Dear Carpinterians,

It was great seeing Halloween festivities back in all their glory after some quiet years during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Downtown Trick or Treating, Art Center exhibit and party, Dia de los Muertos events throughout the city, the C-DOG costume and tricks contest, the Alcazar Theater showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and the pumpkin carving contest at Island Brewing Company were all outstanding events, not to mention the comical and scary costumes that came out. I hope everyone had a good time.

I’m sure you all noticed the demolition that’s taken place over the last few weeks on the 700 block of Linden Avenue. The removal of a portion of the building’s façade treated us all to a view of the old Omweg’s Hardware signs, which took some of us back down memory lane. Some parts of the buildings will be left intact to be repurposed into the new two-story structure designed to house a collection of restaurants and shops around a central courtyard.

Along with this, we now have a revitalized downtown merchants’ board, which fell on hard times during the pandemic. We appointed four new individuals to our Downtown T Business Advisory Board at our last City Council meeting. This board makes decisions for how to use funds generated through downtown business assessments to improve our downtown. In the past, the board helped to fund programs like First Fridays and Snow Day Saturday. I can’t wait to see what ideas this re-energized group will implement in the coming months.

Carpinteria is a town of doers. We have a vision of what we want and opinions on how to make it happen. We express ourselves and we act in support of our principles and our ideas. The Nov. 8 General Election is underway, and ballots have been mailed to registered voters at their home address. 

You can drop them off at the Carpinteria City Hall or Casa de las Flores ballot drop off stations. I have witnessed the passion we all have for our city, and I admire it. Even though we may have differing opinions for what is best for Carpinteria, I respect everyone who does their research and votes. I look forward to becoming united again after the election.

Stay Well and Stay Safe,

Mayor Wade Nomura

Council Commends David Griggs for 36 Years of Service

At its Oct. 24 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council awarded David Griggs mayoral recognition for his long service as the Director/Curator of the Carpinteria Valley Historical Society and Museum. Griggs recently retired after serving in the role for 36 years. Under his stewardship, the Historical Society and Museum provided educational opportunities to thousands of school children and adults, operated its popular Museum Marketplace, and became a self-sufficient and self-sustaining organization. The Council commended Griggs on his industrious efforts in making the museum a valuable repository of the community's cultural history for future generations to explore. Griggs thanked the City Council and noted, “It’s a blessing to go to work and love what you do every day.”

Planning Commission to Review Palms Hotel Proposal

The Carpinteria Planning Commission will hold a conceptual review for a Palms Hotel proposal at its next regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. A prospective buyer for the Palms building at 701 Linden Ave. has proposed a change of use from a restaurant, office, and five residential apartments to a 17-room hotel and attached bar/café.
The City will provide both in-person and virtual attendance and participation options for the meeting. Details for how to participate and numerous ways for the public to provide comments can be found in the agenda HERE.

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