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Consumers confidence continues to fall

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Closing arguments Thursday in first-degree murder case John Dungan accused of killing woman, her children By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

State Street Master Planner Tess Harris answers questions from Santa Barbara City Council members Tuesday. The council voted to accept the master plan.

State Street plan OK’d Santa Barbara City Council approves document, which covers downtown’s revitalization

Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday in the case of a Santa Barbara man accused of deliberately ramming his speeding car into another car headed in the opposite direction. The collision killed a Solvang woman and her two small children. Defendant John Dungan is accused of driving faster than 100 mph on State Route 154 before crashing into a car driven by Rebecca Vanessa Bley, 34, who had her children, 2-yearold Lucienne Bley Gleason and 4-month-old Desmond Bley Gleason, strapped in car seats in the back. California Highway Patrol investigators testified that Mr. Dungan was driving the wrong way on State Route 154 at 119 mph before the crash. Ms. Bley and her children died of blunt force injuries immediately after impact, coroner’s officials testified. Mr. Dungan, 28 at the time of the Oct. 25, 2019 collision, was injured and taken to the hospital. He was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. Mr. Dungan is being held without bail in the Santa Barbara County Jail.

Both the prosecution and defense have rested their cases, District Attorney Joyce Dudley’s office told the NewsPress, confirming that closing arguments are set to begin Thursday morning at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse in Santa Barbara. The prosecution will close first, followed by the defense, before the case goes to the jury for deliberation. Neither side is permitted to comment about the case itself, including testimony and evidence presented at trial, because of a gag order issued by Judge Thomas Adams. The force of the collision caused Ms. Bley to be ejected from her car, but her children were trapped in the back seat, investigators said. Their bodies were hard to locate because of dirt and ash stemming from a vehicle fire caused by the collision. Witnesses testified they saw Mr. Dungan speeding before he drove straight into Ms. Bley’s oncoming vehicle. Some of the texts he sent to his parents in the months before the crash “appeared to be suicidal/ homicidal in nature,” a court document said. email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Crews make progress in battling Oak Fire Blaze near Yosemite 26% contained

By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

At left, a master plan for lower State Street, which became a pedestrian promenade complete with outdoor parklets for businesses, was approved Tuesday by the Santa Barbara City Council. At right, Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez asks Master Planner Tess Harris whether MIG consultants for the State Street plan would be located in Santa Barbara or working remotely. “The project manager is based in their Bay Area office,” Ms. Harris told him, but added MIG staff will be in Santa Barbara often.

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept an updated State Street Master Plan, considered a “visioning document” for the next 30 to 50 years, with an eye toward the downtown’s economic revitalization. The master plan update represents the work of the State Street Advisory Committee, which also asked the council to spend up to $709,000-plus to hire consultant MIG Inc. to work with the city to meet the plan’s goals over the next 16 to 18 months until its expected completion in December 2023.

Councilmembers also directed city staff to return with their suggestions for interim steps to take concerning the current downtown pedestrian promenade and dining parklets, including new construction, the size of outdoor areas and rent for the area. The council’s ad hoc subcommittee is expected to return to the full council in September with its recommendations concerning rules and regulations, rents and parklet portability. The committee will also report on providing more security and lighting downtown, ensuring adequate stormwater drainage and possibly resuming parades

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on lower State Street. The downtown revitalization effort called for in the Master Plan will focus on the State Street area from Anacapa to Chapala streets and State Street from Sola Street to the Highway 101 underpass. Councilmembers and several people speaking in person or virtually spoke highly of the master plan, saying how excited they were to see the process move forward. “This is what we need now, not in the future, but now,” Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said. “It strengthens to me the commitment and direction we need to be going in.” Anytime someone mentions

“going backward” to the way it was pre-COVID, “we hear overwhelming cries from the community to keep going forward but in a carefully planned way with a very structured plan, and that takes money,” she said. “It really is an exciting day for us for a lot of reasons,” Councilmember Meagan Harmon added, praising the hard work put in by the advisory committee to create a “visionary” master plan. “We are not only putting this plan together for right now but also for generations to come. I’m really excited to be voting yes.” There was some dissent, however. One speaker criticized the high consulting fee. Another Please see COUNCIL on A4

Firefighters are making progress in containing the Oak Fire burning near Yosemite, which is currently the largest wildfire of the year thus far in California. The fire, which began Friday, swelled to more than 18,000 acres by Tuesday morning as more than 2,500 personnel continued to battle the blaze. The fire was 26% contained as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. The fire forced more than 3,700 people to evacuate as of Monday, and thousands more remain without power in the area, according to PG&E. Fire officials do not expect full containment until Saturday, Public Information Officer Jonathan Pierce, who is working with Cal Fire incident management team five, told The Center Square. The blaze led Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in Mariposa County over the weekend and announce that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. With the grant, the state will receive federal reimbursement of up to 75%, according to Brian

Ferguson, the deputy director for crisis communication and public affairs in the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, The cause of the Oak Fire remains under investigation, according to Mr. Pierce. The Oak Fire underscores an ongoing problem facing the western United States. High temperatures and sustained droughts make wildfires more destructive and harder to contain. The governor and lawmakers have recently emphasized wildfire resilience in the state budget. The state has spent billions in recent years to address wildfire preparedness, including $1.2 billion in this year’s budget for forest and wildfire resilience. The budget states that this includes $530 million to be allocated this summer “pending additional discussions with the Legislature.” This year’s budget also includes $39 billion over five years to address the effects of climate change – spending that the governor and lawmakers plan to funnel toward drought mitigation and clean energy projects. Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

INSIDE

L O T T E RY RESULTS

Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-10-24-41-47 Meganumber: 10

Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 1-0-4-2

Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A

Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 5-6-18-33-35

Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-06-03 Time: 1:49.77

Monday’s POWERBALL: 25-37-38-39-65 Meganumber: 5

Sudoku................... B3 Weather................. A4

Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 1-2-2 / Wednesday’s Midday 1-6-2

NEWS

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

Sens. Padilla and Warren urge DOT to hold airlines accountable By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

During a spike in the number of flight cancellations and delays, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., this week sent a letter urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to fully use its statutory authority to protect consumers, promote competition in the airline industry, and hold airlines accountable for delayed and canceled flights. In the letter, the lawmakers raised concerns about Americans’ air travel experiences, which have grown steadily worse over the past year. The letter laid out specific actions DOT can take to hold airlines accountable for avoidable delays and cancellations and stem the tide of airline consolidation. “By utilizing its existing licensing and rulemaking

authority, the Department can improve experiences for travelers and help bring down exorbitant ticket prices driven in part by anticompetitive mergers,” lawmakers stated in the letter. One in five flights has arrived behind schedule this year, while airlines have canceled flights four times as often during high-travel weekends than they did in 2019. Airlines have already canceled nearly 122,000 flights in 2022 — more cancellations than occurred during all of 2021. Airline consumer complaints to DOT have increased threefold relative to pre-pandemic levels. Airlines have also increased flight overbookings, causing passengers to be involuntarily denied boarding nearly three times as often this year as compared to 2018. Unions are sounding the alarm that airlines are selling tickets for

flights they know they will not be able to staff. Since January 2022, prices for domestic flights have shot up 47%. Although airlines received $50 billion in government assistance, they have failed to issue at least $10 billion in refunds for flight cancellations throughout the pandemic, despite being required to do so by federal law. The senators also called for DOT to play a stronger role in the review process for mergers in the airline industry. Under existing statutory provisions, transfers of operating certificates through mergers are only permissible when the secretary of transportation determines such transfers are consistent with the public interest including an evaluation of competition in the domestic airline industry. email: kzehnder@newspress.com

Foundation plans Sadako Peace Day in Montecito

COURTESY PHOTO

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla

MONTECITO — The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation will hold its 28th Annual Sadako Peace Day under the sycamore tree at La Casa de Maria Retreat and Conference Center, 888 San Ysidro Lane, Montecito. Participants will come together from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 to remember the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as all innocent victims of war, according to the foundation. The peace day will take place at La Casa de Maria’s Sadako Peace Garden. Sadako Peace Day commemorates the life of Sadako Sasaki, a child from Hiroshima who was 2 years old at the time of the atomic bombing during World War II. Ten years later, she died from radiation-induced

leukemia as a result of that bombing. Japanese legend holds that one’s wish will be granted upon folding 1,000 paper cranes. While in the hospital, Sadako folded more than 1,000 paper cranes, hoping it might help her get well. Sadako died from her leukemia, but students in Japan were so moved by her story, they began folding paper cranes, too. The paper crane has become an international symbol of peace, and a statue of Sadako now stands in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The free event will include poetry readings, live music and a time for reflection. For more information, visit www. wagingpeace.org/upcoming. — Katherine Zehnder

Bank helps TVSB buy production vehicle By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

TV Santa Barbara has purchased a production vehicle with the grant support of Montecito Bank & Trust. The vehicle will provide media literacy and video training programs for youth in Santa Barbara County. “We are thrilled to partner with TV Santa Barbara as they relaunch their youth media training programs in local schools and after-school programs,” Janet Garufis, CEO and chairwoman of Montecito Bank & Trust, said in a news release. “One of the ways we believe we can best serve our community is through education -— whether financial literacy, elder abuse awareness or cyber security -— and this is an opportunity for us to mobilize that passion for learning in the community.” “For financial literacy

COURTESY PHOTO

TV Santa Barbara team members and participants in the Fun in the Sun Program of the United Way of Santa Barbara County are seen in front of and inside TVSB’s new production vehicle.

specifically, our decade-plus experience in teaching has shown that the earlier and more frequently we can discuss money, savings and credit, kids and young adults are more likely to be prepared with the knowledge they

need to make informed financial decisions in their futures,” said Ms. Garufis. “The TVSB media programs mirror that sentiment with attractive hands-on lessons that give students the knowledge, understanding and wisdom to

provide community content that matters!” Media training for students is one of the core values of TV Santa Barbara, which describes its mission as empowering people to make media that matters. “TV Santa Barbara is grateful for Montecito Bank & Trust’s grant support which allows TV Santa Barbara to get out in the community and provide kids across the county with valuable instruction and training,” Erik Davis, executive director of TV Santa Barbara, said in the news release. “TVSB’s media literacy and video production classes provide kids across with the confidence to exercise their voice through media.” Additional support for TV Santa Barbara’s production vehicle was provided by Bunnin Chevrolet of Santa Barbara and by Animal Zone.

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for a variety of positions. At the event, applicants will complete an application, be interviewed and be fingerprinted. Applicants must have government-issued identification. A follow-up job fair will be held Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to gather more applicants and take further steps regarding applicants from the initial job fair. CUSD is looking to hire numerous employees for several positions. Instructional assistants are needed in classrooms to support teachers and students. Bus drivers transport students to their schools and extracurricular activities. Custodians and food service employees keep campuses in order and provide food for

hungry learners. “We are excited and encouraged for the upcoming school year,” Mrs. Rigby said. “Being fully staffed on Day One is a challenge this year, so we are rising to that challenge. This job fair represents one recruitment tool that will help fill our need for great people to work in our classified departments and to be part of our team.” Anyone who cannot attend the Aug. 2 job fair or is seeking additional information may contact Sandra Alonzo at sandra. alonzo@cusd.net or 805-335-0958 with any questions. Applicants may also apply at www.edjoin.org. email: nhartstein@newspress.com

TRAFFIC, CRIME & FIRE BLOTTER

COURTESY PHOTO

This Toyota sedan was found crashed into a tree Monday afternoon on West De la Guerra Street in Santa Barbara.

Burglary spree suspect arrested

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windows and gave verbal commands to exit the home. The suspect complied and was arrested without incident. — Katherine Zehnder

5-year-old allegedly left unattended; mother arrested SANTA BARBARA — Officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department arrested Lauren Tracy, 46, of Mammoth Lakes on suspicion of child endangerment after she allegedly left her 5-year-old child unattended for 24 hours. The arrest occurred at a residence in the 1100 block of Cliff Drive around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The Santa Barbara Police Combined Communications Center received a call about the childhood endangerment case around 7 p.m. Saturday. Officers responded to a residence in the 800 block of Highland Drive to investigate. Officers arrived and contacted the reporting party, a babysitter who had arrived at the residence to look after the 5-year-old child. When the babysitter arrived, the child was found alone and unattended in the home, Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the police department’s public information officer, said in a news release. He said the mother was nowhere to be found. Sgt. Ragsdale said the babysitter also observed a “ghost gun” handgun with ammunition on the kitchen counter and another “ghost gun” in the bedroom. Both guns were easily accessible to the child, Sgt. Ragsdale said. The babysitter immediately contacted 9-1-1 to report this unusual incident. When officers arrived, they learned the babysitter was hired Please see BLOTTER on A4

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SANTA BARBARA — Miguel Ascencio Torres, 33, of Santa Barbara was arrested Tuesday by Santa Barbara police on suspicion of crimes including the theft of a car. He was transported and booked at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail on suspicion of multiple felony counts of residential burglary, felony stolen vehicle and misdemeanor hit and run. Bail is set at $500,000. This week, the Santa Barbara Police Department received four reported residential burglaries occurring in the city of Santa Barbara in less than 24 hours. Officers responded to these burglaries to investigate further. The initial investigations led officers to believe that the same suspect had committed all four burglaries. Information was provided through eyewitness descriptions, physical evidence, video surveillance and cell phone photos supplied by witnesses, said Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, the police department’s public information officer. At around 8 p.m. Monday, police officers were dispatched with lights and sirens to

a residence in the 1300 block of Sycamore Canyon Road for a reported burglary in progress, Sgt. Ragsdale said. When officers arrived, they discovered the suspect had already fled the area, Sgt. Ragsdale said. The suspect was not located after officers searched the neighborhood and surrounding area. At approximately 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Santa Barbara Police Combined Communications Center received another report from a neighbor who observed a suspicious individual matching the description from the first residential burglary breaking into the same house on the 1300 block of Sycamore Canyon Road, Sgt. Ragsdale said. While the suspect was allegedly exiting the victim’s home with numerous stolen items, the neighbor confronted the suspect. Sgt. Ragsdale said a physical altercation occurred between the neighbor and the suspect. The suspect broke free of the neighbor’s grasp, dropping the stolen items and fled the area once again. Around 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, another burglary was reported in the first block of Oak Street. The victim of this burglary also reported that the suspect had stolen a key to their vehicle and fled in the now-stolen vehicle prior to police arrival. At 1:30 p.m., a witness reported a hit and run traffic collision in the 500 block of West De La Guerra Street. The witness informed police the suspect driver had crashed a Toyota sedan into a tree and fled on foot. The witness provided the license plate of the vehicle to the dispatcher, who confirmed it was the same stolen vehicle taken approximately 20 minutes before from the home on Oak Street, Sgt. Ragsdale said. While officers searched the westside area for the suspect, a neighbor reported seeing a suspicious subject breaking into a home in the 300 block of West Micheltorena Street. The description provided by the neighbor matched that of the suspect from the other burglaries. Officers and a police K-9 surrounded the house. Officers could see the suspect through

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NEWSROOM

The back-to-school countdown has begun. The Carpinteria Unified School District is hiring and urgently staffing up before the start of school in one month. A Carpinteria schools job fair, scheduled for Aug. 2, offers career opportunities and $2,000 signing bonuses. The job fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carpinteria Unified School District office, 1400 Linden Ave., Carpinteria. New employees hired as instructional assistants, bus drivers, custodians and food service personnel will receive a

$2,000 signing bonus. According to the school district, all positions offer competitive wages. Both part-time and fulltime positions are available. Fulltime positions include benefits packages. “Like schools and youth centers everywhere, we are seeking staff to serve our mission of educating and caring for students and families,” said CUSD Superintendent Diana Rigby. “We have many diverse positions open in a rewarding school environment, and we look forward to bringing in wonderful people to greet and work with our students and staff for the 2022-23 school year.” The Aug. 2 job fair is designed for interested candidates to apply

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

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Consumer confidence falls for third straight month

By RICHIE MALOUF THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — A new survey of consumers reports a lack of confidence in the economy as inflation soars. The latest Confidence Index, a product of nonprofit research group Conference Board, indicates consumers have lost faith in the economy’s future. A new index is published monthly. “Consumer confidence fell for a third consecutive month in July,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of Economic Indicators for Conference Board. “Concerns about inflation — rising gas and food prices, in particular — continued to weigh on

consumers.” Consumers say businesses were in a worse situation in July, with only 17% of the surveyed reporting that business conditions were “good,” down from the 19.5% reported in June. At the same time, 24% of those surveyed said business conditions were “bad,” up from 22.8% in June. Consumers were even less optimistic about the labor market, with 12.3% saying jobs were “hard to get,” up from 11.6% reported last month. On whether jobs were “plentiful,” 50.1% of the surveyed consumers said they were — down from last month’s 51.5%. Consumers’ short-term

expectations of their financial situation were also pessimistic, with 14.7% of the surveyed saying they expect their incomes to increase, down from 16.1% in June. Another 15.7% of the surveyed expect their incomes to decrease, up from 15.3%. Although consumers reported having low confidence regarding businesses’ current conditions, consumers were mixed in their short-term expectations, with 14% expecting business conditions to improve, down from 14.6%, while another 27.2% expect business conditions to worsen, down from 29.7%. Consumers were also mixed in their expectations for the labor

market, with 15.7% expecting more jobs to be available, down from 15.9% in June; another 21.4% anticipate fewer jobs, down from 22.2%. This survey comes as the Federal Reserve is set to raise interest rates in an aggressive push to fight increasingly high inflationary pressures. “As the Fed raises interest rates to rein in inflation, purchasing intentions for cars, homes, and major appliances all pulled back further in July,” Ms. Franco said. “Looking ahead, inflation and additional rate hikes are likely to continue posing strong headwinds for consumer spending and economic growth over the next six months.”

Gov. Newsom says federal denial of two gaming compacts threatens tribal economies By MADISON HIRNEISEN THE CENTER SQUARE STAFF REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Gov. Gavin Newsom responded Monday to a decision by the U.S. Department of Interior to disapprove class III gaming compacts with two tribes, warning it could have an impact on tribes’ abilities to maintain jobs and investments in their communities. Tribal-State class III gaming compacts “are agreements between the state and separate tribal governments” that specify how many gaming devices and casinos a single tribe can operate, according to the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations. California has ratified gaming compacts with 75 tribes, and there are currently 66 casinos operated by 63 tribes, according to the California Gambling Control Commission. Class III gaming activities are allowed so long as an ordinance or resolution is adopted by the governing body of the tribe and is approved by the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, according to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The gaming must also take place in a state that permits it and must be “conducted in conformance with a Tribal-State compact entered into by the Indian tribe and the State.” This is the second time the Interior Department has disapproved compacts with the Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria and the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians – the first time being in November 2021. Back in March, Gov. Newsom’s office announced a compact agreement with both tribes with the intention to “support tribal government

COURTESY PHOTO

Gov. Gavin Newsom

investment” in law enforcement, public transportation, housing and other infrastructure needs. In a statement on Monday, Gov. Newsom said that the compacts were “carefully negotiated by the state and the tribes in compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act” to give tribes the “economic benefits of gaming while mitigating impacts to local communities.” The agreement came on top of existing compacts signed between the tribes and the state in 1999, according to Yogonet. “The disapprovals threaten the

ability of these and other tribes to invest and maintain jobs in many of California’s economically disadvantaged communities,” Gov. Newsom said. The compacts were disapproved because they violated parts of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, Department of Interior Press Secretary Tyler Cherry told The Center Square in an email. According to compact disapproval letters sent to the tribes and the state, both tribes developed a “casino resort complex” – meaning they have developed restaurants and hotels

that operate beyond the gaming spaces regulated by the Tribe’s Gaming Commission. Raising concern over several definitions contained in the compacts, the department wrote that “the 2022 Compact confers expansive powers on the State and local governments to regulate the Tribe’s activities and lands that are not directly related to the actual conduct of gaming.” Leaders of the tribes involved in the compacts expressed disappointment with the decision from the Department of Interior. Leo Sisco, chairman of the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, said the disapproval means the tribe will not have resources for the Tachi Palace Casino “that would have created new living wage jobs and benefitted an ailing local economy.” “Our compact, which has broad support from local and state officials, was the key to improved housing, healthcare, and economic self-sufficiency for our tribe,” Chairman Sisco said in a statement. “The chilling effect this decision will have in Indian Country is immeasurable, and the financial cost to our tribe will be irreparable.” Jose “Moke” Simon, chairman of Middletown Rancheria, called the disapproval “shocking,” saying in a statement that “the path forward is now paved with stones that will make it difficult to navigate our tribe’s future.” The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians currently operates the Twin Pine Casino and Hotel. In an email, the Governor’s Office told The Center Square it will “work with tribes to determine next steps.” Madison Hirneisen covers California for The Center Square.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

Gas prices still declining

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS OBITUARIES MENDOZA, Owen Joseph

Owen Joseph Mendoza was born February 16, 1930, in Santa Barbara and passed away peacefully at home on July 16, 2022. He served as an altar boy and later as an usher for many years at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. He was a man of deep faith. He served his country in the United States Army and was awarded the Infantryman’s badge, the Korean service medal, two Bronze Star medals, and the UN service medal. Professionally he was a Realtor and Broker for 35 years. He went on to be the proprietor of his own realty company. Owen was a loving and caring person, especially to KLV PRWKHU 0DULD +H HQMR\HG JROÀQJ DQG SOD\LQJ RQ D bowling team. Vacationing in Vegas and having parties at his home were some of his favorite pastimes. But he mostly enjoyed daily drives to Leadbetter Beach just to take in the view. He was preceded in death by his wife Becky, parents Jose and Maria, his sister Socorro, and brothers Steven and Tony. Owen is survived by his sisters Lupe Martinez, Dolores Lugo, and numerous nieces and nephews. A sincere thank you to all of Owen’s caregivers, Hospice, and especially to his greatnieces Shelly, Shantae, and Paula for all your support and kindness. You will remain forever in our hearts and we will treasure our memories of you. Services will be held at St. Rafael church in Goleta, CA on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

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.

DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS

Gas prices continue to fall in Santa Barbara County, as shown by these prices Tuesday at the 76 station on Fairview Avenue in Goleta. The average for the county was $5.78 a gallon, down from $5.91 on July 19, according to the American Automobile Association. In June, the average in the county was $6.30 a gallon, but one year ago, the average was $4.31 a gallon.

County Board of Education to fill seat left empty by MacDougall’s resignation

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The Santa Barbara County Board of Education voted Tuesday to begin the process to fill the vacancy created by the midterm resignation of board member Peter MacDougall. After serving on the board for 16 years, Dr. MacDougall recently announced his resignation. His seat is up for election in 2024. A subcommittee of the board will meet to review a timeline for the appointment process, finalize an application and develop interview questions, according to the county education office. The application will go up Aug. 8 at www.sbceo.org on and will be due by 5 p.m. Aug. 17. Applicants must reside in the trustee area boundaries that were in place when Dr. MacDougall was last elected. That would be Trustee Area No. 2, covering a

COUNCIL

Continued from Page A1 urged councilmembers to ensure safety downtown when implementing the master plan, and one railed against using such a “logical” approach to deal with the “irrational” problem of gang behavior in the downtown area. For the most part, though, it was nothing but praise, especially for the Advisory Committee’s commitment to continue to accept residents’ input along the way by holding public meetings and charrettes, and appearing at community events and neighborhood meetings. “We want to keep the momentum going,” State Street Master Planner Tess Harris said. “And we’re going to engage members of the public.” Although MIG’s home office is in the bay area, consultants will be in town repeatedly throughout

portion of South County. (The trustee areas have since been redrawn. Today’s boundaries are slightly different.) Selected candidates will be invited to be interviewed, according to a news release. The board expects to make a provisional appointment at its regularly scheduled board meeting on Sept. 1. “Dr. MacDougall has been an incredible colleague and invaluable member of the County Board of Education,” Judy Frost, the board president, said in a news release. “His experience, perspectives and insights will be greatly missed. We thank and appreciate him for his many years of service to our board, and for his long-standing commitment to the advancement of public education in Santa Barbara County. He is truly one-of-a-kind, and we wish him and his wife, Leslie, the very best in this next chapter.”

Ms. Frost has known Dr. MacDougall for 20 years and worked by his side as volunteers on other boards. Dr. MacDougall said it has been a privilege and honor to serve as a board member. “In my lifetime, I have had the opportunity to lead and volunteer in many capacities in service to students and educators,” Dr. MacDougall said in the news release. “My belief in the power of excellent public education is as strong as it has ever been, but I feel now is the right time to step aside and let others lean into the important work of ensuring that our schools have the support they need to help every student meet their potential as they strive toward college, career and, a meaningful life ahead. I will miss my friends and colleagues at SBCEO but feel confident that the organization is in excellent hands under the leadership of Dr. Susan

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.

LOCAL FIVE-DAY FORECAST TODAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Clouds giving way Mostly sunny and Partly sunny and Sunshine and cool to sun nice delightful INLAND

INLAND

95 55

95 56

94 57

95 59

70 58

70 59

70 61

71 60

72 62

COASTAL

Pismo Beach 66/52

COASTAL

Shown is today's weather. Temperatures are today's highs and tonight's lows. Maricopa 99/76

Guadalupe 66/54

Santa Maria 69/55

Vandenberg 67/55

New Cuyama 102/63 Ventucopa 95/65

Los Alamos 81/57

Buellton 81/53

Solvang 87/55

Gaviota 75/56

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

SANTA BARBARA 70/58 Goleta 72/58

Carpinteria 71/60 Ventura 67/60

TEMPERATURE High/low Normal high/low Record high Record low

68/59 74/59 96 in 1977 50 in 1965

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

0.00” 0.00” (0.02”) 10.53” (17.18”)

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

STATE CITIES DAVE MASON/NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

COURTESY PHOTO

Santa Barbara police reported finding this “ghost gun” in a residence when officers arrested a Mammoth Lakes woman on suspicion of child endangerment.

Attempted burglary suspect arrested SANTA MARIA — Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a suspect for attempted burglary and recovered stolen property.

On Monday, at approximately 4:12 a.m., deputies responded to the 5700 block of Calle De La Rosa in Santa Maria to investigate a report of suspicious subjects trying to open windows and doors of residences. When deputies arrived, they contactedAdrian Buelna, 18, of Santa Maria near the intersection of Calle De La Rosa and Alderwood Lane. After a short foot pursuit, Mr. Buelna was taken into custody, said Raquel Zick, the Sheriff’s Office public information officer. Deputies and a K9 unit searched the area for additional suspects but were unable to locate them. Ms. Zick said deputies found Mr. Buelna was in possession of suspected stolen property that likely came from vehicles or residences in the area. The Sheriff’s Office would like to encourage anyone with unreported stolen property to file a report using its online reporting system, or by calling our non-emergency line at 805-6832724. Mr. Buelna was booked at the Northern Branch Jail for obstruction (misdemeanor), attempted burglary (felony), and conspiracy (felony). He is being held on $50,000 bail. —Katherine Zehnder

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

100/75/pc 104/79/s 76/49/pc 99/63/s 72/59/pc 85/57/pc 83/62/pc 60/54/c 100/74/pc 82/63/pc 78/50/t 94/64/pc 67/55/pc 80/56/pc 68/55/pc 83/58/s 68/60/pc 106/83/pc 85/64/pc 93/56/s 92/60/s 74/66/pc 69/55/pc 78/58/pc 74/54/pc 72/63/pc 87/50/pc

Thu. Hi/Lo/W 105/65/s 72/60/s 68/56/pc 68/53/pc 71/55/pc 95/55/s 69/56/pc 68/60/pc

92/75/pc 82/69/s 83/67/pc 103/81/s 92/61/pc 96/78/t 91/80/pc 81/61/t 84/75/pc 88/77/pc 98/84/c 97/68/s 86/75/t 101/73/s 92/67/s 87/76/t

POINT ARENA TO POINT PINOS

Wind west-northwest 10-20 knots today. Waves 2-4 feet with a south-southwest swell 3-5 feet at 15 seconds. Visibility clear.

POINT CONCEPTION TO MEXICO

Wind west-northwest 10-20 knots today. Waves 2-4 feet with a south-southwest swell 3-5 feet at 15 seconds. Visibility clear.

SANTA BARBARA HARBOR TIDES Date Time High Time July 27 July 28 July 29

10:59 a.m. 9:26 p.m. 11:26 a.m. 9:59 p.m. 11:54 a.m. 10:31 p.m.

LAKE LEVELS

3.7’ 6.0’ 3.8’ 6.0’ 3.8’ 5.9’

Low

4:21 a.m. 3:09 p.m. 4:51 a.m. 3:44 p.m. 5:20 a.m. 4:21 p.m.

-0.3’ 2.7’ -0.4’ 2.6’ -0.4’ 2.5’

AT BRADBURY DAM, LAKE CACHUMA 103/77/s 105/79/pc 76/49/pc 102/64/c 72/60/pc 85/58/s 83/62/pc 61/57/c 104/74/s 81/64/pc 84/48/pc 99/64/s 66/56/pc 79/57/s 68/57/pc 83/61/s 70/59/pc 107/85/pc 84/65/pc 98/57/s 94/60/s 72/66/pc 67/57/pc 80/61/pc 76/56/pc 72/63/pc 88/51/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 west 6-12 knots today. Wind waves 2-4 feet with a south-southwest swell 2-4 feet at 13-second intervals. Visibility clear.

TIDES

LOCAL TEMPS Today Hi/Lo/W 102/63/s 72/58/pc 68/55/pc 66/52/pc 69/55/pc 93/55/pc 67/55/pc 67/60/pc

MARINE FORECAST

SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL

Santa Barbara through 6 p.m. yesterday

People travel on lower State Street in various ways.

Nice with clouds and sun

93 55

ALMANAC

Continued from Page A2

—Katherine Zehnder

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).

Good Moderate

BLOTTER

through a childcare website. The babysitter expected to meet the child’s guardian and was extremely surprised to find the child unattended upon arrival, Sgt. Ragsdale said. Sgt. Ragsdale said officers learned that the child had been left unattended for over 24 hours in the home without food. Detectives were notified and assisted with the case by obtaining a search warrant from a judge. Officers were able to obtain information regarding the mother’s current location. When located, the mother was intoxicated and placed under arrest, Sgt. Ragsdale said. Ms. Tracy was the only family member in town, and no other adults were with the child. Child Protective Services responded to care for the five-year-old. Ms. Tracy was booked in the Santa Barbara County Jail on multiple felonies; child endangerment, possession of undetectable “ghost guns,” possession of a firearm with a prior misdemeanor conviction, unlawful possession of ammunition, child neglect, and criminal storage of a firearm. Her bail was set at $100,000.

email: kzehnder@newspress.com

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AIR QUALITY KEY

the year to tour the downtown, participate in public outreach including the Spanish-speaking community, appear before the council and advisory committee and work with staff and other “stakeholders” to turn the plan into reality, Ms. Harris said. She said city staff and the consultant will act as “facilitators” while the master plan continues to receive input and move forward. “The community will be designing the master plan,” she said. In response to councilmembers’ questions about implementing the plan once all the design work is completed, she said that final, more detailed designs would have to be made based on everything gathered over the interim. She said funding sources for capital improvements would have to be identified before any actual changes are made downtown. email: nhartstein@newspress.com

Salcido, her team, and my devoted fellow board members.” County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Salcido said she holds the deepest respect for Dr. MacDougall. “He is the epitome of service and leadership, and we are forever grateful for the time, thought and energy he brought to the County Board of Education,” Dr. Salcido said. “His life’s work is beyond admirable, and we will all miss the wisdom and the experience he brought to his role. His legacy is that of an exceptional leader and generous volunteer. We are all incredibly grateful for his service.” Dr. MacDougall served as the president of Santa Barbara City College from 1981 to 2002. He has been involved extensively as a community volunteer, serving as either the CEO or board chair of various organizations.

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.

92/75/s 86/71/t 82/62/pc 102/80/s 76/60/t 96/77/t 90/80/pc 75/58/pc 89/76/t 92/77/t 100/83/t 97/69/s 84/68/t 97/74/pc 93/66/s 90/76/t

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 80,015 acre-ft. Elevation 704.77 ft. Evaporation (past 24 hours) 36.5 acre-ft. Inflow 3.7 acre-ft. State inflow 12.5 acre-ft. Storage change from yest. -119 acre-ft. Report from U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

SUN AND MOON Sunrise Sunset Moonrise Moonset

New

First

Jul 28

Aug 5

WORLD CITIES

Today 6:06 a.m. 8:05 p.m. 4:53 a.m. 7:56 p.m.

Full

Aug 11

Thu. 6:07 a.m. 8:04 p.m. 5:50 a.m. 8:35 p.m.

Last

Aug 18

Today Thu. City Hi/Lo/W Hi/Lo/W Beijing 81/72/t 86/70/t Berlin 72/52/pc 74/57/c Cairo 98/76/s 99/77/s Cancun 90/79/t 91/77/t London 70/60/c 74/59/c Mexico City 73/57/sh 74/58/sh Montreal 81/65/pc 82/65/t New Delhi 90/81/t 89/81/t Paris 78/60/pc 79/62/c Rio de Janeiro 77/68/s 84/71/s Rome 88/71/s 88/72/s Sydney 63/49/s 64/48/s Tokyo 88/80/pc 89/80/pc 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 DA Y, J U LY 2 7, 2 0 2 2

Emphasis is on sustainability, regeneration at Santa Ynez Valley wineries and farm By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

HEATHER DAENITZ/CRAFT & CLUSTER PHOTOS

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard is a good place to relax with wine in Solvang.

Gleason Family Vineyards

At left, peaches are grown at Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard. Center, Guests enjoy the winery. At right, these are wines at Buttonwood.

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard contribute to the landscape in Solvang.

he Gleason Family Vineyards Santa Ynez Valley portfolio of brands (Roblar Winery and Vineyards, Refugio Ranch Vineyards, Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard) has launched a series of new sustainability efforts for its Santa Barbara County vineyard and farm properties. In addition, Gleason Family Vineyards is introducing Michael Vining as the director of farming and sustainability, overseeing all of the initiatives in farming and sustainability for the entire portfolio. Mr. Vining, who joined the Gleason Family Vineyards team in August 2021, shifted grape harvest practices on the winery operations side of the businesses by composting all vegetative winery waste from the 2021 harvest in a new project located on the group’s Roblar Farm property in Santa Ynez. Grape pomace from Roblar Winery and Vineyards and Refugio Ranch Vineyards went into the compost program, and the company’s vineyard waste hauling contracts were canceled. Also part of the new composting program is all kitchen waste from the Roblar Winery tasting room, where Executive Chef Peter Cham crafts farm menus for winery visitors as well as private menus for events at both Roblar Winery and Roblar Farm. At Refugio Ranch Vineyards, the Gleason family’s first Santa Ynez Valley property, the group is returning the land to one of its former uses as a grazing ground for farm animals, but this time, in between the rows of vines, which blanket 26 acres of the 415-acre property. Before the growing season began, the Refugio Ranch vineyards were cover cropped, and a herd of sheep joined the grape-growing and grazing operation, complete with shepherd. The operation includes guidance and services from Central California-based Cuyama Lamb, a sheep outfit committed to the regeneration of native California grasslands and the sustainable production of ethically raised food and fiber, which operates primarily in the coastal foothills of Santa Barbara County. “We’re building an agricultural team here, incorporating the vineyard and farm lands into one regenerative system,” said Mr. Vining. “We are a company founded by a family. And we want these lands for which we’re now stewards to thrive, for our own families, for future generations and for the entire Santa Ynez Valley community.” A Santa Barbara native, Mr. Vining is no stranger to farming practices and their importance to varied communities. In 1993, he completed his senior thesis while at UC Santa Cruz. It was titled “Growing Alternatives and Opportunity: Homelessness and Garden-Based Social Change in Santa Cruz.” Following graduation and earning his bachelor’s degree in community studies, Mr. Vining tended and managed several community farms in the Santa Cruz area. His work on these farms has been showcased in magazines like National Geographic, honoring his unique attention to design, color presentation and layout of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Mr. Vining moved on to a 15-year career in planning, developing and homebuilding, growing a successful construction business, which operated in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. He leverages his dual backgrounds in construction and farming in his new role with Gleason Family Vineyards, where he has spearheaded such projects as the creation of a chicken run and residence for Roblar Farm’s 200-count chicken population, all Please see GLEASON on B2

NEWS

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

PETS of the WEEK

GLEASON

Continued from Page B1

Bingo Bingo gets so excited when he sees people that his whole body wiggles with joy. The enthusiastic 6-year-old Boxer is awaiting adoption at Santa Barbara Humane. Bingo is house-trained and crate-trained and knows a couple of commands. He craves attention and would do best in a home without any other dogs or cats. To adopt Bingo, email adopt@ sbhumane.org or call 805-964-4777 to make an adoption appointment between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Santa Barbara Humane is known for its high-quality, affordable medical care, dog training and adoption through its campuses in Goleta and Santa Maria. For more information, go to www.sbhumane.org. — Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

Kittens in Lompoc Many kittens are awaiting adoption at the Volunteers for Inter Valley Animals shelter in Lompoc. All have been spayed/neutered, microchipped, dewormed and flea treated, and they have received age-appropriate vaccinations. Colors include orange tabbies, golden tabbies, tuxedos and torties. To adopt a kitten, fill out an adoption application at www. vivashelter.org. Then VIVA will schedule a private meet-and-greet with the kittens. For more information, call the shelter at 805-735-6741. — Dave Mason

COURTESY PHOTO

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

805-988-7861 or 800-346-3781

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

roosting in a structure and yard made from reclaimed materials. As part of Mr. Vining’s efforts, the previously one-acre, organic Roblar produce farm has received a two-acre addition, which he has planted as a “market garden” — a seasonal field bearing more than 40 varieties of vegetables and herbs to supply the Gleason Family Vineyards kitchens as well as the newly enhanced Roblar Farm stand, which sits at the entrance to Roblar Winery and Vineyards on the corner of Roblar Avenue and Refugio Road. The stand regularly carries eggs and produce pulled directly from Roblar Farm for purchase by locals and visitors. Additionally, as of June, Mr. Vining and the Gleason Family Vineyards team launched a new CSA program for Gleason Family Vineyards wine club members and Santa Ynez Valley locals, and the team is also planning to initiate community days where local residents are invited to walk the farm to glean produce at no cost. Roblar’s culinary platform also plays heavily into the farm planning with Chef Cham and Mr. Vining working hand-in-hand to plant what might be on a seasonal “chef wish list.” Just steps from the Roblar kitchens, Chef Cham picks fresh produce destined for his dishes such as beets, which hue his smoked salmon deviled eggs, or Roblar Farm lettuces, which support fresh salads like a black garlic Caesar, or radishes to top his avocado and seeded levain toast, which also boasts ricotta salata, puffed grains and a poached farm egg. More of those farm eggs can be found in a lunchtime offering, a tarragon egg salad sandwich with house-pickled mustard seeds, and Roblar Farm-grown shallots and celery. “It’s really a dream to sit down at Roblar and eat the most amazing salad you’ve had in years, all with produce grown right next door. While our primary focus remains on viticulture, it’s been a joy to work on enhancing our properties to showcase additional riches that Santa Ynez Valley has to offer, all while being mindful of how we can use those outputs as regenerative inputs for the ongoing health of this land,” said Matthew Bieszard, Gleason Family Vineyards general manager. In addition to Roblar’s fruit and vegetable bounty, the Gleason Family Vineyards team is also raising more animated residents. Roblar Farm recently added a herd of Babydoll sheep as well as Duroc-Hampshire pigs, both of which will add animal inputs to the farm’s soils and, in the case of the sheep, act as natural mowing implements. Beehives also dot Roblar Farm and Buttonwood Farm, powerful pollinators that serve as an integral part of the Gleason Family Vineyards farming system and supply honey’s natural sweetness to Chef Cham’s varied menus. Over the course of the next year, the Gleason Family Vineyards team will be reinvigorating the 10-acre farm, two-acre orchard, small hop yard and 42-acre estate vineyard at the newly-acquired Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard, in Solvang. Under a multi-year project, all of the vineyard trellising will be updated while the team works closely with vineyard management to monitor each block to better manage growth and yields to produce the best possible fruit. The agriculture team is also tending to Buttonwood’s farm crops, like the property’s prized peaches, olives and pomegranates. A Buttonwood farm stand located in the tasting room offers these items for sale as they are ripe as well as fresh sweet corn and popping corn, watermelon, squash, Asian pears, plums and apricots, alongside produce from Roblar Farm. The Gleason Family Vineyards restoration of Buttonwood’s famous peach programming also means that peach preserves, mini peach pies and peach sorbet are available for sale. The Buttonwood property, first founded in 1968 on a principal of sustainability, is positioned to become part of the Gleason family’s plan to introduce agritourism programs for the public, essentially travel packages for those looking to learn more about regenerative farming methods in the food and wine industries in the Santa Barbara County wine region. Packages will include lodging options on Roblar Farm, dining opportunities courtesy of Chef Cham, and winery visits, vineyard walks and tastings with the Gleason Family Vineyards winemaking team of head winemaker, Max Marshak, and assistant winemakers Kat Neenan and Brett Reeves. “I use the term ‘sustainable

REBECCA NUSS PHOTOS

Executive Chef Peter Cham prepares pizza in the wood-fired oven at Roblar Winery and Vineyards in Santa Ynez.

Chickens scurry about at Roblar Farm.

Babydoll sheep graces Roblar Farm.

fertility’ for what we’re trying to do with this land,” said Mr. Vining. “We’re using organic methods to fertilize the soil, aiming for sustainable plant growth and optimal crop yields, while keeping our environmental impact at a minimum. “This isn’t just about ‘now.’ This is about farming this region for our future.” email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

FYI For more information, contact Roblar Winery and Vineyards, 3010 Roblar Ave., Santa Ynez, 805-6862603, www.roblarwinery.com; Refugio Ranch Vineyards, 2990 Grand Ave., Los Olivos 805-697-5289, www. refugioranch.com; and Buttonwood Farm Winery and Vineyard, 1500 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, 805688-3032; www.buttonwoodwinery. com.

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2022

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By FRANK STEWART Tribune Content Agency

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ACROSS 1 Manicurist’s tool 5 Windex target 9 Blackjack stack 14 Black Card co. 15 “Hey, sailor!” 16 Largest city on the Red River 17 *Small Hershey’s treats 20 Some pore minimizers 21 Chowder head? 22 “Outlander” cable network 23 *Cabbagelike ornamental plant 28 Sit for a portrait 4VYL PɈ` 31 Pool toy 34 Orecchiette shape 36 Henrik whose last play was “When We Dead Awaken” 37 Tetris shape 38 *Baker’s pan 41 Mormons, initially 42 Prom queen topper 44 Links standard 45 Left on a map 46 Reason for a makeup test 49 Transmission selection 51 *Pedicabs 53 Sacramento team 57 Apropos of :[\Ɉ VUL»Z MHJL 59 Misinterpret, or what is hidden in each of the answers to the starred clues? 64 String quartet instrument 65 Get just right 66 Old Italian bread? 67 Poetry fests 68 General __ chicken 69 Pulls the plug on

Answers to previous CODEWORD

PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLVED

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

#ONCEPTIS 0UZZLES $IST BY +ING &EATURES 3YNDICATE )NC

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.

$IFFICULTY ,EVEL

1 =

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.

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

7/26/2022

11 Some connections 12 Baltimore Ravens mascot named for a writer 13 Mom, to Auntie 18 Ricelike pasta 19 Green Hornet sidekick 23 Watered-down 24 USSR secret service 25 Flight path? 26 City near Manchester 27 Accounting giant __ & Young 29 __ salt 31 Adjust a paragraph setting 32 Defensive line? 33 Lab container 35 Iron-pumping unit 38 Some Bach creations 39 Puts a glove on, in a way 40 Wrath 43 Food writer Drummond 45 Squirm 47 “Ring of Fire” singer 48 Scope 50 Comparable (to) 52 Siouan speakers 54 Lose-lose 55 Keep safe 56 Ocular woes 58 D.C. veterans 59 Sets in a bar 60 Feel poorly 61 RVer’s stopover 62 Common name for a tree-lined street 63 Ipanema’s city

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

HMPUT LDEEU GIKSIN

<HVWHUGD\·V

Get the free JUST JUMBLE DSS )ROORZ XV RQ 7ZLWWHU @PlayJumble

DAILY BRIDGE

world needs more individuality. Revel in your unique qualities and be generous about sharing them with the world. Feel free to adopt a new and unconventional way of doing something anything. Beware, however, that there may be a strong, grounding force that’s trying to tie you down to tradition. SCORPIO — Today is a very expansive day in which you can make great progress in all of your endeavors, Scorpio. Be careful of deception by others. There may be a surreal cloud that covers up reality. You may need to do a little digging to locate the truth. Maintain a mellow attitude in order to stay safe. SAGITTARIUS — Tune into your dreams today, Sagittarius. Do you often feel intensely jealous thinking the people around you are living amazing lives while you’re stuck in a dull, boring routine? The only person who can pull you out of this rut is you, so stop complaining and do it. Change is easier than it seems at first. CAPRICORN — There are extremely slow-moving, subtle energies coming into play today that may not be so easily felt, Capricorn. What they provide is a key to manifesting your wildest dreams. Fantasy can become your reality, but it may only come one small, subtle step at a time. Don’t give up. Focus on the unconventional way to get things done. AQUARIUS — There may be a great deal of conflict in your life today, Aquarius. Different people and situations seem to be pulling you in all directions. Your sanity is being put to the test. Try not to be too stubborn, because this will only cause more tension between you and the situation. You have the potential to stress out about the smallest things. Try to avoid this if you can. PISCES — Today you should work to tune into the larger, slower-moving trends in your life, Pisces. Consider making some long-term monetary and emotional investments. There is a great deal of prosperity available to you now, but beware of deception on the part of others. Watch out for fast talkers and people who promise everything yet deliver nothing.

HOROSCOPE ARIES — Let your artistic nature loose today, Aries. Add a touch of creativity to whatever project, situation, or person you encounter. Let your fantasy world extend to every aspect of your being and keep an open mind for new ideas and methods. Incorporate traditional values into new concepts. TAURUS — Don’t gamble away your resources, Taurus. Take the safest route. There’s a great deal of energy out there encouraging you to act, but beware of adopting too stubborn of an attitude. This will only succeed in alienating you from the very people you rely on for support. Maintain a strong, healthy balance between old and new. GEMINI — Get things out in the open today, Gemini. If someone seems to insult you, call them on it. Letting things fester inside only destroys your self-esteem. You’d also be in danger of losing the respect of others. This could very well be a situation in which everyone but you sees the truth. Try not to let this happen. CANCER — Stick to the tried and true today, Cancer. Don’t be afraid to make any last-minute changes of plan. Compliment others when they do something well, and show appreciation for their positive qualities. You’ll gain their respect. Celebrate the small things in life and appreciate all that you have physically as well as emotionally. LEO — Reap all the riches that a new day has to offer, Leo. Every day brings new opportunities and the chance for rapid advancement. Grab the things offered to you. You have a great deal of potential, but potential is one of those things that does no good until you realize it and harness it. VIRGO — You may need to adjust today in order to relate well to people and situations, Virgo. Things are a bit off kilter, and you may find that the harder you try to fit in, the more liable you are to feel like an oddball. Try not to get caught up in others’ battles. Maintain a balance between real life and fantasy. LIBRA — Be yourself today — 100 percent you, Libra. The

"Y $AVE 'REEN

“Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock.” — Will Rogers

Horoscope.com Wednesday, July 27, 2022

CODEWORD PUZZLE

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

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: '81&( '5(66 )/$925 7+(25< Answer: The vintage sweater with so many buttons ZDV ³ 2/' ´)$67(1('µ

SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

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PUBLIC NOTICES FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220001574 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: KIDZ SAFE LOCK, 717 E MEEHAN ST. APT 202, SANTA MARIA, CA 93454, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: SCOTT MESSIER: 717 E MEEHAN ST. APT 202, SANTA MARIA, CA 93454. 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 06/16/2022 by E35, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Apr 01, 2022. 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) JUL 13, 20, 27; AUG 3 / 2022--58493

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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT, FBN No: 20220001840 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: ONSITE DESIGN, 2131 STANWOOD DR., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: PETER HALE: 2131 STANWOOD DR., SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105. 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 07/20/2022 by E24, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Jan 01, 1999. 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: 20220001836 First Filing. The following person (s) are doing business as: LINDYWELL, 1221 CHAPALA ST, #7, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105, County of Santa Barbara. Full Name(s) of registrants: THE BALANCED LIFE: 5300 ORCHARD PARK LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93111. This business is conducted by: A CORPORATION, STATE OF INC.: CA. This statement was filed in the office of JOSEPH E. HOLLAND, County Clerk-Recorder of SANTA BARBARA COUNTY on 07/19/2022 by E30, Deputy. The registrant commenced to transact business on: Jul 19, 2022. 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) JUL 27; AUG 3, 10, 17 / 2022--58529

Need something to be hauled away? Look no further than the Service Directory PETITION OF: RALPH CHARLES HOUSLEY JR. FOR CHANGE OF NAME. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 22CV02334

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN 2022-0001788 The following person(s) is doing business as: Salty Gold Uni, 208 Mesa Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93109, County of Santa Barbara. California Gold Seafood LLC, 208 Mesa Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93109; CA This business is conducted by Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the ﬁctitious business name or names listed above on N/A /s/ Max Diamond, Managing Member This statement was ﬁled with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 07/14/2022. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 7/27, 8/3, 8/10, 8/17/22 CNS-3608175# SANTA BARBARA NEWS-PRESS

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: RALPH CHARLES HOUSLEY JR. filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: RALPH CHARLES HOUSLEY JR. to Proposed name: RALPH CHARLES BELL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: 8/24/2022 Time: 8:30 am Dept: SM 3 Address: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, 312-C East Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93456, Cook Division A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: Santa Barbara News-Press Date: 06/23/2022 Name: Jed Beebe, (for Judge Timothy J. Staffel) Judge of the Superior Court.

JUL 27; AUG 3, 10, 17 / 2022 -- 58522

JUL 6, 13, 20, 27 / 2022--58470

JUL 27; AUG 3, 10, 17 / 2022--58525

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Rows of lavender plants soak in the sun recently at the Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm in Lompoc.

Poll: 83% of parents are not planning to vaccinate their kids under 5 years old By CASEY HARPER THE CENTER SQUARE SENIOR REPORTER

(The Center Square) — Newly released polling data shows that the majority of parents are not interested in vaccinating their young children. The Kaiser Family Foundation released the survey Tuesday, which showed that 83% of parents with children under 5 years old who are eligible for the vaccine are not planning to get their child vaccinated right now. Currently, only 7% reported their children under 5 are vaccinated. “With the FDA granting emergency use authorization for the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months through 4 years old, many parents of these young children remain reluctant to vaccinate

their child,” Kaiser said. “More than 4 in 10 parents of children in this age group say they will ‘definitely not’ get their child vaccinated for COVID-19.” On top of that, another 27% say they will “wait and see.” An additional 13% said they will only do it if required. The survey found parents are concerned about a lack of research and testing of the vaccine given its newness as well as concerns about safety and side effects from taking it. Research has shown significant side effects from COVID-19 vaccines and that children are at a much lower risk from the virus than older adults. “More than half of parents of children between 6 months and 4 years old say the COVID-19 vaccine poses a bigger risk to their child’s health than a coronavirus infection,” Kaiser said.

The vaccine hesitancy is different based on political party, with more Republicans rejecting the vaccine. Republican or Republicanleaning parents (64%) and parents who are themselves unvaccinated (64%) are particularly likely to say they will “definitely not” vaccinate their youngest children, Kaiser said. Parents are more willing to vaccinate older children, the report found. “Four in 10 parents of kids ages 5-11 now report their child has gotten vaccinated (40%). Just 1% of parents now say they will get their child vaccinated right away, while about 1 in 10 parents of 5-11 yearolds still want to ‘wait and see,’” Kaiser said. “Notably, nearly half of parents of children ages 5-11 say they either will only get them vaccinated if required to do so

(10%) or say they definitely won’t get their 5-11 year-old vaccinated (37%).” For teens, the number is higher. “Parents’ intentions to vaccinate their older children have remained relatively steady since the start of the year with about 6 in 10 parents of teenagers, ages 12-17, saying their child has been vaccinated (57%),” Kaiser said. “Vaccine uptake among children ages 5-11 also appears to have slowed with 4 in 10 parents saying their child in that age group has gotten the vaccine – similar to the share in April. Nearly 3 in 10 parents of 12 to 17 year-olds and nearly 4 in 10 parents of 5 to 11 year-olds say they definitely will not get their child vaccinated for COVID-19.” Casey Harper works at The Center Square’s Washington, D.C., bureau.

Six major party committees raised $1.3 billion so far 2022 election

By DAVID LUCHS

BALLOTPEDIA VIA THE CENTER SQUARE

Six party committees raised a combined $1.3 billion in the first 18 months of the 2022 election cycle. In June, the committees raised a combined $85 million, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. In June, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $12.6 million and spent $11.2 million, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $9.5 million and spent $17 million. So far in the 2022 election cycle, the NRSC has outraised

the DSCC with $173.5 million in receipts to the DSCC’s $162.1 million. At this point in the 2020 election cycle, the NRSC led in cumulative fundraising with $133.6 million to the DSCC’s $125.1 million. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $17 million and spent $13.2 million in June, while the National Republican Congressional Committee raised $16.5 million and spent $5.7 million. The DCCC’s $13.2 million in expenditures is its highest single-month total for the 2022 election cycle to date. So far in the 2022 election cycle, the

DCCC leads in fundraising with $239.5 million to the NRCC’s $215.2 million. At this point in the 2020 cycle, the DCCC had raised $207.8 million and the NRCC had raised $160.0 million. Between the national committees, the Democratic National Committee raised more in June, and the Republican National Committee spent more. The DNC raised $15.3 million and spent $11.4 million, while the RNC raised $14.5 million and spent $18.1 million. So far in the election cycle, the RNC has raised $247.4 million to the DNC’s $222.8 million. At this time in the 2020

election cycle, the RNC led in fundraising by a larger margin, with $409.7 million to the DNC’s $186.2 million. This election cycle, the RNC, NRSC and NRCC have raised 1.8% more than the DNC, DSCC, and DCCC ($636 million to $624.5 million). The Republican fundraising advantage is down from 2.7% last month. For more information, see ballotpedia.org/democratic_ national_committee, ballotpedia. org/republican_national_ committee or ballotpedia. org/party_committee_ fundraising,_2019-2020.

Walmart profit outlook trimmed back; consumers turning away from nonessentials

By RICHIE MALOUF THE CENTER SQUARE

(The Center Square) — Walmart has cut back its second quarter and full-year profit outlook as consumers focus more on necessary goods like food due to inflationary pressures. As food prices increase, consumers have begun cutting back on spending on other goods to make purchasing consumable goods more affordable. To combat high inflationary pressures, Walmart, which has stores in Lompoc, Santa Maria and Ventura, has marked down prices on other goods, especially apparel. “The increasing levels of

food and fuel inflation are affecting how customers spend, and while we’ve made good progress clearing hard-line categories, apparel in Walmart U.S. is requiring more markdown dollars,” said Doug McMillon, Walmart Inc. president and chief executive officer. This announcement comes after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its latest Consumer Price Index report, which showed a 9.1% price increase over the last 12 months. That’s the highest since 1981. High inflation has affected consumers across the nation as families continue to live paycheck to paycheck, trying to make ends

meet while dealing with increases across the board, especially gas, food, and home prices. Food costs are above first quarter numbers and into double digits at 10.4%. The impact is less spending on nonessentials. As consumers transition, Walmart expects its U.S. comparable store sales, excluding fuel, to increase by 6%, which is higher than previously expected. However, food has smaller profit margins than other, more durable goods. Following the announcement, Walmart’s stock price fell, with its adjusted earnings per share expected to decline 8 percentage points to 9% for the second

quarter and 11 percentage points to 13% for the full-year. Walmart expects its second quarter and full-year operating income to decline 13 percentage points to 14% and 11 percentage points to 13%, respectively. Remaining optimistic about the future, McMillon said Walmart expects consumers to increase their purchases of other more durable goods as the school year approaches, despite high inflationary pressures. “We’re now anticipating more pressure on general merchandise in the back half,” McMillon said. “However, we’re encouraged by the start we’re seeing on school supplies in Walmart U.S.”