Dancing the pandemic away
Meet the newest SB school board member
Beach volleyball star using song and dance to cope - A3
Virginia Alvarez has roots in the community - A4
Our 165th Year
75¢
F R I DAY, J A N UA RY 8 , 2 0 21
Support for vaccine County health officials encourage public confidence
‘Raising Our Light’ goes virtual Debris flow ceremony will be streamed live on Saturday By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Saturday will mark three years since the devastating debris flow event impacted the coastal community of Montecito. In consideration of the pandemic stay-at-home orders, a team of community partners will host this year’s commemorative event as a livestream on both Zoom and Facebook Live. The ceremony to honor the lives of those who were lost, titled “An Evening of Remembrance, Solidarity and Hope,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday with an invocation from Montecito Fire Protection District Chief Kevin Taylor. Firefighters will then light 23 candles in honor of the 23 victims of the debris flow, which will be followed by a moment of silence. Local churches and schools will then ring 23 bells, and a searchlight will be lit at Montecito Union School, as a “symbol of community support and solidarity for the victims and survivors alike,” read a news release. Sharon Byrne, executive director for the Montecito Association, explained that although large gatherings are not permitted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Montecito still suffered “a serious collective trauma.” Organizers hope for the event to serve as a container for that trauma. “We want to be able to try and help people get a handle on their emotions and everything that comes up this time of year,” she said. South Coast residents are invited to join in during the virtual ceremony, allowing them to remain at home without risking their health while still being involved with the community.
Cottage Health Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons was among the first employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot.
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
In its first update in 2021, the UCSB Economic Forecast Project held a Zoom meeting to discuss the impacts of the COVID19 vaccine distribution on the community. Speakers at the virtual meeting were EFP Executive Director Dr. Peter Rupert, County Public Health Director Dr. Van DoReynoso and Cottage Health Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons. They aimed to instill confidence in people to get the COVID19 vaccine when they become eligible. At the start of the Zoom webinar, Dr. Rupert held a poll asking participants whether they would get the vaccine if it were available to them today. Participants could answer “Definitely,” “Probably,” “Probably not” or “Definitely not.” The results from that poll were: 72% answered that they definitely would get the vaccine; 17% said
they probably would; 7% answered they probably would not; and 4% answered that they would definitely not. Dr. Rupert shared that in a nationwide poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation COVID19 Vaccine Monitor, 41% of those surveyed answered they would definitely get the vaccine; 30% answered they would probably get it; and 17% answered that they would either probably not get it or definitely would not get it. Dr. Rupert added that according to the national results, demographics such as registered Republicans, rural residents, black adults and essential workers say they would probably not or will not get the COVID-19 vaccine. “This should not be about different races, sex or age,” he said. “We’re starting to see people get more educated and more understanding, but, to me, this is a more serious matter in that … the vaccine should really not be anything about being across different political spectra.” The UCSB professor also provided a few economic updates,
FOLLOW US ON
66833 00050
3
soon. She noted an important adjustment in direction from the California Department of Public Health. If the county “has done its due diligence in providing vaccines to Tier 1,” it can proceed to tiers 2 and 3. “Here in Santa Barbara County, we are going through Phase 1A with the three tiers concurrently, because we want to make sure all the vaccines we’ve allocated are getting into arms and not sitting in refrigerators and freezers,” Dr. Do-Reynoso said. In addition, Public Health has partnered with retail pharmacies such as Albertsons and Ralphs. The public health director said Santa Barbara County is looking at being able to do mass vaccination sometime in late March or early spring, meaning the general public throughout the county. If Santa Barbara County residents are not in Phase 1A or Phase 1B, they can expect to be vaccinated then. Please see support on A8
Essential workers to get vaccine in early February By GRAYCE MCCORMICK NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The COVID-19 vaccine is rolling out simultaneously as the daily case numbers of positive COVID-19 individuals and COVID-related deaths continue to rise in Santa Barbara County. The good news is that some essential workers outside the healthcare space will begin to be vaccinated in Phase 1B Tier 1, according to County Public Health Public Information Officer Jackeline Ruiz. “Our best estimate for when this might begin is early February,” she told the NewsPress on Thursday. “This will include the following groups: food/grocery and agricultural
workers, education and childcare and emergency services such as law enforcement, probation and corrections.” Other good news is that, according to Ms. Ruiz, all 14 of the county’s skilled nursing facilities are currently being vaccinated or have been vaccinated. However, COVID-19 has made its way into these skilled nursing facilities, and multiple senior COVID-related deaths have been reported. The deaths have also been associated with residing in congregate facilities in the past few weeks. As of Jan. 5, Atterdag Care Center reported fewer than 11 Please see uptick on A8
L O T T E RY RESU LTS
ins ide Classified.............. A6 Life.................... A 4-5 Obituaries............. A8
6
including that jobless claims remain elevated and more stimulus checks have arrived. However, he said the community hasn’t seen the results of the latest lockdown over the holidays yet. Dr. Do-Reynoso with the Public Health Department updated the participants on the COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the county. To date, 16,775 doses have been received. In addition, 4,900 doses were ordered on Thursday, and Public Health anticipates 7,200 doses next week. “We want to make sure that every time we order vaccines, that our providers are approved providers … and have the capacity to quickly administer those doses and that they’re not sitting in the freezer or refrigerator sequentially,” she said. Currently, there are 12 providers that are being allocated vaccines from the Public Health Department. As of Tuesday, Dr. Do-Reynoso said 42 approved vaccine providers anticipate being able to distribute new allocations
email: mwhite@newspress.com
Nursing facilities see uptick in COVID-19 cases
COURTESY PHOTO
By GRAYCE MCCORMICK
Event organizers said it is normal to experience feelings of fear, anxiety and sadness near the anniversary of a disaster, and this year will be especially challenging given the health restrictions in place. “We are not able to gather together in person as we normally would, but this should not stop us from supporting each other,” organizers said. “We can gather by phone, Zoom and most definitely, know that we are all sharing the feelings and memories of this day, together.” Organizers also offered tips for coping, which include sharing stories, memories and feelings with others. “Accept kindness and help from others,” organizers said. “Support from family and friends is critical to healing.” The country’s Community Wellness Team formed in the wake of the fire and debris flow remain active in the community to offer support. The team can be reached at 805-364-2750. To register for this Zoom event, visit: zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_LqkfbBJrTmast2OaO-T9Jg. To view the event on Facebook Live, visit www.facebook.com/ events/739029386724029. A recording of the event will be available on Jan. 12, and a link will be posted on the Raising Our Light web page, www.sbbucketbrigade.org/ raisingourlight. Event organizers encourage attendees to RSVP at the Facebook event, at www.facebook.com/ events/739029386724029. For more information, go to the event website or call the Montecito Association at 805-6360475.
Sudoku................. A6 Sports ................... A3 Weather................ A8
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-29-33-34-44 Mega: 21
Thursday’s DAILY 4: 4-7-9-9
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 20-43-51-55-57 Mega: 4
Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 4-10-26-33-39
Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 02-08-05 Time: 1:42.03
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 1-20-22-60-66 Meganumber: 3
Thursday’s DAILY 3: 3-5-3 / Wednesday’s Midday 3-8-5