Coastal View News • February 29, 2024

12

Hurdling to success

Carpinteria hosted the first track and field meet of the year with the Rincon Races on Saturday, Feb.

After a jam-packed day, the Warriors girls came out in

place, while the boys tied for fourth place overall. After a busy year with the Warriors football and basketball teams, junior Sawyer Kelly, pictured, won the first race of his career in the 110-meter hurdles. “Sawyer is a fine all-around athlete,” said coach Van Latham. “He is already making his mark on the track and he has only been hurdling for one week.”Check out the latest in Carpinteria sports on pages 25–27 of this week’s print.

BRIEFLY CVN

COMPILED BY

EVELYN SPENCE

Reminder: Junior Lifeguards registration opens Monday

Registration for the city of Carpinteria’s popular Junior Lifeguards program opens March 4 at 6:30 p.m. on the city’s website: carpinteria.recdesk.com/Community/ Program.

The program is held Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., from June 17 through Aug. 2 at Carpinteria City Beach. Spots are open for kids ages seven to 16. Group A serves kids ages 14–17, Group B kids 12–13, Group C kids nine to 11 and the Mini Junior Lifeguards kids seven to nine.

Library opens late Thursday

Due to staff training, the Carpinteria Community Library – located at 5141 Carpinteria Ave. – will open at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29, instead of 9 a.m.

The library’s regular hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It is closed on Sunday. Find out more at carpinterialibrary.org or by calling (805) 684-4314.

My foster son Michael, when he was 15-years old, said, “After you’ve been raped, you’re ruined for life”

Concerning Sex Trafficking Children:

• The children may be as young as 12-years old

• They are being brought to America... children that have been kidnapped, bought or coerced.

• These children are “groomed” for sexual exploitation.

• Carpinteria is one of the frequent destinations for these traffickers.

• Sex Trafficking is a “Billion Dollar Industry.”

• Sheriff Brown’s Santa Barbara County Trafficking Task Force was formed to address this horror.

• The Rotary Club of Santa Maria held a meeting to inform its citizens concerning Trafficking... 800 people were in attendance.

Carpinteria’s concerned citizenry is planning a similar event. We hope you will attend.

Please help us

Carpinteria Valley Baptist Church welcomes new pastor

The Carpinteria Valley Baptist Church has welcomed a new pastor, Charles Newton, spokesperson Darrell E. Baasch told CVN. Newton joins the Carpinteria community with his wife, Melissa, and their three children.

He has a bachelor’s degree in Missions, a Master of Ministry degree in Christian Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry, according to Baasch. His first Sunday as a pastor will be March 3, 2024. Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m.

The Carpinteria Valley Baptist Church is located at 800 Maple Ave. Learn more online at carpinteriabaptist.org or by calling (805) 684-5014.

Hart’s new AB 2298 will protect blue whales, assemblymember says

Last week, Assemblymember Gregg Hart – who represents the Santa Barbara County residents and part of southern San Luis Obispo County residents who make up the 37th Assembly District – introduced Assembly Bill 2298, which aims to protect blue whales.

According to a press release from Hart’s office, the bill will establish a statewide California Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies program, helping “prevent fatal ship strikes on endangered whale populations and reduce harmful air emissions by incentivizing shipping companies to slow their speed along California Coast.”

The bill builds off a 2014 voluntary vessel speed reduction program already in place. The program, which requests that ocean vessels travel 10 knots or less in certain areas, started in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties before expansion to the Bay Area.

Assemblymember Steve Bennett (D-Ventura) and Assemblymember Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael) also authored the bill.

“The Santa Barbara voluntary vessel speed reduction program is a prime example of what happens when we prioritize public health, protect the marine ecosystem, and showcase the beneficial partnership between shipping companies, public health agencies, marine sanctuaries and environmental organizations,” Assemblymember Hart said in a press release.

“Assembly Bill 2298 provides participating companies with the official endorsement of both the State of California and Governor Newsom for their efforts to reduce emissions and protect whales. This invaluable state-level recognition will increase visibility, interest and support for conservation efforts along the California coast. The Santa Barbara Channel is now a globally recognized Whale Heritage Area. The entire world is watching what we do to save whales.”

Boys team charity accepting new members from Carpinteria

The boys team charity (btc) – a volunteer service program for young men and their parents or guardians – is adding a second league in Santa Barbara and is now accepting new member applications from Goleta to Carpinteria.

On March 4, boys entering seventh through 11th grade during the 2024-25 school year can apply for membership for one of the two leagues: Santa Barbara North, at tinyurl.com/3paszy4h, and Santa Barbara, at btcsantabarbara.org.

The btc Santa Barbara North includes San Marcos and Dos Pueblos High Schools; the btc Santa Barbara will also include San Marcos High School, as well as Santa Barbara and Carpinteria High schools. Families with students at San Marcos High School or other schools in the area may choose either league.

Applications open on March 4, and applicants will be notified of their status by April 1. The 2024-25 volunteering year will begin on May 1.

The first btc league in Santa Barbara was founded in 2017, and has since logged more than 10,000 hours of service to local nonprofits. Members will build community with one another annually by attending three meetings with the entire membership and three class-based events that bring together boys based on school grade. The btc serves many nonprofit organizations in the Santa Barbara community, including the

KARLSSON

Members of the 2023 Junior Lifeguards kick off the start of the program in June 2023.

COURTESY PHOTO Pastor Charles Newton, left, is the newest pastor with the Carpinteria Valley Baptist Church; he is pictured with his wife Melissa and three children.

BRIEFLY continued from page 2

Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, I Madonnari, SB-SNAP Adaptive Sports, PATH, Bucket Brigade and Teen Court.

Families with students attending Dos Pueblos High School or other schools within the boundary can apply to the btc Santa Barbara North League, and may contact Shruti Ramaker and Rebecca Rios, at btcsbnorth.membership@gmail.com. Families with students attending Carpinteria, Santa Barbara High School or other schools within the boundaries can apply to the btc Santa Barbara League, and may contact Lara Sullivan and Tiffany Corby, at sbbtcmembership@gmail.com.

The berm – a large, sandy barrier that helps protect properties along the shoreline during the winter – will be removed in the coming weeks.

Berm removal scheduled for next week

The city of Carpinteria’s berm – a sand structure that sits on the beach during winter, to protect properties along the shoreline – will come down starting next week, the city said on its Facebook page.

“It’s tractor time at City Beach,” the city wrote earlier this week. “In preparation for berm removal next week, we’re spending the next couple days removing debris and rocks from the sand between Ash and Linden avenues.”

Residents should avoid the area while the tractor is in place

•

KARLSSON

Obituaries

For the record...

In CVN Vol. 30, No. 23, “Spring is in the air in Carpinteria athletics,” CVN wrote that record-breaking Carpinteria high school swimmer Jackson Melton was an outgoing senior in 2023. Melton was a junior in 2023 and will be looking to return to make significant contributions and break more school records as a senior this season.

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Proud

Steve Garibay

10/30/1961

— 2/17/2024

Steve passed away suddenly on Feb. 17, 2024. He is deeply missed by his precious daughter Christiane, son John, and wife Martha.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Garibay. He is also survived by his mother, Rosie Garibay, brothers Bobby and Frankie, sisters Lucy, Veronica, Terry, Alice, Delfina and Liz, and a large extended family.

His love for detailing cars and custom bikes showcased not only Steve’s skills, but also dedication to his passions. He would be seen proudly riding one of his bikes around his hometown Carpinteria, blasting golden oldies with his beloved dog Little Girl at his side. His presence was warm and comforting to all who had the privilege of interacting with him.

At this time of sorrow, we honor Steve for the remarkable man he was, a beacon of love and strength that shall forever shine brightly in our hearts. Services will be held at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito – located at 1300 E. Valley Road – on March 8 at 10 a.m. He will be interred at the Carpinteria Cemetery, located at 1501 Cravens Lane in Carpinteria.

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St. Jude

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

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

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

Lescher Dowling

12/28/1922

– 2/13/2024

Walter Lescher Dowling of Sunnyvale, Calif., a member of The Greatest Generation, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. He was 101 years old, but if you met him, you would have guessed he was much younger.

Born and raised in Carpinteria, Calif., Lescher was the middle child of Julia (Lescher) Dowling and Walter Lee Dowling. His siblings were older sister Martha Rose (Dowling) Rodriquez and younger brother Kenneth Theodore Dowling; his older half-sisters were Dortha Dowling and Irene Dowling. Lescher’s father coowned and operated the Rincon Garage & Machine Shop in downtown Carpinteria, but he encouraged his children to seek higher education.

Lescher would go on to become a schoolteacher, but first, WWII would intervene. At a school dance, Lescher met his future wife, Dorothy Eichelberger from Santa Barbara. He was immediately smitten and did his best to win her affection. But Lescher was soon drafted into the Army to serve overseas in the China Burma India 7th Veterinary Corps (CBI). After basic training in Colorado, his company was shipped off with a load of mules destined for troop support. Once in China, Lescher managed to trade stable duties for the task of company mail clerk. Dorothy felt it was her patriotic duty to write to a serviceman, and it was during their wartime correspondence that their relationship truly blossomed.

Back home after the war, Lescher attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, on the G.I. Bill. In 1950 he graduated with an Industrial Arts teaching credential, married Dorothy, moved to San Diego and taught for three years at the San Diego County Juvenile Hall. He often remarked that working at “Juvie” gained more positive responses from potential employers than the other skills listed in his resume.

After earning a General Secondary Credential at San Diego State, he landed

a job at his old alma mater, Carpinteria High School. He taught Shop, Printing, Drafting, Photography and Driver Training for the next 12 years. During that time, he and Dorothy also had two children, Richard and Lela Ann. They all enjoyed Dad’s summers off, when the trailer would be stocked with supplies, and off they would go to adventures in Yosemite or Sequoia National Parks, the beach or just the open road.

After deciding to focus on photography, Lescher left teaching to take classes at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara. From there, he was hired to head the Photography Department at Foothill Junior College in Los Altos Hills. “Mr. D” was a popular and personable teacher, always willing to chat or field questions during his lunch hour in his office on campus. He always said that working with students kept him young.

Upon retirement in 1990, Lescher and Dorothy began to take educational travel and learning adventures through Elderhostel. He rekindled a much-loved model airplane hobby from his youth, joining SAM 21, the Society of Antique Modelers. He built and flew gas-powered remote-controlled model airplanes, but mostly enjoyed collecting and repairing their vintage engines.

Lescher was also on the founding committee for the Foothill-De Anza Community College Retirees Association, FODARA. In addition, he and Dorothy took many memoir writing classes from their local senior center, and some of those stories made their way into The Grapevine, the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History’s newsletter.

Lescher and Dorothy also became involved with the nationwide CBI Veterans Association, attending monthly luncheon get-togethers and yearly national conventions with other CBI veterans, many of whom became great friends. Lescher served on the board of the San Francisco-based chapter Basha as commander, vice commander, newsletter editor, and finance officer – at times in several positions all at once, as membership declined with time.

He wrote a book of his wartime adventures in the CBI, titled, “A Light Trail,” which will eventually be available on Amazon. Dorothy passed away in 2021, but Lescher is survived by his children, Richard Dowling and Lela (Dowling) Cirocco; grandchildren Sara and Skye; great-grandchildren Katheryne, Kimberly, Brielli and Gianna; and numerous nieces and nephews. His wry humor, wisdom, helpful advice and stories from the old days, all will be greatly missed.

Lescher Dowling’s ashes will be scattered at sea off the coast of Santa Barbara. Previously

Real Estate Sales•Rental Housing•Property Management Vacation

Information on SpaceX launches

Last week in CVN (Vol. 30, No. 23) a reader complained that a sonic boom from a SpaceX rocket caused a disturbance of the seals at the Carpinteria birthing area and suggested that the landings should be moved farther away. This information about the launches and sonic booms may help her plan her next actions.

The disturbance was regrettable, but it was not caused during the landing but originated shortly after liftoff. Sonic booms travel the 60 miles from the Vandenberg SFB launch site in about five or six minutes after the launch. Compare that to the more than eight minutes after launch when boosters land vertically on an ocean barge more than 300 miles downrange, so moving the landing barge farther away as she suggested would not help. Return-to-launch-site missions, when the booster lands at Vandenberg, are a little more likely to cause a boom here, but those launches are a minority.

Weather conditions and trajectories are not conducive for a sonic boom during most launches. There have been seven SpaceX launches from Vandenberg this year including the only one that caused the boom on Thursday, Feb. 15 at 1:34 p.m. The next launch a week later at 8:11 p.m. caused no boom. There were 28 SpaceX launches from Vandenberg last year, few of which caused an audible sonic boom here. Other users of the Western Range are companies called Northrup and Firefly plus the Air Force, who launch a few times a year.

George Lehtinen Carpinteria

Unusual incident at city council

To those of you unaccustomed to following Carpinteria City Council proceedings, you missed an interesting and unusual incident at the Feb. 12 Carpinteria City Council meeting regarding the development at the Sun Coast Rentals property (CVN Vol. 30, No. 22).

I don’t pretend to have all the facts of the incident. All I can tell you is what appears to me what occurred. This project was passed by the Architectural Review Board (ARB) on the condition that certain revisions be made to the project by the applicants/developers. Mainly to reduce the height of the building on the Ninth Street side of the project because of the negative impact it would have on the residents in that area.

“Thank you to everyone who has contributed to lowering the volume of the music coming from Island Brewery Company. It has been so much better for the last two weekends, and I appreciate the effort.”

– Marilyn Jenkins

The project was reluctantly passed by the Carpinteria Planning Commission. But during the city manager’s report at the city council meeting the project was unanimously repealed by the council because the certain revisions promised to the ARB were not met, mainly the height issue.

Here’s where it gets unusual. ARB Chair Brad Stein, speaking by phone as a private citizen, told the council that although he originally voted to pass the project, he would now oppose it because it appears he was misled or lied to by the developer. The developer told the ARB that he would revise the height of the project and apparently did not, and this was caught by the council, which voted 4–0 to appeal the commission’s approval.

I have been a planning commissioner, and I can tell you that if a builder/ developer lies to you or goes back on his word, his project and reputation are gone forever. Thank you council and Brad for rejecting this very flawed project and exposing the deceptions of this developer as this is an insult and a gross affront to our community.

Bob Franco Carpinteria

Music levels are better

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to lowering the volume of the music coming from Island Brewery Company. It has been so much better for the last two weekends, and I appreciate the effort.

Marilyn Jenkins Carpinteria

Good community support on Prop. 19

I appreciate everyone who signed the petition to place “Repeal the Death Tax” on the ballot this year. Its purpose was to fix Proposition 19 and preserve Proposition 13 for everyone’s family and future generations.

The biggest negative effect of Proposition 19 is that in some cases, when a home i.e. primary residence is transferred to children it will be reassessed

and taxed at current skyrocketing market rates. Thereby, taxing the residents out of their home. This especially damages middle-class families. The purpose of this petition was to get the issue on the ballot, allowing the citizens to decide what they thought was right.

The volunteers for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association (HJTA) throughout the state worked hard at their tables on the street, through their conversations with citizens and with their posts on social media. And we were able to collect 560,000 plus signatures, but our efforts fell short of the 874,000 the State requires to get this issue on the ballot. Here in Carpinteria, we ourselves were able to collect 300 plus signatures.

Coastal View News printed my letter explaining the issue. Thank you to all the people who encouraged our efforts and offered to help and signed our petitions.

HJTA will not give up this fight and neither will we. When this issue is allowed to come forth again, we will begin from scratch again and aim once more for the three-quarters of a million signatures needed. But for now, on this issue, you will have no voice.

We have about 19,000 residents in Carpinteria. I would like to have every voter’s signature when we prepare for this fight again.

Carolyn Edwards Carpinteria

Katie Davis

Sierra Club Chair

Council reviews 2024-25 Work Plan priorities

BY ATMIKA IYER

Ryder Smith – speaking in his capacity as president of marketing and public affairs firm Tripepi Smith, which the city of Carpinteria hired to help organize the city’s 2024-25 Work Plan – gave updates on overarching goals and ongoing work involving the plan during the Carpinteria City Council’s Monday, Feb. 26 meeting.

Smith had previously solicited feedback from the council and the general public during a Jan. 29 special city meeting; on Monday night, he presented a revised version of the plan.

The 2024-25 Work Plan outlines five goals and measurable steps for the city to take to achieve them: enhancing public outreach education and transparency; accommodating city growth while maintaining a small beachside town personality; taking steps to address the fiscal sustainability of the city; strengthening community collaboration; and investing in a high-performance team at Carpinteria City Hall.

The first goal – enhancing public outreach education and transparency – includes improving relations with non-profits and organizations that are strongly connected to the Latino community; speaking to the community on budget economics and trade-offs; continuing investments in Spanish language resources; tracking and reporting on engagement efforts; evaluating investing in an ongoing polling tool and creating capacity to take on outreach and engagement goals.

Councilmemb er Mónica Solórzano voiced concerns about the city staff’s capacity to take on the priorities listed under the first goal.

“Public outreach is something I think is so important. But what I also am struck by when looking at that are the limitations, potentially, of city staff capacity,” Solórzano said during Monday night’s meeting.

“I would want to be really sensitive and receptive to what staff can report back about what they feel like their bandwidth is,” she added.

Mayor Al Clark said that outreach efforts must be extensive in Carpinteria, and traditional means – like polls on the city website – will not reach all Carpinterians.

“We have a huge chunk of our population (that) really need direct outreach, we need to go to them a person-on-person kind of thing,” Clark said.

The second goal – accommodating city growth while maintaining a small beachside town personality – focuses on: prioritizing affordable housing; completing the implementation of zoning to implement an adopted Housing Element; navigating through two major hotel development projects; implementing an Anti-Displacement Legislation Package to preserve and improve rental housing inventory housing inventory and neighborhood quality of life; a General Plan update; and a downtown design overlay.

Mayor Clark wanted to change the title to remove the word “personality.” He added that he wanted to include language under affordable housing that focused on low-income and very low-income households.

A senior consultant with Equity Praxis Group – a consulting firm that focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion and justice hired by the council – also spoke at public comment about the findings they believe would impact the 2024-25 Work Plan. Equity Praxis Group has worked with the city since June 2020 to help advance

racial equity in Carpinteria.

The firm found that while there is a strong sense of community belonging and pride, there are large concerns over housing affordability, limited access to healthcare and mental health support and mixed experiences with law enforcement. There is also the need for support across marginalized groups in the area, specifically among LGBTQ+ and homeless community members.

The third goal – addressing the fiscal sustainability of the city – proposes addressing subsidies of special districts, like lighting and landscape; modernizing the city’s structure fee schedule; revisiting the structure of the business license fee; and evaluating new revenue sources.

The fourth goal, which focuses on

strengthening community institution collaboration, outlines revisiting the Joint-Use Agreement with the local school district; revisiting relationships with non-profit organizations; pursing cross-program collaboration and new program implementation; and developing regional sediment manager plan and messaging.

“I think if city council members or department heads went into a school and met with students, you would hear a lot more information about what they think about Carpinteria and why they love living here and how they’d like things to change, rather than just having these formal meetings where it’s a lot of talk and very little action,” public commenter Amrita Salm said during the meeting.

The fifth goal – investing in a High-Performance Team at City Hall – proposes investing in staff learning; building a high-performance culture and increasing staff retention; introducing a customer service element into city staff collaboration; and adding software tools to increase staff capacity and productivity.

“It seems like this report has a lot of really beautiful language and flowery words but somehow the real detail just doesn’t seem to be there ... (It) doesn’t really tell us what we’re looking forward to in the next year,” public commenter Annie Sly said. “Sitting in the audience and listening to you, it seems like you’re not all that happy with the report in general.” Councilmember Roy Lee added that he would like to see more trainings under the fifth goal.

With additional modifications, the council unanimously voted to receive the presentation and approve the five potential priorities for the 2024-25 Work Plan.

In other city news…

Jobs updates

City staff provided the council and community members with staffing updates during the council’s Monday, Feb. 26 meeting.

As of Feb. 13, library technician Jena Jenkins is the city of Carpinteria’s new recreation and community services coordinator, according to city staff.

The first round of interviews for the position of assistant city manager will begin on Thursday, staff said. The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services director position is still open with a closing date of March 1; the position has received 58 applications thus far.

Applications for aquatics superintendent are currently being screened, with interviews expected to be held in mid-March.

Proclamations: Women’s History Month, Arbor Day

The Carpinteria City Council recognized Women’s History Month and proclaimed March 7 as Arbor Day in the city of Carpinteria during Monday night’s council meeting.

The first proclamation recognized the Carpinteria Woman’s Club for hosting programming that will “honor the women who fought to win suffrage rights for women and the bravery of Black women who fought for decades after to exercise their right to vote,” the resolution stated.

The proclamation moved on to recognize women of all races and ethnicities for their significant contributions to history at large and locally, leading multiple progressive social movements that have spurred more expansive and equal opportunities and rights for marginalized communities in the U.S.

“Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist, emancipation, labor, civil rights and other movements, including the #Me Too and Equal Rights Amendment efforts,” Councilmember Mónica Solórzano read aloud from the proclamation.

Carpinteria’s Women Making Change came up to receive the proclamation and take photos with the council.

The second proclamation recognized the origins of Arbor Day in 1872 Nebraska. “A special day (had been) set aside for the planting of trees and to recognize the importance of trees in our daily lives,” the proclamation stated.

“The city of Carpinteria recognizes the importance of trees in our daily lives as a source of beauty and comfort in the community by improving neighborhood appearance, creating a better living environment, affecting the weather by providing shade, heat reflection and wind protection, and improving air quality and contributing to energy conservation,” Mayor Al Clark read aloud from the proclamation.

Public Works Supervisor Robert Howard received the proclamation; he told the council that the city will plant 12 new native trees in celebration of Arbor Day.

COURTESY PHOTO

Councilmember Mónica Solórzano speaks during the Carpinteria City Council’s Monday, Feb. 26 meeting, giving feedback on the goals listed in the city of Carpinteria’s 2024-25 Work Plan.

Council honors Volunteer of the Year nominees

BY ATMIKA IYER

During its Monday, Feb. 26 meeting, Carpinteria City Council recognized its 2023 Volunteer of the Year nominees: Jack Niederpreum, Robin Kait and Ray Kolbe.

Niederpreum was ultimately chosen as the Volunteer of the Year, following council discussion; he will later also be recognized during the Carpinteria Community Association Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 6.

Niederpreum was honored for being “a stellar” library volunteer, volunteering with the Homeless Outreach Lunch weekly and driving for HELP of Carpinteria, contributing at least 12 hours of volunteering a week.

Kait was recognized for her work planting “gardens for large families to alleviate their food cost, contribut(ing) as a girl scout leader, and actively tend(ing) to the community garden.” City Program Manager Olivia Uribe-Mutal added that Kait volunteers upwards of 10 hours a week in the community.

Kolbe – who was unable to attend Monday’s meeting – was honored for his work beautifying the Santa Monica Trail. Kolbe, who leads a group that removes invasive grasses and introduces native plants to the area, volunteers around 50 hours per month.

During council discussion on who to choose, Councilmember Roy Lee asked if the council could choose all three nominees to be awarded, describing them all as “amazing Carpinterians.” City staff said it is traditional to choose one nominee to receive the award at the banquet.

After the first motion, Councilmember Mónica Solórzano said she’d like to recognize Niederpreum as the awardee this year, given the library’s transition to local control over the past few years. Lee

concurred, adding that he’s seen Niederpreum picking up trash around the community and contributing to Carpinteria in many ways.

Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon thanked all three nominees for their volunteer efforts and agreed to nominate Niederpreum as well.

say thank you,” Alarcon said. Councilmember Wade Nomura said he’s seen Niederpreum volunteering for efforts around the city that weren’t listed in the resolution.

“Jack’s been around for quite a while, from what I’ve seen, and done a lot of

good work,” Nomura said. Solórzano moved to nominate Niederpreum and directed staff to bring back a resolution to adopt the Volunteer of the Year, and Nomura offered the second. The motion passed unanimously.

“What you all really did was you saw a gap and you fulfilled it yourselves… you took the initiative, and for that I’d like to

CITY OF CARPINTERIA

Robin Kait, center at left, and Jack Niederpreum, center at right, accept their awards from members of the Carpinteria City Council, including from left, Councilmember Roy Lee, Councilmember Mónica Solórzano, Mayor Al Clark, Councilmember Wade Nomura and Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon.

Affordable housing: digging the hole deeper

CVN

THE LAY OF THE LAND

MIKE WONDOLOWSKI

We all know there is a shortage of reasonably priced housing locally. The standard for affordability is that a household should not pay more than 30% of its income on housing expenses. Paying more than this is called being “cost-burdened.”

The average rent for a market-rate two-bedroom rental unit in Santa Barbara County is approximately $2,516 per month (2022 data), which requires a total household annual income of at least $100,640 ($48.38/hr) to afford it without being cost-burdened.

If you compare that income level to the income limits for a two-person household in the table from the Santa Barbara County 2023-2032 Housing Element Update, you can see that for a two-person household, this is an “above moderate” Affordability Level. This is typical for all housing types on the Santa Barbara County South Coast; market-rate housing is only affordable to households with incomes well above the median income for the area.

What can be done? There is no easy answer, but clearly any solution includes ensuring that any new development has the net effect of making things better, not worse.

So, if a proposed development includes some affordable rental housing units (that is, units that are subsidized so they are rented for below-market-rate prices), it is obviously a good thing, right? Any one project clearly cannot fix the whole problem, but when it comes to building new affordable housing, isn’t a little better than none?

Let’s analyze this “obvious” assertion. An excellent example is the “Carpinteria Farm Preserve & Bungalows” project that was recently discussed at the city of Carpinteria’s Architectural Review Board. This project proposes to build 41 units of affordable housing (at the “Low Income” affordability level), including one unit for the manager, so 40 units would be available to others.

The project also includes a resort hotel and associated amenities, with an estimated 133 on-site jobs. The vast majority of these jobs would be low-wage service jobs (housekeeping, facilities, maintenance, restaurant, landscaping, etc.). A reasonable guess is that at least 100 of the positions would be such jobs.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, California Minimum Wage is $16/hr ($33,280/yr). If we assume the project’s service employees were all paid 25% more than minimum wage, they will earn $20/hr ($41,600/yr).

Now compare that income to the Housing Affordability Levels. If all these 100 people lived in two-income households, combining their incomes (so $83,200/yr per household), they would still only be able to afford housing identified as affordable to low-income residents. That would result in demand for 50 new low-income housing units.

But since the project is proposing to build only 40 new low-income housing units, that means the project would not even cover the affordable housing need

For any proposed project, before we get excited that it includes some number of affordable housing units (assuming that “any is better than none”), we need to consider what types of jobs it creates and what housing is affordable to people with those jobs.

it creates. In fact, it would create even heavier demand for existing affordable units. The overall effect would be a net loss of 10 low-income housing units in Carpinteria!

When someone touts a project because it includes “critically-needed affordable housing,” that statement must be taken in its full context. In addition to the affordable housing, is there something in the project that will increase demand for affordable housing, such as a business that has mostly low-wage employees? It is noteworthy that the Carpinteria Valley Economic Profile consistently lists the employment sector “Hotel and Food Services” as having the lowest average wage of the 18 sectors identified in the Carpinteria Valley, and it is dead last in the ranking by a significant margin. Creating new jobs in this sector means more local workers cannot afford market-rate housing, digging the affordable housing hole even deeper for everyone.

For any proposed project, before we get excited that it includes some number of affordable housing units (assuming that “any is better than none”) we need to consider what types of jobs it creates and what housing is affordable to people with those jobs.

As the adage says: If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Read more columns by Mike Wondolowski at

Mike Wondolowski is president of the Carpinteria Valley Association (www.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.

What’s new at the harbor seal rookery?

This report covers Feb. 19 – 25, 2024

High Adult Count 84

High Pup Count

CVN’s Seal Watch weekly report, written by Seal Watch volunteers, covers activities at the Harbor Seal Rookery. The group can be reached at carpsealwatch@ gmail.com or at (805) 364-3194. The rookery is located immediately east of Casitas Pier, between Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve and Carpinteria State Beach.

NATURAL HISTORY NOTES

Visitors often ask about the differences between harbor seals and sea lions. Some are obvious: harbor seals are always spotted, and sea lions are uniformly brown. Sea lions have external ears. Sea lions can rotate their rear flippers underneath and “walk” on all fours – even while climbing cliffs.

Harbor seals only vocalize as pups, while sea lions bark. Less obvious is that harbor seals tend to separate themselves, disliking close proximity, whereas sea lions seem to lie all over each other, and in the ocean sometimes rest as rafts by linking flippers.

VISITORS

The count was 1,390. Volunteers talked to people from Romania, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico, China, Canada, Hungary, France, Denmark, Argentina, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Colorado, South Dakota, Washington, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Arizona, Minnesota, Utah, North Carolina, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Illinois, Texas and Ohio. A docent enjoyed meeting two young girls from Goleta who carefully recorded wildlife on their walk, and particularly enjoyed using the volunteer’s binoculars to observe the seal moms and pups.

DISTURBANCES

The cause of the sole recorded disturbance was uncertain – possibly a helicopter.

Carpinteria Seal Watchers do some monitoring of our local seals year-round; we would like to increase visitor services and data collection year-round, but more volunteers are always needed. Contact Seal Watch at carpsealwatch@gmail.com or at (805) 364-3194 if you’d like to help!

SOURCE: STATE HCD 2022A

This table from the Santa Barbara County 2023-2032 Housing Element Update shows the income limits for the four defined “Housing Affordability Levels.”

Film on abandoned Summerland oil wells tackles historical, ongoing impacts of offshore oil

BY JUN STARKEY

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) recently screened a 22-minute film examining the history of oil wells off the coast of Summerland, titled “Greetings from Summerland, Birthplace of Offshore Oil.” Harry Rabin is credited as producer and flimmaker; Phil Fairclough as executive producer and writer; Dr. Mireya Mayor as researcher and speaker; Joey Szalkiewicz as associate producer; and Kylie Van De Wyngaerde as associate producer.

Rabin, who is also the program director for Heal the Ocean in Santa Barbara, is a member of On the Wave Productions, along with Szalkiewicz. Rabin told CVN that he and Szalkiewicz co-wrote, directed and produced the film, which is about a “local problem that has global consequences.”

The film reviews the history of the Summerland wells and looks at ongoing impacts through the eyes of those closest to the wells, including Summerland artist Kerri Hedden and scientist and researcher Ira Leifer, who was a project leader with the Summerland Oil Mitigation Study.

Rabin said much of the historical footage and information came from Bob Ratcliffe, who was hired by California State Lands in the 1960s to abandon the wells, for a price of $500 each. Ratcliffe was tasked with filling the abandoned wellheads with cement, to prevent them from leaking methane and other pollutants into the air. Ratcliffe captured the footage

Many of the Summerland wells’ heads were taken off using dynamite, as seen in the film’s trailer.

in 1968 on his 8mm camera, which was digitized by Rabin and Szalkiewicz.

The purpose of the short film, Rabin said, is to draw attention to the high number of abandoned wells off the coast of California, and around the world. Abandoned wells are one of the highest contributors of methane pollution, Rabin said. Currently,

there are over 130 abandoned wells in the California coast. Worldwide, there are more than 10 million.

“This movie kinda wakes you up to the issues of methane,” Rabin said. “It gives scientific and a local perspective on what feels like a local issue, but is really a global issue.”

A trailer for “Greetings from Summerland, Birthplace of Offshore Oil,” can be viewed at onthewaveproductions.com/ environmental-reels.

The short film “Greetings from Summerland, Birthplace of Offshore Oil” – co-written, directed and produced by Harry Rabin and Joey Szalkiewicz – recently premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Happy 101st Birthday Phyllis Hansen

CARPINTERIA

A shot from the trailer shows Summerland in the 1900s; in the space of four years, there were over 400 wells put in the Summerland area, according to the film.

Phyllis celebrated her upcoming 101st birthday with family and friends in her backyard, Sunday, February 25th. Her 4 children, their spouses and grandchildren visited for the event. There were five generations present the youngest being a year and a half.

Santa Via believes her stolen by Polo deputies.

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the girl that keeps beating everyone at foosball

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

A reader sends a halo and kudos to the Cate School students who performed at The Alcazar Theatre last weekend. “It was fantastic with young talented, poised and inspired young people!”

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

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

A reader sends a halo to Sara Fakinos, a senior at Carpinteria High School. “As part of a church project she provided 25 new sleeping bags, plus 10 new coats and new tents plus socks and T-shirts for our Wednesday homeless gathering. This young lady is an all-star.”

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

A reader sends a halo to Girls Scout Troop 55555 for returning the key, and for the cookies.

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

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

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

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

A reader sends a halo to Chef Mollie at Mollie’s Deli. “You have got to be one of the sweetest and kindest people in town, also one of the greatest chefs ever. The prosciutto sandwich is by far the most delicious sandwich I’ve ever tried.”

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

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

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

A reader sends a halo to Carpinteria rangers and members of the Sheriff’s Department for coordinating the clean-up of the illegal campsites east of the campground along the bluff. “Last summer there was evidence of campfires, which pose a real threat to the homes just north of this area. Please keep up your patrols – it’s very appreciated. The safety of those using the trails and this pristine and protected area is worth diligently maintaining by everyone.”

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

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

A reader sends a halo to Nick Bobroff at the city of Carpinteria. “Nick transitioned into a director position under challenging circumstances and has led his department with resolve, dedication and skill.”

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

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

A reader sends a halo and a thank you to the wonderful angel who found the reader’s car keys on Padaro Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, and placed them on a stick in full view at the coastal access entrance. “I’m so grateful.”

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

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

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

A reader sends a halo to the anonymous person who paid for the reader’s breakfast at Jack’s on Sunday. “What a kind and generous gesture. We’ll be sure to pay it forward.”

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

A reader sends a halo to Bill and Joan Harz, who appeared on the front page of CVN on Feb. 22. “They are long-time residents of Carpinteria and love and support our beautiful community.”

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

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

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

A reader sends a halo to CSFD’s paramedics and EMTs who responded to a medical call on Feb. 25. “Thank you for your care and kindness. What is simply ‘getting up and going to work’ for you is heroism and lifesaving for the rest of us. Thank you for dedicating your lives to selflessness and service.”

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

A reader sends a halo to Nurse Lark at Sansum. “She is an actual life saver.”

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

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

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

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

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

Friday, May 22

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

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

Saturday, May 23

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

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

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

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

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

A man was contacted after reporting

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the lifted monster truck that nearly crushes small cars while leaving the Carpinteria High School staff parking lot.

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

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to a public official who told the reader that the stretch of Via Real between Santa Monica and Cravens Lane was to be fixed by the end of 2023. “Here we are almost into the third month of 2024 and absolutely nothing has been done. It’s ridiculous! my taxes keep going up but it’s obviously not going to the city roads that us locals drive on daily to commute to work!”

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

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to those Carpinteria residents who “identify themselves as ‘locals’ but are not indigenous, not kind and adopt this moniker to isolate, harass, muzzle and shut down healthy discussions in the community… It’s time to explore outside your preferred echo chambers and seek out facts instead of creating fiction.”

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to all the annoying noise in Carpinteria “that really bothers me: birds chirping, the ocean’s waves crashing, cats purring, children laughing, people walking and talking, and trains whizzing through town. I wish more Carp restaurants and breweries would play more music to drown out all the awful sounds that I can’t stand.”

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the grocery store that allows “very obviously sick employees, sniffling and coughing to work without gloves.”

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

A reader sends a pitchfork to the lifeguards braiding hair while swimmers are in the

of the newer businesses on the Carpinteria Bluffs. “Learn to share the bike/walking path with locals… There will be four to five of you walking together and not a single one will scoot over just a tad to let

. “All the mushrooms growing there for parking his vehicle in the spots right out front of his establishment. “Shouldn’t he leave those parking spots available for letting the bluffs turn into an ever-increasing dirt parking lot. “That is not what the bluffs were purchased for.

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

CVN

Read Across America returns Friday

SUPERINTENDENT’S DESK

DIANA RIGBY

CUSD SUPERINTENDENT

Editor’s Note: A copy of the Superintendent’s Report is run in print as a service for parents, students and community members who cannot attend Carpinteria Unified School District’s Board of Trustees meetings. This report was read aloud during the school board’s Feb. 27 meeting.

Read Across America is an annual event celebrated on or near March 2, which is the birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. It is a nationwide reading celebration that was created by the National Education Association (NEA) in 1997 to promote literacy and encourage a love of reading among children.

Guest readers will join our elementary classrooms for read-alouds on Friday. We are grateful for our library media technicians, Alesia Aceves, Aliso/Summerland; Julie Soto, Canalino/CFS; Pat Guarnero, Carpinteria Middle School (CMS); and Darcy Campbell at Carpinteria High School (CHS) for supporting our students as readers.

Appreciation

I would like to recognize all the CHS student-athletes, coaches and Athletic Director Pat Cooney for a great winter season of water polo, basketball and soccer. All teams competed in several rounds of championship play with hard-fought contests, high-quality sportsmanship and true Warrior spirit and grit!

School Safety Plans

CUSD is committed to being as prepared as possible for school emergencies and to maintaining safe and orderly learning environments. Every year, school safety plans are reviewed, updated and adopted by the school site council or designated safety committee and approved by the school district.

California Education Code Section 32281 outlines the requirements, which include an assessment of the current status of school crime, child abuse reporting procedures, disaster procedures, crisis response plan, suspension/ expulsion policies and procedures, procedures for notifying teachers of dangerous students, school discipline and dress code, safe ingress and egress, discrimination/harassment policies, protocols for secondary schools in response to and tactical responses to

criminal incidents.

CUSD school safety plans are posted on the district website at cusd.net.

Parent/student orientation hosted for eighth graders

CHS hosted parents and students from the class of 2028 for parent/student orientation on Thursday, Feb. 22. CUSD Food Services offered a delicious tri-tip sandwich dinner and staff provided an overview of CHS academic, athletic and art programs while ASB student leaders offered campus tours.

UCSB Destination College MESA Day 2024

CMS and CHS MESA students will attend UC Santa Barbara College MESA Day on Saturday, March 2. Our students will participate in college tours, college prep workshops, and STEM events.

Measure U

The RFQ/P for work related to the Canalino Learning Center (Library) was due on Jan. 31 and we received one responsive bidder. After the review committee rated this response, McGillivray Construction Inc. was selected for Board approval at tonight’s Board meeting.

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

Eighth graders visit Carbajal, D.C. over President’s Day weekend

Carpinteria Middle School eighth graders visited Washington D.C. over President’s Day weekend. Teacher Christina Peña Eckert told CVN that students toured the Capital Building and met with Congressman Salud Carbajal for a Q&A session.

CVN FILE PHOTO

Chris Gocong, a former NFL star and Carpinteria Unified School District graduate, reads to students for Read Across America 2023 in March 2023.

Dig in with Claytor Investigations

CVN

BOSSES BY BOSTROM

INGRID BOSTROM

When a Google search, letter to Coastal View News’ Sea Witch or a pitchfork in CVN isn’t enough to solve a predicament, residents could turn to Carpinteria’s own private investigator, Michael Claytor. Claytor clued CVN in on his life as a private investigator in the following interview.

CVN: What drew you to private investigating?

Michael Claytor: I grew up always wanting to be a detective. My neighborhood friends and I always played “cops and robbers,” and I refused to ever be the robber. I watched every TV series and movie that I could on criminal investigations.

After college, I pursued that dream of being a detective and achieved it at the Santa Barbara Police Department. I retired young from that career due to a battle with cancer, and after winning that battle, I found myself missing the excitement of a challenging investigation, so I took the state exam and became a licensed private investigator.

Please describe the range of your services. I have partnered up with Ullemeyer Forensics, which makes us a “one-stop shop” for every investigative service anyone could possibly need. We are frequently called upon to conduct searches

for hidden cameras and audio or GPS devices, but we also provide threat assessments; criminal, civil and family law investigations; surveillance; background and asset searches; cellphone and computer forensic examinations; digital image enhancement; fingerprint analysis; as well as scene evaluation and reconstruction.

What is most gratifying about the work that you do?

Solving a mystery Finding that previously unknown fact or piece of evidence which makes the investigation a success for my client. I take great pride in being the problem solver for my clients.

Does your work stir up cynical views

Read more columns by Ingrid Bostrom at

of humanity? If so, do you have any practices or aspects of your personal life that help you counterbalance cynicism?

Yes, it can. Much in the same way my previous career as a detective did. It is extremely important to maintain strong relationships with family and friends so that you can lean on them for advice and support. Lucky for me, my wife is both smarter and stronger than I am, so I stay pretty balanced. Living on a large orchard in the foothills of Carpinteria is a pretty special counterbalance as well.

How can potential clients contact you?

I would like to invite potential clients to visit my website, claytorinvestigations. com, to learn about my training and experience, as well as the investigative services I offer. They can contact me through the website or email me directly at claytor. investigations@gmail.com.

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.

Michael Claytor

New high school surf team is making waves

BY JUN STARKEY | PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

On any given Monday morning – from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. – a group of high school students from Carpinteria can be spotted on the beach or in the ocean, surfing early morning waves before heading back to school for their 8:30 a.m. classes.

These early risers are members of the new Carpinteria Surf Team. The team – which is not directly affiliated with Carpinteria High School (CHS) – is made up of about 13 CHS students; it was created by parents Bryn Fox, Sara Scott and Leigh-Anne and Ben Anderson. The parents told CVN they wanted to give their children an opportunity, in a competitive setting, to explore their favorite pastime.

“We wanted to create an environment where surfing can be their number one sport,” Fox told CVN. Carpinteria Surf Team also provides a team setting for the sport, which is often seen as a solitary activity. Fox said this was intentional, to allow the students to have the same camaraderie as any sporting team would.

“They can build a community around (surfing), they can always have buddies to surf with,” she said.

The Carpinteria Surf Team was created through a collaboration with Surf Happens – a surf instruction organization on Santa Claus Lane – and the Scholastic Surf Series. The team’s coach, Chris Keet, is the founder of Surf Happens.

Fox and other founding members of the Carpinteria Surf Team wanted the team to be open to the community, though currently the team is only open to CHS students, with a cap of 15 team members. The group also wanted to introduce a system to keep surfing from being cost-prohibitive; Fox said the group is currently working on collecting donated surfboards and wetsuits which can be loaned to students.

The Carpinteria Surf Team has been meeting since Jan. 9 of this year – typically on Monday mornings, aside from days following heavy rain – at Rincon Beach. The team gets dressed on the grass

above the beach, heads down to the beach and starts catching waves while coach Keet observes from the sand.

Luke Anderson, a member of the Carpinteria Surf Team, told CVN that most practices consist of surfing a few waves, taking notes from Keet and running drills.

“We just go out and surf and every couple of waves we’ll come in, and (Keet) will tell us what we can work on or what we can improve on,” Luke said.

Next year, the Carpinteria Surf Team will begin competing in the Scholastic Surf Series, a once-a-month competition that takes place across five months, where students are scored on their ability to catch waves and surfing style.

Luke and Izzy Scott, both team members and children of founding members, have been surfing for several years, but some team members have only recently ventured into the water. Fox said the team is catered to any student willing to commit to the team, not just students who have experience in the sport. “(The team) is not just for the elite kids,” Fix said.

The ritual of rising early to surf with a group of their peers has created a bond between the team, Fox said. Izzy and Luke said they’ve enjoyed surfing with so many of their peers, and learning which of their peers enjoy surfing. Like many Carpinteria students, Izzy and Luke participate in different sports and activities throughout the year. Now that surfing has become a team activity, they’ve been able to create new relationships with students their age.

In April, the team plans to host a fundraising outdoor movie night at the Carpinteria Skate Park. Snacks and a raffle will be included, to raise money for equipment, pay coaches and keep costs low for team members.

Those interested in learning more about the Carpinteria Surf Team can contact carpsurfteam@gmail.com.

From left, members of the Carp Surf Team Charlotte Cooney, Izzy Scott, Owen Reeves, Jackson Melton and Luke Anderson meet up at Rincon Beach.

The Carp Surf Team warms up by running down the beach.

Cora Nimmons races to the top of the

Pete Mussio and Ben Anderson show the Carp Surf Team.

The Carp Surf Team converges on the

Lucas Martin

stairs at Rincon after her Members of the Carp Surf Team meet at Rincon Beach on Monday mornings for practice.

Jackson Melton

the shore of Rincon Beach before heading into the water.

From left, Lucas Martin and Alex De Leon Garcia.

ARTCETRA

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY AND EVELYN SPENCE | COURTESY PHOTOS

Rolling Stones vs. Beatles party at Alcazar Theatre

The Alcazar Theatre will host a Rolling Stones vs. Beatles party, featuring the local The Beatles tribute band Sgt. Pepper, on Friday, March 1, 7–9:30 p.m.; guests are encouraged to come in ‘60s attire.

Sgt. Pepper will kick the event off with a Beatles tribute, then will pick up again with The Rolling Stones set after a short intermission. “(The band has) drawn over 2,500 at the Santa Barbara Concerts in the Park in the past,” the Alcazar Theatre wrote on its website. “So put on your best ‘60s attire and come dance the night away.”

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 the day of the show, and $50 for VIP. The theater is located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave.; see more online at thealcazar.org.

“One World” exhibit opens next week

The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center’s new exhibit and juried show, “One World,” opens March 7; the deadline to enter is Thursday, Feb. 29 at 11:59 p.m.

The exhibit will be juried by Dug Uyesaka and Julian Harake, according to the arts center’s website. See more online at carpinteriaartscenter.org/ingathering. The arts center is located at 865 Linden Ave.

“Art” by Julian Harake; Harake will juror the upcoming show at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, “One World.”

Full slate of events at the Alcazar for March

The Alcazar Theatre has a full slate of events on deck for March, starting with the Sgt. Pepper Rolling Stones vs. Beatles Party on Friday, March 1 , 7–9:30 p.m. The theater, located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave., will also host a South Coast Stand Up night – with Joe Dalo, Mike Dawson, Taylor Morgan and Franchie San Pedro – on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m.; tickets for the Stand Up night are $20.

The theater will show “Paddington” – the story of a young bear who, after losing his home in an earthquake in Peru, finds his way to England – on Friday, March 8, 7–9 p.m. This showing is sponsored by Carpinteria’s The Howard School, a private school that serves preschool through eighth grade students; tickets for the movie are $5 for kids, and $10 for adults.

Observing Women’s History Month – which starts March 1 – the theater will show “RBG” (2018) on Friday, March 15, 7– 9 p.m. The “RBG” documentary explores the life of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg; Joyce E. Dudley, the former deputy district attorney with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, will give an introductory talk at the event. Tickets are $15.

The Alcazar Theatre will show “Paddington” – the story of a young bear who travels from Peru to London – on Friday, March 8.

The Alcazar Ensemble will also reenact the Supreme Court Oral Arguments of RBG in a following event on Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 17 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission, and $15 for children/students.

Chris Rainier, a National Geographic Explorer and documentary photographer who was awarded the Lowell Thomas Award by the Explorers Club for his cultural preservation efforts, will speak at the Alcazar on Monday, March 25, 7–9 p.m., about his work. Rainier has served as the co-founder and co-director of the Enduring Voices Project and Director of the All Roads Photography Program, which supports indigenous groups with modern technology to document their cultures, according to the theater’s website.

Rainier has previously given lectures to organizations worldwide, including Stanford University, The United Nations, National Geographic, Harvard University, The Explorers Club, and more. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $65 for a ticket plus a signed copy of Rainer’s book.

To finish off the month, the theater will show “Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig and released in July 2023 , on Friday, March 29, 7–9 p.m. The colorful film follows Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) as they leave Barbie Land and tumble into the real world. Tickets are $12.

The theater’s improv classes also continue on Tuesday nights, 7–9 p.m.; the drop-in, weekly classes are led by improviser Kymberlee Weil. Classes cost $10 at the door.

See the full lineup and any updates online at thealcazar.org.

CVN FILE PHOTO

Sgt. Pepper and friends play at The Palms in 2016.

“Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig, will be shown at The Alcazar Theatre on Friday, March 29.

Thursday, Feb. 29

Senior Center Activities: Senior Lecture Series Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 9:30–10:45 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

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

Bilingual Postpartum Support Group El Carro Park, 5300 El Carro Lane. 1 p.m. rmaldonado@carpchildren.org, (805) 566-1613

Senior Center Activities: Book Club Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 2–3:30 p.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

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

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

Meeting: Architectural Review Board Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. 5:30 p.m. bit.ly/ CarpinteriaCityMeetings

Live Talk: Transforming Adversities Into Possibilities The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 7–9 p.m. Speakers: Sam Morris, Sean Entin, Laquita Dian, Ron Seigel, Alexandra Seigel. Tickets: $20. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Friday, March 1

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

Meeting: Seniors Inc. Carpinteria Community Church, 1111 Vallecito Road. 1:30 p.m. Speakers: Michael Ramirez, Roy Lee and Das Williams

Live Music: Beatles Tribute Band Sgt. Pepper The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 7–9:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 day of show, $50 VIP. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Saturday, March 2

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

Tomato-Palooza Carpinteria Community Garden, 4855 Fifth St. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Discuss: tomato gardening, planting, feeding, production. Free. RSVP carpgarden@carpinteriaca.gov

Live Music: Jayden Secor Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 5–8 p.m.

South Coast Stand Up The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave. 7–9:30 p.m. Ticket: $20. thealcazar.org, (805) 684-6380

Sunday, March 3

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

Monday, March 4

Preschool Story Time Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10–10:30 a.m. For preschool-aged children. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Senior Center Activities: Music Mondays Sing Along Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 10:30 a.m.–noon. agewell@carpinteriaca. gov, (805) 881-1279

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

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

Meeting: Carpinteria Planning

Commission Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. 5:30 p.m. bit.ly/ CarpinteriaCityMeetings

Tuesday, March 5

Primary Election Day countyofsb. org/1161/Primary-Election

Senior Center Activities: Arts and Crafts Carpinteria Arts Center, 865 Linden Ave. 9–11 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Carpinteria Writers Group Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10 a.m.–noon. (202) 9970429

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

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

Tai Chi Practice Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 2–3 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Bridge Club Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–4 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

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

Wednesday, March 6

Senior Center Activities: Walking Group Meet at Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 9 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Baby Meet Up Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 9–9:45 a.m. Children under two. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314

Knitting Group Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 1–3 p.m. Free. (805) 886-4382

Senior Center Activities: Mindfulness Meditation Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 2:30–3:30 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Senior Center Activities: Line Dancing Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 3:30–4:30 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279

Read to a Therapy Dog Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Signups recom-

mended. (805) 684-4314

ONGOING

Senior Nutrition Program Carpinteria Veterans Hall, 951 Walnut Ave. Monday–Friday, 12:15 p.m. Free for seniors ages 60+. (805) 925-9554, meals@centralcoastseniors.org

Going on the road?

ON THE ROAD

CVN spends the night at naval aircraft museum

More than 80 cub scouts from Carpinteria Cub Scout Pack 50 explored and spent the night at the USS Midway Museum, a naval aircraft carrier museum in San Diego, bringing along a copy of CVN to snap a group photo in front of the aircraft on display. Scouts, as well as more than 30 parents and guardians, explored the ship decks, the aircraft on display and the exhibits. “It was a valuable and fun learning experience that would not have been possible without the kindness and generosity of those who purchased trees from the pack,” Matt Oliver told CVN.

Honoring winter’s essence

Spring: a season of renewal

ON THE ROAD

CVN

HERBS FOR HEALTHY LIVING

PATRICIA TENYER

clarity and make choices that align with your goals.

Here is a list of some herbs and foods to incorporate into your spring wellness routine.

Each season has its own set of elements, organs, emotions, so should our health

As we step into the tranquil embrace of winter, a season marked by cooler weather and longer nights, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides us with guidance on how to align ourselves with the rhythms of nature. Each season has its own set of elements, organs, emotions, herbs and dietary principles, and as the seasons change, so should our health routines.

As nature awakens from its winter slumber and vibrant blooms begin to paint the landscape, we welcome the season of spring, alongside the beginning of the new year of the wood dragon. In Chinese medicine, the season of spring coincides with the lunar new year and is seen as a time for rejuvenation and renewal.

Spring breathes life back into the world after the stillness of winter and the new year of the dragon brings a surge of vitality and enthusiasm, inspiring us to pursue our passions and dreams with renewed vigor. It’s a time for bold actions, creative endeavors and embracing change with confidence and optimism.

Winter is linked to the Water element, which in turn governs the kidney and bladder meridians in Chinese Medicine. Let’s explore some dietary recommendations, herbal remedies, exercise tips and emotional guidance to help you stay in harmony with the season of winter.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring is associated with the wood element, symbolizing growth, expansion and transformation. During this season, the liver and gallbladder take center stage, making it an ideal time to focus on detoxification and rejuvenation. The liver is often referred to as the “general” of the body in TCM. Its primary function is to regulate the flow of Qi (vital energy) and blood, ensuring smooth circulation throughout the body.

Winter’s arrival signals a shift to the Water element and yin energy, a time for introspection, rest and rejuvenation. It is a season of stillness, where nature’s energy retreats deep within the earth, awaiting the rebirth of spring. Winter is the embodiment of yin, the dark, cool and passive principle. It is the counterpart to the active and vibrant yang energy that dominates the other seasons.

The kidneys are considered the “root of life” in TCM, and they play a pivotal role in storing our essence (jing), which includes our genetic heritage and constitutional strength. During winter, it’s essential to nourish the kidneys to preserve and replenish this vital essence. By nurturing our kidney qi during winter, we ensure a strong foundation for the rest of the year. The bladder in TCM is responsible for maintaining fluid balance

In spring, the liver’s detoxification abilities are particularly active, making it an ideal time to support this function. The gallbladder, closely connected to the liver, plays an important role in decision-making and digestion. Spring is a time to find

cial, so be sure to drink warm herbal teas and room temperature water to support your kidney and bladder. Teas room-temperature such as chrysanthemum, ginseng and licorice root will support your body’s yin energy.

Herbs for winter wellness

Dan delion Root (Pu Gong Ying).

Burdock Root (Niu Bang Zi). Burdock root is another liver-supportive herb that helps cleanse the blood, supports the lymphatic system and can help skin problems. Its diuretic properties aid in eliminating toxins from the body, while its mucilaginous fiber content supports digestive health. Incorporate burdock root into soups, stir-fries or use as a tincture or herbal tea.

Milk Thistle Seed. Renowned for its liver protective properties, milk thistle seed contains a compound called silymarin, which helps to regenerate liver cells, promote detoxification and support overall liver and gallbladder health. Incorporate milk thistle seed as a supplement or enjoy it as a tincture or tea to reap its benefits.

Now, let’s take a look at some springtime foods.

enjoy it first thing in the morning for a refreshing and revitalizing start to your day.

Young sprouts. The sprouts of seeds, grains and vegetables contain the yang energy of the plant and have higher levels of nutrients. Incorporating them into your diet can boost the immune system while the enzymes in sprouts may ease digestion, help with blood sugar levels and improve heart health.

Before starting any new herbal supplements, it is always best to consult an herbalist or your healthcare provider to ensure that there are no contraindications with any health conditions or medications.

Known for its detoxifying properties, dandelion root is a powerhouse herb for supporting liver health and promoting digestion. Rich in antioxidants and bitter compounds, dandelion root can help stimulate bile production, aid in liver detoxification and support overall vitality.

Ginger (Sheng Jiang) and cinnamon (rou gui): known for their warming properties, ginger and cinnamon can help dispel cold and improve circulation.

Ginseng, known as the “king of herbs” in Chinese medicine, helps increase energy levels and improve overall vitality.

Astragalus (huang qi) boosts the immune system and enhances vitality, making it particularly valuable in warding off winter illnesses. One of my favorite formulas for boosting immunity is Jade Windscreen (yu ping feng san).

Emotions and mental wellbeing

There are many herbal coffee substitutes that use roasted dandelion root and chicory to create a rich coffee flavor. The one I really like is Teeccino. They offer many flavors and even herbal blends with rhodiola, and medicinal mushrooms added. The best part is they are a local Santa Barbara business. You can find it at Pacific Health Foods in Carpinteria and some grocery stores, or online.

Stinging Nettle (Xun Ma). Nettle is a nutrient-dense herb that is abundant in spring. Its high vitamin and mineral content, including iron, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins as well as vitamins A, C, D, and K, make it an excellent tonic for nourishing the body and supporting healthy blood circulation. Nettle also has anti-inflammatory properties, making it beneficial for seasonal allergies and joint pain.

Winter can sometimes bring a sense of isolation and melancholy. It’s essential to take care of your mental well-being.

Even if it’s cold outside, maintain social connections to prevent feelings of loneliness. Use the introspective nature of winter to set goals and intentions for the coming year. Practices like meditation, journaling and self-reflection can help us navigate the emotional landscape of winter. Reflect on the blessings in your life to maintain a positive outlook during the darker months. Adequate sleep is essential to recharge your energy and

CVN rides along to Catalina Island

As we enter the dynamic season of spring and the auspicious Year of the Dragon, excitement fills the air as we anticipate the transformative energies and opportunities that lie ahead. By understanding the roles of the liver and gallbladder, incorporating herbs and foods that support detoxification, we can align ourselves with the season’s spirit of renewal and growth. As blossoms adorn the trees and the world bursts forth in color, we too can embrace the opportunities for personal growth and transformation that spring can bring.

Volunteers with the Santa Cruz Island Foundation brought a copy of CVN along for their expedition to Two Harbors at Catalina Island, where they retrieved 200 native, rare and endemic island plants. Volunteers – including, from left, Andrea Mills, Hailey Popham, Brooke Rodgers, Brittney Hamm, John Sargent, Dave Mills, Tim Minniear, Alex Brodie and Kris Brodie – retrieved the plants, donated by the Catalina Conservancy, to be planted in a garden at the Chrisman California Islands Center in Carpinteria.

Artichokes. Rich in antioxidants and fiber, artichokes support liver and gallbladder health by promoting bile production and aiding in the digestion of fats. Artichokes contain cynarin, an acid that increases bile production in the liver and consequently lowers cholesterol levels in the body. It can also help with bloating and digestive issues.

Lemon water. Starting your day with a slice of lemon in warm lemon can help stimulate bile production, aid in digestion and support liver detoxification. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into warm water and

Wishing you a vibrant and nourishing spring season, and an abundant year of the dragon.

Dr. Patricia Tenyer is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and owner of Hara Healing Center in Carpinteria, where she offers acupuncture, herbal formulations and bodywork. She has been a massage therapist for 20 years and an acupuncturist since 2013. Her practice focuses on chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, allergies, menopause and reproductive issues, digestive disorders, and much more. Her goal is to help people live long and healthy lives pain free; she also creates her own line of herbal products and teaches classes on herbal product formulations through her company Modern Alchemy Apothecary. For scheduling appointments and herbal consultations, please call (805) 770-0909 or patricia@harahealingcenter.com. To see available services and classes, please visit harahealingcenter.com.

CVN enjoys good eats in New Orleans

Carpinterian Marianne Rauch and her friends Linda Nixon, left, and Dave Postada, center, recently returned from a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana. The group brought along their copy of CVN, and snapped a

Coastal

KARLSSON

FLY

FRAN DAVIS

Toward the end of 2023, Santa Barbara County Parks installed a plaque at the “new” and improved end of Lookout Park. Small and bronze, mounted at the base of a sandstone boulder, it reads: Fran Davis, Summerland Columnist, Parks Advocate.

I was, and am, deeply honored, and very grateful to Suzi Cawthon (Summerland’s representative on the Santa Barbara County Parks Commission), who conceived of the idea and pushed it through.

Through the years I strongly advocated for an expansion of Summerland’s tiny park on the bluff – primarily through the words I wrote in my Coastal View News column, “The Summerland Shore.”

The beautifully landscaped and recently opened section of the park was hard-won territory. Located at the park’s east end, overlooking an arroyo and eucalyptus grove, it boasts spectacular views of the ocean and coast. Now fully landscaped with native plants and boulders, walkways, a pretty creek-like swale and a grape arbor, the area also features barbecue grills, ramadas, a cement ping pong table and a bocce ball court – plus a gorgeous sandstone bench that looks like it grew there.

The struggle waged by the citizens of Summerland to redeem this precious piece of park for public use was long and fraught. For years the area was occupied by a park ranger living in a double-wide trailer and closed off by a chain link fence. After his retirement, a series of camp hosts took up residence behind the fence.

Looking back at my columns, I can see that agitation for change began in 2003. Why should park hosts continue to occupy a such big slice of the park –moreover, the nicest part with its shade trees and drop-dead views? There were many meetings with various constituents from county parks and the Summerland Citizen Association, along with phone calls, presentations and proposals.

A plaque in the park

Looking back at my columns, I can see that agitation for change began in 2003. Why should park hosts continue to occupy a such big slice of the park –moreover, the nicest part with its shade trees and drop-dead views?

The parks department floated several money-making proposals. A rental space for a café? Food truck or vendor cart?

Things came to a hot head in October 2010, when the South County Deputy Parks Director at the time proposed placing rental units in the coveted space (cabins like those at Jalama). Summerlanders, up in arms, gathered in the park for a meeting televised by KEYT. The idea died a quick death.

After that, the parks department went through some financial and organizational transitions (including being subsumed under the Community Services District), which meant that Summerland’s wishes and demands were attended to in a slow and sporadic way. And there was always the issue of money. The first truly promising move was the relocation of the camp host to the other, less desirable end of the park.

This was followed by several years of meetings and design proposals, some of them so ill-suited to the space we were left wringing our hands. But hopeful.

Every year we pressed the new person in charge to move things along so that the SCA could have their summer potluck gathering there.

In 2018, a beautiful design was completed, one that opened the area to peaceful strolls and picnics, and was inviting enough to serve as a reservation space for special events. Space for a food truck is included, and a future close-by restroom is in the plans.

With the landscape in, there was a virtual ribbon-cutting in 2020. Still, the area remained off limits. For a long time. While the plants got established. And the ground cover. Yellow tape blocking it off. But the tape finally came down in

late 2023.

Nudges and demands. I did a lot of nudging through the years, along with occasional fits of disgruntled outrage, and Suzi Cawthon did a lot of demanding to bring the project to fruition.

And we are grateful! Parks came through! The area is lovely, charming! Everything we asked for! Except for the promised picnic tables. It only took 20

years. When the tables arrive, my family will gather there to hold a celebration. Fran Davis has been writing for CVN for nearly 30 years. Now wielding her pen from Goleta, she shares her thoughts on the vagaries of life and the times we live in. An award-winning writer and freelance editor, she has published work in magazines, print and online journals, anthologies and travel books.

Amelia Carole Rose Putnam was born on Dec. 22, 2023, to Henry and Jade Putnam of Carpinteria, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. She arrived at 8 pounds, 13 ounces, and 20.5 inches long.

She joins siblings Kaleb, 21, Gavin, 19, Cheyenne, 13, and Abigail, 10. Her grandparents are Rodney and Marilyn Putnam of Carpinteria, and David Paxton and Carole Rosales, also of Carpinteria. Her great-grandparents are Haven and Marguerite Putnam, and Martin and Beatrice Roseales.

COURTESY PHOTO

The new plaque honoring Fran Davis sits at the end of Lookout Park.

Amelia Carole Rose Putnam

Thursday, March 14

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

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

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

Saturday, March 16

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

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

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

“The Quiet Man,” 8 p.m., Plaza Playhouse theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., $5 The Groovie Line, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811

Monday, March 18

Sudoku

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

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.

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

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

Sunday, Feb. 18

1012 hrs / Traffic / Santa Monica Road and Via Real

A traffic stop was initiated for tinted front windows. The driver was recognized due to prior arrests/contacts. A records check showed his driver’s license was revoked due to a prior conviction. He was cited and released.

1443 hrs / Incident / 1000 block

Casitas Pass Road

An unlicensed driver put the vehicle into drive instead of reverse and went over the curb, colliding with the wooden fence. A report was taken for property damage and the driver was cited.

Monday, Feb. 19

1215 hrs / Warrant / 4200 block Via Real

A records check on a vehicle’s registered owner was conducted and the owner was found to have an outstanding $100,000 felony warrant. He was arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail.

Tuesday, Feb. 20

0931 hrs / Narcotics / 6500 block Carpinteria Avenue

1229 hrs / Incident / Santa Ynez Avenue and Via Real

A man was seen by a driver exposing himself in public. The man was located nearby with open containers of alcohol, and was arrested.

hindsight

Plane shocking

A traffic stop was initiated due to an unreadable license plate. During the investigation, the driver, a Ventura resident, was found in possession of paraphernalia, meth, cocaine, Xanax and a false registration tab. They were cited at the scene.

1727 hrs / Incident / Via Real and Bailard Avenue

Deputies contacted two subjects on the corner of Via Real and Bailard Avenue. One of the subjects was the driver, and stated he had been at the stop sign on Via Real when he made a left turn on Bailard Avenue, and struck the victim with his vehicle. The victim had a scrape on his hand and a gash on his ankle. The victim was seen by medics but refused to be transported to the hospital, stating a friend would take him home.

Friday, Feb. 23

1304 hrs / Incident / 4800 block Foothill Road

Deputies responded to a local school for an active fight involving three juveniles. Upon arrival, the fight had ended and all three juveniles were separated. A report will be authored, and a complaint will be forwarded to juvenile probation.

Saturday, Feb. 24

1440 hrs / Narcotics / 6100 block Carpinteria Avenue

CArPiNteriA VAlley MuSeuM of HiStory

Little old Carpinteria boasted the South Coast’s most popular airfield during the early days of flight. Before the construction of Santa Barbara Airport on Goleta slough and pasture lands in the 1930s, Carpinteria’s air strip was the hot spot for landings and takeoffs. Local air shows, like the one pictured above circa 1929, drew residents from up and down the coast. Many notables landed here, including Howard Hughes and Col. Charles Lindbergh. the airstrip was located on the Coast Highway—now Carpinteria Avenue—in the area where Carpinteria City Hall stands today.

Wednesday, Feb. 21

1344 hrs / Narcotics / 3800 block

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.

Via Real

This is an ongoing civil issue between family members regarding one member staying on the property while he is on active supervision. The member under supervision was contacted and a probation search conducted. Approximately an ounce of meth was found hidden in the fuse box of the engine compartment. The subject was arrested.

He said, she said Bring on the funny!

1938 hrs / Incident / 1000 block Casitas Pass Road

Deputies responded to a report of a male possibly under the influence. The subject was found walking in a parking lot, displaying signs and symptoms of being under the influence of narcotics and alcohol. The subject provided a urine sample which tested positive for Fentanyl, methamphetamine and benzos. The subject was arrested and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail.

1710 hrs / Incident / 1100 block Casitas Pass Road

Deputies responded to a vehicle being vandalized, possibly due to a neighbor dispute.

Thursday, Feb. 22

1131 hrs / Incident / 5500 block Carpinteria Avenue

photo by Monday, March 25. 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.

Deputies responded to a call regarding a stolen bike. Upon arrival, the victim stated his bike, which was estimated to be valued at $2,000, was stolen where the trash bins were located. Surveillance was provided by employees, and photos of the suspect were taken. The victim had a tracker on their bike and had pinged the bike in Ventura. The Ventura Police Department was sent photos of the suspect, and positively identified the suspect as someone who had priors for bike thefts. VPD scanned the area where the bike was pinged and were unable to locate the suspect.

He said, she said Bring on the funny!

Two subjects were contacted at a local hotel as they were walking to their vehicle. One subject admitted to recently using methamphetamine and consented to a search of her vehicle, which revealed two methamphetamine pipes and a small baggie with methamphetamine. The subject was cited and released on scene.

published Recaps online at coastalview.com

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

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.

comments brief and don’t expect CVN to print any inappropriate lan guage 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.

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.

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.

Civic

Thursday, March 14

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

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

Friday, March 15

MArty PANizzoN

IN THE MATTER OF THE

OF

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS:

Notification two business days prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements for accessibility to this meeting.

Brian C. Barrett, CMC, CPMC, City Clerk

Publish: February 29, 2024

CITY OF CARPINTERIA 5775 CARPINTERIA AVENUE CARPINTERIA, CA 93013 (805)684-5405/www.carpinteriaca.gov

PUBLIC NOTICE SUMMARY OF ADOPTED ORDINANCE NO. 777

(AS PRESCRIBED BY GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 36933(C)(1))

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2.52 OF TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL) OF THE CITY OF CARPINTERIA MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO ABANDONED AND UNATTENDED PERSONAL PROPERTY

The proposed Ordinance was introduced and a first

at the

of the goods and services advertised. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all claims made in any advertisements, and to use good judgment and reasonable care, particularly when dealing with the persons unknown to you who ask for money in advance of delivery of the goods or services advertised.

CLUB SCENE

COMPILED BY JUN STARKEY | COURTESY PHOTOS

Noon Rotary learns from fire marshal

The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently heard from Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Michael LoMonaco, who shared his experiences and gave an overview of the local fire department to club members, according to Karen Graf, club president.

City manager, supervisor candidates to visit Seniors Inc. meeting

Senior Inc. will host Michael Ramirez, Roy Lee and Das Williams at its monthly meeting on Friday, March 1 at 1:30 pm. The meeting will be held at the Carpinteria Community Church, located at 1111 Vallecito Road.

Ramirez, the city of Carpinteria’s city manager, took over in late 2023 after longtime City Manager Dave Durflinger retired.

Carpinteria residents Lee – a current Carpinteria city councilmember – and Williams are two of the Democratic candidates for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors District 1 seat. Williams is running for his third term in office.

Lions donate to CCA for April banquet

The Lions Club of Carpinteria presented a check of $2,500 to the Carpinteria Community Association (CCA) President Karen Graf and treasurer Shelley Nunes for the Carpinteria Awards Banquet. The banquet is scheduled for April 6.

Lions Neal Bartlett, Clyde Freeman and Curtis Lopez presented the check to the CCA on behalf of the Lions. The check represents a “silver level” sponsorship, according to Freeman. The CCA was also one of the organizations chosen as a Festival of Trees funds recipient in December 2023.

“Carp Lions Club is very excited about the upcoming Award Banquet, an event that will (be) ‘bringing it back to Carp,’” Freeman said.

Local author discusses smallpox with Morning Rotary

Local author Bee Bloeser recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning about Bloeser’s experiences trying to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s.

Bloeser and her husband Carl, a public health doctor, worked in vaccination campaigns in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Bangladesh in an attempt to eliminate the disease. According to club member Eric von Schrader, the campaigns were successful, as the last case of naturally occurring smallpox was recorded in 1977.

“The eradication of smallpox and the current work to eradicate polio, which is a major focus of Rotary worldwide, highlights the importance of global public health campaigns,” von Schrader said. “The last few polio cases today occur in only one country, Afghanistan. In the coming years, controlling malaria, a disease that affected 247 million people in 2023, will be a growing focus of global public health campaigns.”

Bloeser’s book “Vaccines & Bayonets,” is available at local libraries and bookstores, as well as beebloeser.com.

Carpinteria Fire Marshal Michael LoMonaco, left, with the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon club service director John Welty.

From left, Michael Ramirez, Das Williams and Roy Lee will join the Carpinteria Seniors Inc. meeting on Friday, March 1 at 1:30 p.m.

Author Bee Bloeser, right, spoke to the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning on Feb. 21; at left is Carie Smith, club president.

From left, members of the Lions Club of Carpinteria Neal Bartlett, Clyde Freeman and Curtis Lopez, far right, present a check to Carpinteria Community Association members Karen Graf, third from the left, and Shelley Nunes.

Warriors athletes put on show at Rincon Races

Carpinteria girls take first place overall in the season-opening track meet

BY RYAN P. CRUZ

PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

Carpinteria hosted the first track and field meet of the year with the Rincon Races on Saturday, Feb. 24. Teams from five different schools competed in dozens of events, and when all was said and done the Warriors girls came out in first place, while the boys finished tied for fourth place overall.

The girls team scored a total of 101 points, finishing just ahead of second-place Fillmore with 94 points and third-place Santa Ynez with 56 points. Orcutt Academy and Nordhoff’s girls teams rounded out the scoring with 55 and nine points, respectively.

Senior team captain Mika Mullikin started out her final season of track and field with a great day, winning the 300-meter hurdles with a new personal record of 52.76 seconds.

“Mika is one of the most conscientious athletes on the team. Her teammates recognized that by voting her captain this week,” said Carpinteria coach Van Latham. “She is also an accomplished dancer. She does a great job balancing the two disciplines.”

Warriors senior Lela Roberts added to the girls’ score with a win in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 18.69 seconds.

In the field events, Carpinteria junior Melanie Avalos won the shot put and set a new personal record with a toss of 31’ 2”. Avalos also took second place in the discus with a distance of 89’ 9”.

“Melanie has done a great job in the weight room,” Latham said. “Her hard work over the past year is paying dividends this year. I am looking forward to how far she can throw as she continues to improve technically.”

Junior Averi Alexander continued her family tradition of dominance on the jump runway, following in the footsteps of her older sisters Shaya and Ainslee

– who both excelled as jumpers at Carpinteria – by winning both the long jump and the triple jump.

“Her work during the winter has her picking up where she left off last season,” coach Latham said.

On the boys side, the Warriors athletes combined for a total of 37 points, tying Nordhoff in fourth place overall. Santa Ynez took the overall win with 93 points, followed by Fillmore in second with 87 points and Orcutt in third with 60 points.

Junior team captain Nathan Carrillo won two events on the day, taking first place in pole vault with a clearance of 9’ 6” and grabbing the top spot in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.91.

“Nathan has an unassuming personality but is a great competitor,” Latham said. “We look forward to his contributions throughout the season.”

Right behind Carrillo was multi-sport athlete and newcomer to track, junior Sawyer Kelly, who has already had a busy year as a key member of the Warriors football and basketball teams. Kelly took second in the 300-meter hurdles and won the first high hurdle race of his career with a time of 21.03 seconds in the 110-meter race.

“Sawyer is a fine all-around athlete,” coach Latham said. “He is already making his mark on the track and he has only been hurdling for one week.”

Carpinteria Junior Averi Alexander took home the top spot in the triple jump and long jump.

Junior sprinter Charlotte Stoops ran in the 100 meter and 4x100 relay during the Rincon Races.

Junior Joel De Lira set a new best time in the 600-meter race.

Warriors senior Mika Mullikin took first place in 300-meter hurdles.

SPORT SHORTS

BY RYAN P. CRUZ

Warriors softball splits games at Carpinteria Invitational

Carpinteria softball opened the season by hosting the Third Annual Carpinteria Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Warriors split two games on the day, recovering from a 0-5 loss to Viewpoint by grabbing their first win of the year 8-1 over Nipomo.

Senior Ashlee Mora will play a heavy role this season as the sole pitcher for the Warriors, and on opening day she pitched a total of 10 innings. In the Warriors’ first game against Viewpoint, Mora threw four strikeouts and two walks while allowing five runs on seven hits.

On the offensive side, Carpinteria started without a hit until the fifth inning when sophomore Sophia Santana – one of three sophomores starting for the Warriors – broke through with an infield single. The next inning, senior Amarisse Camargo got the first hit of her senior season with a single on a fly ball to left field, but the Warriors were unable to score in the 0-5 loss.

Just a few hours later, Mora took the circle again for the Warriors, pitching five straight innings and allowing only one run on five hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.

“I am happy with her performance,” said coach Matt Mora. ”She will need to strengthen her stamina to last the season as our only pitcher.”

The Warriors bats were also much more active against Nipomo, with seniors Camargo and Mora each finishing with three hits, while senior Alexiana Jaimes led the team with three RBIs, including two off a double in the third inning.

Senior Paola Martinez made an impact in her first game at second base, and Carpinteria’s trio of sophomores – Santana, Cecilia Lemus and Mia Garces – all finished with a hit in the 8-1 win over Nipomo.

“All three of them had a great game and seemed more relaxed and let the game come to them,” Matt Mora said.

Carpinteria softball is also inviting all former Warriors players to compete in the annual Alumni Game on Thursday, April 4 at 4 p.m. All alumni interested in playing should contact coach Mora no later than April 2. Please email your full name, contact info and graduation year to mattjmora@yahoo.com.

Carpinteria baseball opens with no-hit shutout

Warriors baseball set the tone early on opening day at John Calderwood Field, where Carpinteria’s seven-headed pitching roster combined for a no-hitter while the Warriors bats caught fire, with Carpinteria cruising to a 23-0 win over the visiting Santa Clara Saints on Friday, Feb. 23.

Seven different pitchers took the mound for the Warriors, with each pitching a full inning and none allowing a hit all game. Shane Goodmanson, Joaquin Ramirez, Gabe Martinez, Sam Medel, Dominic Castillo, Charlotte Cooney and Beto Martinez combined for 11 strikeouts and four walks in the no-hitter.

“The players were so eager to put on the uniform and get into some game action that counts,” said coach Pat Cooney, who noted that the win also came on the day when the Warriors celebrate the life of alum Eric Pintard, who passed away in 2004.

“Sometimes the stars line up and it makes one wonder. There was no accident but just about everything went our way. Seniors led, younger players followed, and it became a historic day.”

Senior Beto Martinez led the offensive charge with three hits, five RBIs and three runs scored; senior Talon Trumble added a highlight with a three-run home run in the third inning; Issac Flores notched three hits and an RBI; and sophomore Gabe Martinez added two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Jonathan Cabrera got his first varsity hit with a double, while sophomores Shayde Juarez, Sam Medel and Micah Smith also picked up their first varsity hits.

The 1-0 Warriors will hit the field again on Saturday, March 2, when Carpinteria is set to face the highly touted Cabrillo Conquistadores in Lompoc.

Warriors boys tennis starts season slow

Carpinteria boys tennis was forced to reschedule and postpone early matches due to rainy weather, but the Warriors got the season started late this month with two matches against Villanova and Malibu.

The Warriors had some first-match jitters in the season opener against Villanova on Feb. 23, dropping the dual match by a score of 11-7.

Standout Max Stone continued his success from last year, sweeping all three of his sets in singles play. In doubles, brothers Nolan and Lucas Martin teamed up to sweep their three sets as well, while the duo of Servando Campuzano and Edwin Hernandez grabbed the last set win for Carpinteria.

On Feb. 27, Carpinteria hosted Malibu for the league opener, and in this match both teams were locked at 9-9 after all sets, forcing the match winner to be decided by games won. Ultimately, Malibu took the win 74-64.

“It’s always tough to lose the close matches but I thought we stepped up today and performed with passion and grit,” said Carpinteria coach Charles Bryant. “Each of our players knows that every match will be tight and that games will ultimately matter in many of our matches. Today we realized how important it is, however, as we came up just short.”

In the win, Hernandez played in singles for the first time this year and swept all three sets, while Elio Taha won two out of three. Once again, the Martin brothers teamed up to sweep all three sets in doubles, while the duo of John Morrison and Hayden Nordholm won in an impressive comeback set.

“Overall, as bummed as we all are that we lost a tight league match, we see a bigger picture and know that we will be able to compete in the league and hopefully even challenge for a playoff berth,” Bryant said.

Carpinteria athletes well represented in Citrus Coast All-League selections

Carpinteria athletes were well represented in the 2023-2024 Citrus Coast League winter sports awards, with Warriors bringing home several First Team selections, a League MVP and a Coach of the Year Award.

Carpinteria boys basketball coach Jackson Hall was named the league’s Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to 9-3 record and two playoff games in his second year as head coach. Carpinteria juniors Sebastian Campuzano-Reed and Sawyer Kelly both made First Team; juniors Aiden Alcaraz and Carlo Suarez were selected to Second Team; and sophomore Micah Smith and senior Jayson Dishion earned honorable mentions.

Girls water polo finished the year with another Citrus Coast League championship, and Carpinteria’s junior utility player Guilia Piccoletti earned the league’s Most Valuable Player Award. Senior Lilli Nemetz and freshman Hazel Dugré made First Team; junior Caden Lemere was selected to the Second Team; and senior Devyn Clayton and junior goalie Allison Banks earned honorable mentions.

Girls basketball had two players make First Team All-League – senior Amarisse Camargo and sophomore Jamaica Cook – while sophomore Charlotte Cooney and senior Bella Velasquez made Second Team and junior Penny Wrought earned an honorable mention.

Senior Raul Reyes was selected to First Team All-League in boys soccer, while junior Roberto Reyes made Second Team and three Warriors – senior Daniel Ayala and juniors Brennan Van Wingerden and Peter Campuzano – earned honorable mentions.

And in girls soccer, sophomores Evelyn Lara and Vivian Huskins made Second Team All-League, and there were honorable mentions for a trio of Warriors seniors: Lela Roberts, Luna Galvan and Emma Miller.

Little hoopers win big at All Star Tournament

The Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club All Stars fifth to sixth grade team won the regional All Star Tournament at Santa Barbara High School on Saturday, Feb. 24. The team, coached by Jason Himeon and Rosendo Aispuro, won three games to make it to the finals. In the championship game, the Carpinteria All Stars beat Santa Barbara 27-23. Players on the All Star team include Nico Aispuro, Hugo Goodfield, Mason Medina, Rhett Rowbottom, Walker Scott, Trux Trumble, Emilio Zamarripa, Mason Schofield, Darien Rodriguez, James Gahan and Holyn Vega.

ON DECK

Thursday, February 29

Carpinteria Baseball at Santa Clara, 3 p.m.

Carpinteria Boys Tennis at Thousand Oaks, 3:30 p.m.

*Carpinteria Boys Volleyball vs Santa Ynez, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, March 1

Carpinteria Swimming at Raider Relays (Hueneme), 2 p.m.

Saturday, March 2

Carpinteria Baseball at Cabrillo, Noon *Denotes

ROSANA SWING

Seniors Amarisse Camargo and Ashlee Mora celebrate after rounding the bases.

COURTESY PHOTO

Carpinteria’s fifth through sixth grade All Stars from left: Mason Medina, Trux Trumble, Hugo Goodfield, Nico Aispuro, Walker Scott, James Gahan, Darian Rodriguez, Emilio Zamarripa and Rhett Rowbottom, with coaches Jason Himeon and Rosendo Aispuro. Not pictured: Holyn Vega.

Cate Rams spring sports in full swing

Cate School spring sports are in full swing, with a full slate of action for Rams boys tennis, boys volleyball, swimming and girls lacrosse.

In boys tennis, the Rams took the season opener with a 14-4 win over St. Bonaventure. In doubles play, all three pairs of Cate teammates finished with perfect sweeps on the day.

Cate boys volleyball had a strong week with back-to-back 3-0 sweeps over Foothill Tech on Feb. 22 and Dunn on Feb. 27.

Against Foothill Tech, Cate senior Ben Richmond and junior Mack Nieman combined for 17 kills while the Rams cruised through three straight sets (25-23, 25-18, 25-16).

Against Dunn on Feb. 27, Cate overcame a slow start and won all three sets, with the Rams combining for at least a dozen service aces on the way to another 3-0 sweep. With the win, Cate is now 2-1 overall on the season.

Cate swimming hosted its first meet of the year, with both the boys and girls earning wins over Foothill and La Reina. Cate’s boys won every event, led by senior captain Zack White with wins in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

The Cate girls swimmers were led by junior captain Stella Rogers – who won the 50 and 100 freestyle – and senior captain Angie Zoric who won the 100 backstroke.

FRI: DISFRUTA 3-8 PM

SAT:

In girls lacrosse, the Cate Rams opened the season with a 12-11 win over Royal on Feb. 22.

Junior Sophia Ospina helped lead the Rams attack with four assists and one goal, while senior Riley Pan finished with three goals and two assists. Junior goalie Jeeyou Jung was a force on the defensive side with 14 saves.

“Today’s win was a great start to the season. It is early in the season, and there is a lot to learn, but today showed incredible promise,” said coach Renee Mack.

Carpinteria locals compete at Ventura Marathon

Two former Carpinteria High School athletes pushed themselves to the limit on Sunday, Feb. 25, competing and finishing the full 26.2 miles at the Ventura Marathon.

Luke Nakasone, class of 2020, ran the full marathon and finished with a time of 2:51:40, which qualified him for the Boston Marathon. His average pace was 6:33 minutes per mile and he finished fourth out of more than 50 competitors in the 2024 age group. He plans on running in the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025.

Mateo Handall, class of 2022, also ran the full marathon and finished with a time of 3:22:58 with an average pace of 7:44 minutes per mile. Handall, who competes as a sprinter for Cal Lutheran University, finished 16th in the 20-24 age group overall.

Carpinteria Mon.-Fri. 6:30am-2pm •Sat.-Sun. 6:30am-3pm Bagelnet.com for Restaurant menu

6:30am-2pm •Sat.-Sun. 6:30am-3pm Bagelnet.com for Restaurant menu

Carpinteria Mon.-Fri. 6:30am-2pm •Sat.-Sun. 6:30am-3pm Bagelnet.com for Restaurant menu

Mateo Handall, left, and Luke Nakasone compete at the Ventura Marathon

JOSH PETERSON

Juniors Henry Bouma, left, and Lucien Tann hold down the front line.

THROWBACK

Elections loom

large

As voters go to the polls next week for local elections, Carpinterians can look back on campaigns of yore. The internet was a far off tool, and television was still in its early years, so Republican candidate Richard Nixon’s 1968 campaign against Democrat Hubert Humphrey relied on old fashioned precinct walking, flier distribution and the good words of friends and neighbors. Locally, these methods were put to use by Carpinteria Valley Republican Women, who campaigned out of the Carpinteria Republican Headquarters on Linden Avenue.

In the same election, Max Rafferty, the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, was defeated by State Controller Alan Cranston. The Nixon/ Agnew ticket was certainly more successful, defeating Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey for a move to the White House. Four years later, Nixon and Spiro Agnew sailed into a second term by soundly defeating Senator George McGovern in the 1972 election. The tides changed quickly, however, and in 1973 Agnew resigned after being charged with taking thousands of dollars worth of bribes. Nixon famously resigned the next year following the Watergate Scandal.

From left, Carpinterians Martha Hickey and Farlane Guidi look to the country’s future leader, whose supersized face was plastered on the wall of the Carpinteria Republican Headquarters during the 1968 presidential campaign.