Santa Barbara News-Press: March 27, 2023

Off and running

Westmont track team excels at Westmont Classic - A3

Santa Barbara version of Monopoly

Makers of iconic board game are interested in your suggestions - B1

Two dead in railroad car smuggling event

17 almost suffocate after illegally entering the U.S. in Uvalde, Texas

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — At least two people are dead and 17 nearly suffocated after they illegally entered the U.S. and hid inside a railroad car to be smuggled into the U.S.

On Friday, the Uvalde Police Department issued a statement saying its office had received a 9-1-1 call from an anonymous caller stating there were numerous illegal foreign nationals “suffocating” inside of a train car.

U.S. Border Patrol agents were informed of the call and stopped the train roughly two to three miles east of Knippa, Texas, in Uvalde County.

‘Beautify Goleta’

Nearly 50 volunteers pick up more than 250 pounds of trash

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The community showed up Saturday to “Beautify Goleta.”

The city of Goleta hosts several of these cleanup events each year, and Saturday’s event brought out volunteers to clean up the city.

Each event spotlights a different neighborhood in Goleta, and the numbers show the results. In 2022, there were 366 volunteers, 4,872 pounds of trash picked up, and 23,010 pounds of bulky items collected.

“Today we ended up with 48 volunteers who collected over 250 pounds of trash,” Dan Rowell, environmental services specialist for the public works department of the city of Goleta, told the News-

Press. “Our bulky item collection ended up with 14 vehicle drop-offs. It was a good turnout at each each site.”

On Saturday, the spotlight was turned onto Hollister Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods in Old Town Goleta. Residents had access to a free bulky item drop off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community West Bank parking lot.

The parking lot also served as the meeting place for the community cleanup from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and it was open to anyone who wanted to come help pick-up litter.

Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County (aka Habitat Santa Barbara) hosted the spotlight location in Old Town. The other locations for

this event were Evergreen Acres Park with event captain Susan Klein-Rothschild and Jonny D. Wallis Neighborhood Park with event captain Jerry Lucera from Waypoint Church

The Goleta Rotary Club also partnered with the city to support this event.

“Habitat Santa Barbara partners with the city of Goleta throughout the year to identify areas where home repair projects are needed and work together to identify homeowners in need of ‘A Brush With Kindness.’ an exterior maintenance and beautification program. When the city asked if we wanted to partner with them for the event, we were happy to take a leadership role in recruiting volunteers and providing staff

leadership,” Susan Renehan, director of philanthropy and external affairs for Habitat Santa Barbara, told the News-Press.

Mr. Rowell saw Saturday’s cleanup as successful.

“We were able to support and inspire people in Goleta to get out and take ownership over the environment in Goleta. The trash would have otherwise polluted creeks, waterways and the ocean environment. We are getting people inspired and preventing pollution from getting into the natural environment and waterways,” said Mr. Rowell. “The atmosphere is energetic and positive; it’s a great way to start the weekend by getting up early.

Please see CLEANUP on A2

a family member or one of the migrants who were locked in the shipping container.”

“There were more people than we had ambulances (currently) available in Uvalde,” he added.

“We called them in from everywhere – Kerrville, San Antonio, Hondo and locally in Uvalde.”

Union Pacific railroad and Department of Homeland Security are investigating the incident.

See related stories on A4.

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed 17 people were hiding inside a rail car including 15 men and two women. Two men were pronounced dead when agents arrived.

Officers closed part of Highway 90 between Knippa and Sabinal to allow helicopters to land, which brought EMTs to treat severely dehydrated survivors. Four were taken to area hospitals.

Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin told Texas Public Radio that the train had been sitting on the tracks for about three hours. He said, “9-1-1 got a call – don’t know if it was from

This isn’t the first time foreign nationals have been found hiding inside of train cars to be smuggled into the U.S. It’s a common practice – Border Patrol agents are regularly positioned along the railroad tracks that run parallel to Highway 90, The Center Square has observed. The tracks pass through multiple counties along the border. With the national news increasingly reporting on smuggling events, this incident received greater publicity than previous apprehensions involving rail cars.

Border Patrol agents and sheriff’s deputies regularly apprehend human smugglers in the southwest border counties of Uvalde, Kinney and Val Verde.

Smugglers use railroad cars to transport people. “Coyotes” follow train tracks, pipelines and power lines as they bring

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Pearl Chase Society announces de Forest series

Speakers to discuss subjects close to the heart of Santa Barbara researcher and preservationist

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Pearl Chase Society will kick off the Kellam de Forest Speaker Series April 14 in honor of its founding member who did a lot to further the cause of historic preservation and community action in Santa Barbara.

He also did much for “Star Trek.” He was a researcher and technical adviser for the original series in the 1960s.

After his passing, the society said, it received many generous donations in his name. After careful consideration, the board decided the creation of an ongoing series would provide the community with great educational and inspirational benefit — something the society said Mr. de Forest would have embraced with his characteristic enthusiasm.

This free series is scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m. on the second Friday of each month beginning April 14 at the Carrillo Recreation Center, 100 East Carrillo St. Refreshments will be served afterward.

This series is being

spearheaded by Claudi Schou, who joined the board of directors about three months ago.

“They are a dynamic group of individuals passionate about preserving Santa Barbara historic architecture. Coming from Long Beach and having lived in a neighborhood of craftsmen that had pride in architecture, it was nice to come to this town and see a similar pride,” said Ms. Schou concerning the Pearl Chase Society.

“My interest was to help spearhead this speaker series, having hosted other lectures on local history in the last year,” Ms. Schou said. “It is an honor to have this opportunity to be asked to organize a speaker series on behalf of someone who was so greatly admired for his preservation work.

“If Kellam were around, I would want his approval.”

The committee for the speaker series includes Claudia Schou, Dennis Whelan, Cheri Rae and Steven Dowty.

“When planning the speaker

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KENNETH SONG/ NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Former Goleta councilmember Roger Aceves (left) and Paul Clayton — wearing a yellow vest to represent the Rotary Club of Goleta — search and collect litter on Gaviota Street in Old Town Goleta. Mr. Aceves launched the first Beautify Goleta event as the founder in 2016 while he was in the Goleta City Council.

At left, volunteers pick up litter along Carson Street in Old Town Goleta. At right, Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County Community Engagement Coordinator Amanda Cobb (left) uses a map to guide incoming volunteers to specific zones in Goleta that need cleaning.

CLEANUP

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“We usually have coffee and we give away T-shirts and water bottles. Everyone works really hard for those two hours.”

Roger Aceves, longtime city council member who was unseated during the November election, founded Beautify Goleta in 2016

“He goes to pretty much all of them and he’s always out there picking up trash and pulling weeds. When Roger started this, we were only doing bulky item drop-off, and volunteer clean-up events were added last year,” said Mr. Rowell.

Mr. Aceves talked to the NewsPress about Beautify Goleta.

“I founded the event years ago when it started as a small venture

SMUGGLING

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groups of foreign nationals north to bypass law enforcement and Border Patrol checkpoints.

Those being smuggled are considered gotaways by Border Patrol agents and law enforcement. They don’t enter at ports of entry making asylum or other immigration-related claims. They intentionally seek to evade capture by law enforcement after they’ve entered the country illegally between ports of entry.

They’re given burner phones with GPS and map apps to know where to go on pre-planned routes near county roads, Highway 90 and I-10, law enforcement officers have explained. Cartel and gang

SERIES

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topics, we are thinking of topics close to Kellam’s heart and in line with Pearl Chase Society desire to share our love of preservation with community, the history of preservation and the future preservation effort,” said Ms. Schou.

On April 14, the series will begin with Rick Closson with a presentation about the life and times of Mr. de Forest, known in Hollywood for his accomplishments in the film

Deadly shooting in Orcut

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting outside an Orcutt market on Saturday night and discovered the body of a Santa Maria man, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said.

During the initial investigation, deputies discovered an off-duty Santa Maria Police Department police officer was on scene and involved in the shooting. No suspects are outstanding. The

in Old Town. Now the staff has built the program up so we are recycling tons of material that would normally end up in the landfill,” Mr. Aceves said. “A lot of it will be recycled and repurposed. It’s a great program.”

Noted Mr. Rowelll, “The next ‘Beautify Goleta” day is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, and will be highlighting Earth Day in Stow Grove Park. We are actively looking for business partners and organizations to become ‘Beautify Goleta’ captains. It is a great way for businesses to get their name out in community,” said Mr. Rowell. If interested, you can email environmentalservices@ cityofgoleta.org. For more information, see cityofgoleta.org.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

operatives use social media to advertise and solicit drivers from major cities in Texas and other states to drive to certain locations along the border to transport illegal foreign nationals north. Depending on the amount being paid per person, drivers can make several thousand dollars a carload. If caught, the smugglers face being charged with multiple felony counts of human smuggling and several years in prison.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a tweet thanked Border Patrol agents and HSI agents who responded to the incident. He also said DHS would “work with the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office to hold those responsible. Smugglers are callous and only care about making a profit.”

industry/

On May 12, Cheri Rae will present a view of the historical importance of the Carrillo Recreation Center, and the social work done there by Pearl Chase, Margaret Baylor and other women who held community values Mr. de Forest supported in his preservation work.

On June 9, Douglas Woods, author of “California Casa” a beautifully photographed volume, will speak on Spanish Colonial Revival style, which was Mr. de Forest’s favorite architectural style. Mr. Woods’ new book focuses on examples of the style in Santa

But the National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents, has blamed Secretary Mayorkas and Biden administration policies for creating the cartel-driven smuggling crisis at the border. Days before the railroad incident, the NBPC tweeted, “Biden’s border remains the most out-of-control, lawless disaster zone it’s ever been. Yet radical leftists still defend him as he routinely torpedoes one alltime record after another. Why? Because they love this complete dismantling of the rule of law. It’s a win for them.”

Human smuggling is a daily occurrence in Texas stemming from the southern border. Texas law enforcement officers have apprehended nearly 360,000

Barbara.

The series includes seven lectures, and the final lecture will take place on Nov. 10. November is also the birthday month of Pearl Chase.

“We will present speakers who will address topics close to Kellam’s heart, causes he would have supported, the history of Santa Barbara, and the individuals who established Santa Barbara as a uniquely beautiful and culturally rich community,” said Cheri Rae, a Pearl Chase Society Board member.

“We are trying to create an

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

Sheriff’s Office is conducting the criminal investigation.

The Coroner’s Bureau confirmed the identification of the man who was fatally shot as 19-year-old Manuel Reyes Rios. Further investigation is being conducted to determine his cause and manner of death.

The identity of the Santa Maria Police Department police officer will be released at a later date.

The deputies responded at approximately 8:01 p.m. to the shooting outside Melody Market, 130 E. Foster Road in Orcutt. Anyone with information to assist investigators is asked to

contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division by calling (805) 681-4150. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can provide information by calling our tipline at (805) 681-4171 or SBSheriff.org.

— Neil Hartstein

Fatal heart attack on casino bus

An 82-year-old woman died Sunday morning on a casino transportation bus traveling

Colorful aligators

illegal foreign nationals and made over 26,000 criminal arrests, with more than 23,000 felony charges reported since Gov. Greg Abbott launched the state’s border security mission through Operation Lone Star in March 2021. OLS officers have also seized more than 373 million lethal doses of fentanyl, more than enough to kill everyone in the United States.

“Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border,” Gov. Greg Abbott has said. “Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President (Joe) Biden’s open border policies.”

opportunity for the community to come together and discuss the preservation efforts that have maintained the charm of Santa Barbara through architecture,” said Ms. Schou.

To reserve a seat, call 805-4037053. Seating is limited.

The Pearl Chase Society is an all volunteer, not-forprofit conservancy dedicated to preserving Santa Barbara’s historic architecture, landscapes and cultural heritage. For more information see. pearlchasesociety.org.

email: kzehdner@newspress.com

on Highway 154 near the Lake Cachuma entrance, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said. The unidentified woman died as a result of cardiac arrest, officials said. She was removed from the bus bathroom by the Santa Barbara County Parks Department prior to the arrival of county fire department paramedics. Despite roadside resuscitation efforts, the patient was pronounced deceased at the scene.

— Neil Hartstein

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Volunteers pick up litter along Pine Avenue in Old Town Goleta.

Warriors secures nationals berth at Westmont Classic

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

The Westmont men’s and women’s track and field athletes continued their trek through the outdoor season on Saturday, when they hosted the annual Westmont Classic.

Once again, select Warriors made headlines as the squad continued to punch tickets to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

The headline of the day came in the men’s 4x800 relay, when Westmont’s squad edged out The Master’s by one-hundredth of a second to win the race. While TMU’s relay team posted a time of 7:41.81, Westmont’s squad crossed the finish line in 7:41.80.

Ben Bodine, Andres Leon, Jack Vanden Heuvel and Adam King not only edged out their rivals, but the men also posted an NAIA A-Standard mark in the event. This means that in late

May the All-Americans travel to Marian, Indiana to compete in Outdoor Nationals, where they’ll look to add to their collection of hardware.

The 4x800 was the only group of Warriors during the classic to post an A or B standard during the meet, but multiple other Warriors still finished ahead of the competition.

In the men’s 100 meter dash, Narindra Rafidimalala continued to make his presence felt when he posted the best time out of 16 competitors. Rafidimalala’s time of 11.04 was the best mark in the event, and less than half a half-second off of the NAIA B-Standard mark (10.60).

On the women’s side of the 100 meter dash, Charlotte Williams finished second out of 26 competitors, posting a time of 12.74 in the race. The NAIA B-Standard in the event is 12.00.

Vanden Heuvel finished second in an individual race of his own,

posting a time of 50.53 in the men’s 400 meter dash. The B-Standard in the 400 is 48.80.

In the women’s 4x100 relay

McKenna Phillips, Jaiden Rodrigues, Oliva Clark, and Williams ran a meet-best 49.64, which was less than two seconds shy of the NAIA B-Standard (48.00). On the field side of things, Westmont’s Britain Polk posted the second-best mark of the women’s high jump with a leap of 1.45m. The B-Standard in the event is 1.65m.

Next up on the schedule for Westmont is the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, which will take place in Claremont on April 8. Looking forward, the Warriors will host their final GSAC Championships on April 27 and 28 at Westmont College.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Pole vaulters leap into UCSB record books

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB track and Field teams were back in action after taking a weekend off from meets as the Gauchos went across town Saturday to Westmont College for the Westmont Classic.

After a day’s worth of competition, the pole vaulters had some of the best performances as Saturday’s marks at the Montecito college put two Gauchos in the record books.

Melodie Quiroz brought home the win today, coming out on top in the pole vault. She hit a mark of 3.80 meters to put herself in fourth in the UCSB record books in this event.

Joining her on the men’s side was Eitan Goore, who finished second in the pole vault. His time on Westmont’s campus was topped

with a mark of 5.00 meters, the seventh-best height in UC Santa Barbara history. The Gauchos’ success didn’t end with the pole vault.

The freshmen shined for the Gauchos with Dario Rock, Madeleine Conte and Finn Andrews showing up strong. All three of these new Gauchos won their events while having some of their strongest showings since coming to Santa Barbara.

Along with those great performances, the men’s team swept the top three spots in the 200 and 800 while securing the top five spots in the discus. The women, on the other hand, swept two events, taking the top four spots in both 1500 and 400 hurdles.

Here are all of the Gauchos who won their events Saturday: Brendon Fong: 200M; Finn

Andrews: 400M; Advait Krishnan: 800M; Aamir Rehman: 5000M; Dario Rock: 110M hurdles; Tyler Holl: 400M hurdles; Andy Buttrell: shot put; Jared Freeman: discus, hammer; Sophia Pardo: 100M, 200M; Lauren Lum: 1500M; Madeleine Conte: 400M Hurdles; Emma Barthel: long jump; Kennedy Johnson: triple jump; Amanda Spear: discus, hammer.

The Gauchos will send their athletes to two meets next weekend as a part of the team heads to Palo Alto for the Stanford Invitational while a second group heads to the San Francisco State Invitational. Both events will take place on Friday and Saturday.

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

CSUN ends UCSB’s winning streak in baseball

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS WRITER

The UCSB baseball (16-4, 4-1 Big West) had climbed all the way out of a 3-0 hole and was three outs away from their 12th straight win, only for CSUN (13-5, 3-2 Big West) to score four runs in the ninth inning and take Saturday’s game, 7-4.

Seven of the game’s 11 total runs were scored after the seventh inning stretch.

Matt Ager worked his fifth quality start of the season Saturday evening, pitching seven innings for the Gauchos, and he was essentially perfect in six of them. The sophomore started hot, striking out the first two Matadors he faced, and retiring the first six in a row.

It was just the third inning that caused Ager problems, as CSUN started the frame with a double, a single, and a double to score a pair of runs before recording an out, then tacked on another run with a one-out single. But from there, Ager was right back in control, picking off the runner at first, then getting out the next ten 10 batters he faced. That stretch included a pair of punchouts in the fourth and a nifty, betweenthe-legs play to end the fifth. He only allowed one more hit, a lead-

off single in the seventh, before his day was done.

Ager finished his evening in line for the win, as the Gaucho offense had woken up in the fourth, then rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the seventh. After being held hitless through three innings, Zander Darby led off the fourth with a single through the left side, and LeTrey McCollum drove him home later in the frame, cutting the Matador lead to two.

UCSB recorded a hit in each of the next three innings, finally on the board again in the seventh.

Nick Oakley started the inning by getting hit by a pitch, then Christian Kirtley drew a one-out walk as a pinch hitter, putting a runner in scoring position for Ivan Brethowr. The sophomore outfielder poked a single through the right side, scoring Oakley and sparking a hit parade. Darby singled to left to tie the game, then Aaron Parker gave the Gauchos the lead with a looping single to center field.

Carter Benbrook relieved Ager to start the eighth, giving up nothing more than a bunt single before returning for the ninth inning. Disaster struck almost immediately, as Benbrook gave up a lead-off double, then a bloop single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. The lefty

was lifted for Sam Whiting, but things did not get better. Whiting’s outing went: RBI single, sacrifice bunt, strikeout swinging for out number two, intentional walk which loaded the bases, two-RBI single, RBI single before UCSB was finally out of the inning, trailing 7-4.

The Gauchos got the leadoff man on to start the ninth, but could not muster a rally.

Matt Ager remains a workhorse for the Gauchos, still leading The Big West in innings pitched (38). He worked seven on Saturday night, allowing three earned runs on five hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.

With his RBI single in the fourth inning, LeTrey McCollum extended his hitting streak to seven games; he is batting .478 in that stretch.

Ivan Brethowr owns the longest hitting streak on the team, recording at least one in each of his last eight games.

• Justin Trimble played the final two innings at shortstop on Saturday after Corey Nunez was pinch-hit for in the seventh. He is the first Gaucho other than Nunez to play the position this season

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Winning streak continues for Westmont baseball team

By RON SMITH WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

The Westmont baseball team (25-5) has extended its winning streak to 15 games by taking both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday at Russ Carr Field at the Montecito campus.

The Warriors, ranked 12th in the NAIA, defeated Bethesda (11-15) by scores of 11-1 and 9-5 to complete a four-game sweep of the

Flames. The sweep is the fourth in a row for the Warriors and the fifth this season.

In the first game, Westmont pounded out 19 hits behind starting pitcher Chase Goddard, who improved his record to 6-1. In seven innings of work, Goddard gave up one run on eight hits, struck out three and walked one. Zac Bridger pitched the eighth and struck out the side for the

Warriors. Demetri Perry closed out the game in the ninth without surrendering a hit or a run. Westmont took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Finn Snyder singled to score Trey Dunn from second. Dunn had reached on an infield single to start the inning. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth when Bethesda scored a single run. With runners

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Abbott encourages Border Patrol agents despite president ‘disrespecting’ their service

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday night thanked U.S. Border Patrol agents for their service and encouraged them despite the president

“disrespecting” them, he said.

Gov. Abbott thanked them “for the magnitude and danger of their service” to secure the border at a National Border Patrol Council event in Houston.

He said he was “speaking for millions of Texans who I hear from all the time who are so grateful for what you do on a daily basis, on the front lines, protecting and securing our border … in an area the president treats like some frontier outpost, completely ignoring the growing dangers that are surfacing on a daily basis.”

And they’re doing their jobs

“in the face of a president who’s being pitiful in his approach to enforcing the immigration laws that are already on the books,” Gov. Abbott said. Worse still, he added, was “how bad he (the president) disrespects you and your service. Look at the way he treats you. Look at the way he almost dismisses you, disregards you.”

Gov. Abbott referred to Border Patrol agents on horseback being

accused by the president and White House officials of whipping Haitians who’d illegally entered the U.S. in Del Rio, Texas, in September 2021, when they were using horse reins to steer the horses away from trampling on them as they tried to evade capture. “Every entity that had a responsibility to clear them did clear them,” Gov. Abbott said. However, “as of today, President Biden still has not said that these border patrol agents did nothing wrong.

“That is disgusting. It’s disgusting they would even be accused of doing anything wrong,” he added. “But if you accuse somebody of something wrongfully, you should apologize and say, ‘I was wrong. You’re cleared.’ That’s what the president of the United States thinks about the men and women who serve this country on the border.”

He also said, “I want you to know that regardless of what state you’re from, you’re in a state that appreciates you and what you do. As long as you’re in Texas, you have a governor who has your back.” His remarks were interrupted by a standing ovation. The governor also addressed the violence of cartels and fentanyl pouring through the border. He

said if the president “wanted to save lives, he’d stop the fentanyl from coming across the border in the first place. And he would do that by more strongly empowering our border patrol agents and provide more border patrol agents to do their jobs.”

With at least 1.6 million apprehensions and gotaways reported this fiscal year, Gov. Abbott said President Biden was failing to protect Americans from those coming from “extraordinarily dangerous countries.”

Referring to the nearly 300 known terrorists apprehended this fiscal year, he said, “Those are the ones that were caught. If you’re on the terrorist watch list, you’re paying a whole lot more money to not be caught,” meaning the threat is far greater because known terrorists have likely illegally entered who haven’t been caught.

“Who do we have in our country from these terroristbased countries and what are their intentions and what are they doing?” he asked. “No one knows,” and the president “is doing nothing about it,” he said. “There needs to be a sense of urgency to stop the danger that’s being posed to our country.”

He also addressed the fact that Border Patrol agents weren’t being

given the resources they needed to do their jobs and were “being forced to do a job you should not have to be doing because the laws are not being enforced,” referring to processing and releasing illegal foreign nationals into the country.

He added that Texas would continue to work with them and “shoulder the responsibility … with you.”

He also gave them a word of encouragement knowing many agents are demoralized by Biden administration policies and a record number committed suicide last year.

He shared his experience of becoming paralyzed when he was 26 years old. A massive oak tree fell on him when he was jogging and crushed his spine. He’d never walk again.

“Somebody in a situation like that could feel helpless, angry, give up, quit, stay in bed, depend upon the government,” he said. “That is a complete alteration of a person’s life. But I decided I will not let this challenge define who I am. Instead I will use my life in a way that I will respond to this challenge.”

“We are defined by how we respond to challenges,” he added, noting that he’d go on to become the longest serving attorney general, and later, the governor of Texas.

Operation Lone Star: More than 30,000 foreign nationals turned back to Mexico

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Texas

law enforcement officers working through Operation Lone Star have turned back more than 30,000 foreign nationals to Mexico as of March 24.

Since March 2021, officers have apprehended over 359,000 illegal foreign nationals and made over 26,000 criminal arrests, with more than 23,000 felony charges reported. They’ve also seized more than 373 million lethal doses of fentanyl, more than enough to kill everyone in the United States.

“Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border,” Gov. Greg

Abbott said. “Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President (Joe) Biden’s open border policies.”

In the first five months of fiscal 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard members have apprehended more than 4,300 Chinese nationals at the southwest border, with over 1,300 reported last month alone.

This represents a 900% increase in Chinese national apprehensions at the southern border over the year.

“Cartels are profiting off the influx by charging Chinese individuals,” Gov. Abbott said,

charging “$35,000 to $50,000 a person to be smuggled into the country.”

He made the announcement after U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas apprehended 90 Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S. in the Rio Grande Valley last Thursday, a record.

Rio Grande Valley Sector

Chief Gloria Chavez said it was the greatest number of Chinese apprehended in a single day by RGV agents since 2010, bringing the total number of Chinese nationals apprehended in the sector this fiscal year to date to 1,667.

The RGV Sector in Texas leads the U.S. in Chinese apprehensions with 91% of those apprehended being single adults. Apprehensions so far this fiscal year are also a

930% increase compared to the same time frame last year, Ms. Chavez said.

OLS law enforcement officers continue to apprehend human smugglers.

In Kinney County, during a high-speed pursuit, Texas DPS eventually apprehended a human smuggler from Dallas. Once the pursuit ended with the driver pulling the truck over to the side of the road, the driver and five illegal foreign nationals hiding inside bailed out attempting to evade arrest. They were all caught, law enforcement said.

The driver was charged with evading arrest and smuggling of persons. All five illegal foreign nationals were referred to Border Patrol.

Westmont tennis teams drops a pair in Azusa

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

AZUSA — The Westmont men’s and women’s tennis teams went head-to-head with the NCAA Div. II Azusa Pacific Cougars on Friday, with APU taking both matches against the Warriors.

In the men’s match, Westmont (6-7) was unable to keep up with APU (12-4) from the jump, dropping the doubles point and three consecutive singles matches in a 4-0 final.

In doubles, Leyton Bohren and Miha Velicki bested Logan Thompson and Ethan Ha (6-4) on one, and Elias Emilio Walter and Vili Boney defeated Owen Vander Ark and Benny Saito (6-1) on three.

In singles, the clubs played to clinch, with Marko Nikoliuk defeating Cody Ray Emery on two, Velicki defeating Vander Ark on four, and Boney defeating Saito on six.

“We came out a little bit flat in doubles,” said Westmont head coach Mark Basham. “They had

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on second and third, Ryan Pruett grounded out to second, allowing Aaron Fernandez to score.

The Warriors scored four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take control of the game. After Ryan DeSaegher led off the fourth with a single to left, Bryce McFeely homered to left field, giving the Warriors a 3-1 lead. Two outs later, Shane Hofstadler hit a solo shot over the left-field fence.

The fourth run of the inning was the result of an RBI-single to center by Robbie Haw that scored Snyder from third. Snyder had reached on a single to right and advanced to third on a single to right by Jonah Paez.

In the sixth inning, DeSaegher reached via a lead-off walk, then stole second. Two outs later, DeSaegher was on third when Liam Critchett stepped to the plate.

The Warriors’ first baseman hit a towering blast over the scoreboard in right-center field. The ball cleared the 35-foot protective netting by 10 feet, then

three really powerful doubles teams, and we just didn’t play our best. In singles, Preston Hastings did a great job winning the first set on five, and overall our guys fought really hard to try and get back in each of their seconds.

“Both Logan and Ethan both won their second set, and Cody Ray got stronger in his second set as well. Owen played quite well also, and same with Benny. All in all, it was a good performance, but I would have liked to see us start better. I also would have liked to see Logan, Ethan and Preston finish their matches to see how it might have ended up, but regardless, it was an OK day.”

In the women’s match, the Warriors (2-11) shared a similar fate against the Cougars (14-4), with APU ultimately coming away with a 4-0 victory. In doubles, Eleonora Liga and Madison Kane defeated Liska Knight and Arden Samuels on one (6-1), and Vini Bautista and Miruna Tudor defeated Logan Jacson and Sabina Salva on two (6-0).

In singles, April Wong defeated

landed on the soccer field, 20 feet past the edge of the track.

Next, Hofstadler tripled to right field, then scored on an RBIsingle by Snyder to center. When Paez was hit by a pitch, Snyder advanced to second. Then Haw hit his second RBI-single to center in as many innings.

Westmont added another run in the bottom of the seventh when Justin Rodriguez singled to center to drive in Luke Tillitt from second.

The Warriors’ final run came in the eighth. Paez tripled down the left field line and was replaced by Tim Horsey. Daniel Patterson collected an RBI with a single to center that scored Horsey.

In the second game, the Flames posted four runs in the top of the first to take their first lead of the series. The 4-0 advantage would hold up until the bottom of the fifth when Westmont sent 16 men to the plate for a 30-minute halfinning.

Kaden Tsuji started things off for the Warriors with a leadoff double down the left field line. Jack Fletcher took over as a courtesy runner for Tsuji before Paul Mezurashi was hit by a pitch

Salva on two, Tudor defeated Justie Spitzer on four, and Katia Betancourt defeated Jackson on six.

“Even though it was a disappointing score, I’m not disappointed in how we played,” said Westmont head coach Cade Pierson. “We want to change this tune, but once again, we came in with people out and people sick. This has happened in more matches that it hasn’t, and it’s gotten old.

“We’re believing that this is one of the ways the Lord is growing us and teaching us how to adapt. Hopefully, we can also learn to overcome these circumstances as well.

“As far as tennis goes, APU played better than we did. They’re a solid, polished team, and when they got the momentum they kept. We would have had to play really well in order to compete, and it just wasn’t our day.”

Pierson continued, “Individually, Arden was having a really good singles match. She dropped the first set, but was

to give Westmont runners at first and second.

An infield single by Haw loaded the bases for Michael Soper whose double down the left field line drove in two. DeSaegher grounded out to the right side of the infield to bring home Haw and advance Soper to third. When McFeely was hit by a pitch, the Warriors had runners on the corners with one away.

A passed ball allowed Soper to cross the plate and McFeely to take second, tying the score at four runs each.

After McFeely stole third, Dunn struck out, but reached first safely on a pitch that got away from the catcher. McFeely scored on the play to put the Warriors ahead 5-4.

David Martinez came to the plate and was hit by a pitch, moving Dunn to second. Then with two away, Tsuji, up for the second time in the inning, was walked, loading the bases.

Rodriguez came in to pinch hit and was also walked, earning an RBI and making the score 6-4. That brought up Haw, who tripled to center field, putting the Warriors on top 9-4. Haw went five for eight on the day with five RBIs.

close in the second, Sophia was also competing as well. Kailey Houshmand was also in a good match, probably the closest we had.

“I’m very proud of Kaley, and it was great to see her playing with more confidence, with more movement coming off of her injuries.

“Even in the face of adversity, it was great to see everyone have a great attitude. We’ve had a tough schedule, but our desire and energy to keep growing is there, and there’s enough season ahead to make those improvements. I’m encouraged by the belief our team has that we can play at this level.”

Westmont’s men return to action on Saturday at 11 a.m. with a road match against Concordia Irvine, while Westmont’s women return to play on Tuesday at 1 p.m. when they host Williams.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

Bethesda added an unearned run in the seventh and final inning, but it would not be enough to chase down the Warriors.

Sean Youngerman picked up his first collegiate win. He pitched the fourth and fifth innings – which were scoreless – and allowed just one hit. Youngerman struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Aidan Holly came into the game in the first and pitched two and one-third innings. Holly did not allow a run, gave up two hits and three walks.

Lucien Wechsberg pitched the final two innings for the Warriors, giving up an unearned run, but not a hit. He struck out three and walked none.

Westmont will return to action Friday and Saturday when they host Jessup in a pair of doubleheaders. Games begin at 11 a.m. on both days. Saturday’s game will be followed with a Senior Day celebration, honoring the team’s 15 seniors.

Ron Smith is the sports information director at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

LONG, Elaine Gilbertson

- 3/10/2023

12/16/1937

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

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

A private funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 29, at 10am at the Santa Barbara Cemetery.

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.

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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.

Iconic board game to feature Santa Barbara landmarks

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Residents of Santa Barbara, it’s time to get ready to play Monopoly with a local twist.

The world’s most popular board game is paying homage to the town known for its strong community and Spanishinfluenced architecture.

From today until April 28, fans can voice which locations they would like to see featured on the board via the official Monopoly email at santabarbara@ toptrumps.com.

The local edition will replace iconic properties on the board such as Boardwalk and Park Place with locally beloved destinations known to locals and visitors alike.

Remaining true to the original Monopoly board, the new edition will include Community Chest and Chance playing cards that will be customized to Santa Barbara.

Monopoly is a multiplayer economics-themed board game in which players roll two dice to move around the game board, buying and trading properties and developing them with houses and hotels.

Money can also be gained or lost through Chance and Community Chest cards and tax squares. Players receive a stipend every time they pass Go and can end up in jail, from which they cannot move until they have met one of three conditions. House rules, hundreds of different editions, many spin-offs and related media exist.

“We aim to showcase Santa Barbara in all its glory, displaying all the local favorites and cherished places, from the Old Mission Santa Barbara to La Super-Rica Taqueria, to many other iconic landmarks,” said Jennifer Tripsea, Top Trumps representative. “We want to hear from the community which local favorites they would like to see represented. The edition will be everything they love from the traditional game infused with some of the places they recommend, so please write in!”

Monopoly first hit shelves in 1935 with the race car, thimble, boot, top hat and battleship among the original set of Monopoly tokens while the Scottie dog and wheelbarrow were added in the early 1950s.

Although the brand has evolved over the past 87 years, the game play and iconography of the classic Monopoly game has remained unchanged, making it a timeless classic. Today, it is the world’s favorite family game brand and is played by more than one billion people in 114 countries across the globe.

“Top Trumps USA is a USA division of Winning Moves International. We make an assortment of world-famous educational card and board games,” said Ms. Tripsea. “Top Trumps will now be bringing official versions of completely customized Monopoly for the North American market under license from Hasbro.

“Each community-based Monopoly experience will play homage to all of the favorite locations, icons and businesses, creating a game play that truly embraces what makes each community unique and special.” email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

Life theArts

MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2023

It’s your move

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 805-565-6162 or visit westmont. edu/museum.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Storytelling:

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

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

WOMEN: Surrealist Art by American Women” is on display through April 24 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www.sullivangoss.com. By appointment on weekdays: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” is on view through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays by appointment. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb.org.

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.

MARCH 29

2 and 7 p.m.: Rubicon Theatre of Ventura will perform “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” on Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. Lower-priced preview performances are March 29-31. To purchase tickets, go to rubicontheatre. org.

MARCH 30

5:30 p.m. A lecture will be given about the sculptures of Ed and Nancy Kienholz at at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The talk will be presented by James Glisson, the museum’s curator of Contemporary Art. This will be in conjunction with the exhibition scenes from “Marriage: Ed and Nancy Kienholz.” To purchase, visit tickets. sbma.net.

7 p.m.: Rubicon Theatre of Ventura will perform “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” on Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. Lower-priced preview performances are March 29-31. To purchase tickets, go to rubicontheatre.org.

MARCH 31 7 p.m.: Rubicon Theatre of Ventura will perform “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” on Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. Lower-priced preview performances are March 29-31. To purchase tickets, go to rubicontheatre.org.

APRIL 1 2 and 7 p.m.: Rubicon Theatre of Ventura will perform “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” on Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. To purchase tickets, go to rubicontheatre.org.

APRIL 2 2 p.m.: Rubicon Theatre of Ventura will perform “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” on Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. To purchase tickets, go to rubicontheatre. org.

— Dave Mason

left, a Santa Barbara edition of Monopoly is being developed, and it will feature popular locations. They could include Paseo Nuevo Cinemas. At right, De la Guerra Plaza could become part of the Santa Barbara edition of Monopoly.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Mayor Randy Rowse stands in front of Santa Barbara City Hall, a possible location for the Santa Barbara edition of Monopoly.

A traditional retirement isn’t for everybody

Remember that old expression

“When life hands you lemons, make lemonade?” Well, sometimes life hands you lemonade when you were just fine looking at the lemon tree sitting in your backyard.

When an unexpected opportunity arises, perhaps out of the ashes of some change you’ve made, what do you do?

What if you get a great early retirement offer (you lucky dog, you), and you’re getting set for some leisure time, when suddenly your actual dream job opens up? Do you take it or stay on your relaxation path?

Personally, I have to jump on it and hold on until I can’t ride that pony any longer, but we are all different.

I have some friends who planned very well, have a couple of pensions, and are wondering what to do with all the money they are making in retirement, but they still have very strong ambitions.

What a beautiful problem to have!

One now paints professionally and shows his artwork. Another is a competitive golfer, and both are still in their 50s. I don’t know if this is still possible to do in

our world now, but it’s a great model for those wondering how to create a successful and fulfilling retirement.

In France, the retirement age is 62, and with the economy hurting, President Macron wants to raise that age to 64, which has a lot of people very upset. Now, I understand that having the retirement age suddenly changed by the government could seem harsh. We all know that there is more to life than working, and I know many people who are very, very happy in retirement.

For my part, however, I want to keep working for as long as I can. It’s important to keep busy at something, and for me that something also has to have a value beyond the money attached to it.

I work very hard to make the world a better place – one person, one column, one organization, at a time. I can’t stop putting out these words. This process has become part of my DNA. It makes me feel better than lying on a beach in Maui. Now that’s just me, and yes, I get a little remuneration for my efforts, but mostly it’s knowing that I’m touching so many people’s lives.

Everyone has to find their own balance and way of getting through each stage of life. When you’re very young, you may think about retiring young with millions of dollars. Great if you can get there, but why stop growing just because you have money? It might be better to stay on a path that fulfills you throughout your life.

The French are right; there is more to life than working. There’s contributing, creating and continuing to enrich your mind and share that with others — and of course, you can do this in your retirement years as well.

But I’m not quitting any time soon.

I continue to be grateful for all the feedback I receive from my readership. It inspires me to give the best of myself, to walk my talk and to humbly honor every word I share.

Dr. Barton Goldsmith 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.

Shelters seek homes for pets

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

For more information, go to these websites:

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

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org. ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org. BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement

Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook.com/capaoflompoc. CAPA works regularly with Animal Services-Lompoc.

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

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

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

• Santa Barbara Humane (with

Rubicon Theatre to perform

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

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

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

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

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

— Dave Mason

‘Dark

of the Moon: A New Musical’

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Rubicon Theatre of Ventura is presenting the organization’s 46th mainstage world premiere: a developmental musical production based on “Dark of the Moon” the 1945 Broadway play by Howard Richardson and William Berney.

“Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” opens Saturday and continues through April 16, with low-priced previews Wednesday through Friday. Performances are Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the theater, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. Prices

are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. The new production is adapted and written by television and film writer/producer Jonathan Prince with music and lyrics by songwriters Lindy Robbins, Dave Bassett and Steve Robson.

“Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” follows the main character, John, a witch boy from the Smoky Mountains, who falls in love with Barbara Allen, a mortal girl from the Appalachian town of Buck Creek. John is willing to give up anything to be with Barbara Allen. He makes a deal to become mortal if Barbara and he can stay true to each other for a year.

Lecture to cover Ed and Nancy Kienholz’s art

SANTA BARBARA – A lecture will be given about the sculptures of Ed and Nancy Kienholz at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St.

The talk will be presented by James Glisson, the museum’s curator of Contemporary Art. This will be in conjunction with the exhibition scenes from “Marriage: Ed and Nancy Kienholz.”

Ed Kienholz (1927-1994) and Nancy Reddin Kienholz (19432019) made sculptures consisting of commentary about American

Based on the classic stage play of the same name, this new musical adaptation is a tale of young lovers torn apart by prejudice and fear. According to Rubicon Theatre, it is a “modern melding of ‘Twilight’ and Romeo and Juliet loosely based on a centuries-old ballad.”

“Dark of the Moon: A New Musical” features a score by an award-winning songwriting team with a bluegrass/folk and a rock/ soul sound, to create a poetic and unique juxtaposition. To purchase tickets, visit www. rubicontheatre.org or call 805-6672900.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

life during the 20th century.

According to the museum, these artists showed “the isolation, loneliness, and cruelty that humans inflict on each other, but they also force a recognition of the mountains of stuff springing up around us and the emptiness at the core of a oneand-done consumer society.”

The lecture is free for students and Museum Circle members. It will be $10 for SBMA members and $15 for nonmembers. To purchase, visit tickets.sbma.net.

— Annika Bahnsen

Ventura fundraiser to benefit Local Love Project

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

“Blues, BBQ and Harbor Views,” a fundraiser for the Local Love Project, will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. June 4 at Portside Club House, 1196 Portside Drive in Ventura. Featured will be performances by top blues musicians in Ventura County including Kelly’s Lot and the Bobby Hart Band.

The primary goal of the Local Love Project is to organize members of the community in the aftermath of a disaster within the 805 communities and to provide support to those affected by the disaster.

From wildfire relief and recovery, assisting those financially impacted by the COVID crisis to this year’s winter storm damage, the Local Love Project works to solve the immediate needs of those

impacted by California disasters by providing items necessary to help neighbors to restore their lives.

Tickets for the June 4 benefit are $10 as a suggested donation, which can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com/e/ blues-bbq-and-harbor-viewstickets-5947917964647. For more information, go to totallylocalivc.com.

—- Marilyn McMahon

Cohen to lead Ojai Playwrights Conference

OJAI — The Ojai Playwrights Conference has appointed Jeremy B. Cohen as its new producing artistic director, following a nationwide search to replace Robert Egan.

OPC, known for its support of diverse playwrights tackling political and social issues, will

see Mr. Cohen take the reins following his previous tenure at Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis.

Mr. Cohen has had extensive experience as a playwright, director, and arts leader, having worked at venues including the Guthrie Theater and Steppenwolf

Theater. That experience has left OPC Board President Mark Helm confident that “OPC’s future is in good hands.”

OPC is planning for this summer’s OPC 2023 New Works Festival.

— Caleb Beeghly

COURTESY PHOTO

Ava Delane portrays Barbara Allen, and Jake David Smith plays John the Witch Boy in the world premiere of “Dark of the Moon: A New Musical.” The production will be performed Wednesday through April 16 at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura.

JEFF MCLANE PHOTO Nancy Reddin Kienholz (19432019) created this mixed media assemblage: “Home Sweet Home” (2006). The image © 2023 by the Estate of Nancy Reddin Kienholz. It’s courtesy of L.A. Louver, Venice.

Diversions

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Monday, March 27, 2023

ARIES — Dig out the paints and get your creative energy flowing, Aries. Keep in mind that you might not have the discipline or commitment to finish any project you start today, but you most certainly won’t lack creative energy. Merge your mental and emotional processes and have them work together on a blank canvas.

TAURUS — Today is a terrific day for you, Taurus. You finally seem to have a grasp on your thought processes and inner emotions. You will feel extra sensitive and loving, and people will be drawn to you because of it. You’re able to look at your feelings in a rational, levelheaded manner instead being at the mercy of your wildly fluctuating emotions.

GEMINI — There may be some rough spots today that could be difficult to iron out, Gemini. No matter what you do, you land just a bit short of the mark. Perhaps your indecisiveness is making it too difficult for you to be effective. Your easygoing way of naturally going with the flow is making it easier for other people to manipulate you into doing what they want.

CANCER — Nurture your artistic, romantic side today, Cancer. Your feet may be a little cold, but that’s what you get for splashing around in the rain. Don’t worry about it. Your heart and mind are finally on the same page and it’s much easier to say exactly how you feel. Take off the wet socks and put on a dry pair. Take to the streets and meet up with a fun troupe of merriment tonight.

LEO — Today may be one of those days when you feel all dressed up with nowhere to go. Don’t worry about the details, Leo. Follow your heart to a fantasyland and join the outlandish and bizarre. The answer you seek is around the corner. You may sense that it’s close but yet far. This is completely understandable.

VIRGO — This is a fantastic day, Virgo. Elements of your life seem to be falling into place.

You’re in a period when you’re beginning new cycles of love and mental activity. These beginning points are highlighted. You should think about how you want

to be remembered in the future.

LIBRA — This is one of those days in which you can’t figure out what to order for dinner. You’re the official owner of the cloudy head today, Libra. You’re waiting at the deli counter trying to figure out what you want and when it’s your turn to order, you’ve already forgotten. Your emotions may be so tied up in your brain that you can’t think straight.

SCORPIO — Go to an art museum, Scorpio. Your mind and heart are working in conjunction with each other, and you’re apt to be especially receptive to elements of our world that fuse these two together. Make an evening out of the event, and be sure to take a good friend or romantic partner. Have a good meal, and don’t forget dessert.

SAGITTARIUS — It might seem like your brain and heart are working against you today, Sagittarius. You might sense that they’ve teamed up to keep your head in a swirling maelstrom of confusion that you can’t seem to pull out of. Look beyond the mundane confusion of this day. Connect with your sensitive, receptive side, sit back, and let someone else do the thinking.

CAPRICORN — Your moods are always fluctuating. Today looks like you’re on an up note, Capricorn, so enjoy the caring, sensitive mood of the day. You should find that you can clearly express your emotions on a more intellectual level. At the same time, you’re also able to put more feeling and sensitivity in your otherwise dry intellect. Realize that we are all one.

AQUARIUS — You might find it difficult to connect with others today, Aquarius. Your brain may seem like it’s in some other dimension. Appreciate the power of circular movement in your life. Seek things that are fast paced and a bit bizarre. Go to a roller derby. A simple thing like a coin rolling down the sidewalk may allow you to connect with another way of thinking about your life.

PISCES — Things may be coming to a dramatic climax for you, Pisces. It may seem like everything is working against you. Take note that this is an excellent time to find balance and gain a much greater perspective on the issues in your life. If you’re trying to figure out where your heart and brain are hiding, you should look on the opposite side of the world.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Monday, March 27, 2023

Having canceled five of its 10-day North American Championships in a row due to COVID-19, the ACBL has now staged four straight. The Fall NABC was held in Phoenix in November.

In the Super Senior Pairs for players age 75 and higher, Bruce Ferguson was today’s East. Against South’s four hearts, West, Brenda Keller, led a trump. Declarer drew trumps and next let the jack of diamonds ride.

Suppose East takes the queen and returns a spade. South will play low, win in dummy and lose only to the ace of diamonds, making five. But Ferguson won with the ACE of diamonds and led a spade.

DISCARD

South not unnaturally took the ace and passed the nine of diamonds, hoping for three diamond tricks and a spade discard. Ferguson produced the queen and cashed his king of spades, holding South to 10 tricks.

Ferguson-Keller scored well here — and won the event. I suspect that at many tables, North played at four hearts after a transfer auction and was helped when East led a high club.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: K 9

Q 5 9 8 3. The dealer, at your left, opens one diamond. Your

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

partner doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: This case is close. If the opening bid had been one club, your hand would be worth a gameinvitational jump to two spades; you would have nine working points plus a five-card suit. As it is, your queen of diamonds may be worthless, so a timid “advance” of one spade is reasonable.

North dealer

Both sides vulnerable

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein

PUBLIC

Answers from TikTok CEO rile congressional panel

By VIKTOR SKINNER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina are among those on Capitol Hill leading the charge against TikTok, with both Republican lawmakers on Thursday highlighting ways the app threatens national security. Lawmakers on the House Energy and Commerce Committee grilled TikTok CEO Shou Chew over data security and other issues. Rep. Hudson tweeted, “As Fort Bragg’s congressman, I have serious concerns about the opportunities TikTok gives the CCP to access non-public sensitive data – including location information, emails, photos – from the homes of our men and women in uniform.”

CCP is the acronym for Chinese Communist Party. He also posted video of portions of his exchange with Mr. Chew during a five-hour meeting.

Rep. Hudson described the wildly popular video sharing app as a “massive surveillance program collecting vast swaths of personal data from more than a billion people worldwide” and highlighted how he believes its data collection is threatening national security. “This includes data from personal devices of federal employees, contractors, and most

concerning, U.S. military service members and their families in places like Fort Bragg in North Carolina,” he said. “This personal data and location information can be harvested and could be used for blackmail, to conduct espionage and possibly even to reveal troop movements.”

The hearing followed calls from a growing number of lawmakers who want the Biden administration to impose a federal ban on TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order in January to ban the app on state-owned devices.

Legislation moving through the General Assembly would codify the governor’s move and expand the ban to include state networks and other apps, including the Chinese messaging app WeChat and encrypted messaging service Telegram.

Rep. Hudson suggested in Thursday’s committee hearing that TikTok should be banned from both government devices and personal devices of military members, and expressed concern about TikTok linking to home WiFi networks.

“While the Department of Defense and most agencies have banned TikTok on governmentissued devices, I believe more needs to be done at the command level to urge troops and their

dependents to erase from their personal devices and keep them off home Wi-Fi,” he said. “Having the app banned on a device in one pocket, but downloaded on your device in the other doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

Rep. Hudson pressed MR. Chew on whether TikTok on one device connected to home Wi-Fi can access other devices, but the CEO couldn’t answer the question directly.

“We do not do anything that is beyond any industry norms. I believe the answer to your question is no, but it could be technical. Let me get back to you,” Mr. Chew said.

The elusive response was one of many that frustrated lawmakers from both sides of the aisle demanding answers about how the company manages its user data, and the app’s impact on children.

“You have been one of the few people to unite this committee,” Rep. Toney Cárdenas, D-Calif., told Mr. Chew. “You remind me a lot of Mark Zuckerberg. When he came here, I said to my staff, ‘He reminds me of Fred Astaire – good dancer with words.’ And you are doing the same today. A lot of your answers are a bit nebulous; they’re not yes or no.”

Sen. Tillis, who has co-sponsored two bills to rein in “the Chinabased spyware app,” weighed in on the debate, as well, pointing to members of the North Carolina delegation who promote the app.

“China is one of the biggest geopolitical threats America has ever faced. It’s beyond reckless for members of Congress to still be encouraging their constituents to use TikTok despite knowing the Chinese Communist Party is mining all their personal info,” Sen. Tillis said. “Protecting Americans from the CCP is more important than getting views. I call on all members of Congress to lead by example and stop using it.”

A Tillis release linked to news reports detailing Democratic North Carolina Rep. Jeff Jackson’s TikTok prowess. Rep. Jackson has 1.4 million followers on the platform, where he posts video clips that regularly garner millions of views.

Rep. Jackson has defended his use of TikToK as a means to reach a wider audience, though he contends his posts come from a dedicated personal phone, and not his government-issued or personal devices.

Jackson has said he believes a change in ownership is necessary at TikTok, and would back a ban if that doesn’t happen, echoing a similar ultimatum from the Biden administration.

Other members of Congress generally acknowledged to leverage the app include Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-NY, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-WI, Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT.

Energy Department under scrutiny for potential waste, fraud

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — The U.S. Department of Energy received billions of taxpayer dollars via a string of major federal spending bills, but now lawmakers are raising concerns about waste, fraud and abuse.

A watchdog report of the agency found “risks of insufficient federal staffing, potential conflicts of interest, recipient fraud, and inadequate internal controls, among others” that led to this waste in the Inflation Reduction Act and other legislation.

House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathay McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., announced a subcommittee hearing this week

to look more into the issue.

House Oversight Republicans are interested as well. Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and subcommittee chair Pat Fallon, R-Texas, announced an investigation into the DOE. They sent a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm calling for transparency and accountability in the form of documentation.

“According to a DOE Office of Inspector General (OIG) report detailing DOE’s management challenges for Fiscal Year 2023, the department’s budget ‘will grow from managing a $45.3 billion budget in fiscal year 2022 to $100 billion of appropriated funds and $336 billion in loan authorities’ in fiscal year 2023,” the letter said. “The OIG states, ‘[t]hese are historic and

unprecedented times at the Department of Energy’ and warns about ‘a greatly increased risk of fraud, waste, and mismanagement.’”

Even with that funding, energy prices have spiked since President Joe Biden took office. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics energy index rose 5.5% in the past 12 months.

Gas prices hit record highs last summer, surpassing a national average of more than $5 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline. Prices have declined since then, but are expected to rise again later this year.

Last week President Joe Biden came under fire from the oil and gas industry for his policies on drilling. A collection of 25 oil and gas groups released a public letter

supporting a Republican bill to loosen regulations and blasting the Biden administration’s work on the issue.

“Biden Administration actions and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have enacted further red tape, higher costs and permitting obstacles that serve as barriers to efficient and timely production in response to national and global demand,” the letter said. “As a result, American oil and natural gas producers have been hindered from producing up to three million barrels of oil a day, a government imposed scarcity that has created high costs for citizens and instability in relation to our adversaries in China and Russia.” Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

Double trouble: water and workers in California’s Imperial County

By SETH SANDRONSKY THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF WRITER

(The Center Square) — California’s Imperial Valley, which harvests two-thirds of the winter vegetables (e.g. lettuce, celery, cilantro, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, carrots) available across the U.S., faces double trouble. The region’s agricultural bounty that depends on a single supply of water from the Colorado River is at-risk. Consequently, the potential impact on the area’s workforce whose unemployment rate is four-fold higher than average in the Golden State is fraught.

Imperial County is located on the southeast border of the Golden State on the U.S.-Mexico border, with about 180,000 residents who

reside in seven cities. The climate is arid, with the recent series of storms an exception to this weather.

Against this backdrop, the main driver of Imperial County’s water woes is competition for this precious resource from the Colorado River. The competitive interests vying for a dangerously dwindling supply of Colorado River water range from seven U.S. states to Mexico. Interpretation of water rights is a site of struggle for these interests, given multiple interstate water compacts, federal laws and court decisions.

In the meantime, Imperial County can ill afford rising unemployment and falling economic output. It is worth noting that unemployment data for Imperial County does count

workers without citizenship papers, according to Professor Emeritus Phillip Martin of UC Davis.

According to Robert Schettler, public information officer for the Imperial Irrigation District, one in every six jobs in Imperial County connects with agriculture.

“So if we cut back on farming, there is a negative effect,” he said. “Ag is the backbone of the economy for California’s Imperial Valley.

In terms of Imperial County diversifying economic development away from the current centrality of agriculture, the nearby Salton Sea is a potential bright spot due its status as a source of lithium.

Lithium is a key chemical to batteries powering cell phones

and electric vehicles, the latter of which is part of the clean energy transformation away from the current reliance on fossil fuels warming the planet. The top three producers of lithium are Australia, Chile and China, respectively.

“We’re building a hub for global innovation while ensuring this transformation benefits communities right here in Imperial Valley,” said Gov. Gavin Newson in a statement on a recent visit. “California is poised to become the world’s largest source of batteries, and it couldn’t come at a more crucial moment in our efforts to move away from fossil fuels. The future happens here first — and Lithium Valley is fast-tracking the world’s clean energy future.”

House Freedom Caucus budget proposal faces challenges

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF WRITER

(The Center Square) — A group of Republicans who want to play an outsized role in negotiations over the debt ceiling face challenges from both Democrats and Republicans in upcoming budget talks.

The House Freedom Caucus has proposed setting fiscal year 2024 appropriations to the 2022 enacted level, and capping future discretionary spending growth at 1% a year for a decade.

In addition, the group has said it would vote to raise the debt ceiling in exchange for concession, including ditching the $400 billion student loan debt cancellation program, taking back unspent COVID-19 funds, pulling back $80 billion

in Internal Revenue Service funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, and repealing climate-related spending from the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said the caucus proposal could save $2.9 trillion to $3.7 trillion over a decade. However, several of the group’s proposals are likely to face opposition in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.

Discretionary spending includes defense and nondefense outlays, but excludes programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Both parties and the House Freedom Caucus have signaled they wouldn’t touch Social Security and Medicare. Social Security spending accounted

for $1.22 trillion in fiscal year 2022, or about 19% of federal spending, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Mandatory spending represents nearly two-thirds of annual federal spending, which does not require a yearly vote by Congress, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

On March 20, the White House called the House Freedom Caucus proposal a “five-alarm fire” that would “be a disaster for families in at least five key ways: endangering public safety, raising costs for families, shipping manufacturing jobs overseas and undermining American workers, weakening national security, and hurting seniors.”

Despite potential challenges from both Republicans and

Democrats, members of the House Freedom Caucus said Wednesday they were committed to the plan.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., said that the House Freedom Caucus had proven its might in January’s House speakership debate.

“American saw what the House Freedom Caucus is made of in January,” she said. “Lies don’t move us, media coverage doesn’t move us, attack ads don’t move us. Policy moves us.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, has yet to release a Republican budget proposal. President Joe Biden has outlined a $6.9 trillion budget proposal.

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.