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Our 167th Year
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W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 21, 2 0 2 2
The first Spirit of Fiesta Lia Parker dies, leaving Santa Barbara her rich history of community service
DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS
The Santa Barbara City Council spent hours Tuesday debating the pros and cons of rules for parklets on State Street.
City council delays return of parades to State Street Members debate outdoor dining parklets By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
FRITZ OLENBERGER PHOTO/COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS
Los NIños de las Flores visit Lia Parker, the first Spirit of Fiesta, at Garden Court during Old Spanish Days in August.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Lia Parker, the first Spirit of Fiesta, has left Santa Barbara a legacy that inspired future generations. Ms. Parker, who resided at Garden Court in Santa Barbara in recent years, died last weekend. She was 88. “She was very special to Old Spanish Days,” La Presidente Maria Cabrera told the NewsPress Tuesday. “I am sure we will be looking at how to honor her (at Fiesta).” Ms. Parker served as the Spirit of Fiesta in 1949, 1950 and 1951, “At the time, there was no auditions,” Mrs. Cabrera said, noting Ms. Parker accepted the role offered to her and became a role model for the Spirits who followed. “The Spirits that we have had were based on her and how she conducted herself in the community,” Mrs. Cabrera said. “In the photos from the past, she’s always smiling. She has a beautiful pose. You’re looking at a great, beautiful Spirit.” She was honored as grand marshal of the Fiesta Parade in 2019 as part of the 70th anniversary of Old Spanish Days. At the time, Ms. Parker told the News-Press that it was an honor to be chosen grand
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS-STAFF WRITER
Lia Parker was known for her lifelong enthusiasm.
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Man sentenced to 45 years to life after murder conviction
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Please see PARKER on A2
The Santa Barbara City Council spent hours Tuesday afternoon talking about the downtown outdoor dining parklets on State Street. Members debated the pros and cons of imposing fees and design requirements, keeping parades off lower State Street for two to five years, and whether the parklets should be portable. In the end, the city council decided to send the question of fees to the finance committee, but to be implemented no later than Feb. 1. The council also decided to keep parades off lower State Street until at least the State Street Master Plan is conceived, and to keep Dec. 1 as the deadline for design requirements. They also set Dec. 1 as the deadline for changes in existing
parklets to allow for stormwater runoff flow to prevent flooding. The council decided not to demand that existing parklets be made portable, but said new ones must be. Councilmember Kristen Sneddon, an ad hoc subcommittee member, said the subcommittee met with stakeholders citywide before coming up with its recommendations. She also said she had taken to heart Mayor Randy Rowse’s previous criticism when the subcommittee submitted no actionable items. She insisted the parklets are a boon to downtown and that the pedestrian promenade should be expanded, with more thought given to other things that can be done there. “I don’t know about one
As expected, the Santa Barbara man convicted of three counts of second-degree murder for deliberately driving his speeding car head-on into oncoming traffic, hitting a Solvang woman’s car, killing her and her two young children, has been sentenced to 45 years to life behind bars. Superior Court Judge Thomas Adams sentenced John Dungan,
30, Monday to three consecutive 15-to-life terms, the maximum allowable sentence, for causing the deaths of Rebecca Vanessa Bley Gleason, 34, and her two children, 2-year-old Lucienne Bley Gleason and 4-month-old Desmond Bley Gleason, in the October 2019 crash. Mr. Dungan’s Chevy Camaro was traveling at nearly 120 mph at the time. Prosecutors, who had sought Please see DUNGAN on A2
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 8-9-13-46-47 Meganumber: 1
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 8-4-4-0
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 15-30-35-38-66 Meganumber: 12
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 1-9-22-34-38
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 11-02-07 Time: 1:42.34
Monday’s POWERBALL: 7-15-36-46-67 Meganumber: 7
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 6-3-0 / Wednesday’s Midday 1-0-2