Carp Mag 2025 Winter by Coastal View News

WINTER 2025

livingcommunityartshoppingdining

WINTER2025

MAGAZINE

CARPINTERIA

CARPINTERIA MAGAZINE

If your heart wants to pick up the pace,

it needs accelerated cardiac technology.

For all your heart needs.

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Your Carpinteria Real Estate Home Team

Unparalleled Local Knowledge | Exceptional Service “I cannot find the words to say how impressed I am with Jon-Ryan and Sarah. I’ve bought and sold a few homes in California over the years, and it’s not new to me. I never imagined an agent that would go to such extreme lengths as Jon-Ryan and Sarah did.” “Jon-Ryan & Sarah are incredible. Hire them!” -David S.

Jon-Ryan Schlobohm REALTOR® 805.450.3307 jr@jon-ryan.com DRE 01876237

Sarah Aresco Smith REALTORS® 805.252.3868 sarah@lovecarpinteria.com DRE 01882574

www.schlobohmteam.com

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. ll material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. ll measurements and square footages are approximate.

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Here to help with what matters most to you Michelle Perry, CFP® First Vice President Wealth Management Advisor

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 1424 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805.963.6309 michelle.a.perry@ml.com

fa.ml.com/michelle-a-perry

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. CFP Board owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the U.S. © 2023 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

MAP5272720 | AD-09-23-0006 | 470944PM-0123 | 09/2023

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Ne e d a R e a l E s t a t e E x p e r t o n Yo u r S i d e ?

Over $1,000,000,00 0 Sold in Career Sales

Selling real estate in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, Carpinteria, Goleta & Ventura

(805) 455-8910

gary@coastalrealty.com DRE #01172139

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P R E M I E R E

Independent & Assisted Living

For Your Loved Ones

LOCAL Located in Beautiful Carpinteria, CA

OWNERSHIP

Choice, Comfort, Fun, and Care • Delicious Meals • Award-Winning Staff • Full-Time Nurse

At GranVida Senior Living, our personalized care, activities, meals, and amenities enhance quality of life and allow our residents to focus on spending time making wonderful memories. Come enjoy life with us at GranVida!”

lunch at GranVida! Please bring or mention this offer and enjoy a complimentary meal from our excellent Chef! Monday–Friday

(805) 566-0017

Lunch

We invite you to enjoy

Enjoy a Complimentary

Dining Experience and Community Tour Call today for a reservation! 5464 Carpinteria Ave. Carpinteria, CA 93013

G r a n V i d a S e n i o r L i v i n g . c o m RFCE# 425850335

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Buying or selling a home with us is like a walk on the beach!

Seascape Realty Sylvia's vast experience and innovative marketing strategies help Sellers get the highest possible price in the shortest possible time.

Seascape Realty Is Proud To Welcome

Shirley Kimberlin

Terry Stain

Lic. #00623395

Lic. #01484280

George Manuras

Sylvia Miller

Lic. #01991682

Lic. #00558548

Sylvia Miller (805) 448-8882 BRE Lic#: 00558548

www.santabarbaraconnection.com - sylvia@sanbarb.com

Lynda Bohnett

Jackie Williams

Lic. #01268751

Lic. #00842171

Diana Porter

Sylvia's reputation for Lic. #01842390

outstanding customer service makes her THE RIGHT REALTOR® EVERYONE’S FOR YOU T

Daniel Abramovs

Mark Brickley

Lic. #02054864

Lic.#02102499

Lic.#02119204

MONTECITO UPPER VILLAGE... Located in a serene cul de sac o icacho ane and close to pper Village, this inviting single level home features three bedrooms and three baths. n oy mountain views, elegant wood oors, two replaces, and beamed ceilings. he property also boasts a beautiful bac yard with a pool and acu i, along with a gourmet itchen and luxurious master suite, plus a separate o ce. OFFERED AT $5,600,000. Please call Jackie Williams 805-680-5066

D L O

And, her complete representation for Buyers can help you realize the perfect home to meet your needs.

Betty Lloyd

D L O

BRE Lic. #01484280

FAVORITE FLOORPLAN AT BEACHWALK! Vaulted ceilings, bed/ bath upstairs down downstairs has wal in closet , roomy lo overloo ing living area, outside patio open air atrium, replace, large detached, car garage. rime location on Sawyer ve. allows for easy access to downtown, the 101, and the ocean. OFFERED AT $995,000 Please call Terry Stain at 805-705-1310

D L O

GREAT GROUND-FLOOR LOCATION IN LA CABANA, across the street from the beach! Almost fully refurbished, this unit feels bright, shiny, & new! Perfect for full or parttime living, or as a vacation rental. asy wal to beach or downtown Carpinteria! Includes community pool, outdoor , gated, o street par ing. ow includes electricity, gas, water, & trash. OFFERED AT $810,000 Please call Terry Stain at 805-705-1310

D L O

JUST STEPS ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE “WORLD’S SAFEST BEACH” and near the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature eserve. his deligh ul one bedroom, one bath condominium has been beautifully refurbished. erfect location for a vacation retreat, or full time en oyment. he unit can be rented long term or short term. A nice stroll ta es you to charming downtown Carpinteria with great shops, restaurants and more. OFFERED AT $805,000. Please call Shirley Kimberlin at 805-886-0228

View our properties for sale at Look4SeascapeRealty.com

4915-C Carpinteria Ave. • 805.684.4161 WINTER2025 7

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Strike a balance between financial security and living fully We’ll show you how.

(805) 845-8172 | planmember.media/balance Locations in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara PlanMember Securities Corporation is a registered broker/dealer, investment advisor, and member FINRA/SIPC. 6187 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria, CA 93013

Water-wise gardening

Sweeping sidewalks

Monitoring water use

Saving Water is always a Carpinteria way of life. Repairing leaks 8Summer CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com 2024_Saving Water, Carpinteria way of life_05072024.indd 1

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Visit CVWD.net for information on rebates, water saving actions, and EyeOnWater®. 05/07/2024 9:03:14 AM

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The Local Carpinteria Valley Team Hard working, Knowledgeable, Ethical and over 45 years experience

Debbie Murphy, Realtor-Broker Kim Fly, Realtor-Broker Associate Leah Wagner, Realtor Carolyn Friedman, Realtor Heidi and Jim Michener, Vacation Hosts

Sales • Vacation Rentals • Notary Public Full Service Property Management

805.689.9696

DRE #00580025

805.684.4101 5441 Carpinteria Ave. Carpinteria, CA 93013

www.murphykingrealestate.com

Carpinteria Shores is right on the sand. Select from a range of prices for our individually owned and decorated two bedroom vacation rental condos which sleep up to six comfortably. Everything included except linens, which weʼre pleased to provide upon request. Available for short or long term stays.

Sunset Shores sits right across the street from Carpinteria City Beach. We manage several units of varying sizes in this desirable complex with amenities that include: heated pool, hot tub, BBQ & Picnic areas, laundry room and EV Charging Stations.

Debbie Murphy

Kim Fly

Magniﬁcent unobstructed Island and Ocean views from this wonderful 2 bd. / 2 full bath oceanfront condo. Amenities include: private-gated parking, laundry in unit, BBQ & Picnic areas. Available weekly.

Leah Wagner

Nestled in the Carpinteria Foothills, with sweeping valley and mountain views, this 2 bd. /1 bath luxury vacation home sits on 3 acres and has a 1 bd. / 1 bath guest cottage. Available for 30+ days or more.

Carolyn Friedman

Heidi and Jim Michener

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OPEN DAILY 6:30AM - 2:30PM 5100 A Carpinteria Ave. Luckyllamacoffee.com Instagram @Luckyllamacoffee

SPARK45 Fitness and Physical Therapy NEW CLIENT SPECIALS

3-Class package: $75 ONGOING PACKAGE OPTIONS:

5 Class Pack: $135 1O Class Pack: $23O 3O Classes: $63O

Personal Training and Small Group Training starting at $95 per session. Offering the patented Megaformer workout, Lagree Fitness, indoor cycling and Physical Therapy.

We accept most major health insurances.

466O Carpinteria Avenue • 8O5.275.3OOO • www.spark45.com 10 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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WINTER 2025

CARP MAG

70 18 EDITOR’S LETTER

46 LINDEN AVENUE

20 CONTRIBUTORS

64 ALISO MURAL

24 93013

70 CHUCK GRAHAM TRAVELS

30 GOODFIELDS

78 LALO DELGADO

38 CARPINTERIA CEMETERY

84 HEMINGWAY

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CARPINTERIA MAGAZINE WINTER2025 EDITOR: Lea Boyd PRODUCTION & DESIGN: Kristyn Whittenton WRITERS Stephen Bates • Jim Campos • Peter Dugré Chuck Graham • Keith Hamm Alonzo Orozco • Amy Marie Orozco Evelyn Spence • Jun Starkey PHOTOGRAPHERS Ingrid Bostrom • Elena Gaeta Chuck Graham • Robin Karlsson mily errill my tanfield PRODUCTION SUPPORT Carpinteria Valley Museum of History Rockwell Printing ADVERTISING Karina Villarreal karina@coastalview.com (805) 684-4428 GET SOCIAL WITH US CarpinteriaMagazine.com Instagram and Facebook @CarpinteriaMagazine All articles, photographs and artwork appearing in this publication are the copyrighted intellectual property of RMG Ventures, LLC. RMG Ventures, LLC aggressively protects its intellectual property rights. No part of this publication may be reproduced or copied in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. ©2024 RMG Ventures, LLC.

ON THE COVER From front, Emma Early, Cheyenne Pimienta, Tessa Nash and Zack Moore

prepare

Los

Padres

cross

Toro

Outfitters Canyon

Creek on their trusty steeds. Based in Carpinteria, Los Padres Outfitters guides adventures in the saddle— from backcountry overnights to sunset beach rides. Read more on page 37.

~ Photo by Elena Gaeta

Published by RMG Ventures, LLC Michael VanStry, President Gary L. Dobbins, Vice President 4180 Via Real, Suite F, Carpinteria, California 93013 Tel: (805) 684-4428 Email: info@carpinteriamagazine.com WINTER2025 13

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RISDON’S

SERVICE

PROPANE•LUBE•TIRE CENTER AND CAR WASH

Hand Car Wash: Monday-Sunday 7:30-4 Repair & Maintenance: M-Sat 8-4

805-684-7676

4401 Via Real

WHEN YOU THINK TIRES, THINK RISDON’S. NOW OPEN on 516 Palm Ave 805 - 318 - 9300

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4835 Carpinteria Avenue @brassbirdcoffee

O u t d o o r D in in g • F u l l B a r L u n c h & D in n er • O pen D a il y a t 1 1 a m 5096 Carpinteria Avenue

@ teddysbythesea WINTER2025 15

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FIRE SAFETY

“Your Fire Protection Connection Since 1978”

(805) 684-0805

FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS • TESTING SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLS

INSPECTIONS • TESTING Fire Sprinkler Systems SALES •• Suppression REPAIRS • INSTALLS Fire Extinguishers Systems

PRIVATE RESIDENCES • COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Kitchen Hood Systems

Private Residences • Commercial Real Estate Fire Protection Property Assessment / Evaluations Fire Protection Fire •Sprinkler Systems Paints • Foams Gels Pumps • Fire Hoses • Suppression Systems FirePool Extinguishers "YOUR FIRE PROTECTION CONNECTION Kitchen Hood Systems SINCE 1978 SERVING SANTA BARBARA"

Fire Protection Property Assessment/Evaluations WWW.JOYEQUIPMENT.COM

Fire Protection • Paints • Foams

5690 CASITAS PASS ROAD, CARPINTERIA, CA 93013

Pool Pumps • Fire Hoses CA LICENSE C16-741286

Experienced local senior care for total peace of mind. Bathing Assistance Dressing Assistance Grooming Assistance with Walking Medication Reminders Errands Shopping Light Housekeeping Meal Preparation Friendly Companionship Flexible Hourly Care Respite Care for Families

805.284.0221

VisitingAngels.com/SantaBarbara Each Visiting Angels agency is independently owned and operated. ®2021 Visiting Angels is a registered trademark of Living Assistance Services, Inc.

805-684-0805 W W W. J O Y E Q U I P M E N T. C O M

5690 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria, 93013 CA. LICENSE C16-741286

ORDER IT YOUR WAY! ALL MADE TO ORDER Adobada • Marinated Beef • Asada Beef • Carnitas • Fried Pork • Pollo Chicken • Cachete • Cheek • Cabeza

Try our Quesa Birria!

EAT IN • TO GO Catering Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

751 LINDEN AVENUE • 805-566-6546 16 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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C A R P I N T E R I A’ S HOME TOWN FLORIST

F LO W E R D E L I V E R Y • W A L K- I N S F U N E R A L & S Y M PAT H Y PLANT • WORKSHOPS

Visit our new location! 3815 Santa Claus Lane, Carpinteria Tel: (805) 800-2027 hello@dirtbotanicals.com Carp Ad.indd 1

4/26/24 7:23 PM

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ENJOY

Dear Readers, Lately the power struggles, political drama and bloody conflicts around the world have become harder and heavier than ever. Reading national and global news is a punch to the gut, and I’m constantly left feeling powerless in the present and worried about the future. The inability to fit my arms around it all heightens all the big feelings. But Carpinteria I can fit my arms around. We have our challenges in this valley, of course, and our lives are built around diverse backgrounds, beliefs and opinions. We don’t always agree, and we confront crime, homelessness, poverty and pettiness just like other places. But we are mostly kind, mostly considerate, mostly tolerant and mostly loving. We take care of each other with incredible generosity, and we’re willing to do the hard work to strengthen our community. This is where we can access our power when we feel powerless on a global scale. Need to know you’re adding to the good and reducing the bad? Volunteer for a local organization that benefits your town. Donate to a local cause that’s helping your fellow Carpinterians. Get involved and witness the difference you make. I see Carpinteria Magazine, along with Coastal View News, playing an important role on the side of good. These pages may be glossy, but the intent is not to gloss over the tough stuff. Our intent is to champion what’s great about Carpinteria—the weird, the wild and the wonderful. We celebrate the stuff that makes Carpinteria quirky and cool. We aim to produce a magazine that makes our community proud. And we exist thanks to a delicate balance. Our contributors create great content, our readers (that’s you!) enjoy that content and our advertisers recognize that thousands of readers will see their business inside the pages of Carpinteria Magazine. Everyone has to hold up their end of the bargain. Thank you to everyone reading this for the role you play. This edition of Carpinteria Magazine went to print before the Nov. 5 Presidential Election. I don’t know what you know—who our president will be for the next four years. No matter who it is, I hope our country and our world will do some healing. I have faith Carpinteria will do its part. Onward & upward,

Lea Boyd, Editor

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Ocean to Orchards and everything in between. No one knows Carpinteria better.

4815 Sandyland Rd A (Sold)

1407 Linden Ave (Sold)

247 Toro Canyon Road (Sold)

1324 Vallecito Rd. (Sold)

5455 8th St. (Sold)

1701-1795 Cravens Ln. (Sold)

As Carpinteria natives and seasoned real estate professionals, Jon-Ryan and Sarah recognize and value the trust their clients place in them, and they work hard every day to exceed expectations. Jon-Ryan Schlobohm REALTOR® 805.450.3307 jr@jon-ryan.com DRE 01876237

Sarah Aresco Smith REALTORS® 805.252.3868 sarah@lovecarpinteria.com DRE 01882574

Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate.

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www.schlobohmteam.com

28 Years of Combined Local Knowledge & Exceptional Service

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CON T RI B U T ORS STEP HEN B A T ES

Stephen Bates is a professor of journalism at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; a parttime Carpinteria resident; coauthor (with Vince Burns) of “Rincon Point” and a grandson of Hemingway-dissed R. W. Bates. Email: sb@stephenbates.org

J I M C A M POS

Jim Campos, a lifelong Carpinterian, currently serves on the boards of the Carpinteria Cultural Foundation and Carpinteria Valley Museum of History and is a member of the Carpinteria Morning Rotary. His next projects include a film on Japanese internment in 1942 and a mural on the major cultural groups that make Carpinteria what it is today. Email: drsjcampos@gmail.com

PET ER D UGR É

His finger held on the pulse of Carpinteria, Peter Dugré is one half of the local company Two Trumpets Communications. Peter ’s way with words keeps him busy for a variety of clients, but often these days you will find him on a pool deck in his other role: water polo dad. www.two-trumpets.com

C HUC K GR A HA M

Since 1975, Carpinteria has been home to long-time beach lifeguard, freelancer writer and photographer Chuck Graham. Chuck has written and photographed two awardwinning books, “Carrizo Plain, Where the Mountains Meet the Grasslands” and “Paddling into a Natural Balance, Stories of Kayaking and Conservation around Channel Islands National Park.” Instagram @chuckgrahamphoto.

KEI T H HA M M

Keith Hamm is a writer in the Office of Public Affairs & Communications at (his alma mater) U.C. Santa Barbara, a former news reporter and editor for the Santa Barbara Independent and the author of “Scarred for Life: Eleven Stories About Skateboarders” (Chronicle Books, 2004). Instagram @hamm_nation

R OB I N K A R L SSON

Robin Karlsson feels incredibly fortunate to live and work in Carpinteria. And the bonus is her two grandchildren live here too. There is a lot going on in our little beach town and she is proud to be photographing it all for Coastal View News. She’s livin’ the dream in Carpinteria.

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DISTINCTIVE GARDEN FLORA

ISLAND VIEW Serving the Carpinteria Valley for 20 years and Counting 3376 Foothill Road Carpinteria 93013 Open Daily • 805.684.0324

Brew by the Beach… PRIVATE PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE FOR EVENTS

TAPROOM OPEN:

Monday-Thursday 12-9pm Friday 12-10pm Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 11am-9pm 5049 6th Street - Carpinteria islandbrewingcompany.com

805-745-8272

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CON T RI B U T ORS EMIL Y M ER R I L L

Emily Merrill is a commercial photographer based in Santa Barbara who photographs a wide array of advertising, corporate and fine art work. When she’s not shooting, she’s a road tripper, cocktail enthusiast, perfume fanatic, hiker, voracious reader and animal lover. Instagram:@emilymerrillphoto

A L ON Z O OR OZ C O

Alonzo Orozco covered Carpinteria High School Warriors football for 15 years for Coastal View News and later became the sports editor for the paper. A past contributor to Carpinteria Magazine, his articles have also appeared in Cannabis by the Sea Magazine and The Santa Ynez Valley Journal. Email: OrozcoAlonzo@outlook.com

A M Y M A R I E OR OZ C O

Amy Marie Orozco found the behind-the-scenes story of Carpinteria Cemetery fascinating. “We need to talk about death more,” says the Coastal View News Sea Witch columnist. Amy also provides editorial services to a variety of clients: print and online publications, social media influencers, government agencies, entrepreneurs, nonprofits and public relations firms. Email: amymarieorozco@gmail.com

EV EL Y N SPEN C E

Coastal View News Managing Editor Evelyn Spence has been a Santa Barbara County-based reporter for seven years. After joining CVN as a freelancer in 2020, she took over as managing editor in 2022. When not working, she can often be found playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch or reading in her signature blue papasan chair. Email: evelynrosesc@gmail.com

A MY ST A N F I EL D

Photographer and artist Amy an eld sh f ed her e e co desert life to the California coast. She’s shown her work in local art shows, taught of workshops and o ers or ra sess ons. f no at brewLAB with her husband, she’s working with seniors for Carpinteria’s AgeWell or chasing her energetic toddler. Instagram: am l nnes nas an eld

J UN ST A R K EY

Jun Starkey is the assistant editor of Coastal View News in Carpinteria and has been reporting in the Santa Barbara area for he as s ears. When she isn’t reporting, Jun can be found reading horror novels, watching scary movies or dyeing her hair.

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…simply fine wines at great prices!

Wines for all occasions

NEW ARRIVALS WEEKLY Stop in and shop our expansive selection! 4193-1 Carpinteria Ave.

684-7440 M-F 10-6pm Sat 10-5pm www.carpinteriawineco.com Take the Carpinteria Avenue exit from 101 South - 4th building on the right

Tempting your taste buds… Truffles, Bon Bons, Single Origin Chocolates

chococalibressan.com

41 93 C a rpin t eria A v en u e, “ S w eet ” 4 805-684-6900

CATERING FOR ALL OCCASIONS Best Bagels Since 1996 • Delicious Salads Gourmet Sandwiches • Grand Parties Hors D’oeuvres • Social & Corporate Catering 5050 • To 5050Carpinteria Carpinteria Avenue Avenue • ToGo Go805.566.1558 805.566.1558 Monday-Friday 6:30am-2pm • Weekends Monday-Friday 6:30am-2pm • Weekends6:30am-3pm 6:30am-3pm 53 S. Milpas St. • 805.564.4331 53 S. Milpas St. • 805.564.4331 Monday-Friday 6am-2pm • Weekends 7am-3pm Daily 6am-2pm

Catering 805.319.0155 805.319.0155•• bagelnet.com Catering bagelnet.com WINTER2025 23

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COURTESY PHOTOS

NOAH’S GARDEN CREATION

athy Wang has turned flower power into a fulltime occupation. The owner and founder of Noah’s Garden Creation preserves petals in their prime then showcases them in jewelry and home décor. Working out of her home studio in the Carpinteria foothills, ang dries farmers market flowers before encasing them in epo y resin. Years of trial and error have honed her craft. Despite their delicateness, the flowers are trapped in a clear solid and allowed to shine on in full color and shape. It all started in the spring of . illsides wore rainbows of color after post homas ire efforts to seed wildflowers in order to reduce erosion and landslide risk. A maker since forever, Wang was inspired by the displays of color and thought to herself, “ here has to be a way I can capture this beauty.” er partner’s mother received ang’s first handmade dried flower jewelry that Mother’s Day. ince then, ang has e plored other artistic outlets and

other products that incorporate dried flowers. he talented painter loves animals and is regularly commissioned to paint pet portraits. he also has a thriving young business preserving wedding bou uets in epo y with stunning results. mpowering women is a big part of the why for ang. “I want them to feel beautiful and loved and confident,” she says. Her talents haven’t gone unnoticed. She started selling at local makers markets and craft fairs, then was accepted into the sought-after Renegade Craft which hosts markets around the country. Looking for a great gift for someone you love? On Dec. 7, ang will be at the ood idings arket at opa opa Brewery in Ventura. You can also purchase her art and connect with her through Instagram “ noahsgardencreation” or on the web at noahsgardencreation.com ♦ - Lea Boyd

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Artist Kathy Wang sources her flowers from her garden, farmers markets and direct from local farms.

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93013

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SEASTRAND — BUY 6 GET

10 PERCENT

Chic women’s clothing shop Seastrand offers big-time customer loyalty perks. If you like supporting small businesses, pick up a loyalty card during your next purchase that will qualify you for future store credit. Once you’ve made six purchases, add up the total dollars spent, and on the seventh visit, you’ll get 10 percent of the total spent during the first si transactions discounted from your purchase.

CARPINTERIA ARTS CENTER: MEMBERSHIP — ANNUAL

LEVEL 2

$125 PER HOUSEHOLD

our ta deductible membership to the nonprofit Lynda airly Carpinteria Arts Center comes with perks that pay off outside the 93013 in the form of free admission to over 1,300 museums across the country. Involvement with the Arts Center sparks creativity — a perk in itself — but members get the inside track to classes, exhibits, special events and more.

Perks: • North American Reciprocal Museum Card for free admission to over 1,300 museums • 10% discount on workshops and tours • Discount on camp registration, classes and submission fees • Newsletter subscription

CARPINTERIA VALLEY

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP

$15 - $500 ANNUALLY If maintaining a strong connection to local history counts among your priorities, it’s time to join the Carpinteria Valley Historical Society. Among other things, this membership provides easy access to all sorts of local history through programming at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, including monthly events and the popular The Grapevine newsletter.

Perks: • A subscription to The Grapevine • Discounts in the museum gift shop ttend lectures and events for • Invitations to museum programs and special events • Access to research materials in archives, photography collection and oral history collection

PACIFIC HEALTH FOODS — BUY 10 SMOOTHIES

GET 1 FREE

If the words “Monkey Madness” or “Mango Tango” ring a bell, then you’re a fre uent flier at the acific ealth oods smoothie counter. Every time your smoothie tally reaches 10, the 11th smoothie is free. Make sure you keep your punch card on hand. Local shoppers can also take advantage of ellness ednesday, where all vitamins, supplements and cosmetics are marked down 20 percent, and wines are discounted 15 percent.

ISLAND BREWING COMPANY

“ISLAND NATION” — YEAR 1, $125. RENEWAL, $100 ANNUALLY.

OGs to the “Island Nation” boast their single-digit membership numbers from over 20 years ago with pride. Back then, Island Brewing Company capped membership into the exclusive club. There are now nearly 1,200 members of the Island Nation and counting.

Perks: • 22 ounces for 16 ounce price • 15 percent off beers to go & merch • Hat and swag bag upon sign up hoto I with credit

COASTAL VIEW NEWS —

SUSTAINING MEMBERS PROGRAM It’s hard to imagine a future featuring Thursday mornings and no Coastal View News. To ward off the prospect of that reality, CVN has asked for reader support to sustain the newspaper that chronicles the life and times of the Carpinteria Valley. A free publication, CVN has fought to remain in circulation with the support of Sustaining Members who voluntarily put their own value on Coastal View News—is it per issue —and make a donation to support a local institution. Visit coastalview.com to learn more. ♦

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1889

Inventor William Gray and developer George A. Long installed the first payphone at a bank in Hartford, Connecticut. According to payphone lore, Gray came up with the concept after his sick wife needed a doctor and no one let him use their phone.

1902

The United States had 81,000 payphones.

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE PAYPHONE 2022

New York City removed its last public payphone in 2022. The phone was then sent to the Museum of the City of New York for the exhibition “Analog City: NYC B.C. (Before Computers).”

ike a paleontologist on a dig, Carpinteria Magazine combed the streets of Carpinteria to find the dinosaurs of a bygone communications era, payphones. What we found was a grand total of four, each in a unique state of disrepair. Are there others out there? Let us know! Email editor Lea Boyd at lea two trumpets.com. n this page you will find a little history on these devices that many of us relied upon heavily before cell phones put direct communication in our pocket.

1983

otorola put its first cell phone on the market. The device was giant and cost nearly $4,000.

1995

The number of public payphones peaks at 2.6 million in the U.S.

2007

AT&T announces it would be leaving the payphone market. Four years later, Verizon follows.

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From left, Hannah, Graham, Hugo and Darlah Goodfield on the porch of their converted barn home.

B O R N I N A B A R N:

Goodfields welcome the wild west into their home WORDS B Y KE I T H H A M M • PH OT OS BY E M I LY M E RRI L L

n the foothills along the northern edge of Carpinteria Valley, the Goodfield kids are often at play. Young Darlah and Hugo like to fish and sew, respectively, plus they’ve got the run of the orchard, the garden and fruit trees, a tennis court and a couple forts—one handpainted purple and pink, the other way up in an oak tree with a pirate plank over the trampoline.

“We’re raising free-range kids,” laughs their mom, Hannah Goodfield. “Just like their dad was raised here and their grandparents before him.” The rare good fortune that all three generations live on the same family property isn’t lost on Hannah. “We’ve really stuck to that theme generationally. It’s kind of like our way of life and our livelihood at the same time.”

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The Goodfield home off Foothill Road pays homage to a bygone era.

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The main room makes good use of small space and includes fully functional decor.

Graham Goodfield saddles up just outside his house. Horses are work and play for the Goodfields. 32 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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Originally a carriage barn, the Goodfield home was built over 100 years ago.

The red tile kitchen includes cast iron pulls welded by the late Tony Alvis.

A cinnamon black bear pelt greets visitors from the wall.

By livelihood, of course, she means all the steady hard work it takes to keep the theme alive. Hannah wears lots of hats. She’s a personal trainer, and she’s partnered up with husband Graham Goodfield, owner of Los Padres Outfitters, a beach and backcountry horseback riding fixture among greater Santa Barbara’s numerous outdoorsbased businesses. They also cater events with Santa Maria-style barbecue. They’re both licensed real estate agents. The property has 200 avocado trees in production. Plus there are pens and trucks and trailers for the horses and pack mules. “We’ve continued this place as a working operation,” says Graham, “and we’re doing everything it takes to keep it going.” All of it is headquartered on the 3.5-acre spread, dubbed Ivy Oaks, that Graham’s grandparents bought in 1948. Graham’s dad, Lewellyn Goodfield, who was just a kid at the time, remembers it well. “We were living in Santa Barbara, and it was time to move to the country,” Lew says. “My parents wanted to give my brother and me some elbow room.” The Goodfield boys and their buddies spent a lot of time on horseback, exploring the canyons and fishing the creeks, from Toro Canyon to Gobernador Canyon. “Graham picked up where I left off,” Lew says, “and now his kids are picking it up from there.” After high school, Lew served in the military and went to college, always thinking about coming back to Ivy Oaks. WINTER2025 33

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Hugo’s room is every kid’s dream, and it served as his dad’s bedroom when he was growing up.

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Designed to maximize every inch, Darlah’s small bedroom was built by her great uncle.

At last, in 1980, Lew and Marilyn, with 2-year-old Graham in tow, moved into the main home and overhauled the 100-year-old carriage barn that Graham, Hannah, Hugo and Darlah now call home. “That barn was pretty looseygoosey,” Lew remembers. “We had to jack the whole thing up and pour a new slab.” They stuck with the original footprint—just over 1,200 square feet—and designed three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, the primary suite taking over the roomy space where the hayloft used to be, with loads of natural light gathered beneath the traditional vaulted ceiling. Big and rough-cut, the exposed beams and posts

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Graham and Hannah relax beneath a collection of shed deer and elk antlers from Santa Rosa Island.

A wagon wheel window in the spacious primary bedroom overlooks the Santa Ynez Mountains.

honor the structure’s original function. At the same time, new interior design features—such as built-in cabinetry, hidden storage and a tiny corner sink in the common bathroom—seem prided on efficiency, with no nook or cranny left underutilized. Much of the decor, Hannah points out, is as functional as it is interesting to look at and learn about, including collectible vintage tack and a handmade horsehair lead rope that still gets put to use. Hides from an elk and a cinnamon black bear adorn the stairwell, and there are plenty of paintings, mostly landscapes and seascapes, from local artists, including Ben O’Hara, Matt Moore, Whitney Abbott, Sharon Dal Pozzo, Jane Frederick, Greg Ray and Debra Aresco, among others. The horseshoe kitchen, tiled in vibrant red, joins a dining area rowed with whiskey barrel barstools. A cast iron Franklin wood stove anchors the main living space. “It all really feels like home, inside and out,” Hannah says. “And it’s really been about working hard and being creative to make it all happen.” ♦

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Launched in 1969 by horseman, surfer and jack-of-all-trades Tony Alvis, Los Padres Outfitters specialized in horseback riding and pack trips in the Los Padres National Forest wilderness areas of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Graham Goodfield started working odd jobs for Alvis when he was 13 or 14, Goodfield remembers, and after graduating from Carpinteria High School, he attended Royal Tine Guide School in Montana. “I always knew that’s what I wanted to do,” he says. Alvis’ plan was for Goodfield to take over the business eventually— but the handoff came tragically after Alvis was killed in the La Conchita landslide in 2005. Since then, Goodfield has operated the backcountry business in its original intent and has also expanded frontcountry excursions, with rides on Summerland Beach and along the extensive horse-friendly trail network from Carpinteria to Montecito. On any given year, there’s upward of 50 horses and mules rotating in and out of trips. As always, the company’s big rides offer multiple consecutive days along the Sespe River and other wilderness areas, with remote campsites, hearty meals around the campfire, fishing, swimming holes and hot springs. “We’ve had an amazing couple of years of winters in terms of rainfall,” Goodfield says. “And now that the trails have been repaired, the backcountry is wide open.” ♦ - Keith Hamm

ELENA GAETA

Y OU R AD V E N T U R E , LP O’S H O R SE S

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Rest in peace

ERIC MADRID

Carpinteria Cemetery provides prime real estate for eternity

ou know what they say about the Carpinteria Cemetery—people are just dying to get in there! That’s a tired old joke and Mike Damron, general manager of the Carpinteria Cemetery District, didn’t tell it. He does believe, however, “there is not enough humor in the cemetery.” After overseeing about 1,400 funerals in 18 years, he ought to know.

MIKE DAMRON

WORDS B Y AMY MARIE O ROZ CO PH OTOS AMY STANFIE L D

The 17-acre Carpinteria Cemetery provides a picturesque final resting place for just under 5,700 people.

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Funerals at Carpinteria Cemetery range from the simple to the elaborate.

“Cemeteries are for the living. We are in the memory business,” says Damron. Once upon a time, Carpinteria buried its deceased on family land or ranches. All that changed with statehood when California officials decreed every community must have a cemetery. Carpinteria complied in 1858, and a burial space cost $1. The public cemetery’s boundary runs from Rincon Creek to the top of Ortega Ridge. The two-person operation— the general manager and groundskeeper Mark Razo Jr. —provides the services of burials and cremation remains. It is not a mortuary nor a crematorium and can’t have a mausoleum thanks to the private mortuary businesses’ very strong lobby. Ten of the cemetery’s 17 acres hold remains. Five acres are home to avocado trees that bring in some income, and the last 2 acres, which border Sandpiper Mobile Home Park, are undeveloped. Two-thirds of the budget is funded by property tax-special district assessments. Other funds come from service fees. Compared to Carpinteria’s astronomical rents and real estate prices, the cost of a permanent resting place is reasonable. A space in the cemetery is $2,000, which is significantly less expensive than the Santa Barbara

MIKE DAMRON

Cemetery. In Carpinteria, the price for a casket burial is $1,700, while an urn burial or placement is $800. Prices are set whether 300 people attend the service or three. The last time fees were raised was 2017. al ca ons for he ceme er ncl de res denc n the Carpinteria Valley-Summerland area, having a blood relative interred in the cemetery, owning property in the Carpinteria Valley-Summerland area or previously having rchased a lo n he ceme er . f ro er al ca ons are lacking, there’s an out-of-district non-resident fee of $1,000. Undeniably a community hub of sorts, the Cravens Lane cemetery hosts two events a year: the Memorial Day service, started in 1978 by Patsy Graziani, and a Día de Los Muertos celebration in November. The cemetery also serves as a Carpinteria version of ancestry.com. Jimenez is the most common surname found there followed by Saragosa and Bailard. With an intricate iron scrollwork fence surrounding its perimeter and shaded by a majestic 150- to 200-year-old oak tree, the five-space Bailard family plot is perhaps the most picturesque spot at the cemetery. When Andy Bailard, Carpinteria High School class of 1955, moved back to town in 2002 he found the top of his great-great grandfather Andrew Bailard’s headstone on the ground—maybe from

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Cemetery General Manager Mike Damron has held his post for the last 18 years. WINTER2025 41

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MIKE DAMRON

From left, Mark Razo Jr. and Mike Damron make up the staff of the Carpinteria Cemetery.

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Telling time in the cemetery: Newer graves have more flowers. A standing headstone indicates an older grave.

an earthquake—the fencing in disrepair, the gate’s lock broken and the enclosure an uncared mess. He took it upon himself to maintain the plot. According to Andy’s son Brian Bailard’s book “The Bailards of Carpinteria,” Andrew Bailard (1827-1876) originally was buried on the family ranch. When the Carpinteria Cemetery formed, the family dug up the bones of Andrew and moved them to the new family plot. Andy’s cousin Mary Bailard Foley reports her grandfather Lawrence Neil Bailard Sr. (1895 – 1975), known as Neil, furnished water to the cemetery essentially gratis from his well at the southeast corner of the neighboring Bailard property for many years. When the cemetery was raked, the district gave him the oak leaves, which he spread in lemon orchards. This also spread oxalis, an invasive weed, over that part of the valley. Mary’s grandfather liked to kid people. Santos Soto was working on irrigation for him at the property alongside the

MIKE DAMRON

cemetery. Neil mentioned to Santos that he would come back about 10 p.m. to turn off the pump at night assuring Santos that he drove into the cemetery and then walked through the gate to the well. Santos wanted to know if he ever saw ghosts. “Certainly,” Neil said, “only one.” “What did you do?” Santos asked. Neil said he walked up to it, put his arms around it, and it disappeared in a puff of smoke. For years afterwards, Neil said, Carpinterians would ask about this incident. Death will never go out of fashion, but the way we say goodbye changes. In the 1960s, standing headstones became a thing of the past (legally) making ground maintenance easier. And what’s next? “Casket burial will become a rare thing,” says Damron. Cremation is more popular and soon visitors will be able to find a specific gravesite via a QR code. “There is no wrong way to do a burial or a funeral,” he sums up. ♦ WINTER2025 43

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ANDREW NIDEVER Andrew Nidever holds the distinction of being the first person buried in the then-called Carpinteria Cemetery Association. That was in 1858. The second person buried there was in 1864. The theory explaining the six-year span of no activity is the former custom of burials on ranches and private property continuing after state law enacted in the late 1800s restricted interments to cemeteries.

BOBBY MORGAN DAMRON Sharing humor on the grave marker in words and pictures, Bobby Morgan Damron’s has a photo of him in his younger days on a donkey with a sign reading “On my ass in Texas” on the left. The photo on the right is of Bobby watching a grave being dug at the cemetery. The message “I caught the first bus outta here!” refers to his explanation for why he selected a grave near the road. That wording for the marker was chosen by his nephew, the cemetery’s general manager.

FRANCESCA GARCIA ZARAGOSA Recognized as the matriarch to Carpinteria’s Medel-Zaragosa clan and great-grandmother to close to half the town, Francesca Garcia Zaragosa, who came to Carpinteria during the Mexican Revolution, was buried with only a cross as her marker. Descendant Rich Medel and cemetery General Manager Mike Damron recently had a marker created for her, celebrating her personhood and making it easier for family to visit their abuelita.

VENTURA MARTIN DEL CAMPO GARCIA A couple of years ago when the 80-somethingyear-old grandson of Ventura Martin Del Campo Garcia came to visit his grandmother and could not locate her headstone, the cemetery’s general manager armed himself with a screwdriver, poked the gravesite and hit something hard. Underneath the grass was Garcia’s toppled headstone with the lettering face down. Upon righting it, the mirror image of the letters were imprinted in the soil, and the lettering on the headstone pristine. It is estimated the headstone toppled in the 1950s. ♦

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Indy 900 PH OT OS BY I N GRI D BO STR O M

hen it comes to treasures, X marks the spot on the 900 block of Linden Avenue in Carpinteria. Both sides of the street are lined with independent restaurants, shops, a salon and a health food store. The west side of the block, with its bite-sized storefronts painted like a crayon box of bright colors, is a mom and pop paradise that leans more mom less pop. These shops scrap it out every year in a town marked by commercial seasonality; campers and coast-seekers cruise the summer sidewalks and leave the winter ones bare. So go and seek your treasure, Carpinteria Magazine readers! This holiday season, skip the lonely Amazon scrolling and pay a visit to these vibrant boutiques stocked with personality and offering warm smiles and friendly chitchat to go with that perfect sweater for mom and those stocking stuffers for the kids. - Lea Boyd

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Murphy’s Vinyl Shack Stepping into Murphy’s Vinyl Shack is like stepping into a time machine. Vinyl records dominate the impressive collection of memorabilia—a kaleidoscopic feast for the eyes of forgotten blasts from the past. Murphy’s is an experience. There’s always a record spinning that analog sound as a backdrop and moodsetter for perusing stickers, archived Rolling Stone magazines, board games, CDs, paperback books and more. Cultural nostalgia draped from the walls and stacked on tables elicits memories and harkens back to simpler times when tactility was part of the package. Flip through vinyl stacks. Thumb through an old Mojo magazine. This merchandise has weight and texture you can feel. Kevin Murphy, co-owner with wife Cecilia, says the store has been deepening its collections to appeal to both the local and tourist crowds. Vinyl has also undergone a revival in contemporary music that draws teenagers in for new records in addition to the regulars in search of reissues of classic albums. Often, Murphy’s merchandise is acquired from old family collections, and it’s important to those family members doing the off loading that the records or other collectables find new life and a new owner who knows they deserve to be preserved. Kevin says, “They want to play it forward.” Murphy’s Vinyl Shack is located at 977 Linden Ave. - Peter Dugré

Left, Kevin and Cecilia Murphy, owners of Murphy’s Vinyl Shack. WINTER2025 49

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Bon Fortune Gena Andrews says she’s more of an event planner than a shopkeeper, but her store, Bon Fortune, is a testament to her knowledge and experience, offering a vast collection of party accessories for any potential occasion. “We offer the details that make the difference in a celebration,” Andrews says. “We love to display and romanticize the goods we have.” Bon Fortune offers anything one could think of for a party, including accessories, decorations, presents, baking supplies, wrapping and present decor, along with wardrobe accessories like crowns, wands, tiaras and masks. The boutique offers the tools for a range of holidays as well, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween and Christmas. Andrews has operated her Linden Avenue shop for 10 years, surviving natural disasters such as the Thomas Fire, mudslides and the Covid-19 pandemic. The Thomas Fire of 2017 created ash that damaged the building, worsened by a torrent of rain—the same rain that caused the Montecito mudslides of 2018— which leaked through the building. fter briefly closing to repair, Bon ortune opened again in arch of , but would soon face another battle with the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, Andrews decided to bring some joy back to her community by delivering locally curated Easter baskets, which included sweets from Robitaille’s Fine Candies and clothes from her neighbor Traveling Pants. Bon Fortune is located at 929 Linden Ave. - Jun Starkey

Left, Gena Andrews, owner of Bon Fortune. WINTER2025 51

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Kerri Mascari, owner of Carpinteria T-Shirt Company, with daughter Kate. 52 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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Carpinteria T-shirt Company Business is truly a family affair for Ben and Kerri Mascari, owners and operators of the Carpinteria T-shirt Company, where they work alongside their daughter, Kate, and often employ their other three children. “All the kids have worked for us at some point,” Kerri says. Carpinteria T-shirt Company offers a massive range of screen-printed clothing, including shirts, kids’ T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, accessories and other souvenir items including hats, towels, mugs, playing cards, key chains, candles and jewelry. he store first opened in a different location, on the block of Linden venue, in . hen the new Linden uare development was set in motion, the ascaris closed the shop briefly before relocating down the street in early 2024. he ascaris have a long history of business in Carpinteria. Ben opened his screenprinting business, erigraph esort ear—which prints the artwork for Carpinteria shirt Company’s clothing—on i th treet more than years ago. hey also opened Carpinteria Beach Company, just a block away from their T-shirt store, in 2021. erri and Ben generally oversee the backend of the operations, while daughters Kate and Paige work inside the two shops. Their son, Michael, cleans the silk screens at erigraph. “It’s nice to work as a family unit,” Kate says. “There’s a great sense of support for whatever you’re doing.” Carpinteria T-Shirt Company is located at 963 Linden Ave. - Jun Starkey

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Homestead Antiques Homestead Antiques & Trading Co. owner Mary Beth Radley has watched businesses around her come and go since 1998, but her store—with its collection of intriguing antiques and eclectic goods—remains a familiar face to visitors walking down the 900 block of Linden Avenue. As an early 2000s song plays in the background (Radley burns CDs for the store’s background music), the Pennsylvania native pauses to greet a few browsing customers. After, she tells Carpinteria Magazine how pleased she is when young people shop her store. “The younger generation is realizing that this is a form of recycling and reusing things,” she says. “Our customer base is amazing.” Radley’s 18 vendors have their own booths, each packed with glimpses of their seller’s tastes. In one, a vintage handbag sits in a glass case; around the corner, do ens of anti ue whiskey flasks line the wall in a third, a book about Andy Warhol’s works peeks out from a shelf, an NFL hat nestled nearby. It took time and dedication to put this group of vendors together. Thousands of collectors’ items have come through, and Radley says it’s hard to pick a favorite: “It’s like picking your favorite child.” Homestead Antiques & Trading Co. is located at 943 Linden Ave. - Evelyn Spence

Left, Mary Beth Radley, owner of Homestead Antiques. WINTER2025 55

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Linden Studio The early afternoon light slants through Linden Studio’s window revealing the collective talents of a handful of accomplished Carpinteria artists in residence. This group includes gallery owner and painter Leigh Sparks, who has had a business on Linden Avenue since the 1980s—a quilt store before an interior design studio—and whose family has been farming in Carpinteria since the 19th century. “Through our art, we preserve the legacy of rural Carpinteria,” says parks, encapsulating the landscape, wildlife, surfing and ranching motifs that line the walls of the homey gallery. ll of the paintings, including ick harp’s vivid references to classic surfing and agricultural labels, tell a story of a coastal location that places high value on natural beauty. Typically, there’s an artist behind the counter at the gallery—Sharon Schock, Kim Snyder and Rebecca Stebbins put in their time as shopkeepers—or check the gallery’s schedule for special events, low key gatherings of like-minded creatives for wine, music and sharing a love of art in the back garden, a hidden gem opening onto Yucca Lane. Future plans for the studio include ceramic classes by fellow Linden Studio artists Linda and James Haggerty and the occasional hootenanny, because Sparks, also a cherimoya grower, gravitates to the folksy. Linden Studio is located at 961 Linden Ave. - Peter Dugré

Left, Leigh Sparks, owner of Linden Studio. WINTER2025 57

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Ikat & Pearls “Curated items for your stylish life!” boasts Ikat & Pearls Boutique’s website, and the items in its Carpinteria storefront follow that mantra to a “T.” The Linden Avenue shop is owner Deborah Yahner’s third boutique on the South Coast; her Carpinteria location is the newest, opening in April 2023. Yahner’s pastel collections of Anthropologie-inspired clothing and accessories decorate the high-end boutique—she prioritizes small-batched, women-owned vendors —with much of the jewelry made by Yahner herself. “ y stores are filled with oodles and oodles of one of a kind, custom jewelry,” she says, including strings of pearls. Yahner’s daughter also helps with graphic design for the store’s shirts. “We’re a very artsy family.” It took some time, but Yahner is now in tune with her Carpinteria clientele’s patterns. The store operates on a seasonal basis—“It’s very, very busy in the summer, and quiets down in the winter”—and is open earlier in the day for those early-bird locals. “When people are coming out for breakfast, we are already enjoying a lot of wonderful revenue,” Yahner says. “People go, ‘Oh, let me walk off my breakfast,’ or, ‘Let me come pop in there, because nothing else is open.’ That’s been a fun pivot.” Ikat & Pearls Boutique is located at 933 Linden Ave. - Evelyn Spence

Left, Deborah Yahner, owner of Ikat & Pearls. WINTER2025 59

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Seastrand Seastrand owner Taylor Rice has worn several hats—with past jobs at Island Brewing Company, ontecito Bank rust, the Carpinteria nified chool istrict and a senior living community—but her past pursuits have one thing in common: they all require a personal touch. “Between serving beer, working with people’s money and working with people’s kids, I just kept loving the community more as I got to know it,” she says. “It’s the people here that I fell in love with.” For the past 11 years, Rice has been the friendly face and sharp brains behind the Southern California chic boutique. She takes a personalized approach with each item, and the store’s inventory has grown with her. er first collection was for women, like her, who were in their late 20s. Now in her early 40s, Rice has curated a baby section for the store, inspired by her daughter, Addie. This personal touch was key to her boutique’s pandemic survival. With her daughter in the backseat, Rice drove door to door in Carpinteria, dropping off clothes for people to try on. “People (placed orders) out of just trying to keep me afloat,” she says. “I love this little community for that.” Seastrand is located at 919 Linden Ave. - Evelyn Spence

Left, Taylor Rice, owner of Seastrand. WINTER2025 61

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Lost & Found On a recent day of work at Lost & Found, Margaret Landreau dutifully strolls the perimeter of the store, occasionally moving items around while greeting groups of customers as they walk through the doors. Landreau has been with the store since owners Patty Boyd and Susan Ochoa opened its doors in 2020, just months after the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I’ve been here since the beginning, four years ago … I love everything in here, you can find something for anyone.” What began as a shop selling sweets, coffee and art has evolved into a store that sells a range of home goods and gifts, including an impressive collection of books, as well as jewelry, hair accessories, candles, toys, children’s books, lotion, knickknacks, mugs, crockery, plates, clothing, stationery and much more. With such a vast collection, everyone has their own favorite section of the store—Landreau is smitten with the selection of books, and Boyd enjoys finding new children’s books. Lost & Found is a store that has to be explored to be appreciated, with interesting pieces hiding in every nook and cranny. In one corner you’ll find a souvenir spoon decorated with a poppy—the California state flower—and in another is a tray of porcelain hearts and angels. Boyd said this was by design, as she was tired of wandering stores with the same tired themes. “I think the fun part is when you find things that complement each other,” she says. Lost & Found is located at 905 Linden Ave. ♦ - Jun Starkey

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Back-to-school smiles

At center, Jesus Gutierrez leads his daughters, Geraldine and Aranza, across the crosswalk after their ﬁrst day of school at Canalino Elementary School on Thursday, Aug. 22. Just over 1,900 Carpinteria Uniﬁed School District students, including Geraldine and Aranza, went back to school for the 2024-25 school year in Carpinteria last week, clean backpacks and sharpened pencils at the ready. See more back-to-school photos on pages 14 and 15 of this week’s print. KARLSSON

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WORDS BY DR. JI M CA M POS • PH OT OS BY ROBI N KAR LSSO N

hose who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Carpinteria Cultural Foundation (CCF) channeled this adage into the Aliso School Mural, a folksy-yet-sophisticated work of art that captures many of the people, achievements and challenges that cannot be overlooked in the telling of Carpinteria’s story. , a non ro or an a on ded ca ed o highlighting historical achievements and unifying the Carpinteria community, received approval from he ar n er a n ed chool s r c o comm ss on the mural in 2023. Artist Marybeth Hanrahan spun many moments of Carpinteria’s past into a collection of visual vignettes. These she incorporated into a traditional “arbol de vida,” tree of life candelabra, a common form of Mexican folk art. The Aliso School Mural is a testament to the development of the school and its community, both at its best and at its most challenging in terms of race relations. Years ago, when a group that included this article’s author was researching the first of a series of “Images of America” books on Carpinteria, om n o ara osa, ho as born n ar n er a n 1917 and has since passed away, asked, “Are you going to tell the truth?” Yes, the books were meant to celebrate Carpinteria’s rich history and would

not shy away from hard truths. Likewise, the Aliso Mural depicts some hard truths. When Aliso School opened in 1892 on Walnut Avenue, agriculture had taken root in Carpinteria, a position it holds to this day. The community was predominantly White. But, as the industry grew, so did the need for an expanded labor force. How could Carpinteria maintain the Utopia it had created for itself without opening the door to others, particularly those peoples most closely associated with the cultivation of agricultural goods? Existential fears expressed in the newspapers of the era became a reality as a great wave of Mexican, a anese, l no, al an and s o l labor poured into Carpinteria Valley from 1917 to 1935. In 1920, Aliso School was declared a school for Mexican children. In 1935, the school on Walnut en e as ra ed and a ne l so chool as built at its present location, at the top of 7th Street alongside the Mexican barrios. Aliso became a segregated school for Mexican children and wasn’t integrated until California law required it in 1947. In celebration of the highs and lows on the road to community racial harmony, Carpinteria Magazine proudly showcases several of the inspiring stories depicted within the Aliso School Mural. WINTER2025 65

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 ”PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

The past, present and future of Carpinteria are represented by three women looking in different directions. They are Josie Manriquez de Villegas on the left looking at the vignettes of the past; Jenny Gonzales de Saragosa looking directly into the present; and Betty Bautista looking forward at the vignettes of the future. All figured prominently in the Aliso School community. Bautista pioneered a preschool program for the Carpinteria Unified School District that would have been unimaginable during the era of Carpinteria’s segregated schools. Applying the theories of renowned linguist Dr. Jim Cummins, she used the students’ home language as a bridge to the learning of English. Her methodology was examined and lauded by Cummins himself, in the Harvard Educational Review (April 1986), and became required reading in schools of education throughout the United States.

 CIVIC DUTY

In 1920, Aliso School was converted into a school for Mexican children to accommodate the children of fieldworkers. The two men pictured are Joe Morales and Del Kent. Morales was an activist voice for the integration of Carpinteria schools. Kent taught at Aliso in 1937, and then sat on the school board in support of keeping the school segregated. In 1947 when Carpinteria schools were forced to integrate, Kent embraced Morales and helped seat him on the school board. The two became the best of friends and worked for the betterment of their community from then on. Morales’ son, Serge, says “Del Kent was one of the most important men in my father ’s life.” 66 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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SERVICE TO COUNTRY The young men pictured are all Aliso alumni. They enlisted in the various military branches of the United States to serve their country in the European and Pacific theaters of World War II and Korea. From left, they are Jess Ortiz, Lorenzo Martinez and Salvador Campos. Ortiz was the highest decorated man in fighting action out of Carpinteria, earning a Silver Star medal. World War II held great significance for the integration of the young Mexican men into the larger community. The returning servicemen mostly left the agricultural fields and established their own businesses and turned to civic organizations like the American G.I. Forum.

ATHLETICS Aliso School produced many athletes who had stellar careers at Carpinteria High School. Peter Franco is considered by many to be the first of those stars. Franco set records in track and field, shining brightly during the mid1930s at Carpinteria’s premier sporting event of the era, the Russell Cup Track Meet. Franco, tragically, was killed only a few years later aboard the USS Seawolf, a highly decorated submarine during World War II. His death highlighted the sacrifice Carpinteria’s young men were willing to make for their country.

Dan Velasquez and Joe Diaz were two of the many Aliso students who brought glory on the gridiron for Carpinteria High School during a run of 11 straight Tri-Valley League championship seasons starting in the late 1940s and throughout the 1950s. The powerhouse athletic programs at CHS altered the perception of what a united Carpinteria community could achieve working and playing together. WINTER2025 67

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DEDICATION The Aliso School Mural project was supported by donations from many Carpinterians to the Carpinteria Cultural Foundation, and particularly by a special gift from Tim and Ginny Bliss. It is in memory of Lucio Medel and George Bliss Jr., two men who grew up together on agricultural ranches, bringing and keeping the community together as best friends. Throughout their lives, Lucio and George demonstrated the power of relationships to overcome prejudice and segregation.

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 INDUSTRY Greenhouses for Carpinteria’s flower industry became an important part of the landscape in the 1960s. They proliferated along Foothill Road and the west side of Via Real. The flower industry became an important part of the economy thanks to businesspeople of many ethnicities including Japanese Americans and a wave of immigrants from Holland. For the Japanese, it was a comeback. They had been excised from Carpinteria by the United States government after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941.

 EDUCATION Día de los Muertos celebrations in Carpinteria became an annual tradition when elementary school teacher René Mireles worked in the Carpinteria Unified School District. The celebration captured the imagination of the community. Mireles stated, “I wanted to teach the children that each generation stands on the shoulders of its forebears. In Carpinteria, it started with the Chumash.” Mireles moved over to Aliso School for the 2008-09 school year. By this time, Día de los Muertos events had proliferated in Carpinteria with sponsoring groups competing on the community calendar. Reynaldo’s Bakery on Linden Avenue made the traditional sugar skulls decades prior to Mireles’ arrival in Carpinteria and has provided Día de los Muertos treats and supplies for the events staged to this day. ♦ WINTER2025 69

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Author Chuck Graham and friend Grivetti start their 110-mile paddle at Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge.

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Paddle, surf, sleep, repeat WO RDS A N D PH OT OS BY CH UCK GRA H A M

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Windswept Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge overlooks the Pacific.

s much as I love trekking and photographing the Guadalupe-Nipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge in northern Santa Barbara County, I’ve always known it’s a bad place to launch a kayak. It’s never flat there, and the surf and currents are usually unruly. Still, to paddle and surf along the entire 110 miles of county coastline, it required launching out of the Santa Maria River Mouth. And it would all be worth it when Grivetti and I finished our multiday paddle with a surf session at my home beach in Carpinteria. Living in Carpinteria has offered great opportunities for exploring some of the most ecologically diverse swaths of California. It’s been a terrific base for accessing the Channel Islands National Park and the Los Padres National Forest. Surfing its sandy and cobbled beaches has been another huge benefit to life in Carpinteria. o ha ched a lan o e dro ed o a he adal e omo and nes and addle back o ar n er a, s r n when we could along the way. There were plenty of hurdles on hidden shorelines and memorable moments to savor, but the inaccessible regions of the coast were our favorites.

THERE’S NO CRYING IN KAYAKING With surfboards tied down on the sterns of our kayaks, Grivetti and I launched off the gritty, golden sands just south of the Santa Maria River Mouth. Grivetti was several

kayak lengths ahead of me as we paddled straight into an oncoming 5-foot wave that sucked out over a shifting sandbar. I watched in horror as Grivetti was ejected from his kayak in a backward summersault motion—an inauspicious be nn n o o r e da addle do n he coas . After that telling dismount, we eventually busted through the shore break and managed to time the sets, sprinting for open water despite a combo swell-groundswell running out of the northwest and southeast. Our boards retied, we paddled toward ragged-yet-scenic Point Sal. Unsatisfied with the surf below Sea Lion Rock, we cut across to Vandenberg Air Force Base. No landing was allowed on their remote, windswept beaches, so we were forced to move past solid 6-to-8-foot peaks. As we dipped our paddles, huge flotillas of migratory surf scoters lifted off from the sea surface in unison. The beautiful hum produced by their beating black wings momentarily drowned out the booming surf.

SURF BEACH SCRUM There was more potential surf along Purisima Point, a series of reefs and rocky slabs, but we were a little gun-shy due to recent shark activity. Two weeks prior to our trip, a fisherman in a kayak had been knocked out of his boat by a great white. Fortunately for him a passerby in a boat came to his rescue.

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Grivetti prepares to launch from GuadalupeNipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge.

Gear List Here’s what Chuck brings along for a five-day Santa Maria to Carpinteria kayak paddle: Kayak: Necky, Dolphin sit-on-top. They don’t make them anymore. Surfboard: Channel Islands 6’6” MBM. Wetsuit: O’Neil 4/3. The crowd on Sea Lion Rock at Point Sal.

60-liter dry bag that holds my sleeping bag, tarp, sleeping pad, camp pillow, down jacket, beanie. Two paddles, one is a spare, break-down paddle. Two leashes. Both can be used to surf but also used to leash the paddle to my kayak. Wetsuit, wax, wax comb, PFD, knife, VHF radio, cell phone, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, hat, binoculars, head lamp 35-liter dry bag holding camera gear: two cameras, batteries, two lenses, Canon fixed 300mm IS and a Canon 18-135mm. Goal Zero solar panel and battery. ♦

On day one, the paddlers skirt Sea Lion Rock at Point Sal. WINTER2025 73

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Grivetti paddles past the Point Conception Lighthouse. Paddling grants access to empty sections of coastline in northern Santa Barbara County.

It was getting late, so we timed the 6-foot surf, and landed without issue on Surf Beach northwest of Lompoc. Neither one of us slept in a tent, but we had a nice, flat slab of rock to sleep on. Unfortunately, anxiety weighed heavily on both of us. As we lay there in soggy sleeping bags, the surf doubled in size throughout the night. It was booming, and by morning it looked like the surf was cresting at least a half mile offshore. Fortunately the channel we’d used to land the previous day was still there, sort of. We quickly packed up and launched as high tide ebbed. We both made it through the shore break, and s be ond ha he s rf backed o , allo n s o prepare ourselves mentally for what was ahead. Grivetti and I sat about 20 feet apart from each other. Some bigger sets were pushing healthy foam balls of whitewater our way. After punching through the second one, I looked to my right and saw that Grivetti was gone, but his surfboard was floating nearby. I paddled over to it and latched it to my stern. I started paddling out toward open water but didn’t make it far. I punched through one wave that had a lot of water behind it and pushed me backwards. The next one tossed me into a Grivetti-esque dismount. Both boards were gone. The tide was beginning to drop, and more water was moving around. I decided to forget about the boards. I had no idea where they were. We were still just off Vandenberg property, and after clambering back into my kayak, I made another attempt out to sea. I got swept towards the bluffs and while holding my kayak, I pushed off with my left

A male surf scoter

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South of Point Conception, the paddlers partake in a surf session at Government Point. WINTER2025 75

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A shipwreck at Perkos demonstrates that not all adventures end well along the rugged California coastline.

Surf scoters take flight.

guesstimated it being in the 10-to-15-foot range, but he was already out there, and positioned well for a solid downcoast, down-swell paddle. “I’ll see you at Jalama,” I said. “See you there,” he replied, his voice crackling in the solid offshore winds and booming surf.

WHATEVER IT TAKES foot, got back in my boat and tried again. I failed and got swept southward until I hit wet sand. Once on the beach, I radioed Grivetti. “Are you there?” I blurted on channel 72. “I’m here, but I can’t see the shoreline,” he replied. “I want to come in.” By this time, the tide was draining quickly. Our channel that we’d relied on the day before was washed out. It made sense that Grivetti couldn’t see the beach. He was looking directly into the sunrise, and with heavy sea spray hanging in the air, it was virtually impossible for him to find a path toward me. I reasoned he would’ve been tossed from his kayak and relegated to swimming in some spooky waters with a sharky rep. “You can’t come in,” I said. “You’ll be swimming if you try. Your kayak will probably disappear.” I talked him into paddling toward Jalama, a big day ahead of him. After scrambling up a bluff, I whipped out my binoculars and found him dodging some large surf. I

I needed to get to Lompoc, so I dragged my gear-laden kayak for over a mile in the sand to the train station. Along the way I found our surfboards neatly resting inside a cave. It appeared as if someone placed them there. Both boards were laying side by side pointing toward the surf. After reaching the train station, I ran back up the beach and grabbed both boards. Once all the gear was secure, I hitched a ride into town with a local Lompoc curmudgeon. He dropped me off at a coffee house where I called my then wife Lori. She wasn’t exactly stoked to drive up to Lompoc and take me to Jalama to meet Grivetti. Once at Jalama, I discovered Grivetti hunkering down in the dunes. He’d made it there without a hitch, and our trip moved forward. “Big swell around Point Arguello and rafts of otters,” he said with a big smile. Paddling through the surf at Jalama seemed uneventful after the previous morning—it was 3-to-5-foot with a light offshore wind. We easily timed the sets and then paddled down-coast to the lighthouse at Point Conception.

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THE ELBOW OF CALIFORNIA Weather has always been synonymous with Point Conception. Its volatile waters are exposed to wind and swell that have sent many a vessel sinking to its dark depths over the years. We felt a touch of it as Grivetti and I spun around its craggy promontory, steady winds swirling from the northwest, then northeast, and south, as the Point Conception Lighthouse towered above us. It was a grim reminder of the graveyard of ships that lie scattered around the significant topographical headland. From there though, we skirted favorable, long lines at Government Point, nary a surfer on the consistent, chest-high waves. We ditched our kayaks at the bottom of the point and then surfed the afternoon away. After we finished at Government’s, we kayaked toward Perkos and surfed until the late afternoon. en from ka ak n and s r n , e sle some here on a patch of sand between Gaviota and Refugio state beaches. It was dark when we landed our kayaks to sleep under the stars. The next day was a laborious one, paddling back to civilization. A northwest wind swell had built throughout the day and fun evening waves pushed passed Mesa Lane. Just before dark, we paddled into the Santa Barbara

Harbor. At the dock, I waved down a young lady taking names for dinner at Brophy Brothers. We filled our bellies then slept on the floor at Paddlesports.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN We left the Santa Barbara Harbor at dawn, hoping to surf some glassy waves somewhere before reaching Carpinteria. The morning high tide was hiding any hint of swell at Hammonds and Sharks Cove, and there was nothing surfable along Padaro Lane. Before we knew it, we’d paddled up to the mouth of the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, where it all began for me growing up in the mid-1970s as a young surfer and nature lover. Elegant terns, western gulls and marbled godwits crowded the mouth of the marsh, where we also found some fun little A-frame peaks to finish off our five-day trip. Living in Sandyland Cove from 1975 to 1999 afforded me ample time to catch perfect waves at Sand Point. You wouldn’t know it looking at it today. It doesn’t resemble the super fun surf spot it once was. Still, memories hold sturdy, and for a couple of hours at the southeasterly fringe of Santa Barbara County after five days of kayaking, Sand Point delivered. ♦

DUBOCK.COM

Back on his home turf, Chuck Graham finishes his adventure with a surf at Carp Point.

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Never give up on your dreams, “Lalo” Delgado tells kids.

“ L A L O ” D E L G ADO PUTS CAR PI NTER I A ON THE S OC C ER MAP W ORDS BY A L ON Z O OROZ CO PH OTOS COU R T E S Y OF N OR T H E RN COL ORA DO H A I L S T OR M FC

s a boy, Carpinteria High School alumnus Edward “Lalo” Delgado aspired to play soccer under the bright lights. “I had talent at a young age,” he says. “I guess you could say that I just enjoyed it; I had a little bit more passion than others.” That passion paid off, and now Delgado plays professionally for the Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC of the United Soccer League (USL). The 26-year-old goalkeeper developed a skill that he took to the top level. “A big, big talent of mine is to work hard and outwork others around me,” says Delgado, who

earned a bachelor ’s degree in business and economics while playing soccer for Westmont College. On the soccer stage, Delgado has always been an overachiever, starting with AYSO and All-Stars, then joining the Santa Barbara Soccer Club at the young age of 10. He always challenged himself to improve, striving to get better as the weeks went by during each season. “If I knew I was going to do something, I wanted to be the top at it,” says Delgado, who has also played for two other squads in the USL, Las Vegas and Phoenix. WINTER2025 79

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Northern Colorado Hailstorm goalie Edward “Lalo” Delgado developed his foundational soccer skills on the Carpinteria pitch.

Over his career, he has witnessed how hard work pays off time and time again. Many players demonstrate natural ability, he says, but a poor work ethic eventually will keep them off the pitch. Now in his second season with the Hailstorm, Delgado has become accustomed to the lifestyle of a soccer pro. Although it’s not a regular nine-to-five job, the occupation comes with a great deal of structure. “You’d like to say, it’s different every day, but … we’re heavily based on routines,” he says. Tuesdays and Thursdays are typically “double days,” where he and his teammates show up for training sessions twice a day. Lalo starts these days with a smoothie at 7:30 a.m., drives over to practice by 8 a.m., gets changed and then has rehab and therapy on his lower back. Next, he

trains with a strength and conditioning coach beginning around 9:45 a.m. That usually lasts around an hour and is repeated later in the day. Before they leave the facility at roughly 1:45 p.m., the players are involved in strategy sessions where they are instructed on what to look for in the upcoming weekend’s opponent. Because he’s working on his master ’s degree in business marketing, Delgado concentrates on his homework for a couple hours in the afternoon. Then from 5 to 7 p.m. on those days, he teaches goalkeeping techniques to youths as part of Hailstorm FC Academy’s curriculum. All this combined with weekly matches and travel to cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee and Madison, Wisconsin, make for a pretty busy week. Delgado credits his Carpinteria roots for much of his

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SPORTS

nics

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gh School

hared the Tri-Valley e times since 2010, lways high for the m at Carpinteria High for another run at lay a rugged schedgue competition. “As goes, as a program I est level of competid Carpinteria coach

h as Oxnard, PaciDos Pueblos on the rs should be ready eague play begins. eam will be without who have played on ampionships the past the year. Because of reras will be out for Garcia who is also imited playing time the season. Cristian n Pablo Alvarez and lgado will also miss f the season because rs from returning to tion after participat-

y, shape or form takultimate goal which the CIF,” explained ia still has eight ses squad that ﬁnished ions with crosstown

Garcia and Roberto ure to play key roles also. start from the back, I been the philosophy ve been here; as we ins games,” said the he and the Warriors challenge.

Cate School boys rst season in the Trihave surprised a few share of the crown We beat Carpinteria ed them at our place eague has an ofﬁcial r it wasn’t needed,” ch Jim Kane. “Obviwe would have won, ead record.”

Thursday, April 14, 2016  19

December 3 - 9, 2015

Coastal View News • Tel: (805) 684-4428

boys er set s on

ams

Previews BILL SWING

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SHORT STOPS

Delgado signs with Westmont

War on the Shore IV

Carpinteria Hig School senior Eduard “Lalo” Delgado wa praised for his soccer an academic accomplish ments during an April signing ceremony at th school library. Delgado a four-year CHS socce player and former mem ber of national cham pion Santa Barbara Soc cer club team, signed o the dotted line to atten Westmont College nex season. He was joine for the photo by West mont assistant coach an head recruiter Johnn Whallon.

The Carpinteria High School versus Bishop Diego Garcia High School Alumni Football Game will be held on Saturday, May 28 at La Playa Stadium on the SBCC campus. Game time is 4 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for $10 each at the Carpinteria igh School Business fﬁce and Rincon Brewery. Tickets for the game and after party can also be purchased online atcardinalwarriorfootball.com. All proceeds beneﬁt the athletic departments of both schools.

Pool to offer summer kickoff

On Saturday, May 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. the Carpinteria Community Pool will be the place to be. It’s Summer Kickoff Event will include music, food, beer, wine and silent and live auctions in support of the many youth programs that have been building in recent years. The pool hosts club swim and water polo programs and the ever-popular summer Junior Lifeguard program. Contact the pool for tickets and information at 566-2417 or visit carp-pool.net. ABOVE, Flanked by teammates Cristian Chacon, left, and Juan Pablo Alvarez,

right, Delgado appears in Coastal View News ahead of his 2015 season with Carpinteria High School.

Thursday, April 14

ON DECK

RIGHT, Westmont assistant coach and head recruiter Boys Tennis vs.with Laguna Blanca, 3:30 The 2015 edition of *Ram Warrior boysPictured Whallon, Delgado signs to attend and play soccer for Westmont. soccer will be Johnny led into p.m. battle by, from left, Cristian Chacon, Edward *Ram Boys Volleyball vs. Bishop Diego, 4:30 Delgado and Juan Pablo Alvarez. p.m. *Warrior Boys Golf vs. Frontier League at 1:00 p.m. The Rams have a rich Malibu, soccer history, earning Condor League and CIF Boys titles Tennis vs. St. Bonaventure, Warrior of their own. Though this 4:00year p.m.Cate will be without the services of captain *Warrior Softball vs. Nordhoff, 3:30 p.m. mid-ﬁelder Geoffrey Acheampong, who *Warrior Boys has moved on to playing at UCSB, the Volleyball vs. Malibu, 6:30 team should still be a contender p.m. for the

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league title. “Santa Paula and Carpinteria are two Friday, powerhouses,” said Kane, whose April Rams 15 will have a host of players returning Baseball from *Warriors vs. Nordhoff, 3:30 p.m. last year’s sq uad. Seniors Keller Mochel *Rams Baseball vs. Villanova, 3:30 p.m. and Joel Serugo will be two of nine returning upper classmen, who will again team up with juniors Christian Herman Saturday, April 16 and Ryan Borchardt. *Warriors Track and Field, th Russell Cup, a.m. Included on the non-league schedule are home games against PacifiGirls ca andLacrosse San Ram vs. Thacher, 3:00 p.m. Marcos. “The guys areRams excitedTrack and lookand Field, 97th Russell Cup at Carpinteria, a.m. ing forward to the season,” said Kane. “The first goal is to win league, and the second goal is to compete in CIF,” added Monday, April 18 the coach. He will also bring in assistant Ram Boys Tennis vs. San Marcos, 3:15 p.m. coach Matt Bateson on the sidelines. “Matt brings an excellent track record of playing and coaching the game to Cate,” Tuesday, April 19 said Kane. *Ram Volleyball vs. Foothill Technology, 4:30 p.m. Last season the Rams wereBoys knocked out of the CIF Tournament by eventual *Warrior BoysCarpinteria Tennis vs. Malibu, 3:30 p.m.Warriors in a 2016 match at Cate School. MakingBellfl the reach for the High School champion ower. Could Ramanother Girls CIF Lacrosse vs. Santa Barbara, 5:00 p.m. championship be on the horiz on? “It’s vs. La Reina, p.m. up to the guys. They*Warrior have to beSoftball willWarrior Boys Volleyball vs. Nordhoff, 6:30 p.m. ing to achieve their goals,” responded Kane. Soon, it will all be determined on Ram Boys Lacrosse vs. Thacher, 4:15 p.m. on the map, in that aspect,” he explains. the pitch. success. “I have so many people that I’m grateful for

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who have helped shape me, going all the way back to Although Delgado has fond memories of his hometown, Wednesday, April 20 grade school,” he says, reflecting on his Canalino he has rare opportunities to visit these days. From mid*Warriors Swimming vs. La Reina, p.m. School days. January to November, his nonstop soccer schedule keeps Rams Swimming vs. Malibu, 3:00 p.m. BILL SWING and Field League Meet at Santa Paula, 3:00 p.m. There Rams were Track times, however, when Delgado considered him too busy. “You give up a lot,” he says. “You give Pictured in one of his last games suited up for the Westmont Rams Baseball vs. Thacher, 3:30 p.m. College Warriors is former Carpinteria High Schoolup soccer standout moving away—a low percentage of professional athletes family celebrations; you give up birthdays.” Despite Warrior Boys Tennis vs. Cate,Mehai. 3:30 p.m. Muhammed The four-year player at Westmont earned Allare produced by small towns. Ultimately, though, he this, his family remains his rock. “They give a lot of State Athletic Conference honors for his play as a midﬁelder *Ram Boys TennisGolden vs. Carpinteria, 3:30 p.m. this thrived because the support of a Diego, small 3:30 town not despite support,” he says. *WarriorsofBaseball vs.season. Bishop p.m. *Home games advice for young Carpinterians? Lean on it. Teachers, coaches, friends and family came out to Delgado’s see his club teams win national championships and his your resources to realize your dreams. “I want to be an Carpinteria High School soccer team win titles in 2015 and example,” he says. To make it to the top, he emphasizes, 2016. “I knew I wanted to make it big and put Carpinteria the key is to work hard and keep working hard. ♦

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WEEKEND WEATHER & TIDES

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HEMINGWAY PHOTOS: ERNEST HEMINGWAY COLLECTION, JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Ernest Hemingway, circa 1947.

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BATES FAMILY

Injured Hemingway in Milan, 1918.

Robert W. Bates in uniform, World War I.

Peevish Papa

Hemingway tangles with Carpinteria’s finest

BY S T E PH E N BAT E S

ancher Robert W. Bates and writer Barnaby Conrad had a lot in common. Both were Ivy League graduates (Bates from Harvard, Conrad from Yale) who spent time in Europe, ultimately settled in Carpinteria and died at the age of 90. They shared something else, too: both were targets of Ernest Hemingway’s animus. A Santa Barbara native, Bates headed the Red Cross ambulance corps during World War I in Italy, where Hemingway was one of his subordinates. Soon after arriving in late May 1918, Hemingway volunteered for canteen duty, which required him to bicycle along the

front lines and distribute chocolate, coffee and cigarettes to Italian soldiers. On July 8, a mortar shell exploded, leaving him with around 200 shrapnel punctures plus several bullet wounds. While recuperating in a hospital in Milan, Lieutenant Hemingway received a memo from his commanding officer. “I have learned with regret of your accident,” Captain Bates wrote, but “your wounds are not serious,” so “I trust that before long you will be back again at the front.” Despite Bates’ expectations, Hemingway never returned. His active duty had lasted less than six weeks. WINTER2025 85

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Barnaby Conrad with his bullfighting poster.

Hemingway in Milan hospital, 1918. WIKIMEDIA

CONRAD FAMILY

Conrad in matador garb.

Five years later, in 1923, Hemingway sent a nostalgic letter to fellow Red Cross veteran William Horne. He asked if Horne remembered their introduction to the ambulance service, the terrain around them and “what a shit Capt. Bates was.” Why the epithet? Hemingway would spend the rest of his life claiming he had suffered near-mortal wounds, so he may have resented Bates’ description of them as “not serious.” He also may have bristled under militarystyle discipline. Bates had dispatched a flurry of memos forbidding drunkenness, impertinence and gratuitous risk-taking, among other things. Drinking, disrespect and danger all would become tenets of the Hemingway Code. Despite the 1923 slur, it’s possible that Hemingway softened toward Bates later. Around 1940, according to author Carlene Fredericka Brennen, he named one of his favorite kittens Bates. For his part, though, Bates did not develop any fondness for Hemingway. In a biography, Carlos Baker claimed that Hemingway was such a mesmerizing storyteller that Bates visited the Milan hospital in 1918 to “sit at his feet and listen to his monologues.” When Bates, by then a Carpinteria rancher in his 80s, read this passage, he was livid. “I not only did not admire him,” he wrote, “but knew him to be an incomparable braggart and liar! (And one of the first to write dirty books which I did not like either!).” Unlike Bates, Barnaby Conrad idolized Hemingway. Inspired by Hemingway’s paean to bullfighting, “Death in the Afternoon,” Conrad became a matador, training while studying art in Mexico and later while serving as a viceconsul in Spain during World War II. (A bull broke his

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Hemingway, 1927.

knee, keeping him out of the military.) He fought under the name El Niño de California. Conrad returned to the United States in 1945, intent on becoming a novelist. His first book, “The Innocent Villa,” was published in 1948. His second book, “Matador,” appeared in 1952 and became, he wrote, “a surprise— especially to me—blockbuster.” Conrad sent both novels to Hemingway, along with many effusive letters. Although Hemingway never responded, he did talk about Conrad in letters to others. He struck a benevolent tone at first. Conrad “sounds like a good, straight kid and I am pretty sure he did whatever he said he did with bulls,” Hemingway told New York Times Book Review writer Harvey Breit in 1952. He said he hadn’t thanked Conrad for “The Innocent Villa,” partly because it “was not a very good novel, so I did not know what to write him,” and partly because the photo of Conrad on the jacket “sort of spooked me.” He said he hadn’t yet read “Matador,” but “I hope the hell it is good.” When Hemingway wrote to Breit again a week later, the benevolence had disappeared. Now he called Conrad a poseur, “as false as a three-dollar bill.” The “Matador” book jacket showed him in front of a poster promoting one of his El Niño de California bullfights, with “Entrada Por Invitación” at the bottom of the poster. If it was an invitation-only event with no box office, then, according to Hemingway, the matadors were fighting calves rather than

Hemingway, in white pants and dark shirt, fights a bull in Pamplona, 1925.

full-grown bulls, and “calf-killing, with ceremony, is the worst form of chickenshit I know.” (In Conrad’s account, he fought genuine bulls and suffered genuine injuries, including, post-”Matador,” a near-fatal goring.) Hemingway contrasted Conrad’s genteel experience with his own exploits at the annual Fiesta de San Fermín in Pamplona in the 1920s. He said he would enter the ring “on the fifth day of day-and-night drunkenness...having slept with two chambermaids” and risk his life—the Pamplona bulls killed people every day, he claimed—“not for fear, WINTER2025 87

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COURTESY PHOTO

usually had padded horns, according to Hemingway, and when they didn’t, he maneuvered to the one place where he knew he wouldn’t get gored: sprawled over the bull’s face clinging to the horns. This position, he said, “caused great hilarity among the spectators”—gracelessness under pressure. In addition to deriding Conrad’s bullring experience (“the Gentleman Calf-Sticker”), Hemingway in various letters charged him with stealing from Hemingway’s work, making factual errors, maligning a venerated matador and being “a tiresome writer” and “enormously malicious.” He even suggested that Conrad had dodged the draft in World War II: “If this boy liked taking chances on being killed, there were much more useful things to do in ’43, ’44 and ’45 than play with calves.” Although Hemingway sent these derogatory letters to influential writers and editors, “Matador” became a bestseller. In fact, it appeared on bestseller lists alongside Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” Conrad knew about a couple of Hemingway’s scathing comments. (Hemingway scholar Sandra Spanier helped the author of this article locate the others.) “I suppose that he felt I had invaded his territory, which I had,” Conrad once told an interviewer. “He felt that he owned bullfighting, and I think it hit a nerve that I dared to write about bulls.” Conrad said that in the late 1950s Hemingway praised a magazine article as one of the best bullfighting pieces ever. Maybe he hadn’t noticed who’d written it: Barnaby Conrad. Or maybe Hemingway had changed his mind. By the time he died in 1961, it’s conceivable that he had come to respect Conrad as a writer and as a bullfighter. Unlikely, to be sure, but in the oft-quoted final words of “The Sun Also Rises,” “Isn’t it pretty to think so?” ♦

Conrad’s novel “Matador” spent a year on the bestseller’s list.

nor for glory, nor for the satisfaction of some neurosis but for straight fun.” That was Hemingway’s 1952 version of his bullfighting experience. In “Death in the Afternoon” 20 years earlier, though, he was self-mocking rather than self-aggrandizing. He confronted bulls only a few times, he wrote, and the term bullfighting was something of a misnomer: “I did not fight them but was merely tossed about.” The animals 88 CARPINTERIAMAGAZINE.com

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FINAL FRAME

T H E T E RN OF T H E T I DE S An elegant tern swoops in for some hang time with friends on the beach in Carpinteria. These chatterbox seabirds love to raise a ruckus, and the “karreck, karreck, karreck” calls of a ﬂock can be heard from afar. PHO T O BY C HUC K GR A HA M

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