Author: KEYT

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The holiday spirit is sweeping across the Central Coast, ushering in 2025’s Christmas season.

Some of the most popular spots have transformed.

Santa Claus arrived in downtown San Luis Obispo Friday afternoon, kicking off his daily hours at Mission Plaza.

“Day one, this seems to be a very popular day today,” says Dean Klintgaard with Solvang’s Visitor Center. “We’ve got a lot of visitors and most people have enjoyed a great Thanksgiving. And so now they’re ready to go on to the next phase of the holidays, which of course is Christmas.”

The Pismo Beach Pier is fully decked with their boughs of holly, and a giant light tree, which really dazzles after sundown.

“We got another Thanksgiving tomorrow, so we’re going to head back today and prepare for that,” says Joe Saminski, visiting with his friend Jackie Fitzhenry from their home in Sacramento. “But back up to Sacramento where it’s having 54 degrees and foggy. So we’re trying to extend this warm weather as much as we can before heading back.”

And the annual Solvang Julefest kicked off as The Zoe Report Jet-Set Readers’ Choice Awards declared them number one of the ‘Best Christmas towns in the US.’

“In Danish we say ‘glædelig jul,’ that’s part of the language of heaven,” says Klintgaard. “Glædelig jul!”

For in-person experiences of holiday spirit, locals and tourists agree you simply can’t beat the various Central Coast options during the winter months.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – As you let your thanksgiving meal digest, you may want to cue your holiday playlists and get ready for an evening in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Now that everyone has had their turkey and some families may be dozing off as we speak, Santa and his elves have been busy preparing for their first appearance in downtown San Luis Obispo, this weekend.

The lights are hung at Mission Plaza, and downtown SLO is ready for 2025’s holiday season.

“We love the community and it’s so rewarding to see everybody walk through,” says Maggie Kovach, Downtown SLO’s Events Manager. “But it certainly couldn’t happen without the hard work of our team, the city, and all of our sponsors.”

Santa will hold his daily hours at Mission Plaza from 1pm to 6:30pm this year, so plenty of kids can have a chance to deliver their wishes directly to him.

“Everything opens up on Friday,” says Kovach. “Santa rides in on a fire truck and greets just really excited kids. We’ll kick the house off at one and then at 5 p.m. we have our light up the plaza ceremony.”

After the sun goes down some of the magic will really kick in here at the San Luis Obispo Creek Walk with a new overhead pathway of lights, fixtures that will enhance the depth at the creek bed, and holiday patterns on the Warden Bridge.

“It’s wonderful to come every year, but it’s always nice if there’s something new that shows up,” says Justine Carlson, who lives in San Luis Obispo.

“Well, I just love how quaint and cozy it is and how lovely the store fronts are,” says Fen Zhao, who is visiting from Los Angeles. “I’m from L.A., so it’s not quite as cozy, let’s just say.”

For the Black Friday weekend, a ‘Shop Local’ contest commemorates Santa’s arrival, with a chance to win a grand prize.

“We actually have a whole activation going on through the weekend for ‘Shop Small Saturday,’” says Kovach. “If people stop by the downtown. So office between on Chorro Street, between Eureka and FedEx, you can pick up a tote bag. Every three stores that you visit, you will actually be entered in a giveaway with a grand prize that we’re really excited about. A one night stay at Hotel Cerro and some other very fun things.”

Whether you’re doing some of your holiday shopping or taking the family out for fine dining and quality time in the Central Coast outdoor environment, downtown San Luis Obispo has something for everyone.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Chicken Little decked its windows for the 48th year thanks to regular customers.

Courtney Drake shopped with her baby girl and family.

“This is where we get all of our stuff, it is our hometown stuff, it is where we find all of our personalized goodies,” said Drake.

Chicken Little owner Jennifer Bouma enjoys seeing generations of customers.

“It is so joyful, so fun to see the people through the years and the kids grow up and help fulfill that joy,” said Bouma.

She said popular items include Jelly Cat stuffed animals and Maileg mice.

There are also Santa Baby onsies and tiny T-shirts that say Santa Barbara.

People of a certain age like seeing young people shop in person.

Logan Brady said his family went shopping together.

“We love State Street, so it is a great place to shop, the community is really nice, so I thought this is a good place to go,” said Brady, ” I just got a little coat that is pretty nice and I got a hat for myself too, so it is a good day.”

Metro Entertainment workers planted comics around town to attract customers.

They call it gorilla advertising.

The store will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11-3 p.m. , giving people something to do before Thanksgiving dinner.

The store that has a Comic Club is stocked with Pokeman and more.

Vincent Vazquez enjoys checking out all the choices.

“It feels so much more refreshing to just walk around, look for things. It is an experience in itself and it is just so much better than sitting at home and putting something in a cart and waiting for it to get there,” said Vazguez.

Happy Burney who works at Unity Shoppe said the day before Thanksgiving was busy.

“Always remember the small businesses here in Santa Barbara and we are a nonprofit,” said Burney, “We were so busy.”

She said people stocked up on clothing, dishes and glasses for there table.

The Central Coast is also home to some major brands including Uggs, and Hoka in Goleta and Patagonia in Ventura.

That allows people to shop in person at their headquarter stores.

The owners of brick and mortar stores are thankful for in person shoppers.

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Mike Klan

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) –  No. 4 seed UC Santa Barbara swept fifth-seeded CSUN 3-0 on Wednesday at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in the first round of The Hawaiian Islands presents the 2025 Outrigger Big West Women’s Volleyball Championship. 

With the win, the Gauchos improve to 23-8 on the season and advance to take on top-seeded UC Davis on Friday at 3 p.m. in the semifinals. In just the third iteration of The Big West postseason event, the victory marks UCSB’s first, falling in the semifinals in 2023 and narrowly missing the field in 2024.

UC Santa Barbara dominated the first set with a commanding 7-0 start, capitalizing on three attack errors by CSUN’s Leah Miller and a service ace from Michelle Zhao. Big West Freshman of the Year Gabi Martinez registered two kills early in the set, and the Gauchos maintained pressure with solid blocking to claim the 25-13 win in the first. 

UCSB leveraged a strong defensive performance to earn a 25-17 set victory in the second frame. The Gauchos’ Emma McDermott and Jordyn Johnson combined for critical blocks and Zhao served up two aces to keep the advantage late in the set. 

The terminal frame saw another key 6-0 run for the UCSB offense. Eva Travis played a pivotal role, registering four kills, while All-Big West First Team performer Layanna Green contributed with a crucial block that thwarted CSUN’s attack. Kiersten Schmitt sealed the set with a kill from Zhao.

Travis emerged as a key contributor for the UCSB team, leading the offensive efforts with 12 kills and a hitting percentage of .500, while adding a pair of aces. Five players finished the night with multiple blocks with McDermott tallying six total blocks, including one solo, with freshman Jordyn Johnson in on seven total blocks.  

All told, UC Santa Barbara recorded a .296 attack percentage while amassing 13 total blocks as CSUN managed just .036 hitting in the match.

Hailey Brockway led the Matadors with 11 kills and a match-high nine digs with senior Leah Miller adding seven kills to the stat sheet. Taylor Dunlap and Katie Kolar combined for 24 assists in the match with Paige Sentes digging out nine balls for the CSUN defense. The Matadors cap the season with a 17-13 overall record and their first appearance in The Big West Championship bracket.

(Article courtesy of Big West).

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Jarrod Zinn

BUELLTON, Calif. (KEYT) – The city of Buellton is spearheading an urban forestry initiative.

In pursuit of Tree City U.S.A. designation, Buellton seeks to establish a procedural framework for communities to maintain and expand their urban forests.

“The concept of urban forestry refers to the planting, care, and maintenance of trees within an urban environment within the city proper,” says Scott Wolfe, Buellton’s City Manager.

City leaders say that overall this is an effort to streamline policies and ordinances that currently are as scattered as naturally grown trees themselves.

“The big desire, too, is to ensure their native plants are species that will really thrive in the area,” says Buellton’s mayor David Silva. “So it’s not just putting trees in the ground, it’s putting trees that will really stand the test of time and meet the moment as we work to ensure that our town is climate resilient.”

Mayor Silva proposes putting together drafts of several of tree-related policies, and then combining them into one streamlined community effort for mitigation, upkeep, and future growth.

“The Tree City USA designation is granted by the Arbor Day Foundation, and it’s really a way to showcase cities that are leading the way in prioritizing trees as not just an ancillary part of their policies,” says mayor Silva.

City leaders hope to establish a method to oversee these efforts, as well as to enhance the mediation of disputes related to tree removal.

“Part of the ordinance that the city council’s in the process of adopting right now creates or codifies the creation of a tree and landscape advisory board,” says Wolfe.

During the November city council session, the policy passed with a unanimous vote.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Unless you are in an isolated place away from the general population, or don’t plan on going out much this weekend, you could find yourself entangled in some big crowds.

The early data shows there will be at or near record travelers on trains, planes and in automobiles. From the Automobile Association of America (AAA) to ticket reservations from airlines analysts know seats will be filled and people will be in motion.

Highway 101 has already been showing signs of more cars filling the lanes, from the local population to the travelers on this coastal north-south route. Normally the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times to travel but the Sunday after Thanksgiving has now been given the honor as the busiest day.

They says a good time to travel is Thanksgiving morning when the roads are generally clear.

Caltrans construction will not be taking place Wednesday evening or Thursday.

Amtrak is adding extra cars to its trains in Southern California. Among those that will be riding on the Central Coast will be students from UC Santa Barbara on the southbound train around 1:45 p.m. Traditionally they have filled the cars for that getaway afternoon train.

One Santa Barbara City College student Eila Andresen was getting set for her train ride south and said, “I think the train is the most reliable.  It only ever gets  delayed  a little bit sometimes.  It not a big deal. “

She had a seat assigned for this trip but has had to stand in a crowded train in the past. “People get off at LA and after that  so that is perfectly half way on my trip,” said Andresen.

One family coming up from the Los Angeles area did not want to do it in the car and said they made the right choice with their kids.

Ben Duckett said, “the trip were perfect, easy and these guys were  great. Not too crowded. Everyone was in a good mood, just going to celebrate Thanksgiving.”

A Washington D.C. resident on an extended stay in Santa Barbara said, many family members were on the way. Joel Sarfati said, “all the family is coming in. So were going to have 14 for Thanksgiving. One group just came from Salt Lake City,  another from either SLO and from Phoenix, and third group landed in Los Angeles from Seattle.”

Santa Barbara weather was forecasted to be in the 70’s.

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Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Millions of people dive into video games every day—to compete, unwind, or simply escape.

But for some, that pastime can spiral into something darker, marked by isolation, distress, and an overwhelming loss of control.

At UC Santa Barbara, researchers are rethinking everything we know about gaming addiction—and what it really means to treat it.

We’ve all said it before: “Just one more round.”

For dedicated gamers, though, that single match can easily stretch into hours.

Jack Dindia, a lifelong gaming enthusiast, admits he’s crossed that line. “I would say there are times when I would play video games to an extent that could be considered an addictive level,” he says.

Gaming disorder, now recognized by the World Health Organization, affects millions worldwide.

For years, it’s been blamed on the games themselves—their design, their reward systems, their relentless immersion.

“It’s clearly a very complicated and nuanced subject,” Dindia adds. “Certain elements are intentionally designed to keep players engaged—maybe even addicted.”

René Weber, a brain scientist and director of UC Santa Barbara’s Media Neuroscience Lab, believes the issue runs deeper.

“The main question,” Weber explains, “is what comes first—an underlying psychopathology that drives compulsive gaming, or compulsive gaming that leads to psychological issues?”

While public concern has often centered on screen time or violent content, Weber’s team found those factors don’t explain why only some players lose control.

Instead, their research points to mental health as the key. “Things like psychopathology drive gaming disorder,” Weber notes. “We see increases in anxiety, depression, and trauma—especially in younger, developing brains.”

At the UCSB Brain Imaging Center, Weber’s team uses advanced MRI technology to explore what happens inside the brain during gameplay.

“Now you can see that’s the head coil,” Weber says, guiding a participant into the scanner. “It’s a very expensive antenna that picks up the signals created by magnetic resonance.”

Players use a small trackball to control their in-game movements, minimizing physical motion so the scans can capture brain activity tied to reward, impulse control, and emotion regulation.

“If our participants keep just a finger on the trackball,” Weber says, “it reduces motion—which is crucial for clean MRI data.”

Weber’s findings, published in JAMA Network Open, challenge a common assumption: limiting access to games isn’t enough.

“The real concern,” he explains, “is that when gaming becomes a true addiction, it leads to loss of control, conflict, and dysfunction in daily life.”

Underlying issues—depression, anxiety, trauma—often fuel the cycle.

Addressing those root causes, not simply restricting playtime, is what leads to recovery.

“I’m not saying it’s just the gaming,” Weber says. “It’s the underlying psychopathology that can intensify the disorder.”

The biggest battle in gaming addiction doesn’t play out on the screen.

It happens in the mind.

Behind every struggle is a deeper story—one that can’t be solved by unplugging a console, but by healing what’s beneath it.

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Michael Yu

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- SB Humane’s chief operating officer Dori Villalon joined your morning news once again with Po, a husky.

Po has now spent over 300 days at the shelter waiting for a new home. He was briefly adopted back in January, but was sent back due to not being a good match.

Po loves other dogs, is great on a leash and is house-trained. His adoption fee has also been waived!

SB Humane has also broken its goal of 2000 adoptions! The cat, Rayne Drop, broke the record.

On December 10th, SB Humane will host a meet & greet at the CalPrivate Bank in Montecito.

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Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

High School Boys Basketball:

San Marcos 47, Oak Park 46 (overtime): Aidan Conlan scored 14 points to lead the Royals to a season-opening overtime home win over Oak Park

Dos Pueblos 88, Lompoc 41: Wyatt Gardiner and Jordan Zamora each scored 19 points as DP opened the season with a lopsided road win.

High School Girls Basketball:

Dos Pueblos 78, San Luis Obispo 35: Carly Letendre scored 33 points as DP improved to 4-1 with a road win. The Chargers had 27 steals.

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