Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Do You CartSnap?

Have you ever wondered what happens to the abandoned shopping carts you see on the sidewalk? Eventually most make it back to their store, but not without a little help. CartSnap connects the reporting of a misplaced shopping cart with the people who retrieve them. Anyone can download the free CartSnap app to help restore the beauty of their neighborhood. Simply open the app to take a photo of the cart and submit it. You can also choose which store the cart belongs to from a drop-down menu. The built-in GPS includes location coordinates with your photo. Voilà, the shopping cart will be returned to its rightful store.

Stay Healthy – Get the Flu Vaccine

Now that summer is over, flu season is around the corner. It usually begins in October and continues through the winter months with peak activity in January and February. Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the respiratory tract (nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza. Health experts across the country recommend that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.

Each year in the United States (on average) an estimated 5-20 percent of the population will be infected with the flu, and more than 200,000 people may be hospitalized during a single flu season. Don’t be part of this statistic – get yourself and your family vaccinated. Check with your doctor and/or neighborhood pharmacy to see when they will start carrying the vaccine. You can also find a flu vaccination clinic near you using the vaccine finder.

Got Trash?

The City of Goleta’s inaugural Community Beautification Event was a huge success! On September 17, more than 170 residential households located in Old Town north of Hollister Avenue, between Mallard and Kellogg Avenues, were able to de-clutter their homes and yards by disposing of unwanted bulky items.

Many households participated, disposing of almost seven tons of unwanted items. Most of the material collected was recyclable, and working with Marborg, the items were sorted properly for correct disposal. Future clean-up events will be held in other locations around the City, so if you were not part of the initial event, stay tuned for your turn. Residents can also contact Marborg directly to schedule up to two FREE bulky/large item pick-ups per year. Please visit www.marborg.com for more information.

Don’t Be a Porta Potty Vandal!

We’ve all been there. Having to use the restroom on a long hike and no bathroom in sight. The City of Goleta has a porta potty in the parking lot for the Ellwood Mesa/Goleta Butterfly Grove to alleviate this concern for the convenience of our residents and visitors. Unfortunately, a small number of people are ruining this amenity for everyone by vandalizing it on a regular basis. Vandalism is a crime. Please call the police if you see someone vandalizing the porta potty. If it needs service, please call Public Works at 805-968-6843.

City of Goleta Closes Escrow on Ellwood Beach Drive Parcel

The City of Goleta recently closed escrow on a parcel of land at Ellwood Beach Drive to be preserved as permanent open space for public use. This is the fifth of 17 parcels Goleta is working to acquire. Composed of existing and potential monarch butterfly habitat, eucalyptus groves, willow woodlands, riparian habitat and Devereux Creek, the City is committed to preserving environmentally sensitive habitats such as this one. Located at the south ends of Mathilda and Ellwood Beach Drives, the land serve as a gateway into the adjoining Sperling Preserve on Ellwood Mesa.

The City acquired the 0.33 acre Ellwood Beach Drive parcel with the help of funding from two grants. A $48,000 grant was received from the County of Santa Barbara’s Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund (CREF).  These funds are a partial mitigation of impacts from the following offshore oil and gas projects: Point Arguello, Point Pedernales, and Santa Ynez Unit. The balance of the parcel, another $48,000, was covered by a State Park Habitat Conservation Fund grant.

Remember to Keep Fido On a Leash

As a reminder, dogs are required to be on a leash and under their owners control at all times while in a public space unless otherwise posted. Off-leash dogs can easily become lost or get attacked by a wild coyote or bobcat. They can also cause harm to people, other animals and property.

For those that want a space for their dogs to be off-leash, please visit these nearby dog parks and follow the posted rules: Patterson Open Space Off-Leash Dog Area (500 block Cathedral Oaks to 500 block Ribera Drive to 5100 block University Drive to 500 block Calle Aparejo), Tabano Hollow Neighborhood Open Space (5100 block University Drive to 5100 block Tabano Way), or Kiwanis Meadow at Tucker’s Grove Park (entrance at intersection of Turnpike and Cathedral Oaks Roads). For a complete list of off-leash dog parks in Santa Barbara County, click here.

Red Light, Green Light

Are ramp meters right for Goleta? The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments, working with the City of Goleta, UCSB, County of Santa Barbara and Caltrans, are conducting a study to find out. A ramp meter is a basic traffic light that regulates the flow of traffic entering the freeway according to current traffic conditions. Ramp meters can be a cost effective way to reduce traffic congestion without expanding roads. The Goleta Ramp Metering Study will look at the effectiveness and impact ramp meters will have on local freeways and neighboring streets if placed at US 101 on-ramps within City limits and in the unincorporated Eastern Goleta Valley.

Residents are invited to a public workshop to learn more on Thursday, October 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue).

For additional information please contact Julio Perucho, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments Transportation Planner, at jperucho@sbcag.org or 805-961-8906.

The Great California ShakeOut

Living in California, many of us may have experienced one or more earthquakes. They can strike at any time – while you are at home, at work, at school or out running errands. The Great California ShakeOut is a state-wide earthquake drill at 10:20 a.m. on October 20 that gives everyone an opportunity to practice ways to be safe during an earthquake. It is also a reminder to review and update your emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure your belongings to prevent damage and injuries. Join the City of Goleta in participating in the Great California ShakeOut and register today. On October 20 at 10:20 a.m., everyone is encouraged to drop, cover and hold on, as if there were a major earthquake. Go on, get your family, co-workers or classmates to register with you. For more information please visit www.shakeout.org/california.

Earthquake Country Alliance suggests following these steps to prepare for, and recover from, the next big earthquake:

PREPARE
Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing movable items.
Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property and considering insurance.

SURVIVE & RECOVER
Step 5: Drop, cover and hold on when the earth shakes.
Step 6: Improve safety after earthquakes by evacuating if necessary, helping the injured, and preventing further injuries or damage.
Step 7: Restore daily life by reconnecting with others, repairing damage, and rebuilding community.

Don’t Miss Your Chance to be Heard

Are you registered to vote? The last day to do so for the upcoming November 8, 2016, election is Monday, October 24. Voter registration forms are available at all public libraries, community centers and City Hall (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta). To receive a registration form by mail, please call the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office at 805-568-2200 or the City Clerk’s office at 805-961-7505.

Once you are registered, your polling place will be listed on the back cover of your sample ballot booklet or you can find it online by searching your street address here.

You can also sign up to vote-by-mail. However, you must first request that a mail-in ballot be sent to you. The last day to make your request is Tuesday, November 1. Click here for more information. If you vote by mail, please remember that your ballot must be received – not just postmarked – by the Registrar of Voters no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Late ballots cannot be counted.

Please visit the election page on our website for more information.

Do You Love the Monarch Butterfly? Become a Docent!

From November to February, the Goleta Butterfly Grove (Ellwood Main Monarch Aggregation Site) is home to thousands of monarch butterflies that migrate to coastal California for the winter. Since 2007, the City of Goleta has trained docents to enhance the visitor experience and lead field trips for school and community groups. It is one of only four Monarch Butterfly Docent programs in California. Docents are stationed at the Goleta Butterfly Grove (Ellwood Main) on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to provide educational information about monarch butterflies and answer questions for visitors.

Becoming a Monarch Docent is easy. You do not need any previous experience – just a love for nature and the monarch butterfly! Learn cool facts about the Monarch, like those that spend their winter at Ellwood have never been to Goleta – they are five generations removed from last year’s visitors. Another interesting tidbit is that migrating Monarchs live up to nine months, while Monarchs that don’t migrate only live two to five weeks.

Docents may sign up for two hour weekend shifts at their leisure as well as scheduled field trips. There will be a docent training session on Monday, October 17 at Goleta City Hall, Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B) from 6:00-7:00 p.m. If you are interested in becoming a Monarch Docent or have questions about the butterflies at Ellwood Mesa, please contact the Monarch Butterfly Docent mainline at 805-961-7571, email Ines Hernandez at ihernandez@cityofgoleta.org or visit www.goletabutterflygrove.com.