Daily Archives: November 2, 2023

It’s a Wrap: NatureTrack Film Festival in Goleta

The NatureTrack Film Festival’s first year in Goleta brought out more than a thousand nature and film lovers the weekend of October 6-8. The three-day festival celebrating nature and outdoor adventure included one dozen features and 30 shorts. Most the festival took place at the Metropolitan Fairview Theatre with opening night at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara and several events at The Leta Hotel. Watch this short recap to see highlights from the fun-filled weekend.

This is the 5th year for the festival which is typically held in Los Olivos. The Best of the Fest screening still took place in Los Olivos. Here are the award winners:

AUDIENCE AWARD 
Winner – Hudson River Wild
Honorable Mention – Range Rider

BEST FEATURE FILM
Winner – Big Wave Guardians
Honorable Mention – Out There: A National Parks Story

CONNECTING WITH NATURE DAN CONAWAY AWARD
Winner – Between Earth & Sky
Honorable Mention – The Little Fox of Limuw

BEST SHORT FILM
Winner – Between Earth & Sky
Honorable Mentions – Range Rider and Reel Rock: Resistance Climbing

BEST STUDENT FILM
Winner – Diagonal
Honorable Mention – My Neighbour is a Bear 

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.

For more info go to naturetrackfilmfestival.org.

Looking forward to seeing the film festival return to Goleta next year! Stay tuned.

Pictured: Left-to-right: Goleta City Councilmember Kyle Richards, U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, 3rd District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann and 2nd District Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco at Opening Night

Goleta’s Finest Winners Announced

Drumroll please…the 2023 Goleta’s Finest Award Winners have been announced! Recipients are:

  • Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker
  • Man of the Year – Marty Plourd
  • Educator of the Year – Scott Guttentag
  • Student of the Year – Valeria Tiburcio Romo
  • Volunteer of the Year – Fritz Olenberger
  • Innovator of the Year – Demis D. John, PhD
  • Public Servant of the Year – Allison Gray
  • President’s Award – Christine LeBon

Goleta’s Finest, presented by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, is a 73-year-old tradition honoring remarkable individuals whose contributions have enhanced the Goleta community.

The 2023 award recipients will be honored at a formal celebration on December 1, 5:30-9:00 p.m., at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The evening will include dinner followed by the awards ceremony.

Learn more about the award recipients and register to attend here: https://sbscchamber.com/event/goletas-finest-2023/.

Goleta’s Housing Element Revisions Meet State Requirements

Planning Commission Public Hearings Nov. 13

The City of Goleta’s draft revisions to the Housing Element 2023-2031 have been accepted by the State of California’s Housing and Community Development Department (State). The City received the notification on October 16, 2023, via a comment letter, that the draft Housing Element revisions provided by the City address all statutory requirements and substantially comply with State housing law. 

The revisions submitted by the City include rezoning of certain housing sites to increase housing supply potential and meet the City’s share of the identified regional housing need. Previous Housing Element drafts submitted by the City to the State did not include rezoning.

The Planning Commission will hold public hearings to consider recommending to the City Council adoption of the State-approved revised Housing Element, including rezoning, at its meeting on November 13, 2023. The agenda will be available in advance of the meeting at www.CityofGoleta.org/GoletaMeetings. The City Council will meet on this topic in December, and once City Council adopts the revisions, the City’s Housing Element will be re-transmitted to the State for final certification.

Goleta’s Housing Element is important because it establishes City policies and programs for maintaining and improving existing housing and plans for how to accommodate the City’s share of the region’s housing needs as identified by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment.

To learn more about the Housing Element Update Project and review the State’s comment letter and the proposed draft revisions, visit the project page on the City’s website at https://www.cityofgoleta.org/housingelement.