Author: KEYT

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – In the center of all the citywide festivities for Old Spanish Days is Santa Barbara’s downtown De la Guerra Plaza, which becomes the very popular Fiesta mercado.

It is the place for food, entertainment, and retail vendors.

The mercado opened with a ribbon cutting and a cheer at 11 a.m. Wednesday, led by this year’s El Presidente Fritz Olenberger and Mayor Randy Rowse.

The ribbon cutting was followed by dancers, including this year’s Spirit of Fiesta and Junior Spirit of Fiesta.

For those coming in with an appetite, there are many food choices in all directions.  It’s all prepared on the spot in mini kitchens.

The mercado is often visited more than once by local residents and guests in Santa Barbara looking for a vibrant gathering space.

The mercado will be open until Saturday evening and cleaned up on Sunday.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The traditional fiesta downtown mercado opens for four days today in downtown Santa Barbara as part of Old Spanish Days.

Thousands of people are expected to come and go for food, entertainment and shopping.

This mercado is in the heart of town and at least 15 vendors are set up with food that will be prepared on site.

This includes tortas, tacos, taquitos, churros, papusas, hot dogs and corn on the cob.

There will be a large stage of entertainment over the run of Fiesta. It will feature performers from local dance studios and at night, bands until 10 p.m.

Non profit groups running some of the booths say it is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year to bolster their budgets.

Local businessman Guy Riviera says, “this is the locals day. This is when our community finds its unity. And we are just gathered here. I was born and raised here and this is what we do.”

So many choices were in front of the hungry visitors.

Mike Haynes held up a tri tip sandwich and said, “It was really good. Look at all the other stuff. You have to try that later.”

It’s all prepared on the spot in mini kitchens that will be operating for the next four days.

Tom Kelstrump said, “I always choose the burrito. Usually pork tastes great. Price is not too bad. “

 For some of the visitors to the plaza, the bites are something they have waited for since last year.

Former Radio host, Baron Ron Heron  ate a taquito and said, “that is pretty damn good.” 

Don Risdon from Carpinteria said,  “we have some, tacos. Some street tacos. Carne asada, carnitas. And then I’m going to finish with a couple of corn on the cobs. Beautiful. Viva la fiesta! “

One of the new additions to downtown  is across from the De la Guerra mercado in the Casa de la Guerra.  It has its own stage and a number of retail vendors as well.

“I was really worried that there wouldn’t be a crowd here today. It’s good. There is a crowd bigger than usual.,” said Heron.

Dana Mensies did a food review and said after trying her dish,  “I thought the meat was really moist. I got the plate combo with the beans and the rice. I highly recommend getting both the green and the red salsa. It just was the perfect place.”

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Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Brian Shaw is the best basketball player to ever come out of UCSB.

Freshman C.J. Shaw is not related to the former NBA player but he certainly has the talent to make a nice impact for the Gauchos as a true freshman.

The 6’4 guard was named the Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year in Nevada after another terrific season at Mojave High School in Las Vegas.

He averaged 21.6 points with more than 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

Shaw is a two-way player as he averaged almost 4 steals per game on defense.

But all of that is in the past according to Shaw.

“Obviously high school stuff is left in high school, so college starting a new career,” stated Shaw.

“For a college athlete you have to be able to shoot the ball, play defense and be able to push the ball up any position you are playing. Hard work and defense, defense is a big thing in college.”

UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack likes what he sees so far from his top 100 ESPN recruit.

“C.J. was the Gatorade Player of the Year,” began Pasternack. “I mean he is one of the big surprises for us, he has been doing an unbelievable job.”

The Gauchos are just about at the midway point of their eight-week summer practice session.

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Mike Klan

WICHITA, Kansas. – The record-setting 10-time National Baseball Congress World Series champion Santa Barbara Foresters steamrolled their way into the 2025 quarterfinals with another dominant pitching performance.

Six pitchers (Noah Waldeck, Jaden Barfield, J.D. Goodcase, Tag Andrews, Andrew Guardino and Steele Eaves) combined on a 3-hit shutout over Lone Star Collegiate of Texas.

The Foresters went 3-0 in pool play and outscored their three opponents 26-1.

Santa Barbara will play in the elimination round starting Thursday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

The hitting star against Lone Star was Sawyer Farr.

The Texas A&M outfielder hit his first home run of the season, added two doubles and had 2 RBI.

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Caleb Nguyen

CENTRAL COAST, Calif. — All tsunami advisories have been canceled for coastal zones of California’s Central Coast, covering Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Officials had lifted alerts for most of the West Coast, including the Bay Area and Southern California, after wave activity triggered by a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula was downgraded as conditions eased

While initial surges arrived overnight, forecasters warn that dangerous rip currents and unpredictable wave patterns will likely remain a threat throughout the next couple of days.

“The whole Pacific Ocean’s been stirred up,” said Andrew Rourke, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “There’s a lot of sneaky energy out there that could really, really impact you.”

All Tsunami Advisories for #SoCal have been cancelled.

However, strong rip currents will likely continue across the #SoCal beaches for the next couple of days. So, if you go to the beach, check with the lifeguards about the water conditions. #CAwx

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) July 30, 2025

Beach Closures and Evacuation Alerts

In Santa Barbara County, most beaches will reopen today, while others will remain closed. The County Office of Emergency Management continues to urge the public to stay away from the water, beaches, and waterways.

State and County beaches and Goleta Pier are now open.

Cities of Santa Barbara and Carpinteria beaches are now open.

Vandenberg Space Force Base beaches will remain closed for the rest of the day (Wednesday 7/30).

In San Luis Obispo County, wave heights between 4 and 5 feet have been reported — significantly above normal. Port San Luis, near Avila Beach, is experiencing some of the highest activity.

An evacuation warning has been lifted for neighborhoods in Los Osos near the Morro Bay Natural Preserve, including:

Biscarth Street

Pine Avenue

Broaderton Street

Ramona Avenue

3rd and 4th Streets

Residents in these areas are urged to seek higher ground and monitor real-time updates at EmergencySLO.org.

“Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible,” said First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mackenzie Lake. “Some northern communities may reach tsunami warning thresholds. It’s critical to follow local evacuation guidance and remain alert to updates.”

Monitoring and Preparedness

Emergency crews, including the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, have cleared waterfront parking lots and are monitoring conditions. Officials are also watching ocean buoys and current patterns to assess any further wave activity.

Santa Barbara’s historic Stearns Wharf was closed overnight due to the advisory but reopened to the public early Wednesday morning.

“We encourage residents and visitors of our beautiful coastlines to take time this week to identify tsunami hazard zones and how they would evacuate the beach on foot,” said Kelly Hubbard, Director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management. “A few minutes of preparation now can lead to life-saving actions later.”

“We have plans for the waterfront, the harbor, and throughout the city,” added Santa Barbara City Administrator Kelly McAdoo. “We’re in close contact with the county and state emergency offices.”

So far, no significant damage has been reported in either Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo counties, but the advisory is expected to remain in place through the day.

“I would just say wait a day and then enjoy the surf,” said Rourke.

What the Alert Levels Mean

“A tsunami watch means be prepared,” Rourke explained. “An advisory or warning means we’re now confident that a tsunami will strike the area.”

Here’s how tsunami alert levels break down:

Tsunami Watch: A tsunami is possible. Stay alert and monitor official updates.

Tsunami Advisory: Strong currents or waves are expected. Avoid the shoreline.

Tsunami Warning: Inundation is imminent or occurring. Take immediate action.

Hawaii Also Felt the Impact

In Hawaii, alerts were issued and some residents evacuated low-lying areas. Percy Sallis, a wedding planner from Buellton visiting Waikiki, shared his experience.

“I was actually out shopping when our phones started going off,” Sallis said. “It was a little surreal, but people stayed calm. Stores closed quickly, and people near the beach evacuated to higher ground.”

Hotel guests were instructed to stay on the fifth floor or higher.

“Luckily, I was on the 15th. We just stayed in place and waited for more information,” Sallis said.

By Wednesday morning, conditions in Hawaii had stabilized, though the advisory remained in effect.

“It’s quiet now. People are just settling in and trying to get some rest,” he added.

Historical Context and Local Preparedness

The last significant tsunami advisory for California’s Central Coast occurred in 2011, following the Japan earthquake, which caused localized surges and minor harbor damage.

Stephen Williams, with the Montecito Sanitary District, said his team is taking precautions.

“We’ve been through debris flows, fires—caution is key. Be alert, be prepared. Better safe than sorry.”

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara is actively working on its response to community requests for assistance and future planning regarding the impacts of immigration enforcement actions.

The recent incidents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions have raised concerns and in some cases, caused fear in the community.

Some families have lost a member to an arrest and relocation, creating financial hardships and housing instability.

A recent town hall meeting drew a standing room only crowd for hours on the Santa Barbara Eastside. 

When it ended, the decision was made to have a focused session that could include results to gain more information about ICE raids, immigration rights, assistance for those impacted and information about the economic repercussions.

That meeting is set for Santa Barbara City Hall at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Public comments will be taken.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Efforts are underway to keep the festive confetti during Old Spanish Days from getting into the ocean.

On the storm drains throughout downtown Santa Barbara, black tarps have been secured with tape.

This will prevent the mounds of confetti during the Fiesta celebration from making it through the system and into the nearshore waters.

The city is also working to keep the plastic mylar forms of confetti from being sold or used in any way.

It is the most harmful to marine life.

The covers have been used for several years and have been proven to be effective.

The cascarones eggs, which are full of confetti, are sold and smashed on people’s heads by the thousands during the city’s historic celebration.

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Jarrod Zinn

GROVER BEACH, Calif. – A fire in Grover Beach destroyed at least two apartments and injured a few people as they evacuated this morning.

There was a close call, as one woman had to jump from a second-story window to escape the flames.

Neighbors helped each other get away from this fire safely, and we have video of the moments leading up to one victim’s harrowing escape.

In it, you can see a woman who lives at the apartment building on 14th Street was clinging to a second-story window as flames spread through the building.

The call came in around 9:30 Tuesday morning.

Firefighters arrived and immediately focused on making sure everyone was out.

“The fire originated somewhere to the rear of the back building, and their first priority was rescue,” says Five Cities Fire Authority Chief Scott Hallett.

Firefighters weren’t the only ones involved in the rescue effort. 

Corey Clendenen told us how he helped catch a woman who had to jump from the second story.

“I was thinking in my head, I don’t have an extension ladder anymore, so I obviously wasn’t going to get up there fast,” says Clendenen. “I was just doing what I guess I felt I need to do, I don’t know, out of reaction.”

We’re told a couple of other people jumped from the second story as well. 

Eight to ten people have been displaced.

“I know there was one animal, one small dog that was impacted,” says Chief Hallett. “I believe the dog survived.”

Everyone got out and only two people were transported away with minor injuries, but two whole apartments, including the home of a mother and her children who were about to start school, are gone.

“Next, real big priority is seeing what residents will need assistance from Red Cross,” says Chief Hallett. “And so we anticipate we’ll probably be here most of the day, making sure the fire is fully extinguished, conducting our investigation and assisting the occupants.”

Responders contained the fire by noon. 

An exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Crews have reopened the road and the scene has been secured while they continue their investigation.

A GoFundMe has been established to assist those who lost their homes and property in this fire, and donations of any size are welcome.

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John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif – For the first time, Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara can be viewed through a collection of newspaper images and preserved pages.

Project Fiesta! is the latest exhibit at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.  

It dates back to the Morning Press and Daily Independent papers in the 1920’s and continues through the detailed history of the Santa Barbara News-Press in the 1930’s up until the paper stopped publishing in July 2023.

The archives were recently obtained by the museum and specific Fiesta images were curated for this event.

Santa Barbara Historical Museum Executive Director Dacia Harwood said, “the quality is amazing. This is very much this a photo journalist exhibition what you see here is about a thousand photos of the 20,000 that we brought into our collection.”

This exhibit is a selection from the includes thousands of images captured by photojournalists who’ve documented Old Spanish Days Fiesta for generations. They had unique access to the upclose shot locations.

“The photo journalists at the time really captured the joy and the splendor if you will, of Fiesta,” said Harwood.

The photos are in displays sorted by events including El Desfile Historico, Fiesta Pequena and the Fiesta Children’s Parade. Some of the lost memories come back live through this exhibit.

Harwood said, “guests coming in and recognizing  their parents on the walls of the exhibit  or their friends and reminiscing on these events that have really stayed the same for 100 years.”

The Museum Director of Education Emily Alessio showed some behind the scenes images that may be part of the exhibit another time. “You can look and see people hanging out of the windows,  we have some photographs of people sitting on the roofs which  would never happen today.” That was when the spectator numbers were estimated to be 115,000.

Through the years, a special collectors edition program was inserted in the paper.

Alessio said, “you could pick up a  program that Old Spanish Days Fiesta  put out or you could pick up one of these programs that the News Press would put out.” They were larger than pocket-sized programs and considered a full-size guide with pictures. In the early days there were “garden tours” as part of Fiesta and those were featured as well.

The exhibition is dedicated in memory of the late historian Erin Graffy de Garcia. She was called, “a tireless advocate for illuminating and preserving Santa Barbara’s incredible Fiesta history.”

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday.  More information can be found at: Project Fiesta!

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Mike Klan

IRVINE, Calif. – Santa Barbara 805 Water Polo Club brought back plenty of hardware from session two of the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics.

Here are the results:

10s Coed: Ist Place in Championship Tournament, Gold Division.

10s Girls: 4th place in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division.

12 Girls: 3rd Place in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division.

(12 Girls went 6-1 with only a semifinal shootout loss. Photo USA Water Polo).

14A Girls: 11th Place in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division.

(14A Girls beat LB Shore Aquatics 12-6 to finish 11th. Photo Meg Watson).

14B Girls: 3rd Place in Classic Tournament, Silver Division.

(14B Girls beat CHAWP 12-10 in third place game).

16A Girls: 2nd Place in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division

(16A Girls went 6-1 in tournament, only losing in championship game to Newport Beach 13-8. Photo Conan Horton).

16B Girls: 21st in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division.

16C Girls: 5th Place in Classic Tournament, Silver Division.

18A Girls: 5th Place in Championship Tournament, Platinum Division.

(18A Girls went 5-2 in tournament. Photo Conan Horton).

18B Girls: Ist Place in Championship Tournament, Gold Division.

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