Museum hosting virtual art show
Art pieces up for auction
Solvang’s Wildling Museum of Art & Nature celebrating 20th anniversary - A6
Our 165th Year
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is celebrating local artists, their work - A10
75¢
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Classroom or Chromebook?
Fatal shooting deemed justified By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday released its report into the October 2019 fatal shooting of 30-year-old Cameron Ely, determining that the involved Sheriff’s personnel acted responsibly in their use of deadly force. The shooting, which resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of Cameron’s father, Ron Ely, the former “Tarzan” actor and current Hope Ranch resident, was ultimately deemed a justifiable homicide, according to the 12-page report. The report included analysis on the investigative reports, coroner’s reports, video and audio recordings, photographs and witness interviews collected during the investigation conducted by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and submitted for review by Detective Matthew Banks.
RAFAEL MALDONADO / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Kim Toves of San Jose, at left, says she feels bad for the parents trying to work and teach kids during the day. She hears her two college-age daughters complain about virtual learning. Larry Vander Schaaf, center, visits Santa Barbara from Seal Beach, occasionally alongside his wife Sharon. They don’t think virtually learning is effective enough. Ricky Lucero Jr., at right, doesn’t mind online classes. He says they’re more challenging, but he has learned to adjust.
Earlier this summer, a federal wrongful death lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ron Ely in connection with the death of his wife, Valerie, and son, Cameron. An amended complaint was filed in late September in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Named as defendants are multiple members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and Santa Barbara County. The lawsuit specifically named the deputies involved in the shooting of 30-year-old Cameron Ely, including Sgt. Desiree Thome, Deputy Jeremy Rogers, Deputy Phillip Farley and Deputy John Gruttadaurio. The lawsuit claims that the deputies “actively obstructed” county fire personnel from providing treatment and that Valerie “was left on the floor without any medical treatment or care for more than 30 minutes. Please see shooting on A4
Carbajal tests positive for COVID-19 By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Rep. Salud Carabajal, D-Santa Barbara, announced Tuesday afternoon that he had tested positive for COVID-19. The positive test result came one day after the congressman released a statement that he had been exposed to an individual who had tested positive for coronavirus. Rep. Carbajal said he took an initial test after discovering he was exposed, which came back negative. He was then instructed to quarantine for 14 days and self-monitor for symptoms. He began experiencing “mild symptoms” and was instructed to take another test, which came back positive on Tuesday. “I will continue to monitor symptoms and carry out my duties virtually,” he said in a statement. Rep. Carabajal said the “vast majority” of his staff has been working remotely and are not at risk. Those who Rep. Carbajal did interact with have been
Santa Barbara resident Tim Karman, at left, grabs a bite on State Street. One of his kids has been able to go back to in-person learning because of Montecito Union’s reopening waiver. Sharon Vander Schaaf, center, says she’s glad her grandchildren are able to attend class in person at their private school. Rick Lucero of Santa Clarita, at right, says his sons all have varying engagement levels in online learning. His oldest is highly engaged in the learning process.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Santa Barbara Unified School District released updates on Parent Square, the app the district uses to inform parents, as well as its website Monday afternoon to give an update on the reopening process. School principals are beginning to ask
students what they’d like: online or in-person learning? Parents will soon be asked the same question. To gauge what the community thinks, the News-Press set out to State Street Tuesday to ask people what they think about virtual learning. Santa Barbara resident Tim Karman said he wishes all his kids could return to school. His
youngest attends Montecito Union School and is able to go in person, but the older children at Santa Barbara Middle and Santa Barbara High schools still do their work from home. “I would prefer to have my kids in school,” he said. “If they have to practice social distancing, that’s fine.” He thinks the county has been too cautious Please see school on A2
NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO
Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, announced Tuesday that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
tested and are negative, or are pursuing a test, he said. “I hope this serves (as) a reminder of how easily this virus can spread,” Rep. Carbajal said in a statement. “I followed Please see carbajal on A4
Sprawling Nesbitt estate available in auction in Montecito By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The sprawling 20-acre Montecito estate owned by hotelier Patrick Nesbitt will be available to the highest bidder in an auction next month. Held via Concierge Auctions in cooperation with Rick Hilston and Rodrigo Iglesias of Hilton & Hyland, the grand Medeterranean-style mansion owned by the founder and head of Windsor Capital Group is currently offered for $65 million. The property will sell with no reserve to the highest bidder from Nov. 16 to 19 via Concierge Auctions’ online marketplace, www.conciergeauctions.com,
allowing buyers to bid digitally from anywhere in the world. The estate was featured in a Brittney Spears music video and boasts 43,000 square feet of luxury living, including seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms and a number of amenities. The estate includes a regulation polo field with a clubhouse, main and guest houses, 5,000-bottle hidden wine cellar with attached tasting room, and a 128-foot infinity edge pool. The 10-acre polo field is considered a world-class venue, having starred in music videos and hosted tournaments and private matches. The club is attached to a barn with space for 17 horses. “This property is equipped with the best and most essential
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amenities for the true equestrian,” Mr. Iglesias said in a statement. “Unmatched privacy combined with your very own polo club and stables, next to the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, makes this a dream home for any fan of the sport of kings. This is the best of both equestrian luxury and proximity to Montecito and Santa Barbara and all they have to offer.” The estate’s ballroom can accommodate up to 200 people. Also included is a 15-seat movie theater and sports bar. A rooftop deck, reached through a secret door in the entry rotunda, affords views of the mountains, the ocean, and sightlines clear down to Malibu. Its 128-foot infinity-edge pool
with a surrounding sun deck is an ideal spot for soaking up the sun during a polo match and an alfresco cocktail party afterward. Exquisite details abound inside, from the intricately crafted ceilings to the gleaming mahogany office complete with a private access door, officials said. “Being well-versed in the hospitality industry, I am excited to bring my property to auction with two of the industry’s finest — Concierge Auctions and Hilton & Hyland. I’m confident that together, the firms’ world-class marketing and expertise, paired with the speed and certainty that only Concierge Auctions and their proven process can bring, will Please see nesbitt on A2
COURTESY PHOTO
The $65 million Montecito private estate owned by hotelier Patrick Nesbitt comes with a regulation polo club (with 17-horse barn attached), private disco with a 200+ capacity, and 128-foot infinity edge pool along with many more amenities.
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LOTTERY
Classified............... A9 Life..................... A6-7 Obituaries........... A10
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 5-32-38-39-43 Meganumber: 11
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 4-2-0-0
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 15-16-18-39-59 Meganumber: 17
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 3-8-11-12-25
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 02-07-04 Time: 1:47.72
Saturday’s POWERBALL: 18-31-36-43-47 Meganumber: 20
Soduku................. A8 Weather.............. A10
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 8-2-4 / Sunday’s Midday 8-3-3