| 8:30 a.m.
The good news continues to pile up in the protracted war against the coronavirus, and Noozhawk’s Brooke Holland provided a snapshot of the gains in this week’s COVID-19 Update email.
There was definitely a setback with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which the government has paused after “six confirmed U.S. cases” of a rare and severe blood clot were reported among the nearly 7 million J&J doses administered.
But as of this week, about half of Santa Barbara County’s residents age 16 and older have received at least one COVID-19 shot, and 21 percent of the county’s 446,000 residents have been fully vaccinated. Most seniors and our most vulnerable citizens are now protected.
Tracy Lehr / NewsChannel 3-12
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF.-The last time a male had an Old Spanish Days Spirit title was back in 1998 when Ryan Zermeño became the Junior Spirit of Fiesta.
This year, two young male finalists hope to make Old Spanish Days dancing history. They say there has never been a male Spirit.
Jack Harwood,16, has been dancing since he was 4. The teen is a Dos Pueblos High School Junior in the Engineering Academy. Miguel Sánchez, 19, is a Santa Barbara City College freshman studying business administration and communications.
Sanchez said having a male Spirit would add to the Old Spanish Days experience this year.
Housing and Development Newsletter
He has served as adjunct professor at Lane Community College, University of Oregon, Western Oregon University, Pacific University, and Northwest Christian University where he developed and taught courses in ethnic studies, teacher training, cross-cultural counseling, and international studies.
Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Villanueva has deep roots in the local community. He is currently coordinating a research project documenting the history of the Filipino and Filipino-American experience in Santa Barbara, which dates back to the 1780s.
After attending local schools and graduating from San Marcos High School, he attended UCLA. He earned a master’s degree in bilingual education at the USC, then went on to pursue a doctorate degree in multicultural education at the University of Oregon.
Holli Johnson
Two candidates are challenging the newly appointed incumbent for the Lane Community College Board Zone 1 seat that represents West Eugene, Veneta and Florence. Holli Johnson was appointed March 3 to the board and is running to keep her seat. She is the first African American person on the board in the school’s half century of existence.
Johnson’s interest in community colleges began two decades ago, when she walked onto the campus at Santa Barbara City College and asked for help. “On that day,” she says, “I knew that I was going to work in financial aid and scholarships. So I went out in the community and helped every person I knew in my social circle apply for financial aid and taught them the ropes.”
The mood struck him again on Tuesday. The only thing you absolutely need to know is the location of the library, Friedman said, quoting Albert Einstein. When this project is done, everyone will know and love the location of our library. It s just going to be phenomenal and part of the cultural hub when it is completed.
The City Council on Tuesday voted 7-0 to approve a naming opportunity system for the Library Plaza, which has been closed for several years. Most recently it was used as a staging area for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art renovation.
Eventually, the plaza will become a hub for events and activities. It is near museums, theaters and concert venues, and officials envision the 10,000-square-foot space becoming the center of the cultural arts district.