Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Homeless Encampment Clean-Up in Goleta

The City of Goleta coordinated a multi-agency effort in September to clean-up homeless encampments, trash, and debris found within the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) owned rail corridor. The rail corridor goes through Goleta City limits, spanning just west of the Cathedral Oaks Overpass to Patterson Avenue. Over the four day operation, more than 12 roll off dumpsters full of debris were removed.

The clean-up efforts are consistent with the goals to reduce fatalities, safety hazards and future fires from occurring in and around the railway corridor going through Goleta, as found in the recent Santa Barbara County Grand Jury Report on Railway Safety. This is accomplished by closely working with property owner Union Pacific Railroad and allied agencies including: UPRR Police, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, Goleta Police Department/Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, MarBorg Industries, Homeless Services within the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, and the City of Goleta’s Public Works Department. 

Representatives from Santa Barbara County Behavior Wellness were present during the clean-up effort to offer shelter and services to homeless individuals they came into contact with. The City is working on our first ever Homeless Strategic Plan which will be finalized by next summer. We will be reaching out to the community for input, so stay tuned.

Goleta City Council Meetings Now Beginning at 5:30 p.m.!

Beginning tonight, October 1, Goleta City Council meeting times will start at 5:30 p.m. Closed session will be held at 4:00 p.m. Meetings will remain on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Previously two sessions were held on meeting dates: afternoon (1:30 p.m.) and evening (6:00 p.m.), there will now only be one evening session (5:30 p.m.). The City is hopeful that holding City Council meetings after normal business hours will encourage more people to attend and participate in local government.

Attend meetings in person at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B). If you are unable to come in person, you can watch meetings live or at your convenience on the City’s website at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaMeetings. Council meetings are also aired live on Channel 19, and rebroadcast Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Find out ahead of time what Council will be discussing during the meeting. Sign up here to have agendas sent to your inbox or cell phone. Confirm the meeting date ahead of time on the City Calendar.

We hope to see you at an upcoming City Council meeting!

Photo: Linda Blue Photography
Back row left to right: Councilmember Stuart Kasdin, Councilmember James Kyriaco, Mayor Pro-Tempore Kyle Richards
Front row left to right: Councilmember Roger Aceves and Mayor Paula Perotte

 

Prepared, Not Scared

This September’s theme for National Preparedness Month is Prepared, Not Scared. Preparing yourself and loved ones for an emergency can be overwhelming. FEMA’s annual National Preparedness Month wants to help. Weekly themes for 2019 are:

  • Week 1: Save Early for Disaster Costs
  • Week 2: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
  • Week 3: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
  • Week 4: Get Involved in our Community’s Preparedness

Here are some things you can do right now to prepare for an emergency:

  • Sign up for emergency alerts from the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) at www.ReadySBC.org.
  • Sign up for emergency information from the City of Goleta at http://tinyurl.com/goletaemergency.
  • Make an evacuation plan.
  • Have a battery-powered radio ready to listen to local radio stations if the power goes out. 
  • Be familiar with 211. Santa Barbara County’s 2-1-1 Helpline is the first point-of-access to all community services, including emergency information. A live person is available to answer questions 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, and in multiple languages.
  • Finally, know your neighbors and look out for each other. Share verified information from trusted resources.

Follow the City of Goleta on Facebook (@CityofGoleta) and Twitter (@GoletaPIO) for tips throughout the month and visit www.ready.gov/september for more information.

Get ready for a Sweet Time at the 28th Annual Goleta Lemon Festival

One of Goleta’s largest celebrations, the Annual Goleta Lemon Festival, returns for its 28th year September 28 & 29, 2019, at Girsh Park (7050 Phelps Road). You’ll find wonderful food, a fantastic family atmosphere, and variety of entertainment and activities that have made this the most anticipated event in the Goleta Valley.

Local favorites Area 51 and Tequila Mockingbird will be rocking the main stage. The ever-popular ‘Safety Street’ is the largest interactive display of Fire, Police & Emergency Services in the County and will feature a variety of safety demonstrations. The weekend also includes the Goleta Fall Classic Car and Street Rod Show. Don’t miss the pie-eating contests and arts and crafts vendors. Admission and parking are free.

The Lemon Festival is from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29. Get more information and purchase pre-sale kids activities wristbands for $5 off at www.LemonFestival.com. 

Creek Week Celebrates 20 Years

The 20th Annual Creek Week is September 21 – 28, 2019! It is an annual celebration of Santa Barbara South Coast’s creeks, watersheds, and the ocean. Throughout the week, local organizations host events to help build awareness and stewardship of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria’s natural treasures. Creek Week kicks off with Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 21. Other events throughout the week include guided nature walks, project tours, restoration events, creek clean-ups, and more. Visit sbcreekweek.com, or like the event at www.facebook.com/SBCreekWeek, to stay up to date as events are added to the schedule.

Participate in this year’s coloring contest by clicking here for a printable coloring page. Share your completed artwork on Facebook or Instagram tagged with #sbcreekweek for a chance to win a fun prize!

Creek Week is coordinated by the City of Santa Barbara Creeks Division, County of Santa Barbara Project Clean Water, the City of Carpinteria, the City of Goleta, UCSB, and Explore Ecology.

2019 Lemon Run: Celebrating Elementary Education

The Goleta Education Foundation’s annual Lemon Run is Sunday, September 22 at Goleta Beach Park! This fun, congenial, community-building event supports the Goleta Education Foundation’s Innovation Grants. Innovation Grants are awarded annually to educators within the Goleta Union School District who bring inspiring, innovative, and engaging learning opportunities to elementary-aged students and their families. Learn more about the Goleta Education Foundation at www.goletaeducationfoundation.org.

Ready, set, get going at 8:00 a.m. with the 10K Grand Prix, followed by the 5K Jr. Grand Prix at 9:15 a.m. and the 1K Family Fun Run at 10:15 a.m. Races are on the flat and fast Obern Trail bike path, and are perfect for all ages and abilities. With prizes from local businesses, art for all ages, and food from local farms and Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, you definitely want to lace up your shoes for this Goodland tradition! Register to run, walk or volunteer at the Lemon Run at https://runsignup.com/lemonrun2019.

Charge Up for the Drive Electric Goleta Event

As part of National Drive Electric Week (September 14 – 22), the Community Environmental Council and City of Goleta are holding an Electric Vehicle Showcase on Sunday, September 15 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. A variety of Electric Vehicle (EV) models will be on display next to the Sunday Farmer’s Market at Camino Real Marketplace (7004 Market Place Drive). Attendees will be able to see EV’s up close and personal, talk to vehicle owners, and learn from their experiences. If you are interested in attending, or are an EV owner who wants to participate, click here.

Goleta Valley Art Association’s Art Festival Celebrates 15 Years

The Goleta Valley Art Association’s Annual Art Festival at Stow House is celebrating its 15th year on Saturday, September 14 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Stow House (304 N. Los Carneros Road). Meet local artists while viewing and purchasing their work and watch painter John Williams demonstrate his techniques for creating classic landscapes. There will also be live music from The Decent People (formerly Shepherd’s Pie) and The Summerland Trio with Tom Henderson, great food by ARCatering, and raffle prizes. Raffle proceeds support the Goleta Union School District’s After School Art Program. This is a family-friendly event and free to attend. Learn more about the Goleta Valley Art Association at www.tgvaa.org.

Give Back with United Way’s Day of Caring

Be a part of the largest single-day volunteer team activity in the tri-county area with United Way’s Day of Caring! Returning for its 28th year on Saturday, September 14, spend three hours volunteering in the morning (9am – 12pm) followed by a Thank You BBQ at Oak Park in Santa Barbara. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers helped at over 50 sites in Santa Barbara County. Local sites with volunteer opportunities this year include:

  • Brandon Elementary School: Campus Beautification
  • Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health: Build Table Tops, Work with Succulents, and Weed Removal
  • Dos Pueblos High School: Planting, Weeding, Mulching of School Gardens
  • Environmental Defense Center: San Pedro Creek Clean-Up
  • Goleta Valley Junior High School: Campus Beautification

Learn more about this annual event and sign up to volunteer at www.unitedwaysb.org/dayofcaring. A flyer is available here.

Help Clean Goleta’s Creeks with the EDC

The Environmental Defense Center (EDC) has five upcoming creek cleanups in Goleta this fall. The EDC is a nonprofit law firm that has been working for more than 40 years on behalf of non-profit clients to protect clean water, clean air, and a clean environment, and to promote the health of our community.

Goleta’s creeks are vital wildlife habitats supporting rare species such as the southern California steelhead trout. Our creeks also provide clean drinking water which infiltrates into Goleta’s groundwater basins. Many of Goleta’s parks, trails, and bike paths occur along local streams making these areas important for recreation. Creeks provide local students and residents with opportunities to get out in nature and learn about the environment.

EDC creek clean-up volunteers will remove over one ton of litter which has accumulated in Goleta’s streams before winter rains wash it out to the Goleta Slough and Pacific Ocean. Last year, over 100 volunteers and partners, including City of Goleta, Santa Barbara County, and Urban Creeks Council, removed 4,748 pounds of trash from Goleta’s creeks!

This year’s upcoming creek cleanup schedule is from 10am – 12pm on the following dates:

  • September 7  – Glen Annie Creek
  • September 14 (United Way Day of Caring) – San Pedro Creek
  • September 28 (Creek Week) – San Jose Creek
  • October 5 – Maria Ygnacio Creek
  • October 26 – Atascadero Creek

For more information and to RSVP for EDC‘s creek cleanups, please visit www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org, call the EDC at 805-963-1622, or email Brian Trautwein, EDC Environmental Analyst/Watershed Program Coordinator, at btrautwein@environmentaldefensecenter.org.