Boy, the baseball season sure went south in a hurry for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It hasn’t even been a month and they’re already looking hapless, if not mathematically hopeless.

I’ll check back in a few weeks but Noozhawk has way too much going on for me to waste my time on a .500 team.

Besides, we’ll be announcing a couple of additions to improve our own squad next month. We’re motivated by winning.

And speaking of winning, Noozhawk sported an audience of 115,442 readers this past week, according to our Google Analytics. What follows is my take on your Top 5 most-read stories during that period.

As a reminder, this is my opinion column, not a news story. And I’m Noozhawk’s publisher, not a reporter.

Thank you for reading.

1. 1 Dead, 2 Men Injured in Collision on Cathedral Oaks Road in Goleta

A fiery, suspected DUI crash in Goleta killed a pickup truck passenger the night of April 20. The driver and a second passenger suffered major injuries and severe burns in the high-speed collision with a sycamore tree.

As our Tom Bolton reported, California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Fabila said the driver of a westbound 2017 Ford pickup slammed into the tree about 11 p.m. in the 5500 block of Cathedral Oaks Road, just west of North Kellogg Avenue.

The impact obliterated the vehicle, which then burst into flames.

Fabila said the 18-year-old driver, identified as Daniel Velez-Valerio of Santa Barbara, and a passenger, 22-year-old Patrick J. Marasciullo of Isla Vista, suffered major injuries, “including but not limited to multiple lacerations and severe burns to several areas of their bodies.”

Both were transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and have since been transferred to a Southern California burn hospital.

The other passenger — identified by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick as 22-year-old Christopher James Roulo of Mountain View and Santa Barbara — was declared dead at the scene.

CHP Officer Jonathan Gutierrez said Velez-Valerio was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence, both felonies.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch told our Tom Bolton on April 28 that the charges are pending while prosecutors await the final CHP incident reports.

The wreck shut down the roadway for about 11 hours as Santa Barbara County firefighters put out the blaze, authorities gathered evidence and debris was removed.

The CHP investigation of the crash circumstances is ongoing, but the wide, four-lane street has a reputation as a bit of a speedway through the neighborhood. It also features a sweeping curve between North Kellogg and Cambridge Drive to the west.

2. Man Dies After Jump from Santa Barbara County Courthouse Tower

An 84-year-old man leaped to his death from the clock tower observation deck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse the afternoon of April 23.

Santa Barbara police Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale said emergency personnel converged on the courthouse, at 1100 Anacapa St. downtown, after a 9-1-1 call at 4:30 p.m.

He said officers performed CPR on the unresponsive man until Santa Barbara firefighters and American Medical Response EMTs arrived.

The man was taken to Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The next day, Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick identified the dead man as Kenneth Dean Fink.

In an interview with our Tom Bolton, a heartbroken niece described Fink as “always an intelligent, kind man.”

“I am extremely saddened at what happened, and just wanted people in this area to know that he had family who cared and regret that it ended this way,” Elizabeth Mercer said of her uncle.

In general, Noozhawk does not report on suicides unless a prominent community member is involved or when the death occurs in a public place. The popular courthouse certainly meets the latter threshold.

Click here for suicide prevention resources that are available 24/7.

Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Access Line counselors can be reached at 888.868.1649, and the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is always available by calling 9-8-8.

3. Multivehicle Crash Near Lake Cachuma Closes Highway 154, Sends Four People to Hospital

Four people were injured — including two on a motorcycle — in a three-vehicle crash on Highway 154 near Lake Cachuma the evening of April 23.

As our Janene Scully reported, the collision occurred around 6:15 p.m. near the entrance to the lake’s recreation area at 2225 Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said the motorcycle riders — a male and a female — suffered critical injuries while two people in an oncoming sedan had minor injuries.

One of the victims was airlifted to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital by a CalStar medical helicopter, while the other three were transported there by AMR ambulances.

No identities were disclosed, and additional crash details were not available.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the wreck.

4. Battle Over State Street Outdoor Dining Fees Boils Over to Santa Barbara City Council Meeting Tuesday

Our Josh Molina and our new contributing writer, Lily Dallow, teamed up on a State Street walkabout in downtown Santa Barbara, talking to restaurant owners and merchants about the Santa Barbara City Council’s fluxionary plans to tax outdoor dining areas.

Josh and Lily did too good of a job for me to butcher their story into a sarcastic recap. I recommend you read it for yourself.

Besides, like most locals, I’m kind of over State Street at this point.

Of course, on April 25, the City Council reversed itself and voted to charge restaurants a flat, $2-per-square-foot fee for outdoor dining space — down from a range of $3 to $10 per square foot.

The new, lower rate was supported by Council members Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Meagan Harmon and Kristen Sneddon.

Mayor Randy Rowse was the lone voice of dissent. Councilman Eric Friedman abstained.

5. Bill Macfadyen: ‘Super Bloom’ Shows Off Santa Barbara County’s True Colors

New lead to my Best of Bill column, same Top 5 results. I’m still holding my own for the third week in a row.

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Good Reads

Don’t miss these six stories before you go:

» Noozhawk Reports on the Housing Crisis: Why Did You Leave Santa Barbara? — We’re embarking on at least a year-long exploration of Santa Barbara County’s chronic housing crisis, and we need your help. Staff writer Josh Molina makes the opening appeal.

» Young Horse Rescued after Stumbling into Nipomo Swimming Pool — Stephanie Zappelli from our San Luis Obispo Tribune partnership isn’t horsing around with this pool report.

» Central Coast Honor Flight Takes Off at Santa Maria Airport — North County editor Janene Scully sees off more than 70 veterans — whose service ranged from World War II to the Vietnam War — on the inaugural, charter Honor Flight of the Central Coast.

» Pediatric Nurse Shares Journey from San Marcos Health Careers Academy to Cottage Hospital — Staff writer Serena Guentz catches up with Annie Hruza, a Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital pediatric nurse who got her start at San Marcos High School’s Health Careers Academy. Hruza’s story is the opening feature in Noozhawk’s annual Salute to Nurses section.

» BizHawk: Pregnancy Craving Inspires Recipes at Goodland Waffles & Melts in Mosaic Locale — Josh did not waffle — even if he conveniently forgot to bring me a sample — when he visited Goodland Waffles & Melts in downtown Santa Barbara. Owner and chef Bobby Georges is a good friend and bingo buddy of mine so I was gonna go get my fill anyway. Probably this weekend.

» Former Five-Star Basketball Recruit Announces Transfer from Auburn to UCSB — Sports writer Mark Patton reports that the UC Santa Barbara basketball team has outrebounded powerhouse Auburn for a key player. #wareagle or #wargaucho?

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Last Year on Noozhawk

What was our most-read story this time last year? Commercial Flights Diverted After Runway Shut Down at Santa Barbara Airport.

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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week

Even liberals have Gov. Gavin Newsom’s number: Gavin Newsom Is Not Governing.

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Here’s What I’m Up To

• April 22 — Spoke to the All Saints Men’s Group at my church, All Saints By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito. We discussed Noozhawk’s origins, growth, hopes and dreams, and how what I learned in my brief foray into specialized information publishing influences a lot of what we do. HT to Richard Scheef for the opportunity.
• April 26 — I had a great time emceeing the EconAlliance Energy Forum at Craft House at Corque in Solvang. The forum featured a variety of evolving local renewable energy alternatives, but I can’t be the only one who foresees a looming disconnect between an elite class that wants something no matter the cost and a working class that won’t ever be able to afford it. Perhaps the solution is an all-of-the-above acceptance of all forms of energy rather than the one-way street we’re going down. Our Janene Scully has the full story. 

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Best of Bill’s Instagram

My Instagram feed includes my friend, Kim Cantin, an amazingly strong and hopeful woman who has written a book about losing everything but her daughter in the deadly 2018 Montecito flash flooding and debris flows.

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Watch It

Of course pandas dine at a table. They’re not animals! HT to Best of Bill reader Mary Grace Whitworth.