Good morning, Santa Barbara.

Unity Shoppe — known for serving thousands — is closed on Sola Street for fumigation during the holiday break and will reopen Jan.

5 with pre-moved food ready for restock.

Shoppers on the Central Coast are using holiday gift cards today to pick up after-Christmas discounts and boost local store traffic.

Analysts note that gift cards average about $50 — and advise checking activation numbers to avoid scams.

Leslie Dinaberg recaps her top 2025 stories covering local theater awards, the film festival Virtuoso Awards, and art shows at CAW, highlighting interviews with creatives like Jim James and Michelle Zauner in her reflective piece for the Santa Barbara Independent.

The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History will host textile artist Porfirio Gutiérrez in a two-part program.

The event begins with a talk, Ancestral Materials & Modernism, on Friday, Jan. 9 in Fleischmann Auditorium and continues with an outdoor natural dye workshop on Jan. 24-25.

Santa Barbara offers a variety of New Year’s Eve events on December 31 that range from intimate dinners at Marisella's Cellar Speakeasy to bar crawls along State Street (with concerts at the Granada Theatre and family-friendly countdowns at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara).

Staff at First Presbyterian Church discovered a hidden time capsule behind the paper towel dispenser in the women's bathroom — created during 1999 renovations and intended for opening in 2024 — now on display in the church lobby for community reflection.

On Friday, Dec. 26, fourth- through sixth-graders from Glen City Elementary visited UCSB’s Elings Hall as inaugural participants in the Future Makers Program, where they engaged in STEM activities such as 3D printing and laser cutting (more visits are planned early in 2026).

Runoff from powerful storms nearly filled Lake Cachuma to 97% capacity by 9:45 a.m. Friday and officials began releasing water at Bradbury Dam at 2,775 cubic feet per second — they expect to boost the flow to 7,000 cfs later Friday.

After aggressive storms in recent days, cleanup crews are using hand tools + heavy equipment to remove debris and clear drains along the waterfront and nearby streets, including Santa Barbara City College and Isla Vista.

Orange cones mark lane closures while workers manage fallen trees and blocked roadways.

Santa Barbara Airport resumed operations at (9:20 a.m.) Friday after crews cleared runways flooded from heavy rains on Christmas Day and expects to remain open for the holiday weekend.

East Beach is closed after a pump bypass failure released 4,500 gallons of untreated sewage during a recent rain event — the County Health Department warns beachgoers to avoid recreational water contact until tests confirm safety.

Former Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig retired two days ago after 33 years and now will focus on supporting mental health for first responders – teaming with ONE805 to secure long-term funding for essential wellness programs.

UCSB researchers found that pregnant women in hot, humid conditions, studied using data from South Asia, faced greater risks of having shorter children because humidity intensified the harmful effects of high temperatures; the study suggested that simple interventions may help reduce these risks.

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.

Reading Skills 101 Workshop

2-4 p.m. — Santa Barbara Public Library — Free entry — A community workshop designed to empower families with essential reading skills and understanding for children across all grades.