Daily Archives: March 29, 2024

Water Supply for Emergencies

We all know that water is important. It’s good to drink, wash your hands and body with, clean dishes, and more. So how much should you have in your home for emergencies?

One (1) gallon per family member per day of preparedness you want, and City of Goleta recommends having three (3) days’ worth of supplies. So let’s do the math:

If you have four family members, then we recommend having twelve (12) gallons of water in storage for an emergency (1 gallon of water x 4 family members x 3 days). And don’t forget your pets! Remember them as you count your family members.

Water does have a shelf life, so get new water as time passes. Purchase a new gallon of water then drink the old one before its time is up.

Lastly, you don’t need to rush to prepare. You can be prepared in just a few months by adding one gallon of water to your weekly grocery trip.

For more information on creating and storing an emergency water supply, click here.  

Rescued Barn Owl Takes Flight

A happy update to a story we had in the March edition of the Monarch Press. A beautiful barn owl that had been caught in a tree and entangled by fishing wire has been successfully released back into the wild.

The barn owl was found dangling 60ft in the air from a palm tree branch after being trapped in fishing wire. Goleta Public Works staff members Jorge Flores and Joel Rubio, with the City’s recently acquired Boom Lift, were able to aid Santa Barbara County in safely rescuing and untangling the owl.

Unfortunately, the bird was suffering from capture myopathy and its condition did not look good. However, thanks to the diligent care of staff at the Ojai Raptor Center the owl’s health improved to the point where it was ready to be set free.

On Saturday, March 9, Mayor Pro Tempore Luz Reyes-Martin, Mayor Perotte, and a few other lucky witnesses were able to view the exciting moment as the barn owl took flight once more into the beautiful Goleta sky.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in this successful rescue and release. The return of the Barn Owl to its natural habitat would not have been possible without you.

Please let this heartwarming ending serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting our environment and the wildlife that inhabits it.

Photo credit: The Independent

Job Openings with Team Goleta

The City of Goleta is always looking for awesome people to join our team. If you are looking for a great place to work, we are hiring. The following positions are currently open or coming soon:

  • Public Works Supervisor
  • Recreation Technician (part-time)
  • Senior Engineer – coming soon

Learn more about each position and how to apply here. Check back regularly for new opportunities.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Throughout April, the Goleta Police Department will be focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

“A driver’s focus should be on the road, not their phone,” Sergeant Noel Rivas said. “That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other people on the road.”

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach. Also, remember that using your cell phone while stopped at a red light is not allowed.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department provides police services for the City of Goleta.

Remembering Jean Blois

Goleta lost a local legend. Former Mayor and Councilmember Jean Blois passed away at the age of 96 on March 22, 2024. She was a true trailblazer for the City and an important part of our history. Jean was one of four women on Goleta’s first five-member City Council and served as Mayor in 2005 and 2007 before leaving the Council in December 2008.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I appreciate all that Jean did as a part of that intrepid new Council to help this new city face and overcome many challenges that come with being a ‘start up’.”

The City is grateful to have interviewed her as part of the 20 Year Reflections video and will forever cherish her memories of how Goleta got its start 22 years ago. Watch a short clip here.

Among Jean’s many passionate pursuits, she fought to protect the pristine Ellwood Mesa from development.

Before being elected to the new Goleta City Council, Jean was very active in our city in other ways. She served on the Goleta School District Board from 1970-1983 and the Goleta Water District from 1990-2002. She was a part of numerous other organizations, and most recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce in 2022.

Jean was a proud graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (Cal) where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. She met her husband Bob Blois while at Cal. They married and eventually made their way to Goleta where they founded Blois Construction and raised their five sons. They were married for almost 55 years before Bob passed away in 2004.

To learn more about her story and her many accomplishments, read her obituary in Noozhawk: https://www.noozhawk.com/jean-w-blois-of-goleta-1927-2024/.

Jean will be forever remembered for her love and commitment to Goleta.

Textile Recycling Workshop on April 9

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center

What do leading textile manufacturers, plastic pollution researchers, and alpacas have in common? They will all be at the Santa Barbara Textile Recycling Workshop! You are invited to attend on Tuesday, April 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a day filled with learning and exploration on all things TEXTILES! The event will take place at the Goleta Community Center, 5679 Hollister Avenue. Please contact info@calpsc.org to RSVP.

The Santa Barbara Textile Recycling Workshop is hosted by the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) and the Santa Barbara Regional Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ), funded by CalRecycle. Industry leaders stepped up to co-fund, including UC Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, Toad & Co, Mission Linen, Looptworks, Viavi Solutions, and other clothing brands who want guests to get a full experience from the workshop.

You are welcome to join at your convenience and stay as long as you can. The workshop will include keynote speakers, demonstrations, and endless opportunities to learn about the world of textiles and why reducing textile waste is so critical. The workshop aims to expand responsible textile recovery in Santa Barbara County by exploring partnerships, feedstocks, and local service opportunities for textile reuse, repair, recycling, and green design.

Speakers and exhibits will include the Wishtoyo Chumash Foundation, Southern California Fibershed, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, Toad and Co., and well known upcyclers and recyclers.

Santa Barbara County is unique in the fact that it is home to some of the biggest fashion brands, wool producers, environmental researchers, and a community that really cares about their waste. This workshop will highlight all of these great facets and more. Santa Barbara County is in a key position to garner the momentum needed to tackle the textile waste crisis.