Activists say move will help state meet climate targets

MARYLAND

Continued from Page A3

The Maryland Department of the Environment estimates that under the Clean Cars II rule, 383,000 fewer gas-powered vehicles would be sold in the state by 2030. By 2035, the department estimates that figure would increase to 1.68 million vehicles by 2035. Climate advocates praised the state’s move Monday, saying it will help the state meet its climate targets and fight the impacts of climate change.

“Adopting Advanced Clean Cars II is vital to meet Maryland’s climate and public health goals,” Ramon Palencia-Calvo, director of Maryland’s League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement Monday. “This is especially true for communities of color and low income communities that continue to bear the brunt of the climate burden and face higher exposure to pollution. Increasing the numbers of clean vehicles [on] our roads will reduce respiratory illness and hospitalizations, leading to healthier outcomes.”

WAGNER, William Loren Sr.

14 August 1926 - 11 February 2023

An amazing soul has ascended to heaven to join his wife of over 73 years, Margie, and their two sons who preceded his passing, Bill Jr. and Eric.

William “Bill” Wagner Sr. was born in Los Angeles in 1926 and grew up in North and West Hollywood during the great depression. Times were extremely challenging, and Bill began working at a young age to help support his family. He and his brother, Gaylord, sold newspapers which began his passion for sales, developing relationships, negotiations and deal making. He was a persistent entrepreneur even from a young age. His work experience also included operating a large laundry steam press in his teens and would become his job when he joined the Navy in World War 2. While stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station, Bill met his lifelong love, Margie Cassavechia, dancing at the USO Hospitality House in Oakland in November 1944. Bill and Margie married on June 3, 1945 about 3 months before the end of the war.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Bill’s first business was leasing a laundry and dry-cleaning facility he named Wagner Laundry. It quickly became apparent to him that this line of work was causing him health problems. So, he closed this business and started a new business as a dairy products supplier. It was a successful venture in which he owned his own delivery truck and started several delivery routes in new neighborhoods around the Bay Area. A little over two years later Bill would get his real estate license which would shape the rest of his professional career.

Bill joined a real estate firm and the owner-broker suggested he might do well by finding the owners of vacant lots in the Bay Area and persuade them to list their lots for sale with him. Bill took his advice and thrived in his new line of work. He was Rookie Broker of the Year and went on to become a sales leader at the firm. A few years later in the mid 1950s, Bill and his young family moved to Sacramento where he started his own very successful real estate and construction business, Wagner Real Estate. A little over ten years later in the late 1960s, Bill would develop a relationship with Sambo’s Restaurants, in which he sold them numerous lots to build restaurants. This relationship would lead him to his next business venture.

Sambo’s offered Bill the job of Executive Vice President in charge of Development with the company at their national headquarters in Santa Barbara in 1970. Even though it would require him to move his family again, it was an opportunity too good to let pass. During the next ten years Bill would oversee the building of nearly 1,000 Sambo’s Restaurants nationwide.

After leaving Sambo’s in the early 1980s Bill would become a commercial real developer. His projects continue to be a blessing to a vast number of individuals and families. This also allowed time for him and Margie to travel the world for many years which they both enjoyed. They loved living in Santa Barbara where they were extremely involved members of their church and community. Bill sang in the Constance Street First Presbyterian Church choir for over four decades. He and Margie were also very active members of the La Cumbre Golf and Country Club for five decades and shared a passion for playing golf. He was an avid reader and lifelong learner. Bill was always smiling, telling jokes and had a huge heart, which touched many people in his lifetime. He will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by his daughter-in-law Carol, grandchildren Bill III (Wendy), Kim (Kevin), Haley, Casey (Leah), Max (Kristen), eleven great-grandchildren, and two great great-grandchildren.

A memorial Funeral Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 21 East Constance Street at 1:00 PM on March 18, 2023. A reception will follow at La Cumbre Country Club from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.

All are welcome to attend.

In an effort to accelerate the adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars rule, the Air Quality Control Advisory Council on Monday recommended the Maryland Department of the Environment propose a regulation to enact the new standards. MDE will follow the process for a proposed regulation, which includes a public hearing and opportunities for public comment, according to the governor’s office. The department is aiming to have the regulation enacted in September, according to the governor’s office.

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

To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our office for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format.

A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval.

The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the first 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch.

All Obituaries must be reviewed, approved, and prepaid by deadline. We accept all major credit cards by phone; check or cash payments may be brought into our office located at 715 Anacapa Street.

The deadline for Weekend and Monday’s editions is at 10a.m. on Thursdays; Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time).

The mayor’s office and the Seattle Office of the Waterfront could not provide an estimate for the cost of implementing 40 cherry blossom trees in the city at the time of publication. However, BrighterBlooms.com lists cherry blossom trees at prices ranging from $100 to $180.

The Center Square estimates

“The Pike Pine Streetscape Improvement project is a cornerstone in our efforts to rebuild downtown, and this commitment will ensure cherry blossom trees reach new generations of Seattleites for years to come.”

Cherry blossom trees typically remain healthy for about 20 to 30 years in urban conditions, according to Harrell’s office. The Pike Place Market trees have reached their full height, with five having already died and removed in past years, according to city arborists.