🌱 Consuelo Dr. Burglary + State St. Kerfuffle + Fish Market Expands

Hi all! Today’s National Black Bear Day; did you know that Alaska has the largest black bear population, while Delaware is believed to have none at all? It's Sylvia, your host of the Santa Barbara Patch newsletter. Today you'll find news about:

• 🌿 Native plants making a comeback.
• 💰 Parks & Recreation budget frustration.
• ⬅️ A Santa Barbara Fish Market expansion.

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌤️ But first, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 70 Low: 55.

From our sponsor:

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Santa Barbara

• Auto Fuels at 1502 San Andres St., $4.45
• Conserv Fuel at 150 S. La Cumbre Road, $4.49
• Fuel Depot at 250 N. Turnpike Road, $4.51

🦸 Superpower Poll!
A 2018 survey found that Americans would love to have the superpower of healing others. If we take this one off the table, which superpower would you love to have?

• 28.6 percent: The ability to fly
• 23.8 percent: The ability to time travel
• 19 percent: The ability to read minds
• 9.5 percent: The ability to become invisible
• 4.8 percent: Superhuman strength, teleport, healing, or win select lotteries and give money away

📰 Here are the top stories in Santa Barbara today:

1. A Consuelo Drive neighbor caught a burglary on surveillance video on Wednesday. The thieves thought they were being smart by moving the cameras to point away from where they were looting the home. Despite a quick police response, officers didn’t catch the intruders. There’s a scuttlebutt of a possible inside job. (edhat)
2. The 17-member State Street Advisory Committee is supposed to redesign the street from the 400 block to the 1300 block. Yet last Wednesday’s meeting devolved into arguments claiming, “cyclists and e-bike riders had made State Street’s pedestrian promenade unsafe.” The goal was to present something tangible by August; however, it might take until next year. (Santa Barbara Independent)
3. Another discussion that’s heating up concerns Parks & Recreation’s budget. Director Jill Zachary “is looking to cut expenditures by $289,824 next fiscal year and $445,428 the following fiscal year.” Examples of cuts are the removal of a Summer Fun camp session, elimination of Monroe Elementary School’s after-school program, and placing fencing around some parks. Critics say there’s overlap with the school district’s budget, but no communication about allocating some of its funds to save the programs. (NoozHawk)
4. The East Beach is being overrun by invasive crabgrass, but volunteers and the Santa Barbara Creeks division are doing something about it. Removing this fast-spreading plant makes room for native flora. Already, the division “planted about 4500 native plants and most of them are doing wonderful.” (KEYT)
5. The Santa Barbara Fish Market is expanding to Goleta in October. The new venue will be at 7127 Hollister Ave. “I have always had a vision of a having a fish market there with a restaurant element,” Owner Brian Colgate said. Look for sea urchins, fish tacos, and sable fish — among other food options. (NoozHawk)

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📆 Today in Santa Barbara:

• Farmers Market at Santa Barbara & Cota streets (8:30 AM)
• Downtown Santa Barbara Beautification Day meets at 27 E. De La Guerra St. (9 AM)
• "Snapping into Characters" Live Improv Workshop with Chris Shurland at the Alcazar Theatre (12 PM)
• Zoo Brew at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens (4 PM)
• Trevor Noah performs at the Santa Barbara Bowl (7:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "June 1-7 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Did you know about 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes? If you have to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of a loved one. Learn CPR and how to use an AED to save a life!" (SB City Fire PIO)
• "The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s annual summer butterfly exhibit is open to the public. It’s called Butterflies Alive, and it features more than 24 tropical butterfly species from Costa Rica." (KEYT)
• "The median price per square foot for a home in Santa Barbara decreased in the past week to $1,068. That’s $668 more than the Santa Barbara County median. Prior to this, the median price per square foot of a home sold in Santa Barbara was $1,138." (The Tribune)
• "Free microchip clinics are being held all month in Santa Barbara County. Pets can get microchipped for free throughout the county ahead of the holiday at all three shelter locations in the county." (KCLU)
• "Welcome to the SBFD family! We are so proud to welcome six new firefighters from the Fire Academy Class No. 43. Your recent graduation ceremony honored dedication, hard work, and exceptional training. Thank you for your commitment to serving our community." (City of Santa Barbara)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Santa Barbara Patch newsletter? Contact me at santabarbara@patch.com