Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Earthquake Warning System

Earthquake Warning California is the country’s first publicly available, statewide warning system that could give California residents crucial seconds to take cover before you feel shaking. Managed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Earthquake Warning California uses ground motion sensors from across the state to detect earthquakes before humans can feel them and can notify Californians to “Drop, Cover and Hold On” in advance of an earthquake. 

To receive earthquake warnings, individuals and family members can download the MyShake App and ensure phone settings are adjusted to receive emergency alerts, including:

  • MyShake App: Free smartphone app that provides iPhone and Android users with audio and visual warnings [magnitude 4.5 or higher and Modified Mercalli Intensity III (weak) shaking]. Available at in the Apple App and Google Play stores;
  • Android Earthquake Alerts: Android phones with updated operating systems are automatically subscribed to Android Earthquake Alerts, which uses the same technology as the MyShake App; and
  • Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs): No-cost text messages for emergency situations [magnitude 5.0 or higher and Modified Mercalli Intensity IV (light) shaking].

If you live in or travel to areas that could be impacted by an earthquake, preparation is vital, as these events can strike suddenly, at any time, with little warning. Visit My Hazards to see if you live or work in an area prone to earthquakes.

For more info go to https://earthquake.ca.gov/.

Santa Cruz Market Receives City’s First Business Recognition Award

Nestled in the heart of Old Town Goleta, Santa Cruz Market stands as more than just a grocery store. It’s a testament to resilience, family ties, and the enduring spirit of community. For decades, this unassuming market has been a gathering place, a hub of activity, and a source of comfort for generations of residents. The City of Goleta would like to congratulate Santa Cruz Market as the City’s first recipient of our Business Recognition Program for Longevity in the City and for serving the community for over 40 years. The market also received a Proclamation for its 40 years in business.

The Business Recognition Program, recently adopted by City Council in July 2024, is designed to highlight exceptional Goleta businesses throughout the year for special achievements or other unique contributions to the City such as longevity, economic development, prosperity, sustainability or resilience, or other activities fostering continuous community enrichment. We encourage you check out our website to learn more about the program and how to nominate a business.

Santa Cruz Market story begins in 1938 when Robert Giffin transformed an old airplane hangar built by Earle Ovington in the late 1920s into what would become the Santa Cruz Market. Ralph Modugno, son of Italian immigrants, took the reins in 1980, purchasing two of the chain’s stores—one in Goleta and the other in Santa Barbara. His dedication to quality, service, and community made Santa Cruz Market a beloved fixture.

Tom Modugno, Ralph’s son, grew up in the aisles of Santa Cruz Market. His memories include the coin-operated horse rides out front—a reminder of childhood days spent playing while his family shopped. Tom, along with his brother Jon and wife Kim, worked tirelessly to maintain the market’s legacy. Their commitment to sourcing fresh produce, good deals, and quality meats endeared them to locals.

In 2024, after decades of dedicated service, Tom decided it was time to retire. Today, Santa Cruz Market remains a beacon of community spirit. Its walls echo with stories of families shopping together, kids riding the coin-operated horses, and neighbors catching up in the aisles. And Tom? He’s ready for a more leisurely life, pursuing creative hobbies and sharing Goleta’s history through his popular blog, GoletaHistory.org.

As the Santa Cruz Market transitions to new ownership (Santa Barbara Markets Corp., a family with markets in Ventura, Fillmore, and Oxnard), the legacy remains intact. The award serves as a reminder that businesses can thrive while staying true to their roots. The market’s commitment to quality, community, and service continues to inspire. So, the next time you step into Santa Cruz Market, remember that it’s more than just a grocery store—it’s a living testament to the Modugno family’s dedication and the enduring spirit of Goleta.

Pictured above: Mayor Paula Perotte and Tom Modugno holding a Proclamation for Santa Cruz Market’s 40 years in business and the City’s first Business Recognition Award given to Santa Cruz Market

Below: Santa Cruz Market then and now



Miles of Smiles at the Goleta Lemon Festival!

Watch Our Highlights Video

We had a blast at the Goleta Lemon Festival this past weekend (Sep. 28 & 29) and loved seeing so many of you there! Our City of Goleta booth area had non-stop visitors for the entire two-day festival. We enjoyed seeing all of the smiling faces and hearing the laughter as people spun the wheel for a chance to win some of our Go Green Goleta and Live • Work • Play themed giveaways. To take home a prize, many had to do some sort of challenge, but everyone walked away a winner. 

Here is a short video clip with highlights from the weekend: https://youtu.be/pAMq2p-qBHA.

Congratulations to Asher Logan of El Camino Elementary School and Joshua Mejia from Goleta for being the winners of our “Guess How Many Lemon Drops are in the Jar” game.  

Our Sustainability and Environmental Services team members shared our booth and had lots of great information to provide on our sustainability programs and policies, creeks and watersheds including learning about creek health and the endangered Steelhead Trout in Goleta’s creeks. Always popular were the Go Green Goleta reusable utensil sets of which more than 1,000 were handed out. People also signed up to volunteer for our Beautify Goleta program and learned about how to help the City shape its first Environmental Justice Policies – attend an Open House on October 9th and/or take a survey. 

The Goleta Valley Library booth right next to us was another popular spot with 2,200+ visitors learning about the wonderful programming options and spinning the wheel for fun prizes. 70 people also signed up to receive a free library card! 

While there were so many fun moments, one of the best parts as always was watching the pie-eating contests each day. Thanks to our distinguished judges, many including our Mayor and Councilmembers, for helping to pick the winners.

Thanks also to the Goleta Police Department for being at the impressive Safety Street section.

Finally, we want to congratulate and thank the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce for putting on another awesome Goleta Lemon Festival. Can’t wait till next year to do it all over again.


Watch highlights video here or click photo above


Winners of the “Guess How Many Lemon Drops in the Jar Game”, pictured left-to-right: Asher Logan with his grandmother Cynthia Logan, and Joshua Mejia

Creek Week in Goleta Wrap-Up

This year’s Creek Week in Goleta was bigger and better than ever! Our community came together for so many fun events all aimed at protecting and celebrating our treasured creeks and watersheds! We would like to thank all who came to participate in our events that included Coastal Cleanup Day, Free Bulky Items Collection, a tour of San Pedro Creek, an Art Contest at the Goleta Valley Library, and a Lunch and Learn at the Goleta Community Center.

Coastal Cleanup Day, Saturday, September 21st: Over 65 volunteers showed up for Goleta’s Coastal Cleanup location at Haskell’s Beach. Participants included the Evening Rotary Club of Goleta, Ritz-Carlton Bacara, and numerous residents. The site was captained by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP.  An estimated 253 pounds of trash and recyclables were removed from our local beach by our community!

Free Bulky Items Collection, Saturday, September 21st: The free Bulky Items Collection event collected nearly three 40-yard bins of furniture, mattresses, tires, and more! These events provide our residents with a convenient collection site and help to prevent illegal dumping. A huge thank you to MarBorg Industries, Inc., Big Green Cleaning Company, Solid Waste Solutions, Inc., Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, and the Environmental Services Division, who all supported this effort!

San Pedro Creek Tour, Wednesday, September 25th: Community members and organizations connected for an enjoyable walk along the beautiful San Pedro Creek. Melissa Nelson with City of Goleta Environmental Services, Andrew Raaf with the County of Santa Barbara Flood Control, and Brian Trautwein with the Environmental Defense Center, teamed up to discuss various aspects of San Pedro Creek. Participants learned about the City of Goleta’s Creek and Watershed programs, migration of steelhead trout, native plants and animals that call this creek home, and the County’s fish passage project. This was also a great opportunity for us to learn what the community values in the San Pedro Creek. The City would like to thank all who attended and made this an engaging and fun way to learn more about our creeks.

Creek Week Art Contest Reception, Thursday, September 26th: Read more about this great event and find out the winners in this article.

Lunch and Learn, Friday, September 27th: Held at the Goleta Community Center, the City was thrilled to welcome the many community members, Councilmember James Kyriaco, and our speakers to learn more about our creeks and watersheds. Melissa Nelson with City of Goleta Environmental Services spoke about the City’s Creek and Watersheds program, and Brian Trautwein with the Environmental Defense Center and Mark Capelli with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gave attendees an in-depth look at Southern California Steelhead Trout, including a summary of the last 5 years of trout study. It was such a fun and educational way to spend our Friday lunchtime! If you missed it, you can review the presentation and materials on our website here.

We can’t wait for next year!

Pictured above: Coastal Cleanup Day volunteers at Haskell’s Beach


San Pedro Creek Tour

 

Holiday Lights Coming to Old Town on November 7th

Save the date for an exciting history-making celebration. Thanks to a generous $30,000 donation from the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club, Holiday Lights are coming to Old Town for the first time ever. Join us on Thursday, November 7th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Old Town (exact location to be confirmed) for a special community gathering/party to watch the lights go on. We can’t wait to see the shooting stars and colorful garland that will soon decorate the light posts along the Hollister Avenue corridor. The beautiful lights are sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit and will especially be a great addition to the Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade to be held on Saturday, December 7 at 6:00 p.m. For parade details go to https://goletaholidayparade.org/.

Pictured: Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club members John Pace and Ed Holdren with a sample of the holiday lights.

October Observances

October is a month filled with various holidays and cultural observances, and the City of Goleta wants to highlight some of these events.

Global Diversity Awareness Month: A reminder for us to embrace and celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and perspectives that make our community vibrant and unique.

Filipino American Heritage Month: Honors the contributions and achievements of Filipino Americans to the history and culture of the United States.

Italian American Heritage Month: An opportunity to recognize the enduring legacy of Italian Americans and their invaluable contributions to American society.

LGBT History Month: Commemorates the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It’s a time for acknowledging the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community and celebrating the progress made towards equality and acceptance.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Encourages emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive workplaces and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities.

Rosh Hashanah, Oct. 2 – 4: Also known as the Jewish New Year, is a significant and joyous occasion celebrated by Jewish communities around the world. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and renewal, and it holds great cultural and religious importance for the Jewish community.

World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10: Underscores the importance of mental health awareness and advocacy. It’s a time for us to come together and support individuals facing mental health challenges, promoting understanding and empathy within our community.

National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11: Celebrates and supports members of the LGBTQ+ community as they embrace their identities.

Yom Kippur, Oct. 11 – 12: Also known as the Day of Atonement, is a day of fasting, repentance, and reflection, observed by Jews all around the world. Yom Kippur is considered the most solemn day of the year in Judaism.

Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct. 14: Honors the history, culture, and contributions of Native American communities. This observance provides an opportunity to reflect on the rich heritage of indigenous peoples and the ongoing efforts to promote indigenous rights and recognition.

The City of Goleta encourages you to learn about diverse holidays and observations year-round and embrace the spirit of inclusivity and understanding. Together, we can contribute to a warm and welcoming community

Meetings at a Glance – October 2024

Know what’s happening at the City of Goleta by attending or watching our Council, Board, Commission and/or Standing Committee meetings. All meetings are held at Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive) and many can also be participated in via Zoom. Many of the meetings are also available to watch on Goleta TV Channel 19 and the City’s website.

View the calendar on our website.

Please note, meetings can be added and cancelled. For the most up-to-date information, check the website.

Here’s what is coming up:

*The Environmental Justice Policies Open House is at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue).

#TeamGoleta is Hiring

The City of Goleta has some great employment opportunities and is looking to add talented people to its team. Check out the below positions to see if this would be a good career step for you or someone you know.

  • Parks and Recreation Manager
  • Project Manager (General Services)
  • Management Analyst (Parks & Open Space) – coming soon!
  • Management Analyst (City Manager’s Office) – coming soon!
  • Emergency Services Coordinator – coming soon!

Learn more about the positions and apply here. Check back regularly for new postings.

Nominations Open for 2024 Goleta’s Finest!

Community Awards Gala to be held on December 6 at 5:30 PM at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara

The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, from Goleta to Carpinteria, will honor Goleta’s Finest at the annual community awards gala on December 6, 2024.

Nominations are now open! If you know someone deserving of special recognition for their community activities, now is the time to nominate them for these prestigious awards. Award categories include Man of the Year, Woman of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Educator of the Year, and Student of the Year.

To nominate someone, visit SBSCChamber.com, click on the link to the appropriate category, and fill out the nomination form. Remember, you may nominate more than one person, but we ask for only one nomination per category. To ensure that your recommendations are considered, please submit a completed nomination form by 12 PM on October 11, 2024. To read about last year’s recipients, click here.

Goleta’s Finest Community Awards Gala, presented by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 5:30 PM at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Tickets are available at SBSCChamber.com. 

Have questions about nominations or the event, please contact Chelsea Weininger, Events Manager at Chelsea@sbscchamber.com. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please contact Michele Schneider – Director of Business Development at Michele@sbscchamber.com or (805) 965-3023.

Remembering Jim Farr

Former City of Goleta Mayor and Councilmember, James Baker Farr passed away on September 21, 2024, just days after his 79th birthday.  Jim is an important part of the City’s history having been supportive of the effort to get the City incorporated in 2002 and then serving on the Council for four years from 2012-2016, the last year as mayor.

While you can read a full account of Jim Farr’s life in this obituary.  Jim’s relationship with Goleta first began in 1977 when he was accepted into the Ph.D. program in American History at UCSB.  He moved to Goleta with his former wife Doreen who later became a Santa Barbara County

Supervisor (2009-2016). Upon completing his Doctorate and graduating with his Ph.D from UCSB, he took on an adjunct teaching position at San Jose State.  However, due to declining health issues stemming from polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Jim had to step away from his career for dialysis treatment and eventually a kidney transplant.

Following his transplant, he and Doreen moved back to the area.  While he got involved in many different efforts, a pivotal one for the City’s history was the purchase of the “Goleta Valley Voice” a newspaper that provided an important communication resource to the area. The “Goleta Valley Voice” strongly endorsed the passage of Goleta cityhood on the November 2001 ballot as well as City Council candidates who all went on to be elected.

In 2012 Jim decided to run for his own seat on the Goleta City Council.  He ran unopposed and served for four years, the last year as Goleta’s mayor in 2016.  That same year he was also honored by the then Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce as Goleta’s “Man of the Year” for his many contributions and years of service to the Goleta Valley community.

In 2015, Jim suffered a stroke and due to health impacts did not run for re-election, however his passion for Goleta lived on.

We had the fortune of interviewing Jim Farr for the City’s 20-Year Reflections Video in 2022.  Here is a video clip of what he said: https://youtu.be/B7hB_dQLhZ0.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “Jim’s contributions to Goleta are many, from his support of Goleta Now! and the successful drive for cityhood, to his providing Goletans a voice, literally so, with his ownership and running of the Goleta Valley Voice. I also want to honor his many contributions not only on Goleta’s City Council, but also personally for his mentorship of me when I joined the City Council. He will be missed.”

Former Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene said, “Jim Farr was truly a pleasure to work with during his time in office as a councilmember and later as mayor. Jim cared deeply about Goleta and its residents, and always kept the community’s welfare in the forefront of the policy making process. He was a kind and considerate leader, who warmly encouraged residents and City staff to voice their thoughts on the issues facing the City. I learned a lot about Goleta from Jim, who readily shared his wealth of knowledge about the community’s rich history. He was a talented storyteller who never failed draw an audience with a twinkle in his eye, a warm smile, and his wry wit. I feel honored to have known and worked with him.”

Former Mayor and City Councilmember Roger Aceves worked closely with Jim Farr during those years and said, “I enjoyed working with him on Council. He always saw the big picture when making council decisions, he was always looking out for the unfortunate and those impacted the most.”

A service is being held for Jim Farr on Friday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Welch-Ryce-Haider Chapel at 450 Ward Drive in Goleta.

We want to express our condolences to Jim’s family and friends as well as our heartfelt appreciation to Jim for all he has done for Goleta.

Photo above: Jim Farr by Paul Wellman


Goleta City Council in 2015 (left-to-right): Michael Bennett, Tony Vallejo, Paula Perotte, Roger Aceves and Jim Farr


Jim (center) at the dias in Goleta City Council Chambers