Santa Barbara News-Press: February 02,2023

Gaucho rematches

UCSB women’s basketball looks for regular-season sweeps of Cal Poly, CSUN - A3

A new flavor

Answer to prayers

Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara to reopen after repairs to flood damage

sB Unified denounces anti-semitic act

Swastika found on pole in Dos Pueblos High School’s stadium

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

The Santa Barbara Unified School District is condemning an anti-Semitic act committed at Dos Pueblos High School. The staff was troubled to learn a swastika was discovered on a pole in the Goleta school’s stadium.

A custodial team removed it immediately and an investigation is now under way, district spokesman Ed Zuchelli said.

“While we have not determined the perpetrator, Santa Barbara Unified condemns this hateful act in the strongest possible terms,” Mr. Zuchelli said in a statement.

“Santa Barbara Unified opposes these acts and will continue to educate our students and our community in combating any and all acts of bias and hate. If you see or hear anything, please report it to school site leaders.”

“We have every intention of being open Sunday morning,”

Barbara. Services were held off-site while the church

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara is on track to reopen this Sunday, after being forced to close and hold services off site for the last three weeks due to sustained flood damage caused by the Jan. 9 storm.

FYi

Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara is returning to its building this Sunday at 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez, Suite 21, Santa Barbara. Services are at 9 and 11 a.m. For more information, see calvarysb.com.

“We had every square inch covered with water,” Senior Pastor Tommy Schneider told the News-Press. “A minimum of four inches on every floor service and up to two and a half feet in the children’s area.

“It was 38,000 square feet of damage,” he said. “We had to remove the drywall up to two feet, almost a mile of drywall.

“All wood, vinyl and carpeting had to be removed, and the floors scraped from the adhesive, which holds bacteria,” Pastor Schneider said.

“We had over 50 volunteers a day removing the water, cleaning the floors, disinfecting and removing anything touched by the water,” he noted. “We are doing double shifts, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Please see CHURCH on A4

State Street restaurants beautify their parklets

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Some downtown Santa Barbara restaurants have been busy painting their outdoor dining parklets and making other improvements to improve their appearance in order to meet Wednesday’s deadline for implementing the city’s new design requirements.

The design requirements are the latest – and last — set of major requirements for the parklets.

The others deal with stormwater runoff and compliance with accessibility requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The major changes to State Street facilities will include painting to match the approved

color palette (dark grays, browns, and black); removal of lighting from trees and over sidewalks; removal of visible advertising, signs, logos, etc.; and removal of turf grass,” Sarah Clark, the city’s downtown plaza parking manager, told the News-Press.

Some of the restaurants are doing their best to comply. A newly formed group called Friends of State Street recently pitched in, sending volunteers to paint more than a dozen of the parklets. Ms. Clark was all for the idea.

“We’re glad to see businesses working together to improve the appearance of the Promenade,” she said.

Regarding ADA-required accessibility, the last time Ms. Clark reported to the council on the matter, all parklets on the 500-

Please see PARKLETS on A4

coat

paint,

and community members in both schools and offices treat all persons equally and respectfully and refrain from the willful or negligent use of slurs against any person on the basis of race, language spoken, color, sex, religion, disability, national origin, immigration status, age, gender, sexual orientation or political belief.”

Mr. Zuchelli said the district has several initiatives under way to address racial incidents in the community. “Our staff is taking Anti-Bias/Anti-Racist Training right now, and we are awaiting the results of the Insight Racial Climate Survey analysis. SB Unified is also preparing to launch the ‘I U We Stand’ campaign soon as part of an education campaign against hate. “Any student or staff member should report any incident to their school site leaders, and we will address any situation swiftly and thoroughly,” Mr. Zuchelli said.

Dr. Hilda Maldonado, the Santa Barbara Unified superintendent, said the district stands with the Jewish community and condemns all forms of hate. She referred to the incidents at Dos Pueblos and to anti-Semitic fliers found in the Isla Vista area.

“What’s happened at Dos Pueblos and across Isla Vista/UCSB is troubling,” Dr. Maldonado said. “We continue our commitment to identifying, responding and providing remedies to racial incidents when they occur in our schools. We believe in and stand for the respectful treatment and dignity of all people as one of our strongest values.”

On Nov. 15, the school district’s board of trustees adopted a Resolution on Respectful Treatment of All Persons.

The resolution calls for “students, employees, parents

“These incidents happened as we enter Black History Month and just after International Holocaust Remembrance Day,” he said. “SB Unified encourages our families to join us in having conversations with students about how these and other groups have historically faced discrimination. Instead, the district wants to celebrate our differences and denounce all forms of hate and violence.” email: dmason@newspress.com

insidE

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown has issued a statement condemning the antiSemitic fliers found in the Isla Vista area. A2.

Defendants appear in court in Stearns Wharf murder case

Ricardo Tomas Jauregui-Moreno

Jr., 20, and Christopher Dave Miranda, 21, and two co-defendants are charged in connection with the slaying of Robert Dion Gutierrez.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Two of the four alleged gang associates charged with felony murder in connection with the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander on Stearns Wharf appeared in court Wednesday and had attorneys appointed to their cases.

Ricardo Tomas JaureguiMoreno Jr., 20, and Christopher Dave Miranda, 21, and two co-defendants are charged in connection with the slaying of Robert Dion Gutierrez, 52, of Camarillo, in the Dec. 9 Stearns

Please see MURDER CASE on A2

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The parklet at Mizza, an Italian restaurant, recently received a fresh

of

as seen Wednesday on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

said Senior Pastor Tommy Schneider, standing inside Calvary Chapel of Santa

underwent repairs to damage caused by flooding during the Jan. 9 storm.

The Jan. 9 storm-induced flooding left damage inside Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara.

Sheriff’s Office condemns anti-Semitic fliers

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement condemning antisemitic fliers that were distributed in the Isla Vista area. The sheriff’s office is denouncing the anti-Semitic messaging against Jewish communities across the country.

That messaging was found in the form of hateful fliers in plastic bags that were left in the roadway in the Isla Vista area, said Raquel Zick, the public information officer for the sheriff’s office.

Sheriff Bill Brown would like to reassure members of the Jewish community that the county is actively investigating these incidents and that deputies will continue to reach out to Jewish faith leaders and community centers to establish open communication and address any safety concerns.

“The men and women of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office denounce hatred, violence and racism of any kind,” Sheriff Brown said in the statement.

“While we are pleased that we have had no recent hate crimes against Jewish victims reported

Vehicle rolls over in Buellton

BUELLTON — A vehicle rolled over Wednesday morning on northbound Highway 101, a half a mile south of Santa Rosa Road.

There was a single female occupant with moderate injuries in the Buellton accident. It took 10 minutes to remove her from the vehicle, said Capt. Scott Safechuck, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

She was transported by ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria, Capt. Safechuck reported in a tweet. The cause is under investigation. Capt. Safechuck said

‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ actor to coach Santa Maria students

SANTA MARIA — “NCIS: Los Angeles” regular and Broadway actor Barrett Foa will host an audition workshop for nearly 50 students from Pioneer Valley and Righetti high schools Friday.

in the communities we police, we want to ensure these types of crimes are reported to us if they occur.

“All such reports are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. We will relentlessly pursue and apprehend the perpetrators of crimes committed against members of our Jewish community, or any other group of people within our county that is targeted due to their race, ancestry, religion, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation,” Sheriff Brown said. “We stand strong in Santa Barbara County because we stand together.”

Ms. Zick stressed that it’s the policy of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office to safeguard the rights of all people, regardless of their gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disabilities.

Anyone with information about the source of the fliers in the Isla Vista area is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Detectives at 805-681-4150. If you prefer to remain anonymous, call the Sheriff’s Office’s tip line at 805681-4171 or go to sbsheriff.org/ home/anonymous-tip.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

the call time was 11:47 a.m.

— Katherine Zehnder

Paraglider rescued

SANTA BARBARA — Santa Barbara County firefighters and paramedics rescued a 42year-old paraglider who “crash landed” Wednesday morning approximately 300 feet off Gibralter Road, Santa Barbara County Fire officials said. The unidentified man was hoisted to a rescue helicopter and flown to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with non-threatening leg and chest injuries.

Santa Barbara city firefighters, Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue and AMR paramedics also responded.

Technical Education Theater students information on how to audition for film and theater. The students will also learn warm-up

Mr. Foa is also a singer and dancer. On “NCIS: Los Angeles,” he played Eric Beale, a senior technical operator assigned to the Office of Special Projects, for 12 years. Mr. Foa left the series in 2021.

The early afternoon session in Santa Maria offers Career

Juvenile arrested along with four adult defendants

MURDER CASE

Continued from Page A1

Wharf shooting in Santa Barbara.

“Today Miranda was appointed counsel from the Public Defender,” Senior District Attorney Tate McAllister told the News-Press on Wednesday. “Andrea Keith (a private attorney) subbed in as attorney of record for Jauregui.

“Both cases were put over for continued arraignment to 2/17,” he said, as were the cases of their co-defendants — Jiram Jhunue Tenorio Ramon, 22, and James Lee Rosborough, 21. All four are from Santa Barbara.

Mr. Jauregui-Moreno Jr. and Mr. Miranda are each charged with murder, with special allegations of committing the murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang (Westside-Santa Barbara) and principal use of a handgun, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal street gang conspiracy.

Mr. Jauregui-Moreno is also charged with having been previously convicted of a violent felony or “strike” offense.

Mr. Tenorio Ramon is charged with murder with the special circumstance of committing the murder to benefit a criminal street gang and the special allegation of personal use of a firearm causing death. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder and criminal street gang conspiracy.

Mr. Rosborough is charged with conspiracy to commit murder, criminal street gang conspiracy and being an accessory after the fact, with the special allegation of committing the crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang. Prosecutors allege the four defendants verbally challenged a group of pedestrians while driving on Stearns Wharf on Dec. 9, and that they stopped their vehicle for the purpose of deploying two of their party to attack a group of pedestrians with a firearm. One of them fired a gun and killed Mr. Gutierrez, prosecutors allege.

The four defendants then allegedly fled the location of the shooting, two on foot and two by vehicle, then traveled back to the location of the homicide in vehicles to extract those who fled on foot to avoid apprehension, prosecutors said.

Santa Barbara police officers and Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol responded around 8:40 p.m. Dec. 9 to the area of Stearns Wharf and Cabrillo Boulevard for a report of a shooting that had just occurred. Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from a single gunshot wound. The man, later identified

techniques, receive audition tips and critiques, said Selyn Harwin, Pioneer Valley’s theater teacher.

“The chance to sing for Barrett is an amazing opportunity, and I am so excited to have the chance to share my voice and hear feedback from such a talented actor,’’ said student Eli Chavez. “It will definitely be the highlight of my senior year.’’

“We are very excited to be

The Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office executed search-andarrest warrants at several locations throughout the city and county.

as Mr. Gutierrez, was provided medical attention on scene and transported by ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment. He died on Dec. 20.

“Mr. Gutierrez’s death was a direct result of the gunshot wound he sustained on Dec. 9, deeming this case a homicide investigation,” police said previously. “It appears Mr. Gutierrez was an innocent bystander when the shooting occurred.”

Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department continually investigated the homicide, and “their extensive and diligent investigation led to the identification of multiple suspects connected to a local criminal street gang,” police said.

The Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office then executed search-and-arrest warrants at several locations throughout the city and county, and the four defendants were arrested.

A 16-year-old male (name withheld due to age) was also arrested and booked at the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Hall in Santa Maria for allegedly being a juvenile in possession of a firearm. Prosecutor McCallister declined comment on the status of his case. “ I cannot talk about a juvenile matter.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

having Barrett join us for this workshop,’’ Mr. Harwin added. “Many of our students plan on pursuing the performing arts in the future. Being able to offer them coaching from the industry’s best is pivotal for these students. We are extremely thankful to the CTE program for helping make this opportunity possible.”

— Dave Mason

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

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DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Sheriff Bill Brown speaks at a news conference during the recent storms. Sheriff Brown this week issued a statement in support of the Jewish community in the face of antisemitic fliers found in the Isla Vista area.

MENDEZ PHOTO Nitya Vidyasagar and Christine Mirzayan star in the Ensemble Theatre Company production of “Selling Kabul,” written by Sylvia Khoury and directed by Nike Doukas. The play, which is about an Afghan man hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s

— Neil Hartstein

COURTESY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Santa Barbara County firefighters rescue a woman from a vehicle Wednesday on Highway 101 in Buellton.

COURTESY PHOTO Barrett Foa

UCSB women’s basketball set for rematches with Cal Poly, CSUN

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

UCSB women’s basketball (145, 7-2 Big West) has the chance to complete a pair of regular-season sweeps this week, as they take on Cal Poly (5-13, 2-8 Big West) in San Luis Obispo Thursday before returning to the Thunderdome to host CSUN (4-17, 3-8 Big West) on Saturday. Thursday’s game is another edition of the Blue-Green Rivalry, a series in which the Gauchos are 60-31 all time.

UCSB will be celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day when they host CSUN on Saturday. As part of that celebration, studentathletes and coaches from the Gauchos’ women’s teams will hold an autograph signing and question-and-answer session after the conclusion of the game. Also, all kids under the age of 18 will receive free admission to Saturday’s game.

LAST TIME OUT

The Gauchos welcomed Hawai’i to the Thunderdome in their last game for a clash between the two preseason title favorites. Thanks to a 30-6 scoring run in the second half, UCSB turned a 20-point deficit into a three-point win over the Rainbow Wahine, 72-69. Alexis Tucker led all scorers with 23 points, and Ila Lane recorded her conference-leading eighth doubledouble of the season (15 points, 10 rebounds). For a complete recap, click here.

MILESTONES REACHED AND TO COME

Seniors Alexis Tucker and Ila Lane made history in their last game, as both players scored their 1000th career point against Hawai’i, making them the 29th and 30th women to reach the milestone in a Gaucho uniform. Tucker, who began her career playing in the post for Texas Tech, has grown into an excellent scoring guard since transferring to UCSB and now has 1,011 points

to her name. Lane took only three seasons to reach the mark, having opted out of the 2020-21 season. She now has 1,004 points and 799 career rebounds. To read more, click here.

HISTORY

In the Blue-Green Rivalry, UCSB owns nearly twice as many wins as Cal Poly. The Gauchos are 60-31 against the team from San Luis Obispo, collecting that 60th win earlier this season at the Thunderdome, 65-59. UCSB swept the season series in 2021-22.

When it comes to facing the Matadors, the Gauchos are used to winning. UCSB has won the last six meetings and are 50-20 all time against CSUN. The last time the Matadors won in Santa Barbara was Jan. 31, 2018.

GAUCHOS AMONG THE BIG WEST’S BEST

UCSB runs one of the best offenses in The Big West, leading the conference in scoring (68.4 points per game) and assists (15 per game). Alexis Tucker leads the Gauchos in scoring (13 points per game). Ila Lane is not far behind (12.8 ppg) thanks in large part to shooting .552 from the floor, which is the best field goal percentage in The Big West.

Lane also leads the conference in rebounding (8.95 per game) and double-doubles (8). Her control of the glass helps the Gauchos average a conferencebest 37.8 boards a game. UCSB’s +4.68 rebound margin also tops the conference leaderboard.

A trio of guards — Alyssa Marin, Anya Choice, and Callie Cooper — handle playmaking duties for the Gauchos, with all three among The Big West’s top ten in assists. Marin’s 3.47 assists per game and 1.74 assist/ turnover ratio both rank second in conference.

SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS

Wins have been hard to come

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Cate girls basketball loses to Carp

The Cate girls basketball team were defeated by Carpinteria in their last regular season game of the year, losing by a score of 37-33. The game was close throughout, with the first quarter ending with a three-point Cate advantage and the second ending in a tie. Cate had regained a one-point lead at the end of the third period, but were overcome in the fourth when Carpinteria outscored them 14-9.

The Rams managed to hold top Carp player Amarisse Camargo to just six points (all on free throws), but other Carpinteria players took up the slack, led by Jamaica Cooks’ ten points.

For Cate, Sophia Ospina scored 15 points while Ada Hansen provided a key spark off the bench with eight points.

The Rams await their seeding in the CIF playoffs, which are set to begin on Thursday, Feb. 9.

DP boys basketball loses to Buena

The Dos Pueblos High boys basketball team played Buena on Tuesday, falling by a score of 5041. “Credit to Buena and their players for competing and coming out on top,” said Dos Pueblos Coach Manny Murillo. “We’re in a very tough league, every possession matters. Getting stops matters, helping your teammates

Four Vaquero women’s basketball players named to Academic All-State Team

Four members of the Santa Barbara City College women’s basketball team have been named to the Academic All-State Team. Isabella “Bells” Jensen-

by for Cal Poly this season; the Mustangs are tied for last place in The Big West, alongside CSU Bakersfield and UC Riverside, with a 2-8 record. Cal Poly’s only conference wins this season have come against the Roadrunners and Highlanders. But the Mustangs have tested themselves against the very best this season, taking on both #1 South Carolina and #2 Stanford as part of their non-conference schedule.

Sophomore guard Annika

Shah is one of only two Mustangs to start every game this season and is Cal Poly’s leading scorer and assister. Shah’s 10.4 points per game puts her 15th on the conference leaderboards, while her 2.7 assists per game are good for 13th. Cal Poly’s only other 18-game starter is another sophomore guard, Sydney Bourland. Despite her position, she has hauled in more rebounds (90) than any other Mustang this season, and is second on the team in rebounds per game (5.0) behind junior forward Natalia Ackerman (5.2).

The Mustangs are coached by Shanele Stires, who is in her first year as a Division-I head coach. Prior to Cal Poly, Stires was head coach at Division-II Cal State East Bay, earning a record of 94-53 over six seasons. She has 13 years of experience as an assistant coach at various Division-I programs.

SCOUTING THE MATADORS

CSUN won their first three Big West games this season but have been on an eight-game skid since, including a 45-70 loss to the Gauchos in Northridge on January 19. When they arrive at The Thunderdome Saturday, they will be looking for their first win in 30 days. CSUN’s

strength is their outside shooting. The Matadors lead The Big West in three-point percentage, shooting .354 from deep as a team.

No Matador is a more efficient outside shooter than Tess Amundsen. The graduate forward leads her team in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game and ranks fifth in conference. Lethal from outside, Amundsen’s .452 three-point percentage leads The Big West. Fellow graduate Jordyn Jackson forms a dynamic duo with Amundsen, with the guard averaging 13.2 points a game while also leading the team in assists (3 per game). Both women have multiple 20-point games this season, most recently Jackson’s 23 points against UC Irvine on Jan. 28.

The Matadors are coached by Carlene Mitchell, who was officially named head coach in March 2022 after spending a year as interim head coach. Mitchell was Bonnie Henrickson’s predecessor at UCSB, leading the Gauchos from 2011-15.

UP NEXT

UCSB will be back in the Thunderdome on Thursday, Feb. 9 to play Long Beach State, with tip-off at 7 p.m. February is Black History Month, and the Gauchos will be celebrating Black history at Thursday’s game against the Beach. For fans who cannot make it to the Thunderdome, the game will be live on ESPN+ and live stats will be available at www.ucsbgauchos. com.

Eric Boose writes about sports for UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

matters, making the extra pass matters.”

Dos Pueblos will play tonight, the team’s senior night, when they will face off against Ventura. Dos Pueblos carries a 10-16 overall record with a 5-8 mark in league play into the game.

Carp boys basketball defeated by Fillmore

The Carpinteria boys basketball team lost a lopsided game to Fillmore on Tuesday, suffering a 70-38 defeat.

The Warriors were led by Kainoa Glasgow, who scored 14 points.

Carpinteria will play tonight against Malibu.

SM boys basketball trounces Pacifica

The San Marcos boys basketball team dominated Pacifica on Monday, improving to a 6-6 record with the 62-41 win.

“It’s one game at a time. Proud of our guys for keeping focused and staying together. They’re working hard and enjoying the process. Now we move on to the next one,” said San Marcos Coach James Kinzler. Wyatt Mill led San Marcos with 13 points, while Micah provided 11 and Diego Reyes contributed nine.

Ben Treadway and Joe Pasternack each scored seven points.

- Compiled by Matt Smolensky

Williams, Isabella Favazzo, Janet Arias and Brianna Jacobs were all honored. All four are starters on the 2022-23 Vaquero team, which is out to a wonderful 5-2 start to Western State Conference play, currently tied with Ventura for second place.

All four exceptional studentathletes will also be honored at the Banquet of Champions in March at the CCCAA State Championships.

- Michael Jorgenson

‘We have every intention of being open Sunday morning’

Continued from Page A1

There are all generations working together. “Additionally, we have been helping out our neighboring businesses by feeding their workers and helping to remove drywall,” he said. “We have had people sign up to bring food for our volunteers and neighboring workers every day, feeding about 60-70 people in total.

“Many families have donated food, as well as at least four other churches have brought food,” said Pastor Schneider

“The restoration is going fantastic quite honestly,” he noted. “We were able to get the building dry early on. The sanctuary is almost done. The painting is done, and the carpeting and drywall is back. We have every intention of being open Sunday morning.”

Services are set for 9 and 11 a.m. at the church, located at 1 N. Calle Cesar Chavez, Suite 21.

Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara is often in the position of serving the community.

Pastor Schneider spoke to how it feels, in this turn of events, to be the recipient of help.

“It is strange for us to be in a place of receiving,” he said. “Five years ago, we were behind the lines ministering to over 350 first responders as well as those being rescued.”

“This year, on the Sunday prior to the anniversary, we prayed for those who had lost loved ones in the debris flow five years ago,”

Pastor Schneider said.

“Every walk of life has come into this building to serve with us,” he noted, adding, “It’s overwhelming and beautiful. I’m surprised at how many interesting

things the Lord has done in my heart through this.”

The News-Press asked Pastor Schneider what the church needs now from the community.

“Our church has shown up, and we have enough volunteers,” he said. “Right now, as we head into the final week, we are trying to have tradesmen and craftsmen.

We need professional floor layers and carpet layers who may want to donate their time.

“I want to say thank you to the community,” Pastor Schneider said.

“We have been in the town for 48 years. We do Easter (service) at the courthouse, and a lot of the community knows us from that.

“There has been a real outpouring of love from the community that has been beautiful. We have always seen ourselves as the doorway to Santa Barbara. We want to rebuild so we can be helpful at the highest level we can.”

email: kzehnder@newpress.com

Officials in the process of inspecting off-State parklets

PARKLETS

Continued from Page A1

1200 blocks were compliant, she said.

“Since then, one new one has appeared, and one business made major changes to their facility,” she said. “Both are noncompliant and are still at the initial inspection phase of the enforcement process. When you expand to the 400 and 1300 blocks, there are four non-compliant facilities.”

“We are in the process of inspecting all off-State parklets for compliance with accessibility requirements.”

As for the parklets meeting the city’s stormwater runoff requirements, staff has conducted yet another round of inspections, finding that none of the six parklets that had remained noncompliant the last time had made the necessary adjustments, Ms. Clark said.

“We are in the process of issuing second administrative citations,” she said. Administrative citations carry a $100 fine.

“The second admin citations will specify a final deadline for corrections,” Ms. Clark said. The latest deadline for compliance, she said, “will depend on when the citations are issued, but likely the week of the 23rd (of February).”

Currently, there are approximately 46 parklets downtown from the 400-1300 blocks, Ms. Clark said. “There are two that are only set up sporadically.”

When the outdoor parklets were first allowed, they were

considered vital in helping restaurants on lower State Street survive during the COVID-19 pandemic when indoor dining was prohibited.

But along the way, the outdoor dining facilities have drawn more and more flack from critics. Some were upset that they blocked people from seeing into the front windows of their retail neighbors and/or had expanded beyond the restaurant’s exterior.

Others said it was unfair that the restaurants could provide more room for diners without also being compelled to increase the number of restrooms to accommodate them.

Still others said the parklets interfere with people being able to appreciate the downtown’s famed architecture, which has drawn many thousands of visitors to Santa Barbara eager to see “America’s Riviera.”

And one blamed food scraps dropped by parklet diners for attracting increased numbers of rats to the downtown area.

Some went beyond criticizing these unintended ramifications to harping on the appearance and construction of the parklets themselves. Some referred to them simply as “wooden boxes.”

One said they looked “as if a whirlwind had blown through a lumberyard and left pieces of wood along State Street.”

Even Mayor Randy Rowse has called them “strange looking” and voiced doubt whether “slapping a coat of paint” on them will make much difference.

And some worry that the city will be drawn into yet another lengthy round of inspections

and citations when it comes to enforcing the city’s design requirements, just like it has with the ADA and stormwater requirements, which had Dec. 1 deadlines for compliance. In both cases, it’s taken several efforts by staffers just to bring the numbers of defiant parklets down to a handful.

“People don’t do what we’re asking them to do,” Councilmember Mike Jordan said at a recent council meeting. “It’s like taking them to court.”

That’s one of the reasons why, during the council debate over how much to charge restaurateurs with parklets for the privilege of expanding outside, he said he liked the idea of making them sign a lease agreement.

“If you’re not complying with a license agreement that says you will have ADA, you will have stormwater, you will adhere to

the design requirements in your agreement, you will agree to be done,” he said.

Assistant City Attorney Dan Hentschke, however, responded the city has the ability right now to enforce city requirements “and we are using it.

“We give them two quick notices and if the corrections are not made, the order of removal can be issued the next day. And if not, we can go out and remove it (at the business owner’s expense). Their ability to operate (the parklet) will be suspended.’’

“We’ve done it a couple of times,” he said.

Added Ms. Clark, “This has been a challenging but important process, and we appreciate the cooperation of our local businesses.”

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The M. Special brewery on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara recently simplified its parklet design.

Potted palm trees help to define the area for a parklet on State Street.

The parklet for LOKUM Turkish Delight & Baklava uses two patches of false grass to denote its area on State Street.

Photos show the flooded interior of Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara, left, and how

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

Senior Pastor Tommy Schneider surveys damage from the Jan. 9 storm-induced flood at Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

‘Deliberately dynamic menus’

The Ballard Inn has new executive chef, new restaurant

name

By MARILYN MCMAHON

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Ballard Inn in Santa Ynez Valley has a new executive chef, Bailey Smith, and a new name for its restaurant, Plume.

At Plume, the property’s refreshed dining room now sports a cool color palette juxtaposed with a warming, dual-sided fireplace. That’s where inn guests and other diners will indulge in Chef Smith’s currently weekendonly, pop up-style dinner service, which launched Jan. 13.

Only offered Friday and Saturday nights for the next couple of months, Plume’s “deliberately dynamic menus will shift from one cuisine to another, bringing an element of fun and affording the culinary team room for creativity as the restaurant settles into a singular concept,” said Frank Kastelz, The Ballard Inn’s general manager.

Plume’s “playful” weekend dinner menu themes will also be reflected in The Ballard Inn’s upcoming breakfast and brunch service menus, slated to launch this month with cuisinecrossover dishes like a version of a Hawaiian loco moco and French toast topped with coconut-infused cream.

Plume’s pop-up dinner service

began with a Japanese-inspired menu crafted by Chef Smith, utilizing locally sourced, seasonal Santa Barbara wine country ingredients.

The first menu featured dishes such as the inn’s fan-favorite milk buns with sesame seeds and honey butter; a radish and watercress salad with fried shallot and Wafu dressing; eggplant katsu (Tonkatsu) with red cabbage; Karaage fried chicken with Finley Farms little gems and Thai chili aioli; or local rockfish, sourced from Travis Meyer of HAHA Fishing, served with an in-season cauliflower purée.

A Mizugashi (dessert) section of the upcoming menu will include an exotic dragon fruit and mango sake jelly, house-made vanillamatcha ice cream, and “ChocoShrooms” — a flavorful play on chocolate-dipped mushroom snacks found in Japan.

Table-side ordering and service will include a limited wine and beer menu, as well as specialty cocktails, one of the newest highlights of The Ballard Inn’s food and beverage programs.

Dinner cocktail menu options might feature the likes of a

matcha julep with shiso bitters and pickled serrano — American rye-based as opposed to Japanese whisky-based — or a gin-based milk tea with umami bitters.

Chef Smith describes his

kitchen practices as “intentional,” using cooking methods he attributes to some of his most recent work as part of the culinary team behind Chef Nikolas Ramirez’s Na Na THAI

pop-ups at Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos.

“There’s purpose behind our food preparation and our selection of specific ingredients, something which has really been

highlighted for me since I’ve been learning about Thai cuisine,” said Chef Smith. “For example, I handcraft our sauces, using tools like a mortar and pestle. No machines here.”

A Santa Ynez Valley native, Chef Smith attended culinary arts school, then began his career cooking in the kitchens of some of the region’s most well-known restaurants, such as The Landsby’s Mad & Vin, S.Y. Kitchen, Solvang’s former Succulent Café and Los Alamos’ Plenty on Bell.

He first experienced life in the hospitality industry as a child when he would join his grandparents during summers at a motel and restaurant, now the Cuyama Buckhorn in New Cuyama. His grandparents left the Buckhorn and opened a nearby establishment, The Place, continuing Chef Smith’s informal restaurant education.

“I picked up kitchen fundamentals from my grandparents,” he said. “And I’ve compounded those basics with all of the lessons I’ve learned from esteemed chefs and restaurateurs as I’ve moved through the restaurant world.”

He has an affinity for bread and baking, skills that are now displayed on The Ballard Inn’s menus and will be put to further use when he introduces items from the Inn’s new wood-fired outdoor oven.

The Ballard Inn will eventually launch new stay-and-dine packages, as well as other culinary platforms. Further details and more information about the expanded dining concepts and future plans for the Inn will be announced.

email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

FYI

The Ballard Inn is located at 2436 Baseline Ave. in Ballard, near Solvang.

The restaurant is currently open for dinner Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 6 p.m.

Reservations are not available.

Dinner service is walk-in only, and Friday and Saturday dinners will only run until each evening’s menu items are “sold out.”

To reach The Ballard Inn and Restaurant directly, call 805-6887770. Private event inquiries should be directed to chuy@ballardinn. com. Information is also available on www.ballardinn.com, on Instagram @ theballardinn and Facebook facebook. com/theballardinn.

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 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic will provide free dental care for local children during its third annual Give Kids A Smile event. The free day of exams, cleanings and more will take place at the clinic, located on the Chumash Reservation at 90 Via Juana Lane, Santa Ynez.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled:

Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805-565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/museum.

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 nonnative plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, continues through Feb. 20 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, see sullivangoss.com or call the gallery at 805-730-1460.

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.

7:30 p.m. “The Gin Game” is being performed at 7:30 p.m. today through Feb. 4 and 2 p.m. Feb. 4 and 5 at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo. Tickets for the Pulitzer Prize-winning play cost $18 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors for tonight’s preview show. After that, tickets cost $21 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org. There is no late seating.

Feb. 3

7:30 p.m. “The Gin Game” is being performed at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo. Tickets cost $21 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org. There is no late seating.

Feb. 4 2 and 7:30 p.m. “The Gin Game” is being performed at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo. Tickets cost $21 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org. There is no late seating.

FEB. 5

Free admission will be available on this day at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Ventura County, the Museum of Ventura County’s Agriculture Museum and the Santa Paula Museum. For more information, visit socalmuseums.org.

2 p.m. “The Gin Game” is being performed at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo. Tickets cost $21 for general admission and $18 for students and seniors. To purchase, go to centerstagetheater.org. There is no late seating.

FEB. 8 8 p.m. Transform Through Arts will present 10 dance companies in “Colors of Love” at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. General admission costs $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets are $25 for students. To purchase, go to www. centerstagetheater.org.

Managing

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2023

KENNETH SONG/ NEWS-PRESS Kathy Marden and Edward Giron star in “The Gin Game,” which opens tonight at Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara.

STEPHEN LEWIS PHOTO

At left, Executive Chef Bailey Smith plates a salad. Center, the dining room has been refreshed at Plume. That’s the new name of the restaurant at The Ballard Inn. At right, matcha julep comes with shiso bitters and pickled serrano. The drink is American rye-based as opposed to Japanese whisky-based.

At left, tamari top sirloin is served with roasted garlic and watercress at The Ballard Inn. Center, karaage fried chicken is served with Finley Farms little gems and Thai chili aioli.

At right, the Ballard Inn is located at 2436 Baseline Ave., Ballard, near Solvang.

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

“There’s purpose behind our food preparation and our selection of specific ingredients, something which has really been highlighted for me since I’ve been learning about Thai cuisine,” said Bailey Smith, the new executive chef at The Ballard Inn.

Danish Days foundation seeks board members

SOLVANG — The Solvang Danish Days Foundation is accepting applications for new board members.

Applicants are encouraged to send a brief bio and letter of application to the Solvang Danish Days Foundation, P.O. Box 1424, Solvang, CA 93464. The deadline is Feb. 27.

Applicants should submit a letter that includes their name and contact information; how long the applicant has lived in Solvang or the Santa Ynez Valley; whether they have participated in the organization or production of past Solvang Danish Days events; a list of any event production qualifications; whether they are familiar with cooking aebleskiver; any information about other boards of which they have been a member; and their vision for Danish Days 2023.

Applicants who are chosen to be board members will be asked to attend the Solvang Danish Days 2023 planning

meeting, which follows the Feb. 27 application deadline. The board meets monthly starting in March of each year. Meetings move to a bi-monthly schedule as summer approaches, then become weekly meetings during the immediate lead-up to Danish Days weekend, according to a

news release. Board members are essentially active around the year. Each member is assigned specific duties. Solvang Danish Days is set for Sept. 15-17.

— Dave Mason

MedicareSupplements?

Not all fresh herbs can survive the winter chill. However, fresh cilantro thrives during the winter, yielding a very refreshing flavor with notes of scallions throughout.

A member of the Apiaceae family, closely related to carrots, cilantro makes for a great addition to soups and salads, morning egg and breakfast potato preparations, and of course, homemade salsas. This week I prepared a coconut rice dish topped with fresh cilantro leaves as the Fix of the Week, below.

I also like to incorporate fresh cilantro into lentil soups, beef stew, as well as add it to salad dressings and marinades. I find cilantro is best when added to your meals fresh just before serving. Cilantro is available at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets from several local producers. Certified organic is available. Price averages $2 per bunch.

Tangelos

Falling somewhere between a navel orange and satsuma tangerine, the tangelo is recognized by its deep orange peel, glossy skin and rounded body with a slightly lifted rounded neck. Very easy to peel and relatively seedless, it delivers a distinctly sweet and tangy flavor profile with notes of grapefruit throughout.

The tangelo is believed to be a hybrid cross of a Dancy tangerine and a Duncan grapefruit.

Tangelos are very juicy so they can be used as both an eat-rightout-of-your-hand fruit, as well as for juicing. They’re available from several local growers. You can find tangelos while in season at the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara Sunday Camino Real, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Thursday Carpinteria farmers’’ markets. Price averages $3 per pound.

sweet potato

With a pink skin and creamed colored fresh, these are some of my favorite sweet potatoes to enjoy when available. I like to combine some peeled Japanese sweet potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes in my mashed potatoes. They also make a very nice addition to beef stews. Japanese sweet potatoes deliver a very smooth texture when slowly roasted in the oven, or they can be pan fried to yield a crispy exterior. They yield a nice underlying nutty flavor with an almost chestnut like presence. You can find Japanese sweet potatoes at the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara, Sunday Camino Real and Tuesday Santa Barbara farmers’ markets. Price averages $3 per pound. Sam Edelman is general manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association and host of “Farm to Table,” which airs live 9 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB AM 1290. Sam Edelman photos

Fix of the Week

There is rarely a day that goes by when I do not incorporate fresh herbs in at least one of my meal preparations.

From fresh parsley and thyme to oregano and tarragon, each offers its own distinct infusion of flavor, with seasonality being a big factor on which herbs I’m using at any given moment.

In the summer and fall months, fresh basil is probably the most commonly used herb in my kitchen. It pairs very well with the fresh tomatoes, eggplant and peppers that are readily available that time of year. As the days shorten and the night chill sets in, fresh basil makes its exit for the year, re-emerging sometime in the late spring.

During the winter, however, there are two herbs that continue to thrive during the cooler time of year that I use the most: parsley and cilantro. While both initially appear quite similar in shape and color, upon closer look you can notice the contrasts of the leaf’s structure, as well as the very different aromas. I utilize fresh cilantro far greater

than I do parsley in my home kitchen, usually adding it at the very end of a hot meal, or gently tossed into cold food preparations.

Delivering nice refreshing flavor notes of scallions, fresh cilantro is a must for homemade salads, chicken tortilla soups and curry dishes. It is also delicious when sprinkled over roasted vegetables and meats, tossed in quinoa dishes and as a nice addition to most salads.

This week I prepared coconut rice, which I served with sauteed vegetables, wilted spinach and fresh salmon. It was the chopped fresh cilantro leaves sprinkled over the top that really tied the dish together.

COCONUT RICE WITH FRESH CILANTRO

1 cup long grain basmati rice.

2 tablespoons cooking oil (I use grapeseed oil).

4 cloves garlic, minced.

1 inch piece fresh ginger, very finely grated. Zest from 1 small lemon.

13.5-ounce can light coconut milk.

6 ounces low sodium chicken broth.

½ teaspoon salt. Freshly cracked pepper. 1 tablespoon brown sugar.

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped.

In a wide pan with a lid, add oil and rice. Turn the burner to medium-high heat and toss rice. Add garlic, ginger, and lemon zest and toss. Cook for about 3 minutes, turning occasionally to toast rice and infuse with the garlic, ginger and lemon zest.

Slowly add coconut milk and chicken broth, followed by the salt, pepper and brown sugar. Mix, reduce to a simmer and cook covered with the lid positioned to allow some venting, for about 25 minutes, or until the liquid is reduced and the rice reaches desired textures.

Top each serving with fresh cilantro.

Yield: Serves 4.

Applications being accepted for Danish Maid

SOLVANG — The Solvang Danish Days Foundation is still accepting applications for the 2023 Danish Maid. Applicants must submit an essay about their qualifications, Danish family history and accomplishments. The foundation said preference will be given to a candidate who will be a high school senior this fall.

The Danish Maid will have a busy few weeks before the actual Danish Days on Sept. 15-

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

FEB. 12 Noon. Participants in Ted Nash’s workshop will go on stage at the Mary Craig Auditorium, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The free program is called “Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance and Evolution” and will feature student composers, performers and writers from Mr. Nash’s workshop.

FEB. 14

FEB. 16 7 p.m. “The River Bride,” the story of

17. She will make appearances at the Solvang Farmers Market and meetings of the Solvang Rotary Club, the Santa Ynez Valley Rotary, the Vikings of Solvang, Solvang Dania group, and the Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood. During the festive weekend, the Danish Maid will have honorary positions in the Danish Days Parade, and will need to be available for media interviews and other event appearances.

folklore, love, regret and two sisters who struggle to be true to each other and their hearts will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) from Feb. 16 through March 5 in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. Feb. 16-18, 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 19 and 22, 10 a.m. Feb. 23, 7 p.m.

Feb. 24, 1:30 and 7 p.m.

Feb. 25, and 1:30 p.m.

Feb. 26. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805922-8313.

FEB. 18

7 to 9 p.m. The Nicole Lvoff Jazz Trio will perform at Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. There’s no cover. For more information, go to crushbarsb.com.

Feb. 19 4 p.m. The Takács Quartet will perform an all-Beethoven concert at St. Mark’sin-the-Valley Episocpal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. Tickets cost $20

Applications may be emailed to solvang@stilettomarketing.com or mailed to Martha Nedegaard, Solvang Danish Days Foundation, P.O. Box 1424, Solvang, CA 93464. The deadline is March 17.

For more information, go to www.solvangdanishdays.org, and on the Solvang Danish Days social media channels (Instagram: @ DanishDays and facebook.com/ SolvangDanishDays).

— Dave Mason

for general admission. To purchase, go to smitv.org/syv-concert-series. Tickets for students are free. For more information, contact Linda Burrows at 805-705-0938 or syvconcerts@smitv.org.

7 p.m. Singers Ken Stacy and Claire Khodara will perform at SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., Suite 205, Santa Barbara. General admission costs $25 in advance and $30 cash on the day of the show. To purchase or get a dinner reservation, go to www.sohosb.com.

March 9

7 p.m. Pianist Jerome Lowenthal, who served as a Music Academy of the West teaching artist for half a century, will perform a concert, “Lowenthal’s Legend,” at the academy’s Hahn Hall, 1070 Fairway Road, Montecito. Tickets are $55 for general admission and free for ages 7-17. To purchase, go to musicacademy.org to call the academy’s box office at 805-969-8787.

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

The parade goes down the streets of Solvang during last fall’s Danish Days.

FARMERS MARKET Sam Edelman

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

Diversions

Thought for Today

“If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm.”— Vince

Lombardi

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, February 2, 2023

ARIES — Have you been working hard to attain optimal health, Aries? If so, you may suddenly notice that your efforts are finally bearing fruit. You should feel especially fit and strong, though maybe a little lightheaded. You will want to increase your exercise, and you have the discipline to do so.

TAURUS — A long-term love relationship may finally reach the point of total commitment, Taurus. Intense feelings and words of love could suddenly come from your partner, which could take you by surprise but are no less welcome for that. Talk of a future together may result, but no concrete decisions will be made.

GEMINI — A meeting, perhaps related to finances, might take place at your home, Gemini. For the most part, the meeting will go well and you will accomplish what you want. Communication flows freely and agreements are easily reached. Bear in mind that someone has an agenda of their own that might not correspond with the interests of everyone else.

CANCER — If you’re into writing, Cancer, this is the perfect day to sit down and churn out the words, even if it’s only a letter to a friend. Your imagination is especially vivid, your expression clear and understandable, and your vocabulary skills especially acute. If this is a thesis or article, you may spend hours on it. Don’t worry. It will be that much better for it.

LEO — Do you have some paperwork regarding money that you’ve been putting off, Leo? If so, this is a good day to get it out of the way once and for all. Your mind is especially sharp and your concentration strong, so you’re less likely to be distracted or make mistakes. Take care of it first thing in the morning and then you can forget about it.

VIRGO — Have you wanted to catch up on your reading, Virgo?

If so, this is definitely a good time to stay home, make yourself some tea, and curl up with a good book. If it’s a novel, you will enjoy it thoroughly. If it’s nonfiction, you will absorb the information quickly and retain more. If you’re into writing, you might want to apply what you learn today to

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, February 2, 2023

My friend the English professor is in the habit of inventing new words. He defines “intaxication” as the feeling you get when your refund check arrives — until you realize it’s only your money.

When I watched today’s deal at my club, West led an unfortunate ten of diamonds against 3NT. Cy the Cynic was declarer, and when dummy’s queen held, he was euphoric.

“Minnie Bottoms and her spectacles would have led the king,” Cy whispered to me.

EIGHT TRICKS

The Cynic next let the queen of hearts ride, and West took the king and led another diamond, forcing out the ace. Cy next took the A-J of hearts, but East threw a spade; and when Cy tried to run dummy’s clubs and found East with J-5-4-2, Cy took only eight tricks.

Cy made a common error: He was so enthralled at winning the first trick that he forgot about assuring eight more. Cy can lead a spade to his ace at Trick Two and return a club to dummy’s ten. He is sure of at least five clubs, a heart, a spade and two diamonds. DAILY QUESTION You

You open one heart, and your partner bids one spade.

your own project.

LIBRA — Intuition and imagination combine with good common sense to enable you to accomplish just about anything today, Libra. If you’re into the arts, ideas could come to you in profusion. It will be easy to bring them into reality with a stroke of the pen or brush. The only problem might be deciding among them.

SCORPIO — Conversations with friends take on a more serious note, Scorpio. Spiritual matters and beliefs could come up, as could the more pressing mundane details of life. Whatever is discussed today could bring to the surface new ideas for making whatever you’re working on move smoothly and quickly to success.

SAGITTARIUS — In case you’re surrounded by a lot of people today, you can look forward to a very harmonious day, Sagittarius. Your sensitivity is higher than usual, so you will be better able to understand others and be understood as well. As a result, you add another bond to your relationships, which will create happiness and joy in your heart.

CAPRICORN — Learning comes easily to you, Capricorn, as your mind is especially sharp and retentive. Your intuition is usually high, but today it’s especially acute, as is your concentration. Therefore, this is a great day to read or work on an art project. Set aside some time alone to contemplate. It may help you on a very deep level.

AQUARIUS — It should be easier than usual to concentrate on the practical aspects of finances, Aquarius. A keener mind combines with enhanced intuition to give you a special edge when it comes to making decisions on everything that concern money, so make the most of it while you can. Connect with the people you love tonight.

PISCES — Have you been thinking about attending a seminar of some kind, Pisces, perhaps business related? You and a partner might go together. This is a good time to do this, as your thinking is particularly clear and retentive and you find it easier than usual to concentrate. Discussions with your partner afterward could be the icing on the cake.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in 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 through Saturday.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

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.

PUZZLE

What do you say?

ANSWER: You must find a second bid. Partner’s hand is unlimited and he may intend to bid a lot more. Some players would bid 1NT to show a minimum balanced hand. I believe a raise to two spades will be best in the long run, though you would prefer four-card support. If partner has a poor hand, no better contract may be available. South dealer

King Classic Sudoku