the giving list 23-30 DECEMBER 2021 VOL 27 ISSUE 52
SERVING MONTECITO AND SUMMERLAND
ShelterBox is on a mission to aid the 113 million people facing displacement across the world, page 40
Holiday Magic
A pair of Lakers legends — Magic Johnson and Jerry West — made it a night to remember at Turner Foundation’s Legacy gala, bringing in hundreds of thousands in donations. Story starts on page 18
Outcry at Cate Continues
Just days removed from releasing an investigative report that delved into sexual misconduct on campus, the demand for more is prevalent, page 5
Meeting a Need
Montecito’s first meatless market opens on Coast Village Road; meanwhile, MBAR hears YMCA’s long-awaited expansion plans, page 12
French Feeding Frenzy
There’s a reason for the long lines at Alessia Patisserie & Cafe, and it has everything to do with Alessia Guehr, its pâtissiere, page 52
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Inside This Issue 5 In the Know Cate released its long-awaited investigative report into alleged sexual misconduct on campus, but the reaction has been anything but relief from the community 10 News & Notes Santa Barbara Unified School District and Just Communities win case against Fair Education Santa Barbara 11 Community Voices Jeff Giordano says county is failing when it comes to cannabis 12 Village Beat Montecito’s first meatless market opens on Coast Village Road; MBAR hears YMCA’s long-awaited expansion plans 14 Montecito Best Buys As of December 15, in the MLS, we saw 332 homes and condos sell in the 93108 in 2021 — more than 100 above average 16 On Entertainment Bob Bernhardt is back on the podium at the Granada Theatre on December 31, wielding the baton for the Santa Barbara’s Symphony’s annual pop concert 18 Montecito Miscellany A pair of Lakers legends — Magic Johnson and Jerry West — made it a night to remember at Turner Foundation’s Legacy gala, bringing in hundreds of thousands in donations 20 Seen Around Town Gather, Learn, and Grow with the library; plus, catching up with the American Institute of Architects 24 Perspectives by Rinaldo S. Brutoco Celebrating (?) 2021: Remembering an Incredible Year The Optimist Daily Sleep & Space: How to protect your sleep schedule while traveling
25 Brilliant Thoughts So, what’s new?! Robert’s Big Questions Forgiveness or Justice? 27 Body Wise Diving into the joys of cooking together 28 Travel Buzz When in Rome . . . shop as the locals do 30 Calendar of Events Chris Shiflett returns home, while celebrating New Year’s Eve at noon with MOXI 32 In Memoriam Remembering Aristides Burton Demetrios and Jesse Alexander 33 Legal Advertisements 34 Home for the Holidays Our “shop local” series marches on, this time to Summerland and Carpinteria 40 The Giving List ShelterBox is on a mission to aid the 113 million people facing displacement across the world 42 Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles 48 Our Town The children’s musical performances continue with Crane Country Day School, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, YMCA Preschool, and El Montecito Early School 52 Nosh Town There’s a reason for the long lines at Alessia Patisserie & Cafe, and it has everything to do with Alessia Guehr, a second-generation pâtissiere 54 Classified Advertising Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales 55 Local Business Directory Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
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In the Know
by Nick Masuda
‘There’s More’:
Cate School Community Calls for Change in Leadership After Radioactive Faculty Sex Abuse Report Released
I
n the shadows of a 35-page investigative report executed by the Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP and released on December 15 that delves into decades-long alleged sexual abuse and misconduct at Cate School, the prestigious private boarding school is facing a growing undercurrent of disgust over the quality of the report from both victims and alumni. The Montecito Journal has been made privy to a handful of scathing email communications sent to the Board of Trustees (BOT), while social media has been abuzz with critical questions that both the report and the subsequent announcement from the BOT did not address after the 14-month investigation. While seven former faculty members have been permanently banned from campus for sexual misconduct as a product of the investigation — Andy Campbell, Da’Jon James, Robert Kusel, Martin Lowenstein, Scott McLeod, Kirk Phelps, and Dave Mochel, all of whom were already off-campus — the bulk of the outcry over the past five days is directed at current Head of School Ben Williams and the BOT doubling down on their support of Williams despite his intimate knowledge of the James and Mochel cases. Williams, who has been with the school for nearly 25 years, allowed Mochel to live on campus with his wife, a school administrator, for nine years after a 2012 investigation showed that he had a sexual relationship with a student. Mochel was allowed to resign instead of being fired and was on campus until as recently as the Spring of 2021.
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It also took the school nine months to terminate James after students made multiple complaints of sexual misconduct, the first coming within 60 days of his hire in Summer 2019. James has subsequently been arrested in Colorado under similar circumstances with a private school in Boulder. Thus by not acting more decisively the Cate School may have allowed for additional sex crimes by James at another unwitting institution. Yet, the BOT’s President Lisa Browne Stanson and Chair Wyatt Gruber wrote to the Montecito Journal that it had “complete trust in Ben Williams” — something that disturbed victims from the report. “I am one of the victims in this report. It doesn’t matter which one. I have been waiting months (years?) for the results of the investigation and this is a gut punch to all of us. But what is more painful than this joke of a report is the years long pattern of leadership failure. Ben Williams failed me. He failed all of us. He must resign,” said an anonymous poster on the @MeTooCate Instagram account, a channel with more than 50 critical posts since the report was released. “The board’s support of Mr. Williams is not just wrong and misguided, it’s painful. On behalf of all victims, I’m asking the Board to please take our side. I beg you. Burn that letter and start over. Next time around, please ‘commend’ us. We ‘care profoundly for the well-being of students.’ Put your ‘complete trust’ in us. We were part of Cate, too. We matter.” For Eric MacLeish, an attorney who represents multiple Cate vic-
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News & Notes
decision. This decision, and the previous others that were ruled in our favor, continue to affirm that our work to envision and create an equitable and inclusive Central Coast is worth fighting for,” said Patrino, executive director of Just Communities. “We are thankful for the countless number of people in our community who supported and continue to support us to this day.” Rose Muñoz, elected as SBUSD board president at the last meeting of the year, says that the lawsuit “interrupted crucial equity work.” “This case was not really about a group that had an issue with the contracting process, but instead an attempt to sidetrack and interrupt the crucial equity work that is needed in order to transform the education system,” Muñoz said. “This case was worth fighting for because to us it was always about the people in the system, not the contract process, and our people are always worth fighting for.”
by Nick Masuda
Court Rules in Favor of SBUSD, Just Communities
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center Gets Re-Accreditation SBUSD Superintendent Hilda Maldonado
W
hile Superintendent Hilda Maldonado knows there is plenty of work to come, a three-year-long court battle with Fair Education Santa Barbara (FESB) concluded last week, with the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) and Just Communities Central Coast (JCCC) victorious after a three-justice appellate court panel ruled in their favor. The lawsuit filed by FESB challenged the voluntary implicit bias training for teachers and students provided by JCCC, claiming it was a “radical” attempt to “indoctrinate” staff and students. The Superior Court rejected that, writing: “SBUSD’s express purpose in deciding to provide anti-bias training was as a means of eradicating the persistent educational achievement gap among minority students. This is clearly a lawful purpose which is reasonably characterized as incidental to a valid educational purpose.” FESB also alleged that the district’s
selection of JCCC to provide the training needed to be based on lowest bid, rather than based upon quality and reputation. The 21-page decision of the appellate panel roundly rejected that claim and upheld the earlier Superior Court decision in favor of the district and JCCC. Maldonado was ecstatic by the ruling but says the attention must now turn to the work that needs to be done. “Our school district teachers and leaders will continue the work on closing achievement gaps, improving academics, and addressing the social and emotional needs of all students, especially the most vulnerable,” said Maldonado. “I am proud of this decision which recognizes the expertise of our educators’ decisions who know what’s best for students.” JCCC Executive Director Melissa Patrino was pleased with the court’s affirmation of the organization’s direction. “Just Communities is incredibly thankful over the Court of Appeal’s
The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center (RTCC) has received a second fouryear re-accreditation for radiation oncology services from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and APEx. According to RTCC, ASTRO is a premier radiation oncology society that recognizes facilities that deliver exceptionally safe, high-quality care to patients. The comprehensive and rigorous, voluntary accreditation process focuses on the functions of the entire radiation oncology team, and how well safety, quality, and adherence to patient-centered care are prioritized. “This re-accreditation by the most important professional body in our field shows that Ridley-Tree’s Radiation Oncology Department is truly dedicated to providing our patients with the highest level of care,” commented W. Warren Suh, Medical Director, Radiation Oncology Department. Just four years ago, RTCC was only the second California facility to earn the accreditation, which has increased to 23 today. RTCC remains the only
MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE Day Low Hgt High Thurs, Dec. 23 1:10 AM Fri, Dec. 24 2:02 AM Sat, Dec. 25 2:52 AM Sun, Dec. 26 3:36 AM Mon, Dec. 27 4:15 AM Tues, Dec. 28 4:53 AM Weds, Dec. 29 5:32 AM Thurs, Dec. 30 6:13 AM Fri, Dec. 31 12:24 AM 1.9 6:56 AM
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Hgt Low 3.4 4:51 AM 3.5 5:54 AM 3.7 7:25 AM 4.1 9:10 AM 4.5 10:39 AM 5 11:44 AM 5.6 12:38 PM 6.1 01:26 PM 6.6 02:13 PM
Hgt 3 3.2 3.1 2.8 2.1 1.1 0.2 -0.6 -1.4
High 11:03 AM 11:48 AM 12:48 PM 02:12 PM 03:52 PM 05:26 PM 06:42 PM 07:45 PM 08:40 PM
Hgt Low 5.1 06:42 PM 4.7 07:25 PM 4.2 08:12 PM 3.7 09:01 PM 3.3 09:52 PM 3.2 010:43 PM 3.4 011:34 PM 3.5 3.7
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facility on the Central Coast to achieve the accreditation.
COVID Outbreak at Main Jail
As of December 9, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said it had 24 COVID-positive inmates, with a recent influx in cases. According to the SBCSO, “all COVIDpositive inmates are continuously monitored by custody staff and our Wellpath partners. None of the COVID positive inmates in this outbreak have required hospitalization.” •MJ
The best little paper in America Covering the best little community anywhere! Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood Deputy Editor | Nick Masuda nick@montecitojournal.net Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick Copy Editor | Lily Buckley Harbin Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz Editors -At-Large | Ann Louise Bardach Nicholas Schou Contributors | Scott Craig, Julia Rodgers, Ashleigh Brilliant, Sigrid Toye, Zach Rosen, Kim Crail, Tom Farr, Stella Haffner, Pauline O’Connor, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Sharon Byrne, Gretchen Lieff, Robert Bernstein, Christina Favuzzi, Bob Roebuck, Leslie Zemeckis Gossip | Richard Mineards History | Hattie Beresford Humor | Ernie Witham Our Town | Joanne A. Calitri Society | Lynda Millner Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook Food & Wine | Claudia Schou, Gabe Saglie Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson Bookkeeping | Christine Merrick Proofreading | Helen Buckley Design/Production | Trent Watanabe Graphic Design | Esperanza Carmona Published by: Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC PRINTED BY NPCP INC., SANTA BARBARA, CA Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108. How to reach us: Editorial: (805) 565-1860; Sue Brooks: ext. 4; Christine Merrick: ext. 3; Classified: ext. 3; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Letters to Editor: Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; E-MAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
23 – 30 December 2021
Community Voices Cannabis Revenue:
by Jeff Giordano
Why Did We Do This?
S
o, the numbers are in for the most recent Quarterly Cannabis Tax Revenue and — like before — they are completely underwhelming and leave us with more questions than answers. Allow me to explain. First a bit of history: Santa Barbara County is the only county that relies solely on self-reported grower revenue to calculate the taxes owed. Other counties tax cannabis on an easily verifiable square-foot-grown calculation. This latter method does not make the county de-facto pot partners, nor does it require auditing or enforcement which — of course — our county has not budgeted for. Even more perplexing (and this was highlighted by our County Grand Jury) is the fact that our elected Tax Collector was excluded from any Board of Supervisors discussions about their unique, grower-friendly scheme. Curious, wouldn’t you say?
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So, guess how much our $1.2 billion county “made” (revenue not profit!) this quarter from cannabis? A whopping $3.1 million, down 26% from the paltry $4.2 million we made during Q1 of last year. And, just like last year, a full 30% of the growers reported zero revenue (huh?) or simply didn’t bother to report — you and I should try this trick when next asked to pay our property taxes.
Now remember we have allowed nearly three square miles of open grow cannabis in North County and parts of South County. Indeed, the coveted Santa Rita Hills AVA with 59 wineries and more than 2,700 grape acres will be surrounded. So much for tasting rooms (no, skunk and wine just don’t pair) or a leisurely drive along the 246 for an outdoor lunch. As the Grand Jury stated: “wine perception is 80% olfactory” — obviously. Anyway, back to the most recent data and the alleged reason (other than blatant special influence peddling) why we have the largest open grow cannabis farms in the world, i.e. the almighty buck. So, guess how much our $1.2 billion county “made” (revenue not profit!) this quarter from cannabis? A whopping $3.1 million, down 26% from the paltry $4.2 million we made during Q1 of last year. And, just like last year, a full 30% of the growers reported zero revenue (huh?) or simply didn’t bother to report — you and I should try this trick when next asked to pay our property taxes. Our county is being made the fool while individual growers are acquired for $567 million, and others are making millions each month in cash. So, what are our supervisors doing about it? Well, in the Third District they are playing armchair economist talking about the price of cannabis, illegal grows, high taxes, blah, blah, blah. So now, the folks who got us into this mess are apologists and shills for the cannabis industry — talk about conflicted. This is complete insanity. Show a modicum of introspection, take an integrity pill, and change the tax scheme itself. We are not in, nor should we be in, the cannabis business! Monterey County has just 62 permitted acres of cannabis — a fraction of Santa Barbara County — yet makes more each year (guaranteed!) from their easily verifiable square-foot-grown method of taxation as we do. We have sold ourselves cheap and compromised our health (research Ground Level Ozone), our quality of life, and our wine and hospitality industries. Perhaps at some point we can have an honest discussion about large-scale commercial cannabis and possible solutions. Then again, this is Santa Barbara County, so let’s not hold our breath (pun intended). •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
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Village Beat
Owners Sam and Lauren Benon and Kamren and Tim MortonSmith at PLNT PWRD MRKT
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.
Montecito’s First Plant-Based Market
M
ontecito and Santa Barbara locals have opened Montecito’s first “meatless” market, PLNT PWRD MRKT (i.e. Plant Powered Market), in Coast Village Walk on Coast Village Road. Borne after owner Tim Morton-Smith and his wife, Kamren, found themselves buying plant-based items mostly online instead of in local stores, the goal of opening the market was to help other vegan and plant-based enthusiasts have a local place to get everything they need to live a meatless lifestyle. “We were driven with a goal of helping people discover some of the alternatives that are out there and introduce them to more plant-based products,” Morton-Smith told us. During a recent visit to the store during their soft opening last week, we met with co-owner Sam Benon, whose family has a long background
of owning supermarkets. “I was born and raised in supermarkets,” Benon laughed, adding that he himself went on to work for Trader Joe’s before working in marketing and public relations. Benon has worked hard making the new shop, which is located in the space most recently used as a Lululemon pop-up (before that it was home to clothing boutique, Chasen), aesthetically pleasing. “We are using the space as a stage to highlight small batch products as well as products that are well-known. I like to think of it as ‘curated grocery shopping,’” Benon said. The space is welcoming and approachable, and the location in Coast Village Walk was chosen as an accessible location for both Montecito and Santa Barbara residents. “We can’t be the only ones in this town seeking more plant-based products,” Benon said.
The owners hope to spread more awareness about the plant-based lifestyle, and take away some of the stigma that the word “vegan” has attached to it. “We are hoping to redefine that image of being plant-based into being more forward thinking, hip, and healthy. To come into PLNT PWRD MRKT you don’t have to be a vegan
– just plant curious,” Morton-Smith said, adding that meat eaters will feel comfortable at the store, and will hopefully discover the possibilities of plant-sourced food. The shop offers a variety of products, from frozen and refrigerated options, to snacks, cereal, pantry staples, dressings, pastas, and even plant-based beauty and wellness products.
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PLNT PWRD MRKT has opened on Coast Village Road; the completely plant-based store is the first of its kind in Santa Barbara and Montecito
“We have a lot of products not found in other stores, and we are competitively priced,” Benon said. There are local products as well, including Hungry Planet plant-based meat and Kos organic plant protein powder. Morton-Smith and Benon have plans to eventually offer ready-made deli items, and potentially expand the shop if the demand allows. “Our intended result is not only to create a valuable brand, but also make plant-based options more discoverable, approachable and sustainable for everyone. We’re not trying to make everyone meatless; our goal is to get people to discover some of the alternatives that are out there and hopefully eat less meat,” Morton-Smith said. PLNT PWRD MRKT is located at 1046 Coast Village Road Unit G. Current hours are 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday, and 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday. For updates, as well as information on a grand opening in January, follow @plntpwrdmrkt on Instagram, or visit www.plntpwrdm rkt.com.
YMCA Presents Plans, Again
After a more than 13-year journey, plans for renovating and enhancing the Montecito YMCA on Santa Rosa Lane are moving forward once again, amid some angst and concern from neighbors and members of the community at large. With story poles going up earlier this month in anticipation of last week’s Montecito Board of Architectural Review meeting, many neighbors were prompted to write letters and/or speak at the meeting, which was for conceptual review of the latest iteration of the project. In 2013, an extensive expansion plan was submitted to the County; that former plan required that overflow parking be available off-site at Lower Manning Park, but the Y was unable to secure a long-term parking agreement with the County Parks Commission, 23 – 30 December 2021
and instead sought to revise the plans and lessen the parking need, so that all parking could be on the 4.25-acre site. A new conceptual design was developed in 2018, which included a change in architectural style and a significant reduction in programing, including eliminating the YMCA’s preschool program. These are still the current plans, which were developed and revised after countless community meetings with concerned neighbors, including a remodeled and slightly expanded main building, which does not include a second story as originally planned. The main building will house weight training, cardio, offices, childcare, group fitness, and a flex/ meeting room. A new locker room building will be nearly the same size as the current locker rooms, and will include family changing rooms. A new multi-purpose/gymnasium building is slated for the northwest corner of the site, requiring multiple trees to be removed. It will serve as a place for basketball, volleyball, and adult wellness classes. The current sports court area will be used for a secondary parking lot now that all parking is required to be on site; the new plan has lessened the parking requirement to 96 spaces. The pool will also be revamped and widened. According to YMCA Executive Director Mike Yamasaki, who spoke with us prior to the MBAR meeting, planners and architects have been working the last three years mostly on the secondary parking lot, which will be accessed off San Ysidro Road and will only allow a right turn in and a right turn out. “We’ve been working with the Streets Department on parking and traffic flow. We have tons of parking now, and should we need more, we can still utilize Manning Park, and Montecito Union School after hours,” he told us. At the MBAR hearing, it wasn’t so much the number of parking spaces neighbors and MBAR members voiced concern about, but the impact
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The YMCA on Santa Rosa Lane is slated for remodel; it was in front of Montecito Board of Architectural Review last week
the parking lot would have on San Ysidro Road, which already has significant traffic flow issues at peak times. “It’s to be used primarily for staff, and we expect members to continue to use our main parking lot,” Yamasaki said. Montecito Association Executive Director Sharon Byrne recapped what her organization’s Land Use & Transportation Committee concluded earlier this month: that drivers leaving that lot will turn right on Santa Rosa Lane and turn around in the Y’s parking lot or at Manning Park, and then turn left on San Ysidro Road, through an already busy intersection frequently utilized by kids walking to MUS. Many neighbors voiced the same concern. Other issues brought up included the height of the gymnasium building; the story poles of which were at least two feet higher than they should have been, according to YMCA reps. The building is less than the maximum 35-ft height limit, but a clear story, considered an architectural addition to the structure, is higher than the 35-ft limit. The clear story, according to DesignARC architect Mark Kirkhart, is for natural light and ventilation. EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 50 + YEARS EXPERIENCE - LOCAL 35+ YEARS
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• The Voice of the Village •
“I am changing my opinion from three years ago. It seems too tall to me,” said board member John Watson. Board member Claire Gottsdanker concurred, saying the project is not “semi-rural” and does not fit in with the residential neighborhood. “This building and parking lot are unacceptable to me,” she said. Neighbors voiced additional concern about noise, lighting, construction impacts, and traffic impacts. “I think you have some work to do,” said MBAR chair Bill Wolf. The plans have been put on hold multiple times to accommodate minor damage from ash from the Thomas Fire in December 2017, as well as closures following the 1/9 Debris Flow in 2018 and additional closures and programming changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s been a long, arduous journey,” said Yamasaki. The project is expected to be seen by Montecito Planning Commission early in the new year, and will require environmental review. Yamasaki says building the project is years away, as funding will need to be put in place prior to breaking ground. The YMCA is located at 591 Santa Rosa Lane. •MJ
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MONTECITO JOURNAL
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Montecito Best Buys by Mark Ashton Hunt
Mark and his wife, Sheela Hunt, are real estate agents. His family goes back nearly 100 years in the Santa Barbara area. Mark’s grandparents – Bill and Elsie Hunt – were Santa Barbara real estate brokers for 25 years.
2021 Near Year-End Real Estate Update for Montecito
H
appy Holidays and all my best to everyone out there in Montecito. Cheers to all of those who make and keep this such a special place and welcome to those who are spending their first holiday season living here in town. We all know the real estate market has been hot and it’s still hot (in terms of prices anyway), but sales have slowed to reflect more normal monthly totals of 20-25 sales per month. One of the most talked about reasons why sales may have slowed is that there are so few properties for sale. It seems, for the most part, as if those who wanted to sell have sold. What’s available as of this writing (December 15) is a small group of about 40 properties, some of which have been on the market a while and some that are newer to market — ranging in price from the low $2 millions to more than $70 million, and not a lot to choose from in between. Most of the homes, if not all, that are still on the market in Montecito, seem to be bargains when compared to the top neighborhoods in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, etc. Paying between $5 million and $8 million for a home with four or five bedrooms on more than a half-acre to multiple acres of land in a prime spot would certainly run you that or more in any other top Los Angeles area, so the values in Montecito are clearly on display. Newer homes to market tend to be more exciting, causing a buzz with agents and buyers. But don’t forget to notice the properties that have been on the market a while, the one you might have considered last month, but now can see there was a recent price reduction that might make that home more interesting.
By the Numbers
On average, about 220 homes and condos sell each year in Montecito. Sales through December 15, for the year 2021 as recorded in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) reports sales as follows: As of December 15, 2021, in the MLS, we saw 332 homes and condos sell in the 93108 in 2021. Of those 332 sales, 90 were under $3 million (which is usually 50% of the market, now just over 25% of the market is under $3 million in terms of sales price). What this proves is that the entry level for a home in 2019 that might have been priced around $2.8 million, became worth $4.3 million very quickly in 2020 and 2021. In this same time period, there were 98 homes sold in the $3 million to $5 million range; that’s a huge number. Also, 79 homes traded hands in the $5 million to $8 million (an astounding number when compared to annual averages), and 26 sales of $8 million to $10 million. Finally, the big story that put Montecito on the billionaires’ map and in the news now more than ever, is that we saw a whopping 39 sales of more than $10 million as recorded in the MLS, not to mention a few big sales that went “off record.” A note, the average year in Montecito sees between five to eight sales a year trading hands over $10 million. So, if you are still looking for that dream home in the area, here are four to consider. Happy home shopping and happy holidays!
900 Park Lane West – $8,495,000
This private, contemporary Montecito home is located on Park Lane West and adjacent to extensive hiking trails and the famed San Ysidro Ranch. The mesmerizing views, through walls of glass, showcase the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands, and the Santa Ynez Mountain Range. The great room has extravagantly high ceilings, and the Chef’s kitchen has an oversized Sub-Zero refrigerator, Wolf appliances, and generous pantry storage. The primary suite has walk-in closets and a bathroom with views from the soaking tub. The home has four additional bedroom suites, each having access to the outdoor spaces. Multiple indoor and outdoor entertaining areas maximize Santa Barbara’s amazing climate. Situated on over three pro-
Best Buys Page 494
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2021
EPIC Innovation Award Honorees The EPIC Impact Society 501(c)(3) is a community of international professionals from a cross-pollination of industries who promote creative leadership, ingenuity and social innovation through arts, experiential learning, and humanitarian engagement. Learn more:
www.epicimpactsociety.org
EPIC Impact Award
EPIC Legend Award
EPIC Artist Award
Kathy Ireland
Floyd Norman
Candy Chang
EPIC Inspiration Award
EPIC Educator Award
EPIC Community Engagement Award
James Storehouse
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
Organic Soup Kitchen
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUMMIT SPONSORS
14 MONTECITO JOURNAL
23 – 30 December 2021
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On Entertainment
by Steven Libowitz
Buoyant with Bernhardt: Pops Returns to Granada
O
ne of the reasons Bob Bernhardt has secured several long-term gigs as Principal Pops Conductor at several symphonies simultaneously — including the Louisville Orchestra (where his tenure spans four decades), the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera (19 seasons), and the Grand Rapids Symphony (seven years) — is his versatility and adaptability in leading an ensemble and connecting with an audience despite the disparate programming choices of each different organization. Which explains why Bernhardt has continued to endear himself to the community as he has navigated a variety of themes and collaborators over the course of his almost unbroken decade wielding the baton for our own beloved Santa Barbara Symphony’s annual New Year’s Eve concert — save for 2015-16 when music director Nir Kabaretti stuck around town to conduct himself. There was an early year (2012-13) that included a collaboration with
dancers from State Street Ballet, for example, followed a year later by a program paying tribute to two of Bernhardt’s pop heroes in Arthur Fiedler, whose half-century tenure at the helm of the Boston Pops established the ensemble as a national icon, and Fiedler’s successor composer John Williams. (Bernhardt has also guest conducted the Boston Pops on and off for nearly 30 years.) A New Year’s Eve boasting a synchronized aerial performance from the troupe Cirque de la Symphonie (201617) was followed by an appearance featuring theatrical circus company Troupe Vertigo (2017-18). The dawning of 2019 brought “Dancing in the Streets” with a Motown-themed concert lending symphonic soundscapes to hits by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and others, while 2019 giving way to 2020 took on a topical theme of Women in Rock on the heels of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, with three leading ladies sharing hits from some of the most famous
Bob Bernhardt
female rock vocalists in history, including Carole King, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and even Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” strangely in a symphony setting. What almost always stays the same, though, is a winning backbone of programming blending movie soundtrack classics, Broadway favorites, and light classic confections — and Bernhardt’s own balancing act of enthusiasm and ease belying the depth of his musicianship. The pandemic forced the entire 2020-21 season to go virtual and skip the New Year’s Eve event altogether. Bernhardt will be back on the podium at the Granada Theatre next Friday night, December 31, wield-
ing the baton for the Santa Barbara’s Symphony’s annual pop concert in the closing hours of 2021. With COVID, the controversy over the incursion at the Capitol and confrontations over police brutality having dominated the news in the interim, the concert won’t be returning to a topical theme. In fact, this year the theme is no theme at all. “I guess you could say we’re appealing to a sense of diversity, but this year is what I would call a homegrown program, not at all like a turnkey production like the Women in Rock show two years ago,” Bernhardt explained over the phone from St. Louis, where he was between matinee and evening performances of a “Mercy Holiday Celebration” with the St. Louis Orchestra last weekend. “We put it together ourselves and that’s always great for me.” The conductor’s taste is evident from the opening selection, excerpts from Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s music for the film Kings Row. “It’s only a couple minutes long, but it’s just brilliant,” said Bernhardt, who called himself a Korngold buff. “It gets us into the film music right away.” Movie soundtracks show up in the second piece, too, and the selections drawn from a trio of animation films
On Entertainment Page 264 264
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23 – 30 December 2021
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©2021 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHH Affiliates LLC and BHHSCP do not guarantee accuracy of all data including measurements, conditions, and features of property. Information is obtained from various sources and will not be verified by broker or MLS. CalDRE 00968247. *For Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices based on production for 2020. **Virtually staged photos.
23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
17
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.
Some Magic in the Air
Magic Johnson with local artist and music composer Grace Fisher, founder of the Grace Fisher Foundation, and her parents, Debbie and Bill (Photo by Baron Spafford)
Magic raises an additional $50,000 for The Turner Foundation by offering tickets and dinner with him as an impromptu auction item (Photo by Baron Spafford)
B
asketball legends Magic Johnson and Jerry West delighted sports fans galore at the Turner Foundation’s Legacy gala at the Rosewood Miramar benefitting the popular organization’s music and imagination program, and the Lisa Smith Wengler Foundation House for transitional youngsters between 18 to 24. More than $500,000 was raised from the 424 guests at the Yuletide fete, sponsored by Farmers & Merchants Bank, which honored Dr. Charles Fenzi, CEO of Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, and John Moore, former coach of the Westmont College men’s basketball team for 27 seasons. But the undoubted highlight in the
Chandelier Ballroom was the revelatory question-and-answer session Dean Wilson, president of the 63-year-old foundation, had with Johnson, 62, a 12-time All-Star and five-time NBA Champion, and West, 83, nicknamed “Mr. Clutch” for his amazing performances on the court playing with the Los Angeles Lakers for 14 seasons, becoming the team’s general manager guiding them to four championships. Noelle Lenzi sang a stirring National Anthem, while music was provided by Bryan and Katie Torwalt and pianist David Talbott, the Turner Foundation Youth Blues & Jazz Band, Kari Jobe and special guest Cody Carnes. A live auction, conducted by
Gatling-gun tongued veteran gavel handler Vincent Zapien, featured a basketball signed by the late Lakers player Kobe Bryant, a stay at a villa in Tuscany, and a painting by Grace Fisher, which added heftily to the coffers. Among the many fans turning out to support the cause were Daniel and Henry Walker, David Bolton, Joe Buttitta and Kelsey Gerckens, Mike Klan, Scott Hennessee, Peter and Gerd Jordano, Morten and Lisa Wengler,
Keith and Mary Hudson, fun-loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin, district attorney Joyce Dudley, judge Brian Hill, new mayor Randy Rowse, county supervisor Gregg Hart, sheriff Bill Brown, Geoff Green, Chuck and Margarita Lande, Frank and Mariko Tabar, Jeremy Lindaman, Ralph and Diana MacFarlane, and David and Jayne Sigman.
Dean Wilson, President and CEO of The Turner Foundation (Photo by Baron Spafford)
Honoring History
A page from our Eden by the Beach’s own history comes to life when Yankee sailors meet Spanish Rancheros at Casa de la Guerra in the Christmas Revels at the Lobero Theatre. Based on actual events from the 1830s woven into a lavish theatrical experience, the Revels, now in its 14th season, featured a company of more than 60 singers, actors, dancers, and instrumentalists wearing colorful traditional costumes. Changing each year to present the music, dance, and storytelling of different countries and centuries, this year’s original show was written by award-winning author and historian Erin Graffy and Revels artistic director Susan Keller.
Miscellany Page 504
Celebrate
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Christmas
at El Montecito Presbyterian Church Advent in the Courtyard Sundays at 10 AM Candlelight Christmas Eve in the Courtyard December 24th, 4 & 6 PM
“There are a lot of things money can’t buy. Not one of them is on my son’s list.” — Milton Berle
23 – 30 December 2021
Happy Holidays! 1190 East Mountain Dr | $8,950,000
3280 Beach Club Rd | $6,500,000
813 Romero Canyon Rd | $20,250,000
800 Rincon Hill Rd | $6,000,000
Rancho Monte Alegre Lot 1: $1,450,000 & Lot 2: $1,750,000
Rancho San Marcos | $12,000,000
PERKINSGROUPRE.COM The Perkins Group Real Estate | +1 805.265.0786 | team@perkinsgroupre.com | DRE: 01106512 ©2021 Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdraw without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. Exact dimensions can be obtained by retaining the services of an architect or engineer. This is not intended to solicit property already listed.
23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
19
Seen Around Town
by Lynda Millner
Gather, Learn, Grow
Janet Garufis, Anne Towbes, and Jim Jackson at the library celebration for the Plaza campaign
Photography by Ralph A. Clevenger & Friends Chiara Salomoni John Kelsey Beatriz Moino Eryn Brydon Liz Grady On exhibit now through March 31, 2022 Sponsored by: George H. and Olive J. Griffiths Charitable Foundation, Mimi Michaelis, Jack Mithun and Mercedes Millington, June G. Outhwaite Charitable Trust, Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation, and the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation
“A
library outranks any other thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never-failing spring in the desert.” - Andrew Carnegie In case you think libraries are not exciting or boring, wrong. A group of donors and patrons recently gathered in the Faulkner Gallery for cocktails, moving on to the Santa Barbara Main Library for wine, bites, and a program – “Gather, Learn, Grow.” It was time to celebrate the completion of the Michael Towbes Library Plaza Campaign led by Janet Garufis and Jim Jackson, who raised about $5 million. They hope to start construction in January 2022. The Plaza would be the area behind the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, across from the parking building and by the library. Santa Barbara Public Library Board Foundation President Anne Howard greeted the guests as we sat at tables and nibbled on yummy hors d’oeuvres from The Lark, Loquita, and La Paloma Café. Library director Jessica Cadiente spoke about “Gathering.” We learned there are more things to be checked out besides books. As to “Learning,” Foundation director Lauren Trujillo introduced author Susan Orlean, who has written a book about libraries called The Library Book. Library Services manager Molly Wetta did a Q&A with her, diving into Susan’s wealth of information because of all the research she did while writing the library book called On Animals. The “Growing” part of the evening was hearing from the campaign co-chairs,
Seen Page 424
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20 MONTECITO JOURNAL
Foundation Board President Anne Howard, author Susan Orlean, Foundation Director Lauren Trujillo, and Library Director Jessica Cadiente
23 – 30 December 2021
ADVICE • CONSULTATION • RESULTS #3 BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY AGENT NATIONWIDE
‘ tys 'what is your proper story? WE’D LOVE TO TELL IT FOR YOU. ‘
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23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
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Exclusive Member of
Home is our favorite destination
888 Lilac Dr | Montecito | 6BD/8BA DRE 1447045 | Offered at $33,500,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600
560 Toro Canyon Park Rd | Montecito | 6BD/10BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $26,500,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600
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4160 La Ladera Rd | Santa Barbara | 6BD/8BA DRE 01447045 | Offered at $19,995,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600
PENDING
1010 Hot Springs Ln | Montecito | 5BD/7BA DRE 01421934 | Offered at $10,500,000 Vivien Alexander 805.689.6683
1833 Fletcher Way | Santa Ynez | 5BD/6BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $12,250,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262
PENDING
121 Via Del Cielo | Santa Barbara | 5BD/5BA DRE 00895030 | Offered at $10,000,000 Ron Dickman 805.689.3135
5200 Foxen Canyon Rd | Los Olivos | 8BD/8BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $9,900,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262
3280 Via Rancheros Rd | Santa Ynez | 10BD/10BA DRE 00753349 | Offered at $8,950,000 Carey Kendall 805.689.6262
4580 Via Huerto | Santa Barbara | 4BD/5BA DRE 01236143 | Offered at $5,500,000 Grubb Campbell Group 805.895.6226
1300 Dover Hill Rd | Santa Barbara | 4BD/5BA DRE 01236143 | Offered at $4,500,000 Grubb Campbell Group 805.895.6226
2082 Las Canoas Rd | Santa Barbara | 4BD/6BA DRE 01468842 | Offered at $4,500,000 James Krautmann 805.451.4527
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4815 Sandyland Rd Unit A | Carpinteria | 4BD/4BA DRE 01391451 | Offered at $4,200,000 Lynn Z Gates 805.705.4942
130 Santa Rosa Pl | Santa Barbara | 4BD/3BA DRE 02070430 | Offered at $3,995,000 David Allen 805.617.9311
299 Elderberry Dr | Goleta | 4BD/5BA DRE 01497110 | Offered at $3,300,000 Amy J Baird 805.478.9318
525 Hot Springs Rd | Montecito | 2.01± Acres DRE 01447045 | Offered at $5,750,000 Riskin Partners Estate Group 805.565.8600
LOCALLY OWN ED | G LO BALLY C O N N ECT ED WE REAC H A GLO BAL AU D I E N CE T H ROUG H OU R EXC LUSIVE AFFILIAT ES LEARN M O RE AT VILLAG ES IT E .C O M All information provided is deemed reliable, but has not been verified and we do not guarantee it. We recommend that buyers make their own inquiries.
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“The holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes by going to the mall of his choice.” — Dave Barry
23 – 30 December 2021
F ROM OU R VI LLAG E TO YOU RS, WI S H I NG YOU A
JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON and a happy new year
We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you and all of your real estate needs LO CA L LY O W N E D | G LO BA L LY C O N N EC T E D | L E A R N M O R E AT V I L L AG E S I T E .C O M M O N T EC I TO 8 0 5 . 9 6 9 . 8 9 0 0 | S A N TA BA R BA R A + M E S A 8 0 5 . 6 S 8 1 . 8 8 0 0 | S A N TA Y N E Z 8 0 5 . 6 8 8 . 1 6 2 0 | D R E 0 1 2 0 6 7 3 4
23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
23
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
Celebrating (?) 2021
Remembering an Incredible Year
T
his is one very difficult column to write. It is the end of the year, a time typically filled with Holiday cheer — whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just Santa Claus and family. We pause to celebrate the happiness of the season, complete with the exchange of gifts, and to bask in the warm embrace of family, to enjoy seasonal foods, and to reflect on the year that has just passed while looking forward to what will come. After a year full of ups and downs, what are we celebrating? The story of Hanukkah (just ended), also called the “Celebration of Lights,” begins in 168 B.C. when the Second Temple of Jerusalem was sacked by Syrians. Thousands of Jews were slaughtered in the process and the Temple itself was desecrated by the erection of a statue to the Greek god Zeus and the killing of pigs on its grounds. Two years later Judah Maccabee (“the Hammer”) completed a successful guerilla war (the “Maccabean Revolt”), recaptured Jerusalem and directed that the Temple be purified. Unfortunately, as the Jews set out to do that, they discovered they only had enough oil in their lamps for one night. And yet, the oil lamps continued to burn for eight days giving Judah the chance to procure more oil and continue the re-dedication unimpaired. The history lesson here is that the celebration of Hanukkah today would not have occurred but for the tragedy of the slaughter in 168 B.C. You might say Hanukkah stands for the principle immortalized by Shakespeare that “All’s well that ends well.” Personally, as I reflect on 2021, I’m drawn to remember that story and those immortal words. Looking back, this year started off a bang. We witnessed the greatest threat yet to our 250-year-old democratic republic when our Nation’s capital was sacked on the 6th of January. That tragedy, however, was overtaken by the rapidly accelerating COVID-19 pandemic. In the first weeks of 2021, we were stuck in the very dark days of the pandemic as no vaccine or other significant treatment was widely available, and winter and pandemic fatigue were leading to millions of new cases each month. By February 22, the U.S. death toll passed 400,000 people, by September 15, one in five Americans had contracted COVID19, and by September 20 more than 650,000 had died. As you read this today, that number sits at more than
24 MONTECITO JOURNAL
815,000. We lost more in 2021 to COVID than in 2020, and it is not done with us yet. That said, in the process, we have learned a tremendous amount. Thank God for the vaccines that started to be available during the spring, when senior citizens who were being most adversely affected, flocked to get vaccinated to save our lives. Since then, many of us, including yours truly, has received both “doses” and a booster dose as well. One miracle that came of all this suffering was that the medical world was able to create the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) for a previously unknown virus in one year flat. A truly amazing, lifesaving feat. This new vaccine technology may lead to treatments and vaccinations for illnesses from cancer to malaria to HIV. A bright point of light out of dark times. Another truly positive feature was the federal government’s pumping of cash into the economy, first with the stimulus in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (signed in December 2020), and then with the American Rescue Plan. Together they put a lot of cash into the hands of American consumers which prevented the economy from crashing around our ears. By the time the bipartisan $1.2 trillion “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” was passed on November 6, anxiety about the economy passed gratefully from “How will we ever get back to work?” to “How will we avoid runaway inflation from so much fiscal stimulus?” Billed as a “once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness” by the Biden Administration, the Jobs Act “will rebuild America’s roads, bridges and rails, expand access to clean drinking water, ensure every American has access to high-speed internet, tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, and invest in communities that have too often been left behind.” It is also slated to address supply chain failures that caused more inflation than the stimulus bills as it provides overdue investment in our nation’s ports, airports, rails, and roads. Although inflation did spike this year, it has fallen in both October and November from September highs and appears to be headed lower even as the Fed ramps up its efforts to curb inflation through monetary policy. It turns
Sleep & Space
How to protect your sleep schedule while traveling
W
ith the holidays in full swing, many of us are traveling for the first time in months or perhaps years – and experiencing the sleep disturbances that come with it. This sleep disturbance while traveling, even when we aren’t in a new time zone, is due to what sleep researchers call the first-night effect or FNE. As our brains are busy taking stock of our new environment, it’s common to forgo your REM sleep period. Researchers attribute this to subconscious attention to potential threats in the unfamiliar sleeping location. A 2016 study even found that activity in the left hemisphere of the brain is more pronounced when we sleep somewhere new, making it harder for us to fall asleep. The first strategy to rectify this sleep struggle is to create ideal sleep conditions. This means finding somewhere cool, dark, and quiet to rest as well as going to sleep a little earlier than usual to compensate for lost REM sleep. Additionally, taking deep breaths and visualizing your home bedroom before sleep can help trick your brain into thinking you’re at home. Bringing some comforting items from home like your go-to eye mask, favorite pajamas, and essential oil of choice can also ease the transition and promote deeper rest.
Simple sleeping bag could solve one of space travel’s biggest health risks
Astronauts who spend extended periods of time in space are at high risk for a vision issue called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome. When we sleep on earth, the blood and spinal fluid that flows to our head while we’re sleeping naturally drains away when we get up, but in space, the lack of gravity means this fluid builds up, putting stress on the eyeballs and optic nerve. Researchers think they may have a solution to this problem in the form of an experimental vacuum-sealed sleeping bag. Developed by Dr. Benjamin Levine and colleagues at the University of Texas Southwest Medical Center, the sleeping bag has a rigid frame with a gasket that seals around the user’s waist once they climb inside. The idea is that by creating a vacuum seal around the lower body, it will draw fluids away from the user’s head. To test the technology, 10 dedicated volunteers spent six days laying down to replicate the buildup of fluid one would experience in space. When the volunteers were examined, the researchers found that their choroid — part of the eye — was significantly less swollen if they used the sleeping bag. •MJ out that having an engaged, competent administration was exactly what the country needed. The economy is roaring along. The minimum wage in many states rose; unemployment has dropped to 4.2%; and, for the first time since the 1970s, the bottom quartile of wage earners saw their incomes rise faster than the top three quartiles. Bloomberg also projects that the economy will expand an annualized six percent in the fourth quarter before downshifting to a still solid 3.7% average pace in the first half of 2022. During the last expansion, quarterly growth averaged only 2.3%, so the economic rebound is without precedent. Wow, what a comeback! So, yes, there has been an incredible amount of pain, especially the pain of rampant death this year. And yet, we also experienced an economic “miracle” that “lifted all boats.” The bitter with the sweet — itself a food narrative central to the celebration of Hanukkah, and clearly our collective
“I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying ‘toys not included.’” — Bernard Manning
experience this past year. Many of us have prospered as never before, even as many of us dealt with the sorrow of losing loved ones. In the process, we were all able to choose to vaccinate and thereby in most cases avoid death. This past year, the pandemic switched from a horrific situation for which we were totally unprepared to an “epidemic of choice” where 95% of those dying are those who have refused vaccination, despite the overwhelming science showing its safety and effectiveness. Sadly, many are still dying as the vaccines have become a political and cultural issue. Our family and most of our neighbors here in Santa Barbara have come through this year with more strength and more determination than in any prior year. That is worth celebrating even as such a painful year comes to a close. Let’s co-create Happy Holidays for all, and together co-create a better 2022 that’s less dramatic and healthier for everyone. •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
Brilliant Thoughts
Robert’s Big Questions
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
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.
Forgiveness or Justice?
What’s New?
W
e’ve all heard that “There’s nothing new under the sun.” But that was written (in the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes) long before cameras or computers, and any number of other modern marvels, which have already enabled man to reach the moon. Still, we hunger for novelty. Just think of all the geographical names, starting with our entire hemisphere, which, to the generation of Columbus, was a whole new world (though not to Columbus himself, who thought he’d simply discovered a new route to the old world of Asia – which is why we still mistakenly call Native Americans “Indians”). From New England to New South Wales, from New Brunswick to New Zealand, the whole planet is dappled with such names — and, of course, other languages have their own words and place-names for “new.” Some of these “new” places are nothing like the places they are named after. New York was never anything like old York in England. Its previous name of New Amsterdam may have been a little less inappropriate — since lower Manhattan Island is at least pretty flat, and water-girt, like old Amsterdam in Holland. But I don’t think any part of New Zealand (also a Dutch name) bears any resemblance to the old Zealand. But supposed newness comes in many flavors. The word “novel” for a form of storytelling has a long and checkered history. The early 11th century Japanese text called the “Tale of Genji” is sometimes considered the first novel. The author was actually a woman, named Murasaki Shikibu, who may thus (speaking of newness) be called the first female novelist, long before the era of Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters. Our word comes from the Italian “novella,” which goes back to Renaissance Italy and Boccaccio’s “Decameron,” (1353) which actually consists of 100 different stories, each called a “novella.” (Incidentally, the “framework” of that collection is the idea of a group of people getting together outside of Florence, to escape the terrible plague, called the “Black Death,” which was raging in that city.) And, of course, “novels” by “novelists” are still coming out — but readers and critics get very excited when one of these works does seem really new – as you can verify, if you read the reviews, on first appearance of such works as Thomas Wolfe’s Look Homeward, Angel; F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby; or Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind. The newest things eagerly awaited by the public today are not literary, but new versions of, often already existing, technical devices, which are more powerful, and can do more things. Such changes inevitably prompt the question, where will it all end? But of course, there’s always what we call “The News,” — about which my own complaint (and I suppose that of many of us) is that, from day to day, so often there is very little in it that is really new. Strangely, this reminds me of the German post-World War I novel by Erich Maria Remarque, called in English, All Quiet on the Western Front. In the original German, that title is Im Westen Nichts Neues, the last part meaning “nothing new” (instead of “all quiet,” the way British dispatches would probably have put it). Of course, every now and then something happens which really is news. On September 11, 2001, I happened to be up early, and learned, on radio and TV, what was happening in New York, virtually in real time. I was alone and felt a desperate need to tell somebody. I rushed to the nearby home of some friends and pounded on their door. They were there, but in a far closed room, and somehow didn’t hear. Giving up, I bicycled to a restaurant, where I knew my wife was having breakfast with a group of friends. Of course, I told them all that I knew, and thought they’d immediately rush home to their TVs. But my own excitement didn’t stir them enough, and they just continued eating their breakfast. So, the one time I had some real news, I couldn’t communicate the gravity of the situation effectively to anybody. But then, what does it all really matter, anyway? Going back to that strange book of Ecclesiastes (about which, some have questioned whether it really even belongs in the Bible), not only does it proclaim that there’s nothing new under the sun, but it assures us repeatedly, in no uncertain terms, that everything is vanity, or meaninglessness. A fine cheerful way to end an article! •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
by Robert Bernstein
C
hristianity is all about forgiveness and I am writing this during the Christmas season. Could a society function with nothing but forgiveness as an ethical code? Astronomer and 1981 Humanist of the Year Carl Sagan wrote a brilliant essay about this for Parade Magazine in 1993. Here is a link to a copy: https://swt.org/ sagan. It is so perfectly written I can only recommend that everyone read it as written. But I want to make his point that every society must live on a spectrum between forgiveness and justice. And that neither extreme is sustainable. When I took Swing Dance classes from Jonathan and Sylvia, before they taught the first move, they told us: If you collide with another dancer, just say “Sorry!” and move apart. It does not matter who was at fault. There may be harm; I once lost a toenail to a misplaced woman’s high heel. But life must go on and “justice” makes no sense. But in the real world, there are bad people who would take advantage of total forgiveness. Years ago, I was lending money to a friend for his informative publication. After a while it seemed, I was not getting paid in a timely manner. A Christian friend told me to let it go and not lend money to anyone anymore. A Jewish friend told me that would reward bad behavior and would also punish honest people who would be denied future loans. I went with her advice and pursued legal action to get my money back. Interestingly, I went on to lend her money for her business with a written contract that included interest. We are still friends. Black entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. converted to Judaism after the horrific accident that cost him one eye. He explained why in his memoir Yes I Can. “I picked up ‘A History of the Jews’ and opened it in the middle. The first word I saw was ‘Justice.’ ... More than ever I saw the affinity between the Jew and the Negro.” Slave owners indoctrinated slaves with Christian forgiveness. But he saw the value of “Justice” as a higher good. Carl Sagan takes a scientific approach to forgiveness versus justice. Humans make mistakes even when they are trying to do their best.
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If every transgression is responded to with iron-fisted justice, then reprisals never end. He notes, “We’re concerned not only with doing right, but with what works.” The proper science is game theory. Many games are “zero sum” games with a winner and a loser. There is no way for players in Monopoly or opposing football teams to cooperate for mutual benefit. Only one side wins. Other games like nuclear war are pure lose-lose. But many situations can be win-win and these are often overlooked. He gives an example of the Prisoner ’s Dilemma: You and a friend are arrested for a serious crime. If you and the friend both deny the crime, you both go free. If you confess and your friend denies, you get a light sentence; your friend loses big. Likewise, if you deny it and your friend confesses, you lose big. If you only “play” once, you both should confess. But if you get multiple rounds with feedback, you can change strategy. From this, Sagan explained the ideal Rule to Live By: “Tit for Tat.” You start out cooperating. In each subsequent round, just do what your opponent did last time. Over time each side realizes the benefit of cooperation. The rule does even better if you forgive your opponent 10% of the time if there was a chance of misunderstanding. This is explained in The Evolution of Cooperation by Robert Axelrod. The real-life lesson: Be friendly at first. Forgive if the other person forgives you. Don’t be a tyrant or a push-over. Retaliate proportionately to intentional harm. Be reasonably consistent, but occasionally forgive even when you are wronged. Some people think they are being “realistic” by following what Sagan calls the Iron Rule: “Do unto others before they do it unto you.” This is ultimately lose-lose for society. I will add that the Golden Rule is often misunderstood as “An eye for an eye.” A rabbi once explained this was meant as the worst retaliation that is justified. We can always do better. Solving international problems like nuclear proliferation or the climate crisis requires the perfect balance of forgiveness and justice on a grand scale. Our future depends on it. •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL
25
On Entertainment (Continued from page 16 16))
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are not only personal choices but ones related to the pandemic. “It’s all my grandchildren’s fault,” Bernhardt said. “My wife Nora and I have been watching a movie once a week over Zoom with our grandkids who live in Seattle, which only started because of the pandemic. We saw all three of the How to Train Your Dragon movies. I love John Powell’s score. So, this is my chance to put How to Train Your Dragon on the program. The suite is a little bit like an action movie but it’s also lighthearted. And for me, it’s kind of sentimental, because it’s got my grandkids wrapped up in it too.” The homegrown approach joins with the soundtrack section via a tribute to the legendary Hollywood composer Elmer Bernstein, who lived in Montecito for decades and was one of several composers-in-residence for the symphony. Bernhardt will play a more recently published suite from Bernstein’s score for To Kill a Mockingbird, which he called “beautifully evocative and nostalgic.” “It’s simple yet deep, just like the movie. The film looks at the story through the eyes of a child and the music does that, too, which makes it so sweet and innocent.” Soul music makes an appearance again, although this time sans vocalist as the symphony will play Jeff Tyzik’s “Hot Soul Medley” arrangement mashing up the hits “Heard it Through the Grapevine,” “My Girl,” “Touch Me in the Morning,” “Reach Out I’ll be There,” and “Love Machine.” Meanwhile, Great American Songbook-era composer George Gershwin, a perennial favorite, is the focus of the two soloists. Bass-baritone Cedric Berry, a former singer with the L.A. Opera who now works as a program manager for USC’s Film and Television and who last appeared with the Santa Barbara Symphony just eight months ago on a livestreamed concert at the Granada, will lend his voice to a medley of Gershwin favorites that includes “I Got Plenty O’Nuttin’” from Porgy and Bess and also take on Phantom of the Opera’s “Music of the Night” as well as the standard “Nature Boy,” which Bernstein called “just an amazing evocative song.” The symphony’s own principal pianist Natasha Kislenko, who also teaches at UCSB and is on the faculty of the Music Academy of the West, serves as soloist for Gershwin’s inventive “I Got Rhythm” variations, offering the pianist a chance to show off her interpretive skills on the song that Gene Kelly once danced to in An American in Paris. In between the soloists, longtime local classical music supporter Bob Weinman also returns to serve as guest conductor for an Armed Forces Salute before film music abounds again with another medley from Tyzik called, simply, “Big Movie Suite,” featur-
“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” —Phyllis Diller
ing themes from Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, and Dr. Zhivago, among others. “It’s got all the big sweeping Hollywood themes, the kinds that bring up emotions and memories,” Bernhardt said. “Perfect for New Year’s Eve.” “We’re going to be shifting gears all the time. But that’s what this orchestra does so well,” he said, noting that several of the symphony musicians have recorded the soundtracks for some of the highest grossing films in history. “They’re as happy in film music as they are doing Mahler. I’m so excited to be able to be back making music with the orchestra and celebrating with everybody in Santa Barbara again.” The Santa Barbara Symphony returns to its New Year’s Eve tradition on Friday, December 31, for a program that runs 8:30-10 pm at the Granada Theatre. Tickets include a champagne toast and festive party hats. Tickets are $56-$256. Call (805) 899-2222 or visit www.granadasb.org.
Symphony Soars into the Season’s Second Half
With the late start to the 2021-22 season, there are still five more concerts on the Symphony’s calendar in the series marking its return to live performances, with the first one coming just two weeks after New Year’s. Fandango Picante, which takes place January 15 and 16, is anchored by Arturo Márquez’s Fandango violin concerto and features soloist Anne Akiko Meyers. Beethoven in Bloom (February 19 and 20) features the beloved composer’s “Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Pastorale,” while also highlighting composer Jennifer Higdon via her harp concerto featuring soloist Michelle Temple. Sonic Boom (March 19 and 20) is the first of the Symphony’s two collaborations with neighbor Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s special exhibition “Through Vincent’s Eyes: Van Gogh and His Sources” and features organist Cameron Carpenter as soloist for Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C minor, “Organ Symphony.” Romance in a New Key boasts the world premiere of Richard Dünser’s “Interpretation of Schumann Piano Quartet in E major, Op. 47” (arr. Brahms for 4 hands) featuring the Silver-Garburg Piano Duo, plus Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” symphony. Gershwin makes a glorious return for the season-closing concert Riffing on Gershwin, presented in partnership with Jazz at the Lobero and anchored by the Marcus Roberts Trio performing in the composer’s “Piano Concerto in F” arranged by Roberts, for jazz trio and orchestra. For more, visit https://thesympho ny.org. •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
Body Wise by Ann Brode Ann Todhunter Brode has been an Aston Patterning practitioner and body-oriented therapist in Santa Barbara for over forty years. A recognized master in her field, Brode writes down-to-earth, compassionate articles on the challenges & rewards of living consciously in the body. She is author of Body Wise: What Your Mind Needs to Know About Your Body. Visit www.bodywisdomforlife.com for more information.
The Joy of Cooking Together
T
his time of year, when days are short and nights are longer, it feels important to celebrate light and be light-hearted. The traditions of Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa all include lighting candles, singing songs, and feasting together. Although COVID sensibilities have pared down the numbers, we don’t have to cancel the party. Smaller means better when the focus is on what really matters — nurturing our love for family and friends. Sharing the warmth of hearth and a festive evening on a cold winter’s night is one of the pleasures of the season. The conviviality of this time spent together is enhanced when you ask your guests to participate. Friends become family and family become friends. Someone brings along a specialty dish and others work side by side to put finishing touches on the meal. Shoulders relax and worries dissipate. A volunteer steps in to toss the salad; another to serve the drinks. Older kids help the younger ones do a puzzle or decorate cookies. Someone passes the appetizers. A father and son catch up on things as they stir the gravy. Old memories pop up and tidbits of community news filter in. Laughter and sharing tasks bring everyone together in common purpose. And, delightfully, the goodwill not only percolates through the entire evening but resonates for days and days. “Body and mind, unconsciously, welcome the camaraderie that cooking together brings to the table,” said Laurie Zalk. Preparing and sharing food promotes wellbeing on all levels. Psychosocial research has shown that cooking together reduces anxiety as well as depression. It also improves social skills and self-esteem; helps us feel more relaxed, connected, and joyful. As a result, sharing the work creates a sense of cohesion that affirms connection and sustains community. This is how it all plays out in real life – from kitchen to table: • When people join in to help out, they’re drawn into the present moment, away from their worldly concerns. 23 – 30 December 2021
•C hopping, stirring, and preparing the feast to the beat of background music moves the body and elevates the mood. • Casual conversation and working together forge a feeling of inclusion. • Setting the table and lighting candles brings in an element of ceremony. • Eating, drinking, and toasting together form a bond of good will. It’s easy to see how such an evening would nurture body, mind, and spirit. My recipe for success. With a little help from cookbooks, inspiration from friends, and years of mindfulness, I’ve honed a reliable recipe for success. Although timing, guest list, and menu are important, the key ingredient is setting intention. For instance, if I plan an evening to share the love of family, friends, or community, everything gets infused with my intention. The shopping, cooking, setting up, and cleaning up are all buoyed by a positive energy. The lighting, background music, and table décor set the stage so when guests walk through the door, the message is clear: this evening is about celebrating a bit of love and bonhomie. There’s no fixed expectation other than coming together and being together. Perhaps some people are holding social space, chatting, and connecting. Others are gathering in the kitchen sharing last minute tasks and the joy of helping the feast come together. Once food is served and guests assembled at the table, it’s important to pause and connect with the occasion as well as each other. A simple ceremonial gesture such as a blessing, song, or silent moment will suffice. Everyone’s hungry, yet no need to rush. Savor the flavors. Feel the joy of being together. Let it in, soak it up. The host sets the pace. If kids are part of the feast, planning an after-dinner activity means the adults can linger longer, enjoying each other’s company. After the guests depart, candles snuffed and dishes cleaned, I make a point to send a bit of the glow onward. Winter is the perfect time to gather in the kitchen and share the
Laurie Zalk hosts classes for all ages
joy of cooking together! Why not sign on for an adventure to do just that? Our own Laurie Zalk of Our Daily Bread fame offers individual cooking/baking classes in your home or hers. She’s also available to teach small groups such as book clubs, newlyweds, kids, and men only. What about a birthday party where the guests make the cake? Perhaps you’d like to learn how to cook cauliflower-crusted pizza, easy and delicious desserts, or yummy
Pascale Beale’s new cookbook, Winter - A Menu for All Seasons
food for special diets. Just let Laurie know what you have in mind, and she’ll design a class with reliable, uncomplicated recipes. A few years ago, my husband participated in a class with a group of men tasked to source a meal, on the spot, from Laurie’s pre-stocked refrigerator. After they put together a fabulous stir fry, they sat down to enjoy both meal and conversation. A total success! Find out more about Laurie’s offerings at cookandbakewithlaurie. com. Contact her for reservations or gift certificate: (805) 689-2416 or lzalk@cox.net. Looking for a bit of culinary inspiration for a scrumptious winter feast? Local food writer Pascale Beale’s cookbook, Winter - A Menu for All Seasons, series is the perfect resource! This book has eight three-course menus sourced from the author’s French culinary heritage. Her other cookbooks featuring salads, fruits, and vegies are equally wonderful with more fabulous recipes and menu ideas. Having cooked from these books many times, I can attest that the recipes are delicious and the photos mouth-watering. Check out her website pascaleskitch en.com to see the whole collection including the latest, Salade II – More Recipes from the Market Table. You can also purchase the cookbooks at our local book sellers or online. •MJ
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27
Travel Buzz by Leslie A. Westbrook
Fashionista Alert!
P
My Roman Holiday, Part 3
ucci, Gucci, Prada, and Armani. Valentino, Versace, what will you score? Dolce & Gabbana? Shop the Via Condotti? Marni or Buccellati? More, more, more! Just two and a half days into my Rome explorations and I was beginning to know, understand, and fall in love with one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals spread over 500 square miles. I questioned why I live in a small town in California, despite it being one of the most beautiful places in the United States, as it pales in comparison in so many ways to the Eternal City. Italy is world famous not only for its food, art, history, and architectural delights, but also as a fashion leader. Famous shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo (1898-1960), founder of Ferragamo, had Santa Barbara connections: he came here from Italy to join his brothers who had a shoe repair store in town, before moving on to Hollywood and becoming a shoe designer to the stars. Queens of fashion around the world and in history have gravitated to Italian designer fashion. Lady Gaga is a big Valentino fan; Jackie Kennedy wore her love on her sleeve (and head) with designs by Oleg Cassini and Valentino. Even the Medici were no fashion slouches. The Medici collar that stands upright on the back of the neck and opens in the front was a type of ruff that was introduced to France by Marie
de Medici in the 16th century. For Medici, worthy fabrics for gowns or drapes, many handwoven in Venice, I discovered the fantastic Lisio Tessuti d’Arte, the “artistic” fabric shop on the Via Sistina where you can order the most extravagant and beautiful loomed yardage. Historically, many are Roman-born designers, while others moved to Rome from other parts of the country. Elsa Schiaparelli was born in Rome in 1890 and was a leading couturier of the 1920s and 1930s. The famous Fendi sisters were also born in the capital. Many early houses are now part of huge multinational companies, leaving their founding roots in the dust. Roman native Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani, the 89-year-old designer, stepped down in 2008 yet his name is part of fashion history as is “Valentino red,” which graces his window displays. Valentino’s windows and location on the Piazza di Spagna are among the most stunning. Founded in 1960, the company beat goes on. Even if like me, you aren’t a die-hard fashionista, exploring Italy’s fashion expressions like Margaret Mead on an anthropological expedition, can be enlightening and fascinating, depending on your level of patience. A day-long search with a friend for the perfect Christmas gift was more exhausting than enlightening. (Give me a church, a museum, a ristorante!) Thanks to the Sofitel Rome Villa
Since the 1920s, Cazzaniga’s hand-made jewelry spans rings, brooches, wearable perfume bottles, necklaces, earrings, and cufflinks have drawn “oohs and aahs” from bauble fans from around the globe
Borghese’s dream concierge team, I was off for an exploratory, exclusive shopping tour with Italian fashionista blogger/influencer Selvaggia Capizzi, who has lived in and “loves” Los Angeles. Selvaggia led a small group of us, including new best friends Walter and Art who live in the Hollywood Hills, on her behind-the-scenes tour to some of Rome’s high-end trendy designer boutiques. The private tour included blue-chip, well-known designer boutiques ranging from one exclusive and snazzy new showroom with a private entrance and dressing room for royalty, movie stars, and the superrich who require privately curated shopping experience to artsy Marni (if you are not familiar with Marni Creative Director Francesco Risso’s work, check out his Milano apartment in a Vogue.com video), as well as the atelier of couture and prêt-à-porter designer Jamal Taslaq. Jamal (who cites Valentino as a favorite inspiration) creates stunning
gowns that are as light and flowing as butterfly wings, and constructs jackets fit for a queen (Queen Rania of Jordan is a client, as is Sharon Stone). If you are a collector of couture clothing, this soft-spoken talented designer, who immigrated from Palestine, is worth looking up when you travel to Rome. The detailing ranging from beading to embroidery to leather applique and cut out designs is truly mesmerizing. His design process begins with meeting the client either in person or remotely to assess her needs, so that the garment is designed to enhance her beauty, not just showcase his personal esthetic. After our guided tour, Walt and Art dashed off to order made-to-measure shirts and shop at a couple of their favorite “under-the-radar” haberdasheries: Boutique Gaetano Aloisio and Guarino, both off the beaten tourist track. Italian fine tailoring, craftsmanship and customer service intact, their orders (custom shirts and cashmere sweaters) were delivered to the hotel, presto pronto! Sandals trimmed in what looked like shag carpet; stilettos somehow held on with curly telephone cords (remember those?) and patchwork sweaters that I’d probably pass over at my favorite thrift stores filled my eyes and senses at boutiques with doorbell private entrances. If you don’t want to or can’t travel to Rome, Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills features most of these designer goods for sale — and then some.
Visit With a “Wild and Crazy” Jewelry Designer
Women (and men) cannot live on dresses, suits, shoes, and handbags alone and Italy is also famous for
Travel Buzz Page 394 394
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23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
29
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)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28 A Lil Bit of Love — In case you’ve never noticed, I’m a fan of word play, so I’m already partial to Lil Jazz Quintet, the five-piece group headed to SOhO tonight to make its Santa Barbara debut. Mostly because the vocalist’s name, Lillian McKenzie, gave rise to the band’s name. But also because McKenzie and her mates — bassist Sébastien Ricard, (San Marcos grad), pianist Peter Wang, percussionist Sergio Rodriguez, and Aeron Price — are all students at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. McKenzie and Ricard are also graduates of San Marcos High, which has a pretty darn good rep for music around these parts. Sounds like a recipe for wonderful wintertime tunes. WHEN: 7:30 pm WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street, upstairs in
Victoria Court COST: $10 INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
by Steven Libowitz
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 Noon Year’s Eve at MOXI — The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation once again will help families ring in the new year with a special “Noon Year’s Eve” celebration for revelers of all ages. The museum-wide event involves all MOXI’s interactive exhibits and themed activities. The latter includes the return of The Dance Network with family-friendly dance workshops on the Rooftop Sky Garden, and special demonstrations and activities from the Santa Barbara Symphony and UCSB Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE), plus a rooftop dance party with DJ Gavin Roy leading up to the culminating “countdown” to 2022 on all three floors at the stroke of noon (on the theory that it’s midnight somewhere), complete with confet-
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30 Hail the Hall of Famer — When he joined the Foo Fighters after the band’s third CD back in 1999, Santa Barbara-raised guitarist Chris Shiflett could have never given his hometown a second thought. Instead, when the band founded by drummer-turnedlead-singer Dave Grohl following the dissolution of Nirvana after the suicide of Kurt Cobain was inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame on the first year of their eligibility less than two months ago, Shiflett gave plenty of props to Santa Barbara. The guitarist specifically thanked all the musicians he’d ever played with “at keg parties and dive bars,” referring
EVENTS
ti, noisemakers, and more. WHEN: 9:30 am-12:30 pm WHERE: MOXI Museum of Exploration + Innovation, 125 State St. COST: $19 adults, $15 children ages 3-17; $7 discount for museum members; children 2 and under free INFO: (805) 770-5000 or www.moxi.org
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23 Man at Work — When there’s only one original member of a hit band from 40 years ago out on the road touring under the group’s name, you can’t be faulted for asking “Who can it be now?” Of course, with Men at Work, the band that came stateside from the land “Down Under,” there’s only one answer that makes any sense. That would be Colin Hay, the musician who was the driving force behind the band as chief songwriter and lead singer. Men at Work was an Australian wonder, an immediate success in that its debut album, with the whimsical title of Business as Usual, immediately soared to the top of the Aussie charts. Strangely, the record took more than six months to take hold in the United States after its April 1982 stateside release, but then spent a then-unprecedented 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 from late 1982 to early 1983, including a moment in January 1983 when the Men became the first Aussie band to enjoy the No. 1 album and No. 1 single (“Down Under”) at the same time. Those first two singles remain staples of classic rock radio and 1980s cover bands to this day. The group also won the 1983 Grammy as Best New Artist. The original band, however, came apart relatively quickly, disintegrating just two years later after its sophomore disc, Cargo, made it to No. 3 later in 1983 and scoring a Top 50 third disc, Two Hearts. A decade later, Hay and flute-saxophone-keyboard player Greg Ham toured the world as Men at Work before Ham passed away in 2012. Hay has enjoyed a strong solo career, although he’s never reached Men at Work’s heights, and he’s played solo shows at SOhO and band gigs at the Lobero under his own name several times. But tonight, he returns to the latter venue with his own L.A.-based band to play an exclusive Men at Work set, meaning we’ll hear lots of deep cuts beyond the hits. Hopefully that won’t be “Overkill.” WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $60 & $75 ($121 VIP tickets include premier seating and a pre-show reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres) INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com
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to Isla Vista beachfront house parties and the bars and clubs up and down State Street, where he’d rage with such bands as Legion of Doom, Lost Kittenz, and Rat Pack. In 2017, Shiflett also recorded a song on his first solo CD called “West Coast Town,” which also addresses growing up in our little berg. Foo Fighters, which has sold upwards of 30 million albums and won a dozen Grammy Awards, still regularly sells out stadiums and arenas around the world. On October 30, Shiflett rocked the nation at the Hall of Fame induction concert by jamming to “Get Back” with Beatle Paul McCartney. But this holiday season the guitarist, who lives in Los Angeles but maintains a second home in town, is returning to his roots at the clubs, albeit the more upscale SOhO, for a rare nightclub gig with his solo band. Good luck trying to get in — the concert was officially sold out more than two weeks ago. WHEN: 8 pm WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street, upstairs in Victoria Court COST: Call INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 Crawling From the Wreckage — We’ll have more ideas of how to bring in 2022 in the clubs and lounges in next week’s calendar, but it seemed
“Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people once a year.” — Victor Borge
prudent to preview one opportunity because you might want to plan for the January 1 hangover recovery in advance. Yes, we’re talking about the New Year’s Eve 2022 Santa Barbara Bar Crawl, which offers discounts and more at eight different watering holes along lower State Street and environs, plus specials at a few others. Institution Ale, James Joyce Pub, Whiskey Richards, Fox Tale, EOS, Night Lizard, and the Bobcat & Wildcat are among the joints serving up everything from discounted admission to free shots. So maybe you might want to down a glass of water or two along the way. If you’re wondering what you might get in your night of revelry, Institution Ale is offering $5 beers; James Joyce is giving out free NYE welcome shots; Whiskey Richards is giving free welcome shots with purchase, as well as $4 bottled beeer and $5 well drinks; Fox Tail has $12 cocktails (cinnamon whiskey sour/ whiskey cider smash/maple apple toddy); EOS has $10 off cover; Night Lizard has $6 Gantcatcher hazy; IPA has $5 Monkeyflower double white ale and $5 Night Claw hard seltzer; while Bobcat and Wildcat both have $5 covers. WHEN: Check-in 8-10:30, bars open til 2 am WHERE: Institution Ale, 516 State St. COST: $19-$39 INFO: Search “NYE Santa Barbara Bar Crawl” on www.eventbrite.com •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
31
In Memoriam Aristides Burton Demetrios, 1932-2021
A
ristides (Aris) Burton Demetrios was born in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on February 17,1932. He was born to a family of celebrated artists. His father was classical sculptor George Demetrios, who was a student of Bourdelle and had studied with Rodin. His mother was Virginia (Jinnee) Lee Burton, a celebrated author illustrator of children’s books, including “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel,” and Caldecott prizewinner “The Little House,” although Aris’ favorite was “Choo Choo,” because it was dedicated to him. His grandfather, Alfred Edgar Burton, was the dean at MIT, and his uncle Harold Burton was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, having been appointed to the court after his tenure as the U.S. Senator from Ohio.
On two occasions, Aris was awarded the Santa Barbara Beautiful Award; first, for his sculpture “Mentors,” on the Santa Barbara City College campus, and more recently for the sculpture the “Dance of Life,” which graces the entry to the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
In 1932, his family moved to Gloucester, Massachusetts, because they were attracted to the number of artists who resided in this oceanside town, that had the feel of an idyllic European village, and a very diverse population of people from Greece, Finland, England, Italy, and the like. Aris’ brother Mike was born shortly thereafter; he was the model for the little boy in the Mike Mulligan book. The family home was the inspiration for the illustrations in the book, The Little House. Aris attended Gloucester public schools. After graduating from Gloucester High School with highest honors, he went to Harvard University on an NROTC scholarship, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree, with a dual major in
32 MONTECITO JOURNAL
history and literature. Throughout his 60-plus years as a contemporary sculptor, the influence of his history and literature majors was always evident. Every sculpture had a story that was intended to captivate those who admired the art. After graduating from Harvard, Aris spent three years in the Navy as an officer, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. He then returned to Gloucester for three years to study with his father at his drawing school, where he learned the basics of illustration and sculpture. Trained as a classical sculptor, Aris was nonetheless anxious to carve out a unique artistic style of his own; he chose contemporary art as his preferred medium. He worked primarily in bronze and steel. Most of his early pieces are either volumetrics or figurative. In the early 1960s, Aris moved to Northern California and started to enter national sculpture competitions; he gained tremendous acclaim and recognition when he won the competition to design and fabricate a fountain for Stanford University for two students whose lives were tragically cut short. The water in the fountain was intended to symbolize the fact that one would never know what path these young men might have taken, which is why the pattern of water is never the same. The fountain he designed was called the White Memorial Fountain, but it was quickly dubbed “Mem Claw” by the students, a name that stayed with a fountain that for the last 60 years, has been an icon on the Stanford campus, recognized worldwide by Stanford alums. Indeed, 60 years after the fountain was designed and installed, the Stanford Student Association this last year asked Aris’ permission to make a replica of his fountain for the logo for their hats and other Stanford paraphernalia, which they now proudly wear. Shortly after winning the Stanford competition, Aris won the competition hosted by David and Lucile Packard to design the fountain to grace the entry to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The fountain he designed and fabricated was called “Forms Sung In A Kelp Forest”; the bronze pieces were meant to emulate the kelp in the aquarium. On the heels of these two early artistic successes, Aris was commissioned to do the sculpture for the Bataan War Memorial in Corregidor, the Courthouse in Sacramento, and ultimately for hundreds of other public spaces. Almost
all of these commissions were for large-scale volumetric or figurative pieces, ranging in size from 10 feet to the 102-foot Wind Harp in San Francisco. A trip from Los Angeles to Northern California would be filled with countless opportunities to see Demetrios Sculptures, in a variety of wonderful settings. In the 1980s, Aris shifted his focus to doing more commissions for private collectors; many of his works from this period are of a smaller scale. In 1998, already a hugely successful sculptor, he moved to Santa Barbara with his wife, Ilene H. Nagel; he set up an atelier on the UCSB campus and for two years, trained several students who went on to become successful local artisans. Between 1998 and when Aris passed away in 2021, he did more than 100 sculptures for private collectors in Santa Barbara, and throughout California. On two occasions, Aris was awarded the Santa Barbara Beautiful Award; first, for his sculpture “Mentors,” on the Santa Barbara City College campus, and more recently for the sculpture the “Dance of Life,” which graces the entry to the RidleyTree Cancer Center. “Mentors” was commissioned by philanthropists Michael Towbes and Eli Luria; “The Dance of Life” was commissioned by Herb and Elaine Kendall. In addition to these two iconic local sculptures, the sculptures of Aris Demetrios have been featured in museum and gallery shows throughout California. His works are also shown in Japan, in Missouri, in New York, and across the United States. Philanthropist Richard Goldman and his wife, Rhoda Haas, commissioned Aris to design the sculpture that serves as the award for the Goldman prize, which is annually given to the individual on each of the seven continents who contributes the most to saving the environment. And he designed the Mother’s Day Award as well, given annually by the Santa Barbara VNA to the Mother of the Year. In October 2021, Aris and Ilene attended a week-long celebration of Aris’ life and work in his hometown of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where they unveiled and installed his latest sculpture, an eight-foot stainless steel volumetric piece entitled Etruscan King and Consort at the new Wilber and Janet James campus of the Cape Ann Museum. This latest sculpture has been met with widespread acclaim. Aris passed away on Sunday, December 12, in the early morning, surrounded by family. He was a brilliant sculptor, a model of generosity, a devoted husband, and a dedicated father, who enjoyed the friendship of an enormous number of Santa Barbara residents who loved his
“Christmas is a baby shower that went totally overboard.” — Andy Borowitz
infectious smile, his lust for life, and his warm and gracious personality. Aris is survived by his wife Ilene H. Nagel, his son Eames Demetrios and his wife Shelley Mills, and his grandsons, Xander and Guthrie Demetrios. In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Aris’ memory to make donations to the Aris Demetrios Sculpture Program Fund at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Jesse Alexander, 1929-2021
J
esse Alexander, 92, a photographer who documented the golden age of motorsport, passed away on December 14, 2021, in Santa Barbara. He was comfortable and at home, with his beloved wife, Nancy, by his side, holding his hand. Jesse was born on April 15, 1929, in Santa Barbara to Florence Louise Lyman and Junius Beverly Alexander. Jesse grew up in Montecito where he attended The Howard School, then went to boarding school in Massachusetts at Fessenden, and then Pomfret in Connecticut. Jesse returned to California for college at UCSB, where he studied photography and met his first wife. They moved to Europe with the first of their four daughters, where Jesse would document the international motor racing scene as a photojournalist from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, counting its players as his closest friends. His pictures captured the on-track danger and glamorous spectacle, defining the sport for a generation of fans. Jesse’s ability to feature the human element of motorsport made his images more than just a record of thrilling events and elegant machines but also evocative fine art. His photographs have been published in countless publications and now hang in the homes of collectors, galleries, and museums. After all his professional success and global acclaim, Jesse most loved being a “happy snapper,” documenting the everyday beauty of life in his hometown, Santa Barbara. Jesse’s kindness, grateful spirit, and persistent sense of wonder will live on in the hearts of all those who knew him. And the legacy of his empathetic eye will be shared by everyone he reached but never met. Jesse is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nancy Alexander, and their son, Jess; and his first wife, Patricia Beckham, and their daughters, Rori, Heidi, Andi, and Susie. Along with nieces and nephews, his many grandchildren, and most recently, the first great-grandchild. •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
Notice Inviting Bids DOWNTOWN DE LA VINA STREET SAFE CROSSWALKS AND BUFFERED BIKE LANES AND THE EASTSIDE COMMUNITY PASEOS PROJECT Bid No. 3906 1.
Bid Submission. The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its Downtown De La Vina Street Safe Crosswalks and Buffered Bike Lanes and the Eastside Community Paseos Project (“Project”), by or before Thursday, January 6, 2022, at 3:00 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 and uploaded to PlanetBids. 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; PlanetBids will prevent the Bidder from submitting a Bid Proposal. Bidders are responsible for obtaining all addenda from the City’s PlanetBids portal. Bid results will be available on PlanetBids.
2.
Project Information. 2.1 Location and Description. The Project is located at the below streets and is described as follows: Construct street improvements including curb extensions with ADA-compliant curb ramps, ADA-compliant sidewalk and reconstructed driveways, raised traffic diverters, speed humps, striping, signing, rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) installation, tree planting and placement of mulch in existing and expanded parkways. Location
From
To
Alisos St.
E. Canon Perdido St.
Cacique St.
Cota St.
Chapala St.
N. Alisos St.
Haley St.
Chapala St.
N. Cota St.
Ortega St.
Chapala St.
N. Salsipuedes St.
Cota St.
N. Soledad Rd.
Casitas Rd.
E. Canon Perdido and Nopal
E. Yanonali St.
N. Canada St.
De La Vina St.
Victoria St.
Victoria St.
De La Vina St.
Carrillo St.
Haley St.
Haley St.
De La Vina St.
Chapala St.
2.2 Time for Final Completion. The Project must be fully completed within 120 working days from the start date set forth in the Notice to Proceed. The City anticipates that the Work will begin on or about April 1, 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 $2,400,000. 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 Contractor.
4.
3.2 DIR Registration. City will not accept a Bid Proposal from or enter into the Contract with a bidder, without proof that the bidder and its Subcontractors are registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) to perform public work under Labor Code Section 1725.5, subject to limited legal exceptions. Contract Documents. The plans, specifications, bid forms and contract documents for the Project, and any addenda thereto (“Contract Documents”) may be downloaded from City’s website at: 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. 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. The prevailing rates are available on file with the City and at 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 section 1771.4.
7.
Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder will be required to provide performance and payment bond for 100% of the Contract Price regardless of the contract dollar amount.
8.
Substitution of Securities. Substitution of appropriate securities in lieu of retention amounts from progress payments is permitted under Public Contract Code Section 22300.
9.
Subcontractor List. Each bidder must submit, with its Bid Proposal, 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) 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 before submitting a Bid Proposal.
By: ___________________________________
Date: ________________
William Hornung, CPM, General Services Manager Publication Dates: 1) Wednesday, December 15, 2021
2) Wednesday, December 22, 2021
END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS
23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Glamour House, 840 Deerpath Road, Santa Barbara, CA , 93108. Glamour House, INC, 840 Deerpath Road, Santa Barbara, CA , 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on December 2, 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. 2021-0003274. Published December 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Casa Mejia, 209 S. Voluntario St. Apt 1, Santa Barbara, CA , 93103. Jeniffern E. Jimenez, 209 S. Voluntario St. Apt 1, Santa Barbara, CA , 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on December 6, 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. 2021-0003288. Published December 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Ayurvedic Lifestyle Design, 2020 Las Tunas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA , 93103. Ayurvedic Lifestyle Design, LLC., 2020 Las Tunas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA , 93103. 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. 2021-0003157. Published December 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Medina & Thompson, 1071 Alston Road, Santa Barbara, CA , 93108. Marc Alan Gamson, 1071 Alston Road, Santa Barbara, CA , 93108. 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. 2021-0003164. Published December 8, 15, 22, 29, 2021. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: Michael Shawn Summers. Case Number: 21PR00511. To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both: A Petition for Probate has been filed by: Gary J. Summers in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 1/13/2022 at 9 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. You may examine the file kept by the court. A Request for Special Notice is available from the court clerk. Attorney for the petitioner: Kendall A. VanConas, 805-988-9886. Filed November 24, 2021 by Darrel E. Parker, Executive Officer. Published 12/8, 12/15, 12/22, 12/29 MONTECITO JOURNAL
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Artisan Wrapping . Custom stationery
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t ec
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LO C
DESIGN . CALLIGRAPHY . WEDDINGS . GIFTS
L e t t e r Pe r f e c t S tat ione ry
Winner
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S a n ta B a r b a r a , C a l if or ni a
Show your LOVE for LOCAL
Home for the Holidays by Nick Masuda
A Pair of Local Last-Second Shopping Options
All holiday decor is 50% off at The Well Summerland (Photo by Katie Abbott)
W
ith the hustle and bustle of Paseo Nuevo or Montecito Country Mart, or either the Upper or Lower villages, there are a couple of other local options if you’re looking for last-second holiday shopping ideas. And they’re just a short drive down the 101 — OK, depending on the time of day, it can be a haul — to either Summerland or Carpinteria. Here’s a look at what The Well Summerland and Carp Kitchen have to offer for the holidays:
The Well Summerland
Alright, so you’ve waited until the last minute to snag that perfect gift, but The Well Summerland (TWS) will make it look like you’ve been planning it for months. TWS features furniture, art, garden, and home antiques from around the world, including plenty of holiday options. And you’re in luck, as all holiday decor is 50% off beginning December 22. And if you’re looking for that
folio press and paperie fabulous stationery and gift shop FREE INSTALLATION WITH RACK PURCHASE
in-house design and letterpress printing 301 Motor Way, Santa Barbara
Locally owned and operated for over 42 years 14 State Street | 962-0049 | Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 10-5 mountainairsports.com
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Photo by Lerina Winter
“Ever wonder what people got Jesus for Christmas?” – Jim Gaffigan
23 – 30 December 2021
Happy Holidays from The Well Family to you and yours. Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2022!
Carp Kitchen says it has plenty of last-minute Christmas items
The Well Summerland encourages families to visit the store and take a family photo with the plethora of props (Photo by Katie Abbott)
Instagram-worthy family photo, TWS has plenty of Christmas trees for props. All of your friends will be jealous. TWS is located at 2350 Lillie Avenue in Summerland, and you can follow them on Instagram at ins tagram.com/thewellsummerland.
Carp Kitchen
There are reasons for New Year’s resolutions, and great finds like Carp Kitchen are a good reason why — and totally worth the extra effort in 2022. And they’ve got a Christmas menu that will make anyone hungry. From Stuffed Cornish Game Hen ($39, serves two), Beef Wellington ($85, serves up to four), Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes ($15, serves up
to four), Roasted Marinated Brussel Sprouts ($18, serves up to four), and Roasted Asparagus ($18, serves up to four), they’ve got the main course covered. They’ve also got your sweet tooth taken care of, with a nine-inch Fig and Goat Cheese Tart ($45, serves up to 10) and Organic Apple Crispr ($35, serves up to 10). There’s a catch: Orders were due on December 19, but it’s worth a call to see if they can fit you in. The Kitchen is open all year long, with extensive lunch and dinner menus, including its beloved pastrami sandwich. Carp Kitchen also caters, while offering curated grocery shopping for those hard-to-find options. Visit carpkitchen.com for more or give them a follow on Instagram or Pinterest if you’re looking to get hungry. Carp Kitchen is located at 4945A Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, California 93013 •MJ
Come visit us in Summerland and explore our unique collection of furniture, art and treasures from around the world.
2350 LILLIE AVE , SANTA BARBARA , CA 93108 (805)695-2545
PERFE CT GIF T S FOR THE HOL ID AY SE ASON Choose from our wide variety of premium olive oils, balsamic vinegars, gourmet foods as well as our selection of beautiful homeware items including handmade olive wood products and Italian ceramics. We have a little something for everybody!
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO CHECK OFF YOUR LIST SAVE 10% ON GIFT CARDS* ‘Twas the week before Christmas And all through SB Folks were last-minute shopping For premier THC But what do you choose, For a friend who knows best? Something potent to smoke, Something sweet to ingest? Never fear, Central Coast We know just what to do Give the gift that keeps giving (And gives some back to you) Shop The Farmacy & save 10% off any gift card of $25 or more through December 30. *$25 Value or More
thefarmacysb.com/shop WE SHIP TO ANYWHERE IN CONTINENTAL USA • ORDER IN STORE OR ONLINE 927 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 | (805) 886 4342 | www.VivaOliva.com 23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
128 W Mission St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-880-1207 | @farmacy.ca | C10-0000293-LIC
MONTECITO JOURNAL
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In the Know (Continued from page 5) tims and a veteran of investigations into sexual misconduct at private schools across the country, the Cate case stands out for many reasons, from timing to leadership. “I think there’s a number of things that occurred very recently, you don’t often see that in these reports. Most of the other cases go back decades, not this one. That’s left a lot of unanswered questions about school leadership and what they did and didn’t do,” said MacLeish. “I can tell you, there’s at least one other faculty member who was not included in that report. Someone who is known on campus that recently abused a student. The school is aware, so we shouldn’t look at this as being something that’s complete. “There’s more. Now it’s just whether the school and board are going to keep the investigation open.” But mum is the word from Cate in the aftermath, who refused to answer the 27 questions from the Montecito Journal or any additional public statements to address the distress coming from the Cate community. The Journal is printing all its questions as part of this report, as both the school and BOT were given two chances to answer, with the inquiries sent to the entire board, as well as to key administrators, including Williams. According to Wendy Ward Hoffer, a vocal alum and victim of Kirk Phelps’ alleged sexual abuse in the late 1980s, the ire that Williams is facing could have been avoided if the school had acted earlier. “Had the school taken seriously the issue of student sexual abuse when the David Mochel case was explicitly raised and investigated (2012), or when Kristen Kittscher pushed for an investigation (2017), or even when I came forward (2019), culture-changing measures could have been in place to prevent more recent abuses, both those known and unknown to us,” Hoffer wrote to the BOT in a letter obtained by the Montecito Journal. “Further, the 14-month timeline for completing this project, once launched, was excruciating for survivors awaiting justice — and then heartbreaking to see none.”
‘I Will Not Recommend the School’
Editor’s note: The Montecito Journal broke the story about the investigative report on December 15 and provided an exhaustive account of each of the seven named perpetrators. Please visit the following link to read more: https://bit. ly/3mpUsA0 Dave Mochel had two stints as a faculty member at Cate, the first from 1989-1993 and then again from 2001-
36 MONTECITO JOURNAL
2012. At the time of the release of the Oppenheimer report, he was listed as an administrator at the Knox School of Santa Barbara. He has since been removed from the school’s website, with multiple messages (on December 16 and 20) inquiring about the circumstances of his involvement with the school not returned by press time. According to the Oppenheimer report, seven Cate alumni shared information about inappropriate behavior from Mochel’s first tenure at the school, including allegations of sexual activity with two students. One student, 17 at the time, said that she had a physical relationship with Mochel, wherein a fellow faculty member, Andy Campbell (also named in the report), confirmed that he was aware of Mochel’s involvement with the student. Throughout the student’s senior year, she says that Mochel showed particular attention to her, coming to her dorm to kiss her, taking her out to dinner, and sharing a tent with her while camping. Mochel admitted to investigators that on “one occasion he and [the student] were intimate in his apartment; this encounter included kissing and putting his hand under her shirt.” According to the student, he told her not to tell anyone. “I can’t say it’s not true,” Mochel told investigators. On December 20, 2021, Mochel sent a Letter to the Editor to the Montecito Journal to explain his “absolutely undefendable actions from 30 years ago.” The Journal is not printing the letter out of respect to the victims, as well as any potential further investigation. “I do not seek forgiveness — the outrage and heartbreak about my behavior is entirely justified,” Mochel wrote. Current Head of School Ben Williams was made aware of the Mochel’s sexual relationship with a student at an alumnus gathering in 2012, with the school retaining an investigations firm, which ultimately sustained the student’s allegation. According to the report, “Williams felt that ‘Mochel crossed a line and had to go.’ However, Mochel was permitted to resign and continued to reside on campus because his wife was still employed by the school.” There was no written report; it was all relayed verbally. It wasn’t just Williams that became aware of this in 2012, but BOT member Monique Parsons also received a note from Laura Mcleod, a 1992 Cate graduate. In the note, exclusively obtained by the Montecito Journal, Mcleod identifies one of Mochel’s alleged victims, telling Parsons that “the scandal is out of the bag” and that “I find it untenable as a fundraiser and advocate for the
school if the message it sends to the community is anything less than a zero-tolerance policy around sexual harassment.” Parsons acknowledged receipt, promising to follow up. The school did later adopt a zero-tolerance policy, but Mochel still lived on campus for the next nine years – a mixed message at best, which wouldn’t really fulfill the parameters of “zero tolerance.” Once impressed by Williams’ willingness to investigate in 2012, Mcleod’s perspective is a much different one in 2021. “What I have learned from this contemporary investigation coupled with my experience of sending a letter in 2012 expressing my concern over a lack of policy around sexual misconduct is that Cate is and will continue to be something I never knew it was when I was a student there. It is not progressive at all,” Mcleod said. “I will just understand very clearly that Cate is not a safe place for my daughter, and I will not recommend the school to friends based on the priorities that I have seen.”
‘It’s Offensive’
Hired by Ben Williams’ administration, Da’Jon James was at the school a short time, acting as the director of vocal music from Summer 2019 until February 2020, with the first accusation of misconduct coming in September 2019. “Students were actively involved in the interviewing process for a new music teacher. They were specifically told that hiring a person of color was a priority. As the report states, problems cropped up immediately with the new hire, Da’Jon James,” said an anonymous poster on the @MeTooCate Instagram page. “What the report doesn’t cover adequately is just how many people and how many times students, faculty, parents (sometimes through their child’s advisor) went to the administration with concerns about his boundary crossing behavior. Yet that commitment to hiring a person of color and working with him so he could learn the Cate way trumped the school’s duty to protect students? And still the board ‘commends’ Ben Williams and by extension his leadership team? It’s offensive.” In the Oppenheimer report, Cate School did cite concerns over potential legal trouble if they were to terminate James’ employment due to his race, prioritizing this initially over the mounting accusations. But, as the Instagram post indicated, the laundry list of complaints against James was extensive, including having a student sit in his lap in September 2019; making comments about a students’ attire in October 2019; and playing “Would You Rather?” with
students in November 2019, where he asked four female students, “Would you rather . . . or drink a bucket of semen?” In all three instances, the school chose to simply speak to and counsel James. In December 2019 and January 2020, James allegedly grabbed a students’ hips, with the school subsequently telling James that any further inappropriate interactions could lead to termination. In February 2020, a student accused James of putting his hand on her thigh during a movie. The school let him go at this time. Cate School refused to comment on why James was given so many chances. For Diana Froley de Forest, Cate’s Class of 1987, she takes issue with the BOT’s explanation that “there were instances where the school’s response fell short.” She wrote to the BOT, providing a copy of her letter to the Montecito Journal. “This is a gross understatement. I would venture that in every single instance which appeared in the report, the school’s response fell short. Further, there were many other ‘instances’ of sexual abuse where the school’s response not only fell short, but actively harmed the survivors, their loved ones and friends,” de Forest said. “How many parents are ok with hearing that the board thinks of their children being harmed as an ‘instance’ where the school ‘fell short’?”
Unanswered Questions
To address the culpability of the school and Williams in allowing Dave Mochel and Da’Jon James to remain on campus, the Montecito Journal prepared a number of questions for the school and BOT in order to clarify the situation. Through the school’s communications director Avani Shah, they offered no comments before the stated deadline of 10 am this past Tuesday. In the absence of answers, here are those questions: On Dave Mochel . . . 1. Did Ben Williams initiate the extensive/serious investigation of Dave Mochel in 2012? If so, when and with whom did he consult? If not, who did? 2. Why was the investigation relayed verbally? Was this executed in this way to avoid anything being in writing? 3. Will you be releasing this verbal report? 4. Did the investigation only look at the allegations of Student EE or was it expanded to look into other potential victims including during his employment from 2001 to 2012? 5. Why did Ben Williams not include within the personnel file any mention 23 – 30 December 2021
of Dave Mochel’s misconduct? At any point, did the school provide a reference check for Mochel? If so, was his behavior divulged? 6. If Ben Williams was interested in protecting the school, would he not have documented this behavior correctly in the record? 7. Why did Ben Williams prioritize (Dave Mochel’s wife) Marnie Woehr’s comfort over the safety of students? 8. What objective evidence or process did Ben Williams use to determine whether or not Dave Mochel was exhibiting predatory behavior? Why did age matter in Ben Williams’ conclusions? 9. Ben Williams stated that “he had not seen” behavior from Dave Mochel that made him a risk to students. Was Ben Williams around Dave Mochel 24 hours per day? Did he have meals with him? How often did Ben Williams see Dave Mochel in any given day or week? 10. Does Ben Williams have relevant expertise to determine whether or not Dave Mochel was a sexual predator? 11. Ben Williams stated that it wasn’t in “his purview” to keep Mochel from attending and speaking at a senior class event (after his resignation). Are there written guidelines as to what the Head of School has “purview” over? Are there limits to the powers of (the) Head of School? 12. Why did Ben Williams allow a known sexual predator (allegedly) remain on campus for nine years? 13. Montecito Journal has learned that a note from an alum was delivered to the board in 2012 that alluded to Dave Mochel’s sexual misconduct. As mandatory reporters, Ben Williams and the Board are all culpable for not reporting this behavior. Why did this occur? 14. Will Marnie Woehr, another mandatory reporter, be allowed to keep her job at Cate when she knowingly allowed her husband to remain on campus despite admitting to his sexual misconduct? On Da’Jon James . . . 1. Ben Williams alludes to “inconsistent information” from students in this case. What was that information? Why would it keep the school from either an immediate suspension or termination? Why was Da’Jon James allowed to stay around students, regardless of “inconsistent information”? 2. Does Ben Williams possess the skills or knowledge to come to the conclusion that Da’Jon James had “no malintent” for the students? 3. Why did Ben Williams and the administration cite concerns over Da’Jon James’ race when concluding not to act quickly on the accusations? Why was student safety not the top priority? 23 – 30 December 2021
4. Why did Ben Williams and the administration not utilize an outside investigator? On Kirk Phelps . . . 1. Ben Williams says he told Student G (allegedly) abused by Kirk Phelps, that he was shocked to hear this and had never heard anything like it at Cate. This was in 2019. Yet, in 2012, he purportedly executed the investigation into Dave Mochel. His words to the victim were inherently not true. Why did he lie? Board’s note to the Cate community . . . 1. How has Ben Williams evolved “dramatically” the policies and procedures at Cate? Why does this supersede two instances (that are now publicly reported) that showcase that Ben Williams allowed two sexual predators to remain on campus after being made aware of the allegations? 2. What best practices did Ben Williams deploy in the cases of Dave Mochel and Da’Jon James, as well as his interaction with the victim in Kirk Phelps’ alleged misconduct? 3. It has become clear that Ben Williams did not inspire this investigation, instead that came via a settlement with Student G. What evidence do you have that this was in motion prior to that? 4. How did Ben Williams’ response in the face of the accusations against Dave Mochel and Da’Jon James demonstrate he is “a deeply principled educator who cares profoundly for the well-being of students?” Ben Williams socialized with Dave Mochel in multiple public settings. The investigation . . . 1. Do any board members, school administrators, or Cate investors have any business dealings with Oppenheimer, the investigating firm? 2. How can the board provide such unequivocal support for Ben Williams so shortly after the release of the report? Was the report made available to you weeks ago? Was the report edited at all? 3. By comparison, the report is much shallower than other recent investigative reports, but Cate has 17 perpetrators, nearly triple the next largest. Are there concerns on behalf of the board that the investigation was not thorough enough? For those that do have those concerns, can you quell that? 4. There are public accusations of more recent abuses on campus, will the board continue with Oppenheimer to further the investigation?
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• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
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and Da’Jon James involve the current state of campus safety, the past seven days have been emotional ones for many of the victims — even those that stretch back decades. Wendy Ward Hoffer admits to the tears shed as she relives her Cate days, and she took to Instagram to reveal to the world that she is Student G in the Oppenheimer report, the victim of Kirk Phelps’ alleged sexual abuse. She has given the Montecito Journal permission to run her open letter to her alleged abuser: Hello Mister: You are a thief. You took from me my most precious possession: my very self. I could have used a friend back there. Back there when I was fourteen and away from home for the first time. Back when I was a high achieving math learner and dreamed that I could do anything. Back when I thirsted for adventure and wanted to travel the world. Back then, when I was your student, lithe and brilliant, I could have used a friend. You started out that way, encouraging, supportive, as if you saw my unique potential and wanted to foster that. But soon your dreams of Olduvai Gorge became my dreams; your drive to run eight miles on Saturday became my drive; then your need for power and sexual gratification became my downfall. You used me. You groomed me and then took what you wanted. You manipulated me with your gifts and letters and “love,” and I fell like a naïve, electrocuted bird right out of the sky. And then you walked away, having robbed me of my dreams and hopes and confidence. I left high school depressed, deflated, directionless, and self-destructive. I could not focus my mind. I did not understand what was wrong with me. I crashed through a decade, dropping out of college, squirmed to escape that inner loathing you planted in me. It took everything I had to pull myself together and go to grad school, find purposeful and meaningful work. Google me, and you will see what I do now: I teach teachers. What do I teach them? I teach them to design learning experiences that honor student thinking. Ironic, right? Because you did not honor mine. Not in the least. So, my drive for health has me still striving to fix what was broken in you, an impossible quest. Right now, I am busy parenting two teens. I am striving to teach my children to love and respect themselves, to seek company with folks who do the same, and to stand up for themselves if they are hurt. I have also taught them that an apology is not enough – that it must be accompanied by an effort to make amends, to fix what was broken, to redeem what was lost. What are you teaching your children? When my own daughter turned 14, the thought of a lecherous teacher eleven years her senior in bed with her made my skin crawl and my heart flail in
“My husband’s idea of getting the Christmas spirit is to become Scrooge.” — Melanie White
my experience into the light of day now because as a parent and as an educator, I know we must tell the truth and hold perpetrators and institutions accountable in order to protect all of our children from predation. I stand on behalf of every promising kid who got robbed. They are all with me. Staring out at you with the depth of our loss from the abyss of our grief. Wondering how you could talk so righteous and yet do so wrong. Infuriated by your betrayal, that we have had to carry all this shame. Exhausted by the fight to stay strong and sane. Hopeful that you listen, repent. Curious to see what story you tell your children.
‘Bad Culture’
For many Cate alums, most of whom wanted to remain anonymous due to fear of retribution by the school, it was survivor Wendy Ward Hoffer and her attorney Eric MacLeish that spurred the investigation. “When we suggested it the first time, they didn’t answer. So, we asked again, and we got this,” MacLeish said. But now MacLeish says it is time to start from scratch, critical of the Oppenheimer Group utilizing a first-year lawyer with no experience in investigating sexual crimes on campus. MacLeish told the Montecito Journal that he has one client that refused to sit down with investigators due to a lack of trust, while others that did left conversations not confident that their stories were properly documented. “Some of the other reports out there were 150 or 160 pages, they went into great detail,” MacLeish said. “The one for Cate was just 35 pages. Considering the seven named and the 10 unnamed, it falls short. The school needs to hire firms that have senior leaders that have executed on cases such as these.” Under California Assembly Bill 218, the statute of limitations is temporarily lifted for all civil claims by sexual abuse survivors, something that all seven named perpetrators could face at this point, as could the school if it can be proven they had knowledge of the events. MacLeish says that considering the evidence at hand, Cate finds itself in a vulnerable position. “This is all about culture, which allowed these things to occur, then, yes, you could be held liable. The school can be held liable. I think that’s the main takeaway. These things, they don’t happen in a vacuum,” MacLeish said. “It’s almost always the result of a failure of leadership, inadequate policies, and a bad culture. And I think, unfortunately, Cate suffers from all three.” •MJ 23 – 30 December 2021
Travel Buzz (Continued from page 28 28)) jewelry design. Buccellati and Bulgari may be among the most well-known names/brands, but if you want a stunning one-of-a-kind bauble for yourself or your beloved, I recommend a visit to the atelier of luxury jeweler Cazzaniga. Giorgio Cazzaniga, our host for the evening and adult grandson of the founder, welcomed us (who had to pass through two secure doors) with a huge smile, open arms, and wide-open bar for a private showing and rousing cocktail party. Flirting, which is a pastime that Italian (actually, most Latin men) excel at, is good for the blood. When it is done correctly, it brings a smile to one’s face. There were a lot of smiles that evening, as Giorgio kept the tradition of flirting alive, making his country proud. His lovely fiancée — an attorney who practices antitrust cases throughout Europe — like all Italian women who stick with their own, seemed to be used to the jovial, warm kind of man who makes a guest feel immediately welcome in his huge embrace of a smile. Upstairs, we were introduced to a tough-looking, handsome doorman/ security guard/former rugby player. The “guardian of the jewels” was quite intimidating, but thankfully loosened up with the crowd in the later hours — before all being invited to gather,
23 – 30 December 2021
The elegant and amusing jeweler to the stars Giorgio Cazzaniga hosted a party for a few Roman friends and visiting Americans at his lovely atelier on the T/K, adjacent to the Tiber River
stand, or be seated in a semi-circle around a huge desk that belongs to Giorgio’s octogenarian father, Paolo, who sat patiently waiting in another room for us to descend after Giorgio’s grand presentation. Out came a tray, and one couldn’t help feeling like imitating Julia Roberts, anxious to grab, try, and squeal in delight each opulent, finely crafted bauble. I resisted. Briefly. The maestro of joie de vivre and jewelry designer let us try on rings, brace-
lets, earrings, and our new friend Sabrina Isabel Miniero (daughter of a former Italian ambassador) modeled a 100,000 Euro necklace Giorgio brought out, while letting me hold the still-warm diamond Cazzaniga necklace she had worn to the gathering. This sure beat my childhood dress up parties. The jewels were all safely tucked away for the night, while visions of baubles danced in our heads. We descended downstairs for more cocktails and passed sandwiches. Our host had a special drink created for the party by Agostino Musichini, head bartender at Hotel de Russie, Rome. The drink was named the “Fracico” (the Roman sybarite) and the double version “Fracicone,” of which he imbibed several. A number of chic Roman pals had arrived, and the party got underway with much frivolity and dancing by Giorgio and any willing ladies. Several Negronis later, we left under another spectacular Roman downpour. The entire evening felt like a scene from a Fellini movie. “If we contract COVID, it’s going to be from Giorgio’s heavy breathing when I was dancing with him panting down my neck!” I said to my friend as we left the party. “Yes,” she replied, “he told me I smelled like freedom!” (Actually, it
• The Voice of the Village •
Valentino windows
was her Chanel #5, who knew?) We both laughed. Fortunately, I didn’t contract COVID there, nor in any of the fully masked museums, unmasked restaurants (Italy has a very high fully vaccinated rate of more than 70%) or after traveling 20 hours home (car/airports/ planes/taxi) with a mask on most of the time. Cazzaniga was a great host and party animal. While I may not own a piece of his gorgeously baroque jewelry to remember him by yet, I will never forget his indelible style and exceedingly warm welcome to bella Roma. •MJ
MONTECITO JOURNAL
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On a Mission to Address the Vulnerable
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40 MONTECITO JOURNAL
ShelterBox USA is aiming to aid one million families per year
S
helterBox’s reason for being is because human displacement is one of the biggest issues plaguing our planet, one that’s increasing as time goes on. Over the last year, the nonprofit reports, the number of people displaced due to conflicts, natural disasters, or the consequences of climate change has grown to 113 million people, a staggering figure that represents the largest number in recorded history and an increase of more than 25 million in two years. As a global humanitarian relief organization with headquarters in Santa Barbara, ShelterBox works tirelessly to combat the problem, providing emergency shelter and critical household supplies to displaced families around the world, giving them a temporary home where they can begin to recover and rebuild. With disasters on the rise, and the global death toll of the COVID19 pandemic now surpassing five million people, having a place to call home is more critical than ever for the safety, health, and well-being of displaced individuals and families. In 2021 alone, ShelterBox delivered emergency shelter and life-saving supplies to tens of thousands of families across communities worldwide in response to 10 large-scale emergencies that included the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti in August, the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, the twin Category 5 hurricanes Eta and Iota that displaced thousands in Honduras, the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in Niger causing refugee camps in Cameroon to be vastly overcrowded, and the seemingly endless issues in conflict-riddled Syria, which is now in its tenth year of civil war. The humanitarian crises are profound ones, and for the displaced population
even basic human needs can turn into a hard-to-find luxury. “We’re working with some of the most vulnerable people in our world today,” explained Kerri Murray, the president of ShelterBox USA who previously spent five years working with fellow Santa Barbara nonprofit Direct Relief International often on the front lines of disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 tsunami in Japan, and the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. She found ShelterBox on site everywhere she went and saw first-hand how that organization was able to provide basic necessities to those who had been displaced. “The premise of ShelterBox is to be there with the things that people most need to sustain life: a strong tent shelter, water purification, solar lanterns, blankets, maps, basic tools, cooking equipment,” Murray explained. “If you lose everything in an instant, we put all those things you need in a single survival box so that families can focus on recovery.” Only a short time after Murray assumed ShelterBox’s helm, the nonprofit’s work in Syria resulted in the organization being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in both 2018 and 2019. And she’s determined to keep building on ShelterBox’s mission over its two decades-plus existence, being prepared and targeted to quickly get aid to where it’s needed the most to immediately lessen the effects of a crisis, whether man made, or weather related. Case in point: the Category 5 typhoon Rai that slammed the Philippines barely 24 hours before our conversation. Mobilizing into action immediately, ShelterBox had already delivered its all-in-one boxes to thousands affected a 23 – 30 December 2021
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JANUARY
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on a mission to quadruple the nonprofit’s size and scope to be able to shelter a million people per year. “The numbers are massive, and we have had to selectively choose to go to places that are some of the highest need areas with the highest vulnerabilities and work to find the most vulnerable families to help lift them up,” Murray said. “We are the shelter experts in emergency response. We have incredible partners; we have incredible teams. So, really we’re only precluded by our ability to raise funds.” Support from Giving List readers on any level helps, she said, whether it’s providing large grants or gifts that can propel the scaling up project, a one-time $1,000 donation that covers a full ShelterBox kit complete with tent and all the peripherals, or a couple of hundred dollars that buys a cook set — “Just being able to share a hot meal together is really restorative for these families,” Murray said. Even $20 or $30 to cover soap and a hand-washing basin or solar-powered lights are welcome as part of the organization’s Stock the Box plan. A tangible experience about how ShelterBox helps through a tour of the nonprofit’s Summerland facility can be arranged in advance for those whose generosity gets sparked by the personal touch. But every gift touches someone in great need, somewhere in the world. ShelterBox USA’s website is www. ShelterBoxUSA.org. Marketing and Campaign Manager Carrie Baptista can be reached at (805) 608-2400. •MJ
2022
day later, Murray said. “As a country island nation, the Philippines is one of those places that are very endemic to natural disasters. So, we actually registered as a nonprofit to have a quicker response,” she said. “We had a dedicated ShelterBox staff, and a warehouse filled with aid pre-positioned with 7,000 households’ worth of emergency shelter aid in Cebu which we are drawing down on for this response. That’s one of the ways we can really work effectively and efficiently when something catastrophic happens in our world.” Meanwhile, the COVID pandemic has only made things more precarious for those without a permanent home, as the lack of a shelter for a family forces them to fail to isolate, increasing the risk of exposure — a greater danger in those third world countries and other hot spots where vaccines are scarce, and the virus still rages. “Like everyone our work has become much more complex, including global supply chain issues and rising costs, but if anything, the need is more urgent,” Murray said. “The pandemic has even caused us to modify our aid package. Beyond the classic box and kits that we’ve been providing, we’ve adapted our aid package to include soap, hand washing basins, sanitizers, gloves, and masks.” But despite its effectiveness and resiliency, all what ShelterBox does only scratches the surface of the need around the world among the millions of displaced people. Which is why Murray is
FRI, 7:30PM
LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC Elim Chan, conductor Igor Levit, piano
Returning to the Granada stage for the first time since the historic CAMA+LA Phil 100th Anniversary concert back on March 6, 2020, the venerated orchestra will be performing two of the great masterpieces of the classical canon: Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3 and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.4.
SINGLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE Granada Theatre (805) 899-2222 | granadasb.org 4-CONCERT SUBSCRIPTIONS STILL ON SALE Contact CAMA (805) 966-4324 | camasb.org COMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
41
Seen (Continued from page 20 20)) Robert Ooley, Michael Holliday, and Ed De Vicente
Bill Mahan and wife, Nyna, after winning the Lutah Maria Riggs award
program idea, sustainable responsibility, innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique. This year’s jury was Mariana Ibanez, Aaron Jon Hyland, and Alvin Huang. We were all gathered in the Pacific Ballroom of the Mar Monte Hotel for cocktails and a buffet dinner and to await the announcing of the competition awards. AIA president Tai Yeh praised the group for always being there when things needed to be done. Robert Ooley, FAIA made award presentations and was also the chair of this fete. One of the extra special awards is the Lutah Maria Riggs Presidents Award. She was a well-known local architect and Fellow of the local AIA Chapter who worked with George Washington Smith (Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel). The award was named after her because of her unwavering dedication to the profession of architecture and the idea that design can improve our daily lives and make our communities better places to live and work. The deserving winner was Bill Mahan, who also received a standing ovation. The award-winning firms were: Blackbird Architects, Kieran Timberlake, Loh Architects, DMHA Architecture + Interior Design, Anacapa Architecture, Tim Gorter, and Shubin Donaldson. For more information regarding AIA and all it does call (805) 966-4198.
Janet and Jim. As they said, “We ask for money. That’s what we do.” One way to raise some is to buy one of 250 bricks. Your engraved brick paver stone will be an opportunity to add your name to the future Library Plaza. The bricks will line the revitalized paseo connecting our community in the heart of the Cultural Arts District. For more information, visit their website www.sblibraryfounda tion.org.
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara (AIA) hosted their Design Awards Gala for 2021 in December. It honored the achievements of local architects and architecture. The annual event provides a showcase of the members’ contribution to the architectural legacy of Santa Barbara and the value of well-designed work. The group recognizes design excellence in architecture, residential architecture, restoration/renovation, and urban design. Criteria to be used by the jury include quality of design, resolution of the
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.
1
F A R A D
B R A V E
O N I O N
M I N I
MINI
PUZZLE #1
PUZZLE #2
2
1
3
4
5
6
B E N D
2
R A C E
V L A D
S T R I P
A L T O
R I S E
RACE
A A F P I T R E
F L E U R
T A C T A E R R
S P A M
CAR
5
6
6
7
8
8
9
Down 1 He committed the first fratricide 2 Opera singer Gluck 3 Foaming at the mouth, say 5 Preside (over) 6 Flat-topped desert feature
Across 1 The USSR's CIA counterpart, once 4 Tears for ___ ("Mad World" pop group) 6 Indigenous Arctic dweller 7 Actress Carter who portrayed Wonder Woman 8 Lightning's pal in "Cars"
PUZZLE #4 1
2
3
4
Down 1 Country in the Great Rift Valley 2 Thin and bony 3 One who might eat, drink, and be married? 4 Darkroom development 5 Gas light?
1
2
6
5
8
7
6
9
8
7
42 MONTECITO JOURNAL
2
3
B R A N D
Y A T E S
S A AW S T H O
E T H E R
A L I M E L N S
HOTWHEELS
4
7
Down 1 Dutch painter Hieronymus 2 Cosmetics brand for sensitive skin 3 Irksome soup-eating noise 4 Commander of the Green Army Men in "Toy Story" 7 "___ Whom the Bell Tolls"
1
4
Across 1 Allotted earnings 4 Egyptian region that was home to the kingdom of Kush 6 Central Mexican Indigenous people 7 De-squeaked, say 8 Second go
M A N O R
META PUZZLE
7
Down 1 Find x, perhaps 2 One who makes drone deliveries? 3 Annulled 4 Madonna and others (in both religion and pop music) 5 Hyena's hideaway
U H U R A
BRAND
3
6
Across 1 Design influence for Nintendo's Bloopers and Inklings 6 Unit of regret or sympathy 7 Flirted with falsely, maybe 8 Coal deposit 9 Some NFL players
G O R D Y
Across 1 "Striped" swimmer 5 Spicy Spanish stew 6 Target of the wizard Gargamel 8 Carried goods 9 Fueled by a Red Bull, say
PUZZLE #5 5
E S S A Y
5
8
Across 1 With 4-Across, auto-save feature? 4 See 1-Across 7 Infuse (with) 8 They may be filed or buffed 9 Org. behind many narcotics busts
P H O T O
PUZZLE #3 1
7
9
A T I L T
TOY
3
4
N A D A
5
Down 1 Good-lookin' one 2 Curved hardware store item 3 Track meet official 4 Koh-i-___ diamond 5 "SNL" regular Bryant whose name sounds like a number
“At Christmas, tea is compulsory. Relatives are optional.” — Robert Godden
2
3
4
Across 1 Anderson Cooper's home channel 4 Former transportation secretary Elaine 5 Ignition source for some muskets 6 Greek sorceress from the isle of Aeaea 7 Kind of editor or machine
Down 1 Alternative to a tweet 2 Drew in some kids' books 3 One found in bars 4 Award for top pitchers, perhaps 5 TV monitoring gp.
23 – 30 December 2021
*Terms and Conditions Apply
SAVIN
GS U
$1,000 P TO !*
Mariposa at Ellwood Shores
Co-chairs Mari McAlister and Janet McCann on either end with Casa del Herrero Board President Karen Clark
Christmas at the Casa
Once upon a time, Carrie and George Steedman journeyed from their town of St. Louis with his diabetic brother to Santa Barbara. They brought him to see Dr. Sansum because in the early 1920s, he was the only doctor who had insulin in the whole United States. Carrie and George fell in love with Santa Barbara and bought 11 acres on what is now 1387 East Valley Road in Montecito. The Steedmans hired George Washington Smith as the architect and Casa del Herrero (House of the Blacksmith) was born. It became their second home until 1930 when they moved in full time, leaving the metal works back in St. Louis to family members. Carrie and George lived there until they passed away and then Medora — one of two daughters, moved in with her husband. When they passed away, a foundation was formed, and it became open to the public for tours in the 1990s. The best part is the family left everything — furniture, carpets, 15th, 16th, and 17th treasures from Spain, even towels and dishes. It’s a celebration of preservation. There are still grandchildren on the board, so the docents get to hear about the Casa firsthand. George Washington Smith’s architect protégé Lutah Maria Riggs also was involved in building the addition of the book tower, a gift to Steedman’s wife for their 30th wedding anniversary. The Casa has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Every Christmas there’s a party with the funds going to the Casa for upkeep. This year there was an online silent auction with the lead item a 1949 Ford Woody wagon donated in memory of John McCann by his wife, Janet. It sold for more than $50,000. The evening was truly magical and a sold-out event, giving all of us a peek to a gentler time and making Board President Karen Clark very happy. Kudos go to co-chairs Mari McAlister, Janet McCann, and many volunteers. Laura Bridley is the interim executive director keeping the “ship” afloat. If you’d like to visit the Casa, call (805) 565-5653 for reservations. I’ve been a docent there for 20 years; I think you’ll like it. •MJ
23 – 30 December 2021
! s g n i v a S y a d i l o H SAVINGS UP TO $1,000*! Move-in by 12/31 for this special offer
Look to Mariposa at Ellwood Shores for quality living options in a resort-style setting. We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.
CALL TODAY! (805) 618-1957 www.goletaseniorliving.com
• The Voice of the Village •
190 Viajero Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117 RCFE #425802106
MONTECITO JOURNAL
43
ORDINANCE NO. 6041
ORDINANCE NO. 6044
ORDINANCE NO. 6042
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA
2021-2022
SANTA BARBARA AMENDING TITLE 9 OF THE SANTA
SANTA BARBARA ADOPTING THE 2021-2022 SALARY
SUPERVISORS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BARBARA MUNICIPAL CODE BY THE ADDITION OF
PLAN APPLICABLE TO UNREPRESENTED MANAGERS
AND PROVIDING FOR COMPENSATION CHANGES FOR
CHAPTER 9.170 ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS FOR
AND PROFESSIONAL ATTORNEYS (EXCEPT THE CITY
CONFIDENTIAL SUPERVISORY EMPLOYEES
SMALL WIRELESS FACILITIES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-
ADMINISTRATOR AND THE CITY ATTORNEY) AND THE
WAY
2021-2022 SALARY PLAN APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN
BARBARA
ADOPTING
THE
UNREPRESENTED SAFETY MANAGERS
The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December
The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular
14, 2021.
meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December
The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular
14, 2021.
meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December 14, 2021.
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the
as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be
provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the
obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara,
as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be
provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter
California.
obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara, California. (Seal)
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA )
adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
call vote:
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara on December 15, 2021.
call vote:
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on December 15, 2021.
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
44 MONTECITO JOURNAL
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
AYES:
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
call vote:
AYES:
on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
ORDINANCE NO. 6042
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing
ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
ORDINANCE NO. 6044
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
AYES:
(Seal)
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
ORDINANCE NO. 6041
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing
obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara, California.
(Seal)
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA )
as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” — Larry Wilde
23 – 30 December 2021
1.
2.
Notice Inviting Bids
ORDINANCE NO. 6045
BID NO. 5933 CCTV INSPECTION SERVICES FOR FY22
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AUTHORIZING THE WATERFRONT
Bid Submission.
DIRECTOR
TO
THE ENABLING ORDINANCE
Bid results and awards will be available on PlanetBids.
meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December
RESTAURANT, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, FOR THE HARBOR RESTAURANT LOCATED AT 210 STEARNS WHARF, COMMENCING UPON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular 14, 2021.
Project Information.
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara, California. (Seal)
License and Registration Requirements. /s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): CLASS A or C-36 or C-42 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 plans, specifications, bid forms and contract documents for the Project, and any addenda thereto (“Contract Documents”) may be downloaded from City’s website at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=29959
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.
6.2 Rates. The prevailing rates are on file with City and 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. Performance and Payment Bonds. The successful bidder will be required to provide separate performance and payment bonds for 100% of the Contract Price regardless of contract dollar amount, 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 complete Subcontractor List WITH ITS Bid Proposal through the PlanetBids portal. Failure to do will result in rejection of your bid. The Subcontractors List shall include the name, location of the place of business, California contractor license number, and percentage of the Work to be performed (based on the Base Bid) for each Subcontractor that will perform work or service or fabricate or install work for the prime contractor in excess of onehalf of 1% of the bid price.
11.
ORDINANCE NO. 6045 STATE OF CALIFORNIA
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
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.
10.
TO
LONGHARBOR LLC, TO SANTA BARBARA HARBOR
2.3 Estimate. The estimate for this Project is $326,000
7.
CONSENT
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.
2.2 Time for Completion. All sewer mains assigned to the contractor are expected to be inspected within 115 Working Days from the Notice to Proceed date, unless otherwise agreed upon. 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.
6.
THE
ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE AGREEMENT NO. 20,493 FROM
2.1 Location and Description. The Project is located at various locations within Santa Barbara city limits, and is described as follows: The work includes inspect approximately 25.3 miles of 6” – 42”” diameter sanitary sewer mains per NASSCO PACP standards and bid specifications.
3.
EXECUTE
The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its CCTV INSPECTION SERVICES FOR FY22 (“Project”), by or before Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 3:00p.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 their 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 plan accordingly. The receiving time at on PlanetBids’ server will be the governing time for acceptability of bids. Telegraphic, telephonic, electronic, and facsimile bids will not be accepted.
Instructions to Bidders. All bidders should carefully review the Instructions to Bidders before submitting a Bid Proposal.
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll call vote: AYES:
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on December 15, 2021.
Retention Percentage. Retention will not be withheld from progress payments for this contract.
By: _______________________________________ William Hornung, C.P.M. General Services Manager
Date: ________________
Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
Publication Date: 12/22/21 Montecito Journal
23 – 30 December 2021
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
45
ORDINANCE NO. 6046
ORDINANCE NO. 6043
ORDINANCE NO. 6040
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA BARBARA APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING THE
SANTA
2021-2022
SANTA BARBARA APPROVING A RESTATED THIRTY-
WATERFRONT DIRECTOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE
YEAR LOAN AGREEMENT SECURED BY A RESTATED
AGREEMENT WITH SANTA BARBARA LANDING LLC,
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AND THE SANTA BARBARA
DEED OF TRUST IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 AND A
LOCATED AT 301 WEST CABRILLO BOULEVARD,
FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
NEW 90-YEAR AFFORDABILITY COVENANT WITH 2nd
The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular
KNOWN AS GREEN MOBILE HOME PARK LOCATED AT
BARBARA
ADOPTING
THE
COMMENCING UPON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE ENABLING ORDINANCE
meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December 14, 2021.
14, 2021.
provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara,
provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara, California. (Seal)
(Seal)
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
call vote:
call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
None
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
ABSTENTIONS:
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my
on December 15, 2021.
Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
46 MONTECITO JOURNAL
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager ORDINANCE NO. 6040 STATE OF CALIFORNIA
) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA ) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
call vote: AYES:
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
NOES:
None
ABSENT:
Councilmember Meagan Harmon
ABSTENTIONS:
None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance
on December 15, 2021.
on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor
(Seal)
hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara
on December 15, 2021.
I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance
California.
meeting held on December 14, 2021, by the following roll
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Alejandra Gutierrez, Oscar Gutierrez, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon, Mayor Cathy Murillo
/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, MMC City Clerk Services Manager
obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara,
ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and
adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara
provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the
ORDINANCE NO. 6043
ordinance was introduced on December 7, 2021 and
AYES:
14, 2021.
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on December
as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be
California.
ORDINANCE NO. 6046
1200 PUNTA GORDA STREET The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the
The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the
STORY ASSOCIATES FOR PROPERTY COMMONLY
on December 15, 2021.
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
“You know you’re getting old when Santa starts looking younger.” — Robert Paul
/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published December 22, 2021 Montecito Journal
23 – 30 December 2021
Notice Inviting Bids BID NO. 5936 OAK PARK DANCE FLOOR REPAIR 1.
Bid Submission. The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its Oak Park Dance Floor Repair Project (“Project”), by or before January 19, 2022, at 3:00.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 their 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 plan accordingly. The receiving time at on PlanetBids’ server will be the governing time for acceptability of bids. Telegraphic, telephonic, electronic, 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 is located at 600 W Junipero St, Santa Barbara and is described as follows: The purpose of this project is to restore approximately 2,800 square feet of the Oak Park Dance Floor space. Scope includes removing and replacing all visible framing including, sheeting, perimeter skirting, benches and handrail/guardrails. 2.2 Time for Completion. The Project must be completed within 45 calendar days from the start date set forth in the Notice to Proceed. City anticipates that the Work will begin on or about second week of February, but the anticipated start date is provided solely for convenience and is neither certain nor binding. 2.3 Estimate. The estimate for this Project is $93,000.00 2.4 Bidders’ Conference. A pre-bid conference will not be held. Contractor to visit site at 600 W. Junipero for the purpose of acquainting all prospective bidders with the Contract Documents and the Worksite. The dance floor is outside.
3.
License and Registration Requirements. 3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): B-GENERAL BUILDING LICENSE. 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 plans, specifications, bid forms and contract documents for the Project, and any addenda thereto (“Contract Documents”) may be downloaded from City’s website at: https://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=29959
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. The prevailing rates are on file with City and 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 separate performance and payment bonds for 100% of the Contract Price regardless of contract dollar amount, 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 complete Subcontractor List WITH ITS Bid Proposal through the PlanetBids portal. Failure to do will result in rejection of your bid. The Subcontractors List shall include the name, location of the place of business, California contractor license number, and percentage of the Work to be performed (based on the Base Bid) for each Subcontractor that will perform work or service or fabricate or install work for the prime contractor in excess of onehalf of 1% of the bid price.
10.
Instructions to Bidders. All bidders should carefully review the Instructions to Bidders before submitting a Bid Proposal.
11.
Retention Percentage. The percentage of retention that will be withheld from progress payments is five (5) percent.
By: _______________________________________ William Hornung, C.P.M. General Services Manager
Date: ________________
INVITATION FOR BIDS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that sealed bids will be received via electronic transmission on the City of Santa Barbara PlanetBids portal site until the date and time indicated below at which time they will be publicly opened and posted for: BID NO. 5938 DUE DATE & TIME: JANUARY 18, 2022 UNTIL 3:00 P.M. TRANSPORT, REFURBISH, REPAIR, SANDBLAST & POWDER COAT PUBLIC TRASH RECYCLING CONTAINERS Scope of Work: This project requires a contractor to refurbish containers. Contractor will pick up containers from the City’s Annex Yard located at 401 E. Yanonali Street and return containers to the same location after repairing, sandblasting and powder coating containers. Bidders must be registered on the city of Santa Barbara’s PlanetBids portal in order to receive addendum notifications and to submit a bid. Go to PlanetBids for bid results and awards. It is the responsibility of the bidder to submit their bid with sufficient time to be received by PlanetBids prior to the bid opening date and time. The receiving deadline is absolute. Allow time for technical difficulties, uploading, and unexpected delays. Late or incomplete Bid will not be accepted. If further information is needed, contact Caroline Ortega, Senior Buyer at (805) 564-5351or email: COrtega@santabarbaraca.gov FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE ACT Contractor agrees in accordance with Section 1735 and 1777.6 of California Labor Code, and the California Fair Employment Practice Act (Sections 1410-1433) that in the hiring of common or skilled labor for the performance of any work under this contract or any subcontract hereunder, no contractor, material supplier or vendor shall, by reason of age (over 40), ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, sex, gender identity and expression, marital status, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), national origin, race, religious belief, or sexual orientation, discriminate against any person who is qualified and available to perform the work to which such employment relates. The Contractor further agrees to be in compliance with the City of Santa Barbara’s Nondiscriminatory Employment Provisions as set forth in Chapter 9 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code. BONDING In accordance with Civil Code § 9550, the Successful Bidder shall furnish within ten (10) consecutive calendar days after written Notice of Award, a separate Performance Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount of the bid if the bid exceeds $25,000. If the renewal options are exercised, new bonds shall be provided. LIVING WAGE Any service purchase order contract issued as a result of this request for bids or quotes may be subject to the City’s Living Wage Ordinance No 5384, SBMC 9.128 and its implementing regulations. CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE Contractor must submit to the contracted department within ten (10) calendar days of an order, AND PRIOR TO START OF WORK, certificates of Insurance naming the City of Santa Barbara as Additional Insured in accordance with the attached Insurance Requirements. _______________________________ Published: 12/22/21 William Hornung, C.P.M. Montecito Journal General Services Manager
Publication Date: 12/22/21 Montecito Journal
23 – 30 December 2021
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA – GENERAL SERVICES DIVISION PO BOX 1990, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93102-1990
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
47
Our Town
by Joanne A. Calitri
Joanne is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com
Our Town’s 19th Annual Schools Holiday Concerts (Part 2 of 2)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School holiday performance by their dance program students (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)
Crane Country Day School Holiday Assembly with music teacher Konrad Kono on piano rocking it with Joel Jamison on drums (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)
H
ere is a look at four more holiday concerts that provided plenty of holiday cheer as we inch toward the new year:
Crane Country Day School
The school had a wonderful evening outdoor concert planned for Thursday, December 16 for families only, but as the much-needed rain continued that day, the school made the tough decision to cancel it. The next day, the school more than made up for it with their all-school morning assembly, with parents joining, adhering to masking and social distancing protocols. Led by their renowned music teacher Konrad Kono, the program showcased the kindergarten class reciting “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” dressed in pajamas, solos at the piano and violin by first and fourth grade students, and a dance duet by two sixth graders. The program ended with a
sing along, Kono at the electric piano and Joel Jamison on drums. Head of School Joel Weiss’ holiday greeting to the town, “We continue to feel so blessed to live in such a supportive community. If it’s a hike in the hills or a walk on the beach, we are tremendously grateful to live in this beautiful part of California — stay safe and have a happy and healthy holiday season.”
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Under the direction of Principal Tracie Simolon, the school held its hybrid Christmas concert outside for the school only, with masking and social distancing protocols. Each grade had designed their performance with songs, readings from the Jesse Tree, their interpretation of the Nativity as a bystander, and the all-grades Student Dance Program kids knocked it out of the park with some hip hop
Crane Country Day School Holiday Assembly kindergarten performance (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)
48 MONTECITO JOURNAL
moves. Sister Kathleen, head of outreach programs, gave a special thanks to all the students for making sure another child their age does not miss out on Christmas with their annual Giving Tree holiday event by donating new gifts for economically disadvantaged youth in Santa Barbara and Carpinteria. The project is coordinated with Santa Barbara Catholic Charities and People’s Self-Help Housing to ensure fair representation of hundreds of children and families in need. The parish also hosts an annual Christmas dinner for the mothers and children living at St. Vincent’s.
The YMCA Preschool
Director Annie Fischer led the students in the school’s annual Christmas program outside in the basketball court, with parents in the bleachers, masked and socially distanced. Students in Room 3 did the reenactment of the Christmas story and traditional songs, while Room 1
were the angels and Room 2 were the reindeers. The students made their own costumes. The program closed with all school classes singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
El Montecito Early School
Under newly appointed Director Meika McCrindle, with prior director Suzy Dobreski retiring at the end of October after 14 years, the school’s annual Christmas concert did a hybrid return with three individual classroom performances of Christmas songs and story readings outside for families only, with masking and social distancing protocols. “Christmas joy! Feeling so grateful this Christmas season to cherish these beautiful children and enjoy a Christmas concert for each class. Seeing families gathered to watch their children sing was such a gift. May God bless you during this holiday season,” McCrindle said. •MJ
The El Montecito Early School Pre-K classes with their teachers Melanie Cuxil and Christine Hale (Photo by Joanne A Calitri)
“Christmas is a box of tree ornaments that have become part of the family.” — Charles M. Schulz
23 – 30 December 2021
Best Buys (Continued from page 14) fessionally landscaped acres with a plunge pool and above ground hot tub make this retreat into nature an escape from the bustling world, all within the Montecito Union School District. An extensive remodel in 2015/2016 and continued work in 2019 with upgraded systems, air conditioning, a generator, solar panels, and 220volt power in the oversized garage will benefit the next owner of this home.
412 Lemon Grove Lane – $2,595,000
Nestled on a quiet lane in the coveted Montecito Union School District, and just a short block or two to school, this contemporary California Cottage stylehome with detached guest quarters is tucked behind flourishing fruit trees and gardens with an abundance of privacy. Sun-filled rooms, an easy flow floorplan, and open spaces are true to its design that seamlessly connects the indoors with the outdoors to maximize space for both relaxing and entertaining under a partially covered patio with spacious outdoor dining terrace and barbecue area. The detached one-bedroom, one-bath guest quarters with vaulted and beamed ceiling sits above the two-car garage with large picture window, fireplace, and its own personal ambiance. This is the lowest-priced home in the Montecito Union School District at the moment.
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Perfectly situated on a cul-de-sac lane in Montecito’s Hedgerow neighborhood, this quintessential California cottage-style home consists of a gorgeous main suite looking out to the 50-foot lap pool and lots of sunshine. There are an additional two bedrooms and paneled library/office. The living room and den share a two-sided fireplace just off the recently remodeled kitchen. Added to this are an attached guest suite, laundry room, and garage with lots of storage. Mountain views accent the backyards professionally designed and maintained raised beds, putting green, and patio with built-in BBQ. Add all this up and you have a house that can accommodate anything from a weekend getaway, to a home for those looking to be in the Montecito Union School District and just blocks from school — not to mention easy access to both the Upper and Lower villages and the Rosewood Miramar Beach just down the street. •MJ
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23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
49
Miscellany (Continued from page 18) Ernestine from California Revels (Photo by David Bazemore)
A&L partner Laura O’Connor, Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci, A&L Leadership Circle member Jillian Muller and friend Kate Shah (Photo by Isaac Hernandez)
be joyous!” We did and we certainly were.
Rob’s New Love
Fandango from California Revels (Photo by David Bazemore)
The story features the celebration of the upcoming wedding of the daughter of the presidio’s commander to the local representative for a Boston-based hide and tallow trading company. The entertaining show, with Erin McKibben as music director and Matt Tavianini as stage director, was originally presented in 2017 when the Thomas Fire canceled half the performances, and this year’s reprise has been updated with a fresh new approach. As Susan likes to say: “Join us and
Montecito actor Rob Lowe has a new love in his life. Rob, 57, who is about the embark on his third season with the Fox show 911: Lone Star, has bought a terrier named Daisy, who he takes to the studio regularly when he films the popular series. The new pooch replaces another terrier, Wayne, who was 14 when he went to doggie heaven last October. He revealed the latest addition to the family on his Instagram account which has two million followers. Paws for thought...
The fun fete also a featured a toy drive from United Way of Santa Barbara County as attendees swayed to the music of popular DJ Darla Bea while quaffing Southern Sangria, a heady concoction of cinnamon apples, cranberry, and red wine, and noshing on meatballs, stuffed mushroomed, deviled eggs, shrimp, and pork sliders. “It’s nice to have everyone coming
out again,” said Arts & Lectures executive Hector Medina. “Everybody is delighted to be getting back to normal.” Among the tony throng were Todd Aldrich, Mary Becker, Palmer and Susan Jackson, Dorothy Larry, Robert and Siri Marshall, Richard and Marilyn Mazess, Peter and Jillian Muller, Mary Jo Swallow, and Celesta Billeci.
Bash & Bluegrass
UCSB’s popular Arts & Lectures program welcomed 90 guests to the courtyard at the Arlington Theatre for its holiday bash before the performance of My Bluegrass Heart with Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Bryan Sutton. Hillary Hauser with Eileen and Charles Reed in front of her featured titled painting “Clownfish on Corals” (Photo by Priscilla)
A&L partners Siri and Bob Marshall with A&L council member Dorothy Largay (Photo by Isaac Hernandez)
50 MONTECITO JOURNAL
Wesley Anderegg and his humorous earthenware figures (Photo by Priscilla)
“I haven’t taken my Christmas lights down. They look so nice on the pumpkin.” — Winston Spear
23 – 30 December 2021
The team behind the Parade of Lights (Photo by Priscilla)
Mimi DeGruy, Pat McElroy, Paige Swanson, Heather Hudson, and Harry and Randy Rabin (Photo by Priscilla)
Healing Vibes
Heal the Ocean, the popular Santa Barbara nonprofit, received a tidal wave of support when it threw its Christmas party at the Carpinteria art gallery, Lobster Town USA, which in the New Year will be turning into the town’s first cannabis dispensary, owners Patrick and Maire Radis tell me. More than 150 guests turned out to see many of the colorful fishy art works on display by HTO’s bubbly executive director Hillary Hauser, with 20% of the proceeds going to the charity, with the Fantastic Fishes art selling for between $1,500 and $4,000. Comestibles were catered by Slate of Santa Barbara with wine donated by Wesley Anderegg of Buellton. Ben Boyce and Friends provided music. Among those making a splash were Thomas Rollerson, Frank and Marlene Bucy, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Mimi deGruy, Dick and Peggy Lamb, Gretchen Lieff and Miles Hartfeld, and Hunter and Casey Turpis.
An Annual Treat
Santa Barbara Choral Society was in fine voice at the Music Academy of the West’s Hahn Hall when it performed its popular annual Hallelujah! concert under veteran director JoAnne
Wasserman. The show featured soprano April Amante, mezzo soprano Tracy Van Fleet, tenor Benjamin Brecher, and baritone Ralph Cato singing parts of Handel’s much loved 1741 masterpiece as well as Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony No.6 in F Major.” The holiday audience joined in “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Personent Hodie.” Yuletide has truly arrived.
Rising to the Challenge
It was a family affair when former world champion surfer Montecitobased Shaun Tomson participated in his annual 100 Wave Challenge at Miramar Beach. Shaun joined his brother Paul, son Luke, and students from Montecito Union School for the organization Boys to Men Mentoring, and it was hoped the nautical effort would raise around $500,000, which helps youngsters aged between 13 and 15 stay on the straight and narrow. Normally the challenge is held on Mission Beach near San Diego, but Shaun, 66, decided to stay closer to home this year. “Why would I put myself through three or four hours in 56-degree
Santa Claus makes his way through the Parade of Lights (Photo by Priscilla)
23 – 30 December 2021
water?” he explained. “I’m 100% behind the [Boys to Men Mentoring] program!”
Light It Up!
After a two year break the 35th Annual Parade of Lights was back with a bang — and 10 tons of snow! City Pier was turned into a Winter Wonderland complete with holiday elves as more than 30 colorfully illuminated sailing boats and dozens of stand-up paddlers and kayakers in festive attire embarked on a 30-minute cruise from Leadbetter Beach to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion and back to Stearns Wharf. The fun marine fest, Magic Under the Moonlight, ended with a seven-minute fireworks display. “We had a huge turnout,” enthused Monica Broumand of the Harbor Patrol. “It was fun, festive, and magical. People were clearly dying to get out!”
David Sadecki, Andra Escola, and Eli Parker (Photo by Priscilla)
The late singer Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch has been restored back into a “children’s paradise” by new billionaire owner Ron Burkle, who purchased the 2,700-acre property a year ago for $22 million. Burkle, 69, co-founder of venture capitalist Yucaipa Companies, has restored carnival rides and repaired the train track which wraps around the sprawling Los Olivos property. He was a financial adviser to Jackson, who died in 2009, and snapped up the property, now renamed the Sycamore Valley Ranch from Santa Barbara Polo Club patron Tom Barrack for nearly $80 million less than the original asking price. The estate has been on and off the market since 2016.
would often visit her grandparents at their Kent estate, Chartwell, now run by Britain’s National Trust. I first met Celia through her Manhattan-based older sister, Edwina, an accomplished artist and sculptor who was married to Cornish Member of Parliament Piers Dixon, nearly 30 years ago and we became good friends. In her new tome she recalls watching Queen Elizabeth’s coronation procession in 1953 from a balcony in Whitehall and accompanying Churchill as a youngster on his jaunts to the Mediterranean, including attending parties on Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis’s yacht Christina with opera legend Maria Callas and Jackie O, widow of President John Kennedy. The book was released appropriately enough on what would have been Churchill’s 147th birthday.
‘Churchill’s Little Redhead’
Sightings
Never Say Never
An old friend, Celia Sandys, the granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, has written an entertaining new memoir. Celia, 78, daughter of the wartime Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, Diana, and her cabinet minister husband, Duncan Sandys, relates in “Churchill’s Little Redhead” how she • The Voice of the Village •
Million Dollar Listing’s Josh Flagg at the Rosewood Miramar... Grammy singer Steve Tyrell at the Manor Bar... Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr. noshing at Oliver’s Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when needed, and get vaccinated. Happy Holidays! •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL
51
NOSH TOWN
by Claudia Schou
Exotic Petits Gâteaux and Lemon Raspberry Kisses:
These are a Few of Pâtissiere Alessia Guehr’s Favorite Things A pistachio crème croissant
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52 MONTECITO JOURNAL
I
t all started with a desire for a wellmade cappuccino. I was headed to a work meeting and needed a quick jolt of caffeine. I crossed the street and followed my curiosity to the French-inspired bakery that opened last summer adjacent to the Presidio. That morning, the first of my many visits to Alessia Patisserie & Cafe located downtown on Canon Perdido Street, there were businessmen in blue jeans, families pushing strollers, and ladies who brunch during the week. On entering, I noticed a long line of customers: All eyes were on the pastry case, a caisson of chocolates, truffles, tarts, and a smorgasbord of pastries ranging from exotic fruits petits gâteaux, Paris-Brest (a French dessert made of choux pastry and cream filling), cranberry orange éclairs and milk chocolate chai s’mores cruffins, among other decadent selections. A young woman dressed in a black short-sleeve chef’s shirt and pinstripe blue apron with her hair pulled up came out of the kitchen and busily began filling the case with meltin-your-mouth gems like individual lemon-raspberry meringue tarts with buttery crusts, cloud-like puffs of choux with a heavenly silken gianduja mousse inside, and ambrosial lemon mousse cakes with raspberry cremeux, dipped in white chocolate with pistachios. The busy bee was Alessia Guehr, a second-generation pâtissiere and Santa
“Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and receipts for all major purchases.” —Bridger Winegar
Barbara native. Taking over the space previously occupied by Me So Hungry, Guehr unveiled the cafe in July with a neo-classic interior design and Frenchinspired pastries. It’s a spacious and elegant boutique displaying a rotating case of roughly 18 cakes and tarts and 25 breakfast pastries. A chef’s uniform is like a second skin for Guehr, who got her start in the kitchen of her parents’ restaurants. Her father, Norbert Schulz, is a classically trained master chef, who, with his wife Brigitte Guehr, conceived some of the most memorable dining establishments in the area. Some of Guehr’s early kitchen memories include helping her dad torch crème brûlées. In her teens, she landed a summer helper job at the Biltmore Four Seasons Resort, where she worked for nearly a decade. “My mentor at Four Seasons was Don Hall,” she said. “He really fostered a learning relationship and taught me a lot of techniques and methods I use today.” Guehr held pastry chef positions at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon and Le Marais Bakery in San Francisco before returning to Santa Barbara to help her father open The Nook in the Funk Zone. When the eatery shuttered earlier this year, Guehr decided it was time to open her own place. She had imagined a mix of a European bakery and a pastry shop and called it Alessia Patisserie & Cafe. 23 – 30 December 2021
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A milk chocolate chai s’mores cruffin The pastry chef Alessia Guehr with assistant pastry chef Jordan Pilarski, left, has opened her bakery and cafe in the Presidio
Inside, the decor offers signature touches that are just as impressive as the sweets on display: cream and mocha-colored leaf wall covering, crystal gumdrop chandeliers, bronzy chocolate brown high back banquettes, white leather chairs and marble table tops set with tiny bouquets of fresh cut flowers. There is a bar in the front section with a view of the Presidio. The dining room is bright and spacious with seating for 27, and the patio accommodates up to 20. But diners don’t just come for the view. They crave the buttery croissants, plain or dipped in flavors such as baklava, chocolate peppermint, pistachio creme or chocolate gianduja (an Italian hazelnut spread), to name a few. Guehr offers an artisanal approach to her pastries, especially danishes, with savory and sweet options such as black truffles, ricotta, caramelized onions and chanterelles or vanilla custard filling, topped with freshly glazed blueberries. While the pastries are delectable, the desserts are in the realm of the divine. The candy bar is a four-layer cake with a crunchy hazelnut chocolate base and a layer of salted caramel covered with chocolate brownie cake and topped with chocolate mousse and milk chocolate chantilly. It’s cut into bars, then dipped in milk chocolate. Chocolate feathers and edible gold leaf are added as a final touch. “When you build a dessert, you want to have different textures and break it up a little bit so it’s more enjoyable,” Guehr said. “The elements we’re going for are sweet, salty, bitter, texture and crunch,” affable assistant pastry chef Jordan Pilarski chimed in. Pilarski studied baking at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, and worked for Ritz-Carlton for several years before joining forces with Guehr to oversee the baking and pastry production. 23 – 30 December 2021
Both use their imagination to update house classics such as éclairs and fruit tarts, occasionally pushing new flavor combinations. Each creation has its own intricate layers of delicacy and richness from natural fruit flavors. Pastries and plated desserts range in price from $8 to $15. For the lemon raspberry tart, Pilarski bakes a lemon madeleine cake with lemon curd and raspberry jam inside a vanilla tart shell. He then places the tart on a turntable and pipes it with Swiss meringue. When you cut the dessert in half it looks like a psychedelic Hershey’s Kiss. For the holidays, Pilarski reimagined a Santa’s Hat in a neoclassical style. He infuses the citrus cheesecake mousse-filled pastry with red berry jelly and pistachio sable and adds a vanilla marshmallow pom pom for holiday pizazz. Besides pastries and desserts, the cafe offers a rotating menu of French-inspired breakfast and lunch classics such as quiche ($14.50), croque monsieur ($16.50) and salmon Niçoise ($22), as well as original dishes inspired by European tastes, such as Blue Crab crêpe with lemon hollandaise ($24), duck confit with cinnamon-walnut bread, sauteed mushrooms, onion jam, arugula and dijonnaise ($19.50) and smashed avocado with pickled red onion, cucumber, microgreens, cherry tomato, French feta and soft boiled egg on whole grain toast ($15.50). Guehr collaborates with consulting chef Leonard Gensolin, formerly of Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore, on the menu. “I design the menu and he executes it. We bring the five-star experience to a local bakery.”
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Alessia Patisserie & Cafe
Open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday 7 am to 3:30 pm. Weekend brunch from 8 am to 3 pm. 134 East Canon Perdido Street, (805) 679-5900, alessiapatisserie.com. •MJ • The Voice of the Village •
WWW.CARPKITCHEN.COM 4945A CARPINTERIA AVENUE (805) 318-9400 MONTECITO JOURNAL
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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING (805) 565-1860 ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES
THE CLEARING HOUSE, LLC Recognized as the area’s Premier Estate Liquidators - Experts in the Santa Barbara Market! We are Skilled Professionals with Years of Experience in Downsizing and Estate Sales. Personalized service. Insured. Call for a complimentary consultation. Elaine (805)708-6113 Christa (805)450-8382 Email: theclearinghouseSB@cox.net Website: www.theclearinghouseSB.com MOVING MISS DAISY
wine, coins, memorabilia, even rare classic cars and motorcycles. Dana Ehrman is a Graduate Gemologist with over 30 years of experience buying and selling luxury property. CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION (310) 736-5896 or email LuxurySellingSolutions@gmail.com
TRESOR We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd suite V. 805 969-0888
Childhood Covid vaccine information: If you have a child aged 5-17 years old and are in process of deciding whether or not to have them vaccinated, I urge you to consider joining us for a local town hall style meeting where important questions will be addressed regarding safety, effectiveness, school requirements etc. To RSVP or get detailed information please email or call me (Steven): sabbey4@gmail.com or 661-561-9449.
WHO DO YOU TRUST WHEN SELLING YOUR VALUABLES? Luxury Selling Solutions (formerly CARES) is an independent luxury selling service, providing smart strategic selling options of cash, consignment or public auction for your valuables in today’s most lucrative markets. We help you retain the profits from your jewelry, fine watches, fine art, silver, sculpture,
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SPECIAL SERVICES
PERSONAL AD Senior Male Seeking Female Companion I am a financially successful, 65-year-old, attractive, athletic, Caucasian. Please contact georgeslogin2017@gmail.com
POSITION AVAILABLE
Personal Training for 60+ BalanceStrength-Fitness In-person, fully customized programs help you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. If you’re recovering from surgery or an injury, my simple strategies help you regain and maintain your physical fitness. STILLWELL FITNESS – John Stillwell – CPT,BA PHYS ED- 805-705-2014
Retired Professional Needs RN experienced in Home Care Management 3-4 days a week. Patient Walking. Very nice Montecito location. Please call 805 969-6687
Want to improve the way you move? House calls for personalized exercise sessions for those with PARKINSON’s DISEASE and SENIORS. Certified in PD specific exercises (PWR! MovesParkinson’s Wellness Recovery)evidenced-based moves which target the key areas affected by PD. Josette Fast, Physical Therapist 805-722-8035
We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Porsche/Mercedes We come to you. 1(805)220-9270
$8 minimum
WHAT’S YOUR STORY?? Would you like to preserve your life story as a biographical documentary? Professional production services. Don’t wait!! Affordable (805) 769-7459
EXCEPTIONAL ESTATE/PROPERTY MGR Trusted, Creative & Polished Bespoke Design Consultant International Background NEED A GRACIOUS & HOSPITABLE PRESENCE ON YOUR PROPERTY THEN CONTACT B: info@cinnabarB.com 805.455.8576
HEALTH INFORMATION
PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY
Full Service SAFE Senior Relocation and Estate Liquidation Services Including: Packing and Unpacking, Estate Sales, Online Auctions and our own Consignment Shop! We are Licensed, Bonded, Liability Insured, Workers Comped, Certified by The National Assoc Of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) and The American Society of Estate Liquidators (ASEL). Glenn Novack, Owner. 805-770-7715 info@movingmissdaisy.com MovingMissDaisy.com Consignments@MovingMissDaisy.hibid.com
GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP New Visual sent At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086
will be ready in plenty of time for the 2022 holidays. David Wilk (805) 455-5980 www.BiographyDavidWilk.com
POSITION WANTED EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Organize receipts for taxes, pay bills, write checks, reservations, scheduling. Confidential. Semi-retired professional. Excellent references. Sandra (805) 636-3089.
DONATIONS NEEDED Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland CA 93067 (805) 969-1944 Donate to the Parrot Pantry! At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies. Volunteers
AUTOMOBILES WANTED
WRITING SERVICES The Magnificent Gift. A biographical book as a present for a beloved parent or spouse. Preserve their life story for family, friends and future generations with a professional, entertaining, comprehensive biography or autobiography, including family history. Gift them this season and our finished book
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
It’s Simple. Charge is $2 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $8 per week/issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email text to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860 and we will respond with a cost. Deadline for inclusion is Friday before 2 pm. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex “Some people are born for Halloween, and some are just counting the days until Christmas.” — Stephen Jones
Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes. For more information info@k-9pals.org or 805-570-0415.
23 – 30 December 2021
ADVERTISE IN THE LOCAL BUSINESS DIRECTORY (805) 565-1860 FRENCH VINTAGES
WE BUY BOOKS Historical Paintings Vintage Posters Original Prints
Art Collectibles & Furniture www.frenchvintages.net or jzaimeddine@yahoo.com
FREE DELIVERY ANYWHERE
JACQUES
661-644-0839
805-962-4606
info@losthorizonbooks.com
LOST HORIZON BOOKSTORE now in Montecito, 539 San Ysidro Road
STEVEN BROOKS JEWELERS Appraisals for Estates and Insurance Graduate Gemologist ~ Established 1974 Sales of Custom Designed and Estate Jewelry Purchasing Estates sbjewelers@gmail.com or 805-455-1070
CA$H ON THE SPOT CLASSIC CARS RV’S • CARS SUV • TRUCKS MOTORHOMES We come to you! 702-210-7725
Just Good Doggies Loving Pet Care in Our Home
$50 a night Carole (805)452-7400 carolebennett@mail.com Free Pick-up & Drop-off with a week’s stay or more Come play and romp in the Santa Ynez Valley
ARE YOU CONSIDERING ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY? H
arvard trained orthopedic surgeon, Richard Scheinberg, has extensive experience in the new and developing field of Orthobiologics which utilizes your own bodies healing abilities in the form of Stem Cells and PRP (concentrated platelets) to treat joint and musculoskeletal problems which previously required arthroscopic or joint replacement surgeries. “Having performed thousands of surgical procedures I know how challenging recovery from those procedures can be. Prior to considering surgery you should consider the less invasive option of injeciton of your own stem cells in combination with concentrated platelets. The procedure is safe with excellent outcomes in the majority of patients who regain significant pain relief and function in a short period of time. To determine whether you are a candidate please call my office for consultation.”
SPORTS MEDICINE | ADULT STEM CELL ARTHROSCOPY | ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY
401 NORTH CHAPALA, SUITE 201 | (805) 682.1394 WWW.RDSCHEINBERG.COM 23 – 30 December 2021
• The Voice of the Village •
MONTECITO JOURNAL
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“Good Food for Good People”
LUCKY’S steaks /chops /seafood /cocktails
Dinner & Cocktails Nightly, Lunch Monday-Friday, Brunch Saturday & Sunday Montecito’s neighborhood bar and restaurant. 1279 Coast Village Road Montecito CA 93108 (805)565-7540 www.luckys-steakhouse.com Photography by Alexandra DeFurio