Faherty Forever

SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA

Meet Dinkey – This true-life rescue hog has a heart of gold and a new book that tells the tale – come meet this precious pig and its feline bff, P.18

FAHERTY FOREVER

Richie’s Wrap

Need a fade? Time for that winter trim? Well, it’s also time for Richie’s 13th Annual Holiday Tri-Charity Fundraiser! Swing by and support, page 12

Fa La La Mama

It’s giving season, and where there are moms and families in need,

Mothers’ Helpers and their elves are here to give, page 28

celebrate the season with late-night easy eats and live music every night

ate 5pm-??

Pop-Up L’image – Art, aerial, and more… L’image Gallery is bringing new life to an old space – but only for two days, P.24

MUS Ribbon Cutting – After years of work, Montecito Union has finished its renovations – here’s a glimpse of what’s new, P.26

Mission Scholars lifts the academically underserved, page 30

Explore More this holiday season when you visit Solvang, California and Vinland Hotel & Lounge. Here you’ll find the ideal setting for making lasting holiday memories with family and friends. Toast to the spirit of the season on-site at V Lounge, shop for everyone on your ‘nice list’ in local boutique shops, or venture out for any number of festive events featured during Julefest.

Wherever your explorations take you, make Vinland Hotel & Lounge your home base for all your holiday adventures.

In Business – With surf vibes and ethical practices, Faherty comes to Montecito and is already making a splash

Beings and Doings – I was there when Gaddafi’s coup seized power from King Idris and changed Libya forever. More to the point, I got a Johnny Astro for Christmas.

Montecito Miscellany – Scholarship Foundation lunch, La Arcada and Rosewood delivers holiday cheer, and more miscellany

in the ‘Cito Meeting at MA – Discussing the Music Academy’s revised CUP at the Land Use Meeting

Town

Richie’s annual holiday fundraiser, plus the Hathaway tree and the parade of boats get their

Society Invites – The tree is up and lights are lit on Coast Village as the community came out for CVA and Rosewood’s ceremony

Cacao Ceremony – An evening of storytelling, soil, and ceremony in Montecito celebrated the ‘culture’ in agriculture

Please contact us to see how we can help you or to provide a second opinion.

Jerrad

Burford

Senior Vice President Financial Advisor 805-695-7108 jerrad.burford@ morganstanleypwm.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

18 Meet Dinkey – This pig has quite a tale to tell –you can read all about it, and so can your kids with Dinkey’s very own book

20 Your Westmont – The RC car race, women’s luncheon, and the college lights up the season

22 Brilliant Thoughts – What’s luckier than getting to hear Ashleigh’s musings? Maybe his thoughts on good fortune will bring you a little…

24

L’image Gallery – Aerialists, fire, and plenty of art will fill a previously empty Yanonali space –at least for two days

26 On Education – After two years of construction, Montecito Union School opens its newly refurbished spaces

DignityMoves – All Saints helps raise funds for DignityMoves – the nonprofit using innovative models to end homelessness

28 Mothers’ Helpers – ‘Tis the season of giving and gifting, and one organization is helping mothers fulfill Santa’s list

30 The Giving List – Although still a newer nonprofit, the Mission Scholars has a big milestone to celebrate

Jeanine J. Burford Senior Vice President Financial Advisor 805-695-7109 jeanine.burford@ morganstanleypwm.com

32 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – An antique medal tells of the secret happenings and motivations of moose, elks, and buffaloes

34 On Entertainment – A choral buffet of holiday sing alongs, plus Pink Martini’s Thomas Lauderdale talks Pee-wee Herman

36

Home for the Holiday – No rush – there’s still plenty of time to get your holiday shopping under wraps as you scurry along State Street

45 Naughty Nutcracker – There’s dance, charity, and a little risqué play at Teresa Kuskey and Rick Oshay’s annual holiday event

47 Montecito Health Coach – Once the kids have left the roost, it may be hard to find one’s direction again – here are some tips

52

Calendar of Events – Art & Soul’s new spot, ice skating in the land of lemons, a dance brunch, and other happenings

54 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads

55 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles Local Business Directory

In Business

Faherty Opens in Montecito

by Tiana Molony

Twin brothers Mike and Alex Faherty, who had long dreamed of launching their own fashion brand, realized their vision in 2013 when they founded Faherty Brand. Now, over a decade later, they’ve opened their 76th store in Montecito – on Coast Village Road, no less.

Since the grand opening on Friday, December 6th, store leader Michael Holden said they’ve received waves of positive feedback. “What I’ve heard from our customers, and I’m just gonna choose to believe them, is this is what they’ve been waiting for,” he shared.

Those who are longtime fans of the brand have already stopped in to shop. During my visit to Faherty, two Montecito residents told me they used to drive down to the Malibu location just to shop at the Faherty there. Now, they don’t have to. “We’ve been liking Faherty since it was on Instagram,” they shared. One of them even admitted to peering into the window of the Montecito storefront every day until it opened.

It’s the type of clothes you might expect to see people wearing on a July Fourth beach awaiting fireworks. It’s comfy and casual but can also be dressed up if desired.

Although Faherty is available at K. Frank, having their own store enables them to expand their presence in Montecito and showcase a more comprehensive selection of their products. The spot at 1155 Coast Village Road was formerly home to Marcus, a high-end retail store.

The space is two stories, with the men’s section at the bottom and the women’s section on top. What’s particularly unique about the building is the top-floor balcony – it has a bar and a seating area that, in the future, will host various events,

including partnerships with local artisans, fundraisers, and other private events.

The store, and consequently the brand, exudes Southern California surfer vibes.

Surfboards are lined in a rack on the bottom floor, and a projector upstairs loops videos of surfing on the wall. It’s a cozy space that convinces you to stick around for a while, even without shopping. It’s just that invit ing. “We’re all about good vibes, as funny as it sounds,” joked Colby O’Connor Faherty’s Southwest area leader. And good vibes it is, for anyone who steps into the store. Both Holden and O’Connor shared that they’ve noticed more men shopping for themselves at Faherty in Montecito than they’ve wit nessed at other stores. “The guys that have been here are loving it,” shared Holden. “And they seem to be having a good time.”

Faherty doesn’t need a dedicated boy friend’s and husband’s couch in the store because the guys can shop alongside

Business Page 46

Holiday joy Family Cheer

Celebrate the holidays in the decorating, pony rides, and storytime with Mrs. Claus indulge in festive sips like hot cocoa, cocktail specials, Friday, December 20th from 1PM to 4PM (and a visit from mrs. claus) and a holiday afternoon tea garden with gingerbread

Faherty Montecito is now open for business (courtesy photo)

There’s something for everyone – including book lovers (courtesy photo)

THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON

IN THE AMERICAN RIVIERA

NUTCRACKER TEA

December 14th and December 21st 11 am to 1 pm

Rejoice in the tinkling sounds of magical Champagne flutes, fresh savories and fine pastries along with joyous holiday performances.

Embrace the magic of the holiday season with Nutcracker Tea, featuring a trio of live interactive vignettes performed by State Street Ballet Academy.  Sip custom-blended herbal teas and indulge in culinary delights.

$125 per person, tax and gratuity included, and a memento for children. Complimentary valet parking. Advanced reservations are required. For more information, please visit our website.

Beings and Doings A Child’s Christmas in Tripoli

by Jeff Wing

Christmas day of ‘68 began like most days; with a guy bellowing singsong prayers in the dark from a mosque somewhere just off base. The mounted lo-fi bullhorn gave the already mysterioso liturgy a surreal 1930s radio feel – think “Libyan Rudy Vallee” if that helps. If that doesn’t help, I get it.

Though we’d lived just outside Tripoli for nearly a year, the morning prayers remained a moderately freaky wake-up call to this kid recently of Cheyenne, Wyoming – more specifically F.E. Warren Air Force Base, about three miles west of Cheyenne. In 1967 – the flower-bedecked Summer of Love – Warren Air Force Base was home to the 90 th Strategic Missile Wing and a subterranean cluster of Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the event of a nuclear exchange, Warren would have been one of the first American sites to be vaporized in hellfire. These description-beggaring cataclysms wholly escaped the attentions of this jug-eared seven-year-old.

What I principally remember of Warren AFB was the MPs at the base gate smilingly saluting us as our bus drove us into Cheyenne proper and third grade. Clark Elementary on House Avenue – like many lovely things, now gone – was right across the street from where my best civilian friend lived: Kim Daifotis. I also vividly remember eating at a table in our kitchen and – when parental backs were turned – hurriedly shoveling peas off my dinner plate and behind the handily adjacent Air Force-issue fridge. Few things in life or my fevered imagination scared me the way peas did. What haunted me was the inevitable day movers would arrive to load the fridge onto a truck, revealing the mountain of covert peas

and exposing my years of deception. “JEFFRRYYYY!!!” I was terrorized by the idea. Nuclear Schmuclear.

Yes, I had a vivid imagination – not to mention a vaguely jellybean-shaped head and a strabismal, misaligned right eye. Family photos of that period feature a placidly smiling American family and one skinny little oddball, usually in pajamas and eyes akimbo – a chameleon bewildered by too many flies.

Gulf

I was raised on Air Force bases, my first stop (or appearance, as it were) was Barksdale AFB in Louisiana, near Bossier City. My last posting –my dad’s posting, technically – was Wheelus AFB outside Tripoli. When my dad received what would be his last Air Force assignment, we drove from Cheyenne to a bewilderingly idyllic place on Florida’s Gulf Coast called Treasure Island. It was absolutely nothing like Cheyenne. The trip was my first glimpse of ocean and I was completely flabbergasted. The several Gulf Coast months there in a tumbledown beachfront apartment are some of the most piercingly redolent sense memories of my life.

I befriended Jimmy – a skinny little kid my age whose southern accent

Beings & Doings Page 454

Quarters 4G, Wheelus Air Force Base

Ho Ho Hump. Santa astride a desert reindeer, Wheelus American Elementary school, ‘68

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Montecito Miscellany Lunch with a Side of Dough

by Richard Mineards

The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara’s 2024 Community Leaders lunch saw 315 guests descending on the Hilton to mark yet another successful year during which they raised a hefty $7.1 million for 1,800 students, bringing the total to more than $150 million since its founding in 1962.

However, 1,600 eligible students had their applications turned down because of lack of funds, said Melinda Cabrera, president and CEO.

Armonitace

Billie Maunz – Executive Director of the foundation from 1990 to 2006 who went on to found the local consulting firm Nonprofit Management & Fundraising Solutions – looked back on the organization’s relationship with the late George and Dale Cavalletto and the subsequent Cavalletto Charities.

Maunz was also named beneficiary of the annual South Coast Business & Technology Awards ceremony.

As featured speaker, UCSB professor of economics Dr. Peter Rupert emphasized the value of a degree, and the disparity in earnings between young people with degrees and those without.

Edgar Olozagaste, 18, a former student at Santa Maria High now studying computer science at Cal Poly, spoke eloquently of his difficult upbringing in a large family

and how the foundation’s grant had helped guide him to the right path.

Among the helpful horde were former Mayor Helene Schneider, Joe Cole, Danna McGrew, Janet Garufis, George Leis, Rebecca Anderson, Joe Campanelli, Ed and Sue Birch, Jack and Marguerite Bianchi, Jeff Giordano, Greg Gorga, David Williams, Vicki Hazard, Carole Halsted, Jason Jones, and Heidi Holly

A JACK-ed Crowd

Classical music fans hit the “jack-pot” at the Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall when New York’s JACK Quartet celebrated their landmark 20th anniversary season.

Founded by four alumni of the Eastman School of Music, the Fab Four – violist John Pickford Richards, violinists Ari Streisfeld and Christopher Otto, and cellist Kevin McFarland –devised of their own first names an acronym perfectly suited to their string quartet.

They have been nominated for three Grammy Awards.

The entertaining show with 11 pieces reflecting baroque, medieval, and other music was part of the Mariposa concert series which debuted in 2022 – furthering the academy’s mission to bring

Miscellany Page 504

Tracey Solomon, Danna McGrew, Melinda Cabrera, and Dawn McGrew (photo by Jay Farbman)

Tessa Kaganoff, Pamela Gann, and Kelly Knight (photo by Jay Farbman)

Anna Burnbaum and Guille Gil-Reynoso (photo by Jay Farbman)

CRIME IN THE ‘CITO

Burglary, Trespassing and Battery / 2700 block Padaro Lane, Montecito

Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024, at 13:50 hrs

Deputies responded to a burglary in progress. Dispatch advised that the suspect had jumped the gate and was on the property running from security. While responding, security fought with the subject and ended up tasing him. Deputies arrived and took subject into custody for the violations of 602PC and 242 PC. It was discovered subject arrived at the location via Uber and attempted to gain access to the property but was initially denied by security. Subject then jumped a wall on the north side of the property to gain access. Subject was not able to make it inside any of the residences on the property because security located him. Subject was transported and booked at SBCJ without incident.

Vandalism / 100 block Olive St, Summerland

Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024, at 14:20 hrs

Homeowner called to report an unknown suspect used an object to shatter the glass door located at the rear of the home. Officer contacted the property manager for a walkthrough, no items appeared to be missing, nor did items inside the home appear to be disturbed. It is unknown how or why the door was vandalized. Photos were taken of the door.

High-speed Motorcycle Crash Death / SB Hwy 101 off ramp at San Ysidro Road, Montecito

Friday, Dec 6, 2024, at 23:06 hrs

A male was found by a passerby, lying unresponsive on the southbound highway 101 offramp at San Ysidro Road. Medical aid was rendered, however, he succumbed to his injuries. The decedent was involved in a high-speed single vehicle motorcycle crash. His remains were transported to the coroner’s bureau by Medical Assistant [MA] and his NOK [Next of Kin] notified in person by LASD in Inglewood.

Forced Entry Burglary / 2200 block Whitney Ave, Summerland

Saturday, Dec 7, 2024, at 13:00 hrs

RP called and reported an unknown suspect forced entry into the rear bedroom of his mother’s house. The suspect used an object to pry open the French doors to the bedroom and entered the house. At the time of the report, no items were believed to be missing.

YOUR LETTERS MATTER!

The Montecito Journal thrives on community input… Have thoughts on a local issue? Comments on one of our articles? Contact us at letters@montecitojournal.net

Meeting at MA Music Academy CUP Updates at Land Use Meeting

by Joanne A Calitri

The Montecito Association Land Use Committee (LUC) December meeting was held Tuesday, December 3, in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom. The meeting was called to order by its Chair, Dorinne Lee Johnson. Attendees were the Land Use Committee members, MA ED Houghton Hyatt , President Doug Black, Music Academy of the West’s President and CEO Shauna Quill, presented along with her staff – CFO and VP of Administration Mimi Do and VP of Marketing and Communications Kerry Allen – as well as Montecito resident John Sanford, who stated he is the President of the Butterfly Beach Neighborhood Association. Quill came with a PowerPoint presentation which outlined the 2004 and new 2024 Conditional Use Permits. It was well noted that the MAW already has received the approvals they need to complete their projects and move forward since the SB County Board of Supervisors meeting November 5, 2024. Cogent points she made were:

- Neighbors have a page on their website with all updates and also discounted performance tickets

- For Significant Life Events (SLEs) use, MAW is building that pricing now, and hopes by January 2025 to put it out to the community

The Music Academy’s updated CUP (Conditional Use Permit) amends its 2004 CUP to:

Montecito Tide Guide

- Increase operational flexibility, while avoiding impacts to neighbors

- Provide additional employee housing with the conversion of the current retail space to two housing units, which they were to begin with: one three-bedroom house and one two-bedroom house. They are finishing up the paperwork on that next week. (“We’d love to add more housing but have no plans for it.”)

- 15 Significant Life Events of 175 attendees, carpool/shuttle if > 50 attendees

- Amplified Outdoor Spoken Voice 17 times per year

- New noise impact avoidance measures

- Add 25 Summer students, still housed at Westmont College

- Retain 50 permanent theater seats, remove 50 elsewhere

- New trip reduction measures

Next, Sanford talked about what the neighbors were observing for traffic

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Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz

Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing

Gossip | Richard Mineards

History | Hattie Beresford

Humor | Ernie Witham

Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri

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Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook

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flow at MAW and concerns over the now approved use of the property for life events such as weddings. He said, “We have nothing against the Music Academy. In 2004, weddings were not allowed and now they are. We have 69 out of 70 neighbors against it. Other Montecito CUPs do not have permission for weddings up through 10 pm with both indoor and outdoor facility use, with amplified voice and music. We want the count of attendees transparent to the neighbors. The MA has a history of reporting their own numbers. We asked for that transparency and the Board of Supervisors ignored us. There is no system of checks and balances. We want to be on the same page and work together.”

Quill rebutted with, “Our CUP doesn’t require us to report traffic. We do have to report attendance. We are

Shauna Quill presented the Music Academy’s new CUP at the Land Use Meeting (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

implementing shuttles and carpools. There is a difference of opinion. The Board of Supervisors did spend time with both parties. We have an opendoor policy. We take the stewardship of our property seriously; we are conscious of it because we want to share it with you.”

Johnson thanked the presenters, and they left the meeting. From there, Johnson, her board and Hyatt discussed what the Land Use Committee should do regarding the issues between the Music Academy and the neighbors. It was decided that open and transparent communication between both parties must continue. Johnson will present issues to Montecito Association Board at its December meeting for any further action.

411: www.montecitoassociation.org

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Our Town

Richie’s Barber Shop 13th Annual Holiday Tri-Charity Funder

by Joanne A Calitri

Richie Ramirez and head barber Jessica Jay launched the Barbershop’s 13th Annual Charity fundraiser for the holidays, on Friday, December 6. The annual charity event was started humbly in 2011 with Richie’s love of kids. He launched first the “Toys for Tots” where he collected three oversized moving boxes of toys for kids that were distributed throughout the Santa Barbara area. Since 2021 with Jessica, they have added adopting pets from the local animal shelter. And last year, they decided to have three charities for holiday donations.

I met everyone at the Barbershop on Coast Village Road to do an annual giving promo photo and quick fact interviews for our readers.

This year, you can again choose from three nonprofits: Domestic Violence Solutions [DVS] providing 24-hour emergency shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence, Adam’s Angels for the homeless, and C.A.R.E.4Paws, which supports pet families with various programs, serving SB County through SLO County since 2009.

Director of Development for DVS, Tina Ballue, would be thankful for donations of gift cards for groceries, movie passes, kids’ toys, puzzles, coloring books, sports gear, and new women’s undergarments, jackets, pillows and blankets. Ballue shares, “Richie’s Barbershop serves as a vital community hub, fostering connections and promoting unity among our community through open dialogue and various initiatives. By creating a welcoming atmosphere, it empowers individuals to support one another and build lasting relationships that enhance the overall vibrancy of the community, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication and generosity of their support.”

Founder of Adam’s Angels in Montecito is Adam McKaig, whose organization helps the homeless. Adam’s Angels needs new jackets for all ages and genders, and

blankets. He invites everyone to join in the annual Holiday Luncheon for the homeless on December 22, 12 pm, at the SB Veterans Center.

Talking with the reps for C.A.R.E.4Paws – Marketing & Community Programs

Manager Julia Black-Devre, and Board President Chris Harris with Pet Ambassador, Lulu the Pitbull. They explained that for the past 15 years their organization provides for pet families, “pets are for certain family members,” from any economic status – homeless peeps with pets through middle class – who need funds for pet food, pet care and health exams, animal training and more. Their organization has two mobile units and partners with local shelters and organizations to collab on these services to prevent pet homelessness and suffering. Statistically, they are working to reduce shelter intake numbers and euthanasia.

Our Town Page 494

Installation, Service, Alarm Monitoring, and Patrol — From Our New Home in the Santa Barbara Area to Yours

Front: DVS’ Emma Ingledew, Chris Harris with Lulu, and Adam McKaig; Back row: Tina Ballue, Julia Black-Devre, with barbers Summer Vesey, Jessica Jay, Richie Ramirez, Alexis Dakin, Carlie Kuhns, and Kenzie Caldwell (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

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Get a fresh start this new year and enjoy all the benefits of Montecito living in this elegant, serene, and steps from the ocean, coastal residence.

Society Invites CVA & Rosewood Miramar’s 2nd Annual CVR Holiday

by Joanne A Calitri

Your Society gal shares with you that Montecito is always the best for parties. Our little town is looking more like Rodeo Drive with our exclusive shops and restaurants, and now with the holiday lights and décor, including a tree and soon a menorah.

This year marks the 2nd Annual Coast Village Association’s Holiday Tree lighting soirée, held on Saturday, December 7, from 4 to 7 pm. The event was co-hosted and sponsored by the CVA’s Board President Trey Pinner, directors, and Executive Director Beth Sullivan, with the Rosewood Miramar Managing Director Rick Fidel. The 30-foot live tree, a real Santa Claus, the North Pole mailbox, and a hot chocolate stand with candy canes were donated by the Rosewood Miramar Beach. The tree is located in front of Richie’s Barbershop and Renaud’s Bakery on CVR. VIPs seen along with Pinner, Sullivan, and Fidel were Hannah Rock, CVA directors Jeff Harding, Trish Davis, and Rob Kooyman, the Montecito Association Executive Director Houghton Hyatt, and the Montecito Community Foundation’s Ruthie Green

The program had mini speeches by the teams who thanked the CVR businesses and Montecito community for their support. Everyone did the countdown to the tree lighting led by Santa Claus and SB Mayor Randy Rowse. Entertainment was by the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony Quartet and a cappella singers from the Adderley School.

Trey Pinner, Beth Sullivan, Rick Fidel, and Mayor Randy Rowse (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Hannah Rock and Rick Fidel picked up a passenger needing a ride (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Rob Kooyman, Trish Davis, Jeff Harding, Trey Pinner, and Kevin Frank (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Cacao Ceremony

From Soil to Soul: A Journey Through Culture, Connection, and Regeneration in Montecito

by Meighann A. Helene

On a brisk, starry evening last Friday, December 6, Montecito hosted an event that transcended a typical gathering. Hosted by Farmer’s Footprint and Project Biome, initiatives championed by visionary Dr. Zach Bush, the evening was rife with storytelling, sensory experiences, and cultural appreciation. Held in an intimate venue redolent with art and music, the event’s effect was to powerfully remind attendees that to move forward, we must first reach back – honoring and utilizing the wisdom of the past to guide our stewardship of the planet.

Guests were welcomed with ceremonial cacao upon arrival, a gesture that activated them into the space. Sourced from regenerative farms in Papua New Guinea and infused with Rongoā Māori medicinal plants, the cacao symbolized the balance of nature’s energies. Though each guest sampled only one of three blends – feminine, masculine, or neutral – the experience set the tone for an evening in which participants were invited to connect deeply with the Earth and one another.

Following this activation, attendees literally journeyed through an immersive, multi-sensory space, starting with “Always” and moving through “Yesterday,” “Today,” and finally “Tomorrow.” Each room offered a distinct narrative layer, drawing participants into themes of reconnection, regeneration, and rewilding. Along the way, they enjoyed culinary delights from India, the Chumash, Senegal, Brazil, and Angola. These included breads, rice dishes, samosas, stews, and more. A grand banquet and specialty cocktails awaited guests at the journey’s end, celebrating global culinary traditions.

The final room, titled “2042,” offered a sobering glimpse into an Orwellian future if humanity fails to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. It featured two actors in lab coats wielding spray bottles, symbolizing a grim world where synthetic sustenance replaces real food. This nod to dystopian futures

like Soylent Green and THX 1138 left a lasting impression, emphasizing the real-world urgency of regenerating our increasingly exhausted soil.

Throughout the evening, art deepened the experience, as it will. A photography exhibit by artist Guigo Foggiatto showcased images from his book The Unseen Journey, which captures untold stories behind the nonprofit Playing for Change. The organization uses music and culture to unite communities, and instruments associated with its work were also featured, adding resonance to the evening.

The program officially began with a ceremonial activation led by Dr. Brett Jones, a natural healer, grounding the space and preparing attendees for transformative dialogue. Aubrey Yee, Executive Director of Project Biome Global, followed with an introduction to the organization’s mission of fostering global environmental stewardship. Alana Mooi, Managing Director of Farmer’s Footprint, shared her vision for creating a regenerative future, emphasizing how community-driven efforts are key to healing both people and the planet.

Alana sat down with sisters Belle Hahn and Lily Hahn Shining for a heartfelt discussion about the role of philanthropy in supporting these movements. They spoke

Cacao Ceremony Page 424

Daniello Pozas, Alana Mooi, Belle Hahn, Guigo Foggiatto, Blair Rose, and Dr. Brett Jones (photo by Meighann A. Helene)

The evening led guests through curated storytelling spaces (photo by Meighann A. Helene)

Meet Dinkey

This Little Piggy Went to Greener

Pastures: The True Story of How Kindness Saved a Little Pig

by Christopher Matteo Connor

Dear readers, meet Dinkey, the pot-bellied pig with one hell of a story. Destined for an early date with the great beyond, the mysterious powers of fate and chance led Dinkey to Diane Dieterich, owner of Greener Pastures, the farm sanctuary in Arroyo Grande giving neglected animals set for slaughter a second chance at a prosperous life.

It’s no secret that Dinkey is the star of the farm sanctuary. Her story is one fit for the big pig screen. Or, if we’re starting small: a children’s book. Which is exactly why Dieterich and her team wrote Dinkey: The True Story of How Kindness Saved a Little Pig. Written by Dieterich and Bridget Forrest and illustrated by Samantha Buck, the trials and tribulations of Dinkey – a pig destined to live –comprise a story illustrating how kindness can quite literally save a life.

When Dinkey’s home was lost to a wildfire, she was found scared, severely sunburned, and morbidly obese — with a belly that dragged on the ground and fat rolls so bad they rendered her blind. She was in such a distressed state that the shelter she was taken to wanted to euthanize her. Until Dieterich took her in. With some serious TLC, and a top-of-the-line face-lift from UC Davis, Dinkey’s life took a major 180.

Diane explains: “This pig would have been euthanized just because she looked a certain way. But through kindness and willingness to step in, we helped, and her life completely turned around.”

Dinkey lost over 100 pounds, can see again, and waddles around with her cross-species best friend Kip the Cat, who plays a supporting role in the book.

Diane hopes that Dinkey’s book will inspire others to be kind, both in the way we act with each other, but also how we act with the animals we meet in our lives.

Diane puts it simply: “It’s not hard to show kindness.”

The Rascal’s and Greener Pastures Collab

Greener Pastures’ mission is one that is close to Chef Dalan Moreno’s heart.

Owner of Rascal’s on Haley Street, Moreno has been vegan for over 20 years, and uses his restaurant to dispel the myth that vegan food has to be just cold tofu and sprouts. His fresh and exciting takes on authentic Mexican street food has caught the tastebuds of many, with Rascal’s recently listed as one of 2024’s best new vegan restaurants in America by VegOut Magazine.

Dalan tells me about when he first started the pop up a few years ago, and how important it was for him when the community gave him a helping hand. Now that he’s had his own restaurant for over a year, he wants to pay it forward.

“When I opened my brick and mortar, I wanted to give back to the community in that same way. It takes a community to be successful. I want to build up other people. It’s a constant circle of supporting each other.”

To celebrate this joint dedication of assisting animals, Moreno will be hosting Greener Pastures at his restaurant to help raise awareness for the

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Rascal’s owner Dalan Moreno, Greener Pastures’ ED Diane Dietrich, and co-owner/ranch hand Joe Kennedy hanging with Dinkey (photo by Viviana Contreras)

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Your Westmont Women Engineers Rule Racing Day

by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

Westmont’s 12 junior engineering students battled in a three-part competition as part of their Machine Design course that included racing and jumping the 500piece remote-control car they had created in front of Kerrwood Hall on Dec. 5.

In the end, it was the women who shined with the team of Grace Morgan and Ainsley Martin taking top honors. The team of Landon Vanderhyde and Kyler Hanson claimed second and the team of Abigail Lingel and Celeste Marquez won third.

In the first race of the afternoon, Grace and Ainsley’s vehicle, which featured a paint splatter design, struck a traffic cone and was disqualified. “We were very stressed after the first race went badly,” Ainsley said. “I play on the women’s soccer team. I thought this was like any other game: You go down in the first half, focus on your own game, and come out in the second and play it through to the end and get it.”

They came back to win second in the racing portion after Grace impressed the judges with her 60-second elevator speech. “Building our RC car gave us a chance to see how many of the concepts we learned in class applied to the real world,” she said. “This project brought engineering principles to life and deepened our understanding of machine design through teamwork and problem solving.”

Landon and Kyler’s lightweight, speedy red car was by far the champion of the jumping portion, even blowing past the end of the tape measure on the second attempt.

But when Dan Jensen, Allder professor of science and technology, added up the final scores, Grace and Ainsley finished 5 points ahead.

The secret to success? Ainsley said that she and Grace were attentive with each of the 500 pieces, so they wouldn’t have to go back to fix problems. “We were cautious about doing things correctly the

first time and understood why we were doing each step of the process,” she says.

President Gayle D. Beebe gave the winners trophies and announced that the Office of the President had donated $2,500 to the engineering program to host a similar event next year.

Luncheon Features Former USAID Head

The Westmont Women’s Leadership Council Luncheon features Henrietta Holsman Fore – a recognized leader in business, corporate boards, the U.S. government, the United Nations and nonprofit organizations – on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, 12-1:30 pm at Montecito Covenant Church, 671 Cold Spring Road, Santa Barbara. A limited number of tickets, which cost $150 per person, may be purchased online at westmont.edu/ leadership-luncheon. For more information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Toni Ramos at tramos@ westmont.edu or call (805) 565-6050.

Anne Towbes, local philanthropist and community leader, will receive the 2025 Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree Spirit of Santa Barbara Award at the luncheon. For more than 35 years, Towbes has volunteered and supported numerous worthwhile causes in Santa Barbara, including the Women’s Fund, Santa Barbara City College, UCSB Foundation, the Hutton Parker Foundation,

Westmont Page 464

Landon Vanderhyde and Kyler Hanson’s car caught massive air

Grace Morgan and Ainsley Martin took top honors

Brilliant Thoughts

Good Luck

by Ashleigh Brilliant

One of my favorite stories is about an antiques expert who, one day, while driving down a country road, stops at junky-looking store. Before going in, he notices, in the entrance-way, a cat drinking from a saucer. The cat doesn’t interest him – but what does is the saucer, which, he can tell immediately is of a very rare and valuable kind. This crafty man goes in and chats with the proprietor and offers him $10 for the cat. They are just about to conclude the transaction, when the customer says, “Oh, I’ll need something to feed it from – can you just throw in the saucer as part of the deal?” – which brings the reply, “Nothing doing! – that’s my lucky saucer! This is the third cat I’ve sold from it since we opened here.”

Of course, people have many different ideas about what brings them good luck. Sometimes it’s an object they carry, like the time-honored rabbit’s foot. Sometimes it’s a habit which has no other value – like the practice of touching every fencepost along a certain street. Children particularly make games about the marks they see on pavements. I suppose this hasn’t changed much since my own childhood, when the rule was: “Step on a crack – break your mother’s back.” To this was added, at some point in my informal education: “Step on a line – break your father’s spine.” That more or less took care of the parental vertebral column.

So much for bad luck – but there don’t seem to have been any pavement markings for good luck. This whole subject is, however, capable of being dismissed as “superstition” which means belief without reason. So, how do we draw a line between superstition and religion? I can only suggest that it’s all a matter of Culture. What is respectably religious in one culture may be condemned as ludicrously superstitious by another. In either case, what it comes down to is how you are taught while growing up. In our culture, the belief that 13 is an unlucky number is extremely widespread, so much so that some tall buildings have no thirteenth floor, and no rooms numbered thirteen.

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My mother used to say “Well, I’m not superstitious – but I would never sleep thirteen in a bed.”

And I don’t know how those believers argue away the fact that the original United States were at first thirteen colonies, who are still represented by thirteen stripes on the American Flag.

But superstition enters into many people’s daily lives in connection with such matters as spilling salt, walking under ladders, and seeing black cats.

And of course there are also the supposed harbingers of good luck, such as a fourleaf clover.

I myself have experienced just two momentously happy occasions, which I can only attribute to good luck, since I did nothing to deserve them, or to bring them about. The first brought me the best job I ever had – teaching on a “Floating University,” with which I made two three-and-a-half month voyages around the world. This opportunity came more or less “out of the blue,” in a situation in which, because it was very late in the hiring season, most of the teaching positions for which I was qualified were no longer available.

The second piece of very good fortune occurred in 1967, about two years after that first one. I was no longer teaching on a ship, or anywhere else, but had gone into business in San Francisco, on a very small scale, selling postcards which bore my own epigrams. However, I had no funds to invest and had to pay a printing company every time I needed more cards. That company also made and sold printing machines, but at a much higher price than I could afford.

Here comes the good luck. For reasons of their own, that company was raffling off one of their machines. All the customer had to do was drop a folded slip of paper into an appropriate “fishbowl” to become a participant in this lottery. This I did, and forgot all about it until, weeks later, a message arrived congratulating me on being the winner.

I don’t know how many other slips of paper comprised the pool from which mine had been chosen, but this extraordinary piece of good luck enabled me to make a career out of publishing what eventually became 10,000 different cards.

Since then, I can only claim to have been lucky enough to survive into my nineties, with no very serious bad luck along the way.

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

Montecito Bank & Trust is spreading holiday cheer Giving back to the community year after year

We our nonprofits and all that they give They make our communities better places to live

We support local residents and businesses too Volunteer our time and foster penguins at the zoo

We have 16 branches along the Central Coast When it comes to great service, we’re the one with the most!

With so many great clients, there are plenty to thank We’re so proud to be your community bank

So to spread some good tidings and holiday cheer

We wish you Happy Holidays and a joyful new year!

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L’image Gallery All Arts on Deck

by Beatrice Tolan

In the Funk Zone, across from Validation Ale, a large warehouse has sat unoccupied for the past four years. What was once the Santa Barbara Winery is now a collection of cavernous, expansive halls checkered with white walls and exposed concrete. One might say it is the perfect setting for an art gallery; from December 14th to 15th, it’ll be just that. Get ready for the L’image Gallery pop-up, hosted by Kayla Bollag L’image Gallery will host a wide amalgamation of Santa Barbara artists, showcasing painting, photography, sculpture, and videography. After 5:30 pm on the 14th, there will be ticketed live performances of music, a dance performance by Selah Dance Collective, an aerial and fire performance by ElectriCirque, and a fashion show by stylist Nina Q

Bollag is a visual artist, photographer, aerialist, contortionist and content creator who has been living in Santa Barbara for the past five years. “I’ve been painting my whole life and most recently writing poetry surrounding my paintings.” She currently crafts Nina Q’s social media content and maintains a travel YouTube channel, documenting her travels to destinations like the Maldives and India.

While Bollag has always considered herself a creative, calling herself a “memory keeper,” the last few years have seen Bollag deepening her relationship with the Santa Barbara arts community, the puzzle pieces combining to create the L’image Gallery. It started at the beginning of the pandemic when Bollag sought ways to simultaneously exercise her body and build community.

Seventh Dimension pole and aerial studio piqued her interest. “I’d seen aerial stunts in The Greatest Showman but I didn’t know that was something I could do! It was back when we were all outside wearing masks and I just kept coming back. Photographers in the aerial and fire dancing community started reaching out to do photoshoots with me, and that pushed me to get into photography myself.”

As her interest in photography increased, Bollag began working with personal and commercial stylist Nina Q – who styled Bollag for her recent wedding – to create videography for her social media platforms. For L’image, Q is slated to host the final live event: a fashion show. It was at Q’s photo studio, The Story in the Funk Zone, that Bollag attended her first The One Oh One social event.

The One Oh One, a monthly networking event hosted by Heber Pelayo, aims

to connect local photographers. “Heber provides spaces stocked with refreshments and food, all by himself, just to get the art community together. I was immediately impressed,” Bollag said admiringly. Here, Bollag met many photographers who will either showcase their work at L’image or photograph the event itself.

The final puzzle piece to L’image’s conception was in late August of this year. After photographing the group gallery show hosted by double dutch at the SBCAW – which the Montecito Journal covered – Bollag was determined to find a way to showcase her own art. What started as a small, intimate project grew as word of Bollag’s efforts spread.

“I was originally only going to hang my own art and have friends over for a little party, but as I told people about it, they asked to join. Then I thought, wait: I know other artists—enough to fill an entire building—including musicians, my favorite dance company Selah Dance, and other live performers. It just grew.”

The empty warehouse on Yanonali called out to Bollag as a perfect spot to host the L’image Gallery, coined after her maiden name. After getting in touch with the building’s owner, who was more than happy to let her borrow the space, Bollag began her quest to clean up for visitors after the space’s four long, dormant years.

While most first-time gallerists may shiver in their boots, Bollag hasn’t broken a sweat. “I like hosting big parties and events, and I’m really into the festival scene,” she said confidently. Bollag has enlisted the help of Lane Bhutani

L’image Gallery Page 344

Portrait of Kayla Bollag, styled by Nina Q (photo by Cory Cullington at The Story)

Imagine Having a Whole VILLAGE Behind You.

Dignity Moves On Education

Montecito Union Renovation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

by Leana Orsua

The completion of several anticipated renovation projects –some a decade in the making – brought together Montecito Union School students, parents, and educators for a ribbon-cutting celebration.

Using a set of giant ceremonial scissors, MUS Principal Nick Bruski cut the ribbon leading to the school’s newly refurbished Towbes Library and Innovation Laboratory – a combined $250,000 project 100% funded by contributions made by school parents and donors through the MUS Foundation. The new library features front-facing shelving to entice early readers; mobile furniture to help transform the space for spelling bees, parent meetings, and author visits; and book nooks and other soft seating areas for creating cozy comfort. New carpet with pops of color

transforms the space into a magical forest sprouting from the floor. The addition of a whimsical tree at the library’s front entrance denotes imagination and discovery as it greets young readers entering the refreshed space.

Marshall Miller, a father of two MUS students who donated to the project agreed that the refresh was much needed and is enthusiastic about the results of the library’s remodel.

“The space had been built 20 plus years ago through the generosity of the Towbes Family and the space had been worn and loved … I think they did an excellent job incorporating the contemporary education and understanding of how kids learn to read, how they interact with material, and how to make the space conducive to what we know about reading and learning to read today.”

Education Page 514

Montecito Parish Raises Funds to Help Areas Homeless

by Leana Orsua

Montecito’s Episcopal Parish, All Saints by-the-Sea, has donated $50,000 to help provide temporary shelter to Santa Barbara County’s homeless community. The grant will go to San Francisco-based Interim Housing, a nonprofit that touts an innovative model to end homelessness by taking underutilized or vacant land to build temporary communities using prefabricated materials for mobile housing units.

The organization currently operates three housing communities in the county – serving those who would otherwise be taking shelter in encampments or vehicles. Current sites include downtown Santa Barbara, serving 34 residents; La Posada with beds for 90 residents, and Hope Village in Santa Maria which can serve over 350 residents annually. According to DignityMoves over 3,500 people in Santa Barbara County experience homelessness each year.

downtown, that’s when we first became really aware that we could help out.”

The $50,000 financial gift from All Saints, combines funds raised at a charity dinner and a $20,000 budgeted allocation designated for community outreach. “We’re very focused on the homeless, on children and families,” says Don Johnston Sutton, a realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty in Montecito who serves as the co-chair of the parish’s Outreach Committee. “We used to take extra food to the cabins

According to Jack Lorenz, Dignity’s Regional Advancement Director, the donation will go to establish additional housing units in Santa Barbara. Construction for the project – entitled “Family Village” – will start in the spring of 2025 and will create 30 two-bedroom/one-bathroom housing units – including a kitchen and living space. According to DignityMoves’ website, the project is estimated to cost $7 million. A specific location will not be announced until further outreach is conducted. Fundraising for the Family Village site – and one projected for the city of Goleta – is ongoing. The addition of the two projects will bring a total of nearly 300 homes to the county in less than three years.

Sotheby’s realtor and co-chair of parish’s Outreach Committee Don Johnston Sutton (courtesy photo)

The ribbon has been cut on MUS’ new renovated library and Innovation Lab (photo by Christian Maike)

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WINTER

Mothers’ Helpers Helping Mothers this Holiday Season and Beyond

by Clarissa Rios

For the past 15 years, the nonprofit organization Mothers’ Helpers has supported low-income families in Santa Barbara county by providing them access to essential baby items. This holiday season, the organization is hosting a Christmas program that allows community sponsors to purchase and wrap gifts for selected families, bringing a bit of magic and cheer to their children.

Robin Unander-La Berge, founder of Mothers’ Helpers, was inspired by a Facebook post to kickstart the organization. A parent had created a post desperately seeking a crib, but faced several unsuccessful attempts at finding one. Unander-La Berge realized there was a lack of existing resources in the community that could help parents, particularly those facing financial struggles, which led her to launch Mothers’ Helpers in 2009. Last year, the organization served over 565 families and is on track to surpass 500 this year.

“We’re really excited to have been around for 15 years, it feels like the blink of an eye,” said Executive Director Michelle Erickson . “We absolutely would not be here without everyone from the community pitching in and giving us donations,” she adds.

Erickson first got involved with Mothers’ Helpers in 2014 when she donated baby items for which she no longer had a use. She later served as a board member for eight years before stepping into her role as Executive Director in February 2023. “So many moms that we help express the interest in helping others,” she said. Erickson

notes that Mothers’ Helpers has come to be a supportive community for mothers to not only pick up items they need, but to hold conversations about their children and families. “With more than 14% of Santa Barbara County residents living in poverty – and over 18% of children affected – our mission at Mothers’ Helpers is critical,” said Erickson. Mothers’ Helpers welcomes a variety of donation items including diapers, clothing, blankets, bassinets, and more. Volunteers at the center help sort and store the goods, and also dedicate their time to coordinate drop-offs of these items. On average, the organization receives about 50 applications per month from low-income families seeking assistance. However, in November, over 90 applications were submitted, indicating a growing demand in the county. The organization plans to expand their reach to accommodate this demand.

In an effort to help alleviate the financial strain that often comes with the holiday season and spending money on gifts, Mothers’ Helpers implemented the Christmas program to assist those selected families that have been helped throughout the year. Community members can choose to sponsor a family by directly making a donation or shopping for gifts that the children can unwrap on Christmas Day. Looking ahead, the organization is currently cultivating a plan to expand its reach. According to Erickson, about 60% of the families they serve are from North County. She hopes that the organization can soon expand their presence in that area as the demand for items increases.

To learn more about Mothers’ Helpers or to make a donation, visit www. mothershelpers.org or contact Michelle Erickson at michelle@mothershelpers.org

Help a mother this holiday season (courtesy photo)

Classical Music Highlights

Santa Barbara Debut

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Julia Bullock,

soprano

Tue, Jan 21 / 7 PM / Lobero Theatre

Julia Bullock joins famed Baroque ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment for an evening of instrumental showpieces by Vivaldi, Bach and Pachelbel alongside arias by Handel, Lully, Rameau and Purcell that highlight Bullock’s “deeply rich and richly deep” soprano (Los Angeles Times).

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma

Reflections in Words and Music

Sat, Apr 5 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre

(very limited availability)

Join cellist Yo-Yo Ma for an evening of music and words as he performs a special selection of his favorite pieces and shares stories illuminating his thinking about art, human nature and our search for meaning.

Arrive early for a pre-concert talk by Arts Writer Charles Donelan at 6 PM

An Unprecedented Two-piano Collaboration Yuja

Víkingur Ólafsson, piano

Fri, Feb 28 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre

“Five stars. It’s hard to imagine a more viscerally thrilling performance.” The Guardian Two of today’s finest pianists team up on technically and emotionally complex piano works for four hands, ranging from John Adams and Arvo Pärt to Rachmaninoff’s nostalgic Symphonic Dances and Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor.

The Giving List

Mission Scholars

by Steven Libowitz

Nonprofits understandably like to make a big deal about anniversaries, noting with pride and gratitude how long they have been a part of the community and the ways in which they’ve adjusted their services to meet evolving needs. On the other hand, Mission Scholars hasn’t been around long enough to trumpet their decades of service, or even a single decade, having just notched six years since its founding in December 2018.

Nevertheless, the nascent nonprofit has a reason to be celebrating in 2024, as Mission Scholars – which employs comprehensive college admissions guidance and financial aid expertise, mentorship and career development training to underrepresented low-income students in South Santa Barbara County – marked a major milestone earlier this year. Mission Scholars’ inaugural cohort of former high school students graduated from college this summer at the same time as its first full cohort of college-bound high-schoolers who started working with Mission Scholars as sophomores completed their secondary school education and headed off to universities and colleges.

“One of the things that separates us from many of our peer organizations that provide college access support is that we don’t stop when our students actually go to college,” explained Executive Director Cassie Lancaster, who co-founded Mission Scholars with Director of Operations Katie Kinsella and Board Trustee Kim Phillips. “We’re with our students all the way through college graduation, and even beyond. So it was a very big deal for us that we graduated two cohorts – one in high school, the other in college – for the first time this year.”

The organization was founded to address the inequities in the local secondary school system that finds too many students in the community being left behind in pursuing higher education. More than half of the students in Santa Barbara’s public school district live below poverty level, and in 2021, only 41% of socioeconomically disadvantaged high school seniors in Santa Barbara graduated with the minimum requirements needed to enroll in a UC or Cal State university. Mission Scholars works to level the playing field by providing cadres of high-performing yet disadvantaged students access to the same level of support that their wealthier peers receive.

With a background in a private company offering college admissions counseling, Lancaster had first-hand experience with the disparities, while Phillips had seen similar issues in her work in test prep.

“As we built our practices, we saw the increasing need for this guidance to be available to a larger group of students, particularly those who couldn’t afford it,” Lancaster said. “Personally, at first I had no idea about how significant those barriers were for students from low-income families. Once I realized it, I just couldn’t ignore it.”

So the founders created a pilot program for a small group of high school seniors who would be the first in their families to attend college.

“They deserved every level of comprehensive support that we had proven in our private practices, so we basically took everything we knew how to do and turned that into a program,” she said. “When they went off to college the following fall, we built a college success program to respond to their needs in navigating as first-generation students, slowly building a pretty robust

college success program. Then we also began to work backwards as our organization got more successful, recruiting students who were younger than high school seniors, starting instead to work with them as sophomores.”

Nowadays, each high school Mission Scholar receives academic and extracurricular advising to strengthen their college admission candidacy; individualized guidance on college entrance exams (e.g. SAT prep), workshops and individual coaching sessions through every step of the college application and essay process; an individualized scholarship plan to ensure a full free ride or at least make a four-year college experience more affordable, including guidance on all required financial aid forms, plus financial literacy workshops and budgeting advice. The organization can boast that 95 percent of that small cohort that just graduated from college received full scholarships.

To combat the fact that only 11% of first-generation college students graduate by age 24, Mission Scholars also benefit from college transition work-

shops including academic study skills; professional development workshops; individualized summer internship matching opportunities with local and national corporations; access to career advisors and panels; and a volunteer college coach to provide mentorship throughout college.

It’s the last part that is especially meaningful for Lancaster in a full-circle moment.

“The college graduates from our pilot program are now returning to mentor and conduct workshops and inspire our younger scholars,” she said. “That was our original vision, and it’s actually happening. To see these alumni of our program come back and lead workshops and mentor the younger students is incredible when we look back at the beginning – it was the three of us with an idea, doing all the work, conducting all the workshops. Being able to see the organization grow from 10 students to over 160, and watching them grow as leaders of the organization and mentoring the younger scholars is so thrilling. It’s what drives us.”

In a full circle moment the Mission Scholars from the first year have now graduated and come back to mentor the new recruits (courtesy photo)

Elizabeth’s Appraisals Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes Medal

by Elizabeth Stewart

has a 1920s Sterling and enamel medallion from the Royal Antediluvian (‘before the flood’) Order of the Buffaloes in red, white, cobalt, and turquoise; made by Fattorini & Sons LTD., Jewelers, Bradford House, Birmingham. The red ribbon is embroidered ‘RAOB Grand Council.’ The Sterling is hallmarked with a lion and letter E, the piece is 4 cm x 5 cm, the back of the medal is inscribed “Presented to Bro Robt Worden by Harmony Lodge No 707 27/5/29, Primo Omnibus” (Leader of us all). There is no evidence that the Order was established before Noah in Genesis Chapter 6 – “royal and antediluvian” is for fun. The Latin words above each arch state ‘Nemo Mortalium Omnibus Horis Sapit’ (No man is at all times wise). When the Order was founded in 1822, the initiation ceremony included a song and a distinctive leaping dance: “We’ll chase the buffalo! We are entitled to chomp, grind, and devour in all turnip fields, meadows, and pastures! We are obliged to gore and toss all enemies to Buffalo!” New initiates were called kangaroos (possibly in keeping with the nomenclature of non-British animal names). The now respectable Buffalo Order still exists, the chant at initiation today less turbulent: “May the spirit of true Buffaloism hover around us!” The Order has an 18 th century estate, which is their Grand Lodge, Grove House, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The history of the order dates to early 19 th century in London at the Harp Tavern near the theatres in Drury lane. Echoing the social stratification of the 19 th century British pubs, the Buffalo Order was an offshoot of the Lushington Order of Actors, a higher social class than the stagehands. The stagehands and travelling theatre men formed their own “Lodge” at The Harp, and the Order was born. The Order has nothing to do with the Masons, but they have secret rituals, and some say the Buffalo Order resembles the secret elite, “The Illuminati.”

The Order is today a full-blown secret society with rituals – and good works. The maxim of the Order is “Justice, Truth, Philanthropy.” Today the Order does much charitable good: 10,000 members raise five hundred thousand to a million pounds each year.

Early 19th century secret societies, like the Buffalo Order in 1822, were often looked upon as dangerous and subversive.

the Grand Primo Lodge. Still closely aligned with theatrical travelling performers, they spread the news of the Order to other theatre companies, and lodges spang up in Manchester, London, Lincolnshire and theatre towns. The actors and stagehands’ day off was Sunday, so the Order met Sunday evenings.

On the Order’s website, I read “The right to give and not receive is one of our key principles.” The order is British (or some say Commonwealth only), and men only. A core tenet is never to take a drink with your right hand. If another Buffalo sees you quaffing with your right hand, you must quickly down that drink and reach for another – in your left hand.

In the early 19 th century, the Order was a drinking club at The Harp, and Iike most 19 th century British pubs, it was associated with men of a certain profession or class. British taverns, pubs, inns, and boozers aligned themselves with social groups. Financial professionals had their pubs, so did dockworkers, journalists, and theatrical men.

Early 19 th century secret societies, like the Buffalo Order in 1822, were often looked upon as dangerous and subversive. The French Revolution and its Reign of Terror was fresh in the minds of British men as the Order was founded. However, by the mid 19th century, the Buffalo Order was legitimized with the 1866 Constitution of

Through the 19 th century, performers on the road were issued cards enabling them to contact other lodges, which were required to give the men of the boards “enough to eat to permit them to starve gracefully,” as stated in the Buffalo Order’s Rule Book of 1848, also saying “I must caution you how to trust women as we never admit them to our councils...” Even today lodges do not admit women members. One gent said, “visiting the lodges is the only peace we men get.”

The Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes preceded American Orders of Moose and Elks. The names refer to ruminant animals, which are hoofed beasts with four-chambered stomachs to slowly digest plant material. ‘Ruminant’ also means reflective and thoughtful: there’s the metaphor. By WWI, the Order bought and drove ambulances for the front lines manned by Buffalo volunteers, and by the 1920s they had opened convalescent homes, and built a major sick home in Southport in 1945. The medal is worth $200.

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

The mysterious medal of a secret order

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everyone should be coming together. I want to give visibility to the artists and performance companies I’m hosting; maybe it will lead to artists collaborating together, or people becoming regulars at the dance and aerial studios.”

L’image Gallery will be open at 111 E Yanonali St., across from Validation Ale in the Funk Zone, Saturday December 14th and Sunday the 15th. On the 14th, the gallery will be free to the public from 12-5:30 pm with ticketed live events after 5:30 pm, running past 10 pm. On the 15th, the gallery will be free and open for walkthroughs from 12-5 pm. Some of the art pieces on display will be available for purchase.

Tickets for the live events can be found in the Instagram bio of @limage_ sb or by searching “L’image Gallery” on Eventbrite with your location set to Santa Barbara, CA.

On Entertainment

Ch-ch-ch-choices in

Voices

by Steven Libowitz

Hallelujah! It’s the 10th iteration of The Choral Society’s Hallelujah Project… (courtesy photo)

Goedert, a friend with previous gallery running experience, to help better understand the bells and whistles of hosting a gallery event open to the public.

When I asked what Bollag’s goal is in hosting the L’image Gallery event, she said, “Especially during the holidays,

Beatrice Tolan is a fine artist, animator, and writer living in Los Angeles after residing in Montecito for 20 years. She is invested in building community through unique perspectives and stories. beatricetola @gmail.com

If you want to take in all of the choral programs happening this weekend, you’d better figure out how to clone yourself quickly. By some quirk of fate, or quirky communication between them, seven different mostly choral concerts are taking place this week, including an astonishing five between Saturday and Sunday, four of them from some of the bigger organizations in town.

“We try to avoid conflicts, but everybody likes to sing in Santa Barbara, or at least listen to singers,” said JoAnne Wasserman, the artistic director and conductor of the Santa Barbara Choral Society since 1993.

The Choral Society is the oldest such vocal group in the area, with a tenure that dates to 1948, and is marking another milestone with its 10th iteration of The Hallelujah Project – an inclusive, community-based pair of concerts to celebrate the season. Once again, the 60-plus Choral Society semi-professional singers will perform both classic and cultural selections, accompanied by the 35-piece Choral Society Orchestra. But the popular program also includes such special holiday happenings as a reading of the classic poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” accompanied by the orchestra, performed this year by Santa Barbara-based actress Meredith Baxter, whose warm and toasty presence has permeated stages and airwaves since her days as the mom on Family Ties

“I thought that since we are a community choir, the Choral Society should have a community concert at Christmastime,” Wasserman said, explaining the concept behind creating the event. “I wanted to incorporate the orchestra, soloists and a children’s chorus and have a guest celebrity narrator as well as sing-alongs. It’s something for everybody, a festive family-friendly concert for the community.”

This year, the SING! Children’s Chorus of the Music Academy of the West will perform “Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas,” a John Williams song from the movie Home Alone, and a traditional Hanukkah song (Michael Isaacson’s “Be a Shamash”), and join the Society’s singers for several other selections. The Choral Society will perform a few settings of carols and other songs by John Rutter, one of England’s best-known composers of the late 20th century, and one with a particular affinity for choral music. The unified choirs will present Rutter’s gentle classic, “The Colors of Christmas,” and his setting of “Esta Noche,” a Catalan carol.

“We always sing with the children,” Wasserman said. “Somehow, we mix really well. It’s a very heartwarming part of the show and we love having the kids sing in our concert.”

The “minor major” work on this year’s program finds the Choral Society taking on Rutter’s setting of “Gloria,” a three-movement, 14-minute piece with a hearty melody.

“He is such a wonderful composer and has written so many beautiful arrangements of Christmas music,” Wasserman said. “His ‘Gloria’ is just gorgeous, a very exciting setting of the piece.”

The society singers will also perform arrangements by Mack Wilberg, and both traditional and new carols, including a Welsh one with Steven Thompson as soloist. And of course, given its title, the program proudly features a rousing Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, with all the singers on stage and folks in

On Entertainment Page 444

Selah Dance Collective dancer Brenna Chumacero in front of the 111 E. Yanonali St. building (photo by Meredith Ventura)

Home for the Holidays

Down to the Wire on Holiday Shopping? Head Downtown!

by Jeff Wing and Zach Rosen

‘Tis that time of year… the parking lots are getting thick and the shelves are slimmin’ as seemingly everyone hurries around town to wrap up their holiday shopping. If you’re similarly behind in the holiday

hustle, these downtown Santa Barbara stores can help you fulfill that loving checklist faster than a holiday sleigh flying downhill.

La Arcada on any given day is already charming with its ivy-laced overhangs and brick-lined paths weaving the stores together. But this time of year is when the shopping center really shines – or more specifically, glimmers with garland and endless strands of holiday lights. The rows of stores are not just pleasingly festive eye candy – they also offer a wide range of gifting potential with a little something for everyone on your list.

Entering Coast 2 Coast Collection feels like you’re taking a step into Santa’s home showroom. A grand Christmas tree towers in the store, decked out with a bounty of ornaments that can be taken home for your very own pine. Coast 2 Coast hosts a plethora of dishware, vases, décor and more; and from top-of-theline brands like Christofle and Baccarat. Ginori 1735 plate in mauve with gold trim? Kim Seybert holiday table runner

Coast 2 Coast

with the ornate holly and sprig placemats to match? Yes please. Whether gifting someone a keepsake for their kitchen or just upping your home entertaining game – each piece at Coast 2 Coast is unforgettable and will bring an undeniable gracefulness to the homestead. Although garnering international praise, Catherine Gee is a local, homespun company from the eponymous fashion designer with her flagship store right in the heart of La Arcada. Contemporary, casual, and classy in a cadre of cute patterns – these silk blouses, slip skirts, jumpsuits and more make both a perfect gift for that stylish friend, or an elegant accent for that holiday party you still need an outfit for.

While Catherine Gee fits the fashionable female, the nearby Ace Rivington can clothe the men (and women) in your life in comfortable high style. Denim is their calling, and each piece is made from hand-crafted Italian Candiani denim – by reputation the “greenest textile company in the blue world.” Founded in 2013 by Beau Lawrence, Ace Rivington has branched

Photo: David Kafer

La Arcada

Catherine Gee

out to flannel, short-sleeved shirts, and other fits made with an eye towards top-notch materials that offer a particularly soft feel.

If you need some sustenance after all that shopping, then The Andersen’s Danish Bakery & Restaurant conveniently sits right at the State Street corner of La Arcada. Kick up your sko and have a bite of some Hakkebøf… you’ve earned it. Of course you may need to float home after a Viking Platter. While there, make sure to grab some festive treats – such as a set of Mazarin cake petit fours wrapped in a chocolate coating and decorated like mini gifts of almond goodness – for any holiday parties coming up. Don’t forget the Apple Kringle the size of Santa’s head.

The indefinable Yes Store has been

Pottery Outlet

the unofficial nexus for Santa Barbara’s teeming artist community for 56 years. You kidding? Fine jewelry, fragrant leather, glasswork – the Yes Store, as its name implies (or outright declares) trades in human creative expression. Select a gorgeously handmade one-off at the Yes Store, and your recipient will take delighted possession of an objet d’art that is literally singular in all the world. Think about that.

Some business names are helpfully practical, but offer little in the way of a true picture of the scope of what’s on offer. Italian Pottery Outlet, family owned for 40+ years, is your conduit to genuine Italian artisanal pottery. Italian Pottery Outlet offers a deliciously

Holidays Page 384

Andersen’s

Ace Rivington

Viva Oliva

large and varied selection of imported old world handmade Italian ceramics –biscotti jars, vases, lamps, clocks, etc!! Import a sunstruck bit of la dolce vita into your life and home.

Family-owned Viva Oliva is, as its name suggests, your one-stop for the highest quality extra virgin olive oils, as well as fused and infused olive oils. If “fused and infused” leaves you mildly confused, the happy folk at Viva Oliva

Joe and Sarena Schweke are Belrose’s second and third-generation owners, and as such carry their curatorial expertise and taste in the DNA. Their jewelry meets their own impeccable standards of sustainability, and their artisanal work drawn from recycled metals and stones must be seen to be believed. Their State Street location has been open for 18 years and will be closing soon. With that, they will be liquidating an entire $5,000,000 inventory with up to 70% off. Take a gander at diamonds, gemstones, engagement rings, 14k & 18k gold jewelry. All of it must be sold at never-to-be-seen-again prices.

The Art of Consignment may be a little off of State but it is worth the venture. Can “Art” and “Consignment” ever

be said to intersect? Let’s put it this way: Yes. Chairs, coffee tables, art, bedding, tableware, precious metals – the “Art” in the title refers to the “Found Treasure” quality of the inventory. Everyone loves stumbling onto a breathtakingly terrific deal where least expected. The Art of Consignment encourages you to expect the magic you ordinarily only hope for. Mountain Air Sports is one of those places that serves the community no matter what season it is. Biking… kayaking… snowboarding… if it goes well with a breath of fresh air and comes with a side of adrenaline, then they’ve got the gear for it. Taking the family up to Mammoth? Well, skip the lines at the lodge and rent your snow stuff here. And if you need something for the sporty

Folio Press & Paperie

one in your life… Why not look for gifts while getting your skis serviced? It’s a busy time of year and there’s a whole outdoors to explore.

Now, if all that athleticism (or gift buying) is making you break a sweat, no problem. Just a little past Mountain Air Sports is the Riviera Towel Company

Located in the cluster of shops on Gutierrez Street near State, the vibrant store is filled with a rainbow of towels (and more) in different hues and styles that one could call “California fresh.” Feel that gentle, soft touch? It’s not just the Turkish cotton they use in each towel, it’s also the 5% of net profits donated to several marine agencies, including local ones like Heal the Ocean and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.

Nearby is Folio Press & Paperie –one of the area’s longstanding gift-giving gems. Still need holiday cards? Find ‘em here. Small gift for a co-worker? Check out this nice leather-bound notebook.

Uh oh, we’re going to have to smell Aunt Sue’s house – let’s gift her this aromatic candle. Oh no! We forgot the wrapping paper and ribbons! Well, look at these imaginative options. Folio’s offerings are colorful but elegant and simple – affordable yet classy – and all of the other descriptors that need not be diametrically opposed. It is honestly my go-to spot for “oops, I need a gift quick” moments. It is great for a first stop, final stop, or really anywhere in between.

Best of luck out there. Still plenty of time to get all you need locally. Just act now if you want to have a coalfree holiday.

Scan this QR code to find more gift ideas.

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

farm sanctuary’s mission. And just in time for the holidays, Greener Pastures will have copies of their new children’s book for sale.

So join Rascal’s and Greener Pastures on Sunday, December 15, from 10 am –1 pm, where Dieterich will be set up outside the restaurant to sell copies of their new book, as well as spread the good the word about the farm. Buy a book, try the

Dinkey Special, have a fine swine time, and support a good hog cause! And as an added bonus you can enter a small raffle for a chance to pig out on some epic prizes, with proceeds going directly to the sanctuary.

So, what’s next for Dinkey? Will there be more adventures? Daring Dinkey Goes to the Dentist? She’s already had a facelift, why not get those piggly pearly whites worked on too? After what Dinkey’s been through, we understand if she wants to close the pig pen early and take a much-needed cat nap with her ol’ pal Kip. See you at Rascal’s!

and working on projects, you can be sure he’s somewhere enjoying a big slice of vegan pizza.

SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AM7:0012:00AM

Ceremony (Continued from 16)

passionately about the need to not just give money but also give consciousness – ensuring resources are used to create meaningful change. Their discussion underscored that true progress comes from “restorying” our connection to the land, food, and one another.

The heart of the evening was a panel discussion moderated by Aubrey Yee, featuring Dr. Zach Bush, Oliver English, and Maria Elena “ Mia” Lopez. Dr. Bush shared insights on healing human health and the ecosystems that sustain it, accentuating our deeply intimate connection with land and food. Oliver English, a filmmaker and chef, discussed how storytelling can inspire systemic change in food systems. Mia Lopez, representing the Chumash Tribe, brought wisdom from her Indigenous heritage, urging attendees to honor ancestral knowledge while reimagining sustainable futures.

To a largely women-based audience, the panel carried a powerful message: women must play a critical role in advocating for this mission and protecting Mother Earth. By reconnecting with the nurturing power that women have historically held as caretakers of land and community, the panelists emphasized that a brighter, more regenerative future depends on empowering women to lead the way. Together, they underscored the importance of recon-

necting with the land, regenerating ecosystems, and rewilding imaginations to ensure a thriving future.

The evening concluded with a somatic journey led by ceremonial sound and voice therapist Rouhangeze. This transformative session invited participants to explore their embodied presence through sound, grounding the wisdom and connections shared throughout the evening. It was a powerful close to an event designed to inspire reflection, connection, and action.

The event was both a celebration of culture in agriculture and a call to action. It reminded attendees that the health of our soil is the foundation of our food, communities, and shared humanity. The message was clear: If we fail to care for our soil, we risk defiling not just the ground beneath us but the legacy we leave for future generations.

Meighann A. Helene

is a cognitive scientist, multidisciplinary artist, and STEAM advocate blending nonprofit leadership, human-centric design, and storytelling

Dinkey’s new book is out now, available for purchase on Amazon or the Rascal’s event

Dinkey hanging out with her bff Kip the cat (courtesy photo)

Christopher Matteo Connor is a writer and filmmaker. When he isn’t writing, watching movies,

Dr. Zach Bush, Oliver English, Maria Elena “Mia” Lopez, and Aubrey Yee (photo by Meighann A. Helene)

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT MIRAMAR

31 December 2024

8:30 PM - 1:30 AM

Step into a world of enchanting allure as Rosewood Miramar Beach presents Le Bal Cristal en Rouge – a captivating new chapter of our annual New Year ’ s Eve tradition. For its third year, we ’ ve reimagined the night with a daring crimson twist, inviting you to ignite the night and lose yourself in the magic of Miramar. Under the adorned collection of Baccarat chandeliers, celebrants commemorate and toast the arrival of a new year as we take you through an unforgettable evening of passion, elegance, and electric energy of expecting the unexpected.

For booth seating, tickets and more information, please visit our website or email our team at Miramar.NYE@rosewoodhotels.com or call us at 805.900.8388

the audience joining in, and a guest conductor wielding the baton for the singers and orchestra, a prize won via a fundraising auction.

“We ask the audience to be involved so anybody can just become a part of the performance,” Wasserman said.

Sunday’s performance will feature the return of auction winner Kathleen Stinnett, who wowed the audience last year not only via her skills with the baton but also for donning a stunning red jacket.

“It’s an opportunity for someone from our community to conduct the chorus,” Wasserman said. “Just to stand on the podium and have all that music coming at you is quite an experience. It’s a lot of fun for us to do.”

The performances, which take place Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 3 pm at the Lobero Theatre, come to a close with the chorus singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

“The second half of the concert is very uplifting and festive,” Wasserman said. “We send everybody home with a smile on their face and a song in their heart.”

Voices Carry: Competing Choir Concerts

Also vying for your vocal music attention are three more eagerly anticipated annual choral concerts. The Quire of Voyces offers its Mysteries of Christmas concert at 3 pm on both Saturday and Sunday in St. Anthony’s chapel, with founding artistic director Nathan Kreitzer once again leading the a cappella choir in a concert of sacred music meant to convey a message of peace, love and joy to the cherished Santa Barbara community. Promising a “shimmering candelabra of carols, with each song giving its own glow to make a lovely light,” the concert includes a Polish nativity lullaby, richly arranged traditional carols in addition to a new work by composer-in-residence Stephen Dombek (“Infant Holy”), and a quartet of settings from Matthew Culloton. Whatever the material, given the remarkably resonant acoustics and the talented and well-rehearsed singers, expect truly heavenly harmonies.

Montecito meets the moment in a couple of concert instances this weekend, including the Santa Barbara Master Chorale performing on Sunday at 3 pm in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Artistic Director-Conductor David Torres leads the chorus in its 26th annual Holiday Concert and Carol Sing-Along, with special guest choral singers from both San Marcos and Santa Barbara high schools.

On a grander scale, the Westmont Christmas Festival, which moved to the Granada Theatre a few years back to accommodate larger audiences, marks its 20th annual performance Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. The festival celebrates Jesus’ birth through a presentation that offers a theme (“Dwelling Place” for 2024), a narrative, and a plethora of Christmas music from around the world and through the centuries, performed by the Westmont Orchestra, College Choir and Chamber Singers.

Rounding out the wild weekend’s wonders, the Santa Barbara Music Club joins the choral concert lineup with its annual holiday performance on Saturday at 3 pm at First United Methodist Church with a festive program of choral and instrumental music by the Adelfos Ensemble, the choir that completed its own seasonal concert late last month, marking its 20th anniversary. Erin Bonski-Evans serves as guest conductor and pianist with flautist Andrea Di Maggio as soloist.

Opportunities Outside of the Weekend

Those six shows will have to hold you ‘til Tuesday, when the 42nd annual Messiah Sing Along takes place at 7:30 pm in the First Presbyterian Church, a Santa Barbara holiday tradition that benefits Unity Shoppe. Phillip McLendon conducts a performance of Handel’s choral masterpiece – the Christmas portion plus the “Hallelujah” chorus and “Worthy is the Lamb/Amen” – wielding the baton for the orchestra composed of members of the Santa Barbara City College Symphony. Erin BonskiEvans is the organist and four decorated professional singers – soprano Nichole Dechaine, alto Max Potter, tenor Lorenzo Johnson, Jr., and bass Matthew Peterson – will handle Handel’s demanding solos. The audience serves as the chorus in the much-heralded highlight of the holiday season.

For pre-weekend singing, there’s the Prime Time Band – the community orchestra with a decades-spanning age range – contributing to the choral cavalcade with its Downtown Santa Barbara Holiday Concert and Sing-Along at 6 pm on Friday night, right there on the State Street steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Amanda Elliott serves as featured solo artist and will also lead the audience in a medley of sing-alongs holiday tunes, and the Dos Pueblos High School Choir, directed by Courtney Anderson, will also perform.

In the Pink: Portland-based “Little Orchestra” Celebrates 30 years

If there were no Pee-wee Herman, there probably wouldn’t have been a Pink Martini. The official story behind the campy, cosmopolitan, globe-trotting, multi-cultural jazz jubilee/baroque pop band is that founder Thomas Lauderdale, at the time a politico who planned to run for mayor of Portland, Oregon, created the ensemble after being annoyed at the vanilla entertainment at the obligatory fundraisers he attended. The truth, it turns out, was that a single issue fueled his fire, and a TV Christmas special with Pee-wee Herman provided the vehicle.

“There was a very nasty attempt to amend the Oregon constitution to declare homosexuality illegal and I was working on the campaign in opposition,” Lauderdale recalled. “I saw Pee-wee’s special, and within 45 minutes he had everybody on stage – Grace Jones, k. d. lang, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, Charo, Dinah Shore, Magic Johnson, Little Richard, and the Del Rubio triplets, who were amazing.” Lauderdale ended up bringing the Del Rubios to town for a week of concerts in nursing homes, hospitals, retirement homes, and rotary meetings to get out the vote. At the end, there was a big celebration, and a need for an opening act, so he threw on a Betsey Johnson cocktail dress and started Pink Martini.

“It had to do with both the creation of the band and the aesthetic – the Lawrence Welk on acid approach with all the guest stars,” he explained. “We’ve been emulating that idea ever since.”

Lauderdale only met Herman (aka Paul Reubens) shortly before his death last year, but the list of entertainers worldwide that Pink Martini has collaborated with extends far beyond the scope of that single TV special, as the band has traveled around the world, both literally for concerts, and in gathering material for its albums and performances.

Thirty years later, the singer-songwriter is as shocked as anyone at the group’s longevity.

“It still seems unreal to me, but it was maybe 15 years into it, I realized that I guess I’m not going to go into politics after all,” he said.

Good thing. Else we wouldn’t have the extravagant engagement that is a Pink Martini’s holiday concert at the Arlington Theatre nearly every December – this iteration is Tuesday, December 17 – a UCSB A&L-sponsored show that veers from Christmas carols to obscure songs from distant lands in an upbeat evening that appeals to all ages, cultural, and even political backgrounds.

“We only do songs that have a beautiful melody,” Lauderdale said. “The music is really accessible, which is the opposite direction of most pop music these days. It’s old fashioned and yet global, and it’s like a big variety show.”

While Martini plans to perform fan favorites “White Christmas,” Chinese New Year tunes, and a samba-inspired version of “Auld Lang Syne,” the concert closes with a number that encapsulates the ethic, Lauderdale said.

“We do a medley of songs in 18 different languages in 10 minutes, everything from Japanese to Portuguese, French, Arabic, Mandarin and Flemish, to name just a few,” he said. “We’re going to keep the band going as long as people keep coming. I still have a lot of ideas to explore, new countries, new languages, new collaborations. There’s still a lot out there.”

You’ve got to believe Pee-wee would approve.

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

The globe trotting Pink Martini owes their 30 years of success to their eclectic, world sound…but also, Pee-wee Herman? (courtesy photo)

Naughty Nutcracker A

Dazzling Night at Santa Barbara’s Holiday Spectacle

by Jamie Knee

Santa Barbara brought the holiday sparkle with a cheeky twist at The Naughty Nutcracker, held December 7 at the Alhecama Theatre. Produced by Teresa Kuskey, and Rick Oshay, and choreographed by Kuskey, this La Boheme Productions show delivered Vegas-style flair with plenty of holiday mischief. The lively evening blended art, philanthropy, and festive fun, drawing the Santa Barbara community together in style.

Guests were greeted with holiday libations and a delicious pre-show dinner catered by Michael Amador Announcer John Palminteri kept the energy high, even jumping into the action himself, while the Rick Oshay Family Foundation donated $1,000 checks to local organizations, including Adam’s Angels, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and Casa del Herrero. It was an evening that celebrated not just creativity but community generosity.

The La Boheme Dancers’ performance featured four dazzling acts: the Nutcracker party scene, the ethereal Land of Snow, the whimsical Candyland, and the playful Land of Misfit Toys. Special appearances by State Street Ballet, Laura Garcia dancers and a stunning Chinese Feather Dance added extra sparkle to the show. The blend of traditional holiday themes with a cheeky, modern edge left the audience enchanted.

In attendance were some of Santa Barbara’s most notable supporters of the arts, including Joel Knee, Adam McKaig, Melissa Borders, Glen and Nancy Holden, Jenna Jobst, Lisa Osborn, Ken Pfeiffer, Sandy Kelly, Robert Adams, Kathryn and Peter Martin and many more. Their presence underscored the community’s dedication to celebrating and sustaining local creativity.

Lisa Aguilar,

From glittering costumes to mesmerizing choreography, The Naughty Nutcracker transformed the Alhecama Theatre into a winter wonderland brimming with festive energy. This unforgettable evening reminded us of the joy the arts bring during the holidays and the importance of supporting local talent and organizations.

Santa Barbara truly shined, proving once again that no one does holiday magic – and a little bit of naughty – quite like this vibrant community.

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.

entranced me. This was not a Treasure Island accent. Like a lot of the folks in those apartments, like we Wings, Jimmy and fam were on their way to the rest of their lives. One day on the barefoot boardwalk that led to the water’s edge Jimmy stepped on a thorn burr. I’m sorry to report that his shouts of pain prompted me to laughter. “It horts, it horts!” he screamed, hopping on one foot. “It what?” “IT HORTS!” Hahahahaha! When we would go up to his apartment he would ask his mom if we could have “Cocola.” I tried to instruct. “Jimmy, it’s called ‘CocaCola.’” “Yuh. Ah said it. Cocola.” Hahahahahah!

My dad went on ahead to Wheelus to “make arrangements” and several months later we joined him. My last day on Treasure Island Jimmy and I surprised ourselves by sobbing together under the thatched community quonset. We didn’t hug or shake hands, just stood there and shook uncontrollably in the grip of this mysterious seizure of tears. “Bye, Jimmy..” “Bah, Jeff.”

Came the day my mom, my little brother, my older sister and I boarded an outlandishly huge jet bound for Africa via Frankfurt. I’d never been on a plane before, and spent the days preceding our departure in stark terror. Ultimately it was fine. We clasped our decorous little seat belts and as the enormous technological wonder sped down the runway with a deafening roar I explosively wet my pants. Haha.

4G

We were in quarters 4G on Wheelus AFB. There is much I could write about that base and that time, but my MJ masters wisely leash me to a word count lest I take off over hill and dale and exhaust you. (Yes, I know I’ve exhausted you each in your turn; it’s just a question of degree). Here are some representative, if disparate, deets.

Day or night, the air was ceaselessly fragrant with the perfume of the crushed dates that were always underfoot. We could walk from our quarters to the azure, bath-like Mediterranean in about 10 minutes.

A frank 15’ wall topped with razor wire and jagged green shards of glass surrounded the base. Nevertheless we would all routinely visit the souk, just outside Wheelus’ east gate; an open air bazaar and market. I vividly remember the camel stall – 6 or 7 severed camel heads hung by their esophagi in a dripping row over their respective tubs of meat. Shoppers would check the camels’ teeth, judging by the worn dentrifice the animal’s age and likely toughness of the flesh. I’m sure steak sauce figured into this somewhere.

I also clearly remember a sweet, handsome Libyan guy we all knew named Omran – sharp dresser, always in cowboy boots and Stetson and funny as hell. I can see him at our quarters laughing and saying “malesh!” (very approximately “whatever!”) and lavishly shrugging. And there were two camels penned in our schoolyard. They could launch a weirdly coherent ball of slime some 40 feet and hit you in the head if they wanted to – and more often than not they wanted to. Soon enough you learned – when they pursed their camel lips in a certain way – to hug your books and run.

In September of ‘69 Libya’s slowpoke, America-friendly King Idris would be rudely shunted aside (while conveniently away in Turkey for a medical appointment) by an opportunistic colonel from his own army, a Mr. Gaddafi. Once Gaddafi was in power, Wheelus AFB would be given six months to clear out. That meant ½ days of school on Saturdays, after which we kids would all go to the base theater and catch a movie. After the coup we never saw Omran again.

Oh yeah, Christmas. Santa came to the school on a camel, and for Christmas I got a Johnny Astro (you can look it up), a record player, a Batman LP and some other stuff. Some young airmen gave my parents Murano glass bowls, an Austrian cuckoo clock, and some green alabaster grapes. My mom and Dad – Bob and Aloha – are gone. But I’m looking at those grapes and cuckoo clock as I type this, and that is really something. Life is an unremitting storm and we’re kites. Feel it with all your love and wonder. And Happy Holidays.

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

Adam McKaig, Rick Oshay, and Joel Knee

Mona

Karen Lehman, Teresa Kuskey, Jamie Knee (Author), and Judith SmithMeyer

Aloha and Bob in the Day, ca 1943

their girlfriends and wives. “The guys, I think, pick up immediately that the clothes are gonna fit them well, and it doesn’t feel as difficult to style yourself,” said O’Connor, who was previously a stylist. “So I feel like guys get a little more excited about shopping.”

In the women’s section, where I spent most of my time, you’ll see various sweaters with distinct patterns. O’Connor shared that these clothes are “Native designed,” meaning that the brand collaborated with a Native artist to creature the pattern on the garment. Each piece with these designs includes a tag with the artist’s name. Since 2017, they’ve collaborated with six Native artists to help end cultural apportion in the clothing industry. “We never appropriate,” said O’Connor. “We’re all about doing the right thing.”

A portion of the sales from these garments are donated to the artist’s respective tribes and organizations. “A very inspiring part of working for the brand is knowing you’re supporting something that represents good values,” O’Connor reflected.

What’s more, all of Fahery’s stores include a “Native Acknowledgement” plaque that shares which tribe represents the land on which the store is located. Montecito’s location on Coast Village Road lists the Barbareño Chumash and Chumash tribes, respectively.

As both Holden and O’Connor explained, Faherty takes sustainability seriously. They acknowledge that the clothing

industry is inherently unsustainable. Still, they do what they can to compensate by partnering with organizations like The Surfrider Foundation and 1% for The Planet. But don’t get it twisted; quality is very important to Faherty. “There’s a guarantee of quality at Faherty,” shared Holden. “They guarantee every stitch. One thing that Mike and Alex are the most proud of is how they make clothes that are good enough to guarantee that.”

It’s been a welcoming first few days for Faherty, to say the least. Holden noted that in just a few days of being open, around eight store managers from other businesses on Coast Village have stopped in to say hello. “And it has been the nicest, warmest welcome I could have ever expected.” While many factors influence Faherty’s decision to open a new retail space, a supportive community is paramount. “Montecito has such a proud locals vibe about it,” Holden reflected. “It’s really nice. I mean, that’s what you want in your community.”

and the Towbes Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits.

“Our speaker, Henrietta Fore, has led a distinguished and fascinating career that I believe will inspire our local community leaders, professionals, alums and students alike,” says Sarah Camp, assistant vice president for advancement.

“We’re thrilled that this event, which raises scholarship funds for Westmont’s female students, also celebrates the example set by Anne Towbes, an icon of Santa Barbara philanthropy. These two women exemplify the difference women leaders make in society.”

Fore, who has worked with the world’s top leaders and policy makers, served as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and directed U.S. Foreign Assistance — the first woman in these positions. She served as undersecretary of state for management, COO for the U.S. Department of State, director of the U.S. Mint in the U.S. Department of Treasury and executive director of UNICEF.

Established in 2016, the luncheon and council seek to recognize and empower Westmont’s female students – to both thrive in their collegiate experience with needed scholarships, and to flourish in their future careers and vocations by connecting them to community professionals to share career and life insights, networking, internship and job opportunities.

Gold Sponsors include Renée Curtis and Anna Grotenhuis. Silver Sponsors are Channel Island Fiduciary

Group, Crawford Speier Realtors, and Palm Tree. Bronze Sponsors include Christine Emmons and Bitsy Bacon, Steven and Denice Fellows, and Dr. Sherry, Clinical Psychotherapist.

Current members include chair Denice Fellows, Kim Crawford (‘00), Courtney DeSoto (‘94), Amy Eddy (‘02), Anna Grotenhuis, Cheryl Miller, Sherry Nasseri (‘00), Drew Parisi (‘05), and Karen Yonally

Past speakers include Teresa Goines (2016), Kathy Ireland (2017), Shauna Niequist (2018), Megan Alexander (2019), Tamika Catchings (2020), Lupita Knittel (2023), and Natalie Taylor (2024).

Each year, Westmont celebrates the example of a local leader for exemplifying the life and spirit of Lady RidleyTree whose generosity made a profound impact on Westmont College and touched the lives of many in the Santa Barbara community. Past awardees: Dave and Anna Grotenhuis (2023) and Chris Emmons (2024).

Let There Be Light

The college kicked off the Christmas season with its annual lighting of Kerrwood Hall in a festive event, Let There Be Light, on Dec. 3 as the Westmont community gathered on Kerrwood Lawn.

Santa posed for pictures inside the holiday-decorated Kerrwood Hall lobby.

Brad Elliott, campus photographer and Your Westmont contributor, was named the special honoree and stopped taking photos long enough to flip the switch to turn on the holiday lights and snow machine on Kerrwood Hall.

Brad’s son, Jake (‘15), and James Asselin (’17) led the crowd in singing Christmas carols prior to the Kerrwood lighting.

“Summer is for surrendering; winter is for wondering.” – Debasish Mridha

The store is filled with surfboards and stylish clothes that fit the endless summer feeling of the area (courtesy photo)

Shop with a view (courtesy photo)

Henrietta Fore to speak at Jan. 24 luncheon (courtesy photo)

Westmont lights up the season with festive gathering

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

Tiana Molony is a journalist who writes for the Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC. She has also written for Backpacker Magazine, Mountain Gazette, and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Montecito Health Coach

The Empty Nest Syndrome: When Your Children Leave Home, Are You Ready?

by Deann Zampelli

When my sister’s fifth and youngest child was about to leave for university, she and my brother-in-law made a plan. They knew that after he left, they couldn’t face their once full, noisy and vibrant home. So, they packed the car and when he took off, they took off.

It turns out that this wasn’t only a clever plan, but it had a psychological and practical application to it as well. According to The New York Times article, “How to Thrive in an Empty Nest,” by making a plan to go on a trip they nailed three of the key components of surviving this major life change:

1. Acknowledge your feelings: They knew they couldn’t face the empty house without throwing a bocce ball through the window: Road Trip!

2. Make a Plan: Road Trip!

3. Plan Some Fun: Road Trip! In addition, the article goes on to suggest…

4. Make a plan to see your child soon: Something on the calendar takes the edge off of the permanent feeling of the separation.

5. Reconnect with old friends who might also be going through the same thing.

6. Make a long-term goal: Such as going back to school, changing careers, retiring, traveling somewhere you have always wanted to go It helps to feel you haven’t been left behind to have these goals in place. These plans can range in scope from smaller, achievable segments to larger, more ambitious goals depending on what your life can support.

While not everyone has the ability to uproot their lives and bail out for a few weeks when their kids leave, the key is to prepare to enter this new phase of life as Empty Nesters (or EN). Often referred to as a “Syndrome,” this threshold is harder for some than for others.

Just calling it a “Syndrome” makes me want to get a blood test to make sure my Crazy Town hormones are functioning properly. You know the culprits; Cortisol, Adrenaline, Norepinephrine and a few others I would have to Google in order to spell correctly. Ok, I googled Norepinephrine.

According to Psychology Today , “Empty Nest Syndrome refers to the distress and other complicated emotions that parents often experience when their children leave home.”

Historically, this has often affected women (or the primary caregivers) more than men as women were most often at home with the children – but now couples are frequently facing this together, as many are working from home and sharing the parenting workload.

However, this threshold should first be understood, before it can be conquered. Regardless of what the label implies, this isn’t an actual diagnosis but more of an acknowledgement that this is a significant, life-altering transition. The parent or parents’ lives were usually organized for 18 or so years around this other being. What they ate, where they needed to be, when they went to bed, where their favorite Mimi or Spotty had gone to, what they were learning, and most importantly, what kind of human they were becoming. While many often look at this stage as impending doom, it can also be viewed as a new and exciting opportunity. Naturally there will be some ambivalence around the thought of your kids flying the coop. I know I can’t even think about it without getting a bit teary. Although some days it does make me want to jump with joy into the future with a suitcase and a bottle of wine. Or a suitcase of wine.

Don’t judge. I have teenagers. As with most issues in life, there will be significant cultural, economic and

gender differences in how individuals navigate and cope with the adult child leaving home. According to the Sage Journals ’ study on Parental Gender Differences and Cultural Dynamics, children are often the “social conduit” for the parents’ external lives. This resonated with me as, when our children left our lovely little preschool many years ago, most of our people went on to a different elementary school. My husband and I felt a huge shift in our social lives. It wasn’t that we weren’t still friends with the same parents, it was just that they all saw each other so much more frequently being at the same school. So, to extrapolate this even further to when the kids leave home, it makes sense that this piece of your external life no longer naturally draws the same energy that it once did.

It also seems that this phase of life can really shine a spotlight on the health of the relationship of parents who are still together. Do you like each other enough to want to hang out more? What do you have in common now that the kids have flown the coop? What do you talk about at dinner if you aren’t bitching about or at the kids? OR, maybe this is a good excuse to rekindle the flame?

What about single parents after their kids leave home? This can be much harder on the parent as they don’t have someone with whom to directly commiserate, which goes to Arianna Huffington ’s Thrive Global suggestion; connecting with other single empty nesters, finding a new passion, and volunteering – all as tools to help you thrive during this adjustment. While the bond between each parent and child is unique, the single parent’s bond might be tighter or deeper in different ways varying with their situation. A widow or a widower, for example, might have a different connection with their child as parent and child grieved that loss

together. Or a divorced parent might have grown to rely on the child for companionship.

What does seem like a common thread between most of the studies and support groups is the planning component. Viewing this threshold as an opportunity, though, will require a bit of advance footwork. Whether it is planning a trip, connecting with others, finally buying yourself a hammock and throwing out the long-ago rotted swing set (that in itself could be the metaphor for becoming an EN), it will take proactive measures to make this an adventure rather than a hardship.

Ask yourself what you have always wanted to do but couldn’t “because of the kids.” Maybe it is as simple as taking a class in something you are interested in. Or, as basic as learning to live for yourself for a change. Being a parent is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience, but it is also exhausting. They will always be your kids and from what I understand from parents with adult children in their 40’s you never, ever, ever (did I mention ever?) stop worrying about them.

But the true challenge will be to learn to live for ourselves, and even figuring out who that might be aside from the title “Mom” or “Dad.”

So, here’s to the next chapter, whatever that may hold. And above all, remember to reach out. You are not alone.

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.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Bids open at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 for:

Modoc Rd multi-use path Tree Removal In the 2nd Supervisorial District COUNTY PROJECT No. 862416B

General project work description: Tree Removal

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

The Contractor must have either a Class A license or any combination of the following Class C licenses which constitutes a majority of the work: A, B, C-49

For the Federal Training Program, the number of trainees or apprentices is 0

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

PlanetBids

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

Complete the project work within 10 Workings Days

The estimated cost of the project is $ 75,000

A optional pre-bid meeting is scheduled for this project on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Intersection of Modoc Rd and Encore Dr This project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).

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

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

The federal minimum wage rates for this Contract as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor are available at https://www.wdol.gov/. Copies are also available at the office of the Department of Public Works – Engineering Division, 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

If the minimum wage rates as determined by the United States Secretary of Labor differs from the general prevailing wage rates determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations for similar classifications of labor, the Contractor and subcontractors must not pay less than the higher wage rate. The Department does not accept lower State wage rates not specifically included in the federal minimum wage determinations. This includes helper, or other classifications based on hours of experience, or any other classification not appearing in the federal wage determinations. Where federal wage determinations do not contain the State wage rate determination otherwise available for use by the Contractor and subcontractors, the Contractor and subcontractors must not pay less than the federal minimum wage rate that most closely approximates the duties of the employees in question.

Inquiries or questions based on alleged patent ambiguity of the plans, specifications, or estimate must be submitted as a bidder inquiry by 2:00 PM on 12/20/2024. Submittals after this date will not be addressed. Questions pertaining to this Project prior to Award of the Contract must be submitted via PlanetBids Q&A tab.

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

By order of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Barbara this project was authorized to be advertised on 11/22/2022.

Christopher Sneddon Director of

Public Works

Published December 11, 2024 Montecito Journal

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

PUBLIC NOTICE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (“COUNTY”) intends to enter into a Real Property Acquisition Agreement, (“Agreement”) and accept the Temporary Construction Easement (“TCE”) for the purpose of facilitating the construction of the Emergency Storm Damage Repairs on Foxen Canyon Road Site No. 23STM1-3J04 (“PROJECT”) from Chamberlin Ranch LLC as community property with right of survivorship, owners of the property located at 4551 Figueroa Mountain Road, Los Olivos, California, also identified as 133-151-060.

The Agreement and Certificate of Acceptance for the TCE will be executed on behalf of the County by Chris Sneddon, Director of the Public Works Department, pursuant to Santa Barbara County Code Section 12A-11.1. The Agreement and Certificate of Acceptance will be executed at the Office of the Director of the Public Works Department, located at 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Responses to this notice will be accepted at the Office of the Manager of the Transportation Division, at the following address:

Public Works Department

Transportation Division

Attn: Transportation Division Manager 123 E. Anapamu Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

DATE OF POSTING: WEDNESDAY, December 11, 2024

Montecito Journal

PUBLIC NOTICE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA (“COUNTY”) intends to enter into a Real Property Acquisition Agreement, (“Agreement”) and accept the Temporary Construction Easement (“TCE”) for the purpose of facilitating the construction of the Emergency Storm Damage Repairs on Tepusquet Road Site No. 23STM1-4J17 (“PROJECT”) from Jennifer J. Johns Individual Living Trust as community property with right of survivorship, owners of the property located at 3401 Tepusquet Road, Santa Maria, California, also identified as 131-220-009

The Agreement and Certificate of Acceptance for the TCE will be executed on behalf of the County by Chris Sneddon, Director of the Public Works Department, pursuant to Santa Barbara County Code Section 12A-11.1. The Agreement and Certificate of Acceptance will be executed at the Office of the Director of the Public Works Department, located at 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Responses to this notice will be accepted at the Office of the Manager of the Transportation Division, at the following address:

Public Works Department

Transportation Division Attn: Transportation Division Manager 123 E. Anapamu Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101

DATE OF POSTING: WEDNESDAY December 11 2024 Montecito Journal

This statement expires five years from the date it was 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. 2024-0002656. Published December 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Min-

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Thyne Berglund & Co, 205 E Carillo St, 100, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. Thyne Berglund LLC, 205 E Carillo St, 100, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on December 2, 2024. This statement expires five years from the date it was 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. 2024-0002820. Published December 12, 19, 26, 2024, January 2, 2025

drite; Mindrite Counseling & Wellness; Mindrite Counseling; Mindrite Mental Health; Mindrite Mental Wellness; Mindrite Counseling Center; Mindrite CW, 1187 Coast Village Rd, STE 1-360, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108. Mindrite, A Mental Wellness and Counseling Corporation, 1187 Coast Village Rd, STE 1-360, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 13, 2024.

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Materiales De Construccion, 784 Chelham Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108. George E Davidson, 784 Chelham Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 14, 2024. This statement expires five years from the date it was 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. 2024-0002679. Published December 5, 12, 19, 26, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GOODLAND SIGNS; GOODLAND ADA

SIGNS, 375 Pine Ave., Suite 20, Goleta, CA, 93117. Paul A Strickland, 375 Pine Ave., Suite 20, Goleta, CA, 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 13, 2024. This statement expires five years from the date it was 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. 2024-0002657. Published November 28, December 5, 12, 19, 2024

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Palma Catering, 432 E. Haley Suite A, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. Palma Vegan Group, LLC, PO Box 22615, Santa Barbara, CA, 93121. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 14, 2024. This statement expires five years from the date it was 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. 2024-0002671. Published November 21, 28, December 5, 12, 2024

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 24CV05813. To all interested parties: Petitioner Corrina Louise Bonham filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Corrina Louise Gilbert. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed November 7, 2024 by Preston Frye. Hearing date: December 20, 2024 at 10 am in Dept. 4, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published November 21, 28, December 5, 12, 2024

Ramirez and Jay are happy to do this annual holiday fundraiser and said, “The holiday season is the spirit of love with family, friends and our community. We hope everyone will come out and support our drives. Every donation no matter how big or how small will make a huge impact and create a holiday where there may not have been one. From all of us at Richie’s Barbershop Montecito to all of you, Happy Holidays!”

411: Richie’s Barber Shop, 1187 Coast Village Road

Drop off times: Monday through Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm or call (805) 845-9701

The Annual Hathaway Tree Decorating

The annual tradition of decorating the Hathaway Tree at Manning Park was held by the Montecito Association and its Montecito Beautification members, in collaboration with Montecito Fire, on Wednesday, December 4, in the afternoon. There were at least 30 adults, a handful of kids, and two doggies on hand to help, along with water and cookies. The oversized decorations are recycled each year.

This annual holiday tradition is held in honor of Montecito Fire Chief Don Hathaway, his wife, Helen, and children Dean and Ronda, who started it in 1960 with a Monterey Pine tree located on the then corner [no roundabout] of North Jameson and the 101 going north. Due to the passing of Hathaway and the tree falling, Dana Newquist and a few elves with fundraisers purchased and planted a new 18-foot Blue Aptos Redwood tree at upper Manning Park in 2012. It has been decorated every year since then.

Shout outs to Executive Director of the Montecito Association Houghton Hyatt, Events Chair Mindy Denson, the Montecito Association board members, volunteers, and our beloved fire fighters at Montecito Fire Protection District.

Ahoy Mate!

The 38th Annual Boat Parade of Lights Goes Pirate

It was cannons and gun powder and planks to walk – aye aye the pirates have arrived! this year for the 38th Annual Boat Parade of Lights, held on Sunday, December 8.

Our proud sailors, boaters, and commercial fishermen took this year’s theme, “Yule Tide Pirates” to the next level with their spectacular boat lighting, high flying pirate flags, costumes, music, singing, and all out swashbuckling lighted sword fighting, and more.

Grand Prize went to Rick Wallace, sword in hand, and his band of 29 costumed pirates for his amazing display of this year’s theme on his sailboat the Bosporus, entry #39. Here we saw a wide display of red lights, spooky pirate swords, and flags on the main sail, cascading white lights and fishing nets strung up the masthead, while towing a second kit-boat of skeleton-pirates. Wallace also won first place in the sailboat category.

Additional First place winners were:

Commercial Fishing Boat: Chad McClintock, No Quarter, boat #8

Commercial Other: Shawn Hughes, Scruba Dub Dive Se What, boat # 41

Power Boat: Bill Hahn, Blue Haven, boat, #10

Human Power: Julie Gordon , Barkbeard’s Bounty

The Parade of Lights event is led by City of SB Waterfront Administrative Analyst II and Public Information Officer Angela Rodriguez, with Parade of Lights Committee Chair Captain Skip Abed, Waterfront Director Mike Wiltshire, Captain Dave Bacon with his wife Cathy as emcees, and faithful Damian who for over 10 years has spot lit the boat numbers for the judges and tallies up the winners’ scores.

The Waterfront Holiday event started with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Stearns Wharf Santa Village. There was faux snow, elves, holiday music, and the official tree lighting at the Sea Center. The Boat Parade of Lights was held at both 3 pm for the Human Powered category and then at 6 pm for the power and sail categories. This year saw over 30 entrants total.

Each year, I am honored with a VIP pass to the official judges’ perch and viewing VIP viewing party hosted at The Moby Dick Restaurant by Karl Hutterer, President and CEO of The Stearns Wharf Company.

The Parade Judges were President of the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara Chris Voss, the 2024 Commodore of the SB Yacht Club Dennis Boneck, Harry Rabin representing Heal the Ocean, Senior Financial Planner at Mercer Advisors Adam Stanowick, and City of SB Administrator Kelly McAdoo

This year’s Parade of Lights event was sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara Waterfront Department, Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants Association, Stearns Wharf Business Association, and the Santa Barbara Yacht Club.

See 411 the complete list of entrants and winners

411: https://tinyurl.com/sb-boats-lights

The annual Hathaway Tree decorating with Montecito Fire and the Montecito Association (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Skip Abed with Grand Prize Winner Rick Wallace and his crew from boat #39 (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

First Place Power Boat winner Bill Hahn, boat #10 (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Parade of Lights judges Chris Voss, Dennis Bonick, Harry Rabin, Adam Stanowick, and Kelly McAdoo with Angela Rodriguez (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez with Karl Hutterer and his wife Nancy (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

exceptional music to the community throughout the year.

A delightful show…

‘Nutcracker’ with a Twist… and a Swing

Tchaikovsky might not have approved, but a packed audience at the Arlington Theatre watching the New York-based Dorrance Dance company’s Nutcracker Suite, part of UCSB’s popular Arts & Lectures series, showed their approval after a 75-minute jazzy new version of the Christmas tradition.

Set to a new arrangement of the Yuletide classic by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, the colorful energized show kicked off with “An Ella’quent Holiday Swing” featuring festive favorites from “Jingle Bells” to “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

Powerhouse vocalist Aaron Marcellus and Michelle Dorrance’s incomparable dancers brought the songs to life, accompanied by a trio of musicians.

With its joyful riffs and hand clapping

tempo, the toe-tapping production was the perfect start to the holiday season.

Celebrating the Relief Chief

Thomas Tighe, who is retiring as head of Direct Relief after 24 years was fêted by members of the charity’s Legacy Society at the organization’s headquarters.

Since starting in 2000, Tighe has seen the charity’s expansion become the fifth largest charity in the U.S. among the largest providers of charitable medicine in America and globally.

During his tenure Direct Relief has provided more than $16 billion is essential medical equipment and supplies, with more than $350 million going to health organizations in 136 countries, and other U.S. states and territories.

Among supporters marking his departure were Denny and Bitsy Bacon, Lisa Gluck, Jon and Barbara Greenleaf, Angel and Lisa Iscovich , Sandy

Knox-Johnston, Keith Moore, Stuart Orenstein, Joanne Schoenfeld, and Dennis and Jennifer Sanan.

Lots of Lights

La Arcada, the charming thoroughfare off State Street, had its 29th annual Christmas Walk with carolers in Dickensian costume, a real snow machine and free popcorn for 1,000 guests.

Youngsters were even able to send letters to Santa Claus with typewriters in the Crafter’s Library which, given their age, was probably the first time they’d encountered one!

Billionaire Rick Caruso’s Rosewood Miramar attracted a horde of families and children when the tony hostelry hosted its “Merry Miramar” Christmas tree lighting.

Hot chocolate, apple cider, and Prosecco cocktails were the order of the night as the five-star hotel lit the 17-foot pine that had been flat-bedded in from

Silverton, Oregon, and festooned with 5,000 decorations by Petals of David in Los Angeles and Perla Mercado with her team of 15 “elves” completing the herculean task in just 24 hours.

The festive fête – which attracted

JACK Quartet, a Fab Four (photo by Emma Matthews)

Christmas Carolers perched along the La Arcada Avenue with the Abanise Family: Julius and Gabriela with children Juliana and Francisco (photo by Priscilla)

Brent Baldwin, Laurie Leis, honoree Thomas Tighe, and Keith Moore (photo by Priscilla)

Elizabeth Burke as the Nutcracker and Gisele Silva as Clara (photo by David Bazemore)

Direct Relief Legacy Donor Patricia Mitchell with Board Chair Mark Linehan (photo by Priscilla)

Blessings Porter was the real star of the evening (photo by Priscilla)

Andersen’s Charlotte Andersen posing with Nutcracker cast and a wearied traveler (photo by Priscilla)

more than 500 guests checking out the Great Lawn and two live reindeer to enchant children – also collected gifts for Toys for Tots Santa Barbara.

Local Couple Likes Living Here

Prince Harry and wife Meghan have no plans to return to the U.K. with their children Archie and Lilibet

The Riven Rock resident, 40, opened up about his decision to stay in the U.S. at the annual New York Times DealBook Summit in Manhattan.

The Sussexes have called Montecito home for four years after leaving the U.K. and quitting as working members of the Royal Family.

“I really enjoy living here and bringing up my kids here,” said King Charles III’s youngest son.

He said he wanted to be the “best husband” and “best dad,” dashing recent divorce rumors.

Local Couple Stays Home for Holidays

.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are set to spend Yuletide in our rarefied enclave with their children, Archie and Lilibet, having not been invited yet again to the Royal Family’s Christmas festivities in Sandringham House in Norfolk, the sprawling 20,000-acre estate built by Queen Victoria for her son King Edward VII, according to the New York Post

But at least they won’t be short of activities given all our Eden by the Beach has to offer.

I’m sure the youngsters would love to make their first visit to the Granada to see the State Street Ballet’s enchanting Nutcracker and welcome in 2025 with the Santa Barbara Symphony’s

New Year’s Eve Pops concert, also at the same splendid auditorium. The community awaits....

Local Couple Friends with Neighbors

Prince Harry didn’t have to look far for a star act to open his Invictus Games in Canada in February.

His near neighbor, Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry, is winging to Vancouver for the occasion.

The 40-year-old former Dos Pueblos High student is the biggest star to perform at the bi-annual event attended by the Duke of Sussex and his actress wife Meghan Markle

Katy and her British actor fiancé Orlando Bloom are good friends with the Sussexes and live just a tiara’s toss or two away.

Sightings

Gwyneth Paltrow, ex-husband Coldplay rocker Chris Martin and daughter Apple at the Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris... Michael Douglas at the Red Sea International Film Festival... Maria Shriver at Pierre Lafond.

Pip! Pip!

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Superintendent Anthony Ranii said 60% of the money raised supported the library enhancements. By comparison, 40% transformed the school’s former computer lab into an Innovation Lab known as the “I-Lab” – a place where kids can experience hands-on building and creating using drills, hammers and screwdrivers in a safe space designed for learning and creating. Additions to the I-Lab include custom furniture perfect for tinkering and designing, a slat system for proper tool storage and custom furniture to store materials like wood and cardboard. Racks were purchased to display student work, and the ceiling was exposed and painted so students could view the mechanics of the infrastructure of the building.

The renovations came out of necessity to meet the state’s “Next Generation Science Standards,” or NGSS – referring to a set of K-12 science requirements designed to provide students with a deep understanding of science through handson learning, aimed at a more practical and inquiry-based approach to science education. School Science Specialist Vanessa Scarlett says they were finding that the science lab wasn’t the right space to do the kind of engineering that was needed, so when they first attempted to set up the space, they did it on a dime in the old computer lab. Soon enough they realized more was needed to achieve the desired results.

“As much as it is about the hands-on building and creating, it’s also about the critical thinking that comes with that, the collaboration, the teamwork, the opportunity to learn from failure and that process of repeated testing that goes into that.”

Three additional projects that stemmed from “Measure Q” – a multi-million-dollar 2014 bond initiative that failed at the polls – culminated at the end of the school’s more recent construction phase which began two years ago. These enhancement projects are part of a re-imagined large-scale improvement plan; one whittled down from the earlier proposed budget of over $27 million to the current $15 million improvements, these funded through a mix of district reserves, state grants, and a bridge loan. Numerous enhancements to the more than 100-year-old building’s main structure, and the kindergarten and first-grade buildings included a new electrical system, replacement of water pipes, and sewer lines where terra cotta pipes still existed, new modern and efficient lighting with wireless connections, air conditioning, paint, carpet, and new whiteboards. The school’s auditorium received minor updates to the wood flooring, and new light fixtures.

School Superintendent Anthony Ranii, who was hired two years after the defeated 2014 bond measure, helped spearhead the new vision for the school’s revitalization projects.

“I’m proud that we were able to complete all of these projects without raising taxes. I am grateful to our Trustees for their creativity and diligence, and hope that the community is proud of the way that MUS is using our funds wisely to give all of our students of today the best education possible while also preparing these buildings to serve the students of tomorrow.”

The multiple projects were done in phases over the course of two years and are now fully operational.

Students, teachers, and parents joined in the newly refurbished Towbes Library (photo by Christian Maike)

The I-Lab will help the school meet the state’s Next Generation Science Standards (photo by Christian Maike)

Anne Towbes and Rick Fidel with the carolers (photo by Priscilla)

Happy families meeting the reindeer (photo by Priscilla)

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

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

ENDING THIS WEEK

Pooch Packs It up – POOCH: The Art Full Life of Keith Julius Puccinelli is a stunningly spectacular exhibition of the breadth and depth of the work of late longtime Santa Barbara graphic designer and fine artist Keith Puccinelli. The show movingly investigates how humor, tragedy and wit animated Puccinelli’s art and design over the course of his career and health challenges through more than 600 original works of art and the full artist’s archive including design and documentary materials. Curator Meg Linton punctuates the show with a behind-the-scenes look at how Puccinelli’s sketchbooks informed the exhibition, sharing pages locked behind the display glass to provide further insights into the artist’s working process and inner world. After the tour, celebrate this closing of the extraordinary exhibition with a light reception. WHEN: 1 pm

WHERE: UCSB Art, Design & Architecture Museum, UCSB campus, across from the lagoon COST: free

INFO: (805) 893-2951 or www.museum.ucsb.edu

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

Country Christmas on Ice – Over the last few decades of trading lemon groves for shopping centers, Goleta isn’t exactly out in the country these days. But we urbanites and village people are still welcome to Costco country – or rather the ice-skating haven a block away known as Ice in Paradise. The magic of the season comes to life on ice in a frigid winter wonderland as skaters of all ages perform with pageantry in this once a year showcase, this year dubbed Ice in Paradise Presents: A Country Christmas On Ice. Enjoy from a seat up in the mezzanine or down at ice level, closer to the action.

WHEN: 12:30 & 3:30 pm

WHERE: Ice in Paradise, 6985 Santa Felicia Dr., Goleta COST: $20-$30

INFO: (805) 879-1550 or www.iceinparadise.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13

Unity Telethon – Unity Shoppe’s 38th annual telethon and holiday celebration once again takes over the vital nonprofit’s Kenny Loggins Event Center on Sola Street, but filming has also taken place at Unity Thrift and Gift Shoppe twin locations around the corner on State Street. The event will be broadcast live on KEYT and feature mostly pre-recorded appearances by Loggins as well part-time Montecito resident Brad Paisley, local stalwarts Michael McDonald and Jeff Bridges, and surprise celebrity guests. Duane Henry will join Catherine Remak, Kerri Murray, and Lance Orozco this year as emcees for the event. The event center also houses Unity Shoppe’s Client Service Center, a key local resource for families, children, seniors and individuals in need who can shop in a store-like environment

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12

Art & Soul, the Sequel – The Funk Zone space known as Art & Soul is branching out to a downtown destination with the opening of a new location at the former site of Engel & Volkers next door to the Arlington Theatre. The debut exhibition, The Art of Place: Celebrating Santa Barbara’s Contemporary Voices, features the work of Brad Betts, John Baran, Pedro De La Cruz, and Sylvan Butera Rich – covering photography, abstract painting, maritime art, ink drawings and more.

WHEN: Opening reception 5-8 pm

WHERE: Art & Soul, 1323 State St.

COST: free

INFO: (805) 724-2470 or https://artandsoulsb.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

A Portrait Through Prose – Montecito artist and writer Mary Tonetti Dorra’s just-published book, I Am a Portrait: Flash Fiction and Other Short Stories, is a collection of enchanting tales featuring a group of characters based in part on her own real-life friends and relatives who – in the book – interact with others who are purely fictional. Even more exciting, some of the stories are told from the point of view of the works of art themselves, and are based on pieces that have been in the Dorra collection over the years. Dorra will share about the book (available for purchase at the museum store) and sign copies at a post-talk reception at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s Mary Craig Auditorium.

WHEN: 2-4 pm

WHERE: SB Museum of Art, 1130 State St. COST: free

INFO: (805) 963-4364 or https://tickets.sbma.net

for groceries, household necessities, personal care items, clothing and toys.

WHEN: 5-8 pm

WHERE: Sola & Chapala streets (and on KEYT-TV)

COST: free

INFO: https://unityshoppe.org/ways-to-give/annual-holiday-celebration

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14

Holiday on Milpas Street Parade – While Santa Barbara’s annual Christmastime procession is still kaput in the post-pandemic era, the Eastside of town is flourishing with flashy bands, old cars, dignitaries, dancing elves, and Santa Clause himself parading down the area’s main artery in a fun and exciting evening. Floats, marching bands, and other displays make up the magical event that this year carries a theme of “Christmas Dreams.” Before or after the parade, don’t miss gazing in awe at the fabulous decorations on the Milpas roundabout just two blocks further south.

WHEN: 5:30-7:30 pm

WHERE: Milpas Street from De la Guerra to Mason

COST: free

INFO: (805) 724-2782 or https://sbeastside.org/holiday-parade

Youth Taking a Bow – Santa Barbara Strings, the string orchestra which features all three levels of performers, has a special highlight for its annual winter concert –a newly discovered piece by Mozart that was uncovered in a re-cataloguing of the composer’s works in Germany. In a program led by artistic director and violinist Mary Beth Woodruff, Mozart’s trio – written for two violins and cello when the precocious composer was just 10 years old – will be performed with string orchestra; the Santa Barbara Strings players serving as musical archeologists in making artistic decisions about how to interpret the work. Also on the program are Holst’s “St. Paul Suite,” Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 3,” Copland’s “Hoe Down,” Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” and Vince Guaraldi’s beloved “Charlie Brown Christmas.” WHEN: 6 pm

WHERE: Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West campus, 1070 Fairway Rd. COST: $20 adults, children free INFO: www.santabarbarastrings.org

Going Solo with Garbo – Greta Garbo, the star of Hollywood’s Golden Age known as the “Swedish sphinx” for her elusive air of mystery, gets a fresh look almost a century after the actress first graced the silver screen via the new one-woman show Moonlight Reflections with Garbo. Written by and starring Juliet Morrison, Reflections features both documented and imagined material in a tell-all angle designed to probe and reveal one of the most private actresses ever to live. Winner of Best Script in the 2024 United Solo festival New York, Moonlight Reflections with Garbo, directed by Rosie Gordon, gets its local debut with just a single performance tonight.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Center Stage Theater, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor COST: $30 general, $25 students/seniors

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

Mediterranean Nights – SOhO hosts a dinner show to raise funds for Alexandra King’s ambitious ballet Seraglio, which the choreographer and dancer revived last year at the Arlington following decades of dormancy. The evening starts with a Greek folk dance lesson followed by a mediterranean buffet. The main event is a performance featuring some of the Central Coast’s finest dance ensembles including The Alexandra King Ensemble, (Middle Eastern), Ballo Zingari (Tribal fusion/ belly dance), Dance Ojai (Bollywood), Hula Anyone, and Timo Nuñez Arte Flamenco. Open dancing rounds out the night.

WHEN: 6 pm

WHERE: SOhO, 1221 State St., upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $85

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

INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 & WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

Sounds of the Season at SOhO – A pair of cherished locals continue their Christmas tradition with concerts at the restaurant music club, sandwiching the annual visit from Venice, a favorite family band from down L.A. way. Miriam Dance & Friends’ holiday brunch seamlessly combines a joyous celebration – a live band serving up traditional and contemporary gospel music – with a bountiful brunch cooked up by SOhO’s chef on Sunday at 12 noon. Then Venice – the veteran folk-rock-pop band comprised of the brothers and cousins of ‘50s – ‘60s singing sensation The Lennon Sisters – do their yearly holiday show at the club later that evening, at 8:30 pm. Wednesday brings longtime central coast songstress Shawn Thies & Friends and her warm, entrancing evening of original and traditional Christmas carols and songs. WHEN: 12 pm noon (Dance), 8:30 pm (Venice), 7:30 pm (Thies)

WHERE: SOhO, 1221 State St., upstairs in Victoria Court COST: $30-$60 (Dance), $40 (Venice), $25 (Thies)

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

The Platters Very Merry Christmas Show – Smoke might get in your eyes, but the haze from the cozy fireplace (and hopefully not another wildfire) won’t get in the way as recoding legends The Platters take their audiences on a musical journey through time, visiting the sounds of vocal groups influenced by them through the decades. Lance Bernard Bryant, Omar Ross, Jovian K. Ford, and Brittney Bellamy make up the current version of the ‘50s sensation whose sharp and velvety smooth voices put the Platters into the Rock and Roll and Grammy Halls of Fame. Are they as well-honed as the original group or merely “great pretenders”? Only you can decide.

WHEN: 7 pm Monday, 2 & 7 pm Tuesday

WHERE: Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main St., Ventura COST: $74.50

INFO: (805) 667-2900 or www.rubicontheatre.org

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

‘Swingin’ Little Christmas’ – Classic holiday tunes combined with comedy come to life as Montecito actress Jane Lynch – the five-time Emmy winner known for Glee, not to mention hosting NBC’s Weakest Link and recent appearances on Only Murders in the Building – is joined by Kate Flannery (Meredith on NBC’s The Office) and Tim Davis (the singer and producer who worked on all five seasons of Glee). Backed by the Tony Guerrero Quintet, the three energetically unleash the hilarious and heartwarming holiday extravaganza whose joyful banter and vibrant musicality have made ‘Swingin’ Little Christmas’ a hit, both on record and in live appearance across the country.

WHEN: 8 pm

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St.

COST: $67 & $87

INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

BY

Colin Escott AND Floyd Mutrux DIRECTED BY Brian McDonald

Fairlee, Will Riddle, Nick Voss and Blake Burgess

Photo: Zach Mendez

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING (805) 565-1860

ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES

Santa Barbara’s Trusted Choice for Estate Liquidation and Downsizing

As the largest estate liquidators in the Tri-County area, we provide comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy, including expert packing, unpacking, relocating, and ensuring your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. We also host estate sales and online auctions at our own huge consignment shop—the largest in the area, offering an unmatched selection of items. Licensed, bonded, and insured with workers’ compensation coverage, we are certified by the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) and the American Society of Estate Liquidators (ASEL). Proudly holding an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Glenn Novack, Owner 805-770-7715 | info@movingmissdaisy.com | missdaisy.org

TRESOR

We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888

We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Chevy/Ford/Porsche/Mercedes/Etc. We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website – Avantiauto.group

Trusted, Experienced Caregiver, CA State registered and background checked. Vaccinated. Loving and caring provides transportation, medications, etc. Lina 805-940-6888 ELECTRICIAN

Montecito Electric Repairs and Inspections

Licensed C10485353 805-969-1575

PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY

Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance Motivation, and Consistency

John Stillwell, CPT, Specialist in Senior Fitness 805-705-2014 StillwellFitness.com

GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP

At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086

TILE SETTING

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

AVAILABLE FOR RENT

Beautiful renovated mid-century 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom with Ocean views in Santa Barbara foothills, Available Dec 15th - March 15th (646) 206-4391

PAINTINGS FOR SALE

3 Kasandra Martell Still Life Framed floral paintings, approximately 1985 or earlier.

Peonies 24’’ by 20”

Peonies 25” by 29”

Hydrangeas 27” by 31.25” Call Allen Braithwaite (805) 745-5533

Casa L. M.

Landscape hedges installed. Ficus to flowering. Disease resistant. Great privacy. Licensed & insured. Call (805) 963-6909

WATERLILIES and LOTUS since 1992

WATERGARDEN CARE

SBWGC 805 682 5750

PET/ HOUSE SITTING

Do you need to get away for a weekend, week or more? I will house sit and take care of your pets, plants & mail. I have refs if needed. Call me or text me. Christine (805) 452-2385

Longtime Santa Barbara resident, retired, active woman. experienced with house sitting and dog sitting prefer small dogs or cats. Trustworthy, tidy, kind pet lover. Excellent local References upon request. (805) 451-3415

CARPET CLEANING

Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304

Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117

$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

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

KNIFE SHARPENING SERVICES

EDC Mobile Sharpening is locally owned and operated in Santa Barbara. We specialize in (No-Entry) House Calls, Businesses, and Special Events. Call (805) 696-0525 to schedule an appointment.

FOR SALE

Elegant Classic 19” strand Akoya off white pearls in excellent condition. $2000 OBO BGLUSHYN@AOL.COM

LOANS SOUGHT

Bridge Loan of $40,000 sought for business purposes. 120 – day term. Interest / Points / Fees of $10,000.

Loan secured by valuable real estate. Call (805) 845-9289

DONATIONS NEEDED

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944

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

Volunteers

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

LANDSCAPE

SANTA BARBARA CEMETERY PLOT

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Mixed Vegetable Frittata w/ Gruyere

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Corned Beef Hash & two

Petit Filet 7 �oz Steak, & two

with avocado