Santa Barbara News-Press: March 07, 2023

SoCalGas rate increase

People voice objections during meeting of California Public Utilities Commission - A2

SB City Council to address affordable housing

By NEIL HARTSTEIN

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council today will address the city’s housing crisis by reviewing a draft ordinance to create an affordable housing trust fund called the Housing Opportunities, Preservation and Equity Fund (HOPE).

After the staff presentation, council members will review the draft ordinance and advise staff about what, if any, changes they want to make, and direct

Council members to discuss HOPE trust fund at today’s meeting

staff to return with a revised ordinance that reflects their comments and concerns.

The council will meet at city hall, 735 Anacapa St., starting at 2 p.m.

The establishment of a new housing trust fund was initiated by the council at its Oct. 4 meeting as a means of addressing the city’s housing crisis, staff noted in its report to council.

“The Housing Opportunities, Preservation, and Equity (HOPE) Fund will support a variety of housing-related

initiatives, including new development, acquisitions, and rehabilitations of real properties,” staff said.

“The fund will also support programs and services that assist households with incomes that qualify for assistance and will focus, in particular, on meeting the needs of the local workforce and assisting people struggling to afford or maintain existing housing due to soaring costs.”

Councilmembers Eric Friedman and Meagan Harmon spearheaded the council’s Oct. 4 vote to create the

affordable housing trust fund for the city.

“It would send a strong message to the philanthropic community that we are taking the housing situation seriously,”

Councilmember Friedman said at the time.

Councilmember Harmon added that the creation of a public-private partnership would be a form of coalition building

“to build homes and find affordable permanent housing solutions, and say we have made a meaningful difference for our neighbors.

‘Let’s Fiesta!’

Old Spanish Days leaders announce theme and plans for August event

“We have an opportunity to engage, leverage city dollars and have a multiplier impact of loaning this money.”

On Dec. 6, the council approved a budget allocation of $2,883,548 from the city’s General Fund as initial funding towards the HOPE fund and $250,000 towards a “right to counsel” pilot program. Once the fund is established, staff will transfer the previously appropriated budget allocation into the fund.

Please see COUNCIL on A4

Judge calls for trial in criminal threats case

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Maria man is headed toward trial on charges that he made criminal threats against the lives of Santa Maria police officers and their families.

A judge ruled Friday that prosecutors presented enough evidence against defendant Albert Varelas during that day’s preliminary hearing that he be held to answer as charged in the first amended complaint filed against him, Senior Deputy District Attorney Catherine Martin told the News-Press.

“The matter was continued for arraignment on the information on 3/16” in Santa Maria, she said.

Mr. Varelas pleaded not guilty to felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking at his initial arraignment.

Defendants are arraigned twice in criminal cases, the first time after they are arrested and they plead not guilty or guilty to the charges filed against them in the District Attorney’s complaint. This happens before a preliminary hearing.

If after a preliminary hearing defendants are held to answer on the evidence presented against them, they get a second chance to plead not guilty or guilty to the charges in the complaint, now called “the information.” If they plead not guilty, a trial date is set. If they plead guilty, a sentencing date is set.

The complaint (now the information) filed against Mr. Varelas alleges that between Jan. 24 and Feb. 17, he threatened to commit a crime against police officers “which would result in death and great bodily injury,” and that the alleged crime was made “with the specific intent that the statement be taken as a threat.”

His alleged threat against the officers and their families “was so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey to the victim a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution,” the complaint said.

“It is further alleged that the said victim was reasonably in sustained fear of his/her safety and the safety of his/her immediate family,” the complaint said.

The complaint alleges that Mr. Varelas backed up his threats in that he “willfully, maliciously and repeatedly” followed and harassed Santa Maria police officers.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

This year’s Old Spanish Days theme couldn’t be clearer.

“Let’s Fiesta!”

That theme was chosen by El Presidente David Bolton, who joined other Old Spanish Days leaders and city officials to announce the theme Monday morning on the steps of Santa Barbara City Hall. They were joined by local folkloric group Alma de Mexico.

In addition to the theme, officials announced plans for the Fiesta, which will feature everything from

Fiesta will take place Aug.

2-6 in Santa Barbara. For more information about Old Spanish Days, visit www.sbfiesta.org.

traditional parades to a replica of explorer Juan Cabrillo’s ship visiting Santa Barbara Harbor.

Set for Aug. 2-6, the Fiesta is more than just a party, El Presidente Bolton stressed.

“It’s about family, friends, neighbors and colleagues,” he said. “Fiesta is so special and so unique to Santa Barbara. We come together every year as a community to celebrate our history, traditions and culture.

Throughout this year, ‘Let’s Fiesta’!”

In addition to the theme, officials announced that the historic parade, El Desfile Histórico, will return to Cabrillo Boulevard with a longer route from Castillo Street to Milpas.

Traditionally on State Street, the first in-person historic Fiesta parade since the pandemic took place last year on Cabrillo Boulevard. State Street hasn’t been used for parades since the advent of outdoor dining parklets at downtown restaurants.

At Monday’s news conference, Tony Miller, the division chief of pageantry,

said people are excited to see the parade back on Cabrillo Boulevard.

“Cabrillo Boulevard is one of our most historic stretches,” he said.

“It was an important area for the Chumash. Later Spaniard Gaspar de Portola traveled along the route during his 1769 overland trek, and the boulevard is named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, whose ship, the San Salvador, came through our channel in 1542.”

In fact, a full-size replica of the San Salvador will visit the Santa Barbara harbor during Fiesta, and the public can go aboard for tours. The ship is traveling from its home at the San Diego Maritime Museum as part of a collaboration between Old Spanish Days and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

Officials also said a full Mercado and carnival has received the green light to return to its historic roots at the beach. And they confirmed that the people will again see traditional events ranging from Fiesta Pequeña

to the Rodeo to Noches de Ronda.

“Our organization, the city and our collaborative partners work very hard year-round to pull off a safe and memorable Fiesta,” said El Presidente Bolton. “We are looking forward to a great 2023 Fiesta.”

Officials spoke enthusiastically about other Fiesta news, including the return of the Fiesta carnival and a full Mercado and beer garden to the area near Santa Barbara City College’s La Playa Stadium. Historically, the carnival was first held there, before moving to MacKenzie Park as part of Mercado del Norte, which began in 1979.

The city of Santa Barbara is allowing the rebranded Mercado de la Playa to run Thursday-Sunday, providing a venue for a Sunday afternoon of Fiesta.

“This is fantastic news for our community, and for families and others who enjoy spending a Sunday afternoon together,” said El

The complaint notes that Mr. Varelas already has a prior serious felony conviction on his record, considered his first strike under the three strikes law.

He was arrested on Feb. 18 after the alleged threat came to light the night before, when Santa Maria police received information regarding police officers and their families being threatened on social media posts, Sgt. Daniel Rios said in a police department news brief posted online.

Officers initiated an investigation, and Mr. Varelas was identified as a suspect, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ social media account was also located.

During the initial police investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Mr. Varelas’ alleged threats referenced previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, Sgt. Rios said.

Detectives tracked him down and arrested him without incident. He remains in custody on $200,000 bail.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS

El Presidente David Bolton announces the 2023 Fiesta theme while surrounded by Old Spanish Days board members, city officials and members of local folkloric group Alma de Mexico outside Santa Barbara City Hall.

People object to another SoCalGas rate increase

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

In recent months, many Southern California residents — including those in Santa Barbara County — have noticed a dramatic increase on their energy bill.

They’re outraged by it, to the point that more than 80 people got into a queue to protest against another rate hike during a virtual California Public Utilities Commission hearing Monday.

And that’s not counting the 500 written comments sent to the panel in advance.

These gas rate increases have been due to a recent infrastructure change that the Southern California Gas Co.,, the region’s main gas corporation, has made to its systems, which has been reflected on resident’s bills.

Now, as represented in the 2024 General Rate Case, SoCalGas is requesting a rate increase by 13.2% to customer’s bills in order to continue the change in infrastructure and to help in the company’s efforts to provide clean energy to Southern California.

The specifics of this request according to SoCalGas include: investing in gas delivery systems and technologies that advance clean energy, meet regulatory and compliance requirements that enhance safety efforts, and promoting programs to maintain a diverse workforce.

A lot of the public has been outraged by this request, as this increase will be very damaging to the pockets of many Southern California residents.

The residents are not the only people upset by this. Gov. Gavin Newsom and his office issued a statement regarding the uptick in prices, hoping to pass a bill of relief to residents as well as encourage an investigation on SoCalGas.

HazMat incident reported at UCSB

ISLA VISTA — A reported fire in a chemical waste storage container triggered a Hazardous Materials Incident at UCSB’s Elings Hall, Building 226, on Monday morning, officials said.

An alarm sounded with sprinkler activation, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Approximately 70 people selfevacuated, and there were no injuries reported, Capt. Scott Safechuck, the department’s public information officer, said. City and county fire HazMat teams responded to the 10:59 a.m. incident.

Firefighters then prepared for Level A (encapsulated suit) entry for chemical sampling/testing), he said. The incident was determined to be stabilized and will be turned over to UCSB for cleanup, Capt. Safechuck tweeted on Monday afternoon. HazMat resources were released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

— Neil Hartstein

Theft suspects apprehended

BUELLTON – Sheriff’s deputies, along with a Sheriff’s K-9 unit and California Highway Patrol have apprehended two suspected catalytic converter thieves, officials said.

On Sunday, at approximately 4:58 a.m., deputies responded to the 500 block of Sertoma Way in Buellton for a report of thefts of catalytic converters in progress, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. While they were on their way, sheriff’s dispatch relayed that the suspects were seen fleeing the area in a Fiat. Deputies spotted a vehicle matching that description near McDonald’s in Buellton. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled and the driver entered the opposing lanes of traffic, driving southbound in the northbound lanes of Highway 101, officials said.

“Millions of California families are opening their utility bills to sticker shock — and we’re taking action now to provide relief to help those with high gas bills. We know this provides only temporary relief from soaring bills,” he continued. “That’s why I’m asking the federal government to use its full authority to investigate the spike in natural gas prices and take any necessary enforcement actions.”

Due to this backlash, the California Public Utilities Commission, the commission that is overseeing the vote to allow this request to pass, and the SoCalGas company, held a public hearing Monday to get opinions from the residents who will be directly impacted by the change.

Administrative Law Judge Manisha Lakhanpal and Commissioner Darcie Houck held the meeting and took calls from all over Southern California in order to get an accurate gauge for the

public’s view on the request.

A SoCalGas representative started the hearing, giving the company’s explanation to the proposed rate increase. The representative stated that “there is never a good time to discuss price increases’’ and that SoCalGas staff “understand the impact raising the gas bill may have on low-income families.” He then continued to list the above reasons for the request.

Then a representative from the Protect our Communities Foundation voiced an opposing view of the bill. She said that the SoCalGas “should be held accountable” for its actions and should be having “a strict conversation on decreasing the rates.”

After these two perspectives, the line was open for voices to be heard. As stated at the beginning of the hearing by Judge Lakhanpal, more than 500 comments and questions were

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

In the interest of public safety, deputies discontinued their pursuit of the vehicle and shared the suspect and vehicle description with the CHP who located the vehicle further south on the 101, in the southbound lanes. CHP attempted to stop the vehicle, and the driver again entered the opposing lanes and the pursuit was terminated.

CHP set up a spike strip on Highway 101 near Las Varas Canyon where they successfully disabled the vehicle that was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes.

After a short foot pursuit, the first suspect, 27-year-old Nathaniel Santiago Reyes of El Monte, was taken into custody at 5:28 a.m.

The second suspect, 32-yearold Bryan Arciniega of Los Angeles, was successfully tracked by a Sheriff’s K9 unit to his hiding place in a palm tree and apprehended at 6:30 a.m., officials said.

Deputies recovered two stolen catalytic converters from the suspects’ vehicle. Deputies have identified the vehicles that they were stolen from and are not looking for any additional victims associated with this incident, officials said.

Mr. Reyes was booked at the Main Jail in Santa Barbara on suspicion of vandalism (felony),

attempt to commit grand theft (felony), possession of burglary tools (felony), possession of stolen property (felony), conspiracy (felony), obstructing a peace officer (misdemeanor) and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held on $75,000 bail.

submitted to the commission as well as 85 people were in the queue for the public hearing. There was a wide variety of opinions presented by the public, but most residents came to a similar conclusion: Don’t allow the request to pass.

“(SoCalGas) does not have the right to charge whenever. We deserve full transparency,” stated one resident. This resident also called on the government to open an investigation on the gas company, saying that SoCalGas is a “monopoly” and they are “violating antitrust laws.”

One Newbury Park resident shared his price increases over the past few months, noting that his bill increased from “$42 in November, $475 in December, and $815 in January.” His voice was angry and stern, clearly showing his frustration to the SoCalGas company. There were a few voices in agreement to the request. One of these came from a representative from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce saying that they are in “strong support” and “need this to ensure clean energy for Southern California residents.”

Another positive opinion came from an owner of a nonprofit. They stated that the organization’s gas bill is its least expensive bill and that they have “full confidence that SoCalGas knows what they are doing.”

Many more voices added to these grievances over a few hours of the public hearing. The next step in the process will come from the CPUC’s office, as the judge may accept, modify or deny the request in an upcoming voting meeting.

To see the public hearing transcript and video, visit adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc. email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Mr. Arciniega was booked at the Main Jail on suspicion of reckless evasion (felony), reckless driving (misdemeanor), vandalism (felony), attempt to commit grand theft (felony), possession of burglary tools (felony), possession of stolen property (felony), conspiracy

Please see BLOTTER on A4

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www.newspress.com Newspress.com is a local virtual community network providing information about Santa Barbara, in addition to the online edition of the News-Press.

SoCalGas is hoping to increase rates for Southern California residents, many of whom were upset by recent hikes. The public voiced their opinions in the California Public Utilities Commission hearing this past Monday.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Law enforcement reported finding allegedly stolen catalytic converters in this car in Buellton.

sports@newspress.com

Sports

UCSB baseball powers way to victory

By ERIC BOOSE UCSB SPORTS

Josh Williams got all of his first career hit, launching it 436 feet into right field, clearing the wall by plenty for a three-run home run. His long ball was one of three UCSB baseball (7-3) hit on Sunday, as the Gauchos rode that early power surge, plus near-flawless pitching from Reed Moring to a 5-1 win over Xavier (57). Aaron Parker and Justin Trimble joined Williams for the home run party, while UCSB’s freshman righty, Moring, went seven scoreless innings on the mound for the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gauchos and their fans had to wait for some mid-afternoon rain to clear before getting started, but once the game got underway, everyone at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium was rewarded for their patience. After clubbing a home run and two doubles Saturday night, Parker kept his hot streak rolling, taking a 1-0 pitch right over the 405 sign in dead center field to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The first-inning fun did not end there, as after Ivan Brethowr and Broc Mortensen walked, Williams made only his second college at-bat a memorable one, crushing a three-run shot to right.

After Moring worked a perfect top of the second, it was right back to the long ball for UCSB, as Trimble led off the inning with a homer to the same part of the ballpark as Williams’. It was only Trimble’s second hit of

Dos Pueblos shows progress in track and field

The Chargers competed in Moorpark High School’s Don Green Memorial Invitational over the weekend.

The Dos Pueblos boys had a consistent performance in all of their races and performances. In the pole vault competition, Eoghan Gloster finished in second place with a personal record of 11’ 10”. Chris Pagliaro came in sixth place in the triple jump competition, which places him at sixth place in the Channel League.

The girls also showed an impressive performance. With a personal record of 53.09 seconds in the 300m hurdles, Clehann Howard came in second place overall. Ellie Gleason came in fifth place at the 1600m hurdles in her season debut. In the high jump competition, Olivia can Gool cleared 4’8” and landed in eleventh place.

The track and field athletes will compete again this weekend at the Ventura Invitational

San Marcos dominates in softball

The Royals softball team competed against St. Bonaventure and Pioneer Valley in a doubleheader on Saturday.

Both games were won by San Marcos as they continued to find success in the beginning of the season.

The score of the first game against St. Bonaventure was 4-3. Caitlyn Early had a solo home run, Kamiliah Morales had a double, and Solana Sandoval delivered a walkoff single, scoring Morales.

The second game had a more decisive score, with the Royals beating Pioneer Valley 8-4. Early had another home run in this game, and Morales gave the Royals another double.

For more sports, see page A4.

the season, with both leaving the yard.

Xavier’s starter faced one more Gaucho but then departed, and while his replacement managed to cool UCSB’s bats, it didn’t matter much because Moring had the Xavier offense completely shut down. The freshman righty spun a seven-inning gem Sunday afternoon, scattering three hits and three walks while striking out three. The ground ball was Moring’s best friend Sunday afternoon, especially when he induced a double play to end the only inning in which he allowed multiple baserunners. Most of the contact Xavier got against Moring ended up going straight to a defender, and even when it didn’t, the Gaucho defense made the play anyway, like Nick Oakley’s sliding stop to take away a hit in the sixth.

Hudson Barrett relieved Moring to start the eighth inning and struck out two in the frame to strand a runner on third, but he would eventually give up a run in the ninth. The lefty hit Xavier’s lead-off man with a pitch, and while Sam Whiting took over for Barrett, that run did come around to score before the end of the game.

ON THE STAT SHEET

• In all three games of this weekend series, the team with more hits went on to lose the game. UCSB scored their five runs on only four hits Sunday, while Xavier only managed one from their six knocks

• After working two thirds of the seventh inning last weekend at Oregon, Reed Moring

SPORTS ROUNDUP

San Marcos plays Wednesday against Ventura at home.

Santa Barbara excels on track

The Dons also competed at the Moorpark High School’s Don Green Memorial Invitational.

The standout women’s athlete of this meet was Anne Knecht, who won the 800m with a personal best of 2:21.25. She also was a big help in the 4x400m relay event, helping the team come in third place.

“Anne has shown a lot of range in our first few meets, with some nice performances in everything from the 400 meters through the two mile,” said head coach Olivia Perdices.

Davis Flanagin also gave a strong performance this weekend. Flanagin came in first place in the long jump competition and was second place in the triple jump competition.

“Davis continues to stack up consistently good results. It’s really a testament to the work he does and the competitor he is,” Perdices said.

got to finish seven frames Sunday night and deserved to, finishing with a line of zero runs on three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.

• Each of UCSB’s four hits came from different players and all went for extra bases, with Ivan Brethowr adding a double to the three homers.

• Hudson Barrett and Sam Whiting each worked an inning of relief on Sunday. Barrett gave up the one run on one hit, a walk, and hit a batter but also struck out two. Whiting allowed two hits but no runs, striking out two and issuing no walks.

• The results of Justin Trimble’s first four at-bats this season were as follows: strikeout, home run, strikeout, home run. He also reached base three times on a walk and two hit-by-pitches in that span.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will play their first mid-week game of the season on Tuesday, welcoming the Pepperdine Waves to Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. The Waves also went 2-1 on the weekend, with wins over South Alabama and Southern before a loss to Iowa. Neither team has announced their starter for Tuesday’s contest yet. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m., and the game will be live on ESPN+

Eric Boose is assistant director of athletic communications at UCSB.

email: sports@newspress.com

Santa Ynez succeeds in track and field

The Pirates competed at the Atascadero Memorial Meet this past Saturday. The meet was “cold and blustery,” according to head coach Ron Misner.

There were many first-place finishes for the Pirates including Madison Dewett for the discus and Chase Sylvia for the triple jump.

The 4x200 relay also came in first place. The team included Ikenna Ofiaeli, Vincent Casey, Daulton Beard and Rafael Beleski.

Casey also came in second place for the triple jump and third place in the long jump.

San Marcos track team shows consistency

The Royals were also in attendance at the Moorpark High School’s Don Green Memorial Invitational over the weekend.

The girls varsity distance medley relay runners Kisla Kaas, Baylie Bingham, Stella Crawford,

Shaina King, and Melina Vela came in third place in the 4x800m distance medley relay.

“These girls are coming off of a great cross country season,” shared head coach Marilyn Hantgin.

Jared Martinez, Lidetu Ayalew, and Brodie Johnson finished in third, fifth, and eighth place respectively in the boy’s 300m hurdles.

The Royal’s next meet is Saturday at the Ventura Invitational.

— Compiled by Annika Bahnsen

UCSB’s Norris earns Big West Player of the Week

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The Big West announced its final Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolade for the 2022-23 season, and the recipient was UCSB’s Miles Norris.

The senior forward has been on fire for the Gauchos and that continued into this final week. He was a leader for the Gauchos who grabbed two key wins this week against UC Davis and Hawai’i to help the team earn a share of the Big West Regular

Season Title. On his way to receiving this award, Norris averaged 16.5 points per game while grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game. His best performance came on Senior Night against Hawai’i, when he put up 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Rainbow Warriors.

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

email: sports@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Santa Barbara High School athlete Anne Knecht runs the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay at the Moorpark High School’s Don Green Memorial Invitational.

MORE INSIDE

‘Fiesta means bringing our community together with family, friends and others’

Continued from Page A1

Presidente Bolton. “Throughout the logistical meetings to bring a full Mercado and carnival back to the beach area, city officials showed a tremendous commitment to the community and to Fiesta history.”

Fiesta 2023 also will feature the return of Mercado De la Guerra, with dancers, musicians and food booths operated by nonprofits and businesses.

“The Fiesta Mercados are a special gathering place where the community can come together and feast on Spanish and Mexican-American food, enjoy live entertainment, and also shop for crafts and souvenirs,” said Andrea Caplan, the division chief of marketplaces. “What makes it so special is supporting the numerous local nonprofits, restaurants and talented musicians that reside in our jewel of a city.”

The festival will kick off with Fiesta Pequeña at the Santa Barbara Mission and Noches de Ronda’s three nights of entertainment at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden.

“Music and dance are celebrated with passion throughout Santa Barbara during Fiesta week, capturing the heart and soul of Santa Barbara

traditions,” said Patricia Oreña, the division chief of dance and entertainment. “Fiesta brings together musicians and dancers of all ages to showcase their talents for everyone to enjoy and admire.”

Fiesta 2023 will also include an arts and crafts show, the Fiesta Rodeo, and a variety of dance shows and networking celebrations including La Primavera on May 13 at El Paseo

Restaurant, Goleta’s Fiesta Ranchera, Dignatarios at the Zoo and La Recepción del Presidente.

“Fiesta means bringing our community together with family, friends and others to celebrate our heritage, enjoy the dancing, food and lots of happiness together,” said Janice Howell, division chief of celebrations.

The year for Fiesta kicks off with the Spirit of Fiesta Audition

UCSB softball defeats Howard

April 15 at the Lobero Theatre, the organizers of Santa Barbara’s first Fiesta in 1924. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday at the Lobero box office (lobero.org and 805-9630761).

Since 1924, the city of Santa Barbara has played its role in the Fiesta, and Mayor Randy Rowse announced at Monday’s news conference that the city would continue its partnership with Old Spanish Days.

“Old Spanish Days brings our city our most time-honored and treasured tradition — Fiesta,” Mayor Rowse said. “The dancers, food, music and crowds make this celebration the largest community party of the year. Let’s Fiesta!”

Old Spanish Days officials also recognized Santa Barbara County and the city of Goleta for their support of Fiesta.

El Primer Vice Presidente Brian Schwabecher noted that the Fiesta requires thousands of volunteer hours and welcomes new volunteers. “Fiesta is a community effort.”

All of the Fiesta events are open to the public.

“This is made possible thanks to our sponsors and collaborative partners who are committed to the 99-year tradition that has been recognized as Santa Barbara’s No. 1 annual event, ” said El Segundo Vice Presidente Fritz Olenberger. email: dmason@newspress.com

Initial funding for HOPE Fund approved in December

COUNCIL

Continued from Page A1

If approved, the proposed ordinance would establish a new HOPE Fund supported by a variety of sources, including but not limited to: philanthropic donations, private foundation–based funding, grants, nonprofit organizational funding, charitable trusts’ and organizations’ donations, for-profit entity investments, private-equity

BLOTTER

Continued from Page A2

funds, limited-equity housing cooperatives’ monies, venture capital, investment and portfolio funds.

Other funding sources would be bond funds, fundraising proceeds, housing trust funds, community development banks, community housing grants, employersponsored funding, local business and employers’ donations, credit unions’ funding, land banks, property donations, property equity loans, the city’s General Fund, special tax measures and

private wills.

At the discretion of the city administrator, the fund may receive monies from other sources.

According to staff, “monies deposited in the fund must be used to increase, improve, or maintain the supply of affordable housing or provide certain approved affordable housing-related programs and services.

“Depending on the source of funds, and other legal restrictions,

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER

(felony), and obstructing a peace officer (misdemeanor).

Mr. Arciniega is being held on $150,000 bail.

— Neil Hartstein

Police continue to investigate fight

SANTA BARBARA – Police are still actively investigating an altercation that took place early Saturday between two people that left one of them with a significant facial laceration, police said Monday.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:11 a.m. Saturday when Santa Barbara police officers were flagged down by an adult male assault victim in the area of State Street and Cabrillo Boulevard, Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the police department’s public information officer, told the News-Press.

SETO, Alethea

The victim was suffering from a facial laceration that was significant, he said. He was transported by ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.

“Preliminary investigation indicates that this may have been a dispute between two individuals that may be unhoused, however that has yet to be confirmed,” Sgt. Ragsdale said. “As of the time of this report, there have not been any arrests made in connection with this incident.”

— Neil Hartstein

Seacliff ramps to close

VENTURA — Caltrans on Monday announced daytime closures of Seacliff offand on-ramps on southbound U.S. Highway 101 south of Mussel Shoals for pavement work.

Signs will be posted.

Motorists can expect delays because of the work, which will take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, Monday through Friday.

Alethea Seto, dearly adored wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away surrounded by her loving family on February 25, 2023, at the age of 71, in Camarillo.

Born Alethea Maureen Thompson, Thea was raised in the Los Angeles area and graduated from USC with a degree in Occupational Therapy, a profession in which she was engaged throughout her life. After working at Northridge Medical Center, her adventurous spirit moved her to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she traveled in a mobile therapy van throughout Vancouver Island treating many First Nations people and making lifelong friends. Thea returned to southern California to resume a friendship with Raymond Seto. This blossomed into a marriage which blessed them with three beautiful children, Aeryn, Cassandra, and Gregory. After living in Palos Verdes for several years, the family moved to Mission Canyon in Santa Barbara, where Thea devoted her time to raising her children and volunteering at their schools (Roosevelt Elementary, Santa Barbara Middle School, and Santa Barbara High), while continuing her Occupational Therapy career at Cottage Hospital, SELPA, and a variety of home health agencies.

A lifelong mystic, Thea was devoted to living an authentic, purposeful life and seeking the divine through wisdom traditions, earth-based spirituality, and embodied practices including yoga and t’ai chi chuan. She especially enjoyed hosting tai chi retreat groups in Santa Barbara.

After all three of their children left home to attend UC Berkeley, Thea and Ray moved to Ventura County, where she continued to practice Occupational Therapy part-time, and pursued creative writing, volunteering, and healing arts. She created a second family home on the Sonoma Coast and was an active and loving presence for each of her seven grandchildren.

Thea was very proud of her children’s accomplishments. Aeryn became an executive at JP Morgan before pursuing a new path as a Presbyterian pastor. Cassandra graduated from Stanford Law School and became a litigation partner at O’Melveny & Myers.

Gregory graduated from Loyola Law School with a JD and LLM in tax before joining Deloitte as an international tax attorney. However, what provided the greatest joy and fulfillment to Thea was her children’s happy marriages to wonderful partners (Shan, Jonathan, and Julia) and their blessing her with beloved grandchildren.

Thea is survived by husband Ray; children Aeryn, Cassandra, and Gregory; and grandchildren Cody, Liv, Jack, Emerson, Dean, Nathan, and Mia. She is also survived by siblings Karen, Kathleen, and David.

A memorial service honoring Thea will be held at the Vedanta Temple on March 25, 2023, at

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Vedanta Temple.

use of the fund monies should benefit households that reside within the city.” Eligible households would be those with maximum household incomes up to 200% of the area median income as determined by HUD and amended from time to time, which includes UpperMiddle, Middle, Moderate-, Low- , Very Low-, and Extremely LowIncome Households.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

Motorists traveling south can reach state beaches on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH/State Route 1) by continuing to the Main Street offramp in Ventura, U-turn to northbound U.S. Highway 101 and exit at the State Beaches offramp.

La Conchita residents traveling south can use the same route but continue north on U.S. Highway 101.

Residents and businesses located near the freeway may experience noise, vibrations and dust associated with construction activities. Closures may start and end later. Real-time traffic information can be found at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/. All work is subject to change due to weather.

The work is part of a $48 million pavement rehabilitation project — including $5.5 million in funding from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 — on a 4.3-mile section of Highway 101 north of Ventura. More details are available at https://tinyurl. com/mrycvtdm.

— Neil Hartstein

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.

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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.

By KRISTEN KELLER UCSB SPORTS

The UCSB softball team (10-7) wrapped up the final day of the Lancer Invitational as they took on the Howard University Bison. By the time this game ended, it was UCSB who came out on top, defeating Howard 6-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a tight battle for these two teams at the start of this game, with no one scoring any runs for the first five innings. However, it was the Bison to score first as they picked up a run at the top of the sixth. The Gauchos were able to stop the attack relatively quickly before they were up to the plate. UCSB had heavy bats in this one as the team scored six runs to put them in a strong position heading into the final inning of play. Pitcher Camryn Snyder did her part on the plate with the defense backing her up to keep Howard at bay as UCSB came out with the 6-1 win.

LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS

• Snyder was a huge part of this success for the Gauchos from

the plate. She only allowed two hits in this game while striking out seven Bison along the way. With this win, she now has a 4-3 record on the season.

• With all of the runs scored in the sixth inning, six different Gauchos made their way across home plate. Madelyn McNally, Chloe Stewart, Lauren Lewis, Daryn Siegel, Alex a Sams and Korie Thomas all registered runs at this time while Ashley Donaldson led the team with two RBIs.

• Despite not scoring a run, Hannah Damore added plenty of pressure against the Bison. In her three at-bats, she put up two hits while also grabbing an RBI.

UP NEXT

The Gauchos will take the week to prepare for their next tournament as they make the trip north to compete at the Bulldog Classic hosted by Fresno State.

Kristen Keller is the associate athletic director for communications and digital strategy at UCSB. email: sports@newspress.com

www.newspress.com

PHOTO COURTESY OLD SPANISH DAYS

From left are Fiesta El Segundo Vice Presidente Fritz Olenberger, El Primer Caballero Gonzalo Sarmiento, El Presidente David Bolton, Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and El Primer Vice Presidente Brian Schwabecher.

Life theArts

CALENDAR

e car that changed the world

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The popular Ford Model A car has proven to be timeless.

Just ask members of the Model A Ford Club of America.

The Model A car was produced by the Ford Motor Co. from 1928 - 1931.

And in those four years, the Ford Motor Company produced almost 5 million Model A Cars — which means 20 million wheels plus spare

parts had to be made. Almost 100 years later, people are still driving Model A Cars, even from California to Washington, which some of the MAFCA members in the Santa Barbara chapter have done.

According to mafca.com, MAFCA “is dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of the Ford Model A and AA cars and trucks, as manufactured from 1928 through 1931.”

Members of the Santa Barbara chapter said one of their favorite

parts of owning a Model A is seeing people’s reactions to the cars. People will stop to take pictures and even slow down while driving to get a better look, which always makes the members smile — at least until they worry the driver might cause an accident by holding up traffic.

On the other hand, members get just as much enjoyment in restoring and maintaining their cars as they do in showing them off (maybe not just as much, but close).

One of the pros about Model A

Santa Barbara enthusiasts praise Ford Model A

cars is that they are really simple. Members say you only need minimal mechanical understanding in order to figure out how the car works — or at least to get it working enough to get it to someone who can fix it.

It’s so easy that even a child could work on a Model A car, which MAFCA Santa Barbara member Aaron Machado knows from experience. When he was 6 years old, his grandfather had him take apart and put back together a Model A transmission.

Now Mr. Machado drives a beautiful maroon 1930 Ford Model A DeLuxe Coupe and acts as one of the resident mechanics of the club. When members need help restoring a car, they often go to Mr. Machado. When it comes to car restoration, there are usually two groups of people: people who try to use only original parts and people who use remanufactured parts. One of the pros of restoring Model A cars is the accessibility to parts. And although

Ventura to host St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday

By: ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

The County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday in Ventura.

The procession will start at 10 a.m. on Main Street.

Since 1984, the parade has been a spring highlight for the community. It features a wide range of events and participants, including dancers, high school bands, floats, traditional food, and more.

This year’s parade theme is “Let’s Celebrate!,” with the entrants of the parade designing or representing anything they may want to celebrate this year. There will be 62 entrants in the parade coming from all different backgrounds.

Ancient Order of Hibernians, Flags of Ireland, and the Claddagh School of Irish Dance are some of the Irish groups being represented. The stalwart Big Green Pig will also make an appearance, which has been a long standing tradition for this parade.

Other entrants are the U.S. Coast Guard, School on Wheels,

and Cal State Channel Islands President Richard Yao.

The entrants will be judged by a panel of community members: James Lockwood, Dr. Richard Rush, Celina Zacaris and Clint Garman.

The parade grand marshal this year is Ventura Elks Lodge No. 1430. This organization, which is celebrating its 100year anniversary, supports local programs for veterans and youth in Ventura. They are the lead sponsor of the event and have been since the parade’s inaugural year.

Visitors of the parade are encouraged to walk around downtown Ventura after the parade and enjoy the shops and restaurants. Additionally, the historic Museum of Ventura County, located on 100 E. Main St., will be open for free to the public until 5 p.m.

There is no public parking along the route, so park on adjacent streets and public parking lots in downtown Ventura. Visit venturastpatricksdayparade.com for more information.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

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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 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 805-565-6162 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.

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

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “SURREAL

WOMEN: Surrealist Art by American Women” is on display through April 24 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www.sullivangoss. com.

7 p.m. “Four Winters,” a documentary about resistance fighters during World War II, screens at Paseo Nuevo Cinemas on lower State Street in Santa Barbara. A Q & A will follow.

MARCH 11 10 a.m. St. Patrick’s Day parade on Main Street in downtown Ventura.

MARCH 14

Lifeline screening for cholesterol, diabetes risks, kidney and thyroid function, plaque buildup in arteries and more at the Santa Barbara Seventh-day Adventist Church, 425 Arroyo Road, Santa Barbara. Registration is required at www. lifelinescreening.com. Story, B2.

MARCH 16

5:30 p.m . Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi — Lewis Atterbury Stimson professor and chairman in the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center and surgeon-in-chief at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center — will present a public lecture titled “In the Eye of the Storm: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The free talk will take place at the Wolf Education and Training Center, 529 W. Junipero St., adjacent to Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara. Reservations are required by March 10. To attend, contact J.V. Vallejos at 805-681-7528 or jvallejo@sansumclinic.org.

MARCH 18

7:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform “John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805-8989386.

MARCH 19

3 p.m. The Santa Barbara Symphony will perform John Williams: A Cinematic Celebration” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. To purchase tickets, go to granadasb.org. For more information, visit www. thesymphony.org or call 805-8989386.

Managing

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

The Santa Barbara Symphony will celebrate the music

John Williams March

and 19 at The Granada.

From left with their cars are Janet Cox, John Gilbertson, Maureen Masson, John Franklin, Christine Johnston’s husband (who didn’t give his name), Robin Machado and Ed Machado.

CALEB BEEGHLY/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

The Santa Barbara chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America celebrates the legacy of the legendary car. From left are a 1930 Ford Model A Coupe (owned by John Gilbertson), a 1931 Ford Model A Coupe (owned by Maureen Masson), a 1929 Ford Model A Sports Coupe (owned by Christine Johnston), and a 1930 Ford Model A DeLuxe Coupe (owned by Ed Machado).

Please see MODEL A on B2

Great

805-689-8397

‘Operation Fortune’ is a fun spy movie, shaken and stirred REVIEW

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

In the best tradition of spy movies since the earliest James Bond films, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre” never takes itself too seriously.

In fact, it has everything you would expect from a 20th-century James Bond movie, minus some of the gadgets. Otherwise, it’s all there: the fast car chase, the undercover assignment, the M-like boss in London, a weapon that threatens the world and the finest bottle of wine on a private jet.

When you’re a spy, you save the world with some class, and yes, “Operation Fortune” has diamonds and beautiful clothes in fantastic settings. The film was filmed in exotic Antalya, Turkey. You can’t save the world in any old place, you know.

While it’s not a 007 movie per se, “Operation Fortune” is a must-see film for fans of the Bond movies before they became too ponderous in the Daniel Craig era. That said, “Operation Fortune” is an action comedy, unlike the Bond movies, which were dramas with comedic touches.

“Operation Fortune” clearly benefits from the direction of Guy Ritchie, who also wrote the film

with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. Mr. Ritchie has a knack for this kind of quirky movie, but to his credit, he doesn’t overplay the quirkiness in this Lionsgate/ Miramax presentation.

Jason Statham stars in the R-rated film as Orson Fortune, a subcontractor in the intelligence field. An unnamed part of the British government (in the Bond movies or real life, it would be MI6) has hired Orson, but

is forcing a new agent on him, Sarah Fidel (Audrey Plaza) and marksman JJ (Bugzy Malone). Calling the shots from a safe distance (which makes it easy for Orson to ignore him) is Nathan Jasmine (the talented Cary Elwes of “Princess Bride” fame).

Mr. Staham takes a somewhat low-key approach to the character, and it works well. Ms. Plaza, known for shows such as the sitcom “Parks and Rec,” has a lot

of fun with her character, who’s brilliant at both computer hacking and undercover assignments. Ms. Plaza handles both the dramatic and comedic scenes effortlessly. Their mission is to stop the sale of new weapons technology controlled by billionaire broker Greg Simmons, played with perfect finesse by Hugh Grant.

To complete their mission, Orson and his team need the help of a movie star, Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett), who, up to now, has only played an action hero. Now Danny has to become a reallife one, and that’s fun to watch. email: dmason@newspress.com

FYI

“Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre” is screening at Camino Real Cinemas, 7040 Marketplace Drive, Goleta, and Paseo Nuevos Cinemas on lower State Street, Santa Barbara. For times, see metrotheatres.com.

The thriller is also playing at Regal Edwards Santa Maria & RPX, 100 Town Center East, Santa Maria. For showtimes, see regmovies.com and search for “Santa Maria.”

“Operation Fortune” is rated R for language and violence. It has a running time of 1 hour 54 minutes.

‘Creed III’ doesn’t pull its punches at the box office

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

“Creed III” knocked out the competition in its first weekend at the box office. The sequel to the “Rocky” spinoff was No. 1 with a gross of $58.7 million.

Starring Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors, the boxing movie pushed “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” to second place. The Marvel Studios sequel grossed $12.5 million in

its third weekend.

Dropping to third place from second was the dark comedy “Cocaine Bear,” with $11 million.

The anime film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba — To the Swordsmith Village” opened in fourth place with $10.1 million.

“Jesus Revolution,” the story of an early 1970s spiritual awakening that began with teenage hippies in Southern California, fell to fifth place from third with $8.65 million.

The spy thriller “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre” opened in seventh place with $3.16 million.

“Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” fell to eighth place from fifth with $2.72 million.

“Magic Mike’s Last Dance” dropped to ninth place from sixth at the box office, with a gross of $1.18 million. Rounding out the top 10 was “80 for Brady” with a gross of $845,000.

email: dmason@newspress.com

Life Line Screening set for March 14

SANTA BARBARA – Residents can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and other chronic conditions with affordable screenings by Life Line Screening.

Santa Barbara Seventh-day

MODEL A

Continued from Page B1

one can find original parts, the accessibility of remanufactured parts go a long way. However, remanufactured parts are not always 100% accurate and need to be modified in order to fit. But MAFCA SB says that’s part of the fun.

And according to MAFCA Santa Barbara member Randy Douglas, there are another two types of people in this hobby: those who like to build and drive, and those who like to make the car look pretty. Even though all of MAFCA SB’s Model A cars are pretty, they also drive well, which is true of Mr. Douglas’ 1929 Ford Model A Tudor (sounds like “two-door”). Having

Adventist Church will host the screening on March 14. The site is located at 425 Arroyo Road in Santa Barbara.

According to a news release, screenings can check for:

• The level of plaque buildup in your arteries, related to risk for

pretty cars that drive well allows MAFCA SB to participate in local parades, drive to car shows, and even participate in Model A car challenges, which members love to do.

cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall vascular health.

• HDL and LDL cholesterol level.

• Diabetes risk,

• Kidney and thyroid function, and more.

Package pricing starts at $159,

FYI

The Santa Barbara chapter of the Model A Ford Club of America hosts a meeting every first Wednesday of the month and presents a tour every third Saturday of the month. For locations or other information, go to modelaclubsb.weebly.com.

MAFCA SB members range in Model A experience. Some people have been members and Model A owners for decades, and some have only been Model A members for a short time. One member, Steve Penniman, got his 1929 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup just about nine months ago, which is actually how Mr. Penniman got involved with the club. In

order to find his Roadster Pickup, Mr. Penniman contacted MAFCA SB, and MAFCA SB helped put Mr. Penniman in contact with sellers.

But here’s a warning to people wanting to buy a Model A. MAFCA members say that if you buy one, it is likely that you’ll end up with another. They even joked that when you first buy a Model A, you don’t realize it’s pregnant — because pretty soon, you’ll get another. It is hard to talk about the Model A without talking about its predecessor, the Model T. One

but consultants will work with you to create a package that is right for you based on your age and risk factors. Call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Registration is required.

— Katherine Zehnder

Santa Barbara MAFCA chapter member, John Gilbertson, has a Model T that just turned 103 years old. (Another member joked that her favorite part about being in the club is that the cars are older than her).

Even with his love for the Model

T, Mr. Gilbertson made it clear where his loyalties lie, stating, “The Model A changed the world.”

He recently purchased a 1929 Ford Model A Fordor that he is going to restore, so he has space for his grandkids.

Through its dedication to the restoration and maintenance of Model As, MAFCA SB has cultivated a friendly and exciting community that will somehow probably outlast the Model A. email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

DAN SMITH/LIONSGATE PHOTOS

From left, spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham), movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) and spy Sarah Fidel (Aubrey Plaza) team up in “Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre.”

Emilia (Lourdes Faberes) works for arms dealer Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant) in “Operation Fortune.”

MGM STUDIOS

Michael B. Jordan stars in “Creed III,” which came out swinging at the box office in the No. 1 spot.

SUDOKU

CODEWORD PUZZLE

Thought for Today

“No one can figure out your worth but you.”

— Pearl Bailey

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

ARIES — You’re a sociable person with a gift for small talk and interesting discussions.

Today you will find some amazing information that will keep your conversations fascinating for months. It could involve a new discovery, possibly in a foreign land. A friend or relative you haven’t seen for a while could reappear.

TAURUS — Sudden, positive changes in your financial condition could come your way.

This could be an increase in income or involve some kind of windfall. Whichever it is, it’s going to make a difference in your life. You could also discover a hidden talent that you were previously unaware of. It could also set you off on a different life path. Don’t be afraid, Taurus. Go for it!

GEMINI — You could be planning a major journey of some kind, Gemini. It may be a long vacation or travel to foreign countries, or it could be an intellectual or spiritual journey into new schools of thought. Your mind is sharp now, so you will learn quickly and retain more. This is a good time to play detective, or perhaps you will simply want to lose yourself in a good mystery novel.

CANCER — You’re practical and down to Earth, Cancer. Today your intuition is more active than usual. You might receive some powerful messages from the higher planes that open up new doors for you. Don’t ignore them. Think about what’s in them before you accept or reject them. You could also tune in more strongly than usual to the thoughts and feelings of others.

LEO — Travel by air seems possible today, Leo. The appeal of foreign countries may be too strong to resist. If you don’t have a passport, you’d better apply! Friends may be planning a trip abroad and invite you to accompany them. Your sense of adventure should ensure that you won’t say no, but if you’re tempted to for any reason, reconsider!

VIRGO — The Universe is encouraging you to listen today, Virgo. This isn’t a day for polemic speeches. It isn’t a day to try to win others over to your point of view. Really listen to what your friends, loved ones, colleagues, and neighbors say with all of

By FRANK STEWART

Tribune Content Agency

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

“Some people can’t count to ten,” Unlucky Louie grumbled to me, “and they’re always ahead of me in the express checkout line at Wal-Mart.”

“You’re lucky,” Cy the Cynic told him. “Some of my partners can’t count to six.”

As today’s West, Cy had led his singleton heart against South’s two spades.

“My partner took the K-A and led a third heart,” Cy said. “I ruffed and shifted to a club, and partner took the ace and returned a club. South won, lost to the ace of trumps and took the rest when the diamond finesse worked for him. We got five tricks because my partner couldn’t count to six.”

TRUMP TRICK

A defender must count his tricks.

East can see two hearts, a heart ruff and two aces. If West holds the king of clubs, East has no worries; otherwise, the defense will need an extra trump trick.

After East takes the top hearts, he must lead the ace and a low club. West’s heart ruff can wait. When East is in with the ace of trumps, he gives West a heart ruff and gets a club ruff.

your attention and empathy. You will strengthen your bonds with everyone and may be surprised at what you learn.

LIBRA — Sudden opportunities for advancement may come your way today, Libra. Innovative ideas may have paved the way for you, so your skills and abilities are appreciated now. A new awareness of your objectives has made your own path clearer to you, and you may be ready to make your plans a reality.

SCORPIO — New and expansive ideas for investing time or funds could make a big difference to your future income. Today you feel especially in control of your life. You should have the power to put your plans in motion. All signs look good for new goals and new enterprises. As long as you hang onto your selfconfidence, you should be able to make them a reality.

SAGITTARIUS — A relationship that may have in the past been based primarily on intellectual interests may take a sudden turn toward romance. If you aren’t careful, Sagittarius, this could turn into an obsession! Relax and enjoy it, but accept your partner as he or she is — warts and all! There are indications of possible changes in your life, either on a personal or business level.

CAPRICORN — If you’ve been feeling under the weather, expect to feel stronger today than you were before, Capricorn. Your enthusiasm is up and new ideas are flowing into your brain. Whatever you work on today should really stand out. You will experience a new sense of power and optimism. Don’t be too intense, though.

AQUARIUS — Creative projects may take on a new intensity now. New ideas and visions may appear out of nowhere. Whatever you’re working on could have new meaning for you and others. Your physical energy is driven by your efforts to express yourself, so you might keep working for a long time.

PISCES — Expect some changes in your household today, Pisces. You could finally be making some repairs or remodeling or redecorating. It’s also possible that someone could move in or out. A visitor could also come to your door with interesting information that could change your life in some way.

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

one spade, you respond two hearts and he raises to three hearts. What do you say?

ANSWER: Slam is likely. If your partner has K Q J 9 3, Q 8 4, A 4, 7 6 5 — barely an opening bid — you can make 7NT. Cue-bid four clubs to show the ace and suggest slam. If partner signs off at four hearts, you will have to judge whether to pass or continue with a further cue bid of four spades. East dealer N-S vulnerable