I’ll probably jinx them but it’s quite amazing how good the Los Angeles Dodgers are when their position players are all healthy at once.
Of course, they’re still one of the most fragile teams I’ve ever seen and the starting pitching is as erratic as a Major League Baseball umpire’s strike zone.
But give me this moment. At least for this week.
And speaking of this week, Noozhawk had an audience of 145,205 readers over the past seven days, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading during that period. As you should know, this is my opinion column and not a news story.
1. Excessive Heat Warning Issued for Santa Barbara County
Amid Santa Barbara County’s most intense heat wave of the summer, multiple weather-related advisories have been issued through the weekend.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, the National Weather Service declared an excessive heat warning for inland areas and a heat advisory for coastal regions through Sept. 9.
A wildfire weather watch and red flag warning have been issued through Sept. 7 due to the extreme heat and dry, windy conditions in the evening.
Temperatures are expected to soar, with the weather service forecasting daytime temperatures in the upper 80s along the South Coast and in Lompoc, in the 90s around Santa Maria, near 100 degrees in the South Coast foothills and well over 100 in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Weather service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld told Rebecca that some parts of the South Coast will remain in the 70s at night instead of dropping to the usual 60s.
Residents are advised to take precautions, including staying hydrated and avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours — for humans and pets.
Click here for the complete National Weather Service forecast.
2. Farm Sues County Over Rezoning Glen Annie Golf Club to Build Housing
An organic farmer has filed a lawsuit against Santa Barbara County, challenging the rezoning of Glen Annie Golf Club in Goleta for housing development.
As our Josh Molina reported, the suit — filed by Las Vegas-based Seaward International Co. doing business as Glen Annie Canyon Ranch and Glen Annie Organics — alleges inadequate environmental and wildlife impact assessments.
The 45-acre, certified organic farm is located at 747 Glen Annie Road, north of the golf course at 405 Glen Annie Road.
The lawsuit claims the rezoning, which could allow the conversion of the golf course into 800 to 1,000 new homes, poses risks to organic farming operations, including potential contamination from residential herbicides and pet-related issues.
“Numerous impacts will result from the encroachment of high-density and single-
family residential development on the border of an organic farming operation and rural ranch,” the lawsuit states.
It also cites concerns about wildlife habitat and increased wildfire risk.
In addition to the county, the suit names as defendants the Board of Supervisors and JTGV LLC, which owns Glen Annie Golf Club.
County officials have acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit but declined to comment further.
Ted Mehm, co-owner of the golf club, expressed confidence in the future of the project, which proposes to use 75 acres of the 175-acre property for housing and the remaining 100 acres for public use.
“Our goal is to create an inclusive, mixed-income community that integrates housing, public recreation and open space,” he said.
The rezoning is part of a larger county initiative to create up to 5,000 housing units by 2031 as required by state mandates.
3. BizHawk: Arnoldi’s Café Reopens Under New Ownership, But It’s Still in the Family
Arnoldi’s Café, a beloved Santa Barbara institution dating back to 1937, has reopened under new ownership.
The classic Italian restaurant at 600 Olive St. closed abruptly earlier this year after the death of co-owner David Peri, who died May 15 at age 79.
As our Josh Molina reported, new owner Sara Skrinski is no stranger to the landmark sandstone block building; she’s the youngest of Peri’s four children and started out bussing tables at the place in high school.
She told Josh she felt compelled to preserve the restaurant’s legacy.
“The thought of losing my dad and Arnoldi’s, I couldn’t …,” she said. “I just had to save it.”
While operating under a new LLC, Arnoldi’s is maintaining its traditional menu and charm, with slight aesthetic changes like white tablecloths replacing the red ones.
The restaurant is open daily from 5 to 9 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on NFL Sundays. Oh, and the popular bocce ball court is ready for your roll.
Since the reopening, Arnoldi’s has been packed.
“It’s been kind of fun because I am starting over,” Skrinski said.
4. Suspect Seized After Lengthy Standoff at Old Town Goleta Apartments
A tense standoff in Old Town Goleta ended several hours after it began Aug. 31 when law enforcement officers took a felony battery suspect into custody.
As our Josh Molina reported, the incident began around 8:30 a.m. at 6021 Hollister Ave., a former hotel that recently was converted to permanent supportive housing for 60 homeless residents.
In fact, just two weeks ago, a gaggle of officials converged on the newly named Buena Tierra for the ribbon-cutting.
But back to Josh’s story.
According to authorities, 41-year-old Adam Unmuth barricaded himself in his third-story apartment following an alleged altercation with another resident.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies, including the Special Enforcement Team, evacuated the building and attempted negotiations for nearly five hours.
The situation escalated when Unmuth broke his apartment window with a chair.
Deputies fired bean bag rounds and tear gas before finally using a flash-bang device to apprehend him around 1 p.m.
The victim, who told Josh his name was “Tommy,” reported suffering multiple injuries, including a half-dozen lost teeth and head lacerations.
The U.S. Army veteran said this was the second time Unmuth had attacked him.
“I got beat up, but it’s fine,” he said. “I got beat up many times before.”
Unmuth was taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for treatment before being booked into County Jail.
He is to be arraigned in Superior Court on Sept. 6 on a long list of charges, among them battery with serious bodily injury, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
As of Sept. 6, Unmuth remained jailed on $100,000 bail.
The incident disrupted local businesses and traffic throughout the morning, including access to and from the Santa Barbara Airport from South Fairview Avenue.
5. Banks Report Rise in Check Fraud in Santa Barbara Area
Banks across Santa Barbara County have seen a significant increase in check fraud cases over the past month — much of it believed to be linked to stolen mail.
As our Daniel Green reported, Montecito Bank & Trust chief risk officer James Jefferson noted a jump from fewer than a half-dozen checks a month to 10-20, with estimated total losses between $250,000 and $300,000.
The check amounts have varied, but are usually less than a few hundred dollars. Jefferson said some of the checks were caught by bank staff so customers didn’t lose money.
Two types of fraud have emerged: counterfeit checks using stolen account information and altered checks with changed payees, a practice known as “check washing.”
American Riviera Bank has also observed the trend, with executive vice president Laurel Sykes reporting nearly daily occurrences.
“Clients are having a difficult time detecting it because it’s the same dollar amount as the check they wrote and the same serial number,” she told Daniel.
Lucas Watanabe of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service said the agency is investigating the issue, focusing on potential vulnerabilities at local post offices and working with local authorities.
Jefferson said clients have voiced suspicions about the San Roque post office at 3345 State St. in Santa Barbara and the 130 S. Patterson Ave. post office in Goleta.
Watanabe said he could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» Sable to Install Pipeline Safety Valves, Pursue Restart After Santa Barbara County Settlement — Executive editor Giana Magnoli reports on a settlement that could restart the pipeline and offshore oil platforms that have been shut down since the 2015 Refugio pipeline leak.
» Housing Plan for Tri-County Produce Site Gets Positive Review from Architectural Board — South County editor Josh Molina has an update on the proposed transformation of the Tri-County Produce property in Santa Barbara.
» Families of Conception Boat Fire Victims Call for More Safety Measures — On the fifth anniversary of the deadly Conception dive boat fire, staff writer Rebecca Caraway delivers a message from the families of the 34 victims.
» TechTopia Shows Off Innovation and Research of Industry, UCSB Labs — Rebecca tags along on the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s TechTopia tour at UC Santa Barbara.
» Mark Patton: Beach Volleyball Star Katie Spieler Has Found New Mountains to Climb — Sports columnist Mark Patton sets up the story of Katie Spieler and her sprawling, extended family of volleyball royalty as she shares her new quest to bring beach volleyball to UCSB.
» Collin Harmon: An Heirloom Peach Pie Recipe to Savor the Last of Summer — I love peach pie, and new food columnist Collin Harmon’s family recipe has all the ingredients for a #bestofbillrecommendation. Now, where can I get one that I can taste test?
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Man Dies After Late-Night Fall from Cliffs in Isla Vista.
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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.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Who rules San Francisco is not who you think: How Communist China Extended Its Repression into an American City.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
My Instagram feed contains a hint of nostalgia this past week, especially for my favorite sheriff, Walt Longmire.
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Watch It
What could be better than the ManningCast this football season? ManningCast — The Musical!
