Newsletter: March 16

NEWS DIGEST
••• First confirmed case of Covid-19 in San Luis Obispo County.
••• A running tally of tests given here and cases by state and country.
••• Santa Barbara schools close indefinitely (photo courtesy Santa Barbara High School).
••• UCSB suggests students leave campus.
••• Farmers’ market stays open, for now.
••• Social-distancing guidelines for restaurants.
••• Mammoth and Big Bear shut down.
→ Read the post.

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BURNING QUESTIONS
“During lunch at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, I spotted these four columns just offshore. I only recently moved here, and maybe this is obvious to people who’ve lived here longer, but what are they?” —A. The answer.

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THE FOOD SCENE
••• The inaugural Santa Barbara Culinary Experience was postponed.
••• Foster’s Freeze is said to be on its last legs.
••• Chick-fil-A’s lame response to its traffic issue.
••• Chef-owned Lemon & Coriander in Goleta.
••• An idea for the dormant plaza in Montecito’s Upper Village.
••• Non-alcoholic cocktail mixologists.
••• Three home winemakers.
→ Read the post.

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The weather forecast from Jack Martin of Action Roofing: “Today and tonight should give us plenty of wet stuff, but no real heavy rain. Snow levels drop to around 5,000 feet, so Tuesday morning will bring some white stuff to the mountains. Tuesday and Wednesday, the steady rain turns to showers. This is supposed to affect areas more to the south, so we’ll have to wait and see where the low parks. Thursday is supposed to be dry, but one model shows some rain from a system in the north. Friday and into the weekend is unsettled. What that means is the models have no idea what will happen. Another system will affect the area next weekend—just not sure how….” Email [email protected] to sign up for his daily updates.

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ODDS & ENDS
••• The Riviera Theatre is limiting audience size.
••• The public library is canceling events.
••• Slightly Stoopid is coming to the Santa Barbara Bowl.
••• MarBorg will soon rent hand-sanitizer stations.
••• Cottage Hospital has Covid-19 test kits.
••• Toilet-paper hoarding continues.
••• A free house (above).
→ Read the post.

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NEWS DIGEST, PART 2
••• California is discouraging gatherings of 250 or more people.
••• UC Santa Barbara has moved to online classes through April at least (photo courtesy UCSB).
••• Santa Barbara City College has switched some classes to online.
••• Second Covid-19 case in Ventura County.
••• Earth Day event postponed.
••• SLO farmer’s market canceled.
••• Gang members convicted of post–debris flow crimes, including a Montecito home invasion.
••• Bad behavior on the rise in area schools.
→ Read the post.

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PRICE CUTS
The week’s top price reductions: Palm Springs style on a Montecito golf course (↓$250K); adorable 1911 cottage off East Beach (↓$400K); hilltop castle (↓$105K); sweet seclusion where Diana Road meets Diana Lane (↓$100K); two-week price-chop on Conejo Road modern (↓$200K).

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