Santa Barbara News-Press: December 26, 2021 by Santa Barbara News-Press

New year, new troubles

Sound bites of 2021

Manchin praised

The Investigator bravely reveals Nostradamus’ predictions for 2022 - A3

Here are some memorable quotes from News-Press stories - B1

Coumnist: Dem senator did country a service resisting Build Back Better - C1

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Stepping forward with her passion Santa Maria High School band director to march in Rose Parade

Gordon Ramsay moves headquarters out of California Celebrity chef is taking his restaurant operations to Texas By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Another company has left California for Texas, this time that of British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. Gordon Ramsay North America is developing a team of chefs and businessmen in Las Colinas, Dallas, the Dallas Morning News first reported. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is already home to some of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S., and continues to draw new businesses and residents to the area. The region has expanded so much in the past decade that 2020 Census data warranted Texas gaining two congressional seats in the North Texas area. By contrast, in 2020, for the first time in California’s recorded history, the state reported a population Please see RAMSAY on A2

COURTESY PHOTOS

Samantha Quart conducts her band during a Santa Maria High School concert. Ms. Quart will march with nearly 300 other band directors from across the U.S. in the Rose Parade Saturday.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

“I feel like it is the biggest honor,” Samantha Quart said about being selected to march in the Rose Parade. “I have always known about the Rose Parade. It’s a national acknowledgement. I even have a running joke with my dad about being in the Rose Parade.”

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Samantha Quart loves her job. So much so that her passion impressed the Saluting America’s Band Directors project, which selected the Santa Maria High School band director to march in the 2022 Rose Parade Saturday with nearly 300 other directors from all 50 states and Mexico. The 133rd parade will be televised live at 8 a.m. Saturday on ABC (KEYT-TV, Channel 3), NBC (KSBY-TV, Channel 6) and the Hallmark Channel. Ms. Quart has been a band director since 2016 when she started working in that position at Santa Maria High School. She is originally from Michigan, where she graduated from Central Michigan University, with her degree in music education. “I knew I wanted to be a band director since my freshman year of high school,” Ms. Quart told the News-Press. “When I was in band in high school, my band

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Gordon Ramsay, seen above on the Fox series “Masterchef,” is the latest of many entrepreneurs to move their companies from California to Texas.

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director showed me that I had learned to play my instrument backward, and I didn’t want that to happen to anyone else.” She added, “I had always loved marching band, and I wanted to do something I loved for the rest of my life.” Following a job fair at her university, Ms. Quart began talking to a school in Bakersfield upon her graduation. The opportunity with Bakersfield fell through, but Santa Maria High School had an opening, and the school got information about Ms. Quart from the Bakersfield school. Ms. Quart said marching in the Rose Parade, a famous New Year’s Day tradition on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, feels like the biggest honor to her. “I have always known about the Rose Parade,” Ms. Quart said. “It’s a national acknowledgement. I even have a running joke with my dad about being in the Rose Parade.” Please see PARADE on A2

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER Construction update Drivers are reminded to Slow for the Cone Zone and use care throughout local construction zones. The speed limit is reduced to 55 mph for safety throughout the construction areas. Two freeway lanes remain open in each direction during daytime hours. In observance of the holiday, crews will not work on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Northbound Highway 101

COURTESY PHOTO

Members of the Santa Maria High School Jazz Band gather outside Dos Pueblos High School. On Saturday, their director, Samantha Quart, will take another step forward in her career with the Rose Parade.

Band director to march alongside peers in Rose Parade PARADE

Continued from Page A1 To participate in the Saluting America’s Band Directors project, band directors must demonstrate on their applications that they loved what they did and wanted to show that. They must also list things their band has done and in which they have participated. Lastly, they must demonstrate how they do more than just make music with the band — and how they teach students to love the band experience and give back to the community. “There is a lot I hope my students feel and see,” Ms. Quart said when asked what she hopes to model for her students by marching

Sunday nights from 9 p.m.7 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from Bailard Ave. to N. Padaro Ln., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln. and S. Padaro Ln. and the off-ramp at Bailard Ave. Monday - Thursday nights, from 8 p.m.–7 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from Bailard Ave. to N. Padaro Ln., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln. and S. Padaro Ln., and the off-ramp at Bailard Ave. During the week of January 3rd from 8 p.m.–7 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from Bailard Ave. to N. Padaro Ln., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln., S. Padaro Ln., and Bailard Ave.

Southbound Highway 101 On Monday, Dec. 27 from 10 p.m.- 5 a.m., southbound Hwy 101 will be closed between N.

and S. Padaro Lanes for pothole repairs following the recent rains. Traffic will be detoured at the southbound off-ramp at N. Padaro Ln to Via Real to S. Padaro Ln and back on the freeway at the onramp at Santa Claus Ln. On Sunday nights, from 10 p.m.- 7 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from N. Padaro Ln. to Bailard Ave., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln. and S. Padaro Ln. Monday - Thursday nights from 8 p.m.–7:30 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from N. Padaro Ln. to Bailard Ave., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln. and S. Padaro Ln. During the week of Jan. 3, from 8:00 p.m.–7:30 a.m., the highway will be reduced to one lane from N. Padaro Ln. to Bailard Ave., with on- and off-ramps at N. Padaro Ln., S. Padaro Ln., Casitas Pass Rd., Bailard Ave The on-ramp at Sheffield Dr. is anticipated to reopen in mid2022. In the meantime, drivers can use the southbound on-ramp at N. Padaro Ln. The off-ramp at Sheffield Dr. is anticipated to reopen at the beginning of 2022. Drivers can use the southbound off-ramp at San Ysidro Rd. Work on San Ysidro Rd. over Highway 101 and S. Jameson Ln. between Olive Mill Rd. and San Ysidro Rd. has been rescheduled to Jan 5-7. Flaggers will direct traffic as needed between 7 a.m.5 p.m. - Katherine Zehnder

Ms. Quart was originally supposed to march in the 2021 parade, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic. in the parade. Ms. Quart hopes her students understand the importance of following a passion whether you are getting paid or not, being acknowledged for doing something you love, following your passion no matter what it is, and setting a goal and accomplishing it. “I have known about this since November of 2019. It still feels like it is so far away and like it’s never going to happen,” Ms. Quart told the

News-Press. Ms. Quart was originally supposed to march in the 2021 parade, but the event was canceled due to the pandemic. But on Saturday, she’ll march with other band directors as she takes another step forward in a career she loves. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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Sousaphone players in the back perform with the Santa Maria High School band. The band’s director, Samantha Quart, is dedicated to inspiring her students to be passionate about their dreams and careers.

About half of companies leaving California wind up in Texas RAMSAY

Continued from Page A1

a cactus, and cooked it rotisserie style over an open fire. While most Texans don’t eat rattlesnakes or live a cowboy lifestyle, Mr. Ramsay tried both, saying, “I knew Texans were a breed of their own. But never in my wildest dreams did I know they possess that much grit.” Over the past three years, Texas gained roughly half of the known companies that left California, according to a Hoover Institution report. From January 2018 to June 2021, 114 out of 265 known California companies relocated their headquarters to Texas. The California Policy Center lists 149 companies that have left California since 2005 in its “California Book of Exoduses,” the majority of which relocated to Texas. Most that left “cite California’s high tax burden and cost of living as reasons for them leaving,” the center states.

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decline. It also lost one congressional seat. Ramsay North America already has a temporary test kitchen inside Dallas College’s Culinary, Pastry and Hospitality facility in north Texas. And one of its new executive chefs is Dallas native Michelle Tribble. Ms. Triblle took third place on Mr. Ramsay’s reality television show, Hell’s Kitchen, in season 14 and later went back to win season 17. The Las Colinas team, which plans to open 75 company-owned restaurants nationwide over the next five years, will do so in a far more tax favorable state, a factor most businesses cite when relocating to Texas. The company’s CEO, Norman Abdallah, told

The Dallas Morning News that, “The cost of living adjustment [from California to Texas] is pretty substantial.” Mr. Ramsay’s company was founded in 1997 and is one of the largest privately owned restaurant groups in the U.K. Mr. Ramsay, who lives in the U.K. with his family, won’t be following other high-profile entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan, who left California this year to establish residences in Texas. Dave Rubin of the Rubin Report announced this month that he and his entire company were moving to Texas . He’d be a Texas resident by January. Mr. Ramsay, no stranger to Texas, might have an advantage these celebrities don’t have: he’s caught and eaten a Texas rattlesnake. While filming his new travel show this summer in Texas, the Hell’s Kitchen star skinned a rattlesnake, wrapped its meat inside

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Be brave: Here’s what Nostradamus predicted for 2022

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Robert Eringer is a longtime Montecito author with vast experience in investigative journalism. He welcomes questions and comments at reringer@gmail. com.

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New Year’s Day in Britain means the bestowing of knighthoods and other assorted royal orders upon those who have made it onto the Queen’s “good” list. This column has its own version: The Dis-Honors List. And here it is. • Masters of Arrogance: Shared equally between brothers Andrew and Chris Cuomo, once upon a time, princes of governance and television news; now, having been kissed by scandal, disgraced and forcibly removed from their spheres of influence, transformed into toads. Andrew, as New York guv, sentenced thousands of senior citizens to death by concentrating them in COVID-infected “care” facilities while pretending through daily television briefings to guard the nation from China’s gift to the world, though what led to his downfall and resignation (he would otherwise have been impeached) was groping numerous females and blaming a touchy-feely addiction on his Italian heritage. Chris crossed the journalistic ethics barrier by aiding and abetting his older brother in the ensuing cover-up attempts while pretending objectivity in his reporting and striving, as a wannabe gumshoe, to uncover dirt on his brother’s accusers — and then lied about the true nature of his underhanded activities to colleagues and superiors. • Master of Prevarication: Anthony Fauci. Dr. Fauci leaves a trail of flipflops and outright lies about treatment for and origins of COVID, always in the name of science, as if he and science are twins (like that movie with Arnold and Danny DeVito). • Commander of the Toilet: Jussie Smollett, who singlehandedly debased the principle of race-hate crime by taking his occupation as an actor way too far and staging a farce, for which he cast a pair of “black as sin” Nigerians (Mr. Smollett’s words) to rough him up so he could act the victim and whimper about an attack on his person by “Trump supporters.” • Order of the Jester: Lori Lightfoot, Mayor of Chicago, who claims retail business owners are to blame for the “smash-and-grab” phenomenon. • A second Order of the Jester to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki for dressing like Princess Mombi in “Return to Oz” while blaming “smash-and-grab” on COVID, a combination more disconcerting than stainless steel cutlery cooking in the microwave. • Art Prize (not!): Hunter, for cashing in yet again on the Biden

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Oddly, Nostradamus predicts nothing about UFOs. Yet, earlier this year, the U.S. government released a report on what they now refer to as “unidentified aerial phenomena,” and, who knows, 2022 may be the year in which a flying saucer with aliens aboard spins into a town near you. For easy understanding, we have deconstructed the government’s findings: Report: “The limited amount of high-quality reporting on UAP (unidentified aerial phenomena) hampers our ability to draw firm conclusions about the nature or intent of UAP.” Meaning: We know nothing. Report: “UAP clearly poses a safety of flight issue and may pose a challenge to U.S. national security.” Meaning: We’re scared. Report: “In 18 incidents, described in 21 reports, observers reported unusual UAP movement patterns or flight characteristics. Some UAP appeared to remain stationary in winds aloft, move against the wind, maneuver abruptly, or move at considerable speed, without discernible means of propulsion.” Meaning: The dynamics are unearthly. Report: “UAP poses a hazard to safety of flight, 11 reports of documented instances in which pilots reported near misses with a UAP.” Meaning: We now have more to worry about when flying than COVID-19 — and masks won’t help. Report: “We currently lack data to indicate any UAP are part of a foreign collection program or indicative of a major technological advancement by a potential adversary. We continue to monitor for evidence of such programs given the counter intelligence challenge they would pose, particularly as some UAP have been detected near military facilities or by aircraft carrying the USG’s most advanced sensor systems.” Meaning: Again, we know diddly-squat. Report: “The UAPTF has begun to develop interagency analytical and processing workflows to ensure both collection and analysis will be well informed and coordinated.” Meaning: The armed services (and 28 intelligence agencies) have never cooperated with one another on this subject, which is partly why we know diddlysquat. Report: “The UAPTF has indicated that additional funding for research and development could further the future study of the topics laid out in this report.”

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Meaning: As always, we want more money from the taxpayer to waste on nonsensical studies and dumb experiments. Bottom line: Nothing of substance here, just the typical government gabble of gobbledygook. They don’t have a clue. Well, that’s not exactly true. They’ve had plenty of clues, going back 70 years, but avoided paying any attention to any of them; avoided, in fact, any attempt to connect the dots because no one in the armed services wanted to own up to having witnessed a UFO because of the stigma attached to “flying saucers” and, with it, the fear of harming your career if you reported having seen one. Which means this: The U.S. government is either incapable of figuring things out or it is incapable of telling the truth. Probably a combination of the two.

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name. Schlocking! • Decoration of the Hypocrites: Speaker Nancy “You wear masks, I don’t” Pelosi — and Gov. Gavin Newsom for the same. They should partner up to create a new board game: Double Standards: You roll dice, zip around the board collecting money for yourself, give away money earned by those still employed to those who do not wish to be employed — and order everyone to stay inside wearing masks while they party on, un-masked, with their fellow elitists. • Finally, the Antithesis of Dishonor: This award goes to Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin from West Virginia for courageously facing off to his party and saying “no” to a bill (literally, a $1.75 trillion taxpayer bill) full of pork and beans they call “Build Back Better” but whose real name is “Weaken Forward Worse.”

ROBERT ERINGER

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— since the beginning of 2021 — along the southern border of the U.S.), due to war or upheaval from catastrophes (perhaps nuclear explosion and/or asteroid impact mentioned above), leading to world hunger on a scale never before seen. Five: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Yup, Nosty also predicted AI, which (he forecast) would officially commence this coming year to replace humans as the world’s dominant force and ultimately (some years down the road) bring an end to mankind. Six: “Sacred temples prime Roman style/Will reject the Goffes Foundation.” This has been interpreted to mean the disintegration of the European Union. (Throw in a siege of Paris: “All around the great city/Will be soldiers lodged by fields and cities.”) Bottom line: We’ve already endured a pandemic (and the fear-mongering associated with it continues). We may face a nuclear bomb detonation and/or an asteroid crashing into earth; and we’re on the cusp of AI taking over. The only thing missing — and the most threateningly destructive of all to our fragile planet — is the eruption of a supervolcano, of which there are 10 around the globe, including our own Yellowstone Caldera in northwest Wyoming. If Yellowstone (or any of them) blows and thick smoke blocks out the sun, our planet will enter another ice age — and no stockpile of canned beans, guns and gold will prevent you and me from very quickly freezing to death. (Take all this with a grain of salt because it is the arrogance and folly of every generation to believe the end is nigh on their watch.

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veryone has heard of Nostradamus (Michel de Nostradame), the 16th-century French astrologer and seer who forecast the future. His prophecies — published in 1555 as “quatrain” poetry based upon what he called “judicial astrology” — have endured as his predictions played out through the centuries, among them the Great Fire of London, the French Revolution, the rise of Adolf Hitler, the assassination of JFK — and even 9/11. So: What does 2022 have in store for us, according to Nosty’s calculations? Careful, because what you are about to learn here may instill a hankering to head for the hills, say, Idaho or northern Arizona (already deluged by refugees from California seeking liberty and freedom and un-wokeness). One: Inflation. This is already happening, of course. You cannot print money based on nothing and give it away to the masses and not expect prices for everything to go up. Way up. This isn’t rocket science. You have to wonder on what planet economists receive their education. Nosty predicts that the U.S. dollar will collapse this coming year. Certainly, the greenbacks in your wallet are, on a daily basis, losing their value against buyable goods. If you travel to Europe or Asia, you have no doubt discovered that countries U.S. And if you have traveled around the U.S., you have no doubt encountered decline and dilapidation, boardedup businesses and abandoned houses, along with a seriously corrupted infrastructure. If we aren’t a third-world country yet, we are becoming one due to poor leadership over many decades. In short, we have been sold out by those who purport to govern us. As China endeavors to become the world’s top economic and military power (we helped them do this, starting with Bill Clinton), the almighty dollar is not so mighty anymore because, despite Orwellian newspeak from the Biden administration, inflation has spiraled out of control — and will only spiral higher in the coming months. So, chalk one up for Nostradamus a few months ahead of schedule. Two: The detonation of a nuclear bomb. If Russia invades Ukraine and meets deadly resistance bolstered by Western armaments and Eastern European armies, it would not be out of character for a cowed and cornered Vladimir Putin to unleash a limited nuclear response. The world, at this point, almost expects this of him. Indeed, Kremlin mouthpiece Dmitry Kiselyov just 5 days ago threatened that “everything will be turned to radioactive ash” if bully-boy Putin doesn’t get his way on Ukraine. And according to Dr. Philip Petersen, a former Pentagon official, just back from the frontlines, Putin’s decision to invade has already been made. “It will probably happen sometime between Christmas and New Year,” he told The Investigator. “Putin knows what he wants, and he’s aiming to get it. And short of Europe coming together and threatening to boycott Russian energy products (natural gas and oil) this winter, he’s ready to roll.” Nosty suggested the Mediterranean Sea as the likely venue for a missile-delivered nuclear explosion in 2022. But his quatrains are imprecise, mysterious and subject to interpretation, which means he could easily have meant the neighboring Black Sea, south of Ukraine. He further forecasts that this blast will alter the planet’s position, leading to flooding from earthquakes along with significant climate change. The quatrain that pertains to the above earth-busting event is interpreted by others as being not nuclear weapon-oriented but… Three: An asteroid striking earth. (Maybe both in 2022.) Nosty identifies Japan as the country most likely to suffer from earthquakes and flooding from an asteroid impact. Four: Vast population shifts (as in immigration, seven times as many migrants than usual, mostly in Europe, yet already happening

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Community Environmental Council adds new staff

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From left, Nicole Eads, Elizabeth Fry, Siena Hooper and Natalie McGuire.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

issues. The new staff members are:

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Nicole Eads: Director of Development

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) has announced the addition of new staff members intended to bolster the council’s response to climate

Ms. Eads has more than 10 years of experience working in non-profit fundraising. Prior to

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working at CEC, she was the Director of Development for California State University, Northridge’s Nazarian College of Business. In her role at CEC, Ms. Eads is the lead for fundraising and networking opportunities. She received her bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from California State University ong Beach.

Elizabeth Fry: Accounting Manager Ms. Fry has worked in finance and accounting for more than 20 years, primarily in the nonprofit sector. In her role at CEC, she is responsible for preparing financial statements and related variance analysis reports.She received her bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University.

Siena Hooper: Santa Barbara County Food Rescue Coordinator Ms. Hooper has experience in a wide range of volunteer programs including the Isla Vista Compost Collective and UC Santa Barbara’s Global Environmental Justice Project. In her role at CEC, she conducts outreach to new food donor and recipient agencies, coordinates donations, and tracks food donation data to help maximize food recovery. She received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara.

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Natalie McGuire: Executive Assistant and Board Liaison

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Ms. McGuire has experience as an Executive Assistant at a tech start-up. In her role at CEC, she supports the CEO and helps facilitate close ties with CEC’s Board members. Ms. McGuire says is excited about being a part of CEC because the work aligns with her personal passions as a nature advocate. She received her bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University.

Molly Taylor

Molly Taylor: Climate Smart Agriculture Program Manager Ms. Taylor most recently managed a ranching operation in Northern California and worked with producers to transition to climate-smart agricultural practices. In her role at CEC, she bridges the gap between the agriculture industry and environmentalists to help local farmers turn their land into carbon sinks while turning a profit. Ms. Taylor is an ecological monitor and enjoys watching landscapes change as they respond to careful management. She studied Urban Planning at New York University.

Alexis Rizo: Climate Policy Assistant Ms. Rizo has worked in city government and interned for Sen. Dianne Feinstein researching environmental legislation. In her role at CEC, she helps move forward local climate policy goals, including some she became familiar with as an intern at CEC and through taking CEC’s new UC Climate Stewards certification course. Passionate about environmental justice, she is particularly interested in the effects of pesticide exposure on farmworkers in her hometown of Oxnard. Ms. Rizo received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California Lutheran University.

Naomi Newman: Climate Leadership Intern

A chandelier adds ambiance and provides general lighting for dining and entertaining. You’ll want to choose one that’s large enough to wash the entire table in light, so you don’t leave some of your guests sitting in the shadows. At Santa Barbara Design Center we have a huge selection to choose from so stop by today to lighten-up your day. SAME DAY PICK UP OR DELIVERY!

SANTA BARBARA

design center

YOUR HOME FURNISHINGS SOURCE

THE FINEST ORIENTAL & MODERN FLOOR COVERINGS

OPEN: Mon-Sat 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Alexis Rizo

Ms. Newman found her passion in the environment and reducing human impact on the planet after researching the lack of policy for climate refugees. In her role at CEC, she supports efforts to build climate leadership and also to reduce waste and plastic. Ms. Newman is currently working on a master’s degree in Public Policy at Pepperdine University, with hopes of working in the field of environmental policy.

New Director of Development Nicole Eads has more than 10 years of experience working in nonprofit fundraising. In her role at CEC, Ms. Eads is the lead for fundraising and networking opportunities.

Naomi Newman

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

ADVERTISING

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

ADVERTISING

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Beat the 2022 Price Increase! Manufacturer price increases up to 20%

Starting Jan. 1

OUTDOOR GRILLING

Buy 2 appliances, receive $50 Buy 3 appliances, receive $100 Buy 4 appliances, receive $200

with purchase of any in-stock Big Green Egg Grill ( $110 value)

WAS $649.00

NOW

47900

Freestanding 30" Gas Range with 13,000 BTU Power Boil Burner

Freestanding Gas Range with 5 burner cooktop and cast iron edge-to-edge grates

WAS $879.00

WAS $939.00

180

WAS $509.00

NOW

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138

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GDF510PGRWW ·space for 12 place settings & large dishware

2,999

Limited Quantities

FFSGS6244-36

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170

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200

Stainless Steel Dishwasher

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WAS $1099.00

WAS $769.00

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89900

59900

KDFE204KPS · 3rd level utensil rack · 5 wash cycles and 6 options

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FFSGS6244-48

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Stainless Steel Dishwasher

561

48" Starting at

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1,999

WAS $699.00

499

36" Starting at

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WAS $679.00

399

NX60A6111SS

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180

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110

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Freestanding Gas Range with Precise Simmer Sealed Burner

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for the holiday

Dec. 25, 2021

FREE Big Green Egg EGG MATES

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600 in WDC Rewards

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Members of:

Hu r 1 ry!

Proud supporter of the Boys & Girls Club and many other charities that support our local communities.

Sa le E /2 nds

www.wdcappliances.com

DOOR BUSTERS Limited Quantities Available WAS $3,476.00

4-piece set includes: Side-by-Side Refrigerator RS28A500ASR · 28 cu.ft Capacity · Full length drawer · Interior LED lighting

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18.8 cu.ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator

28 cu.ft. Side-by-Side Refrigerator

LRFCS25D3S · Ice Maker · LED lighting · 2 crisper drawers

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Front Load Washer & Electric Dryer

WAS $529.00 ea.

WAS $879.00 ea.

WAS $939.00 ea.

449 SAVE $

each

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each

INSTANTLY on each

Washer FFTW4120SW · 12 Wash programs Dryer FFRE4120SW · Smart wi-fi enabled TurboSteamTM w/ 12 dry options

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77900

74500

each

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189500

160

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SAVE $

744

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Washer WT7150CW · Add extra water to any cycle Dryer DLE7150W · Sensor Dry optimizes time & temperature for best results

Washer/Dryer WKGX201HWA · 4.5 cu.ft. Washer & 7.4 cu.ft Dryer · Smart wi-fi enabled · Easy-access, centralized control panel

Limited Quantities

TORRANCE

AGOURA HILLS 30621 Canwood St. 818.991.8846

MOORPARK

14349 White Sage Rd. 805.222.1380

SANTA BARBARA 3920 State St. 805.898.9883

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Monday - Sunday 10am-6pm • www.wdcappliances.com

644

INSTANTLY

12 $299

UP TO

MONTHS

SPECIAL FINANCING1

minimum purchase required. Upon approved credit. See store for details.

20901 Hawthorne Blvd. 310.802.6380

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We Can Help!

each

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364

2,875

each

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264

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FFTR1835VW · EvenTemp Cooling System · Flexible Interior Storage System

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28 cu.ft. French Door Refrigerator

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164

4-piece set includes: Side-by-Side Refrigerator LRFCS25D3S · 25 cu.ft Capacity · PrintProof Stainless Steel Finish

See store for details

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INSTANTLY!

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WAS $1649.00

715

SAVE $824

Over-the-Range Microwave ME16A4021AS · Energy saving ECO Mode · Powerful 300 CFM fan Dishwasher DW80R2031US · Adjustable upper rack · Digital water leakage sensor

Qualifes for WDC Rewards!

WAS $879.00

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Gas Freestanding Range NX60A6111SS · Integrated griddle and cast iron edge-to-edge grates · 6.0 cu.ft. oven capacity

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18.3 cu.ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator

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OXNARD

887 Ventura Blvd. 805.278.0388

ADVERTISING

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Beat the 2022 Price Increase! Manufacturer price increases up to 20%

Starting Jan. 1

Plumbing Fixture CLEARANCE

Clearance

HOME APPLIANCES UP TO 35% OFF

Stores Closed

for the holiday

Dec. 25, 2021

UP TO

Members of:

Hu r 1 ry!

Proud supporter of the Boys & Girls Club and many other charities that support our local communities.

Sa le E /2 nds

www.wdcappliances.com

% OFF UP TO

Clearance

MONTHS SPECIAL FINANCING

$299 minimum appliance or plumbing purchase required.

Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet

Single-Handle Pull Down Kitchen Faucet

Grohe K4 SingleHandle Chrome Kitchen Faucet

Sale Price

ONLY 66 $

ONLY 77 $

ONLY 00 $

Was: $1,425

Was: $1,452

Was: $809

Was: $349.21

· LED light illuminates jet of water · Pull-out spray with covered aerator · Single lever mixer

Pro-Series Stainless Steel Prep Station Kitchen Sink

399

588

Sale Price

D87 Manhattan Double Basin Undermount Kitchen Sink

Was: $933.99

Was: $420

· 18 gauge undermount sink · Made for 33" and larger cabinets · Sound dampening

Accessories Included: · Rolling Mat · Grid · Colander · Drain

Vitreous China Sink

Sale Price

ONLY $

ONLY 00 $

Was: $2344

Was: $1149.99

Clearance item

Artisan Vitreous China Sink

· 36" Single-bowl Fireclay Apron Sink · Biscuit color only · Acid & alkali resistant glazed surfaces

ONLY 77 $

Was: $261

Was: $119.99

Was: $120

Sale Price

ONLY 00 $

ONLY $

Was: $367.21

Was: $477.21

199

· Minimalist design · Removable aerator for easy cleaning · Polished chrome finish

Clearance

Elongated OnePiece Toilet

Clearance

ONLY 77 $

Sale Price ONLY 60 $

468

Was: $804 · Right Height Elongated Bowl · Dual injection flush valves · Anti-microbial surface

139

Sale Price ONLY 77 $

Was: $65

· Drop In Bathroom Sink · White self rim vitreous china sink

30% OFF select TOTO plumbing fixtures^

Was: $280.50

· High arc spout · Removable recessed aerator for easy cleaning · Matte black finish

Touchless Flush Elongated Toilet

Clearance

Intrigue Single Control Faucet

Sale Price

299

Other finish options available - ask for pricing.

Artisan Vitreous China Sink

· Drop In Bathroom Sink · Biscuit self rim vitreous china sink · Faucet holes on 8 in. center

· Undermount Bathroom Sink · Enamel glaze seals vitreous china for easy clean

Black Finish Widespread Faucet

Limited to stock on hand

Widespread Bathroom Faucet

· 33" Double-bowl Apron Sink · Fireclay with glazed surface - inhibits bacterial growth

Sale Price

ONLY 00 $

· Undermount Bathroom Sink · Unique curved basin · Stain-resistant china finish

599

Clearance

ONLY 77 $

119

Other finish options available - ask for pricing.

Clearance

Sale Price

100977

119

499

Free local delivery available on eligible plumbing items $2,000 & up. Exclusions may apply.

Sale Price

Sale Price ONLY 77 $

· Magnetic docking · Double-function spray head · 360 swing angle spout Other finish options available - ask for pricing.

Farmhouse Kitchen Sinks

Clearance

ONLY 99 $

PLUMBING LOCAL DELIVERY

220

· Pullout spray faucet head enhances faucets versatility · High-arch gooseneck spout design · Smooth handle operation

· Solid brass construction · 2 spray functions · Independent rotational and pivoting lever handle elements

FREE

Sale Price

ONLY 66 $

712

Pull Down Kitchen Faucet

· High quality brass construction · Brass pop-up drain assembly included · Chrome finish

Clearance

Sale Price

Right Height Elongated OnePiece Toilet

Sale Price

ONLY 77 $

Was: $875

Was: $714

379

333

· Touchless flush activation · Anti-microbial surface · PowerWash rim scrubs bowl with each flush

· Elongated siphon action jetted bow · EverClean surface inhibits stain and odorcausing bacteria

^See Store for Details

1- 6/12 Month Special Financing on Appliances & Plumbing Fixtures with minimum purchase of $299. Minimum monthly payments required. We reserve the right to discontinue or alter the terms of this offer any time 2-On Clearance Merchandise Only. Can not be combined with other offers. We reserve the right to discontinue or alter the terms of this offer any time. Sale ends 12/31/21. See stores for details.

TORRANCE

20901 Hawthorne Blvd. 310.802.6380

AGOURA HILLS 30621 Canwood St. 818.991.8846

MOORPARK

14349 White Sage Rd. 805.222.1380

SANTA BARBARA 3920 State St. 805.898.9883

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! Monday - Sunday 10am-6pm • www.wdcappliances.com

OXNARD

887 Ventura Blvd. 805.278.0388

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

ADVERTISING

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

NEWS / CLASSIFIED

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

Trump sues New York attorney general By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) —Former President Trump and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit in a federal court last week to stop investigations by New York Attorney General Letitia James into both of them. In a 30-page complaint, Mr. Trump and the company claim their First, Fourth and 14th Amendment rights have been violated. The suit seeks injunctions against Ms. James “to immediately cease or, at a minimum, appropriately limit all ongoing investigations” for the duration of the lawsuit. The plaintiffs also seek a judgment finding James’ actions represent “impermissible state action and an abuse of process” for political gain. “She is entrusted with a great deal of power which she is obligated to use in a resolute and unbiased manner,” the lawsuit states. “Rather than embrace this responsibility, James has instead chosen to exploit it. For years, she has flagrantly abused her investigatory powers to target her political adversaries and advance her career. Her relentless attacks on Donald J. Trump serve as a prime example.” The lawsuit lists Ms. James as “an outspoken political activist” and cited that four years ago, she made taking on the then-president a cornerstone of her campaign for attorney general. Ms. James launched an investigation in 2019 into both Trump and the development company he established. That

investigation started after former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen told a Congressional panel that the company’s annual financial reports would inflate the values of certain properties in order to get better rates for loans and insurance plans while simultaneously downgrading other properties for tax purposes. In May, it was reported the attorney general’s investigation was becoming a criminal case. In a statement, Ms. James said Mr. Trump and his company have made it a point to stall the investigation. She called the suit filed in a U.S. District Court in Albany “an attempted collateral attack” on her office’s efforts. “To be clear, neither Mr. Trump nor the Trump Organization get to dictate if and where they will answer for their actions,” Ms. James said. “Our investigation will continue undeterred because no one is above the law, not even someone with the name Trump.” Mr. Trump is not the only official to claim Ms. James has political motives behind her work. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also called out Ms. James, saying she sought to capitalize politically off the independent investigation into sexual harassment claims against Mr. Cuomo, who resigned from office in August. Earlier this year, Ms. James announced plans to run for governor next year and challenge incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul for the Democratic nomination. However, earlier this month, she reversed course and chose instead to run for re-election next year.

Nassau County DA says touching claims against ex-Gov. Cuomo troubling but not criminal By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — A Long Island prosecutor called a claim former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo inappropriately touched a state police trooper “deeply troubling.” However, she said that did not warrant pressing charges against the disgraced governor. In a statement on Thursday, Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said her office looked at only the allegation pertaining to an incident at Belmont Park when the trooper served on Mr. Cuomo’s security detail. According to the independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Mr. Cuomo, the alleged incident occurred Sept. 23, 2019, during an event at the racetrack. The female trooper, who was not identified in the report, claimed Mr. Cuomo ran his left palm across her stomach as she held the door for him when he was leaving the event. The trooper told the lawyers leading the investigation that she “felt completely violated” but did not believe she could do anything about the governor’s behavior because she had been recently assigned and had heard others had been punished if they did anything to provoke Mr. Cuomo. Another member of the security detail was walking behind the then-governor and corroborated the trooper’s account. The trooper was one of 11 women who spoke to the investigators. New York Attorney General Letitia James released the investigation’s findings in August, and that 165-page report eventually led to Mr. Cuomo’s resignation later that month. Other accusations made by the trooper against Mr. Cuomo included another touching incident when she said he ran his finger down her spine. Mr. Cuomo also reportedly told her she was “too old” for him when he initiated a conversation about dating relationships. Ms. James’ report said the women’s allegations were credible. In Thursday’s statement, Ms. Smith concurred with the trooper’s account of the Belmont Park incident. However, that was

A spokesman for the former governor issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying Ms. Smith’s decision was proof that the independent investigation Ms. James oversaw was a sham that triggered “a media and political stampede.” not enough. “Our exhaustive investigation found the allegations credible, deeply troubling, but not criminal under New York law,” Ms. Smith said. Mr. Cuomo wasted little time in responding to the announcement. A spokesman for the former governor issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying Ms. Smith’s decision was proof that the independent investigation Ms. James oversaw was a sham that triggered “a media and political stampede” at Mr. Cuomo. “James never presented evidence to support such claims, her report omitted important exculpatory facts, she admitted her personal interference in preparing the report and has still refused to answer any questions from the press,” Rich Azzopardi said in a statement posted on Twitter. “It was obviously a political springboard to remove Gov. Cuomo so she could run for office. However, it was so poorly done, and obviously, it backfired, and James’ run for governor lasted only five weeks.”

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Classiﬁed To place an ad please call (805) 963-4391 or email to classad@newspress.com

, ,1 / /

Professional Advertise Here For As Low as

PUBLIC NOTICES

$5.97*

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FINANCIAL & PERSONNEL COORDINATOR Phelps Administrative Support Center

Manages all departmental fiscal activities and accounting systems for the Departments of French & Italian and German & Slavic Studies, and the Program in Comparative Literature. Prepares all documents for financial transactions. Interprets policy and advises faculty, staff and students of proper university guidelines regarding policies for personnel, purchasing, entertainment and travel. Analyzes expenditures and spending patterns, resolving discrepancies. Reconciles financial transactions with the general and payroll ledgers. Produces accurate monthly cost projections and financial reports for management review. Participates in fiscal closing, budget projections and financial planning. Administers and coordinates employment activities and processes personnel actions for faculty, staff and students via the UCPath System. Ensures data integrity and compliance with University, Federal, agency and union policies. Maintains current knowledge of University policies and procedures of Accounting, Travel, Human Resources, Academic Personnel, Graduate Division, Purchasing and Business Services on all fund sources. Demonstrates flexibility in learning, interpreting, and adapting new policies and procedures. Demonstrates effective organizational skills. Works collaboratively with others in a team environment and maintains effective communication with faculty, staff, students and other campus personnel. Reqs: BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience. 1-3 years bookkeeping/financial work experience in an academic higher education institution or similar. Skilled in using Excel and working with Excel spreadsheets. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Notes: Satisfactory conviction history background check. Position is funded at 100% time until 6/2024, after which it may become a 50%-time position. $24.61 - $25.77/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 1/6/22. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu Job # 27987

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FINANCIAL & PAYROLL ASSISTANT Educational Opportunity Program

Service Directory

Assists the Business Officer in the preparation of all financial and payroll forms and transactions. Serves as Department Preparer and Timekeeper to ensure proper set-up and payment of employees. Assists the Business Officer with reconciling timecards and serves as the Kronos contact person. Responsible for the design, coordination, implementation and management of the administrative and financial operations facet of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for the following functions: Summer Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP), Summer Orientation Program and Open House. Responsible for the collection and organization of budgetary information from various sources and designs and prepares the annual budget for STEP, Spring Open House (formerly Spring Insight) and Summer Orientation. Monitors budget expenditures for programs using ledger Cost Centers; prepares accounting, financial and payroll forms and transactions utilizing multiple campus online systems. Reqs: High school diploma or equivalent experience. Basic judgment and decision-making skills; verbal, written and active listening communication skills. Uses interpersonal skills and service orientation skills in interactions with students and colleagues. Basic organizational skills and ability to multitask. Competent in Microsoft Office Excel, Word, Google Suite applications such as Gmail, Sheets, Doc, Slides. Notes: Satisfactory conviction history background check. May work occasional weekends. $24.61 to $26.98/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 1/7/22. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu Job # 28426

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1. Bid Submission. The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its Central Library construction of an ADA Elevator and, renovation of the existing plaza and lower level staffing area Project (“Project”), by or before February 9, 2022, at 3:00 p.m., through its PlanetBids portal. Bidders must be registered on the City of Santa Barbara’s PlanetBids portal in order to submit a Bid proposal and to receive addendum notifications. Each bidder is responsible for making certain that its Bid Proposal is actually submitted/uploaded with sufficient time to be received by PlanetBids prior to the bid opening date and time. Large files may take more time to be submitted/ uploaded to PlanetBids, so plan accordingly. The receiving time on the PlanetBids server will be the governing time for acceptability of bids. Telegraphic, telephonic, hardcopy, and facsimile bids will not be accepted. If any Addendum issued by the City is not acknowledged online by the Bidder, the PlanetBids System will prevent the Bidder from submitting a Bid Proposal. Bidders are responsible for obtaining all addenda from the City’s PlanetBids portal. Bid results and awards will be available on PlanetBids. 2. Project Information. 2.1 Location and Description. The projects are located at 40 E Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, and is described as follows: Manage construction of three separately permitted plans and specifications which are identified per the following: ADA Elevator (BLD2020-02554): Construct hoistway and new ADA compliant 3-stop elevator for path of travel continuity from main entry level to upper and lower levels of the Central Library facility. Replace upper level stair and balcony guardrail system at atrium.

Lower Level Renovation (BLD2021-01067): Renovate the lower level staffing area including new conference rooms, raised ceiling, kitchen area, flooring, and lighting. All areas of construction will include temporary safety barricades and dust containment barriers as required to isolate and secure work areas from the public during construction. 2.2 Time for Final Completion. The Project must be fully completed within 254 calendar days from the start date set forth in the Notice to Proceed. City anticipates that the Work will begin on or about April 20, 2022, but the anticipated start date is provided solely for convenience and is neither certain nor binding. 2.3 Estimated Cost. The estimated construction cost is $8,870,880. 3. License and Registration Requirements. 3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class B

, -

3.2 DIR Registration. City may not accept a Bid Proposal from or enter into the Contract with a bidder, without proof that the bidder is registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5, subject to limited legal exceptions. 4. Contract Documents. The plans, speciﬁcations, bid forms and contract documents for the Project, and any addenda thereto (“Contract Documents”) may be downloaded from City’s website at: http://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=29959

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To place an ad in the Service Directory email us at: classad@newspress.com

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Bicycle New/Used/Rentals (Day Wk Mo) LOW PRICES! Isla Vista Bikes • 805-968-3338

Feed/Fuel FIREWOOD

Full cord of Oak for $340 Full cord of Eucalyptus for $200 Free delivery to Santa Barbara area (805) 722-8038 or (805) 729-5546

Notices LIEN SALE 1/10/22 10AM AT 211 E HALEY ST, SANTA BARBARA 78 CHEV LIC# 3NXS649 VIN# 1Z37U8Z456797

Bid No. 4065

Plaza Renovation (BLD2020-02249): Renovate existing exterior Library Plaza including new ADA accessible pathways, new landscape and hardscape, irrigation, handrails, sitewalls, and lighting.

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Notice Inviting Bids CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ADA ELEVATOR, EXTERIOR PLAZA, AND LOWER LEVEL STAFF AREA

OAK FIREWOOD

DEC 26 / 2021 -- 57862

234-5794. Quality, well slit, dry oak 1/2 cords $245 plus delivery. Full cords avail.

To Place Your Real Estate Ad contact us at 805-564-5247 or email: realestate@newspress.com

5. Bid Security. The Bid Proposal must be accompanied by bid security of ten percent of the maximum bid amount, in the form of a cashier’s or certified check made payable to City, or a bid bond executed by a surety licensed to do business in the State of California on the Bid Bond form included with the Contract Documents. The bid security must guarantee that within ten days after City issues the Notice of Award, the successful bidder will execute the Contract and submit the payment and performance bonds, insurance certificates and endorsements, and any other submittals required by the Contract Documents and as specified in the Notice of Award. 6. Prevailing Wage Requirements. 6.1 General. Pursuant to California Labor Code § 1720 et seq., this Project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements applicable to the locality in which the Work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of worker needed to perform the Work, including employer payments for health and welfare, pension, vacation, apprenticeship and similar purposes. 6.2 Rates. These prevailing rates are on file with the City and are available online at http://www. dir.ca.gov/DLSR. Each Contractor and Subcontractor must pay no less than the specified rates to all workers employed to work on the Project. The schedule of per diem wages is based upon a working day of eight hours. The rate for holiday and overtime work must be at least time and one-half. 6.3 Compliance. The Contract will be subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR, under Labor Code § 1771.4. 7. Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder will be required to provide performance and payment bonds, each for 100% of the Contract Price, as further specified in the Contract Documents. 8. Substitution of Securities. Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted under Public Contract Code § 22300. 9. Subcontractor List. Each Subcontractor must be registered with the DIR to perform work on public projects. Each bidder must submit a completed Subcontractor List form with its Bid Proposal, including the name, location of the place of business, California contractor license number, DIR registration number, and percentage of the Work to be performed (based on the base bid price) for each Subcontractor that will perform Work or service or fabricate or install Work for the prime contractor in excess of one-half of 1% of the bid price, using the Subcontractor List form included with the Contract Documents. 10. Instructions to Bidders. All bidders should carefully review the Instructions to Bidders for more detailed information before submitting a Bid Proposal. The definitions provided in Article 1 of the General Conditions apply to all of the Contract Documents, as defined therein, including this Notice Inviting Bids. 11. Bidders’ Conference. A bidders’ conference will be held on January 24, 2022 at 1:00 p.m., at the following location: 40 E Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA. to acquaint all prospective bidders with the Contract Documents and the Worksite. The bidders’ conference is mandatory. A bidder who fails to attend the mandatory bidders’ conference without prior notification, may be disqualified from bidding. 12. Retention. The percentage of retention that will be withheld from progress payments is 5%. 13. Community Workforce Agreement. A community workforce agreement (also known as a project labor agreement) entitled “Community Workforce Agreement” by and between the City of Santa Barbara and the Tri Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO and Signatory Craft Councils and Unions” covers the Work of this Contract. The successful bidder and all its subcontractors of whatever tier whose work is subject to the community workforce agreement will be required to execute a letter of assent to accept and be bound to the terms and conditions of the community workforce agreement. 14. Specific Brands. Pursuant to referenced provision(s) of Public Contract Code § 3400(c), City has found that specific brands are required for this project. See the attached Special Conditions for a list of particular material(s), product(s), thing(s), or service(s). No substitutions will be considered or accepted for the listed items.

By: ___________________________________

Date: ________________

William Hornung, General Services Manager Publication Dates: 1) 12/26/2021

2) 1/2/2022 DEC 26 / 2021; JAN 2 / 2022 -- 57815

A10

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

MONTENEGRO, Sonia

Sonia Montenegro passed away peacefully on December 11, 2021 at Arbor Rose family home in Spokane, WA. She was born in San Felipe, Chile in 1937 to Lily Robertson and Ramon Montenegro. She married her childhood friend Levi Heredia in 1961, and worked in the family owned EDNHULHV DQG ÁRXU PLOOV LQ &RQFHSFLRQ DQG 6DQ -RVH GH 0DLSR 6KH HYHQWXDOO\ PRYHG WR the US in 1981 with her two children to be closer to her mother and two of her younger sisters who emigrated to New York and California. Sonia settled in Santa Barbara in DQG WKHQ PRYHG WR 6SRNDQH LQ ZKHUH VKH VSHQW KHU ÀQDO \HDUV EHLQJ FDUHG for by many wonderful assisted living specialists. She is survived by her daughter Pilar +HUHGLD 0LGGOHWRQ DQG VRQ )UDQFLVFR - +HUHGLD DQG IRXU JUDQGFKLOGUHQ 6KH ORYHG KHU family, and her favorite moments were spent listening to 1960s music, eating ice cream, and walking on the beach.

HAMISTER, Margaret “Peg”

Margaret “Peg” Hamister, born in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania to Robert B. and Katherine Roward Singiser on February 2, 1925. Peg graduated Pitcairn High School in 1942 and went into the Navy as a Link Trainer Operator in 1944. She met husband-to-be First Lieutenant Donald B Hamister at the Naval Air Station in Atlanta, Georgia. They wed at Kenyon College Chapel in Gambier Ohio on December 22, 1946. After settling in Chicago Illinois, then moving to Lake Forest, Illinois, the family moved to Santa Barbara in 1963. Peg went to UCSB and graduated with a degree in English in 1970. She was politically active as the Second District Planning Commissioner from 1975-1987. Also volunteered for several charities in Santa Barbara, LQFOXGLQJ WKH 0HQWDO +HDOWK $GYLVRU\ ERDUG 8&6% 0XVLF $IÀOLDWHV 6DQWD %DUEDUD Symphony League, Cottage Hospital Board of Directors, to name a few. She will be sorely missed by her son, Don Bruce and daughter Tracy (Levine), step-grandchildren Scott Levine, Deborah Levine Bradley and Rebeka Levine, San Jose, also many nieces and nephews. She lived a long and vibrant life, traveled the globe and was generous to a fault. No services are scheduled at this time. Donation suggestions are the Opera Santa Barbara, 1330 State St., Suite 209, Santa Barbara 93101, or gifts can be mailed to the address below with checks made out to the UCSB Foundation. Please include a note that this gift would be in support of the Donald B. Hamister Scholarship Fund of the Department of Music in Peg Hamister’s memory. Address to follow - Leslie Gray, Sr. 'LU RI 'HYHORSPHQW 2IÀFH RI 'HYHORSPHQW 8QLYHUVLW\ RI &DOLIRUQLD 6DQWD %DUEDUD Santa Barbara CA 93106-2013

SMITH, Arthur “Art”

Arthur “Art” Smith (97), left his loving family in the early morning of the 18th of December 2021, to be reunited with his wife of 70 years, Audrey Smith. Born in the Fall of 1924, Art was a native of San Francisco, California. In 1943 as a young man, he left his family home of San Francisco to set out for WWII as a soldier & medic in the Second Division of the Army PFC. He earned a Purple Heart during his tour. One of his most fond memories was arriving in Paris on Liberation day 1944, accidentally ahead of General George S. Patton. During the war, he met the love of his life in Wales, the couple were married in 1947 and celebrated their 70th anniversary together in 2017. Art was a proud alumni of USC pharmaceutical school graduating with honors in 1949. It was fate that brought Art to the Lompoc Valley where he met long time local resident, George Miller of Miller Pharmacy who insisted on hiring the young graduate, offering him a job on the spot. Arthur and George became lifelong friends and business partners. Over the years Art became the sole proprietor of Medical Center Pharmacy where he was a local independent Pharmacist in the community for over 50 years. Throughout their lives together, Art and his wife Audrey took every opportunity to live their lives to the fullest with enthusiasm and humility. They lovingly raised their family and enjoyed traveling the world at every opportunity. Arthur’s positive approach to life will remain an inspiration to everyone who encountered him, and the memory of his spontaneous laughter was pure joy and will remain in our hearts forever. A few of his many accomplishments throughout his life: WWII Veteran, USC Graduate Bachelor of Science Lompoc Valley Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship Award &DOLIRUQLD 6WDWH %RDUG RI 3KDUPDF\ 2IÀFHU DQG %RDUG 0HPEHU

American College of Apothecaries (Full Fellow) California Pharmaceutical Association (Board Member/Trustee) The Royal Society of Health Fellowship F.R.S.H. Santa Barbara Regional Health Authority (Director/Chairman) Central Coast Pharmacy Specialists (CCPS President) as well as a lifetime member of Lompoc Valley Rotary, Lompoc Knights of Pythias (50+ years), Lompoc Valley Club, and The American Legion of Honor for 75 years and other numerous organizations and memberships. One little known fact, Art had his FAA 3ULYDWH 3LORW /LFHQVH DQG KH ORYHG WR Á\ +RZHYHU ZH WKLQN KLV JUHDWHVW DFFRPSOLVKPHQW was being a supportive, inspirational, loving Father and Husband and best friend. A consummate optimist, Art was one of the most humble and down to earth people you could ever have the fortune to meet. Those that knew him personally know that it is impossible to capture his essence in words. Arthur is survived by his children, son David Rhys Smith and his wife of Visalia, his daughter Ceri Lyn Smith of San Francisco & Italy, along with four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank Julie Zandonatti, Laura Larios-Hubert, Vicky Moreno & Gaby de Leon and other caregivers over the years for their love, care and assistance they provided. The Family welcomes all that knew Art to please join us for a celebration of Arthur’s life which will be held at 11am, on Monday, 3rd of January 2022, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 135 South E. Street, Lompoc, CA. followed by Graveside service at Lompoc &HPHWHU\ ZLWK 5HYHUHQG -RH %\UG RIÀFLDWLQJ 0HPRULDO GRQDWLRQV LQ PHPRU\ RI $UWKXU can be made to Lompoc Food Pantry.

MAJOR, Sharon Murov

On November 25, 2021, Sharon Murov Major suddenly passed away, at home, of natural causes. Sharon was born on February 21, 1948, in Ukiah, Calif. When she was four, she and her family moved to the “Gold country,” Sonora, Ca., which she adored. When she was ten, the family moved to Merced, Ca., which she didn’t adore. While at Merced High School, she was a cheerleader and played the clarinet in the school marching band. She attended the newly opened UC Santa Cruz. When Santa Cruz proved too wet and rainy, she transferred to UCSB in 1968, where she received her B.A. in Social-Psychology in 1970. In 1968, on a magical Fall Day outside of UBSB’s Campbell Hall, she met her future husband, Mike, who, when he regained his senses, realized he just met the woman he had been looking for his entire life. They were married in July 1969. Sharon and Mike started a family in 1972 when they adopted two infant children: a son, Solomon, in 1972, and their daughter, Graham, in 1976. Both graduated from Santa Barbara High,(Go Dons!), and later UCSB (Go Gauchos)! Sharon was an amazing woman with many talents; should have had a “W” on her chest for “Wonder Woman.” She had a soothing singing voice with a slight country twang that wasn’t in her normal diction. A kitchen magician, who could master any style of cuisine and her interest in food eventually led to her becoming the dining reviewer for the Montecito Magazine and The Independent. In turn, this led her to publishing The Major Guide, a well-received quarterly dining guide for the Santa Barbara area. Then, in 1988, she was back on the UCSB campus as the Public Relations Director for the UCSB Art Museum, a job she cherished. She delighted in working with the museum staff, Art History and Art Studio departments, the donors, her beloved students, and her primary focus, the visiting artists and their exhibits. She treasured the students. She thought America was in good hands because of the quality of “kids” she met on campus. She brought a new approach to her job publicist, where she energized the university arts community by attracting people from outside the University, integrated a vast array of campus resources, such as Drama, Music, Dance, ROTC, etc., and, with the generous assistance from the UCSB administration, turned the arrival of a new exhibit into an event. These events became known as “galas.” One memorable event was the arrival of internationally established artist Kenji Yanobe, and his futuristic, robotics installations. The event was held at night, on the quad between Storke tower and the UCEN with hundreds of people, including Chancellor Yang and his wife Dilling, in attendance. The sit-down dinner was catered by the always professional Faculty Club staff. At the appointed moment, suddenly, all the lights went out with the only light being a powerful spotlight aimed at Storke Tower. Music from the theme from Mission Impossible began blaring from loud-speakers. And long, thick ropes were hurled from the bell tower, down which rappelled UCSB ROTC students to a massive cheer. 6KDURQ UHOXFWDQWO\ KDG WR UHWLUH IURP WKH $UW 0XVHXP LQ KDYLQJ EHFRPH DIÁLFWHG with crippling, neuropathic pain. She bravely fought that pain with enough courage to fuel the 3rd Marine Division. She was a mighty-mite in a 120-lb. package. Sharon was born with a smile on her face and she had a reservoir of joy that she displayed in a beguiling, disarming way. She was an unabashed square, who’s favorite T.V. shows were on the Hallmark channels. She was a quiet feminist, who’s favorite causes were any kind of rescue animal and disabled American veterans. Possessed of an uncanny moral compass, Sharon always knew what was right and wrong, proper and improper. These were handy tools that were needed for working with the sometimes eccentric, sometimes prickly, but always endearing members of the Art World. Headturning gorgeous on the outside, equally matched by the beauty inside. Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Morton and Ada Murov. She is survived by her beloved husband, Michael Major, her son, Solomon Major, her daughter Graham Brown (nee Major), Sharon’s grandchildren, Max and Bella Brown, and Sharon’s older brother, Ronald Murov and spouse Debbie, and numerous loving cousins, (her tribe), who collectively are the sweetest, kindest group ever assembled. To those closest to Sharon, it always felt like a privilege to be in their company. To those closest to her, Sharon’s sudden passing has left a wretched, aching void of PLVHU\ 6ZHHW 6KDURQ D ÀQDO JRRG E\H

NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

REA, Catherine P. “Erin”

Catherine P. Rea “Erin” died at her Ventura home on 12/12/21. She was born in British Columbia, Canada, to Bill and Marjorie Rea. After her family relocated to Santa %DUEDUD (ULQ EHJDQ KHU JROI FDUHHU DW DJH ÀYH %HIRUH she was 12 she had two holes-in-one. After winning many national and state junior golf championships, she competed, at age 15, in the National Women’s Amateur tournament. 6KH ZDV WKH \RXQJHVW SOD\HU WR HYHU TXDOLI\ 6KH OHG $UL]RQD 6WDWH 8QLYHUVLW\ WR D QDWLRQDO FKDPSLRQVKLS (ULQ ZDV WKH ÀUVW IHPDOH JROI SUR LQ 9HQWXUD &RXQW\ ZLWK jobs at the Ojai Valley Inn, Saticoy Country Club and at Ventura College. She and her husband, Kit Mungo, started A Better Club, golf business in 1990 in Ventura. (ULQ LV VXUYLYHG E\ KHU KXVEDQG RI \HDUV .LW 0XQJR KHU VLVWHUV 'U $QQDEHOOH 5HD RI *OHQGDOH DQG 5RVDOLQG 5HD $ )HQGRQ 5RQ RI 6DQWD %DUEDUD KHU QLHFHV 'U 0DUMRULH *LHV 5RQ <WWUL RI 6DQWD %DUEDUD DQG &DWKHULQH 5HD 'HYHUHDX[ RI /RV Angeles. )DPLO\ JUDYHVLGH VHUYLFHV DUH SULYDWH $Q\ GRQDWLRQV LQ (ULQ·V PHPRU\ VKRXOG EH PDGH to the Ventura County Junior Golf Association.

CLARK, Ellis Howard

Ellis Howard Clark, age 84 of Williamson County, TN passed into the arms of his Savior on December 11, 2021. Ellis was born in the early hours of Christmas Eve, 1936, to Howard Ellis and Doris Mae Gifford Clark in Eaton Rapids, MI. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. Completing his time in service, he began his working career, culminating as Owner/President of Hasselbring-Clark Company in Lansing, MI. Ellis married Noelle Ann Minich in January of 1967. ([SUHVVLQJ KLV LQWHQW WR KHU IDWKHU KH VWDWHG ´, ORYH Á\LQJ and I love your daughter. I hope they can get along.” He QHYHU KLG KLV SDVVLRQ IRU Á\LQJ +H ZDV D WUDLQHG SLORW ZKR VSHQW KLV OLIH EXLOGLQJ DQG rebuilding, airplanes. He was well known for his experimental machines as well. One of his proudest accomplishments was working on the restoration of the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian. Ellis and Noelle lived in the greater Lansing, MI area for over 40 years before moving to California to follow children and grandchildren. From California there was a 4-year interlude in Prescott, AZ before moving to middle TN. In the winter, Ellis enjoyed plowing snow. He would travel around clearing driveways wherever needed. His upbringing on the Michigan farm (which he wrote about in a short story, “A Boy’s Life on a Farm in Michigan”) established his work ethic and passion for helping others. Through the years, Ellis’ heart grew more tender. Although he had a personal faith, he ÀQDOO\ IXOO\ VXEPLWWHG WR &KULVW LQ EDSWLVP ODWHU LQ OLIH +H ZDV GULYHQ WR NQRZ &KULVW better and to express that knowledge in his own life, sharing it with others whenever possible, and worshipping with his church family at the Church of the City. His greatest desire was to seek reconciliation with family when needed. Ellis could tell a joke, just not very well. He knew what he wanted to say, but normally EHJDQ ZLWK WKH SXQFKOLQH +H ZDV IDU PRUH VXFFHVVIXO DW ÀVKLQJ +H HQMR\HG IDPLO\ YLVLWV WR WKH FRWWDJH ZKHUH KH NHSW D ÁRDW SODQH IRU YLVLWRUV DQG IRU IXQ In addition to his wife of 54 years, Noelle, he is survived by four children: Kimberly Clark, Randal (Amy) Clark, Lezli Cushion and Jami Smith; a brother: Lynn D. Clark; and grandchildren: Leda, Aiden, Gabriel, Ava Kate, Toni (Sean), Candie (Dave) and Ryan; as well as four great-grandchildren. The family gathered with friends on Saturday, December 18 at Spring Hill Memorial Funeral Home in Spring Hill, TN. A celebration of his life and faith was conducted at 30 RIÀFLDWHG E\ 3DVWRU 5LFN 6RWR IURP KLV &DOLIRUQLD FKXUFK DQG 5DQGDO &ODUN Burial, with military honors, followed at a serene cemetery bordered by a farm in Franklin, TN.

Missouri legislators want to end sales tax on guns, food, diapers By JOE MUELLER THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — If the number of bills submitted in the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate is any indication, lots of time will be devoted to debating taxes during the next legislative session starting Jan. 5, 2022. Approximately 10% of the 1,020 bills filed contain the word “tax” in the description. Senators filed about 40 bills and joint resolutions while representatives filed approximately 60. More than 50 bills cover taxation and general revenue. There are multiple bills that would authorize various tax credits for veterans. HB 1726 would authorize a tax credit for businesses owned by minorities, women or service-disabled veterans who obtain a medical marijuana dispensary license. Three joint resolutions – HJR 73, HJR 86 and HJR89 – seek an amendment to the Missouri Constitution granting property tax exemptions to certain disabled veterans. Two bills deal with firearms. HB1577 would exempt sales of new and used firearms from sales taxes while HB2040 would authorize a tax credit to offset amounts paid in sales tax on gun safety mechanisms. There are 16 bills addressing property taxes. A theme running through many of the bills is to freeze or reduce property tax burdens for senior citizens and service-disabled veterans. HJR66 would ask Missouri voters to approve a constitutional amendment to prevent increases in property taxes on the primary residence of anyone 70 years or older, provided they haven’t had enough income to file state

income taxes for the previous three years. HRJ72 will ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment to exempt any military veteran with a full service-connected disability to be exempt from paying property taxes on their homes. Six bills deal with sales taxes on food or tax credits for urban farms. HB1779 would repeal the sales tax on food and replace the lost revenue with a new estate tax. HB1817 would end local sales taxes on the retail sale of food while HB1992 would end all taxes on the retail sale of food. Two bills deal with sales tax for household items. HB1679 would end sales taxes on diapers and HB1971 would level the retail sales tax of diapers and feminine hygiene products to the same rate as taxes on the retail sale of food. Urban farms must be in a food desert to claim tax credits in three bills (HB1570, HB1919 and HB2020). Food deserts are defined as a census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20% or a median family income of less than 80% of the statewide average. At least 500 people or 33% of the population must be at least a quarter mile away from a full-service grocery store in an urban area. Urban farms must include community-run gardens. The urban farm tax credit programs contain a sunset clause, stopping them after six years unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. When you purchase an automobile, HB1733 would put the burden of remitting the sales tax on the dealership where the purchase was made. If the auto loan includes the amount of the sales tax, HB1873 would require the finance companies to remit the sales tax to the department of revenue on the buyer’s behalf.

LOCAL FIVE-DAY FORECAST TODAY

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WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Condolences may be shared at www.SpringHill-Memorial.com Spring Hill Memorial assisted the family with arrangements.

SVEDLUND, Clara Maria March 24, 1975 - December 13, 2021

Clara Maria Svedlund, 46, passed away suddenly but peacefully on December 13, 2021 at her home in Santa Barbara, CA. The cause was congenital heart failure. Clara was born on March 24, 1975 in the Swedish coastal town of Varberg to Per Eije and Marianne Svedlund. Clara only lived 10 months in Sweden but carried Swedish culture joyously with her throughout her life. Clara grew up in California and graduated La Jolla High School in 1993 where she ran cross country, swam and was loved by her many friends. Clara attended college at the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with BS and MS degrees in Aquatic Biology and Marine Ecology. Her love of science, nature and the ocean carried throughout her entire life. Clara met her husband 0DWW .D\ ZKLOH WKH\ ZRUNHG WRJHWKHU RQ D VFLHQWLÀF UHVHDUFK GLYLQJ 6&8%$ WHDP throughout the central/southern California coast and at the Santa Barbara Channel Islands. This passion for biology and nature was fundamental to who they are, as both individuals and a family, and it was the foundation for their love and life together - the natural world was their reality. Matt and Clara were married in 2009 in a ceremony in the backyard at the Kay household in Montecito, CA under an arch handsomely FRQVWUXFWHG RI GULIWZRRG &ODUD·V EHORYHG ÁDW FRDWHG UHWULHYHU %MRUQ ZDV SDUW RI WKH beautiful ceremony. Clara and Matt made a home in the hills above Santa Barbara. Clara and Matt were overjoyed at the arrival of their beautiful daughter, Wren Melissa Kay, in November 2017. Wren was the center of their affections and adventures, and she is a bright and spirited companion. Like her mother, she is also a kind and generous spirit. Clara lives RQ LQ :UHQ DQG VKH LV D YLYLG UHÁHFWLRQ RI D EHDXWLIXO LQWHOOLJHQW DQG GHYRWHG PRWKHU Clara taught at the Laguna Blanca School in Santa Barbara for nearly 20 years. She was supremely devoted to the school, faculty, and students. She was passionate about teaching the sciences, ecology, and environmental studies through an inventive variety RI SHGDJRJLFDO PHWKRGV LQFOXGLQJ OHJR DQG WKH OHJHQGDU\ 6DQWD %DUEDUD HPX FDP DQG community outreach events. Her impact was broad. Clara loved the outdoors, a passion she shared with her husband, daughter and other loved ones. Although she had many activities and passions, she always had time for her family and friends and is sorely missed by all. Clara was a beloved and devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, teacher and friend. Clara is survived by her husband Matt Kay and daughter Wren Kay, parents Per Eije and Marianne Svedlund, mother-in-law Gail Kay, brother Jonas Svedlund and sister-in-law Elizabeth Svedlund and nieces Annika, Eloise, Katherine and Amelia Svedlund, brothers-in-law Chris Kay and John Kay, and sister-in-law Page Pegram and nephews David and Jackson Kay, as well as beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and family in Sweden.

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DW ZZZ QHZVSUHVV FRP 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 first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch. All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street. The deadline for Tuesday through Friday’s editions is 10 a.m. on the previous day; Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s editions all deadline at 12-noon on Thursday (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.

Mostly sunny and Rain; breezy in the Cool with clouds Downpours in the A passing cool p.m. and sun afternoon morning shower INLAND

INLAND

53 37

52 33

48 33

54 40

57 36

58 40

57 40

54 36

54 44

59 42

COASTAL

Pismo Beach 53/42

COASTAL

Shown is today's weather. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows. Maricopa 48/39

Guadalupe 54/42

Santa Maria 54/40

Vandenberg 54/43

New Cuyama 45/32 Ventucopa 42/29

Los Alamos 53/38

Buellton 52/37

Solvang 53/37

Gaviota 54/44

SANTA BARBARA 58/40 Goleta 56/40

Carpinteria 55/41 Ventura 55/42

AIR QUALITY KEY Good Moderate

Source: airnow.gov Unhealthy for SG Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Not Available

ALMANAC

Santa Barbara through 6 p.m. yesterday

TEMPERATURE High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

58/50 64/40 81 in 1947 25 in 1990

PRECIPITATION 24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. Month to date (normal) Season to date (normal)

0.01” 6.12” (2.10”) 7.32” (4.10”)

City Cuyama Goleta Lompoc Pismo Beach Santa Maria Santa Ynez Vandenberg Ventura

STATE CITIES Bakersfield Barstow Big Bear Bishop Catalina Concord Escondido Eureka Fresno Los Angeles Mammoth Lakes Modesto Monterey Napa Oakland Ojai Oxnard Palm Springs Pasadena Paso Robles Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo Santa Monica Tahoe Valley

51/41/pc 53/36/s 32/19/pc 45/20/s 49/44/s 49/43/c 54/43/pc 45/38/sh 50/42/pc 56/44/s 23/21/sn 49/44/pc 53/47/sh 47/43/r 50/45/r 52/36/s 57/41/s 62/42/pc 54/41/s 51/39/pc 46/42/sh 59/49/pc 50/46/r 51/44/sh 56/41/s 55/43/s 25/22/sn

Mon. Hi/Lo/W 45/29/r 54/38/r 54/37/r 52/36/r 53/37/r 52/33/r 53/42/r 53/40/r

72/59/pc 41/28/pc 43/38/pc 81/63/s 55/20/pc 83/69/pc 81/64/s 30/27/sn 48/34/s 54/33/s 63/48/c 36/24/sn 58/54/pc 38/27/sn 28/17/sn 60/39/s

POINT ARENA TO POINT PINOS

Wind west-northwest 8-16 knots today. Waves 4-7 feet with a west-southwest swell 4-8 feet at 8 seconds. Visibility clear.

POINT CONCEPTION TO MEXICO

Wind west-northwest 8-16 knots today. Waves 4-7 feet with a west-southwest swell 4-8 feet at 8 seconds. Visibility clear.

SANTA BARBARA HARBOR TIDES Date Time High Time Dec. 26 Dec. 27 Dec. 28

3:36 a.m. 2:09 p.m. 4:13 a.m. 3:53 p.m. 4:50 a.m. 5:24 p.m.

4.1’ 3.6’ 4.6’ 3.3’ 5.1’ 3.2’

LAKE LEVELS

Low

9:16 a.m. 9:01 p.m. 10:43 a.m. 9:50 p.m. 11:46 a.m. 10:39 p.m.

2.6’ 0.8’ 1.9’ 1.1’ 1.0’ 1.4’

AT BRADBURY DAM, LAKE CACHUMA 51/37/r 52/36/pc 28/18/sf 39/12/i 51/42/sh 48/32/r 52/43/r 43/31/r 48/32/r 51/41/r 23/4/sn 50/35/r 52/39/r 47/30/r 49/36/r 49/34/r 53/40/r 57/42/r 51/39/r 50/31/r 49/30/r 58/49/sh 49/38/r 49/34/r 52/36/r 53/41/r 27/6/sn

NATIONAL CITIES Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Miami Minneapolis New York City Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, Ore. St. Louis Salt Lake City Seattle Washington, D.C.

Wind from the west-northwest at 7-14 knots today. Wind waves 3-6 feet with a west swell 3-6 feet at 7-second intervals. Visibility clear.

TIDES

LOCAL TEMPS Today Hi/Lo/W 45/32/pc 56/40/s 55/38/s 53/42/s 54/40/s 53/37/s 54/43/s 55/42/s

MARINE FORECAST

SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

70/62/pc 37/30/pc 53/29/pc 77/64/pc 46/24/pc 81/70/c 79/68/pc 30/5/c 40/37/pc 42/38/c 58/47/pc 31/26/c 65/42/pc 41/17/c 24/19/c 44/42/sh

At Lake Cachuma’s maximum level at the point at which water starts spilling over the dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by 10 people in an urban environment. Storage 92,069 acre-ft. Elevation 711.55 ft. Evaporation (past 24 hours) 4.1 acre-ft. Inflow 17.7 acre-ft. State inflow 11.9 acre-ft. Storage change from yest. +0 acre-ft. Report from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

Last

New

Dec 26

Jan 2

Today 7:04 a.m. 4:56 p.m. none 12:00 p.m.

WORLD CITIES

First

Jan 9

Mon. 7:05 a.m. 4:57 p.m. 12:14 a.m. 12:29 p.m.

Full

Jan 17

Today Mon. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Beijing 33/8/s 39/5/s Berlin 29/21/pc 32/30/c Cairo 65/48/s 67/52/s Cancun 83/71/pc 83/73/sh London 50/44/r 50/47/r Mexico City 75/44/s 75/45/s Montreal 30/11/c 19/13/c New Delhi 66/53/c 65/53/pc Paris 50/46/sh 52/50/r Rio de Janeiro 82/71/s 86/74/t Rome 58/47/r 59/49/c Sydney 75/65/sh 69/63/r Tokyo 43/32/c 45/35/s W-weather, s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

PAGE

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life

INSIDE

Webinar to discuss coral reefs - B3

S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 6 , 2 0 21

Sounds bites from 2021

eople had a lot to say in 2021. Here are eight memorable quotes from stories that appeared this year in the News-Press’ Life section. They’re from articles written by News-Press Staff Writer Marilyn McMahon and Managing Editor Dave Mason.

Eight memorable quotes from this year’s Life stories

“

I feel like working in politics prepares you for everything. You’re required to work with ever facet of the public. I had to know all the city’s departments. I had to know all the businesses in our district. I had to know the community inside and out.

”

— Alana Yañez about her work in politics before becoming the executive director this year of Goleta-based Animal Shelter Assistance Program (ASAP).

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS

“

These beautiful shapes not only adorn the women, they also contain symbolic meaning in much the same way that early still life paintings often employed a rich and subtle lexicon of symbols. To take one example from the current show. Malala is shown with gladiolas, which are also known as Sword Lilies. This, in turn, may relate to a rather famous quote of Malala’s: ‘There are two powers in the world; one is the sword, and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women.’ These wonderful portraits are joined by sculptures of young sparrows in a beautiful array of colors that celebrate the resilience and strength of daughters everywhere.

”

— Jeremy Tessmer, gallery director at Sullivan Goss-An American Gallery, about artist Inga Guzyte’s solo exhibit, “Young Sparrows.” COURTESY PHOTO

“

The other night, I was singing ‘Waiting for A Girl Like You.’ I hadn’t seen my wife in quite a while. It was very emotional for me to sing. I had to explain to the audience why I was choking up while I was singing the song.

”

— Kelly Hansen, lead singer of Foreigner, in a News-Press interview before the band’s concert at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

COURTESY PHOTO

“

That makes this sort of a jam session on a piano concerto, which is very much something that Gershwin would have loved to do. But a hundred years ago, you wouldn’t dare.

”

— Nir Kabaretti, music and artistic director of the Santa Barbara Symphony, about the improvisation that will be featured during the symphony’s May 21-22, 2022, concert, “Riffing on Gershwin.” MORE QUOTES on B4

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS

PUZZLES

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

JUMBLE PUZZLE

No. 1219

Daniel Okulitch, originally from Calgary, Alberta, is a professional opera singer of more than 25 years. He has performed for the New York City Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and many other venues. Last month he completed a run of shows at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow as the title character in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” His partner, Lara, also a singer, introduced him to crosswords last year as part of their morning routine and he started constructing soon after. Doug Peterson, of Pasadena, Calif., is a professional crossword constructor. The two were introduced online. – W.S.

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SOLUTION ON D3

HOROSCOPE Horoscope.com Sunday, December 26, 2021 ARIES — As we get closer to 2022, it’s time to get serious about what you want to achieve as the sun enters Capricorn on Tuesday. The sun enters your career zone, encouraging you to make a plan for how to reach your goals. TAURUS — New ideas can expand your life for the better when Mercury in Capricorn forms a trine with Uranus in your sign on Monday. This is a great day to take a class, listen to lectures, or do some traveling that can allow you to form your own opinions. GEMINI — Start the week with some emotional transformation and healing when Mercury in Capricorn forms a trine with Uranus in Taurus on Monday. This aspect can lead to a major breakthrough in private. CANCER — ’Tis the season to lend a helping hand, especially when Mercury in Capricorn forms a trine with Uranus in Taurus on Monday, bringing out your inner humanitarian. Partner with your friends to do some charity work around town. LEO — The new year is only a week away, but you’re going to get a jump-start on self-improvement right now when the sun enters Capricorn on Tuesday. The sun will be in your habit zone for the rest of the year. VIRGO — It’s a day of big, new ideas when Mercury in Capricorn forms a trine with Uranus in Taurus on Monday, bringing the creative energy to expand your life. Think about art in a bigger context and learn more about yourself in the process. LIBRA — It’s a good time to head home for the holidays when the sun enters Capricorn and your family zone on Tuesday. On the shortest day of the year, you’ll yearn for stability and the comforts of home. Allow yourself to be nurtured by the people who love you. SCORPIO — While Tuesday might be the shortest day of the year, it can bring you some big ideas when the sun enters Capricorn. The sun will be in your communication zone for the next four weeks, encouraging you to do plenty of writing and speaking. SAGITTARIUS — As 2021 comes to an end, it’s an ideal time to think about your financial future when the sun enters Capricorn on Tuesday. The sun will be shining in your value zone for the next four weeks, encouraging you to start actively investing in your future CAPRICORN — It’s the end of the year, so if you have something important to say, Capricorn, say it now! On Monday, Mercury in your sign forms a trine with Uranus in Taurus, encouraging you to say what you feel. AQUARIUS — You’re doing the holidays a little differently this year, Aquarius. Celebrate the season using newly created traditions when Mercury in Capricorn forms a sextile with Uranus in Taurus on Monday. PISCES — This year, Aquarius. Celebrate the season using newly created traditions when Mercury in Capricorn forms a sextile with Uranus in Taurus on Monday. Do things your own way even if it means doing it privately.

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SUNDAY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

SOLUTION ON D3

CODEWORD PUZZLE

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How to play Codeword Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great test of 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 you off. 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.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Getting from one problem to the next as gracefully as possible

ometimes as soon as you solve one problem, another pops up to take its place. If you’re lucky, you get a problem-free day in between. The key is learning to take these problems in stride and navigating through them as gracefully as possible. Doing this will make your whole life easier because you will no longer see problems as interruptions. Instead, dealing with problems becomes just another of life’s everyday chores, like flossing. As you do, you’ll also learn that most problems really aren’t as big as they may at first seem. Problems are unavoidable — no matter how rich or famous you may be, you’ll have them — but what you can avoid is the emotional upheaval that comes along with facing an issue that you immediately perceive to be a problem. The key is keeping things in perspective rather than seeing whatever goes wrong as a disaster.

In most situations, minor adjustments can make all the difference. OK, a tax audit may not feel that way, but the bottom line is that all they want is more money. And although it may set you back a bit, paying more won’t ruin your life. Coping can be emotional, whether your problem is relatively minor or not. If something in your life goes wrong, it just makes sense that your feelings on many levels would be triggered, especially if the event could cause some uncomfortable changes or even damage. Most of us want life to sort of float along without too many bumps in the road. Look, when you’re young, you want a sports car and you don’t mind the bumps so much. As you age, you desire more comfort, along with the flash and dash — that’s pretty normal. And after a

lifetime of problems and bumps in the road, you may just get tired of dealing with them. The other problem with problems is that sometimes they meet and mate and create all kinds of little problems to go along with them, so ignoring them is not an option. If you don’t deal with what’s in front of you, then you will have a real problem, like a serious illness, and there may be no getting out of that one. The answer here lies in adopting the attitude that there will always be problems that need solving, and making that attitude a part of your life, but not your entire life. I like to deal with issues in the morning, so I can move on to more pleasant things for the rest of the day. I can’t always control the timing, but I’ve found that this usually works for me. You will find your own pattern after a few

tries. I also try to divide my problems into two types: those that could kill me and those that are inconvenient or will cost me money. If it’s about inconvenience or money, I remind myself that it’s not really a big deal, which keeps my emotions from running away with my mind. We will always have problems, and if you do, it means you are alive and participating in life on planet Earth. No matter what, that’s better than the alternative. In the meantime, it does always help to talk with someone about what’s going on with you. Sometimes just saying it out loud gives you an answer and a new perspective. Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., is an award-winning therapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of seven books and a blogger for PsychologyToday. com with nearly 27 million readers. Reach him at barton@ bartongoldsmith.com.

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Museum webinar to discuss coral reefs By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum will present a free Zoom webinar at 7 p.m. Jan. 20 with spatial ecologist and social scientist Dr. Jennifer Selgrath. “Mapping the History & Ecological Influence of Fishing on Coral Reefs in the

INSTRUCTIONS Fill 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-Saturday and on the crossword solutions © Puzzles by Pappocom page in Sunday’s Life section. www.sudoku.com

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks will return Jan. 17-31 for its 12th consecutive year. Restaurants will feature curated, chef-driven, threecourse prix fixe menus at price points of $30, $40 or $50, plus tax and gratuity. Many area wineries and tasting rooms will also participate at various levels and price points, including offering two-for-one tastings, special tasting flights, and discounts on bottle purchases, according to a

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investigated how small-scale fishing evolved over six decades on the double-barrier reef system Danajon Bank. Her research documented the long-term impacts of small-scale fishing and how local knowledge and satellite imagery affects mapping habitats and policy recommendations. “The importance and influence of small-scale fisheries is too big

to ignore,” Dr. Selgrath said in a news release. She has worked as a spatial ecologist with Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary’s science team since July 2020. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station. She is a former AmeriCorps volunteer and a former Fulbright scholar.

news release. “After the events of the last two years, we’re all looking for meaningful ways to reunite or reconnect with family, friends, and loved ones,” said Shelby Sim, president and CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. “Food and wine make the perfect centerpiece around which to celebrate, and Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks features the best of both in a wonderful setting that numerous media outlets have recently hailed as a must-visit in 2022.” Participants include Hitching

Post II, 406 E. State Route 246, Buellton, 805-688-0676; the restaurant at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, 555 McMurray Road, Buellton, 805-688-1000; The Tavern at Zaca Creek, 1297 Jonata Park Road, Buellton, 805688-2412; Bell’s, 406 Bell St., Los Alamos; Full of Life Foods, 225 Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-3444400; The Maker’s Son, 346 Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-344-1926; Norman at the Skyview Los Alamos, 9150 Highway 101, Los Alamos, 805-344-0080; Pico, 458 Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-3441122; Plenty on Bell, 508 Bell St.,

Los Alamos, 805-344-3020. Bar Le Côte, 2375 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos; Petros Winery & Restaurant, 3360 Foxen Canyon Rd., Los Olivos, 805-6805417; Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, 2879 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-688-7265. Nella Kitchen & Bar, 2860 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, 805-686-1359 Ellie’s Tap & Vine, 3640 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez, 916-3903595; The Lucky Hen Larder, 1095 Meadowvale Rd., Santa Ynez, 805-691-9448. email: dmason@newspress.com

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Philippines” is a presentation regarding Dr. Selgrath’s research on the effects of small-scale fishing on marine habitats in the Philippines and its implications for the Santa Barbara Channel. Registration for this webinar is required and can be found at sbmm.org/santa-barbara-event. Using both satellite imagery and local environmental knowledge, Dr. Selgrath

Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks set for January

COURTESY PHOTOS

Dr. Jennifer Selgrath has researched the research on the effects of small-scale fishing on marine habitats in the Philippines and its implications for the Santa Barbara Channel.

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NEWS

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

DVS appoints executive director By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County has announced the appointment of Marilyn Simon-Gersuk as its new executive director. A native Californian, Ms. Simon-Gersuk has more than three decades of nonprofit management, fundraising and operations experience. “I am thrilled to take on the executive leadership position at Domestic Violence Solutions,” Ms. Simon-Gersuk said in a news release. “The board and staff have built a strong organization focused on delivering the

agency’s mission. I am fully committed to building on the strong foundation that they have established to meet the needs in our community.” In 2013, Ms. Simon-Gersuk moved from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara to work for the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara. Ms. Simon-Gersuk volunteers as a court-appointed special advocate with CASA of Santa Barbara County and serves on the Mesa Shul of Santa Barbara Board. She and her husband, David Gersuk, have three adult children and three rescue dogs. “We are delighted to welcome Marilyn Simon-Gersuk as our

new executive director,” said Michelle Piotrowski, the DVS board president. “She brings professionalism, enthusiasm, deep passion for our cause and decades of experience in the nonprofit world to our organization. We feel very lucky to have found her and look forward to seeing DVS grow and thrive under her leadership.” DVS will continue to provide safety, shelter and support to domestic violence survivors and their families under Ms. SimonGersuk’s guidance. For more information, go to dvsolutions.org email: fmcfarland@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Marilyn Simon-Gersuk has been named the executive director of Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County.

QUOTES

Continued from Page B1

“

Ms. Yaghmai’s sculptures, which experiment with found and cast materials, explore themes of transformation and alienation to delve into feelings of foreignness and estrangement. She assembles collections of fragmented objects to alter the familiar and provoke feelings of disconnection of reality.

”

— Alexandra Terry, chief curator for Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, about the “Drifters” exhibit by Rosha Yaghmai (pictured).

COURTESY PHOTO

“

I grew up riding horses and am thrilled to be a part of the Hearts family, where I can be around horses every day and help support individuals of all abilities. I am passionate about fundraising and advocating for the mission of Hearts.

”

— Morgan Kastenek, director of development and marketing at the Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, which opened a new site that includes a main arena and second smaller arena, round pens, 19 covered horse stalls, two large turnouts and a hay barn.

Our assisted living is accredited for two reasons. You. And your family.

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“

We do a number of pop-up events, we sell online, and we sell wholesale. But the Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace is our favorite. Everyone wants to know the story of what we’re selling. At this event, people actually care about how our goods are made, and that feels really special. People come looking for unique items.

Because having the conﬁdence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. That’s why Maravilla senior living community is accredited by CARF International—an independent, organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care, service and safeguards. It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college. We think you’ll ﬁnd that our accreditation is only one of the many reasons take a good look at Maravilla.

”

— Caleigh Hernandez, the RoHo Goods founder, about the Folks & Tribal Arts Marketplace at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

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“

I think Clara is a very dynamic role. First you have to learn the choreography. Then you have to remember you’re Clara, and you’re in a magical world in your dreams.

”

— Audrey Messer, the Dos Pueblos High School freshman who recently played Clara in the State Street Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker” at The Granada.

Call today! (805) 564-5230 COURTESY PHOTO

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IDEAS & COMMENTARY

GUEST OPINION ANDY CALDWELL: Absurd approach to criminal justice reform/ C2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

DID YOU KNOW? Bonnie Donovan

New year means new hope

Chris Talgo, senior editor at The Heritage Institute, praised Sen. Joe Manchin for effectively burying the Build Back Better bill.

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTOS

Manchin defeats Build Back Better bill Senator helps nation by refusing to vote for Biden’s proposal

Editor’s note: Chris Talgo is senior editor at The Heartland Institute. The News-Press received this commentary from The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

n Dec. 19, just days before millions of Americans gather for Christmas festivities, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia., delivered a muchneeded early present to the nation when he let it be known that he would not vote in favor of President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better bill. While on “Fox News Sunday,” Sen. Manchin succinctly stated, “I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation.” When pressed if there is any room for future negotiations, Sen. Manchin dug in his heels, saying, “I’ve done everything humanly possible … This is a no. I have tried everything I know to do.” Although the possibility exists that portions of Biden’s Build Back Better bill could be resurrected

in 2022, based on Sen. Manchin’s economy. comments, it seems it is a fait As of this writing, the inflation accompli that the current version rate, as measured by the consumer of BBB is dead and buried, forever. price index, has reached a 39For most Americans, this is year high of 6.8%, with no sign of welcome news. abating anytime soon. Even worse, Several recent polls the producer price index, Chris show BBB is unpopular which measures final Talgo with the public. For demand for goods and instance, according to services and functions The author a Dec. 9 poll conducted as a gauge of future is with The by NPR/Marist, only 41 inflationary pressure, just Heartland percent of Americans hit an all-time high of 9.8 Istitute support BBB. percent. Unsurprisingly, only 42 In other words, the percent of those polled rapidly rising rate of said BBB “will help people inflation is unlikely to trend like themselves,” while just 35 downward anytime soon. percent said BBB “will help lower For all Americans, inflation has inflation.” become a persistent problem. Apparently and thankfully, Per a report from the Penn the American people have a Wharton Budget Model, “inflation better understanding of basic in 2021 will require the average economics than most members of U.S. household to spend around Congress, particularly those in the $3,500 more in 2021 to achieve Democratic Party. the same level of consumption of Without a doubt, BBB would goods and services as in recent have supercharged the rampant previous years (2019 or 2020). inflation that is already wreaking Moreover, we estimate that lowerhavoc throughout the U.S. income households spend more

of their budget on goods and services that have been more impacted by inflation. Lowerincome households will have to spend about 7% more while higherincome households will have to spend about 6% more.” However, despite the alarming signs that inflation is picking up steam and causing significant pain and suffering for American families, the Democratic Party could not care less. Immediately after Manchin put a stake through the heart of BBB, prominent Democrats and much of the mainstream media were in a tizzy. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) went into full-on attack mode, saying, “we all knew that Sen. Manchin couldn’t be trusted, the excuses that he just made, I think, are complete bulls***.” Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., chimed in with this quip, “The Senate must return to session immediately and bring this historic and transformational bill to a vote so Sen. Manchin — and every

Republican who has opposed it from the very beginning — can demonstrate, on the record, the contempt they have for their constituents and for everyone who calls America home.” What Omar, Pressley and too many other radical leftists fail to understand is that Sen. Manchin is representing his constituents, the people of West Virginia, who overwhelmingly oppose BBB. According to a recent poll, 53% of West Virginians strongly oppose BBB and 59% of independent voters in West Virginia strongly oppose BBB. What’s more, 64% of West Virginians strongly agree that BBB will make inflation worse while 66% strongly agree that “Congress should slow down and reconsider the Build Back Better Act in light of inflation concerns.” Fortunately, for now at least, Joe Manchin has dealt a devastating blow to President Biden’s Build Back Better bill. It remains to be seen whether or not Sen. Manchin caves in and votes for BBB-lite.

Good riddance, Mr. Wallace (formerly of Fox News)

f any sentient being had been in doubt as to which side virtually all the major media and social media companies were on, noncoverage of both the Hunter Biden laptop emails and the Great Barrington Declaration should have been proof positive of which presidential candidate they favored in October 2020. When presidential candidate Joe Biden falsely told debate moderator Chris Wallace, formerly of Fox News, that the story surrounding Hunter Biden’s $83,333-a-month payment as a member of the board of directors of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings had been “debunked,” there was no followup question from Mr. Wallace, who purportedly was “unbiased” and may even have leaned to the right. We know now (though we suspected as much then) that Mr. Wallace was a sheep in Fox’s clothing and had no intention of getting at the truth of any matter that may have hurt Mr. Biden’s chances of becoming president. That a seasoned reporter such as Mr. Wallace wouldn’t have asked why the son of a sitting vice

president was on the board of the Ukraine administration six directors of an energy company hours before leaving town to make in far-off Ukraine, who had no a decision on the subject. background in nor knowledge of The following are direct quotes energy production of any kind and are available for anyone to and was pulling down $1 million a see and/or listen to from Mr. Biden year in that position, wouldn’t have himself. broached the subject is, at the very “If the prosecutor is not fired, least, suspect. you’re not getting the That Hunter’s father money,” Mr. Biden bragged PURELY — Vice President Biden to a group at the Council POLITICAL — was put in charge of on Foreign Relations. Ukraine affairs in the “Well, son of a b—-, he Obama administration, got fired,” Mr. Biden said would have set off alarm with a big grin. bells to all but the densest President Biden’s “journalist”. That Vice evident corruption President Biden bragged continues to draw very about getting a prosecutor little attention from fired who was looking into James Buckley veteran “journalists” such corruption at Purisima as Chris Wallace, Carl may have even spurred Bernstein, Bill Kristol, et the dumbest reporter on planet al. Earth into a further question. That Vice President Biden then THE GREAT BARRINGTON continued to brag that he was DECLARATION RE-VISITED able to have that prosecutor fired This same kind of diffidence by holding up a billion dollars in towards truth seeking prevailed loan guarantees that had been after the Great Barrington approved for Ukraine would have Declaration was issued in October given a freshman in Journalism 101 of 2020. the opportunity to ask a follow-up. “As infectious disease But not Mr. Wallace. epidemiologists and public Mr. Biden boasted that he gave health scientists,” the public

pronouncement began, “we have grave concerns about the damaging physical and mental health impacts of the prevailing COVID-19 policies.” The declaration went on to recommend an approach it called “Focused Protection,” before outlining some of the damaging results of lockdown policies that were in place, including the “devastating effects on short and long-term public health … lower childhood vaccination rates, worsening cardiovascular disease outcomes, fewer cancer screenings and deteriorating mental health — leading to greater excess mortality in years to come, with the working class and younger members of society carrying the heaviest burden.” The declaration suggested that “keeping students out of school is a grave injustice” and that keeping such measures in place until a vaccine was available “will cause irreparable damage, with the underprivileged disproportionately harmed.” Another tidbit worth chewing over: “We know that vulnerability to death from COVID-19 is more than a thousand-fold higher in the

old and infirm than the young. Indeed, for children, COVID-19 is less dangerous than many other harms, including influenza.” The signing doctors and scientists encouraged the formation of “herd immunity,” along with the opening of businesses of all kinds, sending children back to school, and most importantly, taking additional measures to protect the most vulnerable as the central aim of the public health response to COVID-19. The declaration’s final paragraph says it all (and you must remember, this was drafted in September and released in October 2020 at the height of the epidemic): “Those who are not vulnerable should immediately be allowed to resume life as normal. Simple hygiene measures, such as hand washing and staying at home when sick should be practiced by everyone to reduce the herd immunity threshold. Schools and universities should be open for inperson teaching. Extracurricular activities, such as sports, should be resumed. Please see BUCKLEY on C4

he rains have finally arrived! What a good sendoff from 2021 — hopefully it will wash away some of the bad news of the passing year and bring in lots of joy and renewal to the new year. Even though some may understandably quip that “we are sinking into the holiday and feeling a bit hollowed out” (Josef Woodard), next week we do start a new chapter in city government. Let’s fill out the “hollowed” feeling with acts of civic and community spirit — pride in our own gracious town. Acting in concert for the greater good. Like every year, as we win some and lose some, most of us experience some unintended consequences that may or may not work out as expected. Many key figures and department heads found ways to retire early. As many insiders wanted to clean house, it appears they got what they wished for, except for one player who lingers. However, the city lost many seasoned police officers during the last year due to the current cultural climate. As in “defund the police” and liquidate their budget by transferring the monies to use social workers instead of police officers. Because cops scare people, haven’t you heard? Yet still, the cops are called to respond to the incidents and provide law and order. In the aftermath, the Santa Barbara Police Department is down approximately 20 out of 140 sworn positions and “nobody wants to be a cop anymore.” Would you? Think about it. Emergency services of police, fire and medics are the only thing you pay for that is available to you 24/7. Speaking of getting what you pay for, on an interesting financial note, our city, arm in arm with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara, provided the wherewithal for the homeless to live in million-dollar condos six blocks from the beach and less than two blocks from the downtown corridor, aka the State Street Promenade. Can you believe it? Our city fathers used silver lining shovels to celebrate and break ground on 28 apartments at Plaza de Vera Cruz. The new low-income housing was purchased for $17 million and $10 million of tax credits. That translates to us as $28 million for 28 apartments for the homeless, coming from anywhere. Where is the money coming from? All apartments come with access to services, for employment, food, mental health and life planning. We see this is a win for some, but for the taxpayer, is it? On a positive note, these million-dollar condos are across the street from the new site for the police department. A convenient unintended consequence. For those who do relocate to Santa Barbara, please don’t bring your “Boston ways” or the things you miss from your previous hometown. If you were drawn here and were moved enough by Santa Barbara, to resettle, please accept the ways of your new city. Students come from all over the world and throughout our country, yet they are encouraged by local politicians to vote in our elections — and most often without any knowledge or background of what the issues are. How could they? The students arrive in August, and elections may occur in November of the same Please see DONOVAN on C4

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

VOICES

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

LETTERS TO THE NEWS-PRESS Henry Schulte

The author lives in Solvang

Wendy McCaw Arthur von Wiesenberger

Reasons to be grateful in the new year

Co-Publisher Co-Publisher

GUEST OPINION

just south of Jacksonville. These letters demonstrated the shortage of food, such as candy, nuts, fruit and even a shortage of oranges in an orange growing state. The children wanted to read books and play with dolls although the one asking for a wash tub broke my heart. I found it illustrative that the children felt that Santa would be influenced by their behaviors, which I highlighted by italics, and their relationships with Santa, which I boldfaced. All began with “Dear Santa Claus,” and some are abbreviated due to space requirements. “I have been a bad boy this year, but I hope you will forgive me, and bring me a blond doll named Marie, and a brunette named Gertrude, and bring a cat, and some fruits and nuts.” Closing with “your friend.” “I am going to try to be a good little boy and go to school every day until Xmas so please bring me these few things, a paint set, a ball and glove, a storybook, a jigger and anything else that is good for a little boy 6 years old. Please do not forget my candy and bring Nellie a ball. Good-bye Santa.” “Mother says it has been one year since I wrote you, a long time for little boys to be good (we’ve tried to be). So please Santa bring us each a cowboy suit, a fire truck, several storybooks, some marbles, a ball, a knife, some games, and

had my New Year’s column already completed, and it detailed all what’s wrong with this country and how so terribly south we have gone in one year. But I tossed it aside. Rather, I readjusted my thinking to focus on the positive. First and foremost, regardless of political views, we’re all blessed with the fact that we live in the greatest country on the planet. For the time being anyway, we enjoy so many freedoms other nations have stripped away from their citizens. We can still speak our mind, though there are some hurdles we need to jump over these days. But for the most part, we can express our opinions and viewpoints and not suddenly disappear. This freedom of speech is a large part of who we are and is perhaps the single greatest thing we have going for us. We also get to practice any religion we like. Regardless of what you believe, we’re allowed to believe it, enjoy it, and no one can deprive us of it. This is a wonderful blessing since many countries will go so far as to kill its citizens because they didn’t follow the rules. It’s very comforting for millions of folks to know they’re safe from scrutiny and harm and allowed to worship freely in what they believe. For now, we also have the right to protect ourselves. The past couple years, violence has reached a new high and has been crawling out of the inner cities and finding its way to places that have never had to deal with home break ins, street crimes and murders at this level. No normal person wants to shoot anyone, much less kill another human being. The people who do that wantonly are either psycho or are pure animals, and there are plenty of both. But more and more stories are occurring where citizens are finding themselves in situations where they, in fact, did have to shoot someone to protect themselves and their family. The right to defend yourself is very powerful, and we can never give it up, especially now. America is blessed to have an abundance of food. Sadly, for multiple reasons, we also waste more than 100 billion pounds a year. The upside is, we can feed everyone in the country and even help the rest of the world as well. Thousands of volunteer groups make sure to reach out to those with less and pick up where the government leaves off or in some cases never even got started. And America has no shortage of volunteers. We are a very giving people. We’ve witnessed it yet again with the latest hurricane disaster. In that same vein, we the people, with our tax dollars, spend about $50 billion a year on foreign aid. We can debate this topic infinitum, but the fact remains, the United States does more for the rest of the world than probably any other nation, maybe even all of them combined. When there’s a disaster, America is Johnny on the spot without question. It’s who we are. People sneak in, overstay visas or do it the right way and apply for citizenship for some or all of the reasons stated above. I do believe another major reason is the world recognizes that in America if you put your mind to it and work hard, you will be rewarded for your efforts. You can do anything in this country, achieve anything and everything. No one will stop you from your dreams; the only one is you if you don’t try. It may amount to owning a small retail store to taking an idea you have and finding the

Please see ZEPKE on C4

Please see SCHULTE on C4

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Dr. Thomas Cole, a Santa Barbara resident, has proposed turning the abandoned Macy’s building at Paseo Nuevo into the new headquarters for the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Turn abandoned Macy’s into police station

Our absurd approach to criminal justice reform

‘P

sychoHeresy” is County are primarily Hispanic a book written males who committed the by a former following offenses: 7, who Santa Barbara are there for assault with City College deadly weapon/assault; 5, administrator, Martin Bobgan, robbery; 2, murder/attempted and his wife Deidre Bobgan. murder; 2, sex offenses; 1, The basic premise of the book shooting at an inhabited is that a little over 100 years dwelling. In addition, 82% ago, the field of psychology had gang association and and psychiatry did not exist. 90% committed an offense Instead we had something resulting in harm (physical, called “soul care.” psychological and/or The Bobgans demonstrate monetary) to their victim. an irrefutable index of studies Taking a lesson from that show that the modern a toddler/kindergartenpractice of psychology type approach to is replete with failure promoting excellent for a variety of reasons, behavior among these including theoretical former gang bangers, models of behavior that our local youth are have no basis in reality. provided an Excellent The word clap trap Behavior Card. comes to mind. When a youth Andy Caldwell What the studies exhibits excellent show is that there is behavior, a staff something superior to member will use a a stranger with a diploma on specific hole punch and punch the wall trying to make sense one of the numbered boxes on of a person’s problems based the card. One box is reserved on some scheme of human for a single observation of behavior they learned in excellent behavior, and there graduate school. Namely, the is no limit as to how many counseling should be done punches a youth may earn in by someone who is known, a day. trusted and respected via Once the youth has filled established relationships,and their card, the youth is who can thereby hold allowed to select a “Golden the counseled personally Egg’’ from the Treasure responsible for their actions. Chest. Each golden egg This subject matter has contains a prize ranging from relevance to our criminal a special snack to an extra justice system. Our society, telephone call,or a meal with long ago, moved from administration.” Why not a punishment as a core value Happy Meal to go with that? of incarceration toward the Even better? Green space! noble but weakly-defined “Current research suggests notion of rehabilitation that that detention facilities did not fare much better. with higher proportions of Nowadays, the buzz words natural vegetation within that define our new approach its perimeter exhibit lower is the promotion of “equity levels of self-harm and and well-being,” as described violence between youth and in Santa Barbara County’s toward staff. Additionally, plan to “elevate care” for research suggests beneficial youth in custody who should associations between green otherwise be in state prison space exposure and reduced because they are no longer stress, positive mood, less juveniles by a long shot. depressive symptoms, This is in keeping with the better emotional well-being, state’s desire to forgo their improved mental health and responsibility to run prisons behavior, and decreased for both adults and youth psychological distress in in order to save money by adolescents.” dumping the problems back on There you go! If only we counties. had turned prison yards into Hence, we now have 25-year- gardens! Either that, or maybe old “children” in a glorified they should be supervised version of juvenile hall. and counseled by somebody The program is based on who walked in their shoes, a bill, SB 823, designed for including former gang bangers youth to be placed in the and drug addicts, who have least restrictive appropriate successfully reintegrated back environment that would into society? I know a few. reduce and/or eliminate racial and ethnic disparities Andy Caldwell is the COLAB while decreasing the use of executive director and host of confinement in the juvenile “The Andy Caldwell Show,” justice system. airing 3 to 5 p.m. weekdays on The youth at the center of KZSB AM 1290, the News-Press this program in Santa Barbara radio station.

ell, just stating the obvious here. When looking for a new Santa Barbara police station location, why spend $100 million to build in the middle of Old Town on a small crowded lot well suited for a farmers market when there are better solutions? First off is the abandoned Sears building and giant parking area, all freeway close and roomy. What is wrong with this idea? Nothing really; it’s just too cheap. Then what about the abandoned Macy’s on lower State Street? A huge building, centrally located, with lots of underground parking for prisoners and only a block or two from the new proposed police station. I mean why not? The city gave these giant mall tenants tax breaks and other benefits to build here, and now malls are dying. It’s time to get smart and repurpose these dinosaur mall buildings into something useful, and save the taxpayers $100 million in the process. Dr. Thomas Cole Santa Barbara

An Early Christmas

s Sen. Joe Manchin an American hero? Did he save America and its economy? Did his saying no to the trillion dollar monstrous Build Back Better bill prevent inflation from skyrocketing, stop our national debt from exploding, and prevent our nation from descending into a socialist hell hole? The answer is yes. Christmas came early for America because of Sen. Joe Manchin’s courage. Don Thorn Carpinteria

More information is needed about rent control

egarding the Santa Barbara City Council’s efforts to enact increased residential rent controls, it is requested that each and every councilperson, including but not limited to Mayor Cathy Murillo, disclose their residential rental status and how much each will benefit, respecting the proposed limits to their rent. It is also requested that the city council and the city disclose what legal authority they have to control rent prices or any prices. With their claimed legal powers to control prices, it is hoped that they will set prices, respecting costs relating to water, electric and gas utility, renter and landlord liability insurance, fire insurance, property maintenance and property management, construction, mortgage and real estate taxes, city, county and state laws and regulations. It is demanded that our city council fully investigate the consequences of rent controls, as they apply to residential rental unit development, unit growth and rental affordability. They do not fully comprehend the factors of the rental industry, nor the consequences of their actions ... in respect thereto. Thomas Bryan Santa Barbara

How to help landlords weather rent control

he recent conversation surrounding the 2% (plus the Consumer Price Index) rent cap in Santa Barbara has alarmed many small-time landlords

who are concerned they will be effectively forced to sell their rental properties. If there is an overly severe rent cap, landlords will not be able to generate consistent “passive” income. And if the properties then cease to be profitable, they will need to liquidate their assets and re-invest their wealth in other income-generating assets. Some have suggested that forcing small-time landlords out of the market will make even more room for much bigger landlord firms such as Blackrock and Zillow. This outcome can be avoided if we implement a Santa Barbara Tenants’ Right to Buy. Such a policy would give Santa Barbara tenants the opportunity to convert their leases to mortgages (with monthly payments matching their current monthly rents) in the event that their landlords chose to sell. Landlords would be able to list a particular rental property in the public marketplace only if that property’s particular tenant waived this right. If a tenant chose not to waive the right to buy, the retiring landlord would instead receive the fair market value for their property in a lump sum, while Santa Barbara, independently or in collaboration with a bank, would facilitate the once-tenant-nowproperty-owner’s mortgage. Retiring landlords would enjoy nearly guaranteed buyers at the fair market rate, so they would be able to sell their properties without renovating, advertising, or hiring a real estate agent. This policy would increase the number of Santa Barbarians holding real equity in Santa Barbara. And thus it would promote a spirit of stewardship and responsibility in the community. Charles Perkins Santa Barbara

Christmas past and present

s we celebrate this Christmas, I wondered how much differences there are in ones separated by

Jan. 16, 1920, which incentivized law breaking. Many of the relatively recent arrivals also had a lingering loyalty to their relatives left centuries? behind in the “old country.” At Christmas 1821 as Missouri Consider, for example, my celebrated becoming the grandfather John Zepke’s 24th state, new arrivals parents migrating from helped the population Germany in 1895 and to reach 11 million as settling in Oaklyn, N.J. well as introduced new In 1912, he and his Irish traditions, such as the wife gave birth to the first one started in Germany born American Zepke: my in the 16th century of a father, who they named Christmas tree decorated George Washington. with edibles that was first There must have been Brent E. documented in the U.S. in emotional turmoil as Zepke Lancaster, Pa., in 1821. while the Germans fought At Christmas 1921, the the Irish during World The author 100 million residents lives in Santa War I, John worked in the scattered throughout Philadelphia shipyard Barbara. 48 states were suffering making ships to fight the shortages of many things, country of his ancestors. including food, caused by World In nearby Camden, in 1919, War I, which ended in 1918. Englishman Grover Cleveland Just as the U.S. was attempting Stackhouse and his Scottish wife to rebound, a case of what would Eleanor gave birth to my mother be known as the “Spanish flu” June. The end of World War I was was discovered in Kansas. In the end of John’s and Grover’s two short years it would infect an jobs. Imagine their families estimated 500 million people with struggling to make a Christmas for 17 million to 50 million deaths the nine-year-old George and two(some estimates put it as high year-old June in 1921. What effect as 100 million deaths), making it did their struggles have on George one of the deadliest pandemics and June? in history. World War I made it Fortunately, the St. Augustine difficult to have a more precise Record gave us a clue by number of deaths. publishing letters to Santa Claus Into this setting, the politicians from children in 1921. thrusted the 18th Amendment, St. Augustine was a small which began Prohibition, effective town along the Atlantic Ocean

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

ear Lee: I never had a chance to meet you. But I will never forget you — and I will do my best to ensure that you are not forgotten. As the owner of Crossfire Hats in Brighton, Colorado, your craftsmanship and artistry were renowned — and you garnered local media attention for your success for over two decades in the highly specialized business. You told one interviewer that your work making custom cowboy hats was “keeping the West alive, one hat at a time” and that your products represented the “history of the West.” You said you were a “country boy” who “love(d) being an artist.” Your friend and fellow hatter Steven Weil, owner of Rockmount Ranch Manufacturing Co., told KDVR 31 News that Lee Keltner was “a Western guy, he followed the cowboy code.” He praised you as “a man of integrity” and “honest person.” You were a beloved grandfather and father. Your sister Suzan noted that you “served our country” as a U.S. Navy veteran. Your friends said you were the “guy that would give you the shirt off his back” and a “patriot.” You were a family man, a selfmade entrepreneur and artisan,

VOICES

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

Say his name: Lee Keltner a motorcycle enthusiast, and a union president Nick Rogers salt-of-the-earth American who blew the whistle on how top took pride in his community, his brass (led by a police chief who craft and his country. My kind of marched arm in arm with BLM people. last summer) issued a retreat On Oct. 10, 2020, you headed order while the mob trampled to Denver’s Civic Center Plaza our constitutional rights to free to attend a “Patriot speech and peaceable Muster” — a peaceful assembly. gathering of citizens But despite Mr. Tiegen’s hosted by Benghazi preparation, better police Marine hero John “Tig” presence and barriers that Tiegen to show pride kept rioters from invading in America. Hundreds the plaza, one man didn’t carrying Old Glory and make it out alive: Thin Blue Line flags, You. Lee Keltner. Michelle Malkin donning MAGA hats, Lee, you weren’t able joined you. Young and to see or know that an old, civilian and military, ableagitator named Jeremiah Elliott bodied and wheelchair-bound, had been antagonizing your fellow answered Mr. Tiegen’s call to patriots throughout the end of “Stand Up and Show Up.” the event as they walked back to The rally went off smoothly — their cars. From multiple pieces until attendees began to disperse of video footage and from witness and return to their cars. accounts I gathered, Mr. Elliott Mr. Tiegen’s men had come was menacing and hateful. He had trained and prepared to defend a history of left-wing agitation, their supporters after the violent including leading an anarchist Back the Blue rally that I attended antifa/black bloc mob outside a three months earlier in July 2020 Denver police station a month with hundreds of others at the before the Patriot Muster. very same Civic Center Plaza that As I previously reported, was shut down by violent antifa Lee, while Mr. Elliott trailed and Black Lives Matter vigilantes you, a Trump-hating Occupy wielding metal rods, skateboards Denver radical named Matthew and megaphones to threaten and Dolloff and a local NBC affiliate assault law-abiding citizens. investigative producer for Remember: The Denver police Denver’s 9News named Zack

Newman conferred with each other nearby. At some point, Mr. Dolloff handed his cellphone to Mr. Newman. Minutes later, photographers and videographers filmed the agitator aggressively daring Mr. Keltner to deploy a can of bear spray he was holding to protect himself as Mr. Dolloff and Mr. Newman stood by closely. At first, Lee, you resisted engaging in any physical brawl as the agitator escalated. Mere seconds later, you walked away from the agitator only to walk right into what appears to be a deadly ambush with Mr. Dolloff. In an instant, Mr. Dolloff appeared to grab for something on your chest while you slapped defensively at his face. Mr. Dolloff then immediately whipped out a gun and shot at your face as you sprayed the repellant in selfdefense. I repeat the questions I asked in the aftermath of what I believe was a media-political assassination, Lee, so they and you will not be forgotten: What did Mr. Newman and Mr. Dolloff discuss as they shadowed you and Mr. Elliott? Did they have a beef with you? Did Mr. Newman or Mr. Dolloff know Mr. Elliott? Was Mr. Newman, who works for

a station that routinely demonizes conservatives as violent racists while whitewashing the left-wing trashing of downtown Denver, aware of Mr. Dolloff’s extensive social media footprint calling Trump supporters “racist” “fascists” and posting “Rise Up” Communist revolutionary propaganda? Lee, your friend Steven Wright, who was with you in your last waking moments, continues to push for truth and justice in your case. He told me recently: “Lee Keltner and I specifically discussed you, Michelle.” Steven said you told him that “no one will hurt her again” and that the riot at the July “Back the Blue” event “had a significant impact on me and Lee Keltner.” Lee, I will never get to say “thank you” to you. But I vow in 2022 to make sure that “never again” is your legacy and that your name and courage are not forgotten. God bless you, patriot. Michelle Malkin’s email address is michellemalkinInvestigates@ protonmail.com. To find out more about Michelle Malkin and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators.com. Copyright 2021 by Creators.com.

COURTESY IMAGE

Nonpartisan COVID Commission is needed now Editor’s note: Carl Schramm is a professor at Syracuse University and a senior adviser to the COVID Commission Planning Group. His most recent book is “Burn The Business Plan”:(Simon and Schuster, 2018). The News-Press received this commentary from The Center Square, a nonprofit dedicated to journalism.

ongress currently is considering eight proposals to establish a national COVID Commission. Such commissions routinely follow massively disruptive events in our nation’s life. Unfortunately, such congressionally chartered efforts seldom make much of an imprint on the future, which is their common mandate. This time perhaps that could change, if whichever bill wins out includes a roadmap for meaningful reform

of our public health enterprise The CDC’s often-contradictory that, in so many ways, failed as advice made Americans skeptical COVID-19 engulfed us. of preventive guidance, from Consider how federal, state and lockdowns to masking and, local health departments were subsequently, of vaccine efficacy unprepared for a threat that an and vaccine mandates. One expert government panel warned, might wonder if today’s CDC and in 2019, was inevitable. local health departments could Despite its enormous $11 billion rise to the occasion, as did their budget, the 800-pound predecessors, to beat back gorilla of public health, cholera, stop malaria, Carl the federal Centers for conquer polio or obliterate Schram Disease Control and smallpox. Given the ability The Hill Prevention, had no model of malevolent actors to for how a COVID-like manipulate the genetic virus would spread, nor how to codes of viruses, the threats ahead target preventive measures. Worse, are far greater. it had not developed a protocol for If past is prologue, there is every testing to determine if individuals chance that the members of a were infected with a disease, and highly visible COVID Commission no plans existed to work with will be drawn from political and private laboratories to produce test academic elites, will earnestly go kits for widespread distribution, through the motions, and then will which, during the onset of COVID, recommend significantly more it resisted. These delays cost tens funding for the CDC, local health of thousands of lives. departments, and schools of public

health. This time, to break the pattern, Congress should direct a new COVID Commission to make recommendations for bottomup reform of our public health establishment. Merely throwing more money at the existing system would be a mistake. The CDC’s problem isn’t a lack of funds but a lack of focus. Enjoying the enhanced visibility and status that the public health profession gained in the aftermath of the HIV-AIDS epidemic, public health officials recklessly broadened the definition of “epidemic.” Today, the CDC, state and local health departments, egged on by ambitious academics, have taken ownership of “epidemics” including racism, loneliness and gun violence — social ills for which experience in controlling communicable diseases caused by microbes and viruses is irrelevant.

The primary objective of a COVID Commission should be clarifying the fundamental expectations that our society requires from public health systems. Its work, and its report, must urge public health officials to focus on disease. The CDC should assume that we’ll face another pandemic – perhaps one even more lethal than COVID – in the near future, and begin work to strengthen its capacities for case finding, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine procedures, making them more effective and relevant to a more dynamic and diverse U.S. population. To enhance these traditional tools, public health officials must boost their statistical competency. The COVID Commission should examine the erratic collection of data on COVID and determine Please see SCHRAM on C4

Don’t shut down sports again for COVID

n March 2020, when COVID-19 first exploded onto the scene, sports fans waited with bated breath to see which teams, and which leagues, would bow out on precautionary grounds. The answer quickly became clear: all of them. But actions that were more justifiable at that particular juncture, when we knew nothing about what was then called the “novel coronavirus,” are now silly and perhaps inexcusable. As we approach 2022 and as the exceedingly contagious but exceedingly nonlethal omicron variant spreads like wildfire, sports leagues and organizations should all commit to resisting

COVID hysteria and keeping their Games. doors open. But the National Basketball The initial unanimity of the Association, which as an March 2020 sports cancellations institution is perhaps the most has, in the age of omicron, culturally far-left and ceased to exist. woke-sycophantic of all The National Hockey the professional sports League, for instance, leagues, has nobly taken announced earlier the precise opposite this week a pause to approach. Earlier this its season. The NHL is week, Commissioner nominally set to resume Adam Silver succinctly play on Monday, but it is articulated the Josh Hammer difficult to see what could conclusion that tens of change on the ground millions of sober-minded between now and then. Americans reached The NHL also announced that, a long time ago: “I think we’re due to the omicron surge, it would finding ourselves where we knew not be sending its athletes to we were gonna get to for the past Beijing in February to compete several months. And that is, this in Xi Jinping’s Winter Olympic virus will not be eradicated, and

we’re going to have to learn to live with it.” As the popular anti-woke sports pundit Clay Travis tweeted, “Welcome to the party, pal.” Kudos to the normally virtue-signaling Black Lives Matter apologist Silver, and shame on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. As of this writing, precisely one person is reported to have died in the U.S. due to the omicron variant. That is despite the fact that “full” vaccination — an ever-changing target, but for now having the definition of initially jabbed and subsequently once “boosted” — appears to be remarkably ineffective against omicron, according to all indications. A recent study from

a large South African health insurer, for instance, found that a two-shot dose of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine is just 33% protective against omicron. In a sane world where the virus were not politicized, the outbreak of such a contagious but mild virus variant as omicron would be recognized as no big deal, at minimum — and potentially even a genuine blessing in disguise, helping the populace bulk up on natural immunity and eventually develop herd immunity. As popular conservative commentator Ann Coulter tweeted, “GOD: Here’s a gift humans: a COVID variant that’s Please see HAMMER on C4

John Stossel

Questioning the science

hen people criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci, he says: “They’re really criticizing science. Because I represent science.” Pretty arrogant. I assume Dr. Fauci is a topnotch scientist. My brother worked with him at the National Institutes of Health and respected him. But power tends to corrupt, and Dr. Fauci has been given a lot of power. His department directed tax dollars to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to modify coronaviruses in bats. When Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, asked Dr. Fauci about funding “gain of function” research, experiments that try to learn more about a disease by making it more contagious or deadly, Dr. Fauci denied it, saying, “Sen. Paul, you do not know what you are talking about!” But it turns out that Sen. Paul did know what he was talking about. The Wuhan experiments Dr. Fauci funded did not directly cause COVID-19. We know that because the molecular structure of the altered viruses is different. But gain-of-function research is risky and deserves public discussion. I like that Sen. Paul, unlike most of his colleagues, pushes for that discussion. In my new video, he says he does this because it’s important “not only for assessing what happened and how this pandemic arose, but making sure it doesn’t happen again.” Originally, “experts” claimed COVID-19 came from animals in the wet market in Wuhan. But now “experts” say that COVID-19 might have come from a lab. “This has become so polarized that you’re either completely in the bag with Fauci or completely opposed to him,” said Sen. Paul. “There is no one wanting to actually get to the truth of where this came from or understand that this could happen again.” I asked Sen. Paul what he thought about Dr. Fauci’s flat dismissal of anyone who criticizes him. “That’s an incredibly arrogant attitude,” replied Sen. Please see STOSSEL on C4

HAVE YOUR SAY Your opinions are valuable contributions to these pages. We welcome a variety of views. Letters must be exclusive to the News-Press. In most cases, first priority for immediate publication goes to those submitted by 6 p.m. Tuesdays. We encourage brevity, and shorter letters have a better chance of being printed immediately. We edit all submissions for length, clarity and professional standards. We do not print submissions that lack a civil tone, allege illegal wrongdoing or involve consumer complaints. We also may decide not to print letters or op-eds for other reasons. Limit your letters to one every 30 days. All letters must include the writer’s address and telephone number for verification. We cannot acknowledge unpublished letters. We prefer e-mailed submissions. If you send attachments, please send word documents. We can’t guarantee that we can open a PDF. Send letters to voices@ newspress.com. Writers also may fax letters to 805-966-6258. Mail letters to P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102. The News-Press reserves the right to publish or republish submissions in any form or medium. Direct questions to Managing Editor Dave Mason at 805-5645277 or voices@newspress.com.

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

VOICES

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021

‘This past year has had its share of challenges’ DONOVAN

Continued from Page C1 year. It’s not a fair representation and does a disservice to the fulltime residents. No doubt this sentiment is being echoed across the nation. A positive unintended consequence we experienced due to the lock-down of COVID-19 is that architectural plans are now online for the public to study before they attend the respective meetings for the Historic Landmark Commission, Single Family Design Board, Architectural Board of Review and Santa Barbara Planning Commission. Thanks to the situation that forced the modernization and coupled with the tenacity of AMG who kept bringing it to the forefront. The added convenience and ability to know what the presenters are talking about has made a positive difference, one that is especially needed with the drawback of the postage stamp Zoom meetings. In Santa Barbara County, as in many cities, the rapidity in the development of vaccines by the pharmaceutical companies, the amazingly fast emergency approval, the enormous build-up in production and distribution and the efficient process was proof positive that when we must, we can make the system work and work well. We are grateful to the Santa Barbara medical teams and the hundreds of volunteers who in Santa Barbara style came together and assisted thousands with the vaccine, and homemade masks accompanied with sensitivity, charm, good humor and dedication. In fact, the present administration of our country just acknowledged that the previous

KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

“Regardless of the percentage of voters who supported my election, I’ll be working for 90,000 bosses come January, not just those who voted for me,” said Mayor-elect Randy Rowse, seen smiling here at his election night party at El Paseo.

president did bring the vaccine to the forefront during Operation Warp Speed. Remember, all have been released under Emergency Use Authorization just as the Pfizer pill, Paxlovid, and Merck’s Molnupiravir, both which were approved last week, again under EUA. We thank the first responders, the nurses, the doctors, the medics and all the nonprofits making a difference. Some include the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Meals on Wheels, Boys and Girls Club, etc., and all the Good Samaritans going out of

their way to help another person or family. As we enter the third year of COVID-19, why aren’t N95 masks offered to the public, as they were during the Thomas Fire? On a high note, churches and schools were reopened, and indoor dining is back in operation, although we wonder for how long. Still, we wait for our county’s Public Health Department to give the same authorization they gave movie theaters to reopen. We look forward to our city being able to open the chambers of City Hall and the David Gebhard Public Meeting Room at the Community

Development Department at 630 Garden St. We feel there is better communication and get more response when we all show up in person. We celebrate our new mayor, who takes office in January and ran as an independent, and hope we all come to the middle to work together. “We are all part of something special this year,” Mayor-elect Randy Rowse said. “My daily meetings with department heads, organizations, private businesses, and my future council colleagues encourage me to believe we’re all ready to move forward. I’m excited the way a skydiver feels as he approaches the open fuselage door …. prepared, confident and ever prayerful that the chute will actually open. Regardless of the percentage of voters who supported my election, I’ll be working for 90,000 bosses come January, not just those who voted for me. “This past year has had its share of challenges, and there are plenty more ahead. There are some new and very talented people in the city organization, and the people of this community have always risen to the task when asked to do so. I suppose if steelhead can swim upstream, then so can we.” This new year marks the beginning of new leadership in city government. May it move forward with a renewed sense of decorum and concern for all members of the Santa Barbara we call our home. “If you wish to go to extremes, let it be in sweetness, patience, humility and charity.” —St Philip Neri Bonnie Donovan writes the “Did You Know?” column in conjunction with a bipartisan group of local citizens. It appears Sundays in the Voices section.

The declaration was ‘shadow banned’ BUCKLEY

Continued from Page C1 “Young low-risk adults should work normally, rather than from home. Restaurants and other businesses should open. Arts, music, sport and other cultural activities should resume. People who are more at risk may participate if they wish, while society as a whole enjoys the protection conferred upon the vulnerable by those who have built up herd immunity.” So you may be thinking, this was a group of dissident scientists and doctors. Well, you would be wrong. The declaration was released and signed on Oct. 4, 2020 in Great Barrington, Mass., by: Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, professor at Stanford University Medical School, a physician, epidemiologist, health economist and public health policy expert focusing on infectious diseases and vulnerable populations; Dr. Sunetra Gupta, professor

at Oxford University, an epidemiologist with expertise in immunology, vaccine development and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, and Dr. Martin Kulldorff, professor of Medicine at Harvard University, a biostatistician and an epidemiologist with expertise in detecting and monitoring infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety evaluations. The declaration had garnered support from over 10,000 doctors, scientists and influential individuals. One would think that such a declaration, signed by leading health professionals from around the world, would have set off a series of discussions debating the subject. One would be wrong. The fix was in, and the declaration was given short shrift by the same crowd that actively stifled any suggestions of Biden family corruption or other news that may have negatively affected their candidate.

The declaration was “shadow banned” by Google, censored by Reddit and mocked by The Guardian, which chose to point out a couple dozen fake names on the by then over 15,000 signatories; fake, mainly because the online declaration invited anyone to sign on, and some of those who did used phony (and sometimes funny) names. A publication called ScienceBased Medicine compared Great Barrington Declaration supporters to “creationists,” “HIV/ AIDS denialists,” “climate science deniers,” and called the Stanford, Harvard and Oxford doctors “grifters.” Supporters of the Great Barrington Declaration, including Elon Musk’ President Trump’s health adviser, Dr. Scott Atlas, and the good doctors from Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford, were maligned in mainstream and social media outlets as evil cranks out to destroy the planet. They were “anti-science” flatearthers, not worthy of further

consideration. But they were right. And this conspiracy of dunces (The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, CDC, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Birx and all the rest) that defended Hunter Biden and his father’s obvious corruption, who buried the Great Barrington Declaration and fought to hide the Wuhan lab origin of Covid-19, should at the very least be pilloried in public if not summarily fired from their positions and/or expected to resign in disgrace. That hasn’t happened yet, but now that the amazingly incurious Chris Wallace is gone, perhaps Fox News Sunday’s new host, Brett Baier, will take up the cause. Maybe he will. After all, hope really does spring eternal, at least among some of us sentient beings. James Buckley is a longtime Montecito resident. He welcomes questions or comments at jimb@ substack.com.

‘The death rate among children is less than the seasonal flu’ STOSSEL

Continued from Page C3 Paul. “Reminiscent of the medieval church (where) the government representative decided what was science ... Any time you have government dogma saying they are science, or government bureaucrats who claim that ‘this is the one and perfect truth’ ... we should run headlong away.” Today our government wants to mandate vaccines in private workplaces. The administration claims that’s necessary because not enough people are vaccinated. Sen. Paul calls that a “big lie.” “We are not stupid. The whole

idea of collectivism is that people are too stupid to make their own decisions. Individuals will make rational decisions and do.” I pushed back. “Some people are stupid. Is there no point when the government does have a right to force a vaccination?” “I’m not for ever forcing someone to take medical care,” said Sen. Paul. What about kids? “The death rate among children is less than the seasonal flu,” Sen. Paul pointed out. “We never mandated that kids get vaccinated for the seasonal flu, (even though they get) like 49 different vaccines. Can we not leave some choice for parents and kids?”

I hope so but push back again. “What if it’s airborne Ebola? Does government have the right to say, you must take this medicine?” “No,” said Sen. Paul. “Once you let government in the door to make these decisions, they make onerous decisions.” They do. I’m a libertarian. I want government out of my life. But an epidemic is the rare exception where some government force may be appropriate. If a disease is vicious and contagious, and a medicine clearly reduces the spread, I want government to protect me from reckless people, like it protects me from murderers.

Not to say that America needs a vaccine mandate. There’s been far too much government force during this pandemic already. It’s good to question the government’s rules. I’m glad Sen. Paul does that. But when it comes to epidemics, I won’t say: never. John Stossel is creator of Stossel TV and author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.” For other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www. creators.com. Copyright 2021 by JFS Productions Inc.

Patrons can make up their own minds HAMMER

Continued from Page C3 wildly contagious, but not lethal, to spread immunity far and wide!” She then added, “HUMANS (in blue states): TRIPLE MASK! CANCEL GATHERINGS! SHUT DOWN!” Even holding aside Ms. Coulter’s sound logic, our general predicament, almost two years into the pandemic, is simple: COVID is not going anywhere. Period. It will continue to mutate into new variants and, much like influenza or even the common cold, will be with humanity for the

foreseeable future. The push from some in the Faucist biomedical security state to continue the rhetorical (if not substantive) push for “COVIDzero” amounts to a denial of empirical, observable reality. The COVID hysteria-induced lockdown apologists might as well deny the blueness of the sky, at this point. The onus is now on the other sports leagues and organizations to follow the lead of Mr. Silver’s NBA, not Mr. Bettman’s NHL. The risk is real that the National Collegiate Athletic Association might delay its impending college football playoff or perhaps the rest of the high-profile

men’s basketball season. Ditto Commissioner Roger Goodell’s National Football League. Such cancellations would be tremendous mistakes. Patrons can make up their own minds about whether they can assume the necessary risk to attend sporting events. And the risk to the athletes themselves — who are, by definition of being professional or collegiate athletes, healthier than the vast majority of the population — from such a nonlethal variant as omicron is infinitesimal. The NFL’s recent move scaling back asymptomatic testing for COVID is a sane step in the right

direction. Let the games go on; give a citizenry starving for a modicum of normalcy to return to their lives something to rally around. Sports at its best can be a unifying phenomenon. But in order for American sports to be unifying, it must first resist the biomedical security state’s misguided siren song of COVID hysteria. To find out more about Josh Hammer and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit www.creators. com. Copyright 2021 by Creators.com.

My grandchildren’s list reflects the absence of food ZEPKE

Continued from Page C2 anything else you think we might like. James only wants an electric train. Oh! Santa, I can’t begin to tell you all that my sister wants, so just bring her everything a little girl should have.” “I am a little girl only 3 years old and I have been good this year. I don’t go to school, but my daddy has taught me how to spell my name so if you will bring me what I ask you for Santa, I will spell it for you when you come by.” After asking for a doll and a washboard and tub and some clothespins and line to hang the dolly’s clothes, she wrote, “Well, I will close, Santa, hoping you will find where I live and be careful and don’t get hurt when you come to my house.” “Please give me a big doll, dressed up pretty, a go-cart for all my dolls, and plenty of oranges, nuts, and candy. I am trying to be a good girl. From your little girl. P.S. Please put a big ball in my stocking and some dishes.” “Just a few lines to let you know what I want for Xmas. I want a bicycle, a storybook, and some candy and fruit. Santa don’t forget my little nephew Harold Masters. Santa now bring me what I want. Good-bye.” “Will you please bring me a doll, a go-cart, a little truck, two tablets, two lead pencils and some nice fruit so as my mamma and daddy will have something to enjoy also. Thanking you dear Santa, I remain your little girl.” At Christmas 2021, the 330 million residents scattered throughout 50 states were suffering shortages of food caused by rising prices from politicians limiting oil production, from the ramifications of a bizarre exit from Afghanistan and a recognized pandemic and a yet unrecognized, but more deadly,

Fentanyl pandemic. Into this setting the politicians incentivized lawbreaking by thrusting restrictions on enforcing the law during any of the estimated 574 riots-lootingarsons in multiple cities. Migrants from Germany, Ireland, England, Scotland must be vaccinated unless they join the crowd of 7,000 a day walking in from Mexico. How much difference do you see from 1921? The century from 1921 to 2021 saw families, including mine, dilute the lessons learned in 1921 as each generation adjusts them based on its own experiences and circumstances. At Christmas 2021, I have no examples of children’s’ Santa letters, but my grandchildren’s list reflects the absence of food items although baking cookies is of interest: no marbles, no electric trains and, thank goodness, no washboards. Requests for balls have become more specific, such as a football or basketball. Lists have included a few books, computer games and clothing replacing dolls and stuffed animals as the girls’ become teenagers. No bicycles as they already have them. Perhaps a sign of prosperity. I have not heard any confessions about their behaviors or how they describe their relationships with Santa. There is hope for Christmas 2121 as long as the spirit of Christmas continues to inspire children to believe in the values offered by a force greater than any human being. Brent E. Zepke is an attorney, arbitrator and author who lives in Santa Barbara. Formerly he taught at six universities and numerous professional conferences. He is the author of six books: “One Heart-Two Lives,” “Legal Guide to Human Resources,” “Business Statistics,” “Labor Law,” “Products and the Consumer” and “Law for NonLawyers.”

‘Let’s all hope for a happier new year’ SCHULTE

Continued from Page C2 capital from a family member or a bank who thinks you’re on to something. Success is only an idea away. The millions of people from around the world who pour across our now open southern border are just hoping for something better. Most are not bad people. Their initial prospects may be to work in the service industry or in the fields, which is likely a thousand-fold improvement from where they came from. I’m not endorsing the open border (it needs to be closed down) or condoning the bad that comes with it, but rather pointing out what makes our homeland the great place it is and why

everyone in the world wants to come here. America and the world have undergone some very strange and difficult times these past couple years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change any time soon. We are learning to adjust to the crazy planet the little virus brought upon us. Though I was born in Germany, I’m proud to be an American. I’ve never thought of myself as anything else. I love our flag as the symbol of freedoms, as the nation that helps the world, as the place where you can be whatever you want to be. I look forward to 2022 with some trepidation. It will take a lot to reverse the wrong direction we’re going, but we’re America Strong. Let’s all hope for a better and happy new year.

Pathogens anywhere are a concern everywhere SCHRAM

Continued from Page C3 the accuracy of the reported numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. There is a big difference between hospitalizations and deaths “with” COVID or “because of” COVID. Much of the information that we have has been collected by different agencies, using different standards and methods, and none of it has been processed in real time. Next time, we will need accurate, consistent data — and we’ll need it fast. A national commission on COVD also might observe that, if public health officials want to diminish their collective credibility with the American people, engaging in partisan advocacy is not a good place to start. The 1,200 public health officials who signed a letter endorsing the George Floyd protests as “vital to the public health,” while calling for masking and social distancing in every other walk of life, did more harm than good. Finally, a COVID Commission should remind public health officials that theirs is a global job. The old and now redeployed truism that “disease knows no borders” reminds us that

pathogens anywhere are a concern everywhere, particularly in the era of rapid global travel. President Joe Biden’s decision to halt traffic from African countries where the omicron variant has emerged was not racist or xenophobic but done to prevent its broad introduction into the U.S. That decision also reminds us that monitoring pathogens globally is critical to America’s national security. Given that the WHO was slow to alert member countries for fear of alienating China, a COVID Commission might recommend that the U.S. should greatly improve its independent capacity to detect and analyze, in real time, unrecognized and potentially malignant biological threats anywhere in the world. Public health experts may not be able to predict with certainty when the next pandemic shows up, or what challenges it will bring. By focusing on their core mission and constantly improving their methods and practices, however, they can be more prepared when it arrives. A national COVID Commission that fails to call the public health enterprise back to its principal mission preventing the spread of communicable disease will not make a meaningful difference.