A Rain-Soaked HTO Celebration, Montecito Thanksgivings, and More
Heal the Ocean’s Thank You celebration at the Santa Barbara FishHouse on November 13th turned into a memorable evening of gratitude and surprises. Despite heavy rain, supporters and dignitaries – including U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal, Supervisor Roy Lee, former State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Councilmember Eric Friedman – filled the venue to honor sponsors of HTO’s “Above & Below” Annual Fundraiser. Event Manager Heather Hudson announced that the organization’s “no-event” fundraiser brought in $260,000, the highest total yet. New Executive Director Karina Johnston spoke about stepping into her role as she and outgoing Executive Director Hillary Hauser work in partnership. The evening’s highlight came when Congressman Carbajal presented Hauser with a Congressional Citation recognizing her 27 years of leadership – an honor she called “the biggest compliment of my life.”
Montecito Thanksgiving Celebrations
San Ysidro Ranch, Thanksgiving at the Stonehouse Restaurant: An elegant multi-course feast and a warm hearthside welcome with sparkling wine or hot cider. Guests will enjoy standout starters, refined seasonal courses, and luxurious entrées such as honey-brined organic turkey, Santa Barbara spiny lobster with caviar, or SRF Gold Wagyu striploin. Finish with exquisite desserts like pumpkin pie or apple-pear crisp. $290/adult; $115/child. Reservations required, call the Stonehouse at (805) 565-1720 to book.
– Friendship Center, Thanksgiving Luncheon, Wednesday, Nov. 26, from 12 to 1 pm, free for members, their family and friends
– Adam’s Angels: Annual Thanksgiving Feast, Thursday, Nov. 27, First United Methodist Church (305 East Anapamu St.), from 12 to 2 pm.
visit www.adamsangels-sb.org to volunteer
HWY101 Improvements Continue
Significant progress is underway on the Highway 101 improvement project through Montecito, where crews are focused on bridge replacements and the new southbound lanes. Over the next three weeks, work will intensify at the Romero, San Ysidro, and Oak Creek bridges, with crews removing old bridge decks, dismantling temporary shoring, and constructing new abutments and drainage systems. Along the freeway, teams are setting forms, installing rebar, and pouring concrete for the southbound lanes, auxiliary lane, and shoulders, marking major steps toward long-term congestion relief. Construction is also active at the Olive Mill Road southbound on-ramp, where crews continue to build safety barriers – an effort expected to generate night noise. Drivers should anticipate temporary closures, particularly at the San Ysidro Road off-ramp and adjacent on-ramps, as work continues throughout the corridor. These upgrades lay the foundation for improved mobility and safer travel through Montecito’s busiest stretch of 101.
Free Bird Illustration Program
The Santa Barbara community is invited to a free illustrated program, “A Brief History of Bird Illustration and Painting,” on Tuesday, November 25 at 7 pm in Fleischmann Auditorium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Presented by the Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the Museum, the evening features renowned bird artist Michael DiGiorgio, whose work appears in major field guides and publications. DiGiorgio will trace the evolution of bird art from nineteenth-century masters like John Gould and John James Audubon to modern innovators including Roger Tory Peterson and Guy Tudor, while sharing insights into his own techniques and career. The talk explores how artists blend scientific accuracy with artistic expression to bring avian life vividly to the page.
Native American Heritage Month
For Native American History month, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians invites community to visit their new museum and learn about their culture and history. They have recently received a proclamation from the City of Buellton, honoring the commitment to cultural preservation and community wellness.
LPFA Trail News
San Ysidro Trail Now Open: Clean up funded by the Montecito Trails Foundation
Nov 21 – 23: Volunteer forMission Pine Trail clean up
411: https://lpforest.org
6th Anniversary of La Cumbre Gallery Row
The La Cumbre Plaza’s Gallery Row’s 3rd Friday Art Walk on Friday, November 21, from 5-8 pm will celebrate its 6th anniversary. There is also a grand opening event for the Museum of Tibetan Art and Culture featuring art from Lama Tashi Norbu and the Barrymore family. La Cumbre Plaza’s Gallery Row has six galleries: Illuminations, Elevate, The Fine Line, The Voice Gallery, Grace Fisher Foundation’s Inclusive Arts Clubhouse, and the new Tibetan Museum. There is also the Crimson Holidays pop-up shop, featuring local artisans and their handcrafted creations.
Harbor Seal Rookery Closed
The Carpinteria Harbor Seal Rookery area beach is closed from December 1 through May 31. Per the Carpinteria City Ordinance #470, the Rookery area beach is closed to protect the colony during pupping season. Rookery boundaries extend approximately 750 feet to the East and West, and 1,000 feet out of sea. Disturbing the seals is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and may result in fines up to $10,000 per occurrence.
411: City of Carpinteria at (805) 684-5405.
Chabad of Montecito Events for Community
November 22, 7 pm: Musical Havdalah and movie
December 3, 6:30 pm: Guys Night Out, Sushi and Sake, host Doug Brown
December 13, 10:30 am: Monthly Shabbat Experience
December 14, 10:30 am: Bagels, Lox and Torah
December 16, 5 pm: Annual Montecito Menorah Lighting at Corner Green
Hospice Light Up a Life Local Celebrations
Hospice SB invites anyone who lost a loved one to attend one of their annual light up a life events where they can hang a star on a memorial tree. The events have guest speakers, Lois Mahalia, John Vale, Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, and the Laguna Blanca School Choir to certain of the ceremonies, along with cookies from Robin Himovitz and Aunt Janet’s Cookies, poetry by Perie Longo and George Yatchisin.
Montecito, December 6, 5 pm: At the Corner Green, 1504 E. Valley Road
Carpinteria, December 13, 5 pm:At the Seal Fountain, 884 Linden Ave.
Santa Barbara, December 7, 5:30 pm: At the Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido
Goleta, December 14, 5 pm: Camino Real Marketplace, Storke Road and Marketplace Dr.
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