Author: KEYT

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – At the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s South County facility in Goleta, yesterday’s leftovers are finding a new purpose — feeding local farms instead of landfills.

A powerful new industrial composter can process up to 400 pounds of food waste a day. Spoiled produce and uneaten meals are fed into the machine, where heat and motion break them down in hours, transforming scraps into nutrient-rich compost ready for the next growing season.

“This machine’s like a garbage truck on steroids — only it feeds farms, not landfills,” said one Foodbank worker. Another added, “we’re saving tons from the landfill and growing the next harvest instead.”

Volunteers help shovel the finished compost into bins, where it will eventually enrich local farm fields. The project, funded by a $1 million CalRecycle grant, is part of California’s broader effort to reduce greenhouse gases and cut food waste.

“It grinds, mixes, cooks — all on its own. Big machine, big impact,” one worker said.

What was once filled dumpsters is now feeding the soil, closing the circle from scraps to harvest — right here in Goleta.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – If your home or business sustained damage as a result of December or January storms information is being sought.

The County of Santa Barbara is collecting damage reports that will assist public safety officials in understanding the extent of local impacts and advocate on behalf of the community for state and federal assistance.

Many locations are known but some have gone unreported or damage was discovered after the event.

This can include downed trees into buildings, broken water pipes and other utilities, damaged roadways including bike lanes and hillside stabilizations.

A special form can be filled out here: Disaster Damage Report

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Dave Alley

LOPEZ LAKE, Calif. (KEYT) – The water level at Lopez Lake is slowly rising after receiving a significant amount of rain over the past two months.

“In October, we were at about 79%,” said Craig Duprey, Huasna District Supervising Park Ranger. “Now it’s at about 84%.”

The 5% rise in water is the result of the area seeing more than 16 inches of precipitation during the current rain season.

“The lake’s in really good shape,” said Duprey. “We’re excited with these early rains. It’s come up a couple of feet and it’s really, exciting, especially for recreation. We hope to see 90% capacity. The ground right now is saturated, so any additional rain is going to relate to lake rise.”

Over the past three years since the lake spilled in March 2023, the first time that’s happened in 25 years, the water level Lopez Lake has remained at a consistently high level, a far cry from back in December 2022 when the level sunk to a critically low 22%.

“Over the last few years, this lake has been very stable,” said Duprey. “It’s only fluctuated at about 20%., so we’re excited for the future here this season and we hope to see more lake rise.”

The stability with the water level at Lopez Lake has meant good news for the thousands of people downstream who rely on the popular reservoir.

“Having a high lake levels crucial for a lot of reasons,” said Duprey. “From a recreation standpoint, it means more surface area, so more opportunity for anglers and boaters, and then obviously it’s a domestic water source for the Five Cities. That’s really important with the higher lake levels.”

While Lopez Lake currently enjoys a healthy level, it still is lower than a few other nearby lakes – which have reached capacity, including Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County and Santa Margarita Lake in northern San Luis Obispo County.

“The watershed here at Lopez is not quite as big as some of the other watersheds at other local lake,” said Duprey. “It does raise a little bit slower compared to some of the other lakes.”

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Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – The Lompoc Police Department is heading into 2026 with some new initiatives, including the use of a drone for emergency calls.

There are two new programs we’re learning about. 

Some upcoming enhancements to traffic safety are courtesy of grant funding from the state provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and a pilot program for drones to assist first responders will begin in the next couple months.

A $35,000 grant was awarded to the Lompoc police from the office of traffic safety to increase DUI checkpoints, expand field training to officers for recognizing impairment, and enforcement operations focused on the worst of traffic behaviors.

“There’s plenty of traffic problems that the city of Lompoc has, like other cities,” says Sgt. Scott Morgan of the Lompoc Police Department community services department. “And so this grant helps us fund some of these extra positions for officers to be out there.”

The goal for increasing police presence is to reduce traffic violations and incidents resulting from them.

“We will not only have checkpoints, but we’ll also have DUI saturations where officers will be dedicated to looking for people out, driving impaired,” says Sgt. Morgan. “So, think long and hard before getting in the car when you’re inebriated.”

In addition to the traffic safety grant, a two-year pilot program for the Drones as First Responders initiative—or D.F.R.—will be getting its practical start within the next few weeks, after some strict procedural guidelines are agreed upon for protection of privacy.

“I know that people are concerned about transparency and privacy, And the policy will show that it’s for 911 calls only, and then they’ll have access to whatever the flight plan is that the drone flew on,” says Kevin Martin, Lompoc Police Chief. “They can actually see if it was us or not.”

These initiatives are expected to act as deterrents as much as providing assistance on any given scene.

“That’s going to make them less likely to drive like that when they know we’re out there on DUI saturation patrols and there’s an extra two or three officers out there,” says Sgt. Morgan. “They know and they might tell their friend, hey, don’t drive.”

The Drones As First Responder program will be thoroughly reviewed at the end of the two-year pilot phase before renewal.

Overall, these new programs are expected to streamline operations for Lompoc Police to increase public safety and reduce incidents that call for their involvement.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The new year comes with fresh energy and goals from the Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club. The club ended 2025 with a few special honors.

The group has several areas of focus including collaboration, mentorships, community outreach and help with non-profits. 

Recently at its annual gala at the MOXI, the non-profit of the year award of $5,000 was given to Mission Scholars, which assists young people on their opportunities in higher education, financial aid expertise, college mentorship, and career development training primarily to underrepresented students in South Santa Barbara County.

The funding will be going right to work.

Katie Kinsella with Mission Scholars received the honor and said “93 percent of our students are enrolled in a four-year college and over 95 percent of their cost of attendance is covered by scholarships.”  She says that puts them in position for a successful life ahead. 

“The best part is they’re returning to the community that raised them to launch meaningful careers to sustain them so they’re becoming Santa Barbara’s future work force.”

Another honoree was the Young Professional of the Year Garret Gustason.

He is the Chief Operating Officer and family partner of Furniture Gallery by Mattress Mike at the La Cumbre Plaza.

We found him talking about his work with the community and customers on this display floor surrounded by hundreds of beds, lamps, couches, and some home theatre concepts.

Gustason said, “I have been able to expand my family business between me and my father we have been here for 30 years now going from a small location to a large location here at the Sears building.”

He says the move to a much larger location was challenging, but the future is bright.

 And with this experience comes mentoring for other young professionals in their careers.    

“There’s always someone asking questions someone who wants to partner up for certain reasons or find out how we have grown so much.”

 In receiving the high honor he was credited for success and his future potential..    

Santa Barbara Young Professionals President Lauren Dulcich said, “he’s taken over a thriving business and built it to the next level, and he not only has the connections, but the leadership to thrive in Santa Barbara as a young professional.”

 The Santa Barbara Young Professionals meet monthly, and that includes hearing a presentation from  non-profit groups each time, networking, and  scheduling community outreach projects.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.  (KEYT) – The rock wall built in 2024 following storms at the Santa Barbara harbor has proven its worth by surviving the recent storms and King Tide impacts.

While the sand wall may have lost most of the battle with erosion, the rock wall protected key areas.

That includes the Yacht Club parking lot, boat yard, and businesses in the harbor area.

There is also a pathway to the U.S. Coast Guard building and adjacent parking lots.

In past storms a portion of the parking lot went into the ocean, k-rail concrete barriers were necessary to shore up the area and there were other impacts to utilities the west end of the property.

The rock revetment was approved by the California Coastal Commission.

It was originally built as an emergency response to the 2023 storms, which caused widespread damage to the protections in place and opened the door for further damage if this work was not done.

“It saved this whole area. It would have tore up  and undermined this whole parking lot again so this rock has really saved us right now,” said Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire who looked over the area Monday to see how it held up. “In the 2023 storms we built this 400 foot long rock revetment.  It was just a sand berm, it held for a decade or more.”

Five tons of rocks were brought in and then covered up with sand.  However, the recent storms have wiped the sand out revealing where the rocks were stacked and they remain a firm protection.

The Harbor Commission and Waterfront Department are also working on long rang plans to deal with the next 30 years and issues including sea level rise. The plan stretches from East Beach to Leadbetter Beach.

There will also be a Civil Engineer keeping an eye on the rock wall to see how it holds up in storms and to provide input for the study.

The Waterfront Department is an Enterprise Fund and paid for the emergency work out of its budget. The cost was $2.8 million. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief funds were requested as a reimbursement. The department received $2.2 million leaving it with local costs of $600,000 for the project.

The Coastal Commission approval will be in place until 2034.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – San Marcos girls water polo went 2-0 on the final day of the prestigious Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions to finish in fifth place.

San Marcos 9, JSerra 3: USC-bound Charlotte Raisin scored 4 goals and standout sophomore Jade Pattison added 3 goals for the Royals.

(Raisin scored 3 first half goals to give San Marcos a 4-1 lead at the break. Entenza Design).

(McKenna Stuart and the Royals defense stifled JSerra’s attack. Entenza Design).

(Harvard-bound Bethany King had 8 blocks and also played in the field for the Royals. Entenza Design).

San Marcos 14, Long Beach Wilson 8: Charlotte Raisin was an offensive force scoring 6 goals and adding 4 assists to lead the Royals to a win in this fifth place game. Shea Estabrook scored 3 goals and goalie Bethany King had 8 blocks.

(Charlotte Raisin named to All-Tournament team. Entenza Design).

Dos Pueblos 11, Beckman 10: Dev Wigo scored late to put the Chargers up 2 goals as DP held on for the win. Wigo and Talia Marshall each scored 4 goals. Goalie Reagan Mack finished with 6 blocks, 2 steals and an assist.

Corona del Mar 14, Dos Pueblos 7: Dev Wigo led the Chargers attack with 4 goals in the loss. DP finished in tenth place in the TOC.

Mater Dei 10, Oaks Christian 7: Monarchs win the championship. Sienna Sorensen named TOC MVP.

Newport Harbor 14, Orange Lutheran 11: Sailors claim third place.

Laguna 13, Santa Barbara 10:

Santa Barbara 16, Temple City 12

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Charlotte Raisin scored all 4 of her goals in the first half as San Marcos defeated San Clemente on Day 2 of the Tournament of Champions in high school girls water polo.

Later in the day the Royals lost to #1 ranked Oaks Christian 12-6.

San Marcos will play JSerra on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. at Santa Barbara High School.

Dos Pueblos went 1-1 on Friday. The Chargers lost to powerhouse Mater Dei 14-4 but they scored an impressive 8-0 shutout over Foothill later in the day. Reagan Mack had 12 saves for DP who hosts Beckman on Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Host Santa Barbara finished Friday 1-1 losing to Rancho Cucamonga 14-7 but beating Mira Costa 12-10.

Luna Morancey totaled 7 goals in the two games.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

San Marcos 73 Buena 35:

(Koji Hefner scored a team-high 16 points for the Royals who improved to 4-2 in the Channel League. Entenza Design).

(11 Royals players scored in the lopsided victory including Aidan Conlan who had 14 points. Entenza Design).

Santa Barbara 64, Ventura 37: Dons 6-0 in Channel League.

Pacifica 73, Dos Pueblos 70 (OT): Will Jones Jr. scored 26 points for the Tritons. Evan Pinsker tallied 21 points for the Chargers.

Oxnard 60, Rio Mesa 50: Mikey Duran-Morales scored 15 points for the Yellowjackets.

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Patricia Martellotti

Santa Barbara, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara, Calif. (KEYT) – After months of uncertainty, wondering if she and her child would ever have a safe home, Sophia Mendez found a new beginning through St. Vincent’s Family Strengthening Program.

“Feeling like you were born into a world where you just keep taking punches — I didn’t think I was ever going to make it or that I was smart enough,” Mendez shared.

That changed when she joined the program, which provides housing assistance, parenting classes, and financial training to help women gain independence.

Today, she’s earning her diploma and preparing to take college courses at Santa Barbara City College.

At the heart of the initiative are peer support specialists — women who’ve faced similar challenges and now mentor others on their journeys.

“When I was here, I wish I had a peer support specialist,” said Alicia Visueta, now on staff at St. Vincent’s. “When I first arrived, I didn’t think I could do it — I didn’t know how I’d find a job or child care.”

Thanks to the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, which granted $100,000 to the program, more families are getting the tools — and the encouragement — to start fresh.

Mendez gained more than just life skills. “I’ve got a job, my daughter’s in daycare, and I passed my driver’s test — and driving was my biggest fear,” she said with a smile.

Seeing moms like Mendez succeed is what makes Visueta’s work so meaningful. “The best part about my job is getting to say, ‘You can do it.’”

For Mendez, that support has done more than change her address — it’s changed her life.

Since joining the program, Mendez says she’s gained more than practical skills — she’s learned self-confidence and hope for the future.

Fueled by a $100,000 Women’s Fund grant, St. Vincent’s continues to change lives across the community, empowering women to turn struggle into strength.

For Mendez, it didn’t just change her address — it changed her life.

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