Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Link up the Vote is a free, family-friendly voter registration block party scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.

14 at Santa Barbara City College – Friendship Plaza, where locals can register, learn voter education, and meet community candidates.

Curators at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will launch Dinorama: Miniatures Through the Mesozoic on Saturday, Oct.

17 at Sprague Pavilion. The exhibit will feature mini-dioramas that explain Mesozoic climates and biodiversity for visitors of all ages.

Pacific Conservatory Theatre presents a reimagined 'Wizard of Oz' with aerial stunts by 2 Ring Circus from Nov.

5-Dec. 20 at Marian Theatre in Santa Maria; Bloom Carrera stars as Dorothy while Baloo plays Toto as director Mark Booher marks his final production with the group.

Greg Lukianoff, a First Amendment advocate and author, spoke at Lobero Theatre on Thursday during a Spotlight Santa Barbara lecture discussing free speech challenges and cancel culture on campuses; he shared insights on the need for open dialogue as attendees asked questions about the evolving campus climate.

Shrunken Heads Production Company presents A Legacy of Stone, an original student-written musical about Medusa with live music and dance.

The show runs Oct. 16 (gala following performance), Oct. 17, and Oct. 18 at UCSB Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed eight education laws to improve student math screening, English learner reclassification, arts funding, remote conferences, substitute teaching, community college degree approvals and a science research bond.

Some laws take effect immediately while others start next school year.

Elisa Pardo was appointed to the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees for the Area 1 seat until December 2028 following a four to zero vote on Friday.

The nonprofit director & longtime community leader, a former first-generation student, plans to focus on student safety and support.

Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will celebrate National Earth Science Week from October 11 to 17 with interactive activities that let visitors explore geology and meet earth science curator Jonathan Hoffman (afternoon sessions run from 2 to 4 p.m. and include museum admission with free entry for members).

Santa Barbara Unified ended fiscal year 2025 — 26 with cost-control efforts that lowered an expected deficit of $20.6 million to $5.4 million, improving its fund balance by about $15 million.

The Board of Education approved the unaudited actuals on Friday, Oct. 09.

Over 2,500 residents attended a Santa Barbara County meeting on Oct.

1 to learn about preparing for El Niño. County officials and experts detailed emergency measures—like cleaning channels and offering sandbags on Oct. 15—to help residents gear up for winter rains.

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics’ Medical Mobile Unit will visit UCSB to offer low-cost sports physicals for student club athletes (community sponsors can donate $50 or more to help cover physicals for multiple students).