For the third week in a row, Noozhawk’s readership was dominated by last month’s deadly head-on collision on Highway 1 south of Lompoc.
It’s not hard to see why, given the jolting circumstances and devastating community impacts: three Dos Pueblos High School students killed while driving home to the South Coast from Santa Barbara County Junior Lifeguard training at Jalama Beach, and a popular Lompoc physician and his wife severely injured when the teenagers’ car slammed into them.
But it has been an extraordinary — and I think unprecedented — run of keen interest, with absolutely every article and obituary we’ve posted immediately jumping to most-read status.
This tragedy is not about Noozhawk, but I want to commend our South County editor, Josh Molina, who has been responsible for nearly all of our coverage of this ongoing story.
Josh’s sensitivity, empathy and professionalism have been exemplary, culminating in this week’s top story and accompanying photographs about the celebration of life and paddle-out ceremony for one of the victims.
At gut-wrenching moments like these, journalists must navigate their objectivity through a turbulent sea of emotion.
Josh — himself the father of school-age children, one of whom graduated from Dos Pueblos High just two years ago — handled it with grace and compassion.
Thank you, Josh.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk had an audience of 122,988 readers this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories that you were reading, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
Just to be clear, this is my opinion column, not a news story, and I write it in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher.
1. Vigil, Paddle-Out Honors Jake Curtis, Dos Pueblos High School Student Killed in Wreck
Several hundred people gathered at Goleta Beach Park on May 31 to remember Jake Curtis, the 18-year-old Dos Pueblos High School senior who died alongside two classmates in a horrific head-on collision on Highway 1 south of Lompoc on May 18.
As our Josh Molina reported, family, friends and community members shared memories of Curtis, who was killed with 17-year-old Michael Ochsner and 15-year-old Alexander Wood in the wreck.
The four-vehicle crash also seriously injured Lompoc physician Hafez Nasr and his wife, Saghar Golpayegani.
“Jake was the backbone of our family,” said his heartbroken mother, Jessica Brown, recalling their final moment together in the kitchen of their Goleta home when he hugged her and said, “It will be OK, Mom. You’ll be OK.”
She had responded, “I’d be lost in this world without you.”
Curtis’ younger sister, Delaney, remembered morning ice cream breakfasts and how frustratingly good he was at Monopoly.
His cousin, Jade, just 10 days younger, fought back tears describing their lifelong bond and annual family dove hunting trips to Arizona.
“He was so compassionate and caring,” Jade said. “The world will be missing a beacon of life that it needs now more than ever.”
Curtis was known for his tender care of his younger brother, Jaxon, who has Down syndrome, his musical knowledge and his sense of humor.
Family members spoke of Nerf gun wars, vinyl record collections, and his thoughtful presence in everything he did.
“It’s through you that his legacy lives on,” Brown told the crowd. “The way we keep him going is to go forward and be great.”
Following the beach service, more than 100 surfers paddled a couple of hundred yards offshore to hold a symbolic floating memorial ceremony.
Curtis is survived by his mother, Jessica Brown, and father Dax Curtis, along with his sister, Mylee, and twin siblings Delaney and Jaxon.
A GoFundMe account in Curtis’ memory had raised nearly $34,000 as of June 6. Click here to make an online donation.
In his obituary, Ochsner was described as having touched many lives through baseball, outdoor adventures and close relationships.
He was planning to pursue his Emergency Medical Technician certificate in the fall, and had dreams of following his older brother, Drew, into a career as a firefighter.
Ochsner is survived by his parents, Sharon and Andrew Ochsner, and brothers Drew and Christopher.
His funeral service was held May 28 at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Goleta.
A GoFundMe account organized by the Bend (Oregon) Firefighters Community Assistance Program had raised more than $2,800 as of June 6. Click here to make an online donation.
A funeral service for Wood is planned for later this month.
A GoFundMe account established to assist his family with expenses described him as “full of promise, kindness and an infectious joy that touched everyone who knew him. He was an excellent student, a loyal friend, and someone who lived with an open heart.”
Wood is survived by his parents, Louisa and John Wood, and brothers Owen, Miles and Henry.
As of June 6, the GoFundMe account had raised more than $40,000. Click here to make an online donation.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the collision. Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 805.691.6160.
Rest in peace.
2. Bill Macfadyen: Dr. Hafez Nasr Shares Some Relative Good News after Deadly Wreck
According to my friend, Lompoc Valley Medical Center public relations coordinator Nora Wallace, Dr. Hafez Nasr is about to start his long rehabilitation journey as he recovers from injuries suffered in the deadly May 18 head-on collision on Highway 1 south of Lompoc.
Nasr told Nora that his wife, Saghar Golpayegani, is out of the intensive-care unit at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital but is battling an infection.
Continued prayers for their strength and healing.
3. BizHawk: Pascucci Restaurant Back in Business, Moves Uptown on State Street
The peripatetic Pascucci restaurant has begun writing its umpteenth chapter in a decades-long story of survival in downtown Santa Barbara.
As our Josh Molina reported, owner Laura Knight has relocated her popular Italian eatery to 1230-A State St.
“Pascucci is excited to be in our new location, just a few doors up from The Granada Theatre,” she told Josh.
Her latest move, from 509 State St., came after the building was sold, prompting Knight to partner with downtown property owner Ray Mahboob.
The Arts District location, between Anapamu and Victoria streets, offers a different atmosphere from the restaurant-heavy 500 block of State Street, positioning Pascucci between The Granada and Arlington theaters with a more mature clientele.
Pascucci’s nomadic history spans 32 years, starting in the 800 block before moving to the 700 block, then relocating to the 500 block just three weeks before COVID-19 struck in 2020.
The restaurant held its soft opening last weekend, maintaining its signature red-brick ambiance and complimentary garlic bread tradition.
4. 3 People Injured in Collision on Highway 101 South of Buellton
A two-vehicle collision on the downhill side of Highway 101’s northbound Nojoqui Grade sent one car over the side of the roadway just after noon June 1.
As our Tom Bolton reported, three people were injured in the crash, about four miles south of Buellton.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said emergency personnel arrived to find one of the cars down the ravine, about 20 feet off the highway.
A man and woman from one of the vehicles suffered minor injuries and were transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
A woman from the second car was taken by AMR ambulance to Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, also with minor injuries.
No identities were disclosed.
The right lane was closed for a time as crews tended to the victims and cleared the wreckage. I was caught in the brief backup while headed to — where else? — the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
5. Music Academy of the West Strikes Chord with Purchase of Downtown Building
The Music Academy of the West has acquired an 18,357-square-foot building to create a new downtown Santa Barbara cultural center at the corner of State Street and West Canon Perdido.
As our Josh Molina reported, the Music Academy announced the landmark $20 million project funded by philanthropist Cheryl Goldberg in honor of her late husband, former Berkshire Hathaway executive Michael Goldberg.
The building at 901 State St. — previously home to Forever 21 and most recently a seasonal Halloween store — will be transformed into “a dynamic new hub for music education and community engagement,” according to an announcement emailed to Music Academy supporters on June 3.
The project adds to a growing cultural momentum on State Street, joining the Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s renovation of the former Fiesta Five Theater at 916 State St. into a five-auditorium cinema complex featuring independent, international, documentary and family films.
“This is a defining moment for Santa Barbara’s future … a city where the arts don’t just survive, but flourish,” Mayor Randy Rowse said.
The Music Academy, whose nine-acre main campus is at 1070 Fairway Road in Montecito, plans public concerts, educational programs and artistic collaborations to bring music into daily downtown life.
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Good Reads
Be sure to check out these six stories before you go:
» Despite Reduced Traffic, Collisions on the Rise in Santa Barbara — South County editor Josh Molina has some troubling statistics from the City of Santa Barbara about street safety. Instead of continuing to waste millions and millions of dollars on bulb-outs, curb extensions, bike lanes, traffic “calming” devices and other idiotic schemes, perhaps the city would get better results if it had its police officers simply enforce traffic laws.
» Why Hasn’t UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang’s Replacement Been Named? — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway is unable to get anyone of consequence to answer the question many of us have been asking.
» Woman Accused of Embezzling More Than $750,000 from at Carpinteria Business — Executive editor Giana Magnoli unravels yet another bizarre, eye-popping alleged embezzlement scheme victimizing a Carpinteria company.
» Bear Takes Tour of Orcutt Before Getting Evicted — North County editor Janene Scully is on the trail of a bear strolling about Orcutt.
» Former County Supervisor David Yager of Santa Barbara, 1930-2025 — #rip to former Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor David Yager, a class act whose quiet leadership has been sorely missed in public office. His well-timed humor was even reflected in his obituary, with his family describing his 1988 re-election loss as being “subsequently retired by popular demand.”
» Mark Patton: Bill Pintard Still Covers All the Bases for Santa Barbara Foresters — Sports columnist Mark Patton touches base with one of my all-time favorite baseball people: Bill Pintard, whose Santa Barbara Foresters have been a passion project in more ways than one.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Altercation on Hot Springs Trail Over Bathing Pools Sends Ripples Through Montecito.
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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.
- Aug. 21 — The Cosmopolitan Club of Santa Barbara is looking for an update since my last appearance, some 15 years ago. We’ve come a long way. HT to my friend, Chris Tacelli, for getting me the invitation.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Taxpayers have been railroaded — and fleeced — from the start: California High-Speed Rail Is a ‘Track to Nowhere,’ U.S. Says in Move to Pull Funding.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
It’s rodeo time in my Instagram feed. Cowboy up.
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Watch It
Even a hawk needs a wingwoman. HT to Best of Bill reader Warren Collins.
