Daily Archives: October 29, 2024

Apply Now for Award-Winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy

Six-Week Course Begins January 16, 2025

The City of Goleta’s award-winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy is now taking applications for its January/February 2025 class. LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss. LEAD Goleta recently received the prestigious Cal Cities 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the category of Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement. Learn more here. Space is limited so don’t wait to apply for this six-week bilingual class which provides a unique up-close look at how local government works. Priority is given to Goleta residents, but the program is open to any resident of Santa Barbara County. We strongly encourage high school and college students to apply.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn how the City is run, in a small, intimate setting of 30 participants. You will walk away from the experience more connected to the City with a deeper understanding of how to get involved in shaping the future of Goleta – whether it’s staying informed, volunteering, applying for a Board or Commission, or even running for City Council.

Watch our short video promo to see why you should apply. The promo is also available in Spanish.

You can also watch this video recap of the January/February 2024 LEAD Goleta Bilingual Academy and learn first-hand why this program is so special.

The LEAD Goleta Academy begins on January 16, 2025, and takes place Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. for six consecutive weeks. You must be able to attend all six classes to participate. The course ends on February 20, 2025, with a celebratory graduation ceremony. Most classes will be held in City Hall Council Chambers located at 130 Cremona Drive with the exception of two classes that will be at the Goleta Valley Library and Goleta Community Center.

This will be the third time that LEAD Goleta will be offered in Spanish, and the fifth overall Community Academy.

We can’t wait to meet the next LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy class in January. For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/LEADGoleta.


LEAD Goleta January/February 2024 Graduating Class

November Observances

As we step into November, the City of Goleta wants to highlight some of the cultural observances that this month brings. It’s a time to not only enjoy the changing seasons but also to celebrate the diverse traditions that make our community unique.

Native American Heritage Month: This month is dedicated to recognizing the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and honoring their traditions, languages, and stories. Native American Heritage Month officially began in November 1990 when President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month as “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

Diwali (Friday, November 1): Diwali is also known as the Festival of Lights. It is a five-day festival that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. It’s a major religious holiday for Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, and is celebrated by more than a billion people across faiths. 

Veterans Day: Celebrated annually on November 11, Veteran’s Day serves as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have served in the armed forces. The day originated in 1954, when Congress passed a bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28): Celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of the month, families and friends gather around the dinner table in a moment to reflect on gratitude and appreciation. On October 3, 1863, during the Civil War, Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. President Roosevelt signed a resolution on December 26, 1941, establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Whether through shared meals, community events, or acts of service, let’s embrace the spirit of November and foster a welcoming atmosphere for all in Goleta.

NatureTrack Film Festival Winners

Festival Included More Than 80 Films from Across the Globe

It’s a wrap! The NatureTrack Film Festival celebrated the beauty of nature and the art of filmmaking the weekend of October 11 – 13. The Festival was held in Goleta for the 2nd year in a row, and the first time at the Camino Real Marketplace.

This year, the Festival included more than 80 films highlighting nature and adventure from more than 30 countries. The Festival closed with a party to announce the winners:

🎬 Best Feature Film: “Animal Pride” directed by Rio Mitchell

🎬 Best Short Film: “L’età Sperimentale” directed by Marco Zingaretti

🎬 Best Student Film: “Against the Herd” directed by Jaxon Derow

🎬 Dan Conoway – Kids Connecting with Nature Award: “Two Point Four” directed by Natasha Brooks

🎬 Audience Award: “Ploverize” directed by Alex Spell, Vivian Chou, Rigo Gomez, Hope Macias, LiLi Young

🎬 Honorable Mention: “Hunt for the Oldest DNA” directed by Niobe Thompson

🎬 Honorable Mention: “Giants Rising” directed by Lisa Landers

🎬 Honorable Mention: “Tule” directed by Jocelyn Garcia

We want to congratulate all the talented filmmakers who were a part of the Festival, many who traveled long distances to be here, and the incredible films that received awards.

A big thank you to the entire NatureTrack Film Festival team and volunteers for their hard work in bringing this cinematic celebration of nature to Goleta.

If you missed it, make sure to get this must-see event on your calendar when the dates for next year are announced! For more info, please visit: https://www.naturetrackfilmfestival.org/.


Best Feature Film: “Animal Pride” directed by Rio Mitchell


Best Short Film: “L’età Sperimentale” directed by Marco Zingaretti


Best Student Film: “Against the Herd” directed by Jaxon Derow


Audience Award: “Ploverize” directed by Alex Spell, Vivian Chou, Rigo Gomez, Hope Macias, LiLi Young


Honorable Mention: “Tule” directed by Jocelyn Garcia

Congrats to the Dos Pueblos High School Mock Trial Team!

The Goleta City Council recognized the Dos Pueblos High School Mock Trial Team at its October 15th meeting. The Team won the competitive Empire Philadelphia Constitutional Classic championship in September.

This triumph marks the Chargers’ third Empire title, adding to its previous victories at the Empire World Championship in 2015 and the Empire Spring League Championship in 2023.

The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team has won 11 out of the last 14 Santa Barbara County championships and have also placed in the top 10 at the last three State championships.

The Varsity Mock Trial team is made up of team captains Lara, William Parisse and Jonathan Yang, along with team members Alexis Demboski, Amirsam Jabbari, Ariel Li, David Beck, Ethan Gardiner, Luna Avolio, Milena Rodriguez, Mitchell Maskrey, Riley Minne, and Sophia Merritt.

The team is coached by teacher advisor Hannah Krieshok and attorney coaches Christine Voss, Lisa Rothstein, and Lina Somait.

DP Mock Trial alums Cindy Diaz, Maxfield Steele, Edo Barel, and Jacob Molina also pitched in to help coach.

The teamwork and talent of the Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team has shone brightly on the national stage – we can’t wait to see what these amazing students do next.


Dos Pueblos High School Mock Trial Team receiving their proclamation from the Goleta City Council

City Tile for Goleta’s Emergency Services Coordinator

The Goleta City Council recognized Michael Baris at its October 15, 2024, meeting with a City Tile in recognition of his six-years of service to the City. During his tenure, Michael served as a liaison between residents, city administration, and county government to prepare and respond to emergency situations. He also oversaw the City of Goleta’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program and played a key role in shaping critical documents such as the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Debris Flow Removal Annex, and Multi-Day Power Outage (PSPS) Plan. His time at the City included work on various committees and collaborations, including the Santa Barbara County Emergency Managers, Santa Barbara County Aware and Prepare, Santa Barbara County CERT Collaborative, and Santa Barbara County Listos.

While he is excited to start a new chapter, he enjoyed all the relationships he built in Goleta. Michael said, “I am going the miss the residents most of all. The personal conversations I would have with the great people here in our town always made the work worth it.”

Thank you, Michael, for all you have done for the City and best of luck as you embark on becoming a fictional writer.

World Homeless Day Recap

If you missed the webinar for World Homeless Day, held annually on October 10, a recording of  “Homelessness: It’s Not What You Think,” is available to view. Locally, a coalition of providers hosted the webinar to educate community members on actionable ways to address homelessness and equip community members with facts and information to debunk myths about homelessness. The coalition includes SBACT, Santa Barbara Foundation, PATH Santa Barbara, City Net, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, and the City of Goleta.  

You can also watch a series of “Everyone Has a Story” videos created for World Homeless Day that includes interviews from nine South Santa Barbara County locals, two from Goleta, who have lived with the experience of homelessness. Here are links to the two stories from Goleta:

For more information, and to watch all nine interviews, please visit www.sbact.org/whd.

The aim of World Homeless Day is to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness and promote work in local communities to address this crisis.

California is largely considered the epicenter of homelessness in the United States, with over a quarter of the county’s unhoused population residing in the Golden State. Currently, over 181,000 people in California are experiencing homelessness (source).

Santa Barbara County’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count shows that 2,119 people are experiencing homelessness across the county. Although the Point in Time Count has limitations in providing an accurate census, this does represent a 12% increase over the 2023 count of 1,887 (source).

To learn more about World Homeless Day, click here.

City Receives CAPIO Star Award

The City of Goleta is pleased to announce it received a STAR Award from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) for its “Good Times in the Good Land” video. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/osSXESYRtVY.

This video played at the 2024 Goleta Community State of the City and highlights the wonderful community engagement we experience throughout the year in this tight-knit, vibrant community. The STAR Awards recognize excellence in government video programming in California and Nevada. The City of Goleta took first place in the category of Promotion of a City or County. The City wants to thank our Community Relations Division (Kelly Hoover, Jaime Shaw and Marcos Martinez) and Video Specialist Paul Westmacott (Paradigm Pictures) for putting together this video and many others throughout the year to showcase all the great things happening in Goleta.

You can view all of the City’s videos on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@CityofGoleta1.

 

Good Times in the GoodLand video

Pictured left-to-right: Community Relations Assistant Jaime Shaw,  Community Relations Manager/PIO Kelly Hoover, and Media Specialist Paul Westmacott of Paradigm Pictures

 

Green Room: Rainy Season

We are approaching the rainy season which is a good reminder to stop water pollution and keep our storm drains and creeks clean. Rain produces stormwater runoff which is rain that does not soak into the ground and flows over land and other surfaces. Stormwater runoff can carry trash and pollutants into storm drains, which flow directly to creeks, rivers, and the ocean without any treatment. The trash and chemicals in the runoff pose a threat to wildlife and water quality. 

Remember “only rain down the drain.” 

If you observe stormwater concerns such as trash, illegal dumping, or any fluid with a visible sheen, odor, or color entering the storm drain within the City of Goleta, please report it. Water pollution should be reported to the City at environmentalservices@cityofgoleta.org. Hazardous Materials Spills should be reported to 911. Sanitary sewer (wastewater) spills should be reported to the Goleta Sanitary District (805-967-4519) or Goleta West Sanitary District (805-968-2617) immediately. 

Here are some great ways to keep storm drains clear of trash and pollutants: 

  • Keep trash and recycling cans tightly covered to prevent litter from being blown away during storms. storms. 
  • Take your car to a commercial car wash prior to the first rains. 
  • Do not drain or pour any automotive fluid onto the street or into a storm drain. 
  • Sweep dirt out of curbs and into landscaping to prevent it from entering storm drains. 
  • Adjust your sprinklers to prevent over-watering and prevent water from draining onto paved surfaces such as driveways and sidewalks. 
  • Do not apply pesticides or fertilizers before a rain event or within:
    • 5 feet of pavement 
    • 25 feet of a storm drain 
    • 50 feet of a water body 
  • Compost leaves and yard clippings. 
  • Always pick up after your pet. 

For more information on how you can help protect our watersheds, check out our Homeowner’s Guide in English and Spanish.  

Photo by Mike Eliason

Green Room: Have a Waste Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends, enjoy a delicious meal, and express gratitude for the good things in life. However, with this holiday often comes food waste and leftover decorations. Here are some tips from the City of Goleta’s Environmental Services Division on how to make your Thanksgiving more eco-friendly.

Food Waste: Composting and Donations
Once your Thanksgiving feast is over, the first thing to consider is food waste. Composting is a fantastic way to manage this. Learn more about backyard composting here.

Consider donating unopened and unexpired non-perishable foods or canned goods to local food banks or shelters to help those in our community who do not have enough to eat. Sharing your abundance can help those less fortunate enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Disposable Tableware: Reduce and Recycle
Thanksgiving often involves disposable plates, cups, and utensils for large gatherings. This year, make a conscious choice to reduce waste by using durable, reusable dinnerware instead. If you must use disposables, opt for compostable or recyclable options.

Decorations: Reuse and Recycle
Instead of buying new decorations each year, reuse what you have. Your table can look beautiful with cloth napkins, placemats, and dishes you already own. By doing so, you’ll reduce the demand for new items and cut down on waste. You can also get the family involved in creating homemade decorations using materials you have around the house or can easily recycle.

E-Waste: Recycle Old Electronics
Do you plan on upgrading your electronics during Black Friday sales? If so, consider recycling your old devices properly. In Goleta, various e-waste recycling programs allow you to dispose of old phones, computers, or other electronics in an environmentally friendly way. Don’t forget to erase your personal data before recycling these items. You can find more information at www.cityofgoleta.org/wastefreegoleta.

Textiles: Reuse and Recycle
If you’re planning to replace old linens or clothing, look for ways to reuse or recycle them. Thrift stores are a great option for both donating and buying secondhand textiles. Your old Thanksgiving tablecloths and festive outfits could find a new home while reducing textile waste.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for what we have and to share with others. By reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling responsibly, we can celebrate the holiday season in an environmentally friendly way. Goleta offers various waste and recycling programs to help residents dispose of items properly and minimize their environmental impact. Remember that a little effort can go a long way in reducing waste and conserving resources, which is a reason to be thankful.

This Thanksgiving, we encourage everyone to #GoGreenGoleta.

Nominate a Local Business!

City’s Business Recognition Program Looking for Next Winner

Do you know of an exceptional business in Goleta? Then we want to hear from YOU! Nominate them for the City’s Business Recognition Program. The Program is designed to highlight Goleta businesses throughout the year for special achievements or other unique contributions to the City such as economic development, prosperity, sustainability or resilience, or other activities fostering continuous community enrichment.

Nominations are open to the community and self-nominations are accepted. Complete the short online form to nominate a local business The form is also available in Spanish here. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and awards will be given out on a quarterly basis. Awardees will be selected by City of Goleta staff in consultation with the Greater Santa Barbara Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.

Santa Cruz Market received the City’s first Business Recognition Program award for Longevity in the City and for serving the community for over 40 years. Read more here.

To be nominated, business must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Located in Goleta city limits.
  2. Hold a valid City Business License (if applicable). Don’t have one? Apply here!
  3. In good standing with the City (i.e. no outstanding taxes or fees).

Businesses can only receive the award once.

A nominee must demonstrate accomplishments relating to one or more of the following areas:

  • Longevity in the City
  • Business Growth
  • Environmental Sustainability Leadership
  • Community Enrichment/Supporter
  • Industry Innovator
  • Minority-or Women-Owned

Selected businesses will be recognized at a future City Council meeting, included in the City’s monthly e-newsletter The Monarch Press, and featured on the City’s social media channels (@cityofgoleta).

Businesses that are within City limits and have a Goleta business license are also eligible to be listed in the City’s online business directory, GoodLandGoodShopping.com. View a short tutorial on how to edit your business or add your business. For questions or assistance please email PIO@cityofgoleta.org.

To learn more about the City’s Business Recognition Program, and to nominate a local business, click here.