal: OLu-Loyola

At Foothill

Mater Dei 12, El Toro 4

Riverside Poly 8, Los Al 7 (OT)

Foothill 14, Servite 7

Laguna Beach 14, Beckman 7

Second round

Mater Dei 11, Riverside Poly 4

Foothill 9, Laguna Beach 8

Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal: Mater Dei-Foothill

At Newport

Newport 18, Tesoro 3

Dana Hills 9, Villa Park 8

Santa Margarita 18, Esperanza 1

The Bishop’s 12, Santa Barbara 3

Second round

Newport 15, Dana 4

Santa Margarita 13, The Bishop’s 8

Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal: SM-Newport

At CdM

Harvard-Westlake 21, Edison 1

San Clemente 7, LB Wilson 6

HB 20, Granite Hills 4

CdM 12, Dos Pueblos 10

Second round

Harvard 13, San Clemente 6

HB 12, CdM 10

Friday’s 6 p.m. quarterfinal: Harvard-HB

 

Irvine-based IT company Xelleration merges with Speridian Technologies

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Irvine-based software company Xelleration has merged with Albuquerque-based Speridian Technologies, bringing together two information technology companies.

Terms were not disclosed.

Each company has client relations with big names in the software, including Microsoft and Oracle.

Founded in 2001, Xelleration, with 60 employees in Orange County and 90 worldwide, builds applications and workflow automation solutions used by the Lotus Notes and Microsoft platforms.

The companies said there would be no executive changes but there would be consolidations in processes and integration of the teams.

No downsizing is expected, a representative said Friday. Each company will retain its name and headquarters.

Speridian, with 1,100 employees is an Oracle partner.

“The addition of Xelleration to the Speridian group of companies reinforces our position as a leader in the enterprise modernization space,” said Girish Panicker, CEO of Speridian Technologies.

Best of O.C. Food: Vibrant restaurant scene buoyed by global flavors

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Orange County is enjoying yet another banner year for hot restaurant openings that continue to raise the bar for the region at large.

The splashiest opening of the past 12 months was undoubtedly Water Grill, the sprawling new seafood restaurant and raw bar located across the street from South Coast Plaza. Meanwhile, Nobu and Lido Bottle Works have irreversibly altered the dining scene of the Balboa Peninsula, while Royal Hen and Mr. G’s have done the same for once-sleepy Balboa Island.

An old auto-mechanic-garage-turned-pizza-joint called 2145 has awakened Costa Mesa’s formerly starved west side, while the gourmet rotisserie Hendrix has brought the culinary revolution to a long-running dead zone of Laguna Niguel.

Irvine’s central business district saw a sudden growth spurt this year with the opening of omakase powerhouse Ootoro Sushi, not to mention the entire Trade complex of food stalls.

In Huntington Beach, LSXO set a new standard for upscale Vietnamese cuisine while Ramain39 jumped into the county’s already fierce ramen wars with a powerful secret weapon: tsukemen, a sort of deconstructed ramen that hadn’t been deployed here before now.

And after leaving South Coast Plaza in January, following a blockbuster 10-year run, California’s best French bistro, Marche Moderne, has relocated to The Shops at Crystal Cove (the opening was imminent as this issue was going to press).

There have been plenty of others as well, but still looming on the horizon are the year’s biggest openings, such as L’Isoletta at Lido Marina Village (an offshoot of Santa Monica’s terrific Via Veneto), Olea on Costa Mesa’s 17th Street (from the team behind Vine and Ironwood) and Crudo next door to Water Grill (from former Fig & Olive visionary Pascal Lorange).

All the while, some of the greatest draws of Orange County’s dining scene continue to be our enclaves of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. The pace of restaurant openings in Little Saigon is staggering, with new noodle shops and teahouses joining the fray almost every day. At the same time, the south side of Irvine has quickly evolved into a Chinatown that could someday rival Monterey Park as a national culinary destination.

On the downside, Orange County hasn’t seen much advancement in the way of modern Italian cuisine in the way Los Angeles and San Francisco have. We’re stuck in a mostly classical (but often delicious) spaghetti-and-meatballs rut here, which is odd given that our truly world-class pizza scene is on fire, literally, with authentic wood-fired Neapolitan ovens popping up left and right. The pizza scene here easily topples that of either L.A. or S.F.

And that’s to say nothing of our vast fabric of Mexican cuisine.

There is so much to experience.

For the past several years, I have explored Orange County restaurants from La Habra to San Clemente. I have tried to be a consumer advocate and a trusted guide, pointing you to the best of what I’ve found while steering you away from the worst. It’s an endless pursuit, and I’m not alone in this quest. I work with a team of reporters and writers who have covered Orange County for decades. Yes (elephant in the room), our food section is smaller than it used to be, but our team is still the best in our market, hands-down. Period.

Now it’s your turn — because at the end of the day everyone is a critic.

 

OC International Auto Show in Anaheim will be all gleaming chrome, with 600 of the newest vehicles on display

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More new cars are sold in Orange County than in 23 states.

It’s that market that leads auto manufacturers to wheel out their latest concept cars and teched-out displays for the annual OC International Auto Show, organizers said.

Some 600 of the newest model cars, trucks, commercial vehicles and alternative fuel options will be on display at the Anaheim Convention Center over four days starting Thursday, Sept. 28. More than 100 cars can be taken for a spin.

“The manufactures really do things in a first-class manner,” said John Sackrison, executive director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association and director of the auto show. “We have some unique things to our show that are not offered at other shows.”

  • Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • The working truck and commercial vehicles section of the OC International Auto Show has been growing. The The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    The working truck and commercial vehicles section of the OC International Auto Show has been growing. The The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • More than 600 vehicles – ,mainly 2018 models- will be on display at the annual OC International Auto Show at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    More than 600 vehicles – ,mainly 2018 models- will be on display at the annual OC International Auto Show at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. Car enthusiats and shoppers will be able to get in various vehicles and even test drive several. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. Car enthusiats and shoppers will be able to get in various vehicles and even test drive several. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Vehicles are on display at a previous OC International Auto Show. The show will be held again at the Anaheim Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. (File photo by H. Lorren Au Jr.,Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The auto show partners with several of Orange County’s luxury dealers to offer an “exotics gallery” featuring the latest from Bentley, Ferrari, McLaren and other high-end automakers.

“Those are vehicles you can really only see at our show,” Sackrison said. “Those are always kind of showstoppers. Not everyone, including myself, get to see those every day.”

A partnership with Hot Rod Magazine will fill any needs for muscle under the hood. A fast-growing selection of customized trucks and vans will offer options for contractors and others needing commercial vehicles.

Nissan, Jeep and Genesis plan to bring their cars of the future, giving an insider’s look at concepts before they ever see a productions line.

Car shoppers, or just enthusiasts, will be able to take a look at new models from 35 manufacturers – 15 of which will offer test drives either out on the city streets or on inside tracks.

A professional driver will take visitors on a test drive of Jeeps, climbing an 18-foot, 35-degree hill and three-wheeling over a faux trail pass and across fallen logs.

Sackrison said even a test-driving veteran like himself can’t help but call Jeep’s off-road track set up inside the Convention Center “exhilarating.”

“This is an exciting ride, it feels like a roller coaster,” he said.

Manufacturers aren’t just relying on the sexy curve of a hood or the gleam of chrome under spotlights to attract interest. Several will set up driving simulators and enthusiasts can explore the Jaguar I-Pace concept SUV through an interactive virtual-reality experience.

“Manufacturers spend millions and millions of dollars to create these exhibits,” Sackrison said. “It makes for a great experience for the guests of the auto show.”

The auto show isn’t intended to be a sales floor, but a survey found 51 percent of visitors will buy a car within a year, Sackrison said, adding 79 percent said the show influenced or changed their purchase.

The show, which grew in floor space by 25 percent last year, is the largest public event held at the Anaheim Convention Center. Organizers do not release attendance figures.

“This show is not designed just for those who are shopping for cars,” Sackrison said. “It really makes for a fun day out.”

If you go

When: 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28; noon to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1

Where: Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave.

Cost: $12 for those 13 and older, $10 for seniors and military, children are free

Information: AutoShowOC.com

Car kids

The OC International Auto Show has plenty for car enthusiasts, but organizers said those without driver’s licenses won’t be left bored sitting on the curb.

Here’s a few things that should entertain families:

  •  The California Highway Patrol will have officers and the department’s signature Dodge Charger on site Thursday-Saturday.
  •  Kids can search the auto show floor in an interactive scavenger hunt with a prize at the end.
  •  It is never too early to try out an alternative-fuel ride; kids can test drive electric cars on a mini track.
  •  Kids love selfies and along with the gleaming cars to pose with, selfie stations are planned.

 

UCLA at Stanford: TV info, scouting report, prediction

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UCLA at Stanford

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto

TV/Radio: ESPN/AM 1150

Records: UCLA (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12); Stanford (1-2, 0-1 Pac-12)

Stanford stats

RB Bryce Love: 43 carries, 535 yards, 4 TDs

WR Connor Wedington: 10 catches, 119 yards

TE Trenton Irwin: 10 catches, 113 yards

DE Harrison Phillips: 26 tackles, 1 sack

CB Alijah Holder: 8 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBUs, 1 forced fumble

Stanford injury report: No report

Stanford wins if: QB Keller Chryst is able to generate some passing attack to complement Love, who can feast on a UCLA defense that’s prone to giving up big plays. … The retooled offensive line that started true freshman Walker Little at left tackle last week takes advantage of an injured UCLA defensive line. … Holder and fellow cornerback Quenton Meeks hold up against Josh Rosen and UCLA’s many receiving weapons.

UCLA stats

QB Josh Rosen: 91-140, 1,283 yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs

WR Darren Andrews: 26 catches, 410 yards, 6 TDs

RB Bolu Olorunfunmi: 29 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD

LB Krys Barnes: 18 tackles, 1 TFL

S Adarius Pickett: 17 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT

UCLA injury report: OUT: RB Nate Starks (knee); QUESTIONABLE: DT Boss Tagaloa, RB Soso Jamabo, LB Kenny Young (head); S Jaleel Wadood (head); DL Jaelan Phillips (ankle)

UCLA wins if: The defense does not allow Love to break free for explosive plays. … The running game takes advantage of a vulnerable Stanford defensive line and allows the Bruins to control the clock. … Rosen bounces back from his two interceptions last weekend and returns to the smart play that led him through the first two games.

Prediction

Stanford 31, UCLA 28

How California might look if it was 100 percent carbon neutral

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This week, Gov. Jerry Brown joined several other governors at the U.S. Climate Alliance in New York, saying: “We’re all in and we’ll keep going and eventually Washington will join with us because you can’t deny science forever. You can’t deny reality. And that reality is climate change is occurring.”

Last week, California’s Senate Bill 100 didn’t make it to the governor’s desk but those who support making California carbon neutral by 2045 aren’t giving up. The bill would have accelerated the state’s existing goals to decarbonize the state’s power grid, with the requirement that California reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2045.

It’s an ambitious goal.

As of 2015, about 28 percent of energy from the state’s three largest utility companies came from renewable sources, according to the California Public Utility Commission. Ambition might outpace existing technology because it would require breakthroughs in energy storage to meet the goal.

Southern California Edison opposed the bill, arguing customers could be burdened with high costs.

solar farm

The bill’s proponents disagreed, saying the new milestones are within reach and affordable, and the legislation itself serves as a driver of innovation in the clean energy sector.

“I think it’s really obtainable,” said Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, the California senate president pro tem who introduced the bill. “Three decades into the future gives us plenty of time to really figure this out.” Legislative efforts such as SB 100, “send a clear message to Washington that with or without them we’re going to move forward with clean energy because it’s the right thing to do and it can be done.”

SB 100 may have been derailed but several bills regarding California’s air quality sailed through. Two bills, AB 109 and AB 134, are on the governor’s desk and they have ambitious standards of using the state’s cap and trade money to replace diesel engines in heavy trucks and buses to make them electric vehicles.

PIE IN THE CLEAN SKY?

A look at how a carbon-neutral state might look:

electric hookupsJOBS

California already has the most solar jobs and industry experts said the state could continue to outpace the rest of the U.S.

According to the most recent California Green Innovation Index, job growth outpaced the rest of the country by 27 percent after the state passed its landmark Global Warming Solutions Act in 2006. The index also found that in California for every fossil fuel job, there are 8.5 in renewable energy.

HOME IS WHERE THE HYDROGEN IS

UC Irvine researcher Jack Brouwer, a professor of mechanical engineering, said SB 100 didn’t go far enough.

Under a bill focused on decarbonizing the electric grid, homes could move more toward electrifying appliances which could be a lifestyle shift for some Californians, Brouwer said. One area of research he focuses on is the power-to-gas model, which uses solar energy and pure water to store energy as hydrogen for longer periods of time.

hydrogen tower in city
“There are some scenarios in which the homes are going to electrify everything, and if they electrify everything in those homes you won’t have the gas grill, you won’t have the gas cook top, you won’t have the cheaper gas dryer, and most importantly you won’t have gas heating. And that’s going to feel very different,” said Brouwer, who is also the associate director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center.

Brouwer believes Californians would be better served by decarbonizing both the electric grid and natural gas. In that scenario, the state could begin replacing natural gas with hydrogen with minimal changes to the existing infrastructure. If the state were to move to hydrogen, it would encourage long haul trucks to move to fuel cells among other changes.

THE LANDSCAPE

clean california landscape

Wind turbines, like those found on the San Gorgonio Pass, and solar farms will likely be increasingly common. Rooftop solar installations in suburban settings will also increase, but be outpaced by large operations in open spaces in the state’s deserts and mountain regions.

WHERE WE ARE TODAY

Progress with renewable energy

2015 renewables in California

Total generation of in-state electricity by fuel type in megawatts.

cal energy by yearLEADING THE WAY

California lead the way in active solar plants and wind-power plants.

solar map

Sources: California Solar Statics, Center for Sustainable Energy, Southern California Edison, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, California Senate

 


New 6.2 quake centered in southern Mexico

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The U.S. Geological Survey says the new earthquake to strike Mexico had a magnitude of 6.2 and was centered in the southern state of Oaxaca.

That’s the region most shaken by a magnitude 8.1 quake that hit on Sept. 7.

It also swayed buildings in Mexico City, which is trying to recover from a magnitude 7.1 temblor that struck on Thursday, killing at least 295 people.

It’s not immediately clear if the new quake caused damage or injury.

Allen Buchanan: 4 reasons a sale-leaseback is undesirable

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I’ve advised a number of my clients recently to consider selling their commercial real estate and striking a three- to 10-year lease with the investor who buys it. A few have listened.

This structure, in our parlance, is known as a sale-leaseback. Different than a straight lease and not a short-term lease that accommodates a purchase, a sale-leaseback allows an owner occupant the chance to sell at today’s high prices and remain in the building – albeit as a tenant – and avoid a move.

It’s a slick arrangement when the correct motivations are involved – equity is needed to buy a competitor or expand the business, an ownership transition is planned within the next three to five years, or a flight to quality is desired.

Today, I want to spend a moment and discuss the downside of a sale-leaseback.

The message it sends to the market: When a sale-leaseback is listed and marketed for sale, the questions from buyers range from  “why is he selling?” to “is his company leaking at the gills and needs cash to survive?” Generally, there is a story. It’s critical to understand that story — why a seller is selling — and how the current financials present.

I will just pay more rent: Value is determined by taking the rent your company is willing to pay and packaging the rent as a return on investment. Simply, if your company can afford to pay $10,000 per month or $120,000 per year and the return is 5 percent, your building is worth $2.4 million. Easy, yes? Now the fun begins. Where is $10,000 per month in relation to what other comparable buildings achieve in rent? It’s either above, below or at par. Par or below — you’re golden. Above and you’re scrambling. You see, an investor looks at the worst case scenario – you spit the hook after a year, can’t pay the rent – or worse file bankruptcy – and he’s stuck with a building he can’t rent for the same amount you were paying.

You strap your operating company: If you own your building and times get tough, you can adjust the rent your company pays you, after all, you are the owner AND the tenant. Once you inject an arm’s length investor into the mix that flexibility evaporates. You are now bound to a lease. If you don’t pay, you may get evicted.

There are tax consequences: As we’ve discussed, selling appreciated commercial real estate comes with a heavy tax consequence — unless you employ a tax-deferred exchange. Yes, you free your equity but at a significant cost — in some cases up to 35 percent.

Allen C. Buchanan is a principal and commercial real estate broker with Lee & Associates, Orange. He can be reached at 714.564.7104 or abuchanan@lee-associates.com. His website is allencbuchanan.com.

HOA Homefront: Conflicts of interest and when to step aside

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If you are involved in a decision affecting or involving a person uniquely — as opposed to the community in general — that is a conflict of interest. Directors and committee members should avoid involvement in discussions or decisions in which they have a conflict of interest.

Once a conflict presents itself, the only decision is to avoid involvement. No matter how principled a person thinks they are, if they participate in a decision in which they have a conflict, they damage both their and the board’s credibility. Worse yet, the action might be set aside later under Corporations Code 7233.

Civil Code Section 5350 provides some minimal definitions of conflict, and bars a director or committee member from voting on their own discipline, assessment delinquency, individual assessment for damaging common area, architectural application, or request to add exclusive use area.

The statute is a fine start in addressing some of the most obvious conflicts, but it does not go far enough.  A person with a conflict also should not participate as a director in other matters, including their own damage claim, reimbursement request to the association, complaint against a neighbor, or any other matter in which that person is personally and uniquely involved.

While the statute only bars voting on such matters, a person with a conflict also should not deliberate on a subject in which the person has a conflict.

If a director discusses a matter and then recuses (refrains) from voting, that person is using their position to do something other members of the community cannot do: participate in board discussions. Furthermore, a member who discusses “their” issue with board colleagues also puts other directors in an unfair position. It is not fair to ask them to deliberate while the conflicted director sits there, staring at them while waiting for the board’s decision.

The correct way to respond to a conflict is to announce it at the beginning of the meeting. A director who has a conflict should announce the conflict and ask that the item be moved to the end of the agenda.  This way, the conflicted director can leave the meeting before “their” item is discussed, and the minutes will reflect they left the meeting at that point.  Handling the conflict openly protects the individual director from an accusation of undue influence over their issue, and also protect the board’s ethical legitimacy.

This also applies to closed session discussions. If a director has complained about a neighbor violating the governing documents, that director now has a conflict of interest and should not be present while the rest of the board considers that disciplinary item. It enhances the fairness and the appearance of legitimacy when the accused homeowner sees the complaining director is not attending the hearing, and that the rest of the board will be deciding the matter.

If a director is in a meeting and it becomes clear that another member has a conflict but has not announced the conflict, mention there is a conflict and, to protect the director, that person should depart the meeting during discussion of that item.

Handle conflicts properly and preserve the community’s invaluable trust and confidence. When conflicted volunteers step aside at the right time, they show that ethical governance is paramount.

Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Managing Partner of Richardson Harman Ober PC, a California law firm known for community association expertise. Submit questions to KRichardson@RHOpc.com

NFL commissioner, players’ union angrily denounce Trump

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By CATHERINE LUCEY

SOMERSET, N.J. — The National Football League and its players’ union on Saturday angrily denounced President Donald Trump for suggesting that owners fire players who kneel during the national anthem and that fans consider walking out in protest “when somebody disrespects our flag.”

“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players,” the league commissioner, Roger Goodell, said in a statement.

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, tweeted: “We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports.”

Trump, during a political rally in Alabama on Friday night, also blamed a drop in NFL ratings on the nation’s interest in “yours truly” as well as what he contended was a decline in violence in the game.

Smith said the union won’t shy away from “protecting the constitutional rights of our players as citizens as well as their safety as men who compete in a game that exposes them to great risks.”

Trump kept up his foray into the sports world on Saturday, when he responded to comments by Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, who has made it clear that he’s not interested in a traditional White House trip for the NBA champions

“Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!” Trump tweeted while spending the weekend at his golf club in New Jersey.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was rescinding the invitation for Curry or the entire team.

Several athletes, including a handful of NFL players, have refused to stand during “The Star-Spangled Banner” to protest of the treatment of blacks by police. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who started the trend last year when he played for the San Francisco 49ers, hasn’t been signed by an NFL team for this season.

Trump, who once owned the New Jersey Generals of the U.S. Football League, said those players are disrespecting the American flag and deserve to lose their jobs.

“That’s a total disrespect of our heritage. That’s a total disrespect of everything that we stand for,” Trump said, encouraging owners to act.

“Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, you’d say, ‘Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired,” Trump said to loud applause.

Trump also predicted that any owner who followed the presidential encouragement would become “the most popular person in this country” — at least for a week.

The players’ union said in a statement that “no man or woman should ever have to choose a job that forces them to surrender their rights. No worker nor any athlete, professional or not, should be forced to become less than human when it comes to protecting their basic health and safety.”

The NFLPA said “the line that marks the balance between the rights of every citizen in our great country gets crossed when someone is told to just ‘shut up and play.'”

On the issue of violence on the field, Trump said players are being thrown out for aggressive tackles, and it’s “not the same game.”

Over the past several seasons, the NFL and college football have increased penalties and enforcement for illegal hits to the head and for hitting defenseless players. A July report on 202 former football players found evidence of a debilitating brain disease linked to repeated head blows in nearly all of them. The league has agreed to pay $1 billion to retired players who claimed it misled them about the concussion dangers of playing football.

During his campaign, Trump often expressed nostalgia for the “old days” — claiming, for example, that protesters at his rallies would have been carried out on stretchers back then. He recently suggested police officers should be rougher with criminals and shouldn’t protect their heads when pushing them into squad cars.

It’s also not the first time he’s raised the kneeling issue. Earlier this year he took credit for the fact that Kaepernick hadn’t been signed.

Television ratings for the NFL have been slipping since the beginning of the 2016 season. The league and observers have blamed a combination of factors, including competing coverage of last year’s presidential election, more viewers dropping cable television, fans’ discomfort with the reports of head trauma and the anthem protests.

Ratings have been down even more in the early 2017 season, though broadcasters and the league have blamed the hurricanes that hit Florida and Texas. Still, the NFL remains by far the most popular televised sport in the United States.

Trump said the anthem protest was the top reason NFL viewership had waned.

“You know what’s hurting the game?” he asked. “When people like yourselves turn on television and you see those people taking the knee when they’re playing our great national anthem,” he said.

Trump encouraged his supporters to pick up and leave the stadium next time they spot a player failing to stand.

“I guarantee things will stop,” he said.

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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.

FaceTime or face time? You can’t do it all on your smartphone

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Apple, Samsung, or Pixel?

You can Google a video on how to fix your running toilet or set your alarm, video chat with someone across the planet and send out a 140-character opinion that could reach more than a million people.

You can see who’s at your front door while you’re at work, turn on your oven and air conditioner, watch your kitty-cam, and most assuredly receive immediate updates the moment a house that meets your criteria hits the market.

However, there are a couple of things you might find difficult to do with your phone, and you might actually want to be present.

Go look at the house. This requires that you reach out to your Realtor and have her make an appointment to tour the home. Your Realtor has a magic app on her phone that releases the key to the house from its lockbox.

Now you can see if the rooms are as large as they appeared in the photos and video you saw on your phone.

Is the floor real wood or laminate? Is that a big stain on the carpet or an intentional pattern? Can the driveway really fit six cars or was that just distortion from the photographer’s wide-angle lens? Can you hear traffic noise from the street? Is that a moldy smell coming from the closet under the stairs or were they making wine in there? Where are the 14 fruit trees mentioned in the property description?

Now, get back on your phone.

Call or text your agent to discuss the terms of your offer. Open your email to review the purchase agreement and click to sign and initial as indicated. Visit the home inspector’s website to schedule your inspection date and time. Send your lender updated bank statements, pay stubs, and tax returns. Give your lender your credit card information to pay for the appraisal.

Then brace yourself for the three other things you need to do the old-fashioned way.

Show up for the home inspection, at least at the very end when the inspector will give you a summary of his findings. That way you can see, touch, smell, and feel whatever the finding may be. You can also look the inspector and your Realtor in the eye to figure out how significant the finding may be to the health and safety of the house.

Secondly, you’ll need to fill out your Statement of Information, which will come in your escrow instructions. There’s lots of tedious personal information required that only you can supply. Most buyers do this by hand, but if you have a PDF editor, have at it.

The last thing you will need to do is go to the escrow office and sign your loan documents. These have to be notarized, and the notary has to witness your signing. In person.

Contributing columnist Leslie Sargent Eskildsen is an agent with Realty One Group. She can be reached at 949-678-3373 or @leslieeskildsen.

New earthquake, magnitude 6.1, shakes jittery Mexico

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By PETER ORSI, MARIA VERZA and GISELA SALOMON

MEXICO CITY — A strong new earthquake shook Mexico on Saturday, causing new alarm in a country reeling from two yet-more-powerful quakes this month that have killed nearly 400 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the new, magnitude 6.1 temblor was centered about 11 milesouth-southeast of Matias Romero in the state of Oaxaca, which was the region most battered by a magnitude 8.1 quake on Sept. 7.

It was among thousands of aftershocks recorded in the wake of that earlier quake, the most powerful to hit Mexico in 32 years.

There were some early reports of damage in Oaxaca. Milenio TV broadcast images of a bridge that partially collapsed.

Bettina Cruz, a resident of Juchitan, Oaxaca, said by phone with her voice still shaking that the new quake felt “horrible.”

“Homes that were still standing just fell down,” Cruz said. “It’s hard. We are all in the streets.”

Cruz belongs to a social collective and said that when the new shaking began, she was riding in a truck carrying supplies to victims of the earlier quake.

Nataniel Hernandez said by phone from Tonala, in the southern state of Chiapas, which was also hit hard by the earlier quake, that it was one of the strongest movements he has felt since then.

“Since Sept. 7 it has not stopped shaking,” Hernandez.

U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Paul Caruso said the new temblor was an aftershock of the 8.1 quake, and after a jolt of that size even buildings left standing can be more vulnerable.

“So a smaller earthquake can cause the damaged buildings to fail,” Caruso said.

Buildings and street signs swayed and seismic alarms sounded in Mexico City, prompting people with fresh memories of Tuesday’s magnitude 7.1 temblor that has killed at least 295 across the region to flee homes and hotels. Some were in tears.

Alejandra Castellanos was on the second floor of a hotel in a central neighborhood and ran down the stairs and outside with her husband.

“I was frightened because I thought, not again!” Castellanos said.

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told Milenio TV there were “no new developments” due to the quake, though he acknowledged that it provoked “some crises of nerves” among capital residents.

At the site of an office building that collapsed Tuesday and where an around-the-clock search for survivors was still ongoing, rescuers briefly evacuated from atop the pile of rubble before returning to work.

As rescue operations stretched into Day 5, residents throughout the capital have held out hope that dozens still missing might be found alive. More than half the dead — 157 — perished in the capital, while another 73 died in the state of Morelos, 45 in Puebla, 13 in Mexico State, six in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca.

Along a 60-foot stretch of a bike lane in Mexico City, families huddled under tarps and donated blankets, awaiting word of loved ones trapped in the four-story-high pile of rubble behind them.

“There are moments when you feel like you’re breaking down,” said Patricia Fernandez Romero, who was waiting Friday for word on the fate of her 27-year-old son. “And there are moments when you’re a little calmer. … They are all moments that you wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

Families have been sleeping in tents, accepting food and coffee from strangers, people have organized to present a united front to authorities, who they pressed ceaselessly for information.

They were told that water and food had been passed along to at least some of those trapped inside. On Friday morning, after hours of inactivity blamed on rain, rescuers were readying to re-enter the site, joined by teams from Japan and Israel. Fernandez said officials told them they knew where people were trapped on the fourth floor.

It’s the moments between those bits of information that torment the families.

“It’s that you get to a point when you’re so tense, when they don’t come out to give us information,” she said. “It’s so infuriating.”

USC football at Cal: Live updates and chat

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Live updates and chat from USC football game at Cal, Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Sept. 23 (ABC TV)


UCLA football at Stanford: Live updates and chat

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Live updates and game discussion from the UCLA football game at Stanford, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. (ESPN).

Thomas Rhett scores big with his first-ever sold out L.A. gig

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  • Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

  • Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

    Thomas Rhett performs at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, September 22, 2017. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

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Country music singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett had a lot to celebrate on Friday night.

The show, at the Greek Theatre, was the first-ever headlining gig in Los Angeles for the 27-year-old Nashville-native and it was sold out. And, Rhett’s latest album, “Life Changes,” which dropped on Sept. 8, hit No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and top country albums’ charts.

Rhett spent the day in L.A., hanging out at his pop-up shop – which opened just for the day across the street from Canter’s Deli on Fairfax Avenue – showing off his line, Daniel Patrick X Thomas Rhett. He’s also slated to play the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 23 and he’ll get back to his headlining tour in San Diego at Viejas Arena on Sunday, Sept. 24.

If he was tired Friday night, he didn’t show it, hitting the stage hard for the kick off of the second leg of his Home Team Tour with his hit, “Crash and Burn.”

He kept the energy going with “South Side,” “Gotta Get Me Some of That” and “Make Me Wanna.” Once the crowd was nice and rowdy, he hit them with some new material, prefacing the sweet song “Sixteen” by saying, “It’s always super awkward to play new songs when people look at me like ‘I don’t know this song’.”

Surprisingly, quite a few folks had already learned the lyrics and sang along, others just held their plastic cups filled with beer high up into the air and swayed to the music. For the new, more straight-up country track, “Drink a Little Beer,” Rhett brought out his dad, singer-songwriter Rhett Akins, to sing along. It was a fun moment, watching two generations rock out on their guitars.

Rhett seems to have an old soul. He loves 50s doo wop music and R&B, but he also dabbles in pop and EDM. He played a so-so cover of Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic,” though he definitely lacks the charisma and confidence of a performer like Mars.

Mid-set Rhett and the band moved to a smaller stage near the soundboard, bringing the show even closer to the fans that sat so far back at the Greek that Rhett commented, “It looks like some of y’all are actually in the trees.”

Taking a moment to soak in the cheers, Rhett and the band launched into the new album title track, “Life Changes,” followed by a very 50s-inspired “Sweetheart.” He also played the song “Round Here,” the smash hit he wrote for fellow country stars Florida Georgia Line and he cruised back to the main stage with his upbeat cut, “Vacation.” The song is an instant crowd-pleaser that samples War’s “Low Rider.”

He had a lot of fun with it, dancing with the band, signing CDs for fans and pitting both sides of the venue against each other in a cheering match which he let his wife, Lauren, judge. She was standing stage right holding their newborn daughter, who had donned an adorable pair of headphones to protect her tiny ears.

Rhett’s vocals soared through “Unforgettable” and “Craving You” as he wrapped up the end of his set. He certainly knows how to work an audience and will definitely be a star to watch

Old Dominion, a quintet of Nashville songwriters that decided to form a band served as the opening act. The group just dropped their second album, “Happy Endings,” last month and have gone on to become pretty incredible live performers. On top of opening for Rhett at the Greek, the guys are also headlining Coastal Country Jam on Saturday, Sept. 23 in Huntington Beach.

Throughout the set, vocalist and guitarist Matthew Ramsey had a plastered grin on his face, at times breaking during the song to let out a little laugh. The Greek, he said, was a bucket list performance and fans showed up early, filling the seats to see the group.

They came out with the hit that really helped introduce them to the country crowd, “Snapback,” and they offered their latest single “Written in the Sand” and the hit, “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart.” Ramsey was correct, the song did sound better when a massive audience claps and sings along. Hearing the crowd roar back each and every last lyric, Ramsey & Co. decided to play the ending one more time just to hear the audience sing it.

Old Dominion is not only comprised of solid songwriters, but legit musicians as well. Guitarist Brad Tursi showed some serious chops and was impressive throughout the evening, but even more so during the rippin’ track “Can’t Get You.” The group rounded out its performance with its cleverly written “Song for Another Time,” the lyrics are a mashup of dozens of big hits.

Thomas Rhett

With: Old Dominion and Walker Hayes

When: Friday, Sept. 22

Where: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

Also: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 at Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl at San Diego State University, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego. Tickets start at $58.75 at 800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com.

Get a free cup of coffee all weekend

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has announced that it will spread the boundless joy of National Coffee Day over an entire weekend, offering guests one free cup of coffee each day, Friday, Sept. 29 through Sunday, Oct. 1. Customers can enjoy any sized hot brewed or small iced premium blend coffee for free at participating Krispy Kreme shops across the United States and Canada. One per customer, per day. Learn more: krispykreme.com/NationalCoffeeDay

5 free things to do in Orange County this week, Sept. 24-30

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Why sit home because you don’t want to spend any money? Here are five free things you can do this week.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 24

Enjoy a concert at the Newport Beach Public Library’s Fall series of Sunday Musicales with a free 3 p.m. performance by Four Hands One Piano, a piano duo of Lucy Nargizyan and Marina Grozdanovi, in the Central Library Friends Room, 1000 Avocado Avenue, Newport Beach. Learn more: 949-717-3800, ext 2 or newportbeachlibrary.org.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 28

Take in the Wacky Magic Show at the Yorba Linda Public Library, 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. in the community room. Presented by David Skale. Location: 18181 Imperial Hwy. Yorba Linda. Learn more: Ylpl.net.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 29

See “Beauty and the Beast” (the live-action 2017 version) at Seal Beach Movies in the Park. Movies start at sunset, at Eisenhower Park next to the pier. Bring your chair and blanket. Learn more: moviesintheparksb.com

SATURDAY, SEPT. 30

Take a free nature walk with a bird talk, led by naturalist docents at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Thousands of birds make Bolsa Chica their home year-round and also when they’re on migration. The walk takes place the last Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. Meet at the south parking lot, across PCH from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. Get there early and carpool because the parking lot is small. Learn more: amigosdebolsachica.org

Walk with a Naturalist 9-10:30 p.m. Join naturalists at O’Neill Regional Park and learn about the animals and natural world of Trabuco Canyon. This is a light-to-moderate walk on mostly paved roads. The walk is free, parking is $5. Contact: 949-923-2260. Location: O’Neill Regional Park. 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon. Learn more: ocparks.com/parks/oneill

FivePoint CEO on Amazon bidding as HQ2 forces everyone to play nice

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Maybe Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is simply looking for a commercial real estate bargain.

Maybe Amazon’s very public search for a second company headquarters is a bit of corporate grandstanding.

Maybe the man who helped change the way we shop is actually seeking new ways for corporations and their workers to do business.

But let’s give Bezos credit for one thing he’s already accomplished in his quest for a home for “HQ2,” which would mirror the company’s Seattle corporate hub.

Folks are now playing nice, talking up their hometown communities.

This very public bidding process has forced civic leaders and corporate bosses across the nation to turn on the sales charm. For the time being, many of these luminaries are selling what’s good about their respective regions compared with what has become too frequently a chorus of what’s wrong.

The change in tone was not lost on developer on Emile Haddad, chief executive of Irvine-based FivePoint Communities. He thinks, win or lose, there’s a bright side for everybody in the competition for Amazon: Reasoned discussion about economic opportunity.

“It’s nice to see the focus on the positive rather than the usual noise,” he says.

Haddad is keenly watching how the Amazon bidding pays out. And not just as boss of a major California landowner.

He thinks Amazon could be a force in rethinking how companies work with its second campus.

Amazon’s request for location bids isn’t just about the cost of facilities, doing business and staff. The proposal also speaks to a region’s quality of life and willingness to think differently. Why else request data on walkability and bike lanes, for instance?

Haddad doesn’t see Amazon creating “just buildings hosting warm bodies; this space will be disruptive.”

And if the retailing giant from Seattle is willing to consider a second West Coast home, and is serious about considering more than expenses, Haddad thinks California is a winner.

Look, the veteran developer knows the state’s strengths — and weaknesses — but he consistently applauds California’s lifestyle and business opportunities, warts and all.

“Where else would a company go if they want to attract the 50,000 best people in the world?” he says.

Now, the typically high-profile Haddad has taken a relatively low profile amid the nationwide scramble to win HQ2. Meeting Amazon’s wishlist puts Haddad in a tough spot, sort of like asking a parent which is his or her favorite child.

He applauds the in-state wooing of Amazon, heaping praise of the bid work done by his company’s rival, the Irvine Co. and owner Donald Bren. One wonders if Irvine Co. and FivePoint could end up partners in an Orange County bid. FivePoint is also supporting efforts in Los Angeles and in the Bay Area.

You see, Haddad’s FivePoint controls California land that could help satisfy Amazon’s need to eventually house — to work and to live — as many as 50,000 workers in 8 million square feet of offices … in three different places in California.

At the Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine, FivePoint has the rights to build roughly 6,000 more homes and roughly 4 million square feet of commercial space.

Then there’s Newhall Ranch in northern Los Angeles County with 21,500 homesites and 11.5 million square feet of commercial space to be built out that could satisfy Amazon’s walk-to-work mantra.

In the Bay Area, FivePoint controls the development of the old San Francisco Shipyard and Candlestick Point with 12,000 homesites and a potential for 4.1 million square feet of commercial buildings.

But unlike other development wars where FivePoint was a key actor, so far Haddad seems to be willing to accept a supporting role in the battle for Amazon.

“Of course we’re interested,” Haddad says. “We stand ready to do whatever it takes.”

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