Santa Barbara News-Press: October 28, 2022

competition

Olive Mill Roundabout

Reggae on the Mountain

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

This week’s meeting to assuage Montecito residents’ concerns about the impact of the planned Olive Mill Roundabout “went great,” according to Mayor Randy Rowse.

Santa Barbara mayor said Caltrans spokeswoman Kirsten Ayars did a terrific job addressing issues of construction delays, alternative routes and signage to minimize the impact on drivers.

“She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the neighborhoods, streets and alleys,” Mayor Rowse told the News-Press.

The Olive Mill Roundabout is intended to improve traffic flow at the intersection at Olive Mill Road, Coast Village Road, North Jameson Lane, the northbound Highway 101 off-ramp at Olive Mill Road and the southbound Highway 101 on-ramp at Olive Mill Road. The Montecito intersection is within Santa Barbara city limits.

Construction is scheduled from November 2022 through summer 2023.

The public meeting, held Tuesday at the Montecito Inn, drew a standing-room-only crowd of 30 to 40 people seeking answers to their construction-related concerns, Mayor Rowse said.

Ms. Ayers sought to answer all the questions, leading the discussion on construction staging and access, and reviewing expectations for delays.

“The meeting went great,” Mayor Rowse said. “She had an answer for everything.”

Further, he said, “anytime you have the city, county and Caltrans together in the same room and they’re all talking is a miracle unto itself.”

Plans are underway to post signs along Cabrillo Boulevard listing alternate routes, set up barricades where necessary, and to have flagmen at the ready to guide motorists through the worst traffic-clogged areas, they said.

“The priority is to have as little disruption as possible,” Mayor Rowse said.

“Everyone is excited about the improvements, but they’re nervous and concerned about how it will go in

construction,” Ms. Ayars, president of Ayars & Associates, added.

The problem is compounded by the fact that the intersection of Olive Mill Road and Coast Village Road will remain open to drivers alongside ongoing roundabout construction, she said.

“It’s a tight, restrictive space already,” Ms. Ayars said. “It’s a challenging project all the way around.”

She said flagmen will be on hand during the busiest times of day, from 7-9 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. “to help people move through the intersection.” At most, she said, motorists should experience a five- to 10minute delay.

Ms. Ayars said the project will begin in mid-November, with construction starting in mid-November and running through spring. Landscaping is scheduled to continue through summer 2023.

Mayor Rowse said the most difficult time

for drivers will be when the Olive Mill Road freeway off-ramps are closed.

Ms. Ayars said the northbound off-ramp will be closed from mid-November through summer 2023, and the southbound off-ramp will be closed from mid-November through the end of the year.

The aim of the Olive Mill Road roundabout, located at the southern end of the road, is to improve traffic flow through the fiveway intersection, especially since traffic is expected to increase following the widening of Highway 101 in that area, Mayor Rowse said.

He urged motorists to try and find ways around construction-related delays whenever possible.

“Unless they have business on Coast Village Road, they should find other ways to get to work,” Mayor Rowse said.

email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Falcon 9 rises from Vandenberg

Rocket is seen as far as Arizona

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was spotted by residents as far south as Anaheim and as far east as Arizona after its launch early Thursday evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

In the blue twilight, SpaceX launched from Vandenberg at 6:14 p.m. with its payload of 53 Starlink satellites.

Before then, Falcon 9 stood on Space Launch Complex-4 on the south base. White clouds were seen around the top from the dispersal of liquid oxygen.

“Great news! All systems are a go for launch,” said Jessie Anderson, the SpaceX production and engineering manager, narrating SpaceX’s live webcast from the company’s headquarters in Hawthorne in the Los Angeles area.

After lift off, Falcon 9 rose through the sky and became a bright yellow burst of light punching through the clouds above Lompoc.

In the clear sky above Goleta,

the rocket left a long white vapor trail.

The rocket reached Max Q, the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket, at 1:12 (one minute, 12 seconds into the flight) after the launch. The first stage main engine cutoff, known as MECO, came at 2:27 (two minutes, 27 seconds into the flight), followed by the separation of the first and second stages at 2:31.

The first stage started its entry burn at 6:46 and completed it at 7:05.

The first stage landed right on target, within a circle on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, off the California coast. That was at 8:48 (eight minutes, 48 seconds into the flight).

“Awesome view of the landing! Falcon has landed!” Ms. Anderson said during her narration. Falcon 9 continued with its second stage, and the NewsPress Thursday evening received reports from people who saw the rocket in the skies over Anaheim and Arizona.

email: dmason@newspress.com

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 leaves a long vapor trail in the sky above Goleta after its launch early Thursday evening from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Lompoc.

HUD officials visit Santa Barbara

By JARED DANIELS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara hosted federal officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Wednesday for a tour of several of the local agency’s development sites.

The tour — which included, among others, the El Carrillo, Johnson Court, Vera Cruz Village and Pescadero Lofts developments — drew strong praise from HUD’s Region IX administrator, John Pu, who applauded the Housing Authority’s work in creating public housing that “anybody would be proud to live in and anybody would be happy to live next to.”

“What we’ve seen is local collaboration that is creating projects to help house the homeless, provide wraparound services, and to address housing affordability needs in a way that blends seamlessly into the neighborhoods and communities that in which they’re built,” Mr. Pu

said of his visit to South County.

“I think that the best practices that I’ve taken away from the local

Please see HUD on A3

Ziggy Marley, Soul Majestic among those appearing at three-day festival at

Oak

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Motorists drive through the intersection of Coast Village and Olive Mill roads Thursday afternoon.

COURTESY AYARS & ASSOCIATES

The city of Santa Barbara plans to improve the traffic flow at Coast Village and Olive Mill roads with a roundabout, as shown in this rendering.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

HUD Region IX Administrator Jason Pu speaks during a news conference at the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara office Wednesday. Mr. Pu applauded the work done by the local agency to build affordable housing and developments for homeless populations that “anybody would be proud to live in and anybody would be happy to live next to.”

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

announces its election endorsements

Trustee Area 4: Phebe Mansur.

The

STATE

Governor: Sen. Brian Dahle.

Lieutenant Governor: Angela Underwood Jacobs.

Secretary of State: Rob Bernosky.

Controller: Lanhee Chen.

State Treasurer: Jack Guerrero.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Lance Christensen.

Attorney General: Nathan Hochman.

Insurance Commissioner: Robert Howell. State Board of Equalization, 2nd District: Peter Coe Verbica.

U.S. Senate/Partial Term: Mark Meuser.

U.S. Senate/Full Term: Mark Meuser.

U.S. House Representative, District 24: Dr. Brad Allen.

State Assembly, District 37: Mike Stoker.

SCHOOL BOARDS

Santa Barbara County Board of Education, Trustee Area 1: Rosanne Crawford.

Santa Barbara Community College District, Trustee Area 1: Debi Stoker.

Santa Barbara Community College District, Trustee Area 5: Sharon Salvador-Jegottka.

Santa Barbara Unified School District, Trustee Area 1: Efigenia Banales.

Santa Barbara Unified School District,

Goleta Union School District, Trustee Area

1: Caroline Abate.

Goleta Union School District, Trustee Area

3: Christy Lozano. Lompoc Unified School District: To be announced.

SPECIAL DISTRICT

Goleta Water District, District 2: Greg S. Hammel.

CITY COUNCIL RACES

Carpinteria City Council, Trustee Area 3: Patty Boyd (write in). Lompoc Mayor: Jim Mosby.

Arsonist sentenced for Hollister Ranch fire

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The man convicted of starting a fire at Hollister Ranch has been sentenced to more than 200 days behind bars and placed on felony probation, prosecutors said.

Edward Junior Macklin, who pleaded guilty to one count of arson of a structure or forest, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 268 days and felony probation, Deputy District Attorney Madison Whitmore said. He also is required

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Driver dies after rollover accident

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY — The male driver of a Chevy pickup died Thursday afternoon after his truck overturned.

The man is believed to have suffered a medical emergency while driving west on State Route 154, east of Zaca Station Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, said Mike Eliason, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The man drove off the road. Then his truck overturned.

Firefighters and paramedics worked extensively, but the man died at the scene, Mr. Eliason said.

Call time for the response was 3:20 p.m.

— Katherine Zehnder

to register as an arsonist.

In pleading guilty, Mr. Macklin admitted starting the fire on March 12 in the Hollister Ranch area between Cuarta Canyon and Alegria Canyon. The fire burned more than 120 acres of forest land across five properties within Hollister Ranch.

He was sentenced in the Lompoc division of Superior Court. His conviction is a felony and is a strike offense in California.

The March 12 fire started in Hollister Ranch in the Del Norte

Road area.

Following an investigation by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the defendant was charged with felony arson, misdemeanor trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The other charges were dismissed in exchange for his pleading guilty to felony arson as someone “who did willfully, unlawfully and maliciously set fire to and burn … a structure or forest land located at 146 Hollister Ranch Road,” prosecutors said in

the complaint filed against him. He faced a special allegation of committing arson with aggravating factors because two firefighters were injured as a result of his offense.

A witness allegedly placed Mr. Macklin at the scene when the fire broke out. Investigators found drug paraphernalia and three lighters in his backpack, in addition to one he allegedly carried on him.

email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Voters appear to sour on Prop. 30, new survey shows

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Despite showing early support for the measure, California voters appear poised to reject a ballot initiative seeking to raise taxes on wealthy residents to fund vehicle charging stations, eclectic vehicle purchase incentives and wildfire prevention.

A new survey from the Public Policy Institute of California indicates voters may have soured on Proposition 30, a measure backed by Lyft that would increase taxes on Californians making more than $2 million annually to fund efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions. Just 41% of likely voters said they would vote “yes” compared to 52% who said they would vote “no” on the proposition, according to PPIC.

This represents a shift since September

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Despite California spending millions to eradicate inequalities, a new report out Wednesday found racial and geographical disparities persist at regional centers tasked with caring for adults with disabilities.

Though the state has paid out millions in grants to regional centers – facilities that provide services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – that submit proposals outlining ways to reduce inequities, the new report compiled by Disability Voices United found that just four out of 21 regional centers decreased the spending gap between white adults and Latino adults.

The report examined disparities based on race and geography among adults who receive services at regional centers – independent nonprofits funded by state and federal taxpayer dollars who provide services to adults with disabilities. There are 21 regional centers in the state, though the report focused on 19 centers.

The report’s findings revealed disparities at all levels of service, which were determined by where an adult lives – at home, in residential settings like group homes or living on their own with supportive services. When comparing adults

when PPIC’s survey indicated that 55% of voters would cast a “yes” vote in favor of Proposition 30.

In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom split from the California Democratic Party – which supports the measure – and released an ad urging voters to cast a “no” vote on Prop. 30. Within the ad, Gov. Newsom claims that though Prop. 30 is presented as a climate initiative, “in reality, it was devised by a single corporation to funnel state income taxes to benefit their company.”

Though Gov. Newsom does not refer to Lyft by name, the ad includes several news headlines that name the ridesharing giant. Lyft has contributed more than $35 million in support of the effort.

Lyft and other ridesharing companies are required by state order to transition their

living in similar situations, “racial and ethnic disparities still plague the system, particularly among Latinos,” the report concluded.

“In a state that claims to be a progressive and multicultural leader, California is failing people with developmental disabilities and must take immediate, deliberate and data-driven action to right these unacceptable wrongs,” the report states.

Among adults living at home, Latino adults received the least amount of services at eight regional centers, while white adults living at home received the most services at eight centers. Additionally, white adults who live in their own apartments with supportive services received the highest amount of service dollars at 14 out of 19 regional centers, while Latino adults in the same living situation received the least amount of services at 11 out of 19 regional centers. In contrast to other living situations, the study found white adults living in residential settings received the lowest amount of service funding in 10 out of 19 regional centers. Disparities remain in the amount spent on services between racial groups, and the regional center with the largest disparity has a difference of more than $45,000 in services provided to Latinos, who receive the least amount of services, and adults whose race is categorized

fleets to zero-emission vehicles by 2030. While Lyft as a corporation would not directly benefit from the tax revenue, the drivers who contract with the ridesharing giant could be eligible for incentives to purchase an electric vehicle.

Gov. Newsom and other opponents have referred to Prop. 30 as Lyft’s “tax grab.” The governor described the measure as “one company’s cynical scheme to grab a huge taxpayer funded subsidy.”

Supporters of Prop. 30 have denounced the governor’s stance on the initiative, saying that the funding will be directed to state programs to increase electric vehicle incentives and wildfire prevention efforts.

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates a new tax on high-income taxpayers would raise between $3.5 billion to $5 billion annually and grow over time.

as “other” who receive the highest amount of services.

Disparities also exist depending on where regional centers are geographically located. The report found that the average spending at regional centers ranges from $60,347 at Golden Gate Regional Center to $26,409 at Inland Regional Center. Higher spending centers tend to have greater variation among racial/ethnic groups, while lower spending centers have less variation, according to the report.

The report concludes that adults with disabilities receive “vastly different” levels of services depending on the region in California they live in and their race/ethnicity.

Advocates say lawmakers and other state officials have been aware of these disparities for decades. Since 2016, the state has spent $11 million to eradicate existing inequalities. The 20222023 budget included $22 million for these efforts, adding to the $66 million already spent.

The funds are distributed by the Department of Developmental Services via “Service Access and Equity Grants” that are awarded to regional centers who submit proposals explaining how they will reduce disparities. Despite this funding, the report found that 17 out of 21 regional centers saw the spending gap between

white adults and Latinos increase compared to 2015 when the grants did not exist.

Judy Mark, president and cofounder of Disability Voices United, told reporters on Wednesday that it’s unclear why these disparities exist in a systemic way, saying that more research is needed to identify “root causes.”

She added that the “culture” of the regional centers could be a root cause of disparities. Ms. Mark described the culture as a “culture of no,” noting that white people and English speakers “have more resources to be able to fight that culture of no and to move it to yes.”

Other advocates said the system could be challenging to navigate, which can result in some adults receiving no services at all. According to Wednesday’s report, there is a higher percentage of Latino and Asian adults who receive no services at 15 out of 19 regional centers, while white adults are the least likely to receive no services.

To address the disparities, advocates came up with a list of recommendations that include increasing oversight over regional centers with higher racial and geographic disparities and implementing a statewide system that increases consistency in services among regional centers.

P.O.

COURTESY PHOTO

A man died after his truck overturned off State Route 154, east of Zaca Station Road.

State spent millions on regional center inequities, some got worse

Dos Pueblos places third at mock trial competition

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial team recently celebrated a third-place finish at a national competition in Baltimore.

The team from the Goleta high school competed Sept. 23-25 at the Empire Mock Trial invitational tournament.

The competition drew teams from all over the country and one group from Canada. After weeks of intense preparation, Dos Pueblos placed third overall, just missing the championship round.

In addition to three days of jampacked competition, the team also spent a day in Washington, D.C.

Members went to the African American History Museum before heading to the Capitol, where they met with U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara. Next, the group toured the Capitol with one of the congressman’s legislative assistants.

Rep. Carbajal was back in

Santa Barbara this week, and on Wednesday, he came to Dos Pueblos High School to present the mock trial team with congressional commendations.

“I’m so proud that the mock trial team represented us so well at the national level,” Dr. Hilda Maldonado, superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, said in a news release. “We are working to be a school district that’s on the move and building successful people in our community. These students are living up to that goal.”

The Dos Pueblos team consisted of Edo Barel, Amelia Mendro, Jacob Molina, Maxfield Steele, Lo Zhu, Charlotte Choi, Anastasia Li, Sienna Valentine and Liam Avolio.

Hannah Krieshok is the team’s faculty adviser. The team is also coached by attorneys Christine Voss and Lisa Rothstein.

“Being able to argue the law, tour the nation’s capital, and even see a baseball game with

Tom Widroe a candidate for Buellton City Council

Editor’s note: This is part of a series on local candidates in advance of the Nov. 8 general election.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Tom Widroe is stressing public safety as he runs for Buellton City Council against Hudson Hornick.

“We have lived in Buellton almost 14 years and raised our kids here,” Mr. Widroe told the News-Press. “We have 14-yearold triplets and a 12-year-old. We really love the city. It has been a great place to make our home, and we feel like we have gotten to know the good people of Buellton.”

Mr. Widroe said a few people asked him if he would be willing to run for the District 1 seat.

“I decided I would be willing to serve and help make decisions for Buellton,” he said.

“I look at rising crime in America, California, and big cities. Buellton is an oasis, a safe city, maybe the safest in Santa Barbara County, and I want to keep it that way,” Mr. Widroe said. “I want our relationship with the sheriff to be strong. I want to utilize whatever mechanisms are available to keep our city safe. I don’t want to tolerate any increased level of crime; I don’t think it’s acceptable.

“Violence and property crime is on the upswing in Santa Ynez Valley, and homelessness is on the upswing as well,” Mr. Widroe said. “Buellton has to draw the line and make sure these people get help. But help is not synonymous with illegal encampments. We want to keep Buellton a safe and welcoming place but not for illegal encampments and not for those who want to commit crimes.”

The News-Press asked Mr. Widroe how his career has prepared him for this position.

“I have been in public policy most of my career. I worked for a county supervisor, a state assemblywoman and a congressman. My current role is as a consultant with a focus on public affairs. When you work for a public official, you are responsible for community service. When constituents call and have an issue, it’s incumbent on you being on the front lines of helping people solve problems.

“It involves everything from potholes to federal issues,” Mr. Widroe noted. “These are real bread-and-butter issues that affect people in a very real way. I have a keen understanding of what constituents go through. It has been a big part of my life doing this kind of work.”

Mr. Widroe received his bachelor’s in history in 1986 from UCSB and his master’s in history with a public policy in 1989 from the same university. He wrote his thesis on the national wilderness preservation system and how it came to be.

“I think Buellton is a great city, but there is a lot of untapped potential,” Mr. Widroe said.

“When they moved into putting in the 101 (freeway), they left Avenue of Flags, which is awkwardly constructed due to it being vestiges of the old highway,” Mr. Widroe said. “It can be made into a more walkable space more like Paso Robles with an identifiable downtown. I think it’s time to move on some of that stuff. We have talked about it for a long time. People know about it.

“There isn’t really a center for Buellton, He continued. “I would like to dig into that plan and see what is realistic and if it could be something like Paso Robles.”

He added he would like to explore the idea of a recreation sports complex. “People have to travel far for sporting events for their kids, while some other communities have built nice amenities. I would like Buellton to be a community willing to embrace something like that.” Mr. Widroe discussed his opponent.

“I met Hudson the other day at a forum. I don’t know if I am better,” Mr. Widroe said. “I like Hudson.

I think he is sharp; he has a neat family. He works for the county, has a good sense of humor and thinks clearly. If he wins, I think the community will be well served.

“I think we have different emphasis on our campaigns,” Mr. Widroe said. “I think I have more experience by virtue of age and hopefully a little bit of wisdom. But I think my opponent is worthy and capable of serving Buellton well.”

“First and foremost, I am a family guy,” Mr. Widroe said. “ I love being with my family and my wife, Maureen. I appreciate Buellton and Santa Barbara County. We have spent most of our lives here. I spend my free time with my family exploring the central coast and going to activities.

“I am committed to my family and community.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

some of my closest friends was an unforgettable experience I’ll treasure for the rest of my life,” said Edo, who’s a senior at Dos Pueblos.

Ms. Rothstein noted how much adversity the team has worked through after competing primarily on Zoom for two full seasons due to the pandemic.

“It was extraordinary to allow these hard-working students to travel and compete live at an advanced level,” she said. “Each one of them exceeded our high expectations.

“As coaches, we could not be prouder.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Kyriaco: ‘We need a diversity of housing options’

community here are definitely about how these projects are seamlessly integrated into their neighborhoods, and how collaboration among the public housing authorities, the city and the county are able to weave and braid resources together to solve these complex issues.”

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal further touched on Mr. Pu’s observation of the contemporary projects’ emphasis on design and harmony with local neighborhoods, which he contrasted from his own experiences as a past beneficiary of public housing.

“I know first hand what these public programs do for families,” Rep. Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, said. “My father was a farm worker, and we had challenges getting by, which led us to moving into public housing. The public housing that exists today is much different, and it’s the type of model that we need.

“Back in the day, (the public housing that was produced then) was essential for the time, but it also created some challenges, which created a lot of resistance by communities because we created projects that didn’t have the type of architectural rendering and the type of wraparound services that these programs have today,” Rep. Carbajal said. “So I want to make that distinction and point out that it’s a huge success for this region in the approach that they’ve taken for affordable housing.”

This pushback to public and affordable housing by locals that the congressman mentioned was a strong theme in Santa Barbara County 1st District Supervisor Das Williams’ remarks.

Mr. Williams said negative responses to developing these types of housing projects ran contrary to the values that Santa Barbara residents seek to espouse.

“It creates a situation that challenges our values where the

prices of rentals and the prices of housing are chasing out our young, and we’re becoming less diverse in many parts of our community,” Supervisor Williams said. “And we are also destroying the environment because we’re pushing people to commute farther and farther away from their businesses and their jobs.

“If we are truly environmentalists, truly want diversity and truly want a place where workers are welcome, we need to embrace housing production that’s consistent with those values,” he continued.

Also in attendance was Goleta City Council Member James Kyriaco, who noted the interconnected nature of Santa Barbara and Goleta’s housing markets and applauded the city’s work in providing housing for lowincome and homeless populations.

“Every time the city of Santa Barbara and the county of Santa Barbara step up on housing, that’s good for Goleta,” Councilmember Kyriaco said. “Every time Goleta steps up on housing, like we’ve done with building 1,300 units recently, that’s good for the region. We need a diversity of housing options if we want to maintain and become a more diverse community, and that diversity should extend to all different types of price points.”

In addition to thanking both federal and local partners for their assistance with building up Santa Barbara’s stock of affordable housing and developments for homeless populations, Housing Authority Executive Director and CEO Rob Fredericks stated in strong terms that the local agency would continue their work “until everybody in Santa Barbara has the housing that they need.”

“My team and I at the housing authority — we’re what we call ‘relentless housers,’” Mr. Fredericks said. “We are not going to stop. We are going to push forward with whatever we can to provide the housing that’s necessary.”

email: jdaniels@newspress.com

Ticket to Paradise* (PG13): Fri: 2:20, 3:40, 5:00, 6:20, 8:00.

Sat/Sun: 1:00, 2:20, 3:40, 5:00, 6:20, 8:00. Mon-Thur: 3:40, 5:00, 6:20, 8:00.

Thur: 2:20, 3:40, 5:00, 7:40.

Call Jane* (R): Fri, Mon-Thur: 4:30, 7:20. Sat/Sun: 1:30, 4:30, 7:20.

Prey for the Devil* (R): Fri, Mon-Thur: 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 9:50. Sat/Sun: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:25, 9:50.

3:30, 6:30, 9:30.

12:30, 3:30, 6:30, 9:30.

2:40, 4:00, 5:35, 7:00, 8:30, 9:55.

11:45, 1:00, 2:40, 4:00, 5:35, 7:00, 8:30, 9:55.

(R): Fri, Mon-Wed: 4:10, 6:50, 9:40. Sat/Sun: 1:20, 4:10, 6:50, 9:40. Thur: 10:00.

Smile (R): Fri, Mon-Wed: 4:20, 7:15, 10:00. Sat/Sun: 1:30, 4:20, 7:15, 10:00.

Thur: 4:20, 7:15.

One Piece Film Red* -Sub (PG13): Thur: 5:00, 7:45, 10:30.

Black Adam* (PG13): Fri/Sat: 1:00, 3:10, 4:05, 6:05, 7:00, 9:00, 9:55. Sun: 1:00, 3:10, 4:05, 6:05, 7:00. Mon-Thur: 3:00, 5:00, 6:05, 8:00.

Halloween Ends (R): Fri/Sat: 1:20, 4:00, 6:45, 9:30. Sun: 1:20, 4:00, 6:45. Mon-Thur: 2:50, 5:30, 8:15.

Smile (R): Fri/Sat: 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:05. Sun: 1:45, 4:30, 7:15. Mon-Thur: 4:45, 7:45.

Till* (PG13): Fri-Sun: 2:20, 4:30, 7:30. Mon-Thur: 4:30, 7:30.

Call Jane* (R): Fri-Sun: 1:50, 4:40, 7:40. Mon-Thur: 4:40, 7:40.

Prey for the Devil* (R): Fri-Sun: 2:10, 5:30, 8:00. Mon-Thur: 5:30, 8:00.

Halloween Ends (R): Fri: 7:50. Sat/Sun: 2:30, 5:10, 7:50. Mon-Wed: 4:35, 7:15. Thur: 7:15.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile (PG): Fri-Sun: 2:00, 4:45, 7:20. Mon-Wed: 4:45, 7:20. Thur: 4:45.

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Ticket to

Then in

Black Adam* (PG13): Fri: 5:00, 8:00.

Sat/Sun: 2:00, 5:00,

Mon-Thur: 4:00,

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Liz introduces Milo, a rescued

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COURTESY PHOTOS

The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team meets with U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal in the Capitol in Washington, D.C.

COURTESY

PHOTO

Tom Widroe

UCSB women’s basketball tops Life Pacific in exhibition

By DANIEL MOEBUS-BOWLES UCSB SPORTS WRITER

The UCSB women’s basketball team narrowly missed the century mark in their first exhibition of the season Wednesday night, topping visiting Life Pacific 98-60.

On the Stat Sheet

• Five Gauchos went for double figures in their first time on the floor ahead of the 2022-23 season, led by Ila Lane who went for 17 points on 8-of-11 to go with six rebounds.

• Tatyana Modawar had a career-high 15 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds and three assists. Alexis Whitfield chipped in 12 points in her first game in blue gold, Jessica Grant went for 11 in her first collegiate contest nailing three triples and Taylor Mole tallied 10.

• UCSB shot 52.1% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arch and 92.3% from the free throw line. The team won the rebound battle 42-24, assisted on 29 of its 38 buckets and outscored LPU in the paint 52-22.

• Callie Cooper led all players with five assists and Kennedy Johnson went for a career-high 10 rebounds. hOw it h appened

the second quarter, holding the Gauchos to a game-low 18 points but UCSB still managed to win the period 18-12 and head into the locker rooms up 44-25. Lane was the leading scorer in the quarter with five points going 2-for-2 with an and-one conversion. Johnson found half of her boards in the frame, including three on the offensive end. Alexis Tucker ended the half as the leading scorer with eight points.

• Out of the break, the Gauchos grew their lead to as much as 27 points in a third quarter that saw them shoot 61.1% from the field. Modawar got going, sinking all three of her shots from the field and totaling seven points with an and-one free throw.

Grant did what she was known for in high school, burying a pair of threes and adding a pair of assists on nice passes inside to Lane.

• UCSB added another 27 points in the final quarter, assisting on nine of its 11 field goals and shooting 55% from the field. Mole found seven of her 10 points in the period, going 3-for-3 from the field with a triple. The team’s lead stretched out to a game-high 39 points with just over two minutes in the game thanks to another 16 points in the paint.

Up next

UCSB has one more exhibition on the schedule, as the Gauchos welcome Hope International to the Thunderdome next Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Daniel Moebus-Bowles writes about sports for UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Registration opening for Dos Pueblos Little League

By MATT SMOLENSKY NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Dos Pueblos Little League’s 2023 baseball season will be open for registration beginning on Nov. 1.

DPLL is offering all new players and families a $50 discount for the coming season, as well as an early bird discount for those registering in November and a sibling discount for families with multiple players. Scholarships are also available for eligible families that apply when registering. The league welcomes youth athletes between the ages of four and 14.

“The 2022 season set a record of 408 player registrations, and we are hopeful to continue to see the league grow again this year,”

said DPLL President Jeff Palmer.

“We are also looking forward to our second season under new leadership of the Challenger Division for players with physical and intellectual disabilities.”

The league is coming off its most successful All-Star tournament season, producing five district championships and a sectional championship, including a thirdplace finish in the Southern California State Tournament for the 10U team.

In preparation for the season,

KZSB to air football games

KZSB — AM1290, the NewsPress radio station— will air broadcasts of football games tonight and Saturday.

The games will also air on

DPLL is offering two free, four-hour preseason clinics for registered players aged 814. The sessions are aimed at improving technical skills and baseball IQ, and will be run by players and coaches from UCSB and Dos Pueblos High School in addition to DPLL coaches and board members. The clinics will also include structured coaching and umpire training for new and returning DPLL volunteers.

The new season will begin with fields and facilities that saw significant improvements in the last year. According to a press release, Girsh Park was transformed into the premiere youth baseball complex in Santa Barbara County, with improved bullpens and turf mounds, upgraded backstops and fencing, new field sheds, newly installed webcams and improved equipment for players and coaches.

Practices for the 2023 season will begin in February, with opening day set for March 4.

DPLL, a fully volunteer-run organization, was formed in 1974 and has played at Girsh Park since 1999.

email: msmolensky@newspress.com

AM1290KZSB.com.

Up first is Santa Barbara High School at San Marcos High School. Airtime is 6:45 tonight.

Then it’s Santa Barbara City College at Antelope Valley Colleg. Airtime is 1:45 p.m. Saturday.

— Dave Mason

• The Gauchos opened up the game on a 16-0 run with eight different players getting in the scoring column in the quarter.

Twelve of their 26 points in the period came in the paint as they doubled up the Warriors 2613.

• LPU found it’s footing in

Sokhela repeats as Runner of the Month

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

For the second time in as many months, Westmont’s Zola Sokhela has been named one of three recipients for the GSAC Runner of the Month award. While Sokhela ran in only two races this month, the reigning NAIA All-American came away with another pair of top-10 finishes to continue and add to his resume.

“In the last month, Zola refocused himself on running up to his capability,” said head coach Russell Smelley. “He’s done a good job of pushing himself, instead of resting on his talents. It’s been really gratifying to see him put that effort in, and become the runner he’s capable of being.”

First, Sokhela placed eighth overall in the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational on October 8, finishing the 8K with a time of 25:24. Then, this past Saturday, Sokhela set a new personal record, completing the Titan Invitational 8K with a time of 24:09.

At the Titan Invitational,

Sokhela earned third-place overall, while the Warriors won the meet after beating The Master’s in a tiebreaker.

“Zola’s focus has been quiet and direct,” offered Smelley, “With that, he expects the team to follow his example and that has really helped the group.”

Sokhela and the Warriors will have another opportunity to clash with the Mustangs on Saturday, November 5, at the GSAC Championships in Rocklin. Later on, Sokhela and the rest of the 22nd-ranked Warriors hope for the opportunity to compete at the NAIA National Championships on November 18 in Tallahassee, Florida.

“My hope for Rocklin is first and foremost that they give their best effort,” said Smelley. “They know they can compete in this race, and I hope to see them give themselves a chance to win this race by giving it their best.”

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Westmont women’s basketball enjoying year of renewal

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

With just days before the start of her 18th season as head coach of Westmont women’s basketball, Kirsten Moore looks forward to a greater degree of normalcy in the 2022-23 season and to a season of renewal.

“It is the first year that has felt any semblance of normal since COVID,” remarked Moore. “There are a lot of things we have not been able to do for the last couple of years that we have been able to get back to this season. That has been refreshing.

“We have not been able to do a normal team retreat and haven’t been able to do some of the team building activities we traditionally have done in the preseason. The opportunity to reestablish a lot of those things has been beneficial for this new group coming in and for the returners.

“Our sophomores and juniors have not really had a normal season yet. We really just have two players who have had a normal ability to prepare for a season in the way we like to do so.”

The Warriors have welcomed one of the largest incoming class of athletes in recent years. Four true freshmen and a sophomore join seven returners from last year’s squad.

“With so many new people, we have a renewed commitment to teaching them what it means to be a Warrior,” explained Moore. “We are excited to pass to them the legacy that was left from those who came before them and that they will pass on to those that come after.”

Moore (397-128, .756) has led her teams to two NAIA National Championships (2013 and 2021). On two other occasions, her teams have been national runnerup and a semifinal participant. She has twice been named the NAIA Coach of the Year.

THE ROSTER

“We have a unique mix on the team this year,” noted Moore. “There is a great core returning.

Five members are extremely experienced. They have won a national championship, playing significant roles. Four of five starters from last season are back this year.

Two additional athletes return from last year’s squad which reached the round of 16 in national tournament play.

“We also have five brand new players that are just learning what it means to be a Warrior and compete at a level necessary to win a championship both in the GSAC and at the NAIA level,” said Moore. “So it has been a mix of experience and newness with people coming into this year from two different ends of the spectrum.”

The two players with the most experience are Stefanie Berberabe and Sydney Brown who, as Moore said are the, “first two fifth-year players in the history of our program.

“They have chosen to invest another year in this team, in this program, and in what we are about. I am grateful for them being here. I think it will be a year where they thrive individually, but I also think they

can have an exponential impact on the future of this program by choosing to stay.

“The opportunity they have to lead the way in teaching this whole new generation of Warriors coming in is very exciting because they model everything we are about from work ethic to their commitment to putting the team and the team’s success first above their own accolades. I am grateful that they are here and excited for how they can lead our team this year.”

Berberabe is a two-time NAIA First Team All-American, the NAIA Player of the Year in 202021, NAIA Tournament MVP in the same year, and a two time AllGolden State Athletic Conference selection, including GSAC Player of the Year in 2021-22.

The 5-4 guard has dazzled fans of the Warriors and their opponents alike throughout her career with her ballhandling ability as well as her ability to score and create scoring opportunities for her teammates.

She led the team in scoring, averaging 15.5 points per game, and led the GSAC in both assists (5.6 per game) and assists-to-

turnover ratio (3.4).

This past summer, Berberabe had the opportunity to play for the Philippine National Team.

“It was a great opportunity for Stef to compete for the Philippine National Team this summer in international FIBA competition, and to have won gold there. She had to navigate the challenges that came with that – learning a new system, a language barrier, meeting new people and finding a role on a new team. I am proud of her and how she made her way.

“I am not surprised at all because her mentality is, ‘Whatever the team needs, I am willing to do.’ She was willing to do whatever role that team needed to help them win, and win they did. That was really exciting and it can only boost her confidence as she comes back and her ability to lead us this year.

“It is exciting to see the confidence that Stef has built in her four years and I think that confidence will take an even bigger step in her fifth year,” predicted Moore. “She has grown so much as a human, first of all, and as a basketball player as

COURTESY PHOTO

Westmont’s Zola Sokhela was one of three recipients of the GSAC Runner of the Month award for October. He also captured the honor in September.

COURTESY PHOTO

Seven players are returning to the Westmont women’s basketball team, joined by four true freshmen and a sophomore.

Please see WESTMONT on A10

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Reggae

on the Mountain has found some new peaks.

The Malibu festival has moved to the Santa Barbara area and will bring a large lineup of performers — everyone from Ziggy Marley to local band Soul Majestic — to Live Oak Camp, nestled in the wilderness between the San Rafael and Santa Ynez mountains.

Thousands of people are expected to hear reggae’s bright beat and powerful messages from 7 p.m. Nov. 18 through 11:30 p.m. Nov. 20.

“It’s our first time in Santa Barbara. We wanted to basically expand this into a more proper festival,” festival co-founder Amit Gilad told the News-Press. “We were at Topanga Canyon for nine years, then we went up to Malibu, but we were close to the neighbors, and we had a time curfew. We couldn’t have anyone camping.

“We wanted to expand it to a more robust event, with three days of camping at Live Oak, where there’s an amazing history of festivals,” Mr. Gilad said. “We were trying to find a venue where we could expand. We kept outgrowing our venues here in L.A.”

Mr. Gilad, who started Reggae on the Mountain with fellow Topanga Canyon native Brooks Ellis, said he has vacationed in the Santa Ynez Valley and loved it. He felt it was ideal for reggae.

“It’s positive music. It’s uplifting music,” he said. “When you hear that music, it makes you feel good.”

In addition to Ziggy Marley and Soul Majestic, the festival will feature Ky-Mani Marley, Steel Pulse, Barrington Levy, Don Carlos, Yellowman, Groundation, Nattali Rize, Pato Banton, Denm,Marlon Asher, Arise Roots, Hempress Sativa, Prezident Brown, Vana Liya, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Jahgun & Justifyah, Sensi Trails, Tom Curren, Maku Rothman, Boostive, BLVK H3RO,

Reggae on the Mountain

Rey Fresco, Rastan and Synrgy. Reggae is known for a beat that makes you dance and a message that stays with you after the final chord. The music can be celebratory and fun, or it can be a call for social change.

“Reggae is message music. It always has been,” Soul Majestic vocalist and rhythm guitarist Eric Iverson told the News-Press in 2021. “A lot of reggae greats came

out of Jamaica and sang a lot about social justice and the world.”

Soul Majestic has performed songs from “Keep It Burning,” its 2021 album inspired by the Standing Room movement protesting the underground Dakota Access oil pipeline.

“But there’s always room to sprinkle in feel-good songs. We do that too,” said Mr. Iverson, a Santa Barbara resident who graduated

in 1993 from Santa Barbara High School. “We keep it fun.”

Ziggy Marley told the NewsPress recently that he’s careful not to generalize about reggae. “Reggae is so many different things.

“Depending on which artist you’re listening to, it can be uplifting, or it can be about revolutionary change,” he said.

Mr. Marley said he’s excited to be

performing in the Santa Barbara area. “I’ve performed there, a very long time ago.”

Mr. Marley is known for singing “One Love,” a song that was written by his father, vocalist Bob Marley (1945-1981) and his band, the Wailers. You can see Ziggy Marley singing it before an enthusiastic audience in 2018 in Paris on YouTube.

Mr. Marley said his father was

“a people person, who loved being around people. I think people picked up on that. They loved the music, they loved his smile. He was like a friend, a brother, like a family.”

Ziggy Marley talked about songs he has written.

“ ‘Love Is My Religion’ is one of my personal favorites,” Mr. Marley said. “When I wrote that song, it was a moment of realization for myself.”

He also wrote and sang “True to Myself.”

“There are moments in life when you have to make a decision. You have to be true to yourself,” Mr. Marley said.

He discussed how he’s evolved as a musician during his long career.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m a better writer of songs. You learn as you go,” he said. “I’m a better listener to myself.

“I’m much less anxious about it,” he said about songwriting. “I’m more relaxed. I’m letting the music speak to me rather than force it.”

During the pandemic, Mr. Marley wrote a children’s book,“My Dog Romeo.” And he and his wife, Orly, wrote a children’s book together, “Little John Crow.”

“Those were written during a time when everyone was in quarantine,” Mr. Marley said. “We got a dog during that time, which was Romeo, who became an important part of our life.

“ ‘Little John Crow’ is about being true to yourself.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI

Reggae on the Mountain is a festival set for 7 p.m. Nov. 18 through 11:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Live Oak Camp, 4600 State Route 154, Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/ reggae-on-the-mountain-2022tickets-330833942227.

For more information, see www. reggaeonthemountain.com.

REVIEW

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Beethoven was full of mischief.

There’s no doubt about that when you hear his Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Opus 135. It begins in “the wrong key,” one of Beethoven’s favorite tricks, and proceeds to various challenges in rhythm and dynamics.

But that’s OK. Really. The Juilliard String Quartet can handle Beethoven’s sense of humor. Bring it on, Ludwig.

The quartet not only can handle Quartet No. 16, but the ensemble handled it brilliantly during a Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara concert Monday at the Lobero Theatre.

The Santa Barbara concert was a homecoming for two of the performers. Violinist Ronald Copes is a former member of the UCSB faculty, and violist Molly Carr is an alumna of the Music Academy of the West in Montecito. Joining them on stage were violinist Areta Zhulla and cellist

Astrid Schween.

The quartet opened with the Beethoven quartet, then performed the 1994 Quartet No. 2 by Eleanor Alberga, who studied music and classical piano at the Jamaica School of Music and played guitar with the Jamaican Folk Singers. The concert closed with Antonin Dvorak’s Quartet No. 14 in A-flat Major, Opus 105, B. 193.

But first, there was the Beethoven piece, which gave the Juilliard musicians a chance to demonstrate their teamwork.

Quartet No. 16 requires precision, but the end result is a wealth of emotion and a great deal of sheer fun. The Juilliard quartet clearly enjoyed playing the piece.

The Alberga quartet, which is only 15 minutes, was another fun journey.

But the best follow-up to Beethoven was Dvorak’s Quartet No. 14. The composer of the “New World” symphony liked to experiment with moods, tones and techniques.

There’s some staccato here and there, and at times, the quartet sounds like a dance. At other times, it presents a sense of danger — just before becoming light and playful again, as if to say, “just kidding.” Like Beethoven, Dvorak had some mischief up his sleeve.

Dvorak was also a master of playing with emotions. The Juilliard Quartet matched that mastery with powerful expressions, both loud and soft.

In fact, throughout the concert, the quartet knew when to make the music urgent, when to make it peaceful and when to just make it fun.

Most of all, the Juilliard concert was a demonstration of the depth of emotion that can be experienced with chamber music. A small ensemble can do a lot.

The Lobero Theatre audience certainly thought so, giving the quartet a well-deserved standing ovation.

email: dmason@newspress.com

At left, Ziggy Marley said he’s excited to perform again in the Santa Barbara areas. At right, the festival’s lineup includes Arise Roots.

COURTESY PHOTO

From left, the Juilliard String Quartet features violist Molly Carr, violinist Ron Copes, cellist Astrid Schween and violinist Areta Zhulla.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The Santa Barbara band Soul Majestic is among the performers at Reggae on the Mountain, a festival set for Nov. 18-20 at Live Oak Camp.

Grace Fisher Foundation plans Winter Music Showcase

The Grace Fisher Foundation will host its fifth annual Winter Music Showcase at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert will feature the Santa Barbara Folk Orchestra performing a composition by Grace Fisher. And the State Street Ballet Professional Track Dancers will perform to music composed by Ms. Fisher.

The other performers include Jackson Gillies, Will Breman, the Westmont Chamber Singers, the Bar-back Boys, the UCSB Maurice Faulkner Quintet and others.

“Music has the innate ability to bring people and community together, and that has always been my wish for this event,” Ms. Fisher said in a news release. “I’m honored that so many talented musicians from all genres see the importance of this concert and are excited to join together to perform for the Santa Barbara community, and help raise money to support access to the arts for all.

“It’s impossible not to be inspired and enlightened after an evening like this. It’s one of a kind, and we can’t wait to share it with you!” she said.

Tickets for the Grace Fisher Winter Music Showcase cost $18 to $60. To purchase, go to gramadasb.org.

All proceeds from this show benefit the Grace Fisher Foundation and its mission of bringing adaptive art, music and dance programs to children and young adults with disabilities.

Sponsorships are available for the Winter Music Showcase.To make a donation, go to https:// www.sbfoundation.org/give-now/ give-to-grace-fisher-foundation/..

— Dave Mason

The Force is strong with more than Jedi party attendees

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Star Wars Reads month may be an annual tradition at Goleta Valley Library, but this is the first year that the library staff put on a Jedi Party Celebration.

Based on its success, it won’t be the last one. More than 1,400 community members, younglings and force-users passed through the library’s doors to attend the familyfriendly event on Oct. 15.

As patrons walked into the library, they were immediately transported to a galaxy far, far away as multiple areas of the library were decorated with Star Wars memorabilia, posters and decorations. Attendees also had the opportunity to meet and take photos with real-life Clone Troopers, Tie Pilots and a Jawa! Young library patrons enjoyed

an afternoon of fun Star Warsthemed games including Feed the Jabba, Lightsaber Ring Toss and Find the Baby Yoda on a Shelf for an opportunity to win Star Wars book sets, plushies, posters, water bottles and the coveted Baby Yoda ears. The Children’s Area and Art Gallery were packed with fun craft activities such as Yoda Headbands, 3D Death Stars, Queen Amidala Costumes and, of course, the makeyour-own-lightsaber station.

How did Goleta Valley Library make this out-of-this-world event happen?

“This was only possible thanks to our group of energetic teen volunteers, all-hands-on-deck squadron of library staff, and the indispensable support from the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library,” said Linda Hori, library assistant at Goleta Valley Library.

“It was so great to see people of

all ages stop by, from children to grandparents. We want to give a special and heartfelt thank you to the amazing members of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion volunteer groups that graciously donated their time.”

This is the last week to get your Star Wars fix at Goleta Valley Library for Star Wars Reads Month. Jedi (and Sith) of all ages are invited to stop by the library to check out the expansive Star Wars collection of books, graphic novels and movies on display for the rest of the month.

And this weekend is the Harry Potter Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Drop-off is from 2 to 5 p.m. today, and pick-up is 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Visit goletavalleylibrary.org for more details about this unique event.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

Daughtry to perform at Chumash Casino Resort

SANTA YNEZ — Daughtry, the Grammy-nominated rock band formed by “American Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry, will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 State Route 246, Santa Ynez.

The band will perform music from its sixth studio album, “Dearly Beloved.”

“Dearly Beloved” is the sixth studio album released by Daughtry, whose lead vocalist is Chris Daughtry.

In 2006, after finishing as a finalist on the fifth season of

American Idol, Mr. Daughtry formed the band Daughtry and released the band’s self-titled debut album, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album went on to sell more than 6 million copies in the U.S. and went six-times platinum. Four songs from the album enjoyed top 20 Billboard Hot 100 success and regular radio play, including “It’s Not Over” and “Home.”

In 2009, the band Daughtry released its second album, “Leave This Town,” which again debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The

album sold more than a million copies and has been certified Platinum. Its lead single, “No Surprise,” was a commercial success both domestically and internationally, peaking at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Daughtry has remained busy, releasing four more albums since. Tickets for the Nov. 18 concert are $59 to $89. To purchase, go to www.chumashcasino.com. The venue is for those 21 and older.

COURTESY PHOTO

“Star Wars” characters come to the Goleta Valley Library from a galaxy far, far away.

COURTESY PHOTO

“Music has the innate ability to bring people and community together, and that has always been my wish for this event,” Grace Fisher said about the Grace Fisher Foundation Winter Music Showcase, set for Dec. 9 at The Granada.

Diversions

Thought for Today

— Today you might be in a reflective and meditative mood. You may think about mundane matters, such as how to increase your income, or more complex issues, such as the purpose of life. You aren’t likely to want to do much socializing today, Aries. It’s probably the perfect day to stay in, relax, and enjoy your own company.

TAURUS — Obligations to friends and groups could interfere with time that you want to spend with your partner. A number of people in your home might demand more of your time, energy, and attention, and you might find this disconcerting. You’re no one’s servant, Taurus. You’re entitled to enjoy yourself. Save some time for your mate at the end of the day.

GEMINI — You might wake up this morning and decide your home is a total wreck. The desire to spend the day cleaning and sprucing up your house might prove almost obsessive. Do what you have to do, but don’t get so caught up that you forget about the big picture. Whatever you do today, Gemini, view it in its proper perspective.

CANCER — Extra time and attention that you have been devoting to your career should pay off about now. You’ve worked hard to be where you are, and you aren’t through climbing the ladder of success just yet. You aren’t likely to rest on your laurels. Today you might spend a lot of time planning your next goal.

LEO — An older male visitor could contact you, possibly offering to help you with some work that needs to be done. Family members may have abandoned you for the day to go out and do their own thing. You will welcome the offer. Practical matters, such as the household budget, might need attention, so set aside some time to work out the details.

VIRGO — Today you might perform some service to people who live in your neighborhood. Perhaps you will chauffeur people around to do their shopping. Perhaps you will help people with household tasks. Pets may also need some attention. Whatever it is, you will enjoy helping in whatever way is

possible, and be appreciated as well.

LIBRA — Meticulous and sincere effort on your part may have led to a recent increase in income. Today you might be thinking of reworking your budget. While others might throw caution to the wind at a time like this, today you might go too far in the opposite direction. Be careful and realistic,

SCORPIO — A sense of duty toward family members, children, and your sweetheart may cause you to take on responsibilities today that you wouldn’t normally assume. Sincere efforts on behalf of those you care about are likely to bring the results you want. It won’t just make you happy but will also please those you are helping.

SAGITTARIUS — Emotions stemming from past experiences might cause you to assume undue responsibilities, particularly concerning family members. This is fine as long as you realize what you’re doing is as much for you as for the other person. Whatever tasks you assume may allow you to release old traumas and give form to your plans and ambitions.

CAPRICORN — Relatives or neighbors may come to you today asking for favors. Some may know exactly what buttons to push in order to get you to do what they want. Don’t be sucked into guilt or other negative emotions. Help others if you wish, Capricorn, but recognize that you’re doing it because you want to and not because you feel you have to.

AQUARIUS — A temporary lack of belief in your abilities might have you hesitating to start a project or take on a task that you’d normally snap up. This could involve something you’ve wanted to try or helping someone else. Your faith in yourself should never flag, but if it does, it’s important to remember that hard work can be as important as talent - and you aren’t afraid of that!

PISCES — A phone conversation with someone who lives far away might have you feeling a bit sad, reflecting on how much you miss that person. This can lead to pondering about your life. You might question the direction you seem to be moving in and consider other possible options. You’re likely to be cautious when it comes to making final decisions,

SUDOKU

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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

at the bottom of the

underneath the number 2, your

move should be to

in the grid and enter the

the

S. Cross the letter S

at the

grid.

Remember that at the end

of

of

should have a

of the

on

in

in

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

T. S.

Westmont comes into season as second-ranked team in NAIA

her blossom in that way this year.”

well.”

Brown, a 6-foot forward, ranks third in Westmont career record book for rebounds per game at 7.9, which is the same rate at which she retrieved errant shots last season. She also ranks sixth in career blocks, averaging 0.8 per game. Last season, Brown led all inside players in scoring, averaging 8.2 points per game.

“I am grateful to have Sydney back for a fifth year,” expressed Moore. “The amount of experience that she brings, the leadership with her voice, and the commitment to who we are as Warriors is huge. She has taken initiative as a leader to get all the newcomers organized and understanding what we are doing.

“I have seen tremendous growth in Sydney through the work she has put in over the summer and with another year of experience. I am excited for the impact she can have. She has consistently been our best rebounder and has the ability to score both inside and outside. She plays with a high IQ.

“She wants to get into coaching and is studying the game more than ever. She is spending time with the coaches in film and I am excited to see that all come together on the court.”

Brown and Berberabe, along with 5-8 junior guard Laila Saenz, serve as this year’s team captains. While a member of the junior class, Saenz was unable to play her freshman year as she recovered from surgery, so she will compete this season as a redshirt sophomore.

“I am excited for the role Laila can play this year,” expressed Moore. “She was GSAC Freshman of the Year last year and has already navigated so much adversity with injury in her time here. Last season did not end the way we wanted in large part because Laila sustained an injury in the GSAC Tournament championship game. I am really proud of her resiliency to fight and rehab and get back to full speed, which she is.

“She is ready to go and I think she is going to have a great year with the confidence of having a year under her belt. She is ready to step into that leadership role. Her teammates voted for her as captain and I am excited to see

Saenz averaged 11.6 points per game and led the team in 3-point field goals by making 3.2 per game.

“Everyone can look at the stats from last year and see that Laila was one of the best 3-point shooters in the country,” said Moore. “Actually, she was always a point guard before that. So, she has the ability to be a playmaker as well. With Iyree Jarrett, who carried a huge part of that load for us, having graduated, I think Laila is not only going to be able to knock down shots, but also be able to create for people around her.”

Two additional members of the junior class are 5-11 forwards Destiny Okonkwo and Aleena Cook.

“I am excited for Destiny and Aleena to step into playmaking roles for us,” reflected Moore.

“They both have the opportunity to impact the game on both ends of the floor.

“Destiny anchors our defense. I am hoping that her ability to have a presence on both ends of the floor makes a huge impact. I think she is ready to own that a little more this year. She has been playing like it in practice.”

Okonkwo, who started 20 games last season, averaged 5.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game for the Warriors.

“Destiny is as physical and strong as it gets,” added Moore.

“With her growing confidence is going to come a whole different level of presence inside for us.

“I think Aleena is a completely different player this year. I am so excited to see what she can contribute on the floor. She has put in the work to have an incredible first year as an upperclassman. She will make a difference on both ends of the floor and on the boards too.

“Aleena has always been a really good midrange player for us. This summer she got exponentially stronger in the weight room. She is finishing at the rim better than anyone on the team right now. I think she is going to be able to be both an inside and outside threat. Using that athleticism and physicality that she has on the defensive end can really make a difference.”

Cook averaged 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while playing an average of 15.4 minutes per game. Also returning are two 5-

7 sophomore guards – Hailey Dermer and Giulia Abraham. Dermer played in 18 games last year averaging 13.6 minutes and 3.7 points per contest. Abraham saw limited action (just three games) due to injury.

“I think there is a big opportunity for Hailey, who now has a year of experience,” offered Moore. “We have a big need for guards to come in ready to step up and fill roles. We saw glimpses of her abilities last year as she was learning everything.

“She loves the game, works hard at it and can shoot the ball. She has good feel on the court as a passer. We are hopeful that as we get into games that she can have a role where she is making an impact out there.

“Giulia is a natural vocal leader. It has been great to have her voice. Last year, she was not able to get out on the court, but she found a way to contribute with that voice. Now, she gets to have that voice and be out there scrapping on the floor. She can shoot and has a huge passion for the game. I am looking forward to seeing how that develops this year.”

Sophomore transfer Kate Goostrey joins the team this season, coming to the Warriors via Citrus College. The 5-10 guard led the Owls in scoring last season, averaging 19.8 points per game.

“There were a lot of unexpected things that led to Kate being able to be here at Westmont,” said Moore. “From both our end and her end, we feel like it was God working that she is a Westmont Warrior. She fits us so well. She is a natural leader that has incredible toughness and work ethic. She is a student-athlete to the extreme with excellence in both.

“I am excited about who she is because she fits us so well. She is catching on very quickly to what it means to be a Warrior, how that looks on the court, and how to implement that into everything she is doing. I am excited to see the impact she could make.”

The four freshmen joining the team this season are 6-4 forward Paula Graichen from Munich, Germany; 5-10 guard Sage Kramer from Philomath, Oregon; and 5-4 guards Bailey Fong from Foster City and Isabella Pearson from Hacienda Heights.

“We haven’t had this large of a freshman class since Stef and Syd were freshmen themselves five years ago,” noted Moore. “As

always, there is going to be a huge learning curve for our newcomers, but I am excited for them to come in and have these great models to look up to and teach them. They are a very talented class.

“We are excited to have Paula here. In my time here, we have not coached her length inside. She has an agile skill set, having played in Europe. She is more of a typical European post player that learned to play facing the basket. She has a lot of aspects to her game and we are looking forward to seeing how that adds value to the team.

“Sage Kramer is a guard from Oregon, but has the ability to play a lot of positions. She played at a small school in Oregon where she fulfilled a lot of different roles while leading her team to a state championship. She also won multiple championships in track and field. She is an incredible athlete who has found ways to succeed at a high level.

“Sage is a great shooter who can score inside and outside. She is a lot bigger guard than we have ever had. It’s an exciting dynamic with her length on the perimeter. I think her ability to rebound at the guard position will be key.

“Bella and Bailey are more like the traditional guards we have had recently. They are small and feisty and quick. They can both shoot the ball well and play with a high IQ. We are trying to teach them our system and hoping they can come in and help us. They have a great guard in Stef to learn from who is built the same. They are eager to grow and learn and contribute. As they are learning our system, we are hoping they can rely on their ability to put the ball in the basket.

THE SCHEDULE

Moore and assistant coach Jana Pearson have put together a challenging non-conference schedule for the Warriors.

Westmont, who enters the season as the second-ranked team in the NAIA, will play four games in eight days, starting this Saturday when they travel to Idaho to take on #22 LewisClark State. The following day, Westmont will take on the Cougars of Washington State in an exhibition.

“Washington State finished second in the PAC-12 last year and is receiving top-25 consideration this year,” noted Moore of the

Louisiana attorney sues administration over student loan forgiveness plan

By STEVE WILSON THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — A Louisiana attorney, assisted by a local policy group, is suing President Joe Biden over his student loan forgiveness plan.

The lawsuit, filed by Tommy Badeaux in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans with the Pelican Center for Justice and the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, accuses the administration of forgoing the separation of powers required by the U.S. Constitution by forgiving billions in outstanding student loan debt without action from Congress.

The lawsuit says that the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003, which was intended to provide student loan relief connected with military members involved in the Global War on Terror, was not intended to provide wholesale debt relief. It also says that there was no public

comment period, which is required after any preliminary regulatory action is posted in the Federal Register under the U.S. Administrative Procedures Act.

The attorneys in the case say that even though there have been several lawsuits filed against the Biden administration’s action on student loans on different grounds, their argument has an important legal combination on both the constitutional question and the Administrative Procedures Act.

Mr. Badeaux is seeking a judgment setting aside the Biden loan forgiveness plan, a declaratory judgment that declares the debt cancellation unconstitutional and that his rights under the U.S. Administrative Procedures Act were violated, an injunction prohibiting the Biden administration from enacting its student loan debt cancellation policy and attorneys’ fees.

The lawsuit also cites a memo from then-

LACEY, Denis Michael 1968-2022

Denis Michael Lacey, was unexpectedly called to our Lord on October 19, 2022.

Denis was born in Los Angeles, California on October 7, 1968. He was a lifelong Goleta/Santa Barbara resident, attending elementary and middle school at St. Raphael’s and high school at Bishop Garcia Diego. Denis married his sweetheart Lupita on April 2, 2010. He worked for decades in the grocery business in the Santa Barbara area. He was dedicated, hardworking and professional. Denis was most recently employed as a manager for Albertsons. Denis was a devoted husband who liked music, concerts (especially Rush concerts), red wine and the beautiful Santa Barbara beaches.

Denis joins his parents John Joseph and Maureen Carmel in heaven. Denis leaves behind his beloved wife Lupita, his brothers James, Patrick and John and Lupita’s six brothers, her sister and many nieces and nephews. A Mass will be held on Friday October 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church 1300 E Valley Road, Santa Barbara. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Denis’ name to Wounded Warrior Project.

General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Education, Reed Rubenstein, which said in January 2021 that the Secretary of Education didn’t have the “statutory authority to provide blanket or mass cancellation, compromise, discharge, or forgiveness of student loan principal balances, and/or to materially modify the repayment amounts or terms thereof, whether due to the COVID-19 pandemic or for any other reason.”

The lawsuit also cites statements by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca., and PresidentElect Biden that both agreed that action by Congress was required to forgive or amend student debt obligations.

Mr. Badeaux’s lawsuit won’t be the first time the Biden administration’s student loan debt cancellation plan was challenged in court. The program is on hold after the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals applied a temporary injunction on Oct. 21.

RAMIREZ, Sally L. (Mason)

Sally L. Ramirez (Mason) of Santa Barbara passed away on October 19, 2022, at Cottage Hospital surrounded by her loved ones.

A Santa Barbara native, she attended local schools including Santa Barbara High School. Before retiring, Sally worked for the County of Santa Barbara for many years as a building inspector. She had lots of good memories from her job and spoke fondly of it.

Sally will be deeply missed and remembered for her kindness and always being a great listener to family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter Dianne Fuentes and son-in-law Ed Fuentes, her beloved grandchildren Emilio Fuentes and Miranda Fuentes, her ex-husband Lorenzo Ramirez and the Ramirez Family, her siblings Martha Mendoza, Frances Mason, Gene Mason, and Ruth Mason, her five nephews and their families, her niece Sandra Mahony who held a special place in her heart, and many other family members and friends who she loved and cherished.

She is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Connie Mason, her sister Rosie Lopez, and her nephew Alfred Mendoza.

Services will be on Friday, October 28 at Noon at Mt. Carmel Church, 1300 East Valley Road, Montecito CA. Internment to follow at Calvary Cemetery, 199 N. Hope Ave., Santa Barbara CA.

Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@ newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval. The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters

NCAA Division I school. “I appreciate the opportunity to challenge ourselves at that level.”

On Wednesday, November 2, Westmont will host Bushnell (Ore.) in the Warriors’ home opener. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Also coming from out of state to take on the Warriors are Xavier (La.), who defeated Westmont in the 2014 National Tournament, and Southern Oregon, who was an NAIA Tournament qualifier last year.

The Warriors are also scheduled to play two NCAA Division II opponents this season in exhibition contests. Games against Azusa Pacific and Cal Poly Pomona will give Warrior fans a preview of next year when Westmont begins playing a Division II schedule.

The Westmont Holiday Classic makes a return to the schedule with Westmont taking on #6 Southeastern (Fla.) on Thursday, December 29 and Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) the following day.

GSAC play begins on Thursday, Nov. 17 when the Warriors will take on the Firestorm of Arizona Christian at 5:30 p.m. Westmont will play five GSAC games before Christmas including home games against Ottawa on November 19 and Vanguard on December 10.

“There has been a great rivalry with #19 Vanguard and #18 The Master’s over the years,” said Moore of the upcoming conference season. “Menlo has everyone back and has some good new players. Arizona Christian has strong players back. If you look at the GSAC Preseason Poll, there are a lot of teams ready to make a run and win a conference championship.”

The Coaches’ Poll reflects the challenge that the GSAC season presents. Four different teams received first place votes. Westmont was picked to finish first, followed by Vanguard, The Master’s, Hope International, Menlo, Arizona Christian, William Jessup, Ottawa (Ariz.), San Diego Christian and Life Pacific.

At season’s end, the topsix finishers in the GSAC standings will receive invitations to participate in the GSAC Tournament, which will be held February 23-25 at Menlo in Atherton. The NAIA Tournament begins with the first and second round on March 7-8 at a location to be determined. The final four rounds of the tournament will take place in Sioux City, Iowa, March 13-18. Westmont has qualified for the national tournament in 15 of the last 16 years, including the last 12 seasons.

“I would love to finish strong,” said Moore in reference to the national championship. “I have loved playing and being a part of the NAIA. Our teams have had life-changing experiences at the NAIA National Tournament. I really want the opportunity for our players to earn the right to play in the tournament again this year and see what can happen. There are a lot of things that have to happen between now and then to put us in a position to earn that right, but that is definitely the hope. The vision would be to finish well in our final year in the NAIA.”

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Today Sat.

City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Cuyama 75/40/s 70/40/s

Goleta 67/46/s 71/50/s

Lompoc 63/44/pc 71/47/s

Pismo Beach 62/44/pc 71/47/pc

Santa Maria 65/44/pc 74/47/s

Santa Ynez 74/41/s 81/46/s

Vandenberg 60/47/pc 66/49/s

Ventura 68/52/s 70/52/s

Bear 59/26/s 61/26/s

69/31/s 73/34/pc

63/54/pc 68/59/pc

70/46/pc 73/51/pc

77/49/s 78/51/pc

61/47/pc 64/48/c

76/47/s 75/49/pc

Los Angeles 76/55/s 78/55/s

Lakes 57/21/s 59/22/pc

71/46/pc 74/49/pc

61/47/pc 64/49/pc

Napa 70/39/pc 72/46/pc

Oakland 65/47/pc 66/52/pc

Ojai 76/48/s 79/54/s

Oxnard 69/50/s 71/52/s

Palm Springs 81/58/s 87/60/s

Pasadena 77/54/s 79/56/s

Paso Robles 73/37/s 77/38/pc

Sacramento 73/44/pc 74/44/pc

San Diego 71/58/pc 73/57/pc

San Francisco 63/50/pc 65/52/c

San Jose 68/47/pc 70/51/pc

San Luis Obispo 68/46/pc 76/49/pc

Santa Monica 70/53/s 73/54/s

Tahoe Valley 58/26/pc 59/27/pc

87/73/pc

62/43/pc

York City 57/43/s

59/44/pc

81/56/s 82/54/s

Portland, Ore. 57/50/r 59/48/sh

Louis 65/44/pc 65/53/pc

Salt Lake City 57/37/s 58/37/c

57/45/r 55/49/pc

Washington, D.C. 61/47/pc 62/46/s

Beijing 59/44/c 57/48/c

Berlin 71/57/pc 65/56/pc

83/65/pc 82/64/s

Cancun 88/74/s 88/70/s

London 65/52/pc 69/57/c

Mexico City 78/55/s 76/53/pc

Montreal 51/34/pc 56/40/s

New Delhi 91/65/pc 88/63/pc

Paris 74/59/pc 76/56/pc

Rio de Janeiro 85/75/pc 87/76/t

Rome 76/58/s 76/54/s

77/58/s 77/55/s

68/56/s