VADA is building towards a brighter future of education and design, page 14
Lead or Get Out of the Way
In the wake of the country’s July 4 celebrations, the MJ’s Gwyn Lurie reflects on her own experiences of student protest, and what Democracy asks of us, page 5
Village 4th
Upcycled men’s shirts… ruffles… and accessories to match… it’s a one-of-a-kind collaboration when J. McLaughlin partners with local designer Kate McHale Jensen to produce this limited-edition popup exclusively at the Montecito store (Story starts on page 12)
Vintage cars, pie eating contests, firemen serving pancakes… Montecito celebrated Independence Day in true American fashion, page 26
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5
Editorial – As Independence Day passes, Gwyn Lurie reflects on recent and past student protests 6
Beings and Doings – Manchester Capital’s Susan Safronas has arrived, decamping from the Big Apple to our leafy village; home of the 35-foot skyscraper.
Montecito Miscellany – The SBMA’s Ridley-Tree exhibit opening, July 4th celebration, Bell and Denk play, plus more miscellany 10
Letters to the Editor – Reflections on the Rosewood Miramar’s role in the neighborhood, and a reader points out “fallacies” in the Miramar’s plan Tide Guide
11 On Entertainment – The stage takes on Eisenhower, the Constitution, and Harvard Law, plus more in this summer of theater
12
Our Town – J. McLaughlin collaborates with KMJ, Rods & Roses in Carpinteria, and the “State of Black California” 14 The Giving List – The walls are up and furniture is on the way as the Visual Arts and Design Academy prepares to open its new building
16 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – Is there value in restoring objects? There can be –but not always. Here are five of Elizabeth’s silly restoration mistakes.
Independent Mind
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
22 Your Westmont – The college hosts a conference about climate change, and top baseball players showcase their talents.
23 Brilliant Thoughts – What is there to confess but being guilty of wanting to hear more of Ashleigh’s musings 24 Montecito Health Coach – How do we value ourselves and others in society? What is your currency of self-worth?
25 This Week at MAW – The Music Academy’s summer opera, Carmen, is here and so is Ken Cazan to talk about his direction with it 26 Village 4th – A photo collage of the community wearing the ole red, white, and blues in their best rides
28 Petite Wine Traveler – Summer is here and so are the refreshing white wines to accompany it – of course these sunny sippers fit year round
30 News Bytes – Sheriffs respond to explosions on the 4th and the Lake Fire nears 30,000 acres
36
Calendar of Events – Outdoor entertainment, SOhO turns 30, cars at the Mission, dolphins in the park, and more 38 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads
Lead Or Get Out of The Way
by Gwyn Lurie
Ihope you enjoyed your July 4th holiday, celebrating America’s hard-won freedom from the imperious whims of a despot, as symbolized by the signing of the Declaration of Independence almost 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776. It’s also interesting to note that several distinguished historians have stated that democracies last for only 250 years.
I’ve always loved the 4th of July, but this year it was hard for me to celebrate our nation’s independence from autocratic rule because it comes at a time when so many anti-democratic actions and ideas are being elevated and applauded… by Americans.
Since Hamas’s October 7th slaughtering of Israelis, and Israel’s military response in Gaza, universities across our country, in their responses to student protests, have utterly failed. Failed their students. Failed democracy. Failed us all. Where is the leadership on these campuses? Why have America’s institutions of higher learning dropped the ball on their premier responsibility – to educate? Or, at the very least, to protect all students? It’s a far cry from the world I knew 40 years ago at UCLA.
My Learnings Leading UCLA’s Student Government Against Apartheid
In the spring of 1985, as the Undergraduate Student Body President at UCLA, I helped lead our campus community’s protest against South African Apartheid – the largest student activation since the student protests against U.S. military involvement in Vietnam. We protested on campus, at UC Regents meetings, from the tent city set up in Schoenberg Plaza, and in our peaceful takeover of UCLA’s administration building. We didn’t destroy or vandalize the building. We took it over and slept in its halls. We chanted. We called for action.
UCLA was joined by campuses across the country in peaceful but potent protests, and the world heard our voices and, more importantly, the voices of black South Africans. By 1990, Apartheid officially took its final breath.
During our UCLA anti-Apartheid protests, I have no memory of anyone ever mentioning, considering, or participating in any hostile or violent behavior toward white South Africans or against any other human beings on UCLA’s campus. That’s because we were protesting a government’s racist
Gwyn Lurie is CEO
Federal marshals escort Ruby Bridges to school amidst massive integration protests, 1960 (courtesy photo)
Beings & Doings
Jam and Honey: Buh Bye Big Apple. Manchester Capital’s Susan Sofronas has Arrived
by Jeff Wing
Newish Montecitan Susan Sofronas – recently arrived from the isle of Manhattan – is settling in nicely. She already adores our little woodland getaway, and as we sip java at sun-soaked Bree’osh on Coast Village, she charmingly parses her personal Tale of Two Cities with open delight.
“If you think of New York City –which is where I spent all of my career until coming here – you’re not entering two-story buildings. You’re walking into buildings that are 30, 50, a hundred stories high. You’ve got security. You have to show your ID. You need a pass just to walk to the elevator! So clients in that setting aren’t going to just show up and say, ‘Hi, Susan! How are you?’ But here,” she says with mild wonder, her voice lowering, “Our clients bring their dogs. They stop by to drop off their jams and their honeys. They come by because they just want to say hello. ” The comparatively unbuttoned Montecito vibe comports nicely with Sofronas’ work, which may be best described as a finely calibrated admixture of genuine empathy and deep, experiential market wisdom.
Sofronas comes to us as the newly-minted Managing Director and Head of West Coast Activities for Manchester Capital Management. And what do they do? A more approachable query might be, “What don’t they do?” We’ll get to all that, but first we have to embarrass the subject of this essay.
Sofronas was named one of the Top 100 Women Financial Advisors in America by the Financial Times, and one of the 50 Most Influential Women in
Private Wealth by the publication Private Asset Management (PAM). Her nuanced expertise on wealth management for women has made her an incandescent thought leader in that space. Susan Sofronas is a highly respected figure in the rarefied family office/wealth management universe and brings all her necessary gifts to bear on the work she loves. Neither has she dawdled. Her
Beings & Doings Page 334
Susan Sofronas – Delighted Villager and Manchester Capital’s New Head of West Coast Activities
Susan’s old NYC shopfront, shiny and honey-deprived
DIRECTED BY KEN CAZAN
CONDUCTED BY DANIELA CANDILLARI
Maggie Reneé as Carmen
Montecito Miscellany
The Ridley-Tree Legacy
by Richard Mineards
For more than 25 years, uber philanthropist Leslie Ridley-Tree and her husband Paul generously supported the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in its mission to “integrate into the lives of people.”
Leslie, who moved to more heavenly pastures two years ago at the age of 98, served on the board of trustees for 15 years, was president of the board from 1994 to 1996, and became a life honorary trustee in 2014.
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SBMA’s James Glisson, Amada Cruz, Kandy Luria-Budgor, and Michael Linn (photo by Priscilla)
the tony twosome donated outright or partially underwrote the acquisition of 58 artworks for the museum.
She was also a lead contributor to the museum’s multi-million-dollar renovation, which culminated in 2021, and made many significant exhibitions possible, including Eternal China, Splendors from the First Dynasties in 1998 and Botticelli, Titian and Beyond: Masterpieces of Italian Painting from Glasgow Museums in 2015. Leslie also supported the refurbishment of a building on Arrellaga Street, renamed the Ridley-Tree Education Center at McCormick House, which now hosts art classes and camp programs. For more than a quarter of a century,
The new exhibition, A Legacy of Giving, runs through November 3 and includes 30 19th century works the Ridley-Trees donated, and explores five themes relevant to the 21st century.
The show includes works by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot, Paul Signac, Theodore Rousseau, Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Camille Pissarro, and Gustave Courbet.
In conjunction with – and in the spirit of Ridley-Trees’ legacy of community support – the museum is partnering with many of the local organizations that were recipients of the couple’s generosity, including Lotusland, the Music Academy the West, Opera Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and Santa Barbara Zoo.
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Miscellany Page 344
Among the horde of art lovers at the opening bash Marc and Leisa David Gersh, Kathryn Martin, and Anne Gersh (photo by Priscilla)
Hiroko Benko, Suzette Chafey, Nancy and Dr. Kurt Ransohoff, with Xaloc Cabanes (photo by Priscilla)
Letters to the Editor
Embracing Miramar’s Plan for Employee Housing
Having moved to Montecito in 1973, I well remember the many memorable activities at the Miramar. To me, the Miramar was the “Gateway” to Montecito/Santa Barbara coming in from the 101 Highway. It was then, as it is today, a magical location for both locals as well as the guests to spend rewarding time with friends and family.
Closing the Miramar took the Heart out of Montecito. The entire property became a complete dilapidation. Previous owners had neither the tenacity nor vision to revitalize the once revered property. Thank God the Caruso Team came to the rescue!
Having sat through multiple meetings involving the planning of the development, I soon realized the willingness of the Caruso Team to listen to the “demands” of our Community as well as the County. We all know the exorbitant pressure placed upon developers. The “soft costs” required for any building project in Santa Barbara County may have scared away two previous owners in a row.
Caruso had the vision and tenacity to turn the “Shanty” into the 5 Star Resort that is “ours” today!
That vision continues with another welcome addition of real affordable housing for its employees.
Those of us that have been entrepreneurs, fully understand and appreciate the importance of happy and loyal employees. Happy employees are the “secret sauce” that make any business a success.
There are so many deterrents to finding and retaining great employees in our hamlet. Some are cost of housing, gas prices, inflation, and massive congestion created by decades long widening of Hwy 101.
Once again, the Caruso Team is work-
ing diligently to solve those challenges with their affordable housing proposal. When successful, the Plan will take dozens of vehicles off our roads, save on gasoline usage, and create less turnover of employees that can and will help support business in our local Community.
Dana Newquist
The Many Fallacies of the Rosewood Project
There are several misunderstandings and actual fallacies that exist right now regarding “workforce housing” or “affordable housing” on which the Caruso developers base their argument for further commercialization of the Rosewood/Miramar property.
First of all, here are a couple of facts to help us understand the issues. Bear with me here! Housing “affordability” of course is based on the income of the renter, and the rent the landlord charges. Renters’ incomes are set against a county standard, called Area Median Income (AMI), calculated annually by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, and based on a “household” of one to four associated individuals.
For 2024, the AMI for Santa Barbara unincorporated areas stands at $119,100. Households making up to 30% of that, or less than $35,730, (or $17.18 per hour individually on a 52 week/40 hrs per week basis) are considered “Extremely Low Income.” Households which make 30%-50% of AMI ($35,731 to $59,550 or up to $28.63/hr. as an individual) are in the “Very Low-Income” bracket. If a household makes between 50%-80% of AMI ($59,551-$95,280) they fall in the “Low-Income” bracket. And, finally, if
the household unit makes 80%-120% of AMI ($95,281- $142,920), that category is considered “Moderate Income.” Whew! Now keep all that in mind!
When the individual or household unit falls into one of the categories above, and it can be proven with tax records, they are eligible for “affordable housing,” where the rent will not be greater than 30% of their monthly income. (There is NO category called “workforce housing”!)
The management at the Rosewood/ Miramar Hotel has claimed on several occasions that they want to support their lowest income workers. This is their stated raison d’etre of the entire grand retail and housing project. They say they want to help the housekeepers, the line cooks, the gardeners, maintenance men, bellmen, etc., which is a noble aim. Out of perhaps 250 employees, at least 100-125 or more fall into the “Extremely Low” and “Very Low” income brackets, earning up to $28.63 per hour, or less than $59,550 per year.
Of the 26 employee units they are planning to construct in their 40-foot-high three-story employee housing building, roughly 65% (17) will be studio apartments, housing perhaps only one or two workers. Then about three of the apartments will be one-bedroom in size, a little bigger than studios, and there will be six two-bedroom units – according to the Caruso developers.
However, only one third, or nine, of all the units will be allocated to the “very low-income” workers. So only nine to 12 of those 120+ hardworking gardeners, cooks, housekeepers, et al, will be eligible for the Very Low-Income units, a very small percentage (< 8%) of that entire group. The other two-thirds of the apartments will be reserved for workers making $60,000-$142,920 per year, which would be managers, junior executives, administration, and other white-collar employees.
One may see what Caruso pays their employees by checking the employment opportunities at the Indeed-Rosewood/
Miramar website, or Career Opportunities on the Rosewood site. (For example, they are looking for a Restaurant Manager at a salary of $82,000. A restaurant server-assistant is advertised at $16/hr. A Retail Shop Supervisor, or a Pastry Chef will each earn only up to $25/hr, still in the Very Low-Income bracket! )
Now, that mix of residents is fine as far as I am concerned. But, please Caruso staff, don’t tell us that the housing is mainly for “the lower-income workers,” when only 9-12 folks out of more than 120 will have housing access, and then hide your 17,000 square foot luxury shopping mall behind them, “as a reason to pay for the housing.”
So, therein lies the First Fallacy – that Caruso Aff. is building units to house their low-earning workers. Many higher-earning folks will be eligible (but are they willing?) to live there by the freeway.
And following closely is the Second Fallacy, that they need the mall to pay for the housing. The workers will all pay rent, to begin with amounting to nearly $50,000 per month. I think with at least 100 of their hotel rooms occupied
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Natasha Kucherenko
Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick
Copy Editor | Lily Buckley Harbin
Proofreading | Helen Buckley
Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE
Jul 12
Jul 15
Jul 16
Jul 18
Jul 19
Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Kim Crail, Tom Farr, Chuck Graham, Stella Haffner, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Amélie Dieux, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee,
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Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
On Entertainment
The Summer of Theater
by Steven Libowitz
Ensemble Theatre Company’s two upcoming presentations were already terrifically timely as they arrive within four months of November’s national election. That was part of the purpose behind ETC executive director Scott DeVine’s decision to schedule short productions of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground and What the Constitution Means to Me as special events this summer. DeVine, who earned his undergraduate degree in political science, shares George Santayana’s belief as expressed in The Life of Reason; that lessons of the past are destined to be repeated if we don’t learn from them. What better way than to share them than through theater with the younger generations?
But after President Biden’s disastrous display in June’s debate, those lessons have taken on even more urgency. This Piece of Ground – a one-man tour de force that has been a vehicle for Tony Award-winner John Rubinstein (Pippin, Children of a Lesser God) – offers a stirring view into the man behind the presidency, the war hero who reluctantly stepped into the presidency.
In the play’s most poignant and prescient moments, Rubinstein as Eisenhower says, “Some days it feels like democracy is going to have a hell of a time persevering. But if we’re going to leave our young people something better, then we just can’t be complacent … We have to keep choosing the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”
That’s pretty astounding given that virtually all of the work’s content is drawn from the text of Eisenhower’s speeches, interviews, and writings. Which is why the piece is so inspired in our current climate, Rubinstein said.
“I imagine that half the people who come to see me in the play are dragged there by somebody else, but in less
Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground comes to the New Vic July 11-14 (courtesy photo)
than 10 minutes, they’re hooked. And by the end of the play, they rise to their feet not to celebrate me or my work, but because of the man. They’re awakened to the possibilities of what politics and politicians can accomplish if they happen to be decent folks who are intelligent, with foresight, empathy, and humility.”
This Piece of Ground, at the New Vic July 11-14, is a perfect vehicle for Rubinstein, who as a child actually met Eisenhower in the White House on a visit with his father, the famed pianist Arthur Rubinstein. But the actor also finds himself moved by the words of the man he portrays every night more than six decades later.
“We get to see that it is actually possible to elect decent and intelligent people to office and have them work in the service of the country,” he said.
Diving even deeper into what defines our democracy is What the Constitution Means to Me, playing August 15-18.
Heidi Schreck’s work recounts her teenage years participating in constitutional debate competitions, the events increasingly larger, her personal story evoking the profound ways the 236-year-old document continues to shape our lives even as its interpretation changes radically over time and the make-up of the Supreme Court.
Call (805) 965-5400 or visit www. etcsb.org
Legally Blonde, The Musical – SBCC Theatre Group’s big summer show – is significantly frothier fun, a romantic comedy that encompasses both a bit of a legal drama and a lot of personal growth for its main character. Sorority queen Elle Woods wants nothing more than to be a good wife to her college boyfriend. When Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law unattached, Elle follows him to Harvard
NOW OPEN THROUGH SEPT 2
Our Town
J. McLaughlin and KMJ Collaboration
by Joanne A Calitri
The Coast Village Road women’s designer shop, J. McLaughlin , has collaborated with local designer Kate McHale Jensen , owner of KMJ , for a Limited-Edition Selection of Women’s shirts and tops, sold exclusively at the Montecito store in a limited quantity.
The launch was held on Tuesday, July 2, at the store with store manager Diana Romero, and her team, and Jensen with her Operations Director Taryn Stevens and bestie mom, Trish McHale. Romero explained that Jensen contacted J. McLaughlin’s Chief Merchandising Officer at the Brooklyn office and was able to arrange getting the vintage men’s shirts to do the limited-edition collab.
On display and for sale were the newly designed button-down women’s shirts whose materials were sourced from vintage J. McLaughlin NY men’s shirts. The J. McLaughlin/KMJ shirts have Jensen’s trademark ruffles and three fits – demi, women’s, and boyfriend. The shirts are paired with J. McLaughlin’s sunglasses, hats, bags, pants, and skirts.
The starting point for Jensen’s designs is her upcycling vintage men’s designer shirts, which she hand-selects from vintage fashion houses in Los Angeles. Some designers such as Ralph Lauren shirts are usually their best sellers. The shirt is then laid out with a KMJ pattern, cut, and hand sewn to fit women, making each shirt a one-of-a-kind. Her style is described as modern classic, her icons are Jackie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger, and Victoria Beckham. Jensen is originally from the East Coast and had worked in the fashion industry prior.
In our on-the-spot interview, Jensen explained how she started KMJ, “I wanted a perfect button-down shirt with the classic men’s aesthetic, so I took one from my husband’s closet! I reworked it to fit me, wore it around town and it received lots of requests, so KMJ was born. Initially, I sewed all the shirts myself, and now have teams in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. There are items in the SB store that are not online, so come by to shop. We sell to boutiques across the country. One sewer does each shirt. We also can rework a shirt from a loved one into a keepsake. Sustainability is one of our key components. We would love to add dresses, matching tops and shorts, and children’s clothes.”
I asked about KMJ designing additional clothing items, such as dresses and skirts. Jensen said they are releasing a new division in the product line outside the men’s shirts for the fall. She has been featured twice in the Montecito Journal for her fashion work. Jensen, a graduate of Otis College of Art and Design Los Angeles, attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Montecito, Laguna Blanca, and Santa Barbara High. Fashion has always been a passion for her.
411: www.jmclaughlin.com; https://shopkmj.com
27th Annual Rods & Roses Auto Show
The 27th Annual Rods & Roses Auto Show was held on Saturday, July 6, in Carpinteria, on Linden Avenue and its side streets. There were 210 autos – from classics to exotics and somewhat beyond – showing and competing for trophies and awards. Many auto owners had the original car registration, dealer paperwork, car history, and one owner had mirrors underneath the car to show the detailed work done to restore it.
The winners included the Michael Hammer Award to Ruben Ambriz for his 2002 custom Harley Davidson Deuce motorcycle; the Crown Choice & Exotics Award to
Our Town Page 294
Exhibit sponsored in part by LLWW Foundation and the Walter J. and Holly O. Thomson Foundation
Designer Kate McHale Jensen with Diana Romero wearing the limited-edition collaboration shirts and accessories (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
AT
SEASON SPONSOR: SAGE
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024, 7:30PM LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Jaime Martín, Music Director Thomas Bauer, baritone
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024, 7:30PM
PHILHARMONIA BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
Avi Avital, mandolin/leader/arranger
Estelí Gomez, soprano
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025, 7:30PM
THE MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST AND CAMA CO-PRESENT
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Sir Antonio Pappano, Music Director Janine Jansen, violin
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025, 7:30PM CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA
FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2025, 7:30PM LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor Laureate Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
SEASON SPONSOR: ESPERIA FOUNDATION
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024, 7:30PM
ANNE AKIKO MEYERS, violin
Fabio Bidini, piano
THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2025, 7:30PM
GARRICK OHLSSON, piano
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025, 7:30PM
GILLES APAP, violin and Friends!
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025, 7:30PM
YEFIM BRONFMAN, piano
Jaime Martín
Avi Avital
Chineke! Orchestra
Anne Akiko Meyers
Gilles Apap
Estelí Gomez
Sir Antonio Pappano
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Garrick Ohlsson
Yefim Bronfman
The Giving List
Visual Arts and Design Academy
by Steven Libowitz
Mark your calendar for July 20. That’s the date when the contractors will hand over the keys to the new building serving the Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA) at Santa Barbara High School.
“We’re on schedule and on budget for the substantial completion date,” said Andy Beall, President of Friends of VADA, the nonprofit created to support the VADA both financially and with in-kind volunteer help.
VADA is a small learning community at SBHS of about 225 students in grades 9-12, a unique “school-within-a-school” program that integrates rigorous academic coursework with project-based, career-focused art and design instruction in a supportive and creative environment. VADA fills a major gap in modern education and enables students to achieve their highest potential and professional readiness by teaching them the most sought after 21st century job
skills. These include complex problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and cognitive flexibility – skills that are highly prized in today’s job market whether in the arts and design sphere or elsewhere.
The $7.25 million project will make a massive difference as the new VADA facility doubles the existing space that was over half a century old. The place was purpose-built following consultation with a team of industry advisors including Adobe, Deckers, and Patagonia, and designed to mirror the standards of colleges, design firms and creative businesses by featuring modern infrastructure and flexibility to enhance opportunities and the learning experience. The state-of-the-art, 3,350-squarefoot facility is an integrated Design Lab and Art Studio training environment that will fully prepare the program’s students to flourish in their future – one that physically mirrors its mission.
“The new building puts the students into a framework that promotes visual design arts,” Beall said. “It’s meant
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to show students that this is what they should strive for, that they can be a Creative in an environment that rewards them and treats them like valuable citizens… it’s a good-looking building that serves their needs. There are 20-foot-tall walls to embrace an exhibition space, and two major studios connected by a wide artery that can open to become a huge, interconnected space. It supports the philosophy of juxtaposition.”
You’d think having the new facility done and ready to occupy on time would be cause for a major community
celebration. But, as with the program itself, the attention is on the students and making sure their experience with VADA is everything it can be, Beall said. So sure, mark your calendars, but don’t make any plans to come by, because there’s still a lot of logistical work to get done in the next month.
“We invited some of our long-term supporters and other VIPs to come tour the place over the last couple months behind the scenes before it officially opens,” he said. “But the focus is more The Giving List Page 324
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The new VADA building is in the works and almost ready for students
Elizabeth’s Appraisals
The Objects We Restore
by Elizabeth Stewart
Areader asks if restoring paintings or refinishing furniture devalues those objects. I hold onto objects that are damaged or need to be repaired; I call these objects “my orphan-things” and it has given me great satisfaction to breathe new life into them with restorations; but not all my efforts have worked. This newsletter discloses the top FIVE DUMB THINGS I have done to objects in an effort to refinish, refurbish, rewire, reup-
A now housetrained Slink on a restored
ing on the sofa, covering it in a light lemon silk striped with deep black. One month after I moved it into my condominium, my friend surprised me with a gift of a dachshund puppy who was not house-trained.
2. Going through a closet of floral arranging vases, it dawned on me that a textured blue midcentury vessel would make a perfect table lamp. I asked my electrician to drill and electrify it. When he bought it back, he mentioned it had a name on the bottom, “BEATO” – for the world famous Ojai potter, of course; Beatrice Wood. There goes $2,000.
holster, or restore art or antique furniture. These missteps shine a light on psychological attachments to objects.
I always have a project: Recently I bought 30 wooden salad bowls from thrift stores to be refinished, stacking them up in the kitchen. Is that a symptom of a compulsion?
In 2013, “hoarding disorder” was officially recognized as a separate psychiatric diagnosis after years of debate, but the history of literature is full of characters with a disjointed relationship to the material world. In 1321, Dante Alighieri’s Inferno in The Divine Comedy narrates the Fourth Circle of Hell, in which misers and prodigals (hoarders) push stone weights against one other: “They struck against each other, and then they all turned around, and rolled the weights back, screaming ‘Why do you hoard?’ and ‘Why do you throw away?’”
Characters in literature and in our families may exhibit an anxious relationship with objects, such as in hoarding disorder. But there are other psychological personality diagnoses to describe a person’s relationship to objects, often named after characters in literature. A certain relationship with objects, good or bad, tells a story, and may be one narrative of life. For example, take Plyushkin Syndrome, named after a character in Nikolai Gogol’s novel Dead Souls. Stepan Plyushkin worries over, saves, and repairs small useless objects that should be discarded; in one scene he scrapes the mold off a cake and re-gifts it. At the same time, he neglects his acres of farmland. Sounds familiar! I have spent more money on two storage lockers than the stuff contained there is worth – I have furniture waiting to be reworked, paintings to reframe and clean, and books waiting for rebinding.
Here are five of my Plyushkin-esque moves:
1. I hung onto a 1940s hardwood framed sofa for 35 years, waiting for the day I found the time to re-upholster that beast. I found 40 yards of fabric for under $5,000, made the investment and spent six months work-
3. A friend asked me to help furnish her grandson’s nursery, and I spruced up a thrift store $20 dresser made of medium density fiberboard. I used blue latex paint, which, once we installed the dresser, peeled off. One huge mess later, I was told that only chalk paint would have worked. I have often spent far more money fixing a thing up than it had cost me originally to purchase.
4. Lazy and rushed to finish a project, I dismounted and spray-painted hardware from a dresser instead of sanding down the rust. You can imagine how that looked. Later I learned that simply soaking rusted hardware in vinegar and then buffing with steel wool works well.
5. I saved my dad’s dental office 1960s midcentury modern waiting room vinyl couch given to me when he retired in the 1980s. When I bought a cabin up at Lake Arrowhead, I thought PERFECT. Problem is, it sticks to rear ends in hot weather, and when exposed to wet swimwear folks slide right off. And in winter it is freezing cold and very hard.
Differing from Plyushkin’s Syndrome, one could suffer from another psychiatric disorder, the Diogenes Syndrome, in which one has an apathetic relationship to objects such as kitchen garbage, old paper, and other useless objects. Fitting that this apathetic and cynical disorder should be named after the 300 BCE Corinthian philosopher, Diogenes, who was known for parading nude with a lantern, claiming to be searching for “one honest man.” I had an older relative that suffered from this disorder: old milk cartons were used for mini trash bins, and SAVED. But me, I am not there yet (I tell myself!).
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
couch
An Independent Mind
The Thing You Can’t Unsee
by Jeffrey Harding
It would be remiss of me to ignore our current political turmoil.
One thing is obvious: You can’t unsee what happened to Biden in the first presidential debate. No matter what he does from that moment on, that performance will be forefront in the minds of voters.
Another obvious thing: Trump isn’t going away. Republicans are stuck with him.
It was really sad to see a man so publicly visible with cognitive impairment. It is especially concerning for a president, a man with huge responsibilities with the whole world watching and wondering.
A president with cognitive issues shouldn’t be about politics, but rather what is best for the country. We are talking about the leader of the free world whose actions can affect the lives of many on the planet. I understand Democrats’ loyalty to their president, especially one
who was reaching the end of his term, but this is bigger than politics.
Back in June the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece entitled “Behind Closed Doors, Biden Shows Signs of Slipping.” They interviewed 45 people in and out of the Administration, Republicans, and Democrats, over several months. The subtext of the article was that his Oval Office staff and close advisers were aware he was “slipping” but asserted publicly that he was still sharp and engaged. They did their party and America a disservice.
If Biden runs, then Trump is a shoein. Despite Trump’s outrageous nonsensical performance during the debate, as compared to Biden, he looked alert, sharp, and vigorous.
My take is that since the Democrats do not wish to lose the presidency, Biden will succumb to pressure to not run and will release his delegates, perhaps only after a deal is made on a consensus replacement candidate. They will have a problem with that. Let me explain why that is.
The reason Biden won the 2020 election was Donald Trump. Trump, being his own worst enemy, had worn out the electorate with his bombastic, arrogant behavior. It was so bad that even an old pol like Biden could win. I know Trump’s loss to Biden was controversial in the minds of his MAGA base, and that there were unfounded accusations about him, but he did lose and he lost because he was Trump. The vote was not so much pro-Biden as it was anti-Trump.
In that election Biden ran more or less as a centrist. In his inaugural speech he said, “I will be a president for all Americans. I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.” But when he took office he veered left, far left. What that tells me is that he was captured by or capitulated to his party’s Progressive Left who ran his policy. We can argue about the impact of the actions he took or legislation he supported, but it wasn’t centrist.
That is a problem for the Democrats. A recent post-debate poll ( Wall Street Journal poll) said 70% of those polled thought the country was heading in the wrong direction. That is bad news for the Democrats. On the other hand, about half said they didn’t like either candidate. A further problem for the Democrats is that only 28% identified as “liberal,” 41% as “conservative,” and 29% as “moderate” (those caught in the middle who could go either way).
This is the dilemma for the Democrats: the party has swung left. Even the New York Times has acknowledged this. If they put up a staunch liberal or Progressive, according to this poll, they will lose. If they want to beat Trump they need to put up a centrist.
There are few centrist senators in
the Democratic Party with some national recognition. The two most prominent are former Democrats but now Independent senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Centrist Senator Jon Tester of Montana is having a tough re-election fight and could lose his seat. This isn’t an endorsement, just a fact. What a mess we are in. I find myself in the category of many voters, Republican and Democrat, in that I dislike both Trump and Biden. I don’t think they are good for the country for a variety of reasons.
Trump is a loose cannon. Most of his policy statements are a re-hash of this 2020 campaign. As president he ran up huge deficits, was anti-free trade, promoted aggressive nationalism, threatened NATO, toadied up to Putin and Kim Jong Un , and demonized immigrants. And he lies constantly, which in my mind suggests a personality disorder.
If I were looking at our politics from afar, it would remind me of a banana republic. If the Democrats put up a rational, competent centrist for president, he or she would get my vote. Let’s hope rational minds prevail.
Jeffrey Harding is a real estate investor and long-time resident of Montecito. He previously published a popular financial blog, The Daily Capitalist. He is a retired SBCC adjunct professor.
Getting better never stops.
Sansum Clinic is now part of Sutter Health. For more than a century, our not-for-profit organizations have provided trusted care for our communities. Together, we’re expanding access to quality healthcare on the Central Coast — recruiting more top-quality doctors, investing in new technologies and care centers, and growing our community benefit initiatives to ensure everyone in our community gets the care they need. Learn more at BetterTogether.SansumClinic.org
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Fri, Jan 24 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
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policies. We were not protesting a people. When you protest a people, that is called a pogrom.
The situation on today’s college campuses is vastly different. And I am deeply disappointed in how our nation’s “institutions of higher learning,” UCLA and UCSB included, have failed to rise to this moment.
Those of us who send our kids to college do so at great, often budget busting, expense. We do this so that our children will become educated, thoughtful members of our civil society; so that they will learn history and how to analyze its meaning, so that it can give context to the present; so that they can become independent thinkers but still have respect for the ideas of others with different life experiences. We educate our kids so they will learn not just to speak with conviction, but to listen, with empathy.
Since October 7th I’ve seen a lot of yelling and violence and hate in response to a decades long regional conflict about which most of the student protesters seem to understand very little. And I’ve seen very little higher learning. There’s been nary any discussion, debate, dialogue, listening, or empathy.
Now summer is here; campus encampments symbolizing pro-Palestinian protests have been dismantled, and now the movement has dispersed onto the streets of our cities and neighborhoods, becoming more violent, more dangerous, and scarier by the day.
In Los Angeles, for example, protestors are showing up in Jewish neighborhoods, at synagogues and Jewish community centers, harassing people in what feels more like the random vigilante mobs of Nazi Germany than any protest in which I ever took part.
Democracy is a fragile, living thing, like a garden that demands constant tending. And if taken for granted, it will become overrun by the seeds of discord and will cease to exist.
More importantly, how does this behavior jibe with the American ideals we set off fireworks to celebrate last week?
If you don’t like what’s happening in Gaza, that’s fine. Many of us don’t. And it’s our right to protest that, as it is to protest any policy. But when you protest a policy, you go to City Hall. You go to (in this case) the Israeli consulate. You go to the White House. You call your elected representatives, or protest outside their offices. What you don’t do is terrorize a Jewish neighborhood, or Jews on college campuses. Or at synagogues. That is not protesting a policy. That is protesting a people. And again, that is what’s called a pogrom.
The images we continue to see in Gaza are deeply disturbing and to say this is a complicated situation would be a glaring understatement. But how we treat people in our community, how we treat our fellow humans, that should not be complicated.
We need to get clear on what constitutes a fair protest about policy versus terrorizing random human beings who are in no way responsible for what another sovereign country’s government is doing.
As the daughter of a holocaust survivor, I don’t pretend to be objective on this issue. But here’s what I know. I’ve not seen a single Jewish protestor terrorizing people at a mosque. When protestors go to a synagogue, or a well-known Jewish neighborhood, when Jewish people are targeted, that is a bigoted act. If you show up in a known Jewish neighborhood, wearing a keffiyeh with your face covered, Editorial Page 324
Your Westmont
College Hosts Christian Climate Conference
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Westmont hosted more than 70 evangelical students, professors, and nationally recognized experts from across the country for the second consecutive summer to address the global challenge of climate change on June 16-21. “Faith. Climate. Action. A Workshop on Christian Climate Advocacy” equips students who care deeply about the environment to become leaders in their communities and manage resources wisely.
“We provided interdisciplinary sessions grounded in theology about effective climate change communication with the goal of sending participants back to their home campuses and churches ready to lead and inspire,” says Janell Balmaceda, workshop coordinator and Westmont’s garden manager and sustainability coordinator.
“Climate change is a global environmental challenge that raises deep questions about what constitutes responsible stewardship of the earth and justice for all its inhabitants,” says Amanda Sparkman, wildlife biologist and director of Westmont’s environmental studies program. “Christian colleges and universities are ideally positioned to bring a redemptive influence to this important issue for contemporary society.”
Brian Webb, sustainability director at the College of Wooster in Ohio, emphasized the need to avoid polarization in environmental policy communication, suggesting different ways to approach this challenge. “White evangelical Christians are among the demographics least supportive of climate action,” he said. “Shame on us. Political polarization is extremely high, but that’s fairly unique compared to other countries, thankfully.”
He offered a large overview of histor-
ical and contemporary national environmental policy and the importance of government action on climate change, especially in the 1970s with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
“Interestingly, Richard Nixon, a Republican, was president at this time,” Webb said. “Arguably the most important piece of environmental legislation was passed unanimously in the Senate and had one dissenting vote in the House. Environmental engagement has not always been politically polarizing. I personally find that comforting amidst the intense polarization that exists today.”
Following a group discussion of unique realities in the American context of climate change, Webb showed data about carbon emissions per capita from around the globe. “The United States has more carbon emissions than any major country on a per-capita basis,” he pointed out. “We’re more than double the European Union.”
Though China has more emissions overall, Webb pointed out that its population is more than four times greater than the populace of the U.S.
“Emissions in China will probably peak next year, so the ‘What about China?’ argument doesn’t hold much water,” he said. “China has vastly more renewable energy than any other country in the world and installed more renewable energy last year than the United States has in our entire history. The U.S. accounts for a quarter of all historical carbon emissions, which stay in the atmosphere for more than 100 years.”
Carina Barnett-Loro, interim executive director at Climate Advocacy Lab, and Katie Williamson, manager of learning and tools for the Center for Behavior and the Environment, examined actors, behav-
Westmont Page 314
Brian Webb overviews historic climate policy
Carina Barnett-Loro and Katie Williamson explore ways to foster behavior change
Nazis blocking Jewish students from entering the University of Vienna, Austria, in 1938 (courtesy photo)
Brilliant Thoughts
by Ashleigh Brilliant
You have probably heard it said that “Confession is good for the soul.” I myself don’t have much to confess nowadays – but in my “growing up” years, I had tremendous feelings of guilt, especially in connection with sex – and particularly masturbation. When a psychiatrist I went to asked me about it, I actually denied I ever did it. He never raised the subject again. It was not till some time later – when I was no longer seeing him – that I had what seemed the great courage to write out a detailed confession and mail it to him. That was the beginning of big changes in my life. But later I discovered that, for me, the best and most effective way to make any serious kind of confession was to do it publicly. I had never been afraid of public speaking per se. And during the “Hippie Era” of the 1960s, in San Francisco, I became a sort of informal outdoor speaker in Golden Gate Park, gathering quite an audience for my regular daily appearances. In one of these, I made the big confession that I had for years had a nasty personal habit, of picking bits of dead skin off my hands, and eating them. (As you can imagine, this habit produced very ugly areas on my hands. My mother called me a “cannibal”!)
I wasn’t actually asking for help – and in fact, nobody offered any – although there were, of course, expressions of sympathy. But, as a result of this public confession, I did experience a “cure.” I can’t say it was anything like what people often claim who have been to Lourdes. And it did not happen overnight – but, over the next few weeks, I gradually found myself losing that compulsion about which I had for so long felt so guilty; and I began to rejoice in the growth of healthy new
skin. All because I had the courage to go public with the problem.
Since then, my only bad habits have been ones which many of my readers probably share, and about which, in this computer era, we can all find much information and help from support groups online.
But I do have a sort of confession to make: I am now in my nineties, and long past having any physical ability to indulge in any kind of sexual activity. (No, I have not tried anything like Viagra, and have never even been interested in doing so.) However, I still sometimes like looking at photos of attractive unclothed women – images which nowadays are so abundantly available online.
On a more humorous note, my favorite source of knowledge on this subject (and many others) is Tom Lehrer – the very popular satirical songwriter of the 50s and 60s – who wrote and sang a beautiful updating of Catholic practices which he called “The Vatican Rag.” I can’t resist quoting some of it here:
Get in line in that processional, Step into that small confessional. There the guy who’s got religion’ll Tell you if your sin’s original. If it is, try playin’ it safer, Drink the wine and chew the wafer, Two, Four. Six, Eight, Time to Transubstantiate!
If you need any explanation: The “confessional” is the small booth in a church, in which people confess their sins to a priest, whom they don’t see. He then prescribes an appropriate penance.
“Original Sin,” as I understand it, is the doctrine that, since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden, all Mankind has carried some of the burden of their sin – which was to eat forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, and thereby acquire knowledge of Good and
Evil, and thus become mortal.
Transubstantiation is another Catholic teaching – that the wine and wafer, served and consumed as a regular part of the Mass ceremony undergo a profound change in the process. To non-believers, they are simply symbolic – but to the Faithful, they literally become the body and blood of Christ. (At one point in the history of Christianity, this was a major and theologically divisive issue, for or against which people were willing to give their lives.)
Sometimes people who have secrets so shameful that they retain them all their lives, when they know they are dying, feel the need to tell somebody the truth. Hence the legendary “death-bed confession.”
But a more edifying story is that of Nicolaus Copernicus. In 1543 his Earth-
shaking book was published, demonstrating that our planet revolves around the Sun rather than vice versa; that humankind is thus not the center of the universe. The very first printed copy of his book was brought to Copernicus on his deathbed.
Ashleigh Brilliant was born in England in 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, then 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.
Montecito Health Coach
The Currency of Self-Worth
by Deann Zampelli
The year I was a therapy intern, I remember feeling a great sense of overall well-being. I knew I was being a good mom to my young children, and a loving and present partner to my husband. I was in graduate school to expand my mind, and I was being of service to low-income seniors in Santa Barbara. Looking back, I realize why this was such a high point in my life. I was thriving in some of the things I value most, motherhood, partnership, intellectual growth, and philanthropy.
Since then, I have had periods when I was not only disengaged from philanthropy and intellectual curiosity, but I was certainly not thriving in them. And I could feel it. That’s why bad parenting moments still sting so keenly. I know I can do better, but I didn’t.
What we base our self-worth on can have a ripple effect on our lives without us even realizing it.
I spoke with Jenny Schatzle , local gym owner and motivational speaker, as I wanted to see if she often encounters people in her line of work that disproportionately tie their self-worth to their appearance. She started by telling me one of her favorite and most poignant lines, “Your looks are the least interesting thing about you.” Here! Here! While she won’t take credit for the quote’s origin, it is no less relevant. “I have seen clients who are visibly hap -
pier when they are losing weight, but not because they are getting healthier or stronger, it is about the number on the scale. And while I try not to focus on that as the goal, I can see that some people connect their happiness to how much they weigh.”
Jenny and I spoke at length about the balance between recognizing the importance of being healthy, without basing your entire emotional state on how big your thighs are. And while the media has made strides in encouraging body positivity, we still have a long way to go. For example, for some reason we are still comfortable commenting on one another’s body parts, something Jenny also speaks to.
Before you get your knickers in a twist, think about this in your own life. “Your arms look great. What have you been doing?” “Your legs are so toned, are you a runner?” Truly. How often do we say or hear comments like this?
There is a difference between commenting on the appearance of someone’s legs and admiring their discipline for being a runner. I am not saying that giving or receiving compliments on how someone looks isn’t ever appropriate, it is just recognizing how much merit we allocate to appearance over accomplishment and how we place value on a body part that could just as easily be the result of genetics as personal effort.
For some, these observations can be triggering, and even rooted in their upbringing. When I was growing up, it wasn’t uncommon for the mother of a
dear friend of mine to openly say how “fat” her two daughters were. Or later, for a creepy neighbor to hug me around my waist after I had my babies to gauge how much weight I had gained or lost.
If we move away from our society that values appearance and financial success as benchmarks for greatness, the societal ethics of other cultures can often show us healthier markers on which to judge ourselves. Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, and Native American cultures pride themselves on how they care for their elders, who are honored and celebrated. Other cultures such as Portugal, Mexico and Turkey value collectivism, meaning living your life for the greater good, rather than just your own needs.
Our self-worth is rooted in our upbringing as well as in our surroundings. What are our caregivers modeling? What are our peers striving for? What are we being rewarded for? This is where much of our own self-worth is grounded, which is why it can be so unhealthy to base it on something as fleeting as appearance. I remember when my nieces and nephews were in high school, their homecoming court was selected based on how much the students had done for the school, not on how popular or good looking they were. Way to go El Molino! That seemed like a powerful step in the right direction, but sadly it isn’t the norm.
Social media also hasn’t helped the cause. Scrolling through Instagram, you see posts of beautiful people in toned bodies, some talking about their fitness and others just including it as part of who they are. Others are there to show you how you, too can get ripped abs by following their program. And it doesn’t seem to be getting much better.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, a significant portion of the increase in plastic surgery procedures since the pandemic has been from millennial women (ages 31-45). Which isn’t that surprising given that
they are among the biggest consumers of social media.
While there are wonderful SM accounts that highlight the good people are doing, and in doing so, are placing value on it, I don’t often see accounts dedicated to how to respect our elders. Or how to get involved in more philanthropy, or how to increase our collective efforts as a community. How to be a better partner, friend, or parent. When we base our self-worth on fragile qualities such as our appearance, we are giving away much of our own power and subjecting our inner strength to much vulnerability.
There is nothing wrong with using health and strength as one metric in our overall basis for self-worth. Wanting to be fit, healthy and strong in our lives is a productive and adaptive goal toward fortifying the foundation of who you are and helping to create a healthy future. The problem is when we place so much value on the aesthetic aspects of our bodies, which naturally change and evolve with time, we are opening ourselves up to insecurities and maladaptive behaviors (such as eating and exercise disorders) as our bodies naturally change over time. Perhaps it is time to refocus our energies and efforts as a society. Humans are complex beings, capable of infinite greatness.
After all, your looks really are the least interesting thing about you.
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.
“Men have become the tools of their tools.” – Henry David Thoreau
This Week at MAW
Cazan & ‘Carmen’
by Steven Libowitz
Ken Cazan, the director of the Music Academy 2024 opera Carmen, last helmed a production of the famed and beloved work nearly 30 years ago, and has been happily ensconced in recent years taking on smaller, more experimental pieces. But he was tempted to field the fiery fan favorite once again by both the offer from Lehrer Vocal Institute’s second-year co-director Sasha Cooke – their connection dates back almost 20 years to a production at Juilliard Opera – and the opportunity to work with talented young singers at a prestigious summer festival.
“The idea of doing Carmen with people who are the right age was really exciting,” Cazan said. “My first two times directing it, the cast was just great but perhaps a little long in the tooth for the roles. Here, everybody’s young and gorgeous, and I don’t mean only physically, but more emotionally and mentally. I think that coming out of COVID, they’re a little more sensitive than sensitized, and they’re bringing all that uniqueness to their performances.”
Working with college-age opera artists is nothing new for Cazan, who has taught at USC Thornton School of Music for two decades. Their eager and open approach has been a thrilling experience so far, he said.
“We’re exploring a great deal, and everybody’s coming in with great ideas and great thoughts. Speaking as someone who learned at Actors Studio, I want them to bring themselves as much as possible to their characters, be willing to take the emotional risks, and they’re all doing it. They want to be the best possible performers they can be, which is not always true with young opera singers, and it’s really thrilling.”
That commitment is necessary because the director wanted to move the time frame for Carmen to modern times, about 200 years forward from its usual setting, to put the timeless story into a contemporary climate.
“Romani gypsy life still exists,” said Cazan, who is part Romanian and noted that he still has relatives on his father’s side who live the nomadic, itinerant lifestyle. “I feel passionate about making these characters three-dimensional as much as possible within the structure of grand opera.”
That’s particularly true of the title character, the free-spirited, fiery and charismatic factory worker Carmen, who is at
the center of a love triangle full of obsession and jealousy.
“I don’t buy the traditional view that she only uses her body to get what she wants,” Cazan said. “She’s an intelligent woman, with serious life skills at a very young age, and who is using that to reach her goals to get to the top of the social structure, to not have to be a thief and not have to engage in nefarious deeds for the rest of her life. On the other hand, this is also a woman who’s been raised in a highly religious, highly superstitious lifestyle that believes in the circle of fate. And that is her Achilles heel, her tragic flaw. The opera has this great tension between her following her intentions no matter who she walks over combined with the superstition.”
Cazan said there are moments where the character “freaks out,” and others where she exposes her vulnerability, something rare in typical productions.
“We’re working hard to make her real,” he said.
Maggie Reneé plays the ill-fated Carmen, with Xuyue Qing as Don José and Paul Jang as Escamillo also fronting the fellows-powered cast, while the staff for Carmen also features MAW’s thirdyear Principal Opera Conductor Daniela Candillari conducting, with dance sequences by the highly-decorated flamenco dancer and choreographer Manuel Gutierrez. Performances are Friday night and Sunday afternoon at the Granada.
Thursday, July 11: Tonight’s X2 Series concert could be re-named 11X2 as the
daily, (say, 62% occupancy,) going for $1,500-4,000 per night, it would not take many weeks to gross millions of dollars to help pay off the dorm.
You see, the truth is, they need the mall to pay for the HOTEL ITSELF, which cost too much to purchase and to build. By renting 12 more “boutiques” out to famous brands, they hope to generate more than $2 million per year extra revenue, even as 20%-40% of hotel rooms sit empty. With 22 stores in all it comes to much more than $3M, in fact. But, they have to make our residential area into a commercial zone to do that! Can all these shops be “incidental and directly oriented to the NEEDS of visitors?” That sort of retail belongs in areas where retail is currently zoned and approved. Then it won’t ruin Montecito’s character! And, to be honest, Caruso Aff. has many sources of income, from malls, from apartments, from banking, investments, cash on hand, and so on. They are not going hand to mouth.
The Third Fallacy that they have promoted to their clan is that “...they are not using taxpayer money to build the housing.” Well, of course that is true, except they forget to explain that those housing grants and government subsidies
are for Nonprofit Organizations ONLY! If they were a Habitat for Humanity, or Jamboree, or People’s Self-Help Housing Org., then they would be nonprofit and qualify for financing grants up front. But they are not! Any “for-profit” developer has to get their own financing to build, since only a percentage of the mixeduse structures is for affordable housing. And getting financing is no problem for Caruso, who, for example, just got a $450 million-dollar refinancing loan on the Glendale mall he owns, and who spent about $100 million of his own money running for mayor of Los Angeles! Furthermore, when completed, the Caruso developers can apply for a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, as well as use depreciation and business expense write-offs to lower the final costs of the project. In addition, when he rents his luxury apartments out for 31 days or more, he does not have to pay Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) on those rooms. So in these ways, YES, they do use Taxpayer Subsidies by cleverly reducing the amount of taxes they pay.
The last two Fallacies I will illuminate in my next letter.
Sincerely,
Cliff Ghersen
Ken Cazan directs Carmen at the Granada this Friday night and Sunday afternoon (photo by Kristina Jacinth)
Village 4th
Event Draws Over 2,000 Attendees
Joanne A Calitri
The gray skies cleared for the Village 4th parade celebrating Independence Day and drawing crowd estimates of over 2,000 people, plus dogs of all sizes wearing patriotic adornments.
Officially the 38 entrants were: Boy Scout Troup 33, the CHP, the Montecito Association, the Montecito Community Foundation, SBC 1st District Supervisor Das Williams, Friends of the Montecito Library, Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School students, parents and teachers, SB Bucket Brigade, the Montecito Rotary Club, Katie Frank’s Girls on Bikes, Grand Marshall David Boyd in a 1928 Chandler Dual Cowl Phaeton, Dana Newquist’s Little Toots Firetruck, SBC Search & Rescue, the Rosewood Miramar jolly cars, MERRAG, Puretec Water, Nick Weber’s 1911 Ford Model T and 1930 Ford Model A, Montecito Sanitary District, Mission Linen in a 1930 Model T, the 35th Infantry Reenactment Group, SB Equine Assistance & Evac Team, Woody Barrett’s Woody car, EDC Mobile Sharpening, La Boheme Dancers in a 1957 Cadillac, Dolores Wilson in a 1970 Morgan, Carolyne Calvin and girlfriends in a 1954 red Chevy truck, Gillmore Family & Friends, Molly Christie Benson and Senator Joe Christie, Doreen Kapustiak, Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation via Blankenships’ in 1942 U.S. Navy Jeep, Benoit Construction in a 1934 Ford Model 46 pickup, Hayley Carly in a 1969 Jeep Gladiator, Inken Gerlach in a 1959 Thunderbird, and the Montecito Fire District.
Parade winners were announced by Trish Davis at the picnic: Most Patriotic was Woody Barrett, Most Entertaining was La Boheme, and Most Community Spirit was both Cold Spring School and Montecito Union School. The annual tug-of-war was won by MUS. The event included a sack race and pie eating contest, live band, and food. Congrats to the Montecito Association for a great 4th!
photos and story by
Petite Wine Traveler
White
Wine Summer in Santa Barbara Wine County
by Jamie Knee
Sunshine, sandals, and sipping something cool – that’s the ultimate summer trifecta, right? As your proud Santa Barbara wine expert and self-proclaimed white wine enthusiast, I’m here to declare this the summer of white wine! Forget the stuffiness of reds – white wines are light, refreshing, and bursting with flavor, the perfect partner for all your warm-weather adventures.
But guess what? It’s not just me, there’s been a global shift toward white wine. The entire world is experiencing a white wine revolution! International wine experts are reporting a surge in white wine consumption, with sparkling wines like Italy’s Prosecco leading the charge. This trend highlights the versatility and sheer deliciousness of white wines.
There are countless reasons to raise a glass of white wine this summer, from light and citrusy sauvignon blancs to complex chardonnays, and everything in between. The world of white wine offers endless options for every occasion be it a meal, party, or poolside relaxation session. No matter your summer plans, there’s a white wine waiting to elevate the experience.
Many white wines boast lower alcohol content than reds, making them a fantastic choice for a lighter, more refreshing drinking experience on those hot summer days. You can enjoy a glass (or two!) without feeling weighed down. But don’t be fooled
a glass! These vibrant wines burst with flavors of grapefruit, lime, and a hint of salinity, making them ideal companions for grilled fish, fresh salads, and lighter summer fare. For those seeking a slightly richer experience, unoaked chardonnays offer refreshing citrus and green apple notes, while their oaked counterparts boast hints of peach, vanilla, and toast.
But wait, there’s more! Santa Barbara County isn’t just about sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. This region boasts a vast array of white wine grapes, each with its own unique personality.
Here are just a few of the other exciting white wines you can find grown in Santa Barbara County:
- Albariño: A variety indigenous to Northwest Spain, with vibrant acidity, refreshing citrus and stone fruit flavors.
ence, there’s a pinot for you!
- Riesling: Bone-dry to sweet, Riesling offers a wide range of styles to explore.
- Sylvaner: Light-bodied with floral aromas, this is a delicate and refreshing choice.
- Viognier: Apricot and honeysuckle flavors abound in this full-bodied white.
- Vermentino: Crisp acidity and flavors of citrus and white stone fruits make this Italian grape a crowd-pleaser.
- Tocai Friulano: This Italian grape offers delicious apple and pear flavors.
- Roussanne: Full-bodied with flavors of honey and nuts, Roussanne is a complex and intriguing white.
by the summer association, white wines can be enjoyed all year round, with lighter styles complementing winter meals and richer options standing up to bolder flavors. So, while they might shine especially bright in the summer sun, white wines are truly versatile companions throughout the year.
Santa Barbara County boasts the ideal climate for cultivating white wine grapes.
Cool Pacific breezes and long growing seasons allow the grapes to develop complex flavors while retaining refreshing acidity. This translates to some of the most incredible white wines you’ll ever experience!
Santa Barbara’s unique terroir allows these white wines to truly express their varietal character, resulting in a symphony of taste waiting to be discovered.
Kick off your Santa Barbara white wine adventure with a light and citrusy sauvignon blanc. Imagine sunshine in
- Chenin Blanc: This versatile grape can produce wines that range from dry to sweet, making it a great choice for a variety of palates.
- Clairette Blanche: This rare grape variety is known for its floral aromas and refreshing acidity.
- Gruner Veltliner: Crisp, minerality flavors await you in this Austrian grape.
- Gewürztraminer: Get ready for lychee and rosewater explosions with this unique grape.
- Grenache Blanc: Full-bodied with flavors of pear and melon, this grape packs a punch.
- Pinot Blanc: Lighter-bodied with citrus and apple flavors, this is a great everyday white.
- Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris: These grapes are actually the same but can vary in style. Pinot grigio tends to be lighter-bodied and fruitier, while pinot gris can be richer and more full-bodied. No matter your prefer-
Lunch on the patio? Summer dinner alfresco with friends? These white wines tend to pair beautifully with a wide range of foods, cleansing the palate between bites. Grilled fish, fresh salads, pasta with pesto and lighter summer fare all find perfect harmony with a well-chosen white wine. So, next time you’re looking for a delicious white wine, be sure to explore the offerings of Santa Barbara County. With so many varietals to choose from, there’s a perfect Santa Barbara white wine waiting to be discovered by every wine lover! You won’t be disappointed!
Jamie Knee is a global wine communicator and travel writer, has hosted 100+ winemaker interviews, international wine judge, and holds multiple wine, sommelier, and educator certifications.
Jamie with Larry Tercero of Tercero Wines pouring his Clairette Blanche
Larry Schuss for his 1965 Mercury Cyclone; the Rods & Roses Hot Rod Award to Steve Augerot for his 1950 Mercury coupe; and the People’s Choice Award to Greg Camacho for his 1950 maroon Mercury.
Additional awards honored those who supported the event and community – the Wes Franken Memorial Award, Max Brown Memorial Award, the Barry Horowitz Award, Brotherhood of Carpinteria Motorcycle Club Award in Memory of Jerry Clemens, the Carpinteria Masonic Lodge #444 Jack Risdon Award, and the George Bliss Founders Award. Local retailers provided 50 Special Recognition Merchant Awards to the auto of their choosing – the Montecito Bank & Trust, Coastal View News, Clements Family & the Brotherhood, the Kelly Kids Ever-Bloom, STP, the Pangan Boys, Shade Farm Management, and others.
Autos with plenty of fans talking to the owners were Bill Pitruzzelli’s rare Polyantha Red 1956 Porsche Speedster; Steve Kohler’s Inca Gold 1957 Thunderbird convertible, tricked out with fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror and the Hawaiian Girl doll on the dash; David DeLorie’s 1966 Austin Healey BJ8 convertible sports car in Healey Blue with white coves; and Tom Wong’s 1966 Triumph TR4A-IRS convertible in British Racing Green.
Event Grand Marshall Michael Lazaro was assisted by a team of volunteers and his young nephews Silas and Leo sporting official backstage passes. Every year the
Carpinteria Lions Club volunteers at Rods & Roses to help organize and park the beautiful cars that join the event.
Funds raised go to various nonprofits in Carpinteria who had booths donated by Rods & Roses organization to provide info, sell merch and raffle tickets. They included the California Women for Agriculture local Carpinteria Chapter, FFA organization at Carpinteria High School, the Carpinteria Rotary Club, Carpinteria Seniors and HopeNet of Carpinteria. Rods & Roses donates booth space on the day of the event to create fundraising and awareness opportunities for a variety of nonprofit and service groups.
411: www.rodsnroses.com
Upcoming State of Black California Event
Two important groups working to support Black based organizations in the State of California at the business, community and legislative levels will be presenting with our local Black leaders on Saturday, July 13, 9:30 am to 1 pm at Santa Barbara City College BC Forum Building.
The event titled, “State of Black California,” is a collaboration of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF).
The presenters are Dr. Corey Jackson, Assemblymember District 60; Marc Philpart, California Black Freedom Fund’s first Executive Director; Dr. Kim Tabari, Director Organizational Development at USC Equity Research Institute; Jordan Killebrew, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Juneteenth Santa Barbara and the Executive Director (VP), Public Affairs & Communications at SBCC; Simone Baker, Healing Justice Santa Barbara; and Audrey Gamble, Co-Executive Director of Gateway Educational Services.
The program includes a discussion on the historic 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package introduced by the CLBC earlier this year, which has 14 measures covering Education, Civil Rights, Criminal Justice Reform, Health and Business. There also will be a panel discussion for organizing and community-building for Black Santa Barbara residents, attendee engagement with members of the California Legislative Black Caucus on policies specific to Black Californians, and a presentation of data detailing key well-being indicators of Black residents of the Central Coast provided by the Equity Research Institute at USC.
RSVP is required: www.stateofblackcalifornia.org/event/santa-barbara
411: https://cablackfreedomfund.org
BFF, formed in 2021 works to ensure that Black power-building and movement-based organizations in California have the sustained investments and support they need to eradicate systemic and institutional racism.
https://blackcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/
CBLC formed in 1967, represents the legislative concerns and priorities of the African American community in the California Legislature. Its central mission is to advocate for the interests of Black Californians, remove roadblocks Black Americans face in every aspect of life, demand equity to eliminate disparities between racial groups, and increase African American participation and representation in all levels of government. Today, there are 12 members of the CLBC.
Joanne A Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@ yahoo.com
The Rods & Roses Hot Rod Award to Steve Augerot for his 1950 Mercury coupe, presented by Leo Lazaro
The Crown Choice & Exotics Award to Larry Schuss for his 1965 Mercury Cyclone
California Women for Agriculture Susan Pollard, Bobbi Roderick and Arna Crittenden
Gary Dobbins, publisher of the Coastal View News, and his daughter Vanessa Morice with his 1934 Ford Cabriolet burgundy convertible
still fixated on winning him back, but finds herself transformed as she interacts with peers and professors and tackles stereotypes and scandal along the way. Memorable songs and dance sequences give the musical even more buoyancy than the hit film.
Santa Barbara native and SBCC alum Cambria Metzinger, who just earned a Masters in Vocal Performance from San Francisco Conservatory, heads the cast as Elle in the production helmed by theater prof and co-chair Katie Laris, running July 12-27 in the Garvin Theatre. Call (805) 965-5935 or visit www.theatregroupsbcc.com.
PCPA’s summer season at the Solvang Festival Theater moves from the campy carnivore capers of Little Shop of Horrors to something far campier – The Play That Goes Wrong, an over-the-top insiders’ tribute to the laudable if laughable determination and spirit of actors and
Theatre (photo by Ben Crop)
News Bytes Explosions on July 4th
by MJ Staff
On July 4th, neighbors in the Butterfly Beach area reported several large explosions off the ledge on Channel Drive throughout the evening. Debris was reported to have fallen on the roofs and yards of property owners along Channel Drive.
28,987 acres and 16% contained as last reported on July 10 at 7:09 am on Cal Fire’s website (www.fire.ca.gov/ incidents/2024/7/5/lake-fire).
other theater folk in the face of endless foibles. Think Noises Off amplified to the nth degree of non-stop pandemonium. The plotline is almost beside the point as the play’s beleaguered troupe stands in for amateur theater productions everywhere.
First performed in a British pub and then at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Play That Goes Wrong has done enough right to have taken the coveted Olivier Award – presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theater there. The production has now run continuously in London for a dozen years.
SBCC premiered the piece locally in fall of 2022, and now PCPA’s veteran team –including director Roger DeLaurier and actors Andrew Philpot and Erik Stein – confronts Wrong’s choreographed chaos in Solvang July 12-28. Visit www.pcpa. org or call (805) 922-8313.
After several calls to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and officers apprehended a 17-year-old male. When contacted by the MJ, Raquel Zick, PIO for the office, confirmed that he was later released to a guardian and his information will be forwarded to Juvenile Probation Services.
Neighbors report that this is a year-round nuisance and not just an annual occurrence.
Lake Fire Continues
The “Lake Fire,” which began as a reported vegetation fire near Zaca Lake on Friday, July 5, is currently at
Montecito Fire PIO, Christina Atchinson , adds, “Montecito Fire Department is supporting our local fire partners at the Lake Fire with our Type 6 engine, staffed with two firefighters. Plus, two of our paramedics are assisting as fireline paramedics and one of our firefighters is helping with radio communications at the fire. Our fire stations in Montecito remain fully staffed and prepared to respond to any incidents in our community.
“Montecito residents may notice smoke from the Lake Fire but rest assured that the fire is a considerable distance away from our community. This is a reminder that fire season has begun in our region and we all need to be vigilant. It is an excellent time to review your emergency plans, refresh disaster kits and consider at least two routes to evacuate, keeping the ongoing roadwork in mind.”
It’s choreographed chaos when The Play That Goes Wrong heads to Solvang this July 12-28 (photo by Luis Escobar)
Elle Woods bends & snaps to stage at SBCC’s Garvin
iors, motivations and barriers for change. Through a memorable case study, students learned that while most households were surprisingly supportive of composting, their efforts ran into stumbling blocks. Students then brainstormed strategies and solutions.
Williamson explored three core strategies – material incentives, information and rules and regulations – that can be effective. “Studies have shown that removing trays from college dining halls leads to a 54% reduction in food waste,” she said. “It helps people be more intentional about the amount of food they’re taking.”
Barnett-Loro suggested including an emotional appeal about health in messages rather than touting saving money.
“This particular campaign found that framing energy conservation as a health issue – specifically for children – led to a 19% decrease in energy consumption,” she said. “On the flip side, talking about energy consumption with an economic frame, ‘If you use less energy, you’ll save money,’ led to an 8% increase in energy consumption.”
The workshop included morning worship services, outings to the beach and hands-on lessons in the Westmont Garden.
Analee Josselyn, a Westmont senior who attended the conference, recently joined Citizens’ Climate Lobby on a trip to Washington, D.C. She and 70 other Californians and 1,000 CCL lobbyists spoke to legislators about the merits of speeding up energy permitting and habitat restoration.
“I was drawn to the organization because of their bipartisan approach and how they help elevate the voices of ordinary people who don’t always get a seat at the table,” she said. “My fellow college students care a lot about the climate and often feel the weight of what it means for their future and their kids’ future. But they don’t always know where to start in terms of doing something about it.”
A grant from the Montecito Rotary Club and donations from chapter members funded Josselyn’s trip.
Westmont and Arthur Vining Davis Foundation sponsored the conference.
Top Baseball Players Tryout at Carr Field
About 200 of the best high school baseball players from Southern California came to Westmont’s Carr Field to show off their talents in front of Major League Baseball scouts and coaches from Division I colleges June 24-26. Since 2010, Westmont has hosted the Area Code Tryouts, which are organized by the Milwaukee Brewers in this region.
The showcase included Santa Barbara High School standout Jetner Welch, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder.
“It is a great opportunity for Westmont to bring high-profile players to our campus,” says assistant baseball coach Elijah Ontiveros, who coordinated the event.
“As a result of the Area Code Tryouts, the Westmont name will go into different parts of the baseball community in a very positive way. That’s beneficial to the development of our program and a powerful tool for recruiting.”
programming boasts a total of eight different faculty/teaching artists sharing the stage with 14 instrumental fellows over the course of the evening, in the largest non-orchestral/operatic concert of the summer. Pianist Timo Andres’ early composition “Some Connecticut Gospel,” encompasses half of those players, a dozen-strong ensemble piece about his family’s home that opens the program. Kevin Puts’ 2013 Seven Seascapes, whose seven movements are titled after and accompanied by excerpts from poems, is perfect for Miraflores, as the work was inspired by the composer’s “deep fascination for all things maritime … counterbalanced by a certain degree of fear of the ocean’s vast depths and hidden perils.” Eric Ewazen’s 1992 “Trio for Trumpet, Violin, and Piano,” and César Franck’s 145-year-old “Piano Quintet in F Minor” round out the program. (Hahn Hall, 7:30 pm; $45)
Friday, July 12: Andres’ immersion weekend continues with his leading the Solo Piano Masterclass, coaching select fellows on the Glass Études , which we wrote about last week. (Hahn, 3:30 pm; $10)... This year’s opera, Carmen , has its performances at the Granada Theatre downtown tonight, and on Sunday afternoon. See my interview with director Ken Cazan (page 26). (7 pm & 2 pm; $35-$100)
Saturday, July 13: The rare opportunity to hear all 20 of Philip Glass ’ Piano Études happens at Hahn Hall tonight, with Andres and fellow faculty pianist Conor Hanick handling the first and the 20th, respectively; thus bookending the six solo piano fellows each taking on three of the densely kaleidoscopic Glass études in between. (Hahn Hall, 7 pm; $55)
Tuesday, July 16: The MAW instrumental fellows – by far the most “unsung” of the young artists at the summer festival – get to be the focus of our desire tonight in a special Collaborative Piano evening concert. These are the fellows whose aim is to sync their artistry with fellows in all the other instruments; for purposes of rehearsing and performing sonatas and subbing for the orchestra in excerpts of concertos. Come support the nine young pianists who seamlessly support their fellow fellows – plenty of good tickets remain available. (Hahn, 7:30 pm; $18-$45)
Wednesday, July 17: A huge number of composer Florence Price’s manuscripts were discovered in the attic of an abandoned home in Illinois about 20 years ago, a half century after her death. MAW is among those making up for the decades of neglect, with the AFO playing one of her symphonies at the Granada two weeks ago, and tonight programming her “Piano Quintet in A Minor,” featuring her late-Romantic style infused with the sounds of spirituals and hymns from her life. Enjoy a glass of wine and settle into the intimate chamber salon-style environs of Lehmann Hall as the 11 fellows first explore Fauré’s song cycle “La Bonne Chanson, Op. 61,” before presenting the Price piece. (7:30 pm; $45).
Steven Libowitz has covered a plethora of topics for the Journal since 1997, and now leads our extensive arts and entertainment coverage
Analee Josselyn discusses why government action on climate change is necessary with her group
Field of Dreams: High schoolers showcased their baseball talents for MLB scouts
Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College
Maggie Reneé plays the ill-fated Carmen (courtesy photo)
on making sure it’s ready for when school opens again in August. So after the principal and the director of the program, Daniel Barnett , gets the keys, what unfolds from there is getting everything ready. That’s also when the furniture arrives, and all of that will get assembled so that students can occupy the building for classes on day one of the new school year.”
Teachers, staff, and volunteer parents of VADA students will also bring over materials from the existing classrooms to make sure all of the supplies needed for the beginning of school will be on hand.
The first day of school will be the first day that kids will be able to walk inside the gleaming new building, Beall said.
“We expect just crazy excitement to happen then. We’re planning a few surprises for the students, maybe treats or something. And we’ll probably invite anybody on campus to come and see the new building over the first few days.”
After that it’s back to VADA’s mission focusing on academic achievement, creative and critical thinking, art and design education, and tangible work-
force skills that also feature inclusivity as a foundational pillar. The program reflects the diversity in Santa Barbara, as nearly half of the VADA students are socio-economically disadvantaged and/ or have special needs.
The new building is part of a revitalization of the lower campus at SBHS, which is marking its 100th anniversary at its location this year. A former ad hoc dirt parking area has been landscaped and will feature a fenced picnic bench area, plus the garden center that creates a green friendly space. And there’s still Phase 2 of the capital campaign, which aims to raise another $3.5 million to renovate the existing 1950s classroom and to provide sustainable funding for the VADA’s ongoing operations.
But VADA will pause in mid-September to have its official ribbon cutting/grand opening as part of the SBHS’s 100th anniversary celebration, Beall said.
“That way the building will be a little bit lived in with the students having been there for a month, so it will feel like a working space rather than just a gleaming new building,” he said.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Invitation to Bid No. 2024-002
Gates & Carport Fire Station 92
The Montecito Fire Protection District hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for:
ITB# 2024-002 – Gates & Carport Fire Station 92
Bid Opening – Monday, August 12, 2024 at 2:15 p m in the conference room at Montecito Fire Station 91, 595 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara.
ITB documents may be viewed on the Montecito Fire Protection District (MFPD) website at www.montecitofire.com or a copy may be secured from MFPD at 595 San Ysidro Road, Santa Barbara CA between the hours of 8:00 a m and 5:00 p m , Monday through Friday. Responses must be sealed, clearly marked “Station 92 Gates & Carport Project – General Contractor Bid” and returned to:
Montecito Fire Protection District
Attn: Anthony Hudley, Battalion Chief 595 San Ysidro Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p m August 12, 2024. Bids received after this time will be returned unopened. Faxed bids will not be accepted.
Published July 10 and 17, 2024 Montecito Journal
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as:
Tre Lune; Tre Lune Ristorante; Tre Lune Restaurant; Tre Lune Ristorante - Bar 1151 Coast Village Road, Mon-
tecito, CA 93108. Quattro, INC, 114 E. Haley St. Suite O, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on July 1, 2024. This statement expires five years from the date it was
chanting “from the river to the sea,” that’s tantamount to a hooded Klansman waving a confederate flag in the center of Harlem. It’s not trying to start a conversation. It’s trying to start a fight. And one thing we learned from DEI is that what matters is how words or actions are experienced, not necessarily how someone says they were intended.
Certainly, hate is not only being directed toward Jews. Since October 7th, incidents targeting Muslims, Palestinians, and Arab Americans have also been documented, including last October when a Palestinian American boy in Illinois was murdered by his landlord, who reportedly was angry about Hamas’s attack on Israel. Just like on November 6th, only 45 miles from here, in Westlake, a pro-Palestinian protestor smashed a Jewish man over the head with his megaphone, not only killing him, but providing a poignant metaphor for the world we find ourselves living in today.
Boston Tea Party –The Civil Disobedience Gold Standard
The Boston Tea Party on December 6, 1773, remains one of history’s most famous acts of civil disobedience. Of note, no one was killed or raped or brutalized. Instead, 342 chests of tea were dumped into Griffin’s Wharf in Boston Harbor, sending a clear message to the King of England that the status quo would no longer be tolerated. That nonviolent but clear act of defiance launched the American Revolution – a protest against a true colonialist power.
This July 4th I reflected on what it was I was celebrating, and all that will be lost if we stop fighting for it. Because one thing I know from my days as an undergraduate history major, and from the painful lessons from my family’s WWII experience, is that Democracy is a fragile, living thing, like a garden that demands constant tending. And if taken for granted, it will become overrun by the seeds of discord and will cease to exist.
At this fractious inflection point, and as our national election nears, what we desperately need is the courageous leadership of unifiers and conciliators. This moment does not play to the strengths of Donald Trump, a clearly diminished Joe Biden, or the bizarre ghost of Kennedys past, RFK Jr. And on a local level the same is true at UCSB where under the stale stewardship and aggressive inaction of Chancellor Henry Yang protestors were allowed to create an environment of fear for anyone who didn’t agree with their views. Contrast this to moments in our history when courageous and clear leadership was exercised. Like November 14th, 1960, when federal marshals in Louisiana escorted Ruby Bridges to class because integration was wildly unpopular with many. By the same token, what is Juneteenth about? The state of Texas was not complying with the emancipation proclamation, so the Federal Government sent in the cavalry to literally read the news to greater Texas that slavery was actually over. Meanwhile all of us have an important role to play. Because leadership does not come from an office, or a fancy title, or a massive net worth. Those things might get you a following, or reservations at that trendy new restaurant, but true leadership is a way of being in this world. It’s taking personal responsibility for how things are. It’s standing up for what’s right and fair and just and true. We each have a moral responsibility to move this world in a better direction, because like it or not, we will all be sleeping tonight in the collective bed we are making today.
filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2024-0001565. Published July 10, 17, 24, 31, 2024
Juneteenth commemorates General Granger informing Texas that, like it or not, slavery was over (courtesy photo)
blue-chip CV neatly portrays Sofronas’ steady ascent as the contrail of a bespoke rocket, climbing without fuss into the upper stratosphere of her expertise. And now the village.
Manchester Capital Management
Family. Office. Combining these two unspectacular nouns produces very little heat. But in financial argot a family office is in fact something of a miracle, an investment of time and emotion in the interest of someone else’s legacy. The term ‘family office’ describes a private wealth management advisory firm that offers services to ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (HNWI). Manchester Capital (MCM) is a multi-family office, offering overarching financial services to, yes, multiple families. Independently owned, founded in 1992 by a certain Ted Cronin (a gentleman of some local renown), MCM has been serving wealthy families for more than three decades. It may or may not completely surprise her fan base to learn that our beloved Village Poet and Sculptor, Susan Read Cronin , is allied with the firm. Significantly, Manchester’s relationship with the client family is, if not the object, certainly the subject of the arrangement.
“Our clients are truly an extension of our family,” Sofronas says. “And I can say that is our secret sauce, our superpower, what differentiates us from many of the other people who say they’re a multifamily office. Our clients really are extensions of our family. I’ve seen it real time. I’ve been able to play tennis with clients, go on hikes with clients. And the fact that we get to be based here in Montecito, to be able to provide
that service to our families and to have that connection. I feel honored that I have the opportunity to be of service to Manchester and our families. This a really special and unique place.”
To be clear, Manchester is not there to upsell you on arcane fiduciary gew-gaws.
“We have no products. There’s no vested or financial gain if we point you in this direction for a particular investment strategy or that direction. We are a true fiduciary. And so our goal is to determine what your goals are, and to make sure that we find the right investments with the right risk return profile to help you meet your goals.”
And the variety of families and perspectives who seek these services make the work a heartening fractal of life itself (if I may say so).
“This work comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility,” Susan says.
“Our goal is to make sure that your wealth lives – should you wish it to live – beyond just your time, that you leave a legacy. And so we work to help to make sure that you are a steward of this capital for your lifetime, and that capital then moves on to the next generation. But again, it’s all predicated on what they want. And sometimes they don’t know what they want.”
leave to my children?’” She smiles disarmingly and shrugs in the manner of an encouraging teacher. One can easily imagine the bond of borderless personal trust and colorful conversation that must define her relationship with the client family. Sofronas sees her role as helping the family to articulate what it is they truly want.
Gently guiding a family through these sometimes revelatory conversations allows arrival at an authentic understanding of the long term landscape, and the various avenues that lend themselves to secure financial stewardship. And you get to work closely with some of the most interesting and filigreed families on Earth.
Susan’s origin story? A onetime accounting major (there, I said it), Sofronas saw the light, changed her major to finance and investments, and sallied forth to conquer the known realm. It’s gone pretty well. It helps that she thrives on the measured interpersonal component of her work. To put it as blandly as possible. Do we stumble into our professional happiness, or do some of us just hear Que Sera Sera, grab the steering wheel in a panic, and end up on the improbably named Coast Village Road? At the next table there is a small dog, probably worth a fortune, that could be a shag carpet remnant with eyes. It takes a long noisy drink from its collapsible doggy bowl and comes up slopping water and smiling, its fool tongue dangling. Summer in the village.
“I just went straight to Wall Street after college,” Sofronas says with an air of mild surprise. “I worked on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange one summer, and it was really – I couldn’t have planned it any better. And you ask about comparing the pace between New York and Montecito?
I love this pace. I think my whole career was leading up to this.” Susan Sofronas, Manchester Capital’s New Head of West Coast Activities, settles back in her chair. “But if I hadn’t changed my major, who knows where I’d be? I would’ve been a very unhappy accountant. I’m a people person,” she says with a sudden grin. “Right?”
ON THE SIDE
Shark Attack at Santa Barbara Courthouse
Shark attacks are extremely rare, so the morose mob that gathered at the Santa Barbara Courthouse for the film Jaws last Friday evening got what they came for (including some shark sightings beforehand). Hoisting huge legs of mutton and sporting togas, the gladiatorial audience laughed and clapped lustily as a cohort of inept screen extras were serially dispatched by an enormous, glaringly mechanical shark. People, we can do better.
Life Begins at the Hop
Family Affair
To those of us who perhaps naively imagine that wealthy families are possessed of some inherent magical money wisdom, Sofronas sets the record straight. The families that come to Manchester for long-term, and often complex, guidance often have very quotidian questions.
“We help them come to the answer themselves,” Sofronas says. “One of the biggest questions is, ‘How much do I
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
An item in the 1958 Montecito Ledger headlined Y Teenage Hop Saturday offers this glimpse of a time before the Tiny Screen Disaster. “Montecito teenagers will gather at the Montecito Y April 12 for ‘The Hop’… The dress calls for ‘casual’ sport coats for boys and sports dresses for girls (no Levi’s or jeans will be allowed). The dance is stag or drag, 50 cents per person…”
Manchester’s skyscraping Coast Village hacienda
A shiver of sharks descended on the Courthouse (photo by Erin Reinecke Balint)
Cosentino , Penny Arntz , Hiroko Benko , David and Anne Gersh , Dan and Robin Cerf , Mary Collier , Beth DeWoody , Mary Dorra , Christine Emmons and Nicolas Robertas , Mary Garton , Isaac Hernandez , Lynn Kirst , Brian King , Arlene Larson , Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner , Nick Mutton , George Konstantinow and Helene Segal , Bruce Stark and Anne Luther , Peter and Kathryn
Martin , and Richard Weston-Smith and Kirsten Cavendish
Pre-4th Party
Animal activist and winemaker Gretchen Lieff hosted a pre-Independence Day bash at her charming Arcady estate for 60 guests, including her ex-husband, international legal eagle Robert Lieff, who is also an award-winning vint-
Ranch in Danger
Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos is in the path of a major wildfire, which now exceeds 20,000 acres, according to TMZ.
The estate is dangerously close to the Lake Fire, where many people have been evacuated.
Earlier this year, the sprawling home and amusement park were extensively renovated for an upcoming biopic on the late singer’s life.
Jackson’s nephew Jaafar, an accomplished singer and dancer, is slated to play his uncle.
The property was purchased by Jackson in 1988 and has been reconstructed as filming continues ahead of the movie’s scheduled release in April.
The ranch is owned by billionaire Ron Burkle, who purchased the property in December 2020 for $22 million, nearly $80 million less than the asking price.
Bravo to Bell
ner with his Rutherford cabernet.
Among those hovering around the barbecue to snaffle the burgers and hotdogs while quaffing Gretchen’s La Lieff vino were Lisa Parsons, Melinda Gandara, Peter and Kathryn Martin, Nancy Gifford, Kristi Newton, and Brendon Twigden
Certainly nothing to wine about...
A Hazy 4th
Mother Nature was decidedly uncooperative as 250 guests gathered on the Serena Rooftop of mega wine maker Bill Foley’s Hotel Californian for the third year to watch the much-anticipated July 4 pyrotechnics over the harbor.
But the evening soon resembled a scene from Wuthering Heights as a heavy marine layer rolled in totally obscuring the colorful display, with only the noise making any impact whatsoever.
You can’t win ‘em all....
Grammy-winning violinist Joshua Bell, music director of London’s Academy of St, Martin-in-the-Fields, joined iconic pianist Jeremy Denk in a dazzling duo performance at the Granada.
The tony twosome’s concert, part of the Music Academy of the West’s Summer Festival, featured works by Franck, Beethoven, and Mozart.
The sold-out 90-minute performance featured Mozart’s “Sonata No. 18 for Violin and Piano in G Major,” Beethoven’s “Suite No. 7 for Violin and Piano in C Minor,” and Franck’s “Sonata in A Major,” and a special encore of Clara Schumann’s “3 Romances.”
Bell has played with many of the top orchestras in the world during a stellar four-decade career, while Denk is considered one of America’s foremost pianists and is recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize and the MacArthur Genius Fellowship,.
The week wrapped at Hahn Hall on the picturesque Miraflores campus
Ridley-Tree daughter Suzette Chafey with SBMA Chief Curator James Glisson (photo by Priscilla)
Afsoon Abtahi with Valentino, Barbara White, and Kathryn Martin with Angel (photo by Priscilla)
Jim Melillo, Ken Pfeiffer, and hostess Gretchen Lieff (photo by Priscilla)
The festive group having a little pre-holiday fun (photo by Priscilla)
Xian Zhang shows her conducting prowess (photo by Emma Matthews)
with New Jersey Symphony Orchestra conductor Xian Zhang with Dorothy Chang’s “Northern Star,” Zoltán Kodály’s “Dances of Galánta,” wrapping with Dvořák’s “Symphony No. 9 ‘From the New World.’”
Zhang moved to the U.S. in 1998 as music director of the University of Cincinnati’s concert orchestra before serving as cover conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 2002 to 2004.
Court Time
Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry faces a fiery courtroom showdown with the family of a dying veteran forced to surrender his Montecito estate to her in a year-long property dispute.
Ailing Carl Westcott , 84, sold his eight-bedroom, two acre estate to Perry in 2020 for $15 million, but days later tried to cancel the deal claiming he was under the influence on painkillers when he signed.
A court ruled the contract was legal and late last year Katy was declared the owner of the 1930s property which boasts two guesthouses, a swimming pool, and tennis court.
The “Fireworks” singer still wants around $6 million, claiming the bedridden octogenarian, currently receiving hospice care for Huntington’s Disease, still owes the considerable sum for lost income and repairs.
But she’ll have to make her case in person after a judge ruled Perry must give evidence in an upcoming damages trial where she’ll come face to face with Westcott’s furious relatives who say the legal battle has “marred their beloved patriarch’s final days.”
According to the London Daily Mail, Westcott’s family all plan to attend Los Angeles Superior Court for the hearing.
The sprawling 9,285 square foot compound in the Santa Ynez foothills, has been registered under the owner DDove15, a nod to Katy’s threeyear-old daughter Daisy Dove Bloom, since May.
Perry has placed $9 million in escrow to pay Westcott, a former member of the U.S, Army 101st Airborne, who founded 1-800-Flowers.
Hidden Pain
Oscar winner Kevin Costner has recalled a not-so-pleasant time on set while making his 2016 film Hidden Figures
The Carpinteria actor, who played a top NASA executive, was very sick at the end of the shoot about three African American women contributing to astronaut John Glenn’s trip into space.
“I’ve never walked drunk on set. I’ve never walked high on set, but I was on morphine for the last two weeks of Hidden Figures,” Costner, 69, tells People
Kevin developed kidney stones and had to work ten days with an IV drip.
“I don’t even know how. About three days of it was normal and then something happened to me,” he explained.
“I never missed a day of work. I sat in my trailer with a morphine drip in my arm.
“I had to roll my sleeves down because of the bruising from the IV. It was very painful. I wanted to cry, but everybody was watching, so I didn’t.”
That’s a Wrap
Meghan Markle has supposedly wrapped up filming for her new cooking and home show, according to The Daily Beast
Royal fans are one step closer to the Riven Rock resident’s lifestyle series which is being produced by Sony
Pictures Television’s The Interactive Property Company.
The show, which has yet to receive a name or air date, will “celebrate the joys of cooking, decorating, entertainment, and friendship” as part of Prince Harry and Meghan’s $100 million Netflix deal.
The show has been filmed at a number of locales, including the Montecito estate of Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, two miles from their Rockbridge Road estate.
Late Night Reflections
Oprah Winfrey has recalled the moment she was body shamed by my late TV colleague Joan Rivers when Rivers was hosting her first appearance on The Tonight Show
Oprah, 70, remembered the interview and her reaction while appearing on Jamie Kern Lima’s show podcast.
“She said to me, ‘Tell me, why are you so fat?’ on national television. Well, I just love potato chips, Joan.
“No, seriously. ‘Shame on you, shame on you!’
“Then she said I could return to the Burbank set, but only if I lost weight. ‘You need to lose 15 pounds.
“Of course I didn’t lose 15 pounds and ate my way to another ten pounds!”
For the Defense
The Environmental Defense Center, one of the nation’s longest running nonprofit environmental law firms working to protect the California coast and natural resources, has added a tony triumvirate of highly qualified new staff members to the team.
Jeremy Frankel, a Goleta native, is a new staff attorney, with Matt Campa, who serving as a legal fellow with EDC,
is starting a new position in environmental justice outreach.
And Brandi Webber, a longtime resident of our Eden by the Beach, has filled the position of office manager and event coordinator.
The new hires support the organization’s long-term goals to defend nature and advance environmental justice on the Central Coast.
Sightings
Summerland racketeer Maria Sharapova in the Royal Box at Wimbledon... Oscar winner Kevin Costner noshing at the Coral Casino... The Weakest Link host Jane Lynch at Lilac Montecito on CVR.
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
Bell and Denk, the dynamic duo (photo by Zach Mendez)
Jeremy Frankel (courtesy photo)
Matt Campa (courtesy photo)
Brandi Webber (courtesy photo)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
ONGOING
Music al Fresco – Concerts in the Park, the much beloved summertime frolic featuring free live music on the Great Meadow in Chase Palm Park, hosts the only non-Santa Barbara act on the schedule; Britney and the BSides, on July 11. Perch on chairs or sprawl on blankets adorning the gently-sloping hill facing the permanent concrete stage. Find your groove amid swaying palms, ocean views, and unreasonably danceable tunes from the newish Ventura cover band specializing in Top 40 songs spanning the last seven decades. Next week (July 11): Area 51, SB’s longest-running party band. WHEN: 5 pm opening act, headliner 6-7:30 pm
WHERE: 300 W. Cabrillo Blvd.
COST: free
INFO: (805) 564-5418 or www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/ recreation/events/parkrec/concerts.asp
El Capitan Canyon’s late afternoon shows on Saturdays features select local artists performing on a stage at the Canyon Market Garden, just a 20-minute oceanside drive from town. This week (July 13): Soul Majestic, the mojo-stirring reggae band. WHEN: 4-7 pm
WHERE: El Capitan Canyon Campground, 11560 Calle Real COST: $20
INFO: (805) 685-3887 or https://elcapitancanyon.com/activities/#summerconcert-series
The 2024 Downtown Santa Barbara Live Music Series, which takes place every Wednesday on the 700 Block of State Street (between Ortega and De La Guerra), brings local bands to the heart of town, and in the very heart of summer. Grab dinner or a treat from a neighboring restaurant or bring your own food and set up your chair near 718 State Street to soak up the sounds and the summer vibes. This week (July 10): Lazy Daughter.
Summer Films After Sunset – The uber-popular UCSB A&L free summer films series takes place every Friday evening under the stars at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden, with a 2024 theme of “Sun, Surf, and Cinema.” The focus is on that middle word on July 12 with the surf-heist flick Point Break, starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves on opposite sides of the law.
WHEN: 8:30 pm
WHERE: Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Garden, 1100 Anacapa St. COST: free
INFO: www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu
Carpinteria’s Movies in the Park has landed at Linden Park, with free screenings every Wednesday through August 14. Blankets, lawn chairs and picnic are welcome for the shows that start shortly after sunset. This week (July 17): You’ve got a friend in Pixar’s groundbreaking animated classic Toy Story. WHEN: Sunset
WHERE: Linden Park, Linden Ave, Carpinteria COST: free
INFO: Instagram: @carpmovies
THURSDAY,
JULY
11-SUNDAY, JULY 14
SOhO Turns 30 – It was a full three decades ago that Gail and Bob Hansen purchased the fledgling restaurant and music club SOhO after deciding not to do a relocation when Bob’s employer moved from Carpinteria to below Los Angeles. Since then, the couple and their family members have not only doubled the size of the original place but also vastly upgraded the stage, sound, and lighting systems as well as the interior. The moves long ago established SOhO as an upscale club with an intimate feel that offers entertainment, both local and touring, seven nights a week, earning a national reputation as the place to play for audiences numbering up to 300. The family still runs SOhO – now mostly Gail and son Tyler – and having survived the pandemic are marking the major milestone with a month-long celebration. The first show takes place on July 12 with No Simple Highway, the local Grateful Dead tribute band, which is also coincidentally celebrating their 10-year anniversary… The show the night before is a perfect example of the often-spectacular SOhO schedule; a dynamic double bill with singer-songwriters Alejandro Escovedo and James Mastro Escovedo’s 45-year arc took shape in Austin with the roots rock/alt.country bands Rank and File and True Believers (with Jon Dee Graham), and he collaborated with Ryan Adams on Whiskeytown’s brilliant Strangers Almanac album. Escovedo has been a solo act since 1992, releasing nearly 20 albums, including the brand-new Echo Dancing. Opener Mastro’s pedigree is also exemplary as the singer-songwriter-guitarist’s experience includes CBGB stalwarts The Richard Lloyd Group, the great New Jersey band The Bongos, and a Who’s Who of singer-songwriters and rock artists over the decades. He’s also part of Escovedo’s current live band… On Sunday, SOhO hosts the monthly matinee of the Santa Barbara Jazz Society featuring the local debut of Co & Company. The jazz quintet fronted by vocalist Colene Riffo also features Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist Carol Chaikin. At night, it’s one of the periodic visits from Dreamland, local singer-guitarist Kimberly Ford’s jazz and pop-tinged celebration of Joni Mitchell
EDC’s tgif! – For more than 20 years, the Environmental Defense Center’s tgif! events have been a staple of the south-central coast’s summer season, a gathering of regional nonprofit and environmental organizations, elected officials and other members of the community that has often been called the best happy hour in town. EDC once again brings our community together in the charming courtyard of its downtown headquarters with live music, refreshing beverages and local food vendors. The appetizers are no longer free, but items are available for purchase from a food truck for folks who sip and sup while sharing ideas and upbeat stories, including short presentations from four enviro-oriented nonprofit sponsors about their current work. This month’s beverage providers are Captain Fatty’s Brewery and Zaca Mesa Winery, while the aptly named acoustic rock n’ country cover band Porch Critters delivers the music from the EDC’s porch.
WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm
WHERE: 906 Garden St.
COST: $20 (includes two free drinks)
INFO: (805) 963-1622 or www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/tgif/
Banner Year for French Wave – SBIFF’s mid-summer cinematic excursion to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe once again dives deep into recent French movies in what has become a much-anticipated mini-festival for Francophile film lovers – they for whom SBIFF’s once-yearly Gallic dip just isn’t enough. Among the solid 11 films screening at SBIFF’s Riviera Theater are several award winners, including opening night’s The Goldman Case, whose star Arieh Worthalter earned the Best Actor César (France’s equivalent to the Oscar), while actress Adèle Exarchopoulos – whose
12
Love’s Labors – Air Supply, the Australian soft rock duo that sold over 100 million albums worldwide and scored eight topfive hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1980s, wafts into Santa Ynez for their “The Lost in Love Experience Tour.” Original Supply-ers Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock are still at it more than four decades later, playing their popular romantic ballads for audiences worldwide, crooning in concert such classics as “Lost in Love,” “All out of Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Love and Other Bruises,” and “Making Love Out of Nothing at All”. WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: Samala Showroom at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 E. Hwy. 246, Santa Ynez
COST: $49-79
INFO: (800) CHUMASH (248-6274) or www.chumashcasino.com
breakthrough (and César winning) performance in 2013’s Blue is the Warmest Color retains its enchanting/haunting aura – won the Best Supporting Actress César for last year’s All Your Faces. Not to be outdone, the incredibly talented and prolific Isabelle Huppert, the most nominated actress in the history of the César Awards, appears in the closing night film The Crime is Mine. Also of note, the drama Les Indésirables, a sequel of sorts to Ladj Ly’s 2019 crime thriller debut Les Misérables WHEN: July 12-18
WHERE: 2044 Alameda Padre Serra
COST: $12 per film, full festival passes available INFO: (805) 963-0023 or www.sbiff.org
SUNDAY, JULY 14
Dolphin Derby Festival – One of Santa Barbara’s newer festivals has altered its name for 2024, substituting Derby for Dive, but the signature activity is still the same: a series of dolphin races featuring thousands of miniature toy dolphins speeding down a giant inflatable 200-foot watercourse. The dolphins are “adopted” for a $10 fee, supporting the cash and other prizes awarded to race winners and fest sponsor Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise, a longstanding service org. that in turn supports local nonprofits and international humanitarian causes. The ultra family-friendly festival also has multiple musical performers making a splash, including DJ Darla Bea, Elements, and Do No Harm. Cousins Maine Lobster, Gloria’s Gourmet Kitchen, Tinker’s, and Kona Ice are among the food trucks with snacks and meals available for sale, while adults can join the festivities in the beer and wine garden. The dog-friendly event will even host a Yappy Hour.
WHEN: 11 am-6 pm
WHERE: Chase Palm Park, 300 W. Cabrillo Blvd.
COST: free admission
INFO: www.dolphinderby.com
SATURDAY, JULY 13
Auto Zone at the Mission – Cars were still a century in the future when the Santa Barbara Mission was founded by the Spanish Franciscans in 1786. Now, more than a quarter of a millennium later, the Mission is set to host its first-ever Old Mission Motor Show, featuring a stunning array of meticulously preserved vintage vehicles arrayed on the front lawn. In this elegance meets heritage event, everything from American muscle cars to vintage European cars will be present to tell a story of bygone eras, when the vehicles embodied the spirit of automotive craftsmanship, with the setting reflecting its own history as an iconic stop on California’s El Camino Real. Beyond the gleaming chrome and polished finishes, the gathering serves a noble purpose as all proceeds benefit conservation efforts to preserve the rich history and architectural marvels of Old Mission Santa Barbara. WHEN: 9 am-2 pm
WHERE: 2201 Laguna St.
COST: free admission
INFO: (805) 682-4713 ext. 196 or www.santabarbaramission.org/mission-motor-show
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