Organic Soup Kitchen Hosts Holiday Soup Social – November 13 and Other News Bytes
Organic Soup Kitchen invites the Santa Barbara community to celebrate its 16th Anniversary at the annual Holiday Soup Social on Thursday, November 13 at 4 p.m. at the Organic Soup Kitchen Distribution Headquarters (126 E. Haley St., Suite A4, Santa Barbara).
Guests will enjoy an Italian-inspired holiday feast paired with local wines and craft beers, live music by À La Carte Music, and a silent auction and raffle featuring local gifts and experiences – all to support Organic Soup Kitchen’s mission of providing nutrient-dense meals to those in need.
“This event is such a special tradition for us,” said Andrea Slaby, Chief Operating Officer at Organic Soup Kitchen. “It’s a time to come together, share a meal, and celebrate the compassion and generosity that make our community so unique.”
Tickets are available at paybee.io/in-person-event/osktasting/4.
Montecito Country Mart News
October 1 – 31: The Honor System Pumpkin Patch offers heirloom and organic gourds perfectly suited for your best culinary or carving aspirations. We’re keeping it simple: select your bounty and pay with cash in the drop box, by card at the Trading Post, or via QR code. Open daily next to Dôen through October 31.
Halloween, October 31, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.: Costume contest, trick-or-treating, and a movie. The Mart invites you to a festive day of trick-or-treating, a Pumpkin Patch costume contest, and Movie Night at 6 p.m., featuring a screening of the essential classic Monsters, Inc.
Kathryn M. Ireland and Jeffrey Alan Marks: Two Million Dollar Decorators at Hudson Grace and Emily Joubert has been postponed to a later date (TBA). Stay tuned.
Montecito Fire and Carpinteria–Summerland Fire Departments Join KSBY’s Annual Season of Hope (Oct. 13 – Dec. 12)
The Central Coast Season of Hope, presented by KSBY, is a donation drive for nonperishable food items, new unwrapped toys, and financial contributions, now through December 12. Locally, the Montecito Fire Protection District and the Carpinteria–Summerland Fire Protection District are participating as official drop-off locations.
411: carpfire.com
411: ksby.com/marketplace/season-of-hope
Chabad of Montecito Supports Jewish Film Festival (November 1 – 6)
The Santa Barbara Jewish Film Festival runs Saturday, November 1, through Thursday, November 6.
Chabad of Montecito announced its endorsement of the film Marathon Mom, which will screen on Monday, November 3, at 1 p.m. The event is organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara.
Flourish & Flow: A Black Joy Beach Party (Sunday, October 26)
The Kindred Collective for Healing and Liberatory Traditions (formerly The Healing Space) at UCSB’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education will present Flourish & Flow: A Black Joy Beach Party—a free, intergenerational celebration of Black wellness, cultural connection, and collective care—on Sunday, October 26, from 1 p.m. to sunset at Goleta Beach Area A.
The event, open to all who come with respect and solidarity, is rooted in a model of sustainable, liberatory healing. It is designed to combat racial isolation, strengthen intergenerational networks of care, and bridge UCSB with Black communities across Santa Barbara County. Attendees can engage in wellness activities including art therapy, yoga, meditation, a pier walk, light refreshments, and food for purchase from local Black-owned businesses honoring Black and African culinary traditions.
Nolan Krueger, assistant professor of counseling, clinical, and school psychology (CCSP), is leading the event in collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students.
“All are welcome who come with respect and solidarity,” Krueger said. “We invite the wider community to witness, uplift, and help create a space that centers joy, honors grief, but refuses despair. This gathering is part of something larger. Together, we’re creating a foundation for healing and care.”
411: Contact Nolan Krueger at [email protected]
Los Padres Forest Association Call for Photographs (Submit by November 2)
The Los Padres Forest Association’s annual call for photographs for its 2026 Forest Wall Calendar is open through November 2. Each year, LPFA creates a calendar featuring the sights, seasons, and wildlife of the Los Padres. All ages are welcome to submit. Selected photographers will be credited and receive a complimentary calendar.
Preorders for the 2026 calendar are also open, with all proceeds supporting trail maintenance in the Los Padres Forest.
Send up to 15 photographs with your name to [email protected].
CALM4Kids “At Heart” Fundraiser (November 7)
CALM, a community-based mental health nonprofit in Santa Barbara County, will hold its luncheon fundraiser on November 7 at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito. Event sponsors include Montecito luminaries Belle Hahn, Cate Stoll, and Alexis Courson, along with Montecito Bank & Trust.
Join this mission-driven event supporting CALM’s work to break the cycle of childhood trauma across Santa Barbara County.
Carpinteria Valley Water District Launches Advanced Purification Project
The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project, slated for early 2026, will replenish the groundwater basin with purified recycled water—creating a locally controlled, drought-resistant drinking water supply.
The project includes an advanced purification facility at the Carpinteria Sanitary District, with water lines to Linden Avenue, El Carro Park, and Meadow View Lane; two underground injection wells; and two monitoring well clusters. Completion is expected by 2028.
411: cvwd.net/capp
Unity Shoppe Lompoc Expands Hours to Meet Community Need – Starting November 6
Unity Shoppe has announced expanded hours at its Lompoc location (1009 North H Street, Suite B, behind Goodwill Mission Services) to better serve families in Northern Santa Barbara County.
Beginning November 6, the shop will now be open Wednesdays, 12–5 p.m., and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The expanded schedule aims to meet growing demand for groceries, clothing, and household essentials.
“The Lompoc community has welcomed us with open arms, and the need continues to grow,” said Angela Miller-Bevan, executive director and CEO of Unity Shoppe. “By adding an extra day of service, we’re ensuring that families can access healthy food, produce, clothing, and essentials with dignity and choice.”
Unity Shoppe, founded in 1917, operates multiple programs countywide, including free grocery stores, home delivery for seniors, job training for youth, and seasonal holiday toy and gift drives.
411: unityshoppe.org
You might also be interested in...
You must be logged in to post a comment.