The World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers began defending their 2025 title on March 26 with an 8-2 pasting of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Dodger Nation expects nothing less than a three-peat, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
Every day, Noozhawk defends our title as Santa Barbara County’s No. 1 source for local news and information, and this week was no different.
According to our WordPress analytics, we had an audience of 145,406 readers over the past seven days.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading during that period, as tracked by our Google analytics.
This is my opinion column, not a news story. Although if you really want a piece of my mind, I’ve dropped that mic in my Instagram feed this time. Maybe I’ll explore that more in my next Best of Bill commentary.
1. Santa Barbara Family Facing Double Cancer Battle Shares Devastating Loss
Nearly four years ago, our Ann Pieramici reported on Alicia and Cesar Canto’s grim double cancer battle as the Santa Barbara couple raised their three children.
Unfortunately, Ann had to add a heartbreaking chapter after Cesar Canto died March 13 at age 39.
Cesar, who suffered from a rare cancer called olfactory neuroblastoma, initially went into remission after multiple surgeries and radiation.
The cancer later metastasized, leaving the former UC Santa Barbara employee unable to walk and ultimately requiring hospice care earlier this year.
Alicia, now 38, remains in remission from stage-3 breast cancer but her treatment is ongoing.
The couple first drew community attention in April 2022 when both were undergoing cancer treatment, coordinating their chemotherapy sessions so one parent could remain home with their children.
Cesar is survived by his wife and their children: Evony, a college student in New York; Selena, a student at Santa Barbara City College and mother of a year-old son; and Josh, who attends San Marcos High School.
A GoFundMe campaign established to assist the family with medical and living expenses had raised nearly $28,000 as of March 27. Click here to make an online donation.
2. Sheriff’s Deputies Search for Assault Suspect in Goleta Neighborhood
A reported assault in Goleta’s El Encanto Heights neighborhood triggered a large law enforcement search the night of March 25, although a suspect was never found.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick said the 7:30 p.m. incident prompted a multiagency response north of Calle Real, between Baler Lane and San Rossano Drive, west of Glen Annie Road.
Deputies initially focused on the 7-Eleven shopping center at 7390 Calle Real, which includes the Home Plate Grill from last week’s Best of Bill column.
The search later shifted to a nearby house in the 7400 block of San Blanco Drive that was believed to be connected to the reported suspect.
A sheriff’s Air Support Unit helicopter was requested but could not assist due to foggy conditions, Zick said.
Authorities did not release a description of the suspect and residents were not asked to shelter in place.
As of 10:30 p.m., the search had been discontinued with no arrests reported.
3. 18 People Evacuated After Gas Leak in Santa Barbara
An audible gas leak from a broken pipe prompted a small neighborhood evacuation on Santa Barbara’s Westside the morning of March 21.
As our Evelyn Spence reported, Santa Barbara fire Battalion Chief Jon Turner said emergency crews responded around 9:13 a.m. to the 500 block of West Sola Street after reports of a high-pitched gas leak.
As a precaution, he added, 18 people were evacuated from 11 nearby residential units on the block, between San Pascual Street and the railroad tracks along Highway 101.
Fire personnel worked to determine whether the leak originated at a meter or in the street, and requested assistance from Southern California Gas Co.
Our Peter Hartmann reported that officials suspect a work crew broke the line, which was repaired by Gas Co. personnel.
There were no injuries in the incident.
4. Storybook Moody Cottage Is For Sale in Montecito
One of Santa Barbara’s historic storybook-style Moody Cottages — a rare surviving example of early 20th-century architecture — has hit the market in Montecito.
As our Evelyn Spence reported, the Moody Sisters cottage at 1086 Coast Village Road is listed for $3.95 million through Radius Commercial Real Estate.
Built in 1932 and designed by architect Harriet Moody as an artist’s studio for her sister, Mildred, the building later evolved into a tea room, an antique store and, most recently, office space.
The cottage is part of a collection of 35 whimsical English Vernacular-style homes created by the Moody sisters in Santa Barbara and Montecito. About 20 remain today.
The Coast Village Road property, Harriet Moody’s first project, was designated a City of Santa Barbara historic landmark in 2001. It features classic elements of the style, including a steeply pitched roof, stucco walls and distinctive interior details.
Listing agent Mike Chenoweth said the goal is to find a new owner who will appreciate and preserve the property’s unique place in local history.
HT to my friend, architect Bill Babbitt, owner of another Moody Sisters cottage and an amateur Moody Sisters historian, for tipping us off.
5. BizHawk: Luxury Storage, Social Lounge Coming to Old Telephone Building
A new business combining high-end storage and a private social space is under construction at one of the more distinctive buildings in downtown Santa Barbara.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, Canon Vaults is located in the former General Telephone Co. building at 101 W. Canon Perdido.
Founder Jason Jewell said the company will provide air-conditioned storage units, safety deposit boxes, and wine and art storage, along with a members-only lounge. The facility expects to open in May.
Storage options will range from $100 for small boxes to $6,000 for large premium units. Customers also can apply for membership in the “101 Society,” which provides access to a 1,400-square-foot lounge featuring art, music, wine tasting and meeting space.
Jewell said the concept blends secure storage with a social environment for collectors and community members.
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Good Reads
Don’t overlook these six stories:
» Chick-fil-A Proposed for Calle Real Hits Roadblock Over Air Quality Concerns — Staff writer Daniel Green idles at the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission as the air quality of a drive-through line is up for debate.
» David Baskett Changes Plea to Guilty in Forklift Vehicular-Manslaughter Case — North County editor Janene Scully has the latest on the criminal case against Santa Maria Joint Union High School District trustee David Baskett, who is accused of vehicular manslaughter in the 2024 collision that killed 39-year-old Tiffany Ann Peterson of Orcutt.
» 2 Neighboring Projects Bring Housing to Goleta Valley — Staff writer Pricila Flores checks in on two new apartment projects in the Goleta Valley.
» Diving Into Lotusland’s Water Security Project — South County editor Evelyn Spence reports that Lotusland is making a splash with its new 1 million-gallon underground reservoir.
» Solvang Council Gets First Look at Parks and Recreation Master Plan — Staff writer Nick Forselles is keeping tabs on an ambitious plan to expand and upgrade Solvang’s recreation offerings.
» ‘How Low Can You Go?’ The Shifting Guidelines for Blood Pressure Control — KFF Health News’ Paula Span has a new take on blood pressure.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Santa Barbara Housing Authority Stops Issuing New Section 8 Vouchers.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
“No Kings,” huh? California Lawmakers in Charge of Top-Secret Capitol Annex Project Break Transparency Promise, Refuse to Release Key Documents.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
First I went to Omaha and then I took a walk on State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. Nebraska was far more pleasant. It’s all in my Instagram feed.
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Watch It
Check out this slab fest in French Polynesia. HT to Best of Bill reader Ryan Kelly.
