Santa Barbara News-Press: June 16, 2021

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Vandenberg’s future

Montecito Fire’s new media liaison

Representative presents plan to Board of Supervisors - A3

Former TV reporter Christina Favuzzi brings her fire coverage experience - B1

Our 166th Year

W E DN E S DAY, J U N E 16 , 2 0 21

All smiles, no tiers

75¢

Audiences return to Lobero By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

COURTESY PHOTO

“Today is a day that we have been waiting for for a long time,” Dr. Van Do-Reynoso, the county public health director, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. She reviewed the state’s new guidance during the board’s regular meeting.

New guidance

RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Visitors and locals clutter the 700 block of State Street Tuesday as restrictions loosen.

State: Vaccinated people can skip masks in most settings By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Tuesday was a day Dr. Van DoReynoso won’t forget. It was the day that the state dissolved its color-coded tier system and got rid of all capacity and social distancing restrictions. In addition, the state updated its mask guidance, declaring that fully vaccinated people can go maskless in most settings. Tuesday was also the day Santa Barbara County aligned with the state’s new guidance. The county retired its own public health order and adjusted its masking and distancing restrictions to match the state’s. “Today is a day that we have been waiting for for a long time,” Please see SUPES on A3

Travel, tourism up as state ends tiers SB airport almost breaks record for passenger count By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday’s highly anticipated reopening of California brings flexibility unseen in over a year. And that might just bring back the travel and tourism industry many businesses count on in Santa Barbara. “(Tuesday) marks another milestone for the local hospitality and leisure industry

as thousands whose livelihoods depend on travel celebrate a full reopening of businesses,” Kathy Janega-Dykes, president and CEO of Visit Santa Barbara, told the News-Press. The improvement actually began before Tuesday. Travel increased as vaccinations reached the masses, so businesses had already begun what they hope to be a large rebound. “We are fortunate that Santa Barbara has

remained a sought out destination during the pandemic. Hotel demand and nightly rates continue to improve — both on weekends and during mid-week periods,” Ms. JanegaDykes said. On Friday, the Santa Barbara Airport almost broke its record for the number of passengers that traveled through its gates, with more than 1,800 passengers. “We are anticipating in the next month Please see TRAVEL on A4

The 700 block of State Street was quiet Dec. 7 after a regional lockdown, a contrast to the busier scene on Tuesday.

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Note: Are you the winner? We’d love to chat about your experience. Send an email to ahanshaw@ newspress.com to get in touch.

LOTTERY

i n s i de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4

66833 00050

BY ANNELISE HANSHAW A Santa Barbara County resident is one of 10 winners of $1.5 million as part of California’s “Vax for the Win” campaign. But the identity of that now millionaire is not publicly known. “Vax for the Win” is the state’s vaccine incentive program. Vaccinated Californians are automatically entered for the high-dollar prizes. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state employees announced the 10 lucky Californians’ counties of residence as numbers tumbled out of a lottery machine Tuesday. The governor previously awarded $50,000 prizes the past two Fridays, but a Santa Barbara County resident was yet to win until Tuesday. The next drawing will be held July 1, and six Californians will win in-state vacation packages.

FOLLOW US ON

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SB County resident wins $1.5 million NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

FYI Under the state’s new guidelines that went into effect Tuesday: Fully vaccinated individuals can go maskless in most settings — excluding public transit, indoors in schools and childcare facilities, health care settings, correctional facilities and homeless shelters. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals will still be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Businesses can choose one of three options: Make masks optional for vaccinated patrons and allow customers to self-attest their vaccination status; create a vaccine verification system; or require all customers to wear masks. The state has disbanded all capacity and social distancing restrictions.

The sound of applause and other good vibrations are returning to the Lobero Theatre. The historic and intimate Santa Barbara theater will welcome back an audience for the first time since the pandemic started when singers perform songs Saturday in honor of Brian Wilson’s birthday. The Beach Boys singer and composer, who has a home in Santa Barbara, turns 79 Sunday. “Songs of Summer: Celebrating Brian Wilson and His Music” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday as a benefit for New Beginnings of Santa Barbara. Musical director Sal Leonardo leads the program, which features Brother Sal and The Devil May Care with Glen Phillips, Garrison Starr, Will Breman, Chris Pierce, Shane Alexander, Leslie Stevens, Todd O’Keefe, Max Kasch and The Brambles. (Mr. Phillips is well known as the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket, a longtime Santa Barbara alternative rock band.) The Lobero concert is among the signs of a more normal world, following Tuesday’s end of the state tier system and loosening of COVID-19 restrictions. Other venues are welcoming back audiences, from Center Stage Theater at Paseo Nuevo, where the Selah Dance Collective is performing at 7:30 tonight, to the Santa Barbara Bowl, where Please see LOBERO on A4

Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-10-21-22-36 Mega: 10

Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 2-4-6-9

Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 18-22-27-38-52 Mega: 11

Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 1-2-4-13-29

Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 11-05-08 Time: 1:47.77

Saturday’s POWERBALL: 8-25-34-38-41 Meganumber: 10

Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 5-6-7 / Midday 5-7-5


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