Santa Barbara News-Press: February 16, 2023

SB County Animal Services

Petition against debris dumping

Carpinteria resident wants to stop trucks from unloading at the Ash Ave. beach

SB man charged after child’s death

Elvis Alberto Lopez, 24, is charged with murder of 3-year-old girl

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Barbara man has been charged with murder for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch announced Wednesday.

Elvis Alberto Lopez, 24, was charged in a six-count felony complaint with the murder of 3year-old “Jane Doe” on Feb. 4, with assault on a child causing death for the Feb. 4 incident, and with child abuse for an incident that occurred on Feb. 2, prosecutors said.

“Counts 4 through 6, the defendant is charged with three separate incidents of child abuse that allegedly occurred between Sept. 1, 2022 and Feb. 1, 2023,” prosecutors said.

Mr. Lopez is also charged with having been previously convicted of a serious and violent felony, or “strike” offense. If convicted, he would receive a second strike, according to the complaint filed against him.

He was arraigned Wednesday in front of Judge Raimondo Montes de Oca. The defendant entered pleas of not guilty and denied all special allegations. Bail was set at $4 million. The case is scheduled for preliminary hearing setting on March 2 and

FYi

Michelle Carlen’s petition is at www.change.org/p/ stop-using-carpinteria-beach -at-ash-ave-as-a-dumpingground-from-debris-basins? utm_source=share petition &utm_medium=custom_ url&recruited_by_ id=38f7df90-a986-11e7bac0-773d97e090eb.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

WRITER

NEWS-PRESS STAFF

A petition to stop the debris dumping on the Ash Avenue beach has been started by Michelle Carlen, a Carpinteria resident and business owner.

Ms. Carlen’s petition at www. change.org currently has more than 450 signatures to halt the dumping at Carpinteria City Beach off Ash Avenue. It is known as one of the city’s most popular tourist spots.

“The county is pulling emergency permits to dump debris in Carpinteria and Goleta beaches,” Ms. Carlen told the News-Press.

“We had the Thomas Fire in December 2017 — trees, shrubs and everything burned which contributed to the 1/9 debris flow in January 2018,” Ms. Carlen said. “This was the first time an emergency permit was pulled to dump at Carpinteria beach. Because it was an emergency, it was a one-time thing.

“On Jan, 9, 2023, our Ash

Avenue beach was dictated by the County of Santa Barbara as being a location to dump debris and mud from the flood basins,” Ms. Carlen said.

“The county has had five years to figure out how to dump debris basins properly. Now they are in a panic trying to clear the debris,” Ms. Carlen said. “The county knew there was a problem; if you know there is a problem, you need to mitigate the risk.

“There are different entities involved in the dumping including: the California Coastal

Commission, the county of Santa Barbara and the Army Corp of Engineers at the L.A. district office,” said Ms. Carlen. “I have contacted the district office of EPA out of San Francisco, I have called the Coastal Commission, appeared at city of Carpinteria council meetings, called county Supervisor Das Williams’ office, called NOAA, Heal the Ocean, Central Coast Water Board and many other agencies,” said Ms. Carlen.

She also indicated that she is

still waiting for a call back from Supervisor Williams.

“As a Carpinterian who takes my toddlers to swim off Ash beach, I care deeply about protecting it.” Mr. Williams, the 1st District supervisor and the new chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, told the News-Press in an email.

“After the historic January storm, the Santa Monica Debris Basin above Carpinteria was 80% full, and clearing the basin is a vital emergency service that

will be assigned to Judge Pauline Maxwell. Santa Barbara police dispatch received a call reporting a medical emergency concerning the child at 1:33 p.m. on Feb. 4. The initial report was that a 3year-old girl had fallen out of bed injuring herself.

Santa Barbara City Fire and American Medical Response personnel were attending to the child, performing CPR when the police arrived. The child was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. Santa Barbara police detectives with the assistance of the Santa Barbara County Coroner’s office investigated the death. Based on the evidence gathered, the case was categorized as a homicide. Based upon the police investigation, the suspect was identified as Mr. Lopez, the boyfriend of the victim’s mother.

On Saturday, an arrest warrant was authored and signed by a judge for the arrest of Mr. Lopez for Penal Code 187, Murder. He was later contacted at his family’s residence by Santa Barbara Police Department detectives and taken into custody without incident.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Standing up against bigotry

Local world champion surfer talks about anti-Semitism in ‘Waves Apart’

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

You can’t let bigotry win.

Shaun Tomson, who’s Jewish, knew that. He was 17 when he faced a bully who cracked antiSemitic remarks to intimidate him to give up his seat.

Mr. Tomson was sitting on the coveted seat closest to the entrance to a canvas-covered truck carrying him and his fellow South African soldiers.

“I was faced with, ‘Do I give up my seat, or do I say something?’” said Mr. Tomson, a South African native who went on to become a world champion surfer.

In a split-second decision, Mr. Tomson stood up — not to give up his seat, but to make it clear that he wasn’t going to budge an inch.

“The worst thing you can do is to do nothing,” Mr. Tomson told the News-Press.

Mr. Tomson, a longtime Santa Barbara resident, tells the entire story of how he dealt with the antiSemitic bully — it won’t be spoiled here — in “Waves Apart.”

Directed by Jewish surfer Josh Greene, the documentary about surfers and the anti-Semitism they’ve faced screens at 7:40 p.m. today at Fiesta 5, 618 State St., as part of the Santa Barbara

FYi

For today’s schedule at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, see sbiff.org.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Shaun Tomson, a world champion surfer and Santa Barbara resident, talks about the importance of standing up to anti-Semitism in “Waves Apart,” a documentary screening today at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

International Film Festival.

Mr. Greene tells the story of how he encountered anti-Semitism during his youth in San Clemente, but found an escape from it in surfing. But later, anti-Semitism found a home in surfing, and Mr. Greene saw swastikas carved into surfboards at a surf museum.

Mr. Tomson told the News-Press he has never encountered antiSemitism from fellow surfers. He

Please see SURFER on A4

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Dump trucks carrying debris from last month’s major rainstorms in Santa Barbara County travel Wednesday onto Carpinteria City Beach via Ash Avenue to dump their loads onto the beach.

Passersby watch dump trucks carrying debris onto the beach off Ash Avenue in Carpinteria.

Animal Services cares for thousands of potential pets

BY KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara County Animal Services, the county’s largest open admission shelter, provided care for 4,601 animals in 2022 — an increase of nearly 3% over the prior year.

Fortunately, Animal Services also saw a significant increase of placements of pets to loving families, resulting in 1,934 adoptions and 1,246 foster matches for the year.

That’s according to the agency’s recently released annual report.

“SBCAS is building the largest foster network on the Central Coast, resulting in fewer animals living isolated in kennels and more flexibility to adapt to the community’s needs,” Animal Services Director Sarah Aguilar said in a news release.

Through the growth of the fostering program, SBCAS has had many success stories including reuniting 29-year-old macaws, Heckle and Jeckle, with their lifelong caregiver, Charlotte.

When Charlotte and her friend Linda drove off for a vacation with Linda’s beloved macaws, they envisioned themselves soaking up some sun and browsing the quaint shops in Solvang. But partway through their vacation, they got into a tragic car accident.

Charlotte and Linda were rushed to the hospital, where Linda tragically succumbed to her injuries, and Charlotte received emergency medical care. The parrots were transported to Santa

Barn fire in Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — A fire

destroyed a barn Tuesday night in the 4000 block of Vista Clara. Flames were reported by a neighbor. The barn was fully engulfed on arrival, and the fire was knocked down by Santa Barbara County firefighters at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Capt. Scott Safechuck, public information officer for County Fire.

Capt. Safechuck said the various livestock were uninjured. Firefighters remained on scene for overhaul/mop-up.

The cause is under investigation, Capt. Safechuck said in a tweet.

— Katherine Zehnder

Lockdown at Santa Maria High School

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria High School administration issued a lockdown at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday as a precautionary measure after receiving a request from the Santa Maria Police Department.

It appears the SMPD was handling an incident on South Broadway near the campus.

The lockdown was lifted at approximately 1:30 p.m.

All students and staff are safe and sound. Normal school activities have resumed, according to Kenny Klein, public information officer for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

Katherine Zehnder

—

Barbara County Animal Services for care.

Nearly three months after the

accident, Charlotte reunited with her family, Heckle and Jeckle.

“Nothing is more joyful than

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

reuniting pets with a loving owner, and it’s our great honor to serve people like Charlotte,” Animal Services said in its news release. While the success stories are many, SBCAS continues to see an increase of animals entering the shelters. Beginning in early November, the campuses in Santa Maria and Goleta experienced a daily average of 14 animals entering the shelters for care.

SBCAS continues to encourage Santa Barbara County residents to volunteer and/or foster these loving animals.

“We are reconnecting with our community members as we encourage them to visit us and help care for pets who are temporarily without families,” said Ms. Aguilar. “County residents are reaching out to volunteer, foster, donate and adopt in numbers that we haven’t seen since before the pandemic. The enthusiasm is propelling us forward as we continue to expand services and accessibility to all areas of the county.”

Additional statistics include:

• 9.476 service activities by Animal Control officers.

• 13,879 donated volunteer hours.

• 969 pets returned to their homes.

• 2,399 spay and neuter surgeries.

To see the entire report, go to countyofsb.org/1434/statisticsreports. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Bicyclist injured

SANTA BARBARA — A bicyclist was injured Wednesday evening during a hit-and-run by a motorist at Ortega and State streets.

First responders from the Santa

Barbara City Fire Department and the Santa Barbara Police Department came on the scene. Fire department personnel treated the man, who was complaining about an injury to his right leg. The bicyclist also received help from a physician, who was on the scene before

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the fire department personnel arrived.

The incident happened around 6:30 p.m. The bicyclist was heard saying he had a green light and that the driver didn’t stop for a red light.

— Dave Mason

Westmont College to lead stargazing adventure

By SCOTT CRAIG WESTMONT COLLEGE

This month’s Stargazing at the Westmont Observatory features a diverse celestial menu of planets, Messier objects, open clusters and double stars on Friday, beginning about 6 p.m. and lasting for several hours.

The observatory, home of the powerful Keck Telescope, is open to the public every third Friday of the month and held in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, whose members bring their own telescopes to share with the public.

Free parking is available near the Westmont Observatory, which is between the baseball field and the track and field/soccer complex.

To enter Westmont’s campus, please use the Main Entrance off of La Paz Road in Montecito. The lower entrance off of Cold Springs Road is closed to visitors after 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at 805-565-6272 to see if the viewing has been canceled. The evening will begin with Venus and

Jupiter close together in the western sky. Though they may be too low for Westmont’s telescopes, a member of the SBAU may be able to show them in their telescope.

Orion, the hunter, will be high in the sky and perfect for viewing. “Westmont’s 8-inch refractor telescope should be able to show all the splendor in M42, the Great Nebula in Orion’s sword,” said Thomas Whittemore, emeritus instructor of physics and SBAU member. “Turning the refractor to Orion’s head and the star Meissa will reveal a beautiful open cluster in the Collinder catalog, named for Swedish astronomer Per Collinder, who cataloged more than 400 of these wonderful open clusters in the 1930s.”

The stunning open cluster M41 is in Canis Major, one of Orion’s hunting dogs, below Sirius, the dog star. “Sometimes called the Little Beehive, M41 hosts a collection of twinklers which lie about 2,300 light-years away from us,” Dr. Whittemore said. “Keep in mind the light from these stars has been on its way before the birth of Christ. In a good, dark sky this cluster is bright enough to be seen

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with the naked eye.”

Another favorite is the star Tau Canis Majoris which lies in the lower quarters of Canis Major. “Tau Canis Majoris is a double star with a beautiful collection of stars that comprise a stunning background field,” Dr. Whittemore said.

Dr. Whittemore said he also enjoys asterisms, patterns of stars that may or may not belong to one constellation.

“One of my favorites for the public is one that has no name,” he said. “It’s a triangle of stars: Procyon (in Canis Minor), Sirius (in Canis Major) and the bright star in Orion, Rigel. The public should ask an SBAU member with a green laser to point to this triplet.”

Looking to the south, Procyon will appear to be yellow. Sirius is scorching white and Rigel is blue-white. “The colors reflect the stars’ surface temperatures, yellow being the coolest of the three and white and blue-white the hottest,” Dr. Whittermore said.

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College.

Email...dmason@newspress.com

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COURTESY PHOTO

Charlotte reunites with her macaws Heckle and Jeckle at Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

LISA SOBIEN / NEWS-PRESS

A bicyclist was injured during a collision Wednesday evening at Ortega and State streets in Santa Barbara.

UCSB golf finishes fifth at Orange County Collegiate Classic

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB Golf team wrapped up the Orange County Collegiate Classic hosted by UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton. This was the first tournament for the team during their championship season. After three rounds at the Coto de Caza Country Club, the Gauchos finished in the middle of the pack, earning fifth out of 10 teams.

The Gauchos played two rounds of golf on the first day of competition, taking on the likes of Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Cal Baptist, and others as the shotgun start began. Over the first two rounds, the team shot 301 and 294, respectively, to be at +16 at the end of Day 1, tied with Cal State Fullerton’s B Team and UC Irvine.

On this first day, John Bush had the best scores for the Gauchos. His first two rounds came out to 147, which was just three above par to make him tied for 12th.

Teammate Andrew Ricci followed close behind him with a 148 for two rounds.

The third and final round happened on Day Two of competition. The Gauchos came back on the green to see if they could move their way through the rankings. After 18 holes, they finished the third round with a team score of 304 which gave them sole possession of fifth place out of 10 teams to round out their time in Coto de Caza.

On this final day, Mason Benbrook had his lowest round of the tournament to finish at 222

to tie for 11th. Following close behind him were teammates Bush and Ricci, who both finished with an overall score of 223 to tie for 15th.

The Gauchos will return to Santa Barbara with two weeks to prepare for their next tournament at the Wyoming Desert Classic hosted by the University of Wyoming beginning March 1.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Cate boys basketball falls to Long Beach Jordan

The Cate boys basketball team lost to Long Beach Jordan on Tuesday, falling by a score of 8974.

“Cate played the most incredible game and I could not be more proud,” said Cate Coach Andy Gil. “We played our hearts out and left every remaining ounce of energy on the court … It was thrilling, fast and great basketball played … a school of 250 hung with a school of 2500 and had a chance to win it.”

Senior Babacar Pouye led the way for Cate, scoring 32 points while adding 16 rebounds and eight blocks.

“Pouye was an absolute monster,” said Gil, calling the him “by far the best player in the gym.”

Marcus Scudder, a sophomore, also provided a standout performance, scoring 28 points.

Tyler Martinez finished with 11 points, Jengus Ercil scored seven and Will Vanica added five.

“Tonight, the pace was just not sustainable for us,” said Gil. “We played them well, but they outshot their season stats by a long shot and forced us into some timely turnovers.

“We got great looks at shots we have knocked down all season. The had a dark gym and our legs were tired, but our shot selection was fantastic. We threw everything at them and made them uncomfortable many times tonight,” he said.

“I could not be more proud. We had the top seeded team in our division on their heels in a hostile environment.”

SY baseball defeats Santa Maria

The Santa Ynez High baseball team beat Santa Maria on

Tuesday, outscoring their opponents 16-6.

Leading the way for the Pirates were Tate Minus with three hits, Bradley Lood with five RBIs and Adam Stephens with three runs.

Pitchers Stephens and Tate combined to allow five hits and strike out 12 batters.

SB baseball loses to Crespi

The Santa Barbara High baseball team lost to Crespi in the Easton Tournament on Tuesday, falling by a score of 10-1.

On a day with few highlights, Zeke Adderley led the way with a 2-2 performance with a double, a walk and two stolen bases. He was also hit by a pitch.

Santa Barbara Coach also called out the strong effort of senior Dane Dawson, saying “hopefully some of the younger guys took notice” of his hustle.

SY boys soccer defeats Parlier

The Santa Ynez boys soccer team handily defeated Parlier on Tuesday, winning 3-1.

Following a scoreless first half, Santa Ynez opened up in the second, beginning with a Spencer Silverman goal 13 minutes into the half.

Later, Santa Ynez got its second goal when a Parlier defender kicked the ball over his own goalkeeper after a battle in the box with Santa Ynez’ Gabriel Beleski.

Parlier’s lone goal was scored on a free kick with about five minutes left in the game. Just a couple minutes later, Santa Ynez regained their two-goal lead on a goal by Braeden Melville.

- Compiled by Matt Smolensky

Accreditation renewed at Santa Barbara Unified’s high schools

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently granted accreditation to San Marcos, Dos Pueblos, and Santa Barbara high schools.

To earn accreditation, the school’s staff provided a report and hosted a visit from WASC.

The process requires a yearlong “focus on learning” where subcommittees of staff, students, and family members concentrate

on leadership, curriculum, instruction, assessment and culture. Each subcommittee reviews data and seeks input from various stakeholders.

In addition, a WASC committee reviews the report and spends three days on each campus, meeting with staff, district officials, parents and students.

“The accreditation decision validates that San Marcos and SB Unified’s other comprehensive high schools are doing a good job of preparing students for

The Gauchos played two rounds of golf on the first day of competition, taking on the likes of Cal State Fullerton, Cal Poly, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Cal Baptist, and others as the shotgun start began.

Show goes on at SBIFF

Schools’ accreditations will last until June 2029

SCHOOLS

Continued from Page A3

a successful future,” Dare Holdren, the San Marcos High School principal, said in a news release. “The committee report also serves as a valuable tool to help identify areas of improvement as we continue the work of making San Marcos into the best high school it can be.”

Staff members at all three schools celebrated the accreditation with cake Tuesday.

“Learning we received our sixyear accreditation is a testament to the collective efforts of our entire Dos Pueblos staff and families and is evidence of our commitment to providing the highest quality education to our students,” said Bill Woodard, Dos Pueblos High School principal. “I am extremely proud of the hard work that went into our successful accreditation process, which I know will make our school even stronger in the coming years.”

The accreditation was also celebrated at Tuesday’s Santa Barbara Unified School District board meeting.

“I have always appreciated the rigorous and intense WASC

Williams: Transporting material would be more environmentally damaging

BEACH

Continued from Page A1

protects us all from debris flows,” Supervisor Williams said. “We cannot leave material in there without endangering the people of Carpinteria. The material being placed at Ash Beach comes from the watershed above Carpinteria.”

Supervisor Williams said a beach is the correct place to deposit the material, which includes mud.

“Beach scientists have advised us this is exactly what our beaches, typically starved of new sand, need to protect them against erosion,” he said. “Placing it elsewhere would be far more environmentally damaging due to the pollution caused by long-distance heavy truck trips.

“Estimates show the alternative sites would create as much as 98,400 vehicle miles traveled (vs. 1,700 to Ash beach), which is too much traffic and air pollution to inflict upon the community,” Supervisor Williams said.

But Ms. Carlen noted, “Santa Barbara Channelkeeper has been advocating to stop emergency permitting. It is not safe to dump those materials in the ocean. The composite

of sediment is not what would be found in the ocean. We don’t know what kind of chemicals are in the debris.”

Ted Morton, executive director of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, echoed her concern in an email to the News-Press.

“Channelkeeper is concerned about the impacts of mud dumping at Carpinteria and Goleta beaches,” Mr. Morton said. “The constant, daily dumping of mud and debris impairs water quality and affects fish, wildlife and other biological resources by increasing silt, turbidity and contaminants such as ammonia nitrogen in coastal waters.

“We believe there are better options that should be explored and put in place,” Mr. Morton said. “We will be doing more outreach to county officials to explore these alternatives and a more protective, long-term solution.”

Heal the Ocean did not respond to the NewsPress’ request for comment.

“According to the county, the materials being dumped are safe and do not raise the bacteria levels,” Ms. Carlen told the News-Press.

“However, when I contacted the Environmental Health Services in Santa Barbara, the reports indicate that tests are showing harmful levels. The California state parks have posted signs at their beach to stay out of the water —

‘hazardous materials submerged.’”

The News-Press asked Ms. Carlen where else she would like to see the debris dumped.

“Let’s get the great minds of Santa Barbara County together and come up with a solution,” she answered. “To say there is no other option is insanity. This state claims to care about the environment. So how can something like this continue?

“Every time we have a rain event, we have an emergency permit and dump it at the beach,” Ms. Carlen said. “That’s not environmentally friendly, and it’s not a solution. It’s a Band-Aid.”

“I think people should do some research and contact organizations involved in environmental studies and marine life which understand that putting sediment in the ocean at this rate is not normal,” Ms. Carlen said. “People that are aware of the problem are doing the work, but the resistance is ‘It’s an emergency,’ but it doesn’t have to be an emergency.

“People need a voice; the people should make the decision about where emergency permits are going,” Ms. Carlen said. “Let’s put this on the ballot, and get this decision to the people.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Book intended to help readers suffering from anxiety or depression

Fri.

accreditation process,” said Elise Simmons, principal of Santa Barbara High School.

“It requires us to bring all our stakeholders together in a focused and collaborative manner to describe, evaluate and celebrate the amazing programs, staff, and actions we take to ensure that all students are supported, cared for, and thriving. Receiving accreditation shows our community that Santa Barbara High School is providing a quality education and experience.” As part of the accreditation process, the schools must do a progress report to confirm continued progress and positive academic outcomes. The accreditation for all three schools will last through June 30, 2029.

La Cuesta Continuation High School was granted six years of accreditation in March 2020, with a mid-cycle progress report due June 1. Alta Vista Alternative High School had a mid-cycle report last year where accreditation was reaffirmed. Its next visit will happen during the 2024-2025 school year.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by

SURFER

Continued from Page A1

said his experience has been that those involved with surfing and other sports tend to be accepting of diverse races and religious groups.

But Mr. Tomson applauded Mr. Greene’s efforts to shine light on anti-Semitism, which Mr. Tomson said is contrary to surfing’s spiritual philosophy.

Mr. Tomson appears twice in Mr. Greene’s film. In another segment, Mr. Tomson talks about how surfing helped him to heal after he and his wife Carla lost their son Matthew in

Shaun Tomson is known for his longtime surfing expertise.

2006. Matthew died when he was 15.

“When I went surfing, I saw the sun rising,” Mr. Tomson said about the first time he surfed after Matthew’s death. That moment took Mr. Tomson back to a beautiful essay his son had written about surfing. As he thought about his son’s words, Mr. Tomson found a path to

healing.

Mr. Tomson writes about overcoming life’s obstacles in “The Surfer and the Sage: A Guide to Survive & Ride Life’s Waves” (Familius Publishing).

He told the News-Press that his book, which is designed to help readers suffering from anxiety or depression, is selling well at Chaucer’s in Santa Barbara and

Tecolote Book Shop in Montecito. (The book is not intended to be a clinical book, but is designed to be an inspirational guidebook.)

Mr. Tomson, who today has a 13-year-old son, Luke, said many people have told him the book has helped them. “It’s very gratifying to hear that.” email: dmason@newspress.com

Shaun Tomson discusses dealing with anxiety and depression in “Surfer & the Sage.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

People line up for a small viewing at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara on Wednesday.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

COURTESY PHOTO Colin Farrell, above, and Brendan Gleeson, who are both nominated for Oscars for their roles in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” will appear tonight at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. They will receive the Cinema Vanguard Award from the festival at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre.

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

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues daily through Feb. 18. See sbiff.org for the schedule.

‘In Residence’

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

‘In Residence,” the first group show and opening event celebrating the work of 26 artists from the 805 area — Santa Barbara, Ventura, Ojai, Oxnard, etc. — is on view through Feb. 25 at Indoek, 432 N. Ventura Ave.. Studio 30, in Ventura.

“Ventura County is home to a hard-working, tight-knit community of creative talent,” said Matt Titone, gallery co-owner. “These artists are recognized internationally and are quietly established as local heroes. We want to celebrate and inspire this community with our new space while also creating a destination for people coming from out of town, giving Ventura a new cultural landmark to be proud of.

“Celebrating coastal creative culture, Indoek presents a curated perspective and aesthetic to the surfing lifestyle. Born out of a passion for aquatic activities and frustration with an industry that tends to misrepresent them, our goal is to elevate surf culture and champion the creative personalities who have shaped it over the years.

“We started as a blog — back when that was a thing — then evolved into a publisher of original content,” he said. “We’ve dabbled in unique collaborations, and our next chapter is now a physical space that will serve primarily as an art gallery and creative hub in Ventura County.”

An opening night event on Jan. 27 featured music by Xocoyotzin Moraza, free beer from Topa Topa Brewing Co. and natural wines by Innocnts.

A portion of the art show’s proceeds will benefit Mesa Farm in Ojai.

Artists participating in the exhibit are Allison Kunath, Andrew Rodriguez, Brian Calvert, Clara Mari, Corban Campbell, Craig Robbins, Daniella Manini, David Wien, Demi Boelsterli, DJ Javier, Dylan Gordon, Geoffrey Holstad, Hayden Brosnan, Jeff Johnson, Louise Levin Ulrich, Mr. Titone, Morgan Maassen, Neil Hubert, Porfirio Gutierrez, Russell Crotty, Scott Soens, Sean Tully and Taiana Giefer.

“It was incredibly inspiring for me to be invited to participate in a show that had such a great representation of an emerging art style within the coastal culture

COURTESY IMAGES

Indoek gallery in Ventura launches with artists from 805 area

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. Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical.org.

7 p.m. “The River Bride,” the story of 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, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 26, 10 a.m. March 2, 7 p.m. March 3 and 4, and 1:30 p.m. March 4 and 5. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-9655400.

FEB. 17

4 to 6 p.m. Flying Goat Cellars will host a reception for mosaic artist Kathleen McCabe-Martin at the cellars’ tasting room, 1520 E. Chestnut Court, Lompoc.

7 p.m. “The River Bride” 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. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-9655400.

FEB. 18 7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2023

Scott Soens’ photography

Daniella Manini’s art

Russell Crotty’s art

Matt Titone’s art

Daniella Manini’s art

‘Now and Then’ opens tonight in Carpinteria

CARPINTERIA — The Alcazar Theatre and Ensemble will open its 2023 season tonight through Sunday with “Now and Then” by Sean Grennan.

The curtain will rise at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at the theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria.

The romantic comedy/drama features Andrew Miller as Jamie, Raymond Wallenthin as “Man,” Jadzia Winter as Abby and Shannon Saleh as “Woman.” The play is directed by Asa Olsson.

“Now and Then” is a romantic drama/comedy about love, following your dreams and the costs of personal decisions.

The story is about an aspiring pianist, his girlfriend, Abby and a mysterious older gentleman, Jimmy, who offers them $1,000 each to talk with him. As the three swap stories, Jamie considers the decisions he faces about his musical career and his future with his girlfriend.

“It is, at the end, very much a love story,” Mr. Grennan said. “It kind of asks us what is love worth in our lives? What is it worth going through for love? Are we destined to be with certain people?”

Tickets for the play cost $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors and students. To purchase tickets, go to www.thealcazar.org.

Celeriac

Also commonly referred to as celeriac, this winter vegetable is a member of the Apiaceae family. It’s closely related to parsley, fennel, carrots and parsnips. Celeriac’s flavor is reminiscent of all its family members rolled into one, with nice underlying notes of celery throughout. It can be enjoyed in both raw and cooked forms. I most commonly use celeriac in pureed soups or shredded and tossed with mixed greens and a robustly flavored salad dressing. This week I prepared a celeriac, potato and carrot hash brown as the Fix of the Week, below. Grown by several local farmers, celeriac is available at the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Wednesday Solvang farmers’ markets.

Blood orange tangerine juice

This is one of the tastiest citrus based juices you can find, anywhere.

With seasonal fruit grown by Friends Ranches in Ojai, they blend their deep red pigmented blood oranges with sweet seasonal tangerines for an incredible dynamic flavor. Yielding a bright red color, this juice is excellent for enjoying as it comes, to be incorporated into cocktails, used to make reduction sauces, or used in marinades and salad dressings.

You can find it seasonally at the Saturday Santa Barbara farmers markets. It’s sold in pints, quarts and half gallon quantities. The half gallons are $17 each.

Fix of the Week

Long green stalks of fresh celery line the farmers market this time of year.

Thriving in the winter months, celery delivers a refreshingly satisfying subtlesweet flavor right from the first crunch of the green stalks. Celery is one of those staple ingredients I use at home quite often, with a diverse range of uses.

Along with fresh celery stalks, its counterpart, celery root, too possesses a great diversity of uses but in a much different fashion. Unlike the varieties that produce large edible stalks above ground, celeriac (aka celery root) is grown as a root vegetable, forming its main edible portion beneath the earth. While it does produce a small number of green stalks above ground, this portion is far less desirable than its counterpart, often delivering a woodier texture and thus discarded before preparation.

RESIDENCE

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around the area,” said Ms. Manini, a Ventura artist. “It is so very well curated, and I’m thrilled to be part of it,”

“It is great to have the Indoek gallery in Ventura showcasing local 805 artists for its first show,” said Mr. Soens, a Ventura photographer. “It is exciting for me to be a part of the show with so many talented local artists. As a resident of West Ventura, I can’t wait to see what Matt brings into the gallery over the coming years.”

Mr. Crotty, a Santa Barbara artist, said that “as a boy, I drew

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

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.

8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

FEB. 19

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

2 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

4 p.m. The Takács Quartet will perform

Palestine limes

Your mouth may start to pucker a bit when you hear the word “lime,” but these unique Palestine limes are a sweet lime, absent of the sour notes. These limes have a rounded physique and bright yellow skin when ripe. You can use these limes in really anything that calls for notes of citrus such as seafood preparations, beverages and salad dressings, or use them to make a marmalade.

Grown by Burkdoll Farms, they can be found for a limited time at the Saturday Santa Barbara and Sunday Camino Real farmers’ markets. Price is $3 per pound, or 8 pounds for $20.

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.

Farmers typically harvest fresh celery root when it reaches about a 6-inch diameter, a little bigger than a large potato. You will notice that this edible root is unearthed with a tough outer surface, which can be easily removed with a sharp knife before preparing.

Once home, celeriac can be stored in a plastic bag or produce bin in the refrigerator, staying fresh for at least a week.

Celeriac delivers an abundance of nutrients including manganese, magnesium, potassium, thiamin, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. It is also quite high in dietary fiber, as well as possesses 2 grams of protein per serving.

Delivering the flavor of celery, celeriac is often used in dishes that traditionally favor celery addition, but are utilized more like a potato, although it is only 5-6% starch by weight. Celeriac may be enjoyed either raw or cooked, although I much prefer it cooked. It is great when roasted along with meat

FYI

“In Residence” is on view through Feb. 25 at Indoek, 432 N. Ventura Ave. in Ventura. For more information, visit indoek.com.

surf images in sketchbooks in the margins of my schoolwork and learned to read from surf mags. After 50 years of being a passionate surfer, my obsession continues as an ongoing meditation on surfing that manifests as personal, instinctive and often satirical surf drawings. This work resonates strongly with surfers, yet has also been

an all-Beethoven concert at St. Mark’s-inthe-Valley Episocpal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. Tickets cost $20 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.

FEB. 21

7 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson will perform at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to lobero.org/events/jackjohnson.

FEB. 22

1:30 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

FEB. 23 10 a.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory

dishes, used in pureed soups, fried, shredded and tossed in a salad, in stir fry’s, or one of my favorites, a breakfast hash brown.

CELERIAC, POTATO AND CARROT HASH BROWNS

2 cups shredded celeriac.

½ cup shredded carrot.

2 cups shredded potato.

1 egg, beaten.

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley (or cilantro).

½ cup onion, finely chopped.

½ teaspoon salt.

Freshly cracked pepper. Combine all ingredients together until well incorporated. Make individual ½ cup flattened hash browns. In a large flat pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil or butter and once hot, fry the hash browns, turning after a few minutes of cooking. Cook until both sides have a nice golden-brown crust. Season if needed to taste.

Yield: Serves 4.

acclaimed by fine art galleries and museums.”

For Mr. Titone, “It’s been incredibly heartwarming to see the positive response and support from the local community since we opened. My goal for the gallery is to both champion local artists but also inspire by introducing the community to new artists from other places as well.

“I feel a tremendous amount of responsibility to make Indoek the best space it can possibly be, to adequately give Ventura County a creative hub it deserves and can be proud of.”

email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

FEB. 24

7 p.m. “The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

FEB. 25

1:30 and 7 p.m. The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

FEB. 26

1:30 p.m. The River Bride” will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870 S. Bradley Road. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www. pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-9228313.

— Dave Mason

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

Andrew Miller and Jadzia Winter play Jamie and Abby in Alcazar Theatre’s production of “Now and Then.”

FARMERS MARKET Sam Edelman

Diversions

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, February 16, 2023

ARIES — Information received from far away could compel you to learn more about the subject, Aries. You might be inspired to use your new knowledge in a project that includes a partner. Your mind is insightful now. If you face decisions, this is definitely the day to follow your heart. Don’t be surprised if you also find your telepathic abilities expanded.

TAURUS — Money matters may be advanced through using your intuition and inner power today, Taurus. You might have a hunch that your idea for making extra money might just work. Look into it at least. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it until you know the facts. You might also rediscover a long-neglected talent that you find useful now.

GEMINI — A surge of inner power could make you feel like you can move mountains, Gemini. If you’ve been contemplating actions that others believe impossible, this is the day to get them going. Career matters, romance, and creative projects could all be advanced today by careful effort on your part.

CANCER — Memories from your distant past could resurface today, Cancer. You may wonder why you’re suddenly thinking about them, but they probably represent a release of old emotional hang-ups that have been holding you back. By midafternoon you should feel more focused, determined, and ready to take on anything.

LEO — Today represents a new beginning in many ways. An old friend could reappear in your life and bring up memories that are both pleasant and disconcerting, Leo. Don’t worry too much about this. It probably represents a needed release. You may also get involved with a group that has goals you embrace.

VIRGO — Emotions could be running high, Virgo. Someone in your entourage may have a problem with an authority figure and political issues could come up. You’re likely to feel especially powerful now, and so you might be tempted to throw your hat in the ring. It’s better to stay out of anything political and channel that power and passion into your own project.

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Cy the Cynic leads an active social life. “I heard you had a blind date with a woman who works for Verizon,” I said. “How did that go?”

“We never connected,” Cy grunted.

As today’s West, Cy faced what you might consider a blind opening lead against 3NT. But Cy reasoned that he should lead a major, and the ace of spades might be an entry to set up heart tricks. So Cy led the deuce of hearts: three, king, ace.

South next led a spade, and the Cynic stuck to his plan: He took the ace to lead the jack of hearts, winning, and a third heart. South won, but when he next finessed in diamonds, East took the king and cashed two hearts. Down one.

MISPLAY

I suppose Cy’s reasoning was sound, but South misplayed. South has no worries if hearts are split 4-4, but if Cy led from a three-card holding, South must force out East’s entry early, before his hearts are good. So at Trick Two, South must finesse in diamonds.

When East wins and returns a heart, South ducks, wins the third heart and leads a spade. He is safe when Cy has the ace but no more hearts.

You hold:

LIBRA — Heightened mental powers might make you spend a lot of time reading or doing research of some kind, Libra. Your curiosity is especially sharp right now. You might even consider advancing your education somehow, especially since new interests have been popping up for some time.

SCORPIO — Scorpio, your intuition might increase today to the point where you feel like you could deduce the thoughts and motives of people you’ve never met before. Reading the news might bring you sudden insights as to how things are going to turn out. You could decide to put this ability to work to advance your financial condition.

SAGITTARIUS — You should be feeling especially passionate now, Sagittarius, especially regarding partnerships. Romantic partnerships definitely call for an evening alone together. Professional and creative ones, on the other hand, call for a new project that you both believe in. Look to events in distant states or foreign countries for inspiration.

CAPRICORN — If you haven’t been feeling like yourself lately, Capricorn, a surge of inner power could push you over the top and make you feel strong and healthy again. You could decide to complete all your unfinished tasks today. You could get most of them done by day’s end. Don’t forget to take time out to enjoy yourself. You want to make the most of your newfound strength.

AQUARIUS — A surge of passion could dominate your day unless you find an outlet for it, Aquarius. Romantic passion is high, so an intimate evening with a lover is a good idea. Creative passion is strong. You could have a sudden inspiration, perhaps influenced by a distant place. Don’t be afraid to take time from your mundane chores to pursue this inspiration.

PISCES — A romantic evening at home with your partner could bring you two closer together, Pisces. Your emotions are intense right now, however, so you need to use your intuition to judge exactly how much of your feelings you should reveal. An intellectual passion could also come your way. You might discover a new field of interest, and you will want to study it at home for hours.

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

one club, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: You have enough strength for game. Bid 3NT, giving partner a choice if he raised you with three-card support. Even if in your style he promises four-card support, to try 3NT would be reasonable. (In today’s deal, South responded 2NT to a one-diamond opening with this hand — for reasons best known to him.)

North dealer

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”

— A. A. Milne

Border Patrol: Record number of

Chinese nationals entering U.S. illegally

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – The number of Chinese nationals illegally entering the U.S. has significantly increased under the Biden administration, beginning around the 2020 election, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Nationwide, 18,395 Chinese nationals were apprehended in fiscal 2020; 23,471 in fiscal 2021; 27,756 in fiscal 2022; and 10,587 in the fiscal year to date.

The vast majority are single adults.

In fiscal 2020, 18,014 apprehended were single adults; 23,172 were single adults in fiscal 2021; 26,447 were in fiscal 2022, and 9,772 were so far in fiscal year 2023.

These numbers include Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations data, including in southwest Florida, where apprehensions continually increase, prompting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency last month. More Chinese nationals are illegally entering through the northern border than in the past, according to the data.

At the northern border, in fiscal 2020, 1,464 Chinese nationals were apprehended; in fiscal 2021, 897 were apprehended; in fiscal 2022, 6,698 were apprehended; and in fiscal 2023 to date, 2,795 have been apprehended, according to the data.

Chinese nationals make up such a significant number of gotaways that rescue beacons were established along the southern border and have instructions in Mandarin. Gotaways are those who intentionally seek to evade capture from law enforcement after illegally entering between ports of entry. At least 1.2 million gotaways have been reported since President Joe Biden’s been in office, a record, although that number is expected to be significantly higher because not all gotaways are recorded.

Rescue beacons positioned throughout the southern border help Border Patrol agents rescue foreign nationals attempting to make it through desert-like and remote areas. The structures are tall and white and look like antennas with a

blue light at the top. About eye level is a red button and a sign with instructions in English, Spanish and Mandarin that reads: “If you need help push the red button. Help will arrive. Do not leave the area.”

The beacons also have instructions with a diagram to show people how to push the button. Once they push it a signal is sent to a nearby Border Patrol station so agents can come and rescue them. If the beacons weren’t there, those relying on them would likely die, law enforcement officers told The Center Square.

Since 2008, Border Patrol erected six beacons in Brooks County, Texas, for example, KSAT News reported in 2021, when dead bodies began to turn up in those areas.

The burden of finding dead bodies has fallen primarily on the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office, whose deputies recovered a record 917 bodies of foreign nationals, according to data obtained by The Center Square from the sheriff’s office. In 2021, his staff found 119 bodies; in 2020, 34.

The south Texas region stretching from McAllen to Falfurrias in Brooks County, for example, is largely barren ranch land full of rough, unforgiving terrain that’s especially dangerous in summer months when temperatures reach well over 100 degrees. By the time foreign nationals reach Falfurrias on foot, roughly 82 miles directly north of Reynosa, Mexico, they are dehydrated and can’t continue their journey on foot, officials told The Center Square. After illegally entering Texas between ports of entry near McAllen, officials say they travel north parallel to Highway 281 following pipelines and railroad tracks going through ranchers’ properties to avoid detection. By the time

they reach Brooks County, dehydrated and exhausted, many don’t make it. Many are also left behind by smugglers, the sheriff’s office has explained to The Center Square. Fentanyl has also poured through the southern border in recent years, the precursors of which are commonly made in China and shipped to Mexico. Mexican cartels then manufacture the precursors into fake prescription pills and or lace other drugs with it. Through an elaborate trafficking network, they orchestrate the smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S. primarily through the southern border.

Through Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation

Lone Star, Texas law enforcement officers have seized over 360 million lethal doses of fentanyl since March 2021, enough to kill more than everyone in the U.S. This excludes the record amounts seized by other states’ law enforcement officers and by Border Patrol and DEA agents since President Biden’s been in office. Combined, the agencies have reported their totals could kill the entire U.S. population multiple times over. Two milligrams is considered a lethal dose. Multiple attorneys general, led by Florida, have called on the Biden administration to classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. Gov. Abbott last fall, and now multiple attorneys general, has called on the Biden administration to designate Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. They’ve done so as members of Congress and state legislatures have filed bills to prevent Chinese entities from purchasing land in the U.S., led by Florida and Texas.

Minnesota, North Dakota Border Patrol agents thwart human smugglers

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Border Patrol agents in Minnesota and North Dakota continue to apprehend foreign nationals brought in by human smugglers in the dead of winter and illegally crossing the northern border from Canada.

Instead of flying from Mexico and other countries to Canada to enter legally through ports of entry, border agents say foreign nationals are flying to Canada to enter the U.S. illegally between ports of entry while intentionally seeking to evade capture by law enforcement. But they do so at their own peril as temperatures reach double digits below zero and heavy snow is prohibitive for travel on foot and by car.

Minnesota and North Dakota are located in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Grand Forks Sector, which has 7 Border Patrol stations responsible for covering 8 midwestern states and 861 miles of shared international border with Canada. The shared border includes 403 land miles and 458 miles of water boundary.

In 2022, Border Patrol agents in the Grand Forks Sector apprehended 171 illegal foreign nationals and reported 10 who turned back to Canada, according to Border Patrol data obtained by The Center Square. A Border Patrol agent provided the information on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

Grand Forks Sector agents also reported 293 gotaways – those who evaded capture and made it into the U.S. illegally, according to the data, which excludes Office of Field Operations data. CBP doesn’t publish gotaway data, and law enforcement officials have told The Center Square it’s the gotaways who are of most concern because no one knows who or where they are.

While agents apprehended five illegal foreign nationals and reported 25 gotaways in January, they most recently intercepted a human smuggling attempt in Bottineau, North Dakota, involving a driver and six foreign nationals who entered the U.S. illegally.

Grand Forks Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Anthony S. Good announced Monday, “Outstanding work and collaboration by our agents and local deputies in Bottineau, (North Dakota.) They intercepted a human smuggling attempt involving 6

noncitizens entering the U.S. illegally. The driver is being prosecuted.”

This is after agents say they foiled two separate human smuggling events in one week near the North Dakota/Minnesota border with Canada last November.

In one case, two Georgia residents, Ernesto Falcon Jr. and Rodolfo ArzolaCarrillo, were caught smuggling a group of Mexican nationals after they admitted to having previously successfully brought four groups through without detection.

According to a Border Patrol affidavit, Mr. Falcon’s van was stuck in the snow west of Neche, North Dakota, in a remote intersection in Pembina County on Nov. 17. He and Mr. Arzola-Carrillo had walked for nearly 40 minutes to meet the group they’d arranged to smuggle into the U.S. Due to dangerous winter weather conditions, they couldn’t drive the group and were stranded. Rather than freeze, they called the sheriff’s office instead.

A Pembina County deputy responded to the call and picked up Mr. Falcon and Mr. Arzola-Carrillo, and seven Mexican nationals. According to the affidavit, the Mexicans said they were a family from Michoacan, Mexico, including five adults and two children, 9 and 4 years old. Border Patrol processed them for removal and the two Georgia men were charged with conspiracy to commit smuggling across the U.S.-Canada border, Valley News Live first reported.

The Georgia men told law enforcement officers they were being paid between $500 to $1,000 a person to smuggle people into the U.S. from Canada. They’d already successfully smuggled four different groups through this same remote area last fall until they were caught because of inclement weather, the document said.

This sector, like the busiest northern sector in Vermont, relies on residents to notify them about border crossers. Residents who suspect suspicious activity are encouraged to call their local Border Patrol sector station. Grand Forks Sector agents work with Canadian law enforcement counterparts through the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams and with multiple law enforcement partnerships receiving federal Operation Stonegarden funding “to directly support border security missions.” Targeted air patrols are also operated through the Office of Air and Marine - North Dakota Air Branch.

Classified Deadlines

States move to ban Chinese entities from purchasing land, AGs want fentanyl classified as WMD and Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

At the northern border, in fiscal 2020, 1,464 Chinese nationals were apprehended; in fiscal 2021, 897 were apprehended; in fiscal 2022, 6,698 were apprehended; and in fiscal 2023 to date, 2,795 have been apprehended.