Coastal View News • March 13, 2025

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“I woke up one morning and said, ‘It’s time to get out of here,’” Matt Moore, owner and founder of Carpinteria's iconic surf shop Rincon Designs, told Coastal View News; the owners of 659 Linden

be out by the end of March. As Rincon Designs’ storefront era comes to a close, Moore spoke with CVN about the 45 years of

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The United Boys & Girls Club of Carpinteria’s annual fundraiser — this year called Best Bites & Big Futures — is this weekend. The fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 6–10 p.m. at the club’s gymnasium, located at 4849 Foothill Rd.

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559 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE J 93108

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“Best Bites & Big Futures is more than just a fundraiser — it’s a chance for our community to come together and celebrate the incredible impact we can make when we invest in our youth,” said Event Chair Taylor Swan in a press release. “By joining us, you’re not only enjoying a fantastic evening but also giving back to the young people who are the heart of Carpinteria.”

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Formerly known as the Carpinteria Auction, then held in May, this year’s event will feature a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired celebration. Refreshments will include a station of curated dishes from local restaurants, including Jeezy’s, Carp Kitchen, Rusty’s Pizza, Uncle Chen Restaurant and more. Musician Freddie Castro will provide entertainment throughout the night.

Activities will include a wine and whiskey toss, a golden ticket raffle, a dessert auction, a silent auction and immersive club experiences.

Tickets for the event are $90 for general admission and $300 for a group of four. Learn more at tinyurl.com/2025BestBites.

CSFD meetings moved to district headquarters

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District regular board meetings will now be held at the district’s headquarters, 1140 Eugenia Pl., Suite A, instead of in Carpinteria City Hall chambers, district Executive Assistant Grace Rampton confirmed. Agendas can be viewed online at carpfire.com. With the move, the meetings will no longer be streamed online. The meetings are held every first Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Carpinteria woman arrested after Santa Barbara bank theft

A Carpinteria woman, 32-year-old Jaclynn Marie Blackwell, was arrested this week and charged with an outstanding warrant for a bank robbery that was reported on Feb. 11.

According to city of Santa Barbara Police Department Sergeant Bryan Kerr, police responded on Feb. 11 at 1:06 p.m. to the report of a robbery that had occurred at a bank on the 900 block of Carpinteria Street.

The suspect — described as a white, adult female in her mid-to-late 20s with long, light brown hair — reportedly entered the bank and told the teller she was armed with a gun. No weapon was seen, and the suspect fled the area after taking an undisclosed amount of money.

Blackwell was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on a $500,000 bail.

Carpinteria man charged after three local robberies

Forty-seven-year-old Carpinteria resident Hipolito Francisco Hernandez was arrested last week on charges related to three robberies that took place in January and March.

According to city of Santa Barbara Sergeant Bryan Kerr, the first robbery was reported at City Market in Carpinteria on Jan. 13; the second at Mechanics Bank in Santa Barbara on Jan. 14; and the third at El Corte Perfecto in Carpinteria on March 3.

Members with the Santa Barbara Police Department, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office took Hernandez into custody in Port Hueneme on March 7. He was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on a $1,000,000 bail.

“During a subsequent search, evidence of the crimes was located in Hernandez’s possession, including a pellet gun,” Kerr said in a press release sent out last week.

Community members invited to Friday cannabis community forum

Carpinteria community members are invited to a special cannabis community forum, scheduled for Friday, March 14, noon – 2 p.m., at Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave.

At the forum, county representatives on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will discuss cannabis odor, and community members will have the opportunity to share their concerns and feedback about the odor.

The supervisors are set to vote on new cannabis odor regulations on March 18. The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission recommended last month that all indoor cannabis growers be required to install carbon filters — also known as carbon scrubbers — which “scrub” the cannabis odor out of the air before it leaves a greenhouse. If the supervisors adopt this recommendation, each grower will have 12 months to install the carbon scrubbers. Currently, seven of the 27 greenhouse cannabis grows in Carpinteria have carbon scrubbers, freelancer Melinda Burns reported in Coastal View News last month.

“Residents have long voiced concerns about the impact of cannabis odors on daily life, and the board wants to hear directly from those affected. This is an opportunity for the board to meet the community in their neighborhood to ensure all voices are heard in this important conversation,” Chair of the Board of Supervisors Laura Capps said in a press release sent out Tuesday.

The agenda will be available online at santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current.

Interactive panel on building resiliency in young women scheduled for Tuesday

The Carpinteria Woman’s Club Women Making Change Initiative will host an interactive panel and discussion on Tuesday, March 18: “Creating Agency: Building Resilience in Young Women and Girls.”

Resiliency Club member Marybeth Carty told CVN that the panel will look at programs and supportive strategies that foster confidence and self-worth and prevent emotional and physical harm in young women.

Panelists will include Natalia Alarcon, program director at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and mayor of Carpinteria; Kenya Rodriguez, program director at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria; Christy Stillwell, founder and CEO of What Is Love, an organization that teaches teens about healthy relationships; Molly Green, senior director of development with AHA!, a local organization that works with teachers, teens and parents on social-emotional intelligence; and Tina Ballue, director of development for Domestic Violence Solutions.

The meeting is open to the public; Spanish translation will be available, and refreshments will be provided. RSVP to mbcarty@cox.net. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Carpinteria Middle School Library, 5351 Carpinteria Ave.

Autumn Brands opens up public tours

Cannabis grower Autumn Brands, at 3615 Foothill Road in Carpinteria, has opened up public tours on the third Friday of each month, 10–11:30 a.m. The first tour will take place on March 21. Registration is required; drop-in visitors are not allowed.

Community members will tour the greenhouses, learn about cultivation methods and the science behind hand-trimming, hang-drying and curing, the company said in a press release.

“The Autumn Brands farm not only emphasizes sustainability but also supports educational transparency. Highlighting practices like natural pest control with California ladybugs, our tour reveals how commitment to eco-friendly farming contributes to a healthier planet,” media representative Brittney Falletta said.

Tours can be booked online at autumnbrands.com/farm-tours. All parties must be over the age of 21. ID is required.

Coastal View News welcomes your le ers Le ers must include your name, address and phone number. Le ers are subject to editing. Le ers over 300 words will be edited in length. Submit online at coastalview.com

Educators of the Year announced

SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK

CUSD SUPERINTENDENT

Editor’s Note: A copy of the Superintendent’s Report is run in print as a service for parents, students and community members who cannot attend Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustee meetings. This report was read aloud during the school board’s March 11, 2025 meeting.

On April 26, the Carpinteria Community Association Awards Banquet will honor two Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) teachers: Carpinteria Middle School (CMS) science teacher Elizabeth Poulin and first grade dual language immersion (DLI) teacher Renee Mireles from Aliso Elementary School. Congratulations!

Appreciation

I would like to recognize the district’s leadership team, which includes Jason Kaff, Jaqueline Lopez, Monica Thomas, Mari Hornback, Aaron LaPlante, Gerardo Cornejo, Jamie Persoon, Brett Weiberg, Luis Quintero, Carolyn Haines, James Anderson, Kirsten Neumann and Jeremiah Sobenes, for their outstanding leadership and tireless work in supporting teachers, staff, students and their families this year.

Elementary parent conferences, spring 2025

Parent conferences will be held during minimum days from March 17 to March 21. Working with our families to support student learning is a professional expectation and standard for all CUSD teachers. Effective teachers develop strong partnerships with families to ensure student engagement and support. These spring parent conferences provide the opportunity for parents to learn more about their student’s progress in achieving grade level standards by June in preparation for the next grade level. Teachers provide many strategies for parents to help their students at home. Good nutrition, sleeping habits, limited screen time and nightly reading for 30 minutes are also reinforced.

CMS after-school programs

More than 150 CMS students participate in a variety of after-school programs, including tutoring, fishing, skateboarding, soccer, volleyball, “Teens Love Cooking,” math superbowl, theater club, glee club and environmental club. Grants from CDE, La Centra Summerlin and Westerlay Orchids fund these wonderful opportunities.

Spring Bridge the Break Program, March 24-28

CUSD is partnering with United Way of Santa Barbara County to offer the Spring 2025 Bridge the Break program (formerly the Expanded Learning Break) for elementary students. This program is a free, week-long initiative designed to provide a unique blend of academic enrichment and recreational activities during the upcoming spring break. Bridge the Break will take place March 24 to March 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Canalino Elementary School, with breakfast, lunch and snacks provided. Students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through fifth grade will participate in literacy, math, STEAM and recreation in an engaging learning environment.

Summer Bridge Program with city college, high school

Incoming ninth grade Carpinteria High School (CHS) CHS students are invited to participate in this year’s Summer Bridge Program that will feature career technical education in culinary arts at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) from June 23 to June 27, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. SBCC will accommodate up to 30 students who will concurrently be enrolled in SBCC’s PD 115 course, and bus transportation will be provided from CHS daily.

CHS/CMS will host a parent/student meeting this month for those interested in participating. CTEIG and Dual Enrollment grants are funding this program.

CHS Engineering/Robotics Summer Bridge Program

CHS engineering and robotics teachers are offering a week-long project-based program in engineering and robotics for CMS seventh and eighth grade students from June 16 through June 20. Funded by the K16 Grant, 20 students will participate in engineering design and a robotics competition.

Congratulations Food Services Director Hernandez!

CUSD Food Services Director Michelle Hernandez has been selected to serve as a member of the California Department of Education’s Food Distribution Program (FDP) Collaboration Committee. This committee provides an opportunity for USDA Food Program participants to offer critical feedback on policies, procedures and related matters, as well as discuss issues critical to the program’s success.

Measure U

The geologic hazards report for the Aliso Elementary School TK/kindergarten building project will be resubmitted to the California Geological Survey after new soil borings have been obtained. DSA is reviewing the project submission for the Aliso Elementary TK/K building.

Diana Rigby is the superintendent of Carpinteria Unified School District. For more information about CUSD, log on to cusd.net, or contact Diana at drigby@cusd.net or (805) 684-4511x222.

During this past year, about 49% of all taxes collected in Santa Barbara County went to school districts within the county.

School board reviews property tax revenue

The Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees received a brief explanation on how property taxes are allocated on Tuesday, Feb. 11 from Trevor Lysek, the division chief of the Santa Barbara County Auditor-Controller’s Office.

Lysek briefly explained the flow of property taxes; taxes are typically paid by the property owner to the tax collector, which is then brought to an auditor that allocates and distributes the revenue among the county, cities, school districts and other bodies.

“We take everything from here to Santa Maria, and it gets dumped in a bucket — well, actually several buckets,” Lysek told CUSD board members at the Feb. 11 meeting. “Each quarter, we apply factors to those secured taxes…countywide, and that chunk of money is what comes to your district.”

Lysek also reviewed how CUSD is funded. As a basic aid district, CUSD receives no supplemental tax revenue or funds from the state’s Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund (ERAF). The district does receive revenue from bonds, such as Bond A passed in 1995 and Bond

U passed in 2014. Following the Feb. 11 meeting, Lysek clarified for CVN what some of the local property tax revenue looks like for CUSD, though he said these numbers often vary.

“Assessed values are corrected all the time for various reasons,” Lysek told CVN. “So actual taxes collected vary from the initial amounts calculated.”

CUSD receives about 33.4% of property taxes generated by the Tax Rate Areas (TRAs) within CUSD, he told CVN. Lysek used the Montecito Union School District (MUSD) and the Cold Spring Elementary School District (CSESD) for comparison, since they are local, adjacent districts to CUSD.

MUSD and CSESD each receive about 32.4% and 34% of property tax revenue, respectively. However, MUSD and CSESD also receive a share from the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD). Since MUSD and CSESD do not have high schools, they are not unified school districts like CUSD, and therefore the districts fall under SBUSD for high school. Jun Starkey

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CITY BEAT

Keeping the city clean with Carpinteria Beautiful Month

On Monday, the Carpinteria City Council designated April as Carpinteria Beautiful Month, in a proclamation accepted by members of Carpinteria Beautiful, a group that promotes the preservation and enhancement of Carpinteria’s natural beauty.

April has been recognized as “Keep America Beautiful Month” across the nation, with cities participating in Earth Day on April 22 and National Arbor Day on April 25. Carpinteria will show its support by renewing the city’s commitment to maintaining a vigorous and beneficial urban forest and dedication to preserving a healthy environment, according to the proclamation.

In April, Carpinteria Beautiful volunteers will continue their year-round efforts to remove graffiti and fill the doggie bag dispensers throughout the city, and the group will make a donation of $500 to the city for the purchase and maintenance of trees, according to Carpinteria Beautiful Treasurer Clyde Freeman.

All members of the council and the public are invited to join Carpinteria Beautiful in a co-sponsored clean-up event with the city on March 29, 9–11 a.m., to get a head start on April’s celebrations. Participants will meet at City Parking Lot #3, next to the railroad tracks.

“We would love to see you there and help to keep Carpinteria as litter-free as

Members of Carpinteria Beautiful accepted a proclamation from the Carpinteria City Council on Monday, designating April 2025 as Carpinteria Beautiful Month.

possible,” Carpinteria Beautiful member Donna Jordan told the council on Monday. “We’ve been working on this since 1992, we’re still at it and I think we do a

pretty good job.”

Co uncilmember Wade Nomura praised Carpinteria Beautiful for its work. “I would like to thank and rec-

ognize Carpinteria Beautiful for all of their hard work,” he said. “They do an outstanding job.”

City chips away at housing unit goals

On Monday, the Carpinteria City Council and city staff reviewed progress on the city’s Housing Element programs, evaluating what is going well and where the city may be lacking ahead of a formal submission of its annual report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on April 1.

The city is slowly chipping away at Carpinteria’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), which requires 901 additional housing units in the city between 2023 and 2031.

In 2024, 19 building permits were issued for 42 new housing units in the city, mostly for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs), according to city staff. The remaining three permits went towards two single-use family homes and one mixed-use project with 24 new apartments.

However, not all of these projects have been completed yet; a building permit is issued when a unit counts towards RHNA, not when it’s at completion, city Senior Planner Syndi Souter noted.

Of these 42 new housing units, only four were in the very low-income category; four others were in the low-income category; and zero fell under the moderate-income category, leaving the remaining 34 units at market-rate.

Councilmembers expressed their concern that the progress on low-income housing units is moving too slow to keep up with the city’s RHNA requirements and housing needs.

“I’m sure that I am not alone in wishing that there were more of the low-income and very-low-income projects that went through this past year, but I know that we’re at the mercy of what projects come forward to the city,” Vice Mayor Mónica Solórzano said.

Back in December, the council unanimously approved a new mixed-use zoning designation, objective design standards for that zone, and the rezoning of eight parcels of residential/mixed-use

The city of Carpinteria’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation progress, based on the date the building permit was issued.

under a Program One plan.

Program Two, which tackles Accessory Dwelling Units, is underway. Three projects have used the city’s pre-approved ADU plans, which the city provides at no cost to encourage community members to build ADUs.

Staff have noted a rising popularity among ADUs in the city. “There is certainly a continued interest in ADUs in the city,” Assistant Planner Megan Musolf told the council.

T he Carpinteria Planning Commission has been working with HCD and the Coastal Commission to better align the city’s ADU Regulation Ordinance’s language with State ADU Law and the Coastal Act. An updated ordinance is expected to come to the council in late spring or early summer for a second reading.

Other city housing element programs tackle housing vouchers, density bonus law, incentives for affordable housing, housing code compliance, and financial assistance for rentals and home buyers.

The city aims to maintain 177 Section Eight Rental Assistance vouchers; that goal was surpassed in 2024, with 196 vouchers reported.

Vice Mayor Solórzano suggested look-

ing into how the city can use its Inclusionary Housing Ordinance as a stronger tool for encouraging projects that will help the city meet its RHNA requirements and providing the affordable housing needs that the city seems to want for the Carpinteria community.

“It seems like we don’t have a lot of tools to entice developers and property owners to go in the direction of low-income housing,” Solórzano told staff. “Our current ordinance does not include renters and requires 12% affordable housing which could be above moderate income, which again, I feel like does not have enough weight to it to get the changes that we want as a city.”

Staff said they are taking the first steps this year to revamp the city’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.

Despite progress, the city council and staff remain concerned that the city is climbing up the RHNA mountain too slowly.

“There are state housing laws that do have the potential to apply penalties on local jurisdictions that are not making adequate progress on their RHNA,” Community Development Director Nick Bobroff told the council. “To date we haven’t ever run afoul of that lack of

progress metric, but it is a concern, and it is something that I worry about a little bit as we continue to go forward (with) just this small trickle of affordable units coming in year after year.”

According to Bobroff, the city should consider looking into grants and a public-private partnership with other housing providers — such as People’s Self-Help Housing — if it really wants to catapult its RHNA progress.

“We can get there through individual contributions from projects, through Density Bonus, or through Inclusionary Ordinance, but if we want to have a more meaningful effect on these numbers then I think we need to be looking at opportunities to pursue grants or to partner with other types of housing providers, like the People’s Self-Help Housing, and see what the city can bring to the table to help create some type of public-private partnership where we can pursue 100% affordable housing project like we’ve done in the past with peoples,” Bobroff told the council.

“That’s the type of project that gets us the number of units in one single project and that can really make major progress on achieving our RHNA.”

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Marina Varela

08/01/1941 — 03/05/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Marina Varela, who gently departed this world on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. She was 83 years old and lived a life that radiated love, faith and unwavering devotion to her family.

She was born on Aug. 1, 1941 in Guanajuato, Mexico. Marina dedicated her life to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, embodying what truly means to be a nurturing mother and grandmother. Her love was boundless, and her commitment to her family was evident in every action and decision she made. One of her greatest joys was taking her grandchildren to the beach; it was a special tradition filled with laughter and unforgettable memories that will forever warm our hearts. Her ability to organize these adventures, often with a smile and a carefree spirit will always remain a cherished family legacy.

Marina had a deep and abiding faith in God, which was the cornerstone of her life. Even as her memory faded in her last years, she never forgot the melodies of the hymns that filled her heart with joy. Her voice, even in the softest whisper, could still be heard singing praises. This enduring connection to her faith was a testament to the strength of her spirit and the love she held for her Creator.

Her devotion extended beyond her role as a mother and grandmother; she was a devoted wife to our father, Raul Varela. Together, they weathered life’s storms, and when he was diagnosed with leukemia, she stood steadfastly by his side. Her unwavering support and compassion played a vital role in his journey, and we believe it is this profound love that contributed to his remarkable strength and the very reason he stayed with us for long after his diagnosis.

Marina leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness and faith that will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to know her. She is survived by her children, Martha, Jesus, Raul, Jaime, Maria and Lorena, her 13 beloved grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and countless others who will carry her spirit in their hearts.

As we gather to honor her memory, we remember the countless moments of joy she brought into our lives, the lessons she instilled in us, and the love that will never fade. Marina will be profoundly missed but cherished in our hearts.

A rosary service will be held on March 19 at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 7 p.m. and a mass on March 20 at 10 a.m., where family and friends are invited to celebrate her extraordinary life.

May she rest in peace, surrounded by the love of God and the family she adored so deeply.

Maria Dolores Fragoso 04/03/1953 — 02/28/2025

On Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, Maria Dolores Fragoso, 71, went to be with the Lord for all of eternity.

Born to Paul and Frances Villa in Santa Barbara on April 3, 1953, Maria lived most of her life in her beloved Carpinteria. She spent her early years at the B.D. Moore and Terra Ranches in Carpinteria, where her father was the ranch foreman. As a teenager, she moved with her family to Carpinteria Avenue, where she lived for much of her adult life. Maria attended Carpinteria schools and graduated from Carpinteria High School. She also attended Santa Barbara City College before beginning work in human resources at a number of different businesses. She worked for nearly two decades in the HR department at Cottage Hospital.

Maria married Laurencio “Larry” Fragoso in 1974. In 1984, they were blessed with a daughter, who she referred to as her Precious, Cecelia “CeCe” Fragoso, who is the love of Maria’s life.

Maria’s parents taught her to have a deep religious faith, strong work ethic and family values. She was a role model to so many, especially to her nieces and nephews. Known as Auntie Mata, she displayed unconditional love for all of her family. She was always willing to help her family and was there for them in times of need, providing several nieces and nephews respite when they were facing challenges in their lives. Maria was a family historian, often sharing stories about growing up on ranches in the Carpinteria area with her family. She was one of the most eloquent story tellers in the family. She was a confident, strong and independent woman who always stayed firm in her moral and ethical convictions. She was intelligent, compassionate, generous and completely selfless. She was sought out by many of her nieces and nephews for her sound advice and wisdom.

Family was everything to Maria. She is survived by her daughter, CeCe Fragoso, CeCe’s significant other Juan Garcia, who Maria considered a son, many nieces and nephews, and several cousins, who will all miss her greatly.

Waiting to greet Maria as she entered the kingdom of heaven were the family that she loved and cherished, including her parents, Paul and Frances Villa; brothers Paul, Albert, Peter, Joseph and Tom Villa; sister Rita Villa; and husband Larry Fragoso.

Later in her life, Maria had to leave her beloved Carpinteria and move to Ventura, but she promised she would return to Carpinteria someday. Fulfilling that promise, services will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Carpinteria. Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. A funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21, followed by internment at the Carpinteria Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.

Rebecca Hughes Paulsen 01/13/1931 — 03/03/2025

Rebecca Hughes Paulsen, lovingly known as “Grandma Becky,” passed away on March 3, 2025, in Oxnard, California.

Born Rebecca Hughes Webb on Jan. 13, 1931, in Santa Barbara, California, she lived a long and meaningful life filled with love and devotion to her family. She attended local schools and was a very proud “Don,” graduating from Santa Barbara High School in 1948.

In 1958, she and her husband, Jacque Paulsen, moved their family to Carpinteria. There they raised their four children: Pamela, Debra, Craig and Christopher. Rebecca was well known in the banking world, having worked at banks in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. Even after retirement, she went back to work at a local bank so she could have contact with her friends and customers. After retiring a second time, she became a very valuable hands-on grandma and great-grandma to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grandma Becky found immense joy in the company of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, cherishing every moment spent with them. Her warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on those who knew her. A person of faith, she was a dedicated member of the Carpinteria Community Church, where she found comfort and community.

Rebecca was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Jacque Edward Paulsen in 1995, a sister, Fay Ann Fishkin, and two brothers, Tom Webb and John Webb. She leaves behind her four children, son-in-law Richard Gesswein, daughter-in-law Carolyn Paulsen, seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service to honor Grandma Becky’s life will be held at Carpinteria Cemetery.

Grandma Becky will be truly missed by her family and so many friends whose lives she has touched. Safe travels, Mom. We love you to the moon and back.

McDermott-Crockett Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements

Previously

Frank Torreano

12/31/1941 — 01/05/2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Frank Torreano, age 83, who peacefully departed this life on Sunday, Jan. 5, with two of his Carpinteria angels by his side.

Frank was born on Dec. 31, 1941, in Los Angeles, California, where he was raised by his parents, Frank Torreano Sr. and beloved mother Pearl Burns.

Frank proudly served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1963 where he achieved the rank of Petty Officer Third Class aboard the USS Mahan and remained on active naval reserve until 1967. Following his military service, he enjoyed a successful career as a salesman, where over the span of 40 years, he became renowned for his tenacity and exceptional ability to close deals.

Eventually, Frank relocated to his beloved town of Carpinteria, becoming a familiar face at “The Square,” the volleyball courts at First Beach. His love for the sport was evident in his meticulous care for the courts, which became a gathering place where he formed lasting friendships. Those of his “kids” who knew him in this capacity regarded him as a fussy father who offered advice and never missed an opportunity to retell a good story. Frank was also known for his outspoken nature, often expressing strong opinions through letters published in the Coastal View News. His witty remarks, affectionately dubbed “Frankisms,” became well-known, most notably his humorous commentary on the quality of his stiff, pinky-stirred trunk cocktails, which he would distribute with a playful quip, raised eyebrow and flashy smile, “Yeah? But how’s the price?” Frank is survived by his son, Steven Rosegrant, who lovingly shares his father’s passion for impeccable dress, classic cars and pin-up girls. Yet the most important thing they shared was laughter.

Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at Carpinteria State Beach, in front of The Square, on March 22, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. In honor of Frank, a volleyball match will be held, reflecting his love for the sport and the community he cherished. For any questions, please text Steven at (818) 429-2782.

Raquel Vela Mendoza 03/17/1930 — 02/25/2025

Raquel — Mrs. Mendoza or Raquelita, as she was fondly known — died on Feb. 25, 2025, at the age of 94 in Goleta, California.

She was born in Mexico City on March 17, 1930, and came to the United States in the 1960s. She was known as a rare and resourceful resident of the Westside community. Mrs. Mendoza was an outspoken community advocate for the voiceless for many causes including rights of Latino youth, immigrants, farmworkers, neighborhood pride, bilingual education and many others. She spearheaded efforts in neighborhood pride in areas needing trash cleanup and removal of graffiti. She was especially supportive of the farm-

workers movement and marched with labor leaders such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

With her constant companion, Amber the chihuahua, always at her side, Raquel was a constant speaker at city hall meetings and the Santa Barbara School District, speaking truth to power with her vocal and forceful enthusiasm to help make positive changes throughout the Santa Barbara community. Raquel volunteered at many organizations including La Casa de La Raza and the Westside Neighborhood Center, amongst others. She often cooked for special events and holiday pozole dinners. She also assisted with neighborhood block parties, food distributions and the salsa festival. She volunteered in the Mariachi festival and spent many years of service working to improve the lives of children and families throughout Santa Barbara. She was proud of her Mexican heritage and advocated for the preservation of the Spanish language and cultural pride.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 21 W. Sola Street, followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery. Please join us to celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional life of Raquelita.

Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.

LETTERS CVN

“Our household provided our ‘public comment’ to the city with respect to its report; we’re on the record. We stand by our written statement and those made before the city council.”
— Eileen Marcussen

A legal right to quiet enjoyment

In CVN Vol. 31, No. 21, Will Breman wrote, “The ongoing live music debate in Carpinteria has never really been about noise levels — it’s about a fundamental misunderstanding of ‘quiet enjoyment.’”

There is no “misunderstanding” of the legal right to “quiet enjoyment” by my neighbor or myself; volume-elevated sound (noise) levels can adversely affect the “quiet enjoyment” of any neighboring residence.

Homeowners and tenants are both residents. California’s Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment applies to all Californian residents who rent or own their homes. Quality of life expectations are the same regardless of whether you rent or own, which neighborhood you choose to call home, or whether you’re a full or parttime member of the community.

It’s that basic; there’s no “debate.”

Mr. Breman describes my household as “opponents” of art.

In 2025, you can enjoy art on-demand and in the privacy of one’s home or you

Carpinteria joins the fight against oil transportation by pipeline

On Monday, the Carpinteria City Council passed a resolution opposing the transportation of oil by pipeline.

Back in 2015, a detrimental oil spill, the Refugio Beach Oil Spill, was caused by the rupture of a Plains Oil pipeline running along the Gaviota Coast. Over one hundred thousand gallons of crude oil invaded the beaches and coastline, resulting in harmful and fatal effects on marine life within the region.

Since the incident, the pipeline’s ownership has been passed to ExxonMobil, and most recently transferred to the Sable Offshore Corporation oil company.

About six months ago, Santa Barbara County approved an application from Sable to recommission the previously ruptured pipeline that caused the Refugio spill; it didn’t take long for the county and the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to receive numerous appeals.

Last month, the appeal returned to the Board of Supervisors for a motion. The board tried two motions — a motion to deny the appeal and a motion to approve the appeal — both of which resulted in a two-two vote, leaving the board with no action.

Upon the council’s request, Carpinteria city staff put together a resolution stating that the city of Carpinteria disapproves of recommissioning the oil pipeline.

M ultiple members of the public showed their support for the resolution at Monday night’s meeting, including local residents, organizations and experts on the topic.

“The Carpinteria Valley Association strongly supports this resolution,” CVA Vice President Jim Taylor told the council. “The pipeline has already been proven unsafe.”

Gail Marshall, a former board member of Get Oil Out (GOO) — a Santa Barbara-based interest group dedicated to protecting the environment — shared her support for the resolution.

“Thank you for showing your support

“This resolution against recommissioning righteously puts our community on notice that we value clean air, clean water, and clean coastal resources.”
— resident Gail Marshall

for our precious coastal resources,” Marshall told the council. “This resolution against recommissioning righteously puts our community on notice that we value clean air, clean water, and clean coastal resources.”

Santa Barbara Channelkeeper science and program manager Molly Troup also showed her support. She said Carpinteria’s approval of this resolution will strengthen the already launched anti-oil pipeline transportation team within the area.

“If the city council approves the resolution before you this evening, Carpinteria will join the neighboring cities including Goleta, Buellton and the city of Santa Barbara who have already passed similar resolutions opposing the start of this corroded pipeline,” Troup shared.

Councilmember Julia Mayer stated her support of the resolution before motioning for approval. “I just want to say that I emphatically agree that we should be doing this,” Mayer said.

Councilmember Al Clark also voiced his support and commended Mayor Natalia Alarcon for bringing this resolution to the table. “I can’t imagine the permitting agencies letting this happen — it’s very frustrating,” he said.

can go out to a gallery, theater, arena or to your favorite watering hole to catch the “local” cover band.

All these choices should be available to every Carpinteria resident, but they have not been available to the two vocal households in the Beach Neighborhood.

Two Carpinteria households have had their ability to program their lives as they please denied by one business many weekends; that is a maddening new reality. But Mr. Breman wants “proof” of our distress. Does he want my DSM code or a chewed-up mouthguard? He’ll have to take my word.

The impacts are real and, despite the city’s staff finding sound levels that did “approach the upper limits of what is ‘normally acceptable,’” the city council moved to “receive and file” the report.

Our household provided our “public comment” to the city with respect to its report; we’re on the record.

We stand by our written statement and those made before the city council.

Eileen Marcussen Carpinteria

Coastal View News welcomes your letters Letters must include your name, address and phone number. Letters are subject to editing. Letters over 300 words will be edited in length. Submit online at coastalview.com

In other city news… Council approves code of conduct for meetings

The Carpinteria City Council approved on Monday a new code of conduct that will apply to all city meetings moving forward.

“The purpose of tonight’s Code of Conduct is to promote mutual respect, civility and orderly conduct among elected and appointed city officials, city staff and members of the public,” City Clerk Brian Barrett said.

Noted among the rules: the mayor or the chair is responsible for maintaining order and decorum at meetings; public officials must request the floor from the presiding officer before speaking, and may offer comments or questions only after a speaker has finished; members of the audience should not disturb, disrupt, impede or otherwise diverge the orderly conduct of the meeting; and the presiding officer can establish regulations for public comment.

Additionally, public officials may not discuss, deliberate or vote on any matter related to public comments on matters not on the agenda. Public officials are also prohibited to talk privately with the public during the meeting or during recesses of the meeting.

The mayor or presiding officer also has the right to ask any member of the public to temporarily leave the meeting. Members of the public may provide the council with written materials to accompany their comments, but only if six copies are given to the clerk before the meeting — five for the council advisory group and one for the record.

This new Code of Conduct, which is available in full online at bit.ly/CityAgenda3-10 under Item #9, will also be posted in the council chambers.

CHS crosswalk safety improvement project receives grant funds

The Carpinteria High School Area Crosswalk Safety Improvement Project has received $342,270 in state-aid grant funds from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), city staff said Monday.

The HSIP funds will cover 90% of the construction costs, which are estimated to be $380,300. The remaining costs will be covered by the city’s development impact fees.

The project involves the installation of hybrid pedestrian crossing traffic signal at the front of Carpinteria High School at the State Route 192/Foothill Road and Franklin Creek Trail intersection.

Landmark ruling certifies a class action against Valley Crest for “nuisance odor”

“This will send shockwaves throughout California’s cannabis industry,” the winning side says

In a case that could have broad implications for commercial cannabis growers, Superior Court Judge Thomas Anderle ruled on March 5 that the neighbors within a one-mile radius of Valley Crest Farms, a cannabis greenhouse operation in the Carpinteria Valley, can collectively seek damages for the pervasive smell of cannabis invading their properties.

The class action lawsuit against Valley Crest was filed at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in 2023 by the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis, a countywide nonprofit citizens’ group; William Hahn and Danielle Dall’Armi, owners of the Rose Story Farm, a commercial rosebush operation next to Valley Crest; and Chonnie Bliss Jacobson, a neighbor who lives half a mile away.

Valley Crest, a nine-acre cannabis grow at 5890 Casitas Pass Road, has been harvesting cannabis every week for more than five years, the plaintiffs say. In court documents, they seek relief from what they describe as the “awful smells and noxious odors and chemicals that they are being assaulted with on a daily basis in their homes.” The stench of cannabis, they allege, has lowered their property values, driven away their tenants, reduced their business incomes and interfered with “the quiet use and enjoyment of their property.”

Anderle’s ruling certifies the “class” or “community of interest” in the case as the homeowners within a one-mile radius of Valley Crest. To be eligible, they must have purchased their homes before Jan. 19, 2016. To claim damages, they must be able to show how the cannabis operation has affected their property values and “enjoyment of their property.”

Lionel Neff, a coalition board member, likened the ruling to “a rainbow at the end of a storm.” The coalition, he said, has been fighting for stiffer regulation of the cannabis industry for the past seven years.

“Now, it’s beyond a glimmer of hope,” Neff said. “It’s a realization that we have real progress. It’s a new day.”

In court documents, Valley Crest’s attorneys called the plaintiffs’ arguments for class action “wildly over-broad.” Patrick Toole, an attorney for Valley Crest, said Wednesday he did not know whether his client would appeal Anderle’s ruling.

The managing member of the Valley Crest Farms LLC is listed in state records as Philip Fagundes of Parlier, Calif. Fagundes also is listed as the manager of Greenbrier Holdings LLC, an investment company with a cannabis manufacturing facility in Parlier. On its website, Greenbrier advertises “Premium Cannabis Grown in the Coastal Valley of Santa Barbara.” Fagundes comes from a dairy farming family that produces milk for Horizon Organic in the Central Valley.

A jury trial in the case has been scheduled for March 5, 2026 — if it is not settled before then.

A first for California Wednesday’s ruling marks the first time that a California judge has certified a class action related to cannabis odor. Robert Curtis, an attorney for the coalition, called it a “landmark legal victory.”

“It’s monumental,” he said. “This ruling will send shockwaves throughout California’s cannabis industry, particularly in Carpinteria. For too long, cannabis growers have profited off the cultivation of marijuana while thumbing their noses at their obligation to control the foul

“This ruling will send shockwaves throughout California’s cannabis industry, particularly in Carpinteria. For too long, cannabis growers have profited off the cultivation of marijuana while thumbing their noses at their obligation to control the foul odors their operations produce.”
— Robert Curtis, attorney for the Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis

odors their operations produce.”

There may be as many as 100 homes within a one-mile radius of Valley Crest, Curtis said. Within 30 days, he said, he will present the judge with a list of residents who will get notices in the mail, telling them how they can participate in the class action lawsuit against Valley Crest, going forward.

Curtis said the plaintiffs chiefly want the greenhouses to be equipped with carbon filtration systems known as “scrubbers,” an expensive, state-of-the-art odor control technology that has been shown to get rid of most of the smell of cannabis before it can escape through the vents on a greenhouse roof.

Like most other cannabis operations in the Carpinteria Valley, Valley Crest is equipped with a “vapor phase” or “misting” system that sets up a curtain of perfumed mist from perforated pipes on the greenhouse roofs. It is designed to neutralize the smell of cannabis after it escapes from the vents into the outside air. But the Rose Story Farm plaintiffs said the ever-present spray had caused oils and chemicals to settle on their landscaping.

Curtis said all of the plaintiffs deserved to be compensated “for the misery they have had to live in since Valley Crest started operating its facility.” The owner, he said, could face much higher potential damages as a result of Wednesday’s ruling.

“The price of poker just went up,” Curtis said.

“Extraordinarily cumbersome”

At Wednesday’s hearing, Toole told Anderle that Valley Crest was in compliance with county odor control regulations. The county Board of Supervisors approved the project in 2022 with a “misting” system.

(Earlier this year, the board signaled that it wanted to require scrubbers and ban misting systems in all Carpinteria Valley cannabis greenhouse operations; the growers would have 12 months to comply. A board vote on the matter is set for March 18.)

“We are in compliance with current law,” Toole said. “…We are a good neighbor in that regard.”

Toole also noted that Geosyntec, an engineering firm hired by the county, had performed a spot test for the smell of cannabis around the entire perimeter of Valley Crest in November of 2024 and found little to no odor there.

“There’s some argument here that Valley Crest has been recalcitrant or thumbing their nose” at the law, Toole said. “That is certainly not the case… The vapor system is effective in ameliorating the odor.”

Moreover, Toole said, at least nine other cannabis operations lie within a one-mile radius of Valley Crest; and many residents who live there are closer to those other operations than they are to Valley Crest.

“We certainly deny that we have caused any nuisance in this case,” Toole said.

In short, as summarized in court documents, the attorneys for Valley Crest argued that it would be “extraordinarily cumbersome and time-consuming” to define a “class” of people affected by Valley Crest.

(In 2023, in a rare instance of odor enforcement by the county, noted in the coalition’s arguments in court, the Valley Crest owners were fined $3,000 for not installing a misting system around the outside perimeter of their cannabis processing building. This January, they were fined $1,500 for failing to plug in two scrubbers inside that building.)

“The gold standard”

In court papers, the plaintiffs said that the neighborhood surrounding the Rose Story Farm is filled with “a thick, heavy, strong stench of cannabis on a near daily basis.” At or around sunrise, they said, hundreds of roof vents at the Valley Crest greenhouses are opened to let hot air escape. When that air rises, they said, so does the pungent smell of cannabis.

Explaining his class action certification, Anderle wrote that the “odor and particulate matter” from the greenhouse operation had “physically invaded each of the class members’ properties within a well-defined, reasonably small, perimeter.” Valley Crest, he said, had failed to install scrubbers, claiming there was no guarantee they would resolve the complaints.

“Plaintiffs contend vigorously this is wrong and it appears to be so,” Anderle wrote, adding that carbon filtration systems “are the gold standard for odor abatement that has recently been mandated by the county Board of Supervisors… Valley Crest’s argument here only serves to underscore the need to certify Plaintiff’s class.”

Finally, class certification in the Valley Crest case would result in a “substantial saving in judicial time and litigation expense,” Anderle said.

MELINDA BURNS
A landmark court ruling allows the neighbors within a one-mile radius of Valley Crest Farms, a cannabis greenhouse operation on Casitas Pass Road, to sue the grower as a united “class,” alleging that the smell of cannabis has lowered their property values.

continued from page 8

Growers who settled

Since mid-2018, Carpinteria Valley residents have filed more than 3,900 odor complaints with the county. On the heels of Wednesday’s win, Curtis said, the coalition is considering suing the owners of other cannabis greenhouse operations in the valley.

Of 20 cannabis grows under cultivation on about 100 acres just outside the city of Carpinteria, only seven are equipped with carbon scrubbers. Most growers have installed them in their processing buildings only.

Ceres Farm, a nine-acre cannabis operation at 6030 Casitas Pass Road, next to Valley Crest, was also a defendant in the coalition’s 2023 lawsuit. But Case and Alex Van Wingerden, the Ceres owners, agreed to install scrubbers in their greenhouses; and they paid the plaintiffs an undisclosed sum in damages. (The Van Wingerdens are the landowners at both Ceres and Valley Crest.)

In 2020, the coalition and three Carpinterians filed a class action lawsuit against Ever-Bloom, an 11-acre cannabis greenhouse operation at 4701 Foothill Road. The owner, Ed Van Wingerden, settled the case in 2022 before there was a need to certify the “class.” At a cost of $2 million, he installed scrubbers, and he paid $235,000 to the plaintiffs.

Anderle’s ruling, Curtis said, could affect any grower who allows the smell of cannabis to travel beyond the property line of a cannabis operation.

“It opens the door for adjacent homeowners to come in collectively and sue that individual for damages,” he said.

Melinda Burns is an investigative journalist with 40 years of experience covering immigration, water, science and the environment. As a community service, she offers her reports to multiple publications in Santa Barbara County, at the same time, for free.

Dementia care center expands to Carpinteria

Friendship Center satellite campus set to open at arts center March 18

A satellite location for the Friendship Center, a daytime dementia-care center based out of Montecito, will open at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center on March 18.

Friendship Center Director Kathryn Westland told Coastal View News the new Carpinteria location, known as the Healthy Aging Hub, will be open Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

“(It’s) an innovative model of dementia day respite care,” Westland said. The nonprofit for older adults experiencing cognitive impairment has been operating in the county for 49 years. “Dementia care is a public health situation that cannot and will not be able to fall solely on the medical system.”

The program allows community members — who are living with memory loss, dementia or other cognitive impairments to continue living at home with their family, while giving their caregivers time during the day to deal with work or other responsibilities.

The satellite center will operate on a sliding pay scale; no one will be turned away if they can’t afford to pay, making the center an affordable alternative to athome care, which Westland said can run $45 an hour.

“If they want to be here, and they will benefit from this program, we’ll make it happen,” she said. “In the spirit of removing barriers for people to access this really important care, we are always looking at what type of barriers exist culturally, geographically, financially — anything.”

Landing at the arts center was purposeful. The bustling hub at 865 Linden Ave. is located in the heart of Carpinteria’s business district, and the Friendship Center hopes to “emulate the spirit of Carpinteria,” Westland said.

“ ...We want the outings that we’re doing to be representative of some of the businesses where our members used to work or the streets they used to walk on. There’s a lot of pride with Carpinteria. People don’t really live there by accident.”

During the day, members tackle activities “you would not think of when you think of dementia care,” Westland said dancing, singing, art. A typical Friday at the Montecito spot has a music program at 10 a.m., a fitness class at 11:15, manicures and massages at 12:30 p.m. or bingo at 12:45 p.m., and board games at 1 p.m.

The Carpinteria expansion is a research project, funded largely through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Community Living. The project will be open in Carpinteria for at least one year, but the ultimate goal is to remain permanently; program operation beyond one year is contingent on additional funding and success.

Westland joined the Friendship Center in 2017 as a program manager. She left for two years to work with the Alzheimer’s Association but returned to the center in 2023 as its executive director.

Her grandfather had Alzheimer’s and dementia, and that experience drew her to this line of work; she has a master’s in public health with a focus on ethnogearentology, the study of how aging is impacted by culture, race, ethnicity and background.

“It was all about finding ways to make him smile… I was just really grateful that my grandfather had the resources to stay home. I got to spend time with my favorite person, and a lot of people’s favorite person, and keep him involved in life as much as possible,” she said.

Westland encourages community members — individuals, local organizations and businesses — who want to share their services to reach out about possible collaborations. Eventually, the team hopes to incorporate an intergenerational component.

“The arts center has a lot of programs with kids, and we’re really excited, down the line, to have a program that is an overlap with our program and the kids programs there,” she said.

The center can be reached online at friendshipcentersb.org or by calling (805) 969-0859.

KARLSSON PHOTOS
Friendship Center Executive Director Kathryn Westland speaks at the arts center in February, during the official reveal of the Carpinteria Healthy Aging Hub.
Community members gather during the February reveal of the Carpinteria Healthy Aging Hub; the hub will open at the arts center at 865 Linden Ave. on March 18.

Santa Via believes her stolen by Polo deputies.

Vehicle / about Sandtagged and vehicle

Halos& Pitchforks

A reader sends a halo to Ryan Moore for bringing dirt back to Carpinteria.

A reader sends a halo to everyone who supported the Playa Del Sur 4-H this year. “The members are looking forward to another successful year.”

A reader sends a halo to Valerie, the new volunteer at the Friends of the Library Bookstore, for cleaning and reorganizing the self-help section.

A reader sends a halo to Denise and Skip in La Conchita. “They came to the rescue of a person that had fallen and needed help.”

A reader sends a halo to Burlene for making the Carpinteria Lumberyard Nursery area a joy to visit. “Her outgoing personality (Southern style), friendly conversation and plant knowledge make it a pleasure to visit and shop.”

A reader sends a halo to the generous person for paying for the reader’s gas when she forgot her ATM card at the gas station. “I’m sorry I chose the most expensive oil, I’d love to reimburse you, and thank you. I’m deeply moved by your generosity.”

A reader sends a halo to CPA Nick McGilvray for his excellent and attentive tax and accounting services. “We are so fortunate to have a Carpinterian with his expertise and competence.”

A reader sends a halo to Sean and Dayna for being wonderful neighbors and helping the reader through another frazzled mom situation.

A reader sends a halo to the 93013 Fund, Uncle Chen Restaurant and Marybeth Carty for the surprise delivery of a delicious dinner complete with a fortune cookie, candy bar and painted rock. “Wonderful kindness and quite a thrill!”

A reader sends a halo to the anonymous person who left a $100 donation in the HELP of Carpinteria office mail slot this past week. “Thank you for your kindness.”

A reader sends a halo to the street sweeping crews who kindly sweep Carpinteria streets and manually handled some leaf debris last month. “Just want them to know they are very appreciated!”

A reader sends a halo to the staff of Jack’s Bistro for staying open during Covid-19. “Always a smile no matter how busy. A great way to start the day.”

A reader sends a halo to the Daykas for always being there to help with anything and never complaining. “Many thanks to the best neighbors ever. We love you all dearly.”

A reader sends a halo to Mayor Wade Nomura for the city’s beautiful flower wreath at the Carpinteria Cemetery for the Memorial Day program.

A reader sends a halo to the Carpinteria Valley Little League, family and friends who showed up to help the reader support and celebrate Diego’s legacy. “Also to Rori’s Creamery for donating ice cream coupons for all the ball players! Carp is truly amazing!”

A reader sends a halo to Tami and John at Robitaille’s for their constant smiles and over-the-top customer service. “The wedding favors were loved by all and brought a bit of Carpinteria to the Seattle wedding!”

A reader sends a halo to those who acknowledge people with disabilities. “When you encounter a person in a wheelchair or walking with a walker, please smile and say hello to that person.”

A reader sends a halo to Asa and Connie of the Alcazar Theatre for showing “Pippi Longstocking” to Carpinteria families.

A reader sends a halo to Lance Lawhon at the Carpinteria Sanitation District for helping Kim’s Market.

A reader sends a halo to Tom, Steve and John for playing some great pickleball games at the Carpinteria Middle School. “Time for a rematch, don’t you think?”

A reader sends a halo to the Carpinteria Beautiful lady picking up trash in a neighborhood near the beach. “Thank you! We need all the help we can get keeping trash picked up in the neighborhoods on the beach-side of the tracks.”

A reader sends a halo to Kassandra Quintero at The Spot. “When the roof-top flag was twisted and lodged in the rain gutter, Quintero jumped into action and climbed up to the roof and untangled it so that it could wave freely. Way to show patriotism!”

A reader sends a halo to Desiree, the new masseuse at The Gym Next Door. “She could have coasted through it, but she worked really hard to relieve my back pain. I never experienced such a great massage.”

A reader sends a halo to whoever left a sign telling people to pick up their dog-waste bags and stop leaving them on Casitas Pass Road.

A reader sends a pitchfork to whoever has been leaving bags of dog waste on the ground along Casitas Pass Road. “Yes, it’s frustrating that the trash cans are gone, but is that really your best way of handling the situation?”

What’s new at the harbor seal rookery?

A reader sends a pitchfork to the person who hit the reader’s pickup in front of the reader’s house and didn’t stop. “Shame on you, and I hope you have karma insurance.”

This report covers March 3–9, 2025

CVN’s Seal Watch weekly report, written by Seal Watch volunteers, covers activities at the Harbor Seal Rookery. The group can be reached at carpsealwatch@ gmail.com or at (805) 364-3194. The rookery is located immediately east of Casitas Pier, between Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve and Carpinteria State Beach. There is no vehicle access from Dump Road.

A reader sends a pitchfork to the bicycle events on Foothill Road. “Purposely hosting huge rides that take up the whole road is irresponsible. There are countless bike lanes that were put in with our tax dollars to avoid this problem.”

A reader sends a pitchfork to the lifeguards braiding hair while swimmers are in the pool. “Not professional!”

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

A reader sends a pitchfork to the employees of the newer businesses on the Carpinteria Bluffs. “Learn to share the bike/walking path with locals… There will be four to five of you walking together and not a single one will scoot over just a tad to let a local pass through?”

A reader sends a halo to Emma and Justin. “It was a wonderful wedding, great food, spectacular location and great people! It was moving and wonderful.”

A reader sends a halo to Carpinterians who put out boxes in front of their homes full of surplus oranges, avocados, etc. from their trees. “Thank you for sharing your abundance.”

A reader sends a halo to Jena Jenkins with AgeWell and her volunteers for the fabulous ‘50s Sock Hop on March 1. “A friend said if it’s a ‘50s theme, we should have burgers, fries and a shake. Well, we did have burgers and fries to eat, and I guess we did our shaking on the dance floor. A good time was had by all!”

A reader sends a halo to at HEAT Culinary. “I went to my first class this weekend with my sister, who has been to four so far. I had the best time! Someone get this girl a TV show, she should be on the Food Network already.”

A reader sends a halo to all the beach community residents. “Thank you for parking in front of your home with your permit.”

A reader sends a halo to , a caregiver at Carpinteria Senior Lodge for nearly three years.

FOR SALE

A reader sends a halo to the crazy crew at IBC for making the reader’s birthday the best day ever. “Love my crazy crew! Woo woo!”

A reader sends a halo to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the local vet for working diligently to save the Rincon Beach bear. “It’s a terrible shame to lose one of these magnificent creatures; however, I wouldn’t want it to suffer to a miserable death.”

A reader sends a halo to Tom Sweeney for going out on Elm Avenue by the beach to clean up plastic bottles, bags, dirty gloves and masks.

Buildable lot on golf course on the 12th hole of the Mission Club Golf Course in Lompoc, .47 acre. Sight plans, lot & house plans included. Price reduction NOW $325,000 Owner will carry financing, for qualified buyer.

A reader sends a pitchfork to the Linden planters. “All the mushrooms growing there indicate too much water. Nice weed farm.”

A reader sends a pitchfork to a restaurant owner for parking his vehicle in the spots right out front of his establishment. “Shouldn’t he leave those parking spots available for his paying customers?”

If you have sharp eyes or a good pair of binoculars, it’s easy to spot whiskers on our harbor seals. If you had a chance to see the whiskers up close, you would find that they have an irregular shape unlike other mammals. This irregular shape holds them steady while the seals swim. The thick wiry whiskers have multiple nerve endings at the base making them very sensitive to movement. Whiskers can be used up close to touch and examine, but they are also sensitive to vibrations. This sensitivity allows the harbor seal to catch a meal, even in turbulent water. Ocean visibility is often limited, so whiskers are vital to their survival..

VISITORS

A reader sends a pitchfork to the City of Carpinteria for letting the bluffs turn into an ever-increasing dirt parking lot. “That is not what the bluffs were purchased for. Post No Parking signs immediately!”

A reader sends a pitchfork to the new parking zones. “All the “no parking/two hour” signs just made people park in my neighborhood. Seventh and the neighboring streets are a packed parking lot.”

A reader sends a halo to Bill and Rosana Swing for spending their Saturday taking photos for Junior Warriors Football. “We appreciate all you do for our families, players and program. You rock!”

Amazing Opportunity on the edge of the estuary! This large lot with commercial planned development, residential zoning and utilities at property is ready for your vision. A 2nd story would bring stunning sunset and estuary views. $1,600,000

Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com.

All submissions are subject to editing.

Sweet 1 bd / 1 bath, loft condo at Sandpiper, just 1/2 block to the beach. 220 Elm Ave. #10, in Carpinteria $739,000

2:37 a.m. / Public Intoxication / Bailard Avenue

A reader sends a pitchfork to people who either know or don’t know that dogs are not allowed on Carpinteria State Beach. “Signs are posted everywhere. Please people! And tell all you see with dogs on the beach of the rules. Spread the word. It’s not just for sanitation, it’s to encourage migrating birds as well.”

A reader sends a pitchfork to the sheriff’s deputy using his radar gun the other morning in front of city hall. “Why don’t you go by one of the schools and catch all the speeders there in morning, and keep our children safe while walking to school.”

A reader sends a pitchfork to those who lied on their FAFSA and took scholarships away from kids who need it.

A reader sends a halo to DJ Hecktic for coming out early Saturday morning to support the Junior Warriors. “It made the kids so happy to hear you say their names—you’re a local celebrity to them!”

A reader sends a halo to Diana Rigby, Superintendent of schools, and Debra Herrick, director of Boys & Girls Club, for removing the toxic Euphorbia fire sticks from the pots and landscape.

2 bd. /1 bath at desirable Beachwalk complex. Light, bright and airy corner unit with balcony and garage. $779,000 Contact Leah Wagner @ 805-901-6096

Volunteers counted 1,041 visitors. Even with rainy weather, it was a busy week at the Harbor seal sanctuary. People came from New York, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Illinois, Oregon, Utah, Indiana, Alaska, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Washington, Colorado, Montana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania. Visitors from foreign countries included England, Holland, Taiwan, Cuba, Switzerland, Brazil, the Philippines, Guatemala, Germany and Denmark. A women’s group and several school groups accounted for many of the visitors. Volunteers noted a lone sea lion and many pelicans. They were also able to see several signs of births on the beach and placentas. One very excited visitor from Ohio witnessed a birth and excitedly pointed it out to the volunteers.

Submit Halos and Pitchforks online at coastalview.com All submissions are subject to editing.

DISTURBANCES

Two military helicopters and three different groups of walkers frightened the seals.

SALE PENDING

VACATION RENTALS

Spring Availability at Carpinteria Shores

Two men were contacted in a parked truck and both were extremely intoxicated with open containers of alcohol observed in the vehicle. One man was not being the most cooperative, but once he was convinced to exit the vehicle, a pat down search of his person was conducted. Deputies located a collapsible baton in the man’s front waistband. He was cited and both were released to a sober friend.

Fantastic 2 bd. / 1 bath Beach front condos

$500 nightly. Units 102, 104, 112, 208, 308. To view units, visit our website @ www. murphykingrealestate.com.

Spring Availability at Sunset Shores

Friday, May 22

Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com.

Carpinteria Avenue • 805-318-55O6

he found a small baggie containing a white powdery substance underneath the driver’s seat of his recently purchased vehicle. The man stated he purchased the vehicle three weeks ago but didn’t find the small baggie until he’d removed the driver’s seat to fix the reclining mechanism. The incident was documented, and the baggie was booked into Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office property for destruction.

Submissions subject to editing.

Saturday, May 23

5:49 a.m. / Domestic Violence / 4100 block Via Real

MORE INFORMATION

Please consider honoring the Marine Mammal Protection Act by not walking the sanctuary beach all year. Do not bring dogs, bicycles, or loud voices to view the seals. Harbor seals, when disturbed, may flee and become separated from their pups. Volunteers asked that dogs always remain outside the rope area.

Carpinteria Seal Watch volunteers monitor our local seal rookery. More volunteers are always needed. Contact Seal Watch at carpsealwatch@gmail.com or call (805) 364-3194 if you’d like to help!

Several stylish 1 bd./ 1 bath condos available. $199 - $285 per night depending on unit. Units 139, 211, 230 & 233. To view units, visit our website @ www.murphykingrealestate.com.

7:41 a.m. / Theft / 5500 block Calle Arena

Debbie Murphy, Broker

Kim Fly, Broker Associate Leah Wagner, Realtor

Carolyn Friedman, Realtor

Heidi & Jim Michener, Vacation Hosts 805-684-4101 murphykingrealestate.com

LYNDA FAIRLY CARPINTERIA ARTS CENTER

Deputies responded to a motel on Via Real for a report of a domestic violence incident. Upon arrival, a deputy contacted a man and woman in the parking lot. After contacting both subjects, there were visible injuries on both parties. Due to conflicting statements regarding their mutual altercation and obvious injuries, both parties were arrested for corporal injury on a spouse.

Carpinteria Lions Club & the Masonic Lodge are teaming up with

Deputies responded after a woman reported her residence was burglarized the prior night. The woman stated a cartoon of almond milk and tools were taken from her garage. She told the reporting deputy that the tools belonged to her daughter’s boyfriend. The deputy attempted to contact the man via telephone multiple times with no response. The woman stated her garage door was unlocked during the night and is in the process of getting a new lock. She did not have any suspect information at the time. The incident was documented, and patrol will follow-up for further details of the stolen items.

10:36 a.m. / Hit and Run / Cameo and Casitas Pass roads

Real Estate Sales•Rental Housing•Property Management Vacation Rentals Notary Services

2:07 p.m. / Found Drugs / 6000 block Jacaranda Way

Saturday, March 22 • 9am–1pm

3/24-28 Spring Break Camp: Passport Adventures Around the World in 5 Days Art, Music & Snacks / Financial Aid Available Ages 6-11 / 9AM-3PM 805-684-7789

A man was contacted after reporting

The 1100 lot not was possearch located, meth. violations. contacted as off by a probashowed container felon pepper in the wanted ownership 4100 vehicle reported to Department. A was stolen, by the on the only a actual pulled the car, motel they, cited for meth and investigation will obtained Palm regisviolation at his License / displayrecords was suspended. The man was cited, and his vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

Deputies responded to a report a of a black sedan crashing into a parked water truck. While en route, it was also reported the male subject driving the sedan fled the scene on foot. Upon arrival, deputies observed the sedan abandoned in the middle Cameo Road with major damage to the front right passenger wheel

“Forty-five years serving the nicest people in town”

Matt Moore says goodbye to Rincon Designs

Rincon Designs — Carpinteria’s iconic bright blue and brown plank surf shop that has “everything for the beach,” boasts its sign out front — has had many homes since its launch as a fledgling surf and surfboard shaping spot in 1980. Owner Matt Moore first opened up at 871 Yucca Lane and hopped between a few other places, including what is now Esau’s, until he landed in 1998 at the bustling 659 Linden Ave. storefront.

Now, the Linden Avenue owners are selling the building; Moore will be out by the end of March, and there are currently no plans to relocate.

“I woke up one morning and said, ‘It’s time to get out of here,’” he told Coastal View News this week. He looked up at the ceiling, where decades of surfboards, designed with the business’ iconic double M, are perched. Since Moore announced the business’ impending closure, loyal customers have piled in, intent on snagging one last piece of gear before the storefront shuts down for good. “It echoes so much in here, now.”

This decision had b een coming for some time. Moore said he’s been patching up parts of the building for years, and after his insurance company canceled the retail shop’s fire insurance last year, and his rent hiked again, he knew his time on Linden Avenue was up.

“Retail is hard in Carp — competing with online retail like Amazon, Costco… seven to eight months a year, it’s slow,” he said.

But as Rincon Designs’ storefront era comes to a close, Moore spoke with CVN about the years of love and support that he and his family have experienced, shifting through decades of photos, newspaper clippings and faded designs.

It’s hard to reconcile all the memories: the hundreds of employees and locals, the thousands of visitors, campers and travelers.

“It’s been good in Carp. I’m super grateful that I had my dream come true,” he said. “...There are good years and bad ones. Lots of it depending on the weather. But it’s never easy or guaranteed. I love Carpinteria. I feel beyond lucky to have the ocean and the weather determine my life. There has never been one predictable or easy year of business. Forty-five years serving the nicest people in town.”

Moore got his start at age 12, cutting up and reshaping old longboards at his childhood home on Concha Loma. (He still lives there to this day, and credits his mom for encouraging his passion.) At 15, he began shaping custom boards — “the board business just flowed from the very beginning” — and by the time he graduated from Carpinteria High School in 1970, he had a long list of clients that has only grown.

The business has received a lot of love since announcing its Linden Avenue closure back in January. Instagram posts from the @rincondesignsurfshop

page have drawn hundreds of likes and comments, all mourning the loss of a Carpinteria staple.

Don’t worry too much, though; Moore’s kids will likely continue selling Rincon Designs products online, and Moore isn’t quite ready to retire just yet.

(“I think I’m the kind of guy who never retires,” he joked.) He’ll still be surfing and shaping boards, like he’s been doing since he was a kid.

He parts with a thank you to the Carpinteria Valley, and a warning to “keep Carp, Carp.”

“Do as much stuff as you can while you’re young,” he said. “You can’t get that time back.”

KARLSSON PHOTOS
Matt Moore, owner of Rincon Designs, is shutting down Carpinteria’s only surf shop this month after 45 years in business; the owners are selling the building, and Moore decided it’s time to get out.
At his workstation, Matt Moore takes a look back at decades of designs, photos and newspaper clippings.
The store’s iconic double M designs are Matt Moore’s handiwork.
Photos of putting together the Rincon Designs shops, circa 1980 and 1998.
For the past 27 years, Matt Moore has shaped surfboards at the back of the 659 Linden Ave. storefront.

Canalino kids explore careers

COURTESY PHOTOS

Canalino Elementary School and Carpinteria Family School invited local professionals onto campus in late February for Career Exploration Week and Campus Career Day. School counselor Tricia Humbles said that several professionals stopped by to talk about their careers, including NFL player Chris Gocong, firefighter Enrique Ornelas, police officer Brad Pollard and audio engineer Jon Fowler.

Kids also met Jonnie Williams, founder and CEO of Evolve Equity; director, writer and actor Pepper Binkley; dentist hygienist Terry Towers; co-founder of the Carpinteria Skate Foundation Peter Bonning; chiropractors Dr. Cervini and Dr. Hockel; behaviorist Nick Burkey; the Grapeseed Co. & Seaside Makers founder Kristin Fraser; CMS counselor Stephanie Stahl; School Board Vice President Andy Sheaffer; Carp Physio owner Omar Flores; Dune Coffee’s Todd Stewart; Therapy Dogs of Santa Barbara’s Carey Bradshaw; hairstylist Kelly Trumble; physical therapist Amanda George; California State Parks’ Christina Furio; engineer Marcos Alpizar; Surf Happens owner Chris Keet; music producer Mr. Rankin; Lark Executive Chef Jason Paluska; and movie screenwriter Thane Swigart. They also explored a crane from Big Red Crane and learned about firetruck supplies from the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District.

Fourth grader Evelyn Gonzalez gently pets a therapy dog.
Enrique Ornelas with CalFire helps his daughter Luna Ornelas with a backpack full of heavy supplies.
Fourth grader Gian Romero Suarez hops into a crane.
First grader Carlos Gutierrez tries on NFL player Chris Gocong’s jersey.
First graders learn about all the supplies on a Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District truck with firefighter Connor Borum.

Thursday, March 13

All in for Carp Kids Breakfast Carpinteria Children’s Project, 5201 Eighth St. 7:30 a.m. (805) 566-1600, carpchildren. org English Language Conversation Group / Grupo de Conversación en Inglés Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 8:30–10 a.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Dementia Caregivers Support Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10:30 a.m. – noon. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

CVN

researching information about their clocks and watches. Their interests range from to modern high-end timepieces (Rolex, Patek Philippe, etc.). Our meetings include presentations, repair classes, and a congenial sharing of information

Bob has focused on acquiring and researching vintage personalized wristwatches with the original owner’s name, enabling him to uniquely identify them, prepare a detailed biography, and if possible, return them to the owner’s family Most belonged to servicemen athletes, but he also has watches owned by a child actor who starred with Frank Sinatra pioneering aviatrix friend of Amelia Earhart; and a notorious 1930’s St. Paul gangster

CALENDAR

AgeWell Senior Program: Chair Yoga Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 11 a.m. – noon. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Meeting: Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon Lions Park Community Building, 6197 Casitas Pass Road. 11:45 a.m. –1:15 p.m.

Carpinteria Creative Arts Eighth Street and Linden Avenue. 2:30–6 p.m. Handmade pottery, beach art, cards, jewelry and sewn articles. (805) 698-4536

Carpinteria Farmers Market 800 block of Linden Ave. Thursdays, 3–6:30 p.m.

Dungeons & Dragons Club for Tweens Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 3–4:45 p.m. Every Thursday. Full. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

SBCC Nutrition Class Veterans Memorial Building meeting room, 941 Walnut Ave. 3:15–5 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.

gov, (805) 881-1279

Live Music: Beau James Wilding Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6–9 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400

Friday, March 14

AgeWell Senior Program: Pickleball Free Play Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Road. 8–10 a.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Friday Fun Day Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10–11:30 a.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

AgeWell Senior Program: Creative Studies, Suminagashi Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–2:30 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Live Music: The Coveralls Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 6–9 p.m.

4–5 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Clases de Computacion Intermedia Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 6–7 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Tuesday, March 18

AgeWell Senior Program: Walking Club Meet at Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 9 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279

Over a dozen personalized wristwatches been returned (at no charge) to the the original owners, including eight families of WW2 veterans The stories men and women are presented on his www.TimeCapsule-Watch.com

AgeWell Senior Program: Mind Body Balance Exercise Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 11 a.m. – noon. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Please email Bob at robert s.stokes@hotmail.com about our Sunday Chapter 190 meetings –just want more information about a watch you own Our next meeting is February 16th Advertisement:

Canalino, Carpinteria Family School Talent Show The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 6–7:30 p.m.

Live Music: Adrian Floy & The Hearing Colors Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6:30–9:30 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400

Senior Arts & Crafts Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, 865 Linden Ave. Tuesdays, 9–11 a.m. Free. info@carpinteriaartscenter.org, (805) 684-7789

Carpinteria Writers Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10 a.m. – noon. (202) 997-0429 Chair Yoga The Gym Next Door, 4915 Carpinteria Ave., Suite A. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – noon. $15. (805) 684-2595

Bridge Group Veterans Hall meeting room, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–4 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279

Have a Passion for Clocks & Watches???

Spanish Conversation Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 2–3 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Chapter 190 National Watch & Clock Collectors Meeting Ventura City College – CSC Dining Area

Saturday, March 15

Sunday, February

Salt Marsh Nature Park Docent Tours Meet at the entrance across from the corner of Sandyland and Ash Avenue. 10 a.m. – noon. Free. (805) 886-4382

Artists Reception: “The Art of Everyday” Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, 865 Linden Ave. 4–6 p.m. (805) 684-7789, carpinteriaartscenter.org

Live Music: Teresa Russell Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 6–9 p.m.

Benefit Concert for the Altadena Music Community The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 6–10 p.m. Tickets: preferred, $50; general, $35. Performers: Glen Phillips, Watkins Family Hour, Omar Valasco, Gardens & Villa, Garrison Starr and Clay Finch. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

United Boys & Girls Club Fundraiser: Best Bites & Big Futures Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club Gymnasium, 4849 Foothill Road. 6–10 p.m. unitedbg.org/ events/best-bites-big-futures

Sunday, March 16

Live Music: Americana Cats Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 2–5 p.m.

Live Music: Will Stephens Trio Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 5:30–8:30 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400

Live Music: Ladyfinger The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 4:20–7 p.m. Tickets: $25. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Monday, March 17

AgeWell Senior Program: Tai Chi Together Veterans Hall, 941 Walnut Ave. 9:30–11:30 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca. gov, (805) 881-1279

Preschool Storytime Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10–11 a.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

AgeWell Senior Program: Music Mondays Sing Along Veterans Hall, 941 Walnut Ave. 10:30–11:30 a.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Monday Mahjong All levels of play. 1 p.m. (805) 729-1310

AgeWell Senior Program: Mind Games Veterans Hall meeting room, 941 Walnut Ave. 2–3 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Carp Book Club Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

Carpinteria Songwriters Circle Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 4–5:30 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

AgeWell Senior Program: Men’s Longevity Series Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 5:30-6:30 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Interactive Panel and Discussion: Creating Agency: Building Resiliency in Young Women and Girls Carpinteria Middle School library, 5351 Carpinteria Ave. 6:30 p.m. RSVP by contacting mbcarty@cox.net. Spanish translation will be available.

Carpinteria Improv Classes The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 7–9 p.m. Tuesdays, weekly. $10 at the door. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Wednesday, March 19

Meeting: Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning Carpinteria Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito Road. 7 a.m.

AgeWell Senior Program: Pickleball for Beginners Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Road. 8–10 a.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

AgeWell Senior Program: Veterans Morning Meet Up Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 8:30–9:30 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Babies Are The Best Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 9–10 a.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Science for Teens 11–13 Years Old Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 11 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314 Knitting Group Carpinteria Library Community Room, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 1–3 p.m. Free. (805) 886-4382

AgeWell Senior Program: Mindfulness Meditation Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 3–4 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279

Adult Advanced-Beginner Spanish Classes Carpinteria Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito Road. 3–4:30 p.m. $8 per class. carpinteriawomansclub.com

ONGOING

Senior Nutrition Program Carpinteria Veterans Hall, 941 Walnut Ave. Monday–Friday, 12:15 p.m. No cost for seniors ages 60+. (805) 925-9554, meals@ centralcoastseniors.org

ARTCETRA

Alcazar hosts two weekend fundraisers for LA fire victims

Two fundraising events for those affected by the Eaton Fire will be held at The Alcazar Theatre this upcoming weekend: a benefit concert for Altadena musicians on Saturday, March 15, and a Grateful Dead-inspired concert that will benefit the Pasadena Humane Society on Sunday, March 16.

The Saturday concert is held in partnership with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which will assist with the loss of music-related equipment and other living expenses.

Performers include Glen Phillips, lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket; Watkins Family Hour, formed by Sara and Sean Watkins from the band Nickel Creek; Omar Velasco, a Mexican-American singer-songwriter raised in Goleta; Gardens & Villa, which formed in Santa Barbara; Garrison Starr, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter; and Clay Finch, one half of the folk duo Mapache.

The Sunday concert will feature Ladyfinger, which covers the music of the Grateful Dead. The event will be held in partnership with the Carpinteria Dead Family — a local group dedicated to celebrating the legacy of the Grateful Dead — and is sponsored by Alchemy Dyes and Boss Dog and Friends.

Proceeds from Sunday’s event will help the Pasadena Humane Society assist displaced animals from the January Los Angeles fires.

The concert on Saturday, March 15 will take place from 6–10 p.m., and doors open at 5:30. Tickets are $35 for general and $50 for preferred seating within the first three rows in the theater.

The Sunday, March 16 concert will take place from 4:20–7 p.m., and tickets are $25.

The Alcazar is located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave. Learn more online at thealcazar.org.

Meet the artists for new arts center exhibit on

Saturday

The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, at 865 Linden Ave., will host a reception for its latest exhibit, “The Art of Everyday,” on Saturday, March 15, 4–6 p.m. in the Koch Courtyard.

The event is free, and those interested are encouraged to attend and meet artists who have their works on display. Some of the participating artists include Coastal View News contributors and photographers Robin Karlsson and Ingrid Bostrom.

COURTESY PHOTO

“An Afternoon Walk” by Carrie Givens Oak Group raises money for Carpinteria bluffs

The Oak Group will host a reception for its latest exhibit, “Colors of the Spirit,” on Thursday, May 1, 4:30–6:30 p.m., at the Santa Barbara Public Library’s Faulkner Gallery. Sales from the exhibit will go towards the Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, continuing the Oak Group’s 39-year tradition of promoting the preservation of open spaces through art, the group said in a press release. “Colors of the Spirit” will be available to view May 1-30.

“A recent proposal by an out-of-town developer to build a large-scale luxury resort on the last 27 acres of privately owned land adjacent to the Carpinteria Bluffs

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03132025_FALW.indd 1 03/11/2025 1:29:51 PM

Nature Preserve has sparked concern and significant public opposition,” the Oak Group wrote in a press release sent out earlier this month. “This proposal is incompatible with the Nature Preserve, Harbor Seal Rookery and the quality of life for the Carpinteria community.”

The exhibit will feature paintings of the Carpinteria coast created by numerous local artists, including Karen Mclean McGaw, Ben O’Hara, Sharon Schock, Rebecca August, Meredith Brooks Abbott, Whitney Brooks Abbott, Marcia Burtt, Chris Chapman, Bill Dewey, Rick Drake, Michael Drury, Rick Garcia, Carrie Givens, Kevin Gleason, Whitney Brooks Hansen, Jeremy Harper, Kerri Hedden, Tom Henderson, Ray Hunter, John Iwerks, Larry Iwerks, Manny Lopez, Linda Mutti, Rob Robinson, Ann Sanders, Richard Schloss, Skip Smith, Thomas Van Stein, Arturo Tello and John Wullbrandt.

The gallery is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

The gallery is located at 40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The show will also be available online from May 1 until June 30 at oakgroup.org and carpinteriabluffs.org.

Locals march, gather for Women’s Day

In honor of International Women’s Day, Carpinterians met at the corner of Linden and Carpinteria avenues and marched down to the beach before heading to the Carpinteria Woman’s Club for the International Women’s Day Festival on Saturday, March 8.

At the festival — organized by the Women Making Change Initiative — locals highlighted female entertainers and, women-owned food trucks and businesses. “The goal of the festival is to inspire and empower the women and girls of our community,” organizer Kim Gutierrez told CVN last week.

Andrea Roselinsky flashes a peace sign.
From left, Mayor Natalia Alarcon, Lauren Wilson, Kathe Klocke, Kris Watkins, Susan Anderson and Marge Kelly.
Mariachi Estrella performed.
Sheryl Lake, Joanie Merrill, Kamie Mulroy lead the way down the boardwalk.
VV Alarcon holds her “GIRL POWER” cookie.
At front, Simon and Luna Palmer hold up signs supporting Women Making Change and feminism.
Brecia Kralovic-Logan displays her Women’s Woven Voices project.
Marchers pause on the boardwalk.

Latke

2 large eggs

CVN

CHEF RANDY

Latke is a Yiddish word for an amazingly different pancake. According to the Internet, they originated in the Middle Ages.

Some versions of latkes can be traced back to at least the Middle Ages. They were likely made with cheese fried in poppyseed oil or butter and served alongside fruit preserves. These cheese latkes were the most common type in Ashkenazi communities until the 19th century, when the potato was introduced in Eastern Europe. At that time, the most inexpensive and readily available cooking fat was schmaltz. As potatoes gained popularity in Eastern Europe, they were quickly embraced, and today, latkes are almost synonymous with potatoes.

Makes 2 dozen.

Ingredients:

2 large Russet potatoes (scrubbed and cut lengthwise into quarters)

1 large onion (peeled and cut into quarters)

½ cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Vegetable oil (for frying)

Sour cream (as a condiment at the table)

Directions:

Grate the potatoes and onion. Transfer the mixture to a clean dishtowel and wring out as much liquid as possible. Transfer the potatoes and onions to a large bowl. Add the eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, and pepper. Mix until the flour is absorbed.

Pour about ¼-inch of oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, drop a healing tablespoon of the batter into the skillet for each latke (cook in batches.) Use a spatula to flatten and shape the drops into discs. Cook for about five minutes, then carefully flip the latkes over. Cook the second side for five minutes. Transfer the latkes to paper towels to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle with coarse salt while still warm, and cover with more paper towels to keep the latkes warm.

Repeat the cooking process until all the batter is used. Serve with sour cream at the table.

Tip: Latkes can be made with additional ingredients such as cheese, onion, carrot and zucchini.

Randy Graham is a noted chef and writer and has been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for over 38 years. Chef Randy has written and published a series of seven cookbooks with original recipes developed over the period 1975 through 2020. He writes for the Ojai Quarterly, the Ojai Discover Monthly, and the California 101

FOOD

Travelers Guide. His vegetarian recipes are published in newspapers throughout Central California under the header, Chef Randy. He and his wife, Robin, live in Ojai, California, with their dog Cooper. Robin and Cooper are not vegetarians.

COURT

COURT FOOD

Chile Relleno

CLUB SCENE

Rotary receives donation from Ballat family

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently received a donation for the upcoming Rotary Talent Showcase from the Ballat family, owners of Kim’s Market and both City Markets in Carpinteria.

Mary Watfah and her son Sam Ballat presented the club with the donation, which will be used for music programs, instruments, lessons, and scholarships for Carpinteria students.

The Rotary Talent Showcase is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave.; the red carpet reception begins at 6 p.m. and the performance starts at 7 p.m. Learn more online at carpinteriarotary.org.

Morning Rotary hears from county fish and game warden

Santa Barbara County’s Fish and Game Warden Joseph Gonzalez stopped by the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning meeting on March 5 to talk about his career with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Gonzalez, who is originally from Carpinteria, spoke to club members about ongoing efforts to combat illegal fishing and hunting.

“His work covers everything from routine checks on hunting and fishing licenses to going undercover to arrest lobster poachers and using decoys to detain nighttime deer hunters,” said club member Eric von Schrader.

Lions donate funds to museum, high school programs

The Lions Club of Carpinteria recently presented donations to the Carpinteria Valley Historical Museum as well as the Carpinteria High School (CHS) cheerleading and Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs.

Club President Barry Brand and Program Chairman Ray Lane presented a check to Jayme Yahr, executive director of the historical museum. Yahr said the donation funds will be used to put on a family day and support the museum’s Talk &Talkback series.

Brand also presented checks to Lion Casey Balch, president of the Carpinteria Education Foundation, for the CHS cheerleading and FFA programs.

“Cheerleading is now a sport recognized by CIF and Carpinteria High already has a remarkable program in place,” said Lion Doug Treloar. “The monies to the FFA will be used for any repairs and maintenance needed to the animal facilities at the high school.”

Lion Casey Balch, who is also president of the Carpinteria Education Foundation, received a donation from the Lions for the Carpinteria High School cheer and Future Farmers of

programs.

FOOD

Meet Oliver the playful pup

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Meet Oliver, a one-year-old happy and playful pup. Oliver and his siblings were surrendered to the Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter at six months old; three have been adopted so far.

Oliver is great with other dogs, and loves to wrestle, play tug-of-war and chase. He’s great with people — he loves to cuddle — okay with cats and is currently learning his leash manners. He’s housebroken and doesn’t resource guard, according to Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) staff; he’s also good in the car, crate trained and sleeps through the night. He is currently in a foster home, where he is thriving around other dogs. At the shelter, he was shy and nervous, but staff said when he was brought into his foster home, he immediately became comfortable, happy and playful.

Staff shared: “Having other dogs around has definitely helped Oliver’s confidence and has allowed his personality to shine. While we’re sure Oliver would do fine in a single dog household, we feel he would really thrive living in a home with another dog(s).”

Interested in learning more about Oliver? Reach out to his foster at amypattensb@gmail.com. The SBCAS Goleta shelter is located at 5473 Overpass Road; it is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tell us about your pet and send us a picture, too. Favorite snacks, special tricks, nicknames, let all of Carpinteria know about your furry, feathered or scaly family member. Email news @coastalview.com

From left, David Powdrell, Karen Graf, Tina Fanucchi Frontado, Bob Berkenmeier, Marianne Rauch, Jon Everett, Whitt Hollis, Roland Rotz, Vera Welty, Barry Enticknap, Bonnie Yonker Hammett, Lin Graf, Mary Watfah, John Welty and Sam Ballat.
From left, Santa Barbara County Fish and Game Warden Joseph Gonzalez and Rotary Morning President Mary Layman.
Carpinteria Valley Historical Museum’s Executive Director Jayme Yahr, middle, received a donation from the Lions Club of Carpinteria, including Lions President Barry Brand, left, and Program Chairman Ray Lane, right.

SCHOOL NOTES

CEF welcomes new president, treasurer

The Carpinteria Education Foundation (CEF) has announced its new board for the upcoming term, with new leadership including Jennifer Cota as president and Terra Stephan as treasurer. The board also includes returning members Casey Balch as vice president and Sally Green as secretary.

“We appreciate the many years of hard work Casey has done as outgoing board president, and Sally’s decades of service to CEF in various roles,” the foundation wrote in a press release sent out last week.

Cota — who has three children who have all attended schools in Carpinteria — is the senior manager of support at Arthrex, a medical supply company based in Goleta. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership from California Lutheran University and an MBA in organizational leadership from Loyola Marymount University.

Stephan is the co-owner of Mahealani Farms. She also has three children; one currently attends Canalino Elementary School, and two are future students.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jennifer and Terra into these leadership roles,” said CEF’s Executive Director Pam Werner. “Their dedication and expertise will be invaluable as we continue to support Carpinteria students and schools.”

Learn more online at carpedfoundation.org or by contacting pam@carpedfoundation.org.

The Howard School kids learn about plants at Lotusland

The Howard School recently brought its fourth grade class to the Lotusland botanical gardens in Montecito to learn more about photosynthesis.

“While the lotus flowers themselves were not blooming — they bloom in July — the gardens left a big impression on students,” said Howard’s Associate Head of School Anita Betancourt.

The class visited six of the dozen gardens in Lotusland. Betancourt said the Japanese garden was a favorite among students. “Students loved the lanterns representing earth, fire, water, air, and spirit,” she said. “Another highlight was a giant Chilean wine palm. Groups of students enjoyed trying to wrap their arms around its massive trunk.”

Canalino talent show scheduled for Friday

The Canalino Elementary School and Carpinteria Family School talent show is scheduled for Friday, March 14 at The Alcazar Theatre, School Counselor Shanna Hargett confirmed to CVN.

The Alcazar Theatre is located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave. The show is scheduled for 6–7:30 p.m.

Howard students impress at annual science fair

The Howard School held its annual science fair on Friday, Feb. 28, with dozens of students flexing their knowledge and answering questions for curious attendees.

Students were judged on their ability to demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method, the neatness and attention to detail in their poster boards and their oral presentation skills, The Howard School’s Associate Head of School Anita Betancourt told CVN.

Among fifth and sixth graders, student Lee Nesheim won the top prize for her project which compared how eating different kinds of sugars affected blood sugar levels. Among seventh and eighth graders, student Edward Nesheim earned first place for his project testing waterproof sunscreens.

Mental health nonprofit opens applications for student internship

The local nonprofit YouthWell — dedicated to giving young people and their families tools for managing mental health — has opened applications for its Youth Advocacy Board (YAB) Internship for the 2025-26 school year. Students must apply by April 4.

Any ninth through 12th grade student throughout Santa Barbara County is eligible for the position. The 10-month program is currently seeking one or two students from each public and private school.

The internship, supported by Santa Barbara County Behavorial Wellness, is a leadership program for students across Santa Barbara County. Students will learn more about mental health, including how to recognize the signs of mental health challenges, and receive training in leadership and community advocacy.

The program runs from August until May, with an orientation in May and optional activities throughout the summer. Participants are expected to commit eight to 10 hours a month on YouthWell advocacy, including developing and facilitating workshops; creating content for social media or newsletters; speaking at community forums and events; organizing outreach efforts at local schools; contributing to online resources; and attending at least two countywide in-person retreats.

Learn more online at youthwell.org/youth-advisory-board or by emailing yab@ youthwell.org.

CUSD kids bring famous women to the stage

On March 6, Carpinteria Unified School District fourth and fifth graders presented Women’s History Monologues at Canalino Elementary School, under the guidance of GATE teacher Crystal Marshall. Students learned a biographical speech from the point of view of a famous woman, then presented their speech in costumes at a school assembly;

included

From left, the Carpinteria Education Foundation’s Treasurer Terra Stephan, President Jennifer Cota and Executive Director Pam Werner.
From left, The Howard School fourth graders visit Lotusland, including Grace Morris, Darlah Goodfield, Rohm Ballat and Alfie Von Johnston.
From left, The Howard School students Alex Hansen, Edward Nesheim, Lee Nesheim, Jackson Cassady and Jack Henry.
featured famous women
Dolores Huerta, Simone Biles, Misty Copeland, Frida Kahlo, Sally Ride and Helen Keller.
KARLSSON
From left, Sophina Guerrero (Helen Keller), Ainsley Bradshaw (Misty Copeland), Malia Alvarado (Sally Ride), Landon van Eyck (host), teacher Crystal Marshall, Max Conway (host), Kimberly Gonzalez Soriano (Frida Kahlo), Calissa Perez Neri (Simone Biles), and Isabella Pena (Dolores Huerta for the afternoon show) and Luz Lopez (Dolores Huerta for the morning show).

COMMANDER’S RECAP

Osteoporosis, rhyming and trailblazing

In this column, we celebrate the power of aging well, with four segments designed to inspire and engage.

W for Wellness: tips and insights for maintaining a healthy body and mind.

I for Inspiration: real-life tales of individuals 55 and older who are living life to the fullest.

S for Sharpen: activities and exercises to keep your brain active and sharp.

E for Education: a quick lesson or fun trivia to keep you learning and growing. Join us on a journey of health, inspiration, mental agility and knowledge!

Wellness: Osteoporosis — I have a bone to pick with you

An article by UC Davis Health estimated that one in five women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, which is more

commonly known as low bone density. This condition can lead to fractures. Here are a few easy tips to keep your bones in good shape: first of all, make sure to eat enough protein. George Thorogood is not the only one who can be “Bad to the Bone.” According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, consuming protein increases bone mineral density. Also, don’t forget to get enough vitamin D. It’s not enough to rely solely on the sun for this essential vitamin, which helps the body absorb calcium.

Get tested, and if your levels are low, talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.

Inspire: a veteran hero

Elsie S. Ott made history as the first woman to receive a U.S. Air Medal from the United States Army. According to the National Museum of the United States Air Force, she was a flight nurse in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II who became a trailblazer in military medical care. On her first intercontinental air evacuation flight, with just 24 hours’ notice, and having never flown before with no evacuation training, Second Lieutenant Ott successfully oversaw the transport of five critically injured patients. Her remarkable actions helped shape the future of air evacuation procedures for wounded personnel.

If you are a local veteran, we invite you to join AgeWell for a weekly meetup every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Carpinteria Veterans Hall for coffee, pastries, and conversation.

Sharpen: rhyming ladies

Can you solve these quirky clues

and figure out the two-word rhyming answers? Each one describes a female in a fun and wacky way: a female ruler in a small part of a movie, a very proud, soon-to-be wife, an ailing baby bird, a mischievous female cooling herself in the shadow of a tree, a young woman with ringlets in her hair, a blouse made of soil, and a female who shares your parents and has a sore on her foot.

Educate: way to go WYO

Not many people know it, but there is a lot more to Wyoming than cold weather and cowboys. Wyoming was a trailblazer when it came to women’s suffrage.

According to the Wyoming Historical Society, before it was even a state, Wyoming’s first territorial legislature voted in 1869 to give women the right to vote and hold office. Soon after this passed, in 1871, the territory had sworn in the country’s first female jurors and appointed three of the first female justices of the peace. After Wyoming became the 44th state in the union in 1890, it also became the first U.S. state allowing its women citizens to vote. I guess this was their first rodeo.

A communication specialist whose heart lies in storytelling, Jena has a knack for bringing groups together and building understanding through programming. She currently serves as the community services program coordinator assigned to AgeWell for the city of Carpinteria and is a member of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Board of Directors. Jena holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in counseling psychology. For more information on AgeWell and its programing visit carpinteriaca.gov/agewell.

Do you have a photo from Carpinteria’s past? Contact news@coastalview.com to share it with other readers!

Margie E. Burke

PLANNING COMMISSION

HEARING ROOM, 123 E. ANAPAMU STREET, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The County Planning Commission provides in-person participation as well as virtual participation until further notice.

The following methods of participation are available to the public.

1. You may observe the live stream of the County Planning Commission meetings on (1) Local Cable Channel 20, (2) online at: https://www.countyofsb.org/1333/ CSBTV-Livestream; or (3) YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/CSBTV20

2. If you wish to provide public comment, the following methods are available:

• Distribution to the County Planning Commission - Submit your comment via email prior to 12:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the Commission hearing. Please submit your comment to the Recording Secretary at dvillalo@countyofsb.org. Your comment will be placed into the record and distributed appropriately.

• Attend the Meeting In-Person: Individuals are allowed to attend and provide comments at the County Planning Commission meeting in-person.

• Attend the Meeting by Zoom Webinar Individuals wishing to provide public comment during the County Planning Commission meeting can do so via Zoom webinar by clicking the below link to register in advance. Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about joining the webinar.

When: March 26, 2025 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: County Planning Commission 03/26/2025 Register in advance for this webinar: https://santabarbaracounty.zoomgov. com/webinar/register/WN_9G_os7HIQ_ ad5SHThvzAuw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. OR PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONE: Dial (for

23DVP-00025

24CDP-00047 SBJV1 Property Owner LLC SB 330 Housing Development Isla Vista Exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 21159.25 Nicole Lieu, Supervising Planner (805) 884-8068 Henry Wakamiya, Planner (805) 568-3017

Hearing on the request of SBJV1 Property Owner LLC, property owner and applicant, to consider the following:

• Case No. 23DVP-00025 for approval of a Development Plan to allow construction of a multi-unit dwelling building containing 27 units (24 one-bedroom units and 3 two-bedroom units), in compliance with Section 35-174 (Development Plans) of the Article II Coastal Zoning Ordinance;

• Case No. 24CDP-00047 for approval of a Coastal Development Permit, associated with the Development Plan to allow construction of a multi-unit dwelling building containing 27 units (24 one-bedroom units and 3 two-bedroom units), in compliance with Section 35-169 (Coastal Development Permits) of Article II; and •Determine the project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 21159.25 [Residential or Mixed-Use Housing Projects] as outlined in the Notice of Exemption.

The application involves Assessor Parcel No. (APN) 075-032-008, zoned High Density Student Residential (SR-H-20), located at 6587 Cervantes Road in the Goleta Community Plan area, Second Supervisorial District.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION RECORDING SECRETARY (568-2000)

Publish: March 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as NUGGET BAR & GRILL CARP at 892 LINDEN AVENUE, CARPINTERIA, CA 93O13. Full name of registrant(s): NUGGET BAR & GRILL CARP, LLC at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by a Limited Liability Company. This statement was filed with the County on 01/30/2025. The registrant began transacting business on Mar 8, 2024. Signed: CYNTHIA CATTANEO, PRESIDENT. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000371.

Publish: Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13, 2025

filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000510.

Publish: Feb. 27, March 6, 13, 20, 2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as CENTRAL COAST CUES at 5139 8TH ST, SUITE A, CARPINTERIA, CA 93013. Full name of registrant(s) : PAUL W EDMUNDS at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 02/19/2025. The registrant began transacting business on 02/15/2025. Signed: PAUL WILLIAM EDMUNDS. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000463.

Publish: Feb. 27, March 6, 13, 20, 2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/ are doing business as STUDIO MUGU at 24 OCEAN VIEW AVE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93103. Full name of registrant(s): SCOTT THOMAS DOWNEY at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. This statement was filed with the County on 02/21/2025. The registrant began transacting business on Jan. 01, 2025. Signed: SCOTT DOWNEY. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000491. Publish: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000537. Publish: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as NOON PEAK BOOKS at 410 PALM AVE, APT A2, CARPINTERIA, CA 93013. Full name of registrant(s) : RON ANDERSON at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 02/28/2025. The registrant began transacting business on N/A. Signed: RON ANDERSON. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000564.

Publish: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as CHRISTIANSON FINANCIAL SERVICES at 1644 LAUREL AVE, SOLVANG, CA 93463. Full name of registrant(s): ALBERT BRAU at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 02/28/2025. The registrant began transacting business on Sept 17, 2013. Signed: ALBERT BRAU, OWNER. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000565.

WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR I (WDOI) $5,937-$6,237/MO DOQ OR UTILITY WORKER (UW) $4,754-$5,937/MO DOQ

WDOI:

The District is seeking a qualified individual to perform a variety of semi-skilled tasks in the construction, maintenance, repair and replacement of water mains, services and meter, water production facilities and related equipment. This position requires the employee to be available for “stand-by” duty to respond to District emergency calls during off hours, in addition to the above duties. While on such “stand-by” duty, the employee must remain within 45 miles or 45 minutes of the District.

Education & Experience: Graduation of high school or GED required. Minimum of 2 years of experience in general maintenance and construction work, a CA Drivers license with a good driving record. Possession of a CA Department of Health Services Water Distribution License D2 and Water Treatment Operator T2 is required.

UW:

The District is seeking a qualified individual to perform work in the maintenance, construction, and repair of District facilities. Position will assist water utility workers and O&M staff in operations and maintenance of District distribution facilities, maintenance of equipment and grounds. This is an entry level position. General understanding of construction, equipment maintenance and mechanical ability preferred. Education: High school graduation or GED required. The District will only fill one of the classifications, based on candidate base.

Open until filled.

Applications may be obtained during business hours, M-F, 8:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.

Or online at: www.cvwd.net Send completed application and resume to:

should be filed with the secretary of the Planning Commission no later than 12:00 P.M. on the Monday before the Planning Commission hearing. The decision to accept late materials will be at the discretion of the Planning Commission. Maps and/or staff analysis of the proposals may be reviewed at https://www.countyofsb.org/1625/County-Planning-Commission a week before the hearing or by appointment by calling (805) 568-2000. If you challenge the project(s) 23DVP00025 or 24CDP-00047 in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the Planning Commission prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need a disability-related modification or accommodation or are exempt from applicable Health Officer Orders, including auxiliary aids or services such as sound enhancement equipment or an American Sign Language interpreter, to participate in this hearing, please contact Hearing Support Staff at 805-568-2000. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable the Hearing Support Staff to make reasonable arrangements. If you have any questions or if you are participating in the hearing telephonically or electronically and need a disability-related modification or accommodation or have any issues attempting to access the hearing telephonically or electronically, please contact Hearing Support Staff at 805-568-2000.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as BUSCARON BIOMETRICS at 629 FIRESTONE RD #A., GOLETA, CA 93117. Full name of registrant(s): (1) JOSE E BUSCARON (2) TERESA SCOTT at P.O.BOX 334, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93102. This business is conducted by Copartners. This statement was filed with the County on 01/29/2025. The registrant began transacting business on 01/29/2025. Signed: JOSE E. BUSCARON, PRINCIPAL. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000257.

Publish: Feb. 20, 27, March 6, 13, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as MISSLE VILLAGE MOBILE HOME PARK at 615 N O STREET, LOMPOC, CA 93436. Full name of registrant(s) : JOHN H ROBERTS at 29875 HIDDENWOOD, LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92677. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 02/24/2025. The registrant began transacting business on 01/01/1982. Signed: JOHN ROBERTS, OWNER. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as SUPER BEE RESCUE AND REMOVAL at 25 NORTHRIDGE ROAD, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93105. Full name of registrant(s): NICHOLAS C WIGLE at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by a Married Couple. This statement was filed with the County on 02/25/2025. The registrant began transacting business on Sept 25, 2013. Signed: RACHEL WIGLE, CO-OWNER. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000521. Publish: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as OPEN DOOR INTERIOR DESIGN at 217 W HALEY ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. Full name of registrant(s): ALLISON ALVAREZ at 534 N MILPAS ST, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93102. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 02/26/2025. The registrant began transacting business on N/A. Signed: ALLISON ALVAREZ. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The

Publish: March 6, 13, 20, 27, 2025 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as CENTRAL COAST PSYCH SOLUTIONS at 4628 TRUDY CT, ORCUTT, CA 93455. Full name of registrant(s): AMBER WALZ at SAME ADRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 03/03/2025. The registrant began transacting business on Feb 20, 2025.

Signed: AMBER WALZ. In accordance with subdivision (a) of section 17920, a fictitious name statement generally expires at the end of five years from the date on which it was filed in the office of the County Clerk, except, as provided in subdivision (b) of section 17920, where it expires 40 days after any change in the facts set forth in the statement pursuant to section 17913 other than a change in the residence address of a registered owner. A new fictitious business name must be filed before the expiration. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under Federal, State, or common law (see section 1441 Et Seq., Business and Professions code). I hereby certify this copy is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk-Recorder (SEAL) FBN2025-0000568.

Publish: March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 2025

CVWD 1301 Santa Ynez Ave. Carpinteria, CA 93013

E.O.E.

be held before a regular meeting of the City Council on Monday, March 24, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, California to consider the following item: Approve and adopt Resolution No. 6371, amending the Franchise Agreement for Solid Waste Handling Services and increasing AB 939 fees by five percent (5%).

Public hearing to amend the Franchise Agreement for Solid Waste Handling Services to include a five percent (5%) increase to AB 939 fees for residential and commercial solid waste handling service in Carpinteria.

COASTAL VIEW NEWS DOES NOT KNOWINGLY ACCEPT advertising which is deceptive, fraudulent, or which might otherwise violate the law or accepted standards of taste. However, this publication does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy of any advertisement, nor the quality of the goods and services advertised. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all claims made in any advertisements, and to use good judgment and reasonable care, particularly when dealing with the persons unknown to you who ask for money in advance of delivery of the goods or services advertised.

The City Council staff report will be available for public inspection on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA 93013, 10 days prior to the start of the public hearing and available on the City’s Website on Thursday, March 20, 2025: https://carpinteriaca. gov/city-hall/agendas-meetings/. Details and procedures on how to provide public comment are available on the posted agenda at https://carpinteriaca. gov/city-hall/agendas-meetings/. All interested persons are invited to attend, participate and be heard.

Note:In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk by email brianb@carpinteriaca.gov or by phone at (805) 755-4403, or the California Relay Service at (866) 735-2929. Notification two business days prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements for accessibility to this meeting.

Brian C. Barrett, CMC, CPMC, City Clerk Publish: March 13, 2025

The UPS Store in Carpinteria is NOW HIRING. Immediate part time position

SNAPSHOTS

Mootz, Mitchell kick off On The Couch series

Carpinteria’s Bryan Mootz and Dennis Mitchell kicked off their On The Couch series at The Alcazar Theatre on March 5, inviting artists and creators Joanne Calitri, Lois Burwell, John Wullbrandt and Hector Hurtado to chat about their professions. Mootz and Mitchell have hosted Bryan’s Radio Lunch Truck on Carpinteria Valley Radio for roughly a year and a half, and they plan to host the On The Couch series at The Alcazar on the first Wednesday of every month; shows are live and unrehearsed, the pair told CVN last month.

CVN

Pippi comes to life at The Alcazar

Locals showed up dressed in their best colorful stockings for the American Scandinavian Foundation of Santa Barbara (ASFSB) showing of “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking” on March 8 at The Alcazar Theatre. Attendees were encouraged to wear their best Pippi-themed costumes, in honor of Pippi’s 80th birthday; proceeds went toward ASFSB scholarships.

Beyond Tek: my life seeking truth

LET’S TALK TEK

You will find this month’s column will take you down a totally different path than my previous columns.

Let me begin with, I cannot believe that this month I am writing my 43rd column sharing my thoughts, knowledge and experience with Tek and life. It all started when I mentioned to Coastal View News’ Robin Karlsson that I thought a technology column might be a good idea and I would be happy to provide one if it fits. I think it was two years after I said that when I received a call asking if I was still interested. I was working for Barry Brand and the Pacific Dutch Group at the time and up to my ears in helping his team sort out all the Tek as it applied to cannabis. I can honestly say, that was a fun ride! Thank you, Barry.

I imagine you are thinking to yourself, okay, what is this different path? To provide context — and this will date me let’s climb into the Wayback Machine from Peabody’s Improbable History on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show in 1959. I imagine that many of you are not familiar with this reference and encourage you to Google it. It was a hilarious, aheadof-its-time cartoon show that ran for five seasons. I could devote an entire column on this show alone, but I digress. We are going back to 1976 in Spokane, Washington. I was two years out of the

Army, an antique dealer, and going through a divorce. I met Roger, a psychologist who had come into my antique shop, Moyer and Avery’s Antiques in the Globe Annex on Spokane Falls Blvd, looking for an oak chair for his office.

The long and the short of it all is that we got to talking, and I kinda spilled my heart out to him. He said given what I had shared, he wanted to invite me to join him and his wife on Sunday at Unity Church of Truth. For some reason, I said yes. In retrospect, this was my first call from spirit. Not being a religious guy, I do not know why, but I liked Roger, and as they say, the rest is history. It was really the first step on my path of spiritual awakening.

Needless to say, I jumped in with both feet. I became the minister’s right-hand guy — I was sound engineer, platform assistant, soloist (yes, I sing) and started taking all the classes. I was immersed in all things Unity, A Course In Miracles, Mastermind, Affirmative Prayer, Healing Letters and 12 Powers.

The 5 Basic Unity Principles were my guiding light. They are:

There is only One Power and One Presence active in the universe and all life, God, the Good, Omnipotent.

Our essence is of God; therefore, we are inherently good. The God essence was fully expressed in Jesus, the Christ, and is equally expressed in us.

We are co-creators with God, creating reality through thoughts held in mind.

Through affirmative prayer and meditation, we connect with God and bring out the good in life.

Through thoughts, words and actions, we live in the truth we know.

Fast forward to March 1, 2025. I stepped into the role of leader for Unity of

Santa Barbara as community director. Our beloved ministers Reverend Dr. Temple Hayes and Reverend Cathy Jean Norman have stepped away from pulpit ministry after 35 years and 42 years respectively. I was personally asked by Reverend Temple to accept this new role. I was guided by spirit to say yes. I not only said yes, but I have enrolled in Unity Urban Ministerial School and my path includes ordination as a Unity Minister.

Does this mean I am walking away from Tek? Heck no! I have purchased the domain UnityTV.world and I will be working with an international team to share the message of love, inclusion, peace, health and prosperity. I will keep my foot in all things Tek and will share this as long as it fits for all parties concerned.

Unity was founded in 1889. In 1890, Silent Unity was formed and has been praying continuously 24/7 since then. In 1922, Unity was a pioneer in radio and had the first radio broadcast by a clergyman from their own radio station WOQ in Kansas City. In 1924, they published what is the oldest devotional booklet called the Daily Word. Unity of Santa Barbara was founded 100 years ago, and we are celebrating on April 12. We have the globe and wings that hung in the Silent Unity Chapel in our Sanctuary. I encourage you to come by and say hi; you will find us at 227 E Arrellaga St., Santa Barbara, or online at unitysb.org.

I trust you have enjoyed this unexpected diversion from my normal Tek topic, but it was something I was led to share. Now, I will return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Thank you for taking time to read my column and if you have a question about technology, spirituality or would like to

suggest a topic for a future column, please reach out to me at michael@michaeltalkstek.com or just give me a call at (805) 684-3414. I love talking Tek and God. We could even meet for coffee at Brass Bird. Stay tuned.

Michael Avery brings decades of experience to his projects and his clients. He has served as an owner, partner, principal and employee of some of the most progressive companies in the electronic systems market sector. Additionally, he has provided professional consulting services to a multitude of leading companies in the industry, including Panasonic Technologies, CEDIA, AMX, Microsoft, GE Industrial, CompUSA and Paradise Theater.

COURTESY PHOTO
Michael Avery
FRAN COLLIN
From left, Dennis Mitchell, Bryan Mootz, Joanne Calitri, Lois Burwell, John Wullbrandt and Hector Hurtado.
KARLSSON PHOTOS
LEFT: From left, Brooke Van der Kar, Connie Geston and Asa Olsson. RIGHT: From left, Kathy White, Luci Rogers and Berlyn Cota.
Cheryl Wright

THROWBACK

Carpinteria’s Ota family through a government lens

Editor’s Note: This article contains two quotes that use a racial slur. Both quotes were originally stated and appeared in print in the 1940s. The use of that language was wrong then and is wrong now; to censor it would pretend that these prejudices never existed.

In June 1945, with World War II grinding toward its end, a government photographer named Charles E. Mace arrived at the Ota family’s farm in Carpinteria. His mission: to take pictures that would lure Japanese Americans back to the West Coast.

Three and a half years earlier, the government had conveyed a starkly different message. Carpinteria’s representative in Congress, Alfred J. Elliott, said, “Don’t let someone tell you there are good Japs. Perhaps one out of a thousand.” California attorney general Earl Warren insisted that Japanese American espionage was rampant. The lack of evidence, he said, only proved how cunning they were.

Elliott, Warren, and many others called for expelling Japanese Americans from the West Coast. Publicly, relocation advocates said they wanted to protect military installations, especially after a Japanese submarine shelled the Ellwood oil facility in Goleta. Privately, some acknowledged another goal: to protect white farmers.

About half of Japanese Americans on the coast farmed, and their yields were remarkable. Though they operated just 4% of California farms, they accounted for at least 90% of the state’s celery, peppers and strawberries, and more than half of tomatoes, spinach and cucumbers, according to historian Theodore Saloutos.

One thriving farmer was Kijuro Ota, who emigrated from Japan to the United States in 1903. He and his family — wife Hideko, also born in Japan, and their three sons and five daughters, all born in the United States — settled in Carpinteria in 1922, living first on Rincon Point and then in a gas-station-turned-farmhouse on Bates Road. By 1941, the Otas were farming their own land as well as leased acreage. They marketed their produce under the label K. Ota & Sons.

The success of Japanese American farmers bred resentment. “We’re charged with wanting to get rid of the Japs for selfish reasons,” Austin E. Anson, manager of the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association in Salinas, told a Saturday Evening Post reporter in 1942. “We might as well be honest. We do.” He framed it as a matter of unfair competition: Unlike white farmers, Japanese American farmers could get their wives and children to work in the fields, he said.

In s pring 1942, the army forcibly removed more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. Few were surprised that the policy targeted Japanese immigrants barred from U.S. citizenship, known as Issei, such as Kijuro and Hideko Ota. But many were shocked that it extended to the Issei’s American-born children, the Nisei, who were citizens by birth — including the eight Ota children.

On April 30, 1942, the Otas were uprooted from Carpinteria. With the exception of one married daughter, the

NATIONAL ARCHIVES PHOTOS

Casting a positive light on the return of Japanese Americans to California, Charles Mace photographed one of the Ota daughters, Miyeko Ota Fukusawa, on the grounds of a posh Montecito estate where she worked as a home nurse. Her husband, John, was serving in the military in Italy.

The War Relocation Authority sent photographer Charles E. Mace (at left, with his colleague Hikaru Iwasaki) to create a record of the Ota family’s return to Carpinteria in 1945. The agency used the photos to try to coax other Japanese Americans back to the West Coast.

family was first sent to a processing center in Tulare and then transferred to a War Relocation Authority internment camp in Arizona.

Later in the war, about a third of internees left the camps. Some joined the military. Others got jobs elsewhere in the United States (but not the West Coast).

The largest resettlement group, around 12,000, moved to Chicago, including the three Ota sons: Tom and Kenji worked at a trucking company, and Minoru at Curtiss Candy Co. About 1,000 others took agricultural jobs at Seabrook Farms in rural New Jersey, including their father, Kijuro, who made boxes for shipping fruit.

By late 1944, with Allied victory all but certain, the federal government reversed course. Almost three years after ordering Japanese Americans to leave the West Coast, it now tried to coax them back.

Some white farmers, however, were determined to keep their former competitors out. One former internee returned to his Lompoc farm to find his furniture and equipment stolen, his water pump smashed, and his irrigation pipes ripped from the ground. When a Japanese American woman returned to Santa Ana to check on her family’s farm, locals told her they would kill her if she didn’t leave. The sheriff said there was nothing he could do.

To reassure the former internees, the War Relocation Authority launched a propaganda campaign, documented in government reports and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi’s book “Japanese American Resettlement Through the Lens.” That’s what brought Charles Mace to the Ota farm on June 5, two months after the family’s return. He staged photos of family members performing everyday tasks — picking lemons, doing laundry, getting the mail, chatting with a neighbor — to show that life on the coast had returned to normal.

The captions painted an idyllic picture: The Otas were all “happy to once again be in their own home” and faced “no difficulty in finding a market” for their crops. One image shows Hideko Ota and an unidentified man laughing, its caption declaring: “Mrs. K. Ota talks over the situation with a neighbor and decides

Kijuro Ota’s wife, Hideko, gets the mail at their home on Bates Road.

Three years after the government expelled Japanese Americans, the Otas were back in Carpinteria. Many other former internees, however, chose not to return to the West Coast.

The government distributed photos showing Japanese Americans reintegrating into their communities. In this one, Kijuro Ota shows a lemon to his son Kenji (on the tractor) while Minoru, another son, looks on. The caption says the Otas had no trouble marketing their crop.

According to the caption on this War Relocation Authority photo, Hideko Ota “talks over the situation with a neighbor and decides everything is going to be all right.” The neighbor is unidentified. everything is going to be all right.” Was everything really all right? Despite Mace’s reassuring photos, California’s Japanese American population fell from 94,000 before the war to 49,000 afterward. The Otas and the others had lost close to three years of their lives. Many had also lost the economic foothold they had fought to establish; the Otas never matched their prewar success. Mace’s photos convey a message of resilience and renewal, but the upheaval of the forced relocation lurks just outside the frame.

The newsletter of the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, the Grapevine, published articles on the Ota family in 2020 and 2021, edited by Jim Campos, and in 2023, edited by Stephen Bates. Stephen Bates is coauthor (with Vince Burns) of a pictorial history of Rincon Point. Bates and Burns will speak about “Rincon Point and the California Dream” at 5 p.m. Thurs., March 20, at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History. Admission is free for museum members and $10 for others.

MARCH 13, 2025

Junior Sky Korling took two wins for the Warriors, including the 100-meter butterfly.

Freshman Madison Lee won two events in the meet against Nordhoff.

Carpinteria swim teams sweep Nordhoff

Warriors boys and girls dominate in dual meet at Carpinteria Community Pool

Rain didn’t do much to slow down Carpinteria’s boys and girls swimming teams, who both picked up team wins over Nordhoff in a dual meet at Carpinteria Community Pool on March 5.

The Warriors pulled out a clean sweep over the visiting Nordhoff Rangers, with the Carpinteria boys taking the team victory 118-11 and the girls pulling out an overall win by a score of 90-18. The Warriors were dominant throughout the day, claiming wins in all eight individual events and all three relay races.

Carpinteria’s swim programs are a testament to the youth on the rosters, with underclassmen performing beyond their years in both the boys and girls events.

On the boys side, juniors Sky Korling and Jake Ehlers both came away as double winners. Korling took first place in the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly, while Ehlers turned in wins in both the 500-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke events.

Junior Massimo Bonilla-Zakosek took first place in the boys 200-meter individual medley, while sophomore Jorge Ramirez took the win in the boys 100-meter freestyle race.

Senior Lucas Martin was the sole senior winner for the boys, picking up a first-place victory in the 50-meter freestyle sprint.

The Warriors girls had four team members come away with multiple event wins in the meet against Nordhoff.

Freshman Madison Lee continues to impress in her first year at Carpinteria, picking up wins in both the girls 200-meter individual medley and the 100-meter breaststroke.

Sophomore Lucy Moore and senior Guilia Piccoletti also came away as double winners against Nordhoff, and sophomore Izzy Scott cemented her title as “Queen of the Sprints,” according to Carpinteria coach Jon Otsuki, with Scott taking wins in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events.

After a road trip to compete in the inaugural Scorpion Relays at Adolfo Camarillo High, Carpinteria will continue the season with a dual meet against Malibu this week.

Carpinteria junior Taison Lee glides through the water in the boys breaststroke.
Sophomore Jade Rochlitzer pops up for a breath during the girls breaststroke.

SHORT STOPS

CARLOS ALVARADO

David Esquivel reaches the finish line in the boys 400-meter sprint.

Carpinteria splits dual track meet with Malibu

Carpinteria visited Malibu on March 6 for a dual track and field meet, where the Warriors girls came away with a team victory with a score of 82-48, while the Carpinteria boys suffered a loss to Malibu, 78-51.

Carpinteria senior Melanie Avalos had two season-best throws to take first place in the shot put and discus, while junior Vivian Huskins turned in three event wins. Huskins finished with season-best times in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash and was also part of the girls winning 4x100 relay squad.

“Vivian is having a great start to the track season after an outstanding soccer season,” said Carpinteria coach Van Latham.

Senior Averi Alexander also took three wins in the meet, as part of the winning relay team along with her usual wins in the long jump and triple jump.

Junior Kiana Kiah took the girls 1600-meter race with a new personal record of 5:46.82, and freshman Haley Gahan won her first 300-meter hurdle race with the Warriors.

On the boys side, senior Nathan Carrillo brought home wins in the boys 110-meter hurdles and pole vault, and helped the boys 4x400 relay team take first place.

Junior David Esquivel, another member of the boys winning relay squad, also turned in a win in the boys 400-meter sprint.

Other winners for the boys team included Sawyer Kelly, who won the triple jump in his first meet of the season, and Sebastian Chisum-Grinlde, who tossed a first-place throw in the shot put.

Warriors baseball turns in no-hitter

Carpinteria baseball defeated Coastal Christian 9-0 on March 7, giving the Warriors their fifth straight win to start the season thanks to a combined no-hitter from the talented Carpinteria pitching staff.

Five pitchers teamed up for the combined no-hitter, with freshman Jonah Hernandez getting the start and throwing two innings before junior Gabe Martinez came in to pitch the third inning.

By then Carpinteria had already built up a 3-0 lead, which only grew as the Warriors tacked on additional runs in the third and fourth innings to extend the lead to 9-0.

Junior Sam Medel came in to pitch the fourth and fifth innings, protecting the

no-hitter and handing it off to senior Aiden Alcaraz, who continued the work in the sixth inning.

Junior Charlotte Cooney then came in to close the game and seal the combined no-hitter in the seventh inning.

Along with the perfect pitching performances, the Warriors benefited from strong hitting — 10 different players got hits in the win — and stingy defense in the field preserving the no-hitter for the team.

“The batteries were effective, and the defense played well behind them,” said Carpinteria coach Pat Cooney.

Carpinteria boys tennis suffers loss to Thousand Oaks

Carpinteria boys tennis hosted Thousand Oaks for a non-league match on March 10, where the Lancers pulled out a close win over the Warriors, 10-8.

The Warriors had a promising start in singles play, with junior Edwin Hernandez pulling out a perfect 3-0 sweep. In doubles, the duo of Servando Campuzano and Ethan Almgren finished with a three-set sweep of their own, while partners Elio Taha and John Morrison won two of three sets together.

But these wins were not enough for the Warriors to pull out the team victory, as Thousand Oaks took the win by a two-set margin.

“Overall, I saw a lot of positives today,” said Carpinteria coach Charles Bryant. “If we can just continue to grow the way we did today, we will be able to compete well in league.”

Carpinteria is now 1-5 overall and 1-0 in the Citrus Coast League.

Warriors volleyball drops two losses

Carpinteria boys volleyball suffered back-to-back league losses to Channel Islands and Malibu, moving the Warriors to 6-6 overall and 0-2 in the Citrus Coast League this season.

The Warriors visited Oxnard to face Channel Islands on March 6, where the teams were tied at 2-2 after four sets before Channel Islands pulled away with a two-point win in the fifth and final set to claim the match victory, 3-2.

Carpinteria coach Favian Muralles said the match was intense from start to finish, and he credited his team for fighting despite a roster that was missing five players due to injuries and illness.

“With no real substitutions available, every player had to push through and stay on the court the entire time,” Muralles said. “Despite the adversity, the team fought hard and stayed competitive in every set. A special shoutout goes to sophomore Emmanuel Alvarado, who was the heart of the team throughout the match. His energy, leadership, and enthusiasm kept us going even in the toughest moments.”

On March 11, the Warriors were back on the road to face Malibu for a league matchup. In this match, Malibu was in charge from start to finish, with the sharks claiming the win in three straight sets, 3-0.

“Once again, we faced challenges with a short roster due to illness and injury, leaving us with only seven players and requiring us to bring up a junior varsity player,” Muralles said. “Despite the setbacks, our team stayed resilient, using the match as a learning experience and refusing to back down.”

Water polo earns Citrus Coast League honors

Carpinteria’s girls water polo team was the undefeated champion of the Citrus Coast League this year, winning every game in the league schedule and finishing with a perfect 8-0 record against league opponents.

Along with the team success, the Warriors were also well represented in the Citrus Coast All League honors, claiming some of the top awards including Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year.

ON DECK

Thursday, March 13

*Carpinteria Boys Tennis vs Channel Islands, 3:30 p.m.

Carpinteria Track & Field at Nordhoff, 3:30 p.m.

Carpinteria Boys Volleyball at Malibu, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, March 14

*Carpinteria Baseball vs Fillmore, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15

Carpinteria Track & Field at Nipomo, 9 a.m.

Carpinteria Baseball at Thacher, 11 a.m.

*Denotes Home Game

Carpinteria coach Jon Otsuki was named Citrus Coast League’s Coach of the Year, an accolade he earned just last year after a successful season with the Warriors boys swimming team.

Warriors sophomore Hazel Dugré, who in two short years has already developed a reputation as one of the most talented athletes in the pool, was named as the league’s MVP.

Senior captain Giulia Piccoletti, one of the team’s leaders over the past four years, was selected to First Team All League, putting a cap on a successful career in the pool for the Warriors.

The future is bright for the Warriors, with freshman Gwyn Postma and Holliday Smith also earning spots on the First Team, while sophomore Mina Handall and freshman Madison Lee were both named to the Second Team.

Senior Allison Banks earned an honorable mention, along with sophomores Lucy Moore and Caden Lemere.

ROSANA SWING
Hazel Dugré was named as the 2024-2025 Citrus Coast League MVP for girls water polo.

Addressing a non-problem in women’s sports

CRUZ ON SPORTS

I’ve never had a problem with politics and sports crossing paths. It seemed noble to watch athletes like Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King or Colin Kaepernick using their platforms to speak out against the injustices they saw around them, even at the risk of their freedom, money or careers.

But in each of these examples, athletes were using sports as an arena to address a larger issue or fight back against real-world inequalities. I’m thinking of when Jesse Owens, a Black American, won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, shattering Nazi Germany’s idea that white athletes were superior. Or when women earned the right for equal participation in college sports via Title IX in 1972.

What I don’t agree with is when politicians begin to exert influence over the sports world or use athletes to manufacture a “cause” as a way to push their own culture war.

A mong the many executive orders signed within the first few weeks of his second term, President Donald Trump signed what his administration is calling the “No Men in Women’s Sports” order, what I consider to be his latest attack on the transgender community and a performative answer to a nonexistent problem.

The order was followed by threats to cut funding to states who failed to comply with the directive, and within days the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) and high school sports associations across the country followed suit with policy changes banning transgender athletes from competing.

These policy changes are touted as a way to protect women’s and girls’ sports, but in reality it’s become a way to perpetuate a false narrative that trans-

Students participate in a walkout in response to an anti-transgender law.

gender athletes are somehow dominating women’s athletics.

In an interview about the issue, NCAA president Charlie Barker said that, out of half a million collegiate athletes in the country, there are “less than 10” that identify as transgender — a figure that comes out to 0.002 %.

When it comes to K-12 sports, that number is even harder to nail down. Save Women’s Sports, a group pushing to ban transgender athletes in girls’ sports, could only find five athletes that identified as transgender in the entire country.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) doesn’t keep data on how many transgender athletes are in California high school sports, but even those who are pushing for the need for a full ban have found just one example of a transgender track athlete in the state. In my personal experience covering sports in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria, I have never come across this being a problem in our local schools.

I was glad to hear that the CIF announced it would be standing up against President Trump’s order, even despite public pushback from outspoken parents who packed a recent board meeting asking for a policy change.

CIF representatives said they will follow the state education code when it comes to allowing students to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, a decision that was celebrated by LGBTQ+ activists but criticized by the

Youth soccer finds success in Bakersfield

Carpinteria’s AYSO All Stars headed to Bakersfield for the two-day Section 10 Championships last month, with both the boys and girls 12-and-under teams advancing to their respective final rounds.

The girls team, the “Carpinteria Warriors,” finished in fourth place overall in the Section Championships. Team members included Aileen Wheatley, Kate Oshiro, Maeve Runhaar, Brianna González, Madi Adam, Marin Bass, Hallie Mayer, Kaylia Real, Denise Barbere, Finley Barr and Eva Salinas.

The boys team, the “Red Hot Chili Peppers,” took first place after two days of intense competition, with the boys claiming two wins by way of penalty kicks to take the championship.

With the win, the boys team advanced to the Western State Championships in Corona, scheduled for March 16.

Trump Administration, which has since launched a Department of Education investigation into the CIF.

The situation became further complicated last week when Governor Gavin Newsom made a comment on his podcast (yes, he has a podcast) where Newsom told his guest, right-wing personality Charlie Kirk, that he agreed that transgender athletes in sports is “deeply unfair.”

Newsom’s pandering comment was a departure from his long-held support of the LGBTQ+ community, and a painful reminder of the type of rhetoric that has now become mainstream. A recent New York Times poll found that almost 80 percent of Americans oppose allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports, a number I find alarming given the lack of evidence of transgender athletes competing on a large scale.

I may be in the minority here, but I don’t see why the CIF or any other governing body should blindly follow an order due to a successful fear-mongering campaign. If there were widespread examples of transgender athletes dominating in high school girls’ sports, I would agree that something should be done, though I would suggest our local leagues address each issue on a case-bycase basis.

Amateur sports are supposed to be fun and character building, so what type of character are we building by telling a child they can’t play a sport they love just because we don’t understand their gender identity?

Children in our community play together regardless of gender when they are in tee-ball, youth soccer and basketball with no issues or complaints. High school boys and girls often compete and practice with each other on the track, in the pool, or on the volleyball court. Amateur sports are supposed to be fun and character building, so what type of character are we building by telling a child they can’t play a sport they love just because we don’t understand their gender identity? I think we could all benefit from taking a step back and understanding that drastic sweeping policy changes may not be necessary for something that isn’t a documented crisis. As Tony Hoang, executive director of Equality California, said in a statement in response to Newsom’s comments: “Transgender kids, like all kids, deserve the chance to play sports alongside their teammates and learn important values like leadership, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Transgender young people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.”

Ryan P. Cruz is the sports editor for Coastal View News. This is the latest installment of a monthly column where he explores local sports, sports history, and what’s in store for the future of Carpinteria sports. Have an idea, tip, or sports story? Email him at sports@ coastalview.com.

Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club takes championship trophies

Two of Carpinteria’s All Star basketball teams took home championship trophies at the annual United Boys & Girls Club tournament last weekend, claiming wins over the visiting All Star teams from Lompoc.

Carpinteria’s youngest All Stars, with players from kindergarten through second grade, took the championship in the earliest game of the day on March 8. The winning team included Elio Rocha, Joseph Zannon, Edgar Carrillo, Owen Pollock, Sebastian Prins, Rafferty Delaney and Easton Desmore.

The third and fourth grade team — with Molly Keiser, Alesandro Torres, Oliver Jensen, Samuel Aguilera, Crusher Trumble, Darlah Goodfield, Noah Gillen and Dylan Peña — also came away with a division championship at the tournament.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
COURTESY
Boys All Stars, from left: Jack Hornblower, Zach Sandu, Hunter Willhite, Leo Frank, Landon Wiltshire, Jameson Cotter, Jack Henry, Declan McMan, Landon Van Eyck, Ben Griffin, Mateo Almanza and Roy Campuzano-Aviles.
COURTESY
Players on the third and fourth grade championship team, from left: Molly Keiser, Alesandro Torres, Oliver Jensen, Samuel Aguilera, Crusher Trumble, Darlah Goodfield, Noah Gillen and Dylan Peña.

CARPINTERIA GARDENING

Living in Carpinteria, the seasons aren’t nearly as drastic or dramatic as other areas of the country, but we still see the weather warming up and the days getting longer (not to mention daylight saving time).

Spring is the time when our plants start coming out of either dormancy or reduced metabolism, with limited growth.

For your gardens, now is the time to give your plants some special treatment.

Preparing the soil. By lightly scratching the surface six inches away from the trunk or stem of the plants (crown), you break up the compressed hardpan and open the soil up to absorb more moisture along with needed nutrients.

Fertilizer. Once you have the soil surface scratched up, you can apply the fer-

Spring is here!

tilizer. In general, I recommend fertilizing your plants using a balanced (N-P-K or Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium having close to the same number) organic fertilizer. However, don’t be afraid to seek advice from your local garden professionals, as products and technology in this area is constantly changing.

Mulching. It is important to mulch as it will help prevent future hardpan build up, allowing the roots to “breath” and to grow better. Mulch also reduces your water usage since the water can penetrate the soil more easily and go directly to the roots, rather than running off into the street, minimizing water evaporation.

There are a variety of mulches you can use that range from composted organic mulch to bark or pebbles; again, your garden professionals can guide you on what is best and aesthetically pleasing.

It is, however, important that you apply it correctly, and the type determines how thick to apply it.

For composted organic mulch, you should apply one to two inches covering your plants surface root zones, making sure you don’t cover the trunk or stem area (crown), as that could lead to excessive moisture build up at this critical circulation point of the plants, causing it to girdle or kill the plant.

It is important to realize that a healthy plant is much less susceptible to insects, disease and drought, and will give you much more joy within your garden. If you

reduced metabolism, with limited

are like me, it is impossible to enjoy your garden when you know there are issues in it, and an unhealthy plant always takes away that enjoyment.

Healthy plants bear more fruit, flowers and new growth, but most people don’t really consider that what you are seeing is actually being supported by what you don’t see — the root system. Fertilizing, mulching and periodic deep watering with time to dry in between is an often-overlooked secret to a healthy garden. Always consider the roots before

treating what you see on the plant’s surface, because the roots are the secret to a healthy garden.

Wade Nomura is an award-winning landscape designer and President of Nomura/ Yamasaki Landscapes Inc, where he brings to life unique gardens specifically designed for the individual client. Wade started in the industry 46 years ago after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in Ornamental Horticulture with honors.

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NOMURA
Spring is the time when our plants start coming out of either dormancy or
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Wedding Guide

MONIQUE + JOEL

Moscoso

Moscoso

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: October 5, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: PacWest Blooms

CAKE/DESSERT: Rosemary Perez

PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER: Victor Godoy (VK Photography)

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Zola

CEREMONY: Godric Grove at Elings Park

RECEPTION: El Paseo Restaurant

CATERER: El Paseo

MAKEUP: BeautybyLemon

HAIR: Julie Hernandez, hair_by_juliehernandez

DRESS SHOP: Lavender Park, Clarksville, Tennessee

TUX: Men’s Warehouse

FLOWERS: PacWest Blooms

MUSIC: Victor Garcia and Marco Alarcon (dj_slicvic and marco_alarcon1)

OFFICIANT: Eileen Astorga

SPECIALTY VENDORS: Photobooth company: SayCheeseSB PhotoBooth

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

For our ceremony, we knew we wanted a view looking out to either the mountains or ocean. After looking at multiple venue spots, we visited Elings Park and saw the deck with the most beautiful view looking towards the mountains. It was a more secluded area that would not be open to the public during the ceremony which was also important to us. It was the perfect spot for our vision for our ceremony. For our reception, I have always loved El Paseo for a venue spot. It has a beautiful ambience with the lights, the trees and vines. When looking for our reception venue, once we visited El Paseo to imagine our reception there, it just felt right — a feeling that is hard to describe — but we knew it was perfect.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes. For our wedding colors, it was very easy to decide. We wanted a natural/elegant look to our wedding, with greens, white and hints of champagne color scheme. We wanted to focus on the natural colors that represent nature that would not be too “loud.”

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve? Did your guests enjoy your choices?

We were lucky that El Paseo provides all the food/desserts, so we got to meet with the chef and look over the entire wedding menu to choose from. They had so many amazing options to choose from, and the chef went over the most popular dishes that he had made. We ended up going with a chicken dish, tri-tip and multiple appetizers. For desserts, we knew we had to have churros, so that was a given. Then from there, we chose the desserts that stood out to us, and that we felt our families would like the most. The food and desserts were delicious, and from what we have heard from our guests, they felt the same! We decided to do a buffet style dinner so that our guests had the option on what food items they would prefer.

How did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day?

I feel that the simplicity of our wedding colors and decor is very me. I am very simple when it comes to my presentation, for example, my closet is mainly all neutral-colored clothes. So, I feel that the color scheme really represented me. My husband, very much the opposite, loves louder colors and more extravagant stuff. With that said, when it came to our wedding, he preferred to have the simplicity to give a more nature feel to our venues. Although, he did walk down the aisle to a metal/rock song which was very much him.

What was the most difficult part for you in planning a wedding? Were there any hiccups? If so, what were they, and how could they have been prevented?

The most difficult part for me planning the wedding was the fact I currently live in Tennessee and trying to plan it virtually with my wedding planner. Luckily, I had my family back home in Carp, and my mom would meet with our wedding planner to go over things that needed to be done in person, recorded the ceremony site to show the way our wedding party would walk, etc. I did make a few trips back home so we can get all the big decisions made in person. I was lucky I had my wedding planner to tell me exactly what needed to be done, or else I would have been lost.

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

I don’t think I would have done anything differently. Our wedding day was exactly how I dreamt it would be. I told my wedding planner from the very beginning that I wanted my wedding to be “simple, but not boring” and that I trusted her to do what she felt would look good. I was grateful that my vision displayed on our day. The first time I saw all the flowers and décor was the moment I started walking down the aisle, and it looked like a dream.

Do you have any advice for couples planning a wedding?

Have a wedding planner/coordinator! Planning a wedding is already stressful enough, and the wedding planner tells you details that you didn’t even know you needed for a wedding. It is so helpful having someone guide you through your ideas and help make your vision come to life. I would also recommend having a day-of coordinator! The day of the wedding gets so chaotic with getting ready, making sure you are on time, entertaining guests, etc. The last thing you want to worry about is the scheduling for the day. It was such a stress relief having our wedding coordinator because they made sure everything went on schedule through ceremony and reception, for example, the first dance, bouquet toss, cake cutting, etc. Lastly, take in every moment of the day! It is unbelievable how quickly the day flies by. It is a day to celebrate your love for each other and this next chapter in your life, enjoy it with your partner! It is hard to find time throughout the day to take time for just you and your spouse, so when you have that time, cherish it. ♦

JOHNNY MADISON

Waddell + Brand

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: September 21, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Marc Borowitz, Events by Rincon

CAKE/DESSERT: Crepe Bar — Rincon Catering

PHOTOGRAPHER: Sierra West

VIDEOGRAPHER: Amari Productions

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Moment Maps for invite and menu art. The rest was handmade by the bride.

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Groom’s parents’ house on Foothill Road

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

We got married at Johnny’s parents’ house that they built when Johnny was born. It is a beautiful Mediterranean-style property that holds a lot of special memories for both of us. It has a lush and large backyard and swimming pool that we knew would be the perfect place to host our guests. Since it is attached to the family business that had a large parking lot for parking, logistically we were confident and excited that this would be the perfect wedding venue for us.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes.

Since our wedding venue has a Mediterranean feel, which happens to be my favorite style, our theme was along the lines of Coastal Mediterranean Garden Party. Everything had a very organic and natural feel to blend well with the surroundings. Our wedding was in September, so I also wanted to incorporate fall colors into our color scheme. We choose sage green and burnt orange for our main colors. It worked well with the terracotta roof tiles, orange trees and lush landscape around the property. The bridesmaids wore sage green dresses, and the flowers had a lot of greenery and a variety of orange and yellow shades. We asked the guests to wear fun colors and/or patterns but we kept the dress code semi-formal.

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve? Did your guests enjoy your choices?

Events by Rincon have catered many of my husband’s family members’ weddings and we were also big fans of their restaurant during Covid-19. My husband was actually the one who made the final decision that we should use Events by Rincon for our catering, rentals and wedding planning. It was really great to work with Marc on all the logistics. We were so happy with our decision and so were our guests. We did buffet style for dinner to give people options and a crepe station paired with espresso martini shooters for dessert and everything was amazing.

Did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day? If so, how?

We made sure to incorporate a lot of our personality into our wedding day. The wedding venue itself was a reflection of us and our love and closeness to our family. My sister-in-law and I made a lot of the decor at the wedding together because I love being savvy and creative. One of my favorite things we made were the ceramic bud vases we use on the cocktail tables. We also made our own seating chart that said “Our Best Buds” at the top with custom pre-roll packs below with each guest’s name and table number, filled with Blue Dream CBD pre-rolls. My husband owns a cannabis farm and our venue was right next door to the greenhouses, so I thought the guests would get a kick out of it. Another thing was our decision to do a crepe bar for dessert instead of a traditional cake cutting since my husband used to come over and make me crepes in college. I could go on but those were some of my favorites.

What was the most difficult part for you in planning a wedding? Were there any hiccups? If so, what were they, and how could they have been prevented?

The most difficult part is having to make so many decisions pertaining to all the different aspects of the wedding. It was amazing to be able to plan such a personal and special event for us and our loved ones but man, is it time-consuming and a lot of work.

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

The only thing I wish we would have done differently was practice our first dance a lot more so we had it done and I wasn’t nervous about it all day.

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out?

There are a lot of stand out moments, but the one that stands out the most was when I was almost to the altar and I looked up at my soon-to-be husband, glowing in his custom tan suit, and my best friend who was the officiant, looking beautiful in her silky sage green dress, under a beautiful flower arch done by PacWest Blooms, and just being in awe of the moment and how beautiful everything and everyone had come together for our wedding. Even though the wedding had just started, that moment already made all the months of planning so worth it.

Do you have any advice for couples planning a wedding?

I would tell other couples that all the time, money and stress really does pay off in the end. The wedding planning process is a long one with a lot of ups and downs but seeing all your hard work pay off in the end, surrounded by all your favorite people to celebrate finding your person is a very special and unique experience that you will be so happy you got to experience. ♦

KARINA

Dayka + Van Wingerden CONNOR

REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION: Van Wingerden family home ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: October 19, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Suzie Schneider

CAKE/DESSERT: The Little Things Bakery, Cherie Dayka

PHOTOGRAPHER: Deborah Greene

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Rockwell Printing

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Carpinteria Lions Club

CATERER: Thom & Lise Main

HAIR: Christi Colson

MAKEUP: Bride

DRESS SHOP: Baltic Born

FLOWERS: PacWest Blooms & Myriad Flowers Inc.

MUSIC: Bouquet Sound

OFFICIANT: Bryan Rodriguez

RENTALS: Backdrop Boutique Santa Barbara

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

We chose Lions Park! We both have many family and community connections to the Lions Club of Carpinteria! Connor’s grandfather, Harry, is a Lion, and I was in FFA and worked very closely with the Lions and park! So it felt fitting to gather at a place we both frequented to celebrate.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes. We are western, ranchy people so we went with that kinda dressed up vibe. The boys wore jeans, boots, a long sleeve dress shirt and tie to match the girls’ dress colors. My dress was very simple, comfortable, with boho vibes. I am not a girly girl. If it was up to me I’d wear jeans, so being comfortable was very important to me. We chose a very nice blue/green color for our wedding. We wanted something that would complement our features and complexions. Plus, it’s just a color we both kept coming back to and loved. It’s all over our house too, so it felt fitting to use as our wedding color.

When you were planning your wedding, did you spot any trends? What’s in, what’s out?

Huge cakes aren’t as big of a thing anymore. A lot of people do a small cake for the couple and then cookies, cupcakes or other easier smaller handheld desserts. Generally speaking, a lot of things just aren’t as traditional as they used to be! We didn’t do a garter toss, which I am seeing less and less of too.

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve? Did your guests enjoy your choices?

We weren’t too picky! We currently live in Jacksonville, Florida but came back home to Carp to wed in front of our closest family and friends.

Weddings & Receptions Boutique Events

LIONS PARK

LIONS PARK

WEDDING PACKAGES STARTING AT $ 4 5 00

Receptions • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Memorials Parties • Reunions • Corporate Events • BBQs LionsParkEvents@gmail.com or Call/Text 8O5.45O.1985 6197 CASITAS PASS RD. • CARPINTERIA, 93O13 www.LionsPark.com

The beautiful sanctuary of Carpinteria Community Church, adorned with stained glass windows and intimate lighting, is the perfect place for family and friends to gather on your big day. The rose garden creates a colorful backdrop for wedding photos. Stay & celebrate in the Parish Hall for your reception, with a seating capacity of 105 people (champagne, beer and wine acceptable). High beam ceilings, french doors, hardwood floor, and adjacent patio sets the stage for lasting memories.

The beautiful sanctuary of Carpinteria Community Church, adorned with stained glass windows and intimate lighting, is the perfect place for family and friends to gather on your big day. The rose garden creates a colorful backdrop for wedding photos. Stay and celebrate in the Parish Hall for your reception, with a seating capacity of 105 people indoors, an additional 50 on the patio available (champagne, beer and wine acceptable). High beam ceilings, french doors, hardwood floor, and adjacent patio sets the stage for lasting memories. Newly added sound system, carpeting and LED video wall keep this classic venue state of the art.

So my mother and sister took the lead on planning. There were things I didn’t care about at all and just let them do what they felt was best/easiest! We had caterers, Tom & Lise Main, do barbecue for dinner and my momma ended up making all of our cookies and cupcakes! Over 300 cookies and 200 cupcakes! Everything was a major hit!

Did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day? If so, how?

Yes! We are very easy-going, laid-back people and wanted the day to feel as such. We didn’t want the day to feel like a big production. We wanted to focus on us but to also treasure all the people that made us who we are today and brought us together!

What was the most difficult part for you in planning a wedding? Were there any hiccups? If so, what were they, and how could they have been prevented?

For me, wedding planning was easy breezy. Again, since being on the other side of the United States makes it a little challenging, I took a lot of hands off and let my mom and sister take the lead and just make sure to voice my desires only if it was really important to me. The small things, as long as it looked nice, I really didn’t have too much of a desire to decide.

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

Not at all, it was the absolute most perfect day, filled with so much love.

Do you have any advice for couples planning a wedding?

Smaller is better! It’s one day of your life. Don’t focus so much on the perfection of every detail, instead focus on the reason why you are doing it in the first place — to celebrate your love and the

LIONS PARK

LIONS PARK

LIONS PARK

WEDDING PACKAGES STARTING AT $ 4 5 00 Weddings • Receptions • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • Memorials Birthday Parties • Reunions • Corporate Events • BBQs LionsParkEvents@gmail.com or Call/Text 8O5.45O.1985

WEDDING DATE: August 31, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Kimberley Garcia

CAKE/DESSERT: Lucca Truck

PHOTOGRAPHER: Marik Photo Co.

VIDEOGRAPHER: West Willow Films

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Truly Inspired Paper Co. for wedding & welcome dinner; handmade save the date cards

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Regina at Rincon

CATERER: Lucca Woodfired Pizza

HAIR: Katie May

MAKEUP: Madison Vail

DRESS SHOP: Gown Boutique of Charleston, South Carolina

TUX: Men’s Warehouse

FLOWERS: Sam’s Club — we assembled ourselves

MUSIC: DJ A-line

OFFICIANT: Joe Costa

RENTALS: Bear Creak (bathrooms); KRU Fotobox (photobooth); Bright Event Rental (chairs); Rockstar (shuttles)

HONEYMOON: LeBlanc Resort in Los Cabos

REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION: Rincon Beach

D’Amico + Garcia DANIEL SARAH

Q + A

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

Daniel grew up in Carpinteria, while I spent much of my childhood in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania. From a guest travel perspective, hosting our wedding in his hometown made the most sense. That said, I wanted my guests to feel like they were traveling to a true destination wedding. The moment we saw Regina Ranch (now rebranded as Regina at Rincon), I couldn’t stop picturing our special day there. It was absolutely stunning — expansive oceanfront views, lush greenery, and a tropical feel that made it feel like an escape. And with so many loved ones traveling to California for our wedding, I also wanted to keep things convenient by having both the ceremony and reception at the same location, minimizing additional travel.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes.

I’m not sure how to sum up our theme in just one word, but if I had to choose a few, I’d say sophisticated tropical or boho chic. I wanted it to feel light and airy yet neutral and warm, so we chose a color palette of black and beige with pops of white and warm wood tones accented by the greenery on the property. We also had a few western elements as well to pair with Daniel’s décor tastes by having a dark and moody cigar lounge with a black velvet couch, cowhide rug and dark leather chairs. Another theme could be “resourceful,” as a lot of our wedding décor was DIY, thanks to my in-laws. For example, my father-in-law, Soupy Garcia, crafted the bar and keg station for our drink offerings, along with the cocktail tables spread throughout the venue. My mother-in-law, Kim Garcia, sourced all the disco balls, flowers and lounge furniture to tie everything together for a beautifully designed look.

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve?

Did your guests enjoy your choices?

I’ve always loved the idea of food trucks at weddings, so we went with Lucca Truck Woodfired Pizza — and it was a hit! The cost was similar to a plated meal from the caterers we spoke with, but pizza felt like a safe bet, and the food truck made it feel unique. For happy hour, we had a giant grazing table. I’m a charcuterie girl through and through, so this was a no-brainer. It simplified the appetizer process, was aesthetically pleasing, and gave guests plenty of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies and more to snack on while enjoying our ‘his, hers, and ours’ signature cocktails. Plus, it was a great way to save money compared to passed hors d’oeuvres — an added bonus! For dessert, we had a s’mores station, which was such a fun, summer wedding touch. And for our late-night snack, we went with In-N-Out — because you really can’t go wrong with burgers and fries to keep the party going! We were told everything was a hit!

How did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day? For our attire, I wanted two dresses that each told a story. One was a timeless, classic gown with a long train, because we both love a dress with a little drama. The other, for the reception, was a sparkly masterpiece with straps so I could dance the night away, while still giving that touch of glamour with lace and beading. I absolutely adored my reception dress — it was everything I dreamed of. I’m also a huge fan of anything coconut-flavored, so our seating chart was crafted from branded coconuts, each with the guest’s name and table location tied to the straw. We ordered a custom band from Etsy with our initials and branded each coconut. It added the perfect tropical and boho vibe, which truly reflected my personal style. On the flip side, the cigar bar, with its dark western ambiance, mirrored Daniel’s laid-back California cowboy vibe. Daniel made a bold choice with his black ostrich cowboy boots from Tecova and a bolo tie, which captured that rugged, California cowboy side of his personality. Our wedding playlist was such a perfect mix of our personalities. Daniel’s love for country and 90s/2000s R&B came through, while I added my own 2000s hip hop and rap flair. We made sure to include plenty of pop hits you could sing along to and dance to all night long. It was a blend of everything we love, and the energy was contagious. Everyone loved our DJ! I also do graphic design in my day job, so I had a ton of fun demonstrating my creativity, and my personality came through on the invitations, Save The Dates, and newspaper-style wedding programs that also served as handheld fans.

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

I wish we had a longer happy hour so we could have spent more time interacting with our guests. Even with a smaller wedding of about 100 people, the time flew by — especially with pictures in between. It felt like we didn’t get to chat with as many guests as I would have liked. Our ceremony started at 4 p.m., and the reception went until 10 p.m., but in hindsight, I would have started the ceremony earlier to allow for more wiggle room in the schedule. A little extra time to mingle would have made the evening feel even more relaxed and enjoyable. I also became the classic cliché of not really eating at my own wedding. Everyone said the pizza was amazing, and I totally believe them — but I wish I had grabbed a slice of each to at least take a bite! With everything going on, it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment and forget to eat, but looking back, I definitely would have made it a priority.

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out?

I think when we sat down to dinner and looked out at all our friends and family, with the sun slowly setting in the background, that’s an image ingrained in my memory. Surrounded by our favorite people, simply enjoying themselves with the beautiful ocean as the backdrop. ♦

Graf + PeñaWILLIAM LAUREN

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: August 24, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Montana Wilcox; Karen Graf also helped with planning

CAKE/DESSERT: Crushcakes & Cafe

PHOTOGRAPHER: Laura Burns Photography

VIDEOGRAPHER: Laura Burns Photography

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Lauren Graf Peña

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Lions Park

CATERER: DJ’s California Catering

HAIR: Yudith Salon

MAKEUP: War Paint Aesthetics

DRESS SHOP: Anthropologie

TUX: Indochino

FLOWERS: Hilltop Flowers Inc., Louloudi Design and PacWest Blooms

OFFICIANTS: Rev. Hazel Salazar-Davidson & Rev. Drew Stever

RENTALS: DJ’s California Catering

HONEYMOON: Catalina Island

REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION: Lions Park

SPECIALTY VENDORS: Mint favors by Robitaille’s Fine Candies

RINGS: Fox Fine Jewelry and Ben Bridge Jeweler

Q + A

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

We wanted to choose a location that was accessible for both the groom’s Santa Maria-based family and our Los Angeles friends, and it was especially convenient that the bride grew up in Carpinteria, a perfect midway point. Lauren had a special connection to the Lions Park growing up, as her family attends weekly meetings there for the Rotary Club of Carpinteria, and she has fond childhood memories attending barbecues and church services in the park, which also included her pretending to solve a murder mystery at the gazebo and hunting the venue for clues.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes.

Lauren went with a nontraditional wedding dress with pink lace, velvet trim and rosettes that made her feel like something between a vintage birthday cake and fairy princess, her fashion goal on most days. Will wore his first custom suit, a navy blue ensemble with orange and blue paisley lining. He chose a tie that matched the florals of the wedding while resembling the style of a medieval tapestry. The color palette for the wedding was a summery rainbow, partly because we couldn’t pick just two colors for the whole event. We did a combined wedding party of our six best friends rather than splitting between bridesmaids and groomsmen, which gave the group the opportunity to choose whatever outfit they’d like, with each person selecting a color from the palette. It allowed for self-expression while still having a cohesive look, and giving the chance for our friends to choose clothes that they’d definitely wear again after this one day. While not going with a specific theme, the sheer amount of flowers and color everywhere gave the venue a sense of visual harmony. Lions Park was covered in flowers at the bride’s request, thanks to her family’s flower business and help from family friends from Germany. She specifically wanted as much baby’s breath as possible, which lined the aisle and the dance floor like clouds, and her hair as well. Her bouquet was made by her grandmother, and her family helped assemble the centerpieces, designed by her mother.

When you were planning your wedding, did you spot any trends? What’s in, what’s out?

Lauren did the majority of the planning with her mom, who has done dozens of weddings over the past years working in the flower business. She looked largely at Pinterest for inspiration and loved the colorful, flower-filled, maximalist weddings that she saw other couples throwing. She rarely sought out blogs with lists of the trends of the season, and instead followed her gut for what made her and Will happy. We wanted to have a timeless day that instead spoke to what brought us joy rather than whatever trend was happening that might fade in a few months.

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve?

Did your guests enjoy your choices?

We considered a few options for food, but when we looked into DJ’s California Catering after recommendations from friends, it helped our decision that they also provided venue rentals. And after Lauren and her mom went to the tasting, it was no competition at all — we had to go with DJ’s. The dinner was the one thing we got the most compliments on, the standout being their decadent mac and cheese. As for cakes, Lauren knew she wanted to have Crushcakes do her wedding cake ever since she used to watch bakers frost cakes at the long-closed Carp location. We got a small red velvet cake for us and our wedding party, then assorted flavors of mini cupcakes for the guests. It was also important that the meal and dessert both had vegan and gluten free options, and it was so easy to work with both vendors to ensure we had something for everyone.

Did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day?

If so, how?

The whole wedding felt like Will and Lauren through and through, with our nerdiness, creativity and silliness wholly present. Lauren created all of the art, everything from the illustrated save the dates, the hand-painted canvas at the venue to which guests added their own flower doodles, to her thank you cards that incorporated the guests’ flowers in the design. We set up a board game table with souvenir Dungeons & Dragons dice in the wedding’s rainbow color palette. We even worked with our friends to develop a secret scavenger hunt that went on throughout the venue, many guests hardly knowing what was going on. There were hidden QR codes, passwords, planted friends who would accept secret codes, web pages with puzzles, riddles, anything and everything all across Lions Park, and twelve guests completed the quest! The prize was custom watercolor illustrations from Lauren. And while we hardly rehearsed our first dance, Lauren spent several hours memorizing the complex routine for “Rasputin” from the Just Dance Wii games, just to impress guests at the end of the night.

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out?

We had the most delightful photoshoot with our wedding party on the playground of the venue. We felt like kids again, full of joy from the big ceremony that just happened and so happy to share this love with our closest friends. Laura Burns Photography’s team was so fun to work with and helped capture this chaotic exuberance perfectly. Of course, the actual children in our families kept trying to get into the shots because they wanted to play on the playground, so we had to time things just right. ♦

ERYNN + JOSH

Escalante

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: October 26, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Bride

DAY OF COORDINATOR: Montana Wilcox

CAKE/DESSERT: Rori’s Artisanal Creamery

PHOTOGRAPHER: Brian Lovelace / Lovelace Photo Co.

VIDEOGRAPHER: Carlo Provencio

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Zola / Canva / Rockwell Printing

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Carpinteria Lions Park

CATERER: Lions Club members

HAIR AND MAKEUP: Rebecca Michel Beauty

DRESS SHOP: Bella Bridal Couture

TUX: Hugo Boss

FLOWERS: PacWest Blooms and family friend Patty Martinez

MUSIC: the Moondawgz

OFFICIANT: Kevon Thompson

RENTALS: Backdrop Boutique SB and Amigos Rentals

HONEYMOON: Brazil

REHEARSAL DINNER: brewLAB and tacos by Cali Gente Catering

WEDDING DRESS ALTERNATIONS: Maria Zeigler

EMCEE: Chris Riley

AFTER PARTY LOCATION: Brew & Cue

GUEST TRANSPORTATION: Jump on the Schoolbus

COCKTAIL HOUR MUSIC: Rosa de Oxnard Mariachi Band

WINE DONATIONS: 4Js Wine (Jim and Jolene Colomy)

Q

+ A

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

We chose the Carpinteria Lions Park for both our ceremony and reception. Since Erynn was born and raised in Carpinteria and her dad, Gene, is a member of the Lions Club, it just felt like the perfect place — especially since it’s where we met! The outdoor picnic area was ideal for our reception, and we arranged the long tables into community-style seating to make it easy for our guests to mingle and enjoy the night together.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes.

The colors we chose were drawn from the native plants and wildflowers we’d find during our hikes in the Carpinteria foothills: soft sage greens, earthy terracotta and deep ocean blues, a nod to our love for the ocean. Our “theme” wasn’t so much a theme as it was a reflection of who we are. We kept things laid-back with a relaxed dress code for our guests, had a Mariachi band during our cocktail hour to honor Josh’s heritage, and set our table with wildflowers in terracotta pots that were beautifully made by our close family friend, Patty Martinez, and each place setting included a locally grown avocado and a packet of California native wildflower seeds.

When you were planning your wedding, did you spot any trends? What’s in, what’s out?

One trend we loved was skipping the traditional cake cutting. Instead, we teamed up with Rori’s Artisanal Creamery to bring in a cart full of mini ice cream sandwiches in a variety of flavors. We ordered 275 sandwiches and our 120 guests devoured them!

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve? Did your guests enjoy your choices?

With our venue choice and Erynn’s dad being a proud Lion, it only felt right to go with a classic Lions barbecue (Carp locals will know…) — tri-tip, chicken, beans, salad, and fresh salsa made by Josh. For dessert, our good friend Karl Metzger, part of the Rori’s team, helped us come up with the perfect treat of mini ice cream sandwiches. One of the sweetest moments of the night? When everyone gave the volunteer cooking crew a big round of applause!

Did you incorporate your personality into the wedding day? If so, how?

We were incredibly lucky to have so many family and friends step up to help make our big day special. Every detail felt like a reflection of us, right down to the people we chose to work with! Our emcee Chris Riley and his band, the Moondawgz, kept the energy alive through the night. Our beautiful archway and ceremony chairs were rented from Backdrop Boutique SB, owned by Sherry Berkowitz, aka Erynn’s bonus mom. We sourced our flowers from PacWest Blooms — who’ve known Erynn since her elementary school days — and poured our hearts into plenty of DIY projects. Josh crafted keychains from old whiskey corks and even barrel-aged a special batch of wedding whiskey for our wedding party. We upcycled longboard surfboards for signage and spent hours treasure-hunting at vintage markets for one-of-a-kind pieces to bring our vision to life.

What was the most difficult part for you in planning a wedding? Were there any hiccups? If so, what were they, and how could they have been prevented?

DIY-ing a wedding means taking on a whole lot more than just the fun stuff — it’s a juggling act of details you never even see coming. The setup and cleanup alone had way more moving parts than we anticipated, and looking back, having a full-time coordinator from start to finish would have been a game-changer. Another curveball? Figuring out transportation for our guests. Thankfully, Darin, Sierra, and their team at Jump on the School Bus came to the rescue, making sure everyone got to the venue and the afterparty safely.

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently?

Honestly, no. The day happened exactly how it was supposed to and the entire weekend was a dream come true for both of us. If anything didn’t go as planned, it has made for some great stories and good laughs.

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out?

Our first look, without a doubt! We were full of nerves, excitement and anticipation, but the moment we saw each other, all of that disappeared. Sharing our vows privately before the ceremony made it even more special and gave us extra time together before the celebration kicked off.

Do you have any advice for couples planning a wedding?

Keep your planning as simple as possible so you can actually enjoy it! It’s easy to get caught up in social media trends, but time flies, and if you try to squeeze in too much, you might miss the little moments that matter most. ♦

Terlep + Smith DYLAN CARA

ALL THE PRETTY THINGS

WEDDING DATE: July 20, 2024

WEDDING PLANNER OR COORDINATOR: Brenda Cali with Gatherings for Good Events

CAKE/DESSERT: Reynaldo’s Bakery

PHOTOGRAPHER: Hugo & Aaron with The Indi Collective

VIDEOGRAPHER: Jeremiah with The Indi Collective

INVITATIONS, SIGNAGE: Canva

CEREMONY & RECEPTION VENUE: Cate School & Carpinteria Lions Park

CATERER: Catering Connection

HAIR: Andrea Villa

MAKEUP: Shanie Crosby

DRESS SHOP: Fleurish LA

TUX: Etsy

FLOWERS: PacWest Blooms

MUSIC: DJ Bonnie with Music by Bonnie

OFFICIANT: Charles Scott

RENTALS: Ventura Party Rentals

HONEYMOON: South Island, New Zealand

REHEARSAL DINNER LOCATION: brewLAB

AUDIO GUESTBOOK: After The Tone

FLORALS: Yamaoka Flowers

TRANSPORTATION: SB Limos

BRIDAL SUITE: Inn on Summer Hill

AFTERPARTY BARTENDING: Ruben from Brew & Cue

Q + A

How did you choose your ceremony and reception venues?

Our ceremony was at Cate School, which was where Cara was employed at the time and is such a naturally beautiful campus. We chose Lions Park for our reception not only because of the beauty and charm of the venue and its team, but also its close location in relation to our ceremony site. Dylan grew up in Carpinteria, and has celebrated many events at Lions Park. We couldn’t think of a better way to grow our love for this town than by making our own special memories there.

Discuss your attires, colors and wedding themes.

The theme of our wedding festivities and weekend celebrations was an overall homage to California. Dylan and Cara both grew up in California and have grown to deeply love the land, sea, natural beauty and energy of the people they’ve met here. All of our tables were associated with a plant, tree or flower native to California! The color palette could best be described as a retro summer rainbow to tie funky elements of disco-era fun into the simplicity of a warm summer day on the Central Coast. Dylan and the groomsmen all wore sage green linen suits handmade by an Etsy shop seamstress with Red Wing boots. Cara wore Chic Nostalgia’s Reveka gown — a stunning, intricately-laced dress. Her blue velvet Sam Edelman chunky heels were a fun addition to her ceremony look, but she quickly changed into Croc Siren heels once she reached Lions Park for the reception so she could move and groove with ease!

How did you decide on what dessert and food you were going to serve? Did your guests enjoy your choices?

Food is very important to us as a couple, and we wanted to showcase some of our favorite foods to our out-of-town guests, as well as give our local guests something we knew they’d enjoy. Catering Connection offered the most beautiful Santa Maria barbecue selection. We served grilled tri tip with chimichurri sauce, rosemary chicken breast with roasted red pepper sauce, roasted potatoes tossed in fresh herbs and garlic, a seasonal vegetable medley, a California baby field greens salad and freshly baked artisan rolls with butter. Our guests could not stop raving about the food, and we were thrilled with it ourselves. As for dessert, our dear friends and community members, the Cardenas Family, own the best bakery in Carpinteria. Asking Reynaldo’s Bakery to make our wedding cake and desserts was a no-brainer when we knew we needed something our guests would all love.

Did you incorporate your own personalities into the wedding day? If so, how?

We absolutely did! Cara was able to express herself creatively by creating all kinds of signage and decorative elements through Canva and crafting. Dylan’s love for surfing was highlighted in our welcome signage for our ceremony which was a surfboard of his! To showcase our love for music, we carefully curated playlists together for hours at home for our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception with the help of DJ Bonnie — the best in the biz!

What was the most difficult part for you in planning a wedding? Were there any hiccups? If so, what were they, and how could they have been prevented?

The two most challenging things were securing vendors early (and I mean early), and keeping track of all… the… things. Cara is a very organized person and she was still swimming in all the appointments, guest requests, accommodation needs, decor storage and closing communication loops. While these things were challenging, they completely paid off!

Was there anything you wish you would’ve done differently? Honestly, there isn’t anything from our entire weekend that we would change. We feel so lucky to have had the most perfect weekend.

Is there a moment from your wedding that stands out?

For Dylan, one of his favorite moments was when we got to come out and greet our guests table by table after our private dinner together. This allowed us to actually enjoy our awesome food together and hug/thank all of our guests individually. There was a moment for Cara during the reception where the photographer, Hugo, came up to her and said “I don’t know if I have ever seen this many people on the dance floor at a wedding…” She then turned around and was able to take a moment to look at all these people that she and Dylan loved so much laughing, dancing, smiling and just being together. It was so beautiful, and will be something she remembers for the rest of her life. Dylan and Cara also both loved the Thursday night out they planned together to kick off the weekend in style with late-night karaoke at Old Kings Road with their friends and family that had already arrived into town for the wedding weekend. We could go on and on and on, but these are just a few examples of stand out moments! ♦

Discover a unique wine selection!

Our locally-owned business has proudly served the community for over 20 years, providing exceptional quality wines from California and around the world. We’re known for our extensive and diverse selection, catering to a wide range of palates. Visit us today and experience the difference!

Knowledgeable staff to help you select wines for all occasions

Monday-Friday 10-6pm • Saturday 10-5pm 805-684-7440 • 4193-1 Carpinteria Ave.

Located just off the Carpinteria Avenue exit from 101 South, you’ll find us in the 4th building on the right.

Carp Kitchen creates one-of-a-kind events for life’s most special celebrations.

Full-service event catering, from large scale weddings and parties to intimate dinners in your home.

Our menus are ever-changing & customized to your tastes with one goal in mind, to provide your guests with food they’ll be amazed by.

CATERING CARP KITCHEN & GROCERY

Tastings are available so that couples can choose the dishes that delight their taste buds.

Tel: (805) 318-9400 carpkitchen.com • stcatering.com

and CANS available for the event

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