Author: Lea Boyd

The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast gusty winds and warming temperatures throughout Santa Barbara County starting Tuesday, Oct. 1 through Thursday, Oct. 3.

During this time strong winds in excess of 35 mph across the county are possible. The forecast also includes a widespread increase in temperatures for both mountain and coastal areas.

Additionally, a Fire Weather Watch has been issued for the interior mountains. Hot and windy conditions greatly increase the risk for dangerous wildfires. Avoid hazardous activities that may cause sparks or start a wildfire.

For detailed weather forecasts, visit https://www.weather.gov/lox/.

In celebration of Carpinteria Skate Foundation’s 15th anniversary, the local nonprofit is holding a “$15 for 15 Years” fundraiser. For over a decade, the Skate Foundation was dedicated to fundraising, design and construction of the Carpinteria Skate Park, which was completed in partnership with the City of Carpinteria in the summer of 2023. Now headquartered in Shepard Plaza, the organization provides local youth programming and live events. The “$15 for 15 Years” fundraiser will help to provide afterschool programming to Carpinteria Middle School students at zero cost to students and families. Participants are provided with materials and instruction to build their own skateboards by hand, learn new art techniques like screenprinting, and socialize in a safe and caring environment. They also spend time at Carpinteria Skate Park working with experienced instructors to improve their skating skills. Donate to “$15 for 15 Years” HERE.

Carpinteria seniors, are you ready for a month full of activities designed to educate and entertain? AgeWell has released its October calendar and newsletter, and they hold oh-so-many opportunities for fun and fitness.

Wednesday afternoons are reserved for Dessert Discussions and Compassionate Club. Film Club now meets on Thursdays at 1 p.m., and October is reserved for movies themed around “Freaky Fun.”

Not to be missed is AgeWell’s new Creative Studies art program, which will explore different artists and mediums each month. The group will meet every Friday, with the exception of the first Friday of the month, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Veterans Hall Meeting Room, 941 Walnut Ave. Designed for both beginners and experienced artists, the program offers a unique opportunity to learn and create in a supportive environment.

Find the full October AgeWell calendar and all the details in the June AgeWell newsletter at  https://carpinteriaca.gov/agewell/

Carpinteria Beach saw a busy summer, with lifeguards working hard to protect the public and ensure beach safety. City guards were on duty during the school district’s Spring Break, weekends from Spring Break through June, then full-time coverage through Labor Day. Lifeguard staffing will continue on weekends through Oct. 6. Here’s the data collected by our lifeguards for the summer of 2024:

• 14 water rescues
• 59 first aid incidents
• 7 lost persons assisted
• 317 safety contacts
• 28 stingray injuries
• 2 bee stings
• 3 major incidents requiring 911 assistance, resulting in victim transport

Haven’t you always wanted to learn more about Franklin Trail’s history, its plants and animals, and the people and organizations that steward it? Now’s your chance!

Join Patrick Crooks and David Allen for a slow-paced hike on Friday, Sept. 27 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. starting from Franklin Park on Sterling Avenue. The hike will include several stops to discuss the history of the trail and the surrounding environment.

RSVP to Sustainability@CarpinteriaCA.gov.

This is a special Creek Week opportunity to explore the UC Natural Reserve System’s Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve and learn from the experts! California’s coastal wetlands play a very important ecological role, and on this walking tour you’ll learn how to help protect them.

Event Details: Tour is limited to 20 persons.  Please no children under the age of 8. Interested parties should e-mail the Reserve Director, Dr. Andrew Brooks (ajbrooks@ucsb.edu) for information on how to register for the tour.

The Carpinteria Architectural Review Board will meet on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. to review the proposed renovation of The Palms building and proposed landscaping and exterior alterations to the Driftwood Apartments on Holly Avenue.

The ARB will hold a preliminary review of The Palms building project, which consists of interior and exterior renovation and conversion of a portion of the roof to a covered bar and uncovered lounge area. The project, proposed for 701 Linden Ave., would include a restaurant and market/café retail area on the ground floor, a banquet/event space on the second floor, and a bar and dining area on the roof.

The Driftwood Apartments hearing will be a preliminary/final review of a proposal to update the landscaping, hardscape and exterior paint colors of two existing apartment complexes at 141 and 155 Holly Avenue.

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/47E5kk7. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to board members.

Join AgeWell for an enchanting evening of storytelling as part of Creek Week on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Vet Hall Courtyard, 941 Walnut Ave.

This special event, titled “Call of the Wild: Adventure Tales of Men In Nature,” will bring together adventurers and storytellers to share tales of exploration, and connection to the natural world.

Bring a blanket or chair and your favorite snacks for a relaxed picnic under the stars. The storytelling will kick off promptly at 5:30 p.m., with each tale spanning between 7 to 10 minutes.

In addition to the storytelling, there will be a brief 5-minute question and answer session following the stories. With seven participants scheduled to share their adventures, this promises to be a dynamic and inspiring evening.

Please bring friends and family to join in the fun!

The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 23 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/4gyMDCn. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.

• South Coast Youth Safety Partnership Presentation by Steve DeLira, Family Youth Services Director with CommUnify.
• Special Event Permit Application for the 2024 California Avocado Festival.
• Carpinteria Groundwater Sustainability Agency Joint Executive Powers Agreement First Amendment.
• Santa Barbara County Regional SB 1383 Food Recovery Plan Memorandum of Understanding.
• Amendment to Carpinteria Municipal Code Section 8.20 pertaining to public sleeping and camping.
• Street Sweeping Equipment Consideration

Thanks to an incredibly generous community donation, Carpinteria Community Library soon will have a bilingual Literacy Coordinator who oversees a team of tutors and students working together to develop new readers and leaders in Carpinteria!

The $50,000 donation was anonymously gifted to the Friends of the Carpinteria Library to be used for literacy. Gifted in honor of John R. and Thelma L. Schmidhauser, the donation celebrates the Schmidhausers’ love for reading, learning and the city of Carpinteria.

Plans are to hire a part-time time literacy coordinator for three years, by which time the Library hopes to have the position funded by the California State Library Literacy Services.

“The donors are thrilled with the proposed use of the gift,” said Friends of the Carpinteria Library chair Gaby Edwards. “They believe it is just what John and Thelma would have wanted for Carpinteria.”

The new coordinator will receive training through California Library Literacy Services (CLLS), train 10 additional volunteer tutors; host quarterly training sessions for prospective tutors, conduct intake interviews for 15 learners, and establish a baseline resource library.