Carpinteria Residents Create Human Zip Code on Unique Date

Carpinteria residents formed a human zip code today after seeing that the numerical date on the calendar had a significant link to the city’s postal zone.

About 500 people gathered on the city’s “World’s Safest Beach” to form the numbers in the zip code.

Postal worker Curt Speicher noticed the calendar date 9-30-13 was also aligned with the city’s zip code of 93013. He was part of the group that made up the number one. “This should be on a forever stamp for the postal service,” said Speicher,.

The Coastal View News then organized a special aerial photo from a plane provided by businessman and rancher Mac Brown. It took place at 9:30 am.

Each person who participated formed a number. They looked to the sky and waved as the plane made low pass for photographer Bill Swing to capture the shot.

It captures not only the human zip code, but some of the waterfront and beachfront apartments.

“What else could you ask for. We’ve got gorgeous weather, we have dolphins out in the water. Absolutely perfect day,” said Councilman Fred Shaw.

Just before the shot was taken a few dolphin surfaced in the near shore waters, and hundreds of birds flew over the group.

As promoted as the event was, about a half hour before the fly over there were very few people on the beach. Coastal View News Editor Lea Boyd admitted Carpinteria residents are not usually on time, and sure enough, within moments the crowd came into formation. She had a bull horn to keep them in their place, and called off a countdown as the plane came by.

“It worked, people were great,” said Boyd. “We had people file over as systematically as possible.”

Peter Durge a Coastal View Editor was very optimistic, using a line from the movie Field of Dreams saying, “if you build it, they will come.”

Resident Aime Rodriguez said, “it meant history because I figured I wouldn’t be here in the next 100 years, and it was just part of community. I love Carpinteria and love being part of it.”

The shot will be a featured photo in the 20-year old weekly paper when it comes out Thursday. No doubt it will also be a collectors item.