Coastal View News • February 16, 2023

Classic waves

More than 400 sign petition to end debris transportation to local beach

All debris is tested, city says; operation to end March 3

BY EVELYN SPENCE

A Change.org petition asking the city of Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County to stop moving rock and sand from local basins onto the Carpinteria beach has amassed over 400 signatures, quickly gaining traction across local social media channels since its launch late last week.

The petition – created by Carpinteria resident Michelle Carlen – urges the city, the county and First District supervisor Das Williams to “stop using (the area) as a dumping ground.”

“The debris basins need to be cleared, but there is a better solution,” Carlen told CVN, adding she is concerned with unsafe material being transported to the beach. “It’s disruptive to have dump trucks going through town for two months, causing dust everywhere (…) If this were happening in LA, OC or San Diego, people would be up in arms.”

In the petition, Carlen says the beach is “unsafe” now because of the debris removal, and that the operation is affecting local tourism.

“A better solution needs to be brought to the table by all government entities for the future when flooding and debris come again with another storm. The people of the community should not have to speak up only to be told there isn’t a problem. The problem is our government agencies who wish to make their jobs easier,” Carlen wrote in the petition.

The debris removal began in January,

The Change.org petition, asking the city to stop debris transportation to the beach, had more than 400 signatures as of Tuesday.

through the Santa Barbara County Flood Control, following the rough storms where debris and other items flooded nearby debris basins. Workers began clearing out the Arroyo Paredon, Santa Monica and Toro Canyon debris basins, removing rocks and sediments to Carpinteria beach near Ash Avenue.

Olivia Uribe-Mutal, public information officer for the city of Carpinteria, said the rock, sand and gravel would

naturally flow to the area without the basins in place; the basins help prevent heavy damage to the city and its residents during storms.

Over 14,000 cubic yards of sediment have been transported to the beach from the above listed basins so far. Uribe-Mutal confirmed that testing is conducted on the material to “ensure that only natural, quality sediment is deposited at the beach.”

The operation is scheduled to be completed by March 3.

“We recognize that even with all our best efforts to mitigate nuisances, the project is messy and temporarily interferes with beach use. We look forward to March 3 when capacity will be fully restored to our life-saving debris basins and sediment placement to reduce beach erosion will be complete,” Uribe-Mutal said.

Not at El Carro: Parents urge council to look at other dog park locations

City to look at Monte Vista,

Lagunitas

as possible dog parks

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Carpinteria parents filled the Carpinteria City Council meeting Monday night with one message for the council: Carpinteria wants an off-leash dog park, but not at El Carro.

“I don’t have to tell you how important youth sports are and investment in our kids (is),” Julia Mayer, a champion of the Carpinteria Skate Park and an AYSO coach, told the council Monday, speaking beside her two nieces.

“I’m also a dog owner, and I really want us to have an off-leash dog park. I just don’t think putting it (at El Carro) is the right move. It puts community members at odds with each other,” she said.

Other public commenters – some, like Mayer, speaking alongside their kids –strongly agreed, citing a conflict between sports and dogs at the field. Jay Gavlin, whose young son Milo also spoke, said a dog jumped at Milo during soccer practice this last year. “Although he wasn’t bitten, it was quite traumatic,” he said.

Milo added: “It was very scary.”

Lorraine McIntire, from Carpinteria Dog Owners Group (C-DOG), was one of the few voices speaking in favor of El Carro Park at the Monday night meeting. The item was moved up on the agenda to accommodate the kids’ homework and bedtime; McIntire said many supporters of the El Carro dog park weren’t there because of the agenda change.

“I acknowledge the fact that kids play at the field. We love kids, we want to support our youth,” she said Monday, suggesting modifying the off-leash hours to reduce any children-dog conflict.

“We’ve not had one incident in the two years we’ve been doing this (…) I do feel there’s an urgency (for a dog park). We need to have an option for the dogs to be off leash.”

Because of the reported issues with

noise, dog excrement and reported conflicts with local youth, the council directed staff to come back with options for plans

and budgets for an off-leash dog park at the Lagunitas and Monte Vista parks.

“It’s clear to me that El Carro is not an

option for a dog park,” Councilmember Roy Lee said. “Our kids come first… they’re second to none.”

Councilmember Mónica Solórzano agreed, pointing toward Lagunitas. Councilmembers Natalia Alarcon and Wade Nomura agreed that Laguintas would be a good, permanent solution, and Nomura added that Monte Vista Park would be another fair option.

This item will come back to the council.

Manufactured city parklets are too expensive, commenters say

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Two public commenters took issue with the proposed uniform parklets presented by city staff at Monday night’s council meeting, stating the parklets are too expensive.

The temporary parklets – used for eateries on a public right-of-way, such as a parking spot – were first introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Downtown T area. The parklets’ popularity prompted the council to ask staff to draft a permanent parklet ordinance.

Under the permanent program, the city would provide uniform parklet designs for businesses to choose from, to bypass city planning and ensure they are up to code. All other proposed parklets would have to go through the city’s planning processes.

“With a custom parklet, it would have to go through the normal permitting process to make sure it’s safe and built to building codes,” Tom Miracle from TKM Engineering said Monday. “The process to get (a custom parklet) approved and installed would take longer.”

The city’s designed parklets could cost anywhere from $12,000 to $15,000, Miracle said.

But commenters had issues with having to replace their temporary parklets.

Warner Ebbink, owner of Little Dom’s Seafood, said he built his temporary parklet for $5,000.

“To tear that down and take on a whole ‘another $20,000 just doesn’t make sense to me,” he said Monday. “Setting the bar this high, with his amount of money – no one is going to take it.”

He asked if Carpinteria could possibly adopt Santa Barbara’s State Street parklet guidelines; the city had recently voted to allow the temporary parklets to remain, with some design alterations, while the city finalizes its long term plan.

Justin Fitzgerald, who said he is a general manager with one of the restaurants in the Downtown T area, said his business built its parklet for $8,000. He asked that instead of requiring replacement, the city bring in local contractors to bring temporary parklets up to code.

But Carpinteria cannot adopt State Street’s guidelines, City Manager Dave Durflinger said. All parklets in Carpinteria must be built to withstand a 25-mileper-hour crash – the speed limit of the streets they are located on. Santa Barbara’s State Street, on the other hand, remains closed to cars.

“A lot of parklets were not built in a PARKLETS

continued on page 5

“It’s clear to me that El Carro is not an option for a dog park.”

–Councilmember Roy Lee

SMALL DOG AREA LARGE DOG AREA

The council named Monte Vista Park at the north end of Bailard Avenue as a potential off-leash dog park location Monday night.

The council looked at a permanent parklet program in the Downtown T Monday night, which stretches between Linden and Carpinteria avenues.

durable way,” Durflinger said. “A lot of parklets are now using city k-rails – not a long-term solution.”

Councilmember Wade Nomura suggested grandfathering in the parklets already in place, an idea councilmembers showed favor to.

Durflinger again expressed concern. “I want to be realistic on setting expectations. (I am) concerned with grandfathering in parklets that weren’t built to any standard, and that went through no plan check at all. They need to withstand a 25-mile-per-hour hit,” he said. “I don’t want to give folks (the idea) that there’s a way to salvage the temporary parklets in a permanent design.”

Another issue to be resolved? Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) rules. Under temporary Covid-19 guidelines, restaurants can cross public sidewalks to deliver alcohol to customers in the parklets. It is expected that the rules will snap back to pre-Covid-19 standards; legislation to address this may appear state level in the coming year, city staff said.

The council voted to bring this item back to the council, to address commenters’ concerns and discuss possibly offsetting some businesses’ costs.

In Council Closed Session

The city received a letter threatening legal action against the city’s Housing Element adoption, as discussed in closed session. City legal counsel Jena ShoafAcos said no reportable action was taken.

Council approves first reading of permanent formula business ban

BY EVELYN SPENCE

The Carpinteria City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance banning new formula businesses within city limits on Monday night; the temporary ban is set to expire July 25, 2023.

Per city guidelines, a formula business has seven or more locations in the U.S., and two or more of the same identifying features, including but not limited to products, façade and uniforms.

Similar to the temporary ordinance, the ban is citywide, exempting only Casitas Pass Plaza, Shepard Place Shops and – on the Planning Commission’s recommendation – the area along Casitas Pass Road, between Carpinteria Avenue and Highway 101.

The proposed permanent ordinance generally mirrors its temporary counterpart, with only two exceptions: the Casitas Pass Road exemption, and a public interest exception. Under the public interest exemption, counsel Matt Hofer explained, a formula business could pop up outside of the three exempted areas if it is determined to be in the public interest.

For example, Hofer said, if a new formula business that sold electric bicycles wanted to come to town – an item that could be seen as in the “public interest” – it could be approved by the Planning Commission.

“The intent is to allow for certain types of businesses, where they may be (in) certain need of the community,” city legal counsel Jena Shoaf-Acos said.

Councilmembers asked one change be made: that formula businesses already located within the exemption zone not

CasitasPassRoad

Under the permanent formula business ban, formula businesses would only be allowed at the Shepard Place Shops and the Casitas Plaza Shopping Center – seen above – as well as a small area along Casitas Pass Road from Carpinteria Avenue to Highway 101.

be allowed to relocate to areas outside that zone.

The motion passed 4-0, with Councilmember Roy Lee abstaining, citing a conflict of interest. The item will have to be approved by the California Coastal Commission.

Proposed Energy Codes for New Buildings

The Farm files formal application with city

The Carpinteria Farm, Hospitality and Residential Project filed an official application with the city of Carpinteria earlier this month. The project would fill 5885 Carpinteria Ave., the current spot of Tee Time Golf Range, on the bluffs. The hospitality experience, on the 27.52-acre lot, would have a 99-room lodge, bungalow and hotel building, with an easement for public use of a multi-use trail and other open space.

The developers came before a joint city meeting in April 2022 for a conceptual review of the project and found themselves under fire by Carpinterians who then called the project an “unforgivable betrayal” of the area’s natural space.

Although many use the proposed space to reach the seal rookery, it is privately owned; the property was bought by private developer Matthew Goodwin and other partners in 2021.

See more at https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/community-development/carpinteria-farm-hospitality-residential-project-review/.

––Evelyn Spence

someone else play that role”: Callender steps down from commission

BY JUN STARKEY

Longtime Carpinteria Planning Commissioner and sea-level rise awareness advocate John Callender officially stepped down from the commission on Jan. 31, concluding 15 years of service to the city of Carpinteria and its residents.

Callender’s decision to leave the commission was not an obvious one, he told CVN, but one he came to after careful consideration of his time on the commission, and his concerns about how to move forward. “What I was doing wasn’t working,” he said.

On the commission, Callender was known for his constant reminders about the reality of sea-level rise, and the impacts it will inevitably have on Carpinteria’s coastline. When larger projects were brought before the commission, Callender was a voice reminding the public that – in the next 20 to 30 years –the land being developed might not be accessible anymore.

After years of voicing these concerns, Callender said he reached a point where he found himself rambling. “I’ve been involved in this process, mostly complaining,” he said. “And it’s nice to have a forum to say that stuff, but it also led to significant frustrations.”

His frustrations didn’t involve his colleagues on the commission, who he said “all care deeply about Carpinteria,” but rather a loss of faith in his ability, as a commissioner, to create the level of change he thought was necessary to address the inevitability of climate change.

“I lost my faith in the city’s current planning laws,” Callender said, so he decided to “let someone else perform that role.”

The city’s General Plan was revised years ago to reflect sea-level rise, but Callender said he believes the plan itself is broken, and without significant changes to the plan and the city’s planning laws, he didn’t see a solution for his concerns. “Me saying no (to planning projects) was not working,” he said.

Despite his decision, Callender said he will miss the opportunities for collaboration with the public and commissioners, which he greatly enjoyed. Though he will no longer be a commissioner, he said if there is an opportunity to speak on an issue, he plans to take it. “If I’m not on planning (commission), I can say what I

think should happen,” he said.

Another reason behind his stepping down was the recent birth of his first grandchild, and losses within his family forcing him to reflect on his own mortality. “I’ve been so caught up in trying to move the city on this issue,” he said. “I have limited time here.”

A birdwatcher since his youth, Callender founded the Carpinteria Birdwatchers in 2021, which holds monthly meetings on how to spot local species of birds. Since forming the group, Callender has created a small society of birdwatchers within the city, reporting back to meetings with sightings and sometimes gathering in person to witness a nesting season, with dozens of birds hatching on Carpinteria’s beaches.

Callender is not retired – he has worked as a programmer at Archer Educational for the last 15 years – but he is beginning a new phase of his life, one more centered on enjoying the day-to-day aspects of his life. He plans to continue being a voice in the community, which has been grateful for since moving to Carpinteria in the early ‘90s.

“In Carpinteria, there is a sense of community that is lost in other places,” he said.

“Let

CITY OF CARPINTERIA Former Carpinteria planning commissioner John Callender officially stepped down from the commission on Jan. 31.

CITY OF CARPINTERIA Developers for The Farm proposal filed an official application with the city earlier this month, for a hospitality development on the bluffs.

The proposed 99-room hotel and hospitality experience on the Carpinteria bluffs would be located on the Tee Time property, 5885 Carpinteria Ave.

Bailard Avenue housing project is inappropriate

When I moved to Carpinteria in 2003, it was apparent this was a community who valued its unique place on the Central Coast. Emerging organically, between the mountains and the sea, its native and agrarian past were still intact. It was not by mistake that this was apparent. We owe those who came before us a debt of gratitude. Carpinteria has been saved from indistinction by these visionary folks.

There really aren’t that many beach towns that look like us today. We have kept the rural /urban boundary intact and honored our “small beach town and its family oriented residential neighborhoods, its unique visual and natural resources, and its open, rural surroundings,” etc. Sound familiar? Quoted from page one of the Carpinteria General Plan/ Local Coastal Land Use Plan, April 2003.

In the coming weeks of February, preliminary presentations will be made to the County Planning Commission by a development corporation and the housing authority, which, graced by the state mandated decree with no concrete sense of purpose or place, is geared up to construct a three-story complex of housing at the end of Bailard Avenue. They presume that this is infill and should be housing, that it will solve the state’s housing problem, home our houseless and provide a benefit to the neighbors, which has not been defined.

To which I can only say, it is a planned buffer zone not infill; as Mayor Al Clark points out, we cannot build our way out of the housing problem with the current development methods. Forty units of “homeless” housing away from the downtown is thoughtless, and for what benefit?

For many more reasons, this project is inappropriate. Please stay informed on this topic.

Catherine Overman Carpinteria

Stop dumping on our beaches

The greatest asset the City of Carpinteria has is its beautiful beaches juxtaposed against the mountains. Unfortunately, we are running out of time to protect the community and its thousands of visitors from harmful debris and mud dumping occurring as an emergency operation dictated by the County of Santa Barbara.

Officials are claiming and supporting a narrative that is twofold: The debris basin must be dumped here and in Goleta; and the coastline requires this mud for erosion purposes.

This is a twist of truth. Many Carpinterians do not want this!

The media hasn’t (until this week) reported any other side of the story. Our beach is ruined. No recreation can take place there at this time. And this happened in the same manner after the Montecito Mudslide in 2018 – our beach was just recuperating from that.

I have personally contacted many governing bodies, including the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Cali-

CARPINTERIA

Coastal View News

fornia Coastal Commission, Central Coast Water Board, County of Santa Barbara Environmental and Health Services, Heal the Ocean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, California Parks and Recreation, and also presented at the Carpinteria City Council meeting at the end of January.

Water quality reports are over one week behind reporting and have been showing up at “warning” levels. Additionally, soil testing is delayed. So, what is happening here – why are we being told things are fine, not a big deal? This needs to end now, and permanently.

Find an alternative solution to this so we do not have to have our beach ruined indefinitely every time they want to clear the debris basins. This is California –supposedly a state that cares about the environment – but clearly that doesn’t seem to be the case. Talk to other residents – let them speak out and help create the way for change.

Michelle Carlen Carpinteria

CWA opposes using agriculture lands for housing

California Women for Agriculture would like to go on the record as urging the Santa Barbara County Supervisors to oppose the State of California mandate to find suitable locations for affordable housing, and the proposals to use agricultural lands in Santa Barbara County for this purpose.

CWA Carpinteria is a statewide, non-profit organization committed to advocate for the economic sustainability of the diverse California agriculture community so future generations can continue to produce a healthy diverse food supply. CWA has been active in Carpinteria for over 40 years. In Carpinteria, our members have a long family history of farming in the valley, some hundreds of years, among them the Bailards, Granaroli, Frarys, Browns, Thompsons, the Dal Pozzo family and Sheaffers. We believe that once agricultural land is lost, it will never be returned.

We realize the need for more housing – however, there is a wealth of empty commercial buildings, as well as old motels, closed businesses and empty lots within the city limits that could be utilized for housing. Please take a wider view, and make

Managing Editor Evelyn Spence

Assistant Editor Jun Starkey

Sports Editor Ryan P. Cruz

Graphic Designer Kristyn Whittenton

Photographer Robin Karlsson

Advertising Manager Karina Villarreal

Publishers Gary L. Dobbins, Michael VanStry

your decisions not necessarily the easy ones, but the right ones. Local produce farmed in our Carpinteria Valley provides many healthy benefits which contribute to healthy citizens.

Susan Fairbanks Pollard and Arna Crittenden Carpinteria

Find new routes for street sweepers, trucks

The Downtown Beach neighborhood is under siege from a constant stream of clanging, banging, chain-rattling dump trucks and street sweepers whose useful life has long passed, as evidenced by decibels they emit and the plume of dust and particulate matter they spew in their wake.

What “emergency” allows noise compliance laws to be violated; air quality and pollution control standards to be disregarded; OSHA safety standards to be ignored; permitted construction workdays and hours to be tossed aside and stop signs ignored?

Trucks are forced to transit Dorrance, the narrowest of the three neighborhood streets, yet they aren’t allowed to transit Third, the widest street. Surely this can be handled in a more sane and rational manner.

Marla Daily Carpinteria

Oil leaks from Dorrance Way street sweeper

Oil leaked from a street sweeper in Carpinteria’s beach neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, public information officer Olivia Uribe-Mutal confirmed to CVN. CVN photographer Robin Karlsson said oil was seen along Dorrance Way. Uribe-Mutal said there was a hydraulic line break in one of the SCA street sweepers.

“They sent their mechanics up and used kitty litter and absorbent pads to clean up the oil and fix the sweeper. In the meantime, they pulled the sweeper off of the residential route to keep up with demand in relation to the sediment deposition. They deployed emergency response plan best management practices,” Uribe-Mutal said.

– Evelyn Spence

“... it is a planned buffer zone not infill; as Mayor Al Clark points out, we cannot build our way out of the housing problem with the current development methods.”

–Catherine Overman

Cate ceramics studio to come before ARB

The Cate School, a local private school located at 1960 Cate Mesa Rd., will come before the Santa Barbara South County Architectural Review Board at the board’s Feb. 17 meeting with plans for a school ceramics studio.

According to the board’s agenda, the school seeks to renovate its Berolzheimer Building into a ceramics studio/classroom, with an exterior kiln and solar PV trellis. The meeting will take place at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Hearing room, 123 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, at 10 a.m. See the full agenda at countyofsb.org/1605/South-Board-of-Architectural-Review.

Warming Centers open amid freeze warning

Practicing self-love every single day

MY CVN

Warming Centers in the county will be open through Thursday, following a freeze warning issued by the National Weather Service. Carpinteria centers are not open; the nearest center in south county is in Santa Barbara at the First United Methodist church, 305 East Anapamu St., 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. See more at facebook.com/FreedomWarmingCenter.

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February is when many of us have extra thoughts on all kinds of love – love for a partner, a child, a pet, a friend. However, many of us forget to include ourselves on the list of people to give love to. Like the emergency procedure on an airplane, it’s important we first “breathe in” the oxygen of love for ourselves to be able to be more “effective” in how we love others.

Rather than judging ourselves, we work towards understanding. It’s a normal part of life to have challenges and mess up; we must be gentle with ourselves and ensure that our inner voice is kind and constructive.

Southern Santa Claus Lane on-ramp reopens

The southern on-ramp at Santa Claus Lane has reopened along Highway 101, with a new turnaround for local traffic, according to a press release from SBRoads. In Summerland, traffic has been shifted onto the new northbound lanes, with the northern off-ramp at Lillie Avenue recently opening. Construction on the San Ysidro Roundabout, near San Ysidro Road and North Jameson Lane, is set to begin in mid-March, though some pre-construction activity will begin in the coming weeks.

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What is self-love? It means we accept ourselves with kindness and compassion. It’s about how we think and feel about ourselves. When we accept ourselves, we’re comfortable with who we are – that includes our strengths and our challenges. Sometimes we mess up, but we don’t need to dwell and beat ourselves up over it. Shame serves no one. One vital piece of self-love is self-acceptance. By increasing our self-acceptance, we’re less likely to withdraw from others and will boost our healthy relationships with others as well as compassion towards others.

Is self-acceptance the same as having self-esteem? No, it’s not. Self-esteem is our sense of value or worth that is based more on how good we judge ourselves to be in specific areas of our lives, like school, work or sports. It’s usually dependent on if we perceive ourselves as a “success” or “failure.” With self-acceptance, we’re aware of our positive and challenging aspects of ourselves, while still maintaining our self-respect; it has a positive correlation with increased mental and physical health and is vital to our overall well-being.

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we’re “being soft” on ourselves. It means we look at what we need to improve on and are working on it. Rather than feeling ashamed and avoiding feeling, we grow and develop. Self-compassion is associated with: increased happiness, motivation, positive body image, improved mental and physical health, increase in resiliency and improved connection with others.

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One way to develop self-acceptance is through learning how to have more self-compassion. Dr. Kristen Neff, the leading expert on self-compassion, defines it as “being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel inadequate, rather than ignoring our pain or flagellating ourselves with self-criticism” (selfcompassion.org).

She maintains that there are three components to focus on to increase our self-compassion. They include self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.

Self-kindness: Rather than judging ourselves, we work towards understanding. It’s a normal part of life to have challenges and mess up; we must be gentle with ourselves and ensure that our inner voice is kind and constructive.

Common humanity: We’re human and will make mistakes, we’re not alone. Feeling inadequate, though not something that feels good, is something that is a shared human experience. Don’t try to tough it out and go it alone; connect with others through the shared human experience.

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Mindfulness: In this use of the word, it means that we’re willing to acknowledge and look at our challenges in an open, clear and balanced way. We relate to others to put our experience in a larger perspective. We observe our thoughts and feelings just as they are and don’t try to suppress or pretend that they don’t exist. It’s impossible to ignore our painful emotions and be compassionate at the same time. However, we don’t want to stay stuck in these feelings and let ourselves get knocked over by negativity.

Being self-compassionate doesn’t mean

I know there are days it can be so extremely easy to be hard on ourselves; we often don’t even realize how loud those voices are in our heads. In the last month or so, I had to remind myself more than a few times that I too need to be aware of my self-talk and stop the judgmental stream of words. It’s always humbling to remind myself of my humanness and need for kindness, compassion and acceptance of self. Here I was, showing up in the way I usually do for others but was not able to do that for myself. The words I had just offered to those I loved most did not seem to be applied to myself. So, when the decision to finally write this article for February began, I figured that we all are humans sharing similar experiences and more people than not would benefit from the topic.

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I am sure 2023 will have more articles written around the how of self-love, acceptance and compassion. For now, I just want to begin the conversation, hoping that all of you reading this will notice how close or far away you are from being the self-loving, self-aware and self-compassionate person you deserve to be.

The song “Love Myself” by Andy Grammar sums it up perfectly. Here are a few lines from it:

I want to love myself without needing someone else to say it, say it to me.

I want to love myself without needing someone’s help to show it, show it to me.

‘Cause I can be mean in my mind.

Beat myself up all the time with awful thoughts and I can eat myself alive.

I’m gonna try – It’s gonna be an awkward talk, but

I love you; I don’t say it enough – I love who you are, who you’ve become.

As always, I can be reached at mywellnessnow@live.com.

Vickie Gonzalez has been licensed for almost 20 years as an LMFT and currently provides counseling, coaching and consulting services. Her private practice is currently online only. She specializes in private practice, including grief loss, addiction/codependency and anxiety disorders. She works with people around themes of identity and purpose as well, primarily with individuals and couples. Coaching services focus on collaborating with clients on setting and reaching their wellness goals, whether those goals are career, relational, financial or personal in nature. On a personal note, she has lived in Carpinteria all her life and became a therapist to give back to the community.

Granted, it’s not a perfect analogy, but it’s good enough.

Carpinteria-centered documentary to premiere at SBIFF

Film follows five residents who attended a “Mexicans only” Aliso Elementary School

BY JUN STARKEY

The short documentary “Voces de Old Town Carpinteria” – a talking-head style film centered on five people who attended one of California’s last segregated schools – will premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Thursday, Feb. 16.

The film was directed by Brent Winebrenner, in collaboration with producer Leslie Westbrook, Assistant Producer Suzanne Requejo, Latinx Arts Project Historian Dr. Jim Campos and artist

Larry Vigon. The film features Carpinterians Salvador Campos, Tomás Castelo, Lorenzo Martinez, Benito Villegas and Josephine Villegas, all of whom attended Aliso Elementary School before it was desegregated in 1947.

The five former students tell stories of growing up in Carpinteria, attending a “Mexicans only” Aliso and working and living in a city and community that dehumanized them, while also finding moments of joy throughout. Dr. Campos served as the film’s historian, providing some context between stories. The film

is being screened as part of a series, with the theme of “Turning Trauma into Resiliency.”

Winebrenner, who has lived in Santa Barbara for more than 20 years, was approached by Westbrook with the idea for the film about a year ago, he told CVN. “The story was interesting,” he said. “I had lived in Carpinteria and had no idea the schools had been segregated.”

“What we heard from them was, life was challenging, but all these folks made lives that they were proud of,” he added.

The film also examines the role of

the Aliso Brand Lemon Corporation, which had several fields in the area and almost exclusively employed Mexican Americans to gather the fruit. Mexican American students were given subpar educations, denied opportunities and often pushed into working the lemon fields. “It was a pipeline to the agriculture industry,” Westbrook said.

The film festival premiere for “Voces de Old Town Carpinteria” will be on Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7:40 p.m. at the Fiesta Five Theatre in auditorium 4; there will be another screening on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Metro 4 Theatre in auditorium 3.

Former Aliso Elementary School student Josephine Villegas speaks about her childhood in front of a photo of herself and her sister dressed up as children.

Former Aliso student Salvador Campos, who passed away in 2022, spoke during the documentary.

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January rainstorms reduce stress on surface water resources

BY ROBERT MCDONALD, CARPINTERIA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT GENERAL MANAGER

This January, Carpinteria received over nine inches of rain over the course of several winter storms. On Jan. 10 alone, we received over three inches.

To put things into perspective: In 2022, over the course of the entire calendar year, the rain gauge at the Carpinteria Fire Station received 6.6 inches of rain in total. In the first month of this year, we received 146% of our entire rainfall for last year. These rain events allowed California’s thirsty landscapes to become saturated and quickly increased water levels at reservoirs throughout the state.

January’s rain has helped to recover statewide systems from the previous three years of very dry weather; however, the drought is far from over. Drought recovery will take years of above average rainfall to ensure that groundwater basins and watersheds are fully recharged. From a water supply planning perspective, we must continue to look several years into the future when managing water supplies and be prepared for more periods of prolonged drought based on what we have experienced over the last several decades.

Carpinteria Valley Water District (CVWD) is in a much better position with Lake Cachuma at 99% of its capacity at the time of this writing. In addition, State Water Project (SWP) reservoirs have increased to above average levels. Lake Oroville, one of the SWP’s key reservoirs, is at around 67% of its capacity at the time of this writing, which is 113% of its historical average for this time in the winter season. Although two of the water sources that we depend on, Lake Cachuma and the SWP, have a better outlook after this winter, the Carpinteria Groundwater Basin (CGB) needs several wet winters to recover. One wet month will not do much to increase our aquifer levels. Groundwater replenishment depends on steady rainfall over time.

It is important to recognize that continuing to use water efficiently and saving water wherever possible will help speed up the drought recovery and allow us to be prepared for the future. It is unknown how much precipitation we will receive over the next few winters, and we must make the water that we currently have access to last as long as possible. One great tool that the district provides to help customers monitor their water use is the free EyeOnWater tool available online. Customers can sign up at eyeonwater. com/signup, view their daily and hourly water consumption, and set up e-mail or text notifications to let them know if their water meter is unexpectedly running for 24 hours straight with no 15 minute break in water use.

The district is focusing on securing and protecting our water resources for the future through a number of different projects. These include the development of the Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project (CAPP), complying with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and creating a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP), establishing water allocations for each parcel within

our jurisdiction, and designing an intertie project to work with other local agencies to find win-win solutions that improve water supply reliability. CAPP will allow for the creation of a locally controlled and drought-proof water supply for the Carpinteria Valley. Through the creation of a GSP we are engaging local stakeholders and discussing ways that we can monitor and manage our shared groundwater resources. Establishing water allocations for each property will help us to meet California’s urban water use efficiency standards, ensure customers are using water efficiently and limit wasteful water practices. The intertie project will allow agencies to assist each other in the event of an emergency and allow access to and conveyance from additional water sources.

For more information on SGMA and the creation of Carpinteria Groundwater Basin’s GSP, visit carpgsa.org. We invite you to attend our fifth Community Workshop on March 15 at Lions Park, 6–9 p.m. To learn more and stay up to date on CAPP, visit cvwd.net/capp. Both websites allow for you to sign up for e-mail updates to monitor project progress. We hope that you will continue to use water wisely. The district continues to offer rebates for residential and commercial customers for water conservation fixtures and appliances as well as rebates on WaterWise Landscape upgrades.

If you are looking for a winter or spring project, you can get some financial assistance with transforming your lawn and replacing it with native and low water use plants. E-mail conservation@cvwd.net for additional information. For District updates, please visit our website cvwd. net, follow us on twitter @CarpWater, or Carpinteria Valley Water District on Facebook and Nextdoor.

Robert McDonald is the general manager of the Carpinteria Valley Water District. He can be reached at bob@cvwd.net.

One wet month will not do much to increase our aquifer levels. Groundwater replenishment depends on steady rainfall over time.

Most toilet leaks are caused by old, worn toilet flappers that don’t seal properly when the toilet is flushed. Stop this type of leak by following the steps below.

Golden Anniversary

Hannah and Dan Rothermel

Hannah and Dan Rothermel of Maine celebrated 50 years of marriage last year. The pair were married on July 1, 1972; they have been regularly traveling to Carpinteria – their home away from home – since Winter 2018.

“(We) fell in love and have been coming back ever since,” Hannah told CVN. “First, we stayed a month, then, two, and now... almost three. Our families are all back in New England, or it would be longer. Some of them come to visit while we’re here – and they love it too. What’s not to love?”

“We’ve made friends, hike 2-3 times a week (on the trails that are open) walk to check in with the harbor seals every morning, have gotten involved at your lovely community library – thank you Jena and Jody – ride our bikes to Rincon Point several times a week, and

Hannah and Dan Rothermel

can’t imagine anywhere else we’d rather relocate to every January and February, and now, a few weeks into March,” she added.

Engagement

Kliewer – Chayasing

Carpinterians Matthew Kliewer and Alyssa Chayasing are engaged, the pair announced Sunday. Kliewer, a lifelong Carpinteria, is pursuing his MBA and working full-time; Chayasing came to Carpinteria two years ago from Ventura, and currently works in the local flower industry. Chayasing said the two met through their church and are excited for their August wedding.

Hey, baby!

Norah Grace Rogan

Norah Grace Rogan was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to Jack and Audrey Rogan on Feb. 9, 2023. She arrived at 8 lbs., 7 ounces and 21 inches long.

“Norah is enjoying life with her big sister Annie. The Rogan family is so grateful to their community for all of the support as they welcomed their baby girl into the world!” Audrey, a teacher at Carpinteria High School, told CVN.

Sandcastle Time

Jewelry & Watch Repair

Restringing Cleaning Resizing Settings

Suicide, depression screening scheduled for early

March

Students from seventh to ninth grade will participate in the mental health screening

Humbles, from Canalino Elementary School and Carpinteria Family School; and Rebecca Carlisle, from Aliso and Summerland Elementary schools.

Appreciation

SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK

DIANA RIGBY CUSD SUPERINTENDENT

The Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Mental Health Team is planning for the second year of the Signs of Suicide Depression Screening for seventh and ninth grade students, held in early March. The purpose of the screening is to create a safety network in our school community by identifying students thinking of suicide.

National School Counseling Week

I would like to recognize all the Carpinteria High School student-athletes, coaches and Athletic Director Pat Cooney for a great winter season of water polo, basketball and soccer. Congratulations to the Girls Water Polo team for winning the 2023 Citrus Coast League Championship!

Carpinteria Middle School Art

Carpinteria Middle School students displayed color theory portraits, charcoal and watercolor animal drawings and collage silhouette portraits at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center. The gallery’s reception was held on Saturday, Jan. 28. Ryan Etherington, CMS Art teacher, instructs 111 middle school students in Art and Advanced Art classes.

Carpinteria Middle School Spelling Bee

week during the last week of January to “promote kindness, social-emotional health and bullying prevention in pre-k through grade 12.”

Our elementary schools participated in the GKC by identifying daily acts of kindness, etc. “Say thank you to three or more people today, help a teacher or classmate today, do something kind for someone, think of something you did well and give yourself a pat on the back,” and by creating a schoolwide kindness paper chain.

AI ChatGPT

ADVERTISEMENT St. Jude

Oh Holy St. Jude, apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in Miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful special patron in time of need, to you do I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great powers, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. Pray for us all who invoke your aid. Amen

Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys, three Glorias.

This Novena must be said for 9 consecutive days. This Novena has never been known to fail.

CAN YOU HELP?

National School Counseling Week was Feb. 6 to Feb. 10. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. National School Counseling Week is always celebrated the first full week in February. The 2023 theme is School Counselors: Helping Students Dream Big.

CUSD is proud that our counseling ratio 250:1 meets the recommended counseling staffing, and we appreciate our CUSD school counselors: Julie Bravo, Alfredo Martinez and Marlo Stoops, from Carpinteria High School; Stephanie Stahl and Megan Kruk, from Carpinteria Middle School; Shanna Hargett and Patricia

Three CMS students, Callie Labistour, Jade Rochlitzer and Emiliano Jimenez, placed in the 37th Annual Masonic Lodge Spelling Bee. Congratulations!

Video for Art for the Sky

During the last week of January, Canalino Elementary and Carpinteria Family School students and staff worked with artist Daniel Dancer to create a “video from the sky,” vimeo.com/793413789. This giant living painting made by Canalino and CFS is designed to “deepen relationships between Sky, Earth and one another.”

Carpinteria High School Mock Trials

CHS students are very excited about the 2022-23 Mock Trial program at Carpinteria High School. The Mock Trial team consists of 18 students who are building on last year’s 3rd place finish and have added to their experience with some successful scrimmages. The leadership team includes CHS teacher advisors Peter Cotte and Katelyn Cochran, and their longtime attorney coach Mary Anne Weiss, Esquire. The County Competition will be held at the Santa Barbara Superior Courthouse on Feb. 25.

The Great Kindness Challenge Week

The California Department of Education encouraged all schools to participate in the Great Kindness Challenge (GKC)

ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) is an artificial intelligence tool and a free app that generates a “convincing approximation of text written by humans on any and all topics” with a simple prompt. Since its release in November, secondary and college educators are discussing the effects of this app on student writing – will it become like a calculator for math? The New York City School system banned the site from school computers while other educators (CUSD teachers) are already thinking about ways to apply it to improve instruction.

In a recent article in the Atlantic Monthly, High School English teacher Daniel Herman writes: “I’ve been teaching English for 12 years, and I’m astounded by what CHATGPT can produce. The arrival of Open AI’s Chat GPT may signal the end of writing assignments altogether.”

First Interim Financial Report Analysis

As required by Education Code Section 42131, the Santa Barbara County Education Office reviewed the CUSD First Interim Financial Report due December 2022, and they notified the State Department of Education and the State Controller that SBCEO concurs with the CUSD positive certification.

Measure U

The Main School roof replacement and campus painting project will take place beginning June 2023, the Canalino Learning Center project is on track for DSA submittal in March 2023 and the Aliso Transitional-kindergarten/kindergarten classroom construction project is in the design phase.

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

Foss, Kim Ishida, Yvette Torres, Kathy Daly.

February is the month of love – the Superbowl too if you’re a football fan – but mostly love. This year, I want to send some of that love to our amazing Promotores from the Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP). This group of nine local Latinos(as) show their love for their community by sharing valuable resources with those who may not otherwise receive them or have trouble accessing them.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Promotores, let me give you a brief history. The Promotores model is a grassroots approach to strengthening communities through education. The model was developed in the 1920s. It has transformed throughout the years, but it has maintained its core purpose, which is to promote resources.

Promotores mainly focus on health-related information. I have had the honor and pleasure of working with Promotores, who have worked on issues around education equity, health and family strengthening. The Promotores at CCP are trained in various topics and have gained key skills that make them trusted messengers in the community. Our group of Promotores has helped promote information on Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, literacy and so much more. During the 2020 Census, our Promotores went out into the community to educate the Latino population about the importance of participating in the Census and provided information to debunk myths.

They also played a vital role during the start of the pandemic. They helped with the food distribution week in and week out and helped with vaccine clinics and mask distributions. We are able to do

A look at the Promotores

so much more with their support. Some Promotores we have brought on as staff, providing them with some extra support for their families.

The group is currently working on a campaign to encourage parents to work more closely with their children from an early age. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to our Community Liaison and Lead Promotora, Angelica Ornelas, at aornelas@carpchildren.org. We will be recruiting the next cohort of Promotora leaders in the fall. Promotoras, we love you!

Teresa Alvarez is the Executive Director of the Carpinteria Children’s Project. She has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit field and a passion for helping children and families. Teresa was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and moved to the U.S. with her parents at age two. Growing up as an undocumented student, she learned the importance of having mentors, a strong work ethic, and the value of education. Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCSB and a master’s degree in Psychology from Antioch Santa Barbara. She currently serves on the Future Leaders of America board and is a founding member of the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle. Teresa loves to travel, read and chase after her two boys.

FFA receives check from Avofest

Promotores – including, from left, Hortensia Torres, Guadalupe Martinez, Ana Chavez, Erica Villarreal, Fidel Anais, Sofia Anais and Irma Arroyo – help strengthen communities through education.

Teresa Rodriguez and Erica Villarreal are two Promotores with the Carpinteria Children’s Project.

The California Avocado Festival donated $2,000 to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) earlier this month; FFA is one of many nonprofit groups that received proceeds from the festival. From left is FFA advisor Sal Lopez, Avocado Festival board member Andrea Lionello, Brenda Lemus, Oscar Ramirez, Alejandra Lira, Gabriel Flores, Avocado Festival board president Gary Dobbins, Raul Reyes, Mariana Esquivel, Evelyn Calkins and Avocado Festival board member Emily Miles.

COFFEE, CAREER AND KIDDOS

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY

Rotary to hold 4-Way Writing Essay Contest

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning and the Rotary Club of Carpinteria are inviting local students to participate in the Rotary’s annual 4-Way Test Essay Contest. Essay topics should address the Rotary principles of truth, fairness, goodwill and community.

There will be prizes of $150 to $50 for first, second and third place winners in each of the elementary, middle and high school categories. All entries are due Feb. 27. To submit an essay or for more information visit the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning’s Facebook page.

Griffin, right, and other Rotary members a tour of the museum.

Rotary tours Carpinteria Valley Museum of History

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning met with Dr. Jamie Yahr, the new Director for the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, who gave the club a tour of the facility. During the tour, Dr. Yahr spoke about instituting practices to ensure the museum continues for future generations; she plans to install feature exhibits that would change every couple of months.

For more information regarding the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, visit carpinteriahistoricalmuseum.org.

Incoming presidents participate in training

Rotary members Lorraine McIntire, Carie Smith and Karen Graf attended the three-day Southwest President Elect Training (PETS) for the Rotary Clubs of Carpinteria, and had the opportunity to meet with the Rotary International President Elect Gordon McInally.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria members, wearing black, from left, Marin Bass, Gemma Sotelo, Maeve Runhaar and Evie Mayer competed against Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara members for a friendly basketball game.

Girls Inc. holds basketball game between Santa Barbara and Carpinteria

Students from Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and Greater Santa Barbara participated in a friendly basketball scrimmage on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Girls Inc. Foothill campus.

Dr. Jamie Yahr, left, director for the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, gave club president Rebecca

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria members, wearing black, from left, Sonora Landa, Layla Foster and Keira Foster play basketball alongside Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara members.

CVN

THE SEAWITCH SAYS

AMY OROZCO

Dear Amy O, How about this for an alternative fact: Positivity is the cause of negativity. Why should I feel it’s wrong to be in a bad mood or feel cross? If I keep my once-in-a-while lousiness to myself, what’s wrong with not being positive?

I think being fake positive is dishonest and an affront to one’s mental well-being. On some days I wonder, am I the only one needing to fight an overwhelming urge to trash those “Positive Vibes Only” type of signs hanging in shops and restaurants?

Signed, Positive + Positive = Negative

Dear Positive + Positive = Negative, Chin up, ol’ girl. You are right on! Here’s where you hit the nail on the head: “If I keep my once-in-a-while lousiness to myself, what’s wrong with not being positive?” Embrace your bad days and keep them all to your lone-

Embrace your bad days

some. Guaranteed no one really wants to hear about them anyway, and a double guarantee on no one wants to hear about your good days when they are having a bad one.

For me, the annoying thing is the automaton-style of positivity. A few examples include “But think of all you have to be grateful for,” “It could be worse,” and “It’s your attitude that counts.” When someone is struggling, offering such a bromide can be dismissive, shaming or minimizing. Why would anyone want to do that?

In her book “Toxic Positivity,” Whitney Goodman writes “Negativity is seen as the enemy, and we chastise ourselves and the people around us when they succumb to it. If you’re not positive, you’re a drag to be around. Healthy positivity means making space for both reality and hope. Toxic positivity denies an emotion and forces us to suppress it. When we use toxic positivity, we are telling ourselves and others that an emotion they are having shouldn’t exist, it’s wrong, and if we try just a little bit harder, we can eliminate it entirely.”

I applaud you keeping your bad moods to yourself and hope you’ll keep up the good work on not trashing those “Positive Vibes Only” types of signs. Unless, of course, they are hanging in your home.

Dear Amy O, Why do mental health professionals and self-help books recommend volunteer activities for fulfillment or to deal with depression? Is it really necessary? Signed, Must I?

Dear Must I?

I don’t know. I bet, though, volunteering is given as one of many suggestions to get out of one’s head and widen one’s lens on the world.

There’s consensus among those in psychologist and philosopher circles that the main objective in life is to maximize pleasure, in Western schools of thought anyway. Dating back to the Fourth Century B.C. in, you guessed it, Greece, there are studies on happiness. Those philosophers put happiness into two categories: Hedonic and Eudaimonic.

In the United States, we strive more for the Hedonic Happiness of pleasure and enjoyment. Eudaimonic Happiness results from meaning and purpose in

life. Psychologists may favor one type of happiness over the other but generally agree that both hedonia and eudaimonia are necessary for fulfillment and to flourish.

Mental health professionals and selfhelp books may be suggesting volunteer activities as a means to Eudaimonic Happiness. Many volunteers find their work rewarding, and they also find it a reason to get out of bed in the morning and shower.

To answer your question “Is it really necessary?” No, I don’t think so. There are other paths to meaning and purpose. “Volunteer activities” is easily understood and available, which is probably why it is often prescribed.

Hope this helps.

Former CVN editor Amy Marie Orozco loves living in Carpinteria, including all the sometime socially sticky situations happening in our seaside setting. Along with giving advice (only when asked), Amy O edits Cannabis by the Sea Magazine. Have a question for her? Email it to news@coastalview.com.

Friday, March 15

CVCC Lunch & Learn, noon-1 p.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., 684-5479 x10.

The Peace Vigil, 5-6 p.m., corner of linden & Carpinteria Ave.

Music in our Schools Month Concert, 7:30 p.m., CHS cafeteria, 4810 foothill road, 684-4701

Back Track, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811

Saturday, March 16

Carpinteria Salt Marsh docent led tours, 10 a.m., free walks start from the park sign, 684-8077

Magicarp Pokemon League, 11 a.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., (619) 972-3467

Energy Balancing, 2-4 p.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., free

“The Quiet Man,” 8 p.m., Plaza Playhouse theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., $5

The Groovie Line, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811

Monday, March 18

Women of Inspiration, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Girls inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 foothill

Basic Bridge, 1 p.m., Sandpiper Mobile Village clubhouse, 3950 Via real, 684-5921

Mah Jongg, 1 p.m., Sandpiper Mobile Village clubhouse, 3950 Via real, 729-1310

Bingo, 1 p.m., Veterans Building, 941 Walnut Ave.

Celebrate Recovery (Hurts, Hangups, Addictions), 6 p.m., first Baptist Church, 5026 foothill rd., 684-3353

CVCC’s Cuba Trip Meeting, 6-8 p.m., Carpinteria library Multi-Purpose room, 5141 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5479 x10

A Community Toolbox: How to Serve the Depressed Person with Understanding, 7-8:30 p.m., Carpinteria Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito road, 684-2509

Tuesday, March 19

Coffee with Cops, 9-11 a.m., Crushcakes, 4945 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5405 x437 Carpinteria Writers’ Group, 10 a.m.-noon, Carpinteria library multipurpose room, 5141 Carpinteria Ave., 684-7838

Sandpiper Duplicate Bridge Club, 1 p.m., Sandpiper Mobile Village Clubhouse, 3950 Via real, 684-5522

Battle of the Books club, 3:30 p.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., 220-6608

Beginner Meditation Workshop, 6:30 p.m., Curious Cup back meeting room, 929 linden Ave., 705-4703

Al-Anon Meeting, 7-8 p.m., faith lutheran Church, 1335 Vallecito Place, 331-4817

ESL Class, 7 p.m., first Baptist Church, 5026 foothill road, free, 684-3353

Wednesday, March 20

Morning Rotary meeting with Cyndi Macias, The Gym Next Door, 7-8 a.m., Woman’s Club, 1059 Vallecito rd., $10

Meditation, 10:30-noon, Carpinteria Woman’s club, 1059 Vallecito rd., 847-208-6520

Knitting Group, 1-4 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, 941 Walnut Ave., free, 684-8077

Fighting Back Parent Program, 5:30-7 p.m., Canalino School, 1480 Carpinteria Ave., 963-1433 x125 or x132

Kiwanis Club Meeting, 6 p.m., Veterans Memorial Hall, 941 Walnut Ave., 368-5644

Coastal View Book Club meeting, 7:30 p.m., Carpinteria Branch library, 684-4428

8 Ball Tournament, 7:30 p.m., Carpinteria & linden Pub, 4954 Carpinteria linden Ave.

ONGOING

Lani Garfield photography show, island Brewing Co., 5049 6th St., 745-8272

Michael Fisher Fish art show, Corktree Cellars, 910 linden Ave., 684-1400

Liz Brady art show, Porch, 3823 Santa Claus lane, 684-0300

Arturo Tello art show, friends of the library used Bookstore, 5103 Carpinteria

566-0033

UNPREDICTABLE WILDERNESS

CHUCK GRAHAM

Babies

Amongst all the foot traffic, squawking western gulls, northwest winds and cooing pigeons, we could hear the distinct, precious mewing of a baby southern sea otter calling out while resting on the tummy of its doting mother.

When my girlfriend Holly and I pulled up along the boardwalk overlooking the harbor, we could see several onlookers gawking at the calm waters where southern sea otters congregate each day. It was a dead giveaway that southern sea otters were resting easy in those tranquil waters surrounded by fishing boats, and people walking along, and day-tripping at the harbor.

There was quite a large raft of otters that morning – 26, all doing what otters do best during their downtime, grooming fastidiously. Southern sea otters possess the densest fur in the animal kingdom. Their fur contains between 600,000 to 1,000,000 hair follicles per square inch. It’s why their fur was highly sought after during the fur trade of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Unlike most other marine mammals, otters aren’t insulated with blubber. Instead, they depend on their dense, water-resistant fur to provide that insulation. To stay warm, sea otters spend many hours per day grooming and conditioning their thick fur. This relentless grooming traps air and heat next to their skin.

Kits

After watching those 26 otters grooming while rafting, Holly texted me and said, “Little baby here.” She was just 100 feet south of me, where I watched her taking pictures of a sow with her fuzzy kit. Southern sea otters breed and pup year-round. Amongst those 26 otters just nearby, there were a few moms with their pups, but those pups were older and almost as large as their mothers. The mothers take care of their young for up to six months. However, this kit was just

sea otter cares for its

born within 10 days, and it needed all its mother’s attention.

The sow seemed intent on keeping her kit away from all the other otters. She sought out the calmest waters in the shadow of the wharf. She repeatedly groomed her newborn and its thick fur. The sow lifted her kit up repeatedly like a wet noodle and cleaned every inch of her pup. The kit mewed and nursed while being bathed.

Then it was the sow’s turn. Because the kit’s fur is so thick and it was too young to dive, she placed it in the water where it floated on its back and napped, while its mother thoroughly bathed in the shadows of the wharf.

Weaners

That’s what baby northern elephant seals are called. Their path to potential adulthood is a lot more grueling and arduous than the southern sea otter. Whereas the southern sea otter kit spends the next six months with its mother, the northern elephant seal mothers nurse their pups for a month, and then leave their offspring on the beach for good. Another 40-minute drive north along Highway 1, the northern elephant seal rookery just above San Simeon is the second largest breeding and pupping colony in the world for this marine mammal. Northern elephant seals are the second largest seal on the planet. Their cousin,

the southern elephant seal in the far Southern Hemisphere, holds the distinction for being the largest. The northern elephant bull can reach 16 feet long and weigh from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds.

As soon as they exit their mother’s womb, 70-pound weaners are in for a real fight to survive. Turkey vultures constantly soar overhead searching for dead weaners to scavenge upon. Western gulls are also waiting. They closely huddle near the rookeries. They crave the afterbirth, which is high in protein,

but they will also go after weak pups if they become separated from their moms. Separation also occurs if and when a 3,000 to 5,000 northern elephant seal bull plows through throngs of other elephant seals either to mate or fend off a potential rival. That Central California beachfront is at a premium from December through March when the bulls are there.

During January and February, the weaners are exposed to the forces of nature. This winter, King Tides coupled with powerful storms didn’t allow for much sandy real estate for the elephant seals to haul out on, so pups were swept out to sea. Pups that did survive those big tides also lost track of their mothers. Some pups that get lost and lose their mothers will cling to other moms and try to nurse off of them. Some females that have lost their pups for good will sometimes adopt a needy pup.

With 25,000 northern elephant seals utilizing the San Simeon colony throughout the year, there’s never a dull moment north and south of the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse. There’s lots of sights, sounds, smells and drama taking up all the available space along this craggy, rugged coastline.

In the animal world, some babies have it tougher than others. The tenderness is visible, but so is the harshness of nature. It’s on full display along the Central Coast.

A mother southern

newborn kit in the Morro Bay Harbor.

A female or mother northern elephant seal plays with a newborn pup.

Adventure and travel writer Chuck Graham lives in Carpinteria and contributes his writing and photography to publications far and wide. For more wildlife photos, visit chuckgrahamphoto.com or follow Graham on Instagram at @chuckgrahamphoto.

Northern elephant seals rest at San Simeon.

Warriors water polo faces tough first round matchup

BY RYAN P. CRUZ PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

Carpinteria’s girls water polo squad was the only fall sports team to make it to the postseason after a perfect 8-0 run through the Citrus Coast League.

The Warriors faced a tough first round CIF Division 4 matchup, hosting the Buena Bulldogs at Carpinteria Community Pool.

When the two teams met earlier this season, Carpinteria jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter, but Buena took over with 11 unanswered goals to take the win 12-4.

Since then, the Warriors found their rhythm, overcoming some tough early season losses to finish the season with a 16-6 overall record and rolling through the Citrus Coast League without losing one game.

Carpinteria also saw its team gel together, with goalie Erin Otsuki holding down the defense in front of the net, and seniors Kate Isaac, Taylor Classen and Francis Bennett leading the way for the Warriors all season long. The team’s younger players also showed promise, with junior Lilli Nemetz and sophomore standout Giulia Picolletti becoming an offensive spark for the team late in the season.

Heading into the playoff matchup, the Warriors were on an eight-game win streak, averaging over 10 goals a game in league play.

This time around, Buena was able to stifle the Warriors’ offensive attempts. Carpinteria created opportunities but could not find the back of the net, and the Bulldogs were able to hold the usu-

ally high-scoring Warriors to only three goals.

Otsuki held up strong in the goal with 15 blocks, but Buena was able to capitalize on counterattacks and inside drives to hold on for a 6-3 win.

“The Warriors did not execute on offense as well as they have been recently,” said Carpinteria coach Jon Otsuki. “Buena was the quicker team today, both on offense and defense.”

Isaac, Nemetz and Piccoletti each scored once in the playoff loss.

“Sadly, the loss puts an end to an amazing season where the Warriors demonstrated resilience and perseverance over the entire season,” Otsuki said. “Buena again was the better team today – hats off to the Bulldogs.”

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CVN

ON DECK

Thursday, February 16

*Carpinteria Boys Tennis vs Santa Barbara, 3:30 p.m.

Carpinteria Softball at Fillmore, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, February 17

*Carpinteria Baseball vs Fillmore, 3 p.m.

Saturday, February 18

*Carpinteria Boys Volleyball at Bishop Diego (Tournament), 9 a.m.

*Carpinteria Track & Field Alumni Meet, 11 a.m.

*Denotes Home Game

Junior Lilli Nemetz launches a shot in the Warriors’ playoff match against Buena.

Senior Taylor Classen (4) keeps her eye on the ball on defense.

Erin Otsuki capped off her water polo career with 15 blocks against Buena.

SHORT STOPS

BY RYAN P. CRUZ • PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

Carpinteria’s Alumni team included Warriors who graduated from 1959 to 2018.

Spring season starts with Carpinteria Alumni Game

The fall sports season is in the books, and that means a new batch of sports is ready to begin in the spring season.

Carpinteria kicked off the spring session with a fun and friendly Alumni Game at John Calderwood Field, where Warriors from the past suited up and faced off against the current athletes in a “battle of the ages.”

The Alumni Team included graduates from 1959 to 2018, and the “old” Warriors put up quite a fight against the younger players, holding a lead late into the game before the new generation of Warriors roared back with a game-winning run scored by junior Jonathan Cabrera.

“In a win-win situation, and a great afternoon at the field, the Warriors won,” wrote Carpinteria coach and athletic director Pat Cooney.

The official spring season kicks off this week with Carpinteria softball and baseball jumping right into Citrus Coast League matchups, and boys tennis and volleyball both facing some strong early season competition against Bishop Diego and Santa Barbara.

Warriors softball scores ‘til the sun goes down

Carpinteria’s softball team opened up its season with a road game at Pacifica, where the Warriors showed some offensive fireworks under first-year coach Matt Mora, scoring a dozen runs before the game ended in a 12-12 tie due to darkness.

Junior Alexiana Jaimes led the team with three hits, driving in four total runs with two singles and one triple.

Ashlee Mora started the game off on the mound, pitching through five-and-twothirds innings with three strikeouts and six walks in the tie.

“I am very happy with the effort the ladies gave today,” coach Mora said.

Carpinteria will continue the opening week with two Citrus Coast League games against Channel Islands and Fillmore.

Carpinteria Alumni Meet set for Feb. 18

Each year, former and current Warrior legends compete in a fun-filled day at the Carpinteria Alumni Track & Field Meet.

The track meet is open to any Carpinteria alum, family member or friend – in other words, “anyone who is a Warrior at heart,” says Carpinteria coach Van Latham – and anybody is welcome to attend, whether you plan on competing or not.

The meet starts at 11 a.m. and more information is available at warriorcountry. com/track.

Carpinteria AYSO

10U All Stars, from back row to front: Finley, Madi, Paulina, Maeve, Isabella, Eva, Ailene, Marea and Allison

Carpinteria AYSO All Stars take first place

The Carpinteria AYSO under-10 Girls All Star Team, Carpinteria United, took home first place in a recent tournament after winning four games against Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Camarillo.

“This was their first tournament they’ve played as a team,” said Carpinteria AYSO regional commissioner Dan Runhaar. “Their joy, perseverance, and collaboration were notable. Great job Carp United and their dedicated coaches Paul, Eric and Sara!”

Cate’s basketball team celebrates a big second-round CIF playoff win at Santa Ana.

Cate Rams Roundup

Three Cate sports teams made it into the CIF postseason, with boys soccer, girls basketball and boys basketball playing in their first-round playoff matchups this week. Girls basketball had a strong run through the Frontier League, finishing the year at the top of the conference with a 6-0 league record and earning a first-round home game against Pacifica of Garden Grove.

The Rams struggled to match with Pacifica on offense, and the visiting Mariners advanced to the second round with a 34-22 win over Cate. With the loss, Cate ends the season 8-7 overall and 6-0 in league play.

Boys soccer snuck into the playoffs as a wild card team, earning a chance to continue the season on the road against Diamond Bar. The Rams were able to take the lead when senior midfielder Jae Lim launched a ball to freshmen center back Charlie Dorion who found the back of the net for the goal.

Cate would hold on for the win, advancing to a first-round road game at Pasadena Polytechnic.

“I am very proud of this group of young men,” said Cate head coach Jorge Reynoso. “We chose a good time to play our best team game.”

Cate’s playoff run continued against Polytechnic, with the Rams recovering from a 2-1 deficit to tie the game with a late goal by sophomore Uriel Beltran Campuzano, sending the match into overtime.

After both teams remained scoreless in extra time, the game went to penalty kicks, where Cate converted all four chances to take the win.

The Rams’ playoff run would stop in the next round, though, with a 2-1 loss at home against Amino Leadership. With the loss, Cate ends the season 8-4-2 overall and 4-2-2 in league play.

Cate’s boys basketball team, on the other hand, is still alive after two playoff wins over Northview and Santa Ana.

The Rams hosted Northview in the first round, with Cate’s Jengus Ercil starting out hot with back-to-back three pointers to give the Rams an early 10-0 lead. From there, the Rams never looked back, with Marcus Scudder leading the team with 17 points, including a first-half buzzer beater to give Cate a 35-17 lead at halftime.

Star senior Babacar Pouye faced tough defense all night and was held to eight points but pitched in on other ways with 13 rebounds and six blocks. Cate was able to hold on for a 57-40 win.

In the second round, Cate faced a high-scoring Santa Ana squad in a hostile playoff environment with over 600 fans in the gym.

Cate fell behind in the first quarter, 15-10, but recovered in the second, cutting the lead to one point and heading into halftime down 30-29.

In the second half, Cate’s coaching staff adjusted its focus to stopping Santa Ana’s top player, Jack Rivera. The Rams won both the third and fourth quarters, escaping with a 60-56 win and earning a spot in the CIF Division 4A Quarterfinals against Jordan (Long Beach).

Cate coach Andrew Gil said Pouye proved his potential to play at the next level, finishing with 21 points in the win. “He let the game come to him and you can see it when he plays, the game is slowing down for him and he’s in control,” Gil said.

Cate will face Jordan of Long Beach in the Quarterfinals. The winner of that game will face either Pacifica Christian or Faith Baptist in the semifinals.

Junior Jonathan Cabrera brings it home with a game-winning run for the “new” Warriors.

Rincon Classic 2023 sees solid swell, great surfing conditions

Each year the community waits for the most highly anticipated weekend of the winter season. That is the weekend that the Rincon Classic runs, which for local surfers, it might as well be the Super Bowl. The 2023 Channel Islands Surfboards Rincon Classic was no exception, as organizers eyed each of the first three waiting weekends without any substantial surf projections. Week 4 looked dismal as well until seven days out when a solid swell and wind event were slated to converge on the Queen of the Coast, peaking on Saturday afternoon with great conditions predicted for the finals day on Sunday.

The stage was set, the event called on, and everyone eagerly awaited to see what the conditions would turn out to be. As projected, the swell arrived Saturday with solid head high plus waves, however they were partially torn to shreds as the projected side shore winds arrived as well. Adversity and challenges, make the spoils of victory that much more sweet, and when dawn arrived on Sunday, there were indeed super bowls pouring through the cove. The interval of the swell dropped to 12 seconds, which created incredible consistency with 4-6’ dream lines stacking corduroy to the horizon with light off shore winds grooming the conditions to perfection.

Each division from the U12 to the Super Legends and Rincon Brewery Pro enjoyed what some were calling one of the best and cleanest days of the year.

The Rincon Brewery Professional division featured many of the area’s top talent and showcased a battle between the seated pro and those who are emerging as the next generation of powerhouse surfers. Veterans and past winners Killian Garland, Cory Arrambide, Conner Coffin, Dane Reynolds, and Parker Coffin and Frank Curren pitted themselves against emerging talents Eithan Osborne, Jabe Swierkocki and Dimitri Poulos. The conditions were challenging on day one, but all competitors battled and showcased crazy skills.

Parker Coffin put together two incredible rides to earn his first Rincon Brewery Pro title – especially sweet, as it was his first event back after a severe facial injury several months ago in Barbados. The Rincon Classic was also Parker’s first surf contest when he was seven years old. Runner up Jabe Swierkocki had a last-minute buzzer beater that fell just short of the win, but everyone on hand took note of his form and power.

BY SURF HAPPENS STAFF • PHOTOS BY DUBOCKGALLERY.COM

In the U12 division, 12-year-old Dominic Arce took his first Rincon Classic title starting off in the opening minutes with a progressive layback tail blow netting a solid score for a one turn wave. The turn had plenty of spice and was reminiscent of one that he did in his first Rincon Classic at the ripe age of nine back in 2020. After waiting ten minutes for his first wave, runner up Maddox Keet who scored a nine in the opening round, started his finals off with a 7.6 and held the lead for a brief moment before Arce fired back with a blistering series of three turns on a set wave, finishing with a salute that netted him an 8.33 and the win.

U14 boys winner Aiden Albada won his second straight title with power and precision well beyond his 14 years. His radical approach set him apart from runner up Joey Penueta, who arguably had the smoothest style in the division. Best friends, they shared a moment of celebration together after the final.

U17 winner Jak Ziets was the man to beat from his first wave of the morning. After losing in the semifinals in 2022, Ziets was on a mission to take the title

Rebecca Jamgochian, left, who placed fifth in Wahines, on the beach with her sister Sophia.

Raymond Sayles placed first in Open Longboard.

Rincon beach flooded with onlookers and participants ready for a weekend of stellar surfing.

and was not to be denied. The multi time Rincon Classic champion and three-time National Champion looked like a young Parker Coffin as he systematically dismantled every wave he rode. Runner up Jack Zoltan was on fire with precise surfing and zesty tailblows that kept him close, but Ziets was not to be denied.

Mens Open champion Pete Mussio won his first Men’s title back in 2002, again in 2003, and 2016; at 41 years old he was the oldest competitor in the field, but he dominated each round from start to finish. His power, precision and aggressive yet stylish approach is reminiscent of current CT surfer Joao Chianca. Mussio held a commanding lead over runner up and last year’s Juniors Champ Tyler Chiarappa, 18, who put forth a great effort with flawless style.

The Wahines U17 girls division was a seesaw battle, with Luella Pace, Izzy Scott and Madyson Stone each netting solid scores and holding down first place at one point in the first 12 minutes of the heat. Eventual winner Jessie Engel had been sitting high on the point and was unable to complete a ride in the first half of the heat. Engel seemed to take note of where the other girls were surfing, adjusted her positioning and nailed a banger of a set wave with a series of eight massive backside turns and the highest score of the finals a 7.9 with six minutes remaining. On the way back out she found a wide swinger with two solid turns for a 6.33 and a lead that was not to be surpassed.

The Open Womens division was dominated by Santa Barbara’s Maddie Malmsten, who chose the best and biggest waves and capitalized on each section with confidence and smooth yet radical surfing, netting an eight on her opening ride and backed it up with a 6.5 for the win over in form surfers Sara Taylor who had an incredible backside floater, and Ashley Fagerstedt whose frontside laybacks were on point.

Masters champ Javi Moreno celebrated his birthday with his third title of his RC career with vertical tail releases and powerful carves. Runner up Nate Winkles, the 2016 Masters champ, nipped at his heels and fell .16 short, but helped lead team J7 to a runner up finish behind CI in the King of The Queen battle of the surf shops.

Grand Masters was a heated affair with the top three slots going to Carpinteria natives. Britt Merrick, who posted the highest single wave of the entire event a 9.6 in his quarter final, and Jacob Nesheim, who had showcased an incredible display of rail and power in preliminary rounds, both finished the final with a tie of nine points. Merrick took the win on a countback for having a higher single wave score.

The Legends division featured an inform Tony De Groot, whose formed out approach netted him high scores over local icon Dana McCorkle, and Andy Smalley.

Super Legends went back and forth between Fred Wachter and Bill Urbany in the first 14 minutes before Goleta native Dave Johnson blasted a lip for a 7.67 reward for his progressive approach –he was not to be denied his first Super Legends title.

Lady Legends featured some of the women who have been fixtures at the Queen of the Coast for decades. Seventime champion Lisa Luna showcased style and form of a 20-year-old and was the only surfer riding on a traditional short board. The sets poured through, and two surfers caught incredible rides on set waves all the way across the point with Simone Reddingiuous taking the title, with runner up Nancy Lusk a solid second and Luna in third.

The Longboard Final showcased flow and flair from new school, old school style surfer Raymond Sayles, who perched on the nose and placed it on rail equally well for his first Rincon Classic title over

CLASSIC Continued on page 27

Parker Coffin takes first as Rincon Brewry Pro.

Rincon Classic organizer and Surf Happens owner Chris Keet

Jack Keet follows in his dad's footsteps and shows off during his heat.

2023 Rincon Classic Results

Rincon Brewery Pro

1. Parker Coffin

2. Jabe Swierkocki

3. Dimitri Poulos

4. Cory Arrambide

U12 Gremlins

1. Dominic Arce

2. Maddox Keet

3. Koby Wachter

4. Oakley Souder

5. Ronin Castorino

U14 Boys

1. Aiden Albada

2. Joey Penueta

3. Beckett Mechtenberg

4. Aiden Mcdermott

5. Sean Mccleery

6. Hawk Modicette

U17 Juniors

1. Jak Ziets

2. Jack Zoltan

3. Sean Stepan

4. Koa Modicette

5. River Huhn

6. Luc Doering

Wahines

1. Jessie Engel

2. Luella Pace

3. Madyson Stone

4. Izzy Scott

5. Rebecca Jamgocian

6. Eloise Grewe

Open Mens

1. Pete Mussio

2. Tyler Chiarappa

3. Colin Anderson

4. Brandon Benjamin

5. Colin Schildhauer

6. Vinny Leonelli

Open Womens

1. Maddie Malmsten

2. Sara Taylor

3. Ashley Fagerstedt

4. Rachel Tominaga

5. Makenzie

6. Rose Johnson

Masters

1. Javi Moreno

2. Nate Winkles

3. Daniel Wachter

4. Sean O’toole

5. Dennis Rizzo

6. Parker Bornemas

Grand Masters

1. Britt Merrick

2. Jacob Nesheim

3. Mike Lane

4. Bromi Krock

5. Greg Venable

6. Tyler Turner

Legends

1. Tony Degroot

2. Dana McCorkle

3. Andy Smalley

4. Shawn Quien

5. James McClintock

6. Jim Donahue

Super Legends

1. Dave Johnson

2. Fred Wachter

3. Bill Urbany

4. Paul Mann

5. Thomas Kunz

6. Frank Morales

7. Danny Bralver

Lady Legends

1. Simone Reddingious

2. Nancy Lusk

3. Lisa Luna

4. Sally Saengar

5. Lyn Burich

6. Sue “Fish” Ledig

Grand Masters third place winner Michael Lane

Malia Llagan competed in Open Longboard.

Britt Merrick, right, coached two of the U17 competitors.

Judges had a birds eye view.

CLASSIC Continued from page 25

perennial favorite Jeffrey Belzer. Other highlights of the event included the daily Hydroflask beach cleanups, where over 50 kids cleaned every piece of trash off the beach; the Queen was left cleaner than before the event began.

T he Padaro Grill Classic Sunday awards ceremony honored Chris Brown Eternal Stoke winner Danny Bralver who told stories of days gone by and winked at the crowd, stating, “Don’t even think this is retirement and that Cookie won’t be on the best set waves at Rincon.”

Jeff White Aloha Award winner for lifetime achievement Frederick “ Zog” Herzog told the story of his iconic brand Sexwax and brought down the house singing an ad he once created for SurfnWear.

It’s the people in our community that make our home special. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Surf Happens organizes the Rincon Classic each year. See more at rinconclassic.com.

2023 Rincon Classic Results

Open Longboard

1. Raymond Sayles

2. Jeff Belzer

3. Shayne Davis

4. Malia Llagan

5. James Pike

6. Evan Trauntvein

KING OF THE QUEEN

Channel Islands Surfboards

Total Points 101.14

U12 OR U14

Maddox Keet (2nd place U12)

9 point ride

(2nd highest score of event)

27.6 points for the team

MASTERS OR GRAND MASTERS

Britt Merrick (1st place GM)

9.6 highest score of event

47.4 points for the team

MENS OR PRO

Killian Garland (Equal 5th RB Pro)

Highest Score: 6.57

20.57 points for the team

SHOP EMPLOYEE

Jasper Rhodes (first round elimination)

5.57 total points for the team

J7 Surfboards

71.57 total points

U12 OR 14

Hawk Modicette (6th place U14)

Highest Score: 4.77

11.94 total points for the team

MASTERS OR GRAND MASTERS

Nate Winkles (2nd place Masters)

Highest Score: 5

17.8 total points for the team

MENS OR PRO

Hamilton Jacobs (equal 13th Mens)

Highest Score: 6

23.93 total points for the team

SHOP EMPLOYEE

Koa Modicette (4th place Juniors)

Highest Score: 6

17.9 total points for the team

A-FRAME SURF SHOP

15.94 total points

U12 OR 14

Hawk Modicette (6th place U14)

Highest Score: 4.77

11.94 total points for the team

SHOP EMPLOYEE

Shaya Alexander (12th)

4 total points for the team

Izzy Scott placed fourth in Wahines.

Six competed in the Wahines Division.

Cory Arrambide places fouth in Rincon Brewery Pro.

Nancy Lusk placed second in Lady Legends.

Caleb Faoro readies to compete in Juniors.

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One month after the storm

One month after the Jan. 9 and Jan. 10 storms hit Carpinteria, some wood debris remains on the beach, as captured by CVN photographer Robin Karlsson.

LOVELY TWO BEDROOM, TWO BATH HOME LOCATED IN SANDPIPER VILLAGE... A beautifully maintained family community. The entry deck opens to the spacious open floor plan with living room, dining area, kitchen, and breakfast area. All extensively updated. Beautiful laminate flooring throughout. There is a garden area on one side and fenced yard with an open patio in back. Park amenities include: Pool, tennis courts, dog park, playground, clubhouse, gym, and more. Home is located on Sunset Drive which is the last street on the north side of the park.

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KARLSSON PHOTOS