Good morning, Santa Barbara.

CommUnify announced honorees for its 19th Annual Champions Dinner & Awards ceremony, which will be held Friday, June 6 at Hotel Corque in Solvang from 6:00-8:30 p.m.—with a disco after-party until 10:00 p.m.—to honor local champions while raising funds for family and youth services programs.

Community members criticized the sudden closure of the historic Casa de la Raza building on Friday after a May 7 inspection found multiple code violations — the building, owned by La Casa Founders Holding Company and long used as a safe space for migrant families, will remain closed for about a month until repairs are made — and activists hope the city will purchase it to continue serving the community.

The Santa Barbara Chamber Players will hold a fundraising concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8 at Trinity Lutheran Church (909 N.

La Cumbre Road). The concert will feature chamber music by Eric Ewazen, Carl Nielsen and Schubert with $20 tickets supporting their upcoming season.

UC Santa Barbara presents a new MFA Thesis Exhibition titled (it’s about time) where four graduating artists show work that explores how time shapes memory and objects.

The show will run May 17 through June 1 at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum and admission is free.

On April 26, 2025, the Royal Pride Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser at the Santa Barbara Club where over 250 community members joined dinner, dancing, live auction, and performances to raise more than $100,000 for San Marcos High School improvements.

The event featured speeches from school principal Dare Holdren and RPF president Julie Strand and honored longtime supporters (including 1977 alumna Jody Dolan Holehouse) to support teacher grants and campus upgrades.

CSUCI has been recognized as one of the nation’s top Fulbright U.S. Scholar producers for 2024/25 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, marking its second time earning the award.

Three faculty members and one administrator earned Fulbright awards (demonstrating diverse international engagement) while the institution ranks in the top three among master’s degree schools (underscoring its strong academic performance).

Caltrans is working on drainage improvements along US 101 from two miles north of the US 101/State Route 154 separation to just north of Union Valley Parkway with lane closures in effect from May 12 through May 16 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contractors from CCFG Construction are rehabilitating drainage at eleven locations and upgrading lighting, with the project set for completion in December + drivers should slow in work zones.

County supervisors Laura Capps, Joan Hartmann and Roy Lee voted yes while Bob Nelson voted no on a plan that will stop new onshore oil wells in the county — a move meant to cut climate change risks.

Officials said they will set more details over the next few years — and the current oil wells will slowly wind down.

Three Santa Barbara Police Department officers received the H.

Thomas Guerry Award for Superior Performance on May 8 for their roles in two incidents, with Sgt. Thomas Van Eyck and Officer Madison Trevino safely handling an armed suspect on July 15, 2024—while Officer Shaneese Fischer de-escalated a suicidal situation on Jan. 24, 2025—demonstrating courage and professionalism.

Santa Barbara Humane has launched its Beat the Heat promotion to offer owned cat spay and neuter surgeries for $5 at the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria campuses.

The limited-time offer aims to reduce unplanned litters and help families with rising veterinary costs—appointments are required.

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.

Home & Garden Lifestyle Expo

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Earl Warren Showgrounds — Various show discounts — Explore hundreds of sustainable home and garden products and services under one roof.

Art KIT: Grant Writing, Funding, and Residencies Workshop

1-3:30 p.m. — Paseo Nuevo Conference Room — Cost info not provided — Explore the essentials of securing grants and funding for creative projects.