Daily Archives: March 9, 2022

Goleta Businesses Awarded at Chamber Luncheon

Congratulations to those who were honored at the Chamber’s Annual Membership Meeting and Regional Business Awards on Friday, February 25th at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. 

This was the first in-person Membership Meeting and Regional Business Awards since the Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria Chambers of Commerce merged to create the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce in July 2020. The chamber represents 1,100 businesses across the South Coast, which totals to about 75,000 jobs.

While several awards were handed out there were two Goleta specific ones.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Chris Chiarappa. In 2021, Chris Chiarappa launched the Santa Barbara Restaurant Collective. Within five years, he launched three Mesa Burger restaurants including one in Goleta, three Lighthouse Coffee locations, M-Kitchen, Corner Tap, and is preparing to open several additional enterprises within the next few years. Chris is motivated to give back to the community and the people who make this place so special. Congratulations Chris, our Entrepreneur of the Year!

Other Business Award recipients included Mariposa at Ellwood Shores receiving the Community Business of the Year. Mariposa at Ellwood Shores Assisted Living in Goleta is a warm, inviting senior living community designed for the care and comfort of its residents. They go above and beyond when serving their residents, taking care of staff, and staying connected within the community. They are committed to protecting our most vulnerable community members with constant testing, vaccination clinics, and the distribution of information.

Here is the full list of Regional Business Awards Winners:

  • Large Business of the Year – Cox Communications
  • Small Business of the Year – Hilltop Flowers Inc.
  • Entrepreneur of the Year – Chris Chiarappa, Santa Barbara Restaurant Collective
  • Non-Profit of the Year – Better Together Fund
  • Milestone Business Award – E. J. Harrison & Sons
  • Hospitality Award – Visit Santa Barbara
  • Community Business of the Year – Mariposa at Ellwood Shores
  • Special Recognition – Local Community Banks (American Riviera Bank, Community West Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Pacific Premier Bank)
  • Ambassador of the Year – Angela Miller-Bevan
  • Chairman’s Award – Tom Patton

Congratulations to all!

          

Library Patrons – Black Gold Changes Coming

The Black Gold Cooperative Library System, of which the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Library System is a member, is currently undergoing a realignment that will ultimately allow Central Coast libraries to provide a more community-focused approach to library services. Over the next several months, the multi-step process will necessitate a few changes in service. 

  • Beginning March 1st, all renewals (including autorenewals) on borrowed materials will be suspended temporarily to allow time for materials to be returned to their owning libraries.
  • All Black Gold libraries, including Goleta, Buellton and Solvang will be closed on April 22 and 23 for the migration of all computer files to the new library circulation software. No holds can be placed during April 22-24.
  • Beginning April 25th, the shared Black Gold Cooperative Library System will offer titles from the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Library System, Paso Robles City Library, Santa Maria Public Library, Lompoc Public Library System, Blanchard Community Library, and the Carpinteria Community Library. These libraries will have their own customized catalog website designed specifically for their local patrons. 

San Luis Obispo County libraries and the Santa Barbara Library System recently announced their departure from the cooperative system. San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara cardholders are welcome to apply for a Goleta, Buellton or Solvang Library card to continue accessing materials from Black Gold member libraries. If Goleta, Buellton or Solvang patrons wish to access materials at SLO or SB libraries, they can get library cards from each of those jurisdictions but will have to go to those libraries to check out their materials and return them there as well.

While these changes may take some getting used to, member libraries are confident that moving forward the new Black Gold Cooperative Library System will be better positioned to engage with their communities and meet their information needs.

The Goleta Valley, Buellton and Solvang Libraries are open on Tuesdays – Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn more about the libraries at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org.

Welcome New Planning Commissioner

The City is pleased to welcome Elrawd MacLearn as our newest Planning Commissioner. In his Commissioner role, he is looking forward to shaping the landscape of the City. He hopes to preserve the beauty of Goleta, while simultaneously accommodating the growing community’s needs. A graduate of UCLA, he currently works as a health inspector for Santa Barbara Public Health. During his free time, he enjoys exploring the country roadways of Santa Barbara County on his motorbike.  

The Planning Commission sits as a decision-making body on land use issues for the City and consists of five members who each serve a four-year term. Their role is to review and take appropriate action on discretionary development applications and to make recommendations to the City Council regarding any proposed legislative actions, including the General Plan and its implementation, as required by law.

Please join us in welcoming Elrawd to this important role. Learn more about the City’s Boards and Commissions here.