Santa Barbara News-Press: January 10, 2023

Fabled Foresters

s torm slams county — again

Montecito ordered to evacuate on anniversary of 2018

debris flow

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Leave now.”

That was the message as Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management ordered an immediate evacuation of all of Montecito on the fifth anniversary of the 2018 debris flow that cost 23 lives in the community.

The county on Monday opened its evacuation center at Santa Barbara City College’s Wake Center, 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara.

The county wasn’t taking any chances as heavy rainfall caused creeks to rise, created lakes in intersections, filled reservoirs past their capacities and led to a rockslide that closed State Route 154 in both directions.

As much as 10 inches of rainfall was reported in the foothills, and along the coast, three to five inches were measured, according to a map from the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District. And residents in the Cave

Please see MONTECITO on A4

FYi

For the latest on evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions, see readysbc. org. Santa Barbara County is operating its evacuation center at the Santa Barbara City College Wake Center, 300 N. Turnpike Road, Santa Barbara.

For small animal evacuation, call Santa Barbara County Animal Services at 805-681-4332.

For large animal evacuation, call 805-8924484.

For more information, call the Santa Barbara County Call Center at 833-688-5551 or 2-1-1.

If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1.

Newsom requests a declaration of emergency as another round of storms hit

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom submitted a request to the White House for a Presidential Emergency Declaration to help with storm recovery and response efforts.

Since Dec. 27 the state has been repeatedly hit by atmospheric river systems which are expected to continue to Jan. 10 with impacts lasting through to Jan.19. The state has seen urban flooding and twelve fatalities as a result.

Atmospheric river systems are columns of concentrated water vapor pushed along much like a river in the sky. They are a result of special combinations of temperature, pressure and wind. This transport of moisture is sometimes called the Pineapple Express because it can come from as far as Hawaii into California.

At a California Office of Emergency Services news conference on Jan 8, Gov. Newsom warned “We are anticipating some very intense weather coming in.”

California residents were urged to stay connected to the Office of Emergency Services (OES) for possible evacuation warnings in their area, to stay informed and be prepared.

“Floods kill more individuals than any other natural disaster,” said Cal OES Director, Nancy Ward. “Water rises quickly, water cuts off evacuation routes, a car can float in twelve inches of water. So it’s really, really, extremely important that you stay vigilant, you listen to your county emergency alerts, that you heed the warnings of road closure signs, that you don’t walk/ drive in water that you can’t judge the depth of, and to stay vigilant with an emergency plan, be ready should power outages occur, which we know will happen in a significant way over these next several storms and possible compound over the storms that are coming.”

“Don’t test fate,” Gov. Newsom

Court hearing today for transient woman in robbery case

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara County Superior Court will stay open today despite the heavy rain and flooding associated with the major storm that hit the city Monday.

As such, a preliminary hearing will be held as scheduled in Santa Barbara for the transient woman charged with stealing a cell phone from a witness to a Christmas Eve rock-throwing incident that shattered the front window of Rudy’s restaurant on upper State Street.

The complaint filed against Nelly

Gackowska, 60, charges her with seconddegree robbery and grand theft from witness Rebecca Brand for allegedly taking Ms. Brand’s cellphone to stop her 9-1-1 call in progress, and to get the photos Ms. Brand allegedly took of her at the scene.

Ms. Brand contends the defendant repeatedly slammed her phone into her thigh in a successful attempt to pry her phone from her hand, causing a big bruise.

Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth Branch and Ms. Gackowska’s public defender met in court Monday to confirm

the preliminary hearing was still on for today.

“We just called the case and the prelim is confirmed for tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.,” the prosecutor told the News-Press on Monday.

A preliminary hearing is held for a judge to determine whether there is enough evidence against the defendant to proceed to trial.

LOTTERY

Ms. Brand told the News-Press she has been subpoenaed to testify.

Ms. Gackowska has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, the maximum sentence she could receive is five years in prison, Ms. Branch said.

There’s been some confusion as to whether she also will be charged for allegedly throwing the rock that broke the restaurant’s window.

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 4-6-11-31-46 Mega: 22

Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 3-20-46-59-63 Mega: 13

Monday’s DAILY DERBY: 04-02-06 Time: 1:47.86

Monday’s DAILY 3: 0-5-8 / Midday 1-8-2

Ms. Brand said she was told no charges would be filed for that, but that she spoke to a Rudy’s spokeswoman who said the eatery wants to press charges against Ms. Gackowska.

“We are waiting on more information before making a filing decision on the breaking of the window,” Ms. Branch said. email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

Monday’s DAILY 4: 0-3-1-9

Monday’s FANTASY 5: 13-17-21-24-28

Monday’s POWERBALL: 18-43-48-60-69 Meganumber: 14

The

charges her with second-degree robbery and grand theft from witness Rebecca Brand.

STEVE TONNESEN / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

At left, Franklin Creek rises in Carpinteria during Monday’s storm. At right, Carpinteria Creek grows in intensity during the storm.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Mandarin Avenue in Old Town Goleta experiences some flooding Monday morning.

MediCal’s latest expansion to include those incarcerated for up to 90 days before release

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) - For the past six years, the state of California has been working to extend health coverage to more residents. Now it has taken the next step.

In 2016 full-range MediCal benefits which cover low- and no-cost health, behavioral health, substance abuse services, and dental services, were extended to children under 19 years of age in a program designed to bring quality health coverage to low income individuals and families. In 2020, this was amended to include all individuals 25 years and younger regardless of immigration status. Coverage was further extended to over 185,000 residents over 50 years regardless of immigration status in May 2022.

There is a shift happening in California’s health care coverage as the governor moves to extend MediCal to hundreds of thousands more in an important step towards universal healthcare coverage.

The latest expansion of the MediCal program seeks to provide publicly-funded health care for the incarcerated. The state has used reports on the changes made over the last six years to ask the federal government for a waiver on restrictions on publicly funded healthcare for individuals still imprisoned. Approval of the waiver is expected this month

and would allow inmates to access MediCal coverage for a variety of chronic illnesses, drug addiction, mental illness and pregnancy, up to 90 days before release.

Securing health care prior to release for California’s incarcerated is just one part of a bigger picture in the California Advancing and Innovating MediCal (CalAIM) scheme which was introduced last year. That program works to address inadequate nutrition, housing instability and other social factors that can contribute to poor health.

The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation reports that previously incarcerated individuals return to society with a number of chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes, asthma, mental health problems, and substance use disorders as well as communicable diseases like hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosis. In fact, 1 in 12 is hospitalized within 90 days of release for an acute condition.

WIth the CalAIM program reforming MediCal, and the continuous expansion of MediCal itself, it’s not surprising that the Department of Health Care Services reports that more than half of the approximately $133 billion annual budget earmarked for MediCal is spent on populations with the highest needs: the homeless, addicted, impoverished, mentally ill and incarcerated who make up just 5% of its enrollees. Over the next five years,

Gaetz, Freedom Caucus held line on McCarthy over seven bills

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, was among 20 House members withholding support from new Speaker Kevin McCarthy until the California Republican would commit to bringing seven bills to a vote, as well as agreeing to other concessions.

Rep. McCarthy, who was elected after 15 rounds of voting, is ranked the second-most politically left member among House Republicans, according to a govtrack.us 2020 analysis.

Rep. McCarthy agreed to a list of concessions made by conservative members of the Freedom Caucus, including Rep. Gaetz, who tweeted, “this is what we’ve been fighting for.”

The seven bills include one that would rescind funding for “certain balances made available to the Internal Revenue Service,” including the administration’s plan to hire 87,000 IRS agents to expand tax audits of Americans.

Two bills relate abortion: one would prohibit taxpayerfunded abortions; the other would amend Title 18 of U.S. Code to provide safeguards for children who survive abortions or attempted abortions.

Two commit to border security measures: to suspend the illegal “entry of aliens” and require the national criminal background check system to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and relevant state and local agencies whenever an illegal foreign national attempts to receive a firearm.

Another bill would prohibit the Secretary of Energy from sending petroleum products from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to China. Another would amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act to direct district attorney and prosecutors’ offices to report to the U.S. Attorney General’s office.

Among the concessions agreed to, negotiated by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, include capping spending at 2022 levels for fiscal 2024, establishing a subcommittee to investigate the Justice Department, allowing more Freedom Caucus representatives on the Rules Committee, and returning to a one-member threshold for a motion to vacate the speaker’s office, which is what it was before 2019.

Another concession includes the ability for any member of any party to offer amendments on the floor during appropriations, which Congress hasn’t done since May 2016.

Rep. Roy said he also demanded that members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read bills before they are voted on instead of bills being “rammed through the Rules Committee and sent to the floor,” where they are expected to pass them without knowing what’s in them.

Rep. Roy told CNN that what the 20 holdouts were able to accomplish was “history, because this hasn’t happened in the last 100 years.”

Rep. McCarthy’s election was the 15th time it took multiple votes to elect a speaker of the House, with the most contentious taking 133 votes over two months.

Conservative House members also sought to hold Rep. McCarthy accountable for voting with Democrats and against conservative principles.

According to Conservative Review, Rep. McCarthy earned an F grade for his voting record, which over the last six years shows a history of supporting unlimited spending of taxpayer money, increasing the debt ceiling, voting against funding border security measures, and voting for amnesty for illegal foreign nationals.

The analysis evaluated key votes over the last six years, identifying 24 to give him a failing grade.

According to CR’s analysis, in 2022, Rep. McCarthy voted for the NDAA without requiring the Department of Defense to rescind its COVID-19 vaccine mandate; voted to fund an initial $40 billion in aid to Ukraine without accountability for how the money is spent or stipulations that Ukraine pay it back. He has since voted to send an additional $45 billion to Ukraine while also cutting funding for U.S. border security. He also voted to pass a $1.5 trillion Omnibus bill “funding Biden’s vaccine mandates,” and voted to bail out the U.S. Postal Service and “stick Medicare with the bill,” CR notes.

In 2020, Rep. McCarthy voted for $1.4 trillion in special interest spending in a “so-called COVID relief bill;” to pass the NDAA without Section 230 reforms; and for the “‘gag and vote for it’ small-business-killing coronavirus emergency legislation.”

In 2019, Rep. McCarthy voted to pass a $555 billion “Christmas minibus spending spree;” to suspend the debt ceiling, cancel budget caps and increase spending by $321 billion. to pass a $19 billion spending bill without funding border security and, according to Conservative Review, to “surrender on the border wall; empower drug cartels and human traffickers;” and to “reduce accountability in Congress by making federal pay mandatory spending.”

CalAIM, initiated by DHCS, will be redesigned to address “whole person care” in an effort to mitigate more expensive emergency visits and hospitalization.

Those formerly imprisoned face a number of challenges with reintegration. With MediCal benefits now available before their exit and an automatic enrollment requirement prior to their release in place, the road to access is made more simple, perhaps easing one aspect of transition.

With a state the size of California housing the largest population of incarcerated individuals, comprehensive programs to address their particular challenges can only help to reduce recidivism.

Governor Garvin Newsom’s 2022-23 budget proposes another MediCal expansion to include an additional 700,000 individuals irrespective of immigration status. With legislative approval,residents 26 to 49 years of age will be eligible for coverage, this will be the next step in California’s coverage expansion.

“This is an investment in our people, our economy and our future. But we’re not stopping there. California is on the path to expand Medi-Cal to all eligible Californians regardless of age or immigration status, providing the most comprehensive health coverage in the entire country,” the governor said.

House Republicans to target border crisis, IRS funding, more with new majority

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Now that U.S. House Republicans have a leader in Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., they are turning their eyes toward an agenda with investigations and a few key legislative goals.

Rep. McCarthy gave a window into those plans during his acceptance speech over the weekend, taking aim at the border crisis, IRS funding and education.

The new Republicans’ rules package included a promise to vote on those issues as well as abortion and others as part of the deal that got Rep. McCarthy the needed Speaker votes over the weekend.

“This is what we’ve been fighting for,” U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., one of Rep. McCarthy’s most vocal opponents, wrote on Twitter, referring to the rules package.

While the Republican holdouts will see some rules changes because of their resistance, they are still a small minority in the House and will likely be unable to steer the legislative ship.

One of the items that does seem most promising for broader support is the push to undo President Joe Biden’s aggressive expansion of the IRS, a move that sparked controversy as Biden promised to partially pay for his rash of recent spending by auditing more Americans.

“According to CBO, Democrats’ supercharged IRS will cause audit rates to ‘rise for all taxpayers’ and a conservative analysis shows that returning audit rates to 2010 levels would mean 1.2 million more audits with over 700,000 of those falling on taxpayers making $75,000 or less,” the Republican press office for House Ways and Means said in a statement.

Other tax items that could see legislative action are a bill to make the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent, a vote to repeal the inflation tax on capital gains as well as the 1099-K IRS paperwork provision.

With a divided Senate and a Democratic president, though, Republicans will have trouble pushing through any conservative legislation. What they can do and have made clear they will focus on are using their investigatory powers to unearth more information on a string of controversies in recent years.

After taking the majority in November, House Republicans on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees were quick to announce their plans to investigate Hunter Biden, the president’s son.

Lawmakers at a news conference argued that Hunter Biden in particular used his father’s influence to negotiate

business deals overseas that may have used federal resources and even compromised the Biden family.

“Evidence obtained by Committee Republicans reveals Joe Biden lied to the American people about his involvement in his family’s business schemes,” said House Oversight Committee Ranking Member James Comer, R-Ky. “The Biden family business model is built on Joe Biden’s political career and connections with Joe Biden as the ‘chairman of the board.’ Biden family members sold access for profit around the world to the detriment of American interests. If President Biden is compromised by deals with foreign adversaries and they are impacting his decision making, this is a threat to national security.”

House Republicans have also put Big Tech in their sights, as a string of news reports have shown that the White House, federal law enforcement, and tech companies have apparently worked together for years to censor Americans on a range of issues, most notably COVID-19. House Oversight Republicans recently sent a letter to Facebook and Twitter on that very issue demanding more information.

“Committee Republicans continue to investigate whether U.S. government officials have participated in suppression and censorship of lawful speech in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” the letter said. “Reports continue to surface that social media companies acted on behest of government agencies and officials when removing, restricting, or disclaiming content. The American people and their elected representatives must know the extent to which their government has engaged in prohibited censorship to expose and prevent this unlawful conduct.”

Despite these ambitions, this legislative term is effectively shorter than most. Soon, it will be a presidential election year. Both parties will become focused on campaigning and fundraising, which means legislating will largely take a back seat. Committee investigations, though, could be used to push for media attention.

“Aside from the House’s policy agenda, conservatives will have new opportunities to carry out the muchneeded oversight investigations into the administration’s incompetence at the southern border, the origins of COVID-19, Hunter Biden’s laptop and shady business dealings, and the Big Tech censorship of these stories,” said Heritage Action Executive Director Jessica Anderson. “These investigations need to both expose the truth and follow through with accountability measures.”

Poll: Americans say economy in trouble

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) – Americans think the U.S. economy is in trouble, according to a new poll.

Released by CBS News and YouGov, the poll found that 64% of those surveyed said the national economy is doing “fairly bad” or “very bad.”

The survey found 56% disapprove of the job President Joe Biden is doing as president. Those two figures are likely intertwined. Inflation has soared since President Biden took office. Gas prices hit record highs last summer and are expected to rise again this year. Food prices have soared as well and show little sign of returning to their previous level.

Notably, 49% of those surveyed say they feel “scared” about the fate of the

U.S. in the next year.

The poll also found 65% of Americans said things in the U.S. are going “very badly” or “somewhat badly.” That pessimism is similar to the sentiment found in a recent Gallup poll that found that about 80% of those surveyed expect a higher deficit, higher taxes, and a worse economy in 2023.

“More than six in 10 think prices will rise at a high rate and the stock market will fall in the year ahead, both of which happened in 2022,” Gallup reports. “In addition, just over half of Americans predict that unemployment will increase in 2023, an economic problem the U.S. was spared in 2022.”

But it’s not just the economy.

Americans are also worried about crime with Gallup reporting that 72% of surveyed Americans predict crime rates will increase, not decrease, this year.

Santa Barbara City Council meeting canceled

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council meeting scheduled for today has been canceled, another victim of the major winter storm that slammed into the county Monday, bringing with it heavy rainfall and severe flooding.

The council was supposed to meet in a special session starting at 2 p.m. Council members had a busy agenda on the table.

Topping the list was a review and possible implementation of a fee structure for the city’s outdoor

dining parklets, most of them on lower State Street and adjoining side streets.

City staff is urging a fee structure be put in place for restaurants with parklets, saying the fees would be used to pay for the cleaning and maintenance of the Downtown Pedestrian Promenade.

As of deadline Monday, no date had been set to reschedule the special meeting, or whether today’s planned agenda items would be added to the council’s regular meeting to be held next week.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

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Council members had a busy agenda on the table. Topping the list was a review and possible implementation of a fee structure for the city’s outdoor dining parklets.

Foresters Hall of Fame event returns

FROM THE SANTA BARBARA FORESTERS

After two seasons on the bench due to COVID, the Hugs for Cubs/Santa Barbara Foresters Hall of Fame Hot Stove Dinner is back.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, the induction of three outstanding Foresters players, all of whom played in the Major Leagues, will highlight an evening filled with baseball, memories, and great food. Local baseball hero Ryan Spilborghs will be a special guest, along with former Foresters player and MLB AllStar Morgan Ensberg. The Hugs for Cubs/Foresters Hall of Fame Dinner also returns to its former home at the newly renovated Cabrillo Pavilion. Tickets are on sale now at the Foresters website at www.sbforesters.org for the family-friendly event, which will run from 4 to 8 p.m.

“We’re so excited to be able to re-start this great tradition,” said manager Bill Pintard of the 10time national champion summer ballclub. “We’re so proud of what our inductees have done with

their careers, and we look forward to seeing everyone together again for what will be our 11th Hall of Fame class.”

Pitcher Jon Duplantier was part of the Foresters’ 2014 NBC World Series national championship team. Foresters fans will remember Duplantier for his fireball arm; he had 74 strikeouts in 55 innings in 2014 before going on to Major League action with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Duplantier signed in 2023 with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Along with being one of the top hitters on that 2014 team, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox outfielder Jaylin Davis was part of one of the most famous plays in Foresters history. His incredible outfield assist cut down a possible winning run in the title game, allowing the ’Sters to win in extra innings.

Aaron Bates was a slugging catcher and first baseman for the Foresters in 2003 and 2004, posting a .320 average in 2003. In both seasons, Bates helped the Foresters reach the

national championship game. After eight minor-league seasons, Bates played with the Boston Red Sox in 2009. He then moved into coaching, and in 2022 was named the hitting coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That trio will join more than 25 other people (and the 2006 national championship team) in the Foresters Hall of Fame, a group that includes 11 Major Leaguers. The Hugs for Cubs program that helps kids and families battling cancer is represented by the late Eric Pintard and Chris Messier. Other HOF members include longtime volunteers and supporters.

Spilborghs himself was inducted in 2010. He grew up in Santa Barbara, playing at Santa Barbara High and UCSB before spending seven years with the Colorado Rockies. He is now a broadcaster for MLB Radio. Ensberg is one of the most successful former Foresters, a 2012 inductee. A slugging third baseman, his

nine-year MLB career includes an All-Star Game and World Series appearance with the Houston Astros. Ensberg is now a manager in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Those special guests and the new inductees will join Foresters fans, family and friends at the Hall of Fame event, which will include food, wine and beer provided by local sponsors. Tickets are $75 for adults, $25 for kids 5-17, and kids 5 and under free. Groups can also buy a table of eight. Highlights of past Hall of Fame events will be shared, along with stories from the Foresters’ 2022 national championship, the team’s third in a row.

For information on how to sponsor a Hugs for Cubs kid in 2023, visit www.sbforesters.org or write to info@sbforesters.org. email: sports@newspress.com

Jon Duplantier’s power arm helped the Foresters win a national title in 2014.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FORESTERS

Jaylin Davis was one of the leading hitters on the Foresters’ 2014 title team.

Aaron Bates is the Dodgers’ new hitting coach.

Jaylin Davis played three seasons with the Giants.

Jon Duplantier spent 2022 in the Dodgers organization.

Fire and Alisal Fire burn areas were advised to shelter in place because of flooding. “Go to the innermost room or high ground,” the Office of Emergency Management advised on its website (readysbc.org). “Do not attempt to leave.”

On top of all that, the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department closed West Beach in Santa Barbara after 5,000 or more gallons of sewage spilled into a storm drain, then into Mission Creek, near Vernon and Serena roads. West Beach was closed from the Santa Barbara Harbor to 2,000 feet east of the eastern Mission Creek.

By the end of Monday afternoon, Gibraltar Dam reservoir was at 110.6% of its capacity, with 1,402.16 acre-feet. Also exceeding capacity were the Jameson and Alisal reservoirs.

In the Carpinteria area, Rincon Creek rose and flowed with a fury into the Pacific Ocean. Also in the area, Carpinteria and Franklin Canyon creeks were higher than usual, with the flowing water seeming unstoppable.

As the storm intensified, the

rain grew louder and more furious.

When it came to Montecito, officials exercised an abundance of caution.

“Today is Jan. 9, 2023. We are exactly five years removed from the Montecito debris flow,” Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor told reporters Monday. He said that today the Montecito watershed is saturated.

“In the last 30 days, we have had more than 20 inches of rain,” Chief Taylor said at the 11 a.m. news conference at the county government campus by Calle Real in Santa Barbara. “Today we’ve had five inches of rain. We are at risk of a second debris flow in Montecito. We have more than 200 responders and rescuers pre-positioned for that event (if it happens).”

In addition to Montecito, Santa Barbara County ordered an evacuation of Sycamore Canyon, Padaro Lane and the flooded Serena Park in Carpinteria.

The evacuation orders came on a day of flash flood warnings, and officials told the media repeatedly that no one should be out driving unless they were under an evacuation order or otherwise absolutely had to be on the road.

“As you’re aware, we have very intense rain,” Eric Boldt of the

National Weather Service told reporters at the 11 a.m. news conference in Santa Barbara.

“We have already seen 5 to 7 inches of rain in the foothills,” Mr. Boldt said. He added that rain was falling at one inch or more an hour.

“We are in the midst of a significant and powerful storm,” Sheriff Bill Brown said during the same conference. He said two of the debris basins in Montecito were filling up and had the potential to overflow.

The sheriff noted a second storm system was expected today.

“In addition, the winds are a cause of concern.”

Mark Hartwig, chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said all of the county’s fire departments were prepared for the worst with personnel, equipment and vehicles.

Chief Hartwig noted multiple trees were down.

He warned that the embankments around rising creeks were likely weak and that it doesn’t take much water to put someone in danger.

“Six inches of moving water is enough to take someone off the street,” Chief Hartwig said. “As little as 18 inches of water can float cars.”

In areas such as Old Town Goleta, it was nearly impossible to walk around without wading into ankle-deep or higher water. “Lakes” were formed at intersections; streets became shallow creeks.

The storm’s impact on traffic was felt immediately. On Monday morning, there were more than a couple dozen or so traffic incidents on Central Coast highways, streets and roads, and that list continued to grow as the day progressed.

On Monday afternoon, northbound Highway 101 was closed south of Montecito, and southbound Highway 101 was closed at Milpas Street.

Around the same time, northbound Highway 101 was closed from State Route 33 in Ventura to Santa Claus Lane in Carpinteria. Northbound Highway 101 was also closed at Winchester Canyon Road in Goleta.

And southbound Highway 101 was reduced to one lane from Mussel Shoals to Main Street in Ventura.

Highway 101 was closed in both directions in the Gaviota area. Also in the same area, Refugio Road was closed because of flooding.

Motorists were advised to expect flooding on northbound

Highway 101 in Summerland and Montecito.

Overflow and debris led to the closure of Gibraltar Road in the South Coast mountains.

East Mountain Drive was closed from the Santa Barbara city limits into Montecito.

Those were just a few examples. The list of road closures was much longer.

The biggest impact seemed to be on the South Coast, but North County wasn’t spared.

On Monday afternoon, Avenue of the Flags was flooded in Buellton. Around the same time, a mix of mud, dirt and rock was reported on State Route 246 off the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez.

Traffic hazards were reported throughout the county, from Sheffield Drive in Montecito to South Bradley Road in Santa Maria.

Traffic collisions happened as well. Among the latest on Monday afternoon was one on southbound Highway 101 at Wallace Avenue in Summerland when a vehicle went off the road, according to the California Highway Patrol.

“Fast moving water is causing dangerous conditions on roadways,” said Shelly Cone, public information officer for the city of Santa Barbara.

“Due to the quick changing nature of the storm, some areas are flooding and don’t yet have signage, so we are asking the public to stay home if possible. If you do go out, please be aware of your surroundings,” Ms. Cone said in a news release.

School districts also expressed caution.

The Santa Barbara Unified

School District canceled classes Monday afternoon and advised parents to pick up their children, saying they would not be allowed to walk home. The district worked with the Metropolitan Transit District to get buses to the schools sooner than the usual 3:30 p.m. arrival time.

The district announced that schools would be closed today because of the storm and that tonight’s school board meeting would be by Zoom only.

Because of the weather, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District dismissed all staff at 2 p.m. Monday. Kenny Klein, the district’s public information officer, said a few of the district’s facilities experienced minor flooding. He said students won’t be returning to their campus until Thursday from their winter break.

Mr. Klein later reported that all of the Santa Maria district’s facilities would be closed today.

The storm also meant cancellations of today’s meetings of the Santa Barbara and Solvang city councils.

One area not impacted was the Loma Fire area. The Santa Barbara Public Works Department didn’t anticipate there would be a debris flow there, said Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Chris Mailes. He told reporters at Monday’s morning conference that no evacuation orders were expected for that area.

Because of the storm, the Metropolitan Transit District suspended service Monday night but planned to resume it at noon today.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Letter requested federal assistance for ‘significant’ flooding

and groundwater replenishment strategies as it relates to dealing with these extremes and capturing more of the flood flow during times like this.”

advised.

Gov. Newsom spoke of resources that help the state through weather extremes. California’s C130s going into the storms have brought back more information that a year ago would not have been available. The C130s along with other tools were provided by appropriations to allow more sophisticated analysis of weather.

“It was just literally a month ago in southern California, that it took their drought declaration that impacted about 6 million people and extended it to 19 million people because of the severity of the drought. That was just 30 days ago and here we are 30 days later talking about number five, already number six, maybe seven atmospheric rivers in just a matter of weeks,” the governor said as he spoke of climate change. “We are deeply mindful of living in this new normal of extremes.”

California has invested $8.7 billion in an effort to address “the issue of infrastructure related to droughts but in that plan, it’s not specific to droughts, its specific to conveyance, specific to strategies on stormwater capture

As of Jan. 8th, 424,143 customers were without power. Resources were being positioned for the upcoming weather systems, to get to vulnerable areas quickly.

The fifth river system hit California on Jan. 9 prompting the governor to make a request to declare an emergency in the state of Calif. The state has been repeatedly swamped by river systems which brought substantial rainfall and snow in elevated areas, with some areas experiencing flooding.

In the letter dated Jan. 8, Gov. Newsom requested the declaration “due to the current and ongoing series of atmospheric river systems impacting the State, which are forecast to continue to impact California through at least January 19, 2023.”

The letter requested federal assistance to address the expected “significant if not historical” flooding in the counties of Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sonoma, Stanislaus, and Ventura.

Aid was also sought for El Dorado, Los Angeles, Mariposa, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Santa

Cruz, and Sonoma which together endured twenty-one wildfires this past summer and are “highly likely” to experience debris flows due to the saturation.

“The emergency measures required as a result of the severity and destructiveness of these continuing atmospheric river systems are beyond the capability of the State.” Gov. Newsom stated in asking for Direct Federal Assistance to provide for additional personnel, mass care support, mass shelter support, mass evacuation support, equipment, and supplies. Gov. Newsom also addressed debris flows from burn scars, levee failures, and damage to roadways in seeking the assistance of the Army Corps of Engineers.

At the news conference Gov. Newsom indicated initial communication with FEMA Region 9 was positive and the request to the White House is expected to be granted.

January 9 and 10 are anticipated to bring another round of drenching rain “between two to five inches for lower elevations in northern California as well as the coast and valleys of Los Angeles County. San Diego County is expected to get one to three inches of rain. Mountains throughout the State will see rainfall amounts of three to ten inches depending on elevation and location.”

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

62/49/r 60/47/c

5:31 a.m. 2.6’ 11:16 a.m. 4.6’ 6:34 p.m. 0.2’ Jan. 12 1:35 a.m. 3.7’ 6:32 a.m. 2.6’ 11:58 a.m. 4.1’ 7:04 p.m. 0.6’

53/45/r Oakland 56/49/r 56/49/r

Ojai 58/38/r 61/44/pc

Oxnard 61/45/r 60/44/c

Palm Springs 62/44/sh 66/49/c

Pasadena 57/42/r 60/49/c

Paso Robles 56/42/r 56/38/c Sacramento 54/48/r 54/47/r

San Diego 62/49/r 64/46/c

San Francisco 56/51/r 58/53/r

San Jose 56/49/r 57/46/c San Luis Obispo 57/45/r 61/45/c Santa

59/50/c Tahoe

33/25/sn 39/33/r

Atlanta 63/43/s 64/56/pc

Boston 40/26/s 38/34/pc

Chicago 42/33/pc 44/34/c

Dallas 80/56/s 80/43/pc

Denver 53/27/pc 31/23/sn

Houston 76/62/s 79/56/c

Miami 79/59/pc 76/62/s

Minneapolis 32/27/pc 33/22/c

New York City 45/31/pc 41/36/pc

Philadelphia 45/32/pc 48/38/pc

Phoenix 72/47/pc 63/45/pc

Portland, Ore. 49/39/pc 50/43/sh

St. Louis 56/43/pc 59/39/pc

Salt Lake City 50/37/r 44/29/c

Seattle 54/40/pc 53/44/sh

Washington, D.C. 47/34/pc 48/40/pc

Mexico City 70/47/s 68/52/s

Montreal 23/12/s 23/19/sn

New Delhi 68/48/pc 69/52/pc

Paris 51/48/r 54/47/pc

Rio de Janeiro 80/75/t 83/74/r

Rome 58/37/s 57/43/pc

Sydney 77/67/s 77/67/pc Tokyo 51/36/s 50/40/s

DAVE

A small “lake” forms at the intersection of Mandarin and Magnolia avenues. It was nearly impossible to walk around Old Town Goleta Monday morning without wading into ankle-deep or higher water.

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life theArts

A young filmmaker’s passion for art

‘The Fabelmans’ explores the growth of a boy’s dream

FYI

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

A high school student discovers the truth, however great or however terrible, through his filmmaking. That’s the premise of “The Fabelmans,” directed and co-written by Steven Spielberg and inspired by his life. (The other co-writer is Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, known for “Angels in America.”)

“The Fabelmans” stands out for a well-written story that dramatically and effectively paints a photo of a family at its happiest and most dysfunctional of times. As always, Mr. Spielberg does a great job of bringing out the best from the actors, and the pacing couldn’t be better as the movie presents a nostalgic look at the Super 8 filmmaking of Mr. Spielberg’s childhood. There’s also a nod to the TV and movie-making industries of the 1960s.

Gabriel LaBelle is compelling as Sammy Fabelman, a high school student who has spent his life making movies. He makes movies with his fellow Boy Scouts and presents stories varying from a Western to

a

Another

CALENDAR

CALENDAR

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

TODAY

10 a.m. to 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.

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

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, continues through Feb. 20 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, see sullivangoss.com or call the gallery at 805-730-1460.

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.

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 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www.sbnature.org.

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

7 p.m. Italian pianist Antonio Artese and his West Coast Trio will perform at at SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., Suite 205, Santa Barbara. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 on the day of the concert. To purchase, go to www.sohosb.com, where you can make dinner reservations. This concert is for all ages. For more about Mr. Artese, go to antonioartese.com.

JAN. 13

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar will perform a free concert at Isla Vista Elementary School, 6875 El Colegio Road, Isla Vista, as Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara resumes its programming.

7 p.m. The Los Angeles Reed Quintet will perform during the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series at St. Mark’sin-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. The program will include music by Mendelssohn, Mahler, Ligeti, Nina Shekhar, Yanjun Hua, Corelli, Fred Coots, and Sam Lewis

JAN. 14

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuélla will perform a free concert at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara .

JAN. 15

7 p.m. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuélla will perform a free concert at The Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High School, 721 E. Cota St., Santa Barbara. The concert is presented by Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara.

JAN. 17

1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, 4436 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

JAN. 19

2 to 5:30 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara, 524 Chapala St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

JAN. 21

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime” (El viaje de una vida) with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 22

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform its “Plains, Trains & Violins” concert at The Granada, 1214 State St. The concert includes Miguel del Aguila’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, “The Journey of a Lifetime (El viaje de una vida)” with violin soloist Guillermo Figueroa and the concert world premiere of Elmer Bernstein’s “Toccata for Toy Trains.” The orchestra will also perform Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). Tickets cost $35 to $175. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

4 to 5 p.m. “Roy Dunn: Capturing Imagery of Our Wild Neighbors” will take place at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang.

JAN. 24

2 to 6 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Camino Real Marketplace, 7046 Marketplace Drive, Goleta. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

7 p.m. UCSB Arts & Lectures presents mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and a music ensemble in “Eden” at The Granada, 1214 State St. “Eden” explores the individual human connection with nature and features music from four centuries. Tickets cost $46 to $131 for general admission and $20 for UCSB students with ID, one hour before the performance, and youths 18 and younger. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

JAN. 25

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vitalant blood drive at Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. For more information, go to vitalant.org.

7:30 p.m. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The ensemble will perform Beethoven’s “Coriolan” Overture and Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Opus 93; Anatoly Lyadov’s “The Enchanted Lake”; and Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” The concert is being presented by the Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara. TIckets cost $36 to $156. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

war movie, finding some clever ways to make his films realistic and meaningful.

compelling performance in the movie comes from Oscar nominee Michelle Williams, who

AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT PHOTOS

Sammy Fabelman ( Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord) watches the first movie he made, setting the stage, or the screen if you will, for a lifetime of filmmaking

From left are Natalie Fabelman (Keeley Kartsen), Lisa Fabelman (Sophia Kopera), their mother Mitzi Fabelman (Michelle Williams) and Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle). Sammy documents his family in his movies.

Burt Fabelman (Paul Dano), left, and his son Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) don’t agree on what’s best for Sammy, but Burt still supports his son in “The Fabelmans.”

Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle, center) and his fellow Boy Scouts screen a movie they made together.

Sammy gets to know his memorable Uncle Boris (Judd Hirsch).

“The Fabelmans,” an Amblin Entertainment movie, is screening at Paseo Nuevo Cinemas, in the shopping mall on lower State Street. See the showtimes at metrotheatres. com.

Please see FABELMANS on B4

Goleta resident wins Danish Days’ trip for two to Denmark

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Elizabeth Crespo of Goleta is the 2022 Solvang Danish Days’ “Win a Trip for Two to Denmark” raffle winner.

The drawing is sponsored by the Solvang Danish Days Foundation.

The winning ticket was drawn in front of a Solvang shop, The Home Connection, on Jan. 6 at the close of Solvang Julefest. The event’s winning ticket was purchased at the Solvang Visitors Center on Copenhagen Drive.

Solvang Danish Days 2023 raffle tickets can be purchased by mail by writing to the Solvang Danish Days Foundation, P.O. Box 1424, Solvang, CA 934641424.

Raffle tickets are also sold at various Solvang merchants leading up to and during Danish Days weekend.

Solvang Danish Days 2023 is scheduled for Sept. 15 through 17.

Additional information about this year’s event weekend will eventually be available on the Solvang Danish Days website www. solvangdanishdays.org, and on the event’s social media channels @DanishDays and facebook.com/ SolvangDanishDays.

The foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2023 Danish Maid. Applicants must submit an essay about their qualifications, Danish family history and accomplishments, and preference will be given to a candidate who will be a high school senior during the fall of 2023.

The Danish Maid will have a busy few weeks before the actual Danish Days event dates, making appearances at the Solvang Farmers Market and meetings of the Solvang Rotary Club, Santa Ynez Valley Rotary, Vikings of Solvang, Solvang Dania group and the Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood.

During the festive weekend, the Danish Maid will have honorary positions in the Danish Days Parade and will need to be available for media

interviews and other event appearances. Applications can be emailed to solvang@stilettomarketing. com or mailed to Martha Nedegaard, Solvang Danish

Days Foundation, P.O. Box 1424, Solvang, CA 93464.

The application deadline is March 17.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ still rules the box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is still making a big splash at the box office.

The movie was No. 1 again last weekend, grossing $45 million.

Opening in second place was the sci-fi/horror thriller “M3GAN,” about a robotic doll. The film grossed $30.2 million.

Dropping from second place to third was “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” The sequel picked up $13.1 million at the box office.

“A Man Called Otto,” starring Tom Hanks as a curmudgeon with friendly neighbors, leaped to fourth place from 18th with a gross of $4.2 million. Falling to fifth place from third was “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” The Marvel Studios

sequel grossed 3.4 million.

“Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody” dropped from fourth place to sixth with $2.4 million.

“The Whale,” starring Brendan Fraser as a reclusive English teacher trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter, remained in seventh place with $1.54 million.

“Babylon,” a look at old Hollywood and its decadence and turmoil, fell from fifth place to eighth with $1.43 million.

“Violent Night” dropped from sixth place to ninth with $741,000.

“The Menu,” a horror thriller, dropped from eighth place to 10th. It grossed $713,000.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Moon over Montecito

2OTH CENTURY STUDIOS

“Avatar: The Way of Water” grossed $45 million last weekend.

COURTESY PHOTO

The name is drawn for the winner of a trip for two to Denmark. From left are Donna Ineman of The Home Connection, who’s the chair of the Danish Days Trip Raffle; Linda Johansen, Solvang Danish Days Foundation member; and Aleena Madrid, 2022 Danish Days Maid, who presided over the 2022 festival weekend along with the 2020 Danish Maid, Isabella Lopez, and the 2021 Danish Maid, Kayla Bandel.

Fred Hayward took this photo of a moonrise last week over the Montecito foothills.

COURTESY FRED HAYWARD

Thought for Today

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

— Thomas A. Edison

HOROSCOPE

By Horoscope.com Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Aries: Doubts about business and financial matters might weigh on your mind now, Aries, so much so that they invade your dreams. The dreams are only a reflection of your worries - they aren’t prophetic. Your situation is probably better than it seems on the surface. Lack of information clouds the issue.

Taurus: A scheduling conflict may come up today, Taurus. A business engagement could interfere with a social event. You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK. Someone at home might not be communicative, which could cause a little worry. This person has issues they need to work out for themselves.

Gemini: Confusing communications could be the pattern for today, Gemini. Some paperwork you need to do for a task might be delayed - hung up in the mail or filed in the wrong place. It might take a while to locate it, but it should turn up eventually. There might be some strange messages for you, and you may not be sure whether or not you should return the calls.

Cancer: Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything. You aren’t being told something. Personal relationships, particularly love and romance, should be stable and rewarding now, although today you may not have much time to spend with those you care about.

Leo: Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today, Leo. Before agreeing to anything, read the fine print and verify all the facts about what you’re signing. Use your intuition. It’s very high at this time. Family members might be confused about events in their lives, but they’ll get over it.

Virgo: You might get a lot of mixed messages from friends, relatives, and colleagues, Virgo. They may say one thing while you sense that they mean something else. Insist on hearing how they really feel. This can prevent a lot of resentment later. New businesses could open in your neighborhood that you might want to check out.

Libra: Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, Libra, and get a little nervous. Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy might have planted some unsettling seeds in your mind. On the whole, you should be pretty financially stable now, and this trend is likely to continue.

Scorpio: Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried, Scorpio. You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change. Consider it, by all means, but this isn’t the day to make a final decision of any kind. Wait until you’re in a more secure frame of mind.

Sagittarius: You’re a logical person, Sagittarius. When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don’t do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it. Don’t write it off because it seems illogical. Life isn’t always predictable. If you give yourself permission, you can trust your intuition about nearly anything.

Capricorn: Doubts about a friend’s motives could plague you today, Capricorn. This person seems to be acting strangely and isn’t communicating. This probably has little if anything to do with you. This person has issues that he or she is having trouble with. There are others who are in a better space whose company you will enjoy at this time.

Aquarius: A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you. This probably isn’t the case. This person has issues that need attention. Allow them some space. A romantic partner might have to break a date tonight. Spend the evening alone with a novel and look forward to the next gettogether.

Pisces: Too much reading might have you experiencing eyestrain and possibly headaches, Pisces. It might help to have your eyes checked, but it’s probably just too much stress. You might have some trouble focusing on whatever work you do today, but this is only a temporary condition. You should be back to your normal self tomorrow.

SUDOKU

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Maybe an alarm clock is a device most useful to people who don’t have small children. But many bridge players could use one as declarer — set to go off right after the opening lead.

In today’s deal, North could have had no less for his double, or South for his invitational jump to two spades. West led the king of hearts, and declarer took dummy’s ace and led a diamond: eight, jack, queen.

THIRD TRUMP

East had signaled with the jack on the first heart, so West next led the six. East won with the nine and led a trump, and West took the queen and ace and led a third trump. Then South couldn’t ruff any diamonds in dummy, and he lost two more diamonds for down one.

South’s play was alarming; he needed to be jolted awake at Trick One. He must let West’s king of hearts win. Then South can handle the diamonds so that East never gets in for a fatal trump shift. Nor can West gain by leading trumps since he will lose a trump trick. In any case, South wins at least eight tricks.

9 7 6 4 7 5

J 4 2 8 3. The dealer, at your left, opens three hearts. Your partner

doubles, and the next player passes. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your partner’s hand is worth at least 17 points; he suggests support for the unbid suits, especially spades. (He may have a stronger hand with a suit he intends to bid.) Jump to four spades. To bid three spades when you have a five-card suit and a decent hand would be more than wimpy.

West dealer Neither side vulnerable NORTH J 10 8 A 8 3 2 6 3 A K 9 5

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.

Docent training to begin at Maritime Museum

SANTA BARBARA — The

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is seeking individuals to welcome visitors and help them understand the museum’s mission and exhibits.

Docents also help maintain displays and assist with special events, exhibit openings, art receptions and community festivals.

The next docent training class, which begins on Saturday, will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays through March 25. The public is invited to attend the first class to decide if they want to continue and become docents at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, but the museum encourages everyone to contact Jesse Baker, guest services manager, at jbaker@sbmm.org or 805-456-8748.

For more information or to register for the docent training class, visit sbmm.org/ volunteer.

— Marilyn McMahon

The next docent training class, which begins on Saturday, will meet from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays through March 25.

Film a must-see for Spielberg fans

gives an emotionally charged and dynamically varied performance as Mitzi, Sammy’s mother and a pianist who chose her family over a career.

Ms. Williams knows how to play the crescendos and decrescendos, the louds and softs, of his character. Watching her performance is, in fact, like listening to a symphony. She is one of the best actresses of her generation, and she deserves an Oscar nomination for her performance in this movie.

Mitzi and Sammy have a special bond as two artists, and they communicate the truth of their lives with each other.

Paul Dano (“The Batman”) does a good job playing Burt, Sammy’s brilliant but easygoing father, who loses all disagreements with Mitzi.

Complicating matters is Bennie (the always talented Seth Rogen), Burt’s best friend.

The family moves west to Arizona, then finally to California, where Sammy deals with intense problems and the hope of a better future. He makes sense of it all from his filmmaking.

A couple of the film’s best performances come from actors in smaller roles, Judd Hirsch as Mitzi’s colorful Uncle Boris and “Twin Peaks” creator David Lynch in an iconic part that won’t be spoiled here.

There’s also a lot of young talent in the movie. Mateo Zoryan Francis-DeFord gives an inspired performance as he plays Sammy at a very young age, when he first discovered the magic of filmmaking.

And Kelsey Karsten, Sophia Kopera and Julia Butters, who play Sammy’s sisters Natalie, Lisa

and Reggie, make their characters distinct and dynamic.

“The Fabelmans” is a movie that everyone should see, but it should be on the “must-see” list for fans of Mr. Spielberg’s movies. You can see the passion and craftsmanship that led him to direct films such as “Jaws,” “E.T.” and “Schindler’s List.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220003009 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as CONCORS DEVELOPMENT INC: 319 LOMA MEDIA RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103 County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: CONCORS DEVELOPMENT INC: 319 LOMA MEDIA RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. This business is conducted by: A CORPORATION.

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS NAME: CONCORS CONSTRUCTION. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 12/13/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 06, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) JAN 10, 17, 24, 31 / 2023--58995

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220003102

(s)

BUSINESS

No:

Filing.

following

VALIANT GROUP: 800 N MILPAS STREET, SUITE B, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara.

Name(s) of registrants: KENNETH W STERLING: 133 E DE LA GUERRA STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County ClerkRecorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 12/23/2022 by E30 Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 15, 2022. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it

(See Section 14400, ET

Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) JAN 10, 17, 24, 31 / 2023--58991

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220002989 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as 805 HOLIDAY LIGHTING: 1622 JUNIPER AVE, SOLVANG, CA 93463 County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: BRIAN A WILLIS: 1622 JUNIPER AVE, SOLVANG, CA 93463 . This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County ClerkRecorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 12/12/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Dec 07, 2022. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE:

The Petition for Probate requests that ADRIENNE BATES and KATHY HIRSCH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The Petition requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 02/16/2023 at Time: 9:00 AM, in Dept.:

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220003060 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as FINEAR FAMILY FARM: 1395 CAMINO MELENO, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: PAUL J FINEAR: 1395 CAMINO MELENO, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111, DAVID R FINEAR, 217 K-THANGA DR, CORONA DEL MAR, CA 92625. This business is conducted by: A GENERAL PARTNERSHIP. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 12/19/2022 by E54, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Dec 18, 2022. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DAVID GILBERT BERTRAND aka DAVID G. BERTRAND Case Number: 22PR00626 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: DAVID GILBERT BERTRAND aka DAVID G. BERTRAND A Petition for Probate has been filed by ADRIENNE BATES and KATHY HIRSCH in the SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA.

AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT PHOTOS

From left are Natalie Fabelman (Keeley Kartsen), Lisa Fabelman (Sophia Kopera) and Reggie Fabelman (Julia Butters), three sisters with their own distinct views.

Monica Sherwood (Chloe East) and Sammy Fabelman (Gabriel LaBelle) have a dance together at a high school dance.