🌱 Speed Limit Reductions + Great White Sharks + Celebrity Gossip

Hi all! Today’s National Root Beer Day; did you know that Americans have enjoyed commercially produced root beer since 1875? Sylvia here with your Saturday edition of the Santa Barbara Patch newsletter, filled with what's happening locally. Including news on...

• 🫱‍🫲 Community meeting on parklets.
• ☕ Kevin Costner gossip.
• 🎪 Circus Vargas leaves after Monday.

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🌤️ But first, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 72 Low: 59.

From our sponsor:

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Santa Barbara

• Fuel Depot at 101 W. Carrillo St., $4.51
• Conserv Fuel at 150 S. La Cumbre Road, $4.53
• 76 at 5648 Hollister Ave., $4.59

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

• 22.7 percent plan a staycation
• 18.2 percent each want to go on a road trip or cruise
• 13.6 percent choose a camping trip
• 9 percent intend to head out for an island vacation
• 4.5 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 in Santa Barbara today:

1. Alamar Avenue, La Colina Road, Miramonte Drive, and Yanonali as well as De La Vina streets will reduce speed limits. The typical reduction is five miles per hour. For example, the speed on Miramonte Drive between Carrillo Street and Via del Cielo will drop from 30 mph to 25 mph. (edhat)
2. Great white sharks favor the waters around Carpinteria, and the Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab would like to give you a bit more information. If you are interested in everything related to sharks, come to the Maritime Museum tonight, Saturday, at 7 p.m. “While you may be curious when you have a sighting, as we've seen with paddleboarders, don't go pursuing the sharks, because they could be feeding.” (KEYT)
3. Celebrity gossip in these parts is nothing new. The latest tidbits concern actor Kevin Costner, whose wife reportedly filed for divorce on May 1. Now, Costner doesn’t know how to get his future ex-wife to vacate the Carpinteria house. (Santa Barbara News-Press)
4. If you haven’t been to Circus Vargas yet, you only have until Monday to visit. The production set up at the Earl Warren Showgrounds. There are still tickets for Monday’s 6:30 p.m. show! (Circus Vargas)
5. Weigh in on outdoor dining. In May 2020, the city approved temporary parklet construction. Now, several restaurants and guests want to keep them. Others aren’t so sure. Officials are “exploring whether to extend the authority for outdoor dining in the public right-of-way, and if the community desires permanent, expanded outdoor dining.” The meeting is Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Faulkner Gallery. (City of Santa Barbara)

📆 Today in Santa Barbara:

Saturday, June 17

• The Santa Barbara Tarot Circle meets at Center of the Heart (10 AM)
• Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Artist Pop-Up: Watercolorist Kelly Clause Art Show & Sale (11 AM)
• Paint & Sip Tea Party at the Pura Luna Apothecary (3 PM)
• Xangie performs at Soul Bites (5 PM)
• The Good Good Show at the Night Lizard Brewing Co. (7:30 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "On Monday, June 19, non-emergency City Offices will be closed in observance of the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Water, sewer, and trash bill payments can be mailed, left in the night drop box at City Hall, or paid online: http://utilitiesonline.santabarbaraca.gov." (City of Santa Barbara)
• "Grab your blankets and snacks and head to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse to watch free films in the sunken gardens. The beloved Courthouse Film Series offered each summer by Arts and Lectures will feature movies that are 'Out of This World.'" (Visit Santa Barbara)
• "While touring a former encampment at MacArthur Park, Gov. Newsom announced that California has awarded $199 million, including $6 million for Santa Barbara County, on Wednesday to improve the safety of state waterways." (News Channel 3-12)
• "County Board of Supervisors Recap for June 16, 2023: Resolutions recognizing June 18, as Juneteenth and June 2023 as LGBTQ+ Pride. The Board Approved the Recommended Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24." (Santa Barbara County)
• "Residential City-initiated SLIP cases may be eligible to receive up to $300 in assistance towards the inspection of their private sewer lateral through the City’s Video Assistance Program (VAP) when using the City’s contracted inspector. Learn more at http://SantaBarbaraCA.gov/VAP." (Save Water SB)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you Thursday!

— 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