Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why a Mesa fatal hit-and-run brought only a two-year sentence

Coming up on the Santa Barbara Patch calendar: LOTG | Shoreline Park

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Good morning to you Santa Barbara! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why a Mesa fatal hit-and-run brought only a two-year sentence
  • How a new volleyball gym just reshaped youth sports in Goleta Valley
  • How a former Forever 21 could transform State Street’s arts scene

Also on today's calendar: SunSquabi and 7 more events.

Find out what's happening in Santa Barbarafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Santa Barbarafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75 and low of 53 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 73, low: 47.
  • Friday: Mostly sunny and beautiful, with a high of 70 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Driver in Mesa Fatal Hit and Run Gets Two Year Sentence (keyt.com) — A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge has sentenced Brock Hoffman to two years in state prison for a 2024 fatal hit-and-run on the Santa Barbara Mesa that killed grocery worker Juan Lopez. Prosecutors detailed how cameras and vehicle damage tied Hoffman to the Cliff Drive crash, while Lopez’s longtime partner spoke in court about the family’s ongoing loss.
   

2. County Partners with Santa Barbara Volleyball Club on Indoor Facility (noozhawk.com) — Santa Barbara County has approved a 15-year lease allowing the Santa Barbara Volleyball Club to build a new four-court indoor gym at 4550 Hollister Avenue in the Goleta Valley. The club will fund construction and demolition through donations, giving local families much-needed indoor court space while saving the county abatement and rent costs. Work is expected to begin in 2026 and finish in 2027.
   

3. City Designates Music Academy of the West Arts Center a Community Benefit Project (noozhawk.com) — Santa Barbara’s City Council has designated the proposed Music Academy of the West arts center at 901 State Street as a community benefit project, clearing the way for added square footage and extra height. The downtown project would bring a new performance hall, studios, and a rooftop event space, with design tweaks still ahead to better match Santa Barbara’s historic Spanish-style look.
   

4. Elks Bazaar Helping Fund Charities During the Holidays (keyt.com) — A holiday bazaar at the Santa Barbara Elks Lodge in Goleta is offering donated, one-of-a-kind gifts and raffles to raise money for local charities, including veterans, children with disabilities, and Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. Open to non-members at 150 N. Kellogg, the event keeps adding new items as sales are made, giving Santa Barbara–area residents a way to shop and give back at once.
   

5. San Marcos Girls Water Polo Remains Undefeated in League with 19-9 Win Over Santa Barbara (noozhawk.com) — San Marcos girls water polo stayed unbeaten in Channel League play with a dominant 19-9 home win over crosstown rival Santa Barbara High. Freshman Josie Drabik led the Royals with five goals, while the Dons showed resilience and strong individual efforts despite being shorthanded. Coaches from both Santa Barbara programs highlighted leadership, development, and team support as key takeaways.
   

📸 Around Santa Barbara

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Santa Barbara

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★ Featured events ★

    Thursday December 18
  • LOTG | Shoreline Park
    Shoreline Park, Shoreline Dr & Santa Rosa Place, Santa Barbara
    10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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📣 Santa Barbara Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Around 4:30 a.
    m., a friend was walking me home when we passed through the Torrey Apartments parking lot near San Remo and Hope. We came across a very friendly cat… (Nextdoor Hope)
  • Hello People!
    Got home a couple hours ago from watching the meteor shower out at Gaviota. Watched for about 90 minutes, only saw 16 shooting stars, but the 10th… (Nextdoor Upper East)
  • Santa Barbara County, CA posted a job opening for CalAIM Custody Coordinator in Santa Barbara. Apply here.
  • University of California Santa Barbara posted a job opening for Payroll & Financial Assistant in Santa Barbara. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Barbara here.

Ok Santa Barbara! 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. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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