No Ghost Village Road

Measuring Up 29 Oct – 5 Nov 2020 Vol 26 Issue 44

SERVING MONTECITO AND SUMMERLAND

NO GHOST VILLAGE ROAD

Cold Spring Superintendent answers looming questions over school’s contentious $7.8 million school bond, p. 5

BOO HOO!

Subverting Saturday Mornings

Catching up with Montecito screenwriting husband-wife duo Bill and Cheri Steinkellner, p. 50

Career Crossover

How the closure of concert halls is bringing this jazz quartet into your home, p. 20

(STORY BEGINS ON PAGE 6)

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN EVENT CANCELLED FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1996.

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ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING THIS YEAR'S EVENT, WE WISH YOU A VERY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN!

Rarefied Air

The narrowing market for $10 million-plus top estates and beachfront homes, p. 16

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MONTECITO JOURNAL

29 October – 5 November 2020

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29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

3

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Inside This Issue

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Editor’s Letter

6

On the Record

8

Letters to the Editor

Gwyn Lurie seeks the truth about Cold Spring School bond L2020 straight from the sources Ghost Village Road cancelled for first time in history; the politics surrounding local school reopenings Words from the bear’s mouth, community members continue writing in about Cold Spring bond L2020, and more

11 On Entertainment

5.54% Cap Rate | $259 per SF Two-building industrial/office property (38,168 SF on 1.73 acres) in a prominent Upper State location between Santa Barbara and Goleta, with easy US 101 access. Recent improvements include a roof replacement and new parking lot. Asking price $9,900,000 Contact Steve or Fran to arrange a showing!

Santa Barbara High School Theatre’s new director; exploring the difference between collecting and hoarding; Pee-wee Herman 30 years later; SBIFF’s Cinema Society Sizzling

12 Summerland Buzz

Summerland Citizens Association seeks two board members; Highway 101 widening about to break ground; welcome to the neighborhood Maria Sharapova; more

16 Real Estate

Mark Hunt takes us into the rarefied air that is the market for $10 million-plus Montecito grand estates

18 Montecito Miscellany

Katy Perry and beau Orlando Bloom splash the cash out on new estate; James Corden’s son stars in Janet Adderley play; William Dalziel’s first illustrated storybook; lots lots more

20 Live at Home Steve Hayes 805.898.4370

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Unable to play live music, a quartet of seasoned musicians brings the jazz club to your home

23 Brilliant Thoughts

What’s in a name? asks Ashleigh Brilliant. Well, quite a lot if your name happens to be Katrina or Enola or even Bertha.

In Passing

Remembering Joyce Enright, who led a career in real estate and a life devoted to faith, prayer, and her daughters

26 Perspectives by Rinaldo S Brutoco

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Solar panels save schools money that goes to higher teacher wages; wildlife crossings across 101 can save mountain lions

27 Robert’s Big Questions

“Do you know what is the opposite of progress?” asks Robert Bernstein. Why, it’s fashion, of course.

Purely Political

James Buckley has a better idea than getting rid of the Electoral College and allowing the popular vote to choose our presidents

30 Our Town

Arts in Lockdown Series Part 13: Multi-instrumentalist Portland musician Elle Archer

31 Nosh Town

In the kitchen with Serkaddis Alemu of Petit Valentien, which on weekends serves an Ethiopian brunch

32 Dear Montecito

Thousands of miles from Ghost Village Road, Stella Pierce resurrects the ghosts at her college dormitory in Scotland

34 People of Montecito

The Perfect Fit’s Patricia Moo

35 Library Mojo

Staying connected through the library; SB Reads: Create!; meet author Elizabeth Gilbert; virtual book club

42 Your Westmont

College hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning historian; masked singers offer “Choral Celebration”; digging archeology and the Bible

47 Far Flung Travel

Chuck Graham chronicles the fastest land mammal in all of North America: the pronghorn antelope

49 People of Montecito

Shalini Lewis’ earliest memories of Montecito

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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MONTECITO JOURNAL

“A person should always choose a costume which is in direct contrast to her own personality.” – Lucy Van Pelt

29 October – 5 November 2020

Editor’s Letter

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

Shouldn’t We Try to Do Better?

M

y friend’s mother used to say: “Just because you’re the loudest, doesn’t mean you’re right.” From time to time I invoke this during vociferous dinner table debates amongst members of my family.

But in a world where facts go unchecked on social media platforms, where vocal minorities can represent anything as truth, it can be hard to ascertain what’s what.

This seems to be the case with the campaigns being waged, both for and against, Cold Spring School’s Measure L Bond. From both opponents and supporters have come accusations of bullying and misinformation and sadly, this debate seems to have devolved in a way that is not helpful to voters who are just trying to make an informed decision. But more importantly, the conversation has taken on a vituperative and scorched-earth tone mirroring our degraded national discourse. Can’t we do better or at least shouldn’t we try?

Reasonable people can disagree on the merits of this or any bond. Even people who love children and believe strongly in the importance of education can legitimately side against a school bond measure, which are historically unpopular.

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To be clear, we have no horse in this race. While the Journal gave Measure L a qualified endorsement which we stand by, the only outcome we are deeply invested in is the truth.

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Because in Montecito our local schools are primarily community funded – 14% of our property tax dollars go to our schools – and because our property values are higher than in some other Community Funded districts, like Santa Barbara for example, Cold Spring and Montecito Union School (MUS) historically have more money to spend on instruction, per kid, than many other schools. This can give the impression that our local schools are financially set.

But maintaining school facilities is expensive and not maintaining them can be financially ruinous.

Having chaired the MUS School board in 2012 during our district’s failed 27-million-dollar bond attempt, I learned some important lessons: Foremost, I learned that most people don’t want their taxes raised, period.

Even though it can be argued that improving a community’s schools improves local property values.

I learned it is hard to get community members to pay attention to even the most important ballot initiatives until very close to an election, when residents who normally don’t have much reason to pay attention to what’s going on with local schools, can suddenly feel they’ve been blindsided – sometimes despite a school’s best efforts to keep the community informed.

I also learned that there is no replacement for actively working well in advance of an election to educate community members as to why a school feels it needs community support through a bond.

Finally, I learned that a small group of aggrieved neighbors or community members can have a large influence on a bond’s outcome through powerful messaging – fact-based or not. And that sometimes, such messaging can threaten not only the bond measure’s outcome, but the reputations of the school itself.

And that was before local social media platforms like Nextdoor existed. My takeaway was that working to build bridges even with those who oppose you is important, and in doing so you may even find some unlikely allies.

Bonds are complicated, and it is easy to get the facts wrong. Even in our own reporting we’ve made a mistake. Last week MJ’s Nick Schou misreported the cost of the bond to the taxpayer as being approximately $100 dollars per $100,000 of assessed property value. The correct number is somewhere between 11 and 14 dollars per $100,000 of assessed property value. That’s a big difference to be sure and we apologize for that error.

To be clear, the Montecito Journal has no horse in this race. While the Journal

29 October – 5 November 2020

Editorial Page 104 • The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

5

On the Record

by Nicholas Schou

Nicholas Schou is an award-winning investigative journalist and author of several books, including Orange Sunshine and Kill the Messenger. If you have tips or stories about Montecito, please email him at newseditor@montecitojournal.net

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THOUSANDS OF COSTUMED KIDS TO DE COAST VILLAGE SCE ND ON RO ANNUAL TRICK- AD FOR OR-TREAT EXT RAVAGA NZ A (STORY ON P. 18)

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Despite maddening mid-street construction, Montecito’s lower village prepares for thousands of ghouls, goblins, superheroes, and princesses for trick-or-treating extravaganza (story on p.12)

The Collins

r Should Be Mayo for and Frank Hotchkiss most folks are

He’s for what sales tax hike; the big 13.5% p. 5 he’s against could one ask?, what more

GHOST V I L L AG E R OA D

RecognizingSend Heroes Glen Phillips Toad’s the Line In flame and former New love, new home, new album, Toad Jim Marsh and SkylarJudy PeakCollins honored er 28 at Singer The Memories reuniteinOctob the Wet Sprocket’s lead singer pours his byd Montecito Fire for en heroic Thanks For late father Ronal Stillsefforts Steph 24 her at preventing spread of Arlingt brush fire, p.31 e, p. heart into his guitar, p.20 on Theatr In honor of speak Davis set to , p. 20 Reagan, Patti Matters” event “Your Brain

On The Money Villagfavorite e Beat home value is Montecito’s The Monar at Monte $2.995ch million as 10 the citoproperties Inn closes on doors; Copus its family market sport to that openprice tag, p.45 in its place in 2020, own restaurant p. 12

40 Years of Good

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Quite possibly Santa gest-standing band, Barbara’s lonTom Ball & Kenny Sultan celebrate 40 years at Lobero , p. 24

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Unlike years past, Halloween is officially ghosting Coast Village Road this October. Thanks, 2020!

E

very Halloween since 1996, the year after Montecito Journal’s first issue hit local newsstands, Coast Village Road has turned into “Ghost Village Road.” The annual event typically drew upwards of 1,000 parading trickor-treaters along Coast Village Road, where local shop owners, restaurateurs, and hoteliers would hand out candy and in some cases create pop-up haunted houses for the little ones.

Not even the tragic Thomas Fire and mudslides two years ago could stop the tradition. But this year, for the first time in a quarter-century, thanks to nothing less than a global pandemic, the event has been cancelled. According to a notice put out last week by the Coast Village Association (CVA), while local merchants will be very much celebrating the holiday in spirit, the necessity of safe social-distancing requires the unfortunate hiatus.

According to MJ founder James Buckley, the term “Ghost Village Road” is actually something of an inside joke, given that 25 years ago, Coast Village Road was hardly the bustling commercial district with constantly backed-up traffic that you see today.

“I’m pretty sure I gave this event its name when we started it the first year,” Buckley said. “The term comes from the fact that back then, Santa Barbara and particularly Montecito were still sleepy outposts of Los Angeles, and Coast Village Road had no business going on, and so people called it Ghost Village Road.”

The idea for a Halloween parade came about as a way to try to lively up the eerily desolate commercial landscape each autumn. “Merchants started responding right away, including all the realtors, but in particular the stores and restaurants,” Buckley said, adding that, for the first few years, at least 50 percent or more of the kids who participated in the event were from Montecito, whereas in later years it began to draw trick-or-treaters from much further afield.

In the beginning, said Buckley, there was no police presence at all, with the

On The Record Page 224 224

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Letters to the Editor

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

Put Our Children First

O

At Calcagno & Hamilton, we love our community and we love real estate.

ur family moved into the Cold Spring School District on the eve of the Thomas Fire. We chose the district because we had first-hand experience with Dr. Amy Alzina’s leadership at Adams Elementary School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Her student-centered focus and educational vision is the perfect recipe for successful schools.

At Adams Elementary, during Dr. Alzina’s tenure, we experienced an amazing turn-around in student achievement. The whole child approach and loving environment that we now have at Cold Spring School were the ingredients that ultimately led to Adams achieving California Distinguished School status and National ESEA Distinguished School in 2018. To achieve the National ESEA status, Adams Elementary was ranked as one of the top 100 Title I achieving schools in the nation based upon student achievement.

In 2010, the Santa Barbara Unified School District passed a school bond

to replace aging infrastructure and replace portables. At Adams, the district replaced a library that was in a portable and built a new science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (“STEAM”) classroom. Dr. Alzina was a staunch advocate for the new library and classroom because she understood the importance of investing in our schools and providing the best learning environments for our children. I supported that bond.

Cold Spring School is an older campus than Adams Elementary. In California, funding for school buildings and infrastructure is left to each individual community to fund through general obligation bonds.

The school is in need of the proposed improvements. Repairing and replacing an aging fire alarm system, sewer lines and water lines are not things you want to ignore. If we have the opportunity to incorporate a new learning environment into our already

Letters Page 484

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Editorial (Continued from page 5) gave Measure L a qualified endorsement, which we still stand by, the only outcome we are committed to is an accurate reporting of the facts.

Over the past few weeks we have received a number of letters from bond opponents which include charges against Cold Spring School, charges we’ve seen repeated in social and other media, that are quite serious. Some of these charges appear to be unfounded, while others we have been simply unable to verify. These charges pertain not only to Measure L, but involve the reputations of members of Cold Spring’s staff, faculty, and its Board of Trustees. So we take this very seriously. This is a small town and these dust-ups affect people we know and respect on both sides and we feel it is incumbant upon us to try to provide as much transparency as possible for our readers.

It is for this reason that Nick Schou and I reached out to Dr. Amy Alzina, Cold Spring’s Superintendent, and Jennifer Miller, the District’s School Board President, to ask some clarifying questions and to give them a forum with which to address thsese charges in thier own words.

We hope you find this helpful.

MJ: Why does the district need a $7.8 million bond for facilities improvements?

Dr. Alzina: This number is coming from not just my administration, but the prior administration. There’s a facilities master plan that was created in 2006 in which these needs were identified and have been put off and several bond measures have failed. As you know, school districts don’t get money for facilities.

If you use money for facilities, it takes away from your educational program.

And we don’t want to take away from our education program. We’ve been the highest performing district in the state for the last two years. And one way you avoid using funds you need for education, is to ask your community to support facilities and our ask is at $7.8 billion.

Some have questioned the timing of this bond. So why now?

Dr. Alzina: The reason why we’re asking now, in the middle of a pandemic, is because interest rates are at an all-time low. So we’re trying to be mindful of our taxpayers. The tax could be as low as $11 for $100,000 of assessed value or as much as $14.

It’s about our kids. And it’s also about us. We are a community that has a vision and we need to replace those portables. No public school in the State of California should have portable classrooms. And I’ve been an advocate, as you know, for that when I was in Santa Barbara Unified and when I was at Adams School. We got rid of portables, our portable library and built in a state-of-theart library and classroom and in turn, student achievement increased and so did home values. So everyone benefits when you support your local school.

Why is it better to be in permanent structures than bungalows?

Dr. Alzina: It’s the health and safety of our students. The portable that we removed last year had mold growing in it. That’s not okay. And we know through studies that that happens in portable classrooms because of water erosion, the sprinkler system or the rotting, the aging. Portables aren’t meant to be long-term structures. They were never designed to replace permanent structures. And unfortunately, in public education, we’ve settled in and that’s

it's All About the Service

what has happened.

Our vision is to create indoor-outdoor learning spaces. Especially with COVID we’re having to do that. Portable classrooms don’t allow you to do that because there’s no space for students to have that indoor, flexible learning space. And these new spaces are really designed around students. Before, you would have a classroom and say, “Okay, now, students will fit into that classroom.” Now, we’re designing spaces based on the needs of our students. We are creating project-based learning experiences for our students, so what type of equipment, what type of learning is the flexible learning spaces for our kids?

And we’re wanting to reach outside of our community. We’ve already had community partnerships. I had a superintendent come yesterday onto our campus and look at our flexible learning spaces and say, “Okay, this is how to do it.”

And same thing with our STEAM [Science, Technology, Arts and Math] program. I have superintendents and principals always looking at what type of educational program are you offering and what is your vision? And as we’re creating it, we share what we’ve learned and so they can replicate that at their school site. So our new STEAM classroom, which we need, is really meant to be a learning hub for teachers and for students.

And we have Westmont students that come down and they serve and support our students. And they’re learning best teaching practices. And so we are growing in it and it is our desire to be that space and with our partner college, that students teachers come in and they leave as exceptional teachers in the field of education.

One criticism is that you have a million dollars in reserves. Why don’t you just spend it on this?

Dr. Alzina: So, I think this piece is hard for people to understand. Even educators sometimes don’t understand this piece, that especially for Basic Aid districts (Community Funded schools) our income [from property taxes] comes in only twice a year. So we have to build up our reserves so we can pay the bills so we don’t have to take out a loan.

We are constantly lending money to ourselves. When I came here our reserves were at 5% and the County said, “You’re in trouble here because you might have to take out what’s called a Trans [loan]; you’re going to have to borrow money, which means you’re basically throwing money away, because the interest rates are very high.”

And so we built up our reserves to 25%, so that we can pay the bills and that we have a little bit of a cushion for when there’s a pandemic. Like remote learning or in-person learning, you can pull from that.

Critics are saying that money from Cold Spring’s still outstanding 2008 Measure C bond is being used to fund your current Measure L campaign. Is that true?

Dr. Alzina: Measure C Bond funds have only been used to fund school projects that are authorized by Measure C. Just to be clear, you are saying that no leftover Measure C cash has been spent on Measure L? Dr. Alzina: Back in 2008, the district went out for a $14 million bond, that bond measure failed, then they went the same year for a $2.4 million bond, which was Measure C, which passed. But there was a $12 million discrepancy between the need for upgrades and what we got. That Measure C money was used for the library and auditorium. There are minutes all the way up to 2013 about how that money was used. There was $139k left from Measure C. None of that money was used for Measure L. No funds from Measure C have been used for Measure L. But there is a huge need because the facilities master plan in 2008 identified a need of $14 million and we only got $2 million. With Measure L, we are only going for $7.8 million to get three new classrooms, but we will also use the $139,000 left over from Measure C to help pay for modernizing classrooms.

We’d like to continue the modernizing and get it all done and Measure L will also support that effort as well. Our goal is to get everything done. We don’t want to have to go back to the taxpayers again.

Editorial Page 464

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“When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, ‘tis near Halloween.” – Unknown

29 October – 5 November 2020

On Entertainment

by Steven Libowitz

A Bald(ridge) New World of Theater at SBHS

F

or some, stepping in as Santa Barbara High School Theatre’s new director might have included imagining the daunting task of filling the oversize shoes of predecessor Otto Layman, who retired last spring after 25 years at the helm. But Justin Baldridge doesn’t see his role as trying to duplicate what the beloved Layman accomplished in his quarter-century at the helm, but rather to bring his own vision to the estimable program that has spawned a number of professional careers over the years.

It’s a vision that he’s honed over a varied career that has careened between both coasts, in and out of educational positions, and from acting to directing. While Baldridge’s most recent work has been on professional productions Off-Broadway in New York, he actually found his first jobs in Justin Baldridge, the new director of Santa the arts as a high school theater teach- Barbara High School Theatre, brings his own er right here in Southern California, a vision to the estimable program decade in the public schools including seven at Redondo Union High. Ironically, he never even auditioned for any roles up through his own high school years, because his first love was music, a field he only abandoned at college when he found that “it wasn’t what I thought it would be.”

Switching to majoring in theater on the advice of a friend, Baldridge said he struggled initially. “I was terrible at it for the first year and a half because I knew nothing,” he said with a laugh. “But then everything sort of clicked into place, and I grew and grew and grew.”

Aiding other youngsters to discover their passion, purpose, and focus far younger than he did is part of Baldridge’s mission for his new gig at SBHS, which he accepted after the COVID shutdown caused all his New York work to dry up. “But I always loved teaching and I love getting to do it again,” he said. And he’s more than delighted to bring that experience in the fast-paced professional world back home to California to give the students here the best of both worlds.

“A lot of these students here want to pursue theater professionally, and they have to be able to make choices on their own and just go for it,” he explained.

“I’m starting to drop the seeds of that, which I want to do anyway, because I like to challenge students to make their own choices and let them discover things rather than have me tell them exactly what I want. I put a lot of weight on my actors’ shoulders which I think helps them grow, so that by the end of the program, I want them to have a really clear individual voice and a point of view about everything. I like students that are opinionated. And I like to help foster their opinion in a good way.”

Baldridge found that desire to bridge the gap between educational and professional theater naturally through his own work experience, especially after he left teaching to work as a director in New York.

“When you’re working with students, you really play acting coach/mentor/ director and the line gets really skewed because you have to do all three in the learning environment,” he explained. “It was a big adjustment in New York because it was only then that I finally understood when my directing teacher in college and grad school was saying, that I should guide the actors, let them make all the choices and gently push them along where you want them to go.

Once I let my actors make more of those active choices, I found that my directing got stronger because I put more power into their hands. I’m excited to do that now with students to see how they respond.”

Of course, the pandemic-induced parameters are continuing to curtail what he had hoped would happen right off the bat.

“There’s only so much you can do over Zoom,” he said. “But I’ve started to implement what I can, and a lot of the students within the program were really surprised when I tell them, here’s the assignment, bring me what you come up

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Where’s Your Happy Place?

Summerland Buzz

by Leslie A. Westbrook

A third-generation Californian, Leslie, currently resides in Carpinteria but called Summerland home for 30 years. The award-winning writer assists clients sell fine art, antiques and collectibles at auction houses around the globe. She can be reached at LeslieAWestbrook@gmail.com or www.auctionliaison.com

BOO… Hoo! School is Back, but Halloween Isn’t!

O

ver the years, one of my favorite events has been when the Summerland Elementary School students dress up as characters from their favorite books (lots of Harry Potters!) and paraded through town collecting treats from shopkeepers. Alas, due to COVID, the parade is not on the docket for this year, although students went back to school on October 13.

Be a Good Citizen On October 14, the Summerland Citizens Association meeting provided updates and insights into the future. The citizen volunteer group is searching for two new board members. Participants meet monthly via Zoom (during COVID). Contact Leslie Person Ryan, of Sweet Wheel Farms, who is chairing the nominating committee, if interested in participating in civic duty (personryan@aol.com).

Next year will be interesting with the Highway 101 widening and improvements, as well as ongoing concerns. It was also announced that there will not be an SCA Holiday Party this year, cancelled obviously because of the pandemic.

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Real Estate

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.

The Over $10 Market… Million, That Is

W

hen people from around the world think of Montecito, many conjure up images of hilltop homes and sprawling estates, the Four Seasons Biltmore, Butterfly Beach, San Ysidro Ranch, and the new Rosewood Resort at Miramar Beach. Yes, Montecito is all of that and more. By more I mean, that one has more options than just these top estates and beachfront homes that cost many millions of dollars.

One can live in Montecito, starting at around $775,000 for a two-bedroom plus loft townhome near the freeway in East Montecito (but yes within the Montecito Union School District, MUS), or $900,000 for a 2+2 condo on Coast Village Road (with restaurants, shops, and services right out your front door and again in MUS). These under one million dollars options are also just a block or two from $10 million estates and beachfront homes with recent sales reaching toward $20 million.

With the entry-level options and estate homes intermingled, Montecito remains a place, set aside from the larger cities and say the Flats of Beverly Hills (where nothing is below $5 million for a tear-down small lot), Montecito is for now still a place where one can participate in ownership because of the diverse offerings in size and price of properties, developed recently and in decades, past.

However, looking up to the stars, and for those who are, shall we say, more financially fortunate, the grand estates in Montecito rival those of anywhere in the world and are at prices some would say are a bargain compared to top areas in Los Angeles and Malibu, for instance.

Montecito last year showed 10 homes sold for more than $10 million, as recorded in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This year, through October 24, we have seen eight homes over $10 million close escrow and record in the MLS (one historic estate selling for $63 million after being on the market over a year for $75 million). Such is the Montecito real estate market during COVID-19. In addition to these recorded and more public sales, many others have sold more quietly in “off market” sales this year, including properties selling for $16 million +/-, $27 million, $44.5 million, and others.

With this kind of activity, we find the current available inventory in the over $10 million market in Montecito to be running quite low. As of this writing, there are only 17 homes selling at more than $10 million in all of Montecito and only seven priced more than $20 million in the Multiple Listing Service.

Here are four done homes, each on multiple acres, asking more than $25 million, and one estate site with considerable upside potential for your consideration in the highest segment of our market. Enjoy.

630 Hot Springs Road – $14,500,000

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pread out over a vast, 6.7, mostly level, ocean and mountain view acres, find this incredible estate site with existing home, barn, and two guest houses, right in the heart of Montecito’s Golden Quadrangle, within the Montecito Union School District. Stonehedge represents one of the finest area estate sites,

16 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Real Estate Page 40 404

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109 Olive Mill Rd | Santa Barbara | 3BD/5BA DRE 00914713/00978392 | Offered at $5,495,000 Tim Walsh 805.259.8808

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499 Crocker Sperry Dr | Santa Barbara | 3BD/5BA DRE 00852118 | Offered at $3,995,000 Jeff Oien 805.895.2944

293 Middle Rd | Montecito | 3BD/4BA DRE 01988499|02020380 | Offered at $3,887,000 Haden Homes Luxury Property Group 805.880.6530

1201 Cima Linda Ln | Montecito | 3BD/4BA DRE 01988499|02020380 | Offered at $3,295,000 Haden Homes Luxury Property Group 805.880.6530

665 Coyote Rd | Santa Barbara | 5BD/4BA DRE 01236143/01410304 | Offered at $2,195,000 Grubb Campbell Group 805.895.6226

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29 October – 5 November 2020

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Monte ito Miscellany

Janet Adderley (center), seen here celebrating her birthday with Denise Tyson (left) and Debra Martin Chase, gets national acclaim from TV talk show host James Corden

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 13 years ago.

James Corden’s Son Stars in Janet Adderley Play

B

ritish TV talk show star James Corden, who has hosted both the Tonys and Grammys, has given the ultimate accolade to Santa Barbara Youth Ensemble Theatre founder Janet Adderley.

Bubbly Janet, whom I have known for 12 years, is a Broadway veteran and starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in 1978 before founding her school in our Eden by the Beach in 1993.

Corden, 42, who hosts the Late Late Show on CBS, was just interviewed on a new PBS series, Tell Me More with Kelly Corrigan, and was asked whom he admired as an everyday hero. He lost no time in naming Janet, who also has schools in Austin, Texas, Palo

Alto, and Pacific Palisades, where his son Max, 9, has been enrolled for the past four years.

Max was meant to play Gavroche in Janet’s 2018 production of Les Miserables at the Lobero, but his parents had to pull him out of the show to attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, as I exclusively revealed here at the time.

“I was floored when PBS contacted me about the show and to have James Corden acknowledge my work in such a sublime, fervent way,” waxes Janet.

“Watching it I felt a sense of peace and fulfillment unlike any other time in my life. The story goes on.”

James and wife, Julia, will be on

hand to see Max in Janet’s production of Into the Woods in April at the three-acre oceanfront Encinal Bluffs Malibu home of New York hedge fund magnate Adam Weiss, who bought the estate from Rande Gerber and his wife, former supermodel Cindy Crawford, for $45 million.

The performance will be an outdoor multi-media extravaganza showcasing talent from all four-school locations, as well as 43 virtual students from around the world who are part of the new Jack Dylan Grazer Conservatory.

The cast, Janet tells me, will be led

by Montecito’s Sam Pillow playing the baker – a role Corden played in the

Seeing Our Way Through, Together

2014 film adaptation. Coincidentally Pillow plays a young James Corden in the highly anticipated Netflix movie The Prom, which airs December 11.

The role of Cinderella will be played

by Maile Merrick, who performed outstandingly with singer Kristin Chenoweth at the Granada a year ago and is also grandniece of Journal founder James Buckley.

Welcome to the Neighborhood It was just four months ago that singer Ariana Grande splashed out $6.75 million for a Tudor-style home,

Miscellany Page 284

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The jazz quartet Mid-Century Jazz (from left) Jonathan Schlitt, Andrea Comsky, Jack Cousin, and Alex Mansour brings the jazz club to your home

I

f you’ve attended any of the hundreds of concerts performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the last 36 years, there’s a strong chance you would have glimpsed the orchestra’s longest standing member. His name is Jack Cousin and he has been a pillar of the orchestra’s nine-strong bass section since 1974, when he joined the L.A. Phil as a fledgling 21-year-old. Of course right now it’s not possible to see Jack Cousin or his fellow bassists or any of the violinists, trumpeters, cellists, and the 100-odd musicians who count as members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Earlier this year, the orchestra cancelled all live concerts until at least the end of 2020. So the best way to see Jack Cousin play his double bass, at least in person, is likely within the confines of your own home.

Unable to perform in front of live audiences, Jack Cousin has, according to his wife Andrea Comsky, “gone back to his roots”: playing jazz. A little more than a year ago, Comsky had the idea of putting together a quartet that would play jazz standards from the 1950s and ‘60s. “When you go to a jazz club now, it’s always modern,” says Comsky. “But if you want to hear the classics, it’s hard to get it.” Thus was born Mid-Century Jazz. The original intent was to perform jazz clubs, but with the closure of music venues, Mid-Century brings the jazz club to your home, where they perform two-set gigs on a reservation basis.

Comsky speaks in a timbre that is round, gentle and reassuring, qualities she employs amply as the band’s vocalist, chief spokesperson and booking agent.

Her diverse musical career has carried her to the opera and to classical repertoires with symphony and chamber orchestras, theater productions, and classic jazz standards. She’s even played weddings and birthday parties. The seasoned résumé of Cousin and Comsky is matched by the spritely talents of the group’s other members: Alex Mansour, a pianist, composer and Los Angeles fixture of jazz clubs, the concert stage, and motion picture studios; and Jonathan Schlitt, a percussionist and regular performer with local symphony orchestras and jazz ensembles.

“We have an intergenerational group here,” says Comsky. “When you come together to play these classics, the age difference disappears. The music is ageless.”

Comsky explains that each member of Mid-Century Jazz is a “crossover musician,” which today is a euphemism not just for knowing how to perform multiple styles, but also knowing how to pivot a music career encumbered by the closure of concert halls. “Normally, we live off people coming into a large venue and sitting shoulder to shoulder,” she says.

In fact, crossing over lies at the heart of Mid-Century Jazz. A typical set may consist of pure jazz classics from Duke Ellington or Ella Fitzgerald but they won’t shy away from less obvious examples from Bobby Darin, Paul McCartney, and André Previn, a master of the crossover whom Comsky describes as a “triple threat.”

“It’s a wonderful cross-section of composers from that era,” she says.

On a recent evening, Mid-Century Jazz found itself crossing over to the Westside of Los Angeles. In front of a private audience seated in a spacious living room that spilled into a spacious dining room, they opened with “Sweet Georgia Brown.” They played a number of gigs throughout October and will be performing in Montecito homes throughout the holiday season.

“Los Angeles musicians come up to Montecito all the time,” says Comsky.

“I’m so comfortable there, it feels like a second home.”

(To book a gig with Mid-Century Jazz, contact Andrea Comsky at andrea comsky@icloud.com. For more info visit mid-centuryjazz.com.)

•MJ

“Some people are born for Halloween, and some are just counting the days until Christmas.” – Stephen Graham Jones

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21

On The Record (Continued from page 6) only security and crosswalk assistance being provided by CVA volunteers.

“Finally the police came on board because it would get dark and was dangerous for kids to cross the street, because we didn’t have the constant traffic jamup at that time.”

Along with the annual Fourth of July parade, Buckley says, the original Ghost Village Road event only advertised in the Journal. “That was the only publicity it got,” he said. “It really kicked us off as a paper, because people had no idea we were so widely read,” he recalled. “But when one thousand kids showed up, people started to realize.”

CVA and its merchant members, meanwhile, would like all of Montecito’s ghosts and ghouls to know that they’ll still be here next year, and with twice the candy. And remember, you read it here first!

Election Season Haunts Santa Barbara Area School Reopening Politics On Tuesday, October 20, a few dozen teenagers held a protest outside the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s headquarters on Santa Barbara Street.

Carrying signs bearing messages such as “We Want to Go Back to School” and “Give Us a Choice,” the group had a clear message for local school officials: After more than a half of year of online-only education, during which students have been stuck at home in endless Zoom sessions with their teachers, they were more than ready to be let back on campus and none too happy about the district’s decision to hold off on in-classroom study until January 19.

Although the protest only drew about 35 students, their activism represents a growing sense of impatience with COVID-era social distancing and its impact on secondary education. It also reflects a troubling reality: How seemingly every facet of public life in this unprecedentedly heated election season has become politicized.

In the midst of the reopening controversy, anti-school board rhetoric has been on the rise. On September 23, local realtor Troy Hoidal sent several SB Unified trustees a harshly-worded email. “I am trembling at the incompetence of you all!” he wrote. “Shame on you all! You should all resign now!!! Terrible terrible terrible. You have let the Community down and most important, the Kids down. Move on and give up your positions now!”

One of the recipients of that email, SB Unified Trustee Laura Capps, who is campaigning for re-election this year, says that despite such extreme rhetoric, she understands that many parents have valid concerns about the district’s decision to suspend in-classroom teaching until January.

“We all want kids to be back in the classroom, and I understand the tremendous stress and anxiety that people have, ranging from people experiencing extreme hardship and poverty to basic concerns about teenagers being disconnected,” Capps said. “What I try to do as a board member is to strike the right balance to protect teachers and students from the deadly virus and the need to get students back in the classroom.” Capps said Hilda Maldonado contacted a few of the students who organized the protest last week and requested a meeting with them, which both Capps and fellow board member Jackie Reid personally attended. “The fact they organized was wonderful,” she said. “I wish we weren’t in this situation, but I really enjoyed hearing from them about their specific concerns.”

Capps added that, while the majority of students won’t be back on campus until January 19, the school has already begun the process of bringing small cohorts of students back to school by restarting outdoor athletics as well as providing on-campus learning for students with special needs or those lacking either a stable home study environment or adequate Wi-Fi. ADU CONVERSIONS DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION 50 + YEARS EXPERIENCE - LOCAL 35+ YEARS

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SB Unified School District Trustee Laura Capps

Santa Barbara High School Principal Elise Simmons

“That’s been happening all over the district and it will continue to expand,” she said. “And we are all systems go for hybrid learning when classes start again in January, which is really just a few weeks away. Everybody is doing their best and I sympathize with all the parents that are worried, as well as the teachers that are worried because they teach 300 kids a day and we’re still in the middle of a pandemic.”

The major challenge in reopening large public schools such as Santa Barbara High School (SBHS) is the need to transition from large class sizes to smaller ones as well as staggering Cold Spring School Principal Amy Alzina schedules so that as few teachers and students come into contact with each other as possible. Whereas before the pandemic, typical classes consisted of an average of 35 students, now that number is down to 14, which is the largest number of desks that can be safely socially-distanced within a typical classroom.

According to SBHS Principal Elise Simmons, the major challenge in accomplishing that goal is hiring new staff. “Staffing is our biggest obstacle,” Simmons said. “No matter how much plexiglass or hand sanitizer we buy, we have people who are afraid to come to campus because they have underlying health issues and aren’t even leaving their homes unless they’re going to the grocery store.”

Simmons said that SBHS is constantly updating its strategy on reopening via an advisory task force made up of parents, students, and teachers. The school has also added shaded outdoor learning spaces in order to provide greater flexibility for teachers who prefer to teach outdoors. The preparation for a return to on-campus learning has been strenuous, she added. “Teachers are now teaching three periods, three times a day,” she explained. “The pace is different, they have half the amount of time and they have had to rewrite their curriculum for distance learning in a shorter time frame.”

Like Capps, Simmons says she sympathizes with parents and students who are impatient for things to get back to normal. “I think we can all agree that in-person instruction is the best thing for children, both academically, socially, and emotionally,” she said. “Given that assertion, we have varying degrees of frustration depending on who we are as parents, teachers, and administrators.

And we have in our community a wide spectrum of what people consider to be safe. Therein lies the political discord and divisiveness.”

Summerland School, meanwhile, reopened on October 13 with the students divided into two learning cohorts designated by the first initial of their last names. All students are required to wear a mask. They also need to be feverfree, with no COVID symptoms, and siblings have been placed in the same cohorts. Classes are divided into “in person” and “remote” sessions with their teachers at the school.

“Half of our students come on Monday and Tuesday for in person learning and the other half come on Thursday and Friday,” said Summerland School Principal Dr. Michelle Fox, who also doubles as principal of Aliso School in Carpinteria. “All students participate in remote learning on their off-campus days. All students Zoom with their teachers on Wednesdays.”

Handwashing and hand sanitizer stations have been added throughout the small campus and custodial cleaning is being carried out everywhere from restrooms and classrooms to door handles and other surfaces throughout the day.

Students are instructed in safe practices – from handwashing to social distancing,

On The Record Page 434 434

“There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.” – Unknown

29 October – 5 November 2020

In Passing

Brilliant Thoughts

Joyce Enright, July 16, 1949 – July 30, 2020

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

Fame or Shame

T

here are good reasons for giving names to hurricanes and tropical storms. It helps the weather-watchers avoid confusion in referring to them. But it was a bad idea to use the first names of people, because, if you happen to have that name – and especially if the event turns out to be a bad one – that name – your name – may be circulating for months, or even years, afterwards, with only negative connotations.

For example, I have always felt sorry for people who happened to be named Katrina, after a particularly devastating hurricane of that name struck the U.S. in August 2005, causing nearly 2,000 fatalities and $125 billion in damage. The effects were so profound, and lasted so long, that, to many people, the name Katrina must still bring horrible memories. Who could blame anyone with that name for wanting to change it – and I would not be surprised if many did.

And of course, that is only one example, with new ones occurring every year. My point is that this is a form of human suffering which is entirely avoidable. Instead of people’s names for hurricanes, it would be just as easy to use the names of animals or plants, of minerals, or just numbers, or many other non-human categories.

Now I hear someone saying: “But what if I like the idea? If they used my name, it might be the closest I will ever come to being famous.

And the bigger and more catastrophic the hurricane, the more it would bolster my self-image.”

Well, yes, I know there are sick people out there – but I’m assuming that most of my readers are sane and compassionate.

Usually there are better reasons for giving real people’s names to things. But still, the outcome may not always be as expected. A certain American pilot in World War II chose to honor his mother by naming his plane after her. Her name was Enola Gay Tibbets, and the plane, the “Enola Gay,” became part of history as the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb.

In World War I, an enormous gun known as “Big Bertha,” which could fire a projectile 75 miles, was used by the Germans against Paris, with 29 October – 5 November 2020

J

terribly destructive effect. It was named for Bertha Krupp, a matriarch of the huge Krupp arms manufacturing company, offshoots of whose empire are still in business to this day.

I am not sure whether Bertha Krupp or Mrs. Tibbets ever publicly acknowledged their dubious honors. However, there have been other eponymous instruments of war whose names have been proudly borne by those associated with them. One notable example was the Congreve rocket, named for its developer, the English artillery officer Sir William Congreve. One British man-of-war, the “Erebus,” carried a full load of these devices, which were fired from holes in the ship’s side. This particular species of weaponry, which was used in the 1814 bombardment of the American Fort McHenry, was immortalized by Francis Scott Key, when he wrote of “the rockets’ red glare – bombs bursting in air” – although the inventor of the device got no name credit in the song.

Instead of people’s names for hurricanes, it would be just as easy to use the names of animals or plants, of minerals, or just numbers, or many other nonhuman categories

If you were asked about the names of Dr. Richard Gatling, John Moses Browning, and Hiram Stevens Maxim, you’d probably guess, correctly, that they all had something to do with machine guns.

The American Dr. Gatling’s invention came first (1861), and ironically, he expressed the pious hope that it would save lives, by reducing the size of armies.

But of course, before all these, we had Samuel Colt, whose repeating revolver may be credited with winning or losing the West, depending on whose side you look at it from – the invading “Pioneers,” or the resident “Native Americans.”

Finally, a politician and diplomat,

oyce Enright lived her life with such love, generosity, and grace. Her strong relationship to the Lord impacted and influenced her family and friends to understand the best is yet to come, “for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). She was a best friend to so many. We had the best mom in the world. Joyce Margaret Enright of Montecito passed away on July 30, 2020. Born in Inglewood on July 16, 1949 she was the daughter of William and Lorraine Matthew.

She attended Hawthorne High School (class of 1967), El Camino City College (1971), and California State Dominguez Hills (1974).

For Joyce, real estate was her passion. She and her former husband (Stephen) moved Joyce Enright led a career in real estate to Santa Barbara in 1975, where she pursued and a life devoted to faith, prayer, and real estate. She was committed to serving her her daughters clients with excellence and integrity. She worked at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Montecito and was an estate agent for more than 42 years.

Her two daughters, Chase and Lauren, brought true balance in her life. She wasn’t just their mother; she was their best friend, their advocate, mentor, and rock. Joyce taught them the power of prayer, eating healthy, finding fulfillment in nature, being grateful for what they have and not someone else’s riches, setting goals and working hard to obtain them, taking time for true friendships, and always relying on God. Joyce was so patient, giving, wise and compassionate. She had a gift for making everyone feel valued and loved.

Joyce was so beautiful; she shined with her warmth and smile. She had a very keen sense of fashion, many would know. As High School Homecoming Queen her smile and congeniality lit up the room.

She loved the Lord with all her heart and her faith radiated through her to anyone who met her. Joyce was devoted to her church and its community, El Montecito Presbyterian where she served as deacon. She was a Prayer Warrior, in a women’s prayer group, and served on the Rescue Mission Auxiliary.

Joyce loved being a Gammie. She was Kenyon & Isla Throop’s Gammie. They were mesmerized with her talents for cooking and baking, tea parties and most of all, devoted love for them. She was a true example of a good mom.

We love you so much Mom, you have taught us what it is to be the best mom we can be, we will be strong and courageous. We will work hard just like you.

We know you are in heaven protecting us, we love you more than anything. We know the best is yet to come!

Joyce is survived by her daughters Chase Enright (Ryan Throop) and Lauren Enright, granddaughters Kenyon and Isla Throop, sister Donna Marshall and brother Wayne (Terri) Matthew. Her biological brothers, Bill Lipis and Dave Teagan, as well as her sister in law Roberta Ellings (John) and her niece Missy Fuentes (Mac) and nephews, Robbie Enright (Rachael), Chris (Patricia) and Matt Marshall, Bill and Jason Matthew. And all of whom she loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Donations can be made to her church, El Montecito Presbyterian Church, and her philanthropy, Santa Barbara Rescue Mission.

“Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:19 & 25 whose name today is probably known most widely in the name of a weapon, was a Russian, Vyacheslav Molotov.

He himself, however, had nothing to do with the invention of the Molotov cocktail, which as you may know, consists of a bottle filled with some inflammable liquid, together with an igniting device. This product of the mid-20th century was found to be particularly effective against oth-

• The Voice of the Village •

erwise-almost-unstoppable tanks. It was first used in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39. But Molotov’s name was attached to it mockingly by the Finns, during their “Winter War” with Russia in 1939-40. Molotov was then the Russian Foreign Minister, who had negotiated Stalin’s 1939 “non-aggression pact” with Hitler, which had made possible the Soviet invasion of Finland.

•MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL

23

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MONTECITO & SANTA BARBARA BROKERAGES | SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such.

This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity. DRE License Numbers for All Featured Agents: Dusty Baker: 1908615 | Eric Lavey: 1511292 | Bertrand de Gabriac: 1925983 | Maureen McDermut: 1175027 | Delicia Lumpkins: 02030037 | Gregory Tice: 462018 | Sandy Stahl: 1040095 | Joe McCorkell: 2051326 | Wes St. Clair: 1173714 | Jason Siemens: 1886104 | Marie Larkin: 523795

29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

25

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

Fixing Wall Street: Debt vs. Dividends

W

e frequently hear on public media that “the stock market does not reflect the ‘real’ economy.” That is absolutely correct. The question we should ask ourselves is why doesn’t Wall Street reflect the real economy? Why is Wall Street today at all-time highs when we are now in the worst recession since the Great Depression, sitting literally on the edge of a new depression here in the USA and around the world? There are more than 30 million Americans out of work, and the market is “up”! The pandemic is ravaging our society and destroying our economy, yet the stock market maintains its artificially lofty price points! Oh, and in case you are wondering whether the current “asset bubble” will burst with an attendant stock market bust, it will!

Main Street is hurting worse than at any other time since the Great Depression, so why is the stock market acting as if everything is great?

The answer is quite simple: the stock market has almost nothing to do with economic reality and almost everything to do with ongoing market manipulation. How does that happen? To understand that, you have to understand that Wall Street is fundamentally a giant casino. It’s worse than Las Vegas. In Vegas you can learn the odds and potential loss on whatever “game of chance” you select because the specific returns to “the house” are calculated for each form of gambling. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but the last time I checked, slot machines at major casinos were programmed – yes, programmed – to return 75 cents for every dollar a “gambler” put in. In other words for anyone to win 75 cents, some other sucker in the room has to lose a dollar. In fact, the biggest difference with Wall Street is that your odds of winning are much lower than in Las Vegas. Unlike Las Vegas, no one is regulating the way the rules get changed to benefit Wall Street insiders even while the “gamblers” are playing. That is illegal in Vegas but considered smart behavior on Wall Street.

There are many ways Wall Street is “rigged” for insiders that we’ll be highlighting in other columns in this series on “fixing” Wall Street, including addressing Programmed Trading, political corruption that allows for

26 MONTECITO JOURNAL

totally inadequate “capital market” supervision, and the freedom to drop companies out of an index when they start to perform poorly to maintain the appearance of the stock market as constantly going upward (when in fact it would be going down if not allowed to drop poor performing companies). We will also address the inadequate supervision of “Insider Trading” and a number of other features that keep the stock markets from reflecting economic reality or the harsh situation now facing Main Street.

All of those issues, however, pale in comparison to the single largest underlying marketplace distortion: the incredible way we treat interest on debt as desirable and dividends on equity as unequal. Due to the unequal way that debt and equity are treated in the tax code, the financial system has developed to promote debt at the expense of equity. That is exactly opposite of why the stock markets were originally created, and even opposite of how the modern economy began with institutions like Lloyd’s of London, the Virginia Company, the Hudson Bay Company, and all of the early corporate issuers both before and after the ‘30s.

Created over many decades of constant lobbying by the banks, the tax code was dramatically “loaded” in favor of borrowing over saving, of debt over equity. The base of this harmful inequality of debt and equity is the fact that a corporation can deduct the payment of interest from taxable income, but cannot deduct the payment of dividends to shareholders against taxable income. Hence, it has become increasingly powerful to build companies leveraging off of debt for which interest can be deducted rather than by accumulating equity (either through the sale of equity or from increasing retained earnings) since dividends suffer from “double taxation”: the company gets taxed on its income and the shareholder is subsequently taxed on receipt of a dividend.

This puts an enormous bias into the market in favor of speculation.

Why? Because the purchaser of a stock today is primarily buying on the assumption that the stock will be worth more tomorrow than today.

That person is a speculator, not a real investor.

Panels and Bridges

How switching schools to renewables can improve quality of education

I

n 2017, the Batesville School District in Arkansas was facing serious financial struggles because of its high energy bills. Most of its schools were having a hard time retaining teachers and some of them even faced a possible shutdown. Fortunately, none of that happened thanks to a decision to switch the entire school district to renewables.

After conducting an audit, the district realized that it could save up to $2.4 million over the next 20 years if it installed 1,400 solar panels and energy-efficient lights. Figuring that they could use this money to increase their teachers’ salaries, the schools were quick to make the switch.

“Let’s use that money to start pumping up teachers’ salaries,” said Superintendent Michael Hester. “It’s the way we’re going to attract and retain staff. And it’s the way we’re going to attract and retain students in this day and age of school choice.”

Eventually, the green transition enabled the schools to go from $250,000 in annual deficit to $1.8 million in annual surplus.

But the schools in the Batesville School District are not the only ones making such a forward-thinking energy shift. A recent report from Generation180 shows that more than 7,300 schools in the U.S. use renewable power to save on utility bills, amounting to about 16 percent of all schools in the country.

With funds freed up, schools can then improve the quality of education.

A giant wildlife bridge will help L.A.’s mountain lions cross over the 101 Freeway systems dissect through natural lands and cut off animals from their native habitats. Such is the case in Agoura Hills where the U.S. 101 freeway cuts through the native habitat of mountain lions and other animals.

Animals run a great risk of getting hit by cars when trying to cross the giant 10-lane stretch of freeway. The freeways also cause animals to become genetically isolated since they cannot move into the “small islands of habitat created by our freeways.” The problem is a big threat to local mountain lions, which risk extinction in the area within decades.

The National Wildlife Federation is working with several partner organizations to build a massive wildlife crossing that will allow animals to cross into a different habitat without being harmed.

Wildlife crossing exists and has been proven to work, although this will be the first time in a dense area. The crossing, which will look like a natural, grassy bridge rising over the freeway, is being largely funded by private money, and if fundraising continues on schedule, will happen in 2021. •MJ How is stock valuation accomplished? By multiplying the earnings per share of a company against the total number of shares outstanding to determine the market capitalization. Earnings go higher if debt is used because the capital to build the business is being borrowed, and because the cost of that debt – interest – is deductible. If the same company decides to attract a true investor as opposed to a speculator, it has to be willing to pay dividends so that the purchaser can hang onto the stock for decades and make an adequate return on owning the shares. The dividends going to an investor, however, are not deductible and will depress reported earnings.

Therefore, this produces a lower market capitalization for the company which usually means that man-

“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” – L.M. Montgomery

agement will receive smaller bonuses as those bonuses are based on rising income and share prices. Both increase if debt is used to build the business rather than equity.

This divergence of interest between debt and equity explains why shareholders no longer “buy and hold” a stock for decades. Unfortunately, since making income and returning money to the shareholders are not on an equal footing, the entire corporate system in the US is based on speculating what will go up, or down, on a moment to moment basis. The stock market merely reflects the dominant speculative trends in the marketplace. That’s bad for the markets, and really bad if we want to reduce speculation and return the markets to reflecting how the underlying economy is really doing.

•MJ 29 October – 5 November 2020

Robert’s Big ?s

Purely Political

by James Buckley

by Robert Bernstein

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

The Opposite of Progress is Fashion?

P

eople often compliment me on my colorful shirts. Much of the credit goes to my friend Robin; she finds some of the best for me on eBay. While I always say “thank you,” I often ask, “Do you know what is the opposite of progress?” They usually look mystified. “Fashion!” I triumphantly reply. I point out that you cannot find these cool shirts anymore in stores. You have to get them used in thrift shops.

I come from the world of math, science, and engineering. My father was a research biologist, but he had a cynical view of progress. He was a good student of history and he observed that anything that seemed to be new, you could find someone in ancient times had already made that basic discovery.

One day I challenged him. I hacked electronics before that term existed. I had a GE transistor data book from about 1960 and another one from about 1970.

The 1960 one was a very slim pamphlet. The 1970 one was a thick tome. “That is progress,” I said to my father.

I had a similar realization in my freshman math course. I had a wonderful young instructor named Mark Goresky, who is now at the Institute for Advanced Studies. One day he gave us a break from calculus to give an overview of what one would learn as a math major. If you did a good undergraduate math program you would learn all the math ever invented from the dawn of history to the 1800s.

Fashion limits our choices, costs us money, and creates untold waste.

But even a solid graduate program would barely get you to the mid-1900s.

After that, you would have to specialize. Because mathematics had exponentially exploded in so many different directions. Again, that is a sign of progress.

Astrophysics has expanded our world in a similar way. Not long ago the “universe” was thought to be a bunch of lights just above the mountain peaks embedded in a “celestial sphere.” Even 100 years ago the universe was just the Milky Way galaxy. Edwin Hubble discovered that we were just one of billions of galaxies in 1924.

We now understand the mechanisms of biology down to the molecular level.

Yes, science has its own fashion trends, but there is always a reality check.

Yet, for all of this progress, fashion just sits and spins in cycles. Hemlines go up and down. Some claim this happens in sync with the stock market. Shirts went from psychedelic colors and patterns to a fashion of drab and grunge.

Wait long enough and almost any past fashion will come back.

Even technology is driven by fashion. People are often in awe of the cool device I use to take notes at events. It is a Palm PDA with a folding keyboard.

The whole thing fits in my pocket, but it allows high speed touch typing. Smart phones came along and drove PDAs out of business. But it was not “progress” for me to poke on a tiny screen instead of touch typing. And I don’t have to pay a monthly fee to use my PDA. In 2009 my CRT television gave out from a power surge. You could no longer buy one. They were replaced by LCD flat screen TVs. No one seemed to notice that the LCD screens gave a cartoonish rendering of images. New technology often replaces older technology before it is actually as good as the old technology. People are drawn to the marketing of the latest shiny new thing and don’t notice what they lost.

I was able to get a plasma TV which was closer to the lively CRT dynamic range, but they quickly became unavailable.

People often admire my 1996 Corolla station wagon as an innovative new design. (On the rare occasion I drive at all.) They don’t realize that before there were Selfish Useless Vehicles there were versatile station wagons that got good fuel economy, could carry huge amounts of cargo, and gave a comfortable ride.

And they don’t roll over in the wind or in a collision. It is amusing to watch SUV fashion evolve now to be more like my 25-year-old car.

Much computer software has gone to a subscription model where you never really own it and you never stop paying. Fashion limits our choices, costs us money, and creates untold waste.

29 October – 5 November 2020

I

The Popular Vote

t’s no secret that Democrats nationwide (and particularly those congregating along both coasts) rail against the Constitution’s Electoral College, which mandates that each state be awarded an equivalent number of votes in a presidential election as the number of senators and representatives it has.

For example, California has 55 electoral college votes in this election season for its two senators and 53 representatives in Congress, the largest of any state by far (Texas, in second place, carries 38 votes). In every election since 1992, California has been in the Democrat column and it has since become a reliable source of Democrat power. California is a state in which Democrats running for president need not campaign, as they are sure to win, regardless of the candidate or the issues.

And Republicans don’t campaign because they know it would be a fruitless endeavor.

So, with California (55), New York (29), Illinois (20), New Jersey (14), Massachusetts (11), Washington (12), now Virginia (13) with its ever-increasing population of government employees, safely in the bag long before a candidate is chosen, Democrats have two legs up on any Republican with a starting handicap of a 154 electoral votes. All they need is 116 more, and with Oregon (7), Rhode Island (4) Connecticut (7), Delaware (3), Hawaii (4) and Maryland (10) comfortably in the D column, adding up to an impressive starting position of 189, the “battleground” states of Florida (29), Pennsylvania (20), Ohio (18), Michigan (16), Minnesota (10), Iowa (6), Missouri (10), Wisconsin (10), Colorado (9), Nevada (6), and New Mexico (5) are all that’s left to compete in for Democrats. If they take them all, they sail on to victory with 328 electoral votes, having needed just 270 to win.

Which means, of course, that the Democrats could lose a number of those contested states and still take over the White House.

Republicans, on the other hand, can only be assured of Texas (38), Louisiana (8), Mississippi (6), Alabama (9), South Carolina (9), Tennessee (11), Kentucky (8), Utah (6), Wyoming (3), Montana (3),

Idaho (4), North Dakota (3), South Dakota (3), Nebraska (5), Kansas (6), Oklahoma (7), Arkansas (6), and Alaska (3), for a 138 total: a 51-vote disadvantage, requiring any Republican to clear the table of most of those up-for-grabs states in order to win.

And Democrats still clamor for a “popular” vote?

I have an idea.

Rather than trying to change the Constitution by allowing for the popular election of a president, why not split the votes of each state by the number of districts won or lost in each state? In other words, as it stands, except for Maine, the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state takes all the electoral votes of that state. In California, for example, if a district policy were to be put in place, rather than beginning with a 55-vote advantage, California could split its electoral college advantage with perhaps 35 or so votes for the Democrats and 20 going to the Republican candidate, depending upon how the vote goes in each of its 53 districts, with the two senatorial contests going to the winner of the popular vote.

Rather than trying to change the Constitution by allowing for the popular election of a president, why not split the votes of each state by the number of districts won or lost in each state?

Such a system would be fairer and would meet all necessary Constitutional demands. It would also likely negate the desire and/ or “need” of switching to a direct popular vote, as Democrats would probably pull those 20 votes they lost in California from those they’d gain in Texas.

I haven’t played all the numbers of such a system yet, but my initial estimate is that similar percentages to a winner-take-all method would ensue, though it would be – or seem to be – fairer.

•MJ

It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of buying the latest fashion trend, you can actually make a conscious choice. Think about what you want instead of what is being marketed. Marketing is often directed toward maximizing profit, not toward what serves the consumer. Fight back! Let’s have real progress! •MJ

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

27

Miscellany (Continued from page 18)

Dalziel Publishes Storybook Katy Perry and beau Orlando Bloom splashed out the cash on a $14.2 million six-bedroom, seven-bath Montecito estate on 8.9 acres (Photo credit: Riskin Partners of Village Properties)

The Porter House, consisting of two bedrooms and three bathrooms in two antique barns that had been imported from England, and just a month later Prince Harry and his wife Meghan spent $14.5 million for a nine-bedroom, 16-bathroom home on six acres in Riven Rock.

Now local warbler Katy Perry, 36, who was a student at Dos Pueblos High, together with the father of her baby daughter Daisy Dove, British actor Orlando Bloom, 36, have forked out $14.2 million for a six-bedroom, seven-bath estate on 8.9 acres, which belonged to C. Robert Kidder, former CEO of Chrysler and the battery giant Duracell, for more than 20 years.

The property, which has multiple

structures, including a pool house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, was first listed for sale for $20 million last year and was then reduced in price to $16 million.

Katy earned $84 million last year from 115 concerts, as well as a reported $25 million salary as a judge on the ABC show American Idol, while Orlando, who has starred in Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean, two of the most successful franchises in recent cinema history, is reportedly worth around $40 million.

Katy put her Beverly Hills guesthouse on the market for $8 million, while Orlando has a $9 million home in the ritzy enclave which has been on the market for the past two years.

Montecito artist and general contractor William Dalziel has published his first illustrated storybook.

Ulma, The Kidnapped Tree is the true story of a young elm tree and her journey, Montecito artist and says Bill, who general contractor shortly before William Dalziel has pubthe San Fernando lished his first illustrated storybook, Ulma, The earthquake of Kidnapped Tree 1971 used a variety of it in the Northridge Fashion Center, a project he worked on.

“I travelled to a Virginia tree farm and chose one of the most beautiful and healthiest of trees, then arranged for it to be transported to California,” he explains. “Hence the story.

“It is a metaphor for a threat of capitalism kidnapping our symbol of liberty and freedom.”

Bill, who hails from Michigan, is now finishing the illustrations for the sequel, The First Day of Spring, which he hopes will be out next year.

“It’s the story from the blue jay Charlie’s imagination and will conclude the story with Ulma’s retirement to Santa Barbara.”

You can visit the real Ulma, Bill confides, in the 1200 block of Carpinteria Street.

The charming book is available at Tecolote, Chaucer’s, and Pierre Lafond Wine Bistro.

A New Pandemic Pastime Writer-producer-director Rod Lathim has an interesting new pastime during the pandemic: producing fig balsamic.

“I have a prolific fig tree that I’ve never really paid any attention to, but in the summer it’s become a cornucopia of sweet purple figs and I do an annual harvest to make my fig balsamic, which I give away to friends,” says Rod. “It makes a great salad dressing with olive or walnut oil, a great marinade for grilled vegetables, fish or chicken. And it’s divine on a tomato or fresh mozzarella capers salad!”

Writer-producer-director Rod Lathim has an interesting new pastime during the pandemic: producing fig balsamic

He is also keeping himself busy producing the Marjorie Luke Theatre’s virtual concert series from Santa Barbara Junior High School, which has launched two of its seven slated events online at www.luketheatre.org.

The concerts are free to watch 24/7 with Mendeleyev In Concert and Resonance now playing.

Other future offering include the Goleta School of Ballet’s Nutcracker in December and talented guitarist Jackson Gillies in concert. Jackson, an American Idol contestant and winner of the 2016 Teen Star U.S.A., has been studying in London for the past few months.

Linens and Things Former TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey may be worth billions, but during the coronavirus lockdown has found herself changing her own bed linens while hunkering down at her East Valley Road estate.

Oprah, 66, could be seen struggling with the task of maneuvering her duvet into its cotton cover on Instagram.

“Anyone else find it challenging getting a duvet inside a cover?” she asked. “There must be a method I’m missing changing linens.”

As a result of her enforced isolation Oprah has found herself taking on multiple household tasks she has generally done by staff.

Sightings Actor Rob Lowe strolling on Miramar Beach... Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi getting takeout at Lucky’s... Actor Christopher Lloyd picking up The New York Times at Pierre Lafond •MJ

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28 MONTECITO JOURNAL

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“I love Halloween, and I love that feeling: the cold air, the spooky dangers lurking around the corner.” – Evan Peters

29 October – 5 November 2020

What people are saying about

Leading activists, creatives and thinkers confront racism in America, guiding us towards racial equality.

“Absolutely on point.

Keep them coming.”

“Wonderful, captivating, enlightening, thoughtful.”

– Scott H.

– Jo Ann R.

“Outstanding.”

– Gilbert R.

“This was a terrific presentation! The series is off to a great start.”

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Fabulous. Looking forward to more events!”

– Mary B.

– Nina B.

Up Next Virtual Events Musician, Historian, Writer and Podcaster

Screening and Q&A with Filmmaker Dawn Porter

there is no Other

Tue, Nov 17 / 5 PM Pacific $10 / UCSB students: FREE!

Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi Sun, Nov 15 / 11 AM Pacific $10 / UCSB students: FREE! (UCSB student registration required))

John Lewis: Good Trouble

(UCSB student registration required))

The film screening will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Dawn Porter about Representative Lewis’ legacy of fearless protest and how we can keep his campaign for justice alive.

Lead Sponsors: Marcy Carsey, Connie Frank & Evan Thompson, Patty & John MacFarlane, Sara Miller McCune, Santa Barbara Foundation, Lynda Weinman & Bruce Heavin, Dick Wolf, and Zegar Family Foundation UC Santa Barbara Campus Partners: Department of Black Studies, Center for Black Studies Research, Division of Social Sciences, Division of Humanities and Fine Arts, Division of Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences, Division of Student Affairs, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, Gevirtz Graduate School of Education, Graduate Division, College of Creative Studies, College of Engineering, MultiCultural Center, The Carsey-Wolf Center, UCSB Reads, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor

Special Thanks:

Community Partners: Natalie Orfalea Foundation & Lou Buglioli

(805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu 29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

29

Our Town

by Joanne A. Calitri

Joanne is a professional international photographer and journalist.

Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com

Arts in Lockdown Series Part 13

Multi-instrumentalist Musician Elle Archer On November 20, Elle Archer will release her first seven-inch single in honor of trans-musician Audrey Howell, who went missing in Portland early this year and was later found dead (Photo credit: Jason Quigley)

“M

usicians are here to provide wisdom and comfort for a traumatized world, and to uplift the voices of the downtrodden,” says Elle Archer, a Portland-based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Managed

by Seth Loeser at Silver Morning Management, and recently signed with Kill Rock Stars, Elle’s band Shaylee is a project aimed at conveying youthful queer exuberance and hardship through the lens of tightly arranged power pop anthems. Her live band consists of Nick Lambert on drums and Marvin Oceguera, former manager of Instrumental Music in

Santa Barbara, on bass guitar, but in the studio, Elle performs and produces everything herself.

The song, “Piss Dirt,” is an example of the range of expression and influences that Elle merges together in her songwriting, a hard-driving rock bass line with the lyrics and lead guitar overlaid clearly, some shredding but not to the point of sloppy note transitions, and pushing traditional threeand-a-half-minute song boundaries with a slow tempo melodic bridge at the three-minute mark, winding up tempo to the finish around 4 minutes 20 seconds. Elle’s vocals are a tonal resonance nod to Chrissie Hynde,

Property Details:

Joanne Calitri Zoom interviews Portland-based musician Elle Archer

and a rhythm backline of Sonic Youth meets The Strokes.

Over lockdown she was prolific in creating new music. November 20 is the slated release date of the first seven-inch single off an upcoming LP, song “Audrey,” which pays tribute to transgender people who have died. November 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance, a day meant to draw attention to transphobic violence and the lives lost as a result of it. She wrote the song after learning about trans-musician Audrey Howell, who went missing in Portland early this year and was later found dead. The music video was filmed at Cape Kiwanda beach, Oregon.

Elle has been a musician for 16 of her 24 years, and a recording artist for 10 years. Guitar studies include four years in her high school jazz band and

two in college. Instruments played are vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer, keyboards, and various bits of percussion.

Arts interests are photography, collage, writing, visual art, and film.

Here’s our interview: Q. Can you share about being a musician in Portland and protesting?

A. Before COVID-19 arrived on the scene, the city was full of wonderful venues to play shows at, and there was a huge supportive community ready to love whatever art you made if you were willing to put yourself out there. These days, though, a sizable chunk of the town’s venues and bars are shut down, many of them for good. The scene here was fantastic

Our Town Page 414

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“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.” – Mason Cooley

805-568-2200 sbcvote.com 29 October – 5 November 2020

NOSH TOWN

IN THE KITCHEN WITH SERKADDIS ALEMU A SEASONED ETHIOPIAN CHEF ON THE ART OF MAKING INJERA AND A NEW APPROACH TO COMMUNAL DINING DURING THE PANDEMIC

P

etit Valentien serves bistro-style French cuisine with classic offerings such as Petrale Sole, but weekend brunch is another matter. That’s when diners gather at the bohemian-style café for Ethiopian feasts of spicy meats and braised vegetable and curried bean stews served atop injera, a large crepe-thin, spongy sourdough flatbread meant to be devoured by hand in a communal setting.

A collaboration between owner/chefs Robert Dixon and Serkaddis Alemu, the restaurant has always embraced its versatility. But in the COVID era, traditional Ethiopian dining can be a little more complicated given the state’s new guidelines.

That’s because it’s communal eating on an intimate scale, two or more people seated around the circular injera, which is meant to be both platter and utensils; strips are torn off and are used to scoop up the food. Then there is also the romantic tradition of gursha, which is to choose and then delicately stuff a bite-sized portion of injera cloaked with stew into your partner’s

Nosh Town columnist Claudia Schou and Petit Valentien co-owner Serkaddis Alemu prepare Ethiopian curry base and Assa T’ibs (sautéed fish) among other traditional dishes

Nosh Town Page 44 444

“Robert Kemp is passionate about the fire service. I believe he will make good, informed decisions while making public safety the #1 priority.”

— Eric Peterson, County Fire Chief, Ret.

Elect

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MONTECITO FIRE DISTRICT BOARD Keeping Safety First Make Robert Kemp ONE of your votes for Montecito Fire District Board!

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Return your Ballot by Nov. 3

• • • • •

23 year Resident Montecito Association Outreach Chair Community Emergency Response Team Leader Expand fire prevention outreach The ONLY candidate for Montecito Fire Board endorsed by the Democratic Party

Paid for by Robert Kemp for Montecito Fire Board 2020, PO Box 90614, Santa Barbara, CA 93190 • FPPC # 1429860 29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

31

Dear Montecito

Stella Pierce outside of St Regulus Hall on move-in day at the University of St Andrews in Scotland

by Stella Pierce

Ghost Stories of St Andrews’ Halls of Residence

Dear Montecito,

I

t is around this time every year that a very particular group of people begins to make themselves known to the world. A strange class of individuals who, in response to the first chills of mid-autumn, adopt an insultingly festive attitude, sprout twinkle lights from their ears, and pull out all their best excuses to wear any number of horrifying reindeer sweaters. I am of course referring to the premature-Christmas folks. I find it disrespectful – no – wounding that such an obscene genre of people could annually anticipate Christmas in favor of the mother of all commercial American holidays: Halloween.

What you must know is that I was disabused of several core beliefs concerning the supernatural very late into my childhood. I suspect some of this was a purposeful effort on my parents’ part. (The subject with vampires was taken in particular reverence to explain Stella Pierce, disguised as Hellboy on Halloween why “Momma has garlic breath.”) One in 2008, back when Ghost Village Road wasn’t might suspect that this would dis- cancelled

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courage my zeal for All Hallow’s Eve, the 31st of October, Hallowe’en, but no.

It has only intensified my love for the holiday. Indeed, I think the first time I was featured in this Journal was almost certainly for a second prize win in the Scoops costume contest. As you can see, my relationship with this holiday was, in some measures, inevitable. So move over premature-Christmas folks! Put away the twinkle lights and that extension cord, shelve your cinnamon candles, and freeze that cookie dough for later because as long as I’m around, it’s Ghost Village Road or bust.

Now Twix, Snickers, and the one day a year your parents make you promise not to eat a piece of fruit is all well and good, but what keeps us coming back for more once we’ve outgrown the Halloween attractions of late childhood? Why the ghost stories, of course. An attentive reader will have perhaps flagged this as the part of my letter where we shift our focus to my current country of residence, and since I’m certain many of my friends may now believe I have no personality divorced of my relocation to Scotland, it’s as good a place to start as any.

I was excited as any person can be at the prospect of being assigned a dormitory in my first year at university. There were four main options for a fresher moving into “halls of residence,” and given that every hall was about as old as the state of California, I would’ve been delighted by any and all options. Being assigned to St Regulus Hall was the cherry on top. Built in the 1880s, St Regulus was originally a hotel and may’ve remained one longer had it not become something of a hub for local prostitutes. This delightful kernel of knowledge combined with the shrieking noise the building’s water pipes made at about 3 am was more than sufficient inspiration for me to start telling ghost stories.

Many a full-mooned night I did spend torturing my friends with tales of old in a fine-tuned, if poorly executed, Scottish brogue.

But the bizarre tales from my small town don’t end there, folks. Let me give you a taste of Andrew Melville Hall. You may find it somewhat impressive to know that despite living, eating, and sleeping at St Regulus, I spent a comparable amount of time in Andrew Melville. Known primarily for being designed in the “New Brutalist” style – and for the being hall of residence of my lovely research partner from my last letter, Kaja – Andrew Melville Hall actually had a short-lived career in the film industry. It played the part of a prison in a movie starring Keira Knightley. And I can confirm that spending several consecutive hours in Andrew Melville will give you exactly that impression.

Finally on our ghost tour of St Andrews’ halls of residence, we arrive at the famed St Salvator’s Hall (affectionately known as “Sallies”) where the body count has nothing to do with axe murders and everything to do with Hugh Grant’s charisma. Oh yes. I have it on good authority that during his visit to St Andrews, Mr. Hugh Grant was disappointed to learn that he was about a century too late to catch one of the sex workers outside St Regulus and so spent the night at Sallies instead. And if you think that’s scary, let me remind you that St Salvator’s is best known for being the hall of residence occupied by future monarch of Great Britain and big brother to one of our newest neighbors, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Here, I will leave it to your pleasure to enjoy all manner of ghastly tales involving a future world leader and a deadly habit of procrastination on his geography homework. Happy Halloween.

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

“Nothing on Earth so beautiful as the final haul on Halloween night.” – Steve Almond

29 October – 5 November 2020

On Entertainment (Continued from page 11 11)) with. I want them to make choices and then we’ll modify and adjust. I ask them, what do you think about this? Because to survive in the city actors have to know exactly what they’re doing and believe in everything a hundred percent or the industry is going to eat you alive.”

Indeed, the advanced theater students are getting their chances to implement their vision right away in the new academic year, as COVID concerns will keep the kids out of classrooms at least until January, nixing any chances for a big musical production that might have required a heavier hand to kick off Baldridge’s tenure. Instead, he opted for virtual presentations of three radio plays by Tony Palermo, short works that in many ways are uniquely suited for remote productions during the pandemic through distance-learning classes as they were written specifically for the educational system and feature lots of small roles to spread the work around.

“This is our first show,” Baldridge said. “We’re doing it in the advanced theater class. I wanted something where all the kids could have an equal opportunity to shine within the project.”

The pieces – The Pirate’s Curse, Buried Treasure Hunters, and Detective – also not only offer a murder mystery and scary tales befitting Halloween and beyond, they also fit Baldridge’s partiality to “edgy dramatic work with strong emotional responses – that’s my favorite work to do.”

The works’ brevity also let Baldridge offer budding student directors a chance to take the helm as the new teacher has been largely hands-off for all three short plays.

“All I’ve done is mentor them,” he said. “I’ve watched their rehearsals. I’ve given the directors feedback. But it’s their show and they get to make the choices. I give them tools but in the rehearsal, I never just talk. I always ask for permission. I want the students to have a leadership role at all times. I want to make it about the students and empower them to make choices and to find their own creative voice. And I can already tell that they’ve all grown a lot in their acting and their directing skills because they’re the ones being forced to make the choices and communicate with each other about it.”

Audiences will get a chance to see for themselves when the pre-recorded and edited SBHS videos of the Palermo radio plays premiere virtually on October 30, and remain available online through November 30. Tickets are $20 (at www. purplepass.com/sbhstheatre). Visit www.sbhstheatre.com for details.

Matthew Pifer, MD

Collecting or Hoarding?

UCSB Professor of Theater and Dance William Davies King has spent a lifetime collecting nothing, which he brought to light in his 2008 book Collections of Nothing

King Explores Whether ‘Nothing’ is Sacred By his own accord, UCSB Professor of Theater and Dance William Davies King has spent a lifetime collecting nothing, which he brought to light in his 2008 book Collections of Nothing. Cheez-It boxes, “Place Stamp Here” squares, hotel door cards, and the little stickers found on fresh fruit are examples of the valueless ephemera that fascinate him, to the tune of collecting tens of thousands of items. However, King has also devoted years to engaging with the arts – drama, performance art, collage, and the like – and also explores the ways the activity of the collector, who thinks through the world, connects to the work of the artist, who makes a world through things.

King was the focus of an exhibit last winter at the UCSB Library, which showed a selection of his stuff in “The Creative Edge of Collecting,” which was open briefly before COVID-19 concerns shut down the campus. (You can still see the exhibition online; visit https://www.library.ucsb.edu/events-exhi bitions/creative-edge-collecting.) Now the decorated hyphenate – the literary scholar King’s CV includes editing critical editions of Long Day’s Journey Into

On Entertainment Page 504 504

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• The Voice of the Village •

Contact us to schedule an appointment today.

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Excellence in Escrow on Coast Village Road “I have rarely seen even the best escrow officers go outside the box like Danielle did and help with issues that did not strictly having bearing on their escrow role. So, my impression of Danielle as a competent professional who is easy to communicate with was elevated to a new level. She has made herself memorable to me in a super-positive way. I would put her up there with the best of local escrow officers, past and present”

People of Montecito

by Megan Waldrep

Megan Waldrep is a writer for regional and national publications who lives with her fiancé in a 22’ airstream. She writes a weekly blog about being the partner of a commercial fisherman and authors a relationship column under the pen name Elizabeth Rose. Learn more at meganwaldrep.com.

How Did You Learn the Trade?

Patricia Moo’s The Perfect Fit sells Cabi ready-to-wear clothing as part of the shop’s fall 2020 collection, available now at the store on Coast Village Circle

Danielle Drewisch 1127 Coast Village Road Montecito, 93108 805.695.0449 Text: 805.770.6712

I

learned to sew when I was probably 13 years. The first dress I made when I was 14. You know, my mama was a seamstress. So when I was little, I used to help her. I’d do the hemming, the buttonholes, sewing buttons, and all that kind of stuff.

Later, I took over little by little because she was having problems with her eyes. Then, I came over to the U.S. and started working in a factory doing uniforms for the fire department or the police department. From there, I worked for a tailor shop. And I worked with this wonderful Irish lady that taught me how to do fittings. From there, I switched to Italians. They’ve all been my best mentors. I took about six months, just learning how to do new patterns. So, I’ve learned from hands-on experience.

I worked for the previous owner of The Perfect Fit for fifteen years before I took over in 2007 when she retired. All my clients are very loyal, and I really appreciate them. I feel very blessed to be in this community. I feel safe, loved, protected over here. I don’t go to work, I go to my home.

Patricia Moo, owner of The Perfect Fit •MJ

Congratulations to Janet Caminite Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is pleased to congratulate Janet Caminite on the successful representation of the seller at 5348 Rincon Beach Park Drive, Listed at $3,295,000

Janet Caminite Associate Manager (805)896-7767 JanetCaminite@bhhscal.com DRE: 01273668

© 2020 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP) is a member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates LLC. BHHS and the BHHS symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. 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. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

34 MONTECITO JOURNAL

“Magic is really very simple, all you’ve got to do is want something and then let yourself have it.” – Aggie Cromwell

29 October – 5 November 2020

Library Mojo

making to music to creative writing. Registration is limited and will open on Tuesday, October 27, at 10 am. All supplies needed for the workshops will be provided via kits available for pickup at the Central Library. Details can be found on the Library’s website and events calendar.

by Kim Crail

Kim is the Branch Lead of the Montecito Library. Questions or comments?

Contact her: kcrail@santabarbaraca.gov

A Conversation with Elizabeth Gilbert

Keepin’ Tabs

Wednesday, November 11 at 6 pm

M

ontecito Library staff have fulfilled more than 1,000 pickup requests for thousands of library materials since we resumed services (outdoors) in July. For our online catalog, please go to sbplibrary.org/catalog to place your requests.

Book Discussions Creative Quest,

by Questlove Saturday, November 21 at 1 pm Broken Places & Outer Spaces: Finding Creativity in the Unexpected,

by Nnedi Okorafor Thursday, December 3 at 5:45 pm

Staying Connected Keeping in touch has never felt more important. Library patron Linda was kind enough to share her story: “I am a retired resident without a TV, computer, or internet and my family lives in Northern California. It’s wonderful to know I can check out a Chromebook and a hotspot from the library. Now I can enjoy watching videos on Kanopy, but most importantly I can stay in touch with my family over the internet. I am very grateful for the library.”

Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear,

by Elizabeth Gilbert Saturday, December 5 at 2 pm

Book Club If you are in the mood for a virtual library book club, please attend the SB Reads discussion about Big Magic. I will be leading it and would love to see you the afternoon of December 5. Please check our website or call to register.

Available Tuesday Through Friday

SB Reads: Create!

The Santa Barbara Public Library is excited to announce this fall’s Santa Barbara Reads program, SB Reads: Create! featuring Big Magic: How to Live “It’s wonderful to know I can check out a Chromebook and a hotspot from the library,” says a Creative Life, and Let Go of Your Fear, library patron Linda

by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Free copies of Big Magic, in English and Spanish, will be available to pick up at Central Library’s Book Browsing program beginning on Saturday, October 31, and a virtual visit with the author will be held Wednesday, November 11. The author visit is funded by the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation, which supports largescale library initiatives.

In addition to book discussions and the conversation with Gilbert, the Library is excited to offer the opportunity for participants to engage in creative workshops, through the support of California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Library is working with five local artists to offer participatory virA discussion with Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Big tual workshops via Zoom for teens Magic: How to Live a Creative Life, and Let Go of and adults, including one offered in Your Fear, takes place on November 11 at the Central Library Spanish. Themes range from print-

While our building is closed, we have been engaging in phone conversations instead. We encourage you to give us a call if you have any questions or library needs. It would be nice to hear from you and catch up. Staff are in the building Tuesday through Friday and you can call us (805) 969-5063.

See you (outside) at the library!

•MJ

FEELING PRESSURED TO JOIN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY? LIVE WHERE YOU LOVE!

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29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

35

Summerland (Continued from page 12) Will commuters take a short cut on the “Banner Avenue freeway” instead of the 101 or Lillie Avenue?

All these questions and more were answered during an informative 1.5-hour presentation by several well-prepared and The Highway 101 widening will break ground on November 1 and the entire project will run through 2023 (Photo credit: cheerful representatives of SBroads.com) the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments – Kristen Ayers, Lauren Bianchi Klemann, Dave Emerson, and Fred Luna – during the October meeting of the Summerland Citizens Association. By now, you should have received the color pamphlet mailed out to those who will be impacted by the upcoming construction, which is scheduled to begin on November 1.

One word you might adopt for your mantra should be “patience” and remember that “all good things come to those who wait.” Wait we will, for the widening and improvements scheduled to begin next week will continue until… well, if I had a crystal ball. I will tell you what’s “projected” by the powers that be, so don’t freak out yet.

Phase 4 of the project has Summerland smack dab in the middle and will extend northbound to Montecito and incorporate a complete interchange reconstruction at Sheffield Drive and improved ramps (especially at Sheffield). Highoccupancy vehicle (HOV) third carpool lanes (peak period carpooling will run 1.7 miles in each direction) will be added as well as a median bridge at Evans.

What’s in Store? The Good News The project has five segments: • A state-of-the-art super-duper new highway surface that is said to reduce noise by four decibels. Dave Emerson said, “Three decibels is just about perceptible, but not by a great deal.” The freeway noise is approximately 67 decibels, and while there will be a reduction there will also be two more lanes of cars. For comparison, a running dishwasher is 60-80 decibels. The “cream

of the crop” highway material is a “big deal” – the quietest and longest lasting surface for the project.

• Sounds walls that have “vine holes” so vines can grow to cover them.

• Plexi-panels above sound walls so ocean views are not lost along Lillie Avenue.

• An attractive new pedestrian underpass at Evans leading to Lookout Park – with “community inspired designs” of waves, kelp, and suns; no street parking and a sidewalk behind the columns holding up the new bridge over the 101. There will also be bike lanes and lighting – with a place for banners!

My favorite aspect? A wave pattern in the sidewalk that reminds me of Rio de Janeiro.

• More lanes could equate with more traffic, but hopefully less congestion.

• Enhanced drainage at Greenwell Creek.

• Finney Road will see improvements in the form of picnic tables and trash cans near the beach access as well as parking improvements. Greenwell to North Padaro will see expansion of sidewalks to Loon Point for important coastal access.

• For commuters, the Coastal Express bus that runs Ventura-Santa Barbara will be able to use the HOV lanes.

The Montecito/Santa Barbara section of the project still needs to be funded for 2023 construction, which the team hopes will occur.

If you want to get an idea of what’s in store, look no further than the improvements including sound walls, creek bridges, and widening on the 101 that run through and around Carpinteria.

Now for the Bad News The entire project will run from 2020 to fall of 2023, with the following forecasts: • The northbound sound wall construction will take place until 2022.

• The Ortega Ridge sound wall, finishing the median, and bridge construction will end in 2023 – the same year the spacecraft OSIRIS-REX is scheduled to return to planet earth with rock and dust samples from the asteroid Bennu.

Like I said, patience, man. And drive very, very cautiously, for the next couple of years.

And if the entire project gets funded? Expect a 2027 end date.

For more info, SBRoads.com.

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A warm Summerland welcome to sports legend Maria Sharapova, who has purchased one of my favorite properties. The retired (in February of this year) tennis player has purchased a fiveacre ocean view compound in the hills for $8.6 million.

The 33-year-old Russian has won more than $38 million in prize money – that’s not Tennis star Maria Sharapova purchased this five-acre ocean counting endorsements. A view compound in the Summerland hills for $8.6 million magical spot, where I was (Photo credit: EvRealEstate) very lucky to spend a good bit of time, is now under the caretaking of this new owner. If Summerland has spirits, I reckon the ghost of my former beau Erik Johnson – a huge tennis fan/player and one hell of a nice guy – will be haunting the former guest cottage where he lived, to meet Maria. Longtime Summerland artist Dennis Spangler (also on the other side) had an amazing art studio and workshop there. May the lanky tennis champion – who, by the way, has impeccable taste (her L.A. home has been featured in Architectural Digest) – enjoy this very special property, ghosts or no ghosts.

• Flexible floor plan allows for multiple tenants, plus rare private parking in downtown Santa Barbara

Steve Brown 805.879.9607 sbrown@radiusgroup.com

Miles Waters 805.879.9614 mwaters@radiusgroup.com

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Great Kitchens Don’t Just Happen . . .

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36 MONTECITO JOURNAL

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CABINETS • COUNTERTOPS • DESIGN SERVICES • INSTALLATIONS

Visit our Showroom Upstairs at 6351/2 N. Milpas at Ortega • 962-3228

“It’s Halloween; everyone’s entitled to one good scare.” – Brackett, Halloween

29 October – 5 November 2020

Mega Mansions on the Market

Tuscany Oaks Farm, a seven-bedroom, 10-bath polo estate owned by Bob Fell is offered by Riskin Partners Estate Group and The Agency at $19.8 million (Photo credit: Riskin Partners Estate Group)

Tuscany Oaks Farm, a seven-bedroom, 10-bath polo estate owned by Bob Fell is offered by Riskin Partners Estate Group and The Agency at $19.8 million (Photo credit: Riskin Partners Estate Group)

For anyone wanting to live the Summerland version of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” two of the town’s grandest estates are on the market. Both are owned by polo patrons: there are digs and playing fields for the horses that far outshine many Summerland beach shacks.

Tuscany Oaks Farm, a seven-bedroom, 10-bath polo estate owned by Bob Fell is offered by Riskin Partners Estate Group and The Agency at $19.8 million. Little known “Our Town” factoid: The Agency’s über agent and native of Bolivia, Santiago Arana, got his start in the USA after landing at his aunt’s

Summerland house and working as a waiter in Montecito.

Pat Nesbitt, of Windsor Capitol and Embassy Suites wealth and fame, is offering his grand $65 million, 20-acre spread via auction on November 16-19 via www.conciergeauctions.com.

I remember when all Summerland residents received a very glossy presentation in our post office boxes from Nesbitt before building his 22-bathroom polo spread, in search of support. Now it appears he hopes to let it go to the highest bidder. Maybe he’s selling since he couldn’t get his helicopter pad?

•MJ

Thank you, Santa Barbara!

Just Added Free Event!

These past few months, you followed A&L from stage to screen with a new lineup of virtual events that educate and inspire. Please enjoy this FREE online event as a token of our gratitude.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis: The Sounds of Democracy Fri, Nov 6 / 5 PM Pacific / FREE (Registration required) This unique online presentation celebrates jazz’s embodiment of freedom and features The Democracy Suite, a new Marsalis composition that ruminates on the issues that have recently dominated our lives as well as the beauty that could emerge from a collective effort to create a better future.

A special one-hour conversationand and audience Q&A with -Wynton Marsalis, moderated by - FREE Virtual Performance Conversation Pulitzer Prize-winner and UCSB professor Dr. Jeffrey C. Stewart, will follow the performance.

29 October – 5 November 2020

This event is dedicated to the late Milton Warshaw, friend of Arts & Lectures and passionate benefactor of arts education Lead Sponsor: Sara Miller McCune With thanks to our visionary partners, Lynda Weinman & Bruce Heavin, for their support of the Thematic Learning Initiative

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

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

37

Notice Inviting Bids HSIP DOWNTOWN PERIMETER LIGHTING PROJECT Bid No. 3870A 1.

Bid Acceptance. The City of Santa Barbara (“City”) will accept electronic bids for its HSIP Downtown Perimeter Lighting Project (“Project”), by or before November 12, 2020, 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 to PlanetBids, so plan accordingly. The receiving time on the PlanetBids server will be the governing time for acceptability of bids.

Telegraphic, telephonic, paper and facsimile bids will not be accepted. Bids that fail to upload to Planet Bids prior to deadline will not be accepted. Bidders are encouraged to upload bids by 2:30 pm to Planet Bids.

Bid results will be available on PlanetBids. Bids will be called out on Zoom at 4:00 pm on November 12, 2020 Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81910815198?pwd=VldQWk9MTWNxU0MzYkZjcUJhYTBmZz09 Meeting ID: 819 1081 5198 Passcode: HSIP40223

2.

Project Information.

2.1 Location and Description. The Project is located along De La Vina Street and Sola Street as well as other locations in the City of Santa Barbara. Lighting and pedestrian crossing enhancement work is primarily located on Sola Street from Garden Street to Bath Street, as well as on De La Vina Street from Micheltorena Street to Haley Street. Other improvements along Anacapa Street from North of Haley Street to Gutierrez Street. Striping improvements along Chapala Street from Constance Avenue to Victoria Street and De La Vina Street from Constance Avenue to Haley Street.

The Project consists of constructing 9 ADA access ramps, signing & striping, lighting infrastructure (including but not limited to poles, foundations, approx. 8,000 feet of conduit, meter installation, pull boxes), complete and in place.

2.2 Time for Completion. The planned timeframe for commencement and completion of construction of the Project is: 130 working days from the effective date of the Notice to Proceed.

2.3 Engineer’s Estimate. The Engineer’s estimate for construction of this Project is: $1,615,000.

3.

License and Registration Requirements.

3.1 License. This Project requires a valid California contractor’s license for the following classification(s): Class A . This requirement can be met with either a prime that has both licenses OR a combination of a prime and their subcontractors that meet this requirement.

4.

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. .

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: http://www.planetbids.com/portal/portal.cfm?CompanyID=29959 A printed copy of the Contract Documents may be obtained from CyberCopy Shop, located at 504 N. Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103, at (805) 884-6155.

5.

Bid Security. The Bid Proposal must be accompanied by bid security of ten percent of the maximum bid amount, in the form of a cashier’s or certified check made payable to City, or a bid bond executed by a surety licensed to do business in the State of California on the Bid Bond form included with the Contract Documents. The bid security must guarantee that, within ten days after City’s issuance of the notice of award of the Contract, the successful bidder will execute the Contract and submit the payment and performance bonds, insurance certificates and endorsements, and all 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 section 1771.4.

7.

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

8.

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

9.

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

10.

Disadvantage Business Enterprise. Bidders are advised that, as required by federal law, the State has established a statewide overall Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal. This Agency federalaid contract is considered to be part of the statewide overall DBE goal. The Agency is required to report to Caltrans on DBE participation for all federal aid contracts each year so that attainment efforts may be evaluated. This Agency federal aid contract has a goal of 7% DBE participation.

11.

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

12.

Bidders are advised that this project is a Federal-Aid Construction project and the Contractor shall agree to all requirements, conditions, and provisions set forth in the specification book issued for bidding purposes entitled “Proposal and Contract.” Attention is directed to Appendix B of the “Proposal and Contract” specification book for federal requirements and conditions, as well as documents required to be submitted with this proposal request. This project is subject to the “Buy America” provisions of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 as amended by Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. Bidders are hereby notified that pursuant to provisions of Section 1770, et seq., of the Labor Code of the State of California, the Contractor shall pay its employees the general prevailing rate of wages as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations. In addition, the Contractor shall be responsible for compliance with the requirements of Section 1777.5 of the California Labor Code relating to apprentice public works contracts.

Pursuant to Section 1773 of the Labor Code, the general prevailing wage rates in the county in which the work is to be done have been determined by the director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. These wages are set forth in the General Prevailing Wage Rates for this Project, available at the City of Santa Barbara, General Service Manager, Purchase Office, 310 E. Ortega Street, Santa Barbara, California and available from the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Internet website at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/PWD. The Federal minimum wage rates for this project as predetermined by the United States Secretary of Labor are set forth in the specifications and in copies of these specifications that may be examined at the offices described above where project plans, special provisions, and bid forms may be seen. Addenda to modify the Federal minimum wage rates, if necessary, will be issued to holder of these specifications. Future effective general prevailing wage rates, which have been predetermined and are on file with the California Department of Industrial Relations are referenced but not printed in the general prevailing wage rates. Attention is directed to the Federal minimum wage requirements in the specification book entitled "Proposal and Contract." Addenda to modify the Federal minimum wage rates, if necessary, will be issued to holders of the "Proposal and Contract" specification books. Future effective general prevailing wage rates, which have been predetermined and are on file with the California Department of Industrial Relations are referenced but not printed in the general prevailing wage rates.

If there is a difference between the minimum wage rates predetermined by the Secretary of Labor and the general prevailing wage rates determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations for similar classifications of labor, the Contractor and Subcontractors shall pay not less than the higher wage rate. The City of Santa Barbara will not accept lower State wage rates not specifically included in the Federal minimum wage determinations. This includes "helper" (or other classifications based on hours of experience) or any other classification not appearing in the Federal wage determinations. Where Federal wage determinations do not contain the State wage determination otherwise available for use by the Contractor and Subcontractors, the Contractor and Subcontractors shall pay not less than the Federal Minimum wage rate, which most closely approximates the duties of the employees in question.

By: _____________________________________________________ Date: _______________ William Hornung, C.P.M., General Services Manager Publication dates: October 28, 2020 and November 4, 2020 END OF NOTICE INVITING BIDS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: 911 Restoration Goleta, 289 Coromar Dr. Unit 150, Goleta, CA, 93117. Levin’s Mitigation & Repair INC, 289 Coromar Dr. Unit 150, Goleta, CA, 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 20, 2020. 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. 2020-0002615. Published October 28, November 4, 11, 18, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Capisce Market, 1524 Bath Street, 1A, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. Serafina Logiacco, 1524 Bath Street, 1A, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.

This statement was filed with the County

38 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 15, 2020. 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. 2020-0002573. Published October 28, November 4, 11, 18, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Carla’s

Cottages, 2126 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA, 93108. Carla Case, 2126 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA, 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 14, 2020. 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. 2020-0002569. Published October 21, 28, November 4, 11, 2020.

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.” – Unknown

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Traci Can, 2126 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA, 93108. Traci M. Weeks, 2126 East Valley Road, Montecito, CA, 93108.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 16, 2020. 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. 2020-0002587. Published October 21, 28, November 4, 11, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Aquareon Publishing, 1240 Estrella Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110.

Glenys L. Archer, 1240 Estrella Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93110. This state-

29 October – 5 November 2020

ORDINANCE NO. 5968 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AMENDING THE SECTIONAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, AS REFERENCED IN SANTA BARBARA MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 30.05.020

AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AMENDING TITLE 30 OF THE SANTA BARBARA MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 30.57 REGARDING THE MOBILEHOME PARK OVERLAY ZONE

The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on October 20, 2020.

The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on October 20, 2020.

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.

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)

(Seal)

/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager

/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager ORDINANCE NO. 5967

ORDINANCE NO. 5968 STATE OF CALIFORNIA

) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA )

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

) ) COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA ) ss. ) CITY OF SANTA BARBARA )

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Santa Barbara will conduct a Public Hearings on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, during the afternoon session of the meeting which begins at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 735 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, and will be held via teleconference. Council will consider the recommendation from the Historic Landmarks Commission that La Casa De La Raza located at 601 EAST MONTECITO STREET, APN: 031352-014, be designated a Landmark.

If you challenge the Council's action on the City Landmark Designation decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at, or prior to, the public hearing.

You are invited to attend this public hearing and address your verbal comments to the City Council. Written comments are also welcome up to the time of the hearing, and should be addressed to the City Council via the City Clerk’s Office by sending them electronically to Clerk@SantaBarbaraCA.gov.

In order to promote social distancing and prioritize the public’s health and well-being, the city council currently holds all meetings electronically. As a public health and safety precaution, the council chambers will not be open to the general public. Councilmembers and the public may participate electronically.

On Thursday, November 5, 2020, an Agenda with all items to be heard on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, including the staff presentation to Council, will be available online at www.SantaBarbaraCA.gov/CAP. The Agenda includes instructions for participation in the meeting. If you wish to participate in the public hearing, please follow the instructions on the posted Agenda.

(SEAL) Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager October 23, 2020

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was introduced on October 13, 2020 and adopted by the

ordinance was introduced on October 13, 2020 and adopted

Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a meeting held on

by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a meeting held

October 20, 2020, by the following roll call vote:

on October 20, 2020, by the following roll call vote:

AYES:

Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Harmon, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon; Mayor Cathy Murillo

AYES:

NOES:

None

NOES:

None

ABSENT:

None

ABSENT:

None

ABSTENTIONS:

None

ABSTENTIONS:

None

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my

PUBLIC NOTICE City of Santa Barbara

ORDINANCE NO. 5967

Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Harmon, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon; Mayor Cathy Murillo

Published October 28, 2020 Montecito Journal

ORDINANCE NO. 5966 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AMENDING APPENDIX J OF CHAPTER 22.04

OF

THE

SANTA

BARBARA

MUNICIPAL

CODE

REGARDING GRADING REGULATIONS The above captioned ordinance was adopted at a regular meeting of the Santa Barbara City Council held on October 20, 2020.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my

The publication of this ordinance is made pursuant to the provisions of Section 512 of the Santa Barbara City Charter

hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara

hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara

as amended, and the original ordinance in its entirety may be

on October 21, 2020.

on October 21, 2020.

California.

obtained at the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, Santa Barbara,

(Seal)

I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on October 21, 2020.

/s/ Sarah Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager

/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager

/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager

I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on October 21, 2020.

ORDINANCE NO. 5966 STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA CITY OF SANTA BARBARA

/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published October 28, 2020 Montecito Journal

ment was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 2, 2020. 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. 2020-0002504. Published October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INB Productions, 126 E. Haley Street A15 Second Floor, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101. John Markel, 3214 Campanil Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93109. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 1, 2020. 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

/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Deep It Management, 919 Linden Ave, Unit B, Carpinteria, CA, 93013. Deep It Management LLC, 919 Linden Ave, Unit B, Carpinteria, CA, 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 8, 2020.

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. 2020-0002281.

Published October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Daum Commercial Real Estate Services;

29 October – 5 November 2020

Daum Property Management Services, 801 S. Figueroa St. Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA, 90017. D/AQ Corporation, 801 S. Figueroa St. Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA, 90017. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 9, 2020.

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. 2020-0002302.

Published October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Nalaya Healing, 1021 Neil Park Ave, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103. Willa Kveta Photography, 1021 Neil Park Ave, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 29, 2020.

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing ordinance was introduced on October 6, 2020 and adopted by the Council of the City of Santa Barbara at a meeting held on October 20, 2020, by the following roll call vote:

Published October 28, 2020 Montecito Journal

(SEAL). FBN No. 2020-0002492. Published October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 2020.

) ) ) ss. ) )

AYES:

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. 2020-0002462.

Published October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Nalaya Healing, 1021 Neil Park Ave, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103. Willa Kveta Photography, 1021 Neil Park Ave, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on September 29, 2020.

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. 2020-0002462.

Published October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020.

• The Voice of the Village •

Councilmembers Eric Friedman, Oscar Gutierrez, Meagan Harmon, Mike Jordan, Kristen W. Sneddon; Mayor Cathy Murillo

NOES:

None

ABSENT:

None

ABSTENTIONS:

None

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Santa Barbara on October 21, 2020.

/s/ Sarah P. Gorman, CMC City Clerk Services Manager I HEREBY APPROVE the foregoing ordinance on October 21, 2020.

/s/ Cathy Murillo Mayor Published October 28, 2020 Montecito Journal

MONTECITO JOURNAL

39

Real Estate (Continued from page 16 16) with homes on lots like this one in the area having sold in recent years (and recent months) for more than $20 million, up to recent sales just a few parcels over with done estates selling in the $44 million-plus range.

The value of privacy and having more than four acres in this area is just that hard to come by. Short of a neighboring mega estate, this is one of the largest parcels that even exists in this area of Upper Hot Springs Road, Picacho Lane, San Ysidro Road and San Ysidro Lane, below East Mountain Drive, arguably some of the top areas in Montecito in terms of real estate owned and prices paid – not to mention the number of household names now per block.

If you are not finding an estate to suit your needs among the other available offerings in the $25 million-plus range, here is an opportunity to purchase a rare find. So, get your checkbook out and lock in the services of your architect and designer and get to work planning your dream estate.

1368 East Mountain Drive – $28,500,000

296 Las Entradas Drive – $28,500,000

N

estled in the foothills of Montecito, behind impressive gates and up a long driveway, this expansive five-acre compound offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Created by renowned designer Robert Webb, the eight-bedroom, nine-bathroom estate is a private sanctuary with a presence reminiscent of the new Rosewood Miramar Beach. Boasting 10,700 square feet of living space in the main house, it features a fitness room, art studio, library/study, theatre and more.

The gardens and landscaping are graced with an abundance of rose bushes, terraced lawns and a mélange of pools, ponds and fountains. The lower lawn terrace features a 56-foot swimming pool bordered by a two-bedroom pool pavilion and a two-bedroom guest cottage that conjures a cozy, coastal vibe.

Lush landscaping (thanks to a private well) complements the wandering stream. A lily pad filled pond and gazebo help to enhance the sense of place this Montecito estate offers, resting at the top of Picacho Lane, and within the Montecito Union School Sistrict.

848 Hot Springs Road – $29,000,000

D

rawing inspiration from around the globe, this architectural and spiritually inspired estate is a luxurious display of international influences and has a storied history. Villa de la Vista was once a part of the San Leandro Ranch and owned by the famed Gould family. An extensive renovation in 2012 was undertaken and through the architectural ingenuity of Thomas Bollay, this prominent residence was brought back to life.

The estate sits on a unique 2.9-acre promontory offering a rare 360-degree view of the Pacific Ocean, coastline and mountains. Complete with a pool, one-bedroom guesthouse, tennis pavilion, office building, rose gardens and thoughtful garden spaces, this property transports you the moment you arrive.

The six-bedroom main residence features a meditation room, home theater, wine cellar, bar, recording room, private gym, and sauna. All of this in a private, secure, gated community within the Montecito Union School District.

I

620 Buena Vista Street, Ventura 3BD/3½BA | Offered At $3,695,000

Janet Caminite

Associate Manager 805.896.7767 JanetCaminite@bhhscal.com DRE 01273668

©2020 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. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of that information.

40 MONTECITO JOURNAL

nspired by the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain, recently built ‘Villa Tragara’ effortlessly blends Moorish, Spanish, and Italianate architecture to create a harmonious balance between history and the comforts of modern life. Spanning 12,000+/- square feet of living space, the home features grand spaces with abundant light, as well as impressive scale, proportion and volume.

Seamlessly merging Old World design and architecture with New World conveniences and technology, this estate is unlike anything I’ve seen in the area, a must see for those wishing to make a bold statement and enjoy top views and an A-plus location.

Constructed with attention to details and incorporating time-honored materials, this original expression surely captured my imagination through the photographs and by my having driven by many times, watching the estate be built over the years.

With ocean and island views and 2.4 acres of lush, manicured grounds in the heart Montecito and within the Montecito Union School District, this home is truly one of a kind.

•MJ

“Have you come to sing pumpkin carols?” – Linus, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

29 October – 5 November 2020

Our Town (Continued from page 41 41)) and engaging, and I yearn for the day it returns in full.

Right now, a lot of eyes are on Portland, the city I’ve called my home for two years now. The city has been the site of some of the most memorable and violent of the U.S. George Floyd protests in 2020. I was floored by the early live-streams as I watched my fellow friends and Portlandians get shot at, gassed, and brutalized by the Portland Police Bureau. The total impunity and lack of accountability filled me with rage, and soon I found myself in the streets doing my best to protect my community from a police force hell-bent on ignoring their oath to protect and serve.

At a police precinct in northeast Portland in late August 2020, I was doing what I usually do at protests, which is to hold a shield near the front lines to protect my friends from rubber bullets, the likes of which had brutally injured Donovan LaBella, who had been shot in the head with one by a federal officer months before. I threw no projectiles, set nothing aflame, and looted exactly nothing that night, and yet, I was the one getting thrown against a tree, tackled to the ground, getting my shoulder sprained, and getting walked through a cloud of CS gas after my gas mask was forcibly removed.

Once I was in police custody, I wasn’t provided a mask for several hours, during which I was crammed into a tiny concrete windowless cell with four other women. Nearly all the officers had masks, and yet they insisted that they were fresh out of them for arrestees. If anyone in that cell was COVID-positive, it could have killed me, my roommates, my friends, or anyone else I came in contact with thereafter. Did the police care about this at all, or take any preventative measures to counteract it with their bloated $241.5 million budget? The answer, predictably, is no.

Their medical negligence exceeded even that, however. After being moved to the basement of the Justice Center (a building I had seen many times but had never been inside of), I swallowed my pride out of desperation and asked an officer for some ibuprofen to help with the pain in my freshly sprained shoulder, to which I was told that I would need a doctor’s note. For

still record everything myself on the records.

The messages in your songs?

Most, if not all, of my songs are diary entries. They all just mirror personal experiences in some form.

Have you experimented with different tunings, e.g., 528Hz? A few of my tracks are in different tunings simply due to my instrument being out of tune when I recorded it. It becomes a real hassle once you start working with MIDI though, so I usually use 440hz to keep things easy.

When playing live, Elle Archer’s band Shaylee consists of Nick Lambert (right) on drums and Marvin Oceguera (left) (Photo credit: Eric Harrod)

ibuprofen. Exasperated beyond my limits, I told him, “Well that’s a stupid rule, that should be changed,” to which he muttered under his breath in reply, “I don’t think it should be changed.” Behind the curtain, the people given the power to brutalize their fellow citizens were nothing but petty, immature adult children who bent the rules however they saw fit. I can’t say I was surprised, unfortunately.

It took my body two months before it felt normal again after the arrest, but I’ll never be the same. I’ve seen and experienced violence the likes of which I never imagined I’d experience as an American citizen. The illusion of safety was just that, an illusion, all along.

During lockdown, does music influence the human condition?

I think the biggest change in how music influences people these days is

Are you seeking new ways to create and compose your music since being locked down?

With more time on my hands, I’ve been getting more ambitious with my arrangements, diving deeper into using layers of synths and psychedelia. It’s one of the few things that lockdown has done for me that I’m actually really grateful for.

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What gender-anthro-social-economic-political issues are influencing your experience as a musician?

Being on the receiving end of state violence changes you. It’s made me reevaluate how I use my voice and influence, as using that to aid my community and others is something I’m fortunate to be able to do through my art, and I’d like to take advantage of that as much as I can.

As a voice for your generation, what is the world feeling like and what do you want changed?

I don’t think I’m alone in thinking the world feels pretty terrible these days. The ruling oligarchs are sending us straight to hell in a hand basket, and we’re running out of time to save ourselves. A different, more equitable system focused on using and distributing resources more efficiently must Talk about going from a solo artist to be embraced if we want to survive. having a band.

The emergency exit is to the left, so The band is really just for shows. I to speak.

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that with the total absence of in-person live shows, music has become much more of a personal thing. People depend on music and other media to feel connected to others, and stave off the isolation, and I think that’s really important.

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What’s next for you?

Shaylee just got signed to Kill Rock Stars, and we’ve got some music coming out in 2021. No tours in the works at the moment, but we’ll see!

Giving back/paying forward?

Personally speaking, I donate to a few Portland-based mutual aid organizations monthly, and support my friends in their activism as much as I can. Benefit releases and live-streams are something I’d love to do in the future as well.

Advice for musicians, what is their role right now?

Musicians are here to provide wisdom and comfort for a traumatized world, and to uplift the voices of the downtrodden. Be the voice you want to hear, use your art to accomplish that.

Advice for your generation, GenZ? Stay safe and stay dangerous.

411: http://shayleeband.bandcamp.com http://www.instagram.com/shayleeband https://www.facebook.com/shayleeband https://soundcloud.com/shayleepdx https://youtu.be/j2tS8ihYt7o

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• The Voice of the Village •

(805) 331-­‐‑0845 MONTECITO JOURNAL

41

Your Westmont

by Scott Craig (photography by Brad Elliott) Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

College Hosts Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian

A

cclaimed author Jon Meacham addresses “The Architecture of Endurance: Building a Republic that Stands the Test of Time” on Friday, November 6, from 12 pm to 1:30 pm in a special virtual event from Westmont. The live broadcast opens with remarks by Westmont President Gayle D. Beebe and includes a question-and-answer session with Meacham, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize winner.

The talk is free and open to the public thanks to the support of Westmont’s Mosher Center for Moral and Ethical Jon Meacham, who spoke at Westmont last sumLeadership. Watch the event at west mer, will examine the public’s responsibilities in mont.edu/mosher-events. Meacham’s building an enduring republic on November 6 presentation will only be available as a live broadcast.

“We look forward to a conversation about things that matter with Jon Meacham after the November 3 election,” Beebe says. “Regardless of the outcome, it’s important for citizens to better understand their responsibilities in building an enduring republic. Jon’s unique ability to understand and translate current events through a historical lens allows us to learn from those who’ve gone before us.”

Meacham, who has spoken at Westmont twice before, wrote Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush and eulogized both President Bush and Barbara Bush when they died in 2018. He won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House and has published works on Thomas Jefferson and John Lewis. His 12 books include The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels and The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross.

In addition to writing books, Meacham has produced two podcasts for the History Channel. The series “It Was Said” tells the story of landmark speeches in American history such as Ronald Reagan’s Farewell Address. “Hope Through History” examines how the people of the United States have responded to some of the most challenging times in their history.

Named a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum, Meacham is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a fellow of the Society of American Historians, and chairs the National Advisory Board of the

Westmont’s Mosher Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership presents

The Architecture of Endurance:

Building a Republic that Stands the Test of Time PULITZER PRIZE WINNER

JON MEACHAM WESTMONT.EDU/MOSHER-EVENT SAVE THE DATE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2020 12:00 - 1:30 PM PST

42 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Meacham poses with Westmont Presidential Fellows

John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University.

Meacham is a distinguished visiting professor of history at the University of the South and a visiting distinguished professor at Vanderbilt. He is working on a biography of James and Dolley Madison.

Masked Singers Offer ‘Choral Celebration’ Members of the Westmont College Choir and Choral Union, wearing masks and singing outside, offer a Fall Choral Celebration on Friday, October 30, at 7 pm at westmont.edu/vir tual-concert-series. The choir, directed by Daniel Gee, will perform “This is my Father’s World” by Elaine Hagenberg, “My Soul There is a Country”

by Hubert Parry, “Love Masked singers will perform the Fall Choral Celebration on Oct. 30 Bade Me Welcome” by David Hurd, and “Rock-A My Soul” by Stacey Gibbs.

“As part of our many adjustments for this unique semester, the 47 members of the College Choir have split into three separate groups, requiring a greater level of independence in practice and musicianship,” Gee says. “I’m proud that our singers have risen admirably to the challenge, and we’ve had some wonderful moments of making music together safely and to the glory of God. I hope our recorded performances testify to their resilience and commitment.”

The Westmont Choral Union, directed by Matthew Roy and Karen Janzen, will perform “All That I Am” by William Grant Still, “Colcannon,” by Stephen Hatfield, and “God with Me” by Stephen Paulus.

The Westmont Jazz Ensemble, directed by Eben Drost, performs on Friday, November 6, at 7 pm.

Digging Archeology and the Bible Sandra Richter, Westmont’s Robert H. Gundry professor of biblical studies, examines the intersection between the Bible and archaeology in a lecture, “Digging Up the Bible: What Archaeology Can Tell Us About the Bible,” for the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library at youtu.be/4LpNinvUQc8.

Richter says documentaries at Christmas, Passover, and Easter every year claim to “have unearthed evidence never seen before that the Bible is true” or that “new scientific data demonstrates the Jews were Sandra Richter, unearthing pieces of history never in Egypt and Jesus never existed.” in Israel “This, of course, leaves the lay person wondering about the reliability of the data – and their Bibles,” she says. “So what exactly can archaeology tell us about the Bible? And what would be a reasonable posture regarding all this evidence never seen before?’”

Richter graduated from Valley Forge University, earned a Master of Arts at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a doctorate in Near Eastern languages and civilizations and Hebrew Bible at Harvard University. She joined the Westmont faculty in 2017 and recently published a book, Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters.

•MJ

“Every day is Halloween isn’t it? For some of us.” – Tim Burton

29 October – 5 November 2020

On The Record (Continued from page 22) but sadly, no sharing of crayons, books, or art materials due to COVID, nor display of assignments or artwork on the bulletin board, are being allowed so far.

Both of Montecito’s two public elementary schools have already opened and neither school has experienced a single COVID-related illness so far. According to Anthony Ranii, principal of Montecito Union School (MUS), which reopened on September 28, planning for reopening the campus began almost as soon as the school closed down last March.

“We started building a comprehensive plan at the same time that we were working on developing high-quality distance learning,” Ranii said. “That planning involved teachers, staff, administration, parents, and the board of trustees.”

One key aspect of the plan, Ranii said, was to reduce class sizes to create effective social distancing. “In order to get students back five days a week, we projected needing 21 classes of 14 kids per class, but the number of classes actually went up to 26,” he said. “So we had to add some new classroom teaching positions.”

To accommodate the extra classrooms, outdoor classrooms, complete with shade, plexiglass dividers, new furniture, and upgraded Wi-Fi service were created. “That was a big step,” Ranii said. “And in order to keep all the classes distinct as small cohorts, we staggered our start and end times so kids aren’t all coming or going at the same time and are just eating lunch or having recess with their own classroom.”

Certain specialized classes such as physical education and art are still being taught online via Zoom, Ranii said. “I can’t have one art teacher interacting with 26 classrooms,” he added. “About 95 percent of our students are back on campus, and knock on wood, so far we have had zero staff and zero students test positive [for COVID].”

Cold Spring School reopened even earlier than MUS, on September 22.

“We were the first school to reopen under the waiver,” said Principal Amy Alzina. Readers of the Montecito Journal are likely aware of the fact that the school is seeking to raise $7.8 million in bonds from local property owners this November 3 to pay for three new permanent classrooms, which has led to a mini-uprising among some neighbors who have feuded with Alzina and other school administrators ever since 2008, when the school unsuccessfully sought

to raise $14 million in funds to upgrade the campus.

You can read more about this controversy in MJ editor Gwyn Lurie’s editorial this week. For her part, Alzina said she is simply looking forward to election season being over. She’s much more excited about the school’s upcoming Halloween bash this Friday, where socially-distanced teachers in costume will be funneling candy via appropriately long rain gutters to student trick-or-treaters.

“I’m just glad we were able to reopen,” said Alzina. “That, and the fact that we can actually have a Halloween bash on campus this year.”

- Additional reporting on Summerland School by Leslie A. Westbrook

Montecito Hosts Post-Election Day Virtual Townhall on Bear Safety According to Executive Director Sharon Byrne, the Montecito Association will be hosting a virtual townhall discussion with the Department of California Fish and Wildlife’s Rebecca Barboza on handling bear issues in Montecito, including how we can safely navigate hyperphagia season, when bears are trying to consume a lot of calories in preparation for winter hibernation.

All Montecito neighbors are welcome to the event, which takes place November 4 at 4:30 pm. Please email info@montecitoassociation.org for more information, including how to login to the townhall.

•MJ

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Virtual Community FIRE STUDY WORKSHOP

The Montecito Fire Protection District has partnered with the Carpinteria Summerland Fire Protection District on a Fire Station Location Study. The purpose of this study is to validate community risks identified in previous studies, identify mitigations to those risks, and to determine if a mutually beneficial location can be identified between the two Fire Districts for a single fire station location.

The next step in this important study is to gather community member input. We are asking you to please attend our Virtual Community Fire Study Workshop and provide your opinions and expectations of the Montecito Fire Protection District.

The Virtual Community Fire Study Workshop will consist of an overview of the Fire District and an interactive presentation from our consultant, AP Triton. All community member input will be reflected in the final version of the Fire Station Location Study.

The meeting will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm. Pre-registration is not required.

Please follow the links below to join this meeting: Topic: Community Fire Study Workshop Time: Nov 10, 2020 6:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/2679880107 Meeting ID: 267 988 0107 One tap mobile +16699006833,,2679880107# US (San Jose) For more information on our Virtual Community Fire Study Workshop, please contact Kevin Taylor, Fire Chief at 805-969-7762.

29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

43

Nosh Town (Continued from page 31 31) mouth.

So, Petit Valentien now offers family style and individual plates. Servers will bring a small or large metal platter (depending on your appetite) to your table in La Arcada’s historic courtyard, which offers ample seating for social distancing.

Those who have never tried Ethiopian food would be tempted if they could see Alemu in the kitchen. Her countertop is typically filled with ramekins of garlic, turmeric, ginger, spicy berbere, hand-sliced red onion, jalapeño peppers, nubs of beef, thick wedges of tomato and honey wine for a filet of sole dish, as well as a medium-sized bucket of fermented dough for injera.

Ye’Doro Minchet Wat (spicy minced chicken), Zilzil T’ibs (seared beef), Q’ey Sir Be Dinich (beets and potato), Shiro (chickpea stew), and Gomen (red cabbage and Quosta [sautéed chard]) are just a few of her specialties.

Her recipes aren’t found in a cookbook. They were passed down from one generation of her family to the next for several centuries. She knows exactly how much salt to fill in the crease of her hand before sprinkling it into a pan of sautéing fish filets, or when to stir a pot or move a pan off the flame and into the oven, thus allowing her a moment or two to chop an onion or knead some injera dough.

Alemu recently took time from her busy weekend cooking schedule to show me how she prepares her favorite dishes.

Q. Is the communal aspect of Ethiopian dining lost during the pandemic?

A. Here at the restaurant we always practice giving our customers the choice to dine family style or have an individual dining experience. We let our customers decide which direction they want to go. So, come COVID-19, we didn’t have to transition from family style to individual servings. In regards to losing the communal aspect, I don’t think so, because if you’re eating with your family or friends, whether you are sharing from the same plate of food or not, it is still breaking bread with your people.

How did you learn to prepare Ethiopian food and what are some memories and traditions that come to mind when you’re cooking?

I come from a bygone era in Ethiopia. I came to the U.S. nearly three decades ago. At that time, in Ethiopia a woman’s worth was being a good cook. My parents tried to get me out of that lifestyle, especially my mother. I did learn how to cook just like any little Ethiopian girl would at that time. Women were cooking something on the open fire all the time, so you see how things are done. Then comes a time you would be asked to cut and prep the food, followed by starting the charcoal fire. My love and appreciation for Ethiopian cuisine has grown stronger in the years since I’ve left. I travel to Ethiopia often, but no one or place has influenced me more than my mother. One unique aspect of my culture is how songs are incorporated in the pounding of grains and spices. Women do most of the preparation of food so they would clap for each other for moral support and to keep the rhythm of the movement.

Where do you source ingredients for your authentic cuisine?

Ethiopia! I travel to Ethiopia with my family once a year to visit family and collect all my essential spices and ingredients. When most people travel they bring extra clothes and shoes. I fill my luggage to the brim with spices.

What’s the secret to creating the perfect tangy and sour flavor of injera?

The secret to injera’s tangy taste is fermentation. If you get that fermentation right then you get a better looking, better tasting injera that will complement anything that you throw right on top of it. To get the perfect fermentation, I create what we call in Ethiopia ersho.

Ersho is the mother dough. I mix it with 100 percent teff flour and water and knead by hand.

Then I ferment the dough for three days. On the third day I make what is called absit, which is a small scoop of the dough. I boil it, let it cool down and then mix it with the fermented dough. The last step is to add water and thin out the dough to the right consistency. I’m currently working on creating a starter kit for diners who want to make injera in their own kitchens. Keep an eye on our website or call the restaurant to find out how to pre-order it.

What foods and spices go best with injera?

Injera is very versatile, it’s not just good with one particular dish. Although it is a staple food in Ethiopia consumed for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Here in the States one can combine it with what is already familiar: eggs at breakfast, salad at lunch, and protein at dinner.

Any cooking techniques you live by?

Hand cut your onions instead of using a food processor. Your onions will be less watery and you will have more control to create thicker and more flavorful caramelized onions.

What Ethiopian dishes are making a comeback?

The old way of styles and cooking techniques are coming back again, especially breads.

Out of the many different varieties of breads these are two recipes I would love to master: Doro Dabo is one. Doro Wat is an Ethiopian national dish and this recipe combines this with a dough and then it’s baked. My favorite dish growing up was Dabo firfir for breakfast.

I would sprinkle sugar or honey on it, accompanied by hot milk. The other type of bread I want to master is steamed bread. It’s done by digging a hole in the ground, starting charcoals, then putting a big pan with water in the hole and then the bread dough goes in a separate pan on top of the water, then it is covered and the rest of the hot charcoals go on top. So it’s

44 MONTECITO JOURNAL

Dishes are arranged on a broad white plate (or metal platter) nearly eclipsed by a full moon of injera

an underground bread. It’s fantastic, it tastes wonderful.

What is the Ethiopian coffee (buna) experience like?

Coffee in general is another communal aspect of Ethiopia. It’s the nicest humble service you can offer a guest. Coffee ceremonies usually can last an hour or more. [The experience] is sitting and awakening your five senses. That means you see the coffee bean roasted, you hear the coffee being pounded, you smell the coffee and the smoke of frankincense in the air, and then you taste the coffee.

You produce your own tej honey wine in-house. It has a sweet ale quality.

Tej is honey mixed with water and what we call gesho, a species of buckthorn to speed up fermentation. I believe it’s one of the oldest alcoholic beverages ever made. However it doesn’t have to be fermented. Ethiopian Muslim communities, as well as some Christian communities, don’t consume alcohol, so the honey is mixed with water and it’s called berze.

So, it’s only natural to put it on our menu here at the restaurant. Tej has been a part of Ethiopian culture as far as our history goes, so I am happy to keep featuring this beverage as part of the experience of authentic Ethiopian cuisine.

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ASSA T’IBS RECIPE

SAUTÉED FISH Note: Rinse fillets and pat dry with paper towel for a good golden-seared crust.

Ingredients Serving 4 • 1lb sole fillet, cut in half lengthwise and then cut diagonal into 32 medallion pieces • 1/2 medium red onion, thin slices • 1 large tomato, diced • 1 Jalapeño, cut in half and sliced • 1 lemon wedges (cut into quarters) • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour (cornmeal optional) • 4 tbsp canola oil • 1/3 cup white wine (optional) • Kosher salt Instructions 1. Measure and place ingredients on your kitchen counter 2. In a large, deep skillet heat oil medium-high 3. Meanwhile pat the fish dry with paper towel. Season the fish lightly with salt on both sides.

4. Dredge the fish in flour or cornmeal (optional) on both sides, patting off the excess 5. Gently place the fish in the pan and cook for 3 minutes or when you see a golden-seared crust, then flip the fish 6. Once flipped, add tomato, onion, jalapeño and white wine (optional) into the saucepan 7. Lower the heat to medium and allow the mixture to cook covered another 2 minutes 8. Remove from heat and serve immediately with lemon wedges •MJ

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29 October – 5 November 2020

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www.montecitojournal.net 29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

MONTECITO JOURNAL

45

Editorial (Continued from page 10) Is it true that – on April 9, 2018 – four of the five board members voted to move $117,000 from Fund 21 (the Measure C bond monies fund) to “reimburse” the district’s Fund 40 Special Reserve for Capital Outlay Project? Were monies from Fund 40 used to pay expenditures in preparation for a new, proposed bond measure, L2020?

Dr. Alzina: In April of 2018, the District transferred $117,177.00 from Fund 21 (Measure C) to Fund 40 (Board’s Special Capital Improvement Reserve) to reimburse the District for architectural fees (KBZ Architects) for design work related to improvements on the campus. Before taking action, the Board consulted with Bond Counsel, David Casnocha of Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth. The District was advised that the expenditure for the architectural fees was proper and authorized under Measure C. The expenditure was originally made from Fund 40. The District reimbursed Fund 40 for the expenditure. Fund 40 has not been used to pay any expenditures in preparation for the Bond Measure L2020.

Fund 40 has not been utilized in the last 24 months for any capital expenditures or any other expenditures. This statement by the opposition is simply false.

Fund 21, nor Fund 40 were utilized to pay for the survey or any planning work related to the Bond.

Was there a Citizens’ Oversight Committee for Measure C, though this predates your arrival?

Dr. Alzina: Measure C does have a Citizens’ Oversight Committee that has been dormant since my tenure at the District. The Committee was formed in 2009 and met continuously through 2013. Our records show that the last committee meeting was held in 2013. Minutes of that meeting are on file at the District office. All the financial and performance audits of the Bond funds are on file with the District and can be provided upon request. The last record of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee shows the following membership: Gwen Stauffer, Mick Thomas, Mike Randolph, Diane Morgan, Marc Winnikoff.

The committee records show four vacancies on the Committee.

Some critics are accusing the district of deficit spending. Is that true?

Dr. Alzina: No, we have never deficit-spent in my tenure here. I’ve been here three-plus years. So we started with a 5% reserve. We built it at each year. We’re now at 25%. I was very transparent with the board in May that because we want to provide our in-person learning as we re-enter, we’re going to need additional teachers. So, we may have to dip into reserves. And again, I’ve been super transparent. I said with that we may have to dip into reserves.

To add a teacher, to make the class sizes smaller for social distancing, when you provide a robust remote learning program, there’s added cost to materials as you’re doing the packet pickup and manipulatives and making sure every student has a book, those type of materials. And then switching to in-person, you’re making sure everybody has their own set of manipulatives that nobody can touch. Because you can no longer share materials. So for me, it’s really important that everyone understands that we’ve been fiscally responsible in ensuring that our students come first and maintaining not only a balanced budget but increasing our reserve for the last three years.

This question is for Jennifer [Miller], as School Board Chair. One accusation we’ve heard is that there’s a conflict of interest in you serving as both School Board chair and you are on the ballot committee. Can you speak to that?

Miller: There is no conflict being in two different roles, supporting the bond.

When I support the bond to the public, I support it as an individual parent for the school and I’m not representing the Board. I never represent the Board or have any of the power of the Board behind me when I ask the people to vote yes or no on the bond. I’m doing it as a parent, as well as a person on the bond committee. So as long as there’s a division of that power and you make it clear when you’re talking to people, there’s no conflict.

And was the board vote to go forward with the bond unanimous?

Miller: Yes. Okay. Another charge is that you’ve neglected your facilities for a very long time.

Dr. Alzina: Yeah. And that’s also painful because despite building up our reserves, we’ve also spent $350,000 during my time here on much-needed facilities improvements, including replacing our inefficient furnaces, replacing skylights that were not functional, replacing lighting in our classrooms, getting new hardware to provide additional campus security because security was a priority for us. Replacing projectors. [which] were very old. Students couldn’t even see the boards. So we replaced all of them.

We replaced furniture in our fourth- through sixth-grade classrooms with new furniture, which we’re now using for outdoor classrooms. Then we replaced a leaky roof and made many other improvements. So we have not neglected our facilities. We’ve made these improvements and funded them on operational and categorical grant revenues. We’ve had several water lines break. I mean, it’s

46 MONTECITO JOURNAL

an old campus. It’s 70 years old! And so that is much needed.

Unfortunately, one of the waterlines is portable and one of the classrooms flooded the day before remote learning. So, we did what we could to salvage that portable, to still use it. But clearly, that portable is on its last leg.

Ok. Let’s talk about Yuri Calderon, who used to be a parent at MUS and is now your Chief Business Officer and Legal Counsel. There have been accusations of “self-dealing” or that he’s receiving a percentage of the bond. Please respond to this, as these are serious charges.

Dr. Alzina: The Board hired Yuri as the legal counsel before I came on. And I quickly learned of his expertise with facilities because that is what he did with his independent consulting business. And I had a $250,000 Prop 39 grant and facilities grant that we had a deadline to spend. As superintendent and principal, I do not have expertise in facilities. So I recommended to the Board that we hire him for $10,000 and the board was happy to approve that.

Yuri helped us with all those facility improvements that I shared with you earlier. And we could do that because he was not an employee of the district.

So it was separate. He was on a contract only as a legal counsel and again, for facilities. I also learned about his expertise in finance and we had had a lot of turnover in the business office. Therefore, I reached out to him and said, “Hey, look. I know you can do this job in less than five days. Can we hire you for three days a week as our CBO/legal counsel?” Because how nice is it as a superintendent principal to have legal counsel on retainer knowing that you’re not going to have legal bills through the roof, a win-win.

So we hired him as our CBO/legal counsel for three days a week. And because he’s now our employee, his facilities expertise is free. We have free legal expertise and we have, for free, balanced books, clear audits. That people are saying that the reason he wants this bond to pass is because he wants to manage this bond and he’s going to get 5% is absolutely not true. The fact is, when you’re an employee of the district, you cannot receive a dime of bond funds. Anything he does is out of the goodness of his heart to benefit the district. We are not giving him a dime.

Your STEAM teacher is being accused of only working 12 hours a week. Can you speak to that?

Dr. Alzina: This one pains me as well. Dr. [Jean] Gradias has a doctorate.

She’s brilliant. She knows the standards better than any teacher I’ve ever worked with. She was a finalist for the Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year Award. As you know, you can have a great philosophy at STEAM of project-based learning and you can have these great projects, but if they’re not aligned to the standards, you’re not going to have results in student achievement. And the reason our math scores are off the charts is because both she and I work together. We look at our student data, we identify the holes… and that takes time. This teacher is more dedicated than I’ve ever seen before. I would say she works probably at least 60 hours a week.

Another charge is that the community was not well enough informed about this bond before it appeared on the ballot. Can you speak to that?

Dr. Alzina: Again, they’ve been talking about this as a facilities master plan since 2006. As a community member, you can choose to be involved as much as you want in your community school. You can attend board meetings. I do a weekly superintendent principal update and that’s posted on our website every Wednesday. Also we hired FM3. They are a bond consulting firm. We wanted to survey the community to see if this is something they wanted to support.

And this survey was going to go out literally the day the Thomas Fire broke out and we pulled it. Then we had the Thomas Fire, then we had the debris flow. We just put our facilities on hold. Then last fall, we went to the board and said, “What do you want to do? These are our needs. We can’t really put it off anymore.” So the survey went out last September/October to the community. I believe we had close to 100 responses. It’s very hard to get people to respond to surveys. It was done by telephone. We had 71% in favor of the bond.

Did you hold any community information meetings? Zoom or anything like that?

Dr. Alzina: I did a webinar that was open to the community in early October, in addition to all the School Board presentations. Yuri Calderon gave many Board presentations. I answered every question that was out there.

It’s being said that it’s a violation of the California Ed Code for a superintendent to ask their community for foundation funds. I know this is not true, but could you speak to that?

Dr. Alzina: Every year, our foundation reaches out to our parent community to support our specialist programs: art, music, STEAM, technology, and P.E., with a goal of getting around $1,200 for every student. But knowing that some families might only be able to give $10 or some might be able to give a lot more.

But that’s just the goal. And that comes from the foundation. That doesn’t come

29 October – 5 November 2020

Far Flung Travel

Speed Thrills

by Chuck Graham

Chronicles from the fastest land mammal in North America

I

almost lost them in the densely vibrant fields of hillside daisies within the Carrizo Plain National Monument. They were about a halfmile west of where I stood, my Canon 300mm IS lens aimed in their direction.

I was hoping for them to meander my way, but with wildlife you never know.

They have their own agenda. There were five pronghorn antelope frolicking in the lush wildflowers, another Super Bloom in all its glory. The bull dipped its head, leading with its hollow antlers to thrash and toss the yellow blooms skyward. Soon, the herd turned and headed my way.

Within minutes I could see their long, batting eyelashes, no binoculars or zoom lens required. That half-mile distance had been obliterated, and

now they were a mere 50 feet from where I stood motionless and silent, full frame in my viewfinder. At one point I dropped my camera to my side and simply marveled at an animal that can outrun the wind, certainly outrun any predator across the last remaining grasslands of the Golden State.

Initially, the four other pronghorn were not as inquisitive, not as bold; instead they approached cautiously, methodically following the burly pronghorn bull but from a short distance. Two of them were youngsters, opting to stay behind their parents.

However, once it was clear that there was no threat, they became more playful, loping in the wildflowers after one another until their parents grew bored with me, heading west to the rolling

from me. I did not ask one single soul for funds. I don’t like to make asks. I posted an informational piece in my weekly letter and then that’s as far as I go.

So Jen, as the School Board Chair, what is your sense of how parents feel about this bond?

Miller: I would say every parent that I have talked to is in support of this bond. I think that this school is full of parents that want to support the school in every way possible and they see the need for the facilities improvements. It’s such a small amount of people that are making a lot of noise. And they have a lot of money and they’re able to afford these negative ads, and signs and mailers… We’ve had people that said that they would vote for it but won’t put up a sign because they’re afraid something will happen to them. And that’s scary.

So what have you learned from this? If anything. Do you think you could have done a better job of educating our community?

Miller: One of the things I always pride myself in doing well is sending out communication. I’m always like, “Tell your story. Tell your story, or somebody else will tell it for you.” But the challenge of telling your story right now is COVID. It would be great to have everyone come on campus to meet together but unfortunately we can’t do that. And so telling my story has been really challenging because I’ve had to use Zoom and webinars and letters, and not in person. And this is that piece, where we’re at right now which worries me as a country is that human connection, that piece that people are longing to have and without that, it’s really hard to connect. So I may have underestimated the challenge that I was about to face and how challenging it would be to tell our story. To get the truth out.

•MJ 29 October – 5 November 2020

Caliente Mountains that border the Carrizo Plain.

Pronghorn antelope have long-distance cousins from another continent.

As it turns out, pronghorn are not antelope after all. They fall under the category of Giraffoidea. Their closest living relatives are giraffes and the okapi, a unique looking mammal, both being from Africa.

Western States Pronghorn antelope are typically associated with western states such as Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, but here in California they can be spotted in the northeastern portion of the state.

Closer to home, a mere 2.5-hour drive north of Montecito, there are small herds that enjoy the wide-open spaces of the Carrizo Plain National Monument. Known as the last of the Golden State’s historic grasslands, proper foraging habitats still exist between the Caliente and Temblor Mountain ranges.

After coming close to extinction in the 1800s and early 1900s efforts have been taken to help restore the population, though only to a fraction of its historic range. Today, pronghorn can be seen on the Carrizo Plain National Monument, where a herd was translocated from northeastern California in the late 1980s.

Built for Speed I heard hooves thundering across the Carrizo Plain south to north toward several dry vernal pools. I found the pronghorn through my binoculars scanning the grassland habitat for potential threats that had them sprinting across the open grasslands.

It was two coyotes just loping along and there was no chance of them running down any of the 32 animals in the herd. There were, however, several fawns well protected within the middle of the herd, so the pronghorn didn’t wait around for the canids to pursue them as shards of grass and dust wafted in their wake.

It appeared as if the two adult coy-

• The Voice of the Village •

otes were feeling out the situation, maybe knowing it would have been a monumental task to bring down one of the fawns. In any event, it was the speed of the pronghorn that kept them out of harm’s way. Something that has worked well for them for thousands of years.

The African Savannah and its Southwest deserts have the sleek, fleet-footed cheetah, the fastest land mammal in the world, clocking out at 70 miles per hour. Skyward, the peregrine falcon tucks its wings and can dive after prey at over 200 miles per hour, clipping and injuring its prey, even killing it on the fly with fighter jet precision. But in North America, the pronghorn antelope is the fastest land mammal on the continent, topping speeds of 55 miles per hour.

Pronghorn are also strategic runners. They have been observed running with at least 13 distinct gaits. In an all-out run, full stride sees them reach 8 yards per stride. The top speed is dependent upon the length of time over which it is measured.

Pronghorn can run 35 mph for 4 miles, 42 mph for 1 mile, and 55 mph for a half mile. Although pronghorn are considered to be the second-fastest land animal, second only to the African cheetah, it can sustain high speeds longer than its lanky, spotted counterpart.

It is not just that pronghorn can run fast. Their physical traits contribute to them doing so. There are many reasons why pronghorn antelope are the fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere.

Compared to its body size, the pronghorn possesses a large windpipe, heart, and lungs. This enables them to inhale large amounts of air when running at top speeds.

Pronghorn antelope are also equipped with hooves possessing two elongated, pointed, cushioned toes which help these fleet-footed creatures absorb shock when running full tilt. Their bone density is light, and their hairs are hollow. All of these physical characteristics give them advantages no other predator can match across North America. •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL

47

Letters (Continued from page 8) amazing educational program, why wouldn’t we support that especially when the vision includes extending opportunities to children outside of our district?

Since purchasing my home, I believe we have seen the value increase dramatically. This was the same effect we experienced with the home we purchased in the Adams Elementary attendance area. As student achievement soars, so does the demand for homes in the attendance area. At Cold Spring, the mere fact that we were the first school to open will create a spike in home demand.

Measure L2020 is an investment in our community. It is an opportunity to build on the mission of the school district and Dr. Alzina’s vision of sharing best teaching practices regionally and serving children outside of Cold Spring in a deeper way. It is also about providing a safe environment for our children.

I urge you to vote “Yes’’ on Measure L2020! Our community benefits when we put our children first!

Dr. Erin Duarte

Vote No on Measure L I am a Montecito taxpayer who recently became interested in the school’s leadership’s request to pass another bond, L2020. After reading about it and doing my own research, I have major questions AND concerns.

There is little transparency, so you have to dig deep to get information. I also just received my property tax bill with the two previous Cold Spring bonds listed that we are still paying for. Why is the list of wants and needs to L2020 essentially the same as C2008? What was the C2008 $2.4 million spent on, and why did they not have the required oversight committee to ensure the taxpayer money was spent appropriately? What I have learned recently is that there are many people afraid to voice their concerns, and only a few who are brave enough to come forward and be the voice for the ones who are silenced. Vote no on Measure L. S. Cohen

I Do Declare An op-ed last week promoted a document prepared by three doctors endorsing herd immunity. I was intrigued because the authors were from prestigious universities and all described as epidemiologists.

The op-ed writer complained about the “non-coverage” that this statement, self-described as “The Great Barrington Declaration,” had received from “major media.” In fact, there has been considerable discussion of this declaration. First, the doctor authors received funding from a Koch broth-

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ers-funded libertarian “economic research institute” which takes issue with the majority of the American scientific community’s COVID strategies.

Second, the town of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, has officially requested that its name be removed. “We are a COVID-safe community, we are not tossing off our masks,” Mark Pruhenski, Great Barrington’s town manager, said in a statement. Third, my Google search quickly revealed literally hundreds of articles covering the “declaration” in the mainstream media all around the world, including five in The New York Times and an extended interview with two of the doctors in the Wall Street Journal. What the op-ed writer did not mention was the scientific community’s professional review and response. Several thousand members of the Union of Concerned Scientists published a memorandum responding to the three doctors in the prestigious British medical journal The Lancet, known as the “John Snow Memorandum,” www. johnsnowmemo.com. I urge intelligent, educated Montecitans to read this as well as the other documents to make up their own minds. And before anyone wonders whether the author of Game of Thrones might object to the use of the name of one of the historical fantasy series’ most popular characters, take note: Dr. John Snow was a 19th Century English physician considered one of the founders of modern epidemiology and public health.

Charles C. Read

The Bear Necessities My name is Carlos, I was born and raised right here in Montecito. My home has been on a ranch nestled in the middle of East Valley Road, Romero Canyon Road, and Buena Vista drive for as long as I can remember. My mother named me Carlos Romero after the name of the ranch I live on, Rancho San Carlos and Romero Canyon, my neighborhood.

Please know that I am a neighbor, not a nemesis. If you see me from a car, wave, if you see me at your house, back away slowly, then, when safe, make lots of noise and let me know I should move on. After all, I get hungry this time of year and will gladly relocate to a more welcoming place.

Just know it is not you I am after, I am shy and like to keep to myself, but lately the work on the ranch has been discomforting to me, and the others there, such as my friends the deer, racoons, possums, and squirrels.

I think the humans are clearing brush and dead wood for fire season and that is a good thing. But the grubs, ants, and larvae that I eat as a staple diet might be getting taken away. I am an omnivore. I eat what is easiest to find and seldom hunt live

prey. So, you really have not much to worry about from me. I may be large and imposing, but when I smell food from a garbage can, I will treat it like a log with larvae and see if I can find a nibble or two.

I know I might be alarming to you, but please be aware I have rights, just like you. Please go to the following link to understand them: https://wildlife.ca.gov/ Conservation/Mammals/BlackBear/Statewide-Policy#312501085-iincident-response Winter is coming, that is why I am constantly eating, to prepare for my yearly deep sleep, hibernation, bulking up so I will be able to snooze comfortably and be well out of your yards and streets for a good long slumber.

I know fish and game are probably setting a trap for me so they can take me to another location and that is fine with me as long as I can keep being a bear, doing what bears do best.

Carlos Romero, The Bear Montecito Forwarded to the MJ by his friend, Michael Edwards, Montecito

Double Speak Double Trouble I just received a letter from the Cold Spring Superintendent Amy Alzina and the Board President Jennifer Miller and I was truly blown away by their hypocrisy. They claim they “have been transparent in everything they’ve done.” Does that include changing the board rules about communication so that only Ms Miller is allowed to ask any? That is what they did in 2018 to keep certain board members from asking questions they didn’t like.

They claim to be relationship driven but have completely ignored the residents who don’t have children attending the school. In your last issue Amy Alzina wrote in favor of Bond L2020 stating, “The district’s Facilities Master Plan, dated April 10, 2006, addresses district needs and proposes the construction of a permanent building to replace the portable classrooms. This report is 14 years old.

The report also addresses the site circulation issues and the need to move the administrative offices to the front entry of the school for security purposes. We agree with the recommendations made in 2006.”

If Alzina had done her homework on the history of bonds in this community she would have learned that the district residents had rejected that Facilities Master Plan twice. First in November 2006 with Bond Measure K for $14.5M then again in February 2008 with Bond Measure R for $8.5 million. It was clear then that district residents did not see a need for a new administration building at the front.

My first husband Stan and I both voted for Measure C for $2.4 million.

However, now I have serious concerns

that there hasn’t been any of the oversight on that bond.

Alzina talks about how they created a culture of mutual respect but in your issue last week she blamed the community for the low survey results when she wrote, “Admittedly, the response rate was low. This has to do with our community’s willingness to participate in surveys, not any fault of district staff or FM3. FM3 attempted phoning, emailing and texting the community to secure participation.”

Well, I don’t know anyone who was contacted. I would have responded as would all my friends.

Maybe instead of spending thousands of dollars on a survey of a handful of people Alzina and the board could have hosted a series of free town halls that they promoted on Nextdoor.

If they had, they would have heard this history from a lot of us. Instead Alzina takes no responsibility for the poor planning, wasteful spending and ugliness this debacle of a bond rollout has had on this community.

I am signing this letter with my maiden name because I don’t feel safe in my community right now. I have already been heckled by a parade of Vote Yes on L2020 cars last weekend.

I also heard from Don Miller’s neighbor that his truck was vandalized and his No signs were stolen after his letter in your paper last week. Shame on these people, terrorizing the older generation. Think of the message you are teaching your kids: do what you want, don’t do your homework, blame others and harass people with differing opinions. Their letter reads like propaganda from 1984 – full of Orwellian doublespeak. The school doesn’t need new classrooms, it needs new leadership.

Esther Greene

My Journey Leading to a Yes Vote on L2020 A little background. My Cold Spring School story is both personal and incredibly rewarding. My family chose to move into the Cold Spring School District because we heard great things about the school and the community. The administration, faculty, staff, parents, and children alike welcomed us and we quickly realized we were in a special place.

My wife and I wanted to give back, so we joined the Cold Spring School Foundation. We became foundation co-presidents the year of the Thomas Fire and Debris Flow. It was then that we experienced the depth of the school’s unwavering commitment to our community and the community’s support of the school. As the song goes “we are small but mighty” and that was proven by the response of the administration, faculty, parents and neighbors. Cold Spring was a staging ground for first responders, a location 29 October – 5 November 2020

to receive free trauma counseling, and it was a community filled with shovels to dig out our neighbors. We found our place and extended our family.

The leadership during this time of crisis was outstanding, despite it being our superintendent/principal’s first year, the goals were set for Cold Spring School to provide a safe and supportive environment and not fall behind academically. As a result, and despite all the challenges presented, standardized testing improved that year. Since then, it has continued to improve, leading to Cold Spring School becoming the number one school district in the state of California.

When joining the School Board last year, I experienced an administration, faculty and staff that was committed to continuous improvement, fiscal responsibility and flexibility. My tenure on the board lapped two fiscal years, and despite previous reports, I experienced a budget surplus that added reserves to the balance sheet.

The administration, in conjunction with the governing Board, increased the reserves to five times the state mandated amount to ensure that when the next disaster hit, the school would be prepared.

The COVID-19 crisis was our next test. The administration was determined to respond quickly and provide the same outstanding education in a fiscally responsible manner. The administration faced an environment where costs were increasing, partially due to the immense COVID-19 related expenses, while state funding was decreasing. The administration, through their tireless and relentless efforts, presented a plan that cuts costs, protects our incredible faculty and staff, provides a safe working and teaching environment, and keeps our educational standards high.

Parents were surveyed multiple times and a dual course was paved that includes online and in-person schooling options. This is only one example of their excellence and another reason why families want to live in our district.

I voted in favor of placing Measure L on the ballot because while we have a fantastic school, the facilities are in desperate need of repair and the campus is not secure. The school is over 100 years old and it continues to have facilities issues. The two portables have deteriorated, with one already having been removed since it was so dilapidated that it was beyond the point of repair. The other portable at the front of the school is in immediate need of replacing with a recent pipe burst flooding the unit. This is in addition to significant deferred maintenance that is necessary to provide a safe environment for our children.

Cold Spring School is a beacon in the community and a point of pride for all who live in the district. If hous29 October – 5 November 2020

ing inventory and real estate prices are an indicator of the demand to be in the school district, they support the thesis that the school is a primary attractor. The bond will support Cold Spring School to continue to be a distinguished school and improve safety for our children for many years to come. I believe that $14 per $100,000 of assessed value is a small price to pay to make a long term and permanent investment in the school to continue its long history of bringing a community together and delivering top-ranked education.

My vote is Yes on Measure L. Eric Schiller

People of Montecito

by Megan Waldrep

Megan Waldrep is a writer for regional and national publications who lives with her fiancé in a 22’ airstream. She writes a weekly blog about being the partner of a commercial fisherman and authors a relationship column under the pen name Elizabeth Rose. Learn more at meganwaldrep.com.

What is Your Earliest Memory of Montecito?

Cold Spring School Governing School Board Member Thanks to the Montecito Journal for calling out that CSS Leadership had put bond Measure L 2020 on the ballot and for covering via letters there is opposition to bond passage for many verified, reasons. There are too many shenanigans going on over at CSS, too much intimidation, and too much bad behavior.

Now I hope MJ will choose to help us expose the missing money from bond funded Measure C 2008.

Minutes show those funds were, and are, being spent to gain passage of Measure L 2020.

For administrators to admit to “untruths” (commonly called lies), intimidation, threats, and use minor children for political gain using taxpayer property and resources is reprehensible. CSS Leadership’s unique communications in violation of CA Ed Code and Fair Political Practices to gain public votes must be called out.

Regardless of the election outcome, the District community can thank the hundreds of volunteer hours contributed by anonymous neighbors, intimidated parents, and others researching and verifying facts to justify a No Vote to pause for a closer look.

Going forward, we can anticipate costly forensic audits. There are major problems at CSS beyond the bond. For starters, CSS deficit spending must end, parents must not be intimidated to contribute $1,200 per student to attend a public school, and students must not be used for political purposes on campus by administrators.

Sincerely, Denice Spangler Adams

Called into Question I am not the type of person who writes letters to the editor, so this is out of my comfort zone, but here I go.

When I received my mail-in ballot I promptly filled it out and cast my vote.

A week later I received a political mailer that was sent to over 1,000 people in the district. It encouraged all

I

Shalini Lewis

’m 15 and I was adopted from India. I moved to Montecito with my wonderful family when I was two and a half. I couldn’t speak English.

I spoke Hindi. And I was with my new parents, so it was a little frightening. You know, not being in the same country anymore and having no friends or like anyone that I really knew. I just had to kind of trust what was going to happen in the future.

I was very nervous my first night in America. The night we came to Montecito, my first greeting was a 120-pound Labrador named Montana.

Straight from that, we went to a birthday party. And it was at that birthday party that a little girl my same age (Maizie McKnight), walked up to me, took my hand, and took me into the bouncy house. We’ve been best friends ever since.

Shalini Lewis •MJ of us to vote yes on Measure L 2020.

Here’s the problem. My child’s picture was front and center on this political mailer. Not only was this photo used without my permission, but I voted no on this measure just a week prior.

I will never forget the feeling I had when I saw it. I felt outraged that my child, myself, and my vote were violated. I never gave my permission for the photo, that was taken in art class, to be shared outside of school.

I met with the Cold Spring administration and decided not to push the issue.

And then, last week, I read a post that was written by a member of

• The Voice of the Village •

the Measure L2020 bond committee stating how her child’s privacy was violated. It retriggered the anger I had felt.

The Measure L 2020 bond committee chose my son as their poster child for their cause.

Here are my questions: Where is the fact checking?

How did this get past so many people including the district’s legal counsel?

Where is the accountability?

If they can’t manage basic marketing how can they manage $7.8 million?

Shelly Robertson •MJ MONTECITO JOURNAL

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On Entertainment (Continued from page 33 33)) Night (2014) and The Iceman Cometh (2020) – returns to attention via a twopronged program next Thursday, November 5.

In his 4 pm talk “The Creative Edge of Collecting,” King will use exhibits, imagery, anecdotes, and ideas to open up the creative nexus of collecting and his take on its power to re-create the world. In the evening, UCSB Theater Department Launch Pad program will present a virtual staged reading of Collections of Nothing: Enough is Enough, King’s new adaptation of his own book into a two-character play that delves into the mixed up mind of the mega collector and wonders, “Is having enough enough? Why need more?” The Zoom play – about knowing the world through the lens of its carefully collected objects – goes knee-deep into collecting and neck-deep into mortality.

The reading, at 7 pm, stars King’s department colleagues Irwin Appel and Anne Torsiglieri and is directed by fellow theater prof and Launch Pad founder Risa Brainin. A Q&A with the author follows. In between, Rebecca Falkoff, an assistant professor of Italian studies at New York University who recently completed her first manuscript, Possessed: A Cultural History of Hoarding, will offer her own take on the subject in a talk entitled “An Oikos for Everything: Hoarding against Waste.” In recognition of the fact that hoarding has been the subject of recent documentary and feature films, novels, memoirs, self-help books, installation art, stand-up comedy acts, and reality TV series, Falkoff will explore the relationships between hoarding and wasting, followed by a Q&A session. Visit www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu/news/event/843 for details.

Devil in the Details Tony Award-nominee Patrick Page, the star of Broadway’s Hadestown (which had a preview production as part of Sings Like Hell at the Lobero well before it opened on Broadway), enacts many of Shakespeare’s greatest villains, from Richard III to Prospero, in a reprise of his one-man show All the Devils are Here — How Shakespeare Invented the Villain. Page will move chronologically through the evolution of Shakespeare’s malevolent figures as they grow from two-dimensional to more psychologically complex characters that herald the modern psychopath. The free performance takes place over Zoom at 12:30 pm on November 5. Visit theaterdance.ucsb.edu for more information.

House Calls with Dr. Mike Humorist-author-comedian-actor Mike Birbiglia, who has enjoyed success as a writer, stand-up comic, director, and actor (including a recurring role in Orange is the New Black, shows up on your computers and other devices in a special stream for UCSB A&L as part of the House Calls virtual series.

Birbigs will read from his new memoir, The New One: Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad, in which he explores his love affair with pizza, managing work and family, and unexpectedly coming to terms with fatherhood, followed by an off-the-cuff Q&A with the audience. Details and tickets at Mike Birbiglia has enjoyed success as a writer, stand-up comic, director, and actor https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Zoom to Your Own Streaming Show Center Stage Theater is seeking short story submissions for its upcoming virtual edition of its annual Holiday Memories production. Actors, writers, and all are invited to submit original first-person true stories with a holiday theme that will be performed by their authors. No experience necessary as the actual videotaping can range from scripted readings to embodied storytelling. The stories should run between 500-1500 words and last 5-10 minutes in performance. They can feature a tone anywhere between hilarious, haunting, and poignant, and need not even be confined to traditional December holidays. After coaching sessions and rehearsals over a variety of formats, the final videos will be released December 16-18. Submission deadline via email to cstheater@sbcox mail.com is Sunday, November 8.

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure: Subverting Saturday Mornings Actor Paul Reubens developed his Pee-wee Herman character for a live stage show that premiered in 1980 after being workshopped at Los Angeles’ famed improv troupe The Groundlings. The character became a huge success,

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The husband and wife screenwriting duo Bill and Cheri Steinkellner was part of the ensemble that helped Paul Reubens develop Pee-wee Herman back at The Groundlings

as Pee-wee would go on to appear in the TV movie The Pee-wee Herman Show and the feature film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) before becoming a staple on Saturday mornings as Pee-wee’s Playhouse ran on CBS from 1986-1990, boasting a groundbreaking blend of live action, puppetry, stop-motion animation, and Claymation.

Longtime Montecito resident Bill Steinkellner, who later went on to fortune and fame as a writer-producer and eventual co-showrunner (with wife, Cheri) of Cheers as well as several other TV shows and other projects, was part of the ensemble that helped Reubens develop Pee-wee back at The Groundlings, and nearly 30 years later, co-wrote the revival of The Pee-wee Herman Show that premiered on Broadway in 2010.

He will be joined by original Pee-wee’s Playhouse writer-actor George McGrath and artist-designer-puppeteer Wayne White for a conversation, moderated by Cheri Steinkellner, aimed at exploring the origins, the radical visual style, and the legacy of the TV show as part of the UCSB Carsey-Wolf Center’s new Subversives series that is taking place virtually over Zoom. The panel, which streams for free at 4 pm on Thursday, November 5, will focus on Season 1, Episode 10 (“The Cowboy and the Cowntess”) and Season 2, Episode 10 (“Pajama Party”). Pee-wee’s Playhouse can be streamed on Amazon Prime and Netflix. Visit www.carseywolf.ucsb.edu/pollock-events/pee-wee.

We chatted with the Steinkellners last weekend to talk all things Pee-wee and catch up on how they’re coping with COVID. Q. Why do you think the Pee-wee Herman character (that was created in the early ‘80s) has been so enduring that we want to talk about it in 2020?

A. Bill: It was a parody of a kids’ show. Some people took it as a parody, but others watched it as a real kids’ show, so you had (both audiences) who thought it was funny. And there was something about the time, where because it was kid-like, even if it’s really dumb you can’t be too critical of it. Paul’s always been funny with any number of characters… And when you asked the question, I was also thinking about when it went to Broadway, and people asked me whether it should be on Broadway. I said, “Well, if the people show up, it should be on Broadway. If they don’t, it shouldn’t be.”

Working with Paul as he created Pee-wee goes way back in your career, to the Groundlings days, where I believe you helped to develop the character for late night shows before Paul took it to the Roxy. What stands out for you? Did you have any idea what would come of it at the time?

Bill: Paul was doing the Cheech and Chong movie at the time (Cheech and Chong’s Next Movie, 1980). So we would work in his dressing room or his trailer, or sometimes he’d be driving all over town while we were talking about Peewee. I remember that it was a very rainy winter, and Paul is kind of a maniac driver. We’d work on it at The Groundlings, develop it through improv. Phil Hartman, who was a force, was very much involved, and along with Paul generated a lot of the energy.

It was very creative and exciting and fun.

As far as knowing where it was going to go, even at The Groundlings, celebrities would show up in the audience – and it was only a 99-seat theater – so you were thinking, well, this is going to be different. I remember the night it opened it was really exciting. I thought right, “Oh, this is going to really help my career,” because I basically had done nothing to speak of up till then and Paul had asked me to help develop the character and co-direct. When you’re just starting out, you’re just hoping things are going to work, but you can’t believe they’re going to because you haven’t reached that level yet.

But as it turned out, we went out to work on other things while the TV show was going on, so we weren’t involved.

How was it to go back and revisit the character and work with Paul again almost 30 years later for the Broadway show?

29 October – 5 November 2020

Bill: It was sort of fun. We changed a lot of stuff – like maybe 90 percent – and because he worked on the TV show and with the character much longer than I did, he knew what he wanted so we would just go with that. He had a lot of really funny ideas for the script, ways to make it more contemporary, that we played around with. And it was actually on Skype, and Paul even did this thing where he would pretend that (the computer) had freezed up, and then he’d just start moving around again, or he’d say, “I’ll be right back,” and be gone for 20 minutes. But it was interesting to develop it that way (together over Skype).

We first did it in L.A. at a club (Club Nokia, now The Novo), and then months later he called me to tell me we were going to Broadway. Which was interesting because we also had Sister Act on Broadway at the same time. What was also interesting was that (the revival of) The Pee-wee Herman Show was the second most talked about thing in New York City that year. You know what was number one? Bed bugs! There was an epidemic in New York that year and everybody was just going nuts. Coming in second to bed bugs seems interesting.

And maybe somehow appropriate… So, I’m imagining that doing the upcoming Zoom talk and connecting with George, although not Paul, will be fun for you.

Bill: Well, I do get a birthday call and a Christmas card from Paul every year, which is fun, but otherwise I have no idea what he’s doing right now, except what I hear by rumor. But we talk to George a lot.

CWC is doing the event as part of the Subversives series, which mostly has films like Charlie Chaplin’s controversial movie about Hitler and Mussolini. What makes Peewee’s Playhouse fit into this category?

Cheri: It absolutely subverted Saturday morning television hosts and Saturday morning TV shows because it was a complete parody of the genre. It was conceived as a children’s show for adults to be performed late night on the Sunset Strip. And yet (later) it played as an actual Saturday morning television show for kids at the same time while still playing as a parody. So it was both sincere and complete satire, all at the same time. That’s pretty subversive. You know, kids are actually subversive there.

Bill: Kids themselves are actually subversive. What we think of as heartwarming children’s shows, you spend more than 10 minutes with a lot of children, they’re not going to go with the norms at all. They don’t even know what the norms are. They just say the first thing that pops in their head.

Cheri: And flipping what’s expected over and examining the other side of it is I think a very childlike impulse that in more sincere forms of Saturday morning television weren’t being met. The need to be naughty, for example. You only got to play with the nice, not the need to be naughty.

Can I ask what each of you are doing, what you’re working on these days, how you’re coping with the coronavirus pandemic?

Bill: I’m working on my memoirs of growing up in the ‘fifties and ‘sixties. As cliché as that may sound, you can really get deep. It’s much easier to write for other people than it is to write about what you remember and think. But with (the) COVID (situation) you can’t go anywhere especially at my age. So I’m working on that and Cheri’s doing everything else in the world.

Cheri: (Laughs) To be Montecito-centric for a moment, we have never felt luckier to live where we do and be able to be outside. If you’ve got to be quarantined, this is a really lucky place to be… And I’ve been writing a ton. I wrote that play for UCSB Theater’s Launch Pad Alone, Together Zoom show [The Great Greats] when little did we know that it was only the prologue or the first chapter of this shutdown that we’re in the middle of. Then I had a long period of not writing where I cleaned every drawer, every shelf in the house – the closets in the garage have never been better. That was a whole chapter. Then I began writing again and it’s been really great. Writers go into seclusion so they can just focus and listen to the voices in their head. Being forced to do that has been one of the few things you can appreciate about (the situation).

Cheri, I believe you had a version of what Bill is doing in writing about your own life when you authored that play about your mother as part of a program at Pacifica. I’m wondering if that experience is resonating in the things you’re writing now.

Cheri: I don’t know that a day goes by that I don’t think in a new way than before Pacifica, especially in these times that feel epic, mythic, shadowy, archetypal. When you look at a world that makes so little sense, being able to go back to ancient times where (to them) things also seemed to make no sense gives us context where I can think that at some point, somebody will understand what the hell is going on where things feel so random and arbitrary. We should know better by now.

Focus on Film: Sacramento Spirit Who knowingly purchases the former residence of a notorious serial killer? Meet Tom and Barbara, proud Nicholas Coles’ award-winnew owners of the most infamous ning short house in Sacramento. The middle-aged documentary couple purchased the residence where The House is Dorothea Puente ran a boarding Innocent is the house where she murdered elderly subject for this week’s SBIFF and mentally disabled guests before Film Talk cashing their Social Security checks in the 1980s. More than nine were confirmed, with another six suspected.

Newspapers dubbed Puente, who was sentenced to two life terms, the “Death House Landlady.”

But that doesn’t seem to faze Tom and Barbara, who endeavor to renovate the crumbling house, and eventually realize that it was going to take a whole lot more than paint to change the community’s minds about their new home.

Nicholas Coles’ award-winning short documentary The House is Innocent is the subject for this week’s SBIFF Film Talk, which offers screening links to watch the movies before hosting a virtual conversation with the filmmaker. Coles, who operates out of Los Angeles as a writer and producer who has worked in a variety of roles on numerous independent films, including Room and The Lord of War, will connect with Zoom viewers at 6 pm on Thursday, October 29. Visit https://sbiff.org to register.

SBIFF’s Cinema Society Sizzling

The best little paper in America (Covering the best little community anywhere!)

Executive Editor/CEO Gwyn Lurie • Publisher/COO Timothy Lennon Buckley Editor-At-Large Kelly Mahan Herrick, Ann Louise Bardach News and Feature Editor Nicholas Schou • Associate Editor Bob Hazard Copy Editor Lily Buckley Harbin • Arts and Entertainment Editor Steven Libowitz

Contributors Scott Craig, Julia Rodgers, Ashleigh Brilliant, Sigrid Toye, Zach Rosen, Kim Crail Gossip Richard Mineards • History Hattie Beresford • Humor Ernie Witham Our Town Joanne A. Calitri Society Lynda Millner • Travel Jerry Dunn • Sportsman Dr. John Burk • Trail Talk Lynn P. Kirst Account Managers Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Casey Champion Bookkeeping Diane Davidson, Christine Merrick • Proofreading Helen Buckley Design/Production Trent Watanabe 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 H, 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 H, Montecito, CA 93108; E-MAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net

29 October – 5 November 2020

The film fest’s popular preview programming – in which audiences get to watch a film generally well in advance of its release followed by an in-depth interview with the director and, often, actors, producers, and writers – has had its in-person offerings upended by the pandemic. But the events have continued, albeit with both screenings and conversations taking place online.

Recently, SBIFF began making a few of those interviews available for general viewing in cases where the films are already available for streaming.

The most recent entry is also the most timely: All In: The Fight for Democracy, the Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortés doc made in anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, as it examines the often overlooked issue of voter suppression in the United States. The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted American democracy from the very beginning, dating back to at least the Civil War. The documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States – although if they’ve been keeping up with recent news, they’re probably aware that the Supreme Court just dealt Wisconsin voters another blow on Monday, hours before Amy Coney Barrett was sworn in to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the high court.

All In: The Fight for Democracy, which RogerEbert.com called “valuable public service wrapped in an educational, informative and engaging documentary,” can be viewed on Amazon Prime. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ YdeEv3rYw to watch SBIFF Executive Director Roger Durling’s chat with Garbus and Cortés that took place last Saturday.

•MJ

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(805) 565-4000 Homesinsantabarbara.com 1255 Coast Village Rd, Suite 102B DRE 01499736/01129919

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52 MONTECITO JOURNAL

29 October – 5 November 2020

COAST VILLAGE ASSOCIATION

NO GHOST VILLAGE ROAD ALTHOUGH WE WILL NOT BE HOLDING THIS YEAR'S EVENT, WE WISH YOU A VERY SPOOKY HALLOWEEN! WWW.COASTVILLAGEROAD.COM 29 October – 5 November 2020

• The Voice of the Village •

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Minimum is $8 per week/issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue.

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Deadline for inclusion is Monday before 2 pm.

We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex

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“Studio 54 made Halloween in Hollywood look like a PTA meeting.” – Lorna Luft

29 October – 5 November 2020

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“Good Food for Good People”

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