GranVida bakes cupcakes for a cause

93013 Fund Advisory Committee member Jaime Diamond hands off new headsets with microphones to Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. The new headsets will make it easier for students to communicate in virtual classrooms.

93013 Fund targets teacher wish lists

Carpinteria Unified School District will move into a hybrid learning model on Oct. 13 that combines in-person and distance learning. Targeting new educational and safety needs, 93013 Fund donated 100 headsets with microphones to Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club and $10,000 to elementary school parent groups for transitioning into in-school education.

Both United Boys and Girls Club and Girls Inc. have been open since the start of the school year for out-of-school care, which includes assistance with Zoom classrooms for dozens of students during the school day. Teachers commented that audio issues are common for kids at the youth centers and headsets with microphones would help teachers pick up students’ voices more clearly.

As elementary schools are set to open next week, teachers are largely adjusting to bringing classrooms outside whenever possible. Teachers applied for grants with 93013 Fund for equipment like yoga mats, shade structures and portable trays for their students. To make the funding equitable across the school district, 93013 Fund has donated $10,000 to be divided among each school’s nonprofit parent group based on the number of students in each school. Parent groups are working with teachers to fulfill wish lists and assist in a smooth back-to-school transition.

GranVida residents bake for breast cancer awareness

Residents of GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care are holding a bake sale to raise money for the Breast Cancer Resource Center in Santa Barbara. Using a treasured recipe from a GranVida senior, memory care and assisted living residents joined the baking team to create boxes of half dozen sets of mini cupcakes. to create boxes of half dozen sets of mini cupcakes. “Some of the residents are breast cancer survivors,” “Some of the residents are breast cancer survivors,” said Janey Cohen of Carpinteria Woman’s Club which said Janey Cohen of Carpinteria Woman’s Club which is helping to organize the fundraiser, “and they wanted is helping to organize the fundraiser, “and they wanted to do something to raise money for this cause.”

“Our SPARK program that is practiced daily here at GranVida is all about giving our residents the freedom and initiative to come up with ideas, projects and activities of their choice always directed to a good cause,” said Felipe Garcia, GranVida lifestyle director. “Residents feel at home and still have the full sense of serving and helping those in need.”

To place an order for a box of six mini cupcakes, contact Garcia at activities@granvidaseniorliving.com or (805) 340-3399. The last day to place orders is Oct. 15.

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Is Halloween even important? CoastalView.com CVN loween, do we really know much about it? The idea of Halloween dates back “Mid 19th century Irish immigrants A MONTHLY thousands of years to the celebration of Samhain, a Celtic festival that celebrated the end of harvest and the beginning of a new year. This day was also said to be CoastalView came to the United States and brought the customs of jack-o’-lanterns carved out of MELINDA WITTWER MUSE a time when people could communicate with “those spirits beyond the grave.” Over the years, All Hallows Eve customs and traditions began to include bonfires, .com turnips, potatoes, and beets and playing pranks on neighbors.” bats, ways to get a husband, gifts of food, and scary costumes. Mid 19th century adventure, he went around to several Here’s hoping you vote, you don’t

Are you worried? The world is in the Irish immigrants came to the United homes of neighbors who did not have get the virus, and your friends and middle of a deadly viral epidemic. Millions of U.S. citizens are protesting the lack of racial equality and are questioning States and brought the customs of jack-o’lanterns carved out of turnips, potatoes, and beets and playing pranks on neighchildren. He explained to them that he would be glad to take any “extra” trick or treat candy off their hands just so it family don’t get the virus either. And, of course, we want peace and equality and a country whose citizens work together CoastalViewhow we can “become” one nation with opportunity, liberty, and justice dispensed through color-blind eyes. On top of that . . . here comes the 2020 election complete bors. By the end of the 1800s in the U.S., Halloween celebrations were more about parties with games, food, and costumes than witchcraft or troublemaking. wouldn’t go to waste. Believe it or not, he accumulated quite a stash until my mom found out. She marched him right back to all those homes and made him to solve our major trials and tribulations. But during this extraordinary time, let’s not forget to enjoy some light-hearted celebrations. I need smiles and laughter .com with a debate that began and ended What Halloween tradition is your return what he hadn’t eaten. The part and adventures to look forward to. The with verbal rants, the president coming favorite part of the celebration? For me I that made me mad was he hadn’t shared option of hugging people is now limited, down with the virus he is supposedly have always found the best part to be the any candy with me. but we can send a card. We can text and helping protect us from, and multiple candy. My first trick or treat experiences Once I became a teenager in high call and email. We can carve a pumpkin controversies that are slowly polarizing revolved around my mom cutting a hole school, I was too mature to go out trick and set it on our front porch. We get to our country, driving our citizens apart in an old white pillowcase and turning or treating. The only big celebration I can enjoy Halloween and then Thanksgiving rather than pulling us together. But don’t me into a ghost. With my blond hair, a remember involved an old pick-up truck and Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa despair, Halloween is almost here. ghost was much easier to identify with and a nearby rancher who had a pile of or whatever else is your celebration of

Are you ready? Are all the eerie deco- than a witch. Then my brother and I were brush and wood he wanted to burn. The choice. And don’t forget New Years! All rations in place? Do you have a costume, escorted around to homes nearby. When night was cold but about 20 of us (this these festivities will probably not be celecomplete with mask, that will scare all we got back, my mom never even thought may be an exaggeration) piled into the brated in our usual ways, but this simply who come near your abode? Have you about checking to make sure there was bed of the truck and arrived just in time to challenges us to be more imaginative and bought your pumpkin? Do you have no “contaminated or dangerous” candy help the rancher set fire to leaves, twigs, innovative. If times are going to get better, enough candy corn to accommodate in my treat bag. In fact, housewives often and branches piled high. We had a great we need to keep celebrating! yourself and your family? At least this made home-baked cookies or grandpas time but didn’t attempt any chatting with year you probably won’t need multiple popped corn to pass out rather than pay dead people. I do remember there was Melinda Wittwer first moved to Carpinteria bags of sweets as most children won’t for expensive treats. a bit of pumpkin smashing on the way in 1972 and taught mostly junior high stube allowed to knock on strangers’ doors. One Halloween my brother will nev- home though. And just FYI, it was legal dents in Oxnard during her 25-year career. Maybe you can throw out IOUs. er forget was when he was about 10. back then to ride without a seatbelt and Now retired, she enjoys pottery, writing,

As much as we seem to enjoy Hal- A few days after our trick or treating in the bed of a truck. books and travel.