2 Thursday, January 9, 2014
Coastal View News • Carpinteria, California
briefly
Wrong way driver nabbed in Ventura
Two weeks after leading Carpinteria deputies on a wild, wrong-way freeway chase then successfully fleeing on foot, Juan Miguel Bejar, 29, was finally arrested on Dec. 28 in Ventura. The suspect was brought into custody after a twohour standoff with the Ventura Police Department’s S.W.A.T team. Bejar, an Oxnard resident, was wanted for stealing a vehicle in Carpinteria before driving the wrong way twice on Highway 101 to avoid arrest. His wife, 24-yearold Sandra Lopez, and his brother, 28-year-old Jose Bejar, both of Oxnard, were arrested in the initial incident. When authorities apprehended Bejar on Dec. 28, he was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail on outstanding Santa Barbara County warrants and a parole hold.
Christmas Bird Count tally announced
Juan Miguel Bejar was arrested on Dec. 28 after eluding Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department deputies in a chase on the early morning hours of Dec. 14.
Sixty-eight pairs of binoculars were trained on Carpinteria perches for the Dec. 20 Christmas Bird Count, an event that documented 144 avian species. The fifth annual event, which provides data for the international bird count by the Audubon Society, included nine species recorded in the local count for the first time. These were Canada goose, Rufous hummingbird, prairie warbler, Pacific wren, Harris’ sparrow, Bullock’s oriole, Northern roughwinged swallow, nutmeg manikin and yellow-shafted northern flicker. Rare species found were the prairie warbler, Harris’ sparrow and gray hawk. Count organizer Rob Denholtz reported that this year’s count produced fewer species than in the past few years. Reasons for the drop in numbers, he said, are low rainfall’s impact on habitat, scheduling the count day on a weekday, this year’s lack of a boat trip for a pelagic bird count and an inability to access an inland reservoir because, when rain threatened, the Forest Service closed the access road.
Community rallies to buy bike for girl in need
Tamale orders poured in last December as Carpinterians supported fundraising efforts to buy Jessica Rodriguez, a local girl with spina bifida, a new bike to dramatically improve her mobility. To fill the many orders, Jessica’s mother, Sonia Rodriquez, her aunt, Angelica Juarez, and her grandmother, imelda Mejia, worked long hours preparing tamales from scratch. The fundraiser took an unexpected twist when Mike and Deborah Copus stepped in to underwrite the bicycle. Rincon Cycles received and asSuBMiTTeD PHOTO sembled the bike, and Jessica was riding it as of Jan. 2. With the remaining funds, Jessica Rodriguez takes a ride on an account has been set up to help pay for her new bike, donated by Mike and some of Jessica’s college expenses. Deborah Copus.
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Participants in the Ocean to Mountain Hike celebrate the view from the top of Franklin Trail.
25 tackle Ocean to Mountain Hike
The Jan. 1 Ocean to Mountain Hike coordinated by Carpinteria State Beach was a resounding success, according to organizer Leanne Roth. The event drew 25 participants, who walked 8 miles from the state park to the current end point for Franklin Trail and back. A handful of visitors took part, but most of the participants were Carpinterians and all were first-time Franklin Trail hikers. “Besides great weather, and wonderful conversations, it was a treat to see the salt marsh filled with water and the blue ocean from the top of the trail,” reported Roth.
Quilt honors Community Banquet theme
This year’s Community Awards Banquet will pay homage to the volunteers that make Carpinteria tick, and complementing that theme, a quilt dedicated to local community servants will be raffled off at the Jan. 25 event to benefit the Junior Carpinterian scholarship fund. Designed by Roxanne Barbieri, owner of Roxanne’s A Wish and a Dream, the handmade SuBMiTTeD PHOTO quilt is among several items A handmade quilt designed by Roxanne that will be raffled at the Barbieri will be raffled at the upcoming CVCC annual event put on by the Community Awards Banquet. Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce. Three gift baskets each filled with $1,500 worth of local donations will be raffled off at the event. Raffle winners need not be present to win. Tickets can be purchased now at the CVCC office, which is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. To find out more, contact Stephanie Zimmerman at 684-5479 x10.
Workshop aims to raise energy efficiency awareness
The energy conservation experts of emPowerSBC will lead a free homeowner workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Attendees will learn how the emPower program can improve a home’s comfort and air quality, save energy and money and replace old or broken equipment. experts will provide homeowners with free energy efficiency advice. A light dinner will be provided. To RSVP and learn more, visit SaveCarpenergy. eventbrite.com or call 568-3566.