December 7: A motorcycle rider was killed in an accident on highway 101 at Montecito Friday night. It happened in the southbound lanes near the San Ysidro Road exit just before 10:00 and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene. It’s unclear if any other vehicles were involved.

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December 5: According to Noozhawk, Wednesday night’s SpaceX launch was the 42nd this year from Vandenberg, six more than the California Coastal Commission wants to allow. There is a pending lawsuit against the commission for trying to set a limit, with the corporation having said it may try for 100 launches next year.

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​December 3: Plans to renovate the Palms Hotel have been unanimously approved by the city Planning Commission. The new owners are looking to rebuild the once-popular restaurant and include a retail area on the ground floor and install a new rooftop bar area. The plans will now go back to the Architectural Review Board to settle issues regarding parking and signage.

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​December 2: Robataille’s Candy Store on Linden Avenue said goodbye to their customers and closed for good Sunday. It was a mainstay in Carpinteria the past 36 years, and the owners announced a few weeks ago they were closing up shop to spend more time with their family. KEYT reports they’re expecting their sixth grandchild.

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December 2: Registration is underway for one of the world’s most prestigious surf competitions, just outside Carpinteria. The Rincon Classic draws some of the most well-known names of the sport, and the 2025 event will be the 44th annual. The waiting period starts January 11th and will run through February 16th.

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​​​​November 29: Employees at the south coast’s only network TV station have voted to join a union. The Independent reports the vote at KEYT involved journalists, directors, producers and videographers, and that the action will make them part of Local 600, the International Cinematographers Guild, which represents about a dozen other TV stations nationwide. The article quotes one employee as saying he’s won major awards for what he does yet only makes 50 cents above the minimum wage.

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​​​​November 27: Story poles for the controversial Surfliner Inn project have been erected at parking lot #3 next to the railroad tracks off Linden Avenue.  The poles are to show the size and space of the proposed hotel. The latest proposal will be presented at the Architectural Review Board’s meeting on December 12. The issue has divided locals, and two years ago there was an effort to rezone the parking lot to prevent the hotel from being built. The ballot measure lost by about 80 votes out of more than 5,000 cast. 

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