As I’ve mentioned, on more than one occasion, Noozhawk is excited to be a first-time sponsor of next week’s 81st annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competition features some of the most prominent rodeo cowboys, cowgirls and animals in the country in performances the nights of May 30 through June 1 and the afternoon of June 2.
All events are held at the Elks Unocal Events Center, 4040 Highway 101 in Santa Maria. Click here to purchase tickets online.
As we have with other rodeos, Noozhawk held a drawing for one lucky youngster to ride for our brand, this time in the May 30 Mutton Bustin’ event.
After collecting nearly three dozen entries, we pulled out of our Resistol the name of 5-year-old Pete Hilario of Lompoc.
Pete’s mom, Laila, says the La Honda STEAM Academy student loves baseball and riding his bike, calls Panda Express and pizza his favorite foods, and most enjoys playing with his bullypit, Zeus.
I think he’s already a winner in my tally book, and he hasn’t even climbed aboard a sheep yet!
While Pete’s preparing for the ride of his life, Noozhawk was riding herd on an audience of 133,305 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
This column is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading over that span, possibly saddled with some of my opinion for good measure.
In other words, this is not a news story. It’s my opinion column.
1. Southwest Airlines Grounding Weekday Denver Flights Out of Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara passengers on Southwest Airlines may encounter a bit of travel turbulence this summer after the airline announced it was suspending some of its Denver flights.
Santa Barbara Airport director Chris Hastert told our Daniel Green that Southwest is planning to suspend its weekday Denver flights in August and September.
“We have been told that it has to do with delays in aircraft deliveries,” he said.
Hastert added that Southwest’s weekend flights are not likely to be affected.
The airline had announced it is reducing service nationwide amid supply-chain issues — or supply-plane issues, if you prefer — caused by manufacturing delays at Boeing.
In addition to the inconvenience for travelers, Southwest’s announcement was a blow to those of us in the South Coast business community who had worked very, very hard to land the airline a few years ago.
While nonstop flights to and from Denver will be limited, Hastert noted, Southwest still has a full schedule of flights to Las Vegas, Oakland and Sacramento, with connections to destinations throughout the country.
Delta’s previously announced Atlanta and Salt Lake City routes remain on track to resume in July.
By the way, how about a HT to our newest Noozhawk, Daniel Green? I’ll formally introduce him next week but our fledgling reporter has already hit No. 1 in the Best of Bill Top 5.
Not bad for a rookie, although I’m gonna hear about it from the at least temporarily vanquished veteran, Josh Molina.
2. Injured Cyclist Taken to Hospital After Crash in Downtown Santa Barbara
A bicyclist suffered a likely broken leg after colliding with a pickup truck near downtown Santa Barbara on May 18.
As our Tom Bolton reported, Santa Barbara fire Battalion Chief Jon Turner said emergency crews responded around 5 p.m. to the intersection of De la Vina and West Micheltorena streets, where the injured cyclist was lying in the street.
American Medical Response paramedics treated the man for a possible broken leg before transporting him to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
The man’s identity was not disclosed, and there was no information on his medical condition.
The driver remained at the scene after the collision, which is being investigated by Santa Barbara police.
Three days later and a few blocks away, a second cyclist was seriously injured in a May 21 collision with a vehicle at the intersection of Mission and State streets.
Police Cmdr. Charles Katsapis told our Giana Magnoli that an off-duty SBPD officer and an off-duty firefighter happened on the scene after the early afternoon crash and rendered aid until emergency personnel could get there.
The injured bicyclist was transported by an AMR ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. No other details were available.
Katsapis said driving under the influence does not appear to be a factor. The collision remains under investigation.
3. BizHawk: Wendy Foster Store, Trattoria Vittoria Restaurant Shutting Down in Santa Barbara
The venerable Wendy Foster and Trattoria Vittoria are two of the latest victims of downtown Santa Barbara’s downward spiral.
As our Josh Molina reported, Wendy Foster, a luxury lifestyle clothing store at 1220 State St., announced it was closing at the end of May after 40 years.
“With the ever-changing climate of Santa Barbara’s downtown shopping destination, we feel that it is best for our business to focus on our other locations at this time, opening the door to future opportunities,” the store posted on its Instagram account.
Those other locations are Wendy Foster Montecito, Wendy Foster Sportswear and Upstairs at Pierre Lafond in Montecito’s Upper Village at 516 San Ysidro Road; Angel Montecito at 1150 Coast Village Road; and Wendy Foster Los Olivos, at 2928 San Marcos Ave. in Los Olivos.
All five shops have an abundance of locals and tourists alike in a clean and safe environment. Coincidence?
Right around the corner from Wendy Foster State Street was Trattoria Vittoria, which abruptly shut down last weekend after 18 years at 30 E. Victoria St.
In a social media post, general manager Vittoria Comin recounted the history of the location, and how his grandfather, Giovanni “Lucky” Comin, got his start as a bartender at the old Pascual’s before buying into the business.
Lucky Comin later was able to open his “dream” Italian place in 2006, and it became an immediate locals hangout.
“Thanks to the loyal support of our community and dedicated employees, the restaurant even survived the pandemic and has weathered much of the storm from a worsening economy,” Comin said.
“However, with my Nonno retired, inflation and cost of living continuing to rise unsustainably, and the City of Santa Barbara becoming less inviting to small, family-owned restaurants like ours, we have determined it is unfortunately time to move on.”
Arrivederci.
4. Dan McCaslin: Tips for Hiking Among Rattlesnakes in the Local Frontcountry
After reading our Giana Magnoli’s report on an alarming increase in recent rattlesnake bites along Santa Barbara County’s South Coast, outdoors columnist Dan McCaslin weighed in with some tips on how to coexist with the creatures in the backcountry.
His columns are always writing worth reading so I won’t trample his trail, but awareness and caution are what jumped out at me.
Don’t be rattled by the risk, though. There is something exhilarating about coming across a snake of any kind — albeit at a safe distance.
5. Head-on Crash in Santa Maria Valley Sends 2 Injured Drivers to Hospital
A May 19 head-on collision at the intersection of Highway 135 and Union Valley Parkway in the Santa Maria Valley put both drivers in the hospital.
As our Janene Scully reported, emergency crews responded to the 9 p.m. wreck to find two absolutely mangled cars.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said the drivers — a man and a woman, and the vehicles’ only occupants — suffered only minor to moderate injuries in the crash.
Both were transported by AMR ambulances to Marian Regional Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria.
Their identities were not disclosed and information on their medical conditions was not available.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories before you go:
» With ‘Love and Remembrance,’ Isla Vista Gathers to Honor Victims 10 Years After Massacre — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway is on hand for a somber 10th anniversary of the horrific murders of six young people in Isla Vista.
» FAFSA Fiasco Keeps Santa Barbara Students in Limbo Awaiting College Financial Aid — The headline pretty much says it all for Rebecca’s story, but her reporting on the latest federal botch job gets into the fine print.
» Judy Foreman: The Ageless Joy of Birthday Celebrations — Columnist Judy Foreman explains why birthdays matter at every stage of life.
» Iconic Santa Barbara Courthouse Tower Closed for Renovations — Staff writer Daniel Green provides an update on the ongoing renovations at one of Santa Barbara’s most popular landmarks.
» Girsh Park Celebrates 25 Years of Serving as Goleta’s Community Hot Spot — It’s hard to believe that Goleta’s Girsh Park is a quarter-century-old. Sports editor Diego Sandoval assures me it is.
» Man Faces Hefty Prison Term for Elder Abuse, Financial Fraud Involving Carpinteria Church Members — Editor in chief Tom Bolton spells out the criminal case against one despicable human being.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Six Santa Barbara Restaurants Fighting to Keep Their Parklets.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
On the prowl: Could Griffith Park Have a New Resident Mountain Lion? Officials Investigate Latest Sighting.
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Here’s What I’m Up To
- June 6 — I’m not a morning person but the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast mentioned the possibility of pancakes. I’ll be there early to share Noozhawk’s story and North County expansion plans.
- June 7 — Mountain View School in Goleta is having me back to participate in its annual sixth-grade exit interviews. Talking with the school’s Cougar cubs is always one of my favorite things I get to do as Noozhawk’s publisher.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
What a week. I go from Cody Jinks at the #santabarbarabowl to a Los Angeles @dodgers walk-off win (thank you, Shohei Ohtani) to sheepish weed eaters to some squirrelly suspects in my orchard. It’s all in my Instagram feed.
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Watch It
Gulp.
