Wildfire Preparedness Meeting for the Community, — And Other News Bytes
MF Chief David Neels has announced the Wildfire Preparedness Meeting with local public safety partners on Thursday, June 26, at 6 pm at Montecito Union School. The MFD with the Montecito Water District, Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, neighboring fire agencies, and local community organizations will discuss how your public safety agencies collaborate before, during and after emergencies. Event is free and attendance is encouraged. Light refreshments served.
Court Halts Restart of Controversial Central Coast Oil Pipeline
A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order blocking the State Fire Marshal from approving the restart of a failed oil pipeline that ruptured in 2015, causing one of California’s worst coastal oil spills. The order comes in response to a lawsuit by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), which alleges that the state bypassed required environmental reviews and public input.
The pipeline, now under the control of Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp., is part of a broader attempt to revive aging ExxonMobil infrastructure, including offshore platforms and processing facilities along the Gaviota Coast. The EDC and allies argue that waiving pipeline safety standards – particularly corrosion protections – poses serious risks to the environment and public safety.
A follow-up hearing is scheduled for July 18 to consider a preliminary injunction. This is the second legal block against the restart in two weeks, signaling growing judicial concern over the state’s approval process.
Santa Barbara Visual Artists at Paseo Nuevo
The Santa Barbara Visual Artists will be hosting a two-month exhibition from June 1 through July 31 at their 707 Paseo Nuevo location. There will be Artist Receptions from 5-7 pm for June and July’s 1st Thursday and 3rd Friday (6/05, 6/20, 7/03, 7/18).
SBVA consists of active Santa Barbara artists who are celebrated for their exceptional artwork, encompassing various mediums and artistic styles across a broad spectrum, including abstract, landscape, seascape, portrait, still life, and photographic compositions.
Partial list of exhibiting artists: Jan Baker, Cheryl Barber, Frank DiMarco, Stan Evenson, Tricia Evenson, Mary Freericks, Louise Gerber, Kip Glover, Marilyn Harrison, Helena Seyffert Hill, Kent Karnofski, Carissa Luminess, Kerry Methner, Dee Faia Parkins, Soheyle Valleie, Judith Villa, Felice Willat, and Rich Wilkie.
Head Librarian Jody Thomas Announced Retirement
The local librarian of the decade, Jody Thomas, announced her retirement from the Carpinteria Branch Library effective June 2. Thomas took the pen in her own hands to write about it for the local Carp paper. Her opening paragraph reads, “In January 2022, I was hired to transition the Carpinteria Branch Library into an independent municipal library to serve the residents of Carpinteria Valley. Although I had never been a library director, I had supervised the Montecito Library for six years, been responsible for the adult education and programming at the Santa Barbara Public Library for many years, and managed grants and programs all over California while working at the California State Library. But my favorite and best part of the job was the day-to-day interaction with people.”
Thomas was brought on board to design and update the Carpinteria Community Library at a time when it was teetering on the brink of oblivion. To say she saved the library in three years is an understatement. Her unwavering commitment was necessary to its continuance, and inspired all who worked with her on staff and contributing community partners.
Her vision was to move the library into the next millennium with computers, updated software for inhouse staff and borrowers; the hiring of skilled librarians; and creation of a user-friendly website to research and reserve books, set up a user account, and more. She made the CCL a part of the Black Gold inter-library system, thus adding even more resources for system borrowers. Today’s CCL digital borrowing options include Enki eBooks, Hoopla Digital, OverDrive eBooks/audioBooks and Luna Digital Collections, and OverDrive Magazines. She added Zip Books, a way for people to request to buy a book not in the system. And there is a free NY Times membership and a code of ethics. The Little Library That Could is now a thriving place to hang out, play chess, engage your reading skills from preschool through seniors, build your resume using their computers, and take part in its many regular monthly groups – like songwriting, for instance. You can even be part of a book club.
The Friends of the Carpinteria Library write, “After years of passionate service and unwavering dedication, our beloved city librarian, Jody Thomas, is turning the page to a well-earned retirement. We toast the woman who has inspired generations through the power of books, learning, and community.”
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