🌱 How Lotusland’s new project could change safety along Sycamore Canyon Road

Cheers Montecito! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Lotusland’s new project could change safety along Sycamore Canyon Road
• How Montecito Union’s chorus stole the show at a WWII talk
• Why this Hollywood tragedy mentions a Montecito resident by name

Also on today's calendar: Food Distribution | Franklin Neighborhood Center and 5 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Montecito? Post it to Montecito photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and delightful, with a high of 70 and low of 56 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 75, low: 56.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 76 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Lotusland Embarks on Fire Mitigation and Water Sustainability Project (noozhawk.com) — Lotusland in Montecito has begun a major fire-mitigation and water-sustainability upgrade, including removing aging eucalyptus trees along Sycamore Canyon Road and installing an underground reservoir to capture rainwater for irrigation. The project, approved by Santa Barbara County and shaped by recent storm damage and neighborhood tree failures, will restore the pink wall and perimeter landscaping by summer 2026 while expanding native oak and pollinator habitats.
   

• Channel City Club Marks Holidays With World War II Leadership Talk on 5-Star Military Rank (noozhawk.com) — Montecito Union School’s fifth- and sixth-grade chorus helped headline a Channel City Club holiday program at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, sharing patriotic and seasonal songs. The gathering also featured a World War II leadership talk on America’s five-star generals and admirals, underscoring the club’s long tradition of civic and global discussion.
   

• Hollywood Legend, SBIFF Awardee Rob Reiner and Wife Found Stabbed to Death at Home (independent.com) — Montecito readers may note that beloved rom-com star Meg Ryan is mentioned as a local resident in coverage of director Rob Reiner’s shocking stabbing death in Brentwood. The piece recalls Reiner’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival honor and his career highlights, while also touching on the arrest of his son and controversial political reactions to the tragedy.
   

📸 Around Montecito

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Montecito

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 16

• Montecito Book Club
  1469 E Valley Rd, Montecito
  10:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Food Distribution | Franklin Neighborhood Center
  Franklin Neighborhood Center , 1136 E Montecito St , Santa Barbara
  1:00 pm
• Knit 'n' Needle
  1469 E Valley Rd , Montecito
  10:00 pm

Friday December 19

• ABC After Hours - December
  Au Bon Climat , 813 Anacapa St #5b , Santa Barbara
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Intermediate Spanish Conversation Class
  Eastside Branch Library , 1102 E Montecito St , Santa Barbara
  9:30 am
• Winter Solstice Sound Bath in The Montecito Orchard
  770 Coyote Rd , Montecito
  10:30 am
• Chaminade University Men's Basketball at Westmont
  Murchison Gym , Montecito
  3:00 pm
• Wasted Potential Comedy at Java Station
  Java Station , 4447 Hollister Ave , Santa Barbara
  7:30 pm

📣 Montecito Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Carpinteria Songwriters Circle
  Carpinteria Community Library , 5141 Carpinteria Ave , Carpinteria
  4:00 pm
• Detar Studios Band Showcase
  SOhO Restaurant & Music Club , 1221 State St STE 205 , Santa Barbara
  5:15 pm
• Carpinteria Improv Drop In — Santa Barbara Improv
  The Alcazar Theatre , 4916 Carpinteria Ave , Carpinteria
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Godmothers Grow: Instructor-Led Mah Jongg
  Godmothers , 2280 Lillie Ave , Summerland
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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🗞 Nearby News

Santa Barbara

• Opera Santa Barbara Pianist Moves On (independent.com)
• The Landlord You Want (independent.com)
• Santa Barbara Unified School Board Shakes Up Finance Committee Amid Annual Budget Report (independent.com)

Carpinteria

• Mark your calendars: Weekly sports schedule for Dec. 15-21 (lompocrecord.com)

Ok Montecito! 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: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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