Staff members will take safety measures in the event

Davis Odd Fellows and the Bike Campaign will put on the Zombie Bike Ride event on October 31st from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., taking place along the 12 mile Davis Bike Loop at nine different locations. This is a free event, and bikers can see zombie actors from Bike City Theatre Company. From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. attendees can join the after party, hosted by the Davis Business Association, at 500 1st Street to enjoy a variety of food, drinks and desserts and hear live music by DJ Duc. 

Aaron Wedra, the chairperson of the event, detailed that Bike City works with Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA+ individuals in their performances. Among the zombies, he mentioned there are three stations with drag queens.

“Everyone is invited; it’s family friendly,” Wedra said. “We don’t have scary zombies. They are comedy, comical theater sketches.”

Staff will follow COVID-19 safety precautions throughout the event. 

“All of our volunteers and actors are going to be wearing masks, and the people facilitating the flow of traffic will have megaphones,” Wedra said. 

Wedra emphasized the “grand finale” of the event where people will see zombie skydivers from Skydrive Skydiving.

During the after party, bikers can get free hot cider from the Davis Food Co-Op, while supplies last. Vendors will include Niknek Lemonade and Purple Tree Cafe. Another business, Handheld Sweet and Savory Pies, will be selling handmade pies with unique fillings.

Stephanie Maroney and Michael Sutton, the founders of Handheld, are serving pies out of their truck at Community Park during the bike ride from about 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.. Their menu includes a variety of items, including The Handburger, the most popular item on their menu, according to Sutton. It is a ground beef and chorizo patty with melty cheddar cheese and onions, wrapped in flaky dough, served with Carolina barbeque dijon mustard. The menu contains meat, vegetarian and sweet options; they noted that they are working on expanding options for those with unique food needs.

Sutton and Maroney have been at Davis for over 10 years. Sutton previously worked as a chef in Phoenix, and Maroney started her PhD in cultural studies in 2010. Maroney explained it felt like the right time to start their family business when food culture was changing during the pandemic at Davis.

“All of our food is cooked in the commercial kitchen in the Odd Fellows Hall, and then we serve out of the truck,” Maroney said.

Pete King attended the 2020 Zombie Bike Ride with a painted skeleton face, and his two friends dressed in Halloween costumes.

“It was my favorite experience for Halloween that I’ve ever taken, and I love bike riding. It was really great to get outdoors with friends,” King said.

King enjoyed the concept of the event, but he admitted that he felt a little disappointed that there were not enough volunteers and staff participating in the stations. 

“It wasn’t quite as developed as I was expecting it to be, but I think that’s in part because of the pandemic,” King said.

Nonetheless, King mentioned a few memorable moments from the ride. He described the experience as a little spooky and not too scary; he said the staff was mindful of the kids riding the trail.

“There was a part where some people had set up a chained-down zombie and run at you but stop right at the last minute. There was a setup where you could stop down for a second and watch some people perform the thriller dance by Michael Jackson,” King said.

Overall, King would love to come to the event this year, despite any flaws he observed last year.

“I am imagining this year’s going to be way better than last year, and I still had a great time last year,” King said.

This Zombie Bike Ride takes place in an open area, and the chairperson and Handheld founders encourage students to join.

“We’ve been so fooled as to say we’re gonna save Halloween,” Wedra said. “People might not feel like going to parties where there’ll be crowds, but most should feel comfortable riding their bikes where there’s plenty of space outdoors.”

Written by: Ellie Lee — city@theaggie.org

Governor Newsom called on all Californians to cut water usage by 15%

On Jul. 8, Governor Gavin Newsom urged Californians to voluntarily cut water usage by 15%, amid a severe drought which has lowered lake and reservoir levels, reducing the amount of water available to residents. On Aug. 26, the City of Davis posted a press release requesting that residents voluntarily cut water usage.  

“If the voluntary, statewide reduction in water use is not met, the state may look to require mandatory water-use reductions in future months,” the press release reads.

For the month of September, for example, this reduction is likely to be taken from a comparison of the water production in September 2021 with the water production in September 2020, according to city conservation coordinator Dawn Calciano via email.  

“Water agencies do report water production and other water information on a monthly basis to the State Water Board, so the reduction percentages are likely to be a comparison of aggregate water usage for the City overall by month compared to the same month(s) in 2020,” Calciano said.

Calciano explained that there was more water production in Davis in 2021. 

“Likely due in part to the unprecedented heat waves in the early summer and it being the second dry year without much precipitation, the City saw increases in overall water production for April, May and June 2021 as compared to the same months in 2020,” Calciano said via email. “There was a small decrease in water production for July 2021 compared to July 2020. August water production information is due to the state in mid-September and when available will be updated on the City’s website.”  

Much of the water supply in Davis comes from the surface water of the Sacramento River. Under Term 91, a water usage curtailment which usually takes effect in the summer, the surface water is now limited, forcing Davis to use more groundwater instead. An information page from the city regarding water supplies states that if Term 91 continues into November, there may be less surface water available.  

“Historically, Term 91… is set in place during the summer months,” the website reads. “If Term 91 is in effect between November to March of any year, which has been the case in five of the past seven years, the ability to divert water from the Sacramento River may be limited.”

Davis has always used a mixture of groundwater and surface water. According to city councilman Dan Carson, while usable, the groundwater may have distinct differences from the surface water.

“All of the water we provide is safe and useful, but there’s a quality to the surface water that it’s got fewer minerals and other things to remove from it in its treatment, and that, for example, we noticed that when the city switched more heavily toward surface water, our outdoor landscaping liked that a lot more,” Carson said. “People will notice differences in taste and things like that, without question. My understanding is that the mix can be different in different parts of the city.”

    Carson also noted that Davis may be forced to switch completely to groundwater in November, but assured that it’s unlikely for Davis to run out of water entirely.  

    “Our water supplies in the aggregate will exceed our demands,” Carson said. “We’re really fortunate that by obtaining the surface water rights and having a good system of deep water wells, we are not at risk of running out of water. That said, we are encouraging folks to conserve, because we have an obligation, like every community, to use water as efficiently as possible.”  

    If the drought continues and Californians are not able to voluntarily dial back their use of water, mandatory restrictions may come into place, Carson said.  

    “When the governor made his request for the voluntary statewide water restriction in July, the state signaled that depending on how things play out, additional state requirements are possible,” Carson said. “We’ve done a good job. For example, there have been underlying mandates from the state in the past that we reduce our per capita water use to certain goals. The city of Davis has met and exceeded those goals.”  

    Some of the best ways to reduce water usage are listed on the city’s website. These can include simple and easy things like fixing leaks, irrigating efficiently and taking shorter showers, or more involved tasks like replacing thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant plant species.  
Written by: Rachel Shey — city@theaggie.org

Yolo County recognizes college students’ needs

At UC Davis, 44% of students face food insecurity, according to survey data collected by the Chancellor’s Student Food Security Task Force in May 2018. Organizations such as Yolo Food Bank and the ASUCD Pantry offer to distribute necessities while students study for their college degree. 

Yolo Food Bank has been serving nutritional needs of Yolo County residents, including UC Davis students. Located in Woodland, they organize and coordinate on a massive scale.

Joy Cohan, the director of philanthropic engagement at Yolo Food Bank, said that the food bank has been collaborating with UC Davis students in many ways, especially to create an equitable food system to feed all county residents and students.

“There were existing needs before the pandemic,” Cohan said. “The challenges of the pandemic showed a spotlight of what people’s needs were. That opened the door to provide robust services.”

Yolo Food Bank has already been making efforts with UC Davis organizations like Aggie Compass and Solano Park Apartments. They are starting food distribution at the Quad in the next few months. 

“The genuine interest in being a good neighbor in supporting food insecurity has been heartening,” Cohan said.

The ASUCD Pantry, a student-run organization, supports all UC Davis students with food, toiletries and menstrual products. Unit Director Jason Kwan discussed the importance of the food pantry and the urge to help students thrive at Davis. However, he considers the service to be a short-term solution.

“People can grab food everyday, and I’m glad it helps them,” Kwan said. “But food insecurity is more than just having the food; it’s about having access to resources.”

Kwan detailed that The Pantry works with iCompass, saying that this center could be a long-term solution to solving issues like food insecurity. iCompass assists students with enrolling in CalFresh and informs them about picking up groceries and basic needs. Kwan discussed his hope to incorporate a range of cultural foods during his time as a director.

“We are a wide and diverse community, and I feel that we need to start moving toward being able to have more culturally relevant foods so everyone is comfortable with the foods they get at the pantry,” Kwan said.

The Pantry director emphasized that they no longer use a point system; a student can take 40 items per order. Students can order in advance on the website. They could also scan a QR code in person to schedule a time to walk in or pre-order a food bag. 

“People think they are taking away from others if they use The Pantry but that’s not the case,” Kwan said. “The more students use The Pantry, the more money we get and the more students we can help out.”

He encouraged UC Davis students to visit The Pantry, located in MU 167 between the market and the Aggie Compass.

Madison Rasmussen, a fourth-year student majoring in sustainable agriculture and food systems, went to The Pantry daily during the 2019 school year when school was in person. She visited The Pantry for the first time during the 2021 fall quarter on the first day of classes. Rasmussen grabbed almonds and said that The Pantry has snacks available as well.

She also utilizes the Freedge, a public refrigerator funded by the Green Initiative Fund that allows community members to share food with each other.

Rasmussen recognizes that food insecurity affects many students.

“A lot of people on campus don’t know how to cook,” Rasmussen said. “Some students will skip meals and not eat three meals every day. I think that a lot of people choose junk food because it’s quicker to eat, and you get a lot more calories. It’s not as good for you and has more preservatives.”

Written by: Ellie Lee — city@theaggie.org

FDA authorizes booster shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for various groups

Yolo County announced in a press release published on Aug. 20 that “emergency use authorization for Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has been expanded to approve a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 12 and up with moderate to severe immune compromise.”

Those who “believe that they are eligible should contact their health care provider for consideration of an additional dose,” the press release said.

Frank Schneegas, Communications Coordinator for Yolo County, explained that the doses are not being distributed through the county, and people should contact their health care providers.

“Yolo County isn’t administering third doses as we don’t have access to people’s health care records and third doses are for those who are immunocompromised,” Schneegas said via email. “Primary care providers are better suited to providing third doses as they can determine if an individual is eligible.”

The press release provides a list of “treatments associated with moderate to severe immune compromise” that individuals may be receiving.

These treatments include those who have “received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system,” “received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system” and have “moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency, such as DiGeorge syndrome [and] Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.”.

Schneegas noted that “the list above has likely been updated by CDPH, but this is what was initially announced by CDPH.”

The press release also explains that the third dose should be “from the [same] vaccine manufacturer as the original series” if possible.

Additionally, the press release states how long after the second dose the third dose should be administered to individuals.

“A third additional dose of vaccine should be administered no sooner than 28 days after their second dose,” the press release reads.

At this time, the third dose is not available to those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or “to fully vaccinated individuals who are not moderately or severely immunocompromised” as per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization.

“Studies of additional doses of Johnson & Johnson for immunocompromised persons are ongoing,” the press release reads.

These studies will help inform whether those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can obtain additional doses.

“The results of these studies will determine if and when additional doses of vaccines are needed for immunocompromised persons who received a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,” the press release reads. 

On Sept. 22, the FDA announced in a news release that the booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for some groups.

These include those aged 65 or older, those between the ages of 18 and 64 who “are at high risk of severe COVID-19” and those between the ages of 18 and 64 “whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 puts them at high risk of serious complications of COVID-19 including severe COVID-19.”

The Pfizer vaccine is authorized for the “use of a single booster dose, to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series” for the groups mentioned above.

More information regarding the authorization and data can be found in the news release.

For help with the “Yolo County COVID-19 program,” people can visit the website, call 2-1-1 Yolo for relevant resources and information or follow Yolo County on their social media, linked in the press release, for updates.

Written by: Shraddha Jhingan — city@theaggie.org

The new school year brings new challenges for health-related concerns

With the start of the new school year and the return to in-person instruction, new challenges arise in maintaining the health and wellness of the Davis community. In addition to COVID-19 concerns, Davis residents face fire-related health risks. 

While this may be all too familiar for returning students and California natives, the increase in severity and frequency of extreme weather events has necessitated clarifications regarding what measures to take in such situations. 

UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center Director Irva Hertz-Picciotto explained that these health concerns have not gone unnoticed. 

“UC Davis Health faculty are conducting research on the health effects from wildfires,” Hertz-Picciotto said via email. “Major health effects are respiratory symptoms including asthma and wheeze, cough, [and] irritated eyes. Fine particles, which are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (1/7th the diameter of a human hair shaft), are harmful and do enter the respiratory tract [and] are associated with higher cardiopulmonary impairments.” 

 According to Hertz-Picciotto, fires also pose a risk to mental health. 

“Major health effects [include] mental health from various fire-related stressors,” Hertz-Piccitto saidl. [This includes] anxiety about the air quality, the growing threats from climate change and, for some people, evacuations.”  

Hertz-Picciotto explained that limiting exposure to fine particles is key in preventing fire-related health problems. 

“[There are] several ways that students can reduce their exposures,” Hertz-Picciotto said. “Stay indoors as much as possible and if you must go outside or have a ‘leaky’ residence, then wear an N95 mask.” 

Hertz-Picciotto said that it is safest to use N95 masks instead of other masks that only block out larger particles. 

    “The N95 refers to the percent of fine particles that are blocked if the mask has a tight (closed) fit—these are available at hardware stores and other outlets,” Hertz-Picciotto said. “The ‘surgical’ masks that are typically sold at pharmacies are not adequate to block those particles.” 

    Hertz-Picciotto recommended that students and Davis residents check the particle concentration even when the air doesn’t smell. 

“Because the particle concentration in ambient air can be high even when you don’t smell anything, students can go to AirNow.gov to get the current concentrations,” Hertz-Picciotto said. “It’s also on the weather reports on [your] phone.” 

UC Davis News and Media Relations Specialist Julia Ann Easley said that in situations of poor air quality, UC Davis makes decisions informed by the best public health practices and scientific research. 

“Based on recommendations from a UC systemwide review of air quality protocols, UC Davis has adopted the attached decision matrix and uses the U.S. EPA’s AirNow Current Conditions AQI as its official source of air quality data,” Easley said via email. “The matrix outlines required and recommended actions regarding campus closure, cancellation of classes, athletic events, and other operational considerations.”

Campus services will close based on how critical they are in the event of an emergency or any hazardous conditions, according to Easley. 

“UC Davis policy provides for any temporary change to the status of campus operations due to an emergency event or hazardous condition,” Easley said. “The campus may reduce or suspend non-critical functions and services or close facilities at one or more locations.”

Easley recommended that students who have any health-related concerns should contact the Student Health and Counseling Services. 

“They can send a message to a nurse or medical provider through the Health-e-Messaging system or make an appointment as well,” Easley said. “SHCS also provides counseling support if students are [experiencing] anxiety or worry about potential fires.” 

More information about wildfires as well as guidelines for class cancellations can be found on the UC Davis website. 

Fourth-year Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior major Crystal Tran recalled the class cancellations caused by the 2018 Camp Fire.  

“When I was a freshman during smoke week, there was a lot of uncertainty because we didn’t know if we were going back to class or not,” Tran said. “It turned out that we would not go to class for a week.” 

Tran explained that while she is worried about more smoke, she is more optimistic about instruction during smokey weeks. 

“I’m worried about the smoke and the air quality but I think because of Covid and remote learning for the past year we can switch back online pretty easily,” Tran said. “We won’t have as much uncertainty as back then.” 

Written by: Yan Yan Hustis Hayes — city@theaggie.org