EHIA Newsletter









  




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WINTER 2015-2016            

        
President's Message   

Dear Fellow Association Members:                                                             


Our Association covers a lot of territory and serves a lot of residents but depends

on only a few committed people to be an effective and responsive organization.

All are volunteers, some serve as “Block Captains” and some serve as board

members. We lost one of the latter recently. Our dear friend and fellow board

member, Homer Smith, passed away on October 12, 2015.  Homer was a huge

asset to the EHIA community and our Board.  Besides having a friendly and calm

style, his past employment with the City of Santa Barbara brought vast knowledge

and perspective in getting things done. He will be greatly missed.  A tribute to

Homer by Dave Gress is in the newsletter.


 


Eucalyptus Hill may seem sleepy at times but there is a lot going on.


           Issue- Speeding on APS, Eucalyptus Hill & Alston Roads.  This seems

to be the biggest issue this season.  Despite our efforts of traffic calming with

various signs, new striping on Alston Road and having the stop sign moved

plus restriping at the Barker Pass/Eucalyptus Hills Road intersection, numerous

accidents have occurred in the past few months resulting in injuries and also

one where a pet was injured in a hit & run while being walked by a local resident.


           The Struggle:   Our traffic committee continues to work with the City

Traffic Engineer with continued efforts in traffic calming & local police who are

out there citing drivers who speed on these roads.  Please be vigilant in

reminding your neighbors, friends, family, contractors & vendors to

SLOW DOWN while driving in our neighborhoods. 

“Please Respect 35” - MPH that is.


 


           Issue- Emergency preparedness: We now have 30 handheld

emergency two-way radios distributed to the volunteer Block Captains in

our neighborhood.  Our network will be able to communicate with each other

during an emergency, as well as with emergency services in the City and

County.  For many years Michael Ditmore has graciously provided the

equipment to enhance this operation but he will be retiring from this effort

soon.  We are fortunate and delighted that Bob Meltzer has stepped up to

help in this regard, allowing us to move the radio tower to his home.

Thank you Bob and welcome to the board!


 


Reminder: I would like to remind everyone that “FREE” MERRAG

training classes


are held once a month.  These classes are invaluable for emergency

preparedness and we encourage you to take one.  You can access the

schedule by going to our website calendar at www.eucalyptushillia.org

or MERRAG’s website at www.merrag.com.


 


            Issue - Burglary: There have been several recent auto and home

burglaries in our neighborhood.


           Solution:  Vigilance! Our “Neighborhood Watch Program” encourages

you to report any suspicious activity to the police.  More information including

contacts and phone numbers are available on our website.


 


           Issue- Growing EHIA Membership: Through the work of our Board

Members, Block Captains and volunteers, we work to create a safe community.

We need the support of all our neighbors.  The Association is one of the first

lines of defense for our community, and there is power in numbers. Your dues

also help support the EHIA’s activities and services in our neighborhood. 

Membership is open to all residents and homeowners in the Eucalyptus Hill area.

We are now 190 strong and growing.  Please renew or start your membership

this year; annual dues are only $35 per family or residence.


 

Thank you,

Sue Burk, President


______________________________________________________________

 


BLOCK CAPTAINS – MORE WANTED!

  


As most homeowners know, we have forty-two homeowners


who have volunteered to be Block Captains throughout Eucalyptus Hill.

Twenty-four of these homeowners also have wireless radios.  These

Homeowners are notified by email or telephone whenever we have an

emergency situation like Thursday, 10/29/2015, when we had a fire

start behind Montecito Peak.  We ask the Block Captain to forward an

email


or notify the neighbors on their street if they feel the emergency pertains

to their area.  In case of an earthquake, flood or emergencies that

impact a home, street or area and first responders are unable to help,

we have a network of potential volunteers. 


Streets that are in need of a Block Captain are Barker Pass,

Summit Rd., Woodland Dr. and Camino Viejo. 


If you want to support your street as another Block Captain, please call:


Frank Randall at 565-9988 or email at frandall3@cox.net.


_______________________________________________________



TRAFFIC COMMITTEE REPORT  by Terry Tyler

The traffic committee continues to work with the City to improve safety

on our area's streets.  We purchased and distributed the “Drive Like

Your Kids Live Here” signs to concerned neighbors.  We winterized

Alston Trail with new gravel, and are working on extending this trail

and building new ones.  The City Traffic Engineer has been helpful

with suggestions, new signage and street improvements.  The Police

Department continues its random enforcement on our streets.  However,

we still have problems with speeders and stop sign runners.  Three

recent single car accidents attributable to excess speed are living

proof of the problem.  Please slow down, and encourage your

neighbors, children and friends to do the same.

__________________________________________________________

El Niño: Prepare Your Home for Rain!


  • Clean gutters and downspouts, drain water away from foundations

  • Caulk windows and cracks, paint to protect wood exteriors

  • Keep a list of A-team repair contractors handy

  • Lower the water level in your pool to prevent overflow

  • Consider adding a flood insurance policy

  • Trim tree branches that are prone to break and might cause damage

___________________________________________________________


STAY INFORMED

 

Subscribe to a free internet emergency notification service such

as NIXLE  (www.nixle.com), that will send instant text alerts or e-mails

to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc.


___________________________________________________________


BE PREPARED FOR RAIN - FREE SANDBAGS


Sand and Bags will be available at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Flood Control Shop
4568 Calle Real, Santa Barbara

Sand bags are not pre-filled and are limited to 25 bags

per person. More information concerning sand bags is

available from County Flood Control at (805)568-3440.

 

Also call Montecito Fire Dept. for availability at Fire

Stations 1 & 2

at (805)969-7762.

 City of SB Annex Yard at 401 E. Yanonali St. when

‘Flash Flood Warnings’ are issued.  Call (805)564-5413.

_______________________________________________



In Memorium – Homer F. Smith

 

               

               

                          Homer served on the EHIA Board for the past 3 years.
His vast experience and his close connection with the City Public Works
Department were invaluable. Most of the neighborhood got to meet and know
Homer from his daily walks, for his dog(s), and for his recuperation from hip
replacement surgery.  He walked one hour every day to, as he would say,
“keep rigor mortis from setting in”.  Anyone who met Homer became an instant
friend.  He was indeed a dear friend and valued board member.  He also lived an
amazing life and was literally a man of the world, as you can tell from the
following obituary.

 

Homer Smith, has set forth on his final voyage to the hereafter. He was born

in Akron, Ohio, to Homer F. and Elizabeth Laudenbach Smith. Homer attended

King Lake elementary school, Kent State University High School and later

graduated from the US Naval Academy with honors. He earned a Bachelor of

Science in Marine Engineering and a minor in Nuclear Engineering in 1963.

After graduation he was stationed on a ship home ported in Yokosuka, Japan, and

was subsequently selected for post-graduate school and conversion from Navy

Line (seagoing) to the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). The CEC  consists of the

Construction Battalions (Seabees), Contracting Officers, and Base Engineers for

all US Navy facilities worldwide. Attending the University of Michigan he

received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Civil

Engineering. It was in Ann Arbor that he met the love of his life and his wife

of 49 years, Jean Ann McKibben. Married in 1966 their sole child Courtney

Ann was born in 1967 and upon graduation all moved to the US Naval Base

Subic Bay Philippines. Tours during his 27 year career included Hong Kong,

Vietnam, Puerto Rico, Guam, Spain, Italy and several interim tours in the US.

Upon retirement from the US Navy in 1990 Homer and Jean moved to Saudi

Arabia where he used his construction engineering talents as a Project Manager

for the oil giant Saudi ARAMCO. Homer was in charge of building many

extremely large projects including the world’s largest oil storage tank,

off-shore loading terminals for Ultra Large Crude Carriers, a 60 inch pipeline

across Saudi Arabia and a refinery upgrade. Retiring from ARAMCO in 1999

Homer and Jean settled in Santa Barbara where Courtney lived.  Homer

worked as the Principal Engineer for the City of Santa Barbara until 2009.

He ran the Solid Waste and Environmental Program, Water Resources (water,

wastewater and water supply), Design and Construction projects, City Land

Development projects, Real Property dealings and the City Survey Crew.

In 2009 Homer served as Commodore of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club and

continued sailboat racing with his friends. In addition to sailing and golf he

and Jean shared a passion for helping retired racing Greyhound dogs. Homer

also volunteered with hospice as a volunteer for the Visiting Veterans Program. 


Homer is survived by his wife Jean McKibben Smith, his daughter Courtney

Smith and her husband Alexander Steenbakkers-Noffke, and extended family.

The family would like to thank Hospice and the many friends and family

members that called, visited or rolled up their sleeves to help Homers last days.

  The family suggests that those interested can "pay it forward" by making a

donation to Santa Barbara Visiting Nurse and Hospice, the US Naval Academy

Alumni Association or Homestretch Greyhound Rescue and Adoption

(P.O. Box 1079, Fillmore CA, 93016). 

______________________________________________________________


PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG SIGNS


– We have new signs, available to paid members, to post in your

neighborhood to remind people that they are responsible to pick up after

their dogs when walking them along our streets.


 

Paid Members get one FREE sign; additional signs are available for

$20 each at the Annual Meeting or contact Dave Gress or any Board Member

for signs.


_________________________________________________________



Visit our updated Web Site:

EucalyptusHillia.com

 

Why Belong to Your

Neighborhood Association?

 

Disaster Preparedness & Awareness

The EHIA has a neighborhood disaster plan praised by

many local emergency experts to help our area prepare

for disasters in which first responders are overwhelmed

and unable to help. It includes:

• A telephone tree to rapidly inform the community of

impending danger (used during the Jesusita Fire).

• An email network to alert members of emergencies,

prevention activities, and training sessions.

• A Block Captain program with 35 volunteers who collect

data about special needs, skills, and equipment.

• A radio network which includes a base station,

repeater system, battery back-up, antenna, and 30

radios with trained operators on our streets.

• A web site presence to inform the community of

training programs and emergency situations.

• The Red Flag Alert program to inform neighbors

when there are high fire danger weather conditions.

• 25 members who have participated in Community

Emergency Response Team training provided by the

City Fire Department.We welcome your participation!

 _________________________________________________





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SPRING 2015 

EHIA ANNUAL MEETING!

  GREAT FOOD, FUN AND INFORMATION

 Sunday, May 31st, from 3PM to 5PM

  815 Cima Linda Lane

President's Message         

Dear Fellow Association Members:

 

Our community has experienced a number of unauthorized entries involving unlocked vehicle from September 2014 to March 2015. REMOVE your valuables from your vehicles and LOCK IT.  This should be checked every time you leave your vehicle unattended. If everyone follows this procedure, we can dramatically reduce the number of incidents in our neighborhood.  In addition, we have had a number of residential burglaries in the western section of our neighborhood.   As you may have heard, burglars caused major damage when entering and sorting through belongings.  Be alert to suspicious behaviors and contact police via 911.

         Please continue to remind your friends, contractors, vendors, and family members to slow down while traveling our neighborhood streets.  The police have been very active in citing drivers thanks to our traffic committees work. 

         Remember the Wild-land Hazard Abatement chipping program begins May 11th.  This is another example of our Wild-land Assessment District at work for our wildfire safety.   We're paying for it - let's make use of it.  Information regarding the program can be found on the City of Santa Barbara Fire Department web site, or by calling or emailing Chris Braden:   cbraden@SantaBarbaraCA.gov or 805-965-5254. He will be glad to answer any questions.    Let's enjoy a secure and fire safe summer.

 I Hope to see you all at our Annual Meeting,

 

John Ahlman

Traffic Calming                         


The EHIA Traffic Committee continues to work with the City of Santa Barbara to make our neighborhood roads safer. For the first time in several years, the Police are actively, if somewhat randomly, patrolling our area. This is a major achievement, because their presence alone reduces the speeding and stop sign violations. It also helps prevent criminals from "casing" our homes for burglary possibilities.  We are continuing to work with City Traffic Engineering to adjust signage and lane markers.  In addition we have implemented the "DRIVE LIKE YOUR KIDS LIVE HERE" signage campaign, in hope of raising driver consciousness about speed and safety.  However, we will never resolve the problem unless everyone in the neighborhood sets the example by driving safely on our streets.  Please respect the rules of the road and posted speeds and help keep us all safe.



Block Captains                      


As of April 2015, we have 43 Block Captains for 32 streets in the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association area. I want to thank Michael Ditmore who conducts our radio checks every week.


 A shout goes out to PK Krieger, Dave Gress, John Ahlman, and


Terry Tyler who act as backups for the network.  At our annual meeting on May 31st, we would like to recognize the Block Captains in attendance.


Please send an email to frandall3@cox.net if you plan to attend, so we can have a name tag prepared for you.  If you would like to participate in our effort to support our neighborhood in an emergency, send me an email me or call me at 805-565-9988.      



Frank Randall, EHIA Board Member


Recent Burglaries and Neighborhood Watch           


Twenty-three home "break-ins" have occurred in Santa Barbara since the beginning of the year, six of which have been in our Eucalyptus Hill neighborhood.  Unfortunately, no suspects have been caught.  Sgt. Riley Harwood urges residents to be "watchful of suspicious activity, people or vehicles their neighborhoods".  PLEASE call 911 if you hear the sound of breaking glass or see a stranger casing a residence or loitering as a possible lookout. We urge you all to make your home more secure and make it look like you are home, even if you are not.  A number of homeowners have put in security systems as an extra precaution.  Alert your neighbors or block captain when you will be away for extended periods.  Our "Neighborhood Watch Program” can become one of the most effective crime prevention programs in the area if you participate.  It not only helps bring neighbors together but also encourages us to be proactive with law enforcement personnel to deter crime and make our neighborhood safer.


 Sue Burk, Vice-President              452-2940 or sue@jsburk.com 


Reverse 911 Alert System Test - May 16th 


The City of Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Services, Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, and the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association will be conducting a test of Reverse 911. The test will be conducted on Saturday May 16, 2015 from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m.


How do I register my cell phone for Reverse 911? 


Visit: http://www.sbsheriff.org/reverse911a.html.


E.H.I.A. Disaster Planning Program

We have our own emergency radio network, which includes: base station, antenna, repeater system, battery back-up, and 32 operators strategically placed in the community.  In a disaster event which compromises telephone and cell phone systems, we will be able to communicate and allocate resources where needed.

Our Red Flag Alert system allows us to place warning signs around the neighborhood whenever the Fire Department declares extreme fire potential weather conditions.

______________________________ 

 

           Spring 2014 - Annual Meeting 



 

EHIA ANNUAL MEETING!

GREAT FOOD, FUN AND INFORMATION

Sunday, May 18th, from 3PM to 5PM

  815 Cima Linda Lane

Local author Neal Graffy will present "Frederick Forrest Peabody - One of the Hill Top Barons"

Don't miss this entertaining and exclusive presentation.

Also: Santa Barbara Police Beat Officer; and displays and hands-on demonstrations by emergency medical personnel and the City Fire Department.

Come and say hello to your neighbors, enjoy good food and  drink, and learn more about your neighborhood, disaster preparedness, and personal safety. 

 

 

 

 

President's Message           

 

Sundowners - Red Flag Alerts

 

Dear Fellow Association Members:

 

 I would like to share a little history on the "Sundowner" wind effect we 

experience from  time to time. "Sundowners", or diurnal mountain winds, are characterized by a reversal of wind direction twice per day.  As a rule, the winds

are upslope, up-valley and from plain to mountains during daytime and in the

opposite direction during nighttime.  As you have seen, these winds can be

severe. These conditions are not unique to our area alone. Often these winds

drive wildfires that occur on the south-coast.  Most often they are referred 

to as the infamous Santa Ana winds.  The true Santa Ana winds usually affect

Ventura County southward into Los Angeles and Orange County.  These winds

can last for a day or so, sometimes more.  These winds are the major factor in

the spread of fire.  Fuel moisture and topography play a significant role as well.

Our local south coast phenomena is called a "Sundowner" wind.  As indicated 

by the name, these winds occur during the late afternoon and early evening. 

These winds usually, but not always, subside near midnight.  No matter what 

you name these winds, the results are much the same.  A resulting wildfire in

such conditions is the same as a "Santa Ana".  Fighting fire conditions such as

these are very difficult and extremely dangerous.  The local fires that have

started during the last fifty plus years have been caused by mechanical failure

and/or human error. The "Tea" and "Jesusita" fires are perfect examples of the

latter.  Exceptions were the "Romero Fire" of 1971 and the "Paint Fire" of 1990. 

These were arson caused.  There is much confusion on media sites as to where

the "Red Flag Warnings" are in place. They may be local, but often are directed

to the areas south of our community.  Though it may appear to us that the

weather is worthy of a Red Flag Warning, the determination will come from 

the City of Santa Barbara Fire Department.  Until that time, we will hold the signs

in reserve until advised otherwise.  Those individuals with Red Flag Warning/

Red Flag Alert signs will be notified when the alert is received.

 

The Wild-land Hazard Abatement chipping program begins May 27th, 2014.  

This is another example of our Wild-land Assessment District at work for our

wildfire safety. Questions can be directed to:   cbraden@SantaBarbaraCA.gov 

or 805-965-5254.


He will be glad to answer any questions. 

 

I Hope to see you all at our Annual Meeting,

 

John Ahlman

   


 


 


  

           

Traffic Calming        

 

 

Report from the EHIA Traffic Committee

 

The EHIA Traffic Committee (Kathy Marvin, Terry Tyler and Homer Smith) continues to interface with the City Supervising Traffic

Engineer regarding making EHIA roads safe. Our primary concern remains Alston Road, and the need to slow down traffic and keep

traffic within the lanes.

 

Additionally, the City will be installing warning signs at the existing

stop signs on Eucalyptus Hill Road and Alston Road, advising 

motorists that "On-coming Traffic Does Not Stop." We ask the help

of all EHIA residents to stress with your family and workers at your homes to slow down on our roads.

 

Other areas the Traffic Committee is working on is reducing speed

on the Overlook/La Vista Grande.

 

We appreciate working with residents who use these roads for

walking, and welcome your feedback and recommendations.

Provide feedback to any of the Traffic committee members."

 

Kathy Marvin:  kathleenmarvin@cox.net

Terry Tyler:     tjtcpa@garnertyler-cpa.com

Homer Smith:  hohohosmith@cox.net  




 



 


 

Reverse 911 Alert System Test

- May 3rd           

 

The City of Santa Barbara Office of Emergency Services, Santa Barbara

County Sheriff's Department, and the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement

Association will be conducting a test of Reverse 911. The test will be conducted on Saturday May 3, 2014 from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m.

 

This test is voluntary and will assist in determining emergency 

notification to the residents within Eucalyptus Hill. This test will provide

a report to the Sheriff's Department and the Eucalyptus Hill residents 

on the effectiveness of the Reverse 911 alert system.

 

Please note the FAQ for Reverse 911

 

What is Reverse 911? The Reverse 911 system is a communications

tool used to facilitate urgent and necessary notifications to citizens 

during emergency events like wildfires and floods.

 

How does Reverse 911 contact me? Reverse 911 sends a recorded message through phone lines to Santa Barbara County homes and businesses affected by the emergency. Citizens can also voluntarily 

register cell phones and email addresses to receive notifications.

 

How do I register my cell phone for Reverse 911? Visit: http://www.sbsheriff.org/reverse911a.html.

 

Will my personal information be used for any other purpose? No. Your information is safe. Your phone numbers and email will only be used in emergency events and all information is kept locally. The information 

will not be sold or distributed for any purpose.

If you have a land line, the Sheriff's Department should have your

number in the data base whether it is listed or not.    _____________________________________________________

Annual Brush Chipping                  

 

Wildland Fire District Chipping Program

 

Mark your calendar for May 27. 

 

That's when the City will begin its annual Defensible Space Chipping

Program in our area.  Place your cut vegetation out by roadways no

sooner than May 13, and no later than May 26, (Memorial Day).  Cut vegetation should be laid out in a pile along the street, with the cut

end facing the street, in lengths of 4-7 feet.

 

Branches should be no larger than 10 inches in diameter.  No grasses,

palm fronds, succulents or agaves please.  Plan to take advantage of 

this opportunity to remove excess vegetation from your property during

the current drought period.  For more information visit the City's 

website at www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/WFSAD.  Or call 965-5254. 

If you can use chipped material on your property, please call the number listed above.

 

___________________________________________________________________________


 The History of Eucalyptus Hill

By Terry Tyler

 Copyright 2013 all rights reserved

 The Eucalyptus Hill area of Santa Barbara occupies the eastern flank of the foothills known as the “American Riviera”.  It is one of the few places in the world where coastal mountains face in a southerly direction.  This geographic position provides exceptional sun exposure during the winter months because the low sun reflects off the ocean onto the hillside.  The area lies between a natural sea level lagoon known as the Andree Clark Bird Refuge and the prominent Montecito Peak at 3,214 feet.

 Most of Eucalyptus Hill lies within the city limits of Santa Barbara, but the eastern

most portion falls within the unincorporated area called Montecito.  The area is best defined by the following roads as boundaries: eastern boundary, Summit Road and Camino Viejo; southern boundary, Old Coast Highway;  northern boundary, Salinas Street and Sycamore Canyon Road, western boundary; and East valley Road,. The area changes in elevation rapidly from about 50 feet above sea level along Old Coast Highway to several hundred feet above sea level on various hilltops.  Several roads provide entrance and exit to the neighborhood.  They include Eucalyptus Hill Road, Alemeda Padre Sierra, Barker Pass Road, Alston Road, and Camino Viejo.  Summit Road, which travels through the Montecito Country Club provided access for many years, but was closed to through traffic in the 1980’s. 

 Today, Eucalyptus Hill includes about 1,000 residences, but it was largely uninhabited until the late 1800’s, when several “titans of industry” discovered the area and started building mansions on the many hilltops within the area.  One historian refers to the group as the “Hilltop Barons”.

 The area takes its name from the forests of eucalyptus trees that were imported and planted by Frederick Forest Peabody on the road leading to his mansion named “Solano” which he built at the top of what came to be known as Eucalyptus Hill. Over 7,000 Eucalyptus Tress were imported from Australia and planted on his property.  Logically, this road came to be known as Eucalyptus Hill Road.  Solano means “sunny place” in Spanish.  The original property included forty acres, but it was expanded by the purchase of 20 more.  The property was bounded by Alston Road on the south, Eucalyptus Hill Road to the west, and Camino Viejo Road to the North and East.  The Peabody’s finished construction and moved into Solano in 1915. 

 Mr. Peabody was originally in the shirt collar business, which expanded into the shirt business, (Arrow Shirts).  He was an innovator who developed the “Santorizing” process for his shirts.  The mansion was designed by Francis Underhill and measured 150 x 110 feet.  Massive planting of Acacia trees provided beautiful yellow blossoms all year long.  The property was one of the show places of Montecito. 

 Mr. Peabody was a generous philanthropist to the City of Santa Barbara.  In 1924 he built the football stadium for Santa Barbara High School for $100,000. The stadium was named Peabody Stadium in his honor. In addition, he donated the land for the property where Peabody Charter School is located.  He also made generous donation to the Lobero Theater, Cottage Hospital, and to the City for the acquisition of ocean front property along east and west beaches after the 1925 earthquake.

His widow remarried a gentleman named Hale, and they later gave the 13 acre property now known as Hale Park to the City of Santa Barbara.  In 1959 Solano was sold to the “Fund for the Republic”, which used it for its “Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions,”  a liberal think tank,until the 1970s. 

George Owen Knapp purchased a 70 acre parcel known as Arcady on Eucalyptus Hill in 1911.  Knapp was one of the founders of Union Carbide Co. which resulted from the mergers of Electro Gas, People’s Gas Light and Lake Superior Carbide in 1898.  He expanded the house and moved in during 1912.  He also purchased an additional fifty acres and planted incredible gardens which displayed 397 plant types from around the world.  The rose garden alone featured 99 different varieties.  During the Great Depression, Knapp employed local Italian stone masons to build sand stone walls around his property.  Many of these walls a still in place today, and can be seen along Alston Road.  Knapp was a great supporter of Cottage Hospital, and recruited Dr. William Sansum, of Sansum Clinic, to the area in 1920.  Knapp's son William planted lemon tress on the property, and by 1940, 75 acres of the estate were planted with over 9,500 trees.  The property was subdivided and developed after World War II.

 Cornelius Billings, also a founder of Union Carbide, purchased 104 acres above and to the west of the new Montecito Country Club in 1917.  He purchase and additional 47 acres south of Alston Road to expand his holdings to 151 acres.  Billings was extremely wealthy and was know as a”millionaire’s millionaire”.  He built a huge mansion designed by Underhill on a knoll over looking the lagoon now known as the bird refuge. The main entrance to the property was then  on what is now known as Woodland drive. He also built 3 large guest houses on Cima Linda Lane, and two servants quarter facilities west of the main house.  In addition, he built two large guest houses on Rametto Road directly above the new Country Club.  The guest houses were designed by Carleton Winslow.

 Billings was a prominent horseman, and built extensive stables below his property in the area of Old Coast Highway and Salinas Street.  He owned a world champion trotter (1903-1912) named Lou Dillon, and a street in the area is named after this horse.

 William Hutchinson Cowles purchased 44 acres on the west side of Eucalyptus Hill from James Barker in 1913.  


__________________________________________

 

PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG SIGNS

We have new signs available to paid members to post in your 

neighborhood to remind people that they are responsible to pick up

after their dogs when walking them along our streets.

 

Paid Members get one FREE sign; additional signs are available for

$20 each. Contact Dave Gress or any Board Member for signs.  

Signs will be available at the Annual Meeting.





 

Why Belong to Your

Neighborhood Association?

 

Disaster Preparedness & Awareness

The EHIA has a neighborhood disaster plan praised by many local emergency experts to help our area prepare for disasters in which first responders are overwhelmed and unable to help. It includes:


* A telephone tree to rapidly inform the community of

   impending danger (used during the Jesusita Fire).

* An email network to alert members of emergencies,

   prevention activities, and training sessions.

* A Block Captain program with 35 volunteers who collect 

   data about special needs, skills, and equipment.

* A radio network which includes a base station,

   repeater system, battery back-up, antenna, and 30

  radios with trained operators on our streets.

* A web site presence to inform the community of

   training programs and emergency situations.

* A web site presence to inform the community of

   training programs and emergency situations.

* The Red Flag Alert program to inform neighbors

   when there are high fire danger weather conditions.

* 25 members who have participated in Community

   Emergency Response Team training provided by the

   City Fire Department.

 

 

We welcome your participation!

 

      

 The Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association

(EHIA) works to sustain and improve our neighborhood.

We keep you updated on changes impacting us with

our web site, as well as with emails on time sensitive matters, and we provide a forum for community input

and discussion on important issues that affect our neighborhood.

 

EHIA's ability to influence the issues and decisions

of City and regulatory agencies is directly

proportional to the size of our membership. In

addition to providing financial support, your

membership strengthens our ability to perform

the work we're here to do.

 

We're stronger when we work together.

If you're not already a member, please join today.



 Block Captains

 

We have 42 Block Captains as of July 10, 2015.  24 have wireless radios.  We would like to have more Block Captains.  Some streets have none and some have many homeowners and need more than one.  Check our web site at EHIA Admin at our list of Block Captains by street to see how you are represented. If you would like to participate in our effort to support our neighborhood in an emergency send me an email at frandall3@cox.net or call me at 805-565-9988. 


Frank Randall


 

 

 

 

 

    

 

BE PREPARED!

 

 

Disaster planning and preparation for family, home, and pets is wise and convenient for

homeowners in Eucalyptus Hill.  MERRAG offers a series of CERT disaster response training

classes in a supportive and non-threatening environment.

 

Confidence and skills are your most important tools when disaster strikes.

 

2nd Thursday (each month)

10 a.m - noon

Montecito Fire Station

595 San Ysidro Road

 

 


PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG SIGNS – We have new signs available to paid

members to post in your neighborhood to remind people that they are responsible to pick up

after their dogs when walking them along our streets.

 

Paid Members get one FREE sign, additional signs are available for $20 each.

Contact Dave Gress or any Board Member for signs.

 

 

 

 


 

_____________________________________________________________________________________            

 

NEWSLETTER

Spring 2013


 

 Alston Traffic Calming


Your Improvement Association is implementing Alston Traffic Calming. 

The EHIA Board has had ongoing conversation with the City of Santa Barbara Traffic Engineer since October of 2010. It is our intent to calm the traffic on Alston Road to make it a safer place for pedestrians. 

 

We have had many meetings with the city. We had targeted Fall of 2012 to implement several changes as Alston Rd was scheduled to be resurfaced then. The resurfacing has been delayed a year. We now look forward to Fall 2013.

 

Several traffic calming ideas have been presented to us by the City Traffic Engineer, Derrick Bailey. Among them:

 

1.  Widen the shoulders of the road

2.  Repaint the fog lines to make them more obvious

3.  Modify the striping

4.  Add a pedestrian crosswalk in the straightaway (by Norman Lane)

 

Other ideas that would be neighborhood-led include:

 

1.  Place a digital speed monitor along Alston

2.  Landscaping changes

3.  Speed cushions, place two speed cushions along the straightaway  

 

The latter ideas would require funding by the neighborhood, which would be by donation.    

 

If this project is of interest to you, please contact Terry, Homer or Kathy. We are not yet in a position to collect donations, but would love to get feedback from residents on the impact of this project and any ideas that you would support. 

 

Kathy Marvin:  kathleenmarvin@cox.net

Terry Tyler:     tjtcpa@garnertyler-cpa.com

Homer Smith:  hohohosmith@cox.net

 

 

 

 

 Block Captains

Our Block Captain count stands at thirty seven.  In an emergency they are to take care of themselves first, family second and help neighbors if they are able third.

Twenty four of these Block Captains have radios. We conduct radio checks with these Block Captains once a month, generally at 6 pm on the second Tuesday of the month.

Since our last report we added radios to Block Captains on Overlook, Eucalyptus Hill Circle, Owen Rd. and Cima Linda. For a complete list of Block Captains and Block Captains with radios, check out our website at: eucalyptushillia.com. 

If you want to look into helping your neighbors by becoming a Block Captain please let me know by phone (565-9988) or email: frandall3@cox.net.  

Frank Randall 

 

 

 Alston Trail

 

Goal:  To provide a safe pedestrian path along the south side of Alston Road from Eucalyptus Hill Road to the city line.    

 

This project began in the fall of 2011 with volunteers clearing brush in the city setback along the Alston Trail.   

 

The ground was leveled, fill dirt was spread, and gravel laid. The demonstration portion of the Trail (from 612 Alston to Rametto) was completed before year end, and the Trail was continued east as far as Summit Road in early 2012. Our next goal is to take the trail west to Eucalyptus Hill Road.

 

All work on the trail has been done by neighborhood volunteers, and supported by donations. For the Trail to move west, we will need additional donations.  

 

The committee that spearheaded the Alston Trail, as well as EHIA Board members are extremely pleased with the improvement the Trail has made for the many pedestrians who travel Alston Road, and feedback from the neighbors has been very positive. We are anxious to continue the work.

 

Please contact Kathy, Terry or Homer if you can support this project with a donation.  Donations have ranged from $20 to $250.    

 

Checks should be written to EHIA, flagged for the Alston Trail.

 

Kathy Marvin:  kathleenmarvin@cox.net

Terry Tyler:     tjtcpa@garnertyler-cpa.com

Homer Smith:  hohosmith@cox.net

 

 

 

  President's Report

             

 

All of us who live in the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association (EHIA) area can be thankful that there was no wind on November 6th this fall.  

 

On that day a small fire started near Cold Spring Trail and was contained and extinguished within a matter of several hours. If there had been any wind the outcome could have been very different and would have certainly resulted in a major threat to our neighborhood. 

 

This was a wake-up call for all of us and a good test of our emergency preparedness systems that your association has been working to establish for the last 6 years. Within minutes of the start of the fire our communications network and phone trees were activated. Newsletter alerts were emailed to everyone on our association list providing the latest status of the fire.  

 

In the event that power was lost we were prepared to activate our radio network to keep communications open around our neighborhood.  

 

By putting the resources that we have obtained through your dues and donations to work on emergency communications we feel confident that we have made our neighborhood a safer place to live. 

 

The EHIA Board has been working in many of the following ways to enhance the quality of life in our neighborhood:

 

·       EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - We continue to improve our emergency preparedness which benefits everyone in our neighborhood area. Our emergency radio network that will be active in the event of a power failure in a major emergency now has over 25 handheld emergency radios distributed strategically throughout our neighborhood with volunteers who will be able to communicate with each other and with emergency services in the City and County. We have established a close working relationship with City and County Fire Departments and Montecito Emergency Response (MERRAG). We owe a great deal of thanks to board member Michael Ditmore for setting up the radio network and for hosting our training and monthly checks of the system to ensure its availability in an emergency.

 

·        ANNUAL MEETING - This year over 100 of our residents attended our annual meeting. It provided everyone with an opportunity to meet people in the neighborhood and to learn from our speakers from City police and fire departments, emergency medical personnel, and Erin Graffy who spoke on the history of our area.

   

  • RED FLAG ALERT SIGNS - Red Flag Alert Signs purchased by EHIA were posted on major streets to warn residents when the SB Fire Department issued a red flag alert regarding condition for high fire danger in our neighborhood.
  • ALSTON ROAD SPEED CONTROL - We continued working with the City Traffic Engineer to devise ways of slowing speeding on Alston Road through techniques that will not hinder normal driving traffic flow.

·        ALSTON ROAD WALKING TRAIL - Board members Terry Tyler, Kathy Marvin, and volunteers have completed a walking trail along the south side of the road from Augusta Lane to Summit Road for the safety of our neighborhood walkers.

·        NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH - With the increase in auto burglaries and vandalism, we have contacted the Police Department for Neighborhood Watch signs and organized watch groups on participating streets.

·        WEB SITE ADDRESS ALERT!- EHIA has a new web site address: www.eucalyptushillia.com. Check it out for more EHIA information and announcements.

·        DOG CLEANUP SIGNS - EHIA will have new signs available to post in our neighborhood to remind people that they are responsible to pick up after their dogs when walking them along our streets.

·        "NEXTDOOR" - The City is participating in a web-based network that will have restricted access to neighborhood residents only. It provides up-to-date announcements from City Departments regarding projects that will affect our neighborhood. You can sign up on the City of Santa Barbara web site.

 

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our neighborhood. To accomplish this we rely on the participation and input from the residents in our area. If you have a neighborhood concern or want to participate in our activities, please contact me or one of the board members. You are welcome to come to our monthly board meetings which are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month at a Board member's home. 

 

Thanks to all of our dues-paying members who help make all of our work possible.  

 


Sincerely,

 

David Gress, President

 

 




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