From Olympic medalists to high school hopefuls, Santa Barbara County has a thriving sports scene.
And Noozhawk’s dedicated team of sports journalists — sports editor Diego Sandoval, sports columnist Mark Patton, and contributor and retired sports editor Barry Punzal — bring you comprehensive coverage of almost every game, match and athlete’s journey.
Our sports coverage goes beyond scores, however, offering stories that capture the heart of our community’s athletic spirit.
But we can’t do it without you. Your support enables us to expand our coverage, attend more games, and showcase the next generation of Santa Barbara County’s sports stars.
Will you help us tell these important local sports stories?
Thank you for cheering us on.
While Diego and his teammates are going through two-a-days to get ready for the fall football season, the news team has been running wind sprints this past week.
According to our WordPress analytics, we had an audience of 132,359 readers over the last seven days.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading during the period. And by “my own take,” I mean this is my opinion column. It’s not a news story so I’m not offsides.
1. Tensions Rise over Proposed Biltmore Renovations
I’m not old enough to remember when the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort was last open, but the long-closed, historic Montecito hotel is facing even more delays in getting back to business.
I know, I know. I’m as surprised as you are.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, representatives of hotel owner Ty Warner took their proposed renovations to the Montecito Board of Architectural Review on Aug. 8, only to be denied preliminary approval.
Central to the holdup is a planned family pool complex at the resort at 1260 Channel Drive, including a 3,557-square-foot pool with a beach and waterfall, and a 9,716-square-foot circular “river-like” pool.
Mark Lloyd, president of L&P Consultants, a Santa Barbara land-use specialist working for Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, said the pool additions are crucial following the loss of guest access to the pool across the street at the Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club, which Warner also owns.
He also stressed that the pool is not a “lazy river” — contrary to persistent rumors in Montecito.
“I know that there’s concern in some aspects of the community that this thing is going to be full of plastic rafts and inner tubes; that is not what’s going on here,” Lloyd said.
“This is a tranquil area.”
MBAR chairman John Watson expressed concerns that the renovations might compromise the century-old character of architect Reginald Johnson’s original Spanish Revival design.
“My concern has always been that this project is going beyond the point where it retains the character of the Biltmore that was originally built and has existed for almost a hundred years,” he said.
Board members also questioned the size of the pool complex, the addition of 38 hot tubs, and other modernizations.
Sean Lavelle, president of development for the Warner group, criticized the MBAR denial.
“If our current effort to position the Biltmore to attract today’s luxury traveler is going to be held to a 1920s historical standard, we will always miss,” he said.
According to Lavelle, the board exceeded its authority and also ignored and belittled the project’s historian.
“We will continue forward in an appeal, and are confident that our plans and architectural integrity are at the forefront of this revitalization,” he said.
The resort is shooting to welcome its first guests early next year.
Of course, the community has heard all that before. Earlier this year, a partial reopening was promised for May of this year.
For the record, the hotel closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. I looked it up.
2. Injured Survivor of Double-Fatal Crash Files Lawsuit Against Lafond Vineyard
The badly injured survivor of a double-fatal head-on collision near Buellton last year has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by Lafond Vineyard Inc. and a winery employee.
As our Janene Scully reported, 22-year-old Morgan Bouslaugh of Buellton is suing for damages related to the Oct. 22, 2023, crash in the 6000 block of Santa Rosa Road, about 4½ miles west of Highway 101.
Bouslaugh suffered major injuries when his pickup truck was struck by an oncoming pickup driven by 23-year-old Cassidy Falk of Solvang.
Falk and her passenger, 24-year-old Alia Griffin of Buellton, died in the wreck as did at least one dog.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Falk was driving under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.
The lawsuit contends that, just prior to the crash, Falk and Griffin were at the nearby Lafond property at 6855 Santa Rosa Road with winery employee Julian Mathieu and up to 20 other unnamed individuals.
The suit, filed in Santa Barbara County Superior Court by Solvang attorney Matthew Halme, alleges that the defendants allowed Falk to leave while intoxicated, creating a foreseeable risk of harm.
Toxicology reports revealed Falk’s blood-alcohol content was 0.18%, more than twice the legal limit, with cocaine and marijuana also present in her system.
Bouslaugh, who suffered major internal injuries, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
The defendants have not yet filed a response to the lawsuit. The case’s first management conference is scheduled for Nov. 12.
A GoFundMe account to assist with Bouslaugh’s medical and recovery expenses remains active, and has raised more than $22,000. Click here to make an online donation.
A memorial fund established for Griffin on the Ever Loved platform has raised more than $4,00o. Click here to make an online donation.
3. Criminal Charge Filed Against Santa Maria Airport Board Member for Fatal Forklift Crash
An 81-year-old Santa Maria Public Airport District board member has been charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter following a fatal forklift crash on May 2.
As our Janene Scully reported, David Baskett of Orcutt was driving a rented telescoping forklift, known as a telehandler, when the vehicle collided with a Dodge pickup truck at Skyway Drive and Hangar Street near the Santa Maria Airport.
The wreck killed 39-year-old Tiffany Peterson of Orcutt, a passenger in the pickup driven by her dad, Charles Peterson.
Peterson was pronounced dead at the scene and her father suffered moderate injuries. Baskett was unhurt.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint, accusing Baskett of causing Peterson’s death “unlawfully, and without malice.”
Baskett, a longtime airport district director who also serves on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board, claims he was previously cleared of wrongdoing by Santa Maria police and DMV investigations.
“I was cleared by the various agencies some time ago, was stopped and waiting for traffic to clear with a following safety vehicle when I was hit,” he told Janene.
“I did not get a ticket or other citation, and received a clean sheet from the DMV investigation.”
The charge comes amid a civil lawsuit Baskett filed against the airport district after his access to the air operations area was revoked following the crash.
He is scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 4 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria.
A GoFundMe account established to assist Peterson’s family with her funeral expenses is still active, and has raised more than $17,000. Click here to make an online donation.
4. Jury Finds Santa Barbara Woman Guilty of Attempted Murder for 2021 Stabbing
A 21-year-old Santa Barbara woman has been convicted of attempted murder in the 2021 stabbing of a former Laguna Blanca School classmate.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, a Superior Court jury found Cora Vides guilty on Aug. 12 after a four-week trial and four days of deliberation.
The verdict included findings of premeditation and use of a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury.
The Feb. 14, 2021, attack occurred in Vides’ bedroom at her family’s Mesa home, where she stabbed the victim in the neck under the guise of demonstrating a meditation technique during a sleepover.
Both women were 18 and Laguna Blanca seniors at the time.
Vides, previously free on $1 million bail, was booked into County Jail without bail following the verdict. She had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
The trial will now enter a sanity phase.
Depending on the outcome, Vides could face commitment to a state psychiatric hospital or a prison sentence.
5. Falcon Rocket Delivers Pair of Satellites to Boost Communication in Arctic
SpaceX successfully launched two Space Norway satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 11, enhancing Arctic communications for military and civilian use.
As our Janene Scully reported, the Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:02 p.m., with its first-stage booster completing its 22nd flight and landing on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
The Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) satellites, built by Northrop Grumman, were deployed as planned less than an hour after liftoff.
Equipped with instruments for the U.S. Space Force, Norway’s military and Viasat, these satellites will provide continuous broadband capacity to the Arctic region.
Kjell-Ove Orderud Skare, ASBM program director, emphasized Norway’s long-standing priority for high-speed coverage in the strategically key Arctic.
“As far back as 2006, the Norwegian government stated that the Arctic is Norway’s most important focus area,” he said.
On Aug. 16, another SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is set to launch during a 53-minute window beginning at 11:20 a.m. from Space Launch Complex-4.
That mission includes another collection of small satellites, two of them built in Santa Barbara County.
Some seven minutes after liftoff, the first-stage booster will return to Vandenberg’s Landing Zone 4.
The return could generate sonic booms heard throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties.
• • •
Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang Stepping Down Next Year — Executive editor Giana Magnoli begins writing the last chapter in Chancellor Henry Yang’s incredible stewardship of UC Santa Barbara.
» Santa Barbara Pitches Design Standards to Balance State Housing Demands with Community’s Charm — South County editor Josh Molina reports on a major development in Santa Barbara’s housing situation.
» What Is the New Rent Increase Cap for Santa Barbara? — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway unpacks some key aspects of the rental housing market in Santa Barbara County.
» CHP Plans Crackdown on Speeders Traveling to Monterey Car Week — You’ve probably seen the caravans of sports cars traveling north on Highway 101, headed to Monterey Car Week. North County editor Janene Scully says the California Highway Patrol has seen them, too.
» Season Preview: Dos Pueblos Football Looks to Take a Leap with Strong Run Game, New League Schedule — Sports editor Diego Sandoval kicks off our coverage of the upcoming high school football season.
» Local Lifeguards, Junior Guards Medal at United States Lifeguard Championships in Texas — Diego wades into the national lifeguard championships.
• • •
Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? 1 Dead, 4 Injured in Collision on Southbound Highway 101 in Montecito.
• • •
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.
• • •
Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Fed up with uninvited dinner guests? Scottish Seaside Food Shack Is Offering “Seagull Insurance.”
• • •
Best of Bill’s Instagram
I saw a lot of baseball this past week, and California. It’s all in my Instagram feed.
• • •
Watch It
This is one bear-faced porch pirate. HT to Best of Bill reader Melissa Villaneuva.
