Speaker warns audience about TikTok

anniversary. According to Junior League’s website (www.jlsantabarbara. org), its mission is “to promote voluntarism, develop the potential of women, and improve the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” email: abahnsen@newspress.com

The rummage sale will raise money for the league’s current project, S.A.F.E. House Santa Barbara, a residential shelter in Santa Barbara for girls who are survivors of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.

If you would like to donate your used goods to the Rummage Sale, you can drop off your items today and March 23 at the Carrillo Recreation Center.

Liz Wheeler discusses the negative impact of TikTok during a Young America’s Foundation event Friday at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Ms. Wheeler is the host of “The Liz Wheeler Show,” a podcast, and the foundation said on its website (yaf.org) that she is one of the boldest voices of the conservative movement. At Friday’s event, Ms. Wheeler cautioned her audience, made up largely of high school students, against viewing TikTok, which she said promotes negative ideas. She later asked the students what they thought of TikTok, and one girl in the audience said, “I just deleted it.” TikTok is a social media platform owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

Library offers Family Game Night Packs

SANTA MARIA — Need some ideas on how to keep the kids entertained during this rainy season? The Santa Maria Public Library is offering free Family Game Night Packs for families. Starting today, these packs are available at the libraries in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Los Alamos, Guadalupe, Cuyama and the SMPL To Go Bookmobile. They will be provided while supplies last.

These packs, administered by the state librarian of California, feature supplies and instructions for a Minute-to-Win-It themed game night. One pack provides fun

Butterfly Beach closed for recreational water contact

MONTECITO — A sewage spill has led to the closure of Butterfly Beach to recreational water contact.

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department issued the closure for the beach within one-quarter mile of the storm drain outfall.

The closure is in response to a spill of untreated sewage reaching ocean waters along the shoreline.

Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services was notified by the Montecito Sanitary District of a broken sewer force main on Channel Drive. The broken pipe is currently being repaired, and no additional sewage is anticipated to be discharged to the storm drain, according to the public health department.

It was estimated that the spill involved a release of approximately 6,650 gallons of sewage.

The Santa Barbara Bagpipe and Drum Corps plays tunes on St. Patrick’s Day outside the Press Room in downtown Santa Barbara. And bagpipers were playing throughout the day across the street at Dargan’s, an Irish restaurant, where a large crowd was entertained by the Foggy Dew Band and the Irish Dancers.

ROLLERI, John A. III

12/09/1947 - 02/27/2023

John A. Rolleri III passed away on February 27, 2023, in Santa Barbara CA surrounded by his loving family. John was born to John and Albina Rolleri on December 9, 1947, in Stockton, CA. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School, where he excelled in athletics. He was a purchasing agent for 35 years and then retired in Santa Barbara.

John was very proud of his Italian heritage. His grandparents immigrated to Stockton, CA from Genova, Italy. His family founded Genova Bakery, a historic landmark, which is still in operation a century later. He loved all things Italian, especially the food. John was a loyal 49ers fan and also enjoyed listening to the Oakland A’s play baseball on the radio. He enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, sunny days at the beach, driving his classic Chevy El Camino, and listening to music.

John will always be remembered as a devoted son and loving father. He is survived by his daughter Lori Rolleri of Stockton, his son Joseph Rolleri of Santa Barbara, his grandchildren Bradley Hoyt and Melissa Hoyt of Stockton, his sister Antoinette McDaniel of Monterey, nieces, nephews, and many cousins.

Funeral services will be private. Memorial tributes may be made to Hospice of Santa Barbara.

BARNARD, Mary Ellen Mary Ellen Barnard passed away peacefully on March 11th at her home in Solvang, California. Born Mary Ellen Leary in Sacramento on December 8, 1934, she was raised at the Leary Ranch on Grand Island in the Sacramento River Delta. Mary Ellen attended grade school and high school in Courtland and later was admitted to Stanford University, where she graduated in 1956 with a degree in History. On a blind date at Stanford, Mary Ellen met a law student, Tom Barnard of Santa Monica, whom she married on September 22, 1956.

In Santa Monica, Mary Ellen and Tom raised their four children and participated in a full life of social activities, tennis, golf and community service with the Santa Monica Rotary and Breakfast Clubs, the Teen Tennis Program, and many other charitable organizations.

In 1983, Mary Ellen and Tom moved to La Querencia Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley. Mary Ellen volunteered with the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum and the Alisal Golf Club, and was a founding member of the local YMCA. Mary Ellen was an avid cook and entertainer and would host gatherings with proceeds supporting the local hospital, YMCA and Rotary Club. She was honored twice as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. Mary Ellen enjoyed playing tennis, golf, bridge and dominos, gardening, hiking with the Santa Ynez Valley Women’s Hiking group, and traveling with family, friends and the People to People Ambassadors program. In her later years, Mary Ellen became an avid student of art and painted many beautiful watercolor landscape scenes of her travels throughout California and the West. Mary Ellen loved attending and supporting theater and symphony, and was a big fan of the Solvang Theaterfest and her family members’ symphonic performances.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children and their spouses Eileen (Graydon), Mark (Jodi), Kathryn (Ken) and Tom (Marianne); her grandchildren Addie, Chas, Katy, Sydney, Gabrielle, Nicolette, Grace, and Joshua; her two great-grandchildren Aleph and Enso; her brothers Dennis and Michael Leary; and her in-laws John, Ginger and Dick Barnard. Mary Ellen is preceded in death by her husband of 47 years Tom Barnard, her later companion Jim McGuire, her parents Dennis W. and Marie Leary, and her sister Margaret Gualco.

The family would like to thank Mary Ellen’s exceptional team of caregivers who lovingly cared for Mary Ellen in her final years of life.

A Funeral service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, March 25th, at the Loper Funeral Chapel (2465 Baseline Ave, Solvang, CA 93463).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum, the Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA or your favorite charity. Loper Funeral Chapel, Directors

ALLEN, Garret James

Garret

“Gary” James Allen was born in Santa Barbara, California on September 19, 1969, to Mark L. Allen and Sandra J. Allen. Gary passed away suddenly in his sleep on March 7, 2023. He attended Hope Elementary School, La Colina Junior High School, and graduated from Santa Barbara High School in 1988. Gary was a proud member of the A Capella Choir at SBHS and had a lifelong passion for music. He toured as a member of the crew for his childhood friends’ band, “Toad the Wet Sprocket.” Gary studied at Santa Barbara City College and then finished up his education in Miami, Florida with a degree in Dental Technology.

After returning to Santa Barbara, Gary married his high school girlfriend, Darla Kimbrough. They traveled the world together and then settled in Seattle, Washington for 10 years. They were avid U2 fans and attended their concerts around the world. They returned to Santa Barbara where their twin sons Joshua and Jeremiah were born. His wife, Darla, predeceased Gary.

Gary was a devout Christian. He loved surfing and enjoyed writing and playing Christian music. Gary was a loyal friend and family member. His cheerful smile and tender ways will be missed by all. He is survived by his twin sons, his parents Mark and Sandra Allen, sisters Karen Allen, Reta Tafelski and her husband Mark Tafelski, his stepmother Trudy Allen, stepsister Karen Cartwright, and stepbrother Gene Cartwright and many loving aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Donations in Gary’s name may be made to the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission. A memorial service will be held at Emanual Lutheran Church 3721 Modoc Rd, Santa Barbara, CA on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11:00 AM for family and friends.

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 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. for a family of four. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. For more information, contact the library’s Youth Services at 805-925-0994, ext. 8564.

The affected area has been posted with signs warning the public to avoid contact with the water until sample results indicate the water is safe for recreational use. Contact with sewage-contaminated water increases the risk for conditions such as rashes, fever, chills, ear infections, vomiting and diarrhea.

For more information, visit www.sbprojectcleanwater.org.

— Katherine Zehnder