Santa Barbara News-Press: June 29, 2023

Pandemic funds

Fraudsters may have stolen $200 billion meant for small businesses - A4

Scaled down

Grant funds Westmont College study of Reptile dwarfism on the Channel Islands - B1

Fourth of July travel

2,000 travelers expected at peak times at airport; Central Coast predicted to be third-highest destination for Southern Californians

doubts surface about hit-and-run suspect’s competence

Man accused of running down a good Samaritan while evading police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The attorneys for a Santa Barbara man charged with running down a good Samaritan trying to stop him from driving away from a police traffic stop contend their client is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Cary Glenn Allen, 43, of Santa Barbara, appeared in court Tuesday to set dates for a preliminary hearing on two felony cases, and a probation violation hearing on a misdemeanor case.

However, both matters were stopped after his attorneys declared their doubts about his competency, Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Chanda told the News-Press.

“The defense attorneys declared a doubt as to the defendant’s competency …,” she said. “Criminal proceedings have been suspended, and two doctors have been appointed to evaluate the defendant to determine whether he is

competent to stand trial. We return to court for the doctors’ reports on 7/25.” Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced June 9 that charges had been filed against Mr. Allen in connection with the June 6 hit-and-run incident in Santa Barbara.

Prosecutors charged him with four felony counts - Aggravated Mayhem, Assault with a Deadly Weapon for personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Serious Permanent Injury and Evading an Officer Causing Injury.

Mr. Allen is also charged with two misdemeanor counts – Hit and Run Driving (resulting in property damage) and Domestic Violence Contempt of Court.

Further, prosecutors allege that he was out on bail in another case, in which he is charged with one felony count of Corporal Injury to a Spouse and one misdemeanor count of Domestic

Please see SUSPECT on A4

California to audit placement service for released sexually violent predators

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - On

Monday, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee unanimously approved a request by California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) to audit Liberty Healthcare.

By LIAM HIBBERT NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

This Thursday through next Tuesday is expected to be one of the busiest times for travel in the Santa Barbara area in years. Santa Barbara Airport and the major roads around the city are expected to be much busier than usual as thousands of people go in and out of the Central Coast to celebrate the Fourth of July.

“If you’re traveling over the holiday weekend, the big motto for us is arriving early and being prepared because it will be busy,” Santa Barbara Airport Marketing Supervisor Angi Daus told the News-Press Wednesday. “Having patience and arriving early is going to be your best bet.”

The Santa Barbara Airport is expecting up to 2,000 travelers at peak times this Fourth of July weekend. Travelers are recommended to take rideshares like Uber and Lyft to the airport if possible, as the short- and longterm parking lots are expected to be near capacity for the next couple days.

TSA lines are also expected to be longer than usual. People are recommended to arrive at the airport two hours early for their flights.

“We know it’s going to be a very busy week on our roadways,”

Communications Manager Doug Shupe told the News-Press

“We are thankful that the bipartisan Legislative Audit Committee understands the need to further investigate Liberty Healthcare’s poor management of” sexually violent predators, Sen. Jones said. Liberty Healthcare is a health and human services management company in Intellectual and Developmental Disability care and psychiatry. The east-coast based company has enjoyed an exclusive 20year partnership with the Department of State Hospitals to manage the Sexually Violent Predator Conditional Release Program which requires the program to place released offenders within their county.

Sen. Jones revealed in a letter to the Chair of California Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Assemblyman David Alvarez, that several attempts to get answers from the department about sexually violent predator placement and operations through Liberty Health has been very difficult if not impossible.

“This troubles me because it seems that DSH has delegated their authority and responsibility to a private contractor,” Sen. Jones said.

In the letter to Asseblyman Alvarez, Sen. Jones continued, “Liberty Healthcare’s practices are not in line with public oversight and fail to focus on safety that the program

calls for. In fact, it appears full details of where Liberty Healthcare is leasing homes for sexually violent predators are kept secret from neighbors, schools and local government officials, including even local law enforcement. It is only after Liberty Healthcare signs leases for homes and pays for them with our tax dollars, that they slowly release details to the community, making it almost impossible to stand up against inappropriate placements.”

A sexually violent predator has a high probability to reoffend as the individual not only commits a violent sexual act but is diagnosed with a mental disorder.

Liberty Healthcare is paid by the state for every placement by their service. DSH payments to Liberty Healthcare for such services are $34,000 per client on average, according to a 2021 Daily Press report.

“Liberty Healthcare comes into unsuspecting communities up and down California and employs a disturbing placement strategy in which full details of where they are leasing homes for SVPs are kept secret from neighbors, school officials, and even local law enforcement,” said Sen. Jones.

“As information becomes available, communities react to the placement creating situations of divided neighborhoods, and litigation by County District Attorney’s to block the dangerous and unwanted placements,” Sen. Jones said, “A lot of taxpayer money is wasted year after year by DSH in this process while the vendor just makes more money and moves on to other communities to start the whole cycle over again. “

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

PHOTOS

(seen here in Goleta).

An American Airlines jet lands at the Santa Barbara Airport. “If you’re traveling over the holiday weekend, the big motto for us is arriving early and being prepared because it will be busy,” airport Marketing Supervisor Angi Daus told the News-Press. Please see TRAVEL on A4

The Great Arch of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse was cleaned of stains caused by biological growth and pollution. The project cleaned the exterior of the arch on the Courthouse Sunken Garden side as well as the interior of the structure.

Santa Barbara Courthouse arch cleaned

Dark biological growth and pollution was cleaned off the Sunken Garden side of the Great Arch of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

The project was completed on time and on budget. The rich golden hue of the sandstone is

once again exposed after it had been degraded by the stains. The interior walls were also cleaned and the original wrought iron grilles and ornamentation on the windows were painted.

“The results of the surface treatment are extraordinary,” said Angelique Davis, Board President of the Santa Barbara Courthouse Legacy Foundation. “It’s amazing to once again see the sandstone as it appeared almost 100

years ago.”

The work, which started in April, was done by specialty conservators experienced with historic structures consistent with the Department of the Interior’s Standards for a National Historic Landmark. For more information or donate for future restorations visit www.sbclf.org.

- Liam Hibbert

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

HOW TO REACH US . . . MAIN OFFICE 725 S. Kellogg Ave. Goleta, CA 93117 805-564-5200

MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara 93102

NEWSROOM ADVERTISING

The Carpinteria bike lane along highway 101 will be opened from June 30 until after Labor Day Weekend.

Santa Claus Lane bikeway to be temporarily reopened

The Carpinteria bike lane along highway 101 is closed for construction but will be opened from June 30 until after Labor Day Weekend.

The bikeway connects Carpinteria Avenue and Santa Claus Lane, closing a gap in the California Coastal Trail between Sand Point Road and

Carpinteria Avenue. A temporary railing will be in place while the project awaits final materials.

As part of the bikeway project, the intersection at Carpinteria Avenue and Estero Street has been updated with new crosswalks, signage, curbs and gutters, and bike lanes. At the western end of the project, a new vehicular turnaround has been built at the end of Santa Claus Lane.

For more information visit www.SBROADS.com.

-Liam

Hibbert

County fire issue statement on Fourth of July celebrations

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department would like to reiterate to the public that all fireworks, even those deemed ‘safe and sane,’ are illegal in all unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. This includes the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Buellton and Solvang. Safe and

Minors younger than 18 years old are not allowed to light fireworks or possess them without an adult present.

The six available locations are:

• 415 W. Central Ave. (Big Brand Tire);

• 1309 N. H St. (99 Cents Only Store);

sane fireworks are only allowed within the city limits of Santa Maria, Guadalupe, and Lompoc.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department strongly recommends that the best way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public display conducted by professional pyrotechnicians, commissioned by local communities. These displays are both spectacular and safe.

For more information, please contact the Santa Barbara County Fire Department Public Information Officer at (805) 8966336.

-Liam Hibbert

• 701 W. Central Ave. (Walmart);

• 729 North H St. (Boot Barn);

• 1206 W. Ocean Ave. (Dollar General); and

• 1500 N. H St. (Albertsons).

For more information visit http://www.cityoflompoc.com/.

-Liam Hibbert

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COURTESY PHOTOS

COURTESY PHOTO

UCSB Athletics hires Ashlee Klingenberg as assistant AD for student services

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

UCSB Athletics is thrilled to announce the return of Ashlee Klingenberg to the staff, coming on as the Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services. This updated position will support student-athletes during their time at UCSB while preparing them for life outside of sports.

“Ashlee Klingenberg emerged quickly as a top candidate for this position,” said Deputy Athletic Director and SWA Jessica Goerke, who led the hiring committee for this position. “Her depth and breadth of experience across Division I athletics, along with her institutional knowledge, make her an unbelievable addition to our staff and will have an immediate impact on the student-athlete experience here at UC Santa Barbara. I look forward to seeing this unit grow under her leadership.”

Klingenberg will return to Santa Barbara after a stint with USC Women’s Basketball as the Director of Operations. During her time with the Trojans, she managed all of the day-to-day operations of the team including travel, external relations and community services, equipment, budget management and camps. Along with that, she worked with various areas of the department to promote the team, increase awareness, and generate more ticket sales.

Prior to her time at USC, Klingenberg was with the UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball team

in the same role. She helped with all of the same operations as above while also managing the social media channels, assisting with game scheduling, and serving as the liaison for the team with other departments throughout campus.

Overall, Klingenberg has spent 10 years working in college athletics with stops at Seattle University and UC Irvine as well.

“I’m truly excited to come back to UC Santa Barbara,” Klingenberg said. “The opportunity to serve the Gaucho family as Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services is a dream, and I’m honored that Kelly Barsky has chosen and entrusted me with this role. Working with student-athletes has always been a passion of mine, and I’m looking forward to being a part of their development as individuals as well as growing this program at UCSB.

My first experience working at this institution was formative, and I’ve continued to follow and cheer on the Gauchos ever since, so it’s wonderful to return to this special place.” Klingenberg will officially begin this role on July 6. She received her bachelor’s degree in 2008 from San Jose State University with a degree in business marketing.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Officials caution against use of confetti

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

In partnership with Heal the Ocean, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and Downtown Santa Barbara, the city would like to remind the community that throwing and leaving confetti, sequins and glitter on the ground is littering. The use of confetti at Santa Barbara parades and festivals is growing, in both the number of events where confetti is used and the volume of confetti tossed. While confetti eggs or cascarones have long been a tradition at Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days, the city is now seeing large bags of confetti being dumped on Santa Barbara sidewalks, streets and parks

during Summer Solstice, Fourth of July, Fiesta and Holiday parades and celebrations.

In addition to paper confetti, the volume of shiny metallic confetti, sequins and glitter is increasing. These are all made of plastic and are often mistaken for food and consumed by birds and other animals. Confetti can easily wash or blow into our storm drains, creeks and the ocean, where it poses a threat to aquatic life.

New bill would make social media platforms liable for harm caused to children

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - Parents of children who are harmed by the use of social media platforms are one step closer to holding those platforms accountable, thanks to a new bill passed by the California Assembly Judiciary Committee.

The bill was authored by Senator Nancy Skinner (DBerkeley) and is being sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta.

“Every day, children in California face real and immediate harms on social media platforms,” said Mr. Bonta. “It’s great news that Sen. Skinner’s bill has been approved by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.”

Last July Benjamin and Jennifer Martin initiated a 7-count lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Instagram, in a San Francisco court for the harm their “unreasonably dangerous Instagram social media product,” caused to their young daughter.

The Martins say the product led their child down a path of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and, ultimately, suicide attempts.

“Meta programmed and operated its product to prioritize engagement over safety,” the lawsuit stated, and went on to disclose that internal Meta documents “prove known dangerous designs …as well as operational decisions and calculations and a causal relationship between use of Meta’s Instagram social media product…. and resulting addiction, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, exploitation and grooming, and … suicide and self-injury.”

Senate Bill 680 prohibits a social media platform from using a design, algorithm, or feature that the platform knows, or should know, causes children to harm themselves or others, develop an eating disorder, or experience addiction to the social media platform. The bill also requires the platform to conduct quarterly

Senate Bill 680 prohibits a social media platform from using a design, algorithm, or feature that the platform knows, or should know, causes children to harm themselves or others, develop an eating disorder, or experience addiction to the social media platform.

audits to ensure compliance and if needed, correction within 30 days.

Platforms found to be in violation can face charges of up to $250,000 per infraction and other penalties, but the bill applies only to companies grossing over $100 million in revenues.

“Large social media companies are harming our children’s wellbeing and mental health, and SB 680 is an important tool in our collective efforts to hold those companies accountable,” Mr. Bonta said.

“As a parent you feel hopeless,”

Jennifer Martin said in an interview with ABC 8 WFFA. “You try to support them, and you do what you can for them, but it’s hard to understand.”

Sen. Skinner pointed out, “These platforms are designed to addict users, with our children particularly susceptible ... .SB 680 will provide the Attorney General’s Office, along with other public prosecutors, the legal tools needed to curb these harmful practices.”

Instagram, designed for users 13 years and older, has faced challenges maintaining verification of the age of its users. SB 680 covers children up to the age of 16.

“While you’re celebrating in the city, we encourage you to choose paper confetti and use it sparingly,” officials said. Officials ask that celebrants only use paper confetti (or leaves), and refrain from adding plastic or foam decorations on the outside of the eggs.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

The use of confetti at Santa Barbara parades and festivals is growing, in both the number of events where confetti is used and the volume of confetti tossed.

Fraudsters likely stole $200 billion from pandemic funding meant for small businesses

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Taxpayers lost nearly $200 billion to fraudsters that was meant for struggling small businesses, according to a new watchdog report on the Small Business Administration’ COVID-era pandemic relief programs.

The SBA Office of Inspector General released a report on COVID-19 Pandemic EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud, which found that 17% of the $1.2 trillion allocated by Congress was “disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors.”

“OIG’s oversight and investigative work has resulted in 1,011 indictments, 803 arrests, and 529 convictions related to COVID-19 EIDL and PPP fraud as of May 2023,” the report said. Despite these arrests, only $30 billion of the lost funds has been recovered. The IG has pledged to continue working to get the funds back, saying it has thousands of open investigations.

Most of the lost taxpayer money, which was “intended to help eligible small business owners and entrepreneurs adversely affected by the crisis,” will likely not be recovered.

Lawmakers responded to the report with concern. Chair of the House Committee on Small Business Roger Williams, R-Texas, said the latest IG report shows far more criminal fraud taking advantage of SBA than has been reported so far.

Rep. Williams blasted the SBA, saying it “failed to implement basic guardrails to protect the integrity of these programs, resulting in roughly 1 in 5 loans dispersed being labeled as potentially fraudulent.”

“When COVID-19 hit the United States, the SBA was tasked with taking on an oversized role to help save small businesses and our nation’s job creators,” he said. “Unfortunately, these after-action reports show the agency was not up to the task. I look forward to hearing directly from Inspector General Ware in July on what went wrong, how to fix these issues, and what recourse we must take to recoup

these stolen taxpayer dollars.”

The SBA is just one of several agencies that saw similar waste, fraud, and abuse to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars in total lost during the rush of pandemic-era spending.

As The Center Square previously reported, an analysis from Open The Books found 82 programs across 17 agencies made improper payments in fiscal year 2022 alone, averaging $20.5 billion per month, or $683 million per day.

With the latest report on SBA, which showed higher losses than previously reported, those numbers could be even higher.

“In 2022, the incorrect payments totaled $1,673 for every individual tax return filed that year. (167,915,264, according to the IRS),” said Adam Andrzejewski, CEO of Open the Books. “They amounted to $846 for every man, woman, and child in the country. So, the government wasted $3,384 for every family of four – an amount equal to two average mortgage payments. (331,893,745, U.S. pop in 2021, from U.S. Census Bureau website).”

Holiday travel expected to approach 2019 levels

Man was arrested June 6 following police pursuit

SUSPECT

Continued from Page A1

Violence Contempt of Court. As to the felony count, prosecutors say Mr. Allen was previously convicted of Battery Upon a Spouse, and granted probation in that case on Jan. 23.

If convicted of all charges and found in violation of probation, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison, prosecutors said. Mr. Allen was arraigned on June 8, when he pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all special allegations. He was arrested on June 6 following a police pursuit after a disturbance in the 1900 block of De La Vina Street.

Santa Barbara Police responded at 12:25 p.m., where the reporting party said someone had been pounding on the windows and attempting to enter a locked door of a local business.

Officers contacted the suspect, Mr. Allen, without incident. He was asked to leave the property and he complied, but as he left

FIVE-DAY FORECAST

he allegedly hit a retaining wall. And police followed

The officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the 2000 block of Bath Street, at which time a pedestrian dubbed a good Samaritan by police attempted to prevent the vehicle from leaving by standing in front of it, police said.

The driver, Mr. Allen, allegedly struck the good Samaritan, fled the scene, and a police pursuit was initiated.

Officers rendered life-saving measures and medical aid to the victim until Fire Department Personnel and AMR Paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to Cottage Hospital with serious injuries. A police investigation determined the Bath Street incident was not a traffic collision but an alleged intentional act by the driver to strike the good Samaritan with his vehicle.

Officers were able to arrest Mr. Allen in the 2300 block of Carlton Way at 1:36 p.m. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Continued from Page A1

Wednesday. “The Auto Club of Southern California expects local travel volume over Independence Day weekend to be close to the volume that we saw in 2019, which was the alltime record for this holiday.”

Over 3.4 million Southern Californians are expected to travel over 50 miles for this holiday — over 2.7 million by car. That’s a 4% increase

from last year’s holiday numbers and only 1% below the high in 2019.

“The key is to leave as early in the day as you possibly can. You want to avoid those rush hour commute times,” said Mr. Shupe.

During this holiday weekend, the Central Coast is expected to be the third-highest destination for Southern California travelers, only behind Las Vegas (No. 1) and San Diego (No. 2).

Travel in the Santa Barbara area is likely to be affected by flight cancellations from

ILVENTO, Joseph Peter MD

Joseph Peter Ilvento, MD was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, into a family of restauranteurs. He learned to make pizza at an early age, and always had a professional stone-lined pizza oven installed wherever he was living. Needless to say, this made him a natural choice for all his daughters’ birthdays, soccer teams, and class parties. In addition to cooking, Joe’s avocations included wine collecting, golf, opera, and woodworking. He could repair just about anything. He was a proud Italian and a Jersey boy to his core.

Joe became interested in cardiology, and electrophysiology ���������������������������������������������������� to anyone who knew him, as the size and strength of his own heart was profound. During high school he spent summers at Columbia University Hospital working in the electrophysiology laboratory. He attended college and medical school at Johns Hopkins University. He was a resident and chief resident at Parkland Memorial in Dallas, followed by cardiology fellowship at Stanford University where he met his wife who ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� UCSF. He pioneered techniques for mapping the internal electrical pathways of the heart and held several patents for medical devices. During the years he practiced in Los Angeles from 1986, to 1990, he was in demand as a consultant and on the lecture circuit, helping to training other cardiologists around the world. He wrote some of the ������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� the electrophysiology service at Cottage Hospital, and made a deliberate decision to focus on his family and his patients. He remained true to his vision throughout his career, giving his patient focus to just one patient at a time. He added many years to the lives of many people. His patients miss him.

Joe leaves behind his wife of 38 years Judy Dean, MD; his daughters Luisa Ilvento, Christina Ilvento, and Juliana Fitzpatrick; son-in-law Jack Fitzpatrick, and grandchildren Lillian and James Joseph- named for his grandfather. His daughters are his most prized legacy. A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� consider a donation to City of Hope in his honor at ourhope.cityofhope.org/JosephIlvento.

storms on the East Coast. LAX has already experienced some cancellations and build up and more delays are expected to follow.

“It’s important to know what your rights are as a passenger. If the airline cancels your flight for any reason, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you purchased a non-refundable flight,” said Mr. Shupe.

For more information visit the Santa Barbara Airport website at www.flysba.com. email: lhibbert@newspress.com

NELSON, Marjorie M.

1927 - 2023

Marjorie Nelson, an extraordinary family matriarch, acclaimed musician and 66-year Santa Barbara resident, died at 95 on May 22, 2023.

Born in Los Angeles, Marjorie frequently relocated as her father worked at Santa Fe Railroad stations across the country. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, where she met fellow music major Wendell Nelson, then received a master’s degree from Claremont Graduate School. Marjorie and Wendell married in 1951, settling in Santa Barbara in 1957, when Wendell began a 34-year career as a music professor at UCSB.

While raising three children, Marjorie taught piano and performed with Wendell as a duo piano team. They made guest appearances with the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra and completed several concert tours of Europe and Asia, giving world premiere performances of pieces composed by prominent contemporary composers. In 1979, Marjorie accompanied Wendell to the People’s Republic of China, where he was �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

After Wendell’s death in 1993, Marjorie continued to travel the world and enjoy her family, for whom she was a source of unwavering love, generosity, energy, optimism, encouragement and wisdom.

Marjorie Nelson is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Nelson Worth; two sons, Richard Nelson and Joel Nelson; and six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Fri.

ally by 10 people in an urban environment.

Life theArts

reptile dwarfism

Large grant funds Westmont College study of phenomenon in Channel Islands National Park

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

9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily: The Sistine Chapel Art Exhibition runs through Sept. 4 at the Santa Barbara Mission, 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara. Tickets start at $25 for adults, $18 for children, and $22 for seniors, military and students. Each ticket also includes admission to the mission museum. To purchase, go to santabarbaramission.org/sistine-chapel-omsb or stop at the museum’s gift shop.

Father Joe Schwab is hosting personal tours that delve into the theological and philosophical perspectives of Michelangelo’s art. Groups of 10 or more can contact Donna Reeves for a private tour at development@ sboldmission.org.

COURTESY PHOTO Boogie Knights, above, will perform 1970s hits during the New Year’s Eve Disco Boogie Ball at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez. And the Spazmatics will play hits from the ’80s. Tickets cost $50.

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.

Westmont College is studying gopher snakes, one of which is seen in this photo, and other reptiles for a study of reptile dwarfism in Channel Islands National Park.

By SCOTT CRAIG WESTMONT COLLEGE WRITER

Westmont College biologist Amanda

Sparkman (class of ’03) and her research collaborators have won a $2 million, four-year grant from the National Science Foundation to

continue investigating the evolution of dwarfism in Channel Islands National Park reptiles.

The study focuses on five species, including the gopher snake, western yellow-bellied racer, southern alligator lizard, western fence lizard and sideblotched lizard.

Three are dwarf species; two are not. Dwarfism and gigantism have evolved on islands throughout the world. The researchers compare the island species with their mainland counterparts from Santa Barbara to San Mateo County.

Initial testing has revealed differences between the two, including

lower levels of blood glucose in island reptiles. The research will explore the molecular and physiological basis for the convergent evolution of dwarfism, as well as how dwarfism might affect other traits, such as reproduction, growth rate and survival.

Please see REPTILES on B4

Enhancing Fess Parker properties

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn and Epiphany Tasting Garden have been renovated in Los Olivos.

“The renovations reflect the Fess Parker brand’s continued evolution and elevation, the family’s dedication to providing an exceptional wine-tasting experience, and its commitment to excellence in hospitality,” the company said in a statement.

“We’re so excited to unveil these two projects that take the Fess Parker experience to another level,” said Ashley Parker Snider, co-owner and proprietor of the Fess Parker portfolio.

“As a family-owned and operated business, we hold our heritage in high regard, while also recognizing

the importance of providing a fresh and modern experience. With Los Olivos quickly gaining popularity as a must-visit destination for wine lovers and travelers from around the globe, we believe this refresh will help us continue to exceed our guests’ expectations.”

At the Wine Country Inn, the 19 rooms and suites were renovated. Improvements including new hardwood floors, shiplap in every bathroom,

wrought iron four post beds, fireplaces in every room and elegant soft goods.

“Designed by Oliva Villaluz, the renovations perfectly blend contemporary finishes with natural elements for a refined and rustic

The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road, has reopened its recurring summer exhibit, “Butterflies Alive!” Featuring a variety of butterflies, this experience allows guests to walk through a garden while nearly 1,000 butterflies flutter freely around them. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. The exhibit, which runs through Sept. 4, is included in museum admission. Members are always admitted free. For others, prices vary from $14 to $19. For more information, visit sbnature.org/butterfliesalive.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The James Castle exhibit is on display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. For more information, see sbma.net.

JULY 1

The Santa Barbara County Animal Services and Ventura County Animal Services have teamed up to organize a free pet adoption event across all five of their South Coast shelter. The one-day adoption event is part of a larger goal by the organization to make pet ownership more equitable.

This fee-waived pet adoption event applies to all animals over one year of age. There will be no adoption fee for these animals, but there may be a nominal license fee depending on the city in which the adopter resides, in order to help ensure that each adopted pet receives the appropriate licensing, vaccinations, and identification, in compliance with local regulations. All interested parties must participate in the full adoption process to ensure the best possible matches are made. All animals leave the shelter spayed or neutered, vaccinated, flea-treated and microchipped. For more information, visit www. sbcanimalservices.org.

The Santa Barbara County locations of the event are:

• 5473 Overpass Road. Goleta.

• 548 W. Foster Road, Santa Maria.

• 1501 W. Central Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436 JULY 4

11:30 a.m. The city of Lompoc is planning a Fourth of July Family Fun Day at Ryon Memorial Park. Admission is free to the event at the park, located off West Ocean Avenue and South O Street. The Fourth celebration will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a patriotic bike parade from the Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building to Ryon Park. For more information, call Lompoc Parks and Recreation at 805-875-8100. Noon. A full afternoon of music and other activities will precede a night of fireworks during the Fourth of July celebration in Santa Barbara. Music will start at noon at the West Beach bandstand with DJ Joseph Souza, followed by Peer Pressure at 1 p.m., The Free Radicals at 2, Rock Shop Review at 3, Golf Sucks at 4, Drifting Dimension at 5, Time Travelers Bridget & Sophiaa from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Then it’s a 10-minute performance by La Boheme Dancers, followed by The Roosters at 7 and Spencer the Gardener at 7:50. The 20minute fireworks show will start at 9 p.m. There will be live music and more at Stearns Wharf as well. The Brasscals will perform at noon, followed by free face painting at 2 p.m. and the band Area 51 at 4 p.m. In addition to the music and fireworks, a street fair will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. along the Cabrillo Boulevard sidewalk at West Beach.For more information, go to santabarbara.ca.gov/july4.

4 p.m. North Avenue Baptist Church in Lompoc is having a celebration on the Fourth of July with a variety of free family-friendly games and a fireworks display. The event starts at 4 p.m. at 1523 W. North Ave, where there will be carnival games, cornhole, pony rides and more. The “Safe and Sane” fireworks show will start at 8 p.m. Throughout the celebration there will be food from food trucks for purchase, such as chicken and waffles and BBQ. All are welcome to join, for more information visit nabclompoc.org.

JULY 5

The city of Santa Barbara will partner with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to host cleanups at nearby beaches to prevent litter from the Fourth of July celebration from getting into the Pacific.

To volunteer for the cleanup, go to signupgenius.com/go/10c0944aeab2fa5ffc07july#.

— Dave Mason

EIRINI PAJAK PHOTOS

This is part of the

Picks of the Week

more attractive types of fresh eating bean you will encounter, with splashes of purple and yellow across its flat pod. They are nice and snappy with an underlying sweetness.

Enjoyed both raw and cooked, they retain much of their color when sauteed.

You can use dragon tongue beans as a fresh green bean substitute in most recipes and deliver a rich flavor when cooked.

Sunshine watermelon

When most think of watermelon, a green skin comes to mind, but sunshine watermelon has an attractive yellow skin, with alternating cream-colored striations.

Inside is a vibrant pink-red flesh that is relatively seedless.

About 92% water by volume, watermelon is one of the most refreshing foods you can purchase through the warm summer months. A good source of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, fiber, and the beneficial antioxidant lycopene, watermelons make for a nutritious addition to your seasonal diets.

Watermelon can be enjoyed in a fruit salad, added to smoothies and even grilled. This week I prepared a watermelon and peach agua fresca as the Fix of the Week, elsewhere on this page.

You can find freshly harvested sunshine watermelon from Her Family Farm at the Saturday Santa Barbara farmers’ market.

Price averages $7 each.

These beans are an excellent source of protein and dietary fiber, as well as vitamins A, C and K; potassium; calcium and iron.

Grown by Two Peas in a Pod Farm of Arroyo Grande, they are available at the Saturday Santa Barbara farmers market. Price averages $6 per pound.

Tatuma squash

Also commonly referred to as Mexican squash, tatuma squash is very similar to that of zucchini. However, I find it a little sweeter and creamier when cooked.

It is one of my favorites to enjoy grilled, and it’s ideal for sautéing, steaming and really any other way you enjoy summer squash. Add tatuma squash to a vegetable lasagna or spring pasta recipe, and it’s delicious raw as well. This variety has a very thin skin so it does not require any peeling.

Dragon tongue beans

This open pollinated Dutch heirloom wax bean is one of the

Tatuma squash is grown and harvested from several local farmers and available at most weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets. Price averages $3 per pound.

— Text and photos by Sam Edelman

By SAM EDELMAN NEWS-PRESS COLUMNIST

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, it’s time to start shopping for your summer cookouts.

One ingredient that delivers the true essence of this summer holiday, which is just now making its first appearance at many of our weekly farmers markets, is refreshing watermelon. Found in an array of shapes, sizes and colors, some have seeds. Others are seedless. Most are red, but you will likely come across others that are orange or yellow throughout the summer months if you’re shopping at the farmers’ market.

One of the most common inquiries when it comes to watermelon is: “How do I know when one is sweet and ready to eat?”

This can indeed be a difficult task for many, but thankfully no one is better equipped to assist with selecting a great tasty melon than those who grow them, so feel free to ask your local farmers for assistance. When selecting, your watermelon should feel quite heavy

relative to its size, indicating the flesh and liquid content has fully matured.

Now for the listening part. If you’ve seen people holding melons up to their ears and had no idea what they were doing, they were listening for that very distinct resonating hollow sound when tapped on their side. If this sound is present, the watermelon is usually in its prime, ready for slicing and dicing. If going through this process is more than you want to deal with when watermelon shopping, the farmers will be more than happy to select you a truly sensational melon.

Watermelons are a great item to have on hand in your kitchen. They are perfect for slicing into cubes and drizzling with a splash of fresh lime juice to be enjoyed as a refreshing snack. You can turn them into a chilled melon soup, add to a smoothie, or even brush them with a light honey glaze and quickly place them on a grill for a pleasing smoky finish.

This week I prepared a simple aqua fresca, the perfect beverage to enjoy on a warm summer afternoon.

Due to its naturally high water content, watermelon is the perfect addition to the blender. You can also incorporate any other fresh seasonal fruit you prefer.

Watermelon and Peach a gua Fresca

3 cups drinking water.

2 cups cubed watermelon.

1 medium peach.

¼ cup sugar (Omit if you don’t want the added sweetness, or use honey of agave syrup) Juice from 1 lime.

4 mint leaves.

1 cup ice.

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until incredibly smooth. You can either serve as is, or you can run through a sieve for a cleaner finish. You can add more lime juice or sugar if needed to taste.

Sam Edelman is general manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association. He’s also the host of “From Farm to Table,” airing live at 9 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB, AM1290, the News-Press radio station.

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

Diversions

Thought for Today

“You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.”

— Sam Levenson

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Aries: Other people may be stroking your fur in the wrong direction, Aries. There’s a great deal of fiery energy in the air today that’s promoting a “me first” attitude. It may come in direct conflict with your peaceful, diplomatic nature. Also, people may be a bit more sensitive than usual. It will be harder to stomach the slights or insults that result.

Taurus: Latch on to what your mind has to say today, Taurus. More than likely, your rational brain knows the right way to go. Your mood may dictate the action, but let your brain handle the steering. Don’t get overly worked up over nothing. Tempers may rise in heated debates over what is and isn’t fair. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

Gemini: There’s a greater burst of energy coming your way today than there has been in a while, Gemini. It’s as if you’re making a new start and now is your chance to begin with a fresh new attitude. Realize that a sensitive nature is what will help you be victorious on this day.

Cancer: People and situations egg you on today, Cancer. It may seem like there’s contention around every corner. Remember that your path is the one that you chose. You may or may not have anticipated the barriers, but they’re unavoidable. The key to success is to strike the right balance between inner and outer activities.

Leo: Be a pioneer in your world today, Leo. Go on an adventure with a courageous spirit. Your emotions are fired up and ready to go. Your instincts are ready for a new challenge. If anything slows you down today, it will be your rational thinking. Your selfprotection mechanism may kick in just when things start to get exciting.

Virgo: Your mind is surprisingly clear today, Virgo, and your thinking fits in line with what your ego has set out to accomplish. The key for you is to let your emotions speak. Take charge and let

yourself go after what you want.

Libra: Your mood is likely quite good, Libra, and you have an added boost of self-confidence that will help you along in just about any project you undertake. While the last couple days may have felt slow and a bit stagnant, today you’re ready to take action.

Scorpio: Your brain may be on one side of the fence today while your emotions are on the other, Scorpio. The challenge will be to find a working resolution between them. Your mind is moving toward a more sensitive and receptive approach, while your heart is in more of an attack mode.

Sagittarius: One of the themes today is giving versus receiving. You may be asked to handle many tasks at once, something you’re naturally quite good at, Sagittarius. There’s a strong need to take action and get things done, while you may also feel a strong inward pull asking you to settle down and reflect.

Capricorn: You’re in line with your warrior instincts today, Capricorn, which reminds you to align with your dreams. The tricky part is how you’re going to plan your attack so that there’s an equal balance of give and take. Today’s prevailing energies may catch you in a difficult situation. Sometimes an outwardly directed, argumentative approach is the only way to push through the roadblock.

Aquarius: You’re feeling frisky today, Aquarius, and you’re happy to take the lead. It seems like the starting gate has just opened and you’re leading the charge. The one thing that could put a damper on the race is your rational mind reminding you that it’s also important to stop.

Pisces: You’re feeling rather sensitive today, Pisces. You may want to rescue every injured animal from the side of the road. Combine this nurturing, loving instinct with a warrior drive that will take charge and lead the fight. This powerful energy duo is very action oriented. Send your loving, internal instincts out into the world to do good.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, June 29, 2023

When I attended Alabama more than 50 years ago, there were lunchtime bridge games in the student center every day. Due to the proactive efforts of interested students and supporters, and with the help of the American Contract Bridge League, bridge on campus is making a comeback.

In February, dozens of students came to Atlanta for the second Georgia Tech Collegiate tournament. Institutions represented included Georgia, the University of Chicago, Washington University and the host Georgia Tech. Students competed, traded insights on how to promote campus bridge and ate plenty of pizza.

UPGRADE

In today’s deal from one of the matches, George Sorkin upgraded the South hand and opened 2NT. Against 3NT, West led a diamond, and Sorkin won and resisted the temptation to attack the spades immediately. He tested the clubs by cashing the A-K. Then he could pick up the suit and finish with nine tricks.

At the other table, South opened one club, and North, Rohan Shrivastava, became declarer at 3NT. A diamond was led, and again declarer was careful to test the clubs early and bring home the contract.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: A Q 7 5 3 9 7

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

10 6 4 6 5 3. Your partner opens one heart, you respond one spade and he bids two clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner surely has at least five hearts but may have only four clubs. Since he will usually do better playing at a 5-2 fit, a “false preference” to two hearts would be a reasonable call. You hand is so weak that a case exists for passing and not giving partner another chance to bid again – and maybe get too high.

dealer Both sides vulnerable

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-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Sunday’s Life section.

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

Classified

Westmont students to work on project along with students from Auburn,

Continued

Collaborators Tonia Schwartz and Melody Russell (Auburn University) and David Miller (Penn State University) received the remainder of the funds. The grant will cover laboratory work and travel expenses and pay for student researchers and a research technician.

“Westmont students will

continue to gain experience in finding, capturing, handling, processing and ultra-sounding reptiles, as well as analyzing data and presenting our work,” Dr. Sparkman said.

The Westmont studentresearchers will work and interact with graduate and postdoctoral students from Auburn and Penn

State.

“Through this work, we hope to provide data and insight into these reptile populations that will aid in their conservation and management,” she said.

Scott Craig works in media relations at Westmont College. email: dmason@newspress.com

The alligator lizard is among the species being studied by Westmont College.