Message from the Mayor

Dear Carpinterians,

Last week Carpinteria Beach wasn’t just the World’s Safest Beach, it became the World’s Cleanest Beach! Over 100 Carpinterians came out to scour our shoreline and creeks as their part of Coastal Cleanup Day. The massive effort removed hundreds of pounds of garbage from our beaches and watersheds.

Coastal Cleanup Day kicked off Creek Week, and a robust slate of events aimed at building awareness and stewardship of nature in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria. In Carpinteria, volunteers pitched in to clear weeds, restore habitat along Carpinteria and Santa Monica creeks and take walking tours of the beautiful Carpinteria Salt Marsh Reserve.

This weekend, we have Avofest to look forward to. The big celebration of everyone’s favorite green fruit makes its return following the COVID-19 hiatus, and there is a lot of excitement about it. On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1 and 2, we expect visitors from up and down the state and beyond to pour into Carpinteria to enjoy the excellent lineup of live music, great food and shopping. Our downtown shops and restaurants will see an important infusion of visitor dollars to help them in the slower fall season. Friday night, Sept. 30, will be a “keep it local,” event with an evening of music and food designed to be enjoyed by Carpinterians.

Planning for the Carpinteria Avocado Festival and Creek Week really makes me appreciate life in Carpinteria. The pandemic canceled so many of our favorite community events, and their return has me feeling more excited than ever. It’s true that sometimes we take things for granted and don’t realize how great they are until they’re gone. Welcome back, Avofest!

Stay Well, Stay Safe, and Stay Cool!

Mayor Wade Nomura

City News & More

What to do During a Robbery: Safety Tips
Thankfully, serious crimes against persons in the City of Carpinteria are a rare occurrence.  However, a recent robbery has created concern over personal safety. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office offers the following tips, which are unrelated to the recent robbery but intended to remind the public of a few general personal safety strategies.

Tips to stay safe during a robbery:
Remain calm and think clearly. Make mental notes of the robber’s physical description and other observations important to law enforcement officers.
Be careful, most robbers are just as nervous as you are.
If you see something suspicious, call law enforcement. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, you can reach Sheriff’s Dispatch at (805) 683-2724.
Put your safety first. Your personal safety is more important than money.
Don’t talk except to answer the robber’s questions.
Don’t stare directly at the robber.
Prevent surprises; keep your hands in sight at all times.
Don’t make any sudden moves.
Leave the job of catching the robber to law enforcement.

After a robbery:
Ask any witnesses to stay until law enforcement arrives.
Call law enforcement and remain on the line.
Don’t touch anything the robber may have touched.
Write down a description of the robber, the weapon, the direction the robber left, and a description of their transportation as soon as you are able.

Sign Up for our Lifeguard Training

Are you ready to save some lives? Carpinteria Community Pool will host a lifeguard training that takes place Friday through Sunday, Nov. 4-6. Participants who successfully pass this course will be certified in pool lifeguarding and title 22. The course includes the latest in water rescues, back boarding, CPR, AED, and First Aid. This is a blended learning course which means that some course work is completed online and some is in-person training. Participants must be at least 15 years old by the start of the in-person course. The $350 course fee includes certification, pocket mask, and whistle. Register HERE.

Calling all CERTs

Members of the Carpinteria Emergency Response Team (CERT) are invited to attend a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 29 at noon outside City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave. The CERT program launched in Carpinteria over a decade ago, and has provided hundreds of residents training to respond to a variety of emergency situations. After a break brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the CERT program is being reenergized, and the meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss refresher trainings, new trainings, future plans and recruitment ideas. Program Manager Olivia Uribe-Mutal is also developing a new contact list with updated information and asks that CERT members email her at [email protected] to ensure accurate representation on the list. Anyone interested in upcoming volunteer opportunities should also contact Olivia. Volunteers from the CERT program will be needed at the Avocado Festival on Oct. 1 and 2 and at the Carpinteria Children’s Project Health Fair on Oct. 21 from 3-6 p.m.

Beaches and Creeks Left Squeaky Clean

On Sept. 17, volunteers from all over California flocked to their local beaches and waterways to participate in Coastal Cleanup Day. Santa Barbara County’s effort included a total of 1,305 volunteers who collected 6,557 pounds of trash and recycling. Within the City of Carpinteria alone, 115 volunteers removed 122 pounds of trash and 47 pounds of recyclables from the watershed. Pictured here, our Environmental Program Manager Erin Maker shows off a portion of the trash Carpinterians collected. A reminder to all: Coastal Cleanup Month continues for the rest of September. The cleanup data from neighborhood cleanups between now and the end of the month that are logged in the free Clean Swell app HERE will be included in this year's final Coastal Cleanup results.

You Are Not Alone in Grief

If you or someone you know is grieving a major loss in their life, Compassionate Care of Carpinteria is here to help. Healing the Loss of a Loved One is a discussion and support group for anyone who has experienced the death of someone they love. Dates and times have not been set, and those who are interested should reach out to organizers to stay informed of the group’s schedule. Support will be available in English and Spanish. Learn more by calling (805) 563-8820 or emailing [email protected].

We Honor Hispanic Heritage Month
The City of Carpinteria observes Hispanic Heritage Month in recognition of the many contributions Hispanics have made to our country and to promote greater awareness of the rich history and culture of the Hispanic community. Our City’s population is 46% Hispanic, and our State’s is 39% Hispanic. We encourage all members of our community to recognize the importance of social justice and fair representation of the Hispanic community in all aspects of City life.

Get Social with Carpinteria Community Library!

Since its July opening, Carpinteria Community Library has become a vibrant space buzzing with activity and welcoming of all. We have books, magazines, computers, space to read and reflect, and programs for young and old. And though we share news of our library on the City’s main social media accounts, we encourage you to visit the library’s website HERE and follow the library on Instagram (@carpcommunitylibrary) and Facebook and for even more important information, photos and program updates.

City Recognizes Suicide Prevention Month
The City of Carpinteria recognizes September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is a public health problem, and prevention is a community responsibility. Worldwide there are more deaths by suicide than homicide and war combined. Mental health experts strongly believe that suicide is preventable through awareness, education, support and treatment. At its Sept. 12 meeting, the Carpinteria City Council voted to recognize September as Suicide Prevention Month and acknowledged that efforts must be made all year long to reduce the rate of suicide. The City works collaboratively with Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Health and HopeNet of Carpinteria in their important efforts to prevent suicide.

Coming Soon

November Election: Don't Forget to Register
Californians can register to vote in the Nov. 8 General Election online through Oct. 24. After processing your registration, the Santa Barbara County Elections Office will mail a Voter Notification Card to you for your records. You should receive this card approximately 2 to 3 weeks after submitting your Voter Registration. If you miss the Oct. 24 deadline, you may visit the elections office and complete a conditional voter registration application and voter registration.

Register to Vote

Solar Energy Project RFQ Deadline
The City of Carpinteria is seeking qualified providers/developers of solar PV installations and battery energy storage systems for sites operated by the City, Carpinteria Sanitary District and Carpinteria Valley Water District. The solar energy collection and storage project aims to decrease long-term electric energy costs, provide self-contained electric power for critical facilities in the event of disaster, enhance local resiliency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Qualifications are due by Oct. 14 at 5 p.m.

Learn More

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