Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Public Library launches its Food for Fees program to let patrons donate non-perishable items and remove fees on lost or damaged library items — the program, open until January 16, benefits Unity Shoppe, People’s Pantry and FARO Center to support local families during the holidays.

Montecito Bank & Trust will host its annual Community Dvidends luncheon this Thanksgiving week, sharing $1-million among 188 nonprofits at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

The event, which began in 2003, also features a Michael Towbes Community Impact Dividend to support groups in arts, youth, education, social services, and health.

ShelterBox USA helps people rebuild after disasters by providing shelter, essential supplies and technical support—its local team on Ortega Hill in Summerland is made up of neighbors and graduates from local schools.

Founded in 2000 by the Rotary Club and led by Kerri Murray since 2015, the nonprofit has aided over three million people worldwide.

Acme Hospitality is inviting nonprofit workers to join its Raise a Glass to Our Community Champions program for free cocktails or mocktails at venues including The Lark, Loquita, La Paloma, and Lucky Penny from November 28 through December 24 — a gesture to thank those who serve Santa Barbara. The campaign will share photos and nonprofit tags on social media to highlight the work being done by local organizations.

The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County offers free civil legal services to low-income residents at offices in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc—helping self-represented litigants file court forms and understand their rights.

Delta Airlines will cancel its Atlanta—Santa Barbara service when the final flight departs on January 19, 2026 and the return flight leaves on January 20, ending Santa Barbara’s longest direct route launched in June 2024—passengers will now need to use alternate connections.

The Koegel Autism Center’s Creative Club will hold its seventh neurodivergent art show titled Unmasking Through Art on Dec.

4 at Koegel Autism Center on the UCSB campus with a reception from 5:30—8 p.m. and quiet viewing from 5:30—6 p.m., and the free event will highlight art by neurodivergent artists and community members.

Delta Air Lines will end its nonstop service from Santa Barbara to Atlanta on January 20, reducing the airport’s direct destinations from 14 to 13.

The airline cited aircraft and crew staffing challenges and will add up to three daily flights to Salt Lake City starting late January—ensuring continued connectivity for passengers.

Sonia Aguila, a Santa Barbara native, overcame early language challenges and fear of public speaking at Santa Barbara City College with the support of programs like EOPS (a daily resource for her growth) and built a 28-year teaching career.

She earned prestigious bilingual teaching awards in California and nationally and continues to inspire students and educators.

Thirty Santa Barbara Unified School District students from Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara and San Marcos high schools attended the fall JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Nashville, Tennessee to learn skills in broadcast news, reporting, sports media, design and storytelling. They earned national awards in journalism and yearbook competitions — marks that will help grow school media programs.

The Board of Regents approved buying a multimillion-dollar manor in Hope Ranch as the new home for UCSB Chancellor Dennis Assanis to replace the old campus residence.

The property sold for $7.8 million and will be paid for with external financing and donor funds—no state money was used.

In 1969, a drilling blowout near Santa Barbara spilled 3 million gallons of oil across 35 miles of coast, killing many birds and sea animals.

The disaster led to major cleanup efforts and spurred new environmental laws—changes that still shape coastal protection today.

On November 16, Dom’s Taverna and High Seas Mead hosted a casual paella + Mead dinner at the High Seas tasting room on Gray Avenue, where chef Dom Crisp grilled paella with fresh local lobster and simple sides.

The event drew about 30 guests who enjoyed local cider and mead in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.

The Dos Pueblos boys wrestling team finished fourth out of 26 teams at a tournament in Santa Monica this weekend, with Brandon Velasquez and Ethan Ono each winning all four of their matches — key wins that set a strong tone for their season.

The Charger girls wrestled at the Glendora Girls Thanksgiving Throwdown, where Ariana Valladares earned three wins to boost her team's performance.

SBHS Class of 2005 Reunion

7-10 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — $40 — Celebrate 20 years since graduation with light bites, a photobooth, and nostalgic 2005 drink specials.

Swan Lake

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Arlington Theatre — Family-friendly event — Experience the world’s most in-demand ballet with a full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s legendary masterpiece.

Indigenous Market

11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 3227 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA — Free admission — Celebrate local native artists and enjoy vibrant traditional performances at this cultural arts fair.

Christmas Mariachi Festival

7-10 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Pre-sale available — Experience a festive evening with El Mariachi Estrella de Mexico and the largest mariachi in the world.

8th Annual Winter Music Showcase

6:00-7:30 p.m. — The Granada Theatre — Tickets available — Celebrate the winter season with an evening of live musical performances.

Introduction to Spring 6, Spring Boot 3, and Spring REST Class

December 15th - 19th — GSA Training, Santa Barbara, CA — Call for pricing — Enhance your programming skills with comprehensive training on Spring technologies.

3rd Friday’s Lunch Hang

12-1:30 p.m. — The Cruisery, 501 State St, Santa Barbara, CA — Free entry — Meet locals in your 20s and 30s for lunch and great conversation while making new friends.

Christmas Day Buffet

12-7 p.m. — Finch & Fork — Reservations recommended — Celebrate the season with a lavish buffet featuring seafood, carving stations, and delectable desserts.