Month: February 2026

Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Allan Hancock College’s Fire and E.M.S. training programs have a new ambulance to use for hands-on drills and exercises.

A brief presentation ceremony was held at Allan Hancock College’s Public Safety Training Complex in Lompoc Tuesday morning as Santa Barbara County’s Fire Department donated an ambulance to the academy.

“Some of the ambulances the college is using now are towards the end of their service life,” says Mike Gray, Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s fire captain and public information officer. “So this will replace one of those. And that way they keep the program moving forward with the best training possible.”

Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department were joined by county EMS representatives, as well as Allan Hancock College administrators.

“Having good partners like Santa Barbara County that support our programs, it really shows how we can work together as a community to make sure that all of our first responders are properly trained,” says Allan Hancock College president Kevin Walthers.

This ambulance was purchased in 2008 and served the Lompoc Valley on the front lines out of Station 34 in Vandenberg Village, before entering reserve status.

“We have a great relationship with the college,” says Gray. “We use this facility for our firefighter academy. And so donating equipment here serves the entire community as well as the college.”

The donation adds to a collection of vehicles donated by county fire and emergency services, and this ambulance is now the newest model the college’s training center has access to.

“It’s nice to have a modern unit that our students can work on so that, when they leave and go to work in the field, they’ll have the same kind of equipment when they transfer over,” says Walthers.

Officials say that, as Hancock’s Fire and EMS training programs continue to expand, it’s vital for cadets to have access to as much up-to-date equipment as possible.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A February infusion of thousands of people each day in the downtown Santa Barbara area is expected to be a big boost for the economy during the 41st Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

It takes place starting Wednesday, February 4 and continue until Saturday, February 14. That takes in both two other big events, Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day.

The new McHurley Film Center with 900 seats and five screens is expected to be full daily and have a rotation of film lovers who are coming for the movies, and to see what else is happening in downtown Santa Barbara.

That will include stopping in restaurants, retail stores and popping in to art galleries and museums.

It will create a vibrancy any city would love to see.

For those in the area of the Film Center, it comes at a time when the downtown economy is looking for some new energy.

Nadia Ajlouni is the owner of the Blue Owl Restaurant on Canon Perdido Street near the Film Center. “In the cold winter months when the film festival comes about, it is nice big relief.  We find ourselves busy at all hours of the day not just for lunch, not just for dinne but the in between hours as well so we are looking forward to that.”

The festival foot traffic is exactly what’s need this time of year whether it’s full meals or  faster  to go items. Ajlouni says, “these ten days really  offer a lot of replenishment for businesses and it is really healthy we love it.”

For the businesses up by the Arlington Theatre, it is an annual boost with the 2000 guests that can fill the classic movie venue for the festivals tributes that will have some of the top stars in Hollywood on stage.

The Arlington will also have daily free films, some that will be well attended because they are Oscar nominees.

 One of the newest businesses in a classic landmark location is right between the Film Center with a packed schedule of movies and the Arlington Theatre where tributes will take place.

Rish Rozera owns the Copper Coffee Pot Restaurant on State Street a block up from the Film Center and just down from the Arlington. It’s in a prime spot for film fans to get a bite, and also to have a larger gathering. “Already (guests have) made some reservations, so Saturday  we are booked up for the film festival and it will be a two hour  private event.” Other seating is available throughout the day “in the nice beautiful courtyard that we have.”

The restaurant is also planning to have specials for film fans who are wearing passes or have movie tickets. “That’s what we are anticipating,” said Rozera. He also has been closing for two hours during the afternoon but for the festival he will “keep it open all  the time and then welcome in all the guests that we can have.”

The downtown corridor is also beautified with newly hung film festival flags.

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Patricia Martellotti

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Carpinteria property owners are being asked to vote on new assessment fees to fund city landscaping and maintain coastal berms.

The city reports that costs have risen sharply while fees have remained the same for almost three decades.

Ballots, mailed following a City Council action in November, are still being accepted.

Votes will be tallied at a public hearing on March 9.

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