Not Just a Playground

The Giving List 2-9 DECEMBER 2021 VOL 27 ISSUE 49

SERVING MONTECITO AND SUMMERLAND

Music Academy of the West has a few tricks up its sleeve as it prepares for its 2022 season, page 24

Not Just a Playground

Universally accessible Gwendolyn’s Playground — slated to be Santa Barbara’s largest and only truly inclusive playground — sets out to reimagine the public play space, attracting kids and adults of all ages and abilities to spark creativity and imagination, together. Story starts on page 6

Celebrating Life

Across the South Coast, including in Montecito, Hospice of Santa Barbara will celebrate those that we’ve lost through Light Up A Life, page 14

A New Direction

Mollie Ahlstrand is a Montecito staple and she’s taking her cooking prowess to a new arena: a private chef for special affairs, page 12

Holiday Bonanza

Looking for a free photo with Santa? Some holiday arts & crafts? A way to give back? The Montecito Country Mart has all the solutions, page 28

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Inside This Issue

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5 Editor’s Letter Do we acknowledge the roots of Thanksgiving enough? Should the holiday be jettisoned? One family discussion was eye-opening.

6 Village Beat Gwendolyn’s Playground will bring a truly inclusive experience that is rarely seen throughout the United States 8 Our Town Michael DeVorzon dishes on starring alongside Bruce Willis in an upcoming movie 10 Letters to the Editor Taking exception to Rinaldo Brutoco’s take on Kyle Rittenhouse; plus, more movement on cannabis in Carpinteria 11 Community Voices Dan Meisel explores how to have constructive and productive conversations 12 Local People Mollie Ahlstrand is a Montecito staple and she’s taking her cooking prowess in a new direction 14 What We’re Thankful For The holidays can be tough for those that have lost someone, with Hospice of Santa Barbara dedicating the annual Light Up A Life event to remembering them 16 On Entertainment ETC’s newest production also features a new director; meanwhile, Marc Broussard chats about coming to the Lobero 18 Montecito Miscellany Montecito Bank & Trust’s 17th annual Community Dividends lunch brings about eye-opening $1 million doled out to dozens of organizations 20 Dear Montecito Catching up with Nathan Alvarez and how he leveraged his local education into a career 21 Hot Topics What to know before the Winter Storm Readiness Community Meeting on December 9

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22 Perspectives by Rinaldo S. Brutoco Inflation Worries, Wages and the Money Trail: Why panic is unnecessary The Optimist Daily How one neighborhood used gamification to reduce traffic emissions 23 Brilliant Thoughts Are we really free? And do we want to be?

Robert’s Big Questions Is homelessness simply market failure?

24 The Giving List The Music Academy of the West has a few tricks up its sleeve as it prepares for its 2022 season 26 Library Mojo Some book suggestions for readers of all ages, while Knit ‘n’ Needle is back 27 Stories Matter Some scintillating reads for December 28 Home for the Holidays Looking for a free photo with Santa? Some holiday arts & crafts?

A way to give back and have some fun? The Montecito Country Mart has all the solutions.

32 Our Town St. Vincent’s fashion fundraiser snags record 34 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles 35 Spirituality Matters Catching up with Radhule Weininger and her new book 36 Calendar of Events From 1st Thursday to the Westmont Christmas Festival, a look at the week ahead...

38 Legal Advertisements 39 Local News Stand-up comedy is returning to State Street 44 Nosh Town Chefs from San Ysidro Ranch, Rosewood Miramar, El Encanto, Lucky’s, Ca’Dario, Embermill, and Nella Kitchen & Bar dish on some seasonal offerings 46 Classified Advertising 47 Local Business Directory

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Editor’s Letter

by Gwyn Lurie CEO and Executive Editor of the Montecito Journal Media Group

‘Woke’ From My Tryptophan Slumber

I

t may have slipped by you with everything else that’s been going on lately — the new variant and two national murder cases — that this year was our country’s 400th Thanksgiving! And all was going well at my family’s annual Turkey Day celebration at my sister’s home in Los Angeles.

Until my sister made the choice to acknowledge the Native Indigenous and the brutalities they suffered and simply put out there for group discussion the possibility that our grade school notions and nostalgic depictions of Thanksgiving are not politically correct, or not correct at all.

Historian David Silverman’s book This Land Is Their Land; The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving does a great job getting granular on how we brutalized the Native Americans in pretty much every way conceivable.

The book also had the misfortune of getting published almost exactly simultaneously with when the coronavirus landed. So, like the Native Americans themselves, “The Troubled History of Thanksgiving” has hardly gotten the attention it deserves.

A lot has happened in the two years since Silverman’s revision of our Thanksgiving myth. COVID went from Wuhan to global. George Floyd and BLM happened. What is beyond refute is the real story of what happened at that fateful first Thanksgiving got lost in the shuffle. Spoiler alert: that tribe from that first Thanksgiving was ultimately slaughtered by the Pilgrims — except for the “lucky” ones who got sold into slavery.

The salient parts of Silverman’s book are these. Thanksgiving became

PRE

E

T ’S C

SIDEN TOP 6%

Classic idealization of the First Thanksgiving, where the Indigenous were never actually invited. Perhaps that’s why only the pilgrims had seats.

an official holiday under Lincoln who was trying to give a morale boost to the Union after the gruesome Battle of Gettysburg (where 50,000 died in three days). For you history buffs, the Gettysburg Address came just a few days before Lincoln “declared” Thanksgiving. But the Thanksgiving concept was actually the brainchild of Josepha Hale, an activist and author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Hale’s idea behind Thanksgiving was a coexistence fantasy (others call it “imperialist nostalgia”) that we could all sit around a table together and enjoy a good meal. Or at least the white people could. The Indigenous are rarely depicted as having a seat at the table.

In reality, après that First Thanksgiving for which we just celebrated the 400th anniversary, the Pilgrims decimated those very same Indigenous as well

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• The Voice of the Village •

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Village Beat

by Kelly Mahan Herrick Kelly has been editor at large for the Journal since 2007, reporting on news in Montecito and beyond. She is also a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and is a member of Montecito and Santa Barbara’s top real estate team, Calcagno & Hamilton.

Gwendolyn’s Playground:

A Project That Will Put Us in Rare Company

O

n November 12, on an enchanting property in Montecito’s Hedgerow kindly donated by the Winn and Twining families, nearly 300 people came together to the Butterfly Ball, an event to support Santa Barbara residents Bill and Victoria Strong and their quest to build a state-of-the-art, truly inclusive playground for kids and adults alike.

Gwendolyn’s Playground will be the first project of its kind in Santa Barbara, and only one of a small handful of such parks throughout the country.

The Strongs have deep roots in the community, founding the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (GSF) after the birth of their first daughter, Gwendolyn, who was born in 2007. At six months old, Gwendolyn was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which causes atrophy in the muscular system, and often

leads to severe disability or death.

While caring for their disabled daughter, the Strongs, through their foundation, funded cutting edge research around the world, research which played a pivotal role in changing the progression of the disease. With a tagline of “Never Give Up,” the foundation raised millions of dollars for SMA research.

Gwendolyn passed away at the age of 7 in 2015, and in 2016, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug approved to treat SMA. The gene replacement therapy is injected into the fluid surrounding the spinal cord, and has saved hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. Just last year California began routinely screening for the disease in newborns, in order to offer the cutting-edge gene replacement therapy.

“That was our focus for many years, and now we are setting our sights on

Victoria and Bill Strong of the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation

the playground,” Victoria said in an interview earlier this week.

While profoundly disabled, little Gwendolyn Strong thrived during her short life, possessing and sharing an exuberance for life and inspiring kindness in her friends and strangers.

She attended elementary school, had many friends, danced hip-hop, ran half marathons, adored reading, and loved adventures and travel.

“We lived big when we could, and she cherished the simplest of gifts along the way. But what she couldn’t do, was ‘be one of the kids’ at local playgrounds,” Victoria said. “While many Santa Barbara playgrounds are ADA compliant, not a single one

allowed Gwendolyn to play alongside her friends or participate fully on the equipment.”

The GSF is working closely with the city of Santa Barbara to build Gwendolyn’s Playground, which is slated to be built on a portion of the 10-acre Dwight Murphy Field located near the Santa Barbara Zoo. Acquired by the city in 1925, Dwight Murphy Field was formerly known as the Municipal Soccer Field, and currently serves as the city’s only dedicated soccer facility; there is also a playground, softball field, parking lot, restroom, and outdoor fitness area.

Unfortunately, the park suffers from public misuse, due in part to a now-vacant shower and concessionaire building. The city is partnering with GSF to develop a master plan at the park, which will optimize the use of the sports field space, develop a concept plan for the fully accessible playground, and redesign the restroom and defunct shower and concessionaire facilities. There will also be new picnic facilities, landscape renovation, replacement of the adult fitness equipment, and improved park entries.

A universally accessible playground is a space designed to remove physical barriers to allow children of all abilities to play side-by-side. Using

Village Beat Page 414 414

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Our Town

by Joanne A. Calitri

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Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com

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Michael DeVorzon Stars in Upcoming Film Alongside Bruce Willis

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Michael DeVorzon as Smith on the set of Deadlock (Photo by Michael DeVorzon)

T

he hot film news of the week is our own super talented actor-writer Michael DeVorzon in his latest role as Smith opposite Bruce Willis as Ron Whitlock, in Jared Cohen’s new action thriller Deadlock, which opens in theaters, on digital, and On Demand on December 3, 2021.

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Michael DeVorzon with Bruce Willis behind the scenes while filming Deadlock (Photo by Michael DeVorzon)

DeVorzon and I talked Monday this week about working with Willis, his role in the film, and sharing some of his behind-the-scenes photographs.

Without spoiling anything, the film features Willis as the villain and his mercenaries face off against lead actor Patrick Muldoon as a retired elite army ranger at a hydro-electric power plant, where DeVorzon’s character is in charge. Filming took place at double-warp speed with full cast and crew in their bubble on location in Cordele, Georgia, in February 2021, and went straight to post-production to meet the release date.

Here is our exclusive interview: Q: How was it working with Bruce Willis?

A: It was an honor to work with Bruce Willis, to work opposite him as opposing characters. He is a legendary and iconic movie star. He was incredibly humble and grounded and it was a dream come true to

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Letters to the Editor

If you have something you think Montecito should know about, or wish to respond to something you read in the Journal, we want to hear from you. Please send all such correspondence to: Montecito Journal, Letters to the Editor, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite H, Montecito, CA. 93108. You can also FAX such mail to: (805) 969-6654, or E-mail to letters@montecitojournal.net

Misinformed and misguided

D

ear Mr. Brutoco, You certainly are an inventive person.

You begin your “perspectives” column early by whining that the defense counsel for acquitted shooter Kyle Rittenhouse was “allowed” to refer to the two men killed by Mr. Rittenhouse as “rioters and looters,” and then claim, “they weren’t.” Do you have some secret knowledge as to what they were doing during the riots? I don’t know if they looted anything, but setting fires and whacking someone who’s on the ground with a skateboard sure looks like rioting (which you describe as “demonstrations”) to me.

The “victim” may not have been “armed,” but videos of the incident showed that he wielded his skateboard as a fairly substantial weapon that certainly could have killed Kyle if Kyle hadn’t shot him.

I’m a “rational person” and I believe the acquittal will produce less shootings and death than have already occurred and that have been brought about by BLM and Antifa “demonstrations.”

If Mr. Rittenhouse had been convicted of “murder” it would have signaled to those aforementioned “protest” groups that they now had carte blanche to carry on with their destructive mayhem. As it is, they’ll probably act with little more caution from here on out.

I couldn’t get any further into your article, filled with as it was so many misinformed speculations I just had to stop. Why don’t you just stick to your World Business Academy and “the role of business” and let people with some semblance of balance and reason deal with more complicated and nuanced issues?

Carmen Cascalho Montecito

Blowing Smoke

Your Mr. Brutoco might consider attending law school before he blows anymore smoke about the quality of the “clearly biased and incompetent” judge as well as various procedural matters in the Rittenhouse case. There were no “vigilante” exercises on the part of Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse turned around to shoot the one who was behind him and threatening to kill him: Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse did not “shoot to kill” before being threatened. The court and the jury agreed that Rittenhouse was justified in legally defending himself.

John Stewart

Yes, the Peril is Real

Boy, I would love to be so naive as Rog Colley that “the planet is not in peril.” What is he smoking?

It’s in peril all right and it’s not just my opinion. I refer Mr. Colley (and everyone) to “Speed and Scale”

by John Doerr to catch up on the “peril” coming soon and steps we must take. And — newsflash — the kids already know and are duly alarmed.

Cheryl Niccoli

Am I Being Punked?

Help me. I feel like I am the victim of a prank. My real estate agent just told me that her services are “free” when I buy a home as they are included in the total commission for the property as my eyes lit up.

Explaining further that the commission (anywhere from 4-6% of the sale price) is split between the selling and buying agents. But if the buyer purchases the home without an agent the full commission is paid to the seller’s agent, so it makes no sense

not to have an agent. After hearing this I needed to go for a walk around the block, maybe carrying a banner, “Buyer’s Agents Are Free.” Maybe I am too immature to understand my own shortcomings, but I think presently, any commission is built into the price after considering the anticipated expenses directly involved.

Maybe it is time for reforming a real estate “sellers” contract. Why should the seller jack-up the price to pay for the buyer’s agent? Why does not the buyer contract and bargain with his own agent and have the agent truly work for the best deal for the buyer, not just complete a transaction? This arrangement would rightly restore some competition to the marketplace and the incentives of paying commissions to those agents who truly represent them. Five percent of $3,000,000 home is $150,000 and with a 50-50 split that is $75,000 per agent or brokerage house. What if, after surveying the landscape, I simply offered an agent $25,000 to find me a median-priced house and complete the transaction. Wouldn’t you take that? Would the agent work any less hard to complete a sale?

And wouldn’t the seller of such an arrangement be more willing to sell and at a lower price knowing my agent is covered. Just a thought as these astronomical Montecito/Santa Barbara home prices need to come back down to earth and maybe introducing more competitive agent pricing will help do the trick.

J.W. Burk

The Stink Smells for Itself

Five years into the cannabis takeover of Carpinteria, I am laser focused on the environmental degradation caused by the pot operations nearby. That’s why I’ve started Save the Arroyo Paredon Watershed, an environmental protection and advocacy group, working alongside Concerned Carpinterians, the Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council and others. I am worried about what is happening to federally endangered steelhead trout and tidewater gobi plus other plants and animals in Arroyo Paredon Creek. To try to understand these problems, I read

MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE Day Low Hgt High Thurs, Dec. 2 12:55 AM 1.2 7:21 AM Fri, Dec. 3 1:34 AM 1.6 7:57 AM Sat, Dec. 4 2:14 AM 1.8 8:37 AM Sun, Dec. 5 2:57 AM 2.1 9:20 AM Mon, Dec. 6 3:44 AM 2.4 10:07 AM Tues, Dec. 7 12:23 AM Weds, Dec. 8 1:33 AM Thurs, Dec. 9 2:45 AM Fri, Dec. 10 3:49 AM

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Hgt Low 6.6 02:17 PM 7 03:03 PM 7.1 03:51 PM 7.1 04:41 PM 6.8 05:35 PM 3.8 4:38 AM 3.8 5:46 AM 4 7:16 AM 4.2 9:03 AM

Hgt High Hgt Low -0.9 08:33 PM 4.2 -1.5 09:27 PM 4.1 -1.7 010:22 PM 4 -1.7 011:20 PM 3.9 -1.5 2.7 10:58 AM 6.3 06:32 PM 2.9 11:56 AM 5.7 07:32 PM 3.1 01:05 PM 4.9 08:34 PM 2.9 02:29 PM 4.3 09:33 PM

Hgt

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“For the sun, every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.” – John Lennon

“A Review of the Effects of Cannabis Cultivation on Fish and Wildlife Resources” by Ange Baker, senior resource scientist for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Baker states that pot operations degrade the habitat for plants and animals through overactive water resource use, pesticides, rodenticides, water diversions, site development, and direct ingestion of the plant itself, among many other issues. According to the report, can-

2 – 9 December 2021

Community Voices

by Dan Meisel, regional director of ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties

Let’s Talk

Tips for challenging conversations in a divided community (or household)

P

ublic speaking is a commonly held fear, but I have noticed a dramatic rise in fear of speaking privately – particularly with those whom we love and respect, but also disagree. Local conversations about school bonds, water, masks, racism, elections, and conspiracies escalate with unnerving speed and ferocity, as if all these issues are connected to two possible outcomes, each feeling apocalyptic to the opposing view.

As someone often engaged in emotional conversations spanning the political spectrum, I have found a few guidelines helpful for protecting relationships while confronting the elephant in the room.

First, binary framing — being for or against something — often limits the richness and nuance of a conversation. Very few issues are that simple. One can be “for” law enforcement and “against” systemic racism in law enforcement.

Getting past the unhelpful rhetorical labels and diving into the nuance is usually where disagreements are best addressed. It also helps to start with areas of agreement, and then share concerns.

Second, letting your opinions or group affiliations define you may limit your openness to new information and get in the way of your ability to think critically. I often see invitations like this: “If you agree with us, please join our group and conversation.” Group members trumpet their involvement, and some describe themselves by referencing the groups they belong to. They often expel members who express disagreement.

Such groups can be effective for advocacy, but they can isolate us in echo chambers and limit exposure to alternative viewpoints. Here is an alternative invitation you can try: “We seem to have much in common, but we appear to disagree on this issue. Can we meet to see if we can identify common ground or to educate each other about it?” Regardless of your group affiliations, defining yourself as a critical thinker, passionate about solutions and open to new information is more likely to result in constructive conversations outside of your echo chambers.

Third, asking others about their feelings rather than their opinions can result in richer conversations. When you ask another’s opinion, they express their conclusion that is unlikely to change. When you ask about their feelings, you tend instead to hear about personal experiences and fears that help you understand their ideological journey. It gives you an opportunity to empathize and to explore other avenues that might offer desired outcomes. It is often a more productive conversation that strengthens rather than threatens relationships.

Fourth, avoiding dehumanizing language and rhetorical exaggeration can help keep defense shields down. Our elected officials — on right and left — have not been “monsters,” “evil,” or “tyrants.” They don’t warrant comparisons to Nazis and doing so trivializes and diminishes victims and survivors of Nazi atrocities. When people scare or confuse us, we tend to dehumanize them. It is a defense mechanism to distance ourselves from perceived threats, but a dangerous defense mechanism because when we dehumanize people, it becomes all the easier to treat them inhumanely.

Fifth, it is usually worth the effort to seek out or construct environments suited to meaningful conversations. Conversing on a social platform that requires or encourages brevity often prevents conversations from digging into important nuance. The fact that no one criticized your social media group post or spoke in opposition when your group packed a school board meeting does not mean opposition didn’t exist. It may simply mean others didn’t find the forum welcoming. Constructive environments tend to be “brave” spaces in which you both accept that you will feel uncomfortable and maybe even defensive but can say something difficult or scary and listen fully to things that may be hard to hear. Constructive conversations may feel uncomfortable, but can be conducted with care and compassion.

Sixth, valuing outcomes based on facts rather than facts based on desired outcomes is more likely to lead us to places of agreement. A 2014 study by Duke University demonstrated how both Republican and Democrat participants tended to trust factual statements only if accompanied by policy solutions they preferred. Other studies have found this same tendency. As a result, we have become better at constructing arguments against undesired outcomes than we

2 – 9 December 2021

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Local People

by James Buckley

Mollie Moves On

Mollie Ahlstrand’s “Bambini in Cucina con Mollie” four-course Sunday series of classes attracts a crowd of eager youngsters (photo by Sean Bertrand)

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’ve known Mollie Ahlstrand for more than 30 years. Her high-end Italian restaurant on Coast Village Road was there for more than 25 of those years. But, the fires, the floods, the debris flow, and other disasters took their toll and she moved her place to Santa Barbara three years ago, only to run into the elongated pandemic. It was too much and she finally closed Mollie’s on State next to the Granada at the end of October.

But, undeterred, she’s taking on a new challenge as private chef for special affairs. She’ll come to your house to cook, or make a dinner and deliver it to your door as long as you give her 24 hours notice. If you are not familiar with her food, you should know a few things: her desserts are legendary, particularly her Panna Cotta, but her strawberry cheesecake is pretty spectacular too. Two other favorites of mine include Mollie’s lasagna and her spaghetti with turkey meatballs (with raisins!).

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12 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Snow Flower Books author/publisher Nathalie Fleurie and Chef Mollie Ahlstrand at their recent Children’s Safari at a Montecito home (photo by Sean Bertrand)

“Pain is what we are in most of the time, and I think that the bigger the pain, the more God you look for.” – John Lennon

In any case, she may no longer have the burden of owning and operating a full-on restaurant, but she is eager to keep on working, so Mollie will be devoting her time and energy to teaching others.

Here’s what she has in store: A “Bambini in Cucina con Mollie” (“Children in the kitchen with Mollie”) cooking series that has already begun (the first class took place on November 7). The complete agenda consists of four two-hour classes on four successive Sundays, with from six to 12 children per class.

All four classes are $100, or $35 for each individual class for those not able or willing to commit for the entire month.

Each week, the children will make a different recipe: pizza, homemade pasta, cookies, and finally, dessert, all with fresh and organic ingredients.

“Kids will learn cooking skills from one of the best chefs in the world,” says Mollie with a great big but humble Mollie Ahlstrand smile. She promises too that each class will be “handson fun.” As an example, she says, “They’ll have fun learning to make pizza dough, choosing their favorite organic toppings, and then baking it to take home to share.”

Mollie will also be offering catering services for clients, and perhaps once a month put on a special show, such as the combination cooking class and safari outing that took place recently, featuring Nathalie Fleurie’s (aka Fleurie Leclercq) beautifully illustrated and tenderly written Snow Flower Books for children, in a jungle-like backyard setting complete with plush African animals, and traditional African music.

Give Mollie a call at (805) 452-2692 to find out more and/or to register for the next series of classes or events. •MJ 2 – 9 December 2021

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2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

13

What We’re Thankful For

Scan this QR code with your smartphone camera to contribute to the Light Up A Life event

by Nick Masuda

A Place to Celebrate the Lives of Those We’ve Lost

F

or Sharon Byrne, gazing at the 15-foot tree that stands in the grassy knoll in front of Pierre Lafond in the Upper Village has a new significance in 2021.

For the first time, a silver star will have the name of a loved one on it for Byrne — for her father, who passed away in February. Her mom and daughter will also be putting up stars in his honor, a small token of appreciation as the family experiences their holiday season without him.

It’s all part of Hospice of Santa Barbara’s 38th annual Light Up A Life (LUAL) event, set to kick off virtually for the second consecutive year on December 15.

“Many people lost so many loved ones this year, both because of the pandemic, and other causes. People need a space and a container, a ritual, if you like, for reconnecting with that missed loved one, for honoring them, and being able to do it in a community of people who really care the way

Montecito does, because they have been through so much,” said Byrne, who leads the LUAL committee in Montecito.

“Grief is something you can’t escape from, and it hits us all. So, gathering with others, and creating that shared space to remember, to love, and open your heart, it’s a huge opportunity for more healing.”

In the years prior to the pandemic, the LUAL would bring out throngs of people to join in helping each other remember loved ones, a collective community hug, of sorts.

Byrne, also the executive director at the Montecito Association, says that the support of the event has always been stellar, with this year no exception, including the Montecito tree being donated by Clay Tedeschi.

“Pre-pandemic, the Montecito Light Up A Life event was packed and lovely with remembrances and tenderness. The Montecito Association requested sponsorships and support

Dustin Barthel of the Montecito Fire Department clips on a star on the tree at the corner of East Valley and San Ysidro roads (Photo by Nick Masuda)

for the event, and people gave generously,” Byrne said. “Like many things, it needs wider support and embrace, but it’s clear the community tree on the green in front of Lafond’s is a nice gift to this community. I remember the first year we did it, in 2018, and Andi at Lafond’s said, ‘I’ve been wanting to put a tree there for ages.’ She got one!”

The free, virtual event on December 15 will run from 6-7 pm, with Hospice of Santa Barbara holding its traditional celebration of reflection with speakers, music, and the lighting of the Tree of Remembrance. Pre-registration is

required for the event.

You can order a digital star for a loved one on HSB’s Virtual Tree of Remembrance.

There are four physical trees erected along the South Coast, including one in Montecito (corner of San Ysidro and East Valley roads), Carpinteria (Seal Fountain), Santa Barbara (Lobero Theatre’s front lawn), and Goleta (Calle Real Marketplace).

Volunteers will take those digital dedications and put them on the trees throughout the season.

“It’s a beautiful blending of making the holidays brighter with a community and remembering those we have loved and lost, by honoring them with a star on the tree,” Byrne said. “It’s lighting up a life, in every sense, and at a time when you might be missing them most.”

•MJ 411 Website: https://www.hospiceofsb. org/lual

125 State St. Santa Barbara 805.770.5000

moxi.org/gift

14 MONTECITO JOURNAL

2 – 9 December 2021

May this season bring joy, love and blessings to you and your family.

Happy Holidays from your friends at MB&T.

montecito.bank • (805) 963-7511 Solvang • Goleta • Mesa • Santa Barbara • Montecito Carpinteria • Ventura • Camarillo • Westlake Village

2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

15

On Entertainment A Debut at ETC

by Steven Libowitz

Rebecca Mozo, Adam Poss, Chelsea Kurtz, and Kyle T. Hester star in the Ensemble Theatre Company’s production of The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley (Photo by Zach Mendez)

W

PETE SOUZA TWO PRESIDENTS ONE PHOTOGRAPHER

16 MONTECITO JOURNAL

An Evening of Photos & Stories Jan 22 | Lobero Theatre Tickets @ Lobero.org 8:00 PM Santa Barbara, CA

ere it not for a pandemic-induced postponement, former 20-year Laguna Playhouse artistic director Andrew Barnicle would have returned to Ensemble Theatre to direct The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley, playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s witty companion piece to Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley and the second in a planned trilogy that serves as an imagined sequel to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

While Miss Bennet — which ETC produced in December 2017 — reunited the beloved books’ characters to center on the awkward, innocent, and even nerdy middle sister Mary, The Wickhams also puts its attention on its title character, a comparatively minor player in the Bennet-Darcy world.

Lydia’s scoundrel of a husband has not been invited to the yuletide gathering, but he’s crashed it nonetheless, setting things a-twitter. The clever twist in the play is that it takes place during the same time frame as Miss Bennet but takes audiences to the downstairs servants’ quarters for that same celebration. And instead of Barnicle helming the action behind the scenes, a booking conflict instead has the new production bringing about the ETC debut of Michael Butler, former longtime artistic director at Center Repertory Company in Walnut Creek, where he shepherded innumerable shows, including the world premiere of Real Housewives, the Musical, before the playhouse shuttered early in the COVID crisis.

Butler, whose resumé includes stints portraying the villainous Pierre LeChance on The Guiding Light and played guitar and harmonica in many rock, blues, and country western bands at the legendary CBGBs and other dive bars in New York City, seems uniquely fit to take on the upstairs-downstairs nature of the new play.

“There’s been a pretty strong and steady connection to Jane Austen’s work throughout my life,” Butler said. “I was an English major in college, but I also grew up with a strong mother and five sisters. Jane Austen was like a catechism in my household.”

With that background, Butler said he was drawn to the playwrights’ approach to “expanding the intrepidness of the female characters” in the author’s work.

“There’s a real increase in the agency that the women have over their lives, and that theme of transformation and self-determination is really strong as Lydia evolves into a woman who’s going to finally take charge of her own life.”

That the action takes place downstairs mostly among the service crew in their quarters is part of what gives the new play its delight, Butler said.

“That’s where the real action is — downstairs at the kitchen table. People just love getting a glimpse at that world.”

But it’s not at all necessary to have seen Miss Bennet to enjoy the new play, he said.

“There are a few references, but it’s not really a major element,” he said. “The characters are largely archetypes. You can have a great time without having even heard of Pride and Prejudice. It’s a romantic comedy, a fun holiday piece where everybody has a happy ending.”

(The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley plays December 2-19 at The New Vic. Tickets cost $47-$77. Call (805) 965-5400 or visit www.etcsb.org.)

“You can’t just keep quiet about anything that’s going on in the world unless you’re a monk.” – John Lennon

On Entertainment Page 394 394

2 – 9 December 2021

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• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

17

Sotheby’s International Realty

Congratulates Lisa Glenny For her outstanding representation & closing of the following: 32 1 8 COU N TRY ROAD | SANTA YNEZ SOLD: $1,400,000 Represented Buyer

Monte ito Miscellany

by Richard Mineards

Richard covered the Royal Family for Britain’s Daily Mirror and Daily Mail, and was an editor on New York Magazine. He was also a national anchor on CBS, a commentator on ABC Network News, gossip on The Joan Rivers Show and Geraldo Rivera, host on E! TV, a correspondent on the syndicated show Extra, a commentator on the KTLA Morning News and Entertainment Tonight. He moved to Montecito 14 years ago.

Paying it Forward

6 4 4 P IN E STR EET | SOLVANG SOLD: $1,315,000 Represented Buyer 927 O L D RAN CH ROAD | SOLVANG SOLD: $1,100,000 Represented Buyer 2 6 5 5 TH STRE ET | SOLVANG SOLD: $485,000 Represented Seller

Lisa Glenny

LisaGlennyRealEstate.com 805.280.2667

Sotheby’s International Realty and the Sotheby’s International Realty logo are registered (or unregistered) service marks used with permission. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Lisa Glenny DRE: 01357194

Nancy Tillie from Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics with Janet Garufis and Anne Towbes (Photo by Clint Weisman)

I

t was a very in-tents occasion when Montecito Bank & Trust erected a giant marquee in the rotunda at the Hilton for its 17th annual Community Dividends lunch when $1 million was given to 179 worthy organizations from the local community.

The late Mike Towbes, founder of the bank, always described the event as his favorite of the year, and no wonder with hefty additional checks totaling $150,000 being handed out by bank chairman Janet Garufis and Anne

Miscellany Page 424

Janet Garufis at the Community Dividends lunch (Photo

by Clint Weisman)

June Martin, Karen Brown, Debbie Knight, Tammy Westwood, Esther Jacobsen Bates, and Bonnie Jacobsen (Photo by Clint Weisman)

18 MONTECITO JOURNAL

“When Paul first sang ‘Hey Jude’ to me – I took it very personally.” – John Lennon

2 – 9 December 2021

MONTECITO ASSOCIATION PRESENTS

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BEST WISHES FOR SAFE & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

19

Dear Montecito

by Stella Haffner

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good teacher can be the difference between a great year and a not-so-great one. This is the tried-and-true knowledge that every student understands.

In this week’s letter, 23-year-old Nathan Alvarez reflects on the path, people, and programs that encouraged his career in science. Since finding his true north, a fascination with the world of engineering, Nathan has made the jump from the playgrounds of Montecito Union and the labs of Dos Pueblos High School to a position as a quality engineer at the transport tech company Virgin Hyperloop. With his appreciation and perspective on the education-to-career leap, Nathan has become a mentor at the Santa Barbara Mission Scholars program to help support the next generation of students.

Dear Montecito,

mentalwellnesscenter.org

sing!

Life’s a Ride

It all started with a trip to Magic Mountain in 5th grade.

I clearly remember thinking about how much fun the roller coasters were and then imagining how I would design my own perfect ride. When I searched what professions design roller coasters, I quickly became convinced that I was going to become an engineer. Once I made up my mind, I never looked back.

Knowing what I wanted to do, the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy was a natural progression, and I joined at the beginning of high school. The program showed me what engineering really was (beyond the scope of just roller coasters), and it taught me how all the math and science I had learned could be applied to actual projects. I learned all the fundamental skills I needed to be a successful engineer both in college and now in the professional world.

From hard skills such as computer-aided design, machining, coding, electrical assembly, and prototyping, to soft skills such as design thinking, problem-solving, and project management.

I realized how many different types of engineering exist, and I started understanding what a life in each discipline would look like. Ultimately, I found myself most drawn to mechanical engineering and studied this for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees at USC. I arrived at USC feeling a bit nervous, but mostly excited. Starting college was such a fun experience because I had no idea what to expect.

I heard so many things about what I should do, how I should spend my time, and what I should focus on, and suddenly it was time to begin carving out my own journey. It was tricky at

“I don’t want to grow up but I’m sick of not growing up… I’ll find a different way of not growing up.” - John Lennon

times knowing what to prioritize, but the knowledge I’d picked up in high school allowed me to feel confident in my academics and learn to balance the extracurriculars that are essential to the college experience.

The Engineering Academy at DP was not only a launching pad to college, but also to my career. During college, I interned at several companies here in town, including Enerpro Inc. and Northrop Grumman, both connections facilitated by my time in the DPEA. Today, I work at Virgin Hyperloop, a company aiming to develop a new form of ultra-efficient transportation.

The concept of the “vactrain,” a transport that minimizes drag and friction, was something I became interested in about eight years ago, when Elon Musk first introduced it. It’s been a great project to be a part of, especially at such a small company where my role is not constrained to only one part of the development. This technology has incredible potential, and I’m excited to see it come to fruition.

Outside of beginning my career, I try to stay involved with my interests after work and on the weekends.

Snowboarding, surfing, and marine conservation are all important to me, but recently I’ve been most proud to become a mentor in the Santa Barbara Mission Scholars program. This program helps support low-income students in Santa Barbara by offering guidance on college and career matters. As a mentor, I check in with the student I’m paired with and offer advice where I can. My mentee not only also went through the DPEA, but is now studying mechanical engineering in college, which is cool because it means we’ve had a lot of the same classes and questions. Volunteering as a mentor is incredibly rewarding, and I highly recommend checking the program out!

The amazing teachers who taught me and are now teaching the next generation have meant so much to me, and I’d like to shout out all my K-12 teachers.

I couldn’t have made it to where I am today without them. And, of course, a special thank you to all my MUS teachers for giving me such a great foundation to build upon; Ms. McMahon, Gonzales, Dunn, Craine, Walpole, and Bachman — you’re the best! Santa Barbara’s such a special place, and I’m so fortunate to know that no matter where life takes me, I’ll always be able to call this town and community home.

Best, Nathan •MJ P.S. Parents of Montecito children, if you have recommendations on people to feature in “Dear Montecito” please contact me, stellajanepierce@gmail.com!

2 – 9 December 2021

Hot Topics

Cold Spring Canyon in July 2021

by Christina Favuzzi, Montecito Fire Public Information Officer

What’s the Risk?

Upcoming community meeting to address debris flow risk ahead of winter storms Cold Spring Canyon in February 2018

D

ecember 4 marks four years since the Thomas Fire began its treacherous march from Santa Paula to the hills of Carpinteria and Montecito. We all remember the devastating debris flow that occurred just more than a month later.

Every winter since the 1/9 Debris Flow, Montecito Fire has partnered with our local first responder and emergency management agencies to analyze the risk of debris flow or flooding during the storm season.

On Thursday, December 9, the community is encouraged to attend the Winter Storm Readiness Community Meeting at Montecito Union School at 6 pm.

This meeting is in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Barbara County Flood Control, National Weather Service, Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, and First District Supervisor Das Williams.

Representatives from each agency will present and discuss their analysis of the watershed status, debris flow risk level, winter storm outlook, and preparedness measures.

Biologist for the Montecito Fire Department, Kevin Cooper, has been studying the vegetative and soil recovery in the Thomas Fire burn area since 2018.

Immediately after the Thomas Fire, there was almost no vegetation left and the soil was hydrophobic, causing rainfall to cascade down the watershed with negligible absorption into the ground.

As we head into the 2021/2022 winter season, Cooper has found up to 80-100% of the ground cover in upper watersheds has grown back. This regrowth helps to stabilize the landscape and reduce the risk of damaging debris flows. At the community meeting, Cooper will present photos showing the stark contrast of

Hot Topics Page 404

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• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

21

Perspectives

by Rinaldo S. Brutoco

Rinaldo S. Brutoco is the Founding President and CEO of the Santa Barbara-based World Business Academy and a co-founder of JUST Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur, executive, author, radio host, and futurist who’s published on the role of business in relation to pressing moral, environmental, and social concerns for over 35 years

Inflation Worries, Wages and the Money Trail Why panic is unnecessary

I

nflation is on everyone’s mind these days. Currently running at 6.2% (4.6% if you strip out food and energy), inflation is at its highest rate in many decades — since 1990 to be precise. And, although that number is unacceptably high, a historical lens can put things into perspective. From the early 1970s to the early 1980s, we suffered through a decade of double-digit inflation that ranged between 12-16%. That was very bad. Today, by comparison, not so bad at all.

First off, President Joe Biden is jumping on the problem while it is still in its infancy, which usually provides a better opportunity to rein it in. San Francisco saw gas prices hit $5.85 last week — the highest peak since 2014 — and some people are cutting their cable bills to pay for gas. In response, Biden just last week released 50 million barrels of oil from the strategic national reserves, adding to supply in an attempt to drive oil prices down. And, while the amount he released is woefully inadequate to the task (the United Kingdom with a fraction of U.S. population released 150 million barrels which will prove to be more effective), he was aided last Monday when prices dropped by 10% over fear that the Omicron variant will reduce demand even as supplies are climbing.

High prices at the pump are in part due to “price gouging” by the major oil companies and they’ll attempt to keep them high. However, the combined effect of lower demand (airlines are already cutting flights to at least seven African nations, partial lock downs in the U.K. and Austria will also reduce demand quickly), together with increasing supply will work slowly but are surely to drop them. Prices at the pump are already starting to come down. That most visible inflation marker, and most frustrating for motorists, will continue to fade even as other inflationary conditions (see below) also begin to recede.

Secondly, a good deal of inflation today is being caused by the supply chain “mess” plaguing the world, which is partly brought on by deferred spending during these last two pandemic years that’s causing a large spike in purchasing now. Biden

22 MONTECITO JOURNAL

addressed this issue two weeks ago, by getting a waiver from unions at the major ports to work longer hours; and, by calling attention to what has arrived rather than to what has been delayed by the clogged ports. As I write this on Monday, he is hosting CEOs from Etsy, Samsung, Kroger, Food Lion, and Mattel among others to look at how retailers can alter their advertising and selling practices to emphasize what they have on hand rather than what may be in temporary short supply.

A good deal of inflation today is being caused by the supply chain “mess” plaguing the world, which is partly brought on by deferred spending during these last two pandemic years that’s causing a large spike in purchasing now.

In one sign that supply issues are easing, Walmart announced right at Thanksgiving that their last quarter was very strong and that they would have shelves fully stocked going forward. Add in the fact that Thanksgiving and Black Friday sales were strong, in part due to slightly higher prices and in part due to store traffic being up 48% from last year (although still down 28% from 2019), and it suggests that supply on shelves will begin to catch up with demand as soon as holiday shopping winds down. Altogether, it’s apparent that while consumers are aware of inflationary pressures, they’re not deterred enough to hoard their cash.

Thirdly, the cost of a shipping container moving goods from China to the U.S. has gone up from roughly $3,500 last year to as high as $22,000 or more, and some of those increases are being fed into an inflationary spiral. Again, this will drop off significantly when new holiday orders slow down starting the first week of December. That leaves all of December and all of January for shipping to catch up with demand

Go Green with Games

How one neighborhood used gamification to reduce traffic emissions

G

reen transportation methods like walking, biking, and taking public transportation reduces carbon emissions and improve air quality for residents, but encouraging people to choose these options over personal vehicles is a challenge. One neighborhood in London has finally cracked the code on green transportation: make it a game.

The London borough of Hounslow launched an initiative called Beat the Street in 2019 to try and get residents to bike and walk more. They placed card-reading boxes around town and gave residents cards to scan at each box. Every time a resident touched two boxes, they received points for using green transportation to travel between the locations. At the end of the six-week trial period, individuals, schools, and businesses with the most points were given prizes like books and vouchers for sports and crafting materials.

All in all, the researchers were able to recruit 28,219 participants and found that the playful boxes reduced car traffic by 53% during morning commute hours and 34% during evening commute hours. Additionally, the number of participants who reported being physically inactive (engaging in less than 30 minutes of exercise per week) dropped from 25% to 18%.

This study not only demonstrates the power of gamification in getting people to make greener transportation choices, but also shows how engaging people in community-oriented transportation schemes boost involvement and enthusiasm. The relatively low cost of box installation and prize distribution also makes this an easy program to implement in nearly any city.

•MJ and allow shipping prices to drop.

By the way, many of those increased shipping costs were not as yet passed on to consumers, but the story itself has led to inflationary fears, punctuated by what consumers saw at gas stations and at grocery stores.

Fourth, the governments of the world have already spent $17 trillion, including loans and guarantees (representing 16% of global GDP), fighting the pandemic. According to The Economist, “On current forecasts, government spending will be greater as a share of GDP in 2026 than it was in 2006 in every major advanced economy.” Will that be inflationary?

Yes, to a mild extent, but it will also be stabilizing as the vast bulk of that money will go to individuals.

The consumer spending spree referred to above that contributed to the inflation numbers in the U.S. was widely supported by the direct cash payments made by the Biden Administration to combat the pandemic’s reduction in employment and commerce. That money went to individuals who used it to shore up their savings accounts and provided the “fuel” for the deferred spending we are now witnessing.

The pent-up demand and better savings rate that combined to create this inflationary spending spree should now also begin to taper off.

“I believe that what people call God is something in all of us.” – John Lennon

With the Omicron variant heading our way, we anticipate that spending and commerce will slow down, which will also take inflationary pressures off the economy.

Fifth, and most fortunately, the spike in inflation this year is partly due to an increase in wages.

Although the subject of “The Great Resignation” is one we ought to tackle in a future column as it requires a good deal of analysis to understand, it appears that rising pay for the lowest paid sectors of society was a minor factor in increasing inflation. For the first time since 1970 the wages of the lowest quadrant of the pay scale rose faster than the other three quadrants above it. That is very good news indeed. It means we traded a temporary rise in inflation for a higher standard of living for the bottom 25% of wage earners.

That trade-off is long overdue, and well worth the price.

By following the government’s “money trail” we understand that inflation is not presently a long-term challenge. It has raised the standard of living for many millions of Americans, it’s reinvigorating our consumer economy right when we need it, and it will not likely be a factor six months or so from now. That’s a reason to relax our fears about inflation and gives new meaning to this year’s “Thanksgiving.”

•MJ 2 – 9 December 2021

Robert’s Big Questions

Brilliant Thoughts

by Ashleigh Brilliant

Born London, 1933. Mother Canadian. Father a British civil servant. World War II childhood spent mostly in Toronto and Washington, D.C. Berkeley PhD. in American History, 1964. Living in Santa Barbara since 1973. No children.

Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots”, now a series of 10,000.

Email ashleigh@west.net or visit www.ashleighbrilliant.com

Are We Really Free?

N

one of us is really free — nor would any thinking person really want to be. We are captives in our bodies and our minds. We are victims of all kinds of circumstances we cannot control – the weather — world events — the whims of natural catastrophes, and the mysterious fact of our own mortality.

But we are glad to be guarded and imprisoned, first by our cribs and playpens, then by our schools, and always by the laws, which supposedly are there to protect us, from each other, and even from ourselves.

What, then, is this “freedom,” which we jealously claim, which our nation asserts it was founded on, and which millions have fought and died for?

It seems to be a matter of assumed “rights,” which are sometimes spelled out in detail in such documents as the American Constitution, or the French “Rights of Man,” or the United Nations “Declaration of Human Rights.” The trouble is that such rights, even if carved in stone (as they sometimes are), even if considered ineffable, are, like everything else, subject to change over time. I need hardly remind you that, even in the most recent chapters of recorded history, people were free to make organized public spectacles of what we would now consider outrageous treatment of animals and of members of our own species (who presumably had no rights at all).

And even after such open cruelty came to be frowned upon, the institution of (often race-based) slavery has survived. It is still to be found in various parts of the world, as are “bull-fighting” and other traditional amusements.

So, how free are we, or can we ever be? Despite George Orwell and his predictions of thoughtcrime and thought police, we are more or less free to think what we like, just so long as we keep it to ourselves. Once you step outside that limitation, you are taking all kinds of risks, depending on exactly what you think, how you express it, and to whom — also depending on what is at stake. That may partly explain why the so-called Right of Privacy has become so highly questionable, in an age when security of communication has become technologically more of a challenge than a guarantee that anything can 2 – 9 December 2021

by Robert Bernstein

Degrees from Physics departments of MIT and UC Santa Barbara. Career in designing atomic-resolution microscopes. Childhood spent in Europe and the East of the US. Passion to understand the Big Questions of life and the universe. Duty to be a good citizen of the planet.

be truly confidential.

Religion is the best example of freedom, pro and con. The early “pilgrims” who came to America in search of religious freedom very soon made it clear that that meant freedom for themselves, but not for those with even slightly different beliefs. And they were very moderate, compared with some other cults and sects around the world which, even today, we have all heard only too much about.

As for slavery (which comes from “Slav,” but which goes back much farther than any European nations or peoples) it’s all a question of property, i.e. ownership. We know we own our pets and other domestic animals, even if our purpose is to eat them.

But do parents own their children?

Does the military own the service members who, even if volunteers, are obliged, if ordered, to risk or sacrifice their lives? To what extent do spouses own each other, after swearing to “love, honor, and obey?” Can land, the very essence of property, really be owned, when the government can appropriate it under laws of “eminent domain”?

Lovers are notorious for taking for granted that they own each other, and there are any number of songs and poems in which, for example, “my friend stole my true love from me.”

But, when you come right down to it, ownership of other people — and, by extension, of anything else — is a legal, moral, and emotional fiction. It was a Frenchman, PierreJoseph Proudhon, who declared that “property is theft.” But that was less than 200 years ago. Before that, we can go back at least two millennia, to Roman Law, which recognized the “Sovereign Right of Property,” and permitted an owner to “use and abuse” whatever he owned — including, of course, his slaves.

So, where does the idea of freedom come from, and what validity has it, or should it have? Does religious freedom include the right, claimed even today by some of our fellow world citizens, to cut off the heads of non-believers? Freedom to gather can lead to mobs, which can give rise to Hitlers.

All I can say is, forget about the “home of the brave.” Consider how much you really want to live in a world, or a land, of the free.

•MJ

Homelessness as Market Failure?

M

y last article talked about the climate crisis as an example of market failure. “Free” markets in fact require a vast government infrastructure: Laws, enforcement, courts, established financial systems. And a system to rebalance extreme wealth inequalities.

Homelessness results from a lack of the latter mechanism. Wealth begets wealth. This can happen directly as wealth can be invested to provide returns in perpetuity. Wealth also provides access to opportunities to acquire more wealth. This can happen in a productive way through education and hard work.

Or it can happen unproductively when one wealthy person offers inside information to another wealthy person.

The contrapositive of “wealth begets wealth” is that lack of wealth begets poverty. Homelessness is an example. When the opportunity presents itself, I try to find out how someone who is down and out got that way. Very often, the person had a good education and a good job. But a single setback can end all of that in an instant.

In civilized countries, there is good infrastructure to get a person back on their feet after such a setback. But the U.S. lacks this. In many cases that I found, that setback was an injury or health problem. The person could not work and thereby lost their health insurance and housing. It is very difficult to get out of this downward free fall.

I have a good friend I will call “Ben” who became homeless due to accusations by a very scary housemate I will call “Maleficent.” Both were renting rooms from another friend I will call “Kevin.” The case ended up in court. A room full of people testified that Ben is a slightly quirky guy, but he is good hearted, generous, and would never hurt anyone. Kevin’s daughter was there to testify that she trusted Ben to babysit her child. Only one person testified for Maleficent, and she seemed to be paid to do so. I had previous experience with Maleficent as a gold digger. The judge in her infinite wisdom sided with Maleficent. Ben had done the gallant thing and moved out during the conflict.

The judge ruled the “solution” was for Ben to stay moved out. Ben was now homeless.

Ben tried to stay at a local homeless shelter. It was a living hell. You had to be in early and out early. You had to endure religious indoctrination. Many absurdly strict rules. It is easy to see why many would prefer a tent in the bushes. And try finding a job when you have no real address.

But here is another story. I came to California alone as a teen, knowing no one. I faced a housing crunch and was lucky to find a room in a big old rooming house. People asked me what I was doing. When I told them I was studying physics I was often offered a “theory” of physics that was incomprehensible. I discovered half of my housemates were living on Social Security SSI for mental illness. Many of my housemates hallucinated imaginary beings and many did a variety of illicit substances. In the year that I lived there, I don’t remember a single visit by the police.

It seems that being mentally ill or being an illegal substance user does not inherently cause homelessness or conflicts with other people or with the law.

Having a safe room to go to itself solves the problem. Unfortunately, Reagan later made it almost impossible to get on SSI. And the “war on drugs” kicked people out of housing for doing drugs that caused no harm to anyone else.

Being homeless itself will drive most people insane and to use substances.

H. L. Mencken said, “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.”

But sometimes there is a problem that seems complex that really does have a simple solution: If people are homeless, give them housing. This is far cheaper than the absurd industry of arresting and jailing people for being poor and desperate.

Free markets only work if everyone has money to participate. The U.S. has such extreme inequality that millions have no place to live while others gobble up entire blocks of housing for real estate speculation. Libertarian economist Milton Friedman recommended the government provide a guaranteed income for all. Redistributing wealth is not a matter of charity – it is essential for markets to even function.

•MJ

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

23

The Giving List

by Steven Libowitz

Preparing for a Sparkling Anniversary

Sing! has been a hit virtually, with a number of students participating

T

o many, the 2021 Music Academy of the West Summer School and Festival was nothing short of a miracle. Despite the need to plan well in advance of the state’s reopening in mid-June, MAW not only managed to pull off a spectacular hybrid season that brought more than 100 fellows from around the world to once again study and make music together in person on the Miraflores campus in Montecito and at the Granada Theatre downtown, but also allowed for quick adjustments to turn a few additional planned online-only events into live concerts for the audience.

The season, which featured upward

of 70 events, was nothing short of a testament to the healing power of music-making, determination and, pun intended, fellowship. Now, as fall gives way to winter, MAW — which in 2020 created the unique and wildly successful virtual version of the summer festival called MARLI (Music Academy Remote Learning Institute) during the height of the pandemic lockdown — is hard at work continuing to prepare for 2022, which marks the Academy’s 75th Diamond Anniversary.

It’s a moment to reflect on the astonishing accomplishments of the past, particularly under the administration of President Scott Reed, whose

decade-plus long tenure has seen a groundbreaking four-year partnership with the New York Philharmonic followed by a new international one with the London Symphony Orchestra, both of which hugely contributed to elevating the Academy’s prestige and appeal, producing a 34% increase in fellows applications from around the world. Other efforts have resulted in the creation of the Mosher Guest Artist Program bringing classical stars to campus, a new solo piano competition in collaboration with Steinway & Sons, a series of new initiatives that include the Alumni Enterprise Awards, the Classical Music Evolution/Revolution Conference, and a dedicated effort at commissioning new works and residencies from living composers.

On the local front, Reed and MAW have made good on their promise to prioritize our own community, recognizing that engagement is a critical part of the Academy’s mission. The Community Access Program provides subsidized $10 adult tickets and free admission for children to all MAW performances all year, while the Sing! children’s choral program continues a spiky growth spurt, with a monumental next step of collaborating with Young People’s Chorus founder/artistic director and MacArthur “Genius Award” Fellow Francisco Núñez to strategize the growth of Sing! and who will serve as advisor to MAW’s artistic team.

All of this, of course, takes money to produce, and the Music Academy is almost as innovative in its fundraising as the institute is in its artistic endeavor. The date of this issue’s publication happens to coincide with the launch of its latest campaign called “A Winter Season of Giving,” consisting of an exciting online auction and a brand-new community event dubbed “Holiday Magic,” both pre-

sented by the Music Academy of the West Women’s Auxiliary, who produce the annual gala and, previously, the now-defunct May Madness sale.

The auction, which runs December 2-18, boasts a collection of coveted works by area artists that will also be on display at Lehmann Hall on the MAW campus from 1-4 pm daily. Three of the artists — Stanley Boydston, Connie Connally, and Kerrie Smith — found inspiration for their work in October at a solo piano performance of 2013 Academy alumnus Jacopo Giacopuzzi at Lehmann Hall, while local favorites Mara Abboud, Sherri Belassen, Colette Cosentino, Dorothy Churchill-Johnson, Doug DaFoe, Karen Frishman, Rafael Gaete, Ruth Ellen Hoag, Rod Lathim, Karen Lehrer, Paulo Lima, America Martin, Nicholas Mayfield, R. Nelson Parrish, and Joan Rosenberg-Dent are also represented.

The artwork is augmented in the auction by a number of luxurious packages — several with direct MAW connections — well timed for holiday giving as the auction closes a week before Christmas. The headline package up for bids is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives for a stay in a private villa that includes admission to an exclusive performance of Georges Bizet’s Carmen by a cast comprised exclusively of Music Academy alumni. Also unique is a party for up to a dozen guests with MAW president/ CEO Scott Reed featuring a tapas menu with music by a guitarist, plus a package of four premier tickets to each of the MAW-sponsored London Symphony Orchestra concerts conducted by Music Director Sir Simon Rattle as part of the LSO’s landmark Santa Barbara residency next March launching MAW 75 — including

The Giving List Page 344

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• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

25

Library Mojo

All the Colors of Life

by Kim Crail

Kim is the Branch Lead of the Montecito Library. Questions or comments? Contact her: kcrail@santabarbaraca.gov

Literary Gift Ideas How Do You Dance?

Escargot by Dashka Slater A snail with a French accent slowly races to a salad, enticing you to adore him Monster and Mouse Go Camping by Deborah Underwood and Jared Chapman Friends go camping, forgetting or eating key supplies to our amusement

W

e love good books, and we cannot lie!

Choosing which books to give beloved friends and family, however, is not an easy task. With the holidays coming up, here are some staff picks for books that might be worthy of your consideration. For older kids and teens, it’s much more difficult to throw out titles without knowing more about them.

You can always be a grinch, though, and wrap up library books to put under the tree. The kids are so excited to unwrap them and then it’s a solid chuckle every year for the giver.

Surprise!

ittle Kids First Board Book: L Weather by Ruth Musgrave Science basics about the weather lead to conversations and discovery

Picture Books, Age 3-6:

I f Kids Could Drive by Marisa Kollmeier Cartoonish graphics and wildly imaginative, kids will enjoy this clever fantasy Mr. Complain Takes the Train by

Wade Bradford A grumpy guy (picture Humpty Dumpty) goes on an unexpectedly wild train ride

Board Books, Age 0-2:

How Do You Dance? by Thyra Heder Beautiful drawings and goofy dance moves, dancing is for everyone Swallow the Leader by Danna Smith and Kevin Sherry Library kid favorite, early math, and a dark end for fish who get swallowed (eek!)

My Friends by Taro Gomi A teacher favorite, the word patterns and bright colors are great for pre-readers

Books for Adults:

All the Colors of Life by Lisa Aisato Gorgeous illustrations depict life stages in a comforting way, a picture book for grownups who appreciate a little tug of the heartstrings this time of year Home: A Celebration by Charlotte Moss A design-inspired collection of 122 contributors’ personal accounts about the meaning and importance of home, benefiting No Kid Hungry

Knit ‘n’ Needle is Back!

After a long pandemic hiatus, our fiber artists are back for our weekly knitting group. All levels and types are welcome (knit, crochet, embroidery, needlepoint, you name it). The group is led by volunteer Sue Kritz who kept the group going, meeting via Zoom before resuming at the library last month. Many thanks to Sue! Currently Knit ‘n’ Needle meets outside every Friday from 1-2:30 pm.

Bring a project and enjoy lively conversation with this creative and talented group.

Monster and Mouse Go Camping

WENDY GRAGG

Evening with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Join us December 9 for a virtual poetry reading and short discussion with Poet Laureate of the United States, Joy Harjo. Please register on the library website for the link to join and to submit questions ahead of time at SBPLibrary.org.

Discussing Harjo’s An American Sunrise at our Poetry Club last month, the group was quite moved by her powerful and song-like quality of her work. Some of the poems that we read were “Granddaughters,” “Falling from the Night Sky,” “Bourbon and Blues,” “Desire’s Dog,” and “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” Copies of An American Sunrise by Joy Harjo are still available at the library and were supported by NEA Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

December Events

— Library Van at Cold Spring School: Thursday, December 2, 3:30-5:30 pm — Knit ‘n’ Needle: Fridays (December 3, 10, 17), 1-2:30 pm — Storywalk at Lower Manning Park: Wednesday, December 8, 2-3:30 pm — An Evening with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Zoom): Thursday, December 9, 6 pm — Montecito Book Club, The Japanese Lover: Tuesday, December 14, Noon-1 pm — Poetry Club, Margaret Singer: Thursday, December 16, 2-3:30 pm

Winter Closure Dates

805. 453. 3371

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— Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am-5 pm — Wednesday and Friday, 1-5 pm

The Montecito Knit ‘n’ Needle group

“You don’t have to be a star to get a cheese sandwich. You just have to be first.” – John Lennon

•MJ

2 – 9 December 2021

Stories Matter

Great Reads for December

W

hether “naughty” or “nice,” I’ve got something for everyone on your list for the holidays. First, Santa Barbara International Film Festival’s Executive Director Roger Durling has a gorgeous coffee-table book called Cinema In Flux: A year of Connecting Through Film, filled with essays and mouthwatering photos of Durling’s movie recommendations, all started during the pandemic.

The book reminds us of the power of cinema and how sitting in the dark, alone or together, can and does bring us together.

T

he life of Polly Adler, in Madam, is a whole lot of naughty and a whole lot of Jazz Age glamour. Adler was an infamous seller of sex. Debby Applegate does a deep dive into showbiz, politics, and organized crime of the time that intertwined at her brothels in New York City. Anyone who was anyone hired Polly’s girls. If Adler wasn’t being arrested, beat up, or fleeced she was running a highly profitable business for decades. A Russian Jewish immigrant, she rises from the crowded tenements to the posh Upper East Side, all the while befriending mobster Lucky Luciano, nightclub queen

by Leslie Zemeckis

Texas Guinan, singers Jimmy Durante and Frank Sinatra, actor Wallace Beery, Duke Ellington, and “Sarong Girl” actress Dorothy Lamour. A taut peek into a dangerous, corrupt world of show business and showgirls.

S

uspense fans will love Joseph Knox’s highly original True Crime Story. Evelyn, a struggling writer, finds herself obsessed with the disappearance of a nineteen-year-old Manchester student who vanished seven years prior. She enlists her friend Joseph Knox (the author, confusing at first) to help her. Ultimately

of the name, which Siegel explains comes from a Spanish conquistador and is naughty (the answer is in the book). This is a compelling, titillating, surprising history of our foods and our traditions. The phrase “American as pie” might derive from the fact pie in the New World was eaten at every meal, was savory over sweet, and one of the first convenience foods as pie traveled well, were baked ahead and taken on the road. Yes, apple pie became America’s favorite. It’s what I’ll be baking soon.

F

or the young’uns, or not so — I personally love this author — Jamie Sumner’s One Kid’s Trash is about young Hugo trying to find his way in a new school, in a new town. For the first time in his life, he becomes one of the “cool kids” until it goes to his head. Sumner’s previous book Roll With It gives voice to a heroine confined to a wheelchair, only confined in other’s minds. She believes she can do anything and of becoming a professional baker. Despite others’ perceived limits, she rolls towards her future, sometimes grumpy, not always nice but every bit real.

•MJ

Knox finishes the book Evelyn cannot. The story is creepy, page-turning, written in an unconventional style. I could not put this one down.

F

oodies on your list will enjoy The Secret History of Food by Matt Siegel. Did you know vanilla grows on orchids? I’ll spare you the origins

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Real Estate Appraiser Greg Brashears California Certified General Appraiser Serving Santa Barbara County and beyond for 30 years V 805-650-9340 EM gb@gregbrashears.com • The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

27

Show your LOVE for LOCAL

Home for the Holidays

by Nick Masuda

T | Bigham

Holiday Cheer in High Gear at Country Mart

he Montecito Country Mart might be a bit small, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a big punch.

Just ask Kristin Teufel how busy she is nowadays trying to coordinate a multitude of events, pop-ups, and marketing of the holidays at the MCM. “I feel like I’m going around the clock,” Teufel said. “We are super busy. And that’s a great thing.”

Here is a quick glance at what patrons can expect at the MCM throughout December:

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

Locally owned and operated for over 42 years 14 State Street | 962-0049 | Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 mountainairsports.com

Looking for a place to get in the holiday mood, particularly coming off a 2020 where the “vibe” of the holidays was restricted to one’s home?

The MCM has plenty to help with holiday cheer.

Kiddos can get a complimentary photo with Santa every Sunday from 1-4 pm, while holiday children’s crafts are popular with locals every Thursday from 3-6 pm.

MCM has also partnered with Unity Shoppe with a month-long fundraiser, with patrons having the option to take a tag off the Giving Tree and dropping off a gift at the Poppy Store.

Finally, the MCM is hosting a book signing on December 5 at Montecito

Santa is available on Sundays from 1-4 pm

Mercantile with local Beach Boy Bruce Johnston to celebrate the release of The Beach Boys on Tour 1966 by Bill Yerkes. The signing will benefit the Surfrider Foundation.

They’ll Just Pop Up!

Pop-up experiences are all the rage in the retail space, particularly around the South Coast, so it makes sense for MCM to have a few over the holidays.

Every weekend in December, Sant

Home Page 304

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2 – 9 December 2021

San Ysidro Village American Riviera Bank Bank on better.

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Visit us! 525 San Ysidro Road, Montecito Upper Village ∙ www.sanysidrovillage.com 2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

29

Home (Continued from page 28) and Abel (santandabel.com) will have pajamas for the whole family — even for the four-legged loved ones.

Styles range from stripes to ginghams to the Gray Malin Collection.

On December 11, 17 and 19, Clare V will have on-site, hand-painted monogramming available from 11 am to 3 pm.

On December 17-18, Gabriela Artigas Jewelry will host a trunkshow at Clic.

Back by Popular Demand

The MCM Holiday Market returns on December 11-12, including the popular Ysidro, who will have sake spritzes on hand (learn more www.ysidro.com).

Chainstitch Embroidery and monogramming will be onsite on December 12, with plenty of options ranging from napkins, aprons, sweatshirts, backpacks, shirts, hats, and more.

There will also be a vintage eyewear trunkshow at Cynthia Benjamin.

And, of course, there will be more pop-ups!

Magill LA (magill-la.com) will have menswear described as “East Coast prep meets California sun” available.

MRE Jewelry (mrejewelry.com) will have plenty of bling for everyone in the family.

The Parker Thatch (parkerthatch.

com) trunkshow at Montecito Mercantile will feature tennis bags, Montecito totes, Montecito sweatshirts, new pickleball bags, travel jewelry cases, clutches, as well as the ability to monogram and personalize.

Finally, on December 12 only, Amy Logsdon will make custom watercolor portraits on site.

Act Now!

From December 3-5, Montecito Mercantile is hosting a beauty event with LAFACE skincare, offering products not available anywhere else, not even online.

Meanwhile, Sheryl Lowe Jewelry will also be at Mercantile starting December 1.

Support Everyday MCM Staples

With all the pop-ups and special events, the MCM also has plenty of stores that call the venue home permanently that have options for everyday holiday needs.

Here’s how to find out more about each:

Retail

Beautyhabit: beautyhabit.com Clare V.: clarev.com

17 W. Gutierrez @ State • RivieraTowel.com

30 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Montecito Mercantile is a hub of holiday activity

Clic: clic.com Cynthia Benjamin: cynthia-benja min.com George: georgesf.com Hudson Grace: hudsongracesf.com James Perse: jamesperse.com Malia Mills: maliamills.com Mate Gallery: mategallery.com Montecito Mercantile: monteci tomercantile.com Montecito Natural Foods: mnfsb. com Poppy Marché: poppystores.com Toy Crazy: gotoycrazy.com

Caffe Luxxe: caffeluxxe.com Farm Stand: mesaproduce.com Merci: mercimontecito.com Panino: paninorestaurants.com Pressed Juicery: pressedjuicery.com Rori’s Artisanal Creamery: rorisar tisanalcreamery.com

Services

Montecito Barbers: montecitobar bers.com Montecito Cleaners: facebook. com/OHCSB/ •MJ 411 Website: www.montecitocoun trymart.com

Restaurants

Bettina: bettinapizzeria.com

Shot on Location - Ritz Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara - Photo @MeadowRose

2 – 9 December 2021

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Visit Santa

November 26-December 24

Nightly Snowfall

November 26-December 31

Silent Night, Silent Disco December 2, 5:30-7:30PM

PaseoNuevoShopping.com @ShopPaseoNuevo

651 Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara CA 93101

2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

31

Our Town

Tino and Barbara Muñoz with daughter, Bella, with Rosa Paredes (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

by Joanne A. Calitri

Joanne is a professional international photographer and journalist.

Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com

St Vincent’s Fashion Fundraiser Snags Record

Regina Ruiz, co-chairs Pat Lupo and Claudia Lash, and Rosa Paredes (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

T

he St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara 12th Annual Fashion Show and Luncheon fundraiser on November 27 is a story of firsts for

32 MONTECITO JOURNAL

the organization. This event, which began more than 10 years ago on humble grounds at the organization, and then at Bishop Diego High

School, was held at the Rosewood Miramar Beach Montecito, who donated the event space.

It brought a record number of attendees at 250, their first ever corporate sponsors — American Riviera Bank and Kickstart Consulting — and gross revenues of $53,800 (and still counting as of press time).

It was clearly a holiday festival fundraiser of love with attendees dressed in the latest trends meeting their friends, lovely table settings with three-foot-high orchids donated by Westerlay Orchids Carpinteria, and

floral centerpieces donated by Emma Rose Floral Santa Barbara. The high gear mod fashion show was headed by stylist Amy Curti, featuring models wearing Cabi Clothing, and kids modeling Lemondrop Montecito selections.

Dr. Regina Ruiz, vice president of development and marketing and the event emcee, shared, “The Daughters of Charity founded St. Vincent’s in 1858 and it’s the longest running social services nonprofit in Santa Barbara. This year we are celebrating the 25th year of our Family

Our Town Page 354

2 – 9 December 2021

n i Jo ! s U

IINSPIRING CREATIVITY Workshops • Gifts • Party Goods 3554 State Street 805-679-5288 IG: Ink.Paper.Crafts Wednesday thru Saturday: 10a-5:30p Sunday: 10a-2p

WORKSHOPS All Ages Holiday Explosion Cards (Set of 2) $35 Thurs. 12/2 4:30p-6p Sat. 12/4 11a-12:30p Paper Wreath Craft $25 Sun. 12/5 2p-3:30p Sat. 12/11 11a-12:30p Holiday Cards (Set of 16) $35 Thurs. 12/9 4:30p-6p Sat. 12/11 11a-12:30p Holiday Memory Book $35 Sat. 12/18 11a-12:30p Wed. 12/22 4:30p-6p

Limited Quantities

RSVP for all events 2 – 9 December 2021

*Some items may be substituted

Light snacks & refreshments included

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

33

The Giving List (Continued from page 24)

alized with your own label reflecting the auction-winner’s story.

Holiday Magic takes place on the afternoon of the final day of the auction, Sunday, December 18 at MAW’s expansive grounds at the Miraflores campus with all sorts of family activities including a sing-along with the Santa Barbara Noël Carolers, a percussion demonstration and instrument “Petting Zoo’’ hosted by MAW alumnus Jonathan Wisner (’20, ’21), harp music from 2013 alumna Elisabeth Zosseder, sleight-of-hand tricks by professional up-close magician Mark Collier, posing for an outdoor family photo by Katie Abbott, and tables set up for children to make their own craft kaleidoscopes. Refreshments include warm tamales from Mony’s Mexican Food in the Funk Zone and donuts and hot chocolate courtesy of Crave Mini Donuts, while mixologist Shaun Belway will be pouring seasonal Glühwein (hot mulled wine), T.W. Hollister & Co. Vermouth spritzers, red and white wine, seasonal beer, apple juice, and sparkling

Both the upcoming auction and event will benefit the Summer Festival fellows and the Sing! children’s choir program

access to rehearsals and an exclusive event with LSO musicians.

Other exciting auction items include a five-night stay at the private Ocean Reef Club in Florida with all the amenities; a 10-course wine pairing dinner for

four at Caruso’s in the Rosewood Miramar Beach Hotel designed and created by Michelin-starred Chef Massimo Falsini; and the opportunity to label a barrel of Mount Veeder Magic Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon person-

Mini Meta

Last Week’s Solution:

By Pete Muller & Andrew White For each of the first five mini crosswords, one of the entries also serves as part of a five-word meta clue. The answer to the meta is a word or phrase (five letters or longer) hidden within the sixth mini crossword. The hidden meta answer starts in one of the squares and snakes through the grid vertically and horizontally from there (no diagonals!) without revisiting any squares.

PUZZLE #1 1

water. Adult tickets for Holiday Magic are $75, while accompanied children under 18 are admitted free.

The auction and event both support full scholarships for the Summer Festival fellows and the Sing! children’s choir program that is free of charge for all local students ages 7-11, both of which are important aspects of the MAW mission.

“The Music Academy of the West and its Women’s Auxiliary hope to make a change in the lives of children right here in Santa Barbara through music,” explains Judy Astbury, co-chair with Ashley Woods Hollister for “A Winter Season of Giving,” noting that the county ranks third highest out of 58 in the state in the percentage of students living in poverty and No. 2 in percentage of students experiencing homelessness. “Sing! is our groundbreaking free program doing just this! We’d love your help... Come join us as champions and supporters of a most worthy cause!”

Visit www.musicacademy.org/ holiday.

•MJ

2

3

M A K O

A X O N S

R I N S E

I N D E X

E G O T

MARIE

O C S H L O C A

N A A C P

C E U L R K I E

CURIE

P A N I C

A L O N E

R E B E L

E X E R T

S A L T

P R I Z E

NOBEL

R E M I T

1

2

1

4

6

6

7

7

7

8

Down 1 Golfer Day 2 Oneness 3 Kingdom of Herod 4 Descriptor on Craigslist 5 Literary Austen

2

4

1

Down 1 Locales of cervical vertebrae 2 Type of shot that won't get you wasted?

3 Prickly pears and others 4 Drug sold in tabs 5 Former NFL receiver Welker

6

3

4

7

6

8

8

7

9

9

34 MONTECITO JOURNAL

2

1

7

Across 1 Shellac 6 Stigmatized action 7 Heed reveille 8 Animal emblem 9 Site for crafty entrepreneurs

S A L L Y

S L E D

V E AM I N R E S T C H O R R Y

G O S E E

CHEMISTRY

3

4

5

Down 1 Really desire 2 Potato preparer that resembles a garlic press 3 "Extreme" prefix 4 Who made Whos?

5 Buzz

META PUZZLE 5 4

Down 1 Bra or purse feature 2 Cognizant (of) 3 Major U.S. airline 5 "Sick!"

6 "With this ring I ___ wed"

I N B E D

FIELD

Across 1 Stereotypical teen's preoccupation 6 NBA coaching legend Pat 7 LGBT political group whose name is a rallying cry 8 One may lead into a chorus 9 Chunks of history

6

Across 1 Morose 4 Up-to-280-character message 7 Green candidate Nader 8 Shaw on the clarinet 9 What "salaam" and "shalom" mean

5

2

H E M I N

6

PUZZLE #5

3

R A F A

9

Across 1 Network for 4-Across 4 Old courtroom drama set on the West Coast 6 "The final frontier" 7 Imperfections on an Impreza 8 Go down a slippery slope

PUZZLE #4 1

5

8

Across 1 Tribal talisman 5 Godly eponym of the first month 6 Fourth-wall-breaking comment, perhaps 7 "Duly ___" 8 One-named Irish singer

O R G Y

PUZZLE #3

3

5

8

G U N G

PRIZE

PUZZLE #2 4

E C I G S

2

3 5

8

Down 1 One of Brazil's 26 2 Divining card 3 Commemorative notices 4 Saunter (along) 5 Frost bit?

“There is no denying that we are still living in the capitalist world.” – John Lennon

Across 1 Common knowledge?

4 Gainesville college athlete 6 British pop star with numerical album titles 7 They're found on the North Dakota state quarter 8 Some tiebreakers, in brief

Down 1 Word before silence and station 2 Big boom in the Bikini atoll, in brief 3 Collared shirts 4 Talk, talk, talk 5 Kylo ___ (Adam Driver's "Star Wars" character)

2 – 9 December 2021

Spirituality Matters

Our Town (Continued from page 32)

by Steven Libowitz

Loving Your ‘Lurps’:

R Sr. Maria Nguyen and Sr. Arthur Gordon, with Rosa Paredes (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Strengthening Program. The funds raised support this program and the formerly homeless mothers and children we serve in it.”

Co-chairs Pat Lupo and Claudia Lash, co-founders of the event in 2009, made more than 100 gift baskets for

Guest speaker Rosalinda Reyes and Michelle Laguna with their daughters, and her mother Rosalinda Laguna (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

the silent auction and the raffle prizes.

Baskets of all sizes were decorated and stuffed with holiday cookies, candies, candles, ornaments, and toys.

Volunteers at the event included students from Bishop Diego High School.

The guest speaker at the event was Rosalinda Reyes, who talked about her experience being coached for two years by the Family Strengthening Program at St. Vincent’s, “I came to St. Vincent’s with two small children to turn my life around, from being a cashier to holding a degree from SBCC and becoming a property manager. It’s ok to reach out for help, but don’t expect anyone to do the work for you. It’s not how you start that matters, it’s how you finish.”

Attendees included corporate sponsors Tino Muñoz and Barbara Caballero-Muñoz, with their daughter, Bella; Annette Shimada; Rosa M. Paredes; Sister Maria Nguyen; Sister Arthur Gordon; Michelle Laguna; Rosalinda Laguna; Marie Ciluaga; Cheri Davis; and Patsy Dorsey. •MJ 411: http://stvincents-sb.org

New Book Offers Breakthrough

adhule Weininger’s new book, Heart Medicine: How to Stop Painful Patterns and Find Peace and Freedom — at Last, features a brief forward by the Dalai Lama and another longer, more personal one from colleague Joanna Macy, the prolific author, environmental activist, and half-century-plus scholar of Buddhism. Additional pre-publication praise has come from locally beloved psychotherapist, workshop leader, and writer David Richo and Radical Compassion author/self-help guru Tara Brach, meditation master Jack Kornfield, and Real Change author Sharon Salzberg.

The positive notices for Weininger’s second book cover such ground because the Santa Barbara-based therapist and popular meditation teacher is looking to move the needle forward in the crowded field of finding freedom from our trauma-based patterns of reacting to triggers in self-defeating ways. She calls such reactions long-standing, recurrent, painful patterns — or LRPPs, which rhymes with burps and might just be an opportune onomatopoeic shorthand for those seemingly insurmountable situations.

Weininger has drawn on her own work with clients and meditation students as well as her never-ending scholarly endeavors and journeys that most recently included a meditative several-week pilgrimage on the famed El Camino de Santiago. Rather than upending traditional Western psychology and spirituality, she’s synthesizing the schools.

“I like to think that what I’m doing is making the bridge between different approaches,” Weininger told me last weekend. “I don’t have a vastly new thing. But I’m a psychodynamically trained therapist. I know about cognitive behavioral approaches and mindfulness approaches. Right now, we need all hands on board, both mindful and spiritual, awareness and compassion. We need to pause when we become reactive, but also learn to be somatically in our pain, to be mindful while we feel deeply. It’s important to stay with the process, but in a kind and loving way.”

As a long-standing meditation teacher whose Mindful Heart programs have expanded during the pandemic to encompass more than a dozen free online community sessions per week from a variety of teachers and perspectives, Weininger has also expanded her own perspective.

“What I also think I bring in is the mystery, and allowing for the sacred that is beyond our understanding but that we can experience, which has traditionally not been a part of psychology. In the last few years, meditation has been going beyond the self perspective to the awareness perspective, which is such a miraculous addition, to go beyond the small ego self not as an abstraction but as an experience in a non-religious way.”

Weininger talks about the foundation of LRRPs in the first 60 of the book’s 240 pages, with the rest devoted toward a 12-step program to find freedom, with each chapter chock full of detailed meditations that can also be accessed online, all of which have been honed over the years with her meditation students.

“I get a chance to see what works in the moment,” she explained. “We are all learning together.”

Heart Medicine will be published on December 7, and is available at all the usual outlets. Weininger will also talk about the book in several upcoming appearances at Chaucer’s, Yoga Soup, and the Sacred Space. Visit www.ra dhuleweiningerphd.com or www.mindfulheartprograms.org.

Consciousness Network Convenes to Reconnect

It’s been more than two years since the Santa Barbara Consciousness Network last met, a presentation from Dr. Dan Siegel on “The Science & Practice of Presence” that represented its largest gathering in its then fouryear history. The Network’s upcoming gathering is more on the mix and mingle side of things compared to mind-opening talk from the founding co-director of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center and Director of the Mindsight Institute. But that represents a return to TCN’s roots where founder Forrest Leichtberg hosted monthly get-togethers to build the community and foster interactions.

TCN’s Holiday Community Mixer will take place from 2-5 pm on Sunday, December 5, outdoors at Juice N Things (4991 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria), a new-ish health food spot on the Santa Barbara scene, which will also be Amy Curti and the Cabi fashion models for the event (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)

2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

Matters Page 474 MONTECITO JOURNAL

35

CALENDAR OF Note to readers: This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and other events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next week. It is by no means comprehensive. Be sure to read feature stories in each issue that complement the calendar. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, information must be submitted no later than noon on the Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Please send all news releases and digital artwork to slibowitz@yahoo.com)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2 Holiday ‘Hang’ — 1st Thursday has completed its emerging-out-of-COVID comeback as more than 30 venues are participating in downtown Santa Barbara’s final monthly art-and-culture walk of the year. Highlights in the galleries include 10 West’s (10 West Anapamu St.) annual all-member show featuring the 28 contemporary artists represented by the gallery; the pandemic-timed “Remedy: Art Is the Cure” with 58 artists represented in the Santa Barbara Abstract Art Collective open exhibition at Channing Peake (105 East Anapamu St.); The Locals’ Collective (931 State St.) is a pop-up collaboration of 10 local businesses plus Flowstatepaint in creating an exhibition of Muse Art, a synergistic art experience through body adornment; and Sullivan Goss’s (11 E. Anapamu St.) 13th annual 100 GRAND exhibition. Meanwhile, venues making their 1st Thursday debuts include Idyll Mercantile (703 Chapala St.) and Meritage Wine Market (18 W. Anapamu St.), while Christ Presbyterian Church (36 E. Victoria St.) re-joins 1st Thursday for the first time in two years with “Renewal,” a mother-daughter show from Sophia and Alyssa Beccue, plus live jazz piano from Jay Real. Even the entertainment environment has been enhanced for the holidays, with Santa Barbara Revels previewing its dance/story/song filled Christmas show, “An Early California Celebration of the Winter Solstice,” at the State Street Promenade Market in the 1000 block of State Street, Opera Santa Barbara singing in the halls of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.),

the 20-member strong SBCC Trombone Choir blowing and sliding on the corner of State and Anapamu streets, a special Chanukah menorah lighting sponsored by the Jewish Federation in Storke Placita (722-724 State St.), a “Silent Night” Silent Disco/Ugly Sweater dance party in Paseo Nuevo Center Court, and screenings of Robin Bisio’s four-minute dance film “Subtle Body,” with Nikki Pfeiffer moving in harmony to the sky above Lizard’s Mouth.

WHEN: 5-8 pm WHERE: Lower State Street and side streets COST: Free INFO: (805) 962-2098, www.down townsb.org/events/1st-thursday Trinkets and Treasures in the Foothills — More than 30 countries are represented by 20 different vendors showcasing a colorful selection of baskets, décor, ethnographic art, furniture, jewelry, clothing, pottery, rugs, sculpture, and more as the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History hosts its annual Folk & Tribal Arts Marketplace for the first time since 2019. Great for holiday or other gifts, the artifacts are also good for adding to personal collections or making an impulse purchase and visitors can “shop around the world” for unique and/or exotic treasures both whimsical and practical right here at home.

One-quarter of sales revenue benefits the museum exhibits and science education programs. Guests can also explore both the museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits for free and purchase food and refreshments from three food trucks. VIP guests not only get first pick

THURSDAY-FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2-3 & SUNDAY-MONDAY, DECEMBER 5-6 College Kids, Dancing & Directing — UCSB Dance Dept’s creative process-focused choreography course known as Kinetic Lab returns to the live stage with new works from five BFA dance students taking on themes of “mourning one’s unrealized self”; exploring universal relationship between identity, trust, and betrayal; and using the physicality of beach waves to intertwine time and experiences, among others. The concert also features a guest performance by the professional UCSB Dance Company debuting “Group Autogenics”.... Two days later, four theater department undergraduate directing students who have been mentored by Irwin Appel stage a series of one-act plays ranging from cutting-edge to tried-and-true classics featuring Ryan Kaminski’s The Actress, Dale Griffiths Stamos’ The Dinner Guest, Paul Elliott’s The Door, and Cyrus Roberts’ 3 Faces.

WHEN: Kinetic 7:30 pm December 2-3; One Acts 1 & 7 pm December 5, 7 pm December 6 WHERE: UCSB Hatlen Theater and Studio Theater COST: Kinetic: $15 general, $11 students, children & seniors; One Acts: Free INFO: (805) 893-2064, www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu

36 MONTECITO JOURNAL

EVENTS

by Steven Libowitz

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 Churn That Butter, Kick Up Those Feet! — Take a journey through Christmas in Ireland with all the trimmings, including step dancing, traditional Irish music celebrating the international spirit of the holiday season, and lots of singing. World champion dancers Tyler Schwartz and Emily MacConnell — who have collectively starred in such shows as Magic of the Dance, An Irish Christmas, Celtic Fyre, Celtic Wings, Dance Masters, Rockin’ Road to Dublin, and ReelRhythm — are the high-stepping headliners for a show that also delves into such traditions as butter-making, chasing the wren on St. Stephen’s Day, and drawing down the half door, whatever that means. But it’s no blarney to say Kerry Irish Productions should certainly lively up your holidays.

WHEN: 2:30 pm WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $25-$70 INFO: (805) 963-0761, www.lobero.com

of the marketplace offerings, but also enjoy wine, appetizers, and desserts at Thursday night’s preview.

WHEN: 10 am-5 pm Friday-Sunday, December 3-5 (VIP night 5:30-8pm December 2) WHERE: 2559 Puesta Del Sol Rd. COST: Free ($20 VIP night) INFO: (805) 682-4711, www.sbnature.org

vastly expanded and strengthened the school’s musical programs.

WHEN: 7 pm Saturday, December 4 & 3 pm Sunday, December 5 WHERE: 1214 State St. COST: $20 INFO: (805) 899-2222, www.granadasb.org

SATURDAY-SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4-5

Speech and Spirit: Zoom Not Boom — The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, founded almost 40 years ago to pursue denuclearizing actions and achieve a just and peaceful world, believes that serving as a forum for the study of human flourishing makes strides toward that lofty goal. Tonight’s gathering is about the transmission of political conviction and ecological consciousness across generations. It is a multi-genre collaboration at the intersection of literary studies, Black and Indigenous performance art, and the pursuit of collective transcendence. Emerging from a set of conversations between old friends about how best to honor the traditions they love and study, the event features live music, song, and poetry from Joshua Bennett, professor of English and Creative Writing at Dartmouth College and a Guggenheim Fellow; jazz vocalist and keyboardist Samora Pinderhughes, the first Art for Justice/Soros Justice Fellow; and Matthew Spellberg, creator of the Dream Parliament and NAPF President, who assumed the role earlier this year when co-founder David Krieger retired from the Santa Barbara-based organization.

WHEN: 4 pm WHERE: Zoom COST: Free INFO: wagingpeace.org •MJ

Westmont Widens its Scope — The 17th annual Westmont Christmas Festival not only marks a return to live music following a year online only but also steps up from its usual digs at First Presbyterian Church (where the sanctuary is undergoing renovations) to a venue more than twice as big in the glorious Granada Theatre on State Street. The Christian college’s festival — an annual sellout — celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ through a themed presentation that features both a narrative and Christmas music from around the world and throughout the centuries, with 2021 calling on Titus 2:11: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” The Westmont Orchestra, College Choir and Chamber Singers, and Choral Union collaborate on a performance that includes arrangements of favorite Christmas hymns and carols by Gary Fry, Tony Royse, J.A.C. Redford, and Robert Sterling, plus Christmas classics from composers Bach, Mendelssohn, and Handel as well as a premiere in “Joy Has Dawned” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend. The 17th festival also marks the fall farewell for Michael Shasberger, who is retiring this May after 17 years at the college where he

“I think that in order to survive and to change the world, you have to take care of yourself first.” – John Lennon

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7

2 – 9 December 2021

Wrap up your holiday shopping with something memorable for everyone on your list.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

with special guest Shawn Colvin Feb 26 / Arlington Theatre

An Evening with

Colson Whitehead

Apr 28 / Granada Th

eatre

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Apr 13 & 14 / Granada Theatre

Joshua Bell, violin Peter Dugan, piano Feb 3 / Granada Theatre

Yamato: The n Drummers of Japa Tenmei (Destiny) Feb 5 / Campb

ell Hall

oln Jazz at Linc estra Center Orch n Marsalis o with Wynt da Theatre r Feb 4 / G

ana

Roxane Gay

Roxane with One N Feb 25 / Granada Theatre

Ballet Hispánico Noche de Oro: A Celebration of 50 Years

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Feb 22 & 23 Arlington Theatre

Jan 21 / Granada Theatre

(805) 893-3535 www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu 2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

Gift certificates available online!

MONTECITO JOURNAL

37

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Bright Solutions Glass Tinting, 233 Big Sur Drive, Goleta, CA , 93117. Jeancarlo Parra, 233 Big Sur Drive, Goleta, CA , 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 22, 2021. 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. 2021-0003212. Published November 24, December 1, 8, 15, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Flame Chix, 209 South Voluntario St. Apt 1, Santa Barbara, CA 93013.

Keith H. Morrison, 1692 Las Canoas Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 17, 2021. 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. 2021-0003182. Published November 24, December 1, 8, 15, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Pollo Flameado, 209 South Voluntario St. Apt 1, Santa Barbara, CA 93013. Keith H. Morrison, 1692 Las Canoas Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 17, 2021. 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. 20210003180. Published November 24, December 1, 8, 15, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Rocket 2691, 165 N. Fairview, Goleta, CA 93117. Apro, LLC, 4130 Cover Street, Long Beach, CA 90808. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 25, 2021. 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. 2021-0002973. Published November 17, 24, December 1, 8, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Source California Realty; Source Group Realty, 1286 University Ave, 516, San Diego, CA, 92103. Larry Tadlock, 1286 University Ave, 516, San Diego, CA, 92103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 15, 2021. 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. 2021-0003156. Published November 17, 24, December 1, 8, 2021.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Galavant, 316 W Anapamu St., #10, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Sophia L. Taylor, 316 W Anapamu St., #10, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Barrett R. Taylor, 316 W Anapamu St., #10, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 20, 2021. 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. 2021-0002954. Published November 10, 17, 24, December 1, 2021.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 21CV04039. To all interested parties: Petitioner Hilary Suzanne Molina filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Hilary Suzanne Lyn. 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 8, 2021 by Elizabeth Spann.

Hearing date: December 17, 2021 at 10 am in Dept. 4, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Published 11/17, 11/24, 12/1, 12/8

38 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Notice Inviting Bids

WASTEWATER MAIN REHABILITATION FY 2022 Bid No. 5919

1.

Bid Submission. The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its Wastewater Main Rehabilitation FY 2022 Project (“Project”), by or before Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 4:00 p.m., through its PlanetBids portal. Bidders must be registered on the City of Santa Barbara’s PlanetBids portal in order to submit a Bid proposal and to receive addendum notifications. Each bidder is responsible for making certain that its Bid Proposal is actually submitted/uploaded with sufficient time to be received by PlanetBids prior to the bid opening date and time. Large files may take more time to be submitted/uploaded to PlanetBids, so please allow sufficient time to be received prior to the bid due date. The receiving time on the PlanetBids server will be the governing time for acceptability of bids. Telegraphic, telephonic, hardcopy, and facsimile bids will not be accepted.

If any Addendum issued by the City is not acknowledged online by the Bidder, the PlanetBids System will prevent the Bidder from submitting a Bid Proposal. Bidders are responsible for obtaining all addenda from the City’s PlanetBids portal.

Bid results and awards will be available on PlanetBids.

2.

Project Information.

2.1 Location and Description. The Project includes rehabilitation of 13,330 linear feet of damaged sanitary sewer main at 44 locations throughout the City. The damaged mains consist of 6-inch, 8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, 15-inch, and 16-inch diameter sewer main and will be rehabilitated utilizing trenchless repair methods, cured-in-place pipe liner (CIPP) or spiral wound PVC methods. Additional work to be completed includes reinstatement of sewer laterals; pre-rehabilitation and pre-repair sewer main cleaning-flushing; pre- and post-rehabilitation and repair closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections; manhole rehabilitation and lining; manhole channel repair; replacement of manhole frame and covers; removal of manhole ladder rungs; and sewer lateral corrective connection. Contractor shall be responsible for restoration of site conditions to pre-construction conditions, including pavement, landscaping, and any disturbed or damaged hardscape within easements (including but not limited to fencing, walls, and decorative rocks/boulders); traffic control as necessary to protect public safety; sewer bypassing as necessary to construct repairs; implementation of erosion and sedimentation control measures to meet City requirements for protection of water quality; trimming or removing vegetation and other obstructions as necessary to properly access and perform Work within easements; and obtaining all necessary permits and utility coordination as necessary to perform the work.

2.2 Time for Final Completion. The Project must be fully completed within 190 working days from the start date set forth in the Notice to Proceed. City anticipates that the Work will begin on or about February 2022, but the anticipated start date is provided solely for convenience and is neither certain nor binding.

2.3 Estimated Cost. The estimated construction cost is $1,694,556.

3.

License and Registration Requirements.

3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class A – General Engineering.

3.2 DIR Registration. City may not accept a Bid Proposal from or enter into the Contract with a bidder, without proof that the bidder is registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code § 1725.5, subject to limited legal exceptions.

4.

Contract Documents. The specifications, bid forms and contract documents for the Project, and any addenda thereto (“Contract Documents”) may be downloaded from City’s website at: http://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=29959. A printed copy of the Contract Documents may be obtained from CyberCopy Shop, located at 504 N. Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, at (805) 884-6155.

5.

Bid Security. The Bid Proposal must be accompanied by bid security of ten percent of the maximum bid amount, in the form of a cashier’s or certified check made payable to City, or a bid bond executed by a surety licensed to do business in the State of California on the Bid Bond form included with the Contract Documents. The bid security must guarantee that within ten days after City issues the Notice of Award, the successful bidder will execute the Contract and submit the payment and performance bonds, insurance certificates and endorsements, and any other submittals required by the Contract Documents and as specified in the Notice of Award.

6.

Prevailing Wage Requirements.

6.1 General. Pursuant to California Labor Code § 1720 et seq., this Project is subject to the prevailing wage requirements applicable to the locality in which the Work is to be performed for each craft, classification or type of worker needed to perform the Work, including employer payments for health and welfare, pension, vacation, apprenticeship and similar purposes.

6.2 Rates. These prevailing rates are on file with the City and are available online at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR. Each Contractor and Subcontractor must pay no less than the specified rates to all workers employed to work on the Project. The schedule of per diem wages is based upon a working day of eight hours. The rate for holiday and overtime work must be at least time and one-half.

6.3 Compliance. The Contract will be subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR, under Labor Code § 1771.4.

7.

Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder will be required to provide performance and payment bonds, each for 100% of the Contract Price, as further specified in the Contract Documents.

8.

Substitution of Securities. Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted under Public Contract Code § 22300.

9.

Subcontractor List. Each Subcontractor must be registered with the DIR to perform work on public projects. Each bidder must submit a completed Subcontractor List form with its Bid Proposal, including the name, location of the place of business, California contractor license number, DIR registration number, and percentage of the Work to be performed (based on the base bid price) for each Subcontractor that will perform Work or service or fabricate or install Work for the prime contractor in excess of one-half of 1% of the bid price, using the Subcontractor List form included with the Contract Documents.

10.

Instructions to Bidders. All bidders should carefully review the Instructions to Bidders for more detailed information before submitting a Bid Proposal. The definitions provided in Article 1 of the General Conditions apply to all of the Contract Documents, as defined therein, including this Notice Inviting Bids.

11.

Bidders’ Conference. A bidders’ conference will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., at the following location: virtual conference (see PlanetBids for details) for the purpose of acquainting all prospective bidders with the Contract Documents and the Worksite. The bidders’ conference is mandatory. A bidder who fails to attend a mandatory bidders’ conference will be disqualified from bidding.

12.

Requests for Information. Questions or requests for clarifications regarding the Project, the bid procedures, or any of the Contract Documents must be submitted through PlanetBids via the online Q&A tab until 6:00 P.M. on Friday, December 10, 2021.

Oral responses are not authorized and are not binding on the City. Questions received any later might not be addressed before the bid deadline. An interpretation or clarification by City in response to a written inquiry will be issued in an addendum.

By: ___________________________________ Date: ________________ William Hornung, C.P.M., General Services Manager Publication Dates: 1) November 24, 2021

2) December 1, 2021 END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS

“We’re not Beatles to each other, you know. It’s a joke to us.” – John Lennon

2 – 9 December 2021

Local News

On Entertainment (Continued from page 16 16))

by Jeff Wing

Ritch Shydner Show Marks Long-Awaited Return of Standup to Santa Barbara

S

Marc Broussard will play the Lobero on December 7

Broussard’s Journey: Bayou to Lullabyes and Back

Singer-songwriter Marc Broussard made his stage debut before he reached first grade, belting out “Johnny B. Goode” at age 5 as a guest singer in his father, Louisiana Hall of Fame guitarist Ted Broussard’s, famous band The Boogie Kings. Swamp pop and blue-eyed soul runs through his veins and makes up his bones. But classic R&B, rock, and his own well-crafted, emotionally authentic songs provide the meat and the muscle.

“I’ve always been the kind of person that did my own thing,” Broussard explained after finishing a 36-hour drive from Louisiana to Portland, where his band begins a new leg of a tour that arrives at the Lobero on December 7.

“Critics have called my music aimless but to me and my fans, it’s more like something for every mood.”

Most recently, that mood has been one of charity, and children, via Broussard’s third cover album in his “Save Our Soul” series, S.O.S. 3: A Lullaby Collection, which contains his take on “Moon River,” “Over the Rainbow,” “What A Wonderful World,” James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James” and “Return to Pooh Corner,” Kenny Loggins’ sequel to his own song for a children’s record.

“There was a stretch of about three years in my teens when I couldn’t fall asleep without having that [Loggins] album playing,” Broussard said. “Ever since, I’ve wanted to do a lullaby album myself. This was just the perfect opportunity.”

Even though reviewers have praised the record as “where the heart meets the highway,” it’s more likely, though, that Broussard and the boys in the band will be getting gritty and rocking out rather than rocking us to sleep at the Lobero. But then he’s got another left turn via the forthcoming record written and recorded during lockdown.

“It’s super soul, maybe even psychedelic soul,” he said. “Getting back to my roots in soul.”

Folk-Rock Frenzy

Singer-songwriters and folkies are popping up all over town this week, with two more dates at the Lobero and a pair of performances at SOhO. Brett Dennen, the lanky singer-songwriter with a shock of red hair who first showed up in Santa Barbara 17 years ago slinging his old-soul/wise-beyondhis-25-years songs of hope, love, longing, desperation, and faith at SOhO, is now 42 years old and 15 years past his big break on the influential soundtrack of Grey’s Anatomy. But somehow, he still sounds simultaneously full of wisdom and wit and wide-eyed wonder, which he’ll share at the Lobero, where he first played for Sings Like Hell in 2007, with Suzuki-trained violinist Sophia Boro opening the December 3 show.

The Lobero has also lured Grammy-nominated indie-folkie Adrianne Lenker, lead singer and guitarist of Big Thief, for what should be a stunning solo show on December 8 in support of her two (!) 2020 solo albums called Songs and Instrumentals that were conceived and partially recorded in a oneroom cabin in the western Massachusetts mountains after Big Thief’s tour was canceled by COVID. SOhO’s stage will host two nights of acoustic sounds from locals, with the bluegrass-based band Salty Strings sharing a bill with close-harmony duo The Brambles on December 4, and the great Glen Phillips doing a solo show on December 7, just three months after the reunited Toad the Wet Sprocket sold out two shows at the Lobero.

•MJ 2 – 9 December 2021

anta Barbara’s Brasil Arts Cafe is not what it appears. Walk through the restaurant proper to the shadowy back of the place. A grinning bruiser parts a speakeasy-like curtain and you enter a hidden grotto the police could raid at any moment. Welcome back! Local standup impresario Kimmie Dee’s aptly named NO INDOOR VOICES (NIV) triumphantly returns to Brasil Arts with comic mayhem that’ll have you snorting like a wild boar in front of your horrified date. Closed by COVID, the beloved standup space grandly reopens this weekend with Ritch Shydner’s History of Comedy (directed by J. Elvis Weinstein). Shydner’s Letterman-Leno-Carson pedigree, his gig on Married with Children, his writing for TV, his award-winning documentary I AM COMIC make him the perfect Reopening Act. “Ritch is always moving forward,” Dee says with uncommon deference.

“Improving, learning, sharing, teaching… he’s the true definition of a mensch.” Meaning? “He’s one hell of a funny human!” She suddenly hollers.

As she will. “That, and he’s from NJ!” If You Go Ritch Shydner’s History of Comedy, directed by J. Elvis Weinstein.

Dec 2, 3, 4 and 9, 10, 11 at 7pm Brasil Arts Cafe - 1230 State St. in Santa Barbara Tickets @ Nightout.com - $15 online, $20 at the door Limited seating each night per COVID bossiness.

Proof of vaccination and face masks required.

•MJ

Editor’s Letter (Continued from page 5) as many other native tribes. In the process, the settlers destroyed most of Rhode Island and burned Providence to the ground. Says who? These were the official findings of the Colony of Rhode Island. The chief from that first Thanksgiving’s son was beheaded by the Pilgrims not so long thereafter and his head left on a pike. For months.

All of which begs the question: with Thanksgiving’s traditional whitewashing of Pilgrim brutality, now that we know better, should Thanksgiving go the way of the Confederate monuments? This was my sister’s question. Should it be dumped? Amended? Up-ended?

I thought everyone in my family would basically give this idea thoughtful discussion or, at the very least, lip service. Something along the lines of, “Yeah, we screwed the Indians over, we should do better.”

Which seems to be where our debt to the Indigenous gets left every year.

Stacked up on the runway behind discussions of reparations for slavery, “doing more” for the homeless, etc.

However, this year, in a surprise move, our Turkey Day reflection devolved into a heated debate replete with profanities and name calling, exposing a heretofore unknown family political chasm between “Team Blue” led by my nephew and “Team Red” led by one of his uncles. All those great suggestions Dan Meisel makes for how to have civil discourse in this issue (read his piece on

• The Voice of the Village •

page 11)? We threw those totally out the window.

One thing became clear: The Thanksgiving as 99% of us celebrate it is at the very least culturally insensitive. But as my sister asked at our Thanksgiving dinner, what’s the solution? Should we erase the whole bloody holiday?

I think the recent controversy surrounding Native Americans and our capital’s NFL team is relevant, wherein enough people protested loudly enough till the Redskins changed their name to the generic, vaguely humorous, and post-woke “Washington Football Team.”

Whether or not we change the name of the holiday — Thanksgiving Festivus? Turkey Day? — I personally think it’s a special thing to have a holiday where we gather with family and friends, those who agree with us and those who don’t, share a delicious meal, enjoy each other’s company, and express thanks for all we have. But like every other historical moment, regardless of what we call the day, I think it’s important for us to look at it squarely, to understand and acknowledge it for all its complexity — the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yes, to accept responsibility, as a people and as a nation, for the damage we’ve caused along the way.

Then we can enjoy a delicious meal and fall asleep in peace, helped by an overdose of tryptophan.

But apparently, that’s a myth, too. •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL

39

Our Town (Continued from page 8)

be able to work with him. We had fun doing our scenes, sometimes riffing, and improvising. We were working at a furious pace, which forces you to stay in the moment, be flexible, and adapt to what may happen next. It is definitely a career milestone, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

Any “oh-my” moments on set?

Yes, I happened to be the first actor called to set to do a scene with Bruce! I was kind of hoping some other actors would get called first, but that was not the case. They called my name, and as I walked to set I was a bit nervous anticipating the moment, but once I got there, Bruce was very down to earth and made me feel comfortable and we got to work.

You have worked with Patrick Muldoon in the past, right?

It was surreal. In the ‘90s, I worked in production on Melrose Place where Patrick played the role of Richard Hart. I hadn’t seen him in 16 years; it was great to reunite with him and I was thrilled he was playing the lead role in Deadlock. He’s super talented, very charming, and likeable, and a lot of fun to watch on screen.

What was it like working with writer/ director Jared Cohen?

I’ve been lucky enough to do several movies with him and we have a won-

derful working relationship. I really admire how talented he is in so many areas of filmmaking; he really knows how to execute and be efficient. Jared is so humble, grounded, and has an open mind, so collaborating with him is always a pleasure. He’s got a great eye; we have fun working together and it feels very much like a collaboration. Filming took place over two intense weeks with a full crew, and he held the timeline in check seamlessly.

Anything you want to share with the readers and your fans?

The last two years have been an incredible run career wise. I’ve done eight movies, and this film is definitely a career highlight. Thirteen years ago, I made a decision to get my life back on track, to get off of one path and get on another. To come from where I was to where I am today is just a miracle in so many ways. I believe that everything good in my life, including this film, is a direct result of being on the right path, working at becoming a better man, doing the right thing, and being a good person. Don’t leave before the miracle happens, because you never know when things are going to fall into place for you.

•MJ 411 Deadlock trailer: www.youtube/ UoqRfsoa5c4 Michael DeVorzon: www.imdb.com/ name/nm1010984/

Community (Continued from page 11 11)

have at investigating relevant facts and exploring practical solutions. Inviting those you disagree with to join you in revisiting the facts you both think you know may help you both construct a more aligned path forward.

Lastly (only because of limited space here), very few conversations are truly and immediately existential, so keeping the volume low and avoiding dismissive judgments can help others feel more comfortable and interested in coming back for more.

In the coming weeks I will delve into some divisive subjects in our community and how they can be addressed civilly with these guidelines in mind. •MJ Dan Meisel is Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Santa Barbara/TriCounties office. He previously chaired that office’s Advisory Board as well as a national ADL Task Force on Education Equity.

40 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Hot Topics (Continued from page 21)

the 2018 post-fire landscape compared to the current state of our hillsides, creeks, and channels.

While our watershed is recovering well, Cooper says the pace of regrowth has slowed due to last year’s lower-than-normal rainfall totals. Our community’s steep and rugged terrain means flooding is still a concern.

Engineering Manager for Santa Barbara County Flood Control Jon Frye will provide an update on our flood control system and debris basins. Frye and his team closely monitor every storm and its impact on our watershed.

Last winter and through the few storms we have had more recently, Frye says our flood control system performed to designed. Even during several significant storms last winter season, there were no debris flows.

As we begin our 2021/2022 rain season, the debris basins and channels are completely clear and ready to safely accommodate runoff.

Our community’s overall safety is greatly improved thanks to the addition of the Randall Road Debris Basin. Since breaking ground in early May, significant progress has been made to establish the new debris basin that provides protection to downstream properties and helps to mitigate future debris flow events.

“While no public infrastructure can guarantee complete protection against nature, the Randall Road Debris Basin, when complete, will become Montecito’s largest debris basin,” Frye said. Thus, this basin increases our resilience to damaging impacts from future storms.

In the event of a saturating rain event, flooding and debris flows could occur.

Meteorologist Mark Jackson with the National Weather Service (NWS) will present our Winter Weather Outlook. Weather forecasters anticipate a La Niña winter, meaning below-average rainfall is likely.

Jackson says flood risk is highly dependent on the severity of a storm.

According to the NWS, storms that produce one inch of rain per hour could trigger debris-laden flooding. Such a storm would prompt the NWS to issue a Flash Flood Warning, alerting people who live near creeks or streams to be alert for rapidly rising water and to seek higher ground immediately.

Montecito Fire Chief Kevin Taylor will present the recently updated Storm Impact Consideration Map. The interactive map identifies properties in our community that may be at risk of debris flow or flooding this winter season. It is also utilized by local emergency managers to determine which areas may be asked to evacuate ahead of a significant storm this winter.

The map was produced by the fire department’s consultant, Atkins Engineering. This firm has produced the last four debris flow risk maps.

Atkins utilizes the inputs from Cooper and Frye, peer-reviewed debris flow science, and topographical data to model debris flow risk during short-duration, high-intensity rainfall.

After reviewing that information this fall, Atkins engineers spent a few days in our community conducting aerial and ground surveys. All this works comes together in the Storm Impact Consideration Map. The updated map shows risk areas in red. Those red areas have reduced each year, including this year.

The updated map shows just 355 parcels at risk of debris flow or flooding in Montecito, Summerland, and Carpinteria this year.

Last year, 445 properties were included. In 2019, there were 517. In 2018, the first rain season following the 1/9 Debris Flow, 1,508 parcels were on the map.

“This new number, 355, represents a reduction of 90 properties since last year,” Chief Taylor said. “Those 90 parcels were removed because the scientists believe we are at less risk for all the reasons articulated previously.”

With this overall reduction in risk, local emergency managers do not anticipate issuing protective action orders (shelter in place, evacuation warning, or evacuation order) because of a single, forecasted weather event.

However, emergency managers and the NWS will closely monitor all storms relative to frequency, duration, and rain rates due to the concern over any “saturation” event that is followed by or includes high-intensity, short-duration rainfall. If such a storm were to be predicted, protective measures for the community may be issued, including strategic evacuations.

You can view the Storm Impact Consideration Map at readysbc.org/maps.

The interactive map allows you to type in your address and it will zoom in to show where your home is located in relation to risk areas, highlighted in red.

Register to receive emergency alerts at readysbc.org. While on the webpage, review the “10 Steps to Protect Yourself Now” for winter storms.

As a reminder, the Winter Storm Readiness Community Meeting is December 9 at 6 pm at Montecito Union School in the auditorium.

American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation will be provided.

The meeting will also be live streamed on CSBTV-20, available through the County of Santa Barbara’s website and YouTube channel.

In accordance with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer Order, all individuals regardless of vaccination status are asked to wear a face covering while indoors to control the spread of COVID-19.

•MJ

“We were just a band that made it very, very, big, that’s all. Our best work was never recorded.” – John Lennon

2 – 9 December 2021

Village Beat (Continued from page 6)

evidence-based principles of inclusive design, the playground will incorporate the needs of children and adults with physical disabilities, but also consider the needs of individuals with autism and sensory impairments, intellectual disabilities, and visual and hearing loss.

“The playground will provide a missing component to support the development of all children in this community,” Victoria said.

At the heart of the project is the multi-story, fully accessible, custom designed “Magical Tree” play structure.

Extra wide ramping will allow multiple children, wheelchair-users and caregivers, and siblings to access all levels sideby-side. Each level will contain experiential elements, STEM installations, and interactive and educational experiences.

Beyond the Magical Tree, there will be multiple accessible slides, spinning and rotating structures, an interactive dance and play arch, multiple climbing features, a music garden, inclusive swings for kids and adults, and an inclusive art mural by artist Fred Calleri.

“Every section of the playground will have multiple uses. It will be multigenerational, for families with new babies to grandparents, playing together,” Victoria said. “You just don’t see that in Santa Barbara, and our playgrounds are not meeting the needs of our children.”

Ongoing programming will include

partnerships with the Santa Barbara Zoo, MOXI, Grace Fisher Foundation, the Autism Society, and others.

“I envision annual concert series, field trips, various exhibits, a coffee cart, and much more,” she said.

Local architect RRM Designs created the design for the playground, which has been praised by city planners as well as members of the Architectural Review Board and Planning Commission, one of whom called the playground “the most exciting park in our city’s history.”

“The city has long been wanting this type of playground, but frankly didn’t know where or how to start.

I’m so grateful for our partnership,” Victoria said.

The project has received unanimous design and conceptual approvals thus far, with finalized design plans to be approved next year and groundbreaking in 2023.

The missing piece currently? The funding. The GSF is seeking to raise $6 million to fund the project, with the city pledging to cover the infrastructure costs and revitalization of the rest of the under-utilized park. Sidewalks will be added to connect the park to the Zoo and East Beach, the traffic flow will be altered, and parking will be added.

Last month’s Butterfly Ball was a huge help for the project, bringing in $700,000 through ticket sales, raffle items (including four tickets to Katy Perry’s new Las

Vegas residency), and donations from nearly all the 300 attendees.

“I feel so grateful and proud of this community. They continue to show up for us,” Victoria said.

The event was emceed by Andrew Firestone, and co-chaired by Karie Ide and Kelly Almeroth, along with a faithful team including Development Coordinator Tess Council, Décor Chair Cristina Bentley, and committee members Analise Maggio, Erin Galbraith, Ivana Firestone, Jenny Deakyne, Jenny Edwards, Jillian Pirozzi, JJ McLeod, Kara Hornbuckle, Katie Crocker, Marina Delio, Nikki Murray, Ronda Fallon, Sarah Genuardi, Sarah Paskin, and Sylvie Rich. Many, many individuals and businesses have donated to the cause, including major sponsors the Bonelli Family and Sprague Family.

The total amount raised to date for the project is about $2.5 million, with future fundraising plans to include a luncheon in the spring and another Butterfly Ball next year. A recent partnership with Grassini Family Vineyards and Kyle’s Kitchen, as well as local, grassroots fundraising at several elementary schools is also in the works, and there are still several naming opportunities.

“We’re hoping to make some headway with local corporations and more nonprofits to make this happen,” Victoria said.

The project may also be eligible for

state and federal grant funds, which she is exploring. If you are interested in learning more or donating to the cause, visit www.nevergiveup.org.

“Every child deserves to play. I think we can do so much better for our entire community,” Victoria said.

Holiday Magic Parade

This Saturday, December 4, Montecito Association presents the first annual Holiday Magic Parade of Lights.

Twenty-five cars and vehicles, decked out in their holiday finery, will parade through Montecito beginning at 5:30 pm.

The parade route will leave Upper Manning Park, turn onto North Jameson and onto Coast Village Road, through the roundabout onto Hot Springs Road, and end in the Upper Village via East Valley Road. There will be electric cars, vintage cars, and a 1937 firetruck, La Boheme dancers in cars, cars from Cold Spring School and Montecito Water District, Sheriff’s vehicles, and many others. Santa will also be in tow.

“It’s truly a community-based parade, and I am blown away by the sponsorship,” said MA executive director Sharon Byrne, who is organizing the event. “It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

Residents are encouraged to stand on the parade route and cheer on the vehicles, especially along Coast Village Road and in the Upper Village.

•MJ

MERRAG 2021 ANNUAL MEETING

Thursday – December 9, 2021 @ 10:00 AM Montecito Fire Department (Engine Bay) 595 San Ysidro Road It’s time for the MERRAG Annual Meeting! Our guest speaker, Pat McElroy, former Fire Chief of the City of Santa Barbara and current Executive Director of The Partnership for Resilient Communities will provide an informative presentation regarding “Ring Nets” in the Montecito Community.

We look forward to seeing you there. Don’t forget your mask.

RSVP Required to Joyce Reed at jreed@montecitofire.com or (805) 969-2537 Maximum seating is 50 MERRAG is a 501(c)(3) organization ~ donations may be sent to 595 San Ysidro Rd., Montecito, CA 93108 or www.merrag.org 2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

41

Miscellany (Continued from page 18) Janet Garufis and George Leis (Photo by Clint Weisman)

Ed France, Dan La Berge, Michelle Graham, Alana Walczak, Ernesto Paredes, and Roger Durling (Photo by Clint Weisman)

Anne Towbes and Janet Garufis (Photo by Clint Weisman)

Towbes, Mike’s widow — $50,000 to Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics to support its collaboration with Cottage Health Systems, and $100,000 to the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara for its new 3D-printed affordable home project.

Many of the nonprofits in the room were also recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans

organized by the bank’s relief center during the peak of the COVID crisis, which provided a hefty $115 million through 1,732 loans, a median loan amount of $20.7 thousand, ranking it the number four lender on the Central Coast.

“The lessons of the last 20 months inspire us to keep looking forward to what’s possible,” said Janet. “We have learned a lot – about ourselves, our communities and how a business or an organization can adapt at critical moments, reinvent themselves, and persevere through change.”

Legacy awards were presented to Linda Johansen for outstanding community service and Maria McCall for outstanding customer service. The bank, which normally throws the event at the currently closed Coral Casino, now boasts assets of $2.29 billion, with associates putting in an impressive 4,675 hours of volunteer work.

Among the 200 guests turning out in the 80-plus degree weather to nosh on the traditional Thanksgiving fare were Rona Barrett, George Leis, Greg Gorga, Michael Baker, for-

Ali Sadreameli, Lynn Mikelatos, Drew Brahos, Dena Jenson, and Roberto Martinez (Photo by Clint Weisman)

42 MONTECITO JOURNAL

mer mayor Helene Schneider, Tom Reed, Roger Durling, Dean Noble, Luke Swetland, Peter Jordano, Caren Rager, and Carrie Towbes.

An Angelic Evening

Santa Barbara’s Veterans Memorial Building was socially gridlocked when 600 guests turned out for the first Thanksgiving dinner organized

by Adam’s Angels, a 20-month-old nonprofit founded by Montecito realtor Adam McKaig and fellow resident Crystal Iverson.

“I couldn’t do anything with real estate during the pandemic, so I asked if I could help during this very stressful period and got a huge outpouring of love,” says Adam. “Since then, we

have helped out more than 24,000 people!”

Leslie Person Ryan of Sweet Wheel Farm & Flowers in Summerland provided more than 300 pounds of vegetables and 200 pounds of butternut squash to accompany the 450 pounds of turkey prepared by chef Joe McCain, who cooked for presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush.

Sharon Byrne, executive director of the Montecito Association, emceed the bountiful bash while a number of entertainers performed on stage, including English rocker Alan Parsons and KEYT-TV senior reporter John Palminteri injecting some comic relief.

A wonderful new addition to our Eden by the Beach’s bustling charity scene...

Adam McKaig, Joe McCain, and Leslie Person Ryan with Josh Jenkins and Evan LaFlamme in the background (Photo

by Priscilla)

Guests at the Santa Barbara’s Veterans Memorial Building enjoying the entertainment and Thanksgiving dinner (Photo

by Priscilla)

“That’s why we never improved as musicians; we killed ourselves to make it.” – John Lennon

2 – 9 December 2021

What’s in a Name?

Sydney fashion designer Katie Jane Taylor, née Katy Perry, is suing the Montecito singer-songwriter over the sale of Katy Perry branded clothing in Australia at concerts, in department stores, and a range of online stores.

Taylor continues to trade under her birth name, which she trademarked for clothing in 2008.

That same year the former Dos Pueblos High student — legally known as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson — shot to worldwide fame with her hit “I Kissed A Girl.”

Katy, fiancée of British actor Orlando Bloom, is defending the allegation of trademark infringement and has launched a cross claim to have Taylor’s trademark cancelled. She says she uses the Katy Perry name in good faith and her use on clothing is unlikely to deceive or cause confusion.

The case is due to be heard over five days in the antipodes this week.

Taylor describes it as “a real David and Goliath fight.”

Stay tuned...

Drop It Like It’s Not Hot

Carpinteria actor Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis have dropped the price of their five-bedroom Beverly Hills home yet again.

Originally the property, which also has five and a half baths, was listed 18 months ago for $13.995 million, but is now $11.3 million after another $1 million reduction.

The traditional style 1999 home is 7,351 square feet on .51 acre.

The tony twosome picked up the property in 2014 for $10.2 million after becoming engaged earlier that year.

Healing Vibes

Hillary Hauser, executive director of the popular charity Heal the

Ocean, tells me the organization’s imaginary gala, chaired by Montecito actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, raised an impressive $240,000.

Quite the splash!

So, Who’s First?

Italian auto maker Ferrari’s latest $2,248,000 super car has already sold out before even being put on display to the world.

The Daytona SP3 relaunches the iconic nameplate of the stunning road cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and pays tribute to the racing machines that dominated the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance races in 1967 during Enzo Ferrari’s heated battle against the U.S. might of Ford with its GT40.

The new super auto is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine producing more power than any Ferrari engine unleashed on the road and capable of a top speed in excess of 211 mph.

Only 599 examples are being produced by the legendary marque, yet all of them have already been presold to the brand’s most loyal and deserving clients.

First deliveries are due to arrive in late 2022.

I can only wonder how long it will be before we see one tooling around our rarefied enclave?

Throw Him into the Deep End

It was quite the nerve-wracking occasion when the 56-year-old Rescue Mission’s new kitchen manager David Fletcher organized his first Thanksgiving Feast for 200 guests.

With 50 roasted turkeys, 100 pounds of mashed potatoes, and 75 pounds of vegetables, not to mention huge trays of pumpkin and pecan

Alex Fisk, Dale Webber, Kevin Carroll, Rebecca Webber, Dave Fisk, Jennifer Carlson, Hannah Nelson, Jerianne Gargano, Jaclyn Smith, and Ryan Fisk (Photo by Priscilla)

pie, David, who has only been in the position for a month, certainly had his hands full.

“I really don’t want to say how nervous I really feel,” he said. “But I’m sure it will go well and be appreciated by all the needy people who partake.”

The mission, which has an annual budget of more than $2.5 million and helps more than 2,000 people annually, kept numbers down given the pandemic with tables of four instead of eight and just a handful of volunteers, including yours truly and my trusty shutterbug Priscilla, who were volunteering as waiters for the 14th year.

RIP, Mr. Sondheim

On a personal note, I remember Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim who died at his Roxbury, Connecticut, home aged 91 the day after Thanksgiving.

The famed composer and lyricist who wrote the words for West Side Story and the music and lyrics for A Little Night Music, Into the Woods, and Sweeney Todd, among many other celebrated shows, was a giant bulb on the Great White Way with an illustrious career spanning 60 years.

During my more than two decades in Manhattan, I met the Presidential Medal of Freedom winner many times at various events and always found

Doug Doherty entertains guests (Photo by Priscilla)

him absolutely charming.

One of Broadway’s brightest lights has been extinguished. But his legendary songs and shows will undoubtedly survive the test of time.

Sightings

Oscar winner Michel Keaton checking out Ca’Dario... Actor Steve Martin eyeing the wares at C’est Cheese...

Oprah’s beau Stedman Graham picking up his New York Times at Pierre Lafond Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when needed, and get vaccinated.

•MJ

Christmas in Narnia

E L MON TE C I TO P R E S B Y TE R I AN C H UR C H

Dec. 11th, 10am-2pm rsvp: elmopres.org Ricardus Howden, Britain Price, Robert T. Crane, Edgar Gutierrez, Victor Ringor, Manuel Perez, Ruben Alfaro, Michael Brown, and David Fletcher (Photo by Priscilla)

2 – 9 December 2021

• The Voice of the Village •

S L E I G H R I D E S WI TH F ATH E R C H R I S TMAS C R AF TS WI TH TH E P E V E N S I E C H I L D R E N S TOR Y TI ME WI TH TH E P R OF E S S OR G AME S WI TH MR . TUMN US & H I G H TE A WI TH MR . & MR S . B E AV E R

MONTECITO JOURNAL

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Chefs Fall for Seasonal Ingredients

f you look closely, you might catch a scant glimpse of red, yellow, and orange leaves on the trees as you walk through town, but if you’re really hungry for a sign of autumn, look at a menu.

Local chefs have begun introducing new dishes for fall and winter and the fare isn’t just inspired by the traditional flavors we associate with fall, such as root vegetables and game birds. It’s also fueled by a slice of what makes autumn special in Santa Barbara: the bounty of our farms.

Their peak fall-through-spring growing season has already begun coinciding with the availability of special seafood such as rockfish and snapper.

Add a little inventiveness and fresh ingredients to seasonal menus for some of “the best spoonfuls” of the season, as Embermill’s owner Harold Welch puts it.

“This season is all about dishes that make you feel warm and cozy,” said Welch, who eschews dairy products when preparing his cuisine. “There are a lot of opportunities to create comfort food in the wintertime,” he said.

Several chefs in town began experimenting with autumn- and winter-inspired dishes in September, including those at San Ysidro Ranch, Rosewood Miramar, and El Encanto, where they look to the Pacific Ocean and their own culinary gardens for inspiration The tempting results have been added to Rosewood Miramar chef Massimo Falsini’s plant-based special menu, with such dishes as honeynut squash vellutata made with squash from Weiser Farm Kern County, crunchy nuts and tofu crème fraiche and buckwheat polenta with chanterelle and galangal-tomato brodo paired with several squash varieties. The plant-based dishes are part of a fourcourse prix-fixe at Caruso’s for $110.

Quince, a deciduous pome fruit that’s bright golden-yellow and similar in appearance to a pear, has captured Falsini’s imagination this season.

He incorporates it into a dessert on the plant-based menu, with a quince confit that is part cheesecake, part almond streusel. The quince is poached and made into a confit purée served with almond ricotta and almond crunch.

El Encanto executive chef Bruno Lopez said he uses the hues of fall as his seasonal culinary inspiration – the united colors of stone fruits and

“There are two basic motivating forces: fear and love.” – John Lennon

El Encanto Chef Bruno Lopez delights diners with winter truffles from France

vegetables such as persimmon, pears, beets, leeks, turnips, and other root vegetables.

“The warmth and glowing sensation of burnt sienna oranges, reds, and light browns is what I like to incorporate into my cuisine,” Lopez said.

He offers several colorful and savory selections such as a butternut bisque ($15), black truffle risotto ($50), a persimmon carpaccio ($24), and duck breast with black mission fig gastrique ($40).

Lopez sources truffles from France.

A variety of them — shaved and chopped — will appear on the menu over the next four months with dishes starting at $50, he said.

Instead of venison or rabbit, local chefs are leaning heavily on selections of fowl, poultry, and specialty cut duck and quail on the chef’s menu this fall/holiday season.

San Ysidro Ranch’s creative and adventurous chef Matthew Johnson added a grilled California quail to his menu, served with sweet potato gnocchi and baby kale dressed in a roasted cashew vinaigrette ($32). Among other autumn dishes at Stonehouse: heirloom beet salad, farm pears, petite seaside greens, golden beet purée and orange blossom honey ($28); pan seared Maine Diver Scallops, Tokyo turnips, cara cara navel orange, pickled sweet peppers, purple radish, and pomegranate aguachile ($36).

Other chefs, such as Leonard Schwartz at Lucky’s Steakhouse, look forward to bringing back seasonal favorites. These are just a few of the dishes that have been added to Lucky’s weekday specials: chicken pot pie with morels ($42); 2 – 9 December 2021

Stonehouse Chef Matthew Johnson’s grilled California quail dish is a standout on his ranch-totable menu

Ca’Dario tempts palates with a delectable selection of ravioli and tortellini

market street meatloaf with spinach and mashed potatoes ($42); chicken parmesan with San Marzano sauce and broccolini ($45); and braised beef short ribs with root vegetable and chive mashed potatoes ($55).

Truffles are a seasonal tradition at Ca’Dario, where chef and owner Dario Furlati sources white truffles from Piemonte ($55 for pasta; $60 for risotto) and black truffles from Umbria ($25 on pizza). As if that weren’t enticing enough, Furlati uses butternut squash and chanterelle mushrooms for his ravioli and tortellini fillings as well as homemade tomato and cream sauces. To diners’ delight, Furlati is introducing a chestnut soup to his winter menu ($12).

Nella Kitchen & Bar in Los Olivos opened its wine country eatery a little more than a year ago. Chefs and co-owners Marco Longinotti and Luca Crestanelli offer all-day dining from an offbeat menu with gourmet snacks, pinsas, entrees, and desserts.

Local seasonal favorites include lamb chops scottadito ($36) and Prince

Edward Island mussels steamed in a white wine, shallot and tarragon butter broth seasoned with saffron, and served with grilled sourdough ($23).

For dessert, chefs use ripened fruit pears from Sierra Nevada to create a comice pear and hazelnut crumble served with a dollop of vanilla gelato and drizzled with mulled wine reduction ($9). The pear at its perfect ripening stage is the secret; it’s soft, sweet, and juicy, Longinotti said.

Black pepper, orange zest, cloves, and juniper are added to the wine while it reduces to a syrupy consistency.

“Mulled wine is the memory of the first cold nights after summer,” Crestanelli said. “The warm spices of the wine paired with the silkiness of the comice and the sweetness of the vanilla will warm your soul.”

At indoor-outdoor Embermill, executive chef and owner Harold Welch has introduced a dairy-free fall/winter menu. A native of Barbados, West Indies, Welch’s cooking is steeped in Bajan specialties like West Indian curries, fish cakes, corn cake, crab salad, fried

plantains, and coconut-infused stews.

Among Embermill’s new dishes: coconut pumpkin butternut squash soup; chickpea tagine with preserved lemons and apricots, finished with saffron and garnished with cilantro and parsley; baby octopus and red snapper gumbo; and avocado pesto with zucchini ribbons made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and garlic.

“I’m diabetic and don’t really eat pasta, so I really enjoy this dish. I use avocado to hold it together and just blend it to taste,” Harold said.

The coconut pumpkin butternut squash soup is dairy-free and has a

chowder-like consistency. Welch said he skims spoonfuls of the coconut fat from the coconut to create the soup’s silky essence.

For his gumbo, Welch gathers fish bones from the local fish market to make his fish stock — a light pescatarian-friendly broth — whose flavor becomes more complex with the addition of veggies, okra, spices, and seafood.

“Even though we don’t have four-season weather like some places, we can utilize our local resources to create inspired dishes that evoke a sense of seasonal change,” he said. •MJ

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• The Voice of the Village •

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Letters (Continued from page 10)

providing free samples of its healthy offerings. The event will also feature a brief talk from Dr. J. Leichtberg, MD, Forrest’s father, on the importance of good nutrition, how to achieve it, and how dining at specific eateries can help the process while others do the opposite. Free admission and guests are welcome. RSVP requested. Visit consciousnessnetwork.org.

nabis “…cultivation in sensitive ecosystems means that marijuana cultivation can have environmental impacts that are disproportionately large given the area under production.”

Cresco Labs is a perfect example of this “disproportionately large impact.” Here, the Michigan-based corporation plans a new, two-story office building and cannabis processing warehouse, right on the banks of Arroyo Paredon Creek.

They will have 75 employees parking and working right next to the creek every day 24 hours a day, 7

Conscious Relationship: Heal & Harmonize

Ragan Thomson, Montecito’s maven of inner transformation who recently returned to hosting live events at her family’s Montecito mountaintop La Ladera Sanctuary, next leads a mini retreat to explore what it is to be in a relationship where you can fully inhabit your authentic self. Participants will be guided through a process of letting go of old stories and connecting with one’s inner essence to explore experiencing union where both parties practice radical self-accountability, compassion, and vulnerability, thereby eschewing blaming, shaming, and judgment. The goal is to experience profound love that is unconditional for another and oneself simultaneously with continued inner growth and evolution of the soul flowing as a result.

The 5:30-8 pm workshop on Wednesday, December 8, which costs $44, is also accessible via Zoom. Call (805) 453-7281, visit https://raganthomson.com or email ragan@raganthomson.com.

It’s been more than a dozen years since Minnesota-based poet and “Father of the Men’s Movement” Robert Bly last came to town for a sold-out stirring poetry reading with music at the Granada Theatre that still resonates upon recall. Bly’s passing at age 94 last month gave pause to revisit both his poetry and Bly’s 1990 work Iron John: A Book About Men, which spent more than a year on The New York Times bestseller list and still serves as a motivating mythic manifesto for the ManKind Project.

I can still hear the warm chuckle in his voice as he repeated specific lines from his poems and works by Hafez and others accompanied by sitarist David Whetstone and table player Marcus Wise, both close friends, at the Granada.

“Each of us is a latecomer to the earth picking up wood for the fire,” Bly reminded us near the end of the evening. “We are perishable, friends. We are salty, impermanent kingdoms.” Rest in peace, Robert.

•MJ 2 – 9 December 2021

time

10 am - 5 pm

Just Good Doggies

Matters (Continued from page 35)

Goodbye to Bly

date

October 9th

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days a week. This new corporate headquarters requires the installation of two new septic tanks, just outside Environmentally Sensitive Habitat, plus two large, new flood control ditches, with massive cut and fill of earth and more.

How could we stop Cresco and Big Cannabis’ slow-motion environmental disasters in Arroyo Paredon Watershed? I urge the Board of Supervisors to reject Cresco Labs’ project at their December 7 meeting. Please support our efforts and choose the environment over cannabis cash.

Maureen Foley Claffey •MJ

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• The Voice of the Village •

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