Santa Barbara News-Press: January 21, 2023

False bomb threats lead to SB evacuations

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Between Thursday and Friday, the Santa Barbara Police Department received four false bomb threats to the local community, local private schools, businesses and one involving the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Notre Dame School and a nearby school, EF International Language Campus, both received bomb threats Thursday, which led to evacuations at both private schools.

“We did indeed evacuate due to a bomb threat being called into the school, as well as

multiple other locations in Santa Barbara,” Tim Flanagan, principal of Notre Dame School, told the News-Press in an email.

“Police responded and swept the building. No evidence of a bomb was found here, or at any of the threatened locations.”

The top priority for EF International Language Campuses is always the safety of students, teachers and staff, a spokesperson told the News-Press in an email.

”Yesterday at approximately 2 p.m.,we heard from an anonymous caller who made a threat against our campus community, resulting in the temporary postponement of classes and the

evacuation of facilities,” the spokesperson said. “We immediately contacted the authorities, who quickly arrived on campus.

“We also engaged a variety of support resources within the school and from our central organization, including staff experienced in safety and emergency protocols. Staff train on these protocols to ensure our ability to effectively respond in the unlikely event a threat materializes. We thank the Santa Barbara Police Department for their rapid and thorough response, as well

Please see THREATS on A3

Leading pediatric efforts at Cottage Health

Pediatric rheumatologist Miriam Parsa begins as chief pediatric medical officer

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Inspired by her young patients, Dr. Miriam Parsa is excited about her new job as the chief pediatric medical officer for Cottage Health.

“I’m definitely humbled by this responsibility,” Dr. Parsa told the News-Press. “I’m still in clinical practice. So I’m a part-time CPMO and part-time pediatric rheumatologist.

“It is actually really critical to have a really good understanding of how the program works and what our needs are,” she said. “I really think this work we are doing here in our small town doesn’t feel small with the potential we have. I am humbled and proud to represent my pediatric colleagues. I definitely feel the weight of this responsibility.

“My predecessor, Dr. Steve Barkley, had a vision for expanding pediatric specialists locally. He started the movement to have high quality care locally so that people wouldn’t have to travel,” Dr. Parsa said.

“There are not very many pediatric rheumatologists in the county,” she continued. “Cottage brought me up from L.A. because there was no pediatric rheumatologist in the Tri-county area. They brought me in eight

years ago because they recognized the need. I feel like that is very telling of the commitment to pediatrics.”

California’s unemployment rate holds at 4.1% as hiring slows

By SETH SANDRONSKY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square)California’s unemployment rate held at 4.1% in December, the same as November, according to the state Employment Development Department. Employers in the Golden State created 16,200 nonfarm payroll jobs versus 26,800 in November. The jobless figures and new hires derive from separate surveys of California businesses and households.

“While the focus is on tech layoffs,” according to Jeffrey Michael, Director of Public Policy Programs and professor of public policy at Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, “it is also worth noting that holiday retail hiring was lower than normal this season and is reflected in these reports. Despite weaknesses in both of these sectors, there is still solid job growth in December and the overall job market in California remains in pretty good shape.”

December 2022 was the 15th straight month of gains in California’s nonfarm payroll hiring, according to the EDD. The monthly average addition of new hires was 53,820, for 807,300 jobs created in the past 15 months. In the meantime, U.S. employers added 223,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in December 2022, with a jobless rate of 3.5%, according to the federal Bureau of Labor

Statistics.

Ten of California’s 11 industry sectors had growth of nonfarm payroll jobs in December, matching November’s figures. Education and healthcare employers topped the chart, with 8,200 new hires in December. Home healthcare employers in part fueled employment growth. The next sector on a hiring upswing was the construction industry, adding 7,500 jobs. Specialty contractors played a part in construction employment growth, according to the EDD.

Leisure and hospitality employers registered 5,300 new hires in December, versus 13,900 in November. The number of December’s agriculture jobs climbed to 5,100 from November, for an industry total of 416,200 in December. “The agricultural industry had 4,900 more farm jobs in December 2022 versus a year ago,” according to the EDD. It is unclear what impacts the recent rainfall from successive storms will have on employment in the industry this year.

In spite of tech layoffs in San Francisco and Santa Clara (Silicon Valley) counties, unemployment rates dropped to 2% in December versus November’s 2.3% and 2.4%, respectively. Imperial County east of San Diego saw its unemployment rate drop to 14.8% in December from 16.7% in November. The employment gap between inland and coastal regions persists in the U.S.’s most populous state.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Students of EF International Language Campus are escorted to Alameda Park by their faculty and Santa Barbara police officers after evacuating their campus in downtown Santa Barbara due to a bomb threat on Thursday. The threat proved to be false.

Dr. Parsa joined the medical staff of Cottage Health and the Cottage Children’s Medical Center in 2013 and is a member of the

American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Rheumatology.

COURTESY PHOTO

Cottage Children’s Medical Center is based at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Miriam Parsa, the new chief pediatric medical officer for Cottage Health, said she sees her responsibility as continuing what her predecessor, Dr. Steve Barkley, emphasized: “providing excellent, high quality, evidence-based health care locally.”

Please see PEDIATRIC on A8

Rotary Club honors La Colina science teacher

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

On Jan. 6 at a Rotary Club lunch meeting, Nicole Gee, who teaches seventh- and eighthgrade science at La Colina Junior High School, was honored with a plaque and a $1,000 check for classroom needs.

Recipients of this recognition are chosen with the assistance of the Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Teachers Network. Ms. Gee is the second of four teachers to be recognized by the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara throughout the year.

“There are many hardworking and dedicated teachers worthy of receiving this award, so it is an honor to have been chosen,” Ms. Gee told the News-Press. “I am in awe of the Rotary Club’s generosity and appreciative of their support, especially given the new challenges we face with COVID and after remote learning.

“It feels validating and restoring to receive this honor. I wouldn’t be able to be as effective or successful in my position without the help of my co-workers and others in our community, so I hope that they too are recognized and know that my gratitude extends to them as well.”

Ms. Gee is in her eighth year of teaching and covers topics ranging from chemistry and cell energy to ecology and earth systems.

La Colina Junior High School Principal Jennifer Foster, who nominated Ms. Gee for the Rotary Club honor, said, “Nicole Gee is a teacher leader who truly embodies the qualities of outstanding character, empathy and leadership.

“Students and colleagues alike relate to Nicole’s warm, easygoing personality and respect her determination in helping all

students and colleagues to be successful,” Ms. Foster said in a news release.

Noted Ms. Gee, “I am passionate about teaching because I care about my students, both as scholars and as human beings.

I especially like teaching junior high because our students are at an age where you can help shape how they view themselves and others, who they become, and which fields they pursue.

“I am grateful to be in a position where I can guide learning, model positive relationships and foster curiosity, while also getting to know the future leaders of our world.”

Susan Salcido, the Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools, said, “The Rotary Club’s recognition of outstanding teachers like Ms. Gee reflects a community that truly values education. We are grateful for the dedication and heart Ms. Gee displays each and every day.”

The News-Press asked Ms. Gee what advice she would give to her fellow teachers.

“Nearly every year of my teaching career has been impacted by natural disasters leading to school closures, remote learning or modified schedules,” she said. “It is important to be able to be flexible, not only on a day-to-day basis within our own classrooms, but also to be able to adjust to the obstacles our communities face as a whole.

“While our job is to provide students with an education, it’s important to take the time to get to know them and connect with them so that they feel safe, valued and supported. Likewise, I would remind teachers that we too are human and going through these challenges and can only wear so many hats.

“Take care of yourself so that you can care for others, and know

that building relationships with those in our school community is what makes teaching fulfilling and successful.”

Michael Baker, president of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara and CEO of the United Boys & Girls Club Santa Barbara, noted the club’s long tradition of supporting youths and their educators. “We are fortunate to have so many outstanding teachers in our area, and the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Teacher Recognition Award program is our way of extending gratitude for their important work.”

Ms. Gee said, “Even though we are (thankfully!) back to inperson teaching and off of Zoom, it does not mean that our jobs are back to normal. Teachers are faced with significant challenges and expectations that go beyond educating our youth, so it is affirming when organizations like the Rotary Club recognize and

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

appreciate our perseverance and efforts.

“With these challenges in mind, I plan to share this donation with my colleagues and will purchase items that either promote community-building and connectedness or further social and emotional learning so that all students and teachers at my school can benefit from the Rotary Club’s support,” she said. I am one of many deserving of this thoughtful award, and if you know a teacher, please thank them.

“They work tirelessly to not only provide our youth with quality education, but (during this school year alone) also keep them safe during lockdowns and/or flood evacuations, catch them up during a pandemic, help them navigate social interactions and support them with consistency during trying times.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Deputies arrest burglary suspect

ISLA VISTA — Santa Barbara County

sheriff’s deputies quickly arrested an Isla Vista man for several felony charges after he allegedly entered a residence, held a victim down and attempted to flee the area.

On Friday at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies responded to the 6500 block of Del Playa for a report of an intruder inside a residence. The suspect fled the area prior to deputies’ arrival, but deputies were able to quickly determine the suspect’s vehicle description, which was broadcast to area units.

The suspect, 23-year-old Matthew Dunbar Roberts, was stopped approximately nine minutes later in his vehicle in the area of El Colegio Road and Camino Pescadero, according to Raquel Zick, the public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.

Through their investigation, deputies learned that the suspect, who is unfamiliar to the victim, allegedly entered the victim’s residence and held her down. The victim screamed, and the suspect fled the residence.

Mr. Roberts was booked at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara on suspicion of false imprisonment (a felony), burglary (a felony), possession of a dirk or dagger (a felony), DUI (a misdemeanor), and driving on a suspended license (a misdemeanor) as well as a detainer for a violation of probation. He is being held without bail.

— Katherine Zehnder

Prescribed burn schedule announced

From Jan. 24-28, a prescribed pile burning has been scheduled in Los Padres National Forest for 1 to 10 treated acres of slash from felled dead trees and brush.

An additional series of burns will occur through the spring as conditions permit, according to a news release.

Most burning operations will begin in the morning and conclude in the afternoon. However, some burning operations may continue through the evening to allow for full consumption of flammable material.

Burning will occur near Figueroa Mountain

and various other forest locations. Details are updated on Los Padres’ Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The goal of the series of pile burns is to reduce the risk of wildfire. The burn will be conducted when the weather is highly favorable to direct smoke away from population centers. This prescribed burn is coordinated by the Los Padres National Forest with the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board to minimize impacts on air quality.

To view a statewide prescribed burn map and other features, visit the Prescribed Fire Information Reporting System website: ssl. arb.ca.gov/pfirs/firm/firm.php.

— Katherine Zehnder

Highway 101 schedule outlined

CARPINTERIA/SUMMERLAND/ MONTECITO — In Summerland, traffic will be shifted onto the new northbound lanes on the night of Feb. 2, according to the latest Highway 101 construction information from Caltrans for the South Coast.

On the morning of Feb. 3, the new northbound off-ramp at Lillie Avenue will open. Caltrans askes motorists to be aware of new traffic patterns in the area.

Caltrans also noted the speed limit is reduced to 55 mph for safety throughout the construction areas.

Two freeway lanes remain open in each direction during daytime hours.

Here’s the schedule for lane closures.

NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101

Sunday nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., there will be one lane from Santa Monica Road to Sheffield Drive with on- and off-ramps at South Padaro/Santa Claus Lane and North Padaro Lane.

On Mondays-Thursdays from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., there will be one lane from Santa Monica Road to Sheffield Drive with on-and off-ramps at South Padaro/Santa Claus Lane and North Padaro Lane.

The off-ramp at Olive Mill will be closed for up to seven months and is anticipated to reopen upon roundabout completion. Drivers can use

the northbound off-ramp at San Ysidro Road.

The off-ramp at Evans/Lillie Avenue is expected to reopen Feb. 3. Drivers can use the northbound off-ramp at North Padaro Lane.

The on-ramp at Ortega Hill Road is expected to reopen Feb, 14. In the meantime, drivers can use the on-ramp at Sheffield Drive.

SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101

Sunday nights from 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. will be one lane from Sheffield Drive to Carpinteria Avenue.

Mondays - Thursdays from 9 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. will be one lane from Sheffield Drive to Carpinteria Avenue.

The on-ramp at Olive Mill Road is anticipated to reopen in late February. Until then, drivers can use the southbound on-ramp at Sheffield Drive.

The off-ramp at North Padaro Lane is expected to reopen mid-March. Until then, drivers can use the detour at South Padaro Lane and Via Real.

The on-ramp at Santa Claus Lane is expected to reopen on Jan. 29. Until then, drivers can use the detour on Via Real, Santa Ynez Avenue, Carpinteria Avenue and Reynolds Avenue.

CARPINTERIA AVENUE

FROM ESTERO TO HIGHWAY 101

Flaggers will direct traffic (as needed) as crews build a new median island and bikeway connections.

Consecutive ramps in the same direction will not be closed at the same time (unless where noted) to allow drivers to use a ramp before or after a closure. To view timelines, detours and maps, see www.sbroads.com.

OLIVE MILL ROUNDABOUT

Most of the construction occurs between 7 a.m and 4:30 p.m. daily for the new Olive Mill Roundabout.

Crews have begun work and removed old lighting, according to Caltrans. Work will progress to drainage, roadway and electrical work. You can expect flaggers as needed to direct traffic.

Construction is expected from January through summer 2023.

For more information, see www.sbroads.com.

— Katherine Zehnder

Santa Barbara Zoo welcomes new monkeys

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The Santa Barbara Zoo is excited to announce its two newest members: Jimi and George Michael.

Not *that* Jimi and George Michael, but the two new Goeldi’s monkeys.

Goeldi’s monkeys are covered in black shaggy hair. They are on average 8 to 9 inches tall, but their

The Santa Barbara Zoo is at 500 Ninos Drive, Santa Barbara. For more information, check out sbzoo. org.

tails are around 10 to 13 inches long, and they can, reportedly, jump around 13 feet horizontally.

Jimi and George were born in a different zoo, but Goeldi’s monkeys are native to South America, so Santa Barbara’s year-round warm weather is ideal for these monkeys.

Jimi and George Michael are actually brothers (2 and 3 years old, respectively).

And despite their small size — they are the smallest monkeys in the zoo — they are full of personality.

Zoo manager and training facilitator Kristen Wieners described Jimi as more “go with the flow,” but she noted George Michael “has a lot to say” — especially on personal space.

Although the monkey brothers might have different personalities, Ms. Wieners said you will definitely

“hear them before you see them.”

Goeldi’s monkeys shout cries that can travel over the distance of a football field. These monkeys are also omnivores and eat a variety of fruit, mushrooms, insects and small vertebrates.

Jimi and George, however, are picky eaters – they don’t like mushy food. But they really like super worms and bananas at the moment. Despite their picky eating, Ms. Wieners said. “They are a really cool species that we have the privilege to care for.”

Jimi and George Michael are still getting comfortable in their new home, but if you would like to see them, check them out in the Capybara exhibit by the Cotton Top Tamarins.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

From left are Jennifer Foster, the principal of La Colina Junior High School; Dan Herlinger of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara; Nicole Gee, the La Colina science teacher being honored by the Rotary Club: and Michael Baker, president of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

George Michael, a Goeldi’s monkey, recently moved into the Santa Barbara Zoo with his brother Jimi (not pictured).

False bomb threats remain under investigation

THREATS

Continued from Page A1

as our school community for their patience during what ultimately proved to be a false report.”

The Santa Barbara Police Department said it takes these types of calls very seriously and in each case immediately responded, conducting thorough searches of the locations. Included in those searches were the use

of bomb detection dogs and at times, evacuations. In each case, no bombs or other similar type devices were located, according to the department. It added that at this time, there’s no reason to believe these threats are credible. These false bomb threats remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Barbara Police Department at 805-882-8900.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Carpinteria city manager announces retirement

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Carpinteria City Manager Dave Durflinger plans to retire by the end of the year.

His announcement was made to the city council and all city staff this week.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the Carpinteria community for the past 24 years (in the role of city manager since July 2001), and to work alongside such great people,” Mr. Durflinger said in a news release. “Any success that I have had I owe to the team — a team made up of dedicated staff members, city council leaders and involved community members.”

As he announced his retirement, Mr. Durflinger received some praise from the mayor.

“Dave has not only provided his skills, intelligence and vast knowledge of Carpinteria on a 24/7 basis for the city, but he is also a resident and valued member of the community,” Carpinteria Mayor Al Clark said. “Dave has established a strong, stable and consistent government for over 20 years.”

Mr. Durflinger told the council and staff in an email that nothing will change in the city government in the near term. “My priority is to leave the organization in capable hands. I want to allow the City Council sufficient time to plan and facilitate this transition and

City Manager Dave Durflinger told the council and staff in an email that nothing will change in the city government in the near term. “My priority is to leave the organization in capable hands. I want to allow the City Council sufficient time to plan and facilitate this transition.

to provide time for some overlap with the new city manager prior to my retirement.”

No timeline or process has been set for hiring Mr. Durflinger’s successor.

“My employment with the city has afforded my family and me many wonderful opportunities and experiences we would not otherwise have had, none more important than being part of a true community,” said Mr. Durflinger. “For that, I am eternally grateful.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

A Santa Barbara police officer helps to seal off Micheltorena and Chapala streets to pedestrian traffic while law enforcement respond to a bomb threat Thursday in downtown Santa Barbara.

BUGH, Yvonne D.

Yvonne D. Bugh, 96 years, passed away peacefully in Santa Barbara. She was born in England, but at the age of 28 decided to leave her homeland. After living in Uruguay and Canada she came to California. It was there that she met the love of her life, Vernon Bugh, Jr. They were happily married for 60 years. She is survived by her two daughters, Lynne Harms and Claudia Bugh Meyers. She also had two grandsons, David Harms and Jacob Harms. She was loved and appreciated by everyone who knew her for her sense of humor and hospitality. She will be greatly missed.

FREEMAN, Gloria Mendoza

Gloria Mendoza Freeman passed away in Santa Maria, California on December 24, 2022 at the age of 88 years.

Gloria was born and raised in Santa Barbara, CA. She graduated from Evening High School in 1967 and then completed a course in business machines at Santa Barbara City College. She married her husband, Bennie Christopher Freeman, in 1952. He passed away in 1981. Her son, Christopher Benjamin Freeman, died in 1987. All of Gloria’s siblings have passed away. Gloria is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Anne Freeman. Gloria was a member of Tierra de Order Parlor Native Daughters of the Golden West, The Santa Barbara Republican Club, and G.A.L.S. Republican Women’s Club. Gloria requested a private burial at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara, next to Bennie and Christopher Freeman. Internment will be held on January 25, 2023 at 12 noon

CHRISTIANSEN, Paul E.

Paul E. Christiansen passed away November 22, 2022 in La Quinta, California. Paul was born May 9, 1929 to Everett and Esther Christiansen in Des Moines, Iowa. Paul attended Catholic schools in Des Moines and Ellsworth College. After his military service, he earned his BA degree in economics from UCSB in 1956.

While serving in the US Air Force in the Panama Canal Zone, Paul met Marie Rios, his lifelong friend and companion. They were married on September 12, 1952. Paul and Marie moved back to Santa Barbara to raise their family. Paul started his professional career with Metropolitan Life Insurance. Later, he became a general insurance broker serving Santa Barbara for over 30 years until his retirement. Paul and Marie enjoyed traveling all over the world - Mexico, Egypt, Europe, the Holy Land and their favorite destination, Scandinavia.

Paul and Marie were proud parishioners of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. Paul was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 25 years serving as Grand Knight in 1965. Paul was a fantastic husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. Best of all, he was a kind and caring man. He always had a joke or a story for you and was there to help and support whenever he was needed. Everyone who met Paul said the same thing to his family: “What a good guy!”

Paul was proceeded in death by his parents, Everett and Esther Christiansen, his stepfather, John Bridenstine, his wife Marie, his brother-in-law, David Rios, and his granddaughter, Alyson Christiansen. He is survived by his son, David Christiansen (Kris), his daughter, Cathy Wagner (David), and his niece, Suzanne Rios Johnson (Hadley). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicholas Christiansen, Jacquelyn Sinclair (Tommy), Jillyn Wagner, Brian Wagner (Autumn), JT Sampson, Alex Sampson, Sarah Roukey (Chad), and great-grandsons, Hayden Sinclair and Zeke Sinclair. A funeral mass will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church in Santa Barbara, California. In lieu of flowers a donation in Paul’s name may be made to:

The Aly Christiansen Memorial Scholarship c/o Bishop Manogue High School 110 Bishop Manogue Drive Reno, Nevada. 89511

GOODALE, Donald Malcolm

July 3, 1930 - December 24, 2022

Donald Malcolm Goodale passed away on the holiest of nights, Christmas Eve, 2022 in Solvang, California, at the age of 92.

Don was born on July 3, 1930 in Atascadero, California, to Josephine Tillman Goodale and Harold Goodale of Paso Robles, California. Harold and Josephine later welcomed two daughters, Elaine and Joy. As a child, Don enjoyed family trips to the beach at Morro Bay and Pacific Grove, attending church and church events, YMCA youth camps in Cambria, fishing, camping, and participating in Paso Robles Boy Scout Troop 63, the Santa Lucia Chapter of Air Scout Squadron 60, and many Boy Scout and Air Scout camps.

After graduating Paso Robles High School in 1948, Don spent two years at College of the Pacific, prior to receiving his BS in Electronic Engineering in 1953 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Following graduation, while working as an electronic engineer for the Glenn L. Martin Company, Don enlisted in the United States Army. He honorably served from 1954-1956, at both Biggs, Air Force Base, Texas, and White Sands Army Base, New Mexico, during which time he received his pilot’s certification.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, while Don was living in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, he accepted the position as an electronic engineer with the Aerophysics Development Corporation, which had just completed building their permanent facility in Santa Barbara. While working in Santa Barbara, Don met his future wife, Doris Shoemaker. They were married in Pasadena on December 29, 1962 and made their first home together in Santa Barbara CA, at which time Don was employed as an electronic engineer with Burroughs Corporation. Both Don’s daughter and son were born in Santa Barbara.

In 1967, Don transferred to Burrough’s offices in Thousand Oaks, CA. As the children became of school age, Don enjoyed helping them with their math and science homework as well as many school projects. He served as a Treasurer for his son’s Boy Scout Troop, and enjoyed many family vacations in Mammoth Lakes.

For 30-plus years Don made a career in the electronics engineering industry, at companies such as BIF Acutel, Automation Associates, ITS, and IEE, working on development of LCD screens for military and commercial applications. Notably, these were the first LCD screens on gas pumps and translation screens on seat backs for Milan’s La Scala opera house. He was a great “fix-it” man and also had the talent of refurbishment. If it was broken or needed repair, he was the person to go to. He took joy in teaching his children how to repair items, and they took joy in giving him items in need of repair, from lamps and electrical cords to shoes and household items, Don’s workbench in his garage was a one-stop shop. After retirement, Don continued his passion for fixing and refurbishing items and keeping up on the electronics industry by reading his many industry journals and magazines. He joined the Computer Club at the Thousand Oaks library and took up photography as a hobby. He and Doris also embarked on a number of travel adventures, including Alaska, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Austria, and Switzerland.

In 2019, after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease in 2018, Don moved to Friendship House in Solvang CA, in order to be closer to his daughter.

Don is predeceased by his wife, Doris (July 2, 2022), and survived by daughter, Susan (Goodale) Lowry (Bob), son, David Goodale (Monica) and their 2 sons, his sister, Elaine (Goodale) Smith and her children, his sister, Marian Joy (Goodale) Gibson and her children, and cousin, Bill Goodale.

The family would like to extend its deepest appreciation to Dr. Julia Billington of Sansum Clinic, VNA Hospice, and Don’s family of loving, professional, and supportive care providers at Friendship House, all located in Solvang.

At Don’s request, no funeral or memorial service is planned. Donations in Don’s name to support the many wonderful programs and services offered by Friendship House can be made to: Friendship House, 880 Friendship Lane, Solvang, CA. 93463.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com

To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

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MITCHELL, Geraldine “Gerrie”

Geraldine “Gerrie” Mitchell passed away on January 17, 2023. She was 89 and Born in Pocatello, Idaho. Gerrie was predeceased by her husband, Jerry. She leaves behind two sons, Randy and Jeff (Allison), three grandchildren, Candice, Cody (Jordan), and Amanda (Willy), four greatgrandchildren, Tanner, Sadie, Emmett, and Madison.

Graveside Funeral Services, Tuesday, January 24, at 11:00am at Oak Hill Cemetery in Ballard. “She’s going to be with her Cowboy.”

Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors

PINKHAM, Milton H. August 4, 1937 - January 6, 2023

Born in Santa Barbara, California to Chesley and Catherine Pinkham. He was raised on his grandparents ranch in Carpinteria, Nelson and Grace Smith.

Milton is survived by his loving wife, Gayle, his son, Jim, and daughter June, and her husband, Jerry Fitch, grandchildren, Brian Fitch and Laurie Fitch of Stillwater, OK, Daughter, Anne Smull, her husband, Steve (deceased), of Lincoln, California.

Milton began his working years at the Montecito Water District (20 years), then went into business for himself as a heavy equipment operator.

He had a life long love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing in Utah.

KING, Thomas William Age 75, passed peacefully 12/2/2022 @ 6:45pm, with his loving wife of 20 years by his side. He was born March 11, 1947, in New York and moved to Santa Barbara at the age of 4. Tom grew up in Santa Barbara and enjoyed surfing and fishing. He was proud of his early days working at the Alpha School. He had a long career in truck driving, was a truck driving instructor and worked for 8 years with Santa Barbara MTD. His greatest joy was serving his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ in various capacities. One of the most enduring was supporting the ministry of House of Judah, Santa Barbara, pastored by Wally & Sandra Hernandez. He is preceded in death by his mother, Matilda Walters, stepfather, SBFD Battalion Chief Melvin R. Walters, father, Albert L. King, and brother, Kenneth Walters. He is survived by his wife, Tanna Lee King, his brothers, Arthur (Vicki) Walters, George Walters, and Melvin Walters Jr., his children, Rachelle (Rudy) Garcia, Thomas E. King, Tyler (Brandi) King, stepson, Adam Watkins, grandchildren, Amanda (Sam) Jones, Brad Garcia, Megan Garcia, Taylor King, Marcus King, and Dominic King and great-grandchildren, Clayton, and Jameson Jones.

Service will be held Saturday, January 28, 2023 @ 2:00pm at House of Judah, 1032 East Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA. In leu of flowers, donations can be made to House of Judah Street Outreach at 5046 8th Street, Carpinteria, CA 93013.

HORTON STRAHORN, Jo Ann

Jo Ann Horton Strahorn, loving mother and grandmother, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 5th. She was 94 years old.

Born to Isabelle and William Crawford she spent her early childhood in Sausalito, California during the Depression. She remembered how the chilling wind and fog would roll in on the San Francisco Bay and how she warmed herself around the woodburning stove. She witnessed the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge and walked across it the day it opened in 1937. Soon after, the family moved back to Oregon where most of her relatives lived. She vividly remembered her 14th birthday when Pearl Harbor was attacked and changed the course of many lives.

Jo Ann loved to dance. In high school she said the kids would even dance to the swing music of the big bands in the cafeteria during lunch. Her favorite subject was art, which turned out to be a lifetime passion and hobby.

When she was 20 years old she went on a date with Navy veteran Richard Horton and he was smitten.

He asked her to marry him on their second date and she became Mrs. Richard Horton in 1948.

They settled in Santa Barbara and raised their four children. The family pastime became horseback riding. And JoAnn joined in, learning how to ride with the kids. A lot of time was spent horse camping, going on trail rides, going to horseshows and being involved in the Montecito YMCA. Tragically, Richard passed away at the age of fortyeight. Jo Ann raised the children on her own, but was very grateful for all the loving support of her friends and the community.

Jo Ann had many passions: cooking, fashion, art, bridge, and crossword puzzles. She did crosswords until her time of death - she amazed her children with her ability to answer obscure questions even after losing her memory!

She was the rock of the family, always hosting the holiday dinners and family get togethers. She will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren and friends.

Jo Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Horton and second husband, Bob Strahorn, her sister, Nan and her son, David. She is survived by her children, Ann, Richard, and Tom and her grandchildren, David, Sam, Loren, and Serena.

The family is having a private memorial.

BERTUZZI, Vincent Joseph

It is with much love and tremendous sorrow that we mourn the passing of Vincent Joseph Bertuzzi, on Monday, December 12, 2022. He went to be with the Lord at the young age of 54 after battling a long illness.

Vince was born on January 29, 1968, in Santa Barbara, CA and was raised in Goleta, CA. As a child, he enjoyed being part of the cub scouts and especially loved designing and building his own Pinewood Derby car. During his childhood, you would often find Vince helping his neighbors by walking their dogs, mowing their lawns or doing yard work for them. After graduating from Dos Pueblos High School in 1987, he moved to Arizona to attend Universal Technical Institute to continue his education and receive his automotive mechanic certification. After graduation, Vince moved back to Goleta “The Good Land” and was an ASE master mechanic for decades. He was the “go to guy” whenever there was a car in need of repair for family and friends.

Vince’s love for animals was apparent as he would spoil his cat and dogs with treats, car rides, and long walks on the bluffs. He was also an avid fisherman, and, on most weekends, you would find him out on his boat or recounting his many Halibut and Salmon expeditions in Alaska. Our family shared many wonderful fish fry dinners together thanks to his prowess with a rod and reel. In addition, his love of cooking brought him much joy in preparing favorite dishes such as our family’s traditional recipe gnocchi, prime rib, meatballs, deer burgers and antipasti, just to name a few. He was also a motorcycle enthusiast and would often be on his dirt bike off-roading or dressed in his full leathers, taking a ride up the coast. Vince’s love of travel took him to Baja California, Mexico for many fishing trips and to wrench for the Baja 1000, to dive and visit relatives in Australia, and to British Columbia, Canada to spend time with his extended family while hiking, fishing, golfing, relaxing in the natural hot springs, and picking wild berries to make fruit pies.

Vince was kind and caring to all he would meet and was always willing to help out. He worked hard and played hard, and he lived for the good times. We have many memories to keep us smiling.

Vince was preceded in death by his father, Mario G. Bertuzzi, his brother, Joseph A. Bertuzzi, and his stepfather, Robert A. Montgomery. He is survived by his mother, Mildred E. Bertuzzi, his 5 brothers and sisters, Reno (Kristy), Perry, Teresa, Bruno & Gina (Brian), as well as his many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

At Vince’s request, we will have a private family service.

In lieu of flowers or a memorial donation, please spend a moment in nature while reflecting on your fondest memory of Vince.

“We can shed tears that he is gone or smile because he lived.”

UCSB men’s basketball wins at home

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB men’s basketball team (15-3, 5-1 Big West) were back in The Thunderdome for a weeknight showdown as the Gauchos took on the Matadors of Cal State Northridge for a Big West contest. When these two teams face one another, the Gauchos have the series 45-21.

After 40 minutes of play, the Gauchos were the ones to come out with a dominant win, taking down CSUN 72-52 to go up to a 5-1 record in The Big West.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos came out strong against the Matadors, taking an early lead and running with it.

The Gauchos went up by as much as 10 in the first half before the Matadors made a fight back. UCSB tried to hold them off, but CSUN continued to close the gap. After the first 20 minutes of play, the Gauchos had a slight lead over the Matadors with a score of 34-29.

At the half, Ajay Mitchell was already an instrumental force in this one. He already registered 14 points while going six-for-eight from the field. Along with that, he distributed the ball well to his teammates on offense, racking up three assists.

Once the Gauchos came back onto the court for the second half, they came out with a new passion. They went on an 18-3 run over the visitors to give them a very comfortable lead with just 10 minutes left in the game. UCSB kept it up by not letting the Matadors score a field goal in over seven minutes as they grew their lead even more. By the end of the second half, UCSB earned an impressive 72-52 victory over CSUN.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Mitchell finished the game with the most points for the Gauchos, registering 18 while making 73 percent of his shots. Along with that, he helped his teammates score by adding on six assists.

• Miles Norris continues to be a huge force for the Gauchos. He finished the game with 17 points while also contributing four blocks. Not only that, but he added on five rebounds and two steals.

• Cole Anderson had another great night, recording double-digit points in his third straight game as he notched 11 points.

• Koat Keat Tong crashed the boards hard with a new careerhigh 11 rebounds, five of which were offensive.

• Calvin Wishart may not have scored the most points, but he was instrumental to the team’s offensive efforts. He finished the night with six assists while tallying seven points, shooting 100 percent from the free throw line. He was also tied for the most assists on the team with three.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will be back in The Thunderdome tonight, this time taking on the Roadrunners of Cal State Bakersfield. Tipoff will be at 7 p.m. with a live stream available through ESPN+ and live stats through ucsbgauchos.com.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB.

sports@newspress.com

MORE INSIDE

For more sports, see page A7.

City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Cuyama 55/29/s 52/29/s

Goleta 62/36/s 62/39/s

Lompoc 63/33/s 63/34/s

Pismo Beach 62/38/s 61/40/pc

Santa Maria 62/34/s 60/37/s

Santa Ynez 62/30/s 61/32/s

Vandenberg 60/40/s 60/42/s

Ventura 63/42/s 60/46/s

Bakersfield

p.m. -1.9’ Jan. 23 10:01 a.m. 6.5’ 3:49 a.m. 1.7’ 11:42 p.m. 4.3’ 5:12 p.m. -1.6’

64/36/s 62/34/s

Eureka 56/42/pc 53/35/pc

Fresno 57/36/pc 54/37/pc

Los Angeles 63/44/s 63/42/s

Mammoth Lakes 36/15/s 33/8/pc

Modesto 54/34/pc 55/34/pc

Monterey 58/41/s 57/40/pc

Napa 57/36/s 64/42/pc

Oakland 57/40/s 57/43/pc

Ojai 62/36/s 64/34/s

Oxnard 62/41/s 59/42/s

Palm Springs 67/43/s 64/43/s

Pasadena 62/41/s 60/41/s

Paso Robles 58/29/s 58/28/pc

Sacramento 54/35/s 58/38/pc

San Diego 64/43/s 62/43/s

San Francisco 58/46/s 57/46/pc

San Jose 59/37/s 58/39/pc

San Luis Obispo 64/37/s 62/39/pc

Santa Monica 63/40/s 62/41/s

Tahoe Valley 39/22/pc 35/19/c

Atlanta 55/44/c 49/40/sh Boston 36/24/pc 40/38/c

36/31/c 36/26/sn

57/37/c 55/35/s

Denver 26/13/sn 28/16/c

Houston 56/46/t 61/41/pc

Miami 82/71/pc 83/70/pc

Minneapolis 29/17/c 24/13/c

New York City 43/33/pc 45/40/r

Philadelphia 47/32/pc 45/39/r

Phoenix 59/37/s 60/38/s

Portland, Ore. 45/35/sh 45/33/pc

St. Louis 43/33/pc 39/26/c

Salt Lake City 33/21/c 28/17/sn

Seattle 43/36/r 43/34/c

Washington, D.C. 47/34/s 45/39/r

Today Sun.

Beijing 37/15/pc 41/19/c

Berlin 39/34/c 36/32/sn

Cairo 69/52/s 70/52/s

Cancun 82/73/pc 84/71/pc London 43/26/c 39/26/s

Mexico City 76/43/s 77/44/s Montreal 26/19/c 33/27/c

New Delhi 67/50/pc 69/50/pc

Paris 39/29/pc 36/31/c

Rio de Janeiro 84/75/t 87/77/s

Rome 47/32/c 49/33/c

God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around you and whispered, “Come to Me”... -Frances M. Coelho

o my sole

New shoe store open on State Street

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

SANTA BARBARA — State Street has welcomed the shoe store O My Sole to its historic downtown. Open for four months now, O My Sole proudly specializes in fashion and comfort shoes for customers who seek unique designs.

Located between W. Figueroa and W. Carrillo Street, O My Sole is one of very few high-end shoe stores in Santa Barbara. O My Sole President, Jack London, said that the number one thing he hears from customers is along the lines of “I can’t believe it, oh my goodness, it’s a shoe store in Santa Barbara.”

On top of its uniqueness as

Rampant financial illiteracy

Financial Literacy for U.S. college graduates is abysmal. In a recent survey of over 30,000 college graduates from more than 440 schools across the country only 53% said they felt prepared to manage their money and finances. This really puts our young people at a disadvantage as they begin their careers.

I was fortunate to learn a lot about budgeting, profit, loss and finances early on. While in grade school I had my own businesses; I was a paperboy for the Santa Barbara News-Press, I had gardening jobs and worked as a box boy at Safeway. While attending Bishop Diego High School, I was elected ASB Treasurer where I “cut a deal” with Herb Petersen, the owner of McDonald’s on Upper State, to bring Big Macs and milkshakes daily to the school. I ran that lunch program throughout my senior year. Those educational work-experiences were invaluable to me later in life.

Our young people are not equipped to handle their finances for a lot of reasons. Parents have taken the financial responsibilities out of the hands of their children. “Helicopter parenting,” a style of parenting where parents are overly focused on their children, has become more and more prevalent. “Helicopter parents” typically take too much responsibility for their children’s experiences and, specifically, their successes or failures. Today there are more parents taking care of their children’s finances, leaving young people and often college graduates, ill-equipped to take care of their financial responsibilities. It is important to give our young people financial education and responsibility early on.

can confidently manage your expenditures, knowing what you can afford and when. Personal finance is 20% knowledge and 80% behavior. Ensure that you track spending. Put together a plan to pay off debt. Overall, always aim to spend less than you make.

I am often asked when is the best time to start a retirement plan. It reminds me of the question, “when is the best time to plant an oak tree?” The best time is now! If you are not contributing to a retirement plan, you are giving money to Uncle Sam you could keep for your retirement!

Contribute as much as you can to your retirement fund now, before significant expenses such as buying a house and raising children come into play. Indeed, make sure you reach your employer match, if you have one, (typically 3-6%) since it’s free money!

a high end shoe store in Santa Barbara, its inventory is very exclusive.

From places like France, Italy, Spain and Germany, all of O My Sole’s shoes come from family factories in Europe, meaning that each pair of shoes is imported and handmade from real leather.

South Coast Chamber of Commerce names Regional Business Award winners

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, from Goleta to Carpinteria, has announced the winners of the Regional Business Awards that will be presented at the chamber’s annual membership meeting and Regional Business Awards luncheon.

Award recipients will be honored at the event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. New executive officers and board members will be formally installed, and outgoing board members will be celebrated for their contributions to the organization, followed by the Regional Business Awards ceremony.

“We are excited to be honoring these phenomenal organizations who contribute to a strong business economy and inspire quality of life in our communities,” said Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. “It is

f Yi

Tickets to attend the Regional Business Awards luncheon are $125 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available at sbscchamber.com. For more information, contact Chelsea Weininger at Chelsea@sbscchamber. com.

important to the chamber that we recognize and celebrate the businesses in our community that have made a significant impact on the South Coast and thank them for their contributions to economic vitality and support within the community.”

Regional Business Awards Winners are:

Large Business of the Year: ViLL age ProPerties.

Since 1996, Village Properties has been locally owned and operated. Its mission is to serve the Santa Barbara region and its people with dedication. The Village Properties Teachers Fund was created to help Santa Barbara County teachers get the tools and materials they need for their classrooms and their students. The fund has granted more than $1.9 million to Santa Barbara County public and private kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school teachers since its inception. It has also helped support more than 30 local organizations including the American Heart Association, Lotusland, Santa Barbara Zoo, Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and Dream Foundation.

sma LL Business of the Year: Jr BookkeePing

JR Bookkeeping was started in 2012 by sisters Juliana and Natalia Ramirez in their living room and now has grown to serve Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. During that time, they have employed more than 40 individuals, the majority

TIM TREMBLAY in V estments

Establish an investment portfolio, in addition to your retirement plan. Start small, perhaps with a no-load mutual fund. Be consistent in contributing to this investment account on a regular basis.

Build your credit. Good credit is the key that unlocks many doors to financial success. A high credit score will help you get the best rates on loans, insurance, and a mortgage. Many employers and landlords also check credit scores when making employment and or tenancy decisions for due diligence. Now is the time to begin building your credit. In terms of debt, tackle all high-interest balances first.

As a new college graduate, one may now be launching into their first serious job, bringing with it their first real paycheck. What to do with your money can be overwhelming. But remember, you have the greatest financial advantage of all on your side: time!

Financial literacy is crucial. This includes paying off debt, creating a budget and understanding the difference between various financial instruments. In sum, financial literacy has a material impact on families as they try to balance their budget, buy a home, fund their children’s education and ensure an income for retirement.

An important step in creating a plan to manage one’s finances is to establish a budget. Make a commitment to do so right away. Once you have determined precisely where your money is going, you

Establish an emergency fund. Set aside three to six months’ worth of living expenses. While you may never need it, having this cushion in place just in case you become injured, ill or lose your job is great for peace of mind. Have those funds in a money market mutual fund or a high-yield savings account ensuring your liquid money is working as hard as possible.

Amid all these responsible behaviors, don’t forget to have fun! Put aside a portion of your money each month to save/invest (20% or so), and then spend some guilt-free money on adventures, eat delicious food, go to that concert or take that trip you’ve wanted to take! You’ve done well. Now is your time to enjoy!

And above all, stay the course!

Tim Tremblay is president of Tremblay Financial Services in Santa Barbara (www.tremblayfinancial. com).

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

New shoe store O My Sole opened about four months ago on State Street. The store specializes in high-end, handmade shoes from Europe.

Please see SOLE on A8

More Egg McMuffins sold on this year’s Herb Peterson Day

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Herb Peterson Day and participating McDonald’s raised over $4,000 for the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics last Tuesday. In honor of Egg McMuffin inventor Herb Peterson, Egg McMuffins were sold for $2, selling 33% more McMuffins than normal. All of the proceeds were donated to the clinics.

On top of that, David Peterson, Herb’s son, donated 120 Egg McMuffins to the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics in order to feed all of the workers. In reference to the clinics, Mr. Peterson said, “It was really fun. They are such a vital aspect of the community that we are really excited to be able to support them.”

Herb Peterson Day does not just celebrate Herb Peterson’s invention and his love for giving back to the community. It is also a ceremony for remembering Herb Peterson and the experiences he shared with people in the community. David Peterson mentioned that many people came up to him in order to share a fond memory of Herb Peterson, making the day extra special. A lot of people even took photos with the 8-foot-tall cutouts of Herb Peterson.

David Peterson would like to thank all of the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics workers for all of their work and their help in the community. He would also like to thank all of the workers at McDonald’s for helping make Herb Peterson Day happen.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

Chamber of Commerce announces business awards

CHAMBER

Continued from Page A5

of whom have been women, and several have gone on to start bookkeeping businesses of their own. Juliana serves as a volunteer, mentor and teacher for local organizations such as Women’s Economic Ventures, SCORE and Economic Development Collaborative.

NoNprofit of the Year: UNited BoYs & Girls Cl UB s of sa N ta Bar Bara CoUN t Y

In 1938, leaders in Santa Barbara recognized a need for a community youth center. What is now the Downtown Boys & Girls Club was completed in 1947 after a large community effort by local philanthropists, tradesmen, government leaders and families. Today, the organization is thriving with locations in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Buellton and Solvang, serving the youth with the highest needs.

In 2020, they became the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, bringing together the operations for all of the clubs in the county. In 2021, the clubs opened as full-day learning and enrichment centers while schools remained closed. They also started serving hot dinners at all club locations as part of the Zero Hunger Food Program. They offer tutoring, sports and after-school meals along with mentoring groups, education programs and affordable summer camps.

CommUNit Y BU siNess of the Year: momeN t Um Wor K iNC.

Momentum WORK, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with disabilities by providing access to innovative services that support personal and professional growth. Through nine comprehensive programs throughout Santa Barbara County, Momentum WORK, Inc.’s professional care staff remains dedicated to ensuring employability, independence and quality of life for the 272 people they serve.

Momentum WORK, Inc. was recently awarded a three-year Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities accreditation which signals a

service provider’s commitment to continually improving services, encouraging feedback and serving the community. With offices in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, their services reach throughout the tri counties.

hospitalit Y BU siNess of the Year: s a N ta Bar Bara a dveN t Ure Co.

Santa Barbara Adventure Company has been a hospitality business supporting the South Coast tourism industry for 25 years. Dedicated to providing outdoor education to youth groups and schools, its guides are well versed in local knowledge from marine ecology and edible plants to Chumash culture and Spanish Colonial heritage.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Michael Cohen started Santa Barbara Adventure Company in 1998 with the goal of offering local adventures of the highest quality led by experienced guides. Mr. Cohen has been active on several boards including Visit Santa Barbara, NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and America Outdoors. He also supports various schools, nonprofits and community organizations with donations and more.

eN trepreNeUr of the Year: K Ya NN a i saaC soN

Planting roots on the South Coast just over a year ago, Kyanna Isaacson quickly found her path and set out to make a significant impression on this community.

Her entrepreneurial spirit started when she was a junior in high school. Back in Valencia, Ms. Isaacson started working at Jersey Mike’s when she was 16 years old and began working her way through the ranks as a crew member, shift leader, supervisor, general manager and finally as operations manager overseeing five restaurants in the Santa Clarita Valley. In 2016, she was named Manager of the Year, and as part of her prize, Jersey Mike’s founder Peter Cancro surprised her with her own franchise.

In December 2021, Ms. Isaacson opened her first store in the Santa Barbara/Goleta area on Fairview Avenue and since has opened two more locations on Turnpike Road and at Camino Real Marketplace.

Lompoc Valley Chamber to host forum on labor laws

The Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce plans to present ‘Lunch & Learn on Labor Laws,’ an open forum facilitated by Paychex. The chamber luncheon will be on Feb. 22 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Paychex will be covering topics on new laws that apply to all employee counts, payroll, HR issues and tax credits.

She chooses her locations carefully in order to give back to the community that supports her restaurants. She is always the first to help nonprofits asking for donations, and she generously supports many local schools and charities because of her business.

GreeN BU siNess of the Year: BeG a North a meriCa

BEGA North America, a lighting manufacturer known worldwide for its exceptional quality and high-end products, is dedicated to the local South Coast community. In 2022, BEGA invested more than $4 million in solar energy production to power its electrical needs at its Carpinteria campus, eliminating reliance on traditional sources of electricity and reducing its carbon footprint by 903 metric tons annually. BEGA’s facility now has the potential to produce more energy than it consumes, remain fully functional in the event of major power outages and easily navigate seasonal marine layers often experienced in the city of Carpinteria.

milestoNe BU siNess aWard: sa N ta Bar Bara Zoo

First opening to the public in 1963, the Santa Barbara Zoo is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. With nearly half a million guest visits each year and nearly 15,000 zoo member households, the zoo is a beloved community resource and a top tourist attraction. Last year, the zoo employed more than 300 regular and seasonal staff members and gave back more than $200,000 to support families, schools and other nonprofits to ensure that the zoo is accessible to everyone.

With more than 500 volunteers, the zoo is home to 457 animals representing 112 species. A certified Green Business, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and licensed by the US Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the zoo actively contributes to and participates in many local wildlife conservation programs.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

The open forum will allow attendees to have any questions answered by qualified professionals.

Costs will be $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Registration is open now through Feb. 16 at https://lompoc.chambermaster.com/ events/details/labor-laws-chamber-lunch-learn10951?calendarMonth=2023-02-01

For more information, contact the Lompoc Valley Chamber at (805)736-4567.

- Katherine Zehnder

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

David Peterson, who owns the McDonald’s restaurants in Goleta, holds his father Herb Peterson’s invention: the Egg McMuffin.

Westmont women’s basketball defeats Ottawa of Arizona

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Four Warriors scored in double figures as #5 Westmont women’s basketball (16-1, 9-1 GSAC) defeated Ottawa of Arizona (5-13, 1-9) by a score of 79-36 in a Thursday night Golden State Athletic Conference game. With the win, and a 58-57 loss by Hope International to William Jessup, Westmont has reclaimed sole possession of first place.

“Our biggest goal today was trying to put together four focused quarters defensively and I thought we did a good job of that,” said Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore. “It was a great team effort.”

The Warriors have allowed just 49.2 points per game, the lowest total of any team in the NAIA.

Kate Goostrey led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points while making four out of five attempts from three-point range. Goostrey also tallied six rebounds and four assists.

“Kate was locked in mentally and her competitiveness showed,” noted Moore. “She, obviously, gave us a lot from the perimeter. I also thought we had a huge

contribution from our bench and really from everyone.”

As has been true the last several games, Moore was able to give everyone an opportunity to play with all nine players taking the floor for at least 15 minutes. The bench accounted for 31 of the Warriors’ points while shooting 50% from the field (9 of 18) and going five of 12 (41.7%) from the floor.

Three players tallied 12 points apiece –Stefanie Berberabe, Laila Saenz and Sage Kramer. Berberabe, who also recorded four rebounds, six assists and three steals, increased her career points total to 1,535, just three behind Westmont’s all-time leading scorer Lauren McCoy (2014-18).

Saenz sank three long-range shots while collecting two rebounds and producing two steals. Kramer went four of eight from the field and pulled down six rebounds.

Destiny Okonkwo added another nine points to the Warriors’ cause while leading the team with seven rebounds.

The Warriors started the game on a 171 run, which included two triples from Goostrey and another from Saenz. Bailey Fong (6 points, 2 assists) sank another to give Westmont a 20-6 lead at the end of the

opening frame.

Westmont’s offense struggled in the second quarter, going scoreless for the first seven minutes. However, the Warrior defense allowed just four points during that same time. As a result, Westmont maintained a double-digit lead throughout and entered the locker room with a 27-14 advantage.

“Ottawa was very physical, in the second quarter especially when there weren’t a lot of fouls called,” reported Moore. “It was tough to get momentum from offense, but I was proud that we didn’t fall into the trap of that affecting our defense.”

The Warriors’ offense hit full stride in the second half with Westmont outscoring Ottawa 52-22. The Warriors made 60% of their second-half shots, including 46.7% from three-point range.

Westmont travels to Glendale today to take on the Firestorm of Arizona Christian. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

Westmont men’s basketball falls back to .500 in GSAC play

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Westmont Men’s Basketball (12-7, 5-5 GSAC) could not overcome their slow start on Thursday, when they fell to the OUAZ Spirit (14-5, 6-4) by a score of 80-74. The Warriors made things interesting with a late run, but the club came up a few shots short as they fell back to .500 in conference contests.

“The game was lost early in the night and not in the second half,” said Westmont head coach Landon Boucher. “We were out of sync on both ends of the floor, and it led to a really poor first half. Still, with 15 minutes left we were down 16. I’m proud of our guys for fighting the whole way through.”

In the first half of action the Warriors struggled to shoot the basketball, making just 11 of 36 shots from the field. Westmont’s only advantage of the opening period was a mere two points, when they led 10-8 briefly at the 16:45 mark.

Westmont first got into trouble on Thursday following a layup from Amir Davis at the 11:48 mark. Davis’ layup cut an early deficit to one at 20-19, but then preceded a five minute stretch where the Warriors could not put a single point on the board. Despite finding open shooters, Westmont ran into a cold streak with 11 consecutive missed field goal attempts. During the dry spell, OUAZ went on a 10-0 run to lead 30-19 with under 6:30 to play. With 5:40 left in the half, a quick run for

Westmont brought the deficit within six, but the Spirit responded with a 9-0 run, allowing OUAZ to claim a 39-24 advantage in the final two minutes. By halftime, the Warriors settled for a 41-28 deficit in a half where they shot just two of 14 from threepoint range.

The Warriors chipped away slowly in the second half, getting back within 10 with 12:30 to play. From that point, however, it took several minutes for the Warriors to make any further dent. With 4:20 left, Drew Ramirez hit a 3-pointer that pulled Westmont within eight at 70-62, which was the closest they had been since the first half.

Westmont built on the late momentum, scoring another four unanswered points on their next two possessions. With 3:26 to play, Westmont played themselves into a 70-66 ballgame, with several chances to pull even closer. Unfortunately for Westmont, once they got within four, the Warriors missed three consecutive free throws, and back-to-back 3-pointers.

After Westmont’s inability to capitalize, the Spirit responded with back-to-back baskets, pushing the lead to 74-66 in the final 90 seconds. The Warriors got back within four in the final minute, but with the clock working against them, the club still left Faith Arena with an 80-74 loss.

Westmont improved to make 19 of 32 from the field in the second, but overall converted just seven of their 13 free throw attempts, and seven of their 26 shots from downtown. Another key difference in

the contest was the rebound differential, where the Warriors were also out-boarded 44-31.

“There was lack of execution and lack of rebounding tonight,” reflected Boucher. “Those things were our Achilles heel tonight. It’s as simple as that, when we don’t execute and don’t rebound, it’s tough to win basketball games.”

Highlighting Westmont’s effort was Anthony McIntyre’s 27 points on 10 of 19 shooting. Westmont’s leading scorer also converted all five of his free throw attempts, and led the team with four steals.

“Anthony was really special tonight,” noted Boucher. “I thought he played with a lot of heart. Not only the 27 points, but he did everything he could to keep us in it. He was a big reason why that game never really got out of hand. Amir Davis played a special final 10 minutes as well.”

The Warriors play again today against #5 Arizona Christian.

“It’s a quick turnaround for us,” said Boucher, “and these Arizona trips are difficult, but they’re difficult on everybody, not just us. We’ve got to be ready to execute come Saturday.”

A week from today, Westmont will host The Master’s for a highly anticipated rivalry game back in Santa Barbara.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

Carp girls

water

polo wins two

The Carpinteria girls water polo team won a pair of games on Thursday, defeating Channel Island 7-2 and 15-3.

The Warriors began the first game with a 4-0 lead after the first quarter, they fell silent for the next two quarters while allowing one of Channel Islands’ goals. The fourth quarter saw Channel Islands score their second goal, but also an offensive explosion by Carpinteria’s Giulia Piccoletti, who scored three goals in the period.

Piccoletti scored four goals in the game, while Kate Isaac, Monica Delgado and Lilli Nemetz each managed one.

The second game saw Carpinteria once again score four goals in the first quarter, this time expanding the lead to a 9-2 advantage after the second. The team went on to score four goals in the third quarter and two in the fourth to complete the blowout victory.

In game two, Piccoletti, Taylor Classen, Allison Banks, Francis Bennett, Delgado and Malaya Morente each contributed two goals, while Ximena Briceno, Nemetz and Isaac each added one.

Goalies Erin Otsuki and Camilla Martinez split the games evenly, playing half of each game apiece. Otsuki ended the doubleheader with 11 blocks and two steals while Martinez managed nine blocks.

The Warriors will carry a 12-6 record into Tuesday’s matchup with Nordhoff, which will also be Senior Recognition Day.

SM boys soccer shuts out Ventura

The San Marcos boys soccer team completed a shutout of Ventura on Thursday, winning by a score of 3-0.

San Marcos managed one goal in the first half when Jose Ramirez scored after an assist from Luke Sheffey. Sheffey also provided the assist for San Marcos’ second goal, scored by Favi Rosales in the second half. Leonel Olivo scored the team’s final goal.

“Ventura’s midfield was solid and we had a hard time breaking them down initially,” said San Marcos Coach Paul McLean. “Our backline of Justin Hess and Stevie Bradley were excellent.

Freddie Gonzalez made several key stops when the game was tight. They kept us in the game.

“Luke Sheffey created some outstanding crosses that Jose and Favi finished cleanly and John Najera did a great job in the middle of the field with

strong distribution. Leo Vico combined well and got forward from the left back position,” McLean added.

San Marcos now sports an 11-1-2 overall record, maintaining a perfect 10-0 record in league play. The team will return to action on Tuesday against Buena.

DP boys soccer blanks Rio Mesa

The Dos Pueblos boys soccer team shut out Rio Mesa on Thursday, winning the game 4-0.

Mateo Robledo scored the first goal for Dos Pueblos in the 17th minute. That would be all the scoring in the first half, as the offense remained silent until the 45th minute when Fin Silver scored. The final two goals came in the 53rd and 65th minutes by Noe Pina and Luka Jevremovic, respectively.

“Man of the Match was Drew Hamers setting up multiple scoring opportunities and having an explosively quick last step to beat the opponent to the ball time and again on the night,” said Dos Pueblos Coach Matt York.

Dos Pueblos now has a 3-9-2 overall record while sporting a 3-5-2 mark in league play.

Carp girls basketball blows out Hueneme

The Carpinteria girls basketball team won in dominant fashion against Hueneme on Thursday, winning by a score of 53-27.

The Warriors were led by Charlotte Cooney, who scored 18 points and provided two steals. Amarisse Camargo provided 17 points and eight rebounds while Jamaica Cook scored six points to go along with 13 rebounds.

Carpinteria dominated right from the start, ending the first period with a 17-7 lead. The Warriors scored 15 points in the second quarter while allowing only one, turning in a similar performance in the 15-6 third. The Vikings managed to fight back in the fourth quarter, outscoring Carpinteria 13-6, but it was too little, too late to avoid a decisive Warriors victory.

“We were able to play everyone on the roster a lot of minutes, which is always our goal,” said Carpinteria Coach Henry Gonzales. “I was extremely happy with our focus, effort and commitment to getting better every time out.”

Carpinteria will next play at Malibu on Monday, carrying a 9-10 overall record into the game.

- Compiled by Matt Smolensky

‘I like being part of a solution or a pathway to a solution’

She received her medical degree from the Albany Medical Center in New York and completed her medical internship, residency and fellowship at UCLA. She also earned her master of public health degree from Yale University.

The News-Press asked Dr. Parsa how her career has prepared her for this opportunity.

“I think part of it is my personality. I get involved in problems when I feel I can make a difference and be part of the solution,” she said. “I have always been on work groups, committees and task forces since I was young. When I find meaning in the work, it doesn’t feel like work.

“I like being part of a solution or a pathway to a solution. It’s who I am. Pediatric rheumatology is a collaborative field. One patient can require many specialists in my field. Inherent in my field is collaboration. I don’t presume to know everything. I want to engage the experts for the best possible outcome.”

Dr. Parsa spoke to her duties as the chief pediatric medical officer.

Sierra Bancorp declares quarterly cash dividend

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Sierra Bancorp, parent of Bank of the Sierra, announced that its board of directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per share.The bank has branches in Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties.

The dividend was approved subsequent to the board’s review of the company’s financial performance and capital for the quarter which ended Dec. 31 and will be paid on Feb. 13 to shareholders of record as of Jan. 31. Counting dividends paid by Bank of the Sierra prior to the formation of Sierra Bancorp, the company has paid regular cash dividends to shareholders every year since 1987, consisting of annual dividends through 1998 and quarterly dividends

thereafter. The dividend noted in today’s announcement marks the company’s 96th consecutive quarterly cash dividend.

Sierra Bancorp is the holding company for Bank of the Sierra (www. bankofthesierra.com), which is in its 46th year of operations and is the largest independent bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The bank also maintains an online branch and provides specialized lending services through agricultural credit centers in Templeton, Calif., an SBA center, and a loan production office in Roseville, Calif. In 2022, Bank of the Sierra was recognized as one of the strongest and top-performing community banks in the country, with a 5star rating from Bauer Financial.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

“I think overall it’s continuing what Dr. Barkley started: providing excellent, high quality, evidence-based health care locally. In order to do that there has to be strategy. I’m responsible for participating in the strategy of how that plays out. From ensuring we have all the specialists we need to making sure we have all the outreach clinics we need in town.

“We want to add additional clinics in the future so we can provide local care,” Dr. Parsa said. “We have been using telehealth in an upto-date way to provide care for our patients. I really appreciate the patient-centric staff who are focused on how we can make this work for our community.

“We also just started a pediatric residency program so that is a large part of my role: Ensuring we have all the educational opportunities to provide the most comprehensive educational experience for them.”

The News-Press asked Dr. Parsa about her goals.

“I would say that I really want to focus on synergy within pediatrics. I want to focus on making this a truly pediatric centric program with the different colleagues that I have.”

Dr. Parsa said she loves pediatrics in general and pediatric rheumatology in particular. “I

felt like this opportunity of CPMO will help me have an even more far reaching opportunity to reach patients.

“Kids’ ability to heal and resilience is amazing. I am inspired and in awe everyday that I am in the clinic,” she said.

Pediatrics wasn’t the only field that Dr. Parsa envisioned working in.

“I thought I wanted to do women’s health and geriatrics,” Dr. Parsa said. “However, I couldn’t shake the feeling I got when I stepped on the pediatric floor, maybe it was the colorful decorations and balloons, and the kids with their cars. I would be able to practice medicine, help them and feel that joy.

“My dad gave me advice; he’s a retired nephrologist (a kidney doctor). He said, ‘Miriam, do you want a new patient that comes into a clinic with a small chart or a big chart?’ I think being able to see kids grow up and be a part of their lives is such a privilege. It was hands down, no question, I am a pediatrician.”

“The true love of my life is my family. I am inspired every day by my colleagues and patients, but my true love is my family: My husband, my two boys and my parents who have been inspirational to me.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Store has been open for about four months

O My Sole got approved in one day, which “never happens.” Birkenstocks is just one example of O My Sole’s exclusive supply.

Confident in the exclusivity of O My Sole’s inventory, Mr. London claims, “anything you find here, you will not find anywhere else in Santa Barbara.”

Backing this claim, O My Sole even has Birkenstock shoes. According to Mr. London, this makes them the exclusive distributor of Birkenstock shoes in Santa Barbara. In order to be a Birkenstock shoes distributor, stores must get approved by Birkenstock, and according to Mr. London,

Despite its inventory being imported from across Europe, O My Sole is a California-based company with eight locations from Monterey all the way down to Orange County.

Mr. London said that most shoe stores only get two shipments of shoes a year, once in the summer and once in the winter. This means that the shoes a store has are generally going to be all the store has for six months. O My Sole, on the other hand, gets a new shipment every month.

So in the four months it has been open, O My Sole’s inventory has been refreshed four times, and other stores’ inventories have most likely not changed at all, according to Mr, London.

O My Sole is almost like Trader Joe’s for shoes, according to Mr. London. The business scours Europe for the best small business private-label shoes, ensuring that their product is always high quality and unique.

O My Sole is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

Probate has been

by ROBERTA S. GREGORY in the SUPERIOR COURTOF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA. The Petition for Probate requests that ROBERTA S. GREGORY be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

vlookups, pivot tables) as well as experience working with large data projects, data sets, and data extraction. Ability to independently gather, organize, and perform accounting-related analysis to complete work assignments. Proven ability to effectively present information verbally and in writing. Note: Satisfactory conviction history background check.

Budgeted/Hiring pay/Range: $62,300 - $117,500/yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 2/3/23. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu Job # 48092

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Miriam Parsa said she’s inspired every day by her colleagues and patients.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

‘Beavers in the Landscape’

Animals’ importance focus of tonight’s talk

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805-565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, continues through Feb. 20 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, see sullivangoss.com or call the gallery at 805-730-1460.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www. sbnature.org.

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime” (El viaje de una vida) with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 22

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

‘Beavers in the Landscape: An Evening with Dr. Emily Fairfax and Cooper Lienhart” takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 tonight at the Santa Barbara Community Arts Center, 631 Garden St.

The Santa Barbara Permaculture Network is hosting the free program, which is cosponsored by the San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ojai Beaver Brigades.

The two speakers will share their work and passion for beavers, a keystone species that until recently has been a vastly underrated ecosystem restoration hero.

“Beaver dams are gaining popularity as a low-tech, lowcost strategy to build climate resiliency at the landscape scale,” said Dr. Fairfax. “Beavers are native to North America in populations in the millions before the European fur trade decimated their numbers almost to extinction.

“They are responsible for a landscape most early settlers and farmers took for granted — deep soils built up over centuries with the ponds and wetlands they

created. These wetlands function as natural sponges, trapping silt and making them excellent carbon sinks that help with climate change.”

With extended droughts and catastrophic fires plaguing California and the West, in recent years, Dr. Fairfax began focusing her research on the impact of beavers on wildfires.

“Where beavers and their dams and pond complexes are allowed to flourish, water tables naturally rise and keep the surrounding vegetation and soils hydrated,” she said.

Dr. Fairfax’s observations on the positive aspects beavers have in controlling wildfires with the wetlands they create, prompted her to coin the phrase “Smokey the Beaver.”

She uses a combination of remote sensing and field work to research how beaver activity can create drought- and fire-resistant patches in the landscape under a changing climate.

An assistant professor of environmental science and resource management at Cal State Channel Islands, Dr. Fairfax holds an adjunct assistant professor position in

the Department of Watershed Sciences at Utah State University.

She double-majored in chemistry and physics as an undergraduate at Carleton College, later earning a doctorate in geological sciences from the University of Colorado-Boulder.

As a part of the evening, Mr. Lienhart, a recent environmental engineering graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will share how, as a student, he became interested in beavers.

Like many young people, Mr. Lienhart became increasingly concerned about climate change, but when learning about wetlands and their ability to act as carbon sinks effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon and the role of beaver in creating these wetlands, he found a new career

path.

After graduating from Cal Poly, Mr. Lienhart enrolled in the Beaver Institute, learning beaver coexistence techniques, and with three organizations in Northern California, has trained in building Beaver Analog Dams, structures that encourage beavers to start building dams in advantageous locations.

Mr. Lienhart, who has worked with the Tulalip tribe in Washington state learning beaver relocation techniques, is a cofounder and active member of the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade, which is currently planning for a Beaver Festival scheduled for April 1.

“Of course, beavers and human settlements are often at odds,” said Mr. Lienhart. “But in communities like Martinez, where a popular Beaver Festival takes place every year, it has been demonstrated how these conflicts can be managed with clever strategies, (which is) good for the beaver and the community. And with these kinds of beaver management strategies come new jobs, especially good for the next generation — many who yearn for positive livelihoods.”

email: mmcmahon@newspress.

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime (El viaje de una vida)” with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

4 to 5 p.m. “Roy Dunn: Capturing Imagery of Our Wild Neighbors” will take place at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang.

JAN. 24

2 to 6 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Camino Real Marketplace, 7046 Marketplace Drive, Goleta. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

7 p.m. UCSB Arts & Lectures presents mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and a music ensemble in “Eden” at The Granada, 1214 State St. “Eden” explores the individual human connection with nature and features music from four centuries. Tickets cost $46 to $131 for general admission and $20 for UCSB students with ID, one hour before the performance, and youths 18 and younger. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

This is a 2023 museum sitespecific installation by GATS (Graffiti Against the System), an anonymous Bay Area artist. Works by GATS and New Mexico painter Madeleine Tonzi are being displayed at Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art through March 25.

COURTESY PHOTOS

These are the organizers of the Beaver Festival, which the San Luis Obispo Beaver Brigade is hosting April. 1.

“Beaver dams are gaining popularity as a low-tech, lowcost strategy to build climate resiliency at the landscape scale,” said Dr. Emily Fairfax.

Cooper Lienhart, a recent environmental engineering graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, will share at tonight’s talk about how, as a student, he became interested in beavers.

The engineering by beavers is evident in the water held from the recent rains on the Salinas River.

Dinner in Solvang

Mission Scholars raises $265,000 in matching grant campaign

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

As 2022 drew to a close, Tim and Ginny Bliss issued a challenge to Mission Scholars and the Santa Barbara community: Raise $75,000 from other sources, and the Bliss Family Foundation would match it dollar for dollar.

supporting our college students through our College Success programs.”

Affection should be shown all year long

We often forget to show each other affection in our daily lives. It simply slips our minds how important showing affection is. We don’t see opportunities to embrace our love because we have our heads someplace else.

That’s why Valentine’s Day has become an important holiday for so many people.

I believe we should all do our best to find, act upon, and treasure the moments when we can exchange affection with the person we love. Valentine’s Day is a reminder that we should feel and share the loving energy that we have for each other. The truth is that these actions should not be limited to a single day but should continue all year long.

In America, we do not touch each other as often as we need to. Surprisingly few couples give each other a dozen hugs a day. Ask yourself how often you show your

partner affection, and see if you don’t need to increase your daily dose. Couples who have a good balance of affection have fewer instances of anger and fewer arguments.

If you feel you’d like more affection in your relationship, you need to communicate and demonstrate to your mate what you would enjoy. If you feel that you are the one doing all the giving, fear not. With a little understanding, you can easily change this dynamic and build an affectionate relationship the other 364 days of the year.

Non-physical affection is also an important part of an intimate relationship. You can show that you care by offering your partner words of encouragement and endearment, by writing him or her little notes, and by demonstrating love every day. We all need to hear as well as feel that the one we love

loves us back. Just expressing your feelings and thoughts of love to your partner can also defuse most of the difficult moments which you might be struggling through.

The truth is that verbal affection matters. We all need to hear that we are loved. Yes, it is true that actions speak louder than words. But if there are no words at all, then we can get a little lost when difficult situations arise.

Affectionate words are like an emotional compass guiding us back home to our hearts. Random acts of kindness are also a great way of building your affection bank account (and you never want to overdraw this one).

Having a little extra in the back of your mind and heart can help you through some dark times and challenging circumstances.

The simple answer here is that if you want more affection in your relationship, then let your partner know it and show him or her the types of affection that work best for you. Your loved one may have other needs of which you were unaware, and you can discover new ways of being affectionate with each other.

Once you have committed to creating greater affection, both of you will find different and pleasant ways to connect and to shower each other with the kind of love that will make your friends green with envy all year long.

Dr. Barton Goldsmith, is a psychotherapist in Westlake, is the author, most recently, of “100 Ways to Boost Your Self-Confidence — Believe in Yourself and Others Will Too.” Email him at Barton@ BartonGoldsmith.com. Follow his daily insights at www.twitter.com/ BartonGoldsmith. His column appears Saturdays and Mondays in the News-Press.

It was reminiscent of the Bliss family’s matching grant challenge from the previous year: a $50,000 matching grant that raised $172,000 for Mission Scholars, a program that helps level the collegeadmissions playing field for high-achieving, low-income students in the Santa Barbara area.

This year, however, they upped the stakes. Donors in the local community accepted the Bliss family’s new challenge wholeheartedly, donating a total of $190,000 for a combined total of $265,000.

“We are honored and proud to be part of Mission Scholars,” said Tim Bliss. “They are making such a tremendous difference in these young people’s lives.”

These matching grants have a significant impact, according to Cassie Lancaster, Mission Scholars’ executive director.

“This support allows us to grow,” she said. “Our first cohort in 2019 had only 10 students. We recently accepted our fifth cohort, and it will have 30 students. Not only that, but we’ll be in a position to continue expanding into Carpinteria, strengthen our community outreach services and continue

Mission Scholars already has an impressive track record, with a near-perfect record of fouryear college attendance and — particularly critical for lowincome families — a record of garnering scholarships for their students that cover 85% of the cost of attendance.

FYI

The program also has an array of partnerships with local and national corporations, which leads to summer internships and professional development opportunities.

According to Ms. Lancaster, Mission Scholars students are currently lining up paid summer internships with General Motors, Electronic Arts, Khan Academy, The Salvation Army and others.

“That’s a perfect example of the impact this sort of generosity can have,” Ms. Lancaster said. “The Bliss family’s investments have allowed our staff to dedicate more time and resources to helping our scholars find summer jobs and internships, and that increased capacity will be around for our scholars’ entire careers.

“It all starts with people like Tim and Ginny and with the Santa Barbara community as a whole. The assistance we provide can have an extraordinary, multi-generational ripple effect, but those ripples have to start somewhere.”

email:

mmcmahon@newspress. com

Sheep docents needed for grazing project

Sheep docents are needed through Feb. 10 at the San Marcos Foothills West Mesa, according to Channel Islands Restoration.

Volunteers can sign up for shifts from 9 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.

Docents help communicate information about the sheep and grazing project to any curious hikers. No previous experience is required, and information regarding frequently asked questions will be provided.

Volunteers sit in a stationery spot along the trail where the sheep are grazing. They are welcome to bring a comfy chair

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

JAN. 25

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

7:30 p.m. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The ensemble will perform Beethoven’s “Coriolan” Overture and Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Opus 93; Anatoly Lyadov’s “The Enchanted Lake”; and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” The concert is being presented by the Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara. TIckets cost $36 to $156. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 28

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Chamber Players orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Santa Barbara, 305 E. Anapamu St. Tickets cost $16. To purchase, go to sbchamberplayers.org.

with a book, binoculars, water and anything else while relaxing.

Sheep help restore native grassland habitat for the benefit of birds and other wildlife. The sheep help by tramping dense thatch that inhibits new native plant growth and grazing the invasive weeds.

By limiting the amount of invasive plants, sheep also help protect against increased fire danger.

For more information, call 805448-5726 or email volunteer@ cirweb.org.

— Marilyn McMahon

JAN. 31 6 p.m. Nick Hornby will discuss his book, “Dickens and Prince: A Particular Kind of Genius,” with fellow writer Jessica Anya Blau at Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza, Santa Barbara. Mr. Hornby will also sign copies of his book. For more information, call Chaucer’s at 805-682-6787 or go to www. chaucersbooks.com.

FEB. 1 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

FEB. 5 Free admission will be available on this day at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Ventura County, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum and the Santa Paula Museum. For more information, visit socalmuseums.org.

Mission Scholars is a program of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation. For more information, visit www. missionscholars.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

Mission Scholars is a program that helps level the collegeadmissions playing field for high-achieving, low-income students in the Santa Barbara area.

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS

A pair of llamas graze on the grass off Alisal Road in Solvang.

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Saturday, January 21, 2023

ARIES — Today you may stumble into an unexpected new friendship, Aries. This could come as the result of a social event or an introduction by a close friend. You will discover new rapport the likes of which you haven’t experienced in a long time. You could spend hours trading ideas. Make sure you exchange contact information.

TAURUS — A group meeting of some sort, perhaps job related, could take place in your home today, Taurus. Whatever business the group has planned should be taken care of quickly and then you will be able to hang out and socialize. You might discover new aspects of your guests you didn’t know existed.

GEMINI — A phone call from a close friend or love partner could bring a thrilling surprise your way today, Gemini. An event has occurred that you either gave up on long ago or never dreamed of. This news could necessitate your spending a lot of time on the phone or computer making contacts, but that’s OK.

CANCER — If you own property, you might discover that its value has increased far beyond anything you dreamed of, Cancer. This might involve real estate, but it could also involve other resources like stocks, bonds, or family heirlooms. What you choose to do with this information is up to you, but you will probably decide to hang on to what you have.

LEO — A surprising phone call or email could come your way today from a friend you haven’t heard from in a long time, Leo. This should make you happy, as you’ve probably been wondering what this person was doing. Some business changes may have occurred for your friend, but possible new opportunities might also be in the cards for you.

VIRGO — Today you may discover that you have a previously untapped talent for the occult sciences, Virgo. This might involve astrology, numerology, alchemy, or using oracles. A class or workshop could be involved. You tend to be intuitive by nature, and studying these fields may offer an opportunity to train that ability to a higher level of accuracy. Find an expert in one of those areas.

LIBRA — There’s someone you’ve wanted to meet for a long time, Libra, and today you might have the opportunity to introduce yourself. This could be a potential romantic interest, a teacher you’ve wanted to study with, or someone interesting you might like for a friend. Sparks are apt to fly between you. Don’t hesitate, for this encounter could affect the rest of your life in some profound way.

SCORPIO — Do you feel helpless in the face of problems with technology? If so, you might surprise yourself today, Scorpio. Some software that you use a lot could go haywire, and you won’t want to take the time to wait for a professional. Some study could enable you to come up with the solution on your own.

SAGITTARIUS — If you’ve been thinking about studying astrology, numerology, or other occult sciences, Sagittarius, this is the day to start. There may be a school or teacher that you’ve been considering. By doing this, you could open doors to new knowledge, meet new friends who share your interests, and steer your life in a fascinating new direction.

CAPRICORN — A woman you meet at work might point you in a new direction, Capricorn. You should investigate all possible options. This could be a new intellectual interest, a technological skill, or possibly a new and more lucrative source of income. It may involve an unusual field, but don’t worry about that.

AQUARIUS — A friend from far away could contact you by phone, email, or even in person, Aquarius. This person might bring great news that suddenly turns your life in a new direction. This could involve a new intellectual study or possibly a new circle of friends. At any rate, you will certainly enjoy catching up and hearing what your friend has to say.

PISCES — You might try to learn a new computer program today, Pisces. You could find it a little confusing at first, but as you continue to learn, you will find that it makes things easier for you. You should master it more quickly than you thought. This may sound minor, but it will improve your productivity from now on, leaving you time to explore other possibilities or attend to important matters.

SUDOKU

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Saturday, January 21, 2023

On “Simple Saturday” I focus on improving basic technique and logical thinking.

A principle of dummy play: Address the contract you reach, not one you wish you’d reached.

When today’s South saw dummy at four hearts, he would rather have been at six hearts. He won the first club with the ace, drew trumps and led another club. When West discarded, South couldn’t make even four hearts. He took the K-Q of clubs and led a diamond to his king, but the defense got three diamonds and a spade.

CONTROLS

Six hearts would have been a good contract, but the hardest slams to bid are those with two good suits, controls in the other two suits but minimum high-card strength.

At four hearts, South must allow for a 4-1 club break, especially after the opening lead. South takes only the A-J of trumps, then leads a second club. If West ruffs, he can only cash his ace of diamonds. If he discards, declarer wins, ruffs a club high, draws trumps with the queen and runs the clubs. Making five. DAILY QUESTION

9 6 4 9 7 2 A 10 8 5 3 6. Your partner opens one spade. The next player

passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: This is my idea of a “limit raise” to three spades to invite game: good trump support, a shapely hand and a possible source of tricks in a side suit. Many players would bid three spades with K 9 6 4, 9 7 2, A K J 5, 6 4, but in my opinion, that hand, with concentrated sidesuit values, would call for an oldfashioned response of two diamonds.

South dealer N-S vulnerable NORTH

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” — Ernest Hemingway

Music box stands out for its five cylinders and popular opera arias

a fantastic music box, which is probably 50- 60 inches long and about 25-30 inches wide, dating from the last years of the 19th century. I happen to love old mechanical music boxes because they send me into another era just by hearing that brilliant resonant tone.

This box has five cylinders. Each cylinder may play a few songs (six each was de rigor) each, and generally well known tunes, such as “The Star Spangled Banner,” as well as opera arias “Maritana,” “Aida,” “Barbier, Rigoletto, and La Norma. All were popular when this box was installed in a well to do family’s front parlor circa 1885- 1895.

Picture a small Sunday gathering of friends and family in that parlor, with this box on a custom table in the center of the room or perhaps against one wall. The room is overfilled with overstuffed comfortable seating, antimacassars on chair headrests, matching pouf ottoman(s) for the feet. Potted palms in heavy red glazed earthenware pots grace each corner. The heavy burgundy and olive striped velvet drapes darken the room at 2 p.m., closed after your servants have cleared away dinner (served mid-day back them).

Your portly, bewhiskered husband is asked to crank up the music box so that your guests can hear a small selection of its available tunes.

Since your guests join your family most Sundays, they have heard the same songs, arranged the same way, played on the music box many times before; unknown was the concept of an endless stream of music! The guests sat, enraptured and listened to the tunes as if at a concert. This music was not background music (no such concept existed), but was listened to with real respect and fascination as it was the ONLY (semi) live entertainment available.

J.M.C. sent me the metal maker’s

This 19th-century music box is worth at least $20,000.

marks inside. This is a Sublime Harmonie Paillard Co. Swiss music box and is extremely rare, as the label states the box is a Longue Marche (plays for at least two hours with a good crank). This is a “Quator.” If I can see the photo correctly, that means it has five cylinders, with possibly room for storage of others in the supporting table below.

To have more than one cylinder was rather rare — and extremely pricey in the day. Paillard had a popular model with one cylinder, playing the same songs for 2.5 hours, running on a large spring, called a “dinner box” because it was suitable for listening during dinner without leaving the table to crank it.

The mechanical features for the time were advanced, which is another “period” feature of the late 1890s. Today we relish precision workings and we want to see them, and show them as a design concept. In 1890, good taste was to have wonderful mechanisms housed in an inlaid marquetry box of great beauty that could have been a massive jewel

box in earlier eras. The machinery was not the bragging point.

These boxes played music from a series of teeth, which are flexible spring steel strips rigidly held in place at one end and plucked on the other. Pitch and tone modulation was via weight and width. Pre-1800s boxes have these little teeth individually screwed down upon the support, and 1840s boxes have sectional combs where teeth in sections are screwed into a support.

Then in the 1870s, David Le Coultre invented the solid comb, a one-piece continuum with multiple teeth in a single support. All music boxes needed a damper, called a feather damper, because if a note was required to be played twice in succession, the vibration from the first “pluck” caused the second “pluck” to emit a harsh grating sound.

J.M.C.’s box I suspect has top of the line dampers. The movements inside the beautiful cases were elegant but mainly hidden, but were nickel plated with massive springs that drove a 5.75-inch wheel, a

butterfly governor and speed moderator, and stops for safety checks and stops to protect the great wheel. Aside from clock making, it took the Swiss to make this premiere music box. There are collectors for these boxes, who do not lay back as listen on a Sunday after dinner, but collect them for their evocation of the elegantly eccentric, comfort and outwardly beauty-loving era we call by both the Belle Epoch, the beautiful Ten Years and the Beaux Arts Era. Both have the same evocative meaning.

The music box is worth at least $20,000.

Dr. Elizabeth Stewart’s “Ask the Gold Digger” column appears Mondays in the News-Press.

Written after her father’s COVID-19 diagnosis, Dr. Stewart’s book “My Darlin’ Quarantine: Intimate Connections Created in Chaos” is a humorous collection of five “what-if” short stories that end in personal triumphs over presentday constrictions. It’s available at Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara.

COURTESY PHOTO

First responders serve Montecito well

Five years ago following the Thomas Fire, I wrote an article for the News-Press entitled “Government at its Finest,” in which I praised the incredible performance of Santa Barbara and Montecito firefighters, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, and other local government

officials who rose to the occasion to keep us informed and protected.

Last week, on the fifth anniversary of the tragic 2018 rainstorm and debris flow, Montecito residents felt an unsettling sense of déjà vu as we were told once again to evacuate and flee the tremendous rains that threatened our hillsides

and watershed area.

Yet once again we were lucky enough to be in the hands of our incredible first responder community.

There is not enough praise that can be offered to the Montecito Fire Protection District, the Santa Barbara City and County Fire Departments, and the Santa Barbara County

Sheriff’s Department for their performance during last week’s rainstorm.

The leaders of those agencies provided clear, realtime information in multiple press conferences during the Jan. 9, 2023 rain event. They did not hesitate to make the decisions necessary to protect lives, ordering the fullscale evacuation of Montecito

well before nightfall once they received reports that the watershed above us was behaving unpredictably.

Sheriff’s deputies drove through our neighborhood and countless others, making sure we were safe and evacuating in an orderly manner. We heard many stories of deputies going

Please see ZIPPERSTEIN on C4

Policies may lead us down the wrong path

In Santa Barbara and California, we talk a lot about resilience. And we should. We are, after all, part of the Wild West. People had to cross the Great Plains and suffer through the dust bowl to get here. Once they arrived, they were reminded that we live in a wild and, by geological standards, young part of the world where blizzards invade our mountain ranges, cliffs erode and the earth shakes.

When we talk of resilience, we talk about many things: Mother Nature, our people, and housing.

But for now, let’s just talk about the basics: utilities.

In an effort to create greater resilience and in an attempt to address the greatest existential threat that appears to have ever existed — global warming — the great thinkers in our state and city have decided to implement a plethora of policies and laws that are well intended to move us toward a place of greater security.

But these policies and laws may be leading us down the wrong path.

For decades now, the city of Santa Barbara has promoted low water use, drought-tolerant landscaping with drip irrigation that employs primarily native plantings. This is a great idea in theory, but what happens when we slowly but significantly remove lush, well rooted vegetation with broad canopied trees from our city? Might we incrementally be increasing local warming through the deliberate and planned deforestation of our city, thus adding to global warming?

Dennis Allen, in his Jan. 5 article “People Can Make Rain,” very astutely discussed how it has become known that plants promote important microbe propagation that in turn supports water vapor … and rain.

In his article, he notes “The knowledge that microbes from plants and soil play a central role in rain cycles over land has profound implications. For example, the removal of vegetation by overgrazing or exposing bare soil in monocrop farming can create conditions for drought. Conversely, the restoration of a plant-rich ecosystem could increase precipitation.”

e farming sector faces national security threats

The Biden administration has released an updated security memorandum, which outlines the threats to the American agricultural system, as well as ways to address them.

“To achieve this, the Federal Government will identify and assess threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts from these highconsequence and catastrophic incidents — including but not limited to those presented by CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear) threats, climate change, and cybersecurity – and will prioritize resources to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk”, reads the document released last month.

The White House touches on an important topic by addressing the unique threats that face the

farming sector, and to what extent the American food production system might be threatened by domestic or foreign actions.

It addresses, for instance, the impacts of toxic industrial chemicals, from a standpoint not only of the effects on humans, but also on the biological realm, which might impact the productivity of farms.

The memorandum comes at a time when supply chain disruptions have shown to consumers just to what extent a food system can destabilize the inner-workings of a country. Case in point, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is not just a military conflict that plays out on the battlefield. It is also a war of food, in which the Russian war machine holds Ukrainian grain exports hostage through its strategic vantage points.

Continuous grain deals in

the Black Sea have stood on rocky grounds, despite the vital importance for the Ukrainian economy. This war underlines how civilian infrastructure quickly becomes a military target, and how guaranteeing security is not merely about antiaircraft missiles, but also about protecting strategic industrial elements.

For that reason, it is not just laudable that the administration addresses these risks, but also that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been at the forefront of arguing for food security through innovation. The USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda advances the notion that more innovation, through public and private research and investment, makes the food system more efficient and sustainable.

Compared to the European Union’s approach – which seeks to reduce farm land use and

livestock, to the detriment of the European food sector – the AIA takes a forward-looking approach.

While USDA’s regulatory roadmap looks promising, the White House’s previous decisions on agricultural regulation have been contradictory to those goals, as I’ve outlined in previous articles for the National Interest. A sustainable and resilient food system needs to give its farmers the toolboxes to fight diseases and pests, and allow for diversity in the practices farmers use to optimize their output. There is no one-sizefits all solution, and it certainly isn’t an all-organic food model that the European Union is slowly lurching toward.

The strength of American agriculture comes from the fact that it produces great products at competitive prices.

While Europe has retained a steady agricultural production level since about 1985, the United

States doubled its productivity between 1960 and 2000 and is on route to breaking the 150% productivity gain in the near future. To do so, politicians need to create the framework that allows for innovation in plant-breeding and farming technology, to make sure the latest products always get to the United States first. Also, this does not need to come at the cost of environmental protection, to the contrary. Modern farming technology reduces carbon dioxide emissions and reduces the need for inputs across the board.

The responsibility lies in political leaders to ensure that the American food system is safe from the threats of foreign interference, and the negative impacts of many of the domestic regulatory attempts to regress on technological innovation.

the Consumer Choice Center.

So what are we doing? While we may be conserving water in the short run, we are losing the lush landscapes for which Santa Barbara has been historically revered. Keeping our urban and suburban landscapes increases humidity (presumably desirable to diminish fire danger), offers shade that keeps hardscaping cooler, and may — as Mr. Allen has pointed out — actually helps to support increased rainfall locally. It gives one a whole new perspective on the idea of “drought tolerance,” eh?

Another blessed policy that we have adopted locally is to promote increased permeability in landscaping. This too is a great idea … on the surface (and with no pun intended).

But if permeable paving and landscape are lumped

Bill Wirtz is senior policy analyst at

DID YOU KNOW? Bonnie Donovan

Steven E. Zipperstein

The author lives in Montecito Bill Wirtz

The author is with Consumer Choice Center

James Buckley

PURELY POLITICAL Is taking a break. His column will resume next Saturday.

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS

Workers attempt to clear the debris basin off East Mountain Drive in Montecito after the Jan. 9-10 storm.

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS

At left, Cold Spring Creek, which runs parallel to part of East Mountain Drive in Montecito, flows after the Jan. 9-10 storm. At right, Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor addresses reporters during last week’s storms. Listening, from left, are 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps, 1st District Supervisor Das Williams and Sheriff Bill Brown.

Wendy McCaw

Arthur von Wiesenberger Co-Publisher Co-Publisher

Luck has nothing to do with flood control!

Five years to the day of the 2018 debris flow, Montecito was spared from another disaster, similar to the one that caused the death of 23 people along with untold destruction and misery.

But luck had nothing to do with it, for the Santa Barbara County Flood Control district built the recently completed Randall Road Debris Basin, which held back 50,000 cubic yards of material that would have otherwise barreled down the hill. Moreover, the county will continuously empty all the debris basins lest disaster strikes again in the next big storm.

Whereas, this is all good news, the rest of the county is not so “lucky.” Guadalupe and many agricultural fields took a pounding in the recent storm because there is no levee or debris basin protecting these areas. Moreover, we are dangerously close to the circumstances in 1969 when the Lompoc Valley, including Vandenberg Air Force Base, was devastated by a flood.

The circumstances that led to 120,000 cubic feet of water flooding the Lompoc Valley in 1969? Lake Cachuma spilled, which in itself is a problem downstream, while the watershed was already saturated by a series of storms. Then a big storm hit on top of all that!

With Cachuma now full at the beginning of what is our normal rainy season, we could definitely be poised for a repeat of 1969.

Unfortunately for Lompoc, there are three extenuating circumstances that could make things inordinately worse than they were in 1969.

First, the Santa Ynez River, as it flows through Lompoc no longer has the same carrying capacity as it did back in 1969. This is because the Lompoc sewage plant dumps its effluent into the river, which acts like a million-gallon flow of liquid Miracle Grow on the willows in the river. This would not be a problem except for the lack of maintenance in the river due to the fact that the willows are protected habitat, despite the fact they will be tomorrow’s flood debris.

Because of this unmanaged unnatural growth, the watercarrying capacity of the river

is now down to 15,500 cubic feet a second, which is barely one-fourth of the original carrying capacity of 60,000 cfs back in 1969. Considering the flood of 1969 was 120,000 cfs, the vastly diminished capacity makes for an even larger looming disaster.

Second, the population and physical footprint of Lompoc has virtually doubled since 1969, meaning much more development in the city could be jeopardized should the river overflow its banks.

Specifically, with the proposal that water is released from Lake Cachuma at 10,000 cfs, that means the river could only handle another 5,500 cfs before flooding could occur. It is not hard to fathom that 5,500 cfs could flow from throughout the rest of the watershed including the city of Lompoc itself.

Third, back in the 1990s, when we were fighting this same war on the willows, a federal agency warned the city of Lompoc and Santa Barbara County that their failure to maintain the carrying capacity of the river could bring about a wholesale disaster on the city. How so?

The storm water system in Lompoc is designed to flow by way of gravity into the Santa Ynez River. However, the willows impede the flow to such a degree that they act like a dam and raise the height of the river. Accordingly, the agency warned the river water could reverse the flow of the water. The river could flow into Lompoc via the storm drain systems!

Staving off this disaster is not unprecedented. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in the early ’90s, led by Supervisor Mike Stoker — under threat of arrest, mind you — ordered bulldozers into the river to clear the willows just before the “Miracle March” deluge hit the valley, thereby avoiding certain disaster. Our current board of supervisors needs to do likewise before it is too late for the Lompoc Valley.

Andy Caldwell is the COLAB executive director and host of “The Andy Caldwell Show,” airing 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays on KZSB AM 1290, the NewsPress radio station.

Let’s clean up SB beaches

When I go to the beaches here in Santa Barbara, I notice that usually they are not that clean.

There is usually trash across the beach and a lot of seaweed and bugs too. Included with the trash are animal waste and drug paraphernalia like syringes that someone used and left there, which could be very dangerous for someone to walk on at the beach.

What I would like to see done is to have cleaner beaches in Santa Barbara. A way that this can be done is by doing frequent beach raking every day to remove the trash and seaweed from the sand. City workers could do this, and it could be paid for by the city budget. There could still be volunteers to pick up more trash on the side too.

This not only helps us by not having trash, seaweed, and bugs on the beach, but it also helps the wildlife because you are removing trash that wildlife could have eaten or gotten trapped in that would harm them.

Thank you.

Larry Moncur Santa Barbara

Society needs better solutions for addictions

There are 1,400 rehabilitation centers in California, so why is 8% of the California population addicted to drugs?

Alcoholism alone costs the state $35 billion in health care, legal fees and loss of jobs. There must be a problem in the rehabilitation centers or the pharmacy’s prescriptions of drugs.

Whatever the problem may be, there is no easy solution.

In Santa Barbara, drug and alcohol abuse is the highest it has ever been. We are also seeing kids as young as 10 doing gateway drugs that often lead to hardcore drugs.

Rehabilitation that is supposed to be helpful for people with drug and alcohol addictions is not always as successful as people may think.

Society must come up with stronger long-term solutions. One of my friends who went to rehabilitation said she found better ways that she could hide her drug addiction from her parents.

There is no easy answer to this solution. However, it should not be overlooked, but thoroughly discussed.

Abigail Fiedtkou Santa Barbara

Editor’s note: The writer is a junior in high school In Santa Barbara and was given an assignment to write about a societal problem in a letter to the editor.

Let’s bring back glorious State Street

A s part of the fifth generation of my family living in Santa Barbara, I grew up hearing stories about my parents and grandparents strolling down State Street, shopping, talking, eating and being together.

State Street was the place to go with friends to watch parades, shop for clothing and talk with each other without being accosted with parklets, homeless, vacant buildings, removed benches, trash, urine and smoke. Driving down the street with friends was a rite of passage as a young adult, but is now something this generation has never experienced.

I have no idea what they talk

of when they speak of a glorious State Street. The State Street that I grew up with is largely empty save for a few pop up stores and restaurants. With the COVID-19 virus in 2020, the once glorious destination finally collapsed.

In the past two years, State Street businesses have slowly been making attempts at a return. The stores slowly began to open (though many remained closed permanently), the restaurants moved their seating outside to parklets, and the street itself is closed off and no cars drive through. The once beautiful tourist destination is growing vacant and beginning to dull.

In the past, each generation has found flaws or issues in our town and sought to remedy them. The town saw this in the 1920s through Pearl Chase and her devotion to restoring the beauty. The time has come for people to take action to better the environment and condition of State Street.

Madison Schock Goleta

success. Students who choose to fail at education most likely will also fail at life, marriage and parenthood later on. Here are my answers to the questions Frank Sanitate posed in his article as a homework assignment.

1. Define success. A successful person achieves their goals and has a happy successful life.

2. What must happen for No. 1. Learning to set goals early in life — with the help of good, supportive parents, and good, supportive teachers — creates a good, supportive marriage and family.

3. Different for each child?

Yes! Each child is different but successful older siblings create successful younger ones. Often a very successful or poor teacher can change a student’s life for good or bad.

4. How would you measure each child in a family? Very easy! What type of adult life do they have? Successful job, marriage, parenting or a failure in any of these three areas.

March of empires

Re: “Why Schools Create a Culture of Failure” by Frank Sanitate, (News-Press, Voices, Jan. 17).

Most humans live a life of both success and failure. Disciplined people tend to be more successful than the undisciplined. People who fail, choose not to try, don’t understand how to be successful or both.

All kids start school with certain capabilities, discipline and goals to be successful. Parent(s) have a major role in a student’s early expectations.

Most teachers teach so students can succeed. Students who do poorly most often don’t try. Success is not important, or they are intellectually incapable of success.

Most teachers want students to succeed. Teachers teach because they like working with young people and enjoy seeing students succeed.

All students succeed at different levels. For some 90% is success; for others 70% is successful. Not all students are successful in the same subject. I was more successful in history, English, and P.E. while others were more successful in math and science.

My interests played a major part in my motivation and as a result success in various subjects.

It is often a student’s choice to do homework and study for tests or watch TV and play on the phone. Learning to set goals and being disciplined starts early in life and is very necessary for being successful throughout one’s life.

The system does not “force teachers to create failures.” Parents, students, and teachers create the environment for

5. Why (the reasons for success or failure)? For failure, it’s bad parenting when they were a child, lack of setting life goals, or just plain dumb, bad luck. Most children want to be successful so adapt to their teachers and environment to do so. Those who fail to adapt have a very unhappy, miserable life.

Jim Coombs. Santa Barbara

Where have all the flowers gone?

Ten years ago, hundreds of acres of fragrant flower fields, spreading from the foothills down to the shore, coated Carpinteria Valley in a burst of colors.

Today, instead of blooming orchids, residents of Carpinteria are greeted by the distinctly skunk-like odor of growing cannabis.

Since 2015, cannabis farms have monopolized the valley’s flower growing industry, bringing with them the “skunky” odor characteristic to the cannabis plant.

Prompting nausea and headaches, this smell has become an almost constant addition to Carpinteria’s neighborhoods.

Although residents have filed over 2,300 odor complaints with Santa Barbara County since mid-2018, county officials continue to brush the complaints aside, electing to issue more growing permits rather than solve the problem at hand.

To date, over 166 acres of agricultural land have been registered as pot farms in the Carpinteria Valley. As that number continues to grow, we are looking at effects beyond just an unpleasant smell. Pot farms are lowering nearby home values and discouraging tourism.

‘M

arch of Empires,” available in app stores, is a medieval war game.

The objective is to conquer and create a grand empire by the use of different characters that have been granted extra powers, but only one king can claim the throne. The game is based in medieval times and could not be achieved in the U.S. today. Or could it?

Consider my piece

“Controlling water in Santa Barbara” (News-Press, Voices, Jan. 13), which discussed whether the Environmental Protection Agency was controlling Mission Creek and the wetlands. Was this the primary issue in that piece?

Not really, since an even more primary issue is when this experience is repeated in every town, farm, ranch or hamlet, across the country. Now, was this the primary issue?

Again, not really. An even more primary issue is whether the “different characters” in the EPA have the “extra powers” to control the water.

It is one example of whether “We the people,” as provided in the Constitution, or “they,” the government, control our lives. This conflict resembles the “March of Empires” game where one leader “grants” different characters, like federal agencies, “extra powers,” such as regulations to “conquer,” by controlling lives and businesses, and to “create a grand empire,” with only one leader.

How would we know if this is happening in today’s society?

One way is that the more regulations issued under the guidance of a president’s team, the greater the risk. For example, compare the number of new regulations for the previous administration to those issued by the current one.

The previous administration, led by President Donald Trump, reduced the number of regulations from the Obama administration, by issuing an executive order that required the agencies to eliminate two regulations for every new one they issued. The results six months later were that 17 old regulations were eliminated for every new one issued. Imagine how many this reduced. In addition, the highest yearly count during this administration was 214 new regulations, and twice their yearly totals were less than 80 new regulations. The economy flourished while inflation was 1.4%.

Contrast that administration with the current one that began, on Inauguration Day, with an executive order that revoked the one requiring two regulations be eliminated for each now one created, and followed it with a barrage of new regulations.

In fact, in 2021, the Biden team issued 387 new regulations, which was 173 more than the highest of any of the preceding four years. But this was just the warm up In the administration’s second year, 2022, it issued 3,168 new federal regulations, or 2,954 more than the highest year of the previous administration. Of these, the Office of Management and Budget deemed the impact of 257 of regulations as “significant,” and 906 of them regulated the small businesses that create the most jobs, employ the most people and are difficult to control because of their lack of unions.

These regulations shifted rights from private citizens to federal agencies.

To paraphrase President Ronald Reagan, “Are you better off now than you were two years ago?”

Federal agencies were created when Congress felt that the issues arising in society were getting so complicated that they required specialized expertise to interpret,

Andy Caldwell

Here’s how we can help kids to succeed in schools

Brent E. Zepke

The author lives in Santa Barbara.

COURTESY PHOTO

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Luisa Wood picks up trash in March 2021 at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara.

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS

People walk down the 900 block of State Street. Goleta resident Madison Schock would like to see the downtown Santa Barbara street return to its past glory.

Is the deep state coming after Joe Biden?

at the Chinese-funded Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement “think tank.”

Those classified documents were first identified by President Biden’s personal attorneys, CBS reported, on Nov. 2 — a full six days before the midterm elections. Richard Sauber, President Biden’s special counsel, claimed that the White House counsel’s office quickly notified the National Archives, which seized the documents posthaste.

Joe Biden’s week got even worse.

The second half of Joe Biden’s presidential term has officially gotten off to an ignominious start.

CBS News first broke the story that President Biden had been storing classified documents, taken from his previous stint as vice president to Barack Obama,

That alone would be bad enough for a president who utterly excoriated former President Donald Trump in the aftermath of last August’s unprecedented predawn FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s palatial Palm Beach, Fla., estate, due to Mr. Trump’s own classified document retention scandal.

President Biden openly wondered on CBS’ “60 Minutes” news program weeks after the FBI raid, “How anyone could be that irresponsible?”

The galling hypocrisy from the Penn Biden Center incident would have been bad enough. But then,

Adding insult to injury, on Jan. 14, two separate tranches of additional classified documents from the Obama-Biden administration were found in President Biden’s Wilmington, Del., personal home. All but one of the documents was found in a storage space in Biden’s garage. That garage was “locked,” the president quickly pointed out in a flippant attempt at deescalation, and it housed his prized Corvette. One other classified document was found strewn about elsewhere in the house, outside the garage.

Attorney General Merrick Garland responded to the news with the appointment of a special counsel to investigate President Biden’s misdeeds. Mr. Garland, of course, had done the same for Mr. Trump almost two months prior, on Nov. 18. At least from Attorney General Garland’s perspective, it seems both men are “irresponsible” enough and present sufficiently politically

delicate positions so as to require a special counsel.

But obvious similarities — hence, President Biden’s egregious hypocrisy stemming from his earlier attempt to seize a moral high ground s — in these situations aside, there are some crucial differences. Those differences do not reflect well on the current White House occupant.

By far the most important difference is the constitutional distinction in the statuses of the two men at the center of this twopronged saga. Donald Trump was president of the United States, while Joe Biden was merely vice president of the United States during the time that he absconded with classified documents.

That distinction may not seem like a big deal, but from a constitutional perspective, it makes all the difference in the world.

The president of the United States alone is vested by Article

II of the U.S. Constitution with the “executive Power” of the national government. This prosaic textual truism forms the crux of what constitutional lawyers — who, being lawyers, make things seem more complicated than they really are — refer to as “unitary executive theory.” The vice president of the United States, in fact, possesses no more “executive Power” than does a Cabinet official, a White House janitor or even a reader of this column.

The upshot is that, as this column argued after August’s Mar-a-Lago raid, “Trump had unilateral, plenary authority to declassify any document that he wanted to declassify — period.”

As vice president, Mr. Biden possessed no such similar power (he does now, as president).

Furthermore, as the same August column argued, “all ex-presidents receive various taxpayer-funded accouterments, among them a staff with security clearances and secure facilities for the maintenance of classified

What we do on Earth matters

Irecently read a comment made by the man who had told us for so many years “to boldly go where no one has gone before.” I found his comments extremely powerful and profound.

After William Shatner finally experienced a real life, albeit brief encounter with space, he said, “But when I finally arrived out there, the splendor was absent. The feeling wasn’t the warmth and glow that required poetry to express; it was ominous.

It was the opposite of life. It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered.”

The “Star Trek” actor who played Capt. Kirk went on to further add that eventually a feeling of hope returned, “…we have one gift that other species do not: We are aware — not only of our insignificance but of the grandeur around us that makes us insignificant.”

I have often placed my own mind in outer space, perhaps like many of you, looking back and visualizing our blue and white round rock floating in the middle of nowhere. Then I used my imagination further and started zooming closer to Earth. Seeing the oceans expand, mountains taking shape, rivers, trees and snow. I continued onward until I found myself on a busy street filled with bustling people all involved in their own minds, their own worlds, oblivious to Earth’s precarious position as being nothing but a floating object surrounded by a sea of blackness.

It’s at those times, like so many of us do, I question again what it’s all about. All the things we humans worry about all seem so empty.

People in poorer countries must

focus on survival and where their next meal is coming from. Human beings in corrupt dictatorships worry if they blink wrong, could they and their family be killed.

In America, we all have our individual struggles, but there’s plenty of food, we still have freedoms, though rapidly eroding. And for the most part, our lights and heat stay on.

At times I ask why I even find it necessary to voice an opinion about anything. Does it matter? Not really. But then again, if you don’t participate in life and try to make a difference, no matter how small, you’re just existing. With only one shot and no do overs, it’s imperative to make some sort of contribution, whether it be just reading to kids in a library, helping out in a senior home or writing a

column expressing what your views are and hoping it has some upshot on something.

I have a friend who said he loved my columns, but added that it was only preaching to the choir and he’s right. Will I, or anyone on the opposite side of my views change their mind? In this very divided and crazy world, it’s unlikely. It has happened but not a common occurrence. But that stuff is just politics.

From the darkness of space, all the things we fuss over doesn’t exist. None of it matters one iota. Do we question or worry about how our feet are held in place by something we can’t see, feel or touch but know it’s there? We likely have all known the passing of someone close. All of life’s problems go away at that point, and

we follow it up with, “They’re in a better place.” So does it matter how we fret about it all?

My answer is yes. It does matter.

Humans need to engage in the world around them, whether it be politics, being involved in a church, helping a cancer victim, being a doctor or nurse, working as a first responder or teacher, being a good parent — and perhaps the most important role — just being a good human being.

I had always wanted to go to space. As a typical boy, the idea of being an astronaut would have been a dream come true. As I grew older and realized my math skills alone or lack thereof, would never allow me to don a space suit, the idea dissipated.

At this age, I think about the trillions of other worlds out there going through the same thing we do every day. We’ll never know those planets or how similar or different they are. The vastness of the universe was designed that way. Each world has to grow and develop at their own pace. Planets

and its inhabitants would be destroyed from outside influence introducing technology they’re not ready for.

No matter how much I want to believe it, that we might have visitors hanging around Earth, we have yet to see real proof. It’s not out of the question that there are planets where its inhabitants are millions of years ahead of us. Just look what we accomplished in less than one hundred years.

We’re holding something in our hands we can use to communicate in a blink to the other side of the planet. Imagine 1,000 years from now what we could do.

My guess is, if we do have “flying saucers” here, those advanced civilizations sent out drones of sorts to explore the universe. But what do I know?

But if there’s any truth to it, I wonder what they’re thinking watching what’s going on. “What are those idiots doing?” They’ll likely question how a planet so rich in natural resources can’t properly feed all its people or why some humans find the need to take over lands and enslave people and just can’t leave well enough alone. Would they be laughing at us, or would they have sympathy?

Whatever the case might be, it doesn’t matter. We are responsible for our own actions, and without participating in life, we would just bounce off of each other with no real direction. We need a purpose.

In “City Slickers” (1991), Curly (Jack Palance) told Mitch (Billy Crystal) the meaning of life is, “Just one thing.” He never did tell Mitch what that one thing was because that one thing is different for each one of us. We’ve been blessed with life, and we just need to make the most of it, as the saying goes.

Henry Schulte welcomes questions or comments at hschulteopinions@ gmail.com.

Taiwan-U.S. ties remain strong and are vital

U.S government officials specializing in trade began important, in-depth negotiations with counterparts from Taiwan on Jan. 14 in Taipei, the capital of the island nation.

The trip to Taiwan last year by Speaker Nancy Pelosi generated worldwide media attention. The current visitors are receiving almost none, though their mission involves far more substantive policy matters.

Before the visit of Speaker Pelosi, President Joe Biden had a lengthy phone conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. This was a lowkey, sensible effort to mitigate tensions, especially given the Chinese leader’s notorious giant ego, which seems to expand further along with his power.

The current talks, aimed at improving bilateral relations, are led by Terry McCartin, assistant U.S. trade representative, and Yang Jen-ni of Taiwan’s Office of Trade Negotiations.

The Democratic Progressive Party, which has controlled the

Taiwanese government for the past seven years, is formally committed to independence from China. President Tsai Ing-wen is notable as the first woman elected to lead the island. The conservative opposition Kuomintang is carefully ambiguous on Beijing relations.

China has become increasingly assertive in the region, including publicly declared commitment to absorbing Taiwan. Aggressiveness of Beijing in maritime and military terms adds teeth to the continuing expansionist rhetoric.

In February 2014, Taiwan and the mainland agreed to exchange representative offices. Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun of China and Taiwan Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-chi led face-to-face negotiations. Since then, relations have deteriorated.

China’s communist leaders insist Taiwan is part of their country, but the history is more complex.

Following the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95, Japan occupied Taiwan for five decades, until the end of World War II. In 1949, Nationalist forces of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek evacuated to Taiwan.

Mao Zedong’s armies consolidated control of the mainland. Except for the island territory, the communist revolution was complete.

The outbreak of the Korean

War in late June 1950 resulted in the U.S. Seventh Fleet moving to patrol the Taiwan Strait. China and the United States became direct combatants. The Cold War, begun in Europe, became global. U.S. commitment to Taiwan security became explicit. The island became a controversial flash point in American domestic politics. Before North Korea invaded South Korea, bringing a strategic shift, the Truman administration was resigned to victorious communist forces taking Taiwan along with the rest

of China.

Pragmatism characterizes Taiwan’s approach to mainland China. Following formal U.S. diplomatic recognition of Beijing in 1978, a consequence of President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit, Taipei launched a comprehensive, essentially nonconfrontational response.

In November 2008, agreement was achieved on far-reaching trade accords, including direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108, and introduction of up to 60 cargo

flights per month.

In 2010, the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement was concluded. This has remained a major triumph for then-President Ma Ying-jeou. His election as Taiwan chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered cooperation with Beijing.

Expanding ties make the current Taiwan-U.S. trade initiative timely.

On Jan. 13, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, while visiting the White House, reconfirmed with President Joe Biden the commitment of both countries to Taiwan. In 1969, President Richard Nixon and Prime Minister Eisaku Sato made a very similar public statement, a useful precedent for the current declaration.

In March 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Taiwan in the wake of crises over Taiwan, the only sitting U.S. president to do so. This precedent may prove useful in the future.

Arthur I. Cyr is author of “After the Cold War - American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia” (NYU Press and Palgrave/Macmillan). He is also the director of the Clausen Center at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisc., and a Clausen Distinguished Professor. He welcomes questions and comments at acyr@carthage.edu.

The religion of recycling

For decades, we’ve been told: Recycle! “If we’re not using recycled paper, we’re cutting down more trees!” says Lynn Hoffman, co-president of Eureka Recycling.

Recycling paper (or cardboard) does save trees. Recycling aluminum does save energy. But that’s about it.

The ugly truth is that many “recyclables” sent to recycling plants are never recycled. The worst is plastic. Even Greenpeace now says, “Plastic recycling is a dead-end street.”

Ms. Hoffman often trucks it to a landfill.

Years ago, science writer John Tierney wrote a New York Times Magazine story, “Recycling Is Garbage.” It set a Times record for hate mail. But what he wrote was true. “It’s even more true today,” says Mr. Tierney in my new video. “Recycling is an industry that uses increasingly expensive labor to produce materials that are worth less and less.”

It would be smarter to just dump our garbage in landfills. People think landfills are horrible polluters. But they’re not. Regulations (occasionally, government regulations are actually useful) make sure today’s landfills have protective barriers so they don’t leak.

Eventually, landfills are turned into good things: ski hills, parks and golf courses.

But aren’t we running out of landfill space? For years, alarmist media said we were. But that’s not true.

In 1987, the media gave lots of publicity to a garbage barge that traveled thousands of miles trying and failing to find a place to dump its load.

But that barge wasn’t rejected because there was a lack of room. States turned the barge away after hysterical media suggested it contained “infectious waste.” The Environmental Protection Agency later found it was normal garbage.

Landfills have plenty of room for that. In fact, America has more space than we will ever need. Sometimes states and businesses even compete to get

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Henry Schulte

The author lives in Solvang

Josh Hammer

Arthur I, Cyr

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President Joe Biden

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Communist China has become increasingly assertive in the region, including publicly declared commitment to absorbing Taiwan.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Please

see HAMMER on

“We are aware — not only of our insignificance but of the grandeur around us that makes us insignificant,” William Shatner said after his real-life trip into outer space.

NASA

Columnist Henry Schulte says that each person needs to make the most of their life on Earth.

from door to door, checking on residents and ensuring they were aware of the need to evacuate urgently. Traffic flowed smoothly and the procession of cars driving along Hot Springs Road and other main artery roads occurred without incident.

In addition to the incredibly professional performance of our sheriff’s deputies and firefighters, special thanks and gratitude must also be offered to the U.S. Army Corps

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into one general category, then the suggestion is that permeable pavers for driveways and walkways, etc., provide the same benefit as landscaping. This is simply not true.

While permeable pavers are more desirable than solid concrete or asphalt in that they do provide water penetration into soil, they do not accept water as readily as well mulched or landscaped areas. Period. A small drive around town this past week or two provided an obvious education in this regard. Gallons of water were sheeting down many a newly “hard”scaped driveway constructed of such pavers. On the other hand, landscaped areas with vegetation sat quietly and “drank” it up until satiated.

On the continued topic of water, has anyone looked at the cost of their water bill lately? A deep dive into a water bill recently illustrated the fact that Tier 1 rates are only allowed up to 4 Units (HCF) for a single-family residential parcel and that the cost of having a 1-inch water meter (one acre parcel) is now $74.26/month.

If we do a bit of math, we learn that this amounts to less than 25 gallons per person per day for a family of four, or 16 gallons for a family of six. At the current meter cost per month, this property would pay $8,910 over 10 years for a 1-inch meter.

A 1-inch brass water meter with a remote reader can be had for less

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Even visiting sports teams have refused to play on school campuses in the valley because of the stink.

Carbon filtration systems, called carbon “scrubbers”, are shown to dramatically decrease the smell of the growing leaves, yet only three farms in the valley use this system, leaving 100 acres of the valley without filtration. With the technology readily available to control this problem, it is time we require cannabis farms to implement a carbon filtration system.

Melia Haugen Santa Barbara

Time to improve Trader Joe’s parking lot

F or many years, people have collectively blown thousands of dollars on clipped rear view mirrors and minor scratches. It might seem like the person behind the wheel of the car is at fault, but this is not always the case.

The average trip to Trader Joe’s at 3025 De la Vina St., Santa Barbara, consists of too much trouble parking and too little expectancy for a parking space. Each person spends just as much time in the parking lot as they do in the grocery store itself. This leads consumers to choose alternative grocery stores for a faster trip, despite more expensive goods.

This is why redesigning the lot with slightly larger spaces and lanes would be a major improvement to the current situation. With this correction, each Trader Joe’s trip would be much faster than it currently is. No one would worry about other crazy drivers too close to their car due to tight spaces.

More people would find a trip to Trader Joe’s much more preferable than it is now. This would be in the interest of Trader Joe’s as well, as it would allow for more trips to the store, despite less spaces.

The cost of this improvement will be minimal and timely if executed properly. If nothing is done about this, consumers will continue to be increasingly less happy with Trader Joe’s.

For these reasons, the city should consider an oversight of the parking lot transformation.

Zach Beccue Santa Barbara

of Engineers for their efforts five years to widen and deepen the creeks traversing our front country hillsides.

Even at the height of last week’s torrential rainstorm, the Cold Springs creek adjacent to Riven Rock Road was flowing smoothly, with plenty of extra capacity. Since last week the corps have worked 24/7 to remove rocks and debris from last week’s storm, helping to keep us safe for the future.

First responders, especially in the police community, have faced a difficult political environment in the United States during the

than $500.

So water is a luxury, and we are paying for it. (Never mind that the water comes from our properties which, in most cases, have been stripped of groundwater rights.)

And watering landscape is clearly a lavish and opulent indulgence — regardless of the fact that it may actually promote rain, diminish fire hazards, keep our city cooler, and help us maintain a beautiful town.

This past week, 9.7 million gallons of water were running into the California Delta per minute from the American River. 9.7 million gallons of water per minute. Wow!

And this week the news came out that California will spend roughly $30 billion on projects to alleviate the potential for damage caused by flooding.

Here’s an idea. How about we use that $30 billion to actually capture and retain the water for use during drought years? If we rerouted runoff smartly, it could be a win-win. Save some low lying areas from damage, save some water. Maybe we could all actually soak in a bath once in a while again. And if we are wondering where we could capture some of it locally, might we suggest underground, beneath the field at Santa Barbara Junior High School?

This is a natural low point.

The intersection of Salsipuedes (aptly named) and Cota was flooded this past week. With all of the talk of renovating Ortega Park ,maybe a broader project could have a broader benefit.

But enough about water. (I

five years since the January 2018 debris flow. The heroic performance of our local first responders last week should remind us all once again that we are extremely fortunate in Santa Barbara to have firefighters and sheriff’s deputies (and their leadership) who perform their work at the highest level of professionalism. We should thank them for their service at every opportunity.

The author is the former chief assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. He and his wife have lived in Montecito since 2011.

mean we have had enough water for a few weeks being the soft Californians that we are, right?)

Let’s chat about electricity and gas.

Gas appliances are now banned for all new construction in Santa Barbara.

Never mind that we have a completely undependable electrical grid that is frequently shut down with little or no warning, thanks to two factors: 1) PG&E and Southern California Edison, who have done such a stellar job of maintaining infrastructure that they have now paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in law suits for those who have suffered from fire, flood and mudslide damages, and 2) The push by those at the state level to “go electric.” So hey, that sounds like a great plan. Let’s place all of our eggs in that basket so that none of us can cook during a power outage — planned or otherwise.

In the meantime, you can have a natural gas generator installed within city limits to get you through the crisis as long as you have an underground storage tank on your property … which will, of course, need to be filled by trucks carrying liquid natural gas. These trucks will travel on our highways and through our city streets.

So now we have ticking time bombs being driven through the state and across the city, all as we are buying into the systematic decommissioning of the city’s U.G. gas grid. In the meantime the overall demand for natural gas plummets presumably as a result

Decline of society; threats to the Constitution

S ix million Jews were killed during World War II, by the leadership of a one-party Nazi government during the Holocaust.

Fast forward to the U.S.; 50 million deaths in the most dangerous place in the world: a woman’s womb. As we watch the parallel of Nazi Germany and our own United States, we are now experiencing a two-tiered justice system, tearing away at our Constitution.

of increased regulation and the prices soar on the West Coast. So who will have the lights running when the power goes out? It all seems perfectly resilient for all.

Recently Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2511. This bill requires that all skilled nursing facilities provide enough back-up energy by Jan. 1, 2024 to support all emergency power, heating and cooling for a minimum of 96 hours. (This is apparently in response to issues that occurred in Florida during disasters where air conditioning was not available at such facilities during warm months.).

So while our esteemed governor is chanting the no-gas, save-theworld-from-global-warming, zeroemissions clean-air mantra, he is signing bills that will result in an estimated increase of approximately 1,200 back-up diesel generators across his and our state. Oh sure. They have to be Title 24 compliant. But the cumulative effect cannot be denied.

This past week as the storms raged, the power went out. We sparked up the camping stove, put on the headlamps, and toasted. “To resilience”, our own — and that of all the Californians and Barbarenos.

In the end it will be up to us. As it has been from the beginning. Bonnie Donovan writes the “Did You Know?” column in conjunction with a bipartisan group of local citizens. It appears Saturdays in the Voices section.

children could learn to garden, have a balanced diet, and cook basic nutritional meals. In this class, they would go out and start a garden for their school along with learning about those foods and how they are nutritious to their bodies.

With the food students grow in their garden, they could either cook it and have meals to take home, or have a farmers market open to the public. With the money they earned from the farmers market, the school could use it to expand the program, buy equipment and food other than vegetables, or plant fruit trees around the campus.

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administer and enforce the congressional laws. For example, in 1933 and 34, the Securities and Exchange Act provided for the creation of the federal agency the Securities and Exchange Commission. The EPA was created by President Richard M. Nixon’s executive order, not by Congress, technically meaning that it only applies to the employees of the EPA.

The House of Representatives reserved the right to “oversee” these agencies that were granted the powers of all three branches of government. Like Congress, federal agencies can enact regulations. Like the executive branch, they can interpret and implement regulations. And like the judicial breach, they can judge compliance through administrative hearings.

The Senate has the right to decide the qualifications of the candidates the president nominates to head the agencies. However, the vast majority of employees of these agencies are not selected by either Congress or the president, and are shielded from their control by unions.

Federal agencies, including the EPA, can only enact regulations that are consistent with the laws passed by Congress. Can this be an issue?

It can be, as illustrated in my piece “Controlling waters in Santa Barbara,” which discussed the EPA’s attempts to expand the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act’s from “navigable waters” to include creeks and wetlands despite the Supreme Court denying the EPA the right to regulate wetlands adjacent to

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our garbage.

“If you think of the United States as a football field,” says Mr. Tierney, “all the garbage that we will generate in the next 1,000 years would fit inside a tiny fraction of the one-inch line.”

Putting garbage in landfills is often much cheaper than recycling. My town would save $340 million a year if it just stopped recycling.

But they won’t, “because people demand it,” says Mr. Tierney. “It’s a sacrament of the green religion.”

The religion’s commandments are complex. New York City orders me to: “Place recyclables at the curb between 4 p.m. and midnight ... Rinse plastic containers ... Separate paper from plastic, metal, and glass.” Paper must be tied “with twine into bundles no taller than 18 inches,” and so on.

“That’s one reason recycling fails,” says Mr. Tierney. “It’s so complicated; people never learn the rules.”

navigable water (Solid Wasteland of Northern Cook County case) or non-navigable waterways that did not directly abut navigable waterways (Rapanos case).

For example, the EPA issued a cease-and-desist order to stop the Sacketts from activities involving their pond because it was part of a wetland system that drained into a tributary which fed Priest Lake in Idaho.

This year, the U.S. Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA is scheduled to, again, decide if it agrees with the Sacketts that the EPA should be limited to the jurisdiction defined by Congress in the Clean Water Act and endorsed by the Supreme Court, or as the EPA is arguing, the court should should defer to the EPA to set its own jurisdictional limits.

Sadly, this is just one example of the impact of the regulations administered by federal agencies on private citizens and businesses. Imagine this impact multiplied by the 3,555 new regulations issued in just the past two years.

Is one leader granting “extra powers” to “different characters” so they can create “a grand empire,” a modern version of the game “March of Empires?”

Brent E. Zepke is an attorney, arbitrator and author who lives in Santa Barbara. His website is OneheartTwoLivescom.wordpress. com. Formerly, he taught law and business at six universities and numerous professional conferences. He is the author of six books: “One Heart-Two Lives,” “Legal Guide to Human Resources,” “Business Statistics,” “Labor Law,” “Products and the Consumer” and “Law for NonLawyers.”

That’s just silly. Plastic is useful. Using it often creates fewer emissions than its alternatives. Plastic bags create fewer emissions than paper bags. A metal straw has to be used 150 times before it creates less pollution than a plastic straw.

Environmental groups rarely mention that, or how they misled us about recycling year after year.

“It’s appalling that after telling people for three decades to recycle, they don’t even apologize for all the time and money that they wasted,” complains Mr. Tierney. “Instead, they have a proposal (banning plastic) that will make life even worse.”

Plastic is not evil. Recycling is no climate savior. When Los Angeles mandated it, the city added 400 big noisy garbage trucks.

That creates lots of pollution. But environmentalists still demand we do things like pick through our trash, switch from plastic to paper bags that rip. California even banned small plastic shampoo bottles

Detriments of iPads in the classroom

The side effects of excessive hours on screens is often masked by the simple fact that they are convenient.

The average person may think, “What is better than eliminating multiple trips to your locker, a heavy backpack and unorganized notes scattered in various places?”

It turns out that the convenience of having everything you need within the touch of a screen is damaging. Studies have shown differing effects, including a decrease of in-depth learning and exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Many schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District send iPads to students as young as 10 years old. These iPads will hold everything from their notes to their textbooks. These iPads are equipped with different search engines, spell check and grammar check.

Students build up a reliance on an iPad rather than their own knowledge. Basic education is now something many teenagers are forgetting because they no longer have to put much effort into learning.

Secondly, electromagnetic fields are going unnoticed. EMFs are invisible areas of energy, otherwise known as radiation. These health risks are not being brought to the public’s attention.

Washington State University research concludes, “... radiation activates the voltage-gated calcium channels in the outer membrane of your cells, causing them to open, thus allowing an abnormal influx of calcium ions.” This is believed to be the cause of some chronic diseases seen today. It is possible for excessive use of iPads to be stopped, and action is needed.

Alexa Underwood Santa Barbara

There are efforts to eliminate the First Amendment guarantee of free speech and to start rounding up the weapons of a potential “well regulated militia,” designed to afford regular citizens protection from dictators. Currently we’re trying to pacify a Woke generation by allowing every form of speech to be offensive. Time for them to wake up!

We act like a nation of victims, socially, with racism being the “Joker” card. It gets played very often. George Floyd is a martyr; Ashli Babbitt…? A prison sentence for the police officer, and a reward/ honor for the capitol officer?

A former president’s estate is stormed by armed FBI looking for declassified top-secret documents, to which he was entitled. There’s a two-month delay searching a former vice president’s dwellings for similar documents, of which he was not entitled.

The green new deal, climate change, electric cars, Energy prices, our open border, COVID. Interjecting fear and perversity into everything we know. Drag shows, sex changes, pornography in the classrooms. No biological male has ever given birth to a baby. No biological female has ever fertilized a human cell. Our Christian values are being eliminated, as the” remnant” dwindles. My constant prayer is for a stronger nation with united political goals striving to serve our citizens equally.

Randy Rosness Solvang

‘Lettuce’ improve eating habits

To teach students at public schools about better eating habits, schools should take action.

These schools could offer, or require, a class where the

The produce that does not sell could be taken home for their families or used at the schools for meals.

This class would not just tell children to eat well, but equip them with the skills they need to make that happen by learning about their diet and how to grow their own food.

Eliana Bordin Santa Barbara

Editor’s note: Eliana Bordin is a high school junior in Santa Barbara. She and other students wrote letters to the News-Press as part of a classroom assignment.

We must speak the truth

Two years after the deadly attack on our country on Jan. 6th, 2021, it’s hard to ignore that the House of Representatives is now controlled by those who embraced and fueled Trump’s Big Lie.

According to the Washington Post, over 70% of all House Republicans are election deniers: 135 incumbents voted against certifying the 2020 election, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and at least 27 freshman members ran on the Big Lie. They might hold the title of “representative” but they have no intention of legislating on behalf of their constituents. Their top priority in the House will be sham investigations into the Biden administration and those who actually defended our democracy.

We must speak truth to power in the face of all their lies. I’m pledging to do everything I can to protect our freedoms and our democracy against the House’s extremist attacks. I hope others will join me.

Worse, some recycling is pointless, or harmful.

“If you rinse a plastic bottle in hot water,” Mr. Tierney points out, “the net result is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than if you threw it in the garbage.”

Since most plastic can’t be recycled, what’s the environmentalists’ solution now?

“Stop producing it,” says Greenpeace’s John Hocevar.

Lots of environmental groups now want to ban plastic.

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records.”

Mr. Biden, as an ex-vice president and not an expresident, had no such niceties. He merely had a garage with a lock secure enough for his Corvette. What’s more, the Presidential Records Act also permits departing presidents to take personal copies of any of their records. The statute affords no such similar protection for departing vice presidents.

From a legal perspective, we will see where freshly minted special counsel Robert Hur goes with his investigation. And from a political perspective, the Biden administration’s astounding hypocrisy on this matter will surely face a blowback.

But perhaps the most pressing question is: Why? Why was there a leak to CBS News just now, over two months after Biden attorneys discovered the first tranche of classified documents deep in the bowels of a Penn Biden Center office? Why has there been such a slow, drip-drip, dramatic leaking and reporting of various classified document tranches throughout the week of Jan. 8?

It is thoroughly unsurprising that the federal law enforcement apparatus and the corporate media buried the news of Biden’s malfeasance on the precipice

“Some of these rules are just so arbitrary and silly,” complains Mr.Tierney. “It’s simply a way for greens and for some politicians to pretend that they’re saving the planet.”

Every Tuesday at JohnStossel. com, Mr. Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”

Copyright 2022 BY JFS Productions Inc.

of the midterm elections. The “Democrat-Media Complex,” as the late Andrew Breitbart called it, demands nothing less than such complicity.

But the timing of the leak from various federal law enforcement actors now, just as Biden is beginning the second half of his term, suggests there is real internal turmoil over at the Democratic National Committee. Perhaps someone at the DNC instructed deep state spies that now would be a particularly propitious time to leak sordid details to the media. Perhaps someone at the DNC thought that Joe Biden did his job by shepherding his party through the midterms without succumbing to the muchfeared “red wave,” but that he is now disposable and should be replaced at the ballot in 2024 by Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Loath though I am to speculate, it is difficult to think of a sounder explanation as to why, only now, all of this is coming out. There are many, many open questions here. Here’s hoping Special Counsel Hur can provide some answers.

To find out more about Josh Hammer and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www. creators.com.

Copyright 2022 by Creators.com

Gwen Richards Santa Barbara

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Alexa Underwood of Santa Barbara warns about the dangers of excessive use of computers.

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS

Sheriff Bill Brown provides the media with information during the storms.