Santa Barbara News-Press: March 24, 2023

From rescued to rescuer

Dogs from shelters learn lifesaving skills at Santa Paula campus

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE

Defendant in criminal threats case seeks

different judge

Man is charged with making threats against Santa Maria police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Maria man is challenging a judge’s ruling that he should stand trial on felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking against Santa Maria police officers and their families.

Albert Varelas appeared in court on March 16 for further arraignment, at which time the defense filed a motion for a different judge than the judge who presided at his preliminary hearing to review the hearing transcripts “and make a determination whether there was sufficient evidence presented …” Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott E. Donahue told the News-Press.

Mr. Varelas is scheduled to return to court on March 28 to set a date for his motion to be heard, the prosecutor said.

“Once the judge hears that motion and if that judge also feels enough evidence (was) presented at the preliminary examination, then the case would proceed to trial if the parties do not reach an agreement,” Prosecutor Donahue said.

On the other hand, the reviewing judge could grant the defense motion as to some or all of the charges.

“We would then proceed with prosecution on the remaining charges, if any, or we could dismiss the entire case and refile it,” according to Supervising Deputy District Attorney Lara Clinton.

A second preliminary hearing would be scheduled. “Either side could request the Court of Appeal review the decision on the … motion by filing a writ of mandate,” she said.

Mr. Varelas pleaded not guilty to felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking at his initial arraignment.

The complaint filed against Mr. Varelas 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,” the complaint said.

“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. Detectives tracked him down and arrested him without incident.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

By CALEB BEEGHLY

A lot of dogs end up in shelters because as they grow, the very traits that led people to buy them become less desirable, such as being hyper and wanting to play all day.

Fortunately, these traits are perfect for a search and rescue dog.

Since 1997, the National

FYi

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 at its campus — 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula. Tickets cost $15 to $25. To purchase, go to searchdogfoundation.org.

Disaster Search Dog Foundation has been rescuing and recruiting dogs to assist in responding to disasters.

It all started when Wilma Melville was deployed in response to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. After seeing the devastating aftermath of the bombing, Ms. Melville knew that there needed to be more highly trained response teams.

Today, SDF has 85 active search teams and has undergone over 200 deployments, such as responding to the catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey, where seven SDF-trained search dog teams assisted in searching the debris.

And locally, 18 SDF-trained

Please see RESCUE on A4

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE Man charged with peeping released from county jail

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A man charged with 26 counts of unlawful electronic peeping in Isla Vista is walking free after a judge approved his request to be let out of Santa Barbara County Jail on pretrial supervised release, prosecutors said.

The defendant, Justin Asinobi, pleaded not guilty to the charges, all misdemeanors, at his arraignment, and was back in court on March 15 for a pretrial

readiness/settlement conference. It was then when he made his bid for freedom.

“Over the People’s objection, Judge (Brian) Hill indicated he would release the defendant on pretrial supervised release,” Deputy District Attorney Dalia Granados told the News-Press. “Upon release, the defendant will be subject to various terms and conditions.”

The case was continued to

Please see PEEPING on A3

NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

PHOTOS COURTESY NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION

Dee searches through the rubble at the Santa Paula training campus for the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.

Kendri and handler Mike Patterson search through a pile of pallets.

Mike Toepfer works with one of the dogs. The foundation stresses the importance of the relationship between the handlers and the dogs, whom the foundation sees as valued colleagues.

Cooper and Michael go on a scrap search.

Two charged with theft of gay pride flags

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch announced Thursday that two individuals have been charged in connection with the theft of two gay pride flags and the burning

of one of them in the Santa Ynez Valley in July.

Avi Stone Williams, 18, and Joshua Jerome Eligino, 19, have both been charged with two misdemeanor counts of petty theft and one misdemeanor count of a violation of civil rights. One flag belonged to an

unidentified family. The other belonged to St. Marks-in-theValley Episcopal Church.

In accordance with the Victims’ Bill of Rights, the District Attorney’s Office has met with the victims and members of the community and received input on how they

have been impacted by these events.

Mr. Williams and Mr. Eligino are set to be arraigned in Department 9 in the Santa Maria courthouse on April 19.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Early learning programs get $19 million-plus in grants

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Head Start programs in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties recently received more than $19 million in federal grants.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which last December received a $960 million boost in Head Start funding from Congress, approved $19,197,042 in grants for two community early learning providers:

• $6,226,789 for CommUnify, formerly the

Suspect arrested after highway pursuit

SANTA BARBARA — Law enforcement Thursday arrested a woman suspected in a parental kidnapping of a baby after a pursuit on southbound Highway 101.

Close to 11 a.m. Thursday, deputies responded to the area of Santa Barbara County Social Services on Camino Del Remedio to the report of a parental kidnapping that had just occurred. Deputies spotted the suspect, 39-year-old Sandra Tapia of Canoga Park, fleeing the area in her Audi SUV on Calle Real at Camino Del Remedio, where they attempted to stop the vehicle.

Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, said Ms. Tapia failed to yield and led deputies on a pursuit along southbound Highway 101, exiting on Garden Street and then through city streets. The pursuing deputies lost sight of Ms. Tapia’s vehicle in the area of W. Pedregosa and De La Vina Street, where they terminated their pursuit.

The assisting deputies shared information with the Santa Barbara Police Department, who located Ms. Tapia, her vehicle and a 1-year-old girl in the 200 block of East Los Olivos Street.

Ms. Tapia was taken into custody at approximately 11:18 a.m. without further incident and was booked at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara on suspicion of kidnapping (felony), child endangerment (felony), evading (felony) and driving under the influence (misdemeanor). Ms. Tapia’s bail amount is pending.

Ms. Zick said the Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Santa Barbara Police Department for its teamwork in safely apprehending

Volunteers sought to help Carpinteria residents impacted by tornado

CARPINTERIA — Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is leading a disaster response effort after the tornado that hit Carpinteria on Tuesday.

The nonprofit is leading clean up and recovery efforts at

Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County.

• $12,970,253 for Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County.

“CommUnify is thrilled to be able to continue to provide quality early education to children 0-5 years of age and family support services to parents to ensure every child is socially, emotionally and academically prepared for kindergarten,” Patricia Keelean, the CommUnify CEO, said. “Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. This

ongoing support gives every child the head start needed to grow into happy, healthy and successful students.”

Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, who earlier in his career worked with Head Start as a parent involvement coordinator and family services advocate, has consistently advocated in Congress for increased funding for critical early learning programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start.

“One of my first jobs was working with

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

this suspect. The infant was released to Social Services at the scene and was not physically injured.

— Katherine Zehnder

Sheriff’s Office releases suspect’s photo

CARPINTERIA –—The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office has released the booking photo as part of its investigation into 37year-old Carpintería resident Luis Antonio Ibarra Delgadillo, aka Anthony Ibarra. The photo is accompanying this story.

On Monday, the Sheriff’s Office shared information about the arrest of Mr. Ibarra, for felony violations of California Penal Code Sections 288.7(a), 288.7(b), and 288(a). These alleged violations have to do with engaging in sexual acts with a child under the age of 10, dating back to 2015.

Through their investigation, detectives became aware that the release of the suspect’s booking photo would aid in their investigation and assist in identifying additional survivors

of alleged sexual assault by Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo. The sheriff’s office would like to encourage anyone with knowledge of additional alleged crimes associated with Mr. Ibarra Delgadillo, to contact Detective Swank by phone at 805-681-4150.

If you would like to be anonymous, you can submit information at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip or by calling 805-681-4171.

Sheriff’s detectives coordinate closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Victim-Witness Program to ensure the needs of survivors are not overshadowed by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the accused. Victim advocates are available to ensure that survivors are kept informed and supported throughout the criminal justice process. Survivors have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll free at 855840-3232.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind survivors that they can also find support services through its community partner, Standing Together to End Sexual Assault. Services offered by

Please see GRANTS on A3

STESA include a confidential 24Hour hotline, legal and medical advocacy and accompaniment, and counseling. You can reach a STESA advocate at any time by calling 805-564-3696.

For more information, see stesa. org.

— Katherine Zehnder

County Fire rescues surfer

ISLA VISTA — The Santa Barbara County Fire Department rescued a surfer Wednesday who was in the water, 200 yards from the 6800 block of Del Playa.

The surfer’s surfboard had washed ashore.

Two rescue water crafts were launched from Goleta Beach. The victim — a male surfer in his mid40s — was pulled from the water and returned to Goleta Beach. He was evaluated and had no medical complaints, said Capt. Scott Safechuck, County Fire’s public information officer, in a tweet. Call time was 5:03 p.m.

— Katherine Zehnder

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HOW TO REACH US . . .

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

Sandpiper Mobile Home Park, where the tornado damaged approximately two dozen homes. Volunteers are being sought to help Habitat Santa Barbara’s efforts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. To volunteer, visit sbhabitat. volunteerhub.com/vv2.

Habitat Santa Barbara is providing critical health and safety repairs to affected homeowners. For full coverage, see Saturday’s News-Press.

— Caleb Beeghly

Caltrans works on 250 potholes on Highway 101

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Caltrans is working to repair the roads from this week’s storm damage, which includes a significant number of potholes.

“Today and tomorrow, we are doing pothole repairs on northbound Highway 101 from Santa Maria to Nipomo. Our crews will be working on a roughly 5,000 foot stretch of roadway, repairing about 250 potholes,” Alexa Bertola, public information officer for Caltrans District 5, told the News-Press in an email on Thursday.

“More potholes have appeared as a result of our recent storms,” she said. “Repairing the potholes are a top priority.”

Travelers between Santa Maria

and Nipomo can expect the closure of the right (No. 2 lane) of northbound Highway 101 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today for pothole repairs.

“We are also working on Highway 1 near Jalama Road in the Lompoc area that washed away a couple of storms ago,” said Ms. Bertola.

“At this time, we have Highway 1 closed from Solomon to Black Road in the Santa Maria area due to flooding,” she said.

For updated road closures go to https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Road information and updates can also be found on Twitter at: @ CaltransD5, Facebook at Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at Caltrans_D5. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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VOL. 167 NO.

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SHERIFF’S OFFICE PHOTO Luis Antonio Ibarra Delgadillo

Goleta Valley Library’s first director retires after long career

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

After 37 years of library work, 15 of those at the Goleta Valley Library, Allison Gray is retiring today.

Before she leaves, the city of Goleta is expressing its appreciation to Ms. Gray for the positive impact she has made during her tenure.

“Her commitment to the importance of literacy and accessibility will continue to benefit Goleta for generations to come,” said Mayor Paula Perotte in a news release.

“Words don’t do justice to her magnificent career. Ms. Gray is incredibly bright and caring for her staff, the library, and our community,” said Jaime Valdez, Neighborhood Services director.

“Allison has been a wonderful director. She is very understanding of and responsive to the needs of the patrons, and has always been helpful to the Friends and our group of volunteers,” said Corinne Horowitz, president of the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library.

Ms. Gray’s passion for public libraries has been a life-long affair.

“My mother was a public library director in East Hampton, N.Y., and I am proud to have followed in her very big shoes. That’s 59 years of being backstage in libraries,” said Ms. Gray.

Ms. Gray’s library journey began in 1987 as a library assistant in East Hampton.

After receiving her masters degree in library science, she found work on Long Island as the head of children’s services and assistant director at south county library in Bellport, N.Y. Following this, she became library director for the John Jermain Memorial Library in Sag Harbor, N.Y, until moving to California in 2008. After a brief time in Palmdale, she joined the Goleta Valley Library as branch supervisor, a role she held for 10 years until being promoted to library director.

A staunch advocate of youth literacy and user accessibility, Ms. Gray also served on various

GRANTS

Continued from Page A2

Head Start — and I saw firsthand the huge impacts that their programming can have in giving every child on the Central Coast the chance to receive a highquality education,” Rep. Carbajal said in a news release. “That’s why I’ve pushed every year that I’ve been in Congress to increase

Cottage Health employee retires on her 100th birthday

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Juana “Jenny” Cue began working at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 1953 when she was 30 years old.

On Wednesday, Ms. Cue turned 100 and retired after 70 years of service at Cottage Health.

Cottage honored Ms. Cue and her amazing milestones by hosting a special celebration at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Twenty-five of the 26 members of her family who joined her at Wednesday’s event were born at that hospital.

“We are extremely grateful for Jenny,” Ron Werft, President & CEO of Cottage Health, said in a news release. “She’s been an important part of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for more than half its 131-year history and has had a positive impact on countless patients. We are definitely going to miss her.”

Ms. Cue was born March 22, 1923 in Kansas, where her father worked for the railroads.

committees that included the 2001 Newberry Award Committee, 2009 Caldecott Committee, Notable Children’s Books Committee, Notable Children’s Audio Recordings Committee, and committees for Batchelder Award for Best Children’s Book Translated from a Foreign Language and Best Books for Reluctant Readers (Teens). She also chaired the committee for the 2023 Excellence in Non-Fiction for Teens Book Award.

Ms. Gray’s experience and dedication helped lead the Goleta Valley Library System through the COVID-19 closures. She was recently presented with a city tile at the library’s 50th birthday celebration on March 11.

“I know that the library will continue the tradition of excellent customer service. I really appreciate having had the opportunity to work for the City of Goleta and help carry the library services forward,” said Ms. Gray, on March 9 during her last Goleta City Council meeting as the director. If you would like to leave a note of appreciation, you can add a comment to the city of Goleta’s Facebook page (@cityofgoleta).

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

the funding for these programs, and to ensure the Central Coast has the resources it needs to help our local Head Start providers maintain this critical community service.

“After delivering nearly a billiondollar increase in last year’s funding package, I’m proud to see the Central Coast benefit from this robust increase this year.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Man accused of electronic peeping to return to court on Wednesday

PEEPING

Continued from Page A1

March 17 so the judge could make a final ruling as to the release order.

According to Prosecutor Granados, Judge Hill approved his request for pretrial supervised release based on the defendant’s lack of criminal history, age (he turned 23 Wednesday) and no new law violations being picked up in the last year.

Pretrial supervised release means that Mr. Asinobi will be released with supervision by probation to include certain terms and conditions. Probation has a pretrial unit that is assigned to be responsible for supervising the defendant, the prosecutor said.

“The terms and conditions of his release are: no contact with all victims, stay away from Isla Vista, GPS monitoring, reside with his parents, a curfew of not being able to leave his home before 7 a.m. and being home by 10 p.m., no electronics/recording devices except for accessing his father’s computer for the purposes of school and medical reasons, and a cellphone with the condition of only using it to call his parents and for medical purposes.”

No trial date has been set. The defendant will return to court on Wednesday.

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

The complaint filed against him alleges that he “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

When she was 7 years old, her family moved to Mexico. After high school in Mexico, she returned to the U.S. in 1942 and moved to Indio, Calif. Ms. Cue and her husband, Alfredo, found Indio to be too hot, so they moved during the mid-1940s to Santa Barbara, where she worked in a lemon packing plant.

A few years later, she joined Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in the linen processing department. At the time, the hospital administrator, Rodney Lamb, wanted to be oriented in every SBCH department, and when he arrived in linen processing to learn, it was Ms. Cue who trained him. Folding sheets was a two-person job and the technique resembled dance moves, so Ms Cue and Mr. Lamb would “dance” together as they folded sheets. This memory still makes her smile.

In the early 1990s, Ms. Cue was trained in the sterile processing department to wrap linen and basins for sterilization, and her responsibilities changed.

“This was a good move for me, and I’ve always liked what I do,” she said.

In 2011, she transferred permanently to the sterile processing department.

Ms. Cue is the proud mother of three, grandmother of four, great grandmother of eight and great-great grandmother of one. All four generations were born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Just Added Events for Spring

Actor and Champion for Latinx Representation

Danny Trejo

A Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood

Wed, Apr 12 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

“Danny’s incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it’s what we do when we stand back up that really counts.” – Robert Rodriguez, American filmmaker

Indigenous Multimedia Artist

Nicholas Galanin

person, for the purpose of viewing the body or undergarments worn by that other person, without that person’s knowledge or consent.”

A case involving electronic peeping was initially reported in 2022, and as a result, 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, alleging he placed hidden cameras in places where persons had a reasonable expectation of privacy.

“What I can tell you at this point is that there are multiple victims and there were multiple devices hidden in private homes,” Prosecutor Granados said. “We are not permitted to release information about victims so I cannot answer any questions regarding their information.”

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, prosecutors said.

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.

Prosecutors say if he is convicted, Mr. Asinobi could get up to six months in County Jail for each count.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Let Them Enter Dancing and Showing Their Faces

Wed, Apr 19 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall / FREE (registration recommended)

“Expansive, embracing and grappling with many facets and complexities of what it means to be Native American today.” The Art Newspaper

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Laura Dern & Diane Ladd

Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life and Love

Wed, May 3 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Join acclaimed actress Laura Dern and her mother, Academy Award-winner Diane Ladd, for a deeply personal conversation on love, art, ambition and legacy inspired by their own heart-to-hearts.

Public Art Projection

Woman.

Life. Freedom.

ArtRise Collective, in Collaboration with Mozaik Philanthropy

Tue, May 9 / 8-11 PM / UCSB Art, Design & Architecture Museum / FREE

“The solace, the strength, and the sense of solidarity we all need right now.” – Jay Xu, Asian Art Museum Director, San Francisco

CEO of the Anti-Defamation League

Jonathan Greenblatt

Fighting Hate for Good

Mon, May 22 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall / FREE (registration required)

“There has never been a more perilous time for individual rights and liberties. Greenblatt offers his piercing insights from multiple perches he’s served in – from the White House to the ADL. We must act now, heed his advice, and fight for what’s right.” – American Civil Liberties Union

COURTESY PHOTO

Allison Gray holds the tile she received from the city of Goleta.

‘Proud to see the Central Coast benefit’

COTTAGE HEALTH PHOTOS

Jenny Cue, 100, stands with Ron Werft, the president and CEO of Cottage Health, who praised her 70 years of service. Ms. Cue started working at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 1953.

Jenny Cue is surrounded by her family members during a Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital ceremony honoring her as she begins her retirement.

UCSB baseball kicks off spring break with series against CSUN

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS WRITER

UCSB baseball (15-3, 3-0 Big West) will look to keep their perfect start to conference play rolling this weekend, as they welcome the upstart CSUN Matadors (12-4, 2-1 Big West) to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium for a three-game series. After sweeping their opening series last weekend, the Gauchos come into this weekend atop The Big West standings, with the Matadors in third, as CSUN has enjoyed a strong start to their season as well.

This weekend, the UCSB Athletic Department is offering a Spring Break Special with students of all ages receiving free admission to every game of this series. First pitch times are set for 5:05 p.m. today, 4:05 p.m. Saturday, and 1:05 p.m. Sunday. The games will be live on ESPN+ with an audio-only broadcast and live stats both available through ucsbgauchos.com.

LAST TIME OUT

Playing their first Big West games of the season last weekend, the Gauchos got the start they wanted to conference play, sweeping a three-game series against CSU Bakersfield. Mike Gutierrez pitched seven excellent innings to help UCSB take a 5-0 victory in the Friday opener, Christian Kirtley drove in three runs to power Saturday’s 4-2 win, and Ivan Brethowr completed a Sunday comeback with a walk-off single as the Gauchos turned a 3-0 deficit into a 5-4 win.

SERIES HISTORY

The Matadors are one of UCSB’s most frequent opponents ever, with the two teams facing off a total of 158 times prior to this weekend. The Gauchos hold a 92-63-3 record

RESCUE

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search dog teams participated in searching the debris flow after the 2018 Montecito Mudslides.

The dogs are trained at a large Santa Paula campus, where the foundation is based. There the dogs are taught search-and-rescue skills in an environment similar to a movie studio backlot, with damaged buildings, rubble, even a trainwreck. And that’s where the News-Press saw the enthusiastic canines in action during a recent visit.

The general public will get to see the site during an open house, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20.

(See the FYI box on A1.)

Although being hyper and wanting to play are great traits for being a search dog, those are not the only requirements — not to worry, dogs that choose to not continue with the program often find different careers, such as detecting drugs for the police.

Two very important traits are having a keen sense of smell and having a very intense toy drive.

Needing a keen sense of smell is crucial to finding people hidden in rubble.

And the dogs are trained through a reward-based system. Hence the toys.

A handler will hide in the rubble with a tug toy, which serves as the reward. If the dog can find the handler and bark loudly, then the “good boy” or “good girl” gets to play with the toy.

Not only does the toy need to serve as a sufficient reward, but SDF wants the dogs to enjoy what they are doing. One dog, named Hawthorne, even had what SDF calls “happy tail.” Hawthorne had been wagging his tail too much at the rubble sight, so they placed tape around the tip of his tail to protect it from hitting against the rubble.

Denise Sanders, the senior director of communications and search team operations, told the News-Press that the dogs don’t realize they’re doing search and rescue. They’re just playing.

And instead of treating the dogs as tools, pets or employees, SDF views each canine as a valued colleague.

Ms. Sanders said human handlers face the challenge of learning how to work with the dogs as colleagues, which requires a deep understanding between the two team members. This can be difficult because many of the recruits are from shelters, so they have not had the best experience with connecting to humans.

The dogs need to learn that they are “good dogs” (perhaps even the “best dogs”), which makes the relationship between dog and handler even more important.

Like humans, all dogs have different learning styles and learning curves, so they do not all graduate at the same time, Ms. Sanders said. But training usually lasts eight to 12 months.

Then each dog will get paired up with a handler and move with them to wherever the handler’s task force is located.

Watching the search-dogs-intraining race across the rubble is an amazing sight, as the News-

against CSUN, and have won six of the last seven games, including a three-game series sweep in Northridge last April. UCSB has won each of the last three series (the 2020 series was cancelled due to COVID-19).

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GAUCHOS

UCSB has one of the most electric offenses in The Big West and one of the best pitching staffs in the country. The Gauchos’ 2.64 team ERA is the fifth-best in all of Division I baseball, and the best of any mid-major program in the country. UCSB also ranks ninth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.39) and WHIP (1.10). Gaucho pitching also leads The Big West in total strikeouts (193), batting average against (.207) and home runs allowed (7).

When it comes to getting run support for their dominant pitchers, the UCSB offense relies on speed and power, leading The Big West in stolen bases (35) and home runs (27).

Eight different Gauchos have multiple steals on the season, and seven have multiple home runs. LeTrey McCollum’s team-high seven stolen bases are also the second-most in The Big West, and Ivan Brethowr’s six home runs lead the team and conference. Aaron Parker is right behind Brethowr with five long balls, and he leads the team in both slugging (.690) and on-base percentage (.439) at this point in the season. His .362 average is behind only Jonah Sebring’s .371 for the team lead.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS

CSUN has exceeded expectations to start the season. After being picked to finish seventh in The Big West Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the Matadors come into the weekend in third place in the conference standings and with the second-best overall record to this point in the season. The Matadors opened

Big West play against UC Davis last weekend, taking two of three games from the Aggies in Davis. That series was sandwiched between a pair of mid-week games against Pepperdine, both of which CSUN won, making them 4-1 in their last five games.

Lucas Braun worked eight innings in the Matadors’ Friday game in Davis; the All-Big West Preseason Team selection has been an absolute standout for CSUN so far this year, leading the conference and ranking 15th in the country in strikeouts with 41 in 30 1/3 innings of work this season.

At the plate, the Matadors are led by outfielder Jakob Simons and catcher Graysen Tarlow, who rank first and second in The Big West in on-base plus slugging percent (OPS) this season. Along with his 1.239 OPS, Simons is tied for second in the conference with five home runs and has the best outright slugging percentage (.719). He also leads the conference in stolen bases with nine, and will get on base any way he can, including a conference-high eight hit-by-pitches. Tarlow took home the first Big West Player of the Week award of the season and has not slowed down, leading the conference in on-base percentage (.538) and ranking second in batting average, hitting .420 through his first 15 games.

UP NEXT UCSB will hit the road next week, heading to Moraga for a game against St. Mary’s on Tuesday, then to Fresno for a weekend series against Fresno State. Tuesday’s game is set for a 2 p.m. start, with the games in Fresno set for 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

LONG, Elaine Gilbertson

12/16/1937 - 3/10/2023 Elaine Long passed away peacefully on March 10. One of two children, born Elaine Constance Gilbertson in Richland Center, Wisconsin to George and Harriet Gilbertson. Elaine attended high school in Madison, Wisconsin where was elected Homecoming Queen her Senior year. Later she attended University of Wisconsin, Madison where she met her future husband, James. Elaine graduated college and worked for the County of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She married James on April 23, 1960 and later had two boys, James Jr and John. In 1966 Elaine and her family moved to Santa Barbara, then a few years later to Galveston, Texas for a couple of years, then back to Racine, Wisconsin. In 1972 Elaine, James and her two boys came back to Santa Barbara, calling it home for the rest of her life. Elaine enjoyed the Santa Barbara weather and being able to play tennis year round. She was very active in the tennis community and served on the board of directors for the Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons.

Elaine was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James. She is survived by her sister Edie, two sons, James Jr and John and 4 grandchildren, Stephen, Matthew, Emily and Christopher. The family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers, especially Aires for her loving attention, at the Casa Naomi where she spent the last three years of her life.

Press learned during its recent visit.

As soon as the dogs are brought out to the rubble, they are ready to go. You can see their bodies bouncing with excitement, and almost as soon as they are released, they go straight to the handler that is hiding in the rubble. And as they leave the rubble with their tug toys in their mouths, elation exudes from their faces.

Searching the rubble, however, is no easy task. Each dog undergoes a strict nutritional food plan and intensive strength and agility training.

Fun fact: When dogs jump, they only propel themselves from their front legs. Part of SDF’s training teaches dogs how to jump from both legs, making the search dogs even more agile and powerful, Ms. Sanders said.

For search and rescue training, SDF’s facilities are impressive. SDF has an underwater treadmill (it helps strengthen the hind legs) and various rubble piles of

different disaster scenarios that the dogs can train on.

Some of the scenarios are a collapsed freeway, a trainwreck or a car park. These help the dogs get used to searching different environments while limiting the potential of new items distracting the dogs in a new environment.

The facility also allows SDF to practice wide area searches (up to around 145 acres).

However, training is not always oriented toward the dog but toward the human handler. Together they combine their superior traits. Dogs use their sense of smell. and the handlers must make sense of the situation. One way SDF tests this relationship is through a scenttubing system that carries human scent into different locations.

SDF is the only facility that has this system.

Dogs are trained to go to the densest source of human scent, but the handlers must make sense of the scent. The tubing system

that carries scent, purposefully draws the dogs to a location where there is no human hiding. Now there are lots of scenarios where the human may not be visible, but this scenario tests how the handler will respond. Do they trust their dog and reward him? Or do they try to force the dog to look somewhere else?

One thing that is obvious about the SDF staff is their passion for dogs. Ms. Sanders has worked with the SDF for 15 years, and said “It hasn’t gotten old yet.”

This passion extends from the handlers — Mandy Tisdale, Julia Kopan, Abby Leland, and Hanna Irwin — to SDF’s donors.

SDF is a nonprofit that does not accept any funding from the government, so they rely on people believing in their mission.

And it is an easy mission to get behind because when a disaster occurs, you can count on SDFtrained rescue teams to reinforce response efforts.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

Keen sense of smell, intense toy drive important to rescue dogs

Life theArts

CALENDAR

A musical worthy of opera singers

Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists to perform ‘The Light in the Piazza’

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

There’s no need for any tap dancing. “The Light in the Piazza” is a musical that has everything young opera singers could ever need.

Love, trouble and Italy.

And on that note, Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists are performing their first Broadway musical, “The Light in the Piazza,” this weekend at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. The curtain first rose Thursday night, and more performances of the drama/comedy are set for 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Chrisman Studio is Opera Santa Barbara’s program for developing the talents of young opera singers.

And the studio’s director, Tim Accurso, said “The Light in Piazza” is well suited for them.

“The plot takes place in

Italy. There’s a big portion of the dialogue and music sung in Italian,” Mr. Accurso, who’s providing the musical direction for “The Light in the Piazza,” told the News-Press this week. “You have young love at first sight and a disapproving parent. It’s definitely going to be familiar to opera audiences.”

“The Light in Piazza” has a double cast for some of the roles.

The musical stars Chrisman Studio alumni who are husband and wife in real life: tenor Matthew Greenblatt and soprano Brooklyn Snow. Ms. Snow, who performed on Thursday, returns to the stage on Saturday to portray Clara Johnson, who goes on vacation in Italy with her mother, Margaret Johnson, who’s from the South.

The young American woman falls in love with a young Italian man, Fabrizio Naccarelli, played by Mr. Greenblatt, who performed Thursday and will go on stage again on Saturday.

Soprano Ariana Horner

FYI

Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza” at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $49 today and Saturday and $59 on Sunday. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org.

Sutherland and tenor Kyle Rudolf, who are both current students at Chrisman Artists Studio, are playing Clara and Fabrizio in tonight’s and Sunday’s performances.

The cast also includes soprano Adrien Roberts, mezzo sopranos Christina Pezzarossi and Georgia Jacobson, baritone Matt Peterson and bass-baritone Elijah Cineas.

The production is directed by Layna Chianakas.

“The Light of Piazza” premiered in 2005 and is based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer and

the 1963 movie starring Olivia de Haviland. The play’s music and lyrics are written by Adam Guettel, the grandson of musical composer Richard Rodgers, and the musical’s book is by Craig Lucas.

The 1963 film didn’t have musical components, but Mr. Accurso noted, “The best tenets of the novella and movie are all captured and taken to a more heightened level in the musical.

“There’s some comedy sprinkled throughout, but it’s more of a romance,” Mr. Accurso said about the story. “It’s quite funny, especially the dialogue. There’s some language barrier issues between the (American) mother and daughter and all the Italians.”

Mr. Accurso described the music as “full and lush” and noted that the score won a Tony in 2005. He praised the music for being fully lyrical and having modern harmonies.

The musical has been a popular production of opera companies

across the country. And it was revived in 2019 by the Los Angeles Opera and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists production of “The Light of Piazza” speaks to the need for today’s young opera singers to be versatile, Mr. Accurso said. “They’re making a career of doing some musical theater and some operas. We’re now at the point, after over 400 years of repertoire, that they have to do a little bit of everything.”

He said the Chrisman Studio Artists program serves singers at the beginning of their careers.

The program began originally with four singers who lived in Santa Barbara during the entire season and served as the face of Opera Santa Barbara, with performances of operatic music at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

“The last two years, we modified

PHOTO Storytelling: Native People Through the Lens of Edward S. Curtis” is on display through April 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

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. “Storytelling:

Native People Through the Lens of Edward S. Curtis” is on display through April 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, visit sbnature.org.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

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.

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.

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo, in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

MARCH 25

1 to 3 p.m.: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” will open with a reception with the artist at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The exhibit will run through May 20. The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays by appointment. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb.org.

4 p.m. Actor Max McLean will perform “C.S. Lewis on Stage: Further Up & Further In” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org.

7:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

MARCH 26

2:30 p.m. Opera Santa Barbara’s Chrisman Studio Artists will perform “The Light in the Piazza,” an acclaimed musical by Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to centerstagetheater.org.

Dave

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2023

—

Mason

COURTESY

Soprano Ariana Horner Sutherland and tenor Kyle Rudolf will star as Clara and Fabrizio in tonight’s and Sunday’s performances.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Matthew Greenblatt and Brooklyn Snow, who are married, are Opera Santa Barbara Chrisman Studio alumni who are returning to Santa Barbara to star as Clara and Fabrizio in “The Light in the Piazza.” Performances continue today through Sunday at Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara. Their roles are double-cast: Mr. Greenblatt and Ms. Snow will be on stage Saturday.

‘Vision for Our Valley’ theme of Ojai education meeting

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Ojai Women’s Fund is hosting a special free event, “Vision for Our Valley,” which will address supporting the Ojai Valley’s nonprofits in their efforts for services and education.

Vanessa Bechtel, president and CEO; Calleen Pardinas, philanthropic services officer and board liaison for the Ventura County Community Foundation, and Ojai’s legendary philanthropist Joan Kemper will discuss how important it is to start now to ensure the future.

The program will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 13 at

Sane Living, 316 E. Matilija St. in Ojai.

Joann Yabrof and Jenny Taft, co-chairs of OWF’s Education Committee, will host the evening’s event, which includes light refreshments, wine and beverages.

“We are all aware of the myriad of problems we face in society,” said Ms. Yabrof. “This event is a solution-focused exploration of how we can make a positive difference in our community. As Mary Bethune noted, ‘Enter to learn, depart to serve.’”

Ms. Bechtel and Ms. Pardinas will present an overview of the needs in the community and

what is happening in the county for nonprofits. They will offer suggestions for how to be part of the solution. Ms. Kemper, whose nonprofit participation has helped many Ojai nonprofits, will discuss philanthropy in her life.

“We hope to leave people inspired to do whatever they can, where they are, with what they have, to enhance the quality of life for everyone in our community,” said Ms.Taft.

Everyone is welcome. However, seating is limited. Reservations are requested by going to OjaiWomensFund2.org or calling Jenny Taft at 805-701-2049.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

Hozier to perform at Santa Barbara Bowl

SANTA BARBARA — Awardwinning singer/songwriter Hozier has announced his “Unreal Unearth Tour” slated for the fall of 2023 with special guest Madison Cunningham.

The tour will include a performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl at 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Tickets for the ‘Unreal Unearth Tour’ go on sale to the public at

noon today via AXS.com.

To build excitement before the release of his new album “Unreal Unearth” in late summer, Hozier has released a sneak peak of his album via his new EP, “Eat Your Young,” which features three songs from his forthcoming fulllength album. The songs explore Dante’s Inferno and reflect upon two of the nine circles of hell:

gluttony and heresy.

“Eat Your Young” marks Hozier’s first official offering of new music since his 2019 sophomore album “Wasteland, Baby!,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

For more information, go to sbbowl.com.

— Caleb Beeghly

Bucket Brigade Academy accepts applications

SANTA BARBARA — The Bucket Brigade Academy has opened its admissions process for its 2023 summer program.

The community resilience training program teaches high school student leaders how to organize, train and deploy the power of community in response to natural disasters and

community crises. The program emphasizes relationship building, safety, and community organizing to create a more connected and resilient Santa Barbara County, according to a news release. The program is designed so that BBA graduates leave with skills to lead during community

crises and volunteer service projects. Individual and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information or to apply, go to academy. sbbucketbrigade.org.

— Caleb Beeghly

Shelters seek homes for pets

Local animal shelters and their nonprofit partners are looking for homes for pets.

For more information, go to these websites:

• Animal Services-Lompoc, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org.

ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org.

BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement

Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook.com/capaoflompoc.

CAPA works regularly with Animal Services-Lompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation, sbcanimalcare. org. (The foundation works regularly with the Santa Maria Animal Center.)

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services in Goleta: countyofsb.org/ phd/animal/home.sbc.

• Santa Barbara Humane (with

Museum’s marketplace scheduled for Saturday

CARPINTERIA — The Carpinteria Valley Historical Society will host its popular marketplace 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History at 956 Maple Ave., Carpinteria. The free-admission event

features handcrafted gifts, antiques, furniture, jewelry, clothing, plants and more, with some prices starting at just 25 cents.

Entertainment by local musicians will also be included, and food and beverages will be

available for purchase. For details, visit carpinteriahistoricalmuseum.org or call 805-684-3112. The next marketplace will be held on April 29.

— Caleb Beeghly

campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton, syvhumane.org.

• Shadow’s Fund (a pet sanctuary in Lompoc), shadowsfund.org.

• Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals in Lompoc: vivashelter. org.

— Dave Mason

Chaucer to host ‘Sex Talks’ authors

SANTA BARBARA — Chacuer’s Books is set to host local New York Times bestselling authors Vanessa and Xander Marin for a book talk and signing. Their bestselling book, “Sex Talks,” focuses on the importance of communication in a healthy sexual relationship. The book talk and signing will take place at 6 p.m. April 6 at

OPERA

Continued from Page B1

our program and shifted our focus onto California-based talent,” Mr. Accurso said. “Instead of artists living in Santa Barbara the whole year, we bring them to Santa Barbara for contracted work.”

This year, there are nine artists in the program, and they come to Santa Barbara for a few weeks at a time, Mr. Accurso said.

“The Light in the Piazza” provides a performance opportunity for Ms. Snow and Mr. Greenblatt, who studied with the Chrisman Studio Artists program at a time when they couldn’t get much stage experience because of the pandemic.

“They’re so well suited for these roles. It’s fun to have them back with us,” Mr. Accurso said. “On a personal note, they welcomed a baby recently.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St., Santa Barbara.

According to a news release, Mr. Marin left a cushy career in order to talk about sex with his wife all day. He likes to show that someone doesn’t need a graduate degree or license to be a great communicator.

Mrs. Marin is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex therapy with a bachelor’s degree

in human sexuality and sociology from Brown University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. Their book’s emphasis on better communication is covered through five conversations that the Marins view as essential to having a healthy sex life.

A variety of goods is sold at the marketplace at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History.

— Caleb Beeghly

COURTESY PHOTOS Xander and Vanessa Marin will discuss their book, “Sex Talks,” April 6 at Chaucer’s Books in Santa Barbara.

Diversions

Thought for Today

“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”

— Albert Einstein

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Friday, March 24, 2023

ARIES — You may run into a great deal of opposition from just about every quarter, Aries.

The most frustrating part about this is that even the people you turn to for help will transform the situation into an even bigger mess. Instead of finding relief, you may find more complications and misunderstandings.

TAURUS — You’re becoming much more perceptive, Taurus. At the same time, your psyche and unconscious knowing are also more acute. You may find that you know more about the way someone feels than that person does. More than likely, this sort of perspective is causing you to want to take aggressive action in order to shake people up and help them open their own eyes to the situation at hand.

GEMINI — You’re likely to act with great immediacy, Gemini. You will instantly know what to do in a situation, especially a crisis. You’re likely to be thinking at top speed and moving with efficiency and courage. You should feel strong knowing that there’s a terrific support system surrounding you in case things go awry.

CANCER — If someone tries to criticize you, Cancer, don’t be afraid to defend yourself. Other people aren’t going to be afraid to speak their minds, and you shouldn’t either. You may feel like someone is prodding you with a stick. They probably just want to get some sort of reaction out of you. Be honest about how you feel and explain your statements instead of just being curt.

LEO — Be a friend to someone new and lend a hand to a greater cause than just your own advancement, Leo. Ally with people by offering your support instead of asking for it. Give more of yourself and you will find that in the long run you will receive a great deal more than you ever would have asked for.

VIRGO — The gas is on, Virgo. One spark can cause an explosive fireball. There’s a tremendous amount of potential energy to the day just waiting to be unleashed. Know what you’re getting into before you light that match. The effects of your actions will ripple for some time. That said, go ahead and set the situation on fire.

LIBRA — This is truly a day of

new beginnings, Libra. You can start a fresh cycle of emotions and understanding that can help you develop the quality and depth of your relationships. Note that all levels of your relationships will be affected in some way. Take time to consider the fact that you’re at the starting line.

SCORPIO — Stop dwelling on old projects and routines based on situations that have long since expired, Scorpio. Note the changes that have occurred around you and adjust your plans. This is a good time to honestly examine your situation. Being aggressive in your approach toward improvement and change means letting go of what no longer serves you.

SAGITTARIUS — You’re apt to feel stronger within, helping you to connect the inner and outer sides of your personality, Sagittarius. You may feel like you have all your troops united on a common front and are making tremendous progress toward reaching your goals. Don’t stop. Your momentum is strong. Things you set in motion now will have a tremendous effect that will continue to increase over time.

CAPRICORN — There’s an explosive quality about the day. You may walk along, minding your own business, when someone accidentally bumps into you. Your first reaction may be to push that person back. Carelessness on the part of others may cause you to get worked up into fits of rage. Do your best to keep these tendencies under control, especially when driving.

AQUARIUS — You have a tremendous amount of drive and enthusiasm to help you move forward in your projects, Aquarius. Be careful that you don’t act hastily or impulsively. Be careful of starting out on a new path without having a good idea about where it’s going. Rash decisions may lead to dangerous situations, so know what direction to go in before you start the car. Be safe.

PISCES — A relationship with a close partner may get a bit confused, Pisces. You could react quickly to a situation without really thinking before speaking. There may be some confusion in your mind about whether to stay silent or take a more aggressive route and blurt out everything you feel. It’s important that you find an equal balance of both.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Friday, March 24, 2023

A church newsletter contained this: “Dan Smith and Lisa Jones were married Saturday. Thus ends a friendship that began in their high school days.”

Rumor has it that today’s deal broke up the East-West partnership. When North opened 1NT, East doubled for penalty. South then indulged in a wild leap to four spades, and East hammered that.

West led the ten of hearts: king, ace, ruff. South next led a trump, and East took his king, forced South to ruff another heart, won the next trump and forced with a third heart. South then drew trumps — he had one left — and let the jack of diamonds ride. East won ... and South claimed. East was annoyed, West more so.

CLUB TRICK

East might have saved the partnership. The defense needs a club trick to beat the contract, so East must lead the king at Trick Three. When in with the ace of spades, he leads the jack of clubs, and the defense cashes West’s ten when East takes the king of diamonds.

As far as I know, East-West are still married.

You hold:

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

J 7 5

J 5. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade,

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

you jump to 2NT and he bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: You must show your spade support — what partner wants to hear — but since you have strong three-card support and slammish values, jump to four spades. You will reassure him about trump quality, a vital factor in slam bidding. With Q J 9 7 3, 6, A Q 6 4, Q 4 3, he will make a slam move.