Author: KEYT

Mike Klan

IRVINE, Calif. – A pair of UCSB Gauchos pitchers led the way in the Santa Barbara Foresters’ 4-0 opening-day victory over the OC Riptide at Great Park in Irvine. While Hudson Barrett and Frank Camarillo put up nine innings of zeroes and allowed only two hits, the Foresters bats came through as well, with every hitter in the lineup but one reaching base.

UCSB lefty Barrett got the inaugural start for the Foresters and was nearly flawless. He kept the Riptide off the scoreboard and rarely allowed them on base, giving up a hit to the first batter he saw and then nothing more than one walk in the rest of his four innings. He also showed good speed and location, striking out six. 

Barrett’s Gaucho teammate, righthander Frank Camarillo, the returning EP 19 Pitcher of the Year, came on and kept the zeroes coming. He even topped Barrett, throwing five scoreless innings, striking out three and also allowing only one hit. 

In the fourth, the Foresters scored the first run of the game—and their first of the summer—without a hit. Rightfielder Brenton Clark worked a one-out walk and hustled to third on a pair of wild pitches. Shortstop Easton Rulli brought Clark home with a sac fly to left field to open the scoring.

In the sixth, a baserunning error wound up costing the Foresters a chance at more. With runners on first and second, what looked like a double steal ended abruptly with two ’Sters on second. The lead runner, centerfielder Maddox Mandino, was put out coming from first, leaving just leftfielder Makani Nabarro at second alone on the bases. Nabarro made up for the mistake by then stealing second. Third baseman Easton Moomau then walked with two outs. After a pitching change, first baseman Caleb Hoover grounded out to end the threat. 

Things turned out better in the seventh. After smacking a leadoff single, second baseman Sawyer Farr stole second and reached third on an error. A wild pitch shortly after brought him with run number 2. 

Foresters bats provided insurance in the ninth, after Farr led off with a walk. He moved to third on a flyout. After a hit by pitch and a walk, Mandino stroked a 3-2, 2-out single through the middle to score two more runs. It was the kind of clutch, two-out hitting that has long been a Foresters hallmark. 

The Foresters continue their six-game, season-opening road trip with a 4 pm start on Saturday at the Conejo Oaks. Tune in to the Foresters YouTube channel to hear all the action.

(Article courtesy of Jim Buckley, Santa Barbara Foresters).

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Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. – Nipomo High School celebrated its Class of 2025 during its graduation ceremony Friday night, the 21st annual commencement in the history of the school.

Held under a bright blue sky in the school’s athletic stadium, the ceremony featured 186 seniors who were all dressed in cardinal-colored gowns.

Longtime principal John Denno began the ceremony by exclaiming the event wasn’t just a celebration of the graduates, but also the parents, family and friends, as well as local elementary, middle and high school educators.

“(They) have invested in the Class of 2025,” Denno said. “Our support staff, who have regularly worked quietly, humbly and sometimes invisibly for all these years, are also doing so tonight to make this celebration possible.”

Denno added the ceremony was the celebration of a journey that didn’t just start four years ago when the students entered high school, but actually 13 years ago in kindergarten, and for most, in local classrooms at the three Nipomo area elementary schools.

“As parents, many of you have extended your trust to the elementary schools in the Nipomo community, most of you entrusted Mesa Middle School and all of you placed your faith in us here at Nipomo High School,” Denno said. “Thank you for entrusting us with preparing your child for career, college and community readiness. Tonight we celebrate not only these candidates, but our entire community of Nipomo.”

During his speech, Denno announced this year’s group of graduates was the strongest academic achieving class in the history of the school. He listed a number of significant accomplishments the class earned, including:

Over 77% of this year’s graduating class have challenged themselves having taken one or more college level classes through advanced placement or dual enrollment coursework.

71% have met the requirements to be considered “prepared” for College and Career Readiness by the State of California.

56% demonstrated proficiency in college preparatory coursework that educates each graduate for the complex and rigorous careers of the future.

Over 62% completed a Career Technical Education Pathway that exposes and equips them for well paying occupations that serve as the backbone of the regional economy.

Students said the class had a strong bond, especially since many of them had grown up together in the tight knit town.

“It’s a close community,” said graduate Emiliano Toledo Mendez. “It’s not a big school. Not to many people. It’s just family. It’s a really bittersweet moment knowing that after four years of same thing, same place, same people, it’s gone, but then you’ll have the memories and it’s just an amazing day.”

“The class of 2025 from Nipomo High School is definitely exciting,” said graduate Sophia Esparza Perez. “You’ve got a lot of excitement, a lot of joy, a lot of friendship, and just a big family that’s super excited to graduate.”

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Alissa Orozco

MARTINSDALE, Mont. – We’ve all heard of the mid-life crisis, but the ‘mid-life collision’ is affecting mid-aged women in more ways than one.

Trauma expert and practicing attorney, Hertha Lund, lives on the Grande Ranch in Montana, where she hosts horse retreats that help visitors navigate through life’s challenges and focus on their healing path.

Lund says when we don’t unpack individualized traumas from childhood, teenhood, and early adulthood, it can later collide with future challenges that affect mid-life women – such as caregiving responsibilities, career changes, and menopause.

“Mid-life crisis is more when we start thinking about the choices we’ve made in our careers, and collision is impacting women because we have women in the workforce. We have women taking care of their elderly parents, their working jobs, they have marriages to keep going and all of a sudden everything just kind of falls in,” Lund explains.

Lund’s organization, called Four Horses for Wholeness, uses equine gestalt therapy to help relieve stress and trauma, and encourage living life to the fullest.

 “I got extremely sick because I didn’t deal with the pain from my childhood. In fact, I had a near death experience and came back, and working with horses and equine gestalt therapy was one of the things that helped me find a path to health and wholeness. I actually feel better now than I ever have in my life, and I’m in my early 60s.”

The National Institute of Mental Health says some mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders are more common in women than men, triggered by unique experiences such as postpartum depression, menstrual cycles, and menopause.

“Life is hard, and I think that I would not underestimate, because of my life experience what happens with the unprocessed stuff from our childhood, and so unpacking that sooner rather than later I think is a way to start on the path of wholeness – but again slow down and be present right here and now that’s actually the key to all healing I found.”

The organization Hope through Horses helps provide funding to those interested in equine therapy, but have financial concerns.

You find out more about Hertha Lund and Four Horses for Wholeness on their website.

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Caleb Nguyen

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. – SpaceX plans to launch 27 Starlink satellites in support of a Falcon 9 Rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 6:34 a.m. Sunday.

Backup opportunities for the launch are available until 10:34 a.m. on the same day. Additional launch opportunities are available on Sunday, starting at 6:20 a.m..

Central Coast residents may feel the sonic boom from the impact of the launch.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

Live webcasts of the mission will be available five minutes before liftoff on both the Space X website and social media page.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Rite Aid customers across the Central Coast are being notified by phone to fill their prescriptions before local stores shut down this summer as part of the company’s ongoing bankruptcy process.

That’s made stores appear busier than usual.

“They just called me to come and get my prescriptions and said they might change to CVS,” said Alma Baroza, a Santa Barbara customer.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in October 2023 and is now in the process of closing more than 400 stores nationwide due to mounting debt, opioid litigation, and declining brick-and-mortar performance.

According to court documents at least eight stores in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties are closing:

Santa Barbara County

199 N Fairview Ave, Goleta

345 Town Center West, Santa Maria

2405 S Broadway, Santa Maria

616 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang

According to store employees in Noozhawk’s reporting, the Rite Aid in Goleta is scheduled to shut its doors on June 29. The Town Center location in Santa Maria will follow on July 2, with the Broadway store closing just a few days later on July 5. Two additional stores in Santa Barbara (1976 Cliff Dr. and 35 S Milpas St.) remain open for now but could close if not sold to another operator.

San Luis Obispo County

740 Quintana Rd, Morro Bay

1110 Los Osos Valley Rd, Los Osos

Inside the Stores

Many shelves at local locations are already empty, while others still hold leftover holiday merchandise. Liquor has been marked down, but deeper discounts on most other items haven’t kicked in yet.

Rite Aid is also selling off assets — including a sweet staple.

“I couldn’t even get in the truck once I saw it. Honestly, it’s time to get an ice cream,” said Dominick Brown, referencing the popular Thrifty Ice Cream counter, which has drawn steady traffic even as stores prepare to shutter.

Despite Thrifty offering $1.99 scoops at most California stores, Pharmacy Manager Negar Haley says she buys her own ice cream elsewhere.

“I buy it because right now nothing at our store is on sale — even our own ice cream — so I go to Vons and get it,” Haley said.

Haley added that what she’ll miss most is the connection with customers.

“It has been a journey with Rite Aid. It’s been a home away from home,” she said. “As far as what’s next, I don’t know — but it is sad.”

A sign on the front door of the Milpas Street store in Santa Barbara urges customers to use their gift cards by June 5.

For those impacted by the closures, Rite Aid says pharmacy records will be transferred to nearby competitors, including CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger locations.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

This past week we have seen on and off again marine layer and cloud coverage. Onshore flow has been persistent. As we head into to the weekend, the Central Coast can expect better clearing and warmer temperatures. Currently, there are no watches, warnings or advisories in place through out the region, giving us calm conditions to start the weekend.

Onshore flow begins to weaken on Saturday, which will allow better clearing through the weekend. Marine layer for the coasts may experience more stubborn clearing. High pressure is building in as well and will allow temperatures to warm slightly. Temperatures on Saturday will be in the 70s and 80s. Light winds are expected each afternoon and evening, but will trend on the mild side. It will be the perfect weekend to head outside and plan that picnic or beach day! We can expect the warmer weather until Tuesday.

By Tuesday, weather pattern will shift again and will trend on the cooler side. Onshore flow is expected to build in and June gloom returns.

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Dave Alley

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – With the peak of wildfire season nearing, the California Fire Foundation (CFF) and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) are announcing the return of its annual Wildfire Safety and Preparedness Program (WSPP) grant program.

The CFF, along with PG&E, officially launched the the start of the application period for the grant program during an announcement Friday morning at San Luis Obispo Fire Department Station One.

“Wildfire is not going away and our communities need to be prepared,” said Angie Carmignani, California Fire Foundation Executive Director. “Right now, we can’t get the information out quick enough. We have grant opportunities for firefighters, fire departments, communities and non-profits to apply for a grant to get their communities and their citizens prepared for wildfires.”

According CFF, PG&E and the PG&E Corporation Foundation are providing a total of $1.65 million to the WSPP this year.

The 2025 amount is a significant increase from last year when the program awarded $750,000 in funding to 55 statewide fire departments and community groups.

Grant money allows recipients fund a variety of mitigation efforts, including vegetation management, specialized equipment, and fire safety education.

The WSPP has provided more than $4.5 million in grant money to 368 recipients over the previous seven years of the program.

“It’s a great time of year just to remind local communities that the importance of preparedness and having an evacuation plan,” said Jeremy Howard, PG&E Regional Senior Manager. “Also people should be making sure that they’re cleaning the vegetation away from their homes and off their properties just to give themselves a chance, as well as firefighters a chance to save their homes should a fire start.”

Applications for the grant program will close on Monday, June 30, 2025.

“Visit our website at the California Fire Foundation,” said Carmignani. “There’s a link and (applicants) just go through a series of questions and apply for the grant, and we should get back to them within a couple weeks.”

For more information about the WSPP, or to apply, click here to visit the CFF website.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Over 3,200 riders and support crew members came through the Central Coast this week on the AIDS/ Lifecycle ride and one sweet spot on their fundraising journey was the break in Santa Barbara.

The Paradise Pit is a commitment by organizer Sean Dooner who is called the Mayor, and his support team of many including Rod Lathim. The history of this event goes back 25 years. It started on the roadside in Montecito as the riders went by. “The first year we went up on the top of Ortega Hill road and scooped ice cream out of the back of a truck until we ran out and we said, ‘oh, we got to do this. We got to do this.’ So that that was the beginning ,” said Lathim.

It took place at Leadbetter Beach Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 3. p.m. Large Paradise Pit signs were up and tubs of ice cream were in place from Thrifty’s and McConnell’s. The flavors included chocolate chip, strawberry and even a singer Katy Perry inspired “Baby you’re a firework Blue Raspberry.” There were fresh churros, fruit trays, snacks and 45 gallons of coffee.

Volunteer David Landecker said it was a perfect spot. “You’ve got the ocean out there. We’ve got some riders. We’ve got ice cream. “

Dooner said he felt “so grateful and warm. They travel with the love bubble. And there’s so much love right now. You can feel the energy. You can feel the goodness and the love.”

The fundraising was required before the riders could qualify for this special event. “This year alone, they’ve raised $17.5 million for HIV Aids research,” said Dooner.

“We are unofficial. We’re not sanctioned by the ride, but, I think we’re the most talked about pit on the whole ride,” said Lathim.

It’s been an effort that has been rewarding. “Over the years, we’ve served 40 to 50,000 ice cream sundaes to people all free,” said Dooner who has collected donations.

One rider from Long Beach, Mason Sliwa said, “knowing that we have the support in Santa Barbara it helps us.”

John Cianciolo held his cup of ice cream and said, “everybody is in support of everybody. Everybody is so happy to be here and the love is truly here, truly is between everyone.” He said they can eat it without guilt because of all the miles they are putting in during the ride and the calories they are burning up.

The cyclists are finishing up the 540-mile ride from San Francisco to Santa Monica. They will cross the finish line Saturday.

This year, however, it is the last ride. The event is reportedly concluding due to increased production costs and a significant decline in both participation and fundraising.

The ride continued to the south through Montecito and Carpinteria with the overnight stop in Ventura.

It had an emotional moment for Lathim who paused to reflect. “It’s the end of kind of an era here.  I’ll miss it.”

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Jarrod Zinn

ORCUTT, Calif. – A Santa Maria father thought he filmed a woman’s body being dumped in an Orcutt park, but authorities say the video doesn’t show the full picture.

On Tuesday, Michael Zoppo took his young son to Waller Park in Orcutt to play. He was recording his son climbing up a tree with his Meta Glasses, which he bought a couple of months earlier. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a car pull up and, moments later, a woman’s body on the asphalt.

“Right away I wasn’t sure what was happening,” said Zoppo. “We left the scene with an uncertainty too, just because she wasn’t responsive with the paramedics or the sheriff.”

On Friday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office clarified that the woman in the video was heavily intoxicated, and what the video doesn’t show is that she got out of the car on her own.

“Because I did have a tree obscuring as well but then I just saw a mass like a body mass come out of the car. I didn’t see someone step out of the car. So that was my immediate attention getter was just something fast coming out of the car,” said Zoppo.

Zoppo saw the driver make a wrong turn out of the park, which gave him enough time to call 911 using his Meta Glasses and provide dispatch with a license plate number.

“I felt like that’s what I had to do at the moment. I had to react,” said Zoppo. “There’s someone face down in the asphalt. It’s — do I walk away and leave them there or do I take action?”

First responders were able to arrest the 67-year-old driver before he got away, and a medical crew was able to treat the intoxicated woman.

A Sheriff’s spokesperson said both the driver and the woman had multiple warrants.

The driver was charged with concealing a dirk or dagger, but it is unclear if that was one of the warrants for his arrest. The Northern Santa Barbara County Jail says he is no longer in custody.

It is unclear if the driver was intoxicated too, and the details of the woman’s warrants have not been released.

We will provide further information on this incident as it becomes available.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – New developments on the renovation projects at Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Renderings for the ADA-compliant Ramp project are complete.

They were created by architect, Fred Sweeney.

The total project cost is approximately $1.1 million, which includes design work, permitting and fees, and construction.

So far, the mission has raised $630,500, about 58% of the overall goal.

The mission is currently seeking an additional $470,000 to fully fund and complete the project.

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