Santa Barbara News-Press: December 01, 2021 by Santa Barbara News-Press

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W E DN E SDAY, DE C E M BE R 1, 2 021

Getting a higher power bill? SBCE explains why By ANNELISE HANSHAW NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

Santa Barbara Clean Energy, a longheld dream of Santa Barbara’s officials, launched Oct. 1 — in the midst of a global pandemic, a drought, shortly after an oil pipeline burst in Arizona and during an infrastructure-rebuilding year for Southern California Edison. It’s an expensive time for energy. Even so, SBCE said customers’ bills shouldn’t increase more than an average of $5 from Southern California Edison’s costs when auto-enrolled in the 100% green plan. (Per California law, customers are

automatically enrolled in communitychoice-aggregation services.) But residents noticed charges larger than anticipated when bills arrived at the beginning of November. Alelia Parenteau, acting sustainability and resilience codirector, said SBCE’s prices were below that of SCE’s. The cost increased because of another line item: SCE’s delivery charge. SBCE, a community-choice aggregator, procures the energy, but SCE delivers the energy using its existing lines and bills customers. Oct. 1, SCE increased its delivery rate by two cents per kilowatt hour — over

double the premium for 100% green, Ms. Parenteau said in the Nov. 9 City Council meeting. The charge increased for all of SCE’s customers, which encompasses a 50,000 square mile area. Diane Castro, SCE spokeswoman, told the News-Press the charges fund infrastructure upgrades. “From upgrading our equipment to investing in advanced technologies, we are taking steps every day to protect the safety of CCA and SCE bundled customers and communities. The rate increase implemented across our service area on Oct. 1 was related to our wildfire risk mitigation programs

which includes covered conductor, vegetation management, inspections and maintenance and advanced technology solutions,” she said in a statement. SBCE and SCE are separate items on the bill now, whereas charges previously were altogether. Customers would not have seen itemized procurement and delivery fees prior to SBCE. “People are certainly confused,” Ms. Parenteau told the News-Press. “They say my bill has skyrocketed, but when I walk them through the part of the bill that has increased, they realize it is Edison. It shows up as a separate charge, which is confusing because they’re used to seeing

Dense fog obscures Tuesday morning

one.” Still just 3.5% of customers have opted out from the program and returned to SCE. An additional .3% have “opted down” to the “Green Start” plan, which powers a residence with at least 50% green energy for a lower cost than the 100% green plan. Officials initially estimated a much larger portion of customers would opt out of the program. A letter sent by SCE in late August stirred confusion among residents. Around 9,000 letters were sent titled “Rescheduling of Community Choice Please see SBCE on A4

Local health officials comment on latest COVID-19 variant

Warm weather expected to continue today

By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Local health experts applauded the quick identification of the Omicron variant and advised caution for the approaching flu season in a COVID-19 update for the NewsPress. While there are diverse reactions upon the announcement by world leaders, it is generally understood by health officials that only time will tell the severity of the new strain. “We know very little,” Santa Barbara County Health Care Center Internist Dr. Henning Ansorg told the News-Press. Dr. Ansorg continued to explain the efficacy of vaccines and natural immunity will not be clear for another two to three weeks. “What we do know is that this apparently has the capacity to outpace the Delta variant,” Dr. Ansorg told the News-Press. “It is more transmissible, which is why health officials are watching this so closely.” Dr. Ansorg noted the 61 passengers in flights from South Africa to the Netherlands who tested positive with the omicron variant. Despite this worrying statistic, Cottage Health Chair of Infectious Disease Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons acknowledged how quickly the new variant was located. “Our system to locate variants seems to be working well,” Dr. Fitzgibbons told the News-Press.

DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Fog blanketed State Street in Santa Barbara Tuesday.

By FORREST MCFARLAND NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria residents awoke Tuesday to a dense fog that cleared up by noon. The National Weather Service reported a dense fog advisory with visibilities as low as a 1/16th of a mile. The weather service continued the advisory through 9

am. The areas of dense fog affected the coastal waters, and a marine weather statement was in effect. Despite this, the weather service reported that temperatures will continue to be warm, with some valleys experiencing a modest increase. The high at the Santa Barbara City Fire Department was a cooler 66, 81 in Santa Maria, 77

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expected to keep skies clear in all areas allowing for safe air travels. According to the National Weather Service, a cool down is expected Thursday through Saturday with a return of low clouds and fog to coastal areas followed by a slight warming trend on Sunday and Monday. email: fmcfarland@newspress.com

Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County Health Care Center

Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons

“It’s important to remember we’re in a far better position than we’ve ever been.” Dr. Fitzgibbons noted that health care officials are far better prepared for omicron versus other variants like delta which heavily disrupted areas in India before being identified. “For the first time in this pandemic, we are aware of this variant as it’s starting to cause an increase in cases,” Dr. Fitzgibbons told the News-Press. “We need to remember that’s a very positive thing.” In regard to international travel restrictions after the variant was identified, Dr. Ansorg advised international travelers to get tested 3-5 days after arriving home regardless of vaccination status. He also advised international travelers to quarantine for seven days. Please see VARIANT on A4

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i nsi de Classified.............. B4 Life..................... B1-2 Obituaries............. A4

in Lompoc and 81 in Santa Ynez. Goleta was milder with a high of 63 while New Cuyama was fairly warm with a high of 78. As for the lows, the Santa Barbara City Fire Department went down to 49, 43 in Santa Maria, 77 in Lompoc and 39 in Santa Ynez. Goleta had a low of 41 while New Cuyama had a low of 39. A developing offshore flow is

“What we do know is that this apparently has the capacity to outpace the Delta variant. It is more transmissible, which is why health officials are watching this so closely.”

NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTOS

Dr. Henning Ansorg

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

50 COVID-19 cases reported and 5 deaths By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

Santa Barbara County reported 50 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, and five new deaths. Santa Maria had the highest number of new cases with 17, according to the Public Health Department. Neighboring Orcutt had 9 cases. Elsewhere, 10 cases were reported in Santa Barbara and unincorporated Mission Canyon.

Three cases were reported in Lompoc and nearby Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village. Four cases were in the North County areas that include Sisquoc, Casmalia, Garey, Cuyama, New Cuyama and Guadalupe. Santa Ynez Valley reported 2 cases. One case was reported in the unincorporated Goleta Valley and Gaviota. Two cases were reported in the City of Goleta. The location of one case was pending. Thirty patients are recovering in county hospitals. Another 7 are recovering in

intensive care units. Santa Barbara County now has a total of 45,691 cases, 254 of which are still infectious. The total number of deaths remains at 548. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported that 66% of the eligible 5-and-older population are fully vaccinated. The number is higher for those eligible in the city of Santa Barbara: 74%. Of the entire county population, 62% are fully vaccinated. email: kzehnder@newspress.com © 2021 Ashleigh Brilliant, 117 W. Valerio Santa Barbara CA 93101 (catalog $5). www.ashleighbrilliant.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME AND FIRE BLOTTER Alleged package thief arrested On Sunday at approximately 3:35 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 1400 block of East Mountain Drive in response to the report of an intruder who had fled a home when confronted by the resident. The resident was able to provide officers with a description of both the suspect and a vehicle. Officers were able to locate a suspect and vehicle that matched the description in the 1500 block of East Mountain Drive.

The suspect, 43-year-old Despina Flengeris of Los Angeles, was found to be in possession of wrapped gifts as well as other items which appeared to have been stolen from additional victims, authorities said. One package was traced back to a separate residence where it appeared to have been stolen after it was delivered. Ms. Flengeris was also identified as having allegedly attempted to steal a package from a delivery driver attempting to make a delivery to a third residence. However, the driver was able to recover and deliver the package.

Ms. Flengeris was arrested for burglary (felony), robbery (felony), possession of a controlled substance (misdemeanor), possession of stolen property (misdemeanor), identity theft (misdemeanor), and prowling (misdemeanor). She remains in custody at the Southern Branch Jail on $50,000 bail. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reminds community members of the following safety tips to help prevent theft: • Keep all doors and windows closed and securely fastened. Doors should have deadbolt locks and all windows should also have

locks. • Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or a wooden dowel rod in the track and install vertical bolts. This will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track. • Always lock the door to an attached garage. Do not rely on your automatic garage door opener for security. • Create the illusion that you are home by using timers on lights to make your residence appear occupied, even when no one is home.

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Today is World AIDS Day, and in observance the Santa Barbara County Health Department is joining local partners to celebrate the achievements made in HIV prevention. World Aids Day is an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS-related illnesses and show support for those living with HIV. This year’s theme is “Ending the HIV Epidemic: Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.” According to County Health, in order to end the HIV epidemic the social challenges

which block marginalized groups from equal access to services must be addressed. The only way to know for sure whether you have HIV is to get tested. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in seven people in the United States who have HIV don’t know that they are HIV positive. The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care. Those who should be tested more frequently include: men who engage in sex with other men, those who have multiple sexual partners, anyone who knowingly engages in sex with an HIV positive partner,

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

California could claw back unemployment benefits from 900,000 residents By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Hundreds of thousands of Californians who received unemployment funds from the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program are on the clock to show proof of prior employment or risk of having to pay back benefits to the state. The state’s Employment Development Department (EDD) sent notices to about 900,000 PUA claimants in midNovember, which account for roughly 30% of total claimants. These notices informed PUA claimants that under federal requirements, they must submit documentation proving they were or planned to be employed at some point during the calendar year leading up to the start of their unemployment claim. If the claimant does not submit documentation or cannot prove prior

work history as required under federal law, they could be required to pay the EDD back for overpaid benefits. “If a person fails to provide work history information, they will be found ineligible for the federal benefits they received,” the EDD said in an email to The Center Square. To maintain benefits, claimants have a limited time to submit proof of prior employment. Those whose claims were filed on or after Jan. 31, 2021 have 21 days from receiving their notice to submit documentation. For those who filed before Jan. 31 and received a benefit payment after Dec. 27, 2020, documentation must be submitted within 90 days of receiving the notice. Notices were sent out starting Nov. 10 via email, text message and through the UI portal, directing claimants to submit proper employment documentation. If a claimant does not respond to the initial

notice, the EDD will mail a follow-up notice, according to a news release. Claimants can request an extension by visiting their UI Online homepage and selecting “Request More Time” in the “Upload Employment Documents” section. If someone is found ineligible for some benefits received after not submitting documentation, they will first receive a “Notice of Determination for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance,” which can be appealed. Then, the EDD will send a “Notice of Potential Overpayment,” which gives claimants another chance to provide information to determine if there was an overpayment of benefits. If an overpayment is confirmed, the claimant will receive a Notice of Overpayment. They can either appeal or seek a waiver if the overpayment causes financial hardship in non-fraud

cases. The EDD first sent out notices to claimants about the federal requirements for proving employment history in August 2021 “to grant time for claimants to prepare accordingly,” the EDD said in an email to The Center Square. According to the Sacramento Bee, about 2.9 million Californians have received benefits since March 2020, when the PUA program was created. The EDD said that claimants who did not receive a notice had already submitted proper documentation to meet the federal requirements or did not apply to them. The PUA program ended on Sept. 4, though individuals could apply for benefits through Oct. 6 to cover weeks of unemployment leading up to the September deadline. Since the program began, state officials discovered that the EDD paid out an estimated $20 billion in

Court blocks vaccination mandate for California prison workers By MADISON HIRNEISEN

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of a lower court’s order issued in September pending an appeal that would have mandated that all prison workers be fully vaccinated or obtain an exemption. The order would have gone into effect on Jan. 12.

THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — A federal appeals court has granted a temporary stay on an order that would have required all California prison workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain a medical or religious exemption. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of a lower court’s order issued in September pending an appeal that would have mandated that all prison workers be fully vaccinated or obtain an exemption. The order would have gone into effect on Jan. 12. The Friday decision will block enforcement of the mandate until at least March 2022, when the appeal hearing will be scheduled, according to court documents. The original vaccination mandate was ordered in September by U.S. District Judge Jon S. Tigar, who aligned with a vaccine mandate recommendation

from a court-appointed receiver. Under the judge’s order, workers at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) institutions and inmates who want to work outside the institution or have in-person visitation must be fully vaccinated or obtain an exemption. “Once the virus enters a facility, it is very difficult to contain, and the dominant route by which it enters a prison is through infected staff,” Judge Tigar wrote in the September order. The order was appealed by CDCR and Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month. The governor’s support for the appeal came after he had ordered a vaccination or testing requirement for all state workers, including correctional officers.

The parties involved in the appeal requested a stay of the order over concerns that the mandate could cause a major walkout among correctional officers at the state’s 34 prisons who would rather quit than comply with the mandate, according to the Los Angeles Times. In a statement, a spokesperson from the governor’s press office told The Center Square that the CDCR has implemented several protocols to keep inmates safe throughout the pandemic and will continue to prioritize safety inside state prisons. “California has led the nation in its response to COVID-19,” the spokesperson said. “Since early in the pandemic, the California Department of Corrections and

Rehabilitation implemented rigorous COVID safety measures, including offering vaccines to all incarcerated persons in CDCR facilities, mandating that all staff be vaccinated or wear N95 masks and submit to twice weekly testing, and requiring vaccinations for staff in health settings.” They said California will continue to lead with science in responding to the pandemic and to “responsibly operate the state’s prisons to protect the safety of incarcerated persons and staff.” More than 51,600 state prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19. According to data from the CDCR, 242 have died. Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square. ASSISTED LIVING

fraudulent unemployment benefits to criminals, which accounts for about 11% of all benefits paid, according to The Associated Press. Under this latest requirement, if the EDD determines that someone intentionally committed fraud by submitting false information to receive benefits, that person will be required to pay a 30% penalty on top of the overpaid amount. The person who committed fraud could also be disqualified from future benefits for up to 23 weeks, according to the EDD. For those who did not commit fraud but were still paid unemployment benefits they were not eligible to collect, the EDD will send a notice requiring those individuals to repay the overpaid amount. Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

Las Vegas woman steals $175K in California unemployment benefits By COLE LAUTERBACH THE CENTER SQUARE REGIONAL EDITOR

(The Center Square) — A Las Vegas woman has pleaded guilty to defrauding the California unemployment system of more than $175,000 in unemployment benefits by using dozens of stolen identities. Danielle Lacharis Buck, also known as Danielle Lacharis Lakey, copped to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Nevada. She faces up to 22 years in prison. Ms. Buck, 46, admittedly stole $175,622 in unemployment insurance benefits from the California Employment Development Department from September 2010 to April 2019. Ms. Buck leveraged her job in the medical industry to steal private information, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “She used her access to patient and co-worker information to steal personal MEMORY CARE

identifying information – such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of unsuspecting individuals – and then electronically filed false unemployment claims using the stolen names and information,” an Oct. 26 news release said. Ms. Buck filed more than 50 false unemployment insurance claims using at least 40 different identities she had stolen. The office said Ms. Buck took the benefits in cash from ATMs using debit cards in Los Vegas and Los Angeles. The indictment was unsealed June 6. She initially faced 13 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, unauthorized access of a device and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Kent Dawson scheduled Buck’s sentencing for Jan. 25. California EDD officials confirmed last week that the state had given out an estimated $20 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits, representing 11% of the total jobless dollars given out since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Just 24 days until you know what

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Solvang Chamber brings Christmas cheer to businesses The Solvang Chamber of Commerce celebrated their centennial by delivering 100 Christmas trees with a horse drawn carriage to the business community of Solvang. The Chamber of Commerce worked with the Agin brothers to deliver fresh cut Christmas trees to business owners purchased for $100. Anticipating the Danish town’s most exciting season, businesses are brightening their storefronts with Agin’s trees and other holiday apparel. The Chamber partnered with the City of Solvang to prepare businesses for the holidays with not only trees, but also by distributing local bakery cookies and sparkling cider, enticing consumers to shop locally. The Chamber invites everyone to participate in the official tree lighting of Solvang on Friday at 5:00 p.m. For more on Solvang Christmas festivities and Julefest, visit solvangjulefest.org. - Forrest McFarland

SBCAST to host Holiday Bazaar Bizarre Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science and Technology (SBCAST) will host a Holiday Bazaar Bizarre on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is complimentary and includes the opportunity to shop new and vintage jewelry, crafts and more. Thes items offered at the event are made almost exclusively by local vendors. The bazaar will also feature bio tech installations and music, as well as an appearance by Santa. Attendees will be greeted by the SBCAST 2022 Hope Tree, a gifting tree where all are welcome to give and receive complimentary items hanging from the branches. Located at 513 Garden Street, the Bazaar Bizarre will be hosted outdoors in a spacious courtyard nearby the Saturday morning Farmers Market on Cota Street. Walking or biking is encouraged, and attendees are asked to be either vaccinated or masked. DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS

Nutcrackers and more grace the giant Christmas tree that rose at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara.

- Katherine Zehnder

‘Be sure that you have all the vaccine protection you need’ VARIANT

Continued from Page A1 Both doctors shared similar concerns as this variant was announced at the forefront of flu season. Dr. Ansorg told the News-Press, “This time of year is concerning for all other types of viruses that cause flu-like symptoms,” while Dr. Fitzgibbons extrapolated, “We need to be aware of the possibility that a more infectious

strain will be with us this flu season.” However, Dr. Ansorg reiterated that standard practices which prevent the spread of COVID-19 additionally protect against influenza. He also encouraged people to get tested, “at the first sign or symptom,” as COVID-19 tests also test for influenza which traditionally dominate the upcoming season. Other than abiding by widely regarded best practices like social distancing and masks, both doctors highly recommend

getting vaccinated as flu season approaches. “It’s the best advice we can give at this moment,” Dr. Ansorg told the News-Press. Dr. Fitzgibbons told the News-Press, “Keeping in mind the threat from both COVID-19 and from influenza, a strong recommendation is to be sure that you have all the vaccine protection you need to prevent infection.” email: fmcfarland@newspress.com

SCE letters led to confusion SBCE

Continued from Page A1 Aggregation Service Request.” Customers called SCE’s call center about this service request that they never made. Some were directed to call Santa Barbara City Hall and opt-out of SBCE. Two smaller batches of letters were sent out, and SCE representatives told the City it was an automatic letter sent during a glitch in the system. “SCE remains committed to supporting our customers’ right to purchase power from a community-choice aggregator and working closely with SBCE and other CCAs on customer communications. We regret any unintended confusion caused when an auto-generated letter from SCE was sent in error,” Ms. Castro said. “SCE took immediate steps to correct this issue and will continue to coordinate with SBCE to facilitate a smooth customer transition and continue to meet weekly to coordinate implementation.” The City of Santa Barbara sent a demand letter to SCE Nov. 10 reviewing the conflict and asking that the company fix issues before phase two. Ms. Parenteau said she hasn’t noticed any changes in SCE’s operations, but the company agreed to stop automatic letters. Meanwhile, City Hall gets a couple calls each day from customers who do not have SBCE’s correct phone number. Ms. Parenteau says SCE’s call center gives out the City Hall number, which is not correct. She believes some agents aren’t familiar with SBCE, two-three months after the City warned the

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INLAND

IBARRA, Jaime 05/30/61 – 11/05/21

On November 5th Jaime, a husband, father, son, brother, uncle and grandpa passed away after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by family. Jaime was born in Santa Barbara, the second child of Teodocio & Evangelina Ibarra. He attended local schools and was in the class of 1980 at Santa Barbara High School. He worked at various jobs in the local electronics industry until his illness. He was a very gifted drummer who played with several local bands over the years including a band of music majors at UCSB while he was still in high school. He is preceded in death by his father Teodocio. He is survived by his beloved wife Betty, mother Evangelina, siblings Gabriel (Diana), Armando (Mary Ellen), Angelica (Guy), Arturo (Diana), Estela (Ed), Gilbert and Socorro (Matt), children Emily and Elliott, daughter-in-law Jere and granddaughter Evangelina. He is also survived by nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins too numerous to name. Services will be held Friday, December 3rd at St. Athanasius Orthodox Church, 300 Sumida Gardens Ln in Santa Barbara at 8:30 am. Graveside services will be at Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Dr in Santa Barbara at 10:00 am.

Beloved Wife, Mother and Grandmother, Vonzzaa Dursteler Humpherys passed away Thursday, November 25, 2021, at the age of 89. Vonzzaa was born July 1, 1932, in Preston, Franklin County, Idaho, to John Baumann Dursteler and Lois Edna Jensen. She was the eldest of four children. Vonzzaa was raised on a farm in Whitney, Idaho. She graduated from Preston High School in 1950. The following year she attended USU in Logan, Utah. She married Kent C Humpherys June 11, 1952 in the Logan Temple. Together, they had 6 children and lived in 3 states. They lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, Albuquerque, New Mexico DQG ÀQDOO\ 6DQWD %DUEDUD &DOLIRUQLD ZKHUH WKH\ OLYHG IRU 32 years before retiring and moving to Logan, Utah. As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Vonzzaa served in many different leadership callings. She taught her family the Gospel of Jesus Christ and was an example of love and charity as she served many people. She enjoyed making Ceramic Dolls. She shared her love of doll making with her friends and family. She also enjoyed sewing and crafts and was quick to share her skills with others. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Kent C Humpherys and 5 of her children: Shauna (Dennis) Cropper, Debra (David) Borrowman, Bryan (Amy) Humpherys, Diana (Glen) Kartchner, and Brenda (John) Gregory; as well as 19 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-greatgrandchild. She is also survived by her brothers John Glade Dursteler, and Charles DeVon Dursteler and her sister LaDawn Erickson. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Brett Humpherys, daughter in-law Anne Humpherys, and 2 greatgrandchildren, Emily Boyd, and Brooks Cropper. A special thank you to the Cache Valley Assisted Living Center for their kindness and care for our mom. A viewing will be held on Thursday evening, December 2, 2021, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Allen Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street, Logan Utah. Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 3rd at 10:30 a.m. in the Mortuary chapel with a viewing prior from 9:00 -10:15am. Interment will be in the Providence City Cemetery. Services will be livestreamed and may be viewed online at www.allenmortuaries.net

Obituary notices are published daily in the Santa Barbara News-Press and also appear on our website www.newspress.com To place an obituary, please email the text and photo(s) to obits@newspress.com or fax text only (no photos) to (805) 966-1421. Please include your name, address, contact phone number and the date(s) you would like the obituary to be published. Photos should be in jpeg format with at least 200 dpi. If a digital photo is not available, a picture may be brought into our ofﬁce for scanning. We will lay out the obituary using our standard format. A formatted proof of the obituary and the cost will be emailed back for review and approval. The minimum obituary cost to print one time is $150.00 for up to 1.5” in length -- includes 1 photo and up to 12 lines of text, approximately 630 characters; up to approximately 930 characters without a photo. Add $60.00 for each additional inch or partial inch after the ﬁrst 1.5”; up to approximately 700 characters per additional inch.

´7KHUHIRUH ZH DUH DOZD\V FRQÀGHQW NQRZLQJ ZKLOVW ZH DUH DW KRPH LQ WKH ERG\ ZH DUH DEVHQW IURP WKH /RUG IRU ZH ZDON E\ IDLWK QRW E\ VLJKW :H DUH FRQÀGHQW , VD\ DQG willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” II Cor. 5: 6-8

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

Jaime, your family loves you and will miss you until we meet again. Play beautiful music for our Lord.

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

The deadline for Tuesday through Friday’s editions is 10 a.m. on the previous day; Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s editions all deadline at 12-noon on Thursday (Paciﬁc Time).

INLAND

76 40

71 36

74 36

84 37

71 46

65 45

64 44

65 42

72 44

COASTAL

Pismo Beach 75/44

COASTAL

Shown is today's weather. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows. Maricopa 77/52

Guadalupe 76/43

Santa Maria 79/45

Vandenberg 70/47

New Cuyama 82/41 Ventucopa 81/49

Los Alamos 85/46

Buellton 83/41

Solvang 83/39

Gaviota 68/50

SANTA BARBARA 71/46 Goleta 73/45

Carpinteria 70/50 Ventura 71/51

AIR QUALITY KEY Good Moderate

Source: airnow.gov Unhealthy for SG Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Not Available

High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

63/41 66/41 87 in 1977 30 in 2004

PRECIPITATION 24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. Month to date (normal) Season to date (normal)

0.00” 0.02” (1.27”) 1.21” (2.00”)

City Cuyama Goleta Lompoc Pismo Beach Santa Maria Santa Ynez Vandenberg Ventura

STATE CITIES Bakersfield Barstow Big Bear Bishop Catalina Concord Escondido Eureka Fresno Los Angeles Mammoth Lakes Modesto Monterey Napa Oakland Ojai Oxnard Palm Springs Pasadena Paso Robles Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo Santa Monica Tahoe Valley

74/47/s 75/44/s 60/25/s 72/30/s 76/62/s 69/44/s 84/46/s 60/44/s 71/45/s 82/54/s 57/22/s 68/43/s 74/51/s 73/41/s 68/48/s 86/55/s 72/51/s 87/59/s 84/56/s 82/40/s 67/42/s 71/53/s 69/52/s 75/50/s 82/45/s 75/49/s 59/25/s

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 77/40/s 65/45/s 70/43/s 69/43/s 73/43/s 76/40/s 65/47/s 62/50/s

69/46/s 47/36/pc 50/45/c 74/48/s 71/42/pc 76/56/pc 79/65/pc 50/40/pc 48/41/pc 51/42/pc 83/56/s 60/47/pc 63/49/sh 52/34/pc 58/46/c 54/45/pc

POINT ARENA TO POINT PINOS

Wind south-southwest 3-6 knots today. Waves 2 feet or less with a west-southwest swell 1-3 feet at 14 seconds. Visibility clear.

POINT CONCEPTION TO MEXICO

Wind south-southwest 3-6 knots today. Waves 2 feet or less with a west-southwest swell 1-3 feet at 14 seconds. Visibility clear.

SANTA BARBARA HARBOR TIDES Date Time High Time Dec. 1 Dec. 2 Dec. 3

6:43 a.m. 7:40 p.m. 7:17 a.m. 8:35 p.m. 7:54 a.m. 9:30 p.m.

LAKE LEVELS

6.0’ 4.1’ 6.5’ 4.1’ 6.9’ 4.1’

Low

12:11 a.m. 1:35 p.m. 12:50 a.m. 2:20 p.m. 1:29 a.m. 3:07 p.m.

1.1’ -0.1’ 1.4’ -0.8’ 1.7’ -1.3’

AT BRADBURY DAM, LAKE CACHUMA 72/47/s 74/43/pc 57/24/pc 70/29/pc 69/57/pc 69/45/s 77/46/pc 56/43/c 72/45/s 75/49/pc 58/24/pc 68/44/s 72/47/s 69/42/s 66/46/s 75/52/s 64/49/s 83/59/pc 77/55/pc 76/39/s 66/43/s 69/53/pc 66/50/s 73/47/s 74/45/s 67/49/pc 60/26/pc

NATIONAL CITIES Atlanta Boston Chicago Dallas Denver Houston Miami Minneapolis New York City Philadelphia Phoenix Portland, Ore. St. Louis Salt Lake City Seattle Washington, D.C.

Wind north-northeast 4-8 knots today. Waves 1-3 feet with a west-southwest swell 2-4 feet at 14 seconds. Visibility clear.

TIDES

LOCAL TEMPS Today Hi/Lo/W 82/41/s 73/45/s 78/44/s 75/44/s 79/45/s 84/41/s 70/47/s 71/51/s

MARINE FORECAST

SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

TEMPERATURE

On November 19, 2021 our beloved patriarch Jack Ward, Jr. went to be with the Lord. Jack was born March 3, 1933 in Santa Barbara. He attended local schools, graduated S.B. High School in 1951. Jack served in the Navy during the Korean War. He married the love of his life Betty; together they had 5 children, David, Debbie, Darlene, Derek and Joseph. Jack was employed by SCM Corp. for 30 years. He then became owner of Ward Copy Systems and Central Coast Copiers. Jack then went on to work for the L.A. Times. Then as a courier for Cottage Hospital retiring at the age of 80. He was very involved in the community as a Cub Scout leader, Goleta Valley Little League Coach, started the original S.B. High football All Star games, Bishop Diego Dads Club and football game coordinator from 1968 to 1975. He also ran for City Council in 1966. A member of the Elk’s Lodge #613 and the Knights of Columbus council 5300 at St. Raphael Church. Jack was preceded in death by his wife Betty, sons David, Derek and Joseph. He is survived by his daughters Debbie Johnson (Jerry), Darlene Hayes (Dwight), daughters-in-law Susan Ward and Cathy Ward. He was a proud Papa of 11 grandchildren. Jack (Shiloh) Hayes, Joseph (Dena) Hayes, Patrick (Stefanie) Hayes, Dane (Alis) Ward, Taylor (Chloe) Ward, Dodge Ward, Dayli (Joshua) Braun, Jessica Johnson, Andrew Johnson, Anthony Johnson and William Ward. He had 16 great-grandchildren that he adored. He loved his family, his church and his town of Santa Barbara. He was an avid sports fan. You could always ÀQG KLP LQ KLV IDYRULWH FKDLU FKHHULQJ IRU 86& RU %LVKRS 'LHJR +H KDG D JUHDW ORYH IRU cruising State Street on Sundays and then head to Harry’s Café. Services for Jack will be Saturday 12/4/21 at 10:00 am at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Ave. A special thank you to all for all of the care givers and staff of Samarkand and all the 'UV DQG PHGLFDO VWDII ZKR FDUHG IRU KLP ,Q OLHX RI ÁRZHUV GRQDWLRQV PD\ EH VHQW WR Bishop Diego High School.

INLAND

84 41

Santa Barbara through 6 p.m. yesterday

HUMPHERYS, Vonzzaa Dursteler

email: ahanshaw@newspress.com

LOCAL FIVE-DAY FORECAST

ALMANAC

WARD, Jack

company about the call center’s shortcomings. “Ultimately, their misbehavior hasn’t resulted in significant optouts because our community has been asking for this program for a significant amount of time,” she said. The City contacted the Public Utilities Commission, alleging SCE violated the Code of Conduct. The commission wouldn’t rule given the few number of opt-outs. Ms. Parenteau doesn’t anticipate any legal action. “This is going to be a long and collaborative partnership, so we’re trying to come to a solution together,” she said. She welcomes calls if residents have questions. More information, including incentives for customers, is online at sbcleanenergy.com. SBCE users can fill out a form online and receive a voucher for incentives from local businesses. Bunnin Chevrolet offers participants $1,500 off a Chevy Bolt EV or $1,000 off other electric or hybrid vehicles. “I wholeheartedly support the program because it gives our residents the opportunity to use the cleanest, most earth-friendly electricity we can purchase on their behalf. I know people are concerned about climate change and reducing their carbon footprint, and I appreciate they are also concerned about their household budgets,” Mayor Cathy Murillo told the News-Press. “Our clean energy program provides options.” The “Green Start” plan is $0.012 per kilowatt hour less than the 100% green plan and is priced at SCE’s rates.

72/50/s 53/40/sh 58/37/pc 76/60/s 74/41/s 78/60/pc 80/64/pc 47/35/c 55/42/c 58/43/c 82/55/pc 52/39/c 71/45/s 54/35/pc 48/38/c 63/46/c

At Lake Cachuma’s maximum level at the point at which water starts spilling over the dam holds 188,030 acre-feet. An acre-foot is 325,851 gallons, equivalent to the amount of water consumed annually by 10 people in an urban environment. Storage 92,087 acre-ft. Elevation 711.56 ft. Evaporation (past 24 hours) 10.1 acre-ft. Inflow 13.0 acre-ft. State inflow 36.7 acre-ft. Storage change from yest. -37 acre-ft. Report from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

New

First

Dec 3

Dec 10

WORLD CITIES

Today 6:48 a.m. 4:49 p.m. 3:36 a.m. 3:02 p.m.

Full

Dec 18

Thu. 6:48 a.m. 4:49 p.m. 4:48 a.m. 3:40 p.m.

Last

Dec 26

Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Beijing 48/24/pc 52/28/pc Berlin 46/34/r 38/28/pc Cairo 70/58/c 69/55/s Cancun 79/70/t 81/70/sh London 48/33/pc 40/32/pc Mexico City 72/47/c 72/46/s Montreal 34/27/pc 43/24/r New Delhi 74/58/pc 69/58/pc Paris 51/38/sh 42/33/pc Rio de Janeiro 78/72/c 77/71/pc Rome 61/53/sh 60/47/r Sydney 73/66/r 77/65/pc Tokyo 64/45/r 55/47/s W-weather, s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

PAGE

Managing Editor Dave Mason dmason@newspress.com

Life

W E D N E S DAY, D E C E M B E R 1, 2 0 21

Return of Comic-Con Fans rejoice at more relaxed, special edition in San Diego

When asked which character he was dressed as, this sorcerer simply said, “No one in particular. It’s just me.”

By DAVE MASON NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

any versions of Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Superman and others descended onto a convention center in a sight San Diego hasn’t seen since 2019. The pandemic interrupted the longtime San Diego Comic-Con, but finally, the in-person version of the convention returned during Thanksgiving weekend. Normally the famous convention involves 135,000 fans in July, but this was a scaled-back “special edition” with fewer fans and much more breathing room. For a change of pace, fans weren’t constantly bumping into each other in the dealers’ room. There were some long lines for a few panels, but many fans found they could walk straight into panels without waiting. The result was a San Diego Comic Con with a more relaxed pace, but fans still showed up in intricate costumes, which varied from a British queen to sorcerers. One fan came as Geoffrey the giraffe from Toys R Us. He put the head on just for photos, taken by other fans. Some things never change. Comic-Con is a community where everyone shares a love of fantasy and science fiction, and fans

talk to each other as easily as they chat with friends or family. As his mother listened, a young boy dressed as Spengler from “Ghostbusters” was eager to discuss the new movie “Afterlife” with this writer. Comic-Con also is the place where Hollywood studios and TV networks promote their shows with panels of actors before large ballrooms. It’s normally also where Marvel Comics and DC Comics, the two top comic book companies and the businesses behind many of today’s movies, present their artists and writers. But this year was different. There were few panels about TV shows or movies, with the most notable one being a virtual presentation of NBC’s “La Brea” actors. There weren’t big DC Comics and Marvel Comics panels. Instead, this was a less commercial Comic-Con, and the gathering had the feeling of a traditional, fan-run convention with panels covering topics fans love. One popular panel involved reallife lawyers and judges debating the fine points of issues such as whether Santa Claus violates trespassing laws. The conclusion was St. Nick was fine as long as he got an invitation to enter a home, which could be legally defined as Please see COMIC-CON on B2

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

A fan gets into the spirit (and costume) in the dealers room at the special edition last weekend of San Diego Comic Con. It was the first inperson version of the famed convention since 2019.

At left, a fan dresses as Geoffrey from Toys R Us. At right, Anna Yeutter dresses as DC Comics hero Hawkwoman. Her friend, who designed the costume, came as Hawkman.

At top, the Force is with these fans. Above, fans dress as the medical staff in the animated “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”

NEWS

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

ESTATE SALE OF TREASURES 2173 CREEKSIDE DRIVE SOLVANG FRIDAY, DEC 3, SAT. DEC 4 & SUN DEC 5 9:00-3:00PM

FURNITURE:

HOUSEHOLD:

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Glasses: wine/martini/margarita/ brandy snifters, liquor decanters, Dish Sets, Coffee Mugs, Pots & Pans, Baking Dishes, Utensils, Bowls, George Foreman Grill, Bedding, Lamps, Samsung TV

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Dr. Barton’s holiday gift list

iving through the pandemic for nearly two long years has actually given us opportunities to make our lives easier. Some new products and services out there can also make great gifts for friends and loved ones. If you are in a giving mood and looking for ideas, here are some suggestions. 1. Virtual assistants. Many of us are working on multiple projects during this time, and personally, I was getting overwhelmed keeping it all organized, so I reached out to a verified VA through LinkedIn. I spend a lot of time working on social media, and she has helped me stay on track, taught me some things and made it much easier by just lightening the load with a few clicks. VAs are also not very expensive. 2. Professional organizers. Because I am working from home, seeing clients, the house needs to stay in order and be clean at all times. It’s also a social center because we hardly leave the place these days.

Gabrielle and Lucy Gabrielle and Lucy love to snuggle together. And they’d like to share their purrs with you too. The five-year-old Siamese mix cats are awaiting adoption through the Goleta-based Animal Shelter Assistance Program. Gabrielle is a dilute tortie,

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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

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people walking with poles the past couple of years and thought I’d give it a try. It’s really quite nice. Your upper body gets a workout as well as your legs, and you feel a little like you’re trekking through the Himalayas. It adds another dimension to my daily walks, breaks up the routine, and helps in fending off any aggressive geese coming my way. From $20 to $100 on Amazon. Making life easier and healthier has become a priority for many of us. Anything that can help us feel better and get more done in the new year is a great gift. And remember, it’s always better to give than to receive. Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., is an award-winning therapist and humanitarian. He is also a columnist, the author of seven books, and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com with nearly 27 million readers. Reach him at barton@bartongoldsmith.com. His column appears Sundays and Wednesdays in the News-Press.

while Lucy is a brown and white lynx point. They’re bonded sisters. Like others among ASAP’s cats, Lucy and Gabrielle may move to a foster home during the pandemic, but they remain available for adoption. For adoption applications and more information, go to www.asapcats. org. — Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

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 ServicesLompoc. • 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

Poppies to present artist Arnie Rudman

Military & Senior Discounts Available

CALL NOW!

partner (and yourself), consider that it will pay for itself over time (especially if you’ve been hiring a housekeeping service). 4. The electric bicycle. This invention has changed my exercise routine mostly because it’s just plain fun! I can ride 30 miles, see a lot of nature, and I’m exercising the whole time, but it doesn’t feel like it. I keep it on pedalassist, so I have to do my part, but honestly it doesn’t feel like I’m working out. Once I hop on, I’m like a kid riding my bike through the neighborhood, and I am getting plenty of exercise without even thinking about it. By the way, you can spend thousands on one of these. Mine was $599 on Amazon, and it came with a basket for my dog. This might make a great gift for your sweetheart. 5. Walking poles. I have seen

Shelters seek homes for pets

The Bath or Shower You’ve Always Wanted

IN AS LITTLE AS A DAY

Getting a professional organizer to help you create some extra space or to make it easier to find everything you need can save you hours of frustration. Just one session can make a big difference. For $25-$75 per hour, you can get a good one on wyzant. com. This would make a great gift for anyone in need of this kind of help. 3. Robot mop and vacuum. Most all of us are a little more germ-conscious than in the past, and being able to keep the house looking like it has a daily maid service has really helped. A robot mop and vacuum work great, they’re easy to program on your phone, and they do a great job. Research it, and you won’t be sorry. We even named ours (Snowpiercer the mop and Rosie the Roomba). Both came from Costco. If you’re thinking of buying this as a gift to your

PETS of the WEEK

FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

OJAI —Guest artist Arnie Rudman and his turned-wood art will be featured from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Poppies Arts and Gifts, 323 E. Matilija St., Ojai. Some of the pieces were made

from wood that came from the 2017 Thomas Fire. The event will also feature live music from Ojai musician James Baker, who will be sharing his love for comedy and fun. Mr.

Baker performed at various music venues throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, as well as with local improv groups and in theatrical productions at the Ojai Art Center.

The event is free, and refreshments will be available. For more information, visit poppiesartandgifts.indiemade.com. — Katherine Zehnder

26th Annual

La Arcada Plaza

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DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS

Gigi Edgley, who starred as Chiana on “Farscape,” talks about how the pandemic interrupted efforts to bring the popular sci-fi series back on the air.

COMIC-CON

Continued from Page B1

a display of milk and cookies near the fireplace. By the way, Santa Claus showed up in the panel’s audience and defended himself eloquently. The panel also talked about whether Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer faced nasal discrimination and whether Frosty the Snowman can sue others for climate change, seeing how he melted into a puddle. The legal eagles discussed the grounds that would make those suits possible. The esteemed panel, by the way, included Judge John Owens of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Magistrate Judges Stacie Beckerman and Mitch Dembin, and Kathy Steinman, deputy city attorney for San Diego.

Other panels touched on sci-fi news such as efforts to reboot the popular sci-fi show “Babylon 5” with a new cast. If the greenlight is given, the show could air on The CW during the 2022-23 season. And in an unusual challenge, special effects supervisors for movies such as “Inception,” “Star Trek: First Contact” and “Independence Day” were shown clips from classic “Doctor Who” episodes from the 20th century. They then had to figure out how to create those episodes’ old-school effects with ordinary household objects. No pressure. While there wasn’t the usual number of famous movie and TV stars walking around, Brent Spiner, aka Data of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” came on Friday to promote his book, “Fan Fiction: A Mem-Noir: Inspired by True Events.” Not everyone got in

to see him. The line into the panel stretched over three halls. But other stars such as Gigi Edgley, who played Chiana on “Farscape,” signed autographs. And Ms. Edgley sat with “Star Trek” writer Jimmy Diggs on a panel looking at the stars closest to Earth. She talked about how the pandemic interrupted efforts to bring “Farscape,” the series about a human astronaut who’s thrown across the galaxy, back on TV. One Comic-Con tradition remained last weekend. The convention usually ends with a large ballroom of fans singing along with “Once More, With Feeling,” the musical episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” It proved to be the right note to end an upbeat but more relaxed convention that fans enjoyed. email: dmason@newspress.com

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2021

Diversions HOROSCOPE s PUZZLES

SUDOKU

Thought for Today

By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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'LIILFXOW\ /HYHO 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 Sunday’s Life section.

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Answers to previous CODEWORD C O M P A R E D E

F O X T R O T

G E S T U R E

F L U E N C Y

C S

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O B L D

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C U N R D W F Y Z O

A Q 2021-11-30

Codeword is a fun game with simple rules, and a great way to test your knowledge of the English language.

A V O W

How to play Codeword

N Y L O N

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

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M L K P G B E J V H X T S

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 THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

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DAILY BRIDGE

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ARIES — Get organized in the morning because later you’re going to be more scattered. If you start with a solid plan for how to tackle the day’s tasks, you’re more likely to accomplish everything. If you don’t remain strong and on task, other people will take advantage of your generous nature. You could end up doing more favors than work. TAURUS — There may be a frenzy of activity around you, but you’ll be able to handle it. Your charm will get you through any door. You should be able to juggle many things at once, and others will look to you for support. You’ll have a level head and calm demeanor and handle things diplomatically and honestly. Don’t be surprised if things get more insane as the day wears on, but this shouldn’t faze you. GEMINI — Be careful about blaming yourself for something that you aren’t responsible for. Maybe you influenced someone to act a certain way and now that action is backfiring negatively. Remember that everyone makes his or her own decisions. Ultimately, you aren’t responsible for decisions that someone else makes, regardless of any advice you may have given him or her. CANCER — You’re at an emotionally climactic time, and your feelings are erratic and perhaps unmanageable. Don’t feel pressured into making logic out of anything. Your job is to take a deep breath and relax. Remember that life is an exciting adventure full of twists and turns. Erratic, roller-coaster emotions are a reminder of that. Enjoy the ride. LEO — Don’t box yourself into a corner and shut out everything around you except your immediate concerns. The more you isolate yourself and insist that you don’t need anyone else’s help, the more frustrated and sad you’ll become. If you’re lonely, scared, or angry, admit this to yourself and others. Extend yourself outward instead of drawing further in. VIRGO — You’re likely to take things to heart a bit more than usual. Dramatic changes in your environment and attitude will keep you on your toes. The wonderful thing about this is that you’ll gain a great deal of insight and understanding of other people. You’ll be more aware of other people’s feelings and perspectives, helping you make more educated decisions in your

affairs. LIBRA — Unexpected people, especially women, will surprise you with what they say. Your mother may bring up an issue that you hadn’t even considered. Perhaps your emotions get stirred when you recall something that a significant woman in your life said. Your feelings are bouncing from your heart to your head and back again. Take the feelings into account, but don’t let them dominate your decisions. SCORPIO — Today you want things done your way and your way only. Your mood is quite stubborn and others would be foolish to think they could change your mind about anything. You’re the only person allowed to have that job. The truth is that you may change your mind several times today, and that’s fine. Just don’t expect anyone else to keep up with you! SAGITTARIUS — You may run up against a brick wall early today. Things should ease a bit by evening. Remember that the harder you push against that wall, the more your head will pound, the more bruised your shoulder will become, and the more energy you’ll expend. You’ll be surprised at how easy things get when you step back. You’ll see that you can go around the wall without charging through it. CAPRICORN — You may feel like a racehorse crammed in the starting gate. You’re stuck in a small spot, stomping your feet, and anxiously waiting for the starting bell. You may feel powerless since you have no control over when the gate will open. Be patient. Don’t waste all your energy fidgeting. The gate will open soon enough and you’ll be up and running. AQUARIUS — Your mood will be up and down and back and forth over the course of the day. You’re riding high from the past couple days, and you feel more bonded with the people at your side. You feel a nurturing love from someone who’s keeping your heart happy and your mind at ease. Toward the end of the day you may feel that people aren’t as sincere as they seemed at first. Stay on guard. PISCES — Be careful about opening your mouth in situations in which it isn’t appropriate. When the conversation lags, you feel it’s your duty to pipe up. By doing so, you may launch the conversation onto an inappropriate topic. You may want to say something just so you can shift the focus to you. The better choice is to allow the silence to sit peacefully.

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Horoscope.com Wednesday, December 1, 2021

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“Certainly the research shows that grateful people are more innovative thinkers.” — Deborah Norville

HOROSCOPE

CODEWORD PUZZLE

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

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(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: PERCH GUAVA NORMAL ORNERY Answer: The sports bar was full of adult males. After their team lost, the bar was full of — “GROAN” MEN

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

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PUBLIC NOTICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003113. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: ALMA’S CLEANING SERVICE, 1121 CACIQUE STREET APT. B, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: ALMA R BERNABE, 1121 CACIQUE STREET APT. B, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/08/2021 by: E28, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 08, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL) NOV 24; DEC 1, 8, 15 / 2021--57765

To place a Public Notice/Legal Ad in the Santa Barbara News-Press

Call 805-564-5218 NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SHELBY CATHERINE BRADY Case Number: 21PR00540 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: SHELBY CATHERINE BRADY A Petition for Probate has been filed by DAWN M. BRADY in the SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA. The Petition for Probate requests that DAWN M. BRADY be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: 01/20/2022 at Time: 9:00 AM, in Dept.: 5, located at SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101; PO Box 21107, Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107, Anacapa Division. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk. Attorney for petitioner: Deborah K. Boswell, Esq. Address: Mullen & Henzell, L.L.P. 112 E. Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: 805 966-1501 DEC 1, 8, 15 / 2021--57780

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003228. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: FOOD IS LOVE MARKET & DELI, 135 E CARRILLO ST., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: FOOD IS LOVE MARKET & DELI LLC, 135 E CARRILLO ST., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. STATE OF INC.: CA. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/24/2021 by: E40, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 11, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003060. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: BAYLON & SONS LANDSCAPE GARDENING, 5262 CALLE REAL #358, GOLETA, CA 93117, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: CARLOS BAYLON, 5262 CALLE REAL #358, GOLETA, CA 93117. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/02/2021 by: E953, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Oct 07, 2000. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

DEC 1, 8, 15, 22 / 2021--57786

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003031. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: STRATEGIC BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SOLUTIONS, 5587 CATHEDRAL OAKS RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111. County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: STRATEGIC BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SOLUTIONS, 5587 CATHEDRAL OAKS RD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111. This business is conducted by: A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. STATE OF INC.: CALIFORNIA. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 10/28/2021 by: E35, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Oct 18, 2021 Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20210003090. First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: MULTISERVICIOS DIANY’S, 1924 SAN PASCUAL ST APT 14, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: MARIA VERONICA CORTES ARROYO, 1924 SAN PASCUAL ST APT 14, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. This business is conducted by: AN INDIVIDUAL. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 11/04/2021 by: E28, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Nov 04, 2021. Statement Expires on: Not Applicable. NOTICE: This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the County Clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (See Section 14400, ET SEQ., Business and Profession Code). (SEAL)

NOV 17, 24; DEC 1, 8 / 2021--57719

NOV 10, 17, 24; DEC 1 / 2021--57711

NOV 24; DEC 1, 8, 15 / 2021--57764 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ANACAPA DIVISION In re the Matter of the: CLYDE N. SCOTT 2006 DECLARATION OF TRUST dated February 10, 2006 Clyde N. Scott, Deceased ___________________ Case No. 21PR00523 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF CLYDE N. SCOTT, also known as CLYDE NIXON SCOTT, and as CLYDE SCOTT, DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS (Probate Code § 19040) Notice is hereby given under California Probate Code sections 19000 et seq. to the creditors and contingent creditors of the abovenamed decedent, that all persons having claims against the decedent are required to file them with the Superior Court, at 1100 Anacapa Street, Post Office Box 21107, Santa Barbara, California 931211107 and mail or deliver a copy to CAROLYN KEELER, trustee of the CLYDE N. SCOTT 2006 DECLARATION OF TRUST dated February 10, 2006, of which the Decedent was the Trustor, at 2051 Cliff Drive, Unit 4, Santa Barbara, California 93109, within the later of four (4) months after the date of the first publication of notice to creditors or if notice is mailed or personally delivered to you, 60 days after the date this notice is mailed or personally delivered to you, or you must petition to file a late claim as provided in Section 19103 of the Probate Code. A claim form may be obtained from the court clerk. For your protection, you are encouraged to file your claim by certified mail, with return receipt requested. Dated: November 5, 2021 /s/___________________ JOHN GHERINI Attorney for Carolyn Keeler, Trustee 1114 State Street, Suite 230 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Telephone: (805) 966-4155

To Advertise in the Legals EMAIL: legals@newspress.com NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE To satisfy the owner’s storage lien, PS Orange Co. Inc. will sell at public lien sale on December 16, 2021, the personal property in the below-listed units, which may include but are not limited to: household and personal items, office and other equipment. The public sale of these items will begin at 10:00 AM and continue until all units are sold. The lien sale is to be held at the online auction website, www.storagetreasures.com, where indicated. For online lien sales, bids will be accepted until 2 hours after the time of the sale specified. PUBLIC STORAGE # 25714, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 324-6770 Sale to be held at www. storagetreasures.com. 3225 - Rodrigues, Jasmin; 6345 Liu, Tantan; 6422 - Azlein, Noah; A367 - Gusman, Celena; A378 Desales, Andrea; A393 - Vazquez, Marisol; A431 - Connolly, Michael; A451 - Brown, Fred PUBLIC STORAGE # 75078, 7246 Hollister Ave, Goleta, CA 93117, (805) 961-8198 Sale to be held at www. storagetreasures.com. 051 - Brown, Fred; 122 - Looker, James; 160 - Looker, James; 245 - Tan, Zen; 400 - Macdonald, Lindsay PUBLIC STORAGE # 75079, 5425 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111, (805) 284-9002 Sale to be held at www. storagetreasures.com. 095 - George, Travis; 273 Avendano, Eva; 319 - Burian, Susan; 324 - Berg, Eloise; 339 Morgan, Lindsey; 468 - Sampanis, Harry; 469 - Archer, Jennifer; 521 - Venegas Salas, Carlos Public sale terms, rules, and regulations will be made available prior to the sale. All sales are subject to cancellation. We reserve the right to refuse any bid. Payment must be in cash or credit cardno checks. Buyers must secure the units with their own personal locks. To claim tax-exempt status, original RESALE certificates for each space purchased is required. Dated this 24th of November & 1st of December 2021 By PS Orangeco, Inc., 701 Western Avenue, Glendale, CA 91201. (818) 244-8080. . 11/24, 12/1/21 CNS-3530731# SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

NOV 25; DEC 1, 7 / 2021 -- 57723

NOV 24; DEC 1 / 2021 -- 57731

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS The public is invited to attend the following upcoming meetings of the Santa Barbara County Independent Redistricting Commission to select a new district map for purposes of electing supervisors to the County Board of Supervisors. All meetings may be attended in person or via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/96627818457 or call (669) 900-6833 or (346) 248-7799 ID: 966 2781 8457 December 01, 2021 6 p.m. Meeting will be in-person and accessible via Zoom. Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Administration Building Board Hearing Room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, CA. Purpose: Review focus and newly submitted maps, narrow to 2-3 focus maps, direction on map modiﬁcations. December 04, 2021,10 a.m. at the Planning Commission Room, 123 East Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA. Purpose: Identify preferred map.

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December 08, 2021, 6 p.m. Meeting will be in-person and accessible via Zoom. Planning Commission Room, 123 East Anapamu St, Santa Barbara, CA. Purpose: Adopt map. Language interpretation and requests for disability-related modiﬁcation or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or devices, may be arranged by emailing a request to redistricting@ countyofsb.org at least 24 hours prior to the Commission meeting. Para solicitar traducción del idioma o una modiﬁcación por discapacidad, incluso los soportes auxiliares y los dispositivos, se puede mandar un correo electrónico a redistricting@countyofsb.org al menos 24 horas antes de la reunión de la Comisión. Additional information is available at DrawSantaBarbaraCounty.org DEC 1 / 2021 -- 57756

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso): 18CV01087 NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): BRETT MCDONOUGH, an individual YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): Superior Court of CA, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Superior Court, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Jeffrey Mukai (State Bar #: 273338), Collection At Law, Inc., A.P.C., 3835 E. Thousand Oaks BL#R349, Westlake Village, CA 91362, (818) 716-7630 DATE (Fecha): 3/5/2018 Darrel E. Parker Executive Officer, Clerk (Secretario), by /s/ Sarah Sisto, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: You are served as an individual defendant. 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, 12/1/21 CNS-3527979# SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS NOV 10, 17, 24; DEC 1 /2021--57706

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THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR

(The Center Square) — The race for New York’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination got a little more crowded Monday as U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi announced his bid for next year’s race. The Long Island congressman becomes the fourth Democrat to join the field. In an introductory video and a press conference with reporters, Rep. Suozzi made it clear he’s running a centrist campaign. “I’m about getting things done,” he told reporters. “I’m a commonsense Democrat. So that’s the lane that I’m running in.” The 59-year-old has been in Washington since 2017. Before that, he served as mayor of Glen Cove, where he continues to live, from 1994-2001 and then as Nassau County executive from 2002-2009. He previously ran for governor in 2006, losing in the Democratic primary to Eliot Spitzer. Rep. Suozzi then lost the Nassau County executive seat to Republican Ed Mangano in 2009 and again four years later. Rep. Suozzi joins current Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams as candidates for the Democratic nomination. Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has also said he’s considering the race. Gov. Hochul succeeded former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who resigned in August amid numerous investigations into his administration. On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, another Long Island representative, is considered the presumptive nominee by state party leaders. Former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and former Trump Administration official Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, are also running on the GOP side. In his introductory video, Rep. Suozzi said his prior work as mayor, county executive and congressman have prepared him for this run. He touted his work as mayor in helping undocumented workers find jobs, get paid and receive training. He also pointed to his leadership in Nassau County to lower the county’s crime rate and clean up environmental hazards. The video said that if he was governor, he would fight to cut New York’s “sky high” property and income taxes. Regarding bail reforms, Rep. Suozzi told reporters he wants to give judges the power of discretion when it comes to making sure those charged with violent crimes are kept off the street. On environmental issues, he said that any talk of a carbon tax should happen in Washington and not Albany. He admitted he has no problem with raising taxes, noting his support in Congress of raising the top rate on the corporate tax. However, such hikes can’t be done to the detriment of the state.

The Long Island congressman becomes the fourth Democrat to join the field. In an introductory video and a press conference with reporters, Rep. Suozzi made it clear he’s running a centrist campaign. “We want to be a leader for the rest of the country to follow, but we also have to make New York a place that people want to live,” Rep. Suozzi said. “And we’ve tried to do this in ways that we’ve just kept on raising the taxes over the years and made it less attractive (to live in New York).” It’s uncertain what impact Rep. Suozzi’s entry will have on the June Democratic primary. A Siena College Research Institute poll released in mid-October showed a sample of New York registered voters gave Gov. Hochul a doubledigit lead over Ms. James, Mr. Williams, Mr. de Blasio and even Mr. Cuomo. The Long Island congressman was not listed as a candidate. In a five-candidate race, the Siena poll showed 23% did not know who they would back, and 2% said they wanted someone other than the five candidates listed. It would appear that Rep. Suozzi is trying to appeal to upstate Democrats as well as his neighbors in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, hoping he could secure enough of those moderate Democrats while Gov. Hochul, Ms. James and Mr. Williams would splinter the progressive vote. “I have a clear rationale to distinguish myself from the other candidates,” he said. “And so I feel like this whole left-right extremist thing in our country is killing our country, and it’s killing our state.” Rep. Suozzi’s candidacy for governor also means one less incumbent Democrat is running for re-election in Congress next year. Democrats currently hold a slim 221-213 majority in the House, with one vacancy. However, more than a dozen Democrats have announced plans to retire rather than seek re-election next year. Several others, like Rep. Suozzi, have pivoted to other races. Rep. Suozzi said he spoke with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi about his intentions. He added that Rep. Pelosi wished him well in the race. He also admitted that, depending on how the district is redrawn based on the 2020 Census, it would be a “5050” race to replace him.

McConaughey decides against joining race for Texas governor By DEREK DRAPLIN THE CENTER SQUARE REGIONAL EDITOR

(The Center Square) — Actor Matthew McConaughey announced that he won’t run for governor of Texas despite favorable polling numbers. The Texas native was mulling a run, but said in a video posted on Twitter Sunday night it is “a path that I am choosing not to take at this moment.” “I’ve been listening, I’ve been learning, I’ve been measuring, I’ve been studying Texas politics and American politics,” he said. “What have I learned? A lot – that we have some problems we need to fix. That our politics needs new purpose. That we have divides that need healing.” Mr. McConaughey said in the three-minute video that he’s hoping to serve in other ways, noting that he will “continue to work and invest the bounty I have

by supporting entrepreneurs, businesses and foundations that I believe are leaders.” A recent Dallas Morning News/ University of Texas Tyler poll had Mr. McConaughey leading incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott 43% to 35% in a hypothetical matchup. The poll also had Mr. McConaughey leading Beto O’Rourke, who’s running for the Democratic nomination, 49% to 27%. Mr. O’Rourke, the most highprofile Democrat to enter the 2022 race so far, lost the race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018 before launching a failed 2020 presidential bid. Gov. Abbott faces Allen West, former head of the Texas GOP, and former Texas state Sen. Don Huffines, among other challengers in the Republican primary.