SHIRLEY KIMBERLIN Everything I list turns to SOLD! 805-886-0228 skimberlin@aol.com
This week’s listings on the back page
FEMA map at top of City Council agenda
Carpinteria’s ongoing impasse with the Federal Emergency Management Agency over bridges and floodplains might be soon resolved. FEMA has been holding up approval of the Linden/Casitas Interchange Project due to an alteration in the city’s projected floodplain that would result from raising Highway 101 bridges over Carpinteria Creek. The Carpinteria City Council will discuss the process of appeasing FEMA at its Monday, July 13 meeting. Raising the highway bridges will remove several hundred homes from the floodplain; however, FEMA objected to this alteration of the floodplain map because the new bridge clearance over Carpinteria Creek would place a handful of new properties in the floodplain, according to the existing map. The properties that would have been added are along Carpinteria Creek, but the existing floodplain model indicates that the freeway bridges, at their current height, would redirect stormwater from Carpinteria Creek toward Franklin Creek, flooding properties in the vicinity of Highway 101 and Franklin Creek. When the floodplain is reduced or eliminated, homeowners would then have their flood insurance premiums reduced or eliminated. The city plans to submit a revised version of the existing map to accurately place the properties on Carpinteria Creek in the floodplain, even with the bridges at their current elevation. Thus, when the new map is drawn and raised bridges are considered, those properties will not be considered additions to the floodplain. Additionally, a small number of properties will be shifted out of the floodplain on the revised map. City Manager Dave Durflinger said the revision of the current map will benefit property owners by making them aware that they currently are in the floodplain.
See FEMA continued on page 5
Dead ringer
ANTONY MACHIANDO
The Carpinteria Lions Club hosted the largest local Independence Day cookout, where 450 attendees including Mike Morrison, pictured, ate, drank, danced and played in tribute to the USA. Tri tip barbecue was in abundance as was heated competition of horseshoes, cornhole and bocce balls. Turn to pages 12 and 13 for more coverage of Fourth of July happenings.
It’s carnival time
Over the last several weeks, the empty field behind St. Joseph Catholic Church on Linden Avenue has been transformed into the festival locals have loved for 58 years. St. Joseph’s Festival, the church’s biggest annual fundraiser, opens on Friday, July 10 at 5 p.m. with its tummytwisting rides, tasty foods and loads of entertainment. Flamenco and folkloric dancers will take the stage throughout the weekend, along with live bands performing in English and Spanish. There will be daily hourly raffle drawings, and the grand prize drawings for $2,000, $1,000 and $500 will be announced Sunday, July 12 at 8 p.m. The festival includes games like the popular dime toss as well as rides for all ages and thrill-seeking levels. Presale ride tickets can be purchased at businesses throughout town. Wristbands that provide unlimited access to rides on Saturday, July 11 from noon to 6 p.m. are available for $25 in advance or $30 at the festival. Friday evening’s festivities end at 11 p.m., and the festival reopens Saturday from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Admission is free and so is parking.
GARRETT COMBS FILE PHOTO
Amanda Skidmore, Andrew Skidmore, Gillian Beery-Beesley and Alexander Brand toss ping pong in the hopes of winning goldfish at last year’s festival.