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Playing in nature Backcountry opens at Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
ELECTION 2022
Voters go to polls today Campaign signs reported stolen
HOW AND WHERE TO VOTE
By DAVE MASON
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today during the primary election. For a list of polling places, go to sbcvote.com. Voters also can drop off their ballots at secure boxes throughout Santa Barbara County. For their locations, go to sbcvote.com. Mail-in ballots will count if the postmark is no later than June 7. No stamp is required. Today’s primary includes races for governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general, insurance commissioner, the state Board of Equalization, U.S. Senate, the 24th Congressional District seat in the House, the newly created 37th state Assembly District seat, Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge, state superintendent of public instruction, the Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools, the county Board of Supervisors (for the 2nd and 5th districts), the county auditor-controller, the Santa Barbara County clerkrecorder-assessor, the county district attorney, the county sheriff-coroner and the county treasurer-tax collector-public administrator. See Wednesday’s NewsPress for further coverage.
NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Ellis Groves of Carpinteria takes a break after stepping onto the stumps behind her. The activity is part of the fun on the Backcountry, which opened to the general public Monday at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
Last-minute thefts of campaign signs were reported as the hours ticked down to the opening of the polls in today’s primary election. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. On Monday, Christy Lozano, a candidate for Santa Barbara County superintendent of schools, told the News-Press that 10 of 20 of her campaign signs were stolen from supporters’ yards in Santa Barbara and Goleta. She cited locations such as Winchester Canyon, Patterson Avenue, Alameda Padre Serra, Cathedral Oaks Road and Hollister Avenue. “Signs were stolen from all over the place,” Ms. Lozano said. “These people have no shame. It’s one thing if a sign’s in a public space, but to go into people’s yards,” she said. “They feel like they have to do something to prevent me from winning the election,” Ms. Lozano said. Stealing a campaign sign is a petty theft misdemeanor under California Penal Code. According to Section 490.2, it’s punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, a fine not exceeding $2,000, or both. Ms. Lozano is running in today’s election against Dr. Susan Salcido, Please see ELECTION on A3
Christy Lozano, left, and Susan Salcido
Gas prices hit new record highs to kick off week
Michelle Cyr, the garden’s youth and family programs manager, stands outside the Backcountry Hawks Nest, which houses children’s books. Behind Ms. Cyr, Joya Groves of Carpinteria reads a book to her daughter, Ellis.
By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
Michelle Cyr gestured excitedly as she stood on a trail on a warm, sunny day and talked about an area she loves: the new Backcountry. The interactive area for children and their families opened to the general public Monday at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. Ms. Cyr, who’s the garden’s youth and family gardens program manager, told the News-Press that the area allows kids to interact with nature. The area includes garden Executive Director Steve
Windhager’s favorite spot, the Fallen Forest. The forest consists of trees, including pines and oaks, which have fallen in the garden or other places. They’re anchored on a hillside, and kids climb up it by holding onto a rope. Earlier this year, Mr. Windhager explained that kids get “the experience of climbing a tree without having to run the risk of falling 20 feet to the ground. If you fall off these trees, you’ll probably fall four or five feet and land in a nice cushion of 20 inches of mulch, which meets guidelines from the state of California for appropriate play space.” Please see BACKCOUNTRY on A4
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By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE
Kids climb a rope bridge, which is part of the botanic garden’s new Backcountry. The News-Press photographer/writer also walked up this rope and found it was more difficult than it looks.
(The Center Square) – Gas prices hit another new record to kick off the week Monday, continuing a steady stream of record-breaking days. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline is at $4.87, the highest ever. That’s more than a week of new record highs every day. Just one month ago, the national average price was $4.28, a 59 cent increase in just one month. If that pace continues, the national average will surpass $5 per gallon by the end of the month. California leads the nation with an average price of $6.341.
In Santa Barbara County, the average is $6.278. Indiana has now surpassed $5 per gallon, making it the 10th state to do so. All the other states are well over $4 per gallon and nearing that same $5 per gallon marker. Nine other states are about a dime or less away from topping $5 per gallon. The average price per gallon one year ago was $3.05 per gallon, when prices had already begun to rise. In early March of last year, the national average was $2.77. Diesel gas is also at a record high $5.65. News-Press Associate Editor Matt Smolensky contributed to this report.
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