Santa Barbara News-Press: April 19, 2023

Touch of Tuscany in

Santa Ynez and L.A.

House GOP investigates Biden family

SB City Council learns about $667 million budget

Finance director says revenue growth isn’t enough to cover deficit

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council heard an overview Tuesday of the city administrator’s recommended budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, which will present both fiscal and budgetary problems.

The proposed budget for FY 2024 is $667 million. The General Fund of $220 million represents one third of the city budget.

However, the General Fund “has a structural deficit we need to address,” City Finance Director Keith DiMartini told the council. While property tax revenue is stable, he said, “ongoing revenue growth is not enough” to cover the deficit, he said.

Tackling dementia

Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part series on Jane Seymour of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” fame. The second article will appear in Friday’s News-Press.

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Jane Seymour recalled being with Glen Campbell in his nursing home as the legendary country singer struggled with the final stages of Alzheimer’s.

“My son, who is a musician, came with me,” said Ms. Seymour, the “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” star who formerly lived in Montecito. “He picked up Glen’s guitar and sat next to Glen and just started playing music he had written. Glen turned to him, after having been blank and looking in space, and started to sing — to try to sing to music he’s never heard before.

“It engaged him again, and Kim (Glen’s wife) looked at me, and she nudged me and said, ‘Look, look! Johnny’s (Ms. Seymour’s son) got through to him again.’ But it was always through music. …

“I think if someone played guitar or if they sang, that’s the last thing to go,” said Ms. Seymour, executive producer of “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me,” an awardwinning 2014 documentary.

Fast forward to today, and Ms. Seymour is talking about playing Ruby, a woman in the early stages of dementia, in the movie “Ruby’s Choice.” She said that like Mr. Campbell, Ruby connected to the world through the arts, in her case painting and dancing.

Next week, Ms. Seymour will discuss dementia further as the keynote speaker at the Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon: Your Brain Matters.

Organized by the California Central Coast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. “I’ve been passionately involved with the worlds of dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Ms. Seymour said. “These are diagnoses that touch most people in some form and deserve more of a spotlight, which is why I’ve chosen to support the Alzheimer’s Association through this luncheon.”

Funds raised by the luncheon will go to the association’s mission of tackling dementia through global research, early detection, risk reduction, and maximizing quality care and support.

Ms. Seymour talked to the News-Press about dementia, her family and her role in “Ruby’s Choice” during a Zoom call.

The Emmy- and Golden Globewinning Malibu actress was in her apartment in Dublin, where she’s starring as a retired English professor who solves crimes in the TV series “Harry Wild.” It airs in

America on Acorn TV.

Ms. Seymour said she has seen what can happen when caregivers don’t take care of themselves at the same time they’re caring for someone with dementia. She stressed it’s important that caregivers know when they need help.

“One of my uncles got it (dementia), and it was just so bad,” Ms. Seymour said. “His wife — my aunt — was literally an angel. But she would not let him go into

For example, staffers expect that FY 2024 revenue for the General Fund will be $201.5 million while expenditures will be $200 million. But in FY 2025, revenue for the General Fund is projected to be $209.5 million while expenditures are expected to be $211 million.

Major challenges include deferred maintenance and capital improvements, pension cost increases and unfunded liability, economic uncertainty

and high inflation, Mr. DiMartini said.

The budgets contain a number of fiscal and budgetary challenges, he said, including retention and recruitment challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Major work efforts over the next two fiscal years include funding the building of the new police station and revitalization of De la Guerra Plaza.

Before the council meeting started, the city of Santa Barbara issued its operating and capital budget for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, as required by the city charter. The recommended budget includes an introductory budget message from the city administrator, revenue and expenditure details by fund and department, capital priorities and performance indicators.

The Santa Barbara City Council will review and receive presentations from staff regarding the recommended budget throughout May and June during the following, scheduled meetings:

• May 3 from 8:30 a.m. to noon — airport.

• May 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. –police and fire departments

Surveillance cameras removed from Montecito trail; hiker raises concern

Editor’s note: Surveillance cameras on Ridge Trail in Montecito, which prompted concern from resident Bryan Rosen, have been removed. This story looks at the chronology of events for the cameras that Mr. Rosen discovered during a hike.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Montecito resident Bryan Rosen was taking a hike up Ridge Trail, which was busy with hikers.

When Mr. Rosen reached the hot springs, he found a surveillance camera pointed at a pool of hot water.

This was on Feb. 17.

According to Mr. Rosen, the camera was not there on Feb.15. The camera had a tag affixed to it which read “County of Santa Barbara, Public Works, Trail and Creek Monitoring in Progress, Do Not Tamper or Remove, Enforced by County Sheriff.”

On Feb. 17, Mr. Rosen contacted the Santa Barbara

County Public Works Department about the camera.

“That camera does not belong to the Flood Control District,” Alex Doran of Public Works told Mr. Rosen in an email on Feb. 17. “The Flood Control District always affixes metal tags with our name and phone number on it in case anyone has concerns. It seems odd the camera has ‘Public Works’ and ‘County Sheriff’ logos and no contact information. The ‘Trail and Creek Monitoring’ label doesn’t seem like something associated with Public Works activities.”

Mr. Doran said Public Works determined that the camera did not belong to the department.

On Feb. 18, a Saturday, Mr. Rosen hiked there again, and the camera was still there. According to Mr. Rosen, there were three women bathing in the pool.

Mr. Rosen said he “tampered with the camera by turning it toward the tree trunk it was attached to…I did a little trail repair work above where the

‘Ruby’s Choice’ star Jane Seymour talks to the News-Press in advance of her address at a local Alzheimer’s Association luncheon

PHOTOS COURTESY ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION, CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST CHAPTER

Jane Seymour plays Ruby, a woman with dementia, during filming for “Ruby’s Choice” in Australia. Ms. Seymour, a former Montecito resident, will deliver the keynote address at the Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront.

Jane Seymour and other cast members gather for a scene during “Ruby’s Choice.” In the film, Ruby (Ms. Seymour) moves in with her daughter’s family after accidentally burning down her house. The film was shown last year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Conforti named

Coral Casino general manager

MONTECITO -— Ty Warner Hotels and Resorts has hired a new general manager, David Conforti, who will oversee operations at the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club.

Mr. Conforti has more than 15 years of experience managing high-end clubs, both abroad and domestically. He is one of the few dozen club professionals who has both a Certified Club Manager designation from the Club Management Association of America and a Class A certification from the PGA of America.

Mr. Conforti has spent the past five years managing the Palos Verdes Golf Club, and in 2015 served as the GM/COO at Four Streams, an exclusive club near Washington, D.C.

“He understands the high standard of service a club like

the Coral Casino demands, considering its unparalleled coastal location and legacy,” Ty Warner said. “We are thrilled to have him on our team.”

Mr. Warner is in the process of finding new restaurant teams and completing renovations to upgrade the club facilities.

This includes a new members’ rooftop lounge, expanded whirlpool, renovated kids’ pool, new cold plunge pool, upgraded Fins dining area and improvements to the private dining room and adjacent second level sundeck.

“Working at a place like the Coral Casino feels like a pinnacle career point,” Mr. Conforti said.

For more membership inquiries contact: Kelly Campbell at 805455-2587

Boots’n Badges event to raise funds for Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse

By KIRA LOGAN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

A fundraising event to benefit the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. May 13 at the Red River Ranch in Los Olivos.

The Boots ’n Badges event will feature live and up-close demonstrations by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies, including those with the bomb squad and K-9 and Mounted Enforcement units. The Mounted Enforcement unit

will show how it trains its horses in crowd control techniques.

The bomb squad will demonstrate its robot in action destroying a suspicious package, and the K-9 unit will show off its drug-sniffing and patrol dogs.

“Guests will be greeted with a specialty cocktail, enjoy a series of gourmet food stations, wine from Brick Barn Wine Estate, beer from Firestone Walker along with bootstomping music from Los Angelesbased band Jambalaya West, plus they’ll receive a keepsake gift,” said event chairperson Suzanne

Kramer-Morton. Aided by fellow Posse Board members, Richard Kline, Sue Pohls, Jay Gerlach, Scott Biddinger and Posse Board Secretary Marianne Freeman, this fundraiser and accompanying item auction will benefit the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse in its efforts to provide funds for items and equipment needed to help the officers of the department. In the recent past, the Sheriff’s Posse has helped the Sheriff’s Office obtain emergency

equipment such as COVID-19 personal protection equipment, protective vests, night vision goggles, specialized weapons, computer equipment, and drug sniffing dogs.

The posse has also supported the DARE program in elementary schools, which teaches students how to make good decisions and learn more about substance abuse, bullying and violence. For more information, see www. sbsheriffsposse.org.

email: klogan@newspress.com

Santa Maria to celebrate Earth Day

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria Utilities Department is holding a free event to celebrate Earth Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Recycling Park at the Santa Maria Regional Landfill, 2065 E. Main St., Santa Maria. City customers may go there

during that time to receive free household-friendly recycling containers. To ensure safe traffic flow, access to the distribution booth will only be possible after entering the landfill site via the scalehouse. This event also features no-contact pickup.

Participants can receive the following free items: Fourteengallon recycling container (for larger recyclables, cardboard, magazines, and cereal boxes), six-gallon recycling container with handle (ideal for recycling paper, cans, glass, and can easily fit underneath a sink or in a

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

Help sought in finding homicide suspec t

LOMPOC – The Lompoc Police Department is seeking assistance from the public in locating a suspect wanted in connection to a March 26 homicide.

Police are looking for Omar RicardoDircio, 37. There is an active warrant for his arrest.

“Please do not approach or attempt to apprehend him, as he may be armed and dangerous,” police said Tuesday.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts or the case is urged to call the Lompoc Police Department.

Police responded at about 7:20

p.m. Sunday to the 300 west block of North Avenue in Lompoc for a report of a victim being shot. When officers arrived, they located a male victim lying on the ground. The male victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The male victim was identified as Ivan Lopez Lopez. Detectives responded to the scene and took over the investigation.

— Neil Hartstein

Pedestrian killed during hit-and-run incident

SANTA MARIA – A male pedestrian was struck and killed

pantry), reusable shopping bag made from plastic bottles, and a countertop kitchen pail to help collect food waste and minimize odors until deposited into the outdoor organics container for service.

— Kira Logan

Monday night when he was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle near the intersection of Betteravia Road and Oakley Avenue.

The driver of the vehicle did not stop and was last seen traveling westbound on Betteravia Road in Santa Maria. Police responded to investigate the 8:30 p.m. accident.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead on scene. He was identified, but his name is being withheld pending proper notification to his next of kin.

The suspect vehicle is described as a dark-colored sedan. If you have any information, you’re asked to contact the Santa Maria Police Department Traffic Bureau. This investigation is ongoing.

— Neil Hartstein

Nearly 270,000 apprehensions, gotaways at southern border in March

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) —

There were nearly 270,000 apprehensions and gotaways reported of foreign nationals who illegally entered the U.S. at the southern border last month, according to official data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and data The Center Square obtained from a Border Patrol agent.

CBP reported that encounters of illegal foreign nationals processed at ports of entry in all nine southwest Border Patrol sectors in March totaled 191,900 — up nearly 23% from 156,138 in February.

However, these numbers don’t include data on gotaways, those who illegally enter between ports of entry and actively seek to evade capture of law enforcement who are reported by Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations officers in an internal system. Earlier this month, The Center Square

reported on preliminary data that showed there were nearly 245,000 apprehensions and gotaways reported at the southern border. That number is actually higher because it excludes Office of Field Operations data.

But CBP official data is also higher, with it reporting 191,900 apprehensions. Combined with at least 74,924 known gotaways reported, total encounters last month were at least 266,824.

While Biden administration officials have claimed the majority of people from all over the world are arriving at ports of entry, CBP data refutes this claim.

In March, nearly all of the foreign nationals who illegally entered the U.S. did so between ports of entry – 162,317 – up 25% from 130,024 last month, according to CBP data.

And the majority of them were single adults. Over twothirds, 69%, of all southwest land border encounters were single adults, with 133,256

encounters in March, a 19% increase compared to February, according to CBP data.

Among them, law enforcement officers and Border Patrol agents have told The Center Square, the majority they are apprehending are single, military age men.

Unaccompanied children apprehensions also increased by 14% over the month, totaling 12,374 compared to 10,845 in February. Encounters of family unit individuals increased by 38% from 33,291 in February to 45,964 in March. As more people illegally enter, fewer Border Patrol agents are on the ground, as the agency continues to face one of the worst crises of morale in its history, agents told The Center Square. The ongoing issues are contributing to agents retiring and fewer people seeking to join, they say.

The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing agents nationwide, tweeted about staffing levels being at

record lows as illegal entries are at record highs.

“Congratulations Biden, Harris and Mayorkas,” the NBPC tweeted. “BP has hit another low while border chaos is at an all-time high. There are now less than 19k agents. Congress had a FLOOR of 21,370 agents. The complete erasure of our border by the worst admin in history is despicable. GREAT JOB!” What the data doesn’t show is where the majority of illegal entries are occurring.

The El Paso Sector, which includes two west Texas counties and all of New Mexico, had the most apprehensions totaling nearly 40,000 last month, with nearly 18,000 gotaways reported by Border Patrol agents – data The Center Square exclusively reported earlier this month.

Tucson Sector agents reported the second greatest number of nearly 36,000

WENDY McCAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . Co-Publisher

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COURTESY PHOTO David Conforti

COURTESY PHOTO Omar RicardoDircio

Hancock College wins National Education Award

SANTA MARIA — Allan

Hancock College is one of two colleges to receive the 2023 American Council on Education/ Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation.

The Santa Maria-based college was presented the award along with a $10,000 prize at ACE’s annual meeting April 14 in Washington, D.C.

The award was created to recognize institutions that

respond uniquely and critically to challenges in higher education.

“Allan Hancock College and Texas Woman’s University serve as excellent examples of the efforts our institutions are undertaking to increase access to higher education and meet the needs of an ever-more diverse student body,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell.

Hancock specifically received the award for their “Credit

Where Credit’s Due” program, which is an automated degree awarding program. Different departments across the college worked to develop an algorithm that organizes and identifies students who are close to degree completion and automatically awards them their degrees, instead of students applying for graduation.

The college said 1,144 Hancock students received a total of

2,849 degrees and/or certificates through the automated program and total degree earners increased by 22% during the first year of the program. Over the first two years of the program, 64% of all auto-awarded degrees or certificates went to Hispanic and black students and students from traditionally underrepresented ethnic groups.

Berkeley cannot ban natural gas hookups, appeals court rules

By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — A California city tried to ban natural gas hookups, but a federal court said it cannot.

The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals court ruled Monday that the ban enacted by Berkeley was illegal due to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.

The decision marked a victory for the California Restaurant Association, which challenged the ordinance.

“Instead of directly banning those appliances in new buildings, Berkeley took a more circuitous route to the same result,” Judge Patrick Bumatay wrote in the court’s opinion on Monday. “It enacted a building code that prohibits natural gas piping into those buildings, rendering the gas

appliances useless.”

“In sum, Berkeley can’t bypass preemption by banning natural gas piping within buildings rather than banning natural gas products themselves,” he continued. “EPCA thus preempts the Ordinance’s effect on covered products.”

In July 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that it could not use the EPCA to preempt Berkeley’s ordinance because it did not directly regulate energy use or energy efficiency of appliances. Therefore, it argued that a total ban on natural gas infrastructure in new buildings was outside the law’s scope.

Attorneys general from California and New Jersey were among the states that backed Berkeley in the court case.

Judge Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and U.S. Court of International

Trade Judge M. Miller Baker concurred with the ruling.

Judge O’Scannlain thinks that the EPCA overrules the ordinance. He also thinks the law is confusing because different courts have different opinions on dealing with cases where one law overrules another. He wants the Supreme Court to give clearer instructions for handling these situations.

“I am not convinced that we have correctly followed the Supreme Court’s instructions in this admittedly troubled area,”

Judge O’Scannlain wrote.

Judge Baker’s concurrence expressed doubts about the association’s standing, as the organization failed to identify a specific member harmed by the contested ordinance. However, he also concurred with the panel’s decision that the EPCA

supersedes building codes that govern the use of natural gas for covered products. The California Restaurant Association supported the ruling and found the decision encouraging.

“The Ninth Circuit has unanimously affirmed the central issue in this case: local ordinances cannot override federal law,” said California Restaurant Association President and CEO Jot Condie. “Cities and states are not equipped to regulate the energy use or energy efficiency of appliances that businesses and homeowners have chosen; energy policy and conservation is an issue with national scope and national security implications. This ordinance, as well as the solution it seeks, is an overreaching measure beyond the scope of any city.”

California State University undergraduate assistants push to unionize

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — Student assistants from 23 California State University campuses announced on Monday their intention to unionize. They were joined by leaders of the California Faculty Association and CSU Employees Union (SEIU 2579) on a Zoom press conference.

The process started last year, according to Catherine Hutchinson, president Chapter 324, Channel Islands, when CSUEU were in contract negotiations and the students were hearing the process of ongoing negotiations.

“My student assistants in particular were hearing what was happening with this issue at the table and then also starting to learn about the union and

what that meant and they started talking… it was not just one campus … and they were actually trying to form their own little network and I, being president of CSUEU, said ‘Hey let’s have that conversation you guys are really interested in how does a union work, how would it benefit you and how do you form one enjoinment’ so it was a process that started out last year with our bargaining. They were looking and seeing what we were fighting for in our own contract and then they wanted to know how that could apply to them,” she said.

Undergraduate student assistants, with the help of Ms. Hutchinson, then organized to push a campaign to form a union, calling for more working hours, higher wages and work benefits such as paid sick leave. The

undergraduate students are hoping for better working conditions and wages that allow them to support themselves and their educational goals and believe a union is the best avenue to achieve this end.

“We expect the CSU to use a slow process of bureaucracy to stall, delay an election, which is what the students are wanting. We don’t want to forget the big picture. Today 10,000 student workers at the CSU are demanding to have their voices heard and to vote to form a union….hopefully by fall we have something for the students to be proud of,” Ms. Hutchinson said.

Cameron, a CSU student assistant, commented, “I really want to ask anybody at the top of the CSU, why do you expect students to perform well in school and perform well at work for little to no compensation? ..Why do

you expect us to have this whole balancing act of being a good student and being a good worker with no compensation…why do you feel you have the right to kind of low-ball us like that when we are doing everything we can to lift you up?”

CSU has shied away from hiring union employees, opting instead to hire more and more student assistants to keep wages low for everyone and reduce the budget on worker wages and benefits.

As a first step towards unionization, student assistants submitted more than 4,000 signed union authorization cards when they filed a request for a union election with California’s Public Employment Relations Board.

The CSU campuses include Cal State Channel Islands in Camarillo.

TikTok ban for lawmakers gains steam

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — A new effort in Congress may ban lawmakers from using TikTok for official communications.

A coalition of House and Senate Republicans sent a letter to congressional leadership calling on them to change the House and Senate rules to bar lawmakers from using TikTok, calling it a “defacto spyware app.”

“It is troublesome that some members continue to disregard

these clear warnings and are even encouraging their constituents to use TikTok to interface with their elected representatives — especially since some of these users are minors,” the letter said. State laws on TikTok vary, but many state governments have already taken action. According to the American Legislative Exchange Council, there are 150 million active TikTok users in the U.S., an increase from 100 million in 2020.

“It’s definitely standard practice especially in the U.S. House

and especially for those who serve on sensitive committees like Intelligence Committee, that certain applications are not allowed to be on devices,” Jake Morabito, director of the Communications and Technology Task Force for ALEC, told The Center Square.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before Congress in March, but his testimony largely intensified concerns instead of alleviating them.

Mr. Chew tried to assuage fears at the hearing, saying the company

has been working for two years on “what amounts to a firewall to seal off protected U.S. user data from unauthorized foreign access.”

Taking Mr. Chew to task was not limited to Republicans. Democrats expressed concerns as well.

“While this hearing shines a light on TikTok, this hearing should also serve as a call to action for the Congress to act now to protect Americans from surveillance, tracking, personal data gathering and addictive

Please see TIKTOK on A4

— Kira Logan

COURTESY ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE

A delegation of Hancock employees and administrators accepted the 2023 American Council on Education (ACE)/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation on April 14 in Washington, D.C.

a home. She was determined: ‘I married you for the rest of your life, and I’m going to take care of you.’

“But it got worse and worse, and actually, it killed her,” Ms. Seymour said. “She died 10 or more years before he died, from the stress of loving him and trying to look after him. I remember thinking, ‘She’s no good to him now because she’s gone.’

“There’s a fine line between what you can do and when you have to take care of yourself, and you need help,” Ms. Seymour said. “I was seeing the same kind of thing with Kim Campbell, but fortunately, she was surrounded by family, who all took turns to help him, and eventually he had to go into a home.”

In “Ruby’s Choice,” Ruby (Ms. Seymour) moves in with her daughter Sharon (Jacqueline McKenzie) after Ruby accidentally burns down her house. She shares a bedroom with her teenage granddaughter Tash (Coco Jack Gillies) in the 2022 film directed by Michael Budd.

The movie, which was filmed in Australia, was shown last year at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

“It was an absolutely extraordinary experience,” Ms. Seymour told the News-Press about playing Ruby. “I have known people with dementia and Alzheimer’s, and I have spent a lot of time around them. So I really felt I knew the subject inside out, but to actually play a woman who had dementia was quite eyeopening. …

“I think what was quite powerful about the movie, and why I did it, was that it was written by a man who’s been working in the field for 30 years,” Ms. Seymour said, referring to Paul Mahoney. (Ellen Shanley also was involved with the writing.)

Ms. Seymour said everyone she knows working in the dementia field told her the film is

CAMERAS

Continued from Page A1

camera was, concerned that the trail was unsafe. Then I noticed the camera was now pointed at me.

“I went farther up the trail to get away from the camera, and was moving some rocks off the trail when Ed Gonzales, a supervisor for Montecito Creek Water Co., shouted at me from across the creek, telling me I wasn’t allowed to repair the trail,” said Mr. Rosen in an email.

On Feb.19, Mr. Rosen wrote the following in an email to Lael Wageneck, director of public works: “I would like to take the camera down to the Public Works Department. Since the camera claims to be representing Public Works, and is apparently not authorized by the department, it is not good to leave it up there. Unless we want to find who placed it.”

Mr. Wageneck told Mr. Rosen: “Please feel free to remove the camera and bring it to us.”

“... we are concerned that someone would pretend to represent public works in order to record residents and visitors and discourage people from removing the camera. Thank you again for taking the time to let us

BUDGET

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• May 5 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – sustainability and resilience, waterfront and library.

• May 22 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. – city administrator, mayor and

BORDER

Continued from Page A2

San Diego agents reported over 24,000 apprehensions and over 9,000 gotaways, according to the data.

As Texas’ Operation Lone Star continues to push back against cartel activity, what law enforcement officers have explained is that people and drugs continue to move west to Arizona and California. While

TIKTOK

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algorithmic operations that serve up harmful content and has a corrosive effect on our kids’ mental and physical well-being,” Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., said at the hearing.

Jane

FYI

Movie and TV star Jane Seymour will be the keynote speaker when the Alzheimer’s Women’s Initiative Inspire Luncheon takes place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 26 at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd.. Santa Barbara. Tickets are still available. To purchase, go to inspire2023.givesmart.com.

Ms. Seymour will discuss her movie and TV career in the Life and the Arts section in Friday’s News-Press.

completely accurate, including its depiction of Ruby, her family and the circumstances. The movie deals with family secrets that Ruby tells Tash, who comes to have a better appreciation for her grandmother.

know about this. We definitely want to know who is pretending to act on our behalf and why,”

Mr. Wageneck told Mr. Rosen in an email on Feb. 20.

“On the 21st, Mr. Wageneck wrote to me: Did you get the camera?” Mr. Rosen told the News-Press. “If not, can you give me a little more info on where it was (how far up the trail)? We should be able to grab it today if it is still there. If you have it and would like to drop it off, I can meet you at my office downtown.”

On Feb. 21, Lt. Ugo Arnoldi of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office wrote an email to Mr. Rosen and others, saying: “As I understand it, the cameras were placed at that location with the approval of several groups. The primary purpose of the cameras is to capture illegal activity of various types: Being in a ‘Posted Forest Closure Area,’ constructing pools and diverting water for the natural environment, vandalism to the existing private water system, etc.”

Mr. Rosen said he didn’t see any signs indicating that the forest was closed.

Lt. Arnoldi continued in his email: “The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, United States Forest

city council, city attorney, human resources and finance.

• May 24 from 9 a.m. to noon

– community development and information technology.

• May 25 from 9 a.m. to noon –parks and recreation.

• May 31 from 9 a.m. to noon

– public works and capital

the numbers are still high and border-related crime is rampant in Texas, the data shows a trend of more illegal entries and apprehensions occurring in the El Paso Sector, followed by the Tucson and San Diego sectors. Tucson Sector Chief John Modlin explained the situation to Congress in February. “The vast majority of encounters are single adult males attempting to avoid detection. The smuggling organizations to our south are very well organized

The concerned legislators said even after the added proof given at that hearing, TikTok continued collecting data.

“Even after the March 23, 2023, hearing, in which it became blatantly clear to the public that the China-based app is mining data and potentially spying on American citizens, members of

dementia couldn’t handle,” Ms. Seymour said, referring to the family secrets in the plot.

“So she ended up being probably the most valuable member of the family rather than the problem,” Ms. Seymour said.

Family members rediscover Ruby’s value in their lives.

Experts and family members of people with dementia have noted that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, that every patient is an individual on their own journey through a difficult disease. Ms. Seymour agreed with that and talked about Mr. Campbell during his final concerts that were filmed for “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.”

“I’d be sitting there watching, going, ‘Oh, is he going to even make it on the stage?’ He did. That’s good! Will he know what song he’s singing? He’ll start singing one song, and then start singing another, and his daughter would come up and say, ‘Hey, Dad, we’re singing ‘Rhinestone Cowboy.’ He needed prompts.

“But once he started singing, he knew everything,” Ms. Seymour said.

Mr. Campbell was given “cheat sheets” with lyrics in case he forgot some of the words.

“But he played it (each song) and sang it better than anyone on the planet, and the last thing to go for him was the music,” Ms. Seymour said.

Ms. Seymour recalled seeing Mr. Campbell at his house, where he wouldn’t recognize people. “Then suddenly he would know them. He’d go, ‘Oh, yes, oh, yes. God bless you! God bless you!’

“That was his way of getting over the fact he didn’t know anyone’s names,” Ms. Seymour said.

DREYER, Margaret P (Bazzi)

Margaret P Bazzi Dreyer was born at the Saint Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara on March 21, 1925, the first day of spring. Margaret graduated from Santa Barbara High School. She loved her beautiful hometown, Santa Barbara, and never wanted to leave. She later on met Warren J Dreyer from Michigan who was a Marine. Warren fell in love with Margaret, Santa Barbara, and his soon to be Italian in-laws.

Margaret & Warren had three children: Sondra Dreyer, Mark Dreyer, & Wayne Dreyer. Mark Dreyer married Sandi Degiero giving Margaret her first and only granddaughter, Kristy. Kristy Dreyer gave birth to Braden Dryer, making Margaret a great-grandmother. Wayne Dreyer was born with cerebral palsy and Margaret devoted her life to him. Wayne goes to Alpha Training Center and lives a full life. Margaret loved to dance, she danced at the Senior Center well into her 90’s. She loved to garden and grew beautiful flowers. Margaret was one of the nicest people, she had great empathy for all living things. Margaret passed away on April 8, 2023, at the age of 98. She will be greatly missed. A celebration of her life was held on April 18, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Calvary, followed by a reception at her home. Donations can be made in Margaret’s memory to Alpha Resource Center.

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

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“When I saw the final movie, it came out a lot better than I ever imagined, and I was particularly thrilled by the fact that Ruby inadvertently dealt with all the elephants in the room, all the things that people who didn’t have

Service, County of Santa Barbara, and many other groups are very aware of the illegal activity taking place in the Hot Springs drainage area. Mr. Harry Rabin was authorized to install these cameras and is responsible for monitoring the activity and forwarding that information to the affected agency.”

The News-Press talked with Mr. Rabin.

“It was my decision as an individual to place the trail cams up there as was requested by those of authority as a volunteer and responsible member of the Santa Barbara community. There was zero wrongdoing,” Mr. Rabin told the News-Press.

Mr. Rabin clarified that he did so acting as a private citizen and not on behalf of a nonprofit he’s involved with, Heal the Ocean.

On Feb. 23, Ashlee Mayfield of the Montecito Trails Foundation reached out to Mr. Rosen: “I heard you found cameras at the hot springs. Are they still there? The county didn’t put them up. I’d like to be sure someone collects them before the original ‘poster’ collects them and they vanish. Tomorrow won’t be safe.”

“All cameras were taken down,” Mr. Rabin said. “Only two out of the five cameras had footage of people on the trail.”

(General Fund and Measure C).

• June 5 from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. – if needed.

• June 7 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. –budget deliberations.

The city council is scheduled to act on the recommended budget during the regularly scheduled meeting from 2 to 5

and resourceful,” he said, referring to Mexican cartels. “Each and every person crossing through the Tucson Sector must pay these criminal organizations. These criminal organizations employ various tactics to move thousands of migrants illegally across the border.”

He reiterated that the majority coming through are single men of military age wearing camouflage to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Congress continue to utilize the app to communicate with their constituents,” the letter said.

Federal employees are currently banned from using the app on government devices.

“We feel this situation warrants further action to protect the privacy of both sensitive congressional information and

“It was truly one of the greatest experiences in my life, in a way, to be that close to a genius in his own right, in terms of music, and at the same time, it was so tragic to see him getting lost,” she said.

“But it was also magical to see how his family came together and helped him.”

email: dmason@newspress.com

“I personally saw three cameras. The first was pointed at a hot spring pool,” Mr. Rosen told the News-Press in an email.

“The second at the pipes about to be installed into the hillside to collect hot water — to be put in by Montecito Creek Water Co., pending permits from Fish and Game. The third was a little ways up Hot Springs Trail pointing at the trail. I am responsible for the first two cameras turned into Public Works, forwarded to the sheriff.”

“When we learned that cameras on forest service land had tags that misidentified the owner, our goal was for the labels to be removed and to clarify that the cameras were not our property,” Mr. Wageneck told the News-Press in an email.

“We are investigating this matter, to include an internal investigation component assessing the handling of the matter by Sheriff’s personnel,” per Undersheriff Craig Bonner, Raquel Zick, public information officer for Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office, told the NewsPress in an email.

Ashlee Mayfield of Montecito Trails Foundation did not respond to the News-Press request for comment.

email: news@newspress.com

p.m. June 13.

The city’s recommended budget for FY 2024 and 2025 can be found by accessing the online budget tool at santabarbaraca. gov/budget-reports.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

“The migrants we encounter are completely outfitted in camouflage by the smuggling organizations before they cross,” he said. “Most run from and fight our agents to avoid apprehension. Many are previously deported felons who know they are inadmissible to the United States and many pose a serious threat to our communities.”

The CBP report also excludes record apprehensions reported at the northern border.

the personal information of our constituents,” the letter said. “To that end, we urge you to enact a change to the Senate and House rules to ban members of Congress from using TikTok for official use.”

Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

Tuesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Fridays; Wednesday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Mondays; Thursday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Tuesdays; Friday’s edition deadlines at 10a.m. on Wednesdays (Pacific Time).

Free Death Notices must be directly emailed by the mortuary to our newsroom at news@newspress.com. The News-Press cannot accept Death Notices from individuals.

CHARLES BUSH PHOTO

Seymour, an Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress, served as executive producer of the documentary “Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me.”

Life theArts

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023

Touch of Tuscany

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Toscana and S.Y. Kitchen are planning a pair of upcoming Tuscan food and wine events.

Owned by Kathie and Mike Gordon of Santa Ynez Valley, the sister restaurants, located in Los Angeles and Santa Ynez, respectively, will be welcoming three esteemed culinary personalities from Tuscany for onenight-only, multi-course dinners.

The first is Monday at Toscana, 11633 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, and the second is April 26 at S.Y. Kitchen, 1110 Faraday St., in Santa Ynez.

The dinners bring together two of Tuscany’s top winemakers, as well as guest chef Omar Barsacchi. The restaurants are bringing Tuscany to California, giving guests the opportunity to indulge in renowned wines from San Filippo in Montalcino, and Bolgheri’s Podere Sapaio. The wines were specifically selected to

CALENDAR

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

TODAY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Storytelling: Native People Through the Lens of Edward S. Curtis” is on display through April 30 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, visit sbnature. 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., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, www.sullivangoss.com. By appointment on weekdays: “Holly Hungett: Natural Interpretations” is on view through May 20 at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara’s gallery, 229 E. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and weekdays by appointment. For more information, call the foundation at 805-965-6307 or go to www.afsb. org.

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. to etcsb.org or call 805-965-5400.

Special dinners in Los Angeles and Santa Ynez feature Italian cuisine, wine

complement Chef Barsacchi’s menu for the two exclusive evenings.

Chef Barsacchi is the acclaimed chef and owner of Osteria Magona in Bolgheri, the farmhouse restaurant famous for its beefcentric menu. Nestled amongst olive trees and prominent vineyards on the Strada del Vino, wine row, it earned a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand distinction.

Chef Barsacchi’s longtime friend and business partner is “Top Chef” favorite, Dario Cecchini, widely known as the best butcher in the world. The two chefs recently opened Il Macello di Bolgheri next door to Osteria Magona. They work in tandem — Chef Cecchini provides the meat, and Chef Barsacchi prepares the dishes. The following menu for the Toscana and S.Y. Kitchen dinners was curated by Chef Barsacchi to feature the meat dishes for which the region is famous.

ANTIPASTI Prosciutto Al Coltello, Crostini Toscani, Giardiniera, Pecorino

Riserva Magona, Porchetta Arrosto. San Filippo Rosso di Montalcino 2020.

PRIMO Pappardelle al Cinghiale. Podere Sapaio ‘Volpolo’ Bolgheri 2021. San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino 2018.

SECONDO

Fiorentina Di Manzo Alla Brace. Con contorno di fagioli e patate al cartoccio. San Filippo Le Lucére Brunello di Montalcino 2018. Podere Sapaio 2018.

DOLCE Cantuccini e Vin Santo. Cost per person is $250 (tax and gratuity not included). Reservations are required, and seating is limited.

The winemakers are Massimo

Please see TUSCANY on B2

APRIL 21 8 p.m. Sō Percussion with Caroline Shaw will perform at UCSB Campbell Hall. Pulitzer Prize-winner Caroline Shaw joins Sō Percussion as vocalist for 10 songs she co-composed with the quartet members. Tickets are $20 to $35 for the general public and $10 for UCSB students with current student ID. TO purchase, call Arts & Lectures at 805-893-3535 or go to www.artsandlecturesucsb.edu.

APRIL 23

7 p.m. Artemis, an international jazz ensemble made up of six women, will perform at UCSB Campbell Hall. The ensemble consists of pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jenson, tenor saxophonist Nicole Glover, alto saxophonist and flutist Alexa Tarantino, bassist Norike Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. Artemis’ music ranges from modern compositions to jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter. Audience members may arrive early at 4 p.m. for a free Q&A and behind-the-scenes open sound check. Register at thematiclearning.org/2022-2023.Elubia’s Kitchen will be serving dinner before the show from 5 to 7 P.M., outside of the event. Tickets range from $30 to $45 for the general public and are $15 for UCSB students who show a current student ID. To purchase, go to www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

APRIL 24

7:30 p.m. The Lompoc Pops Orchestra will everything from Broadway hits to a “Star Trek” medley at the First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc. Tickets are $25 for adults, $5 for all full time students, and free for children 12 and under. To make reservations, call 805733-1796.

APRIL 25

7:30 p.m. The American Theatre Guild will present “Anastasia” at The Granada, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara. The new Broadway musical follows a brave young woman on a journey to discover the mystery of the past. This production transports the audiences from the twilight of the Russian empire to Paris in the 1920s. Tickets cost $54 to $129. To purchase, go to granadasb.org.

APRIL 30

3:30 p.m. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art presents a unique conversation between renowned poet and art critic John Yau and artist Joan Tanner.

The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. April 30 at SBMA’s Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St., Santa Barbara. Tickets are free for SBMA members and students and cost $5, otherwise. They are available at tickets.sbma.net.

— Dave Mason

Managing

Above is the vineyard for Bolgheri’s Podere Sapaio, which will provide vintages for the special events.

COURTESY PHOTOS

San Filippo in Montalcino, represented by its vineyards in this photo, is among the participants in multi-course dinners taking place Monday at Toscana in Brentwood and April 26 at S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez.

At top, guest chef Omar Barsacchi is the creative force behind the multi-course dinners. Above, winemaker Massimo Piccin of Podere Sapaio is a participant in the Tuscan Food + Wine Events.

to chat with Pico Iyer

By ANNIKA BAHNSEN NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Isabella Rossellini, an acclaimed model and movie star, will join author Pico Iyer in a conversation regarding Ms. Rossellini’s illustrious career and switch to animal activism.

This will take place at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara.

The discussion will focus on Ms. Rossellini’s upbringing as a child of European film royalty. As the daughter of director Roberto Rossellini and actress Ingrid Bergman, she will talk about the interesting perspective she has in the world of film as well as how

she created a name for herself apart from her parents. She will also explain her change to animal activism after her modeling and acting career. She earned a master’s degree in animal behavior and now focuses her creations and works around her art based research on the topic. Along those lines, she also is known for her philanthropic efforts in animal conservation and she runs an organic farm in Bellport, N.Y.

Her companion in this presentation is Pico Iyer, an English author and scholar. He is known for his many great books on religion, globalism, and history. Some examples of

these books are “Video Night in Kathmandu,” “The Lady and the Monk,” “The Global Soul” and “The Art of Stillness.” In total, he is the author of 16 books and has also written introductions to more than 70 books. He has four TED talks that have received a combination of more than 11 million views. He has full-length features with Oprah, Krista Tippett, and Larry King, to name a few.

Tickets cost $35 for general admission and $10 for UCSB students. To purchase, call Arts and Lectures at 805-893-3535 or go to artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

email: abahnsen@newspress.com

Library to present picture frame workshop

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria Public Library is providing a free Rolled Paper Picture Frame workshop for adults from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday.

This workshop will be held in the Library’s Learning Loft, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Attendees will learn how

to create a beautiful picture frame by adding recycled rolled paper to the wooden frame. All of the materials needed will be provided by the library.

This workshop supports the library’s mission of learning as well as the city’s promise to offer more recreational activities to

Workshop to cover ‘Men in Pink’

the community. Space is limited to this workshop and registration is required. If you would like more information or to register, visit www.cityofsantamaria.org/ library.

— Annika Bahnsen

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 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 Services-Lompoc.

• K-9 Placement & Assistance League, k-9pals.org. K-9 PALS works regularly with Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• 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. 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

RADIO FOR HERE FROM HERE

SANTA BARBARA — Melissa Hyde, a professor and distinguished teaching scholar at the University of Florida, Gainesville, will discuss “Men in Pink: 18th Century French Portraiture” at 5:30 p.m. May 4 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. Pink was associated with the “Godmother of the Rococo,” Madame de Pompadour, the mistress of Louis XV. But even before Pompadour, pink was favored among elites in France, where the color played a role in the visual and decorative arts and in the fashions worn by women, children and men. This talk demonstrates why, in the 18th century, to wear pink was to make a statement. Tickets for the Art Matters Lecture are free for Museum Circle members and students, $10 for museum members and $15 for nonmembers. To purchase, go to tickets.sbma.net.

— Dave Mason

COURTESY METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

Jean-Baptiste Perronneau’s “Olivier Journu” (1724-1783), 1756, pastel on blue-gray laid paper.

Adulting 101 session to cover basic life skills

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Maria Public Library announced the next session of its series titled “Adulting 101: Life Skills for the 21st Century.” This session will be held on Thursday at the Library’s Learning Center. The center is located at 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. The “Adulting 101: Life Skills for the 21st Century” is a series

designed for emerging adults who are 16-21 years old. Attendees will learn skills that will encourage them on their journey to adulthood and workforce preparedness through a series of five different sessions.

The session on Thursday will focus on basic life skills such as home maintenance and repair, as well as budget-friendly

housekeeping tips. Other items on the agenda include sewing and mending skills and making your own cleaning supplies. This workshop is free and requires registration. If you would like more information or to register, visit www. cityofsantamaria.org/library.

— Annika Bahnsen

TUSCANY

Continued from Page B1

Piccin of Podere Sapaio and Roberto Giannelli of San Filippo.

Mr. Piccin’s vineyard is in Bolgheri, a territory that runs parallel to the beaches of the Tuscan coast. He planted deep roots there in 1999 when he started Podere Sapaio. He is now at the helm of the organic-certified winery with a fast-growing cult following.

Mr. Giannelli, a real-estate agent from Florence, purchased San Filippo 20 years ago and has turned it into one of Montalcino’s top-rated wineries. It’s ranked the No. 3 wine of 2020 by Wine Spectator.

Toscana is a neighborhood trattoria that celebrates the rustic, authentic, farm-to-table flavors of Northern Italy. For 34 years it has stood tall on a corner in Brentwood and set the backdrop for special

FYI

Toscana and S.Y. Kitchen will prepare one-night-only multi-course dinners. The first is Monday at Toscana, 11633 San Vicente Blvd. in Brentwood, and the second is April 26 at S.Y. Kitchen, 1110 Faraday St., in Santa Ynez. For more information, visit www. toscanabrentwood.com and www. sykitchen.com, and follow along on social media at @toscanabrentwood and @sykitchen.

meals shared by generations of families, friends and neighbors, as well as guests from around the globe and elites from the worlds of entertainment, sports, music and fashion.

When they opened Toscana in 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon wanted their restaurant to feel like home, and to this day, it does just that. The Brentwood mainstay is part of the Toscana Restaurant Group,

which has grown to include sister restaurants Bar Toscana, Nerano in Beverly Hills, S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez and Nella Kitchen and Bar in Los Olivos.

S.Y. Kitchen, similarly created and developed by the Gordons along with Chef Luca Crestanelli, originally opened its Santa Ynez Valley farmhouse doors on April 18, 2013.

The restaurant and bar is known for its house-made pastas — all made by hand using organic flour, organic durum wheat semolina and farm-fresh eggs — and woodfired pizzas, as well as its wine country takes on Italian classics such as Wagyu meatballs or a warm octopus salad.

S.Y. Kitchen’s cocktails, now crafted by long-time S.Y. Kitchen family member, Marcial Ordaz, are joined by a wine list of Santa Barbara County selections and a noted focus on Italian imports.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Winemaker Roberto Giannelli of San Filippo is participating in the Tuscan Food+Wine Events.

Diversions

Thought for Today

— Marcus Aurelius

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

ARIES — Aries, plans to attend a lecture may have to be postponed because someone who’s going with you feels under the weather. Overindulgence in food or drink may be the reason. This could be something you’ve wanted to attend for a long time, so make sure you know when and where the event will take place again.

TAURUS — A desire to make a big purchase might tempt you to overextend your credit cards and clean out your savings, Taurus. You aren’t usually one to act on impulse, so don’t do it today. Make the purchase if you really feel you need it and it isn’t going to cause any major setbacks in your financial situation.

GEMINI — Home might be a lonely place tonight, Gemini. The other members of your household may be out or out of town. You might not feel up to any carousing, so you will probably choose to stay home and read or watch TV. However, your natural gregariousness could cause you to feel abandoned.

CANCER — Usually you’re quite social, Cancer, but today you will feel like nothing more than working alone.

Notwithstanding your wishes, however, you might be plagued with phone calls, visitors, and people wanting advice or help. Don’t fight it. Go with the flow. Take care of what you need to and then spend the evening alone.

LEO — Too much good food, good wine, and good conversation, Leo? Not that any of this is undesirable, but you may be suffering from overload right now. Maybe you’d better get some rest and give your brain some time to sort through all the information you’ve taken in. Now you’re probably having difficulty processing it all.

VIRGO — You usually don’t mind being alone, Virgo. In fact, you enjoy your own company. Tonight you’re going to crave companionship. You could have an impromptu party in your kitchen, perhaps involving friends who are also business associates. Some fascinating conversations could take place about business and intellectual

matters, as well as some deeper subjects that keep you thinking for hours or days.

LIBRA — This is the day to listen and observe, Libra. There is a lot to learn from what’s going on around you. You might be surprised at the impact of it. Too much talk now could prove fruitless and even set you back in some way, especially if talk is used to hide your insecurities. Keep your eyes and ears open.

SCORPIO — Are you going out tonight with friends who mean a lot to you, Scorpio? You might be tempted to eat and drink too much and spend too much money. Usually you have a pretty strong stomach, but this isn’t the day to overindulge in partying. Go out for a little while, but then invite your friends to your house for coffee.

SAGITTARIUS — What’s driving you today, Sagittarius? Why do you feel an obsessive need to get all your work done at once? If you’re trying to impress someone, there’s no need. Others already hold you in high regard. If the project you’re working on is urgent, get some help.

CAPRICORN — If you’re attending a class tonight, do something frivolous for the rest of the day. Read romance novels instead of great literature. Otherwise, by the time you get to class you will already be suffering from intellectual overload and absorb very little of what you hear. Keep yourself hungry for knowledge until you get there.

AQUARIUS — The desire to stay home alone and rest tonight might conflict with a need to go out with your friends, Aquarius. You may be too stressed to put up with gossip or too much intellectual stimulation. Tell your friends you will go out with them another time. All signs indicate that this is the wisest course for now.

PISCES — There will be a lighthearted, almost silly energy in the air today, Pisces. The Universe is encouraging you to give up your iron grip on that list of responsibilities and have some fun. Picture all the pressure you put on yourself as a ball and chain that you need to unshackle. There’s no reason to take yourself so seriously all the time!

DAILY BRIDGE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Here is a head-scratching memo from a real-life office manager:

“Success depends on teamwork. Teamwork is a lot of people doing what I say.”

Winning defense is a joint effort.

In today’s deal, West led the queen of hearts against three spades. East signaled with the eight, and South ducked and won the next heart. He led the queen of diamonds, and West took the ace and led the king of clubs: four, three, deuce. He led another diamond, and South won and let the jack of trumps ride.

HIGH DIAMOND

West took the king and led a third diamond, and South played low from dummy. He drew trumps, then threw a club on dummy’s remaining high diamond. Making three.

East let his partner down. He can beat the contract if he overtakes West’s queen of hearts at Trick One. If South wins and leads the queen of diamonds, West wins and leads the king of clubs, ducked. Then West can lead a low heart to East’s ten for a club return, setting up five tricks for the defense.

Your partner opens one heart, you respond one

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

spade, he bids two clubs and you return to two hearts. Partner next bids two spades. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your two hearts promised at most nine points, and if partner saw no chance for game, he would have passed. His two spades says he remains interested and suggests a good hand with 3-5-1-4 pattern. With your maximum values, you must cooperate. Bid 3NT. South dealer

“A man’s worth is no greater than his ambitions.”

Problems ahead with wind turbines off the Atlantic coast

By VICTOR SKINNER

(The Center Square) — The

U.S. Department of Defense is raising concerns about the Biden administration’s “highly problematic” plans for wind projects off the Atlantic coast, citing potential conflicts with the Dare County, N.C., bombing range used to train fighter jet crews and other operations.

Maps shared with industry stakeholders that were first reported by Bloomberg News show large portions of areas the Interior Department earmarked for off-shore wind leases last year shaded in red, illustrating areas deemed “highly problematic” for

the Navy and Air Force.

The Defense Department contends wind turbines attached to the Atlantic seabed would create challenges for military operations and facilities nearby, including the Dare County bombing range and a Yorktown, Va. weapons station. The conflicts involve four of six potential wind lease areas identified by the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last year that are highly problematic shaded red, and two tracts in yellow that will require further study.

The situation poses serious problems for President Joe Biden’s goal of installing 30 gigawatts of off-shore wind

power by 2030, as well as plans in Atlantic coast states to develop wind farms as a means of meeting clean energy goals.

In North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper has touted wind energy as a key to meeting the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% below 2005 levels by 2030 and to attain carbon neutrality by 2050.

Gov. Cooper signed an executive order in 2021 to establish offshore wind development goals of 2.8 gigawatts off the North Carolina coast by 2030 and 8 gigawatts by 2040.

“Offshore wind power will help North Carolina create jobs and generate economic development

House GOP now investigating nine Biden family members

By DAN MCCALEB THE CENTER SQUARE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

(The Center Square) — House Republicans are now investigating nine members of President Joe Biden’s family in connection to the family’s business dealings.

Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said in a statement that investigators are looking into family members’ “business schemes” as part of the probe.

“Thousands of pages of financial records related to the Biden family, their companies, and associates’ business schemes were made available to members of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, which confirm the importance of this investigation,” Rep. Comer said.

“The Biden family enterprise is centered on Joe Biden’s political career and connections, and it has generated an exorbitant amount of money for the Biden family,” he continued. “We’ve identified six additional members of Joe Biden’s family who may have benefited from the Biden family’s businesses that we are investigating, bringing the total number of those involved or benefiting to nine.”

Rep. Comer did not name the individual members of the Biden family who are being investigated, but the committee has been looking into the international business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden. Both Hunter and President Biden have denied wrongdoing. email: dmccaleb@thecentersquare. com

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President Joe Biden

while helping us transition to a clean energy economy,” Gov. Cooper said when he unveiled the goals. “North Carolina’s national leadership in clean energy and manufacturing plus our highly trained workforce create a strong business environment for offshore wind supply chain and manufacturing companies.”

Gov. Cooper estimated the industry would invest $140 billion in projects from North Carolina up the Atlantic coast by 2036.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last year awarded two roughly 55,000 square acre tracts south of Bald Head Island to Duke Energy and TotalEnergies for wind development, adding to

another off the northern Outer Banks awarded to Avangrid Renewables. Data from the U.S. Department of Energy shows North Carolina is home to more than 20 active wind-related manufacturing facilities.

The bureau said in a statement the agency “has a long working relationship” with the Department of Defense and “together we have successfully deconflicted and identified areas that have resulted in 27 leases along the Atlantic coast, covering over 2.1 million acres,” Bloomberg reports. “We will continue this collaboration as we work to identify new lease areas in the central Atlantic.”

An unnamed senior Defense Department official also told the news site the Pentagon is committed to working with the bureau to resolve the issues. The department is now focused on finding ways to accommodate wind development, which could involve changing operations, such as shifting the location of military exercises or optimizing equipment to avoid interference from turbines.

The Interior Department planned to sell new offshore wind rights in the area next year. Similar conflicts between military operations and off-shore wind leasing along the California coast in 2019 took several years to resolve.

Gun violence emergencies prompt concerns of government overreach

By TOM GANTERT THE CENTER SQUARE MANAGING EDITOR

(The Center Square) — Across the country, there is a push to declare gun violence as a “public health crisis” and impose a “state of emergency” in response to shootings.

Supporters of the Second Amendment are concerned that the emergency declarations lay the groundwork for expanded government powers, as witnessed during the COVID-19 lockdowns. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., raised those fears in a recent House Judiciary Committee meeting.

“And our fellow Americans know the impact of folks up here in Washington declaring everything and anything a public health emergency,” Rep. Gaetz said during the meeting. “It means you’re more likely to be locked in your homes, deprived of your freedoms, less healthy, less safe, less secure and less able to live a truly American life.

“So know this: when the left talks about this as a public health emergency, get ready to see those enhanced authorities abused by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives),” Rep. Gaetz said. In the same hearing, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., called for gun

violence to be recognized as a public health emergency.

“In St. Louis and nationwide, gun violence is a public health emergency and common sense regulations are a necessity,” Rep. Bush said during the hearing.

Cities across the U.S. such as Flint, Mich.; Portland, Ore., and Blakely, Ga., have declared gun violence emergencies.

In New York, the cities of Rochester and Albany all declared a gun violence state of emergency. The state of New York declared a gun violence state of emergency in 2021.

Rochester has been under a current gun violence state of emergency since November 2021.

That declaration allows the police department to shut down any commercial business that has had a shooting and is determined to be a nuisance after a review process.

The city of Rochester’s news release stated: “The Proclamation gives the Mayor broad powers to protect life and property and to bring the emergency under control.”

The state of New York gun violence emergency order gives the governor the power to “temporarily suspend or modify any statute, local law, ordinance, order, rule or regulation, or parts thereof, during a State disaster emergency if compliance with

such would prevent, hinder, or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster emergency.”

The Delaware state legislature passed a resolution in March declaring gun violence a public health crisis.

And what if President Joe Biden declared a national emergency over gun violence? The White House didn’t respond to an email asking if President Biden had considered such an option.

When a president declares a national emergency, there are at least 135 statutory powers that could be made available, according to the Brennan Center.

“Debate over the Second Amendment is clouded with propaganda terms intended to diminish the right of law-abiding citizens to bear arms,” said Stephen Halbrook, an expert on the Second Amendment and a senior fellow with the Independent Institute. “Instead of criminals committing acts of violence with guns, the term ‘gun violence’ implies that the guns commit the violence. Calling criminality with guns a ‘public health crisis’ obscures that crime is volitional and may be repressed only by taking criminals off the streets. Guns create no national ‘state of emergency,’ and recidivist violators create a state of emergency against every victim they attack.”

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