Author: Lea Boyd

Improperly disposing of cooking oil can block your pipes, attract rodents to your trash, damage soils, and inhibit the composting process in your compost bin. The City will be hosting one more ABOP before the end of the year. At the Saturday, Dec. 14 event, Public Works staff will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., to accept cooking fats, oils, and grease, antifreeze, paint, used motor oil, batteries, oil filters, 6 fluorescent lightbulb tubes, 3 small household electronics, and mercury thermostats. There is a 5 gallon liquid maximum per visit and please keep items separated.

The third annual Frosty Fest Holiday Party will bring a warm dose of holiday cheer on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. in the Community Room of the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

Come celebrate the season with us as we enjoy a variety of fun and festive activities, including crafts, games, and our popular Best Beanie Contest. It’s sure to be a joyful occasion for the whole family!

Robitaille’s Fine Candies, a beloved Carpinteria institution for 36 years, closed its doors on Dec. 1. Known for its iconic Presidential Inauguration Mints and generations of family-run service, the candy shop has been a cherished part of the community. The City Council of Carpinteria honors Robitaille’s for its enduring legacy and sweet contributions to the city.

Dozens of local children were recognized by the Carpinteria City Council last week for earning their Gold Card at the Boys and Girls Club of Carpinteria. These dedicated students were honored individually at the Nov. 25 meeting for attending the Carpinteria Club for 105 days or more this year. 

In addition to celebrating the youths, the Council thanked Diana Ornelas, director of the Carpinteria club, and Michael Baker, CEO of the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County. Baker noted that members who attend 105 days in a year are twice as likely to graduate high school and twice as likely to lead a healthy lifestyle. 

Congratulations to these local students who are on the road to success!

The City of Carpinteria is currently recruiting for a full-time Program Manager assigned to the General Government Department. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Dec. 22

Under the general direction of the Assistant City Manager, this critical role focuses on Emergency Preparedness, Volunteer Coordination, and Community Outreach. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills, experience as a Public Information Officer, and expertise in creating clear and compelling communications tailored to diverse audiences.

Please visit the following link to view the full job announcement: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/carpinteriaca/jobs/4736502/program-manager-general-government?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

The Carpinteria Planning Commission will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public may attend the meeting at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., or view the meeting live at https://carpinteriaca.gov/, 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/417N956.

• Hearing on the request of RAM Hotels to consider a 12-month time extension to the previously-approved Development Plan and Coastal Development Permit to allow the removal of an existing 5,678 square foot former church building and the construction of a two-story, 72-guestroom, 44,191-square-foot hotel at 4110 Via Real.
• Hearing at the request of Dish Wireless, LLC to consider a Conditional Use Permit and Coastal Development Permit to allow installation of a new wireless telecommunications facility on an existing multi-story office building at 6267 Carpinteria Avenue.
• Hearing at the request of 701 Linden LLC to consider a Development Plan and Coastal Development Permit to allow an interior and exterior renovation of the existing restaurant (“The Palms”) resulting in a restaurant and market/café/retail area on the ground floor, a banquet/event space on the second floor, and a covered bar and uncovered dining area on the roof 701 Linden Ave.

What do you love about living in Carpinteria? What would you improve if you could? This is information City of Carpinteria leaders want to know so that they can make decisions that reflect the community’s interests!

In coming months, your City Council will create a strategic plan with goals and priorities for the next two years. These goals and priorities will be used to make many important decisions, including how your tax dollars are spent in your community. In recent years, rising costs, increased need, and limited resources have required the City to make difficult funding decisions and tradeoffs. When it comes to City priorities, we want to hear from you about what programs, services, spaces and issues you feel we should focus on over the next two years. 

For a quick and easy way to share your thoughts, please complete our online questionnaire HERE.

To gather with community members and share more of your thoughts, please consider joining us at one of the following community workshops. Dinner and childcare will be provided. Please come out to help shape the future of Carpinteria!

• (English) Wednesday, December 4, 6:30-8 p.m. at Carpinteria Children’s Project, 5201 8th Street. 
• (Spanish) Thursday, Dec. 5, 6:30-8 p.m. at Carpinteria Children’s Project, 5201 8th Street. 
• (Bilingual) Wednesday, December 11, 6:30-8pm via ZOOM at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89991116311?pwd=Ety7b4eOVMva9YoBFaigKqPTeoi4bm.1

As we prepare for our celebrations of togetherness, generosity and gratitude, we encourage residents to take sustainable actions to help show thanks to our planet and everyone living in our community. Thank you for your participation and help in becoming a more sustainable community.

The City of Carpinteria wishes you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving! To celebrate the holiday, our staff is looking forward to some rest, relaxation and time with family. 

That means brief closures of some City facilities. City Hall, Carpinteria Community Pool and AgeWell programs will close on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 28 and 29. Carpinteria Community Library will be closed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-30, as well as its normal Sunday closure. The Carpinteria Community Tennis and Pickleball Courts will be open for free play throughout the week of Thanksgiving, Nov. 25-29.

We appreciate your patience with our scheduling changes while our staff enjoys the holida