Author: KEYT

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Public Library has relaunched its “Food for Fines” program.

The program allows patrons to erase up to $35 in lost or damaged item fees with one bag of at least three non-perishable food items.

Donations are accepted at the Central Library, Eastside Library, or Library on the Go — no card required — through January 16, 2026.

The drive helps clear blocked accounts while restocking local food banks for those in need.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Nearly 700 bike riders are on the road with more safety than they had a few weeks ago.

Earlier this month the group known as “MOVE Santa Barbara County” which supports bike riding safety and safe routes handed out free rechargeable LED bike lights.It was just after we changed the clocks and it was getting darker earlier..They set up in Santa Barbara on the Eastside and downtown, also in Carpinteria, Isla Vista and Goleta as part of a week-long distribution.A total of 670 lights were installed on bikes.

The event was sponsored by The Shoemaker Family Fund and LEAP Central Coast and carried the name, Iluminando La Noche or Light Up the Night.They also shared information about a do-it-yourself bike repair shop on Olive street known as Bici Centro.

In addition to bike riders, MOVE Santa Barbara County educates and advocatesfor people who walk and take public transit.

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Mike Klan

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona. (KEYT) – Guard Peter Bandelj led three Cal Poly men’s basketball players in double-digit scoring figures with 20 points Monday evening, but the Mustangs opened a two-game stretch at Northern Arizona’s MTE with a 93-87 setback to the host Lumberjacks inside the Rolle Activity Center.

Fellow sophomore Hamad Mousa added 17 points for Cal Poly (3-4), which led by double digits early before trailing by six at the break. Junior guard Jake Davis, who matched his Division I scoring high with 14 points, sank a third and final three-pointer with 11-and-a-half minutes remaining to hand Cal Poly a 67-66 lead.

With Northern Arizona (3-2) shooting 60.0 (15-for-25) percent during the second half, however, the one-point advantage was Cal Poly’s last of the night.

Freshman Ali Assran and Mousa co-led Cal Poly with eight rebounds apiece as the Mustangs sank 13 three-pointers.

Down 5-4 after two minutes, Cal Poly received a Davis three-pointer to kickstart a 9-0 run. A Mousa three-pointer – one of three he drained in the first half – then handed Cal Poly an 18-7 lead six minutes into action.

The Mustangs still led 27-18 with 11-and-a-half minutes to play before Northern Arizona – backboned by two three-pointers and a layup from guard Ryan Abelman – produced a 14-5 run to tie the matchup.

The Mustangs, who shot 50.0 (17-for-34) percent from the floor during the first half and knocked down nine three-pointers, saw Bandelj complete a three-point play four minutes before the break to regain a 44-40 lead. Cal Poly, however, produced just one bucket the remainder of the half and trailed heading into the locker room, 52-46.

Cal Poly faced a nine-point deficit early in the second half before Davis hit a second three-pointer and Bandelj finalized another three-point play. Freshman Austin Goode added a layup before Bandelj followed with another to place the Mustangs back in front at 60-59 with 15 minutes to go.

Cal Poly led once more behind the Davis three-pointer at 67-66 and tied the scoreline five times down the stretch without overcoming the Lumberjacks.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)

Image courtesy of Zach Melendez / NAU Athletics

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Freshman CJ Shaw scored a game-high 23 points and Marvin McGhee IV added 14 points as UCSB cruised past Nobel University 84-49.

Shaw made 9-of-11 shots while the Bakersfield-transfer McGhee IV sank 5-of-7 from the field as he works his way back from a leg injury that delayed the start of his Gauchos tenure.

UCSB led 42-19 at the half as the Gauchos overwhelmed the Knights as expected who play in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

The Knights are coached by former Gauchos player Les Bean.

UCSB sophomore Zion Sensley recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds and 11 points.

(Freshman Michael Simcoe scored 10 points. Entenza Design).

A highlight in the second half was freshman Luke Zuffelato scoring his first collegiate points.

(Luke Zuffelato scores his first points as a Gaucho in lopsided win. Entenza Design).

The Santa Barbara High School graduate Zuffelato knocked down a three-pointer and threw down a dunk as he scored all 7 of his points after the break.

The Gauchos play in the Resorts World Classic in Las Vegas starting Friday versus Lehigh.

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Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Paseo Nuevo is preparing for holidays and visitors can already enjoy its big Christmas tree and soon shoppers will be able to visit Santa at a storefront across from Nordstrom.

But like many malls it no longer has its Macy’s and Nordstrom anchor stores.

Many Central Coast locals remember the Paseo Nuevo’s retail heyday.

Shannon Givens helped open the Nordstrom back in the day.

Givens remember the piano players, the elegant entrances, and the friends she made.

She is one of many people paying attention to talks about its future.

The city of Santa Barbara is looking to add market value and low income housing with incentives for developers.

“The Paseo Nuevo Mall, there has been a real changed retail environment in the last 5 or 6 years and retailers are looking at brick and mortar storefronts in a very different way,” said City Administrator Kelly McAdoo. “We’ve had the Paseo Nuevo Mall here in downtown Santa Barbara since 1989 and we really need to start thinking about how do we create the next catalyst for downtown, we have an opportunity right now through a partnership we have with a development team to build a number of housing units in downtown.”

The city is in talks with the owner of Shoppoff Realty Investments that owns the Nordstrom building and of the owners of the mall’s lease that includes Macy’s.

“There are a couple of partners that are part of the ownership structure at he Paseo Nuevo Mall, “said McAdoo, “The city owns the land underneath and then there is a group that is affiliated  with alliance  bernstein, they own the former Macy’s building and much of the inline retail shops and then there is a separate company Shopoff that owns the former Nordstrom building and in order for the development to happen all three of those parties , the city, ab and Shopoff have to agree to allow housing on the site.”

Some people including Greg County who works without the unhoused, would like to see a mix of market value and affordable housing.

“Right now we have a proposal for Nordstroms for 112 housing units, it would include inclusionary restricted affordable units in that site, and similarly we are looking at a project on the former Macy’s building of about 233 housing units that will also be going to council.

They will need to work through restrictive agreements on the property. 

On December 2nd, city council will discuss getting the ball rolling with Alliance Bernstein plan and then they will have conversations with Shopoff realty investments at a later date.

And while Macy’s has to be torn down to build housing, the Nordstrom building owned by Shopoff is still structurally sound and viable so they could build housing within its walls.

The City Administrator calls that adaptive reuse.

And fun fact – Shoppoff is the proper name of the investment company founder William A. Shoppoff.

We will have reaction to the Paseo Nuevo plans tonight on the news.

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Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Allan Hancock College evacuated its Santa Maria campus after a bomb threat just before 2:30 p.m. Monday, according to the university.

Santa Maria Police are on scene after all remaining classes and services were cancelled due to the threat, according to the University.

Allan Hancock College announced an all clear at 5:20 p.m. without a single explosive device found in the incident, according to the SMPD.

The SMPD will continue to investigate the case, but all Allan Hancock College classes and services will resume Tuesday morning.

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Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – A Thanksgiving break day camp for Lompoc kids has room for a few more sign ups.

The Lompoc Parks & Recreation division is holding a day camp for children ages 6-12 while they’re off school all week for Thanksgiving.

It meets from 12:30 to 5:15pm Monday through Wednesday at the Anderson Recreation Center on Walnut Avenue. 

Games and crafts, a swim day at the aquatics center, and holiday movie viewings are among the activities.

For a registration fee, it’s open to any Lompoc parents who need help with their kids this holiday week.

“We wanted to be able to provide an affordable and safe place for kids to be,” says Johanna Kinard, Lompoc’s Parks And Recreation supervisor. “Also, to get them to tune off the TV and, you know, get some interaction going. We will be accepting registrations every day. We are not at capacity yet, so we invite anybody who wants to get the kids out of the house or if they need supervision, they’re more than welcome to sign up.”

Organizers say parents can register at the Anderson Recreation Center or on the City Of Lompoc’s website.

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Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Brazilian Cultural Arts Center’s Brazilian Day left the whole of downtown Santa Barbara and the community bursting with feelings of culture and spirit.

Music, dance, vendors, and just about everything green and gold filled Casa de la Guerra and De La Guerra Plaza this past weekend for an afternoon of cultural celebration.

Starting at 10:00am, the local Brazilian community invited everyone to dance their hearts out to the sounds of samba and choro, and enjoy performances from the center’s dancers and other local Brazilian groups. The main stage in De La Guerra Plaza also hosted various performers from different cultures and dance lessons – with help from DJ Darla Bea.

Passistas and performers from Samba Loca led the festival on a small parade down State Street – making the spirit of Brazil known with vibrations of the drums.

A special VIP section held just across the street at Casa de la Guerra made the perfect dance floor to continue dancing until the sunset! There the festival included a beer garden, kids fun zone, and Churrascaria (Brazilian barbecue). The entire venue radiated with energy, as attendees finished off the evening with great food, great music, and great people.

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Jarrod Zinn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – Cal Poly is entering the winter season on a few bright notes.

The Campus Health and Wellbeing department has launched new medical vending machines containing basic over-the-counter pharmaceutical supplies.

A senior project expo on Friday featured the prototype of a portable carbon monoxide sensor, created in honor of late graduate Johnny Heathco.

And the university’s Study Abroad program is ranked first in the nation for the fourth year, according to the Institute Of International Education.

Students are taking their learn-by-doing motto global.

“This is the third consecutive year and fourth overall that we’ve ranked number one in the nation among master’s level institutions,” says Cari Vanderkar, Cal Poly’s Assistant Vice Provost for International Programs. “For the number of students we’ve sent on study abroad. We’re really pleased to offer a variety of programs from short term length, from even just, you know, 7 to 10 days, or up to a semester or academic year.”

Officials say studying abroad has a profound effect on students.

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Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria Elks Recreation has announced its popular annual “Christmas in the Country” drive-through light show will not take place this year.

Elks Recreation, the local non-profit organization that operates the Santa Maria Elks Event Center, Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade, as well as Christmas in the Country, indicated the sheer volume of community-related events held at the Event Center in 2025 was a key factor in the decision to postpone this year’s event.

“This year, to fulfill those commitments, we had events all the way through November 3rd, but because some events got pushed, we just didn’t have enough time to prep the way that we needed to,” said Johnna McGuire, Elks Recreation Media Director.

McGuire added recent wet weather also played an important role in this year’s cancellation.

“We had back-to-back rain that we needed and loved, but obviously it really hampered our efforts to prep the grounds and get them ready for Christmas in the Country,” said McGuire. “It was a hard decision, but it was really just one that we just felt that if we couldn’t do it to the best that it’s been, we didn’t want to. We would never want to disappoint people.”

Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Christmas in the Country quickly turned into a favorite holiday tradition for families in the Santa Maria Valley and surrounding communities.

“It’s just so wonderful that the community has been able to create something like this,” said Kim Parsons, United Rentals Branch Manager, who has participated in all of the previous years. “You have families that come out with their kids. They’re dressed up in their pajamas. They have their hot cocoa. They’re just looking forward to going through this. Usually, it takes about 45 minutes to drive through the event and you get to see so many just awesome setups.”

Held on the 107-acre Elks Event Center property, the home site of the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, Christmas in the Country features dozens of lighted displays created individually by local businesses, clubs, schools, organizations, families, and other groups.

“Everybody has their own different scene,” said Parsons. “We have a manger with live animals that are here. You are able to see so many different lights, and so many different scenes out here. You have Elsa (From Frozen), you have the Polar Express out here. You have a scene that has the Abominable Snowman. You get to see so many awesome setups that the community does.”

Similar to the Elks Rodeo held in late-May/early June, all of the proceeds generated through the sale of tickets benefits the community, helping provide funding to different programs, activities and projects, especially for the youth in the Santa Maria Valley.

With this year’s event now postponed, McGuire assured the public Elks Recreation is planning to hold Christmas in the Country back next year.

 “We do look forward to having Christmas in the Country back bigger and better than ever in 2026,” said McGuire. “We just always have more businesses and organizations wanting to participate and be a part of it, so we are very excited that 2026 will be great, and we just invite everybody to to hold on, and we’re going to see you all next year!”

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