Santa Barbara News-Press: February 23, 2023

Enthusiastic about Anacapa school

Dr. Mari Talkin to become head of independent school in Santa Barbara

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Dr. Mari Talkin is excited about becoming the leader of a place she calls magical: Anacapa School.

Dr. Talkin will begin her position on July 1 as the head of the independent school, which serves grades 7-12 and boasts a 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

She will work closely with the board of directors to develop plans for the 2023-2024 school year.

“I am really excited; it is something I feel very passionate about. Anacapa School is one of Santa Barbara’s best-kept secrets,”

Dr. Talkin, who currently teaches at Cate School in Carpinteria, told the News-Press.

“Anacapa School is located on a storied campus in downtown Santa Barbara. It’s a magical place in many ways and has a homeaway-from-home feeling.

“I am very excited to offer my leadership and vision in moving the school forward into the community,” she said.

Dr. Talkin discussed her vision for the school.

“The school is already pretty communitycentered,” she said. “The students are actively encouraged to volunteer and are community-involved. The school has an entrepreneurial spirit. I love that, and I want to continue to foster that.

“My vision is to really help that and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of students and connection with the community and for them to work together in symbiotic ways.”

“I will be working with the board of directors looking at the goals of the school.

I am currently working with interim head of school, Jennifer Mansbach. I have been having meetings with faculty members to understand the goals and vision for the school and how I can best support that,” said

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For more about Anacapa School, go to anacapaschool.org.

Fire and police commission to appoint chair, vice chair

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara Fire and Police Commission today will receive a police overview of the citizen complaint process and a fire department update on the county’s process for seeking proposals to provide ambulance transport services.

Commission members, meeting for only the second time, will first nominate and appoint a chair and vice chair who will serve a one-year term to expire on Jan. 25, 2024.

“The chair will be responsible for managing public meetings, reviewing and approving the monthly staff agendas, and serving as the primary spokesperson for the commission on all matters in advising the City Council and the City Administrator’s Office,” staff said.

Commission members are Linda Dozer, Dan Herlinger, Gary Hill, Lizzie Rodriguez and Ana Zepeda. Ms. Rodriguez served as acting chair during the commission’s first meeting last month.

The commission will meet in the Santa Barbara City Council chambers, 735 Anacapa St., starting at 4 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live online and on City TV Channel 18.

Once the chair and vice chair are appointed, Santa Barbara Fire Chief Chris Mailes will

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Alleged juvenile gang associates deny charges in s tearns Wharf murder

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Two alleged juvenile gang associates from Ventura County have denied the murder charges filed against them in connection with the Dec. 9 fatal shooting of an innocent bystander on Stearns Wharf.

The juveniles allegedly engaged in a firefight with a group of alleged Santa Barbara gang associates, and the bystander, Robert Dion Gutierrez, 52, of Camarillo, who was walking on the Santa Barbara wharf with his wife at the time, was caught in the middle. A bullet struck him in the head, and he died later at the hospital.

The 15-year-old defendants appeared in Santa Maria Juvenile Court on Tuesday for arraignment on charges of murder in connection with the slaying, with the special allegation that they “discharged a firearm proximately causing death.”

“Both entered denials to the charges,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Tate McAllister told the News-Press. “One had his case set for 3/2 for further proceedings and the other to 3/28.”

A third juvenile, 16, has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder, and with illegal possession of an unregistered firearm.

Prosecutor McAllister declined to discuss his arraignment Tuesday.

“I can only speak to the proceedings regarding the two juveniles charged with murder,” he said.

The law prohibits law enforcement officials from discussing anything about

juveniles charged with crimes because of their age, but it allows for certain exceptions, one of which is murder, he said.

The three juveniles were arrested by Santa Barbara Police Department officers on Feb. 16. Their arrests were the result of an intense police investigation to identify and bring to justice additional suspects following the Jan. 19 arrest of four adult suspects in Santa Barbara who allegedly were involved in the killing.

Santa Barbara police, assisted by several outside agencies, served search-and-arrest warrants at multiple locations in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. A firearm was recovered in the course of executing the search-and-arrest warrants, but it is not known at this time if the gun was used in the commission of the crime. Police described Mr. Gutierrez as an innocent bystander who was in Santa Barbara with his wife walking on Stearns Wharf “when he was struck and killed by one of the rounds fired during an altercation between two groups of individuals at the base of the wharf.

“One group involved in the altercation has been identified as local Santa Barbara area residents with ties to a local Santa Barbara street gang,” police said. “The opposing group in the altercation has been identified as Ventura County residents with ties to Ventura County street gangs.”

The four adult defendants charged in the murder case appeared in Superior Court last Friday to enter pleas, but their arraignments were continued to Feb. 27.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

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provide an update on the Santa Barbara County EMS Agency Ambulance Service Request for Proposals.

Acting Chair Rodriguez last month made a motion to add the county ambulance contract to February’s agenda. There were two bidders, American Medical Response and the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The review panel recommended American Medical Response be awarded the contract.

Santa Barbara County Fire officials filed a protest. The protest was heard by the county’s procurement officer, who ruled against the fire department. A further appeal was generated to the procurement resolution committee.

“Every single fire department in the entire county is behind a county fire-run ambulance service so we are still very hopeful,” Chief Mailes said at the time. “But we know that it is up to this committee and ultimately up to the Board of Supervisors.” The contract is estimated between $100 million to 140 million.

“It is well known that the city does prefer a fire department-based ambulance system,” Chief Mailes said.

After hearing about the ambulance service contract process, Police Chief Kelly Gordon and Commander Kasi Corbett will review for commission members the policies and procedures relating to the department’s citizen

complaint process.

This will provide background in advance of the Fire and Police Commission receiving quarterly and yearly reports regarding complaints received by the Santa Barbara Police Department at future meetings.

The commission will not be investigating individual complaints or receiving reports on individual complaints.

After that, Police Chief Gordon and Fire Chief Mailes will brief commissioners on current departmental priorities, data trends and statistics, and upcoming significant issues for future agendas.

The City Council approved the landmark ordinance last October creating the new Fire and Police Commission, assigning it additional civilian oversight duties in an effort to increase accountability, oversight, transparency and public trust.

The commission operates in an advisory role to the council and city administrator in all matters relating to efficient and adequate fire and police protection for the city.

Commission members will also consider along with the fire and police chiefs an annual budget and make recommendations to the city council and city administrator.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

Man pleads not guilty to arson in Santa Maria

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Nipomo man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges of arson and seconddegree commercial burglary in connection with a weekend rampage in Santa Maria, where he allegedly broke into a courthouse and set a fire inside a courtroom.

The man allegedly set off sprinklers that, together with the blaze, caused an estimated $750,000 in damage.

But for an unspecified reason, the defendant’s arraignment, which started out in Santa Barbara, was transferred to San Luis Obispo County where he appeared before a judge and entered his pleas.

“I can confirm that both of Eric Spies’ cases were transferred to San Luis Obispo

County Court,” Santa Barbara Deputy District Attorney Austin Ingalls told the News-Press. “The court transferred the case to San Luis Obispo County after declaring that it would be a conflict of interest for a Santa Barbara County court/judge to preside over Mr. Spies’ criminal case.”

The prosecutor could not explain why the Santa Barbara County judge believed there would be a conflict if the case were to be heard here.

“The court did not provide a specific basis for the conflict,” he said. “Thus, I cannot tell you specifically why the conflict was declared.”

Despite the transfer, the case still will be prosecuted by the Santa Barbara County D.A.’s Office, Prosecutor Ingalls said. And Mr. Spies will be represented by the Santa

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PHOTO COURTESY ANACAPA SCHOOL

“As an educator myself, I think one of the best gifts we can give young people is to nurture their sense of awe,’ said Dr. Mari Talkin, who will begin her work as head of Anacapa School

on July 1.

Community media conference takes place in Santa Barbara

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

TV Santa Barbara, the region’s community media access center since 1974, is serving as a host for this week’s Alliance for Community Media Western Region Conference and Trade Show.

The event will run through Friday at the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara.

“We are very excited to participate in this important conference, which supports diverse community voices, through public, educational, and government access channels and other forms of media,” Erik Davis, executive director of TVSB, said in a news release. “With a full slate of events, we look forward to showcasing the important work that media access centers provide communities lucky enough to have them.”

The conference kicked off Wednesday with a tour of City TV and an open house at TV Santa Barbara, followed by a welcome reception at the historic Cabrillo Pavilion.

Today will feature informational workshops and a vendor exhibit showcasing the latest media equipment and resources at the Mar Monte Hotel.

Tonight at the hotel, the Western Access Video Excellence Awards will recognize the best TV shows, films and short-form videos.

For more information, including the complete conference schedule, visit www.tvsb.tv/events.

Conference passes as well as WAVE Awards ceremony tickets ($50) can be purchased by visiting www.acmwest.org/conference.

Santa Barbara was the site of the first ACM West Regional Conference in 1982, and the first WAVE Awards ceremonies were

TV Santa Barbara is a host of the Alliance for Community Media Western Region Conference and Trade Show, taking place this week at the Mar Monte Hotel in Santa Barbara.

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held in Santa Barbara in 1988. 2023 also marks the 20-year anniversary of TV Santa Barbara

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

the suspects is asked to contact the Lompoc Police Department at 805-736-2341.

— Katherine Zehnder

Police: Woman forced to give money

SANTA BARBARA — An elderly woman last week was forced into a vehicle in downtown Santa Barbara and taken to her home, where a large sum of her money was stolen, according to Santa Barbara police.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. Feb. 16, the woman was leaving a store in the 200 East block of Gutierrez Street when she was approached by a man and woman whom she did not know. The suspects then allegedly forced the victim into a vehicle and drove to the victim’s house.

Identity sought for suspect

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Police Department is requesting the public’s help to identify the suspect in this photo.

He, along with three other males, allegedly entered Five Below in Lompoc during business hours.

Lompoc police said two of the males acted as lookouts, while the other two were able to obtain access to the secured back office.

Once inside, they allegedly attempted to steal two safes. They were unsuccessful in moving or opening the safes. Lompoc police said the suspects took multiple photos of the safes during the crime.

The suspects were confronted by employees and fled. Five Below employees said stores in the Bakersfield and Delmonte areas have been targeted in a similar fashion.

Anyone with information on the identity of

Comedy Pet Theatre comes to Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Comedy

Pet Theatre and its rescued cats and dogs will take the stage at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Marjorie

After entering the home, the suspects reportedly left the area in a gray 4-door vehicle after obtaining a large sum of money, according to Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale. He said no further information is available to describe the vehicle.

Sgt. Ragsdale, the public information officer for Santa Barbara police, said the suspects are currently outstanding.

The female suspect was described as an older white woman, Spanish-speaking with brown hair and approximately 6 feet tall. Sgt. Ragsdale said she told the victim she was from Costa Rica.

The male suspect was described as an older white male, Spanish-speaking with black hair and approximately 6 feet tall. Sgt. Ragsdale said this man told the victim he was from Cuba.

This case is currently under active investigation by Santa Barbara police detectives. If you see the suspects, you’re asked to contact the Santa Barbara Police Department immediately by calling 9-1-1.

— Katherine Zehnder

Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St. The show will feature acts such as the Dog Classroom, the Amazing House-Cats and the Animal Train Station, along with human acrobats, mimes and contortionists.

The pets were rescued by

becoming a 501(c) 3 nonprofit. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Road closure near Vandenberg Village

VANDENBERG VILLAGE — Roadwork at the intersection of State Route 1 and Santa Lucia Canyon Road near Vandenberg Village will result in a detour for travelers on March 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Caltrans said northbound traffic will not be able to enter Santa Lucia Canyon Road from State Route 1. Traffic will be detoured to Timber Lane, where drivers can turn around and head south on State Route 1 back to Santa Lucia Canyon Road. Travelers leaving Santa Lucia Canyon Road will not be able to enter northbound State Route 1. Traffic will be detoured to Constellation Road to re-enter northbound highway 1. Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area.

— Katherine Zehnder

Man charged with electronic peeping

Santa Barbara County District Attorney

John T. Savrnoch announced Wednesday that Justin Obinna Asinobi, 22, has been charged with 26 counts of Unlawful Electronic Peeping, a misdemeanor.

Counts 1 through 12 pertain to identified victims, and Counts 13 through 26 pertain to unidentified victims, prosecutors said.

The defendant appeared in Superior Court on Wednesday before Judge Raimundo Montes de Oca.

Bail was set at $200,000, and the defendant was ordered not to have any contact with the victims, stay out of Isla Vista and be subject to GPS monitoring.

The court continued his arraignment to Friday in Department 8 of Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

— Neil Hartstein

Gregory Popovich, a fourthgeneration circus performer born in Ukraine. In addition to presenting the animals, Mr. Popovich will perform juggling feats.

Comedy Pet Theatre has been in residency since 2006 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Tickets cost $10 to $40. To purchase, go to www.eventbrite. com/e/popovich-comedy-pettheatre-santa-barbara-ca-tickets496580976067.

More about Comedy Pet Theatre will appear in Friday’s NewsPress.

— Dave Mason

Case to be heard in San Luis Obispo County court

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Barbara County Public Defender’s Office.

The case, however, “will be heard by a San Luis Obispo County judge in a San Luis Obispo County courtroom,” Prosecutor Ingalls said.

Once in San Luis Obispo, Mr. Spies, 31, entered not guilty pleas and denied all enhancements and allegations on his felony case. A misdemeanor case for vandalism for an unrelated incident was continued for further arraignment.

Both cases were continued to March 2 for a conference to set a date for a preliminary hearing. However, the court also tentatively set the case for the preliminary hearing on March 7.

At his arraignment Wednesday in San Luis Obispo, Mr. Spies asked the court to release him on a pretrial supervised release, Prosecutor Ingalls said.

“I opposed this release based upon public safety concerns,” he said. “The court denied the defendant’s request for release and set bail at $75,000 on the felony case and $2,500 on the misdemeanor case.”

The fire and sprinkler water combined caused extensive damage to furniture, wall paneling, cabinetry, carpeting and court records, according to Court Executive Officer Darrel Parker. The court files will be freezedried and digitized before they deteriorate.

The courtroom will be offline for about a year, he said.

According to Mr. Parker, the defendant allegedly went to the Santa Maria court complex Saturday night, ignored a security guard’s order to leave and broke two glass doors to gain entry into the criminal court building, Mr. Parker said. Once inside, he allegedly forced his way into the Department 8 courtroom, pulling the doors so hard that he broke the wood frames on the top of the doors, he said.

Mr. Spies then allegedly started a fire on the

defense counsel’s chair, which spread to the table and carpet. Mr. Parker said the fire was so hot that it melted the lights in the ceiling and caused the sprinklers to come on. He said the sprinklers extinguished the fire, but it took so much water that it pretty much destroyed the courtroom.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

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COURTESY PHOTO

Lompoc police are seeking help in identifying this suspect in an alleged attempt to steal safes from Below Five in Lompoc.

According to Mr. Parker, the defendant told the security guard he received a notice about an upcoming hearing on his misdemeanor case and went to the court complex to see where he had to show up next month.

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A Santa Maria courtroom was damaged by a fire over the weekend.

Westmont’s Roth receives All-GSAC honors

By JACOB NORLING WESTMONT SPORTS WRITER

In his fifth and final season in a Westmont uniform, Westmont Men’s Basketball’s Cade Roth has been honored as one of the top performers in the Golden State Athletic Conference. On Tuesday morning, the GSAC announced Roth as one of the 12 members of the All-GSAC team.

For Roth, it is the second time in his career that he has received all-conference honors.

“This a collective effort from our team to have Cade earn this award,” said Westmont head coach Landon Boucher. “At times, Amir has played like an All-GSAC player. I think Anthony has played like an All-GSAC player for most of the year. Tone has played like that for the past couple weeks, and Cly went through a stretch like that as well.

“That’s how our team is built, and it’s a testament to our team for buying into the idea of playing for each other.”

Roth appeared in all 27 games for the Warriors during his freshman campaign, but in the three subsequent seasons, the wing suffered from multiple injuries that prohibited him from making a season-long impact.

This year Roth had the healthiest season of his collegiate career, allowing the fifth-year to start all 27 games, and lead Westmont in

UCSB baseball’s series with Oregon moves to Eugene

Due to inclement weather hitting the Santa Barbara area this weekend, UCSB baseball, along with Oregon Baseball, will move this series to Eugene with three games across Friday and Saturday.

The series was initially scheduled to be played at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on UCSB’s campus. Now, instead

minutes played with 835. While on the court, Roth posted the second-highest scoring average of any Warrior (12.2 PPG), and was also second on the club with 79 assists. Roth led the club with 66 3-pointers made, posting a 3-point percentage of 47.8%, and also led the Warriors with 19 blocks.

The senior’s 47.8% clip from beyond the arc was the highest mark in the GSAC, and the 22ndhighest mark nationally.

Historically, Roth is one of 44 players in program history to join the 1,000 point club, a feat he accomplished earlier this season. Going into the postseason, Roth’s 187 career 3-point field goals made is 10th in program history, and his 3-point field goal percentage of 44.3% is sixth in program history.

Roth’s 328 assists is the 14thmost in program history, and his 129 steals is the 13th-most.

“Cade has been worthy of this award for many seasons,” noted Boucher. “You look at him now as a top-40 scorer all-time at Westmont, he’s just continued to cement his legacy. It’s been an honor to coach him for all five of his years.

“Cade represents our program on and off the floor as a prime example of how we want to carry ourselves. I’m super proud of Cade

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of four games, there will be three games with a single game beginning at 2:05 p.m. on Friday and a double header beginning at 11:05 a.m. on Saturday. The second game of the series will begin 45 minutes after the first game has ended.

For those making the trip to Eugene, tickets are available starting at $7. Those who purchased tickets for the weekend series here at UCSB will receive correspondence with the ticketing office.

- Kristen Keller

SPORTS ROUNDUP

DP lacrosse loses close game to Oak Park

The Dos Pueblos High lacrosse team lost to Oak Park on Tuesday, falling by a score of 10-9.

Oak Park jumped out to a lead early, winning by three at the end of the first and second quarters. Dos Pueblos narrowed the lead to one by the end of the third quarter, and later managed to tie the game with three minutes left to play in the game. A minute later, Oak Park regained a one goal lead that would prove decisive.

Brothers Daniel and Jack Finneran each scored three goals for Dos Pueblos, with Daniel also adding an assist. Vince Crisa scored two goals.

Dos Pueblos now sports a 1-1 record on the season.

DP boys volleyball starts season with win

The Dos Pueblos boys volleyball team won its first game of the season Tuesday, defeating Oak Park in three games, 25-19, 25-23 and 26-24.

Neither team led by more than four points in the hard-fought matchup.

“The coaching staff and I are happy with our defensive attentiveness and consistent hustle,” said Dos Pueblos Ehren Hug. “Can’t wait to get back in the gym tomorrow and keep chugging uphill.”

Micah Goss led Dos Pueblos in kills with eight, also contributing two blocks and two digs. Grant Hughes and Jan Schmidtchen each added seven kills, with Hughes earning two blocks, three digs and 29 assists and Schmidtchen contributing six digs. Ewan Richards and Matthew Wilcox each managed six kills, with Richards adding three blocks, three digs and three aces and Wilcox adding ten blocks and two digs. Nich Clifford Schultz contributed four kills and a block, Ezekiel Tunes added 11 digs, Griffin Silver managed two digs and Noah Grant added a kill.

Dos Pueblos’ home opener today against Valencia.

SB baseball lost to Simi Valley

The Santa Barbara High baseball team lost to Simi Valley on Tuesday, falling by a score of 8-3.

Defensive problems sealed the Dons’ fate, as the team allowed seven unearned runs.

Zeke Adderley led the Santa Barbara offense with a 2-3 performance, while Jetner Welch went 1-3 with a double.

SY baseball edged by Nipomo

The Santa Ynez High baseball team lost a close game to Nipomo on Tuesday, falling by a score of 6-4.

Ryan Henrey pitched four inning in the game, giving up only one earned run while also supplying a hit to support his cause. Nick Crandall went 3-3 with an RBI and Dallas Deforest went 1-3 with two RBIs.

“We got solid pitching … our offense showed signs of being very solid,” said Santa Ynez Coach Warren Dickey. “Our defense was our weakness today. Our kids are learning and know that our mistakes are fixable and that we can become a solid unit learning from every game.”

SM softball annihilates Pacifica

The San Marcos High softball team earned a dominating victory over Pacifica on Tuesday, blowing out their opponents 14-4. San Marcos’ offensive explosion resulted in ten hits for the team. Leading the way were Caitlin Early with two homers and four RBIs, Emma Foster with a 2-3 performance including a double and a triple and Charlotte Hastings with a three hit day.

Putting San Marcos over the top with a run-rule victory was pinch hitter Jessica Vega, who doubled down the left field line before scoring the game’s final run.

- Compiled by Matt

Smolensky

Dr. Mari Talkin said Anacapa School, located in downtown Santa Barbara, has a “home-away-from-home feeling.”

TALKIN

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Dr. Talkin.

“We are thrilled to have Mari lead Anacapa,” Dr. Dylan Minor, Anacapa’s board chair, said in a statement. “Mari’s commitment to faculty, students and learning is palpable, and her deep experience teaching at schools that are terrifically impactful on our community is unparalleled.”

According to the school, Anacapa’s 5-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio is the best of any secondary school in Santa Barbara County and the best in class in the nation. Keeping the size of its student body intentionally limited allows for a personalized level of attention for each student.

“Anacapa School has a stated value of encouraging students to have respect for themselves, each other, their community and their environment,” said Dr. Talkin.

“The school motto is ‘Be brilliant — chase adventure.’ To support this

Westmont to open GSAC Tournament today against OUAZ

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for this accomplishment, and super excited for the basketball to be played in front of us.”

Roth scored in double-figures in each of Westmont’s five final regular season games, helping lead the Warriors to a seasonsaving five-game winning streak.

Roth also added in 22 assists during the final stretch of the games, which allowed Westmont to move from 5-8 in GSAC play, to 10-8.

After wondering whether or not they’d be able to snag the GSAC’s six seed, the Warriors’ late-season surge propelled the club to the conference’s fourseed at year’s end. This week, the GSAC Tournament will take place in Fullerton on the campus of Hope International, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.

Westmont will open up play on Thursday night at 5:00 p.m., when they take on fifthseeded OUAZ in the GSAC Quarterfinals. Last season, the Spirit eliminated the Warriors in the GSAC Semifinals en route to winning the tournament championship.

If Westmont can get the

better of OUAZ during the Quarterfinals, Westmont will go up against top-seeded Arizona Christian, the #2 team in the NAIA, on Friday night for the GSAC Semifinals.

“We’re not wanting it to end,” acknowledged Boucher. “We want more practices, we want to keep it going and we want to still be together each day. Being together has been awesome this year. As we go into our 78th practice this year, it’s amazing that this group still wants more, and that they don’t want it to be over.

“People would be surprised to know how common it is in college basketball to want the season to be over this time of year. For us, seeing our seniors be announced before the game on Saturday and seeing them with tears in their eyes. It means they care, and it shows that they aren’t ready for it to be over.

“I’m proud of this team for being in February now, and still willing to do whatever it takes to keep this thing going.”

Links to live coverage for the entire tournament are available on the Westmont Athletics website.

Jacob Norling is the sports information assistant at Westmont College. email: sports@newspress.com

value, the school offers all-school adventures every fall and spring (both camping and exploring urban environments), which give students opportunities for personal growth, experiential learning and personal connections.”

Dr. Talkin has both a bachelor’s and master’s in English from Brigham Young University. She also has a master’s in fine arts in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Art. And she received a doctorate in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston in 2012.

The News-Press asked Dr. Talkin how her career has prepared her for this position. “I spent a good portion of my adult life being enamored with being a student myself and spent many years teaching at the college level before realizing that secondary education is where the most exciting opportunities for growth and development occur. The ripple effects of a positive secondary education are far-reaching,” said

AGNOLI, Anna

This February 2nd, Anna Agnoli passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

On March 3rd, 1942, Anna was born in Harar, Ethiopia, a day the world became a little brighter. From the beginning, Anna displayed her strength and resilience, being born in a concentration camp while her father was a prisoner of war. She grew up in Italy with her sister, Liliana, in San Benedetto Del Tronto, a small town between the Adriatic coast and mountains, which inspired her forever home in Santa Barbara. At 19, she met and married her soulmate, Royal, with whom she moved to Santa Barbara in 1962, going on to have three children, Anna, Chris and Marie. She was a fiercely dedicated mom to all three children, raising all three to go on to accomplish great things. Family came first and was above all else to Anna, a value she instilled in all those around - her family was arguably her most important achievement in life.

From a young age, Anna’s favorite pastime was playing tennis, first at Oak Park and Samarkand Club, then at La Cumbre Country Club, where she was a longtime member, playing into her 70s. Anna also enjoyed coaching the Bishop Garcia Diego High School’s girls tennis team. She was an excellent cook, master of sewing and knitting, and an extraordinary artist when it came to creating custom birthday and holiday cards for her family and friends. Anna enjoyed visiting and playing bridge with her friends well into her 70s, and was passionate about traveling with her husband, Royal, going on cruises, and spending summers visiting family in her home town, San Benedetto. Anna was a member of the church from a very young age, and later in life spent her Sunday mornings hosting Coffee and Donuts in the San Roque Parish courtyard after mass. On the weekends, Anna would spend her time spoiling her six grandkids, taking them to swimming lessons, the carousel, the Zoo, and attending every sporting event they played in.

Our family would not be where it is today if we didn’t have Anna as a wife, mother and grandmother. We are beyond blessed to have had her in our lives, and we should remind ourselves that while this is the end of Anna’s physical life on Earth, it’s the beginning of an eternal and beautiful journey for her.

Anna joins her daughter in Heaven, Anna Pappalardo “Pat”. She is survived by many loving family members, including her devoted husband, Royal, her son, Chris (Tina), her daughter, Marie Reardon (Sean), her six grandchildren, Ariana, Katherine, Michael, Marina, Giada and Chiara, and her great-grandson Giovani. She is also survived by her loving sister, Liliana Murgia (Alberto), sister in-law, Louise Antignani (Mariodeceased), predeceased, by sister in-law, Eleonara Dusi (Gimo - deceased), and survived by her many wonderful nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Anna was a beautiful, loving, and comforting woman until the very end. Rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Santa Barbara Alzheimer’s Association or the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Santa Barbara

Funeral Mass at San Roque Church 11:00am, Friday March 3rd, with a celebration of life to follow.

Arrangements entrusted to Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapels.

Dr. Talkin. “Sometimes we don’t see those effects straightaway. Secondary education can be time-released. Meaning that the skills and knowledge a young person receives may not present themselves as useful until later in that person’s life.

“Those a-ha moments are so precious, and when a person who’s had those advantages decides to ‘pay it forward,’ the impact of their education becomes exponential. That is so exciting to me and one of the reasons I am so passionate about secondary education.”

“I taught at college level for many years as an adult until 2010,” Dr. Talkin added. “When I realized secondary education had moments for exciting growth and development, I transitioned to Cate School in Carpinteria, where I currently teach English, humanities and creative writing. Over the last 13 years, I have seen and experienced how teaching young people has a wonderful ripple effect that is exponential. When they pay it forward and

the ripple effect moves forward, it is amazing. I feel passionately about secondary education and its impact on the world.”

Dr. Talkin discussed her goals as head of the school.

“As an educator myself, I think one of the best gifts we can give young people is to nurture their sense of awe. The science on the healthy benefits of awe — physically, mentally and emotionally — is clear. Additionally, anything I can do to support the school and the faculty I will focus on. I want to make the school sustainable, expand the impact on the community and share the school’s vision.”

“I’m looking forward to working with Anacapa School’s board of directors, its teachers, families and community to support the various stakeholders and share the school’s entrepreneurial vision as well as expand its positive impact on the Santa Barbara community and beyond.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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‘Teaching young people has a wonderful ripple effect that is exponential’

Life theArts

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

CALENDAR

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

TODAY

10 a.m. to 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 805565-6162 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 non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

e Inn at Mattei’s Tavern

Historic property reopens with modern amenities in Los Olivos

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves in the historic town of Los Olivos, Mattei’s Tavern has welcomed guests since the late 1880s when pioneers began settling this valley just north of Santa Barbara.

Witness to changing times, from the stagecoach era through the introduction of railroads and automobiles, the iconic property has thrived with dedicated stewards at its helm.

Today, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, is ushering in the next phase in the evolution of this property with new accommodations, a stateof-the-art spa, special guest experiences and destination dining venues.

“We are delighted to open the doors to The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern and officially welcome the property to the Auberge family,” said Craig Reid, president and CEO, Auberge Resorts Collection. “Our owners, Brian Strange and Deepak Kamra, had a vision to create a hotel that is true to the heritage of this historic property and embraces the local community. The result is a resort that celebrates the soul, character and history that has made Mattei’s an icon in the area since the 1800s and yet feels so relevant for today’s discerning traveler.”

Set on 6.5 acres opposite the original Los Olivos staging post, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern sits in the center of town and has always been its convivial heart. With its iconic water tower still rising as one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks, the property consists of numerous free-standing cottages embraced by landscaped gardens and lawns.

Opening again with its history celebrated and upheld in every detail, the property has been reimagined by renowned design firm

AvroKO. Original buildings, including the Tavern and a handful of original cottages, have been restored and complemented by newly built structures in keeping with the relaxed country style and heritage of this heirloom property.

Exposed wooden beams, restored wainscoting and unlacquered brass fixtures are featured throughout the property, while vintage furnishings, lighting and accessories are designed to add depth and character.

Since its founding, The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern has had several important stewards who have shaped its narrative and inspired its design. Gin’s Tap Bar, for example, is named after Gin Lung Gin, the head chef for decades starting in 1910. His Chinese heritage is celebrated in the venue’s antique, carved wooden-horse sculptures. The Pinochle Room, the resort’s private dining room, pays homage to Felix Mattei

and his loyal manager, Gus Berg, who were known to play a nightly game of cards and is now home to the original namesake painting, “Pinochle” by Mr. Mattei’s son, Clarence.

“I am incredibly proud of the dynamic and talented team who have brought this vision to life while honoring the history of Mattei’s and infusing it with their own spirit and passion,” said Dave Elcon, general manager. “Mattei’s Tavern has always been a celebrated social hub in the community, and we are excited to honor its history and century-old memories while creating new ones.”

The Tavern is the signature restaurant, serving a chef-driven, ranch-inspired menu with many of the ingredients harvested from the on-site garden. Inside, history lingers in the atmospheric décor, while alfresco dining can be enjoyed beneath the vine-covered

trellis. The core menu offers grilled proteins and vegetables alongside revolving seasonal specials.

The Bar with its Wild West roots rests alongside, while Felix Feed & Coffee is the property’s European-style coffee bar and bakery, serving freshly baked goods, homemade sodas and all-day breakfasts. Gin’s Tap Bar has a menu that pays homage to Gin himself, celebrating Asianinspired influences.

Moving away from the original structures and into the gardens, The Shed is tucked into a remnant grove of olive trees beside the property’s swimming pool and serves a poolside menu.

A curated selection of historically-driven craft cocktails are featured on the Mattei’s Tavern bar menu, such as the signature Old Fashioned, “Old Gus Berg,” named after Felix Mattei’s right-hand man. The comprehensive wine list is Californiafocused, with many wines available by the glass, while the large cellar holds some of the finest from across the Central Coast and beyond.

Dating back to the original Mattei’s Tavern in 1886, the four historic cottages — Oak, Cedar, Cypress and Canary — have been restored to preserve their original wooden floors and inviting front porches on which rockers await. Updated to offer spacious ensuite bathrooms, most with clawfoot tub and walk-in shower, each is unique. Some feature garden patios with a loveseat or daybed; others boast sitting rooms with working fireplaces.

The two-bedroom Courtyard Cottage is a new building designed to reflect Mattei’s original structures. Accommodating up to four guests, it offers a large living room and opens onto two private garden patios, one with an outdoor fireplace and the other with a jacuzzi.

Homestead Cottage is also a new building

Please see MATTEI’S on B2

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. “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.

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

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 805-922-8313.

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 805-922-8313.

MARCH 2

7:30 p.m. The Miro Quartet will perform at Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Admission is $20 for museum members and $25 for nonmembers.

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

— Dave Mason

PHOTOS COURTESY AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION

Mattei’s Tavern offers a special ambience and specialty cocktails. The small blackboard in the background lists as a special, the Stagecoach Mule.

cooked. This week I decided to go the raw route and enjoy them in a wonderful sugar snap pea salad as the Fix of the Week, below. Certified organic is available. Price averages $6 per pound.

Sugar snap peas

Possessing the crisp edible pod of the snow pea and the sweet plump inner pea of the English pea, this late winter and early spring favorite can be found at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets from several local growers.

Sugar snap peas are an extremely healthy addition to your winter and spring diets. A one cup serving of raw sugar snap peas delivers 3 grams of dietary fiber, 3 grams of protein, 98% of your daily value of vitamin C, 21% DV of vitamin A and 11% DV of iron. They are also a great source of many other essential vitamins and minerals. They’re excellent both raw and

Golden Nugget tangerine

Botanically classified as Citrus reticulata, these hybrid Golden Nugget tangerines were developed in the 1950s from Wilkling and Kincy mandarins with the result yielding a very sweet firm seedless fruit. Relatively easy to peel, Golden

Nuggets may be my favorite variety to emerge all season.

They’re readily available from several local growers at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Sunday Camino Real, Tuesday Santa Barbara, Wednesday Solvang, and Thursday Carpinteria farmers’ markets.

You can expect to find this variety for many months.

Due to the firmness of their sections, these tangerines are also a nice addition to salads, smoothies and marmalades. They’re also a tasty way to load up on your vitamin C. Price averages $3.50 per pound.

Treviso radicchio

Recognized by their deep purple leaves with cream color ribs, this variety of bitter winter green can be worked into both cooked and raw preparations. I most commonly enjoy Treviso in mixed green salads, tossed in a sharp flavorful dressing to help mask some of the bitterness. It also makes for a nice braising green.

The flavor can vary greatly from mild to bitter and has sweet and earthy notes throughout. Native to Northern Italy, Treviso can be found by several local organic farmers at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Wednesday Solvang farmers’ markets. Treviso radicchios are an excellent source of vitamins A and K, as well as a good source of potassium, dietary fiber, zinc, phosphorus, iron and vitamin C. Price averages $3 each.

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

Edelman

Fix of the Week

The first harvest of sugar snap peas has started to emerge and will become increasingly available over the coming months.

Developed from crossing the English pea with the snow pea, a sugar snap pea tends to offer the best qualities of both rolled into one.

Snow peas are sought for the culinary convenience of a crisp edible pod. But the peas inside the snow pea pod are quite small and often indistinguishable from the texture and flavor of the pod itself.

The English pea, however, is just the opposite. The pod of the English pea can be quite fibrous and is usually composted rather than eaten. The peas inside the English pea, however, are large and sweet, making them the main highlight of this variety.

Put snow and English peas together, and you have a match made in heaven. With an edible pod and large, sweet peas, those sugar snap peas sure are delicious.

When selecting your sugar snap peas, choose those that possess a vibrant green color across its outer surface, which can range from a very light green to dark green. The peas should feel crisp and snap with ease when bent in half, a sign they were just harvested.

Peas may possess some scarring on their outer surface, sometimes

caused from water marks, other times from intense sun exposure. Both do not tend to affect the quality of the peas when eating.

Once home, store your peas in a plastic bag or food storage bin and wash before eating. They will last for up to a couple of weeks if properly stored. Rinse your peas and dry them just before consumption.

Sugar snap peas are wonderful both raw and cooked. I eat them as a snack all the time, just as they come, straight out the refrigerator.

When cooking my sugar snap peas, I usually discard the very tips at both the top and base of the pea. Then they are sautéed at high heat in a little olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Simple and delicious. They are also great in a mixed vegetable stir fry, added to steamed or fried rice, or chopped raw over a mixed green salad.

This week, I decided to prepare a sugar snap pea salad with a simple Asian style dressing. Combined with some super sweet local carrots, Persian cucumbers, fresh herbs and green onions, this salad makes for a great side dish or very healthy main dish.

SUGAR SNAP PEA SALAD

2 pounds sugar snap peas, strings removed, tips at base and top discarded, sliced into small rounds.

2 cups Napa Cabbage, chopped.

2 carrots, peeled and julienned.

2 Persian cucumbers, ends removed, sliced in half and then into thin slices.

2 green onions/scallions, chopped into small rounds at an angle.

One-half cup cilantro leaves, left whole.

2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped.

One-quarter cup roasted peanuts of cashews, coarsely chopped.

Toss all ingredients together, except for the peanuts. Toss with about 2-3 tablespoons of the dressing. Season with salt and pepper as needed to taste. Add more dressing to taste. Top with peanuts and toss again.

Yield: Makes 4 side salads.

For the dressing:

One-quarter cup rice vinegar.

2 tablespoons sesame oil.

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated then well minced.

1 clove fresh garlic, well minced.

1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce.

1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce.

1 teaspoon honey.

Whisk together all dressing ingredients at room temperature. Let sit for 10 minutes, then mix well before serving.

Yield: Prepares about one-half cup dressing.

Winegrape growers foundation announces scholarships

Applications for scholarships awarded through the Californian Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation are now being accepted. These scholarships are available to students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.

One Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship is also awarded each year. The CAWG Foundation board awards scholarships based on demonstrated excellence in the

MATTEI’S

Continued from Page B1

with two bedrooms, which can be booked together or separately. Each bedroom has a private outdoor lounge space, one with a private jacuzzi.

The Guest Houses are airy, clapboard bedrooms set within new, two-story structures. Each offers either a garden patio, a terrace or a sun porch with rocker and swing.

The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern offers tailored activities and excursions such as guiding guests to local wineries or offering immersive culinary programs that range from preparing fresh, local

classroom and in the community — academic achievement, extracurricular activities, public service, community involvement — scholastic ability, financial need, leadership experience, and a personal essay.

Each year, three, 4-year scholarships are available at $8,000 ($24,000 total) for students who plan to attend any campus in the University of California or California State University system. There are also three 2-year scholarships available at $2,000

uni to cooking paella alongside executive chef Rhoda Magbitang.

Also available are cycling tours to discover the vineyard backroads of Santa Ynez, tours where guests infuse their own olive oil with fresh herbs from the onsite culinary garden and making campfire pies around a live open fire.

Opening this summer, The Lavender Barn, an Auberge Spa, offers a seasonal treatment menu and hand-blended, plantbased product range designed to rejuvenate body, mind and spirit. Five single treatment rooms are joined by one couple’s treatment room that opens onto a secluded outdoor space with two horsetrough tubs for therapeutic

($6,000 total) for attending any California community college.

The Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship provides either $500 for Alan Hancock College or $1,000 for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Since the program started in 1998 CAWG Foundation has awarded $554,500 in scholarships to students pursuing higher education. Applications can be found at cawgfoundation.org and are due March 4.

— Caleb Beeghly

bathing.

In March, the resort will debut The Cottage, two treatment rooms offering restorative treatments inspired by the aromatic flowers, deep roots, rich soil and the twilight skies of Los Olivos. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

FYI

For reservations and more information about The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection, visit aubergeresorts.com/ matteistavern. Connect with The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern on Instagram and Facebook at @matteistavernauberge.

FARMERS MARKET Sam

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, February 23, 2023

ARIES — You may feel insecure about your appearance today, Aries. This can be a vicious cycle to get into. The result is almost always negative. Rather than pick yourself apart, consider finding ways to accept your looks.

Whether it’s your weight or age or anything else, if you can’t accept yourself, you will always find something wrong no matter how many changes you make.

TAURUS — Jealousy might rear its head today, Taurus. The key to it all is to understand where and why you feel insecure. If you’re jealous of a mate, what’s going on in the relationship? Is trust an issue? If this comes up at work, is it because you don’t feel recognized for your contributions? Examine the cause of jealousy. It’s almost always a symptom of a deeper problem.

GEMINI — Does a love partner appear to be moody today, Gemini? One moment your friend may be enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and the next moment overcome with gloom. Don’t let this get to you, and certainly don’t get overly upset with your partner. Listen rather than talk, and be patient. Tomorrow your friend’s moods should be back to normal.

CANCER — Are you working two jobs, Cancer? Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other. You tend to be very conscientious and responsible, so this might bother you, but don’t let it get to you. The day may come when the situation is reversed.

LEO — Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Leo. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically. You’re suffering from low biorhythms, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’re turning into a lazy bum. Relax today, and tomorrow you will be your usual energetic, inventive self.

VIRGO — The urge to stay in and rearrange your furniture might hit you today, Virgo. You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications. This may be a lot of work, but it will also be a lot of fun. Get other members of the

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Cy the Cynic says that health insurance is like one of those hospital gowns: You only think you’re covered.

Cy was declarer at today’s four hearts. West led the queen of clubs, and East played the deuce. Cy took the ace and cashed the A-Q of trumps. When West discarded, Cy couldn’t draw the missing trump; he needed dummy’s king as an entry to a diamond trick. So Cy next led the ace and ten of diamonds.

Unfortunately for the Cynic, West won and led a third diamond, and East ruffed dummy’s queen. Cy pitched his spade loser, but he still lost two clubs. Down one.

NOT OBVIOUS

It’s not obvious, but Cy could take out insurance by leading the ten of diamonds at Trick Four. West wins and leads another club, and East takes the king.

Then East can lead the jack of trumps to dislodge dummy’s entry, but Cy can unblock his ace of diamonds, force out West’s jack of clubs, win West’s spade shift and reach dummy with the nine of clubs to pitch his spade loser on the queen of diamonds.

You hold:

Your partner opens one spade, you bid two hearts,

household to help and turn it into a party.

LIBRA — Are you expecting an important communication, perhaps business related, Libra? If it comes today, it will probably come late. If you feel you must sit around and wait for it, find something else to do in the meantime or you will drive yourself crazy. If it doesn’t arrive by the end of the day, resign yourself to waiting. Don’t panic. It will come soon enough.

SCORPIO — A check you’ve been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Scorpio. It’s nothing to worry about. Chances are it got hung up at the post office and will arrive soon. Don’t waste your time worrying needlessly. If you feel it necessary, make contingency plans for getting by.

SAGITTARIUS — You may not be your usual cheery self today, Sagittarius. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life. No matter how promising a career, romance, or money matter seems, you think the worst. Treat yourself today. Get a massage, relax in a hot tub, and rub and soak out those doubting spirits.

CAPRICORN — Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Capricorn, and you may wonder why. Something or someone you’ve encountered in the past few days may have reminded you of this person. It’s nice and it isn’t an accident. What personality trait of yours does your grandparent call to mind?

AQUARIUS — A meeting may take place today that you don’t want to attend, Aquarius. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen. Colleagues will want to discuss the issues with you afterward, and you might learn something in spite of the boredom. Think of it this way - it’s only an hour or so.

PISCES — A project could be successfully completed today, Pisces. Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren’t inclined to think about that, at least not right away. You will want to bask in your accomplishment and relax for a while. No one can blame you for that, so don’t worry if you don’t go to brainstorming sessions.

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

he rebids two spades and you try three clubs. Partner then bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner seems to have six spades, four diamonds and minimum opening values. (He might have had a diamond holding such as A-x-x.) Bid 4NT, planning to bid 5NT next to confirm holding all four aces. You hope partner will bid a grand slam if he has adequate winners.

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” — Henry Ford

Arizona troopers seize enough fentanyl to

kill nearly 800,000 people

Authorities: The drug was smuggled in one truck nearly 150 miles north of border

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – Arizona state troopers last week seized enough fentanyl to kill nearly 800,000 people. The fentanyl had been smuggled in a pickup truck and made it nearly 150 miles north of the border, authorities said.

Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers on Feb. 16 responded to reports of a single-vehicle collision on I-10 in Sacaton. Located just south of Phoenix, it’s a straight shot north along highways I-19 and I-10, 146 miles from Nogales, Mexico.

The driver of a 1989 Ford pickup truck lost control of the vehicle, the truck rolled over, and the driver was ejected, sustaining life-threatening injuries, Arizona DPS said. As emergency responders transported the driver to a hospital, troopers conducted an investigation and discovered numerous packages of pills concealed throughout the truck. Their investigation led to the seizure of roughly 286 pounds – nearly 1.3 million pills of suspected fentanyl, with an estimated street value of $5.1 million.

Two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose. According to a public safety alert issued by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration last November, six out of every 10 pills it’s tested contain a lethal dose. AZ DPS cited an older statistic of four out of every ten pills, suggesting the seizure was enough fentanyl to potentially kill over half a million people. But using the updated DEA stats, the amount of pills seized, 1,297,000 pills is enough to kill 778,200 people. That’s enough lethal doses being smuggled in one vehicle to kill the entire individual populations of every

‘Anti-Woke’ candidate announces presidential bid

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – A new Republican candidate threw his hat into the presidential race late Tuesday, focusing his campaign on an “antiwoke” agenda.

Vivek Ramaswamy, an author, activist, and a multimillionaire businessman, announced his candidacy on Tucker Carlson tonight and with a string of Tweets

“We’re in the middle of a national identity crisis,” Mr. Ramaswamy wrote on Twitter. “Faith, patriotism & hard work have disappeared. Wokeism, climatism & gender ideology have replaced them. We hunger for purpose yet cannot answer what it means to be an American. We long for that answer.

That’s why I’m running for President.”

Mr. Ramaswamy said “ending affirmative action” would be a top priority for him upon taking office and named China as the top foreign policy threat to the U.S. and called for going after the Mexican cartels. He emphasized the importance of meritocracy, free speech, and self governance on Mr. Carlson’s program.

“People who we elect, make them actually run the government rather than this cancerous federal bureaucracy,” he said. “That’s going to be the heart of my message.”

Mr. Ramaswamy’s announcement comes after Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and presidential Cabinet member, announced earlier this month she is running for president.

Ms. Haley, 51, served as ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration. Mr. Trump also announced last year he is running for president.

Mr. Ramaswamy lives in Columbus, Ohio with his family. He has written two books, “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” as well as his second book, “Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence.”

“We’ve celebrated our ‘diversity’ so much that we forgot all the ways we’re really the same as Americans, bound by ideals that united a divided, headstrong group of people 250 years ago,” Mr. Ramaswamy wrote on Twitter. “I believe deep in my bones those ideals still exist. I’m running for President to revive them.”

town and city in Arizona except for Phoenix.

“Unfortunately, incidents like this are an alltoo-common occurrence for law enforcement agencies in Arizona and across the country,” AZ DPS said, adding that its “troopers will continue working hard every day to combat the illegal smuggling and distribution of drugs such as fentanyl, undoubtedly saving many lives in the process.”

One individual in possession of 286 pounds of fentanyl nearly 150 miles from Mexico, further indicates that not all fentanyl being smuggled into the U.S. is caught at the border. Customs and Border Protection agents are doing their best to seize record amounts at ports of entry, law enforcement officials have told The Center Square, but what’s not known is how much more is coming through between ports of entry that isn’t caught and is smuggled into the U.S.

Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief John Modlin testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability earlier this month that Border Patrol agents seized more than 700 pounds of fentanyl in 2022, about half of which was in the field, meaning not at ports of entry.

“To give you an idea of the lethality of fentanyl, that’s enough to kill everyone in Arizona 21 times or basically half the population of the United States,” he said.

Agents seized 52% at the port of entry and the rest in the field after “being backpacked across the border,” he said.

Law enforcement officials have explained that fentanyl precursors are produced in China and shipped to Mexican ports, where Mexican cartels manufacture them into fake prescription pills and lace other drugs with fentanyl.

Mexican cartels operate a multi-billiondollar business in trafficking people and drugs, Jobe Dickinson, president of the Border Security Alliance, told The Center Square. “They’ve developed a multi-pronged approach as to how to smuggle illegal drugs into this country. They don’t just use one avenue, such as the ports of entry. They also use established smuggling routes and remote parts of the border to get more drugs across.”

A former law enforcement officer serving in southern Arizona, Mr. Dickinson has seen first hand the effects of fentanyl on communities and local law enforcement. “If you want to know, if the cartels are succeeding, take a look around the streets in your city,” he said. “Open air drug use is up and overdose deaths across this nation continue to rise because fentanyl is being delivered into our communities at record rates.”

“Local law-enforcement seizures away from the border have skyrocketed,” he added, pointing to AZ DPS’s seizure in Sacaton. “Over one million pills the DPS officers found didn’t likely come through a port of entry. In Arizona, large fentanyl seizures aren’t just happening in our southern counties at the border but they are happening in our northern counties as the cartels move this product on the interstates, trying to take them across America.”

To combat the cartels’ sophisticated criminal network, he said, “We need a secure border using barriers and technology. In as many places as we can. We need high tech ports of entry to vet people and inspect them as they come across, we also need Border Patrol agents out, patrolling the smuggling routes that the cartels are using. Our last defense should be local law enforcement protecting our communities.”

Republicans demand oversight of Ukraine funding

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The Russian invasion of Ukraine hits its one-year anniversary this week, and lawmakers want to know: where has all the money gone?

With $113 billion allocated by Congress to help Ukraine in the past year, House Oversight Committee Chair U.S. Rep. James Comer, RKy., sent a letter to the Biden administration demanding oversight of how those funds are being spent.

“It is critical that government agencies administering these funds ensure they are used for their intended purposes to prevent and reduce the risk of waste, fraud, and abuse,” the letter said. The groups under scrutiny are the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, three groups that will largely be handling the more than $100 billion in Congressional funding.

Rep. Comer pointed to the waste of taxpayer dollars during the war in Afghanistan.

“We learned from efforts in Afghanistan that the World Bank does not always have effective monitoring and accounting of funds, and often lacks transparency,” the letter said. “We also learned that unrealistic timelines and expectations that prioritize spending quickly lead to increased corruption and reduced

effectiveness of programs. As the United States continues to filter assistance through multilateral organizations with pressure to spend funds quickly, we must ensure proper protections are in place to prevent the misuse of funds.”

Rep. Comer also pointed out that the Ukrainian president recently fired officials for corruption.

“Ukrainian government officials allegedly engaged in bribery, used government vehicles for personal use, and purchased inflated food supplies for Ukrainian forces,” the letter said. “In response, President Zelensky named a new Minister of Defense. Based on Mr. Kirby’s remarks, however, the U.S. National Security Council appears unaware of this corruption scandal, heightening concerns that U.S. agencies are not conducting oversight of taxpayer assistance to Ukraine.”

The Biden administration has also handed weapons, not just cash, directly to Ukraine, raising questions of accountability.

Rep. Comer gave the Biden administration officials until March 8 to provide more information on how money is being used and how waste, fraud, and abuse is being avoided.

“Of the $113 billion approved in 2022, about three-fifths ($67 billion) has been allocated toward defense needs and the remaining twofifths ($46 billion) to nondefense concerns such as general Ukrainian government aid, economic support, and aid for refugee resettlement,” the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said in a statement.

FDA panel OKs making Narcan available for over-the-counter use

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square ) – A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel unanimously voted to recommend the agency approve Narcan, a life-saving drug for opioid overdoses, be made available to purchase over the counter without a prescription.

Narcan is accessible for free and low cost online, through a range of community organizations, and through pharmacies with and without a prescription and with or without insurance.

Here’s how Americans can get it.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have “access laws or alternate arrangements in place that allow persons to obtain naloxone from a pharmacist without an individualized, in-person prescription,” Narcan.com reports. The majority of states and the District of Columbia have Naloxone standing orders, which allow adults to purchase the drug from a licensed pharmacy without a prescription, Rehabs.org explains.

The majority of states have also authorized third-party prescriptions, meaning pharmacists and doctors can prescribe and dispense Naloxone. All state health departments also have information about Naloxone training programs and resources to acquire the drug, including free access.

However, making the drug available over the counter will make it more accessible, those on the panel argued. On Feb. 15, the panel voted 19-0 to recommend the agency do so. The FDA has said it will make a decision by March 29, although the decision could come sooner.

In December, Emergent BioSolutions, which was first authorized to sell NARCAN Nasal Spray

in 2015, announced the FDA had fast-tracked its application to sell the drug over the counter.

Greater access to Naloxone, law enforcement officers have told The Center Square, has the potential to save countless lives. It’s important to note that while Naloxone is successfully used in emergencies, it doesn’t replace emergency medical care, health officials warn.

Naloxone has been effective in treating fentanyl poisoning. Illicit fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Two milligrams, roughly the weight of a mosquito, and small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.

In December, the DEA announced that in 2022, it seized enough fentanyl to kill more than everyone in the U.S. Since March 2021, Texas law enforcement officers have seized over 360 million lethal doses of fentanyl, enough to kill more than everyone in the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the last two years have also seized enough fentanyl coming through the southern border to kill everyone in the U.S. multiple times over.

The DEA has published several public safety alerts about the dangers of fentanyl. Florida’s One Pill Can Kill website and Fast Facts on Fentanyl toolkit include a DEA Emoji Drug Code to educate parents about how dealers are selling illicit drugs targeting minors through social media apps.

Children under age 14 are dying from fentanyl poisoning at a faster rate than any other age group in the U.S., according to a new analysis from Families Against Fentanyl. Fentanyl poisoning remains the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 18 and 45 years old, according to the CDC.

COURTESY PHOTO Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy