The art of helping others
Art exhibit
Columnist explores her experiences in the real estate industry - A5
Ross Penhall’s vibrant landscapes on view through May 15 - B1
Our 167th Year
$2.00
S AT U R DAY, A PR I L 29, 2 023
New mural at Peabody Alum paints masterpiece at Santa Barbara elementary school
SB Earth Day Festival ready to wow the community By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
The Community Environmental Council and its longtime partner, CarpEvents, are ready to bring the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival back to the community today and
Sunday. The two-day event will take place at Alameda Park near downtown Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara has been widely known as the birthplace of Earth Day ever since the oil spill off the city’s coast in 1969. Please see EARTH DAY on A6
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Printed schedules were up Friday ahead of this weekend’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival at Alameda Park.
Biden kicks off campaign at polling low point By CASEY HARPER
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Artist Eden Andrulaitis stands in front of the mural she recently completed at Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara. She is a Peabody alum and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 2019. She was in the high school’s VADA program and hopes to use her talents for the community.
By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
Excited children and parents gathered Friday morning in the quad at Peabody Charter School to watch as a bright and beautiful mural was unveiled for the school. The artist of the masterpiece is Eden Andrulaitis, a Santa Barbara native and Peabody alum. She also attended Santa Barbara High School and graduated from its Visual Arts and Design Academy in 2022. A few months ago, Ms. Andrulaitis wanted to use her talents to give back to the community, so she approached the Santa Barbara Unified School District board and suggested a mural. Principal Damien Barnett said the school board loved the idea and the creation began. The mural spans over 640 feet across the side of one of the classrooms near the quad. It is vibrant and colorful, with many little toys and trinkets that elementary school kids love to see. It is a breathtaking sight. Mr. Barnett introduced Ms. Andrulaitis to the children and explained the process of the collaboration between her and the school. After the unveiling, Mr. Barnett then invited Ms. Andruilaitis to the microphone to share a few words about the mural. She expressed her immense gratitude to the community and to the students, sharing how it was so fun to come to the school each day and see all the children. She also shared how before this
The mural is full of fun colors and intricate pictures that represent the life of an elementary school kid.
mural, she had no real experience with the process of budgeting a mural for a school. But she noted the school board was very gracious and helped her along in the process to propel her in her career. When she ended her speech, Mr. Barnett invited all of the children to yell “thank you!” to her. The joyous chorus of children’s gratitude rang throughout the Please see MURAL on A8
FOLLOW US ON
66833 00150
0
(The Center Square) – President Joe Biden announced earlier this week that he is running for president, but the latest polling data shows he is much less popular than when he first took over the White House. Gallup released the survey data, which put President Biden’s approval rating at 37%, the lowest point since he became president. “Only Ronald Reagan in early 1983 had a lower ninthquarter average among elected post-World War II presidents,” Gallup said. “Reagan’s low ratings came during a period when the unemployment rate exceeded 10% after the 19811982 economic recession.” For most of his tenure, President Biden’s approval rating has hovered just about 40%. “Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump had slightly better approval ratings than Biden and Reagan; both were just above 40%,” Gallup said. “Four presidents, including George H.W. Bush, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy and George W. Bush, averaged better than 60% approval during their ninth quarters in office.” President Biden came into office with a 57% approval rating that has steadily dropped, seeing a particular downturn after the chaotic and deadly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, a recent Emerson College poll found that President Biden may have a real Democratic contender. Incumbent presidents
rarely have serious primary challengers from their own party, but President Biden’s age, low polling, and looming scandals could fuel Robert Kennedy Jr., who is polling with about a fifth of Democratic voters’ support. RFK Jr. is an author and environmental lawyer known for challenging the COVID-19 vaccines. “The share of Democratic voters who think Biden should be the nominee has decreased six points since February, from 71% to 65%,” Emerson said. Emerson has President Biden’s approval rating slightly higher, at 41%, but the group said he is losing support from Independents. “Driving Biden’s lower approval this month is independent voters, 37% of whom approved of the president in February, which has dropped to 30% this month,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. It remains to be seen whether President Biden’s announcement this week will rally donors and support from Democrats. Former President Trump, the current Republican 2024 frontrunner, wasted no time in attacking President Biden this week as the two draw closer to a potential presidential campaign rematch. “You could take the five worst presidents in American history, and put them together, and they would not have done the damage Joe Biden has done to our nation in just a few short years,” Mr. Trump said in his video response to President Biden’s announcement on TruthSocial. “Not even close.”
LOTTERY
i n s i de Classified.............. A8 Life..................... B1-4 Obituaries............. A4
6
A new addition to the Peabody Charter School was unveiled Friday. A 640foot mural has found its home in the Peabody quad for all of the children to enjoy.
THE CENTER SQUARE
Sudoku................. B3 Business . ............. A5 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-7-11-23-46 Mega: 8
Friday’s DAILY 4: 3-4-6-8
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 18-38-53-62-64 Mega: 20
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 2-17-19-35-37
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 04-07-01 Time: 1:42.65
Wednesay’s POWERBALL: 2-15-30-35-49 Meganumber: 6
Friday’s DAILY 3: 8-1-1 / Midday 5-9-3