Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

NatureTrack Film Festival Coming to Goleta in October

Early Bird VIP Festival Passes on Sale till August 18th

The City of Goleta is pleased to be the location for the NatureTrack Film Festival which is taking place October 6-8 at Metropolitan Fairview Theatre (225 N. Fairview Ave). This is the fifth year for the Film Festival, but the first year it will be held in Goleta. The three-day festival includes an opening night celebration at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara with a film about the world’s best kayaker. Opening Night tickets are on sale. Early Bird VIP Film Festival Passes are available until August 18th.  Individual tickets will be on sale once the full film lineup is released.

NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) is a celebration of nature and outdoor adventure through film. Since it began in 2018 in Los Olivos, the festival has showcased hundreds of national and international filmmakers’ works. The event typically includes more than 40 films with panels and parties. View festival teaser here.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said she is thrilled to see NTFF coming to Goleta. She said, “Goleta is the perfect fit for this film festival. The Good Land is full of nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts and it’s wonderful to have a film festival that celebrates the natural world in our own backyard.”

NatureTrack Founder Sue Eisaguirre said coming to Goleta makes perfect sense. She said, “NatureTrack has been exploring the trails and beaches of Goleta with K-12 children since 2011. Thus, it was an easy decision to bring the only nature-centric film festival to the ‘Good Land.’  With its’ surrounding natural beauty, picturesque coastal landscapes, and scenic mountain views create an ideal backdrop for celebrating and appreciating nature through film. Moreover, Goleta’s vibrant community of nature enthusiasts and environmentally conscious individuals offers the perfect audience.”

While the schedule of films has yet to be announced, organizers have released that “Wild Waters” will be shown on opening night, October 6 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The new documentary is about a female kayaker, Nouria Newman, who is making a name for herself. There will be an after-party with lively conversation, live music, and light appetizers.

The festival continues October 7 & 8 at the Metropolitan Fairview Theatre with screenings on everything from nature documentaries to outdoor adventure films to narrative and animation films. Also look for panels, Q&A’s, a few parties, and an awards presentation on Sunday evening. In addition, the following weekend NTFF will present the Best of the Fest screenings in Los Olivos. 

For more info go to naturetrackfilmfestival.org. To purchase tickets, go to naturetrackfilmfestival.org/tickets. Follow the festival on Instagram @naturetrackfilm. 

The NatureTrack Foundation is a 501c3 Non-Profit. All proceeds from the NatureTrack Film Festival will support NatureTrack in introducing school children and wheelchair users to outdoor spaces from the seashore to the inland oak woodlands of Santa Barbara County by providing cost-free outdoor field trips.

Number one kayaker in the world, Nouria Newman in action in the “Wild Waters” documentary set to open the NatureTrack Film Festival in Goleta


Environmental Document for Stow Grove Park Master Plan Project Ready for Review

Public Comment Period Open Now through August 31

Plans to revamp Stow Grove Park has reached the next phase in the process. The environmental document for the Stow Grove Park Master Plan Project is ready for public review and comment. Community feedback continues to be an important part in planning for the future of this beloved park located at 580 N. La Patera Lane. View the Draft Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) here. The public has until August 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. to provide comment on the document.

The Stow Grove Park Draft Master Plan envisions improved, new, expanded, and renovated active and passive recreational park amenities at Stow Grove Park. Improvements include installation of a new restroom, interactive gardens, fitness trail loop, nature/play area, trash enclosure, and refurbishment of the parking lot, maintenance facility, horseshoe area, playgrounds, multi-use fields, walking/running paths, volleyball courts, picnic areas, park entrances, and redwood grove/walking trails.

To submit comments on the Draft IS-MND email Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org. Comments can also be mailed to the City of Goleta ATTN: JoAnne Plummer, 130 Cremona Drive, Suite B, Goleta, CA 93117. Again, all comments must be received no later than Thursday, August 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

Following this public comment period, a Public Hearing to consider and take action on the Final IS-MND will be scheduled before City Council, the decision maker for this project. The date for this hearing has not been determined and additional notice will be provided accordingly.

For more information on the Draft Master Plan, visit the project webpage at www.CityofGoleta.org/StowGrovePark.

Summer Reading Program Wraps Up at Goleta Valley Library

The 2023 Summer Reading Program concluded on Saturday, July 29th with a grand finale performance by world-record-holding juggler David Cousin! Almost 150 patrons attended the awe-inspiring show at Goleta Valley Library, which celebrated all of the fantastic reading that participants completed since the program launched in early June. To recognize your accomplishment, we wanted to share a few of our final numbers with you and to thank our community for bringing this year’s theme – All Together Now – to life!

  • Over the course of seven weeks, more than 60 teen and adult volunteers worked with staff to host events, listen to readers report on their books, and award prizes generously donated by 37 local businesses and organizations
  • 1,870 community members attended 11 events sponsored by the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library
  • 1,551 children and teens registered for the Summer Reading Program, more than double our 2022 program
  • Adults read 821 books, a 4% increase from last year
  • Our Stuffed Animal Sleepover had a record-breaking 300 stuffies spend the weekend at the library

Thank you to our community for spending the summer with us! We look forward to seeing you at the library again soon. Be sure to check our online calendar and visit our website at www.goletavalleylibrary.org to stay in-the-know on all our services and upcoming programs!

The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries would like to thank the generous sponsors of the 2023 Summer Reading Program: Albertsons, Birkholms Bakery, Blenders in the Grass, The Book Loft, California Pizza Kitchen, Casa Cassara Winery & Vineyard, Chipotle, Chomp!, Creation Station, The Elverhoj Museum, Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Goleta Depot, Golf ‘N’ Stuff, Kyle’s Kitchen, Ice in Paradise, Ingeborg’s Danish Chocolates, Isla Vista Food Co-op, Islands Burgers, Los Arroyos, Mother Hubbards, MOXI Museum, Mystic Merchant, Nathalie’s Dollhouse, New Frontiers Natural Marketplace, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ocean Nails & Spa, Old Town Coffee, Pattibakes, Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Parks-Janeway Carriage House, Senshin Center Aikido, Solvang Bakery, South Coast Deli, South Coast Montessori, Stuart C. Gildred YMCA, The Wildling Museum, and Woodstock’s Pizza.

Photos from 2023 Summer Reading Program















Stuffie sleepover story time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Luce Puppet Co. performance



 

 

 

 

 

 


Wildlife Care Network presentation

August Programming at Goleta Valley Library

Our Summer Reading Program may have ended, but there are still fun activities for all ages to enjoy this month at Goleta Valley Library!

Senior Happy Hour: Mini Art
Thursday, August 3rd, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Come join us for a fun social hour and easy crafts. We will be making mini art to display at the library or to take home and enjoy. This event is free and all supplies are provided. Senior Happy Hour takes place at the Goleta Valley Library on the first Thursday of every month. Come check us out, all ages welcome!

Writers’ Workshop
Saturday, August 5th, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m.
The Writers’ Workshop is open to adults and teens who write in any genre, fiction or non-fiction. The workshop meets on the first Saturday of each month to share work, exchange feedback, offer mutual support and discuss the tools of the trade.

Free Ice Skating Admission at Ice in Paradise with Your Library Card!
Sunday, August 6th, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Ice in Paradise has generously donated free skating admission on the first Sunday of every month in 2023 to patrons of the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries! Present your Goleta Valley Library or Santa Ynez Valley Libraries card at Ice in Paradise to receive free skating admission. Skate rentals are not included. One library card per skater is required. Skaters must be ages 3+. Ice in Paradise is located at 6985 Santa Felicia Drive, Goleta, CA 93117.

Back-to-School Scavenger Hunt
August 15th – 31st
Join us for a fun scavenger hunt in the children’s area at the library! Search for back-to-school themed clues and bring your completed form to the front desk for a prize.

Mystery Book Club
Tuesday, August 22nd, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Join us as we discuss this month’s pick. The Mystery Book Club meets the fourth Tuesday of every month.

Tech Tutoring
Sundays, Tusedays and Wednesdays from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Are you looking for more information about GVL’s online resources? Do you need assistance with your electronic or mobile device? All you have to do is fill out the online Tech Tutoring Request Form and one of our friendly staff will reach out to meet your needs! You will be contacted by a staff member to schedule a 30-minute in-person appointment at the library.

Goodland Yarn Works
Wednesdays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
This fun group knits and crochets useful items for local and national charities. If you know how to knit or crochet, this group is for you! No registration required. Join us for fun and friendship!

Please note: Children’s classes such as crafts and storytimes will be on-pause from August 5th – 31st as we plan our fall programming. Storytime will resume Friday, September 1st.

For all your library needs, please visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org. 

Revised Goleta Housing Element to be Submitted to State

Includes Sites for Rezoning from Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Sessions

The City Council and Planning Commission held three Joint Study Sessions (July 20, 25, and 31) to receive feedback regarding rezoning of parcels within the City to increase the amount of land available for housing. After many hours and extensive public comment at all three study sessions, staff will proceed with adding rezone sites to the Housing Element 2023-2031 for public and State review.

The City had submitted its adopted Housing Element 2023-2031 to the State for review in January 2023. On March 20, 2023, the State issued a letter requesting that the City revise its Housing Element and consider rezoning land to address the State’s required Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA).

Staff will update the Housing Element 2023-2031 with the rezone sites, post the revised Housing Element for public review and submit the revised draft Housing Element for a 60-day California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) review. The updated Housing Element will be available on the City’s Housing Element webpage in mid-August.

After that review, staff will address any comments received and proceed to the Planning Commission and City Council for adoption of the revised Housing Element 2023-2031.

The study sessions are available to watch on the City website:

For more information on the City’s Housing Element Update project, go to https://cityofgoleta.org/HousingElement. If you have any questions about the project, please email City staff at HousingElement@cityofgoleta.org. For inquiries in Spanish, please contact Marcos Martinez, Spanish Engagement Specialist, at (805) 562-5500 or mmartinez@cityofgoleta.org.

August Observances

Please join the City of Goleta this August in recognizing and celebrating two significant days this month:  International Day of the Word’s Indigenous Peoples on August 9th and Women’s Equality Day on August 26th.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is an opportunity to celebrate these communities and their knowledge. Indigenous Peoples live in all regions of the world and own, occupy or use some 22% of global land area. Numbering at least 370-500 million, Indigenous Peoples represent the greater part of the world’s cultural diversity and speak an overwhelming majority of the world’s estimated 7,000 languages and represent 5,000 different cultures. Many Indigenous Peoples continue to be confronted with marginalization, extreme poverty and other human rights violations.

2023’s theme for International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is “Indigenous youth as agents of change for self-determination”. The goal is to highlight the role that indigenous youth must occupy in decision-making while recognizing their dedicated efforts in climate action, the search for justice for their people, and the creation of an intergenerational connection that keeps their culture, traditions, and contributions alive.

Women’s Equality Day was first celebrated in 1971 and formally designated by Congress on August 26th, 1973. The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote as a culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women since 1848.

Today, Women’s Equality Day celebrates the achievements of women’s rights activists and reminds us of the unique daily struggles that women face. The holiday also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities across the nation participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.

The City of Goleta encourages our Goleta community to join us in the celebration and appreciation of these two important days and recognize their continued perseverance towards equality.

Libraries Closed August 24 for Staff Training

The Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries as well as the Isla Vista Bookvan will be closed on Thursday, August 24, 2023, for an all-staff training. The bookdrops will remain open at the libraries. Regular hours of operation will resume on Friday, August 25.

Library card holders have access to amazing online resources 24/7. Visit the e-Library to download and stream free online eBooks, audiobooks, music, TV shows, movies and more.

Visit www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org to see everything your library has to offer.

If you have questions, please call 805-964-7878.

Welcome New Commissioners

Serving on a Board or Commission is a great way to use your talents and interests to serve your community and the City of Goleta has four new commissioners who are doing just that. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Historic Preservation Commissioners Luke Roberts and Elizabeth Link.  Also, Khalid Kaldi is the new Library Advisory Commissioner and Peter Omoregie is our new Public Engagement Commissioner.

Here is a little background on each of them and what drew them to get involved on their particular Commission.

Historic Preservation Commission

Luke Roberts, who has called Goleta home for more than 30 years, is passionate about a city’s need to preserve its historical environment. He believes it’s an essential part of a city’s identity and culture.

Luke teaches in the history department at UCSB and has published numerous books and articles on Tokugawa era Japanese history.  He attended Oberlin Ohio for college, lived in Japan and received a Ph.D. in Japanese history from Princeton University in 1991. Interesting fact: while in Japan, Luke started and participated in a successful preservation movement for a nineteenth century samurai home in the city of Kochi and saw how important this was for local culture. He appreciates what home architecture can reveal about the lives of people in the past.

Elizabeth Link was also appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission and is also a long-time Goleta resident. She moved here more than thirty years ago and worked as the Clinical Manager at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Eye Center. Upon her retirement she knew she wanted to get to help improve and preserve the City’s many wonderful historic properties and community spaces.

Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal State Los Angeles in Biological Anthropology and worked in Healthcare as a Registered Nurse for nearly four decades. She was a founding member of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Sustainability Committee and served on the board of the Santa Barbara Red Cross.

Library Advisory Commission

Khalid Kaldi is the new addition to the Library Advisory Commission. He was drawn to serving on this commission after his experience working at the Santa Barbara Public Library.

Khalid is a Palestinian writer and has a long history of organizing work for causes he believes in. Alongside organizing, Khalid lives to write stories, read books, make ceramics, and play basketball. He holds a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley and resides on occupied Chumash territory. 

Khalid is looking forward to serving as a Library Commissioner.

Public Engagement Commission

Peter Omoregie will have his first meeting this month on August 23 at 6:00 p.m. as a member of the Public Engagement Commission. Peter has lived in Goleta for more than 30 years and is a long-time volunteer. He has been involved in volunteering with the Red Cross, homelessness outreach efforts and Goleta CERT including as a business ambassador during COVID. He also served on the Board of Directors at Girsh Park.

Peter started in Goleta as computer scientist on Navy programs while also doing targeted doctoral research studies at University of California Engineering and Institute of Environmental stress. He was senior Project engineer on several Defense programs and worked on specific international exploratory defense exercises.

Welcome to all of our new commissioners and thanks in advance for your service to Goleta.

City Holds Free Community Disaster Education Course

Request a CDE Course for Groups of 10+

A group of Goleta residents now know more about how to prepare their homes and workplaces for a disaster after attending the City’s free open house Community Disaster Education (CDE) course on July 26th at Goleta City Hall.

Emergency Services Coordinator Michael Baris led the class of about a dozen participants and provided information on what to expect when an emergency occurs. He said, “While you can’t predict when and where an emergency happens, you can take measures to better prepare yourself, your home, business, and neighborhood in emergency situations. Remember: when disaster strikes, the time to prepare has passed. Don’t be caught off guard!”

If you missed it, don’t worry, CDE courses from the City of Goleta can be requested by groups of ten or more, in both English and Spanish. A CDE can be held anywhere and during most hours; a lunch break, after hours at a Homeowners Association (HOA) meeting, or even at a weekend community gathering.

There are a limited number of pre-scheduled CDE courses available each month, To request a CDE course for your group, complete the form at www.CityofGoleta.org/CDE. For any additional questions regarding CDEs, please send an email to CERT@cityofgoleta.org.











Michael Baris leading the CDE course

Make The Most Of Your Visit To The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station

The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station is your go-to destination for sustainable waste management. This state-of-the-art facility, located at 4430 Calle Real, Goleta, offers residents a convenient and responsible way to dispose of waste and recycle various materials. By utilizing the services provided by the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, you can actively contribute to a cleaner and greener Goleta. 

The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station accepts a wide range of items for disposal and recycling. Common acceptable items include household waste, construction debris, scrap metal, electronic waste, appliances, furniture, and yard waste. They also provide services for recycling paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and other recyclable materials. By sorting your waste and recycling appropriately, you can maximize the impact of your recycling efforts and reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. 

To accommodate residents’ busy schedules, the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station operates Monday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These extended hours provide ample opportunities for you to drop off your waste and recyclables at your convenience. By making use of the facility during these hours, you can ensure your materials are handled properly and diverted from landfills. 

To make the most of your visit to the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station, follow these steps: 

  1. Separate your waste: Sort your waste into appropriate categories, such as recyclables, household waste, and yard waste. Proper separation helps streamline the recycling process and reduces contamination. 
  2. Prepare your recyclables: Flatten cardboard boxes, remove lids and caps from plastic bottles, and rinse out containers to ensure they are clean and ready for recycling. 
  3. Follow staff guidance: Upon arrival, friendly staff members will guide you through the disposal and recycling process. They can provide information on specific drop-off locations and any additional requirements. 
  4. Stay informed: Keep updated on any changes in acceptable items, disposal fees, or special recycling events through the South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station’s website or by contacting their office directly. 

The South Coast Recycling and Transfer Station is your partner in sustainable waste management. By utilizing their services, following proper waste sorting guidelines, and taking advantage of the extended hours of operation, you can play an active role in reducing waste, promoting recycling, and creating a cleaner environment in Goleta. Let’s work together to make our community a shining example of responsible waste management. 

Photo credit: www.LessIsMore.org