Good morning, Santa Barbara.

The Westmont Observatory will open for a near total lunar eclipse on Thursday, Aug.

27 starting at 8:30 p.m.—the event will reach maximum coverage at 9:12 p.m. and include telescopes from the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit with free parking available near the main entrance on La Paz Road.

The City of Carpinteria is launching a capital campaign to raise $3.3 million for essential improvements at its community pool — the project includes a new website for updates and plans a six-month winter closure in 2027.

A vegetation fire near Orcutt on North Clark Avenue reached two acres after starting just after 3:00 p.m., and a car burst into flames on Highway 101 (fire crews from SBCFD, Santa Maria Fire, and CAL FIRE SLO are containing the incident) as officials advise locals to avoid the area.

Mathnasium Learning Centers opened its new center at 8 E.

De La Guerra St offering personalized math help for students. Owners Divyata and Ryan Griggs will host a free grand opening on Aug. 27 at 3:00 p.m. (ribbon cutting with city council and Chamber of Commerce).

Riviera Music has launched group piano and guitar lessons for children ages 6-12 at its boutique in upper State Street's El Mercado shopping center.

The eight-week sessions, taught by Matthew Duncan and Lucia Bogue, begin Sept. 1-3 (45-minute classes weekly with an extra week for a recital) at $300 per student.

About 400 new students join Westmont for Orientation and Warrior Welcome Aug.26-30, including first generation and international students from Santa Barbara.

The Welcome Session starts today at 3:30 p.m. in Murchison Gym after a pre-orientation program took place on Aug.25.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the interior mountains, adjacent foothills, and Cuyama Valley due to extreme heat, low humidity, and gusty winds.

The warning is active until 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, and residents are urged to follow fire safety guidelines (prepare with evacuation plans).

California Coastal Cleanup Day returns this September for its 42nd year and is expected to draw over 50,000 volunteers statewide (marking the 50th anniversary of the Coastal Act) to help prevent plastic pollution as El Niño approaches.

Wild animals, including bears and coyotes, have been spotted in neighborhoods as a heat wave continues through Friday; encounters in Santa Barbara and Goleta prompted officials to advise residents to secure food and trash to prevent attracting wildlife.

The inaugural California Ocean Summit will take place Dec.

9-11 in Santa Barbara and brings together ocean scientists, policymakers, investors and innovators to build sustainable ocean solutions (including keynote speaker Dawn Wright and conservation field excursions). Registration is open and select public events are free.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics logged nearly 24,000 dental visits in 2025, including cleanings, root canals, and sealants to prevent costly treatments.

Their mobile clinic served local schools + trained dental residents to enhance care in the community.

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital's Brain & Spinal Tumor Program earned recertification from The Joint Commission today, keeping its Gold Seal of Approval for brain tumor certification.

The program offers comprehensive, personalized care with a multidisciplinary team supporting patients and caregivers.

REACH Air Medical Services, formerly CALSTAR, has launched REACH 38, a helicopter service that will start emergency blood transfusions in flight.

The program covers Santa Barbara and nearby counties, with a new Santa Maria Airport facility supporting 24/7 readiness + a partnership with Houchin Community Blood Bank.