Technology is a wonderful thing … when it works.
Unfortunately, Noozhawk has been experiencing a few technological hiccups over the last week or so — some of it on our end but most as a result of circumstances beyond our control with third-party vendors.
We have our best people working to get all systems going again, especially our email and newsletter programs.
Until then, please bear with us. I’m terribly sorry for the inconvenience.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk had an audience of 113,042 readers this past week, a drop in traffic that — every year — coincides with the heavy run of high school commencement ceremonies around Santa Barbara County.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories that those of you who aren’t involved in graduation celebrations were reading, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
As you know, this is my opinion column, not a news story, and I write it in my civic capacity as Noozhawk’s publisher.
And congratulations to the Class of 2025!
1. BizHawk: Win~Dow Burgers Makes Smash Opening in Downtown Santa Barbara
The famed Win~Dow Burgers has opened in downtown Santa Barbara, transforming the funky restaurant space on the corner of Chapala and West Ortega streets into a bright, vibrant destination for affordable smashburgers.
As our Josh Molina reported, the restaurant launched in Venice in 2019 and, with the Santa Barbara outpost, now has six locations in Southern California.
Win~Dow specializes in single and double smashburgers featuring cheese, onions and sauce, with the classic cheeseburger priced at a mere $4.35.
“It’s one of the most beautiful places in Southern California,” owner Jeff Goodman said of the decision to open in Santa Barbara.
“We’re typically on the hunt for great communities and iconic buildings, where we think there isn’t a lot of versions of us.”
The menu includes fries, a “Beauty Burger” for vegetarians, a fried chicken sandwich, grain bowl, kale salad and fries, plus desserts like mint cookies and cream dipped cones alongside shakes and beverages.
Goodman, who has previously worked at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore and Morton’s Steakhouse, came up with the Win~Dow concept with business partner Paul Hibler as a spinoff from their Venice steakhouse, American Beauty.
“The pricing is meant to be like an everyday eat, and we see guests three and four times a week,” he told Josh. “We are deliberately attempting to be an egalitarian experience.”
Win~Dow Burgers, at 701 Chapala St. across from Paseo Nuevo, is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekends.
2. Driver Arrested on Suspicion of DUI After Vehicle Hits Goleta Home
An allegedly intoxicated driver woke up a Goleta neighborhood late on the night of June 9 when he slammed his car into a home in the 6200 block of Cathedral Oaks Road.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, one resident was home at the time of the 11:40 p.m. crash but escaped injury, as did the occupants of the Honda Accord suddenly parked in the wall of the two-story house.
According to Santa Barbara County sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick, the westbound driver — identified as 23-year-old Nehemiah Verhoef of Goleta — “failed to negotiate a left-hand turn from Cathedral Oaks to southbound Carlo (Drive), driving over a crosswalk activator and into a residence.”
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said urban search and rescue teams from stations 11 and 14 shored up and secured the damaged structure for the night.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Verhoef on suspicion of driving under the influence, Zick said.
His passenger, she added, “attempted to hide opened containers of alcohol from deputies prior to their arrival” and was also arrested. The identity of the driver’s slow-witted wingman wasn’t disclosed but … here’s your sign.
Both men were booked into County Jail, then cited and released, authorities said.
HT to Noozhawk reader Jacob Brady for the tip and the pix!
3. Highway 154 Reopens After Vehicle Crash, Brush Fire Near Paradise Road
A three-vehicle collision on Highway 154 in the Santa Ynez Valley on June 10 injured two people, ignited a half-acre brush fire and shut down the roadway for several hours.
As our Giana Magnoli reported, the California Highway Patrol said the crash and subsequent vehicle fire were called in at 11:40 a.m. near Paradise Road, about three miles north of San Marcos Pass.
The wreck caused one vehicle to catch fire, with flames engulfing the sedan and quickly spreading to nearby brush on the hillside.
Santa Barbara County fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said two people suffered moderate to major injuries in the collision and were transported by American Medical Response ambulances to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
He added that county and Los Padres National Forest firefighters had contained the blaze by 12:35 p.m. using hose lines, hand tools and water drops from county Copter 964.
Highway 154 was closed for four hours while the fire was tended to and wreckage was cleared from the scene.
The CHP is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
4. 4 Santa Barbara County Rite Aids Set to Close as Company Faces Bankruptcy
Four Santa Barbara County Rite Aid stores will permanently close following the company’s second bankruptcy filing in two years, with closures scheduled throughout late June and early July.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, the county is losing four of its six remaining Rite Aid stores:
- 199 N. Fairview Ave. in Goleta, closing June 29
- 345 Town Center West in Santa Maria, closing July 2
- 2405 S. Broadway in Santa Maria, closing July 5
- 616 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang, closing July 7
Two Santa Barbara stores — 1976 Cliff Drive and 35 S. Milpas St. — will remain open for now but could close for good if not sold to another company.
These four locations were initially spared from the first round of 115 store closures nationwide but were included in an additional 111 stores announced in court documents filed May 30.
On May 15, Rite Aid announced it was transferring pharmacy assets from more than 1,000 stores to retailers — including Albertsons, CVS, Kroger and Walgreens — to ensure customers maintain prescription access.
“A key priority for Rite Aid is to ensure that as many of our loyal customers as possible continue to receive pharmacy services without interruption,” CEO Matt Schroeder said.
5. Box Truck Gets Stuck at Los Patos Way Bridge in Santa Barbara
A box truck got itself wedged under the Union Pacific railroad trestle over Los Patos Way near Montecito the morning of June 10, temporarily backing up southbound Highway 101 traffic and halting train service.
As our Rebecca Caraway reported, the obviously oblivious truck driver drove into the notoriously low structure around 7:30 a.m.
A heavy-duty tow truck was called out to free the stuck truck, and the California Highway Patrol reported that the highway was back to normal by 9 a.m.
This was not the first oversized vehicle trapped by the bridge with a clearance of just 12 feet, 3 inches, but it will be one of the last.
In the next few months, the problematic trestle and the unusually abrupt exit ramp will be removed as part of the interminable Highway 101 widening project.
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Good Reads
Don’t miss these six stories:
» Family of UCSB Student Liz Hamel Pleads for Help Solving Her Death — South County editor Josh Molina follows up on the case of Liz Hamel, the UC Santa Barbara freshman who died under murky circumstances back in April. Sadly, her parents don’t appear to be any closer to getting the answers they so desperately seek.
» More People Living in Cars in County Despite Rise in Transitions Into Housing — Staff writer Daniel Green takes a spin in the jalopy that passes for Santa Barbara County’s philosophical approach to homelessness.
» Santa Barbara Council Sets Aside $5 Million for Affordable Housing for 2 Years — Josh follows the money as the Santa Barbara City Council pulls $5 million from the city’s reserves to use for affordable housing programs. Not sure how far that will take them, but raiding rainy day funds is easier than reforming the largely self-inflicted system preventing the construction of attainable housing in the first place.
» Santa Barbara’s Monique Limón to Lead State Senate Starting in 2026 — Josh introduces incoming state Senate President Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, whose next legislative milestone will be historic on several levels.
» Genasys Emergency Mapping Software Coming to Santa Barbara County — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway maps out some new tools to help keep residents and first-responders safe in an emergency.
» Mark Patton: Celebrating the Olympians Who Run with Angels — Sports columnist Mark Patton has a moving column about his late sister, Therese, and his family’s special bond with Special Olympics.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Highway 101 Construction Project Set to Begin in Santa Barbara This Summer.
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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
It turns out that one of the biggest spreaders of UFO rumors is the Pentagon itself: The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology. HT to my friend and Best of Bill reader, Jim Youngson.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
I didn’t exactly get carried away with my Instagram feed this past week, but some stuff did get carted away.
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Watch It
When personalization gets too personal.
