Coastal View News • October 3, 2024

Celebrating the avocado

The 38th annual California Avocado Festival returns this week — Friday, 1–10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. — and Carpinterians are preparing their best guacamole and setting out their avo-wear for weekend fun on Linden Avenue. In the meantime, check out a recap of the 2024 avocado season on pg. 9 of this week’s print, presented by Two Trumpets Communications. Defying expectations, the 2024 California avocado season delivered 350 million pounds, and early expectations are calling for a bumper avocado crop in 2025, exceeding 2024.

Obituary

Robert “Bob” Wayne Blackman

12/05/1942 – 08/14/2024

Bob Blackman was born in Los Angeles, California to Robert and Grace Blackman on Dec. 5, 1942.

Bob grew up with his two sisters, Carol and Linda, and his brother Russell in San Marino, California. Their summers were spent at their beach home in Crystal Cove. There, they enjoyed summers water skiing, fishing, volleyball and many campfires.

After Bob finished his lower education in San Marino, he went on to the University of Southern California, where he graduated with a degree in accounting.

Shortly after graduation, Bob was drafted. Here, Bob entered into the world of computers, which would become a lifelong interest. He worked for IBM for several years, followed by a career in commercial real estate. He would

eventually find his passion in an entrepreneurial role.

Above and beyond his career was Bob’s love and commitment to his wife, Cindy, and their children, Kirk, Stacey and Trevor. His children were his greatest joy.

Bob and Cindy were blessed to gain two daughters-in-law: Wendy Blackman and Jamie Blackman. He loved these two young women as if they were his own daughters.

Seven grandchildren followed: Troy, Kyle, David, Corey, Klari, Bennet and Anna. Bob loved being “Papa” and loved each one with all his heart.

Bob was also a great friend to many. Lifelong friendships were common to Bob. Beginning in San Marino to USC, in his career, and with volleyball and golf, Bob always made friends.

As Bob approached midlife, a transformation began when Bob began to seek God. His interest led him to his Savior Jesus Christ. From there, Bob regularly attended church and Bible Studies, and served in the church.

For many years, he traveled to China with his close friend Al Nuedeck, bringing The Gospel.

Bob’s understanding of a Savior, who lived and died to bring him a new life and a very rare and pure love, made Bob the man he was. His common bond in Christ brought him Christian friends in his later years who loved him well.

Bob finished his race in life with the support of deep friendships and family. To all who loved Bob, we, his family, extend our love and gratitude for being a part of Bob’s life.

Bob’s memorial service will be Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, at 2 p.m., at the Carpinteria Cemetery in the pavilion.

Previously published obituaries may be read online at coastalview.com

COMPILED

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Ballots arriving in early October

All registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the next five to 10 days, the Santa Barbara County Executive Office reminded residents on Monday. Each voter’s vote-by-mail packet will contain an official ballot, instructions for voting and returning the ballot, and a ballot return envelope with a unique barcode. The unique barcode allows the Elections Office to verify the voter’s signature on the envelope and compare it with the voter’s voter registration card or the voter’s driver’s license.

The county reminds residents: “It is important that the voter verifies that their name is printed on the envelope (the ballot doesn’t belong to another person living at the same address), signs the envelope, and encloses the ballot in the return envelope.”

If a ballot arrives for a person who is no longer living at an address, the current resident should mark the box on the bottom left corner of the outgoing envelope or write “no longer at this address” on the outside envelope and return it to a mail carrier, per the county.

Ballots must be returned by mail or postmarked by Election Day on Nov. 5. They can also be returned in person to one of the county’s three elections offices, at any polling place in the county, or to an official ballot drop box. The closest elections office to Carpinteria is the Santa Barbara Elections Main Office, 4440-A Calle Real, which is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m

Polling and drop box locations can be found online at sbcvote.com. Voters can track their ballots at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov, and check their voter registration status or look up their polling place voterstatus.sos.ca.gov or by calling the Elections Office at (800) 722-8683.

Residents who are not yet registered can register to vote online at registertovote. ca.gov/ or request a registration form by calling (800) 722-8683.

Dumpsters removed from beach parking lots

The city of Carpinteria has removed the dumpsters that were located in each of the four City Beach parking lots due to illegal dumping, according to the city’s newsletter released on Friday.

Per the newsletter: “Initially, the dumpsters were replaced with trash carts as a temporary measure, but unfortunately those also became a target for people illegally placing household and construction waste in them. In addition to waste being deposited in the trash carts, trash began piling up next to them.”

For the time being, there will be no waste receptacles at the beach “due to the continued misuse of public waste receptacles,” according to the newsletter.

The city plans to install permanent public trash cans at each entrance to the beach in November, and city staff will check on the new trash cans weekly to prevent misuse.

In CVN Vol. 31, No. 02, “The Solanos say goodbye to the Traveling Pants,” Aimee Reed founded the Traveling Pants. For the record...

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STEFANIE HERRINGTON ATTORNEY

STEFANIE HERRINGTON ATTORNEY

Trash collection on schedule during upcoming holiday

Trash in Carpinteria will be collected as usual during the upcoming holiday week, per E.J. Harrison & Sons. Indigenous People’s Day, on Oct. 14, is celebrated annually on the second Monday in October.

Customers can place all three carts on the curb each week, including food waste, which should be placed in closed paper or plastic bags in the organic waste cart.

For more information, visit ejharrison.com.

Reminder: Festival of Trees funds request deadline coming up

The deadline to submit a donation request for the upcoming 15th annual Festival of Trees is coming up on Oct. 17.

The Lions Club of Carpinteria, which puts on the festival each year, opened up funding requests for the Nov. 29 – Dec. 15 event early last month. 501C(3) nonprofits located between Summerland and the northern Ventura County line are eligible to request funds; chosen nonprofits will be asked to help each day and host one free community event during the fundraiser.

The festival will open on Nov. 29 at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center and close Dec. 15, with the raffle day set for 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 15. Since it opened, the festival has raised $250,000 for local nonprofits.

Dispel misinformation at upcoming Carpinteria Woman’s Club meeting

Amy Marie Orozco of The Media Literacy Project is this month’s scheduled speaker for the Carpinteria Woman’s Club meeting, set for Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. Orozco – a Coastal View News columnist and a former Coastal View News editor – will present “Moment of Truth: Sorting Facing from Fiction in a Misinformation Age,” a presentation about journalistic fact-checking skills, vetting sources, A.I. and misinformation, and more.

559 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE J MONTECITO, CA 93108

STEFANIE HERRINGTON ATTORNEY

STEFANIE HERRINGTON ATTORNEY

559 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE J MONTECITO, CA 93108

These media literacy workshops are fiscally sponsored by the Santa Barbara Foundation and funded through the National Association for Women in Communication (AWC) Advancement Fund. The workshops are offered by Orozco, Lisa Osborn –who oversees UC Santa Barbara’s radio station – and longtime Independent columnist Starshine Roshell.

559 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE J MONTECITO, CA 93108

(805) 293-6363

559 SAN YSIDRO ROAD, SUITE J MONTECITO, CA 93108

The Carpinteria Woman’s Club is located at 1059 Vallecito Road. See more online at carpinteriawomansclub.com.

(805) 293-6363

stefanie@montecitolawgroup.com

(805) 293-6363

stefanie@montecitolawgroup.com

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stefanie@montecitolawgroup.com

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Renew your commitment

Coastal View News has survived one more year thanks to your generous support. We’ve published 52 editions since we launched our Sustaining Members program last September, and credit goes to you, Carpinteria!

We asked our readers for help, and we received it. Thank you. Our motivation to chronicle the life and times of Carpinteria Valley has grown through

the inspiration provided by you in the form of Sustaining Memberships. Over the past year, we’ve won awards for continuing to publish a product that is seen as a community asset. We’ve kept the news coming with a renewed sense of responsibility to our readers. We are filled with gratitude for our readers stepping up and pitching in to change how we fund the news.

KEEP IT GOING!

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD

The threat of insolvency is only kept at bay by an ongoing commitment from our readers. Advertisers now spend their money to reach customers in a variety of ways – not just print! Compounding the issue, our print costs have skyrocketed. Unstable revenues plus rising costs are a recipe for insolvency. Even with the success of the last year, we depend on continued and renewed participation in our Sustaining Members program to keep the lights on and, more importantly, to keep Carpinterians informed and engaged in their community.

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is to continue paying our hard-working staff and publishing a product that both chronicles and creates this special community. Imagine never again saying, “Did you see today’s Coastal View?”

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1 YEAR UPDATE

Last year, our readers voluntarily decided they value Coastal View News enough to spend their money to sustain the paper. Your investment in the value of Coastal View News has allowed us to:

Maintain printing and distribution of 5,500 newspapers, averaging 28 pages an issue, every week delivered to newsstands throughout the Carpinteria Valley.

We won three Association of Community Publishers awards. We were named the Carpinteria Community Association’s Outstanding Community Business Award for 2023.

Your investment enabled indepth reporting on:

The Proposed Bluffs Resort

Local Elections

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Avocado Festival

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Carpinteria

Proposed Palms renovations are

a “nice benefit to the

downtown,”

ARB members say

With 4-0 ARB vote, The Palms project now in Planning Commission hands

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Renovation plans for Carpinteria’s historic The Palms at 701 Linden Ave. will now move forward to the Carpinteria Planning Commission, after a 4-0 approval by the city of Carpinteria’s Architectural Review Board (ARB) at the board’s Thursday, Sept. 26 meeting.

“I think this is going to be a great contribution to the community. Carpinteria has evolved since this was first built as a hotel, so I think this is just part of the evolution,” Chair Brad Stein said on Thursday, after the board heard from the applicants’ representatives and listened to public comment.

The 11,453 square-foot-lot is home to a historic 10,508 square foot, two-story building, the previous spot of the beloved The Palms bar and restaurant that closed in 2020. The building was originally constructed in 1912 as a hotel – named after the palms on Linden Avenue – and converted into a restaurant, with apartments and offices on the second story, in the 1960s.

The building was bought by Mark Armenante and Young Sohn, of One White Street restaurant in New York City, in 2023.

The updated September 2024 proposal – greeted positively by ARB members on Thursday – includes plans for a restaurant and market/cafe retail area on the ground floor, a banquet/event space on the second floor and a bar/dining area on the roof.

The owners plan to replace the non-original first floor addition along Linden Avenue with a covered patio dining area, remove a stairway along Seventh Street, partially demolish and renovate a stairway at the building’s back, add an elevator and modify landscaping.

The project last came before the city boards on May 30, where the ARB held a largely positive conceptual review of the proposal. The majority of comments heard in May were related to concerns about noise and parking impacts, city planner Brian Banks reminded the ARB on Thursday.

Since then, project applicants created and submitted a noise study – focusing on possible impacts to the neighborhood on Yucca Lane – which found that even with the business’ HVAC equipment operating continuously from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. (the restaurant’s estimated hours of operation), and with the rooftop bar and patio areas operating at full capacity, the sound levels would fall below the city’s noise exposure limits as outlined in the city’s General Plan.

“There should not, based on the current design and locations of the HVAC equipment and the walls and sorts of things, be an impact upon the neighbors,” Banks said. “Therefore, based on the results of the noise study, no changes to the plans… were developed in response to the ARB’s comments and the neighbors’ comments at the last meeting.”

The owners also submitted a parking study the day before the Thursday meeting, which Banks said staff are still analyzing.

Currently, there are nine parking spots on site. Generally, with 701 Linden Ave.’s zoning, 54 parking spots would be required, Banks said.

But with the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 2097 – a 2022 law that prohibits public agencies from enforcing any minimum automobile parking requirements on projects within one-half mile of a mass transit stop (in Carpinteria’s case, the Amtrak station) – the city cannot require more parking on site.

“The hope is, again, with a carefully crafted management plan, that we’ll come out the other side with something that is workable given the constraint the state has put on us with AB 2097,” Banks explained.

Additional updates since the proposal’s May 30 conceptual review include: a 10 linear foot wrap-around extension of the northern wall in the rooftop area; the previously proposed exterior storage at the rear will now be used as an employee break patio with a mounted bicycle storage area; a door and roll-down security curtain have been added to the rooftop bar and service area to protect the area from pests when not in use; the rear stairs and railing metal work have been revised; and a 42-inch guardrail was included on the roof’s edge for safety.

The project’s landscape plan also now includes a new planter strip between the parking area and the Seventh Street sidewalk, and refurbished plantings in the parkway planting area along Seventh Street, per the staff report.

Proposed colors and materials for the building remain the same as seen in May, Banks said.

There is also a proposed bike parking area along the parkway, he said, which

With the passage of AB 2097 – a 2022 law that prohibits public agencies from enforcing any minimum automobile parking requirements on projects within one-half mile of a mass transit stop (in Carpinteria’s case, the Amtrak station) – the city cannot require more parking on site.

the city is “trying to promote for basically all new projects that come in that have the ability to squeeze some additional bike parking in.”

“As you see on Friday and Saturday nights around town, there’s bikes laying all over the place. It’s great, people are riding their bikes more often and we want to promote that, but we also want to make sure (the bikes) are safe and staying out of the sidewalk,” he added.

Owners will also be requesting from the Planning Commission approval of a zero feet setback on the Linden Avenue side of the building; the required front setback is minimum five feet from the property line, although staff noted on Thursday that a zero-foot setback downtown is common.

The Planning Commission would also have to approve the bar area roof height of 31 feet, eight inches because it is not an architectural feature. With the historical elevator tower and top of the stairs, the building’s height would be 36 feet, 10 inches; because the tower is considered an architectural feature, it is not in violation of the city of Carpinteria’s 30-foot height limit.

Planning Commission approval of a zero-foot setback and violation of the city’s height limit with the bar roof would require one of three concessions, Banks said: energy efficient heating/cooling; affordable housing; or a larger amount

of open space or landscaping than the minimum required.

This project would likely follow the latter, with more landscaping on site than required.

Architect Laurel Perez with SEPPS Land Use Consulting spoke on behalf of the applicants on Thursday. She said the owners will have a robust parking management plan, and also plan to hire Carpinteria residents to work on site.

“This is a local family, they live here, they are committed to managing this at a local level and it’s really important to them that they are engaging and employing Carpinteria residents,” Perez said. “That is going to help them be successful in terms of getting folks to ride their bike and walk and carpool to the site for employment.”

She added that the owners are working with traffic engineers to come up with a transportation demand management plan that provides bus passes and additional funding for carpooling.

Perez called the current landscaping “sparse” and said the owners are committed to “restoring this iconic historic building” with 21% landscaping on site. The maximum that could be required by the Planning Commission is 20%.

She added that the rooftop does not significantly alter views of the mountain and the beach.

A RB board member Richard Little, referring to a Facebook comment made by Betty Roland in the World’s Safest Beach Facebook Group, asked if the renovations will disturb a cement plaque on the property that has Roland’s family’s names on it.

Bank s said there are several loose commemorative plaques on the property, and public commenter Rosana Swing, piping up from the audience, explained where the plaques were and asked they be taken care of.

There was sparse public comment, though one public commenter – who identified himself as the co-owner of General Public, LCC – said he is thrilled the project is moving forward.

Another commenter, Betty Songer, said she has an issue with rooftop lounges and shared her concerns with the rooftop bar already approved for the 700 Linden Project down the street.

“We need to protect our neighborhoods,” she said. “We’re losing them regularly on my street. It’s gone. And it’s all money. It just does not seem like Carpinteria.”

ARB board members asked a few clarifying questions about the changes. Vice Chair Amy Blakemore said she supports the modifications to the setback and the height, and noted that while parking is “problematic all over the Downtown T, it is the downtown.”

“You have a site design that you are very limited on, there’s nothing to be changed on the historic nature of the building so you are working with what you have and I think that that works,” Blakemore said. “I think it’s going to be a really nice benefit to the downtown.”

Stein agreed, stating he has no problems with the height violation or the setback, although that approval is ultimately up to the Planning Commission. He added that amplified music should not be allowed up there.

Stein motioned that the project move forward to the Planning Commission, with the recommendations that the Commission approve both the height violation and the setback encroachment; that a “no amplified music on the roof” rule be introduced; and that a darker color be used on the roof.

With the 4-0 vote – board member Patrick O’Connor was absent on a family trip – the project will now move toward to the Planning Commission.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The proposal includes plans to partially demolish and renovate a stairway at the building’s rear. At top is the existing building; at bottom is the building with the proposed renovations.

The current view of the rear of the The Palms building on Yucca Lane.

LETTERS

“Delivering mail in Carpinteria has given me memories that will last forever. I am so fortunate to have spent the last 40 years here. Farewell, my friends.”

Farewell, Carpinteria

As I begin the next chapter in my life, I would like to thank the people of Carpin teria for making this town a special place for me to call my second home. I want to thank the wonderful people on my route for all their daily smiles and waves. All of you have been the best part of my job. A special thanks to my co-workers. It was a pleasure to work with you. Hang in there! Delivering mail in Carpinteria has given me memories that will last forever. I am so fortunate to have spent the last 40 years here. Farewell, my friends.

Elise Malacara Santa Barbara

Alarcon has experience to lead

I hope the residents of the Second District will see the wisdom of returning Natalia Alarcon to the Carpinteria City Council on Nov. 6. I have watched Natalia mature in her role on council and as Vice Mayor this year. I look forward to her leadership as chair in the coming year.

The next couple of years will be piv otal for our small city. There are so many ways to spend money and so many fewer ways to increase revenue streams while keeping Carpinteria the small beach town we all love. I will be looking to Natalia’s experience from her tenure on the Finance Committee to help guide us through in teresting times.

Natalia does not rush to judgment. She is a thoughtful and careful decision maker.

Please give her a second term so she can continue to work on behalf of our community using the knowledge and experience she has accumulated during her first term.

Gail Marshall Carpinteria

Protect low-income mobile home parks

Endorsements

• United States President and Vice President: Kamala

Harris and Tim Walz

• United States Congress - District 24: Salud Carbajal

SBWPC

Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee

ACCESS VOICE POWER

General Election 2024

Endorsements

• United States President and Vice President: Kamala

Harris and Tim Walz

• United States Congress - District 24: Salud Carbajal

• California State Senate - District 21: Monique Limon

•California State Assembly - District 37: Gregg Hart

•Santa Barbara Unified School District -District 2: Sunita Beall

•Santa Barbara Unified School District -District 3: William Banning

•Santa Barbara Unified School District -District 5: Celeste Kafri

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees -Area 2: Kyle Richards

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees -Area 3: No Endorsement

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustee -Area 4: Dave Morris

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 2: Nadra Ehrman

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 3: Sarah Anne Read

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 6: Katya Armistead

• Carpinteria City Council - District 2: Natalia Alarcon

• Goleta City Council -District 3: Jennifer Smith

• Goleta City Council -District 4: Stuart Kasdin

•City of Goleta Mayor: Paula Perotte

•Santa Barbara City Council - District 1: No Endorsement

•Santa Barbara City Council - District 2: No Endorsement

•Santa Barbara City Council - District 3: Oscar Gutierrez

• Goleta Water District - District 3: Lauren Hanson

• County of Santa Barbara Measure H: Vote Yes

•City of Carpinteria Measure B: Vote Yes

•City of Santa Barbara Measure I: Vote Yes

•Santa Barbara City College Measure P: No Endorsement

• Hope School District Measure Y: No Endorsement

•City of Goleta Measure G: No Endorsement

•California Proposition 3: Vote Yes

•California Proposition 6: Vote Yes

•California Proposition 36: Vote No

This recently took place at Sandpiper Mobile Home Park. It was made known at a recent city council meeting that in the heart of this rent-controlled park, a home was offered for rent on a housing website for $4,000 a month. How this came about appeared to sound alarm bells within city hall.

It is no secret that Carpinteria is one of the most desirable places to live in the world, which is why developers and others are constantly seeking ways to circumvent rent control. So, what happened? The narrative begins with a resident passing away and his heirs, being unable or unwilling to take over his home, selling it to the park owners.

The owners replaced it with a brandnew manufactured home and immedi ately placed it on Zillow to rent for the outrageous $4,000 per month. Because our mobile home parks are under the purview of the State of California De partment of Housing and Community Development, these types of things are

William Banning

Measure P funds to repair college campus

•Santa Barbara Unified School District -District 5: Celeste Kafri

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees -Area 2: Kyle Richards

On Nov. 5, I will be voting Yes on Measure P. This bond measure will not increase current taxes for homeowners. It will allow the Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC) District to repair or replace many deteriorating campus buildings, constructed 60 years ago.

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees -Area 3: No Endorsement

SBCC made a big impact on my life. After graduating in 1972, I transferred to the University of California, Irvine and then began a fulfilling career. SBCC has provided this same opportunity for thousands of local high school students and it remains one of our area’s greatest resources.

•Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustee -Area 4:

Dave Morris

None of the Measure P Bond Measure funds will be used for salaries. Passing Measure P will also qualify our community college district to apply for $100 million in state matching grants.

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 2: Nadra Ehrman

By voting Yes on Measure P you will help provide our community college district with the funding it needs to serve generations to come. That’s something you can be proud of doing.

Mark Brickley Carpinteria

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 3: Sarah Anne Read

•Santa Barbara County Board of Education - Trustee

Area 6: Katya Armistead

• Carpinteria City Council - District 2: Natalia Alarcon

• Goleta City Council -District 3: Jennifer Smith

• Goleta City Council -District 4: Stuart Kasdin

•City of Goleta Mayor: Paula Perotte

•Santa Barbara City Council - District 1: No

ELECTION 2024

Q&A: Adriana González-Smith, candidate for Carpinteria City Council District 2

BY EVELYN SPENCE AND JUN STARKEY

Music teacher Adriana GonzálezSmith is running for a seat on the Carpinteria City Council, representing District 2.

González-Smith grew up in the area, she told CVN, and after spending some time in Washington, D.C. due to her husband’s military career, she returned to Carpinteria with her husband and son. She is r unning against Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon, who is campaigning for a second term on the city council.

González-Smith has been endorsed by Carpinteria City Councilmember Roy Lee, who is leaving the council in December for a seat on the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. In a press release sent out last Friday, Supervisor-elect Lee called González-Smith “exactly the kind of leader Carpinteria needs.”

“Her focus on preserving our town’s character, improving public safety, and ensuring that every resident’s voice is heard makes her the best choice for City Council,” he said.

González-Smith told CVN that Lee convinced her to run and that he was “looking to see for other options” for González-Smith’s district. On Tuesday, in response to follow-up questions from CVN about González-Smith’s statements, Lee told CVN over text: “I encouraged Adriana to run. Anyone who is willing to make the sacrifice to serve their community should run. She shares my passion for being responsive and listening to the community, I hope that she is successful.”

T he general election is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024. Seats for Carpinteria districts 2, 3 and 4 will be on the ballot. Current councilmember Wade Nomura, a local landscaper and former mayor, is running unopposed for District 4; Julia Mayer, owner of Dune Coffee Roasters, is running unopposed for the District 3 seat.

The following Q&A was lightly edited for clarity.

CVN: Tell us about yourself and your history in the area.

Adriana González-Smith: I’m a lifelong resident of Santa Barbara and a very proud member of a family that has called Carpinteria home for over four generations. So I feel very deeply connected to our community.

I grew up spending summers, weekends, school holidays, with aunts, uncles, cousins in Carpinteria, at my grandparents home and on Ninth Street. To me, this was a second home, and same with our local beach. So the spirit of this town is actually in my DNA.

As a young adult, I decided this would

be my forever home. Later, my husband and son and I moved to Washington, D.C. for three years, where he was stationed as a military commander. There, I continued to teach piano to kids, adults of all ages, as well (work with) homeschool programs.

I also had the honor of volunteering with fleet readiness and spousal support programs within the military community and their families. So after D.C., we came home to Carpinteria. (Now) back home, my husband decided to retire after 26 years, just this September, from service, allowing me to dedicate time to our local community.

(...) I have one son here. And I have a husband, that’s my family.

Do you teach at the school district? No, I have a private teaching program.

Why are you running for Carpinteria City Council?

So I decided to run for several reasons – my extended family’s involvement in Carpinteria, from teachers to volunteer coaches, demonstrates our commitment to education and community service. I feel well equipped with insights into the local priorities and concerns and ensuring that every voice is represented.

My role as an educator allowed me to connect with both youth and elderly in our community, giving me a broad perspective on the priorities, concerns and challenges that families in Carpinteria face.

And the timing was perfect. My husband was scheduled to retire after 26

years of service in the Navy, opening up my life to focus on community service and full time, as I mentioned earlier, I was also encouraged by friends and family.

And finally, a meeting with Roy Lee made it clear now is a great time to run.

What do you believe are the top three issues facing residents of Carpinteria, and residents of District 2?

I think Carpinterians are facing challenges with affordable housing solutions as well as land zoning and developments, infrastructure and the budget.

In District 2, r ent stabilization for mobile home parks is a concern. Since we have the largest mobile home park, Sandpiper, we really need to cap rent increases. This is affordable housing in the district, and we need to protect that. I feel passionately about this, the city should be advocating to work with state officials to make more strict laws concerning rent stabilization. I support and will work with Roy Lee as county supervisor to set policies in our county.

Have you been following along with the city council’s budget discussions?

Yeah, we are in a deficit right now, and we don’t have enough in the reserves to really look past more than two or three years, so that’s a concern.

Can you comment on any recent city council decisions you agreed with or disagreed with?

I do appreciate that we are increasing services to our youth, seniors and veter-

Highway closures: Sept.

ans. Here in Carpinteria, we have a lot of retirees, particularly in District 2, and I’m glad that we’re providing these incredible services to people, but the community deserves more.

This is an incredible place to live with the special community, and there’s a lot of people making sacrifices to live here, and we can do a little better at creating more services.

The safety of our kids is non-negotiable for me, making routes to schools safer, managing traffic near our schools and places like the Boys and Girls Club, as well as supporting resource officers. I feel we can do a better job with being proactive and obtaining county and state resources to support what Carpinteria needs. I really feel like we need our city council to go to bat for us.

What makes you more qualified than your opponent to represent your district?

I’ve been canvassing for two months, and I’ve been having one on one conversations with people and quickly getting to know their priorities. So I have that in my back pocket right now that I feel like I am out there. This is a small town, and it deserves a personal touch.

I feel as a member of District 2, that there has been an absence of my council member who is my incumbent, and my promise to all the voters when I’m elected as city council is that I will be out. I will be visible; I’ll be reaching out proactively. I’ll continue to knock on doors. I’ll be at HOA meetings, as I have been for the last eight weeks, I’ll be very accessible. There’s a lot of folks in this district that don’t get the attention and the services that they need, and I’m running for office, and I’ve been reaching out to some of the members of the council, and have received little to no response. So I can imagine how it is for the average person living in the city.

What’s the connection with Roy Lee – he encouraged you to run?

I’m just active in the community as he is, and I’m in the district he was interested in looking to see for other options and who might be qualified. It took a few phone conversations to be convinced this is the right time.

How did you meet?

He has a restaurant that I frequent, and (I’m) just active in the community. He has kids in the community.

What was your reaction to his endorsement? Honored.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? No.

29–Oct. 12

Closures along Highway 101 continue due to ongoing construction and as construction projects move further up the coast. Residents are reminded that the speed limit in construction zones is 55 mph.

On the northbound side of the highway, on Sunday nights between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., one lane between Santa Monica Road and Hermosillo Road is closed. That same area is closed Monday – Thursday nights, 8 p.m. – 5 a.m.

The off-ramps at Olive Mill Road and San Ysidro Road will be closed Oct. 9–10. The onramp at San Ysidro Road is closed until mid-2025, and the off-ramp at San Ysidro Road is closed until mid-December 2024.

On the southbound side, on Sunday nights between 10 a.m. and 7 a.m., one lane between Cabrillo Boulevard and Carpinteria Avenue, as well as the off-ramp at Olive Mill Road, will be closed. Those same areas will be closed between Monday and Thursday nights, 8 p.m. – 7 a.m.

The on- and off-ramps at North Padaro Lane will be closed for three weeks starting Oct. 6, and the on-ramp at Posilipo Lane will be closed until Spring 2026.

Flaggers will be present on North Jameson Lane between Sheffield Drive and San Ysidro Road Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., to direct traffic as crews move equipment.

In Summerland, residents should expect daytime noise as crews install irrigation by the Ortega Hill Bikeway. Near Padaro Lane, residents can expect night noise due to pavement grinding. ––Evelyn Spence

COURTESY PHOTO

Adriana González-Smith

Q&A: Natalia Alarcon, candidate for Carpinteria City Council District 2

BY EVELYN SPENCE AND JUN STARKEY

City of Carpinteria Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon is running for her second term on the Carpinteria City Council. In 2020, she ran for an at-large council seat; now, in 2024, following the council’s switch to district-based elections, she is running for the District 2 seat.

Alarcon has lived in District 2 for over two years; she and her husband, who also grew up in Carpinteria, are raising their three children here.

She is running against music teacher Adriana González-Smith.

In a letter sent to Coastal View News last week, fellow councilmember Mónica Solórzano said she is endorsing Alarcon for the District 2 seat, citing Alarcon’s professionalism and “deep-rooted commitment to the vital issues facing her district.”

T he general election is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024. Seats for Carpinteria districts 2, 3 and 4 will be on the ballot. Current councilmember Wade Nomura, a local landscaper and former mayor, is running unopposed for District 4; Julia Mayer, owner of Dune Coffee Roasters, is running unopposed for the District 3 seat.

The following Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.

CVN: Tell us about yourself and your history in the area.

Natalia Alarcon: I moved to Carpinteria when I was eight. I’m the youngest of five, and when we first came to Carpinteria, we had a little bit of a rough start trying to get settled, but once we did, we knew that Carpinteria was really going to be home.

I’m fortunate to have grown up here and gone through the public school system. As I got older, I went to UCSB and I received my bachelor’s degree in history and my master’s degree at Antioch University in the Latino clinical psychology cohort. Professionally, I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist.

I also have my husband, who I grew up with in Carpinteria, and we’re raising three of our kids here in District 2. I’ve lived in District 2 for 20 years. I moved here when I was in high school in this specific district.

Since then, I think a big part of who I am really is (someone who) gives back to the community. (…) Before stepping onto the council, a big part of that was being a part of the local Parents for Aliso School, where I was heavily involved with raising funds and really building that Aliso community.

Of course, in various other nonprofit boards that I’ve been on, I really try to ensure that anything that I’m a part of affects this community in a certain way.

I’ll also say that being the youngest of five, I’m grateful that my siblings still live in town. I have one sister who’s a local attorney and owns a small business in town, so I see that perspective of Carpinteria.

What do you believe are the top three issues facing residents in Carpinteria, and residents of District 2?

Ov erall, some of the biggest issues in Carpinteria that’s really important to zone in on is affordable housing. There’s no doubt that we, a lot of our families, the community itself, is changing. We’re seeing a lot of our younger families needing to leave because they can’t afford to no longer live here, which is really unfortunate.

It’s also balancing the development with open space… It’s preserving our beaches, our mountains and being able to live in such a beautiful community.

The other piece that’s incredibly important is the budget. After Covid, a lot of municipalities have found themselves in difficult situations. (...) In Carpinteria, in particular, we have stagnant revenues but high expenditures. It’s important that the approach we take is sustainable, and I think that also requires making really difficult decisions when it comes to our budget and really being fiscally conservative.

It’s also really important that we take the approach of looking at other potential revenue sources so that Carpinteria can continue to grow stronger.

(...) (District 2) is different from the rest of the community. We have one community park. We have some of the hotel areas. We have Motel 6. We have some of the motels in this area that have some hot spots. We also have the bike path by Santa Monica Creek, which frequently is graffitied.

I work really hard to bring up those concerns to the city, and I’m really grateful that we have Carpinteria Beautiful, who tends to clean that up pretty quickly for us.

What kind of other revenue sources?

There’s the TOT measure that’ll be on the ballot in November, which is the transient occupancy tax. It’s currently at 12% and it would be at 15% should it be passed, and it’s really geared towards visitors that are coming into the area who would pay that additional tax.

And again, that’s not meant to solve our issues. I think Carpinteria needs to be proactive in continuing to look at other ways to increase revenue as we move forward.

Why are you running for a second term on the council?

I’ll say that for 2020, it was never my intention to run and be a city councilmember. But the moment I decided to get involved with city government, I started attending the meetings, and I was really being an observer to the conversations and the decisions that were being made.

The last four years were full of learning opportunities, and I’ve had hundreds of conversations with constituents about wanting to ensure Carpinteria stays Carpinteria. That’s really one of the main reasons why I’m continuing to run be-

that I can be really effective with ensuring that Carpinteria’s new Work Plan is put in place and continues to move forward.

Can you reflect on your first term on the city council? Can you talk about any difficult decisions, any memorable actions?

Most recently, one of the most difficult decisions has been with when the budget was presented to us, the 24-25 budget. The majority of the council decided to defer the community resource deputy position, which at the time, was estimated at $200,000, but in reality, once you incorporate overhead, was closer to $275,000.

So despite that decision being difficult… it gives us the opportunity to still work with all of the deputies that we have in this area, and really look at what does community policing look like, moving away from the model where only one community resource deputy is seen, but ensuring that all of our deputies are part of our community, and we continue to build that trust between the sheriffs and our constituents.

I have seen the community ask and want more and more services, and rightfully so. And the reality is that we as a city can’t offer all services to everyone, and it’s incredibly important that we partner with our local nonprofits to provide services that the city cannot do.

cause I think Carpinteria right now is at an interesting place of change, and I think that the decisions that we make right now are incredibly critical to what Carpinteria will be years from today.

There’s a lot of exciting work that’s yet to be done and in the pipeline, which includes looking at ways we can be more transparent as the city government and really work with our constituents, incorporating focus groups and really inviting the community to participate in creating our work plans and our goals as a city from year to year.

Do you have anything you would want to accomplish in a second term that you didn’t get to during 2020-2024?

Putting affordable housing plans in place. It’s having our housing element certified and approved, and within that element, there are a lot of housing strategies that I think are important, that we as a community see follow through with and see (to) fruition.

I’d like is being more transparent with the community, and developing ways where city government is at more and more events. These last four years, we’ve been able to do more of that, and that’s really exciting.

Working towards having a fiscally conservative budget and creating plans into the future. Working on our infrastructure, I think that’s incredibly important. It’s paving the roads and moving away from deferring maintenance and making sure we put plans in place so that we can have strong infrastructure in our community.

What makes you more qualified than your opponent to represent your district?

I feel like what makes me qualified has been not only the last four years, where I’ve been put in many situations where I’ve had to make difficult decisions, but it’s really been my process – how I make those decisions.

(...) You have to be thoughtful. I’m thoughtful about the decisions I make. I feel like I do my research, I ask important questions, and I talk to constituents about their thoughts and their points of views. I’ve had the opportunity to be in the spaces where, you know, these some decisions and these discussions are being made.

Moving into the next four years, I think

So part of that budget meeting was the decision to also continue to fund or sustain our community support services program, which was roughly around $233,000 annually at services that are Carpinteria-centric. That was really important to me.

In terms of other decisions that I think I have been a part of that are really exciting is opening the library. That was a game changer for Carpinteria, from where it was to where it is now. It’s truly a community hub where I think everyone feels welcome, and the programs that are coming out of the library are really amazing.

(...) Senior services. That was something that constituents have been asking for for a really long time, and it was really great to be able to support what now is our AgeWell programming, and I think we’re just seeing the beginning of that and where it can go.

The other exciting piece is the initial pilot program of the safe parking program. To date, it’s been really successful, and so having more conversations around the impact of the safe parking program and what else can we as a state and a community do to support unhoused individuals.

Is there anything else you want to add?

I want to encourage the public in Carpinteria, no matter your age, no matter who you are, to come in and to witness one of these meetings. And I would encourage anyone to make public comments.

Part of the work that we do, a big part, is to listen to constituents. Oftentimes, when community members are making public comments, what people may not realize is those comments really spark action afterwards.

It’s important that we have all perspectives come and be a part of the meeting, and that helps us better make the decisions that we’re making.

(...) I have three kids. Something that comes up is public safety. I, as a parent, have those concerns as well. I have two kids in kindergarten, one in kindergarten and one in first at Aliso, and a seventh grader at Carpinteria Middle School. I have these concerns, and I also know that the city is working with the school district, and the school district is working really closely with law enforcement to ensure that our kids continue to be safe.

COURTESY PHOTO

Natalia Alarcon, right, with her family.

Hearing on amendments to county cannabis ordinance moved to Nov. 6

An odor threshold for the greenhouse property lines would be a start, but it won’t solve the problem, residents say

BY MELINDA BURNS

A county plan for tackling the “skunky” smell of cannabis in the Carpinteria Valley was presented to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission last week, amid a flurry of letters from residents who said the plan doesn’t go far enough.

The county Planning Commission, running well behind schedule on Sept. 25, heard a summary of the staff report but continued the hearing to Nov. 6 for oral public comment.

Under the proposal by county Planning & Development, inspectors with “trained noses” would investigate odor complaints in the valley, a mecca for the cannabis greenhouse industry, by measuring the smell along greenhouse property lines. They would sniff the air through Nasal Rangers, handheld gadgets that look like oversized hair dryers.

Any odor of pot rated by an inspector as stronger than “noticeable” and lasting for at least three minutes would require the growers to take some action — adjust their odor control equipment, conduct diagnostic testing or install better technology.

County inspections of the greenhouses themselves would be performed quarterly during the first year of operations, as they are now, and annually thereafter, unannounced. Growers would be required to install “run-time” meters showing when their equipment was or was not functioning.

These amendments to the county’s 2018 cannabis ordinance would provide “an objective standard or threshold that is measurable and enforceable” and would help Planning & Development “to better identify, evaluate and enforce cannabis related nuisance odors” in the valley, according to a staff report to the commission.

For implementation, the odor controls would require a commission recommendation, a majority vote of the county Board of Supervisors and final approval by the state Coastal Commission, a process that could take more than a year.

“Disrespecting the voters?”

Two dozen letters to the commission were rushed to the commission last week, including statements from Concerned Carpinterians, the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis, Carpinteria Valley Association and city of Carpinteria, broadly criticizing the proposed odor controls and asking for more time to review them.

Lionel Neff, a coalition board member, said property line testing and an odor threshold would be “significant steps in the right direction.” However, he said, “the proposed amendments simply will not address the pervasive and perpetual nuisance to the community … Community members have suffered for years, and this proposal does not move us quickly enough to solutions.”

For starters, some residents said, the county should not take any action on odor control until county Supervisor-elect Roy Lee, a Carpinteria city councilmember, takes office for the First District on Jan. 1, replacing Carpinterian Das Williams, who was a chief architect of the cannabis ordinance.

“Isn’t it disrespecting the voters in the First District to push through ordinance amendments right before seating the new First District supervisor?” asked Tim Bliss, who lives on Casitas Pass Road. Another member of the Bliss family joined the lawsuit that was filed last year by the coalition against Valley Crest Farm

“We have a critical opportunity to correct these deficiencies and to restore public trust in our local governance.”

–– First District Supervisor-elect Roy Lee

and Ceres Farms, two large cannabis greenhouse operations at 5980 and 6030 Casitas Pass Road.

Most of the 20 grows currently operating in the valley, including Valley Crest and Ceres, rely solely on misting systems that are designed to mask the smell of pot after it escapes through the greenhouse roof vents and into the outside air.

Count y records show that only six greenhouse operations are equipped with carbon filters, called scrubbers, which have been shown to eliminate most of the smell of pot before it can escape through the vents.

The letters to the commission from city officials and the citizens’ groups repeated their longstanding demand that the county amend its ordinance to require the installation of scrubbers in every cannabis greenhouse.

“Please set carbon scrubber requirements and monitoring thresholds that you would want if you lived in a Carpinteria home adjacent to a cannabis facility and your children studied and played at a Carpinteria school near a cannabis facility,” said Reece Duca, a longtime valley resident.

“A lot has been accomplished”

According to the staff report, Geosyntec Consultants, a Santa Barbara engineering firm, recorded 335 measurements with Nasal Rangers at the property lines of valley greenhouses during two fourday periods this year — one in May and one in August — to evaluate the smell of cannabis. The vast majority of these measurements were classified as “no odor,” “faint or transient odor” or “mild to transient odor” — all below the threshold for inspection that the county is proposing.

More noticeable cannabis odor was recorded at greenhouses on Foothill Road that have long been the target of residents’ complaints: in the 3500 and 4400 blocks and the 4500 block near Carpinte-

misting systems. But there has been no way to determine which grow was to blame.

Despite the prevalence of the misting systems, the smell of pot lingers in hot spots around the valley, including La Mirada, Padaro Lane, the Polo Condos, the Cate School campus, and along Foothill Road. This year to date, Carpinterians have filed 253 odor complaints with the county, down dramatically from 1,200 complaints in 2021.

But some residents say they no longer bother to fill out the forms.

“As a resident of Carpinteria, and having had to smell cannabis almost every day for seven years, I implore you to get this amendment correct,” Merrily Peebles wrote to the commission, attaching copies of her many complaints from the foothill neighborhood of La Mirada Drive.

“Carpinteria has become a disadvantaged community,” Peebles said. “We put up with odor that causes possible physical ailments such as asthma, limits our ability to socialize outdoors or keep our windows open, and decreases our property value… I have mostly stopped reporting this year, as it seems useless.”

Some residents said the proposed odor threshold for greenhouse property lines should be lowered to “faint” or “very faint” instead of “noticeable.” Others, including Peebles, said it should be zero.

ria High School, and in the 5600 and 5700 blocks of Casitas Pass Road.

Geosyntec also tested three greenhouse operations indoors, predictably finding strong levels of odor there; but at the greenhouse property lines, the smell dropped to negligible levels. This data indicates that odor control technology “is capable of significantly reducing cannabis odor from inside the facilities, compared to outside the facilities,” the staff report said.

Between December 2022 and April 2024, Geosyntec inspected 50 misting systems and scrubbers at 22 cannabis operations in the valley, and two near Buellton. In most cases, the company found that growers were complying with their county-approved odor-control plans, and their systems were working.

In a letter to the commission, CARP Growers, an industry group representing most of the greenhouse owners in the valley, said that Geosyntec’s work “was comprehensive and seems to obviate the need for substantial amendments” to the county’s cannabis ordinance.

The group objected to what it viewed as an “arbitrary” threshold for odor monitoring at the property lines, and it noted that many greenhouses were “substantial distances from residential areas.”

The growers said they would support a requirement for annual odor control inspections of greenhouse operations, but that the cost should be deducted from the county taxes they pay.

“It is clear from the work contained in the staff letter, prepared by your staff and consultants, that a lot has already been accomplished related to cannabis odor control,” the group stated.

“A disadvantaged community”

Since early 2016, county records show, valley residents have submitted more than 3,900 odor complaints with Planning & Development regarding the smell of pot and the “laundromat” smell of the

“We don’t want to smell it, ever,” one resident said. Some wanted the county to fine growers and revoke their business licenses if they failed to control the smell. Many of the letters raised objections to a continued reliance on odor complaints. The county’s proposal would trigger measurements at the property lines of a greenhouse only if three people submitted complaints within 60 days or five people did so within 24 hours. Residents also noted that a Nasal Ranger would not help neighborhoods such as La Mirada that are not next to greenhouses. In some places, the smell wafts in on the wind.

The proposed ordinance amendments, Supervisor-elect Lee wrote to the commission, “should prioritize an overhaul” of the “existing odor complaint system” that has frustrated many of his constituents for years.

“We have a critical opportunity to correct these deficiencies and to restore public trust in our local governance,” Lee said.

The concept of measuring the smell of pot at greenhouse property lines was considered years ago by the Planning Commission, but it was never adopted. Then, in 2022, the county Board of Supervisors contracted with Geosyntec for on-call odor monitoring; in April this year, the board asked Planning & Development to propose ordinance amendments on odor control for the Carpinteria Valley.

In two separate studies that are underway, staff planners said, Geosyntec and Southern California Edison are looking into potential electrical demands related to the installation of scrubbers in valley greenhouses, and Planning & Development is studying how to improve odor control at outdoor cannabis operations, chiefly west of Buellton. Of 44 permitted North County grows in open fields or under hoops, only five have been required to install odor control equipment.

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.

SPENCE FILE PHOTO

Ever-Bloom’s operation at 4701 Foothill Road – seen here during an April 2024 tour – has 10 carbon scrubbers per acre installed on site.

Defying expectations, 2024 California avocado season delivers 350 million pounds

Strong prices help Carpinteria avocado growers through locally light season

BY PETER DUGRÉ, TWO TRUMPETS COMMUNICATIONS

The 2024 California Avocado Festival comes at the tail end of an unusual 2024 California avocado harvest. Early season projections from January had the volume of the 2024 crop pegged at a paltry 208 million pounds. In July, the California Avocado Commission — hearing reports that there was a lot more fruit hanging on trees than projected — adjusted its seasonal crop estimate upward to 270 million pounds.

Now that the season is about over, the crop, mostly Hass avocados, is likely to eclipse 350 million pounds. The extra fruit added several weeks to the season and kept packinghouses humming while some industry veterans wondered how the initial estimate was so far out of whack.

“T he crop obliterated all estimates given for the quantity of fruit,” said Rick Shade of Shade Farm Management, which manages avocado ranches in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. “Inland Ventura County had a stellar year.”

Lining Highway 126 into Santa Paula and Fillmore, some inland Ventura County avocado growers harvested well over 20,000 pounds per acre. Comparatively, the average avocado yield in San Diego and Riverside counties was approximately 3,000 pounds per acre in 2024.

The Ventura County boom came on the heels of a couple of wet winters that supported a strong crop. That so much of the season’s harvest centered in inland Ventura County emphasized the heavy shift in California avocado production from the southern growing region in San Diego County to the northern region of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. San Diego was the original hub of California avocado production, but more avocados now grow in the north, in large part due to the relative scarcity of water and its higher cost in the south.

While rain produced a healthy crop inland, coastal avocados, including in Carpinteria, suffered from a prolonged cold and rainy season in spring 2023. Avocados harvested in 2024 set on the trees in the spring of 2023, or in the case of the coastal zone, did not set in 2023. In part, the weak coastal crop helps to explain low early season expectations.

“You could basically follow the fog line to predict who had a stellar year and notso-good year in avocados,” Shade said. “Groves inside the fog had a light year.”

Lingering wet, cold conditions in 2023 hindered pollination. Without pollination, there’s no fruit set. To promote pollination, commercial bees are transported into avocado growing regions when the trees are flowering in the spring. Since spring 2023 was cold, the hired bees weren’t flying.

“Our bee man loves bringing bees to Carpinteria in the spring,” Shade said. “But in 2023 we had to buy 5,000 gallons of molasses to feed the bees because they weren’t leaving the hive.”

In California — Carpinteria included — early expectations are calling for a bumper avocado crop in 2025 exceeding 2024’s 350 million pounds.

Locally, along the coast, the cold weather also contributed to unusually high pest damage from thrips, an insect that causes brown scarring on the avocado skin. The scarred fruit remains good to eat, but it’s not marketable at grocery stores. The affected fruit is diverted to restaurants and the foodservice industry at a lesser price than Grade A avocados.

Mexican avocado issues boost California prices

No avocado industry analysis can be complete without considering the towering influence of the three-billion-pound Mexican crop that supplies nearly 90% of the United States avocado demand. California growers plan their harvest to fit into windows when Mexican exports to the United States are thinnest, roughly between May and July, when California’s crop is ready to be picked, and Mexico is in its lull.

This year, in addition to Mexico’s natural gap in production, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shut down Mexican avocado exports into the U.S. due to a security incident with U.S. inspectors in Mexico in June. For over a week, no Mexican avocados were allowed into the United States, which sent the market into a frenzy and led to prices on California fruit reaching over $2 per pound for the grower (which is huge).

At that point, California gr owers

scrambled to harvest their fruit and send it to a market that was paying about 50% more than it had been in the previous weeks.

“We were done picking in early August, which is unheard of for me,” said Shade, who worked to get fruit into the favorable market.

Even with a light harvest in the coastal zone, including Carpinteria growers, strong prices made for a decent year in 2024.

Future farming, 2025 and beyond

The 2024 suspension of imports of Mexican avocados was the second time in three years that the United States acted to protect on-the-ground pest inspectors who were put in danger due to dicy security conditions in Michoacan, the primary Mexican avocado production hub, which also happens to be a center of gang violence. (The inspectors were not hurt.)

In September 2024, two changes were announced on Mexican imports. For one,

In

California — Carpinteria included — early expectations are calling for a bumper avocado crop in 2025 exceeding 2024’s 350 million pounds. While it’s currently looking heavy, the 2025 crop is still subject to winter and Mother Nature’s whims.

USDA inspectors will no longer be on the ground to inspect for pests. Instead, Mexican counterparts will conduct pest inspections to clear the crop for export to the United States. The other change is Mexico will instate an avocado certification program to guarantee that fruit is not funding criminal enterprises nor grown on illegally deforested land.

Avocado territory in Mexico also is a primary habitat for migrating monarch butterflies. Environmental groups have drawn attention to critical habitat loss, and the Mexican government is reacting to international criticism of its avocado industry.

In California — Carpinteria included — early expectations are calling for a bumper avocado crop in 2025 exceeding 2024’s 350 million pounds. While it’s currently looking heavy, the 2025 crop is still subject to winter and Mother Nature’s whims.

“We’ve already seen some fruit from the 2025 crop falling in Moorpark due to the last heat wave,” Shade said. “Overall, for next year, the quantity is looking good and the quality is looking outstanding. We never count the fruit until it’s harvested and in the bin.”

Two Trumpets Communications, co-owned by Lea Boyd & Peter Dugré, edits The Weekly Newsline, a market newsletter for the California Avocado Society. Two Trumpets provides an annual California avocado rundown exclusive to Coastal View News to coincide with the California Avocado Festival and end of the California avocado season.

KAREN GRAF

Can YOU donate a few hours of your time to answer the phone in our Carpinteria office and schedule rides for our non-driving neighbors? For more information call HELP of Carpinteria, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4:30pm

HELP volunteers Anne Goulart, Lorien Rennie, Mary Lemke

Carpinteria

Carpinteria environmental scientist is WaterWise contest winner

Everyone should be “cognizant of how they waste water,” winner Natasha Lohmus says

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Carpinteria’s Natasha Lohmus is Santa Barbara County’s WaterWise contest winner, taking home the 2024 title for transforming her Carpinteria lawn into a water-efficient garden.

Yards are judged on overall attractiveness, plant selection, design and irrigation methods, and Lohmus’ prize comes after a yearslong effort, the 39-year-resident of Carpinteria told Coastal View News last week.

“I started chipping away at the lawn 30 years ago,” Lohmus said, adding that she applied to the contest because she needed a deadline to force herself to finish. “Most of the garden (I worked on) probably the last four years.”

Lohmus worked for the California Department of Fish and Game, now called Fish and Wildlife, as a game warden and an environment scientist for over 32 years. Her duties focused on protecting riparian habitats, or lands that exist alongside bodies of water.

She put that knowledge to use in creating her water-wise garden. Walking around Carpinteria, Lohmus noticed that many houses don’t have rain gutters in the front, or that their downspouts dump water into the driveway and into the gutter.

Because of this, pollutants from the roof or oil from the driveway often end up in the creek, she explained.

With this in mind, Lohmus removed her downspout and replaced it with a gutter that goes through the middle of her front yard.

She also paid one of her neighbors, fellow retiree Jose Luis Flores, to dig out a two-and-a-half-foot-wide creek bed. She then filled it with gravel and rocks she had collected on her travels, which act as erosion control for her creek. (The creek is her favorite part of her new yard.)

“I’ve been a rockhound – (with) a minor in geology – so I love rocks, and I can’t go anywhere without collecting some,” Lohmus said. “(...) When I used to patrol the backcountry, if I found some really nice rocks, I’d fit them in the back of my truck and bring them home.”

She also had her walkway moved so it now slopes down toward the garden, and on the outside of the walkway, installed a French drain: an eight-inch-deep trench filled with gravel.

Beyond those construction-heavy changes, Lohmus brought in native and drought-tolerant plants – with a key focus on her favorite colors, red and purple – as well as a few non-natives.

She also planted an orange tree, a lemon tree and a Kaffir lime, as well as cold weather and warm grass seeds.

“You don’t have to sacrifice color to have a drought-tolerant yard,” she emphasized. “There are some beautiful cacti and succulents, and you can work other plants into that (and) still be drought tolerant.”

It’s also important that her garden produces food, either for herself or for the pollinators: “I have a rule: (plants) either have to have a flower or produce an edible product.”

Lohmus has always been big on water conservation, and she encouraged

at the lawn 30 years ago, but the bulk of the

residents to look into how they can save water – not just in the garden, but in the home, too.

“I’m very environmentally minded, and water is a limited resource here. I think it’s everybody’s responsibility to be a little cognizant of how they waste water, or how to use water,” she said. “(...) People can save a lot of water if they change their gutter system instead of having it go out into the street.”

Her love for the environment (and gardening) began when she was little.

Her mother would take her to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden State Park in San Francisco, and after they moved to a house with a yard, her parents crafted their own Japanese garden in the back. Her grandfather also grew his own vegetables and fruits in a house in Northern California.

Lohmus looks forward to making changes to her yard as time goes on, because “the reality is, a yard or garden, they’re never finished – ever. I’m still making changes, and I will probably do so until I no longer garden.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

Winner Natasha Lohmus told CVN she “started chipping away”

work came in the last four years.

Natasha Lohmus turned her lawn into a water-efficient garden. Lohmus picked up many of the rocks in her garden during her travels as a game warden and an environment scientist for what is now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Avofest benefi ts entire Carpinteria community

BY MELISSA BROWN SIMPSON AND THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO FESTIVAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The annual California Avocado Festival is back for its 38th year in our beautiful community! Drawing thousands of visitors to our town, this beloved event not only celebrates our favorite green fruit but also boosts our local economy, fi lling hotel rooms and generating vital bed tax revenue.

Set to take place this weekend, the festival will transform Linden Avenue into a vibrant hub of activity. Attendees can indulge in a variety of avocado-inspired dishes, enjoy live music and explore local artisan vendors. The influx of visitors provides a signifi cant boost to businesses on Linden, ensuring that local restaurants, shops and hotels see a welcome increase in sales.

As a 501(c)(3) organization in good standing, our festival operates with an all-volunteer board dedicated to serving the community. The funds raised during this event support a variety of local initiatives, including service groups, sports organizations, nonprofi t eff orts, and youth-related activities sprinkled throughout our area. This collaboration not only enhances the festival experience but also strengthens our community bonds.

The partnership between the festival organizers and the city has been key to its success. Together, they’ve worked diligently to create a safe and enjoyable environment for everyone. With robust planning and community involvement, the festival ensures a seamless experience that highlights the best of what our town has to off er.

Nonprofi ts also benefi t from this delicious event, with proceeds supporting local charities and initiatives. Last year alone, the festival helped raise thousands of dollars, making a meaningful impact in our community.

As we prepare for this year’s festivities, we invite everyone to join in the fun. Come for the avocados, stay for the community spirit and help us continue to make the Avocado Festival a hallmark of our town’s vibrant culture and economic vitality!

Eighth generation farmer is 38th annual Avofest chair

Francis Brand is the honorary chairperson of the 38th annual California Avocado Festival, set for this weekend, Oct. 4–6. As honorary chairperson, Brand will kick off the opening ceremony on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Carpinteria Seal Foundation by placing an avocado on the seal’s nose.

Brand is a first-generation American and eighth-generation farmer. The Brands have tackled many crops, including tomatoes, cut flowers, cannabis, avocados and more; of the 2,000 acres of avocados farmed locally, 90 are farmed by the Brands.

“Our family was drawn to Carpinteria because of the world-renowned climate for agriculture,” Brand said in a press release. “We love farming, so being a part of the celebration of Carpinteria’s favorite crop is an honor.”

He and his siblings grew up running around his family’s greenhouses; now, he and his wife Janelle Brand are raising their own growing family in the area, with two young children, and a third due in November.

The California Avocado Festival, also known as Avofest, is scheduled to take place Friday, 1–10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.

– 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., on Linden Avenue between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street.

This year, 60 bands are set to perform, and 50 arts and crafts and commercial vendors – as well as 15 food vendors and more than a dozen nonprofits – will set up downtown. Proceeds for the festival go back to the Carpinteria Education Foundation and Future Farmers of America.

See the full schedule of events online at avofest.org.

Happy Birthday Ruben!

Love,

COURTESY PHOTO

Francis Brand is Avofest’s Honorary Chair. He will attend the festivities with wife Janelle and their two children.

Why do native plants matter?

THE LAY OF THE LAND CVN

MIKE WONDOLOWSKI

“Mike, which plants do you want to start with?”

I replied, “One of the primary goals of this restoration planting is to create habitat for the rare island night lizard, right?”

“That’s right.”

I continued, “Which plants are the most important for creating that habitat?”

“The Opuntia and the two species of Lycium.”

“OK, I’ll do them.” I replied.

“They are in the flats over there.”

That is when I learned Opuntia is prickly pear cactus, and Lycium is boxthorn. Bottom line: these plants are really, really spiny! It suddenly became very clear to me why we were directed to bring leather gloves and wear long sleeves for this five-day work party a few years ago on San Nicolas Island with Channel Islands Restoration. But it made so much sense how these plants provide the rare lizards protection from predators.

I gingerly picked up a flat of potted Opuntia trying to avoid the long needle-sharp thorns as I carried them to the planting site. While planting the lizard habitat-to-be, I noticed some of my teammates planting more benign native plants like morning glory and purple needlegrass, and I pondered how different native plants have different benefits to the ecosystem and to us.

Throughout that morning, my flat of Opuntia repeatedly made the “point” that it can be a protective habitat for some species. The native bunchgrass purple needlegrass is very different. Due to its surprisingly deep roots (typically two to six feet deep!), it is drought and heat tolerant and can grow in poor soil. Better yet, it burns slowly, especially compared to common invasive grasses such as ryegrass. This makes purple needlegrass a valuable plant for habitat restoration, erosion control and stabilizing hillsides.

Morning glory has yet another completely different role – it is a food source for many insects, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It attracts pollinators with its vibrant flowers and nectar helping to create a healthy ecosystem and contributing to biodiversity and plant reproduction.

Because native plants have evolved in their habitats over millennia, the insects and larger animals around them have also evolved to eat, find shelter in, and otherwise rely on these specific native plants. These relationships form the interdependent ecosystem that all life, including humans, depends on.

Sometimes we try to “help” the ecosystem by taking a non-native approach. In an attempt to reduce erosion and mudflows after wildfires in California, a common practice for many years was to spread seeds of non-native fast-growing grasses such as annual ryegrass. The idea is the roots would hold the soil in place when the winter rains arrived.

However, extensive research has found this attempted rehabilitation often does more harm than good. The ryegrass does

First and foremost, it is important that we do not cultivate anything invasive that could find its way to elsewhere in our community.

indeed grow and increase the vegetation cover of the burned area, but soil erosion often turns out to be greater on the ryegrass-seeded areas. A major cause of this is that in the ryegrass-seeded areas, pocket gopher activity is much higher than in other areas.

More bad news: in ryegrass-seeded areas, the regeneration and growth of native species are significantly depressed, including the deep rooting natives that are important for long-term watershed protection. Worse yet, ryegrass dries out during the summer, producing fuel for the next wildfire – a fire that could destroy the young regenerating native plants and leave the ground bare for the following winter rains.

Occasionally we see reports of attempts to remove invasive species of plants from an area and restore native plants. One example is Carpinteria State Beach’s efforts to eradicate iceplant on the coastal dunes. We might wonder if it is worth the effort and expense. But as we learn about the benefits of eliminating invasives and making space for our native plants, the value of these efforts becomes clearer.

What about our own yards? First and foremost, it is important that we do not cultivate anything invasive that could find its way to elsewhere in our community. This includes iceplant, periwinkle, green fountain grass, pampas grass, English ivy, Scotch broom, and many others. For details, see cal-ipc.org.

But not all non-natives are invasive.

Many local ornamental and food-growing plants are indeed non-native but not invasive (for example, hibiscus, avocado, citrus, even tomatoes and squash fall into this category). But there are a multitude of amazing native plants that can be used for ornamental planting. The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden has excellent resources to help identify native plants for any type of landscaping purpose: tinyurl.com/ sbbg-natives.

Planting dozens of prickly pear cactus as habitat for a rare lizard might not be your landscaping preference. But attracting and nourishing a variety of native butterflies and hummingbirds with some low-maintenance, low-water-use native plants can be a lot of fun and beneficial for the ecosystem.

Mike W ondolowski is president of the Carpinteria Valley Association (facebook. com/carpinteriavalleyassociation), a local organization dedicated to maintaining the small beach town nature of our community. In over 30 years of involvement in planning issues, he has witnessed visionary successes, as well as decisions that were later widely regretted. When not stuck indoors, he can often be found enjoying Carpinteria’s treasures including kayaking and snorkeling along the coast, running or hiking on the bluffs or the Franklin Trail, or “vacationing” as a tent camper at the State Beach.

SCHOOL NOTES

COMPILED

BY JUN STARKEY

‘Tis the pumpkin season at The Howard School

The Howard School will host its second annual pumpkin patch – with games, music and food –on Saturday, Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the school’s 5050 El Carro Lane campus.

The family event will include festive games, live fiddle music, a raffle and prizes, cake walks and several vendor booths. “It’s the perfect way to kick off the fall season and enjoy some community fun,” the school wrote in a press release. “Don’t miss out on this one-day event – bring your family and friends to celebrate at the pumpkin patch!”

Those interested in learning more can contact fundraising@ thehowardschool.

Childhood anxiety presentation offered at The Howard School

The Howard School, at 5050 El Carro Lane, will hold a hands-on presentation on childhood anxiety, led by educational psychologist Dr. Mary Patterson, on Monday, Oct. 14, 6–7 p.m. The presentation is part of a new community class schedule; the school plans to host speakers and talks throughout the year on topics such as child anxiety, childhood nutrition, and tech/screens.

The presentation is designed to give parents practical tools to support their children as they face challenging emotions, according to a press release from the school. The event will also include methods for identifying anxiety, strategies for managing anxious feelings and ways to empower children dealing with anxiety.

The presentation is free, but registration is limited, so attendees must reserve a spot by visiting bit.ly/ChildAnxietyTalk.

Middle school, MOVE SBC receive money for bicycles

The city of Carpinteria, the Carpinteria Unified School District and MOVE Santa Barbara County have been awarded funding for a fleet of new bicycles to be used during PE classes at Carpinteria Middle School (CMS).

The groups also received funding for a large shipping container that will store the bikes, helmets and other educational materials.

“Congratulations to all partners involved in making this educational opportunity for CMS students a reality,” said Kim Stanley-Zimmerman, senior program manager for MOVE SB County. “We hope this program will increase the number of students biking in Carpinteria equipped with the knowledge of how to ride safely and legally on streets.”

Cate School to host open dress rehearsal for Fall Concert

Cate School, at 1960 Cate Mesa Road, will host an open dress rehearsal on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. for the school’s upcoming Fall Concert.

The rehearsal will be held inside the Katharine Thayer Cate Memorial Chapel on campus, and members of the Carpinteria community are invited to come watch. Performers will include the Cate Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble, Camerata and the a capella group No Strings Attached.

COURTESY PHOTO

The dress rehearsal for Cate School’s Fall Concert will be held on Oct. 13; it is open to the public.

Canalino, Family School students share gratitude for after-school programs

BY JUN STARKEY

Canalino Elementary and Carpinteria Family School (CFS) staff spoke to the Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees last week about two of the school’s afterschool programs: Planet Protectors and Club Kind.

Planet Protectors, or Protectores del Planeta, began last school year under school counselor Shanna Hargett, staff told the trustees during the board’s Sept. 24 meeting.

It was created for kindergarten and first grade students to help them better understand environmental protection. Students pick up trash twice a week during snack and recess breaks when it’s their classes’ turn to serve as Planet Protectors, which rotates monthly.

Students learn about pollution, recycling and why it’s important to keep the planet clean. A handful of students from the program spoke to the board Tuesday about what they enjoyed about being a Planet Protector.

“I like picking up trash because it’s helping the Earth and our environment,” said Landon Hargett. Students said the most common type of trash they find is plastic wrappers from food, and much of the trash is found in the blacktop area of the playground.

Club Kind, as explained by Canalino and CFS counselor Tricia Humbles, is a second and third grade program designed to promote kindness among students. Students meet once a week for four weeks and learn about kindness while also brainstorming acts of kindness that they can complete as a group.

Some of these acts of kindness, Humbles said, have included a food drive, creating hygiene packs for unhoused people, writing positive messages in a chalk walk outside of the school, writing letters to residents of GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care, reading to students in lower grades, playing games with younger students and hosting a

makers’ mart which donated the proceeds to a local animal shelter.

“I decided to join Club Kind because I wanted to help people,” student Sophina Guerrero told the board. “I like Club Kind because it allows us kids to help in ways we believe in.”

Following the presentation, a group of students — led by Lori Lee Collins, a fourth and fifth grade teacher at CFS — sang a song together. She and a group of students performed “The Carpinteria Family School Song” which Collins said was written by Canalino Elementary teacher Angela White. Collins and CFS teacher Jan Silk played the ukulele along with a handful of students, while the group sang.

FSA updates board on services at CUSD SCHOOL BOARD

COURTESY GRAPHIC

According to the Family Service Agency report, CUSD saw 66 contacts for school-based counseling, 28 for intensive therapy and 390 informal contacts.

Diamond, Smith board seats uncontested

Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees members Jaime Diamond and Aaron Smith are both uncontested in re-election for seats on the board. Both will reach the end of their current terms in December of this year.

Ashley Labistour, the Family Service Agency’s (FSA) school services supervisor, updated the Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees during the board’s Sept. 24 meeting on the counseling and family services provided during the 2023-24 school year.

“Ashley, I wanted to thank you and your team, they provide incredible school-based mental health therapy service to our students,” said Superintendent Diana Rigby. “We’re disappointed that our Covid-19 funding is no longer, but we do continue to apply for grants because we really believe that every school site needs school-based mental health counseling.”

During the 202324 school year, 127 students received school-based counseling from a school therapist or school social worker.

Labistour also provided a breakdown of contacts with students throughout the year, including individual or group therapy, in-school therapy or informal contacts from counselors. CUSD saw a total of 66 contacts for school-based counseling, 28 contacts for intensive in-school therapy and 390 informal contacts from counselors.

Diamond told CVN that she is aware of some locals interested in running for school board, but none of them live within the districts that are up for reelection.

“When I announced on social media my plan to run again, I received lots of support and community members asking for yard signs, etc.,” Diamond told CVN. “I am so appreciative and honored to represent my community for another four years.”

––Jun Starkey

The board voted to switch from atlarge to by-trustee elections in February 2022. That fall, three board members –then-trustee Jayme Bray (Area 1), Sally Green (Area 2) and Andy Sheaffer (Area 5) – ran for election in their districts in 2022. Currently, Diamond and Smith are serving in at-large positions. With their reelection, they will have seats representing Area 3 and Area 4, respectively.

The objective of FSA staff in school settings is to be aware of and respond to multiple scenarios, including identifying high-risk students, reaching out to parents and caregivers, responding to critical incidents, such as a natural disaster or community violence, and providing individual or group counseling if necessary. Labistour said students must consent to any services rendered.

During the 2023-24 school year, 127 students received school-based counseling from a school therapist or school social worker, according to Labistour’s report. Following sessions, the report said students saw a reduction in symptoms and behavioral problems following the services.

Students were also offered the Signs of Suicide Program, which screened 250 students at CUSD. The program identifies signs of suicide or depression, and screens for students who might need additional help. Of the 250 students screened, 30 were referred for additional counseling or intervention.

CUSD also saw 867 referrals or contacts from a social worker, and 61 cases of individual or group counseling from a social worker.

––Jun Starkey

COURTESY PHOTO

Students from Carpinteria Family School sing “The Carpinteria Family School Song” for the CUSD Board of Trustees.

COURTESY GRAPHIC

CUSD Trustees voted in February 2022 to switch from at-large to bytrustee elections.

THE QUARTERLY REPORT

JON-RYAN SCHLOBOHM

Without a doubt, the big news in the real estate market last month was… the long-awaited, predicted and anticipated drop in the Fed Fund Rate. Yahoo!

While many anticipated an initial cut of 0.25%, it came as a surprise to many when the Fed decided on a 0.50% reduction.

Although the Fed Funds Rate doesn’t directly dictate mortgage rates, it does influence them. Lenders set their rates based on a variety of factors, with the 10year T-bill being a key benchmark. They closely monitor economic conditions, and the Fed Funds Rate plays a role in shaping their projections. Rates that were around 8% less than a year ago have now fallen to the low 6% range.

As we previously noted, our market has slowed significantly, with a sharp reduction in the number of transactions.

July marked one of the slowest months for sales volume on record, and August followed closely as the second slowest in the past 22 years. Despite this decline in volume, overall prices in most segments have remained stable.

This shift isn’t solely due to interest rates, but they have certainly played a major role in affecting buyers’ purchasing power and keeping many sellers from entering the market, especially those reluctant to give up their low interest rates. With borrowing costs decreasing and more cuts anticipated, could this spark activity in the real estate market? We certainly hope so, though we acknowledge our bias.

One key metric we’ve been monitoring is available inventory. As we mentioned last month, inventory has continued to rise from its all-time low but has plateaued over the last 10 weeks, hovering in the 280s to 290s range.

In the past few weeks, we’ve observed a slight uptick in properties going under contract. While this is too small a sample to draw any definitive trends, it’s an interesting development.

Looking specifically at Carpinteria

In the last 30 days, Carpinteria has seen 10 sales, bringing the total for 2024 to 69 sales: 28 homes and 41 condos.

Notable recent transactions include 7373 Shepard Mesa Road, a stunning modern home built in 2018, that sold for $6 million; 3281 Padaro Lane, a spacious 4,000 sq ft beachfront property that sold for $19.5 million; and 3519 Padaro Lane, a three-bedroom beachfront property with a guest home that sold for $10 million. Additionally, our classic neighborhoods had four sales ranging from $1 million (for a home needing significant work) to $2.3 million.

Current market snapshot

As of Sept. 27, there are 17 homes available for sale in Carpinteria, with prices ranging from $1.65 million in classic neighborhoods to a high of $75 million for beachfront property. Notably, 14 out of the 17 available homes are listed above $3 million.

The condo market is tighter, with

Fed cuts rates 0.50%

only six properties currently available. While sales have dipped below historical norms, there are 12 homes and condos currently under contract, indicating ongoing interest and activity in the market.

As always, real estate is dynamic, and we’re here to help. If you have any questions or want to discuss the market further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you!

Jon-Ryan Schlobohm is a licensed realtor and broker associate with Schlobohm real estate team at Compass. He and his business partner Sarah Aresco Smith specialize in residential real estate in the Santa Barbara area, but Carpinteria is their hometown. To learn more, visit schlobohmteam.com. Jon-Ryan can be reached at (805) 450-3307 or jr@ jon-ryan.com.

Inventory has continued to rise from its all-time low, but has plateaued over the last 10 weeks, hovering in the 280s to 290s range.

COURTESY PHOTO

5522 Cameo Dr. in Carpinteria closed on Sept. 26 for $1,475,000.

SCHLOBOHM

COURTESY

Godmothers at 2280 Lillie Ave. in Summerland currently has two levels of books to browse.

Honoring the godmothers who lit the way

New Summerland bookstore boasts

BY JUN STARKEY

A new bookstore and community gathering space, Godmothers at 2280 Lillie Ave., is now open in Summerland.

The bookstore — owned by Jennifer Walsh of Montecito, who is originally from New York, and Victoria Jackson, who has lived in Carpinteria for more than 30 years — boasts two levels of books to browse, as well as meeting spaces and a stage for hosting conversations with local authors.

The space is named after the godmothers “who lit the way,” a decal on one of the store’s walls reads, and the entrance is lined with pictures of powerful women who Walsh and Jackson consider godmothers, including Gloria Steinem, Harriet Tubman, Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall and Frida Kahlo. “Godmothers are the loving presence in your life who are there by choice,” the “About Us” section of the website reads. “They are our constant cheering section, watering the magic seeds within us, pioneering and lighting the path forward.”

Godmothers held a soft opening in August and a grand opening celebration on Sept. 9 that was attended by dozens of locals, including Winfrey and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex.

Since the store opened, Walsh told Coastal View News the store has been packed almost daily.

The store began with just 2,000 books, Walsh said – a collection that has since grown to over 10,000 titles.

“We just keep adding more books,” Walsh emphasized; “it just keeps evolving,” Jackson added.

The store has three stories, though currently only two are open. On the first

Longtime USPS carrier

Elise Malacara has retired after 40 years of delivering Carpinteria’s mail. Malacara told Coastal View News in April that in her decades delivering mail, she’s hit every corner of the town and become friendly with many of the people on her route. “People are great on my route. I love waving to them, and the kids knowing my name,” she said in April.

“I’m gonna miss it.”

10,000

titles in three-story space

floor, there are fiction, nonfiction, horror, science fiction, nature, fashion and cookbook titles; the second is filled with children’s and young adult sections, as well as self-help, parenting books, art and other nonfiction books.

The third floor, an area for hosting workshops, should be open by November.

The children’s section, located on the second floor, regularly hosts storytime on Saturdays. That area includes a large sitting area with tables, toys and hundreds of children’s book, and next to it are the young adult and parenting sections.

Godmothers is also equipped for

hosting public conversations. On the ground floor is a large stage area, with cushioned chairs positioned in front of a wall of books. Walsh said the stage is set up with cameras and microphones so that conversations with guests can be streamed. Speakers include local figures and authors; an upcoming conversation between Winfrey and author Johann Hari, scheduled for Oct. 5, is already sold out.

Also on the second floor is a large meeting area, which Walsh and Jackson said can be reserved for clubs or meetings by members of the Founders Circle. The Founders Circle is an annual member-

Happy retirement, Elise

ship program, priced at $200 per month for an individual or $350 per month for families. Members of the program can gain access to exclusive events, exclusive content, gifting services, 15% off books and merchandise and a discount at the future Godmothers Food Truck.

The food truck, parked out on the store’s patio, will offer breakfast, lunch, coffee, tea and mocktails. Jackson said the food truck should be opening soon; the store is waiting on permit approval.

The store is open Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. See more online at godmothers.com.

KARLSSON PHOTOS

COURTESY PHOTOS Community members along Malacara’s route say goodbye.

Godmothers has thousands of titles available across a wide range of genres.

Kelly, Jimenez Homecoming

Ytali Jimenez and Sawyer Kelly were crowned Homecoming game at Carpinteria High School, at their sides. They were crowned by last year’s according to ASB advisor Favian Muralles. Other members of the 2024 Homecoming Court Bernal, Evelin Delgado, Angel Pineda,

Evelin Delgado, with her mom Maria Delgado. Hector Bernal,

Carpinteria High School students enjoy Saturday’s dance.

Sawyer Kelly, with his parents Jennifer Cota and Dustin Kelly.

Aiden Alcaraz,

PHOTOS BY ROSANA

Caden Lemere, with her mother Celia Lemere.

From left, Ytali Jimenez and Sawyer Kelly were crowned

Aiden Alcaraz, with his mom Genette Alcaraz.

Angel Pineda, with his mom Guadalupe Santana.

Jimenez crowned Homecoming Royalty

ROSANA SWING

crowned 2024 Homecoming Royalty at last Friday’s accepting their titles with family and friends court members Ashlee Mora and Raul Reyes, included Sebastian Reed, Sasha Porinsh, Hector Alcaraz, Caden Lemere and Alondra Carillo.

Sasha Porinsh, with her dad Jonathan Porinsh.

Bernal, with his mom Edith Diaz.

Sebastian Reed, with his parents Ryan and Aimee Reed.

crowned at last Friday’s Homecoming game. Three students enjoy Saturday’s dance.

Alondra Carillo, with her parents Hugo Carrillo and Sonia Carillo.

Thursday, Oct. 3

English Language Conversation Group / Grupo de Conversación en Inglés Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 8:30 a.m. For ESL students. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Veterans Morning Meet Up Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 8:30–10 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

One-on-One Tech Help Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Appointments required. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

AgeWell Senior Program: Zumba Gold Veterans Memorial Building meeting room, 941 Walnut Ave. 11 a.m. – noon. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279

AgeWell Senior Program: Film Club Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–3 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca. gov, (805) 881-1279

Carpinteria Creative Arts Eighth Street and Linden Avenue. 2:30–6 p.m. Handmade pottery, beach art, cards,

CVN

CALENDAR

jewelry and sewn articles. (805) 698-4536

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

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

Wild Things Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 6–7:30 p.m. Lecture series about natural history. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

U.S. Citizenship Test Preparation Classes / Clases de Preparación Para el Examen de Ciudadanía Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 6:10 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Live Music: Will Breman Corktree

Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6:30–8:30 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400

Live Music: Damien Jurado The Alcazar Theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 8–11 p.m. Doors open 7 p.m. Tickets: $30. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Friday, Oct. 4

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

California Avocado Festival: Locals Block Party Downtown Carpinteria, Linden Avenue between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street. 1–10 p.m. avofest.org

Sunday, Oct. 6

California Avocado Festival Downtown Carpinteria, Linden Avenue between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. avofest.org

Monday, Oct. 7

Preschool Story Time Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10–11 a.m. Geared toward ages two to five. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

AgeWell Senior Program: Music Mondays Sing Along Veterans Memorial Building, 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: Holistic Movement Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–1:45 p.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

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

Monday Night Football Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 5–9 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400

Saturday, Oct. 5

Chooseyourlanguage&preferredformat:

Spanish Virtual:Oct23&24,6-8PM

English Virtual:Nov20&21,6-8PM

Spanish In-Person:Jan11,8AM-5PM

English Virtual:Feb26&27,6-8PM

English In-Person:Mar8,8AM-5PM

https://bit.ly/3N6YcDu

Blessing of the Animals St. Joseph Church, 1500 Linden Ave. 9 a.m. (805) 684-2181

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

AgeWell Senior Program: Avofest Outing Main Stage, Ninth Street, Linden Ave. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

California Avocado Festival Downtown Carpinteria, Linden Avenue between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street. 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. avofest.org

CoastalQuiltersGuild ofSantaBarbara&Goleta presents

CWA Travel Fundraiser for Music Cities Faith Lutheran Church, 1335 Vallecito Place. 7:30 p.m. Fundraiser for student scholarships

Tuesday, Oct. 8

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

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

Carpinteria Writers Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10 a.m. – noon. (202) 997-0429

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

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Chair Yoga The Gym Next Door, 4915 Carpinteria Ave., Suite A. Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – noon. $15. (805) 684-2595

Spanish Conversation Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 1–2 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

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

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

Meeting: CUSD School Board Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. 5:30 p.m. cusd.net/board

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

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Meeting: Morning Rotary Carpinteria Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito Rd. 6:45–8 a.m. Speaker: Abe Powell

AgeWell Senior Program: Pickleball Free Play Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Road. 8–10 a.m. Registration required. 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

Knitting Group Carpinteria Library Community Room, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 1–3 p.m. Free. (805) 886-4382

AgeWell Senior Program: Compassion Club Veterans Memorial Building,

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941 Walnut Ave. 1–2:15 p.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

AgeWell Senior Program: Mindfulness Meditation Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 3–4 p.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

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

Meeting: Carpinteria Woman’s Club Carpinteria Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito Road. 7 p.m. Speaker: Amy Orozco of The Media Literacy Project.

ONGOING

Senior Nutrition Program Carpinteria Veterans Hall, 951 Walnut Ave. Monday–Friday, 12:15 p.m. No cost for seniors ages 60+. (805) 925-9554, meals@ centralcoastseniors.org

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Cheers to brewLAB’s 10th anniversary

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

Carpinteria’s off-the-beaten-path brewLAB – at 4191 Carpinteria Ave., #8 – celebrated its 10th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 28. Locals and visitors danced the night away, beers in hand, to the musical stylings of Mestizo, celebrating 10 years of beer, music and community.

“From the very beginning, brewLAB has been a family affair, with the heart of the business pulsing through all the people who continue to build it,” the business wrote on its Instagram page. “For the past ten years, brewLAB has been more than just a brewery; it’s been a community hub (...) Through thick and thin, the community has been there – supporting, cheering, and sharing in this journey.”

The brewery’s full statement can be found on its Instagram page, @brewlabcraft.

Groovy, gifted women at Palm Loft Gallery

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

Art lovers gathered at 410 Palm Ave., Loft A-1 for the Palm Loft Gallery’s opening of its newest exhibit, “A Garland of Groovy Gifted Women,” on Saturday, Sept. 28. “‘A Garland of Groovy Gifted Women’ features a diverse collection of artworks, personally selected by the artists themselves,” Palm Loft owner Arturo Tello told CVN.

Participating artists include Meredith Brooks Abbott, Whitney Brooks Abbott, Rebecca August, Chris Chapman, Laurel Mines, Patricia Clarke, Baret Boisson, Karen Fedderson, Kerri Hedden, Jen Harrington, Emma Gonzalez, Laura Hemenway, Nina Warner, Sharon Schock, Linda Mutti, Ann Sanders and Marcia Burtt.

The gallery will give back 25% of all sales to Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, supporting nature preservation efforts. The exhibit is open through Nov. 17.

Beret Boisson and her dog, Blueberry, show off “Make Of Your Life A Dream.”

From left: Laura Hemenway, Kris Sobell and Kamie Mulroy.

From left, Chris Hernando, Greg Staal and Aaron Gillen celebrate the brewery’s 10th anniversary.

“White Ledge” by Emma Gonzalez

From left, owner Peter Goldammer with David Mendoza and owner Steve Jarmie.

Patricia Houghton Clarke’s “Graciela Iturbide / Joshua Tree, 2011” is on display; at left is gallery owner Arturo Tello.

CLUB SCENE

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY | COURTESY PHOTOS

Morning Rotary welcomes Sara Brennan to club

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning welcomed new member Sara Brennan at its Sept. 11 meeting. Brennan is originally from the United Kingdom and moved to the Carpinteria in 2023.

Brennan operated a preschool in London, and is currently working in developing early childhood education programs in Carpinteria, according to a press release from the club.

Morning Rotary hears from Man on the Street

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning recently heard from street photographer Larry Nimmer, who spoke to members about his career as a filmmaker. Nimmer runs Coastal View News’ Man on the Street photography column.

Nimmer has lived in Carpinteria since 1991 and works as a photographer, video producer and documentary filmmaker. He shared some clips of his productions with Rotary club members, including videos of Carpinteria, a UC Berkeley protest in 1970 and a tour of Michael Jackson’s ranch, Neverland.

Nimmer’s videography can be viewed at nimmer.net.

American Scandinavian Foundation celebrates student scholarships

The American Scandinavian Foundation of Santa Barbara (ASFSB) welcomed the first “Summer in Scandinavia” recipient Zoe Javanbakht on Sept. 14 in the Santa Barbara City College Gourmet Dining Room. Javanbakht has received the first grant to study at Aalto University in Finland.

The program is designed to bring the current generation of high school graduates back where their grandparents and great-grandparents lived.

Each spring, the ASFSB chooses a student with a connection to Scandinavia who is also graduating from high school in Santa Barbara County. Another scholarship student, Ella Bailey of Carpinteria, spent six weeks at Cambridge in England.

Morning Rotary to raffle off electric bike at AvoFest

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning will raffle off a Radster Trail electric bike from Rad Power Bikes, worth $2,000, at the upcoming Oct. 4–6 California Avocado Festival, with proceeds going to Carpinteria nonprofits.

Tickets for the raffle – which will be located at the club’s booth during the festival at Eighth Street and Linden Avenue – are $20. The drawing will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6.

The bike raffle is the club’s major fundraiser of the year, said club member Eric von Schrader. The club will also sell at the booth its 2025 Carpinteria Calendar, with photos from local photographers.

The raffle is sponsored by Rad Power Bikes, Murphy King Real Estate, Dr. Michael Behrman and Sonia Behrman, Oren’s Automotive, Les and Joan Esposito and Leashless Brewing.

football team, including the head coaches, had dinner with the Lions Club of Carpinteria before the Homecoming game last week.

Lions meet with Warriors football team for pre-Homecoming dinner

The Lions Club of Carpinteria recently re-established a tradition of treating the Carpinteria High School Warriors football team to dinner the day before the Homecoming game, which fell this year on Sept. 27.

The event – which stopped briefly due to the Covid-19 pandemic – saw 43 players and coaches join the Lions for dinner on Sept. 26, including coaches Van Latham and Henry Gonzalez.

“Our cooks said they ran out of meat three different times feeding those hungry players,” said Lion Doug Treloar. “...Coach Latham says he is glad to also bring back the tradition of having dinner with the Lions.”

German American club to host Oktoberfest at brewLAB

The German American Club of Santa Barbara will host an Oktoberfest celebration at brewLab in Carpinteria on Saturday, Oct. 19, 1–5 p.m., with German food, live music and games.

The German American Club of Santa Barbara’s president, Christine Stein, told CVN that the club wanted to host the celebration in Carpinteria to reach people in the Ventura and Los Angeles communities, and a club member and Carpinteria resident suggested the brewLab.

The club hopes to bring the feeling of gemütlichkeit — a German expression for good cheer and warmth — to the celebration. The afternoon will include a costume contest, a market, games, food provided by GermanYum Truck, many brands of craft beer and music from the Bottom Line Brass Band.

Tickets for the event are $20 for general admission, $15 for German American Club of Santa Barbara members and $5 for kids. Tickets can be purchased at the club’s website at germanclubsb.org/events/#OktoberfestTickets.

Rotary chapters celebrate Oktoberfest at IBC

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning and the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently celebrated Oktoberfest together at Island Brewing Company in Carpinteria.

“Several members from both clubs noshed on appetizers and great Island View Beer to celebrate this popular German Holiday,” Rotary Noon member Karen Graf told CVN.

Noon Rotary meets with superintendent

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently met with Carpinteria Unified School District Superintendent Diana Rigby, who provided school district updates to club members.

During the lunchtime meeting, Rigby gave club members updates on the district and its new programs, and some of the district’s recent successes and challenges.

“Of the successes, she thanked the club members for the continued support of the music programs in our school district,” club member Karen Graf told CVN.

From left: new Morning Rotary member Sara Brennan, club President Mary Layman and member Eric von Schrader.

Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning President Mary Layman, left, with Larry Nimmer.

Zoe Javanbakht, third from left, Ella Bailey, second from right, and their respective families celebrated their scholarships at SBCC.

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning and the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon celebrated Oktoberfest together at IBC.

From left: Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon President Whitt Hollis, CUSD Superintendent Diana Rigby and club member Dr. Roland Rotz.

Members of the CHS Warriors

ARTCETRA

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY | COURTESY PHOTOS

Alcazar to

host

COMMANDER’S RECAP

folk musicians Damien Jurado, Lilly Miller

Sunday, May 17

9:54 a.m. / Unregistered Firearm / 1400 block Sterling Avenue

Halos& Pitchforks

A reader sends a halo to Francisco Hernandez for “being an awesome hero and taking the time to help people when they got propane stuck under their trailer. There are good people still out in the world!”

Deputies responded to a call about a firearm and contacted a man who reportedly had an unregistered Kimber 1911 firearm in his possession. The firearm was taken from the man and secured into the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office property department for safekeeping.

11:44 a.m. / Misdemeanor Hit and Run / 6500 block Rincon Road

Deputies responded to a misdemeanor hit and run call, but the male subject fled the scene traveling southbound on Rincon Road. The man continued southbound on the northbound off-ramp of Highway 101 at Rincon Road. Deputies checked the area and were unable to locate the subject.

2:12 p.m. / Narcotics / 4600 block Carpinteria Avenue

Deputies responded to narcotic activity and contacted a woman who had two outstanding warrants: one out of Hermosa Beach but was non-extraditable, and the other out of Santa Barbara. The woman was arrested for the outstanding warrant out of Santa Barbara County.

3 p.m. / 015F / Linden Avenue and Malibu Drive

A black purse was found at Linden and Malibu, then booked for safe keeping. The owner was not contacted.

Sunday, May 17

8 p.m. / Trespassing / 3200 block Via Real

A caller who is renting a home on the Polo Field reported that several people forced their way into her rental home and started yelling and insulting her family. Deputies arrived and contacted six people, who admitted entering the home after they were directed to come look at the damaged caused by the caller. The caller showed cell phone video of the suspects entering the home without permission and were heard and seen yelling at the caller and her family. The husband-suspect fled across the Polo Field and did not return to the scene. A complaint will be forwarded to the DA’s office for review.

5 p.m. / Open Beer Violation / Linden Avenue and 9th Street

was recovered and booked into Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office property.

The Alcazar Theatre will host an intimate night of folk music, headed by singer-songwriter Damien Jurado with special guest Lilly Miller, on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m.

6:15 p.m. / Theft / 3200 block Via Real

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 retiring postman John Heiduk for his 30 years of extraordinary service, “always delivered with a heartwarming smile. We’ll miss you!”

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

A caller reported that she believes her laptop and credit cards were stolen by a female neighbor who lives at the Polo Field apartments. Follow up by deputies.

Tuesday, May 19

“Known for his introspective songwriting and hauntingly beautiful vocals, Damien Jurado has carved out a unique place in the indie music scene,” according to The Alcazar Theatre’s website. “With a career spanning over two decades, he has released over a dozen albums, each one a testament to his unparalleled talent and creativity.”

6 p.m. / Towed Abandoned Vehicle / 2200 block Lillie Avenue

According to a press release, Miller, an emerging artist, draws from her personal experiences to craft “heartful and relatable” songs.

Deputies received complaints about an abandoned vehicle parked near Sandpiper Liquor. The vehicle was tagged and marked on Thursday, May 14. The vehicle was checked and was not moved. The vehicle was towed.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and can be purchased at thealcazar.org. The event will begin at 8 p.m., and doors will open at 7 p.m. at The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave.

Wednesday, May 20

8:28 p.m. / Meth Possession / 1100 block Casitas Pass

A man drove into a parking lot not wearing his seatbelt. A traffic stop was initiated, and he admitted to being in possession of a meth pipe. During a search of the vehicle, his meth pipe was located, but also a baggie with 3.7 grams of meth. The subject was cited for the violations.

10:12 p.m. / Weapon and Dope Violations / Hales Lane and Via Real

A woman and man were contacted as their vehicle was getting dropped off by a tow truck. The woman is on active probation and a search of her property showed she had meth, a meth pipe and a container of pepper spray. She is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning pepper spray. A baggie of meth was found in the center console and since no one wanted to claim it, the man was given ownership since it was his vehicle.

3:38 a.m. / Dope Violations / 4100 block Via Real

A reader sends a halo to First District Supervisor Das Williams for championing the resurfacing of 192. “It’s been a need for decades. Thank you kindly!”

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 Laura Moore. “She is a generous, thoughtful person and I am blessed to have her as a friend.”

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 Cemetery for the Memorial Day program.

A reader sends a halo to Carol and Janet, the two fantastic aqua aerobics instructors at the Carpinteria Pool. “They are committed to their students week in and week out. Thank you!”

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 Jill Castro and her friend Rick for providing an outstanding lunch for the homeless. And another halo to Fon Ha, Carol Nichols and the Brass Bird for helping Carpinteria’s homeless.

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

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 Das Williams and Spencer Brandt for all the hard work they did. “They obtained a small bus for Carpinteria Senior Inc. Now it will be easier to take seniors that can’t drive on field trips. Thank you.”

A man was cited and released for possession of an open container.

5 a.m. / Welfare Check / 2100 block Ortega Hill Road

A woman and man were in a vehicle with a stolen license plate, reported to Santa Barbara Police Department. A traffic stop was initiated, and it was determined the vehicle was not stolen, but was rented a few weeks ago by the woman. She thought the “PERM” on the Arizona license plate meant it was only a “permit” for the vehicle and not an actual license plate. So, to avoid getting pulled over, they placed a stolen plate on the car, she said. After a search of nearby motel rooms associated with the subjects, they, and the woman’s sister, were cited for possession of stolen property, meth and paraphernalia. Further investigation will be done for the fraudulently obtained EBT cards.

Thursday, May 21

HopeNet, Arts Center host reception for Mental Health Art Show

8:47 a.m. / Driving with False Registration / Carpinteria and Palm avenues

A caller reported that his girlfriend’s 27-year-old son had a bad dream and ran out of the house naked and was last seen running towards Summerland. Deputies responded and located a man walking nude on North Jameson near Sheffield. The man claimed he smoked marijuana with friends and wanted to go to the hospital to detox. His mother drove him to the hospital.

Monday, May 18

A man was driving with a false registration tab. He was cited for the violation and allowed to park the vehicle at his mechanic shop located nearby.

The Mental Health Art Show, a collaboration between the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center and HopeNet of Carpinteria, held its reception on Sunday, Sept. 29 at the arts center.

The exhibit included art from artists between the ages of three and 80. The art depicted differing perspectives of a range of mental health expressions, including depression, anxiety, stress, happiness, sadness, worries, longings, sentiments, nostalgia, surrendering, tranquility, love, overwhelm and family.

10:41 a.m. / Tossed Mail / Via Real and Carpinteria Creek Mail was found scattered off a county access road by a Caltrans site. The mail

10:06 p.m. / Suspended License / Via Real and Vallecito Road

Cash prizes presented at the show include $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $50 for third place.

A man was stopped for not displaying license plates on his truck. A records check showed his driver’s license was

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 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 Tara O’Reilly for all her hard work putting together a huge letter writing campaign to voters in other states.

A reader sends a halo to the five people who stopped to see if she and her child were okay after falling while on her bike. “Especially to the man who told her she was still a good mom.”

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

A reader sends a halo to Animal Medical Clinic staff members Connie and Dr. Smith for their quick response and calming reassurance after the reader’s pup and the reader were involved in a car accident. “Beyond grateful for you both!”

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.

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 the CHS Frosh/Soph Girls Volleyball team. “They have been undefeated so far this season. Even though varsity gets all the press, we see you ladies and are cheering you on!”

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!”

A reader sends a halo to the Lion’s Club for hosting a fantastic meal for the CHS football team at Lion’s Park.

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!”

Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com.

A reader sends a pitchfork to whoever is in charge of the planter beds on Linden. “The one on the 600 block has (had) a big leak for months now and always has a muddy mess around it with standing water.”

All submissions are subject to editing.

suspended. The man was cited, and his vehicle was released to a licensed driver.

A reader sends a pitchfork to the obnoxiously loud minibike rider that speeds up and down Carpinteria Avenue. “No helmet, no registration… where are the Sheriff’s deputies?”

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

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the Carpinteria City Council for allowing commercial trucks, landscaping trucks, stored motorhomes and the homeless to use the Santa Ynez residential area as a permanent parking place. “You would never allow this in any other part of town.”

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.

Carpinteria Avenue • 805-318-55O6 Mon-Sat: 10am-8pm • Sun: 10am-4pm

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.

A reader sends a pitchfork to a fellow pickleball enthusiast who brings his large dog to the courts, lets the dog bark and disrupt others, then frequently yells “shut up” to the sweet dog. “Do you not see that this is unkind to the dog and disrespectful to others on the courts? Is it time to post Court Rules or is this not just common courtesy?”

Saturday, May 23

A reader sends a pitchfork to the woman who had her dog off leash at Viola and whose dog bit a young boy on the leg. “She was sitting in her car with her dog running around, and wasn’t even aware a child had gotten bitten!”

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

Friday, May 22

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the security driver who taunted a novice bicycle rider who is late to the game of bicycle riding, and to the company for accusing said bicyclist of making a false claim when they tried to report it. “(...) This is a small town and karma will prevail. I hope those who employ this company change to another who treat residents humanely, and maybe with a little respect for their elders.”

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.

A reader sends a pitchfork to who “knows exactly what he was getting into moving next to a school making demands as if he controls how things work, and gets upset when things don’t go his way.”

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the city for allowing the “old grungy street banners to be put up. They are old, faded and ratty looking. Clean up your act by getting new banners or don’t bother putting them up at all.”

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.

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to . “Without you, my game is growing cobwebs.”

A reader sends a pitchfork to who “brand themselves the ‘stewards’ of Carpinteria’s undeveloped land but are happy to endorse the most unimaginative, character-degrading, and commercially exploitative ventures in our downtown and beach neighborhoods. All land use in Carpinteria deserves that the best and most sensitive planning practices be observed.”

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

A man was contacted after reporting

Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com. Submissions subject to editing.

as promised!

Damien Jurado will perform at The Alcazar Theatre on Oct. 3.

Kimberly González, at left, and Head Start teacher Lucia Torres point to Kimberly’s artwork on display.

Sherry Uyeda won second place for “Overwhelm.”

Dale Figtree’s piece won third place in the Mental Health Art Show.

Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke

Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Sunday, Sept. 15

1134 hrs / Incident / 400 block Linden Avenue

ly revealed where her identification card was, and deputies were able to positively identify the suspect. The suspect was cited and released.

Editor’s note: Hey readers, would your house be a good fit for Throwback Thursday? If you have an old photo of your home that we can share, please contact Lea at lea@coastalview. com or 684-4428. We’re happy to take a contemporary photograph of your house to pair with the slice of history you have.

A subject assaulted a victim who was sitting in their vehicle. The subject punched the victim in the face and abdominal area several times. The victim sustained minor injuries to his face and abdominal area. In addition, the victim’s five-year-old grandson was inside the vehicle during the assault. The subject also broke the driver side window during the assault. The subject was arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

Wednesday, Sept. 18

1035 hrs / Theft / 800 block Linden Avenue

On Sept. 17 and 18, a subject walked into a local store and stole four alcoholic beverages, a total cost of $17.40. Based on the evidence, statements collected and the fact that the subject stole items from the same store two days in a row, the subject’s actions showed that they intentionally walked into the store with the intent to commit the theft. The subject was arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where she was booked on the above charge.

1344 hrs / Incident / 4200 block Via Real

Deputies responded to Via Real for a suicidal subject. The individual went on a voluntary mental health hold.

Sunday, Sept. 22

1745 hrs / Incident / 5000 block Carpinteria Avenue

He said, she said History doesn’t have to be boring. readers sent in their funniest captions for the photo above, and we selected our favorites (in no particular order). Enjoy.

“it’s absolutely amazing how much money we save on sunscreen by wearing our bikinis at night.” ––Marty Panizzon

Deputies responded to a subject who was reported to have urinated on cars and cursing at customers. Deputies located the suspect who displayed symptomology of alcohol. The suspect stated several times his name was “John Wick” – a movie character – and wanted to fight. Suspect was arrested and while being transported to Santa Barbara County Jail, the suspect continuously stated that he was going to fight once he was released from the handcuffs. Custody deputies assisted in escorting the suspect into Santa Barbara County Jail, where he was booked without further incident.

The locals finally put up a fence to keep out the intruders who, they believed, were sneaking into their community and stealing all their tans. ––Anonymous

1122 hrs / Incident / Concha Loma Drive

Deputies were contacted by a social worker who called to report an incident of sexual abuse of a minor.

2136 hrs / Incident / 3900 block Via Real

“this isn’t a tennis court, Mom. it’s a state prison yard.” – Chas Jerep at the Bods & poses parade. ––Anonymous

Neighbors called to report a physical domestic outside.

Tuesday, Sept. 24

1724 hrs / Incident / Bailard Avenue and Via Real

“Let me in! Wheeoop! i thought you were my friend! Whoop-wheooo.” (song excerpt) ––Tony Perez

Deputies responded to the intersection of Bailard Avenue and Via Real for an unoccupied vehicle blocking traffic in the roadway. Upon arrival, it was determined that the vehicle had been stolen from Alhambra the day prior. The victim came to the scene to retrieve his vehicle.

0816 hrs / Incident / 5500 block Carpinteria Avenue

A subject was contacted after causing a disturbance in a local motel parking lot and arrested for the violation.

“Hey you, missy in the white bikini. Just because you managed to be first in line, don’t even think of setting up your towel in front of oh-so-handsome Mike’s lifeguard tower. He’s mine!” ––JB

Wednesday, Sept. 25

1949 hrs / Incident / San Ysidro Road

undercover cops investigating the big, bootleg Coppertone heist. - anonymous the winners of the two Girls in Bikinis Look-alike Contest. ––Anonymous surgeon General’s Warning: What you are thinking is a leading cause of getting slapped in the chops by your wife. ––Robert Miller

Moving next door

2014 hrs / Incident / 5000 block Carpinteria Avenue

To learn more about Carpinteria’s unique and interesting past, visit the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 956 Maple Ave.

the quietly graceful Castro house at 957 Maple ave. spent almost 50 of its 100-plus years next door to its current location. Built circa 1902 by a banker on the corner of Maple and Carpinteria avenues—then called Coast highway—the home sold to the Caldwell family a few years after construction. in 1947, the corner lot sold to shell oil, and the home was moved one lot down.

Deputies responded to a concerning social media comment regarding a possible attack at a school. It was determined the juvenile did not make a direct threat toward the school and, rather, was expressing his anxiety over the recent threat to the school. The juvenile in question showed deputies a post from social media that claimed to have an attack plan. The social media images were obtained and relayed to detectives.

after francis Castro married isabel rice, whose mother was a Caldwell, the pair raised their children in the house. Francis moved his real estate office into the home in the 1970s and slowly began leasing spaces to other businesses.

Now the historic home is owned by Jill Castro, francis and isabel’s daughter-inlaw. it contains two recently renovated vacation rentals, clothing boutique twice as Nice and the psychology practice of Dr. roland rotz.

Thursday, Sept. 19

2342 hrs / Narcotics / Carpinteria Avenue and Santa Ynez

A subject was contacted during a traffic stop. He was later found to be under the influence of methamphetamine, and in possession of a meth pipe and a personal use amount of methamphetamine. He was arrested for the violations and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

Saturday, Sept. 21

1042 hrs / Theft / 800 block Linden Avenue

Deputies responded to a report of shoplifting in progress. Deputies located the suspect matching the description provided at the corner of Linden Avenue and Carpinteria Avenue. The suspect admitted to stealing an energy bar and later revealed a silver metal tray also taken from the store. The suspect then provided a false identity to deputies, and eventual-

Reporting party called because he could hear a female screaming for help and that a man was inside her residence. Deputies arrived and found an elderly female outside of the residence. The female stated she found a man inside her residence. A perimeter was set and K93 responded. While investigating, the female made numerous statements that did not make sense, and it started to appear she may be suffering from a cognitive illness. A search was conducted, and the residence was clear. Medics were requested and ultimately transported the female to Cottage Hospital for an exam, because she was discovered to be hallucinating.

2244 hrs / Narcotics / Eleanor Drive and June Avenue

A subject was contacted in a vehicle at the above location. The subject attempted to hide when he observed a deputy drive by his location. The subject was contacted and discovered to be smoking cannabis. He consented to a search and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

2300 hrs / Incident / 1200 block Vallecito Road

Deputies responded to a welfare check from a police department out of state. Outside agency advised they were responding to a call where a male stated he killed everyone in the residence and

See RECAP continued on page 28

CarpintEria VaLLEy MusEuM of History

Photos Courtesy of Jill Castro

submitted to the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. This project requires the approval and issuance of a CDP Hearing application by the Planning and Development Department.

The development requested by this application is under the jurisdiction of the Zoning Administrator and therefore a public hearing on the application is normally required prior to any action to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application. However, in compliance with the , the Director intends to waive the public hearing requirement unless a written request for such hearing is submitted by an interested party to the Planning and Development Department within the 15 working days following the Date of Notice listed below. All requests for a hearing must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, to Kevin De Los Santos at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 2058, by email at santosk@countyofsb.org, or by fax at (805) 568 2030. If a public hearing is requested, notice of such a hearing will be provided.

WARNING: Failure by a person to request a public hearing may result in the loss of the person’s ability to appeal any action taken by Santa Barbara County on this CDP Hearing Application to the County Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors.

If a request for public hearing is not received by 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, then the Planning and Development Department will act to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request for a CDP Hearing application. At this time it is not known when this action may occur; however, this may be the only notice you receive for this project. To receive additional information regarding this project, including the date the CDP Hearing application is approved, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Kevin De Los Santos at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101 2058, or by email at santosk@countyofsb.org, or by phone at (805) 884 8051.

PROPOSAL: CIMA DEL MUNDO LLC CREEK BANK REPAIR

PROJECT ADDRESS: 11180 CALLE REAL, GOLETA, CA 93117 3rd SUPERVISORIAL

Appeals must be filed with the Planning and Development Department online at https://aca prod.accela.com/sbco/Default. aspx, by 5:00 p.m. within the timeframe identified above. In the event that the last day for filing an appeal falls on a non business day of the County, the appeal may be timely filed on the next business day. For additional information regarding the appeal process, contact Kevin De Los Santos.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Information about this project review process may also be viewed at: https://ca santabarbaracounty.civicplus. pro/1499/Planning Permit Process Flow Chart

Board of Architectural Review agendas may be viewed online at: https://www.countyofsb.org/160/Planning Development

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

Publish: October 3, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as MONTECITO BUSINESS MANAGEMENT at 151 BUTTERFLY LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108. Full name of registrant(s): COLETTE N CRAFTON at SAME ADDRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 08/07/2024. The registrant began transacting business on Jan 01, 2023. Signed: COLETTE NOTTAGE CRAFTON. 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) FBN2024-0001842.

Publish: Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as PALS LA JOLLA PLACE at 1477 LA JOLLA PLACE, CARPINTERIA, CA 93013. Full name of registrant(s): PER ANKH LIFE SKILLS, INC at 16700 BELLFLOWER BLVD, SUITE B, BELLFLOWER, CA 90706. This business is conducted by a Corporation. This statement was filed with the County on 08/28/2024. The registrant began transacting business on N/A. Signed: OTIENO OKATCH, 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) FBN2024-0002074.

is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 09/25/2024. The registrant began transacting business on N/A. Signed: JUAN VEGA. 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) FBN2024-0002276.

Publish: October 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024

FREE SERVICES

The appeal must be filed within the 10 calendar days following the date that the Director takes action on this CDP Hearing application. To qualify as an “aggrieved person” the appellant must have, in person or through a representative, informed the Planning and Development Department by appropriate means prior to the decision on the Coastal Development Permit of the nature of their concerns, or, for good cause, was unable to do so.

Publish: Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3, 2024 FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/ are doing business as SELF MAID at 618 1/2 W DE LA GUERRA, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101. Full name of registrant(s): JANINA Y GARCIA at SAME ADDRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 08/12/2024. The registrant began transacting business on Aug 24, 2024. Signed: JANINA GARCIA, 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) FBN2024-0001875.

Publish: Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as REAL GREEN GARDENING at 1332 JUNE ST, CARPINTERIA, CA 93013. Full name of registrant(s): JUAN VEGA-PEREZ at SAME ADDRESS AS ABOVE. This business

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT. The following Entity(ies) is/are doing business as MACA DEVINE NATURE at 3963 VIA LUCERO APT #6, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93110. Full name of registrant(s): MARIA HERRERA at SAME ADDRESS AS ABOVE. This business is conducted by an Individual. This statement was filed with the County on 09/24/2024. The registrant began transacting business on Sept. 16, 2024. Signed: MARIA HERRERA, 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) FBN2024-0002058. Publish: October 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024

IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF JOSE LUIS TOLIS VASQUEZ ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE NO. 24CV04684

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Petitioner: JOSE LUIS TOLIS VASQUEZ filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

Present name: JOSE LUIS TOLIS VASQUEZ

Proposed name: JOSE LUIS TOLIS VAZQUEZ

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that include the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING OCTOBER 25

2024 at 10:00 am, Dept: 4, Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, 1100 Anacapa Street, P.O. Box 21107 Santa Barbara, CA 93121-1107. A copy of this order to Show Cause shall be published in the Carpinteria-Summerland Coastal View a newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for the hearing on the petition. Dated 09/10/2024 by Donna D. Geck, Judge of the Superior Court.

FILED BY the Superior Court of California County of Santa Barbara on 09/10/2024. Darrel E. Parker, Executive Officer by Chavez, Terri, Deputy Clerk.

Publish: Sept. 19, 26, Oct. 3, 10, 2024

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.

Councilmembers grab fresh air with constituents

Carpinteria City Councilmember and Board of Supervisors-elect Roy Lee, at far right, and Carpinteria City Councilmember Mónica Solórzano, second from the right, talk with their constituents near Carpinteria State Beach Park on Saturday, Sept. 28. The two hosted a “hike with councilmembers” walk last Saturday, inviting community members to get some fresh air and chat about local issues.

ON THE ROAD

CVN

enjoys the views in Mo’orea

Lois Classen snapped a photo with her copy of CVN at the top of Papetoai, also called Magic Mountain, which is located on the Island of Mo’orea, a French-Polynesian island near Tahiti. Classen said she went to the island for a swim camp, and during her time there, was able to hike and swim around the area. “We saw a plethora of sea life including sting rays, octopi, turtles, spinner dolphins and a grouping of whales,” she told CVN.

CVN pops by wedding in San Francisco

Carpinterians Jessica Petrillo and Jack Mohr traveled to San Francisco and Mill Valley for a friend’s wedding, stopping for a moment to grab a photo with their copy of CVN, Vol. 30 No. 48. “The issue we’re holding is special to us because our daughter Sylvia Mohr is on the cover!” Jessica told CVN.

GOING ON THE ROAD?

Snap a photo with your Coastal View News in hand and email it to news@coastalview.com. Tell us about your trip!

4:00-5:30PM

CarpinteriaWoman’sClub 1059VallecitoRd,CarpinteriaCA

(805)705-4846 orat CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.

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

KARLSSON

THROWBACK

An update on Rincon Point’s surf history

BY VINCE BURNS

This month’s edition of Rincon surf history follows up on recent stories. Last month, (CVN Vol. 30, No. 51) we wrote about resurfaced videos of early surfing at Rincon Point during the 1930s-1940s.

John Larronde (1915-1990) is believed to have filmed the 1947 sequences which show off Malibu, Ventura Overhead and Rincon. To learn more about Larronde, your surf historian visited his archives at the Museum of Ventura County to examine its trove of material. Reposing in boxes were hundreds of wonderful snapshots of Larronde and friends enjoying SoCal beaches and surf, ephemera like Larronde’s membership cards for various local surf and lifeguarding organizations, and newspaper clippings calling attention to the booming postGidget interest in surfing and (in some cases) wondering aloud about the sanity of the new sport’s participants and whether surfing should be regulated or even banned.

A few clippings (and a fantastic sequence in the above-mentioned film) told of the derring-do of frequent Rincon visitor and surfboard innovator Bob Simmons (1919-1954) who Renny Yater has called the father of the modern surfboard. An article in an obscure magazine for California lifeguards had a poignant first-person account of Simmons’ premature demise in big waves at Windansea Beach. The author was Simmons’ surf companion that day in September 1954 who records his growing horror as the Simmons’ board turned up but without its rider. It took four days for the legend’s body to finally wash up.

In June, (CVN Vol. 30, No. 38) we wrote about famous non-locals who have surfed Rincon over the years. Besides luminaries like da Cat (Miki Dora), Greg Noll, Micky Mũnoz and others, we mentioned the tantalizing possibility that none other than swimmer and original surfer Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968) might have slipped away to Rincon for a few waves in connection with his swimming demonstration at Thacher School in 1922.

This was total speculation until Johnny Brown got in touch with a story he had heard long ago from local eccentric Lester Hubbard (1899-1979). The details of Hubbard’s story: the Duke, who evidently made regular visits to Montecito and the Miramar Hotel, and a large group

COMMANDER’S RECAP

continued from page 24

would kill anyone that responded to the residence. Per outside police, they were pinging the subject’s phone, and he was located within their jurisdiction. Deputies arrived and contacted the homeowner. All were accounted for, and no issues were discovered. The owner stated she nor her family knew anyone in that area.

Thursday, Sept. 26

1224 hrs / Narcotics / 5500 block

Carpinteria Avenue

Two subjects were contacted at a local motel in their vehicle. A search of their vehicle revealed illegal fireworks, used methamphetamine pipes, multiple pieces of burnt foil, 11 grams of methamphetamine and two grams of fentanyl. Both subjects were cited for the violations and released from the scene.

of camp followers boarded several limousines for a surf and picnic at Ventura Overhead. Alas, not Rincon Point itself, but the story does locate the Duke on a board surfing our area!

(By the way, for a delightful online account of Hubbard, see an article by Jim Campos – CVN Vol. 26, No. 30 – in this fine publication from 2020.)

Our story (CVN Vol. 29, No. 26) from a year ago about Kevin Sears (19492001) generated several notes and remembrances from friends about the legend. Among them was tantalizing information from the late David Kuzen (1950-2023) about Kevin’s dory-racing career which launched us on a couple wild goose (geese?) chases in search of photographs.

We hope to write more about Kevin’s life and times in a future article. If any readers have photographs or stories about Kevin, we would love to hear about them (email address below).

And, by the way, for a related video treat, check out a 1966 sequence on YouTube from ABC’s old “Wide World of Sports” showing locals Jeff White (19382010) and Paul Hodgert gloriously winning the dory-racing championship while seemingly all of their competition came to violent grief against the Huntington Beach pier!

Finally, Rincon Point’s newest locals-only surfing competition, the Toes in the Cove Rincon Longboard Classic, sponsored by Surf Happens, happens again this fall. Online registration is now open; the event will take place on an appropriately wavey Saturday between Nov. 2 and Nov. 16.

T he resurrection of this contest reminds us of Rincon Point’s very first longboard nostalgia event, the Queen of

0624 hrs / Incident / 1000 block

Concha Loma Drive

Reporting party stated she found her vehicle had “No Parking” painted on her vehicle. She was able to remove the paint and had no damage to her vehicle. Report taken for documentation only.

1018 hrs / Theft / 1000 block

Casitas Pass Road

Deputies responded to a reported shoplifting that occurred on Aug. 27. The store manager stated that $1,518.39 of perfume was stolen. The reporting party mentioned they did not do an inventory check of the perfume until Sept. 24. After discovering the items were stolen, they found video surveillance of the unknown suspect stealing perfume on Aug. 27. At the time of this report, the suspect has not

original flier for the first (and only) Queen of the

Contest of 1987. Surf Happens of

has

longboard contest. The next iteration of longboard nostalgia at

Point will take place this November.

the Coast Longboard Classic organized by Don Balch in 1987. Now of San Diego, Balch achieved eternal local glory for creating Rincon’s “Queen of the Coast” moniker in connection with his Surfer magazine article of 1981.

been identified.

1018 hrs / Theft /1000 block Casitas Pass Road

Deputies responded to a report of a theft. The reporting party stated a female suspect approached her and began to put on a gold necklace with a ring on it. After the female suspect left, the reporting party realized the female suspect had taken her two diamond necklaces, which had an estimated value of $14,000.

Friday, Sept. 27

1049 / Theft / 1000 block Casitas Pass Road

Reporting party called to report Sept. 26 between 1330 hours and 1400 hours

If you have vintage Rincon stories and photographs, get in touch with Vince at vinceburns805@gmail.com. Vince and Stephen Bates have written “the” history of Rincon Point, available locally and online at amazon. com/dp/1467108707.

he went to a bank in Carpinteria to withdraw money. He was approached by two males who asked for his card to help him withdraw money. When the males gave him back the card, it was a different one. Since his card was stolen, $7,600 worth of transactions have been placed on his card.

Saturday, Sept. 28

1520 hrs / Narcotics / 1100 block Casitas Pass Road

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted. After a search of the vehicle, it was found the subject had fentanyl in a silicon container and burnt pieces of foil. The subject was arrested for the violations and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

BOATHOUSE AT HENDRY’S BEACH

COURTESY DON BLACH

The

Coast Longboard

Carpinteria

resuscitated a Rincon

Rincon

Dory racing action from the 1960s or 1970s.

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Santa Paula spoils Warriors’ Homecoming

BY RYAN P. CRUZ

PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

Homecoming festivities were in full swing as Carpinteria hosted its second home game of the year on Friday, Sept. 27 against Santa Paula. But the Warriors had a tough time keeping up with the high-scoring Cardinals, and it was Santa Paula that came away with a 42-10 win.

Santa Paula’s high-scoring offense scored more than 55 points in each of the team’s three wins this season, and in this game the Cardinals were able to wear down the Warriors defense over the course of the game.

Santa Paula took the lead early, scoring on the second play from scrimmage with a 56-yard touchdown run to take the lead, 7-0.

Carpinteria mounted its own drive, going 55-yards deep into Santa Paula territory but failing to get in the end zone.

Later in the first quarter, Santa Paula got in the end zone again on a 33-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0.

Carpinteria senior Sawyer Kelly had a busy night as Homecoming King, starting quarterback on offense and free safety on defense, and in the second quarter, he lit up the crowd with an interception and 25-yard return that gave the Warriors a chance to score before halftime.

But Santa Paula’s defense held the Warriors out of the end zone for the rest of the half, and Carpinteria was forced to settle for a field goal as the second quarter ended to head into halftime with just three points.

The Warriors got the ball to start the third quarter, but when the drive stalled, Santa Paula responded with another touchdown to build on the Cardinals’ lead, 21-3.

Before the end of the third quarter, Santa Paula scored another touchdown, and after another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals were sitting with a comfortable 35-3 lead.

But the Warriors continued to fight, and in the fourth quarter, as Kelly ignited the offense with a 52-yard quarterback keeper to set Carpinteria up deep in Cardinals territory.

Kelly then went to the passing game, completing a few passes in a row and finishing the drive by scrambling out of danger and finding senior Isaya Gonzalez

Carpinteria offense struggles to score in 42-10 loss

a would-be

wide open in the end zone for the Warriors first touchdown of the game.

But it was too little too late, and after Santa Paula scored one final touchdown in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals claimed the win by a final score of 42-10.

“Santa Paula’s size and strength took its toll in the second half,” said Carpinteria coach Van Latham. “(They’re) a quality team. They showed us where our weaknesses are. It will give us goals for improvement. We need to improve our tackling if we want to be the kind of team we are capable of.”

Coach Latham also said the team needs to be more efficient in the red zone.

“It was frustrating to be inside the 10yard line twice and only come away with three points,” he said. “It was a learning experience that will help us with our goal of being successful in league.”

Carpinteria is now 2-2, with another home game this week against Whittier on Oct. 4.

ON DECK

Thursday, Oct. 3

Carpinteria Girls Golf at Citrus Coast League Match (Saticoy), 2:30 p.m.

Carpinteria Girls Tennis at Santa Paula, 3 p.m.

Carpinteria Boys Water Polo at Channel Islands, 3:45 p.m.

*Carpinteria Girls Volleyball vs Channel Islands, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 4

Carpinteria Boys Water Polo at Buena Tournament (Ventura), 2 p.m.

*Carpinteria Football vs Whittier, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Carpinteria Boys Water Polo at Buena Tournament (Ventura), TBD

*Denotes Home Game

Isaya Gonzalez stiff-arms

tackler.

Running back Drew Filippini runs into a wall of Cardinals defenders.

Homecoming King Sawyer Kelly fights for yardage.

Warriors water polo wins two more

BY RYAN P. CRUZ

The Carpinteria boys water polo team won back-to-back games this week, defeating powerhouse Santa Barbara in a low-scoring match and then taking the win over Agoura in an offensive shootout. Carpinteria has now won five straight matches in the pool.

The Warriors were patient in the match on the road against Santa Barbara on Sept. 25, holding on to a narrow 5-4 lead after two quarters of play.

In the second half, it was a defensive showdown, with the Warriors grabbing two more goals to head into the fourth quarter with a 7-5 lead. In the final quarter, the Dons scored once more but Carpinteria’s goaltender Sebastian Reed held strong with six of his 14 saves in the final quarter to keep the lead and earn the win, 7-6.

“Our boys stepped up big today,” said Carpinteria coach Karl Fredrickson. “We moved the ball unselfishly, played defense sacrificially and fought for every outcome we could win.”

Jake Ehlers led all scorers with three goals, while Sky Korling added in two goals, an assist and a steal in the win.

Two days later on Sept. 27, Carpinteria hosted Agoura for a Friday afternoon matchup. In this game, the Warriors grabbed a three-goal lead heading into halftime, 8-5.

The second half was full of offensive action, with Carpinteria building its lead to five goals before Agoura went on a run to bring the game within two goals heading into the fourth quarter, 11-9.

CVN

In the final frame, Agoura broke through for two more goals to tie the score at 11-11 before Carpinteria regained control and took a three-goal lead with two minutes left. In the last two minutes the teams traded a few more goals, but the Warriors prevailed by a final margin of 17-13.

SHORT STOPS

BY RYAN P. CRUZ

Carpinteria tennis blanks Fillmore 18-0

The Warriors have been dominant all year on the tennis court, but the team’s most recent win over the Fillmore Flashes on Sept. 26 was near perfect, with Carpinteria claiming the win 18-0.

Coach Charles Bryant changed the lineup for the match, trying out a new group in singles with Karolina Casas, Sofia Gonzales and Mina Handall. All three swept their sets 3-0.

In doubles, sisters Allison Banks and Emily Banks teamed up for a perfect “Golden Set” – the pair didn’t lose a single point. The duo of Keyla Manriquez and Kim Ocampo went 3-0 together, while partners Sasha Porinsh and Aubrey Alcaraz also went 3-0 in their first pairing together.

“For me as a coach, it was nice to put the players in different positions or with different partners and watch them grow throughout their sets,” Bryant said. “They worked on communication, but more so I think their focus and execution was stronger. Our singles players were incredible as they too showed an almost tunnel-vision in how they approached their three sets.”

Carpinteria is now 10-1 overall and 6-0 in the Citrus Coast League.

Warriors volleyball drops two losses

Carpinteria girls volleyball suffered losses to Nordhoff and Malibu this week, ending the Warriors two-game win streak from the previous week.

The Warriors were swept by Nordhoff in three sets on Sept. 27, losing by a score of 14-15 in all three sets. Nordhoff remained the undefeated leader of the Citrus Coast League.

After picking up just one win at the Fall Classic Tournament on Sept. 28, the Warriors were back in regular season action against Malibu on Oct. 2. In this match, the Warriors were able to win one set, but Malibu took the win, 3-1.

Despite the loss, Carpinteria coach Favian Muralles praised middle blockers Camila Martinez, Skyla Delwiche and Anna Morrison, noting their quick aggressive play.

“They were a good team,” he said, “We showed we could keep up with them for most of the set but let it slip at the end.”

The Warriors (2-7 in league) will host the Channel Islands Raiders at home on Thursday, Oct. 4.

Carpinteria girls golf led by low scores

Warriors girls golf had strong showings at two recent matches, claiming third place in the Citrus Coast League Match at Saticoy Regional Golf Course on Sept. 26 before taking a win in a head-to-head match against Bishop Diego at the same course on Sept. 30.

In both matches, the Warriors were led by junior Jamaica Cook, the low medalist in both matches with the same low score of 41.

“The game was high-pace and high-intensity from the first whistle, but we did a good job settling ourselves when it was needed most,” Fredrickson said. “Our captains have been providing veteran leadership all season long and I can see their impression in the developing ma-

turity of our younger guys — especially in the big moments of games like this.” Ehlers led the way again with four goals, two assists and two steals; Korling finished with four goals and three steals; and both Aiden Alcaraz and Micah Smith contributed three goals apiece in the win.

In the Citrus Coast League Match, the Warriors took third place overall with a team score of 281. Three Warriors — Kiaha Kiah, Sophia Garay and Athrizy Rojas — scored in the 50s.

Against Bishop Diego, the same three scored in the 50s again, and the Warriors claimed the team win with a combined score of 270.

Cate Rams roundup

Cate School had plenty of sports action this week, with big wins for the football and water polo programs, while the girls volleyball team ended a three-game win streak and suffered back-to-back losses.

Rams football advanced to 3-0 on the season after another nail-biter against Central Californian powerhouse Fresno Christian on Sept. 28.

Both teams traded touchdowns in the first half, with Cate’s Quinn Pullen and Ethan Rehnborg connecting for two scores to go into halftime down by four points.

In the third, Fresno Christian added a couple touchdowns to extend the lead to 30-19.

Cate came back in the fourth quarter

when junior Josh Butler grabbed a pick-six interception touchdown return to bring the Rams within three points. Finally, Pullen connected with Marcus Scudder to score the game-winning touchdown and get the win, 33-30.

“Much like last week, there were too many great individual performances to single folks out, but the Cate defense deserves special recognition,” Cate coach David Soto said. “The Rams bent but didn’t break and came up with stops late in the game. It was a special defensive performance.”

Cate girls volleyball lost two matches in a row, on the road at St. Bonaventure on Sept. 27 and at home against Bishop Diego on Oct. 1. Both matches were lost by the same score, 3-1.

In the loss against Bishop Diego, Cate’s Oyin Opawumi scored well from the front and back row with 17 kills, while Emerson Evans had four big blocks in the game.

“Overall, we had a few good chances but came up short,” said coach Jordan Dyer.

And over in the pool, Cate’s boys water polo squad added another win with a 12-5 victory over Villanova Prep on Sept. 24.

The team’s top scorer, junior Sebastian Brine, finished the win with four goals, while junior Elliott Paige contributed three goals.

“We looked sharp on both ends of the pool and dictated the flow of the game,” said coach Jesse Morrison.

ROSANA SWING

Senior Alex De Leon keeps up the defensive pressure for the Warriors.

COURTESY PHOTO

Cate’s Ethan Rehnborg runs down the sideline.

RYAN P. CRUZ

In a sign of the times — and the latest example of the creeping influence of money in the sports world — a bizarre situation occurred last week when University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) college quarterback Matthew Sluka, the star of one of the nation’s top rising teams, decided to call it quits just a few games into the season.

In a social media post, he said he will be sitting out the rest of the year due to a dispute with the school over money. “I will not be playing any more games this season,” Sluka wrote in a post announcing his decision. “I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled. Despite discussions, it became clear that these commitments would not be fulfilled in the future.”

It’s been three years since college sports ushered in this new era of athletes

legally being able to make money by licensing their “Name, Image and Likeness” (NIL), a change that has brought a host of unintended consequences along the way.

On one hand, it’s an amazing development for the student athletes. Since the turn of the century, universities have raked in the dough in TV deals, ticket revenues and jersey sales, collecting unrestricted profits while the players themselves — who were the stars of the show and heroes on the field — were being essentially exploited, playing for nothing but a dorm room and a meal plan.

I can understand the argument that a scholarship and a free education is plenty to be grateful for, and while that may be true, these athletes are the reason thousands of fans pack the stadiums, and it’s only right that they get a chance to share in the benefits — especially when behindthe-scenes deals between recruiters and athletes have been going on for years.

Think about University of Southern California (USC) star Reggie Bush, one of the most electrifying college players of all time, who, after earning the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 2005, was forced to give it back after the NCAA determined he and his family had received compensation from USC.

If he played nowadays, he would legally be allowed to make money off his own popularity. (In fact, the trophy was finally returned to Bush last year.)

In 2024, this NIL system allowed some of college football’s biggest names, like

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ext. 1

This system is not without its problems. When there’s big money involved, somebody is inevitably being taken advantage of.

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Shedeur Sanders of Colorado — who has two million followers on Instagram and is valued at $5 million — to sign endorsement deals with companies like Nike, Gatorade and EA Sports.

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But this system is not without its problems. When there’s big money involved, somebody is inevitably being taken advantage of. And in the multi-billion-dollar industry of college football, NIL payments created a new loophole to recruit players by promising sums of money in a pay-for-play deal.

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Sure, schools can’t directly pay athletes to sign up to play, but athletic boosters, or financial donors that support the program, can write a check as an unofficial incentive to get an athlete to join the team.

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This is how we ended up with Sluka, the UNLV quarterback who was lured into playing in Las Vegas — for a program that is not on the top-tier of college football but is building its way up — with a coach’s promise of $100,000. When he arrived, the group that handles the school’s NIL collective said the deal was never official.

bility after transferring to a new school. While I understand the reasoning behind it, there’s a part of me that hates to see a business decision aff ect what was otherwise a magical story in UNLV football. The Runnin’ Rebels were 3-0 for the first time since 1984, and Sluka had just led the team in a 23-20 victory over Kansas on national TV. It seemed like UNLV had a chance to be one of the few smaller-conference schools to make it as one of the 12 teams in the National Championship Playoff.

Then he just quit.

I’m torn about it, because I know how I would feel if I showed up to a job that promised a six-figure paycheck only to come away with a couple thousand. I would probably quit too. But I guess it’s just the way things are headed, and it might be time to get used to it. Business decisions are officially a part of college sports.

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Sluka and his agent (yes, college players now need agents) tried to come to a resolution, but after only receiving $3,000, he made the decision to shut down his season and retain his final year of eligi-

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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.

COURT

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Patios are typically ground level sitting areas, often outdoor spaces, that adjoin a living

or office and may or may not be enclosed.

Because of their size, planning is extremely important – otherwise the result, could be somewhat chaotic or plain and not effective. It is wise to create a design around one or two preferred purposes, and you must consider the natural elements, such as sun exposure, shade, wind and rain.

Your patio may be an outdoor entry to your garden, and if so, it should be a transition between the feel and design of the rooms in your home, as they connect to the patio and then the outer garden. If the function of the patio is as an access point for the garden, there should be soft visual screening, so the focus starts at the patio, but ultimately wanders off to look beyond the patio area, giving a feeling of garden depth. The design should allow a

gentle flow by incorporating the style of the house and the outer garden.

The walkways or access into the garden beyond the patio should never be in the center of the patio and always be off to the side so there is no direct visual line to anything beyond the patio. This will allow the focus to pause at the patio itself, before viewing the rest of the garden setting. It will also create a visual interest to study the patio before noticing its function as access to the garden.

Alternatively, if you are designing the patio as a private sitting area, you would probably factor in the creation of some form of enclosure, such as a hedge formed by plants or fencing such as wooden slats with plants to soften them. The fence slats can be used horizontally to create a feel of depth. A path to the seating area is all that is needed, but preferably, the path should not be the main feature of the patio.

If you are using the patio as more of a visual display from the house to bring living art and natural light into a room, then it would also be more enclosed, with the inclusion of ornamental items, a water feature, sculptures or other art.

Of course, there are many options for a patio, and you could combine design elements from the three ideas above. In each case, the ground coverings would vary. With the transitional patio, you may want it to mirror the ground coverings in your main garden you are adjoining so the feel flows easily from the house through the patio to the garden beyond.

In a secluded patio, you would probably want the sitting area to be more like the feel of the room the garden is adjoin-

ing in the house. You may want to create a wooden structure to match timber floors in the house or may want stonework to be cohesive with harder internal surfaces.

For more of an ornamental design, you may not have a functioning path and instead use stepping stones with ornamental ground cover or gravel as a feature element.

One of the benefits of a patio is you can use pots or plants directly into the ground. This allows flexibility, with the ability to change things quickly; for example, pots of color can be used in summer, and holiday seasonal plants during the cooler months.

Soft lighting for these areas is also

something to consider, and I will cover this in a future article.

I sometimes design a garden “enclosure” such as patios so they have a visual inward focus, as opposed to looking at the view in the distance. As a result, they allow a much more intimate feel if designed appropriately.

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.

at 805-886-0228

NOMURA