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F R I DAY, O C T O B E R 8 , 2 0 21
Pfizer seeks FDA approval of vaccine for ages 5 to 11 By MADISON HIRNEISEN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTOS
“Sebastian and Max’s Grand Canyon Adventure” is one of 77 films in the NatureTrack Film Festival, which will present films for in-person audiences in Los Olivos and virtually.
Grand Canyon and more NatureTrack Film Festival to open in-person in Los Olivos and online
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
NatureTrack Film Festival returns Oct. 16 with a hybrid format of a one-day, pop-up festival in Los Olivos and a virtual festival Oct. 17-31. The festival showcases natureloving cinema and raises money for the NatureTrack Foundation to provide outdoor field trips year round. The in-person festival on Oct. 16 will show 30 films, and the virtual festival will feature 76 works.
Seven films will make their U.S. premiere at NatureTrack. Producers of five films plan to make their movies’ California premiere. Sue Eisaguirre, founder and director of the NatureTrack Foundation, was nervous the festival may not receive enough movies because her two-week submission period felt rushed. But she was thrilled to receive 800 submissions. NatureTrack created one of this year’s films alongside Golden Sage Productions. It highlights the
organization’s new wheelchairfriendly hikes, which use a device Ms. Eisaguirre calls a “freedom track.” It turns any wheelchair into an all-terrain vehicle, suitable for the beach or trail. “It’s just one more way that we can connect people to the outdoors — and include everybody,” she told the News-Press Thursday. One of her favorites submissions is “Wild,” an animation of a lizard that falls from a plane. Another highlight, “Sebastian and Max’s Grand Canyon Adventure,” is directed by Oregon
resident Max King, who documents Montecito resident Sebastian Salsbury’s 23-mile trail run in the Grand Canyon. “It’s like Pixar’s ‘Bird on a Wire’ where you can watch it over and over and just smile,” Ms. Eisaguirre told the News-Press. BBC’s “Antarctica” is another noteworthy film, taking viewers into the coldest place on Earth and explaining why it matters. Filmmakers captured breathtaking closeups of arctic Please see FESTIVAL on A4
Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday that the company has officially asked the Food and Drug Administration to approve its vaccine under an Emergency Use Authorization for use among children ages 5 to 11. If the request is approved by the FDA, the vaccine will become the first authorized for use among children under the age of 12 in the U.S. and would pave the way for nearly 28 million children to receive a reduced-dose Pfizer shot. The Pfizer vaccine has emergency authorization for use among 12- to 15-year-olds and is fully approved for everyone over age 16. “With new cases in children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high level, this submission is an important step in our ongoing effort against COVID-19,” Pfizer wrote in a statement on Twitter. “We’re committed to working with the FDA with the ultimate goal of helping protect children against this serious public health threat.” The formal EUA request comes about a week after Pfizer submitted data from clinical trials among kids ages 5 to 11 to the FDA for further review. According to the results of clinical trials that included more than 2,000 children, the company
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“This is a very protective vaccine, and I think it would help a lot,” said Dr. Henning Ansorg, the Santa Barbara County public health officer.
reported that a reduced dose (about one-third of the dose given to everyone else) of the vaccine proved to be safe for use among younger children and produced a “robust” antibody response. Pfizer’s EUA application comes at a time when the nation is seeing a reported uptick in COVID-19 cases among children as a result of the highly transmissible delta variant. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly Please see VACCINE on A4
Planning Commission at odds on future of AUD By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara Planning Commission left its meeting with a patchwork of ideas after hearing an analysis of the city’s proposed replacement to the Average Unit Density program. The AUD program, which encouraged developers to build apartments near work centers and incentivized affordable units, expires in February. The city hopes to replace it with a floor-to-lot area ratio (FAR) program, with acceptable ratios set by a map. Project Planner Jessica Metzger said the plan is not complete, and the city has yet to fully consider environmental impacts and recent legislation from the state. The AUD program will likely be extended while a full plan is
drafted and voted on, she said. Properties in the central business district can build up to a 3.0 ratio, which is a four-story building with minimal open space. The plan offers incentives to those who offer more than the required number of low-income units. The incentive is up to a 20% boost in the FAR, which would boost the central most buildings to up to a 3.6 ratio. Four of the seven commissioners and many public commenters said that seemed too high. “I appreciate the work effort, but we’re talking about dramatically increasing FAR while compromising on important design standards and then pushing building heights to 60 feet in order to gain an Please see AUD on A4
Traditional crossword puzzle to return At left, Sebastian Salsbury, shown with his parents, Gabriella and Mike Salsbury, is all smiles at the top of North Kalibab Trail after completing his 23-mile trail run in the Grand Canyon. At right, seen on the night before the Grand Canyon trail run are, from left: Jessica Brazeau, elite ultra-distance trail runner; Jim Walmsley; Sebastian Salsbury and Max King, film director and legendary distance runner. Ms. Brazeau ran and filmed the entire run with Sebastian and Mr. King. Mr. Walmsley, who ran down to the river portion of the run, is currently one of the world’s top elite ultramarathon runners and the current 50-mile world record holder.
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A traditional crossword puzzle, one created by Tribune Media, will start appearing in the News-Press on Wednesday. It will be similar to the puzzle that readers have enjoyed for a long time. The current Santa Barbara puzzle series will continue until then as a temporary addition. We appreciate our readers’ patience.
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-30-37-38-43 Meganumber: 1
Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 5-9-1-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-11-18-30-36 Meganumber: 4
Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 3-9-10-38-39
Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-11-07 Time: 1:49.80
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 1-17-52-58-64 Meganumber: 1
Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4
Wednesday’s DAILY 3:5-6-1 / Wednesday’s Midday 9-0-0