Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a new state housing label could reshape Santa Barbara County building
You won't want to miss Lunch With An Author on the Santa Barbara Patch calendar
Good morning Santa Barbara! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How a new state housing label could reshape Santa Barbara County building
- How ready is Santa Barbara Harbor for the next oil spill?
- How today's extreme heat is changing schedules at Santa Barbara schools
Also on today's calendar: Lunch With An Author and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Sunshine and some clouds, with a high of 85 and low of 70 degrees.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 86, low: 67. 🌶 Hot!
- Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 84 and low of 63 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. County receives 'prohousing designation' for expanding housing opportunities (santamariatimes.com) — Santa Barbara County has earned California's coveted "prohousing" designation, unlocking $1.25 million to support affordable and special‑needs housing and streamline multifamily development. The new status also gives the county priority access to additional state housing and infrastructure funds, strengthening implementation of its Housing Element and potentially shaping where and how new homes are built locally. 
2. Oil Spill Drill Tests the Emergency Response in the Santa Barbara Harbor (keyt.com) — Emergency crews practiced containing a potential oil spill at Santa Barbara Harbor, deploying booms to protect more than a thousand boats and sensitive marine life. Harbor Patrol, state wildlife officials, the Coast Guard, and contractors coordinated a real-world response scenario to ensure they can quickly seal off the harbor from West Beach to the breakwater during a major spill.
3. Thursday Heat Advisory Update: Some Schools Shifting to Minimum Days (independent.com) — Families at several Santa Barbara schools, including Santa Barbara High and Junior High, should expect minimum-day schedules today due to the extreme heat, though students may stay through normal dismissal if needed. Campuses are limiting outdoor activity, using air-conditioned rooms, and A-OK after-school programs will continue with heat-conscious adjustments while principals share exact dismissal times.
4. New CEO Jana Petersen Hopes to Continue Vision of 'One County, One Future' (noozhawk.com) — Santa Barbara County's new executive officer, Jana Petersen, is stepping into the top administrative role overseeing 23 departments and a $1.66 billion budget as the county braces for a projected financial downturn. Drawing on her Boulder County experience, she plans to focus on fiscal stability, disaster response, criminal justice reentry, and equity for Black, Indigenous and brown residents while settling into life near the courthouse.
5. Carbajal Discusses $20 Million Grant for UCSB Advanced Research Lab (noozhawk.com) — UC Santa Barbara has secured a $20 million National Science Foundation grant to build an AI- and robotics-enabled cloud lab, allowing researchers nationwide to run experiments remotely in Santa Barbara. Congressman Salud Carbajal and UCSB leaders say the COAST PCL facility at OASIS will accelerate materials breakthroughs with potential benefits in medicine, energy, electronics, and water purification.
📸 Around Santa Barbara
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Barbara
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Lunch With An Author →
Magic Hour, 217 E Matilija St, Ojai
12:00 pm
Wednesday September 9
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Coffee w/ Principal
Cleveland Elementary School Santa Barbara, CA 93103
8:30 am - Crafternoons for Kids
Explore Ecology EE Makerspace, 302 East Cota St, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
10:00 am - Community Educational Day Sail on Tall Ship Mystic Whaler →
113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
12:00 pm - Back to School Night
San Marcos High School Santa Barbara, CA 93110
6:00 pm - Back to School Night (Cleveland)
Cleveland Elementary School Santa Barbara, CA 93103
6:00 pm - Stadium: Flag Football vs. Channel Islands - Var 6:00pm, JV 7:30pm
San Marcos High School Santa Barbara, CA 93110
6:00 pm - Museum will be Closed Today for a Special Event
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum 113 Harbor Way, Ste 190, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
10:00 am - Tiles on Deck - Mah Jongg at the Maritime Museum
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum , 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States
11:00 am - College and Career Counselors Meeting
Santa Barbara Unified District Santa Barbara, CA 93101
2:30 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson →
Arctic Club Hotel, 700 3rd Ave, Seattle
6:15 pm - Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac →
Music Academy of the West, 1070 Fairway Rd, Santa Barbara
8:00 pm
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Sunday August 30
Monday August 31
Tuesday September 1
Wednesday September 2
Thursday September 3
Friday September 11
📣 Santa Barbara Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Barbara PatchAM possible:
- Wicks Roofing and Solar — (805) 965-5122
- Firewood Guys- Santa Barbara — (805) 795-7111
- RowCal - Ventura — (310) 776-5409
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Gratitude to SB Public Market today!
They found my lost wallet from Fiesta and locked it in their safe-I picked it up today. Still with $52.50 in it- Kindness exists! (Nextdoor Bel Air) - Have you seen Aragorn, our sweet medium-haired grey-and-white cat?
We raised him from a baby, and he is our constant companion. He usually stays in our fenced yard and comes inside in the evenings, but sometimes… (Nextdoor University Circle)
- CVS Health posted a job opening for CA District Support Pharmacist PT in Santa Barbara. Apply here.
- Lazy Acres Natural Market posted a job opening for Grocery - Clerk in Santa Barbara. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Barbara here.
Ok Santa Barbara! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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