Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – The 2025 NatureTrack Film Festival (NTFF) is showcasing about 25 films including a special session for students in Goleta.

The festival began Thursday night at the Riviera Theatre in Santa Barbara. The two-day event has world-class films that celebrate nature and outdoor adventure. Friday’s films were at the Camino Real Cinemas.

In addition to Goleta there will also be films in Los Olivos and more plans to move throughout the West Coast to bring the films to more communities.

National and international filmmakers are taking part.

All proceeds from NTFF support NatureTrack and inspire respectful stewardship of our natural world. The films are meant to inspire, educate, and connect people with nature.

Three theaters were in use Friday, in collaboration with Metropolitan Theatres, for 5th graders in the Goleta Union School district.

Jack Hanson from Mountain View School said, “me and my family. Like, converted a bus into an RV. We go on trips, like Oregon, Washington.  We are going to try to go to, northern Canada.”

Abby Pickens with NatureTrack said, “Nature track is all about fostering a lifelong fascination with nature. And we’re doing that through film today .”

Part of the outreach for the students is to be inspired by both the images and the thought of being closer to nature.

Hanson said, “I don’t really play video games, so, like, I do active stuff every day. I go outside.”

Sue Eisaguirre, NatureTrack Executive Director, said, “There’s something about seeing it on a huge screen in a theater and having that sound, that Dolby sound.”

Looking at the movies on the big screen with kids, Pickens said, “we get them excited about using their senses and nature and then they just open up and start exploring. A little bit shy at first, but by the end of the day, they’re exploring on their own and observing things that I’m not even pointing out.”

The festival has set up an area where many film makers are on hand to talk about their experiences and how they captured these images with nature.

Eisaguirre said, “so we’re reaching more people, different people. And they’re seeing these incredible nature films that motivate them to get out and do something or to just explore for the first time.”

Year round NatureTrack leads field trips with K though 12 students  and offers the Freedom Trax all terrain mobility device so everyone can have access to trails and beaches.

 “I think if we can expose people to as much nature and like getting people to create a relationship with, Mother Earth, I think that’s what we should all be striving for,” said Pickens.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) The third annual Panteón Fest filled Heritage Square.

People of all ages attended the festival in Oxnard.

It is a celebration of Dia de los Muertos.

Families worked on their altars throughout the plaza in Oxnard to celebrate loved ones they miss.

One of the most popular altars included a classic Ford.

Erika Martin Del Campo of Santa Barbara emceed the event.

“The third annual festival magical and so special it is a representation of the Latino culture, Pipiripau has been putting this on for the third year and it really is just celebrating the Latino culture the Hispanic culture and it is such a wonderful highlight that brings out entire community together,” said Martin Del Campo.

The program included a DJ spinning records, dancing, mariachi and a Catrin and Catrina contest.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Jerry Day filled Chase Palm Park on Saturday.

The park served as the Great Meadow as bands celebrated the music of the late Jerry Garcia.

Bands included No Simple Highway, Ladyfinger and Random Animals.

Some fans recall seeing Garcia perform at local Grateful Dead shows in the ’70s.

Heads All Happy Hour hosted the free show that went until sunset.

There was a silent auction as well.

Money raised will benefit the Grateful Guitars Foundation and Jams Music School.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. – A single trailer caught fire and set one acre of vegetation ablaze at Parkhill Road in Santa Margarita just after 8:00 p.m. Saturday, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

The single travel trailer became fully engulfed in flames but caused no other injuries or damage, thanks to forward progress stopping at one acre, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

Crews stopped the incident from escalating further, and the cause is under investigation, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Police Department officers arrested a 47-year-old gang member for gun and narcotic possession just before 10:00 p.m. Friday.

SMPD officers conducted a traffic stop at Carlotti and Seeward Avenue when they found outstanding warrants for the 47-year-old man’s arrest.

SMPD officers then found 16 grams of fentanyl, 2.5 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded gun in the man’s car.

SMPD officers then booked the man into the Santa Barbara North County Jail on multiple weapons and narcotics-related charges.

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Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A dog died from a house fire at the 4700 block of Sand Canyon in Somis just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The VCFD, alongside the Oxnard Fire Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, noticed smoke coming from the single-story home Sunday afternoon.

Crews then rescued two unconscious dogs trapped inside the home after an initial attack on the fire, according to the VCFD.

Crews then successfully revived one of those dogs, but the other sadly passed away from its injuries, according to the VCFD.

The VCFD reported no other civilian or firefighter injuries after finding nobody home during the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Mike Klan

PROVO, Utah. (KEYT).- The Santa Barbara Soccer Club U13 Girls Academy Aspire team is bringing back a championship trophy from Utah.

They capture first place in the Super Group at the West Regional and automatically qualify for Nationals in June.

(courtesy photo)

Santa Barbara went 4-0 and outscored their opponents 10-2.

“The trajectory of the talent we are seeing in our girls program here at SBSC is immense,” said SBSC board president Sheralyn Bates. “For this team to capture the West Regionals in their first year in the GA Aspire League is a testament to the level of talent, commitment and development we are seeing in our girls program at SBSC.”

(courtesy photo)

The Santa Barbara Soccer Club Girls Academy Aspire team consists of: Hayden Anderson, Grace Callanan, Aubrey Chenoweth, Banksia Cunningham, Alexandria Dahl, Mia Forkalsrud, Mia Greene, Hennessy Hernandez, Selma Jenkins, Victoria Juarez, Mila Kjensrud, Austyn Martinez, Alexa Ofner, Camilla Oh, Gabriella Oh, Isla Ramirez. Head coach is Lloyd Biggs and team manager is Roger Kjensrud.

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Mike Klan

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT). – Braesen Leon threw two touchdown passes to lead Ventura to a 31-14 win at Allan Hancock College.

Ventura is ranked #3 in the state as they improved to 6-0 on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 3-3.

Former St. Bonaventure High School star Koen Glover rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown while Sincere Cohen added a rushing touchdown in a dominant first half for the Pirates.

Leon led the Pirates on a touchdown drive in their opening drive of the game. He passed for 53 of his 136 yards on the first drive and capped it off with a 24-yard strike to Silas Kemp, a Thousand Oaks High School graduate.

Ventura added another touchdown in the first quarter to lead 14-0. Malik Bates intercepted a pass and the Pirates turned the turnover into points as Glover scored from 1-yard out.

Hancock cut the deficit in half on a one-yard touchdown run by Kyle Williams early in the second quarter.

But Ventura controlled the rest of the half as they quickly answered the Bulldogs score just a two minutes later.

Sincere Cohen scored on a touchdown run from 3-yards out to put Ventura in front 21-7.

Brasen threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Newbury Park High School alum Ryan Gillum midway through the second quarter and another Newbury Park graduate Bodie Ing added a 24-yard field goal with under a minute left to give Ventura a commanding 31-7 halftime lead.

Eljah Little scored late in the third quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run for Hancock to finish off the scoring.

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Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif.-Dredging equipment has returned to the Channel Islands Harbor

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers project is usually done every other year, but last year permitting issues delayed the work from being completed.

The H.R. Morris dredge is back.

It will be removing sand at the mouth of the harbor to help boats go in and out and it will send sand through a pipeline to the beach impacted by erosion in Port Hueneme.

It should be complete early next year.

Sea lions are also in the area of the dredging equipment.

Isn’t easy keeping them off anything.

It is becoming a problem in an area where new dock construction is underway.

Crews have posted all kinds of things including poles and colorful tape to keep them away.

It hasn’t stopped them from sunning on the news docks near the mouth of the harbor.

They have also been seem hanging out on the beach by the lifeguard tower on Silver Strand.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A powerful storm fueled by remnants of Typhoon Halong is targeting California this week, bringing the threat of flooding, mudslides, and power outages.

Santa Barbara-based Direct Relief is preparing emergency medical supplies and coordinating with local partners ahead of the storm.

The non-profit says early action is vital to protect people who rely on life-saving medications and equipment.

Direct Relief has also strengthened disaster response through its statewide Search and Rescue Fund, supporting volunteer teams ready to deploy.

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