Festival of Trees
Sports nights coming to Tavern at Zaca Creek
Carpinteria Lions Club’s annual event to provide funding for skatepark - A4
Buellton tavern to introduce new menu, decor aimed at sports fans - B1
Our 166th Year
75¢
S A T U R D A Y , N O V E M B E R 2 7, 2 0 2 1
Black Friday no longer a frenzy Local businesses offer sales for Small Business Saturday
New COVID strain found in South Africa U.S. blocks flights from several countries in southern Africa By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Stacks of televisions are lined up at Best Buy during Black Friday throughout the store.
By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
Black Friday shoppers had their choice of high-definition televisions priced hundreds off retail well into the afternoon Friday at Best Buy and Target in Goleta. Some deals were out of stock by noon, but shoppers who slept in had ample opportunity to save. The Black Friday experience has changed over the years, swapping doorbusters for week-long sales. The National Retail Federation, the industry’s largest trade organization, has tracked a trend of early holiday shopping through consumer surveys. According to the NRF’s 2021 survey, 61% of shoppers had begun buying gifts by early November. In 2011, 51% had started checking off lists. This year, shoppers answered they have completed an average of 28% of their shopping. In 2011, consumers had 18% of their gifts purchased. “Consumers are starting earlier than ever to be sure they can get what they want, when they want it, at a price they want to pay. Black Friday stopped being a one-day event years ago, and this year some consumers started shopping for Christmas as early as Halloween,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. The News-Press talked to customers who had made purchases late Friday morning. They primarily purchased items for themselves. Bill and Joni Fogg went to Best Buy so their son could purchase headphones he had been eyeing. They hadn’t planned to purchase anything themselves but after browsing, they checked out with a flat screen and a sound bar. They saw the prices and thought it couldn’t get better.
email: fmcfarland@newspress.com
Solvang’s Julefest starts today Annual celebration will be closer to its pre-pandemic self By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT
A sign directs any lines that may form during Black Friday at Target in Goleta.
As they drove to Best Buy, they reminisced about large ads touting the hottest deals and the campers that lined up years ago.
FOLLOW US ON
66833 00050
3
They said Best Buy was busy but easy to move around, and the checkout line moved quickly. Michael Ybarra and his son drove
to Best Buy to pick up a flat screen he purchased online. He had planned to buy a television for a while, and he Please see BLACK FRIDAY on B4
Solvang’s Julefest is back and better resembles its pre-pandemic celebrations. Pronounced ‘Yule-Fest,’ the month-long holiday season event this year includes a tree-lighting ceremony and Julefest parade, Solvang food tours and many more Christmasthemed events. Julefest runs from today until Jan. 1. “Solvang’s Julefest festivities are making a Please see JULEFEST on A2
LOTTERY
i nsi d e Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4
6
The World Health Organization announced a new COVID-19 strain, the Omicron variant, on Friday. The WHO dubbed the new strain as a “variant of concern” or VOC, which is the organization’s most serious category. Also described as B.1.1.529, the strain had rapidly spread in South Africa, causing the U.S. to block flights from several countries in southern Africa. The European Union also announced similar travel restrictions. “This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning,” the WHO announced in a news release. “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant.” There is currently no proof that the variant is more lethal, and the World Health Organization announced it would be several weeks before they could garner any information on how contagious the variant is. The WHO additionally cautioned against premature travel restrictions saying global authorities should take a “risk-based and scientific approach.” So far, a few dozen cases have been confirmed in Botswana, Belgium, Israel and Hong Kong. It is unclear whether or not COVID19 mutations pose a threat to vaccines’ effectiveness. However, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers the new variant could render vaccines less effective. Scientists in South Africa discovered the Omicron strain while observing an increase in infections surrounding Johannesburg. They praised South African public health institutions for picking up on the variant in such an early phase. The World Health Organization maintains that there is currently no substantive information about the Omicron variant and urges people not to panic over the news. The organization announced it was meeting with South African public health leaders to discuss next steps.
Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 12-14-17-20-21 Mega: 9
Friday’s DAILY 4: 3-4-8-5
Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-27-37-42-59 Mega: 2
Friday’s FANTASY 5: 9-20-27-30-37
Friday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-01-03 Time: 1:49.20
Wednesday’s POWERBALL: 10-16-32-63-65 Meganumber: 17
Friday’s DAILY 3: 4-4-7 / Midday 1-7-4