Santa Barbara News-Press: January 05, 2023

‘Puss ‘n Boots’

s torm slams sB County

Big storm begins in SB County

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

It’s not like they didn’t warn us.

The National Weather Service staff had forecast heavy rain, strong winds and high surf in Santa Barbara County, resulting from a “significant” storm poised to strike the area Wednesday and continue through today.

And they were right.

It started raining in Santa Barbara shortly before noon Wednesday, right on schedule.

“With the storm system that started today, we will see heavy rain overnight and into Thursday,” Lisa Phillips, a meteorologist with NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard, told the News-Press.

At times, the rain will fall at a rate of 1 inch per hour, and potentially up to 1.25 inches per hour, she said.

The NWS predicts 2 to 4 inches of rain will fall along the coast and valleys, and higher amounts in the south-facing west hills/mountains

along the southern coast, from 4 to 8 inches and possibly up to 10 inches.

“We tend to see more rainfall there than in interior mountains and hills,” Ms. Phillips said.

Heavy rain is forecast for the Alisal, Thomas and Cave Fire burn areas. Visit readysbc.org for more information on this situation, including posted maps on the three burn scar areas that are adjacent to creeks. The three areas were under evacuation orders on Wednesday.

“It is imperative to understand the seriousness of the situation, and prepare to take actions to protect oneself, family, pets and any tenants, visitors and workers,” the Santa Barbara County Executive Office said.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch, which started at 4 p.m. Wednesday and was scheduled to run through this morning.

Residents required to evacuate from burn scar areas

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Evacuation orders were issued Wednesday for the burn scar areas of the Thomas, Alisal and Cave fires as Santa Barbara County braced for a heavy storm and the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch.

The orders affected the entire Alisal burn scar and specific parcels in the vulnerable sections of the Cave and Thomas scars.

The South County evacuation center opened up at the Wake Center at 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara. And on Wednesday, Santa Barbara County Animal Services was prepared to take in small animals during the evacuations, and large animals could be taken to Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.

The National Weather Service on Wednesday estimated that 4 to 8 inches of rain could fall within a 24-hour period in Santa

FYi

For the latest on Santa Barbara County’s response to storms, see readysbc.org. You can also get information by dialing 2-1-1.

Barbara County, with some areas getting as much as 10 inches.

The heaviest amount of rain was expected to fall between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 5 this morning. The most intense downpours were predicted to happen between midnight and 3 a.m.

Sheriff Bill Brown said the county would also likely be dealing with winds as fast as 50 to 60 mph on Wednesday night. He told reporters during a news conference Wednesday afternoon that there was concern about the saturation of the soil, the potential of trees coming down and the potential for increased rainfall in the foothill communities.

The news conference, which took place on the county government campus by Calle Real in Santa Barbara, also included Montecitio Fire Chief Kevin Taylor. He talked to reporters a few days before the five-year anniversary of the Jan. 9, 2018 debris flow that devastated Montecito and cost 23 lives.

“First and foremost, the flood conveyance in Montecito at this moment is functioning as designed,” Chief Taylor said, answering a question from the News-Press.

He said water flows were clear and the debris basins were cleaned out and ready to receive material.

“We are the beneficiary of a brand new debris basin at Randall Road, a great

community project that was done in record time,” Chief Taylor said. “That will most definitely have an impact on the amount of risk for the community.”

Earlier at the news conference, Chief Taylor said Wednesday night’s storm was expected to be less significant than the one that occurred on Jan. 9, 2018, but added, “It is still powerful and should be taken seriously. In the last 30 days, our community has received 8 to 13 inches of rain. The forecast is for up to 10 inches. This accumulative rain and saturation is what causes our risk.”

Chief Taylor compared Wednesday’s storm to a 1969 storm that triggered debris-laden floods in watersheds in the Santa Barbara area. That storm came five years after the Coyote Fire.

The 2018 debris flow followed the December 2017 Thomas Fire.

Up the coast from Montecito, the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol was working Wednesday on getting anchored boats moved to more secure mooring spaces before the worst of the storm hit.

“Our Harbor Patrol is making every effort to make sure all those boats are brought into the safe harbor area so those efforts are currently ongoing, to make sure none of those in the free mooring area are left out there,” Santa

McCarthy fails to win House Speaker spot after six attempts

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., failed a fourth, fifth and sixth time in two days to win his bid to serve as Speaker of the House Wednesday as Republicans remain divided and the position remains unfilled. Another vote will be needed to confirm a speaker, and until then the newly seated chamber will remain stalled.

U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, nominated U.S. Rep. Byron

Donalds, R-Fla., to oppose Rep. McCarthy Wednesday, pointing out this is the first time two black Americans have been nominated for Speaker of the House.

“Byron Donalds is a good man raised by a single mom who moved past adversity, became a Christian man at the age of 21, and has devoted his life for…his country, and he has done it admirably,” Rep. Roy said. “But there is an important reason for nominating Byron, and that is this country needs a change. This country needs leadership that does not

reflect this city, this town that is badly broken.”

The new speaker would need 218 votes to secure a majority. After November’s elections, Republicans hold 222 in the House, leaving them a slim majority.

Rep. Donalds was able to peel away enough votes to keep McCarthy from winning the speaker’s role and force another vote, earning 20 votes from members of the House Freedom Caucus.

Wednesday’s votes came a day

after Rep. McCarthy failed to get the needed 218 votes for the position three times on Tuesday. The same 20, originally 19, Republicans voted for U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, on Tuesday with Democrats backing Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., the expected Democratic successor of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Former President Donald Trump vocalized his support behind Rep. McCarthy in a post on TruthSocial Wednesday.

“Some really good conversations

took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY, & WATCH CRAZY NANCY PELOSI FLY BACK HOME TO A VERY BROKEN CALIFORNIA,THE ONLY SPEAKER IN U.S. HISTORY TO HAVE LOST THE ‘HOUSE’ TWICE!” he wrote.

“REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT. IT’S TIME TO

Please see SPEAKER on A4

Wednesday’s

COURTESY PHOTO

Rep. Kevin McCarthy

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Efforts to stay dry on Anacapa Street include warm clothing and umbrellas as the rain hits Santa Barbara Wednesday afternoon.

COPYRIGHT 2023 BY HARRY RABIN / HEAL THE OCEAN

MarBorg equipment was brought in to salvage a boat that washed up at East Beach on Wednesday. The salvage efforts were ended when waves became too high, but MarBorg left the equipment there in case the boat could be salvaged later.

Harbor Patrol encouraged anchored boats to move into harbor

nonprofit’s president and executive director.

“Approximately 18 boats did, greatly reducing the possible casualties of boats hitting the beach.

Barbara Police Chief Kelly Gordon said, answering a question from the NewsPress.

She added, “We have the ability to respond if those vessels end up on the beach.”

The Harbor Patrol’s efforts, in fact, were praised by Heal the Ocean.

“Heal the Ocean gives a shout out to City Harbor Patrol Officer Erik Engebretson for going out into the ‘Fools Anchorage’ (as it is called) and inviting anchored boats to move into the shelter of the Santa Barbara Harbor,” said Hillary Hauser, the

“So far, Heal the Ocean has paid for getting crashed boats off the beach, together with their gas and oil tanks, sewage tanks, etc.,” Ms. Hauser told the News-Press.

That includes money that Heal the Ocean has paid MarBorg Industries for salvage efforts.

On Wednesday, MarBorg brought in equipment to salvage a boat that washed up on East Beach in Santa Barbara, but Ms. Hauser said the salvage was called off because of high waves and the risk they posed to MarBorg equipment.

Officials warn of possible flooding, hazardous driving

roadways. “If you could stay home and avoid travel, that’s best.”

“So that boat will break up on the beach with hazardous materials, etc.,” Ms. Hauser said.

She soon contacted the News-Press again to report MarBorg was leaving its equipment on East Beach in case it could move in later as the boat broke up.

Ms. Hauser also noted Heal the Ocean would no longer cover the expense of paying the cleanup costs and that the public would need to look to the Santa Barbara City Council and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for help.

“We are no longer using donor money to clean up boats that crash because of irresponsible boat owners,” Ms. Hauser said. email: dmason@newspress.com

A high wind warning was scheduled to be in effect until 6 this morning for most of Santa Barbara County. Southeast winds were expected to range from 2540 mph, with gusts reaching as high as 60 mph, said Ms. Phillips of the National Weather Service.

This applies mostly to the mountains, she told the NewsPress on Wednesday, but added that some coastal areas exposed to southerly winds could experience higher gusts as well.

The NWS also issued a high surf warning for portions of the Central Coast. Waves were predicted to reach 16-22 feet high, and some could reach 25 feet.

Along the Santa Barbara coast, waves were expected to reach 8 to 12 feet high.

The storm, Ms. Phillips of the National Weather Service said, is “pretty intense,” noting that some of her colleagues are saying they haven’t seen one this powerful in the last five years.

“We already have ground that’s wet from recent rain, so there’s a concern for flooding,” she said.

“The mountains are susceptible to strong, gusty winds” that could knock down tree limbs and power lines, Ms. Phillips said. “It would not be a surprise to see a significant amount of power outages.”

She said the rain and wind mean hazardous driving conditions.

“It’s not a good time to be out,” she said, noting that urban flooding could spill over to

Lompoc hospital announces meetings

Capt. Scott Safechuck said the Santa Barbara County Fire Department did not respond Wednesday to any storm-related accident.

Sarah Clark, the city’s downtown plaza parking manager, said State Street had been spared serious flooding as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday

“So far, so good,” she said. “We have a few areas with minor backups but staff is monitoring closely and will address any potential hazards.”

Sarah Aguilar, the county’s Animal Services director, said some people have dropped off cats at the county’s animal shelter in connection with the evacuation orders. And volunteers have stepped up to take 10 dogs for a night or two that are up for adoption or foster care to make room for dogs temporarily left by people who are evacuating.

“We’ll be here all night manning the disaster line and accepting pets,” she said. “We expect an increase when people get home from work and decide what to do.

“We’re hopeful that by Friday everyone will be back to normal.”

Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services, meanwhile, is reminding residents about potential health risks associated with stormwater runoff at countywide beaches.

Stormwater is untreated rainwater that flows through the drain system into creeks, the ocean and other waterways. Contact with storm water while swimming or surfing may increase

Committee.

LOMPOC — The following teleconferences will take place this month at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center: • Noon. Jan. 16. Building and Planning

the risk for certain types of illnesses such as rashes, fever, chills, ear infections, vomiting and diarrhea.

To minimize potential health risks, it is recommended that people do not swim, play or surf in the ocean and creeks for at least three days following a rain event.

• 12:20 p.m. Jan. 16. Personnel and Retirement Committee.

• 11:30 a.m. Jan. 26. Finance Committee.

• 12:30 p.m. Jan. 26. Compliance Committee.

• 5 p.m. Jan. 26. Board of Directors.

Agendas for the meetings will be posted on the bulletin board located across from the

Beachgoers should also avoid areas near the outfall from drain pipes and creeks that enter the ocean following a rain event as storm water runoff may carry high levels of bacteria and pollutants. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

board room, in the Emergency Department and at lompocvmc.com, the hospital’s website either 24 or 72 hours prior to each meeting.

For more information, call the hospital administration office at 805-737-3301.

to the Santa Barbara News-Press, P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102. Published daily.

— Katherine Zehnder

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor compares the storm hitting Santa Barbara County on Wednesday night to a 1969 storm in the same area. Listening at the Santa Barbara news conference are, from left, 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps, 1st District Supervisor Das Williams and Sheriff Bill Brown.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Umbrellas become a common sight on State Street Wednesday afternoon. Sarah Clark, the city of Santa Barbara’s downtown plaza parking manager, said State Street had been spared serious flooding as of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

California ranks as the number one state for outbound U-Haul trucks for third year

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - For the third consecutive year, California ranked dead last in a report released by U-Haul on Growth States for 2022. As more people sought to leave the state, U-Haul saw the highest demand for oneway equipment from California outbound residents, and saw the highest net loss of one-way U-Haul trucks from the Golden State.

U-Haul compared the net gain of one way U-Haul trucks arriving at a particular city or state to those leaving that city or state from January to December 2022, to arrive at its Growth Index.

John Taylor, International President of U-Haul stated, “We still have areas with strong demand for one-way rentals. While overall migration in 2021 was record-breaking, we continue to experience significant customer demand to move out of some geographic areas to destinations at the top of our growth list.”

America’s most populous state, had the highest net outward domestic migration out of all 50 states in Fiscal Year 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In that stretch, 343,230 more Americans moved out of

California compared to those who moved into it.

A California Department of Finance report demonstrated that outmigration is outpacing the state’s birth and death rate adding to the negative impact on its total population.

Since COVID, the California Policy Lab has found that the state has seen a 12% increase in the number of people leaving.

In 2022 a number of companies relocated southern California offices to other states.

Corporations like Chevron and American Airlines looking to make the change offered to pay their employees to relocate or help with the cost, if staffers chose to continue with the company at the new location.

“The 2022 trends in migration followed very similar patterns

to 2021 with Texas, Florida, the Carolinas and the Southwest continuing to see solid growth,” Mr. Taylor said in the report.

Texas was the top Growth state for the third consecutive year, and for the fifth time in the past six years. Florida too, ranked second in 2022 as a top growth state.

The U-Haul Report claims that its growth index “is an effective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents.” and does not directly correlate to economic or population increases.

U-Haul has a network that covers all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Its 23,000 truck-and trailer-sharing outlets are able to give a ‘big picture’ view of the movement of people in a unique way.

Pandemic learning loss could cost students $70,000 in lifetime earnings

By BRETT ROWLAND THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Pandemic learning loss could reduce the lifetime earnings of students by $70,000, according to a study from a Stanford economist.

The study, based on math test scores, projects the losses could total $28 trillion over the course of the century, said Eric Hanushek, the Paul and Jean Hanna senior fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University.

Mr. Hanushek compared the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress math scores of eighth-grade students to those of students in 2019,

before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Looking across the nation, the average score for eighth-grade math fell for every state, with a national average decline of eight NAEP scale score points,” Mr. Hanushek wrote. “This was enough to erase all of the gains that had occurred since 2000.”

He estimated the losses were equal “to 0.6-0.8 years of schooling lost.” He further estimated that loss could reduce the lifetime earnings of students who attended school during the pandemic by $70,000.

“The evidence on the labor market value of skills implies that the average student during the pandemic will have 5.6% lower lifetime earnings,” Mr. Hanushek wrote. “This figure compares the expected earnings given the eight-point loss in math achievement to what could have been expected without the pandemic.”

The lower lifetime earnings could reduce state gross domestic product significantly in the coming years.

“The pandemic’s effects imply that the future workforce will be less prepared to contribute to economic growth,” he wrote. “Even if education returns to its pre-pandemic quality, there is a cohort of students that will move through the future labor force with lower skills and achievement than those both before and after them. This lowered aggregate skill level will, by historical observations, lead to a slowdown in growth relative to what would have occurred without the pandemic.”

Crime is a major concern for Americans in 2023

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Crime is a growing concern for Americans as the new year begins, according to newly released polling data.

Gallup released the poll that shows that 72% of surveyed Americans predict crime rates will increase, not decrease, this year.

That figure comes after an earlier poll showed a record-high 56% of Americans said crime is higher where they live than it was a year ago.

“The 56% of U.S. adults who report an increase in crime where they live marks a five-percentagepoint uptick since last year and is the highest by two points in Gallup’s trend dating back to 1972,” the group reported in October. “Public perceptions of an increase in crime at the national level have also edged up since last year, as 78% say there is now more crime in the U.S. This is tied with the 2020 measure. The record high was 89% in 1992, when crime rates soared in the U.S.”

Notably, FBI crime data this year was incomplete since several major police departments failed to report their numbers. Anecdotally, though, several major cities have seen violent crime soar. Overall, violent crime has seen an increase since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 and the

Medicare

ensuing riots and defund the police movement.

The homicide rate, in particular, has soared, rising about 30% in 2020 alone.

Crime concerns played a significant role in the midterm elections. Pew research polling released in late October showed that “six-in-ten registered voters (61%) say violent crime is very important when making their decision about who to vote for in this year’s congressional elections.”

Notably, Gallup reported in November that 55% of surveyed Americans support the death penalty for murderers.

“Regardless of crime’s eventual impact on voting, we have clearly seen some significant upticks over the past year or so in the public’s concerns about crime. Personal worry about crime increased to its highest level since 2016 in Gallup polling earlier this year,” Gallup’s Frank Newport said. “Americans’ satisfaction with the nation’s policies to reduce or control crime was lower than satisfaction with almost any other issue in a list included in Gallup polling conducted in January of this year.”

Concern varies by political affiliation.

“Worry about crime is currently also higher among Republicans than among Democrats. The perceived importance of crime as an election issue is much higher among Republicans than among Democrats,” Mr. Newport said.

Eric Hanushek, Paul and Jean Hanna senior fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University

“The abstract nature of the discussion belies both the seriousness of the problem and the certainty of economic harm that lies ahead,” Mr. Hanushek wrote. “Without action, not only will individuals in the COVID cohort of students suffer long-term income losses, but also the individual states will see shrunken economic activity.”

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — More than 500 foreign nationals were apprehended after attempting to illegally enter Florida on the first two days of the year, an unpreceded number, officials say.

They arrived by boat mostly off the coast of the Florida Keys, prompting multiple agencies to issue warnings to Floridians, and a national park was forced to close to the public.

The record number of apprehensions in the first two days of the year was after the Miami Border Patrol Sector reported a more than a 500% increase in apprehensions in fiscal year 2022.

It was also after the sector apprehended a record 1,661 illegal foreign nationals and reported 107 gotaways in December, according to preliminary data obtained by The Center Square from a Border Patrol agent.

On Tuesday, Miami BP Sector Chief Patrol Agent Walter Slosar issued a warning to Floridians saying, “agents were on scene in Key Largo where a sailing vessel involving a large number of migrants made landfall. Please transit the area with caution and allow space for responding

agencies.”

National Park Police, U.S. Coast Guard, and all federal, state and local law enforcement partners were actively working “to protect our Florida border,” Mr. Slosar said, after Border Patrol agents “responded to a high volume of migrant landings in the Florida Keys” on New Year’s Eve.

As a result, there was an “increased presence of law enforcement and first responders in the area,” he said.

Agents encountered more than 160 people arriving in the Florida Keys in at least 10 separate landings startingat midnight on New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day.

By Monday, Dry Tortugas National Park announced it was temporarily closing and prohibiting public access as law enforcement and medical

personnel dealt with a group of 300 people who’d arrived. The park would remain closed until everyone was transferred to Key West for processing.

“The closure, which is expected to last several days, is necessary for the safety of visitors and staff because of the resources and space needed to attend to the migrants,” the park announced. “Concession-operated ferry and seaplane services are temporarily suspended.”

The park also issued a warning to residents and visitors stating: “Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, the park has recently seen an increase in people arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park. You may observe migrant landings at the park and visitor areas may be impacted.”

A California Department of Finance report demonstrated that outmigration is outpacing the state’s birth and death rate adding to the negative impact on its total population.

“Looking across the nation, the average score for eighthgrade math fell for every state, with a national average decline of eight NAEP scale score points. This was enough to erase all of the gains that had occurred since 2000.”

More than 500 people apprehended off Key West since New Year’s Eve

The record number of apprehensions in the first two days of the year was after the Miami Border Patrol Sector reported a more than a 500% increase in apprehensions in fiscal year 2022.

California to receive $469.8 million in CVS settlement to address opioid crisis

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square)

-

On Jan. 3, California

Attorney General Robert Bonta signed onto a multistate $5 billion settlement with CVS. This follows a similar $3 billion settlement with Walmart announced on Nov. 15 and a $5.7 billion agreement with Walgreens on Dec. 12. The most recent settlement with CVS is expected to provide about $470 million in funding to address the opioid crisis in California.

In America, 136 people die everyday from opioid consumption. Over 10 million people annually misuse opioids resulting in the fatal overdose of almost 50,000 individuals each year. Seventy-two percent of overdose deaths are opioid related. These are the key findings of the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.

When it comes to prescription opioids, the center found that 32% of all opioid overdose deaths were prescribed, part of the 153 million prescriptions filled and dispensed by pharmacies. In California alone, doctors write so many prescriptions, that almost 48% of its residents could each get one, and it is these prescriptions that play a role in 45% of fatal overdoses in the state.

The role of pharmacies in dispensing opioids contributing to the staggering death rates have not gone unnoticed by the

states. Indeed, it is because of the impact of opioid deaths on the states, that the largest pharmacies CVS, Walgreens and Walmart have agreed to a combined $13.7 billion dollar settlement for their role in oversight failure in dispensing opioids to consumers.

“Today, we begin the year with another win in our fight to hold corporate giants to account for their role in fueling the opioid crisis,” Mr. Bonta stated.

The West Coast’s largest state, California is home to 39 million residents where almost 6 out of every 100,000 people die from an opioid overdose.

Part of the settlement funds will go towards treatment for addiction and recovery services.

Mr. Bonta, part of an executive committee of attorneys general, joined Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas in leading the negotiations with the pharmacies.

Mr. Bonta noted “Too many people in California and beyond have had their lives and futures ripped apart by the opioid crisis. The funds from this settlement will help bring much-needed relief to our communities and will ensure CVS changes its business practices to keep such a crisis from ever happening again. As we embark on a new year together,

here’s my resolution — to never stop fighting for justice on behalf of all Californians and to do everything in my power to create a healthier future for us all.”

The settlement included court-ordered measures to be put in place to prevent “this type of crisis” from happening again, Mr. Bonta’s press release stated.

CVS too has made some changes and reiterated its commitment to address the opioid crisis. Appointing an oversight board to develop new strategies to address opioid addiction.

The CVS Health site states “Our Board is committed to supporting the development of solutions to reduce opioid misuse in our communities through expanded education, safe prescription drug disposal, utilization management, funding for treatment and recovery programs and advocating for legislative and regulatory changes.”

“CVS Health has made a commitment to help address the abuse and misuse of prescription opioids by designing programs and collaborating with community leaders, policymakers, law enforcement, health care professionals and others to increase community-based educational programs related to opioid misuse and abuse, create safe prescription drug disposal sites, expand access to life-saving antidotes and advocate for targeted and effective policies, locally and nationally. “

Oregon paid family leave tax goes into effect, benefits come later

By DAIN FITZGERALD THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Beaver State residents begin erecting a dam against life’s injurious rapids this year, with a paid medical and parental leave program going into effect at the beginning of January. Program benefits will not pay out until September 3rd, however, as the program will need time to accumulate funds to disperse.

Oregon employees will begin seeing 0.6% of their paychecks turned over to the program, which will allow for up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave, with those experiencing

pregnancy or childbirth-related issues eligible for up to 14 weeks. Employers will likewise contribute to the program with a 0.4% contribution, up to a salary of $132,900.

With this move, Oregon joins neighbor Washington, which has already instituted paid family leave (PFL), a dozen other states (including Colorado), and the nation’s capital.

Much like unemployment benefits, higher-earners will see a cap on their ability to procure purchasing power from the program:

“The amount an employee gets paid while on leave will depend on how much the employee has

earned,” explains Paid Leave Oregon spokesperson Angela Yeager. “Lower-wage earners will receive 100% of their paycheck, while higher-wage earners will receive a portion.” Additionally, as reported by KOIN, “Minimum wage workers will receive 100% of their average wage while on leave.”

Companies with fewer than 25 employees are exempt from the new paid leave mandate, but can opt to pay in anyway. However, it is mandatory that they collect the 0.6% PFL contribution from employees. Independent contractors - as well as tribal governments - are exempt from paying into Oregon’s PFL, but

likewise unable to collect any benefits. (There is however a way of opting in if one so chooses, according to Paid Leave Oregon.)

Paid Leave Oregon provides an “employee toolkit” for businesses attempting to navigate the state’s new law, which even includes suggested ways of promoting or discussing PFL on social media, with priority given to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The program will cover the birth of a child, adoption, foster care placements, caring for a family member or yourself in cases of serious injury or illness, and for survivors of sexual assaults, domestic violence, harassment or stalking.

Failure to confirm speaker sign of divided party

SPEAKER Continued from Page A1

CELEBRATE, YOU DESERVE IT. Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB - JUST WATCH!”

The failure to confirm a speaker marks a divide in the party and growing frustration from the conservatives in Congress who feel betrayed by party leadership as the deficit continues to rise and conservatives have won few legislative victories in recent years. Even during Mr. Trump’s term, the party struggled to implement his agenda in Congress, though that was in part because of Mr. Trump’s failure to rally support and remain focused on the legislative agenda, opting to rely more on executive action.

That party division was further highlighted late Tuesday by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who sent a letter to the Architect of the Capitol blasting Rep. McCarthy, who has already moved into the Speaker’s office, saying “no member can lay claim to this office.”

“What is the basis in law, House rule, or

precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office?” the letter said. “How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?”

Despite the opposition, Rep. McCarthy told reporters Tuesday night that he was not dropping out. On Wednesday, while the House was adjourned before later reconvening only to adjourn again without a seventh vote, Rep McCarthy said “we will get to 218, we’ll solve our problems and we will all work together.”

Asked about his continued confidence, Rep. McCarthy said “you see the number of votes. We have 90% of the votes. I’ve never seen a body where 10% is going to control the 90%. It just doesn’t happen.”

Some conservative Republicans, though, have been unwilling to throw their support behind the California Republican, who many saw as too liberal, but so far no challenger has arisen with enough clout to get the needed votes.

“In his 14 years in Republican leadership, McCarthy has repeatedly failed to demonstrate any desire to meaningfully change the status

quo in Washington,” U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, RPenn., said. “Despite our deep reservations we have continued to work in earnest to find a path forward with McCarthy, knowing that this crucial moment would come.

As The Center Square previously reported, Rep. Perry said he and other conservative members in the House laid out conditions for Rep. McCarthy but that he “balked” when faced with them. Those conditions included a promise to vote on a balanced budget, the “Texas Border Plan,” term limits for members of Congress, and the Fair Tax Act, which would create a national sales tax on certain services and property to replace the current income tax, payroll taxes, and estate and gift taxes.

“We requested transparent, accountable votes on individual earmarks that would require two-thirds support to pass, and to ensure that all amendments to cut spending would be allowed floor consideration,” Rep. Perry said. “He dismissed it.”

Report: NY cities among worst in the nation for poverty and homelessness

By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – A recent study looking at U.S. cities with the most economically at-risk residents, found some areas of concern for New Yorkers.

While no Empire State city finished among the top 20 neediest in the WalletHub report, there were categories they ranked the worst.

For example, Rochester’s 48.2% of children living in poverty was the worst among the 180 cities studied. New York City’s homelessness rate of 9.3 people per 1,000 was tied for the highest in the country with cities such as San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Both New York cities also had high unemployment rates, with New York City’s 6.8% third-worst and Rochester’s 6.4% sixthworst. Rochester also had the sixth-worst adult poverty rate at 25%.

Similarly, the report found Buffalo also suffered from high poverty rates. The Western New York city came in fourth, with 42.3% of its children living in poverty. It also had the seventh-

worst ranking for adult poverty at 24.2%.

It’s very possible the poverty rates in those cities and across the country could increase soon.

“The Child Tax Credit will come to an end within the next few months,” said Phil Coltoff, a senior fellow at the New York University Silver School of Social Work and the former CEO for the Children’s Aid Society of New York. “The program was established as a pandemic stimulus and was meant to sunset. When it ends, in the view of most experts, child poverty will again reach or exceed its pre-pandemic levels within one year.”

Overall, New York City was the 32nd neediest city in America. Rochester finished 37th, while Buffalo ranked 64th.

Yonkers, a New York City suburb in Westchester County, finished 151st.

Other than poverty and homelessness rates, the study also looked at such factors as bankruptcy rates, foreclosure rates, average personal credit scores, health insurance access and crime rates.

Nancy

Costello, was born on January 15, 1933. She passed away peacefully at age 89 on December 23, 2022.

She was predeceased by her sister, Jeanne Spale, and her two brothers, Maurice Costello Jr. and Robert Costello, her daughter, Deborah Kovanda, and son, Stephen Kovanda.

Nancy graduated from Cathedral High in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Nancy met Norman Kovanda in June 1950 at a teenage dance at the Summer Pavilion in Lincoln. They were both 17 years old. They dated for four years until Norman graduated in 1954 from the University of Nebraska. They were married on February 12, 1955 and started a marriage that lasted until now, 67 years later.

They had four children, Deborah, Sandra, Jeannie, and Stephen Kovanda, in Denver. They moved to Santa Barbara in 1962.

Norman and Nancy started a tax and investment business in 1964, heading it until their retirement in 2019, 55 years later.

Nancy was a fond fan of Nebraska Cornhusker football. GO Big Red!

Nancy is survived by her husband, Norman, daughter, Sandra Kovanda, grandson, Dean Kovanda, daughter, Jeannie (Rob) Graham, grandson, Steven (Kathleen) Symer, great-grandsons, Nathan and Jack Symer, granddaughter Kristin (Geoff) Payton, greatgrandkids, George and Eleanor Payton, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Nancy will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was a wonderful woman. Nancy’s memorial will be held at burial site at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, Friday January 6th, at 1:15PM, located at 901 Channel Dr., Montecito, CA.

HALVERSON, Bruce Mackay

April 4, 1940 - December 22, 2022

After celebrating his 82nd Santa Lucia Day and winter solstice with family and loved ones, Bruce Halverson went happily to bed where he died peacefully in the early morning of December 22, 2022. Bruce was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, the only child of Lawrence and Kathryn Halverson. After a short stay in Washington State, the family moved to sunny southern California for health reasons. There, Bruce thrived, working on the family’s poultry farm and running his own successful egg delivery business from a young age. Always a profound thinker, Bruce graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in American History and then from the University of Hawaii with a Master’s Degree in Eastern Philosophy, learning Sanskrit Monterey. Bruce then taught for a brief spell at the University of California at Santa Barbara before getting married to Georgia French and having a son, Joel, to whom he was stepfather to her children, Mike and Sara. Bruce had a successful career in life although he would often say that he “retired” at 28 years of age. In fact, Bruce did play much, but also worked hard the last forty years of his life to provide a modest number Bruce lived life to its fullest, enjoying the arts, literature, music (he was a disc jockey at KCSB, presenting “Classical Music, Ancient and Modern”), and nature, leading the local Sierra Club Chapter in a number of important initiatives. Bruce enjoyed traveling to many wonderful places over the last 20 years with his longtime companion, Lillian Salas. Bruce’s life serves as an example to all of us and he will be greatly missed. There will be a memorial service celebrating Bruce’s life at 11am on January 11, 2023 at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 820 N. Fairview, Goleta, CA 93117.

City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Cuyama 54/36/r 56/34/pc

Goleta 60/42/sh 64/43/s

Lompoc 58/41/sh 63/41/s

Pismo Beach 58/42/sh 62/45/pc

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Bakersfield

58/37/pc

Eureka 55/47/sh 59/51/r

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Los Angeles 60/46/r 60/47/pc

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Ojai 57/38/r 61/42/pc

Oxnard 59/46/r 60/43/pc

Palm Springs 60/43/r 66/48/pc

Pasadena 58/43/r 63/47/pc

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San Diego 61/50/r 63/46/s

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Boston 45/35/r 41/33/c

Chicago 33/29/sf 36/26/pc

Dallas 64/44/s 71/55/pc

Denver 38/24/pc 39/25/c

a.m. 5.8’ 2:44 a.m. 2.6’ 11:17 p.m. 3.5’ 4:32 p.m. -0.7’

Today Fri.

Beijing 41/19/s 45/18/s

Berlin 49/38/sh 51/41/sh

Cairo 67/54/s 67/53/pc

Cancun 84/70/pc 81/71/pc London 56/45/c 53/50/c

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 Weekend and Monday’s editions is at 10a.m. on Thursdays; Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time). Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at

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Mexico City 71/48/pc 70/49/s

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Paris 56/49/sh 55/42/c

Rio de Janeiro 78/71/r 76/68/r

Rome 60/48/pc 60/47/pc

Sydney 70/61/c 72/63/sh

KOVANDA, Nancy Pauline

Pauline Kovanda, the daughter of Maurice and Pauline

Life theArts

‘Puss ’n Boots’ sequel is a fun ride

REVIEW

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Antonio Banderas obviously had a lot of fun playing Puss ’n Boots again.

The Spanish movie star is the voice of the title character of “Puss ’n Boots: The Last Wish,” the long-awaited sequel to Dreamworks’ original “Puss ’n Boots” film (2011). Mr. Banderas was the voice of Puss ‘n Boots in the first film as well as this one, and he again captures the character’s charm and overabundance of self-confidence. His voice characterization is the main reason to see “Puss’n Boots: The Last Wish,” but the animated film has other things going for it as well. This is a rare case where a sequel is better than the original movie, and much of that is because of a great story with intriguing characters including Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jack Horner (the voice of John Mulaney).

Fans of Marvel Studios’ “Black Widow” movie might recognize the voice of Goldilocks. It’s Florence Pugh, who, like Mr. Banderas, obviously had fun with the role and put a lot of spunk into it. They and Puss and his pals are in search of a star that will grant them their wish, and since Puss is down to the last of his nine lives, he wants to wish for another nine.

Helping Puss is Perrito, a funny dog voiced by Harvey Guillén and Kitty Softpaws, who is voiced by Salma Hayek. Both actors make their characters distinct and memorable.

Viewers will notice the animation in “Puss ‘n Boots” is different from the original film and other movies in the “Shrek” universe of fairy tales. Normally

Lompoc animal shelter to provide various community services

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Beginning Friday, Santa Barbara County Animal Services will be open for community services at its Lompoc shelter, Fridays through Mondays.

The shelter is at 1501 W. Central Ave. Staff will be there to pet owners with license sales and renewals, lost pet reunification, volunteer opportunities, adoption counseling and more.

“It’s hard to believe that nearly three years after COVID began, our community is still reeling from the economic impacts,” Animal Services Director Sarah Aguilar said in a news release. “Now more than ever, they need access to animal services outside traditional hours.

We are excited to be open on weekends from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in order to make our resources as convenient as possible.”

Phase one of service expansion will focus on making services accessible through technology.

“We have created kiosks so pet owners, and those who want to bring pets into their family, can

use our computers to access the Animal Services website,” Ms. Aguilar said. “Team members will be available to assist with finding a new fur friend, finding lost pets, and learning about foster and volunteer opportunities. We know that not everyone has regular access to the internet, and we don’t want that to be a barrier to bringing a pet into your home.”

Future plans include resuming housing pets at the shelter and hosting adoption events.

“We know that the Lompoc community values pets and wants to help,” Ms. Aguilar said. “We are excited to rebuild the volunteer program and expand our foster program.”

To learn more about adoption, fostering or volunteering, visit linktr.ee/sbcanimalservices

Animal Services will continue the regular operating hours from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at its shelters at 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria, and 5473 Overpass Road, Goleta, email: dmason@newspress.com

CALENDAR

animated movies today consist of three-dimensional images created on computers. This one is “2.5-D,” which goes for a more storybook look than a realistic one.

At times, the animation is choppy, and that adds to the fairy tale charm and the sometimes wild rhythm of this movie.

Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado co-directed the movie, and Tommy Swerdlow and Tom Wheeler wrote the story. Paul Fisher penned the screenplay.

The directors and writers created an imaginative but easyto-follow journey for colorful characters, and the children at a recent screening responded with laughter throughout the film. But adults too will appreciate this fairy tale, which teaches that as you seek one wish, you might end up with a better wish. Just go where the road takes you.

email: dmason@newspress.com

American West exhibit to grace Santa Barbara gallery

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery is presenting “The Search for the Modern West” as its first exhibit for 2023.

The exhibit features paintings, sculptures and prints that address the mythology, history and real life experiences of the American West.

The exhibit opens with a reception from 5 to 8 tonight at the gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Many of the exhibit’s artists plan to be there. The exhibit runs through Feb. 20.

“ ‘The Search for the Modern West’ is an art exhibition that seeks to expand, or maybe even escape, this all-too-familiar story. It will not be a show full of images of stoic cowboys or noble Native Americans, though audiences can expect a subtle nod here and there to that shared iconography,” the gallery said in a news release.

“First, the exhibition intends to be modern and contemporary.

The earliest work in the exhibition dates to the 1940s and is by the French and Mexican poet and Surrealist painter, Alice Rahon (1904-1987). She paints a pared down nocturnal landscape with a red moon looking down on a platoon of black triangular shapes that feel either like conifer trees or mountains. She was inspired both

by the cave paintings at Altamira in France as well as her travels through California and Mexico.

“She is joined, across the room, by a large work called ‘Blue Corn Window, Taos, 1974-1977’ by LEE MULLICAN (1919-1998) who was closely associated with Rahon’s husband, Wolfgang Paalen. Both sought out a mysticism – or perhaps a spirituality and space for idealized imaginative practice — that they associated with preModern life,” the gallery said.

The gallery said each artist relates differently to the West. Some try to express the history of the culture, and those artists include Angela Perko, Holli Harmon and Dave Lefner.

Can Western art also be abstract? The gallery said that question is answered by artists Channing Peake (1913-2006) and Harvey Leepa (1887-1977).

Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery describes artists Hank Pitcher, Phoebe Brunner, Natalie Arnoldi, Mary-Austin Klein and Nicole Strasburg as “essentially native contemporary Westerners.

“Phoebe paints her memory of all the places she has explored as a horseback rider, skier, and traveler,” the gallery said in its news release. “Mary-Austin Klein travels by bike and is most interested in the Western clarity of light. Hank usually paints his home, but is represented in this exhibition by a painting of the Colorado Rockies, with the distinctive mountains we know all too well from a certain brand of beer in the background.

“Rocky mountain vibes attend Nathan Huff’s ‘Encounter’ too, if from a certain distance,” the gallery said.

For more information, go to sullivangoss.com or contact the gallery at 805-730-1460.

email: dmason@newspress.com

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Please email them a full week before the event to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@ newspress.com.

TODAY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www. sbnature.org.

1 to 5 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Lompoc Police Department, 107 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

5 to 8 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, opens with a reception at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The exhibit will run through Feb. 20.

JAN. 13

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar will perform a free concert at Isla Vista Elementary School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Isla Vista, as Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara resumes its programming.

7 p.m. The Los Angeles Reed Quintet will perform during the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series at St. Mark’sin-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. The program will include music by Mendelssohn, Mahler, Ligeti, Nina Shekhar, Yanjun Hua, Corelli, Fred Coots, and Sam Lewis

JAN. 14

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuélla will perform a free concert at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara .

JAN. 15

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuélla will perform a free concert at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara.

JAN. 17

1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, 4436 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

JAN. 19

2 to 5:30 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, 524 Chapala St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to vitalant. org.

JAN. 21

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime” (El viaje de una vida) with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer

Managing

COURTESY PHOTO

The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara.

COURTESY IMAGE Werner Drewes (1899-1985) painted “Storms Cloud” (aka “White Storm Cloud”) (1977). The woodblock on paper work is part of “The Search of the Modern West” exhibit at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery.

Antonio Banderas and other voice actors give animated movie much spirit

DREAMWORKS/UNIVERSAL PICTURES PHOTOS

Perrito, Kitty Softpaws and Puss ’n Boots join forces to fi nd a star that can grant a special wish in “Puss ’n Boots: The Last Wish.”

Puss ’n Boots is ready to tackle anything, as long as he can get his nine lives back, in the long-awaited sequel.

DAVID SHANKBONE/FLICKR/WIKIMEDIA

COMMONS

Antonio Banderas is back as the voice of Puss ’n Boots.

A popular spot for pigeons

Flocks of pigeons

Shelters seek homes for pets

Shelter in Goleta, bunssb.org. BUNS is based at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org. ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 22

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins”

• Companion Animal Placement Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook. com/capaoflompoc. CAPA works regularly with Animal ServicesLompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime (El viaje de una vida)” with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. 4 to 5 p.m. “Roy Dunn: Capturing Imagery of Our Wild Neighbors” will take

• Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation, sbcanimalcare. org. (The foundation works regularly with the Santa Maria Animal Center.)

• Santa Barbara County Animal Services in Goleta: countyofsb. org/phd/animal/home.sbc.

• Santa Barbara Humane (with campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home.

place at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang.

JAN. 24

2 to 6 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Camino Real Marketplace, 7046 Marketplace Drive, Goleta. For more information, go to vitalant.org. 7 p.m. UCSB Arts & Lectures presents mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and a music ensemble in “Eden” at The Granada, 1214 State St. “Eden” explores the individual human connection with

sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society/DAWG in Buellton, syvhumane.org.

• Shadow’s Fund (a pet sanctuary in Lompoc), shadowsfund.org.

• Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals in Lompoc: vivashelter. org.

— Dave Mason

nature and features music from four centuries. Tickets cost $46 to $131 for general admission and $20 for UCSB students with ID, one hour before the performance, and youths 18 and younger. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 25 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

breakfast radishes

Recognized by its elongated shape, pink body and cream tip, this mild-flavored radish delivers notes of sweet and pepper taste and slight nuttiness.

French breakfast radishes feature a nice crisp snappy texture, making them ideal for both raw and fresh preparations.

The flavor of radishes reaches its peak during the cooler time or year. They’re ideal for enjoying in a mixed green salad or grain bowl, roasted in the oven with potatoes, or served with your favorite Mexican cuisine.

This week I prepared a chickpea, leek and radish soup, as the Fix of the Week, below.

You can expect to find certified organic French breakfast radishes from both John Givens Farm of Goleta and Earthtrine Farm of Ojai at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Sunday Camino Real, Tuesday Santa Barbara, and Thursday Carpinteria farmers’ Markets.

Price averages $3 per bunch.

Cara Cara oranges

At first glance, this winter citrus looks much like a navel orange. However, once sliced in half, the beautiful pink flesh is exposed. Seedles and sweet with notes

of tangy flavor, this flesh is dense yet juicy These oranges are ideal for both juicing or peeling and enjoying the sections one at a time.

Native to Venezuela, Cara Cara oranges were discovered as a natural mutation of a Washington navel orange and introduced in the United States in the 1980s, primarily in California, Florida and Texas. The juice is excellent for beverages, pairs well with seafood preparations and excellent in salad dressings and marinades.

Cara Cara oranges are available from several local growers. You can find them at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets.

Price averages $2.50 per pound.

Red cabbage

More purple in appearance than red, this winter vegetable gets its color from the antioxidant anthocyanin, a similar compound found in other purple foods.

Like its green counterpart, red cabbage delivers a very crunchy texture and robust flavor, making it ideal for both raw and cooked preparations. You can shred red cabbage and use it to top tacos, soups, and salads, or incorporate it into stews and stir-fries. It is also nice when pickled with fresh carrots.

Due to the concentration of anthocyanin, red cabbage is superior in nutrition to its green counterpart.

Cabbage thrives during the cooler time of year, and it’s readily available from several local farmers at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers markets. Certified organic is available. Price averages $3 each.

Fix of the Week

It’s radish season here in the greater Santa Barbara area, with about a dozen types prominently displayed at our various farmers’ markets throughout the week.

One of my favorite locally grown radishes is commonly referred to as the French breakfast radish, or simply breakfast radish. Unlike the rounded physique that is quite standard for most radishes, these take on a more elongated shape. Their outer skin displays a pleasing pink color that works down to a cream-colored tip.

When sliced into thin rounds, the opaque moist flesh is exposed.

The flavor is subtly sweet with mild peppery notes throughout, while the texture is crisp and snappy. This is an ideal variety for those that prefer a milder flavored radish.

Breakfast radishes can be enjoyed in both raw and cooked preparations. In France, they are often scored with an X across the top and dipped in butter to be enjoyed as a snack. They are also nice simply enjoyed out of hand, sliced and dipped into your favorite hummus, or added to salads, sandwiches,and wraps.

This week I prepared a chickpea soup, infused with fresh leeks, celery, and radish flavor. When making the soup, I used a smoked pork roast bone that was left over from a New Year’s Eve cook, which added an additional layer of rich smoky flavor.

Assuming you will not likely have one on hand, one can simply use chicken or vegetable broth and some ground cumin and

CHICKPEA, LEEK AND RADISH SOUP

1 cup dried chickpeas (garbanzo beans).

32 ounces chicken or vegetable stock.

14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes.

2 bay leaves.

1 teaspoon ground cumin.

1 teaspoon smoked paprika.

2 medium leeks, cut into thin rounds.

6 celery ribs, diced.

3 medium carrots, peeled and diced.

1 bunch breakfast radishes, sliced into thin rounds.

1 bunch fresh cilantro, bottom half with stems finely chopped and added to soup and top leafy portion chopped and used as garnish.

Seasoned salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste.

In a large pot, add dried chickpeas, broth, diced tomatoes, bay leaf, ground cumin and smoked paprika. Simmer for about 25 minutes, then add leeks, celery, carrots, half of your radish slices and the finely chopped stem portion of the cilantro bunch. Season with seasoned salt and pepper to taste and stir.

Let simmer for about 45 minutes, or until the chickpeas are cooked through and soft. Serve hot with garnish of remaining sliced radishes and fresh cilantro leaves. You can also add hot sauce, avocado, and sour cream if desired.

Yield: Serves 6.

— Dave Mason

FARMERS MARKET

Sam Edelman

smoked paprika to elevate the flavor.

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, January 5, 2022

ARIES — Things are moving your way, Aries. As the day progresses, you will find that the energy intensifies. Conflicts may arise near sundown, but don’t worry about it too much. See it as a call to jump-start your motor. Visit an antique shop and chat with the people around you.

TAURUS — You should enjoy the intense energy of today, Taurus. The mud is finally beginning to clear away. Expose the truth in every issue and get ready for the gremlins that may be unEarthed. Connect with nature today and spend some time with animals if you can. Take deep breaths in fresh outdoor air and enjoy a long walk somewhere special with a close friend.

GEMINI — Today marks the beginning of a new cycle for you, Gemini. Collect and consolidate your recent ideas and focus them outwardly. The time is right for you to act. Improve your surroundings and adjust your bed so that it faces east/west. (A north/ south placement aligns you with Earth’s magnetic field and causes you to lose energy at night.)

CANCER — Take a cold shower to jump-start yourself today, Cancer. It’s fine if you laze around a bit in the morning, but by evening, you should be working at full capacity. You will be called into action whether you want to be or not. Notice how active your dreams are tonight and over the next couple of nights. Messages are trying to get through, so listen.

LEO — Today may start out sluggish for you, Leo, but by the end of the day the energy will move fast and furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing around your head like bees around a hive. An introspective and contemplative morning has filled your brain with a new wave of thoughts, VIRGO — Enjoy the calm morning, Virgo, because things are going to get crazier and more energetic as the day goes on. Emotions will run high, and people will be more opinionated than usual. A conflict may arise from which you just want to extricate yourself. Realize that a more peaceful agreement will ensue if you jump in and add your

two cents’ worth.

LIBRA — You will experience an intense amount of energy today, Libra. Your dream state will be more active than usual, and you will find that people are drawn to you like moths to light. Make sure you keep your fiery emotions in balance and don’t cross any boundaries with others. People have limits, and it’s important that you honor theirs as well as your own.

SCORPIO — It’s time to get up and get moving, Scorpio. You have tremendous ideas and vision for the future. You have all the information you need. Now all you have to do is act. Step up to the plate and hit one over the fence. Getting out of your box and further into the world at large will do you a great deal of good.

SAGITTARIUS — The early part of the day might find you sluggish and indecisive, Sagittarius, but later you should be psyched up and ready to go. Today marks the beginning of a new period in which you should set your ideas in motion. Action is the key. Think before you speak and use caution when talking about other people.

CAPRICORN — Today’s energies will get progressively more intense as the day goes on. In the morning, you may be in an easygoing, dreamy state, Capricorn, but you will be itching to take action by nightfall. Take what you’ve learned from your sensitive, meditative state and share it with others. Use your inner calm to bring stability to stressful situations.

AQUARIUS — For the past several weeks you’ve felt like you’ve been dragging your heels, Aquarius. Decisions may have been hard to make and people may have seemed wishy-washy. There’s a major energy shift tonight that will spark things back into action. Once again you will be on center stage. Be yourself and smile.

PISCES — The morning might find you sitting like a stick in the mud, Pisces. People might be getting down on you for not contributing, but tell them to be patient. You will be raring to go by nightfall. The catalyst may come from an outside source. Be on the lookout for a challenge. Someone might rattle your cage a bit too much, so be patient and don’t take it personally.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, January 5, 2023

“My partner is a good player,” a reader’s email states, “but she was absent when they passed out empathy. If I make a mistake, it’s because I’m careless; if she makes one, she’s only human.”

My fan says she held today’s mammoth South hand and rolled into six spades.

“West led the king of clubs,” she says, “and I ruffed and drew trumps. When I took the A-K of hearts next, East discarded. I lost a heart to West and also a diamond. Was I careless, unlucky or only human? I need not tell you what my partner said.”

MISSING TRUMP

Careful play makes the slam. South ruffs the first club high, takes the ace of hearts, leads a trump to dummy and returns a heart. If East ruffs, South plays low and wins the diamond return. She can draw the missing trump and run the hearts to discard dummy’s last diamond.

If East discards on the second heart, South wins, returns a trump to dummy and leads a third heart. If East discards again, South wins, ruffs a heart in dummy and loses only one diamond. DAILY QUESTION

You hold: 5 J 10 5 2 J 8 4 2 A K 6 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one spade, and two

passes follow. What do you say? ANSWER: You wouldn’t act in the direct seat — if the player at your right had opened — but actions in the “balancing” seat may be shaded. Since your partner surely has some points (otherwise, the opponents would have bid more), don’t sell out. Double. He must realize that you may have a light hand.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language.

Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance.

All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid.

Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

“Seek the lofty by reading, hearing and seeing great work at some moment every day.” — Thornton Wilder

14 new Hispanic Americans sworn into Congress on Tuesday

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – After 14 Hispanic Americans are sworn into office on Tuesday, a record 47 will be serving in Congress.

Five are Republicans; nine are Democrats, according to an analysis by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund.

“As Latino communities across the country continue to grow, so does our representation at the very highest levels of elected office,” Arturo Vargas, CEO of NALEO Educational Fund, said. “Latino candidates on both sides of the aisle had historic success this cycle by speaking to the distinct issues affecting our nation’s diverse communities.

Latinos continue to demonstrate their commitment to making our country stronger through public service in the top positions where critical decisions are made that affect the lives of all Americans.”

In total, the Hispanic delegation in Congress will be composed of 35 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including 29 men and 18 women.

The newly elected Republicans made history in their states. Juan Ciscomani is the first Latino Republican to be elected to Arizona.

Anna Paulina Luna, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, is the first

Mexican American elected to represent Florida.

Monica De La Cruz, who was also endorsed by Mr. Trump, is the first Republican and first woman to represent her South Texas district, which includes border counties.

Retired police detective Anthony D’Esposito is the first Republican to represent New York’s 4th Congressional District in over two decades.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer is one of two Latinas first elected to represent Oregon.

After they are sworn in, a record 12 Hispanic Republicans will serve in the 118th Congress, the largest number in GOP history.

They will do so after a poll found that recently elected Republican U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores in south Texas, who lost her reelection in November, had a higher net favorability rating nationally among Hispanics than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York. And after a majority of Hispanic Texas voters said in polling the GOP better reflected their values, and after more Hispanic voters backed Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis over his Democratic challenger and helped flip several south Florida counties red in November.

Democrats also made history in their states.

Yadira Caraveo is the first Latina elected to represent Colorado; Delia Ramirez is the

first Latina elected to represent Illinois, and Andrea Salinas is one of the first two Latinas elected to represent Oregon.

Maxwell Alejandro Frost, FL-10, was the second member of Generation Z to be elected to Congress. NALEA, and subsequently others, misreported that Mr. Frost was the first member of Generation Z to be elected. The first was Madison Cawthorn, a Republican who was elected in 2020 to serve North Carolina’s 11th district when he was 25. He served for only one

term.

Robert Garcia, CA-42, is the first to be elected to Congress who openly identifies as LGBTQ and is a Peruvian immigrant.

Other newly elected Democrats include Robert Menendez, Jr., NJ-8, Gabriel Vasquez, NM-2, Greg Casar, TX-35, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, WA-3.

Some have already expressed support for amnesty for those in the U.S. illegally and defunding the police.

Ms. Ramirez was born in the U.S. after her Guatemalan mother

“crossed the U.S.-Mexico border while pregnant with her, nearly drowning in the Rio Grande along the way,” the Washington Post reported. Her husband has been living in the U.S. through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has been ruled illegal by the courts.

Mr. Casar helped lead the charge to defund the Austin Police Department and expand homeless camps, which contributed to increased crime in the Texas capital. His and the city council’s

actions prompted the Texas legislature to pass legislation to penalize cities that defund their police departments.

Of the Senate’s Hispanic delegation, six are incumbents composed of four Democrats and two Republicans. Three were reelected in November: Marco Rubio, R-Florida, Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, and Alex Padilla, D-CA. Three weren’t up for reelection: Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, and Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey.

the online auction website, www. storagetreasures.com, where indicated. For online lien sales, bids will be accepted until 2 hours after the time of the sale specified. PUBLIC STORAGE # 25714, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 324-6770 Sale to be held at www. storagetreasures.com 2404 - ATK Space Systems- Goleta Payne, Robin; 4225 - Romero, Sahiyi; 6446 - A Garvine, Kaelyn; A084 - Flores, Bianey; A230Montoya, Monica; A367 - Adams, Steven; A424 - Atterbury, Kumar; A451 - Brown, Fred PUBLIC STORAGE # 75078, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 961-8198

Sale to be held at www.

NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN 2022-0002857

The following person(s) is doing business as: Kingfisher Farms, 950 E Hwy 246, Solvang, CA 93463, County of Santa Barbara. Mailing Address: PO Box 1159, Solvang, CA 93464 KLF Ventures LLC, 950 E Hwy 246, Solvang, CA 93463; California This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company.

The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 10/20/2017 /s/ Katie Fisher, Managing Member This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 11/23/2022. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 12/22, 12/29/22, 1/5, 1/12/23 CNS-3654512# SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS DEC 22, 29 / 2022; JAN 5, 12 / 2023 -- 58972

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN 2022-0002859

The following person(s) is doing business as: Orcutt

storagetreasures.com. 011 - Romero, Sahiyi; 017 - Romero, Sahiyi; 086 - Nunez, Laura; 504Reyes, Saul PUBLIC STORAGE # 75079, 5425 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, (805) 284-9002 Sale to be held at www. storagetreasures.com. 036 - Lazaro, Rosa Maria; 258 - LUSK, JESSICA; 319 - Burian, Susan; 321 - Arroyo, Magda Public sale terms, rules, and regulations will be made available prior to the sale. All sales are subject to cancellation. We reserve the right to refuse any bid. Payment must be in cash or credit cardno checks. Buyers must secure

Lloyd VP/Secretary This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 12/14/2022. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 12/22, 12/29/22, 1/5, 1/12/23 CNS-3653442# SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS DEC 22, 29 / 2022; JAN 5, 12 2023 -- 58965

COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Santa Barbara News-Press Date: 12/22/2022 Name: THOMAS P. ANDERLE, Judge of the Superior Court. DEC 29 / 2022; JAN 05, 12, 19 / 2023--58987

COURTESY PHOTO

A record 47 Hispanic Americans will be serving in the new Congress.