Getting to know the proposed Surfliner Inn

It is quite clear that both the online only and hybrid learning models create many challenges for our students and teachers. Striving for equity in education is nothing new for our district. The goal is to make sure that any social and economic obstacles that exist do not keep our students from achieving their full educational potential. With the pandemic closing our schools for in-person learning, every school district has had to scramble to find ways to continue educating their students. Our district worked hard to secure hot spots and Chromebooks for any child in need. However, lack of tools is just one obstacle families face with distance learning. Connecting with students who are not attending class or turning in assignments has been a challenge that our district’s counselors have met head-on.

As we move into the hybrid model, first for grades TK-5 and then for the rest of our students, everyone will need to work together to close the growing achievement gap and bring more equity to our schools. This includes teachers, administrators, school board members and students.

I feel there are ways to improve the current hybrid model plan. Our intent with this model must be to continuously modify and adopt new strategies that work. We need to make sure that students are engaged in learning on the days they are not on campus. We need to instill a growth mindset in our district. Our teachers must be supported in their efforts to adapt and improve; their enthusiasm and dedication trickles down to the students. I know many teachers with this mindset, and I understand the importance of supporting and nurturing these special teachers. At every level of CUSD, there must be a commitment to support student learning regardless of socioeconomic status.

Craig Cook

1) What does it mean to say that schools are inequitable? What it means is this: students have vastly different experiences in our public schools—these vastly different experiences lead to vastly different outcomes. Tragically, many of the lowest performing schools serve students who are low income and/or students of color. While a variety of outcomes is to be expected, it is unacceptable that some students have access to what is considered to be a high-quality education while others don’t.

As an educator I understand the needs of both teachers and students. As an Ethnic Studies scholar, I am uniquely qualified in understanding the equity issues that students and schools face. We must create and foster a more equitable education in our district— especially hybrid/online—education. The good news is that I will work hard to bridge the opportunity and achievement gaps that exist. The broader world of education is increasingly focused on equity and we must apply that to CUSD.

2) Schools are an essential part of our community as they provide safe, supportive learning environments, employ teachers and other staff, and enable parents, guardians and caregivers to go to work. Schools also provide vital services that help to reduce health disparities—such as school meal programs and physical and mental health services. As such, we should make every effort to support the reopening of schools safely for in-person learning if appropriate precautions are taken.

One strategy is to use cohorting. This allows students to stay together throughout the school day to minimize exposure for others. Those within a cohort would only have physical proximity with others in that cohort. This practice may help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and will decrease opportunities for exposure to or transmission. I am very pleased that CUSD is taking this approach as they begin the process of reopening our schools.

Next week’s question: School board members have the opportunity to influence and decide funding allocations for school programs including physical education, special education, gifted programs, dual language programs, English language learning programs, afterschool enrichment programs, enhanced nutrition programs, garden programs, field trips, mental health and counseling programs, drug prevention programs, college readiness programs, and more. If you were the deciding vote in allocating additional funds to only three of these programs, which three would you choose and why? (You can name a program that is not listed in this question.)

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LOSSAN* IS COMING THE SECOND RAIL CORRIDOR THROUGH CARPINTERIA WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL: PARKING • PLATFORMS • SEATING • SHELTER SIGNAGE • TICKET MACHINE • KIOSKS PASSENGER INFORMATION • SIGNALS • BUS FEEDER LINE CARPINTERIA NEEDS ITS PARKING LOT #3

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REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Online/By mail: Oct. 19 You can also register and vote in person Oct. 31-Nov. 3 WHERE TO VOTE: By US Mail -ORSecure Ballot drop off boxes: Carpinteria City Hall 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Casa de las Flores 4090 Via Real -ORIn Person Oct. 31-Nov. 3: Carpinteria Community Church 1111 Vallecito Ln. Natalia4CarpinteriaCityCouncil.com

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Salud Carbajal U.S. Congressmember Monique Limón State Assemblymember Das Williams County Supervisor, 1st District Al Clark Vice Mayor City of Carpinteria Fred Shaw Carpinteria City Councilmember Gregg Carty Carpinteria City Councilmember Roy Lee Carpinteria City Councilmember Donna Jordan former Carpinteria Mayor Gail Marshall former SB County Supervisor David Allen Carpinteria Planning Commissioner Jane Benefi eld Carpinteria Planning Commissioner Jason Rodriguez City of Carpinteria ARB John Nicoli Director, CarpinteriaSummerland Fire District

Lisa Guravitz Director, CarpinteriaSummerland Fire District

MaryBeth Carty President, Carpinteria Woman’s Club Michael Damron Past CUSD School Board President

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Getting to know the Surfliner Inn proposal

BY DEBRA HERRICK

While the term “developers” often comes with connotations of outside interests, the four families behind the controversial boutique hotel proposal for the Linden Avenue Amtrak Station, say that applying that perception to them is unfair. Andy Norris, Whitt Hollis, Mathew and Jim Taylor, and Jack and Jeff Theimer, the four Santa Barbara County families that have joined together as the 499 Linden Managers LLC, say their beach hotel, The Surfliner Inn, will respect and contribute to Carpinteria’s community values, small town charm and historic character. Moreover, the four families intend to continue to own and manage the hotel long after its completion.

“This is going to look and feel like Carpinteria,” said Jeff Theimer, who lives AB DESIGN STUDIO in Carpinteria with his family. “You’re Over the years the concept for a boutique hotel at the Amtrak train station on Linden Avenue and 5th Street going to be able to walk in in board shorts has had different names. Today, the local developers working with the city on the concept have named the and the bar and café will be open to the proposed hotel, The Surfliner Inn. public.” The two-story hotel will have a beach/farmhouse design of board and to camp. They can stay at the Surfliner batten siding to fit in with the Beach and the atmosphere is going to be like Neighborhood’s architectural character. you can feel comfortable walking in after

The proposed Surfliner Inn—named af- a day at the beach.” ter the Pacific Surfliner train that connects Whitt Hollis noted that as opposed to California’s Southern Coast—will have 40 other Carpinteria hotels where you have rooms. For comparison, the Carpinteria to park and drive down to the beach, “we Best Western has 144 rooms. Theimer anticipate our guests parking at the hotel noted that the Surfliner would take up less and walking and biking for their stay.” than half of the existing parking lot and The Surfliner proposal includes a would be roughly as tall as the two-story parking lot with 83 spots (31 more than apartment building that sits across the the current parking lot) that will be comstreet from the property on 5th Street. pleted before construction begins on the

Room rates will be under $500—pro- hotel. Some of this additional parking posed in the $200 to $300 range per will come from converting the city-owned night—and averaging a 75 percent occu- property between The Spot and the fencpancy. Comparable area boutique hotels ing along the train tracks. This area, often AB DESIGN STUDIO are Santa Barbara’s Wayfarer and Hotel called the “open space corridor,” will As part of the hotel proposal, public parking would be expanded from 52 Indigo, both located near Santa Barbara’s only be partially impacted by the new to 83 spots.train station and in walking distance to parking, which will pave a stretch of the the beach and downtown area. grassy area closest to Linden Avenue. At the area on the east side of the Commu- the developers, was earmarked by the city

“It’s a three-star hotel, not a five-star least 50 percent of the open corridor will nity Garden Park (currently used for bee for possible public parking well before hotel,” said Theimer. “Camping at the remain the same, said Theimer and Hol- farming and mulch). However, the pro- the hotel project was proposed. beach and short-term rentals are awe- lis, adding that there are plans to create posal would expand the community gar- The Surfliner would employ a staff of some and this is a different product that a trail from Linden Avenue that traverses den on the west side, resulting in no net roughly 20 people with an additional 10 to will offer something different. Maybe my the corridor. loss of square footage or impact to garden 20 jobs created by the café and bar which parents-in-law are older and don’t want Additional parking may be culled from plots. The garden’s east side, according to will be leased to a local purveyor. The onsite manager would live at the hotel. Built on city-owned property, the Surfliner’s lease would be between the entity (499 Linden Managers LLC) and the city. For the developers to change or trade ownership of the hotel, the city would have to approve the transfer. “It’s not getting flipped or linked to a Hyatt or anything like that,” said Theimer. “We’re not out here to get a quick buck. We live here in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara—we’re not L.A. flippers. We believe in the project and we want to do this.” “We’re just four local families that are trying to respect that this used to be the train station and the hotel is patterned after that,” added Hollis. “We’re trying to enhance this city. The city will get revenue plus 40 to 50 people going up and down Linden shopping and eating. And the city is in a unique position to have input on what this project looks like. We’re canvassing Linden businesses, reaching out to City Council—we want people to understand what the project is.” If the Surfliner Inn proposal makes its way through the Architectural Review Board, Planning Commission and City HERRICK Council approvals without major road Along with two other local families, Whitt Hollis, left, and Jeff Theimer, right, hope to bring their dream of an bumps, construction could begin in innovative train station inn to downtown Carpinteria. late 2022.

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Girls Inc. of Carpinteria hosted its eighth annual “An Evening in Bloom” a bit differently this year—but the community showed up once again to support the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser.

In place of the usual, elegant affair held at the Girls Inc. campus, Bloom kicked off Aug. 24 with a virtual “Challenge for Change” competition in which local teams competed to raise money. The month-long challenge ended with a virtual wrap party on Friday, Sept. 25, held via Zoom. Roughly 55 community members attended the virtual event, which featured a live auction, impact stories by members, and more.

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Trustee Katie Convoy and local members Dulce (eighth grade) and Karla (fifth grade) hosted the event from Westerlay Orchids. Longtime supporters and advocates of the organization, Win Van Wingerden and Ed Van Wingerden, served as the auctioneers.

The organization had set a “bold” goal of $250,000 for the event, and revealed the big winner of its Challenge for Change competition: CARP Growers, which raised a total of $87,000 for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria.

The wrap party also included a tribute to Mary Crowley, a longtime Girls Inc. of Carpinteria supporter and past board member who was dedicated to giving back to the Carpinteria community. Crowley passed away in January 2020 following a long battle with cancer. The event included a special recognition video of Crowley which featured heartwarming words from her family, friends and community members, and highlighted

Girls Inc. member Dulce addresses the audience at the organization’s virtual fundraiser.

her passion for giving back.

“You could just see the fire and dedication in her eyes whenever Girls Inc. came up,” said Clyde Freeman, a past board president and a friend of Crowley.

“Looking at Girls Inc. today, I see Mary everywhere. She was always saying ‘strong, smart and bold’—and that was Mary too,” added Diane Freeman, also Mary’s friend.

“Mary left an inspirational legacy that enables us to continue our work delivering life-changing programs to local girls and teens. She dedicated years of service as a trustee and was heavily involved in our Taste of Carpinteria event,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria.

Thus far, the event has raised $231,000, and Girls Inc. hopes to continue moving toward its goal with additional donations. The funds will help ensure that Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is able to continue providing full day out of school programming to those who need it most.

“We are committed to offering out-ofschool care for families in the fall to help with distance learning and all the funds raised from Bloom will support our continued efforts. We hope to inspire others to join in and invest in our community’s future leaders,” Collins added.

As the only licensed program offering support to school-aged children in Carpinteria amid the pandemic, the nonprofit hopes to inch closer to their $250,000 goal to ensure that no child is turned away.

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PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

True specimens of strength and avo-passion, the 2020 Avofest Gregg Carty Strong Arm Contest winners are Isabel Poulos and Michael Avery.

Celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, Ben and Lauretta Patterson found the perfect diamond at Sandcastle Time. After the original diamond in Lauretta’s ring had fallen out and was lost, Jocelyn Ford of Sandcastle was able to find a perfect replacement diamond for Lauretta.

Carpinteria Rotary Club Morning spent the morning at Tomol Interpretive Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, cleaning and landscaping the play area. The team pulled weeds, cut-back over growth and got the park looking its best for the fall season.