Author Archives: Jaime Shaw

Goleta Community Center Reopening Ribbon Cutting April 4

The ribbon cutting celebration has passed – watch a video recap here and read our press release at https://tinyurl.com/2ub6n9bp.

The Goleta Community Center (GCC) Reopening Ribbon Cutting celebration is almost here. Get ready to join us on April 4th at 10:00 a.m. on the historic steps of the GCC (5679 Hollister Avenue) for this special community event. Spanish interpretation will be available. We can’t wait to officially mark the reopening of this beloved community hub which has been closed for more than a year due to seismic retrofitting. The auditorium and dining room have been closed since 2021. We encourage everyone with connections to this beloved facility to join us for this important milestone.

Here is what to expect. Come hear about the history of this almost 100-year-old facility, what it took to get to this point, and exciting plans ahead for the GCC. Speakers include Mayor Paula Perotte, District 2 Councilmember James Kyriaco, U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara County 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann, and the City’s Parks and Recreation Manager JoAnne Plummer. Following comments, there will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting and photo opportunities. Stay after to take a look inside and check out the 2nd Annual Senior Expo taking place.

The Senior Expo is a free community event from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on April 4th. For more information on how to attend or participate, contact JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org or 805-562-5505.

For additional info on the GCC and how to book the facility, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/GCC.

Background:
Originally built in 1927, the building located at 5679 Hollister Avenue was once a school. The City acquired the building from the Goleta Union School District in 2013. The Goleta Community Center was managed by the non-profit group the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) for decades. When it was determined that the building needed seismic and accessibility upgrades, the City assumed management of the building in January 2023 and used the construction time to gather input from the community and put together a Strategic Plan for the GCC. You can view the plan here.

The City is grateful to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding 75% of the Seismic Retrofit Project. Thanks to federal Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Carbajal, additional Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades are planned in the coming years to make the building accessible for all users.

We hope to see you at the GCC on April 4th! 

Beautify Goleta to Celebrate Earth Day

Join Us for a Special Event on April 20

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by helping to Beautify Goleta. Back by popular demand, the City is holding a Beautify Goleta Earth Day event on Saturday April 20th. There will be a community cleanup at Bella Vista Park (intersection of Padova Drive and Placer Drive) from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (note longer time!). The community cleanup will be led by Spotlight Captain the Montessori Center School of Santa Barbara. Beautify Goleta will be featuring a limited edition “Earth Day 2024” volunteer t-shirt for participants (as supplies last). The event will also have a food truck and Waste Free Goleta & Go Green Goleta themed prize giveaways for event participants. 

In addition to the community cleanup, Beautify Goleta will also host a FREE Bulky Item Drop Off event from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Brandon School (195 Brandon Drive). Any drop-offs before or after the event will not be accepted. No electronics, medicine or hazardous waste will be accepted. You are encouraged to arrive early. The event will close early if capacity is reached before 1:00 p.m.

Thanks to the 32 amazing volunteers who participated in the Beautify Goleta spring event on Saturday morning, March 16, in Old Town. Together they collected 257 pounds of trash that otherwise would have made its way into our creeks and waterways. Types of trash picked up included bottles and cans, cigarette butts, and plastic container lids. Thanks also to the more than 40 residents who dropped off bulky items at the drop off location. In all, 6,790 pounds were collected. Popular items were old furniture, mattresses, yard waste, and chairs. Check out Beautify Goleta’s progress on our Impact Dashboard.

A big thank you to our March 16 Team Captains Community West Bank and the Goleta Rotary Club. Beautify Goleta is a year-round program to clean up trash and collect bulky items throughout the City. It is only possible with the help of Captains and volunteers. Sign up to participate in future events at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta and learn more by watching this video.

We will see you on Saturday, April 20th for Goleta’s Earth Day clean-up event!

Photos below from March 16 Beautify Goleta event.


Volunteers and Captains with the trash they collected


City Team with Captains: pictured left-to-right: Roger Aceves (Captain – Goleta Rotary Club) Dan Rowell (City of Goleta Environmental Services), Lauren Quan (City of Goleta Environmental Services), Melissa Nelson (City of Goleta Environmental Services), Marty Plourd (Captain – Community West Bank) and Houria Amirkhani (Captain – Community West Bank)


Volunteers Roman Baratiak and Katherine Emery from the Santa Barbara Audubon Society


Residents dropping off bulky items at the Goleta Community Center

Free Digital Skills Training Classes Start Next Week

In today’s technology-driven landscape, it is essential to have fundamental digital skills.  That’s why the City of Goleta is pleased to partner with the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) to offer two FREE training courses to Santa Barbara County residents to support accessible access to digital education and economic empowerment opportunities. Here are the two classes that start next week, so don’t hesitate, spread the word and sign up today!

  1. New to Tech Computer Basics – A 6-week course that teaches adult learners essential computer skills needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world:
    • March 12 – April 16 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00-8:00 PM
  2. Get Your Small Business Online – A 9-week course that teaches business owners and entrepreneurs essential digital skills needed to get online:
    • March 13 – May 8 Wednesdays 6:30-8:30 PM

Learn more about the classes and register at https://www.digital-upskilling.edcollaborative.com/. Additional cohorts are beginning in spring and summer 2024.

EDC actively encourages other regions and organizations throughout California to explore the potential of adopting and expanding similar programs. For organizations interested in replicating the success of these courses, EDC invites inquiries at upskill@edcollaborative.com to access comprehensive class replication toolkits. These toolkits include detailed instructor guides and program evaluation and administration tools, ensuring seamless and effective implementation.

EDC extends its gratitude to the City of Goleta, Central Coast Community Energy, Broadband Consortium of the Pacific Coast, American GI Forum Education Foundation and Women’s Economic Ventures for their pivotal roles in expanding digital upskilling opportunities across the Central Coast.

About Economic Development Collaborative 

A private nonprofit, the Economic Development Collaborative was founded in 1996 with funding from the County of Ventura, the 10 cities in the county and key private-sector companies to provide a pathway to business growth, economic prosperity and high quality of life for all.

About the Digital Upskilling Training Program

Originating in Ventura County, EDC’s Digital Upskilling Training Program is a NO-COST short-term training program that will increase the digital skills of job seekers, current workers, and small business operators. The initiative seeks to expand participants’ opportunities and earning power by providing them with much-needed digital skills training to help both individuals and employers grow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Expo on April 4

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Goleta Community Center

Calling all seniors! The City of Goleta is hosting its 2nd Annual Senior Expo, a FREE community event designed specifically for seniors in our community! This is a wonderful opportunity for you to learn, connect, and discover various resources available to enhance your health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
The Senior Expo will take place on Thursday, April 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). Whether you’re a long-time resident or new to Goleta, we welcome you to join us for a day filled with valuable information and engaging activities.

At the event, community members will have the opportunity to interact with representatives from various organizations specializing in health and wellness, social services and more. Whether you’re looking for support groups, transportation options, or recreational activities, you’ll find valuable resources to help you stay connected, engaged, and fulfilled. This is your chance to ask questions, gather information, and explore the services and programs that could benefit you or your loved ones.

For more information about the Senior Expo, please contact JoAnne Plummer at jplummer@cityofgoleta.org or 805-562-5505.

Also happening at the same time is the Goleta Community Center Reopening Ribbon Cutting. Join us on the footsteps of the historic building at 10:00 a.m. as we commemorate the reopening of the beloved gathering spot.

We’ll see you there!

 

Goleta Community Center Reopening Ribbon Cutting

Join Us on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

Goleta’s favorite gathering spot is opening once again and we want you to be a part of celebrating this joyful occasion. Join us on Thursday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. for a ribbon cutting to commemorate the reopening of the Goleta Community Center (GCC) which has been closed for more than a year to seismically retrofit the facility. The auditorium and dining room have been closed since 2021. The ceremony will take place on the footsteps of this historic building which is nearing one-hundred years of age.

The event will be attended by U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara County Supervisors Laura Capps and Joan Hartmann, City of Goleta Mayor Perotte, Goleta City Councilmembers and other community leaders and stakeholders.

Mayor Paula Perotte said, “We hope anyone and everyone who has a connection to our beloved Goleta Community Center and understands the important role it plays in keeping our community connected will come celebrate with us.”

Following comments from those associated with the project, there will be a ceremonial ribbon cutting and then a time to tour the facility and learn more about forthcoming programming and rental opportunities. There will also be some free giveaways with the new GCC logo for those who attend while supplies last.

While there is still work to be done to prepare the building to be fully open, the City will be accepting applications from groups looking to book the facility after April 1, 2024.  Go to www.CityofGoleta.org/GCC.

The City is grateful to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding 75% of the Seismic Retrofit Project. Thanks to federal Community Project Funding secured by Congressman Carbajal, additional Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades are planned in the coming years to make the building accessible for all users.

Background:

Originally built in 1927, the building located at 5679 Hollister Avenue was once a schoolhouse. The City acquired the building from the Goleta Union School District in 2013. The Goleta Community Center was managed by the non-profit group the Goleta Valley Community Center (GVCC) for decades. When it was determined that the building needed seismic and accessibility upgrades, the City assumed management of the building in January 2023 and used the construction time to gather input from the community and put together a Strategic Plan for the GCC. You can view the plan here.

The City is excited to see this beloved community hub fully open soon and bustling with activity. We hope to see you on April 4th for the ribbon cutting.

Owl Rescue

Goleta Public Works Maintenance Workers are accustomed to being called out on the weekend for various issues, especially during storms, but this is the first time Jorge Flores and Joel Rubio were involved in an animal rescue.

Susie Clothier, a photographer and Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network volunteer, happened to be at Lake Los Carneros taking photos on Saturday morning, February 17, when she witnessed visitors talking about a barn owl who was dangling from a fishing line in a palm tree at Stow House approximately 60 feet off the ground.  Clothier sprung into action and notified Santa Barbara County firefighters at Fire Station 14 next to the Stow House. Unfortunately, their fire truck ladder was not able to reach the bird but as luck would have it, the City of Goleta had just purchased and received a Boom Lift which could.

That’s when Santa Barbara County Firefighters called Flores and Rubio who responded to the scene in a City truck with the Boom Lift. While muddy conditions near the owl’s location posed a challenge causing the City truck to get stuck, the collaborative team of SB County Fire, Goleta Public Works, and SB Wildlife Care Network worked together to push the truck back on solid ground.

With Joel Rubio operating the Boom Lift from the ground, Jorge Flores and Santa Barbara County Firefighter Shaun Bahne were elevated to reach the owl. Carefully and with patience, they were able to cover the owl with a blanket and remove the fishing line that had entangled the owl.

While they never expected such a call, Flores and Rubio were grateful for the opportunity to respond and provide assistance in this unique situation.

“The Public Works guys are really the heroes,” Firefighter Shaun Bahne said. “Without that lift, we wouldn’t have been able to reach the owl.”

Clothier drove the owl to the Ojai Raptor Center where it is currently being cared for. While it survived the ordeal, it is being treated for capture myopathy.  This occurs from stress enzymes that attack the bird’s muscles. We really hope this beautiful creature makes a full recovery and is able to take flight again soon.


SB County Firefighter Shaun Bahne with the owl


Group photo of those involved in the owl’s rescue

Winter Reading Program Wrap-Up

The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries would like to congratulate our community on a successful 2024 Winter Reading Program! Over the course of seven weeks, a total of 1,525 books were read by children, teens, and adults: participants in grades 6 and under read 920 books, while the teen category in grades 7-12 logged 58 titles, and adults finished 547 altogether.

This fun annual program celebrates starting your new year off strong with some great books and brings with it the many important benefits of reading, from expanding vocabulary to encouraging relaxation to fostering empathy. Participants share a brief review of each book they read in order to be entered into the program’s weekly prize drawings. You can check out some of our favorite reviews from this year here.

Our sincere gratitude goes to the generous community sponsors whose prize donations provided incentives to keep our patrons reading strong throughout the program! Thank you to Beauty Salon V, Blenders in the Grass, The Book Loft, Brick Barn Winery, Enjoy Cupcakes, Fairview Barbers, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley, The Habit, Miner’s Ace Hardware, ONEder Child, Peasant’s Deli & Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Trader Joe’s.

Although the Winter Reading Program has ended, there are many fantastic titles that await on the library shelves! We look forward to seeing you all year long at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries.

Watch Video Invite to Goleta Community State of the City

Join Us on Wednesday, April 10th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Preparations are underway for the City of Goleta’s biggest night of the year coming up next month on Wednesday, April 10, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). The City released a video invite for the Goleta Community State of the City with Mayor Paula Perotte with details on what to expect at this memorable and informative event. The City also released the video invite in Spanish with Mayor Pro-Tempore Luz Reyes-Martín (1st District). Please watch and share the videos, and plan to attend this special night for Goleta.

Making the 7th Annual Goleta Community State of the City even more grand is the return of the event to the Goleta Community Center which has been closed due to seismic renovations. It’s a great opportunity to hear about the City’s accomplishments, challenges and exciting plans for the future.  The event is free to the public and Spanish interpretation is available.

The full evening includes:

  • 4:00 p.m. – New! Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Band performs in the gazebo outside of the Goleta Community Center.
  • 5:00 p.m. – Come early to check out our City information tables featuring current and upcoming projects and programs. Mingle informally with the Goleta City Council, stakeholders, City staff, and fellow Goletans. Submit a question to be answered during the Q&A portion of the program, take photos and enjoy light refreshments.
  • Program begins promptly at 6:00 p.m.:
    • Mayor Perotte gives the 2024 State of the City Address
    • City Manager Robert Nisbet provides an update on the City’s Finances
    • Q&A session with Mayor Perotte and Department Directors

If you love Goleta, this is a night you won’t want to miss. Bring your family and friends!

We hope to see you at the 2024 Goleta Community State of the City!

Plant a Tree for Arbor Week

Here in Goleta we love our trees! The City Council will recognize March 7 – 14 as City of Goleta Arbor Week at its upcoming March 5 Council meeting with a proclamation. Trees are good for the environment, bring beauty to our community and are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. The City maintains over 20,000 trees in Goleta. All residents are urged to celebrate Arbor Week by planting and maintaining trees to promote their importance for current and future generations. View the proclamation here: http://tinyurl.com/7v3vvcjj.

Start Your Spring Cleaning with Beautify Goleta on March 16

First Self-Guided Cleanup Month Wraps Up with 650 Pounds of Trash Collected

Start your spring cleaning with Beautify Goleta on Saturday, March 16 with a community wide clean-up and bulky item drop off event. Join us for a morning of picking up trash city-wide from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. with the spotlight on the Old Town Goleta neighborhood area south of the US 101 between Fairview Avenue and the 217 Freeway. Two long-time Captains are leading this event, Community West Bank and the Goleta Rotary Club. To participate, meet at the Community West Bank Parking Lot (5827 Hollister Avenue). Volunteers and Team Captains needed, sign up at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta.

Declutter your home, garage and/or yard with Beautify Goleta’s free Bulky Item Drop-Off event from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Goleta Community Center (5679 Hollister Avenue). It is open to Goleta residents only.  You are encouraged to arrive early as the event will close if capacity is reached before 1:00 p.m. As a reminder, electronics, medicine, and hazardous waste will NOT be accepted.

The bulky item drop-off is in partnership with Caltrans and the Clean CA program. These statewide Dump Day events are made possible through Governor Gavin Newsom’s Clean California initiative, a sweeping $1.1 billion, multiyear clean-up effort led by Caltrans to keep roads and waterways free of litter, create thousands of jobs and transform state and local public spaces through beautification efforts. For more information on the Clean CA program, please visit Clean CA program online. 

We also want to take this opportunity to share the results of the City’s first-ever self-guided cleanup month in February. For 29 days, individuals and organizations picked up litter at a time and a place most convenient to them. All participants submitted reports to the City on what they collected. Thank you to the 14 participants who covered 29 cleanup locations and picked up 654 pounds of trash!

Check out more results on the new dashboard. All participants who provided their email addresses are eligible to win a prize drawing. Winners will be emailed the week of March 4th to schedule a time to pick up their prize from City Hall (130 Cremona Drive). Look out for future social media posts on the City’s accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to see who won! Our prize drawing categories are listed below: 

  1. Grand Prize Drawing with all participants (3 Winners) 
  2. Prize for picking up the most trash by weight (1 Winner) 
  3. Prize for the most number of cleanups throughout the month (1 Winner) 

Learn more about the City’s Beautify Goleta program at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta. We hope to see you on March 16th!


Girls Inc. students participating in Beautify Goleta’s self-guided cleanup month


Dan Rothschild participating in Beautify Goleta’s self-guided cleanup month