Chess Club for school aged youth starts this Thursday, Sept. 1 at the Carpinteria Community Library, from 3 to 4 p.m. In partnership with the Carpinteria Family School, this free weekly activity is for all levels of players, including beginners. The benefits of chess include improved memory and focus, increase in creativity, and the development of problem solving skills. The club will meet weekly on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Learn more by calling the library at (805) 684-4314.

Exceptionally hot weather conditions are forecast throughout Santa Barbara County this week and into the weekend. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Excessive Heat Warning effective from Wednesday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. In response, the City of Carpinteria has designated the Carpinteria Community Library as a Cooling Center for the public during its normal hours: Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The library is air conditioned, and has bathrooms and a water fountain for public use. If there is a need for additional Cooling Center availability, the City will open the west end of City Hall to the public on Sunday and Monday. To learn more, visit the County of Santa Barbara’s Office of Emergency Services website in English and Spanish at  www.ReadySBC.org.

The Carpinteria Beach Store is holding a blowout sale to clear out inventory before closing for the season. Everything in the store is 25% off (excluding rentals) between now and Sept. 5. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. All store proceeds benefit the City of Carpinteria’s Parks and Recreation Youth Ocean Recreation Programs. The beach store is located at the end of Linden Avenue.

Detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a reported robbery and kidnapping that occurred on Tuesday, Aug. 23, in the 4900-block of Carpinteria Avenue. According to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office, on Aug. 24, the victim reached out to law enforcement to report the incident that had occurred the day prior.

While this investigation remains active and ongoing, the Sheriff’s Office is informing the public of preliminary incident information. On Aug. 23 at approximately 2:30 p.m., two suspects approached the victim outside of a business in the 4900-block of Carpinteria Avenue. They engaged in a conversation before they displayed weapons and forced the victim into their vehicle. The suspects drove the victim to a bank where they forced the victim to withdraw cash. The suspects left the victim at the bank and fled in their vehicle.

The description of the suspects and their vehicle is not yet available for release, as detectives are working to verify information. The Sheriff’s Office intends to keep the public informed of developments in this case to an extent that will not compromise the ongoing investigation.

Members of the Carpinteria community are asked to spend a few minutes of their time to help shape the future of local active adult and senior services. The City of Carpinteria has launched a Community Needs Assessment Survey that will provide the City Council with data-supported recommendations for active adult/senior services and programming.

Earlier this year, Carpinteria City Council approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Senior Services Planning Committee. Councilmembers Gregg Carty and Roy Lee were appointed to the committee and are now supported by an enthusiastic working group of both seniors and future seniors. The group has created the Community Needs Assessment Survey, and will be distributing the form and collecting responses through Sept. 18.

The online survey in English is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/carpagingcitizenssurvey and in Spanish at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CYB3ZMR. Paper copies will be distributed at various locations throughout the city and are available at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., for pick up during normal business hours: Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Carpinteria City Council’s second August meeting has been canceled. It is traditional for the Council to cancel one summer meeting. The next regular meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 12.

In response to monkeypox cases increasing around the nation, the County of Santa Barbara has launched a new webpage to provide information about the disease, its prevalence in the County and opportunities to learn more or get vaccinated. Currently the total confirmed number of cases in SB County is five. Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, respiratory symptoms and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters. Learn more at the new website in English at https://www.countyofsb.org/3404/Monkeypox or in Spanish at https://www.countyofsb.org/3414/Monkeypox-Espanol.

Home Internet can be FREE with the ACP discount! The federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) helps eligible families afford high-quality home internet at a lower cost. Get Connected Carpinteria, an ACP enrollment event, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. Spanish language speakers will be available to help with the process, which should only take about 20 minutes. Please bring the following 1) identification, and 2) proof of eligibility in the form of a monthly WIC, MediCal or CalFresh statement, proof of enrollment in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) at CEP designated school, or a Pell Grant Award Letter for the current year.

The City of Carpinteria has a young female labrador mix who is looking for the love and care of a forever home. This energetic sweetie, is good with other animals, up-to-date on shots and spayed. Learn more about her and how to make her part of your family at https://www.adoptapet.com/pet/35631436-carpinteria-california-labrador-retriever-mix.

Sometimes we forget that it’s just as important to exercise our brains as it is our bodies. To help locals flex their mental muscles, the Carpinteria Community library has introduced “Mind Games,” a fun supportive class that focuses on keeping your thinker in tip top shape. Jena holds a masters in psychology and will lead you in this fun brain fitness course utilizing puzzles, games, brain exercises, problem-solving activities and so much more, all designed to improve whole brain health. This free program takes place on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.