••• The Santa Barbara Zoo has a new arrival: a snow leopard named Kisa (“kitty” in Russian): “Eleven-year-old Kisa was born at the Denver Zoo on June 29, 2008, and came to Santa Barbara by way of Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. She is a non-breeding female who has never produced offspring, and the move was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan, which will make room for the breeding snow leopards at Hogle.” —Edhat
••• “The [City] Council unanimously voted to allow more rental units in the heart of the Central Business District, a move that will both chip away at the housing crisis and simultaneously help revitalize the dying downtown businesses. The vote was one of several conceptual votes the Council took at its joint meeting with the Planning Commission on proposed amendments to the city’s experimental rental housing program.” —Independent
••• “Carrillo Street Barbers […] opened Oct. 16 at 9 West Carrillo St. [Israel] Rodenas, a longtime local barber, decided to open his own shop.” —Noozhawk
••• Today “at City Hall, [developer Ed] St. George will find himself at the mercy of the Santa Barbara City Council, which will decide the fate of his controversial 32-room hotel project proposed for 302 and 308 W. Montecito St.” —Noozhawk
••• Montecito resident Maxi Decker paints Mickey Mouse on rocks and leaves them “in locations around town where they can be found and taken home to keep.” —Santa Barbara News-Press
••• “Los Padres National Forest officials announced that more than 800 acres were recently added to the Santa Lucia Ranger District as part of a land transfer brokered by the Wilderness Land Trust.” —Edhat
••• “La Cumbre Center for Creative Arts has rented out three spaces at La Cumbre Plaza for at least the next year to showcase local artists in an affordable and attractive space.” —Edhat
••• “Wind Farm Near Lompoc on Agenda for Santa Barbara County Planning Commission: Strauss Wind Energy proposes up to 30 towers on nearly 3,000 acres south of the city.” —Noozhawk
••• There’s now a Santa Barbara visitor’s center on State Street, just south of the train tracks. “The new facility […] additionally offers communal iPads and charging amenities, a wide selection of locally made artisanal retail items, and a photo booth to snapshot guests’ travels.” I thought the photo booth might have an interesting background, but it doesn’t. Worth noting, however: the visitor’s center has restrooms. —Independent
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