It’s a bittersweet time for me — and not just because the lethargic, defending champion Los Angeles Fraudgers are on the verge of losing the 2025 World Series.
The real reason is that we at Noozhawk are saying goodbye to Kim Clark, our business development vice president for the past 12 years and, with editor in chief Tom Bolton, one of my business partners.
Kim and her husband, Woodie, are moving to Tennessee, marking the end of a remarkable era.
She’s been a close friend and kindred spirit dating back to when she, Tom and I worked together at Santa Barbara’s old daily newspaper, long before Noozhawk took flight.
When I brought on Tom and Kim as my partners back in 2012 and 2013, respectively, Noozhawk was barely 5 years old and running on pure startup chaos.
Tom quickly reorganized the newsroom, while Kim transformed our sales and marketing — professionalizing our pitch, refining our process, and building a foundation that’s powered our growth and sustainability ever since.
Kim’s leadership and talent for developing people have been invaluable. She hit a home run with Sheridan Taphorn, who started with us as a news intern and ultimately became our top sales representative, taking on more and more responsibilities.
As I recently announced, Sheridan has been promoted to sales and marketing director, with Claudia Delgado joining her as manager. Kim’s legacy will carry forward in their capable hands.
Although she’ll be half-a-continent away, Kim will stay involved on a few special projects that deserve her focus and creativity.
Tom and I are forever grateful to have had Kim as a partner in our surprisingly steady “three-legged stool” of ownership. We’ve weathered plenty of ups and downs, but we’ve always moved Noozhawk forward together.
The words feel so inadequate to say, Kim, but … thank you. For your friendship, your leadership and your heart. You’ve helped make Noozhawk what it is today.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk had an audience of 149,388 readers this past week.
What follows is my recap of the Top Five most-read stories over that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
Full disclosure: This is my opinion column, not a news story.
1. Man Fatally Shot by Deputies Identified as New Details Emerge from Stabbing at Goleta Valley Ralphs
Authorities say the stabbing suspect fatally shot by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies inside a Goleta-area grocery store last week “charged toward” law enforcement with a knife in each hand after barricading himself in a restroom.
As our Giana Magnoli reported Oct. 29, the suspect — identified as 34-year-old Abdou Rahman Nyan of Connecticut — was killed Oct. 20 after deputies responded to reports of a stabbing at 5170 Hollister Ave.
The altercation allegedly began when Nyan abused the victim’s dog in the Magnolia Shopping Center parking lot outside the store.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick said Nyan stabbed the victim twice, then fled into the Ralphs market and barricaded himself in the public restroom.
After evacuating customers and employees, deputies dragged store display racks in front of the door “in an effort to contain” Nyan and attempted to negotiate his surrender, Zick said.
“Moments later,” she said, “Nyan suddenly opened the door, pushed through the barricade, and charged toward the deputies clutching a metal trashcan as a barrier while holding a knife in each hand.”
Positioned less than 10 feet away in the narrow alcove, deputies issued verbal commands. One deputy deployed a Taser while Sgt. Eric Delgadillo and Deputy Anthony Muneton fired six rounds.
Deputies immediately secured both knives and began lifesaving measures, but Nyan was pronounced dead at the scene.
The stabbing victim — whose identity has not been disclosed — was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, treated for his wounds and released.
His dog was unharmed, authorities said.
There were no other injuries in the incident.
Both deputies were placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. The case will be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
Not much is known about Nyan, although he reportedly was a U.S. Army veteran and native of Gambia.
My column, “Bill Macfadyen: Dog Abuse Dispute May Have Triggered Assault That Ended in Fatal Officers-Involved Shooting,” actually was the third most-read story of the week.
Rebecca Caraway’s follow-up reports — “2 Sheriff’s Deputies on Leave After Fatally Shooting Stabbing Suspect in Goleta Valley Ralphs” and “Shoppers, Bystanders React After Fatal Shooting of Suspect at Ralphs” — were in the Top 8.
2. Several Trees Illegally Chopped Down at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta
A mystery lumberjack illegally felled several mature trees at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta, leaving behind stumps, branches and trunks near a popular lookout spot.
As our Josh Molina reported, the City of Goleta posted four signs warning that cutting trees is prohibited after discovering the chainsaw massacre at the community park, home to eucalyptus and oak trees frequented by families, walkers and birdwatchers.
The motive is not known.
“This is a crime,” said Mark Simonitsch, who visits the park several times a week. “Those aren’t their trees.”
My friend, Scott Craig, an amateur birder, called the damage “shocking, breathtaking and heartbreaking.”
City Councilwoman Luz Reyes-Martín condemned the vandalism, saying it “harms the environment but also undermines the community pride we take in preserving our open spaces.”
Steve Senesac, who manages 22 bird boxes at the lake for the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, was discouraged by the destruction.
“When they are taking down trees that are maybe 50 to 100 years old, that’s terrible,” he said.
The city is taking steps to ensure proper regrowth and urges park users to report vandalism.
3. The Rack Family-Friendly Pool Hall Opens at Site of Former Don Q
A new family-friendly pool hall has opened in downtown Santa Barbara, filling the void left when longtime institution Don Q closed in August.
As our Daniel Green reported, The Rack owners Meagan Soloff, Jon Bruenning and Evan Henderson aim to transform the traditional pool hall concept into a community gathering space at 1128 Chapala St.
“Our tagline is ‘The Rack, A pool hall for all,’” Soloff said. “I want children in here. I want students.
“It doesn’t have to be a dingy, dark environment. It can be updated, it can be bright, and it can be a little bit feminine.”
Since signing the lease in September, the trio cleaned and painted walls, replaced balls and cues, and redid felt on tables before opening in early October.
They installed a digital jukebox and are working to obtain a liquor license for beer service.
The Rack plans to host tournaments with the Billiards Congress of America and American Poolplayers Association, plus women’s and doubles events. Pro players have offered lessons for beginners.
Open from noon to 1 a.m. daily, The Rack promises consistency that Don Q lacked in its final years, when hours became unpredictable.
4. BizHawk: Brownstein Law Firm Returns Home to State Street
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has moved into a 17,000-square-foot downtown Santa Barbara office at 1020 State St.
Actually, the law firm has moved back into the office it had vacated several years ago, when it packed up everything and carted it across the back parking lot to former Santa Barbara Bank & Trust quarters at 1021 Anacapa St.
As our Josh Molina reported, the symbolic story is Brownstein’s return to the midblock building that had been the longtime home of its local predecessor, the venerable Hatch & Parent law firm, with which it had merged in 2007.
“A return to 1020 State St. is more than a move; it is a homecoming for us,” shareholder and Santa Barbara managing partner Amy Steinfeld said.
Brownstein, a 250-attorney national law and lobbying firm with 40 lawyers and employees in its Santa Barbara office, specializes locally in land use and water law issues.
Among its area housing development clients are the Giorgi, Richards Ranch, Shelby and Solomon Hills projects.
The firm is also involved in Cuyama Valley groundwater basin adjudication and solar and battery storage projects statewide.
“We are so excited to be able to support local businesses down here and be a part of the conversation about the future of State Street,” Steinfeld said.
I salute her optimism, as if the City of Santa Barbara’s latest out-of-town State Street consultant will listen to a large State Street employer with land use experience.
5. The Stories Behind Some of Santa Barbara County’s Haunted Locations
From the historic Lobero Theatre in downtown Santa Barbara to Solvang’s sleepy streets and Summerland’s Big Yellow House, Santa Barbara County’s past still lingers — sometimes audibly.
Lobero executive director Marianne Clark told our Rebecca Caraway and Pricila Flores that she was a ghost-story skeptic until she heard heavy boxes rolling across the stage above her when she was in the empty theater’s basement.
Others swear they’ve seen top-hatted ghosts, smelled phantom cigarettes or felt unseen hands brush their arms or legs.
Wes Leslie, founder of The Haunt, which leads “paranormal investigation” tours, says Hornsyld House in Solvang is a known host of spirit activity.
Reported sightings, he said, include “a figure of a woman … staring out from the top-floor window.”
“People would report hearing someone stomping around upstairs when there should have been nobody in there, seeing a pair of feet through the crack underneath the door,” he added.
Whether you’re a believer or a doubter, these stories — from ghost tour guides, lifelong locals and startled visitors — reveal a hauntingly human side of local history.
Check out Pricila and Rebecca’s reporting and discover why some say Santa Barbara is the “City of Friendly Ghosts” — and decide for yourself whether the spirits of the South Coast still have stories to tell.
And if you have a ghost story of your own to share, email news@noozhawk.com.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories:
» Investigators Serve More Warrants in Search for Missing Lompoc Valley Girl — North County editor Janene Scully continues to track down leads in the mysterious disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.
» Halloween Spirit Comes Alive at Santa Barbara Homes — Not spooked by what she discovered in her haunted places story in the Top 5, staff ghost writer Pricila Flores follows up with a little scaremongering — perhaps even in your neighborhood.
» Sansum Clinic Changing to Sutter Health Patient Portal, Electronic Record System — Executive editor Giana Magnoli has the latest changes for Sansum Clinic patients as they make the transition to Sutter Health.
» Goleta Releases Environmental Impact Report for Sandpiper Golf Course Renovation — Pricila tees up a report that will more than likely trap Sandpiper Golf Club’s planned renovations in red tape.
» Man, 72, Driving Route 66 in 1953 Chevy to Raise Funds for Disaster Relief — South County editor Josh Molina catches up with Don Crost, who’s getting his kicks on Route 66 in a cross-country fundraiser for Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox.
» Marcia Heller: The Mighty Oak vs. The Pesky Oak Moth — Copy editor and accidental entomologist Marcia Heller learns that Santa Barbara’s oak moth invasion isn’t what it seems.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Locals Demand Crackdown on Street Food Vendors.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Dec. 11 — The Channel City Club has asked me to emcee its Christmas brunch at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. I’m honored to be recruited, all the more so because I’m following the giant footsteps of my close friend, the late Erin Graffy.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
The Palisades Fire narrative finally begins to unravel: Video Shows Palisades Fire May Have Smoldered for Days Before Deadly Blaze.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed was a grand birthday roundup this past week.
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Watch It
Quiet AND cool.
