Daily
Santa Barbara
Friday, May 9th, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of May.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ A low-flying Bell JetRanger helicopter with tail number N205EH conducted LIDAR safety scans for Southern California Edison over Santa Barbara Thursday morning—now it has returned to General William J. Fox Airfield. Residents can expect additional loops by smaller aircraft in the near future. KEYT
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ On Sept. 25, 2024, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Nelson and his team chased down and arrested suspect Nathaniel McGuire after an explosive at the courthouse in Santa Maria sent burning debris flying. They were honored at Thursday’s H. Thomas Guerry Awards—recognizing their quick actions and bravery in stopping a heavily armed individual. Noozhawk
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ UCSB alum José Hernández recounted his journey at Campbell Hall on Tuesday, April 29 as he explained how determination carried him from picking strawberries in the Central Valley to becoming a NASA astronaut. He detailed how overcoming 11 NASA rejections and rigorous training led to an engineering breakthrough that saved thousands of lives+ he now leads his Reaching for the Stars foundation to encourage local students in S.T.E.M. Daily Nexus
- ➤ Two Righetti High seniors, Halyn 'Bloom' Carrera and Ezhelle 'Elle' Dela Cruz, were accepted into the PCPA Acting Conservatory Program for 2025-27. Bloom won a top solo musical theater award and will represent California at the International Thespian Festival while Dela Cruz received a state acting award for her work in local shows. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara Unified School District reversed its earlier plan to lay off arts staff and will keep all music and arts educators for the 2025–26 school year, with a net loss of one teacher due to staff transfers. The district will vote on the final staffing decision on May 13 (after its meeting on May 2) and will add a new dance teacher at San Marcos (funded by Proposition 28). KEYT
- ➤ The planned demolition of Santa Rosa Residence Hall in the 2026-27 school year was halted after a rat colony protested losing its long-time home (this protest surprised many). UCSB officials said they do not know of any rat colony and hope to resume construction soon (more details are coming). Daily Nexus
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Kisa, the 16-year-old snow leopard at the Santa Barbara Zoo, was euthanized after a prolonged illness left her unable to walk—CT imaging showed chronic severe spondylosis that did not respond to treatment. She arrived in 2019 after being born at the Denver Zoo and became a cherished part of the zoo’s Snow Leopard Festival. Santa Barbara Independent
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Bungalow 626 offers a private event space at 626 De la Vina St. that blends indoor comfort with outdoor patios to host events ranging from corporate dinners to family celebrations and holds up to 50 guests seated or 65 reception-style—Owner John Savage brings nearly 30 years of local catering expertise to design personalized menus using fresh local ingredients. Noozhawk
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Santa Barbara High boys’ volleyball team swept Sherman Oaks Notre Dame with scores of 25-19, 25-13, 25-21 in the CIF-SS Division 4 quarterfinals—Benicio Duarte led with 11 kills. They will host Santiago of Corona in the semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. Santa Barbara Independent
-
S.B. Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale
10:00 a.m. — Santa Barbara Woman's Club — Free admission — Explore a vast array of plants, pots, vendors, and a silent auction dedicated to cactus and succulent lovers.
-
Mother's Day Brunch Buffet
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Finch & Fork — Reservations recommended — Celebrate Mom with a spectacular buffet featuring fresh, locally sourced dishes in a charming atmosphere.
-
Saturday Day Meetup for Singles 40+
3-5 p.m. — SB Biergarten — Free entry — Connect with fellow singles over drinks and socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.
-
Dom Hair Cutting Class
10 AM – 3 PM — Mishay Salon & Spa — Cost not specified — Learn Dom's most valuable hair cutting techniques in this engaging class.
-
Pilipino Cultural Night 34
5 PM — Campbell Hall — Tickets available — Experience a vibrant celebration of Pilipino culture and community.
-
2025 Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series
6 p.m. — Leadbetter Beach — Registration fees apply — Experience swimming, running, and biathlon events against the stunning Santa Barbara coastline.
-
UCSB Wind Ensemble & UCSB Choirs Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall — General ($10), Senior/Military/Non-UCSB Students ($7), UCSB Students/Children under 12 (FREE) — Experience a vibrant collaboration of wind and choral music featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning compositions.
-
Mitch Kashmar Live Performance in Santa Barbara
7-10:30 p.m. — Carrillo Recreation Center — $35 general/$45 VIP — Experience the soulful sounds of blues legend Mitch Kashmar along with local favorites Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan.
-
UCSB Gamelan Ensemble
5-8 p.m. — Karl Geiringer Hall — Free entry — Experience the enchanting sounds of traditional Indonesian gamelan music performed by talented UCSB musicians.
-
2025 Nite Moves Summer Sunset Series
6 p.m. — Leadbetter Beach — Entry fee applies — Experience a thrilling evening of swimming, running, and biathlon events in scenic Santa Barbara.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.
~ Salvador Dali
About Daily Santa Barbara
Welcome to the Daily Santa Barbara, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Santa Barbara, California community. If you like the Daily Santa Barbara, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Santa Barbara.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Santa Barbara and across California. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Santa Barbara
A free Santa Barbara community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailysantabarbaranews.com/sitemap