Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Santa Barbara Unified spend its surprise $3 million special ed boost?
Also check out The Ocean Hates You! with Forrest Shaw on the Santa Barbara Patch calendar
Hey hey Santa Barbara! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Santa Barbara Unified spend its surprise $3 million special ed boost?
- Which MTD routes are getting slower after Santa Barbara's latest service cuts?
- What Mona Miyasato's retirement means for Santa Barbara County's future
Also on today's calendar: The Ocean Hates You! with Forrest Shaw and 8 more events.
Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 85 and low of 65 degrees.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 82, low: 65.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 65 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. $3 million in special education funding coming to Santa Barbara Unified School District - Santa Barbara News-Press (newspress.com) — Santa Barbara Unified will receive an ongoing $3 million boost for special education, helping offset federal cuts and support nearly 14% of students who receive these services. Additional state grants totaling over $12 million will fund professional development, student support, and COVID learning recovery, while also pushing the district to confront steep enrollment declines by 2032 deadlines. 
2. Santa Barbara MTD service changes could mean longer commutes for riders (ksby.com) — Santa Barbara MTD has cut overall bus service by 3.6%, meaning longer waits on key lines, fewer Saturday trips, and some early-morning and late-day runs eliminated. Riders are already feeling the strain, as the agency grapples with losing about $3 million a year in federal funding and warns that deeper cuts may come next August without new revenue.
3. Santa Barbara County's CEO Leaves Her Post with a Heartfelt Farewell (keyt.com) — Santa Barbara County's longtime Chief Executive Officer, Mona Miyasato, has retired after guiding the county through major budget challenges, emergencies, and the COVID era since 2013. She leaves saying the county is stronger and will now coach public-sector leaders while a new administrative chapter begins locally.
4. Yardi's Plans to Revive Macy's Building in Santa Barbara Get Early Praise (independent.com) — Downtown Santa Barbara's long-vacant Macy's at Paseo Nuevo is on track to become Yardi Systems' new headquarters, drawing hundreds of office workers and new ground-floor retail and event space. Historic Landmarks Commissioners praised the adaptive reuse design as a "major improvement," while suggesting tweaks to windows and detailing as the project moves through further city review.
5. Climate Progress Report Well Received (keyt.com) — Santa Barbara's City Council just reviewed a two-year climate progress report outlining steps toward the city's 2035 carbon-neutral goal, including more EV charging, building electrification, and solar storage. Residents can soon see one result firsthand at an EV charging station ribbon-cutting at the Eastside Library on August 26.
📸 Around Santa Barbara
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Barbara
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Gym: G Volleyball vs. Hart - Var 6:30pm, JV 5:00pm, FS 4:00pm
San Marcos High School Santa Barbara, CA 93110
4:00 pm - Back to School Night
Roosevelt Elementary School Santa Barbara, CA 93101
6:00 pm - August Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series Presents âVision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserveâ
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum , 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States
7:00 pm - August Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series Presents "Vision for a Wild Coast at Point Conception: Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve"
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum , 113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109, United States
7:00 pm - Finish Up Friday
Explore Ecology EE Makerspace, 302 East Cota St, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
1:00 pm - Stadium" Football vs. Dana Hills - Var 7:00pm
San Marcos High School Santa Barbara, CA 93110
7:00 pm - Crafternoons for Kids
Explore Ecology EE Makerspace, 302 East Cota St, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
10:00 am - Mosaic Magic Community Workshop →
Explore Ecology EE Makerspace, 302 East Cota St, Santa Barbara, 93101, United States
2:00 pm - The Ocean Hates You! with Forrest Shaw →
The Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria
7:00 pm - EL PIRATA BUCHAR": The Pirate Hippolyte Bouchard on California's Central Coast →
, Santa Barbara
10:00 am - Community Educational Day Sail on Tall Ship Mystic Whaler →
113 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
12:00 pm
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
Saturday August 22
Sunday August 23
Sunday August 30
📣 Santa Barbara Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Gym: G Volleyball vs. Mission Prep - Var 5:30pm, JV 4:00pm
San Marcos High School Santa Barbara, CA 93110
4:00 pm - First Day of School 1pm Dismissal (minimum day)
Santa Barbara Charter Goleta, CA 93117 - Goleta Valley Library Bookvan →
Isla Vista Community Center, 976 Embarcadero del Mar suite 101, Goleta
2:00 pm - Back to School Picnic
Cold Spring School District Santa Barbara, CA 93108
4:00 pm
Wednesday August 19
Thursday August 20
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Barbara PatchAM possible:
- Wicks Roofing and Solar — (805) 965-5122
- RowCal - Ventura — (310) 776-5409
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Anyone who doesn't frequent Island Seed and Feed just off Fairview on the ocean side of 101, is missing a super shopping experience from some simply great people.
They're completely vested in welcoming the customers, making sure you get the best of what you're after and generating a great shopping experience. … (Nextdoor Hope Ranch Annex) - UPDATE!
He's at AVS - no chip. I hope owner finds him he's so sweet🩵🩵 Is this someone's dog?? Found him no collar running on cota and garden. Then again on… (Nextdoor Downtown)
- Whole Foods posted a job opening for Sanitation Team Member (Cleaner, Housekeeping, Custodial) - Full Time in Santa Barbara. Apply here.
- Hilton posted a job opening for Dishwasher - Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort in Santa Barbara. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Barbara here.
Ok Santa Barbara! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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