Isla Vista has a new resident, and all are welcome to visit.

Rusty’s Pizza Parlor has moved in at 6583 Pardall Road, offering the town another option for pizza — just in time for the April 5 Deltopia celebration.

Luis Fonseca, the manager at Rusty’s, spoke with Noozhawk on Thursday.

“We’re open, and we’re expecting people to come in and like the pizza,” Fonseca said.

The spacious restaurant is the former site of Giovanni’s and at one point was home to Rockfire Grill.

The new Rusty’s Pizza comes with some changes. It will not offer salads or make deliveries. It will start selling beer in a couple of weeks.

For the past 11 years, Fonseca managed the Rusty’s on Upper State Street in Santa Barbara next to Chick-fil-A. That site is closed for renovation.

The restaurant in Isla Vista opens at 11 a.m. It serves chicken wings and pizza by the slice.

“I am looking forward to the environment, the way it feels. We’re expecting it to be busy,” Fonseca said.

The Rusty’s Pizza on Storke Road in Goleta remains open. It serves salads and delivers.

Happy Month at Pascucci

Laura Knight, the owner of Pascucci, is moving her Italian restaurant in Santa Barbara from 509 State St. to 1230 State St. in May, but wants readers to know that she’s going out with a bang at the current location.

She is declaring April “Happy Month,” with happy hour drink specials seven days a week, from opening to closing.

House wine is $5 a glass, well cocktails are $5, the house margarita, with 100% agave tequila, is $6, and bottled beer is $4.

“We are very excited about our new location in the Arts District, where we’ll be nestled between the Arlington and Granada theaters,” Knight said.

The last day at 509 State St. is planned for April 27.

Santa Barbara Airbus Celebration

Santa Barbara Airbus has driven more than 3 million people from Santa Barbara to LAX.

To recognize the special day, the company plans to hold an appreciation lunch for staff and community partners, including local businesses and organizations, on April 30. It also will celebrate its 42th anniversary this year.

“We are incredibly proud of our 42 years of service to this amazing community,” said Samantha Onnen Shipp, CEO of Santa Barbara Airbus. “Our success and longevity would not be possible without the steadfast support of our dedicated staff, loyal passengers and invaluable community partners. Together, we have achieved so much, and we look forward to many more years of providing top-notch service to our customers.” 

Generation Faraday Appoints CGO

Jennifer Andrulewicz has been hired as chief growth officer for Generation Faraday, with a Santa Barbara location at 118 E. Ortega St.

“She brings extensive experience and a strong commitment to the phone-free school movement, having worked closely with educators and administrators on ‘Anxious Generation’ mitigation policies and effective device management solutions,” said Ryan Judy, president of Generation Faraday. “As more schools recognize the importance of limiting device use during the school day, Jennifer’s leadership will be instrumental in expanding our impact and driving meaningful change.”

Generation Faraday is a division of Mission Darkness and MOS Equipment, and a provider of Faraday bags designed to block wireless signals. The bags were originally developed for law enforcement and military applications, according to a news release, but the company has expanded to schools.

The phones go inside the sleeves, blocking all signals, including ringing, buzzing or notifications. While some schools in California have created cellphone hotels where students leave their phones in a centralized place, the bags allow students to keep their phones, according to the company.

Andrulewicz will work closely with educators, administrators and policymakers to educate them about the effectiveness of the bags, according to a news release.

Hotel Bed Taxes Climb

Santa Barbara has collected $23.3 million in transient occupancy taxes for fiscal year 2025, about 1.8% higher than originally expected.

The city collected $1.9 million in hotel bed tax revenue in February, according to a news release from the city.

Of the city’s total for the year, $20.5 million came from hotels and $2.8 million from short-term rentals. The city expects to take in $34.5 million this fiscal year.