Capital for Casa

SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA

Capital for Casa

The Montecito jewel Casa del Herrero has launched their first capital campaign and Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. are on board to lead the way (Story starts on p.5)

Taking the Initiative

The Chesley Initiative gathers medical experts and minds to discuss Long COVID and how the area can take a national role, page 18

The Bossa Nova Beat

El Encanto has a new menu with a Latin flair… take a relaxing Sunday to get into the rhythm of their Bossa Nova Brunch, page 30

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open every night at 5pm San Ysidro Ranch

another fine property represented by

Daniel Encell

• Wall Street Journal “Top 100” Agents Nationwide (out of over 1.3 million)

• Graduate of UCLA School of Law and former attorney (with training in Real Estate law, contracts, estate planning, and tax law)

• Dedicated and highly trained full-time support staff

• An expert in the luxury home market

Remember, It Costs No More to Work with The Best (But It Can Cost You Plenty If You Don’t)

Visit: www.DanEncell.com for market information & to search the entire MLS

Dan Encell

“The Real Estate Guy”

Phone: (805) 565-4896

Email: danencell@aol.com

DRE #00976141

1530 MIRAMAR LANE • MONTECITO

Conveniently located near world-class beaches, resorts, fine dining and shopping in Montecito’s coveted Upper & Lower Villages, this ultra-charming single-story 1938 Spanish-style Hedgerow home, with a 3 bed/3 bath main residence and a detached 1 bed/1 bath guest house, offers a wonderful layout for indoor/outdoor living. The living room, adorned with a charming fireplace and dual French doors leading to both the front patio and dining area, provides a haven of comfort and refinement. The dining room, illuminated by natural light through oversized windows, offers a welcoming atmosphere for memorable meals while overlooking the meticulously manicured gardens. The kitchen, featuring an envious 60” Wolf range, and a farmhouse sink, seamlessly combines elegance with functionality. The primary suite serves as a spacious retreat, complete with an ensuite bath featuring dual vanities, a tranquil sitting room, and French doors leading to the hot tub for a soothing end to the day. Lush landscaping, citrus trees, majestic oaks and meandering pathways create a tranquil outdoor sanctuary, with stone patios offering stylish venues for gatherings. The iron greenhouse, nestled within the gardens, provides a captivating setting for al-fresco dining, adding a touch of enchantment to the already picturesque surroundings. Montecito Union School District.

5 Our Town – Casa del Herrero launches its first capital campaign with the Jackson family leading the way, and a kids car seat check at Cottage

6 Beings & Doings – Research shows psychedelics are good for more than making the wallpaper sing. Jacob Tell’s District216 is a bridge to the New Tomorrow.

8 Montecito Miscellany – The Lehman brothers take to the stage, Mystic Whaler hosts a gathering, St. Martin in the Fields, and more miscellany

10 Community Voices – Jeff Giordano describes the cannabis tax debacle and WEV’s Nicki Parr writes in on supporting local with a new partnership Tide Guide

11 On Entertainment – Anne Torsiglieri discusses her ride on the “A” Train, inside SBCC’s The Outsider, a Planetary Pilgrim, and more

12 Travel Buzz – Take a look at Sensei Porcupine Creek’s mastery of relaxation, comfort, and nourishment

14 Society Invites – Girls Inc.’s Fuel Her Fire awards event and a Mega Shabbat lands at UCSB’s Chabad

16 Brilliant Thoughts – Settle down and read Ashleigh’s words on the many ways we settle ourselves into this world

18 The Chesley Initiative – An event brings together health care experts to discuss Long COVID and how the county can be on the forefront of solutions for it

20 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – A reader sends in a quaint but complex figurine that reveals a number of intricate production processes

22 The Giving List – CEC’s Earth Day is coming and with it all of the popular events, including the Green Car Show, panels, and more

23 Montecito Health Coach – What’s the key to living better – not just longer? The wellness community is now focusing on one’s “health span.”

26 Stories Matter – From book mule to nonstop walks, here are some spring reads to welcome in the warming weather

30 Bossa Nova Brunch – El Encanto’s new brunch menu sets the rhythm of the meal with its exotic flavors and colorful dishes

31 Foraging Thyme – These dates taste like candy – especially when made into these faux Snickers bars

32 The Optimist Daily – The UK plans to administer thousands of blood tests for early detection of dementia

Robert’s Big Questions – Is the Earth flat? (Dear reader, I really hope you know the answer to this question.)

33 Your Westmont – Global lessons learned at the National Model United Nations, Alum donates life, and a 60-hour organ concert

44 Calendar of Events – Transcend-ing dance at UCSB, flying kites at SBCC, Backbone Storytelling at Arlington, and more

46 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales

47 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles

Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer

Our Town

Susan & Palmer Jackson, Jr. Chair

Capital Campaign for Casa del Herrero

by Joanne A Calitri

Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. of the Ann Jackson Family Foundation have announced they are the co-chairs of Casa del Herrero’s $18 million capital campaign.

The capital campaign, titled, “Preserving our Past, Protecting Our Future,” is the first comprehensive capital campaign in the 30-year history of Casa del Herrero as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. In speaking with the Jacksons this week, they stated:

“We are thrilled to co-chair the Casa Del Herrero’s first ever Capital Campaign. As long-time supporters of this important piece of Montecito and Santa Barbara history, we are particularly enthusiastic about the current volunteer leadership, and impressed by the great progress they have made in restoring the Casa, and their plans to prepare it for the next century.”

In responding to the Jackson Family’s involvement and funding, Heather Biles, President, Board of Trustees Casa del Herrero shared, “I am deeply inspired by the remarkable momentum of the Casa’s capital campaign, the generosity of our supporters and their unwavering belief in our ambitious goals. We had a soft launch in December 2023, with the Ann Jackson Family Foundation leading the way with a gift of $1 million. With each milestone achieved, we both safeguard the future of Casa del Herrero and uphold its profound legacy for our community. This leadership gift from the Ann Jackson Family Foundation is a testament to the enduring spirit of generosity and dedication that surrounds the Casa.”

The Jackson family history with Casa del Herrero dates to Joan Jackson’s friendship with the George Fox Steedman family, joining them for dinners at the Casa. In 1993, she worked with their grandson George Steedman Bass to establish his family’s 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival estate – designed by George Washington Smith – as the Casa del Herrero Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. According to the

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Susan and Palmer Jackson Jr. in the Casa del Herrero Garden patio (photo Joanne A Calitri)

Andrew Doran, Rosie Rafferty, Heather Biles, and Gary Bradhering with Susan and Palmer Jackson, Jr. (photo Joanne A Calitri)

Beings & Doings

District216: The Jacob Tell Overture

by Jeff Wing

As acid tests go, this could be a paradigm-changer.

Jacob Tell wasn’t always a psychonaut plumbing the Mariana Trench of perception. “Remember Reagan’s Just Say No campaign? I was a D.A.R.E. kid. I had the shirt and the pencil and the lunchbox and all the things that they gave us in grade school.” That was then. Sometime later, Tell would embrace the Jungian effects of ego dissolution, see the flimsy barrier between Self and Everything Else dissolve like a weakened meringue, and would fall into the arms of his people. He boils the epiphany down. “The psychedelics communities, ours and others, can help remind us of the power of just sitting in a circle and sharing and talking,” he says; wording that will trigger even the most placid rationalist. “It’s fundamental – a shift in how we think about our place in the world, how we think about society and civilization, and how we think about where we’re headed – and what we have yet to do.”

Cognitive Liberty

District216 – a membership-based “psychedelic social club” – is equal parts community gathering place, info hub, and advocacy group. There are weekly District House Events and quarterly Marquee events that take a scholarly-yet-communally-joyous approach to the expansive ideas intrinsic to the psychedelics movement. The panel discussions, films, and interviews are all offered in the context of thronged fellow-travelers communing with filters down. District216 is a fractal of its immense implications. “We want to help normalize and legalize psychedelic use in our daily lives,” Tell says. “The vision is that we have safe access to these medicines, globally; that we have education supporting them, that we have harm reduction programs in place, that there are regulations where those are needed –but that we all have safe and affordable access to these medicines. We have the right to cognitive liberty.”

It seems fair to suppose this is not the liberty espoused by the Freedom Lobby as they storm the ramparts. What are the goals? “Consciousness elevation, expansion, reconnecting spiritually with ourselves and our communities…” Okay. These sentiments were firmly bookmarked into our culture back there between the Beats and the Beatles. What happened?

Shroom Boom

Magic mushrooms, LSD, psilocybin, mescaline – these randy vitamins tiptoed into American culture in the crew-cut 1950s and were taken up by poets, musicians – and enthusiastic researchers. By the early ‘60s hundreds of papers had been written on LSD’s promise in the realm of mental health care, and the studies continued to proliferate. Meanwhile, the rising youth revolution’s firehose rejection of the previous gen’s value system inspired a manic search for meaning, and the neuro-metaphysics of chemistry sidled into that wheelhouse. By 1970 a steamrolling moral panic had set in, and the hammer came down that year. The new federal Controlled Substances Act classified psychotropics as Schedule I compounds; substances with no currently accepted medical use . In plainer language, they were federally banned.

“Consciousness expansion” had by that time infiltrated the culture. Why hadn’t the revolutionary experiment taken hold? In part because the Establishment had made that whirlwind, self-seeking decade a fugitive enterprise, its detractors snarling about the evils of being stoned, and laying groundwork for criminalization. These Centurions of Clear Thinking would then drive home from work, loosen their collective necktie and start in on the single malt hooch. In this framework, “consciousness expanding” includes two fingers of Glenlivet, neat. Breaking into the twilit room that

Jacob Tell, Psychedelic Seer and District216’s Founder and Chief Dreamer (photo by Chris Jensen)

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Montecito Miscellany Next Up… Hot Dog Eating Contest

by Richard Mineards

There are now more billionaires than ever, 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021, according to the new 38th annual Forbes magazine Rich List.

They’re also richer than ever, with $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion more than the previous record, also set in 2021.

Frenchman Bernard Arnault, 75, and family, who own LVMH, ranks Number One with $222.4 billion with Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos, 60, Number Two with $197.8 billion, $80 million more than 2023.

Tesla mogul Elon Musk, 52, ranks third with $189.8 billion, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, 49, fourth with $171.9 billion, $113 million more than last year.

Santa Barbara’s Larry Ellison , 79, is fifth with Oracle computers with $152.8 billion, followed by Warren Buffett , 93, and Microsoft founder Bill Gates , 68, with $137.7 billion and $130.7 billion respectively.

Montecito resident Eric Schmidt , 68, is 89th with $22.6 billion from Google, while Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, 81, whose NFL team does summer training in Oxnard, is at 139 with $13.9 billion.

Beanie Baby billionaire Ty Warner, 79, owner of the San Ysidro Ranch and the Biltmore, is ranked 528 with $5.6 billion,

Rosewood Miramar owner Rick Caruso, 65, is at 587 with $5.3 billion, while Carpinteria resident Star Wars tycoon George Lucas, 79, is 533 on the list with $5.7 billon.

Mall magnate Herb Simon, 89, is at 654 with $4.8 billion, with former TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey, 70, ranked 1210 with $2.8 billion.

Real estate investor Geoff Palmer, 73, a Santa Barbara Polo Club patron with

his team Antelope, who was at 905 last year with $3.2 billion is now 1062 with $3.1 billion, and Hotel Californian owner and mega winemaker Bill Foley, 79, ranks 1804 with $1.9 billion.

The U.S. has the most billionaires with a record 813, followed by China with 406, India with 200 and Germany with 132.

A Laudable Lehman Play

The Lehman Trilogy, a Tony Award winning three-man show by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power and directed by Oanh Nguyen , at the Ensemble Theatre Company’s New Vic is not to be missed!

The three-hour-long production, with two ten-minute intermissions, chronicles the rise and fall of the Lehman brothers, a 160-year journey of three immigrant Jewish brothers from Bavaria – Henry, Emanuel, and Mayer – striving to build the idealistic American dream wrought with family struggles, missteps, and incredible achievements.

Local Larry Ellison is the fifth richest person on the planet (photo by Ilan Costica via Wikimedia Commons)

Google’s Eric Schmidt is number 89 (photo by Hecker/MSC via Wikimedia Commons)

Cannabis Tax Debacle: Our $1.6B County Minimally Deserves Competence

by Jeff Giordano

After nearly a year of working on cannabis tax alternatives, our Deputy CEO finally presented her findings to the Board of Supervisors who are considering a November election Cannabis tax ballot Referendum. More disappointing than the presentation’s lack of depth, analysis or erudition was its shockingly obvious cannabis-bias. Allow me to explain:

There are only 18 other counties that allow Commercial Cannabis cultivation, so one would expect a comparative accounting that included each county, the amount of cannabis grown, the crop value (“tax burden”), the accompanying costs, and the method of taxation. Instead, we got a childish pro/con type Report (11-page deck/eight-page letter) that compared just five other counties and was not ultimately included in the public hearing documents. Suspicious, right?

Among other things, the presentation attempted to show revenue parity (parody) between Monterey’s square-foot-grown tax and our self-reported revenue approach. Demonstrating a true “agenda,” however, it failed to mention the HUGE difference in the amount of cannabis being grown. For example, in 2021 Monterey grew just 117 acres of cannabis and generated $20M in revenue (4% of $484M Crop Value) vs. SB County that generated 30% less revenue with 6X more acres. Supervisor Bob Nelson immediately commented that the numbers were misleading (my word) because we “produce more cannabis than

the rest of the counties combined.” When he requested the all-important number of cannabis acres by county, he was told that they were “back in the office.” Huh? The presentation showed a lack of respect for the intellect of our Supervisors and our county writ large.

Fun Fact: Per the Report, outdoor cannabis pays 6 cents per square foot, i.e. $2,613 per acre. How much is an acre of outdoor cannabis worth? Well – and this is NOT in the report – according to Sonoma’s transparent Crop Report it’s $822K, which is why Sonoma receives $43,317 per acre!

Shockingly, the word “cost” never even appears in the report (This is finance, right?). Monterey, for example, employs 28 FTE’s across 10 agencies with a total cost of $6.3M. Supervisor Laura Capps asked: “How much money does it cost to administer our program” and whether staff looked at the alternatives “through this prism.” The answer was “no.” Can someone on the Board please come unhinged! What made the presentation surreal was the recommended path forward – there was none. This, after a year of work from an Executive Office with a $65M operating budget and a 47-person Tax Department where no one even bothered to attend/present. Sadly, even whole departments don’t respect our elected Supervisors.

There was also a troubling and constant refrain that we might lose growers if we increase taxes, which just underscored the lack of available financial grower data in the report. One of our growers, for example, has $348M in assets on their balance sheet. Fun Fact: 90% of our total permitted acre-

Building Resilient Communities:

The Power of Philanthropic Giving in Supporting Local Businesses

by Nicki Parr

In the heart of every thriving community lies a network of local businesses that can serve not only as its economic backbone but also as its social one. Yet, in the face of challenges such as economic downturns and natural disasters, these businesses often bear the brunt of adversity.

This was clearly evidenced in Montecito and Santa Barbara during the 2018 Thomas Fire, the subsequent recovery from the Debris Flow, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. A community’s

age is outdoors, yet these acres produce just 15% (my guess) of our paltry $6M annual revenue. Why are we doing this? Why is staff so cannabis-protective? Is it job security?

Frankly, the bias was so palpable that I took the liberty of checking for staff Form 700 filings. These filings are Senior Staff required and show any outside income/consulting fees. Well, guess what, the county site showed “Data Not Found” for anyone in any date range, i.e., it was not working! How much do we pay for IT and does anyone even check this stuff?

Elections are meaningless if staff ultimately directs policy. Certain Supes are earnestly searching for answers to a failed ordinance. In order to succeed, however, they need to lead staff and not be led by them.

My advice: Stop with the overly polite deference and demand unbiased competence!

Jeff Giordano, SB County Resident

MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE

ability to recover from such challenges –its resilience – can be directly correlated to how connected that community is, and we have been very fortunate in our community to have demonstrated that we are unquestionably “805 Strong.”

But many local businesses face challenges on an ongoing basis through systemic barriers which are often unseen and unremarked. Access to affordable capital for business growth can be significantly harder to obtain if you are from a minority population, and yet these are often the people that are starting and running businesses at a higher rate than any other group.

Philanthropic giving emerges as a powerful tool not only to support these local

by Steven Libowitz

About 15 years ago, Broadway actress Anne Torsiglieri, who over her career has appeared in Miss Saigon, Top Girls, Parade, and Blood Brothers as well as the official national

tour of Les Miserables, found herself totally unprepared for a role. She’d won awards for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper in The Heiress at Berkeley Rep, landed guest shots on Law & Order , and played dozens of

On Entertainment Page 344

“Santa Barbara Design and Build was fabulous. Don and his crew were the BEST from day one. He was honest, timely, flexible, artistic, patient and skilled. They understood my vision and built my dream home”.

-Santa Barbara Resident

Anne Torsiglieri is bringing a revamped telling of the “A” Train to the Rubicon (courtesy photo)

Travel Buzz

Sensei Porcupine Creek: A Real Life Mirage in Rancho Mirage

by Leslie A. Westbrook

After a three-day wellness program visit to Sensei Porcupine Creek in Rancho Mirage, California, I can honestly say that the bar for health retreats was set incredibly high. I’ve visited many stellar “health retreats/spas” over the years (Rancho La Puerta is a favorite that comes to mind), and this one is right up there in the stratosphere. Owner Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle and the fifth richest human on the planet (according to Forbes magazine), really got it right, as he has done elsewhere.

To begin with, the team of folks who work here are beyond stellar. You will be coddled – and then some. Even the warm toilet seats (in your room/villa as well as in public bathrooms), go up and down automatically.

“God forbid my seat doesn’t go up when I go home,” quipped a lovely OC woman who was decamped in a villa for several weeks.

Programs are cutting edge and the amazing food, a collaboration between Nobu and Sensei co-founder Dr. David Agus, features Nobu favorites along with “special to Sensei dishes” on the breakfast, lunch, and dinner “nourish” menus. The restaurants are for hotel guests only, unlike Nobu in Indian Wells.

Sensei is pronounced “sen-say” – which is a name for a teacher/master but that commands respect. What was once Larry Ellison’s house is now maybe not a home, but home to high paying guests willing to shell out $2k a night+++ for divine food, massages, facials, classes, other add-ons, hotel taxes, etc. You won’t have to mingle with the riff raff – and guests of guests are

rarely allowed on property.

First impression? Disneyland for lucky adults who care about fitness, relaxation, and damn good food. The impression stayed with me throughout my three-day “Guided Wellness Experience.”

Alice in Wonderland

Upon arrival, the guard at Sensei Porcupine Creek’s gated entrance suggested I roll down my windows, drive slowly, and drink in the views. Upon first impression, the 230-acre resort set in the desert is surprisingly verdant. There’s greenery everywhere, as well as waterfalls and creeks. Plants even drip off casita room rooftops!

Just 22 dreamy rooms and villas and no crowds are the norm. From the fascinating conversation about “Mindset” with the thoughtful and inquisitive Trevor, age 30 – to chit chat with my fav restaurant staffers Sarah (who offered menu suggestions) and amazing waiter, Jerry – this solo traveler felt most comfortable, and very much “at home.”

Welcome to Sensei

A delish welcome drink, property tour (it’s easier to conquer than initially appears) and my first exercise class –which turned out to be a one-on-one since there were two no-shows, was an interesting and gentle stretch and roll with one of my guides, Austin, to get the driving kinks out of my bod. Austin was also my guide the following morning, as well as on my departure for a delve and review into the “who, what, and

The Estate Room at Sensei Porcupine Creek (photo by Sensei Porcupine Creek/Noah Webb)

Society Invites

Girls

Inc. of Carpinteria’s Annual Scholarship Awards

by Joanne A Calitri

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s annual awards event, Fuel Her Fire (formerly titled ‘Women of Inspiration’), was held on Thursday, April 4, at their Carpinteria campus gym. Over 200 people joined to congratulate the scholarship winners and the local honorees.

The scholarship awards are presented to girls who are members of the local organization and have shown to be the best representatives of the Girls Inc. mission to be “strong, smart, and bold.”

This year’s high school level scholarships went to Jessie Marquez, Natalie Martinez, Alejandra Lira Cardona, and Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan. The youngest scholarship award winner went to Gia Dharma. Also, awarded was Dulce Perez who has won scholarships prior, and now a SB City College student.

Community leader honorees were

Tim Cohen

Ellie Olvera I interviewed them at the event. Cohen shared that he was a Board member for 12 years. He helped to build the Carpinteria Girls Inc. location on Foothill Road 30 years ago. He continues to be involved in the local community serving on the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center Board. Aguila shared that she has been an educator for 26 years and has won numerous awards as a Bilingual Teacher for the State of California and National Bilingual Teacher of the Year 2023. Olvera is not a member of Girls Inc., however, was awarded for her research to create eco-friendly, affordable, safe and reusable menstrual pads, earning the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award.

The Girls Inc. of Carpinteria team representing at the event were Executive Director Jamie Collins, Development

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, Sonia Aguila, and junior honoree

Girls Inc. Carp scholarship winners: Jessimar Marquez, Natalie Martinez, Alejandra Lira Cardona, and Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Junior honoree Ellie Olvera, Executive Director Jamie Collins, and honoree Sonia Aguila (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

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Brilliant Thoughts

Getting Settled

by Ashleigh Brilliant

One piece of advice I’ve given myself (after some unhappy experiences) is this: “Try to avoid situations in which all you have is a good legal case.” Of course, it’s desirable to have the Law on your side – but it’s even better to be able to negotiate an “out of court settlement,” sometimes through the process called Arbitration, which doesn’t need lawyers, courts, or judges. This usually requires some flexibility from all parties. But the fact that it’s invariably faster and cheaper is a powerful inducement.

Nevertheless, throughout human history, there have been disputes which could only be resolved either by physical conflict or by resort to some kind of judicial proceeding. No doubt the earliest of such needs had to do with the ownership of land. And this brings us to the other central idea of settling, which is, of course, to stop moving, and remain in one fixed locality. A frontier ceases to exist when everybody moving towards it has become a settler and established a home.

America spread westward from the East Coast where, at first, there was only a thin string of mostly English settlements. A key historical moment came in 1890, when the U.S. Census Bureau announced that it could no longer draw a clear line between settled and unsettled areas. In effect, there was no more frontier. This prompted a historian named Frederick Jackson Turner to begin theorizing about “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” He espoused some controversial ideas about how the existence of a frontier had fostered democracy and been instrumental in establishing a distinctive American character.

One remarkable element in that whole process was the concept of what was called “homesteading.” This was a somewhat rare instance in which the Federal Government acted as a benevolent landowner, distributing acreage to private

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

citizens. Of course, there were conditions. You had to be a Citizen and head of a family. You must live on the land, and “improve” it, which usually meant farming it. This all started, officially, with the Homestead Act of 1862, signed by President Lincoln – and was considered to be one way of strengthening the Union during the Civil War. But, together with subsequent Acts, it remained in force long after that War was over.

One person who took advantage of that Act was a doctor named Brewster M. Higley, who moved from Indiana to western Kansas in 1871 in order to take up a homestead. It was he who wrote the piece of verse which, set to music, became a celebration of this entire westward movement. The song’s first title was “My Western Home,” but we know it today as “Home on The Range.” And the people of Kansas are so fond of it that in 1947 they made it their official State Song.

During the “Hippie Era,” in San Francisco, I wrote my own version, which includes: Home, home in the trees, Where all people can do as they please, Where seldom is heard a Middle-class word – and Reality’s just a disease.

Another aspect of settling has to do with crowd control, or even with classroom control from a teacher’s perspective, especially among younger students. As we all know, when no regular teacher is present to keep order – as I personally learned from experience on both sides of the front desk – and a substitute teacher appears in the regular teacher’s stead, a class can become very disorderly. What begins as a hubbub may develop into an uproar. The problem then is just to have things get quiet. I can remember some of my own teachers saying things like “Now stop talking, and settle down!”

Sometimes we talk about settling up, which usually connotes paying a debt. Since our whole economy is based on credit, I have always thought it remarkable that one of the first prayers children are taught – and sometimes the only one – specifically asks God to “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” But Shakespeare in Hamlet has wise old Polonius advising his son (who is about to depart for foreign lands) that he should “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

In my own life, settling has mostly involved going somewhere with someone else who wanted to live there. Indeed, the only place of residence I can recall which I myself chose was a town which I celebrated in one of my epigrams:

There may be no Heaven anywhere –But somewhere there is a San Francisco.

Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016. Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.

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One805LIVE! is back! Join us on Sunday, May 19th at the Sunstone Winery, for another amazing afternoon of music, food and fun as we groove to the best session and touring musicians in the world! And, as always with One805LIVE! … be prepared for surprises!

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The Chesley Initiative

Packed Event Spreads Hope for Long COVID Victims: Will County Take National Role?

by Michael Bowker

When it first made its appearance in America’s hospitals late in the year 2020, Long COVID was considered a mysterious and perhaps ‘artificially created’ illness. It had a multitude of names and even more seemingly almost unrelated symptoms. It was often devastating in its ability to attack patient’s bodies in many ways. At its worst, it was deadly. Doctors had few ideas on what to do to help heal patients.

Today, more than three years later, the number of Long COVID patients has grown exponentially. While the disease remains mysterious, it at least has been accepted by the vast majority of the medical world as having a physical and not psychological cause. It has little resemblance to its more famous predecessor, COVID-19, but it may prove as devastating. Government statistics are finally emerging about Long COVID and they are staggering.

More than one out of every 13 Americans are suffering from Long COVID symptoms, according to the CDC. The disease continues to wreak havoc in all communities, including Santa Barbara. While the human suffering is intense, the attendant economic chaos is stunning. Long COVID is costing American workers and businesses nearly $1 trillion every year due to excess employee sick time. A trillion dollars, by the way, in one-dollar bills laid end-over-end, would stretch from the earth to the sun. It could buy Warren Buffet 16 times over, pay for 220 nuclear powered aircraft, and most importantly, it could have funded the building of 20,000 new grade schools. Estimates from Harvard University and other sources are that this annual $1 trillion loss will probably increase every year for at least the next five years – unless treatments and cures can be developed. So far, none have.

In a visionary effort to meet this immense challenge, at least on our local level, a leading group of more than 100 Santa Barbara area doctors, researchers, and patients met recently at the Rosewood Miramar to see if the county might take a more meaningful part in battling Long COVID.

“The evening was meant to plant a seed and see if Santa Barbara can play a bigger leading role in spreading awareness and education about Long COVID throughout the national health care community,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, County Public Health Director. The Santa Barbara County Health Dept. was a sponsor of the event. “The event was extremely well attended, and I believe everyone felt passionate about what we want to do. I am optimistic and hope to create a series of such events.”

Representatives from event sponsors, Cottage Health, Sansum Clinic-Sutter Health,

Chris Butler as Emanuel Lehman

Troy Blendell as Henry Lehman

Leo Marks as Mayer Lehman

Marina Owen, Chesley Heymsfield, Dr. David Putrino, Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, Jackie Carrera, and Das Williams (photo by Clinton H. Wallace)

Elizabeth’s Appraisals

Quimper Figurine

by Elizabeth Stewart

SB sends me photos of a 19th c. ceramic figure; a relief-painted scullery maid holding a gold-gilded metal cookpot, and seated on a gold-gilded metal chair. Such an interesting combination of materials here: a pottery figure, glazed and painted, seated on a gilded metal chair. To produce such a piece in the 19th c. took a number of skilled artisans, and the collaboration of two workshops – one a ceramic production shop with a kiln, the other a metalwork shop with the

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This Breton figurine was a collaboration between a metalworking and ceramics workshop

The underside of the figurine reveals some serious engineering

capacity to cast molten metal from a mold. The cost to produce this figure was high for such novelty, for it has no use except as fanciful decoration. The figure is 5.5” tall and 2.5” wide and the composition is in three pieces: one, a French faience figure of the maid, and two, a gold-gilded chair and pot. The workmanship is exquisite because the faience figurine “sits” upon the chair, and the figure “holds” a pot. SB says she cannot find information about this figure, which she purchased from a dealer 15 years ago.

in the Middle East. You might have heard the term Maiolica or Majolica: that is the faience or tin-glazed pottery of Spain and Portugal, and is sometimes used to describe French faience. In the Netherlands, it is called Delftware or Delft Blue

France produced the most interesting faience, in my opinion, because the smaller kilns produced such interesting regional country-style wares, such as this Quimper figure. Quimper is famous for its homely peasant girl image on faience dishware, and was widely collected in the early 20th c. The modeling of the metal chair indicates a pared-down version of the Louis 16th c. style of country furniture in France called French Provincial, popular amongst American collectors in the early 20th c.

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The clothing and furniture design give us a clue to its original location or place of production. The figure is wearing a traditional Breton (France) costume, with the bigoudène headdress. Each region of Breton, whose ethnic origin is Celtic, has a slightly different white lace cap for women. The figure wears a traditional corselette, a shawl and apron. This traditional Breton costume originated only after the French government repealed the Sumptuary Laws in the early 19th c. that had governed a universal style of clothing. Add to this that the fabric produced throughout the 19th c. became less expensive due to Industrial Revolution’s mass production. Each rural region of Breton outdid the next.

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The national Breton Costume was born, coincidentally, along with a certain discovery of a type of clay in the region around Quimper in Breton. A method of firing and painting the clay was reinvented, a style that had been known for millennia, called faience. Breton potters specialized in this type of homely figure and this type of glazing. The figure is NOT porcelain, which is fired at a much higher temperature than stoneware; faience is stoneware, but the name faience refers to a white opaque glaze that was made to LOOK like porcelain. Potters would paint the white glaze with enameled colors to emulate hand-painted pure white porcelain. The end product aimed to be a facsimile of a porcelain figure but required far less money to purchase. Porcelain was expensive in the 18th and early 19th c.; faience was not, relatively speaking.

To achieve that shiny white glaze, an alloy was added: tin. This type of pottery was therefore called tin-glazed ceramic (faience), and was first invented as early as the 9th c.

The modeling on the figure’s face suggests a skilled artisan, and the inclusion of a metal chair and a metal pot into the figurine indicates a collaboration between a metal artisan and a ceramic artisan, and some serious engineering (note the hole on the figure’s underside). This is typical of the mid to the late 19th c. in which the desire for specialized, unique pieces required the creative collaboration of both metal and ceramic artists. A similar collaboration occurred, firstly, in England and Holland in the 18th c. when Chinese porcelain was exported there: the chemical combinations needed to create porcelain were not known in Europe. European silversmiths were hired to create fancy metal armatures around a vessel of rare Chinese porcelain. Likewise, in England in the mid to late 19th c., the collaborative workmanship of both silver and glass artisans created centerpieces of glass or fine porcelain set into silver or bronze doré; these were sold to those that could afford the novelty. The Quimper figure is worth $500.

Elizabeth Stewart, PhD is a veteran appraiser of fine art, furniture, glass, and other collectibles, and a cert. member of the AAA and an accr. member of the ASA. Please send any objects to be appraised to

Elizabethappraisals@ gmail.com

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The Giving List

by Steven Libowitz

One of Santa Barbara’s longest-running community-organized festivals, our Earth Day celebration is also one of the oldest in the country, and among the largest on the West Coast. Santa Barbara is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of Earth Day, as it was the infamous 1969 oil well blowout that kickstarted the U.S. environmental movement into high gear. At the time, the spill was the largest in the nation’s history, a disaster that spewed more than four million gallons of oil into the Santa Barbara Channel, killing thousands of seabirds, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. In April 1970, the Community Environmental Council, as its first act as a new nonprofit, organized a one-block long teach-in gathering along Anapamu St. between State St. and Chapala St. as part of the first national Earth Day.

Still produced by the Community Environmental Council (CEC), the 2024 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival – which takes place 11 am – 7 pm on Saturday, and 11 am – 6 pm on Sunday, April 27-28 –continues to be foundational to the nonprofit’s work as an innovative and proactive environmental organization for more than half a century, a centerpiece of the CEC’s collective climate action activities.

“Earth Day is a great Santa Barbara tradition, one that brings people together,” said Kathi King, a Montecito resident who joined CEC in 2008 and is currently Director of Climate Education and Leadership and the festival’s director. “It’s our biggest outreach event, our biggest opportunity to educate the public.”

al theme of “Planet vs. Plastics,” as it will be presented to Alejandra Warren, co-founder and Executive Director of Plastic Free Future (PFF). Much like CEC’s own vision for reducing plastics use, including the upcoming annual Plastics-Free July, which King also manages, the California-based nonprofit PFF is committed to the reduction and elimination of plastic pollution through promoting reusable alternatives, with a focus on outreach to underserved and systemically excluded communities. Warren is also an NGO delegate to the U.N. Treaty on Plastic Pollution.

As one of the original Earth Day celebrations, the popular CEC event is happening once again the weekend of April 27-28

Cornerstone, along with performances by World Dance for Humanity, Capoeira Sul da Bahia, and a Silent Disco Dance Party by Santa Barbara Beach Yoga. Acoustic and folk-oriented musicians share the Roots Stage with the educational events, and the Family Passport program – where families visit a number of pre-selected booths collecting stamps along the way – enters participants into drawings to win fun prizes.

Fifty-four years later, the festival has moved only a few blocks, but it’s grown by leaps and bounds to become a multifaceted weekend full of activities at Alameda Park, boasting a long-running Green Car show featuring free “Ride & Drive” experiences, more than 200 eco-friendly exhibitors, a popular beer and wine garden, a special Kids Zone, virtually non-stop live music on a large stage, and a plant-forward Food Court, among the major attractions.

This year’s Environmental Hero Award is aligning with the Earth Day Network’s glob-

“I’ve been a fan of hers for a while as someone who is on the forefront of plastic reduction and plastic research,” King said. “She’s actually coming to Santa Barbara straight from a UN meeting in Toronto, so we’ll be getting really up-to-the-minute information about the progress on the treaty that’s expected to be finished this year.”

Long time Montecito-based pop superstar Kenny Loggins, a decades-long supporter of Earth Day, will present the award.

Other educational opportunities come from presentations on both Saturday and Sunday featuring Citizens Climate Lobby Santa Barbara, a panel on History of North County Santa Barbara Environmental Injustice and Community Organizing, a sustainable-wear fashion show, Climate Action Summit, and a Climate Justice panel discussion. The Roots Stage features demonstrations concerning Climate-Smart Agriculture, which includes Soil Health, Farm Fresh Induction Cooking, Coffee Grounds Tie Dye, Slowing Climate Change with Agriculture, and Feed the Bees: Planting for Pollinators. The Homegrown Roots zone, on the other hand, features local farmers and food producers, food and beverage artisans, small business owners, and nonprofit organizations working in the food system.

But Earth Day isn’t a weekend about dire predictions and impending environmental disaster, King said.

“It’s always been an event that is just really fun and happy. It’s the positive side of all of this. There’s no doom and gloom allowed. It’s a solutions-focused festival with the goal for everyone to have a good time.”

To that end, the locals-only lineup on the main stage is a non-stop whirlwind of entertainment for a mid-spring weekend that features such Santa Barbara stalwarts as Spencer the Gardener, One2Tree and

King also noted that the popular Green Car show will include both Lucent and Rivian automobiles for the first time; “… some of the newer, more innovative EV companies,” she says, “which is super cool.” And the Talk-O-Truck will be participating in this year’s festival; the mobile recording studio providing people a place to share their oral histories and experiences – building even more community and connection.

Something new for Earth Day 2024 is CEC’s expanding the role of longtime presenting partner Carp Events. The event management and planning service will not just be booking the entertainment stages this year; Carp Events will also handle exhibitor relations and management, and will work with Earth Day sponsors.

“They have a ton of experience and are a great fit to really take on handling the production side of the event,” King said. “They really line up with our values in a way that feels right.”

That shift has allowed CEC to focus more attention on its Environmental Hub – the 10,000 square-foot collaborative space across from the Granada which contains the nonprofit’s offices as well as space for other civic-minded organizations to hold meetings or special gatherings, talks, and book signings.

“It’s Earth Day every day at the Hub,” King said.

But even with the Hub, Earth Day festival is often the first point of introduction to environmental efforts for a lot of community members, she said.

“It’s such a great opportunity for people who maybe don’t have a lot of connection to the environment or even to the nonprofit community in Santa Barbara,” King said “It’s a way to take a survey of what’s going on without needing to commit to deep involvement. You can connect with so many groups all at once and maybe find one that piques your interest, all while having a lot of fun.”

(photo by Andrew Hill)

Montecito Health Coach

Longevity: Why are we all so focused on living longer instead of living better?

by Deann Zampelli

Iadmit it. I am an obit reader. I look at the photo first to see if I know them and then almost reflexively at their age. 89? Not bad. 76? Too early. 56. Damn. Too close to home. Of course, I then have to know how they died and if the cause of death isn’t mentioned I immediately expect foul play. I am not proud of this, but I can’t help it. The older I get the more obsessive I become about longevity and how it will play out for me and those I love. And I am not alone in my musings.

Recently I had a client who came to see me because she wanted to live the next chapter of her life on her own terms, not as her mother did in the last decade of life before dying at the age of 93; bed pans, caregivers, wheelchairs, numerous medications, memory loss and the utter decimation of her life savings. This wasn’t going to be her fate, my

client, “Lori” decided. “How do I avoid it?” She asked.

“Health span” has become a big buzz term in the wellness community over the last few years and rightfully so; identifying the years during which we are living in optimal health rather than just our chronological age.

According to the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA), the American lifespan only just recently started to increase again after an unprecedented and steady decline (in part due to Covid, but largely due to the obesity epidemic) that hit the lowest it had been in twenty years. Now, the average American can expect to live to 77.5. That isn’t “old”, and it isn’t nearly long enough – especially when over 40 countries routinely beat the United States in longevity by significant amounts. But it isn’t just lifespan that we are lagging in, according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal “The estimated average proportion of life spent in good health declined to 83.6%...” Let me do some quick math here (meaning,

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get out my calculator). If I live to 94 (as my daughter made me promise), that means that around age 78 I can expect the proverbial feces to hit the bed pan.

This brings us full circle back to my client’s vision of wanting to age on her own terms and the question: How can we avoid living the last 15-20% of our lives being sick? Not surprisingly, the answer is complicated. When seeking clarity, social media alone could give angina to a Buddhist monk. Intermittent fasting, resistance training, meditation, walking, being a vegan, not being a vegan, and the list goes on ad infinitum. While all these philosophies have merit, it seems that the common thread is prevention. Instead of playing catch up after we get sick, address the root causes of many chronic illnesses before they happen. In a prior article, I mentioned how 90% of all chronic illnesses can be prevented with lifestyle modifications. This is the key component in regaining agency over your health span. For example, are you more sedentary than you should be? I read somewhere that sedentary lifestyles are the new cigarettes. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

I only have 700 words in my column so I can’t cite all the research but pretty much every study I have read has a few commonalities: Regular exercise (which among other things has also been shown

to significantly decrease the chance of dementia); Healthy diet (including lots of plants, healthy fats, and high in fiber); Maintain a healthy weight, reduce sugar consumption; spend time outside; get adequate sleep; and here’s a big one – Human connections. Community. People relying on one another for support, a dinner dropped off when they are ill, a shoulder to cry on, community activism or a common cause, working together, cooking together, and so much more.

In many cultures the elders are revered and live with their families until they die. They aren’t just included, they are needed, consulted, and cherished. Not surprisingly, these are often the same cultures that enjoy the healthiest and longest lives. Sadly, Americans are not among them.

So, Lori; while I don’t have a simple answer for you, I will say that knowing what you don’t want is a powerful first step toward getting what you do.

Trained at Duke Integrative Medicine, Deann Zampelli owns Montecito Coaching & Nutrition and has a broad range of clients working on everything from nutrition to improving their marathon pace. She also has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and has been a resident of Montecito since 2006.

Apr 20

Santa Barbara Debut

Randall Goosby, violin

Zhu Wang, piano

Sat, Apr 20 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall

$40 / $10 UCSB students

A protégé of Itzhak Perlman acclaimed for the sensitivity and intensity of his musicianship, violinist Randall Goosby is passionate about highlighting the works and influence of underrepresented composers like William Grant Still and Florence Price.

Education support provided by the Sonquist Family Endowment

Apr 23

2023 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Music

Rhiannon Giddens

You’re the One, with special guest Charly Lowry

Tue, Apr 23 / 8 PM / Arlington Theatre (note new venue)

Tickets start at $40 / $19 UCSB students

MacArthur fellow and Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens’ iconic brand of folk music spotlights people whose contributions to American musical history have been overlooked and advocates for a more accurate understanding of the country’s musical origins through art.

Event Sponsors: Jody & John Arnhold, Kath Lavidge & Ed McKinley, and Laura & Geof Wyatt

Apr 26

A Celebration Fusing Spirituals and Dance

Alonzo King LINES Ballet

Deep River

Alonzo King, Artistic Director

Fri, Apr 26 / 8 PM / Arlington Theatre (note new venue)

Tickets start at $35 / $19 UCSB students

Choreographer Alonzo King’s newest creation, Deep River, uses spiritual music from Black and Jewish traditions alongside original compositions by Jason Moran to assert the power of hope in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

Dance Series Sponsors: Margo Cohen-Feinberg, Donna Fellows & Dave Johnson, Barbara Stupay, and Sheila Wald

Program

Coleridge-Taylor:

Suite for Violin and Piano, op. 3

Brahms:

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, op. 100 (“Thun”)

Still:

Suite for Violin and Piano

Price: Two Fantasies

Strauss:

Violin Sonata in E-flat Major, op. 18

Featured musician on Beyoncė’s hit song “Texas Hold ‘Em”

“One of the most important musical minds currently walking the planet.”

American Songwriter

“King is one of the few bona fide visionaries in the ballet world today.” San Francisco Chronicle

Apr 18

Pop Culture Icon

RuPaul

The House of Hidden Meanings

Thu, Apr 18 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre

Tickets start at $50 / $20 UCSB students

Includes a copy of RuPaul’s new book, The House of Hidden Meanings (pick up at event)

International drag superstar RuPaul offers a personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly.

“RuPaul is almost like a prophet. He’s constantly flying a little higher than everybody else.”

–

Isaac Mizrahi

Apr 24

Evan Osnos

Two Superpowers: Navigating China and America in the New Age of Uncertainty

Wed, Apr 24 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Tickets start at $20 / $10 UCSB students

“Evan Osnos has explained this new China better than any other writer.” The Washington Post Recipient of the Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award, journalist Evan Osnos assesses the new global balance of power in an era dominated by two superpowers that are entwined on an unprecedented scale.

Event Sponsor: Betsy Atwater

Apr 21

Chef, Restaurateur and Humanitarian

José Andrés

Changing the World Through the Power of Food

Sun, Apr 21 / 4:30 PM (note special time) / Arlington Theatre

Tickets start at $20 / $10 all students (with valid ID)

“A tireless advocate for humanity.” Time magazine

“Build longer tables, not higher walls.”

– José Andrés

Premier Sponsor: Eva & Yoel Haller

(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu

Granada event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 899-2222 | www.GranadaSB.org

Arlington event tickets can also be purchased at: (805) 963-4408 |

Pulitzer Prize-winning China Expert and New Yorker Staff Writer

Stories Matter

Spring Reads

by Leslie Zemeckis

Iam admittedly a big fan of NY Times bestselling author Kim Michele Richardson and her Troublesome Creek books. Her children’s book, Junia,The Book Mule of Troublesome Creek – with illustrations by David C. Gardner – is out now and it is a delight. Set in 1936, it is Junia’s job to carry the Book Woman into the hills of East Kentucky to deliver reading materials to those with little access. It is hard work but neither sleet nor snow nor unpaved paths will deter Junia. A heartwarming, sweet book about the importance of these once traveling librarians delivering hope.

Timothy Schaffert is a sensual, emotive, and poetic writer. His latest, Titanic Survivors Book Club introduces us to three unforgettable characters, all survivors, of a sort – Yorick, a bookshop owner in Paris; Zinnia, daughter of a confectioner; and the handsome Haze, a photographer that spellbinds them both. Haunted by their good fortune, the three form a book club. A lush story of love and longing and loss and surviving, Schaffert’s prose is captivating. Rich in detail, you will feel transported to preWWI Paris and all its sensual delights.

It is 1885 when nine-year-old Aubry is struck with a life-threatening disorder. The doctors are stumped. Aubry discovers if she keeps moving, she will keep death at bay, which begins an epic journey around the globe, outwitting bandits, killing her own food, and never looking back – and never returning to a place she has already been. A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke is an epic journey, reminding us that it’s not the destination that counts, but the journey that makes us who we are. Aubrey will form brief but deep bonds with those she meets and falls in love with, only to have to leave as death continually reaches for her.

Carys Davies is spare with her elegant prose in Clear, a novel slight in pages and big on ideas.

Set on a fictionalized remote island off Scotland during the infamous Scottish Clearances (where rural communities were forced off their land). John is a minister, financially strapped, who takes a job where he must evict the last remaining resident on the island. After an accident occurs, Ivar, the man he has come to oust, nurses John back to health. While neither speaks a common language, over the following months they learn to understand each other, except for the secret John is holding. Back home, John’s wife Mary is worried when she hasn’t heard from John. Taking matters into her own hands she receives a shock when she arrives on the island to rescue her husband. But does he want rescuing?

Foster girls in the care of one scary woman are the stars in Sally Hepworth’s Darling Girls. It has been years since Jessica, Norah, and Alicia suffered under the roof of Miss Fairchild. They bonded together as sisters to survive. Now bones have been discovered under the home and the police come calling, unearthing secrets and past traumas they wish would stay buried. Hepworth writes a twisty, page-turning tale that is poignant, yet darkly funny.

In Peter Nichols’ thriller Granite Harbor, Alex is a failed novelist turned small town detective hunting for a killer after a grisly discovery is made at his town’s historical site. As a single father, Alex does his best to raise a teenage daughter and keep her safe from a possible serial killer. Isabel is a loner, working at the historical site where the body is discovered. It turns out her teen son was friends with the victim, bringing the murder too close to home. When another dead teen is discovered, Alex and Isabel join forces before it is one of their own that falls victim. Fast-paced, Nichols captures the small-town vibe with fully developed, quirky characters.

Leslie Zemeckis is an award-winning documentarian, best-selling author, and actor. The creator of “Stories Matter,” professional female authors mentoring the next generation of female storytellers, co-sponsored by SBIFF.

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Director Tess Ortega , Programs

Director Kenya Rodriguez , College

Access and Teen Coordinator Stevie Pell , STEM/SMART Coordinator

Stephanie Soicher , Athletics

Enrichment Coordinator Lei Talaro , and Gymnastics Coach Lauren Pieri. The event had a wine reception, and educational booths where attendees could learn about the pillars of the program via interactive activities of basketball, microscopes, and leadership lessons.

Event Lead Sponsors were Lynda Fairly and Chevron, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation, Montecito Bank & Trust, CenCal Health, Gail and Jan Persoon , former Girls Inc. Carp Board President Theresa Huerta , Juan Huerta , UCLA Health, Dr. Anu Sharma , Mercedes Millington (a 2022 Girls Inc. Carpinteria Honoree), Kait Hamilton , State Farm, and Carp Kitchen.

411: https://girlsinc-carp.org/

Chabad at UCSB’s 12th Annual Mega Shabbat

Shabbat Shalom! The 12th Annual Mega Shabbat event by Chabad of UCSB was held outside on Friday, April 5, at the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center,

established 2007 by the Rohr Family of NYC in memory of Mrs. Charlotte Rohr (née Kastner).

The attendance was approximately 1,100 people, the largest single shabbat in the history of Santa Barbara. At this shabbat, all are welcome, of any religious background and beliefs.

In addition to the members of the Chabad at UCSB, noted attendees were Rabbi Chaim Loschak, the Executive Director Chabad of Montecito and his wife Mushkie with their children, members of the Chabad of Montecito, UCSB Chancellor Yang, UCSB faculty and staff.

I was invited by Rabbi Chaim to report on the event, which he shares holds much importance for his community. “Many people ask me, especially recently with all that’s going on with antisemitism, is there a future for our kids? And I tell them, ‘Look! There are over 1,000 students coming together to celebrate and engage in our culture and tradition!’ This is why for my community this event so close to home was so special and so important. It gives us hope for the future. It tells us that ‘dor l’dor’ (in Hebrew, which means from “generation to generation”), we will pass it on and endure forever.”

In charge of the event were Rabbi Gershon Klein, the Executive Director of Chabad at USCB, his wife Miri Klein Board President and sister to Rabbi Chaim, Chabad Student President Ben Konig, Student Vice President Leah Sehati, and students Carter Chasson, Sarah Feuer , Eric Marzouk , Katie Israel, and Sasha Rubinsky.

After check-in, guests entered through the gold and black balloon arch to the

table area. The reception had hors d’oeuvres, water stations, a photo op booth, and yarmulkes for men who wished to wear them. Formal dining tables were set with goldware, black and gold place settings and white roses. Candles were gold votives due to the high winds.

Before sunset, the program began with a welcome by Chabad at UCSB’s student President Ben Konig, Vice President Leah Sehati, and Miri Klein. They encouraged, “Keep your light going no matter what people may say about you.”

On the menu were vegan, gluten free, and meat options of hummus, tomato garlic confit, arugula salad, scallion herb aioli, honey lemon salmon, chicken soup, matza balls, apricot chicken, and teriyaki tofu along with challah, brownies, oatmeal cookies and more, served by Fausto and Karla Caterers.

At sunset, the microphones, cells phones, cameras and other electronic devices were turned off. Women and children lit the shabbat candles at each dinner table. Individual challah bread and grape juice was provided for each guest for the meal blessings. Rabbi Gershon led the Kiddush blessing to sanctify the Shabbat and a blessing for the first course. The Hamotzi blessing was led by Jake Nguyen. For the second course, everyone joined in singing the song about not working on Shabbat Saturday titled, “Big Gedalia Goomber,” led by Jordan Fishburn and Nick Tassinari, who provided a verse tailored for UCSB. The Bentshing (grace after the meal) was led by Ron Bodel, and the dessert buffet closed the event.

On my way home from the Shabbat, I drove past the increased campus security for Deltopia causing me to say, I couldn’t

help but wonder – would the light from the Mega Shabbat’s 1,100 attendees shine a blessing of peace on all of the campus?

I reached out to Rabbi Gershon via email for his thoughts about the Mega Shabbat, and he explained, “Mega Shabbat is a chance for students to experience their Jewish life and identity on campus as a joy instead of an ‘oy.’ Too many times people talk about the hate we get on campus. But that isn’t really what our identity is. Our identity is about being proud and joyful in our Jewish faith. And Mega Shabbat is the perfect way to show this. There’s nothing more powerful than 1,100 members of your Jewish family and friends coming together for Shabbat to drive that point across.”

The Mega Shabbat was sponsored in part by UCSB AS Finance & Business, the Isla Vista Community Recreation & Cultural Center, and the Jewish Commission.

411: https://jewishucsb.com

www.jewishmontecito.org

Joanne A Calitri

is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com

Girls Inc Carp youngest scholarship winner Gia Dharma (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Leah Sehati, Ben Konig, Rabbi Gershon Klein and wife Miri with daughter Mina; Rabbi Chaim Loschak and his wife Mushkie with son Yosef (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Carter Chasson and Leah Sehati (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

organization’s historic documents, Joan corresponded with Steedman Bass, asking that he grant her three to six months to gather philanthropic support for it to become a foundation, to which he agreed. She also helped to establish – in January 2009 – the gardens on the estate as a National Historic Landmark with the National Register of Historic Places. Joan was instrumental in making Casa del Herrero a local organization in local hands, and a community asset. For the Casa del Herrero Foundation, she and her daughter-in-law Susan served as Board of Trustees Presidents, and Bill Jackson served as Board of Trustees Treasurer.

As chairs of the campaign, the Jacksons are working closely with the Capital Campaign Committee on both strategy and achievement goals. The Capital Campaign Committee members are Marc Appleton, award-winning architect and author of the book, Casa del Herrero (Rizzoli, 2009); Sharon Bradford former Board of Trustees member and husband David Bradford; Carol Linn, Board of Trustees Development Chair and husband Michael Linn; Mari McAlister, Board of Trustees Secretary and her husband Patrick McAlister, President of the Harold McAlister Charitable Foundation; and most honorably, George Steedman Bass, the grandson of George Fox Steedman, in memoriam.

Supporting the Capital Campaign in house are Trustee President Heather Biles, Board of Trustees Treasurer Gary Bradhering, Executive Director Rosie Rafferty, Development Director Andrew Doran, and Marketing and Special Events Director Edwin Rodriguez, Jr.

With the official launch announced by way of this news report, I met with the Jacksons and the capital campaign committee for the details:

Q. What is the mission of the capital campaign?

A. Casa del Herrero has played a vital role in the development and life of Santa Barbara. As we build to our 100th Anniversary in 2025, it has been a great honor and pleasure to develop our “Preserving Our Past, Protecting Our Future” capital campaign with our team, and collaborating with both Susan and Palmer. The story, mission, and vision of the Casa… to be a thriving, vital part of the community, with engaging programming... is all built on providing for the sustainability and security of the Casa itself. This campaign, and the generous support we have already received, will allow us to realize this vision and guarantee the Casa is a treasured and enduring part of the community for the next 100 years. Where is the funding earmarked?

The Capital Campaign is comprised of two focus areas:

- The restoration, renovation, and conservation of the Casa del Herrero campus, including capital improvements to the Casa, as well as all outbuildings, including the Steedman Workshop, greenhouse complexes, and original family cottages. Additionally, the campaign is focused on curatorial preservation of the collections, including paintings, tapestries, furniture, art, books, and the George Washington Smith/George Fox Steedman archives of drawings, correspondence, and plans.

- The growth of the Casa Endowment – first established in 1993 to provide for the sustainability and security of Casa del Herrero for the next 100 years – ensures the Casa can continue its mission, programming, and community impact. A key element of this is returning to the original wishes and goals set forth by Medora Steedman Bass, the last

family member to reside in the Casa. We are continuing our monthly book club and film series, expanding our educational outreach programs, introducing a new speaker’s series on national and global issues, reinvigorating engagement with Mr. Steedman’s passions of both silversmithing and winemaking, and expanding upon the family’s desire to see the grounds and gardens utilized for horticulture and plant management.

What are the upcoming funding events?

The public is invited to all the upcoming events held on a monthly basis at the Casa; its book club, movies, sound baths, dinners, wine making, and soon to be announced quarterly events highlighting the capital campaign. We are planning our Centennial Gala for 2025.

411: www.casadelherrero.com/capital

SB Cottage Hospital Hosts Free Kids Car Seat & Booster Check

Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital’s Children’s Department and Trauma Services Department joins with the County of Santa Barbara Fire Department and Emergency Management Services, the County of San Luis Obispo, Car Seat Concierge, Car Seat 101, and Safe Kids Santa Barbara County to host a free Child Car Seat and Booster Check Event on Saturday, April 13, from 10 am to 1:30 pm.

No registration required. Inspections will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested participants are required to bring their vehicle, child, and car seat for assessment. Just drive up at the parking lot on the corner of Hollister Avenue and Patterson Avenue, across from Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital.

All caregivers, including parents, guardians, and anyone responsible for transporting children by automobile, are encouraged to have their child seats inspected by safety experts. Information is provided free. The objective of this event is to ensure the safety and well-being of children during travel. The agencies assure everyone that this is an information-educational event. No citations will be issued, and there will be no driver’s license or vehicle registration checks.

For reference, the State of California Vehicle Code Section 27360 and California Vehicle Code Section 27363, states children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear-facing car seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds OR is 40 or more inches tall. Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4’9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum, must be secured by a safety belt.

411: www.cottagehealth.org/classes-events

Bossa Nova Brunch

The Culinary Rhythm of El Encanto

by Zach Rosen

Brunch. It’s the perfect meal for when you know the day is going to happen at some point but there is no rush to get there – drifting somewhere past the time of breakfast and maybe on the precipice of lunch and beyond. This magical meal sets the pace and expectations for the rest of the day. If all you do for the day is brunch – you’ve done enough.

El Encanto recently launched a new Bossa Nova Brunch on Sundays (11:30 am – 2 pm) that perfectly fits the tempo of this malleable meal. Much like a bossa nova beat, the menu is both relaxed and upbeat and can fit whatever rhythm you’re looking to move to that day. Set on El Encanto’s iconic Riviera terrace that overlooks the splendor of our area, the meal starts off with a deep breath of fresh fare – dragon fruit, kiwis, mango, and the Brazilian cheese buns, pão de queijo. From there, you can order appetizers like a lush guava cinnamon roll or just jump right into the rhythm.

The menu features an aptly named “Fresh Take on Latin Flavors” section that offers a range of light and rich food to suit whatever mood you’re in. The Acai Buddha Bowl or Tropical Granola are two items that will both refresh and indulge the palate with tropical fruits that are both fulfilling and fun. The avocado toast is a California classic with an adventure of texture bringing together the silken quality of avocado and peppered lemon ricotta with the crunch of a pistachio pomegranate gremolata and a touch of bitter roughage from the purple frizz mustard greens.

and coconut Chantilly cream. The crepes come folded around a blueberry lemon ricotta and are topped with a blueberry compote and dollops of a cinnamon mascarpone that add a roasty tone. Shavings of candied lemon peel bring a contrasting hue and a bit of sweet bitterness to round out the mellifluous dish.

Truly, though – the standout offering on the entire menu was the Moqueqa. When we arrived, there was only one order left so make sure to get there early enough to get one. The Brazilian seafood stew is filled with hearty prawns and a local halibut that gently flaked off into the coconut broth dotted with roasted peppers. Fresh cilantro and a lime slice rolled in Tajín sit atop the stew, and a side of cilantro lime rice completes the flavor set. The Moqueqa is reminiscent of a Thai curry but with a Latin edge and will certainly be the part of your meal you remember most.

Things start to heat up with the Roasted Hearts of Palm Salad where colorful little gem greens, black beans, and quinoa are decorated with avocado, crispy shallot, mango and more. A guava vinaigrette melds together the tropical elements while providing a dash of acidity to sharpen the dish. In the chilaquiles, braised Mary’s chicken breast and salsa verde set the stage while nopales and violet slices of ninja radish bring a bit of a twist to the cilantro and sprinkles of cotija topping the dish.

The menu’s signature plate section brings you one step further into the Bossa Nova pace with more decadent dishes that both excite and appease the palate. The breakfast burrito features a carnitas and black bean feijoada stew with red quinoa and kale accenting the familiar additions of scrambled eggs, potatoes, and cheddar cheese. On the sweeter side of things is a chocolate waffle delicately swimming in a cachaça banana caramel

If the morning brain fog still hasn’t faded away and you’re looking for a sense of the familiar there are certainly several traditional brunch options like an eggs benedict or smoked salmon gravlax on an everything bagel. Of course the steak and eggs come with a dash of chimichurri to bring a little Latin flair to the dish. The Santa Barbara Madame particularly struck a note with me. This play on the croque madame has slices of avocado to give the sandwich its ‘Santa Barbara’ moniker. The pieces of brioche were structured enough (but also not too chewy) to hold together throughout the sandwich as you work your way down the layers of egg, decadent mornay sauce, and rosemary ham from the Berkeley-based esteemed producer of cured delicacies, Fra’ Mani. It came with a side of potato hash cake that fulfilled a personal need for all things potato and the herbal, gently browned cake comes with several of the dishes but can also be ordered as an appetizer (recommended).

While brunch is usually accompanied by a mimosa or bloody mary – and certainly they have both on the menu – it was the Passion Fruit Caipirinha that captured our hearts and serenaded us into a second round. A caipirinha traditionally blends together cachaça, sugar, and lime. The Brazilian spirit Cachaça, most often seen in its unaged, silver form, is similar to rum but is produced from the fresh sugarcane (versus molasses as in rum) that gives it a livelier flavor. Their version comes with a blend of citrus and the passion fruit gave the cocktail a sunny disposition. It drinks like an adult glass of OJ and its summery character pairs well with the full range of flavors found on the menu. Its acidity can cut down on the sweeter items while its vibrant fruit character will enrich the more savory dishes.

With our bellies now bursting, the sun fully risen, and a few caipirinhas determining our pace, we had successfully ‘brunched’ and were ready to start the day – or not. It’s brunch… we had done enough.

A plate of fresh fruit and Brazilian cheese buns provides a warm welcome to the meal

The Santa Barbara Madame will satiate the palate and heart

The Brazilian fish stew, Moqueqa, is the one dish not to miss

Zach Rosen is the Managing Editor of the Montecito Journal. He also enjoys working with beer, art, and life.

Foraging Thyme Dried Dates

by Melissa Petitto

This week I am showcasing the insanely delicious dried dates at Flying Disc Farms. These things taste like candy and yet they have so many health benefits! This fruit from the date palm tree is awesome both fresh and dried. These sweet fruits are high in fiber, providing 7 grams in a 3.5 ounce serving. We all know how necessary fiber is in our diets, from digestive health to blood sugar control. Studies have shown that including dates in one’s daily diet improves bowel movements and prevents constipation. Dates contain flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation, as well as help prevent diabetes. They also contain carotenoids that have been proven to aid in heart health and reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Dates are also high in phenolic acid which is an anti-inflammatory, and dates may help lower our risk of heart disease and cancer. And finally, dates have been shown to aid in lowering inflammation and reducing formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which is incredibly important for preventing Alzheimer’s. Quite a powerful punch in such a tiny, unassuming fruit! This week I am making one of my favorite and absolutely simple desserts.

Faux Snickers

Yield: 12 Servings

12 each pitted medjool dates ¼ cup organic creamy or crunchy peanut or almond butter ¼ cup organic roasted salted peanuts, chopped ½ cup vegan dark chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Arrange your dates on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. Fill each date with some peanut butter and a few chopped peanuts and then put the date back together. Lay the date back on the baking sheet and continue with the remainder of the dates.

3. Next, melt the chocolate. You can either do this in a microwave safe bowl in 20 second intervals, stirring after each interval; or you can put the chocolate in a double boiler and slowly allow it to melt. Once the chocolate is melted, dip the filled dates in the chocolate, placing the now covered dates back on the parchment and repeating with the remaining dates. Allow the chocolate to harden for 5 minutes and serve!

4. If you have leftovers, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Melissa Petitto, R.D., is an executive chef and co-founder at Thymeless My Chef SB, was a celebrity personal chef for 16 years, just finished her 10th cookbook, and is an expert on nutrition and wellness.

Dates… the sweet (and healthly) jewels of the desert (photo by Ivar Leidus via Wikimedia Commons)

Thousands of People in the UK to Receive Landmark Trials for Dementia Blood Tests

In an effort to revolutionize dementia diagnosis, two large studies are rolling out across the UK, offering thousands of concerned individuals blood testing targeted at detecting early indications of cognitive deterioration. These trials, led by teams from the University of Oxford and University College London, seek to address current diagnostic problems and increase access to timely care.

Currently, diagnosing dementia in the UK frequently entails mental ability tests, brain imaging, or invasive lumbar punctures, which causes delays and uncertainty for patients and their families. According to Fiona Carragher, Director of Research and Influencing at the Alzheimer’s Society, “Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, yet a third of people living with dementia don’t have a diagnosis, which means they’re not able to access care and support.”

Blood tests provide a possible alternative, as they are less expensive and less invasive than other methods for detecting proteins associated with dementia. If successful, these tests could considerably accelerate the diagnostic process, allowing for earlier intervention and treatment. Dr. Sheona Scales, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, underlines the potential impact. “We need to see this same step change in dementia, which is the greatest health challenge facing the UK.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK, the Alzheimer’s Society, and the People’s Postcode Lottery have collaborated and provided funds to make the trials possible. With £5 million ($6.3 million) in funding, researchers hope to investigate the usefulness of blood tests in real-world settings, with the ultimate goal of incorporating them into ordinary NHS treatments.

Over the course of five years, over 50 memory clinics in the UK will provide blood testing to about 5,000 volunteers. Dr. Jonathan Schott – Chief Medical Officer for Alzheimer’s Research UK – is leading one of the trials, and emphasizes the significance of the endeavor, stating, “We can look to bring cutting-edge blood tests for diagnosing dementia within the NHS. And this will be key to widening access to groundbreaking new treatments that are on the horizon.”

Robert’s Big Questions

Flat Earth?

by Robert Bernstein

My wife and I came out of a party recently just in time to catch a rocket launch in the sky. I took some photos of the beautiful colors and patterns and posted them on Facebook.

A Facebook childhood friend “Bill” replied, “The rockets that go nowhere under the firmament.”

Was he pushing the bizarre idea that the Earth is flat? I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. As children, I was the science guy and he was an athlete, artist and poet. So, I replied, “Can you please elaborate on your poetic comment?”

His reply was clear. Not poetic: “In my humble opinion we live on a fixed flat stationary plain under a dome that separates the waters above from the waters below. Space is fake. NASA is an abomination. Extra-terrestrial is beyond the ice wall. Not up there.”

We lived two doors from each other. Going to all the same schools from elementary to high school. What happened? I really wanted to know. I called his sister for insight. She said she is worried about him. But she didn’t know what had happened, either.

As a former teacher, I tried to engage Bill by asking simple questions. I mostly wanted to know who had introduced him to this idea. His answer: “I knew some people I worked with who I thought were crazy when they refuted the heliocentric model. Now not so much.”

this, so he would cut me off, too. It was very sad and frustrating. I wanted to connect and understand how this had happened.

Some of what he said indicated strong Christian beliefs. If you Google “flat Earth” and “Bible” you will get a flood of Christian statements denying that the Bible supports a flat Earth. They want to reject the Flat Earth people! I think they are wrong.

Bill correctly quoted the Genesis use of the word “firmament.” The Bible makes reference to the Earth as sitting under a dome. That the Earth does not move. That there are edges to the world. That it is possible to stand in a place and look down on the entire world at once.

From a personal standpoint, how would you try to make a human connection to someone who believes something you consider utterly absurd? Would you try to offer them alternative information? Would you just let it go?

From a scientific perspective, do you actually know how to show that the Earth is spheroidal? Are you aware that ancient Greek philosopher Eratosthenes of Cyrene actually calculated the circumference of the Earth quite accurately? Around 240 BCE. You don’t need airplanes or spacecraft to do so.

Airplanes or spacecraft made no difference for Bill. He echoed a vast conspiracy regarding spacecraft that claims that everything about NASA is just fake. Just think about what is involved in believing such a conspiracy. If you start searching, you will find a vast array of videos “explaining” how the Earth is flat and how this conspiracy works to hide it.

It makes them feel special to have access to this secret information.

He then cited explorer Admiral Byrd as a Flat Earther. He sent me a video of Byrd being interviewed where he talked about a land beyond the South Pole as big as the U.S. Bill clearly misunderstood what Byrd meant. Byrd just meant that he had entered from West Antarctica. And that East Antarctica is bigger. The size of the U.S.

My worry: If people can be deluded about such settled facts, how are they going to understand the urgent need for action on the Climate Crisis?

A huge breakthrough came when Bill sent me an actual 19th century map of the flat Earth by Alexander Gleason. It works pretty well for the northern hemisphere. But it utterly fails for the southern hemisphere. Today, airplanes fly daily between Chile, Australia, and South Africa. We know these distances are nothing like what is shown in that map.

Unfortunately, Bill cut off contact with me after I sent him an air route map. He claimed that another of our classmates had insulted him about

Robert Bernstein holds degrees from Physics departments of MIT and UCSB. His passion to understand the Big Questions of life, the universe and to be a good citizen of the planet.

Your Westmont Students Represent at the U.N.

Alum Donated Life, Honored in Rose Parade

A floral portrait of Westmont alumnus Paul Eskildsen (‘81), who died in 2017, appeared in the 2024 Rose Parade on the OneLegacy Donate Life float, Woven Together: The Dance of Life. Paul was passionate about serving others even in death. As a registered donor and in excellent health at the age of 59, he gave his heart, liver, kidneys and lungs to save the lives of four people, and his eye and tissue donation improved the lives of 66 others. April is National Donate Life Month, a nationwide initiative highlighting the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

A spontaneous and unexpected brain injury led to his death the day after Christmas. Throughout his life, Paul worked in various information technology jobs. He and his wife, Leslie, were married for 26 years, and their daughter, Emma, is now 29.

Nearly 20 Westmont political science students joined Professor Katherine Bryant to serve on the National Model United Nations from March 24-28 in New York. The students, who represented the delegations from Solomon Islands and Thailand, discussed pressing global issues and stepped into the shoes of diplomats, using the art of negotiation to learn how to make a difference in the world.

The Thailand delegation was recognized with an Honorable Mention award, a great accomplishment since a few students were working without a partner in their committees. Junior Emma Silver of Ojai, sophomore Emily Lindblad of Edmonds, Washington, and sophomore Ella Oostema of Salt Lake City, Utah, won position paper awards for their succinct policy statement representing the views of their member state.

“I’m so proud of their hard work and the character they displayed throughout this challenging week,” Bryant says. “They represented Westmont well.”

Despite the cold and rainy weather, the students explored the National September 11 Memorial, the Headquarters of the U.N., and Rockefeller Center on March 28 when presidents Biden, Obama, and Clinton were at nearby Radio City Music Hall.

A year after she lost Paul, Leslie became an ambassador for the Donate Life program. “The circumstances surrounding Paul’s death — and the ability to donate everything — were so unique, I felt it was part of my obligation,” she says.

Leslie learned about Donate Life’s annual float that features floragraphs of the donors with organ recipients as riders. To participate, she had to learn to give media interviews and be involved in public events. “I was patient and waited through COVID, and then I applied last summer and was accepted,” she says.

With six members of the family, Leslie began the emotional and tedious process of recreating Paul’s likeness in a floragraph using flowers and other natural materials. “I thought it was going to be like paint-by-numbers, but it took us 10 hours to figure

by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

Your Westmont

Students represented Solomon Islands and Thailand at the National Model United Nations

Exploring the Big Apple despite heightened security at Radio City Music Hall

The OneLegacy Donate Life float (photo by Scott Weersing)

Leslie Eskildsen poses with floral portrait of Paul

out what colors to use for his skin and hair,” she says.

They settled on five different shades of cream of wheat and used espresso for his glasses and a different seed for the background. “They even asked us to put one grain of rice in his eyes to give his picture life – to put a glint in the eyes,” she says.

As a Boy Scout growing up in Pasadena, Paul decorated Rose Parade floats at least once with his Boy Scout troop. He went to Lake Avenue Church and was involved with Christian youth groups at John Muir High School. He graduated from Westmont with a degree in religious studies.

Paul and Leslie were married in St. George’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Hills, where he was confirmed and later earned an Education for Ministry. He began donating blood to the Red Cross and organized blood drives for his church. Eventually he gave platelets twice a month. “His Red Cross hematologist brought flowers to the ICU at Mission Hospital when she learned he’d died,” Leslie says. “It meant a lot to Paul to help a specific cancer patient who matched with his plasma.”

Paul also formed a meaningful relationship with a boy through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. “It was a difficult conversation for my daughter when Paul died as this youngster was on vacation with his family in Mexico,” Leslie says.

In the obituary, Leslie and Emma wrote that Paul “cared for his nieces and nephews as if they were his own children and could not have done more for the wife and daughter he spent every day serving, supporting and loving with unparalleled care and intention.”

One nephew, Sam Reep (‘20), earned a degree in computer science at Westmont and works as a software engineer at HG Insights in Lompoc. Sam learned Paul was an alumnus after he registered. “I felt a kind of connection to him,” Sam says. “He was an intelligent man who took the time to listen well and engage in meaningful ways. He selflessly chose to give back to people through the Big Brother program, his organ donation and other things. My family and I miss him dearly.”

Longest Musical Performance in College History

Over a 60-hour period before finals, the Weller Organ in Deane Chapel, controlled by Professor Steve Hodson, will be playing “ORGAN2/ASLSP (As Slow as Possible)” by John Cage (1912-1992). This 1987 work explores how slowly a piece of music might unfold. Westmont’s performance will begin at 8 am on April 26 (with a rest) and end at 8 pm on April 28.

“Stop by anytime to hear a chord; if you’re lucky, you may get to hear a note change,” Hodson says.

There is a 639-year performance of the piece underway in Halberstadt, Germany. It began in 2001 with turning on the organ bellows, followed by a two-year rest. Its most recent note change took place on February 5 of this year, another is scheduled for August 5, 2026, and the performance is scheduled to end in 2640.

parts in regional shows across the country. But it wasn’t another acting gig that caused the anxiety. It was a diagnosis of autism for one of her young twin boys.

“We were totally unprepared about how to support him, how to make sense of it, how to navigate not just the basics of life and him and his health and all that, but also just as a parent, how do I not freak out?” Torsiglieri explained. “How do I learn to be the person who puts the oxygen mask on myself so that I can help the person next to me? How does one find the perspective to be able to be a good parent, a good advocate, and stay sane at the same time?”

Torsiglieri turned to what she knew best.

“We actors dig around in our souls for stories and things that are compelling to us, problem-solving in our hearts and minds by mucking about with our own lives and our own issues and our own questions. It was in that world that I decided to create a theatrical piece about it.”

The actress attended conferences and interviewed everyone she could find on the subject: fellow mothers of autistic kids, doctors, social workers and other experts, as well as many people who have autism themselves.

“I’d ask them, ‘What’s your experience? What’s going on? What helped you? What didn’t help you? What’s it been like for you?’” she recalled. “I scripted a lot, but the characters’ words are mostly verbatim.”

She collated and curated the transcripts, added her own creative writing, including stories, poems and songs. She developed the piece with friend and director Risa Brainin of UCSB Theater, where Torsiglieri also teaches, and engaged composer-songwriter Brad Carroll of PCPA ( Lend Me a Tenor, the Musical ) to fashion the musical numbers.

The result is the one-woman show called “A” Train , meant to reflect not only her son’s obsession with trains but also a metaphor for Torsiglieri’s journey. The actress portrays all of the characters including herself on stage, offering respectful and honest representations, along the way both educating and entertaining the audience in a spectacularly theatrical show and moving experience.

“Theater is about a character’s journey and how they are changed along the way,” Torsiglieri said. “By making this a solo show with the main character both recounting it to the audience and having to become these other people, she walks in their shoes and really gets the experience of being them. That’s what really

pushes her transformation.”

The piece had workshop performances at Brainin’s UCSB LaunchPad back in 2017, and garnered rave reviews at the Skirball Cultural Center and won awards at the United Solo Festival in New York before a run at Torsiglieri’s hometown black box house Center Stage Theatre in October 2018. The play’s combination of humor, education, pathos, and spirit proved a spectacular success, and “A” Train seemed sure to be destined for more exposure. Indeed, the show was set for regular run at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura for the spring of 2020 before the pandemic hit.

Torsiglieri used the downtime to re-examine the piece, and has made a few alterations, adding two new songs by Carroll, including the opening number, and a different ending, she said.

“The world has changed. I’ve changed, we’ve all changed. In my family, our boys have grown older. (They are now 20.) They have a different perspective about the world. I have a different perspective about them. I didn’t want to address that directly, but there’s now an envelope that wraps the story up that supports an update.”

The new version of “A” Train plays at the Rubicon April 13-28, the first re-mounting of the work since 2019. Even five years later, autism is also much better understood and accepted, and much more so than when she first had the concept 15 years ago.

“There are even insights about the beauty and value of the autistic mind,” she said. “More is needed, and I’m still keen to do whatever I can to further the conversation, to open hearts and minds.”

Torsiglieri also has an updated perspective on the piece as her life has continue to evolve.

“I learned a lot myself in the process, not only about autism, but about my son and about how one can reframe in a very healthy way, and come up with a different perspective about happiness in life,” she said. “Life is complicated and messy and with ups and downs, and the trick is to have a center from which you can experience life and take the good and the bad and find joy and meaning. It’s not just people who are dealing with this particular issue, but about how we are able to enjoy the moment even when we are drowning or surrounded by fear or war.”

Can “A” Train facilitate that growth?

“I believe that art can change the world,” Torsiglieri said. “I hope the play in some small ways plants seeds of understanding and empathy and interest in

“My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.” – Erma Bombeck

Organist Steve Hodson will play for three days straight

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

During the production of “A” Train, Rubicon will partner with The Art of Autism, a nonprofit which empowers and connects individuals within the autism community through participation in the arts. Artwork from talented autistic artists will be on display in The Rose Room and downstairs gallery throughout the entire production.

Visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call (805) 667-2900

SBCC’s Clever Contemporary Political Comedy

Sacred Sites Screening Online

Back in 2018, Dawa Tarchin Phillips, resident teacher of Bodhi Path Santa Barbara and co-founder and former Director of Education of UCSB’s Center for Mindfulness and Human Potential, led two dozen people on an aroundthe-world pilgrimage, visiting 17 sacred sites in five countries on four continents in 30 days.

“The intention was to learn about and experience the unifying consciousness that we all share,” Tarchin explained last week at the Lobero on opening night of the Illuminate Film Festival. “The concept was to simultaneously explore the relationship that we have with ourselves, with one another and with Planet Earth.”

In visiting and meditating at such sites as the Serengeti of Northern Tanzania, the feet of the majestic Sphinx and the Pyramids in Egypt, Jerusalem, the Forbidden City and Great Wall of China, and Mount Kailash in the Himalayan plateau, Phillips aimed to discover common ground.

“There is a red thread that runs through all of these different traditions, and as we spent time at places where people historically have practiced a sense of awe and wonder, reverence and humility, we not only found what connects us, but also a genuine sense of belonging,” he said. “Once we know what it feels like, once we have a sense of it, we can stay connected to that experience of belonging no matter how busy things get.”

Phillips also wanted to bring that journey to others who weren’t able to physically attend, so he arranged for a cinematographer to capture footage, the result

of which is an hour-long documentary called Planetary Pilgrim, which has its world premiere in the virtual part of Illuminate this week.

“We wanted to create a visual and sensory experience that allows people to actually visit these places and have some sense of connection to the locations and the sacred places themselves,” Phillips said.

Planetary Pilgrim can be viewed online through April 14 at https:// watch.eventive.org/illuminate2024. Visit https://planetarypilgrim.org for more on the film.

Focus on Film: Revivals at Riviera

Do you remember the pre-streaming, pre-Tivo, pre-DVD, pre-VCR days when Santa Barbara was among nearly every artsy city in the country that had cinematic art houses showing classic movies and curated retrospective among screenings of indie and foreign films? Now with its new After Hours weekend series, SBIFF’s Riviera Theatre is in many ways returning to those days, except instead of watching scratchy old prints with bad sound in a rundown room, viewers will be treated to most 4K restorations in the brilliantly renovated Riviera that boasts the best sound in town. The 9 pm screenings might be a tad too late in the evening for most of us who actually cut our collective cinematic teeth at the art houses, but new generations of movie lovers will now have the chance to experience these cult classics and more on the big screen.

Prepare to see Dawn of the Dead and more restored in 4K at the Riviera

Hall on April 12. Berkowitz will play Haydn’s “Variations in F minor” and Schumann’s “Humoreske, Op. 20,” sandwiching several passionate pieces by Poulenc (“Three Novelettes,” “Three Intermezzi,” “Presto in B Flat,” and “Thème Varié”) that he has recorded for a new CD releasing later this year.

Visit https://music.ucsb.edu/events for details and tickets

SBCC Theatre Group closes out its 2023-24 season with Paul Slade Smith ’s comedy The Outsider from April 10-27 in the Jurkowitz Theatre on SBCC’s West Campus. The comedy concerns a newly appointed governor of a small state who is terrified of public speaking and paralyzed by TV cameras, but great at actually governing. Determined to save his boss’s job, his chief of staff and friend brings in a team of experts to handle the situation, in the process leading to romance. Created in the fashion of such inspiring cinema as Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington , The Outsider a funny and timely story of loyalty and common sense in the inane world of campaign politics. Katie Laris directs a cast comprised of SBCC Theatre Group veterans – including Justin Stark as the governor, and Nicholis Sheley – along with current theater arts majors. Details and tickets at (805) 965-5935 or www.theatregroupsbcc.com

Planetary Pilgrim covers Dawa Tarchin Phillips’ and two dozen people around-the-world pilgrimage to 17 sacred sites in five countries on four continents in 30 days

Up first is the 1977 zombie classic Dawn of the Dead, screening April 12-13, with the rest of April and May offering local hero James Cameron’s The Abyss (April 19-20), Escape from New York (April 26-27), Moulin Rouge (May 3-4), David Lynch’s 1984 version of Dune (May 10-11), American Psycho (May 17-18), Top Gun (May 24-25), and Point Break (May 31-June 1).

Visit https://sbiffriviera.com/after-hours

Classical Corner

Last week saw two thrilling chamber orchestra performances of vastly different scopes in Academy of St. Martin in the Fields’ triumphant return to the Granada in a preview of its upcoming Marriner 100 celebration in London, and a charming concert with the local outfit Santa Barbara Chamber Players at First United Methodist Church. This week’s classical events highlight is a performance by Paul Berkowitz , the 30-year veteran UCSB faculty pianist, taking on timeless solo works at Lotte Lehmann Concert

Steven Libowitz has covered a plethora of topics for the Journal since 1997, and now leads our extensive arts and entertainment coverage

The Outsider will be SBCC’s Jurkowitz Theatre from April 10-27 (photo by Ben Crop)

This may affect your property. Please read.

Notice is hereby given that an application for the project described below has been submitted to the Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department. This project requires the approval and issuance of a Modification application by the Planning and Development Department. The development requested by this application is under the jurisdiction of the Montecito PC and therefore a public hearing on the application is normally required prior to any action to approve, conditionally approve, or deny the application. However, in compliance with the Article II Section 35-179.5.7, the Director intends to waive the public hearing requirement unless a written request for such hearing is submitted by an interested party to the Planning and Development Department within the 15 working days following the Date of Notice listed below. All requests for a hearing must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, to Kathleen Volpi at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, by email at volpik@countyofsb.org, or by fax at (805) 568-2030. If a public hearing is requested, notice of such a hearing will be provided.

WARNING: Failure by a person to request a public hearing may result in the loss of the person’s ability to appeal any action taken by Santa Barbara County on this Modification Application to the Montecito Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors.

If a request for public hearing is not received by 5:00 p.m. on the Request for Hearing Expiration Date listed below, then the Planning and Development Department will act to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the request for a Modification application. At this time it is not known when this action may occur; however, this may be the only notice you receive for this project. To receive additional information regarding this project, including the date the Modification application is approved, and/or to view the application and plans, or to provide comments on the project, please contact Kathleen Volpi at Planning and Development, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara 93101-2058, or by email at volpik@countyofsb.org, or by phone at (805) 568-2033.

PROPOSAL: PERRY - DETACHED GARAGE MODIFICATION

PROJECT ADDRESS: 1671 SAN LEANDRO LN, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93108

1st SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT

THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE COASTAL ZONE

DATE OF NOTICE: 4/11/2024

REQUEST FOR HEARING EXPIRATION DATE: 5/2/2024

PERMIT NUMBER: 23MOD-00008

007-314-006

ZONING: 1-E-1

PROJECT AREA: 0.56

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

� Applicant: Michael & Alexandra Solomon Perry

� Proposed Project:

APPLICATION FILED: 4/11/2023

The project is a request for a Modification to allow a reduction to the secondary front setback along Pomar Lane from 25 feet from road easement to 16 feet 6 inches to allow for the construction of a new detached two-car garage. The Modification would result in an 8 feet 6 inches front setback reduction.

APPEALS:

The decision of the Director of the Planning and Development Department to approve, conditionally approve, or deny this Modification application 23MOD-00008 may be appealed to the Montecito Planning Commission by the applicant or an aggrieved person. The written appeal must be filed within the 10 calendar days following the date that the Director takes action on this Modification application. To qualify as an "aggrieved person" the appellant must have, in person or through a representative, informed the Planning and Development Department by appropriate means prior to the decision on the Coastal Development Permit of the nature of their concerns, or, for good cause, was unable to do so.

Written appeals must be filed with the Planning and Development Department at either 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, 93101, or 624 West Foster Road, Suite C, Santa Maria, 93455, by 5:00 p.m. within the timeframe identified above. In the event that the last day for filing an appeal falls on a non-business day of the County, the appeal may be timely filed on the next business day.

For additional information regarding the appeal process, contact Kathleen Volpi. The application required to file an appeal may be viewed at or downloaded from:

https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/1085/Planning-and-Building-Permit-Application

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Information about this project review process may also be viewed at: https://ca-santabarbaracounty.civicplus.pro/1499/Planning-Permit-Process-Flow-Chart Board of Architectural Review agendas may be viewed online at: https://www.countyofsb.org/160/Planning-Development

Published April 10, 2024

Bids open at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 2, 2024 for:

COUNTY PROJECT No. 862418

General project work description: Coastal Access Improvements

The Plans, Specifications, and Bid Book are available at https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43874

The Contractor must have either a Class A license or any combination of the following Class C licenses which constitutes a majority of the work: C-12, C-13

Submit sealed bids to the web address below. Bids will be opened available at the web address below immediately following the submittal deadline.

PlanetBids

https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43874

Complete the project work within 120 Workings Days

The estimated cost of the project is $ 3,610,000

A optional pre-bid meeting is scheduled for this project on Monday, April 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM at Lookout Park (Evans Ave. at Wallace Ave., Summerland CA) This project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

A contractor or subcontractor shall not be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, subject to the requirements of PCC Section 4104, or engage in the performance of any contract for public work, as defined in this chapter, unless currently registered and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code (LAB) Section 1725.5. It is not a violation of this section for an unregistered contractor to submit a bid that is authorized by Business and Professions Code (BPC) Section 7029.1 or by PCC Section 10164 or 20103.5 provided the contractor is registered to perform public work pursuant to LAB Section 1725.5 at the time the contract is awarded.

Prevailing wages are required on this Contract. The Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations determines the general prevailing wage rates. Obtain the wage rates at the DIR website https://www.dir.ca.gov/

Inquiries or questions based on alleged patent ambiguity of the plans, specifications, or estimate must be submitted as a bidder inquiry by 2:00 PM on 04/26/2024. Submittals after this date will not be addressed. Questions pertaining to this Project prior to Award of the Contract must be submitted via PlanetBids Q&A tab.

Bidders (Plan Holders of Record) will be notified by electronic mail if addendums are issued. The addendums, if issued, will only be available on the County PlanetBids website, https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=43874

By order of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara this project was authorized to be advertised on 06/04/2019 Christopher Sneddon Director of Public Works

County Clerk. I hereby certify

this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2024-0000677. Published March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 2024. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 24CV01144. To all interested parties: Petitioner Beverly Elaine Ray filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Beverly Elaine Dickinson. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed March 15, 2024 by Narzralli Baksh. Hearing date: May 10, 2024 at 10 am in Dept. 4, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published March 20, 27, April 3, 10, 2024.

adjoins this one has been an imaginative and spiritual pursuit for millennia, and in modern times a target of will o’ the wisp policing.

Therapy Tripping

Tell’s idea that we move measuredly toward a rational and normalized interweaving of psychedelics into the Everyday may sound crazy on its face, but that thinking has, for decades now, been part of a lively social movement; and an arguable component of research. “We’ve just gone through some amazing studies and actually FDA clinical trials, if you can believe it,” Tell says ardently. Data-driven studies on the healing efficacies of psychedelics – from PTSD therapies to depression, and from substance abuse disorders to palliative care for the terminally ill –are avidly underway in literally hundreds of universities around the world; fly-bynight diploma mills with names like Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley – and of course Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy. “We’re going to have prescribable MDMA and prescribable psilocybin mushrooms soon,” Tell says. “That’s thanks to the good work that’s been happening on these campuses now for decades.” Through a model of education, filter-free community, and shared purpose, Jacob Tell’s District216 is in a position to rationally help catalyze and organize what’s surely coming. Tell’s brutally corporatist title at D216 prefigures the new world. “My official title is Chief Dreamer.”

Campus Point

UCSB student Jacob Tell found his “doors of perception” while dabbling at Campus Point; the lovely bluff-and-beach interface that marks the campus’ southernmost Pacific promontory. The young man had sipped a few drinks in high school, but in the category leaving one’s cranium and heading for the spheres, Tell was a babe in the chemical

woods. “In college I discovered cannabis and psychedelics – psilocybin mushrooms first, then LSD, MDMA, mescalin…” When he took in a Phish concert, his spiritual aspect ratio went IMAX©. “The experience combined psilocybin mushrooms and that loving community – and that was the watershed. Through the live interaction between the band and the fans … I saw suddenly what was possible, and it was everything. My philosophy in business, in life, in creating things, became YES…AND. It’s what animates the improvisational standup comedian, the musician. YES. It’s about taking the leap and learning how an idea can evolve and become the best idea possible.”

Making Lemonade

The scales had fallen from Tell’s eyes, but his Road to Damascus would yet feature many switchbacks. In 2001 Tell and Sean Campos founded Oniracom, a Santa Barbara-based webdev outfit that would become a many-faceted, crazily successful creative services agency. Its unlikely origin story is best summarized on their website: “…we started on the road, running merchandise, technology, and fan engagement for incredible musicians, management groups, and record labels. In the upturned faces of crowds across the globe, we saw deep emotional connection…” Oniracom quickly became the go-to for a spate of record labels and artists who saw in the company’s boutique skill sets a way to bridge the gap between artist and fan; that is, to replicate what had so positively shaken Tell at those early psilocybin-tinted concerts.

“We worked with and alongside all the big bands – and ticketing companies, mailing list systems, hosting platforms. Then streaming and Spotify came along to disrupt the model.” Around that time, Oniracom had begun gathering folks from the local cannabis space, mounting informational and community-enriching symposia. “There was a lot of crossover

culturally between music and cannabis,” Tell says. “It wasn’t a huge pivot for us.”

When the other shoe dropped it was –wait for it – COVID. Oniracom’s beautifully-appointed and multifarious building on Gutierrez Street emptied, their lease a sudden millstone. Tell and co. lithely pivoted to doing live streams of nonprofit galas and any other business gathering hamstrung by the pandemic, and their building soon became a popular and widely used hub for streams, video shoots, photo shoots – and remains so to this day. A germ of an idea that had long been stirring in Tell’s febrile psyche burst to the surface, and District216 was born.

Today, D216 hosts District House Events on Wednesday evenings at their LoDo Studios space, and more expansive Marquee events four times a year at the same location. Their next Marquee event, to be held on May 18, will be “Music & Psychedelics.” Check the site for deets.

As for the aptly-named Jacob Tell, he has found the neurotransmitter release, and it has set him free. “Those early experiences when I was 18, 19, 20; they spiritually molded me. They awakened me.” Thoreau once exhorted, Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Tell has done exactly that and would like us all to follow suit. But what if the found landscape isn’t actually a dream, but the other thing? Jacob Tell believes answering this question is the charter for a new world, and District216 a gathering of tomorrow’s enlightened First Citizens “These psychedelics are sacraments and tools you have to respect and approach with reverence,” Tell says. His grin is serene. “What can we learn?”

Visit www.district216.com for more information

Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. He has been writing about Montecito and environs since before some people were born. He can be reached at jeff@ montecitojournal.net

ON THE SIDE

Buns Seeking Appreciators

Christie Jenkins Photography and Celebrity Gallery is an art stop whose name leaves little to the imagination. Once and future Montecitan Jenkins has returned from her sojourn in Carmel. Some may recall the outlandish Mercury Ballroom Supper Club bash she threw in 2020 at Rockwood, not to mention her earlier, male derrière -driven publishing phenom Buns. Jenkins’ new gallery features iconic photos of beautiful male specimens in various states of Adonishood. Yes, her oeuvre has a theme. Inquiries and appointments call 805-318-9043 or CjenkinsStudio@aol.com

Josh Brolin, Won’t You Please Come Home?

In this tale of two villages, late-seventies Montecito is a forested idyll with a seething, surf-themed underbelly, and a roaming territoriality in the form of the ‘Cito Rats. If these words and phrases compel a fugue state, please get in touch: The Biltmore Pier, Dorbo Dunes, Rancho Coyote, The Herb Estate, Chicken Creek, Pigeon Ridge, The Underground, Hammond’s Reef, Nuns, “The Rock,” Miramar, The Shooting Range, RKL … Let’s journalize the CR origin story.

(photo by Stephen Lewis Photography)

“Let us gather at the neocortex.” Participants take in a Wednesday evening District House Event (photo by Stephen Lewis Photography)

The three-act production traces the family’s humble beginnings following their immigration to Alabama from Germany in the mid-19th century to the pinnacle of their success and, ultimately, the historic and dramatic collapse of a U.S. investment bank that bore their name and catalyzed the 2008 financial crisis.

The stellar cast of Troy Blendell, Chris Butler, and Leo Marks bring to life the three brothers with unparalleled skill and depth against a stunning backdrop, with Fred Kinney creating a visually striking and dynamic environment that complements the emotional intensity of the narrative.

The show runs through April 21.

All Aboard!

Mega philanthropists Roger and Sarah Chrisman hosted a fun fête for supporters and friends on the 110 ft. gaff rigged schooner Mystic Whaler, which is now run by the Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation based in Oxnard, as an education vessel for young people aged 10 to 18 years.

The tony Montecito twosome bought

the 1967 vessel, which has 3,000 square feet of sail, and moved it to California after its 25 years of operating on the East Coast under the captaincy of Christine Healy

It will be in the harbor, just a tiara’s toss from the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, for two weeks.

Since the nonprofit started, more than

2,200 students have visited or sailed on it since 2022.

Among those quaffing mimosas and scoffing the ample hors d’oeuvres were Congressman Salud Carbajal, Mayor Randy Rowse , Mercedes Millington , Bob Duncan , Leanne Schlinger, Bob and Sandy Urquhart, Bud and Sigrid Toye, and John and Deneen Demourkas

The Bell of the Ball

Our Eden by the Beach’s Community Arts Music Association ended its 105th International Series on a particularly high note when the U.K.’s 66-year-old Academy of St. Martin in the Fields – under the directorship of legendary Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell – played a sold-out concert at the Granada.

The wonderfully entertaining show featured the world premiere of Vince Mendoza ’s “Flight of Moving Days,” a new commission to mark the centenary of founder Sir Neville Marriner, also featuring his New York-based percussionist grandson Douglas Marriner , whose father Andrew is principal clarinetist with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Luckily for us Mendoza was also in the audience!

Brahms’ “Violin Concerto in D Major” celebrated the concert’s halfway mark, with Bell, who has performed for three American presidents and the justices of the Supreme Court on his 1713 Huberman Stradivarius instrument, concluding the performance with Schumann’s “Symphony No.2 in C Major.”

It was Bell’s eighth visit since 1997. He can’t come back soon enough...

An Aperitif of Talk

Roger and Robin Himowitz opened the doors of their charming Provencalstyle Montecito estate to host a sunset soirée honoring former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich before he spoke at UCSB’s Campbell Hall, part of the popular Arts & Lectures program.

Reich, 77, who studied at Dartmouth College, Yale Law School, and won a Rhodes Scholarship at University College Oxford is currently a Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

As well as working in the Clinton administration, he also worked for presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama

A best-selling author, award-winning documentarian, and respected commentator, Reich examines the rising inequities of income, wealth, and political power in his many tomes.

Ensemble Theatre Company’s new show a triumph (photo by Zach Mendez)

Mystic Whaler Chef extraordinaire Calvin Pierce (photo by Priscilla)

Guests and staff aboard the Mystic Whaler with Captain Christine Healy and Roger and Sarah Chrisman in the center (photo by Priscilla)

Salud Carbajal and Rowan, with Deckhand Zenalyssa Packer and 2nd Mate Jack Carincross (photo by Priscilla)

Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell and St. Martin in the Fields gives a sublime performance (photo by Benjamin Ealovega)

A&L Sponsors

Among those at the boffo bash were Celesta Billeci, Gary Bradhering and Sheraton Kalouria, Elisabeth Fowler, Wayne Rosing and Dorothy Largay, Bob and Siri Marshall, and Geof and Laura Wyatt

The Last Laugh

Carpinteria resident Conan O’Brien has made his first appearance on NBC’s The Tonight Show since his abrupt firing in 2010.

Meghan authored a children’s book, The Bench, to mark her son Archie’s first birthday in March 2020, and also appeared in a clip where she read Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.

All too beastly for words...

And Nothing Went Wrong

Former Montecito resident Michael Douglas has discussed the use of “intimacy coordinators” on film sets.

In a new interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, the iconic UCSB-educated actor, 79, insisted that in his heydays in the late 1980s and early 1990s that actors themselves would “take care of those that overstepped boundaries.”

The Oscar winner also explained that such behaviors would result in a “negative reputation” for the perpetrator which would also “take care of them.”

With the rise of modern safeguarding measures, the Basic Instinct star says that has obviously impacted the TV and movie industries.

Michael revealed how he and women he acted with in ‘sexual movies’ have joked about what working with an intimacy coordinator would have been like.

Barbara Rush Remembered

On a personal note, I remember Golden Globe-winning actress Barbara Rush, who had died at her L.A. home at the age of 97.

The 60-year-old Harvard graduate, who lives on an oceanside estate on Padaro Lane, a tiara’s toss from actor Kevin Costner and Star Wars magnate George Lucas , appeared on the show, hosted by Jimmy Fallon , to promote his new Max series Conan O’Brien Must Go . Conan hosted The Tonight Show from June 2009, to January 2010. His departure, a move by the Peacock Network to replace him with former host Jay Leno , remains one of the most striking turns in late night television history.

Following his Tonight Show stint, Conan embarked on an 11-season journey as host of the TBS late-night program Conan, culminating in its finale in 2021, thus concluding his 28-year stint as a late-night talk show host.

The Healing Power of Literacy

Riven Rock resident Meghan Markle showed off her acting skills while reading to youngsters in the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

The Duchess of Sussex visited the institution recently where she led a “Literacy Healing” session.

“The children were laughing and singing as the Duchess turned into characters with every page as she read from favorite books like Rosie the Riveter, Pete the Cat, and I Saw a Cat,” read a statement.

Homeowner Lets Strangers In

King Charles III is pursuing an open door policy!

Britain’s monarch has now opened Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, where Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, to the masses for the first time with tickets costing around $120, selling out in less than a day causing the website to crash.

The 50,000-acre estate was built in 1856 by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, after he bought the expansive property near the city of Aberdeen in 1852. It became one of the long-lived sovereign’s favorite rural retreats.

Visitors to London’s Buckingham Palace, for around $100 a ticket, will now get an extended tour which will include the East Wing – the front facade that faces The Mall and includes the famous balcony where members of the Royal Family gather for the Trooping of the Color, state occasions, and other major celebrations.

Both properties now join historic Windsor Castle, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edingburgh and The Tower of London in welcoming “commoners.”

Charles wanted the Royal Family and its properties to be more accessible to the public.

Barbara was married to an old friend, Beverly Hills PR powerhouse Warren Cowan of Rogers & Cowan, who was her husband from 1959 to 1969.

She was known for her roles in 1953’s It Came from Outer Space and 1957’s Peyton Place

Barbara also appeared in myriad TV series and made-for-TV movies including The Twilight Zone, Murder, She Wrote, and Batman.

A charming, vivacious and vibrant individual.

Sightings

Singer-fashion designer Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori sashaying on State Street... Michael Douglas and actress wife Catherine Zeta-Jones golfing at the Montecito Club... Warbler Katy Perry at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in L.A.

Pip! Pip!

From musings on the Royals to celebrity real estate deals, Richard Mineards is our man on the society scene and has been for more than 15 years

Jennifer and Jonathan Blum with bestselling author Robert Reich in center (photo by Isaac Hernández de Lipa)

A&L Ambassador Robin Himovitz, economist and speaker Robert Reich, and Leadership Circle Member Roger Himovitz (photo by Isaac Hernández de Lipa)

Respected commentator Robert Reich with A&L Partner Chuck Zegar and A&L Council Member Merryl Zegar (photo by Isaac Hernández de Lipa)

Barbara Rush R.I.P. (Public domain)

Cen-Cal, SB Neighborhood Clinics, and the County, all delivered strong messages about Santa Barbara’s possible leadership. The evening’s keynote speaker, Dr. David Putrino, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System, called Santa’s Barbara’s health community: “Exemplary. I believe great things can happen here.” Putrino is recognized as a world leader in the battle against not only Long COVID, but other post-acute infectious diseases.

The idea that the Santa Barbara health community could become a center in the fight against these types of diseases would have been considered a long shot a few years ago. Sansum Clinic and Cottage Hospital were already battling a loss of staffing from burn-out over COVID and an increase of competition from UCLA and other health care sources. A rush of Long COVID patients overwhelmed these systems and the county’s health centers referred all cases to UCLA. Last year, however, UCLA itself reached patient capacity and refused to take further referrals from Santa Barbara. Dr. Hammami, who took over as County Health Director only last year, stepped in and made the decision that Santa Barbara will not only attempt to deal with its own patients, it will do what it can to become a recognized center of Long COVID information and advancement. Part of this will be exploring all the ways that Artificial Intelligence and worldwide communications can help.

“We want to be on the front edge of this changing health care world,” said Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons, an infectious disease specialist at Cottage Hospital. Fitzgibbons, one of the keynote speakers, added that utilizing AI will help area medical care become part of what she called ‘precision medicine,’ which is much needed in the diagnosis and treatment of Long COVID and other diseases. “There is so much more for us to learn. I’m excited about what we can do in the future.”

One of the major topics of the evening, which was touched upon by all the speakers, was that Long COVID must not be ignored. “All of us feel pressure from the public to move on past anything that has to do with COVID,” said CenCal Health CEO Marina Owen. “They are exhausted from it. But if we do, we’ll be leaving thousands

of people behind. We can’t do that.”

County Supervisor Das Williams said, “We recently talked to about 5,000 people during a campaign and only three of them mentioned COVID as one of their major health concerns.”

This is despite the fact that thousands of people in Santa Barbara County are currently suffering from Long COVID and thousands more have a variety of other post-acute infectious diseases such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), Lyme’s Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Lupus. “It’s clear people just want to forget about COVID,” said Williams. “That isn’t an option for us, though. We have to keep fighting for people with these diseases.”

Dr. Mary-Louise Scully, an infectious disease specialist with Sansum Clinic, argued that not only should the COVID epidemic be remembered, it should provide an active model for the health care community in moving forward. “During the darkest days of the pandemic, the COVID silver lining was seeing how every health care organization in this county came together to serve the community,” she said. “It was an amazing thing, and it should be an example to follow in our continuing collaborative effort against Long COVID.”

Moving forward in a leadership position regarding Long COVID will not be easy for county health organizations. No real studies have been done to determine how

Chesley Initiative Page 424

Event Organizer Hopes for More

For ten years, Santa Barbara resident Chesley Heymsfield suffered greatly from a number of physical disorders, some of them life-threatening. Finally, a doctor diagnosed her with something she had never heard before, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). She was relieved to have a definition for her disease, but then she found few people believed what she has is real. “So many of them thought I just made it all up. Some still do. It can get frustrating and depressing.”

Before her illness grew worse, Heymsfield worked as a producer, helping create film festivals around the world, which she did in places like New Orleans and Paris, France. Today, though, she is totally committed to helping people understand diseases like M.E. and Long COVID. The Long COVID event was her brainchild, and she did almost all the work to make it happen.

“What I experienced in my life shouldn’t happen to anyone else,” she said. “It is my life’s goal to help people understand more about these diseases and to convince the world they are real. Half of my battle has been fighting my symptoms every day, the other has been feeling so alone in that fight. No one needs to be alone.”

By creating public forums on Long COVID, Heymsfield feels the stigma that many patients still feel can be eradicated. “Patients should be treated with kindness and understanding, not ridicule. By creating a center for resources, treatments and knowledge here in Santa Barbara, we can help local patients and people throughout the country.”

Working with County Public Health Director Mouhanad Hammami and others, Heymsfield hopes to create a series of public health information events surrounding Long COVID, M.E. and other post-acute infection diseases.

“I think Santa Barbara is a perfect place, both medically and emotionally, to create a national blueprint for how we should treat people with these diseases,” she said. “The city has always been a guiding light regarding philanthropy. That’s always been part of the DNA of the city. People here care about championing those who don’t have a voice. We would love to hear from anyone who wants to get involved.”

Heymsfield can be reached at: www.chesleyinitiative.org

Santa Barbara Public Health Director Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, Supervisor Das Williams, and Alzheimer’s Association ED Lindsey Leonard (photo by Chris Jensen)

Dr. David Putrino gave the keynote speech on Long COVID and how Mount Sinai’s Rehabilitation Innovation center was designed and built (photo by Clinton H. Wallace)

Cottage Hospital’s Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons speaking at the event (photo by Clinton H. Wallace)

whys” of my well-being persona (exercise, rest, nourish is the Sensei mantra) – all part of the three-day program. Trevor, my “Mindset guide,” and I shared an enlightening and creative hour together discussing innovative approaches as to how to enjoy exercise.

Noshing at Nobu at Sensei

If you love Nobu restaurants (there are over 50 throughout the world now thanks to Robert De Niro teaming up with Matsuhisa Nobu (I covered Nobu Malibu Ryoken and restaurant in my last column, see Feb 15-22 issue of MJ), you will be rolling in sushi and Japanese cuisine heaven. There are two restaurants onsite – the Sensei by Nobu dining room (indoor and outdoor seating) and the cozy sushi bar. Both are in the main building, called the Estate House, and flank the living room.

I had originally planned to have my first supper in the dining room, but thought I’d have a better chance of meeting other guests if I ate at the sushi bar. I found myself sitting next to a congenial couple on a repeat love fest who shared tips with this newbie.

I devoured a few pieces of sushi, the Nobu huge green salad with sesame miso dressing topped with crispy shitake mushrooms, a divine nori taco – caviar and guacamole (yes, you read that correctly) and two little miso cod lettuce cups that were just the perfect amount to leave room for the molten Valrhona chocolate lava treat with sorbet served in a lovely lacquer box. The second dinner was yet another tasty salad, grilled salmon and a mix of mushrooms, asparagus, and grilled onions. The black bass was a work of art. I felt so healthy I splurged on the amazing date cake served with crème fraiche sorbet: calories be damned!

Relaxation and spa time are a vital part of Sensei

“Best meal I’ve had in 22 years living here in the desert,” said my friend, the Contessa, AFTER she was properly vetted and passed the litmus test and joined me for a fantastic Nobu dinner.

Lunch the day I arrived was served in a lacquered bento box; nutty tasting roasted buckwheat “soba cha” tea is my new addiction. A jidori egg hot pot breakfast dish – soufflé-like eggs cooked in a pot and topped with a dollop of caviar and sour cream – was the cat’s pajamas.

Spa/Play/Love anyone?

If you like spa treatments, exercise and meditation, these indulgences are offered in droves. Wall yoga (LOVED this –where do we have this in our town?), fascia warmups, and sound baths? You betcha. Want to play golf or tennis? Yup. Explore the property in a golf cart? Go for it. Borrow a Tesla to tool around the desert? Just show your auto insurance.

The living room is an especially congenial setting when everyone is dressed alike while waiting to be called for spa treatments.

“Where’d you get your outfit?” teased one gentleman guest, wearing his identical-to-mine, awesome and roomy kimono-style natural linen robe that can be purchased ($400) at the gift shop. I soooooo long for one of these.

I indulged in an amazing massage by jet-setting, chatty Topher (who works here, and in Aspen) and an equally fantastic 90-minute facial – that went by way too fast.

Silent Slumber

My tranquil and spacious room had a private outdoor jacuzzi, set amidst the sounds of a nearby manmade waterfall.

Hot tip: If you’re a desert rat, check for the occasional “local’s special” rates from time to time.

Leslie

Larry Ellison’s Art Collection

Yoga, fascia warmups, and sound baths are part of the Sensei way

There was so much more to this delightful escape, but if I told you everything, there’d be nothing left to surprise you. So save up your pennies from heaven and discover for yourself how heavenly the Sensei experience is. It’s truly worth every hard-earned (or inherited) penny… and then some.

For more information on the luxurious Sensei Porcupine Creek. 42765 Dunes View Rd, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Call (855) 961-0077 or visit https://sensei.com/ retreats/porcupine-creek/

The desert setting on 200+ acres is manmade lush and dotted with whimsical huge sculptures by blue chip artists like Robert Indiana and Keith Haring. The giant balloon dog – not by Jeff Koons – was a piece titled Your Dog by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara. Half of Ellison’s art collection couldn’t be placed at the resort, as due to the high value the pieces were uninsurable. There are people whose job it is to daily clean, dust, and preserve the Robert Indiana numbers (pick your favorite) and other pieces.

A. Westbrook is a Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel writer and journalist who loves exploring the globe. A 3rd generation Californian., Leslie also assists clients sell fine art, antiques, and collectibles via auction. www.auctionliaison.com

Take a seat at Nobu at Sensei (photo by Sensei Porcupine Creek/Noah Webb)

(photo courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek)

(photo by Sensei Porcupine Creek/Noah Webb)

A round of golf is another way to relax at Sensei (photo courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek)

ONE through ZERO by Robert Indiana (photo by Sensei Porcupine Creek/Austin John)

many residents have the disease. Meanwhile, an even bigger issue, the one that has stalled efforts nationwide to find treatments and cures, is the fact that Long COVID has more than 200 symptoms. What makes it even more confusing is the fact that the disease typically appears in patients after they have seemingly recovered from COVID-19. Many people don’t even realize what they have is related to their initial

World Leader in Long COVID Gives Advice

The keynote speaker of the event was a true star in the field, Dr. David Putrino, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York. Talking to some of the top health providers in Santa Barbara, Putrino outlined not only the cutting-edge treatments of Long COVID patients, but how the innovative center at Mount Sinai was designed and built in 2021. It’s a blueprint that could be used in Santa Barbara County.

Putrino, a world leader in Long COVID research, held the audience spellbound with his insights into not only Long COVID, but M.E., Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and other post infectious diseases. Asked later to describe the three most important things that physicians and patients of Long COVID should understand Putrino said this.

“What we see from doctors around the country who truly do not understand the disease is that treatments should not initially include physical re-conditioning,” he said. “Treating Long COVID runs counter to what most doctors believe they know. The old concepts are to get patients up and exercising as quickly as possible. The exact opposite approach must be taken with Long COVID. Often the heart actually shrinks as a result of the disease and even moderate exercise can put a patient’s life in danger. It becomes so acute that at times patience must decide whether they have enough strength to brush their teeth or take a shower. Doctors must learn there is an extremely thin line in many of these patients between exercise and exhaustion. People must realize these patients are not ‘lazy.’ Rather, they are fighting for their lives.”

A second message Putrino underscored is the fact that the more often you get COVID-19, the greater your chances of getting Long COVID. “People have a concept that the more often they get the first disease, the more their body will be creating antibodies to help them fight off Long COVID. The opposite is true. Even though the COVID-19 virus is considered ‘weaker’ now, it still has great power in terms of causing Long COVID. Everyone should continue to take great care to minimize their chances of getting COVID.”

As he has said since Long COVID emerged in late 2020, Putrino echoes the message that it is not a psychologically caused disease. “It is 100 percent a physically caused disease, people don’t make it up,” he said. “We should be long past putting a ‘stigma’ on issues like Long COVID and M.E. These are real and we need to greatly increase the time and effort helping those who suffer from them.”

He also says the solution to Long Haulers will not be a “silver bullet” where one pill solves all. Instead, he says complex chronic illnesses like Long COVID require complex treatments. Since the disease can cause more than 200 symptoms, it most likely will take combinations of drugs and treatments to beat the disease in each patient.

If anyone develops symptoms and isn’t sure what they are, Putrino recommends talking to general practitioners who have some experience of patients with Long COVID. If that proves difficult, find a referral to a medical professional who does have some familiarity with Long COVID. Putrino also highly recommends finding a team (by searching online) that can help you via telehealth. Finally, one of the best websites where patients can find help, is LongCovidPhysio.com, according to Putrino. It is an Australian-based clinic. Putrino is originally from Australia, where he said leading work into Long COVID is going on.

Putrino has agreed to return to Santa Barbara if asked, to help put together a Long COVID clinic at Cottage Hospital or elsewhere, similar to the one he architected at Mount Sinai. It will be something to watch for in the future.

COVID illness. Whereas COVID-19 symptoms usually emerge as flu-like, sometimes accompanied by a loss of taste and smell, Long COVID symptoms typically involve severe fatigue, brain fog (cognitive disfunction), heart palpitations, hair loss, vision loss, stomach, liver, or kidney distress and loss of sexual function.

Many Long COVID patients were asymptomatic when they experienced COVID19, making the onslaught of Long COVID symptoms even more mystifying. Most researchers believe that in Long COVID patients, the COVID virus never dies and comes back in reactivated form to attack the body wherever the dormant virus happens to be – anywhere from the brain to the feet. Several studies are underway to determine why this occurs, including possible DNA differences in each patient. Long COVID runs counter to the original COVID virus in many ways. It often attacks younger patients, where COVID-19 was usually more dangerous to the elderly.

The damage Long COVID can do to a person’s life, including their emotional state, can be severe. At least 80% of people who come down with Long COVID miss a day or two of work, and nearly 30% will miss anywhere from a week to several months, according to the CDC. Notably, some Long COVID sufferers experience daily changes of symptom, a condition that has been known to persist for more than three years. Nearly all researchers worldwide agree Long COVID is a physical disease and is not merely “in the patient’s head.” Yet the physical symptoms can, and often do, cause emotional distress in the patient. Many feel alone and terribly frustrated at their failing cognitive abilities, or at any of the other symptoms. Long COVID has been blamed for thousands of suicides nationwide.

This puts great pressure on health centers. They must not only effectively diagnose patients who may be displaying dozens of symptoms, they must then determine the right treatment regimen – in a space where no treatment has a guaranteed outcome. On top of that, doctors must make certain their patients are getting the right psychological help to give them strength to deal with these cascading symptoms.

By taking on a leadership role with Long COVID, Santa Barbara County caregivers are assuming a serious challenge. But if they don’t, thousands of people will be left without help or hope.

Author’s Note

In 2021 I wrote one of the first books published on Long COVID. Since then, Congress and the nation’s medical bureaucracy, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have been remarkably slow in addressing the problem of Long COVID. Despite the huge economic burden it is placing on companies nationwide, no real effort has been made by the government to defeat the disease. After then, congress approved $1.15 billion for Long COVID research, NIH directors told me in a phone interview that treatments and cures would be forthcoming by the fall of 2021. None were, nor have any been developed since. That ‘development’ money was dispersed for broader “observational studies” not clinical studies that would research potential treatments or cures. Congress has yet to take any meaningful steps toward helping solve this epidemic. Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont), is reportedly trying to find support for a bill that would provide $1 billion per year for ten years on Long COVID research. While it is at least a step in the right direction, those involved say it is still a meager effort considering the huge cost Long Haulers is creating for American businesses every year. Congressional pollsters have found that many voters are tired of hearing and worrying about COVID, so most politicians are staying away from the subject. The results are tragic for many Americans. – Michael Bowker

CenCal Health representatives attending the event (photo by Chris Jensen)

enterprises but also to cultivate resilience within the community at large. Whether through grants, loans, or providing mentoring, philanthropic organizations can offer lifelines to small businesses facing economic challenges, either directly or through working with a partner organization.

A local example of this type of meaningful collaboration is a partnership between Wurwand Foundation (started by Dermalogica co-founder, Jane Wurwand ) and Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), a local nonprofit organization focused on supporting women entrepreneurs.

Having piloted a highly successful entrepreneurial initiative in Los Angeles called FOUND/LA, which boldly intends to support 25,000 small businesses by 2025, Wurwand, who lives in Montecito, turned her attention to the local community. Recognizing the challenges faced by women, immigrant and BIPOC business owners in obtaining working capital, Wurwand Foundation granted funds to WEV to be deployed as revolving loan capital to small business owners.

One recipient of this funding was Bossie’s Kitchen, a popular women-owned restaurant located near the Santa Barbara Bowl, which featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2023. Opening in 2019, just before the start of the pandemic, meant that Bossie’s had been playing financial catch-up for the past five years. The expansion loan provided by WEV/Wurwand Foundation gave the business owners, Lauren Herman and Christina Olufson, a chance to level set and invest further in the growth of their business when traditional bank funding wasn’t an option.

For both WEV and the Wurwand Foundation, Bossie’s was a perfect example of the power of partnership in action to support the local community: a women-owned business creating financial economic empowerment for the owners and the employees, which in turn created jobs and prioritized farm-to-table sustainability while supporting other local businesses in its supply chain.

Jane Wurwand is passionate and clear about her desire to support her local community through philanthropic giving: “Not only do small businesses strengthen our economy and make our communities vibrant, they account for nearly half of all jobs in the United States. More than that, they make up the character and soul of our neighborhoods. If they vanish, our sense of place and belonging will vanish with them. By investing in our neighborhoods –making sure our local entrepreneurs have access to capital, education, and community – we’re not just fostering

economic growth; we’re nurturing the very soul of our communities.

Philanthropy isn’t just about giving back – it’s about building a legacy of resilience and prosperity right in our own backyards.”

The collaborative relationship between philanthropic giving, nonprofits focused on economic equity, and local businesses extends beyond mere financial support. By fostering inclusive entrepreneurship and innovation, philanthropy can help diversify the local economy, making it more vibrant, more creative, more unique and more resilient.

WEV’s Director of Funding, Marni Brook, states: “The importance of this kind of support from the philanthropic community cannot be overstated. Jane Wurwand’s commitment to lifting local entrepreneurs by providing access to much needed capital and other resources adds significantly to the resiliency, diversity, and vibrancy of our communities. WEV’s clients have benefited greatly from the support of Wurwand Foundation as a result of their ability to access capital for growth, and through the additional resources the Foundation offers to these businesses.”

Through supporting initiatives that promote financial literacy, entrepreneurial training, and access to capital, philanthropists can equip business owners with the tools they need to succeed in the modern economy, fostering a culture of resilience where everyone has a chance to prosper and thrive.

Give Local! Nicki Parr is the Chief Operating Officer, of Women’s Economic Ventures, a 501(c)3 focused on supporting entrepreneurship in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties

Bossie’s Kitchen is one of the organizations benefitting from the funds being granted to WEV by the Wurwand Foundation

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Americana Alive – Montecito musician, crossword puzzle creator, and hedge fund manager Pete Muller is among a quartet of California coast-based singer-songwriters collaborating on a concert to celebrate the rich tapestry of Americana music at the Alcazar Theatre. Also on the bill are former Santa Barbara Teen Star turned ultra-prolific singer-songwriter-guitarist Jackson Gillies, who is likely to preview songs from his new album High and Low, due at the end of the month – and Evan Blix, front man of Glenn Annie known for piano chord-driven melodies and soulful singing. The show’s headliner is Daring Greatly, whose high-energy blend of rock and country won the band the 2023 San Diego Music Awards’ Song of the Year for “Never A Goodbye,” and nominations for Best Rock Artist and Best Rock Album for Gird Valley

WHEN: 8 pm

WHERE: Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria

COST: $25 general

INFO: (805) 684-6380 or www.thealcazar.org/calendar

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

Master Chorale’s ‘Music of Resilience’ – Vocal works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, Alice Parker, and Stephen Sondheim – pieces that evoke themes of humanity’s resilience to struggle and commitment to flourish – highlight this weekend’s concert by The Santa Barbara Master Chorale, celebrating its 40th year. I Will Rise: Music of Resilience features Beethoven’s “A Silence Haunts Me,” a moving

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

‘Transcend’ Through Dance – UCSB Dance’s spring concert culminates an academic quarter-long curation of choreography, a process that includes creation, development, exploration and discovery. Six senior dance majors – Alexis Del Valle, Riley Haley, Tiersha Lin, Gabi Smith, Chloe Swoiskin, and Skylar Yeung – collaborated with the director, UCSB Dance faculty Christina McCarthy to put together Transcend. Del Valle’s piece, “Amidst New Horizons,” builds upon her previous work in the 2023 Kinetic Lab, delving into themes of personal growth, resiliency, moving forward, and the importance of supportive relationships. Haley’s “Do I See What You See?” employs modern dance, marionettes, and a specific musical score to potentially create deep connection. Lin’s “to organize anyways, love anyways, and dream anyways” examines the intersection of freedom and grief, exploring notions of collective liberation, healing, and joyous resistance. Smith’s contemporary ballet work “Crossroads” is inspired by the Balanchine Technique and uses individual dancer’s movements to examine the expectations of women in society. Swoiskin’s “e•qua•nim•i•ty” employs a seven-foot-tall set piece that the nine dancers intertwine with, symbolizing the internal structures individuals have in place shaping their perceptions and connections with others. Yeung’s “As One, Part II” explores uniting jazz style ballet with contemporary dance techniques. McCarthy will also present her multimedia opening sequence of João Pedro Oliveira’s full-length opera The 70th Week, while UCSB Dance Company closes the concert with a re-setting of guest choreographer Natasha Adorlee’s “MOMODA (Kiss, Kiss),” originally created for Joffrey Ballet.

WHEN: 7:30 pm April 11-13, and 2 pm April 14

WHERE: UCSB’s Hatlen Theater, 522 University Rd. COST: $17 general, $13 students/seniors in advance, $2 additional day-of INFO: (805) 893-2064 or www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Granada 100 – The big weekend has arrived, as the grand old Granada celebrates its centennial with three days of events honoring the past, putting attention on the present and focusing on the future. Tonight’s double feature opens with Sherlock, Jr. with live piano accompaniment by Michael Mortilla, followed by a screening of the original Star Wars movie in digital 4K. Tomorrow’s concert brings the local debut of the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, a new 40-piece ensemble led by seven-time Grammy-nominated Chris Walden, plus a bunch of special guests. Sunday’s “Imagine the Future” show actually brings up the Granada’s beginnings as a vaudeville house as the entertainment spans a wide scope of young talent, including the ever-present Jackson Gillies along with Hunter Hawkins and Rachel La Commare, plus fully produced numbers from upcoming musicals from Dos Pueblos (Anything Goes), San Marcos (Singin’ in the Rain), and Santa Barbara (A Chorus Line) high schools, and a medley of songs from Sweeney Todd by the local competitive youth choir called Euphony. Granada Centennial then wraps up with a free block party with local legend Spencer the Gardener on State Street in front of the theater.

WHEN: 6:30 pm tonight, 7 pm tomorrow, 5 pm Sunday

WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street

COST: $19.24 tonight, $20.24 tomorrow, $21.24 Sunday

INFO: (805) 899-2222/www.granadasb.org or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

choral meditation on the composer’s anguish over his deafness, along with a stirring arrangement by the renowned late choral arranger Alice Parker, the Santa Barbara premier of a bravura work by Baltic composer Ēriks Ešenvalds and a closing rendition of “Make Our Garden Grow’’ from Bernstein’s Candide, which features Sondheim’s uplifting lyrics. Master Chorale’s artistic director David Lozano Torres conducts.

WHEN: 7 pm tonight, 3 pm tomorrow

WHERE: First Presbyterian Church, 21 E. Constance Ave. at State St.

COST: $22 general, $20 seniors and disabled, $12 college students, free for children in grades K-12

INFO: (805) 563-2360 or http://www.sbmasterchorale.org

Backbone Goes Big Time – Jenna Tico’s Backbone Storytelling events have for years gathered small groups of locals to share true stories around a shared theme with attentive, active and loving listeners. The semi-Moth-style sessions once called Santa Barbara’s enlightened gathering spaceYoga Soup home, but since reviving at the tail end of the pandemic have appeared mostly as pop-ups at Wylde Works and other easily accessible venues around town, including Apiary Beverage Co. and Santa Barbara Wine Collective. Now, Tico has put together a more formal event on a theatrical stage, as Backbone Storytelling presents its first evening of all-star storytellers at the Alcazar. A musical conversation between Tico’s dad Randy, the stalwart Santa Barbara bassist, and percussionist Pieter Dedoncker, kicks things off. Storyteller Joe Velasco (“Under the Bridge”), Emily Lord-Kambitsch (“Wakings of a Wandering Eye”), Valentine Giraud (“Suave, Suave”), Elaine Gale, and Jeffrey Berke collaborate to create connection and community through the ancient art of sharing stories with the theme of “Bird’s Eye View.”

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria

COST: $20 general

INFO: (805) 684-6380 or www.thealcazar.org/calendar

SUNDAY, APRIL 14

‘Acoustic Ninja’ at SOhO – Internationally-acclaimed guitar virtuoso Trace Bundy has had his guitar work described as poetry in motion, his technique combining harmonics, looping, multiple capos to astound the audience. While listening to his

Go Fly a Kite – There could hardly be a more perfect site to engage in the age-old pastime of flying a kite. Not only does the Great Meadow adjacent to Garvin Theatre on SBCC’s west campus qualify as a clear and open space where the wind is steady, the site enjoys one of the most picturesque views of the Pacific, harbor and cityscape around. With a theme of “colors,” the 38th annual Santa Barbara Kite Festival is a family-friendly festival that welcomes kite kids of all ages and abilities, from first time “sky sailors” to experienced frequent fliers. Among the activities are a bevy of contests, including “Most Beautiful” (handmade & commercial), “Highest Flying”, “Largest & Smallest Kites”, “Youngest & Oldest Kite Flyers”, “Most Unique or Unusual Kite”, “Funniest Kite”, “Most Unflyable Kite”, and “Best of Fest”. Not to be missed is the “Children’s Tail Chase” featuring kids separated into various age groups working together to capture the tail of a kite expertly flown by Festival Kite Master Rakesh Bahadur. Kites, food, and beverages can be purchased at the event, and all are welcome to come and fly, or just watch the fun in the sun with everyone.

WHEN: 11 am-4 pm

WHERE: SBCC West Campus, 721 Cliff Dr.

COST: free

INFO: (805) 637-6202 or https://sbkitefest.net

intricate arrangements is a more-than-satisfying aural affair, seeing Bundy play live – his fans have dubbed him the “Acoustic Ninja” – confounds many of the most accomplished music lovers as to how one person can do all that with just two hands and ten fingers. Add in Bundy’s banter and stage presence and it all becomes an exciting live music experience. No wonder his career has brought him across the world, with concerts in 28 countries and counting, from high-tech performance halls to remote villages in Zimbabwe and Guatemala. Now through the recently revived Santa Barbara Acoustic series, Bundy brings his baffling magic to the cozy confines of SOhO, the every-night music venue across from the Granada.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street

COST: $30 reserved, or $69 for priority seating and pre-show dinner

INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

A Legend Alights at Arlington – The lexicon defines legend as a famous or important person who is known for doing something extremely well, which would definitely apply to Herbie Hancock, the jazz keyboardist/composer who counts a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Kennedy Center Honors among his accumulated accolades. Hancock came into prominence as pianist for Miles Davis Quintet in the mid-1960s, then helped pioneer a groundbreaking new sound as he employed his engineering skills to become one of the first bop players to combine jazz with funk and rock, all the while exploring the potential of electric instruments in the genre. Proving his versatility, his “Cantaloupe Island,” “Watermelon Man,” “Maiden Voyage,” and “Chameleon” have become jazz standards, while electronic instrumental “Rockit” was a pop hit and MTV must-see in the 1983 – just three years before Hancock earned an Academy Award for his Round Midnight film score. His 14 Grammys include “Album of the Year” for his 2007 tribute River: The Joni Letters. At 82, Hancock still has it, as locals can witness when he leads a quintet featuring Devin Daniels and Chris Potter on saxophones, James Genus on bass, Trevor Lawrence Jr., on drums at the Arlington tonight.

WHEN: 8 pm

WHERE: Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St.

COST: $45-$125

INFO: (805) 963-9589/www.arlingtontheatresb.com/upcoming-events or (805) 893-3535/https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu

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PERSONAL SERVICES

Tell Your Story

How did you get to be where you are today? What were your challenges? What is your Love Story? I can help you tell your story in an unforgettable way – with a book that will live on for many generations. The books I write are as thorough and entertaining as acclaimed biographies you’ve read. I also assist with books you write – planning, editing and publishing. David Wilk Great references. (805) 455-5980 www.BiographyDavidWilk.com

AVAILABLE CAREGIVER

Trusted, Experienced Caregiver, CA State registered and background checked. Vaccinated. Loving and caring provides transportation, medications, etc.

Lina 805-940-6888

Reliable, patience, loyal

10+ yrs. Exp. Caregiver

Assist with daily duties: personal care, errands, cooking, companionship. Background checked, CA registered, references.

Cherina (310) 663-0557

TILE SETTING

Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only. Services include grout cleaning and repair, caulking, sealing, replacing damaged tiles and basic plumbing needs. Call Doug Watts at 805-729-3211 for a free estimate.

AVAILABLE FOR RENT

Beautiful renovated mid century 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with Ocean views in Santa Barbara foothills, available May and June. 646-206-4391

PAINTING SERVICES

Transform your home into a masterpiece with Casa Real Painting!

Call Cesar Real at (805) 570-1055 or email casarealpainting@gmail.com for a free estimate today. Let us show you how we can transform your space with color and creativity! Your Space, Your Color, Your Creation!

LANDLORDS LOOK NO MORE

Single, professional – local, Montecito small business owner – looking to rent a guest house. Excellent local references, outstanding credit, non-smoker, no pets, quiet and fastidious about living space. Due to flooding, needs a place ASAP.

Please call (google number for privacy) (805) 364-2184.

DONATIONS NEEDED

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie

2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944

Donate to the Parrot Pantry! At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.

Volunteers

Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Organize receipts for taxes, pay bills, write checks, reservations, scheduling. Confidential. Semi-retired professional. Excellent references.

It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)

K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes.

For more information

info@k-9pals.org

or 805-570-0415

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