Even after the darkest seasons, something brighter can emerge. Happy Easter!
Noozhawk had an audience of 142,976 readers over the last week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my recap of the Top 5 stories you were reading during that span, as tracked by our Google analytics.
As a reminder, this is my opinion column, not a news story. Thank you for reading on.
1. 3 Arrested After Fight During Concert at Earl Warren Showgrounds
A daylong concert at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara ended on a sour note March 29 with a “mass casualty” incident that sent six people to the hospital and three people to jail.
As our Daniel Green and Janene Scully reported, Santa Barbara police, firefighters and a fleet of American Medical Response ambulances converged on the venue at 3400 Calle Real around 7 p.m.
Videos from witnesses posted online show multiple men fighting and concertgoers attempting to intervene before security staff break up the altercation.
Another video and our Peter Hartmann’s photos show one man being led away in handcuffs.
Authorities said three people were injured in the melee and transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment, while three others were taken to the hospital for unrelated minor medical issues.
Multiple ambulances were dispatched to handle the load but, in this instance, perhaps an actual “bus” might have been more efficient.
A California Highway Patrol official confirmed that three people were arrested but could not confirm the identities, charges or other details.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department logs show two men were arrested at the showgrounds on March 29 for disorderly conduct because of alcohol.
The incident occurred during a concert reportedly featuring Los Caimanes de Sinaloa, Los Inquietos Del Norte and Rancho El Aguaje.
Later that evening, crews were also called to the area for a reported vehicle crash.
2. Buellton Rejects Plan to Relocate Part of Pea Soup Andersen’s Building Ahead of Demolition
Demolition of the former Pea Soup Andersen’s building in Buellton is moving forward, although city officials must first complete a historic mitigation process before the landmark can be removed.
As our Nick Forselles reported, a demolition permit has been filed for the property at 376 Avenue of Flags, but the city is still determining how to address the loss of the historic structure.
Pea Soup Andersen’s closed in January 2024 just shy of its 100th anniversary.
At a recent City Council meeting, officials rejected a proposal to relocate part of the building to a nearby Avenue of the Flags median, citing feasibility concerns and conflicts with design plans.
“It would never pass any kind of inspection and couldn’t be built back to state standards,” Councilman John Sanchez added.
City Manager Scott Wolfe said the priority is ensuring public safety by removing the aging structure.
The timeline for demolition remains uncertain, pending environmental review and a historical resources report, which could take several months to complete.
3. Disturbance Call, Police Pursuit End in Crash, Arrest in Santa Barbara
An alleged domestic disturbance escalated into a police pursuit that ended with a crash on Highway 101 in Santa Barbara on March 28.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Santa Barbara police responded around noon to a domestic disturbance call in the 100 block of North Salinas Street on the Lower Eastside.
Lt. Nathan Beltran said the suspect was gone when police arrived but he later returned, drove recklessly and threatened officers before fleeing.
Officers briefly pursued him in the densely populated neighborhood but ended the chase for safety reasons.
The suspect was later spotted by California Highway Patrol officers, who initiated a second pursuit through Santa Barbara and onto northbound Highway 101.
The chase ended when the suspect crashed his Dodge pickup truck near the Hope Avenue exit ramp. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The man’s identity was not disclosed, nor were the circumstances of the domestic disturbance call.
4. ‘No Kings’ Protests Against Donald Trump Draw Large Crowds
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Santa Barbara and several hundred more in Santa Maria on March 28 for the latest coordinated “No Kings” protests held across the country.
As reported by our Daniel Green in Santa Barbara, a large crowd filled Alameda Park for the rally organized by Indivisible Santa Barbara.
Speakers unloaded on President Donald Trump, immigration enforcement, housing affordability, national politics and the war in Iran before the group marched en masse through downtown to De la Guerra Plaza.
City Councilwoman Wendy Santamaria was a featured speaker.
“When those in power choose politics over people, we have to say this plainly: There are no kings in the United States,” she declared.
As one example of resistance, Santamaria touted the City’s Council’s recent approval of a temporary rent freeze while the council majority crafts a permanent rent “stabilization” ordinance.
She encouraged the crowd to attend the April 7 council meeting to support their efforts.
All politics is not local for these demonstrators, however. The actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of two protesters there, motivated 73-year-old Judy Daniel, who said she’s also worried about voting rights and election outcomes.
“This is how we guarantee our elections,” Daniel said. “This is how we guarantee that we get a voice.”
As reported by our Nick Forselles in Santa Maria, protesters there assembled outside the North County courthouse in a rally organized by Indivisible Santa Maria. Attendees waved flags, held signs and staffed informational booths.
For demonstrator Tony Bessermin, the message was simple.
“People need to see that it is a good thing to resist,” he said. “Resistance is not futile.”
5. DA Files DUI Charges Against Montecito Man in Hit-Run Crash That Injured 4
A 51-year-old Montecito man has been charged with driving under the influence and hit-and-run after a March 27 crash that injured four people in downtown Santa Barbara.
As our Daniel Green reported, Santa Barbara police Cmdr. Charlie Katsapis said Ryan Andrew Hill was driving a Dodge pickup truck west on East Cota Street at 9:45 p.m. when he slammed into the back of two vehicles that were stopped at a red light at the State Street intersection.
One driver was taken by an American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with minor injuries. Three other people were treated at the scene.
Prosecutors allege Hill ran off on foot but was chased by a Joe’s Café employee and detained a block away in the first block Ortega Street.
According to the complaint filed by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, Hill caused injuries to four victims and was driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08%.
The complaint also includes enhancements for multiple victims and a prior DUI conviction within 10 years.
Hill pleaded not guilty at an April 1 Superior Court appearance and is being held in County Jail without bail.
A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for April 7.
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Good Reads
Here are six other stories that are worth your while:
» Three of Santa Barbara’s Centenarians Share Their Stories — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway goes reeling in the years with a delightful joint interview of Wood Glen Senior Living residents and centenarians Owen Aylesworth, Jean McDermott Ferguson and Ernestine Toma.
» Santa Barbara Considers Turning Waterfront Parking Into Overnight RV Lot — Rebecca has the details of a drive to allow overnight RV parking at the Santa Barbara waterfront.
» Artemis II Blasts off Carrying Cal Poly Graduate to Orbit the Moon — Kaytlyn Leslie, a staff writer for one of our additive partners, the San Luis Obispo Tribune, is following Cal Poly graduate and NASA astronaut Victor Glover on his moonshot.
» Dos Pueblos High School Looks to Take Its Press Box to Next Level — Staff writer Pricila Flores stops by Dos Pueblos High School, where plans are building for a press box at Scott O’Leary Stadium.
» Allan Hancock Rodeo Spurs Big Weekend of College Competition — It’s rodeo time, Santa Barbara County, and staff writer Nick Forselles rides along with me at the Allan Hancock College rodeo team’s second annual Jim Glines Memorial College Rodeo at the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo grounds. I couldn’t be happier.
» SoCal Women’s Pro Flag Football League Pauses Plans as NFL Announces New League — It was fun while it lasted but sports editor Diego Sandoval reports that the NFL has horned in on plans for a professional flag football league that was committed to putting a team in Santa Barbara.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Driver Hospitalized After SUV Slams Into Westside Duplex in Santa Barbara.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Who says cat memes are a waste of time? You may run into a Wall Street Journal paywall, though: The College Student — and His Cat Meme — Who Hunted the World’s Biggest Cyberweapon.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed goes to @montecitofire Chief David Neels’ retirement lunch, the aforementioned Jim Glines Memorial College Rodeo and my blue heaven, Dodger Stadium.
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Watch It
Let there be light.
