Santa Barbara News-Press: April 26, 2023

Possible rematch

Biden announces re-election bid; Trump is considered frontrunner among Republicans - A3

Bootcamp for barbecuing

Experts to share their wisdom at Solvang event - B1

75¢

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023

SB City Council reduces dining parklet fees

Groundbreaking day for dispatch

Fire chiefs, elected officials lift ceremonial shovels for county’s new Regional Fire Communications Center

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

Never mind if a fire engine is red, green or white.

What matters is that the closest fire department responds when there’s an emergency — regardless of jurisdiction or boundaries, fire chiefs and elected officials stressed during a groundbreaking ceremony

Tuesday for Santa Barbara County’s new Regional Fire Communications Center.

Construction began recently for the new dispatch center and expansion of the Emergency Operations Center on Cathedral Oaks Road in Santa Barbara.

The project will also include a Joint Information Center and Call Center to support communication needs of Santa Barbara County residents during emergencies.

The $17.6 million center will provide dispatch services for all emergency medical services and the seven fire departments in the county. Those departments are the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department, the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, the Montecito Fire Protection District, the Lompoc Fire Department, the Guadalupe Fire Protection District and the Santa Maria Fire Department.

The center is expected to open by spring 2024.

“We want to create a system that goes from five dispatches to one, that goes from four different radio systems to one,” Das Williams, 1st District supervisor and chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, told officials, staff and media.

jurisdiction is, we’ll get the person who can get to them the fastest.”

Second District Laura Capps noted that the new center fits the mission of Santa Barbara County government. “The county keeps us safe. Today’s action and investment will keep us even safer.”

Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Chris Mailes said the

fire chiefs past and present and future,” said Chief Mailes, who’s president of the Santa Barbara County Fire Chiefs Association.

“What we’re doing is truly groundbreaking for the community,” Chief Mailes said, standing in front of an architectural drawing of the center and a Montecito Fire Department engine. The

time, which can mean everything in responding to fire or medical emergencies.

Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig, who was among the speakers, told the News-Press that he has seen the current dispatch process take several minutes in locating the

Please see DISPATCH on A4

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO

Effective May 1, restaurants will be charged $2 per square foot, regardless of construction, for parklets on lower State Street’s Downtown Promenade.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council voted Tuesday to reduce the fees for outdoor dining parklets on State Street’s Downtown Promenade to $2 per square foot regardless of construction.

The 5-2 vote came over strong objections by Mayor Randy Rowse, who said it would be unfair to businesses in other areas of the city to continue to subsidize private business owners who use the public right of way. He voted no.

Councilmember Eric Friedman abstained, voicing serious concern at how reducing the amount of revenue generated by parklet fees would impact chronically underfunded city departments.

“It’s the libraries, police officers, the fire department,” he said. “We have to look at

structural challenges of the budgets coming forward. It’s frustrating.”

The council debate followed a series of public comment speakers, mostly restaurateurs and bar owners, who said the fees in the variable rate structure proposed by staff — and previously approved by the council — were too high, and could cause several businesses to remove their parklets. They urged the council to lower the rates, and to make up the shortfall by imposing fees on parklets operating elsewhere in the city.

The previously approved rate structure, approved by the council in January, would have set the fees collected from parklets on lower State Street based on their size – $5 per square foot up to 100% of business frontage, $7.50 per

Santa Barbara Fair and Expo begins today Expect ‘Barrels of Fun’

By CALEB BEEGHLY NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Earl Warren Showgrounds’ biggest event of the year, the Santa Barbara Fair and Expo, opens today.

Like past years, the fair will have a variety of events for all ages, such as carnival rides, live music and even extreme freestyle motocross.

The event runs through Sunday at the showgrounds, located at 3400 Calle Real in Santa Barbara.

According to Ben Sprague, the Earl Warren Showgrounds’ CEO, this year’s theme, “Barrels of Fun,” is “a throwback to the fairs of yesteryear and a nod to Santa Barbara surfing culture.”

Along with the theme’s connotations like “barrels of monkeys,” Mr. Sprague explained that Earl Warren Showgrounds wanted everyone to be able to connect to the theme. And it hints at what is in store at the fair.

One event that is sure to generate lots of excitement is Alaskan Pig Racing — which is exactly what it sounds like: piglets racing each other. It is an

all-day event and takes place in the Children’s Area.

During the News-Press’ interview with Mr. Sprague, he revealed some of the events that he is most excited about. His favorite rides are Turbo Speed and the Ferris wheel, the second of which he said, “has a killer view at the top.” His kids, on the other hand, love Starship 3000, which for the adults is basically a new version of the Gravitron.

For the live music (which is free with general admission), Mr. Sprague is especially excited about Primarosa and exPorter, who both play on Saturday.

And his favorite snack is the carnival classic funnel cake. He describes them as “phenomenal” and even recommends starting with funnel cake because the line can get very long.

But Mr. Sprague said he is probably most excited about the freestyle extreme motocross event. Free with general admission, the event takes place on Saturday and Sunday and features X-Games Gold medalist,

Please see FAIR on A4

Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig addresses elected officials, fire chiefs, staff and media during the groundbreaking for the Regional Fire Communications Center and expansion of the Emergency Operations Center. Behind Chief Hartwig are a Montecito Fire Department engine and an architectural rendering of the center.

Members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors perform the ceremonial shoveling during the groundbreaking ceremony. From left are Steve Lavagnino, Laura Capps, Das Williams, Joan Hartmann and Bob Nelson.

California’s job growth slows during March

By SETH SANDRONSKY

(The Center Square) — Job growth has slowed in California, which has a 17.9 million-labor force.

Employers added 8,700 nonfarm payroll jobs in March versus 32,300 new hires in February 2023.

The state’s rate of unemployment of 4.4% in March matched that in February 2023, revised up a tenth of a percentage point, according to data from the California Employment Development Department. Two federal surveys, e.g., businesses and households, are the sources of this labor force data for the Golden State.

Employment grew in six of California’s 11 industry sectors in

March versus eight in February. Private education and health care employers led the way in month-over growth with 7,000 new hires in March versus 11,300 in February. In March, payrolls grew for dentists, home health care services and hospitals. This sector had a year-over-year gain of 145,600 jobs.

Government payrolls had the next-biggest growth in March with 6,900 new hires, up from 2,400 job additions in February. Government employment rose in all three of its subsectors, with new hires in local government education in the lead.

California’s construction sector experienced the biggest employment drop, shedding 8,200 jobs in March after adding 7,600 new hires in February. March’s month-over employment

losses were in the subsectors of specialty trade contractors and construction of buildings. There were also job losses in highway, street, bridge and residential building construction.

Heavy rains have hammered the Golden State recently. “Extreme weather and flooding likely played a role in the (construction) sector’s month-over decline as atmospheric rivers hit California during the survey week,” including March 12, according to the EDD.

A second plausible factor affecting the negative construction employment figures for March is the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve Bank. Specifically, its interest rate hikes to reduce inflation, a general rise in prices and increases the price of borrowing, which the

Fiesta board

construction sector relies upon to grow. The total of farm jobs statewide rose in March. The agriculture industry added 10,500 new hires from February for an aggregate of 434,900 jobs in March. This industry also had a year-over-year increase of 17,000 farm jobs.

North of San Francisco, Marin County had the lowest statewide unemployment rate of 3.8% in March. Rural Colusa County had a 19.2% rate of unemployment, the highest of California’s 58 counties in March.

“In related data that figures into the state’s unemployment rate,” the EDD reported, “there were 414,119 people certifying for Unemployment Insurance benefits during the March 2023 sample week. That compares to 380,768 people in February.”

FRITZ OLENBERGER/OLD SPANISH DAYS

The board of the 2023 Old Spanish Days gathers for its official photo. Board members are led by El Presidente David Bolton, standing front and center. Fiesta will take place Aug. 2-6 in Santa Barbara. For more information, see sbfiesta.org.

Sheriff’s Benevolent

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is continuing its efforts to raise funds for the Sheriff’s Office, and a new board of directors has been elected to lead the way.

Sean Koffel of Montecito has been elected president of the posse’s board of directors.

The posse board re-elected Richard Kline of Los Alamos as board chairman and elected David Baskett of Santa Maria as treasurer; Marianne Freeman of Santa Barbara as secretary; and Dana Mazzetti of Montecito, Jay Gerlach of Santa Barbara and Suzanne Kramer-Morton of Santa

Shooting suspect arrested

SANTA MARIA — Santa

Maria police detectives arrested a 19-year-old man Tuesday in connection with a shooting last month in which the suspect allegedly fired a gun toward a residence.

At about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, detectives, with assistance from Santa Maria SWAT Team members, served search and arrest warrants at a residence in the 1900 block of Estriga Court in Santa Maria.

The suspect, Mario Zamora, was taken into custody without incident during the execution of the warrant service. A search of the residence resulted in one stolen firearm, one unregistered firearm, firearm accessories, gang indicia and ammunition all being seized, police said.

Mr. Zamora was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail

Posse elects board of

Ynez as vice presidents.

Mr. Koffel is co-founder and managing partner of Watchfire Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Santa Barbara and San Francisco, which he started with his partner in 2019. Sean and his wife Jenna reside in Montecito with their three children.

A former Marine, Mr. Koffel received a master’s in business administration at Stanford Business Schooland worked at Morgan Stanley in New York before starting an entrepreneurial career and building several companies in the adult beverage, consumer products and consumer technology industries.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Benevolent Posse is

directors

a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by local citizens to seek ways to help the Sheriff’s Office maintain its current efficiency and improve its performance, morale and effectiveness.

The Sheriff’s Posse Board is composed of local non-law enforcement volunteers who donate their time and efforts to assist the Sheriff’s Office fill its needs not funded by the county budget.

Toward that end, the Sheriff’s Posse will hold a fundraising event May 13 at Red River Ranch in Los Olivos.

For more information, visit www. sbsheriffsposse.org.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

SMPD K-9 officer was patrolling the area of Thornburg and Newlove. The officer heard a loud bang before witnessing a male suspect fire a gun toward a residence, police said.

The suspect, later identified as Mr. Zamora, allegedly fled the scene in his vehicle, subsequently evading officers, police said. Officers on scene located evidence connected to the shooting including bullet strikes to a residence.

from the vehicle. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Hesch at 805-928 -3781, ext. 1349, or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928-3781, ext. 2277.

— Neil Hartstein

Help sought for cold case

on suspicion of Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling, Gang Enhancement and Weapons violations.

His arrest was a result of an ongoing investigation by detectives related to a March 23 shooting in Santa Maria.

At about 7 p.m. on March 23, a

Approximately 10 minutes following the shooting, members of the California Highway Patrol and Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a hit-and-run traffic collision involving the same vehicle.

The vehicle was left behind, and subjects were seen fleeing the area on foot, police said. With assistance from the CHP and the Sheriff’s Office, one subject was detained. However, Mr. Zamora was not apprehended. Firearms were also reportedly recovered

VENTURA COUNTY —

Forty-three years after a young woman was found in a parking lot near Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks, she remains unidentified.

Now investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the DNA Doe Project are asking the public to share information about a specific family tree.

The team of investigative

Please see BLOTTER on A4

Polo club event to benefit Lobero programs

CARPINTERIA — The Lobero Theatre Associates will host “Dinner & Divots,” a fundraiser, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria.

The event will feature an exhibition polo match showcasing some of the intercollegiate players, with all proceeds benefiting the Lobero Theatre’s Youth and

Community Outreach Programs. The fundraising portion of the evening includes a raffle, live auction and paddle raise. Paige Beard and Heidi Merrick are co-

chairs of the benefit. To purchase tickets to the event, visit www.lobero.org/events/dinnerdivots.

— Dave Mason

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VOL. 167 NO. 304

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SHERIFF’S POSSE PHOTO Sean Koffel

SANTA MARIA POLICE PHOTO Mario Zamora

COURTESY PHOTO President Joe

Biden

Joe Biden announces run for re-election

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) —

President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that he is running for reelection.

“Every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy. To stand up for their fundamental freedoms,” President Biden wrote on Twitter in his announcement.

“I believe this is ours. That’s why I’m running for re-election as President of the United States.

Join us. Let’s finish the job.”

President Biden made a

request for donations in his announcement, which may set the stage for the next presidential race. So far, no major Democratic candidates have announced a primary challenge against Mr. Biden.

President Biden is 80 years old, would be 82 should he be elected and would be 86 if serving out a full second term.

On the Republican side, former President Donald Trump has announced and is considered the front runner.

Other Republicans who have announced they are running include radio host

and commentator Larry Elder, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson on April 2 told ABC News he will run and plans to formally announce this month, which ends Sunday.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are also being closely watched for a potential upcoming announcement. Sen. Scott publicly launched an exploratory committee earlier this month.

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

Donald Trump fires the first shot in possible presidential faceoff

By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Former President Donald Trump responded to the news of President Joe Biden running for re-election with the first shot in what could be a presidential campaign rematch.

“You could take the five worst presidents in American history, and put them together, and they would not have done the damage Joe Biden has done to our nation in just a few short years. Not even close,” Mr. Trump said in his video response on TruthSocial after President BIden announced his re-election campaign on Twitter.

Mr. Biden is 80 years old, and Mr. Trump is 76. Mr. Trump led his response video by attacking Mr. Biden on the economy, pointing to inflation and wages.

“Thanks to Joe Biden’s socialist spending calamity, American families are being decimated

by the worst inflation in half a century,” Mr. Trump said. “Banks are failing. Our currency is crashing, and the dollar will soon no longer be the world standard, which will be our greatest defeat in over 200 years. Real wages have been falling 24 months in a row — in other words, under Biden, workers have gotten a pay cut each and every month for two straight years. We have surrendered our energy independence, just like we surrendered in Afghanistan, which we had just a short time ago – and the price of gasoline just hit a five-month high, and it’s going much higher than that.”

No major Democratic candidates have challenged President Biden so far, and his announcement Tuesday will likely clear the field.

So far, Mr. Trump is leading the charge among Republican presidential candidates in attacking Mr. Biden, painting the president’s tenure as a disaster

and giving a window into the focus of the campaign going forward.

“Biden has totally humiliated our nation on the world stage –starting with the Afghanistan disaster, perhaps the most embarrassing event in the history of our country,” Mr. Trump said.

“It meant so much to our enemies when they watched that horrible retreat. Russia is teaming up with China. Iran is days away from a nuclear bomb – not even thinkable. Ukraine has been devastated by an invasion that would never, ever have happened if I was president.

“And Joe Biden has led us to the very brink of World War III. They say Trump was right about everything. Well, I’m not predicting World War III, but I will say this: We’re very close, and they’re only talking about nuclear weapons.”

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

Bonta pushes back against injunction challenging children’s internet privacy law

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a brief in opposition to a motion for preliminary injunction brought by NetChoice LLC in February.

Attorney General Bonta claims the brief is to maintain California’s law protecting the privacy of minors online.

In 2022, the California AgeAppropriate Design Code Act, modeled after the United Kingdom’s Age Appropriate Design Code, became law. That law was challenged in December last year by NetChoice LLC, an organization that works to make the internet safe for enterprise and free expression.

The law requires that websites likely to be accessed by children provide privacy protections by default.

“Businesses do not have a right to children’s data,” Attorney General Bonta declared. The law prohibits certain actions that involve the collection and use of consumers’ information, particularly for young users.

“Children are especially vulnerable to the risks businesses’ data collection practices pose.

Yet, despite their awareness that children use their services and the existence of technological capabilities to provide a safer experience for children, businesses often fail to take steps to provide that safer experience,” the brief stated.

NetChoice says the law uses the guise of protecting children to expand government power over online speech.

“By abandoning the First Amendment and forcing all websites to track and store information on both children and adults, California risks closing the internet and putting the digital safety of all Americans, and especially children, in jeopardy,”

NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel Carl Szabo said.

NetChoice claims the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, “undermines children’s privacy by forcing sites, regardless of how secure they are, to track and store information identifying which users are children. Child predators and hackers will be drawn to less secure sites as goldmines for children’s sensitive data.”

The California legislature unanimously passed the act in an attempt to create a safer online environment for children to learn,

KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS Attorney General Rob Bonta

explore and play.

Attorney General Bonta’s brief revealed that over the past decade, the use of the internet by children rapidly expanded. The daily use of digital technologies by children under 2 years old averaged over three quarters of an hour; 2-4 year-olds averaged two and a half hours; 5-8 year-olds averaged just over three hours

then jumped to over five and a half hours for 6-12 year-olds; 13-17 year-olds topped at over eight and a half hours daily use.

During the pandemic, time online increased by about 52%. The brief also noted that unplugging was not a viable option as the use of the internet by children was for both educational and entertainment purposes.

The law violates the First Amendment because it deputizes online services “to act as roving Internet censors at the state’s behest”, compels speech, violates editorial discretion and is overly vague and broad, NetChoice argues.

“This is not about free speech: the companies challenging this law are doing so because they want to continue to make money from our kids’ online activity,”

Attorney General Bonta said.

“In California, it is no longer business as usual when it comes to designing online services, products, and features that are accessed by kids – it’s time to elevate and protect children’s privacy and safety. The bottom line is: Our children’s childhood experience should not be for sale, and we are defending the state stepping up to protect our children.”

Newsom announces $690 million grants for trains, buses, ferries

By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — More than 28 climate-friendly projects to expand transit and passenger rail services throughout California have been awarded funding to meet the state’s 2045 goals of 71% reduction in air pollution and 94% drop of gas consumption from current levels.

Trains will become an integral part of passenger transportation in California.

The projects, mostly benefitting disadvantaged communities, boast of reducing greenhouse gasses equivalent to removing more than 445,000 gasrun cars from the streets.

“Our state is placing a high priority on investing in public transportation projects that aim to shift away from fossil fuels while making public travel more rider friendly,” Gov. Newsom

said. “Today’s announcement not only provides better travel alternatives but also helps to speed up our transition to a cleaner, healthier transportation future for all Californians.”

The grants totaling $690 million are administered by the California State Transportation Agency as part of a $3.2 billion investment in public transportation.

The transportation agency is supported by the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which in turn gets its funding from the Capand-Trade program and the General Fund for High Priority Grade Crossing Improvement and Separation projects.

Together with January’s investment of $2.54 billion, total funding for California’s public transportation projects is more than $3.2 billion since the start of the year.

“California is making a

multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to transform and modernize our transportation infrastructure, creating jobs, alternatives to driving and reducing pollution,” Gov. Newsom said.

The highest grant was $100 million to San Dieguito Bridge Replacement, Double Track and Special Events Platform Project which is just under half the price tag of about $231 million. The funds will be used to replace the aging wooden trestle San Dieguito Lagoon rail bridge, construct a special events platform for the Del Mar Fairgrounds and construct 0.3 miles of new main track, and siding rehabilitation / track improvements to 0.9 miles of siding track to create a total of 1.2 miles of new usable double track. A number of grants would be used in part to purchase zeroemissions buses and develop several high-priority mobility

hubs and rail projects as part of the state’s transit system.

One of the more interesting projects comes from the San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which proposes to expand electrical infrastructure to allow for expansion of electric propelled, zero‐emission ferry service along the Main Street Alameda-Oakland to San Francisco route utilizing 3 zero emission expansion ferries and conversion to zero emission for existing vessels.

Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramírez noted, “These funding awards help expand the availability of transit options near housing, and especially affordable housing, and provide people the freedom to more easily access jobs, health care, schools and, ultimately, create greater economic opportunity.”

WHITE HOUSE PHOTO

Donald Trump

correct agency in the correct jurisdiction. “And the line that separates the county and city is not very straight.”

“This simplifies all that,” he said.

Chief Hartwig noted the urgency in building the fastest

COUNCIL

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square foot for 100% to 200% beyond frontage and $10 per square foot for 200%-plus beyond frontage.

Restaurants would have been able to reduce the fees they pay to as low as $3 per square foot by making various design changes to their parklets, such as making them portable or installing platforms or roofs.

The rate structure was aimed at collecting much of the revenue needed to cover the city’s costs of cleaning and maintaining the Downtown Promenade, which staff estimated will cost about $675,000 in fiscal year 2024. The fees were expected to generate about $650,000 from parklets on the promenade, which goes from the 400 to 1300 blocks of State Street.

The council was all set to approve the previously agreed upon rate structure at its April 11 meeting. It was on the council’s consent agenda, which usually is approved without any further discussion.

But Councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez pulled the item back for further discussion, claiming she wanted to support the downtown business owners who complained the fees were too high, beyond what they wanted to pay to help

FAIR

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Adam Jones, and some of his friends, who will perform live tricks and jumps. On top of this, the fair will have a hypnotist and a magician, and the livestock area will have a lot of different farm animals. Some are for petting, and others will be for educational animal display, which will also highlight local agriculture.

Mr. Sprague said his staff deserves a “tremendous amount of credit” for making an event as big as the Santa Barbara Fair and Expo come together. He noted the months of work and years of experience the event requires.

He added he especially would

BLOTTER

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genetic genealogists at the DNA Doe Project have been working to identify Ventura Jane Doe since 2018, analyzing distant cousin matches to her DNA profile and building a family tree to try to connect all her relatives and locate the right branch that will reveal her identity. It’s a daunting task, reaching all the way back to a couple who lived in a community known as Bajío de la Tesorera (or “La Blanca”) in the Mexican state of Zacatecas.

They have determined that one of Ventura Jane Doe’s parents is descended from Martin Parga (1847-1902) and Catarina Montellano (1853-

possible response times for medical emergencies. “The brain and cardiac muscles start to die after eight minutes. Five minutes could be the difference between being awake and talking to their loved ones and being in a less alert state.

“That’s why any of us who work in the field said, ‘Can’t we do it better?’ The answer is yes, of course, we will,” Chief Hartwig

told the News-Press after the groundbreaking ceremony, during which elected officials and fire chiefs lifted ceremonial shovels.

Chief Hartwig said everything came together in terms of the wills of fire chiefs, fire boards, city councils and the board of supervisors.

Talks about the center began 10 years ago, Chef Hartwig said.

“Maybe the will was everywhere,

but the fire chiefs finally said, ‘We’ll compromise. We’ll trust each other enough to serve people outside our jurisdiction.’

“You have to say a line on a map is just a line on the map. That doesn’t mean anything to the calling public,” Chief Hartwig said. “They don’t care if it’s a green, red or white engine.” email: dmason@newspress.com

After San Francisco fentanyl overdoses spike 40%, governor targets trafficking

By BETHANY BLANKLEY THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — After fentanyl-linked deaths, including a 40% increase in overdose deaths in San Francisco earlier this year, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced four agencies were launching a new operation to target fentanyl trafficking.

On Friday, he announced the California Highway Patrol and California National Guard were partnering with the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office to combat fentanyl trafficking.

Gov. Newsom said the “new collaborative partnership” would provide “more law enforcement resources and personnel to crack down on crime linked to the fentanyl crisis, holding the poison peddlers accountable, and increasing law enforcement presence to improve public safety and public confidence in San Francisco.”

cover the cost of cleaning and maintaining the promenade.

A council majority agreed and put off a decision until Tuesday. The most surprising turn of events came when two council members — Mike Jordan and Kristen Sneddon — suggested the council not impose any fees at all on the State Street parklets, claiming they were responsible for drawing people downtown,and for helping to revitalize State Street.

They said unanticipated increases in sales tax revenue — much of it generated by restaurants with successful dining parklets — could cover the cost of cleaning and maintaining the promenade.

“I think we’ve lost overall sight of what we want to do downtown,” Councilmember Jordan said. “I’m looking at the big picture, of what benefits everybody in the community. We want to revitalize the downtown and reactivate State Street.

“We’ve never imposed fees before on existing businesses that are there now,” he said.

“Something good is happening. Sales tax is growing in retail and food and beverage. Why penalize businesses that are contributing to the tax coffers, that are bringing people downtown?”

“I’m wholeheartedly in agreement,” Councilmember Snedden said. “Revenue from the food quarter is exceeding that from

like to thank Deputy Manager Pat Cary, who was essential in making SBFE come together. She is also retiring after more than 20 years of service.

FYI

other areas.”

Before the pandemic, “it was a dead zone downtown,” she said. The parklets, she said, “are generating some life downtown.” And business owners with parklets, she said, for the most part have complied with everything the city has asked of them, including requiring them to adhere to new design guidelines.

Other council members supported lowering the fees, suggesting the parklet owners pay anywhere from $1.50 to $3 per square foot.

Councilmember Friedman, however, expressed disappointment at the turn of events.

“This is not the direction I thought we were going to go,” he said. “We’ve wasted a lot of time. We made a decision, and now it’s not what we talked about when we continued it. I’m frustrated we’re throwing it out the window.”

He stressed his concern at the impact lowering the previously agreed-upon fees would have on other departments which are “chronically underfunded.”

“That’s the reality,” he said.

“And now we’re not going to charge anything when even the restaurants say charge something? I’m not going to support going to zero.”

Mayor Rowse, meanwhile, expressed frustration “that we’ve

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo runs today through Sunday at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara.

Tickets, a full schedule of the fair’s events, and a full list of rides and height requirements can be found at earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo.

In addition to SBFE, Earl Warren Showgrounds hosts the Santa Barbara National Horse Show, and the Haunt at the Showgrounds. Along with these events, Earl Warren Showgrounds is a multiuse community event center that is available to be rented.

Earl Warren Showgrounds is also looking to become more connected with the local

1895), who had 14 children. Investigators would like to learn more about five of their daughters born in the latter half of the 19th century — Monica, Basilia, Feliciana, Josefa, and Sotera. Other than their birth records and a few records pertaining to Feliciana and three of her children, no records from the later lives of the five sisters or their descendants have been located.

“Due to a fire in the Civil Registry office in Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, where many of the births, marriages, and deaths of residents of La Blanca were recorded, much of the documentation was lost,” explained Carl Koppelman, investigative genetic genealogist with the DNA Doe Project. There is a large community of

community, explained Mr. Sprague. The showgrounds just changed its mission statement in order to focus on making the site a local community resource that adapts and changes to the needs of the community. For instance, the showgrounds have partnered with agencies, so its space can be used by first responders during emergencies, sometimes even as a place to sleep. The space has even been used for press conferences and grief counseling.

people closely related to Ventura Jane Doe who currently live in the neighborhoods surrounding the Belvedere and Boyle Heights districts of East Los Angeles who have ancestral roots in La Blanca, Zacatecas, and have the same surnames of her closest known relatives — Parga, Lira, Aleman, Betancourt, Chavez, Chairez, Ramos, Ortiz and Ibarra.

The DNA Doe Project is asking for anyone with information regarding the five Parga sisters — Monica, Basilia, Feliciana, Josefa, or Sotera, and any of their spouses/partners or descendants — to email casetips@dnadoeproject.org with the subject “Ventura.”

For more about the DNA Doe Project, see dnadoeproject.org.

— Neil Hartstein

danced this dance as long as we have.” There is no new information to consider, he said, just anecdotes, but nothing to change the amount of money it will cost needed to clean and maintain the promenade.

“I don’t understand where the council is coming from,” he said. “Staff gave us the numbers it takes to maintain that. Everybody can choose to make the lowest tier. I don’t understand the sudden reversal.”

He said he, too, wants to see “a lot more vitality on State Street that thrives all the time,” including a “robust” outdoor dining program, “but it has to be fair for everybody in the community, not just 30 to 40 businesses.”

He questioned the fairness of subsiding businesses that are making a profit by allowing them to open on the State Street public right of way.

“Why are those special people?” he asked. “Why should we allow them to do something nobody else is allowed to do? If I sound frustrated, you nailed that one.”

The new rates will take effect May 1.

Staff says it’s received 37 applications for licenses to date from businesses with existing parklets and expect up to 10 more to apply.

email: nhartsteinnewspress@gmail. com

More recently, Earl Warren Showgrounds held community engagement forums to hear suggestions from the community, and officials learned during the forums that there is a need for a children’s recreational area. As a result, Earl Warren Showgrounds is looking into converting the equestrian area (during its offseason) into a children’s recreational area by putting in removable turf.

Although the next community engagement forum is not planned, Mr. Sprague said that new feedback and suggestions about how the showgrounds can serve the community can be given at earlwarren.com, under the “Contact” header.

email: cbeeghly@newspress.com

CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said his agency was “allocating additional resources for high-visibility traffic enforcement within the city of San Francisco, with a focus on reducing the trafficking of illegal drugs and the number of impaired drivers.”

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the new resources would improve his office’s “ability to fight crime and prosecute suspected drug dealers and traffickers making our communities safer for residents and businesses.”

Through the operation, the CHP is assigning personnel and resources to assist local law enforcement, including providing technical assistance, training and drug trafficking enforcement in key areas of the city like

the Tenderloin. CalGuard is assigning specialists and resources “to support analysis of drug trafficking operations, with a particular focus on disrupting and dismantling fentanyl trafficking rings,” according to the governor’s office. According to San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office data, 200 people in San Francisco died from January to March of this year from accidental drug overdoses, with the vast majority of them involving fentanyl, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. This is up from 142 overdose deaths over the same time period last year, representing a 41% increase. Fentanyl-related deaths have largely occurred in the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods. The Chronicle analyzed overdose data by metropolitan areas and found that San Francisco had the second-highest overdose rate and the second-highest death rate from fentanyl overdose in 2020 nationwide. None of the officials mentioned the operation would target Mexican cartels or gangs known to be responsible for fentanyl production and trafficking into California.

Critics have said Gov. Newson should prioritize securing California’s border with Mexico to stop the trafficking of people and drugs.

San Diego has become an epicenter of illegal border-related activity. However, other major ports of entry and between – from Winterhaven in the southeast near Yuma, Ariz., to El Centro —– are being hit hard with a record number of people and drugs being illegally trafficked to the U.S. from Mexico, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

RECONSTRUCTED IMAGE BY CARL KOPPELMAN

This is a reconstructed image of Ventura Jane Doe by Carl Koppelman, investigative genealogist with the DNA Doe Project and a forensic sketch artist.

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

At left, Tuesday’s speakers included Kelly Hubbard, director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. At right, “I stand here on behalf of all fire chiefs past and present and future,” said Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Chris Mailes. Chief Mailes, president of the Santa Barbara County Fire Chiefs Association, spoke during Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the Regional Fire Communications Center.

Life theArts

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2023

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

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo will take place April 26-30 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo.

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.

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

‘BBQ Bootcamp: Spring Classic’

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Emceed by Chef Valerie Gordon, the “BBQ Bootcamp: Spring Classic” at Alisal Ranch from May 7 through 10 will feature a star-studded roster of culinary talent for the tri-annual event of seminars, workshops and demos celebrating barbecue flavors and techniques.

Alisal Ranch’s Executive Chef Craig Riker will kick off the festivities with a cooking demo teaching guests how to properly

Experts help guests hone skills at Alisal Ranch event in Solvang

cut and prepare steak for the grill, followed by a hands-on opportunity for guests to grill alongside the chefs and an al fresco barbecue dinner featuring local wineries and distilleries.

Ms. Gordon is the celebrated Los Angeles chocolatier and James Beard finalist cookbook author for 2013’s “Sweet.” She founded Valerie Confections in 2004 and eventually guided the confectionery to become one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed boutique chocolatiers. In addition to emceeing the boot camp, Ms. Gordon will also conduct her own cooking demonstration,

sharing recipes and tips to grilling breakfast.

Paula Disbrowe, an awardwinning chef and cookbook author, will lead a cooking demonstration, “Thank You for Smoking,” sharing with guests tips for smoke-infused grilling recipes, followed by lunch.

Burt Bakman of Slab BBQ, Trudy’s Underground Barbecue — the chef behind “LA’s best-kept barbecue secret” and beloved brisket — returns to the ranch for a cooking demonstration.

Jordan Kepler, owner of Sasquatch Survival Gear and one of the Season 8 champions of the

History’s Channel’s “Forged in Fire,” will lead a one-of-a-kind knife-making workshop, guiding guests through the entirety of the process from forging, heat treating and tempering to shaping and handle making for guests to make their own creation to take home.

Rachel Greenspan and Brendan Smith — owners of Bettina Pizzeria, the Italymeets-California local Montecito neighborhood restaurant that is celebrated for its farmers marketfresh ingredients and honest, sustainable cooking — will put on a woodfire pizza demo and lunch.

Joy Culley and Taylor Facha of

Solvang Spice Merchant will guide an interactive spice blending seminar, where guests will learn about the flavor profiles of various spices and create their own signature spice blends and rubs to take home.

In addition to guest chef demos, seminars and meals, BBQ Bootcamp attendees will also be treated to daily breakfast with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, a horseback or hay wagon ride to Alisal’s beloved Old Adobe, a cocktail-making class with the ranch’s mixology team and s’mores and cocktails underneath

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 27

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo will take place through April 30 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo.

7:30 p.m. Pico Iyer will talk with movie star Isabella Rossellini at The New Vic, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara. Tickets cost $35 for general admission and $10 for UCSB students. To purchase, call UCSB Arts & Lectures at 805-8933535 or go to artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

APRIL 28

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo will take place through April 30 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo.

APRIL 29

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo will take place through April 30 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Carpinteria Valley Historical Society and History Museum will host its outdoor fundraiser called “The Marketplace” from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on the museum grounds, 956 Maple Ave., downtown Carpinteria.

APRIL 30

The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo will take place through April 30 at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. For more information, go to earlwarren.com/fair-and-expo.

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.

MAY 3

7:30 p.m. Movie stars Laura Dern and Diane Ladd will be speaking May 3 during a UCSB Arts and Lectures program to discuss their new book “Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life and Love.” The event will take place at UCSB Campbell Hall, where the actresses will talk with KLITE’s Catherine Remak. For more information, go to artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

— Dave Mason

At left, various aspects of meat preparation will be covered during the boot camp. At right, live music will be on the menu at the event.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Grilling will be explored in detail during the “BBQ Bootcamp: Spring Classic,” set for May in Solvang.

Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series ends with recital of flute and piano

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Demarre McGill and Rodolfo Leone will present a recital of flute and piano music for the final concert of the 42nd season of the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series at St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church. The recital is set for 7 p.m. May 13 at the church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave., Los Olivos.

“We are so fortunate to be able to host DeMarre McGill and Rodolfo Leone for what promises to be a fascinating and electric performance of music for flute and piano!” said Robert Cassidy, artistic director.

The program, with Mr. McGill on flute and Mr. Leone on piano, will include Valerie Coleman’s “Fanmi Imen,” Carl Reinecke’s “Sonata,” Guillaume Connesson’s “La Rire de Sarai” and “Sonata” by Yuko Uebayashi.

Tickets are on sale at smitv. org/syv-concert-series. General admission tickets are $20; patron tickets are $35, and student tickets are free. For more information on Mr. McGill and Mr. Leone, visit www. demarremcgill.com and mkiartists. com/artists/rodolfo-leone.

Meanwhile, the SYV Concert Series filmed four concerts from the 2021-2022 season to present brilliant artists and masterworks to its broad community of music fans, students and teachers at no cost. The programs include links to artists’ biographies and program notes.

The first filmed concert, “Love Songs and Dances — An Evening of Liebeslieder” with John

Churchwell, piano; Esther Tonea, soprano; Victor Cardamone, tenor; and Robert Cassidy, piano, will premiere first. For more information, go to smitv.org/syv-concert-series or contact Linda Burrows, SYV Concert Series coordinator, at 805705-0938 or syvconcerts@smitv.org. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

Savie Health offering free women’s services for uninsured

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Savie Health, a free medical clinic in Lompoc for people without health insurance, is now offering a limited range of women’s health care services, with plans to add more soon.

Patients can now receive the following services for free at Savie Health: breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment for women’s health issues related to menopause and heart disease. The clinic’s executive director, Eryn Shugart, said the organization is working on adding additional women’s health services in the near future.

“Savie Health was founded with

a focus on prevention of disease,” she said. “Adding these new care options will expand our capacity to do so.”

Savie Health’s mission is to provide free medical, behavioral health, dental and vision care to uninsured adults in Santa Barbara County and beyond — regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, immigration status, religion or sexual orientation.

Other services offered include primary medical care, chronic disease management for diabetes and hypertension, flu and strep tests, children’s health screenings, x-rays, minor cyst and skin tag removal, mental health and counseling services, and referrals to community resources.

The clinic also offers telehealth visits for all patients to reduce the need for travel from communities outside of Lompoc for followup appointments or behavioral health care, and to minimize time away from work. Telehealth appointments can be conducted via cellphone.

Savie Health is at 1111 E. Ocean Ave. Suite 2 in Lompoc. Clinic hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

To learn more about Savie Health’s services or to volunteer or donate, visit saviehealth.org. To make an appointment, call 805-743-4776. Spanish-speaking service is available.

email: mmcmahon@newspress.com

Store to give away 5,000 comic books

SANTA BARBARA — Metro Entertainment expects more than 1,000 fans at its National Free Comic Book Day event, set for May 6.

The store is at 6 W. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Metro Entertainment plans to give away 5,000 comic books and present photo ops with

cosplayers. Owner Bob Ficarra also noted there will be a storewide sale.

— Dave Mason

Shelters seek homes for pets

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.)

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.

Santa Barbara County Animal Services.

• Companion Animal Placement

BOOTCAMP

Continued from Page B1 the stars.

Starting at $1,320+/night for double occupancy, the adults-only, multi-day package experience includes:

• Western-themed accommodations for two or three nights.

• All meals and specialty dinners, including a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

• Demonstrations on grilling methods, equipment, BBQ, spice blending and more.

• Special event keepsakes.

• Hay wagon ride to the historic adobe for breakfast.

The final iteration of the experience this year will be “BBQ Bootcamp: World BBQ,” set for Oct.15-17 with the guest chef lineup to be announced. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

FYI

The “BBQ Bootcamp: Spring Classic” takes place May 7-10 at Alisal Ranch, 1054 Alisal Road, Solvang. For more information, contact guest services at 800-425-4725 or visit www.alisalranch. com/experiences/bbq-bootcampspring-classic.

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

• Santa Barbara Humane (with

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

— Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTOS

Demarre McGill Rodolfo Leone

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

“What is a soul? It’s like electricity — we don’t really know what it is, but it’s a force that can light a room.”

— Ray Charles

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

ARIES — This is a moment to start being creative in your life and stop being afraid of not having any talent. Who’s to say what talent is? And in the romance department, the love of your life might be right in front of you. Try lifting your eyes from the romance novels and look around, Aries.

TAURUS — You may be a bit unclear about your professional direction today, Taurus. Your motivation has disappeared without warning. What happened? It may be that you need to become involved in projects that have more universal resonance. Projects of a narrow scope that concern only your interests no longer hold your attention.

GEMINI — It could be that you see mirages, Gemini, most notably in the environment around you. You may have the impression that people are lying to you or hiding something from you. Or it may be you’re the one who lies about certain things or hides what you do. Why are you making things so complicated?

CANCER — Hold tight to your money, Cancer, because you may have some strange {though noble) impulses to give it away or spend a large amount on something completely useless. You should think about spending your money in a better way or, better yet, not at all. Why not consider donating some time rather than money to those in need?

LEO — Today isn’t a good day to sign contracts or make any substantial purchases. Go to the grocery store, by all means, but buy hamburger not tenderloin. Keep your money in a safe place and save your reserves. Don’t negotiate anything today, Leo. No matter how good the offer sounds or how compelling the deal, just walk away.

VIRGO — Are you certain that you can’t modify your current situation, Virgo? Are you a prisoner of a lifestyle that isn’t of your own making or that may be a throwback from the past? People have been asking you to take on too many responsibilities and this is what

weighs you down.

LIBRA — The forecast for you is excellent, Libra. You can rely on today’s aspects to restore your confidence, which has been sorely tried in the past few days. The warrior of seduction within you can swagger forth, certain of conquest. However, don’t go too far.

SCORPIO — You may have some trouble communicating today, Scorpio. It’s as though something is distorting your perception. Don’t be surprised if, once evening comes, you feel like forgetting about all of your responsibilities and traveling to the other end of the world.

SAGITTARIUS — You’re radiant and glowing with happiness today. This is a refreshing change after the gloom and doom of the past few weeks. Apparently the decisions you made worked out for the best. Or, even better, perhaps you’re in love? In any case, Sagittarius, it will be even easier than usual for you to communicate with others and share your joy.

CAPRICORN — Your goal for the day seems to be to enchant your mate. There’s no reason not to try. Indeed, today is excellent for love. But don’t exaggerate your romantic wiles, Capricorn. Since the day’s aspects tend to distort your perception of things, you may be betrayed by what you see in the mirror.

AQUARIUS — You’re in splendid shape today, Aquarius! Did a fairy godmother conjure away all the little difficulties of the past few weeks? Enjoy this moment of relief from your worries. As for your love life, some exciting opportunities may arise. Be on the lookout for them, and whatever you do, don’t let them escape!

PISCES — It’s certainly clear that you have faith in your actions, Pisces! You feel no fear or doubt as you progress toward your goals, cruising along on calm seas under clear skies. This new atmosphere is likely the product of your renewed commitment. Reward yourself for your accomplishments, by all means, but you should wait a few days before launching a fullfledged celebration.

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-Saturday and on the crossword solutions page in Saturday’s Life section.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CODEWORD PUZZLE

By FRANK STEWART Tribune

Eddie Kantar, who left us last year, was one of bridge’s most engaging and prolific writers for eight(!) decades, an honored teacher and a world champion player.

Eddie was declarer at today’s four spades and faced the problem of disposing of his third club. He also had to manage his trump suit correctly (my topic for this week).

Eddie won the first diamond with the ace and immediately led a club: deuce, ten, jack. West led another diamond, and Eddie took the king and led a second club to his queen and West’s ace.

HIGH DIAMOND

When West led a third diamond, Eddie carefully withheld the queen; he played low from dummy, ruffed in his hand and next took the A-K of trumps. When East-West played low, Eddie ruffed his last club in dummy and discarded a heart on the queen of diamonds. He lost a trump and two clubs, making four. Declarer would go down if he took the high trumps too soon. West would get in with a high club to cash his queen of trumps, leaving declarer with a third club loser.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: J 6

10

Neither side vulnerable. The dealer, at your right,

opens one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER: You might get away with a takeout double. If your partner responded (“advanced”) in spades with a five-card suit or in diamonds, you might reach a playable contract or even a game. But if partner bid clubs, you would be in bad shape. Pass. This is a good defensive hand. If the opponents stop low, your side may come in later. South dealer N-S vulnerable

ogist who is the world s foremost expert on chimpanzees

19 Take off

20 Natural Thanksgiving decor

21 Tire pattern

23 Fresh from the garden

25 Postimpressionist painter whose

29 Fiendish

31 Starter served with a spoon

3

5 Rumor, to a rumor mill

37 Cartoonist who created Snoopy and

Woodstock

2 Mover s challenge

4

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

43 Cheer ng wildly

45 Pinochle kin

48 Sullen

51 Radio personality who declared himself “King of All Media”

55 Have a nosh

56 Ticked off

57 Crimson Tide coach Nick

59 Apiece

60