Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Reading is Groovy at the Goleta Valley Library this Summer

Staff of the Goleta Valley Library is enthusiastically preparing for the free annual Summer Reading Program, in which more than 1,200 children and teens participate. This year’s program with the theme of “Reading is Groovy” runs from June 12 – August 4 and will feature the lovable blue children’s book character Pete the Cat. Kids of all ages are encouraged to read what they love, visit the library and talk to engaged teen volunteers about their favorite stories. The more a child reads, the more prizes he/she can earn. Reading rewards are donated by generous local businesses. There are many benefits for children to continue reading over summer, including building reading skills, preventing summer learning loss and preparing for a successful school year.

Over the summer the library will offer a full slate of entertaining and educational family programs, from the weekly baby, wiggly and preschool story times, monthly crafts and Lego builds to special performances and the “Stuffed Animal Sleepover.” Don’t miss out on all these great summer library events!

We Love Our Goleta Valley Library!

Celebrate the Goleta Valley Library’s transition to a City of Goleta library on July 1 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.! The City is excited to take over direct management and wants to commemorate the special occasion with our patrons. Join us at the library (500 N. Fairview Avenue) for food and entertainment, including 3-D printing demonstrations, live music, children’s book characters, face painting, balloon animals and more. There will be a ribbon cutting at 12:00 p.m. with City Council and staff. Special thanks to the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library for sponsoring this family-friendly event. Overflow parking is available next door at the First Church of Christ, Scientist and across the street at the Goleta Union School District. We hope to see you there!

Want to Help with the Barcoding Project? New Expanded Hours Available

The Goleta Valley Library is extending its volunteer hours from June 5 to June 30! Help us re-label and re-barcode the entire 75,000 item collection before transitioning to an independent library operated by the City of Goleta on July 1. So far over 50,000 items have been completed, but there is still a lot to do! Volunteers are welcome Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 8:50 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Volunteers can choose between placing new barcodes on each item or registering the new barcodes into the library system using the library’s computers and scanners. Training will be provided on your first day. Sign up at the library or contact Library Director Allison Gray at agray@cityofgoleta.org or 805-562-5502. Thank you in advance! Volunteers will be working in the Multipurpose Room, so unfortunately it will not be available for library and community programming during the month of June. However, expect an increase in services starting in July.

Construction Has Begun on Goleta’s Newest Park

Thank you to everyone who attended our Hollister Kellogg Park Groundbreaking ceremony on May 29! It was great to see so many people there to celebrate this momentous occasion! Excitement was in the air as community members heard from speakers on what this new park means to Old Town and the rest of Goleta. Attendees cheered as City Council broke ground at the corner of Hollister and Kellogg Avenues for the construction of a new 4-acre park in Old Town. Learn more about the new park at www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/parks-open-space/old-town-park.

Construction began in late May on this long-awaited park, which is expected to be completed in early 2019. The park brings amazing amenities to the Goleta community (such as a skateboard plaza, multi-purpose field, picnic areas, fitness nodes and more). In addition, Segment 1 of the Middle Extent of the San Jose Creek Bike Path Project will go through the park linking Armitos Avenue to Hollister Avenue. In total, the San Jose Creek Bike Path Project extends approximately three miles alongside San Jose Creek from Cathedral Oaks Road (in the County of Santa Barbara) to the Atascadero Creek Bikeway/Obern Trail near Goleta Beach to provide an alternative means of transportation for commuters as well as a source of recreation.

Mighty Dog May

Take advantage of Santa Barbara County Public Health Department’s special promotion, Mighty Dog May. For only $75, all Santa Barbara County dog owners can get their small but mighty companion (under 30 pounds), spayed or neutered, rabies vaccinated and licensed. Spaying or neutering your dog is a win-win, it significantly reduces licensing fees, improves his or her quality of life, and reduces the risk of mammary and testicular cancers. Show your dog what a super hero you are and schedule his or her appointment for Mighty Dog May today!

Appointments will fill up fast so dog owners are encouraged to call one of the following organizations to schedule an appointment:

  • Santa Barbara County Animal Services, Project PetSafe, at (805) 934-6968
  • Santa Barbara Humane Society, at (805) 964-4777
  • Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, at (805) 349-3435
  • Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society, at (805) 688-8224
  • A.R.E. 4Paws, at (805) 968-2273

View the press release and flyer. For more information, please contact the Project PetSafe Team at (805) 934-6968.

Cox Cable Discount Program

The final enrollment for the Cox Cable Discount Program offered in conjunction with the City of Goleta is now open. This program offers 40% off basic cable service for applicants who reside within the boundaries of Goleta and meet certain criteria (listed below). New applications and renewals for the discount program must be received by June 28, 2018. 

This is the last year Cox Cable is accepting new participants. However, they have agreed to continue providing discounted services to any eligible applicant in perpetuity or until further account changes are made. Existing participants must complete one final application to be included.

Here are some important details about the program:

Where do I get an application?
Applications can be found on the City of Goleta’s website at www.cityofgoleta.org/i-want-to/apply-for/cox-cable-discount-program or call 805-961-7500 to make arrangements to pick up a hard copy. Completed applications must be returned to the City of Goleta (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B) by June 28, 2018.

What criteria are required for cable discount eligibility?
1) 65 years of age or older, and a maximum adjusted gross income, per most recent California Income Tax Return, as follows: $17,489 for individuals or $26,217 for households
– OR –
2) Disabled and received SSI/SSD

What documents are required when submitting my application?

  • All applicants must submit proof of age (Driver’s License, passport, etc.)
  • Eligibility for cable discount must be re-certified in the event of a change of address.
  • The City of Goleta reserves the right to require documentation of any information provided.
  • Your signature on the Cable Discount Program Application authorizes the State of California to release your income tax records to the City for income verification.
  • Your signature on the Cable Discount Program Application authorizes the Social Security Administration to release proof of your SSI/SSD qualification due to permanent disability.

I don’t live in the City of Goleta. Does Cox Cable offer discount programs in surrounding areas?
Yes, the City of Santa Barbara and the County of Santa Barbara also provide a discounted Cox Cable program. For City of Santa Barbara Cox discount information, call (805) 564-5342. For County of Santa Barbara Cox discount information, call (805) 681-4200.

Help Shape City of Goleta’s Parks & Recreation

Are you passionate about parks and recreation? Do you have the skills needed to serve on the Commission? The City of Goleta is seeking one member of the community to join our Parks and Recreation Commission. The Parks and Recreation Commission is a seven-member body with the responsibility of providing citizens a platform to discuss the needs, opportunities and current offerings of parks and recreation activities in the City.

Goleta residents can apply online at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/city-clerk/boards-commissions. The deadline is May 7, 2018, by 5:00 p.m. The Parks & Recreation Commission meets as needed starting at 6:00 p.m. at Goleta City Hall Council Chambers (130 Cremona Drive, Suite B) and compensation is $50 per meeting. The term ends February 1, 2019. For more information contact Deborah Lopez, City Clerk, at 805-961-7505 or dlopez@cityofgoleta.org. 

Celebrate Public Works

Help celebrate National Public Works Week (May 20 – 26) with staff from City of Goleta’s Public Works department! On Thursday, May 24 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Public Works staff will be at the Camino Real Marketplace (7004 Market Place Drive) for a community event to answer questions and discuss programs and projects happening in Goleta. Don’t miss the interactive activities for kids and adults! Other local agencies will be in attendance as well. The event is family-friendly and includes games and prizes for kids, balloons, cookies and lemonade.

Public Works is a vital part of our community and plays an important role in our daily lives. Every time you travel on a city street, take a stroll on the sidewalk, or spend time at one of the many parks and opens spaces in our City, you are surrounded by the services provided by the Public Works department. From constructing, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining city streets and sidewalks to creating and maintaining the urban forest, parks and open spaces, Public Works is all around you. Public Works also administers the Capital Improvement Program approved by the City Council that creates needed infrastructure within the community, such as the crosswalk improvements in Old Town, Hollister Class I Multi-Use Path and the in progress Hollister Avenue Complete Streets Corridor Project. Learn more about the City’s Public Works Department at www.cityofgoleta.org/city-hall/public-works and please come celebrate with us on May 24th!

Ready, Set…Let’s Build a Park!

On Tuesday, May 1st, the Goleta City Council awarded a contract to C.S. Legacy Construction, Inc. to build the highly anticipated new 4-acre park in Old Town. The City purchased the site on the corner of Hollister and Kellogg Avenues in order to bring an exciting new park to the community with amenities that make it a fantastic place for not only children to play, but adults as well. C.S. Legacy Construction, Inc. was the low bidder through a competitive bidding process that began on March 9, 2018. We are excited for them to have the opportunity to build the largest new park in the history of the City of Goleta! Park features will include a multi-purpose field, basketball court, handball court, concrete ping-pong table, bocce ball court, pickleball court, perimeter walking path, fitness nodes with exercise equipment, picnic areas, skateboard plaza and splash pad (which will be installed during phase two). 

History will be made on Tuesday, May 29 at 4:30 p.m., when our City Council turns the earth at the ground-breaking event for the Old Town Park Project (aka Hollister Kellogg Park). Everyone is invited to join us for this momentous occasion.  

Click here for more information on the new park or contact JoAnne Plummer, Parks and Recreation Manager, at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 562-5505.

Get Your New Library Card & Volunteer Today

The City of Goleta is excited to take over direct management of the Goleta Valley Library on July 1, 2018! Beginning May 1, all patrons within the Goleta Valley Library service area will need a new library card in order to check out any material or access electronic resources. The new Goleta Valley Library cards will work at any Santa Barbara County Public Library. To get your new library card, visit the Goleta Valley Library or any library in Santa Barbara County. Remember, as of May 1, you will no longer be able to check out material until you update your account with a Goleta Valley Library card.

The Goleta Valley Library is also seeking volunteers to help re-label and re-barcode the entire 75,000 item collection by June 30. Please help us with this task! We need volunteers to either place new barcodes on each item or register the new barcodes into the library system using the library’s computers and scanners. Training will be provided on your first day. Sign up at the library or contact Library Director Allison Gray at agray@cityofgoleta.org or 805-562-5502. Thank you in advance!