Santa Barbara News-Press: March 03, 2023

‘Live Free Tour’

Juvenile suspects’ names released

D.A.’s office identifies minors charged with murder in Stearns Wharf case

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The District Attorney’s Office has released the names of the two 15-year-olds with alleged ties to Ventura County gangs who have been charged with murder in connection with the Dec. 9 shooting death of an innocent bystander on Stearns Wharf.

One of the teens appeared in Juvenile Court on Thursday for further proceedings, Senior Deputy District Attorney Tate McAllister told the News-Press.

“Minor Matthew Lopez continued his case to 3/28,” the prosecutor said. “The other minor, Adan de la Cruz, is set for that date already, also for further proceedings.

“Further proceedings,” he said, “just means that the court and the parties will appear to address any issues that need to be addressed and check on the status of the

case.”

The two teens have denied the murder charges filed against them.

The District Attorney’s Office will not seek to try them as adults in Superior Court where their sentences would be a lot stiffer if they were convicted.

“The law was recently changed to prohibit the transfer of 14and 15-year olds to adult court, so the juveniles must be tried as juveniles,” Prosecutor McAllister said.

A third juvenile, 16, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and with illegal possession of an unregistered firearm, but the prosecutor confirmed he cannot discuss that minor’s case or release his name.

“Per Welfare and Institutions Code section 676, I can discuss only minors charged with

Please see MURDER on A4

Court appearance set for today for man who allegedly threatened police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

A roar of applause rang through the packed Campbell Hall as Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, walked onto the stage at UCSB to speak at the “Live Free Tour” event.

“They say there are no conservatives on college campuses … but we’ve got to get a bigger room next time!” exclaimed Mr. Kirk in response to the warm welcome Wednesday evening.

Turning Point USA is a conservative organization that was originally founded by Mr. Kirk, a Forbes 30-under-30 recipient who became known as the youngest person ever to speak at the Republican National Convention in 2016. Turning Point USA is a nonprofit, and, according to its website (tpusa. com), its mission is to “identify, educate, train and organize students to promote freedom.”

Mr. Kirk and the Turning Point USA group came to UCSB to facilitate a discussion regarding conservativeness and specifically transgenderism, racism, climate change and other political issues within college campuses.

Close to 200 students who disagreed with Mr. Kirk on those issues stood outside Campbell Hall during the event, protesting against Turning Point USA. One student held a sign saying “Climate change is real.”

Before the event on Wednesday, Mr. Kirk spent his time in the UCSB quad with a sign that said “transgenderism is a delusion.”

This sign caused quite a bit of disruption on campus and led

into what he was going to speak on at the event.

His main topic throughout his speech was the definition of delusion and how he thinks the liberal media is delusional.

Other than transgenderism, Mr. Kirk mentioned racism and said, “There is this delusion, or lie, that America is systemically racist. This ideology is very dangerous. These idea pathogens can do far

more damage than COVID-19 ever did.”

He followed this up by saying, “Anyone who believes these delusions are not just doing harm to America, but they are doing harm to themselves.”

Echoes of cheers followed these comments.

Mr. Kirk then specifically talked about UCSB and what the students and “liberal media”

have been doing wrong within education.

“You should be mentally curious in life, and American colleges have gone away from this,” expressed Mr. Kirk as the crowd clapped in agreement.

He explained further by saying, “At 19, 20, and 21, you have this confidence that you have completely figured out the world.

Please see KIRK on A4

A Santa Maria man will appear in court today for a preliminary hearing on felony charges connected to criminal threats he allegedly made against Santa Maria police officers and their families.

Albert Vareles, 34, appeared in court Thursday to set the date for his preliminary hearing, and Friday’s already scheduled but tentative date was confirmed, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Catherine Martin.

Mr. Varelas has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking.

The complaint filed against him alleges that between Jan. 24 and Feb. 17, he threatened to commit a crime against police officers “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.”

His alleged threat against the 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,” according to the complaint.

“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 said.

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 on Feb. 18 after the alleged threat came to light the night before, 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. 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, Sgt. Rios said.

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

The Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau took over the investigation the morning of Feb. 18, and 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., the 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 that’s where he remained Thursday on $200,000 bail.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

UCSB hosts Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA

PHOTOS COURTESY TURNING POINT USA

“You should be mentally curious in life, and American colleges have gone away from this,” Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, told the audience UCSB Campbell Hall Wednesday evening.

Campbell Hall was packed for the talk, and the audience expressed its support for the speaker with enthusiastic applause.

California, Los Angeles County ending coronavirus emergency declarations

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended the state’s coronavirus emergency orders on Tuesday.

The change came nearly three years after Gov. Newsom became the first governor in America to issue stay-at-home orders.

California has had more than 100,000 residents die from coronavirus. Its death rate (255 per 100,000 people) was below the national average (339 per 100,000 people), according to a press release from the governor’s office.

The announcement from the governor’s office is mostly symbolic. Most government restrictions in response to the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted by the state. For example, the state was no longer forcing people to wear masks in most places, close

their businesses or stay away from beaches in response to the pandemic.

Reflecting on the pandemic, Gov. Newsom said the state is better prepared for a future pandemic, given what it has endured over the last three years.

“California is better prepared, and that’s because we have a serious Legislature and the health ecosystem in California is second to none in the country,” Gov. Newsom said, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Even with the changes, the state will require healthcare plans to cover the cost of coronavirus therapeutics and vaccines. Additionally, the state will reimburse the cost of at-home coronavirus tests until the end of November.

Now that California ended its coronavirus emergency orders, only five states still have one in place.

The state government is not the only California entity rescinding coronavirus

emergency orders.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agreed to end its local coronavirus emergency declaration on Tuesday. The county agreed that the order will expire on March 31.

“Yes, COVID-19 is still with us,” Supervisor Hilda Solis told ABC 7. “No, we don’t want to abandon those tools that got us to this place ... but with effective vaccines and testing abundantly available we can move on to the next phase of our response to COVID19.”

This will make one significant change in Los Angeles County. The county mandates that people exposed to coronavirus must wear a mask in public for ten days; that will no longer be the case in April.

The state of California and Los Angeles County are ending their coronavirus emergency declarations before the federal government. The federal government’s emergency order will expire on May 11, 2023.

Disaster Loan Outreach Center opens in Solvang

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Disaster Loan Outreach Center opened Thursday at the Solvang Superior Court offices, 1745 Mission Drive, Solvang. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

This DLOC is being established by the U.S. Small Business Administration to meet the needs of businesses and community members impacted by the January storms.

SBA encourages businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, homeowners and renters to visit the DLOC, where customer service representatives can answer questions about

SpaceX launch rescheduled

the disaster loan program. Representatives also can provide help with completing disaster loan applications.

Previously, a DLOC opened in Orcutt. It’s at the Orcutt Union School District office, 500 Dyer St., where hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Spanish, American Sign Language and other translation services are available at both sites.

According to a news release, SBA has made the following modifications to provide consistent and equitable relief to every disaster loan recipient:

• First payment on a loan is due 12 months from the date of initial disbursement.

• The interest rate during the

The SpaceX launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, scheduled for Thursday, has been delayed again to today. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was rescheduled to take off at 10:38 a.m. from Space Launch

AT&T tower down in SB County

An AT&T tower has been down since about 10 a.m. Saturday in Santa Barbara County, causing some loss of cell phone signal. There is no estimate on when the tower will be back in service.

An AT&T representative at La Cumbre Plaza in Santa Barbara

Renovated playground reopens in Lompoc

LOMPOC — Lompoc Parks and Recreation has announced that the renovated Thompson Park playground will reopen today. The park is located between R and S streets in Lompoc.

Thompson Park’s playground was closed during summer 2022 due to unsafe playground equipment conditions, according to the city of Lompoc.

initial deferment period is 0% for 12 months from the date of initial disbursement.

• SBA provides low-interest, long-term loans for physical and economic damage caused by a declared disaster.

There’s a variety of home and personal property, business and economic injury loans for which community members may be eligible.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, impacted community members must register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency at www.disasterassistance.gov.

FEMA representatives will also be at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to assist with application submittals and answer

Complex 4 East. SpaceX said the reason for the delay was the weather.

The rocket was originally scheduled to be launched Monday, then was delayed several times after that. If the launch takes place today as scheduled, it will stream live at SpaceX.com, and you can watch a recording of it there later as well.

After the launch, the Falcon 9’s reusable

told the News-Press Thursday that customers should turn devices on and off every two hours so that devices can reconnect with the signal. Once the tower is back in service, AT&T customers can call customer care to receive compensation for lost days of service, according to the representative.

— Katherine Zehnder

Improvements to Thompson Park include the installation of two playgrounds, one for ages 2 to 5 and another for ages 5 to 12, new pour-and-play safety surfacing, swings, corn hole and horseshoe pits.

The playground serves as a national demonstration site for Play On, promoting physical activity.

The project was fully funded through grants, including a community development block grant, according to the city.

— Katherine Zehnder

Gas stoves not a major factor in air quality, report finds

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Do gas stoves cause respiratory problems?

A new comprehensive literature review, “The Effects of Cooking on Residential Indoor Air Quality: A Critical Review of the Literature with an Emphasis on the Use of Natural Gas Appliances”, conducted by Catalyst Environmental Solutions says they do not. The analysis said natural gas is, “not a significant determinant of residential indoor air quality.” It noted that the food type is more important than the fuel used to cook it.

The report says that people should use proper ventilation when cooking to protect their health and consider other factors like the type of food, the oil used to cook the food, plus the temperature and time used to

cook food.

The review looked at several peer-reviewed studies and government assessments. It said many are used in California and other states to falsely claim that gas stoves harm respiratory health. The analysis was paid for by the California Restaurant Association and the California Building Industry Association and was not funded by the appliance industry.

“As the analysis shows, many of these studies actually demonstrate that proper ventilation during gas or electric cooking is an effective way to ensure safety,” a press release promoting the study said.

The study comes as lawmakers across the country are proposing restrictions on natural gas stoves, ovens, and other appliances; the move would negatively impact consumers and businesses in California, according to the report.

questions.

The SBA deadline to apply for help for property damage is March 16. The SBA deadline to apply for assistance for economic injury is Oct. 16.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba. gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance If you’re hard of hearing or deaf or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

You can register for emergency alerts at www.readysbc.org and receive the alerts via text, phone call and email.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

first stage will land on the drone ship called Of Course I Still Love You.

The Falcon 9 rocket will carry 51 Starlink satellites, which are part of a program to provide internet access to 50 countries. The satellites will be placed in low Earth orbit — if the launch happens as planned.

— Dave Mason

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER . . . . .Co-Publisher

YOLANDA APODACA . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Operations

DAVE MASON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor

HOW TO REACH US . . .

MAIN OFFICE 715 Anacapa St. Santa Barbara, 93101..805-564-5200

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102

NEWSROOM ADVERTISING

News Hotline 805-564-5277

Email...dmason@newspress.com

Life 805-564-5277

Sports 805-564-5277

News Fax 805-966-6258

Corrections 805-564-5277

Classified 805-963-4391

Classified Fax 805-966-1421

Retail 805-564-5223

Retail Fax 805-564-5139

Toll Free 1-800-423-8304

Voices/editorial pages ..805-564-5277

COPYRIGHT ©2023

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

All rights are reserved on material produced by the News-Press, including stories, photos, graphics, maps and advertising. News-Press material is the property of Ampersand Publishing LLC. Reproduction or nonpersonal usage for any purpose without written permission of the News-Press is expressly prohibited. Other material, including news service stories, comics, syndicated features and columns, may be protected by separate copyrights and trademarks. Their presentation by the News-Press is with permission limited to one-time publication and does not permit other use without written release by the original rights holder.

HOW TO GET US . . .

CIRCULATION ISSUES 805-966-7171

refunds@newspress.com newsubscriptions@newspress.com vacationholds@newspress.com cancellations@newspress.com

Mail delivery of the News-Press is available in most of Santa Barbara County. If you do not receive your paper Monday through Saturday, please call our Circulation Department. The Circulation Department is open Monday - Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Mail delivery in Santa Barbara County: $5.08 per week includes sales tax, daily, and the Weekend edition. Holidays only, $3.85 per week includes sales tax. Single-copy price of 75 cents daily and $2 Weekend edition includes sales tax at vending racks. Tax may be added to copies puchased elsewhere.

VOL. 167 NO.

www.newspress.com Newspress.com is a local virtual community network providing information about Santa Barbara, in addition to the online edition of the News-Press.

UCSB men’s volleyball defeats Vanguard

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB men’s volleyball team (3-9) were back in Rob Gymnasium after nearly two weeks off from play as they took on the Vanguard University Lions in their last non-conference match before Big West play begins. It took four sets to decide the winner between the Gauchos and the top-ranked NAIA team in the country, but it was UCSB who came out with the win (25-23, 25-23, 25-23, 25-20).

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos had a slow start as they got back in the swing of things after a few weeks off from playing while Vanguard was in search of their second win over a Division I opponent this season.

The Lions were up by six points over the Gauchos by the time the first timeout was called. Once UCSB returned to the court, they went on a 6-1 run which included back-to-back aces from Jack Walmer to give the Gauchos a chance to take this first set. However, even with the run, it wasn’t enough to top the Lions as UCSB dropped the first set 25-23.

That was all the Gauchos would give to Vanguard.

The next three sets were a close battle between these two tough teams, but UCSB was not about to give up this match. Even with three tight sets, it was UCSB who prevailed. They came back to take the three remaining sets 25-23, 25-23 and 25-20, giving them a solid non-conference win before beginning Big West play on Friday.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Redshirt freshman Owen Birg was one of two Gauchos to register a double-double in tonight’s match. He ended his night in Rob Gym with 19 kills while also adding on 10 digs.

• Walmer was the other Gaucho to put up a doubledouble this evening. He led the team’s offense as their only setter, securing 42 assists. To go along

The Gauchos will return to Rob Gymnasium today, as they host UC San Diego for the opening night of Big West play.

with that, he helped the defense in the back row by securing 12 digs. He ended up leading the team from the service line as well, adding on five aces.

• Ryan Wilcox was a dominant force on offense for UCSB. He contributed 14 kills to the team’s efforts while also assisting on four blocks.

• Santa Barbara native Sam Meister had the most productive outing in the front row for the Gauchos. He registered seven kills with only one error on 13 swings as he hit at a .462 clip, the best for the team this evening. He also assisted the front row defense with two blocks.

• Libero Max Gordon was making key plays in the back row for the Gauchos, keeping the ball alive even when it seemed to hit the ground. He ended tonight with a match-high 13 digs.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will return to Rob Gymnasium today, as they host UC San Diego for the opening night of Big West play. The team will welcome back their alumni while giving all fans crazy wigs to support the Blue and Gold. First serve will be at 7 p.m. with a live stream through ESPN+. Live stats will also be available through ucsbgauchos.com.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Westmont Swimmers earn All American honors

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Six Warrior swimmers, along with head coach Jill Jones Lin and newly appointed assistant coach Emma Leathers, made their way across the country to represent Westmont in the NAIA National Championships. By the end of the first day, all of them had earned NAIA All-American honors.

First, Morgan Bienias, Ella Chaisson, Bailey Lemmon and Daisy Marquardt finished eighth in the 200 yard medley relay. Then Olivia Garrison, Bienias, Emma Bustamante and Marquardt did the same in the 800 yard freestyle. The top eight finishers are named All-Americans.

The NAIA changed relay qualification procedures this year that made participation in the event a bit more challenging.

Last year, teams could qualify by beating relay qualification standards. This year, however, there were no qualification standards for relays. Instead, participants could only qualify for individual events. Then,

each coach could put together relay teams from those who had qualified, assuming his or her school had enough qualifiers. The result was that a coach might have to include some swimmers who were not as proficient in the event.

Despite that reality, Westmont swimmer not only finished high enough to earn the All-American honors, but in the process broke the school record in both events.

“We did not know who to put on that relay,” acknowledge Westmont’s head coach Jill Jones Lin about the 200 yard individual medley. “We don’t have our typical relay swimmers to be able to pick from. So, we had to be a little more creative and think through all possible combinations. We hoped that it would be good and that Daisy could pull through. She hasn’t sprinted all season because she has focused more on the distance stroke events. It was awesome. Getting the first race out of the way is really important. We have been waiting and getting ready for the meet to start. It is

Please see WESTMONT on A4

UCSB’s Honer wins third Big West Player of the Week Award this season

By ERIC BOOSE

UCSB SPORTS

UCSB sophomore Amelia Honer has won her third Big West Women’s Tennis Player of the Week award this season and the fifth of her career, the conference announced on Wednesday.

Honer has played on court one for doubles and singles in every match this season, and she continued her fine form on Sunday against an Oregon squad which came into the dual ranked No. 55 in the nation. In doubles, she and Kira Reuter fought off four match points to come back and win, 7-6. In singles, she again mounted a comeback, this time

turning the second set from a 4-1 deficit into a 7-5 win, sweeping her singles match. With the wins, the Newtown, Pen., native improved to 4-1 in singles and 5-1 in doubles across her nine matches so far this season. She is ranked No. 67 for singles and No. 13 for doubles with Reuter in the most recent ITA national rankings. Her five Big West Player of the Week awards over the last two seasons are more than any other Big West team has earned in that time frame.

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Attacca Quartet

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

Tickets start at $10

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

Co-presented with Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara

Siddhartha Mukherjee

The Song of the Cell : An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human Wed, Mar 8 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre

“Mukherjee has a storyteller’s flair and a gift for translating complex medical concepts into simple language.” The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Premiere Alisa Weilerstein, cello FRAGMENTS

Fri, Mar 10 / 7 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Tickets start at $20

“Weilerstein is truly a phenomenon.” The Telegraph (U.K.)

“A multimedia Bach show.” The New York Times An Arts & Lectures Co-commission

West Coast Premiere

Ballet Hispánico

Doña Perón

Sat, Mar 11 / 8 PM / Granada Theatre

“In Lopez Ochoa’s high-varnish,

Santa Barbara Debut

23 Gram Award-winners

Event concluded with walk-up Q&A

KIRK

Continued from Page A1

‘I know wrong from right,’ as they say. That robs you of all joy and asking more questions.”

He also conveyed his admiration to the Turning Point USA chapter at UCSB. “The Turning Point USA students have to go through something every day that most liberal students don’t: They have to actively defend their position.”

This section of his speech then concluded with a call for the protestors outside to come into the hall and ask questions.

The initial part of Mr. Kirk’s speech led up to the main event: a walk-up style question-andanswer time with UCSB students.

Some students expressed agreement with Mr. Kirk, but other students who walked up to the microphone were not in favor of Mr. Kirk and asked questions in opposition.

One student specifically debated Mr. Kirk for close to 10 minutes about his views on climate change, which ended with a heated argument.

Concerning the legitimacy of climate change, Mr. Kirk said, “How much of the global temperature rising is human activity?” This then opened the discussion up to the necessity of fossil fuels.

“We have less people dying from climate-related disasters — extreme cold, hurricanes, etc. — because of the advancements of fossil fuels in our homes,” explained Mr. Kirk. “If you decide all of the sudden to shut down something that works, which is the extraction and utilization of hydrocarbons, that have lifted more people out of poverty than any other energy source in human history, than you actually only care about a pagan agenda rather than actually helping people in poverty.”

As mentioned previously, all

while this was happening inside Campbell Hall, there were students protesting right outside the front doors of the event. These students had signs with various slogans and phrases, all in which were against Mr. Kirk and his beliefs. There were also students who wore construction vests to make sure there was a level of safety not only within the protesting group but also outside of the group.

Additionally, to keep the protestors at bay, there was a line of UCSB police surrounding the event. Things got out of hand right before the event started. As tensions started to rise between the crowd outside and the attendees of the event, security decided to turn away people from the hall, in order to keep a safe number of visitors.

Mr. Kirk ended his time at UCSB

STOVES

Continued from Page A2

“California’s world-class restaurants rely on gas cooking to prepare meals inspired by cuisines from around the world,” Jot Condie, President and CEO of the California Restaurant Association, said in the release. “We have expressed concern that misleading health claims about flame cooking could inform bad policies and harm California restaurants. Regulatory decisions need to be based on sound science, and this analysis shows – by reviewing decades of research – that natural gas cooking is safe and there is no credible evidence to support health claims against this essential element of California’s restaurant industry.”

The CRA has sued Berkeley over its restrictions on gas appliances.

Dan Dunmoyer, President and CEO of the California Building Industry Association, added that putting restrictions on natural gas appliances, including stoves, would make homeownership less attainable for California residents.

“Increasing access to homeownership opportunities for all Californians requires sensible policies that balance concern for the environment with the cost, as well as

by saying that “the Declaration of Independence was not signed by people who were into ‘self-love.’ Rather, it was signed by people who loved the Lord, loved their families and loved their country. I encourage you to do the same.”

In the same way the event started, it also finished: with the crowd on their feet, cheering Mr. Kirk’s name. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Prosecutors say teens were in firefight with alleged SB gang members

M URDER

Continued from Page A1

murder,” he said.

Prosecutors allege the two teens charged with murder engaged in a firefight with four young adults from Santa Barbara with alleged ties to a Santa Barbara gang, and that the bystander, Robert Dion Gutierrez, 52, of Camarillo, got trapped in between the two groups.

Mr. Gutierrez was walking

on the Santa Barbara wharf with his wife when the shooting erupted. According to police, he “was struck and killed by one of the rounds fired” during the altercation.

Mr. Gutierrez was treated at the scene for his gunshot wound and taken to the hospital, where he died on Dec. 20.

“One group involved in the altercation has been identified as local Santa Barbara area residents with ties to a local Santa Barbara street gang,” police

said. “The opposing group in the altercation has been identified as Ventura County residents with ties to Ventura County street gangs.”

Prosecutors allege the Santa Barbara group was driving on the wharf when they spotted the Ventura County juveniles and confronted them, dispatching two of their group to attack them with a gun. The four Santa Barbara defendants have pleaded not guilty. They’re scheduled to return

to court April 6 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

The three juveniles were arrested by Santa Barbara Police Department officers on Feb. 16. Their arrests were the result of an intense police investigation to identify and bring to justice additional suspects following the Jan. 19 arrest of the four adult defendants from Santa Barbara. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

All six swimmers earn All American honors

WESTMONT

Continued from Page A3

finally here and this was a great way to set the tone.”

The race was particularly gratifying to Lemmon, a senior, who was unable to compete in her sophomore and junior seasons due to an injury.

“It is honestly exciting and I am proud of making it to this week, especially since it is our last year in the NAIA,” said Lemmon. “We had more people qualify this year than we thought. Being able to be an All-American alongside my teammates is an honor. I am proud of all of us for making it this far.

“The 50 yard butterfly (the third leg of the race) is my favorite relay to do. I was excited to swim with my goggles on (as compared to conference) and see how fast I could go. I think that was my fastest split for all four years.”

The Warrior quartet shaved exactly one-half second off the previous record, finishing in a time of 1:48.24.

In the 800 yard freestyle relay, the Warriors beat the previous record by more than four seconds, posting a time of 7:48.65.

”In general, they have all swam that event, but we have not focused on it in training,” noted Jones Lin. For them to come together and get a school record and get eighth place by 0.03 is pretty amazing. It was awesome for Morgan who just swam her last 200 freestyle ever. She was able to end on such a high note and was so close to her lifetime best time for her split.

“They all swam with a lot of heart. They went out really fast and held on as hard as they

could in the end. It was a really good swim.”

For Bienias, a senior who participated in an off-campus program during the fall semester, the reality of getting back to the national championship site was especially challenging.

“I am really proud of myself and my team,” said Bienias. “I am really happy to be here. I wasn’t at Westmont in the fall, so it means a lot to be here now and I am super grateful.”

Asked about her fall training, Bienias replied, “I did a lot of running when I could in the mornings. I traveled a lot and wasn’t at school a whole lot. I didn’t do any weight training and maybe swam once a month. Getting back into training in January wasn’t as hard as I thought, but I definitely was not hitting my times at all. I was very out of shape and I still kind of am. But that is okay, I just tried to be positive and work hard in the weight room and in the pool.”

In regard to today’s 800 freestyle relay, the senior said, “Honestly, my body was not feeling great, but I wanted to be here with my team. We were all super positive and happy to be here. I think that is what brought the energy out of me. This was my last 200 freestyle ever and my last relay ever, so I just left it all out in the pool.”

In her freshman year, which was the first year of the program, Bienias earned AllAmerica honorable mention recognition in the 1650 yard freestyle. Since that time, she has been honored as an All-American each year. In total, she has now collected seven AllAmerican titles.

The other two members of the 800 yard freestyle relay team – Marqardt and Bustamante – are freshman and participating in the first national championships.

Asked if she thought she would be at nationals at the beginning of the year,

Marquardt answered, “Honestly, no. I wanted to make it, but looking at the times from last year, they were all very fast and I didn’t know that I could get there.

“At our winter invitational in November, I swam the 400 IM and Coach Jill said the timing could possibly get me into nationals. At the conference meet, she was more serious about me going and that is when I qualified for nationals.”

“I didn’t even think I was going to get to come to the meet,” said Bustamante, whose times put her just outside the initial list of qualifiers. When the final fields were set, however, Bustamante had made the cut. “Just being here is exciting. Then being able to place and be an All-American is very cool.”

Asked when she found out she would be able to compete, Bustamante said, “I was in the middle of biology class and all of my teammates told me to check my text messages.”

“It has been so fun being on such a close team and working hard together,” expressed Marquardt. “It is really special. I love all of our teammates. We push each other. I don’t think I could have gotten here without any of them and their pushing me in practice and at meets. They are so encouraging. I love our teams.

“They are so encouraging to me and everyone loves each other so much,” agreed Bustamante. “The fact that we are able to come to practice every day and work so hard is because we are doing it for each other, which is so special. We do it to do our best and to push each other to do our best – in and out of the pool.”

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

consumer choice,” Mr. Dunmoyer said in the release. ”Natural gas appliances continue to be the top choice among home buyers, yet restrictions on natural gas access proposed by California municipalities are removing that choice. The science shows natural gas appliances pose no credible health risk with the required ventilation, and prohibiting these popular features in a home will only raise the cost of homeownership and put greater strain on an increasingly fragile electric grid.”

Additionally, Dr. Dan Tormey, president of Catalyst Environmental Solutions and chief author of the report, said the media has been misleading the public.

“Our review finds that the type of appliance used to cook food indoors – natural gas or electric – is not a significant determinant of indoor air quality,” Dr. Tormey said in the press release. “While recent media reports have suggested studies are increasingly showing a link between gas cooking and respiratory illnesses, our review of those and other studies does not support that narrative. We find the body of research on cooking and indoor air quality points toward the value of proper ventilation, regardless of whether an electric or gas stove is used.”

by 10 people in an urban environment.

‘The type of appliance used to cook food ... is not a significant determinant of indoor air quality’

ANNIKA BAHNSEN / NEWS-PRESS

A protester, who disagrees with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, carries a sign saying “Climate change is real” outside UCSB Campbell Hall. About 200 protesters gathered to express their disagreement with Mr. Kirk on the issues.

Life theArts

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 805565-6162 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.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence 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

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

From Shakespeare to poker

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Artistic directors Rodney Gustafson and William Soleau aren’t bluffing when they say the State Street Ballet is performing “Fold.”

The contemporary dance is a caricature of a poker game, and it’s part of a diverse program that is headlined by a Shakespearean classic that’s arguably perfect for

State Street Ballet promises diverse evening at The Granada

a ballet: “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.”

About 20 dancers will grace the stage when the State Street Ballet performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Granada, 1214 State St.

The Santa Barbara show will open with “Tango Rain,” which Mr. Soleau choreographed, and “Fold,” choreographed by Kassandra Taylor Newberry.

“A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” is choreographed by Mr. Gustafson, State Street Ballet’s

executive artistic director, to the music of Felix Mendelssohn.

This one-act version of the play takes place on a mysterious Midsummer’s Eve. The King of the Fairies calls on Puck to help him play a trick on his rebellious queen.

The plot involves four young lovers who are running away from their parents, as well as Puck’s trick in making two boys fall in love with the same girl. That sets the stage for a funny story

of mischief, magic and romance, including the queen’s crush on a half-man/half donkey.

“I love Shakespeare,” Mr. Soleau told the News-Press as Mr. Gustafson listened. “This is 45 minutes, the first act of the Shakespeare play. It’s in the forest.

“It’s such a wonderful vehicle for dance because it can be classical, but it can also be extremely funny,” Mr. Soleau said. “It’s very light hearted.”

He explained Saturday’s dance program will be a metaphorical full meal for the audience, with dances varying from modern to a classical pas de deux.

“Then you get in ‘Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, with everything rolled into one, with the acting and dancing.”

“I think it’s one of Shakespeare’s most celebrated plays,” Mr. Soleau said. “It’s a tale of what it is to be

WOMEN: Surrealist Art by American Women” is on display through April 24 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www.sullivangoss.com.

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara City College Theatre Group will perform Ken Ludwig’s “A Comedy of Tenors” at the Garvin Theatre on the college’s west campus in the 900 block of Cliff Drive in Santa Barbara. 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 805-9655935.

7:30 p.m. Cabrillo High School

Performing Arts will present the musical “The Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 p.m. March 3, 4, 10 and 11 with an “Emerald City” matinee, in which the audience is encouraged to wear green, at 1 p.m. March 11. The performances will take place at the school’s Little Theater, 4350 Constellation Drive, Lompoc. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for youths under 18. To purchase, visit www.gofan.co.

MARCH 4 9 a.m. Santa Barbara Airport is partnering with Alaska Airlines and Atlantic Aviation to host local nonprofit Alpha Resource Center’s second annual Plane Pull fundraiser. Proceeds benefit the Alpha Resource Center. Registration is at 9 a.m., followed by the opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. and the first team pull at 9:45 a.m. For more information, go to alphasb.org/ plane-pull or contact Jeff Henson at Alpha Resources Center, 805-6832145 or jhenson@alphasb.org.

7:30 p.m. The State Street Ballet will perform “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” and other dances 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.

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara City College Theatre Group will perform Ken Ludwig’s “A Comedy of Tenors” at the Garvin Theatre on the college’s west campus in the 900 block of Cliff Drive in Santa Barbara. 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 805-9655935. 7:30 p.m. Cabrillo High School Performing Arts will present the

on

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023

DAVID BAZEMORE PHOTO

At left, “Tango Rain,” which is part of Saturday’s performances, features energetic dancing to the Argentinian music of Astor Piazzolla. The State Street Ballet dance is choreographed by William Soleau. At right, choreographed by Kassandra Taylor Newberry, “Fold” is a caricature of a poker game.

DAVID BAZEMORE PHOTO

State Street Ballet will perform the fi rst act of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” during its show Saturday at The Granada in Santa Barbara. Rodney Gustafson choreographed the ballet to Mendelssohn’s music.

Sedgwick Public Hike Days in March

SANTA YNEZ — In March, Sedgwick Reserve, a crown jewel of the University of California Natural Reserve System, will host its popular public hike days, giving visitors a chance to explore its 6,000 acres of protected land, which is usually closed to the public.

Hikes are scheduled for 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 11 and 25.

Participants can reserve a spot on one of the upcoming Saturday hikes and witness the effects of winter rains on this stunning landscape.

Experienced docent guides will lead hikes at varying difficulty, accommodating various abilities and providing insights into the reserve’s unique flora, fauna, geology and history. The Sedgwick Reserve is considered to be one of the most significant sites of the UC Natural Reserve System.

Check-in for registrants is at 8:30 a.m., and the hikes will start promptly at 9 a.m., lasting for two to three and a half hours. In case of rain, hikes will be canceled, and registrants will receive an email notification 24 hours in advance. Registration is required. To register, visit sedgwick.nrs.ucsb. edu/store.

Foxworthy Gallery displays digital art

SANTA MARIA — Allan

Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy

Gallery is showcasing cutting-edge digital art in its latest exhibit, “PIXELS, Portals & Paradigms.”

Featuring more than 50 artists from the Central Coast, San Francisco and Los Angeles, the exhibition includes experimental video, 3D-printed designs, installation art, and sculptures based on interpreted sound waves. The artists are members of Digital Arts Group SLO, a collective that encourages collaboration.

boundaries of how digital media can be used as an art form.”

The exhibit runs through March 16, with an artist reception on March 9 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

The Ann Foxworthy Gallery is located inside the Academic Resource Center, Building L on Hancock’s Santa Maria campus at 800 S. College Drive. Gallery hours are from Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

“PIXELS,

Laura-Susan Thomas, the director of the Foxworthy Gallery, noted that the artists are “exploring and pushing the

To learn more about the exhibit, visit hancockcollege.edu/gallery or call 805-922-6966.

— Caleb Beeghly

Lobero program to cover 60 years of music

SANTA BARBARA — Lobero

LIVE, KTYD, and Panda Man will present “Go To Hale: Quips & Clips: Six Decades of Music” on March 18 at the historic Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. The Santa Barbara program celebrates 60 years of music in honor of the Lobero’s 150th anniversary, featuring a special

program.

Hale Milgrim, former president and CEO of Capitol Records, and music lover Richard Salzberg (aka Music Maniac) have teamed up to create a program from their extensive archives.

Mr. Milgrim will also share personal stories of his experiences in the music industry

Book club to meet in Santa Maria

SANTA MARIA — The Valley Reads Book Club will meet at 2 p.m. March 11 in the Learning Loft of the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland Street. The book club will be discussing “Hamnet” by Maggie O’Farrell, a fictional retelling of William Shakespeare’s marriage

BALLET

Continued from Page B1

human.” The ballet features six main characters.

“The storyline is so great for dance,” Mr. Soleau said. “What’s so nice is that it’s accessible to everyone. For people who don’t normally go to see ballet, ‘A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream’ is a perfect introduction.”

Mr. Gustafson praised the young man portraying Puck. “This artist takes the role and expands it and personalizes it. You feel he is absolutely Puck. He’s just perfect for the part.”

Mr. Gustafson said the sets, costumes, characters and story will transport the audience to

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

musical “The Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 p.m. March 3, 4, 10 and 11 with an “Emerald City” matinee, in which the audience is encouraged to wear green, at 1 p.m. March 11. The performances will take place at the school’s Little Theater, 4350 Constellation Drive, Lompoc. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for youths under 18. To purchase, visit www. gofan.co.

to his wife, Agnes, and their son Hamnet’s untimely death. Those interested in participating in Valley Reads Book Club can register by visiting www.cityofsantamaria. org./library or calling 805-9250994.

— Caleb Beeghly

another world, “a place of joy.”

Added Mr. Soleau, “We’re still coming out of the pandemic, two years when everything stopped. We didn’t go to the theaters. We’re picking up from the other side now.

“That’s the wonderful thing,” he said. “The arts exemplify the rebirth.”

The creativity at Saturday’s show will be evident in “Fold,” which Ms. Newberry choreographed to the toe-tapping rhythms of Hans Zimmer. As previously mentioned, this dance is a caricature of a poker game.

“It revolves around this magical table,” Mr. Soleau explained. “The music is very pulsing and pounding. It’s like non-stop energetic movement.

“It’s very creative and clever

MARCH 7 7 p.m. “Four Winters,” a documentary about resistance fighters during World War II, screens at Paseo Nuevo Cinemas on lower State Street in Santa Barbara. A Q & A will follow.

MARCH 16

5:30 p.m. Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi — Lewis Atterbury Stimson professor and chairman in the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and surgeon-in-chief at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center — will present a

and his relationships with artists before and during his tenure at Capitol Records. The program will also feature live and rare concert clips from a diverse range of iconic musicians who have graced the Lobero stage. Proceeds from the event will support live music at the Lobero Theatre.

General admission is $25. To purchase, visit lobero.org or call the Lobero box office at 805-9630761.

Doors will open at 6:22 p.m. for the pre-show, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the best seating.

— Caleb Beeghly

Santa Maria library offers book kits

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria Public Library is excited to announce the availability of free DIY Cultural Traditions Book Kits. Each kit includes all the necessary materials to create a one-of-a-kind book, highlighting the unique customs and traditions of your family and cultural heritage. The library will start

what they do with this table,” he said.

“A poke game is like a dialogue,”

Mr. Soleau said. “You’re sitting across from somebody. Is he lying to people? Is he showing me a tell?

“It’s a lot of fun,” Mr. Soleau said. He also discussed the ballet he choreographed, “Tango Rain.” The music is by Argentinian music of Astor Piazzolla.

“Ballroom dancing has always interested me,” Mr. Soleau said.

Between “Tango Rain” and “Fold,” State Street Ballet will present a classical, acrobatic pas de deux, “Spring Waters,” Mr. Gustafson said.

“The two dancers are brilliant. They’re technically superior to a lot of dancers in the country,” Mr. Soleau said. “They’re a wonderful couple.

public lecture titled “In the Eye of the Storm: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The free talk will take place at the Wolf Education and Training Center, 529 W. Junipero St., adjacent to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. Reservations are required by March 10. To attend, contact J.V. Vallejos at 805-681-7528 or jvallejo@sansumclinic.org.

MARCH 18

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform “John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The

distributing the kits on Saturday, and they will be available while supplies last. They are available for pick up at the libraries in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Los Alamos, Guadalupe, Cuyama and the SMPL To Go Bookmobile.

— Caleb Beeghly

“It shows the level of artistry that the State Street Ballet can go from the very contemporary ‘Fold’ to something so classical. It shows the versatility of the company.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI

State Street Ballet will perform “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” and other dances at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Tickets range from $38 to $106, with a discounted price of $26 for children 12 and under in select price zones. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. A student discount is also available for purchase in person at the box office or by calling the box office at 805-899-2222.

Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara.

To purchase tickets, go to granadasb. org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805-898-9386.

MARCH 19 3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara.

To purchase tickets, go to granadasb. org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805-8989386.

— Dave Mason

— Caleb Beeghly

Sedgwick Reserve will be open for public hiking on March 11 and 25.

COURTESY PHOTO

Portals & Paradigms” showcases innovative digital art at Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

Thought for Today

“When one paints an ideal, one does not need to limit one’s imagination.”

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Friday, March 3, 2023

ARIES — If there is an imbalance in your relationship with someone close, it’s important to take a stand now, Aries. Make sure you speak your mind with conviction. The stakes are higher when people’s egos are involved, as they will be today. You’re the air that fuels the fire, so be careful of which way you direct your energy.

TAURUS — There could be a great deal of friction in your world today, Taurus, as stubborn minds aggressively come into conflict with each other. Be careful how you treat others, because feelings are likely to be hurt if you’re insensitive. Others may look tough, but deep down they’re just as soft as you are.

GEMINI — Things should go nicely for you today, Gemini. You will find that the brighter you shine, the more prosperity will come your way. Things should flow smoothly, and your mind will be clear and strong. There is a marked aggressiveness to your nature that is powerful and effective.

CANCER — You may need to make some mental adjustments in order to get on the same wavelength as other people today, Cancer. You may not see what all the fuss is about. Don’t take things too seriously and don’t feel like you need to make sense of every detail that presents itself. Some things are best left unknown.

LEO — There may be important lessons about balance that come up today, Leo. Make sure you’re ready to handle the fire, because it will be coming at you. Egos are large, and everyone is going to have an opinion on everything. Tension may exist, but this doesn’t mean you should back down from your position.

VIRGO — The events of the day might leave you feeling a bit confused and bewildered, Virgo. Perhaps you’re feeling like you aren’t getting the attention you feel you deserve. You may wonder why the one thing you want the most may be the one thing you can’t have. You have more than you think you do. No one wants to be with someone who’s moping and depressed. Let your internal light shine brightly.

LIBRA — This is a terrific day for you, Libra. You will find that your mind and your urge for action are on the same page. The fire within you is raging hot. Use this aggressive internal urge to tackle projects that require courage, strength, and a flair for the dramatic. You will find that you’re more than able to accomplish everything you want to accomplish today.

SCORPIO — Feel free to be a bit more selfish than usual, Scorpio. You might find yourself turning inside out in order to get your point across. Attend to your dreams and ambitions and let your voice be heard by the crowd. Don’t be surprised if you meet opposition, but don’t take this as a sign that you should back down. Stand up for your needs!

SAGITTARIUS — You might find that your desire to conquer is active today, Sagittarius, and that your mind is right in line with the urge to take action. Listen to this and stoke the internal fire. You will find that you can increase your circle of influence by a great deal as long as you’re willing to take a decisive risk in how you approach every situation. Be bold and courageous in your actions.

CAPRICORN — You might find it necessary to give yourself a bit of self-healing, Capricorn. Other people may want your attention, looking for advice and help with their own sob stories, when in reality you have your own matters to take care of. Attend to these today. Be a bit selfish if you have to. Make sure you attend to your own needs.

AQUARIUS — This is a terrific day for you, Aquarius. You can accomplish a great deal when you set your mind in motion. There’s a strong, warlike instinct within you that’s fired up and ready to fight. Leave your worries at the doorstep, because there’s no need to hesitate on a day like this. Your kingdom is ready for you.

PISCES — Being of service to others is important, Pisces, but make sure that you’re taking care of yourself, too. Turn up the heat and let yourself expand into other worlds today. There may be an extra amount of dramatic flair that goes along with the events of the day, so participate in the absurd.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Friday, March 3, 2023

“I’m sleeping in the garage,” a club player told me sadly. “My wife said the couch was too good for me.”

“How did this happen?”

“It started when someone asked me about my wife’s favorite flower, and I said I thought it was Gold Medal All-Purpose. And then I went down at six hearts.

“West led a diamond, and I threw a spade on dummy’s ace; I figured I could ruff my third club in dummy.

I took the ace of spades, ruffed a spade, led a trump to my king and ruffed a spade. Next I took the A-K of clubs, ruffed a club with dummy’s last trump and ruffed a diamond. Then I had to lead a trump from my hand. East took the jack and ace, and I was banished to the garage.”

WINNER

South’s wife should show him some mercy, but he did lose a makeable slam. When he discarded a spade on the ace of diamonds, he pitched a winner. South must discard a club, take the ace of spades, ruff a spade, lead a trump to his hand, ruff a spade and lead a second trump. East gets only his ace of trumps.

Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right,

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

passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: To open two diamonds, weak, is possible, but a case exists for passing. You have two aces, which a weak two-bid would generally deny; you have four cards in a major; one opponent has passed, reducing the urgency to preempt. I would pass, but some players would try two diamonds despite the flaws.

— Ellen Key