Author: KEYT

Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Governor Newsom’s Universal TK—or, Transitional Kindergarten—program may not be having the universal reach he intended.

Not all schools who teach Transitional Kindergarten are receiving this mandated state funding.

During the 2022-2023 school year, Governor Newsom’s statewide Universal TK program began its roll-out, providing additional state funding to schools with TK classes who met specific thresholds.

The goal for California’s Universal TK program was for full implementation by this year, but programs such as C.L. Smith Elementary School’s TK classes, which got their start before governor Newsom began the state program, unfortunately do not meet the specific requirements.

“With the new Universal TK plan, it included all four year olds, regardless of what date their birthday year was,” says Lisa Yamashita, assistant superintendent of educational services for San Luis Coastal Unified School District. “So we started with only six preschools across our system that turned into TKs. Now we have 16 different classrooms because that many more children are age eligible for the program.”

Assemblywoman Dawn Addis of San Luis Obispo county introduced legislation earlier this year to combat the issue and ensure universal TK funding for all schools in the state, a bill that at last report has stalled.

“TK is actually a money saver as well as good for kids and good for California,” says Assemblywoman Dawn Addis. “However, what we discovered is that we don’t actually universally fund a universal program.”

According to San Luis Coastal Unified School District, this is not localized to SLO county, and schools in Santa Barbara county and several more counties throughout the state are facing deficits as well as additional cuts necessary to compensate and continue to teach TK.

“Last school year, we reduced our staffing and saved on some other budgetary items about $4 million in our spending,” says Yamashita. “As we come into this next school year, we’re looking to cut about another $5 million in staffing and expenses to accommodate the additional program.”

Small, rural schools that are part of Basic Aid districts, paid for primarily by property taxes, do not get state funding. 

San Luis Coastal is one such district.

While Assemblywoman Addis’s bill was not able to pass the Appropriations Committee, she says she has not given up the fight, and will introduce legislation again next year.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Now in its 12th year, the upcoming Day of Hope will have a little bit of a different spin when the popular cancer fundraiser is held next week.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, four days before the event is held, an inaugural car show will take place at Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria.

“For the past four years, since 2020, we have hosted a Day of Hope car parade,” said Jessa Brooks, Marian Regional Medical Center Foundation Vice President of Philanthropy. “This year instead, we are going to be doing a Day of Hope car show.”

While the car parade was an instant success when it was created, Brooks explained the change to a car show was made due a few different reasons.

“Not only did we receive inquiries from members of the public, recommending for us to do a car show, but also members of the community who wanted to participate, who work Monday through Friday found it challenging,” said Brooks. “Last but not least, our is our Day of Hope team is they sell newspapers between 7 a.m. and 12 noon. When we did the car parade, our teams were leaving their intersections around 10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. to make it over to the fair park for the 11 a.m. car parade, so it wasn’t advantageous for the Day of Hope newspaper sales for the event and for the community volunteers. Having them do two events in one day was not ideal.”

Dignity Health describes the car show as family-friendly event featuring dozens of registered cars on display in the parking lot wrapping around Mission Hope.

In addition to the classic cars, there will also be sponsors, various activities, cancer resources and much more for the community to enjoy.

“There will also be a “touch a truck” section of our public events where members of the community can have the opportunity to take pictures of and to roam through Santa Maria Police Department vehicles, Santa Maria Fire Department vehicles, Cal Coast machinery, tractors, Rugged Radios trucks,” said Brooks. “There will be Santa Mark Park Rangers and American Medical Response, AMR. We will also have food trucks and kids activities. It should be a lot of fun for the day, and of course, the awards for the car show.”

The Day of Hope Car Show will be held Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be free to attend.

The Day of Hope was created in 2014 and specifically raises funds for patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande.

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, starting at 7 a.m., hundreds of volunteers will be located throughout the Santa Maria Valley and in South San Luis Obispo County at dozens street corners, intersections, parking lots, schools, churches and other highly visible locations.

Participating teams members will once again be selling special edition $1 Santa Maria Times newspapers.

“We have more than 80 teams participating for Day of Hope this year,” said Brooks. “Also, something that we’re really grateful for is we’ve had a number of businesses and restaurants step forward to support Day of Hope in unique ways, whether it’s donating a portion of sales on a particular day, or it is hosting their own team within their establishment. We’re really grateful to the community for supporting Day of Hope, in a really big way to support local cancer patients.

Proceeds specifically helps the cancer center provide patients with a myriad of complimentary programs and services.

For more information about the car show or the upcoming Day of Hope, click here to visit the official webpage.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The historic Old Mission in Santa Barbara could someday have a towering new neighbor.

Mission LLC is proposing an eight-story apartment building with more than 250 units directly behind the mission.

The proposal has generated pushback, even among people who are in favor of expanding the housing supply.

“Well I think it’s wrong and I think the majority of the community feels that it’s wrong. I’m the biggest housing advocate around. But this is just the wrong place,” said architect Brian Cearnal of Santa Barbara.

City leaders are reviewing the plans carefully to address concerns about scale and safety.

“Between that and Foothill Avenue… could get pretty crowded pretty quickly in an emergency… we think that’s a problem,” said mayor Randy Rowse of Santa Barbara.

Leaders of the mission are worried about the size of the project.

“This could mean quite a bit of traffic added to an area that’s already difficult to navigate,” said Father Joe Schwab of Old Mission Santa Barbara.

Right now the church is waiting for more information before deciding whether to hold a community meeting.

Meanwhile, for many, the key question remains: will this new building fit into the historic heart of Santa Barbara?

“It really doesn’t have any architectural fit with the neighborhood… and it could even tower over the mission,” said Schwab.

“Very active archaeological area for resources… so all of those things are big question marks,” said Rowse.

“It’s a modern apartment building that you would expect to see somewhere in Los Angeles,” said Cearnal.

The project will now go through city review, which could include public hearings, giving the community a chance to weigh in.

The developers are moving forward under California’s Builder’s Remedy law, which can override certain local zoning rules for housing projects.

The developers could not be reached for comment.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Train passengers on the Central Coast will not have to get off and use a bus for part of their trip anymore.

That’s been the requirement for the past two weeks while the La Canada Honda bridge was replaced on the Vandenberg Space Force base property in Northern Santa Barbara County.

The bridge was more than 120 years old and unreliable.

The work began August 1 and was finished over the weekend.

While the repairs took place, the train passengers were rerouted with bus service going north from Santa Barbara and south from San Luis Obispo.

A passenger on the Coast Starlight Monday, Karen Tosoe, loaded up her baggage in Santa Barbara on a mid-day train stop and said she was aware of the bridge outage. “Yes, we didn’t want to be the first ones over it. We wanted to be the second!”

She enjoys riding the train and taking the coastal route.  “We’re visiting our daughter and her husband in Washington so it is the way to go.”

The repaired track will now see service again from the daily Pacific Surfliner, the Coast Starlight and all the freight trains going through the area.

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Colin Smith is happy and healthy as nears the end of the Gauchos eight-week summer practice session.

“It feels great, you know it’s been a minute getting back to 100 percent,” smiled Smith.

He looks fit and is excited to play with this year’s group that features plenty of new faces.

“Getting used to this new team and teammates, you know the energy has been great,” stated Smith.

The 6’8 forward transferred to UCSB in the spring of 2024 from Vanderbilt.

The 4-star recruit played just seven games for Vandy in the prior season due to an achilles injury.

Last year for UCSB he played in just 20 games, missing more than a dozen due to various ailments.

Smith averaged 8.7 points per game and shot 43.5 percent from three-point distance.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A popular boys and girls club location is fighting blight in an area where members must walk to get to the club.

The Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, that now goes by The Downtown Club, said it happens to be an area where dozens of people are known to live in their cars and RVs.

“This is all about the kids really, and when you have the junior high, the high school, the Boys and Girls Club – we also have Providence School, we also have the church, all within this area that is impacted, it truly has become a safety, a public health and safety issue for us,” said Mark Alvarado.

He said he understands the need for a safe place for people to live in vehicles.

“Why here? Why is it such an impact here where there is such a high volume of kids? We should be able to recognize this and adjust whatever the laws are in order to help folks that need help getting off the streets, but also protect our kids and families,” said Alvarado.

He is concerned about his staff members, too.

Josh Loza, 18, is the club’s computer lab facilitator and takes Quarantina St. to work.

The area is located Councilmember Wendy Santamaria’s district, meaning Loza would ask her to take the lead on fixing the problem.

“I would ask if it could be attended a little more, it doesn’t look like it receives much attention, it seems very overshadowed, which is scary, considering that it is close to the club here the junior high and a public park, it just feels very unsafe, it is just a shady area with the people you see around here sometimes,” said Loza.

Josh Baptista said he understands the concerns, but he happens to be living in a van that needs repairs.

On Monday he got a ticket on Monday for parking during street sweeping.

Baptista is a trained in construction and ended up living in his vehicle following a divorce.

He is in contact with News Beginnings, a local nonprofit that offers counseling and housing assistance.

“I’ve been working with New Beginnings, about a placement and all that sort of stuff, and hopefully I will get taken care of. So they’re going help me, get the bill and get it working right,”said Baptista.

Neighbor and jogger Ines Wystra would like some added trash pickups.

 “We don’t feel unsafe, but we feel like there’s a lot of trash that needs to be cleaned up more,” said Wystra.

The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara has sent letters to city leaders to raise awareness.

Councilmember Santamaria could not be reached to comment, but Mayor Randy Rowse, said by phone, the city is aware of the issue.

When the city held a meeting about the blight along Quarantino and De La Guerra last year it led to the posting of a no dumping sign next to a trash can, but the trash can is often overflowing.

School starts Wednesday.

Club members hope the changes will come to make kids feel more comfortable walking to the Downtown Club after school.

Parents have shared their concerns with the club and some said have trouble parking for their children’s soccer practice and other sports.

The club has worked hard to attract more tweens and teens .

They offer memberships for $60 a year.

Kids can choose two 45 minutes activities plus a study period each day.

Activities include basketball, pottery, culinary arts, and computer classes.

There are also reading, homework and teen rooms.

For more information about The Downtown Club visit https://www.boysandgirlssb.org

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Below is a press release from Habitat SLO regarding the Playhouse Program providing joy and hands-on collaboration to the Paso Robles Boys & Girls Club

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County (Habitat SLO) recently delivered six custom playhouses through its Playhouse Program, giving local children safe, imaginative spaces while bringing together volunteers, sponsors, and community partners.

Five playhouses were gifted to families across San Luis Obispo County, while one was delivered to the Paso Robles Boys & Girls Club—where children began playing inside just moments after it was assembled.

The Cal Poly Girls Build Summer Camp sponsored and decorated four playhouses, tailoring each to the needs of the children who would receive them. The Rotary Club of Atascadero sponsored and decorated two additional playhouses. Together, students, interns, and community leaders worked side by side to bring the colorful structures to life.

Deliveries were made to families in Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Atascadero, including Habitat SLO’s first-ever indoor installation. The four-by-five-foot playhouses were transported and assembled by a team that included Habitat SLO Program Manager Colleen Stefanek; Cal Poly Girls Build organizer and Construction Management Professor Stacy Kolegraff; and Bank of AmericaStudent Leader interns Nathan Robasciotti and Gustavo Ocampo.

“Seeing the joy and gratitude on each child’s face as we set up their new playhouse was truly unforgettable,” said Robasciotti. “Giving them something they can call their own, a space to play and just be a kid, makes a huge impact.”

“From the moment of delivery to the final stages of building, creating these playhouses was an incredible and heartwarming experience,” added Ocampo. “One of the most rewarding parts was seeing the children’s faces light up once their playhouses were complete.”

Stefanek emphasized the value of youth leadership and education: “Partnering with the Cal Poly Girls Build Summer Camp for the second year was so much fun. I love seeing these young women work together while learning new skills, to create a beautiful, meaningful space for children in our community.”

At the Boys & Girls Club in Paso Robles, the excitement was immediate. “Our kiddos are having a blast playing in the playhouse, and we are so appreciative of all the people who helped make this possible,” said Alora McNulty, Flamson Club Director. As children crowded inside to explore, 7-year-old Xander summed it up simply: “Wow! This is so cool. Thank you.”

Habitat SLO’s Playhouse Program gives volunteers and sponsors a hands-on way to build community while creating spaces for children to dream, play, and grow. Proceeds from the program also help fund Habitat SLO’s broader mission of building homes, communities, and hope.

For more information or to support Habitat SLO County, contact Dawn Smith at dawn@habitatslo.org or call 805-316-1192.

About Habitat for Humanity SLO CountyHabitat for Humanity SLO County is a non-profit organization that brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Habitat SLO County began building homes in 2003 and has completed 26 homes from Cambria to Grover Beach.

Since 1997, we have built, repaired, and rehabilitated houses throughout San Luis Obispo County. We believe in a world where everyone has a decent place to live. By building and improving homes, we create strong and stable communities. Habitat for Humanity SLO County strives to make decent, sustainable, and affordable housing a reality for all.

About the Cal Poly Girls Build Summer CampThe Cal Poly Girls Build Summer Camp is a free, week-long day camp designed for local high school girls. Hosted by Cal Poly’s Construction Management department, the program offers hands‑on experience in architecture, engineering, and construction.

Participants learn tool safety, build projects, and hear from women professionals and Cal Poly alumni. Now in its fourth year, the camp empowers girls to explore careers in the skilled trades and leadership roles in the built environment.

About the Bank of America Student Leaders ProgramThe Bank of America Student Leaders Program connects high school juniors and seniors with paid summer internships at local nonprofits. It provides leadership development through a national summit in Washington, D.C. The program empowers young people to develop civic, social, and business leadership skills while making an impact in their communities.

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Below is a press release from Ventura Unified School District regarding Facility Projects funded by Measure E

VENTURA, Calif. – Over this past summer, the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) made significant progress on campus upgrades and modernizations funded by Measure E, the $434 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2022. VUSD recently welcomed students back for the 2025–26 school year, and VUSD is reflecting on the measurable impact of these projects and expressing deep gratitude to the community for its investment in public education.

“Thanks to the support of our voters, we’re making substantive and visible improvements to our campuses that will benefit generations of students,” said Dr. Antonio Castro, Superintendent of Ventura Unified School District. “From safer learning environments to modern infrastructure and long-overdue repairs, Measure E is helping us create campuses that better support the way students learn and thrive.”

Project Highlights to Date

Over the summer of 2025, dozens of projects reached completion or key milestones across the district’s 28 campuses. Highlights include:

Safety & Security

529 new security cameras installed across 14 campuses, with more underway.

Security fencing upgrades completed at Portola and scheduled at Anacapa and Cabrillo.

Fire sprinkler repairs and access ramp improvements for enhanced safety.

Energy Efficiency & Sustainability

All campuses now have energy-saving LED lighting, including stadiums at Buena and Ventura High Schools.

Districtwide solar installations are underway, with projected annual savings of $2 million and the added benefit of shade structures.

Upgraded HVAC systems using high-efficiency heat pumps are under construction or in design at multiple sites, beginning with the hottest areas of the district.

Playgrounds & Outdoor Learning

New inclusive playgrounds built at 4 elementary schools, with 13 more in design or planned through 2028.

Design features include age-appropriate TK play areas, accessible equipment, and natural shade from new trees.

Facilities Modernization

Roofing replacements completed at 4 schools, with additional work scheduled through 2028.

LED, HVAC, and solar work planned for Ventura Adult & Continuing Education.

Upgrades made to learning spaces and support facilities, including a new culinary classroom at Buena High and performing arts center improvements at Ventura High.

General Improvements

Projects include pool heater and chemical system replacements, concrete ramps, structural repairs, landscaping refreshes, and electrical upgrades—improving daily functionality districtwide.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next

While summer 2025 marks a major step forward, VUSD is just getting started. Upcoming major projects include:

Athletic stadium resurfacing and fieldhouse construction at Buena and Ventura High

Restroom restorations at Cabrillo

PA system and security enhancements across all campuses

Painting, exterior, and accessibility upgrades at multiple campuses

Full pool replacements at both Buena and Ventura High Schools

To ensure taxpayer dollars go even further, VUSD is actively pursuing state matching grants.

“This is a long-term investment in our students, our teachers, and our community,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, Dr. Ahsan Mirza. “We are deeply thankful to the voters who made Measure E possible.”

About Measure E

Measure E was placed on the ballot in November 2022 in response to the district’s Long Range Facilities Master Plan (2020–2030), which outlined the need to modernize aging schools and bring facilities up to current health, safety, and educational standards. VUSD spans approximately 165 square miles, serving approximately 14,000 students across 28 school sites, from preschool through adult education.

While VUSD students continue to thrive academically and socially, many facilities are over 50 years old and in urgent need of repairs. Measure E funding enables the district to upgrade infrastructure, improve accessibility, increase energy efficiency, and build learning environments that support modern teaching and learning.

Learn MoreFor a full breakdown of completed and upcoming projects, visit:

Measure E Website: https://www.venturausd.org/about/measure-e

Board Presentation (June 24, 2025): Watch Here

Project Photo Gallery: View Summer 2025 Progress Photos

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Below is a press release from the County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness regarding the 2025 John Kovacs Scholarship Awards

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness is announcing the opening of the application period for its annual John Kovacs Scholarship award, designed for persons who identify as having mental health and/or substance use experience, also known as “peers.” This scholarship program was made available through a generous donation from the John Kovacs Revocable Trust which was gifted to Behavioral Wellness. To honor the memory of John Kovacs, the Department established a Memorial Scholarship that awards up to two $2,500 scholarships annually.

Applications are due by September 30th, 2025. The applications will be scored in October and the announcement of 2025 John Kovacs scholarship recipients will occur at the annual Peer celebration in the end of November or beginning of December. For Peers interested in applying, the application can be found online and completed in English here and in Spanish here.

2024 Kovacs awardee Arthur Marroquin shares, “The scholarship helped me catch up on debts, which opened the door to saving, finding stable housing, and balancing work and college.” “Being seen and supported made a difference not only in my life, but in my children’s, who proudly celebrated with me at graduation.”

“This award gave me more than financial help, it restored my faith in people,” shares 2024 awardee Vincent Saucedo. “It brought me security, shelter, and hope at a time when anger felt easier than gratitude. It renewed my hope and inspired me to pay it forward.”

Recipients, as people who embody tenacity, resiliency and overcoming of barriers are selected through a committee process. Applicants must self-identify as having lived experience in the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both; either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer. In addition, applicants must show a demonstrated need and explain how these funds will help bridge an important gap, address an unmet necessity, or make a significant difference in helping to achieve a life changing goal.

To learn more about County of Santa Barbara Department of Behavioral Wellness, please visit https://www.countyofsb.org/274/Behavioral-Wellness. For assistance accessing Behavioral Wellness services, call the 24/7 toll free Crisis Response and Services Access Line at (888) 868-1649.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. – Jesse Andrew Mendoza, a 20-year-old Santa Barbara man, received a conviction from a Ventura County jury Monday after assaulting a California Highway Patrol officer during a DUI arrest in 2024, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

The jury found Mendoza guilty on several charges, and the man faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison upon sentencing, according to the VCDAO.

CHP officers stopped Mendoza’s car on Oct. 5, 2024, after seeing it swerve and speed through traffic on the southbound Highway 101, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza showed signs of impairment and didn’t pass a sobriety test before his DUI arrest, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza then slipped from his handcuffs during his transport to the CHP Ventura station. Mendoza attacked the officer driving the patrol vehicle by clawing at the officer’s face and neck, according to the VCDAO.

The officer avoided the Mendoza’s attack before the Santa Barbara man fled on foot from the patrol car, according to the VCDAO.

Officers then chased Mendoza and had to carry him back to the patrol vehicle. One of the officers had facial injuries from the attack but has since recovered, according to the VCDAO.

Patrol car video footage showed Mendoza messing with his handcuffs before the attack, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza also had a previous conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and personally inflicting great bodily injury in Santa Barbara County five months before the DUI arrest, according to the VCDAO.

Mendoza is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16 and remains in custody without bail under the following charges, according to the VCDAO:

Charges:

PC 245(c) – Assault upon a peace officer

PC 240 – Assault

PC 836.6(b) – Escape from arrest

PC 148(a)(1) – Resist, obstruct, delay of peace officer

VC 23152(a) – Diving while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage

VC 23152(b) – Driving with a 0.08% or higher blood alcohol

Special Allegations:

PC 667S2 – Prior strike 2

PC 1170(h)(3) – Prior serious or violent felony

PC 667(a)(1) – Serious felony prior

CRC 4.421(a)(1)

CRC 4.421(b)(4)

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