Santa Barbara’s Year in Pictures 2016
Our Annual Photographic Trip Down Recent Memory Lane
By any reckoning, 2016 was an especially tumultuous year, even here in paradise. While the rest of the world grappled with refugee crises, jihadist terrorism, and civil wars, our nation came to terms — at least politically — with the dark night of its own soul.
In California, some experienced relief from one of the worst droughts ever. Santa Barbara decidedly did not, however, and Lake Cachuma plunged to historic new lows. Throughout the state, climate change wiped out millions of trees, and fire season — once consigned to a few months — has become an all-year event.
Santa Barbara was not immune to such challenges, and we experienced our own acute tragedy in the murders of respected doctor Henry Han; his wife, Jenny Yu; and their 5-year-old daughter, Emily. Their heartfelt memorial is pictured on this page.
