|
more articles like this
Support Boyd Grant
updated: Sep 22, 2011, 9:20 AM
By Donna Argus
Anyone who has been fishing at the Goleta pier has probably seen Boyd Grant, the friendly, white-haired man in his 60s sporting a goatee hanging out the Angler's Center.
Mr. Grant is a Santa Barbara County volunteer who is out on the pier at daybreak each morning, seven days a week, cleaning up fishing line, hooks and kelp left by overnight anglers as well as broken bottles, graffiti, and trash from hoodlums. He was nominated as a Local Hero to the Santa Barbara Independent for his efforts in turning the pier from a liability into an asset.
Now, after three years of enthusiastic service, Mr. Grant is being dismissed by the new
Deputy Director of the Parks Department, Ken Roney, for allegedly volunteering less than the required 20 hours per week, and not benefiting the county, but a fishing organization instead.
I stopped going out on the Goleta pier after the gang and drug activity, fish mutilations and trash became unbearable and have been so appreciative that I can once again take my son out there to fish - Mr. Grant's presence has essentially eliminated those problems. I am worried that things will return to the previous situation once he is gone.
Besides cleaning the pier each morning, washing down the benches, checking on hazardous conditions and running the Angler's Center, Mr. Grant works with the Wildlife Care Network, insuring that injured wildlife is protected until it can be transported to help. He also protects the resident wildlife from harassment. He is able to see areas of the beach and water that are not visible to the lifeguards and has gotten help to several people in trouble who would otherwise not have been noticed; he warns kayakers, swimmers, and paddle-boarders away from the dangers of the pier and fishing hooks. He has kept the atmosphere at the pier family oriented, knows the hoodlums and keeps an eye on them, thereby reducing their presence at the pier.
If you have enjoyed the "new" pier, the Angler's Center, which supplies fishing poles, gear, bait and instruction to kids and families learning to fish, the disabled kid's fishing day, or just a safe and beautiful pier you can thank Mr. Grant. In return for his service he gets to park his RV at the beach parking lot. But now he may have to find another "home". Will the Goleta pier return to being an ugly and dangerous place when Mr. Grant is gone? I am contacting SB County Supervisor Janet Wolf at jwolf@sbcbos2.org and Brian Roney Contact@sbparks.org (805) 568-2461. There is a petition being circulated in support of Boyd Grant by Ken Jones find it here
 |
The County of Santa Barbara Parks Department would like to thank Boyd Grant for his long and committed service to Goleta beach and pier visitors.
(09/24/11)
|
1730 |
7
|
Back to Main Story
Comments on this thread are only open to Community Members.
# # # #
22 comments on this article. Read/Add
# # # #
|
