2023 Puzzle 8: “Hope Springs Eternal” Solution

August’s MMMM challenged solvers to find a famous rock song. The larger-than-average grid contains no obvious theme entries. Where to start?

The key to cracking this meta was to notice the linked clues for 33-Down, HESIOD [Famous Greek poet], and 37-Across, BOX [Container associated with a famous poem by 33-Down]. The box in question (actually mistranslated from the Greek word for a large storage jar) is the famous Pandora’s box, which also connects to the puzzle’s title, “Hope Springs Eternal.” Hope was the last thing left in the box.

As shown in the diagram to the left, the grid contains seven boxes composed of the letters in PANDORA in order, starting in one of the eight box squares, and then proceeding either clockwise or counterclockwise. Each of these boxes contains a single letter. Taking them in order spells DR-E-A-M-O-N, or Dream On, the famous hit by Aerosmith (which can be found on their compilation album “Pandora’s Box”).

Pete always does a cover version related to the meta answer (usually with his band, the Kindred Souls). You can watch the video and see this month’s full write-up here: https://pmxwords.com/august2023solution the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2023-0001744.

Published July 26, August 2, 9, 16, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Mastershine Auto Spa & Mobile Detailing, 502 Casitas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. David I. Tenorio Andrade, 502 Casitas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 17, 2023. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2023-0001768.

Published July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 2023

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AAER Enterprises, 1060 Colleen Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Adam Rennie INC, 1060 Colleen Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on June 20, 2023. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2023-0001540.

Published July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 2023

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Cruz Landscaping, 1028 Cramer Rd Apt A, Carpinteria, CA 93013. Rodrigo Cruz Cortez, 1028 Cramer Rd Apt A, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 3, 2023. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2023-0001654. Published July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 2023

ORDER FOR PUBLICATION OF SUMMONS OR CITATION: CASE No. 23CV01669. Notice to Defendant: Joseph S. Foster: You are being sued by Plaintiff: Jordan Schulhof. You and the plaintiff must go to court on the trial date of October 17, 2023 at 9 am. If you do not go to the court, you may lose the case. If you lose, the court can order that your wages, money, or property be taken to pay this claim. Bring witnesses, receipts, and any evidence you need to prove your case. The plaintiff claims the defendant owes $10,000 for unpaid personal loan. Name and address of the court: Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107. Filed June 20, 2023, by Gabriel Moreno, Deputy Clerk. Published July 19, 26, August 2, 9, 2023

DATE OF THIS NOTICE: August 10, 2023

CASE NUMBER: 21AMD-OOOOO-00003

PROJECT NAME: Laguna Blanca Amendment

PROJECT APPLICANT: Laguna Blanca School

PROJECT ADDRESS: 4125 Paloma Drive

ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER: 063-092-012, 063-092-013, 063-092-014

ZONE: REC and 3.5 EX-1 Residential APPLICATION FILED: March 12, 2021

DATE OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR ACTION: On or after August 22, 2023, the Director of the Planning and Development Department intends to approve this Amendment to a Conditional Use Permit for the development described below, based upon the ability to make all of the required findings and subject to the attached terms and conditions

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The proposed project is an Amendment to the Laguna Blanca School’s Conditional Use Permit, 03CUP00000-00035, to increase enrollment from 330 students to 385 students and increase the number of teachers on campus by 12 from 80 to 92 at the campus in Hope Ranch. An estimate increase of 102 AADT (annual average daily trips) will result from the project. The increase in trips will not result in unacceptable levels of service at nearby intersections and will not reach the VMT threshold of significance. In addition, the project proposes to connect the entire campus to the Advanced Treatment System that exists onsite within 24 months of project approval. No other structural development is proposed. The School and associated parcels will continue to be served by the La Cumbre Water District, a private septic system and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. The project is located at 4125 Paloma Drive, APNs 063-092-012, -013, -014, and 063-141-029, in the Eastern Goleta Valley Community Plan Area. The project parcels are a total of 27.64 acres and zoned E-1 and REC.

PUBLIC COMMENT: A public hearing will not be held on this matter. Anyone interested in this matter is invited to submit written testimony in support or opposition to the proposed project (Case No. 21AMD-OOOOO-00003). All letters should be addressed to Planning and Development, 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101, Attention: Chris Schmuckal, for Travis Seawards, Deputy Director, Planning and Development. Letters, with two copies, should be received in the office of the Planning and Development Department 24 hours prior to the date of Planning and Development Director Action identified above. For further information please contact Chris Schmuckal at 805-568-3510 or cschmuckal@countyofsb.org.

MATERIAL REVIEW: Plans and staff analysis of the proposal may be reviewed at the Planning and Development Department, 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara a week prior to the date of Planning and Development Director Action identified above.

APPEAL PERIOD ENDS: August 21, 2023

This final approval may be appealed to the County Planning Commission by the applicant, owner, or any aggrieved person advers ely affected by such decision. The appeal must be filed in writing and submitted with the appropriate appeal fees to the Planning and Development Department either at 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara or 624 West Foster Road, Suite C, Santa Maria, prior to 5:00 p.m. on the APPEAL PERIOD ENDS date identified above.

CHALLENGES: If you challenge the project 21AMD-OOOOO-00001 in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in written correspondence to the Planning and Development Department.

Published August 9, 2023

Santa Barbara via Mountain Drive. “It was so concerning how that day felt, I just wanted to take the opportunity to refamiliarize myself with Montecito.” He got home and switched on the TV. KEYT had breaking news. “There was a fire above Montecito,” Neels says. “Seeing the ignition on TV, I knew we were going to have a major incident.” 2008’s Tea Fire, fanned by relentless sundowner winds pouring down the front of the Santa Ynez range, would create absolute havoc. As the news cycle ramped up to get its arms around the narrative, Neels and his fellow responders quickly and quietly organized without fanfare and swarmed the oncoming cataclysm. “Firefighters, you know,” Neels says with a mordant grin. “We stay engaged even when off duty.”

David Neels – former MFD Division Chief of Operations – was sworn in as Montecito’s new Fire Chief in April 2023, succeeding outgoing Chief Kevin Taylor What was that journey like? “I was at Cal Poly majoring in agricultural engineering, but I’ve always had friends that work for the fire service. Having discussions or spending family time with them got me interested in that as a possible profession.” When he dove in, the route was circuitous. “I started in ’89 as a paid call firefighter in San Luis Obispo County and did that for six years while completing my degree at Cal Poly, as well as the fire academy at Allan Hancock College. Then I became a paramedic both in the Bakersfield area and here in Santa Barbara County. But I always knew I wanted to get back to the fire service. I was hired by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department back in 1998.”

In the First Responder ecosystem, fluidity of movement is everything. Juxtapose that, for instance, against the perennially evolving Highway 101 widening project. “We’ve been in meetings for years preparing for the roundabouts at both Olive Mill and San Ysidro,” Neels says of MFD’s tactical approach to meddlesome roadwork in general. “Construction projects that threaten to slow our routes of travel are inevitable.” When the 101 work presented a potential hindrance for responders, Neels and his team effectively planted a new sta- tion on the other side of the obstruction.

“We started talking,” Neels says avidly. “Could we actually place a resource south of the 101 corridor? There are well over 200 homes in that area. We also have the Rosewood Miramar, All Saints-by-the-Sea, the Friendship Center...” When developing responses to seemingly intractable problems, it helps to have engaged citizen-partners in high places. “We coordinated with Ty Warner, who very graciously said ‘… Of course you can use a piece of our property here to put a temporary fire station in place!’” Neels smiles. “That engine has responded to more than 37 calls for service,” he says. The episode highlights a particular character of the Montecito environs, and the question of access.

“The way our community has developed over the years, it’s not easy to gain access. Our operators have to be very alert in low light situations all the time, especially at night. We have a lot of trees and vegetation, and that makes for some very narrow access at times. Of course, it’s also what makes the area unique.” Picture in your mind’s eye a huge red fire engine wending its way along Montecito’s charmingly demure neighborhood roads. The degree to which community members share the “firefighting” mission can’t be overstated.

“We live with the threat of wildfire,” Neels says plainly. “Vigilance about fuels reduction is critical in a community like ours.” When responders are stretched to the limit, the homeowner having minimized their own vulnerability is a huge part of the equation. “Creating defensible space around your home is so vitally important, because it does take time to get all those resources on site. That’s also why partnering with an institution like Westmont makes really good sense. It allows us to show them what right looks like.”

2008’s Tea Fire swept onto Westmont’s forested campus with a wind-driven vengeance. Fleeing through the woods was impossible. Per the school’s and the MFD’s wildfire planning, around 800 people scrambled into the campus’ Murchison Gymnasium where they sheltered in place, the raging fire later found to have made its closest approach about 10 feet from the building. “We always have to keep reminding ourselves of these events,” Neels says. “Just recently I met with President Beebe from Westmont to review some of those things.” Given Montecito’s woodland terrain, the MFD knows where to put its resources. “We have two Wildland Fire Specialists, Nic Elmquist and Maeve Juarez,” Neels says. “Their primary mission is to continue community involvement in fuels reduction. We’re grazing over 30 acres with sheep this year alone in three different project areas.” Westmont spokesperson Scott Craig picks up the thread. “The college has been working with Maeve to map and then reduce the number of dead and dying trees in the barranca to the west of campus between our faculty homes. They started last week, dramatically clearing out the creek area, and it looks great. The vegetation had been quite dense. Maeve said they hope to keep a smaller crew available for additional clearing in the area through the summer.”

From strategic sheep grazing to computer modeling of optimal evacuation routes, MFD transparency brings locals into the planning process, as Chief Neels explains. “People want to know – as they should – that decisions are being thoughtfully made with real data, and they want to know how we make our decisions,” he says. “Those decisions are reviewed, approved, and implemented at the direction of the department’s elected, five-member Board of Directors whose decision-making matrix is guided by the best interests of the community. So it’s important to us that our fire stations and facilities are open and welcoming to the community. We hold monthly Board meetings here at Fire Station 91 and we encourage the community to attend.”

The devastating mudslides of 2018 are an example of private and public synergies interweaving to rescue, repair, and rehabilitate. “The debris flow was a corner-turning moment here,” Neels says. “Each member of our community experienced the tragedy differently. We also saw a unity of government involvement from the federal, state, and county levels. My memories of that night of the event – engaging with heavy equipment, trying to get access – one of my personal commitments as Fire Chief is the responsibility of making sure we don’t forget, that we remain aware of the potential, especially after the 2023 storms in January and the saturation event.”

Recruitment to the cause remains an ongoing effort. High school students –hopeful, seeking, too often bewildered by the ill-fitting advice template offered by well-meaning sponsors – are increasingly privy to the First Responder family as a career. “The fire chiefs from all the agencies are committed to increasing outreach to our local schools and recruiting young people from our communities to join our profession. We are actively looking for opportunities to engage with the local school districts to make that a reality.” Interfacing with and recruiting from the community is everything, and the Montecito Fire Department is an open door. “We get a lot of people from the area walking up the drive with their kids, and we encourage that,” Chief Neels says. “Our firefighters enjoy showing our equipment, explaining to community members of any age what our day-to-day looks like, and hopefully providing them with a better understanding of their fire department.”

Some of those young people walking the halls of Montecito Fire Station 91 in barely concealed awe – they just might have their imaginations spurred. Something like that happened once upon a time to a young boy named David with a dream to serve his neighbors. It seems to have worked out.

“If you think back to the night of the Tea Fire,” Chief Neels says with visible pride, “every station on the South Coast and in the adjoining counties responded.” Who needs caped crusaders? For his part that evening, Neels walked into the house, had his intuitions confirmed on KEYT’s newscast, and didn’t break stride. Still holding his car keys, he picked up the phone and dialed out with a strategically critical message. “I called my wife,” he says with an almost apologetic grin. “’Hey, I need to head back