Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara readers cast nearly 378,000 votes in the Best of Santa Barbara® poll on October 22 to choose longtime favorites including Dune Coffee Roasters, Inspiration Point, and Jeannine’s Bakery plus newcomers Oak + Violet Salon, American Riviera Bank, DJ Zeke, and Lobster Jo’s summer camp.

Chaucer’s Books will host D.J.

Palladino for a book talk and signing of his first book "Spake as a Child" at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 at 3321 State St., featuring stories of boys coming of age in different eras.

Actor Andrew Garfield will receive the Maltin Modern Master Award on Feb.

6 at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, where he will join Leonard Maltin for a discussion about his film career. The festival runs Feb. 3-13 and features screenings, filmmaker Q&As and industry panels.

Santa Barbara Zoo is revamping Boo at the Zoo with new daytime activities and an adult-only evening featuring complimentary beer + wine tastings today, while IllumaNature—the reimagined holiday lights event with 3D projection mapping—kicks off Nov.

11. The zoo aims to offer fun and educational experiences for the community.

Santa Barbara Unified Superintendent Hilda Maldonado announced her retirement Wednesday morning and will retire at the end of the school year in July 2027; she will support the leadership transition as the school board plans to select her successor.

The district has seen rising test scores and new projects under her leadership since 2020.

Santa Barbara Unified School District faces steep academic challenges+ rising deficits as nearly half of students miss basic standards and projected deficits near $38 million prompt a leadership contest; Valerie Amparan, a parent and UCSB graduate, offers a data-driven plan to balance budgets+ boost student outcomes.

The Towbes Group provided a 5,087 sqft practice field at 5677 Calle Real in Goleta for the Octobots STEM program free until May while marketing the property; the team will host an Open House & Retirement Party to send off robot Octane from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov.

9.

Tuesday night, the Goleta City Council approved designation of five heritage trees chosen for their historical and record-breaking significance, including the Spanish fir at the Stow House and a western sycamore witness tree at Jonny D.

Wallis Park. The status provides legal protections and mandates further preservation efforts.

Local Cottage nurses are gathering this Friday to launch their union push with SEIU Local 121RN as they call for better pay, benefits, and staffing conditions — while hospital leaders say concerns should be shared directly with management.

The Santa Barbara Public Library will host its annual Community Baby Shower on Saturday, Nov.

7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Central Library’s Faulkner Gallery (40 E. Anapamu St.). Parents and caregivers can enjoy free resources and the first 50 visitors will receive goody bags.

Austin Stone and JD Drake of Westmont tennis won a thrilling ITA Division II West Regional Doubles Championship over the weekend at Fresno Pacific University—Stone's comeback from injury added drama to the victory.

They will compete at the national championships in Tuscaloosa from Nov. 4–8.

Laguna Blanca girls volleyball swept Brea Olinda on Wednesday in Hope Ranch to open the CIF-SS Div.

7 playoffs. The Owls improved their season record to 16 to 10 and will travel to Los Angeles on Saturday for the second round against Sacred Heart.

San Marcos boys water polo clinched an automatic playoff spot in the CIF-SS after winning a 13-7 tiebreaker over Buena yesterday at Elings Aquatics Center in Goleta.

The Royals finished second in the Channel League and will learn their first-round matchup on Friday.