Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Residents, business owners and trail users are invited to share their feedback on the Santa Ynez Valley Trail Project via the map (SYVTrail.com) and at events like Buellton Farmers’ Market on Aug.

17 and Solvang Music in the Park on Aug. 26 as the project team gathers input.

The Santa Barbara Public Library will host a poetry reading featuring Carlos Andrés Gómez & Brent Ameneyro on Wednesday, Aug.

19 at 5:30 p.m. Their event will include readings, live music, and a discussion that spotlights the winner of the Alta California Chapbook Prize, and admission is free.

Folk band Cuyama Mama & the Hot Flashes will perform at SOhO on Sunday after debuting their concept album Betty Arlene, which features frontwoman Jan Smith’s storytelling and roots sound, as part of a local folk scene in Cuyama promising a taste of the region’s musical tradition.

At El Paseo Restaurant, the Fiesta Finale honored the late Erin Graffy de García with dance, live music, and a fundraising auction.

The Profant Foundation for the Arts partnered with her family to celebrate her legacy and share Old Spanish Days traditions (including tributes from community members).

UC Santa Barbara library staff built a custom digitization lab to preserve 100-year-old aerial photos that record coastal sand dune changes, protecting the images from vinegar syndrome.

The new system, developed with campus partners & designed for fast scans, now safeguards the largest academic archive of such photos.

CommUnify bought the former Grace Lutheran Preschool building at 420 E.

Fesler St in Santa Maria to create a child care and early education campus. The nonprofit will serve 70 children with four classrooms, a commercial kitchen & outdoor learning space, with groundbreaking and an opening set for summer 2028.

UCSB professor Marley Dewey received a $750,000 NSF CAREER Award to study coral reef restoration using bioengineering and art; she will host local exhibits and work with K-12 teachers at UCSB Research Experience and Education Facility (Santa Barbara Maritime Museum) to advance coral repair and community STEM engagement.

On Monday, Aug. 11, the Goleta Planning Commission denied Anthem Chapel's project for a new sanctuary, education facility, and childcare wing near Lake Los Carneros Park due to concerns about project size and traffic.

Anthem Chapel plans to appeal the ruling.

On Aug. 7, CHP officers in Carpinteria cited a driver on Highway 101 near Linden Avenue for left lane camping after noticing a Honda driving too slowly and causing congestion.

Solvang’s iconic horse-drawn trolley will operate for another five years after the City Council approved a renewed license on August 10.

The trolley runs daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Tuesdays off and must follow new rules for insurance, public right-of-way, and neighbor notification.

On August 5, the Santa Barbara Zoo reported Ruby, a 2-year-old red panda, died following her cubs’ deaths in July.

Zoo spokesperson Andrea Gruber attributed her rapid decline to Addison’s — a rare hormone-related disease likely triggered by pregnancy.

Santa Barbara-based nonprofit World Telehealth Initiative has appointed Dr. Tom Richards to its board as it expands telehealth services for vulnerable communities worldwide.

He brings extensive leadership experience from top institutions (Yale, Harvard, Stanford) to guide the nonprofit’s next phase.

San Marcos girls flag football won 33-0 over Lompoc on Tuesday at Warkentin Stadium while Santa Barbara High beat Oak Park 31-12 at Peabody Stadium.

The Royals will host Palos Verdes and the Dons will face Hueneme in their next games.

Coach Tim Vom Steeg’s men’s soccer team is favored in the Big West after earning four votes; three players joined the preseason all-Big West team.

The Gauchos play a friendly at Harder Stadium Friday at 7 p.m. and will start the season against San Jose State on Aug. 21.