Coastal View News • March 30, 2023

Coastal View News

Welcoming Spring

At Mishopshno Meadow, Chumash descendant Julie Tumamait-Stenslie directs residents in a sunrise spring welcoming ceremony. The annual ceremony, organized by the Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, was held for the 25th time last Sunday; attendees celebrated Carpinteria’s beauty, sharing poems, stories and songs about the surrounding nature. See more on page 18.

4 Women Making Change Committee hosts tea KARLSSON

BRIEFLY

COMPILED BY EVELYN SPENCE

Tsunami Preparedness Week: March 27-31

Santa Barbara County celebrated Tsunami Preparedness Week this week, March 17–March 31. Residents should be aware of local tsunami hazard zones, according to Emergency Preparedness Communications and Outreach Coordinator Jackie Ruiz. Signs a tsunami – a giant wave caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions – may occur can include the ocean withdrawing or rising rapidly, or a loud, roaring sound from the sea.

The county has three levels of tsunami notifications: a tsunami watch, a tsunami advisory a tsunami warning. Ruiz said in the event of a tsunami, residents should stay away from the water until public officials say it is safe to return.

“During this unprecedented year of weather-related events, we encourage our community not to lose sight of the other threats our coastal communities face,” Director for the County Office of Emergency Management Kelly Hubbard said Monday.

“We encourage residents and visitors of our beautiful coastlines to take time this week to identify tsunami hazard zones and how they would evacuate the beach on foot in the case of a tsunami. A few minutes of preparation now can lead to life-saving actions later,” Hubbard added.

See more at readysbc.org/597/Tsunami. Tsunami hazard zones can be viewed at conservation.ca.gov/cgs/tsunami/maps/santa-barbara.

Covid-19 numbers as of March 23

County reports two new Covid-19 deaths

The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department reported two new Covid-19 deaths last week. The department also reported slight increase in the weekly average of reported PCR-confirmed Covid-19 cases, at 4.3%.

Covid-19 community levels within the county remain low. Covid-19 cases are underreported in Santa Barbara County due to the rise in at-home, rapid testing. It is recommended that everyone six months and older receive an updated, bivalent Covid-19 booster. See more at vaccines.gov.

Summerland Sanitary District to discuss rate increases at town hall

Summerland residents are invited to attend the Summerland Sanitary District’s town hall on April 3 at 5:30 p.m.to discuss proposed sewer rate increases. The meeting will take place at the Summerland Church Meeting Hall, 2400 Lillie Ave.

According to Mar Souza, district administrative manager, the district recently finished a new rate study, with new proposed customer categories and updated fees.

Currently, all Summerland customers are billed the same fee per unit. Under the new proposed categories, the districts will bill residents differently, depending on whether they live in single family, multi-family, mobile, small apartment or large apartment residences.

“Each residential category is proposed to be billed a different rate that reflects how that customer group uses the sewer system and the district’s expenses to serve each group,” Souza said in a press release.

For example, under the new system, a single-family home could see its yearly charge go from $1,219 to $1,367, if approved by the board.

The rate changes will be used to fund the district’s $3.2 million ocean outfall project, which transports highly treated reclaimed water into the Pacific Ocean. According to Souza, the pipeline that transports the water is “heavily corroded” and needs to be replaced.

Residents are invited to discuss the new changes at the upcoming town hall. For those who wish to attend over Zoom, information is available at summerlandsd.org.

BRIEFLY continued on page 3

A countywide campaign from local organizations encourages residents to “get moving” during the month of April.

Countywide campaign encourages outdoor exploration

April 2023 is the first Health People Health Trails Month in Santa Barbara County, encouraging residents to get out into nature and get moving next month.

The countywide initiative was founded by local healthcare, recreation-focused and land management groups. It is sponsored by several recreation organizations, including the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Trails Council.

“We are proud that our parks serve as an integral part of our community,” Jeff Lindgren, assistant director with the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department, Parks Division, said in a press release. “Healthy People Healthy Trails Month allows us to improve the health of our communities while getting folks engaged in protecting one of our most important natural resources, our parks. This countywide awareness program is a win-win for everyone involved.”

See the full calendar of events – which includes guided hikes and educational gatherings – at healthypeoplehealthytrails.org.

Santa Barbara Humane welcomes back volunteers

Santa Barbara Humane launched a modified volunteer program this week, after a three-year pause due to Covid-19. The new program is run by Dana Bushouse, the organization’s new manager of Volunteer Engagement.

“In many ways, it was a blessing for us to be able to take our time reassessing the needs of our organization, our community, and the animals,” Chief Operating Officer Dori Villalon said in a press release Monday. “We are so excited to be able to get this program up and running (…) The work done by our amazing volunteers will make a huge impact on both the animals in our care and our community at large.”

Volunteers can walk dogs, help with basic manners training, kennel cleaning and sanitation. All volunteers must be 16 years or older, vaccinated against Covid-19 and available at least two hours per week. Those who previously volunteered with either the Santa Barbara Humane Society or the Santa Barbara Valley Humane Society must reapply to volunteer again.

See more at sbhumane.org/volunteer.

Carpinteria Community Church

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN!

The Carpinteria Community Church (CCC) Operations Director is responsible for ensuring administrative and project support for CCC and the Pastor. This is an important role that will help bring continuity and care to CCC and its mission. This is an onsite, part-time role that requires professional experience.

Carpinteria Community Church HOLY WEEK SERVICES

APRIL 2: PALM SUNDAY

APRIL 6: MAUNDY THURSDAY

6 pm Parish Hall, Communion

APRIL 7: GOOD FRIDAY

6 pm Sanctuary

APRIL 9: EASTER SUNDAY

10 am Sanctuary, Communion

Women Making Change hosts weekend concert, tea

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

The Women Making Change Committee held three more events this past weekend, celebrating Santa Barbara and Carpinteria women, as March – Women’s History Month – nears its end.

The committee organized a concert at the Alcazar Theatre on Saturday night, welcoming Lois Mahalia, Natalie Espinoza and The Vonettes to the stage. The group followed with an Intergenerational Changemakers Tea on Sunday, inviting locals to the Lynda Fairly Courtyard at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to celebrate family and enjoy sandwiches, desserts and tea.

The committee will wrap up its schedule of March events this Friday, with a final STEAM panel discussion scheduled for March 31 at the Alcazar Theatre, featuring speakers working in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math fields. Panelists will include Dr. Gerado Aldana, Dr. Robin Gose, Mary Lopez-Isidro, Francesca Towers, Camila Vargas, Dr. Amber Kaplan and Dr. Alexandra Phillips.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria hosted an Intergenerational Tea on Sunday, celebrating local families with desserts, tea and sandwiches.

Siena Kelly and Madi Dudley sip their tea.

From left: Emma Collins, Taffy Balch and Jamie Collins

Lois Mahalia headlined Saturday’s Alcazar Theatre concert. The Vonettes, a local singing group, performed Saturday.

Isla Jaynes Crooke

Emergency

dredging of Salt Marsh begins April 3

Santa Barbara County will begin an emergency dredging operation at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh on April 3, due to an increased risk of flooding caused by several recent large storms creating blockages in local waterways.

Dredging operations will continue until June. During that time, the area of Carpinteria State Beach within 400 feet of the marsh mouth will be closed to public access. Some trails in the marsh will also be closed intermittently.

Council

approves construction contract for interim Holly and Linden trail

BY EVELYN SPENCE

The Carpinteria City Council awarded the interim Linden and Holly trail construction contract to Bob’s Backhoe & Trucking Monday night, for $33,800. The city is hoping to complete construction before Memorial Day, according to Matt Roberts, director of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department.

The land at 399 Linden Ave. is already relatively flat, and the city hopes the 10-foot-wide trail – made up of decomposed granite – will reduce pedestrian and bicycle traffic on Dorrance Way, according to the staff report. A dog bag

dispenser will also be installed at the end near Linden Avenue.

Per the lease agreement signed between the city of Carpinteria and the developers of the Surfliner Inn, should the Surfliner project be approved, the interim trail will be replaced by a permanent parking lot and trail on the parcel. A permanent trail would include landscaping, solar lighting and signage boards.

Plans for the Surfliner Inn still need to go through the city’s regular planning departments. According to the staff report, if the Surfliner Inn project does not move forward, the city could upgrade the interim trail to a “higher level project,”

with the decomposed granite available for reuse.

The land was previously occupied in part by UPPO’s Garden, whose lease was terminated by the city of Carpinteria in December. The land was originally owned by Union Pacific Railroad, who sold the land to the city in 2013.

Commenters David and Susan Allen spoke in support of the project, stating Carpinteria needs to preserve its open space.

In other council news…

Pini case comes before closed session

The council discussed legal case Dario Pini v. the city of Carpinteria at Monday’s closed session, according to city legal counsel Jena Shoaf Acos. Pini sued in the city in 2014 after he was issued large fines. No reportable action was taken.

“After the creek flows receded following the extreme rains from January… the Carpinteria Salt Marsh revealed an extreme amount of sedimentation,” Santa Barbara County Public Information Officer Lael Wageneck said in a press release Wednesday, adding that the sediment is obstructing the Santa Monica and Franklin creeks.

“When these channels are obstructed, the community is at increased risk for flooding throughout the city of Carpinteria,” Wageneck said. “Obstructed channels also interrupt the tidal cycle in the marsh, which reduces habitat for fish and wildlife that rely on open water channels for habitat and foraging.”

Hydraulic dredge vessels will be used by the county to remove sediment from the drainage channels in the marsh, by exporting water and sediment through a discharge pipe and depositing it at a designated location near the mouth of the Salt Marsh. To expedite the process, the operation will run for up to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Santa Barbara County Flood Control District is working with the Santa Barbara Land Trust, UC Santa Barbara, the city of Carpinteria and the community to ensure the safety of the community and wildlife, and minimize disruptions.

––Jun Starkey

Proclamations: Carpinteria Business Month, International Dark Sky Week

The Carpinteria City Council approved three proclamations at its Monday night meeting, designating April 2023 as Carpinteria Business Month and DMV/ Donate Life Month, and April 15-22, 2023, as International Dark Sky Week.

The Carpinteria Business Month proclamation recognizes local Carpinteria businesses and the work of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, while the DMV/Donate Life Month proclamation encourages residents to sign up to be organ donors when renewing their driver’s licenses or ID cards.

International Dark Sky Week, presented to the council by Carpinteria Valley Association (CVA) President Mike Wondolowski, raises awareness about light pollution. According to a press release sent out by Wondolowski on Monday, the CVA encouraged the city to recognize International Dark Sky Week.

“The purpose of this annual international event is to raise awareness of light pollution and provide solutions to the public to encourage the protection of and enjoyment of dark skies and responsible outdoor lighting,” Wondolowski said. “What is great is this is one of the rare forms of pollution that is completely reversible immediately – as soon as the light is turned off or pointed down, the pollution is gone, helping maintain the character of our small beach town.”

International Dark Sky Week was created 20 years ago by a high school student in Virginia and has been celebrated across the U.S. since.

Locals urge council to prioritize pickleball

Two locals – Ann Matson and Erick Trigueros – presented a petition signed by 150 Carpinterians to the city council during public comment on Monday, urging the council to prioritize pickleball.

Carpinteria currently has two provisional pickleball courts, located at Carpinteria Middle School, with lines drawn over the tennis courts. According to Matson and the petition, the nets are “portable and are showing signs of wear.” Matson and Trigueros asked the council to convert one of the tennis courts into a permanent pickleball court, with permanent nets, and requested the city conduct a feasibility study for other permanent courts.

Matson told CVN she and Trigueros collected signatures at the Carpinteria Middle School Courts, Rotary meetings and from Carpinterians at the municipal courts in Santa Barbara.

COURTESY PHOTO

Carpinteria City Council recognized International Dark Sky Week at its Monday night meeting, a proclamation brought to the council by Carpinteria Valley Association President Mike Wondolowski, center.

COURTESY CITY OF CARPINTERIA

KARLSSON PHOTO

Two locals presented a petition signed by 150 residents to the council on Monday, asking the council to convert one of the tennis courts at Carpinteria Middle School into a permanent pickleball court.

The interim trail will stretch from Holly Avenue to Linden Avenue at 399 Linden Ave.

Carole Anne Dobreski 07/21/1940 – 03/11/2023

Carole Anne Dobreski passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was welcomed into Heaven by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Carole was born in Rutland, VT. She was raised in Worcester, MA, where she met her husband, Art. After having their three children they moved to California, settling in her beloved Carpinteria.

Carole was the cherished wife to Art for over 60 years, and mom to Michael Dobreski (Suzy), Kathy Sharp (Randy) and Maureen Learned (Jeff). She was also a wonderful grandmother to Andrew, Kendall, Nathan, Grace, Michael, David, Benjamin, Shanna, Connor, Lacey, Mia, Jemma and Dawson, and great-grandmother to Parker.

Over the years, Carole cared for many children, in her own home or as a teacher at El Montecito Early School. She delighted in teaching, playing and singing to them. She was Gramma Carole to many.

Carole lived a life that exemplified love, service and generosity. She opened her home to many, extending love and kindness to all that entered. Carole loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, and that inspired her in all areas of her life.

Carole was a blessing to those who knew her, and she will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will take place on Sunday, April 2 at Montecito Covenant Church at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Montecito Covenant Church Children’s Ministry.

Coastal View News

Wilma M. Heidenrich 05/23/1930 – 03/17/2023

Wilma M. Heidenrich, 92, went to be with her loving Savior on Friday, March 17, 2023, while still living at her home in Carpinteria, CA.

Wilma was born May 23, 1930, in Ypsilanti, MI, to Clifford and Ola Smith. Wilma married Fred on May 28, 1949, in Wayne, MI. They moved to California in 1965 and lived in Carpinteria for 51 years. Fred died in 2005.

Wilma was a lifetime member of the W.E.L.S. and was currently a founding member at Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Santa Barbara. Wilma also attended church at Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thousand Oaks, CA with her daughter Janet.

Wilma worked at various places in food service before finally retiring in 1988 from Aliso Public School in Carpinteria. Wilma worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the Carpinteria Historical Museum as both a docent and a “hot dog wrapper.” She also volunteered weekly at Friends of the Library. In the past Wilma also helped at the Braille Institute, was a driver for H.E.L.P and led many bible lessons at a local nursing home. She was an active member of the Carpinteria Senior Group and loved playing Bunco. Wilma never stopped being the most outspoken missionary for her Lord Jesus and Savior.

Wilma leaves behind her two daughters, Janet Beilke of Ojai, CA and Charlotte (Rev. Michael) Bater of Onsted, MI; one brother, Gordy (Judy) Smith of Plymouth, MI; and four grandchildren, Brittany (Adam) Dutter, Amanda (Philip) Gronholz, Rev. Noah (Missy) Bater and Dustin Beilke. She also leaves behind nine great-grandchildren: Georgia, Brayden, Addison, Harper, Emersyn, Hudson, Chase, Thaddeus and Finneas.

A memorial service will be held at Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, 770 Vala Dr., Santa Barbara, CA, on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. with Rev. J Prober and Rev. N Bater officiating. The service will also be livestreamed at orlcsb.net.

In lieu of flowers, you may remember Wilma by making contributions to Our Redeemer and Prince of Peace Lutheran churches.

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.

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.

The “Rite of Spring” at the Sandpiper Village

Tuesday, March 21 was the first day of Spring. Around 6 p.m. that day, strong winds began to batter our homes, and thunder and hail descended on the Sandpiper community, creating deafening and alarming sounds.

Bewildered residents stepped out of their houses to witness large debris from a number of homes scattered around our yards and in the streets; twisted gutters, roofs and siding propelled by powerful 75 mph winds.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, but we all were shaken by the extensive destruction around us.

We all got together to check on each other and helped out by piling up all sorts of trash.

The Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District firemen were most helpful and reassuring, as they assessed the extent of damages and individual needs. John Palminteri, our ever-present local hero, was present reporting on the events and connecting with the residents.

These most humbling moments were strong reminders of the fragility of life while creating new bonds among our community. It instantly emphasized the comforting necessity of helping each other. On Wednesday, thanks to the generosity of the Organic Soup Kitchen, I was able to pass around soups to a few families.

This tornado definitely is one more manifestation of nature’s strong messages. The excessive rainstorms have had an impact throughout our winter. The ocean is bringing piles of dead trees on the beaches and roads. The mountain streams are overflowing, and giant trees have been uprooted causing havoc! All powerful reminders of global warming.

Genevieve Antonow Carpinteria

Restrooms are important aspects of accessibility

This active, yet mobility-challenged senior, would like to express gratitude for a very important necessity that is sometimes taken for granted, a place to go when you gotta “go.”

Public restrooms are essential for individuals in motion like pregnant women, elderly and citizens with disabilities, yet they are not always accommodating as much as the Carl’s Jr. in Carpinteria is

with its restrooms. Due to dietary restrictions, I do not often walk in to treat myself to their marvelous burgers, but am pleased to find the restrooms consistently clean, convenient and well-stocked.

What I most appreciate is the design of stalls, with the wheelchair accessible stall immediately in front. This is so important when less steps can mean less pain for some of us. This upfront location makes me feel less inclined to feel disregarded and sent “to the back of the bus.” Accessibility matters.

Whether the design was intended or not, having this accommodation is a small blessing that could make a huge impact if it was designed in such a way more often. We need more restroom respite.

Maria T. Garcia Carpinteria

Praise for CVN’s storm coverage

The Coastal View News is the best local newspaper I have ever seen. Week after week we are privileged to have outstanding coverage of our local affairs. However, this week, the CVN team went way above. We had horrific weather late Tuesday, the day before the paper would go to print. CVN worked to ensure articles on the weather events were included in the paper (CVN Vol. 29, No. 27). Thank you for your outstanding professionalism.

Debbie Nomura Carpinteria

Appreciation for HELP-ful heroes

HELP of Carpinteria provides volunteer-based driving services to people trying to get to doctor appointments, and other driving services necessary within the city of Carpinteria.

As a senior citizen living in Carpinteria, I am unable to drive to critical doctors appointments in Santa Barbara, therefore the “HELP Car” service has become a literal lifeline for myself and countless others. Volunteer drivers like Emily, Donna, Trudy, Renee, Jack and many unnamed others are literally heroes of Carpinteria.

These wonderful selfless people, provide countless rides to other residents in need of this vital service. This is just a shout-out to say thank you to these heroes of HELP. Good job and thank you from myself and many others.

April Hart Carpinteria

“These most humbling moments were strong reminders of the fragility of life while creating new bonds among our community. It instantly emphasized the comforting necessity of helping each other.”

–Genevieve Antonow

Community honors Educators of the Year: Jennifer Foster and Matthew McPherson

BY EVELYN SPENCE AND JUN STARKEY

The annual Carpinteria Community Awards Gala is around the corner, with finalists for the Jr. Carpinterian of the Year, recipients for Educator of the Year and the winner of Carpinterian of the Year to be announced this Saturday, April 1, at the Rincon Beach Club.

Two Carpinteria Unified School District teachers will be awarded Educator of the Year: Jennifer Foster, a math teacher at Carpinteria Middle School, and Matthew McPherson, a Special Education Teacher at Aliso Elementary School.

“Both Jennifer and Matt are outstanding educators, and we are so fortunate to work with them,” CUSD Superintendent Diana Rigby told CVN.

Jennifer Foster

Jennifer Foster, who sat down with CVN in her classroom last week to discuss her 2023 Carpinteria Educator of the Year award, already has a Teacher of the Year award under her belt; she snagged the Carpinteria Teacher of the Year title in 2014 and will return to the Santa Barbara South County Chamber of Commerce on Saturday to take home another.

The 2022-23 school year marks Foster’s 28th year of teaching at Carpinteria Middle School. She serves as the chair of the middle school’s math department, teaching sixth grade math, advanced sixth grade math and seventh grade math. Foster showed CVN around her classroom last week – full of students’ work decorating the walls, her extensive giraffe collection along her desk and tools she uses to keep students focused, including song memorization.

She told CVN she was shocked and grateful when she found out about her award this year. “I’m grateful – a lot of other teachers also deserve this,” she said. “This job has a lot of long hours. It’s not always an 8 (a.m.) to 3:30 (p.m.). There’s always something you can do.”

Foster grew up in Ventura and earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics at Cal Poly San Louis Obispo. During her continuing education, she told CVN she found she “really liked working with middle school students.”

“They’re fun, interesting, and they still get excited about things,” she said.

Covid-19 was rough on her students – “trying to teach to a screen was really difficult” – and she believes a learning gap remains, which she is working hard to fix through afterschool tutoring. “The kids need more… Covid was hard,” she emphasized.

She told CVN her family will attend the awards ceremony with her, including her son, who is graduating in May, and her parents.

In a press release sent out earlier this month, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce praised her dedication as a teacher, stating her dedication “to serving students after school, supporting them in tutorials, has been exemplary.”

Matthew McPherson

Aliso Elementary School special education teacher Matthew McPherson, or Mr. Mac, as he’s known to his students, is one of the two teachers from the Carpinteria Unified School District named Educator of the Year by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.

“My door is always open,” McPherson told CVN, which he said likely contributed to his being nominated by Aliso’s principal, Brett Weiberg. McPherson has been at Aliso for two years; and has been teaching in special education for more than seven years. McPherson is also the Special Education Chairperson for the elementary school. “I felt that was where I could make the biggest impact,” he said.

McPherson currently has a class of about 27 students, though he said there are five to six students in class at any given time, working in rotations. He works with all grade levels, though his class is mostly made up of fourth and fifth graders. Along with his open-door policy, McPherson is also known for his focus on social-emotional learning and mental health, with many students still feeling the impacts of Covid-19. “The pandemic has been a huge burden on students,” he said. McPherson said no two days are the same, with plans and goals constantly shifting, and some students’ needs changing day-to-day. “I try to connect with each and every one on an individual level,” he told CVN. “If it’s not a good day to learn, we just talk.”

McPherson has lived in Carpinteria along with his wife and son, who is also a student at Aliso, for eight years, and he said he often sees Aliso students around town, or while coaching in the Carpinteria Valley Little League. He said being seen out of school by students “humanizes” him, which didn’t happen often when McPherson was a teacher in the Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks.

Working with special needs students involves a certain level of adaptability, and McPherson said finding solutions can be a “constantly moving target.” He emphasized the importance of prioritizing students’ needs and wellbeing. “Meet the kids where they are and build off of that,” he said.

Fried Chicken &Waffles, with Hominy Grits

Buttermilk battered chicken breast on grits with two waffles. Served with Vermont Maple Syrup.

Bison Burger

Organic ground bison burger with pepperjack cheese. Served with sweet potato fries. Lettuce, tomato, and pickles on side.

Fried Chicken Burger

Buttermilk battered chicken breast on bun, with dill pickle chips, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, and house made special sauce. Served with onion rings, french fries, or sweet potato fries. Gluten Free Avocado Sandwich

Avocado, alfalfa sprouts, cucumber, pepperjack cheese, red onions, on gluten free bread. Served with coleslaw or fruit.

Taylor’s Salad

LUNCHSPECIALS

Local spring mix,

Taylor’s Salad

Local spring mix, tossed with dried cranberries & figs, chopped green apple, buttermilk battered chicken breast. Served with honey mustard dressing.

Spinach Salad

Organic baby spinach, tossed with chopped bacon, cherry tomatoes, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, and goat cheese. Served with house made balsamic vinaigrette.

SPENCE PHOTO

Foster

McPherson

Chamber announces Jr. Carpinterian of the Year finalists

BY JUN STARKEY

Three Carpinteria High School students have been named finalists for the Jr. Carpinterian of the Year Award by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, each excelling in both academics and athletics.

The three students – Hugo Alvarado Carmona Aldair, Monica Adriana Delgado and Stephanie Ramirez Garcia – are all deeply active in their communities, fostering success in and out of the classroom.

Monica Adriana Delgado

“We are so very proud of Monica, Hugo and Stephanie,” Carpinteria Unified School District Superintendent Diana Rigby told CVN. “They represent the very best students at CHS.”

The students will have the opportunity to win $10,000 or $3,000 during the Carpinteria Community Awards Gala, scheduled for Saturday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the Rincon Beach Club, 3805 Santa Claus Ln. The winner, who will be named at the gala, will win $10,000; the two runners-up will each receive $3,000.

Monica Adriana Delgado has been a member of the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Eureka program, a five-year STEM program, since she was in the eighth grade. She told CVN her ambition was fostered by her family and the supportive teachers in her life.

One teacher Delgado said was especially supportive of her was her Chemistry teacher, Noe Gomez, who contributed greatly to Delgado’s interest in biochemistry. “He’s always smiling,” she told CVN. “He’s so proud of me and it really means a lot.”

The Eureka program also encourages young girls to explore options for higher education, holding bi-weekly meetings where students hear from professionals such as civil engineers and local leaders.

Last year, the program focused on advocacy, and Delgado was able to lobby in front of congress, including local representative Salud Carbajal. Delgado lobbied for a solar energy tax credit for lower income households, and said the experience helped her see how “anyone can get invested in politics.”

On the athletic front, Delgado has been a member of Carpinteria Aquatics Club Swim Team for seven years and is also a member of the Carpinteria High School Water Polo and Varsity Swim teams.

Recently, she completed a four-week externship at Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) in Goleta, an electronic manufacturing company specializing in infrared technology. Delgado shadowed some of the company’s chemists, and said it was “amazing to see how (she) fit into those labs.”

Delgado said she plans to use whatever money she receives from the award ceremony for her college tuition and other expenses.

Hugo Alvarado Carmona Aldair

Hugo Alvarado Carmona Aldair, the current captain of the Carpinteria High School Robotics team and the CHS Cross Country, Track and Field team, told CVN he was surprised to be chosen as a finalist.

“I was pretty excited at first,” he said. “I was just confused, and didn’t believe it.”

Aldair has been involved with both clubs, as well as the Future Farmers of America club, since his freshman year of high school. He recently worked with his Robotics Club team to create a robot for a competition, which the club also demonstrated for the Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees at its Feb. 28 meeting.

Aside from his club activities, Aldair is also a dedicated academic, with an affinity for computer science and engineering. He has received Certificates of Excellence in mathematics, engineering, and computer science, as well as the team’s Highest GPA award from CHS.

Born in Santa Barbara, Aldair has been living and attending school in Carpinteria since second grade, along with his parents, older brother, twin sister and younger brother. He said his parents were “very happy” when he was chosen as a finalist, and if chosen as the winner, he plans to put the money toward a computer and his college tuition.

Stephanie Ramirez Garcia

Stephanie Ramirez Garcia recently celebrated her acceptance into the UC Los Angeles Nursing program, after experiencing the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic while volunteering at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Garcia has known for some time that she wanted to be a nurse, with a strong desire to help others, she said. She began working as an ambassador at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on March 9, 2020 – four days before the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown began in the United States.

“There was a lot of back and forth at first,” Garcia told CVN. Once the masking requirement was announced, Garcia said she truly felt the gravity of the situation. “I remember I couldn’t recognize some of the hospital staff.”

Despite the stress of adapting to a pandemic, while also caring for those sick and vulnerable, Garcia said the situation reaffirmed her desire to be a nurse, seeing firsthand the impact they have on patients. She recalled some staff members telling her stories of patients asking staff to hold their hands before they passed away.

“These patients… the last people they are going to be with are nurses and doctors,” Garcia said.

Outside of her volunteer work, Garcia is a passionate tennis and basketball player. She attributed some of her success on the courts to her coach Charles Bryant, who she said “looked at (her) as a potential athlete.”

Another teacher she named as an inspiration was Canalino Elementary School teacher Kimberly Marme, who Garcia said would paste college graduation caps, reading “Class of 2027,” on students’ photos. Garcia said this made her feel like college was attainable, even for students from lower income areas.

“I wanted to prove myself as a daughter of immigrants in this country,” she said.

Hugo Alvarado Carmona Aldair

Monica Adriana Delgado

Stephanie Ramirez Garcia

More than 40 people spread out across Carpinteria last Saturday morning to pick up litter and trash in the area for the Carpinteria Spring Litter Cleanup, including, pictured at left, Barbara Smith, Baylee Rogers, Tobias Norby, Spencer Wood, Rick Levasheff, Cole Menegon and Jason Rodriguez. Pictured at right – top row then bottom row – are Barbara Smith, Donna Jordan, Tom Beland, Diane Ledbetter, City Councilmember Monica Solórzano and City Environmental Program Manager Erin Maker. Sally Galati with Carpinteria Beautiful told CVN that volunteers met at the Amtrak Parking Lot in the morning, and were each assigned an area of Carpinteria to clean up.

COURTESY PHOTOS

ARTCETRA

Tello to celebrate 18 years with Palm Loft Gallery

Local landscape painter and owner of the Palm Loft Gallery, Arturo Tello, will celebrate 18 years of living at the Palm Avenue Lofts and working as the gallery’s director with a new show titled “Rooted and Reaching.”

Tello invites the community to the opening reception for the show, scheduled for Saturday, April 1. The show will also feature the work of the three new members of The Oak Group of Santa Barbara: Kerri Hedden, Rick Drake and Tom Henderson. A reception for the show will be held on Saturday, April 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Palm Loft Gallery, 410 Palm Ave., Loft A-1. Pizza and wine will be available.

Arts Center holds event expo

The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center held an events exposition on Saturday, March 25. The event served as a venue to connect vendors with locals planning on organizing events.

“Serena Cove” by Kerri Hedden

Aja Forner provides information to visitors about holding events at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center.

David and Valerie Powdrell pose in front of a floral design by Suzie Schneider with PacWest Blooms.

KARLSSON PHOTOS

Dark skies are the best skies

THE LAY OF THE LAND

MIKE WONDOLOWSKI

As we warm up from our chilly winter and dry out from our surprising – but welcome – rainstorms, we will start having pleasant spring evenings that are perfect for stepping outside and taking a few minutes to notice the stars in the sky.

Our local skies are not as breathtakingly dark and clear as you might find on a camping trip to a remote lake in a mountain wilderness. But remarkable views do indeed await us just outside our homes. But they are only visible if you go outside and look up!

For the best view, go out when the moon is not bright in the sky. Find a place where outdoor lights are not shining in your eyes, and indoor lights are not shining through windows at you. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for a few minutes and take a look.

Can you find the Big Dipper? At this time of year, it is visible just above the mountains north of Carpinteria, rising higher throughout the evening. This is also a great time to see the constellation Orion (recognizable by the three bright stars in a row that are “Orion’s belt”) high in the sky just after dark, with the star Sirius (part of the constellation Canis Major, Orion the hunter’s faithful hunting dog) “following” close behind. Sirius is easy to find – it is the brightest star visible from anywhere on Earth. And of course, with a dark enough sky, the Milky Way can be seen spilling across the sky.

Our local skies are even dark enough to see the Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye (directions for finding it here: tinyurl.com/find-andromeda). This neighbor to our own Milky Way galaxy is an incredible 2.5 million light years away. That means that the light we see has been travelling for 2.5 million years to reach us. Looking at the Andromeda Galaxy, we are truly looking back in time to when Earth was in the beginning of the Stone Age!

What limits our sky viewing and makes it not as good as in a remote mountain wilderness? The answer is “light pollution.” One source is light fixtures that shine a portion of their light upward into the sky where light scatters, creating an orange-yellow glow above the entire area. (Just go to the end of Linden Avenue some evenings and look at the sky over Santa Barbara.) Another source is “light trespass,” which occurs when poorly shielded or poorly aimed fixtures cast light where it is unwanted, such as into neighboring property and homes. When you are in your backyard trying to see the Milky Way, and you have to shield your eyes from your neighbor’s back porch light, that’s light trespass.

What limits our sky viewing and makes it not as good as in a remote mountain wilderness? The answer is “light pollution.”

Beyond impacting stargazing, light pollution also wastes energy costing at least $3.3 billion and results in the release of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide per year in the United States. Research has also shown that it harms ecosystems and affects human health. Excessive night lighting often fails at its fundamental goal of safety and security because of the sharp contrast between light and darkness, and our eyes’ inability to adjust quickly enough to the change.

The good news is light pollution is completely reversible. We need to use fully shielded light fixtures – those that put light only where it is wanted and needed, not wastefully into the sky or annoyingly into neighboring properties. The International Dark-Sky Association (darksky.org) has many great resources to help us learn how to keep outdoor light where it belongs.

In recognition of the control, we have over light pollution, this week the Carpinteria City Council proclaimed April 15-22, 2023, as International Dark Sky Week in the city of Carpinteria, urging all residents “to learn about night sky friendly lighting, implement practices and improvements that will reduce light pollution, and look up and experience the wonder of the star-filled night.”

The city has a long-range plan to establish a “night sky” ordinance to minimize light pollution, and if residents show support, I am hopeful we can get this effort moving.

In the meantime, tonight I’ll be outside enjoying the stars. I’ll be looking to the northwest for Cassiopeia – it’s easy to recognize as a big ‘M’ or a ‘W’ if you’re facing the other way. I like both (since my initials are MW).

To learn a little more about what’s in the sky right now, including visible planets (like Venus blazing in the west as soon as the sun sets), check out earthsky.org/ tonight and sbau.org. And remember to look up… outside… at night.

Wondolowski 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.

Look up at the Carpinteria skies, the author says, and you might catch a glimpse of the Milky Way, seen here in 2012.

DR. GERARDO ALDANA DR. ROBIN GOSE MARY LOPEZ-ISIDRO FRANCESCA TOWERS CAMILA VARGAS

DR. AMBER KAPLAN DR. ALEXANDRA PHILLIPS

SPONSORED BY MODERATOROPENING SPEAKER

Treasures galore at monthly museum marketplace

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

The Carpinteria Valley Museum of History held its monthly Museum Marketplace on Saturday, March 25, featuring several local vendors selling handmade goods such as jewelry, baked goods and ceramics.

The marketplace also featured the musical stylings of the group Mavis and Friends, which includes Mavis Hansen, Raynell Hansen, Becki Norton and Twila Goodrick. The next Museum Marketplace is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, at the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, 956 Maple Ave.

2 bedroom, 2 bath oceanfront cottage on Carpinteria city beach. $650/night, 3 night min. Stunning 2 bedroom, 2 bath oceanfront fully furnished condo. Gated parking, washer and dryer in unit • $3200/week. Summer rate.

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Jamie Yahr, director of the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, took over late last year.

Jeff and Christina Welch sell freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

Jana Smirnova directs the Twice As Nice lawn sale.

From left, Mavis Hansen, Raynell Hansen, Becki Norton and Twila Goodrick strum ukuleles for the mingling shoppers.

Jane Benefield celebrates a find.

Clyde and Diana Freeman man their booth.

Navigating the period care market with Kind Cup

BOSSES BY BOSTROM

INGRID BOSTROM

For those who menstruate, it can be daunting to navigate the period care market for reliably safe, chemical-free and sustainable products. Designer and Founder of Kind Cup, Christine Brown, is committed to quality and sustainability – period.

BOS TROM: What inspired you to design a period cup?

BROWN: I was an immediate cup convert the first time I tried a cup back in 2011. At the time I was working in architecture and design. With my background in Critical Social Thought, I had a running list of all the ways the traditional design – which was essentially the same as the original patent from the 1930s – could be further improved to truly support the user experience. Fast forward a few years, and after a quick online search to see whether I was the only one who thought cups could be better, I read hundreds of reviews where people thought something was wrong with their bodies because the existing products didn’t work well for them.

I wanted to change that: everyone deserves to experience a product that works well and is designed with intention. With no other company working to create the needed innovations, I set out to design an ergonomically shaped cup with an easy to reach removal stem. It was a complete leap of faith. I had no idea how many skill sets and how much work it would take to not only design, but also build, a medical device company from the ground up – but the end result is more than worth it. My now patented designs resulted in a more comfortable, effective and easy-to-use period product that has been a complete game changer for so many.

What sets Kind Cup apart from other period cups on the market?

We pride ourselves on using the highest quality, most sustainable materials throughout – demonstrating that even as a small, independent brand, it’s possible to do the right thing while achieving a “better period, better planet.” We aren’t cutting corners just to prioritize profits. Customers should be able to trust

Everything in the product is locally sourced and manufactured within a two-hour driving radius of the company’s Carpinteria headquarters, owner Christine Brown told CVN. what goes into their bodies. I believe in doing things with integrity from the start and hope to see more accountability and transparency within this industry, instead of class action lawsuits when these massive companies get caught.

I love your brand ethos: “kind to your body, the earth, and others.” What does that statement mean to you?

This has been our guiding ethos from the start. In addition to creating a period product that’s designed to feel like it’s just for you, we are committed to setting new standards in quality and sustainability from manufacturing to menstruation. Everything in our product is locally sourced and manufactured within a two-hour driving radius of our company headquarters in Carpinteria, making this the smallest known carbon footprint within the industry. We are ethically made and 100% plastic-free.

The third part of our ethos reflects on the main catalyst behind why I started this company, and what kept me motivated to figure out all the challenges along the way. I’ve been fortunate to have incredible support from my girlfriend, family, friends, my team, and others who’ve believed in me and this vision.

From the start, I knew I wanted increased access to a safe and reliable period product for those who are traditionally underserved. I’d teach eight-hour days and be up until 2 or 3 a.m. working on this because I knew this product would make

a difference. As soon as we launched at the end of 2019, I immediately dropped off 15% of our cups to Direct Relief, a non-profit organization based in Goleta, who distributed our cups within their U.S. network. We’ve continued to donate cups to Direct Relief, nonprofits and schools via our Kind Impact initiative, and I’m excited to increase those donations as we grow.

Where is Kind Cup sold locally and virtually?

Kind Cup is available locally at Pacific Health Foods, Rainbow Bridge in Ojai, Pura Luna in Santa Barbara, and online on our website, kindcup.com, as well as our Amazon store. We will also have a booth at the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival on April 29 and April 30.

When you aren’t managing your business, what pastimes are you most drawn to?

In my 20s, if I had enough m oney saved up to jump on a plane for a backpacking adventure somewhere in Europe, I knew I’d figure out the rest of the details

Kind Cup can be found locally and online at kindcup.com. The product was created by Carpinterian Christine Brown.

along the way! Now, I find myself wanting to spend as much time in nature as I can. Whether that’s tending to my garden, or out on a walk in the foothills or along the Bluffs, I’m happiest when I’m outside in this incredible place I’m lucky enough to call home.

Ingrid Bostrom is a photographer, drawn to open space and stories told in each new face. Send ideas of impactful Carpinterian bosses to ingrid@ingridbostromphotography.com.

Kind Cup, a menstural cup company created by local Christine Brown, is available online and at local stores, including Pacific Health Foods. Owner Christine Brown launched Kind Cup in 2019.

Rare Carpinteria tornado damages 26 residences at mobile home park

BY EVELYN SPENCE

Martin Almanza, a 12-year resident of Sandpiper Mobile Home Park, was in his living room with his wife and young children last Tuesday night when they heard a loud bang – almost like a car had crashed into the wall.

“My wife was screaming,” he told CVN, standing in his driveway and pointing to the only evidence a carport had once existed on the property: seven faint marks in the concrete, where the metal poles had once stood. “My kids were crying.”

He said his family ran into the center of a nearby room and got down, and he had braced himself in the door jamb, when his other daughter ran out of her room.

“Pa, we don’t have a roof,” she yelled.

“What do you mean we don’t have a roof?” he recalled shouting back.

The Almanza family home was one of more than two dozen residences struck by what the National Weather Service later confirmed was a weak tornado. The 75-mph tornado formed as a waterspout offshore before moving into the park and onto the Carpinteria Cemetery before vanishing; it tore up yards, roofs, carports and sheds in a few minutes’ time, leaving tens of thousands of dollars of damage for residents of the mobile home park located off Via Real.

Part of the Almanzas’ roof and their carport had been tossed onto a neighboring home, they later discovered. The family covered their roof and other damaged areas with plastic, but at least part of the roof and the entire carport will have to be replaced, Martin told CVN. The family also cannot use their heater in the interim, for fear of starting a fire while the plastic remains.

Residents in three other Sandpiper homes shared similar stories with CVN about the tornado that swept through the mobile home park on March 21. Of the 280 homes in the park, 26 were damaged by last week’s tornado, according to the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, located mainly along Pacific View Drive.

Two doors down, Arturo Gonzalez said his family was also watching television in their living room when they saw items flying through the window and heard a loud noise – the sound of the Almanzas’ carport landing on their roof.

“We didn’t know what was happening – I thought the roof was going to come off,” he told CVN. “I told the kids to get under the table. We heard the noise of window glass shattering.”

A window in three-year-old Erica’s room was blown in, and 2x4 wooden piece punctured the side of the family’s house through the master bathroom – miraculously avoiding any plumbing pipes. Arturo told CVN it will cost an estimated $4,000 to fix the damage to the roof, with other estimates on the way.

Jessica Gray, who lives next door to the Gonzalez family with her husband and two children, said she was at the gym when her 14-year-old son called to

tell her their gutters had been torn off.

“I got out, and there was debris everywhere,” she told CVN. “Both awnings got ripped off. Something went through our bedroom window. Our sheds were destroyed, and there was heavy debris on the roof.”

She told CVN it will cost an estimated $11,500 to fix the damage to the roof and another $14,000 to replace the awnings and carport. Her sheds also need to be replaced.

“It could’ve been so much worse,” she said. “All my patio furniture got sucked, and there are weird gouges where stuff hit (…) I’m hopeful insurance will cover.”

Just up the street from the Grays and the Gonzalezs, Sandpiper resident Deniece White, who has lived in the park for 20 years, also lost her carport and sustained damage to the roof. She doesn’t have insurance, she told CVN, and hasn’t slept well since last week’s tornado.

“The house shook,” she recalled. “It sounded like it lifted my roof up... like there was an explosion.”

When she walked outside, she found the metal from her carport wrapped tightly around her car. White, who lives alone, said her neighbors – then the fire department – helped extract her car from the wreckage.

“There are so many senior citizens in this park,” she said, adding that this week’s rain will show if her home has leaks in it.

The tornado also hit the nearby Carpinteria Cemetery, and the greenhouses next door. While tornados in California are rare, they are not unheard of; California sees approximately seven per year, according to the National Weather Service. The last time a tornado caused an injury in Santa Barbara County was in December 1991.

Members of the Sandpiper Mobile Homeowners Association launched a GoFundMe this week to help residents affected by the tornado. As of Tuesday, the association is also in the process of opening a Tornado Relief Fund Account through Montecito Bank & Trust.

According to the association, replacing roofs in the park can cost around $11,500, carports $14,000 and windows $950.

“Although many families have some insurance, unfortunately, the coverage is lacking, and deductibles are high. Even worse, there are a few families without insurance. Southern California is not Tornado territory, and yet, it happened and sadly left a whole lot of expensive repairs to deal with… devastating,” the organization said in the GoFundMe.

The GoFundMe can be found at gofundme.com/f/sandpiper-tornadorelief-fund.

Gray told CVN she is thankful the damage wasn’t worse. “Our whole yard was full of debris,” she said, explaining she lost one of her favorite olive trees.

“I’m hopeful insurance will cover the damage.”

“We didn’t know what was happening – I thought the roof was going to come off (…) I told the kids to get under the table.”

–Arturo Gonzalez

From left, volunteer Joshua Neighbors and Habitat For Humanity staff member Steven Moliterno prepare to transfer debris to a dumpster.

A 2x4 wooden board punctured the Gonzalez home during last week’s tornado.

SPENCE

Some debris and fallen trees remain on the property, crossing the property line between the nearby greenhouses and the Sandpiper Mobile Home Park.

SPENCE Jessica Gray shows CVN the damage to her sheds and carport.

Several mobile homes damaged; many saw

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Part of the roof and carport from a nearby home landed on the Gonzalez residence.

COURTESY ARTURO GONZALEZ

COURTESY ARTURO GONZALEZ

homes along Pacific View Drive were heavy roof and carport damage.

SPENCE

SPENCE

SPENCE

COURTESY JESSICA GRAY

SPENCE

RIGHT, Martin Almanza points out damage to the family’s roof and carport, which was torn up during the tornado.

ABOVE, The tornado tore through Jessica Gray’s backyard and awnings.

The tornado damaged the greenhouses next door to the Sandpiper Mobile Home Park and to the cemetery behind it.

Arturo Gonzalez and his family, including his three-year-old daughter Erica, hid under a table during last week’s tornado. A window in Erica’s room shattered, and a 2x4 punctured the family’s master bathroom.

Future Farmers train with tractors

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

The Carpinteria High School Future Farmers of America Club held an AG Mechanics Field Day on Saturday, March 25, allowing students to practice working with large agriculture equipment like tractors and cranes. The event was $12 per student entry, and included information and opportunities to practice on front end loaders, attaching and detaching trailers, trailer backing for large and small trailers and a pre-op inspection and general test. The event also served as a career showcase for local companies such as Shade Farms, Greenleaf Landscapes, Big Red Crane, Ag Rx and 805 Trucking.

Canalino celebrates great women in history

Matthew Munoz hones his trailer backing skills.

The Carpinteria High School Future Farmers of America hosted chapters from Santa Paula and Fillmore.

Erick Trejo won the first place indvidual award.

FFA members take turns maneuvering a Bobcat crane.

Diego Nieves practices backing up a Kubota tractor.

Canalino Elementary School celebrated Women’s History Month with a Women in History performance, written by GATE teacher Crystal Marshall. Student performers included, from left, Ian Yamaoka, Mia Gonzalez, Maria Tate, Eva Campuzano, Holyn Vega, Haven Forner, Lea Hines and Darien Rodriguez Lau.

Pound cake with basil macerated berries

Pound cake:

1 ½ cup butter (room temperature)

3 cup sugar

7 eggs (room temperature)

1 ½ t salt

3 ¼ cup flour

½ cup heavy cream

¾ cup sour cream

1 T vanilla

Zest of 2 lemons

This month, I was bouncing back and forth. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to share a Saint Patrick’s Day or an Easter-inspired dessert. I took a friend’s advice and decided to do something completely different, and share a recipe inspired by the Equinox. This March 20 was the only day of the year when both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experienced approximately equal amounts of daytime and nighttime. My mind immediately jumped to sharing my delicious pound cake recipe with you.

Back in the day, pound cake was made with a pound of each ingredient, such as eggs, flour, sugar and butter – hence its name! My recipe is a more modern version of this old classic. The macerated basil berries are a nice tart and juicy complement to this richly dense cake. Enjoy!

Yields approx. 1 - 10” Bundt pan

Basil macerated berries:

One 16-ounce package of fresh strawberries (quartered or diced)

One 6-ounce package of fresh raspberries

One 6-ounce package of fresh blueberries

2 T sugar

Juice of 2 lemons

¼ t salt

¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Pound cake instructions: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease and dust a 10” Bundt or angel food pan with flour.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar and lemon zest together on medium/high speed for 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Add ½ of the

flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated. Add vanilla, sour cream and heavy cream and mix until combined. Finally, add the remaining flour mixture until completely combined. You may need to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl. Pour mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 1 ½ -2 hours or until the toothpick inserted comes out clean. If your cake starts to brown too much, use foil to tent over the top and sides of the cake. Cool completely.

Basil macerated berries instructions:

In a medium sized bowl, gently toss the berries with the lemon juice, sugar, salt and basil. Let sit for 15 minutes, then give them another toss. Spoon over sliced pound cake. Enjoy!

Recipe by Executive Pastry Chef Heather Giacone

LENT IS HERE!

LENT IS HERE!

Chef Heather grew up in upstate New York. She followed her dream of living in Southern California and received her certificate in Culinary Arts at SBCC. She has worked at many places coast to coast, including Eleven Madison Park in New York City, and earned the Executive Pastry Chef title at San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. She currently is head of the pastry program at The Food Liaison in Carpinteria and has gained a loyal following from near and far. She is passionate about bringing people joy with her delicious desserts.

Carpinteria welcomes spring with sunrise ceremony

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

The Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, alongside Chumash descendant Julie Tumamait-Stenslie, welcomed spring in Carpinteria early Sunday morning with the 25th annual sunrise ceremony on the bluffs. The ceremony celebrates Carpinteria’s natural beauty and invites visitors to bring a poem, story or song to share during the ceremony at Mishopshno Meadow.

Julie Tumamait-Stenslie offers a Chumash blessing.

Early risers greet the passing train on the Carpinteria bluffs.

Local artist Arturo Tello, center, gives an emotional tribute to the landmark tree on the bluffs, which collapsed in a recent storm.

Several Carpinterians gathered on the Carpinteria Bluffs Sunday to celebrate the beginning of spring.

CLUB SCENE

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY

Lions and Masons team up for blood drive

The Lions Club of Carpinteria and the Carpinteria Masonic Lodge have teamed up with Vitalant to host blood drives out of the Masonic Lodge, increasing foot traffic and the influx of donor blood.

During the blood drive on Saturday, March 25, the groups collected 37 pints of blood. The Lions Club told CVN this new location increased walk-in traffic, mainly from the Carpinteria Post Office and Carpinteria Athletic Center located next door to the Masonic Lodge. Future blood drives, which will also be hosted out of the Masonic Lodge, will take place on Saturday, July 15, and Saturday, Nov. 18.

A question I am asked continually is: “What is AI?”

In answering this question, I was tempted to utilize the Chatbot OpenAI app released last November, ChatGPT, to write this month’s column, but decided to go old school and research and share some basics of what I discovered.

All the big players are involved in Artificial intelligence (AI), and the latest iteration is called Generative AI. Google partnered with Anthropic and has Bard; Microsoft has partnered with OpenAI and embedded ChatGPT into Azure, Bing and Skype; and Amazon just partnered with Hugging Faces and has been using AI with its Echo product line since introduced in 2014. All three are funding and partnering with AI startups to drive the development of AI. Let’s not forget the granddaddy of computing, IBM, which has Watson Orchestrate and AIOps.

AI is becoming increasingly important in our daily lives. AI can automate routine and time-consuming tasks, allowing us to focus on more important activities. In addition, AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to personalize products, services and experiences. Moreover, AI is driving innovation in numerous industries, such as finance, retail and education.

Here are a few examples of how AI is impacting our daily lives.

Personal Assistants: AI-powered personal assistants, such as Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, are integrated into smartphones, smart speakers and other devices and can perform a wide range of tasks, from setting reminders

President of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Tom Collins, center, introduced Tom Lopez, right, and Levi Zavala, left, from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians, to the Rotary Club.

Chumash Band to sponsor Rotary talent show

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians will be golden sponsors for the upcoming Rotary Club of Carpinteria Talent Showcase on Saturday, April 15. “They teach through story and song,” the Rotary Club said in a press release. The club also said the group taught about “their regalia, and how the (Native Americans) were hunters and gatherers and found uses for every type of plant and animal available for food, clothing, medicine, tomol canoes, tools and more.”

Rotary goes whale watching

More than 50 members from the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning recently went whale watching on a private tour with Channel Islands SportFishing. Although no whales were spotted in the winter weather, the club told CVN its members still had a great time on the water.

What is AI?

and sending messages to playing music and controlling smart home devices.

Social media: Social media sites utilize AI to examine user preferences and behavior, suggest pertinent material and customize the user experience. Moreover, bogus news, hate speech and other harmful content are found and eliminated thanks to AI systems. For instance, Meta uses AI to detect and remove fake news and other harmful content. Instagram uses AI to recommend posts and stories based on user behavior. TikTok uses AI to personalize the user experience and recommend videos.

Customer service: Businesses are increasingly using virtual assistants and chatbots powered by AI to offer 24/7 customer service. Natural language processing is used by these chatbots to comprehend consumer questions and deliver relevant responses. For instance, many companies, such as H&M, use AI-powered chatbots to provide customer support. These chatbots can handle a wide range of queries, such as tracking orders and processing returns.

Healthcare: Applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare include patient monitoring, medication research and medical imaging. Medical picture analysis, anomaly detection and diagnosis support are all capabilities of AI algorithms. For instance, Merative (formerly IBM Watson Health) uses AI to analyze medical images and assist doctors in making diagnoses. The app Ada uses AI to help users identify symptoms and connect with healthcare professionals.

E-commerce: Customers are given product recommendations by e-commerce sites, such as Amazon, using AI algorithms based on their search queries, browsing histories and other information. Sales are boosted as a result, and customer satisfaction is enhanced.

Autonomous vehicles: AI is used in self-driving cars, trucks and buses to allow them to perceive their environment, map out routes and make judgments while driving. It is anticipated that this

COURTESY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

AI

technology,

in smartphones and autonomous cars.

technology will lessen collisions, gridlock in the streets and pollutants. For instance, Tesla uses AI to power its self-driving cars.

Smart home devices: Smart home devices such as thermostats, lighting systems and security systems use AI to learn user preferences and adjust settings accordingly. These devices can also be controlled remotely using smartphones or voice commands. For instance, Philips Hue uses AI to adjust lighting based on user preferences and ambient light levels and Google Nest uses AI to conserve energy with a Green Leaf setting in its thermostats.

Like it or not, AI is here to stay. You may not embrace any or all of what AI offers as a conscious choice, but when you interact with your world on a daily basis, you are engaging with AI. I encourage

you to do your own research and find out how AI can help improve your life.

Thank you for taking time to read my column and if you have a question about technology or would like to suggest a topic for a future column, please reach out to me at michael@michaeltalkstek.com or just give me a call at (805) 684-3414. I love talking Tek. May the force be with you. Happy Tek Trails.

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

MICHAEL

is already in several pieces of

including

From left, Robert Shroll, David Hayman, Jeff Moorhouse and Albemar Dumalo help with the blood drive.

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Sunday, March 19

0614 hrs / Incident / 5700 block

Carpinteria Avenue

A male came to the Carpinteria station and reported he was being harassed. Upon listening to his statement, it was determined he was suffering from auditory hallucinations. The man advised he heard over 50 voices. Some of those voices tell him to harm himself and others. After learning this, CARES was called to the scene and he was placed on a hold. He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital without incident.

0237 hrs / Narcotics / Hwy 101 at Santa Monica Road

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted on a vehicle for an equipment violation. During the investigation, the driver admitted to prior use of methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle revealed methamphetamine in a pill bottle. The driver was cited and released.

Monday, March 20

1737 hrs / Incident / 2500 block

Wallace Avenue

A female reported she was assaulted by a friend. During the investigation, the man admitted to pushing her away from his vehicle as she attempted to vandalize it. The female displayed signs and symptoms of being heavily intoxicated and did not have any visible injuries consistent with her statements. She was transported to the hospital based on her intoxication level and complaint of wrist pain.

2255 hrs / Narcotics / Via Real at Santa Ynez Avenue

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted on a vehicle for having false tabs. During the investigation, the driver admitted to being in possession of methamphetamine. A search of the vehicle revealed 6.1 grams of methamphetamine and two used meth pipes. The driver was cited and released, and the vehicle was towed due to the driver being unlicensed.

Tuesday, March 21

1347 hrs / Incident / 800 block Linden Avenue

A female made a late report of a vehicle and pedestrian accident that occurred in a grocery store parking lot at approximately 1030 hours. She stated that she bumped a white male that appeared homeless, he fell to the ground and appeared to have no injuries. They spoke asking each other if they were ok and left the area without exchanging information.

2255 hrs / Incident / N. Hwy 101 at Santa Monica Road

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted on a vehicle for equipment violations. During the investigation, it was discovered the driver had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. The driver was cited and released without incident.

Wednesday, March 22

2133 hrs / Incident / Via Real Deputies received a call that a man was staying at his mother’s residence without her permission. The man was on PCRS and had a No Bail warrant for his arrest. He was reported to be sleeping in his vehicle inside the garage. Deputies located the man inside his vehicle, which was parked in the garage. He refused to cooperate with deputies’ commands and reversed through the closed garage door. The man then turned his vehicle towards deputies and proceeded to ram a parked patrol vehicle before fleeing the area. He was located in Summerland and a pursuit was initiated. Deputies pursued the man north on Highway 101 where he eventually stopped at the Hermosillo Road off-ramp. The man was taken into custody without further incident.

Friday, March 24

0731 hrs / Incident / Hickory Street

A woman was arrested after forcing her way into her sister’s apartment and refusing to leave after stealing money from her vehicle. The victim signed a citizen’s arrest and the woman was arrested and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

1314 hrs / Incident / 1000 block

Casitas Pass Road

Deputies assisted the civil bureau in serving an immediate move out and protection order. During the contact, the man being served berated deputies and threw objects at them. He was arrested and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail.

Saturday, March 25

0825 hrs / Incident / 900 block

Concha Loma Drive

Deputies responded to a report of vehicle theft. The vehicle was parked on the street in front of the victim’s apartment building.

1921 hrs / Incident / Jacaranda Way

Deputies responded to a report of a subject yelling to let them in the home. Once on scene, deputies contacted a married couple outside the residence. Both subjects were intoxicated and locked out of the residence. The male had visible injuries on his arm and head. The woman stated she scratched the man, and she was arrested due to the injuries and statements. The man was also arrested due to his level of intoxication and not being able to care for himself. Both parties were booked in Santa Barbara County Jail.

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

CVN

ON THE ROAD

CVN in the city of love

Carpinterians Lourdes and Erick Trigueros brought their copy of CVN along for Lourdes’ 60th birthday celebration in February, which included a three city tour of Europe. The couple visited Florence, Paris and London. “The Eiffel Tower was beautiful, Normandy was historic, but our favorite was Windsor Castle in London,” Lourdes told CVN. “(It was) breathtaking, to say the least.”

Going on the road?

Mr. De La Cruz, the calculus teacher at CHS. - Monica Delgado LARRY NIMMER

Bruce Lee. - Mario Rios James Sly, he helped my family move to Carp. - Hugo Alvarado MAN ON THE STREET

Sally CVN

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hindsight

Library preschooler story time, 10:30 a.m., Carpinteria library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave., 684-4314

Rotary Club of Carpinteria meeting, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m., lions Park Community Building, 6197 Casitas Pass road, non-members rSVP to 566-1906

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

Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts Fair, 3-6:30 p.m., linden Ave. downtown, Craft fair: 684-2770

Free Stress Relief Veteran’s Acupuncture Clinic, 6-7 p.m. drop in, 4690 Carpinteria Ave. Ste. A, 684-5012

MOM!

Karaoke, 8 p.m., Carpinteria & linden Pub, 4954 Carpinteria linden Ave.

Dusty Jugz Country Night, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811

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

We

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

How many Warriors can

name?

Take me out to the ballgame

Carpinteria High School’s 1925 baseball team was made up of, from left front, Donald Bailard, Linn Linkefer and Johnny Lobero, and second row, from left, Harold Talmadge, Shelton Martin, Bill Miller and Walter Hunter, and from back left, Principal H.G. Martin, Jim Deadrick, Clinton Farrar and coach Joseph Fraga.

Monday, March 18

Women of Inspiration, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Girls inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 foothill road, $70, 684-6364

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

For millions of Americans, spring means baseball. At Carpinteria High School, baseball excitement is picking up as the Warriors head in to spring break 5-3.

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 Ave., 566-0033

“SPACE” exhibit, 855 At the Arts Gallery, 855 linden Ave., 684-7789

Carpinteria Plein Air Painters art show, lucky llama, 5100 Carpinteria Ave., 684-8811

Imagination & Inspiration show, Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., 220-6608

this photo

on

Coastal View News a little silly with Carpinteria history, and we’d like readers to join us by coming up with clever captions for photos from the past. At the end of each month we’ll publish our favorite caption submissions from readers.

Pictured above, Carpinteria High School’s 1925 baseball team was made up of, front row, from left, Donald Bailard, Linn Linkefer and Johnny Lobero; second row, from left, Harold Talmadge, Shelton Martin, Bill Miller and Walter Hunter; back row from left, Principal H.G. Martin, Jim Deadrick, Clinton Farrar and coach Joseph Fraga.

Carpinteria Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group

Get creative, get goofy, but keep comments brief and don’t expect CVN to print any inappropriate lan guage or innuendo. All submissions will be edited for grammar, punc tuation, length and content. Please send captions to news@coastalview. com. Caption writers selected for publication will receive the follow ing grand prizes: bragging rights, name in lights (well, black ink) and a free copy of Coastal View News from any rack in Carpinteria Valley.

He said, she said Bring on the funny!

Do You Have a Family Member with Memory Problems?

You Are Not Alone - We Can Help.

Send us your best caption for this photo by Monday, May 25.

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.

“Come and Learn Caregiver Tips & Tools” MEETINGS

Civic

Coastal View News is ready to get a little silly with Carpinteria history, and we’d like readers to join us by coming up with clever captions for photos from the past. At the end of each month we’ll publish our favorite caption submissions from readers.

Wednesdays, 2-4pm

Thursday, March 14

Faith Lutheran Church ~ Vallecito Place at Ogan Road Questions? 805-881-3390 • carpcaregivers1@gmail.com

City of Carpinteria Architectural Review Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5405

Friday, March 15

Get creative, get goofy, but keep comments brief and don’t expect CVN to print any inappropriate language or innuendo. All submissions will be edited for grammar, punctuation, length and content. Please send captions to news@coastalview. com. Caption writers selected for publication will receive the following grand prizes: bragging rights, name in lights (well, black ink) and a free copy of Coastal View News from any rack in Carpinteria Valley.

SB S. County Architectural Board of Review meeting, 9 a.m., 123 e. Anapamu St., rm. 17, Santa Barbara

Monday, March 18

SB County Zoning Administrator meeting, 9:30 a.m., 123 e. Anapamu St., rm. 17, Santa Barbara, 568-2000

Tuesday, March 19

SB County Board of Supervisors meeting, 9 a.m., Board of Supervisors Conference rm., 105 e. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 568-2000

www.coastalview.com

Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5405

ACROSS 1 Slip through the cracks 5 Subtraction word 9 Spread out, as fingers 14 Lose steam 15 Vocal range 16 Show to be so 17 Bloodhound's clue 18 Street urchin 19 Sheets and such 20 Radio or TV 22 Kind of cards 24 Basic assumption 26 Lure in 29 Flightless bird 30 Pretzel topping 32 Freight weight 33 Market surplus 36 Steve Martin's 70 Counter current 34 Large-eyed 53 Knight's ride costar in a 2003 71 Circus siteprimate 54 Go along with remake 35 Shouting letters 55 Live's partner 39 Colony member DOWN 37 Track shape 56 Risky 41 Vintner's vessel 1 Beat badly 38 It might be 20-20rendezvous 42 Hill crest 2 Downy duck 40 Stir-crazy 58 Doing nothing 43 Concert 3 Chip away at 44 "Kiss from a 59 Gardener's need organizer 4 Patrol areaRose" singer 61 Lawn starter 46 Within earshot 5 Barrister's field 45 Have a tab 62 Card game for 47 Invoice word 6 Tickle pink 50 Put away two 48 Order to a 7 Hullabaloo 52 Protection 64 Get too nosy broker 8 Crash site? 49 Calendar abbr. 9 Woodworker's 51 Corrections listworry 53 Gourmet 10 File menu option seasoning 11 Line on a world 57 Orchestra map member 12 Latin salutation 60 Cereal mascot 13 Hankering since 1951 21 Ultimate goal 61 Metal-shaping 23 Supermarket tool section 63 Thought- 25 Bench warmer provoking 27 Party line? 65 Civil War soldier 28 Script direction 66 Watering hole 30 Watchdog's 67 Lewd look warning 68 His partner 31 Pro's foe 69 Boutique buy 33 Move smoothly The Weekly Crossword by Margie E. Burke Answer to Last Week's Crossword: Copyright 2015 by The Puzzle Syndicate 1234 5678 910111213 141516 1718 19 2021 22 23 2425262728 29 3031 32 333435 3637 38 39 40 4142 43 44 45 46 4748 4950 5152 53 545556 57 5859 60 6162 63 64 65 666768 69 7071 CALF NATAL FLUB LIEU ELATE LISA ADAMSAPPLE AMEN DEPICT SASHCORD GALA SHOO CATALYST ORNATE ABATE CAIRN BOX ROBEPOSSE SATE DUBHOTELPOSER STYMIE REDALERT ARTS TOTE PHONEINS RECAST RAPT COLUMNINCH ORAL ARISE STAR PELELEPERMENU Last week’s answers: 3 9 2 5 8 6 4 1 7 4 6 1 3 7 9 2 8 5 8 7 5 1 2 4 3 6 9 7 2 8 9 4 1 5 3 6 9 5 4 8 6 3 1 7 2 6 1 3 7 5 2 8 9 4 2 8 6 4 1 7 9 5 3 5 4 9 6 3 8 7 2 1 1 3 7 2 9 5 6 4 8 Puzzle by websudoku.com 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 1 3 5 7 3 6 4 1 8 9 2 1 9 8 5 2 3 4 6 7 8 1 2 4 6 5 3 7 9 6 3 7 9 1 8 2 4 5 9 5 4 7 3 2 1 8 6 7 8 9 3 5 4 6 2 1 4 2 5 1 7 6 9 3 8 3 6 1 2 8 9 7 5 4 Puzzle by websudoku.com Sudoku Puzzle by websudoku.com 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. Level: Easy Level: Hard 9 2 6 4 2 6 7 5 6 3 8 9 2 1 8 8 7 1 9 5 6 4 1 6 5 2 3 8 9 1 3 5 6 8 2 5 Puzzle by websudoku.com 4 5 6 6 3 9 1 1 2 5 8 5 1 3 5 7 9 6 2 8 1 6 1 8 4 1 7 3 Puzzle by websudoku.com hindsight CARPINTERIA VALLEY MUSEUM OF HISTORY

County Supervisor Salud Carbajal drop

in office

As the nation gears up for March Madness (starting March 19), CVN thought it would be appropriate to stoke the fire of excitement with an image of Carpinteria’s version of highly competitive basketball. Sports rivals Carpinteria and Bishop Diego high schools vie for a piece of the ball at this Feb. 7, 1978 game.

Diego Nieves (15) has played a pivotal role in the Warriors' success this season.

Carpinteria baseball heads into spring break 5-3 Warriors baseball has strong season start, will finish with Citrus Coast League gauntlet

A month and a half into the season, Carpinteria baseball is in good shape. The Warriors are 5-3 overall, and 4-3 in the Citrus Coast League heading into spring break, after which the team will navigate a gauntlet with 13 games in the month of April to earn a spot in the CIF playoffs.

Carpinteria had won four of its last five games heading into last week’s matchup on the road against Fillmore, where the teams traded runs and it took an extra inning to decide the winner.

The game was postponed twice due to bad weather and unplayable field conditions at both schools, but it was well worth the wait when the teams finally got going at Booty Sanchez Field in Fillmore.

Carpinteria scored a run in the top of the first inning, but Fillmore responded with a run in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 1-1.

Carpinteria took the lead back with a run in the second, then broke the game open with two more runs in the top of the fourth inning to bring the Warriors ahead 4-1.

Fillmore responded again, this time with the Flashes going on an explosive six-run rally in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead, 7-4.

The Warriors went on a three-run rally of their own in the top of the fifth, and both teams were locked up at 7-7 through the next three innings, forcing the game to go to an extra inning to decide the winner.

Carpinteria was held scoreless in the top of the eighth, and Fillmore sealed the back-and-forth affair with a walk-off run to take the win, 8-7.

Freshman Gabe Martinez got the start for the Warriors and had another strong showing before giving way to junior righthander Shane Goodmanson, who pitched three scoreless innings in his second appearance of the week.

Both pitchers have played a strong role in Carpinteria’s early season success, with Goodmanson earning his third win

BY RYAN P. CRUZ • PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

of the year last week against Channel Islands, where he pitched a complete game with only 79 pitches needed to go the distance.

Martinez, a freshman, has already made himself comfortable on the mound in his first year on the varsity squad and looks to be a big part of the Warriors pitching roster over the next few years.

The Warriors have a wealth of weapons all across the field from senior catcher Diego Nieves – who got on base three times and scored once against Fillmore – to senior outfielder/pitcher Erich Goebel to junior utility player Judah Torres, who helped spark the Warriors’ sixth-inning rally last week to take an important league win over Channel Islands.

Against Fillmore, senior Talon Trumble had the biggest bat with three hits in the win, including a double.

Junior Joaquin Ramirez – who played the hero in the win against Channel Islands when he smashed a single to center field that scored the two winning runs – was solid at the plate against Fillmore, with one hit and two scored runs.

“The game had everything. Pickoffs, bunt plays, long hits, arguments with umpires, collisions at home plate, competitive pitching, dazzling plays and errors,” said Carpinteria coach Pat Cooney. “It’s hard for the visitors to win at Booty Sanchez Field and it’s a good sign that we managed the emotion of the game and had every opportunity to win.”

Despite the loss against Fillmore, Carpinteria is in prime position to decide its fate over the next month, with a winning record overall (5-3) and in league play (4-3).

Carpinteria will hit a busy stretch in April, with 13 games that will decide who represents the Citrus Coast League in the CIF postseason.

“There is going to be a dogfight

among Citrus Coast League teams for the playoffs,” Cooney said. It’s great to see that our group is up to the challenge.”

After a week

for

Catcher

Junior Joaquin Ramirez was the hero last week against Channel Islands, with a single that scored the two winning runs.

off

spring break, the Warriors will return to play on April 1 at Santa Clara.

Righthander Shane Goodmanson has been the Warriors’ go-to starter on the mound this year.

SHORT STOPS

BY RYAN P. CRUZ • PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

three sets, including a back-and-forth tiebreaker in the final set that the duo was able to gut out for the win.

Senior Connor Gralewski and sophomore Lucas Martin had a similar showing, winning the first two sets with ease before having to dig down to overcome a 4-5 deficit to claim the third and final set.

In singles, junior standout Max Stone continued his season-long undefeated streak through two sets but was forced to forfeit his third set due to an injury that left him unable to finish. He finished 2-1 on the day, with the loss technically being his first of the season in singles play.

“Overall, our team stepped up to the challenge of the wind and the challenge from the Sharks,” Bryant said. “We always have close contests with them and today was no different.”

With the win, Carpinteria is now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Citrus Coast League and will face Nordhoff after spring break on April 6.

Warriors keep swimming through Malibu, Cate

Carpinteria’s swim teams just keep winning, and both the boys and the girls picked up team wins over Malibu and Cate, who stopped by Carpinteria Community Pool for swim meets this past week. Against Malibu, the Warriors boys had a dominant 111-58 win over the Sharks, while the girls had a tougher time but squeaked by with a narrow 78-77 win. Jackson Melton broke both his own personal record and the school record in the 100 breaststroke with a CIF-consideration time of 1:05:48. Melton also swam a season best in the 200 individual medley, where he earned another CIF-consideration time.

He then teamed up with Jacob Otsuki, Asher Smith and Justin Main in the 4x50 freestyle relay; the team dipped below the previous school record by nearly a second.

Matthew Endow took two wins – both new personal records and CIF-consideration times – in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke; sophomore Aiden Alcaraz won the 500 freestyle, in his first-ever attempt at the race; Justin Main took the 100 freestyle; sprint-king Asher Smith took the 50-meter freestyle; and the Warriors boys took all of the team relays in convincing fashion.

On the girl’s side, senior captain Erin Otsuki earned automatic CIF Division 3 qualifying times with wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke; sophomore Giulia Piccoletti took two wins and earned CIF-consideration times in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke; and Taylor Classen rounded out the wins with the top spot in the 100 butterfly.

Two days later, Carpinteria hosted crosstown rival Cate, with the Warriors continuing their winning ways in the water by taking both the boys (98-70) and girls (86-77) competitions.

Cate started the meet with a bang, claiming the first two events in dramatic fashion. In the boys 200 medley relay, Cate beat the Warriors by a tenth of a second; then in the next race, the 200 freestyle, Cate’s Cyrus Symington beat the entire field by at least seven seconds.

But Carpinteria would respond, winning eight out of the next nine events, led by double-winners Endow and Melton and single-event winners Smith, Otsuki and Eli Sheaffer.

After breaking the school record just two days earlier, Melton went for another all-time Carpinteria best with a 1:05:39 in the 100 breaststroke. Melton and Jacob Otsuki each set new personal records in the 100 freestyle, with times of 50:11 and 51:05, respectively.

Carpinteria track & field beats Malibu, hosts

Jr. Russell Cup

After a successful week for the Carpinteria High School track & field teams, with both the boys (70-60) and girls (83-53) coming away victorious against Malibu, the Warriors had some fun hosting the Jr. Russell Cup, where local schoolkids competed in a friendly track meet at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium.

Against Malibu, Carpinteria’s girls team dominated the meet, with four athletes coming away with multiple wins: Emily Ehlers took the 100 and 200 sprints; Lela Roberts won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles; Averi Alexander won the long jump and triple jump; and her sister Ainslee Alexander won the pole vault and shot put. The girls are undefeated at 3-0 in the Citrus Coast League.

For the boys, Chris Ceja won the 400-meter dash; Wes Chung won both the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles; Ivan Vargas won the long jump; Rooke Juarez won the triple jump; and Israel Samaguey won the discus. With the win, the Warriors are now 2-1 in league meets.

At the Jr. Russell Cup, elementary students from all across the Carpinteria Valley gathered to participate in all the usual track and field events, including sprints, shot put, high jump, long jump, and more.

Members of the high school teams and volunteer coaches helped officiate the positive community event, with the top four youngsters in each event earning a chance to stand on the podium to receive their winning ribbon.

Warriors tennis takes league match over

Malibu

Carpinteria boys tennis advanced to 5-3 overall, and 3-1 in the Citrus Coast League, with a hard-earned win at home against Malibu.

Warriors coach Charles Bryant said the team played its “best team match of the season so far,” and the whole roster seemed focused and determined and “really stepped up when it mattered the most.”

Carpinteria swept all nine sets in doubles, with each set of partners showing their ability to work together and overcome some close games and strong winds.

Juniors Asher Pampel and Troy Zimmerman led the way with a three-set sweep, with only four games dropped.

“They are really doing a good job of playing within themselves and not going for too much,” Bryant said of the duo. “They are smart and consistent, which was a huge factor in the wind today.”

Junior Nolan Martin teamed up with freshman Servando Campuzano to take all

The girls won seven out of 11 events on the day, with Erin Otsuki and Lilli Nemetz both finishing with two individual event wins. Otsuki, Piccoletti, Classen and Nemetz teamed up to earn an automatic CIF-qualifying time in the 200-medley relay. The four then teamed up for a win in the 4x100 relay, where they shaved more than three seconds from their previous season-best CIF-consideration time.

After spring break, Carpinteria will return to the pool to host Nordhoff on April 5 and Newbury Park on April 6.

SHORT STOPS

Continued on page 27

CVN

ON DECK

Thursday, March 30

Carpinteria Softball at Bishop Diego, 3:30 p.m.

Carpinteria Boys Volleyball at Cate, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, March 31

Carpinteria Boys Volleyball at Ventura Tournament, 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 1

Carpinteria Boys Volleyball at Ventura Tournament, 9 a.m.

Carpinteria Baseball at Santa Clara, 11 a.m.

*Denotes Home Game

Christian, center, from Canalino Elementary School, focuses on winning the race.

Lucia, from Summerland Elementary, launches the shot put with all her might.

Hebi from Summerland floats through the air in the long jump competition.

CRUZ ON SPORTS

RYAN P. CRUZ

I’ve been watching March Madness all month, and anybody who’s been paying attention knows there is one player dominating the college basketball scene right now, scoring at will and breaking records with the first-ever 40-point triple-double in the NCAA tournament.

Her name is Caitlin Clark, and she is ruling the women’s tournament. If you haven’t had the chance to watch her yet, you should. The Iowa guard is a scary mix between Steph Curry and Pete Maravich, who can shoot from anywhere on the court and can always find an open teammate with a well-placed pass.

She represents a shift in the sports world, where women athletes are becoming bigger stars on a broader scale, where the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) has captured consistent success on an international stage – but where these superstar women still have to scrape for the same respect as their male counterparts.

Despite bringing in more television viewers and revenue than the men’s national team and bringing home backto-back World Cup championships in 2015 and 2019 (the men’s team has never even advanced to a World Cup final), the women had to fight for six years in federal court to get the soccer federation to pay them the money they deserved for their success. Last year, a judge ruled in their favor, and the women’s team earned $24 million in backpay, including a binding agreement with the federation promising equal pay for both male and female athletes going forward.

During this year’s March Madness tournament season, it has been the women who have captured the attention of basketball fans. While the men’s tournament has been unpredictable, with unfamiliar teams like Florida Atlantic and San Diego State making their way into the Final Four, the women’s tournament has been jam-packed full of drama and “main character energy.”

Coaches like South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and LSU’s Kim Mulkey bring this

SHORT STOPS

UNPREDICTABLE WILDERNESS

Celebrating women’s sports

CHUCK GRAHAM

to mind, who have become internet stars for their extremely different coaching styles and clothing choices (both have social media accounts dedicated to their gameday outfits); as well as on-court rivalries like the one between Clark from Iowa and Louisville’s Hailey Van With, who fought back-and-forth in a trashtalking high-scoring Elite Eight matchup to earn a spot in the Final Four.

Along with Clark, there are captivating characters who have changed the way people watch the game, like LSU’s Angel Reese and South Carolina’s Aliyah Boston, who I love just as much for their hair, nails and bigger-than-life personas as I do for their power-

ful post-up moves in the paint.

It’s not just me, either. Last Sunday’s NCAA tournament game between Iowa and Louisville brought in more TV viewers than any NBA game ESPN has shown all season. As of Wednesday, the cheapest tickets to this weekend’s Men’s Final Four game are $75; for the Women’s Final Four, the lowest available are running at least $284.

In 2021, social media posts showing the disparity between the “swag bags” received by women’s and men’s players in the NCAA tournament went viral. While the men were showered with gifts from name-brand sponsors and bags full of products for their hotel stays, the women got a small assortment of cheaply made generic gifts, including a pair of socks and a lanyard. At the time, the men even had exclusive right to the name “March Madness,” so the women’s gear was marked with a basic blue “#NCAAW” logo.

The outrage from those posts sparked a change. For one, since last year, the women’s tournament can officially use the March Madness logo and trademark on their playing courts and broadcasts, and now the NCAA swears its gift bags are equal for both genders (though pictures from this year show different). But if the girls are bringing in so many viewers and selling so many tickets, why are they still receiving the scraps when it comes to sponsorship money?

This disparity in the support women’s sports receive sends ripples down into high school and youth sports.

According to a recent report from The

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Women’s Sports Foundation, girls were dropping out of youth sports before the age of 14 at twice the rate as boys. The report cites several reasons for this, including lack of opportunities, safety concerns, social stigma and the pressure to achieve an unrealistic body standard. And while these issues are not unique to girls, the study says, they are issues that girls encounter “much more frequently than their male counterparts.”

Even here on the Central Coast, girls’ sports can often be given the short end of the stick when it comes to funding and community support.

A local mom recently shared a story with me about an experience she had at a recent youth soccer tournament. Her daughter’s team was in the middle of the game, when the coaches of a boys’ team scheduled to play next started to set up their equipment right where the girls’ team parents were seated. Words were exchanged, tempers flared (as they often are among parents and coaches at youth soccer tournaments, unfortunately) and ultimately the argument came down to the parents of the girls’ team feeling that their daughters' games always played second fiddle to the “big show” of the boys’ games.

In a familiar example of the disparity, the girls’ team had a couple of lawn chairs, while the boys’ club had several large tents, a massage table, a trainer’s table and a video system for their game.

Is it a difference of revenue? An oversight in administration? Or an outright lack of awareness about inequality?

It’s hard to say, because we have such a wealth of female athletes both in Carpinteria history and right now. At Carpinteria High School, there are some girls doing big things in student athletics, like swim and water polo captain Erin Otsuki, who was just named Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table’s Carpinteria Student Athlete of the Year; or Ariana Lounsbury, who plays almost every sport imaginable for the Warriors and was honored with the Phil Womble Ethics in Sports Award last summer; or Ruby Cluderay, who competes for Carpinteria in track and cross country and is recognized as one of the best teenage triathletes in the country with three gold medals in 2022; or Brooklyn Shamblin, the local high school hooper that committed to play college basketball at USC when she was only in eighth grade.

If all of these girls are thriving in spite of the disparity they face, imagine the glass ceilings they would shatter if given the same financial resources and community support as male athletics. So, if you’re not doing so already, start watching more girls’ sports, and talking about women athletes, so we can continue the work of leveling out the playing field.

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 me at sports@ costalview.com.

Carpinteria boys golf shows improvement

After a few more matches under their belts, the members of Carpinteria’s boys golf team are showing improvement through the last three matches.

At the seven-team Citrus Coast League in River Ridge on March 16 – the second conference match of the season – the Warriors came in sixth place, with Malibu taking second and Nordhoff taking the top spot.

But Carpinteria had six players score under 59 points, with junior Mario Serrano showing the most improvement from the first league match by shooting a 56 – a full 15 shots fewer than in the previous week.

The Warriors roster is also full of underclassmen, with Junior Carter Cox leading the team with consistent sub-50 scores and freshmen Taylor Lenci and Dylan Walker finishing close behind.

At River Ridge, Cox finished with a 50; Lenci had a 54; Walker scored 54; and sophomore Sawyer Kelly had a season-best 58.

On March 23, at the third Citrus Coast League Match at Seabee Golf Course in Port Hueneme, Carpinteria fared better as a team, finishing in fourth place overall with a combined score of 298.

Nordhoff and Malibu took the first and second spot again, with both teams finishing with team scores of 221.

Cox led the way for the Warriors with a 48; Kelly matched his previous score with a 58; while Lenci and sophomore Luke Fancher both finished with 63.

A day later, the Warriors faced Bishop Diego in a head-to-head match at Santa Barbara Municipal Golf Course, which the Cardinals won 252-301.

Cox continued to top his season best with a 46; Lenci followed with a 61; while Walker and Kelly both finished with a 64.

Junior Sawyer Kelly shot a 58 during the Citrus Coast League match at River Ridge in Oxnard.

COURTESY PHOTO

UCONN Women’s basketball plays in the 2016 NCAA championship.

SNAPSHOTS

A trip to the fire station

Cousins Brody, Antonia, Dacota and Matteo Pozzebon, Gwenie, Spencer and Slater Clark, Huxley, Hobie, Leon, Dylan, Lennan, Phoebe, Becky, Keene and Ruby Gallup enjoyed a fundraiser dinner event with the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District last week, according to Summerland Elementary School’s Head of School

Shannon Colson.

“We had a great time with everyone,” the fire department wrote on social media.

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DAVID DEMOULPIED PHOTOS