••• The I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival announced details on how it would work this year: “Festival creator Kathy Koury said artists will work in driveways and then photograph their drawings, which will be shared on the event website the weekend of May 23.” —Noozhawk
••• “A fire driven by strong offshore winds burned two hundred acres across a portion of Hollister Ranch early Thursday morning. Now at 10 percent containment, the blaze started around 2 a.m.” —Independent
••• “UC Santa Barbara plans to use remote instruction for all of its summer sessions. The announcement extends a previous decision to only conduct the first summer sessions online.” —KEYT
••• “The Goleta city council approved a resolution Tuesday evening that requires workers and customers in essential businesses to wear face coverings. […] It includes all essential businesses and organizations that are allowed to operate under the governor’s stay-at-home order, not just food facilities.” —KEYT
••• From an update on the Randall Road Debris Basin: “The best case scenario as far as timing for the project is to begin construction in April 2021.” —Montecito Journal (article not online)
••• A reader tells Restaurant Guy that the Church of Scientology moved to Ventura, and that its former home at 524 State Street (between Cota and Haley, next to Institution Ale) will be turned into a hotel. Indeed, here’s a description from a public hearing announcement for the Historic Landmarks Commission (dated April 1, 2020): “The Spanish Colonial Revival style building, constructed in 1901 and remodeled after the earthquake in 1925 by Soule Murphy and Hastings, is eligible for designation as a Structure of Merit. Proposal to convert the existing commercial building from church and office to a 47-room hotel. The project includes a 401 square foot ground floor addition, 446 square foot second floor addition, and 1,557 square foot third floor addition. The proposal includes a new elevator shaft and stairs at the rear of the building, and removal of a Cork Oak and Palm Tree at the rear of the property.” The owner is Jason Jaeger, whose Jaeger Partners also developed the Haley Hotel.
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