I met Raiza Giorgi when our children attended preschool together shortly after we moved to the Valley.  We became friends at our bi-monthly MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meetings.  I grew to admire and respect her when I freelanced for a short time as a contributing reporter at the Santa Ynez Valley Star, which she publishes along with Santa Barbara Family & Life Magazine.  

During those early encounters, she expressed her interest in starting a local newspaper.  I watched her take that humble idea and turn it into the Santa Ynez Valley Star, the Valley’s local paper that you can pick up for free at any grocery store or coffee house.  The Star has become the Valley’s trusted source of news and events, public safety information, politics, along with heart warming stories about the people who make a difference serving this community.

Raiza’s passion for reporting the events that matter to this community and her dedication to getting the story right earned her recognition for her tireless coverage of 2017’s Thomas fire and the tragic mudslides that followed in Montecito.  

In our conversation, we discuss her childhood growing up here, her early days as a reporter at the Santa Ynez Valley News, and how she came to publish the Star. We also talk about her toughest experiences reporting on tragic murder-suicides.  Incidentally, our interview took place just a few days before the unspeakably tragic passing of Vanessa Bley and her two babies at Cold Springs Bridge on 154, where Raiza once again put aside her feelings to report the story despite her broken heart for the loss of a valued community member, acquaintance, and fellow mom.

Raiza’s love for and dedication to this Valley comes through in every issue she publishes.