Santa Barbara New-Press: March 06, 2023

A share of the title

UCSB men’s basketball wins to become Co-Big West champions - A3

‘Bird’s Eye View’

Wildling Museum exhibit explores birds with works of four contemporary artists - B1

Plane Pull

Second annual fundraiser benefits Alpha Resource Center

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE sB Council hears about eviction issues

Members express concern over comments by renters

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The City Council sat in silence

Tuesday as nearly a dozen Santa Barbara residents poured their hearts out, pleading with the board to do something – anything – to stop their landlords from evicting them so they could charge new tenants higher rent.

Council members listened quietly as their constituents – most of them longtime Santa Barbarans – complained how their landlords refused to give them leases and how they tried to evict them so they could make bogus “safety” and “habitability” repairs – all so they could raise the rent.

And still, nary a word from the council.

plenty to say, about enforcing existing rules and regulations, about changing them if necessary, and about making sure people know what resources are currently available for them to utilize.

Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez wasn’t even at the meeting. He was in his office watching the meeting online because of a cold. But what he heard clearly upset him, as it did his colleagues.

“My heart goes out to those struggling to find housing in our community,” he said. “As a council member, I am here to listen to them and try to address their issues within our power. It is a complicated issue that will take the involvement of many agencies and community members.”

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

“I did it! I did it!” exclaimed a member of the Alpha Resource Center after he alongside his other team members pulled a plane 20 feet across the tarmac at the Santa Barbara Airport.

The energy was infectious Saturday morning as families and fans gathered to witness the second annual Plane Pull Fundraiser for Alpha Resource Center.

The Alpha Resource Center is a local foundation that focuses on the vocational and personal development of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

According to their website (alphasb.org), their mission is to “empower individuals with intellectual and similar developmental disabilities to make their mark on the world.”

The foundation was created in 1953 by Edna Dahl and other mothers who had children with intellectual disabilities. The goal was to educate and enhance the lives of their children in a world where disabilities were looked down upon.

This competition had its inaugural year in 2022 as members from the community as well as the Santa Barbara Airport came together to find a unique way to support the resource center.

The main sponsor of the event, Alaska Airlines, provided a 737 airplane to pull for the

participants. The competition was to see which team could pull the plane 20 feet in the shortest amount of time, a difficult task to say the least.

“Alaska Airlines is happy to partner with Alpha Resource Center for this event. We hope we can help bring healthy competition and fun to the crowd!” shared Candace Lay, the community relations coordinator for Alaska Airlines.

24 teams registered for the event, with participants ranging from Santa Barbara fire fighters to local families in the community to members of the Alpha Resource Center.

“Seeing the community come together and support the center is amazing,” shared Chris Harris, the President of the Alpha

Resource Center. “This is a big year for Alpha,” he explained, “It is our 70th anniversary this year. That’s 70 years of making a huge difference in the lives of the participants.”

Mr. Harris, who has been involved with the resource center for many years, explained the importance of this foundation to the community before the start of the event. He mentioned that “the center is a place for residents of Santa Barbara to come together and help those with intellectual disabilities thrive in the modern world.”

The event commenced with the national anthem and the presenting of the colors by the Santa Barbara color guard.

Santa Barbara resident and previous host of “Double

Dare” on Nickelodeon and “Unwrapped” on the Food Network, Mark Summers, MC’d the event. His commentary of the event added smiles and laughter throughout the day.

There were two divisions, one that consisted of most of the teams, and then another specifically designated for the public safety officers.

“It was fun to be out here to show our support!” exclaimed the members of the Santa Barbara police department after they pulled the plane.

“This was such a wonderful event and knowing that the money raised today is going to make such a huge impact on the members of the center is incredible,” said Jillian Hurin, a local Santa Barbara community resident who came to watch the plane be pulled.

After a few hours of plane pulling, the event concluded with the announcement of the winners.

The Santa Barbara Airport team - nicknamed FlySB - won in the open division and the Santa Barbara County firefighters won in the public safety division. According to Jeff Hansen, the event’s coordinator and Director of Development, over $55k was raised for the center. The money is going to meet the needs of many members within the program and to be a continued help for the thriving of the foundation.

Those wishing to make a contribution to the Alpha Resource Center, you can make donations at https://www. igivetoalpha.org/. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

But there’s a reason for that. The speakers were talking during the time for public comments, when council members aren’t supposed to talk, only listen to whatever anyone wants to say.

But in subsequent interviews with the News-Press, it quickly became clear from their empathetic yet practical comments that they were listening – intently – and that they had

Councilmember Meagan Harmon called the tenants’ testimony “incredibly impactful.”

“It is no easy thing to share such difficult experiences in a public forum, and the honesty and vulnerability that these residents showed was commendable,” she said.

“I do believe that the council should move forward to close the

Please see COUNCIL on A2

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE

Mental competency of alleged SM courtroom arsonist questioned

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The attorney for the Nipomo man charged with arson for allegedly setting a fire inside a Santa Maria courtroom voiced doubt last week about his client’s mental competency, putting the criminal proceedings against him on indefinite hold.

The defendant, Eric Wolfgang Spies, 31, appeared in court Thursday to confirm the date for his preliminary hearing, tentatively set for Tuesday.

“His attorney, Ms. Pedego, declared his doubt as to his legal competence and criminal proceedings were suspended,” Deputy District Attorney Austin Ingalls told the News-Press.

“The court appointed two doctors to evaluate Mr. Spies as to his legal competence,” the prosecutor said. “The preliminary hearing previously set for 03/07/2023 was vacated. We are returning to court on March 30 for a competency determination hearing setting.”

Mr. Spies’ case is being heard in San Luis Obispo because a Santa Barbara judge, without specifying why, declared it would be a conflict of interest for a Santa Barbara County judge to preside over his criminal case.

The defendant has pleaded not guilty to felony charges of arson and second-degree commercial burglary in connection with the Feb. 18 incident, in which he allegedly broke into the Santa Maria courtroom and set a fire,

triggering the sprinkler system. Court officials said the combination of flames and water caused extensive damage to furniture, wall paneling, cabinetry, carpeting and court records. They estimated the cost to be about $750,000.

Mr. Spies allegedly went to the Santa Maria court complex, ignored a security guard’s order to leave and broke two glass doors to gain entry into the criminal court building. Once inside, he allegedly forced his way into a courtroom, pulling the doors so hard that he broke the wood frames on the top of the doors.

Court officials allege he then started a fire on the defense counsel’s chair, which spread to the table and carpet. The fire was so hot that it melted the lights in the ceiling and caused the sprinklers to come on, court officials said.

The defendant reportedly told the security guard he had received a notice about an upcoming hearing on a misdemeanor vandalism case and went to the court complex to see where he had to show up next month.

Mr. Spies asked the court at his arraignment to release him on a pretrial supervised release, but prosecutors objected based on public safety concerns. The court denied his request for release. He remains in custody with no bail amount listed.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

ANNIKA BAHNSEN / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Members of the Alpha Resource Center team pull the plane across the Santa Barbara airport tarmac.

The pulling of the plane was not an easy task, and required a show of strength.

The winners of the Public Safety division, the Santa Barbara firefighters, gave an impressive performance at the event.

SB County officially ends COVID-19 state of emergency

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara County has ended its COVID19 state of emergency.

The official end came on Feb. 28 in alignment with the state of California. This was announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 17.

“We have made notable progress in our fight against COVID-19. The first case in Santa Barbara County was reported on March 15, 2020. The Public Health Department swiftly formed a response center, with many staff working around the clock to protect the

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Teen man killed in motorcycle crash

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – An 18year-old Santa Maria man was killed Sunday morning when the motorcycle he was riding struck a car head-on on Foxen Canyon Road in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said.

The collision occurred around 10 a.m. when the man’s Yamaha R6 motorcycle hit a Honda Accord on the 7600 block of Foxen Canyon Road near Foxen Vineyard & Winery, south of Tepusquet, the California Highway Patrol said.

The car’s driver, Bobbie Dowdy, 42, of Arroyo Grande, and her passenger were uninjured.

Rescue workers arrived on scene but despite their CPR efforts, the unidentified motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, Capt. Scott Safechuck, a SB County Fire public information officer, said.

His identity was not released pending notification of kin.

According to the CHP, the collision occurred when, for some reason, the motorcycle, heading south, drifted across the double yellow line and hit the northbound Honda.

The rider was thrown off his motorcycle, the CHP said, adding that several witnesses provided him with aid until rescue workers arrived.

The CHP is investigating the accident but noted that weather, drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash.

— Neil Hartstein

One stabbed in State Street fight

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara Police officers responded to the 500 block of State Street Saturday night in response to a reported fight in progress which left one person with two stab wounds and the other with facial injuries, police said.

Officers determined that there was a physical altercation between several individuals that started inside a local business and spilled out on the street, according to Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the SBPD public information officer.

Two adult males were taken to Cottage Hospital’s emergency room for treatment with non-life threatening injuries. One sustained two stab wounds to his abdomen, and the other sustained facial injuries, police said.

The initial investigation revealed that the subjects involved in the fight were unknown to each other, and that one was from out of town, police said.

The incident was not gang related. At this time, no arrests have been made, and detectives are further investigating this case.

— Neil Hartstein

Sheriff’s Office requests continued grant funding for ATV enforcement

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is seeking grant funding to provide increased patrolling and enforcement in areas where illegal off-road vehicles are being used.

The sheriff’s office continues to receive complaints about individuals on ATVs throughout the county, but primarily in the Santa Ynez riverbed and surrounding areas bordering the city of Lompoc. These riders tend to damage private property and the environment. They are also violating a number of other state and county ordinances. The sheriff’s office is planning to enforce laws in the Santa Maria riverbed and the Cuyama Valley and locations in the south county area.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office applied to the State of California Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) 2023/2024 grant program. The preliminary application was submitted on Friday. As part of the multi-step application process, there is an opportunity for public comment and feedback before the final application due on June 5. From March 7 through May 1, the public can view the online grant application and submit comments.

To view the application, visit the California State OHV Grants and Cooperative Agreements program at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/. To make public comments on the application, click on “GRANTS” and then on “On Line Grants Application (OLGA).” Then follow the directions on the menu bar on the left side of the screen.

This is the ninth year the sheriff’s office has applied for grant funding for OHV enforcement in Santa Barbara County.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

health of Santa Barbara County residents. Since then, the landscape of COVID-19 has dramatically changed,” Ryan Schumacher, assistant deputy director of community health and PIO for Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, told the News-Press in an email. “We now have vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. We have treatments for those infected. We have tests that can be done at home. We have complex models that predict surges and variant trends. The Public Health Department has played an instrumental role in ensuring each of these advances are available to our community. As of today, 70% of our residents received at least one dose of

vaccine – that’s nearly 320,000.

“The state’s SMARTER Plan outlines the next phases of how the COVID efforts will continue. Specifically, Santa Barbara county residents will be able to continue to have access COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments,” said Mr. Schumacher.

The SMARTER Plan can be found at https:// covid19.ca.gov/smarter/

More info on what’s changing was released by the state on Friday at 2 p.m. and can be found at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/ OPA/Pages/NR23-014.aspx. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Report finds $860 million lost in homes seized by government

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Local governments or lienholders have taken more than 8,950 homes with more than $860 million in equity from 2014 to 2021 under laws that allow them to seize properties for unpaid property taxes, according to a new report. Pacific Legal Foundation, which is working to ban the practice, found that taking property to pay property tax debts can be ruinous for people with small tax debts.

“For tax debts of less than 1% of a property’s value, these laws have allowed officials to take homes that have been in families for generations and even to leave people homeless,” according to the report.

The report highlights several cases, including a county in Michigan that took a man’s house over an $8.41 underpayment.

Oakland County later sold the property for $24,500. That case eventually went before the Michigan Supreme Court, which found the practice unconstitutional.

The report found “the elderly, sick, and poor, along with the mentally ill and racial minorities, are especially at risk.”

Twelve states and Washington D.C. allow the practice. The states are Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and South Dakota, according to the foundation.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to take up a Minnesota case, Tyler v. Hennepin County, that focuses on whether taking and selling a home to satisfy a debt to the government, and keeping the surplus value as a windfall, violates the Fifth Amendment’s takings clause, according to SCOTUS Blog.

“[Geraldine Tyler] failed to pay her property taxes,” said Christina Martin, a senior attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation.

“The property taxes owed were about $2,300. After adding in penalties and interest and

fees, she owed $15,000. The county took her condo, sold it at auction for $40,000 and then kept all $40,000. In other words, the county got a $25,000 windfall at Ms. Tyler’s expense.”

The foundation’s report shows Ms. Tyler, 94, is not alone.

Angela Erickson, strategic research director at Pacific Legal Foundation, said the problem goes beyond the 8,950 homes identified in the report, which represent “a fraction of the scope of home equity theft in the nine states studied,” according to the report. Researchers only collected information from a fraction of the jurisdictions and only focused on sold homes, she said.

“These laws aren’t just taking family homes. They’re stealing family nest eggs or generational wealth and so I want to take a moment to have us imagine you’ve saved for decades, using your home as this device for your savings. And then you discover that in an instant you have no place to live and no safety net or wealth to pass on to your children,” Ms. Erickson said. “That’s devastating. It’s ruining these people’s lives.”

Rowse says most testimony dealt with violations of existing laws

COUNCIL

Continued from Page A1

‘renovation loophole’ — the intention behind our ordinance was to ensure that unjust evictions are stopped. If that intention is not being honored under the ordinance as written, if loopholes in the law are being exploited to circumvent its purpose, it is incumbent on our council to revise the ordinance so it is effective.”

Councilmember Harmon said she’s heard many “renovation stories” over the last few months.

“That they are now reaching council in the form of public comment is reflective of how acute the problem has become. I certainly believe our residents when they say they will be back week after week. Even if they are not able to return, however, now that the City Council knows of the problem, I believe we have a duty to respond and I will continue to advocate for us to do so.”

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said the issue of “rental renovations” has been escalating for some time.

“I believe the Council is taking this seriously,” she said. “There are a few changes to the ordinances that could make the threshold higher in justifying an eviction, such as actually applying for or pulling a permit for substantial work, rather than the currently lower threshold of just intent,” she said.

“Of course property owners need to be able to maintain units and keep them habitable, but the speakers were talking about being evicted for major renovations that never happen. We will be looking at ways to address this, and I expect that we will continue to hear from the public, as we should.”

Councilmember Eric Friedman divulged that when he was 12 years old, his family moved from Santa Barbara to Lompoc due to housing affordability.

“Through my experience leaving Santa Barbara, I understand the similar struggles and fears that many residents currently face,” he said.

He noted that over the past few years, the council has implemented a number of renter protections, supported the creation of new housing units and conducted enforcement.

“Unfortunately, some of the protections are under litigation and enforcement is costly in terms of staff resources and the time it takes to resolve an issue,” he said.

“In addition, it is a challenge to allocate limited staff resources for enforcement and compliance of existing local ordinances due to constantly changing state laws on housing, the current Housing Element Update and the need for compliance with both, as well as other factors. Enforcement of illegal vacation rentals is a prime example.

“Going forward, I am working to ensure that the new Affordable Housing Fund that I brought forward with Councilmember Harmon, which was unanimously approved by Council, will be an effective new tool to create affordable housing and provide critical assistance for those in immediate need.”

According to Mayor Randy Rowse, the common theme voiced by the residents, members of the Santa Barbara Tenants Union, was that they were seeking some regulatory help from the council.

“The stories mostly, as I recall, dealt with violations of standing law. What seemed to be lacking was enforcement and, in some cases, reporting of violations,” he said.

“The State of California already provides robust tenant protections, along with rental rate acceleration regulation in the form of AB 1482,” he said. “City regulations provide that landlords must provide written contracts as leases. In addition, we are one of the few agencies that provides legal and mediation assistance in the form of the Rental Mediation Task Force.

“Efforts to enforce existing regulations and take advantage of legal renters’ advice should be exhausted before writing yet more legislation. Tenants need to feel confident and protected in their rights under law, and landlords should have their rights memorialized in lease agreements.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

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Pacific Legal Foundation, which is working to ban the practice, found that taking property to pay property tax debts can be ruinous for people with small tax debts.

sports@newspress.com

UCSB men’s basketball secures share of Big West regular season title

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB men’s basketball team (24-7, 155 Big West) were back in action for the final regular season game of the season as the Gauchos hosted the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors. With the Big West Regular Season Title on the line, the Gauchos went to war against Hawai’i, coming out the other side on top with a commanding 81-61 victory.

With this win, the Gauchos secured the Co-Big West Regular Season Championship while setting a new university record for the most wins and the highest win percentage in a single season.

“The guys were so focused and ready heading into the night,” Coach Joe Pasternack said. “When the stakes are the highest and you’re playing together, it’s everything. I am just so proud of everybody.”

HOW IT HAPPENED

From the very first second of this game, the Gauchos lit up The Thunderdome. The home team caused Hawai’i to use one of their timeouts in the first four minutes as they took the early 10-2 lead. Instead of closing the gap,

the Rainbow Warriors stayed at a distance as UC Santa Barbara extended their lead. Hawai’i could not stop the Gauchos’ offense, resulting in one of the best halves the Gauchos have had all season as they were up 46-26 after the first.

Once the second half began, the Gauchos picked up where they left off. The team hit a new gear as they applied even more pressure on the Rainbow Warriors, causing them to turn the ball over 12 times compared to the Gauchos’ four. By the final buzzer, UCSB was up by 20, taking the final game of the regular season 81-61.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Seniors Miles Norris, Calvin Wishart and Andre Kelly were on fire for their final game in The Thunderdome. Norris led the team in scoring, registering 18 points while also adding on 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Kelly also joined Norris with a double-double of his own, putting up 12 points while adding on 10 rebounds. On his way to 12 points, Kelly made six of his seven shots. Wishart was the final senior to finish with double-digit points, contributing 15 points.

• Ajay Mitchell was the third Gaucho to earn

a double-double tonight. In typical Mitchell fashion, he earned his double-double with 11 assists and 10 points for his third of the season. He also added on three steals and five rebounds for a well-rounded performance.

• Cole Anderson is the last Gaucho to secure double-digit points in tonight’s victory. He ended the game with 14 points, going five-ofeight from the field, four of which were threepointers.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos have concluded the 2022-23 regular season with this game as they now prepare for The Big West Championships at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada. Heading into the championships, the Gauchos are slated second and will play the winner of Long Beach State and Cal Poly. This game will be on Thursday at 6 p.m. Fans who can’t make the trip to Henderson can follow along through ESPN+. Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

Choice scores career-high in UCSB women’s basketball loss

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

Anya Choice scored a careerhigh 23 points and Alexis Tucker added 18 of her own Saturday night, but UCSB women’s basketball (19-11, 12-8 Big West) fell to the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine (15-14, 13-7) in Honolulu, 68-58. As a result, the Gauchos will have the No. 5 seed in next week’s Big West Championships and face UC Davis in the quarterfinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UCSB got off to a hot start, putting up 18 points in the first quarter and leading for nearly the entire frame. Tucker scored 11 of those points, including hitting a pair of three-pointers, helping the Gauchos lead by as many as seven in the opening ten minutes. However, for a second straight game, UCSB watched their opponent bank in a three-pointer to end the first quarter, and their lead shrank to one. Whereas the first quarter had been 10 actionpacked minutes of back-andforth basketball, the second was a

frantic but low-scoring affair. The two teams combined for just six points in as many minutes before a late Hawai’i rally put the hosts up six at halftime. Out of halftime, both teams picked up their scoring again, with neither team leading by more than five in the third quarter. Trailing by that number midway through the period, the Gauchos capitalized on a technical to put together a six-point possession, with Alyssa Marin drawing two free throws on a layup attempt, converting both, then converting two more due to the tech. With UCSB keeping possession, Callie Cooper knocked down a jumper to give her team their first lead of the half.

The margin was three points, in favor of Hawai’i heading into the fourth quarter, and as the hosts started extending that lead, the Gauchos did everything they could to stay in the game. Early in the fourth, Alyssa Marin hit a rushed three-pointer to beat the shot clock buzzer, and she probably could have gone to the line for a four-point play. With UCSB down eight and

four minutes left on the clock, Anya Choice took over. The junior scored her team’s final 10 points, bringing her personal total into the 20s for the first time in her career. Her fourth three-pointer of the evening made it a twopossession game with under a minute to go, but that would be as close as the Gauchos got.

BY THE NUMBERS

• In her 23-point performance, Anya Choice shot 9-14 from the floor, including 4-6 from three, with four rebounds and an assist.

• Alexis Tucker scored her 18 points on 5-11 shooting (2-6 from three), with 13 of those points coming in the first half.

• Ila Lane is now within one rebound of third place on UCSB’s all-time career rebounds list; she has 876 in her career.

• Along with her 23 points, Choice also fouled out of Saturday’s game, making her the second Gaucho to record a career high and foul out of the same game this season after Callie Cooper did so in Davis on February 11.

UCSB Baseball evens series with Xavier

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

It was back to business as usual for UCSB Baseball (6-3) Saturday night, as they beat Xavier (5-6), 4-2, behind power hitting and masterful pitching. Aaron Parker clubbed his third home run of the season and added a pair of doubles on the evening, scoring three of the Gauchos’ runs, and driving in the other. Matt Ager worked his third straight quality start, going seven innings and striking out eight to earn his second win on the season. Carter Benbrook earned a six-out save, setting down all six batters he faced.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Ager gave up a lead-off single but settled in afterwards, striking out the next batter he faced, then getting some help from his catcher. Parker caught the runner attempting to steal second, wiping that early single off the basepaths. Ager finished the inning with a second strikeout. From that point on, he was rock-steady, scattering three hits over the next three innings while striking out four.

The sophomore picked up some run support over those innings as well, and it was his battery-mate Parker helping out again. After Leo Mosby reached base on an errant throw following a dropped third strike to start the second inning, Parker crushed a hanging breaking ball well over the left field wall for his third home run of the season to put UCSB up, 2-0.

On his next trip to the plate, Parker led off the fourth inning with a double to center, and Zander Darby hit a double of his own to right to drive Parker in. After Ager stranded runners on the corner in the top of the sixth, Parker knocked his third straight extra-base hit of the evening in the bottom half, knocking his second double. A hit batter and infield single loaded the bases with one

out, and Darby drove in Parker for a second time with a sacrifice fly, making the Gaucho lead 4-0. Ager worked into the seventh inning for the first time in his career, but immediately gave up backto-back home runs, making it a 4-2 game. In only his third collegiate start, the sophomore showed tremendous grit, getting the next three Xavier batters out in order, fielding his position well on a grounder to end the frame. Carter Benbrook relieved Ager for the eighth and ninth, sitting down all six Musketeers he faced, including a pair of strikeouts to lock down his first save of the season.

ON THE STAT SHEET

• Matt Ager’s seven innings are the most he has worked in a collegiate game; he finished with eight strikeouts to only two walks, scattering seven hits and giving up just the two earned runs. Saturday was his third consecutive quality start.

• Aaron Parker’s tremendous night at the plate was accompanied by another solid night behind it defensively; he caught his fourth base thief of the season on Saturday and still has not allowed a stolen base in six games.

• Speaking of Parker’s hitting, he led all batters in hits (3) and total bases (8) on Saturday; his secondinning home run ties him for the team lead with three long balls on the season.

• Zander Darby and LeTrey McCollum accounted for UCSB’s other two hits Saturday night; Darby’s was an RBI double, while McCollum’s was a single that never left the infield.

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

UCSB softball goes 1-1 on Day 2 of Lancer Invite

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB

SPORTS

The UCSB softball team (9-7) competed in Day 2 of the Lancer Invitational as they took on the Seahawks of Wagner and the Lancers of host team Cal Baptist. After this double-header, the Gauchos went 1-1 on the

day, defeating the Seahawks while dropping a game to the Lancers.

GAME 1: GAUCHOS VS SEAHAWKS

This first game kicked off slowly for both teams

Please see SOFTBALL on A4

UP NEXT

UCSB finishes with the fifthbest winning percentage in The Big West this season, and will therefore be the No. 5 seed at next week’s Big West Championships in Henderson, Nevada. The Gauchos will face No. 4-seed UC Davis in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, March 8 at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The game will be live on ESPN+ Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

Westmont swimmers conclude season

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

The final day of the 2023 NAIA National Swimming Championships was a day of joy, celebration and gratitude for the Westmont swim program. Part of that was the result of what happened in the pool, but much of it oozed from the hearts and minds of a coach and swimmers who care deeply about each other.

The swim program completed its fourth season today. That means the freshmen swimmers

in the first year Jill Jones Lin was head coach ended their collegiate careers as swimmers on this day. That reality was felt deeply by all.

“They are the most reliable people, not to mention swimmers,” said a tearful Jones Lin about her seniors at the end of the day. “I am so grateful for them that they stuck it out with me and with the team. They are just amazing.

“All the women who were here at nationals knew that they would not be here without their teammates. That is such a special thing that we have – such a tight knit team that pushes each other and encourages each other. I love this group and I love the seniors and I love the team that they’ve helped create. It is so apparent the culture and the legacy that they have left. They did such a great job.”

Reflecting after the final race, senior Morgan Bienias recalled, “Coming into Westmont, I really didn’t want to swim at all. I think it was (because of) my past experiences with other teams.

The Westmont women’s swim team has been much more than I ever expected it to be. I am super grateful for all the women I’ve met. It really did make my swim career so different. These women made it special.”

“I have had great club experiences before this,” expressed senior Bailey Lemmons, “but I had never been surrounded by a group of women like this before. They have been like sisters and family to me during these four years. They especially supported me during the last two years that I didn’t compete. I have always felt welcomed and loved regardless of where my swimming career was at. Swimming at nationals my freshmen year and then being here my senior year with this group of women is so full circle and really special.”

The culture and comradery spoken of by coaches and players alike is not accidental. It was envisioned by Jones Lin who invited her student-athletes to join in creating a community of loving and encouraging each other while pursuing excellence both in the pool and in life.

“Honestly, if it wasn’t for Jill, I

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS OBITUARIES

SETO, Alethea

would not have swam in college,” stated senior Emma Leathers. “I did not want to swim under a male head coach. Jill has built an incredible program from scratch. Any ounce of respect that Westmont swim has, it is because of Jill and how much the other coaches respect her and it bleeds into us. The way she prioritizes character over talent speaks highly of what type of head coach she is.”

“Jill is the first woman mentor I have had,” noted Lemmon. “I remember freshman year that it was her birthday at nationals. We all got to share how much she means to us. Jill is forever going to be in my life. Her support in the pool and in my personal life has been huge. I don’t know if I would have gone through my injury if it wasn’t for her and her care and love for me and the rest of the team. I am so grateful that I met her when I did because I was the first recruit that she had. I am so grateful that God put us together at the beginning of our freshman year.”

It is that life lived in support of each other that was so evident in and around the pool today, the final day of the 2023 season.

It was on display when Morgan Bienias started the day off by competing in the 200 yard backstroke. Bienias had spent the fall semester in an off campus program and was unable to do much training before returning in December. With just two months of trying to get back into shape for collegiate competition, Bienias was in the pool for the final individual race of her career as her teammates and coach screamed encouragement from the deck.

“That was awesome,” said Jones Lin of her performance. “It was a miracle that Morgan even made the meet and it to nationals and it was this event that she qualified in. We were going to be surprised by whatever she put out. She put out 0.01 off of her lifetime best and school record, which snuck her into finals in 15th place. She was able to score a point, which we were not anticipating. She was amazing and did what we needed her to do.”

Bienias’ time of 2:07.90 was celebrated by all as they greeted her after the race.

Their life together was also on display when Lemmon and Emma Bustamante competed in the 100 yard freestyle.

“Bailey and Emma were just outside making the finals,” reported Jones Lin. That race is a splash and dash race and so many variables that can make you go slower. It was fun, however, seeing Bailey compete in her last individual race and for her to end her career on one of her favorite events.”

UCSB women’s water polo loses to Anteaters in overtime

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

The No. 10 UCSB women’s water polo team (146, 0-1 Big West) went head to head with No. 6 UC Irvine (9-6, 1-0 Big West) in their first Big West matchup of the 2023 season. The top-10 clash required overtime to find a winner, but it was the Anteaters who came out on top.

The Gauchos came out strong, holding a 2-0 lead after the first quarter. However, the Anteaters struck back in response as the two teams battled for control. The halftime whistle left the scoreboard reading 4-4. Never breaching more than a two point differential throughout all four quarters of play, the second half saw an equal show of ferocity. A tight battle left the teams in a tie at the final buzzer, resulting in a mandatory two halves of overtime. During these extra minutes, Irvine was able to notch two more goals, to bring the final score to 8-10 in favor of the home team. Caitlyn Snyder was able to contribute a two goal gift to the Gaucho effort, with other solo strikes coming from across the UCSB roster.

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

Lemmon finished in 18th place with a time of 53.45 while Bustamante placed 23rd in a time of 54.81. Then came some disappointing news regarding the 200 yard breaststroke – an event in which Ella Chaisson earned AllAmerican status last year. The hope was that Chaisson would boost the team’s point total with another solid performance.

“Ella decided to scratch,” said Jones Lin. “She has been dealing with an injury that we are trying to monitor. That was a big hit and we were all bummed. Ella, of course, was the most bummed.”

Westmont was still represented in the event by freshman Daisy Marquardt, who ended up placing 18th with a time of 2:30.28.

“Daisy had a great run in the breaststroke, even though it’s not an event we have been training her for,” noted Jones Lin. With the meet headed into the final few events, Westmont stood in eighth place, a few points ahead of The Master’s.

“We were looking at the results and realizing we could potentially score well as a team,” described Jones Lin. “We were looking at other avenues for points and we focused on Morgan’s final swim in the 200 yard backstroke and our relay to step up and score as many points as possible.”

Before those events, however, Olivia Garrison was about to embark on the longest of the races in the championship – the 1,650 yard freestyle. Because of the distance of the race, the event is conducted as a time trial, with times compared across heats to determine placing, rather than advancing to a final.

“It was a really fast event this year,” explained Jones Lin. “Olivia was two seconds faster than her best time this season. It was a hard fought swim and she was able to score in the top 16, which was huge.”

Garrison placed 11th with a time of 17:52.39, adding to the team’s totals. Watching the team cheer her on, one had to wonder who was expending the most energy. Garrison in the pool, or her teammates waving their arms and yelling out encouragement for all 66 laps.

Entering the final event of the meet – the 400 yard freestyle relay - Westmont was still in eighth place, a few points ahead of The Master’s. Garrison, Marquardt, Bustamante and Lemmon were selected to make up the relay team.

“All the relays have been wild cards,” expressed Jones Lin. “We have put together combos that we might not have tried out with our whole team available to us. It was really cool to see them come together.”

Garrison went first and kept

pace with the leading swimmers.

“Then Daisy went second and pulled ahead of the field,” recalled Jones Lin. “I told them before the race that we had to smash that heat if we wanted to stay in our place in the team scores. They did just that.

“Emma dove in and kept increasing the lead. Then Bailey had clear water out in front of her to finish strong. They all swam so fast and finished with a school record.”

Westmont won the first heat with a time of 3:33.23, beating the old record by over three seconds. Then, the Warriors had to wait for the results of the second heat, in which the teams with the fastest seed times had been placed.

“Watching the next heat and seeing that we beat three of those teams to get sixth place was so awesome,” expressed a joyful Jones Lin. “It was icing on the cake for the whole meet.”

In fact, it was a fitting ending not just for the meet, but for a season and for the careers of a special group of seniors.

The Warriors finished eighth in the national meet, matching their national ranking. Remarkable for a program completing just its fourth season.

During the four-day championship, eight Westmont team records were rewritten, four relay teams earned All-American honors and two Warriors captured All-American titles in individual events - Chaisson in the 200 yard individual medley and Lemmon in the 50 yard freestyle.

Following the meet, the seniors were asked to reflect on their wishes for the future of a program they helped to create.

“NCAA Champs,” quipped Leathers.

“I hope all our records are broken,” added Bienias.

“We worked really hard to establish a team culture and Jill set up four pillars for our team,” reflected Lemmons. “I hope every summer that culture is (passed on to) the team and the future teams uphold those and continue the legacy that we tried to establish during our four years here. I would hope that the ‘character first’ priority maintains the integrity of this team and that I will be proud of every single team that comes after us.”

“I hope that the future teams are able to develop as close of bonds as us original five were,” said Leathers. “It has been so very special and I hope that carries forward.”

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Westmont women’s tennis bested by Westcliff

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Westmont Women’s Tennis (1-9, 1-1

GSAC) fell to #18 Westcliff (5-3, 4-0) on Saturday, as the visiting Warriors defeated the Santa Barbara-based Warriors 6-

1. Westcliff opened the day by sweeping the doubles point, before carrying the momentum into singles with an early clinch.

“I’m proud of our team today,” said Westmont head coach Cade Pierson. “I don’t think the score indicated how close the match was overall. Considering the circumstances, it was just not our day, but we showed up and played really well regardless.”

In doubles Westcliff claimed all three sets, which included a 6-0 win on one, where Marielena Muench and Ruiz defeated Arden Samuels and Liska Knight. On two, Neele Marie Menssen and Kowalski defeated Francesca Aguirre and Sophia Ostovany 6-3, and on three, Shayee Sherif and Hurtado bested Sabina Salva and Justie Spitzer 6-4.

In singles Westmont was able to get their lone point of the match on four, where Samuels was able to outlast Lilian Burth 3-6, 7-6 (4), 11-9. Aside from four Westcliff controlled the match, which included a 6–0, 6-1 win on two for Ruiz over Salva. On six,

Hurtado defeated Kaley Houshmand 62, 6-1 and on five, Menssen bested Logan Jackson 6-2, 6-2.

“Singles is where people really stood out,” offered Pierson. “Arden won her match, and she was in considerable pain throughout. She won in three sets which was a testament to her grit, and her determination. I’m really proud of the tennis that she played.

“Arden had to play not only gritty, but smart tennis as well. It was clutch and I know it was challenging for her physically, but I’m proud of her for getting us on the board. It was a huge win for her.”

The two sides played past clinch, allowing Westcliff to also collect wins over Ostovany on one and Spitzer on three.

“There were a lot of wild cards that made the circumstances less than ideal, but we did a really good job of competing regardless. We focused on what we could control and did our best with it,” said Pierson.

Westmont returns to action on Friday, March 17, when they host the Menlo Oaks in Santa Barbara.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Rough third inning dooms Gauchos in second game

SOFTBALL

Continued from Page A3 as no one was able to get on the scoreboard. The first inning was a quick affair on both sides while the Gauchos weren’t able to bring Makayla Newsom home despite making it to third on a wild pitch. However, in the third inning, UCSB made their move. Daryn Siegel registered the team’s first home run of the season, bringing Ashley Donaldson across home plate with her as the Gauchos went up 20 in the third. UCSB scored two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to solidify their 4-1 win over Wagner.

As mentioned above, Siegel earned a home

run in today’s game while Madelyn McNally contributed a triple and Alexa Sams added a double. Along with those three, Newsom recorded two hits along with Lauren Lewis’s one hit to give the Gauchos opportunities to score. Ava Bradford was on the mound for the Gauchos as she pitched all seven innings to earn her second win of the season.

GAME 2: GAUCHOS VS LANCERS

Like the first game of the day, the first two innings of the game were scoreless and quick, not going more than four batters in each. When the third inning hit, the Lancers’ bats got hot as they scored three runs in this inning. The Gauchos were able to respond with a run of

their own in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough to help them come back in this game as they dropped the second leg of the double header 31 to the Lancers.

Siegel scored the team’s only run in this game, coming across home plate thanks to Sams’ double down the right field line. Chloe Stewart also had a great offensive performance as he put up two hits in this game Siegel. McNally, Donaldson, and Sam Denehy also added to the offensive pressure.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

Alethea Seto, dearly adored wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away surrounded by her loving family on February 25, 2023, at the age of 71, in Camarillo.

Born Alethea Maureen Thompson, Thea was raised in the Los Angeles area and graduated from USC with a degree in Occupational Therapy, a profession in which she was engaged throughout her life. After working at Northridge Medical Center, her adventurous spirit moved her to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she traveled in a mobile therapy van throughout Vancouver Island treating many First Nations people and making lifelong friends. Thea returned to southern California to resume a friendship with Raymond Seto. This blossomed into a marriage which blessed them with three beautiful children, Aeryn, Cassandra, and Gregory. After living in Palos Verdes for several years, the family moved to Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara, where Thea devoted her time to raising her children and volunteering at their schools (Roosevelt Elementary, Santa Barbara Middle School, and Santa Barbara High), while continuing her Occupational Therapy career at Cottage Hospital, SELPA, and a variety of home health agencies.

A lifelong mystic, Thea was devoted to living an authentic, purposeful life and seeking the divine through wisdom traditions, earth-based spirituality, and embodied practices including yoga and t’ai chi chuan. She especially enjoyed hosting tai chi retreat groups in Santa Barbara.

After all three of their children left home to attend UC Berkeley, Thea and Ray moved to Ventura County, where she continued to practice Occupational Therapy part-time, and pursued creative writing, volunteering, and healing arts. She created a second family home on the Sonoma Coast and was an active and loving presence for each of her seven grandchildren.

Thea was very proud of her children’s accomplishments. Aeryn became an executive at JP Morgan before pursuing a new path as a Presbyterian pastor. Cassandra graduated from Stanford Law School and became a litigation partner at O’Melveny & Myers. Gregory graduated from Loyola Law School with a JD and LLM in tax before joining Deloitte as an international tax attorney. However, what provided the greatest joy and Jonathan, and Julia) and their blessing her with beloved grandchildren. Thea is survived by husband Ray; children Aeryn, Cassandra, and Gregory; and grandchildren Cody, Liv, Jack, Emerson, Dean, Nathan, and Mia. She is also survived by siblings Karen, Kathleen, and David.

A memorial service honoring Thea will be held at the Vedanta Temple on March 25, 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 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.

Wildling Museum exhibit explores feathered friends through eyes of four contemporary artists

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

‘Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives” will be on view from March 18 through Sept. 4 at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature.

Featured will be new and recent works by artists Chris Maynard, David Tomb, Shae Warnick and Chester Wilcox.

The public is invited to celebrate the new exhibit at an opening reception from 3 to 5 p.m. March 19 at the Wildling, 1511-B Mission Drive in Solvang.

“People live among more than an estimated 10,000 bird species worldwide. These animals uniquely inform the works of the four artists featured in this exhibition,” said Stacey OtteDemangate, Wildling Museum executive director. “Realistic wood carvings by Chester Wilcox, intricately shaped and carved feathers by Chris Maynard, a handcrafted fabric bird doll aviary by Shae Warnick and an immersive wetland environment installation by David Tomb — all express the magic, mystery and incredible diversity of the avian world.

“ ‘Bird’s Eye View’ will also explore the impact of birds in our world,” she continued. “Many bird species serve as valuable pollinators. Others eat insects and rodents that would otherwise decimate gardens and vegetation, and some help to disperse plant seeds, playing a vital role in biodiversity.”

Birds were always a part of Mr. Maynard’s childhood. As a young person, he took refuge in the woods around his home in Washington state, where, his head nestled in moss, he watched the birds up in the tall trees. He began working with feathers at age 12.

Today, Mr. Maynard carves feathers into intricate art to make their natural beauty more noticeable. His work highlights the patterns and colors of the feathers themselves, inviting the viewer to look and look again. For him, feathers represent flight, transformation and a bridge between our present lives and our dreams. He displays his work in shadow boxes, a signature art form he developed.

Mr. Maynard works with feathers from turkeys, parrots, peacocks and other birds and crafts them into scenes that are displayed in his world-renowned shadow boxes. A conservationist at heart, Mr. Maynard obtains the feathers legally. Many of them are naturally shed, which means that the birds they came from may still be alive today.

His work is included in private collections and featured in publications in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. His 2014 book, “Feathers, Form and Function,” highlights his work and tells stories about what feathers are, what roles they fill for birds and why people find them alluring.

Mr. Tomb received his bachelor of fine arts degree in painting and drawing in 1984 from Cal State Long Beach. Since then, he has maintained studios in Oakland, New York, San Francisco and currently Marin County.

Mr. Tomb has exhibited in more than 100 group exhibitions and nearly 40 solo exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. His most recent solo exhibition, “Rock and Rockfowl,” was on view at the Fresno Art Museum in 2018.

His work, “Monumentally Fragile: Large Scale Work,” is currently in a three-person show at the College of the Desert.

In addition, Mr. Tomb’s work is in many public collections, including the embassies of the United States, Manila, the Philippines and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; art collections of the Consulate General of the United States, Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana; and collections at the fine arts museums of San Francisco, Oakland Museum of California, Huntington Library Art Collections in San Marino, Arkansas Art Center, Crystal Bridges Museum

Life theArts

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2023

‘Bird’s Eye View’

CALENDAR

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/ museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann. com.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence

Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical.org

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

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

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

MARCH 16

5:30 p.m. Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi — Lewis Atterbury Stimson professor and chairman in the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and surgeon-in-chief at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center — will present a public lecture titled “In the Eye of the Storm: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The free talk will take place at the Wolf Education and Training Center, 529 W. Junipero St., adjacent to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. Reservations are required by March 10. To attend, contact J.V. Vallejos at 805-681-7528 or jvallejo@sansumclinic.org.

MARCH 18

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform “John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805-8989386.

MARCH 19

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805898-9386.

— Dave Mason

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

COURTESY IMAGES

Artist Shae Warnick works in the studio. She is among the artists whose works are featured in “Bird’s Eye View: Four Perspectives,” a new exhibit at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang.

CATHERINE MIJS/OUTDOOR CALIFORNIA

At left, Chris Maynard’s “Stop and Drop,” 2022, carved feathers, naturally shed. Center, Chester Wilcox’s card wood decoy, “North American male kestrel” (detail). At right, artist Chris Maynard works in the studio. Birds were always a part of Mr. Maynard’s childhood.

At left, David Toms’ “King Tides and Elusive Rails” (detail), mixed media installation, 2016-2023. At right, David Tomb is seen in his studio. Mr. Tomb has exhibited in more than 100 group exhibitions and nearly 40 solo exhibitions in galleries and museums throughout the U.S

BIRDS

Continued from Page B1

of American Art and Fresno Art Museum, among others.

His art work has also been widely published and reviewed in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Harper’s, Art LTD, Threepenny Review and The San Francisco Chronicle, among others.

Ms. Warnick is an artist and naturalist whose multidisciplinary study combines scientific subjects such as ornithology and botany with printmaking and painting.

In addition to the time she spends in her studio, Ms. Warnick is dedicated to natural history, which has led her to work with museums and research institutions across the country, including the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, Punta Cana Foundation Group in the Dominican Republic and the Lloyd Library and Museum in Cincinnati.

Her recent work examines the increasingly decorative and

FYI

For more information, call the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature at 805-8315, email info@ wildlingmuseum.org or visit www.wildlingmuseum.org/ news/birds-eye-view.

curated role that nature plays in our lives and the importance of balancing science with sentiment, fiction and folklore.

Mr. Wilcox’s fascination with woodcarving began at the age of 8 after winning his first pocket knife in a Boy Scout competition. He quickly took up carving small animals and boats out of any wood he could find, and by 1982, he began focusing his work on carving duck decoys. Today, Mr. Wilcox’s detailed life-like carving includes every kind of bird species, ranging from songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors and more. He is a member of the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association and teaches private decoy and bird carving classes.

Mr. Wilcox’s ultra-realistic bird

Connecting with your partner

Connection isn’t about sex or taking long walks on the beach. It is about knowing that you have your partner’s undivided attention when you are speaking with one another. It also means that you feel each other’s moods and are able to help the person you love move from a negative place to a positive one, just by reminding him or her that you two have a deep heart connection.

touch knees. Hold hands and look into each other’s eyes. Breathe together to increase your connection. Now look at each other deeply and just remember what it is that you love about this person. This is beneficial because it will help you be more appreciative of and take in the little things your partner does and how your partner makes you feel.

your time and allow yourselves to feel the love that is coming to you. Think of it as a spoken love letter. (You can write one as well.)

carvings can take up to several years to create, using a range of tools that include chisels and X-Acto knives, wood-burning instruments and even dental drills. He earned his master’s degree in outdoor education with an emphasis in field research and is an avid lifelong outdoorsman and conservationist.

Sponsors for the Wildling Museum exhibition are the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation, Pete and Becky Adams, Kevin and Terrie Patterson, George and Denise Rose, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and donors to the Patti Jacquemain Exhibition Fund.

“We are excited to share these four artists with our community, and we hope that the exhibition will encourage our guests to better appreciate birds,” said Ms. Otte-Demangate. “They are crucial to ecosystems everywhere and are a constant reminder of the joys and importance of nature wherever you live.”

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

Creating this behavior is easier than you might think, but it does require that you make time to build and maintain the connection you both desire. With our busy lives and the world spinning at speeds above infinity, remembering to put some time aside to cherish the one you love can be a bit of a challenge. But it is totally worth it. There is a wonderful exercise that can help you both develop a deeper connection. I have used this with hundreds of couples, and though at first it can make you feel a little squirmy, it is very heartwarming and inspirational. Step 1: Begin by sitting where you can face each other and

Step 2: Take your time to absorb what you are feeling, and don’t be surprised if a few tears come to your eyes or if you feel a little anxious. It’s all part of the process. You may experience feeling several different emotions simultaneously.

This is perfectly normal and will let you know the areas you need to talk about. Give yourselves a moment or two to absorb your thoughts and feelings.

Step 3: Share what you love about your partner and have him or her share what it is that he or she loves about you. Just that little moment and those few words can make the two of you feel reconnected and make your relationship feel whole again.

Again, this isn’t a race. Take

I recommend that couples do this exercise every day for a few weeks to ensure the connection and deepen their love for one another. Couples who have a strong connection can handle most of what life throws at them because they know they are facing their problems together, and this is deeply affirming. A strong connection will give you greater strength, and your ability to deal with any issue will also increase. The behavior of connection is something that, once you create it and get used to it, will come naturally. It also becomes something you look forward to and will miss if it stops, so once you get the process started, it’s important to continue the pattern.

Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., is an award-winning psychotherapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of eight books and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com with more than 34 million readers. He is available for video consults worldwide. Reach him at barton@bartongoldsmith.com. His column appears Saturdays and Mondays in the News-Press.

Westmont College to install new dean of faculty on March 31

By SCOTT CRAIG WESTMONT COLLEGE

Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu will be officially installed as provost and dean of the faculty at Westmont College on March 31 from 10:30-11:20 a.m. in Murchison Gym. The event at the Montecito college, 955 La Paz Road, is free and open to the public. Please RSVP at westmont.tfaforms. net/4652639.

“We look forward to coming together as a community to thank God for his faithfulness and celebrate Kim on this special occasion,” said President Gayle D. Beebe.

The ceremony, featuring faculty in full regalia, will include comments by Albert Tate, founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Church in Los Angeles County and the author of the book “How We Love Matters: A Call to Practice Relentless Racial Reconciliation.”

Dr. Denu, who grew up in South Los Angeles, became the college’s new provost in August after 25

years of executive leadership experience in Christian higher education. An ordained minister, she previously served as interim director at the District Church in Washington, D.C.

Previously, Dr. Denu worked as vice president for educational programs for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (2019–2021), overseeing study abroad, programming, interfaith work, leadership development, planning for academic conferences, specific grants, budgets and support services for chief academic officers.

She spent much of her career, 1997–2018, at Azusa Pacific University, most recently as vice president and chief diversity officer. She served as special adviser to the president and provost, vice provost for undergraduate programs/special assistant to the president, vice provost for faculty support and special assistant to the president, associate provost, faculty moderator and director of the

senate and a faculty member in the sociology department (1997–2008), advancing to the rank of full professor.

A two-time Fulbright scholar, she has conducted research projects in South Africa (2002) and Ethiopia, (2018–2019; her husband’s native country). She has published on topics such as African-American issues, women and family matters, leadership, welfare reform and international relations. She speaks on these subjects at various national and international forums and conferences.

In addition to serving on local and national committees and boards, Dr. Denu has taught undergraduate and graduate students on five continents. As a professor and a scholar, she seeks to model a life of service outside the academy.

Denu earned a doctor of philosophy in sociology at the University of Florida, a master’s in social work from Temple University and a bachelor’s in sociology at Vanguard University.

COURTESY PHOTO

Chester Wilcox poses for a photo in his studio. Mr. Wilcox’s fascination with woodcarving began at the age of 8 after winning his first pocket knife in a Boy Scout competition.

Thought for Today

— John Naisbitt

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com

Monday, March 6, 2023

Aries: Increased intuition, imagination, and spiritual insight could inspire you to either undertake a course of study or move ahead with related creative projects, Aries. You might be very pleasantly surprised at what you learn or produce, and so be motivated to continue with whatever you’re doing.

Taurus: Recent new ideas, insights, and visions could motivate you to invite friends with similar interests over today, Taurus. You will want to share your experiences, listen to their stories, and try to make sense of it all.

Gemini: An invitation to a social event in your neighborhood could put you in touch with artistic or spiritually inclined people. There could be some fascinating exchanges, Gemini. The event might continue into the night. No matter how late, no matter how tired you are when you get home, try to get a little exercise to clear your head and quiet your mind.

Cancer: Spiritual insights you received over the past few days could turn your thoughts to serving others. You might have a talent for teaching and choose to share what you’ve learned in this way, Cancer. You should feel especially healthy and energetic, so you may be tempted to plunge ahead. Plan carefully. Even the most admirable of enterprises needs to be faced in a practical frame of mind.

Leo: Romance should pick up speed today, Leo. You could discover that you and a current or potential romantic partner have many spiritual interests in common. You might attend some lectures or workshops on one of these subjects together.

Virgo: You might have intense dreams and visions tonight that could be almost prophetic, Virgo. These premonitions could be personal, but they’re apt to be more worldly, such as political events or something in the life of a celebrity you admire. What you sense should be positive, so there are no warnings involved.

Libra: A lecture given by a

magnetic speaker could excite your imagination and interest you in a new and intriguing field, Libra. You could also learn about some books on the subject that you want to read. This could give you new motivation to pursue some cherished goals that you’ve let slide for a while, perhaps inspiring some writing of your own.

Scorpio: A friend or colleague could introduce you to a way to increase your income by doing what you love most, Scorpio. This may involve the creative arts, healing, or spiritual or metaphysical matters. Although this might take weeks or months of preparation to put into effect, it should be worth the effort.

Sagittarius: Enthusiasm for spiritual and metaphysical studies could have you feeling optimistic about the future. Your physical energy is high, Sagittarius, and this suggests that you want to try yoga, tai chi, or another discipline that combines physical exercise with developing psychic and spiritual faculties.

Capricorn: Today you might want to host a meeting of your metaphysically inclined friends, Capricorn. Discussions could lead to insights that none of you would have come up with alone. Your minds will be going a thousand miles an hour. None of you may ever be the same!

Aquarius: Books or lectures on spiritual or metaphysical matters could inspire you to pursue a subject and perhaps do some writing, Aquarius. Contact with friends or colleagues with similar interests could result in fascinating discussions. You might receive some insights about how to pursue your goals more effectively.

Pisces: A new and previously unacknowledged talent for working in social, humanitarian, or spiritual fields could come to light today, Pisces. This could have you thinking seriously about changing jobs or pursuing an entirely new career. The opportunities are there if you look. If you’re serious about this change, it’s best to pursue it now.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Monday, March 6, 2023

Cy the Cynic says that when we pass middle age, many of us start to hear two voices: One asking “why not?,” the other asking “why bother?”

When I watched today’s deal in a penny game at my club, Cy was declarer at four spades. If West had led his singleton diamond, Cy might have made an easy overtrick, losing to the A-K of hearts; but West started with the king of hearts.

East signaled with the eight, and West continued with the ace. On the third heart, East ruffed with his six of trumps, and the Cynic overruffed with the ten (perhaps asking himself “why not?” in the process).

DOWN ONE

Cy next led the jack of trumps, but West’s king covered. Then West’s 9-8 were worth a trick, and Cy also lost a club. Down one.

Cy asked himself the wrong question. On the third heart, he should have said “why bother?” to overruff when he could instead have pitched his club loser. Cy can win East’s club return, pick up the trumps with finesses against West’s king and claim the rest. DAILY QUESTION

You

Both sides vulnerable. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your partner

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday through Saturday.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

overcalls one heart, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Knowing your partner’s tendencies would help, but most players will have a decent or better hand to insert a non-spaceconsuming overcall, vulnerable. Game is possible. Cue-bid two diamonds to show a good hand with heart support and game interest.

West dealer

E-W vulnerable

“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge.”

Reparations Task Force hears from speakers who focus on Native Americans

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - “The American Indian is the one who deserves reparation in this country,” Task Force members heard from one woman among several who brought up Native Americans.

The California Reparations Task Force met on Mar. 3 to report and discuss the progress in developing a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the governor for future legislative action on reparations.

The Task Force formed as a result of AB3121 which was enacted on Sep. 30 2020 and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Its role is to study and develop reparation proposals for African American descendants of enslaved people. It holds periodic meetings open to the public. The California Justice department works with CRTF to facilitate consultation with experts on California’s history and reparations.

At the meeting, members of the public raised concerns about who should get reparations, the groups that should be the first to receive them, and the question of lineage.

During the one hour public comment period which came at the top of the meeting, it became apparent that eligibility for reparations was a concern for some attendees.

Mark Johnson, a remote attendee, spoke about California’s first slaves.

“I would like to mention that slaves were brought to California during the gold rush by Confederate sympathizers,” Mr. Johnson said. “California was on the verge of splitting into Confederate and Union camps. The only slaves that were in California were brought here by Confederates.”

California joined the Union in 1850 as a “free state.”

“California never had a state statute saying that slavery is permissible. On this note, I would like to say that I don’t believe a single person deserves restitution in any form unless they are a Native American … nobody gets a dollar until the Indians get one,” he concluded.

Although the state’s constitution outlawed slavery in 1849 declaring “neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this state,” slaves that were brought into the state continued under a slavery system.

Claudia Fitzgerald echoed Mr. Johnson’s opinion that the Native Americans should be the first consideration for reparations. She was also concerned about the possibility of fraud.

“Why is the state of California doing this? This should be a Federal thing. Just like they did with the Japanese internment.

The American Indian is the one who deserves reparation in this country, the most of anyone of us, but besides that listening to all the stuff that they want to do for reparations, tax rebates or whatever, it’s now terrible, complicated and its typical California, is open to massive fraud right from the get-go,” she said. “If you’re gonna do it, it should be direct lineage to those slaves that were brought in here and not just someone who moved from another country in 1985. I just think that’s wrong….I don’t know why California is doing this. It should be a Federal issue.”

Defining lineage and whose lineage was important as well.

Rachiel Plunket with commented, “Please know that I support lineage-based plans specific to the descendant community, not universal or racebased plans.”

One of the recommendations given by the Task Force in its interim report was the establishment of The California African American Freedmen Affairs Agency, which among other things would be tasked with forming a genealogical department to conduct genealogical research to confirm eligibility of potential claimants.

“I support federal reparations.

I also ask again to get the interim report into California libraries, high schools, college campuses, senior citizens centers etc. There’s a lot of education in that report and it will answer a lot of questions before people even present them,” Ms. Plunket said.

Another remote attendee suggested starting with what was already known.

I strongly propose a “first round of reparations to the ancestors of black veterans, many of whom are denied benefits of the GI bill, specifically housing loans and educational stipends. I also urge a round of reparations to the black patriots who aided our cause of the American Revolution by assisting through military service, clothing repair, feeding and financial and medical aid of troops,” she stated.

“We have the databases that identify these Americans. The US government has the data base for the GIs and The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution has established a significant database of black patriots and their lineage. Let’s start with these clear list of Americans who were denied their rights.”

The California Reparation Task Force is scheduled to give its final recommendations in June. Eligibility remains one of the key questions to be addressed. Will it be lineage based for all enslaved African Americans or only those with a history of being domiciled in California? The work of figuring out who will be eligible continues.

Lawmakers demand Biden declassify COVID origins investigations

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) –

Lawmakers are demanding that President Joe Biden declassify documents related to the origins of COVID-19, in particular federal investigations into the matter.

The Senate passed a bill by unanimous consent that would require Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to declassify documents related to COVID’s origins.

Republicans have a majority in the House, giving the legislation a chance, but whether President Biden would sign it is in doubt.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked directly about the bill at a press briefing, but she wouldn’t answer, saying she would not “get ahead of the President.”

“It shouldn’t take an act of Congress to force the administration to help uncover the truth around one of the most important public health questions of our time,” U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy Rodgers, RWash., Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Morgan Griffith, R-VA., Subcommittee on Health Chair Brett Guthrie, RKy., and Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Chair Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., said in a joint statement.

The call for transparency comes after news broke that the White House and key lawmakers received classified briefings saying that the Department of

Energy concluded that COVID19 likely originated in the Wuhan virology lab. That news only fueled the calls for more information.

“Biden officials are dragging their feet and have not done it,” the aforementioned Republican lawmakers said in a statement.

“That is unacceptable. The American people deserve full transparency regarding what our government knows about how this pandemic started, how taxpayer dollars may have been spent on risky research, and if labs performing such research are upholding the highest standards of safety. We will not stop our investigation until the truth is revealed.”

After the Energy Department’s briefing, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the FBI also publicly confirmed the same findings.

“[FBI] Director Wray confirmed that the Bureau has assessed that the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic likely originated from a lab incident in Wuhan, China,” the agency said in a statement.

House Republicans have also vowed to investigate whether American taxpayer dollars may have played a role since the lab has received federal funding.

The renewed controversy over COVID origins come after Republicans and some in the media were mocked during the pandemic for asserting the virus could have come from the Wuhan lab, as The Center Square previously reported.