Christmas came early for Los Angeles Dodgers fans still euphoric over our back-to-back world championships and hungry for a three-peat.
Closer Edwin Díaz was at the top of our wish list, and Santa Claus — er, Andrew Friedman — delivered. Ho-ho-ho!
Speaking of deliveries, Noozhawk has launched our Weekly News Report, a Sunday morning roundup of the most important and most-read stories of the week.
At 6:15 a.m. each Sunday, you’ll get a curated list of 10-15 standout stories — top reads, key updates and editor picks — making it easier than ever to stay caught up on the large volume of Santa Barbara County news our team of local journalists delivers every day.
It’s free, and you’ll continue receiving all your other Noozhawk newsletters: the A.M. Report, the P.M. Report and Breaking News alerts.
We’re also well underway with our Year-End Webathon, and we need your help. We’re looking to raise $125,000 by Dec. 31, and we’re now halfway there.
Your support directly powers Noozhawk’s expanding newsroom and the local reporting you depend on — 24/7.
Please make a Hawks Club contribution today. We cannot do this work without you.
On behalf of Team Noozhawk, thank you.
According to our WordPress analytics, Noozhawk reached an audience of 151,393 readers this past week.
What follows is my own take on the Top 5 stories you were reading, as tracked by our Google Analytics.
For the record, this is my opinion column, not a news story.
1. Harbor Restaurant Owners Sue City of Santa Barbara, Claiming ‘Unconscionable’ Lease Terms
A high-stakes dispute over the future of The Harbor Restaurant on Stearns Wharf has spilled into court, with the owners suing their landlord, the City of Santa Barbara, over what they call an “unconscionable” and outdated lease.
As our Josh Molina reported, the lawsuit was filed Dec. 5 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court and argues that the restaurant’s $61,403 monthly rent — plus $6,000 in deferred rent — is based on market conditions that no longer reflect Santa Barbara’s drastically expanded dining landscape.
The city owns the wharf.
The complaint — filed by attorney John Thyne III, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Olesya, and business partners Carolina Jimene and Gene Sanchez — contends that city decisions have contributed to declining gross sales.
Among their complaints: the city’s failure to invest in tourism outreach, development of the Funk Zone, the loss of the parking validation program and the rise of unpermitted street food vendors.
Thyne and his co-owners say the combined cost of rent, taxes and maintenance now exceeds 20% of gross receipts, making the lease unsustainable. They believe 6% to 10% of gross receipts would be fair.
In 2023, the group apparently invested more than $3 million to buy and rehab the restaurant, which the suit says operates at a loss.
City Administrator Kelly McAdoo rejected the claims, saying the allegations are “without merit” and noting the restaurant has not made required rent payments for several months.
“This property is a public asset, and the city has an affirmative obligation to manage it in a manner that serves the public interest, not solely the interests of any single tenant,” she said.
2. 18-Year-Old UCSB Student Liz Hamel’s Death Ruled Accidental Fall
The February death of UC Santa Barbara freshman Liz Hamel has been ruled an accidental fall, UCSB police announced Dec. 5 in the department’s first substantive statement on the 10-month-old case.
As our Josh Molina reported, UCPD said its conclusion followed an “exhaustive investigation” that included reviewing all available evidence and interviewing numerous witnesses, including a young man identified as a person of interest.
The 18-year-old Hamel was last seen leaving an Isla Vista noodle bar with the man just after 10 p.m. Feb. 14.
Less than a half-hour later, she was found unconscious and nearly lifeless outside the San Rafael Residence Hall, having apparently fallen about 30 feet from a breezeway.
She died six days later, on Feb. 20.
Hamel’s parents — Hema Shanthi and Alain Hamel of Bellevue, Washington — say questions remain.
In a Dec. 6 statement, Alain Hamel said he and his wife are “devastated” and still seeking clarity.
The family’s attorney and private investigator — Tyrone Maho, a partner at Maho Prentice LLP of Santa Barbara, and PI Michael Claytor, respectively — also disputed UCPD’s conclusion, saying key inconsistencies are unresolved and suggesting a possible conflict of interest.
“We believe that there remains critical evidence to obtain, and we disagree with the UCSB Police Department statement that there can be a conclusion made,” Maho and Claytor said in a joint statement.
Their independent investigation is ongoing.
3. Final Stage of Highway 101 Widening Project to Begin in Spring
After more than two decades of construction, there appears to be an end in sight for the 11-mile, $1 billion Highway 101 widening project between Carpinteria and Santa Barbara.
As our Daniel Green reported, the final phase is expected to begin in the spring and potentially wrap up by late 2028.
According to Santa Barbara County Association of Governments spokeswoman Kirsten Ayars, the last segment — known as Santa Barbara North — will start once crews finish the current Montecito section.
The next phase will add a third northbound lane between Hermosillo Road and Salinas Street; rebuild the Cabrillo Boulevard interchange with two new, side-by-side bridges; move the Cabrillo Boulevard exit ramps to the freeway’s flanks from the interior; and add a southbound entrance ramp from Cabrillo.
Crews also will build a teardrop roundabout on Cabrillo Boulevard down the hill and to the west of the roundabout at the confluence of Cabrillo, Coast Village and Hot Springs roads, and Old Coast Highway.
Nighttime tree-clearing work is expected in January to prepare the area for construction.
The project also will permanently close Highway 101’s southbound Los Patos Way exit and ties into Union Pacific’s simultaneous plan to replace its aging, narrow railroad bridge over Cabrillo Boulevard.
The Highway 101 widening project began in 2008 and has advanced in segments from Carpinteria to Milpas Street in Santa Barbara.
4. Funk Zone Retail Anchor ‘The Platform’ Gets Rave Reviews, Moves Closer to Construction
Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone is closer to gaining a new anchor development as The Platform — a two-building project with shops, restaurants and fitness space — advanced at the Historic Landmarks Commission on Dec. 3.
As our Josh Molina reported, the Los Angeles-based Runyon Group received unanimous support for refinements to the development at 301 E. Yanonali St., at the gateway Garden Street intersection.
The project includes retail, a gym, fast-casual and fine-dining restaurants, along with desperately needed habitat restoration along the adjacent Laguna Channel.
Recent changes shift the restaurant closer to Garden Street, extend courtyard façades, adjust parking and utilities, and add a restroom and new landscape accents.
“The idea is to draw people here,” landscape designer Courtney Jane Miller said.
The Runyon Group is no stranger to Santa Barbara as the company recently completed an overhaul of The Post shopping center at the intersection of East Cabrillo Boulevard and Los Patos Way, across from the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge.
5. Goleta’s Finest Awards Honors Individuals for Service to Community
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 75th annual Goleta’s Finest Awards Gala on Dec. 5, recognizing outstanding community members for their leadership, service and impact.
“This evening we honor individuals whose stories speak to vision, generosity, resilience, innovation and heart,” said chamber president and CEO Kristen Miller, who has presided over the gala for more than two decades.
As our Ann Pieramici reported, Ron and Pat Caird — owners of Por La Mar Nursery and longtime community contributors — were honored as Man and Woman of the Year.
“We have been a team in every aspect of our lives,” Pat said. “We had no idea we’d be here today accepting this award.”
The 2025 honorees included:
- Student of the Year: Kennedy Fick, San Marcos High School junior and CALM teen ambassador
- Man & Woman of the Year: Ron Caird and Pat Caird, Por La Mar Nursery
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Anant Yardi, founder of Yardi Systems
- Nonprofit Leader of the Year: Ernesto Paredes, longtime Easy Lift Transportation executive director and nonprofit board member
- Volunteer of the Year: Jeff Zamora, community volunteer, philanthropist and Cox Communications field operations manager
- Educator of the Year: Sarah Ashton, San Marcos High science teacher and mentor
- Health Impact Award: Arie DeJong, vice president of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital and Therapy Services
- Student Leader of the Year: Reese Large, San Marcos High senior and founder of Real Life Mentors
- Nonprofit of the Year: The Friendship Paddle and The Keiki Paddle, community-driven support organizations for families in crisis
- Education Impact Award: Dos Pueblos High School mock trial team, perennial county, state and international champions
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Good Reads
Check out these six stories before you go:
» Judge Rules Suspect in Montecito Mansion Assault to Face All Charges — Staff writer Rebecca Caraway has an update on the bizarre break-in and violent assault at Ty Warner’s Montecito estate that left a woman clinging to life.
» Santa Barbara Driver Pleads Not Guilty to Reckless Driving in Milpas Street Crash — Staff writer Daniel Green follows up on a high-speed crash that injured four people in Santa Barbara.
» Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Neushul Set to Take Over San Marcos Girls Water Polo Program — Sports editor Diego Sandoval is on the deck as San Marcos High School makes an Olympic gold medal-sized splash with girls water polo.
» After 6 Years as County Fire Chief, Mark Hartwig Ready for Next Stage of Life — Daniel catches up with Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Mark Hartwig before his retirement.
» Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade to Follow New Route on Saturday — Staff writer Nick Forselles maps out a new route — and parking — for the Dec. 13 Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade.
» Mark Patton: UCSB’s 1965 Gauchos Still Savor the Football Season That Became Their Camelot — Sports columnist Mark Patton remembers the 1965 UC Santa Barbara football team as one of the greatest Gaucho teams in any sport. Something tells me that, 60 years from now, Michigan fans will remember the 2025 Wolverines football team — but not quite so fondly.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? 2 People Extricated from Vehicles After Late-Night Crash in Santa Barbara.
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What I’m Up To
Although I’m not looking for a free meal, I occasionally do have free time if you’re looking for a speaker for your club, group or organization and want to hear more about Noozhawk. Email me at wmacfadyen@noozhawk.com.
Feb. 5 — Noozhawk is partnering with Spotlight Santa Barbara on a 2026 speaker series and I’ll be moderating a Q&A with Dan Walters, the legendary gold standard of California political writers. His topic at the Lobero Theatre? California politics — past, present and future. Click here to purchase tickets online.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
There were no boundaries to Frank Gehry’s imagination: Buildings by Frank Gehry That Shifted the World.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
@sadiethealaskanmalamute and I close the book on our Palm Desert memories in my Instagram feed this past week. I’ve also got an appreciation post for my friend, 2025 Miss Rodeo California Janae Wallace, who earned second runner-up honors at the Miss Rodeo America competition at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. #staygolden
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Watch It
As the son of a geologist, this cracks me up. You’re welcome, Dad.
