Santa Barbara News-Press: December 15, 2022

20 years with Unity shoppe

Before retiring, Executive Director Tom Reed talks to the News-Press about his tenure with the unique Santa Barbara nonprofit

It all started with an introduction to Barbara Tellefson. When Tom Reed met the enthusiastic woman, he knew he wanted to join her effort to help people in need.

And that was the start of Mr. Reed’s association with Unity Shoppe, a unique Santa Barbara nonprofit that has inspired similar efforts elsewhere in the nation.

Today, 20 years later, Mr. Reed is preparing to hand his baton to a new leader. At the end of the year, he’s retiring as the Unity Shoppe executive director.

Angela Miller-Bevan will be assuming the position as executive director and has been training on site for her new position since July.

Mr. Reed talked to the NewsPress about his long career with a nonprofit that has helped many residents.

“I was introduced to Barabara Tellefson by my now wife Marcia, and Steve Cushman, executive director of Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce. Marcia and Steve had their fingers on the pulse of the city,” Mr. Reed told the News-Press.

“Ms. Tellefson was looking for help, and the board was looking for a new building and depth of leadership. I vibrated with Ms. Tellefson’s vision of what she wanted to do,” Mr. Reed said.

The News-Press asked Mr. Reed what he has accomplished that he is most proud of.

“I had lost two houses as a result of major natural disasters and had a spiritual awakening doing music and men’s conferences for 15 years as part of a spiritual

More restaurants comply with city’s parklet rules

Officials report progress on State St.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

More and more downtown Santa Barbara restaurants with outdoor dining parklets are making the adjustments necessary to comply with the city’s new stormwater runoff requirements, city officials said.

The changes, required as of Dec. 1, are needed to allow rainwater to flow uninterrupted down the street instead of being allowed to accumulate and flood storefronts and sidewalks on lower State Street.

A first round of inspections showed only 17 out of the 50 outdoor parklets between the 400 and 1300 blocks of State Street were compliant with the new stormwater requirements, while 33 were not. They were

given written correction notices with a five-day deadline to correct the violations.

A second round of inspections last week showed the number of delinquent parklets has been cut dramatically.

“Twelve facilities remain non-compliant, with four additional facilities due for inspections tomorrow,” Sarah Clark, downtown plaza parking manager, told the News-Press Monday.

So it’s possible there could be 16 parklets out of compliance with the new requirements, even though that still cuts the number of delinquent parklets in half.

All restaurants with unaltered parklets that could impede stormwater runoff will be sent a second administrative citation

New Cuyama Airport reopens; Blue Sky Center is helping

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The New Cuyama Airport has reopened and is operating with help from the Blue Sky Center.

A ribbon cutting took place Oct. 13 on the airport and its popular L88 airstrip, which is managed and maintained by Blue Sky Center, a local nonprofit. Those attending the ribbon cutting included representatives of Santa Barbara County, airport commissioners from San Luis Obispo County and 80 supporters from both the local communities as well as regional aviation enthusiasts.

With a donation from the San Simeon Fund and more than $20,000 raised through individual contributions, the airstrip was resurfaced over the summer, allowing for its permit to be reinstated in October.

New Cuyama’s airstrip is known for being critical to emergency support for Cuyama communities. It also serves as a portal for travelers visiting the

area.

“As pilots, we are keenly aware of how few destination-worthy airstrips remain open, and how many are at risk of being closed.

L88 has always been a premier destination due to its proximity to many local flight schools, and since its recent reopening, has grown into a true jewel,” Katerina Barilov & John Kurtz of the Recreational Aviation Foundation said in a news release.

On Nov. 12, 15 kids from the Cuyama Valley received free Young Eagle introductory flights at L88.

L88 volunteers are transitioning their focus to support airport maintenance and planned improvements, which are designed to improve safety and boost airport use. Those efforts are relying significantly on donations and volunteers, according to the news release.

To learn more about L88, go to www.visitcuyama.com/l88.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Please

see PARKLETS on

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

“The way Unity Shoppe takes care of struggling people is a total gift,” retiring Executive Director Tom Reed told the News-Press. “This is something I have grown to understand and value over the years.”

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

FYi

For more information, visit unityshoppe.org.

Most restaurants have complied with drainage channel requirements

PARKLETS

later this week, Ms. Clark said.

“The administrative citations will give a second compliance date, and we’ll do another followup inspection,” she said.

She said that in most cases, restaurants have complied with the new requirements by cutting drainage channels and using steel diamond plate to bridge the gap.

Others have pulled their parklets away from the curb and made them narrow.

“A few have removed platforms and switched to portable, at-grade designs,” Ms. Clark said.

Asked whether restaurant owners with cited parklets were being stubborn/defiant, were cash-strapped and unable to afford to make the necessary changes or were simply at a loss

as to how to proceed, she said, “I don’t want to speculate.”

Asked how State Street weathered the rain last weekend, she said the downtown thoroughfare got through it OK without any flooding-related problems.

“State Street fared well,” she said. “We did not have to remove any parklets due to storm flows.”

Parklets that were in operation as of Sept. 20 are not required to be made portable, so many of the existing facilities are not. Newly constructed parklets must be designed to be portable.

Staff has vowed that in the event of a big storm, any parklet that is not portable and blocks the flow of stormwater will be moved to ensure there is no flooding onto the sidewalks, and that the owner will be billed for the expense.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The bottom of a parklet is canted to allow for drainage on State Street.

Steve Sisler inspects a State Street parklet. City of Santa Barbara officials report they’ve seen progress in compliance with parklet rules.

Steve Sisler goes down State Street, inspecting parklets.

Dr. William Pierce named Physician of the Year

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

General surgeon William Pierce has been named Lompoc Valley Medical Center Physician of the Year for 2022.

Employees cast votes for the physician whom they believe exemplifies the Lompoc hospital district’s values and maintains the trust of patients and the community. The votes are also directed toward a doctor who strives continuously to improve services and who works well as a team member with hospital staff.

Dr. Pierce received the award from LVMC Chief Executive Officer Steve Popkin during the annual Medical Staff holiday gathering Tuesday at the Mission Club restaurant in Lompoc.

Dr. Pierce has been a member of the LVMC medical staff since 2003 and was chief of medical staff from 2019-21, during the emergence and height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He earned his medical degree from the UC Davis School of Medicine and completed a general surgery residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

Dr. Pierce called the Physician of the Year award “a great honor.”

As part of the ceremony, Dr. Pierce was presented with a scroll of comments from the LVMC employee nominations. The nominations called him a dedicated, compassionate and thoughtful doctor. Many of them noted his kindness.

“I’ve worked with Dr. Pierce for 20 years,” one nomination stated. “I’ve seen how much he cares for the patients and their families. Dr. Pierce is always willing to

Lompoc Aquatic Center to be temporarily closed

LOMPOC — The Lompoc Aquatic Center will be closed from Sunday through Jan. 1 for routine annual maintenance.

This full-facility closure will affect all regularly scheduled

assist other surgeons. If I have any questions about his procedures, he’s always nice when answering my questions.”

The surgeon was acknowledged in one nomination for his “constant presence.” The nomination continued that he “brings stability, genuinely loves and cares for his patients and staff, and is very dedicated.”

Dr. Pierce, one nomination noted, “treats every patient like his own family. He is a great teacher as well.”

Previous physicians of the year include Dr. Khawar Gul, 2021; Dr. Rahim Raoufi, 2020; Dr. Cedric Kwon, 2019; Dr. Rollin Bailey, 2018; Dr. Tomas Machin, 2017; Dr. Cindy Blifeld, 2016, and Dr. Randall Michel, 2015.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

programs such as lap swimming, swim lessons, swimteam practice, recreational swimming and aqua exercise classes. Regularly scheduled programming will resume Jan. 2.

For more information, call the Lompoc Parks and Recreation Division at 805-875-8100.

— Katherine Zehnder

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Lanes to be closed

GOLETA/LOS OLIVOS — Tree trimming and brush clearing are taking place in Goleta and Los Olivos. And that means some lane and shoulder closures, starting Friday, on Highway 101 and State Routes 154 and 217.

Caltrans said motorists will find closures on Highway 101 near its junction with State Route 217 in Goleta, on State Route 217 near the entrance to Goleta Beach, and on Alamo Pintado Creek Bridge on State Route 154 in Los Olivos.

The contractor for this $388,000 project is JTS, Inc. of Arroyo Grande.

All phases of this roadwork are scheduled to be completed by February, according to Caltrans, which reminds motorists to slow down and, when required, move over in highway construction zones.

For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Santa Barbara County, call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805549-3318 or visit dot.ca.gov/ caltrans-near-me/district-5/ district-5-current-projects.

— Katherine Zehnder

Former deputy indicted

A former San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s deputy has been indicted on federal criminal charges — including one alleging that he dragged a county jail inmate by her hair on the ground from one cell into another cell.

The indictment also alleges that the former deputy — Joshua Fischer, 40, of Grover Beach — then obstructed a federal probe into his actions by lying about the incident in an official sheriff’s office report.

The Department of Justice announced the indictment on Wednesday.

Mr. Fischer is charged with a federal grand jury indictment with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of falsification of records. According to the indictment returned Tuesday, Mr. Fischer

was a sworn law enforcement officer and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office senior correctional deputy assigned to work at the Intake Release Center in San Luis Obispo between January 2017 and December 2018.

On Nov. 18, 2018, Mr. Fischer allegedly used unreasonable force against a jail inmate who had removed her shirt, exited her cell, then returned to her cell. Upon the inmate returning to her cell, Mr. Fischer then allegedly grabbed the victim from behind by her hair while she was still topless and dragged her on the ground into another cell, according to the DOJ.

Mr. Fischer then allegedly falsified a San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s incident report by including allegedly false statements that the victim had thrown her shirt on the ground after removing it outside her cell, that she yelled and flailed her arms while re-entering her cell, and that Mr. Fischer “was in fear for the safety of the other female arrestee in the cell” because the victim was “still without her shirt, yelling and flailing her arms,” the indictment alleges.

In fact, the DOJ said, the victim did not throw her shirt on the ground after removing it outside the cell, she was not flailing her arms around as she re-entered her cell. Instead, her arms were by her side and then near her bare chest when Mr. Fischer allegedly assaulted her, according to the indictment.

Mr. Fischer is expected to be arraigned on the indictment in the coming weeks at U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

If convicted of both charges, Mr. Fischer would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison on the deprivation of rights count and 20 years in federal prison for the falsification of records count.

The FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant U.S. attorneys Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Frances S. Lewis of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.

— Katherine Zehnder

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. William Pierce

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

REED Continued from Page A1

with Victoria Theatre due to a disagreement between church owners,” Mr. Reed said. “When the theater was sold, we lost our interest when the building was sold, which forced us to relocate.

“The board had put a deposit on a new building at 1219 State St., which was on the market for $2.1 million. It was the perfect location, sharing a parking lot with a church that Barbara had purchased in the ’80s,” Mr. Reed recalled.

But there was a deadline.

“We had 30 days to raise the funds,” Mr. Reed said. “Pierre Claeyssens, who was 92 at the time, offered to match whatever money we raised up to a million dollars. His wife volunteered at the Unity Shoppe and saw how clients were served with choice.”

Mr. Claeyssens was a veteran who inspired the Santa Barbarabased Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation.

“Mr. Claeyssen was a child in Belgium during World War I and saw how families were given things that they didn’t want or need,” Mr. Reed recalled. “He liked how Unity Shoppe offered choice. We were able to raise $1 million, and he matched us, which allowed us to purchase the building.”

“At the time Unity Shoppe was greatly appreciated by those ‘in the know’ foundations,” Mr. Reed said. “I brought community awareness to the table. We acquired the building and remodeled it into the cutest nonprofit I have ever seen. It was a wonderful start for me. It opened in late 2004, and had a remarkable run for over 10 years.”

The building included the Victoria Theatre, which served as the site for Unity Shoppe telethons.

“Then there was a struggle

“We currently own three locations — the main Unity Shoppe (1401 Chapala St.) and the gift shop (1209 State St,), with the senior center in the back, which takes care of over 3,000 seniors each year,” Mr. Reed said. “The third location is the furniture store (1207 State St.), where the money generated from sales at the furniture store goes toward purchasing food for Unity Shoppe.

“Barbara and I were able to buy five buildings, and we still own three,” Mr. Reed said. “Owning space and being in control of destiny is vitally important. Most nonprofits lease, but it costs us a lot less to own, about 70 cents a square foot on a monthly basis.

“We are assured of providing services for the next hundred years. I’m very proud that we have acquired the operational footprint of adequate operation space. The furniture store is paid off, and the other two are on mortgages,” said Mr. Reed.

The retiring executive director talked about what he has learned in the last 20 years.

“What I have learned is the value of the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector does the best work in support of communities. We have realized the uniqueness of Barbara’s vision for Unity Shoppe.”

Mr. Reed said many celebrities such as local singers Kenny Loggins and Brad Paisley have become involved with Unity Shoppe because of its uniqueness and accomplishments.

“It’s actually astounding,” Mr. Reed said. “People from all over the country visit Sanata Barbara and Unity Shoppe and ask why they don’t have one where they are from.”

The News-Press asked Mr. Reed

what Unity Shoppe has meant to him,

“It’s the way we take care of our own,” he said. “These aren’t statistics. These are families, seniors and physically and mentally challenged people. Unity Shoppe serves as a safety net; it’s so expensive to live in Santa Barbara.

“These are real people in our community. The way Unity Shoppe takes care of those struggling people is a total gift. This is something I have grown to understand and value over the years,” Mr. Reed said.

“We have over 1,700 volunteers each year which we train, allowing us to operate with a minimum staff of 20-24 employees.

Whereas, ideally this operation needs 50-100 employees,” Mr. Reed said.

“As I look back on 20 years, the community awareness component of Unity Shoppe has become more of a household name. It is better known and is now replicating itself in other locations. That is what I feel very good about,” he said.

“People will comment to me about how they have learned about Unity Shoppe. It’s not all me but what I have been able to do by being the public face,” Mr. Reed said. “I feel very good about how well known Unity Shoppe is in Santa Barbara. I’m departing with Unity Shoppe having grown from a few programs to about seven important programs.

“It has matured in response to known needs, by providing dignity and restoring self-esteem and reinforcing the family unit, rather than making them feel like second-class citizens,” said Mr. Reed.

The News-Press asked Mr. Reed what he sees for the future of Unity Shoppe.

“When we started delivering groceries, it was during the pandemic, and it has turned out to be a necessary expansion of food distribution,” Mr. Reed said. “We have decided to make that permanent and we need another refrigerated van and more administrative staff. This program is partially sponsored by the Paul and Patricia Bragg Foundation. We will expand the program, and all programs will be expanded into north Santa Barbara county.

“We have about 400 referring agencies that send clients to us. Our location is in South County, so we will expand by collaborating with nonprofits in North County including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County,” Mr. Reed said.

“It’s been a very fulfilling and gratifying career at Unity Shoppe,” Mr. Reed said. “It’s a little bittersweet to leave with exciting things happening. It is in a very stable position financially. I have every confidence that Unity Shoppe will continue to grow and be a premier nonprofit in Santa Barbara County.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

District.

Peggy was born in Santa Monica in 1931 to Bernadette and Herbert Marsh. She came home to three brothers (Herbert, John, and William).

Shortly after graduating from Saint Monica Catholic High School, she met her future husband Roman Victor “Ray”, a Naval Aviator. In 1950 they married in Monterey, California. They enjoyed living in several parts of the country. They settled in Lompoc after Ray retired from the Navy in February 1965.

Peggy was active in the La Purisima Parish, Catholic Daughters of America, and the Lompoc Alpha Club. She enjoyed many world-wide adventures while traveling with friends after Ray passed in 2001. Also, she loved gardening, bridge and a variety of card games, but most of all she loved her family, friends, and caregivers.

Also, in addition to being preceded in death by her parents and siblings, she is preceded by daughter Jean, and son Robert.

She is survived by her sons Thomas (Lisa) and Joseph (Kim), four grandsons (Patrick, Jason, David and Derek), one granddaughter (Carla), four great-grandsons (Jason, Catchr, Noah and Henry), and two great-granddaughters (Leah and Callie).

ALVARADO, Lucia Maria

Lucia “Lucy” Maria Alvarado 82, went home to be with our Lord peacefully in her sleep as her daughter and primary caregiver Zarith held her. She was surrounded by her family including her two remaining siblings out of 14 Maryann and Raymond Navarro. Just over a week ago in conversation with our dear Fr Larry she shared how tired and ready she was to go home to be with our Lord. Lucy was born and grew up in Lompoc California. Following graduating from Lompoc High School she attended Allen Hancock College studying accounting which she worked up until meeting the love of her life Brijido Alcalá Alvarado a young Marine stationed at Point Arguello Marine Barracks in Lompoc. They fell in love, were married and gave birth to three children: Cecilia, Zarith and Gregory. Lucy devoted her whole life to her husband and children. Her family was her everything. She always participated in her children’s PTA, their field trips and assisted in their classrooms. Lucy’s other love has always been her animals and most recently her little dog Polar.

Lucy was a kidney transplant recipient which was very important to her. She would have celebrated 25 years this December 27th.

Lucy is survived by her children Cecilia, Zarith and Gregory Alvarado, daughter-inlaw Kimberly Alvarado, granddaughters Dakota, Dannika, Dominique Harrison, and Grace and Ellie Alvarado, two great-granddaughters Irie and Iris Gorham, brother Raymond Navarro, and sister Maryann Navarro.

Lucia is preceded in her passing of her husband Brijido Alcalá Alvarado, her father Teófilo Navarro mother Cecilia Navarro, brothers Tony, Roger and Pete Cruz, Joe, Fausto, David Navarro and sisters Esther Lara, Josephine Regalado, Sally Guevara, Cora Maldonado, and Cecilia Ramos.

A Rosary will be at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary on Friday, December 16, 2022, at 6 pm.

Funeral Service/Mass will be at La Purisima Catholic Church on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 8 am followed by burial services at Lompoc Cemetery.

TALAVERA, Betsee S.

6/19/1950 - 10/23/2022

These brief words are written in honor of Betsee Seegert Talavera, who passed away in late October after a brief illness. Born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, and one of five children of Frederick and Rosemary Seegert.

Betsee was a well learned alumna and graduate of UCSB, earning a teaching degree in bilingual education. Betsee taught throughout Southern California, before settling down in Lompoc with her son, Adolfo S.Talavera. Known to her Hapgood Elementary school students as “Mrs. T”, Betsee quickly made many friends at Hapgood, faculty and students alike. After a long and productive teaching career, Betsee developed her artistic gifts and gathered additional friends throughout the Lompoc Valley art community.

A polymath, Betsee enjoyed researching her family history and genealogy, especially her Irish roots. As a lover of science and nature, she read widely and painted prolifically the hills and coastlines of central California and Oregon. Never one to be idle, she loved knitting and very much enjoyed making garments for her family and friends. Betsee loved botany and tending to her extensive backyard flower garden. She was cultivating an interest in growing exotic flowers from seed in her greenhouse.

Betsee kept close ties with her widely dispersed family - as far as the East Coast - and made yearly trips up and down the West Coast on visits from California, to family in Oregon and Washington, stopping along the way in order to take photos in preparation for her landscape paintings.

Betsee’s innate kindness, generosity, humor, and intelligence were well known and she was much admired and respected by all who found themselves within her sphere of acquaintance and friendship - we will miss her greatly.

Betsee is survived by her son Adolfo Talavera, daughter-in-law Nuron Talavera, and granddaughter Arwen Talavera, of Washington state; siblings Teri Heustis, and Bill Seegert of Santa Barbara, Chris Seegert of Oroville, and Junee Seegert of Oregon.

He lived his life as a true Santa Barbara, CA Native. His family moved to Santa Barbara, in 1961. He graduated from La Cumbre Jr. High School and San Marcos High School where he played on the golf team, as did both of his brothers. Growing up in Hidden Valley, all three brothers would hike across the creek to La Cumbre Golf Course where they all worked for years for Sam Randolph and played golf incessantly.

Jerry also loved the ocean and surfing. He would hang out and surf at Hendry’s (The Pit!), and he loved Jalama. No family picture of Jerry exists of him in water without a smile on his face. After high school, Jerry served his country in Vietnam and, like so many others, faced tough challenges upon his return.

For years he ran the family plumbing supply shop on East Haley Street. It was a busy, fun, and vibrant intersection of so many local lives.

After some years in Phoenix, AZ he and his wife Barbara returned to Solvang, CA to help care for his mother, Helen and her husband, Jim Radcliffe. He and Barbara made many close friends at Rancho Santa Ynez where they lived, and at the Alisal River Course where they both worked, and he played golf.

Jerry is preceded in death by his father, Dean Gorton (1999), his sister, Val Gorton (2011) and his stepfather, Jim Radcliffe (2021). He is survived by his loving wife, soulmate, and partner in crime, Barbara Gorton; mother, Helen Radcliffe; daughter, Marti Gorton; brothers, Tom Gorton (Catherine) and Mike Gorton (Mary), as well as scores of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jerry’s most precious gift was his ability to connect with those in his life in a way that left us all knowing how fully he truly saw, loved, accepted, and appreciated who we were. Huge holes the sands of time slowly, mercifully, fill.

HOPKINS, Susan Lorraine

Susan Lorraine Hopkins died Nov 13, 2022 of cancer at the age of 75 years old at home in Gig Harbor, WA. She was born May 27, 1947, in Seattle, WA. She is survived by her husband, Edker Matthews (News-Press Carrier/ SBHS graduate ‘61), mother and stepfather, John and Mary Huff, sisters Janet and Joanne Hopkins. She also has 2 nieces, 2 stepdaughters and their husbands and 3 step-grandchildren.

Susan received her B.A. and Masters from CWSU. She taught remedial reading as a reading specialist, then went into sales for a specialized reading program and found her strength in general sales.

During her adult life she lived in Bellevue until 2004 where she and Edker moved to Albuquerque, NM. They were married in 2005, and returned to Washington in 2021.

Susan was a natural athlete. She remained a hiker and adventure seeker to her last day. She had a depth of spiritual belief and loved people with no judgement. Her passion was to live everyday from authentic presence. Susan had lasting, deep friendships from all over the country. She had an eminence of pure joy that was always contagious. Many of her friends have said how her laugh would be one of the things they’d remember most about Susan.

There will be a Celebration of Life on her 76th birthday, May 27, 2023. It will be a salad

& dessert potluck held in Tacoma. For additional information call or email Edker at 505 280 6196: ebmatthews43@gmail.com.

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com

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Today Fri.

City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W

Cuyama 54/31/c 58/30/s

Goleta 61/41/c 63/41/s

Lompoc 63/39/c 62/37/s

Pismo Beach 59/36/pc 61/37/s

Santa Maria 60/37/c 64/38/s

Santa Ynez 63/38/c 64/36/s

Vandenberg 61/41/c 61/40/s

Ventura 62/49/c 64/45/s

Bakersfield 51/34/pc 58/33/s

Barstow 56/30/pc 52/29/s

Big Bear 44/18/pc 42/15/s

Bishop 52/20/pc 48/20/s

Catalina 55/49/c 61/51/s

Concord 55/33/pc 53/33/s

Escondido 64/43/c 68/38/pc

Eureka 51/32/s 53/35/s

Fresno 54/35/pc 56/36/s

Los Angeles 62/47/c 66/42/s

Mammoth Lakes 37/8/pc 33/4/s

Modesto 53/35/pc 53/35/s

Monterey 58/38/pc 60/40/s

Napa 57/30/pc 56/30/s

Oakland 55/36/pc 57/35/s

Ojai 62/40/c 66/37/s

Oxnard 61/46/c 64/44/s

Palm Springs 65/48/pc 66/43/s

Pasadena 62/46/c 67/43/s

Paso Robles 55/30/pc 62/28/s

Sacramento 53/31/pc 52/30/s

San Diego 61/48/c 66/42/pc

San Francisco 55/40/pc 56/41/s

San Jose 55/35/pc 56/38/s

San Luis Obispo 61/35/pc 64/37/s

Santa Monica 62/46/c 65/41/s

Tahoe Valley 39/11/s 39/20/s

Atlanta 58/37/pc 54/36/s

Chicago 38/28/sf 31/24/sn

Dallas 56/34/s 51/34/s

Denver 31/8/pc 32/13/c

Houston 66/42/s 65/44/pc

Miami 85/70/pc 81/68/t

Minneapolis 32/27/sn 32/18/sn

New York City 39/39/r 45/36/r

Philadelphia 43/42/i 46/34/r

Phoenix 56/42/pc 59/37/pc

Portland, Ore. 42/30/pc 40/27/pc

St. Louis 40/29/pc 36/27/c

Salt Lake City 30/13/sf 24/14/pc

Seattle 44/31/pc 42/31/s

Washington, D.C. 45/40/i 49/33/pc

SANTA

Dec. 15 4:03 a.m. 3.9’ 9:07 a.m. 3.1’ 1:42 p.m. 3.7’ 9:08 p.m. 0.8’ Dec. 16 4:33 a.m. 4.2’ 10:38 a.m. 2.5’ 3:21 p.m. 3.4’ 9:52 p.m. 1.1’ Dec. 17 4:59 a.m. 4.6’ 11:36 a.m. 1.8’ 4:50 p.m. 3.2’ 10:33 p.m. 1.3’

which water starts spilling over the dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by 10 people in an urban environment. Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022 Storage 61,636 acre-ft. Elevation 693.09 ft. Evaporation (past 24 hours) 4.0 acre-ft. Inflow 0.0 acre-ft. State inflow 0.0 acre-ft. Storage change from yest. -43 acre-ft.

Today Fri.

Beijing 32/9/pc 30/8/s

Berlin 29/18/pc 28/22/s

Cairo 75/60/s 76/59/s

Cancun 86/71/pc 85/72/pc London 36/26/s 36/26/s

Mexico City 74/53/pc 73/51/pc Montreal 40/32/c 36/30/sn

New Delhi 73/47/pc 74/47/pc

Paris 36/27/c 36/20/s

Rio de Janeiro 80/69/s 82/72/t

Rome 62/55/r 64/51/r

Sydney 69/57/pc 68/60/pc Tokyo 53/41/pc 55/41/s

MARASZEK, Margaret “Peggy” (9/1/1931 – 12/6/2022)

GORTON, Jerry September 8, 1950 to August 22, 2022

Jerry Gorton passed quickly, unexpectedly, and peacefully on August 22, 2022. He shared his atomic wit, humor, and incredible insights on life with those he loved to the very end.

Executive Director Tom Reed stands with Jan Hawkins, Senior Resource Center director, outside Unity Shoppe on State Street in 2015. “Helping and serving others is the fulfillment and meaning of life,” Mr. Reed told the News-Press.

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life theArts

Mushrooms with a splash of color

Wolfe Family Farms

CALENDAR

offers variety

at Old Town Santa Barbara Farmers Market

By JARED DANIELS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Visitors to the Old Town Santa Barbara Farmers Market have the opportunity to explore a colorful variety of unique products grown in Santa Barbara County.

But perhaps the most unexpected splash of color comes from Wolfe Family Farms’ mushroom stand.

When the News-Press visited the downtown farmer’s market last week, which takes place on Tuesdays at lower State Street between Cota and Canon Perdido streets, the stand was fielding a steady stream of customers, several of them returning for another helping of the Solvang-grown fungi.

On offer at the stand were pink oyster mushrooms in hues ranging from pale rose to deeper shades of pink, impressivelysized lion’s mane mushrooms and blue oyster mushrooms that resemble pale white plumes of undersea coral.

The stand will also feature shiitake mushrooms in future appearances at the Old Town Santa Barbara Farmers Market, following the completion of harvesting.

On hand to speak to the News-Press was Ruby Chaney, who has worked for the Wolfe Family Farms for nearly two years. Ms. Chaney, who is a vegan, first became interested in mushrooms when she was looking for a more natural alternative to the meat replacement products currently on the market.

“I’ve been vegan for about eight years now, and when I started, I was eating the processed meat replacement stuff. And I just hated how processed it was,” she said. “So I wanted to find something that was kind of meaty that was like an actual whole food that grows out of the earth.”

Ms. Chaney began going to her local farmers market in Solvang in search of alternatives, where she discovered Wolfe Family Farms’ lion’s mane mushrooms.

After that, she was hooked.

“It has this really fun like flaky texture, and you can just like shred it apart,” she said. “So I’ll be in the kitchen, and I’ll just be sitting there shredding lion’s mane. And it makes the best mushroom tacos, crabless crab cakes, and you can put it on sandwiches!”

In regards to the pink and blue oyster mushrooms available that day, Ms. Chaney gushed over how the two varieties “crisp up beautifully” and work well when pan fried and oven roasted.

“The pink oyster mushrooms have kind of a nice seafood aroma to them. They’re a lot more fragrant, more pungent; whereas the blue are nice and subtle and delicate.”

She revealed that her favorite use of the blue oyster mushrooms was to Southern-fry them in a cornmeal buttermilk dredge, while she enjoyed using pink oysters to start her day off.

“The pink I just love for breakfast,” she said. “You can put them on eggs — I do a tofu scramble — or just crisp them up with a little bit of salt, smoked paprika and some maple syrup or brown sugar.”

email: jdaniels@newspress.com

FYI

3 to 6:30 p.m.

To learn more

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

TODAY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Interlopings: Colors in the Warp and Weft of Ecological Entanglements” is an exhibit that runs through March 12 at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The exhibit features weavings dyed with pigments from non-native plants on Santa Cruz Island. The weavings were created by artists Helen Svensson and Lisa Jevbratt. For more information, see sbbotanicgarden.org.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, see sbma.net.

7:30 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 call 805-965-5400.

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.

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 call 805-965-5400.

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.

3 p.m. The Quire of Voyces, an a cappella choir based at Santa Barbara City College, will perform its “Mysteries of Christmas” concert at St. Anthony’s Chapel at the Garden Street Academy, 2300 Garden St., Santa Barbara. Tickets are sold weekdays at the Garvin Theatre box office at the SBCC campus or at the door 30 before the concert.

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 call 805-965-5400.

DEC. 18 9 a.m. to noon: Mitzvah Day features community projects at Congregation B’nai B’rith, 1000 San Antonio Creek Road, Santa Barbara. Ten goodwill projects will take place at the congregation and throughout the community. The program begins at 9 a.m. with breakfast, followed by a welcoming address at 9:30. For more information, visit cbbsb.org/mitzvah.

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.

2 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 call 805-965-5400.

3 p.m. The Quire of Voyces, an a cappella choir based at Santa Barbara City College, will perform its “Mysteries of Christmas” concert at St. Anthony’s Chapel at the Garden Street Academy, 2300 Garden St., Santa Barbara.

Tickets are sold weekdays at the Garvin Theatre box office at the SBCC campus or at the door 30 before the concert.

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO Mark Capri stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Ensemble Theatre Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol,” with performances today through Sunday at the New Vic in Santa Barbara.

Wolfe Family Farms offers its mushrooms at the Old Town Santa Barbara Farmers Market, which takes place

Tuesdays on lower State Street between Cota and Canon Perdido streets.

about the Santa Barbara Farmers Market, which features six locations throughout the week between Solvang and Carpinteria, visit sbfarmersmarket.org.

JARED DANIELS /NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Ruby Chaney displays the colorful variety of mushrooms offered at Wolfe Family Farms including pink and blue oyster, as well as lion’s mane. She operates the stand on Tuesdays at the Old Town Santa Barbara Farmers Market on lower State Street.

At top, Wolfe Family Farms’ pink oyster mushrooms feature a fragrant seafood aroma, and they can vary in hue from pale rose to deeper shades of pink. The color comes from the mushroom’s high iron content. Above, Wolfe Family Farms’ blue oyster mushrooms are more subtle and delicate compared to the pink counterparts.

At top, lion’s mane mushrooms are among the offerings at the Wolfe Family Farms stand. Above, Ruby Chaney shows off Wolfe Family Farms’ pink oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms.

ARTHUR VON WIESENBERGER /NEWS-PRESS

City of Santa Barbara awarded $20,000 to expand Urban Forest

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Santa Barbara Beautiful has awarded the city of Santa Barbara’s Urban Forestry program a $20,000 grant to support next year’s tree-planting efforts.

The 57-year partnership between Santa Barbara Beautiful and the Urban Forestry program has led to the planting of more than 13,000 street trees, which are located in the parkway between the sidewalk and the street curb.

“Santa Barbara Beautiful is honored to support this incredibly worthwhile program and its long-standing commitment to the sustainable future of Santa Barbara’s urban forest,” said David Gress, chairman of Santa Barbara Beautiful’s Horticulture Committee. “It is a benefit for all who live and visit here.”

Santa Barbara Beautiful said the 2023 funding will be used to purchase more than 200 trees sized 15 gallons or larger.

Nathan Slack, the city of Santa Barbara’s urban forest superintendent, said the trees will primarily be planted in the lower East Side and Oak Park neighborhoods. He said those areas have the highest number of empty planting sites.

“Specific tree species will be determined by the city’s official

Santa Barbara Beautiful is helping the city of Santa Barbara with planting trees to grace local streets.

Street Tree Designation List,” Mr. Slack said in a news release.

Once planted, the new trees will be added to the Urban Forestry program’s maintenance and watering schedule, with extra attention given in the first two to three years to ensure the young trees’ survival after they’re transplanted, according to Santa Barbara Beautiful.

“Residents outside the planned planting areas who have the

means to water a new street tree are encouraged to contact our office to request a tree be planted,” said Mr. Slack. “We have the capacity to plant more trees if residents can assist with watering.”

To support Santa Barbara Beautiful’s tree-planting effort, go to sbbeautiful.org/programs/treessanta-barbara-beautiful.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Sugarloaf radicchio

About the size, shape and color of romaine lettuce, yet slightly more elongated, this variety of chicory delivers a tender crunchy texture with a noticeably bitter underlying flavor despite the fact that it is the mildest of the chicory varieties.

Sugarloaf radicchio is excellent in both raw and cooked preparations. I prepared a grilled sugarloaf radicchio salad as the Fix of the Week, below. This winter green is excellent when it’s served as a bed for roasted and grilled meats. It’s also delicious in soups and stews, or when added to stir-fries.

Cooking radicchio, and other types of chicory, assists in mellowing out the flavor.

Grown organically by Roots Farm of Los Olivos, it is available at the weekly Saturday Santa Barbara, Tuesday Santa Barbara and Wednesday Solvang farmers’ markets. Price averages $4 each.

Satsuma mandarins

I was quite excited to see the first wave of sweet seedless satsuma mandarins enter the weekly farmers markets this week. They’re available from several California growers.

Incredibly easy to peel, they are recognized by their slightly bumpy peel with a bright orange hue. You can enjoy them fresh out of hand, or add them to a Chinese Chicken style salad, or use the juice for salad dressings. My kids also love them in the lunch boxes, or as an afternoon snack.

Satsuma mandarins are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber as well as a good source of potassium.

With the season just beginning, you can expect to find this winter favorite for the next couple of months at all weekly Santa Barbara certified farmers’ markets. Price averages $4 per pound.

Orange cauliflower

Orange cauliflower is a fun farmers’ market find, in addition to the stunning heads of purple cauliflower. Usually sitting next to the Two Peas in a Pod Farm table, this hybrid cauliflower makes for a wonderful presentation on the plate.

An excellent source of betacarotene, which is typically present in orange pigmented food, orange cauliflower can be used as you would standard cauliflory in all cases. I most commonly drizzle it with olive oil and season and roast it in the oven. It also is a nice addition to a pureed roasted cauliflower soup. You can find orange cauliflower from select growers at the Saturday Santa Barbara and Sunday Goleta farmers’ markets. Price averages $4 each.

Sam Edelman is general manager of the Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market Association and host of “Farm to Table,” which airs live 9 a.m. Thursdays on KZSB AM 1290. Sam Edelman photos

FARMERS MARKET

Fix of the Week

This time of year, my weekly farmers’ market haul is quite focused on an assortment of Brassica vegetables, which are very prolific through the cooler months of the year in our area.

While I do enjoy my regular preparations of Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale-based dishes, there is another category of winter greens that catches my attention, which falls under the “chicory” family.

Known for their naturally bitter presence and hearty texture, there are three main types of chicory: radicchio, puntarelle and Belgian endive. The naturally bitter flavor found in all three types are usually balanced out with acid dressings, flavorful salty cheese and tangy-sweet vinegars.

You can enjoy sugarloaf radicchio in both raw and cooked preparations, with the goal of pairing it with flavors that will well complement the natural bitterness. When cooked, the bitter flavor tends to dissipate a bit.

Sugarloaf radicchio is excellent when enjoyed in soups and stews, steamed, and served as a side dish, roasted or sauteed. One of my favorite uses for sugarloaf radicchio is to slice it in half lengthwise, drizzle it with olive oil and seasoning, then grill it to give the core a nice char. You can serve it as a knife and fork wedge style salad, then top the charred portion with complementary ingredients that

perfectly balance out the natural bitter flavor.

GRILLED SUGARLOAF RADICCHIO SALAD

1 sugarloaf radicchio. Olive oil.

Salt and pepper.

2 medium beets, roasted and diced.

¼ cup red onion, sliced.

¼ cup Parmigiano Reggiano (or chevre).

3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled.

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.

1 tablespoon olive oil.

Juice from 1 tangerine.

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice.

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard.

Preheat your grill to high heat. Slice the radicchio in half lengthwise, and drizzle the center portion with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and place cut side on the grill to char. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Remove from heat and plate char side up. Top each half with equal amounts of roasted beets, sliced red onion, cheese and bacon.

Whisk together remaining ingredients until well incorporated and drizzled over the top of the sugarloaf radicchio. Season with additional salt and pepper as needed to taste.

Yield: Serves 2.

Sam Edelman

SAM EDELMAN PHOTO

COURTESY PHOTO

Thought for Today

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com Thursday, December 15, 2022

ARIES — Communicate your feelings early in the day, because by evening you might feel too restricted to want to communicate with anyone. Use this disciplined, sober tone to get a realistic perspective on the issues at hand. You’ll have a stable, practical attitude for dealing with any situation.

TAURUS — Things will get much easier and more controlled as the day progresses, Taurus. People’s superficial attitudes and idle chatter will give way to more realistic and deep-seated conversations as the evening hours draw near. You will find that it’s much easier to get to the heart of the issues and be more honest and realistic about your emotions tonight. Assess your feelings with a practical perspective.

GEMINI — Today may be a rough day in which you find it hard to decide about anything. Refrain from making any major moves regarding finances or real estate. Concentrate on you and the answers will come from within. Be realistic and practical when it comes to your emotions.

CANCER — You might find it hard to connect with anyone on a deep and meaningful level today, Cancer, so just free yourself and have a good time. Take a more refined and disciplined approach to your projects. You will find that you can be productive after sundown. Later you should consider snuggling up close to someone you trust and care about deeply.

LEO — Get the party started early in the day, Leo. You may be running from task to task, but this is OK. You have the ability to get a lot done by multitasking and keeping things light. As the day progresses, however, there will be a veil of restriction that slowly settles over your mood. You may find it harder to communicate your thoughts than it was earlier in the day.

VIRGO — Bring your thoughts down to Earth, Virgo, especially later tonight. You may be flipflopping through the day like a fish out of water, but suddenly things start to fall into place at sundown. You will find that people are much more caring and sensitive to your mood later this evening. Spend it at home with someone you love.

LIBRA — The earlier portion

of the day is apt to flow much more smoothly than the later part, Libra. You should get things solidified right off the bat, if possible. Things will be a bit more relaxed and free flowing in the morning, but become a bit more restrictive as the evening sets in. Don’t go to bed without making a plan for what you want to accomplish over the next few days.

SCORPIO — This may be a frenzied day for you, Scorpio, but it’s likely to settle down as evening sets in. It will be a tender night in which you should stick close to home and get organized. If you have any task that requires discipline, you’re better off waiting until tonight to do it. Things will run much more smoothly then.

SAGITTARIUS — You should be on cloud nine today, Sagittarius. As evening sets in, however, things might get a little too heavy for your comfort. People will have had enough of your gossip by then, so give it a rest. Kick back and plan for the next few days. You might also want to take a more serious approach to your romantic commitments by confirming your feelings about your partner now.

CAPRICORN — Lie low during the day and try not to get caught up in the frivolous verbiage that dominates the waking hours. After sundown, feel free to speak your mind. You may notice that there is a sober tone and restrictive sensation today that leaves you feeling like you will never be able to break free from your current situation. Don’t get caught in this negative mindset.

AQUARIUS — Let your funloving nature come out to play today, Aquarius. As the day progresses, the clouds are likely to move in. There may be a more restrictive tone to your emotions that could make it difficult to express how you really feel. Focus your attention inward and realize that you can maintain a high level of self-esteem without having to prove anything.

PISCES — Your thoughts may be scattered and frantic early in the day, Pisces, but things should settle down by evening. Your emotions will be more stable, and you will be much more disciplined about tasks that need completion. Plan for the next few days and be practical about what you can accomplish. Don’t set yourself up for failure by biting off more than you can chew.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Thursday, December 15, 2022

“Some people see a glass as halffull,” Unlucky Louie told me, “others see it as half-empty.”

“Which are you?”

“I’m one of those people,” Louie sighed, “who wonders ‘Where did I put my glass?’”

Louie has trouble thinking clearly. When he played at today’s four hearts, West led a spade, and East won and led the jack of clubs. West took the ace and returned the queen: king, ruff.

Louie ruffed the spade return, led a trump to dummy and returned a trump. When East followed, Louie had to guess: Should he play the jack or the king? He played the king — and East’s queen won the setting trick.

CHOICE

“Partner gave me a choice of defending against two spades or playing at four hearts,” Louie grumbled.

Louie’s thinking was cloudy. East held five spades and one club, and to succeed, Louie needs a 3-3 diamond break so dummy’s fourth diamond will furnish a club discard. To give himself a chance, Louie must play East for 5-4-3-1 shape and finesse with the jack of trumps.

opens one heart, you respond one spade, he bids two clubs and you try two diamonds. Partner then bids three diamonds. What do you say?

ANSWER: Partner appears to have 0-5-4-4 distribution, in which case your hands mesh perfectly. Bid three hearts, intending to bid clubs next. If partner has a near-minimum hand such as None, K Q 6 5 3, Q J 9 6, A Q 7 2, you will have an excellent chance at six diamonds. North dealer

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.

“Love may be or it may not, but where it is, it ought to reveal itself in its immensity.” — Honore de Balzac