Author: KEYT

Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. – The AIDS/LifeCycle ride came to a close Saturday in Santa Monica.

Riders spent their final night at San Buenaventura State Beach, where they were greeted by supporters in costumes—including two dressed as characters from the musical Wicked.

Hundreds of riders camped in tents, though some opted for nearby hotels for their last night.

This year marked the final leg of the iconic 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Organizers announced on the event website that AIDS/LifeCycle is no longer financially sustainable due to skyrocketing production costs.

A mother and son from Colorado, who have local ties to the area, described the end as bittersweet.

“I spent half the day in my head thinking about how happy I was to be part of the ride, all the times I’ve done it in the past, and kind of sad about the fact that I’m not coming back,” said Keith Mitchell.

“It was beautiful—the whole scenery all the way down along the ocean—and doing this with my son for the last time that we’ll be able to,” said Kathie Mitchell, who has relatives along the coast.

One longtime participant, known as the “Bus Liaison,” reflected on the emotional final stretch.

“It’s been an amazing 30 years. I’m one of the people that started back in ’94 and have been here for every ride. It’s kind of sad that it’s ending—maybe more than a little bit sad,” said Tom Smith Jr.

Smith said the seven-day ride has raised more than $300 million over the decades. He added that it has also helped reduce the stigma surrounding the LGBTQ+ community and those affected by HIV/AIDS.

After a night of rest in Ventura, cyclists rode through Thousand Oaks on Saturday morning, heading toward the Santa Monica finish line and celebration.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. – A former mayor of Oxnard is being remembered for putting his mark on the city.

Friends and family attended a Memorial Mass for Dr. Thomas E. Holden at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard on Friday.

The city closed off a portion of the Oxnard Historic District for a block party style celebration of his life in front of the family home.

Holden was the son of a longtime local business owner, and was a longtime optometrist.

Holden died following a short battle with cancer.

He is survived by a large family that includes his wife and their three sons, Patrick, Jack and Nicholas.

Holden was 71-years-old.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

OXNARD, Calif. – Summer is just around the corner and some kids have already started Summer break.

A Ventura County doctor and surfer shared tips on staying safe in the water this summer, such as staying hydrated in the sun, drinking electrolytes, and the importance of wearing sunscreen.

“You should always know your limits and not go out in conditions such as big surf that you’re not ready for,” said Internal Medicine Dr. Ramsey Ulrich. “You want to be respectful in the surf line up, for example, if someone’s riding a wave they have priority and you need to as a paddler get out of their way.

“Stingrays, the season where they are a concern in Southern California are between like May and October. Sometimes you hear when you come in and out of the water to shuffle your feet to try to disrupt the sand and scare them away.”

Ramsay says that jelly fish are also common in the summer and if stung to wash immediately with salt water and scrape off any barbs, then proceed to soak the area in hot water to deactivate the toxin.

 He also shares that for those trying out surfing this summer to practice being a strong swimmer and paddler.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara Community Academy is celebrating 25 years of growth and educational excellence.

 The celebration included live music by Mezcal Martini, alumni gathering and had some of the young students in attendance.

Santa Barbara community academy is a school of choice and is community-based. It allows parents to be involved whether in the classroom or events.

“To see the impact that they have on the community, how they brought the community together, because we’re a school of choice we get students from all over Santa Barbara,” said Suzette McCormick, Principal at Santa Barbara Community Academy. “And this school has produced wonderful, wonderful students citizens, so I am very proud to be part of this school.”

McCormick says her hope for the next 25 years is for the school to continue to grow and thrive academically.

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Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –   The Santa Barbara airport hosted airport day with the theme “Imagine a Future in Aviation” to inspire students and offer mentorship in the aviation and aerospace world.

Students were able to apply for scholarships at the event and talk to pilots and air traffic controllers.

There were also fly overs for attendees to watch.

  This years special guest was pilot and author Tracey Curtis-Taylor who shared some of her stories flying in a Boeing Stearman Biplane and shared her hope for future women aviators.

“It’s really an outreach event to inspire young people, particularly young women into the aviation industry,” said pilot and author, Tracey Curtis-Taylor. “We’re still hugely underrepresented and there’s still only something like 5 percent commercial pilots that are women and it’s the same in aviation and aerospace, we need women to get on board with this. To come to Santa Barbara and to be part of this is just a fantastic privilege, really.”

 The event also featured classic and exotic cars, recognizing the automotive heritage and innovation.

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Christer Schmidt

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – Paso Robles Fire and Emergency Services (PRFES) put out a structure fire at a business early Saturday morning.

The fire at 2508 Spring Street set a deck and a tree on fire close to the building. PRFES knocked the fire down before it could damage the building.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara Junior High students brought the seas to the shoreside with their production of Finding Nemo.

Students from the school’s theater department put on a show from the beloved Disney film Friday at 7:00 p.m. and have one more performance at the Marjorie Luke Theater tonight at 7:00 as well.

Rich Lashua, head of the school’s theater department for 14 years, mentioned that his cast and crew of 24 students are eager to spread their fins for a great show.

Tickets to tonight’s show are available for purchase at the door at $5 for students and $10 for adults.

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Christer Schmidt

ATASCADERO, Calif. – Atascadero Police officers are asking the community for help in locating a missing teenager.

Alice Sommers, a 15-year-old from Atascadero was reported missing by her parents June 6th. She is a white female standing 5 foot 2 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds with red/auburn hair and hazel eyes, according to the Atascadero Police Department (APD).

Alice Sommers may be in the San Jose area with a man known only as Damien, according to the APD.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the APD at the following number.

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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 the 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 caps and 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 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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