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S AT U R DAY, DE C E M BE R 10 , 2 02 2
‘The Nutcracker’ at the Arlington Theatre
Sinema’s decision to leave Democratic Party sparks criticism, speculation
Santa Barbara Festival Ballet to perform Christmas classic this weekend
By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE
(The Center Square) – Arizona U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s announcement that she is leaving the Democratic party to be an Independent sparked a flurry of speculation Friday about what this could mean for the Democrats’ Senate majority and the future of the party itself. After U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia bested Herschel Walker earlier this week, Democrats were left with a 5149 seat majority in the Senate, when including independents who caucus with the major political parties. That gave them breathing room after navigating a narrow 50-50 split with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote during the first two years of Biden’s administration. Many speculated that Sen. Sinema’s departure could pave the way for U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., to leave the party as well.
FYI Santa Barbara Festival Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara. Tickets vary from $35 to $58. To purchase, go to santabarbarafestivalballet. com/buy-nutcracker-tickets. A “Nutcracker” boutique in the Arlington lobby will raise additional funds during the intermissions for Santa Barbara Festival Ballet. And State Street Ballet will perform its production of “The Nutcracker” next weekend at The Granada in Santa Barbara. See the story in Tuesday’s News-Press. By DAVE MASON
Sen. Manchin and Sen. Sinema have been among the most centrist Democrats, often halting, slowing or modifying the Biden agenda in the past two years. “Joe Manchin is next, except he should go the whole hog and become a Republican,” conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza said after Sen. Sinema’s announcement. As President Biden pushed his agenda since taking office, Sen. Manchin has cited concerns over energy costs as well as worries about inflation and elevated federal spending, often Republican messaging points. Sen. Manchin’s resistance forced Democratic leadership to meet with and cater to him, though they were still able to pass trillions of dollars in new federal spending. Sen. Warnock’s victory this week gave Senate Democrats hope they may be free from that kind of catering, but Sen. Sinema’s decision may nix those hopes. Please see SINEMA on A4
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Professional ballerina Alexandra Hutchinson has been dancing in “The Nutcracker” since she was 5, and she’s played nearly all the roles. The 27-year-old member of the Dance Theater of Harlem hasn’t danced as the central character Clara, and there’s one other character she has yet to tackle. “I haven’t done the Rat King,” Ms. Hutchinson, dressed as the Snow Queen from “The Nutcracker,” told the News-Press with a big smile in the lobby of the Arlington Theatre. “I feel like I could add a little twist to it!” She laughed. It was the laugh of a dancer who loves the sensation of becoming a character and stepping, turning and spinning with grace during a magical journey. That’s the power of dance. “The chance to be a queen on stage is really exciting to
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Kouadio Davis and Alexandra Hutchinson, from Dance Theater of Harlem, are portraying the Snow King and Snow Queen in Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”
me,” said Ms. Hutchinson, who portrays the Snow Queen in Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker,” set for 2:30 and 7 p.m. today and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at The Arlington Theatre. “The adrenaline you get on stage is immeasurable,” the enthusiastic dancer said. “That’s always something I enjoy when I perform.” This weekend’s production features dancers from Santa Barbara Festival Ballet and principal guest dancers: Ms. Hutchinson and Kouadio Davis from the Dance Theater of Harlem and Angelo Greco and Misa Kuranaga, from San Francisco Ballet. Also
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performing are students from the UCSB Department of Theater and Dance and Santa Barbara City College. Valerie Huston is Santa Barbara Festival Ballet’s interim executive director and resident choreographer. This is the second of three “Nutcracker” productions that Ms. Hutchinson and Mr. Davis, 24, who portrays the Snow Cavalier/ King, have danced in with ballet companies. Both dancers say they’re enjoying their roles. Santa Barbara High School senior Anya McCue is portraying Clara, and Jesse Cuevas from UCSB is playing the Nutcracker Prince. “I would say the students are
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By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Barbara county hospitals have seen a rise in hospitalization over the past week due to the tridemic. As the county and the rest of the nation deal with COVID19, respiratory syncytial virus and the flu, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the bivalent vaccine for use down to six months of age. The approval comes as hospitalizations increase. “There has been a significant change in the last week,” Dr. David Fisk, medical director of infection prevention and control
for Cottage Health, told the NewsPress Friday. “A significant increase in COVID-19 cases in hospitals has led us to reopen a dedicated unit to COVID-19 patients with adults driving the majority of the overall increase,” Dr. Fisk said. “Previously numbers were small enough that patients were cared for in rooms with specialized air filtration.” Dr. Fisk, though, did report some good news: “RSV in the pediatric division has diminished in the last two weeks.” In Santa Maria, Marian Regional Medical Center has seen admissions increase, Dr. Please see TRIDEMIC on A8
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very talented,” Ms. Hutchinson said about the various dancers in this production of “The Nutcracker.” “I see a lot of promise in their work.” Ms. Hutchinson said she’s excited to see the Santa Barbara Festival Ballet production. This weekend’s shows mark the company’s 47th annual production of “The Nutcracker.” Ms. Hutchinson also has her milestone. “This is my 22nd year of doing ‘The Nutcracker,’” Ms. Hutchinson said. “I’m so happy. The music is so beautiful. It really takes you to a fairyland, a winter wonderland. I really like to be Please see NUTCRACKER on A4
Hospitalizations rise in county during tridemic
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Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 16-26-32-38-43 Mega: 4
Friday’s DAILY 4: 1-4-0-9
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 8-19-53-61-69 Mega: 19
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 5-6-10-24-31
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 06-02-10 Time: 1:45.50
Wednesay’s POWERBALL: 6-28-44-59-61 Meganumber: 21
Friday’s DAILY 3: 4-0-4 / Midday 4-2-2
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