Santa Barbara News-Press: February 14, 2023

stargazing and more

Crowds line up to see movie stars, and filmmakers present special stories as Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues

Goleta man pleads not guilty to vehicular manslaughter

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

After several postponed arraignment dates, a Goleta man charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for allegedly causing a headon crash that killed two young Lompoc women finally entered a plea last week: not guilty.

Kyle Nelson, 23, was arrested on Dec. 9 in connection with the Oct. 28 collision on State Route 1 in Gaviota that killed Jenna Corrin Causby, 19, and Dorothy Guthrie, 20.

He first appeared in court on Dec. 15 for the purpose of an arraignment, but the case was repeatedly continued for further arraignment.

Until last Thursday.

“The defendant was arraigned yesterday (Feb. 9) and pled not guilty to the charges,” Deputy District Attorney Michelle Mossembekker told the NewsPress. “The case was continued to 3/2/23 … for preliminary hearing setting.”

Mr. Nelson is charged with two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one felony count of driving under the influence of any drug causing injury.

Prosecutors included a special allegation that Mr. Nelson committed the alleged crime after being released from custody either on bail or his own recognizance in connection with an unrelated case.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Mr. Nelson was driving a Ford C-Max south on Route 1 at 80 mph when he approached a northbound Chevy Malibu driven by Ms. Causby. Ms. Guthrie was her passenger.

The 4 a.m. crash occurred as Mr. Nelson overtook slower southbound traffic directly ahead of his vehicle, and he allegedly chose to pass them by illegally driving over the solid double yellow line, the CHP said. He ended up driving south in the No. 1 northbound lane, directly into the path of Ms. Causby’s car. Ms. Causby, realizing his Ford was traveling the wrong way, turned her Malibu to the right in an attempt to avoid a head-on crash. At the same time, however, Mr. Nelson turned his Ford to the left, and the front of his vehicle collided head-on with the front of her Malibu, the CHP said.

The force of the collision rotated both vehicles in a counterclockwise direction.

The Malibu was propelled to the east shoulder, where it came to rest facing a westerly direction. The Ford came to rest in the northbound lanes, facing a westerly direction.

After the collision, both vehicles became engulfed in flames.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department responded to tackle the fire and pronounced both victims dead at the scene.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Crowds lined up on State Street to see Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis approach the red carpet at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. And there’s more stargazing ahead at the festival, which continues through Saturday at three State Street theaters.

Another crowd will no doubt gather outside as Brendan Fraser — who, like Ms. Curtis and Ms. Blanchett, is an Oscar nominee — walks toward the red carpet.

Mr. Fraser will receive the American Riviera Award at 8 tonight at the Arlington Theatre. That’s where Ms. Curtis on Saturday night received the Matlin Modern Master Award, and it’s where Ms. Blanchett was honored with the Outstanding Performer Award on Friday.

In one of Hollywood’s great comeback stories, Mr. Fraser received his best actor Oscar nomination for his starring role in “The Whale,” about a writing teacher who’s dealing with weight issues. At the same time, he’s trying hard to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter.

The stars will continue to come to the festival Wednesday night when several actors receive the Virtuosos Award at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre. The winners

FYi

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues through Saturday at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.; Fiesta 5, 916 State St.; and the Metro 4, 618 State St. For the schedule, go to sbiff.org.

are Austin Butler (“Elvis”), Kerry Condon (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”), Nina Hoss (Tár), Stephanie Hsu (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Jeremy Pope (“The Inspection”), Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Jeremy Strong (“Armageddon Time”). Mr. Butler, Ms. Hsu and Mr. Quan have all been nominated for Oscars for their movies.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who are both in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” will walk the red carpet Thursday night at the Arlington Theatre for the 8 p.m. presentation. The actors, who are among this year’s Oscar nominees, are receiving the

Cinema Vanguard Award from the Santa Barbara festival.

In addition to honoring actors, the film festival will present the Outstanding Directors of the Year Award at 8 p.m. Friday at the Arlington Theatre. And the winners are (opening the imaginary envelope): Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Todd Field (Tár), and Martin McDonagh (“The Banshees of Inisherin”). All of them are Oscar nominees for best director, along with Steven Spielberg for “The Fablemans” and Ruben Ostlund for “Triangle of Sadness.”

While the festival is known for its big names, it’s also a place where independent filmmakers

present intriguing stories. You don’t need a big star or a major studio to make a story with some impact.

Especially when that impact is made by a meteorite.

That’s the story in “Stellar,” in which a meteorite hits the Earth and creates fireballs hundreds of kilometers aways. And don’t forget the tsunami.

But while the world is rushing toward its end, two indigenous people in their 30s, simply named “He” and “She,” meet in a dive bar in northern Ontario and fall in love.

The compelling premise led to packed houses Friday and Sunday at the Fiesta 5 theater on State Street.

Please see SBIFF on A 4

The complaint against him also lists aggravating factors, in that the alleged crime involved great violence, great bodily harm or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness, and that the victims were particularly vulnerable.

Mr. Nelson sustained major injuries and was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

De la Guerra Plaza update on tap for SB City Council

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The City Council today will receive an update on the De la Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project, and will be asked to authorize Public Works Director Clifford M. Maurer to execute an agreement to pay $865,088 to RRM Design Group for continued architectural and design services.

The council also will be asked to amend an agreement with Ann Kale Associates in the amount of $65,599 for lighting design for the revitalization project.

The RRM Design Group is the project architect currently working on the concept design.

The recommended agreement with them includes a scope of work for the remainder of the design services. Ann Kale Associates will work with the RRM Design Group and the Historic Landmarks Commission to complete the lighting plan.

The DLG Plaza Project formally commenced in January 2019, and is funded from Measure C.

“There are sufficient expenditure appropriations in the DLG Plaza Project in the Fiscal Year 2023 Measure C Capital Fund Budget to cover the

DLG Plaza Project formally commenced in January 2019, and is funded from Measure C.

work that staff plans to authorize in Fiscal Year 2023 from the proposed contract with RRM Design Group and proposed contract amendment with Ann Kale Associates,” staff said. Staff plans to request additional expenditure appropriations during the annual budget process to cover RRM work that will occur in future fiscal years.

Staff developed conceptual plans to revitalize the De la Guerra Plaza (DLG Plaza) in 2011. This was placed on hold following the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency in 2012. On January 15, 2019, council directed staff to resume work on the De la Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project (DLG Plaza

Please see COUNCIL on A2

The

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Crowds gather outside the Arlington Theatre Saturday night in anticipation of Jamie Lee Curtis, who received the Malton Master Award during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

People wait for the arrival of movie star Jamie Lee Curtis.

The FBI’s McGonigal labyrinth

More information is dribbling out about Charles McGonigal, the former FBI counterintelligence chief in New York City facing numerous money laundering and corruption charges in connection with a Russian oligarch.

Business Insider: “To write McGonigal off as a case of greed and not espionage is to misunderstand how foreign influence works. It doesn’t have to be greed or espionage. It can be both.”

Manilla envelopes being passed between Mr. McGonigal and a former Russian diplomat, use of a non-FBI encrypted phone, bags of cash, an extramarital relationship that rendered Mr. McGonigal a target for blackmail (a favored recruitment technique used by Russian intel services), leading a double life — it sure smells of espionage, not just corruption. If this former senior counterintelligence officer was tied to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska — as alleged — then it’s conceivable he acted for the Russian Federal Security Service, having pointed out himself (in October 2020 on an Atlantic Council panel) that oligarchs are tied to Russia’s “preeminent security service.”

Business Insider: “McGonigal was not charged with espionage, and although there is currently no evidence that McGonigal committed espionage, an FBI source told Insider that the investigation is ongoing.”

So at least the bureau is scrutinizing Mr. McGonigal’s past cases, hopefully to include our case from Monaco intelligence of a U.S. Air Force colonel we suspected of spying for Russia. The FBI formally opened its own case in 2003, put Mr. McGonigal in charge of it and two years later supposedly passed it to the IRS.

Simple question: Did the IRS ever take possession of the case?

If not, Mr. McGonigal buried it.

Our own data check reveals that the target of our investigation sold his Malibu house in 2005 and has been a ghost ever since, leaving us to speculate that he either fled the country or is no longer alive.

Business Insider: “A Washington insider with decades of experience said, ‘What McGonigal and all these chuckleheads don’t understand is that for the Deripaskas of the world, this is like shopping at Walmart. They laugh at how cheap Americans are to buy.’”

It is well known in intelligence circles that while Russian spies are recruited through ideology, American spies are by money (or through blackmail).

The other side of the coin: A former senior FBI official told me, “So far no indication of espionage, looks like a corruption case.”

• “How America Took Out the Nord Stream Pipeline.”

Literally, a bombshell report by one of America’s most venerable investigative reporters, Seymour Hersh, that has been largely ignored by mainstream media even though the ramifications are huge, not least because …

• “Russia Demands Those

Responsible for Nord Stream Must be Named and Punished

After Claims Joe Biden Ordered

U.S. Navy to Destroy the Gas Pipe.”

The Kremlin creepers will, justifiably, view the attack on their pipeline as an act of war (which it is), and this could lead to them taking direct action against the U.S.

One thing is clear: The Russians are studying Mr. Hersh’s blockbuster exposition under a magnifying glass. Putin spokesperson Dmitry “Pesky” Peskov astutely points out that the article is “remarkable for the depth of analysis.”

Indeed, the details are riveting, making this a must-read for everyone at seymourhersh@ substack.com.

If true …

• “Is the Biden Administration Late to WWIII?”

A question posed by The Hill.

No, in fact we’d be ahead of the game, fighting a covert war with Russia.

This piece points out that Joe’s State of the Union looks backward at COVID-19 and Jan. 6, 2021 (obsessed, as always, with the previous administration) but largely ignores the looming specter of world war, starting with

• “COUNTDOWN TO Z-DAY: Russia ‘Massing 1,800 Tanks, 700 Aircraft & 500K Men For New Ukraine Assault in 10 DAYS” and “Ukraine Braces For Grisly Russian Offensive.”

Not unlike World War I, it has now become a question of how many bodies can be dispatched (and sacrificed) to the trenches. Mad Vlad Putin has long stopped caring (if he ever did) about Russia’s casualties on the battlefield. He simply wants to overwhelm Ukrainian forces at whatever cost to human life.

WASHINGTON WHISPER FROM OUR OWN INTELLIGENCE

SOURCE

“Putin held a meeting last week with military commanders, was told the new Russian offensive might not be as effective as he expects. They advised NOT to waste resources in vain and focus NOT on mounting a new offensive but on defending already occupied territories. Putin rebuffed these recommendations — as usual — by interjecting with obscene language and threats.

“Putin waits until the last moment to solve problems, and those around him do not know how to escape a worsening crisis in a system that depends on one very indecisive person.”

As if to prove that true…

• “Russian Soldiers Dying at Highest Rate Since Beginning of War.”

Over 800 Russian soldiers are sent to their deaths each day by an evil despot who thinks he’s Peter the Great and Stalin reincarnated. Says the U.K. Ministry of Defense: “The uptick in Russian casualties is likely due to lack of trained personnel, coordination and resources.”

• “Thin-skinned 5ft 7in Putin Has Secret Team Dedicated to Protecting Him From Memes Portraying Him as a Dwarf.”

Anything that questions Mad Vlad’s macho image, his health or mental acumen is censored in

Russia. Truth is, he is a coward, unwell from various maladies and his mental “acumen” (or lack thereof) got his country into a quagmire.

• “Top Putin Ally Says He ‘Will Not Hide’ Intention to Invade Poland Anymore.”

This be Chechnya’s militant leader Ramdan Kadryov saying Russia should “denazify and demilitarize” Poland as well as Ukraine. And since Poland is a NATO member, this would result in a war against all NATO countries. Which also means Mad Vlad is not the only imperialistic nut-job in Central Asia. Leaving us to ponder…

• “Would YOUR Neighborhood be Targeted in a Nuclear Conflict?”

As we have previously reported, the Russian nuclear program targets strategic military facilities (in the hope of staving off retaliation) and heavily populated cities.

The safe zones?

According to a FEMA hotspot map: Northern California, most of Oregon, Idaho (not Boise) and Maine.

• “How Monte Carlo Went to Hell.”

This gem from Taki in The (U.K.) Spectator: “Monte Carlo is an overbuilt, overcrowded cement hell out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting … a shabby place for not so sunny people.”

A weak sovereign, corrupt courtiers and greedy builders equate to Cement Hell.

• “Why Scientists Are Worried About Bird Flu.”

Thus begins the narrative for peddling a new round of vaccines.

One word of advice: RUN!

• “Mass, Mom Who Killed Kids Was Overmedicated ‘Zombie’ on 12 Prescribed Drugs.”

The problem is not the Second Amendment but Big Pharma. (Unless, of course, your name is Alec Baldwin …) Behind every mass shooting in the U.S. is a cocktail of psychiatric medications (or abruptly going off them without doctor approval). Mainstream media will not report on the studies that prove this because much of its advertising revenue comes from … Big Pharma.

• “California Hasn’t Seen a Catastrophic Earthquake Recently. But ‘Quiet’ Period Won’t Last.”

Geologists expect a 7.8 earthquake (like the one in Turkey that took over 35,000 lives) to strike California at any moment.

Some folks around here shake uncontrollably just thinking about Mother Nature’s version of rock ’n’ roll. And if it happens at 5:33 p.m., it means my martini will get shaken instead of stirred (unless there’s a cow nearby, a milkshake instead).

• “Bill Gates Claims His Private Jet Habit ‘Not Part of’ Climate Problem.”

BBC reporter: “What do you say to the charge that if you are a climate change campaigner, but you travel around the world in a private jet, you’re a hypocrite?”

Bill Gates: “By the gold standard of funding Climeworks to do direct air capture that far exceeds my family’s carbon footprint, and I spend billions of dollars on climate innovation.”

Sorry, Bill, not only are you somewhat incoherent, but you cannot buy yourself out of hypocrisy. If you truly believe in climate change as opposed to climatic cycles, your personal comfort should be no more important than anyone else’s.

But at least your fellow climate change private flyers like Prince Albert of Monaco, Al Gore and John Kerry will be sympathetic.

THE SAD STATE OF THE UNION OR JOE BIDEN PARTIALLY DECONSTRUCTED

JOE: “We’re the only country that has emerged from every crisis we’ve ever entered stronger than we got into it.”

In fact, President Joe Biden is digging us deeper and deeper into various crises (e.g. no southern border), and we are becoming weaker and weaker because of it (e.g. a weakened welfare state and the import of fentanyl killing our children and grandchildren).

JOE: “Two years ago COVID shut down our businesses, our schools were robbed of so much.”

COVID-19 just did its thing, Joe. It was you who unnecessarily kept businesses shut and schools locked down.

JOE: “Two years ago, democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War.”

Chuckle, oink, barf.

JOE: “That’s always been my vision of our country, to rebuild the backbone of America, America’s middle class.”

You mean by exporting our manufacturing and product needs to foreign countries and most especially China so their slave labor could feed corporate America’s insatiable greed? C’mon, man — you were in D.C. for 50 years while all this was happening!

JOE: “Once thriving cities and towns that many of you represent became shadows of what they used to be.”

And now they are WORSE due to homelessness, drug addiction, crime and district attorneys who refuse to lock up criminals.

JOE: “Folks, inflation has been a global problem because the pandemic disrupted our supply chains and Putin’s unfair and brutal war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies, blocking all that grain in Ukraine.”

No, inflation is a problem, Joe, because you recklessly printed money out of thin air based on nothing and gave it away, mostly to criminals who figured out how to scam the system.

De la Guerra Plaza project remains in the concept phase

COUNCIL

Continued from Page A1

Project).

On March 5, 2019, an initial contract was awarded to the RRM Design Group (RRM) to launch the DLG Plaza Project’s public outreach process.

“Staff unanimously selected RRM as the best firm to assist with public outreach and conceptual design, based on RRM’s strong statement of qualifications, team interview, and successful past plaza redevelopment experience.”

The De la Guerra Plaza Revitalization Project Advisory Committee (Plaza Advisory Committee) formed in late 2019 to guide the concept plan. They held their first meeting on November 8, 2019. The process was long and thorough, with the 14th meeting held on June 3, 2022.

“The framework for the concept plan is finished, and the Plaza Advisory Committee is no longer meeting,” staff said. “Therefore, staff anticipate this proposed contract will carry RRM through the end of construction.”

This final scope of work includes final design development, construction documents, permitting, and construction administration to handle requests for information and clarification from the contractor.

During Phase 2b, Ann Kale Associates was brought on to create concept lighting plans.

They will continue to work with RRM and city staff to create lighting design concepts based on the nearly completed plan.

The DLG Plaza Project is composed of five separate elements: architecture, landscape, public art, archaeology and utility coordination.

At this point in the DLG Plaza Project, it is too soon to forecast estimated construction start or completion dates, staff said.

Currently, the design is still in the concept phase, primarily due to two unrefined areas: the area between City Hall and Santa Barbara News-Press building, and the landscaping in front of City Hall on the Anacapa Street side. Once these areas are further developed, the formal planning application will be submitted to the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) to commence the city’s review process.

The DLG Plaza Project has proceeded through the Pre-Application Review Team process, and the majority of issues and concerns raised have been addressed, staff said. One of these issues is defining the DLG Plaza Project site. The DLG Plaza Project Site

will not include the City Hall parking lot.

Multiple concepts for the proposed structure design between City Hall and the News-Press Building were developed over a series of meetings with the Plaza Advisory Committee and the design team.

However, they did not reach consensus on any of the designs, and determined the building design would be better developed by working with an Ad Hoc Committee composed of the design team and two members of the HLC. This Ad Hoc Committee has met three times, and the new building concept is nearly complete.

In other business, the council’s consent calendar includes approving zoning ordinance amendments for accessory dwelling units, approving a construction and operating agreement and reciprocal easements for Chase Palm Park and the future waterfront hotel at Cabrillo Boulevard and Calle Cesar Chavez, and approving a five-year Measure A local program for projects for fiscal years 2024-28 public hearing.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

JOE: “But we’re better positioned than any country on Earth right now.”

Sorry, but the World Happiness Report ranks the USA at No. 19. Unlike Joe’s statistics, which are pulled out of thin air (the same thin air from which greenbacks are printed), ours are fact-check ably accurate.

JOE: “Americans are tired of being played for suckers.”

You got that right. And the smart ones know who’s playing them. Sadly, half the country has become victim to an educational system more interested in critical race theory and tearing down this country than true academic disciplines.

JOE: “When we made public education — 12 years of it — universal in the last century, we became the best-educated, bestpaid nation in the world. But the rest of the world has caught up.”

Not just caught up, Joe — they’re way ahead of us. We are ranked No. 21 in the world. But at least we’ve got transvestite library readings and teachers who coax our children to surgically alter their gender!

In the course of one hour, 13 minutes, there was more hot air

coming out of Joe’s lungs than in China’s spy balloon.

Late night TV host Jimmy Fallon quipped that the biggest winners at this year’s satanic Grammys were the ones who didn’t watch it. We might say the same about those who chose not to tune in on Joe Biden’s codswallop. Maybe it’s an age thing, which brings us to our…

CHUCKLE OF THE WEEK

The older I get, the earlier it gets late. Or put another way, 60 might be the new 40, but 9 p.m. is the new midnight. And 80? Time to hang it up, Joe. Otherwise, we’ll be looking like the old Soviet Union (think Leonid Brezhnev). We have nothing against old white guys, but it’s time for you (and The Donald too) to shift their butts aside and open the door to fresh eyes. May the best man or woman move into the Oval Office in 2024.

Robert Eringer is a longtime Montecito author with vast experience in investigative journalism. He welcomes questions or comments at reringer@gmail. com.

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ROBERT ERINGER NEWS REVUE

The DLG Plaza Project has proceeded through the Pre-Application Review Team process, and the majority of issues and concerns raised have been addressed, staff said.

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

Bridge project in Los Alamos

results in Hwy. 101 closure

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY – A project to reconstruct the bridges on US 101 at the Interchange with State Route 135 in Los Alamos resulted in a full overnight closure Monday in both directions of US 101. Northbound US 101 was closed at the interchange

with State Route 135 on Monday at 8 p.m. until today at 6 a.m. Southbound US 101 was closed at the same location Monday at 7 p.m. until today at 6 a.m.

These closures allowed for realignment work on the bridges.

The contractor for this $10 million project is CalPortland Construction of Santa Maria, CA. It is scheduled to be complete by spring of this year.

— Neil Hartstein

IRS rules refunds from 20 states won’t be taxed when filing 2022 return

By JOE MUELLER THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) –Taxpayers who received state refunds from California and 20 other states will not be required to report those payments on their 2022 federal Internal Revenue Service return.

“The IRS has determined that in the interest of sound tax administration and other factors, taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns,” the organization stated in a news release.

In addition to California, the IRS said people in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island don’t need to report state payments on their 2022 return. Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia fall under the guidelines with some stipulations. Alaskans will be included but must follow special guidance regarding payments supplementing the state’s permanent fund dividend.

The IRS guidance noted the pandemic emergency declaration is ending in May, making this an issue only for the 2022 tax year. “… if a taxpayer does not include the amount of one of these payments in its 2022 income for federal income tax purposes, the IRS will not challenge the treatment of the

2022 payment as excludable for income on an original or amended return,” the IRS stated.

Colorado Democrat Gov. Jared Polis told Douglas O’Donnell, the IRS’ acting commissioner, on Friday the money returned to the state’s taxpayers was not taxable, according to a media release from Gov. Polis’ office.

Coloradans would have paid the IRS approximately $100 per individual, resulting in more than $400 million going to the federal government.

Colorado’s entire congressional delegation sent a separate letter to the IRS urging the agency to continue the 30-year practice of treating refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights legislation, commonly referred to as TABOR, as non-taxable.

The Colorado legislature approved TABOR last year and repaid $750 to those filing single returns and $1,500 to joint filers. The refund was possible because of excess sales tax revenue.

“The IRS appreciates the patience of taxpayers, tax professionals, software companies and state tax administrators as the IRS and Treasury worked to resolve this unique and complex situation,” the agency stated in a media release.

Earlier this month, the IRS acknowledged it was receiving questions about special tax refunds or payments made by states in 2022. It instructed taxpayers to wait until additional guidance was provided or consult with a tax professional.

“…the best course of action is to wait for additional clarification on state payments rather than calling the IRS,” the agency said on Feb. 3. “We also do not recommend amending a previously filed 2022 return.”

Coloradans and residents of the other 20 states who filed their 2022 returns aren’t required to take any additional action.

“We, like millions of Coloradans, are breathing a sigh of relief that the IRS and federal government have stepped away from taxing our refunds this year,” Gov. Polis said in a statement. “This ultimately is the best outcome for families and individuals and we will continue seeking out more ways to save people money. I will continue fighting to maintain this precedent that refunds under TABOR should never be taxed.”

The IRS said a complex situation was created due to the rules evaluating if funds awarded by a state are federally taxable, as state programs distributed a wide variety of payments in 2022.

“The week-long uncertainty about whether the IRS was going to tax state refunds was a disaster,” Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, said in a statement.

“As chair of the Senate subcommittee on IRS oversight, I will demand answers for why the IRS explored this radical change, and why this took place in the middle of filing season. And as the IRS looks to the 2023 tax year, I will continue to fight to keep TABOR tax-free.”

San Francisco deputies make $530k+ as staffing shortages trigger overtime

By TOM GANTERT THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) - A San Francisco County deputy sheriff lieutenant made $554,577, a sheriff’s deputy made $530,935 and a registered nurse made $513,294 in 2022 to be among the highest paid employees in the city/county. The big paydays were a result of overtime.

The city of San Francisco cited extreme staffing shortages and minimum-staffing union contract stipulations that led to 38% increase in overtime costs in 2022 from the previous year. The city paid out $367 million in overtime costs in 2022, according to documents received in an open records request.

The city had 42 employees who worked 2,000 plus hours of overtime. One deputy sheriff put in for 3,469.50 hours of overtime in 2022. The city paid out $373,229 in overtime to one deputy sheriff boosting his pay to $530,935.

The increase in overtime compensation comes at a time when city budget documents predict looming

deficits to teach as high as $503 million by FY 202526.

“If the City does not take corrective action, the gap between revenues and expenditures will reach approximately $503.3 million by Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26,” the city’s five-year plan stated.

Tara Moriarty, director of communications for the sheriff’s office, said mandatory overtime was required due to minimum staffing mandates negotiated into union contracts. Moriarty stated the sheriff’s office has 933 sworn positions, and is currently down 196 sworn staff. The county is trying to recruit more employees, Moriarty said.

“Due to chronic staffing shortages, which have plagued many law enforcement agencies nationwide over the past three years, overtime ensures that we have proper staffing to maintain public safety, protect our community, and safeguard our City’s jails, hospitals, courts and government buildings,” Ms. Moriarty stated in an email to The Center Square. “Overtime actually saves the City money in the long run, if healthcare and retirement costs are considered.”

By BETHANY BLANKLEY

THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) – At least 156,274 people illegally entered the U.S. in January, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data published on Friday, down 40% from 251,978 in December 2022, it says. The data excludes gotaway numbers referring to those who are known and reported to illegally enter between ports of entry, evade capture by law enforcement, and don’t return to Mexico or Canada.

In December, at least 87,631 gotaways were reported in the nine southern border sectors, according to data obtained by The Center Square from a Border Patrol agent. The agent provided the information on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation; it only includes Border Patrol data and excludes Office of Field Operations data.

In January, gotaways totaled nearly 60,000, with the greatest numbers being reported in the El Paso and Del Rio sectors of Texas. Apprehensions and gotaways combined totaled at least 215,998 in January, according to the data.

“The January monthly operational update clearly illustrates that new border

enforcement measures are working, with the lowest level of Border Patrol encounters between Ports of Entry since February of 2021,” CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said. “Those trends have continued into February, with average encounters of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans plummeting.”

The monthly number is nearly as high as the total apprehensions for nine southwest sectors reported in fiscal 2017, excluding gotaways, of 303,916, according to CBP data. January’s monthly total is also greater than the total numbers apprehended in fiscal 1970 and each fiscal year through 1960 when Border Patrol began reporting the data by sector.

Since President Biden’s been in office, monthly apprehensions of illegal foreign nationals surpassed a minimum of 150,000 for 23 consecutive months, with some months, including gotaways, like last November and December, totaling over 300,000 each.

According to preliminary Border Patrol data obtained by The Center Square, Texas continued to bear the brunt of illegal entries, with El Paso and Del Rio sectors seeing the most traffic.

Apprehensions include those in the U.S. illegally who surrender

or are caught by BP officers. Turnbacks include those who entered illegally but returned to Mexico. Gotaways are being reported two ways to show how many are reported evading capture as they make their way north despite the best efforts of BP agents and local law enforcement attempting to apprehend them.

For example, in the RGV Sector of Texas, the 687 recorded in the gotaway interior zone would have been identified somewhere along Highway 281, up into Brooks County several hundred miles north of the border.

Unclassifiable detection (previously “unresolved detection”) isn’t part of 6 U.S. Code, which classifies how encounters are to be reported. This and the now-deleted category of “no arrests” were used as a way to lower the number of gotaways being reported, a BP agent explained to The Center Square on condition of anonymity out of fear for the agent’s job.

The previously deleted category of “no arrests” meant someone “was detected in a non-border zone and their presence didn’t affect Got-Away statistics,” according to the official internal tracking system definition used

Nearly 216,000 apprehended, gotaways reported of illegal entries at southern border in January

Variety Artisans Awards presented Monday night

SBIFF

Continued from Page A1

Darlene Naponse, who wrote and directed “Stellar,” said the two lovers in the bar are in the middle of the world ending.

“All of this is happening outside the window, outside the door, while they are still in there,” Mrs. Naponse told the News-Press. “Sometimes people come into the bar and connect with them. And the bartender’s there too.”

Mrs. Naponse said He and She are just talking and falling in love with each other despite the danger outside the bar.

“You’re wondering, ‘Will they bind themselves together?’ Or will all these elements (the meteorite, etc.) force them apart?’ ” Mrs. Naponse said.

One of the independent movies screening today explores another kind of danger — social media.

The film is a short called — what else? — “Followers.” The creepy comedy, which is about a world in which people might know too much about each other, made its world premiere Sunday.

It will screen again during the Narrative Shorts Program, set for 4 p.m. today at Fiesta 5.

“We share so much of our lives online, but we don’t know each other. You don’t know who knows what about you,” said Joey Ally, who stars as Wendy, a social media influencer whose neighbor invites her to dinner.

Social media changes the dynamics of a first-time encounter with someone, Miss Ally told the News-Press Monday.

Thanks to social media, you may not exactly be meeting someone for the first time when you see them face to face for the first time, Miss Ally explained.

“They could have met you 60 times” through social media, the Los Angeles actress said. “And there’s always a possibility of nefarious intentions.”

In “Followers,” Wendy has a meltdown, and Miss Ally said the Fiesta 5 audience was laughing throughout the film.

Unlike Wendy, Miss Ally isn’t especially active in social media. “I’m terrible at social media. I get overwhelmed by how much you can know about other people. It can just feel bizarre.”

Miss Ally was born and raised in New York City.

“I’ve been acting since I could speak,” said Miss Ally, who acted

Unclassified detections recorded differently in different sectors

Continued from Page A3

by agents to record data. “Unclassifiable detection” means the same thing, but the officers, for a range of reasons, couldn’t determine citizenship.

No-violations are “deemed to have committed no infraction and don’t affect GotAway statistics,” according to the tracking system definition. The categories of no-

violations, no arrests and unclassifiable detection should actually be categorized as got-aways, the BP officer said, assuming all non-arrests were of non-citizens. However, each sector also uses unclassified detection differently, the officer added, so how the numbers are categorized isn’t actually uniform.

If the categories of unclassified detection and no-violations were included with the gotaway numbers, the total number of gotaways for January would be closer to

ELIAS, Elvia Limón

Elvia Limón Elias, was born to Jose G. Limón and Maria Guadalupe Limón on March 30, 1957, in Yahualica, Jalisco, Mexico. She passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on February 7, 2023, in Santa Barbara CA.

Elvia came to Santa Barbara at the young age of 4. She attended local schools and graduated a proud Santa Barbara High School Don in 1975.

While in high school, Elvia began working as a dedicated caregiver and companion to her client, Kathy, who became a beloved friend. Elvia started her lifelong career at the DMV in 1976, retiring in 2016. Throughout her DMV career, she met people from all walks of life. She helped everyone with open arms, touching many lives with her kindness and patience.

Elvia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, godmother, and faithful friend to many. Elvia enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She particularly loved family gatherings where she could show off her dance moves with her favorite dance partner, her brother, Pancho. Her love for dancing is where she found the love of her life, Francisco, at a local dance in 1976. A year later they were married and started their 45 years of life together building a beautiful family. Throughout the years Elvia got to enjoy many family trips with all her siblings. Nobody was ever excluded. It was a true family reunion every time.

Elvia is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Eliana Marisol Elias, her brother, Joe “Pancho” Limón, and her mother, Maria Guadalupe Limón.

She is survived by her husband, Francisco Elias, daughters, Monica Rodriguez (Misa. Sr.), Vanessa Trejo (Anthony), and Teresa Elias (Rosendo Garcia). Her pride and joy were her grandchildren, Gabriel, Misael Jr, Bella, Eliana, Daisy, James, Laila, Ruby, Analise, Anthony II, Katherine, Davina, a new baby boy on his way, and her only greatgrandchild, Aubrey Alexis.

Elvia is also survived by her father, Jose G. Limón, siblings, Raudel Limón (Silbia), Jaime Limón (Elizabeth), Maria Wasserman (David), Javier Limón, and Hortensia Cruz (Frank). Also surviving are numerous nephews, nieces, primos, primas, godchildren, extended family, friends, and her best friend since 2nd grade, Sally.

The family would like to thank the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care, Sansum Clinic, and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center for the amazing care they provided Elvia throughout her journey.

The Rosary Service will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 7:00 pm and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 16, at 10:00 am, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. The graveside service at Calvary Cemetery will be scheduled for a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.

60,483.

However, these numbers still don’t represent the real picture, those in law enforcement have explained to The Center Square, because they don’t include those who are unknown and unrecorded. Not all gotaways are recorded because the agents and law enforcement officers on the ground don’t spot them all, meaning the number of those entering the U.S. illegally is expected to be much greater than is reported.

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.

during her childhood.

“I’ve done it my entire life,” said Miss Ally, who earned her bachelor’s in political science and French at Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. She directed, wrote and starred in “The Hater,” a 2022 film that was released in theaters. She played a liberal speech writer in a U.S. Senate campaign. She loses her job for a protest gone wrong and returns to her conservative Texas hometown.

“It’s the one thing that made use of my political science degree,” she said. “I was very fortunate. It had an amazing cast.”

You can see “The Hater,” which also stars Bruce Dern and Meredith Hagner, on Hulu.

In other highlights of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival:

• The Variety Artisans Awards were presented Monday night at the Arlington Theatre to M. M. Keeravaani, songwriter for “RRR”; Frank Kruse, sound designer for “All Quiet on the Western Front”; Son Lux, composer for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”; Catherine Martin, costume designer for “Elvis”; Florencia Martin, production designer on “Babylon”; Claudio Miranda, cinematography for “Top Gun: Maverick”; Adrien Morot, hairstyling/make up (“The Whale”); Paul Rogers, editing (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Eric Saindon, visual effects (Avatar: The Way of

Water”).

• UCSB graduate Matthew Mishory’s documentary “Who Are the Marcuses?” screened Monday and will screen again at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Metro 4. The movie is about Holocaust refugees Lottie and Howard Marcus, a Long Island couple who gave a billion-dollar gift to Ben-Gurlon University in Israel.

• World champion surfer Shaun Tomson will appear in the movie “Waves Apart,” which is the true story of a Jewish surfer confronting the sport’s antiSemitic history. The film will air at 7:40 p.m. Thursday at Fiesta 5.

• There’s free admission for movies screening at 2 p.m. daily at the Arlington Theatre. They include “Soul for the Ocean” today, “Elvis” on Wednesday, “Patrick and the Whale” on Thursday, “To Leslie” on Friday and “10-10-10 Student Shorts” on Saturday.

• The closing night film is, appropriately enough, the U.S. premiere of “I Like Movies” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Arlington Theatre. Written and directed by Chandler Levack, the film is about a teenage movie enthusiast and his dream of attending New York University’s Tisch School. To pay for his tuition, he gets a job at Sequels, a video store.

The film stars Isaiah Lehtinen, Romina D’Ugo, Krista Bridges and Percy Hynes White. email: dmason@newspress.com

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

The Arlington Theatre serves as the festival’s venue for the presentation of awards to people in front of and behind the camera.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

e Amazon currents of love

By DAVE MASON

MANAGING EDITOR

Amagical dolphin plays an important part in

“The River Bride,” a once-upon-any-time fairy tale set along the Amazon River.

PCPA, aka Pacific Conservatory Theatre, will perform the timeless story about romantic triangles and two sisters Thursday through March 5 at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria.

“The River Bride” is inspired by traditional Amazon River folklore about the river dolphin or Boto Encanto, which frequently appear

‘The River Bride’ to open Thursday at PCPA in Santa Maria

in South American mythology. Botos (or Encante) are playful, magical beings that create mysterious happenings.

“The River Bride” is also inspired by the Brothers Grimm, the masters of cautionary fairy tales, and has graced stages across the country and Britain since its world premiere in 2016 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. It was awarded the National Latino Playwriting Award.

The play is part of a threeplay cycle termed “Grim Latino Fairytales” by Marisela Treviño Orta, a third-generation MexicanAmerican poet/playwright. Marilet Martinez, who has

FYI

PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) is performing “The River Bridge” from Thursday through March 5 at Allan Hancock College’s Severson Theatre, 870 S. Bradley Road, Santa Maria. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

known the playwright for a long time, is directing the PCPA production.

The cast features Christen Celaya as Helena, Rosie Quintana as Belmira, Johnny Valerio as Moises, Oscar Emmanuel Fabela

as Duarte, Hugo Carbajal as Sr. Costa and Dena Martinez as Sra. Costa.

The play is full of romantic entanglements.

“There are several love triangles, depending on who’s on stage,” Ms. Martinez told the NewsPress.

In “The River Bride,” the two sisters, Helena and Belmira Costa, are both in love with Moises. “He’s the new character, the stranger in the town,” she said. “It’s a very small village, and this creates a level of buzz.

“You have one sister who’s more outgoing and ambitious, Belmira. Helena, the older sister, bears a lot of responsibility, is more hesitant,

more quiet. Both of them are taken with this stranger when he comes into town.

“Moises is a fisherman. He’s a charming character, a little on the mysterious side,” Ms. Martinez said. “He’s someone who’s desperately looking for connection. He’s someone who suffers from loneliness and solitude.

“Duarte is engaged to Belmira,” Ms. Martinez said. “At one point, he and Helena were interested in each other.”

Belmira didn’t know Helena and Duarte were interested in each other when Belmira and Duarte made a connection.

Navigating the loss of a spouse

Bereavement expert gives advice on experiencing Valentine’s Day after losing a loved one

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Today is the day for heart-shaped candies, chocolates, stuffed animals and bouquets of roses. It is a day meant to celebrate loving someone and being loved.

However, for those grieving a lost loved one, holidays such as Valentine’s Day may bring up difficult emotions and memories of a romantic partner who has passed away.

“It is always important to experience sorrow, pain or difficulty and allow that sensation to move through you and surround yourself with people you love,” Michael Cruse, a licensed clinical social worker and bereavement service manager for Hospice of Santa Barbara , told the News-Press. “Do the activities that give you meaning and comfort,” Mr. Cruse said. “Often these are activities

experienced with a spouse. Grief is a double-edged sword of sorrow and joy. In order to experience joy, you have to tolerate and regulate the sorrow. Those who lost a loved one can experience a variety of emotions on Valentine’s Day, and it is natural to feel overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, guilty and sad.

“People have difficult times during the course of the year, which depends on how that relationship was defined,” Mr. Cruse said. “Valentine’s Day is a source of association of sorrow, for those who made this day important in their relationship. The big ones are Thanksgiving and Christmas because they are heavy family days, followed by the anniversary and birthday. For Valentine’s Day, it depends on the significance of that day to the couple.”

Mr. Cruse spoke to how those close to the widow/widower can help them to feel less alone during these difficult times.

“Start by asking them what they

need, give them offers to not be alone, such as a dinner invitation. People are reluctant to ask or burden others. It is important to invite them. Also, invite reminiscence, and don’t be afraid of the tears.”

The News-Press asked Mr. Cruse how those who work in assisted living facilities or other long-term care facilities can help their residents feel less alone.

“People in residential care are frequently not with full cognition, and their grasp on the subject can be tenuous,” he said. “Longterm care facilities have an activities director who structures activities that help their residents recapture the past or the relationship they had. These activities are designed to make them feel better. Oftentimes family can be included in these activities as well.”

“I would say that the only way you can mess up bereavement is to fail to do it. You have to tolerate and regulate the

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

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival continues daily through Feb. 18. See sbiff.org for the schedule.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Entangled: Responding to Environmental Crisis,” runs through March 25 at the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. The museum is open from 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s closed on Sundays and college holidays. For more information, call 805565-6162 or visit westmont.edu/ museum.

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.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Coast artist and London native Annie Hoffman’s exhibit “Seeing Ourselves in Colour” will be displayed through Feb. 28 at Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. For more information, visit anniehoffmann.com.

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.

Noon to 5 p.m. “Clarence Mattei: Portrait of a Community” is on view now through May at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, which is located in downtown Santa Barbara at 136 E. De la Guerra St. Admission is free. Hours are currently from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, visit www.sbhistorical. org.

6 to 7:30 p.m. Nicole Lvoff and Joe Woodard will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. Their music varies from Beatles songs to jazz standards. For more information, go to crushbarsb.com.

FEB. 15

7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, The play is about an Afghan man hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s home in Kabul. Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

FEB. 16

7 p.m. “The River Bride,” the story of folklore, love, regret and two sisters who struggle to be true to each other and their hearts will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) from Feb. 16 through March 5 in Santa Maria. The play is being performed at the Severson Theatre at Allan Hancock College, 870

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

S. Bradley Road. Curtain rises at 7 p.m. Feb. 16-18, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 22, 10 a.m. Feb. 23, 7 p.m. Feb. 24, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Feb. 25, and 1:30 p.m. Feb.

A24 PHOTO Brendan Frasier, who has been nominated for a best actor Oscar for “The Whale,” will appear tonight at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Mr. Fraser will receive the American Riviera Award at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.

COURTESY PHOTO

“Allow yourself to grieve, feel emotions and go through the process,” Michael Cruse of Hospice of Santa Barbara advises people experiencing Valentine’s Day today without a loved one that they lost.

NEWS-PRESS

COURTESY PHOTO

“The River Bride” opens Thursday at Allan Hancock College’s Severson Theatre. The play is about two sisters who are in love with the same man.

Please see RIVER BRIDE on B2

‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’ tops box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” opened in the No. 1 spot at last weekend’s box office.

Channing Tatum stars as Magic Mike in the movie, which grossed $8.2 million. In addition to Mr. Tatum, the movie about male strippers stars Alex Pettyfer and Matthew McConaughey.

Directed by James Cameron, “Avatar: The Way of Water” rose to second place from third with a gross of $6.88 million. It remains the fourth-highest grossing movie of all time.

The 25th anniversary release of another film directed by Mr. Cameron, “Titanic,” opened in third place with $6.4 million. It’s the third-highest grossing film of all time.

Tom Brady, dropped to fourth place from second. It grossed $6 million. The film features Mr. Brady, but the stars in this film, inspired by a true story, are Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sally Field and Rita Moreno.

“Knock on the Cabin,” a thriller about a hostage situation and the possible end of the world, fell from first place to fifth with $5.5 million.

“A Man Called Otto,” starring Tom Hanks as a curmudgeon with friendly neighbors, placed seventh with a gross of $2.63 million. Not far behind was “Missing,” in eighth place with a gross of $2.6 million.

The sci-fi/horror thriller “M3GAN” placed ninth with $2.37 million.

“Plane,” a thriller starring Gerard Butler and Mike Colter, rounds out the top 10 with $1.19 million.

“Avatar: The Way of Water,” which was No. 2 at last weekend’s box office, is the fourth-highest grossing film of all time.

“80 for Brady,” the comedy about four women determined to get to the Super Bowl and see their hero

email: dmason@newspress.com

UCSB Arts & Lectures to present U.S. premiere of “Fragments”

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

UCSB Arts & Lectures will present cello soloist Alisa Weilerstein in the U.S. premiere of “Fragments” at 7 p.m. March 10.

With “Fragments,” Ms. Weilerstein creates a space for performer, composer and listener that is at once physically intimate and philosophically expansive, according to Arts & Lectures.

“Fragments” weaves together the 36 movements of Bach’s solo cello suites and 27 newly commissioned works. The project is divided into six hour-long chapters to be released over several seasons.

Within each chapter, individual movements from a single suite and a selection of new works are arranged into a new emotional arc. “Fragments: Chapter One,” is set against the familiar backdrop of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1. In each “Fragments” program, five to six composers are featured.

There’s a total of 28 “Fragments” composers: Andy Akiho, Johann Sebastian Bach, Courtney Bryan, Chen Yi, Alan Fletcher, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Joseph Hallman, Gabriel Kahane, Daniel Kidane, Thomas Larcher, Tania Leon, Allison LogginsHull, Missy Mazzoli, Gerard McBurney, Jessie Montgomery, Reinaldo Moya, Jeffrey Mumford, Matthias Pintscher, Gity Razaz, Gili Schwarzman, Caroline Shaw, Carlos Simon, Gabriela Smith, Ana Sokolović, Joan Tower, Mathilde Wantenaar and Paul Wiancko.

Ms. Weilerstein was recognized with a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship in 2011. Today her career is global in scope, taking her to prestigious international venues for solo recitals, chamber concerts and concerto collaborations with all the preeminent conductors and orchestras.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Shelters seek homes for pets

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

For more information, go to these websites:

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

• Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Goleta, asapcats.org. ASAP is kitty corner to Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Bunnies Urgently Needing

RIVER BRIDE

Continued from Page B1

Duarte is a fisherman who works closely with the Costa family. “He’s an honorable fellow, duty-bound,” Ms. Martinez said.

“He’s a good guy, but has some heartaches. He doesn’t feel like he gets a say in how his life is going.”

Helena and Belmira’s parents, Sr. and Sra. Costa, have been happily married for more than 20

LOSS

Continued from Page B1

difficult emotions that go with it,” Mr. Cruse said. “It’s a transformative experience, and you have to allow it to take you on a journey. You are in pain because you love, not because you are doing it wrong. Allow yourself to grieve, feel emotions and go through the process. Share that process with someone; suffering needs a witness.”

email: kzehdner@newspress.com

CALENDAR

Continued from Page B1

7:30

to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

FEB. 17

4 to 6 p.m. Flying Goat Cellars will host a reception for mosaic artist Kathleen McCabe-Martin at the cellars’ tasting room, 1520 E. Chestnut Court, Lompoc. 8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New

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

• Companion Animal Placement Assistance, lompoccapa.org and facebook. com/capaoflompoc. CAPA works regularly with Animal ServicesLompoc. • K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

years. “They enjoy themselves. They enjoy their family,” Ms. Martinez said. “It’s interesting to watch these two parents who have figured out the romantic parts of their lives watching their daughters struggle with their own romantic decisions.”

For Sr. and Sra. Costa, happiness is as simple as “We love each other.”

Ms. Martinez was careful not to reveal too much about the river

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

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

• Santa Barbara Humane (with campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria), sbhumane.org.

• Santa Maria Animal Center, countyofsb.org/phd/animal/home.

dolphin and its magical role in the story.

“There is an event in the play that doesn’t allow for the typical ending we expect in these sort of fairy tales,” she said.

“This is a play that involves a great deal of magic,” Ms. Martinez said. “We have an incredible design team that has transformed the theater into a breathtaking space.”

She said audience members will hear the sound of dolphins, thanks

sbc. The center is part of Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

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

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

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

— Dave Mason

to the sound designer.

“We made the river much alive in the set design as well as the lighting design,” Ms. Martinez said.

Ms. Martinez, who saw early versions of the script as the playwright worked on it, said “The River Bride” has a Shakespearean quality to it.

“If you’re someone who’s a fan of Shakespeare’s work, you will absolutely enjoy ‘The River Bride.’” email: dmason@newspress.com

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH LOSS

Hospice of Santa Barbara offers several tips for coping with the loss of a loved one:

• Journaling is a great tool for exploring complex emotions. Writing in a journal can relieve anxiety and help process thoughts and feelings. Benefits of journaling include reduced stress, increase in problem-solving abilities, and improved sleep. Journaling can provide therapeutic value through the expression of thoughts and emotions, freely and honestly.

• Practicing self-care and engaging in activities that bring comfort and joy

Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

FEB. 18

7 to 9 p.m. The Nicole Lvoff Jazz Trio will perform at Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. There’s no cover. For more information, go to crushbarsb.com.

8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

FEB. 19

2 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St.,

is important during this challenging time. Order takeout from your favorite restaurant, spend time with a friend or family member, or go for a nice stroll around the neighborhood. Remember to be kind and compassionate to yourself. Healing takes time.

• Reaching out to family, friends or a support group can be beneficial. You can reminisce about fond memories or share photos of your special someone. It may also be helpful to connect with others who are also grieving or understand your situation. Local support groups, such as your local hospice, can provide helpful

Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

4 p.m. The Takács Quartet will perform an all-Beethoven concert at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episocpal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos. Tickets cost $20 for general admission. To purchase, go to smitv. org/syv-concert-series. Tickets for students are free. For more information, contact Linda Burrows at 805-705-0938 or syvconcerts@smitv. org.

7 p.m. Singers Ken Stacy and Claire Khodara will perform at SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, 1221 State St., Suite 205, Santa Barbara. General admission costs $25 in advance and $30 cash on the day of the show. To purchase or get a dinner reservation, go to www.sohosb.com.

resources on bereavement.

• Finding a way to honor your loved one is a great way to channel positive energy during a difficult time. A good starting point is to ask, “How would my loved one like to be remembered?”You can volunteer at their favorite charity, donate to a local organization, or plant a tree in their memory. Remember that it’s OK to do things differently this year, and it’s OK to not celebrate if it feels too hard.

For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call 805-563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.

FEB. 21

7 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson will perform at the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara. For more information, go to lobero.org/events/jack-johnson.

MARCH 9

7 p.m. Pianist Jerome Lowenthal, who served as a Music Academy of the West teaching artist for half a century, will perform a concert, “Lowenthal’s Legend,” at the academy’s Hahn Hall, 1070 Fairway Road, Montecito. Tickets are $55 for general admission and free for ages 7-17. To purchase, go to musicacademy.org to call the academy’s box office at 805-969-8787.

— Dave Mason

26. Tickets are $49. To purchase, visit www.pcpa.org or call the box office at 805-922-8313.

p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, Tickets cost $40

COURTESY PHOTO

Cello soloist Alisa Weilerstein to perform music from her “Fragments” projectMarch 10 at UCSB Campbell Hall.

20TH CENTURY

Diversions

Thought for Today

“There is no instinct like that of the heart.”

— Lord Byron

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

ARIES — The desire to make a major purchase of some kind, perhaps a luxury item, might have you counting your pennies today, Aries. Once they’re all counted, you might doubt the wisdom of buying it now. This isn’t the day to make a decision either way. Wait a few days and you should see things more clearly and have a better grasp of the situation.

TAURUS — Worries about a household member could plague you today, Taurus. This person might have gone away without telling anyone, or seem upset. Your friend is probably OK but at odds with someone outside the household rather than in it. Let this person work it out in whatever way they see fit. Your companion will share with you when the time is right.

GEMINI — A sibling or neighbor may tell you one thing, Gemini, while your intuition tells you the opposite. This isn’t a vindictive deception. The person is probably trying to spare your feelings. Perhaps it’s better not to challenge this person. Wait until you know more before bringing up the subject. You don’t want to cause a rift between the two of you.

CANCER — A friend who’s having money problems might dump all their woes on you today, Cancer. Your inclination isn’t to be very sympathetic, but hold back that tendency. The situation is real, and your friend is very worried and needs solutions more than criticism or sympathy. Your common sense and practical nature could be invaluable right now. Offer to listen.

LEO — Have you been given a task to do at work that hasn’t been explained properly, Leo? If so, you may feel at a loss. What to do? It’s best to go back to the person who assigned the work and ask for more details. This could be temporarily humbling, but remember, it’s better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake.

VIRGO — You’re probably excited about a forthcoming journey, Virgo, but you may be unclear about the arrangements. Don’t let this situation persist or your trip might not work out the way you hope. Get in touch with people who know what’s what and get as much information as you can. Then you will know it all

before you get on that plane.

LIBRA — A dream or insight might find you questioning one of your long-held goals, Libra. Perhaps you’ve formulated another goal you like better, or you’re beginning to doubt the workability of the old one. This probably isn’t a good day to make a decision of any sort. Your thinking may not be as rational as it usually is.

SCORPIO — Someone at work may be upset, Scorpio, and not inclined to communicate their feelings to anyone else. This might cast a pall over the atmosphere. You may wonder if this person is upset with you, but chances are it has a lot more to do with the job than you. Make use of your ability to concentrate, and don’t let this get in your way. It isn’t worth the trouble.

SAGITTARIUS — Some unsettling news from far away could have you stressed out, Sagittarius. This might affect your work if you aren’t careful. Your mind may stray back and forth from work to the news and its implications. Stay focused. All signs are that whatever you’ve heard is likely to be far less troublesome than it appears right now.

CAPRICORN — You’re likely to be in a good space right now, Capricorn. If you’re single, you’re in no hurry to change that. If you’re involved, you and your partner should be getting along very well. However, you might experience a little doubt when a current or potential partner becomes uncommunicative. Your friend probably has money worries.

AQUARIUS — A visitor may come over today, Aquarius, but you might wonder why this person bothered. He or she may seem distracted and more inclined to listen to what you say than offer any conversation. Chances are that your friend felt lonely and needed some company. Be flattered. Don’t be afraid to launch into a monologue about something you find fascinating.

PISCES — A phone call may come from someone you know is prone to gossip, Pisces. This person may have a lot to say, but be sure you take it with a grain of salt, if not the whole shaker. Your skepticism could prove invaluable in this respect. If what this person says is important, check out the facts before passing it on or taking any action.

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Against today’s four spades, West had a reason for leading his ace of trumps: to see dummy. Many players might have done the same, forgetting that they get to see dummy whatever they lead.

Having seen dummy and its weakness in hearts, West switched to the deuce: four, queen, ace. South then took the K-A of diamonds and ruffed a diamond. When East-West followed, he drew trumps and took the two good diamonds for heart discards. East got his ace of clubs, but South made an overtrick.

OMINOUS

Another reason for leading the ace of trumps: You can see what lead would’ve been better. On the bidding, dummy would have a diamond suit — maybe a good one — and West’s diamond holding was ominous. There was danger that South would use the suit for discards.

In such a case, a defender may lead aggressively, hoping for fast tricks before declarer gets discards. So West could lead an attacking low heart. As it happens, he sets up two heart tricks to go with the defenders’ black-suit aces.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: K 9 3 8 5 4 A 10 8 4 2 K 10. The dealer, at your left, opens two hearts (weak).

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

INSTRUCTIONS

Fill in the grid so every row, every column and every 3-by-3 grid contains the digits 1 through 9. that means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box. Sudoku puzzles appear on the Diversions page Monday through Saturday.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Answers to previous CODEWORD

How to play Codeword

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language. Every number in the codeword grid is ‘code’ for a letter of the alphabet. Thus, the number 2 may correspond to the letter L, for instance. All puzzles come with a few letters to start. Your first move should be to enter these letters in the puzzle grid. If the letter S is in the box at the bottom of the page underneath the number 2, your first move should be to find all cells numbered 2 in the grid and enter the letter S. Cross the letter S off the list at the bottom of the grid. Remember that at the end you should have a different letter of the alphabet in each of the numbered boxes 1- 26, and a word in English in each of the horizontal and vertical runs on the codeword grid.

PUZZLE

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

ANSWER: Partner has a good hand with support for the unbid suits. Jump to four diamonds, inviting game. You would bid three diamonds with a much weaker hand. Some pairs use the Lebensohl convention here: A bid of three diamonds would encourage; a bid of 2NT would plead weakness.

dealer

Classified

sports@newspress.com

SBCC baseball remains undefeated with win at Cerro Coso

By MICHAEL JORGENSON SBCC SPORTS WRITER

The SBCC baseball team extended to its longest win streak in six years on Saturday, holding on to defeat Cerro Coso on the road 9-

8.

The Vaqueros (7-0) continued their incredible opening month of the season, bouncing back from an early 4-2 deficit and scoring seven unanswered runs that turned out to be the difference. They also ended the Coyotes’ (6-4) four-game win streak.

SBCC got out to a good start offensively, seeing its first three batters reach third base.

Second baseman Daniel Hirose’s leadoff single led to him scoring the opening run on a balk.

First baseman Presley Kosciusko later scored on a JP Boyle sac fly before the inning ended on a double play.

Cerro Coso scored half of its runs in the

bottom half of the first, putting up four runs on four hits. The Coyotes added three more runs over the next two innings to take a commanding 7-2 lead.

Santa Barbara got one back in the top of the fifth, with Shane Lamas scoring on a wild pitch. The whole game then turned around in the top of the sixth. Still trailing 7-3, things didn’t start well as the Vaqueros’ first two batters grounded out. They were perfect when they needed to be though, with five hits and a walk on their next six at bats.

Sebastian Arguelles singled, stole second and scored on a Jack Johnson double. Johnson then scored on a single by Lamas. After being walked, Daniel Hirose joined Lamas at home plate via a Tyler Imbach triple to tie the game at 7-7. Presley Kosciusko hit an RBI single on the next at bat, giving SBCC its first lead since the opening inning.

The Coyotes didn’t give up a single hit in the seventh, but they did give up one more run to double SBCC’s lead, as two walks were followed by an error that Walsh scored on to make it 9-7.

Cerro Coso pulled back within one run in the bottom of the seventh, but pitchers Jordan Rico and Charlie Adamson helped put the game to bed by keeping the home side scoreless over the final two innings. SBCC is now one win away from tying its longest win streak since winning eight straight during the 2017 season.

The two teams will play again today, this time at SBCC’s Pershing Park. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.

Michael Jorgenson works in communications/ media relations at Santa Barbara City College. email: sports@newspress.com

SBCC softball improves to 9-0 with pair of wins over Glendale

By MICHAEL JORGENSON SBCC SPORTS WRITER

The SBCC softball team extended to an all-time programbest 9-0 start on Saturday at home, sweeping a fourth consecutive doubleheader with wins of 8-0 and 5-4 over Glendale.

It was nearly an identical script as the day before, with the Vaqueros (9-0) run-ruling Glendale (3-7-1) in the first game of the day before winning by a single run in game two. Left fielder Sarah Hammonds had a huge day with seven RBI, including a walkoff three-run homer in the first game.

SBCC 8, Glendale 0

Santa Barbara opened the day

SBCC

with a big five-run first inning. Three straight singles loaded the bases before Hammonds notched her first two RBI with a double to left center. On the next two at bats, Hammonds arrived home on a wild pitch on the next at bat and second baseman Jessica Reveles scored on an RBI ground out by catcher Mackenzie Ensign.

After a scoreless next three innings, the game came to an early end with an efficient three at bats by the Vaqueros in the bottom of the fifth. Pitcher Joslyn Soinila led off with a double down the left field line. Third baseman Elliana Ryan then singled to left and Hammonds hit the game-ending homer to right. It was SBCC’s second homer of the year, coming one day after Alexia Ayala’s late game-winner

beach volleyball starts out season 4-0

By MICHAEL JORGENSON SBCC SPORTS WRITER

The SBCC beach volleyball team went undefeated on Saturday for the second straight week to open the season, taking another 5-0 win over San Mateo and defeating weekend host West Valley 3-2.

SBCC 5, San MaT eo 0

Sophomores Emma Crabbe and Jacelin McKie were back at the 1s, pulling out a close first set win and sealing the deal in set two. Crabbe finished with a block and three aces, while McKie had several great digs and numerous cagey shots on the right side.

“As a pair, they played great defense and brought the intensity,” head coach Ariana Garner said. “They really worked hard to establish their short deep game early on which allowed them to open their offense and find a lot of open court. Once they gained momentum, they made few mistakes and were able to take care of business.”

The 2s and 3s teams of Cori Tommeraason and Olivia Medina and Irey Sandholt and Paige Rudi had more of a cushion in their two-set wins, both earning sweeps with wins averaging at least nine points per set.

“Our 3s pair of Irey Sandholt and Paige Rudi is developing a better understanding of how to play together,” Garner said. “They have a lot of great potential as a pair and they showed that today. Paige did a great job at the net being decisive on whether to stay at the net or pull off and play defense, while Irey touched almost every ball within her range. It’s great to see those gritty hustle plays.”

SBCC

3, We ST Valley 2

All five pairs were in action for the second contest of the day as SBCC took the victory with wins from its 2s, 3s and 5s pairs.

An exciting match came down to a decisive battle for the 5s team of Gabby Russell and Sophie Ward, who were able to pull it out with a 21-18, 21-16 win.

“Sophie Ward and Gabby Russell pulled off a great win for the pair, but most importantly for our team,” Garner said. “Their setting in transition helped them easily find the court and hit their shots. Their tough serving, I believe, won them that match. This pair continues to be solid for us and with more time to play together will be even stronger down the stretch of the season.”

Tommeraason and Medina made it a perfect 4-0 on the day, winning the 2s court once again.

“Cori and Olivia played solid together all day. Their court awareness and vision were what made the biggest difference today,” Garner said. “When they were in system, they were able to score easily because their setting and shot calling was on point. Their execution was great and they both served super tough, earning many aces.”

Competing at the 4s for the first time together were Piper Ellbogn-Pettersen and Celia Espinoza.

“They competed and battled through a tough 2-1 loss,” said Garner. “We loved the energy and fight this pair showed together and we’re proud of Celia for holding her own in her first ever collegiate beach match. Their defense was scrappy and they lasted throughout some very long rallies.”

ne XT UP

After a week off, SBCC will be back for matches at Irvine Valley on Feb. 24.

Michael Jorgenson works in communications/media relations at Santa Barbara City College.

email: sports@newspress.com

in a 4-3 win over Porterville.

SBCC 5, Glendale 4

The Vaqueros trailed early in a much closer game two, but would do enough over the first two innings to seal their ninth straight victory.

After Glendale took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Vaquero offense picked up right where it left off, as Ryan smashed a tworun homer to center field to take the lead. Reveles scored on a single by Hailey Abdilla to give SBCC a 3-1 lead before the end of the inning.

In the second, the Vaqueros recovered from back-to-back ground outs as Hammonds capped off her big day with a two RBI single out to left field. Shortstop

Delaney Neely and pitcher Lauren Indermuehle both scored what turned out to be SBCC’s final runs of the day.

Glendale ended the game with 11 hits, but would leave nine runners on base as it just couldn’t get over the hump the rest of the way. Indermuehle earned another win in the circle.

ne XT UP

SBCC returns to the road for its next nine games, starting today with a trip to face Allan Hancock at 2:30 p.m.

Michael Jorgenson works in communications/media relations at Santa Barbara City College. email: sports@newspress.com

UCSB golf to begin 2023 season

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB Golf team is ready to compete during their championship season as they kick off 2023 with the Orange County Collegiate Classic hosted by UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton.

“After four months off of team competition, the guys are ready to get back on the road and start competing again,” Coach Massoletti said. “We have had some very competitive qualifying rounds and we are excited to start the Spring season. Our goal is to keep getting better every day and every event so that by the time we get to the conference championship in May, we are playing our best golf.”

The team will hit the green with a shotgun start beginning at 8:45 a.m. at the Coto de Caza Country Club. All nine universities that compete in this tournament will play 36 holes on Monday and compete in the final round on Tuesday. The Gauchos will take on the host schools of UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton along with Cal Baptist, Cal Poly, University of British Columbia, Fraser Valley, UC Riverside and UC San Diego. Competing for the Gauchos over the next two days in order are John Bush, Mason Benbrook, Andrew Ricci, Blake McGovern and Julian Maxwell

Competing for the Gauchos over the next two days in order are John Bush, Mason Benbrook, Andrew Ricci, Blake McGovern and Julian Maxwell in the starting five with Jay Martinez competing as an individual.

in the starting five with Jay Martinez competing as an individual. The last time UCSB competed in a tournament was Saint Mary’s Invitational on Halloween.

Yardage for the course is 6,950 with a par 72. Live stats will be available throughout the tournament at golfstat. com.

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

email: sports@newspress.com

SPoRTS RoUndUP

Santa Ynez wrestlers take part in CIF Central Section Div. 3 Tournament

The Santa Ynez High wrestling teams competed in the CIF Central Section Division 3 Tournament on Saturday, with eight athletes qualifying to compete in the upcoming championships. The boys team brought nine competitors to the event, with five earning the right to advance to the next level Friday and Saturday at Buchanan High School in Clovis.

Qualifying for the championships were Ben Flores with a third place finish, Santino Alvaro and Fernando Nunez with fifth place finishes and Triston Lake and Tomas Rodrigues with seventh place finishes.

The girls team sent five wrestlers to the tournament, with three qualifying to advance to the championships on Saturday at Morro Bay High School, while one qualified to serve as an alternate.

Qualifying to compete at the championships were Malia Ortiz with a second place finish, Hailee Taylor with a seventh place finish and Kylie Franson with an eighth place finish.

Qualifying as an alternate was Elianna Loera with a ninth place finish.

DP girls water polo falls to Santa Margarita

The Dos Pueblos High School girls water polo team lost their CIF Division 1 quarterfinal game to Santa Margarita Catholic High School on Saturday, falling by a score of 7-6.

The score stayed close throughout the contest, with the score tied at the end of the first and second periods. Santa Margarita took a two point lead at the conclusion of the third quarter and held off Dos Pueblos in the fourth, with the Chargers only able to close to within one.

Emma Gilbert led the way for Dos Pueblos, leading the team in both steals and goals.

The loss ended the Chargers’ season, with the team finishing second in the league and advancing to the second round of the CIF playoffs for the first time in four years. Dos Pueblos finished with a 16-12 overall record with an 8-2 mark in league play.

- Compiled by Matt Smolensky