Well, that debate was a doozy for the ages.
While Americans handicap the slow-moving train wreck they wish they hadn’t seen, Noozhawk was the hands-down winner for an audience of 170,041 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading — so far as I’m aware.
Full disclosure: This is my opinion column and not a news story.
Thanks for reading.
1. Community Steps Up to Raise Funds for Owner of Collapsed Home in Santa Barbara
Months after a devastating landslide destroyed Jan Luc’s home on the Santa Barbara Riviera, community efforts to support the displaced family continue.
As our Daniel Green reported, City of Santa Barbara officials in April condemned the house at 1037 Las Alturas Road, which was built by Luc’s late husband in the 1970s.
Neighbor Jan Campbell, a former colleague of Luc’s, launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with relocation and living expenses.
“When I saw what happened to her house, I was shocked,” she told Daniel.
Campbell, who initially struggled to locate Luc after the incident, was impressed by the 80-something’s resilience and positive attitude despite the circumstances.
“For something like that to happen when you’re in your late 80s is pretty devastating, but she always had a really good sense of humor,” Campbell said.
As of June 28, the campaign has collected more than $23,000 toward its $25,000 goal.
Campbell, who experienced property damage of her own during the 2008 Tea Fire, empathizes with Luc’s situation.
The city’s principal engineer, Laura Yanez, says the affected area, including the collapsed road section, is currently stable but is being monitored.
No one was injured in the slide, and there is no word on what caused it.
Click here to make an online donation.
2. Bill Macfadyen: Montecito Beach Birthday Party Ends in Horror on Train Tracks
I have nothing new to report on the tragic death of 15-year-old Ryan Chapman, a rising Santa Barbara High School sophomore who was struck by an Amtrak train and killed June 19 while he and his buddies were walking on the railroad tracks near Montecito’s Fernald Point.
Funeral services are pending.
3. After Years of Hurdles, The Ellwood Restaurant Expected to Open in Fall at Goleta Beach
The Ellwood at Goleta Beach, a new restaurant replacing the former Beachside Bar-Café at Goleta Beach Park east of UC Santa Barbara, is set to open this fall after a long list of delays.
Approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors in 2021, the project encountered setbacks due to extensive renovations required for the circa 1930s building and damage from winter storms in 2023.
Despite the challenges, our Daniel Green reports, co-owner Omar Khashen told him that construction is progressing well, with an anticipated opening in early fall following completion of renovations and staff training.
Khashen added that there are plans to renovate the local snack shack serving beachgoers and park visitors.
Oh, and don’t be confused by a restaurant named The Ellwood, which is a couple of miles from the actual Ellwood neighborhood. Khashen says the place is named for Ellwood Cooper, one of the Goleta Valley’s early settlers.
4. Ray Ford: Los Padres Forest in the Crosshairs
Few people are more knowledgeable about Santa Barbara County’s popular and prodigious trails system than our Ray Ford. And his latest column outlining the ins, outs and tangents of the entire Hot Springs Trail controversies in Montecito is on point.
Ray was able to dig more deeply into some of the jurisdictional challenges swirling about the historic hot springs, as well as several critical issues that have not yet been widely considered.
I cannot recap with justice Ray’s analysis and I certainly can’t match his expertise and perspective, so you’re going to have to read his column for yourself. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
5. No Reopening Time Yet for Highway 154 Closure as Crews Continue Emergency Work
To the increasing frustration of road worriers on both sides of the Santa Ynez Mountains, Highway 154 remains closed after Caltrans crews discovered what the agency characterized as “a slip-out” now more than a week ago.
Our Daniel Green, Janene Scully and Rebecca Caraway have been closely following the highway hell, which centers on a stretch between San Antonio Creek and Painted Cave roads, about 1½ miles north of Cathedral Oaks Road in Santa Barbara.
As a result, Caltrans has closed the highway to through traffic between Cathedral Oaks and the Highway 246 roundabout in Santa Ynez.
Caltrans District 5 spokeswoman Genelle Padilla said crews were doing emergency construction to fix a slip-out on the southbound shoulder near San Antonio Creek Road when tension cracks appeared in the roadway on June 20.
She said crews are working in 12-hour shifts to install 30-foot stabilization dowels in the road and hillside.
“It is unknown when Highway 154 will be fully open,” Caltrans spokesman Jim Shivers said.
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Good Reads
Here are six more stories you should read:
» Downtown Santa Barbara Property Owners Agree to Assess Themselves to Pay For Services — While Santa Barbara tackles its downtown problem with all the speed of a herd of turtles, property owners have taken it upon themselves to pay for basic improvements. South County editor Josh Molina has the details.
» County Planning Commission Wants Carbon Scrubbers for Island Breeze Cannabis Farm — Staff writer Daniel Green gets a whiff of a welcome — and surprising — change in the winds that have been skunking up Carpinteria for far too long.
» Police Arrest 17-Year-Old in Santa Barbara After Weekend Shooting Left 1 Dead, 1 Injured in Santa Maria — North County editor Janene Scully is tracking a Santa Maria homicide and the 17-year-old alleged gang member arrested as a suspect.
» Summer Solstice Parade and Celebration Attracts Thousands — Josh is on hand for the 50th annual Summer Solstice Celebration, and his report includes a slide show of Fritz Olenberger’s fantastic photos of the revelry.
» Man Convicted in Investment Scam Gets 16+ Years in Prison — Editor in chief Tom Bolton wraps up the case of a craven criminal convicted in “a sprawling investment scheme” targeting the elderly.
» UCSB’s Ajay Mitchell Selected 38th Overall by Oklahoma City Thunder in 2024 NBA Draft — Sports editor Diego Sandoval begins writing the next chapter in UC Santa Barbara star Ajay Mitchell’s basketball adventures.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Building Destroyed in Santa Barbara Storage Yard Structure Fire.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Blurring the lines: Historic Palm and Pine Landmark at California’s Midpoint to be Removed in 2025.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed this past week spanned the wedding of my beautiful niece, @caseygaylord, at our family’s beloved Adirondack League Club and my #exploringbrooklyn adventures.
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Watch It
A perfect pairing: rodeo and “God Bless America.” Happy Independence Day!
