🌱 Garage Fire + Dead Ocean Mammals + Environmental Hub Grand Opening

Morning, everybody! Today’s National Megalodon Day; did you know that the huge fish existed for around 13 million years before going extinct almost four million years ago? It's Sylvia, your host of the Patch newsletter. Today's briefing includes news about:

• 🛑 Street vendor enforcement operations.
• 🤔 Failure to disclose restaurant fees.
• ✂️ Celebrate with the Community Environmental Council.

💗 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: Clouds yielding to sun. High: 69 Low: 58.

From our sponsor:

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Santa Barbara

• Summit at 8 S. Milpas St., $4.49
• Fuel Depot at 250 N. Turnpike Road, $4.53
• Fuel Depot at 2299 Las Positas Road, $4.57

🏖️ Vacation Poll!
Are you traveling this summer? What is your favorite type of vacation? So far:

• 22.2 percent want to go on a road trip
• 16.7 percent each choose a camping trip or cruise
• 11.1 percent each remain here for a staycation or head out for an island vacation
• 5.6 percent each opt for a local outing, a national park trip, a Jeep trip, or a solo trip to Europe

📰 Here are the top stories today in Santa Barbara:

1. A detached garage fire in the first block of Saint Francis Way brought out firefighters late Monday afternoon. While the cause is still under investigation, there’s a scuttlebutt that the blaze started with “an explosion or fire in a vehicle parked in the garage.” Nobody was hurt, and firefighters put out the flames before they could reach the house. (NoozHawk)
2. Beachgoers, look out for dead ocean mammals. Since May, officials have received reports of “many deceased dolphins and sea lions in areas including Padaro Beach, Isla Vista, Haskells, and along the Rincon.” Toxins from a recent algae bloom are thought to have affected the animals. (KEYT)
3. The Community Environmental Council’s Environmental Hub will hold its grand opening on July 6. You are invited to attend at 1219 State St. between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to help officials celebrate. In addition to the ribbon cutting, you can see “Return of the Western Monarch Butterfly: A Photographic Exhibit and Scientific Roadmap for Protecting this Endangered Species by resident artist Elizabeth Weber.” (CESB)
4. The next time you eat at a restaurant, look closer at the check. Reportedly, “several restaurants in the county (are) charging mandatory service fees and surcharges without conspicuously disclosing them to customers before they place orders.” If an eatery adds on “a mandatory service charge, inflation surcharge, required gratuity, or credit card processing fee,” it has to tell you. If you run across a place that doesn’t, you can report them. (Santa Barbara Independent)
5. Street vendors’ setups are getting bigger, and legal food truck operators have had enough. So far, three enforcement operations have occurred since May 23, and more are happening. Officials are particularly concerned about “large operators who have opened large, pop-up, restaurant-scale accommodations — such as the one on West Mission Street just a block from the Mission Street on-ramp — that rely on open flames.” (The SB Independent)

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📆 Today in Santa Barbara:

Thursday, June 15

• Fiction Book Club meets at the Bethany Congregational Church (10 AM)
• Yoga For Teen Mental Health at Sol Seek Yoga Studio (4 PM)
• The Magic Of Michael Rangel Show at the Paradise Springs Winery (4:30 PM)
• Raising a Reader: Family Read-Alouds at the Santa Barbara Public Library (6 PM)
• “When Science and Art Met in the Coast Survey of the Santa Barbara Channel: 1849-1860” Lecture at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (7 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "Santa Barbara County Fire Promotions: Engineer/Inspector Wright, Engineer/Inspector Luparello, Engineer/Inspector Oakley, Captain Lynch, Engineer/Inspector Dudley, Engineer/Inspector LeFebre, and Captain Garcia. Congratulations!" (SBC Fire Info)
• "The calm and mild conditions will continue for the next several days before temperatures begin to slowly trend warmer by Father's Day weekend." (KEYT)
• "The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will start a budget hearing at 9 a.m. Friday in the County Administration Building, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The county said in a news release that it has balanced its budget with no cuts in services. " (S.B. News-Press)
• "The City recognizes Pride Month with a proclamation at City Council at 2 p.m. today in City Hall Council Chambers. Join us in being advocates and allies who reject prejudice. Meetings are in person and live-streamed at http://ww.santabarbaraca.gov/CAP" (City of Santa Barbara)
• "Flag Day is a celebration of the symbolism and history of the American flag. SBFD proudly displays a flag created from recycled fire hoses at Fire Station 1. This flag was created by retired Firefighter John Carrillo." (SB City Fire PIO)

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Featured events:

• Summer Kickoff Event with Republican "Firebrand" Congressman Matt Gaetz (June 17)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox Saturday with your next update.

— 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