Avenue Bridge Project are some of the few that have received partial funding and precedential actions to prepare for construction.
Thursday, Dec. 19
Additionally, the Living Shoreline project has been partially funded, with all environmental work costs covered. The project will address coastal erosion and coastal flooding mitigation; it also includes the relocation of the Linden lifeguard tower and improvements to Ash and Linden parking lots.
CALENDAR
the city several weeks ago to have plans approved with complete designs for a much stronger chance at receiving federal funding.
The city of Carpinteria’s community pool, city hall, AgeWell
Parks, Recreation and Community Services
BRIEFLY
AgeWell Senior Program: Veterans Morning Meet Up Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 8:30–10 a.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279
Friday, Dec. 20
Chaney Avenue Emergency Repair project authorized
Live Music: Bob Schetter Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 2–5 p.m. islandbrewingcompany.com, (805) 745-8272
and library will be closed on Thursday and Friday due to the
city staff said Monday.
AgeWell Senior Program: Mind Games Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 2–3 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279
On Monday night, the Carpinteria City Council unanimously authorized the Chaney Avenue Emergency Repair Project and approved the not-to-exceed budget of $358,000. Mayor Natalia Alarcon was absent.
“Having a priorities list helps us seek funding,” Environmental Program Manager Erin Maker told the council. City Manager Ramirez agreed, explaining that Congressman Salud Carbajal advised
English Language Conversation Group / Grupo de Conversación en Inglés Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 8:30 a.m. For ESL students. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
One-on-One Tech Help Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. carpinterialibrary. org, (805) 684-4314
Carpinteria Creative Arts Eighth Street and Linden Avenue. 2:30–6 p.m. Handmade pottery, beach art, cards, jewelry and sewn articles. (805) 698-4536
The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department will focus on completing the Rincon Bluffs Preserve Project and responding to the Community Pool Facility Needs Assessment within the upcoming months, staff said.
Early Music Concert: Medieval and Renaissance Music Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 4 p.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
AgeWell Senior Program: Pickleball Free Play Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 Foothill Road. 8–10 a.m. agewell@ carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 881-1279
Additionally, the department will prioritize improving accessibility within the Veterans Memorial Campus, Library and El Carro Park Playground.
Friday Fun Day Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 10–11:30 a.m. arpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
Southern California Edison (SCE) set up at Carpinteria’s Veterans Hall on Wednesday, giving out kits with LED bulbs, solar chargers and sanitizer packs to those affected by recent power outages. These Community Resource Centers — where community members can also charge their mobile devices and sign up for alerts — are set up in areas most likely to experience Public Safety Shut Offs, per SCE.
Live Music: Morganfield Burnett Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 6–9 p.m. islandbrewingcompany.com, (805) 745-8272
Saturday, Dec. 21
Live Music: Bobby, Finn & Dave Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6–9 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400
DomingodeResurrección
Dungeons & Dragons Club for Tweens Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 3–4:45 p.m. Every Thursday. Full. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
The Juniors Under 17 heat paddles out during the January 2024 Rincon Classic.
Carpinteria’s Community Resource Center will be open through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Another center in Goleta at the Residence Inn, at 6350 Hollister Ave., will also be open through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
“O r an l s cristianos o r ndas de alaban a m triunfant t s levanta ¡Resucitó t d vera r s mi am Domingo, 0 d abril el Misa a la 7:00 am 11:0
Live Music: Sofia Guerra Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6–9 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400
s A u
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
St Jos h Ch rch + I l sia San Jos + 1500 Linden
Rincon Classic registration opens Sunday
Open Mic Night brewLAB, 4191 Carpinteria Ave., #8. 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Beau James Wilding. Every third Thursday of the month. Message @brewlabcraft, @beaujameswilding on Instagram
See more online at sce.com/outage-center/customer-resources-and-support/ community-resource-centers.
Holiday Performance: “Lime Creek” Spoken Word Veterans Memorial Building, 941 Walnut Ave. 2–3:30 p.m. agewell@carpinteriaca.gov, (805) 8811279
Live Music: Dusty Strings Island Brewing Company, 5049 Sixth St. 6–9 p.m. islandbrewingcompany.com, (805) 745-8272
Registration for the 2025 Rincon Classic opens Sunday, Dec. 1 and closes Dec. 31. The waiting period for the annual classic, put on each year by Surf Happens, is Jan. 11 – Feb. 16 , 2025.
Live Music: The Coveralls Corktree Cellars, 910 Linden Ave. 6–9 p.m. corktreecellars.com, (805) 684-1400
This will be the contest’s 44th year, and the 25th year since Surf Happens took over. It was founded in 1979 by Roger Nance, Jeff White and a crew of local surfers. It ran for 17 consecutive years before pausing in 1996, and was revived in 2001 by Chris Keet and Surf Happens.
During spring 2024, a considerable amount of groundwater was observed on the roadway of Chaney Avenue where it meets Highway 101 and Aragon Drive.
Dancing with Santa Gordo On the rooftop of Dirt Botanicals, 3815 Santa Claus Lane. 5–8:30 p.m.
The community pool will reopen on Saturday, while the library will reopen on Monday, Dec. 2. “These temporary closures allow our staff to enjoy the holiday period while ensuring services resume promptly afterward,” City Manager Michael Ramirez wrote in the city manager’s report presented to the Carpinteria City Council on Monday.
According to a city engineer’s inspection, it is not common for this considerable amount of groundwater to seep through street pavement. In order to maintain the structural integrity of the existing street infrastructure, including both the sidewalks, gutters, and road pavement, but also underground facilities related to electricity, water, and natural gas, city staff advised council to authorize the repair plans and “Ponding water can degrade the pavement over time and create a slip-and-fall
Monday
Staff presented a grand cost proposal of $358,000 for the project, with construction
ra County. Almost half of the survivors were identified as county residents, staff said. In recent years, the risk factors for human trafficking have grown exponentially for a number of reasons, according to Tiffany Carty, Victim Witness Supervisor with
Stay updated or sign up online at rinconclassic.com.
Crew members work on slope paving, new sidewalks, curbs and gutters and drainage improvements at the South Padaro Lane Undercrossing.
“Human trafficking awareness month is a time when we have the ability to bring attention to the reality of human trafficking within our own community,” Carty said. “People often think of human trafficking as something that happens out there in larger cities, without realizing that our neighbors, friends and at-risk youth in our own backyards are frequently exposed to the pain of this trauma.”
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Padaro, Summerland construction segments officially completed
Crews focus on landscaping in Summerland, grinding pavement near Padaro
TEAM WITH EXPERIENCE
The Santa Barbara Human Trafficking Task Force — a multidisciplinary coalition of law enforcement agencies, community service providers, community advocates and a District Attorney Victim Witness Program — provides training, public outreach, survivor centered services and other supporting tools to prevent and decrease human trafficking locally.
SBCAG, Caltrans and Santa Barbara County will celebrate the completion of the Padaro and Summerland construction segments with a ceremony on April 25 at noon at an extension of the University of California campus — formerly QAD — at 101 Innovation Place in Summerland.
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“Please know that our task force is always at-the-ready to provide prevention and awareness training at any local sights,” Carty shared with the council.
Between Nov. 4 and Dec. 7, construction crews are focusing on landscaping in Summerland, with planting and mulching along Wallace Avenue and Via Real, and grinding pavement in the Padaro Lane segment, to improve traction and long-term noise reduction. Night noise should be expected.
Between the two segments, seven new miles of carpool lanes, six new bridges, six new sound walls, 16 updated off- and on-ramps and a new clear-span bridge at South Padaro Lane are now in place.
––Liv Klein CITY continued
JOHN VILLAR AND KATHREN WRIGHT 805-886-689O • John@JohnVillar.com John Villar Real Estate Representation • DRE #OO855771
The Santa Barbara Human Trafficking Task Force invites residents and community members of Carpinteria to join their in-person vigil for freedom on Wednesday Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. in De La Guerra Plaza in Santa Barbara.
Attendees will at next week’s celebration also learn more about the new Coastal Express buses. These electric vehicles will use the new carpool lanes between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Learn more online at sbroads.com.
For closures on the northbound Highway 101, on Sunday nights between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., one lane between Santa Monica Road and Lillie Avenue, as well as the onand off-ramps at North Padaro Lane and South Padaro Lane will be closed non-consecutively. Those same areas are closed Monday – Thursday nights, 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.
On
night, the Carpinteria City Council designated January 2025 as Human
KARLSSON
COMPILED BY EVELYN SPENCE | COURTESY PHOTOS
A new northbound carpool lane in the Padaro segment of the Highway 101 construction project opened earlier this year.
Community members can post about lost and found pets on the map, which updates in real time.
County releases new lost & found pet map
Santa Barbara County Animal Services released an interactive lost & found map this week, which can help reunite community members with their lost pets.
Police arrest attempted murder suspect in Carpinteria
Police arrested Goleta resident Eduardo Zermano-Arzate, 36, in Carpinteria on Saturday and charged him with attempted murder and assault with intent to commit mayhem.
Police deputies took Zermano-Arzate into custody at the 1300 block of Dahlia Court in Carpinteria on April 12 without incident. They also arrested 37-year-old Alexis Garcia, also of Goleta, who was charged with aiding and harboring Zermano-Arzate.
According to Santa Barbara City Police Department Sergeant Bryan Kerr, a victim arrived at Cottage Hospital in critical condition on April 6 with multiple stab wounds. The victim had been involved in a fight and was stabbed just after 2 p.m. on the 3100 block of State St.
“It is believed that Zermano-Arzate stabbed the victim multiple times during the fight and then walked away from the scene,” Kerr said in a press release sent out on Monday.
Zermano-Arzate is in custody on a no-bail warrant. Garcia’s bail was set at $20,000. This investigation is ongoing.
Residents can post about lost or found pets on the map, available at sbcanimalservices.org/lostfound. The map is integrated with PetcoLove and the Nextdoor app and offers real-time updates.
“This map puts the power in the hands of our community,” said Sarah Aguilar, Animal Services Director. “We’re making it easier than ever for neighbors to help each other and for lost pets to find their way home.”
Student radio team wins Gold Mike Award
The student radio team at KCSB-FM 91.9 — which airs a Carpinteria-focused news on brief on Thursdays, produced by Carpinteria’s Dennis Mitchell — has won a Gold Mike Award for their piece “Cuyama Valley Water Wars.”
The two-part series, produced by KCSB News student directors Natalia Rosie Bultman and Joyce Chi, covers the legal fight over Cuyama Valley groundwater. The two interviewed farmers and residents for the series. “The Cuyama Valley story spoke to me because it touches on so many essential issues in California: agriculture, water, and class disparities,” Bultman said in a press release sent out last week.
The KCSB news team, located on the UC Santa Barbara campus, is composed of student and community reporters. They cover news across the Central Coast.
From left, KCSB News student directors Joyce Chi and Natalia Rosie Bultman.
Community members ask board member to resign following district’s court loss SCHOOL BOARD
BY JUN STARKEY
Two community members at last week’s Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustee’s meeting publicly called for Trustee Andy Sheaffer to resign, after the district’s recent loss in court against a teacher who had been dismissed.
Jay Hotchner, a 20-year teacher at CUSD and president of the Carpinteria Association of United School Employees (CAUSE), was dismissed in September 2022 after he was issued a notice of unprofessional conduct. The Commission
on Professional Competence ruled in December 2023 that he should be allowed to return to the classroom; a Santa Barbara County Court judge agreed last month, and ordered he be reinstated.
The commission’s December 2023 ruling stated that although Hotchner had engaged in reported conduct that was inappropriate and unprofessional, “had no legitimate educational purpose, had the effect of making students uncomfortable or embarrassing them, and which negatively impacted students,” he was not considered unfit to teach.
At an April 2024 board meeting, local
Julie Sigwart asked Sheaffer: “If it comes down in this next round, and you lose the case, are you willing to resign your seat? Do you have that much conviction in this?” Sheaffer responded, “Yes.”
At the board’s recent April 8 meeting, both Sigwart and another local, former CUSD Trustee Rogelio Delgado, called on Sheaffer to resign.
“You must resign immediately, Mr. Sheaffer,” said Delgado in Spanish during the April 8 meeting, which Hotchner later repeated in English. “If you don’t do it, then how can our community trust you?”
When asked about these calls for his
resignation, Sheaffer told Coastal View News in an email on Tuesday that he will “continue to stand up for students.” “I understand the frustration from some in our community about how much it costs to try and do the right thing. But it is our obligation to provide a safe learning environment for our students,” Sheaffer continued. “We must listen to our pupils and allow them to be heard, not as victims, but as advocates for their own wellbeing… When students come forward with credible claims about abusive behavior it is our responsibility as trustees to take these claims seriously and find out the truth.”
DLI students tentatively show higher levels of executive functioning, long-term study shows
BY JUN STARKEY
The Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees heard a summary of the results of UC Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) seven-year study of dual language students at Canalino Elementary School at the board’s Tuesday, April 8 meeting.
The study was a collaboration between CUSD, UCSB and the Santa Barbara County Education Office. The results of the study were summarized for the board on Tuesday by Dr. Matthew Quirk, a professor of school psychology from UCSB.
The study, conducted to help understand the impacts of dual language immersion (DLI) on students, followed three student groups at Canalino Elementary School. It focused on executive functioning — which Quirk described as a student’s ability to regulate their cognition, problem solve and think strategically — and language development in English and Spanish.
Results found that students in the DLI program, including English speaking and English learners, saw higher levels of executive functioning from grade three to grade five, when compared to students from the other two groups.
Quirk noted that the results should be interpreted with caution, due to several disruptions to the study — including the Thomas Fire, the Montecito mudslides
and Covid-19.
“As excited as I was to embark on this seven-year longitudinal study, I was dismayed by the unfortunate timing of all of these events, (which) obviously are going to have impacts on the children and families that were served during that time,” Quirk said. “I kinda want to put that up front, just as a caveat to some of the results that I’m going to share.”
Three CUSD principals — Jamie Persoon from Carpinteria Middle School (CMS), Luis Quintero from Canalino Elementary and Carpinteria Family School and Brett Weiberg from Aliso Elementary School — also provided a brief history of the DLI program, an update on the layout of the program and some recent testing results from DLI and non-DLI students.
DLI at CUSD began in the 2017-18 school year at Canalino Elementary School after at least two years of planning, Persoon told the board, and since then, 196 students have enrolled in the DLI program at Canalino. The program expanded to Aliso Elementary School in the 2021-22 school year, and to CMS in the 2024-25 school year.
The CUSD DLI model includes 30 minutes of dedicated Spanish language development and English language development, daily. In kindergarten, students in the DLI program receive 90% of instruction in Spanish, and 10%
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Providing local news and information for the Carpinteria Valley
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Coastal View News is locally owned and operated by RMG Ventures, LLC, 4180 Via Real Suite F, Carpinteria, CA 93013, and is published every Thursday. Coastal View News has been adjudged a newspaper of general circulation by the Superior Court of Santa Barbara County, Case No. 210046. Coastal View News assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material.
in English. This shifts over time, to 80% Spanish and 20% English in first grade; 70% Spanish and 30% English in second grade; 60% Spanish and 40% English in third grade; and 50% Spanish and 50% English from fourth grade on.
Persoon told board members that 11 other schools in Santa Barbara County have adopted this model.
The three student groups at Canalino Elementary who received different types of instruction included a third and fourth grade combination group with integrated English language development (ELD), which did not have a specific time dedicated for ELD; a first and second grade combination group with 30 minutes of designated ELD; and the kindergarten dual language immersion group.
For the first two years, data was collected in person, but the data was disrupted during the 2019-20 school year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. From the 2020-21 school year on, the data was collected
CVN
remotely. Quirk said the DLI students were “disproportionately affected by the disruptions related to Covid-19.”
In language development, students in the DLI program, both English speakers and English learners, were significantly more proficient in Spanish compared to the other student groups. English speakers and English learners in the DLI program saw a slight drop in English proficiency compared to other groups, which Quirk said could at least in part be attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, UCSB researchers are observing the DLI program at Carpinteria Middle School.
Moving forward, Persoon said, CMS will offer DLI courses in American history and Spanish language arts in the 2025-26 school year. During the 2026-27 school year, Persoon and Carpinteria High School Principal Gerardo Cornejo will develop the pathway to take DLI students from ninth to 12th grade.
LETTERS
“The district must stop wasting public funds on fruitless litigation and refocus on the actual crisis it faces.”
— Julie Sigwart
School district should focus on financial obligations
Carpinteria Unified School District is facing four serious lawsuits related to decades-old abuse allegations — cases that, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, could bankrupt the district. These are the challenges that deserve full attention.
Instead, the district spent approximately $3.5 million pursuing a years-long effort to dismiss teacher Jay Hotchner — who also serves as the teachers’ union president. On March 21, the Superior Court became the fourth body to reject the district’s case.
Judge Donna Geck wrote that the district relied on testimony that was “not believable, or, at the very least, exaggerated and sensationalized.” She also cited case law affirming that a single credible
witness can prove a fact — yet the district presented more than 30 witnesses and still failed to meet its burden.
This should never have gone to court.
In the Santa Barbara Unified case, a teacher who reportedly told a student, “Just because you’re good in bed doesn’t mean you can eat in class” was not dismissed, and the decision was upheld on appeal. The precedent was clear.
Superintendent Diana Rigby either failed to prevent this misstep or actively drove it. In either case, it was a failure of leadership. She should resign. Board Member Andy Shaeffer also publicly promised to resign if the district lost this case. It’s time to keep that promise.
The district must stop wasting public funds on fruitless litigation and refocus on the actual crisis it faces.
Julie Sigwart Carpinteria
Carpinteria
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Thomas “Tommy” James Berryman Jr. 07/19/1945 — 02/02/2025
Thomas “Tommy”
James Berryman Jr. passed away on Feb. 2, 2025, in Palo Alto, California at the age of 79, after complications from prostate cancer and Parkinson’s Disease led to a brief stay in the Hospice Unit of the VA Hospital.
Tommy was born in Concord, New Hampshire, to Rose McAteer Berryman, and Thomas Berryman Sr., but moved with his family to Southern California when he was ten. He lived in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria areas over the years. He never forgot his early life in Concord and was thrilled to go back to the East Coast to celebrate his 50th birthday.
Tommy is survived by his daughter, Ann Berryman of Santa Barbara, California; son Thomas “Shawn” James Berryman III of Santa Maria, California; sister Roberta Lehtinen (George) of Carpinteria, California; brother Dan Berryman (Charlotte) of Prescott, Arizona; sister Peggy Rancatore (Tom), of Los Altos, California; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
He entered into the United States
Obituaries
Army upon graduation from high school and was stationed at Fort Bliss. After his enlistment was completed, he returned to the Santa Barbara area where he married and raised his family. He was an assembly worker with several companies which took him to Santa Monica for a number of years, but he eventually returned to the Santa Barbara area.
He would be the first to tell you that he had a wonderful life and his greatest joy was being a father to Ann and Shawn. As a Christian, prayer was an important part of his life — a source of comfort during difficult times and a way to express gratitude for the many good times. He felt he was blessed to grow up in a loving family and he enjoyed the simple things in life: playing high school football, seeing the famous locations and people in the Hollywood area, and collecting baseball cards.
As an avid fan of the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants and Red Sox, it meant the world to him not only to have seen games in person in Los Angeles, San Francisco and a few Spring Training games in Phoenix, but to have traveled with his sister Roberta to see games at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. Also being a Boston Celtics fan, he was excited to tour Boston Gardens shortly before it was demolished.
Tommy was open, outgoing, cheerful and had a lively sense of humor, making some special, lifelong friends wherever he lived. He had a wide variety of interests and loved talking with folks about them.
Tommy amazed people with his encyclopedic knowledge of baseball statistics, players and background stories, and details about movies, TV shows, actors, U.S. history and notables from many walks of life.
He is deeply missed, but he will be with us always in our hearts.
There will be a Celebration of Life held for Tommy when he is laid to rest near his parents in the Carpinteria Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Parkinson Association of Santa Barbara can be made at mypasb.org/home.
Previously published obituaries may be read online at coastalview.com
Louis “Louie” Cerda 09/27/1947 — 04/04/2025
Louis “Louie” Cerda passed away peacefully with his daughter by his side on April 4, 2025. He was 77 years old. Louie was born on Sept. 27, 1947 to Luis and Frances Cerda of Carpinteria.
Louie was a devoted and beloved father to his daughter and grandfather to his grandchildren. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He was the second oldest of five children. Louie spent his entire life in Carpinteria, attended Carpinteria Schools and graduated from Carpinteria High School in 1965. While in high school he was also known as “Apricot” due to his freckles.
Louie went on to work for Southern California Edison for 55 years. He was incredibly dedicated to his job. He was an avid baseball fan, always rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He always made sure to let his family know which channel the Dodgers were playing on. He spent many years attending the Dodgers Spring Training as well.
Louie is survived by his daughter LeeAnn Gagnon; grandchildren Dylan and Taylor Gagnon; mother Frances Cerda; siblings Daniel Cerda, Esther (Jose) Gonzalez, John Cerda and Betty (Hector) Martinez; along with many nieces and nephews. His presence will be truly missed!
A viewing for Louie Cerda will be held on Friday, May 2, 1–5 p.m., at McDermott-Crockett Mortuary at 2020 Chapala St., Santa Barbara. A funeral is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 1532 Linden Ave. A burial will take place following the mass at Carpinteria Cemetery, 1501 Cravens Lane, with a reception to follow at Lions Park of Carpinteria, 6197 Casitas Pass Road.
MTD to discuss route changes at April 23 Carpinteria meeting
Carpinteria community members are invited to attend an upcoming Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) meeting on April 23 at 6 p.m. at the Carpinteria Community Library to give feedback on proposed bus service changes. The proposed changes would take effect Aug.18, according to a press release sent out by MTD last week.
Changes include the addition of one weekday inbound afternoon and evening peak trip on Line 24x – the UC Santa Barbara Express – enhancing commuter options for UCSB riders. MTD will also discuss the spring launch of The Wave, an on-demand microtransit service for Goleta and Isla Vista.
Meeting attendees will also learn about MTD’s Tap2Ride contactless fare system, which supports mobile payments and includes fare capping. Seniors, Medicare card holders and riders with disabilities can now register for discounted fares through Tap2Ride.
Residents can also give feedback through an online survey, available in English and Spanish at sbmtd.gov/ servicechanges. An upcoming Zoom meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, at noon.
The Carpinteria Community Library is located at 5141 Carpinteria Ave. Learn more by emailing info1@sbmtd.gov or calling (805) 963-3364.
— Faith Martin Proposed MTD route changes include the addition of one weekday trip on Line 24x, and the introduction of a microtransit service in Goleta.
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On-demand MTD shuttle planned for Carpinteria
BY LIV KLEIN
The Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) plans to introduce a new, on-demand service in Carpinteria that will presumably outperform past shuttles, Santa Barbara MTD General Manager Jerry Estrada told the Carpinteria City Council on Monday.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, total MTD ridership in the South Coast Santa Barbara region was reaching over six million rides in one fiscal year, according to Estrada.
“For a community, or essentially the South Coast of Santa Barbara, that is really extraordinary… the ridership level of 6.4 on a per capita basis is one of the best in the country, frankly,” he shared.
Even as ridership took a substantial dip during the peak of the Covid-19 back in 2020-21, rider numbers were still hitting between two and three million per fiscal year.
As Santa Barbara MTD continues to recover pre-pandemic statistics, new plans are in the works to better serve the community’s public transportation needs, according to Estrada. While he did officially announce that the beloved Seaside Shuttle in Carpinteria will not return, an on-demand service, the Wave, will fill the void.
The Wave will offer curb-to-curb service through Ford Transit vans for a flat fare of $3 one-way. The service will offer a discounted rate of $.150 for users 65 and older, or who are disabled. As to its on-demand description, riders can order their lift through a smartphone app or call the transit center.
MTD plans to introduce the on-demand shuttle service to Carpinteria after a year-long trial in Goleta.
Line 20 — which connects Carpinteria, Summerland, Montecito and Santa Barbara — will remain intact, but the on-demand service will improve connectivity within Carpinteria, reaching areas of the community that the Seaside Shuttle
Seaside Shuttle will not return, MTD confirms
A new on-demand shuttle service, the Wave, would serve a Carpinteria microtransit district after an upcoming year-long trial in Goleta.
could not.
“As cute as (the Seaside Shuttles) were, they just could not make it up the Bailard hill,” said Estrada, a life-long Carpinterian. “That was always one of the challenges we had, is that we couldn’t serve the entire community with the equipment that we had at that time.”
MTD Santa Barbara has also purchased 20 battery electric buses to make further headway towards a California state mandate that requires an entirely zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.
A community meeting open to the public will be held on April 23 at 6 p.m. in the Carpinteria Community Library multipurpose room to continue the discussion about the service plan for next year.
“As
cute as (the Seaside Shuttles) were, they just could not make it up the Bailard hill
(...) That was always one of the challenges we had, is that we couldn’t serve the entire community with the equipment that we had at that time.”
—
Santa
Barbara MTD General Manager Jerry Estrada
Council approves final modifications for city Housing Element Council forms committee to address e-bike issues
Following public concerns and complaints about e-bike safety in the city of Carpinteria, the Carpinteria City Council approved a new Ad Hoc E-Conveyance Committee at Monday night’s regular council meeting, appointing members Mayor Natalia Alarcon and Councilmember Julia Mayer.
“The formation of this committee stems from the ongoing safety concerns involving collisions between e-bike riders, drivers and pedestrians within our community,” city spokesperson and Program Manager Juliza Briones told the council.
After a public meeting between the Carpinteria Unified School District, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, California State Parks, Move SBC and COSB in early March, the groups agreed a more structured approach for promoting safety and respectful use of public roads and sidewalks is necessary.
The committee will work closely with city staff and agency partners to shape thoughtful, actionable safety programs and initiatives, according to Briones.
“Some of the primary goals m ay include community education on safe practices for all roadway users, a public awareness campaign around traffic safety and guidance on enforcement strategies related to improper bike and e-bike uses,”
“The formation of this committee stems from the ongoing safety concerns involving collisions between e-bike riders, drivers and pedestrians within our community.”
— City spokesperson and Program Manager Juliza Briones
Briones said.
Both Mayor Alarcon and councilmember Mayer expressed a personal closeness to the issue and suggested they were best fit for the committee.
“I’d love to continue to follow this and I think working collaboratively with our stakeholders is a really important piece to create an outreach strategy that works really well for our entire community,”
Mayor Alarcon said.
––Liv Klein
The Carpinteria City Council on Monday reviewed and approved suggested modifications from the California Coastal Commission for a final reading of Carpinteria’s 2023-2032 Housing Element.
After a nearly two-year process, the California Department of Housing and community Development (HCD) certified the Carpinteria Housing Element in early January.
It was then sent to the California Coastal Commission for approval of the most recent zoning amendments made last fall, which include a new Residential Mixed Use (RMU) Zone; objective design standards for that RMU zone; selected sites that were rezoned under that RMU.
In March, the Coastal Commission conditionally certified the Housing Element with a few suggested modifications, including clarifying the objective design standards to avoid adverse impacts on coastal resources.
“In summary, it clarifies that any adverse impacts to coastal resources must still be avoided and it also compels the city to return within five years with objective standards for coastal resource protection,” City Principal Planner Mindy Fogg said on Monday.
“(The changes) didn’t really sub -
stantively change any of our Housing Element goals,” she added.
Community Development Director Nick Bobroff said the city already has a head start with some of these requested objective standards.
“We have some of these objective design standards on the books already — we have a required minimum buffer from a wetland or a creek, but there are other coastal resources like parking or buffers from environmentally sensitive habitats that right now (are) a little more subjective or discretionary,” Bobroff said. “And so that’s an area where maybe the Coastal Commission would like us to go back and see if we can recraft or redefine those standards to be applied in a more objective manner.”
Bobroff pointed out that these modifications largely mirror those that were also suggested to Santa Barbara County for their Housing Element, which could allude that the Coastal Commission is anticipating that declining local jurisdiction and discretionary decision-making authority over housing projects will continue.
The Housing Element will be sent back to the Coastal Commission and filed with the Natural Resources Agency.
Klein
City proclamations: Fair Housing Month, International Dark Sky Week, Awards Banquet
BY LIV KLEIN
The Carpinteria City Council passed three proclamations on Monday, designating April 2025 as Fair Housing Month and April 21–28 as International Dark Sky Week, and honoring the 66th anniversary of the Carpinteria Community Awards banquet.
Fair Housing Month
Andrea Bifano accepted the proclamation celebrating Fair Housing Month from the city of Carpinteria on behalf of the Rental Housing Mediation Services, a program available locally that provides information on rights and responsibilities and offers mediation services for landlords and tenants.
“Fifty-seven years after the passage of the act, discrimination in housing is still prevalent and continues to be reported at the highest numbers ever,” Bifano, the Rental Housing Medication supervisor, said. “This fact substantiates the continued need for the promotion of equal opportunity and access to housing for all.”
While this month marks the 57th anniversary of the passage of the Federal Fair Housing Act — which prohibits discrimination within the sale, rental and financing of housing — fair housing complaints are at an all-time high, according to the 2024 Fair Housing Trends Report. In 2023 alone, over 34,000 complaints were filed.
The city will post a notice on its website this month directing residents to information about fair housing and the services provided by the city of Santa Barbara’s Rental Housing Mediation Program, which the city of Carpinteria has partnered with.
“Together we can make change through awareness and education,” Bifano told the council and the public.
International Dark Sky Week
April 21–28 is International Dark Sky Week, the council declared on Monday. The week raises awareness of light pollution prevention.
“Dark skies are impacted by light pollution — it’s the rare form of pollution that can be ended immediately by just turning off the light or pointing it down where it belongs and does some good,” said Mike Wondolowski of Carpinteria Valley Association.
Wondolowski received the city proc-
lamation on behalf of several regional groups including the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the We Watch Dark Sky International Central Coast Chapter.
“We join the city, as the proclamation says, in urging residents to learn about night sky friendly lighting, to implement practices and improvements that will reduce light pollution, and, once in a while, step outside in the evening, look up and experience the wonders of a star filled night,” he added.
The city’s General Plan includes policies that aim to limit light pollution from new developments. “We look forward to working with the city to establish a Night Sky Ordinance to better protect our dark skies,” Wondolowski said.
Banquet anniversary
Several board members of the Carpinteria Community Association (CCA) were present in Monday night’s meeting to accept a proclamation celebrating the 66th
Council approves Surfliner Inn project consultant services
The Environmental Science Associates (ESA) will oversee and prepare environmental review documents for the proposed Surfliner Inn project, following a city council vote on Monday.
The city will contract directly with the consulting firm, but the Surfliner’s project applicant will be responsible to pay the city for any costs under the agreement. The cost will not exceed $258,890, per city staff.
The Surfliner Inn is a two-story, 36-room hotel proposed for City Parking Lot #3, at 499 Linden Ave. Developers would also build a new, 93-space parking lot across the street, to make up for the parking spots lost by hotel development on Lot #3. The city’s Architectural Review Board granted preliminary approval to the project in December 2024.
While there were many factors that convinced staff that ESA was the right choice, Principal Planner Mindy Fogg said it was ultimately the group’s cooperative attitude and experience that set them apart from the rest of the candidates.
“Their experience with hotels in the coastal zone was very much a factor (in the decision), including one mixed-use and hospitality project that was right on the train tracks,” Mindy Fogg shared. “They were immediately willing to remove some things that we didn’t think would be necessary in the proposal and also add other things.”
There will be opportunities for public feedback during the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) draft, including a 45-day period for the public to provide comments before it is finalized.
anniversary of the Carpinteria Community Awards banquet.
“We are extremely honored and we feel privileged as an organization to host this event,” CCA’s Karen Graf told the council. “It is exactly what you said in the proclamation — a celebration of our community.”
This year’s banquet — honoring local teachers, businesses, volunteers, students, Carpinterian of the Year and Jr. Carpinterian of the Year — will take place later this month at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria on April 26, 5:30 p.m.
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 218 | Santa Barbara Presents
VIET NAM: 50 YEARS ON
Join us in observing the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on:
Sunday, April 27, at 3pm
Carpinteria Community Library Arts & Lectures Room | 5141 Carpinteria Ave.
A free screening of “Last Days in Vietnam”, the 2014 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature. Written, produced, and directed by Rory Kennedy, it covers the last two chaotic months leading up to April 30, 1975 as North Vietnamese tanks and troops close in on Saigon. The few remaining U.S. diplomats and military personnel face an impossible choice: who among the thousands of South Vietnamese would be airlifted out and who is left behind. Co-presented by the Carpinteria Community Library. (Limited seating)
Wednesday, April 30, at 6pm
Carpinteria Veterans Memorial Building | 941 Walnut Avenue
“From Saigon to Hollywood via Jerusalem”. Hear a first-person account by Bihn Pham, who along with his wife, spent several years in a “re-education” camp following the fall of the South. In 1977 they, along with 50 others, escaped in the dead of night on board a boat that would be adrift at sea for several weeks. His story of escape, rescue, relocation, and eventual sponsorship to a host country is incredible. A “Talk & Talkback Series” event hosted by the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History.*
Admission: $10—Free to museum members and Veterans.
Friday, May 16, at 6pm
Carpinteria Valley Museum of History | 956 Maple Ave.
“Vietnam: In Our Own Words”. A panel of local Vietnam Veterans will speak about their experiences, how it shaped their lives and what it has meant to them over the decades since. A Q&A will follow. Another “Talk & Talkback Series” event hosted by the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History.*
Admission: $10—Free to museum members and Veterans.
*The
VVA Chapter 218 is a non-profit organization that welcomes all who served our country during the Vietnam era (1959-1975), whether they were in Vietnam or not. For more info go to: vvachapter218.org or contact Peter Bie, President at: info@vvachapter218.org
Carpinteria Valley Historical Museum is
COURTESY PHOTO
From left, Vice Mayor Mónica J. Solórzano, Diane Wondolowski, Councilmember Julia Mayer, Susan Mailheau, Luke Swetland, Pat McPartlin, Mike Wondolowski, Councilmember Al Clark, Mayor Natalia Alarcon, Chuck McPartlin, Bob Franco and Councilmember Wade T. Nomura.
CAL FIRE releases updated fire hazard maps
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has released updated fire hazard severity zones for Santa Barbara County. This was CAL FIRE’s first update since 2009, according to a press release from the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District and Santa Barbara County sent out last week.
The hazard zones are classified into one of three types: moderate, high, and very high. According to the CAL FIRE website, the zones evaluate hazard – not risk. Similar to flood zone maps, these areas are classified “in terms of the probability level of a particular area being inundated by floodwaters, and not specifically prescriptive of impacts.”
Per CAL FIRE: “‘Hazard’ is based on the physical conditions that create a likelihood and expected fire behavior over a 30 to 50-year period without considering mitigation measures such as home hardening, recent wildfire, or fuel reduction efforts. ‘Risk’ is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, accounting for any modifications such as fuel reduction projects, defensible space, and ignition resistant building construction.”
Learn more online at bit.ly/FireHazardZones.
––Evelyn Spence
The fire hazard severity zones are split into three types. Yellow zones have a moderate fire hazard; orange a high fire hazard; and red a very high fire hazard. The blue border marks fire district boundaries.
Halos& Pitchforks
Santa Via believes her stolen by Polo deputies.
Vehicle / about Sandtagged and vehicle
California
A reader sends a halo to Ryan Moore for bringing dirt back to Carpinteria.
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 halo to Carie Smith and Gina Anderson. “Thank you for making going to the dentist so much fun, and thank you to Cheryl Wright for getting me there! You are special blessings in my life!”
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 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 their wonderful, hard working neighbor Norma on Cramer Street who always greets everyone with a smile, kind words and gifts. “She brightens everybody’s day!”
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 The Food Liaison for preparing a great meal for the less fortunate in town, and to Fon Ha, Brass Bird and Carol Nichols for helping the homeless. “Food Liaison has been a constant support to our program for the last five years.”
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 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 the Casitas Village HOA, the manager Margaret, the amazing gardening and maintenance team and all of the volunteer board members. “If you have been to Casitas Village or if you live there, you see a well-maintained beautiful community. Thank you to those who work hard to make it lovely for everyone! Your work is noticed, and you are appreciated!”
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 Hal Price, Lauren Wilson, Otto Layman, Jodi Wilson and the staff of the Carpinteria Arts Center for a fabulous poetry contest and reception.
A reader sends a halo to Lance Lawhon at the Carpinteria Sanitation District for helping Kim’s Market.
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.”
The 1100 lot not was possearch located, meth. violations. contacted as off by a probashowed container felon pepper in the wanted ownership 4100 vehicle reported to Department. A was stolen, by the on the only a actual pulled the car, motel they, cited for and investigation will obtained Palm regisviolation at his License / displayrecords was suspended. The man was cited, and his vehicle was released to a licensed driver.
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 the city employees and E.J. Harrison & Sons for the annual household/hazardous waste event on April 12. “Everyone helping at the event had smiles and were very quick to help and unload. Thank you for this much needed service!”
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 to Eric Castro, the community outreach librarian at the Carpinteria Library. “Eric is always helpful and friendly and provides the city with many much-needed services. Thank you, Eric!
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 Julio at Giovanni’s Pizza. “I had an amazing experience at Giovanni’s thanks to Julio! I had a small issue and reached out, and he went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of, he didn’t need to (the error was mine). I really appreciate how Julio took the time to help me out.”
A reader sends a halo to Diana, a caregiver at Carpinteria Senior Lodge for nearly three years.
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 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 pitchfork to bicyclists who don’t stop at stop signs. “If you want to use the highway like cars do then you need to follow the same rules.”
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 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 pitchfork to the person who stole their folding Samsung phone on Thursday morning from a local coffee house. “Karma will seek you.”
A reader sends a pitchfork to those who lied on their FAFSA and took scholarships away from kids who need it.
Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com. All submissions are subject to editing.
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.
KARLSSON
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?”
What’s new at the harbor seal rookery?
This report covers April 7–13, 2025
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 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.”
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. There is no vehicle access from Dump Road.
A reader sends a pitchfork to the lifeguards braiding hair while swimmers are in the pool. “Not professional!”
A reader sends a pitchfork to the employees 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 a local pass through?”
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES
The California population of harbor seals in 1984 was about 25,000. They are found along the California Pacific Coast, relatively close to shore. They are rarely seen beyond the Channel Islands.
A reader sends a pitchfork to the Linden planters. “All the mushrooms growing there indicate too much water. Nice weed farm.”
A reader sends a pitchfork to a restaurant owner for parking his vehicle in the spots right out front of his establishment. “Shouldn’t he leave those parking spots available for his paying customers?”
They tend to move in and out with the tide — close to the cliff in high tide, and on the rock formation in low tide. They are well camouflaged when basking among the rocks, making them difficult to spot at first. They forage for food in the nearby kelp bed, searching for shrimp, krill and other small crustaceans. When the beach opens in May, due to their fear of humans and dogs, they are rarely seen during the day.
VISITORS
A reader sends a pitchfork to the City of Carpinteria for letting the bluffs turn into an ever-increasing dirt parking lot. “That is not what the bluffs were purchased for. Post No Parking signs immediately!”
A reader sends a pitchfork to the sheriff’s deputy 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.”
There were 1,729 visitors! Wow! There were still many on spring break who came to the overlook. Visitors came from Russia, England, Canada, France, Israel, Germany, Belarus, California, Oregon, Ohio, Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, Vermont, Utah, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Washington, D.C., Kansas and West Virginia.
DISTURBANCES
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 Diana Rigby, Superintendent of schools, and Debra Herrick, director of Boys & Girls Club, for removing the toxic Euphorbia fire sticks from the pots and landscape.
A reader sends a pitchfork to the pubic agencies responsible for removing the six picnic tables that were placed in the dunes parallel to the boardwalk, just south of the campground. “Was this done as a design? (...) these tables have been a fixture for many years at the beach. A welcome respite to sit and enjoy a meal or sunset with family and visitors (...) Please expedite their return before the summer. They belong to the community.”
RECORDS • POSTERS • VINYL WALL ART • THEMED APPAREL & MORE!
2:37 a.m. / Public Intoxication / Bailard Avenue
A truck on the pier, pelicans and gulls taking off, a drone, dogs and people not heeding signage, a rocket launch and a sea lion on the beach caused minor disturbances.
Submit Halos and Pitchforks online at coastalview.com All submissions are subject to editing.
MORE INFORMATION
A reader sends a pitchfork to the same class-A RV owners that rotate around living in Carp neighborhoods overnight. “Running generators, leaving trash, taking parking from tax paying residents and day-use camping from visitors is not right. You’re not invisible.”
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 7:41 a.m. / Theft / 5500 block Calle Arena
Submit Halos & Pitchforks online at coastalview.com. Submissions subject to editing.
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.
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
Please consider honoring the Marine Mammal Protection Act by not walking the sanctuary beach all year. Do not bring dogs, bicycles or loud voices to view the seals. Harbor seals, when disturbed, may flee and become separated from their pups. Volunteers asked that dogs always remain outside the rope area.
Carpinteria Seal Watch volunteers monitor our local seal rookery. More volunteers are always needed. Contact Seal Watch at carpsealwatch@gmail.com or call (805) 364-3194 if you’d like to help!
Meet Penelope the beach lover
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
Meet Penelope, a four-year-old, 73-pound sable pit bull terrier mix who is looking for her forever home. Penelope loves the beach and does great in the car; she’s also very playful and loving, Santa Barbara County Animal Services staff shared.
Staff said: “She was awesome and very sweet to everyone that she was around. She was great on the leash and loved exploring the beach. She was also very calm in the car. She is playful and loving. A fan of long walks and playing fetch. But here’s the thing — Penelope has been waiting for her home forever for too long. She’s been at the shelter since July 5, 2024, and it’s time to change that! Penelope is available to foster or adopt — and trust us, she’ll bring so much joy to your life.”
Interested in fostering or adopting Penelope? She’s at the Goleta shelter at 5473 Overpass Road. The shelter is open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Learn more online at bit.ly/PenelopeThePlayful.
Jr. Carpinterian of the Year nominees announced
Valeria Zamora Susano, Evelyn Calkins and Daisy Gemberling will receive scholarships
BY EVELYN SPENCE AND JUN STARKEY
The names of the 2024 Junior Carpinterian of the Year nominees have been released: Valeria Zamora Susano, Evelyn Calkins and Daisy Gemberling.
The three finalists, who were all born and raised in Carpinteria, have their eyes set on higher education. The trio will all receive college scholarships, funded by community donations.
These bright and dedicated Carpinteria High School (CHS) and Cate School seniors will be honored at the Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet, set for Saturday, April 26 at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. Learn more online at carpinteriacommunityassociation.org.
Evelyn Calkins
Evelyn Calkins has been heavily involved in many local clubs, including girls scouts — of which she is a 13-year member — Future Farmers of America, 4-H, the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Eureka! program, the CHS robotics team, the Rotary Club, the California Scholarship Federation and Carpinteria Dog Owners Group (C-DOG).
Calkins is also a volunteer at The Alcazar Theatre and the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center. Beyond that, she’s a student-athlete; at CHS, she has played on the varsity golf team, the varsity cheerleading team, the swim team and the softball team.
She loves to work with animals — evident by her involvement in many animal-focused groups. She’s currently raising two heifers, goats, sheep, and a turkey, and last year, she helped deliver 18 baby goats and sheep.
“I started in FFA my freshman year. It was just a class I selected. But then I fell in love,” she told Coastal View News. “Through FFA, I wanted to do even more… and now I have a plethora of breeding animals.”
She’s graduating from CHS with the class of 2025 this June, and is heading off to University of California, Davis, to study animal science and management. She’s tentatively planning to pursue veterinary medicine.
“I love Carpinteria, but I’m excited to live in the big city, and hopefully I’ll be able to bring back when I learn in Davis back to Carpinteria,” she said. “...There’s not that many livestock (veterinarians) that are in our part of California, and being a 4-H and FFA student, it can be hard to get access to a vet who is willing to come out for just one goat, so I’d love to become a vet and continue to support the FFA and 4-H clubs in our community.”
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time at the arts center, going to the beach, and baking. (Her favorite treat to bake: caramel brownies.)
Calkins said it’s a huge honor to be chosen as a 2024 Jr. Carpinterian of the Year nominee and to represent her peers. “I’m just incredibly grateful for so many people in Carpinteria who spent so much time volunteering and bleeding for our small town, and I’m excited to grow up and be one of them,” she said.
PUBLIC NOTICE
streamlined review of such projects.
/ Mixed Use to implement Program 1 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. The purpose of the RMU district is to provide areas of the City for higher density residential-only and mixed-use (commercial and residential) development, particularly as infill development, to increase the availability of workforce housing while maintaining commercial opportunities in the City’s downtown.
ORDINANCE NO. 789 (REVISED) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARPINTERIA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 14.51 OF TITLE 14 (ZONING) OF THE CARPINTERIA MUNICIPAL CODE TO CREATE NEW OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS
The proposed Ordinance No. 789 was introduced and a first reading was approved at the regular City Council meeting held on November 25, 2024. The Ordinance was adopted following a second reading at a regular City Council meeting held on December 9, 2024. The revised Ordinance was adopted following a revised second reading at a regular City Council meeting held on April 14, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: Clark, Mayer, Nomura, Solórzano, and Alarcon
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
Summary of Ordinance No. 789 (Revised): This Ordinance will amend the City’s Local Coastal Program to reflect changes to the Carpinteria Municipal Code, Title 14 - Zoning. The Ordinance adds Chapter 14.51 – Objective Design Standards to implement Program 1 of the 2023-2031 Housing Element. The purpose of the Ordinance is to provide objective design standards for certain mixed-use and multifamily residential developments in the City of Carpinteria in order to provide ministerial and/or
Valeria Zamora Susano
A photography enthusiast, Valeria Zamora Susano is a dedicated student-athlete, with four years on the tennis team and two years on the track and field team.
Zamora Susano, the youngest of four siblings, is also involved with AHA! — a nonprofi t that focuses on teens mental health — the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Eureka! program, and college access programs Mission Scholars and REACH. She interned in former First District Supervisor Das Williams’ office and worked with Evolve Equity, which focuses on public health for Indigenous communities.
She’s a first-generation college student who is headed to MacAlester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, after graduating in June with the CHS class of 2025. She’ll be studying psychology, with a concentration in cognitive science, and pursuing a minor in Latinx studies.
Zamora Susano was inspired to study psychology after attending programs with AHA! “Mental health, in my culture, has been a little stigmatized,” she told Coastal View News. “...Just being in those (AHA!) spaces where I was able to talk about mental health, that’s when I learned I wanted to go into mental health, specifically because I want to help people with whatever mental health challenge they’ve gone through.”
After visiting MacAlester College and sitting in on an Introduction to Latinx Students class, she decided to minor in Latinx studies. “(I want to) learn about my own culture, as well as tying that with psychology, helping people from minority groups open up,” she said.
She has a strong passion for photography, with a preference for disposable cameras. She takes photos of subjects that bring her joy: her friends, her family and nature.
She said she’s excited to have been chosen as a Jr. Carpinterian of the Year nominee. Before heading to college, she plans to take a fun class at Santa Barbara City College — something that involves creativity.
Daisy Gemberling
Cate School senior Daisy Gemberling has spent most of her high school years working to connect her school with the Carpinteria community — from forming an oral story-telling group for locals in early 2024, to leading Cate students through Carpinteria as part of her public service role.
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Gemberling told Coastal View News she was excited to be chosen as a nominee for Jr. Carpinterian of the Year, and honored to be nominated alongside Calkins and Zamora Susano.
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The City Council also determined that none of the conditions have occurred or exist as set forth in California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines section 15162 to require the preparation of a supplemental or subsequent Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for the subject zoning amendments, and that the Addendum to the certified 2003 Program EIR satisfies the environmental review requirements of CEQA. The City Council also found that the Coastal Commission adopted a certified regulatory program containing the necessary environmental review for the Project (Public Resources Code Section 21080.5). Finally, the City Council found that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the approval and adoption of revised Ordinance Nos. 788 and 789 are exempt from review under CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.9, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
A certified copy of the full text of the revised Ordinance Nos. 788 and 789 is posted in the Office of the City Clerk, 5775 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA and is available for review upon request. The full text can also be viewed on the City’s website under “Public Hearing & Legal Notices at https://carpinteriaca.gov/ city-hall/public-hearings-legal-notices/.”
These Ordinances shall take effect upon completion of all applicable, required actions in Section 13544(c) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and before the expiration of 15 days after their adoption, Ordinance Nos. 788 and 789, or a summary of them, shall be published once, together with the names of the members of the City Council voting for and against the same in a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of Santa Barbara.
Brian C. Barrett, CMC, CPMC, City Clerk Publish: April 17, 2025
“I’m humbled and honored that I’m held in the same esteem,” she said. “I was over the moon… I’m glad I can represent Cate and show the community that it has two great high schools.”
Gemberling has been an ambitious student since her elementary days. She attended The Howard School from fourth to eighth grade, and in 2021, she and another student founded The Howard Herald, an e-newspaper for the school which was run entirely by the two students.
In her time attending Cate School, Gemberling has followed a wide range of ambitions. She established the Cate School Archives Club, and she is currently head of the Women’s Forum, captain of the girls varsity water polo team, and serves as the Cate Public Service Night Head. She is also in the orchestra, the student librarian program and the mental health club. Last month, Gemberling was named the Santa Barbara Round Table Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Gemberling said her role in Cate’s Public Service department has helped her maintain her relationship with Carpinteria. She would lead students on excursions into town, popping by local organizations — such as the Carpinteria Children’s Project and Girl’s Inc. of Carpinteria — to volunteer, and give students a glimpse of local life. Students in the group would also visit with residents of Cornerstone House in Santa Barbara, and help with local beautification projects.
Kathleen Volpi. Letters, with two copies, should be received in the office of the Planning and Development Department a minimum of 24 hours prior to the earliest date of action by the Director identified above.
Outside of school, Gemberling has volunteered with a research group that observes Santa Barbara’s historic Japantown and Chinatown. She also applied twice to serve on the Carpinteria Community Library’s advisory commission, which she said spurred the creation of a youth representative on the commission.
Gemberling was recently accepted to Yale University, where she said she plans on studying history and chemistry. Some prospective careers Gemberling has considered involve archival work, like preserving artwork or historical artifacts.
To receive additional information regarding this project, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Kathleen Volpi at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 931012058, or by email at volpik@countyofsb. org, or by phone at (805) 568-2033.
Beyond college, Gemberling said she hopes to take her mom traveling around the world, and potentially work internationally. “I always want to support my family and Carpinteria, and I hope to move back after college,” she said.
PROPOSAL: GAMMA XI AS-BUILT DEVELOPMENT PLAN PROJECT ADDRESS: 6507 CORDOBA RD, GOLETA, CA 93117
2nd SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE
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Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to celebrate opening of new library
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria will host a grand opening ceremony for the newly remodeled John C. Mithun Foundation Library on Thursday, April 24 — during a special family night focused on literacy — from 5:30–7 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m.
The transformation of the library, which will be housed in the silo on the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria campus, was made possible through the support of the John C. Lithium Foundation, the organization said in a press release. The opening ceremony will include dinner and hands-on activities to promote literacy.
“We know that third grade reading levels are one of the most important predictors of long-term academic success,” said Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Executive Director Jamie Collins. “Thanks to the vision and generosity of the John C. Mithun Foundation, we now have a beautiful, functional space dedicated to cultivating a love of reading and learning among our youngest participants. This library will play a key role in our early literacy intervention efforts, helping us ensure that all girls have the tools they need to thrive.”
The library was designed with young readers in mind, and includes cozy reading nooks, dynamic book displays and interactive learning tools to spark imagination and support literacy development, according to Girls Inc. of Carpinteria.
“The updated library is part of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s holistic approach to youth development, which emphasizes early academic support as a foundation for long-term success,” the organization said in a press release. “Through programs that integrate literacy with social-emotional learning and family engagement, the organization continues to remove barriers to achievement for the youth it serves.”
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is located at 5315 Foothill Road. The celebration is open to the public.
Morning Rotary tours The Longevity Lab
The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning held its weekly meeting at The Longevity Lab, which opened in October 2024 at 5036 Carpinteria Ave., on Wednesday, April 9.
“We strongly believe in highlighting local businesses and their contributions to the Carpinteria community,” said the club’s Vocational Chair Kristina Calkins in a press release.
The Longevity Lab’s owner Gary Binkow, who moved to Carpinteria three years ago, spoke to club members about how his business selects products that promote health and wellness. The majority of the store’s sales are made online; currently, the physical store is open by appointment only.
“Far too many packaged foods, supplements, and cosmetics make false claims and contain unsafe ingredients,” Binkow told club members. “We work with experts to vet every product we carry.”
The Longevity Lab sells health and beauty products, nutritional supplements, mattresses, air purifiers, and even saunas. Those interested can learn more at theswellscore.com/pages/longevitylab.
Noon Rotary meets with Chevron corporate affairs advisor
The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon recently met with Mark Korte-Nahabedian, the corporate affairs advisor for Chevron Corporation, at the club’s meeting last Thursday.
Korte-Nahabedian spoke to club members about Chevron’s decommissioning work in Carpinteria and provided a general overview of the company. Chevron is also a platinum sponsor of the Rotary Club’s annual Talent Showcase.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to learn and engage with Mark, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience!” said club member Bonnie Yonker Hammett.
From left, Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning President Mary Layman and The Longevity Lab owner Gary Binkow.
The Rotary Club of Carpinteria Noon, including member Bonnie Yonker Hammett, right, recently met with Chevron’s Corporate Affairs Advisor Mark Korte-Nahabedian.
Compassionate Care of Carpinteria, an initiative of Hospice of Santa Barbara, held its annual breakfast on Tuesday, inviting community members to learn more about its free services and programs. Pictured above, at center, Hospice of Santa Barbara Director of Strategic Advancement Charles Caldwell and Community Initiatives Manager Adriana Marroquin speak to the crowd.
Sixteen years of talent
PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON AND DAVID POWDRELL
The Alcazar Theatre welcomed a talented crew once more on Saturday for the Rotary Club of Carpinteria’s annual Talent Show. There were 19 performers at the club’s 16th annual talent show, which raises money for local schools.
The instruments used in the show by the Middle School band and orchestra were donated by the Rotary Club. Over the past 16 years, the Rotary Club has raised more than $430,000 through the show, which goes towards music programs in the Carpinteria schools, as well as other youth programs.
“On behalf of the Carpinteria Community, we are so grateful to the Rotary Club of Carpinteria for their dedication to put on this event for 16 years,” the theater’s Executive Director Debbie Nomura told CVN. “The whole club is behind it, and they work throughout the year to make it happen. Other community members also help as well as provide donations.”
Rotary awards were also given out to five locals who have worked tirelessly on the show, Nomura said. They include two of the talent show founders, Roland Rotz and Daivd Powdrell; Barry Enticknap, who works on grant applications; John Welty, a lead fundraiser; and newscaster John Palminteri, who has emceed each year.
Olivia Hoffman
Madison Shaffer sings “Frozen.”
Members of the Carpinteria Middle School band included, from left, Elias Vega on the saxophone, Kira Beyer on the flute and Liam Anderson on the flute. Celeste
Lucas Christensen, with the Carpinteria Middle School Red Hawk band, is one of the newest musicians.
The Carpinteria Middle School Red Hawk string orchestra was led by Thomas Pavia.
Sixteen-year-old
Gigi Bracher
From left, James, John and Gordon Morrison with the Santa Barbara Bagpipes & Drum Corps.
From left, Rotary members David Powdrell, Roland Rotz and Wade Nomura, with emcee John Palminteri.
The Ukulele Jammers
Joanna Bell with the CSD School of Performing Arts performed gymnastics.
Celeste Felix
musicians.
From left, Sadie Crouse and Samantha Walker with the CSD School of Performing Arts.
From left, Eva Campuzano and Evelyn Ibarra with Mariachi Estrellas play violins.
Sixteen-year-old Nate Creager plays the guitar.
Local teens win climate change essay contest
Three local teens took home prizes in the Carpinteria Valley Association’s climate change essay contest: Evelyn Calkins, Anna Morrison and Luka Donahue. The contest, held in honor of the environmental advocate group’s 60th anniversary, asked teens to describe how climate change will aff ect Carpinteria and what actions should be taken, per CVA President Mike Wondolowski. The full prompt: Science tells us that burning fossil fuels is causing the world’s climate to warm, with dire consequences globally. How do you think this will affect you and all of us here in the Carpinteria Valley, and what should we do about it?
Carpinteria High School (CHS) senior Calkins, who will attend the University of California, Davis, in the fall, was awarded
the first-place $1,000 prize; Morrison, a CHS senior who will likely attend the University of British Columbia later this fall, took home the second-place prize of $750; and Donahue, a CHS freshman, won the $500 third-place prize.
“I am so excited there are so many engaged students who may well be tomorrow’s leaders. It was an honor to be a judge of their submissions,” CVA board member Susan Mailheau said in a press release sent out on Sunday.
CVA Board member Bob Franco added: “As we celebrate an amazing first 60 years, it is critical that our youth join with us if we are to prevail over climate change – the most existential threat in our lifetime. Their outstanding essays prove their commitment.”
The Future is Now, a Call to Action
BY EVELYN CALKINS, CHS SENIOR
Carpinteria has been called many things: the world’s safest beach, the best guacamole stop, a town with beautiful bluffs, but most importantly, we call it home. However, our beautiful beach haven will not remain the same if we do not work to lower our carbon footprint. We all have the power to make a difference. And like the Native American proverb says, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” We need to feel the urgency to act now with everyday green practices that will help ensure a brighter future for the youth of today. We don’t want you to look to us, the younger generation, for hope and inspiration. We didn’t ask for the weight of having to fix all the world’s problems in the future. The future is NOW, and it is all of our responsibilities to do our part.
The most exciting thing in the world to third-grade me was riding the Carpinteria trolley downtown to Robitaille’s Candy Store and the beach. This mode of public transportation was more than just a way to get around, it was an adventure, a connection to my community, and a piece of Carpinteria’s charm. But when Covid came, the trolley disappeared and with it, a piece of our town’s character vanished. Now, we have an opportunity to bring the trolley back in a way that not only restores its nostalgic value, but also benefits our environment.
Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) or federal grants designed to support clean energy transportation initiatives. These programs provide financial assistance to cities seeking to implement greener transit options, making the transition more feasible for our community. In addition to reviving our trolley system, Carpinteria can support sustainability through existing green incentive programs. The California Green Business Network of Santa Barbara County is currently offering no-cost certification for businesses looking to implement greener practices. This program provides businesses with resources and support to reduce their environmental impact, making it easier for local shops and restaurants to go green. In addition, they help businesses secure grants to help with the process of greening their practices. The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center set an amazing example and became the only business to be certified in our town! Encouraging other businesses to follow in these footsteps can create a ripple effect, encouraging a culture of sustainability that extends beyond just transportation.
While reducing the use of fossil fuels on a global scale is a daunting task, local efforts can make a great impact on our community’s carbon footprint. One step in the right direction is bringing back the Carpinteria trolley, this time as an electric vehicle. Public transportation plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A revived electric trolley system would provide an environmentally friendly alternative to gas-powered cars, lowering traffic congestion and emissions in our small town. Carpinteria residents and visitors alike could benefit from a clean, efficient, and nostalgic mode of transportation that aligns with our town’s commitment to sustainability. We were the first town to take steps in banning single-use shopping bags and plastic straws; we should strive to continue to be the leaders in sustainability. Unfortunately, switching to electric public transportation comes with financial challenges.
The cost of electric trolleys and buses is significantly higher than traditional fuel-powered vehicles. To address this, Carpinteria could pursue funding opportunities such as California’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus
Individuals can also take advantage of alternative transportation programs such as SmartRide and Traffic Solutions. SmartRide offers incentives to individuals who use green transportation methods such as biking, carpooling, or public transit, while the nonprofit Traffic Solutions, provides an emergency ride home program for those who rely on alternative transit but need a backup option in case of emergencies. By promoting these programs, Carpinteria can encourage more residents to adopt eco-friendly habits, further reducing our town’s carbon footprint.
Carpinteria’s small size gives us the amazing ability to implement change quickly and effectively. We don’t have to wait for massive nationwide policies to take action, our community has the power to make a difference right now. By taking steps to revive the Carpinteria Trolley as an electric vehicle and supporting local green initiatives, our town can set an example for sustainable living. These efforts not only help to preserve our environment but also reinforce the close-knit community that makes Carpinteria so special. It’s our job to be proactive and ensure that future generations can enjoy the beauty and charm of our home, instead of spending their entire lives attempting to fix mistakes left by past generations. We have the resources and the passion to make a change; now, we just need to act.
Fourth Grade Thoughts on Climate Change
BY ANNA MORRISON, CHS SENIOR
I first heard the words “climate change” while sitting in Ms. Hughes’s fourth and fi fth-grade classroom at Summerland School. We had just watched Planet Earth before lunchtime, and I distinctly remember heading out to the playground, feeling unexpectedly contrite for our poor planet – a strange sensation for a carefree ten-year-old who had mostly been worried about being the queen of the four-square court. Of course, at that age, I hadn’t fully grasped how dire the environmental situation had become. But climate change is very real, and it has vast implications. In the Carpinteria Valley particularly, adverse effects could include intense heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels – threatening not only our health and quality of life, but also the agriculture industry and our beloved seal sanctuary.
that small everyday choices matter, too. Without those small changes, fossil fuels will continue to be an enormous problem.
As human beings, we are constantly trying to find the most efficient way to exist. From dishwashers to cars to plastic packaging, convenience has become the cornerstone of modern life. Moving away from these comforts is clearly difficult—after all, nothing tests our species’ resilience quite like the tremendous challenge of the paper straw. We’re committed to sustainability, but ideally only when it doesn’t interfere too much with our daily routines.
One of the most noticeable eff ects of climate change in Carpinteria is the increasing frequency of heat waves and droughts during the summer months. With temperatures rising, we’re not just sweating through our beach days but also facing strained water resources. Farmers who’ve relied on consistent weather patterns for crops like strawberries and avocados now face the unpredictable wrath of nature – and unfortunately, strawberries can’t be irrigated with good intentions alone.
Another natural disaster that hits close to home is wildfire. Climate change fuels these fires by creating warmer temperatures, drier conditions, and shifting precipitation patterns, all of which contribute to longer and more intense fire seasons. Wildfires not only destroy homes and livelihoods but also degrade air quality, causing respiratory issues and impacting public health. In other words, climate change isn’t just a distant threat; it’s showing up in our skies and backyard hillsides.
The truth is, we all have a few habits that quietly contribute to the problem. Driving a few blocks instead of walking, leaving lights on for no one in particular, or tossing recyclables in the trash because the bin was “too far” might not seem like much, but they add up. Buying fast fashion like it’s meant to be disposable, running the AC with the windows open, or watering the lawn like we’re not in a drought are all small indulgences with rippling impact. And while repairing something instead of replacing it might take a bit more effort, so does rebuilding a planet. Even rethinking meat-heavy meals or choosing a reusable cup over another plastic one can be small steps toward something better. Because in the end, it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being a little less careless, one habit at a time.
Of course, individual change isn’t the whole solution. Policy and infrastructure matter.
Then there’s the issue of rising sea levels, caused by melting glaciers and ice sheets, which pose a direct threat to Carpinteria’s coastal areas. Our beach, known for its seal sanctuary, faces erosion and habitat loss as the shoreline gradually recedes. Higher sea levels can also disrupt the local fishing industries that support our economy. It’s almost as if the ocean is slowly trying to reclaim its territory. Only, we’d prefer it didn’t take Tar Pits with it.
These consequences all stem from a common source: the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, trapping heat and accelerating global warming. While legislation and investments are crucial, we often forget
Adopting water-saving technologies like rainwater harvesting in farms and homes can help ensure that what little rain we do get is used wisely. Local governments can support fire prevention programs, such as controlled burns and brush clearing, while encouraging fire-resistant landscaping and investing in firefighting technology. To prepare for rising sea levels, we can focus on infrastructure like sea walls, elevated buildings, and better drainage systems that protect both people and ecosystems.
Now, all this isn’t to say that there’s an easy, quick fix that will solve climate change just because we all start paying attention. It’s a massive, complex issue that requires time and collective action. But if each of us (yes, even the billionaires!) change one or two small things, we can slow the damage and start contributing to the solution. It may not be convenient, but it’s certainly possible. And if we get it right, maybe future fourth-graders will leave their classrooms with hope – not just guilt – about the planet they’re inheriting.
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Climate Change in Carpinteria: Local Challenges and Solutions
BY LUKE DONAHUE, CHS FRESHMAN
Carpinteria is already experiencing climate change. Summers are hotter, wildfires are more frequent, and the ocean is rising farther inland each year. This is not a global or a future problem: it is a relevant problem that we could take measures to prevent locally. Countless studies show that climate change is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which threatens the coastline and environment in Carpinteria. Wildfires are more common, sea levels are rising, and droughts are worsening, posing threats to buildings, businesses, agriculture, and the community. But if we act now to prevent these problems, like fire prevention, coastal restoration projects, and more efficient water use we could reduce these risks and lead the way for other small towns.
to stop shoreline erosion, flooding, and restore habits to improve the shoreline’s strength while using natural solutions. This is an important project because the low-lying neighborhoods and areas around Carpinteria City Beach are vulnerable to an increase in sea level, and natural solutions for this problem are crucial to restoring wildlife habits and preventing flooding and erosion.
One of the other serious problems that Carpinteria will face because of climate change is longer drought years. Global warming creates hotter and dryer conditions that lead to less rainfall and longer droughts. We get 50-70% of our water from Lake Cachuma and the rest from the State Water Project and local groundwater sources. Lack of rainfall means that local water sources are not being replenished and that makes water more expensive and harder to get from the State Water Project. Water is a crucial resource to Carpinteria because we rely on it to sustain avocado orchards and other crops which are important to the local economy. With smarter water usage and the addition of water recycling, we could be able to adapt to sustain crops and residents through long drought years. Carpinteria Valley Water District recently collaborated with the Sanitary District to create a purification system that will enable us to have steady access to water throughout droughts. The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project is a huge step in the right direction and will provide stable access to water once it is finished. In addition to this project, local residents of Carpinteria should aim to reduce unnecessary water use or switch to drought-resistant landscaping.
Carpinteria is already experiencing some of the starting effects of climate change. Increased fires are one of the more serious threats. Because of long droughts and hot dry weather caused by the warming of the Earth from greenhouse gases, plants dry out and provide an abundant source of fuel for fires. The recent fires in LA prove this. According to CAL Fire, over 6.8 million acres (about the area of Massachusetts) of land in California are hazardous for wildfires. Carpinteria itself is surrounded by high-hazard severity zones according to CAL Fire and is rated as moderate risk for wildfires in the next 30 years. These fires endanger homes, businesses, and property, which threatens the community and local economy. Steps must be taken to reduce wildfire risk, like brush clearing and mitigation to remove dry vegetation in the mountains surrounding Carpinteria. Fire-resistant landscapes surrounding buildings and homes could stop wildfires as well. The Thomas Fire in 2017 shows how fast and wide forest fires can burn in this area and the recent LA fires show how intense wildfires are becoming with climate change. Brush clearing in areas considered high risk or the implementation of fire-resistant landscapes surrounding buildings could prevent devastating wildfires here in Carpinteria.
Another problem that could affect Carpinteria is rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Many studies show that sea levels are rising because of the melting of the polar ice caps, which puts Carpinteria’s beaches and coastline in danger. The melting of ice sheets and glaciers are the major contributors to rising sea levels. Any rise in sea level could threaten Carpinteria’s coastline because it could flood, damage, or erode beaches or nearby roads or property. Sea levels are expected to rise 2.5 feet by 2060, according to predictions from the City of Santa Barbara. The Living Shoreline Project is a solution that is being used by the city of Carpinteria. The project aims
The challenges that are a result of climate change are already being felt. Wildfires, rising sea levels, increased temperatures, and frequent periods of drought are just a few of the effects addressed with potential solutions. In addition to solutions that the community can implement, individuals can also take their own steps to decrease their carbon footprint. Some of the most powerful solutions that individuals can choose to do in their daily lives include utilizing green transportation (riding bikes, walking, carpooling, etc.), shopping locally to support local businesses, using less resources like water or plastic when it is unnecessary, and also decreasing the amount that we buy. Carpinteria is already taking crucial steps to counteract the effects of climate change, like the Living Shoreline Project and the Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project, but more steps need to be taken to preserve Carpinteria’s environment and way of life. With the application of fire prevention, coastal restoration projects, and smarter water use, we will be readily prepared for problems caused by climate change.
ON THE ROAD
CVN heads home to Germany
From left, Ursula Gallenkamp-Behrmann and Jörg Behrmann recently headed to their hometown in Bremen, Germany, where they felt like visitors after spending winter in Carpinteria, Jörg said. The pair snapped a photo with their copy of Coastal View News in front of a statue of the Bremen Town Musicians. “The Bremen Town Musicians (donkey, dog, cat and cock) is a wellknown fairytale by Gebrüder Grimm,” Jörg said.
MATT DUNCAN DUNCAN’S REEL DEAL
I live in Providence, Rhode Island. It used to be a rough town, a paragon of urban depression. Then, in the late 1990s, Mayor Buddy Cianci pushed to spruce things up. Cianci was eventually jailed for assault and mafia shenanigans, then released and reelected mayor, then jailed again for financial crimes. But, hey, a lot of people like what he did for Providence.
One of the main projects was Providence Place Mall. It’s a huge structure in the heart of the city. It opened in 1999, and a lot of people loved it. Others hated it. Some locals felt like their city was being taken over by soulless suburbia. Their city was being gobbled up, commodified, drained of its interest. To them, the mall was a “monstrosity.”
So, in 2003, a group of eight artists took some of it back. Their leader was Michael Townsend. He watched as the Providence Place Mall was built, and he noticed that the weird shape of the building left some odd dead space in a wall adjacent to the parking garage.
They went to find it. The rest is “Secret Mall Apartment.”
They ducked into a crack between beams, shimmied along some concrete ledges, climbed a giant metal ladder, and there it was: a 750-foot space hidden to mallgoers eyes, utterly forgotten by builders, merchants and security alike. Townsend and his group made it home.
First, they brought in a couch. It wasn’t like shoving furniture through the front door of an apartment, though. They found another entrance to their place, through an alarmed door. When they wanted to bring big things in — like a couch — they would wait until security wasn’t looking, then prop open the door and rush everything in.
Over time, they really did turn it into home. They rigged an extension chord to who knows where in the mall, so they had electricity. They had couches, tables, a dresser, a TV, a PlayStation. They brought in tons — literally, tons — of cinder blocks and built an extra wall to their apartment. It had a door. And a lock. They really lived there.
For four years, they managed to elude security and other prying eyes, hide in plain sight, and take back what was taken. As Townsend describes it, they were barnacles on a whale — they just asked to be left alone.
They weren’t bums. They did other stuff, too. One of Townsend’s main things is tape art. Which is just what it sounds like. He takes a bunch of rolls of masking tape, goes to some spot, and makes “drawings” with it. It’s kind of like graffiti, but less permanent.
He was delighted when his bank account dipped below a dollar.
So then what’s the point? If no one is going to see the apartment, if the art is going to peel away, if they can’t make a buck off it, what’s the use? What good is it?
Art is life and life is art. That’s what Townsend says. Thinking creatively, bringing beauty into the world, cheering people up, challenging norms and conventions, finding old spaces and making them new… these things are good. Period. Enough said. No excuses required.
The alternative, one might suppose, is for them to get day jobs, make money, buy some stuff, lean into the suburban culture that the Providence Place Mall was built for, and one day retire with enough to live out their days in comfort.
But what’s the point of that?
“Secret Mall Apartment” is an inspiration. And an antidote: a blueprint, not to a secret apartment, but to a renewed livelihood. The time and effort and attention and care that Townsend and his gang put into this thing are goods in themselves. There’s nothing wrong with being passionate about something just because it’s awesome.
I teach a class on the human mind, technology and well-being. I asked my students what they are passionate about, why they are passionate about it and whether they are pursuing that passion. Many of them say no, they aren’t pursuing their passions, because that’s a luxury, and because they simply don’t have time to. Then I asked what their daily screentime average was. The answers were: five, six, seven… even 10 hours a day. Mostly passive scrolling. No effort needed, no care required.
They’ve got time to spare.
But what about resources!? Doing things costs money!
Not really — not necessarily. Townsend and his friends did it. With, like, 40 cents in his bank account.
The group did these “drawings” in various urban spaces. But they also did it — regularly, for years — in the local children’s hospital. When the Oklahoma City Bombing happened, they were there, making art for first responders. When 9/11 happened, they were there. They made over 500 tape silhouettes of fallen first responders. They put them around Manhattan in the geographical shape of hearts.
These are not well-paying jobs, of course. In fact, most of these jobs don’t pay at all. Townsend took pride in that.
Being practical isn’t practical when it sucks your soul out. Art is life and life is art. That’s at least an interesting idea. Go see this movie. I got to see it in, ironically, none other than Providence Place Mall. As I walked out of the theater to go down the escalator, I noticed that, on an adjacent wall, there was a figure — a silhouette, a “drawing.” Townsend had put it there. He added a note that there were seven more hidden around the Mall. Time to go find them.
Matt Duncan, a former Coastal View News editor, is now a philosophy professor at Rhode Island College. In his free time from philosophizing, Duncan enjoys chasing his kids around, watching movies, and playing
CVN admires the ocean in Indonesia
From left, Carpinterians Jessica and Ray Kolbe snapped a photo with their copy of Coastal View News while at the Papua Explorers Dive Resort on Gam, Raja Ampat, in Indonesia.
Mavericks dribble through town
Last Friday, Carpinteria Mavericks – a local nonprofit basketball program — ran and dribbled basketballs through downtown Carpinteria to raise money for their program. The kids, who dribbled from Carpinteria High School to the beach before shooting free-throws for two hours, are sponsored by friends and family members.
AROUND TOWN
Perfect poses
AgeWell member Stephanie Lucich poses with her four granddaughters — nineyear-old Mackenzie, seven-year-old Vera, five-year-old Ellie and 22-month-old Grace Warner — outside of the Curtis Dance School in Carpinteria. Lucich and her fellow AgeWell members toured Coastal View News last week and were given an assignment to take home: Take a photo of your favorite thing in Carpinteria. Lucich snapped this photo with her granddaughters last week, after picking two of them up from their ballot classes.
Med spa opens
From left, Dr. Jaclyn Kucharski and Lindsey Densmore celebrate the grand opening of Carpinteria Medical Spa — at 5565 Carpinteria Ave., Suite 26 — on April 10. The spa, which offers services such as wrinkle relaxers, skin rejuvenation, microneedling treatments, facials and more, officially opened April 7.
Students spot “aliens” at The Alcazar Theatre
Monday, 160
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students enrolled in the Carpinteria
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Alcazar Theatre to see “Aliens of the Deep.” The showing was organized by the school’s principal, Jamie Persoon, the theater’s Connie Geston told Coastal View News. The film, directed by James Cameron, follows a crew on
ARTCETRA
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Carpinterian to host book reading of new biography in Montecito
Carpinterian Amrita Salm will host a reading of her latest book, “All is Brahman: The Life of Sarah Fox” on Saturday, April 19, 3–4 p.m., at Tecolote Bookshop in Montecito, located at 1470 East Valley Road.
Salm’s latest book is a biography that details the life of a daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants in her search for meaning and purpose, as well as her introduction to Vedanta, her three years living in India and her spiritual development after returning to America. The book also includes over 100 unpublished letters to her and/or her sister Rebecca.
Per the publisher’s note: “Dr. Salm’s comprehensively researched biography highlights Sarah’s pivotal role in propagating Vedanta in the west, shedding light on the significant but often overlooked contributions of women in this spiritual movement. Combining scholarly rigor with engaging narrative, this book enriches the history of the Vedanta movement and honors Sarah Fox’s life and dedication.”
The reading will include a Q&A following the reading, and light refreshments will be served after the book reading and discussion. The reading is free.
“Voces
de
Old Town Carpinteria” to be shown at SLO film festival
The documentary “Voces de Old Town Carpinteria” — which highlights the experiences of Mexican students who attended Aliso School in Carpinteria before it was desegregated in 1947 — will be shown at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival on Monday, April 28, at 3:30 p.m.
The film, directed by Brent Winebrenner and Leslie Westbrook, and produced by Westbrook, follows local historian Jim Campos as he interviews several Carpinterians who lived through this segregation. The film originally premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2023.
The film will be shown at the Downtown Centre Cinemas, Screen 3, located at 888 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo. Those interested in learning more about the festival may visit slofilmfestival2025.eventive.org/welcome.
The Vonettes sing at the 2024 California Avocado Festival.
The Vonnettes at The Alcazar: April 18
The Vonnettes will host a live concert, “We Are Family,” at The Alcazar Theatre on Friday, April 18, 7:30–10 p.m. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and are available online at thealcazar.org.
“Experience the captivating harmonies and soulful melodies of The Vonettes, a dynamic band composed of talented soul sisters,” per the Alcazar’s description of the event. “Join us as we come together to revel in all the goodness life has to offer through music and unity.”
The theater is located at 4916 Carpinteria Ave. Learn more online at thealcazar.org.
Eight-year-old Frieda, top, and six-year-old Frances Whitaker-Pluskovich brought life to the pavement during the 2024 Chalk Walk.
Carp Chalk Walk 2025: May 17–18
The annual Carp Chalk Walk, hosted by The Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center and Muralism — a nonprofit that offers work experience to adults with disabilities will take over Carpinteria’s sidewalks again on May 17 and 18.
The event is open to individuals and groups, and supplies will be available for pickup at the arts center, at 865 Linden Ave., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days.
“We are so excited to bring back the magic of the Carp Chalk Walk and celebrate the incredible creativity within our community,” said Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center Executive Director Kristina Calkins. “This is a wonderful opportunity for artists of every age and skill level to shine and add their unique touch of color to our beautiful downtown streets.”
Participants will create their pieces on the sidewalks along Linden and Carpinteria avenues, and organizers and volunteers will provide colored chalk and point participants to available locations. The event is sponsored by the city of Carpinteria, the Downtown “T” Business Advisory Board, Carpinteria Beautiful, Megan Isaac (Slingshot Studio Artist) and Carpinteria Dog Owners Group (C-DOG).
“The Carp Chalk Walk is a truly fantastic way to activate our public spaces and bring people together through the power of art,” said Muralism’s Executive Director Ernie Merlan. “We will create a vibrant outdoor gallery where residents and visitors can stroll, admire the artwork, and support our local businesses along the way.” Any participating minors must be accompanied by an adult. Those interested in registering can secure a spot online at carpinteriaartscenter.org/carpchalkwalk.
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“All is Brahman: The Life of Sarah Fox” by Amrita Salm
CVN
CALENDAR
Thursday, April 17
English Language Conversation Group / Grupo de Conversación en Inglés Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 8:30–10 a.m. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
One-on-One Tech Help Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Reserve a 30-minute appointment. carpinterialibrary.org, (805) 684-4314
Meeting: MTD Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. 6 p.m. MTD looking for feedback on proposed route changes. sbmtd.gov/ servicechanges
Sandpiper Community Bingo Sandpiper Community Clubhouse, 3950 Via Real. 6:30 p.m. Fourth Wednesday of the month. $5 for six cards and five games. (310) 403-9973
ONGOING
Senior Nutrition Program Carpinteria Veterans Hall, 941 Walnut Ave. Monday–Friday, 12:15 p.m. No cost for seniors ages 60+. (805) 925-9554, meals@centralcoastseniors.org
The Weekly Crossword
Thursday, March 14
by Margie E. Burke
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
CVCC Lunch & Learn, noon-1 p.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., 684-5479 x10. The Peace Vigil, 5-6 p.m., corner of linden & Carpinteria Ave. Music in our Schools Month Concert, 7:30 p.m., CHS cafeteria, 4810 foothill road, 684-4701
Back Track, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811
Saturday, March 16
Carpinteria Salt Marsh docent led tours, 10 a.m., free walks start from the park sign, 684-8077
Magicarp Pokemon League, 11 a.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., (619) 972-3467 Energy Balancing, 2-4 p.m., Curious Cup, 929 linden Ave., free “The Quiet Man,” 8 p.m., Plaza Playhouse theater, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., $5
The Groovie Line, 9 p.m., the Palms, 701 linden Ave., 684-3811
Monday, March 18
Women of Inspiration, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Girls inc. of Carpinteria, 5315 foothill 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
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.
Each Sudoku has a unique solution that can be reached logically without guessing. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.
the storage unit, there were no signs of forced entry and only his elderly father, and storage facility staff had the combination. The stolen firearm was entered into CLETS.
Wednesday, April 9
0030 hrs / Incident / Carpinteria Avenue and Vallecito Road
Deputies conducted a traffic enforcement bike stop on a subject. A search of his belongings revealed multiple marijuana products, for which he was cited and the products were seized.
1836 hrs / Restraining Order / 4700 block Ninth Street
CArPiNteriA VAlley MuSeuM of HiStory
Built in the 1950s, La Casa Del Sol Motel offered travelers a warm bed and a roof over their heads with simple rooms alongside Coast Highway, now Carpinteria Avenue.
Deputies were dispatched to investigate a possible disturbance involving seven to eight individuals. The reporting party believed the incident might be gang related. The involved parties were seen entering a white sedan, with some also in a white van. Deputies located the van on Dahlia Court and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, six juveniles were contacted. The juveniles were not very forthcoming about the incident but mentioned that they had chased a male from Ventura out of the neighborhood. They further indicated that no physical altercation occurred, and that the confrontation was solely verbal. The juvenile driving the vehicle was unlicensed and was cited. Deputies gathered each juvenile’s information, and a report will be authored.
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.
Monday, April 7
0921 hrs / Graffiti / 800 block Linden Avenue
Deputies were called for a violation of a served domestic violation restraining order. The subject was located, arrested and transported to jail without further incident.
Thursday, April 10
Attentive attempt
The owners of a local store came to the station to report the discovery of graffiti on the back of a building.
1200 hrs / Incident / Via Real and Santa Ynez Avenue
after earthquake fears prompted the demolition of two-story Carpinteria union Grammar and High school in 1936, students were relocated to a school made up of 10 wood-framed, canvas-sided tents. Grades one through eight were housed one to each tent, with the kindergartners occupying a room in a nearby church. the ninth and 10th tents were used for the administration and miscellany.
He said, she said Bring on the funny!
1904 hrs / Parole Search / Ogan Road
Send us your best caption for this photo by Monday, March 25.
Deputies conducted a parole search on Ogan Road. Items were seized related to the parole terms and forwarded to his parole officer for follow-up.
A subject was contacted while passed out near the Via Real and Santa Ynez Avenue bus stop. He was on the sidewalk blocking the road and had eight empty 50 ml containers of whiskey around him and one full one on his person. He had no idea where he was and was arrested.
2330 hrs / Incident / 4800 block Ninth Street
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.
1730 hrs / Collision / 4200 block Via Real
lescher Dowling attended the tent school and many years later wrote about the experience in “the Grapevine,” the newsletter for the Carpinteria Valley Historical society. lescher recalled the initial novelty of attending the tent school that was constructed on the corner of the union school campus, near the intersection of palm avenue and 8th street. students founds thrills in the crashing, crumbling union school as workers tore down the building while the students attended the adjacent canvas-walled classes.
The reporting party was pulling out of a gas station in his rental vehicle when a juvenile, riding his e-bike at a high rate of speed on the sidewalk, struck the front side of the vehicle, causing some damage.
When cold weather set in, however, the tents lost their novelty. “in a severe storm, wind whipped rain under the top canvas flap, soon soaking through the second layer and dripping onto tables in the classroom … another problem with the inclement weather was the heat. those closest to the heater were in shirt sleeves while those at the corners of the room had to wear their coats,” lescher recounted.
Friday, April 11
The reporting party called to report on April 3, a known subject entered his property and stood in the entry way of his front door. The subject did not enter the residence. The reporting party told the man to leave his property and the man did without incident. Due to previous issues, the reporting party wanted an incident report.
1831 hrs / Noise / 5000 block Sixth Street
in January 1937, a $77,000 bond election for a new school failed and the entire school board resigned. in august of that same year, a new school board passed a bond election, paving the way for what would become Main school.
He said, she said Bring on the funny!
of
0232 hrs / Warrant / 5700 block Via Real
open Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 956 Maple Ave.
Send us your best caption for this photo by Monday, June 27.
Deputies contacted a subject. A records check indicated the subject had multiple misdemeanor warrants. The subject was transported and booked into jail without further incident.
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.
Tuesday, April 8
The reporting party called to complain about the live music at a local brewery. The music was a very reasonable volume, and there were no other complainants, but the reporting party believed the brewery was in violation of their permit. Upon review of CC’s 5.40 Live Performance and 9.70 Public Nuisance, it appeared there was no violation. The reporting party called about 90 minutes later regarding the same thing.
To learn more about Carpinteria’s unique and interesting past, visit the 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.
0735 hrs / Collision / 4400 Carpinteria Avenue
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. 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.
Saturday, April 12
2047 hrs / Incident / 1200 block Franciscan Court
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
Friday, March 15
Deputies responded to an ongoing neighbor dispute. A report was taken, and a follow-up will be completed by patrol to obtain a statement from the suspect.
City of Carpinteria Architectural Review Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5405
2205 hrs / Missing Diver / Santa Cruz Island
Monday, March 18
Deputies responded to a local mobile home park for a reported pedestrian and vehicle incident. Deputies found the pedestrian was a fiv e-year-old juvenile who was walking with her caregiver to school. AMR1 arrived and provided medical treatment to the juvenile and her father arrived at the scene later and transported her to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. After investigating, it was determined that the driver of the vehicle was mostly at fault for making an unsafe turn.
• PET • teria
SB S. County Architectural Board of Review meeting, 9 a.m., 123 e. Anapamu St., rm. 17, Santa Barbara
1123 hrs / Theft / 1200 block Cravens Lane
The reporting party called to report that his firearm, a Glock 21, had been stolen from his storage unit. Upon inspecting
Ongoing
More than 30 area units were advised that the U.S. Coast Guard was conducting a search of Santa Cruz Island for a missing diver and requested Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office (SBSO) assistance. It was a male left the Santa Barbara Harbor on April 9, at approximately 0900 hours on his boat. It is believed he was alone on the vessel. When he failed to appear at work, See RECAP continued on page 31
SB County Zoning Administrator meeting, 9:30 a.m., 123 e. Anapamu St., rm. 17, Santa Barbara, 568-2000 Tuesday, March 19
SB County Board of Supervisors meeting, 9 a.m., Board of Supervisors Conference rm., 105 e. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, 568-2000 Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Board meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council Chambers, City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., 684-5405
Tell us about your pet and send us a picture, too. Favorite snacks, special tricks, nicknames, let all of Carpinteria know about your furry, feathered or scaly family member.
County Supervisor Salud Carbajal drop in office hours, friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Carpinteria Children’s Project at Main, 5201 8th St. rm. 101, 568-2186
Email news@coastalview.com
CArPiNtEriA VALLEy MusEuM of History
Carpinteria Valley MuseuM of History
A canine conundrum
CVN
SEAWITCH
Dear In a Canine Conundrum,
One of the many joys of living in Carpinteria is the no shortage of family and friends happy to visit us, oftentimes spending more nights than many of us would like. It’s one of the high prices we pay to live in paradise.
AMY OROZCO
Dear Amy O., My brother and family will stay with me for an extended Memorial Day weekend. By family I mean my brother, sister-in-law, and their dog Teddy, a very sweet, medium-sized, brown short-hair rescue who does not shed and whom I
Clear and direct communication is one of the ways to offset that cost-of-living price point. Actually, clear and direct communication is a way to offset lots of the burdens and mild annoyances the universe puts in our path(s), but for now, we’ll stick with Teddy.
Will there be repercussions? Yeah, most likely. Are you going to feel awkward? Definitely. However, it’s your home. You are the one who gets to decide what goes on under your roof, and you are the one who gets to deal with the consequences.
Will there be repercussions? Yeah, most likely. Are you going to feel awkward? Definitely.
Don’t get me wrong, I love animals. I’m not allergic. I’m not afraid of dogs. Last time the three of them visited, Teddy was perfectly behaved. And he was the time before that and the time before that. There’s no good reason for me to not want
Must I allow Teddy to visit?
What do I do or say without creating any ill will or hurt feelings. My brother and I have a nice relationship. While my sister-in-law and I aren’t as close as sisters, we enjoy a nice relationship too. I’d like to keep things this way.
Here’s a paraphrase of Dear Abby’s take on the issue: Your problem is having allowed this for so long without speaking up. The solution now is to either stop hosting your brother and sister-in-law or to ask them not to bring Teddy because you don’t want him there. This may seem “ruff,” but you have got to do it.
Aside from the play on words with “ruff,” I think ol’ Abby could have suggested something a little less direct.
I’m not suggesting a little white lie, like “it’s the funniest thing, turns out I’m allergic to dogs.” Rather something more along the lines of “I really miss just the three of us being together.”
However, it’s your home. You are the one who gets to decide what goes on under your roof, and you are the one who gets to deal with the consequences.
ing some childhood grudge and it’s your brother you’d like to stay home?
When you have that all sorted out, decide your course of action. Then put on your big girl pants and do what needs to be done. Whether the issue is Teddy or something else that Teddy has been taking the blame for all these years, congratulations for taking action. Best of luck to you.
Former CVN editor Amy Marie Orozco loves living in Carpinteria, including all the sometimes socially sticky situations happening in our seaside setting. Have a question for her? Email it to news@coastalview.com.
Signed, In a Canine Conundrum
Maybe you could soften things up a bit with the names of a Carpinteria-based dogsitter or kennel for Teddy, so he’d be close by and you’d get a few pockets of solitude when brother and sister-in-law go visit him.
In summation, you asked must you allow Teddy to visit and what do you do or say without creating any ill will or hurt feelings. No, you don’t have to allow Teddy to visit. As for what to do or say, stew on it. Make sure it’s Teddy you don’t want to visit before saying or doing anything. Are you scapegoating him because, for example, you’re harbor-
THROWBACK
Arthur Miller Clark, Carpinteria editor and author
BY JIM CAMPOS
Editor’s Note: A version of this article originally ran in CVN Vol. 26, No. 31, on April 23, 2020.
In the fall of 1965, I was a senior at Carpinteria High School (CHS). We had an exciting football team, always a good thing for what was once a football-crazed town. And there was a hotly contested election going on! Would Carpinteria be incorporated into a city, yes, or no? The yes vote won, and Carpinteria would have a mayor, city council, and a police force of its own — the key issue in the election.
As fate would have it, our government teacher at CHS, Allan Coates, was the top vote-getter in the election, and was installed as the city’s first mayor. The rest of the first city council was Dr. Jim Gray, Margaret Mills, Robert “Olly” Olivas and Ernie Wullbrandt.
Now that Carpinteria was a city, the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD) decided to have its students bone up on the history of the valley.
“From Grove to Cove to Grove” (1962) was selected for that purpose and distributed in Mr. Coates’ government class. It was written by Arthur Miller Clark, former owner, editor and publisher of the Carpinteria Herald, and its predecessor the Carpinteria Valley News. Does anyone else see a familiarity in the older weekly masthead title to the current CVN?
Clark’s book was a curious read. It opened with an account of the lost continents of Atlantis and Lemuria and how they related to our Carpinteria Valley paradise. In a brief 93 pages, Clark meandered through events and stories, some, like the first chapter, zany, and some with questionable source material. Two chapters were given the same number (Chapter Four). Dates for events were rarely cited. There was no bibliography. And, worst of all, no index was provided to help the reader look up key dates, names and events. David Griggs, former Carpinteria Valley Museum of History curator, remembers reading it before interviewing for the curator’s position in 1986 and thinking “What in the world is this?!”
Actually, Clark played a serious role in the annals of Carpinteria history. In 1913, he bought out Carpinteria’s first weekly newspaper, the Carpinteria Valley News (CVN) that was started in 1911 Because he was in the military service at the time, involved in the Great War, WWI, he assigned two people in 1917 to edit the Carpinteria Valley News in his absence. Upon his return in 1919, however, the paper was in disarray. He changed its name to the Carpinteria Herald (1920) and built an office for it on Linden Avenue where today’s Carpinteria Arts Center now exists. The Herald would be Carpinteria’s main news source for the next 75 years, although Clark got off to a rocky start with it.
In 1921, Clark published an editorial about “uniformed slackers,” which drew the ire of some of the members of the Carpinteria chapter of the American Legion, who viewed the editorial as directed at them. Clark’s rank in the military was as a PFC in Battery C144 Field Artillery, so he wrote from a vested interest in the subject.
Six members of the legion visited him in his Linden Avenue office soon after, as he was preparing the next issue of the Herald. The Legionnaire’s dragged him across the street to the American Legion Hall and proceeded to give him 50 lashes with a rawhide whip (May 18, Los Angeles Times). Later, the whip was clarified to a rawhide quirt used on horses, but inflicted pain, nonetheless. Clark filed a complaint, and the state commander of the American Legion, Burton R. Fitts, suspended the charter of the Carpinteria group.
Visiting Carpinteria, upon further review, however, Commander Fitts reversed his decision saying that Clark got exactly what he deserved with the rawhide whipping! (Ventura Free Press, July 15, 1921). Clark withdrew his complaint, but he did add that he hoped the local chapter would not devolve into the violent nature of the Ku Klux Klan, which was apparently active around the Carpinteria area at the time.
In 1945, Clark’s health was failing him. He retained ownership of the Herald but handed the reins of editor/publisher to a carousel of people who kept the newspaper going. They were Donald Baker, Kenneth P. Knight and Florence Andersen, in that order. One of Clark’s final editorials (Jan. 5, 1945), however, saw him out the door in controversy once more. The United States had lifted the Japanese internment ban and released them from concentration camps. They were free to
Do you have a photo from Carpinteria’s past? Contact news@coastalview.com to share it with other readers!
ABOVE: Clark built the Carpinteria Herald office on Linden Avenue in 1920. In 1921, he was dragged out of the building by Carpinteria American Legionnaires who objected to one of his editorials. He received 50 lashes from a rawhide quirt at the American Legion Hall.
LEFT: Arthur Miller Clark was the publisher and editor of the Carpinteria Herald from 1920–1945. Before that he led the Carpinteria Valley News beginning in 1913. He published a book on Carpinteria history in 1962. Pictured here, he served as a PFC in the Battery C144 Field Artillery in World War I.
return to the west coast, and were, in fact, encouraged to do so.
Clark let it be known in the Herald that in his opinion this was a huge mistake, using racial epithets and focusing on what he called an untrustworthy nature. “Everybody knows that,” he wrote.
In 1949, Gordon Lord took the reins of the Carpinteria Herald Clark still was listed as the Herald’s owner. He wrote a letter to the Herald just prior to Lord’s first issue, saying he was feeling fit again and was ready to lead the Herald once more. The courts said differently, however, and Lord began a 17-year run with the Herald Lord immediately made some changes to the content of the newspaper. Sports figured a little more prominently, and he tried to reach out to the Mexican American community. He hired high school senior Concha Castillo, an honor roll student, to write a weekly society column in Spanish, and do articles as well, for example, on the renewal of bracero labor contracts from Carpinteria to Goleta in Santa Barbara County.
As for Arthur Miller Clark, now that he was no longer the editor/publisher of the Herald, he turned his attention to writing a history of the Carpinteria Valley, which turned out to be “From Grove to Cove to Grove” that the CHS Class of 1966 was encouraged to read, probably as an extra credit assignment.
Clark’s attempt at writing Carpinteria history fell woefully short in both volume and content in “From Grove to Cove to Grove,” in my opinion. However, he had earlier published a one-of-a-kind Carpinteria-Summerland Directory, that included a brief Carpinteria Valley history, in 1940. In it, he demonstrated that he was fully capable of writing a solid and informative account of Carpinteria history.
For those wishing to read comprehensive histories of Carpinteria, “From Grove to Cove to Grove,” notwithstanding,” one can turn to Georgia Stockton’s “La Carpinteria,” published in 1960, or Jayne Cravens Caldwell’s two-volume
teachers recommended to Lord that she write a weekly society column in a change of direction for the newspaper.
“Carpinteria As It Was,” published in ’79 and ’82. These are wonderful accounts, fully detailed and with indexes. As for Mr. Clark, who reported on so much Carpinteria history during his lifetime in the Carpinteria Herald, we can only wonder what just might have been.
Jim Campos is a native born Carpinterian. Upon retiring from a 35-year career with the Carpinteria Unified School District in 2006, he joined a group of local historians to publish two pictorial history books on Carpinteria. Jim’s curiosity of local history grew from that experience. He is currently serving on the Carpinteria Cultural Foundation which honors the achievements and contributions of Carpinteria’s diverse community. He is also on the board of the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History, where he writes occasional in-depth articles. In 2020, Jim wrote an entire year of columns for CVN’s Throwback Thursday.
COURTESY PHOTO
CARPINTERIA VALLEY MUSEUM OF HISTORY
COURTESY CONCHA CASTILLO ORDAZ Concha Castillo Ordaz was a senior at Carpinteria High School (CHS) when Gordon Lord took over the Carpinteria Herald in 1949. CHS
APRIL 17, 2025
Izzy Scott helped the girls 4x400 relay team claim a win after competing for the Warriors’ swim team earlier in the day. CENTER: Averi Alexander took first place wins in both the long jump and triple jump. RIGHT:
Suarez gets over the bar in the boys high jump.
Warriors track and field takes on Fillmore
Carpinteria’s girls track and field team now first place in league standings
BY RYAN P. CRUZ
PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING
Carpinteria track and field hosted Fillmore for a dual meet on April 10 at Carpinteria Valley Memorial Stadium. After a long day of competition, the teams split results, with Fillmore taking the 79-56 win in the boys scores, while the Carpinteria girls advanced to 5-0 in league meets with a decisive 87-39 team victory.
Heading into the meet, the Carpinteria girls track and field team was undefeated in head-to-head meets against Citrus Coast League opponents. With the team win over Fillmore, the Warriors girls team remained undefeated and claimed sole possession of first place in the league standings.
The Warriors girls athletes won 12 out of 15 total events on the day. Junior Vivian Huskins claimed two individual wins, setting a new personal record of 13.13 in the 100-meter race and running a seasonal best time of 27.34 in the 200-meter sprint. Huskins was also part of the Warriors’ 4x100 relay team, setting a new seasonal best alongside teammates Kaydance Gardner, Anna Morrison and Averi Alexander.
The girls 4x400 relay team — with Gardner, Giarys Gomez, Halleh Gahan and Izzy Scott — also took the win while setting a new seasonal best time of 4:18.15.
Carpinteria’s girls were dominant in multiple individual track and field events. Alexander, who ran in the girls 4x100 relay, also took individual wins in both the long jump and triple jump. Scott, who ran with the girls in the 4x100 relay win (and also competed for the girls swim team earlier that same day), took another individual win with a new personal record time of 50.57 in the girls 300-meter hurdles.
Junior long-distance specialist Kiana Kiah took two wins — setting new personal records in both the 800-meter and 1600-meter races — while sophomore Jaqueline Guadian took the top spot in the 3200-meter race. Senior Melanie Avalos continued her stellar season in the throws with another pair of first-place finishes in both the shot put and discus.
Warriors girls Kiana Kiah, Jaqueline Guadian, and Mila Martins take off in the 1600-meter race.
While the Carpinteria boys did not take the win in the overall team scores, several Warriors boys turned in strong individual performances.
Senior Joel De Lira returned from an injury to compete and win both the boys 1600-meter and 3200-meter races, with new seasonal best records in both races.
In the boys 110-meter-high hurdles, senior Nathan Carrillo took first place and set a new personal record time of 18.96. Over in the field events, senior Sawyer Kelly took the win and set a new personal record in the boys triple jump, while junior Jeremy Haines took the top spot in the pole vault with a personal
record clearance.
“It was a great day for the Warriors,” said Carpinteria coach Van Latham. “The girls are in the driver’s seat for the league championship with one more dual meet left on the schedule. The team chemistry continues to build.”
Later this week, Carpinteria track and field will host its largest sporting event of the year, with hundreds of athletes representing dozens of schools across Southern California set to visit Carpinteria High School for the 105th Russell Cup on Saturday, April 19.
LEFT:
Carlo
SHORT STOPS
BY RYAN P. CRUZ
Evelyn Aviles-Moreno rounds third base off a double by Alondra Carillo.
Carpinteria softball battles through tough stretch
Carpinteria’s softball team continues to battle through tough competition, with the team improving each week despite the Warriors not quite being able to break through for their first win of the year.
The Warriors scored at least four runs in each of their last three games, but in all three of those games Carpinteria ended up on the losing end with opponents averaging more than 15 runs.
Carpinteria played a two-game set on back-to-back days against Channel Islands on April 8-9. In the first game hosted by Carpinteria, the visiting Raiders took an early lead with a six-run rally in the first inning. The Warriors’ offense responded with five straight runs to bring the score to 5-6 before Channel Islands reclaimed the lead with a big fourth inning to claim the win 15-5.
Despite the loss, Carpinteria had a lot to be proud of on the offensive side, with senior Savannah Cardenas finishing three-for-three, junior Sophia Santana cracking off two hits, and at least six more Warriors players adding hits.
The next day, the Warriors traveled to Oxnard for a rematch with Channel Islands. In this game, Carpinteria got off to a hot start, scoring two runs in the first inning thanks to a double from senior Cassandra Vergara. Channel Islands took back the lead, while Carpinteria clawed back with two more runs in the fourth inning.
The Warriors built momentum late in the game, at one point loading the bases with no outs in the fifth inning, but Channel Islands was ultimately able to close out the inning and go on another run to take the win by a final score of 15-4.
Carpinteria is still looking for its first win of the year as the team prepares for its next test against Santa Ynez this week.
“The Warriors continue to improve both in offense and defense, getting hits and runs, learning the game, and having fun,” said Carpinteria coach Tammy Nelson.
Warriors baseball picks up another win
Carpinteria baseball picked up one win in its last two games, with the Warriors rebounding from a loss to Malibu on April 10 with a win over Santa Maria the next day on April 11.
The Warriors were on the losing end of a low-scoring game against Malibu, which was the second of their two-game series this season. Carpinteria beat the Sharks in their first matchup, but on April 10 it was Malibu’s pitcher Greyson Polatin who made the difference, holding Carpinteria to only one run on the way to a 3-1 victory for Malibu.
Polatin worked his way out of some intense moments, closing out several innings in which the Warriors were poised to score with runners on third base.
“The good news is that we had a good approach against a good pitcher and created some really good opportunities,” said Carpinteria coach Pat Cooney. “The bad news is that we were unable to put competitive at bats together when we had good chances.”
Despite the loss, the Warriors had some bright spots to celebrate. Junior pitcher Gabe Martinez held strong on the mound, surrendering just one earned run and keeping the Sharks at bay with a mixed bag of pitches. On the offensive end, junior Dallas Bartholic got the team going with two hits and scored the team’s only run of the game.
“It felt a bit like we let one slip through our fingers,” Cooney said. “That part is frustrating but we are starting to see good things in the eyes of our teammates.”
The Warriors hosted Santa Maria the next day, where Carpinteria scored early and often to cruise to a 10-2 victory.
Carpinteria scored four runs in the first inning in a rally set off by a leadoff double from freshman Jonah Hernandez. The Warriors scored six more runs over the rest of the game, with three different players turning in multiple hits.
“The team had a good day at the park,” Cooney said. “The offense was on the attack early and scored some runs by executing with runners in scoring position… It’s amazing what a difference a day makes.”
Carpinteria is now 7-9 overall as the Warriors prepare for a home-and-away series against Santa Ynez.
Carpinteria swimmers set new records
Warriors swimmers competed at the first-ever Tri-County Swim & Dive Invitational in Goleta on April 10, where Carpinteria’s swimmers had a record-setting day with multiple personal record times and two all-time school records.
Carpinteria swimmers accounted for 29 season best times, including new season record times for three different relay races. The Warriors also broke two school records, with junior Jake Ehlers beating a 10-year-old 500 freestyle record set by Noah Reed, improving the time by a whole four seconds.
Senior Giulia Piccoletti set a new all-time school record in the 100-yard breaststroke, beating her own school record she set last season.
Two of Carpinteria’s boys relay teams earned CIF consideration times, with the quartet of Ehlers, Stefano Piccoletti, Sky Korling and Jacob Otsuki taking fourth place in the 200-yard medley relay and the team of Otsuki, Korling, Ehlers and Lucas Martin setting a new season best time in the 4x50 freestyle relay.
Warriors tennis gains momentum in league
Carpinteria boys tennis overcame adversity to pull together a 10-8 win over Nordhoff on April 14, moving the Warriors up the Citrus Coast League standings and keeping the team in the hunt for the playoffs.
The Warriors won five sets in singles and five in doubles, with Lucas Martin pulling out a 3-0 sweep in singles play, while the duos of Elio Taha with John Morrison and Servando Campuzano with Ethan Almgren picked up wins in doubles.
“Overall, this was a victory based on how the boys believed in themselves and one another, and how much they wanted to come away with a win to keep us in the hunt for not just the playoffs but first place,” said Carpinteria coach Charles Bryant. “I was so impressed with them today!”
Carpinteria is now 5-7 overall and 5-2 in the Citrus Coast League heading into a home match against Simi Valley this week.
Carpinteria volleyball pulls out two sweeps
Carpinteria boys volleyball won two of its last three matches, with the Warriors turning in 3-0 sweeps in both of the victories.
On April 10, Carpinteria swept the Hueneme Vikings in three straight sets (25-22, 25-17, 25-23), led by Jesus “Chuy” Reyes and Kevin Bernal — who each went on eight-point serving streaks — and Alariuziel Rodriguez with 24 digs.
The next day, the Warriors lost in a four-set match to Pioneer Valley. Carpinteria claimed the first set, 25-22, before Pioneer claimed the next three in a row to take the win three sets to one.
The Warriors recovered with a win in their next match on April 15, where Carpinteria swept Nordhoff in three straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-23). In this win, five different Warriors — Rodriguez, Rafael Cintura, Rafael Montes, Jesus Campuzano and Cole Rowbottom — all finished with five kills.
“This match meant a lot to us, as we had been tied with Nordhoff for a playoff spot,” said Carpinteria coach Favian Muralles. “While the win doesn’t guarantee us a place just yet, it puts us in a much more comfortable position moving forward. It also felt good to redeem ourselves after losing to them in five sets earlier this season.”
Carpinteria is now 5-4 against league opponents, as the Warriors prepare for a crosstown rivalry match against Cate on Friday, April 18.
boys tennis won three more matches to advance to 7-1 on the season.
Cate Rams roundup
Cate School athletics was back in full swing, with a busy week of competition in baseball, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball and swimming.
Cate baseball grabbed a 6-1 win over Villanova Prep thanks to a historic no-hitter tossed by senior pitcher Peter Lehman, who struck out 14 batters in the first no-hitter for Cate since 2019.
“Peter was outstanding today,” said Cate coach David Soto. “He was in cruise control all afternoon and never felt rattled. The defense was great today. Our offense did some good things as well. This team is a few tweaks away from firing on all cylinders. We hope to be playing our best baseball at the end of the season.”
Cate boys tennis won its last three matches, advancing to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the Tri-Valley League. The Rams defeated Villanova Prep 16-2 on April 8, won with a perfect 18-0 sweep over Bishop Diego on April 9, then took a third win in a row 12-6 over Foothill Tech on April 14.
In the pool, the Rams swim team broke five school records at the Tri-County Invitational, where the boys team finished second overall. Sophomore Josiah Hansen set a new school record in the 100-yard backstroke and helped the boys win the 200yard medley relay. Sophomore Emi Kanda-Gleeson set new school records in the 200 individual medley and 100-yard backstroke, then she joined teammates Jen Won, RAMS continued on page 31
ROSANA SWING
COURTESY PHOTO
Cate
RAMS:
continued from page 30
Rogers and Maddie Kollock to set the new record in the girls 400 freestyle relay.
Cate’s boys lacrosse team picked up back-to-back wins on the road, defeating San Marcos 10-5 on April 10 and taking a 9-7 victory over Newbury Park on April 14. The Rams are now 4-4 overall and 3-3 in league play, and the team is starting to find its rhythm with senior Cody Mast becoming a leader with a hat trick in the win against San Marcos.
The Rams girls lacrosse team also has a 4-4 overall record, though the girls team is currently in the middle of a three-game losing streak. They will look to get back on track this week with games against Nordhoff and Santa Barbara.
Cate boys volleyball is in the midst of a similar tough stretch, with the Rams losing six matches in a row. Despite the losses, the team has turned in some standout individual performances, with senior Mack Nieman emerging as a consistent offensive force, leading the team in kills in two straight matches.
COMMANDER’S RECAP:
continued from page 24
they contacted the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard had been searching for him since 0800 hours. At approximately 1538 hours, the boat was located floating south of Santa Cruz Island, vacant. On board, Coast Guard located personal effects, his clothing was folded neatly, and one dive tank was missing. The vessel’s batteries were dead, so the boat was towed to Santa Barbara Harbor. At the harbor they recharged the batteries and per the boat’s GPS, the boat was last anchored north of Santa Cruz Island. They believe at some point the boat broke anchor and floated south with the tide. The Coast Guard stated boats and aircraft were checking the island but requested a land search by SBSO. Search and Rescue was contacted, and a team will fly to the island on the morning of April 13, to begin the land search. A missing person’s report was authored, and he was entered into MUPS. At this time, the investigation will remain with the U.S. Coast Guard and SBSO Search and Rescue.
ON DECK
Thursday, April 17
*Carpinteria Tennis vs Simi Valley, 3 p.m.
Carpinteria Softball at Santa Ynez, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, April 18
Carpinteria Baseball at Santa Ynez, 3:30 p.m.
*Carpinteria Boys Volleyball vs Cate, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 19
Carpinteria Track & Field hosts 105th Russell Cup, 9 a.m.
*Denotes Home Game
The emotional power of exercise
JOYFUL AGING
LESLIE
SOKOL
Many powerful things happen when you exercise. Your emotions and overall well-being improve significantly, and the benefits are truly endless. Regular physical activity greatly enhances our mental and emotional health. As we age, it becomes even more imperative to stay active and maintain a social, physical lifestyle. Movement changes mood — it helps reduce anxiety, depression, fatigue, loneliness and many of the insecurities we all experience from time to time.
Older adults regulate their emotions more effectively than younger people by maintaining positive feelings and reducing negative ones. As we age, we place greater value on emotionally meaningful goals and invest more cognitive and behavioral resources in achieving them.
Mind and body exercise not only improves the quality of life for older adults but also enhances it indirectly by strengthening perceived social support and psychological resilience. Yet the connection between emotional and physical well-being is often overlooked. The strong link between how we feel emotionally and the effect it can have on our physical health — and vice versa — is important to understand. Your thoughts, feelings, beliefs and attitudes can all influence your physical health, either positively or negatively.
As we age, meeting our social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs can become more challenging. For example, perhaps your loved one is no longer able to drive or participate in the activities you once enjoyed together. This can take an emotional and physical toll. In times like these, it’s important to find new, simple activities that bring pleasure and connection to both of you.
We can take one step at a time and find joy in the little moments and simple things that bring us comfort. I always remind my students: the best exercise or activity is the one you enjoy most.
The physical and mental benefits of exercising:
• Improved brain function
• Enhanced mood
• Increased social interaction
• Natural release of endorphins
• Boosted self-confidence and discipline
• Better sleep quality
• Calorie burning and weight management
• Stronger muscles, joints and overall body
• A healthier heart
• More efficient organ function
When you start an exercise program, it might feel challenging at first, but with each workout, you’ll begin to feel better and notice improvements in your body. Consistency is key! Just as your muscles have memory, so does your mind. When you exercise, your mind and body work together in harmony. Incorporating all three components of fitness — stretching, strengthening and aerobics — will bring remarkable changes to your body, metabolism, heart and spirit. Exercise has a unique ability to exhilarate, relax, stimulate, calm and counter stress, improving both your physical and emotional well-being.
It’s a fact of life that as we age, we’ll face more limitations and need to make adjustments in our daily routines. And that’s okay. We can take one step at a time and find joy in the little moments and simple things that bring us comfort. I always remind my students: the best exercise or activity is the one you enjoy most.
A great attitude and confidence are essential. From the very beginning, it’s important to approach your goals with a positive outlook. If you tend to be more sedentary or less active, you may experience increased feelings of stress, anxiety and low self-confidence.
But the good news is exercise can help. Both mentally and physically, you will begin to thrive as you move your body, set achievable goals and build momentum over time.
It’s a wonderful feeling to gain a sense of mastery, control your self-image and boost your confidence through an active lifestyle. Your renewed energy and vigor will empower you to tackle many tasks, while the discipline of regular exercise will help you achieve other important life goals. Let’s elevate our emotions and experience the incredible benefits of exercise.
Be healthy and happy!
Leslie Sokol is the creator and founder of the adult dance and fitness program For the Young at Heart. She has been teaching adults and children for 45 years. You can watch For the Young at Heart by visiting her YouTube Channel or on TVSB. She also teaches in retirement communities throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties. For more information contact Leslie at Dancekidsfun@ gmail.com (805) 312-8089 or visit LeslieSokolDance.com.
Science classes head to Santa Cruz Island
Two periods of Mandi de Witte’s Carpinteria High School environmental science classes, pictured, spent last Friday exploring Santa Cruz Island. de Witte, the school’s science department chair, said the weather was perfect, and the students spotted multiple humpback whales. “It was a very special day for these students to actually see and experience everything we have been learning in class. There is no cell service on the island, so my favorite quote of the day was, ‘All of this is so beautiful I don’t even miss my phone,’” de Witte said.
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