Author: KEYT

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARAM Calif. (KEYT) ⁃ A new Habitat for Humanity ReStore is getting a fresh start on State Street with help from volunteers with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation.

Inside the future store, volunteers are painting walls, moving furniture, and organizing the space as they prepare it for opening.

“This is the rewarding part of my role where you get to see your work firsthand and you get a quick turnaround and see the impact that you have,” said Mayra Terrazas, program coordinator with the Chumash Foundation.

The ReStore, located at 400 State Street in Santa Barbara, will sell donated furniture, appliances, and home improvement items. Proceeds from the store will support Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing efforts in the community.

Nick Gianis, philanthropy manager with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said the volunteer effort is part of the tribe’s employee giving program.

“We have Team Chumash. It’s a program we developed for employees to be able to give back to the community. The tribe has a big heart,” Gianis said.

Habitat Santa Barbara is continuing to accept donations of furniture and household goods as the store prepares to open.

“We have seen the community wants this ReStore to come back,” said Susan Renehan, director of philanthropy and external affairs with Habitat Santa Barbara.

Each donated item has the chance to make an impact twice — first by finding a new home, and then by helping support affordable housing for local families.

The ReStore is expected to open this summer in Santa Barbara.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara Solstice Festival’s Reggae Roots Sunday fell on Father’s Day.

Dads and others danced to the SkaDaddyZ on the Main Stage in the afternoon.

The Ventura County band has a following that loves to move to ska and reggae music.

People in Alameda Park also had a chance to check out many of floats put on display following Saturday’s Solstice Parade.

Sean Edmondson had a Father’s Day picnic in the park with his wife and daughter during the festival.

“Yeah my father taught me to be yourself always to be kind gentlemen that is what i try to teach her a kind lady and to have good moral values and treat others as you want to be treated,”said Edmondson.

People all around the park had seemed to be sharing the day with their dad’s and special men in their lives.

Up and coming bands including Skinripper and Lynsdey Marire Bradberri performed on a Community Stage.

Families watched with pride.

The festival celebrating the longest day of the year wrapped up before sunset.

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Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) Gamers lovers enjoyed the Ventura Gamer Festival.

The festival filled a San Miguel Hall at the Ventura County Fairgrounds over the weekend.

That’s where people of all ages had a chance to play old and new games.

Some gamers called it the perfect way spend time with their dads on Father’s Day.

“I love being here with my dad and my brother because it kind of brings back a lot of memories when I would game with them and i still do so that is Ventura fun,” said Benjamin Dumas of Ventura.

Gamers had a chance to buy games, consoles and more.

Plenty of people came to trade and buy trading cards, too.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Solstice celebrations continue all weekend in Alameda Park.

That is where the Solstice Parade crossed the finish line Saturday.

The festival floats are on display and this year there is a Pali Art Garden full of giant inflatables.

Dozens of bands are playing at the festival’s community stage with Reggies Roots on Sunday.

The festival hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Brady Janusek singled in two runs in a 3-run fifth inning and the Santa Barbara Foresters beat the Arroyo Seco Saints 7-2 to run their winning streak to 8 games.

The Foresters play at the San Luis Obispo Blues on Sunday afternoon in a California Collegiate League showdown.

The Blues are 14-3 and lead the North Division while the Foresters are 12-1 and lead the South Division.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The sun came out for the annual Solstice Parade along Santa Barbara Street.

Thousands of people lined the street to see the parade with the wave theme.

A record 110 La Boheme Dance Troupe members took part at the beginning of the parade.

“This year was so magical happy solstice what a beautiful event for Santa Barbara,” said La Boheme founder and director Teresa Kuskey Oshay,” people come from near and far and it is so wonderful to celebrate each other.”

All kinds of music and dancing followed.

Mariano Silva’s samba dancers put on a show. Traci Russell line dancers had a kick in their step. The Grace Fisher Foundation took part with a wave of its own.

The annual parade celebrates the Summer Solstice, marking the longest day of the year.

Judges held up signs mid-parade just for the fun of it. There are no awards and there is no advertising.

Donations are always welcome to cover the costs.

Longtime parade-goer Arlene Larsen loved it.

“It is incredible, the energy, it is a long walk and the dancing I can’t even walk it, but they are dancing it incredible,” said Larsen.”

Maureen “Mo” Mcfadden loved the wave theme.

“I thought it was fabulous, I caught the wave, I rode it and I’ve never surfed a day in my life, how about that,” said McFadden.

Pali X-Mano created another showstopper with a Sundance of The Giant Water Dragon.

The dragon was followed by a wave of drums.

From the start to the colorful tail end it wouldn’t be possible without countless volunteers.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The 35th Annual Juneteenth Celebration of Ventura County took place in Oxnard.

People filled Plaza Park to enjoy the longest running Juneteenth celebration along the coast.

It included entertainment on two stages and historic displays.

Trooper Art Dyson dressed as a Buffalo Soldier.

“We are here to represent the Buffalo Soldier group that was put in place in the war after the Civil War. Those guys fought with resilience, they fought with effort, they were called the Buffalo Soldiers but actually their initial name was Wild Buffalo Men, that was a term of endearment by the Indians that were there because they didn’t go down easy, they didn’t kill unless they had to, and if they were attacked,” said Dyson.

Dyson believes the name was changed for political reasons.

“We want people to understand where we come from and that was from a group of mighty men that fought for our freedom,” said Dyson.

Author, historian and musician Leroy A. “Buddy” Gibson had a number of items on display.

“When the slaves were slaves they hadn’t been released until June 19th in Texas, there was a movement to not let them even know about it for almost 2 years later, when the proclamation was read and people started getting to it, then that is when the so-called freedom started,” said Gibson, but freedom has not been fully, in my opinion, excepted.”

Member of the nonprofit Onyx club were recognized for providing scholarships to students and debutante balls and programs

Members helped organize the event.

People who brought their children helped them learn about June 19, 1865.

The date led to the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of  the end of slavery in the United States.

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Mike Klan

LOS ANGELES Calif. (KEYT) – Caleb Hoover slugged a 3-run home run and drove in 5 runs as Santa Barbara outlasted Arroyo Seco 13-9 for their seventh consecutive win.

The Foresters banged out 16 hits with six players collecting multi-hit games with Hoover leading the charge with 3.

The Foresters are now 11-1 on the year.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – This year marks 161 years since the abolishment of slavery in the United States, and Black communities around the country hosted Juneteenth events to celebrate, even here on the Central Coast.

Juneteenth Santa Barbara, a non-profit that focuses on uplifting the city’s Black community, hosted its “Love For The People” celebration on Friday at Plaza Del Mar. The event gathered local Black artists, creators, and vendors to create a space of diversity and inclusion.

Local vendors like Charlotte Gullap-Moore say the holiday’s recognition means everything.

“The fact that we have people not just in Santa Barbara but from Northern California, Southern California here to enjoy Santa Barbara and our Juneteeth is so magical and it means a lot. And this is what it looks like when everyone is given the same ability equitably,” said Gullap-Moore.

Friday was Juneteenth Santa Barbara’s eighth year hosting the event for the public, and it something that continues to grow with every coming year.

“Just look at the positive joy. And the fact that there’s an element that doesn’t want for all of us to thrive together, makes no sense,” said Gullap-Moore. “It’s like a piece of cancer, and we can’t let that cancer spread.”

For more information and future events, visit Juneteenth Santa Barbara.

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Dave Alley

ORCUTT, Calif. (KEYT) – Dozens of soccer fans gathered in Orcutt Friday afternoon to cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) take on Australia in the World Cup. 

For several hours beginning before 10 a.m., members of American Outlaws Santa Maria, joined other soccer fans to packed Old Town Biergarten. 

“The vibe here is awesome to have all these people celebrating soccer and U.S. soccer,” said American Outlaws Santa Maria President Gabe Fabela. “We’re cheering on our national team. To have the World Cup here in the U.S. is pretty special, almost once in a generation, so we’re just happy to all get together and cheer on the USA.” 

Founded in 2011, American Outlaws Santa Maria is one of more than 100 chapters of the parent American Outlaws organization that is the largest supporters group for the United States Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams. 

With fans of all ages on hand, the USMNT gave the fans plenty to cheer about, especially early in the game. 

Playing in Seattle, the USMNT scored two first half goals and went on to not only earn a 2-0 victory over Australia, it also clinched a spot into the “knockout round’ of the World Cup. 

Friday’s victory follows an impressive tournament opening 4-1 victory over Paraguay last Friday, which marked the most goals the team has ever scored in a World Cup game. 

For local soccer fans, they said watching the USMNT succeed on the biggest stage is sports has been an extraordinary experience. 

“The opening match was a dream,” said Fabela. “That’s probably the best I’ve ever seen the U.S. team play in my lifetime. We were joking around that they woke up and chose to be Brazil. I mean, the way that they were playing together and then to carried on.” 

Old Town Biergarten is small beer-oriented bar located in Old Town Orcutt that has become the official World Cup watch site for American Outlaws Santa Maria. 

“A lot of people came here,” said fan Robert Chavez. “It’s a good turnout today. It brings together a lot of soccer fans coming together, which is nice. It’s just a great atmosphere, especially since it’s a local thing. Finally, we get people from around here coming to watch soccer and it’s great.”

The business is not only showing all of the USMNT games during the World Cup, but also all the Mexico games as well. 

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