Santa Barbara News-Press: October 12, 2022

Ghosts to haunt Elings Park

SB City Council OKs police oversight ordinance

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a landmark ordinance assigning additional civilian police oversight duties to a newly constituted Board of Fire and Police Commissioners to improve transparency and public trust.

The council also authorized and directed the City Clerk’s Office to accept applications through 5 p.m. Nov. 10 for the special recruitment of five members to the new Fire and Police Commission. The city’s goal is to have the new commission up and running in January.

Council members made sure that, with a few exceptions, anyone can apply to be a commissioner, regardless of whether they worked as a firefighter or law enforcement

officer in Santa Barbara County or outside the county.

Council members also agreed that new commissioners should go on ride-alongs with police officers and firefighters, while at the same time making sure that other accommodations for an equivalent immersive experience would be made available to those who decide to forego that experience.

Despite debate over those two issues, and questions about the role of an independent police monitor, council members and others lauded Tuesday’s impending passage of the oversight ordinance that took years to come to a full council vote.

“This is such a significant vote taken today,” Councilmember Meagan Harmon said. “It took years to get here after years of advocacy and tons of public input.

Seafood festival

Annual Santa Barbara Harbor event to take place Saturday

Many people said this would never end up at a vote or become an ordinance. It is truly momentous.

“It’s not everything everybody wants, but it’s the most significant step toward meaningful civilian oversight in our city’s history. It means a whole lot to me and to a lot of you as well.”

Councilmembers, as well as public speakers, debated an earlier Ordinance Committee vote to exclude anyone who worked in Santa Barbara County as a law enforcement officer or firefighter from applying to be a commissioner, as well as police or firefighters who worked outside the county unless they were off the force for at least five years. Those who supported the exclusion were concerned about the perception of bias a commissioner/former police officer might have while

reviewing the case of another police officer named in a civilian complaint, because they might consider them part of the “family” they themselves belonged to while on the job. Some people, they said, have a mistrust of law enforcement anyway because of bad experiences dealing with them, and so would not trust a former police officer to judge the accused officer impartially.

Others, however, resented the allegations of potential bias.

Eric Beecher, president of the Santa Barbara Police Officers Association, said the “positive experience” of a former officer sitting on the commission “who was willing to give his life in defense of strangers” could prove invaluable to the board. “They could be a valuable resource.”

Caroline Abate seeks Goleta Union School District board seat

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles about local candidates in advance of the Nov. 8 general election. Ballots, meanwhile, have already started to be mailed to Santa Barbara County residents.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Caroline Abate is bringing her experience as a classroom teacher as she runs for the Goleta Union School District board’s District 1 seat against incumbent Dr. Richard Mayer.

“I was inspired to run for the Goleta Union School District board because we need to be very careful what we are teaching our children,” Ms. Abate, who describes herself as a “common-sense conservative,” told the News-Press. “Their hearts and minds are very delicate and impressionable, especially at the elementary school age.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The community will celebrate Santa Barbara Channel’s bounty and the fishermen who harvest it at the 19th Annual Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival on Saturday.

This free event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., luring seafood lovers to Santa Barbara Harbor for one of our community’s most cherished events.

Timed to celebrate the opening of lobster season, the Festival showcases fresh, regional seafood in addition to live music, maritime education, free boat rides, children’s activities, vessel tours, and more. There’s fun to be had for all ages.

The Harbor & Seafood Festival offers an interactive day for visitors and locals alike, reminding people that the harbor is where more than 100 fishermen land millions of pounds of seafood each year.

According to a news release, that adds $30 million to the local economy and beyond.

People are invited to enjoy an abundance of sustainably harvested, high-quality seafood, according to the news release. They can also meet fishermen face-to-face. Attendees also can select local fresh-caught lobster, crab and sea urchin/“uni” and have them prepared on the spot. And there will be specialty food booths for fish tacos, oysters, mussels, barbecued albacore, clam chowder and seafood paella.

The festival will also feature live entertainment by Juan Dolor, Spencer the Gardner and Cornerstone on a main stage. And attendees can peruse special festival memorabilia, shop for a variety of art, clothing and other unique gifts, and enjoy free harbor boat rides aboard the Double Dolphin and Kelpie.

The Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival is presented

by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara, Inc. and the Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants’ Association, along with various

partners and

“We need to thoroughly analyze all curriculum, teacher training materials, textbooks, library books and supporting materials, to be sure that we are not putting harmful ideas into their hearts and minds,” she said.

“Recall what happened in Uvalde, Texas, at Robb Elementary School just this summer. We cannot let our community live from public shooting to public shooting and allow this to become a ‘normal occurrence’ in our country. We need to think carefully about what our children are learning, seeing, and doing, even outside the school environment, that is influencing their behavior,” she said.

“What if we start teaching Biblical values again — especially, ‘Thou shall not kill,’” she said. “Maybe that young man would not have gone out and committed murder, and those children would be alive today.

“We must face this issue and allow honest discussions that get to the root causes of this deadly

problem,” she said.

“Each child has their own unique future and together they will be the future of our community and our country,”

Ms. Abate said. “I am running to be sure GUSD students are protected from wrongful political and harmful sexual ideas.

“A better path forward is for our students to learn the necessary academics along with good virtues and building character for the sake of their own future happiness and the continued peace, freedom and prosperity of our country.”

The News-Press asked Ms. Abate how her career has prepared her for this position.

“In order to be a good leader and member of the school board, it is so important to have first worked as a classroom teacher. Having experience working in the classroom, I understand the problems and everyday issues that classroom teachers, students, parents and school staff are facing,” said Ms. Abate. “That’s the foundation of knowing what board policy will be helpful for solving a problem and what will only make the problem worse or cause other problems.

COURTESY PHOTO Caroline Abate

COURTESY PHOTOS

A family has fun holding crabs at the Santa Barbara Harbor.

Santa Barbara Police Chief Kelly Ann Gordon talks to the Santa Barbara City Council during a discussion of a police oversight ordinance.

Two women get sea urchins, which are among the festival’s popular treats.

Biden joins in calls for resignation of Los Angeles City Council members

By MADISON HIRNEISEN

STAFF REPORTER

CENTER

(The Center Square)

—

President Joe Biden believes three Los Angeles City Council members should resign over racist remarks exposed in leaked recordings this week, his press secretary announced Tuesday.

“The president is glad to see that one of the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should. He believes that they all should resign,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. “The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable and it was appalling.”

President Biden is the latest elected official – and the highest profile – to join the chorus of voices calling for the resignation of Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Kevin de León and Gil Cedillo over racist comments made during a conversation in October 2021 that was leaked in audio recordings this week. On Monday, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and California lawmakers from

the Legislative Diversity Caucuses called for resignations.

Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon also joined other state lawmakers in calling for resignations Tuesday.

“I agree with the members of my caucus — it’s time for these council members to resign,” the speaker wrote in a tweet.

The leaked recordings, shared by the Los Angeles Times, features

the Latino council members and Los Angeles Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera engaged in a conversation that included racist remarks about another council member’s black son and racist comments about Oaxacans living in Koreatown.

At one point in the conversation, Ms. Martinez, president of the council, made offensive remarks about Councilmember Mike Bonin, who is white. Ms. Martinez called Mr. Bonin a “little b**ch” and said he “think he’s f***ing black.” Ms. Martinez then made comments about Mr. Bonin’s black son, referring to him as “changuito,” which means “little monkey” in Spanish.

Mr. De León also chimed in during the conversation and appeared to compare the way Mr. Bonin handles his son to Ms. Martinez carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag.

All four members involved in the conversation have issued apologies.

Ms. Martinez announced she would resign from her position as president on Monday and said Tuesday she would be

taking a “leave of absence” from the council. Many Los Angeles residents and elected officials are calling for the full resignation of all three council members involved.

Mr. Herrera resigned from his post Monday night, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A few Los Angeles City Council members are also calling for the resignations of Martinez, de León and Cedillo. Facing a chamber packed with enraged Los Angeles residents, Council member Mitch O’Farrell said during a Tuesday city council meeting that “the court of public opinion has rendered a verdict, and the verdict is they all must resign.”

Mr. Bonin also offered tearful remarks on Tuesday, calling for resignations and condemning the “trusted servants who voiced hate and vile.”

“Public officials are supposed to call us to our highest selves, and these people stabbed us and shot us and cut the spirit of Los Angeles,” Mr. Bonin said. “It gave a beat down to the heart and the soul of the city.”

Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

Biden to visit Southern California this week

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — President Joe Biden will arrive in Los Angeles Wednesday to begin a multi-day stay in the Golden State, where he is expected to speak on

infrastructure investments and affordability.

The president is expected to arrive in Los Angeles this afternoon, according to his press office.

During his time in the state, he plans to deliver remarks about infrastructure

investments, though further details have not been disclosed.

He is also expected to fly to Orange County to “deliver remarks on lowering costs for California families,” according to KTTV, the Fox 11 station in Los Angeles.

President Biden’s last visit

to Los Angeles was in June when he attended the Summit of the Americas. After his visit to California, President Biden is expected to visit Oregon on Friday and Saturday, according to The Register-Guard.

Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

Jail employee pleads guilty to sexual assault

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS

Salvador Vargas, 36, has pled guilty as charged to forced oral copulation and sexual activity with an inmate at the Santa Barbara County Jail. Both crimes are felonies.

District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley on Tuesday announced the plea.

An investigation led by Sgt. Travis Henderson and Detective Ruben Esparza with

the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department revealed that between 2016 and 2018, the defendant took advantage of several inmates at the Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was employed as a discharge planner. Several women accused the defendant of sexually assaulting them and providing favors to those who engaged in sexual activity with him, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

In August of 2017, the defendant

transported a female inmate — Jane Doe — who had been released from jail on electronic monitoring, and into a residential treatment facility. During the transportation of Jane Doe, the defendant parked his vehicle.

While at this location in Santa Barbara, the defendant forced Jane Doe to orally copulate him, the District Attorney’s Office reported. Jane Doe, terrified that the defendant would send her back to jail if she did not comply, eventually gave into his demands.

Although Jane Doe told a friend partial details of what occurred, she never reported the sexual assault to law enforcement as she was afraid of what further repercussions she would suffer, the District Attorney’s Office said.

Investigative efforts on the part of detectives with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department eventually led them to Jane Doe, who ultimately told them what had occurred.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Domestic violence awareness posters to be unveiled

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Domestic violence awareness posters will be unveiled from 11:30 a.m. to noon Thursday on the front steps of the Santa Barbara County administration building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara.

Those attending the unveiling include Santa Barbara County 1st District Supervisor Das Williams; state Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, and 2nd District Supervisor

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

Catalytic converter theft suspects arrested

GOLETA — Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested two suspects for theft of catalytic converters and recovered six stolen converters.

At approximately 3:40 a.m. Monday, deputies responded to the area of Dearborn Place and Armitos Avenue in Goleta for a reported theft of a catalytic converter that had just occurred. The reporting party provided a suspect vehicle description.

Approximately seven minutes later, deputies spotted a similar vehicle on Highway 101, southbound and conducted a traffic enforcement stop near the Las Positas offramp, according to Raquel Zick, the Sheriff’s Office

public information officer.

During the traffic stop, deputies found a total of six stolen catalytic converters in the vehicle along with a car jack and several electric saws.

Deputies arrested both occupants of the vehicle, 29-yearold Francisco Puente from the Los Angeles area and 37-year-old Francisco Javier Trujillo Gaona from Culver City.

Both suspects have been booked at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail in Santa Barbara for six counts of grand theft (felony), six counts of conspiracy (felony), six counts of vehicle tampering (misdemeanor), possession of burglary tools (misdemeanor) and are being held on an enhanced bail of $500,000. Mr. Puente was booked on the additional charges of possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor) and

Gregg Hart. They will be there along with representatives of Domestic Violence Solutions of Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County and the cities of Guadalupe, Lompoc, Solvang and Goleta will have domestic violence resources posted in employee areas of workspaces. These posters will provide employees with information about what domestic violence is, its prevalence, and how they can get connected with support.

Great Kitchens Don’t Just Happen... They Happen by

possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor).

The Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge the quick thinking of the reporting party who called 9-1-1 when they realized they were likely hearing a catalytic converter theft. The theft of catalytic converters is popular because they can be easily removed, they do not have identifying marks like serial numbers, and the components are made up of precious metals that can be resold to recyclers.

Ms. Zick noted there are steps that can be taken to thwart these thefts, including parking inside a garage or secured yard, installing motion detector lights near parking areas, installing a catalytic converter protection device, and educating neighbors to be on the look-out for thieves.

— Katherine Zehnder

Santa Maria data collection effort starts

Maria

SANTA MARIA — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, Cottage Health and Dignity Health are embarking on a data collection effort to better understand the health needs and assets in Santa Maria.

From Thursday through Saturday, data collectors including county public health staff and community partners will be going door-to-door conducting in-person surveys. Data collectors will be bilingual in English and Spanish and will have access to translation

for other languages as needed. “Data that reflects the current health status of the Santa Maria community, particularly given the impacts this region has experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are critical to informing how the public health system moves forward,” Paige Batson, deputy director for Community Health, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to join forces with hospitals in our county and community partners that know and serve our residents on a

daily basis.”

Randomly selected households will be chosen to participate in this data collection effort. Trained data collectors wearing vests and name tags will be walking neighborhoods throughout Santa Maria to gather a representative sample of surveys. All responses will be confidential and will not be connected to names, addresses or phone numbers. No personal financial information will be collected for this needs assessment.

All data collected

be shared

COURTESY

Joe Biden

COURTESY PHOTO

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office recovered catalytic converters after arresting two suspects.

U.S. Department of Labor proposes rule that could turn gig economy upside down

By CASEY HARPER

CENTER

(The Center Square) — The U.S. Department of Labor proposed a new rule Tuesday that would overhaul how independent contractors like freelancers and drivers for ridesharing apps are classified, potentially upending the gig economy that has exploded in growth in recent years.

The DOL said in its rule proposal that it would change how the federal government determines who is a freelancer and who is an employee.

How exactly contractors will be determined remains to be fully worked out, but it is expected that many freelance positions could become classified as regular workers.

“The department believes that this proposal, if finalized, will provide more consistent guidance to employers as they determine

whether workers are economically dependent on the employer for work or are in business for themselves, as well as useful guidance to workers on whether they are correctly classified as employees or independent contractors,” DOL said.

The DOL says the new rule will provide more benefits and protections for workers.

Critics, though, argue this will put major costs on businesses.

Small businesses in particular can rely on an assortment of independent contractors to help keep their business afloat before they can afford full-time hires.

“The modern workplace is more complex in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said National Retail Federation Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French.

“Retailers, along with countless other employers, maintain a wide range of business relationships

with independent contractors, including billing, facility maintenance, data analysis, delivery, marketing and other critical services.

Other critics said many workers prefer the freedom and flexibility of contract work, or the “side hustle.”

“The DOL is out-of-touch with the modern economy and how people want to work, as evident by its proposed independent contractor rule,” said Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Council.

“Moreover, an independent contractor’s cherished flexibility could be taken away. These are all outcomes that will exacerbate the weakening economy and harm America’s small business ecosystem.”

Many Americans started side businesses that provide services to other businesses during the

pandemic. Under this new rule, those business relationships could become illegal.

“More people are starting businesses because they have access to modern tools and platforms that make it simple and affordable,” Ms. Kerrigan said. “Overwhelmingly, they want to be their own boss and want control over their own time. The proposed DOL rule is a massive step backward, as it resurrects an outdated approach that works against flexibility and regulatory certainty.

“The proposed rule will create uncertainty, higher costs and complexity, and snuff out countless innovative ideas and entrepreneurial dreams in their infancy.”

Mr. French said the rule would also drive up costs for consumers.

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

Former congresswoman from Hawaii leaves the Democratic Party

By KIM JARRETT

EDITOR

(The Center Square) — Tulsi Gabbard is leaving the Democratic Party and is encouraging others to join her, the former congresswoman from Hawaii said in a post published Tuesday on Substack.

“I believe in a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people,” the former Democratic presidential candidate said in the post. “Unfortunately, today’s Democratic Party does not. Instead, it stands for a government of, by and for the powerful elite.”

Ms. Gabbard accused the Democratic Party of putting the U.S. on the “brink of nuclear war.”

“The party is led by warmongers who are firmly in the grips of the military industrial complex, and don’t know or care about the cost of war, or who pays the price,” she said. “President Biden and Democratic Party elite have pushed us to the precipice of nuclear war, risking starting WWIII and destroying the world

as we know it.”

The Democratic Party is also weaponizing federal and state agencies against its people, Ms. Gabbard said.

“Under the Obama administration, the IRS was used to target conservative groups,” she wrote in the post. “Biden’s

DOJ recently indicted 11 pro-life activists for ‘organizing an event blockading an abortion clinic.’

They didn’t use physical force. They weren’t dangerous. But seven of them are facing 11 years in prison and fines of $250,000.”

The party is stripping citizens’ rights to free speech, the right

to bear arms and religion, Ms. Gabbard wrote in her post.

“Today’s Democratic party has forgotten that freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion,” she said. “Government must respect every American’s deeply personal relationship with God, and our freedom to express and practice that faith without fear of state-sponsored reprisal, censorship or discrimination.”

Ms. Gabbard also attacked critical race theory, the participation of transgender females in women’s sports and policies that she says sexualizes children.

She said she plans to discuss the issues in depth over the next few weeks.

“If you can no longer stomach the direction that so-called woke Democratic Party ideologues are taking our country, I invite you to join me,” Ms. Gabbard said.

Ms. Gabbard was accused of being a “Russian asset” by Hillary Clinton during the 2020 presidential race.

Ms. Gabbard sued Clinton for the comment but later dropped the defamation lawsuit, according to The Hill.

Yankees’ home playoff games valued at $21.5M each

By STEVE BITTENBENDER

(The Center Square) — The New York Yankees open up their playoff run on Tuesday evening, and Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday the city is expecting the Bronx Bombers to provide an economic home run for the city.

Mayor Adams told reporters that an analysis conducted by the New York City Economic Development Corp. determined that each Yankees home playoff game will create an economic impact of $21.5 million to the city. That analysis is based on ticket sales and residual spending from more than 30,000

fans for each game. The study also accounts for additional income for seasonal employees who work at the Bronx ballpark.

Even the New York Mets, who faltered in their threegame wild card round series to the San Diego Padres over the weekend, were expected to contribute $16.9 million for each of its home playoff games, according to the NYCEDC.

“In New York City, baseball means business,” Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria TorresSpringer said in a statement. “And with each postseason game – and may there be many – the impact for local businesses and our economy grows.”

Based on those projections, even if the Yankees play no more than two home games in the playoffs, Mayor Adams said that would mean the city reaps a $93.7 million economic benefit.

“Each time someone spends money in a restaurant, a stadium, a retail store, or a hotel, we make sure a dishwasher, a chef, a bartender, a waiter, or thousands of other workers are employed – and the 2022 MLB postseason will support local businesses and local jobs by generating close to $100 million in economic activity for the city,” the mayor said.

The Yankees are considered

the favorites in the divisional round best-of-five series against the Cleveland Guardians and could play as many as three home games in the series if it goes the distance. If they advance, they could also host as many as four games each in the American League Championship Series and World Series.

Economists who have studied the economic impact of similar sporting events, such as MLB’s All-Star Game, often caution that the public should view economic impact reports skeptically as such reports tend to overstate the financial windfall a city receives from an event.

New York’s minority, women-led businesses safeguarded in new laws

By STEVE BITTENBENDER

(The Center Square) — New York’s business community is supporting a legislative package Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law to strengthen and safeguard the state’s minority and women business enterprises programs.

MWBE is a certification program that encourages business owners from disadvantaged populations to earn contracts with state and local governments. To qualify, a business must be majority-owned by either an ethnic minority or female. The state has awarded almost $24 billion in contracts to eligible companies since 2011 and nearly $3 billion last year.

The program in New York had been under fire after a grand jury eight years ago found rampant fraud and abuse within a small cluster of construction contracts awarded to eligible entities. The report

found more than $10 million in work went to contractors that were not legitimate MWBEs or used an MWBE as a passthrough to businesses that actually did the work.

Gov. Hochul signed three bills into law Oct. 6, including Assembly Bill 9259-A and Senate Bill 3390-A. The new law will compel companies to complete certifications that MWBE contract recipients actually performed the work on the contract. It also requires the state to create an online database of certified companies, conduct routine inspections and revoke certifications for any business or individual convicted of misrepresentation.

S3390-A “establishes safeguards for the Minorityand Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program to prevent fraud and abuse,” said state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, D-Bronx, the Senate bill’s sponsor. “This bill will strengthen the Minority

and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Fund and ensure the fund is running fairly and its opportunities remain accessible to these enterprises in New York.”

Gov. Hochul also signed A6420 and S571. That law will allow eligible businesses to use funds from the state’s lending program to refinance their existing debt. By getting a loan through the state’s microloan program, a business that may otherwise need to use a credit card to finance debt can save nearly $3,000 annually.

Those two bills had the support of The Business Council of New York State.

“Our MWBE legislative package was meant to assist struggling businesses postpandemic as a disproportionate number of shuttered businesses due to COVID were MWBE businesses,” said Heather Briccetti Mulligan, president and CEO of The Business

Council, in a statement.

The third bill in the package Gov. Hochul signed, A10459 and S9351, doubles the size of contracts New York City can award to MWBEs through noncompetitive means to $1 million.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, D-Brooklyn, who sponsored A10459 and A6420, said the new laws will help create equity for disadvantaged businesses.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also supported the bill to double the amount for the non-compete awards. He called it “leveling the playing field” for the city’s black and brown communities.

“Our MWBEs have suffered through the pandemic from slow rates of business formation and employment growth, in addition to a severe uptick in business closures,” the mayor said in a statement Oct. 6. “Today, we are showing our MWBEs that we have their back.”

Tulsi Gabbard addresses the 2019 California Democratic Party State Convention in San Francisco. The former Hawaiian congresswoman announced recently she’s leaving the Democratic Party.

Angela Lansbury leaves legacy of strong characters

Dame Angela Lansbury — who played everyone from a Soviet spy in “The Manchurian Candidate” to mystery author/sleuth Jessica Fletcher on the long-running CBS series “Murder She Wrote” — has died.

She was 96. Her children announced the London native died peacefully in her sleep at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles. She would have turned 97 on Oct. 16.

Ms. Lansbury was an acting tour de force, known for her work on stage, TV and in movies. She won Tony awards for her Broadway work, which included ‘Mame’’ and ‘’Sweeney Todd,” and she enchanted children as the voice of Mrs. Potts (the singing teapot) in Disney’s animated 1991 film “Beauty and the Beast.”.

Ms. Lansbury talked to this writer about her career in a 2003 phone interview. At the time, she was appearing in her final outing as Jessica Fletcher in a “Murder She Wrote” TV movie filmed in Ireland. It was subtitled “The Celtic Riddle.”

Ms. Lansbury asked this writer whether it was evident who the killer was, and this writer had to admit he kept changing his mind as the clues piled up and never got it right. Ms. Lansbury seemed pleased by that.

Ms. Lansbury acted in the

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Angela Lansbury

exterior scenes that were filmed in a village outside Dublin. The interior scenes were filmed at Universal Studios, the longtime home of ‘’Murder, She Wrote.’’ Jessica’s home of Cabot Cove, Maine, was actually part of Universal Studios Hollywood’s backlot. The town was around the big pond long used for the “Jaws” portion of the studio tour, and Jessica’s house was actually from “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” (1982), starring Dolly Parton.

Ms. Lansbury, who has a home in Ireland, said she enjoyed

making “Murder She Wrote: Celtric Riddle.” But she was glad it was her final outing for Jessica and told this writer she was ready to move on.

‘’We’ve made four movies since the series (1984-1996 on CBS) closed down, and we were contracted to do four,’’ Ms. Lansbury said. ‘’I really, really want to do other things.

Before ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ I had an eclectic career between television, theater and movies. But my role of Jessica Fletcher has clinged to me like ivy for the last 19 years

‘’I had no idea that it would. I thought maybe it would be for a year or two,’’ Ms. Lansbury said.

She explained why Jessica proved to be so popular.

‘’I think she’s like every woman. Women can relate to her; men like her enormously,’’ Ms. Lansbury said. ‘’She’s not a fool; she doesn’t act like a silly woman. She has so many traits that are attractive. She’s warm. ...

‘’I don’t want to give up playing that type of person, but I want to play other professional women,’’ she said. ‘’I don’t want to play an old lady in a retirement home, a part which I’m offered all the time. Why should I stifle all of that energy?’’

In recent years, Ms. Lansbury played the balloon lady in Disney’s 2018 sequel “Mary Poppins Returns” and Rose in “Buttons, A New Musical Film,” also from 2018. She portrayed

Aunt March in the “Little Women” miniseries in 2017 and had fun playing Mrs. Van Gundy in “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” starring Jim Carrey, in 2011.

Ms. Lansbury also played Aunt Adelaide in “Nanny McPhee” (2005), and she guest-starred as Eleanor Duvall on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” also in 2005.

Her big break in Hollywood came in early films such as “Gaslight,” the 1944 psychological drama starring Ingrid Bergman. Ms. Lansbury played the young maid.

After that, she was acting regularly, in everything from “The Harvey Girls” (1946) to “The Three Musketeers” (1948), in which she played Queen Anne. In “The Manchurian Candidate,” she played Soviet spy Eleanor Shaw Iselin, who’s the mastermind behind the brainwashing of an American POW in the Korean War: Major Bennett Marco (Frank Sinatra).

But Ms. Lansbury was mostly known for her more positive characters, such as the one she played in Disney’s “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” (1971), a movie that combined live action with animation. Ms. Lansbury played Eglantine Price, a role initially offered to Julie Andrews.

In 2013, Ms. Lansbury received a well-deserved honorary Academy Award. email: dmason@newspress.com

the Goleta Union School District, I believe our schools need change to improve the current situation.

Early voting gets under way in Maine ahead of midterms

By CHRISTIAN WADE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — A nearly month-long early voting period is under way in Maine, allowing voters to cast ballots for governor, the U.S. House and other contested races ahead of the midterm elections.

From Tuesday until Nov. 8, cities and towns will allow registered voters to cast early ballots ahead of the election.

Topping the statewide ballot is a race between incumbent Democratic Gov. Janet Mills and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who is running for his old job as governor.

Gov. Mills edged out six opponents in a 2018 Democratic primary race, then won a three-way general election with 51% to become the first woman elected as Maine’s governor. She is seeking another four-year term as the state’s chief executive. Mr. LePage, who served two terms as Maine’s governor from 2011 to 2019,

is seeking a third, nonconsecutive term.

Sam Hunkler, a Beals physician, is running for governor as an independent.

Another major race pits former Republican Congressman Bruce Poliquin against incumbent Democratic U.S. House Rep. Jared Golden in the 2nd Congressional District, which has also drawn national attention with control of Congress in the balance.

Meanwhile, incumbent U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Ed Thelander, a Republican and former Navy SEAL, in the 1st Congressional District race.

More than 1.1 million people are eligible to vote in Maine, elections officials report. There were 396,893 registered Democrats compared to 313,866 Republicans as of the latest tally on June 10, while another 358,909 are not affiliated with either major political party, according to the office of Maine Secretary of State Sheena Bellows.

“My qualifications include 13 years of part time classroom teaching experience. I also have a multiple subject teaching credential and single subject biology and foundational level math credentials,” she said. “In addition, previous work as a registered nurse has proven to be very helpful knowledge and experience for students who may have allergies, asthma or other medical issues.”

Ms Abate spoke to her goals if elected.

“My goal is to put the precious hearts and minds of GUSD students at the center of everything and to represent a commonsense, conservative perspective on education,” she said. “It is important for other GUSD school board members and the community to have the opportunity to weigh all ideas in the balance before they make a decision. Achieving this goal begins by asking questions, so we can know exactly what students are being taught.”

“I know that not everyone will always agree,” Ms. Abate said. “However, when there is disagreement, I promise to always listen carefully and respectfully to the other GUSD board members and the community.

“A cordial working relationship should always be maintained among school board members and the public,” said Ms. Abate. “I would like to be a voice for concerned GUSD parents and community members as they become more and more aware of the consequential role schools play in creating not only their child’s future, but also the future of our country.

“We want our country to be free and prosperous, so our children will have a nice

“The county of Santa Barbara is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all county employees and residents,” Supervisor Williams said in a news release. “We have collaborated with Domestic Violence Solutions to stand against domestic violence by placing posters throughout our county

If elected to the district’s board, candidate Caroline Abate said, “My goal is to put the precious hearts and minds of GUSD students at the center of everything and to represent a commonsense, conservative perspective on education.”

FYI

To learn more about candidate Caroline Abate, see carolineabate4goletausd.com.

place in which to live out their adult lives when their turn comes. This is so important and why we must all work together to achieve this mutually beneficial goal.”

“I would like to thank GUSD voters for their trust and confidence in me. I would be very grateful and honored for their support and their vote,” said Ms. Abate. “As a candidate for

buildings. These posters will help raise awareness of the resources available to break the silence around domestic violence,.”

Said Sen. Limón, “I am grateful that Santa Barbara County is doing more to raise awareness around domestic violence and ensure workers know they are not alone in their times of need. Thank you to Domestic Violence Solutions for creating these posters and working with local governments to bring

SMATHERS, Philomene Gemaine

ALEXANDER, Sophie

Alexander was fortunate enough to be born at home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin and pass away at home in Santa Barbara, California. Her parents, George and Adamandea “Ida” Sefer, were Greek immigrants who built a business and family in the United States. Sophie adored her older brother, Bob, and being a tomboy, followed in his footsteps playing baseball and tennis. Sophie became a stewardess for Northwest Orient Airlines but shortly into her career married Michael in 1959. Mike and Sophie raised three daughters in Milwaukee until 1973 when the family relocated to Santa Barbara. Sophie was devastated to leave her friends and family in Wisconsin, but after two snow-free years in Santa Barbara she never wanted to leave. She helped to established and run the Sunday School at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church and was also a member of the Ladies Guild and Assistance League of Santa Barbara. Sophie loved playing bridge with friends, her garden, and had an extensive needlepoint collection much of which she made herself. Her grandchildren were her greatest pride and joy. Sophie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother. She is survived by her children; Mandee Sanderson and her husband Daniel, Pam Alexander, Lexy Carroll and her husband John; her grandchildren Melanie Carroll and fiancé Leo Rofe, Danielle Edwards and her husband David, Whitney Carroll and Tal Quetone, Alex Carroll, and Adam Sanderson. The Trisagion will be Monday, October 17, 7pm

“For example, as we look around we see increased homelessness, drug use, increased crime, and tragically, yet another deadly school shooting this summer. Remember, each of us was at one time a small child sitting at their desk in elementary school. It was the place where we received our foundation in life, and that foundation must be created with all the love and care we can give our Goleta School District students today.”

Ms. Abate gave another example of how the current situation needs to change: “... The last CAASPP proficiency scores showed 40% of students districtwide not meeting proficiency standards in math and 35% not meeting proficiency standards in ELA/ Literacy (from ed-data.org in partnership with the California Dept of Education 2018-19 data). These numbers are likely much worse, due to COVID-19 learning loss.”

“I know it will not be easy, and it will be a long process, so we must begin now. My opponent has worked hard, and I commend him for his efforts,” she said about Dr. Mayer. “However, I believe that the real world conditions show that it is time for a change. That change begins with asking the difficult questions, starting conversations about these consequential issues, while leading with courage, wisdom and respect.

“Our Goleta school community must face the difficult issues in our schools. This is the only way forward for a better and brighter future for all of our students, our community and our country.”

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

resources to the community.”

Supervisor Hart said, “We must always stand with and support survivors of domestic violence. The county is committed to building a community that is free from domestic violence by prioritizing prevention and intervention, while empowering people who have been harmed.”

Domestic violence is often thought of as a private issue that only happens at home. However,

according to the news release, 75% of victims stated that their abuser often interfered with their workday by sending harassing messages, phone calls or emails.

“By providing access to resources while individuals are at work, which is a place they are away from their abuser, it is the hope they will be encouraged to seek help,” said DVS Board Treasurer Patricia Ritchie. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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KENNETH SONG /NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO Kellogg Elementary School is among the schools in the Goleta Union School District.

COURTESY PHOTO

‘F

ood Poetry“ by Mandana Mir is a beautiful coffee-table book filled with gorgeous photographs of mouthwatering plant-based recipes and inspiring lines of poetry by Rumi, a 13th century poet.

So it is somewhat surprising that Ms. Mir devotes an entire chapter at the beginning of the book to the importance of a healthy gut — as in entrails, bowels and intestines.

Also surprising is the fact that the fashionable and attractive Ms.

Mir is the owner of Mandana Montecito, a boutique in the Upper Village previously known as Giuliana Haute Couture, where she caters to an upscale clientele.

Her educational credentials are impressive.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in human biology from the University of Toronto in Canada, Ms. Mir took graduatelevel courses in molecular biology and biochemistry at Harvard and Tufts universities in Massachusetts and started teaching college-level science courses at Kaplan International, an English as a Second Language School, to pre-medical students.

She finished her master’s degree in nutrition science at San Jose State University and completed a dietetics internship at StonyBrook Medical School in New York and moved to Santa Barbara in 2012.

Guided by a core belief that nutrition is both a science and an art, Ms. Mir emphasizes an integration of artistic practices to demonstrate how food and health can deliciously coexist.

“My mission is to inspire others to develop self-empowerment through food, meditation and sciences, mainly nutrition education,” she told the NewsPress.

“Our gut or gastrointestinal tract (GI), runs from our mouths to our derrière and is one of the major gatekeepers to our immunity and overall health.

The GI is home to microbiomes, trillions of microorganisms including both beneficial and harmful bacteria,” Ms. Mir said.

“Research suggests that our

microbiome controls so much when it comes to health and well-being. It contributes to the absorption of nutrients, manufacturing of vitamins, essential amino acids and bioactive molecules that support brain function, mood, skin health, immunity, metabolism and even food cravings.”

Recalling the family garden in Tehran, where she was born, Ms. Mir likes to equate the microbiome to a garden.

“When we want a beautiful flower garden, when healthy, it is full of diverse flowers and plants with not many invasive unwanted plants in sight.

Similarly, when our gut is healthy, it is full of a diverse range of bacteria that live in symbiosis with our human cells.

“Think of the beneficial bacteria cells as the ‘supporting cells’ for the human cells and think of the food you provide for your gut bacteria (fiber) as the food for the flowers in your garden.

“When we prune the unwanted weeds in the garden, the flowers will have access to enough water and nutrients to thrive.

Similarly, If we take care of our GI microbiome and provide the essential nutrients (fiber) for it to thrive, the beneficial bacteria will thrive instead of the harmful ones.”

Ms. Mir added that the latest research suggests that the microbiome can also contribute to food cravings.

“The more fiber-full meals we consume, our microbiome will signal to our brain to consume those types of food and in return, the beneficial bacteria will flourish instead of the harmful ones. So there is a ‘continual gut-brain cycle.’

“The benefits of eating a high-fiber diet also include lower cholesterol levels, lower risk of diabetes and heart health among many other benefits. I personally do not believe in following any strict diet or completely avoiding certain food groups but rather the consistency of following a balanced diet that takes into consideration the needs of each individual. I hope the readers will find the science section approachable and the recipes enjoyable.”

Among the recipes in the

‘Food Poetry’

book are “Apple/Persimmon Pie for Breakfast,” “Playful Pistachio Hummus,” “Persian Herb Frittata With a Twist” and “Thai Asparagus Soup.”

Ms. Mir told the News-

Press she grew up in Tehran, Iran, till the age of 17, and after completing high school, she moved with her family to Toronto in 1999.

“I grew up in a very science-

oriented family. My father is a dentist, my mother is a computer engineer and a dental hygienist, and my brothers are a dentist and maxillofacial surgeon. So, growing up, studying, staying

active and keeping healthy were very important.

“My mother loved to cook everything from scratch, and we had a beautiful garden with

Gutsy Montecito boutique owner publishes cookbook

COURTESY PHOTOS

“My mission is to inspire others to develop self-empowerment through food, meditation and sciences, mainly nutrition education,” said Mandana Mir, author of “Food Poetry.”

At

Libraries offer gardening pot workshop, kits

SANTA MARIA — A free

Painted Gardening Pot Workshop for adults will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St.

Patrons are invited to design and create a one-of-a kind gardening pot. All materials will be provided including soil and seeds for planting. Space

is limited, and registration is required.

Those interested in this workshop can register by visiting the library’s online events calendar at www.

cityofsantamaria.org/library or by calling 805-925-0994, Ext. 8562.

The Orcutt branch library will offer a limited number of free

painted gardening pot take-home kits for adults that are available for pick-up on a first come, first served basis through Saturday.

The Orcutt branch is located at 175 S. Broadway St.

For more information, call 805-925-0994, Ext. 8562, or email sstarnaud@cityofsantamaria.org.

—Marilyn McMahon

‘Creep the Halls’ at Natural History Museum

SANTA BARBARA — “Creep the Halls Midnight Circus” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol Road.

Local libations from Draughtsmen Aleworks, Cutler’s Artisan Spirits and Final Girl Wines will ensure that guests 21 and older will get into the Halloween spirit.

Light bites from The Lark, Solvang Bakery and DJ’s California Catering will provide sustenance along the way.

Once deep into the museum’s shadows, guests will meet frightful and delightful curiosities around each corner.

At journey’s end, they will be rewarded with a spectacular finale under the big top including a terrifying time-travel dance

party with the 1980s cover band Joystix.

All food and beverages are included in the ticket price, which is $120.

Net proceeds support the museum’s nature and science education programs.

For more information, go to www.sbnature2.org.

— Marilyn McMahon

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

Ghosts to haunt Elings Park for special walking tour

A guide will lead brave souls to walk up to the ghosts haunting Elings Park’s Godric Grove in the dead of night.

Welcome to “Ghosts Along the Coast.”

Elings Park will present ghostly characters during the approximately 75-minute show, set for Thursday, Friday and Sunday. The Santa Barbara performances, which are designed for ages 9 and older, take place during guided walking tours that start every 30 minutes. A ghost hunter leads people to each ghost, who is there under the trees with various props and telling chilling stories — along with revelations about Santa Barbara’s history and Elings Park.

The ghost tours are scheduled to begin each day at 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Elings Park Foundation.

The show’s ghosts are a female bootlegger from Prohibition, a Depression-era hobo living near the railroad tracks, a survivor of an 1853 shipwreck, a Japanese “picture bride” from the 1920s, a longtime lady lighthouse keeper and a newspaper editor murdered in 1880. These are six characters who are either real figures from Santa Barbara’s history or inspired by local real figures.

“These theatrical portrayals are based on true events, but definitely are not ‘living history’ — they’re more like ‘deceased history,’” said Dean Noble, Elings Park executive director. “You’ll get a feeling for life in Santa Barbara in a different era as you listen to the stories, some scary, some humorous and all entertaining.”

The News-Press recently dared to explore Godric Grove (in broad daylight, to be on the safe side) and met with Kirk Martin, who is both the “Ghosts Along the Coast” director and one of the actors.

“It’s the kind of theater that has never occurred in Santa Barbara before,” Mr. Martin told the News-Press, looking a bit pale in his makeup as the ghost of The Bookman.

“The ghosts will tell you the story of their lives and how they met their untimely demise,” Mr. Martin said, noting the emphasis of the Halloween production is to tell stories, not to scare people.

“This is not a scary event,” Mr. Martin said. “This is an eerie event.”

Mr. Martin noted much of Santa Barbara’s history happened at or around Elings Park.

Mr. Martin, who has performed in the Santa Paula Theater Center’s outdoor ghosts walk, said he has always wanted to perform a ghost show in Santa Barbara. “Dean (Noble) and I partnered, and he has the perfect venue for it. And it’s an ideal opportunity to raise proceeds for the park. It’s a privately funded park, so we want

many fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and flowers.

“I remember my mother would surprise my brothers and me with fresh vegetable and fruit snacks from the garden. My father would always carry medjool dates, walnuts, almonds and pistachios on our ski and hike trips. My parents instilled healthy eating in us from a very young age.”

She decided to study nutrition after migrating to Canada and staying at a dormitory and not eating home-cooked meals.

“My eating habits gradually started to change, and before I realized it, I had the worst case of acne and had gained some weight, too! Every doctor I went to gave me a different antibiotic, and nothing seemed to work. I always felt tired and depressed. I decided to educate myself further, and I successfully healed the root cause, which was my gut (GI) health,” said Ms. Mir, who has owned her boutique since 2018.

“When my business was considered ‘nonessential’ during the pandemic, I decided to use my time wisely and drew on my personal experiences, science background and science teaching experiences to summarize my knowledge in a very approachable manner.

“Over the past four years of owning the boutique, my customers greatly appreciated the healthy recipes and tips I shared with them. I’m really passionate about helping people.

“In ‘Food Poetry,’ I translated science into recipes that could

FYI

“Ghosts Along the Coast” will feature ghosts during a walking tour Thursday, Friday and Sunday at the Godric Grove at Elings Park, 1298 Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara. Showtimes each day for the 75-minute tour are 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30.

Tickets are $15 and must be purchased for a specific tour date and time. To purchase, go to coastghosts. brownpapertickets.com. Space is limited, and advance tickets are recommended. Tickets will be sold at the door if space allows and on a firstcome, first-served basis.

“Ghosts Along the Coast” is recommended for ages 9 and older.

The walk is short, but paths aren’t well lit. Guests are strongly urged to bring flashlights or cell phones to help illuminate their way. Carpooling and ridesharing are highly recommended.

Limited parking is available in Elings Park at the top of George Bliss Drive and Jerry Harwin Drive. No dogs are allowed in Godric Grove during this event.

For more information, visit www. elingspark.org or call 805-569-5611. All proceeds benefit the Elings Park Foundation.

to help out any way that we can.”

Mr. Martin described his character, The Bookman, as a proud man who loved books and built his own shack as one of “the hobos” living in Santa Barbara’s Jungleville, the site of what became the Santa Barbara Zoo. “He worked very hard on his shack. The one thing his shack needed was a good roof. Santa Barbara had some pretty heavy rains in the winter. So his whole fate depended on getting that roof.”

Joining Mr. Martin for the NewsPress visit was actress Karen Dalton, who came in makeup and costume as the ghost of Julia Williams, a lighthouse keeper on

the Mesa for 40 years.

Staying true to character, Ms. Dalton brought Julia to life for the News-Press.

“I came here with my husband and five children,” Ms. Dalton said as she portrayed Julia. “My husband decided he didn’t like it here, and he left us. There I was with five kids and the lighthouse, and the city of Santa Barbara knew I knew how to do it (operate the lighthouse), so they offered the job to me, and I took it.

“I got $750 a year,” Ms. Dalton said. “But my husband got $950.” She said she was paid less simply because she was a woman.

“But I was making my own decisions, and I had my own paycheck,” Ms. Dalton said.

Ms. Dalton declined to explain how Julia died. That’s the surprise twist waiting for people who dared to go on the ghost tour.

The other characters and actors include:

• Yuko (Deborah Cristobal): This “picture bride” arrived in Santa Barbara from Japan in the 1920s to marry a man she’d never met. She searches for him in the afterlife after a horrible fishing accident.

• Sally Stanford (Nicole Iaquinto): The spirit of this female bootlegger is still distressed about a big delivery of Prohibition hootch that was interrupted by the opening of duck hunting season.

• Theodore M. Glancy (Alfred Smith): The Santa Barbara Morning Press editor was gunned down in 1880 by a District Attorney nominee who was angry over a negative editorial. (The Santa Barbara Morning Press is a predecessor to the News-Press.)

• F. S. Crane (Patrick Turner): He made his fortune in the Gold Rush and survived the 1853 shipwreck of steamer Winfield Scott on Anacapa Island. His ghost just wants to find his lost gold.

be useful for those interested to take better care of their health,” said Ms. Mir, who is also a model, oil painter, classical pianist and an avid photographer who enjoys taking opera lessons at UCSB and the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.

DAVE MASON /NEWS-PRESS

The ghosts of the Bookman (Kirk Martin) and lighthouse keeper Julia Williams (Karen Dalton) will tell their stories to those who dare to explore Elings Park for “Ghosts Along the Coast.”

Diversions

Thought for Today

“The secret was to just be cool, stay in God’s graces, and work it out.” — Solomon Burke

HOROSCOPE

Horoscope.com

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

ARIES — Someone close who owes you money might suddenly turn up and repay you, Aries. This might be a surprise, but you will be glad to get it. You may want to blow some of it by taking a friend out to lunch or buying someone a gift. Some beautiful dreams could haunt your sleep tonight, perhaps to the point where you feel frustrated when you wake up.

TAURUS — Today you should feel especially warm and loving toward everyone close to you, Taurus, particularly a love partner. You may want to spend some time with friends or family, if possible, or schedule a romantic evening with your significant other - or both. If you have paperwork to take care of, this is the day to do it.

GEMINI — You should be looking especially attractive today and glowing with robust health, Gemini. You’re apt to feel warm and loving, particularly toward small animals. If you’ve considered adopting a pet, this is a good day to do it. Business, work, and money matters continue to go well. You should be in a pretty good space.

CANCER — Today you should be feeling especially warm and loving toward close friends and children, Cancer. You could also especially appreciate the arts. You might attend a play or concert or decide to try your hand at one of the fine arts yourself. In the evening, go out and enjoy your friends’ company, if possible.

LEO — Today you might decide to buy a plant for every room in your house or plant a garden, Leo. If the weather is good, you might visit a nursery or botanical garden. You may not normally be attracted to plants and gardens, but today both beauty and nature seem especially appealing. Make the most of this, however temporary.

VIRGO — A warm and loving communication could come to you today from someone close. This could be an email, call, or even a gift of some kind. This could make your day, Virgo, and you will probably pass whatever good feelings you draw from it to other friends and family members.

LIBRA — A very welcome sum of extra money could come your way today, Libra, possibly out of the blue. You might want to put this money to work for you in some way, perhaps investing it or purchasing supplies or materials for personal projects. You should feel especially positive where your resources are concerned, and confident in your ability to earn.

SCORPIO — Today you may feel especially warm and loving toward just about everybody in your circle, Scorpio, even those you usually find irritating. You could also be looking especially attractive and feeling more confident than usual. You might even feel like shopping for new clothes.

SAGITTARIUS — Someone you care about but haven’t seen for a long time could suddenly contact you. You’d usually love this, Sagittarius, but today you could be too caught up in projects of your own to want to put them aside. But you will have a lot of fun with this person, and you might even interest him or her in your project.

CAPRICORN — A goal that you’ve been working on could finally be reached, Capricorn. A group of friends you might not have seen for a long time could schedule a small get-together that you will be all too glad to attend, if possible. Expect to have a lot of fun exchanging news and ideas with these people. You will probably feel particularly happy to see them.

AQUARIUS — Today you could talk to some interesting new people, Aquarius. Among them is at least one person who shares a lot of your interests and could become a close friend. The joy you receive from communicating with these people is likely to spill over into the rest of your day.

PISCES — A book or movie about a foreign country could capture your imagination and make that country seem especially appealing, Pisces. You might toy with the idea of taking a trip there in the future. If you’re serious, it might be a good idea to start making your tentative plans. You’re in a particularly practical frame of mind and have the enthusiasm to do it.

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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.

that at the

have a

PUZZLE

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THAT

After court ruling, Democrats hope to pass legislation to protect DACA immigrants

By KEVIN BESSLER THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) —

It could be an uphill battle for Democrats as they try to pass immigration legislation following an appeals court decision that struck down the DACA program.

DACA stands for Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals and allows people who came to the U.S. illegally as children to stay.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Obama administration did not have the authority to institute the program.

In a statement, President Joe Biden called the decision “unlawful” and urged Congress to make permanent legislative protections to help more than 600,000 immigrants currently protected by DACA.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, said Tuesday that Democrats will try to pass legislation protecting the immigrants during the Senate lame-duck session.

Sen. Durbin said the appeals court sent the case back to an “unfriendly judge in Texas” for further proceedings, so Congress must act.

“Let’s be very honest and not make any pretense about this. We need 60 votes in the Senate; we need 10 Republicans, we need them to come around,” said Durbin.

The three-judge panel did not dismantle the DACA program. The ruling means no new applicants will be processed, and those already enrolled are still protected

from removal.

Illinois 13th Congressional District Republican candidate Regan Deering, who is facing Democrat Nicki Budzinski in the November election, said immigration reform should be a top priority.

“I will definitely have a seat at that table,” Mr. Deering said. “We will talk about outcomes and policies that will, in fact, make everyone feel welcome here and have a path to citizenship when it’s appropriate.”

Several Republican-led states have sued the federal government over the DACA program. Governors allege the program negatively impacts their local economies as they have to cover the costs for DACA recipients’ healthcare and education.

OVERSIGHT

Continued from Page A1

Barbara Andersen, senior assistant to City Administrator Rebecca Bjork, said the council has the ultimate authority to decide who sits on the commission and can include or exclude anyone it wants. She spoke, however, in favor of staff’s recommendation to keep the application process open to just about anyone, while discouraging the naming of a former officer found guilty of sustained serious misconduct.

Most everyone who spoke, including council members, said there simply is no comparable experience to going on police ride-alongs to see first-hand what officers go through on a day-today basis.

Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez recalled his experience riding

with police on a New Year’s Eve. “It took me well over a month to process that,” he said.

The third issue discussed was the role of an independent police monitor who receives and processes complaints about alleged police misconduct, provides an ongoing analysis of complaint trends, and prepares reports for the commission in coordination with the police department.

In response to questions by Councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez, Ms. Bjork said she appointed Ms. Andersen after a careful search, and that she is up to speed on what it takes. Nevertheless, an outside expert will be retained to guide the monitoring process, Ms. Bjork said.

Ms. Andersen told the council the ordinance was the result of 13 months of work, research and

deliberations by council, staff, members of the former Community Formation Commission, members of the former Police and Fire Commission and other stakeholders, as well as public input.

“We’re moving forward quickly,” she said. “We don’t want to lose momentum” for a process she said represents “historic progress for the City of Santa Barbara.”

“What we’re trying to achieve is … to meet the highest expectations for transparency and accountability,” especially for those in the community who have trust issues concerning the police.

Police Chief Kelly Gordon said her department believes in the importance and strengthening of community oversight, but at the same time praised the “phenomenal” public servants and first responders who work for her.

“That is a 100% true statement,”

she said. Under the new ordinance, reports detailing the total number and type of internal and external complaints received and subsequent action taken, as well as the number of officers disciplined and the level of discipline imposed, will be provided to the commission for its review.

The commission will also review and discuss individual investigations in open session with the police chief, once investigations are disclosable under the California Public Records Act.

Moreover, the police chief will make presentations to the commission regarding any officer-involved shootings.

Those presentations will occur once the agency conducting such an investigation makes its determinations of finding.

email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Delaware Supreme Court ends no-excuse mail ballots, same-day voter registration

By JOEL WILLIAMS BALLOTPEDIA VIA THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — The Delaware Supreme Court recently issued a ruling in Albence v. Biggin and Mennella, finding that a state law permitting no-excuse mail-in voting and same-day voter registration was unconstitutional.

Voters in Delaware may now only receive mail ballots under certain conditions, and the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election is Saturday.

The majority-Democratic state legislature passed the legislation allowing both no-excuse mail-in voting and same-day registration

passed this summer. Legislators passed the laws after votes to put them on the ballot as a constitutional amendment failed.

In a response to the ruling, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. John Carney said, “The governor’s position has been simple and consistent,. We should make it easier – not harder – for all

eligible Delawareans to vote and participate in our democratic process.”

Jane Brady, Delaware Republican Party chair, said, “I am very pleased that the court recognized the language of the constitution means something and it was important that the ruling they issued was supported by law.”

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Publication Day:Wednesday

Due: Monday 9 a.m.

Publication Day:Thursday

Due: Tuesday 9 a.m.

Publication Day:Friday

Due: Wednesday 9 a.m.

For additional information, please email legals@newspress.com or call (805) 564-5218.

NOTICE OF PETITION

FICTITIOUS

COURTESY PHOTO Sen. Dick Durbin

As Police Chief Kelly Ann Gordon listens, Barbara Andersen, senior assistant to City Administrator Rebecca Bjork, talks to the Santa Barbara City Council about the new Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. At right, Mayor Randy Rowse listens during the discussion of the police oversight ordinance.