Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

“Picassos For Peanuts” Virtual Art Show Happening Now

The Goleta Valley Art Association’s 10th annual “Picassos for Peanuts” is happening now online! The virtual art show features 50 artists showing 150 art pieces – all priced under $300. The show will remain online, and paintings available for purchase, through March 2021. One of the goals is to bring art to the community, and the community response has been wonderful with many site visits and sales so far.

This is an opportunity to have an original piece of art created by a local artist grace your home. You might consider one of the options as a gift for a special occasion, birthday, or Valentine’s Day. Click here to check out original works by local artists.

For more information, contact Terre Martin Sanitate at terre.sanitate@gmail.com.

Pictured: One of the many wonderful art options available for purchase. “My Covid Corner” by Susan Fridley, watercolor, 11”x14”

Old Car Buy Back Program Expands Model Years

$1,000 for Gasoline or Diesel Vehicle, 1997 or Older

Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) is now accepting vehicles, model year 1997 or older (expanded from the previous requirement of model year 1995 or older), under the popular Old Car Buy Back Program.
 
Since 2006, the District’s program has purchased vehicles from Santa Barbara County residents looking to retire their older cars, which produce more emissions than newer models. The program has cut nearly 600 tons of smog-forming pollution by taking 6,000 older cars off the road. Today, the vehicles that qualify for this program account for seven percent of the vehicles on the road, but represent more than 38 percent of the county’s vehicle emissions.
 
“Vehicle technology has improved significantly over the years, and cars and trucks today are much cleaner than they were just a decade ago,” said District Director, Aeron Arlin Genet. “Cleaner cars mean better air quality in Santa Barbara County and throughout California. Under this program, the District can partner with residents to scrap their older vehicle while providing $1,000 for the purchase of a newer, cleaner car – including an electric car – or they can pocket it and take advantage of alternative transportation options like riding the bus or bicycling.”
 
Funding for this program comes from vehicle registration fees designated for use by local air districts. The District will pay $1,000 for 1997 or older gasoline or diesel cars, light-duty trucks, vans, or SUVs, if certain conditions are met. Those conditions include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Vehicles must be registered in Santa Barbara County for the past two consecutive years;
  • Vehicles must be in working condition;
  • Vehicles must be smog-certified.

The vehicles bought by this program are removed from the road permanently after a licensed auto dismantler crushes the cars. The District works with specific dismantlers in Goleta, Lompoc, and Santa Maria.
 
For more information, including a full list of requirements, call (805) 961-8814 or visit the District’s website.

NASA STEM Kits Coming to Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries

“Reach for the Stars” Grant Project to Launch Summer 2021

Goleta Valley Library has been awarded $5,500 in Library Services and Technology Act grant funding through the California State Library to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) kits to provide learning opportunities for all ages in the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley communities.

This award will allow staff to create multiples of two themed kits, Sun-Earth-Moon Connections and Be a NASA Detective: Expanding Your Senses, which will contain all of the materials and supplies needed to participate in activities that introduce and reinforce STEM concepts. This project, called “Reach for the Stars,” follows a blueprint created by the NASA @ My Library program to connect NASA, public libraries, and their communities through hands-on activities and experiments.

“I’m a huge fan of NASA and so excited that the Goleta Valley Library has this opportunity to work with such a great organization to bring STEM activities to the kids in our area,” says Goleta Valley Library Director Allison Gray.

The Reach for the Stars project will address the need for STEM learning in the community, particularly among underserved populations within the libraries’ service area. Research findings show that early introduction to STEM fields through positive, hands-on experience is integral in building children’s confidence to pursue these fields in school and as careers. In addition, this project will benefit participants of all ages by encouraging and facilitating lifelong learning through enjoyable, interactive programming.

“We are looking forward to the many ways that these kits will engage, educate and inspire patrons of all ages,” says Goleta Valley Library Children’s Librarian Elizabeth Saucedo.

The Reach for the Stars kits will be available at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries starting in summer 2021 for either virtual or in-person programming, per the extent of library services offered at that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details about how to explore these kits will be announced this spring.

For more information on programs and events at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, view the online calendar at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Grant 40-9096.

NASA Banner

NASA STEM Kits

Virtual Volunteers Needed at Library

Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are currently accepting applications for teens and adults eager to get involved in their community by volunteering virtually at the library.

Teens can earn community service hours or volunteer just for fun by completing online book reviews or contributing to the Teen Graphic Novel Club. Book Reviews are posted on the Book Reviews by Teens page of our website, so you’ll get to see your review in print and read other teens’ reviews to help you find your next favorite book! Members of the Teen Graphic Novel Club have the option to volunteer by contributing to the club blog, acting as a discussion leader during meetings, creating marketing such as flyers and bookmarks, or writing book reviews on each month’s picks. For more information, contact Teen Graphic Novel Club coordinator Alex Whelan at AWhelan@cityofgoleta.org.  Visit our Teen Volunteer Opportunities webpage for more details on all of our teen volunteer programs and to complete the online Volunteer Application for Minors.

The library is also welcoming applications for adult volunteers who are interested in providing online tutoring to help K-8 students succeed academically through the library’s virtual after-school program. Volunteers will tutor remotely from home and will receive training on using the library’s homework help resources, including BrainFuse HelpNow! and ProQuest Homework Central. Tutoring sessions will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact Supervising Librarian Brent Field at BField@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 690-5137.

“Volunteering is a great way to stay connected and get involved, which is more important than ever in our current times,” says Goleta Valley Library Children’s Librarian Elizabeth Saucedo. “We’re very excited to provide these virtual opportunities to our community!”

Volunteer applications are available at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org. For information on programs and events at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, visit the online calendar.

Britannica School Now Available on the Library Website

The Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries provide a number of free education and homework help resources for all ages, the newest being free access to Britannica School, a safe, up-to-date, and age-appropriate information resource for Elementary, Middle, and High School. With Britannica School, discover encyclopedia articles, multimedia, primary sources, games, and other learning resources that support student research and reinforce curriculum standards. A Spanish version, Britannica Escolar, is available as well.

There are additional homework resources on the library website as well. Brainfuse HelpNow! offers live tutors every day from 1:00 – 10:00 p.m. for students of all ages. It provides assistance based on academic subject area, including reading, writing, math, science and social studies and includes a user-friendly chat box and a shared whiteboard to work through a variety of assignments. Students even have the ability to upload a paper through the Writing Lab to receive feedback from experts on how to strengthen their essays. For older students, Brainfuse HelpNow! also offers test preparation resources, including practice tests, flashcards, lessons and more for AP tests and the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. ProQuest Homework Central delivers educator-reviewed and approved websites organized around more than 20,000 most-studied topics for students K-12. Students get the ease and freedom of the open web with guaranteed reliability and educational purpose.

Kindergarten – 8th grade students can now request free, online, homework help from knowledgeable tutors thanks to a new program at the Goleta and Santa Ynez Valley Libraries.

Visit the Goleta Valley Library at www.GoletaValleyLibrary.org for more resources.

Watch End of the Year Community Video Message

The City of Goleta invites you to watch our End of the Year Community Video Message. In this informative video, we reflect on this incredibly trying past year as a City, provide an update on the City’s finances and share some exciting things to look forward to as a City in 2021. We encourage you to take time out to hear directly from the Mayor, City Councilmembers and City Manager. While we know this is a difficult time, we hope you enjoy watching our video and we wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season.

View the video here in English. It is also available to watch in Spanish here.

Pictured – Top row left to right: Councilmember Roger Aceves, Mayor Paula Perotte, and Councilmember Stuart Kasdin; Bottom row left to right: Councilmember James Kyriaco, City Manager Michelle Greene, and Councilmember Kyle Richards

 

City of Goleta Supports Request to Separate from Southern California Region

The Regional Stay-at-Home Order for the County of Santa Barbara is triggered when the Southern California Region falls below 15% ICU capacity.  Santa Barbara County is included in the Southern California Region. Other Counties in this region include Imperial, Inyo, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside.

However, on December 8, 2020, the Board of Supervisors from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties issued a letter to state health officials and California Governor Gavin Newsom to request a separate Central Coast Region be created composed of the three counties. The letter requests that the Central Coast Region be allowed to exit the Regional Stay-at-Home Order as a region after three weeks if the ICU capacity in the three counties exceeds 15 percent.

“The letter being sent to state officials is an accurate measure of our regional distinction through both geography and demographics,” stated Gregg Hart, Chair of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. “We are best positioned to understand the critical needs within our region and have existing partnerships to promote the health and economic well-being of our communities.”

At a Special City Council meeting on December 10, 2020, the Goleta City Council voted to send a letter of support for this effort to Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office as well. 

Learn more at https://publichealthsbc.org/feedback-for-creation-of-central-coast-region/ and submit public comment to the County of Santa Barbara at CentralCoastRegionSBC@countyofsb.org.  

New Smart Phone Tool Designed to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

A new digital tool called CA Notify will help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and is now available to smartphone users. Upon its launch, Californians can opt in to receive COVID-19 notifications informing them if they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the virus. CA Notify is a digital tool that protects privacy and security – it does not collect device location to detect exposure and does not share a user’s identity. The tool was developed in partnership with Google and Apple and piloted with the help of the University California, San Diego and the University of California, San Francisco.

Santa Barbara County residents can enable CA Notify in iPhone settings directly (IOS 13.7 or higher), for Android per download of an app, by downloading the CA notify app from the Google Play Store.

When individuals voluntarily activate CA Notify, the tool uses Bluetooth technology to exchange random codes between phones without revealing the user’s identity or location. If a CA Notify user tests positive for COVID-19, they will receive a verification code to plug into the app, if they choose. Any other CA Notify users who have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of the COVID-19 positive individual will get an anonymous notification of possible exposure. CA Notify will accelerate how quickly people get notified of a possible COVID-19 exposure, giving people information they need to make responsible decisions around quarantine and testing. Users who have tested positive for COVID-19 will get a text from the California Department of Public Health at 855-976-8462 with a code which they can enter into CA Notify triggering an alert to phones of people who may have been exposed in the previous 14 days.

“With the increase in positive cases of COVID-19, this tool comes at an ideal time to give community members another way to be informed of potential exposures so that they can take action as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Henning Ansorg, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Health Officer. “This will allow the community to act quickly to protect themselves, their loved ones, and the community.”

CA Notify is completely voluntary and free, and is designed to protect your privacy. It does not use device location to detect exposures and does not share your identity to other users. Individuals can securely report if they test positive, so that others can be notified of exposure without indicating their identity. 

For more information, visit www.CaNotify.ca.gov  and www.Covid19.ca.gov.

Additional Resources for Businesses

The state and federal government are providing broad assistance to small businesses and employers impacted by COVID-19. This includes:

 

Reminder to Goleta Based Businesses: WEV ReStart Loans Still Available

Made possible by the City of Goleta in partnership with Women’s Economic Ventures

Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is still accepting applications from Goleta- based businesses for ReStart Loans up to $25,000 each (administered by WEV). In August, the City of Goleta and WEV collaborated to create a loan program to assist Goleta-based businesses during the pandemic. With the extended period of requirements to maintain safe operating conditions and meet tighter State regulations, local businesses may need additional support. Goleta ReStart Loan information and application (in English and Spanish) are available at www.wevonline.org/loans-2/restart/ .

City of Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte said, “The WEV ReStart Loan program will provide immediate funding on favorable terms and WEV’s highly-regarded financial expertise to our small businesses.”

The City of Goleta contributed $200,000 to support the small business loan program. Goleta ReStart Loans from WEV will provide capital to Goleta-based businesses who are now open or eligible to open under the most current government orders (subject to change based on updated orders) related to COVID-19. Loan applications are now being accepted and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until loan funds have been depleted.

“Business owners consistently say community support is a key factor in sustaining their resolve through the pandemic,” shared WEV CEO Kathy Odell. “Our ReStart Loans will provide the capital necessary to retain employees, modify business practices and acquire new equipment and/or supplies required for safe re-opening. Additionally, ReStart Loan recipients are eligible to receive business advisory services from WEV.”

Mayor Perotte added, “It’s amazing what we can do when great organizations work together to support our small businesses during this unprecedented time of economic upheaval resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The City is proud to partner with Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) on these much-needed financial support programs to assist Goleta small businesses.”

About Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV)

Women’s Economic Ventures is dedicated to creating an equitable and just society through the economic empowerment of women. WEV provides training, consulting, and loans to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and thrive in business. WEV serves Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. While WEV targets its services toward women, it helps men as well. Services are provided in both English and Spanish.

Since 1991, WEV has provided business training and consulting to more than 17,500 women and men throughout Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. WEV has made over $6 million in business loans and helped more than 5,000 local businesses start or expand. WEV-supported businesses generate more than $300 million in annual sales revenues and have created nearly 9,400 local jobs. WEV is a U.S. Small Business Administration’s Women’s Business Center, and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).