Santa Barbara News-Press: September 29, 2022

Santa Barbara zoo director to retire

THURSDAY,

Dolly Parton in outer space

Direct Relief helps during Hurricane Ian

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Goleta-based Direct Relief sent additional medical aid Wednesday to Florida as Hurricane Ian struck.

The hurricane made landfall on Florida’s west coast Wednesday afternoon with winds as fast as 150 mph. It is one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall there, and as it did so, it was a Category 4 storm.

The National Hurricane Center

warned of “life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida Peninsula.”

Millions were under evacuation orders.

Later Wednesday, the storm became weaker, becoming a Category 3 hurricane, still with winds reportedly as fast as approximately 115 mph.

The storm landed Wednesday near Cayo Castro and is expected to move through central Florida before leaving the northeast

Florida coast sometime today.

Earlier this summer, Direct Relief pre-positioned a dozen hurricane prep packs in the state. The packs contain more than 210 products, including a range of antibiotics, syringes, basic first aid supplies and medications to treat diabetes, hypertension, severe allergic reactions and other conditions.

And Direct Relief Wednesday was coordinating multiple rapid response shipments of medical aid across the state and planned

to continue to respond to requests in the coming days and weeks.

“Several of our contacts in Florida — health centers and clinics — have made orders for additional supplies that left our warehouse today,” Tony Morain, vice president of communications for Direct Relief, told the NewsPress Wednesday evening.

Mr. Morain said many of Direct Relief’s contacts are without

Cooler days ahead

Speakers urge SB City Council to enforce short-term housing rules

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council heard a great deal of information Tuesday about proposed short-term rental housing changes, but the details provided by staff only seemed to increase the number of questions from council members.

And many of their questions had to do with enforcement to crack down on illegal operators.

Staff told council members that they are more than aware of the illegal operators — including those who actually pay transient occupancy taxes — but simply lack the staff and funding to enforce the current ordinance and licensing process.

let them chew on it. They’ve got more of the expertise, and none of the politics.”

Staff got more than direction during a contentious council meeting.

After project manager Timmy Bolker, with the city Department of Community Development, presented staff’s ideas, it was the audience members’ turn.

And they didn’t mince words. Some spoke in favor of shortterm rental housing, noting they can earn income by renting out their homes when they are gone.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

A heat wave persisted this week in Santa Barbara County and the rest of Southern California, but the National Weather Service promises cooler days ahead.

On Wednesday, highs were 81 in Goleta, 74 in Santa Maria and 91 in Santa Ynez.

The weather service predicted highs today of 78 in Santa Barbara, 79 at UCSB, 75 in Santa Maria and 86 in Santa Ynez. Lompoc is expected to be a good place to cool off, with a high of 73.

It’ll be sunny today and Friday in Santa Barbara and Goleta, but the weather service predicts fog will prevail today in Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Santa Maria, with partly cloudy conditions in all three cities on Friday.

The highs will start to fall Friday, according to the weather service: 75 in Santa Barbara, 73 at UCSB, 72 in

Lompoc, 73 in Santa Maria and 82 in Santa Ynez.

On Saturday, the weather service expects partly cloudy conditions nearly everywhere in Santa Barbara County, but the area will be cooler.

Projected highs are 73 in Santa Barbara, 71 at UCSB, 72 in Lompoc, 71 in Santa Maria and 79 in Santa Ynez.

The weather service said Sunday’s highs will be 74 in Santa Barbara,72 at UCSB, 71 in Lompoc, 71 in Santa Maria and 81 in Santa Ynez. Partly cloudy conditions are expected to remain.

Things will warm up a bit on Monday, with projected highs of 77 in Santa Barbara and 83 in Santa Ynez. Santa Maria and Lompoc will remain in the low 70s for their highs.

One consistent hotspot has been Cuyama, which is expected to continue to have highs in the 80s and nothing but sunshine today and throughout the weekend.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Council members — and residents in council chambers — had plenty to say about highlights of a proposed shortterm housing program that would operate throughout the city, would restrict short-term rentals to those who use their primary homes (not second homes) for that purpose and would limit short-term rentals to 90 days a year. The program would also require annual permits, which in conjunction with business licenses and transient occupancy taxes, would pay to increase enforcement regarding illegal operators.

Staff was seeking direction from the council on how to proceed, and what parts of the proposed program should be tweaked or changed.

The council obliged by offering comments, corrections and suggestions before voting 7-0 to have staff draft a short-term rental housing ordinance and forward the framework to the Planning Commission for review, with the addition of council comments and answers to their questions they posed during the meeting.

“This is only the beginning of a very long complex conversation,” Mayor Randy Rowse told the News-Press Wednesday. “There was a lot of confusion about this item, and we thought it best to tee it up nicely for them, and

MEGA MILLIONS: 8-14-24-43-51 Meganumber: 9

Wednesday’s DAILY DERBY: 09-11-01 Time: 1:49.63

Wednesday’s DAILY 3: 1-5-1 / Wednesday’s Midday 6-7-4

One speaker said he came to Santa Barbara two years ago as a tourist and stayed in shortterm housing situations until he could buy a home here. Others noted that they use local people to clean their homes as well as plumbers, who the speakers noted would lose income without short-term housing.

And several chafed at the idea of overreaching government officials telling them what they could do — or not do — with their private property.

On the other side, there were those who spoke passionately about keeping short-term housing in the coastal zone and out of residential neighborhoods. And some who spoke in favor of banning them outright.

The only thing that seemed to unite them was their desire to crack down on illegal operators providing short-term housing.

One speaker put it bluntly. “Enforce! Enforce! Enforce!” he said.

Staff responded that the only way to enforce the law was to increase income through permit fees and by expanding the program throughout the city. They said they simply don’t have the manpower or resources to do so now.

The figures Mr. Bolker provided backed up the extent of the enforcement problem.

He said that currently there are 1,560 short-term rentals in all areas of the city — mostly single-family homes operating as quasi-hotels — and out of 1,119 units in total, only 19 are legal, and that only 82 are paying

Wednesday’s DAILY 4: 1-6-2-2

Wednesday’s FANTASY 5: 18-26-31-32-37

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Nancy McToldrige looks back at her four decades with the zoo - A5

Country singer part of the adventure on ‘The Orville’ - A7

National Weather Service says highs will fall to the low- and mid-70s along the coast

Goleta nonprofit sends medical aid as storm slams Florida

Please see RELIEF on A10

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS

Goleta-based Direct Relief sent medical aid Wednesday to Florida, which was hit by Hurricane Ian.

Visitors enjoy a relatively empty Butterfly Beach Wednesday in Montecito. The coast offered relief from the heat, and the National Weather Service promises cooler days ahead.

KENNETH SONG/ NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The sun shines high in the sky above a driftwood creation at a beach in Summerland. Sunny skies will continue along the coast today and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Newsom signs bill aiding farmworker union formation

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Facing pressure from President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and labor leaders, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will make it easier for California farmworkers to unionize while growers say the law stifles worker independence.

The governor’s signature on Assembly Bill 2183 on Wednesday represents a change from a few weeks ago when Mr. Newsom indicated he might veto the bill. Lawmakers advanced the bill to the governor’s desk in the final days of the legislative session despite his concerns.

Gov. Newsom vetoed a previous version of this bill last year.

Gov. Newsom’s office announced Wednesday that the governor signed the bill after reaching an agreement with the United Farm Workers and the California Labor Federation to add “clarifying language” through another bill next year.

“California’s farmworkers are the lifeblood of our state, and they have the fundamental right to unionize and advocate for themselves in the workplace,”

Gov. Newsom said in a statement.

“Our state has been defined by the heroic activism of farmworkers, championed by

Gov. Newsom

COURTESY PHOTO

American icons like Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Larry Itliong. California is proud to stand with the next generation of leaders carrying on this movement.”

AB 2183 expands options for how farmworkers can vote for union representation. The new law would give farmworkers the option to decide whether they want to vote at a physical location or vote by mailing a union representative ballot card to the Agricultural Labor Relations Board.

The bill received strong support from the United Farm

Workers and other labor groups who argued that the bill is needed to provide a mail-in option to workers who tend to face intimidation from supervisors to vote against unionizing.

It was opposed by the California Farm Bureau Federation, which said the measure would “strip agricultural employees of their rights to express their sentiments about unionization in secretballot elections conducted by the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, free from fear, intimidation, coercion, or trickery exerted by anyone interested in the outcome.”

Republican lawmakers said the bill suppresses opposition to unions by workers afraid of retaliation.

According to Gov. Newsom’s office, the “supplemental agreement” reached on the clarifying language includes a cap on the amount of cardcheck petitions over the next five years and allows the ALRB to “adequately protect worker confidentiality.”

Gov. Newsom had previously indicated he was going to veto AB 2183, but he faced pressure in recent weeks from Democrats at the national level to sign it. President Biden issued a statement in support of the measure on Labor Day, and

Speaker Pelosi also joined the chorus in support.

“Farmworkers worked tirelessly and at great personal risk to keep food on America’s tables during the pandemic,” President Biden wrote. “In the state with the largest population of farmworkers, the least we owe them is an easier path to make a free and fair choice to organize a union.”

The bill’s signing represents a hard-fought win for California farmworkers, some of whom marched for 24 days and 335 miles to urge Gov. Newsom to sign the bill.

“Farm workers across the state organized and sacrificed to make their voices heard and to pass AB 2183,” the UFW wrote in a statement Wednesday. “California and many parts of the country heard their voices, and farm workers felt the deep and historic solidarity from all parts of California and all across the nation.

“We look forward to working with Gov. Newsom and the legislature to make agreedupon changes that will ease implementation of AB 2183 so that farm workers can participate in elections free from intimidation and deportation beginning next year.”

Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

Carbajal attends White House Hunger Conference

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, attended the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Wednesday.

“It was my privilege today to join food and nutrition experts and stakeholders from around the country today for the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health in over 50 years, and I’m grateful to the Central Coast advocates who had shared their own viewpoints with me so that I could properly represent the goals and challenges that our region faces when it comes to these critical issues,” Rep. Carbajal said in a statement.

“Ending food insecurity and ensuring no American goes hungry is critical to all other goals we have, and this White House Conference was a great forum for our experts and advocates to help develop a comprehensive strategy that makes sure we’re supporting every single American who is facing food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition,” he said. “I appreciate President Biden for his leadership in hosting this conference and his continued commitment to tackling these pervasive issues in our country.”

The hunger conference, which Rep. Carbajal repeatedly pushed the White House to convene before their announcement in May, is only the second such event in U.S. history. The first was held more

than 50 years ago.

In July, the News-Press reported on a virtual listening session held by Rep. Carbajal with local nutrition policy experts from Santa Barbara County, CommUnify, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County to hear their concerns and suggestions ahead of Wednesday’s conference.

Their testimony was submitted by Carbajal this summer and is part of the official record of Wednesday’s conference.

Last year, Rep. Carbajal hosted a Hunger Tour across the Central Coast to highlight the pervasive food and nutrition needs of local communities and the impact of food insecurity on young Californians.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal

Sheriff’s Office honors heroic deputies and civilians

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office recently honored its employees and community members at its annual recognition awards program and luncheon at the Earl Warren Showgrounds.

The recipients at the Santa Barbara event were recognized for their exemplary service during 2021. Lunch was provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse.

The awards presentations began with the presentation of Certificates of Merit to civilian citizens whose accomplishments significantly aided the efficient operation of the sheriff’s office.

Elvira Carrera, Ayres Mitchell and Julian Paley were honored for the lifesaving efforts they took on July 16, 2021, when they rescued an unconscious man from the swimming pool at the Santa Ynez YMCA. Sheriff Bill Brown commended them for their swift action, exceptional teamwork and their commitment to the well being of others.

The next honoree for the Certificate of Merit was American Medical Response Supervisor Pat Crull, who was honored for actions he took on May 31, 2021, where he intervened in a fight between a theft suspect and a victim who was trying to recover his stolen cell phone. Mr. Crull was thanked for his prompt actions which prevented any further injury to either party, and for his assistance in the recovery of stolen property.

The next Certificate of Merit honored Lucas Lamoutte for swift action he took on Feb. 25, 2021, when he came to the aid of a loss prevention officer.

Mr. Lamoutte was commended for his courage when he helped the loss prevention officer and for pursuing and overpowering the suspect, even when threatened with a potentially deadly weapon.

Nineteen sheriff’s deputies received a commendation for administering Narcan (naloxone) reversing suspected opioid overdoses and preventing a victim from dying.

These deputies include: Sheriff’s Sgt. Matthew Banks, Sheriff’s Sgt. Joshua Cockrell, Sheriff’s Sgt. Eric Delgadillo, Sheriff’s

Sgt. Thomas Green, Sheriff’s Sgt. Travis Henderson, Sheriff’s Deputy-Special Duty Dave Frawley, Sheriff’s Deputy-Special Duty Julio Gutierrez, Sheriff’s DeputySpecial Duty Doug Jones, Sheriff’s Deputy-Special Duty Matthew West, Sheriff’s Deputy Shawn Banks, Sheriff’s Deputy Anna Carranco, Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Fournier, Sheriff’s Deputy Garrett Gish, Sheriff’s Deputy Christian Harrington, Sheriff’s Deputy Guadalupe Ibarra, Sheriff’s Deputy Kody Kiesow, Sheriff’s Deputy Damien Marquez, Custody Deputy Maxwell Moore, Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Moore, Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Morales, Sheriff’s Deputy Gregory Plett and Sheriff’s Deputy Benjamin Sanabria.

The Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau was honored with a Sheriff’s Unit Citation for its dedication to duty, adaptability, resiliency, and teamwork during the COVID-19 pandemic, the spike in overdose-related deaths and the bureau’s work on several highprofile death investigations.

Sheriff Brown presented the lifesaving award to members of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, members of allied agencies or civilians who perform CPR or other lifesaving first aid procedures upon ill or injured persons, resulting in the individual surviving their immediate injury or medical emergency.

Honorees included: Custody Deputy Arturo Alvarez, Sheriff’s Deputy James Duncan, Retired Army Medic James “Russ” Sandy, Custody Deputy- Special Duty Livdi Escobedo, Custody Deputy Cody Goodwin, Custody Deputy Bertin Hernandez, Custody Deputy Trenten Howell, Custody Deputy David Villavicencio, Sheriff’s Sgt. Neil Gowing, Benton County, Wash., firefighter Manny Estrella, Sheriff’s Deputy John Froelicher, Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Morales, Park Ranger Duke Loster, Park Ranger Anthony Munoz, Sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Nelson, Detective Andre Long, Detective Matthew Cianciarulo, Fish and Wildlife Warden Israel Magana, Fish and Wildlife Warden Max Schad, Deputy Matt Dawson, Sheriff’s Deputy Garrett Ross, Sheriff’s Deputy Brett White, and Sheriff’s Deputy Ross Vantassel. Computer Systems Specialist Kristy Glisson and Custody Lt.

William Wolf were awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for their outstanding efforts, leadership and dedication to the Northern Branch Jail project and its successful completion, and to the mission of the sheriff’s office.

A second Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Custody Deputy- Special Duty Anthony Delira, and Custody Deputies Tonia Bennet, Cody Goodwin, Roberto Gutierrez, and Paul Otero for their quick thinking, bravery and effective teamwork during their response to an altercation at the Main Jail Medium Security Facility.

A third Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Sheriff’s Deputy John Valenti for his integrity, professionalism, mentorship, and expertise in the fight to keep streets and highways safe. In 2021, Deputy Valenti apprehended a total of 130 people for driving under the influence.

Sheriff Brown presented the Distinguished Service Medal to members of the sheriff’s office who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in assigned duties with loyalty and dedication over a prolonged period. Recipients were Sheriff’s Detective Chad Biedinger and Sheriff’s Pilot Loren Courtney.

The final awards were the Sheriff’s Medal of Valor and the Exceptional Citizen Award, presented to Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley, Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis and John Ornelas. The Medal of Valor is the Sheriff’s Office’s highest award and is awarded to persons who distinguish themselves by displaying an acts of courage and heroism, intelligently performed with knowledge of the risk involved, above and beyond the call of duty, in the face of imminent and personal life-threatening peril and in an official capacity.

The Exceptional Civilian Award is the Department’s highest civilian honor.

On Nov. 9, Property Manager John Ornelas was home when he was alerted of a fire in a nearby apartment by other residents. He ran to the apartment and found it filled with smoke. He knew the resident was home and recently underwent surgery. Mr. Ornelas tried to enter the apartment several times, but the smoke was too thick, and he could see flames inside. He called out for the resident, and she

called back to him, confirming his grave fear that she was still in the apartment.

Mr. Ornelas ran back downstairs and retrieved a fire extinguisher and gave it to another resident who arrived to assist while he called 9-1-1. He returned to the apartment and tried again to enter, this time with the extinguisher. However, it was having little impact on the fire, and he was unable to go inside without being overwhelmed by the heat and smoke.

Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley and Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis were the first to arrive on scene. They were directed to the burning apartment by Mr, Ornelas. The deputies saw black smoke billowing from the doorway of the apartment, but they could not see inside.

Deputy Ellis tried to lean inside to search the apartment, but he was quickly overwhelmed by the heat and smoke. Deputy Ashley dropped to the ground, and through a clear layer of air about a foot and a half off the floor, he saw a woman down on the floor about twenty feet inside the apartment.

Deputy Ashley held his breath and crawled along the floor to the woman. When he reached her, he saw that her clothing was on fire, and that she was unconscious. He patted the flames out on her clothing, and he began crawling out of the apartment, pulling the unconscious woman behind him. When he was almost out of the building, Deputy Ashley took a breath and immediately felt the effects of the smoke and hot air. He had difficulty breathing and started to get dizzy. Deputy Ellis saw what was happening, then went into the apartment and pulled both Deputy Ashley and the woman to safety outside the apartment.

For their lifesaving and heroic actions that day, Sheriff’s Deputy David Ashley, and Sheriff’s Deputy Rockwell Ellis were awarded the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor.

For his extraordinary efforts and courage, John Ornelas was awarded the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office’s highest civilian honor, the Sheriff’s Exceptional Civilian Award.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Washington ranked ninth worst state for road rage

California places No. 23 on list

By BRETT DAVIS THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Drivers in Washington state might want to be wary of their fellow drivers.

That’s because Washington earned the dubious distinction of a No. 9 ranking in a nationwide study by Forbes Advisor that looked at 10 key metrics from a survey of 5,000 drivers to determine which states have the most confrontational drivers.

Surprisingly, California and New York – often stereotyped as states with bad drivers – did not crack the top 20 in Forbes Advisor’s ranking of states with the most confrontational drivers.

California was ranked No. 23, while New York came in at No. 46.

The key metrics for the study include relatively benign activities such as honking in frustration and rude gestures, to more aggressive actions such as tailgating and cutting off other drivers, all the way up to purposely colliding with other

vehicles and pointing a gun at or shooting at other motorists.

Forbes Advisor spokesperson Mark LoCastro delved into Washington’s top 10 finish.

With a score of 88.91 out of 100, the Evergreen State ranked ninth on our list of states with the worst road rage. Other numbers from the study solidified Washington’s ranking.

Washington’s Pacific Northwest neighbors fared better, with Oregon tied with Arizona for the No. 31 ranking and Idaho tied with Maine and Ohio for the No. 24 position.

The 10 states with the most road rage, according to the study:

1. Utah

2. Missouri 3. Colorado 4. Oklahoma

5. New Mexico 6. Nevada

7. Maryland 8. Indiana

9. Washington 10. Delaware Brett Davis covers the Washington state government for The Center Square.

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Petroleum reserve hits low point, gas prices begin to rise again

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Gas prices are on the rise again just as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve hits a low point that many say is a problem.

Gas prices hit record highs in the middle of June, surpassing a national average of $5 per gallon before starting a steady downward trend for several consecutive weeks.

That streak ended last week, though, when gas prices began to tick back up. The current national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.77, up from $3.68 a week ago.

California’s prices remain above the national average. On Wednesday, the price in the state was $6.04 a gallon, up from $5.50 a gallon last week, according to the American Automobile Association.

On Wednesday in Santa Barbara County, the average price was $6.05 a gallon. That’s also up from $5.49 a gallon a week ago.

Meanwhile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is at the lowest level in nearly four decades.

Last week, the Office of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve announced the sale of another 10 million barrels of oil, bringing their total to 165 of the 180 million barrels President Joe Biden authorized for release. President Biden touted the lower prices and the relief they’ve brought to

Americans as gas prices dropped.

Lawmakers, though, blasted President Biden for using the petroleum reserves so extensively for short-term relief, saying he put the U.S. in a difficult position without addressing the root causes by encouraging more domestic oil production.

“The Biden administration can’t continue to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and simultaneously say we don’t have an energy crisis or a need to increase domestic energy production,” said U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-La. “Their self-imposed mistakes are weakening our energy security.”

Other critics pointed out an emergency could stress the already weakened reserves and put the reserves dangerously low.

“Less than two years into his term, (President Biden) has released more oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve than all previous presidents combined, causing our supply to fall to a historic low,” U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, said. “This is a national security threat, and it is unacceptable.”

The lower reserve level also spurred questions about whether Hurricane Ian, expected to potentially hit the site of several petroleum storage sites, will affect the availability of reserves especially if another emergency arises.

“I don’t have any concerns

at this point that we’re going to have the ability to handle the fuel needs that we’re going to need in Florida,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said at a White House press briefing in response to those concerns. “We will continue to assess after the storm passes to see what the impacts are. We’ll make sure that we’re putting measures in place to support … any gaps that we might identify.”

The higher gas prices come just ahead of the midterms and could have a major impact on lawmakers seeking reelection. Gas prices had become a political cudgel used against Democrats, especially alongside soaring inflation, but the drop of those prices in recent weeks largely disarmed Republicans.

If gas prices continue to rise through election day, Republicans will have another weapon in their arsenal to use against the Biden administration and Democratic candidates.

“If you’re wondering why the Biden admin won’t be talking about gas prices today, it’s because they’ve now risen for the sixth day in a row after being artificially lowered by releasing our Strategic Petroleum Reserve,” said Jennifer-Ruth Green, a Republican running for Congress in Indiana.

News-Press Managing Editor Dave Mason contributed to this report.

Lawmakers ask education secretary to push for tolerant campuses

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Republican lawmakers are questioning the Biden administration about cancel culture on college campuses and asking the question: Why are federal taxpayer dollars funding it?

U.S. Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, sent a letter Wednesday to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, pointing to several instances of certain viewpoints being silenced and to find out “what actions, if any, the Department is taking to promote free speech and academic freedom on college campuses.

“We are conducting oversight over the U.S. Department of Education’s administration of taxpayers’ dollars awarded to public and private colleges and universities under various federal programs,” the letter said. “Specifically, we are concerned many of these colleges and universities are undermining free speech and academic freedom on their campuses. Despite this problem, the Department does not seem to be engaged in promoting the free exchange of ideas within our colleges and universities.”

The push for accountability comes after a string of high profile speakers being pushed off campus as well as students facing consequences for unpopular

opinions.

“Administrators at Yale Law School threatened to interfere with one student’s ability to pass the character and fitness examination for his bar license unless he apologized to a student group for an email,” the letter said. “St. Louis University disbursed student fees among student organizations discriminately, based on political or ideological affiliation.

Certain faculty at University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University Law Center, and Princeton University have been placed on administrative leave or faced threats of termination or indefinite ‘investigations’ for expressing their opinions outside the classroom on social media.”

The committee pointed out that in 2019 alone, major universities received billions of dollars in federal funds.

Georgetown University received roughly $370 million, Harvard University $1.1 billion, the University of Pennsylvania $830 million, USC $1.1 billion and Yale University $620 million.

“In total for 2019, federal funds were remitted to public and private postsecondary education institutions in the form of federal student aid ($98 billion), grants ($41 billion), and contracts ($10 billion),” the letter said. “Additionally, since 2020, Congress pumped $76.2 billion in ‘emergency’ funds into the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA),

and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).”

The same pattern has played out at private institutions as well.

“At University of Washington, a computer science professor was disciplined for refusing to include a controversial ‘indigenous land acknowledgement’ statement on his course syllabi,” the letter said.

“In another case, it took a federal lawsuit for University of Michigan to disband its ‘bias response team’ which was dampening free speech by seeking out and reporting student conduct that was considered ‘hostile’ or ‘biased’ against certain groups. This past spring, disruptive student protesters shut down a speech by constitutional law scholar Ilya Shapiro at University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

“In fact, student protesters routinely try to disrupt and even shut down campus speakers. U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an instructor at Arizona State University, was harassed even in the bathroom by protestors who were upset with her voting record,” the letter said.

Lawmakers pointed out the Department of Education did not extend Trump administration’s free speech hotline for reporting violations.

The letter argues this level of government funding should come with accountability.

The Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

New poll: New York Democrats losing independents, third-party voters

By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — A new Siena College Research Institute poll released Wednesday shows Democrats losing support from New York independent and thirdparty voters.

There are some issues on which those likely voters still find common ground with Democrats, including 63% who oppose the Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year to overturn a constitutional right to an abortion.

However, 53% of independents and others also oppose the recent decision by President Joe Biden to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt. And when it comes to their preference for holding the majority in Congress next year, those likely voters prefer Democrats by a 46-42 margin. That’s narrowed significantly from August when the gap was 55-40.

Lower support from third-party voters will likely not matter much in New York’s statewide races as Democrats make up nearly half the electorate and hold a 2.5-to-1 voter

registration edge over Democrats.

Where it may become a factor is in such races as congressional elections in New York City’s suburbs and upstate regions. According to state voter registration data, 61% of the registered voters are not Democrats in those areas.

Siena pollsters asked 655 likely voters what issues will determine how they vote in the Nov. 8 election. Half of the Republican respondents said the economy was the most critical issue, and 36% of independent and other voters also said the economy. For Democrats, only 18% consider the economy their most pressing issue.

The economy was either the primary or second issue for 69% of Republicans, 59% of others and only 39% of Democrats. The three groups were closer on what was considered the next major issue as 35% of Democrats, 34% of GOP members and 32% of others fear threats to democracy as a motivator for voting.

Other issues did not rank as highly.

“National gun policy, abortion

and health care are important but second-tier issues for most voters,” Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement.

Independents and others also break away from Democrats when it comes to thinking about the direction of New York and the country.

While 58% of Democrats believe the state is on the right track, 56% of others feel the state is going the wrong way. Overall, only 41% of New Yorkers believe the state is on the right path, compared to 47% who do not.

New York Democrats aren’t as sure about the country’s direction, as only 45% believe the U.S. is on the right path, compared to 43% who disagree. Less than a quarter, 24%, of other voters believe America is on the right course, compared to two-thirds who do not.

Overall, only 31% like where the country is headed, compared to 59% who believe it’s going the wrong way.

Conducted from Sept. 16-25, the Siena poll has a 3.9% margin of error.

Director to retire after 40 years with SB Zoo

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Nancy McToldridge, the longtime director of the Santa Barbara Zoo, is retiring at the end of the month.

Ms. McToldridge has called the Santa Barbara Zoo home since 1982. It’s where she began her fourdecade career starting out as the director of education.

“Being a part of the Santa Barbara Zoo and this beloved Santa Barbara community has been such an honor,” Ms. McToldridge said in a news release.

me that our many years together at the Santa Barbara Zoo were some of the best of our lives!” Ms. McToldridge said.

FYI

The Santa Barbara Zoo has established the Nancy H. McToldridge Zoo Camp Scholarship Fund. To make an inaugural gift and help send a child to camp in honor Ms. McToldridge, go to sbzoo.pivvit.com/mctoldridgescholarship.

“Looking back to see how far we’ve come, and everything that has been accomplished with our amazing team, all while being advocates for wildlife conservation worldwide, is tremendously rewarding,” she said. “I look forward to supporting the Santa Barbara Zoo for many years to come!”

Ms. McToldridge’s late husband, Ted McToldridge, served as the zoo’s first director from 1964 until his retirement in December 1997.

“I know Ted would agree with

She began her career at the Ohio State Parks as an interpretive naturalist, where she discovered her passion for connecting people with nature. Following this passion led her to volunteer as a docent at the Columbus Zoo. she moved to Santa Barbara in 1982 after accepting the position of education curator. She was promoted to assistant director in 1989, COO in 1999, and director in 2007.

“There aren’t too many people who serve for 40 years at the same institution and still fewer who have the kind of impact of Nancy McToldridge,” Rich Block, the zoo president, said. “It is impossible to overstate the significance of Nancy’s contributions to the Santa Barbara Zoo and our professional community.

“While Nancy is a beloved local figure, she is equally beloved across the entire community of Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited institutions,” Mr.

Block said. “She has served her profession and colleagues through outstanding leadership, passion, devotion and joy, infecting all around her with energy and inspiration. We were lucky to claim Nancy as our own!”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Nancy H. McToldridge started her four-decade career with the Santa Barbara Zoo as its director of education.

Nancy McToldridge praises her team for its accomplishments

COURTESY PHOTOS

“Looking back to see how far we’ve come, and everything that has been accomplished with our amazing team, all while being advocates for wildlife conservation worldwide, is tremendously rewarding,” said Nancy H. McToldridge, who’s retiring as the Santa Barbara Zoo director.

Pomegranate

Available through the fall season, pomegranates contain between 200 to 1,300 seeds, surrounded by a tangy red translucent pulp called arils.

When you select pomegranates, pick the ones that feel heavy for their size and have a nice smooth skin.

Both the pulp and seeds are edible, and they can be enjoyed over a salad, or paired with seafood, chicken, lamb and pork. They can also be added to sauces and syrups, grain bowls and an array of beverages.

This week I prepared a kale pomegranate salad topped with roasted carrots and beets, avocado, feta cheese and a homemade pomegranate vinaigrette as the Fix of the Week on page B2.

You can currently find pomegranates at all weekly Santa Barbara Certified farmers markets from several local producers.

Price averages $2 each.

From aliens to Dolly Parton

Organic delicata squash

This week I scored some beautiful certified organic delicata squash from Tutti Frutti Farm of Lompoc. They’re recognized by their yellow skin that turns orange at full maturity, with alternating thin green or orange vertical stripes. The flesh inside is yellow-orange.

With a flavor like that of sweet potato, it is enjoyed best when roasted in the oven. The skin is so thin it can be eaten with the flesh, you simply need to scoop out the membrane and seeds before cooking.

Cut this squash into thin halfrounds and roast in the oven, or cook halved after a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper.The half rounds can also be sauteed until tender. Delicata squash additionally make for a nice stuffing squash, after roasted.

Price is $3 per pound for this lightweight squash.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

SAN DIEGO — Dolly Parton has traveled into outer space.

Actually, the legendary country singer and actress never had to leave Nashville, where she lives. The set of the spaceship series “The Orville: New Horizons” came to her.

Ms. Parton has been heralded on “The Orville,” streaming on Hulu, as a champion for women’s rights by Heveena (Rena Owen), the leader of the women on Moclus, a male-dominated planet that rejects females. Heveena thought Ms. Parton’s song “9 to 5,” from the movie of the same name, was the perfect inspirational number for her revolution.

For the third season of “The Orville” (all the episodes are available on the Hulu streaming service), Heveena met a holographic representation of Dolly Parton — played by Ms. Parton, of course — in a mountain cabin.

“We built the cabin set and basically cut it in half,” Seth McFarlane, creator, executive producer and star of “The Orville,” told fans this summer in a ballroom at San Diego ComicCon. “So half of it went to Nashville for Dolly, and the other half was in L.A.

“Rena flew to Nashville with us to do her scenes with Dolly. There was only time to do that,” Mr. McFarland said, referring to the camera being pointed at Ms. Parton.

“So we flew back to L.A. to film Rena’s

half of the scenes with a double for the back of Dolly’s head,” Mr. McFarland said, referring to the camera being pointed at Ms. Owen. “We essentially blended it together. You’re seeing two actors perform a great distance apart from each other. It’s amazing to see how the scene came together.”

Mr. McFarland, speaking via

videoconferencing on a screen, and the cast members and producers in person at San Diego ComicCon talked about the magic of making “The Orville” at the San Diego Convention Center.

The actors noted they often perform in front of green screens and are excited when they get to see the worlds their characters visited.

“The Orville” is a blend of drama and comedy that explores social issues through the lens of sci-fi. Mr. McFarland plays Capt. Ed Mercer of the Orville, a ship from the fleet in the Earth-based Planetary Union of interstellar alliances.

Mr. McFarland explained that he decided to name the ship and the series after Orville Wright when he read David McCullough’s biography about the Wright Brothers.

“The ship is supposed to be a mid-level exploratory ship, no means the flagship of the fleet, far from it. It felt like a good name in context of what I was reading at the time,” Mr. McFarland said. “Since then, it’s become more of a player in this fictional universe.”

Before “The Orville,” Mr. McFarland was known for his comedic movies and his animated shows such as “Family Guy.”

“With the animated shows and comedies I”ve done, it’s all hard work, but it’s something that’s like a reflex muscle to me. I know how to do it,” Mr. McFarland said. “With something like this (‘The Orville’), that’s unchartered territory. The possibility of failure is great. That’s much more exciting to me.”

He added that he has liked the move from the Fox broadcast network to Hulu, where the stories aren’t locked into 43-minute time limits. In fact, some of this season’s episodes exceed an hour.

Mr. McFarland said he listens to fans,

Baby scallopini squash

I have really been enjoying these small, tender, baby scallopini “scallop” squashes from the Beylik Family Farm of Fillmore, available at the Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Carpintera and Friday Montecito farmers’ markets. They’re shaped like a saucer, with wavy scalloped edges.

This squash is tender with a higher moisture content than fully mature squash.

Baby scallopini squash delivers an underlying sweet and grassy flavor throughout. And it’s available in an array of colors such as green, yellow, yellow-and-green speckled, and occasionally white. Make sure to take advantage of the “summer” squash while you can, as the season will soon be winding down.

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

‘The Orville’ takes fans on dramatic and comedic journey through outer space and moral dilemmas

GREG GAYNE/HULU

A cabin set was transported to Nashville for Dolly Parton’s scene on the sci-fi series “The Orville.”

GREG GAYNE/HULU

MICHAEL DESMOND/HULU

From left are Dr. Villka (Eliza Taylor) and Isaac (Mark Jackson). Isaac supposedly doesn’t have emotions, but he shows signs of having them, even if he’s unaware of them.

Center, Dr. Claire Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald) is a single mother raising her young sons Ty (Kai Wener) and, not pictured, Marcus (BJ Tanner) on the Orville.

ALI GOLDSTEIN/HULU

Seth McFarland, the creator of “The Orville,” plays Capt. Ed Mercer.

Fix of the Week

As we officially roll into autumn, I’m noticing some of my favorite seasonal fall fruits emerge.

From passionfruit and pataya, to guavas, pears, and apples, such items make the absence of the summer stone fruit much more tolerable.

This week, I purchased my first pomegranates of the season, another locally harvested product that takes the spotlight this time of year. Pomegranates possess a hard thick peel that can be found in white, yellow, pink, red and purple. Once opened, the intricate pockets of tightly packed small red beads are exposed, which is the edible portion of the pomegranate.

These small beads contain the red flesh surrounded by a small seed, both of which are edible.

For those who have had a bottle of pomegranate juice, these beads have been pressed to release the juice from the flesh, with the seeds inevitably discarded. The flesh itself possesses a nice bold tangy flavor, and the seed is slightly bitter.

Pomegranates are highly sought for their high levels of antioxidants, derived from their dark red flesh. Consumed fresh with the seeds, however, they additionally deliver an abundance of dietary fiber.

In one medium pomegranate, consuming both flesh and seeds, you get 11 grams, or 45% of your daily recommended dietary fiber.

It additionally provides 5 grams of protein and almost 50% of your daily recommended vitamin C. They are also a good source of vitamin K, folate, calcium, iron and along with decent amounts of many other essential vitamins and minerals.

Once home, you should store

your pomegranates on the countertop until ready to eat. They will hold fresh for about two weeks. They can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Pomegranates have several great uses. They’re excellent when taken on a long hike for a boost of energy, enjoyed straight out of the peel. They are also delicious when enjoyed in a mixed green or spinach salad, when added to your steamed rice, in curry dishes, or when used to top a rich homemade soup.

I find pomegranate pair extremely well with fresh fish, especially when served with a flavorful broth as well as chicken and pork.

This week I prepared a kale pomegranate salad with roasted carrots and beets, avocado, feta cheese and a homemade pomegranate vinaigrette.

KALE, ROASTED CARROT, BEET, AND POMEGRANATE SALAD WITH POMEGRANATE VINAIGRETTE

1 bunch kale, stems discarded, leaves rinsed and dried.

4-5 carrots, peeled and cut into long, thin strips.

2 beets, peeled and cut into small cubes.

2 tablespoons olive oil. Salt and pepper.

1 pomegranate, skin and white membrane discarded (1/2 of the seeds for the salad topper and ½ of the seeds for the dressing recipe below.

1 medium firm-ripe avocado cut into thin slices.

¼ cup feta cheese or chevre

FOR THE DRESSING

½ of the seeds from the pomegranate above.

1/3 cup olive oil.

2 tablespoons honey. Juice from 1 lemon.

1 large garlic clove.

2 tablespoons rice vinegar (can also use white balsamic or red wine vinegars).

1 tablespoon Dijon. Pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Place all contents in a blender and blend until very smooth. You want to make sure all of the pomegranate seeds are very finely blended. Refrigerate and mix well before serving.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Chop kale into very small pieces and place them in a mixing bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble salad. Toss the carrots and beets in olive oil, seasoning with salt and pepper.

Place on a single layer baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and cook for about 20 minutes. Then toss beets and turn carrots and cook for a final 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Toss kale with a few tablespoons of your pomegranate salad dressing. (I usually massage the dressing using clean hands to help tenderize the kale.) Top salad with roasted carrots and beets, avocado slices, remaining [pomegranate seeds and cheese. Drizzle top with a final tablespoon of dressing.

Yield: Serves 4 salads.

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Best of all, this exceptional, heirloom quality furniture is priced about the same as you would pay for good quality factory-made furniture. Now is the time to visit MichaelKate Contemporary Furniture.

ORVILLE Continued from Page A7

and he took their comments into account when the third season this year began with a story about Isaac, the Kaylon robot played by Mark Jackson (who is both the voice of the robot and the actor inside the costume and says his lines on the set first before recording them a second time in post-production).

When the Kaylons decided to attack Earth during the second season, Isaac betrayed his crewmates, but realized the Kaylons were wrong and helped the Planetary Union defeat the Kaylons. But fans pointed out in social media that Isaac shouldn’t simply return to the bridge of “The Orville” as if nothing had happened, Mr. McFarland said.

The first episode of the third season, “Electric Sheep,” deals with Isaac facing resentment from the crew, including the new navigator Charly Burke, played by Anne Winters. Ms. Winters was among the cast members at the ComicCon panel.

Charly loved a woman who died when the Kaylons attacked their ship.

“I came from a ship that didn’t have a Kaylon (in the crew). It’s my first experience with a Kaylon,” Ms. Winters told fans, but added, “She (Charly) grows over the season.”

Mr. Jackson, the English

TUNE IN

actor playing Isaac, said Isaac’s betraying the Orville crew shifted the character into a new gear.

Initially, “he was the butt of a few jokes, such as Mr. Potato Head,” Mr. Jackson said, referring to a prank that put Mr. Potato Head’s pieces on Isaac’s head without his knowledge. “His betrayal made him quite a serious player in ‘The Orville.’ The rest is history. It’s been quite a journey for Isaac.”

Isaac redeemed himself this season by helping his shipmates, and while he supposedly can’t feel emotions, he has shown signs of empathy and compassion, especially in his romantic relationship with Dr. Claire Finn (Penny Johnson Jerald), the chief medical officer. He’s also become a father figure for the single mother’s sons Marcus (BJ Tanner) and Ty (Kai Wener).

The relationship between Dr. Finn and Isaac grew this season, to a story point that won’t be spoiled here.

At ComicCon, a fan asked Ms. Jerald about her favorite onscreen romance in the sci-fi universe.

“I’m listening, Penny,” Mr. Jackson said before she answered the question. The actors and fans

laughed.

Well, no offense to Mr. Jackson, but Ms. Jerald had another character in mind besides Isaac for her favorite love interest. She played the fiancee and eventual wife of Capt. Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.”

“He used to be Hawk,” Ms. Jerald said with a smile, referring to Mr. Brooks’ character on “Spenser: For Hire,” a crime drama series.

Peter Macon, the actor who plays the Orville’s second officer, the very serious Moclan named Bortus, turned out to be one of the funniest actors at the ComicCon panel. And he and Jessica Szohr, the actress playing Talla Keyali, the ship’s strong chief of security, had a story for the fans.

It had to do with the extensive makeup that turns Mr. Macon into an alien.

“I had only just worked begun working with Peter,” Ms. Keyali said as Mr. Macon listened. “I never saw him outside the studio as Brotus. One day, I’m walking, and this guy says, ‘Hi, Jess.’ ”

Ms. Keyali didn’t recognize Mr. Macon.

“I never saw this dude in my life,” she said. “He says, ‘I’m Peter. I’m Bortus.’ ”

That’s the magic of sci-fi, where humans can be transformed into aliens and even a robot with a girlfriend.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Shelters seek homes for pets

Local animal shelters and their nonprofit partners are looking for homes for pets.

For more information, go to these websites:

• Animal Services-Lompoc, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc.

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org.

ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

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

• Companion Animal Placement

Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook.com/capaoflompoc.

CAPA works regularly with Animal Services-Lompoc.

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

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

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

• Santa Barbara Humane (with

campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home. sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

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

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

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

Tahoe Dining in Solid Walnut.

LLOYD SIGLER DESIGNTM

X-Table Dining in Solid Walnut

Turin Dining in

Cherry

NOW IS THE TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS...

Sam Edelman

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS

Jessica Szohr, the actress playing the alien security officer Talla Keyali, and Mark Jackson, who plays the Kaylon robot Isaac, participate in a San Diego ComicCon panel.

All three seasons of “The Orville” stream on Hulu.

GILLES MINGASSON/HULU

Bortus (Peter Macon), the Orville’s second officer from the planet Moclus, becomes Elvis in one scene. It won’t be spoiled here when that happened this season. All of the season’s 10 episodes are on Hulu.

Diversions

Thought for Today

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.” — Dr. Seuss

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, September 29, 2022

ARIES — Don’t plunge headfirst into work mode, Aries. The cleaning and tidying up can surely wait for another day. Today’s energies indicate that talking with friends and family should be your main priority. Consider spending the afternoon doing activities with your kids. Hire a babysitter for the evening.

TAURUS — It’s likely that your thoughts are completely turned to work. Much as you should devote your time off to family, you can’t help the way you’re wired, Taurus. When at home, you may sneak away to check your email. Perhaps you secretly phone your business partner.

GEMINI — This is a good day for financial matters, Gemini. With your credit cards maxed out, you may be thinking that your bank account isn’t as healthy as it could be. But today you’re likely to receive some news that indicates otherwise. You may get a windfall or discover that your portfolio is generating healthy returns.

CANCER — You could be feeling quite lazy today, Cancer, and you definitely deserve to feel this way! You deserve some time off after all of the activities of the past week. Give yourself the gift of a true day off. Do only what you want, whether it’s watching movies or spending the afternoon soaking in the tub. Total indulgence. Just relax and unwind.

LEO — You think of yourself as a practical person, Leo, but today your thoughts may turn to the mystical and spiritual. Your intuition is strong now, letting you tune in to the feelings of your loved ones. This allows you to be empathetic and understanding, which your partner especially appreciates.

VIRGO — You will probably encounter a bit of opposition along with today’s planetary energies, Virgo. Even those who are usually right behind you will seem uncooperative. Try not to let this faze you too much. Resolve to follow your own instincts and work alone if need be.

LIBRA — Your thoughts

today are likely to turn to setting goals for the future, particularly concerning your career. While you’ve made a lot of progress in recent months, you’d like to see even more forward movement. This would be a great day to start thinking of concrete ways to make that happen, Libra.

SCORPIO — Today’s planetary energies are stimulating your ambition, Scorpio. Issues connected with your professional life may be very much on your mind. You could plot out ways to further your career. Perhaps you seek a promotion in your current business, or you could be thinking about looking for another job entirely.

SAGITTARIUS — You’ve been so busy these past few weeks that you may have inadvertently neglected the special person in your life, Sagittarius. It’s been fun to be out and about together, but that has left little time for closeness and snuggling. Try to rectify that today. In fact, a midafternoon nap might be called for.

CAPRICORN — It’s possible that a big change is in store for you in the near future, Capricorn. It may be that you’ve come to realize that your current home and neighborhood are no longer a good fit. If you’ve been toying with the idea of moving, today you may get some news that motivates you to make your fantasy a reality.

AQUARIUS — Perhaps you spent quite a bit of money lately and you’re holding your breath waiting for the bills to roll in. Some quick reckoning of receipts today likely yields some wonderful news. Wonder of wonders, it appears you’ve stayed within your budget, Aquarius! Try not to overreact to the news that you have more money than you thought.

PISCES — This is a good day to reflect on the past weeks and get some perspective, Pisces. You’ve probably been working too hard and neglecting other priorities in your life. Give yourself this day to relax and talk with friends and relatives. Spend the day chatting, laughing, and unwinding.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

SUDOKU

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

CODEWORD 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

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

GUESS

PETITE JIGSAWJumbles: Answer: When given the chance to perform a motorcycle stunt on TV, Evel Knievel — JUMPED AT IT

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Group of state attorneys general say Senate energy bill could impose backdoor Clean Power Plan

By VICTOR SKINNER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is leading a coalition of 18 states in opposition to the Energy Independence and Security Act, which they claim is a backdoor attempt to impose the failed Clean Power Plan.

“The Biden administration and its allies in Congress are attempting to not only force unreliable renewables on hardworking Americans, but also turn those consumers into bigger pawns of the green energy industry,”

Attorney General Landry said. “The D.C. elites, in a rushed process, want to restrict the electric power grid by repealing the traditional authority of the states to regulate their own resources and utility policies.”

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Va., introduced the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2022 last week, and the “comprehensive permitting reform” is included in a Continuing

Resolution to avoid a government shutdown on Saturday.

The bill is part of a deal between Sen. Manchin; Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; and President Joe Biden to gain Sen. Manchin’s support for the Inflation Reduction Act approved by Congress in August.

Sen. Manchin contends the legislation is necessary to reduce costs for energy projects, though the legislation faces opposition from both Republicans and Democrats.

In a letter to Sen. Schumer, the attorneys general argued three interrelated provisions in the bill “eviscerate states’ ability to chair their own land-use and energy policies.”

“First, it would authorize private companies to use eminent domain against state land,” the letter read. “Second, it would authorize (the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to command utilities to construct entirely new transmission facilities whenever and wherever FERC

deems necessary. And third, it would authorize companies to spread costs of constructing new transmission facilities onto residents of other states, requiring citizens of one state to subsidize the agenda of citizens in other states.”

“These provisions eviscerate state sovereign authority, commandeer companies to carry out the will of a three-vote majority of FERC Commissioners, undermine the power of each citizens’ vote to decide policies at the state level, and inevitably force the citizens of our states to subsidize the costs of expensive energy policy preferences of California and New York.”

The attorneys general also took issue with the short timeline for approving the legislation, which they argued “is completely unacceptable.”

“If this sounds uncannily like the Clean Power Plan, the ultra vires (a legal term that means acting beyond one’s authority]) 2015 EPA rule that would have effectively forced all states and

regions to adopt the cap-andtrade, renewable-subsidizing policies that to date only some states and regions have chosen, that’s because it is in large part the same policy — but this time with no meaningful public notice, explanation, discussion, input or legal recourse,” the attorneys general wrote.

“As the Supreme Court held earlier this year, the Clean Power Plan was illegal – but at least it was openly proclaimed by President Obama, undertaken through public notice and comment and subject to full judicial review,” the letter read. “To attempt changes on this order without any notice and under rushed timing is completely unacceptable.”

Attorney General Landry was joined in the letter by attorneys generals from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utaand Virginia.

Western New York leaders thankful for Canada ending COVID border restrictions

By STEVE BITTENBENDER THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — New York officials have heralded a decision by Canadian leaders to end the country’s COVID-19 restrictions at border crossings effective later this week.

Starting on Saturday, all travelers will not need to show proof of vaccination, provide information through a website or submit to COVID testing.

“Canada’s travel measures successfully mitigated the full impact of COVID-19 for travelers and workers in the transportation sector and helped keep communities safe,”

Canadian Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said in a

RELIEF

Continued from Page A1

without communications after losing power, but the Goleta nonprofit expects to be in contact with them again today.

On Wednesday night, more than 1.8 million people were without power in Florida,

statement. “Thanks to Canadians who rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated, we are able to take this great step toward easing measures and returning to normal.”

Western New York sits next to the Canadian province of Ontario at Niagara Falls, with their border a critical one for both commerce and tourism. Leaders in the region said Canadian officials should have eased the restrictions long ago and called Washington to follow suit.

“It has been two and a half long years of border restrictions between the United States and Canada,” U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-New York state, said in a statement. “The extended measures have kept loved

ones apart and kept border communities from reaching full economic recovery.”

Last Wednesday, Rep. Higgins wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, saying there was a “disconnect” between the stated American policy that car-bound travelers from Canada must show proof of vaccination upon entry and how border patrol agents enforced it.

Rep. Higgins said agents only requested vaccination records when they pulled vehicles for additional inspections.

“This obvious contradiction between policy and practice underscores the fact that the policy is accomplishing no public health or border security goals while it imposes

an unnecessary burden on the economies of northern border communities and an unnecessary hardship on northern border families,” Rep.l Higgins wrote.

State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, had been calling for the restrictions to end for months, saying the measures, which have been in place since the border reopened last November, hampered recovery efforts.

“New Yorkers saw the freedom to connect and gather with family and friends suppressed during the pandemic – a freedom that should never again be in the hands of an overbearing government,” Sen. Ortt said.

transit occupancy taxes to the city.

Councilmember Mike Jordan voiced alarm at the number of short-term housing units out there that are unlicensed.

“We’re collecting TOT from people who do not have permits,” he said. “How can we take people’s fees without them legally operating? It’s kind of like five years ago. How are we back here again? I’m annoyed we’re in this position again.”

Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez asked what the penalties are for “having put your address on one of these websites and not having them permitted.”

City Administrator Rebecca Bjork said there are administrative fines or criminal enforcement, but that illegal operators consider fines simply as the cost of doing business, and the cost of the city going to court would be “extremely high.”

Instead, expanding the shortterm rental housing program citywide, and requiring people who want to offer short-term rentals to pay annual permit fees, as suggested by staff, “would give us the tools to enforce it and the means for doing so.”

Mayor Rowse, meanwhile, voiced concern that under the draft proposal, local government would control how and when people use their private homes.

“I don’t want to dictate what people do with their own properties,” he said. “I want to assure that the conditions they buy under remain the same.”

He said he doesn’t support a ban, but wants to see a complete overhaul of the administrative process. “It’s nuts what we put people through to become a short-term rental.”

In contrast, Councilmember Meagan Harmon asked repeatedly if short-term housing could simply be banned throughout the city.

If not, she said, then restricting short-term rentals to people’s primary homes has to be part of an overhauled program. “The whole program won’t work if that’s not part of it,” she said. “It’s a way to ensure those units are not used as short-term rentals only.”

She, too, voiced concern about the city’s inability to enforce that short-term rentals are legal. “If we can’t enforce then there’s no value in this new framework at al.”

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said she’d rather not go further into residential zones in terms of allowing short-term rentals, noting that allowing homeowners to monetize their properties gives them an incentive to turn their homes into short-term rentals, which affects the character of an entire neighborhood.

“It’s just not worth the tradeoff of having a business use,” she said.

Councilmember Sneddon said the city should limit the number of short-term rentals overall, and restrict itself to enforcement and collecting fees from short-term rentals already in place.

As for illegal operators, she said the fines imposed should increase from $500 per violation.

Councilmember Eric Friedman said he’s against pushing further into residential neighborhoods. “We can’t even enforce what we have.”

He suggested placing a cap on the number of short-term rentals allowed in the city. “That’s how much we’re ever going to have, and they have to comply with whatever we have.”

email: nhartstein@newspress. com

HUBER, Nelson

July 10, 1949 – September 18, 2022

according to poweroutage.us.

Direct Relief has hurricane preparedness packs staged in Georgia, South Carolina and across the U.S. Gulf Coast, and emergency supplies were staged in Havana, Cuba, prior to Hurricane Ian reaching the island.

“Direct Relief has been in daily communication with the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, as well as Florida VOAD, or Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster,” Direct Relief said on its website (www. directrelief.org). “Direct Relief is also ready to deploy additional medicines and supplies as well as a variety of backup power options as needed.”

At least 26 states sent help to Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.

The aid varied from Blackhawk helicopters from Alabama to search and rescue resources from Tennessee and Louisiana.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Nelson Huber came here for one purpose, to make music. For him, music was a sacrament capable of healing us and lifting us out of the ordinary and into the sublime. The term sui generis - in a class by himself - does not even begin to describe him.

He tells the story of his discovery of music in the following way: At the age of sixteen, he sat down at the piano and the music came rushing out of him. It was as if it was o go.

Nelson lived for beauty. He collected crystals because their unique, timeless quality mirrored something ineffable inside him. He loved cultivating roses and luxuriated in their primal, delicate sensuality. When asked what he imagined heaven might be like he said, “An English garden in full bloom.”

One of his most cherished memories was falling asleep on a secluded beach in Hawaii, then waking up completely surrounded by giant sea turtles.

Nelson saw God’s face in manifest creation. Whether it was the thunderous drum of saw what most others could not see. An exalted piece of music would make him weep consisting of an upside-down fruit pastry that’s traditionally made with caramelized apples and puff pastry. Art fed his soul.

Though he loved Christ, he was fascinated by the Chinese philosophy of Taoism. In fact, he did his master’s thesis in choral conducting referencing Taoist principles. In particular, he was inspired by the notion that alignment with the natural order creates harmony and meaning. He was intrigued by the Taoist concept of wu wei –sometimes incorrectly translated as “non action.” What it really means is “the absence formula for creating music that transports the listener—not too much, nor too little.

As awe inspiring as his musical gifts were, his bold, spontaneous personality concealed giraffe, a gorgeous, exotic creature that is essentially solitary. Although he was at home recognize and love him unconditionally--most notably, his “niece” Lauren’s baby boy, Kasper, with whom he yearned to spend more time.

Nelson gratefully spent much of the latter portion of his life with his closest and dearest friend, Vicki Archer. She has been the truest and most loyal family to him, across the globe. You know who you are. He requested that some special colleagues be acknowledged: Val Underwood, Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, Emma Lou Diemer, Marilyn Skiold, Josephine Brummel, Julie Neufeld, Gary Smith, Erin Bonski-Evans, Jacqueline Greenshields, Steven Thomson, Temmo Korisheli, Kristen Dittman, Mary Dombek, Christine Hollinger, Ed Thompson, and all of the wonderful, creative people with whom he shared a love of music.

the Heavenly choir of angels. We shall miss him along with his inimitable musical improvisations, and all that he brought to every occasion for which he was asked to play.

Cosmic Love falling all around me, through me and from me. I am one with It, as It is with me. At last, dancing.”

If anyone feels inclined to donate in his memory, he requested that the offering be sent to Hawaii Performing Arts Festival. Please send to: Irma Singer, HPAF Director of Finance, Nelson Huber Scholarship Fund: 340 Old Mill Road, Space 266 Santa Barbara, CA 93110. https://www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org/donate/

A memorial will be held for Nelson on October 1, 2022, at 1:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara, CA, 93105

BERGER, William H.

BILL BERGER LEAVES SANTA BARBARA A BETTER PLACE

William H. “Bill” Berger passed away peacefully on the evening of September 17, 2022, just four days after his 92nd birthday.

Throughout his long life and career, he made a positive impact on many people as; a teacher, a Christian, a coach, a soldier, a Model A owner, a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Born in 1930 to immigrant parents from Belarus and Australia, Bill grew up in Oakland. He attended UC Berkeley where he was their iconic Mascot Oski for 3 years.

In 1953 he started a family and soon after served in the Korean War as a Second Lieutenant. Upon his return, he moved to Goleta where he was gifted a 1931 Model A 400 Convertible – which started his lifelong love of the car, club, and culture of the Model A. Many in Santa Barbara County waved to Bill as he drove that pretty yellow old car in all those parades!

As an Army Reservist, he served until retirement, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

One of his most remarkable legacies was his dedication to innovating and mainstreaming special education. His renowned career began at Parma Special Education School in Santa Barbara. He then moved to Dos Pueblos High School, where he piloted a program to integrate his students into the general education classrooms.

He was always much more than a classroom teacher. He coached sports teams, Pueblos Charger’s home football games, among many other legacies. Bill was also an active member of the Goleta Presbyterian Church.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, sons Randall and Daniel, daughter Judith, stepson David, and granddaughters Sarah, Bek, and Matilda.

In-Honor Donations to Wounded Warrior Project at support.woundedwarriorproject.org or Hillside House Santa Barbara at hillsidesb.org/donate.

Bill Berger is immortal because of the hundreds of Santa Barbara hearts that will carry a memory of him forever.

A celebration of Bill Berger’s life will take place on October 1st, 2022 at 11.00am at the Goleta Presbyterian Church, 6067 Shirrell Way, Goleta. If you would like to participate remotely, the celebration will be streamed online on the Goleta Presbyterian Church YouTube channel.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@ newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval. The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch. All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street. The deadline for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday’s editions is at 10a.m. on Thursdays; Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time). Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at news@newspress.com. The News-Press cannot accept Death Notices from individuals.

Wind west-northwest 6-12 knots today. Waves 1-3

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POINT ARENA TO POINT PINOS