MOVE-ment on E-Bike Safety and More News Bytes
MOVE Santa Barbara County will bring its E-Bike Safety Presentation Series to Montecito Union School on January 30, educating students on safe riding practices, traffic laws, and shared responsibility on local roads. The presentations, part of MOVE’s education and encouragement program, will reach fourth- and sixth-grade classes throughout the day. Designed to build awareness as e-bike use increases, the sessions focus on safety, decision-making, and respect for pedestrians and drivers alike. Organizers said the effort reflects a broader commitment to promoting safer, more connected transportation throughout the community.
Black History Month Starts
Darrell and Sally McNeill’s SB Black Culture House invites community to join in celebrating Black History Month. The first opportunity is a film screening with post-viewing Q&A of the film, Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll (1987) directed by SBHS alum Taylor Hackford, on Sunday, February 1, 1 pm, SBDT Library. Event is free.
411: Instagram @sbblackculturehouse
Santa Ynez Trail Superbowl Hike
The Montecito Trails Foundation and Backpacking Barista host a Superbowl Hike of the Santa Ynez Trail on February 8, 8 am – 12 pm. All hike volunteers will have craft coffee during the hike, and everyone has a chance for a Superbowl square giveaway run by the Los Padres National Forest (LPNF). Everyone can enter the square online with a $20 donation to win one of four prizes. All proceeds go directly to much-needed revamp of the LPNF public info website, www.HikeLosPadres.com, which provides updated info on water availability, GPS, camp and trail conditions, and intel on planning any public adventure in the LPNF. The website was launched 2013 and sorely needs to be updated!
In other big news, majestic Highway 1 through the Big Sur Coast has reopened after three years of closure following the January 2023 storms.
411: https://lpforest.org
Lifeguard Tryouts for Carp Beach & Pool
It’s open call for lifeguards at Carpinteria Beach and public swimming pool. Tryouts start February 7 through March 7. The beach tryouts consist of a 500-yard continuous swim, and the pool requires a 300-yard continuous swim. Interviews are online. The lifeguard coordinator role is for experienced lifeguards to mentor and supervise the City of Carp Aquatics Division.
411: https://carpinteriaca.gov/become-a-lifeguard
www.governmentjobs.com/careers/carpinteriaca
EIR Draft Meeting on Surfliner Inn
The issues around the construction of Carpinteria’s Surfliner Inn continue. The draft EIR is available for public review prior to the slated public EIR meeting to be held on Wednesday, February 18, 5:30pm at Carpinteria City Hall. If it’s anything like the public meeting that gathered for the Carp bluffs development, we can expect a huge crowd in person and online, with questions taking up most of the evening hours. The public may comment on the draft EIR through March 9 at 5 pm. The report is available in hard copy at City Hall, 5775 Carpinteria Ave., and the Carpinteria Community Library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave. It is also available online:
411: https://tinyurl.com/CarpSurflinerMeet
Women’s Fund SB Announces Historic Grants
The Women’s Fund SB Board Chair Carolyn Jabs announced that this spring the Women’s Fund will invite local nonprofit agencies with innovative ideas, and budgets of less than $500,000 for grants of $10K or $25K. This is the organization’s first foray into funding smaller initiatives. Jabs announced her 15-member board as follows, Lauren Trujillo serving as vice chair, Megan Stichter as treasurer, and Kerry Parker as corporate secretary, new member Janis Salin joins continuing members Katya Armistead, Roberta Collier, Jamie Dufek, Yonie Harris, Kathy Hollis, Lynn Karlson, Margie Larkin, Linda Putnam, Suzi Schomer, and Laurie Tumbler.
Summerland Citizens Association’s New Board
The new SCA board members following an all-member vote in December 2025 are President Jack Azar, Vice President Peter Stockmann, Secretary Jed Hirsch, Treasurer Eric Panofsky, and Director at Large Doretta Bonner. Its 2026 priorities are engaging with community members and business owners and strengthening the group’s collaboration with Santa Barbara County officials.
Reminder: Celebration of Life for Great Horned Owl Max
Max, the beloved Great Horned Owl, has passed away; he was 27 human years old. Max served as an Eyes in the Sky Avian Ambassador for the SB Museum of Natural History. A celebration of him will take place on Saturday, February 7, 3-5 pm, at the museum’s Fleischmann Auditorium. Max remained in captivity his whole life, as he had fallen from his nest at an early age and was “imprinted with humans” – thus putting his life in the wild at risk. Adopted by the museum, Max fostered orphaned Great Horned Owl chicks, helping them return to the wild, and played as well a key role in the museum’s education programs.
411: https://tinyurl.com/SBMNHGreatMax
Nominations for Women of the Year
The office of Congressman Salud Carbajal announced it is taking recommendations for Women of the Year in his district, in honor of Women’s History Month. Online submissions to include name, background, work done, paid or volunteer, and how the proposed nominee has made a meaningful difference in the community.
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