Our 164th Year
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S AT U R DAY, M AY 16 , 2 0 2 0
RAFAEL MALDONADO/NEWS-PRESS
A deceased gray whale washed ashore Friday morning in Carpinteria.
MITCHELL WHITE/ NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
The front of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital was shining bright Thursday night and will remain lit up during May as part of the international Light It Blue campaign.
Light It Blue
Local hospitals and other venues show support for essential employees By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
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everal of Santa Barbara’s most frequented venues were fully illuminated Thursday night in a show of gratitude to healthcare and essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Part of the international Light It Blue campaign, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center on Stearns Wharf was among the venues that displayed bright blue lights to honor those on the frontline. The city of Santa Barbara collaborated with the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, community artists, event productions and several other companies who dedicated time and provided equipment to brighten up the venues. The Sea Center, the Santa Barbara Mission, the Arlington and Lobero theaters, and local Cottage Health hospitals were the first buildings locally to be lit up in blue as part of the campaign, and other venues are expected to join the efforts. The lighting will remain up through the month of May, with the exception of the Sea Center, officials said. While stay-at-home orders remain in place, members of the public are encouraged to admire the buildings from afar and are advised to avoid gathering at the sites to curb the spread of the coronavirus. On Thursday night, several cars drove along the wharf with passengers using their cell phones to capture the illumination. Many oohs and ahhs could be heard, as the lights reflected off the ocean. Luke Swetland, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, said the venue was honored to participate in the recognition. The Sea Center’s location on Stearns Wharf made for an even more spectacular blue glow. “The Sea Center floats magically above our beautiful, blue channel. Bathing it in calming light is a wonderful way to show our community’s love and support for those who are taking care of the most fragile among us,” Mr. Swetland said. With the Lobero Theatre a
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The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center on Stearns Wharf illuminated with blue lights to honor healthcare workers and essential employees.
Gray whale washes ashore Mammal ends up on Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria By MITCHELL WHITE NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
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massive deceased gray whale washed ashore Friday morning on Santa Claus Beach in Carpinteria. Estimated to be 38 feet long, the whale previously washed ashore a few weeks ago in Ventura and was drawn back to land due to winds and tides, said Lili Hartounian, lead stranding coordinator for Channel Islands Cetacean Research Unit. Removal of the mammal was in progress Friday afternoon. Ms.
By JOSH GREGA
email: mwhite@newspress.com
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The Arlington Theatre shows support of essential workers who are confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in hospitals, grocery stores and other businesses around the world.
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Allan Hancock College delays graduation NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
staple in Santa Barbara for nearly 150 years, Executive Director David Asbell said the theater was happy to show support for all those who are working to protect the public during the pandemic. Santa Barbara Mayor Cathy Murillo said the campaign was a way to show off community support and join forces. “I’m proud of the collaboration between our community artists and art organizations to honor the hard work and sacrifice of health care professionals and frontline employees,” said Ms. Murillo. “Thank you for providing the community with a lighting display to bring us all together.” The campaign kicked off March 26, when landmark and historic buildings in the United Kingdom were lit blue as a salute to healthcare providers responding to the public health crisis. Hundreds of buildings, bridges and other landmarks have joined the efforts throughout the world. Residents are also invited to get involved from the comfort of their own home, creating anything that is blue and spreads a message of support and positivity. You can share your creation by using the hashtags #LightItBlue and #MakeItBlue, and share on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. To learn more, visit www. makeitblue.us.
Hartounian told the News-Press that her group had contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Vessel Assist in Ventura, who will work to tow the whale away for disposal. “It’s just a matter of time in terms of when they can determine safe removal with the tides,” she said. Ms. Hartounian was contacted about a beached gray whale a few weeks ago. She went to the scene and took photos and a sample of baleen, the series of fringed plates hanging in the whale’s
ome local colleges such as Santa Barbara City College have tackled graduations during COVID19 restrictions with online commencements, but Allan Hancock College is not pursuing this option. Lauren Milbourne, Hancock director of public affairs and communications, said the Santa Maria college has chosen to postpone its commencement ceremony until a currently undecided later date. Though the administration would like to hold a graduation ceremony sometime in August, Ms. Milbourne told the NewsPress that this will only be the case so long as it is determined to be safe. “Our primary concern is safety,” she said. The idea of holding a virtual commencement was ruled out in a Zoom session that the administration held on April 17. During the Zoom meeting, students both involved in student leadership and not were invited to share their thoughts on what should be done about graduation. About 50 students participated in the session and somewhere between 20 and 30 voiced their opinion via phone or email. According to Ms. Milbourne,
there was a virtually unanimous preference for having an inperson commencement even if it’s delayed. “By and large, the students really didn’t want a virtual ceremony. They worked really hard to be here, and they wanted to celebrate in person with their families,” she said. Hancock President Kevin Walthers acknowledged the students’ wishes for an inperson ceremony in a video the college posted on its YouTube channel on May 15. “We heard from the students loud and clear,” he stated. “We want in-person graduation and not a PowerPoint slideshow with our names on it, and we respect that. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and you should have a proper commencement to send you off into the next phase of your life.” The president added that the current plan is to hold a commencement in August before the college starts classes again in the fall. However, Ms. Milbourne said commencement is also being considered for December if August ends up not working out. Whenever the graduation ends up happening, Allan Hancock College will have around 1,700 students graduate with associates degrees and 1,200 graduate with certificates. email: jgrega@newspress.com
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L O T T E R Y R ESU L T S
Comics................. A6 Local................. A 2-8 Obituaries............. A8
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-10-20-22-23 Meganumber: 23
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Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 11-17-32-33-46 Meganumber: 25
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 7-11-12-22-28
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 10-07-05 Time: 1:41.35
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Soduku................. A5 Weather................ A8
Friday’s DAILY 3: 6-1-7 / Midday 5-5-7