The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Sometimes we just need simple, positive news to lift our spirits in the midst of college stress. Check out this week’s news to boost your mood!
THE COLORFUL SUPER BLOOM
The rainy winter days in Santa Barbara were sad, but something beautiful has emerged from it. Thanks to the above-average rainfall during winter, a super bloom is spreading all over Santa Barbara County. A “super bloom” is an explosion of wildflowers across hillsides and valleys that happens after a rainy season.
The grasslands are covered with vibrant native flowers such as chocolate lilies, sky lupines, and of course our state flower, the California poppy. Super blooms only happen once every ten to fifteen years, so plan a visit before this rare phenomenon ends! Local hiking trails and scenic spots are great places to see these majestic flowers in person.
NEW RESIDENT AT THE ZOO
There is a new fuzzy addition to the Santa Barbara Zoo: a red panda! A male red panda was just transferred from the Trevor Zoo in New York to the Santa Barbara Zoo. This panda’s home is currently being renovated, so he won’t be in the public view right away, but the zoo will make an official announcement later this year to formally introduce him! Tell me those animals are not the cutest things you’ve ever seen.
THE NEW UCSB BUILDING
If you attend UCSB, you probably know about the new Interactive Learning Pavilion. Not only is this building aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also very beneficial for faculty and students. The ILP increases the university’s classroom capacity by 35%, making it easier for students to get off waitlists.
The building is also filled with amenities like large desks with outlets and huge screens. In my opinion, the best thing about the ILP is the fact it’s an all-electric facility that doesn’t need to use natural gas (environmentally friendly!).
A WIN FOR THE GAUCHOS
The UCSB men’s tennis team is headed toward the NCAA tournament after triumphing in the Big West Championship against UC Irvine. This season has been a huge success for the men’s tennis team, with their record being the best ever by winning percentage. You can tune into the NCAA tennis tournament starting May 5th.
TURTLES HAVE A NEW HOME
Two hundred red-eared slider turtles have been taking over the Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden pond in Santa Barbara. Because the turtles are harmful to the water’s ecosystem, 86 of them were relocated to a sanctuary in Arroyo Grande—a win-win for the ecosystem and the turtles!
STREET PAINTING
May 27 to May 29 is the I Madonnari Street Painting Festival at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara. I Madonnari (street painters) turn the Mission Plaza into their canvas and decorate the pavement with beautiful colors. The festival will also feature live music and performances. Admission is free, so definitely save the date!
MEOW
If you have a cat or plan on getting one in the near future, I have some good news for you. Santa Barbara Humane now offers free feline spay and neuter surgeries. The average cost to fix a cat is around $200 to $400 at private vets, so this is huge! Yeah, this is a little weird to put in a positive news article, but hey, saving money sure is positive!
TWO HUNDRED GOLDEN RETRIEVERS
Okay so this isn’t local news, but it was too adorable not to share! Two hundred golden retrievers gathered in the Boston Common in honor of the marathon’s official dog, named Spencer, who passed away. The dogs were wearing fun accessories like bandanas and hats to make the event even better!
I hope this news made your day a little brighter!