Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center hosted a 33-day Round-Up Campaign (raising $10,000 from around 20,000 customers) to support Hospice of Santa Barbara’s free care services.

The effort highlights strong local backing for compassionate care.

SpaceX launched its Falcon 9 at 9:49 p.m. Saturday from Vandenberg Space Force Base as thick fog shrouded the event, with 27 Starlink satellites deploying and the booster landing on a droneship in the Pacific & a new launch is set for Tuesday morning.

Today, a UCSB team led by professor Kerem Çamsari showed that a p-computer using (p-bits) solved spin-glass problems faster than a leading quantum annealer.

They said a chip with millions of p-bits could be built with current technology to offer a practical path for tough optimization tasks.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Karapetian was named Attorney of the Year by Santa Barbara Women Lawyers on Dec.

11 at Intermezzo by Wine Cask; her 15 years of service prosecuting complex cases and mentoring junior attorneys earned her the honor.

A federal vaccine advisory panel voted last week to end routine hepatitis B shots for newborns (recommending the vaccine only if the mother's status is positive or unknown), and Santa Barbara County Public Health expressed concern that this change could raise infection risks if approved by the CDC.

The Santa Barbara Association of Realtors installed its 2026 Board on Dec.

5 at the Montecito Club. Jennifer Berger of Compass was named president and Bob Curtis president-elect (industry leaders will guide local property rights) as the board begins its mission.

Westmont Men's Basketball beat Biola 72-61 Saturday night at Murchison Gym in Santa Barbara.

Shorthanded but determined, the team—led by Aidan Mandel's 22 points (with key rebounds and blocks)—will face Chaminade Saturday at 3:00 p.m.

Westmont Women's Basketball won 68-49 over Biola at Murchison Gymnasium as they extended their winning streak to five games.

The team will host the Silverswords of Chaminade on Saturday, Dec. 20 with women's and men's games starting at 1:00 p.m. + 3:00 p.m.

The San Marcos boys and girls wrestling teams competed Saturday at Lancaster Duals and Showdown at the Shore — the boys placed third in the bronze bracket while the girls finished 19th out of 30 teams, with Angelique Silva earning a second-place finish in the 170 lb division.

Today, the San Marcos boys won 74-33 over Righetti, led by Koji Hefner with 19 points, while the Oak Park girls beat Dos Pueblos 67-29 with Carly Letendre scoring 14 points.

Both games showcased solid prep hoops action in our local high school scene.

The UCSB women’s basketball team earned a 9-1 start today with a 68-65 win over Utah Tech and set a program record for a 10-game opening.

Head coach Renee Jimenez praised the players’ commitment — the team now gears up for their home game on Dec. 18 at 6:00 p.m.

San Marcos girls water polo finished third at Villa Park Tournament after an overtime loss to The Bishop's (12-10) and a win over Valhalla (14-8); Mater Dei won the title with a 12-4 victory while Dos Pueblos finished seventh, beating Los Alamitos 11-10.

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.

The Gift of Christmas Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Lobero Theatre — Ticket pricing varies — Experience an unforgettable evening with Jim Brickman featuring holiday classics and heartwarming stories.

New Year's Eve Celebration in Santa Barbara 2025-2026

3:15-5:15 p.m. — Celebration Cruises — $110 admission — Enjoy a Champagne Cruise with breathtaking views as you toast to the New Year.