Category: Uncategorized

Another note from the Board …
As reported in the February News, the Goleta Visioning Committee was formed and tasked with conceiving a vision for the Eastern Goleta Valley (Second District) 20 years from now.  The expectation is that the committee’s recommendations will soon become a framework for a Goleta Community Plan update.  A draft of the document summarizing the committee’s work over the past eight months is now available [here].

The draft may be accessed under the “Attachments/Presentation” column for the 9/16/06 meeting.  There are two prominent sections that should be of interest to all More Mesa supporters; Stewardship of the Environment and Open Space and Parks.  We hope you will look carefully at these, and other, sections as well.  Voicing your opinion will be a great help to the committee, and your community.  Let us know what you think of the draft via the Contact page

We live in a truly beautiful place. Thanks so much for caring about it.

Oak Hollow, More Mesa.

This month we would like to highlight a feature that was introduced to our web site several months ago … “Appreciation of More Mesa”.  “Appreciation” contains some of the comments from participants in our More Mesa Usage Survey.  We are grateful to these folks who have been kind enough to share their thoughts and feelings about a place that means so much to thousands of residents of the Santa Barbara area. The page can be seen here.

If you would like add any comments, reflections, thoughts, appreciation of More Mesa, please contact us via the Contact page.

We have ample room on our site for a thousand entries … so let us hear from you!!

Marsh area of More Mesa, toward evening sun. 

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CHICKS!!

Update on White-tailed kites … In May we reported that the pair of white-tailed kites occupying the east nesting area on More Mesa had fledged three chicks. This eastern area on More Mesa, known as Oak Hollow, has consistently and persistently been occupied each year with breeding kites. It now appears they have fledged another brood of three, and these youngsters are already out and about flying and foraging.

At one of the other traditional nesting tree sites on western More Mesa, two chicks fledged in May. The parents of these chicks appear to have moved to central More Mesa for a possible second nesting site.

This brings the known and recorded total of white-tailed kite chicks this year to eight or possibly more.

Two of the three kites hatched from a second nest on East More Mesa. Photographed, July 9, 2006. 

Candidate Forum
On May 11th, the More Mesa Preservation Coalition (MMPC) hosted a Forum for all the candidates seeking the position of Second District Supervisor. About 100 people were present to hear what each candidate had to say, with regard to specific questions about More Mesa, and Open Space in general. Feedback from supporters and other members of the community was extremely positive, and media coverage (including a front page story in the News Press) was broad and balanced. Equally well received, and lauded, was our detailed reporting of the event, including all the candidates’ answers.

This feature, may be found here. (Also see our ‘Thanks” section this month to hear about people and organizations who helped create this event.)

Blue Grosbeak on More Mesa, June 10, 2006. 

Candidate Forum
As we reported last month, MMPC is sponsoring an informal forum among the candidates for Second District Supervisor. The purpose of the forum will be to hear how each candidate, if elected, proposes to preserve More Mesa, and other open space, in the Second District. The forum will be held on May 11th, between 5:30 and 7:30 in the Vista la Cumbre Common Area (end of Mockingbird Lane). For detailed directions, additional information, or questions, please contact us via the Contact page.

White-tailed Kites
We are extremely pleased to report that the pair of white-tailed kites currently occupying the east ancestral nest on More Mesa has already fledged three chicks. And … the parents appear to be building yet another nest for a second brood!  On the west end, two chicks have been seen and the parents appear to be thinking about a second nest. This news is especially heartening, since many of the other historical kite nests in the Goleta Valley appear to be empty this year.  A short walk onto More Mesa from the east will afford excellent views of the three youngsters practicing their hunting skills.

Juvenile kite on west end of More Mesa, May 9, 2006.