From a small golf course to UCSB’s Recreation Center, from Ellwood Mesa to a “firescaped” private home, aesthetically pleasing sites will be honored by Goleta Valley Beautiful on Saturday.
The 31st Annual Goleta Valley Beautiful awards banquet and silent auction will take place Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Goleta Holiday Inn. David Edelman of Cox Communications will preside as Master of Ceremonies.
The agenda includes a silent auction to benefit the Goleta Valley Beautiful (GVB) organization, dinner and dessert, recognition of Honor Tree recipients, the bestowal of the Golden Shovel Award, and - last but not least - the presentation of the annual awards to outstandingly beautiful Goleta properties in various categories.

This year’s winners are:

Single Family residence:
6269 Avenida Ganso

Multifamily or apartments:
Storke Ranch

Sustainable Development:
Walnut Park Townhomes Bioswale and Biofilter

Homeowners Association Common Area:
Rancho Goleta Homeowners Association

Preservation of Goleta Valley Heritage:
Ellwood Mesa Open Space Acquisition

Commercial :
Hidden Oaks Golf Club

Public Institutional:
UCSB Recreation Center II

Public Park or Open Space:
Goleta Presbyterian Church

Shopping Center:
Fairview Center

Firescape Design:
1075 N. Patterson Avenue

Commercial Orchard:
La Patera Rancho

Open Category:
Iris Avenue Parkway

In addition to honoring aesthetically appealing Goleta properties on an annual basis, GVB also bestows monthly awards in two categories: residential and commercial. The organization accepts nominations from Goleta citizens, and critiques the nominated sites in several areas, including general and environmental maintenance, design, contribution to neighborhood appearance, compatibility with landscape/structures, and overall visual appeal. The 2005 monthly award winners will also be recognized at Saturday’s banquet dinner.
Included in Saturday’s program is a tribute to retiring GVB President Sam S. Alfano, who has served as the non-profit organization’s leader since 1992. The president has said of his time in office, “There has been a great advancement in landscaping and design standards since I became President 13 years ago. The Goleta Valley has seen great physical improvements as a result of cooperative efforts with schools, local governments and non-profit organizations, improved anti-litter programs, and our grants program to improve our urban forest.”
After his retirement in July, Alfano will continue to serve GVB as President Emeritus and Historian.
Executive director Ken Knight described a little bit of the history of the organization, stating that it started as an effort to save some of the area’s important historic structures, including the Goleta Depot and the community center. Six years after the depot was boarded up in 1973, GVB took up the charge to preserve the stationhouse, and it officially became Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark No. 22 in 1982. The organization has been involved in various land beautification projects over the years, including urban forestry, litter and graffiti clean up, and education programs.
As part of their devotion to urban forestry, GVB has planted more than 3,000 trees in the Valley area and continues to plant 500 new trees each month. One of the organization’s current tree planting projects includes the Devereux Greenhouse Program, which involves transplanting native young trees from the Devereux Greenhouse to the campus nursery.
GVB also offers an Honor Tree program, in which individuals or businesses can sponsor the planting of a tree in a public area in honor of a loved one. The sponsor fee covers a certificate as well as an engraved plaque placed at the tree site. Honor trees will be presented by GVB Saturday night to the following groups: County Parks South County Operations, Santa Barbara Elks Lodge 613 SR 154 Clean-Up Crew, the Home Depot Foundation, for its support of the Devereux Greenhouse Program, and retiring GVB Board Member Dan Condon.
Goleta Valley Beautiful members also dedicate their efforts to keeping the Goleta Valley as pristine as possible. Volunteers donate their time and energy to clean-up expeditions that rid Isla Vista and Goleta of unsightly and hazardous litter materials. The organization also acts on graffiti reports, sending out volunteer teams to wash or repaint public walls. In recognition of exceptional volunteer work, GVB honors the Volunteer of the Year with the Golden Shovel Award at their annual dinner; this year’s recipient is Bonnie Freeman.
Another one of GVB’s service is the education program for local schools. The organization offers support for school grounds landscaping projects, including garden plots at both Isla Vista and La Patera Elementary Schools. Educators also use California Arbor Day in March as an opportunity to educate the kids about urban forestry.
GVB always appreciates new donor memberships. Donation titles include $1000 Benefactor, $125 Business, $60 Family, and $35 Supporting, each with its own benefits. For more information, to volunteer, or to nominate a beautiful local business or residence for the monthly recognition award, call 252-1952 or visit www.goletavalleybeautiful.org.

Courtesy Photo