Good morning, Santa Barbara.

A fire destroyed a Santa Barbara Eastside residence on Sunday, Aug.

16, leaving 10 residents homeless and prompting community members to launch a donation drive for clothing, toiletries + essentials at a new drop-off on E. Montecito St; over 100 items have already been donated by neighbors.

At the Montecito Association’s August meeting, board members discussed wildfire readiness, flood prevention, and multiple community projects such as public safety partnerships and seismic upgrades.

A community meeting (Sept. 14 at Montecito Union School) and planning for Beautification Day with key dates in September and November were also announced.

Registration is open for Poetry Out Loud 2026–27 for local high schools, with entries due by Sept.

30. The contest takes place on Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room and awards winners with gift cards and advancement to the State Finals in Sacramento.

Building on a decade of summer music programs, Westmont has launched WeMA, a year-round music school for all ages that will begin Aug.

28 at its Montecito campus. The program offers private lessons, early childhood classes, and chamber ensembles and provides scholarships for advanced training.

Santa Barbara’s Sustainability & Resilience Department will hold a ribbon cutting at the Eastside Library (1102 E.

Montecito St.) on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate a new electric vehicle charging station featuring four 400-kW DC fast chargers powered by 100% carbon-free electricity.

Thousands of volunteers will join Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, Sept.

19 from 9 a.m. to noon at local coastal and inland sites such as Lake Los Carneros and Oak Park. Organizers from Explore Ecology and local agencies will supply cleanup materials (bags and gloves) to protect the shoreline.

The new statewide rent cap limits increases to 8.6% for covered properties (with exemptions for some owner-occupied units) in Santa Barbara while temporary local protections run until year-end; City Council officials will work on a permanent stabilization program as tenant advocates help renters confirm legal limits.

California approved the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program to ensure replacement tires match new-tire fuel economy.

The rule will allow minor cost increases for drivers starting in 2029, with full enforcement in 2033, and is projected to save nearly $1 billion annually while reducing emissions.

Families ACT! will host a vigil on Monday, Aug.

31 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Santa Barbara Courthouse Sunken Garden to honor those affected by overdose on the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day — the event invites leaders and community members to remember loved ones.

The Santa Barbara Zoo euthanized its 8-year-old capybara Poppy last Friday after vets found an inoperable throat mass that made breathing and eating difficult.

The zoo is now treating its 4-year-old capybara Antonio with chemotherapy for multiple myeloma as he shows signs of improvement.

Yardi Systems unveiled plans last week to convert the former Macy’s building downtown into a modern corporate headquarters for 600 employees while keeping its Spanish colonial style (presented on Aug.

12 at the Historic Landmarks Commission meeting). The project awaits further design approval before moving forward.

The annual Fiesta Cruiser Bike Ride 2026 gathered families and cyclists at Dolphin Fountain (before noon) and carried them on a scenic ride along State Street to Goleta Beach Park, where daredevil stunts impressed local fans.