Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara County is marking National Preparedness Month with a campaign that teaches residents to know their risk, make a plan, build an emergency kit, and stay informed; the county advises everyone to prepare for wildfires, storms, earthquakes, and heavy winter rains throughout September.

On Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, about 50 residents gathered at Ice in Paradise for the Iced Coffee and Community forum on the Rinkside Café patio.

City leaders including Mayor Paula Perotte and Councilmember Stuart Kasdin addressed topics such as housing costs and transportation options.

Sea Glass and Ocean Arts Festival will be held Sept.

12-13 at Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara, featuring a contest for the best beach-combed sea glass, creative arts workshops, and a presentation by Angelique Allen on octopus neuroscience (explaining how octopuses process visual information).

ArtLabbé was named Santa Barbara’s 2026 Business in Art Award winner for its innovative efforts supporting neurodivergent artists with free art and music classes.

The nonprofit will be honored on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Santa Barbara Beautiful Award Ceremony.

Old Spanish Days announced the winners of the inaugural Fiesta 2026 photography contest at the Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Art Museum (held during Fiesta from Aug.

5–9), naming Meghan Mireles in first place, Irene Hoffman in second, and Elisa Rodriguez in third.

Emily Blunt (Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominee) will receive the 19th Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film.

The honor will be presented at a black-tie dinner on Dec. 10 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara to support local educational programs.

Diana Ross dazzled audiences at the Santa Barbara Bowl on August 27 with a lively show featuring her well-known hits and a nine-member band (joined by family guests), affirming her lasting popularity in the community.

A UCSB-led team published a paper in Neuroscience of Consciousness showing that the rhythms of the heart, lungs, and brain coordinate to shape conscious experience, and researchers noted that both overly strong and weak signals can affect mental health (linked to anxiety and depression).

Santa Barbara County’s Air Pollution Control District and Public Health Department issued an Air Quality Watch until conditions improve due to wildfire smoke from Monterey County, urging residents to monitor updates and take precautions — especially those with respiratory issues.

Lt. Ugo 'Butch' Arnoldi served with the County Sheriff’s Office for 53 years and was honored by the County Board of Supervisors Tuesday as he prepares to retire on Sept.

23 — surrounded by family, friends and colleagues. He dedicated his career to public service.

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics released 2025 data showing its dental program served nearly 6,800 patients, with 2,398 sealants and 112 root canals from screenings at 27 schools and clinics (helping families manage costly dental care).

Cottage Health earned Epic Gold Stars Level 10 designation, the highest recognition for its use of the electronic health record system, demonstrating advanced application of Epic’s tools to streamline workflows and enhance patient access.