Santa Barbara News-Press: February 24, 2023

Dogs and cats to perform in Santa Barbara on Saturday - A4

Visitors run, jump to Super Nintendo World

Immersive experience stressed at newest land at Universal Studios Hollywood - B1

Praying for Ukraine

Local church to hold service today, which is the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion

Winter conditions hit SB County

Snow lands on San Marcos Pass; rain likely everywhere today

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Snow has fallen in Santa Barbara County, and it’s not just on the mountain tops.

In fact, Caltrans had to bring in snow plows Thursday afternoon to clear State Route 154 after a heavy amount of snow left drivers briefly standed near the 2,200-foot summit on San Marcos Pass.

The California Highway Patrol shut down State Route 154 in both

directions, but later reopened it. Motorists are advised to watch for possible further closures.

Earlier, the tops of the Santa Ynez Mountains received a light dusting of snow. And light sleet was seen falling Thursday afternoon at Painted Cave Road and West Camino Cielo in Santa Barbara.

Flood watch alerts are in effect with rain expected today. Some precipitation fell Wednesday night

Please see WEATHER on A4

“I believe that God has settled the hearts of many nations to help Ukraine with military aid and aid for refugees,” said Pastor Mikhail Smiyun of First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Santa Barbara. A prayer service will take place at 7 p.m. today at the church.

Editor’s note: This is the first part of a series of News-Press articles examining the oneyear anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Future stories will cover topics such as efforts by Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox USA and Goleta-based Direct Relief, which have gone to Ukraine to provide help.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A 7 p.m. prayer service will

be held tonight at the First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, 150 Pebble Hill Drive.

And at noon Saturday, a rally in honor of Ukraine will take place, rain or shine, at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara. World Dance for Humanity will host the rally.

The remembrance of Ukraine comes as the nation and its people continue to suffer from the relentless attacks by Russia.

“It is a sad day for us,” Pastor Mikhail Smiyun told the NewsPress. “We have set up all-

UKRAiNE: ONE YEAR LATER

day prayer and fasting today in addition to tonight’s prayer service.

“We request our Lord and ask Him all year, but tonight

Please see UKRAINE on A4

FYi

The First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Santa Barbara continues to raise money to help Ukraine. To make a donation, send a check, made out to the church and earmark it for Ukrainian refugees or wounded soldiers. Checks should be mailed to the church at 150 Pebble Hill Dr. Santa Barbara CA 93111.

Man pleads not guilty to making criminal threats against police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Maria man has pleaded not guilty to felony charges alleging he made criminal threats against Santa Maria police officers and their families, and stalked them at their homes.

Albert Varelas, 34, appeared in court Wednesday for arraignment where he entered not guilty pleas to charges of making criminal threats and stalking, Deputy District Attorney Catherine Martin said. His case was continued to March 2 to set a date for his preliminary hearing. A tentative date for the hearing was scheduled for the next day, March 3.

The complaint filed against Mr. Varelas alleges that between Jan. 24 and Feb. 17, he threatened to commit a crime “which would result in death and great bodily injury,” and that the alleged crime was made “with the specific intent that the statement be taken as a threat.”

According to the complaint, his alleged threat against police officers and their families “was so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey to the victim a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution.

“It is further alleged that the said victim was reasonably in sustained fear of his/her safety and the safety of his/her immediate family.”

The complaint alleges that Mr. Varelas backed up his threats in that he “willfully, maliciously and repeatedly” followed and harassed Santa Maria police officers.

The complaint notes that Mr. Varelas already has a prior serious felony conviction on his record, considered his first strike under the three strikes law.

He was arrested over the weekend after the alleged threat came to light Friday night, when Santa Maria police received information regarding police officers and their families being threatened on social media posts, Sgt. Daniel Rios said in a police department news brief posted online Saturday.

Officers initiated an investigation, and Mr. Varelas was identified as a suspect, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ social media account was also located.

During the initial police investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Mr. Varelas’ alleged threats referenced

previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, he said.

Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Varelas on suspicion of making criminal threats but were unable to locate him.

That changed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when the Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau took over the investigation.

Detectives were able to track the suspect to a location in the Orcutt area near Foster Road and Hummel Drive.

At about 2:20 p.m. Saturday, Santa Maria police detectives, with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and the Santa Maria Police Patrol Division, were able to safely locate and arrest Mr. Varelas without incident, police said.

He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the criminal threats warrant, and he is being held there on $250,000 bail.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Eduardo Servin at 805-928-3781, ext. 1362, or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928 -3781, ext. 2277. email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Caltrans brings in plows to clear State Route 154, where motorists were briefly stranded Thursday afternoon near the 2,200-foot summit on San Marcos Pass.

Convicted murderer faces 25 years to life in prison

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Lompoc man who pleaded guilty to killing the mother of their 6-year-old daughter on Easter Sunday five years ago will be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison when he returns to court today, prosecutors said.

Former District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced last December that Jorge Tovar Fernandez, 32, had pleaded guilty to the willful, premeditated and deliberate murder of Elyse Marie Erwin.

According to prosecutors, Ms. Erwin was returning to a friend’s residence on Goodwin Road in Santa Maria on Easter morning, April 16, 2017, when Mr. Fernandez confronted her.

“As Ms. Erwin was exiting her car, the defendant shot Ms. Erwin in the back of the head,” prosecutors said. “Ms. Erwin died on the scene.”

Mr. Fernandez’s jury trial had been scheduled to begin on Feb. 6.

The District Attorney’s Office had decided it would not seek the death penalty but instead seek a sentence of life in prison without parole if Mr. Fernandez were convicted.

However, Mr. Fernandez changed his mind and opted to forgo his trial and plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence that allows the possibility of parole. He entered that plea on Dec. 15.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s

detectives arrested Mr. Fernandez days after Ms. Erwin’s death. He and Ms. Erwin, parents of a 6-year-old girl at the time, were involved in an intense custody fight that required law enforcement officers to keep the peace, according to testimony at his 2019 preliminary hearing.

Mr. Fernandez gave different stories to law enforcement officers about where he was at the time of the shooting, including that he had driven up State Route 1. A detective, however, testified during the preliminary hearing that his story couldn’t be true because a massive landslide had closed a long stretch of the road.

Evidence showed a 9 mm handgun was used in the killing.

Mr. Fernandez owned a 9 mm Beretta, but claimed he no longer had it in his possession.

However, when law enforcement officers searched his home, they found a 9 mm ammunition magazine in a plastic bag hidden in a cinder block fence.

“This horrific murder was the worst kind of domestic violence,” former District Attorney Joyce Dudley said at the time. “It occurred years after the couple separated, but the defendant continued to engage in relentless stalking behavior.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing any form of domestic violence, or is being stalked, please call 9-1-1. In doing so, you could become a life-saver.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Man accused of electronic peeping to continue arraignment today

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A man charged with 26 misdemeanor counts of unlawful electronic peeping allegedly used a hidden camera to spy on his unsuspecting victims and capture them in various stages of undress.

Justin Obinna Asinobi, 22, will appear in court today to continue his arraignment, which began on Wednesday, when Judge Raimundo Montes de Oca set his bail at $200,000 and ordered him to not have any contact with his alleged victims, stay out of Isla Vista and be subject to GPS monitoring.

“A case involving electronic peeping was initially reported in 2022,” Supervising Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Karapetian told the News-Press. “The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office conducted an almost yearlong investigation into the allegations.

“As a result of that investigation, the District Attorney’s Office charged Mr. Asinobi with allegedly placing hidden cameras in places where persons had a reasonable expectation of privacy.”

The complaint filed against him alleges that Mr. Asinobi “willfully and unlawfully used a concealed camcorder, motion picture camera or photographic camera to secretly videotape, film, photograph or record by electronic means another identifiable person, or through the clothing worn by that other person, for the purpose of viewing the body or undergarments worn by that other person, without that person’s knowledge or consent.”

Mr. Asinobi was charged with unlawful electronic peeping between Oct. 1, 2021 and Feb. 15, 2022.

A search warrant signed on Feb. 23, 2022 permitted the search of devices belonging to Mr. Asinobi in which the alleged recordings were located, the complaint said.

“After viewing the secret recordings, law enforcement officers were able to identify 12 of the people depicted in the recordings, and although an additional 14 were visible, they have not been identified yet,” Prosecutor Karapetian said. “Anyone who has information about the case can contact Detective Sosa with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department 9 (at) 805-681-4100.”

In a move to protect the confidentiality of those alleged victims who were identified, counts 1 through 12 in the complaint lists them only by their initials. In counts 13 through 26 pertaining to alleged victims who remain unidentified, all but four are listed as Jane Doe. The final four are listed as John Doe. What remains unclear about the case is Mr. Asinobi’s alleged motive.

When the complaint alleges that he used a hidden camera to secretly record his victims to view their bodies or their undergarments, without their knowledge or consent, it explicitly states his intent was “to arouse, appeal to or gratify the lust, passion or sexual desires of that person.”

In that context, “that person” makes it sound as if he wanted to arouse his alleged victims and to gratify their lust, passion or sexual desires as opposed to his own.

In most cases, one would suspect the whole point of going to the trouble of hiding a camera in the first place to secretly record people would be to satisfy the perpetrator’s sexual desires or lust, not the victim’s, but that’s not what the complaint says.

Prosecutor Karapetian declined to clear up the confusion.

“I cannot comment on that unfortunately. I’m sorry,” she said. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Treasury sanctions several Mexican nationals, Sinaloa Cartel members

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned several Mexican nationals, Sinaloa Cartel members and six Mexico-based entities for their involvement in the illicit methamphetamine and fentanyl trade.

Its Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) made the announcement Wednesday when identifying the Sinaloa Cartel’s role “as the preeminent facilitator of illicit fentanyl and other deadly drugs being trafficked into the United States.”

The ringleader of the group, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera, was captured and arrested on Jan. 5, 2023, by Mexican authorities ahead of President Joe Biden’s trip to Mexico.

Roughly six weeks later, OFAC announced it was imposing sanctions on several Mexican nationals and entities. They include two ring leaders underneath Guzman Lopez, brothers Ludim Zamudio Lerma and Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma, for “diverting illicit precursor chemicals directly into the hands of Sinaloa Cartel members and laboratory operators.”

“The Zamudio Lerma brothers and their network enable the production of synthetic drugs that devastate American lives, while lining the pockets of Sinaloa Cartel leadership,” OFAC Director Andrea Gacki said in a statement.

“Depriving this network of access and resources will hinder the Sinaloa Cartel’s ability to produce and traffic the illicit drugs it depends on.”

Law enforcement officers have explained that precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl

are shipped from China to Mexican ports, where cartels and their operatives manufacture them into fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl. They also lace other drugs with illicit fentanyl and through an elaborate network smuggle them into the U.S., primarily through the southern border, Border Patrol agents have told The Center Square.

The cartels manufacture fake pills and other drugs in “super labs,” which are “large-scale drug laboratories that produce 10 or more pounds of an illicit drug per production cycle,” specifically illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine for the Sinaloa Cartel, the Treasury Department explains.

Based in Sinaloa, Mexico, the brothers and Ludim Zamudio Lerma’s son, Ludim Zamudio Ibarra, supplied illicit precursor chemicals to high-level Sinaloa Cartel members, the Treasury Department said. The cartel members include Luis Gerardo Flores Madrid, who works directly for Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and lab operators Ernesto Machado Torres and Jose Santana Arredondo Beltran.

OFAC designated each of these men, pursuant to Executive Order 14059, “for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.”

The Zamudio family owns numerous Mexico-based businesses, two of which were also designated under the order and sanctioned: Aceros y Refacciones del Humaya, S.A. de C.V. and Farmacia Ludim.

OFAC also designated and sanctioned two real estate

Please see SANCTIONS on A4

Bike Ride to use highways

Participants in the Solvang Century Bike Ride will utilize portions of the state highway system within Santa Barbara County between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. March 4.

There are three lengths of rides, which include a 52-mile route, a 68-mile route, and a 101-mile route. The rides have sections that use the following state highways in Buellton, Lompoc, Orcutt and Los Alamos areas: State Route 1, State Route 135 and State Route 246.

No road, lane, or shoulder closures are permitted for the bike ride, according to Caltrans. There will be signage along the route informing the public of this

event. For more information, call the Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs Office at 805-549-3237 or visit dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/ district-5.

— Katherine Zehnder Chimney

fire

SANTA YNEZ — A chimney fire took place Wednesday evening in the 3000 block of Figueroa Mountain Road. Santa Barbara County firefighters responded to the Santa Ynez blaze, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck, the department’s public information officer. He said no injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation. Call time was 7:42 p.m.

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COURTESY PHOTO

Santa Barbara County firefighters respond to a chimney fire Wednesday night in Santa Ynez.

Dogs and cats to perform at Comedy Pet Theatre

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

A successful night for Comedy Pet Theatre is when the talented dogs and cats inspire at least one audience member to adopt a pet from a local shelter.

That’s according to Gregory Popovich, a fourth-generation circus performer who rescued 30 dogs and cats from shelters for his show.

“Our main goal is to show our audience that even our friends from shelters can be talented and very smart,” Mr. Popovich, the Comedy Pet Theatre director, told the News-Press Thursday in advance of Saturday’s show in Santa Barbara.

Mr. Popovich, who was born in Ukraine, and his four-legged performers will perform at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St. Comedy Pet Theatre has been in residency since 2006 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, where Mr. Popovich believes in having the dogs and cats do more than simple pet tricks.

These animals are actors, and they’re telling a story.

“Instead of presenting simple tricks such as pets walking on back legs or doing somersaults, I think it’s more interesting if we try to open up the personalities of the pets,” he said.

For example, the Marjorie Luke Theatre audience will watch canines sit behind desks, portraying students in a skit called “Dog Classroom.” Mr. Popovich will play a teacher, asking the dogs math and geography questions.

“They answer me by barking,” Mr. Popovich, 55, said.

The canine students do well, except for the dog playing the lazy student, and Mr. Popovich said that animal will make the

FYI

Comedy Pet Theatre will present its rescued cats and dog, along with human acrobats, mimes and contortionists, at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $10 to $40. To purchase, go to www.eventbrite. com/e/popovich-comedy-pettheatre-santa-barbara-ca-tickets496580976067.

A cat pushes a dog in a cart as part of the acts by Comedy Pet Theatre, which has been in residency since 2006 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Comedy

audience laugh.

“That’s why I call it pet theater,” Mr. Popovich said. “It’s personalities.”

In the “House Cats” act, felines will do tricks such as jumping through hoops, climbing a pole and riding piggybackstyle on a dog. A cat also will push a dog in a cart.

As he discussed the animals, Mr. Popovich told the News-Press about a misunderstanding when an agent contacted him to provide cats 30 years ago for the Shrine Circus in Los Angeles.

The agent thought Mr. Popovich’s cats would be tigers and lions because, well, after all, this was a circus.

The circus producer was surprised when Mr. Popovich drove up with normal house cats of the not-so-dangerous variety.

“There was not time to hire another act with big cats,” Mr. Popovich said.

At the circus, the audience was expecting lions and tigers, and Mr. Popovich used that to his advantage.

“I created a small introduction,” he said. “I said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, you will see cats without safety nets. Please don’t move. Don’t walk out. It’s very dangerous.’ ”

When the house cats walked out into the circus, the audience howled with laughter.

“After the show, the producer gave me a full check,” Mr. Popovich said. “She said, ‘Gregory, I’m surprised by how the audience reacted.’”

She didn’t realize house cats could be such a hit.

In addition to the talented dogs and

Three Warriors named to All-GSAC team

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Westmont’s Stefanie Berberabe, Sydney Brown and Laila Saenz have been named to the 202223 All-Golden State Athletic Conference in recognition of their accomplishments this year.

“These three Warriors are absolutely deserving of making this all-conference team,” said Westmont’s head coach Kirsten Moore. “They, along with their teammates, have helped us win our fourth straight conference championship. They have all had huge roles to play in making that happen.”

This marks the fourth time that Berberabe has been named to the All-GSAC Team. The Warriors’ career point’s leader at 1,658, Berberabe ranks second in career assists (581) and in career steals (316).

“Stefanie, I think, is the best player in the country,” assessed Moore. “She has been honored as that in the past and has only gotten better. She is the most humble, unselfish superstar I have ever been around. She had to change roles this season, which meant she was facilitating our offense after graduating a first-team All-American last year in Iyree Jarrett. Her points per game may have been down a couple, but she is contributing to almost 30 points per game between her assists and her points. She makes everyone around her better.

“She is unbelievable on the defensive end of the floor as well,” continued Moore. “She changes the game with the tenacity she plays with. She leads the league in steals and also gets it done on the boards. She is the only one in our conference to get a triple-double this year and she had three. In our closing game of the regular season to clinch the championship outright, she had a triple-double with zero turnovers. The efficiency is off the charts in everything that she does. She shoots 49% from the floor and leads the league in assist-toturnover ratio at 4.3”

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to coach her and her teammates are grateful to have the opportunity to play with her. She has led us to unbelievable success over her career at Westmont

Brown leads the Warriors in

Rep. Katie Porter accused of misusing taxpayer funds

By RIA ROEBUCK THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) is accusing U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a leading contender for retiring Sen. Diane Feinstein’s senate seat, of violating congressional ethics rules.

The group alleges that Rep. Porter, DIrvine, ran political ads using taxpayer funds. The messaging and imagery of the ads were essentially identical to the ads from her campaign. That could violate House ethics rules that expressly forbid Members from using taxpayers funding for campaigns or political purposes.

As a result of the alleged infraction, FACT sent a letter of request to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) calling for an immediate investigation.

“..we urge the Board to immediately investigate whether Representative Porter used official resources for campaign purposes in violation of federal law and the House ethics rules,” the FACT letter stated.

‘Federal law states that “appropriations shall be applied only to the objects for which the appropriations were made . . . .” The House ethics rules reinforce this law and prohibit Members from using taxpayer funded resources for campaign or political purposes. ...

Any communication paid for by taxpayer funds “may only be used for official Congressional business” and cannot be used for any political purpose,”’ the letter pointed out.

The House of Representatives Communications Standards Manual also set out clear guidelines specifying examples of communications that are not allowed in official communications by representatives.

cats, Saturday’s show will feature human acrobats, mimes and contortionists. And Mr. Popovich will perform juggling feats. “I bring the spirit of physical comedy.

“There’s human talent and the pets’ talent,” Mr. Popovich said. “The audience has to decide by applause how’s more talented. “Always, the pets have much more applause than the humans.” email: dmason@newspress.com

Rep. Porter’s congressional office and campaign organization used the services of the same vendor, Wavelength Strategy in both cases, producing “identical messaging,” of a political nature.

The letter, signed by the Executive Director of FACT, Kendra Arnold emphasized the importance of protecting taxpayers money from misuse. “The facts of this case demonstrate Rep. Porter used taxpayer funds to pay for political ads. The laws at issue in this case are extremely important because not only do they protect taxpayer funds from abuse,

but they address the public perception that incumbents are simply using their office to run for reelection.”

From June to August 2022, Rep. Porter’s congressional office paid over $130,500 to Wavelength Strategy until rules prevented her from continuing to do so, then from February 2022 to November 2022, Rep. Porter’s campaign paid over $1.6 million to Wavelength Strategy to promote the same messaging. Rep. Porter’s communications director Jordan Wong denied any impropriety in a statement to the Free Beacon, which first reported the potential ethical lapse. Mr. Wong “not(ed) that all public spending happened outside the ‘60-day black-out periods’ before the election. Mr. Wong also insisted that Rep. Porter’s publicly funded materials were reviewed and approved by the bipartisan Communications Standards Commission, and that House rules permit lawmakers to use taxpayer money to update their constituents on legislative activities.”

The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) to which FACT made its appeal is responsible for ensuring each House representative obeys ethical rules accordingly. OCE reviews information accordingly and refers findings of fact to the House Committee on Ethics and where necessary recommends House discipline of Members and staff. In recent times however, the OCE has taken up fewer, but more serious cases. The last time a member was expelled was in 2002.

rebounding with 193 (7.7 per game) and tallied five double-doubles on the season.

“Syd has been a leader in so many ways that don’t show on the stat sheet,” noted Moore. “She does so many little things keeping our team on track and leading in so many ways off the court in how we do things and how we prepare.

“On the court, she has found another level in her relentless pursuit of the boards. In this championship-clinching weekend, in which we needed two wins, she had 35 rebounds in the two games. She has led the way for us in a category that was absolutely essential in us winning the regular season, and that was our rebounding margin.

“We finished first in the GSAC in rebounding margin (+13.6) and third in the NAIA. She has been such a leader in this area that has been very important to our success.

“Her experience in so many big moments has come through for us as well. She plays with a high IQ, knows what we do, when we do it, and how we do things. I am very proud of the year she has had and the leadership she has shown.”

Saenz has been named to the All-GSAC team for the second year in a row.

“Laila continues to be an absolute sharpshooter from the perimeter,” said Moore. “Watching her shoot is a thing of beauty for those who know the game of basketball. Having been a shooter myself, I wish my shot was as pure as hers.

“She led the league in 3-point percentage at over 41%. Not only did she shoot a high percentage in general, but she also hit a number of big, important, timely shots for us. That clutch play and competitiveness when we have needed it the most has been a huge asset for us on the perimeter.”

The Warriors begin play in the GSAC Tournament on Friday with a semifinal match-up against the winner between Hope International and The Master’s. The tournament will be held at Menlo in Atherton.

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Swan Lake Ballet Preljocaj

Two Performances!

Sat, Feb 25 / 8 PM / Granada Theatre

Sun, Feb 26 / 3 PM / Granada Theatre (matinee)

Combining Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake with new arrangements, choreographer Angelin Preljocaj reinvents the timeless tale of love, betrayal, seduction and remorse into a modern ecological tragedy.

Dance Series Sponsors: Margo Cohen-Feinberg & Bob

Ellen

Tue, Feb 28 & Wed, Mar 1

7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre

A Santa Barbara institution, this perennial fan favorite features the world’s best films and videos on mountain subjects. An entirely different program of films screens each night.

Major Sponsor: Justin Brooks Fisher Foundation

Two Nights! Two Amazing Programs!

President of the American Psychological Association

Dr. Thema Bryant

Homecoming: Overcome

Fear and Trauma to Reclaim

Your Whole, Authentic Self

Fri, Mar 3 / 7:30 PM

UCSB Campbell Hall

FREE (Registration recommended)

Dr. Thema provides tools to meaningfully connect with a larger community - even in the face of racism, sexism, heartbreak, grief and trauma - and reclaim your time, your voice and your life.

Santa Barbara Debut

Attacca Quartet

Sun, Mar 5 / 4 PM / Hahn Hall, Music Academy

Tickets start at $10

23 Gram Award-winners

Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte, Evergreen , and additional compositions for string quartet

“Classical music observers say we’re living in a golden age of string quartets. It’s hard to disagree when you hear the vibrant young players in New York’s Attacca Quartet.” NPR

Presented in association with Ojai Music Festival

Feinberg,

& Peter O. Johnson, Barbara Stupay, and Sheila Wald

A Timeless Tale Reinvented

COURTESY PHOTOS

Pet Theatre is coming to Santa Barbara for a show on Saturday afternoon.

Gregory Popovich, a fourth-generation circus performer born in Ukraine, is the director of Comedy Pet Theatre.

U.S. Rep. Katie Porter

Santa Maria has so far seen most rain in county

WEATHER

Continued from Page A1

and Thursday morning.

It not only looked like winter, it felt like it, with highs in the low to mid 50s throughout the county. The lows were in the 40s and mid to upper 30s.

Winter weather conditions are expected to continue to last through Saturday, with extreme cold temperatures, continued wind, localized flooding, snow at higher elevations and possible, isolated thunderstorms throughout the county.

That’s according to the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, which says no evacuations were being issued as of Thursday.

The National Weather Service said a blizzard warning for the county’s interior mountains would remain in effect through 4 p.m. Saturday. The weather service also said a winter weather advisory is in effect until 10 tonight in the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Cuyama Valley.

Besides the snow, Santa Barbara County saw some rain on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The rest of day saw partly cloudy skies, but some sprinkles fell as the News-Press went to press Thursday evening.

Santa Maria apparently saw the most rain in the county, with 0.25 inch reported by the National Weather Service for a 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Thursday. For the same period, Lompoc saw 0.19 inch of rain; Santa Barbara, 0.1 inch; Goleta, 0.08 inch; New Cuyama, 0.03 inch; and Santa Ynez, 0.01 inch.

Most of that rain during that 24-hour period fell during Wednesday night or not long after dawn on Thursday.

A bigger constant was the cold.

During the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Thursday, highs were 55 for Goleta, 53 in Santa Barbara, 52 in Santa Maria and a brisk 46 degrees in both Santa Ynez and New Cuyama.

Lows were 42 in Santa Barbara, 39 in Goleta, and 36 in both Santa Ynez and Santa Maria. New Cuyama went below freezing with a low of 29. The cold will continue. The

National Weather Service predicts highs in the low to mid 50s today and Saturday throughout Santa Barbara County.

And the lows are expected to hover near freezing: 36 today at UCSB, 38 in both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, 41 in Lompoc and chilly 34 in Santa Ynez. Cuyama will go below freezing with a projected low of 31. Expect more of the same on Saturday.

The National Weather Service has no doubt that it will rain today. The chance of rain is 90% to 100%,

according to the weather service, which has said today would be a heavier one for the storm.

The weather service has issued multiple flood watches for the county’s interior mountains, the Santa Ynez mountains and coastal areas from Point Conception through Carpinteria.

The flood watches are in effect from 4 a.m. today to 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the weather service.

The Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management reminds residents in areas prone to flooding or in or below burn areas to stay aware of changing conditions.

Residents in those areas should be prepared to take actions such as moving to high ground, said Jackie Ruiz, the office’s public information officer.

Ms. Ruiz also noted drivers should proceed carefully through wet and snowy road conditions and to avoid areas and roadways that appear to be flooding. If possible, stay off those roads entirely, she said.

Strong winds can cause outages, so the Office of Emergency Management advises people to charge important electronic devices and be prepared in case an unannounced outage occurs.

The National Weather Service says the storm will ease up on Saturday, where “showers” are predicted instead of the more severe description of “rain.”

Partly cloudy skies are predicted for Sunday, but the National Weather Service expects rain to return on Monday. email: dmason@newspress.com

cannot stand alone and fight. A lot of countries are helping’

UKRAINE

Continued from Page A1

is a special ask to stop the war because a lot of people have died or been killed,” Pastor Smiyun said. “There is a lot of sadness and heartbreak; every day we receive a lot of hard news. The fighting is continuous.

“I believe that God has settled the hearts of many nations to help Ukraine with military aid and aid for refugees,” he said. “That is a big help for the Ukrainian people. I really don’t know still, even now why it has happened and why people are trying to kill people.

For what reason, nobody knows.

Even now, one year later, nobody knows.

“Satan wants to ‘steal, kill and destroy’ and those who follow him do the same. It’s heartbreaking; all year we try to help as much as we can. We pray all the time,” said Pastor Smiyun.

“We want to stop the war ,” he said. “That is our goal and probably the goal for everyone.

I believe that God has settled hearts to help Ukraine. We have seen nations’ leaders come together and help Ukraine with military aid.”

Pastor Smiyun spoke about the progress made in the last year.

“It is better right now because

people around the world are helping a lot. Ukraine cannot stand alone and fight. A lot of countries are helping.

“Right now, it is a much better situation than a year ago,” he said.

“I always compare this to David and Goliath: a country with a population of 44 million vs. a country with a population of 157 million.”

“In eastern Ukraine, 36 houses of prayer have been destroyed and close to 400 churches closed,” Pastor Smiyun said. “They are talking about religious freedom, but why are they closing churches and houses of prayer?

Additionally, 70% of Christians from eastern Ukraine are refugees.”

The News-Press asked Pastor Smiyun about how the community can show support. “First prayer support — we need more prayers. That is the biggest thing. We need to stop this war,” Pastor Smiyun said. “We also need financial support to help refugees and wounded soldiers.

“We have a special program to help wounded soldiers. Donated funds go to help refugees with food, clothing and housing, and to help wounded soldiers with food and medication,” he said.

“We have had a lot of support from the World Dance for

Humanity. This organization helped the church, especially with the support of the refugees and wounded soldiers.

“Refugees are everywhere,” he said. “Outside of Ukraine, it is better for them. Refugees in western Ukraine are struggling and need support. We are helping as much as we can through the church. Churches in Ukraine are helping as much as they can with food and housing. They still need our support and we try to do as

much as we can.”

As part of a fundraising partnership, the church has raised more than $200,000 for refugees, the pastor said.

“One year later Ukrainians are still fighting for freedom, families, and their future,” Pastor Smiyun said. “They are fighting not only for Ukraine but also for Poland, Romania and other countries in eastern Europe.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Treasury Department coordinated with the Mexican government

SANCTIONS

Continued from Page A2

businesses: Inmobiliaria del Rio Humaya, S.A. de C.V., for “being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ludim Zamudio Lerma;” and Operadora Zait, S.A. de C.V., “for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Luis Alfonso Zamudio Lerma.” OFAC also designated and sanctioned two

import/export companies: Operadora del Humaya, S.A. de C.V. and Operadora Parque Alamedas, S. de R.L. de C.V., “for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Ludim Zamudio Lerma and Ludim Zamudio Ibarra.”

The Treasury Department says it took the action in coordination with the Mexican government and “would not have been possible without the cooperation, support, and ongoing collaboration with the FBI Phoenix Field Office (Tucson Resident Agency), the FBI Legal Attaché San Salvador (Sub-Office Guatemala City), and the DEA Tucson District

Office.” Designated properties and interests in properties located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons “must be blocked” financially and reported to OFAC, as well as U.S. persons financially engaging with them, the Treasury Department says. Violators may face civil or criminal penalties. Those who engage “in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action,” the Treasury Department added.

FIACCO, John Francis

John Francis Fiacco “Johnny”, 76, of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away on February 19th, in Santa Barbara. John was born in New York, NY to Carmella “Millie” and Joseph Fiacco on June 10th, 1946. He grew up with three older brothers, Vincent, Charlie, and Joe. John earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Riverside, and a master’s degree from Loma Linda. He was a big believer in education and has helped many students with financial aid and scholarships to complete their degrees. He had an interest in books and Santa Barbara history.

In his free time, he thoroughly enjoyed sampling the local fare in Santa Barbara with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, his son, Stephen, daughter-in-law Kathy Fiacco, and grandchildren Jack and Braden.

Family and friends are invited to visiting hours to be held on Friday evening February 24, 2023, from 6 to 8pm in the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 757 E. Main Street, Ventura, where a Most Holy Rosary will be recited at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1pm on Saturday, February 25, 2023 in Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 3175 Telegraph Road, Ventura. Reception will follow.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com

To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format.

A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch.

All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street.

The deadline for Weekend and Monday’s editions is at 10a.m. on Thursdays; Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time).

Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at news@newspress.com. The News-Press cannot accept Death Notices from individuals.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

A donation box is at First Ukrainian Evangelical Baptist Church of Santa Barbara, which has raised more than $200,000 for refugees.

‘Ukraine

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The lightly snow-dusted Santa Ynez Mountains is seen from the San Marcos Foothill Preserve in Santa Barbara.

This view of the snow-dusted Santa Ynez Mountains with rows of lemon trees in the foreground is from Glen Annie Road in Goleta.

Life theArts

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023

CALENDAR

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@newspress.com.

TODAY

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805-565-6162 or visit westmont. edu/museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden. org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann. com.

10 a.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence

Welcome to Super Nintendo World

Immersive experience stressed at newest land at Universal Studios Hollywood

Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical. org

7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 25

1:30 and 7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 26

By DAVE MASON

MANAGING EDITOR

Walking into Super Nintendo World is like entering a totally immersive video game.

This writer discovered that on the media preview day, which took place before Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest land opened last weekend in the theme park’s lower lot.

Visitors walk through a giant green pipe and onto a colorful landscape complete with castles, giant mushrooms, colorful Piranha Plants and, of course, Mario and Luigi and Princess Peach, who will pose with you for photos.

The real excitement begins when you walk into Bowser’s Castle and onto Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. This is where Super Nintendo World gets truly immersive. You collect digital coins or points on this ride, but whatever your score, this experience is far better than anything you would encounter in your typical arcade.

Inspired by the Mario Kart video game series, the ride features both augmented reality on your goggles and actual set pieces along the track.

During this ride, you go through

underwater courses and courses in the clouds to compete for the Golden Cup while collecting digital coins to defeat Team Bowser.

While Mario Kart is the big attraction, another one is equally fun in a different way. In the Battle with Bowser Jr., you stand in front of a curtain. Your shadow becomes your avatar. To win, you must duck under the shadow images of Bullet Bills, punch Bomb-Ombs and throw fireballs. Be sure

to jump and touch the shadow of the “? Blocks”! Do that, and the shadow of your body will become much taller than you. You have to throw your whole body into this game.

When you enter Super Nintendo World, you can buy a Power-Up Band, which goes around your wrist. You use it to make contact with various blocks, lifesize clocks and more to collect “coins” or points.

When riding Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, guests can tap their Power-Up

Band on the ride vehicle’s steering wheel. By doing so, they can track digital coins collected as well as check their ranking against friends and family, when synced to the app.

The world’s careful theming continues into the Toadstool Cafe, where, to be consistent with the Mushroom Kingdom, mushrooms are part of the menu. Hungry for a Super Mushroom Soup? You can also try the Toadstool Cheesy Garlic Knots, Piranha Plant Caprese, Mario Bacon Cheeseburger (complete with a mustache on the bun and a little cap), Luigi Pesto Chicken Burger, ? Block Tiramisu and Princess Peach Cupcake.

And, of course, there’s a gift shop, the 1-Up Factory.

Overall, this land is a charming corner that can appeal to the kid in anyone. (Just don’t forget, when necessary, to jump and duck!)

email: dmason@newspress.com

1 p.m. A vigil to honor victims and survivors of recent mass shootings in California will take place at the corner of State and Anapamu streets in Santa Barbara.

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa. org or call the box office at 805922-8313.

MARCH 2

7:30 p.m. The Miro Quartet will perform at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Admission is $20 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers.

MARCH 4

7:30 p.m. The State Street Ballet will perform “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada, 1214 State St. TIckets cost $38 to $106. To purchase, go to granadasb.org or call the box office at 805-899-2222.

— Dave Mason

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

NEWS-PRESS

At left, visitors wearing Power-Up Bands hit blocks to add digital coins (essentially points for bragging rights). And at the Toadstool Cafe, the Mario Bacon Cheeseburger comes complete with a mustache on the top bun and a little cap.

IMAGES FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Super Nintendo World’s Grand Opening Celebration took place last week at Universal Studios Hollywood.

At left, a colorful queue sets the stage for Mario Go-Kart: Bowser’s Challenge. At right, a magical land awaits visitors to Super Nintendo World.

SBCC actors to perform ‘A Comedy of Tenors’

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The Santa Barbara City College Theatre Group will perform Ken Ludwig’s “A Comedy of Tenors” March 1-18.

Directed by Katie Laris, the play will be presented at the Garvin Theatre on the college’s west campus, 900 block of Cliff Drive in Santa Barbara.

“A Comedy of Tenors” follows four tenors in 1930s Paris as they prepare for the concert of the century. That premise sets the stage for chaos, mistaken identities, bedroom hijinks and madcap delight.

Ken Ludwig has had six shows on Broadway, andseven in London’s West End, and many of his works have become a standard part of the American repertoire.

‘A Comedy of Tenors” will feature Justin Davanzo, Jean Louis Dedieu, Felicia Hall, Luke Hamilton, Isaac Lewis, Sean O’Shea, Tiffany Story and Grace Wilson.

Delta HS Robotics wins VEX skills contest

Delta High School Robotics recently placed first in a VEX skills competition in Bakersfield. The winning team, made up of Jose Quintanar, Andrew Limon and Serenity Ruvalcaba, qualified to compete in the VEX VRC Robotics State Championship Tournament at Cal Poly on March 4th.

This is the second team this year from Delta High School to qualify for the State Championship Tournament. The school is in Santa Maria.

— Caleb Beeghly

And the production crew includes scenic and lighting designer Patricia L. Frank, costume designer Pamela Shaw, sound designer Barbara Hirsch, and production stage manager Alyson Grandle.

The director, Katie Laris, is co-chair, stage director and an associate professor of acting for The Theatre Arts Department at SBCC.

Starting March 1, the curtain will rise at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. The March 1 and 2 performances are preview shows.

The 2 p.m. March 5 performance will be live-captioned for the hearing-impaired.

Tickets range from $18 to $26 for general admission, with discounts for students, seniors and SBCC staff.

To purchase, go to www. theatregroupsbcc.com or by calling the Garvin Box Office at 805-965-5935.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation names board members

SANTA BARBARA — The Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial aid to vocal and instrumental students in Santa Barbara County, has announced its board officers and directors for the 2023 season.

This year’s board officers are Deborah Bertling, Dr. Marjorie Gies, Rosalind Amorteguy Fendon, Erin Bonski-Evans and Peter G. Bertling.

Deborah Bertling, a music teacher for more than two decades, will continue as board president, a position she has held for the last 20 years.

The foundation also welcomes the return of directors Barbara H. Burger, Neil DiMaggio, Ronald D. Fendon, Noel Lucky-Ris, David T. McKee and Kristine PachecoBernt.

Since it started, PASF has helped hundreds of students achieve their performing art goals. Scholarships are awarded on the primary basis of talent and skill, but financial need is also considered.

Applicants range in age from 16 to 29 and compete for scholarships amounting to more than $27,000. For more information, visit pasfsb.org.

— Caleb Beeghly

SMHS Alpine Club holds movie night

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria High School Alpine Club recently highlighted its rock-climbing history with an outdoor movie night.

More than 35 students enjoyed good company and pizza (which was provided by the club). They also watched “The Dawn Wall,” which follows freeclimber Tommy Caldwell who attempts to climb the 3,000-foot rock-face in Yosemite National Park that

the movie is named after.

The Santa Maria club no longer does physical rock climbing — not since the 1960s — but participates in numerous outdoor hiking adventures and takes an annual camping trip to Yosemite National Park.

— Caleb Beeghly

2022 Santa Barbara Fair & Expo wins 15 awards

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Fair & Expo and its “Meet Me at the Fair” marketing campaign recently won 15 awards at the Western Fairs Association’s annual convention and trade show.

Produced by Earl Warren Showgrounds, “Meet me at the Fair” is in the small fair category,

meaning fairs with under 50,000 people in attendance.

“Meet Me at the Fair” won first place for Overall Marketing Campaign, Fair Commemorative Poster, Fair Logo, Spanish TV Ad, Spanish Radio Ad, Social Media Ads, and Photo-Entertainment & Grounds Acts.

“Meet Me at the Fair” won

second place for English TV Ad, English TV Series of Ads, English Radio Ad, English Radio Series of Ads,and Carnival Photo. “Meet Me at the Fair” won third place for Fair Program Schedule, Animals with or without People, and People at the Fair.

— Caleb Beeghly

BEN CROP PHOTO

Tiffany Story and Justin Davanzo star in The Theatre Group at SBCC’s production of “A Comedy of Tenors.”

COURTESY PHOTO

From left are Delta High School robotics coach Justin Fraser and his students Jose Quintanar, Andrew Limon, and Serenity Ruvalcaba. Jose, Andrew and Serenity qualified to compete in the VEX VRC Robotics State Championship March 4 at Cal Poly.

COURTESY PHOTO

The officers of the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation’s Board of Directors are, from left, Erin Bonski-Evans, secretary; Dr. Marjorie Gies, vice president; Peter G. Bertling, the board’s legal adviser; President Deborah Bertling; and Rosalind Fendon, treasurer.

Diversions

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Friday, February 24, 2023

ARIES — You’re known to be kindhearted. However, being taken advantage of can happen as a result. It’s important for you to trust your instincts to prevent this from happening. If what you hear doesn’t match your feelings, trust your feelings. If you think you’re being used, try to move past it. It would be a real shame if resentment permanently squelched your giving nature.

TAURUS — Your nature is intense, Taurus. You probably feel things deeply and spend a lot of time lost in thought. Yet, too much intensity can take a toll on your health and well-being. It might be time to go out and enjoy yourself. Get up from the chair and take a walk. Meet someone for lunch or do a little shopping or yoga.

GEMINI — Feed your mind today, Gemini. While you no doubt enjoy being active and social, you get bored fairly quickly, too. You need a constant supply of intriguing, fresh material in order to feel your best. Explore an interesting subject or learn a new hobby. Stimulate your mind and your body will become more energetic. Use the Internet if you can’t get away.

CANCER — If you think you have to prove that you have something valuable to offer, Cancer, consider this carefully. You’re naturally friendly and can get along with almost anyone. This may already be your strength. You have something great to bring to a crowd. Consider being yourself and not trying so hard to feel a part of things.

LEO — Consider putting your problem-solving skills to work today, Leo. You have a real flair for investigating situations and figuring out what happened. If something comes your way that seems mysterious, take the bull by the horns and get to the truth. If you’re baffled, use the process of elimination to narrow things down.

VIRGO — Virgo, don’t be fooled by others who aren’t straight with you. If you don’t know the person well, trust your instincts. You tend to care for others, so it can be easy for you to feel sorry for someone and be inclined to help. Make sure that the person you help really deserves it and is telling you the whole story. Taking this extra time can save you problems later.

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Friday, February 24, 2023

The most dangerous falsehoods are truths slightly distorted. If you believe in the adage “eight ever, nine never,” you’re being misled.

At today’s four spades, dummy played low on the first heart. East won and returned a heart, and South was relieved when his queen held. He next attacked the diamonds: diamond to the ace, diamond ruff. Declarer next took the K-A of trumps — and “nine never” failed him: East discarded.

South ruffed another diamond, led a heart to the ace and ruffed a diamond, but then he had to lead the ace and a low club. West rose with the queen(!), took his high trump and led a club to East’s king. Down one.

SECOND TRUMP

Regardless of “eight ever, nine never,” South should play dummy’s jack on the second trump. When the jack wins, South ruffs a diamond, leads a trump to the ace and ruffs a diamond to set up dummy’s fifth diamond. Making five.

If East had the queen of trumps, South would still be safe for 10 tricks. He could ruff his third club in dummy.

Your partner opens one club, you respond one

LIBRA — It could be easy to get carried away today, Libra. You might get caught up in some excitement or base your decisions on another’s word. You need to use your head on a day like this. Double-check everything and moderate your activities. Keep your limitations in mind. There’s nothing that says you can’t do whatever it is that catches your eye.

SCORPIO — The energy that you feel today may have you so jittery that others don’t know what to do with you, Scorpio. The day’s influences can bring a boost. You’d be wise to plan things to do to expend it all. Get busy with physical chores at work or home. Pull things out and organize, move furniture around, whatever it takes. It’s better to be productive than drive everyone crazy.

SAGITTARIUS — Venturing into something new and different may be what you need, Sagittarius. You have a very solid, practical side to your personality, but the need for excitement and adventure is likely to be just as strong. If you’ve had your nose to the grindstone recently, take some time off for fun. Visit a friend or, better yet, drive to a place you haven’t been to and explore.

CAPRICORN — You may want to learn about something today, Capricorn. At work and home there’s a set schedule of what you must tend to and when. On your own time, you’re free to research anything your heart desires. Intellectual growth is something you enjoy, so why not spend time online or in the library finding out more about your favorite things?

AQUARIUS — If you happen to meet new people today, Aquarius, be careful. Some folks appear interesting because they’re bold or dangerous. Perhaps they do things you’d never dream of doing. This may seem interesting, but it can lead to trouble and hurt you if you aren’t careful. Stick to your usual standards and ethics.

PISCES — You might have to make a choice between telling the truth and lying today, Pisces. In some circumstances, this can be difficult, especially if you’re afraid you will hurt someone’s feelings. Keep in mind that a lie can take more energy than the truth. Consider what you would want the other person to do in your place.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday through Saturday.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid. Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

diamond and he bids one spade. What do you say?

ANSWER: You can commit to game, and to jump to 3NT might work. But partner’s hand is not welldefined, and if he has a heart holding such as Q-x, a notrump contract will be safer if he is declarer. Bid two hearts, a “fourth-suit” call that doesn’t promise hearts but asks him to make another descriptive bid.

“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

— Bertrand Russell