Author: KEYT

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Santa Maria has approved funds continue construction on the long-planned Ranch Historical House Park.

The Santa Maria City Council recently approved $1,679,426 in funding to begin Phase III of the project, which features various site improvements, including grading, utilities, hardscape features, ADA accessible ramps, parking lot improvements, electrical infrastructure, and the construction of a trash enclosure and decorative entry monument.

The project entails the complete refurbishment of the historic Smith-Enos House, as well as the construction of the brand new Japanese Community Center.

Located along South College Drive across the street from Costco and behind the Enos Ranch Center, the planned recreational facilities have been in the works for many years.

“This project has been ongoing for about 15 years,” said Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Director Alex Posada. “The original phase of the project was to bring the house down to this location and to kind of create a park around it. About five years ago, the Japanese Community Center group brought forward a proposal to help fund the community center portion, which is now the replica barn at the back of the house.”

The Japanese Community Community Center will be a 10,000 square foot event center designed to hold community events, cultural and social gatherings, as well preserve and educate both residents and visitors on the pioneering history of the Japanese in the Santa Maria Valley, particularly the contributions of the Issei, the first generation immigrants.

The Issei played a significant role in establishing the agricultural history in the Santa Maria Valley.

“We came to the valley in the early 1900s and it’s just very important to me and to the club to preserve this history,” said Japanese Community Center board member Wes Koyama. “This is part of the way we’re going to preserve our history in the Valley. We actually started in Guadalupe, but came here to Santa Maria. And, a lot of us have migrated out of the area. Our group got together and and we thought, what is the best way to preserve the history of the Santa Maria Japanese in this valley? This deal came up through the city and it was just perfect. It’s a perfect opportunity to showcase what we’ve done and what we’ve accomplished and hopefully we can preserve this history for future generations to learn about what we’ve done here.”

Once completed, the renovated 150-year-old Smith-Enos House, will also serve as a new community gathering place.

“The house itself will be more for small groups,” said Posada. “Maybe for a committee meeting of 12 or 20 or something of that nature. There will also be some exhibit room set up to try to emulate what the house looked like when it was originally built.”

With the Phase III now secured, work will soon begin on the site work, bringing completion for both projects a little closer into focus.

“Hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be seeing something completed,” Posada said about the Japanese Community Center. “The house is going to take a little bit longer. We’re going to be reaching out to the community again to help us raise the funds to get the interior completed.” 

While Phase III will complete the necessary work to open the Japanese Community Center, a future Phase IV is needed to finish the Smith-Enos House.

“The final phase of the project, we hope will be Phase IV, which will be fundraising for the interior of the house,” said Posada. “The community has been really great. We have scores of pieces of furniture that was donate that were donated for the house, and so we have plenty of furniture, but now we’re looking for the funding to complete the interior of the house. I would estimate that we’re probably looking at about a $250,000 price tag to finish the house in its interior.”

With funding for Phase IV still a ways off, an estimated time for completion and opening of the Smith-Enos House is still premature.

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John Palminteri

CARPINTERIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The City of Carpinteria is now on to it’s 61st year with some of the most challenging issues it has ever seen.

The anniversary of incorporation was September 28th. 

Tonight the State of the City address will be given at the Veterans’ Building at 5:30 p.m.

The city is taking on many big issues all at once, including an update to the General Plan.  

State mandated housing could bring new developments in many areas, including to the east of City Hall where the Tee Time golf facility is located and also in the foothills off Bailard Ave.

The community is still watching the progress of the proposed Surfliner Hotel project at the train station, which has had a vigorous community debate in its early stages. An environmental review is currently underay.

There is also a lawsuit over noise from the Island Brewing Company that is targeting the business and the City.

Also, questions are being raised about the amount of tourism and other vital forms of income are necessary for the city’s budget. Currently the leading source of income is sales tax.

At the same time, the new Linden Square food and retail area has opened on Linden Ave. where a vacant hardware store stood for years.

There is also a remodel planned for the landmark Palms restaurant building that will keep its facade and make other changes for a food and boutique hotel concept.

Anne Potts is a frequent visitor. She said, “we were walking from our motor home and asked a couple of people who live here and they recommended this (Linden Square) and the food was delicious.” Her husband Tom who drives them in at the wheel of a 38-foot motor home says, “No major parking fees and they invite the town in and it’s always a great place”

Linden Square is a concept resident Carl Braid says is working. “The overall feel of the community where multiple businesses are in small spaces,  shared spaces, I kind of like that concept, seems to be working well elsewhere.”

Looking ahead, former resident Kat Gondeck who comes in from Ventura said, “I don’t really know  exactly what is planned but so far what I see is gorgeous I love it. It’s still small.”

One of the newer regulars is Nanette Giordano who would like to tell city leaders, “don’t stop. I’m loving it! I love the downtown area it’s great! I never used to come to Carpinteria for lunch and now I am here every day.”

There are many residents worried about the loss of the iconic coastal mellow vibe. Gondeck said, “absolutely  not build it out too much.   Keep it small and just community feeling. It is a beach town and that’s what I like about it.”

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – For some, the last hours of life can be the loneliest.

“People who don’t have anybody either they’ve aged out of all their family and friends and there’s no one left to sit with them,” said volunteer Nancy McConnell of Hospice of Santa Barbara.

Volunteers in Santa Barbara are changing that.

The No One Dies Alone program trains people to sit with patients who have no family or friends nearby.

“If I can bring some compassionate caring, love and peace to people that are in one of their most times of their lives that feels like I’ve done some service to the world,” said McConnell.

They visit assisted living and memory care homes offering comfort, holding hands, or simply sitting quietly.

“There is so responsive when I suggest that this support is available to the family. I just make a call and they are here on the same day. That’s so reassuring to the families,” said community services director Luciana Mitzkun Weston of Villa Alamar.

NODA volunteers serve exclusively in assisted living and memory care facilities.

“It’s incredibly beneficial to have NODA volunteers, not only for the families for the residence and the patients themselves, but also for the staff of the facilities,” said volunteer services manager Elske Free Bernt of Hospice of Santa Barbara.

The program just renewed a partnership with Hospice of Santa Barbara.Organizers want to expand and reach more patients.

“Nobody knows about this. It’s very rare. They’re like wow this exists so if more people could take advantage of this program,” said McConnell.

Every hand held — every quiet presence — reminds someone they matter.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum hosted the ‘Girls In Ocean Science’ Conference over the weekend.

Orgianizers hope event inspires girls to study ocean science.

High school-aged girls got to go on board the Shearwater to explore the coast on Sunday, where they learned about the careers of biologists and crew members.

During their time off the coast between Santa Barbara and Goleta they participated in science labs.

They also saw dolphins.

Ann Steinmetz of the Steinmetz Foundation helps fund the event. She said the teens searched for sand crabs before their boat ride.

“They went out to the beach, took off their shoes, rolled up their pants, and they collected crabs. Oh, sand crabs. But the point of that was, ‘how can we assess the beach?’ And one of the ways to assess the beach is what animals are there,” said Steinmetz. “It’s really important that young people want to do this, want to get involved with it.”

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Education Director Lis Perry enjoys watching them learn and grow.

“For us, creating a pathway for these students to have a connection to explore these careers, I think, is what I find most important for the community and these students that get to participate,” said Perry.

Younger students took part in the program on Saturday.

The experience is connected to the Ocean Institute in Dana Point.

For. more information visit https://sbmm.org/girls-in-ocean-science-conference/

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Caleb Nguyen

LOS ALAMOS, Calif. (KEYT) – A woman and child needed transport to Marian Regional Medical Center after a rollover crash just after 6:00 p.m. Saturday on Highway 101 in Los Alamos, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

The crash occurred just north of Alisos Canyon, where the car left the highway, rolled into a culvert along a barbed wire fence, according to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

Both people in the car, including the 4-year-old without a car seat, had minor injuries from the crash, according to the SBCFD.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and Highway 101 remains open, according to the SBCFD.

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Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a 24-year-old Santa Maria man for firing gunshots just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

SLOCSO deputies located the suspect’s car near the 400 block of Indian Knob Road and found both a gun and shell casings after the detained 24-year-old didn’t cooperate.

SLOCSO deputies then booked and arrested the 24-year-old for resisting or delaying a peace officer, carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm in public.

SLOCSO deputies secured the area and reported no injuries from the incident nor any threat to public safety.

The case remains under investigation, according to the SLOCSO.

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Caleb Nguyen

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – Oxnard Police arrested a 25-year-old man for multiple firearm offenses at a traffic stop in Oxnard around 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

OPD officers found ammunition in the man’s car during the stop and searched the vehicle.

OPD officers later found a loaded gun inside the car and arrested the man for the multiple aforementioned charges.

Those with additional information on the case or other crimes are encouraged to call the OPD or visit its website.

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Caleb Nguyen

ATASCADERO, Calif. (KEYT) – A motorcyclist died in a car crash Saturday just before 7:30 p.m. near the 8300 block of El Camino Real in Atascadero, according to the Atascadero Police Department.

The motorcyclist suffered fatal injuries from the crash. Four other people from the car involved in the crash received medical treatment from Twin Cities Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to the APD.

The roadway was closed for some time for further investigation into the crash, according to the APD.

Witnesses to the crash or those with information on the incident are encouraged to contact the APD.

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Tracy Lehr

PORT HUENEME, Calif.(KEYT) The Port of Hueneme went bananas during its annual Banana Festival.

The Oxnard High School Marching band and local Folklorico dancers led the way into the 12th Banana Festival.

Admission is always free.

One man entered with a banana peel on his head, others wore banana inspired outfits.

Once inside the port, visitors had a chance to take pictures with the Chiquita Banana Lady.

Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte had booths where they gave out bananas to eat on the spot or take home.

Shannon Denham handed out bananas for Dole.

They are fun they are nutritious kids love them, everyone loves a banana,” said Denham.

Banana lovers also dined on all kinds of banana treats including smoothies, banana bread and chips.

It is the one day of the year when people can visit the Port of Hueneme where Dole, Chiquita and Del Monte bananas are imported along with and Driscroll’s blueberries.

Cars are also big part of the import business at the port.

The festival included a car show outside and inside.

One of the electric cars on display had a box of bananas under the hood, instead of an engine.

People lined up early to take a double-decker bus to the docks where they could see the cargo ships and the equipment used to move containers.

Ken Asarch was one of the first in line to take the tour.

“The tours are really great and they are hard to get, so, you have to be here early to get the tour,” said Asarch.

Longtime Port of Hueneme Director and CEO Kristin Decas hopes people learned more about the port during the festival.

“We move $2.8 billion in economic impact , $18 billion in cargo, we employ 25,000 in trade related jobs, so we hope people walk away knowing that their port creates prosperity,” said Decas.

The port shares the property with Naval Base Ventura County.

It is the only deep water port between Los Angeles and the Bay Area and plays a vital role in the economy of the Central Coast.

For more information visit https://www.PortofH.org and https://bananaportfest.com

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Tracy Lehr

LOS OLIVOS, Calif. (KEYT) – A bride is looking for her stolen wedding dress.

Bryce Gaston, a wedding planner from San Diego, had her dream wedding on the weekend made famous by the Earth, Wind & Fire song “September.”

Gaston and her husband chose to tie the knot in the Santa Ynez Valley location, and after they enjoyed what she calls a “Mini Moon” at Matteis Tavern in Los Olivos.

They enjoyed the 21st night of September at the Tavern, and were packed up and ready to go when they noticed their car window had been broken.

Someone had stolen items left in the car overnight including her size 8 wedding dress made by Essense of Austrailia and veil, her husband’s tuxedo, her reception dress, and size 7 Latte Nappa leather platform Jimmy Choo sandals.

The shoes alone are valued at $995.

“I can’t explain how heartbreaking this has been, I am so grateful to have had an amazing wedding but it is just really tragic that it ended in such a horrible and painful way as a wedding planner. I dedicate my whole life to creating unforgettable memories for my couples and I fully understand how sentimental and special those items are that will help you remember the weekend for the rest of your life, so to have this happen to me is just really terrible,” said Gaston.

Gaston said she usually doesn’t leave valuables in her car.

“It was the first time and a really harsh lesson that even though you think you are in a really safe place not everyone can be trusted and you really have to do everything you can to keep yourself safe,” said Gaston.

She has a message for the person who has them.

“I would just beg you to please allow me to have these item back. They are so much more to me than just the monetary value they are so sentimental and I will never be able to replace them and I really am sorry if there is something going on in your life that is so terrible that would make you do this to somebody else, but these items mean so much to me and it would mean the world to be to get them back,” said Gaston.

Wedding photos shared on @brycegaston.events and serve as a reminder of what went right.

Gaston hopes someone who saw something will say something in hopes of getting their belongings back.

She can be reached via direct message on Instagram @brycegaston.events

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