Reflecting on 9/11 is always difficult, as it should be for such a defining moment in our nation’s history.
But Sept. 11, 2025, dawned with an extra somberness I haven’t experienced in nearly a quarter-century.
We must never forget that we have enemies who want to destroy us because they despise what we stand for, and the freedoms and rights we have as Americans.
We were reminded of that lesson in 2001, and again two days ago — but this time the danger is from within.
Political violence — by any stripe and by any measure — must be condemned, its perpetrators prosecuted and its cheerleaders repudiated.
It has no place in a constitutional republic, and every citizen should be taught so from an early age.
The fact that too many of us appear to have lost sight of this ideal leaves me with an uneasy feeling that our country stands at a tipping point in our divisions.
We don’t yet know which way it might fall, but we have no time to waste if we want to prevent it.
I think America is worth saving, and I pray you do, too.
Closer to home, Noozhawk’s newest staff writer, Pricila Flores, was on hand at Santa Barbara County Fire Department headquarters on Sept. 11 for the annual remembrance ceremony marking the murderous terrorist attacks.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed, including 412 firefighters and other first responders who died in New York City when the twin towers collapsed after being hit by two of the four hijacked jetliners.
“One of the things that strikes me every year is how few people remember,” county Fire Chief Mark Hartwig told the small crowd.
“We have firefighters on the job today who weren’t born on 9/11 so it’s our job to talk about the sacrifices made that morning.”
That’s a start.
Noozhawk had an audience of 132,961 readers this past week, according to our WordPress analytics.
What follows is my recap of the Top Five most-read stories over that period, according to our Google Analytics.
If you haven’t realized it by now, this is my opinion column. It is not a news story.
1. BizHawk: Gracie Opens in Former Breakwater Café Spot at Santa Barbara Harbor
A new era has begun at the Santa Barbara Harbor with the opening of Gracie, which replaced the former Breakwater Café and is sandwiched — no pun intended — between the main harbor parking lot and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
As our Josh Molina reported, the restaurant opened over the Labor Day holiday after what its owners described as “a very busy first weekend.”
Gracie’s menu features seafood — of course — including ceviche, fish tacos, salmon and sole, along with chicken, pasta, salads, desserts and a full cocktail bar.
Officially located at 107 Harbor Way, Gracie is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with a brunch menu offered until 2 p.m. and a happy hour from 4 to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.
Owners Grace Austin and Dudley Michael are no strangers to popular Santa Barbara eateries with an ardent fan base. They also run the Rodeo Room at 231 W. Montecito St. and The Shop Brunch at 730 N. Milpas St.
2. Sansum Clinic Fires Employees Involved in ‘Unacceptable’ Viral Video
A week after a viral TikTok video showed Sutter Health/Sansum Clinic staff mocking patients at its Santa Barbara urgent care facility, the nonprofit health care provider has offered no new details.
As I wrote in last week’s Best of Bill column, Sacramento-based Sutter Health quickly fired employees involved in the dimwitted stunt at the Pesetas Urgent Care Clinic, at 215 Pesetas Lane, but has not disclosed how many were terminated.
The now-deleted video featured clinic personnel posing with exam table stains labeled as “gifts” allegedly from patients, with at least eight employees appearing in the images.
Sutter Health confirmed the uploader was a former employee, while others were first placed on leave before being dismissed.
The incident has sparked widespread policy reviews and fueled a wave of negative online comments. Sutter Health says it is reinforcing conduct standards across its network, which absorbed Sansum Clinic in late 2023.
3. 956-Unit San Marcos Ranch Housing Development Receives Zoning Approval
San Marcos Ranch, a landmark 956-unit housing development off Hollister Avenue west of San Marcos High School, has received zoning approval from Santa Barbara County with construction to start next month.
As our Daniel Green was first to report, the project — a collaboration between Presidio Capital Partners, the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and The Pacific Companies — will include the largest affordable housing component in county history.
The complex — at 125 S. San Marcos Road, a block west of South Turnpike Road — will include 236 affordable units, or 25% of the total apartments.
“This housing development marks a milestone in addressing our housing needs,” John Polanskey, the Housing Authority’s director of housing development, told Daniel.
“We are not only delivering the most affordable units in the county’s history in a single project, but we are doing so in a location that supports working families and individuals with easy access to daily necessities.”
Andy Fuller, a partner at Presidio Capital Partners, emphasized the project’s significance, calling it a major step toward building inclusive, sustainable communities where everyone has an attainable place to call home.
Construction is to begin in October, with apartments ready for occupancy by late 2027.
The county Board of Supervisors is expected to approve $90 million in tax-exempt bonds to finance the low-income units.
The development will include amenities such as a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, community garden, and a one-acre public park connecting to San Simeon Oaks Village.
San Marcos Growers unveiled plans in 2023 to develop the 30-acre property as part of the county’s push to rezone agricultural land to residential in order to meet California’s mandate for 5,664 new housing units locally by 2031.
4. North Hills Man Arrested for Alleged DUI After Fatal Crash on Highway 246
A Los Angeles-area man has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and causing the Sept. 5 crash that killed his passenger on Highway 246 near Buellton.
As our Janene Scully reported, Santa Barbara County firefighters, an American Medical Response ambulance and the California Highway Patrol responded just before 7 p.m. to the two-vehicle collision about 3½ miles west of Buellton at the Domingos Road intersection.
According to the CHP’s preliminary investigation, 46-year-old Jesus Moises Martinez Chavira of North Hills was driving a 2012 Tesla Model S when he attempted to turn in front of a westbound Ford F-150 pickup truck, which slammed into the passenger side of the sedan.
Martinez Chavira’s passenger suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The CHP said Martinez Chavira was arrested on suspicion of DUI after being hospitalized with major injuries.
The pickup driver, 57-year-old George Scarfe of Lompoc, suffered minor physical injuries.
As of Sept. 11, the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau has not tracked down the passenger’s identity.
5. Bill Macfadyen: Sutter Health Makes Quick Examples of Now Ex-Staff in Viral Video
The Sutter Health story continued to get strong clicks from my Best of Bill column, but the fifth story in my Top 5 — DA Drops Murder, Gang-Related Charges in Downtown Santa Barbara Stabbing — got even more.
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Good Reads
Check out these six stories before you go:
» Santa Barbara Boy Scouts Rescue Lost Hiker in Remote Sierra Wilderness — Staff writer Nick Forselles is on the trail of some local Boy Scouts who did more than a good deed daily on their Sierra trek.
» Housing Data Reveal Stark Reality for Renters in Santa Barbara County — South County editor Josh Molina digs into the grim reality of Santa Barbara County’s housing crisis.
» Out With Parklets, In With Pedlets Along 500 Block of State Street — Josh is back with the City of Santa Barbara’s latest idiotic scheme to “revitalize” State Street without actually addressing the underlying issues plaguing what was once the heart of the community.
» State Budget Carveout Appears to Stymie Apartment Construction in Santa Barbara — Ben Christopher of CalMatters reports on some potential good news for opponents of a proposed eight-story skyscraper that would tower over the 238-year-old Santa Barbara Mission.
» Laurie Jervis: Sip and Savor at Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley — Wine columnist Laurie Jervis previews the annual showcase for some of Santa Barbara County’s best food and spirits — including many in my favorite dining destination, Los Alamos.
» Mark Patton: UCSB Needs to Follow UC San Diego’s Lead into West Coast Conference — Sports columnist Mark Patton makes the call for UC Santa Barbara to join the West Coast Conference and leave the Big West Conference behind.
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Last Year on Noozhawk
What was our most-read story this time last year? Woman Dies After Reportedly Jumping Off Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara.
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Bill Macfadyen’s Story of the Week
Probably more than you want to read, but I promise you it’s worth it: The Superyacht, the Billionaire, and a Wildly Improbable Disaster at Sea.
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Best of Bill’s Instagram
It was family time in my Instagram feed this past week. It was a good week.
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Watch It
If you recognize yourself … keep it to yourself.
