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No zonkey apocalypse Zeyore the zonkey survives second round of America’s Favorite Pet competition
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Prince Harry praises queen in statement By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Prince Harry praised Queen Elizabeth II in the first statement he has issued since the death Thursday of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch. The 37-year-old Montecito celebrity called his grandmother a “guiding compass” in his written remarks, which were issued Monday. Here’s his statement: “In celebrating the life of my grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen — and in mourning her loss — we are all reminded of the guiding compass she was to so many in her commitment to service and duty. She was globally admired and respected. Her unwavering grace and dignity remained true throughout her life and now her everlasting legacy. “Let us echo the words she spoke after the passing of her husband, Prince Philip, words which can bring comfort to all of us now: ‘Life, of course, consists of final partings as well as first meetings.’ “Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of
our first meetings — from my earliest childhood memories with you, to meeting you for the first time as my commanderin-chief, to the first moment you met my darling wife and hugged your beloved greatgrandchildren. “I cherish these times shared with you, and the many other special moments in between. You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over. And as it comes to first meetings, we now honor my father in his new role as King Charles III. “Thank you for your commitment to service. Thank you for your sound advice. Thank you for your infectious smile. “We, too, smile knowing that you and grandpa are reunited now, and both together in peace.” Prince Harry and his wife Meghan — the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — paid the queen a surprise visit in April. Their children, Archie and Lilibet (named after Queen Elizabeth II), became Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet upon the queen’s death. email: dmason@newspress.com
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Gia Chavez, who volunteers at the Seein’ Spots Farm in Solvang, strolls with Zeyore, a half-zebra, half-donkey hybrid, on Saturday. The animal has progressed through the second round of the America’s Favorite Pet competition, remaining in first place.
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
It’s two rounds down and three more to go, but so far, Zeyore the zonkey is not only still standing but remains in first place as America’s Favorite Pet. “He made it through,” Zeyore’s owner, Linda Marchi, told the News-Press referring to Thursday’s second round. “He’s Number One. We’re pretty excited.” Zeyore, a cross between a zebra and donkey, was entered into the contest for America’s Favorite Pet by Gia Chavez, a 15-year-old weekend volunteer at Ms. Marchi’s Seein’ Spots farm in Ballard, and the teen’s mother, Caryn. “They asked for unique pets, and Zeyore was the most unique pet they knew,” Ms. Marchi said. She and her husband, Brett, have 150 animals at Seein’ Spots, an animal rescue sanctuary two miles from Solvang, “and he is by far the most unique.” But just in case he wasn’t accepted into the contest, Gia and her mom didn’t tell the Marchis because they didn’t want them to be disappointed. “It was a surprise,” she said. “They didn’t want to tell me until he made it. “And he keeps winning, too.” Round 3 of the contest is Thursday, while Round 4 is Sept. 22. A wild card round will be held Oct. 2 in which all the secondplace winners from previous rounds compete against each other to make it to the final round, set for Oct. 27, she said. Bragging rights are not the only thing that’s at stake because the ultimate winner not only gets a two-page spread in In Touch magazine but $10,000. And the Marchis can use the money.
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Ms. Chavez, left, strolls with Zeyore along with his owner Linda Marchi. The next hurdle for the zonkey will come on Thursday, when Round 3 of the competition takes place.
“It will help our little farm,” she said. “We pay for everything on our own by doing tours,” and the price of food has gone up. The money also would help them make repairs and add more fencing, “things like that.” The Marchis, who founded Seein’ Spots in 2005, have owned
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Zeyore for 10 years after rescuing him from a petting zoo where he grew too big and strong to care for. “They couldn’t handle him” and called the Marchis to take him in as a rescue. After sending him to Colorado for training, they brought him to Seein’ Spots where they continued to train him. And
it’s been worth every minute. She laughed when she noted that he absolutely loves to eat carrots. “He begs for them and he likes to show his teeth when he begs.” He also loves to lick the person Please see ZONKEY on A4
The City Council today will receive an annual update on the implementation of the city’s communications efforts as well as its new website launch in June, both with the goals for increasing inclusivity and language access. The council meets in chambers at City Hall, 735 Anacapa St. The update highlights the strategies for outreach, achievements, actions in progress and goals for the coming year, staff said in its report to the council. Situated within the city administrator’s office, the public information officer/ community engagement manager coordinates the city’s overall outreach efforts and is responsible for developing citywide guidance for communications and outreach. A communications specialist and city TV staff also contribute to those efforts. A major initiative of the city administrator’s office has been to improve outreach to extend to a greater portion of the community, and to increase transparency and invite public engagement, staff said.
Language access discussions at the start of projects, rather than addressing topics like content translation and accessibility once the project is underway, “creates more efficient planning to address the need for Spanish translation and interpretation and online accessibility,” staff said. To improve online accessibility and translation, staff not only translates documents and online posts into Spanish, but also gives thought to fonts, colors and text size so that information can be read better by users with visual impairments. As part of its technology assistance for council meetings, the city has incorporated the use of the Listen Everywhere application. This allows attendees at meetings to download the application, use their own earphones and get hearing assistance in English or translation to Spanish. For those who opt to view the meetings from home, there are a variety of ways to view the meetings online in both English and Spanish. The use of closed captioning is also available on meeting videos. The public information officer continues to work with the city’s Please see COUNCIL on A4
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SB City Council to get report on communications efforts, new website
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Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-13-25-34-43 Mega: 16
Monday’s DAILY 4: 9-2-6-0
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