Noozhawk columnist Dan McCaslin did not do his homework before stating that the new bench and signpost on the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail were “illegal” in his June 21 column, “Bench, Signpost Unwelcome Additions to Rattlesnake Canyon Trail.”
And it was wrong for him to applaud the vandal who dismantled the bench and took the materials.
Noozhawk readers should know:
- The bench and signpost were installed by an Eagle Scout candidate, at the request of the Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, on city park property. Our Eagle and his volunteers contributed 140 hours for this improvement and related trail maintenance, and raised money to purchase the materials.
- Every Eagle project involves a thorough approval process, so that it is properly permitted and legally approved.
- In our Troop 26, 131 Eagle Scouts have built projects since 1960. These include wildlife conservation work and public property improvements of all kinds. We are only one of several local scout troops, so the overall benefit to our community is much greater.
- Each Eagle project helps Scouts learn leadership and project skills that will help them contribute as future community leaders.
When you enjoy our beautiful mountain trails, please consider the hours of service performed by Scouts and other volunteers to make your experience possible.
Mike Schley
Troop 26 scoutmaster
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I was dismayed by the lack of fact checking done for Dan McCaslin’s June 21 column, “Bench, Signpost Unwelcome Additions to Rattlesnake Canyon Trail,” and by the lackluster correction that he offered in his July 2 follow-up, “More About Rattlesnake Canyon Trail Bench and Signpost Saga.”
If McCaslin had contacted the Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, the organization responsible for the trail, he would have easily discovered that this bench was a legal, approved Eagle Scout project completed by a local teenager and rising high school senior who worked a part-time job to pay for the wood and supplies.
While there was no signage near the bench, brush in the area was trimmed and a path to the bench was cleared. It was obvious this was an organized project and not a group of stealth bench builders.
On the day of installation, many hikers commented on how they would enjoy the bench on future hikes, and some even sat on the bench while the Scout troop was packing up, taking in the view.
The bench was illegally vandalized, and this illegal act was celebrated by McCaslin without any actual journalism. I do hope that Noozhawk staff can embrace journalistic integrity in the future as our community relies on this news outlet for accurate reporting.
Perhaps an article should have been written about how an illegal act of vandalism destroyed a community service project completed by a group of local teenagers that was to be enjoyed by thousands of hikers over the coming decades.
Brenda Dentinger
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the July 16 article, “Looking Back at the Origins of Old Spanish Days Fiesta,” I grew up in Santa Barbara, moved to Seattle for school and work, and always said I’d come back.
I moved back full time this year, and committed to fully experiencing Fiesta. Joined the Fiesta Society, bought costumes, and have already attended wonderful events at the Carriage & Western Art Museum and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, with lots more to come.
The story and pictures about the history of Fiesta sheds great new light on this wonderful tradition, making out experience for the 100th anniversary even better. Keep up the good work.
Viva la Fiesta! Viva el Centenario!
Kirk Greene
Santa Barbara
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Regarding David Hybert’s July 12 letter to the editor in which he asked why a roundabout is necessary at the Cabrillo Boulevard-Los Patos Way intersection, here is my response:
Currently at certain times of the day, and especially during summer weekends, there is a long line of cars as far back as the Santa Barbara Zoo heading east on Cabrillo toward Montecito and Coast Village Road, trying to avoid the backup on Highway 101 heading south at the entrance ramps at Garden and Milpas streets.
As part of the Highway 101 construction project, a proposed new southbound entrance ramp will be constructed near the railroad bridge, which will be replaced to make room for the new on-ramp.
The new roundabout should make it safer and faster for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians to proceed to their destinations.
Gary Colman
Santa Barbara
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The Goleta City Council on July 16 accepted a donation from the Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club of 21 decorative holiday lights.
These “shooting star” lights will be attached to most of the city light poles located in Old Town for the months of November and December.
The manufacturing of these lights was funded by the Lions Club and a very generous donation from the Goleta Valley Community Center board of directors.
This endeavor was undertaken to enhance Old Town streets, especially on the day of the Dec. 7 Goleta Holiday Parade.
Ed Holdren
Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club
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I begin with a genuine and heartfelt appreciation of each and every firefighter. Seemingly endless waiting, performing mundane tasks, only to shift into high gear and literally walk into fire.
My observations are perhaps simplistic, but I’ve lived in both Northern and Southern California and witnessed very similar patterns.
When a wildfire first breaks out, it seems precious time is wasted in determining which fire fighting operation takes “lead” command, followed by staging, followed by equipment arrival of other organizations, etc.
Only when the fire grows untenable, do they call in the water-filled helicopters and airplanes dropping fire retardant. Why not seek that remedy as early as possible?
The Lake Fire almost looks like a competition between the U.S. Forest Service, CalFire and local agencies as to who is in charge, thus delaying the response time and allowing it to continue to grow.
Are there conflicting “philosophies” of forest management and firefighting? Is response only hastened when “structures” and inhabitants are involved? What about the increasing dangers to fire crews, wildlife, air quality and loss of our forests?
I’d rather dump a tanker on the first wisp of smoke than wait while they seem to decide whose plan of approach is best as the acreage grows.
Loretta Redd
Santa Barbara
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Many thanks to Robert Taylor for his July 17 commentary, “Wildfires Another Costly Result of Fossil Fuels,” and his thorough and clear-eyed assessment of California fires.
The overwhelming evidence of the climate connection Taylor shared leaves only the question: what must we do now?
Of course, we must fight the fires, which is getting harder and more costly to do, as they are growing in number and intensity.
These deadly dominoes are known: increasing carbon emissions lead to increasing average temperatures (so say every science academy in the world), which leads to drying forests, which leads to more flammable forests, etc.
The losses in health from smoke, in habitat, in structures and in adaptation are astronomical. Altogether, losses from fossil fuels are beyond $800 billion a year.
Too few politicians firmly say, “Enough!” to Big Carbon. Much can be done by Congress, though.
Permitting would grease the wheels of thousands of renewable projects ready to go. The “Prove It Act” would reward industries cutting emissions. A cash-back pollution fine would pay citizens to “go green” with the dividends from the fines, etc. And with the “Inflation Reduction Act,” America would “walk the talk” made in the Paris Agreement.
What kind of world should we leave for our children? Vote like a livable planet depends on it.
Jan Freed
Los Angeles
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Regarding Wayne Mellinger’s July 12 commentary, “Charting the Chicano Journey in Santa Barbara,” I grew up on a lemon orchard in Goleta during the “bracero” program.
The program started as a government wartime effort to bring agricultural workers from Mexico for farm labor because so many American men had been drafted into the armed services.
One of the unintended consequences of the program was to give these Mexican workers contacts in the agricultural community of the United States. These contacts made it easier for these workers to find jobs in agriculture in the United States after they were no longer with the government program and made their way back to the United Stats from Mexico.
The way Mellinger uses the word “bracero” is a bit of a broad stroke to make unfortunate practices by some agricultural employers the standard of all farmers.
Rollie Cavaletto
Nipomo
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I don’t understand what Noozhawk is trying to achieve with these Wayne Mellinger commentaries that imply some kind of a historical expertise.
His “Chicano Journey” article is just a Wikipedia chronology of random tidbits with only vague or incomplete accounts of actual people and events. I found his previous articles on Chumash “history” just as tedious.
Noozhawk readers would be better served if actual historians were addressing topics you wish to cover, instead of a “social justice educator” with a Ph.D. Please don’t insult us.
Mickey Hernández
Santa Barbara
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Regarding Frank Sanitate’s July 16 commentary, “Education Reform Should Address ‘Things That Bug Me’,” I don’t know where he’s been but his long list of things that “bug me” are already pervasive in today’s world of education. Most of it is just propaganda.
Betsy Morgan
Santa Barbara
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