Noticing that my criticism of our beloved Los Angeles Dodgers appears to have turned around the early season bumbling, my friend, Scott Craig, asked me to “continue to speak ill of the Dodgers. It’s good luck!”

OK, Scott, this one’s for you: Bring back the white piping on the gray road uniforms!

That’s pretty much my only complaint after four-straight series wins. Now let’s get a fifth this weekend.

This past week, Noozhawk had an audience of 90,699 readers, according to our Google Analytics. What follows is my own take on your Top 5 most-read stories for the period.

And, just so you know, this is my opinion column, not a news story.

1. BizHawk: Calle Real Center in Goleta to Get Massive Makeover with Open Spaces, Entertainment Areas

After decades of a white stucco, Mediterranean-style motif, the Calle Real Center in Goleta is going in a new direction.

As our Josh Molina was first to report, The Towbes Group, the center’s owner, wants to create “an upscale and fresh customer experience” with a “modern structure that creates an iconic landmark.”

The marketing makeover for the half-mile-long center — which straddles its namesake street at 5652-5783 Calle Real and 5677-5787 Calle Real — includes new wood façades, new signage and increased connectivity between the two sides.

But plans also include newly created open spaces for outdoor dining, games, recreation and nighttime activities.

Much of that space would border the old Massage Envy and Outback Steakhouse spaces on the mountain side of Calle Real, eliminating the driveway and parking in the middle.

In another flourish, a grove of mature olive trees would be planted as a tribute to Ellwood Cooper, a 19th-century rancher known as America’s “olive oil king” and whose first name is synonymous throughout the Goleta Valley.

TGI took its plans to the city’s Design Review Board for a concept review, and board members seemed to be on board.

“What a concept to remove parking and create public spaces,” board member Dennis Whelan said. “You are to be commended.”

His colleague, Cecilia Brown, agreed.

“I think it’s going to be really great when you get to the end,” she said. “People are going to go, ‘Oh my God, what’s happening to our shopping center?’ But they will see the result.

“It will be a very positive addition to the community.”

2. Santa Barbara Housing Project Prevails Amid Courtroom-Like Drama at City Hall

In a dramatic Santa Barbara City Council showdown, high-powered attorney Barry Cappello appealed the approval of a new housing project with no parking for residents.

The market-rate project at 425 Santa Barbara St., across from Smart & Final, is a 19-unit, four-story building proposed by equally high-powered developer Ed St. George.

As our Josh Molina reported, Cappello represents the owner of a neighboring commercial property.

In his May 4 appearance before the council, Cappello objected to the lack of parking spaces, asserting that the “precedent-setting” decision would lead to canyons between tall buildings and no parking throughout the city.

Perhaps inadvertently saying the quiet part out loud about our utopian fossil-free future, he called the notion that apartment dwellers would not own cars “a joke.”

“Are we kidding ourselves?” he asked. “Is that pure sophistry? They all are going to ride bikes and walk? Please.”

Representing St. George was Jarrett Gorin, principal of Vanguard Planning, who said the project is proposed in a near-downtown neighborhood that already is highly developed.

It’s not some “pastoral suburban area,” he added.

Under California’s aggressive new state laws, developers have been given a green light to build high-density housing with no parking if public transit access is nearby.

In the end, the council shot down Cappello on a 5-1 vote.

Mayor Randy Rowse and Council members Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez and Mike Jordan voted to reject the appeal, with Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon in dissent. Councilwoman Meagan Harmon was absent.

Jordan was dismissive of the car concerns.

“If you are looking at a place that has no parking, and you want to have a car, you won’t select that place to live,” he said.

“And if you are going to select that place to live, you’ll go look for a place to lease for a car on a private lot or in a city parking structure.”

Right.

3. Isla Vista Property Owner Sues Poppin App Over Deltopia Parties

The owner of two Isla Vista apartment buildings has filed a lawsuit against a party app and organizer over a bash held last month as part of the annual, unsanctioned Deltopia street bacchanal.

The event led to claims of overcrowding, unsafe behavior, negligence and unfair competition.

As our Giana Magnoli reported in a Noozhawk exclusive, the complaint alleges that the Poppin app and Red Jooce Project promoted and organized the party at the plaintiff’s property, at 6613 and 6619 Del Playa Drive, without permission of the owner.

The lawsuit was filed by attorney Paul Burns in Santa Barbara County Superior Court on behalf of the property owner, Oceanside Investments LP, which is associated with Santa Barbara Property Group.

According to the suit, Poppin sold $35 tickets in advance of the party during Deltopia, which drew thousands of college students and others the weekend of April 7-9.

The complaint says minors and others consumed alcohol and drugs, engaged in reckless behavior, and caused injury to themselves and others.

It also states that the defendants’ actions damaged the plaintiff’s reputation and caused it to lose time and money.

In addition to monetary damages, the suit is seeking an injunction to prevent the defendants from selling tickets to future events on the property.

Neither defendant had filed a response in Superior Court. A case management conference for the civil case is scheduled for August.

4. 3 Popular Santa Barbara Frontcountry Trails Still Closed for Storm Damage

Winter storms did a number on Santa Barbara County’s popular frontcountry trails, and — months later — several remain closed as repairs continue.

Our Giana Magnoli, an avid outdoorswoman, has been out and about checking on access and damage.

Among the still-closed trails are Inspiration Point above Santa Barbara and the Romero Canyon and upper San Ysidro trails in Montecito.

To the consternation of locals, U.S. Forest Service officials closed the entire Los Padres National Forest for two months earlier this year.

The heavily used Inspiration Point Trail, including parts of the Jesusita and Tunnel trails, has not yet reopened.

Signage states that the Tunnel Trail will be closed through May 19, and traffic management crews are stationed at the trailhead to keep out hikers while repairs are completed.

Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen told Giana there are no estimated reopening dates for the Romero Canyon and San Ysidro trails.

“Romero is teetering on the edge of just being lost,” he said.

San Ysidro Trail is open to the creek crossing and start of the McMenemy Trail, about a half-mile up from the East Mountain Drive trailhead.

“The most significant safety hazards are beyond the creek crossing to McMenemy,” Madsen said.

Giana’s story includes a status report on other Los Padres National Forest trails, day use parks, campgrounds and off-highway vehicle areas.

5. Pedestrian Struck, Killed by Pickup Near Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez

A 69-year-old Solvang man was struck and killed by a pickup truck at midnight May 4 as he ran across Highway 246 near the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez.

As our Tom Bolton reported, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Charmaine Fajardo said the dead man — identified as Robert Miller — was attempting to cross the road just west of Casino Drive.

She said Miller, who was wearing dark clothing, ran directly in front of a westbound Ford F-250 pickup driven by 71-year-old Robert Lamb of Camarillo.

Miller was taken by an American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the collision, but Fajardo said alcohol was not a factor.

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Good Reads

Here are six more stories you should read, too:

» Sansum Clinic CEO Explains Reasoning, Vision Behind Joining Sutter Health — Managing editor Giana Magnoli checks in with Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, CEO and chief medical officer at Sansum Clinic, which is pursuing a “strategic partnership” with Fairfield-based Sutter Health.

» Mega Constellations of Satellites, Such As Starlink, Raise Concerns Among Astronomers — North County editor Janene Scully reports that, even as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was launching another set of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, some astronomers are saying there’s not enough space for them in space.

» Pardall Gardens Project in Isla Vista Proceeds with County Planning Commission Approval — Contributing writer Julia Vaughan has an update on the growing support to revive long-neglected Pardall Gardens in Isla Vista.

» Santa Maria’s Japanese Community Center at New Park Moving to Reality — Janene digs into the cultivation of a new community center at Santa Maria’s Enos Ranch to honor Japanese immigrants’ agricultural history and highlights.

» Westmont College Celebrates Graduates with Call to ‘Take Root and Thrive’ — More than 300 new Westmont College graduates get their diplomas during the 2023 commencement ceremony, including those in the school’s first nursing cohort. Janene has the story from the sidelines.

» Mark Patton: Rounding the Bases Back to Home with Santa Barbara’s 1962 Mets Farm Team — Sports columnist Mark Patton goes to a New York Mets game and gets nostalgic about the team’s time at the long-gone Laguna Park in Santa Barbara.

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Last Year on Noozhawk

What was our most-read story this time last year? Firefighters Contain Wind-Whipped Vegetation Fire in Foothills Above Goleta.

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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week

I don’t believe in coincidences, but god-winks are another story: The Prodigal Cousin.

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Here’s What I’m Up To

• June 2 — I’m honored to be participating again in the annual sixth-grade exit interviews at Mountain View School in Goleta. This is one of my favorite things I get to do as Noozhawk’s publisher, and the school’s Cougar cubs are always inspiring.
• June 2 — Speaking to the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. HT to my friend, Steve Baker, for the invitation.

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Best of Bill’s Instagram

Night skies were in my Instagram feed this past week, but my grandson, Nico, was the twinkling star.

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Watch It

My interest in the Royals pretty much stops with San Marcos High School so, of course, I rely on Ozzy Man for the lowdown on high-brow stuff like coronations and such. Warning: The language is always bloody cheeky.