Calling all poets and poetry enthusiasts to lounge at a summertime gathering on Saturday, July 15, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.! All you need to bring is a blanket, a picnic lunch and a piece of poetry to share. No favorite poems? No worries! Come and listen to others share.
Thank you to all the HOST volunteers that attended our sign up event and training on July 6 and to our wonderful presenters who spoke to our HOST volunteers: Carpinteria Librarian Jody Thomas and Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center Executive Director Kristina Calkins. The HOST Committee will have its next in-person sign up event on Aug. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at Carpinteria City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. Learn more by emailing Olivia at OliviaU@carpinteriaca.gov or calling (805) 755-4401.
The Carpinteria City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday, July 10 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/3PPnkRB. Comments posted on social media will not be provided to council members.
Our Junior Lifeguard Program is in its third week now, and we have two batches of JGs of the Week to honor for their athleticism, sportsmanship and positive attitude. Our round of JGs of the Week are Imre Patterson, Maya Flores, Noah Oliver, Emelia Shaw, Kyler Bryan, Olive Carlstedt, Izzy Scott and Zachary Rochowiak. Our week two athletes are Grace Macias, Bo Rochlitzer, Hazel Postma, Ness Rosner, Canyon Atkinson, Whitney Welch, Cornelius Patterson and Holliday Smith. Congrats to these hardworking kids and to all our JGs!
Carpinteria seniors are in for some fun this month! The July calendar of senior programming is available now and brimming with activities designed to give older adults opportunities to socialize and exercise body and mind. Throughout the summer, our Monday and Wednesday Senior Socials will be held at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center, 865 Linden Ave. There, seniors will have designated time for coffee, snacks and chatting, as well as Bingo and arts and crafts. On Tuesday and Thursday, seniors can participate in book club, puzzles & games and exercise classes at Veteran’s Memorial Hall, 941 Walnut Ave. Due to the Independence Day holiday, programs this week will begin on Thursday, July 6. Please see details at www.carpinteriaca.gov/seniors.
The City of Carpinteria is in the process of creating a center and programming for seniors that will allow them to socialize, be physically active, pursue creative interests, and improve their overall well-being. As the next step in these efforts, the City of Carpinteria has released a request for proposals (RFP) for Program Design and Implementation Services for an Active Adult/Senior Center and related programming. The RFP will help the City find a consultant to research and develop a plan for providing active adult and senior services in Carpinteria. Services covered by the proposal must include a list of viable and fully vetted locations for a programming hub, a feasibility study for potential funding sources, staffing recommendations, a three-year action plan for implementation, and budget models based on a three-year timeline. The proposal may also include temporary support for managing the program, coordinating activities, working with volunteers, and scheduling. Proposals are due by Thursday, July 27. To submit a proposal, please see the full RFP at https://carpinteriaca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/RFP-Final.pdf
Come to downtown Carpinteria this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July with friends and neighbors at the annual Independence Parade! The parade will be held on Saturday, July 1 at 3:30 p.m. along Linden Avenue between Carpinteria Avenue and Sixth Street. Find a spot on the sidewalk to watch local organizations parade past, and consider supporting our local merchants by doing some shopping or grabbing a bite to eat while downtown.
The internet is a critical part of everyday life. Yet one in five Californians, including many in Santa Barbara County, do not have access to affordable, reliable broadband service, devices, and the skills to use them. Going without a reliable broadband connection can affect the ability to land a better job, provide a better education to the next generation or fully access medical care. The gap between those with broadband connection and those without is known as the “digital divide.”
Over the next few months, the California Department of Technology will be leveraging a federal planning grant to develop a state Digital Equity Plan. When completed, the plan will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to California and ensure our residents have affordable, high-speed internet access, as well as the skills and tools needed to participate in the digital economy.
To produce a Digital Equity Plan that works for all Californians, we need everyone’s help! Commit to working towards an equitable digital future by taking the California Digital Equity Survey and encouraging those in your community to do the same by June 30. Click here to take the California Digital Equity Online Survey.
A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Stephon Downes is the newest addition to the City of Carpinteria Public Works Department. He takes on the role of Management Analyst with the responsibilities of assisting in administrative matters like contracts, procurements, staff reports and participating on City committees. He attended Michigan State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. Following graduation, Stephon worked with Washtenaw County, home to Ann Arbor, as a senior management analyst for two years before moving to California.
What have you most enjoyed in your first weeks at the City of Carpinteria?
The friendliness and helpful nature of the employees. Everyone has helped to make my transition to the city as seamless as possible.
What do you like to do outside of work? Any hobbies?
Outside of work I enjoy playing sports such as golf, basketball and tennis. I also enjoy taking my great dane, Phoebe and pit mix, Boone, on different hikes and to dog friendly beaches.
Have you found a favorite lunch spot in Carp? What’s your go-to item on the menu?
Not yet! However, I suspect The Spot will become my favorite lunch destination, and my go-to item will be the cheeseburger.
Interested in joining the Carpinteria Aquatics Club swim team? If so, tryouts take place this Tuesday and/ or Thursday (June 27 and 29) from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. at Carpinteria Community Pool. To sign up visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094eacaa2dabfcce9-cacswim#/
Participants do not have to come to both tryout days, but are welcome to if you’d like. Reminder, this is not a learn-to-swim program, swimmers must be able to swim the entire practice to pass (they will have breaks throughout, but should be able to participate in the entire practice).
You should send your child with:
* Swimsuit- street clothes are not permitted
* Swim caps – are required for anyone with hair longer than chin length
* Goggles – highly recommended by not required
* Towel – to dry off after the tryout
* Water – no glass bottles (plastic or stainless are OK)
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