When Carolyn Granaroli-Frary learned that a company in Texas contacted local businesses to sell them advertising space on a sports schedule poster she became suspicious. Granaroli-Frary, a product of the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD), a life-long Carpinterian, an avid supporter of CUSD programs and a staunch Booster Club member, knew that the poster produced by the local Booster Club was not due to be produced and no Texas business has anything to do with the product.

“Our poster includes boys and girls sports. The one I heard about has only boys sports,” Granaroli-Frary said. As it turned out when the poster arrived in town it lists only the Carpinteria Warrior Football schedule. It is a one-sided 11 X 17 sheet. The schedule produced by Carpinteria Booster Club is 17 x 24. It lists all CHS sports programs and is printed on both sides.

“All money raised by the Carpinteria Booster Club is given to sports programs,” she said. “And as far as I could tell, no money from this Texas company would be coming back to us (Booster Club).”

A half dozen Carpinteria businesses paid more than $200 for the 5 X 2.5 advertisement. A Coastal View staff member discovered that one advertisement was copied from a Carpinteria Valley Magazine that is two years old.

Within a day of learning about the poster from Texas, Granaroli-Frary contacted the Fort Worth Better Business Bureau (BBB). A two-page report confirmed her suspicion. The company, owned by a man listed as Tom Gildenblatt does business under several names, including D & L Map Service, Custom Sports Publications, Weekend Fisherman, Historical Map Society, in Carpinteria’s case, the telemarketing firm of Universal Adcom calling for a High School Sports Promotions company. The report states that this is not necessarily a complete list.

In Texas the firm has an unsatisfactory BBB record based on unanswered complaints, unresolved complaints, complaints concerning selling practices, billing disputes and product quality. Specific complaints allege the company misrepresented themselves claiming that advertising would benefit local schools.

In 1999 a suit was filed against Gildenblatt’s company. The case has not yet reached court.

Also in 1999 the Office of Consumer Affairs in the state of Georgia issued a Cease and Desist Order to the company for unfair and deceptive telemarketing practices.

Carolyn Granaroli-Frary spoke to Jimmy Johnstone, a representative from Universal Adcom, the telemarketing firm that made the calls to Carpinteria businesses. Johnstone confirmed that his company is strickly for profit and no funds are intended for schools. “I told Johnstone that I will do my best to protect business in Carpinteria and Santa Barbara from his telemarketing company,” she said.

Telephone calls from the Coastal View to Goldenblatt were not answered and no one responded to the left messages.