Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program Rounds 8 & 9

Round 8 for nonprofit cultural institutions is currently open; Round 9 for new and waitlisted applications opens September 9

California’s Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), previously announced additional rounds for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program.

Round 8: Nonprofit cultural institutions only
  • Application window: Friday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 8 
  • Eligible applicants: Only nonprofit cultural institutions of any revenue size that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
  • Details: Approximately $16 million remain under the Nonprofit Cultural Institutions Program. Eligible nonprofit cultural institutions must complete a new application even if they already applied in Rounds 1, 2, 5 or 6; nonprofit cultural institutions that applied in Round 4 do not need to reapply.  Grants will only be available to nonprofit cultural institutions that did not receive funding in any previous rounds. Grants will be prioritized based on the documented percentage revenue declines based on a reporting period comparing Q2 and Q3 of 2020 versus Q2 and Q3 of 2019.
Round 9: New Applicants and Waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds
  • Application window: Thursday, September 9 through Thursday, September 30
  • Eligible applicants: Current waitlisted applicants from certain previous rounds and new applicants that meet eligibility criteria found at CAReliefGrant.com.
  • Eligible grant award: $5,000 – $25,000
  • Details: Applicants not selected to move forward in the review process in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, or 7 do not need to re-apply and will be automatically moved into Round 9. New applicants will need to apply at CAReliefGrant.com.

Cox Offers Programs to Help Access Affordable Internet

Need affordable internet access? Cox Communications is participating in the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program to help you get connected.

The Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) is a federal program to provide internet connectivity to students, school staff and library patrons while they are not on a school or library campus. Cox is offering a special ECF connectivity solution called Cox Home Connectivity for Education. Qualified customers can begin registering today on Cox.com/ECF.

For those receiving program approval, Cox’s ECF offering will equip customers with internet service with speeds of 50 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload and a wifi modem. The ECF program will subsidize costs for internet and equipment that the FCC determines are reasonable. Cox’s ECF offering will cost (per household) a one-time $20 equipment charge and $30 per month for internet service, with no term agreement, no deposit, and access to 3m+ Cox Hotspots nationwide until June 30, 2022.

For more information on the FCC’s ECF program, visit cox.com/ecf.

Additional Support Offerings to Improve At-Home Learning Experience

To further assist qualified families in need, Cox offers Connect2Compete (C2C), which is the company’s low-cost internet solution for families with school-aged children who are enrolled in government financial assistance programs. C2C is designed to create digital equity for students and families that may have previously lacked internet access in their homes. The program now provides download speeds of 50 Mbps to support families who qualify. Learn more and check if you qualify at cox.com/c2c.

Cox also participates in the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) program. Open to eligible Americans for a limited time, EBB is available to provide temporary financial assistance for internet service. Eligible families may qualify to receive up to $50 off their monthly bill based on their current internet service and equipment rental, or up to $75 if they live in a tribal area, for as long as government funds remain available. For more information on the FCC’s EBB program, visit cox.com/ebb.

To view a comparison of all three of the programs available, click here.

California Gubernatorial Recall Election on September 14

All Registered Voters in California Will Automatically Receive a Ballot in the Mail by September 7 

The California Gubernatorial Recall Election is on September 14, and all registered voters in Santa Barbara County should have received their Sample Ballot. If you are a registered voter and have not received your ballot, contact the Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters office at (805) 568-2200. 

Voters can verify the accuracy of their voter registration, including residential and mailing addresses, at sos.ca.gov/elections/registration-status or sbcvote.com. To make address and other updates to your registration, or for eligible citizens to register to vote, go to registertovote.ca.gov.

Voters are encouraged to complete their ballot and return it through one of the secure drop boxes located throughout the county. Drop boxes are available 24 hours per day until 8 p.m. on Election Day. To avoid concerns about postal delivery delays, voters are encouraged to utilize a drop box to return their ballot. A list of all drop box locations in Santa Barbara County are included with the vote ballot and posted at SBCVote.com.

Voters may mail their ballot with no postage required, postmarked by Election Day, September 14 and received by the county elections officials on or before September 21. The preprinted return address is the Santa Barbara County Elections Office.

Voters must remember to sign the ballot envelope. The signature on every returned voted ballot envelope will be compared to the signature on the voter’s registration record before it is counted.  If a voter thinks that their signature has changed over time, they should contact Santa Barbara Registrar of Voters at (805) 568-2200 or re-register online at registertovote.ca.gov. The Department of Motor Vehicles signature may be utilized with online voter registration. 

Santa Barbara County Elections is staffing polling place locations on Election Day for those voters requiring language assistance or who want to vote in person.  Voters must surrender their vote by mail ballot in order to vote at their polling place location. These sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, September 14. Facial coverings will be required. Voters have been assigned to polling place locations that will be listed on the back cover of the voter’s County Voter Information Guide. Voters can also use the Sample Ballot and Polling Place Look-up tool at SBCVote.com.

For information about becoming a poll worker at one of these sites, please call
(805) 568-2200 or go to countyofsb.org/care/elections/officers/information.sbc.

The three county election offices listed below are open for voting, voter registration and voter questions through Election Day, September 14. 

Santa Barbara, 4440-A Calle Real
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, except holidays

Lompoc, 401 E. Cypress St, Room 102
8:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, except holidays

Santa Maria, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Suite 134
8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, except holidays

The Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Office wants to help make the voting process as easy as possible. For questions or assistance, please call (805) 568-2200.

Our Water Our World: Controlling Rats and Mice in your Home

There are plenty of reasons why it’s important to keep rodents out of and away from your home. Rats and mice can bring fleas, ticks, and germs that carry diseases. Rodents and their droppings can make allergies and asthma worse. Rats and mice will eat and contaminate your food, damage property, and can even cause fires by chewing on electrical wires in your walls or attic.

Prevention is key – keep rodents from getting into your home
  • Seal holes and cracks: Since a mouse can squeeze through a hole as thin as a pencil, and both rats and mice can chew a small hole into a larger one, be sure to seal or close off all cracks and crevices.
    • Close off large holes with sheet metal flashing, 1/4″ hardware cloth, plaster, or mortar.
    • Seal smaller holes with caulk, spackle, or cement.
    • Make sure there are no gaps around windows and doors. Use weather stripping and door sweeps if needed, and repair thresholds and windowsills. Keep outside doors and screen doors closed, especially at night.
  • Don’t give rodents a place to hide:
    • Throw away materials that rodents could use to make nests, like shredded paper, cotton or polyester batting, foam rubber, insulation, rags, and string—or keep in pest-proof containers.
    • Remove woodpiles, rock piles, and other debris piles. Store firewood and lumber at least 18″ above the ground and 18″ away from all structures.
    • Thin dense bushes and shrubs and remove heavy vine growth. Make sure tree and shrub branches are at least three feet away from buildings.
    • Get rid of ivy. Ivy provides shelter and food for rats. If you can’t remove it, cut it close to the ground.
    • Use rodent-proof compost bins and never put meat in the compost.
    • Standing water attracts thirsty rodents (and breeds mosquitoes). Turn over empty flowerpots, and remove tires stored outdoors or drill holes in them so water can drain.

How do you know whether you have a rodent problem? You may see a mouse or rat, smell them, or hear them chewing and scampering at night in walls and ceilings. Look for droppings, signs of gnawing, and the nests rats and mice make from shredded paper, cloth, or insulation. You may find rat burrows in the ground outside.

Get rid of rodents
  • Remove or clean up food that attracted the rodents. Remove clutter.
  • Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink—either wash or keep them in the dishwasher with the door closed.
  • Keep food (for people and pets) in the refrigerator or in containers made of glass, metal, or heavy plastic with tight-fitting lids. Store birdseed, and grass seed in pest-proof containers.
  • Remove and clean pet dishes after pets have eaten. Do not leave pet food out overnight, especially outside.
  • Empty garbage often. Outside, keep trash and recycling in rodent-proof cans with closed, tight-fitting lids.
  • Fix leaking faucets and pipes—rats and mice get thirsty too.
  • Set traps. Use snap traps or battery-operated electrocution traps instead of glue boards. Glue-trapped animals don’t die immediately; the glue boards may catch other animals (such as cats) that try to eat the trapped rodents.
If you need to call a professional

Call a pest management professional (PMP) that offers less-toxic solutions to all pest problems (integrated pest management, or IPM).

  • Ask for a thorough inspection to find out where rodents are getting in and what they are eating.
  • Ask the PMP to try trapping rodents before using poisons that are bad for people, pets, and the environment.
  • Whatever method they use, make sure the company will return to remove dead rodents.
  • Insist on pest-proofing services, such as blocking rodent entry points.

For a listing of pest control companies providing IPM services, go to www.ecowisecertified.org or greenshieldcertified.org.

Find more information on controlling rats and mice with eco-friendly products in our OWOW brochures in English and Spanish. 

The City of Goleta along with the Cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and the County of Santa Barbara have partnered with the OWOW organization to promote the use of less-toxic products in an effort to reduce pesticide pollution in our communities. By reducing pesticide use and the use of less-toxic products around the home, you can help reduce pesticides and other pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from being picked up while watering or when it rains and transported to the nearest storm drain inlet and into our waterways. The OWOW website is user-friendly and a great resource for finding less-toxic products to use around your home or garden.

Participate in Goleta EZ Bike Demo Days in September and October

Electric bikes make it easier to include biking as part of your everyday life; they are fun to ride, they get you where you are going quickly and sweat-free (no special clothes!), you get easy and free parking, and they are a great way to fight climate change by reducing traffic and pollution.

Goleta Valley residents and employers are invited to take advantage of Goleta EZ Bike Demo Days in September and October, featuring special e-bike activities and free 5 day-loans from the EZ Bike Project. The EZ Bike Project, (a program of SBCAG Traffic Solutions), normally operates in downtown Santa Barbara, which makes Goleta EZ Bike Demo Days a unique opportunity for locals to access the activities without having to leave Goleta.

Goleta e-bike demo activities include Variety Hours, 5-Day E-Bike Loans, and Taco Tuesday Demo Rides. And all of them are free!

Can you make an e-bike your daily driver? What about your commute to work or the school drop-off with the kids? Can you take it to the market? EZ Bike will help you answer these questions and more.

Register at www.EZBike.org or email info@TrafficSolutions.org for more information. The EZ Bike Project is limited to residents and employees in Santa Barbara County ages 14+.

Photo: Trek Verve+ 3 overlooking the Santa Barbara Airport/Goleta Slough courtesy of Steve Miley

Receive Earthquake Warnings with the MyShake App

This summer, don’t let an earthquake catch you off guard! The California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) launched the first ever statewide public earthquake warning system, Earthquake Warning California. Californians can receive earthquake warnings with the state’s free MyShake App, which can be downloaded on the Apple App Store or Google Play on smartphones or tablets. The MyShake App is currently available in English and Spanish, with other languages in the works. The technology links mobile devices with ground sensors to send warnings to those in the nearby area when significant shaking is detected so that individuals have a few extra moments to take protective actions, such as to drop, cover, and hold on.

Earthquake Warning California also includes Android Earthquake Alerts that are built into new and updated Android devices and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) for WEA-capable mobile devices. Cal OES encourages individuals with WEA-capable mobile devices to still download the MyShake App, since the MyShake App and Android Earthquake Alerts are issued when a magnitude 4.5 earthquake is anticipated, while WEAs will alert users when a 5.0 magnitude earthquake is expected.

How does it work?

The MyShake App uses technology that includes seismic sensors located deep in the ground. When shaking is detected, the system issues a warning to nearby mobile devices. For this reason, MyShake App and Android Earthquake Alert users must set their app location settings to “always on” to ensure they receive an earthquake warning even if the app isn’t open.

The MyShake App and Android Earthquake Alerts issue warnings when a 4.5 magnitude earthquake is anticipated, while WEAs are sent when a 5.0 magnitude earthquake is expected. The length of warning depends on a number of factors, including how big the earthquake is, how deep it started in the earth, how close the seismic sensors are to each other, and how quickly the data can move from the seismic sensors to MyShake users.

There may be times where an alert is issued and no shaking is felt. Cal OES reminds Californians to always react with the assumption that shaking is about to occur when they receive an alert. Do not take shelter in a doorway, near glass windows, or large structures that can be compromised in an earthquake, such as freeway overpasses.

When you receive an earthquake warning alert or start to feel shaking, be sure to drop, cover, and hold on until shaking stops. When seeking cover, make sure your entire body is underneath a sturdy table or desk, or get down near an interior wall or low-lying furniture that will not topple over. If driving, safely pull over to the side of the road and pull the parking brake. With appropriate planning and preparation, you can be one step ahead of an earthquake, prevent injuries, and help build a resilient community.

To learn more about Earthquake Warning California, the MyShake App, or the other earthquake warning resources, visit earthquake.ca.gov.

Prepare to Protect Those You Love During an Emergency

September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disaster is protecting everyone you love.”! It’s the best time of year to sign up for emergency alerts, double check family plans, and create a Go-Bag for your garage, car, or closet.

Helping our community stay safe is the City of Goleta’s top priority. The City is working to maintain essential services and prepare for future wildfires and other natural disasters with limited resources. As we plan to meet future needs, we want to ensure our community is prepared now in the event of a disaster. Here are some important tips we want to share with you:

First, be sure you are signed up for local emergency alerts with both Santa Barbara County (www.ReadySBC.org) and City of Goleta (http://tinyurl.com/goletaemergency).

Second, think about gathering supplies that will last for several days after a disaster. Make sure you have enough for everyone living in your home and don’t forget to consider the unique needs of each person or pet. Think about dietary restrictions, prescription medications, important documents and pictures! Create a Go-Bag, a bag meant to be stored away somewhere safe but can be accessed at a moment’s notice. Learn how to build a kit at www.Ready.gov/kit.

Next, start the new school year by talking to your kids about emergencies that could happen at home and away. Talk about meeting spots in case you are separated, and make games to help them memorize family phone numbers. Resources for kids, teens, and the whole family are available at www.Ready.gov/kids.

City of Goleta’s Emergency Services Coordinator, Michael Baris, adds, “National Preparedness Month is a great time to have a quick five minute conversation with your family and neighbors.  Set yourself up for success in an emergency by preparing now. Locate and find your valuable documents and make sure they are in a safe place. Talk about who will update your extended family about the situation.  Grab an old bag and put old-but-good shoes and clothes inside.  These small things will go a long way towards making life easier in the craziness of a disaster.”

Learn more about National Preparedness Month, and how to make sure you and your family are prepared, at https://www.ready.gov/september.

Public Input Requested on Community Development Block Grant Funding

Public Review Period is Open now through September 3

Every year the City of Goleta looks forward to helping those in our community in need using funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This past year, the City received additional funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for our CDBG program to assist people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic (CDBG-CV funding). This past year, 3,678 people were assisted with CDBG and CDBG-CV funding. The City is required to submit a year-end report on its accomplishments called the Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). The CAPER provides an assessment of the City’s performance in meeting housing and community development goals in the adopted 2020-2021 CDBG Action Plan. The draft CAPER can be viewed here.

The City is also seeking public input on a substantial amendment to the 2019-2020 CDBG Action Plan that would reallocate $190,000 in CDBG-CV funds from an Emergency Rental Assistance Program to homelessness outreach and assistance. There are currently millions of dollars available at the State and County level for rental assistance, so the City proposes to use the funding to assist people living in encampments, the streets and RVs get needed services and housing. The City also proposes to reallocate $12,500 in CDBG-CV funding to a food program for low-income seniors.

Comments on the draft CAPER and proposed Action Plan Amendment are being accepted during a 15-day public review period ending September 3, 2021, at 12:00 pm. Comments should be submitted to: City of Goleta, Neighborhood Services Department, Attn: Claudia Dato, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA 93117 or emailed to cdato@cityofgoleta.org.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on these matters on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at their regular Council meeting which begins at 5:30 p.m. An agenda will be available ahead of time at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings.

About the Community Development Block Grant

On an annual basis the City receives funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the CDBG program which is intended to be used to assist low-income citizens, people experiencing homelessness, youth and seniors with essential services such as medical and dental care, food security, counseling, homelessness prevention, case management and other needs.

The City also uses the majority of its CDBG allocation on capital projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income people and the disabled. Projects have included renovating City facilities and parks to meet Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access standards, install sidewalks in areas where they are lacking, and adding crosswalks.

City Partnership with IVYP Supports Enriching Youth Summer Camp Program

The City of Goleta is proud to partner with Isla Vista Youth Projects (IVYP), providing an enriching full-day summer camp experience for local children. IVYP provides essential childcare to many Goleta families where both parents work or are in school.

As the City looks ahead and makes plans to meet growing community service needs, supporting and expanding opportunities for you and afterschool programs and providing safe places for children to learn and play is one of its priorities.

“The City of Goleta’s support provided a fun, safe learning environment for students, and enabled families to go to work knowing their children were well cared for,” said Lori Lander Goodman, IVYP Executive Director.

The IVYP Summer Program was created in 1985 in response to community need. The program is held on site at Isla Vista Elementary School and is open during the summer months from 7:30am to 5:30pm. It is designed to link with the year-round afternoon Enrichment Program, thereby extending programming during the summer months. The program offers a variety of educational and enrichment activities with academic lessons in Math, Science, Writing, Reading, Social Studies and Art. Breakfast, Lunch, Snack and Supper are provided. 

Students expressed their gratitude for their summer camp experience with a series of thank you cards, putting their art skills to work in the process (pictured above and below).

City Helps Replace Destroyed Dos Pueblos Little League Equipment

The City of Goleta is lending a helping hand to the Dos Pueblos Little League (DPLL) to help pay for equipment destroyed in a suspected storage shed arson fire that occurred on August 18th at Girsh Park.  The estimated $30,000 loss includes but is not limited to pitching machines, bases, general baseball equipment and the storage shed itself. Graffiti was located nearby that may potentially be related to the fire. With the support of the City Council, Goleta City Manager Michelle Greene authorized a $5,000 grant to DPLL to help replace the equipment.

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “This donation confirms that the City of Goleta stands by DPLL and by Girsh Park, a vital and valued community space. We are committed to helping promote peaceful enjoyment of our parks for all members of our community, as we condemn all acts of vandalism and violence.”

While Girsh Park is not a city-owned facility, it is well-loved by the community and supported by the City of Goleta. Since its inception in 1997, the park has been operated by a non-profit organization, the Foundation for Girsh Park. DPLL, also a non-profit organization, has been in operation since 1974 but moved to Girsh Park when it opened.  DPLL has played there ever since and stored its equipment in a shed at the park.

Goleta City Councilmember Kyle Richards, who has served as the City’s representative on the Foundation for Girsh Park Board since 2017, said, “The City will stand up against this assault on our community. This is not what our community is about, and this does not represent the values of our City or its residents. We are saddened and outraged over the destruction at Girsh Park, both the graffiti vandalism and the arson.  We know that our community’s residents, businesses, and visitors will rally around the Dos Pueblos Little League and Girsh Park, and that’s why we are Goleta Proud.”

Goleta Mayor Pro Tempore James Kyriaco added, “Our local children and youth deserve to live in a community free from fear and danger. Our hope is that this equipment and shed can quickly be replaced so that our youth can make new, happy memories out on the fields.”

Members of the public who wish to support Girsh Park or the Dos Pueblos Little League are encouraged to visit their websites at www.girshpark.org and www.dpll.net.  Finally, the City encourages anyone with information regarding the storage shed fire to contact the Santa Barbara County Fire Department by sending an e-mail to FireInfo@SBCFire.com.  Any tips related to the vandalism should be directed to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4150.  For anonymous tips call 805-681-4171 or online at www.sbsheriff.org. 

Pictured: Shed Fire at Girsh Park