As 43,110 of you know, a big part of Noozhawk’s news is delivered via our free A.M. Report and P.M. Report newsletters. And if you don’t know, click here to subscribe.
Although we’re pleased with the reach and effectiveness of these twice-daily e-Bulletins, we’re always looking to improve.
So I’m pleased to announce that several of us on Team Noozhawk — business development vice president Kim Clark, sales manager Sheridan Taphorn, Hawks Club coordinator Will Macfadyen, executive editor Giana Magnoli and I — are participating in a product development sprint with Newspack, our publishing platform.
Our cohort’s breakout group is led by Katie Mercer of Blue Engine Collaborative and includes Our Weekly Los Angeles; CityView NC in Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Paonia, Colorado-based High Country News.
Over the next two months, I expect that you’ll be seeing some exciting innovations that we hope will lead to even more reader engagement and usefulness.
We may even be rolling out additional newsletters for you.
Separately, as part of the ambitious initiatives we’re already planning for 2025, look for a comprehensive readership survey early next year.
Although we’ve conducted smaller, tightly focused surveys, we haven’t done a deep dive since 2019. We’re overdue.
As always, we’ll keep you posted on our progress.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk drew an audience of 132,533 readers this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over that period, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
This is my opinion column and not a news story, and I write it in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher. I am not a reporter.
1. SpaceX Rocket Roars in Late-Night Launch From Vandenberg Space Force Base
SpaceX completed two successful Starlink satellite launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base over the last week, as the base’s new notification system surpassed 20,000 subscribers.
As our Janene Scully reported, the first Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 10:14 p.m. Nov. 8, carrying 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell capabilities.
A second launch followed at 9:23 p.m. Nov. 13, delivering another 20 satellites to low-earth orbit.
Both missions successfully landed their first-stage boosters on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
Meanwhile, VSFB’s launch alert system, implemented in July following local noise complaints, has drawn more than 12,500 text and 7,500 email subscribers.
“As launches are expected to increase at Vandenberg, VSFB Launch Alerts are a resource to inform the community,” said Jennifer Green-Lanchoney, public affairs chief for Space Launch Delta 30, the base’s host unit.
By the way, as a subscriber myself and an avid launch watcher, it would be helpful if follow-up alerts were sent as the final countdown stage was entered,
Click here to sign up for the launch alerts by text, email or both.
2. Robitaille’s Fine Candies in Carpinteria Closing After 36 Years
Robitaille’s Fine Candies, a Carpinteria institution and the White House’s official mint supplier starting with President Ronald Reagan, is closing up shop after 36 years.
As our Josh Molina reported, owners Tami and John Robitaille have announced that the beloved candy store is turning out the lights for good Dec. 1.
The couple is looking forward to spending more time with family, including their soon-to-be sixth grandchild.
“We have so many customers who are truly like family,” Tami Robitaille said while fighting back tears.
“Saying goodbye to them is probably the hardest thing.”
The shop at 900 Linden Ave. — known for its red-and-white checkered floor and kitchen-made confections — will continue selling its popular treats until the last minute.
Robitaille’s is already part of the historical record: In 1985, the brand was chosen as the official mint of Reagan’s second presidential inauguration.
The mints were served at the White House for nearly a decade afterward.
The Robitaille’s candy — including the famed chocolate honeycomb, fudge, licorice, toffee and sugar-free chocolate — attracted locals and travelers from around the world, all seemingly drawn to the kitchen in the back and the intricate, handmade chocolate for sale up front.
“We’re really an old-fashioned type of place,” John Robitaille told Josh. “That’s what makes us different.”
3. Election Results in Santa Barbara Could Lead to Cap on Rent Increases
Political newcomer Wendy Santamaria appears to have ousted Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez in the District 1 race, leading by nearly 5% as vote counting from the Nov. 5 election continues with all the speed of a banana slug hopped up on Valium, Xanax and a Nyquil chaser.
As our Josh Molina reported, Santamaria is an outspoken rent control and tenants rights activist.
Her victory would create a four-vote council majority favoring rent stabilization measures, including a “rent cap,” which apparently is what we’re calling rent control these days.
“Santamaria’s election greatly increases the chances for some form of rent control,” said Ben Romo, a political analyst who was unaffiliated with any of the council campaigns this year.
“There is now a majority of council members who generally support rent stabilization. However, I don’t think they have consensus on the specifics.”
The lack of specifics isn’t surprising since rent control — excuse me, a rent cap — has never, ever achieved its objectives at any time or in any place, anywhere in the world.
But what am I saying? Santamaria and council rent cap crusaders Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Harmon and Kristen Sneddon are pros. The best.
There’s a first time for everything and, besides, history is no match for Santa Barbara virtue signaling.
As Santamaria was successfully challenging Alejandra Gutierrez, incumbents Oscar Gutierrez and Councilman Mike Jordan were re-elected comfortably.
And although 49 of the 50 states are done with the 2024 election, California is in no hurry to finish counting its ballots.
Nor is Santa Barbara County.
As of Nov. 9, the county Elections Office still needed to count some 41,000 unprocessed vote-by-mail ballots, 1,000 provisional ballots, 5,100 conditional voter registration provisional ballots, and 2,000 challenged or incomplete ballots.
As of Nov. 14, the county’s vote count had risen to a whopping 73.7%.
At this rate, Santa Claus will be done with his appointed rounds before Santa Barbara County.
4. BizHawk: Bar Lou Brings Flavors of French Riviera to Montecito
Bar Lou, a new venture from the owners of Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria, has opened in Montecito.
The French Riviera-themed restaurant at 1198 Coast Village Road occupies the former home of Oliver’s, which occupied the former home of Peabody’s. I still miss Peabody’s.
As our Josh Molina reported, Bar Lou is the creation of Brandon Boudet and Warner Ebbink, owners of Little Dom’s Seafood and its Los Angeles sister restaurant, Little Dom’s in Los Feliz.
The menu features French-inspired dishes using locally sourced ingredients, including California caviar, smoked black cod smørrebrød, and Santa Barbara sea urchin with spaghetti.
There’s also a tasty dessert menu topped by chocolate avocado mousse made with coconut cream and cocoa nib brittle.
The restaurant offers more than 30 wines from California and France, plus classic cocktails.
Bar Lou is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
5. Major Injuries Reported in Wrong-Way Crash on Highway 135 in Orcutt
A wrong-way driver suffered critical injuries the night of Nov. 11 after a head-on collision on Highway 135 in Orcutt, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials.
As our Tom Bolton reported, the crash occurred around 9:40 p.m. near the Clark Avenue southbound exit ramp when a northbound vehicle traveling in the wrong direction slammed into an oncoming car.
Firefighters had to extricate the wrong-way driver, who was transported by American Medical Response ambulance to Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
The forty-something man, whose identity was not released, was reported to have major injuries.
The driver of the other car, a man in his 20s, declined medical treatment.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the wreck.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» Victim’s Family Expresses Outrage at Sentencing for Lompoc Hit-and-Run — For the second time in less than a month, relatively light punishments for drivers in deadly hit-and-run cases are met with disbelief, skepticism and fury.
» Conflict Erupts at Santa Barbara School Board Meeting Over Evangelical Club — Leave it to the Santa Barbara Unified School District to take the “You” out of “Unified.” Staff writer Rebecca Caraway reports on the bumbling district’s latest self-inflicted controversy.
» Maravilla Honors Its Veterans with Medals and Music — Staff writer Daniel Green is on hand for a special Veterans Day pinning ceremony at the Maravilla retirement community in Goleta.
» Biltmore Gets Final Design Approval, with Conditions, from Montecito Review Board — Don’t put on your swimsuit just yet, but Montecito’s Four Seasons Biltmore Resort is one step closer to making a splash. Rebecca has the pool report.
» Goleta’s Search for Temporary Home for Library May Have a Surprise Ending — South County editor Josh Molina follows a plot twist in the Goleta Valley Public Library mystery.
» CIF-SS Girls Tennis Semifinals: Santa Barbara High, Providence Punch Tickets to Championships — Sports editor Diego Sandoval is covering the Santa Barbara High and Providence School girls tennis teams as they chase their championship dreams.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? GoFundMe Set Up for Family of Teen Killed by Train Near Santa Barbara.
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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.
- Jan. 7 — I’ll be sharing Noozhawk’s story and discussing the future of local news — and local news in Santa Barbara County — with my friends at the Minerva Club of Santa Maria. The Minerva is one of the oldest, continuously operating women’s clubs in California and a community treasure since 1894.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Rest in peace: Sunken U.S. World War II Warship That Went Down with More Than 200 Servicemen Found After 81 Years.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
Santa Barbara sunsets, Palm Desert living and my old friend, Jim Haslem, are all in my Instagram feed this past week.
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Watch It
Bearly astir. A lazy HT to Best of Bill reader Jane Morris.
