57 minute read
Fairy Magic– A fairy tale wedding but then the Magic Castle comes to the Lobero
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Bridesmaids “princesses” at the Hillis/Richards wedding
One of many “king and queens” at the wedding, Kelly LeBrock and Dr. Patrick Johnson
by Lynda Millner
Fairy tales really can come true, at least according to Deborah Richards. She says, “Cinderella found her prince,” and we were invited to celebrate her marriage to John M. Hillis at the Montecito Club. Only princes and princesses needed to RSVP. We were to wear ball gowns and tiaras, princely attire for the guys, and be ready to dance, storybook style.
The couple took over the entire club with a combo of Tom Snow, Maitland Ward, and Suzie Gee playing during a cocktail hour for 120 guests. Then into the dining room for a stately dinner and a choice of wine. And of course, dancing the night away with DJ Darla Bea. Deb and John are at home, not in a castle, but in a polo field condo with a horse nearby. Love is in the air!
It’s Magic!
Who doesn’t like magicians and their tricks? The Lobero Theatre was recently filled with curious kids and their parents waiting for the curtain to rise to reveal the curiosities of six magicians. They didn’t disappoint – what with sawing people in two, cutting ropes that wouldn’t stay cut, tearing up paper that wouldn’t stay torn, and pulling out six birds one at a time from some mysterious place inside the magician’s suit. These were top illusionists direct from Hollywood’s Magic Castle, Las Vegas, and exotic showrooms around the world. Producers were Terry Hill and Milt Larsen. It’s billed as America’s longest running magic revue and it comes to Santa Barbara once a year.
Milt Larsen and his wife, Arlene, have lived in town for many years, commuting to the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
by Stella Haffner
A2007 study from the Community College Journal of Research and Practice noted that 87% of students surveyed were experiencing moderate to high levels of stress. To cope, students reported enjoying exercise and talking to friends, but cited that they would often use alcohol, cigarettes, and hard drugs to self-medicate. Given our understanding of the role public stigma plays in students’ willingness to seek counseling, this is not surprising.
But these results tell us something else: College students want to help themselves. They care about improving their mental health. Therefore, if they’re not seeking out counseling, it is clear that we need to make these services easier to access. And that is exactly what a motivated group of MIT students aimed to do when they created Lean on Me.
Lean on Me is a peer support network that runs over text. Established in 2015, Lean on Me has spread to 11 other universities nationally, including the University of California, Santa Barbara. To learn more about the peer support network and its operations, I spoke to chapter president, Jamie Osuna.
Q. How did you get involved with Lean on Me?
A. Our UCSB chapter was established in 2018, and I got involved in 2019. Funny enough, one of our chapter founders lived just down the hall from me in my freshman year. I guess once you have the desire to be in the mental health field, you all kind of want to build connections with each other, so I decided to interview. I’ve been in it for almost three years now.
What has your experience been working with Lean on Me?
I love it. I think it’s just a great resource in general to have on campus, especially since mental health resources in general aren’t super accessible. Lean on Me serves as a step towards mental health resource access, especially for people who don’t have a therapist or don’t know how to take the first step on their own. I also think Lean on Me is a good starting point for other types of conversations, not necessarily those you would be having with a
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source: schooldigger.com Lean on Me UCSB Chapter President Jamie Osuna
therapist. A lot of what we talk about on the line is relationship based, sometimes people just wanting to rant about their significant other, or expressing concern about passing Chemistry 101. I really like having these conversations, which makes this a very rewarding experience for me, but I also enjoy being able to guide people to longer term mental health resources.
In your mind, why is it important to have a student-run service?
I think there’s something about having people your age who get it. I feel like it’s easier for peers – we understand how hard it is, and a big part of our generation is very open about mental health; we know it’s a thing we should talk about. Also, complaining to your mom about Chemistry 101 isn’t going to mean much, but it is so, so relatable to someone who’s recently done it.
What would you like to see in terms of counseling services in general in California colleges?
I’d like to see more of it. I think California has a foot forward in terms of mental health service accessibility, but we still need more.
Why have a peer-run service when you could have a university managed one?
I think university supervised services have their own perks, but in terms of accessibility, we’ve got to ask ourselves: How many people can actually use this resource? Sometimes it comes down to something like insurance or citizenship. I myself am a first-generation student, and I’ve learned that all the red tape to accessing mental health resources is very intimidating, especially for people of color and other first-generation students – having to fill out all the forms, finding out there’s a waitlist, learning what a co-pay is. But with Lean on Me, people can just text in and ask how to get started. That’s why it’s important to have these peer-run services; there simply aren’t the same barriers.
What else should people know about Lean on Me?
We’re not a crisis line. We call it a warm line, that’s our cute little name for it. We’re not therapists, and we don’t want to overstep any kind of boundary. What we can do is offer grounded support, which is totally anonymous. We’ll never know you or judge you and you’ll never know us. And if you’re ready to access help from a counselor, we can help guide you.
Call centers and peer support networks like Lean on Me represent the frontline in the mental health support spaces. These organizations play an important role in the lives of many young people, especially those in college. If you’re a UCSB student or know someone who needs to talk, the peer support hotline is available via text at (805) 874-5888. To donate to Lean on Me or to learn more, you can visit their website at lean0n.me
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Inspiration and a Second Chance are on the Menu:
Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Launches a Culinary Program
Class of 2021 – A handful of graduates have found work in local kitchens thanks to SBRM’s culinary program
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Rick H. is getting a second chance to make it right. The Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (SBRM) resident, whose full name is being withheld to protect his privacy, stands over a cutting board slicing pan-seared chicken breast. He neatly places slices on a pool of tomato feta sauce before garnishing them with chopped sautéed peppers. He adds a medley of sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and seared asparagus, then dresses the dish in a spicy tomatillo chimichurri sauce.
Rick had already begun acquiring culinary skills before coming to the Mission. He took classes at Santa Barbara City College then moved to Maui, where he worked in the kitchens at Tommy Bahama and the Fairmont Kea Lani. “It was a culinary adventure out there,” he said. “I was living the best life I could in the kitchen. I discovered new cuisines like Asian fusion and was serving flavorful proteins with all kinds of vegetables.”
It was a chef’s dream. He prepared fresh fish daily: ono, ahi, mahi. Fishermen in flip flops would drive up to the dock and carry the daily catch from their boats into the restaurant, he said. “We didn’t want to overcook it; we tried to respect the fish as much as possible,” he said. “We wanted to bring out the natural flavors of the fish. We used grilling techniques but mostly pan-seared it, and we served raw fish as well.”
When Rick returned to the mainland after seven years living on Maui, he had a difficult time adjusting to the move and things took a different turn. “I had difficulty dealing with life on life’s terms,” he explained about his struggles with substance abuse. “I had unresolved issues that I needed taking care of. I needed to seek help to better my life for myself and the people around me.”
For Rick, the road to sobriety wasn’t just a culinary path, it was also a spiritual journey. He was referred by a friend to Santa Barbara Rescue Mission and immediately embraced the ideals of the program. “As daunting as it was at the time, I was committed to changing my life for the better,” he recalled. When Rick finishes the program in nine months, he’ll be ready to start a culinary job search. He is one in a handful of graduates hoping to earn a living in a local kitchen or restaurant.
The Kitchen Crew
On a recent afternoon the lively sounds of a busy kitchen fill the air: dishes clattering, food sizzling in sauté pans, and men chatting jovially. With so much to do, the men quickly get comfortable and get to work, and that’s all part of the plan. SBRM offers a year-long residency for 30 men in its recovery and sober living program. They’re not called patients or residents, they’re referred to as “clients,” and what they all have in common is the strong desire to get their lives back on track.
The program is separated into four phases of treatment. During the first three phases, the men adhere to a rigorous schedule of daily meetings and group sessions as well as counseling. During the first nine months of the program, they’re responsible for all kitchen duties, which include feeding three meals daily to 40 program members and staff as well as providing some 225 meals for the mission’s
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Franken-sense
Ex-‘SNL’ and former Senator returns to comedy roots
by Steven Libowitz
You can count on one finger the people who have shifted from a soaring career in comedy to a pinnacle of political power, and somehow, shockingly, back again. Maybe Ukrainian president Zelenskyy, although the former comic is a bit busy fending off the Russian invasion to find anything funny these days – So that leaves Al Franken.
Franken was one of the original writers, and later performer, on Saturday Night Live and won five Emmys during his 15 seasons with the seminal sketch show. He was also the author of three No. 1 New York Times satirical bestsellers (including Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations and Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right) before he served Minnesota in the Senate from 2009 to 2018, the first winning election by just 312 votes.
But Franken was forced to step down in 2018 amid allegations of sexual misconduct when many of his Democratic colleagues called for his resignation before any investigation could take place. Now, nearly four years later, Franken has a selfnamed Top-10 politics and public affairs podcast, and has headed out on the road for his first-ever series of solo stand-up satirical comedy appearances, appropriately titled The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour. Franken talked politics, purpose, and humor in advance of his serving up the funny and skewering the Senate at the Lobero on Friday, April 1.
Q. You had a hand in so many memorable moments on Saturday Night Live, from the Stuart Smalley self-help character to several hilarious “Weekend Update” segments, to co-writing the famous sketch where Dan Aykroyd portrayed Julia Child in a kitchen accident. What still resonates from that time?
A. Just how much fun it was. My fondest memories are those Tuesday nights writing the show with other writers or cast members, and you’re just falling on the floor laughing at three in the morning. When you’re doing live TV, you never know exactly how the thing’s going to work. So when something clicked on all gears, like the Julia Child piece, that’s pretty thrilling, too.
Al Franken is ready to bring his wit and insight on politics to the Lobero on April 1 (Note: not an April Fool’s Joke, although you may laugh anyway)
When you got to the Senate after never having served in any other elective office, how tough was the transition to such a serious place where it wasn’t about being funny? Did the comedy leak in?
I actually talk about that quite a bit in the show. I knew why I was there, which was to get things done. My team said to let everyone know that you’re putting your head down, do your work, and don’t be funny. So that’s what I did, but it was a real challenge at first. Because if you’re someone who has been doing comedy for your career, it’s second nature. I mean, you can’t just turn it off. I would see stuff happening and I’d have a sketch in my head. But I didn’t have anywhere to go with it, so I’d just think to myself “If I were doing SNL now, this is what I would do.”
You were considered one of the toughest interrogators at committee hearings, willing to speak pointedly but also on point in a way most senators don’t. You’re credited with pinning down Jeff Sessions, so he had to recuse himself from the Russian investigation. What are you most proud of in your time in the Senate?
The piece of legislation I think of first is about setting up a study to determine the cost-benefit analysis of pairing vets with PTSD with service dogs. It was supposed to last for three years but it took 10 because the VA kept screwing it up one way or another. So I was gone when it finally finished. But the conclusion was that it was
On Money, Politics and other Trivial Matters
Perspectives
It’s Not Just Putin
The Mighty Powers of Okra
What are the health benefits of okra?
by Rinaldo S. Brutoco
Agreat many things about the Russian invasion of Ukraine bother us, as well they should: the genocide, the war crimes, the images of starving children intermingled with dead bodies and urban wreckage that hasn’t been seen in Europe since the bombing of Dresden. Through it all, we in the U.S. have imagined ourselves tucked safely far away from Europe in what, during World War II, we called “Fortress America.”
This last century idea holds that the fighting and dying was occurring “over there” and that we, safely behind two oceans and non-threatening neighbors like Canada and Mexico, could go to bed every night without fear of being swept up in the insanity of war. The theory was that we, in the good ole US of A, could remain safe even if all our allies fell to autocrats like Tojo Hideki and Adolf Hitler.
Since mid-March we’ve begun to wisely question just how safe we are—and how that safety could be abruptly upended. A report issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on March 18, and substantiated by President Biden on the 22nd, was widely disseminated by the media last week, resulting in headlines like this one from CBS: “Russia exploring options for potential cyberattacks on U.S. energy sector, FBI warns.” The story featured Mr. Biden’s deputy national security adviser for “cyber and emerging technology” who shared with reporters that U.S. officials were tracking “preparatory work” linked to “nation-state actors.” CBS also reported that the FBI had identified “140 overlapping IP addresses linked to ‘abnormal scanning’ activity of at least five U.S. energy companies, as well as at least 18 other U.S. companies spanning the defense industrial base, financial services, and information technology.”
You can confidently conclude they are referring to several “bad actors” and that Russia definitely is in the group. This should come as no surprise when we stop to consider that the Ukrainian government has suffered over 3,000 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyber-attacks that swamped government websites with overwhelming traffic. No surprise, as a pair of Russian-linked cyber-attacks in 2015 and 2016 knocked power totally out in parts of Ukraine. Engineers in Ukraine have attempted to protect their electricity from Russian cut-offs by just last week connecting their country to the European wide grid. That’s a good start for emergency protection against the loss of their nuclear generating capacity, but doesn’t solve the basic issue of grid vulnerability. A grid connected to anything is still a grid that can be taken down remotely through cyber warfare. The Ukrainians remain vulnerable to that.
We know the Russians have done Ukrainian-style electrical cyber-sabotage, and much worse in other places, so we are wise to be concerned that they could bring our electrical grid down too. For example, Russian hackers “crashed” the Colonial Pipeline on May 7, 2021, and left the East Coast starved for jet fuel and gasoline for more than a week last year. Oops, it looks like the “Fortress” in “Fortress America” isn’t so impregnable after all. If our liquid fuel can be shut off so easily, we’ve got to realize that our most vulnerable piece of infrastructure is the even more vulnerable electrical grid.
However, as will become clear, a malicious unprincipled enemy like Russia isn’t even our biggest concern for electrical grid integrity. Back in 2012, the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council published a declassified report prepared in 2007 for the United States Department of Homeland Security that highlighted the vulnerability of the national electric grid, specifically from potential damage to high voltage transformers. The report’s findings were not immediately acted upon, and on April 16, 2013, an attack against PG&E’s Metcalf transmission station in Coyote (near San Jose, California) was carried out by gunmen who fired on 17 electrical transformers resulting in $15 million worth of damage and almost brought the substation down.
The Metcalf attack, unfortunately, served to inspire a group of self-avowed Neo-Nazis in 2020 to actively plot to sabotage the grid in Utah, and then the entire Northwest grid all the way to California. An Indiana cop, Joseph Zacharek, participated in planning the activities. He was arrested just last October on gun running charges, and the authorities were able to uncover the plot that grew out of a neo-Nazi message board operated by the Nazi “Atomwaffen Division.” Lest you think these were cyber “sophisticates,” they weren’t. The “BSN gang” was a former porn actor, two former veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, A long with its inclusion in a variety of dishes, the tenacious green okra fruit has a stellar health profile. Here are some of its benefits:
Rich in nutrients – This unique fruit is packed with protein, rich in vitamin C and K, and it gives you a large amount of your daily recommended magnesium. Packed with antioxidants – The main antioxidants okra contains are polyphenols, such as flavonoids and isoquercetin. Studies have shown these can improve heart health, brain function, and protect against inflammation. Reduce the risk of heart disease – Okra has incredible powers of clearing up your blood vessels and gut by reducing cholesterol lurking there. Potentially protects against cancer – The substance lectin has been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by 63 percent in a test-tube, and luckily okra is packed with lots of lectin. Although no conclusive studies have been carried out in a more complex human model, preliminary findings make a strong case. May lower blood sugar – Studies have linked okra with blood sugar control, which could potentially help people with diabetes. Helps healthy fetus development – Folate, or vitamin B9, is extremely important for a developing fetus’ brain and spine development. Just one cup of okra provides pregnant women with 15 percent of their recommended daily intake. Okra: a new hero in the fight against microplastics
According to new research from scientists at Tarleton State University in Texas, okra is a valuable weapon in the fight to get microplastics out of our drinking water. Currently, water treatment plants typically remove microplastics from municipal water supplies by adding flocculants to the water. Flocculants are chemicals that plastic particles stick to. When flocculants are added to plastic-polluted water, they form clumps of microplastics that get big enough to be removed, taking the particles with them. The problem with flocculants is that they can become toxic too. This is why Dr. Rajani Srinivasan and his colleagues at Tarleton State University decided to look for safer alternatives by investigating compounds extracted from several food-grade plants. The team found that, depending on factors such as the ratio of the polysaccharides and the water source, okrabased flocculants did just as well or even better than the chemicals that are currently in use. As an added bonus, the okra compounds can be used in existing water treatment plants, without any expensive modifications to the facilities or processes.
a currently serving Marine, and an enlisted National Guardsman armed with rifles. Had they succeeded, their next “gig” was a plan to target power transformers using homemade explosives. The materials they planned to use are widely available to the public and can burn at temperatures high enough to destroy metal transformers. Yes, as these five “nut jobs” have shown, you don’t need to be a genius to bring down the grid.
Here in California, we’ve come to learn that Mother Nature is the most effective continuing threat to the power grid. As we all know, our power outages have been increasing each year. One recent study showed 25,281 blackout events occurred in 2019, which was a 23 percent increase from 20,598 in 2018. The total of affected customers jumped 50 percent in 2019 to 28.4 million from 19 million in 2018.
Just this past October, millions of us, including here in beautiful Santa Barbara, lost power from intentional blackouts, the “de-energization events” utilities declare as Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPSs). The utility usually triggers these during hot, dry days with sustained winds or strong gusts to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires and threatening human lives and property. They declared that PSPS events can last from three to five days, or as long as the dangerous weather conditions are deemed to persist. Given all current projections for climate change, the frequency and duration of these power shutoffs will only increase.
So, there you have it: our grid is vulnerable to cyber-sabotage; neo-Nazis and other saboteurs for whatever crazy reason they deem sufficient; wildfires; and utility contrived PSPS events to reduce their liability for operating an antiquated, inherently defective energy distribution system (the grid) that has failed in the past and certainly will fail with increasing frequency in the future. That’s the problem. Next week in this space we’ll explore the far less expensive, totally resilient, and totally reliable replacement for the grid, which will protect us in the future. Until then, just remember… the problem isn’t just Putin.
by Ashleigh Brilliant
You’ve probably heard of someone being “on the horns of a dilemma.” It’s a particularly apt expression, because a dilemma, by definition, involves having to choose between two alternatives, neither of which is attractive. And, with certain exceptions, (such as a rhinoceros or a unicorn), most creatures who have horns have two of them – and, in many cases, they are pointed.
But let’s get one thing straight: Being on the horns of a dilemma is not the same as being confronted with a Hobson’s choice. In fact, they are almost opposites. In a case of Hobson’s choice, the whole point is that you have no choice at all – you’ve got to take what you get – or get nothing.
Thomas Hobson had a livery stable in Cambridge, England, in about the same era when Shakespeare was writing plays in London. The large stable held many horses – but customers were not allowed to pick and choose. Hobson had a rule that you had to take the horse nearest the door. Your only choice was to take it or leave it. (This seems to be the only laurel on which Hobson’s reputation rests. I don’t know how he got into the British National Portrait Gallery in London – but in that particular matter, he probably had no choice.)
However, getting back to Dilemmas, they are frequently of an ethical nature. In fact, many schools offer whole courses in “business ethics.” I know very little about this subject (although I’ve been the “sole proprietor” of a small business for many years), but one story lingers in my memory from childhood, when I was very fond of joke books.
A man is explaining business ethics to a friend: “Someone I don’t know comes into my store and buys something from me for a dollar. But, by mistake, instead of $1, he leaves a $100 bill on the counter, and walks out. Well, here’s the big ethical question: Should I, or should I not, tell my partner?”
But, getting back to horns – what are these excrescences which so many creatures have protruding from their heads? Presumably, the original idea was for them to be some kind of offensive or defensive weapons. But Evolution twists and turns in some very strange ways – and indeed we find horns on different animals twisted and turned beyond any apparent functional value. Indeed, it has often been humans, rather than the horned creatures themselves, who have found good uses for them. One obvious example is the sound-producing quality of certain horns, if properly and skillfully blown into – making sounds which can sometimes be heard at a greater distance than the human voice. Particularly well-known, since early Biblical times, has been the Shofar, usually made from the horn of a ram, which is still part of many Jewish ceremonies. But from such antecedents, we have a myriad of sound-making instruments called horns, from the French Horn to the fog-horn to the automobile horn.
And of course, the very horn shape has given us geographical names, such as the Horn of Africa, a peninsula which is actually the easternmost portion of the African continent, and the Horns of Hattin, two adjacent peaks in the north of Israel, of strategic importance, and therefore repeatedly featured in both ancient and modern History.
Those boney cranial projections have other significance in human folklore. In particular, we have the rather strange notion that a husband whose wife is being unfaithful has horns growing out of his head. We have to thank the animal kingdom for these insights. The deceived husband is known as a cuckold, a word derived from a bird – the cuckoo – which notoriously lays its eggs in other birds’ nests. As for the poor man’s horns, these, we are told by experts in such matters, are a somewhat ironic allusion to the mating habits of stags, who forfeit their mates when they are defeated, in horn-tohorn combat, by another male.
But probably the most common association we have with horns comes from their function as a weapon, particularly as demonstrated in the so-called bullfights, which for centuries have been so much a part of Hispanic culture. The very real danger is part of the show. I can’t resist concluding this article with a story concerning the ultra-sophisticated Noël Coward – who was told that an aficionado friend had been badly gored in a bullfight in Spain:
“He was what?” asked Coward in alarm. “He was gored!” “Thank heavens. I thought you said he was bored.”
Ashleigh Brilliant born England 1933, came to California in 1955, to Santa Barbara in 1973, to the Montecito Journal in 2016. Best-known for his illustrated epigrams, called “Pot-Shots,” now a series of 10,000. email: ashleigh@west. net. web: www.ash leighbrilliant.com.
by Robert Bernstein
Do you know how much private motor vehicle use is subsidized in the U.S.? Here are examples of motor vehicle expenses not paid adequately by user fees:
“Free” parking. Climate impacts. Land used for roads. Road maintenance. Pollution deaths and illness. “Barrier effect” of blocking access to pedestrians and bicyclists. Military expenses to maintain global oil flow. Congestion delays that affect other road users. Medical expenses for collisions.
The U.S. Office of Technology Assessment last estimated these costs in 1994 at one to two trillion dollars each year in the U.S. This is the equivalent of paying motorists 10 to 20 dollars per gallon. We now know the numbers are far higher due to climate impacts.
Fuel prices are now rising mostly due to Putin’s brutal attack on Ukraine and the resulting boycott of Russian oil. People are complaining that they can’t afford these increased costs. But they have no idea how much they were already being forced to subsidize driving, even if they never drove at all.
Pandering politicians are suspending the minuscule fuel tax that doesn’t even pay to pave the roads. This is an economic lose-lose. Prices at the pump are set by supply and demand. If you cut the fuel tax, the price stays the same, but the money goes to the oil company instead of to public funds.
Governor Newsom instead is offering a flat $400 allowance per vehicle. Why stop there? If we are going to have trillion-dollar subsidies for transportation, why not just give that out as a cash payment to everyone? Which would be about $6,000 per year. And then charge the true cost of driving. Do you think this would change our transportation and land use system in the U.S.?
Sometimes a problem is so huge that it is invisible. After you read this article, you will probably dismiss it and get on with your life. We take it for granted that it is “normal” for driving to be cheap enough that Americans drive 14,000 miles a year on average. But this is almost twice what the average European drives per year.
No. Eurasia is bigger than North America. It is because they pay more of the true cost of driving and their land use and public transportation system reflects that cost. Instead of sitting in traffic jams that move at a crawl, they can ride modern, high-speed rail.
As I noted in my previous article, how are we ever going to make these improvements to our transportation system if we keep making driving artificially cheap? As it is now, pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users have to beg each year for scraps. They pay far more into the system than they get back. Yet, the perception is exactly the opposite! After all, don’t motorists pay fuel taxes and registration fees? Yes, but they are pathetic in comparison to the subsidies given to motorists.
Consider the barrier effect. In the four decades I have lived here, almost every freeway crossing has become hostile to pedestrians and bicyclists. Double turn lanes have been added to move cars quickly. But somehow there is never enough money for even one new bike or pedestrian crossing. Shouldn’t freeway users pay for crossings of the barrier they have created that divides our region?
The U.S. subsidizes home ownership with a mortgage tax deduction. This favors suburban sprawl. Why not give a subsidy instead to urban apartment dwellers who have lower environmental impact? Employers give “free” parking to motorists. Why not give a “cash out” of that subsidy to employees who refrain from driving most days? What would you do with that $2,000 cash? Twenty to 30% of employees in fact will switch from driving.
Can we at least change from fixed costs of insurance by use? Charging for basic liability insurance at the pump is a win-win. Everyone is covered and if you don’t drive one day, you don’t pay for insurance that day.This has been proposed in Colorado and in California, but never gets approved. Why? Because when you look at the price at the pump it looks so high! About $1/gallon for the bare liability minimum in California. $3/gallon for full coverage. If you hide it in the form of subsidies and fixed costs, you can put it out of sight and out of mind. Just as you will probably do with this article.
Visit swt.org/subsidy to see the numbers
Robert Bernstein holds degrees from Physics departments of MIT and UCSB. Passion to understand the Big Questions of life, the universe and to be a good citizen of the planet.
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Arlene Larsen at the Lobero
Milt is going on 90 years old and is still going strong. He is an American actor, writer, performer, lyricist, magician, entrepreneur, speaker, and the creator of the Magic Castle, a private club for magicians and enthusiasts. Milt and his brother Bill Larsen Jr. were both in television, growing up in a family of magicians. Their father William was a defense attorney and a performing magician. Their mom Geraldine was a pioneer children’s entertainer called The Magic Lady.
In 1936, the parents began publishing Genii, The Conjurors’ Magazine, which is still in publication. The Larsen brothers’ dad died in 1953, but he always dreamed of a place for magicians to gather and swap trade secrets. Milt had a chance to lease a French Chateau mansion in Hollywood and turn it into a club. His brother Bill was a producer for the Danny Kaye Show and helped promote the magic club. They started with 50 members in 1963 and now have 5,000 internationally.
Among many credits, Milt was a writer for the Ralph Edwards audience participation TV show Truth or Consequences starring Bob Barker. He met his wife, Arlene, at that time. She was a professional costume designer and still to this day can create incredible costumes. Milt worked with The Sherman Brothers throughout the years who wrote songs like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “It’s a Small, Small World,” and my favorite “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” – garnering them two Academy Awards.
Richard Sherman and Milt wrote a one-man stage play about United States President Harry S. Truman starring James Whitmore. They did many satirical songs like “The Palin for President Polka” and “The Fracking Song.” Some of you may remember the musical they wrote called Pazzazz! It was the first musical production to go on stage at the multimillion-dollar restoration of the Granada. And the list of credits goes on for several pages.
Why not take a little trip south to see “the most unusual private club in the world,” The Magic Castle? Only members and their guests are allowed entrance, though courtesy invitations can be obtained. During an evening there are numerous magic shows, historic displays, and a full-service dining room with numerous bars. And there is a strict dress code. Many celebrities have performed at the Magic Castle including Orson Welles, Johnny Carson, Steve Martin, and Neil Patrick Harris.
The Larsons are trying to open a Magic Castle Club here in Santa Barbara, across from the Bird Refuge but are having permit trouble. Keep your eyes open for the opening.
For information email zamagic@aol.com and Arlene will call you back. CCP Executive Director Teresa Alvarez at the fundraiser breakfast with Alan Koch, last year’s honoree and current board chair of the Lynda Fairly Art Center in Carpinteria
Jon Clark with the current CCP honoree Michael Cooney
Carpinteria Children’s Project
The other day I was invited to a breakfast in Carpinteria at 7:30 am. Really! I’m so glad I went because I learned about Carpinteria Children’s Project (CCP). It began in 2009 when only 15% of kindergarteners in Carpinteria were rated ready for school. Last year, 49% were ready, with another 37% close to ready. They occupy a school building at 5201 8th Street, Suite 100. Coaches help parents recognize both their child’s strengths and risk factors as part of family classes.
The breakfast was for the community to benefit CCP families. The virtual speaker was Kris Perry, Deputy Secretary of Early Childhood Development for the State of California. She highlighted the local critical issues, efforts to support children and families, and what a difference these are making in Carpinteria. CCP Executive Director Teresa Alvarez told how two years ago they were readying for their fundraiser when COVID closed everything down.
What’s new in 2022? Preschool enrollment continues to grow. Family classes and groups happen weekly. Monthly family field trips take the children, parents, and teachers to explore the Central Coast. One recent successful free trip was to an ice-skating rink.
There are plans for a new preschool playground and they will launch dual language immersion in conjunction with their key partner, the Carpinteria Unified School District. CCP is a place for toddlers and preschoolers to learn and grow. There are after school classes at three campuses. Last year 85% of children received some type of financial aid, like scholarships the community provided.
There is also the Family Resource Center which helps them with resources and referrals. Over 500 families were coached or connected to resources for basic needs, mental health, or parenting skills, which helps reduce child abuse and stress. All Carpinterians are welcome at the CCP dance classes, parent and child yoga, family swim, grandparent support groups, or English language classes.
As Teresa says, “We’re happy to give you a tour. Please give us a call at (805) 566-1621 to see our campus and learn about current needs or to volunteer.”
A community staple for decades, Lynda Millner has helped the Journal, since 1995, keep its connection to the hundreds of events going on throughout the year
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rior of the freeway, save for several areas where “natina” stained guardrails will be placed in order to accommodate excess water in a flooding event. Siviglia also touched on the aesthetics of the gore area of the freeway, which is the triangular area between the lanes and the entrance and exit ramps. That area is required to have a smooth surface in case vehicles miss their exits and need to traverse the triangle to get off the freeway. “There are very strict standards what can be placed here,” Siviglia said. The gore areas will be covered in grouted cobblestones, which will accommodate vehicles if necessary. Overhead signage was also presented, with designers combining signs to limit the number of overhead structures throughout the corridor.
After MBAR members gave their lackluster comments, Chair John Watson surmised that five out of the six members of the Board find the design of the freeway “unfortunate and regrettable,” acknowledging that there are serious design constraints due to the limited right-of-way. Luna commented that had Caltrans set out to acquire more public right-of-way, it would have been even more detrimental to the community. “All along the goal was to stay in the public right-of-way,” he said. “The design constraints don’t allow us a lot of flexibility.” He lamented the fact that the years and years of good design work on this project seem to be overshadowed by the removal of the sound walls.
With all design components now seen by MBAR, it’s expected that the project will next be seen by Montecito Planning Commission before heading to the County Planning Commission, which is the decision maker for the project approval.
For more information about the freeway widening project, contact the project team at (805) 845-5112 or info@sbroads.com or visit the project website at SBROADS.com
School News, Part II
(The following is the second installment of an interview with Cold Spring School Foundation President Holly Kane. The previous installment can be found in last week’s edition, MJ Volume 28 Issue 12.)
Q. We’ve been reporting on the school’s new cross-curricular building on campus. Tell us about it.
A. We have a beautiful yet aging campus that fits in well with the semi-rural character of the neighborhood. The majority of our campus is nearly 70 years old. The core school building was built in 1927 – nearly 100 years ago! Five additional classrooms were added in the 1950s and four more in the 1990s. It is important to all of us that the new building maintains the same feel. We are thrilled that the same firm, 19six Architects, that helped build the school nearly 100 years ago is on board to help us now. They are fully committed to the vision of blending in the new with the old. The new classroom building will be constructed along the Cold Spring Road side of the campus next to the existing portable structures.
What will the new classroom be used for?
At Cold Spring we offer cross-curricular teaching, which means a conscious effort to apply knowledge and principles to more than one academic discipline simultaneously. The new building will give us more space to do so by encompassing two classrooms with a workshop feel to teach science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). The building will be sustainable, eco-friendly, and economical. The physical structure will utilize retractable, sliding barn doors that will allow the two classrooms to easily interact with each other. We’re being economically strategic with this design. Rather than building two traditional classrooms that are more costly due to regulations, we are adding this workshop space for all grades to use.
Are there plans for further expansion?
Yes. The new building is the first phase of a two-phase addition to the campus. This building was envisioned as part of our facilities master plan adopted in 2006, when district leadership first saw this need to improve our aging infrastructure. This plan has been guiding our decisions since its adoption. That was over 15 years ago. The project is a long time coming.
What will the Phase 2 building provide? Why is it needed?
I know you have seen the aging portable buildings at the front of the school… Phase 2 will replace those once and for all. The plan is for the administration office, now located in the middle of campus, to move to the entrance of campus on Cold Spring Road to provide a secure entryway to campus with an enhanced check-in process for visitors. Phase 2 will also provide a third classroom and student support area. History buffs may like to know that in 1927 the original entrance to campus was on Sycamore Canyon Road before it became Highway 192 and far too dangerous to have a school entrance on a busy street.
The school and its administration have taken heat recently for moving forward with an expansion project following a failed bond measure. What would you like the neighboring community – and Montecito in general – to know about Cold Spring School?
Our campus is purposefully welcoming – we invite everyone to visit our neighborhood school. We welcome the support of the community as we build the resources to fund these necessary facility projects. Studies show that children learn better in environments that are conducive to learning. We are proud that our district leadership fully understands that and has strategically set aside one million dollars in reserves that are earmarked in a facilities fund. This fund is the basis of the project and gives us the momentum we need to make Phase 1 a reality and relieve the immediate overcrowding of our students. We are fundraising from individual and corporate donors, and welcome additional support. Our nonprofit accepts one-time or monthly donations as well as stock gifts as some community members prefer.
Public schools in California are not offered state funds for school buildings and facilities so most rely on bond measures to pay for needed projects. Phase 2 will require the approval of a future bond measure. We are laying the groundwork now (so to speak!) for the time when we will engage the community in supporting a bond measure on the ballot. Our goal is for the community to understand that our school requires improvements to better serve our students. We’re a strong community that is committed to moving forward in a positive direction. That means taking care of our school and supporting our students for generations to come.
To learn more about the Classroom Expansion Project, email coldspringschoolfoundation@gmail. com or visit coldspringfoundation.com
Montecito Welcomes New Dentist
Mahmood Loul, DDS, has purchased the dental practices of Dr. Ronald Dinning and Dr. David Cowan, located in the Las Aves complex on the corner of Cabrillo Blvd and Los Patos Way. While Dr. Dinning has moved out of state, Dr. Cowan is still seeing patients and working together with Dr. Loul.
Dr. Loul hails from the Bay Area, most recently Berkeley, where he worked in a high-end dentistry practice. Originally from New Jersey with Syrian-born parents, Dr. Loul began his dental studies in Syria and continued his schooling in Guyana, South America. He then moved back to the United States, specifically California, to begin his schooling at the University of the Pacific. He has traveled to many different countries – including Greece, Turkey, Guyana, and Jamaica – in order to provide free dental care on humanitarian missions. “Living in different countries and working in different dental settings gave me invaluable perspective related to oral health care,” he said.
Seeking to buy his own practice for several years, when he heard that Dr. Dinning, who has practiced dentistry in Montecito for decades, was looking to sell his practice, Dr. Loul knew it would be the ideal location. “It was a good fit. We vetted each other, and Dr. Dinning knew I would be a good fit for his patients,” he said. Dr. Loul also sought to buy Dr. Cowan’s practice, in order to manage the entire practice into one cohesive, state-of-the-art dental studio. There are immediate plans to add more technology, including 3D printing and imaging, and digitize every patient chart. “I practice dentistry in a sustainable way. No impressions and no paper charts,” he explained, adding that the seven-room office will be refreshed over time.
From routine dental care, cleanings, and aesthetics, Dr. Loul says his goal for the practice is to remain patient-centered, and to provide the highest quality dentistry. “From the minute patients walk in, to the minute that they leave, we make sure they are comfortable,” he said.
Dr. Loul has a team of three hygienists, four assistants, and three front desk staff to help both him and Dr. Cowan. A very important member of the team is Zull, Dr. Loul’s Weimaraner, who is trained as an emotional support animal. “About half of my patients ask to have him on their laps during their procedures,” he explained. “It calms them immediately and takes their focus from their mouths to the cuddly dog sitting on their lap. They really love it.”
Dr. Loul, who officially took over the practice in January, says he looks forward to meeting new patients and getting to know the Montecito community. “I’m very happy to be here, and I know my dentistry and attention to detail will be appreciated,” he said.
Dr. Mahmood Loul – seen here with his emotional support dog, Zull, sitting with a patient – has taken over the dental practice at the Las Aves complex
Loul Dental Studio is located at 1805 East Cabrillo Blvd, Suite A. For more information, visit louldentals tudio.com
Lone Elects
Political Competition is Dead in SB
by Jeff Giordano
Public trust in government is at a 50-year low. According to an ambitious Harvard Business School study, the problem in our contentious duopoly is the lack of competition and resulting lack of accountability. Santa Barbara is the poster child for what this study raged against — a system that no longer focuses on the public good but is instead a private enterprise that sets its own rules for its own gain. Allow me to explain:
With respect to competition, let’s start with our five-person Board of Supervisors. Never forget that this Board controls all County departments, our executive suite, our 4,300 employees and our entire $1.35B annual budget. FACT: Very soon, three of our five Supervisors (Capps, Nelson, and Lavagnino) will be serving without ever being part of a contested election. Indeed, this is happening across the County: Harry Hagen, our Treasurer-Tax Collector; Betsy Schaffer, our Auditor-Controller; and John Savrnoch, our newly anointed District Attorney (interesting that Ms. Dudley announced her retirement so close to the “intent-to-run” filing deadline), are all “running” unopposed. This is not about party politics; this is about the battle of local (always local!) issue-solving ideas and accountability.
So, let’s talk about some of the questions that the unopposed should be asked to answer. Mr. Hagen was kept from the discussions (really!) that led our County to decide that cannabis should be taxed on “Self-Reported” (huh?) revenue rather than on an easily verifiable and guaranteed squarefoot-grown basis. This year alone, this decision cost Santa Barbara about $70M in lost revenue! Now, cannabis taxes are a micro-spec (around 1%) of our budget but, that said, 80 acres in Monterey County will generate $20M guaranteed while, under our tax scheme, 300 acres in Santa Barbara might yield $13M. So, will Mr. Hagen continue to leave tens of millions of dollars on the table? Or will he address the note in this year’s budget: “Board members [stated] it would be helpful to hear alternatives to our cannabis revenue [tax scheme].”
Ms. Capps will bring much needed grace and decorum to the Board, which often times is rudely flippant and downright arrogant (traits that scream “unaccountable”). Her Good Government platform — a platform that, regardless of your politics, this County desperately needs — will serve us well if (big “if”) she can push it forward. You should dig into the details because when it comes to rules of ethics and campaign finance, Santa Barbara County is like no other county in the state.
Finally, we need to begin asking hard financial questions. We spent a mere $300K to support the Office of Arts & Culture, yet increased County salaries by $36M to $700M. We received $130M in COVID relief — a windfall — yet paid down just $10M against our $471M in deferred maintenance (we are crumbling!). We approved $80M to build a new North Branch jail that will ultimately cost $120M with operating costs that were not nearly anticipated. And, oh yeah, we still need to spend $21M to refurbish our Main Jail, as well. Our individual generosity will continue to be called upon far too often unless and until we begin to ask: “WHY?”
We live in a news desert where no single publication in our 400,000 resident County reaches more than 25,000 readers. This allows unprecedented darkness deeply exacerbated by a lack of competition and investigative journalism (other than the MJ). This means one thing — we all need to do more and, yes, we all need to ask the tough questions!
Jeff Giordano,
Santa Barbara County Resident
SANTA BARBARA
HOPE RANCH
MONTECITO
by Ernie Witham
I’ve always wanted to be taller – I still remember getting measured for my high school graduation robe. “Five feet, eleven and three-quarters inch,” the gown guy yelled out to the gown sizing note taker.
“Come on,” I said. “Put me down for six feet, willya?” But no. Gown measuring administrators take their measurements seriously. Heaven forbid that my Sachem’s gown might be a quarter-inch too long. Sachem? You ask... That’s right, we were the Laconia High School Sachems. Sachem is the Iroquois word for the chief of a tribe. Still, chief or no chief, the robe people held fast. So, I showed them my driver’s license, which stated my height as six-foot, zero inches. In their eyes I could see: “Move along Shorty.”
Ironically, they listed me as tall under my senior photo in the Laconia High School yearbook, which came out a few weeks later. Actually, they listed me as tall and dark. Not tall, dark, and handsome. Just tall and dark. There’s probably an Iroquois word for tall and dark that means one who can hide behind a thin, not-all-that robust bush at night.
I was dealt another belittling blow later on in life when I went for a yearly physical and the physician’s assistant who weighed me and checked my height said: “Five feet, ten-and-a-half inches.”
“Wait? What? I’m six feet tall.”
He checked it again. It came out the same. “Let me put my shoes on.”
“You already have your shoes on. You know, a lot of people shrink a bit when they get older. Could be your spine is compressed.” His scale-side manner left something to be desired.
The final blow in life came when my two stepsons, Jon and Patrick, hit their teens and soared to six feet, four inches tall. I used to stand on my tip toes in family photos, until my ankles gave out. “A lot of people’s ankles give out when they get older,” I read on WebMD. “Knees, too. And hips.” Swell.
I used to be more coordinated than I am today, too. As a kid I played baseball, football, tennis. No, not much basketball, of course, but thanks for asking.
I also used to climb trees when I was still in my formative years. They grow close together in New Hampshire, so I would climb as high as I could, walk out onto a branch and jump to the next tree. Sometimes, I could go six or seven trees, before “coming up short” and crashing to the forest floor covered in broken branches and pine pitch.
But I have had a bit of an upswing in the height department. Terri thinks I’m tall. “You must be at least six feet,” she said one day at Lotusland. I was tempted to show her my old New Hampshire paper driver’s license, but every time I take it out of my wallet, I release another moth, so I just adjusted my hat to sit a little higher on my head, lifted my heels off the ground a bit, and smiled.
Terri has been working in Lotusland’s amazing Japanese Garden since the early days of its creation. She knows every tree, plant, stone, and drip line. She has been teaching a group of us the art of pruning niwaki – Japanesestyled pines, junipers, and maples – as well as shaping everything else in the Japanese Garden in a traditional style. At first, she was a bit skeptical of my talents.
“I do a lot of bonsai pruning, and I have only killed a few of them,” I told her with pride. “Some of them have ended up missing a limb or two, of course.”
So, at first I was mainly weeding and raking, but slowly I proved myself. Now Terri often gives me the tall trees to prune. There are ladders, but after tripping over a deer statue and sliding down the slope to the pond a few times, Terri suggested I remain earthbound. I was tempted to tell her about my former days of jumping from tall tree to tall tree as a possible pruning technique, but thought maybe that story was better left unsaid. For now, I’ll try to stand straight, reach as high as I can, buy thicker shoes, and dream big.
Ernie Witham has been writing humor for more than 25 years. He is the author of three humor books and is the humor workshop leader at the prestigious Santa Barbara Writers Conference.
