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For 24 hours, I chased the dark, sweeping storm clouds across the Carrizo Plain National Monument, not knowing what would transpire. However, I knew I had to go to know.

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Once you have planned how your garden is to be used, the next most important step is to tackle what you should plant. 

Let’s face it, the media – local and national – have discovered our little slice of paradise. The word is out. Carpinteria, and its sleepy little beach town vibe, has become a destination. And we all know that mere words don’t do justice to our beach with its beautiful sunsets, scenic tide p…

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Regarding the two CVN opinion letters last week that spoke to Carpinteria culture, sound levels and lifestyle expectations of certain Carpinteria neighborhoods, the Marcussen household is happy to provide clarification, context, fact and our opinion to this dialogue.

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Suppose a task is important, but nearly impossible. You’ll almost certainly never accomplish it, but it would be great if you did. Would you try?

A reader sends a halo to The Food Liaison for providing a great meal for the less fortunate in our great community. “The Food Liaison has been a regular for our lunches for several years.”

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Last month (CVN Vol. 30, No. 27) I discussed the definition of resiliency, noting that it differs from – though is often confused with – post-traumatic growth (PTG). 

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Life is about balance. The word balance has two definitions, and both are important to consider as you age. 

In response to the ongoing letters and public comments regarding noise levels affecting the beach neighborhood, particularly the music from Island Brewing Company (IBC), I would like to add my two cents. When I purchased my property in the beach neighborhood in 1998, I was already aware of t…

Thanks again to the Carpinteria City Council for doing the right thing in keeping live music alive and well in Carpinteria.

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Please attend this Architectural Review Board meeting on April 11 at Carpinteria City Hall, at 5:30 p.m. Developers want to build 159 units on 8.6 acres. Very, very high density! Don’t let the state or city destroy Carpinteria. 

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I loved seeing the photos of the Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP) “All in For Carp Kids” event in the CVN (CVN Vol. 30, No. 27). Thank you. CCP doesn’t get enough attention for offering the community a high-quality, inclusive preschool. It brings children together from every walk of life…

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Editor’s Note: A copy of the Superintendent’s Report is run in print as a service for parents, students and community members who cannot attend Carpinteria Unified School District’s Board of Trustees meetings. This report was read aloud during the school board’s April 9 meeting.

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Carpinteria has my whole heart. The sun is shining, and the softest sea breeze is blowing. Lucky Llama got my iced coffee just right – oh, the simple joys. I feel immense gratitude for this beautiful city we call home. 

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A young guy who transports shaped blanks and finished surfboards back and forth between our shop at 500 Maple Ave. in Carpinteria and the fiberglass shop in Costa Mesa stopped in with a delivery the other week and we got to talking. He related a harrowing tale from last October, when he’d la…

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New buildings are approved long before the first bulldozer shows up. Even more impactful, land use zoning decisions are often made years before any particular development is even conceived.

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We appreciate Ms. Blue’s frustration (CVN Vol. 30, No. 28) with city hall’s responsiveness to residents’ complaints. Ms. Blue asks important questions that speak to the city’s priorities moving forward in this current, complicated, post-Covid-19, (affordable) housing-strapped environment.

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At a special meeting, the city council approved the redevelopment project of the Suncoast Rentals property by a vote of 4-0. Actually, the meeting wasn’t even necessary as it was predetermined that it would be approved because of state laws that required it to be passed. 

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High school is the opportunity to step out of that middle school haze and level up your skills in preparation for the real world and college. While sports are a fantastic way to develop character, fitness and grit, in honor of Theater in Our Schools Month, I want to spotlight an often-overlo…

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We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who signed our petition, attended or spoke at the March 25 Carpinteria City Council meeting in support of live music in Carpinteria. The many stories from long-standing members of our community of how music has historically been a ce…

A reader sends a halo to Mr. Chendo with the city of Carpinteria’s Public Works Department for running the street sweeper in front of the reader’s house to clean up the street curb area filled with storm debris remnants.

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Imagine indulging in a creamy scoop of ice cream or a slice of pizza only to find yourself in discomfort hours later. If this hits close to home, you might be part of the significant chunk of the population that’s lactose intolerant. It’s like your body throwing a mini protest against dairy,…

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It’s nothing new, but the fact that women continue to shatter records and break barriers in sports over the past decade is awe-inspiring. 

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One of my favorite quotes is from the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh: “I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.” If he was still alive, Van Gogh would turn 171 years old on Saturday, March 30. Alas, he committed suicide at age 37, just a few years shy of the ave…

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I have to think (and I am echoing the sentiments of many of my fellow players) that it’s high time that the city of Carpinteria support our rapidly growing community of pickleball players by constructing permanent (hopefully lighted) pickleball courts here in Carpinteria. Let’s get it done!

City Hall’s responsiveness to noise complaints is curiously selective. Is economic status the difference? Old Town Carpinteria is the third most expensive neighborhood in the United States (CVN, Vol. 30 No. 20), and a few of its resident’s complaints about live music led to swift action to a…

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Election primaries are over, the final count in weeks after the vote. Once again, the animosity, the undercurrents, surfaced that exist within the political classes in District 1, southern Santa Barbara County.

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How sad I am that the Coastland store is closing.

The smartphone app Next Spaceflight can provide many technical details about scheduled and past rocket launches anywhere in the world. Filters can also be applied to select only specific agencies and specific launch locations, for example, the Vandenberg Space Force Base. In addition, the ap…

A reader sends a halo to Jena at the library. “Baby meetup is the highlight of my son’s week and Jena always puts on a great program for the little ones in town!”

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Does a fresh season awaken your desire for an updated wardrobe? Lighten the impact on your bank account and the planet by thinking twice before shopping brand new. Jana Smirnova, owner of Twice As Nice consignment at 957 Maple Ave., shared the ins and outs of her business (and life beyond) w…

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I’ve always known them to be tiny, but when one was sitting on top of my right foot, I couldn’t ask for a better perspective.

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Planning your garden is an important step in getting the best garden for you and your family. Every time I meet a new client, I assess how they would use their garden and that is the first step in any design I do. 

The commendable actions of the Carpinteria City Council in opposing divergent development plans reflect a deep commitment to Carpinteria’s core values. The united effort to challenge the Planning Commission’s endorsement of a multi-use project on Carpinteria Avenue, alongside Brad Stein’s co…

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In Part 1 of this two-part series of articles, I discuss resiliency, including five pillars and seven components of resilient individuals. I briefly discuss research on how it can influence/affect our mental and physical health. Resilience is a trait that enables us to navigate life’s challe…

We all love Carpinteria because it is a small, friendly, caring and family-oriented beach town. Many tourists come here for the same reasons. 

There is a basic, fundamental noise condition written into the city of Carpinteria’s entertainment license application: “Licensee shall not permit the noise level of the attendees or entertainment to reach a level that is offensive or disturbing to the surrounding neighborhood, residences, m…

The Carpinteria City Council deserves a huge vote of thanks for taking a strong stand against development that is not consistent with our city’s General Plan. I am referring to their unanimous vote to repeal the Planning Commission’s approval of the multi-use project on Carpinteria Avenue. 

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I know that many of you are as worried and dismayed as I am, at the number of developers and speculators who are knocking at Carpinteria’s door.

A reader sends a halo to Steve and Beto at Rosebro Garage for always helping the reader with their cars and always being so honest, “especially after my husband passed away 17 years ago and I had to do everything myself. I am so grateful for them. Thank you so much.”

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Close your eyes for a moment and think about someone who has positively impacted your life. Who comes to mind? Why is that person important? How did they make you feel?

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Resilience is the ability to successfully adapt to challenging life experiences. A person with great resilience can withstand or recover more quickly from difficulties. 

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Failed epics can be boring. They also have a unique way of disappointing, of letting you down, particularly if the source material is near and dear to your heart. So, attempted epics like “Dune” are a risk – not just financially, but cinematically too. A lot’s riding on this one.

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[Editor’s Note: A copy of the Superintendent’s Report is run in print as a service for parents, students and community members who cannot attend Carpinteria Unified School District’s Board of Trustees meetings. This report was read aloud during the school board’s March 12 meeting.]

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A reader sends a halo to Carmen at Albertsons for cheerfully and professionally helping a customer with a digital coupon. “Carmen made sure that I got the deal I came in for.”

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