Author: Lea Boyd

The Carpinteria Planning Commission will review a proposal for a two-story hotel at 4110 Via Real at its next regular meeting on Monday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. Plans include demolition of the church building currently on the property and construction of a two-story, 72-guestroom, 44,191 square foot hotel and associated improvements.

In accordance with State guidance, the City will provide both in-person and virtual attendance and participation options for the meeting. Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. or view the meeting live at www.carpinteria.ca.us, on Government Access Television Channel 21 or by logging into the Zoom webinar. Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at https://bit.ly/3nBoyny.

Severe weather is expected in Santa Barbara County tonight, March 29, into early Thursday morning. The National Weather Service predicts an increased risk for thunderstorms with strong rain, significant wind speeds, lightning, hail, and a remote chance of small and brief tornados or waterspouts. Take steps to secure items that could be picked up by strong winds and be ready in the event of power outages. If severe weather occurs, people should seek shelter indoors, in the most interior room, away from windows. Remain vigilant and stay alert to changing weather conditions. For the latest weather updates, visit www.weather.gov/lox.

At the Carpinteria Community Awards Gala on April 1, the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce will honor two local educators and three finalists for the Junior Carpinterian of the Year Award. This year’s event will also include a special recognition award to Dave Durflinger, who has served the Carpinteria community for the last 24 years as City Manager. This year’s educators are Matthew McPherson, a Special Education teacher at Aliso Elementary School, and Jennifer Foster, a math teacher at Carpinteria Middle School. Junior Carpinterian of the Year finalists are Carpinteria High School seniors Hugo Alvarado Carmona Aldair, Monica Adriana Delgado and Stephanie Ramirez Garcia. Meet the honorees at https://youtu.be/NfrEmkmtnhEThe gala will be held on Saturday, April 1, at 5:30 p.m. in the outdoor garden at Rincon Beach Club, 3805 Santa Claus Lane. There will be a social hour, dinner, and awards program. Tickets are $150 per person and must be purchased in advance by visiting SBSCChamber.com.

The County of Santa Barbara recognizes March 27-31 as Tsunami Preparedness Week. With approximately 110 miles of coastline, Santa Barbara County is susceptible to the impacts of tsunamis. Learn more about tsunamis and how to prepare for them at  https://www.readysbc.org/597/Tsunami.

Carpinteria Avenue will be temporarily closed west of Bailard Avenue for Southern California Edison (SCE) to work on power poles. The closures are tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 30. Please plan your commute or trips accordingly, and be prepared to expect delays.

The City of Carpinteria Aquatics Team congratulates its Standout Staff Member for the month of March, Malek Mehai. Malek has worked for the City since 2017 in many roles including pool lifeguard, beach lifeguard and junior lifeguard instructor. Malek was a Carpinteria Junior Lifeguard, and he learned how to swim at Carpinteria Community Pool. When he is not working, Malek enjoys spear fishing, practicing jiujitsu, backpacking and camping. He is currently studying ethnobotany at SBCC. His peers and management describe Malek as someone who is always willing to step up and help. He is a dependable employee and a nice person to be around. Thank you, Malek!

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m. In accordance with State guidance, the City will provide both in-person and virtual attendance and participation options for the meeting.

Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. or view the meeting live at www.carpinteria.ca.us, on Government Access Television Channel 21 or by logging into the Zoom webinar.

The following topics are highlights of the agenda. Additional details and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found at https://bit.ly/3nntah6. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• Proclamations: 1) designating April 2023 as Carpinteria Business Month, 2) designating April 2023 as DMV/Donate Life Month, and 3) designating the week of April 15-22 as “International Dark Sky Week.”
• Authorize a construction contract for the interim trail from Linden Avenue to Holly Avenue (399 Linden Ave).
• Authorize a $46,800 agreement to demolish an outbuilding located at 6155 Carpinteria Ave. (behind the S&S Seeds Building). The demolition is a necessary step toward adding a link in the Coastal Vista Trail in this area.
• Legislation position letter opposing Initiative 21-0042A1, a proposed state constitutional amendment to limit the ability of voters and state and local governments to raise revenues for government services.
• Receive the recommendation of the City Manager Succession Process Committee to seek consultant proposals for executive search services for the City Manager position and for the Committee to vet proposals received and recommend a firm for Council consideration.

The City’s Public Works Crew has been hard at work clearing paths on the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. Tuesday’s storm took down multiple large trees whose fallen trunks blocked pedestrian trails. The cleared walkways are once again safe and open for public use. Thank you, Public Works!

Carpinteria Community Library will host Local Authors Open Mic on Saturday, March 25 at 3 p.m. The free event is open to anyone who would like to read their writing aloud or listen to others read aloud. Authors should submit their work in advance to carpinterialibrary@carpinteriaca.gov. Submissions should be a maximum of 1,000 words or seven minutes worth of text. Poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction, all genres of writing are welcome.

The rain and cold failed to dampen the spirits of the Carpinterians who came out on March 21 for the first day of Active Adult & Senior Services programming held at the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. The twice weekly program, led by the City of Carpinteria, begins with time for socialization, snacks, and hot coffee provided by Starbucks. The first day included a discussion of future programs, bingo and a fall prevention neuroplasticity class led by Cyndi Macias, owner of The Gym Next Door, who will lead a class every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Programming takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Girls Inc., 5315 Foothill Road. For more information and a March calendar of events, visit www.carpinteriaca.gov/seniors.