Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

City Recognizes Goleta School of Ballet

Nominate a Goleta Business Today!

Congratulations to the Goleta School of Ballet for being selected for the City’s Business Recognition Program (Program), honoring the school’s nearly four decades of service to the community and its success as a woman-owned enterprise. An award certificate was formally presented at the October 21 City Council meeting. The Program recognizes establishments that shape Goleta’s identity, strengthen its economy, and enrich the community.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “I am pleased to present the Goleta School of Ballet with its award certificate not only for its longstanding years of service, but also as an inspiring example of a female-led business thriving in Goleta. We are lucky to have so many great businesses right here in Goleta. If you know of one worthy of receiving a Business Recognition Award, please reach out. We can’t wait to see who is next!”

Upon accepting the certificate, Lisa Abshere, the Goleta School of Ballet’s Artistic Director, said, “I am honored and grateful to have the Ballet School in Goleta for 40 years. The best part of this journey has been seeing the students I teach as children grow up to become wonderful students and mentors for the next generation. Thank you for this amazing recognition.”

The Goleta School of Ballet has been a cornerstone of the community since 1986 when it took over a small ballet program at the Goleta Community Center. Over the years the program grew and in 2011, the school moved into its custom-designed studios on Magnolia Avenue in Old Town Goleta, further cementing its roots in the community.

The school’s mission emphasizes both classroom instruction and performance experience for students of all ages and levels. Each year, students take part in classic productions such as The Nutcracker, a February mixed repertory program, and a full-length classical ballet in the spring. Performances have become cherished traditions for Goleta families and beyond.

Community members interested in dance are encouraged to visit the Goleta School of Ballet’s website at www.goletaschoolofballet.com and sign up for a class to experience the joy of ballet firsthand.

Nominations are open to the public for Goleta’s Business Recognition Program, and self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations may be submitted at any time through an online form and are intended to be given on a quarterly basis, depending on nominations. Award recipients are selected by City of Goleta staff in consultation with the Greater Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the Program here.

Help more Goleta businesses earn recognition – nominate a business today!

Goleta School of Ballet receiving the Business Recognition Program Award Certificate at the October 21 City Council meeting; Pictured left-to-right: Mayor Pro Tempore Stuart Kasdin (District 4), Lead Dance Student Aaron Kamps, Mayor Paula Perotte, Artistic Director Lisa Abshere, Lead Dance Student Madelyn Ito, Lead Dance Student Charlotte Costello, City Councilmember Jennifer Smith (District 3) and City Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín (District 1)


Goleta School of Ballet with their Business Recognition Program Award Certificate outside of Council Chambers: Pictured left-to-right: Lead Dance Student Madelyn Ito, Lead Dance Student Charlotte Costello, Artistic Director Lisa Abshere, and Lead Dance Student Aaron Kamps

Shopping Local Made Easy: GoodLandGoodShopping.com

Online Business Directory Now Includes More than 1,000 Goleta Businesses

What a difference two years makes. In 2023 the City launched GoodLandGoodShopping.com as an online business directory featuring almost 800 Goleta businesses. Since then, the platform has grown to over 1,000 businesses with more signing up every month. What does this mean for you? Shopping local and supporting Goleta businesses this holiday season will be easier than ever before.  

From boutique shops and family-owned restaurants to professional services and apparel stores, this site is your one-stop resource for discovering local gems. GoodLandGoodShopping.com includes a map view, search feature, and filter options to help you find exactly what you’re looking for this holiday season and beyond. Watch our video promo in English and Spanish to learn more

How Are Businesses Featured?

Businesses located within the City of Goleta and holding a valid Goleta business license are automatically included in our GoodLandGoodShopping.com directory for FREE. We encourage all local businesses to take a few minutes to customize their free listing and boost visibility. Each listing includes your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours—and you can easily add your logo, social media links, promotions, photo galleries, and more. City staff review and approve listings before they’re published. To get started, you can:

To celebrate and showcase the amazing businesses in our community, the City of Goleta is bringing back our #GoodLandGoodShopping social media spotlights! Each week, we’ll feature different Goleta businesses across our platforms (Instagram, Facebook, and X). With so many great local businesses to choose from, we need your help! Do you have a favorite store, restaurant, or go-to business that deserves recognition? Let us know! Your nominations will help us highlight their special offerings and the passionate people behind them.

To submit a recommendation, please email PIO@CityofGoleta.org with:

  • The name of the business
  • A brief description of why it’s special to you
  • Any additional details you’d like us to know

For questions or comments about the directory, please contact the Community Relations Division at PIO@CityofGoleta.org.

This holiday season and beyond, remember that every purchase made locally helps Goleta small businesses thrive! Thank you for shopping Goleta and supporting our local economy.

Goleta Holiday Parade Coming Up December 6

Grand Marshal James Marchiando Announced 

Get ready for the Old Town Goleta Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m.! Presented by Fuel Depot and Elks Lodge, the parade is a cherished community tradition featuring floats, bands, and performances that light up Hollister Avenue from Orange to Kinman.

Join the festive magic! Whether you want to volunteer, march in the parade, or showcase your business or organization, help make this year’s celebration unforgettable. Sign up now as the parade participant deadline is November 21. Don’t miss your chance to spread holiday cheer, connect with neighbors, and create lasting memories in the heart of Goleta.

Additionally, sponsorship opportunities are still available for businesses looking to support this wonderful community event and gain visibility during the holiday season. The event also raises funds for the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club’s sight and hearing programs in local schools.

The Lions Club is proud to announce Mr. James Marchiando as the Grand Marshal. Born and raised in the Goleta Valley, Mr. Marchiando is a lifelong resident whose roots run deep in local agriculture and community life. He grew up on a 10-acre lemon ranch on Yaple Avenue and San Marcos Road, originally owned by his mother, a member of the Cavaletto family. A graduate of Goleta Union School, La Colina Junior High, and Santa Barbara High School (Class of 1950), Mr. Marchiando went on to earn a degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1955.

Throughout his life, Mr. Marchiando has been dedicated to farming, family, and community. He helped start a citrus nursery with his brother in 1953, operated a local egg business that supplied many Goleta stores and restaurants, and later transitioned into greenhouse farming.

He had also been an active member of the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau and a longtime participant in the local Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Club, showcasing vintage tractors and rope making at Stow House’s Fourth of July celebrations for more than 40 years.

Mr. Marchiando will proudly drive his 19594-30 John Deere tractor during the parade, pulling a 20-foot trailer carrying several of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren – celebrating four generations of local family heritage.

Both the Lions Club and the City of Goleta are thrilled to honor Mr. Marchiando with the well-deserved recognition of Grand Marshal. His life and legacy reflect the heart of what makes up Goleta – family, hard work, and community spirit!

For more information and to be a part of the parade, go to goletaholidayparade.org or email goletaholidayparade@gmail.com.


Mr. Marchiando pictured on his 19594-30 John Deere tractor with his grandchildren

LEAD Goleta Now Accepting Applications

Six-Week Course Begins January 15, 2026

Applications are now open for City of Goleta’s award-winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy which begins Thursday, January 15, 2026. LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss. Space is limited, so don’t wait to apply for this six-week bilingual class which provides a unique up-close look at how local government works. Priority is given to Goleta residents, but the program is open to any resident of Santa Barbara County. We strongly encourage high school and college students to apply. Watch our short video promo to see why you should apply; the video is also available in Spanish.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn how the City is run, in a small, intimate setting of around 30 participants. You will walk away from the experience more connected to the City with a deeper understanding of how to get involved in shaping the future of Goleta – whether it’s staying informed, volunteering, applying for a Board or Commission, or even running for City Council.

See for yourself what makes this program so special by watching our video recap of the 2025 LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy.

The 2026 LEAD Goleta Academy begins on January 15 and takes place on six consecutive Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Most classes are held in Council Chambers at Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive). You must be able to attend all six classes to participate. The course ends on February 19 with a celebratory graduation ceremony at the Goleta Community Center.

This will be the fourth time that LEAD Goleta will be offered in Spanish, and the sixth overall Community Academy.

LEAD Goleta received the prestigious Cal Cities 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the category of Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement. Learn more here.

We can’t wait to meet the next LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy class in January. For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/LEADGoleta.


LEAD Goleta 2025 Graduating Class with the Goleta City Council

Monarch Butterfly Season Kicks Off at Ellwood Mesa

Community Invited to Join Habitat Restoration Efforts

Butterfly season is starting at Ellwood Mesa, and the City of Goleta, Ellwood Friends, and the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade are inviting residents of all ages to help restore and protect their winter habitat. 

Volunteers will plant food sources, habitat plants, and trees that support monarchs and other local wildlife, while also learning about the unique ecology of this treasured open space. Upcoming dates are Saturday, November 15 and Saturday, December 6, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Ellwood Mesa is one of California’s last great monarch winter homes. Monarch populations can fluctuate from year to year, and it’s too early to know how many will return this season. By caring for their habitat now, we can give them the best chance to thrive.

This hands-on restoration project offers more than just gardening—participants will be part of a larger effort to:

  • Help save monarch butterflies by restoring critical winter habitat
  • Reduce wildfire risk in the Ellwood community through careful landscaping and vegetation management
  • Strengthen community connections by working side by side in a shared local treasure
  • Provide family-friendly ecological education and restoration training in a positive, outdoor learning environment

The project is a celebration of Ellwood Mesa’s natural and cultural heritage, giving volunteers a direct role in maintaining its health, beauty, and resilience.

Project Goals:

  • Help save the Monarch Butterflies by restoring their winter nesting habitat
  • Reduce fire risk in the Ellwood community
  • Increase community connection and engagement at this treasured local nature preserve. 
  • Provide family-friendly ecology education and restoration training in a positive, outdoor learning environment

Benefits Include:

  • Stress reduction
  • Light exercise
  • New friends
  • Visible results and tangible progress each week
  • Increased connection to the environment
  • Building positive relationships around shared community values

Activities Include:

  • Tree planting
  • Native seedling planting
  • Drip irrigation system education, installation and repair.
  • Invasive plant removal
  • Soil regeneration 

Sign up to volunteer here.

Photos courtesy of the Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade

 

 

“Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs” Film Premiere

Sunday, November 16th at First Time Film Festival in Goleta; Short Film to Be Shown During 2:00 p.m. CA Stories Block

The City of Goleta is proud to premiere a new short film, Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs, that will be shown as part of a California Stories Shorts Block at the first-ever Wild and Free Film Festival on Sunday, November 16th at 2:00 p.m. at the Camino Real Cinemas (7040 Market Place Drive) in Goleta. Tickets are free for this event, but seating is limited. You are encouraged to arrive early by 1:30 p.m., visit the Ellwood Friends table out front, and stay till approximately 3:30 p.m. for the Q and A panel following the showing of the short films.

Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs is the compelling story of how the Goleta community came together decades ago to protect this beautiful space and the perseverance that still exists today to steward the land for all to enjoy for generations to come. It highlights the race to protect the place thousands of monarch butterflies return to every winter. The film was created as part of Ellwood Mesa’s 20-year anniversary of when the land was saved from development and officially turned over to the City of Goleta to be preserved as open space. Watch the trailer here.

City of Goleta Community Relations Manager Kelly Hoover said, “We hope you enjoy this heartfelt tribute showcasing the community’s enduring passion and commitment to Ellwood Mesa. Prepare yourself to leave the theatre feeling motivated to never give up when you care about something worth fighting for.”

The film is a natural fit to be included in the first Wild and Free Film Festival, a weekend long independent film festival taking place November 14-16th at Camino Real Cinemas. The festival will feature the screening of 30 new and original films that celebrate adventurous, diverse, and environmentally conscious storytelling from around the world. To see the full festival line-up and ticket options, including an all-access pass and tickets for the opening night film and reception, go to www.wildandfreefilm.org. Sunday tickets are free for the Community Day, but all access pass holders will receive priority seating.

The City was pleased to partner with Paradigm Pictures and Ellwood Friends to put together this short film. We recognize that there are so many more historical details, stories and people not included in this short film that are a part of Ellwood Mesa’s incredible story. We want to express our sincere appreciation for each and every one of you. For a more detailed account of Ellwood Mesa’s history and stories go to ellwoodfriends.org/stories. 

We look forward to watching Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs with you on November 16th.

Slurry Seal Open House Monday October 6

Ever wondered what a slurry seal is? Now is your chance to learn. The preventative maintenance technique is used to seal small cracks and surface damage while protecting and extending the life of the existing asphalt road by 5 to 10 years. The City has slurry seal projects planned in the fall and winter months and wants to help educate the community on what goes into the process and what to expect.

Goleta Public Works is putting on a Slurry Seal Open House on Monday, October 6 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Goleta Union School District Boardroom (401 N. Fairview Drive). Drop by any time during the open house time.

If you are unable to attend, please reach out any time with questions. You can email pavement@CityofGoleta.org or call 805-562-5504. For more information go to www.CityofGoleta.org/Pavement.

Film Festival Action in Goleta

How lucky is the Good Land to have three film festivals come to town? Two of them are happening this month with a ribbon cutting and launch party for the third.

Here is the scoop:

The 2025 NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) will take place on October 9 at the Riviera Theatre in Santa Barbara and October 10th at Camino Real Cinemas (7040 Marketplace Drive). The two-day event will showcase world-class films that celebrate nature and outdoor adventure. All proceeds from NTFF support NatureTrack and its mission to foster a lifelong fascination with nature and inspire respectful stewardship of our natural world. To get tickets and learn more go to www.naturetrackfilmfestival.org.

The Ceylon International Film Festival (CEYIFF) is taking place October 13 – 17 at Direct Relief Hatch Hall (6100 Wallace Becknell Road). CEYIFF is the first-ever Sri Lankan Film Festival Organized outside of Sri Lanka and is dedicated to presenting South Asian and International Independent films to cinema lovers. To get tickets and for more information go to https://ceyiff.com.

Brand new this year is the Wild and Free Film Festival (WAFFF), celebrating adventurous, diverse, and environmentally conscious storytelling from around the world. The festival aims to become a cultural destination event, inspiring audiences through thought-provoking films and community experiences. While the weekend-long event is not happening until November 14 – 16 at Camino Real Cinemas there is a ribbon cutting event on Wednesday, October 8 at 3:00 at Santa Barbara Honda located at 475 S. Kellogg Avenue in Goleta. There is also launch party happening Saturday, October 18 at Elings Park (1298 Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara) with an outdoor screening of “The Goonies.” Learn more about the Wild and Free Film Festival and buy tickets to the launch party at www.wildandfreefilm.org. 

The City of Goleta is a proud sponsor of all three of these film festivals bringing the love of independent film making to our community.

Green Business Webinar on October 10

WEV Works Webinar: Profit Meets Planet

Women’s Economic Venture (WEV) has partnered with the California Green Business Network on a webinar Friday, October 10 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. You are invited to participate in a 1-hour Green Business Program Info Session facilitated by Kori Nielsen to learn about the California Green Business Network (CAGBN) and its local programs along the Central Coast. The Green Business Certification Program helps businesses adopt sustainable practices while saving money, improving employee wellness, and gaining marketing visibility. In this session, you’ll discover why businesses pursue certification, hear success stories, and get a step-by-step overview of the certification process — including enrollment, technical assistance, and typical timelines. Attendees will also get a walkthrough of the core checklist categories — energy, waste, water, pollution prevention, and more. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and register to start your green business journey today. Plus, certified businesses are eligible for an exclusive $1,000 Intuit Grant to support sustainability upgrades!

Register online to save your spot! 

Goleta Old Town Hosts Shop & Taste Fest

A Celebration of Food, Music & Local Shopping

Goleta Old Town will come alive on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 1–5 PM with the Shop & Taste Fest — a dynamic community celebration of food, shopping, and live entertainment powered by the locally developed Shop EveryTown app.

The festival kicks off at Toyota of Santa Barbara (5611 Hollister Ave), where guests will be welcomed by Emcee Miguel Avila, President of the Greater Santa Barbara County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and treated to live music by the Swing Along Band. Check-in begins at 1 PM, and the celebration continues along Hollister Avenue with music at various locations, including live music at SB Cider Co.

“This event is more than just a showcase of food and shopping,” said Miguel Avila. “It’s a moment to celebrate the diversity of Old Town and the businesses that are the heart of our community.”

Using the Shop EveryTown app, shoppers and tasters scan QR codes at participating businesses to earn points, qualify for gift certificates and prizes, and unlock voting privileges for the ‘Best Of’ awards. Live performances run from 4–4:30 PM, followed by the awards ceremony. Shoppers and tasters who complete the Shop or Taste Challenges have a chance to take home gift certificates or prizes and businesses will receive certificates and cash awards funded by ticket sales. Voting categories are listed at tasteofgoleta.com.

“We’re proud to host the Shop & Taste Fest at our dealership,” said Jim Stigliano, General Manager of Toyota of Santa Barbara. “Supporting local restaurants and small businesses isn’t just important for Goleta — it’s vital to the strength and future of our region.”

Taste Fest – Tickets Required
Guests will enjoy tantalizing bite-sized samples and sips from Old Town’s best restaurants. Taste Fest star restaurants La Hacienda and Del Valle Grill will be serving sumptuous tastes. Pre-sale discounted tickets Eventbrite include early entry starting at 12:30 PM and include a swag bag of goodies. Regular tickets are available at Toyota on the day-of the event.

Shop Fest – Free & Open to the Public
Old Town’s Black Friday in October features four hours of flash sales and demonstrations. Shoppers can look forward explosive sales from 20+ businesses, including whopping discounts up to $1500 at Gordon & Grant Spas! Discounts and offers from Crystal Chiropractic, Goleta Valley Paint, Carbajal Services, and JG Bike Workx. SB Krav Maga Self Defense and Warrior Soul Combat, both will open their martial arts schools for demos and membership deals.

“Old Town Goleta has such a special energy,” said Albert Carasco, co-founder of Warrior Soul Combat. “Events like this bring people together, remind them of the value of shopping local, and show how businesses like ours are part of the bigger picture.”

At 1 PM Saturday, October 11, the party starts at Toyota of Santa Barbara. Shop & Taste Fest is a celebration of Goleta Old Town. Event info: tasteofgoleta.com.