Santa Barbara News-Press: October 15, 2022

Commissions, residents discuss State Street’s future

Planners, others stress importance of looking beyond the street closure and dining parklets

Westmont downtown building dedicated

Newly-established center to house school’s nursing program

By JARED DANIELS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Friends and faculty of Westmont University came together Friday evening to dedicate a newlyestablished center that will

be the new home of Westmont Downtown/Grotenhuis Nursing Program. The center will serve as a hub for the university’s fledgling nursing program, and will also further integrate Westmont with

CAMP proposes ‘Greenbelt Alignment’

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Think about Spain.

That’s what resident Michael Bruce suggested during a twohour joint meeting of the Santa Barbara historic landmarks and planning commissions Friday as everyone looked at the big picture — a 30- to 50-years-from-now big picture — for lower State Street.

Planners, members of both commissions and residents, including those involved with businesses, discussed how that big picture goes beyond lower State Street’s current closure to cars and outdoor dining parklets. That was the discussion at this stage for the State Street Master Plan.

But for the moment, Mr. Bruce advised the commissions to consider a city in southern Spain that he visited.

“It was only in 2002 that they decided to make one of their streets pedestrian,” Mr. Bruce said. “One thing that really impressed me was there were no curbs on the street.”

And he said no one was bicycling down the street. “You got off your bike and walked your bike.”

During the two-hour meeting in a packed Faulkner Gallery at the Central Library, commissioners debated questions such as whether a 30- to 50-year plan is applicable to the ever-changing nature of the retail industry.

But at the start of the meeting, Tess Harris, the State Street master planner, said the plan is a visioning document covering what the next 30 to 50 years would look like for State Street.

“To be successful in the long term, we need to think beyond closing the street and beyond outdoor dining. We want to think bigger.

…

“How can we use it (State Street) in a way that makes

downtown a place where people want to be, regardless of the activity they’re doing or the time of day it is,” Ms. Harris said. “We have created opportunities by closing the street for businesses to expand, and we want to think about how we can create a future space for businesses and the community and a space that the community wants to be a part of — not just building for what is there currently today, but what could be there in the future.”

Ms. Harris said the area covered by the plan extends from Sola Street to the Highway 101 underpass and between Chapala and Anacapa streets.

And Molly Pearson, a Santa Barbara resident who walks, rides a bike and drives a car, said

Association backs alternative alignment for Modoc Multi-Use Path

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Community Association for the Modoc Preserve has proposed its “Greenbelt Alignment” to save more trees from the Modoc MultiUse Path project.

The debate over the proposed

FYi

number of trees that Santa Barbara County plans to remove for the path, which users would include bicyclists, has been ongoing since July.

And the debate led residents, acting together as CAMP, to collect signatures on a petition to save the trees along Modoc Road, which is in an unincorporated area outside Santa Barbara.

The petition now has more than 4,300 signatures.

In addition to the debate over the number of trees, residents contend that the county right of way violates the Deed of Conservation Easement of 1999, which the La Cumbre Water Co. made in favor of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County.

The county has drafted a new Mitigated Negative Declaration, which was released in September. The updated MND, among other things, has scaled back the number of trees that would be removed for the construction of the path.

Community Association for

Local

KENNETH

Students of the Westmont/Grotenhuis Nursing Program will have the opportunity to hone their skills in a realistic hospital setting within a new Westmont Downtown building dedicated on

KENNETH

/ NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

As State Street Master Planner Tess Harris listens, project planner Timmy Bolton discusses the components of the plan during a joint meeting Friday of the Santa Barbara historic landmarks and planning commissions.

An audience packs the Faulkner Gallery at the Central Library for the two-hour meeting.

Richard Yates, who owns the Opal Restaurant and Bar in downtown Santa Barbara, speaks during the public comment period.

Prince Harry’s choice: Revenge or making peace with his family

News-Press announces its election endorsements

The News-Press has made the following endorsements for the Nov. 8 general election.

STATE

Governor: Sen. Brian Dahle.

Lieutenant Governor: Angela Underwood Jacobs.

Secretary of State: Rob Bernosky.

Controller: Lanhee Chen.

State Treasurer: Jack Guerrero.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Lance Christensen.

Attorney General: Nathan Hochman.

Insurance Commissioner: Robert Howell.

State Board of Equalization, 2nd District: Peter Coe Verbica.

U.S. Senate/Partial Term: Mark Meuser.

Editor’s note: “Rumors & Buzz,” which runs each Saturday in the News-Press, is written by a journalist who has chosen a nom de plume: “Momus.” In Greek mythology, Momus is the god of satire and mockery.

What should matter more to Montecito’s Prince Harry — publishing his memoir, which might permanently sever his relationship with his royal family? Or returning his $20 million advance to Penguin Random House and pulling the plug on it (if that is even possible)?

Momus’ advice to dear Harry: Having been fortunate enough to be born with a golden spoon, money does not matter. Momus, therefore, believes this is not about moulah but ill-advised revenge. (As Confucius said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.”)

Harry, return the cash, bury the book — and the hatchet along with it. Make amends with your family, who (however coldly) nurtured you. Move on with your life. Rebuild and strengthen your relationships.

Do not be led by Meghan, who seems to thrive on friction and family conflict and by whom you seem easily influenced, as was the Duke of Windsor by his wife, Wallis Simpson. There is nothing to be gained from burning bridges with blood relatives, especially when such relatives happen to be the much adored and most important royal family in the world.

Sure, traumatic things have happened (they happen in most families, to everyone). And you are upset. Now is the time to get over it.

Short-term tactics, as gratifying as they may feel at the time, are always overshadowed by long-term consequences. And try as you may, with wife Meghan’s counsel, you and she will fail, not prevail, in the court of public opinion.

If you need advice on how to

Law enforcement stresses pedestrian safety

GOLETA — October is National Pedestrian Safety Month.

And the Goleta Police Department — the Goleta division of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office — is raising awareness about the safety of people walking throughout the month, emphasizing that “safe drivers, safe speeds and safe vehicles save lives.”

“Whether in a parking lot, crosswalk, or sidewalk, we are

TY’S TEARS

Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner, who has a home in Montecito, has created a new beanie baby in honor of the late queen called “Elizabeth II.” But don’t get too excited because it is a limited edition available only in Britain.

The toy’s tag, presumably composed by Ty himself, reads: “As a young Queen, you gave us your word; Above and beyond, your life you served. A faultless reign as our Head of State; thank you for everything, Queen Elizabeth the Great.”

In addition, Ty has donated 100,000 U.K. pounds (about $110,000) to the queen’s favorite charity, Cruse Bereavement Support, which provides free care for the grief-stricken.

Well done, Ty!

NEW CELEBRITY HAUNT?

Funny guy Steve Martin spent the summer with his family in Montecito and dined regularly (lunch and dinner) at Ca’ Dario on Coast Village Road in advance of displaying his collection of Australian indigenous art at the National Arts Club in New York City.

Says banjo-strumming Martin, “It’s an unbelievable mélange of pictures — I had never seen anything like it before.”

Although said to be retiring from Hollywood, Steve is still doing a TV show, has a book coming out and is touring with fellow comedian Martin Short. “That,” he says, “is my kind of retirement.”

Christopher Lloyd, another Ca’ Dario CVR regular and Montecito fixture, stars in “Spirit Halloween: The Movie,” about three adolescents who attempt to spend the night in a pop-up Halloween shop, are locked inside and get seriously spooked by the store’s

By MOMUS RUMORS & BUZZ

animatronic characters, which, possessed by an evil spirit, come alive and try to steal their souls.

Sounds fun though one reviewer (CBR.com) calls it “A sloppy ad for a store that has enough recognition … a blur that doesn’t provide much of a reason for why it exists.”

Its salvation, of course, is our own Christopher Lloyd, who never fails to entertain.

This flick was released this week on video-on-demand platforms.

LIFE LESSON

Local legend Jeff Bridges, star of “The Old Man” television series, on his illnesses and positivity (as told to The Guardian in Britain): “What I learned from that whole experience in hospital was: Life is constantly giving us gifts. They may be gifts that we think we don’t want. Who wants cancer? Who wants COVID, man? Well, it turns out I did. Because dealing with your mortality, it makes things more precious.”

TITTERS

A new study published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction claims that just three alcoholic beverages a week is bad for your health.

This has a huge impact on Momus: We’ve given up paying attention to studies.

It also evokes a Momus pet peeve: Bars that don’t store vermouth in a refrigerator after opening a bottle but let it hang out in the well. Don’t all barkeeps know that vermouth is a wine product and, as such, has a shelf life of only six days if not kept in the fridge? Since only a tiny amount of vermouth is used in cocktails, opened bottles stick around for a while, resulting in stale, sour

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

all pedestrians at one point,” Sgt. Noel Rivas said in a news release. “We ask drivers to please slow down and be extra careful around people walking. Put yourself in their shoes and drive how you would want someone to drive when you are walking.”

The safety of people outside of vehicles is a significant traffic safety concern, with at least two pedestrians or bicyclists killed on California roads every day. Between 2010 and 2019 in California, pedestrian deaths increased more than 40%, and bicyclist deaths went up more than 60%.

In 2020, 6,516 pedestrians were killed in the U.S. An

average of 18 pedestrians a day or one pedestrian is killed every 81 minutes, according to statistics from the sheriff’s office.

Speeding, poor lighting, midblock crossing and impairment are the main factors in pedestrians being struck by vehicles.

The Goleta Police Department offers the following safe driving and walking tips:

For drivers:

• Do not speed and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

• Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a righthand turn.

juice.

WELCOME TO CHICAGO!

Twitter from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot: “For those out-oftowners joining us this weekend, welcome and make sure to check out everything our city has to offer.”

You mean like murders (up 32% since 2019), drive-by shootings of innocent children, rape, car theft, muggings, robberies and shoplifting raids? Or maybe watch employees of Boeing, McDonalds, Caterpillar, Citadel and Tyson’s Chicken pack up their cars?

Is it just Momus or does Lori look like a cross between a voodoo doll and Beetlejuice’s sister? And since Momus (no shame, we) is an equal-opportunity mocker, we must also question if Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is somehow related to Kermit the Frog.

‘WENDY, WENDY, WHAT WENT WRONG, OH SO WRONG?’

That’s one of our favorite songs from one of our favorite bands (with attachments to SB), still touring 60 years on.

And an atrocious story to go with it: A franchisee owner of a Wendy’s in North Carolina fired (without notice) a longtime employee with Down syndrome because “he couldn’t do his job like a normal person.” Huh? He’d been working there 20 years, probably working for minimum wage.

Momus has never ventured into a Wendy’s — and with this news never will.

HOLLYWOOD 2.0

Rick Caruso, candidate for mayor of Los Angeles and owner of the Rosewood Miramar in Montecito: “The future of L.A. is tied to the future of the entertainment industry.”

Mark Wahlberg: “I’m moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, to create “Hollywood 2.0.”

If you have a tip for Momus, send to momus@newspress.com.

U.S. Senate/Full Term: Mark Meuser.

U.S. House Representative, District 24: Dr. Brad Allen.

State Assembly, District 37: Mike Stoker.

SCHOOL BOARDS

Santa Barbara County Board

of Education, Trustee Area 1: Rosanne Crawford.

Santa Barbara Community College District, Trustee Area 1: Debi Stoker.

Santa Barbara Community College District, Trustee Area 5: Sharon Salvador-Jegottka.

Santa Barbara Unified School District, Trustee Area 1: Efigenia Banales.

Santa Barbara Unified School District, Trustee Area 4: Phebe Mansur.

Goleta Union School District, Trustee Area 1: Caroline Abate.

Goleta Union School District, Trustee Area 3: Christy Lozano.

Lompoc Unified School District: To be announced.

SPECIAL DISTRICT

Goleta Water District, District 2: Greg S. Hammel.

CITY COUNCIL RACES

Carpinteria City Council, Trustee Area 3: Patty Boyd (write in).

Lompoc Mayor: Jim Mosby.

• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

For pedestrians:

• Use signalized crosswalks where drivers expect foot traffic.

• Watch for approaching vehicles and be careful crossing the street, especially busier streets with higher speed limits. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to come to a stop.

• Get in the habit of wearing light colors, reflective material, and walking with a flashlight at night so it is easier for drivers to see you.

- Katherine Zehnder

Buellton Chamber of Commerce to host candidates forum

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Buellton Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a city council candidates’ forum Sunday afternoon at the Oak Valley Elementary School’s multi-purpose room.

The school is at 525 Second St., Buellton.

The city is now divided into four districts, with Districts 1 and 4 having elections this year as well as an at-large mayor’s election. The various districts elect representatives to the Buellton City Council.

Sunday’s forum will be divided into three parts.

District 1 will be covered from 1-2 p.m.

with candidates Hudson Hornick and Tom Widroe.

Both are new to Buellton city government.

District 1 covers Rancho de Maria, Dairyland and both mobile home parks: River Grove and Ranch Club Estates

The citywide mayoral election will be covered from 2-3 p.m. Two Buellton City Council members are running for mayor: Elysia Lewis and Dave King.

Also, this forum will feature information on the Buellton School R 2022 bond extension to repair aging facilities.

District 4 will be covered from 3-4 p.m. with candidates David Silva and Art Mercado.

Mr. Silva is a first-time candidate while Art

Mercado is a former city council member.

District 4 covers all of Buellton east of State Route 101 as well as the far northwest area of Central Avenue and Jonata Park Road.

The public will be able to submit questions to the candidates and visit with them at information tables.

For a map of the districts, go to cityofbuellton.com.

On Nov. 8, you can vote in person at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, 555 McMurray Road, Buellton. Or you can drop your ballot between now and the close of polls on Nov. 8 in front of Buellton City Hall, 107 W. State Route 246, Buellton. You can also mail your ballot.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

©

Ashleigh Brilliant, 117 W. Valerio Santa Barbara CA 93101 (catalog $5). www.ashleighbrilliant.com

outfox the tiddy doll functionaries of Buckingham Palace, Momus is at your service, standing by to oblige.

COURTESY PHOTOS

From left, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Steve Martin and Jeff Bridges

Magical sale at Magic Castle Cabaret

Arlene Larsen sells costumes, decorated flower pots and more

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

During her long career in the Hollywood costume industry, Arlene Larsen rubbed elbows with legends such as Bob Mackie.

That’s the same Bob Mackie forever known for creating great, spectacular costumes for classics such as CBS’ “The Carol Burnett Show” and “Sonny and Cher.”

Remember the curtain rods that Ms. Burnett, a longtime Montecito resident, wore in the “Went with the Wind? sketch? Or the elaborate sequined gowns Cher wore? Those were Mr. Mackie’s creations.

When Mr. Mackie was about to discard something like a yard of sequined trim, Mrs. Larsen grabbed it.

And kept it.

For decades.

“I’m not hoarder,” the longtime Santa Barbara resident told the News-Press with a big smile this week during a visit to the Magic Castle Cabaret that she continues to oversee in Montecito.

“I just appreciate fine things and find a use for them,” said Mrs. Larsen, whose husband, Milt, co-founded the Magic Castle in Hollywood with his late brother Bill Larsen.

And Mrs. Larsen did, in fact, find a use for Mr. Mackie’s leftover sequined trims. She decorates flower pots with them.

And you can buy one of them as part of the Holiday Garage Sale Party at the Magic Castle Cabaret.

The sale, which includes costumes and decorations for Halloween, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, you name it — there’s even a spirit or ouija board — is taking place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Sunday at the cabaret, 30 Los Patos Way. It’s across the street from the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge.

There’s a limit of 25 people at a time inside the cabaret, where the bar each day will open at noon.

Some of the items have prices taped on them, but Mrs. Larsen is willing to hear offers.

She said she plans to give away what she doesn’t sell to local thrift shops, Unity Shoppe and a nonprofit university in Chatsworth.

This is, in fact, one of your classier garage sales.

All the metallic palm trees are a sign of that, along with everything else on sale: wedding dresses, fancy coats, men’s vests, classic games such as Shut the Box, Mardi Gras items and all sorts of treasures.

When Mrs. Larsen led the News-Press through the Magic Castle Cabaret, it felt like a treasure hunt. She led the way into the cabaret’s kitchen, where a big ice cream maker is among the items on sale.

“We had a player piano that had

cymbals and tambourines and accordions built in it,” she said.

“We had it here. It was too loud; we never really used it.”

So she gave it to the nearby Friendship Center in Montecito.

Mrs. Larsen led the News-Press into rooms of various sizes — the decor is similar to the vintage look of the Magic Castle Hollywood. The rooms include one themed for Christmas decorations.

“Tablecloths for every occasion!” said Mrs. Larsen as she walked past them.

“I have enough party favors for 200 people, including brand new

things that we never gave out,” Mrs. Larsen said. She and her husband are known for hosting classy, well-themed parties at their home overlooking Santa Barbara.

“We have Santa Clauses that we gave to everybody walking in,” she said.

While Mrs. Larsen said she doesn’t plan on hosting any future big parties, she’s quick to add, “I haven’t given up on parties. I have a magical Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in the back of my mind.” email: dmason@newspress.com

‘The county has scaled back the number of trees to be impacted’

terms of the Conservation Easement.

the Modoc Preserve objects to both Alignments A and B, two different proposals for the Modoc MultiUse Path that are outlined in the revised MND.

The CAMP has proposed its “Greenbelt Alignment” as an alternative to alignments A and B.

“It keeps the greenbelt along Modoc Road completely intact,” Warren Thomas, co-founder of CAMP, told the News-Press.

Mr. Thomas said preserving the greenbelt, which has canopy and provides shade, is a “smart and responsible decision considering the extreme drought and climate change.”

He said the county has already placed the western half of the Multi-Use Path up on Modoc Road out of Modoc Preserve, which resulted in saving 34 of the trees that were threatened by the first version of the MND. “The Greenbelt Alignment is simply finishing the eastern half also up on Modoc Road, north of the tree line, and out of the Modoc Preserve.”

But Chris Sneddon of the Santa Barbara County Public Works Department said the east end is different.

“We have done engineering preliminary plans,” Mr. Sneddon told the News-Press. “The trees on the west end are set back further from the road on the west end. On the east end, the road is narrower and the trees are closer to the road, which is why the trees have to be removed on the east end.”

But Mr. Warren told the News-Press that CAMP’s proposed Greenbelt Alignment is feasible and would be much safer for horses, equestrians and pedestrians. According to Mr Warren, the easement allowed uses that include: open space, equestrian, pedestrian, education and, water company uses.

“Not bikes. and, certainly not electrically motorized e-bike vehicles traveling at 25 mph that would easily startle and spook horses and pedestrians, as well as other cyclists,” he said. “Even novice to moderately skilled e-bike riders travel as fast as the most in-shape cyclists on the planet.”

On Aug. 17, the Santa Barbara Land Trust sent a letter to the La Cumbre Water Co. and the County Public Works Department. The letter is signed by Meredith Hendricks, the executive director of the land trust.

“La Cumbre Mutual Water Co., as landowner under the Conservation, has the duty to comply with its terms, and it may not allow others, including the county, to engage in any use or activity that violates the terms, restrictions, or conditions of the Conservation Easement…” Ms. Hendricks wrote in the letter. “Plans and other documents related to this Project appear to have been developed without due consideration for the provisions of the Conservation Easement or the terms in it that empower and obligate the Land Trust to ensure perpetual conservation. To date, the Land Trust has not been provided with notice or information adequate to determine whether the Project is consistent with the

“The Land Trust desires to work with the landowner and the county to see if the project can be accommodated under the conservation easement, and what it will take for the project to be successful. Although the Land Trust must and will enforce the conservation easement, in court if necessary, we believe a collaborative solution would be in the best interest of the landowner, the land trust and the community,” according to the emailed letter.

Doug Campbell, chair of the Modoc Preserve Committee; Alison Petro of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County; Rachel Van Mullem, legal counsel for the county; and Eileen Chauvet of Conservation Partners were cc’d on the email as well.

Additionally, the CAMP is asserting that the county is falsely representing the number of trees that will be affected in the revised MND. According to Table 8 on page 41 of the MND, Alignment A would impact a total of 48 trees and would impact none of the native coast live oak trees.

Alignment B would impact 21 trees, and only three of those trees would be coast live oak trees.

The CAMP is asserting that photographic evidence points to at least six coast live oak trees that would be impacted.

“When the existence of the stand of oak trees and these other errors were brought to the attention of the senior environmental planner with the County of Santa Barbara, he admitted that the County was aware of this error and subsequently provided a revised tree impact summary noting that 6 Native Coastal Live Oaks may be removed under the proposed project,” according to an online article by CAMP.

The CAMP references a chart indicating six trees would be impacted. The article said that CAMP members received the chart in an email from Morgan Jones of the County Public Works department.

The News-Press asked Mr. Jones to verify the origin of the chart.

“To the best of my knowledge, I have never directly sent an email to Shelly Cobb or CAMP,” Mr. Jones told the News-Press in an email.

He told the News-Press that the chart is from an early draft that was sent (not sent to CAMP) to show the reduction in tree impacts from the initial plans, which began in May.

“Engineering has made significant changes to the earlier plans that would avoid removing many of the trees in question,” said Mr. Jones.

What is different about this chart is that there is no differentiation between alignments A and B concerning the impact on the trees.

“The project has evolved over the last few months as stakeholders have emphasized minimizing tree removal, and the county has scaled back the number of trees to be impacted,” Mr. Sneddon told the News-Press.

Mr Sneddon and Mr. Jones both emphasized that the current numbers for tree removal are reflected accurately in the revised version of the MND.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Arlene Larsen holds one of the Christmas decorations that she’s selling this weekend at the Magic Castle Cabaret in Montecito.

Arlene Larseon has taken material leftover from legendary designer Bob Mackie’s costumes and placed them on flower pots.

Ghostly decorations and games such as this Shut the Box are part of the sale.

Lynch leads Westmont Men’s soccer to victory

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

Westmont Men’s Soccer (7-1-2, 2-1-1 GSAC) opened up their home GSAC slate on Thursday afternoon with a 3-0 win over the visiting Warriors of Life Pacific (1-12, 0-5). Westmont opened the scoring just five minutes into the match, before doubling their lead in the final minute of the first half.

Then, Westmont added one more goal late in the second half, before finishing off their fifth shutout in six games on Thorrington Field. In the end, Westmont out-shot Life Pacific 17-9, while holding the road-Warriors to a single shot on goal.

“There’s an old saying in football that says you try to win at home and steal points on the road,” said Westmont head coach Dave Wolf. “It you win your games at home and steal some points on the road, you’re probably going to be in a pretty favorable position when the dust settles.”

In the fifth minute, Connor Lynch opened the scoring thanks to an errant pass and a pair of selfless teammates. The scoring opportunity began when a Life Pacific defender possessed the ball in his own third of the pitch without a Westmont player threatening within ten yards. Twenty yards from his own goal line, the defenseman opted to try and sneak a pass through the legs of Donovan Howat, who stood directly between the two road-Warriors.

Howat calmly intercepted the pass and found an open Daniel Tuscano in the center of the pitch. Then, Tuscano found Braden Pryor on a run to the nearedge of the six, and Pryor found Lynch at the center of it.

In the span of only three touches, the two passes led to a one-touch finish for Lynch, who picked up his second goal of the season while giving Westmont a 10 lead.

“Connor has gotten going recently,” nodded Wolf. “Strikers are curious creatures, and they can be streaky.

A lot of that hinges on confidence at the given moment in time. A few goals in the last couple games is a good return, and it will only help Braeden and Erik.

“We’ve got some nice attacking pieces, and that group continues to grow.”

The road-Warriors came within one minute of entering halftime down just one, but in the 45th minute, the home-Warriors found the back of the net for a second time.

The opportunity began with captain Landon Amaral launching a 40-yard pass to Erik Guerrero on the near sideline. From there, Guerrero carried the ball to the top of the 18, before sneaking a pass to Spencer Crithfield who was ten yards out.

With the defense turned towards Crithfield in the center of the box, Pryor darted for the right-post, catching the eye of Crithfield along the way. Then, Crithfield tapped the ball to a wide-open Pryor who snuck home his sixth goal of the season inside the near-post.

“I think Braeden is the best attacking player in the league “, said Wolf. “He is at the point where he’s going to have to anticipate antics coming his way, as he saw later in the game. No one has shown an ability to really stop him, so people are going to be looking for new ways to get at him, because he’s a handful.

“His talent is going to continue to attract attention.” The second half saw the offensive pace of the match slow down for nearly a half an hour, before Lynch added to the total in the 73rd minute. The opportunity followed a dangerous tackle on a play where Pryor carried the ball to the top-corner of the 18 on the far side of the pitch. Following the foul a brief scrum occurred in which Pryor and the aggressor were both issued yellow cards.

Once cooler heads prevailed, Lynch lined up from 25 yards out, and spun a rocket into the upperright corner of the net. Lynch’s second goal of the afternoon and third of the campaign proved to be a finishing touch on an eventual 3-0 win.

“Our team continues to do impressive things,” reflected Wolf, “and maybe it didn’t look exactly the way we wanted it to for all 90 minutes, but in the end, the scoreboard affirms a certain quality in this group.

“They’ve more than proven themselves, and they should be congratulated for their efforts up to this point.”

Westmont returns to the pitch on Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m., when they host Hope International on Homecoming. As part of Homecoming festivities, Westmont will honor the 50year anniversary of the 1972 National Championship team before the match.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College.

email: sports@newspress.com

UCSB women’s soccer falls to Cal State Fullerton

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB women’s soccer team had another Big West match this evening as the Gauchos traveled to Fullerton to take on the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Despite the Gauchos striking first, the Titans were the ones to come out with the game as the home team took the game 2-1.

The Gauchos came out strong, battling from the first whistle on the pitch. With this aggressive start, UCSB made a charge up the field. Thanks to a beautiful ball placed in front of Lauren Helwig from Manuri Alwis, the sophomore midfielder was able to find the back of the net in the 18th minute to put her team up 1-0.

Even with the advantage gained by the Gauchos, it didn’t keep the Titans down. Cal State Fullerton struck with a goal of their own in the 32nd minute. With that goal, the two teams were tied at 1-1 as they headed off the pitch for

halftime.

From there, Cal State Fullerton came out quick with another goal to put themselves up by one just four minutes into the second half off a sneaky play from a Titan attacker. With hopes of making a final push in this game, the Gauchos’ defense hunkered down as Evann Smith and the rest of the defensive line made key plays to prevent the Titans from sneaking another ball past. However, the offense for the Gauchos wasn’t able to slip past the Titans, resulting in the 2-1 loss for UC Santa Barbara in this road contest.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Helwig’s goal in tonight’s match was her third of the season. Along with that, she has topped the number of goals she scored last season already, putting her career total up to five.

• Along with Helwig, O’Callaghan Liu contributed heavily to the team’s offensive efforts. The midfielder registered

KZSB to air football game

KZSB — AM1290, the News-Press radio station, will air today’s football game pitting Los Angeles

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

three shots during tonight’s match. Also helping with the offense were freshman Kate Killer and sophomore Shaye Douglas, who each had one shot apiece.

• Despite the result for the Gauchos’ goalkeeper, Evann Smith made two saves on the night during her 90 minutes in goal.

• Sophomore Liu and senior Elise Ziem are the only two players for UCSB who have started all 16 games so far this season.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will have one more game on the road before finishing the season at Harder Stadium. UCSB will make the trip to Riverside to take on the UC Riverside Highlanders. First kick is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB.

Pierce College against Santa Barbara City College.

The broadcast of the game will start at 12:45 p.m.

— Dave Mason

“most severe” pay cut in 25 years because of higher prices.

inflation,” said Sven Heinrich, market expert and founder of Northman Trader.

(The Center Square)

– President Joe Biden came under fire from Republican lawmakers and economists Thursday after newly released inflation data showed consumer prices continued to rise in September.

“President Biden and [Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf] can congratulate themselves for spending hundreds of billions of dollars to reward their political allies, but the average family sees right through the ill-named Inflation Reduction Act,” said Nathan Benefield, senior vice president of the Pennsylvaniabased Commonwealth Foundation.

Wages have failed to keep up with that rise in inflation, and a recent report from the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank showed that Americans have seen the

“Since President Biden took office, real wages have fallen, while the cost of living in Biden’s America has skyrocketed,” said E.J. Antoni, economic expert at the Heritage Foundation.

“Prices have risen so much that the average worker has lost the equivalent of $3,000 in annual income since January 2021. This inflation is the direct result of the Federal Reserve printing money to finance the prodigal spending sprees of a reckless Congress and White House.”

Critics pointed out the inflation increase comes after the Inflation Reduction Act passed and the Federal Reserve enacted several aggressive rate hikes that hurt the economy and sent stocks tumbling but were meant to curb inflation.

“Imagine hiking rates like mad and showing zero progress on

Those rate hikes have major implications for the economy and regular Americans.

“Now that the Fed is finally raising interest rates, borrowing costs are increasing dramatically, with interest rates on mortgages doubling over the last few months,” Mr. Antoni said.

“Interest rates on everything from credit cards to auto loans have increased, costing the average American around $1,200 in annual income compared to January 2021.”

The costs are hitting small businesses hard, with new polling showing that struggling small businesses cite inflation as their biggest problem.

“President Biden’s policies are a key source of inflation,” Karen Kerrigan, president

Biden takes heavy fire, defends himself after inflation data shows continued price increases

Biden blames Ukraine war, not U.S. policies

INFLATION

Continued from Page A4 and CEO of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council, said after the data was released Thursday. “The hyperregulatory agenda and regulatory threats being pursued across all sectors – from technology to energy, the financial sector and more – as well as intrusive and costly rules governing the workforce and many critical areas of our economy, are making a horrible inflation situation much worse.”

The wave of criticism comes after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data showing both consumer and producer prices rose 0.4% in September and more than 8% in the last 12 months. Some items, like groceries and energy, saw a much larger increase in the past year.

President Biden and Democrats have defended their work on the economy, pointing to the low unemployment rate and the rapid recovery from the pandemic.

“Today’s report shows some progress in the fight against higher prices, even as we have more work to do,” President Biden said in a statement. “Inflation over the last three months has averaged 2%, at an annualized rate. That’s down from 11% in the prior quarter. But even with this progress, prices are still too high.”

President Biden has stressed that inflation is high around the world and blamed the war in Ukraine while downplaying the role of U.S. spending and moneyprinting.

“Fighting the global inflation that is affecting countries around the world and working families here at home is my top priority,” President Biden said.

“If Republicans take control of Congress, everyday costs will go up – not down,” he added.

On Twitter, a May analysis from Morgan Stanley resurfaced in which the company blamed rising prices on the “excessive fiscal stimulus provided during the pandemic,” in particular the $1.9 trillion federal spending bill in 2021.

Republican lawmakers joined in on that criticism of federal spending, pointing out inflation was much lower during the previous administration.

“High prices are not transitory – they have become entrenched in our economy. In under two years, Democrats have taken us from nonexistent inflation to a 40-year recordhigh,” said U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. “Too many Americans are living the nightmare of having to choose between buying gas they can’t afford, buying groceries they can’t afford, and paying energy bills they can’t afford.”

Other Republicans called for a balanced budget and stressed the difficulty Americans are facing to make ends meet.

“While hundreds of thousands of Floridians are working hard to recover from Hurricane Ian, today’s CPI report is an infuriating reminder that Joe Biden’s raging inflation is still crushing families across the Sunshine State,” said U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. “Biden’s inflation causes pain for families every day, but in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, high prices are a hurdle that families in our state shouldn’t have to deal with.

“If President Biden truly cares about helping Floridians, he’ll stop recklessly wasting tax dollars on a failed, woke agenda, refocus his administration on the core responsibilities of the federal government and demand a balanced budget to finally end his inflation nightmare,” he added.

Jason Furman, Harvard economist and former economic advisor for thenPresident Barack Obama, said September could be the “peak” of inflation.

“Todays’s report was probably ‘peak’ inflation for the core CPI,” Mr. Furman wrote on Twitter. “I’ve thought that before but third time’s the charm. The question, however, is what does inflation fall to. There are a lot of numbers lower than 7% but still higher than 2% or 3%.”

UCSB’s new dean

Daina Ramey Berry excited to oversee humanities and fine arts

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Daina

Ramey Berry has been appointed the Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at UCSB.

“I am excited to be here because I feel this position is a culmination of my research interests and my personal interests in arts and humanities,” Dr. Berry told the News-Press. “I come from a family that collects art and I also played the flute. So to come to a position that has a culmination of fine arts, history and humanities is really exciting for me.”

Dr. Berry earned her bachelor’s in history in 1992, her master’s in African American studies in 1994 and her doctorate in U.S. History in 1998. All three of her degrees are from UCLA.

After getting her degrees, Dr. Berry helped to build the new black studies program at Arizona State University. She also spent 10 years as a professor of comparative black studies in the history department at Michigan State University. From there, she spent two years in North Carolina where she completed a fellowship at the National Humanities Center.

While completing her fellowship she also researched her book “The Price for Their Pound of Flesh.” After being invited for a talk at University of Texas Austin, the lecture resulted in a job offer, which led to her spending 13 years at UT Austin.

“I have spent almost 20-plus years as an academic and award winning author and editor of six books,” Dr. Berry said. “I was also the chair of history at University

of Texas, Austin and the associate dean of the graduate school and UT Austin. Additionally, I have served as the editor of multiple national journals and led professional organizations as well as sitting on numerous boards and commissions. I am happy to return home to California to this position. I am very happy to come back to the University of California, where I was born and raised.”

Dr. Berry spoke to her plans as head of a UCSB division.

“My goal is to spend some time on a listening tour meeting with leaders of units to the division, learning about priorities, wishes, strengths and areas of growth. From there I will develop a plan to make sure that UCSB is elevated to another level. My goal is to enhance the work of, expand and show the talent of students, staff and faculty, as well as show the talent of this campus not just in Santa Barbara but beyond.”

The News-Press asked Dean Berry how she plans to mentor students in the division.

“I am committed to mentoring students and making sure they feel seen, heard and supported and have opportunities. For graduate students I think it is important to make sure that their skills feel applicable. I have also trained over 20 Ph.D.students.”

“I hope that people will come to campus, and we hope to bring the campus to the city as well,” Dr. Berry said. “We are already doing that, and we hope to continue doing that.

“There are a number of programs that serve the community, and I look forward to meeting people at these events.”’ email: kzehnder@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

“I

mentoring students

seen, heard and supported and have opportunities,” said Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, the Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at UCSB.

Busy day at the harbor

Scholarship Foundation accepting applications for next year

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara will begin accepting scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 academic year today.

Eligibility requirements and application instructions are available at www.sbscholarship. org.

The Scholarship Foundation reviewed 2,749 applications during its recently concluded scholarship awards cycle. In May, the organization awarded more than $7.7 million in scholarships to 2,146 Santa Barbara County students.

Scholarship awards for undergraduates at four-year schools averaged $3,132; graduate

student awards (excluding those for medical school) averaged $5,191.

The Scholarship Foundation also supports students pursuing vocational training. Eligible students can receive up to five years of undergraduate funding and four years of medical/ graduate-level funding.

The primary criteria for award selection are financial need, academic achievement and motivation. The deadline to apply for financial aid from the Scholarship Foundation is Jan. 15.

“Each year, we encourage students to begin the application as soon as possible, as in many cases they will have questions or need assistance.

Our program advisers are an excellent resource for applicants throughout the county,” said Len Smolburd, foundation chief programs officer. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara is the nation’s largest community-based provider of college scholarships, having cumulatively awarded more than $140 million to some 60,000 county students since its founding in 1962. The Scholarship Foundation also provides free financial aid advising services.

For additional information, visit www.sbscholarship.org.

email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

Poetry reading planned Nov. 5 at Santa Barbara library

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara Public Library will host the first poetry reading of the 14th season of The Mission Poetry Series at 1 p.m. Nov. 5 in the Faulkner Gallery at the Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.

The Mission Poetry Series is curated by Santa Barbara’s Poet Laureate, Emma Trelles.

“Coming Home: Three Poets in Fall” features three awardwinning authors: Chloe Martinez, Sara Borjas and Rick Benjamin. The title of the event is from the poem “Fifteen Balls of Feathers” by Ada Limón, who is originally from Sonoma and is currently the 24th Poet Laureate of the United States.

The event offers complimentary broadsides, poets’ books for sale, and the chance to meet and chat with the featured authors.

This reading is made possible by the Academy of American Poets with funds from the Mellon Foundation.

Ms. Martinez is a poet and a scholar of South Asian religions. She is the author of the collection “Ten Thousand Selves” (The Word Works) and the chapbook “Corner Shrine” (Backbone Press). Her poems and translations have appeared in Ploughshares, POETRY, The Common, Prairie Schooner, AGNI, Beloit Poetry Journal and elsewhere.

She is a graduate of Barnard College, where she was a Mellon Mays Fellow, and received her doctorate in religious studies from UCSB. She is also a graduate of Boston University’s Creative Writing MA program and the MFA for Writers at Warren Wilson College, where she was a Holden Scholar.

She is the program coordinator for the Center for Writing and Public Discourse at Claremont McKenna College as well as lecturer in CMC’s Department of Religious Studies. She lives in Claremont with her husband and two daughters.

Ms. Borjas is a self-identified Xicanx pocha and a Fresno poet.

Her debut collection, “Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff” (Noemi Press, 2019), received a 2020 American Book Award.

She was featured as one of Poets and Writers 2019 Debut Poets, and she has received fellowships from MacDowell, CantoMundo, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, Postgraduate Writers Conference and Community of Writers.

Her work can be found in the Los Angeles Times, Ploughshares, The Rumpus, Poem-a-Day by The Academy of American Poets, and Catapult, among others.

Ms. Borjas teaches creative writing at Cal State East Bay

FYI

The Santa Barbara Public Library will host the first reading in the Mission Poetry Series Nov. 5 at the Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. For more information, call the Central Library at 805-962-7653 or email info@sbplibrary.libanswers.com.

and the UCR Palm Desert Low Residency MFA Program but stays rooted in Fresno.

Mr. Benjamin lives on Chumash land in Goleta and walks each day on indigenous trails. He teaches courses at UCSB, among them poetry and community, the wild literature of ecology, and literature of both social and juvenile justice, while also working among elders, young people at a local Boys and Girls Club and in art museums and youth detention facilities.

Among his works are the books of poetry,”Passing Love,” “Floating World,” “Endless Distances” and “Some Bodies in the Grief Bed,” and his next book of poetry, “The Mob Within the Heart,” is due out in April. He served as poet laureate of Rhode Island from 2012- 2016.

In addition to being the poet laureate of Santa Barbara, Ms. Trelles is the the author of “Tropicalia” (University of Notre Dame Press), winner of the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize.

32%

She is currently writing a second book of poems, “Courage and the Clock.”

The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Ms. Trelles is a CantoMundo Fellow and the recipient of an Individual Artist Grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. Her work has been anthologized in Best American Poetry; Best of the Net; Verse Daily; Big Enough For Words: Poems and Vintage Photographs from California’s Central Coast and others.

She teaches creative writing at Santa Barbara City College, where she also coordinates the Writing Center. In 2022, she was selected as one of 22 poets in the United States to receive a Poet Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets.

MPS production coordinator Mark Zolezzi is a musician and has worked as a bookseller for 20 years in both college and independent bookstores. He has performed in many venues and festivals, including the Art Center of South Florida; South by Southwest in Austin, Texas; the Art and Culture Center in Hollywood, Florida; the Miami Book Fair; and the City Link Music Festival.

He has released albums under the Ant Lunch Musick and Hotown Records labels and received a bachelor’s degree in communication from Florida Atlantic University. He is the textbook and tradebook buyer at Santa Barbara City College and has served at times as a community radio deejay at kcsb. org - 91.9 FM. He can also be found busking on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara with his band, The Gruntled.

The Mission Poetry Series was founded in 2009 on the historic grounds of the Old Mission Santa Barbara by poet and activist Paul Fericano and Susan Blomstad, a sister in the Order of St. Francis. Paul and Susan co-directed the series for five seasons, from 2009 to 2014.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.

Ojai workshop to explore throat singing

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Arrington de Dionyso will be giving a vocal workshop on throat singing for 12 participants from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Bart’s Books, 302 W. Matilija St., Ojai.

The purpose of this workshop is to help people free their voices and cultivate an awareness of vocal ability, according to a news release. Included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Tuvan throat singing originated within the ancient pastoral animism of the traditional nomadic horse riding shepherds of the Siberian steppem where the wide open landscape allows sound to travel great distances.

Throat singers carry multiple

pitches simultaneously, harmonize with waterfalls and mimic the sound of wind swirling through rocks.

Participants will receive instruction in extended techniques, while gaining awareness of multiphonics as practiced in a number of traditional and experimental settings.

“I draw heavily upon the shamanic traditions of Tuvan throat singers while also being informed by blues, rock and avant-garde music. Every time I performed, I received questions about the vocal techniques I employ in my shows, so I started giving workshops in 2003,” said Mr. de Dionyso.

“When working with musicians from Tuva, I’ve seen they often

have a harder time explaining how to do a certain technique because throat singing is such a natural part of their culture, where young people learn throat singing simply by imitating an elder.

“I developed an approach to help students experience the physical embodiment of their own vocal apparatus as a way to connect with the natural world. This facilitates a deeper exploration and makes it a little easier to pick up the advanced techniques of polyphonic singing.”

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. For more information, call 805-6463755.

appreciate your patronage over the years and are looking forward to seeing you at our store with expanded

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS

“Coming Home: Three Poets in Fall: will feature award-winning authors Chloe Martinez, Sara Borjas and Rick Benjamin reading at the Central Library in Santa Barbara.

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS

A trio of kayakers glides past the Mystic Whaler Friday as the cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner — operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises — looms on the background off Santa Barbara Harbor.

Diversions

Thought for Today

“Greatness is a road leading towards the unknown.”

HOROSCOPE

October

ARIES — Some exciting career developments could have you flying high today, Aries. Perhaps you’ve just reached a long-term goal or managed to get a break that tells you that your goals are now within reach. Whichever it is, you’re likely to be on the receiving end of some congratulations, perhaps from unexpected people.

TAURUS — Tonight, you might decide to attend a small group activity of some kind, if possible, perhaps one concerned with philosophical or spiritual matters, Taurus. Everyone who attends is apt to feel very strongly about the subject, so discussions could prove lively and exciting. Your mind could be spinning like a top when you leave, so if you can, walk home so you can clear your head.

GEMINI — Your financial situation could be greatly boosted by a development you hadn’t expected, Gemini. Perhaps some investments suddenly skyrocket in value, or maybe the homes in your neighborhood are suddenly worth more than you thought. Whichever it is, don’t try to cash in on it right now.

CANCER — A legal matter that may have been pending for a while could finally be completed today, Cancer. It’s very likely to go in your favor. Therefore, if you’ve been sitting on a contract, agreement, or other document that needs your signature, read it carefully before you sign. You will probably get what you want out of the transaction.

LEO — Your physical energy is likely to be high today, Leo, so you might not feel like staying indoors. Take care of your body first, and get in a good workout. You may also want to explore, perhaps by driving out of town for the day or going to an amusement park, if possible. You may not feel this energetic very often, so it’s best to make the most of it when you can.

VIRGO — An exciting rush of physical passion could hit you today when you’re introduced to an interesting new person, Virgo. Take care not to wear it on your face. You generally don’t like to reveal that much of yourself! Besides, you won’t want this person to think you’re too obvious. Try to stay focused and remain objective.

LIBRA — Chores that need to be done around the house could be at the top of your priority list today, Libra. A female visitor, perhaps your mother, could come by and making your place look great will preoccupy you. Don’t do any more work than you absolutely have to. You won’t want to be too tired when she arrives.

SCORPIO — Today you may have some important phone calls to make, Scorpio, and want to get them out of the way before doing anything else. You will definitely get your message across because your communicative abilities are very strong. Words combine with feelings to create understanding between you and just about anyone, whether you’re talking on the phone or writing.

SAGITTARIUS — Good news about money could create some excitement in your household today, Sagittarius. One of your goals might be to invest some of the funds in fixing up your living situation. You might even consider moving or purchasing a new home. You may kick around a lot of ideas about how to spend the windfall, but don’t go too crazy. Hold on to some of that money as a nest egg.

CAPRICORN — An intriguing new neighbor, perhaps someone you’re attracted to, could move in near you, Capricorn. This might prove very exciting. You will probably strike up a conversation and enjoy talking with him or her. Whether you choose to pursue this attraction depends on both of your current situations, but at the very least, you will make a new friend.

AQUARIUS — Your intuitive abilities should be operating at a very high level today, Aquarius. You might inadvertently receive some positive psychic messages about your future, and this could prove very exciting. These insights could be a source of inspiration that propels you to accomplish wonders in some aspect of your life.

PISCES — A friend could tell you about an exciting new person for whom you feel a very powerful physical attraction when you see their picture, Pisces. Your first conversation could prove exciting but stay calm and remain objective. If your feelings are too obvious, he or she could well lose interest before anything has time to develop!

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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

and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the

THATSCRAMBL

ByDavidL.HoytandJeffKnurek

— Charles de Gaulle

Building features skills lab meant to mimic hospital conditions

Final plan expected by early 2024

Continued

planners need to consider not only State Street but possible alterations to surrounding streets so bicycles can travel safely in the downtown area. She said those could include more bicycle lanes.

Project planner Timmy Bolton said it’s essential that the plan be tailored to the unique characteristics of Santa Barbara and that it reflects the community’s vision and values. He said that could be accomplished through “extensive public engagement that reaches all corners of our community.”

Mr. Bolton said the plan would include an existing conditions analysis, a vision for how the space is used, and topics such as streetscape, public art, public amenities, housing, homeless engagement, stormwater management, utilities, overall mobility plan and economic development.

He said one question is how Santa Barbara can leverage its rich architectural heritage in a new and exciting way.

The city’s current timeline calls for a final plan by early 2024.

email: dmason@newspress.com

the Santa Barbara community.

In addition to office space for faculty, conference rooms and classroom space, the building also features facilities for nursing students to engage in hands-on learning that will prepare them for future work in hospitals. The space is large enough to accommodate a cohort of 24 nursing students, with the program currently featuring a cohort of 20.

The building’s skills lab, for example, features multiple highquality, lifelike mannequins from Lifecast Body Simulation arranged in a space that replicates a hospital. Here, the nursing students will be instructed in giving head-to-toe assessments, providing patient care such as bed baths and work with IV pumps, med dispensing units and tube feeding.

In the simulation lab, students will learn to perform patient assessments and respond to a variety of hospital situations including bleeding, seizing and even labor through the use of technology-enhanced mannequins. The mannequins also feature both scripted dialogue and the ability for instructors to speak through them to further enhance the hands-on element.

The new building and the university’s nursing program, which began in the spring of 2022 and is augmented by a partnership with Cottage Hospital, came together due to a convergence of several factors and individuals.

The considerations for a nursing

program began when Steven Fellows, the Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer of Cottage Hospital, approached Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe to inquire about Westmont’s interest in starting such a program.

Mr. Beebe responded that he

believed the university was at a “pivotal moment” in its history, and that it needed to begin considering projects that would benefit the community and increase its presence in downtown Santa Barbara.

The idea of a nursing program

gained further momentum during the pandemic as the result of a conversation between the Westmont president and the recently-departed philanthropist, Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree.

According to Mr. Beebe, Lady Ridley-Tree inquired as to what he was doing at Westmont, to which he responded by broaching the prospect of bringing a nursing program to the school.

She expressed interest in the project and later setup a lunch between herself, Mr. Bebee, and Dave and Anna Grotenhuis to further discuss the idea. From there, the years-long project to bring a nursing program to Westmont began in full; and with the help and support of many others, has culminated in the launching of this new center.

“Lady Ridley-Tree was the catalyst for Dave and I getting involved in this wonderful initiative,” Mrs. Grotenhuis said in a statement. “Leslie cared so deeply about Westmont, about Cottage, and was always looking for ways to strengthen our community. It was her creativity that captured our imagination and we’re so pleased to see this vision become a reality.”

email: jdaniels@newspress.com

SANTA

POINT

Westmont College President Gayle Beebe speaks during the building’s dedication ceremony.

David and Anna Grotenhuis step away from the podium after the couple spoke while the first cohort of nursing students applaud.