The return of audiences
California chips away at zoning restrictions
Musicians were thrilled to be performing for packed theaters again in 2021 - B1
In 2022, Senate Bills 8 and SB 9 take effect in January - A5
Our 166th Year
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F R I DAY, D E C E M B E R 31, 2 0 21
The year that was 2021 The ups and downs of the pandemic dominated this year, which also saw everything from the Alisal Fire to the return of the in-person Fiesta
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
A sea of umbrellas is seen on State Street. The National Weather Service says umbrellas won’t be needed during what is supposed to be a sunny weekend.
Sunny weekend in the forecast National Weather Service says that’s it for the rain
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
A DC-10 airtanker drops fire retardant in October on the hills above Mariposa Reina during the Alisal Fire near the Gaviota Coast. This was among the stories that dominated the news in 2021.
You won’t need your umbrella this weekend if the National Weather Service is right. The weather service predicted 2021 would end and 2022 would begin with sunny skies (remember those?) throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. (Los Angeles County was expected to be partly cloudy.) Sunshine is also forecast for Sunday, followed by partly cloudy conditions (but no rain) Monday through Thursday. “Dry but continued cool weather is expected (today) through the upcoming holiday weekend and likely beyond,” the weather service predicted. “Gusty northerly winds are expected (today) in some mountain and foothill areas, with weak to moderate Santa Ana winds over the weekend.” That’s welcome news for people tired of this week’s rainy days. Thursday’s rainfall inspired a sea of umbrellas on Santa Barbara’s State Street, where everyone bundled up in coats and hoodies to stay dry. A large amount of runoff was
seen at the side of the street. Rainfall was up slightly Thursday from Wednesday, although it remained light. The National Weather Service reported 0.15 inch of rain in Goleta and Lompoc, 0.01 in New Cuyama and a trace amount in Santa Maria. No rain was reported in Santa Ynez. Along with the rain came below-normal temperatures. Highs Thursday were 60 in Santa Barbara and Goleta, 61 in Santa Maria, 59 in Lompoc and 46 in New Cuyama. Lows (Wednesday night into Thursday morning) were 50 in Santa Barbara, 47 in Goleta, 42 in Santa Maria, 41 in Lompoc, 40 in New Cuyama and 39 in Santa Ynez. The cold is expected to remain. The weather service predicted today’s highs will be 61 in Santa Barbara, 60 at UCSB, and 56 in Santa Maria, Lompoc and Santa Ynez. It’ll be even colder in Cuyama, where the predicted high is 48; the low, 36. Other projected lows for today are 43 in Santa Barbara, 42 at UCSB, 39 in Santa Maria and Lompoc, and 38 in Santa Ynez. email: dmason@newspress.com
At left, Randy Rowse, a former member of the Santa Barbara City Council, was all smiles on election night, during which he learned he was elected the Santa Barbara mayor. At right, Lesly Ricardez, 15, receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Karen Etsell at the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital. The vaccines were among this year’s major stories.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Like a roller coaster with unexpected twists and turns, COVID-19 continued to dominate the news in 2021. It affected virtually every segment of life, from health to the economy and the performing arts. But there was other news this year, too, everything from a Santa Barbara election that brought a new mayor to the Alisal Fire that left a burn scar (but didn’t, fortunately, lead to a major debris flow). It was also the year of a gubernatorial recall election and the return of the in-person Fiesta (as well as several Christmas parades). Here are eight stories that dominated the news this year.
— COVID-19 and the vaccines. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and other health entities promoted the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which originally were for select portions of the population. But eventually the vaccine use was expanded to cover the 12-and-older population, then the 5-and-older population. In the meantime, the coronavirus continued to mutate. First, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health departments across the nation had to deal with the delta variant, then the omicron variant. The first confirmed omicron cases — four of them, all people under 30 — were announced Wednesday in the county. COVID-19 case numbers went
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up and down, and they’re surging again with 538 reported in the county Thursday. The question of vaccine mandates continues to be debated. The Santa Barbara Unified School District decided all its employees had to get the vaccine, with exemptions allowed for medical and religious reasons. Most of the staff got vaccinated, but some didn’t and protested the mandate in a march down State Street. Others objecting to vaccines and government rules made their voices heard during Stand Up Santa Barbara rallies in De la Guerra Plaza. They see the issue as one pertaining to civil liberty. As of Thursday, 68.7% of the eligible 5-and-older population is vaccinated, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health
Department, which continues to stress the vaccines’ importance in fighting COVID-19 and keeping the entire population healthy. Of the entire county population (all ages), 64.6% is fully vaccinated. — The pandemic’s impact on the economy. The state didn’t fully reopen until June, and businesses struggled to survive. Some didn’t. Several restaurants, including longtime ones, have closed since the pandemic started. This year, the closures included two Coast Village Road favorites in Montecito: Cava Restaurant & Bar and Little Alex’s, a Mexican cafe known for its tacos and more. A perennial favorite, Trattoria Mollie, an Italian restaurant, closed its last site, which was on State Street. Please see STORIES on A8
Heavy runoff goes down State Street during Thursday’s rain.
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B6 Life.................... AB1-2 Obituaries............... A8
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 1-29-30-43-47 Meganumber: 3
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 3-0-5-0
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 3-5-8-31-38 Meganumber: 4
Thursday’s FANTASY 5:6-13-16-17-18
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-02-07 Time: 1:48.62
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 2-6-9-33-39 Meganumber: 11
Sudoku................... B4 Weather................. A8
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 7-0-5 / Wednesday’s Midday 5-9-2