Santa Barbara News-Press: December 30, 2022

Taking to skies?

Gift drive breaks record

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE

Vandalism witnessed

Rebecca Brand took photos and video on the night a window was shattered at Rudy’s restaurant

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A rock was thrown on Christmas Eve and shattered the entire front window of Rudy’s, a Mexican restaurant at 3613½ State St. in Santa Barbara.

Rebecca Brand, a Santa Barbara resident, was a witness to the incident, which took place shortly before 8 p.m. Ms. Brand told the News-Press she saw the window shatter in front of her after the rock was thrown. She also said she saw a transient woman and a man standing at that moment. She said the same woman seized Ms. Brand’s cell phone and later assaulted Ms. Brand with the phone.

The transient is Nelly Gackowska, 61, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office. Ms. Gackowska has been charged with two felonies in the Rudy’s restaurant incident: second-degree robbery and grand theft from a person.

Ms. Brand told the News-Press that the police failed to include the assault in their report “and to me that is the worst part.”

An assault charge was not filed.

Ms. Brand took photos of the broken window and the suspect, and she took a video that includes an audio recording of what was said at the scene. Ms. Brand posted the video on Facebook.

Preliminary court appearances in Ms. Gackowska’s case are scheduled for Jan. 9 and 10, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

In an exclusive News-Press interview, Ms. Brand described what she saw Ms. Gackowska allegedly do on Christmas Eve.

“I was leaving the Tee-Off Restaurant and Lounge in Ontare Plaza on Christmas Eve,” Ms. Brand said. “I was walking to my car, and a friend was walking with me. About five feet from my car, I heard a bang and a really loud crash, and glass fell in front of my face down by my feet as the entire window of Rudy’s shattered right before me.

“I yelled ‘What the hell? What the hell?’ I was frightened when the glass came down. It was like a

curtain of glass shattered in front of my eyes.

“I instantly took pictures of the woman and the man who were standing at the scene,” Ms. Brand said. “The man appeared to be laughing and smiling.

“I took pictures of the shattered glass,” said Ms. Brand, who described the woman — Ms. Gackowska — as a transient.

Ms. Brand continued to describe the incident.

“I called 9-1-1, and they

answered on the second ring,” she said.

“Nelly was screaming at me, ‘You are going to go to prison!’ ” Ms. Brand said.

“She came at me and tried to get my phone out of my right hand and started slamming my phone on my right hip, and got the phone out of my hand.

“She grabbed my phone and started to run with it. I ran to get

s tormwater flows well on s tate s t.

But 15 parklets remain out of compliance

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

State Street fared well during the latest rainstorms, despite the fact that 15 out of 50 outdoor dining parklets remain out of compliance with the city’s new stormwater runoff requirements.

“State Street has done well so far!” Sarah Clark, downtown plaza parking manager, told the News-Press Thursday.

“Maintenance staff reported that stormwater was flowing quite well during the rain, and we didn’t see much debris deposited.”

City staff has not yet reinspected the 15 delinquent parkets to see if the required adjustments have been made to allow stormwater to flow underneath them, Ms. Clark said.

“The facilities that remain non-compliant were issued administrative citations that gave a Jan. 6 compliance deadline, so we’ll likely re-inspect the week

of the 9th,” she said. Each administrative citation carries a fine of $100.

“After we re-inspect, we’ll do another round of administrative citations for any that remain noncompliant,” she said. “If a business receives two admin citations and fails to remedy the

More than two-thirds of voters believe America is heading in the wrong direction

By JOSH HYPES THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – More than two-thirds of voters now say the United States is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new poll from the State Policy Network. Voter satisfaction with the country’s direction has continued to plummet since July.

SPN’s State’s Voices opinion poll surveyed nearly 2,000 registered voters and was conducted in partnership with Morning Consult through online interviews.

Erin Norman, a messaging strategist for SPN, said the data showed trust in federal institutions have remained stable but low. In 2019, 40% of voters said they trusted the federal government to handle domestic issues, according to data from Gallup. In its most recent poll, SPN found that only 33% of voters somewhat trusted the federal government, while only 15% greatly or completely trusted the government.

State and local governments polled substantially better. More than 40% of respondents said they somewhat trusted their state and local governments and nearly 20% greatly or completely trusted them.

Voter approval of President Joe Biden’s performance remains low at 43%, according to the poll. This is a slight improvement from 38% approval in July.

“We’ve consistently seen low levels of trust in all levels of government,” Ms. Norman said. “Trust in state and local government remains a little bit higher, but it’s still not really

LOTTERY

Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 11-23-28-30-43 Mega: 8

Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 9-13-36-59-61 Mega: 11

Thursday’s DAILY DERBY: 05-10-03 Time: 1:49.26 Thursday’s DAILY 3: 1-3-8 / Midday 8-9-2

where you would ideally want to see it.”

Anxiety over economic concerns weighed heavily on voters’ minds. More than 75% of respondents said they had cut back spending in the past three months because of economic concerns.

“What the data here is telling us from this poll is that people really are feeling the pinch,” Ms. Norman said. “The vast majority of Americans have had to make some sort of cutback in their lives based on economic concerns.”

Ms. Norman said that many Americans feel there are no affordable options for housing or energy. In 2019, the median price for a single family home was $274,000. By October 2022, the price has nearly doubled to $384,000, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Similarly, energy prices broke records in June as the average price for a gallon of gas pushed above $5. As of this week, the average price of gas is $3.12.

Ms. Norman said that despite regressive trust in the government and economic cutbacks, nearly two-thirds of voters said they were very or somewhat optimistic about the future.

“I feel like that’s such a uniquely American perspective and one that gets lost in a lot of the doom and gloom ... of news that comes out today,” Ms. Norman said. “So people are really optimistic about their own future. They’re a little bit less optimistic about the future of America.”

The poll had a margin of error of 2%.

Thursday’s DAILY 4: 4-3-5-6

Thursday’s FANTASY 5: 13-17-22-31-39

Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 26-32-38-45-56 Meganumber: 1

COURTESY PHOTO

Sarah Clark

Please see PARKLETS on A10

REBECCA BRAND PHOTO

Santa Barbara resident Rebecca Brand took this photo just after a rock was thrown on Christmas Eve through the front window of Rudy’s, a Mexican restaurant on upper State Street.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Rebecca Brand told the News-Press she was assaulted by a transient woman after the front window at Rudy’s was shattered.

AG Rob Bonta joins 19 states in support of ATF ‘ghost gun’ rule

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) -

Nineteen attorneys general including Rob Bonta, attorney General for the state of California, have joined together and filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit in support of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Final Rule.

Enforcement of the rule was disrupted by a preliminary injunction granted by a Texas northern district court until a decision is reached in the VanDerStok v. Garland case.

The court found that the longstanding definition of a firearm in federal law was drastically changed by ATF Final Rule in granting the injunction.

The rule, which redefined terms in several of ATF’s previous regulations, is primarily opposed by Second Amendment groups and gun owners who say it gives arbitrary power to the ATF to classify weapons and make decisions on new gun designs. Weapon parts sold as kits are redefined as” firearms.” Dealers are redefined as “gunsmiths” requiring those who sell the kits to serialize the “firearm.” These changes are among some of the many which opponents say pose a real threat to the operation and existence of a gun industry.

In signing on to the amicus, Attorney General Bonta joined Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington in support of the brief.

Mr. Bonta expressed his support for the “ATF rule that would help law enforcement protect communities from ghost guns. Ghost guns are unserialized weapons that allow unlicensed manufacturers and illegal possessors to bypass state laws, including California’s requirements on firearm ownership recording and background checks, rendering them largely untraceable by law enforcement.”

California saw a rise in ghost guns from 26 seizures in 2015, to 12,388 in 2021. Between 2013 and 2022 there were fifteen deaths and multiple people injured in events involving privately made firearms in California.

The ATF rule “ limits gun traffickers’ ability to distribute these dangerous weapons into California,” Mr. Bonta said in a statement released by his office. “California has been a leader in regulating ghost guns, but without similar regulations in all 50 states, ghost guns can still find their way into our state. ATF’s nationwide rule will help crack down on the flow of illegal ghost guns across state borders and help us keep our communities safe. My office will continue to stand up for common sense laws that protect Californians from senseless gun violence.”

Nevada rent prices see greatest decline nationwide, report shows

By KATELYNN RICHARDON THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) –Nevada experienced the greatest year-over-year decrease in rent prices nationwide this November, according to a Rent.com report.

Since last November, rent has risen 7.45% nationwide, which the report notes is the lowest year-over-year rise in the past 15 months. Meanwhile, rent fell 3.8% in Nevada, one of only five states to see a year-over-year decline in rent prices.

Other states include Maryland (down 1.3%), Idaho (down 1.3%), Georgia (down 1.2%), and Virginia (down 0.1%).

Rent.com places the national median monthly rent at $2,007, up $1,983 (1.23%) from last month.

The report attributes the national month-over-month rise to an “uncertain mortgage market,” driving potential buyers into multi-bedroom apartments.

“The surge in two- and three-bedroom prices coupled with weakened demand across the industry supports evidence that renters are pairing up with roommates

Since last November, rent has risen 7.45% nationwide, which the report notes is the lowest year-over-year rise in the past 15 months. Meanwhile, rent fell 3.8% in Nevada, one of only five states to see a year-over-year decline in rent prices.

or staying with friends, and is indicative of an uncertain mortgage market that continues to push would-be buyers into larger apartments,” the report states.

Home sales are down nationwide and in Southern Nevada, with the Las Vegas Realtors recording 1,521 sales during November, 53.5% less than the same time last year, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Rent prices also dropped in 14 metro areas, with MilwaukeeWaukesha, WI (down 13.1%) and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX (down 6.3%) topping the list.

In the Las Vegas-HendersonParadise metro area, rent

dropped 0.67% year-over-year and 2.46% since October, with November’s median rent sitting at $1,781.

In the Reno-Sparks metro area, a report by consulting firm Johnson Perkins Griffin shows rent dropped by $26 to $1,654 during the third quarter of 2022, according to the Reno Gazette Journal.

Supply increases are expected to create small nationwide rent price decreases by mid-2023, according to Redfin’s 2023 Housing Market Predictions. The U.S. Census Bureau’s quarterly report posted a 6% rental vacancy rate during the third quarter of 2022, up from 5.6% last quarter.

Universal free school meals, furloughed employee payback among Nevada programs in American Rescue Plan funds

Nevada approves $193 million in American Rescue Plan funds for state programs

By KATELYNN RICHARDSON THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Nevada’s Interim Finance Committee has approved funding for multiple programs, including the continuation of free school meals and back pay for state employees furloughed in early 2021.

“This year may be remembered as one of the most productive years for the Interim Finance Committee – and one of the most consequential for Nevada residents,” said Governor Steve Sisolak in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to the lawmakers for their diligent work to approve programs I put forward and for the work of State employees to bring forward these spending proposals which will have immediate and lasting effects for Nevadans from housing to food security and so many topics in between.”

The committee allocated $28 million to extend universal free school meals through the 2023-2024 school year.

Universal free school meals, established in March 2020, were extended to the 2022-2023 school year by the Interim Finance Committee in June. Previously, free and reduced-price school meals were only available to families who met eligibility requirements.

Another $35 million in funding was approved to provide back pay to over 14,800 state employees furloughed in early 2021. Gov. Sisolak initially proposed mandatory monthly furlough days to cut costs during the pandemic.

In May, Gov. Sisolak included plans to pay back furloughed employees in his proposed 2023-25 state budget.

Universal free school meals, established in March 2020, were extended to the 20222023 school year by the Interim Finance Committee in June. Previously, free and reduced-price school meals were only available to families who met eligibility requirements.

The committee also approved a $10 million investment in the start-up College of Medicine at Roseman University.

Additionally, $109 million was allocated to the Homeowner Assistance Fund program, which was established to provide mortgage assistance to those facing financial difficulties during the pandemic. Another $11 million was approved for affordable housing units in the Historic Westside of Las Vegas.

Less than $40 million of the state’s $2.7 billion in American Rescue Plan funding remains, according to The Nevada Independent.

Mayes wins Arizona AG recount, Hamadeh won’t concede

By CAMERON ARCAND THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – An automatic recount confirmed Democrat Attorney General-elect Kris Mayes’ victory on Thursday, but her narrow lead shrank even further.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge unsealed the recount results, which cut the Democrat’s lead from 511 votes to 280 votes.

“I will say once again that I’m thankful to everyone who took their time to vote, and

democracy is truly a team sport,” Ms. Mayes said in a statement.

“I’m thankful for my campaign, transition and legal teams. I’m excited and ready to get to work as your next Attorney General and vow to be your Lawyer for the people. Onward,” she added.

Republican nominee Abraham Hamadeh said that results were still “uncertain” and said that Gov-Elect Katie Hobbs, who is the incumbent secretary of state, and her office “deceived the courts” in tweets following the recount reveal.

“My legal team will be assessing our options to make sure every vote is counted,” he said in one post.

Mr. Hamadeh contested the election results in court, but the case was dismissed by a Mohave County Superior Court judge last week.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction race and the legislative district 13 race both had recounts as well, and neither of those final results flipped. An automatic recount occurs in Arizona when a race is between 0.5%.

Republican nominee Abraham Hamadeh said that results were still “uncertain” and said that Gov-Elect Katie Hobbs, who is the incumbent secretary of state, and her office “deceived the courts” in tweets following the recount reveal.

Death occurs after suspect taken into custody

SANTA MARIA — Jaime

Angel Gonzalez, 33, of Santa Maria, died after being taken into custody and transported to the Northern Branch Jail.

At approximately 7:49 a.m. Wednesday, patrol deputies from the sheriff’s Santa Maria station responded to the 800 block of Redwood Avenue in the unincorporated area around Santa Maria for a check-thewelfare call for service.

During their handling of the call, deputies contacted Mr. Gonzalez. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Mr. Gonzalez was found to

Detectives

be in violation of his parole conditions with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Mr. Gonzalez was arrested and transported to the Northern Branch Jail near Santa Maria, where he was placed in a cell for observation. During the placement, the suspect became unresponsive, and custody deputies quickly began lifesaving measures, including the administration of naloxone, according to the sheriff’s office.

When Wellpath medical personnel arrived, additional rounds of naloxone were administered, and Mr. Gonzalez temporarily regained consciousness.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department and American Medical Response were summoned and responded to the jail facility. Mr. Gonzalez was transported via ambulance to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead by hospital staff.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Coroner’s Office are investigating the in-custody death. The sheriff’s office will continue to provide additional updates upon the conclusion of the investigation.

— Katherine Zehnder

Barbara News-Press, P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102. Published daily.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS California Attorney General Rob Bonta

from the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Coroner’s Office are investigating the incustody death.

Bishop Diego girls basketball crushes Vaughn

The Bishop Diego girls basketball team dominated Vaughn in the Avalon Classic, winning by a score of 44-26.

Leading Bishop Diego was Galilea De La Cruz with 29 points while Jaymi Coronado scored eight.

The first half saw Bishop Diego lead by as much as 13, but settle for a five point lead at the half. The team created separation in a third quarter that saw Vaughn shut out.

“Citlali Morales had a great defensive game and it was nice to see Gali (De La Cruz) shoulder the scoring,” said Coach Jeff Burich.

The team is 14-1 after the win.

DP boys basketball falls to Stockdale

The Dos Pueblos boys basketball team lost to Stockdale on Wednesday, falling by a score of 82-49.

Stockdale outscored Dos Pueblos in every quarter, establishing a big lead with a 21-point differential in the first.

“Stockdale made it really hard on us to get in rhythm on offense,” said Dos Pueblos Coach Joe Zamora. “They had a fast start and we had a hard time playing from behind.”

Justin Stock scored 16 points for Dos Pueblos while Matthew Zamora contributed with seven assists and good defense and Shane Grant had a good night on both ends of the court.

Dos Pueblos falls to 5-7 with the loss.

DP girls basketball edged by Chatsworth

The Dos Pueblos girls basketball team lost a close game to Chatsworth on Wednesday, falling 54-51.

Justine Katz led Dos Pueblos with 22 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. Carly Letendre added 14 points, five rebounds and a steal while Sierra Jewel contributed a team-leading eight rebounds to go with six points. Gianna

Nichols added seven rebounds and six points.

Dos Pueblos falls to 6-7 with the loss.

DP boys soccer overcome by Hart, Fulton

The Dos Pueblos boys soccer team suffered a pair of shutout defeats, falling to Hart on Wednesday and to Fulton on Thursday, losing both games by a score of 2-0.

The games each remained scoreless in the first half, with Hart and then Fulton scoring their goals in the second.

Dos Pueblos Coach Matt York praised the Thursday performance of Miguel Greenberg “for being potent for us on offense and creating opportunities.” York also singled out the “sefless” defensive play of Noe Pina Duarte and the “tremendous effort” of Ryan Orozco.

Dos Pueblos fell to 1-8 with the losses.

DP girls soccer splits at Buena Soccer Showcase

The Dos Pueblos High girls soccer team came away from the Buena Soccer Showcase with a loss and a win, first losing 20 to Royal on Wednesday and then beating Cleveland 1-0 on Thursday.

Royal scored on a set piece and a counter attack to secure its win in a game that Dos Pueblos Coach Marco Medina said was hampered by rain.

Against Cleveland, Dos Pueblos scored after a series of short, quick passes ended with a Miranda Hough Pattison goal. Contributing to the shutout were goalkeepers Elena Andrews and Maggie Gallup.

“After a rough start, we ended with a solid performance against Cleveland. All of my 19 players had sufficient time on the field and showed that when given an opportunity, they can perform at a high level. As a coach, I am always pleased when the team gives full effort and starts playing to their potential,” said Medina.

After the games, Dos Pueblos’ record stands at 3-4-2.

- Compiled by Matt Smolensky

Hobbs’ pick for top doc hints at shift from Ducey’s management of COVID pandemic

By CAMERON ARCAND THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Gov.Elect Katie Hobbs’ selection of Pima County Health Director Dr. Theresa Cullen to lead the Arizona Department of Health Services marks another likely point in policy changes in contrast to outgoing Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration.

Dr. Cullen promoted strict coronavirus measures in the county, which includes Tucson, when it came to precautions like masking, and she has become a high-profile voice in the Arizona medical community.

For example, Dr. Cullen was strongly encouraging people to continue masking into 2022, even though the state government took a more hands-off approach to pandemic management as time went on.

While Gov. Ducey temporarily ordered bars, gyms and other gathering places to close and put several COVID-19 prevention measures in place, the governor’s office fought against stricter mask and vaccination mandates that other states required. In December 2020, Gov. Ducey shot back at a reporter pressuring him about his refusal to order mass shutdowns similar to California and other states.

“We know that we can slow the spread, but when you say the word ‘lockdown,’ you’re talking about shutting down entire industries, closing classrooms, bankrupting small businesses,” Gov. Ducey said. “You’re talking about putting hundreds of thousands of people out of work.”

Dr. Cullen and Pima County supervisors were at odds with Gov. Ducey in March of 2021 when the governor lifted many COVID-19 mitigation measures.

“As the governor readily admits, we are still in the midst of a public health emergency. People are still getting sick and dying. It is incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can to prevent the spread of this disease,” Dr. Cullen said. “I know the restrictions on

Dr. Cullen was strongly encouraging people to continue masking into 2022, even though the state government took a more hands-off approach to pandemic management.

business has been very difficult and some have had to stop operating. And we’re all tired of the masks and limitations. But I urge businesses to think about the safety of their customers and their own employees. We need people to keep wearing masks.”

According to KOLD, the doctor acknowledged that a mandate from Pima County that ended in February 2022 was not necessarily an enforced order, but instead officials wanted to send a strong message to residents.

In July, the Pima County Health Department supported students masking in class for the fall, KOLD also reported.

More recently, she told KJZZ in November that Arizonans should consider wearing a face covering to avoid catching other illnesses, like the flu and RSV.

Former ADHS head Will Humble, who served until 2015, praised the decision to choose Cullen for the job.

“Dr. Cullen is an excellent choice to lead (AZDHS) I know the county health departments - who do the public health grunt work - will be delighted to have an ADHS director who embraces the (key) role CHDs play in (Arizona’s) public health system & who’ll facilitate their success,” he tweeted.

Dr. Cullen began working as the county’s public health director in June 2020, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Previously, she served as a United States assistant surgeon general in the U.S. Public Health Service, according to the University of Arizona.

SOFT WASHING

Soft washing is the alternative to pressure washing. We use water based, biodegradable solutions. They emulsify dirt and grime, break down insect nests and webs as well as kill mold, mildew, algae and bacteria. All while sanitizing the surface we are cleaning. Soft washing uses one-third the water of pressure washing, lasts four to six times longer, and doesn’t erode the surface like pressure washing often can.

ADDING HOME VALUE

According to the National Association of Realtors, cleaning the homes exterior (for the home and driveway) can add anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to the value of your home, making pressure washing one of the most costeffective and time-efficient cleaning techniques.

“High pressure washing systems are likely to damage asphalt roofing and should not be used on asphalt roofing for removing algae or for any other purpose.” — Asphalt Roofing Manufacturing Association

Santa Barbara Soft Wash uses processes and roof cleaning solutions that are recommended by the ARMA so you can be reassured that your roof warranty is not voided.

KILLS MOLD, MILDEW, & ALGAE

The problem with high pressure washing is it only strips away the top of the algae bloom, and while it may temporarily remove discoloration, it leaves the root spores on the surface, often blasting them deeper, and allowing them to grow back thicker and healthier. Soft Washing penetrates to the root of the growth, eliminating the discoloration instantly while breaking the bond of the spores and achieving a 100% kill ratio.

Southwest Airlines promises fewer cancellations of flights

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

After more canceled flights and a warning from the U.S. Department of Transportation,

Southwest

Another

Earlier

Thursday,

On

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220002767 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as MANZANITA MASSAGE: 2890 SAN MARCOS PASS RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: KRISTA L. FLEMING: 2890 SAN MARCOS PASS RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/10/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220002854 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as ECLIPSE REALTY: 1511 BATH STREET, 3, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: ECLIPSE REALTY: 1511 BATH STREET, 3, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101.

Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) DEC 09, 16, 23, 30 / 2022--58946

Airlines promised to resume its normal schedule by today.

2,451 flights were canceled by noon Thursday across the nation.

this week, a Santa Barbara Airport representative declined to comment to the NewsPress specifically about Southwest Airlines. But when the NewsPress stopped by the airport on

four Southwest flight cancellations were listed on a schedule of departures.

Thursday, Southwest said it

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Southwest Airlines passenger jets sit idle on the tarmac Thursday at the Santa Barbara Airport. Southwest promised to resume its normal schedule of flights by today.

The current real-time schedule of departures are shown Thursday at the Santa Barbara Airport. Four cancellations are shown for Southwest Airlines. Please see SOUTHWEST on A5

Suspect has been contacted by police

my phone back,” Ms. Brand said. “I caught up with her halfway through the parking lot. I got my phone with one of my hands and was hanging on to it tightly, and she started hitting me again with my phone.

“She then pushed me to the ground. I got up and said to her, ‘I have a tracker on my phone, and I will find you.’ She ran into the Sun Sushi restaurant and locked the glass door. She started screaming, ‘There’s a mad woman out there. She’s crazy.’

“I knocked on the door, and a worker came to the door,” Ms. Brand said. “I told the worker, ‘A woman just stole my phone, and she is inside.’ The worker told me, ‘She threw it on the counter as she entered.’

“He told me, ‘I will give you the phone if you can unlock it. Then I will know it is your phone.’ I was able to unlock my phone (only) on the second try because I was so flustered.

“I told the worker: ‘Please call 9-1-1. Please call 9–11,’ and he said: ‘She’s (Nelly) already on (a different) phone with 9-11.’ The police arrived on scene in under five minutes, and they apprehended Nelly. Then the

police spoke with me, and they asked me the value of my cell phone.”

Ms. Brand brought the matter to the attention of the office of Santa Barbara City Councilman Eric Friedman.

“Rudy and his daughter said that someone had been trying to break the door lock for 45 minutes, according to their audio/video file,” Ms. Brand wrote in her letter to Councilman Friedman. The letter was dated Dec. 27.

According to her letter, a representative from the Santa Barbara County Probation Department called Ms. Brand on Dec. 25 about the Rudy’s incident.

“The county representative asked if I would agree to have Nelly released with no bail. I said I did not agree, that Nelly had attacked me, prevented me from continuing my 9-1-1 call, stole my phone, as well as likely broke the window of Rudy’s. In my opinion, she is dangerous.”

Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the public information officer for the Santa Barbara Police Department, told the News-Press on Thursday, “The incident was investigated by our patrol officers, and a suspect in the matter was contacted by officers. The case was sent to the District Attorney’s Office for review and potential filing of

criminal charges.

“No other information is available at this time,” Sgt. Ragsdale told the News-Press in an email.

Ms. Brand posted her photos and recording at facebook.com/Rebeccabrand. net/videos/2274940056013653.

“Generally if you have video of the crime occuring, it tends

to

“In a lot of cases, we aren’t fortunate enough to have

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

hopes for minimal disruptions during New Year’s weekend.

“We are encouraged by the progress we’ve made to realign crew, their schedules and our fleet,” Southwest said in its statement. “We know even our deepest apologies — to our customers, to our employees and to all affected through this disruption — only go so far.”

Southwest customers can submit refund and reimbursement requests for meals, hotel and alternate transportation at southwest.com/ traveldisruption.

“In light of the travel disruptions, we understand that many customers may wish to rebook,” Southwest said at that website.

“All customers traveling through January 2, 2023 are able to rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within

30 days of your original date of travel between the original citypairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying additional charges; please know available inventory is limited during the holidays.”

Southwest also said on the website, “While we have recently experienced operational disruptions, we expect to resume a full schedule of flights with minimal disruptions on your day of travel.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote a letter to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan and warned officials would take action against Southwest if Southwest fails to reimburse passengers for the costs of alternative transportation. Mr. Buttigieg also said Southwest would be expected to take care of meals, hotels, refunds and reuniting people with their baggage.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Way of Water

(PG13): Fri, Sun: 12:00/3D, 12:45, 1:30/3D, 2:20, 4:00/3D, 5:00, 5:45/3D, 6:40, 8:20/3D, 9:15. Sat, Mon: 12:00/3D, 12:45, 1:30/3D, 2:20, 4:00/3D, 5:00, 5:45/3D, 6:40, 8:20/3D. Tue-Wed: 1:30/3D, 2:20, 4:00/3D, 5:00, 5:45/3D, 6:40, 8:20/3D. Thur: 1:30/3D, 2:20, 4:00/3D, 5:45/3D, 6:40, 8:20/3D.

6:30, 8:15. Tue-Thur: 4:00, 5:20, 6:30, 8:15.

(R): Fri-Mon: 12:20, 2:55, 5:30, 8:05. Tue-Thur: 5:30, 8:05.

(PG13): Sun: 1:40, 4:20, 7:00. Wed: 4:20, 7:00.

4:30, 8:00.

Fri, Mon: 1:00, 4:30, 8:00.

Western Front (R):

1:00, 4:30, 8:00. Tues: 4:30, 8:00.

The

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

schedule of arrivals shows a canceled Southwest flight from Las Vegas, but Southwest flights from Sacramento and Oakland were scheduled to land on time.

‘We know even our deepest apologies ... only go so far’

be compelling evidence,” said District Attorney-elect John Savrnoch, who will succeed District Attorney Joyce Dudley on Jan. 4.

video of the crime,” Mr. Savronch told the News-Press.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Rebecca Brand looks at the plywood that now covers where the window was at Rudy’s.

REBECCA BRAND PHOTO Rebecca Brand quickly took this photo of Nelly Gackowska on Christmas Eve outside Rudy’s on upper State Street. Ms. Gackowska has been charged with two felonies — seconddegree robbery and grand theft from a person.

Rebecca Brand converses with an employee at Rudy’s. Ms. Brand told the News-Press what she saw transpire on Christmas Eve when the restaurant’s front window was shattered by a rock.

Life theArts

Record-breaking gi drive

Residents help CASA’s efforts to fulfill Christmas wishes of local youths

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Santa Barbara County residents recently broke a record with their donations of gifts for foster youths.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Never has the need been so great.

That’s according to CASA of Santa Barbara County. (CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, who help youths.)

A total of 723 gifts were donated during CASA of Santa Barbara County’s “Christmas Wishes Drive,” which also garnered an additional $7,500 in cash and gift card donations.

The efforts included the “Bikes for Christmas” team, which raised money to provide bicycles for 47 youths.

The bikes were built by UA Local 114 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, led by Mike Lopez, and displayed by Toyota of Santa Maria until they were given to the youths.

The annual “Christmas Wishes” collection has been a project for 15 years, but there has never been a year with so many children in need, said Kim Colby Davis, the executive director of CASA.

“The response from our community has been amazing, and just like CASA, our wish grantors covered the entire map of the county,” Ms. Davis said in a news release. “When ‘Christmas Wishes’ started, we collected close to 100 gifts.

“Today, we are happy to announce that all 723 children on our list had their Christmas Wish filled this year, and that would not happen without the partnerships we have built and the donors who join us to do this every year,” she said.

“Our annual gift drive is a bit different than most toy drives because we serve children from newborn to age 20,” Ms. Davis said.

“The variety of ages means that their wishes and needs are widely different, and a toy drive would not meet the needs of our tiniest and our older youth.”

CASA of Santa Barbara County collected the kids’ wishes and coordinated with many service groups, business offices, companies, schools and individuals to make those wishes come true.

“Despite an economy that has seen its challenges, we had to try to make sure that children experienced the joy of a wish filled at Christmas,” Ms. Davis said. “Our donors are just amazing! I can’t even express how touched we are by the thoughtfulness of each gift.

“It’s inspiring to see how the community understands how important it is to give each child something they need or especially wish for at Christmas.”

Edwin Weaver, executive director of Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley, recalled what a mother told her when she dropped off some gifts for one of the

FYI

CASA of Santa Barbara County urgently needs volunteers in its efforts to help youths. For more information, go to www.sbcasa.org.

organization’s families: “Thank you for making this possible – my kids are going to be so happy!

God bless the people at CASA, we are so grateful that our kids are getting Christmas presents this year!”

David LeRoy, general manager of Toyota of Santa Maria, said he was happy to be part of the effort to help the kids. His business supplied the space that CASA needed for the bicycles.

“We absolutely love hosting the CASA Kids Christmas,” he said. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve these kids in any way that we can.

“We display all of the bikes that were donated to the kids the entire month of Decebmber. Our customers love looking at all of the bikes lined up in our showroom with bows and tags for the CASA kids.

“I think it helps remind all of us that there are those in our community who need a tremendous amount of support all year long, not just at Christmas,” Mr. LeRoy said. “We sincerely appreciate CASA, the advocates, donors sand volunteers. They all do incredible work in our community.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

Beatles, Broadway and Bond

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Conductor Bob Bernhardt grew up with a love for all kinds of music.

“My mom listened to Bobby Darrin, Johnny Mathis and Frank Sinatra,” he told the News-Press.

Mr. Bernhardt, who grew up in Rochester, N.Y., said his mother, Freda Bernhardt, who recently died at the age of 103, also enjoyed listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Tony

Bennett, Vic Malone, Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney.

But he said his mother and father, the late Myron “Mike” Bernhardt, weren’t certain about a band of Liverpool musicians their 12-year-old son saw on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

“They were scratching their heads about The Beatles,” Mr. Bernhardt said.

Well, the Fab Four proved to be popular and timeless. And Mr. Bernhardt will conduct the Santa

CALENDAR

The

p.m.

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 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara.Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www.sbnature.org.

DEC. 31

8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its annual New Year’s Eve concert, featuring music varying from The Beatles to James Bond to Broadway, at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Pops conductor Bob Bernhardt will conduct the concert, which will feature renowned soprano Mela Sarajane Dailey. There will also be champagne, noise-makers and, of course, party hats. To purchase tickets, go to thesymphony.org or thegranadasb.org or call the symphony at 805-893-9386.

9 p.m. The Boogie Knights and Spazmatics will perform during the New Year’s Eve Disco Boogie Ball at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez. Tickets cost $50. To purchase, go to chumashcasino.com/ entertainment.

JAN. 3 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Marian Regional Medical Center, 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

7:30 p.m. The American Theatre Guild will present the North American tour of “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” a theatrical concert celebrating the music of Aretha Franklin, at The Granada, 1214 State St. Tickets cost $59 to $114. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 4

7:30 p.m. The American Theatre Guild will present the North American tour of “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.,” a theatrical concert celebrating the music of Aretha Franklin, at The Granada, 1214 State St. Tickets cost $59 to $114. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 5 1 to 5 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Lompoc Police Department, 107 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

JAN. 13

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar will perform a free concert at Isla Vista Elementary School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Isla Vista, as Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara resumes its

which

8:30 to

Expect everything from “I Want to

7 p.m. The Los Angeles Reed Quintet will perform during the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos.

programming.

COURTESY PHOTO

Bassoonist Anthony Parnther and his fellow members in the Los Angeles Reed Quintet will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 13 as part of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. More about the quintet’s concert will appear Saturday in the News-Press.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Above and below right, this year’s gift drive for CASA of Santa Barbara County resulted in a record-breaking number of gifts fulfi lling the wishes of youths in Santa Barbara County.

Barbara Symphony performing the three B’s — not Bach, Brahms and Beethoven but the Beatles, Broadway and Bond, James Bond — during the annual New Year’s Eve concert.

concert,

includes champagne, party hats and noise makers, will take place from

10

Saturday at The Granada in Santa Barbara.

Bob Bernhardt will conduct the Santa Barbara Symphony during its annual New Year’s Eve concert.

COURTESY PHOTO

Bernhardt to lead SB Symphony at New Year’s Eve concert

One more look at Christmas lights

Chumash Golf Classic raises $150,000 for various causes

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has announced that its annual Chumash Charity Golf Classic raised $150,000 this year.

Proceeds were split evenly among Planned Parenthood California Central Coast, Good Samaritan Shelter in Santa Maria and the tribe’s Technology in Schools Program, which provides grants to help local classrooms address high-tech needs.

The tribe’s annual tournament, which was expanded from two to three days this year, was held in September at the Alisal River Course in Solvang.

“Our golf tournament is an opportunity for our business partners and other tribes from throughout the state to come together and enjoy some golf and camaraderie for a worthy cause,” said Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “We hope the funds we raised will help Planned Parenthood and the Good Samaritan Shelter continue their valuable work in our community.”

Planned Parenthood California Central Coast, which serves Santa Barbara County, will put the fund toward its ongoing efforts to promote health equity, conduct community outreach and provide sexual and reproductive health care along the Central Coast.

“Serving Native American and indigenous communities is of great importance to us as sexual and reproductive health care providers on the Central Coast,” said Lindsay Soleimani, vice president of philanthropy for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast. “We are so thankful for the support from the Chumash Charity Golf Classic.”

Good Samaritan Shelter is seeking funding for its Safe House program, a 16-bed safe house for female survivors of human

BERNHARDT

Continued from Page B1

Hold Your Hand” to “Yellow Submarine” during the Beatles medley.

Mr. Bernhardt said this is around his 10th year conducting the orchestra on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s a joy to be with the orchestra,” the guest conductor said. “They play beautifully. They’re sharp. Their attitude is fantastic.

“We don’t get much rehearsal time, but they’re spot on, ready to go,” Mr. Bernhardt said.

The New Year’s Eve program is both a party and concert, Mr. Bernhardt said. “We’re all getting ready for the new year.”

“It feels informal, which I love,” he said. “I get to have a relationship with the audience, which I love in my pops concerts. All of that, plus the great music we get to do, is a win-win.”

He said he included the Bond and Beatles medleys as “party music” for the New Year’s Eve

trafficking. This is the shelter’s most underfunded program, but one of its most utilized.

“The Good Samaritan Shelter is eternally grateful to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians for their incredible generosity in making us a beneficiary of their 2022 Chumash Charity Golf Classic,” said Kirsten Cahoon, director of shelter operations for Good Samaritan Shelter. “The outpouring of support from the Chumash Foundation will assist in continuing the operations of the Safe House program and be a part of saving the lives of women throughout our community. This is a step in the direction of ending human trafficking in our community.”

In 2015, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation created the Technology in Schools Program to fulfill the

concert.

“The Bond medley is a wonderful ride through those great songs that became hits,” Mr. Bernhardt said.

Jeff Tyzik arranged the medley, which includes “Nobody Does It Better,” which Carly Simon sang in “The Spy Who Loved Me”; “For Your Eyes Only,” which Sheena Easton sang in the movie of the same name; “Live and Let Die,” which Paul McCartney performed in the film of the same name; and the theme to “Thunderball,” sung by Tom Jones.

Of course, the orchestra will play the iconic James Bond theme, which composer Monty Norman created with the sound of an electric guitar.

And the medley includes “The Look of Love,” which was sung in a 1967 spoof of James Bond movies: “Casino Royale,” which starred David Niven and an all-star cast that included Peter Sellers, Woody Allen and Orson Welles. Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote”The Look of Love” for that film, and it was sung by Dusty

technological needs of classrooms in Santa Barbara County. School administrators and faculty can apply for technology grant dollars to purchase hardware or upgrade infrastructure.

Grant recipients for the 2022-23 school year included Delta High School in Santa Maria, College School District in Santa Ynez, Cuyama Elementary School, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and Ballard Elementary School in the Santa Ynez Valley.

The deadline to apply for 20232024 is April 30. To submit a Technology in Schools Program grant application, visit https:// www.santaynezchumash.org/ foundation.

Since 2005, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ golf tournament has raised more than $1.8 million for local nonprofits.

— Staff reports

‘Avatar’ sequel still tops box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Avatar: The Way of Water” continues to ride the wave of success at the box office.

The movie topped the box office again, this time grossing $64 million.

Opening in second place was the animated sequel “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” with Antonio Banderas back as the voice of the swashbuckling cat.

“Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody” opened in third place with $4.8 million.

“Babylon,” a movie about early Hollywood, made its debut in fourth place with $3.6 million.

“Violent Night” dropped to fifth place with $3.5 million.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” fell to sixth place with a gross of $3.5 million.

‘“The Whale,” about a reclusive English teacher attempting to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, rose to seventh place from 14th with $1 million.

“The Fablemans” slipped to eighth place with $750,000.

“The Menu,” a horror thriller, dropped to ninth place with $680,000.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Springfield.

Saturday’s concert also will feature Broadway hits, which soprano Mela Saranjane Dailey will sing with the symphony. They include songs from musicals such as “The Sound of Music,” “My Fair Lady” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

The success of orchestral pops concerts involves using the right arranger, Mr. Bernhardt said. “It’s important to find and use and play quality arrangements that use the orchestra. I think what’s happened in the last 20 years is that the world of the symphony has opened up to virtually every genre of music.”

Mr. Bernhardt noted rapper Common, rock band Boyz II Men and other popular singers perform with symphonies. So have rock bands such as the Moody Blues, which was among the first to realize that an orchestra and rock musicians could go together.

Mr. Bernhardt noted Arthur Fiedler (1894-1979), the renowned conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, would start his

concerts with light classical music, then add popular music. “The last part of his concerts would be Broadway and film music.

“His idea of a pops concert was to give you a hundred-year view of music with the orchestra,” Mr. Bernhardt said. “In the hands of great arrangers, we can bring very satisfying and very nostalgic, emotional rides for an audience.”

Mr. Bernhardt said Saturday’s concert will feature music from the 1940s to essentially today.

The conductor — whose New Year’s resolution is “to continue to have fun in my work and to continue to realize how lucky I am to do what I do” — said the evening will end with the audience singing “Auld Lang Syne” with Ms. Dailey and the symphony. The arrangement is from “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the classic starring Jimmy Stewart.

“This one uses the entire orchestra,” Mr. Bernhardt said. “It’s big and brassy, a really big finish.”

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS

Christmas decorations grace a home in the 1800 block of Chino Street in Santa Barbara.

COURTESY PHOTO

A check presentation takes place Dec. 21 outside the Tribal Hall on the Santa Ynez Reservation for nonprofits receiving money from the annual Chumash Charity Golf Classic. From left are Kirsten Cahoon, director of shelter operations for Good Samaritan Shelter; Gary Pace, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Business Committee member; and Lindsay Soleimani, vice president of philanthropy for Planned Parenthood California Central Coast.

2OTH CENTURY STUDIOS “Avatar: The Way of Water” is a popular sequel.

Diversions

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com Friday, December 30, 2022

ARIES: There’s an overwhelming intensity about the day that might make it difficult for you to maintain the peace, Aries. Strong opinions and courageous emotions are clashing in a climactic fashion. You might find yourself in the middle of conflicting forces if you aren’t careful.

TAURUS: You may feel extra self-confident today, Taurus, making you more able to say and do the things you might normally keep inside. Be warned, however, that you’re apt to run into some powerful, unexpected opposition. The genius in you wants to come out and show others what you’re made of, but other people may have reason to find fault.

GEMINI: You might find that others’ strong opinions dictate today’s actions, Gemini. The atmosphere is quite intense, so you might want to lay low and let others have their way. Don’t try to put up a fight. Unexpected opposition may come out of nowhere and take control.

CANCER: Create your own reality, Cancer. It could be that you have the puppet strings in your hands, but you’re too afraid to use them. Don’t shy away from responsibility. Take your time and don’t lose sight of your goals. The stakes are extra high today, and you will find that the slightest movement is magnified several times over.

LEO: Things that you thought were obvious may not seem quite as clear as you’d like them to be, Leo. Be aware that there may be some intense opposition to your plans. Take care of other people and their emotions. You will find that a wall might suddenly go up, putting a harsh barrier between you and your goals.

VIRGO: Things that you thought were obvious may not seem quite as clear as you’d like them to be, Leo. Be aware that there may be some intense opposition to your plans. Take care of other people and their emotions. You will find that a wall might suddenly go up, putting a harsh barrier between you and your goals.

LIBRA: There’s a need for decisive action today, Libra, and you’re the one fit for the job. Strong wills and forceful opinions will win out. Others

aren’t likely to be easily manipulated. Everyone has a voice, and they won’t be afraid to use it. Make sure that you speak up on your behalf or your best interests may be lost.

SCORPIO: There may be tension and opposition today, Scorpio, so be prepared. It could seem like everyone wants to rattle your cage. Stand strong. There are forceful opinions crying out to be heard. The more stubborn you are, the harder it will be for important information to flow freely. Protect your interests by standing your ground, but make sure you don’t step on other people’s toes in the process.

SAGITTARIUS: What ails you now can be eliminated if you’re willing to stand up and say exactly what needs to be said, Sagittarius. Going with the flow may be an easy route to follow, but it might not always take you down a path that leads to the fulfillment of your dreams. Be a bit more aggressive about your position today and outwardly project yourself as the true master of your destiny.

CAPRICORN: It takes two to tango, Capricorn. Remember that life isn’t a one-way street. There needs to be a bit of give and take if you expect others to treat you the way you want to be treated. Don’t let people take control when it comes to taking charge of your own life. Others may be emotional and stubborn.

AQUARIUS: It may be hard to resolve anything today, Aquarius. It could be that there’s an overwhelming resistance making it difficult to act according to plan. Today isn’t a good day to fight. If things don’t seem to be going your way, don’t push it. Trying to strong-arm the situation will only aggravate things and make them worse. You may need to make some compromises in order to maintain the peace.

PISCES: Intense emotions are apt to dominate the scene today, Pisces. Don’t do anything halfway. It’s time to give it your all or nothing. You have the power to cut to the heart of the issue. Don’t hesitate. If you meet opposition, stay strong. There’s a valuable lesson to be learned. If you’re being true to yourself, you should have no trouble overcoming any obstacle that stands in your path.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Friday, December 30, 2022

“We find the defendant not guilty,” the jury foreman announced. “The evidence was not sufficient to convict.”

South was on trial for going down at four spades. West cashed the K-A of hearts and led a trump. South took the A-K and next led a diamond to his queen. West won, and East’s J-10 were worth a trick. The prosecution contended that South should have played West for the king of diamonds — leading the ace and a low diamond instead finessing — since West had opened the bidding.

“But West might have held the king of clubs,” the foreman pointed out, “and East the king of diamonds.”

MISPLAY

Would you convict South of a misplay?

West needs one minor-suit king for his opening bid, but East needs one for his raise to two hearts. South can draw trumps with the A-Q and next lead the queen of clubs: a “discovery” play. When West plays low, South can place East with the king — so West with the king of diamonds. South must attack the diamonds by leading the ace and deuce.

QUESTION

hold: 10 9 A K J 3 2 K 5 J 9 6 2. Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts and he

rebids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: This case is close. If your partner is known for the soundness of his opening bids, you can commit to game: You can bid three clubs, forcing, or jump to 3NT. But if he is prone to indulge in opening lightish, distributional hands, settle for 2NT, inviting game. With most partners, insist on game. West

INSTRUCTIONS

SUDOKU

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-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s Life section.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CODEWORD 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

“My focus is to forget the pain of life. Forget the pain, mock the pain, reduce it. And laugh.”

— JimCarrey

as

the

TennCare costs will increase as emergency COVID waiver ends

By JON STYF THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Throughout the federal COVID-19 emergency, Tennessee’s Medicaid service TennCare and programs like it across the country have been barred from removing those who initially qualified for services.

Starting on April 1, however, the emergency will end and so will the federal matching dollars that went into the program. TennCare served 1.4 million residents in early 2020 and, after hitting a projected peak of 1.7 million members this spring, expects TennCare enrollment to go back down to 1.4 million by April 2025.

The problem for TennCare will be the additional costs related to what is called redetermination as it goes through its rolls to determine who is still eligible for the program. During that process, it will continue to serve additional members without the federal matching funds to pay for the added expense.

“We don’t just snap our fingers and go back to normal,” TennCare Director Stephen Smith said about the process in his Nov. 18 budget hearing. “That means that the cost of serving these individuals won’t just shut off in June.

“Unfortunately, as we’ve discussed many

No parklets moved for impeding water flow

PARKLETS

violation by the compliance date on the second citation, they will have their right-of-way operation privileges suspended and will have to remove their facilities.”

Ms. Clark said only one parklet appeared to have problems coping with the recent rain — and that one already had installed a drainage channel to allow the water to flow beneath the parklet.

“The only place staff reported seeing any blockage was at one of the ramps on the 1200 block,” she said. “The backup was minor. As I understand it, the business is working on modifying the ramp to have a larger drainage channel.”

City workers did not have to move any parklets because of impeding water flow down State Street, she said.

The Santa Barbara City Council set a Dec. 1 deadline for making the necessary improvements to the parklets so stormwater would flow freely down State Street instead of being allowed to accumulate and flood storefronts and sidewalks.

The first round of inspections revealed only 17 of the 50 parklets between the 400 and 1200 blocks of State Street had made the adjustments. A second round showed 12 parklets were noncompliant, with four more left to be inspected. Three of those four remained delinquent, bringing the total to 15.”

“Several of these businesses have contacted us and are working to bring their facilities into compliance,” Ms. Clark said at the time.

In most cases, restaurants have cut drainage channels, using a steel diamond plate to bridge the gap. Others have pulled their parklets away from the curb and made them more narrow. A few have removed platforms and switched to portable, atgrade designs. email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

times, Congress acted and appropriated additional federal matching dollars to states, so we’re drawing down more federal dollars to assist with the increased cost tied to the enrollment growth.”

Mr. Smith said that TennCare was wellpositioned to afford the one-time costs with an additional surplus in its budget, without saying the total. The department asked for $689.5 million in budget increases for next fiscal year, with $403 million in federal funding increases and $286.5 million in state funding.

“It’s important to stress that, while our reserve might appear abnormally high, many of those dollars are obligated and necessary to meet the ongoing costs once the emergency ends and those enhanced federal dollars stop coming into the state,” Mr. Smith said.

Tennessee’s 2023-24 budget request included $63 million for the Tennessee Eligibility Determination System, including $57 million in federal requests and $6 million from the state.

TennCare III operates differently than other states as the first to receive a Medicaid block grant, where Tennessee receives federal money for the state Medicaid program all at once instead of periodically.

This year, TennCare is adding an adult dental benefit for 600,000 adults as well as

ending its waiting list for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are seeking services.

Mr. Smith noted that, during the upcoming redetermination process for benefits, it is essential that TennCare recipients update their contact information to make sure they receive the required forms. When possible, the department will use Internal Revenue Service data to auto-renew participants, who can visit TennCareConnect.TN.gov or call 855-259-0701 to renew coverage.

Mr. Smith noted that TennCare must keep costs under control as the program makes up about one-third of the state’s budget and Tennessee’s Medicaid spending has been well below the national average by cumulatively $5.2 billion since 2012 with a $1.2 billion for next fiscal year, allowing the state to increase spending for other departments such as education.

“We’ve come a long way in our TennCare program but it really wasn’t that long ago when double digit growth trends and runaway costs threatened the very existence of TennCare,” Mr. Smith said. “In fact, in the early 2000s, projections showed that the TennCare budget was literally going to eat every available new revenue dollar in just a few years.

“No one wants to be in that position again.”

KOVANDA, Nancy Pauline

Nancy Pauline Kovanda, the daughter of Maurice and Pauline Costello, was born on January 15, 1933. She passed away peacefully at age 89 on December 23, 2022.

She was predeceased by her sister, Jeanne Spale, and her two brothers, Maurice Costello Jr. and Robert Costello, her daughter, Deborah Kovanda, and son, Stephen Kovanda.

Nancy graduated from Cathedral High in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Nancy met Norman Kovanda in June 1950 at a teenage dance at the Summer Pavilion in Lincoln. They were both 17 years old. They dated for four years until Norman graduated in 1954 from the University of Nebraska. They were married on February 12, 1955 and started a marriage that lasted until now, 67 years later.

They had four children, Deborah, Sandra, Jeannie, and Stephen Kovanda, in Denver. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1962.

Norman and Nancy started a tax and investment business in 1964, heading it until their retirement in 2019, 55 years later.

Nancy was a fond fan of Nebraska Cornhusker football. GO Big Red!

Nancy is survived by her husband, Norman, daughter, Sandra Kovanda, grandson, Dean Kovanda, daughter, Jeannie (Rob) Graham, grandson, Steven (Kathleen) Symer, great-grandsons, Nathan and Jack Symer, granddaughter Kristin (Geoff) Payton, greatgrandkids, George and Eleanor Payton, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Nancy will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a wonderful woman.

Nancy’s memorial will be held at burial site at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, Friday January 6th, at 1:15PM, located at 901 Channel Dr., Montecito, CA.

Obituary

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

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

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

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

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

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

D.C. 59/46/pc 55/50/sh

p.m. 3.1’ 11:26 p.m. 2.1’

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KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Flocks

Medicaid program will need to recertify eligibility for all recipients as federal matching dollars end

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Water from Tuesday’s rain flows freely under a lower State Street parklet, which recently underwent a modification to meet the city of Santa Barbara’s requirements for drainage.