Category: keyt-local-news

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of families in Santa Barbara County are struggling with bills they can’t cover.

“People are already finding it challenging to keep up with housing stability … and then unexpected events happen … a medical issue … an accident … which puts them further behind,” said program manager Raquel Sanchez of United Way of Santa Barbara County.

United Way is stepping in along with several new partners.

“So we’ve been onboarding new case management partners … the work is growing and we have an engaged network that is ready to partner with us and support us,” said manager of marketing and strategic development Marina Hudgens of United Way of Santa Barbara.

Requests for assistance have surged in recent months as more households face financial challenges.

“This is a really unique partnership with cross sector agencies … people in housing assistance … people in domestic violence solutions … people who are serving a variety of needs in the community,” said Hudgens.

The United Way team hopes this expansion will reach more families in need throughout the community.

“We’re gonna be able to get a lot of interesting data on what our community really needs … and where those service gaps are … that we can then address as a collaborative,” said Hudgens.

Fifteen local service agencies have now joined the program, including CommuniCare, Carpinteria Children’s Project, New Beginnings, and City Net, to extend help across the county.

“My hope is we continue to find support either from county programs or a donor dollar to continue to fill this need,” said Sanchez.

United Way leaders believe the effort is creating more than stability — it’s fostering lasting resilience in our community.United Way’s Resiliency Grants program is growing in Santa Barbara County, aiming to reach more families facing urgent financial challenges.

The program underscores a collaborative approach among local agencies to tackle rising financial pressures and ensure families have access to immediate help.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Hikers wanting to get to Inspiration Point above Santa Barbara will have to take a detour for the next four months while an environmental clean up takes place.

The Stream Restoration Project by Southern California Edison is connected to the work that was done last year, and has now begun its second phase.

Edison caused damage in a creek area in 2019.  

Work was first done in July 2024 and was complete on November 9, 2024.

For hikers the alternative route to Inspiration Point is going to be via the Jesusita trail in San Roque or Rattlesnake Canyon.

Work planned during Phase 2 includes:

Removal of rocks and debris from stream bed and banks.

Reconstruction and revegetation of stream habitats.

Monitoring of restoration efforts. 

Hiker Hannah Huang said,   “I’m kind of sad that they’re closing this trail for the rest of the summer, but I’m also glad that they’re finally, you know, cleaning up their mistake and taking the steps to fix it.”

For regulars walking the area on Thursday many said this closure caught them by surprise.

Brenton Hampton said, ” I literally during the spring I think I did this once a week. 

I’m like this all the time. Like literally came up here once a week “

Someone new to the area, Sophia Pinto, will see it now and come back in January. “This is my first time doing this hike and my roommates are taking me today. So I was really excited.”

Already thinking of alternative routes, Jace Philip said, “We can go around, but, Yeah. It’s just so unfortunate.  I mean, maybe I’ll start going up to Ojai more or towards Gaviota.”

A few minutes later on the trail, Annie Li said, “I’m definitely going to try and get out more and explore more of the trails.” 

There were many local college students, some new to the area, on the trail. Grace Hajduk said, “It’s just so sad. This is our favorite hike.”

The project went through an extensive review by the Santa Barbara County Parks Department and County Planners.

To see a detailed map go to : sce.com/MissionCanyon or call the Mission Canyon SCE Information Line at 805-654-7223.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – After being mentored by guards Ajay Mitchell(Oklahoma City Thunder) and Stephan Swenson, now it’s time for junior guard Jason Fontenet II to lead the way for the younger UCSB players.

“It’s my job now to lead these other guys, these freshman and let them know how we do stuff here,” said Fontenet.

No one in the current Gauchos program has played as many games or minutes for UCSB than the 6’6 guard.

He averaged 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last year.

“Whatever the team needs you know I want to be an all-around player, two-way player, a guard that can rebound and can push the ball, make plays for others so anything to win,” said Fontenet.

UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack has always been high on Fontenet since recruiting him out of Phoenix, Arizona and the guard has appreciated his time with UCSB and coach.

“I have been here three years and my relationship is great with him,” began Fontenet. “He holds me to a high standard, he doesn’t let anything go by, even the little things because that’s what makes great players and makes a great team.”

The Gauchos have been practicing for eight weeks this summer before a short break and then it’s right back at it when the new school year begins in a few weeks.

Click here to follow the original article.

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Gauchos were a sweeping success at San Jose State as they won both matches last weekend against the Spartans to begin the college women’s volleyball season on the right note.

“We feel good but obviously a big test this weekend,” said head coach Matt Jones.

UCSB plays at the Trojan Invitational starting this Friday against #22 USC, #13 Creighton on Saturday and University of San Diego on Sunday.

The Gauchos went 14-16 last year and missed out on the postseason as they did not qualify for the Big West Championship.

UCSB won the Big West in 2023 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

Leading the way for UCSB is Eva Travis who was the Big West Freshman of the year in 2024.

She registered double-digit kills in 25 of her 30 matches.

But this year’s team is deeper than a year ago and Travis will get plenty of help from players such as Layanna Green, Grace Wuischpard, Emma McDermott, Ema Petkovic and Kiersten Schmitt.

“We definitely played as a team(this past weekend) and it was really fun to see,” said Travis who averaged 5.57 kills per set against San Jose State.

The Gauchos home opener is Thursday, September 11 with the Thunderdome Classic featuring Kansas State, Vanderbilt and Northern Colorado.

Click here to follow the original article.

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif.-One805 fundraising doesn’t just help local first responders, it helps the their colleagues in the communities where they have offered mutual aid..

It is that spirit of that mutual aid that led to a check presentation to benefit The Counseling Team International (TCTI) that is helping Palisades and Eaton Fire first responders.

Nancy K. Bohl-Penrod, Ph.D. said the $62,000 dollars will go a long way.

“We will be able to help out the firefighters, the police officers that were impacted by the fires and I don’t think people realize it is not just about going there and not being able to save a house or a building, it is about the grief that they experience watching people suffer and the sadness that they share, “said Bohl-Penrod, “So, it pulls on their heart strings all the time.”

Bohl Penrod is an expert in the mental health of first responders and the founder of TCTI.

It takes time to recover.

“So, it is not about a structure, it is about what the people lost and how they feel about that because in their world they would like to prevent anyone from going through such pain, so this donation will help them out a lot, to be able to go and relax, have their own time to get some help and be able to process their experience,” said Dr. Bohl-Penrod.

Montecito Fire Chief David Neels who serves as elected President of the Chief Association of Santa Barbara County, said thanks to One805Live! there is still a well funded fund for the wellness of local firefighters and first responders.

“One of the unique things about this funding it that is allows us to go beyond our jurisdictional boundaries, far beyond Santa Barbara County, because a lot of our resources responded to both the Palisades and Eaton Fires,” said Neels.

Local crews can relate.

“We understand when our firefighters came home how impacted they were to see the tragedy that was among those folks that live down there, so allowing these funds to go beyond the borders of our jurisdiction, to help other first responders throughout the state, as well as their families, is a huge thing to be part of, so we are very supportive of One805 and their mission to help others in regards to mental wellness and also serving others,” said Neels.

One805 Chairman/CEO and Co-Founder Kirsten Cavendish Weston Smith has learned a lot about the mutual aid and how the fundraising events are making a difference.

“We had 25 strike teams down there and being able to share some of that money with our friends down south was something that is really special,” said Weston Smith.

She went and saw the devastation.

“I think we all have friends who were impacted down south and we went down to film in Altadena and it was shocking.”

First responders have a say in how the money is spent.

“Obviously mental health is something we have been part of here with first responders, with fire particularly and they are the ones who really wanted to support their fellow first responders down south and really strengthen their program,” said Weston Smith.

During the check presentation, fire chiefs from up and down the coast had a chance to touch base and try to keep cool on a hot day.

They also had a chance to meet City of Santa Barbara Fire Chief Chris Mailes’ new puppy named Betty.

More fundraising is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the next One805Live! event on Kevin Costner’s property.

“We have a few thousand people and basically, it is a significant time when we raise a lot of money, the chiefs decide where it is going to go afterwards with grants and mental wellness with all first responders is out goal,” said Westin Smith.

The musicians donated their talent this year include Alan Parsons, Trisha Yearwood, and Good Charlotte.

For more information visit https://One805.org

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Organizers of “Serve Santa Maria” are looking for volunteers to take part in this weekend’s cleanup event.

On Saturday, Sept. 6, Serve Santa Maria will hold its 28th edition of the event with a number of projects slated to be completed.

“The day is fast approaching and we need volunteers come out,” said Serve Santa Maria founder and organizer Carl Nielsen. “If you come out and give away a few hours of your time, I almost can guarantee you’re going to walk away after a few hours and go, oh, that was really cool.”

Created in 2010, Serve Santa Maria is an event that brings community members together for a day to work on a number of repair and improvements programs around the Santa Maria area.

“It’s a wonderful way to reach out to your community and show your love and your compassion for others,” said longtime volunteer Nancy Diaz. “It’s just important to show our love and respect for Santa Maria. Every person in Santa Maria benefits because we’re all connected. We are all in this together.” 

Typically, the event draws between 200 to 400 volunteers, and for this Saturday, Nielsen indicated about 100 are still needed to make it work efficiently.

“We want to accomplish all of the projects that we have,” said Nielsen. “Volunteers are the key and I do call them heroes because without them, we’re nothing.”

For this Saturday’s event, there are 20 projects lined up including graffiti cleanup, litter removal, park and school improvement, painting, planting, adding landscape and spreading bark.

There’s also work scheduled at a few homes of older residents that includes fence repair, general maintenance, yard restoration and much more.

“This is definitely making an impact by helping Santa Maria look better,” said Diaz. “We are raring to go and are getting ready to just roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

Serve Santa Maria will take place on Saturday, Sept. 6.

Volunteers can either sign up online at servesantamaria.com or by showing up to the Abel Maldonado Youth Center on Sept. 6 between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m.

A gathering to begin the event will be held at that time and will offer volunteers complimentary breakfast items.

For more information about Serve Santa Maria, click here to visit the official website.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dave Alley

NIPOMO, Calif. – The owners of Holloway’s Christmas Trees in Nipomo have announced they have put the property up for sale.

Located along east side of Highway 101 just south of Tefft Street, the tree farm has been a beloved holiday destination for generations since opened up more than 60 years ago in 1962.

Carl and Debbie Holloway revealed the news on a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon, announcing they have decided to retire from the business, which they have operated since 1998.

“After 65 wonderful years on the Central Coast, we’ve come to the realization that operating a working farm day in and day out is simply becoming more challenging as we get older. With that in mind, we have made the very difficult decision to put the farm up for sale.

It’s time for us to retire, spend more time with our family, and embrace the next chapter of our lives. This is something we’ve thought long and hard about, and it is not a decision we’ve made lightly. The farm has been our life and such a big part of who we are for so many years. We will miss it, and all of you, so very much!” from Facebook.

During a phone conversation with News Channel 3-12 Wednesday afternoon, the Holloways expressed hope the tree farm will continue to operate as if for many years to come. However, they acknowledged whoever purchases the property may decide close the farm and develop the land into a site for new homes.

“The future of the property is still to be determined. It may continue as a Christmas tree farm under new ownership, or it may take on a new purpose. Regardless, we are deeply grateful for your support and for all the cherished memories we’ve shared together over the decades,” from Facebook.

The Holloways also pointed out the tree farm will open for business as usual this year beginning on its customary opening day of Nov. 17.

Holloway’s Christmas Trees dates back to 1962 when Carl’s father Del Holloway opened the farm.

While the farm sells pre-cut trees, it’s most famous for growing its own Monterey Pines trees that customers are allowed to cut themselves.

Holloway’s advertises itself as “The Largest Choose and Cut Farm in California,” and is one of the last remaining cut-your-own tree lots on the Central Coast, which has helped attract not only local customers, but also those from far beyond San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara counties.

In addition, the farm has also added many favorite Holiday-themed attractions over the years, including appearances from Santa Claus, tractor rides, swings, fire pits, and more.

“Since 1962, we have had the privilege of welcoming generations of families to Holloway’s Christmas Tree Farm here in Nipomo. It has been our joy to be part of your holiday traditions — from picking the perfect tree to sharing laughter, playing games, enjoying tractor rides, and creating countless memories on the farm. We’ve loved watching families grow, seeing couples get engaged, and being the backdrop for thousands of holiday photos,” from Facebook.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Smoke pouring out of the Granada Theatre building in downtown Santa Barbara with fire trucks lined up on State Street, created a realistic look to a drill this morning.

Santa Barbara City Fire and a county crew were inside and outside, even doing a simulated rescue from an upper floor.

Some people were concerned.

A social media post helped to clarify what was happening.

The drills are routine and have taken place both in the front of the building and on the north side through the back parking lot in the past.

A fire drill with smoke and an evacuation took place at the Granada building in downtown Santa Barbara.

The brand new $1.67-million ladder truck with a 107-foot aerial ladder was used.

The Granada is the tallest building in Santa Barbara at eight stories.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the City of Santa Maria regarding Water Scams targeting locals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The City of Santa Maria is alerting the public to a potential scam targeting local water customers. Individuals have reportedly been visiting residents and falsely claiming that the City’s water is contaminated. They are advising residents not to drink or use the water without additional treatment and then attempting to sell water treatment units based on these false claims.

The water in Santa Maria remains safe for drinking and use. The City regularly tests and monitors water quality to ensure it meets all health and safety standards.

The public is reminded that City employees will never visit a property without proper identification, and any concerns regarding water safety should be addressed directly with the Utilities Department at (805) 925-0951 extension 7270. Residents are advised to exercise caution and report any unsafe encounters to the Santa Maria Police Department’s non-emergency line at (805) 925-0951 extension 2277.

The City encourages all residents to stay vigilant and to always verify information through official City channels.

Traducción al Español:

La Ciudad de Santa María alerta al público sobre una posible estafa dirigida a los clientes locales del servicio de agua. Se ha reportado que personas están visitando a lo residentes y afirmando falsamente que el agua de la Ciudad está contaminada. Estas personas aconsejan no beber ni usar el agua sin un tratamiento adicional y luego intentan vender unidades de tratamiento de agua basándose en estas afirmaciones falsas.

El agua en Santa María continúa siendo segura para beber y usar. La Ciudad analiza y monitorea regularmente la calidad del agua para garantizar que cumpla con todos los estándares de salud y seguridad.

Se le recuerda al público que los empleados de la Ciudad nunca visitarán una propiedad sin una identificación correspondiente. Cualquier inquietud relacionada con la seguridad del agua debe dirigirse directamente al Departamento de Utilidades al (805) 925-0951 extensión 7270. Se les recomienda a los residentes tener precaución y reportar cualquier encuentro sospechoso a la línea de no emergencia del Departamento de Policía de Santa María al (805) 925-0951 extensión 2277.

La Ciudad anima a todos los residentes a mantenerse atentos y siempre verificar la información a través de los canales oficiales de la Ciudad.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The annual Bulldog Bow WOW event broke the ice for new students at Allan Hancock College on Wednesday.

Students say they appreciate this welcoming event.

Fall classes just started at Allan Hancock College, and new students got the chance Wednesday to connect with their peers, discover counseling and career path services, or join a club.

“We’ve got Volleyball Club, Eco-Revive, Nutritional Health and Wellness,” says student ambassador Averi Gault. “We’ve got fashion club inside as well as our Dream club.”

Studies have shown that students with higher engagement in their campus communities through clubs reflect higher G.P.A.’s and acceleration through their college careers.

“The clubs really do invigorate our campus life and it keeps us all involved in just being a community and embracing each other,” says the Alpha Gamma Sigma club’s spokesperson Ora Shrecengost.

Allan Hancock College’s student population is a diverse mix from recent high school graduates to older non-traditional students.

“I think it’s a really cool mix of people who come out to these events, not only people who work here, who are supporting with their service, but also community members just trying to make it a better, more inclusive space, which I think is awesome,” says Gault.

Other club options include but are not limited to Alpha Gamma Sigma, Fashion, Pride, Robotics, and more.

Community partners such as the Marines and the City of Santa Maria Police Department also participate, offering career path opportunities.

“When I got here, I didn’t really know a lot of people,” says Gault. “And through this event, we got to walk around together. We got to kind of experience the same things.”

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.