Santa Barbara News-Press: December 01, 2022

A one-day rainstorm

After today’s precipitation, there’s a break expected on Friday before showers on Saturday

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Get out your umbrellas because George Harrison’s song was wrong — at least for today. Here comes the rain. And it will fall everywhere today in Santa Barbara County, the National Weather Service said. (There was a chance of some rain beginning after the NewsPress went to press Wednesday evening.)

A break from the rain will come Friday, according to the weather service. There will be no rain but partly cloudy skies.

On Saturday, showers are predicted throughout the county as a second storm system comes into the area. It’s expected to produce less rain than today’s downpour.

Forecasters are expecting between half an inch to an inch and a half of rain between today and the end of Saturday.

Then that’s it for the rain, and the sky’s expected to be mostly cloudy on Sunday, followed by sunshine on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. (The weather service predicts seven days at a time.)

The National Weather Service expects a similar trend in San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

Besides today’s rain, Santa Barbara County will experience cold temperatures. According to the weather service, today’s highs will be 60 in Santa Barbara, 58 at UCSB, 60 in Lompoc, 59 in Santa Maria and 58 in Santa Ynez.

The lows? They’re expected to 49 in Santa Barbara, 46 at UCSB, 45 in Santa Maria, 42 in Lompoc and 40 in Santa Ynez.

But no place seems to be

colder than Cuyama, where the weather service predicts a high of 55 today and a low near freezing: 36.

Even as the sun begins to reemerge, things won’t warm up much. Friday’s projected highs are 62 in Santa Barbara, 59 in Santa Maria and 60 in Lompoc.

Santa Ynez will see a high of 61.

And the lows will fall further, with 43 in Santa Barbara, 39 in Lompoc, and 37 in both Santa Maria and Santa Ynez.

It’s expected to get below freezing in Cuyama, with a low of 31. The high there? 53.

The temperatures are

expected to stick around the upper 50s and low 60s for the highs and the 40s for the lows through Wednesday in Santa Barbara County.

Long after you put away your umbrella, you’ll need your coat. email: dmason@newspress.com

Carpinteria council votes to terminate lease

Decision comes after likely defeat of Measure T

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Carpinteria City Council has voted to terminate a lease between the city and Marla Daily for a parcel of land that could be used for permanent parking should the proposed Surfliner Inn be approved by the city.

The council voted 4-1 Monday to give Ms. Daily 30 days’ notice that the city wishes to terminate the lease. Vice Mayor Al Clark voted against Councilmember Gregg Carty’s motion to end the lease.

Ms. Daily did not attend the council meeting.

Although Measure T was not mentioned, its likely defeat clears the way for the city to continue its review of the proposed Surfliner

Inn, a two-story boutique hotel slated to be built on half of a public parking lot (Lot No. 3) in downtown Carpinteria.

Measure T proponents sought to block its construction by passing the measure, which would have changed the lot’s zoning to open space/recreation. One of the founders of the Vote Yes side was Marla Daily, which Measure T opponents said amounted to conflict of interest because she would lose the parcel she now leases from the city.

As it stands, opponents of the ballot measure have a 79-vote lead in defeating the ballot measure, 2,532 to 2,453. Santa Barbara County still needs to certify the

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Local health officials are discussing what residents could be facing this winter concerning COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, all of which are being seen in a significant number of cases.

Is a tridemic looming on the

horizon?

“Well, that depends on what you mean by ‘tridemic,’” said Dr. David Fisk, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at Cottage Health.

“You can already say as of today, that the community has experienced high rates of RSV

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

The latest election results show defeat for Measure T, which would have prevented the construction of a hotel on parking lot No. 3 in Carpinteria. Santa Barbara County hasn’t yet certified the election results. Dec. 8 is the deadline for certification.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Clouds blanket the sky Wednesday above the Christmas trees sold at Lane Farms off Hollister Avenue and Walnut Lane in Goleta. Rain is expected today throughout Santa Barbara County.

A cloudy sky hovers above Goleta Pier on Wednesday.

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS FILE

Dr. Kenneth Waxman, right, delivers the booster Moderna COVID19 vaccine dose to Maria Cortez in February 2021 at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute in Santa Barbara. Physicians recommend people get the COVID vaccines and the boosters, as well as the flu vaccine.

Deputy resuscitates patient found overdosing

GOLETA — A Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputy used naloxone to revive a man found lying Monday night on his back on the sidewalk.

At approximately 11:49 p.m., a deputy on patrol noticed the man, who was lying near the 5900 block of Hollister Avenue in Goleta. The deputy checked on the man and found him unresponsive, said Raquel Zick, the sheriff’s office public information officer.

The deputy recognized the signs of an apparent overdose and requested an emergency medical response. While medics were enroute, the deputy administered a single dose of naloxone to the patient, who regained consciousness before being transported by ambulance to an area hospital.

Ms. Zick said the patient is expected to survive. She added that the sheriff’s office would like to highlight this incident as an example of the danger of fentanyl use, the importance of carrying naloxone, and recognizing the signs of overdose, which may include:

• Difficulty in waking up.

• Slowed breathing.

• Confusion.

• Blue or pale lips and fingernails.

If you notice these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately and give naloxone, Ms. Zick said. An individual who is experiencing an opioid overdose needs immediate medical attention.

California’s 911 Good Samaritan law (Assembly Bill 472) provides limited protection from arrest, charge and prosecution for people who seek emergency medical assistance at the scene of a suspected drug overdose.

Ms. Zick noted Pacific Pride Foundation offers free naloxone at its syringe exchange program and at its Santa Barbara and Santa Maria offices.

For more information, see www. pacificpridefoundation.org.

—Katherine Zehnder

Seacliff ramps to be closed

VENTURA — Caltrans has announced a 59-hour weekend closure of Seacliff off- and on-ramps on southbound Highway 101 near Ventura from 7 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. for pavement rehabilitation.

Caltrans said the Seacliff off-ramp might

Former student sues Thacher School

A former student is suing The Thacher School in Ojai over allegations of sexual assault.

Jennifer Christiansen Vurno is alleging she was sexually assaulted on numerous occasions by John Friborg when she was a high school student at The Thacher School,

open sooner.

Signs will be posted. Caltrans said motorists can expect delays.

In addition to ramp closures, there will be overnight closures of southbound Highway 101 from Mussel Shoals to Faria Beach from 10 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday and from 10 p.m. Saturday until 9 a.m. Sunday. The closure is also planned for 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

Caltrans said one southbound bypass lane and two northbound lanes will remain open overnight. Two lanes in both directions will be open during the day.

— Katherine Zehneder

Construction delayed on Olive Mill Road

MONTECITO — The start of construction for the Olive Mill Roundabout has been pushed back a couple of weeks to enable Caltrans, the city of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara County more time to finalize the long-term maintenance agreement.

Caltrans said the project team anticipates having updated schedule information later next week.

a private boarding school. Mr. Friborg is a former coach, counselor and administrator at the school. He resigned from the school in 1997.

The lawsuit complaint was filed in Ventura County Superior Court. It names Thacher School as the defendant and makes allegations of “sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress; sexual harassment; negligent hiring, supervision and/or retention; violation of mandatory duty to report

Because of the construction delay, the offramp at Olive Mill Road will remain open as usual this weekend.

— Katherine Zehnder

Freeway lane closures announced

Caltrans has announced freeway closures for the South Coast.

On northbound Highway 101, one lane will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday from Santa Claus Lane to Sheffield Drive.

The northbound on-ramp at Ortega Hill Road will be closed for up to eight months and is anticipated to reopen on Feb. 14, Caltrans reported. Until then, drivers can use the onramp at Sheffield Drive.

The off-ramp at Evans/Lillie Ave will be closed for up to four months and is expected to reopen Jan. 26. Until then, drivers can use the northbound off-ramp at North Padaro Lane.

On southbound Highway 101, one lane will be open from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. from Sheffield Drive to Carpinteria Avenue.

— Katherine Zehnder

suspected child abuse; negilent supervision of a minor and negligence.”

The suit calls for a jury trial.

Ms. Vurno, a 1996 graduate of The Thacher School, chose to reveal her identity rather than be an anonymous “Jane Doe.” She attended the school from 1992 to 1996.

More on the lawsuit will appear in Friday’s News-Press.

— Dave Mason

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COURTESY PHOTO

Naloxone was used when a deputy revived a man who suffered an apparent drug overdose and was found lying on his back on a Goleta sidewalk.

House votes to back bill to avert rail strike

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday on an agreement between rail companies and workers to prevent a strike that could have major economic consequences.

Lawmakers voted 290 to 137 to back a deal between unions and rail companies that includes pay increases. Now, the Senate must consider the issue.

In a separate more partisan vote, House Democrats and a few Republicans narrowly voted to increase the number of sick days for employees to seven.

The deal came in response to a threatened Dec. 9 strike.

“I’m grateful to Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and bipartisan House members for acting to prevent a rail shutdown, making clear it would devastate our economy and families everywhere,” President Joe Biden said. “But without more action, supply chain disruptions will begin. The Senate must urgently send a bill to my desk.”

Some Republicans blamed President Biden for his role in those negotiations.

“I’m relieved that we are a step closer to preventing a rail strike,”

said U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark., ranking member on the House Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials subcommittee. “We were forced to act because the Biden Administration, despite its claims to the contrary, couldn’t get buy-in from its Big Labor allies to avoid a strike that would cripple large parts of the economy. A rail strike would worsen our continuing supply chain woes, hammering our agriculture industry and giving us empty store shelves. It would also fuel further inflation at a time when American families can least afford it.”

The bill comes after months of negotiations between labor unions and rail companies with President Biden often mediating between the two. President Biden brokered a deal in September, but four out of the 12 labor unions involved were not willing to back the deal.

As The Center Square previously reported, a shutdown of U.S. rail would have huge consequences for the economy.

A report from the Association of American Railroads said that the shutdown would cost $2 billion per day and “would immediately harm every economic sector served by rail.” The group said 7,000 trains per day would be

affected and would “trigger retail product shortages, widespread manufacturing shutdowns, job losses and disruptions to hundreds of thousands of passenger rail customers.” Rail moves about 28% of U.S. freight.

House Democrats also voted Wednesday to elect U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. to replace Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who recently announced she was stepping down from her leadership role.

One union group praised the deal after its passage Wednesday.

“The [Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division-International Brotherhood of Teamsters] applauds the representatives in Congress and any Senators that will stand in support of Railroad Workers receiving paid sick leave. The additional legislation needs to pass so that Railroad Workers will have basic protections against illness, and protection from punishment from the railroads when Workers are most vulnerable,” the group said on its website. “This should not be a political issue; this is an issue about protecting our Workers who ensure the nation’s rail infrastructure and supply chain function as best as possible.”

UCSB men’s basketball drops cross country battle to Duquesne

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB men’s basketball team (4-2) made the trip across the country to Pittsburgh, Penn., to take on the Duquesne University Dukes for the first time in the history of these programs. Despite the effort put in by the Gauchos throughout the game, they were not able to leave the Keystone State with a win, dropping their second road game of the season 72-61 to the Dukes.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos came out strong in the first seven minutes, going basket for basket with the Atlantic 10’s Duquesne. But once the Dukes grabbed a three-pointer, the Gauchos fell behind and could not come back. The Gauchos tried to create a consistent rhythm on offense, but they would get shut down by the Duquesne, resulting in a 37-27 score at the half.

From there, UCSB came back on the court with a new sense of urgency. They chipped away at the Dukes’ lead, down by only four with seven minutes left in the game. However, Duquesne went on a run at the end of the second half, suffocating the Gauchos’ spark. Even with a last-minute push, UCSB could not close the gap, losing this game 72-61 to Duquesne.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Josh Pierre-Louis has been phenomenal since returning from injury, and he continued that success into this game. The senior guard from Plainfield, N.J., led the Gauchos with 15 points in the game, going seven-for-nine from the field. Along with that, he earned a team-high nine rebounds.

SY girls soccer beats Pioneer Valley in opening game

The Santa Ynez girls soccer team (1-0) opened up their 20222023 campaign with a 3-0 win on the road against Pioneer Valley.

Santa Ynez’ first goal came in the 26th minute, when Weylin Hawkins scored following a 35yard free kick by Anya Newton.

The Pirates scored again just eight minutes later on a goal by Isabella Rubio assisted by passes from Ava Hamaoui and Janeth Davalos, leaving the score at the end of the first half 2-0.

Santa Ynez remained consistent in the second half, dominating possession and scoring their final goal in the 54th minute when Newton found Ashlin Finely to make the score 3-0.

The Pirates return to action on Friday at 6 p.m., when they host Lompoc.

- Matt Smolensky

Carp girls basketball wins over Thacher

The Carpinteria girls basketball team crushed Thacher on Tuesday, winning by a score of 5335 and improving its record to 4-4.

Josh Pierre-Louis led the Gauchos with 15 points in the game, going seven-fornine from the field. Along with that, he earned a teamhigh nine rebounds.

• Following up close behind Pierre-Louis was grad transfer Andre Kelly. He helped the Gauchos by earning 14 points and blocking a shot.

• Two other Gauchos secured 10 points apiece, Miles Norris and Ajay Mitchell. Norris commanded the offense by tallying a team-high five assists while shooting 50 percent from the field.

• As a team, the Gauchos caused Duquesne to turn over the ball 16 times while only allowing them six second chance opportunities throughout the game.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will be back in The Thunderdome this Saturday, Dec. 3, as they welcome the Tigers of the University of the Pacific to Santa Barbara for a non-conference contest. Tipoff will be at 2 p.m. with a live stream available through ESPN+ and live stats through ucsbgauchos.com.

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

email: sports@newspress.com

SPORTS ROUNDUP

The game stayed relatively close in the first two periods, which ended with a 26-20 Carpinteria advantage. The Warriors pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 19-6 in the period and expanding their lead to 19 points. A solid fourth quarter saw the lead stretched to a 24 point differential.

Amarisse Camargo led the way for Carpinteria, recording 23 points, seven rebounds and

four steals. Jamaica Cook also contributed significantly, scoring 13 points while adding ten rebounds and three steals.

“We started the game with good focus and energy … (and) also played good team defense,” said Coach Henry Gonzales.

“Everyone on our roster contributed positively … I was happy with our overall team play on offense and defense,” he added.

- Matt Smolensky

‘We are seeing high rates of all three infections’

PALLADINI, William Natale

November 6, 2022

William Natale Palladini passed away Sunday morning, November 6, in Sonoma, California, just as the time “fell back” from 2AM to 1AM. He died from gastric cancer that had metastasized, along with multiple complications, and is survived by his wife of 56 years Carol (79), and his three sons, Doug (56), Jeff (54) and Mike (46).

Bill was born in Castellarano, Reggio Emilia, Italy, on March 22, 1943, the first child of Aldino (born Castellarano, February 1, 1914) and Ada Palladini (a naturalized citizen born in the US while her father was working as a coal miner in Iowa), amid the trials and tribulations of WWII. Desperate to escape the ravages of war, Ada came to the US to establish residency. Then, in 1948, Bill, along with his father, Aldo, and his brother David, boarded the MV Vulcania in Genoa and, with third-rate passage, made his way through Ellis Island, eventually joining Ada in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. And while their first US outpost was the basement of another family’s home, all were exceedingly pleased to be in America. Bill’s US life took root in the Highwood neighborhood of Highland Park, Illinois, along with a substantial contingent of Italian immigrants seeking a better life. In addition to the typical childhood activities of school and sports, Bill worked alongside his father when possible, first as a stone mason and then a gardener, where he developed an extremely green thumb that would remain a constant throughout his life. He also got another brother when Mario was born. Bill worked as a caddie at Exmore Country Club, where he developed a life-long passion for golf, earning a low, single-digit handicap and several club championships along the way. In high school, where Bill played along the offensive line for the Highland Park High School football team, he met classmate Carol Goldman, fell in love, and formed a relationship that lasted a lifetime.

Bill and Carol went separate ways for college… at first! Carol left for Missouri while Bill attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. But the long-distance relationship didn’t last long, and by the second semester of their Freshman year, Carol had transferred to Bradley. Bill paid his tuition by working for the school, at his fraternity, and accepting any odd job he could. Bill moved from studying engineering to business and graduated in 1954. He had heard about some on-campus interviews, which included IBM, and when he made a connection with the recruiter, he was given an entry-level roll and sent to corporate training.

Bill and Carol re-located to Bloomington, Illinois, and less than a year later, their first son Douglas Charles was born on a hot July day where you could see corn fields stretching for miles in every direction from the hospital window. While Bill sold early copying and computing machines, Carol kept their home, and their adult life got underway. Second son Jeffrey William was born on the Leap Year of 1968, and in 1970, Bill and Carol were able to purchase their first home in Deerfield, Illinois.

Bill moved on from IBM to a family-run printing business, which in turn led to a printing sales opportunity in Los Angeles, California: The warm California sun made it an easy decision. The family relocated to the Westwood area of LA in 1972 and Bill went to work selling printing for Litho Sales, a business he would end up owning and running many years later. Bill and Carol became deeply involved in causes based on preventing violent conflict and bringing people together around the world, such as Beyond War and Creative Initiative Foundation. Third son Michael Anthony was born on January 6, 1976, and in 1977 the family again relocated, this time to Glendale, an LA suburb north of the city, so Bill could be closer to work, which was located in nearby Eagle Rock.

In 1986, Bill and Carol, along with Mike, moved to Pasadena, just down the 134 freeway from Glendale. When Mike left for Northern Arizona University in 1994, the Palladini nest was officially empty. The couple traveled extensively across Europe, New Zealand, and The Americas, but California was always home. Then, in 1995, Bill and Carol found an opportunity to build a home of their own, from scratch. They acquired a spectacular piece of land looking over the Pacific Ocean in Montecito, California, and set out to build their dream home, an Italian villa. They settled into the Santa Barbara area and expanded their give-back efforts to include CASA, many environmental concerns, and a new Women’s Fund set up by Carol herself. On many weekends, Bill and Carol entertained friends and family, including grandchildren from all three sons.

As Bill looked for new ways to keep his bright green thumb in use, and with Litho Sales sold and firmly in his rear-view mirror, he came across a very special opportunity in nearby Ojai to purchase a large orchard of avocados and tangerines. Going all in, he remodeled the existing home on the property and added a guest house, while dramatically increasing productivity across the orchard, delivering prize-winning Haas avocados and Pixie tangerines to the packing house each week. As he invested more and more time in the orchard, Bill and Carol sold the Montecito house and consolidated their lives in Ojai to a more rural and quiet life. Supporting farmers, those who advocate for environmental protections, and land trusts became very important to Bill and Carol. Seeing beyond their own family to leave the world a better place was always important to the couple, but it seemed to take on additional meaning during their time in Ojai. When the effects of Carol’s Alzheimer’s worsened, Bill and Carol opted to move closer to family, sold the orchard, and made their final move to Sonoma, California, in the same town as youngest son Mike and also close to Jeff. While much of Bill’s time and energy was spent in loving care of Carol, he became very fond of mountain biking and spent hours peddling through the vineyards surrounding their neighborhood. He also snuck in nine holes of golf whenever he could at the Sonoma Golf Club and followed the PGA Tour on TV. He loved spending more time with his grandchildren Cassin and Viola and regularly ferried them to and from school and soccer practice. And while the space for his green thumb had shrunk considerably, he still managed bumper crops of raised-bed vegetables.

In the spring of 2022, a bad heart valve he had been nursing for some time worsened, and when he was finally hospitalized to treat it, gastric cancer that had metastasized was found. At Stage 4, the cancer was inoperable, but Bill still tried everything available to fight it. In the end, the bad cells won out, but during those difficult times, Bill was comforted by spending considerable time with his three sons.

The American Dream means so many things. And while post-WWII immigrants such as Bill did not find the streets paved with gold, many did create rich lives nonetheless. Bill’s incredibly full life was one of these. He came a long way, both literally and figuratively, experienced a beautiful life full of family, friends and fortune, and leaves behind a strong legacy carried forth by his children and grandchildren.

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and influenza and increasing rates of COVID-19 over the last several weeks,” said Dr. Fisk, who, in addition to his Cottage Health duties, is chief medical officer of the Public Health Company.

“Most striking is the RSV impact on children,” Dr. Fisk told the News-Press. “This is one of the worst RSV seasons in years.

Influenza is on the upswing and has arrived much earlier than most years. Community test positive rates for influenza are much higher than most years.

“Much of the U.S. is experiencing the worst influenza season in years,” he said.

“It’s fair to say we are seeing high rates of all three infections (flu, COVID-19 and RSV) putting a significant strain on the health system,” Dr. Fisk said. “Any one of three viruses is not dominant at this time.”

Dr. Fisk said great progress has not been made in fighting COVID19 in recent months.

“In fact, the reverse is true on many fronts because of less masking and less social distancing,” Dr. Fisk told the News-Press.

“Where we are seeing progress is with the bivalent mRNA

FYI

The California Department of Public Health provides the following guidance concerning respiratory illnesses, particularly for children who become sick.

According to the state health department, most childhood respiratory illnesses are mild and resolve on their own without the need for emergency care or hospitalization. But the department recommends calling to get medical advice and seeing what you can do at home and when it is best to come in to be examined. Seek evaluation right away, the state public health department says, if your child has: • Symptoms of lung disease:

booster, which offers good protection against hospitalization and death and some protection against (COVID variants) BQ1 and BQ1.1, but not as strong protection as we had hoped, depending on the age group,” he said.

“The protection against acquiring COVID is between 3056%,” Dr. Fisk said. “The further out from the last vaccine, the more beneficial the booster has become.

“The greatest chances of death remain in senior citizens, with over 90% of deaths in the last month in senior citizens, according to the CDC. The uptake of the bivalent vaccine has been very low.

“Only one-fifth of senior citizens are bivalent-boosted (the most effective booster),” Dr. Fisk said. “We are seeing signs of local increase in COVID-19 cases in terms of case counts, hospital admissions and positive COVID-19 tests at Cottage Health.”

Jackeline Ruiz, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, said increased activity is being seen for respiratory illnesses during the fall and winter.

“When certain respiratory illnesses are having elevated activity earlier in the season, it is an important reminder of the many prevention strategies we have available to us — including getting

fast breathing, flaring nostrils, head bobbing, grunting, or wheezing while breathing; belly breathing; pauses in breathing.

• Symptoms of dehydration: www.healthychildren. org/English/health-issues/ injuries-emergencies/Pages/ dehydration.aspx.

• Gray or blue color to tongue, lips or skin.

• Significantly decreased activity and alertness.

• Symptoms that worsen or do not improve after seven days.

• Fever in those under 3 months of age (12 weeks).

• Fever above 104°F repeatedly for a child of any age.

• Poor sleep or fussiness, chest pain, ear tugging or ear drainage.

vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu, wearing a high-quality mask in crowded spaces, regular hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you’re sick,” Ms. Ruiz told the News-Press.

“Masks, particularly highquality masks, offer protection against contracting and spreading respiratory illnesses,” she said.

“Wearing a mask this year, particularly in crowded spaces, is advisable.”’

She also recommends monitoring vulnerable family members.

The News-Press asked Dr. Fisk how society can keep up with the ever-evolving COVID-19 virus.

“Given that so much of the world population does not have ready, rapid access to the bivalent booster or current mRNA booster, we will keep seeing variants arise,” he said. “There is no sign of variant production slowing down. What we have to do is figure out on an individual, community and societal level how to manage the variants.

“How will we manage it, and what steps are we willing to take to manage it? Our most effective tool available is vaccination,” Dr. Fisk said. “The other thing changing over time is the natural immunity that we have developed. However. variants could come forth that our immunity offers little protection against. Similar to influenza, COVID-19 fluctuates in its ability to cause severe disease. It will remain exceptionally contagious.

“COVID-19 is one of the most contagious organisms we know of.”

Dr. Fisk recommends reducing the chance of acquiring COVID-19, the flu and RSV by interacting with people outdoors as much as possible and masking indoors. He also said handwashing offers protection against the flu and RSV and, to a lesser degree, against COVID-19.

“Also, get an influenza vaccine,” Dr. Fisk said. “The influenza vaccine does a great job of reducing

risk of death or hospitalization. Pretty much anyone over six months is eligible for an influenza vaccine. It is also completely safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine at the same time.”

Dr. Fisk said it is unclear whether mask wearing in recent years has reduced immunity.

“What is clear and relevant is that children under the age of 2 are most susceptible to RSV. There has been less RSV in the last few seasons due to less interaction,” Dr. Fisk said. “Almost everyone is exposed to RSV by the age of 2. It is unclear how much of a role the quarantine and masks are playing in the transmission of RSV in adults.”

“The main message is that there are a lot of sick people of all ages with respiratory infections,” Dr. Fisk said. “Just because you’re healthy and not of advanced age you shouldn’t assume you aren’t at risk. There are measures you can take to protect yourselves. There are measures families can take to protect each other and their colleagues.

“I would also like to emphasize the importance of improving ventilation and improving filtration of air,” he said. “The more we look into it, the more we find the benefits of inroom HEPA filters, which are widely available commercially.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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MEASURE T

Continued from Page A1

results to make them official. The deadline for certification is Dec. 8.

The city of Carpinteria halted its review of the proposed hotel once Measure T qualified for the Nov. 8 ballot. If the measure loses, the Surfliner Inn review will continue.

Vice Mayor Clark beat Councilmember Carty in the Nov. 8 election to retain his seat on the council. And although he never came out in favor of Measure T, he was the only council member not to sign a resolution urging residents to vote against it, ostensibly because they wanted elected officials to continue to make land-use decisions for Carpinteria rather than voter-led ballot measures.

Ms. Daily, as director for Uppo’s Garden LLC, had negotiated a lease with Union Pacific Railroad in 2004. The city acquired the parcel in December 2013, and renegotiated a month-to-month lease with Ms. Daily in May 2014 for her to use a 45- by 350-foot portion of the parcel at 399 Linden Ave. for a hobby garden. She was paying $150 a month, but that’s been increased to $172.84 monthly.

The lease allows either side to end the lease with or without cause upon giving 30 days’ notice.

Councilmember Carty said that time is now, but Vice Mayor Clark questioned the rush.

“Is there a pressing need to terminate the lease immediately?” he asked Matthew Roberts, Parks, Recreation and Public Facilities director.

“There is no immediate need,” Mr. Roberts responded.

But Councilmember Carty was adamant, saying it’s high time the lease be terminated.

One public speaker agreed with Vice Mayor Clark, noting Ms. Daily’s absence from the meeting and asking the council to wait until January.

Other speakers, though, called for the lease to end — now.

“Please end this lease,” said Jason Rodriguez, the spokesman for the Vote No group urging Measure T’s defeat at the polls, saying he and others want to be able to use a trail on the parcel.

“It should not be fenced off

for one or two people’s private benefit,” he said. “This is not the first time the city has spent time on this lease. It’s never on the agenda due to positive circumstances. The current use of the property does not add any value to the city financially or visually.”

Another speaker, Carla Stein, said the lease has always bothered her, “and after what we just went through with Measure T, it bothers me even more.

“This has to stop,” she told the council. “We can’t continue to let a handful of people use this land as their own private backyard space. Clearly the time has come for Marla Daily to take down her fences, move all her belongings and surrender the land to the city of Carpinteria for the public’s use and the public’s benefit.”

The parcel Ms. Daily leases at 399 Linden Ave. sits on the south side of the railroad tracks and across from the public parking lot No. 3 at 499 Linden Ave., the proposed site for the Surfliner Inn.

The developers’ plans, still in the conceptual stage, call for the hotel to be built on half of parking lot No. 3, with the other half still available for parking, Mr. Roberts said.

However, the developers’ Disposition and Development Agreement for a portion of parking lot 3 (499 Linden Ave.) does include a provision that the lessee (Inn developer) will construct a new public parking lot on a portion of 399 Linden (where Ms. Daily now gardens). That would be intended to replace the public parking spaces lost during the hotel’s construction.

In January, the council directed staff to “prioritize work to implement a capital improvement project for a pedestrian/bicycle trail connection through the property from Linden Avenue to Holly Avenue.” In July, the Carpinteria Planning Commission granted a permit for the trail to be constructed across the property, which is scheduled for the winter of 2023.

If the Surfliner Inn is approved by the city, the developers have agreed to make improvements on the trail permanent.

email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Today Fri.

City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Cuyama 57/38/r 52/41/pc

Goleta 60/48/r 62/50/pc

Lompoc 60/40/r 61/49/pc

Pismo Beach 59/40/r 59/45/pc

Santa Maria 60/40/r 61/49/pc

Santa Ynez 61/41/r 62/49/pc

Vandenberg 60/43/r 59/48/pc

Ventura 59/53/r 61/54/pc

62/50/pc

Mammoth Lakes 38/4/sn 34/13/pc

Modesto 52/31/r 54/36/pc

Monterey 55/36/r 53/42/pc

Napa 53/28/r 53/32/pc

Oakland 51/35/r 52/37/pc

Ojai 55/48/r 61/49/pc

Oxnard 61/52/r 63/50/pc

Palm Springs 65/48/c 67/50/c

Pasadena 57/50/r 61/49/pc

Paso Robles 57/35/r 54/41/pc

Sacramento 53/31/r 53/30/pc

San Diego 62/51/c 66/52/c

San Francisco 53/40/r 54/43/pc

San Jose 53/33/r 54/36/pc

San Luis Obispo 59/42/r 61/45/pc

Santa Monica 58/54/sh 61/52/pc

Tahoe Valley 36/5/sn 39/23/pc

Minneapolis 33/29/pc 42/7/pc

New York City 44/33/s 48/43/s

Philadelphia 44/28/s 49/40/s

Phoenix 72/51/c 70/52/pc

Portland, Ore. 40/31/sn 43/34/sh

St. Louis 45/37/s 57/29/pc

Salt Lake City 51/29/pc 37/20/sn

Seattle 37/26/sn 39/34/c

Washington, D.C. 46/31/s 52/42/s

Beijing 34/10/s 32/16/s Berlin 37/32/c 36/28/c Cairo 76/56/s 75/58/pc

Cancun 86/74/sh 87/71/pc London 47/38/c 46/37/c

Mexico City 74/51/pc 75/49/pc Montreal 36/25/c 40/35/c

New Delhi 77/52/pc 78/53/pc Paris 45/37/c 42/35/c

Rio de Janeiro 86/76/t 86/75/t Rome 57/43/c 59/52/sh Sydney 71/60/c 71/59/c Tokyo 55/46/sh 55/43/pc

Vote No spokesman: ‘The current use of the property does not add any value to the city’

COURTESY PHOTO Dr. David Fisk

Managing Editor Dave Mason

Life theArts

CALENDAR

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

TUYYO Foods is a modern line of Latin American foods and beverages made with real ingredients.

Its current products consist of powdered Aguas Frescas (“fresh waters’’), which is a blend of fresh fruit, water, and sugar; and Cafecito, instant Colombian coffee.

“TUYYO is about you and me, coming together, sharing a meal, a memory and always some ‘chisme.’ It is about creating your own moments while enjoying tastes and flavors that remind you of home or of places traveled,” said founder Stefanie Garcia Turner, a Latina entrepreneur and San Antonio native living in Santa Barbara.

“TUYYO’s products remain true to their mission of creating betterfor-you options by using natural ingredients, free of artificial colorings, preservatives and sugars, that reflect the flavors and traditions of the Latin American community,” Ms. Turner told the News-Press.

The inspiration for the name TUYYO came when Ms. Turner was thinking about her mission for the company.

“I wanted to build a brand that reflected the heritage and culture of Latinos through inspired versions of traditional foods and beverages,” she said. “Tuyo in Spanish means ‘Your(s),’ and ‘tu y yo’ in Spanish means ‘you and me.’

The brand represents the culture, and the products can be enjoyed alone or with friends and family together.”

Ms. Turner has had a long career in the natural products industry, helping launch hundreds of brands through her roles at Whole Foods Market and her business, Cultivar Consulting.

She also gained valuable sales experience at The Honest Company and This Saves Lives, ultimately combining her passion

for healthy living with her cultural roots to create TUYYO Foods, which recently added Cafecito, a medium-full bodied, 100% organic Colombian instant coffee line to its existing range of powdered Aguas Frescas collection.

The instant coffees consist of three flavors — Caramel, Café De Olla and Plain. They are available for purchase on the website and will soon be launched on Amazon and Walmart.com with a longterm focus on ethnic, regional and specialty retailers.

TUYYO products are also available at three local markets — Tri-County Produce in Santa Barbara and New Frontier Natural Marketplace and Valley Fresh Market, both in Solvang. The suggested retail price for

a single instant coffee canister is $14.99 or $39.99 for the variety three-pack.

Adding a coffee line was a natural fit for the brand.

“I absolutely love coffee,” Ms. Turner said. “My love of it didn’t come from the coffee itself, though. That came later. It came from the moments that arose from having coffee with friends and family.

‘¿Quieres un cafecito?’ would always be one of the first

questions asked when I visited family or after finishing a meal with my grandmother.

“It wasn’t truly a question of ‘Would you like some coffee?’ It was an invitation to stay and spend time with the other person. This ritual of having coffee with others is something that is ingrained in my life.

“I launched the instant coffee line because I wanted a great tasting option that would offer an easy way for people to create these special moments when one can slow down, sip some coffee and reflect on their day or share some quality time with another person.”

TUYYO was recently chosen as a top emerging brand from 500plus applicants by national food

distributor KeHE Distributors. It is certified minority-owned by the National Minority Supplier Development Council and is certified woman-owned through the Greater Women’s Business Council.

One of TUYYO’s guiding principles is to give back to the Latino community in positive and meaningful ways by donating a portion of proceeds to different charitable organizations each year.

“My family has been my biggest support system. When I first pitched my very broad and undefined idea to them, I was sitting at a kitchen table surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and siblings and I just put it all out there,” said Ms. Turner. “All I had was a notion in my head, and they instantly understood the vision and offered to help at any step of the way. That was two years ago, and now I have a product line launched and a company that I am proud of. All because they believed in me.

“I have always been passionate about food and have worked in the industry for a retailer, a couple of brands, as a consultant, and now as an entrepreneur. I’ve loved aspects of all of these roles but creating TUYYO has been the one that has brought all of my career interests together. Launching a brand of food and beverages that encompasses my cultural pride as a Latina and allows me to create the products that I feel will add to the evolution of Latin American foods in stores is really a dream come true that I never knew I had.

“The road hasn’t necessarily been hard, but there have definitely been challenges that have tested my anxiety levels along the way. The first challenge was just going from ideation to creation and committing to a brand that I feel embodies what I want to bring to the world.” email:

The calendar appears Mondays through Saturdays in the “Life & the Arts” section. Items are welcome. Email them to Managing Editor Dave Mason at dmason@newspress.com.

TODAY 5 to 8 p.m.: The First Thursday Art Walk will present an open-air Holiday Market as well as more than 20 business and gallery venues with live music, art and wine in Santa Barbara. 7 p.m. Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro will perform his “Christmas in Hawaii” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Mr. Shimabukuro will play a mix of his signature favorites, holiday classics and selections from his recent “Jake & Friends” album. Tickets for the UCSB Arts & Lectures concert cost $16 to $61. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. 7 p.m. Jazz at the Ballroom will present “Holiday ‘In’” at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Award-winning musicians from across the country will perform a show reminiscent of old Christmas specials with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and other singing greats. Comedian Dan Cronin is hosting this holiday revue, which features bandleader Konrad Paszkduki on the piano. Tickets cost $36 to $56 for general admission and $81 for VIP seats, which include a postshow reception. To purchase, go to lobero.org.

7:30 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” with a preview performance at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40-$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

DEC. 2 5 to 8 p.m.: A Christmas Tree Lighting & Block Party will take place in the 1300 block of State Street and will include a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, live music with DJ Darla Bea, performances by the San Marcos High School Band and more.

DEC. 3 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The “Wings” juried exhibit makes its debut at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club, 2375 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara. The exhibit will be there through Jan. 4. For more information, contact Susan Tibbles, the gallery director and curator of exhibitions, at info@susantibbles.com. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m daily. 10 a.m. to noon. The city of Goleta plans a Grove Park Master Plan workshop at La Patera Elementary School, 555 N. La Patera Lane, Goleta. Participants can make suggestions for the park, and the family-friendly workshop will include activities for children. For more information, contact Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@ cityofgoleta.org or visit cityofgoleta. org/stowgrovepark.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. C.A.R.E.4Paws is hosting a Howliday Donation DriveThru at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Supporters can drive through and drop off dog and cat food and monetary donations. For more information, visit care4paws.org/drive.

2 and 6 p.m. State Street Ballet Academy will perform “Rudolph” at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to lobero.org/events/ rudolph-2022.

7 p.m. Westmont College ensembles will perform during the Westmont Christmas Festival at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The 18th annual festival will feature the Westmont Orchestra, College Choir, Chamber Singers and Choral Union. Tickets cost $22. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

8 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or

ANDRE YEW PHOTO The State Street Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at The Granada in Santa Barbara.

Latina entrepreneur is founder of TUYYO Foods

COURTESY PHOTOS

At left, TUYYO Foods offers Aguas Frescas (“fresh waters’’), which is a blend of fresh fruit, water and sugar. Flavors include strawberry and pineapple. At right, TUYYO Foods

Fresh leeks

Fresh leeks are related to onions, garlic and shallots, delivering a very refreshing, mild onion flavor.

Grown by several local growers and available at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’’ markets throughout the cooler times of the year, leeks can be used as a substitute to onions in many cases. At home, I most commonly enjoy leeks in soups,

as in this week’s Vegetable Leek Soup, the Fix of the Week (below). Leeks are a good source of Vitamins K and B6, as well as iron, manganese and dietary fiber. Try frying leeks and serving them over a grilled steak, use to flavor a potato-leek soup, or sauté them at low heat in olive oil or butter and use to top a pizza, pasta dishes, and dips.

Certified organic leeks are available. Price averages $3 per pound or bunch.

Chard

This is one of my favorite winter greens, possessing a mild spinachlike flavor and tender texture. The leaves grow on a thick central

stem from the base that can be found in a rainbow of colors.

The color of the stem works its way into the veins of the leaves, which are predominantly dark green in color. The stems are usually discarded, and the leaves chopped.

I love to quickly sauté chard in olive oil and garlic salt to serve as a simple side to grilled steaks, chicken pork chops or fish, as well as add to scrambled eggs, or enjoy raw in a salad.

You can find fresh chard at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers markets from several local growers. Certified organic chard is available. Price averages $3 per bunch

Yellow carrots

There is an abundance of carrots at the farmers’ markets these days, and carrots are an item I incorporate almost into at least one of my daily meals. Yellow carrots are particularly high in

to their yellow color that is very similar to beta-carotene found in abundance in orange pigmented foods.

Yellow carrots tend to have a slightly sweeter flavor than their orange counterpart and make for a nice preparation on the plate. Cook and blend them to make a flavorful yellow carrot soup, or cut them into sticks and enjoy with your favorite hummus. I really enjoy yellow carrots in curry style dishes. You can find freshly harvested yellow carrots at most weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets from several local producers. Price averages $3 per pound.

FARMERS MARKET Sam Edelman

As the green tops soak up the sun’s rays and emerge from the cool soil, rounded cylindrical bulbs expand below the ground. That’s how leeks appear.

Absent of sunlight, the portion below the earth’s surface never has the chance for chlorophyll production, resulting in a cream color. Ranging greatly in thickness and length, it is the white portion that is the desirable edible part, while the tops are often discarded.

Close relative to onions, garlic and shallots, fresh leeks thrive during the cold fall and winter months and are readily available from a host of local area farmers.

Leeks deliver a nice mild onion flavor, with subtle garlic notes throughout. With onions becoming increasingly hard to find this time of year due to their seasonality, leeks make for a worthy substitute

Fix of the Week

in many cases, whether enjoyed sauteed, added to soups and stews, enjoyed over a pizza, added to creamy sauces and in an array of salads.

With an abundance of turkey stock produced from the remnants in this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, I prepared a couple of rounds of soup, both utilizing fresh leeks. When making the soup stock, I did utilize the leek tops that are often discarded to flavor the broth. The white portion was cut into rounds and added to the main soup itself.

VEGETABLE LEEK SOUP

2-3 leeks, tops discarded, cut into rounds.

1 bunch celery (about 10 ribs), diced.

3 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced.

4 large carrots, peeled and diced.

64 ounces turkey stock (or

chicken or vegetable broth).

2 large chicken breasts (leave out if you’re preparing this as a vegetarian dish).

2 bay leaves.

2 broccoli heads, stems diced, crow portion cut into small florets.

Seasoned salt and pepper to taste.

Float your leeks in cold water to remove any sediment. Place in a slow cooker with celery, potato, carrots, stock, chicken and bay leaves. Cook on high for about

3-4 hours.

If using chicken, remove from heat, dic, and then add back to the slow cooker along with broccoli. Taste and season with seasoned salt and pepper as needed. Cover, turn off heat and let sit for about 10 minutes to allow the broccoli to cook.

This recipe can also be done in a pot on the stovetop, at a low simmer. Cooking time will likely be much less.

Yield: Serves 8.

Toy drive set at Gelson’s

SANTA BARBARA — The Gelson’s annual toy drive will take place Dec. 5-19 at its store at 3305 State St. Customers are encouraged to bring toys and drop them into a red bin at the Santa Barbara store.

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

call 805-965-5400. 7:30 p.m. The Fall Dance Concert will take place at UCSB Hatlen Theater. The UCSB Dance Company will present new choreography. For more information, see theaterdanceucsb.edu.

DEC. 4 2 and 7 p.m. The Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “A Christmas Carol” with a preview performance at the New Vic, 33. W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $40-$84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400. Story, B2.

3 p.m. Westmont College ensembles will perform during the Westmont Christmas Festival at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The 18th annual festival will feature the Westmont Orchestra, College Choir, Chamber Singers and Choral Union. Tickets cost $22. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

7:30 p.m. Twanguero, considered one of the best guitarists in Spain, will perform at the SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., Suite 205, Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $67 for a dinner reservation and priority seating. To purchase, go to www.sohosb.com.

DEC. 7 4 p.m. The Hoodlum Friends will perform at 4 p.m. at Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. The concert is free.

5 to 7 p.m.: A free candlelight concert series takes place on the steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

DEC. 9

4:30 to 6 p.m. A reception for the “Wings” juried exhibit will take place at at the Santa Barbara Tennis Club, 2375 Foothill Road.

7 p.m. The Grace Fisher Foundation will present “A Winter Music Showcase” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The fifth annual showcase will feature everyone from the Santa Barbara Folk Orchestra to Jackson Gillies, WIll Breman, State Street Ballet Professional Track Dancers, the Westmont Chamber Singers, UCSB Maurice Faulkner Quintet and more. Tickets cost $18 to $60. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

DEC. 11 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 36th annual Holiday Parade of Lights will feature a

They will go to disadvantaged children.

Partners with the toy drive include Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara.

— Dave Mason

full day of activities at the Santa Barbara Harbor, topped with the parade of lights and its theme, “Deck the Hulls.” For more information, go to santabarbaraca.com/ events/36th-annual-holiday-parade-oflights-at-the-harbor.

DEC. 12 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: The Downtown Community Holiday Mixer will take place at the Broad Street Oyster Co., 418 State St. The $25 ticket price includes a drink and appetizers.

DEC. 14 5 to 7 p.m.: A free candlelight concert series takes place on the steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara.

DEC. 16

8 p.m. Johnny Mathis will perform at the Chumash Casino Resort’s Samala Showroom, 3400 State Route 246, Santa Ynez. Tickets for the Santa Ynez concert are $69 to $109. To purchase, go to www. chumashcasino.com. The Chumash Casino Resort is a 21-and-older venue.

DEC. 17 Noon to 3 p.m. The free Big Brass Tuba Christmas Concert will take place in Storke Placita, which is between 722 and 724 State St. and is adjacent to De la Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara. The Youth Makers Market will be in the same block. 2 and 7 p.m. State Street Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara High School student Olivia Pires will play Clara at the 2 p.m. matinee. Professional State Street Ballet dancer Emma Matthews will portray Clara at the 7 p.m. show. Tickets vary from $38 to $121, with a discounted price of $26 for children 12 and younger in select price zones. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. A student discount is also available for purchase in person at The Granada’s box office.

DEC. 18

2 p.m. State Street Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. Dos Pueblos High School student Sophia Kanard will play Clara. Tickets vary from $38 to $121, with a discounted price of $26 for children 12 and younger in select price zones. To purchase, go to granadasb.org. A student discount is also available for purchase in person at The Granada’s box office.

— Dave Mason

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Thursday, December 1, 2022

ARIES — Profligate spending over the past week or two may have you feeling less confident about your money situation today, Aries. Perhaps you’ve lent some money to a friend and you doubt their ability to repay. Or maybe you fell for a sales pitch that you now regret. Correct the situation if you can. If you can’t, simply learn from the experience and put it behind you.

TAURUS — Your ambition and will to succeed may be at war with your feelings today, Taurus. Perhaps you’ve been working so hard that you aren’t paying enough attention to friends and family - and they miss you. Children and young people may be very much on your mind. Perhaps you doubt your ability to fulfill your responsibilities.

GEMINI — Today, Gemini, you might uncharacteristically decide to sequester yourself away from the world. Perhaps you’re tired or feeling a bit under the weather and only wish to kick back and read a good book. That’s fine. Everyone needs a little solitude from time to time. The only concern here is that if you stay too secluded, you might miss an important communication.

CANCER — A quarrel over money could interfere with a friendship today, Cancer. Perhaps someone hasn’t repaid a loan and the lender now needs it. Perhaps a member of your household is unable to pay their share of the bills. Don’t let yourself get drawn into quarrels or recriminations. Work something out with your friend if possible.

LEO — Spiritual and metaphysical studies may take up a lot of your time today, Leo. You might want to dig into the world’s major religions or try to make it through works about spiritualism or the occult. If you want to, this is the day to do it because your concentration is very strong, although it will be necessary to take a lot of breaks!

VIRGO — You might long for a vacation today, Virgo, and you could toy with the idea of a future journey by air. Your mind may turn to spiritual places such as India, Egypt, Israel, or Ireland as you wonder how it would feel to stand in the sacred places in those countries. Don’t just toy with the idea. You’re probably overdue for a trip that would suit your mystical nature.

LIBRA — Someone you’ve known for a long time may move away or otherwise vanish from your life. He or she may move to a distant state. You’ll probably stay in touch by phone or email, but it will never be the same, at least not for a long time. You will feel better if you meet some new people. They will come your way today, possibly through humanitarian group activities.

SCORPIO — There might be some tension between you and your romantic partner that might have you feeling a bit depressed. The key to patching this up is honest communication. Remember that honest doesn’t necessarily mean brutal. Confrontations now can only widen the rift. Tell your partner how you feel, Scorpio, but don’t cast blame for anything.

SAGITTARIUS — Today your biorhythms may be a little low, Sagittarius, so you aren’t likely to be feeling very sociable. You’re more likely to want to bury your nose in your projects instead of being your usual outgoing self. This is OK but take care that you aren’t so reclusive that you miss receiving some sincere compliments. That can make a big difference in the way you feel!

CAPRICORN — An electrifying attraction to someone you may have just met could cause your mind to dwell on sex and romance today, Capricorn. If you can, set up a romantic evening with a love partner. If this isn’t possible, watch a movie that moves you to tears. Movies may be of particular interest to you today, since you might be reading about how they’re made.

AQUARIUS — Family members could be upset over different frustrating events in their lives, and these moods could spill over to you. Today it would be best to leave them alone to work things out in their own way. They aren’t likely to respond to sympathy. Take this opportunity to tend to some of your concerns that you may have postponed.

PISCES — Unguarded words on the part of a younger person might lead to upset. If the words are directed at you, don’t take them seriously. The person doesn’t know any better. If the words are directed at someone else, don’t be tempted to lash out at the person who said them. Correct him or her gently. Either way, keep it to yourself and then forget it. It isn’t worth the stress.

DAILY BRIDGE

BY FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, December 1, 2022

An older member of my club told me she had gotten a new hearing aid.

“It’s state of the art,” she said.

“What kind is it?” I asked, evincing interest.

“It’s about a quarter to one,” was the reply.

Players often misdefend because they fail to listen to the auction and draw useful inferences. Against today’s 3NT, West led a diamond: four, king, ace. Declarer led a heart to dummy’s queen and next let the queen of clubs ride. When West took the king, he continued with the jack of diamonds, and South claimed five hearts, three clubs and two diamonds.

SECOND TRICK

West could assume that South had the king of hearts. If East had it, he would have grabbed it at the second trick to return a diamond. When West takes the king of clubs, he knows South will make 3NT unless the defense cashes four spade tricks.

At Trick Three, West must lead the king of spades. East will unblock his eight, win the next spade with the ace and lead his four through South’s 10-6 to West’s J-7.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday-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

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

California oil refiners skip out on hearing covering gas price spikes

By MADISON HIREISEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Officials from the five largest oil refineries that produce most of California’s gasoline were noticeably absent from a California Energy Commission hearing on Tuesday where panelists discussed recent gas price spikes.

Executives from five major refineries –Valero, Phillips 66, Chevron, Marathon and PBF – declined to attend Tuesday’s meeting. They voiced concerns to state officials about sharing company information and violating antitrust laws, though one refinery in particular pointed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent criticism of the refiner’s record profits.

“The politicization of this issue by Governor Newsom, heightened by the misleading information he released and commented on related to our 3Q22 earnings, precludes (us) from participating in this hearing,” PBF wrote to the commission, according to KCRA.

Several commissioners expressed disappointment about refinery executives skipping out on Tuesday’s meeting.

“They elected not to attend in person today. I do think that’s unfortunate,” David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, said Tuesday. “It’s unprecedented – we’ve had hearings and workshops and commission meetings with every energy industry in the state…I’ve never had an industry not show up with their individual company representatives.”

The hearing came less than a week before lawmakers are set to convene a special session called by Gov. Gavin Newsom to consider a windfall profit tax on what he calls the “excess” profits of oil companies. Few details about the governor’s proposal have been shared thus far, but his office has said the recouped profits would be directed back to taxpayers via refunds.

California gas prices have fallen in recent weeks after spiking to near-record prices in October. At one point in October, Californians were paying roughly $2.61 per gallon higher than the national average. Gov. Newsom has slammed oil companies for weeks for raking in record profits as prices soar, accusing them in October of engaging in “rank price gouging.”

Commissioners heard from several panelists during Tuesday’s hearing, where they sought to make sense of California’s gas price spike. Several factors contribute to gasoline price spikes, including geopolitical issues, changes in crude oil prices, a rise in seasonal demand, California’s shift from its winter to summer blend and localized refinery issues. Panelists also noted several refineries went down for maintenance in September and October, which impacted the amount of gas that could be produced.

However, panelists also discussed California’s so-called “mystery surcharge” that drivers have experienced since 2015. Severin Borenstien, a professor at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, told commissioners that after taking out California’s taxes and fees, there is about a

30 cent surcharge that he says has largely gone unexplained.

Tuesday’s hearing also made clear that little is known about the contracts between refiners and retail outlets and how they impact prices. Mr. Borenstien said the contracts are “complex” and officials “know almost nothing” about them.

Panelists also fielded questions about a potential windfall profits tax on refineries, offering divided responses. Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, shared data with commissioners showing California oil refiners more than doubled their profit margin in 2022 – profiting an average of 69 cents per gallon in the first three quarters of this year.

The group’s analysis also discovered the five big oil refiners have raked in $67 billion in total profits during the first three quarters of 2022, up from $17 billion in the same time period last year.

According to Consumer Watchdog, California environmental regulation and taxes only account for 69 cents of the roughly $1.48 per gallon Californians are currently paying over the national average. Mr. Court said the excess profits indicate the need for a windfall tax, arguing that it would help prevent future price spikes.

“All we’re talking about with a windfall profit tax is setting a reasonable level of profit,” Mr. Court told commissioners. “We need that price gouging penalty, otherwise it’s going to go on and on.”

Other panelists disagreed with Mr. Court’s assertion. Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president and CEO of the Western States Petroleum Association, argued a windfall profits tax would make the situation worse.

“You cannot tax your way out of this problem,” Ms. Reheis-Boyd said. “The only result of a windfall profits tax will make the problem worse. You are sending the absolute opposite investment decision or investment indication to anyone who wants to continue business here.”

Ms. Reheis-Boyd argued the state should examine its energy and land use policies, which she says has “created an environment where the state simply struggles to meet its demand for fuel, leading to cost volatility for California.” She said lawmakers and state regulators should focus on removing “policy hurdles” impacting the energy industry to reduce costs.

Following Tuesday’s hearing, the CEC is planning a Fuels Transition Study to examine how California can transition to a clean transportation fuels.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Gov. Newsom criticized the oil industry’s lack of attendance at the hearing, reiterating his call for the Legislature to enact a “price gouging penalty.”

“Every Californian deserves to know why we were being fleeced at the pump even as gas prices declined across the country and crude oil prices were going down,” Gov. Newsom said. “The oil industry had their chance today to explain why they made record profits at our expense but they chose to stonewall us.”

Jeffries to succeed Pelosi as Dem House leader

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has been unanimously elected the top leader of the Democrats in the House.

He will be the first black representative to hold that office.

With Wednesday’s vote, the 52year-old New Yorker succeeds Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, the first and, so far, the only female speaker of the House. Beginning with the new term on Jan. 3, Rep. Jeffries will serve as minority leader in a House that Republicans will control with a slim majority.

The Democrats also elected Rep. Katherine Clark, 59, of Massachusetts as the House whip, the No. 2 position, and Peter Aguilar, 43, of California as the chair of the Democratic caucus, which is Rep. Jeffries’ current position.

The election marks a shift from the older leadership to a younger generation. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, 83, and Majority Whip James Clyburn, 82, joined Speaker Pelosi in stepping down from leadership roles for the 118th Congress.

“Together, this new generation of leaders reflects the vibrancy and

diversity of our great nation — and they will reinvigorate our caucus with their new energy, ideas and perspective,” Speaker Pelosi, 82, said in a statement Wednesday.

Democrats hold 213 seats; Republicans, 222. A minimum of 218 is required for a majority in the 435seat chamber.

Earlier, Republicans in the House re-elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy as their leader.

Typically, it’s a slam-dunk for the majority party leader to be elected speaker, but at least five House Republicans have indicated they won’t vote for Rep. McCarthy. The congressman has called on Republicans to unite behind him.

“If we play games on the floor, the Democrats can end up picking who the speaker is.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

After spending $39 million, California’s campaign finance website still trapped in 2000

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Despite nearly $40 million spent to update California’s antiquated campaign finance website, state lawmakers are still awaiting the roll out of a new platform that was initially scheduled to go live in 2019. Now that may be pushed back to June 2026. That was the subject of a hearing by the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee, where senators and panelists sought to understand the delay in rolling out an updated version of the California Automated Lobbying and Campaign Contribution Electronic Search System, better known as Cal-Access. The system, first launched in 2000, is used by lawmakers, watchdogs, reporters and politicians to track campaign and lobbying financial activity.

A 2016 bill by now-retired Senator Robert Hertzberg required the Secretary of State, who oversees Cal-Access, to replace the outdated system by the end of 2019. But after

asking for multiple extensions, the Secretary of State’s Office announced in June 2021 that the rollout of the new system would be delayed.

Since 2016, the state has appropriated $55.6 million for the project, and about $39.4 million has been spent – representing about 70% of the money appropriated, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber explained to lawmakers on Tuesday that she saw the problems with the system after she inherited the project from former Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who is now a California state senator. Mr. Padilla at the time called Cal-Access “Frankenstein’s monster of code.”

Ms. Weber, who was tapped by Gov. Gavin Newsom to replace Mr. Padilla, told the committee that the new system was plagued with several issues and was not ready to go live in June 2021 as planned.

“It became clear to me that there was no confidence in the readiness to launch the system,” Ms. Weber said. “I could have done

the politically correct thing and launched the system and blamed everybody else for its failures, but I thought California deserved better.”

Ms. Weber explained that contracts with outside vendors did not identify specific deliverables for the project, resulting in millions of dollars spent without a usable website to show for it. Additionally, when Ms. Weber inherited the website, she said the platform struggled with issues related to data migration and testing defects that impacted readiness.

To resolve these issues, the Secretary of State’s office is now working with the California Department of Technology to oversee the website’s development. CDT’s process includes four steps as part of its Project Approval Lifecycle, and the SOS expects to complete the second step in spring 2023.

At this point, the LAO forecasts that the updated website could be finished sometime in June 2026 – a decade after lawmakers passed legislation to overhaul the current system.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Speaker Nancy Pelosi.