Daily
Santa Barbara
Saturday, November 1st, 2025
Good morning, Santa Barbara. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 1st of November.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ More than 55,000 Santa Barbara County residents lose CalFresh benefits today as the federal shutdown forces abrupt cuts; the Foodbank has ramped up food supplies by 10 to 15%—expanding programs for children, families, students, and older adults to help ensure everyone has a meal. Edhat
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ A wood-fired restaurant led by Chef Diego Moya will open its doors on November 6 in Montecito's Upper Village at 516 San Ysidro Road. The restaurant will serve dinner Wednesday through Sunday starting at 5 p.m. and will offer a menu that celebrates local produce and regional flavors. Edhat
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Goleta will premiere the short film Ellwood Mesa: Beyond the Bluffs at Camino Real Cinemas at 2 p.m. Sunday, November 16 as part of the California Stories Shorts Block at the first Wild and Free Film Festival—tickets are free but seating is limited and early arrival by 1:30 p.m. is advised to stay for the Q&A. Noozhawk
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ On Oct. 30, the Latinos Unidos Club united students and staff at Righetti High School to celebrate Dia de los Muertos—honoring deceased loved ones and Latin American culture. The event featured a Ballet Folklórico and Marimba Band performance and included face painting to engage the school community. Noozhawk
- ➤ Santa Barbara-based firefighter Jorge Hurtado will release today his new book, Sparky the Brave Wildland Firefighter: Engine Slug Adventures, to teach local children about fire safety, science, and caring for nature (continuing his series with lessons on teamwork). Hurtado began his firefighting career in 2016 and plans to expand the series with future titles that provide more insights into wildland firefighting. Santa Barbara Independent
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Los Padres National Forest is planning prescribed burns—set for November through December—to lower wildfire risks at campgrounds, trailheads and fire stations on forest lands. Burns will occur only when weather permits safe smoke dispersion and are expected to burn about 10 to 100 piles of slash daily, according to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District. Noozhawk
- ➤ John Hankins, the 80-year-old editor of the long-running Condor Call newsletter, was awarded the National Sierra Club’s National Communication Excellence award for his decades of environmental reporting in Santa Barbara—Ventura; he said the honor was unexpected and that he would keep working in local journalism. The award reflects his long commitment to covering local environmental issues. Santa Barbara Independent
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $140 million funding package to keep over 100 Planned Parenthood clinics operating until new resources are found next year. The Central Coast clinics had lost $17 million—half their budgets—after federal defund halted Medicaid reimbursements. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ Santa Maria Regional Transit completed its four-year effort to switch to a fully electric fleet and now operates 40 zero-emission buses (six of which were delivered by Gillig LLC in October). The change is expected to save about $400,000 a year and improve service reliability as SMRT moves toward a more stable and cost-effective future. Noozhawk
- ➤ Last week, the Buellton City Council approved a $450,000 funding for the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Complex at the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School campus to give residents year-round public swimming access. The new facility will include a 33-meter competition pool and a 25-yard warm-water pool—over $4.5 million has been raised toward the $13.7 million goal, with full funding expected by the end of 2026. Edhat
- ➤ The City of Santa Barbara collected $3.3 million in transient occupancy taxes for September, slightly over budget, and the year-to-date total of $11.6 million is 0.8% above plan (the budget is $35.5 million). This revenue comes from hotels and short-term rentals during the fiscal year. Edhat
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Registered nurse Maria Chavez from Lompoc Valley Medical Center received a DAISY Award on Thursday in a surprise ceremony for her exceptional care—she helped a patient by ensuring his pet rooster was safe. Chavez, who has been a nurse for 25 years and with LVMC for five years, now works in case management. Noozhawk
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Chef Ramón Velazquez has updated the menu at Corazón Comedor on 29 East Victoria St. in downtown Santa Barbara. The restaurant now offers daily brunch and new homestyle Mexican dishes plus a casual counter service and self-serve salsa bar at lower prices. Santa Barbara Independent
- ➤ For nearly seven years, the Santa Barbara Agriculture and Farm Education Foundation has provided fresh, chemical-free produce from Sweet Wheel Farms to food-insecure residents (Carpinteria and Goleta) across the county. The Food with Dignity program will now deliver produce twice a week to meet rising need (every Monday morning) and reach more families. Noozhawk
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ San Marcos High clinched the final playoff spot in the Tri-County League with a 16–10 win over rival Dos Pueblos in double overtime. The Royals secured their victory with a game-winning touchdown by Cole Dominguez (named MVP) and will see playoff brackets released Sunday morning. Santa Barbara Independent
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ZZ Top Live Concert
7:00 - 8:30 p.m. — Santa Barbara Bowl — Ticket prices vary — Rock out to the legendary ZZ Top and special guests Night Ranger for an unforgettable night.
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Jack Johnson's Double Feature Surf Film Night
6-8:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Tickets available through request system — Enjoy classic surf films paired with live music from Jack and Friends.
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David Sedaris Live
7:30-9 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Tickets available — Experience the wit and charm of David Sedaris as he shares new stories and diary entries.
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Santa Barbara Half Marathon & 5K
7 AM – 12 PM — Loquita Santa Barbara — Cost info not specified — Experience the scenic beauty of Santa Barbara while running in a half marathon or 5K.
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Repair Cafe Santa Barbara
6-8 p.m. — Rancho Goleta Lakeside — Free entry — Gather with neighbors to repair, recycle, and restore your items in a friendly community setting.
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Evening with Judy Collins and Tom Rush
7-8:30 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Ticketed event — Experience the enchanting voice of Grammy award-winner Judy Collins alongside the legendary Tom Rush in a memorable concert.
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Object-Oriented Programming in C# Training Class
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. — GSA Training — $2250 — Enhance your software development skills with expert-led C# programming training in Santa Barbara.
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Samantha Fish Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Not specified — Experience the GRAMMY®-nominated musician showcasing her new album alongside Southern rock powerhouse Robert Jon & The Wreck.
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Shine On - Pink Floyd Tribute
7:30-9 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Tickets available — Experience the magic of Pink Floyd's iconic music brought to life by Shine On with stunning stage design.
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UCSB Chamber Players Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — Karl Geiringer Hall — Ticketed event — Experience an evening of captivating chamber music performed by talented musicians from UCSB.
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