Goleta just got sweeter after the ribbon was cut at the new See’s Candies shop at the Camino Real Marketplace on August 19. Community members lined up for the grand opening event and enjoyed sharing stories about the nostalgic connections they have to See’s Candies, their favorite candy, and their excitement over having the shop in the Good Land! Mayor Paula Perotte, Mayor Pro Tempore Stuart Kasdin, and Councilmember James Kyriaco all welcomed See’s to Goleta and wished them a sweet and successful experience at this awesome new location, 7044 Market Place Drive.

The Sheriff’s Office Training Bureau cadre has been partnering with local business and schools to offer active attacker training to their staff members. As a result of increased public awareness, many citizens have asked what individuals can do protect themselves and reduce the dangers faced during an active attacker event. 

The Sheriff’s Office Training Bureau, which is normally tasked with providing internal training, pivoted their focus to meet these requests for training from the public. In recent months, Training Bureau staff have provided 90-minute training presentations based on the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) curriculum from Texas State University to staff at local schools, childcare centers, and businesses.

Recently, Training Bureau staff visited the Teledyne FLIR campus in Goleta where they presented the ALERRT training to their employees. At the conclusion of the training course at FLIR, the Sheriff’s Office was presented with a generous gift of two Scout III thermal monocular cameras which will be used in by patrol to help with searches for missing persons and wanted suspects. The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank FLIR for their generous donation and all our community partners who have invited us to train their staff members so that, together, we can keep Santa Barbara County safe.

You can find more information about the Sheriff’s Office Training Bureau, including their contact information on the website SBSheriff.org. The Sheriff’s Office would also like to share this training video from ALERRT titled Avoid | Alert | Defend that highlights an easy to remember method for individuals to follow during active attacker events.

By Maria Zate for Cottage Health

Opioid addiction and fatal overdoses are rising at an alarming rate in the state and Santa Barbara County, fueled by the potent synthetic opioid, fentanyl.

“Fentanyl on its own and paired with other illicit drugs is the biggest problem we are seeing right now,” said Layla Farinpour, director of clinical care for Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine at Cottage Health. “We have not seen this level of overdose crisis before.

“Fentanyl is so powerful and extremely addictive. It is leading the increase in overdose deaths in our area.”

In Santa Barbara County there were 133 overdose deaths between January 2021 and January 2022, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office report “The Changing Overdose Crisis in California: A Community Needs Assessment of Santa Barbara County.”

Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. A lethal dose of fentanyl is about the size of three grains of sugar.

When prescribed, fentanyl is used for pain relief and can be found in tablet form, nasal spray and patches. Some people are introduced to opioids as a prescription for pain relief after surgery or serious injury, Farinpour said.

Those who use recreational drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines may have been exposed knowingly or unknowingly to fentanyl, which is being mixed with other drugs ending in deadly results. Individuals who have used other opiates, such as heroin, have begun using fentanyl instead because of its more powerful effects.

Early signs of a problem with opioid medications can include taking prescribed drugs for longer than recommended, needing higher doses to get the same pain relief, and seeking medications from other people or illegally on the streets.

An opioid use disorder can lead to behavioral changes such as isolation from family and friends, increased conflicts in relationships, problems at work or school, money issues or selling of possessions. 
 
“Opioid use disorder is a medical illness. It’s not a character defect. It can happen to anyone. Treatments are available and recovery is possible,” Ms. Farinpour said.

Cottage offers an inpatient medically supervised detox unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, as well as a traditional residential program known as Cottage Residential Center, plus intensive outpatient programs in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

“The most important thing is to take that first step to say something and reach out for help if someone you care about has an opioid use problem. Early intervention and treatment can make a big impact,” Farinpour said.

“There are also resources available in the community, such as Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness and 12-Step Programs,” she said.
 
She added that NARCAN, the drug that is used to save someone who is actively overdosing, is available and free at several locations in the county.

Cottage offers NARCAN (naloxone) free to anyone requesting it at all three of their hospital emergency departments (Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley), no questions asked.

“If someone you know is struggling with opioids, you may consider learning how to use NARCAN and having it readily available. You can save someone’s life, ” she said.
 
For more about Cottage Residential Center, call 805-569-7422, or visit www.cottagehealth.org/crc.

Community resources: https://opioidsafetysb.org/treatment-providers/; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgQqCaqTIXo

Free NARCAN available at:

• Santa Barbara Behavioral Wellness – https://opioidsafetysb.org/overdose-response/
• Pacific Pride – https://pacificpridefoundation.org/royalball-3/
• UCSB – https://adp.sa.ucsb.edu/gfr/overdose-prevention-naloxone
• CVS – https://www.cvs.com/content/prescription-drug-abuse/save-a-life

New App Feature Alerts Drivers to Nearby Road Closures and Emergencies

Caltrans has launched a new push notification feature on its QuickMap app that allows drivers to automatically receive real-time notifications about nearby road closures, emergencies and other traffic updates.  

“With this new QuickMap upgrade, Californians now can receive instant traffic notifications based on their location,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “Drivers can use this information to adjust their plans when needed, compare route options, save time and travel safely to their destinations.”

Caltrans’ QuickMap is a mobile app and website available to the public at no cost for travel planning. QuickMap provides immediate traffic information, including traffic speed, lane and road closures due to construction and maintenance activities, emergency incidents, electronic highway message sign content, rest area locations, camera snapshots, and active chain control requirements.

The new QuickMap push notification feature allows travelers to opt-in to receive location-based alerts on their mobile devices. When a device with the QuickMap app enters an area within 10 miles of a road closure or other traffic-related event, a pop-up message will appear alerting travelers of the incident, including time, location and reason for closure.

Caltrans reminds drivers to use their mobile device responsibly, including only in hands-free mode when operating a vehicle. Using your cell phone while driving is not only dangerous, but also illegal. In California, drivers 18 and older can only use their phones in a hands-free manner, such as speaker phone or voice commands, but never while holding it.

For more information, and to use the new feature, download the QuickMap app onto your phone or visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.

In support of the Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative, Smart Growth America (SGA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity announced that Goleta City Councilmember Kyle Richards will be part of the third class of the Champions Institute. The program was created to help motivated local elected officials equitably define, design, build, and evaluate Complete Streets in their communities. Councilmember Richards was selected as one of the many local elected officials from across the United States (and its territories).

“We are pleased to welcome Councilmember Kyle Richards to the third class of the Champions Institute,” said John Robert Smith, Senior Policy Advisor at Smart Growth America, and the former 16-year mayor of Meridian, Mississippi. “As we emerge from the confines of the pandemic, Councilmember Richards’ commitment to a healthier and more connected hometown was compelling. From his position as a Councilmember, envisioning a more accessible, equitable, and economically viable community for all residents is a winning strategy.”

Councilmember Kyle Richards said, “I’m honored to have been selected for this opportunity, and I hope to use what I learn to make Goleta a safer place for all forms of active transportation.”

Over the next nine months, participants in the Champions Institute will attend virtual learning sessions that will make them experts in equity-based principles and train them on the fundamental steps to take to achieve Complete Streets in their community, from envisioning to implementation. Participants will also learn about best practices and challenges from across the country, as they grapple with different strategies in a collaborative and supportive peer-learning environment.

Local leaders who are selected for the Champions Institute will have the opportunity to learn from a broad array of national experts and former local elected officials in the areas of public health, policy, street design, and project implementation. At the completion of the program, the Champions will be experts in promoting community reforms to create safer streets for all users including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. Champions will be prepared to support plans, policies, and funding that promote the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative of expanding activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations, in their communities.

After participants complete their work in the Champions Institute, SGA will provide continuing support to the local champions as they serve their communities. Newly minted Complete Streets Champions will act as emissaries to other local leaders, sharing their expertise and ideas to grow a network of more Complete Streets Champions across the country who will build and expand activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations across the country.

This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. This program is designed to support the Active People, Healthy Nation initiative through developing more activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations.

ABOUT

Smart Growth America envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity. For more information visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org.

Active People, Healthy Nation℠ Initiative is a national initiative led by CDC to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Increased physical activity can improve health, quality of life, and reduce health care costs. These improvements can help reduce the risk of at least 20 chronic diseases and conditions and provide effective treatment for many of these conditions. Other potential benefits include better school performance and improved military readiness. Building active and walkable communities can help support local economies, result in less air pollution, and create more cohesive communities. Learn more here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity protects the health of Americans at every stage of life by encouraging regular physical activity, good nutrition, and healthy weight. Through support of state and community partners, they provide data, programs that work, and practical tools so that Americans have the best possible chance to achieve healthier lives and avoid chronic diseases.