Here Comes the Holiday Magic

Photography: Spenser Bruce

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INSIDE

10 Our Town – Los Padres Forest Association is offering up working vacations to help our neighboring national forest

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THIS ISSUE P.5 Local News – ‘Tis the season for statelegislated house rezoning and the Second Annual Montecito Holiday Magic Parade P.6 On Entertainment – A Christmas Carol, Ain’t Misbehavin’, with a Nights of Grief and Mystery, plus more P.8 Montecito

Brilliant Thoughts – It’s open waters and a clean mission on this voyage of words between Palmolive and Chapman P.30

Communication Matters – Don’t let the changes you want to make dwindle P.31

The Optimist Daily – Shop around for a more positive impact with these six tips P.32

– We reflect on the college’s

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In Passing – Remembering the life of world-renowned African art expert, loving family man, and generous soul, Barry Allan Kitnick

history

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Holiday

by Sharon Byrne

We’ll have the coolest classic cars, lit up to brighten the night sky (briefly). We’ll have dancers, singers, and so much fun! The route starts from the Upper Village, and heads down Hot Springs to Coast Village, and then back up Olive Mill to the end. We encourage you to support our local merchants and shop locally in our village prior to the parade. Grab a hot drink at 5 pm, find a great spot on the route, and watch the parade roll through! After the parade, please enjoy dinner at one of our excellent Montecito restaurants – they’re all terrific and they’d love to see you. If you’d like to sponsor the parade or be in it, please go to montecitoassociation.org. We hope to see you there, with Santa hat on!

Come join us for some holiday fun, hot drinks, and cool cars! (photos

by Joanne A Calitri)

On Entertainment

Caroling to a New Tune

by Steven Libowitz

The veteran actor, director, and choreographer Jamie Torcellini is no stranger to Ensemble Theatre Company (ETC), having performed at ETC in The School for Lies and The Mystery of Irma Vep, and directed both Tell Me on a Sunday and The 39 Steps It’s the latter play that’s most germane, as Torcellini has been enthralled by Patrick Barlow’s clever parody adaptation of the Hitchcock thriller for the theater, a huge hit on Broadway and beyond that finds the film’s 150 characters played by a cast of four.

“Barlow’s belief is that nothing is impossible to do with just a few actors,” Torcellini said. “They become not only 30 or more characters, but also furniture, snow, a river, making magic happen on stage just running around with lots of props and costume pieces to make sure you can still follow the story.”

Torcellini has directed Steps several times since he first saw it – and jokes that he needs a new agent as he has yet to be actually cast as an actor in the play,

despite telling his rep that the play “has me written all over it” as he walked out of the theater – so he was a natural choice to take on Barlow’s refashioning of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol that turns the beloved tale into

an inventively comic and clever evening filled with both humor and heart.

“It’s a blast and a wonder because it’s very fast paced with people running off stage and coming back on as a different character just by changing a hat or an apron or swapping out ties or other piec es of clothing,” he said. “Barlow adds his own flair and sense of humor to Dickens’

dialogue, breaking the fourth wall and more. It’s really quick and silly and fun. But what I like best is that it does keep the main idea of a ghost story that’s about redemption, so it transitions from spooky spirits in very serious scenes that are extremely heartfelt before you’re laugh

ETC’s version of A Christmas Carol features a slimmed down cast, but far more laughs than the beloved classic (photo by Zach Mendez)

By swapping props and costumes, cast members play a variety of char acters and roles (photo by Zach Mendez)

Mark Capri stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in ETC’s produc tion of A Christmas Carol (photo by Zach Mendez)

Montecito Miscellany

Let There Be Lathim

by Richard Mineards

Santa Barbara playwright, director, and producer Rod Lathim has been hitting the Big Apple with his latest art exhibition Let There Be Light at the Kate Oh Gallery, just a tiara’s toss from the Ralph Lauren flagship store at the historic Rhinelander Mansion.

The three-week debut show opened last month and Rod tells me they’ve had a “steady stream” of collectors from the Upper Eastside neighborhood, as well as buyers from Vancouver, Canada, and Florida.

It features his light works, neon sculp tures, and collaborative works with Santa Barbara painter and retired NFL foot ball player Chris Gocong, described as a trans-media exhibit probing the interac tion between light and matter, combining the ethereal dimensions of light art with the whimsical accessibility of pop culture.

Actor Anthony Edwards and Broadway star Howard McGillin, a star of Phantom of the Opera, both former Santa Barbarans, have visited the exhi bition, as well as actress Kate Mulgrew from Star Trek Voyager and Orange is the New Black.

Digital Messengers

In what could be one of their boldest moves away from traditional royal life yet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly about to enter the metaverse.

Montecito’s tony twosome are working with Pax.World, a Zurich, Switzerland, tech company, to build their own world in a new virtual universe, featuring ava tars of real people.

Users don headsets to enter a virtual reality mimicking real life where goods, services, and land can be exchanged using currencies such as Bitcoin.

Celebrities like singer Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, and Paris Hilton have already embraced the technology.

“Both Meghan and Harry believe they will have a greater ability to spread their message if they are a presence in the vir tual world, as well as the physical one,” says a source. Stay tuned...

Twice the Yuletide Spirit

It was a spectacular start to Yuletide when Montecito Bank & Trust held its 20th annual Community Dividends awards lunch, which normally divides $1 million among myriad local charities.

But this year the Hilton event for 300 guests was one with a decided differ ence as the bank, founded by the late Michael Towbes, awarded a hefty $2 million, bringing the total since its incep tion when Mike gave 100 nonprofits a $10,000 check each, to $21 million.

As Janet Garufis, chair and CEO, said succinctly: “Corporate philanthropy is so

Playwright Rod Lathim shows his art at top New York gallery

George Leis speak ing to the audience (photo courtesy of Montecito Bank & Trust)

Our Town

Working Vacations with Los Padres Forest Association

by Joanne A Calitri

Coming out of Thanksgiving and heading into the holidays that mark the end of the year – if you are thinking you may want a vacation in 2023, love being outdoors in the wilderness, and want to do something to help our natural for est in California, check out the Los Padres Forest Association website. There you will find both paid and volunteer opportunities, all of which help to maintain, repair, and remove graffiti from the landscape, establish defensible space, and make safe our Los

Padres National Forest (LPNF) wilderness throughout the state.

One program, called Working Vacations, was started around 2005, where volun teers are led by Trail Leaders for seven to 10 days on a trail project, usually located well off the beaten path and deep into wilderness areas where one would appreciate having a personal guide.

These vacations fully support the volunteers with food prepared by a cook, and a camp set up, along with horses and mules carting the supplies and gear. One can always bring a day backpack for any other necessities they require.

Recently, November 12-20, 32 volunteers took a working vacation to repair, clean, and restore four miles of the Sespe River Trail. Their work included cleaning Camp Willett – with its defensible space repaired and ready for when the fire ban is lifted –and removed 13 downed trees that were blocking both the Sespe River and Red Reef Trails. A grant for this project was received from Southern California Edison and a private donor.

October 11 marked the one-year anniversary of the Alisal Fire that burned 17,000 acres along the Gaviota coast and portions of the Los Padres Forest. The LPFA Trail

Los Padres National Forest Trail Crew work on the Sisquoc Trail (photo by Jmorris)

Burned areas of the Alisal Fire along the Gaviota Coast (photo courtesy of LPFA)

Letters to the Editor

Adjusting Views to Come Together

Remember when certain environmen tal groups made it impossible to talk about nuclear power in a positive way, and Santa Barbara locals demonstrated at Diablo Canyon’s nuclear power plant just up the coast from here? Now Democratic Governor Newsom supports it and the Biden’s Energy Department granted $1.1 billion to upgrade it. California’s last oper ating nuclear power plant, once scheduled to close in 2025, which provides about nine percent of the entire state’s electricity, is now viewed as a critical clean-energy source providing power to homes and businesses. It seems that innovation and pragmat ic realities, like costs, heat waves, power shutdowns, and geopolitics are countering fanciful idealism.

We will soon see how this same environ mental idealism will deal with the prag matic realities of Electric Vehicles (EV) and the batteries that power them. Most certainly, this city, state, and country are on the correct path in moving to bring EV production to scale. Especially since, an increasingly autocratic Communist China has the jump on us in spending billions to build mining facilities and supply chains which are necessary for the elements and batteries that go into them. The recent ly passed Inflation Reduction Act (which does not reduce inflation) will help the U.S. compete, as it has clean vehicle and domestic production provisions that pro vide a path toward prioritizing the domestic permitting process for mines and battery plants and works to remove tax credits for Chinese-made batteries. It is now deemed critical for domestic clean energy to take con trol of the elements that go into producing it, and is rapidly becoming an essential part of U.S. national and economic security. More mining? Well, the idea is for the U.S. to stop using elements from unregulated Chinese mines and start building ones over which we have control. The hard reality is that mining, and therefore our conversion

to EV’s, is essential and now critical that it be done under the direction of U.S. interests. Coming together by compromise and facing hard realities with creative but also practical solutions is needed for our country to move forward on this subject and many others.

J.W. Burk

A Bear’s Happy Memory

Carlos, The Bear, was fattening up for his Winter rest, rummaging through his neighborhood trash cans for the leftovers his human friends had tossed out after their Thanksgiving feasting, when out of a toppled can rolled an ornament in the shape of a bell that began playing a tune.

Carlos stopped, pricking up his ears, the song was familiar, from a long time ago.

He sat, enthralled, listening, and thought of his first early years as a cub. His mother used to sing this song to him when he became agitated during December hibernation. He brushed tears away with his furry paws and felt a feeling of motherly love wash over him, and he smiled a big bear smile. He thought of his mom and how she took care of him, teaching him good bear ways, keeping him warm in the Winter’s cold, protect ing him with love.

And he was warmed by a very happy memory.

Michael Edwards

Taking Mr. Smith to Washington

The bulk of Mr. Smith’s letter [see Sanderson M. Smith’s letter in the Nov. 24 issue of MJ] is nothing more than a rehash of his previous commentary. He chose not to address my rebuttals but simply regur gitated his previous specious arguments. My comments were as follows:

1) In regard to the tired old trope that we were “energy independent” during Trump’s administration, Mr. Smith con veniently fails to define that term. If it means we don’t import oil from undem ocratic (and sometimes hostile) countries, that hasn’t been the case since the 1940s. If it means we are producing more than we consume, that became true in 2020 “primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and not because of anything Trump did.” (Forbes, Oct.; 1, 2022).

2) Inflation is a world-wide problem. More can and should be done to find a solution and President Biden will right fully take the heat if it isn’t. But, President Biden did not cause this problem. As of Oct. 2022, the inflation rate in the U.S. was 7.7%. The inflation rates for Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany are all between 8% and 10%. Is Biden responsible for those high rates as well?

3) Trump’s policy “to secure our bor ders” consisted of 1) building a porous border wall that he said Mexico would pay for (they didn’t) and which could be breached by simple over-the-counter gar den tools and 2) locking up adolescents, toddlers, and infants (who had commit ted no crime) in what were referred to as “Tender Age Detention Centers.” They were, in fact, internment camps for chil dren. This is a blight on our history that no amount of partisan jiu-jitsu will ever be able to erase.

Finally, in a futile attempt to break new ground, Mr. Smith entertains us with this priceless gem: Trump’s “domestic and foreign policies were far superior to those of (President) Biden.”

Any specifics of those “superior” pol icies were, of course, left to our imag ination. Clearly, the problem for Mr. Smith is his fact limits rather than word limits. On domestic policy, could he have been referring to election interfer ence in several key battleground states, plotting a coup with the assistance of fake elector schemes, encouraging and inciting a violent insurrection on Jan.

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6, 2021, and stealing classified and unclassified documents, all of which are legally the property of the U.S. govern ment? On foreign policy, could he have been referring to Trump’s abandoning our allies, the Syrian Kurds, leaving them to be slaughtered by the powerful Turkish military, promising a nuclear free Korean Peninsula while making major concessions to North Korea and receiving nothing in return other than “love letters” from Kim Jong-un, and attempting to extort Ukraine, a country fighting for its very survival against bru tal Russian aggression, in order to get “dirt” on the Biden Family?

Fortunately, Mr. Smith has an anti dote for all this alleged superiority. He endorses the “ideal” 2024 ticket of Ron DeSantis/Nikki Haley. In other words, Trump clones with better wardrobes.

OMG!

Robert Baruch

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“Housework can’t kill you, but why take a chance? – Phyllis Diller

Executive Editor/CEO | Gwyn Lurie gwyn@montecitojournal.net

President/COO | Timothy Lennon Buckley tim@montecitojournal.net

VP, Sales & Marketing | Leanne Wood leanne@montecitojournal.net

Managing Editor | Zach Rosen zach@montecitojournal.net

Art/Production Director | Trent Watanabe

Office Manager | Jessikah Moran

Graphic Design/Layout | Stevie Acuña

Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Nadel, Bryce Eller

Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick Copy Editor | Lily Buckley Harbin Proofreading | Helen Buckley Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz

Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Kim Crail, Tom Farr, Chuck Graham, Stella Haffner, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Sharon Byrne, Robert Bernstein, Christina Favuzzi, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye

Gossip | Richard Mineards History | Hattie Beresford

Humor | Ernie Witham

Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook

Food & Wine | Claudia Schou, Gabe Saglie

Published by: Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.

How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net

Updates on the Housing Element

We’ve got a lot on our plate here at the Montecito Association, and we’re happy to tackle it. Two weeks ago, the County had a huge public meeting on the updated Housing Element required by the state of California’s Housing and Community Development. You’ve read in these pages of how we realized the threat of the housing bills coming through the state legislature to Montecito, and worked to try to stop the avalanche of Build, Baby, Build! the state unleashed on all municipalities. The new Regional Housing Needs Allowance (RHNA), the housing mandate handed down from the state to cities and counties every eight years, is huge in this sixth cycle. The South County needs to find places to build 4,142 new homes. This exercise forces the county to look at every parcel, and determine if it can be rezoned to allow for housing development. The entire exercise is due to the state by February 15, 2023, and if you miss your deadline, you’re subject to a nasty consequence: by-right development that can take place, without per mitting oversight and hearings, until you certify your housing element with the state. If the state finds your housing element lacking, the same penalty applies.

“The threat is real,” said Supervisor Williams. The scramble is on at County Planning and Development.

So far, no sites were identified for rezoning in Montecito, though several were examined, including churches and business districts. Ultimately, they were found unsuitable, as indicated by the yellow color:

We’ll be reviewing this topic in more detail at our December 6th Land Use Committee meeting, at 4 pm. You’re welcome to join us on Zoom – plenty of free parking!

Sharon Byrne is the Executive Director of the Montecito Association

Society Invites Society Takes Five in Boca

It’s not every Thanksgiving this society gal takes off, but with my hair newly colored by Montecito’s own French Hair Salon expert, Eliane Alexandre International, I was ready to take on the sun-bleached blondes of the Florida coast in true Parisian style.

Saving the almost impossible details of getting to LAX from our town with Uber and Rockstar starting at $350 one-way, a flat rate cab at $300, and the Airbus with limited time schedules

causing me the expense of rebooking a flight to fit, let’s just say I am used to more comp and co-op.

As I arrived at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport with throngs of incoming tourists world-wide – all of them hoping to fit into their skimpy biki nis and partake in a Thanksgiving feast with family and friends – I couldn’t help but wonder, what would this brief vacay to Boca bring? When out of nowhere it down-poured torrents of rain that my drought-hungry California homeland would warmly welcome.

With the historic society, polo, and yacht clubs closed, I took a bird’s-eye

view for my news while fighting off the sniffles and sneezes. The humidity x pol len at 110%, unfazed natives and unsus pecting tourists strolled in the thousands to the ineffable beaches from Boca to the Lauderdale “strip,” and were later seen at five-star restaurants and nightclubs, hoping to connect with “the one” or to unplug from it all.

Noted scenes at the designer and couture shopping centers included the population of “shopping-tourists” who immigrate with one mission: Black Friday weekend. They sought to pur chase large quantities of goods in mul tiple sizes – think 20 Ralph Lauren men’s basic dress polo shirts, Nike shoes, leather goods, and more – placing it all neatly in their large Pullman suitcases they lugged around the mall. These singularly focused peeps were found waiting in long lines from the stores to

the parking lots like pros planning their next move. I wondered, What were they going to do with all these goodies? I talked with mall security who said they were

Hélène Grimaud is a singular pianist, an interpreter known for her fierce intelligence and sincere freedom of expression. In this characteristically thoughtful program, she performs choice selections by Chopin, Debussy, and Satie; Schumann’s Kreisleriana; and exquisite short pieces by Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov.

Consistently hailed as one of the leading orchestras in the world, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns to Santa Barbara on Music Director Riccardo Muti’s farewell tour, performing works by Beethoven, Lyadov, and Mussorgsky’s immortal Pictures at an Exhibition

Photo by Mat Hennek Photo by Todd Rosenberg Photography

photos and story by Joanne A Calitri

Mizner

Gas prices at a Broward County Chevron station

Celebratethe Miramar Holidays at

Miramar is bringing the spirit of the season to Montecito this year. Enjoy the holidays at the resort with mouth-watering menus, awe-inspiring entertainment, and beautifully bespoke experiences. And—in true Miramar manner—each holiday celebration features spectacular service and impeccable attention to detail at every turn. Don’t miss the magic of Miramar, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day.

NOV 24 DEC 24 DEC 25

anksgiving

Kick off the holiday season and gather in gratitude like never before. You’re invited to give thanks around every table at Miramar. Join us for brunches, dinners, music, and more at all of your favorite Miramar restaurants and bars.

Christmas Eve Christmas Day

Count down to Christmas at Miramar. Dig into Seven Fish dinners on the coastline at Caruso’s, revel in the music of carolers in the Living Room, and delight in snowfall on the Great Lawn. Here’s to making this your most memorable Christmas Eve yet.

Unwrap the magic of Christmas morning at Miramar. Delight in a delicious brunch of festive favorites and whimsical touches for a holiday celebration that your family will cherish for years to come.

DEC 31

New Year’s Eve

A night of unmatched elegance awaits at Miramar, the place to be on New Year’s Eve. Join us for an unforgettable evening where the ordinary is escaped and the extraordinary is embraced, including an oceanfront champagne dinner at Caruso’s, a gala hosted in the Chandelier Ballroom, and showstopping performances in The Manor Bar, culminating in a truly magical midnight toast.

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New Year’s Day

Get ready to raise a glass to 2023 along the Central Coast. Miramar is offering a festive lineup of brunches, lunches, can’t-miss cocktails, and dinners, sure to make New Year’s Day memorably special. Cheers to starting the year in style.

To explore all of our holiday happenings, please visit us at: @rosewoodmiramarbeach www.rosewoodmiramarbeach.com facebook.com/RosewoodMiramarBeach/ email miramar@rosewoodhotels.com 805-900-8388

team

In Passing

Barry Allan Kitnick: July 25, 1943 – September 28, 2022

Barry Allan Kitnick passed away in Santa Barbara, California on September 28, 2022, after a long illness. Barry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1943. He is survived by his beloved wife Jill, with whom he shared his life for over 45 years; his sons Alexander and Zachary (Daisy); his brothers Steven (Marilyn), Dean (Victoria), and David (Romy). He is also survived by nephews Eric (Kate), Craig (Sophia), and Ben (Shannon), nieces Sara, Emma (Zach), and Abby (Dylan).

Barry grew up in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Van Nuys High School; L.A. Valley College, where he earned his Associate of Arts; and San Fernando Valley State College (now CSUN), where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology. Barry then earned his Master of Arts in African Area Studies from UCLA, and then served in the Peace Corps in Liberia in the late 1960s. Upon his return, with his love of art and business acumen, Barry opened Gallery K in West Hollywood, California, where he exhibited African Art. In his early thirties, Barry became one of the youngest Senior Appraisers and world-renowned experts of African Art, and was noted for his ability to recognize “the real thing.” He was also involved with the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at UCLA and contributed to the muse um in many ways over the years.

After seven trips to Vietnam, Barry also amassed a unique collection of shamanistic art that was exhibited at UCSB and ultimately donated to the Fowler Museum at UCLA entitled: How to Make the Universe Right: The Art of the Shaman from Vietnam and Southern China.

Barry will be remembered for the love he shared with his family, his generosity, philanthropy, and sense of humor. He lived an amazing and honorable life. Barry was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Marjorie “Margie,” and his brother Dennis Kitnick. A private memorial will be held at a later date. Donations can be made in Barry’s honor to the Hospice of Santa Barbara, California, Inc. (via www.hospiceofsb. org). May his memory be for a blessing.

Barry Allan Kitnick will be remembered for the love he shared with his family, his generosity, philan thropy, and sense of humor

Le Bal Cristal

A glimmering night of unmatched elegance where the ordinal is escaped, and the extraordinary is embraced awaits at our New Year’s Eve Le Bal Crystal. Inspired by a glamourous French fête along the American Riviera, we invite you to celebrate with lively libations, spectacular performers, champagne toasts and so much more.

The Giving List

Soup-ing up the Holidays

by Steven Libowitz

For a decade, the Organic Soup Kitchen (OSK) hosted community meals on Christmas Day at the Veterans Memorial Building on the Santa Barbara waterfront, serving hundreds of warm nutritious meals to the homeless and others. The event eventually grew to include an appearance by Santa to hand out gifts to people of all ages and genders, while singers Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins would come by to perform.

But the energy and effort that involved the nonprofit’s staff and nearly 200 vol unteers whose duties ranged from cooking and wrapping presents on Christmas Eve to staying afterward to clean up became overwhelming for the small organization. After all, its year-round mission is to create and deliver vegan, organic, gluten-free, nutrient-dense soups full of essential vitamins and minerals, healthy fats and oils, and non-irradiated spices for cancer patients and low-income seniors.

OSK’s Christmas celebration came to a close a year before the pandemic would have closed down the event anyway.

Next weekend, however, there’s a new holiday event coming from the nonprofit as Organic Soup Kitchen’s first annual Holiday SouperMarket + Soup Tasting Party takes place in the space between its facility in the Antioch College building and the municipal parking lot that hosts the Santa Barbara Farmers Market on Saturdays. The event, which takes place from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, December 10, at 608 Anacapa Street, will feature a lively bazaar with dozens of local artisans selling hand made goods, live entertainment, a festive holiday atmosphere, and a chance to sample many of OSK’s sumptuous soups.

The Holiday SouperMarket + Soup Tasting Party is being curated by local artist, model, and Organic Soup Kitchen board member Taiana Giefer, a longtime OSK volunteer who joined her mother on the board last year.

“I just took it upon myself to come up with a different kind of fundraising idea, one that was both fun and could help raise awareness,” Giefer explained.

To that end, Giefer, who also runs Neighbor Neighbor, a curated women’s consign ment space handling retail resale for charity, has arranged for more than three dozen vendors to be on hand selling their handcrafted wares in a marketplace that has come together, well, organically.

“The concept was to diversify the type of vendors and attempt to get more than a few who don’t usually appear in markets,” she said. “I did my best to think outside the box and put together the market in a way that would encourage hobbyists and backyard tinkerers, perhaps people who have a passion but who might be a little shy to sell.”

Vendors currently confirmed to participate include Ysidro (sake spritzer), T.W. Hollister & Co. (vermouth), Neighbor Neighbor (curated women’s consignment clothing), Banner Day (embroidered linen tees), OmChanti (organic skincare), Megan Hooker (ceramics), RoHo Goods (ethically made shoes and more supporting artisans of Africa), Daniella Manini (art prints), Children of Ra (Sunglasses and eyewear), Chez Justine (pastries), Nona Botanicals (natural dyed goods), Nick Cook (photo prints), Kelli Martinez (crafts), Lulu’s Granola + Friends (handmade grano la), Coastal Casita (ceramics), Hot Cherry Pillows (warming pillows), Mollusk (surf

IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU IN YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I LOVE.

The First Annual Holiday SouperMarket + Soup Tasting Party will be held on Saturday, December 10

goods), Hello Coyote (gifts + decor), Riviera Bread, Lineage Botanica (home decor), and Happy Chance (cannabis edibles).

Also, Cuyama Beverage Co. (high desert meads), Propolis Bee Co. (honey + bees wax candles), Chiky Botanica (organically cultivated or wildcrafted skincare), Origin Organs (lamb organ capsules), Pacific Coast Pollinators (honey), Kelly Claus (fine watercolors), Kat Vinegrad (handmade leathers), Stone Hart Jewelry (accessories), BeeWild Candles (hand-poured beeswax candles), Tess Hodges (art and block prints), John Rapp (paintings), Glass House Flora (beauty-creating flowers), Petal Soup Studio (sustainability minded hand-sewn goods), EŸN VAS (humble luxury for your personal ecosystem), Welcome Coffee Cart (coffee cart pop-up), Jessica Foster Confections (chocolates), and Satellite Santa Barbara (T.W. Hollister Hot Toddies).

“I believe at least a third of them have probably never really sold to the public before and are coming to try it out for the first time,” Giefer said.

By making the event low key with only a $75 donation to be among the merchants, Giefer also endeavored to attract artisans whose prices would be in the more affordable range as people shop for gifts amid an era of soaring inflation.

“I really wanted it to be easy and approachable, where you could buy something without a lot of sticker shock,” she said.

The organic angle to the first iteration of the event also applies to the entertain ment, as Giefer is still hoping to secure several acoustic musicians to perform solo sets during the day to augment her own contributions as DJ, whose playlists are often a big hit at parties and other functions around town.

“I might also wander over to the farmers market in the morning and let people who are playing there know they can drop by and perform here too in the afternoon,” she said.

As for the part of the raising awareness for Organic Soup Kitchen, the SouperMarket is being held right outside of the nonprofit’s kitchen door.

“It’s an odd location for public use, with the parking lot outside this windowless cement-jungle kitchen in the bottom floor of Antioch,” Giefer said, noting that there will be a huge eating section created at the entrance with the marketplace’s vendors surrounding the space, while the public is invited to tour the OSK facility.

“We’ve streamlined our message so people can quickly read five bullet points that will be posted on the walls covering what OKS does and why they’re here. It’s like a refresher course, and there will be kitchen tours with all the staff available to chat with you and explain everything. We’ll be thrilled if 100 people who didn’t know much about us before walk away knowing just that much.”

Everybody will also likely walk away with a belly full of yummy, nutritious, and delicious soup. OSK will be offering unlimited tastings of several of their varieties for a $10 suggested donation.

“We want everyone to taste the soups because it’s called the soup kitchen, and people often associate it as being something to feed the homeless, or what you might get in the hospital,” Giefer said. “But it’s so, so good. It’s always really surprising just how good it is.”

Folks will also be able to purchase containers of frozen soup to take home as part of OSK’s decision to start pushing retail sales for both awareness and fundraising, as the nonprofit is experiencing a budget shortfall at a moment when it’s also eyeing expanding into a larger facility with more capacity.

“Demand has gone up at the same time that grants have been spread more thinly because of the pandemic,” Giefer said. “We’re hoping to sell a lot of soup and find some new donors.”

The Organic Soup Kitchen cooks up vibrant, vegan, nutrient-dense soups for cancer patients and low-in come seniors

much more than writing checks.”

On top of the bigger dividend check, the bank, which now boasts assets of $2.24 billion and two new branches in Santa Maria and Oxnard, also expanded its annual Michael Towbes Community Impact Dividend award, introduced in 2019 to make a meaningful impact by providing an annual dividend of up to $100,000 to one or more nonprof its that deliver critical and sustainable services to a large number of the most

vulnerable people in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

This year five organizations were award ed $100,000 each with Mike’s widow, Anne Towbes, joining Janet on stage under the giant marquee covering the rotunda to present checks to CommUnify, the Pacific Pride Foundation, People’s Self-Help Housing Corporation, Santa Barbara Street Medicine-Doctors

Anne Towbes, Kristine Flickinger, and Janet Garufis (photo courtesy of Montecito Bank & Trust)

Kathryn and Peter Martin with Maria McCall (photo courtesy of Montecito Bank & Trust)

Dean Noble, Janet Garufis, and Richard Block (photo courtesy of Montecito Bank & Trust)

Brilliant Thoughts Cleanliness – Next to Godliness

by Ashleigh Brilliant

Just about the last regular job I ever had, before my current career as a self-employed creator of illustrated epigrams, was way back in the 1960s, in connection with a “floating university” –an actual institution of learning on board a converted cruise ship (a program still functioning, on various vessels, under the name of “Semester at Sea”). For two separate, three-and-a-half-month round-the-world voyages, I was aboard this ship (at first named the Seven Seas, then succeeded by the Ryndam) as a faculty member – an Associate Professor of History and Geography –and, for the months in between voyages, I was employed at the “land campus” at Chapman College (now Chapman University) in Orange, California (a city south of Los Angeles). My title there was Academic Coordinator, and my role was to help in preparations for the next voyage (a job in which unknowingly I hired my future wife).

Our headquarters were located in Orange, in a large house, which hap pened to be at the corner of Palm and Olive streets. And, whether or not by chance, the house had been painted what could truthfully be described as a mild and gentle “Palmolive Green.” Naturally, we called it Palmolive House – and from time to time, the idea was raised that, for promotional purposes, someone ought to write to the makers of Palmolive Soap (the Colgate-Palmolive Company) and tell them about the happy coinci dence that, here we are, virtually using their name, and operating a traveling school, more than half of whose students were young women, no doubt major Palmolive users, concerned about keep ing “that schoolgirl complexion.”

But anyone writing such a letter would have to be careful, because – at least, in those days – Chapman was a small pure-minded Christian College (how they ever acquired this ambitious program – and how I myself, fresh from a “free speech” scandal at my previous school, ever managed to get a job there, is a story in itself), and shrank from any promotional efforts taint ed with commercialism. Anyway, the task of writing what became celebrated as “The Palmolive Letter” somehow devolved upon me, and I set to work researching all the products made by that Company, then trying to write a light-hearted letter, mentioning pun ningly as many of them as I could, while at the same time introducing our own educational program, and suggest ing ways we might cooperate.

To give you an idea of what I came up with, here is an extract from the letter,

with product names in caps:

“How would we like you to RESPOND? ... Of course, we go WILDROOTING for ourselves. What we’d like you to do is make sure your Palmolive Soap floats, since otherwise it tends to damage our image as a floating campus. Failing that, instead of mere cash, your CASHMERE BOUQUET Talcum Powder, or a supply of Palmolive Soap ... would be a fine way of cementing, or should we say lathering, the inevitable friendship between our two great institutions.”

Two months passed before any reply was received, and, when it came, to my amazement, it was in verse! It was signed by Arthur B. Baer, Jr., Senior Product Manager of the Colgate Palmolive Company. Its four stanzas had as many clever puns as my letter. But this was the key passage:

“So we ordered dispatched to the hold Of the Ryndam enough bars, all told, To have two for each student The brand (we think prudent/ In tropics) is Palmolive Gold.”

The kindly corporation was as good as its word, and shortly after we sailed from New York, in a solemn ceremony, with elaborate costumes, I had the plea sure of distributing the “golden” bars of deodorant soap. The whole affair culmi nated in a message of thanks I sent to the Palmolive Company:

Explorers in the years of old Crossed the seas in search of gold, And, fearful for their limbs and lives, Stocked their ships with guns and knives. Today the world, from shore to shore, Aboard the Ryndam we explore. But, thanks to you, this ship of ours Will take along its own gold bars, And, to be safe as well as clean, We’re armed with hexachlorophene! Beneath the Olive and the Palm, We’ll venture forth without a qualm, Free in Naples or Nigeria

From thoughtless and ill-bred bacteria. We thank you for your noble move, It’s one the whole world should approve, For Man still finds his brightest hope in Education – and in Soap.

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.

“A bachelor is a guy who never made the same mistake once.” – Phyllis Diller

Barbara’s Premier Patrol Service

Without Walls, and The Arc Foundation of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

“I have to say that these five stood out in a way that far exceeded anything else we read,” added Janet.

Among the hoard attending the fun festive fête were Rona Barrett, Rich Block, Dean Noble, Luke Swetland, David Selberg, Donna Reeves, Cyndi Silverman, Caren Rager, Abe Powell, Sigrid Wright , John Palminteri , Roger Durling, Rolf Geyling, Ellen Goodstein, Geoff Green, Peter and Gerd Jordano, George and Laurie Leis, Greg Gorga, Gwyn Lurie, and Maria McCall

‘Butterfly Wood’ Bash

Local award-winning architect Robert Ooley, who spent 30 years researching and writing his first book, Butterfly Wood, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie House West, hosted a boffo bash at the University Club for 70 guests to celebrate the occa sion.

The 4,500-square-foot property at Hot Springs and Summer Road, the home of writer T.C. Boyle, is the only example of Wright’s on the Left Coast.

It was so named after the multitude of Monarch butterflies that roosted in trees

Miscellany Page 284

and Marsha

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From left: Anna Lafferty, Erin Graffy, Robert Ooley,

Barr (photo by Michelle Lauren)

Former Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider happily snags a signed copy of Butterfly Wood (photo by Michelle Lauren)

Frank Lloyd Wright aficionados from left: Melinda Mettler, Dr. Loretta Redd, and Nancy Wahl (photo by Michelle Lauren)

all tourists, he thought, doing the same thing all over the U.S. Add the newly minted Bitcoin ATMs to the mix... Is the Beverly Center ready for this?

Filling up the gas tank, I was marvel ing at the $3.45/gallon at Chevron, to find the Starbucks drive-through prices at $1 more per item across the board plus food take out sales tax, wondering, At $9 for a tea and slice of pumpkin loaf before tipping, should I just go to lunch on the strip?!

Needing fresh air and sun, I ventured to the Pompano Beach and Pier area to hang with the pelicans and get some exercise where I ran into the Broward County Sheriff’s Department monitor ing the beach front. After vetting my press pass, Deputy Sheriffs Frank Cusco, who’s been on the Pompano Beach beat for six years, and his partner M. Giuliano took five for a photo op with yours truly. They were just as friendly as our Sheriff’s Department and had a great sense of humor about the tourists. I’m beginning to miss home...

In search of Judeo-Christian outdoor

holiday décor, I happily was directed to Mizner Park Boca Raton, an exceptional real estate and business area, complete with designer outdoor shopping and yes, a long, well-manicured rectangular park down its center, complete with a two-story-high Silver Menorah and Christmas Tree in tandem. The park is famous for its live outdoor concert arena and regally chill vibe.

Hoping to find holiday-decorated yachts along the intercoastal, I sought out the less beaten path of A1A from Boca down through Lighthouse Point, a narrow land strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Hillsboro Inlet. The quaintness of Lighthouse Point is marked by its beachfront mansions, with many docking yachts living the Florida dream. Here, around the exclu sive NE 31 Street area, was a display of beautiful and delicate residential holiday lights leading up to a natural road tunnel of banyan trees that the residents filled with baby white lights for the holiday. Quite the lovely and peaceful jewel to drive through and finale to the getaway.

As I flew home to L.A., I couldn’t help but reflect on the one constant through out my stay: the overwhelming love these Floridians have for California, politics aside, of course. Whenever I was asked where I am from and I replied California, it was fabulous to watch their eyes light up and faces smile, gloss over might be more accurate, while they fawned about our weather and beautiful outdoors from the mountains to the beaches. If they had been to Cali, they volunteered to recount the amazing time they experienced. I smiled back.

I’m smiling now, No wondering needed, they are right, indeed.

The

The holiday lighted tree tunnel along Deerfield Beach

The holiday lights along Deerfield Beach’s private homes

Bitcoin ATM in a Boca shopping mall

surrounding the house, built by Emily Stewart in 1909.

Robert, a former county architect with Santa Barbara, is now working on a second tome, An AIA Guide to Santa Barbara, which he expects to be 300 pages in length.

Among the supporters turning out were Rodney Baker, Kostis Protopapas, Joan Rutkowski, Nancy Golden, former

A Food-filled Mission

mayor Helene Schneider, James Garcia and Erin Graffy, Veronique Chevalier, and Dana Hansen

David Fletcher , head food ser vice specialist at the Rescue Mission, Miscellany Page 51

Volunteers prepar ing to serve (photo by Dale Weber)

Guests enjoying their meal (photo by Dale Weber)

SBRM President Rolf Geyling with Nancy and Mark, former homeless guests now housed, who came back to celebrate the holi day and encourage their friends (photo by Dale Weber)

SBRM Food Services Supervisor David Fletcher (center) and his team (photo by Dale Weber)

Area of the Alisal Fire showing recov ering vegetation (photo courtesy of LPFA)

Crew has been working since to restore the Arroyo Quemado Trail – usually accessed from the lower Baron Ranch Trailhead along Hwy 101, focusing on building drains and erosion control. Their photographs of the work document vegetation return, especially the oak trees.

Scheduling for 2023 Spring Working Vacations include the Alder Creek Trail within the Sespe Wilderness and hosting another Working Vacation at South Fork Station in the San Rafael Wilderness. Also, started in 2022 with a 2023 finish date, is trail restoration work along the Santa Cruz Trail from Upper Oso to Santa Cruz Station, which will need volunteers and is currently having a Giving Tuesday funding campaign to raise $10K. There are local projects for the San Ysidro Trail and fliers for hikers posted at the trailheads in Montecito – to be prepared and act fast for safety –which may need to be replaced, as unfortunately they get damaged or taken down by the public. In Ojai, the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center needs volunteers.

Youth are welcome to volunteer as Junior Forest Rangers (ages 7 through 13) or through scouting, as well as the Every Kid Outdoor Program that is supported by the federal government for 4th graders.

Paid positions are for Trail Crew Members in the back country of the LPNF for trail work, conservation, and stewardship of public lands.

And don’t forget to note the annual camping gear sale every October.

Supporters of the LPFA include the Montecito Trails Foundation, the Santa

Barbara Trails Council, the National Forest Association, REI, the Condor Trail, and Topa Topa.

The LPFA website has useful links for hunting season and general announcements for hikers that are also worth a look.

411: https://lpforest.org https://lpforest.org/apply-for-our-trail-crew

Joanne A. Calitri is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com

Annual camping gear sale by the Los Padres Forest Association (photo courtesy of LPFA)

WEALTH OF WELLNESS

Communicating Matters

The Dwindle Effect

by Jude Bijou

Backsliding comes with almost every new habit you’re trying to ingrain. I call it the “dwindle effect” because your initial desire to change an old habit wanes. It’s easy to lose sight of good intentions. It’s common to rebel against the effort the new action requires, forgetting why you wanted to change in the first place. Your persistent mind chatter becomes the only voice you hear, and you just want to numb out the emotions of the moment with your familiar, safe (and yet oh-so-destructive) habits.

The dwindle effect can either drain your resolve or provide a learning oppor tunity. With a little observation and introspection, you can identify some of the when’s, why’s, where’s, and who’s that spark falling off your sterling intentions. Keep the warning signs in mind, and you’ll be better prepared next time. Ask yourself, “What will I do next time this happens?” Develop a strategy, like choos ing some truths for tough moments, selecting another substitute, or setting a shorter-range goal that’s more achievable. If you relapse, don’t abandon your goal. Just remember the dwindle effect. Deal with your emotions and then step back onto the battlefield of life.

The Six Steps to Overcome the Dwindle Effect

You made a commitment to walk every evening after work, but you can’t remember the last time you did. Work is so stressful; you’ve decided it’s a bad time to quit smok ing. Or your New Year’s resolution not to drink during the week has long been for gotten. No matter how strong your intentions were in the beginning, life’s invariable challenges flare up and make it oh-so-easy to slip back into your old habit. Welcome to the DWINDLE EFFECT.

So what happened? You were on a roll there for a while with the yoga classes! Well, emotions came up (about you, your weight, your relationship, whatever) and you didn’t handle the sadness, anger, or fear physically and constructively. Instead, you went into survival mode and reverted back to the familiar habit that you swore you were going to change.

How can we fight the dwindle effect? Making a long-term change in life isn’t rocket science. To actualize your goals and good intentions, do these six things:

1. At those crucial moments when you’re justifying not following through with the new behavior – make a new choice! Deal with your emotions in their pure, nat ural, physical form, without words. Just move the energy. Stomp, shiver, or cry to deal with your anger, fear, or sadness. Find a safe place and do it with abandon for just three minutes! Your unexpressed emotions are clouding your ability to choose anything new. I know that sounds radical, but it’s not. Emote and then remember your goal (see number #2).

2. Get clear why you are going to change. Write it down if that’s helpful, because it’s easy to forget. Remember your goal often but especially at times when it’s easy to get “lazy” and revert to your old habit. Make sure your goal resonates with what’s true for you. You’re making this change for you.

3. With awareness, changing old habits IS possible and sustainable. Locate your self-sabotaging thoughts and find contradictions that support you. Remind yourself of the reality when you start to waiver.

“I hate looking like this. I want to be more fit. I’m doing this for me.”

4. Make sure the change you desire is doable, specific, and reasonable. Little steps. Maybe you can’t become a gym rat five days a week, but you could catch one class every two mornings fairly easily.

5. Get a buddy who also wants to make a change and establish a regular daily, weekly, or in between check-in for support and accountability. Initiate and contact

him or her at the appointed time, no matter what. Each person gets two to five minutes of listening (set your own reasonable amount of time). The first one talks of victories and breakdown, and the next specific steps he or she needs to take between now and the next check-in, and appreciates themselves. Then switch and listen while the other person talks about how they are doing with their new behavior.

6. When you choose the old habit today, don’t give up your good inten tions altogether. It really IS okay. Get up and start again fresh tomorrow. It’s a brand new day.

The Rewards

Just remember to deal with whatever emotions are sabotaging your efforts and keep checking in to make sure the steps to your goal are small, reasonable, and doable.

Keep at it and you’ll conquer the dwindle effect and bask in the new life you’ve created. A series of little victories is the way to change. And please don’t forget to praise yourself every time you choose to align with what you know in your heart is good.

Six Ways to Have a Positive ImpactWhile Holiday Shopping This Year

Making sure your practices align with your values can be tricky all year round, but this is especially true during the holiday season. Here are six great ways to make a positive impact while going about your festivities this year.

1. Support indie bookshops: Even though bookshops have experienced a revival in recent years, independent bookstores have still been struck down hard by the pandemic. If you live in the U.S. and want to support local bookstores this holiday season but don’t know where to look, search on the Indie Bound website to find one near you.

2. Buy toys that don’t cost the Earth: Where do you purchase toys that aren’t made of plas tic or shipped from far-off places? To start you on the right path, we recommend Green Toys, which offers playthings that are made in the U.S. out of recycled materials, or Plan Toys – a company that puts sustainability and child development at the forefront of their practices.

3. Slip into something more sustainable: Ask yourself if it’s possible to find a high-quality vintage item to give as a present and challenge yourself to look for labels that protect the rights of garment workers, prioritize organic, natural fibers, and avoid using any materials that test on animals.

4. Avoid conflict minerals in tech: Low salaries, tax dodging, and the use of conflict minerals have all earned the tech industry a poor reputation. So, before you buy devices new, consider buying something used or refurbished. If you must give a brand-new gadget, check out Ethical Consumer’s ethical grading system first. Fairphone, a firm that sells ethical and repairable phones, is also a good place to start.

Jude Bijou, MA, MFT, is a psychotherapist, educator, and workshop leader. Her theory of Attitude

Reconstruction evolved over the course of 40 years working with clients as a licensed marriage and family therapist and is the subject of her multi-award-winning book, Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life.

5. Savor local flavors: Treat your loved ones to something from an ethical food brand like cult favorites CLIF Bar and Company or Nature’s Path. Consider filling stockings with home made jam, palm oil-free cookies, or other organic and responsibly supplied foods from local, small-scale farmers.

6. Use a planet-positive search engine: If searching for the perfect gift online, try the not-for-profit Ecosia search engine. Reforestation initiatives in nations like Brazil and Indonesia are supported by 80 percent of this search engine’s advertising revenue. On top of that, they won’t sell your data, keep a record of the sites you visit, or save the searches you make.

We are so grateful for your support of our Santa Barbara Walk to End Alzheimer's at Chase Palm Park on Nov 5, 2022

So far, this Walk has raised a total of $140,629 Donations will be accepted through the end of the year at act alz org/santabarbara

The commitment of our sponsors, volunteers and participants furthers the Alzheimer's Association mission to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

To learn more, visit alz.org/cacentral or call our 24/7 Helpline 800.272.3900.

BrightStar Care | Central Coast Home Health and Hospice | Channel Islands Fiduciary Group | Cottage Santa Barbara Neuroscience Institute | Covenant Living at the Samarkand | Hennessy International, Inc | The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara Memory Care | SWELL Santa Barbara Athletic Club

Thank you to our Walk sponsors: NATIONAL PRESENTING SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

CHAMPIONS CLUB SPONSOR

KIDS ZONE SPONSOR

PETER MARTIN STORYBOOKS

Your Westmont

Westmont’s History in a Mason Jar

by Scott Craig

Westmont celebrated the life of its founder Ruth Kerr on National Mason Jar Day on November 30. Following the death of her husband Alexander, Ruth became president of the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company in 1930. Kerr became one of most recogniz able American mason jar brands.

Alexander started the company in Portland, Oregon, in 1904 after acquir ing a patent that perfected the canning jar that bears his name. They were orig inally invented to allow people to safely can and pickle fruits and vegetables. Today, we mostly use them for drinking glasses, vases, and fun craft ideas.

Alex and Ruth were married in 1913 and produced six children. Mr. Kerr embraced Christianity at a D. L. Moody crusade and believed fervently in tithing, a practice he promoted in two tracts. He enclosed these pamphlets in every case of canning jars and distributed them widely to ministers and Sunday school superintendents.

His financial success enabled him to support many charities, including

churches, missionary projects, needy families, and Jewish-Christian missions. He donated his Portland home to care for abandoned or orphaned infants. It became the Albertina Kerr Nursery Home in honor of wife who had died from typhoid fever in 1911.

While collecting money for Community Chest in 1925, he con tracted pneumonia and died. Left with six young children, Mrs. Kerr continued both her husband’s business and charita

ble work. She assumed the presidency of the company in 1930 and became wellknown for her philanthropy.

Interested in preparing young men and women for full-time Christian service, she wanted to start an affordable Bible institute that didn’t charge the usual $150 deposit. The Bible Missionary Institute opened in Los Angeles in 1937.

The vision for Westmont continued to grow, and in 1939, the board added a junior college curriculum and changed the name to Western Bible College. According to Mrs. Kerr, they then decided to found a “four-year liberal arts college built on a sound Christian basis, God having given us a vision for this larger work.”

“Ruth Kerr gave us a deep love for God,” says President Gayle D. Beebe. “Part of her greatness was the way she built bridges and inspired others to join her in the ministry.”

In 1939, she purchased the Westlake School for Girls in Los Angeles and donated it as a memorial to her late husband, naming the main building Kerrwood Hall in his honor.

Her vision for the college expanded with the addition of Wallace Emerson, who embraced a liberal arts curriculum. Westmont College began offering a lib eral arts curriculum in the fall of 1940.

Despite the war, enrollment grew, and five years later, the college sought larger facilities. Once again, Mrs. Kerr helped Westmont acquire a campus. After driv ing onto the grounds of the former Dwight Murphy estate in Santa Barbara, she was convinced God had chosen it as a site for the college.

She supported the college until her death in 1967 and was particularly inter ested in providing scholarships to stu dents with need.

Her son, Bill, became a member of the Westmont Board of Trustees in 1973 and served until his death in 2010 at the age of 95. He ran the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company until he retired and the family

antique Kerr jar from before 1920 in the col lege archives

sold their interest in the business.

He continued his parents’ tradition of service and giving. Through the Alexander H. Kerr Benevolent Association (later known as the A. H. Kerr Foundation), he gave $1 million to renovate the Ruth Kerr memorial Student Center on Westmont’s campus in 1982 and $1 million for the Whittier Science Building in 1985, and he contributed to the construction of Emerson Hall. In the summer of 1996, Bill helped initiate the Trustee Scholarship Fund, and he purchased a much-needed academic computer for the college in the late 1980s. He chaired the Westmont Foundation in the 1980s and served on capital campaign steering committees in 1979 and 1989.

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To get started, contact the Preferred Banking Office nearest you or scan the QR code to learn more.

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HELP DESIGN STATE STREET!

Event Description

On December 9th and 10th, the City of Santa Barbara will host community workshops at 821 State Street for members of the community to help develop design concepts for the project area. The completed workshop activities will be available for viewing during the Open House. All events will include the same activities and be in English and Spanish. A pop-up art show focused on creativity and innovation, in collaboration with The Arts Fund, will take place during the design events.

Workshops*

Friday 12/9

4pm - 7pm Saturday 12/10 9am - 12pm

*Childcare provided

“Any time three New Yorkers get into a cab without an argument, a bank has just been robbed.” – Phyllis Diller

Open House Saturday 12/10 1pm - 4pm

Pop-Up Art Show During Workshops and Open Hous e

For More Information https://StateStreet.SantaBarbaraCA.gov

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

Westmont’s founder Ruth Kerr

An

Stories Matter Holiday Stories for Everyone

by Leslie Zemeckis

‘Tis the season for gift giving and there are a variety of excellent reads for family and friends. For the danc er in your house, Misty Copeland’s The Wind at My Back: Resilience, Grace, and Other Gifts from My Mentor, Raven Wilkinson, is an inspiration. It is not only the story of Copeland’s rise to become the first Black principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, but it is also an homage about the woman, her mentor, Raven Wilkinson, a Black dancer who paved the way for Copeland. Raven endured threats of violence while on dance tours through the Jim Crow South. Raven eventually chose to leave America to pursue her career abroad. The two women would forge a long relationship built on respect and striving to be the best. Copeland’s struggles, slow move up the ranks of dancers, and hard work are detailed along with her growing responsibility to be a symbol of a strong, fierce Black ballerina, and the face for other young girls aspiring to dance on what had predominately been a white stage.

Winterland by Rae Meadows is perfect for the aspiring gymnast. When an eight-year-old Soviet girl begins training for a spot on the Olympics, her life becomes the State’s. The novel dives into a now-vanished Soviet world. It is the 1970s with some dips into the past, including a neighbor’s recollection of her time in a Gulag camp. Famed gymnast Olga Korbut makes an appearance as the child’s emotional and physical being is pushed almost beyond endurance. Some great history in this one, sometimes grim and heart wrenching, it is a testament to the human spirit.

For lovers of The Crown on Netflix, pick up Andrew Morton’s The Queen: Her Life. Morton’s character made an appearance in this final season of The Crown This biography – as are all Morton’s books – is a dishy tale of a very different fairy tale.

F or the suspense seekers, you can’t do better than The Ingenue by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. A former piano prod igy, Saskia returns home after her mother’s death, believing she will inherit the family estate, only to find out it has been bequeathed to the man responsible for Saskia’s traumatic past. One she is having a hard time escaping.

Called “a modern-day Poirot,” detective Kaga of the Tokyo Police is perfect for all you mystery lovers. A Death in Tokyo from Keigo Higashino will have you flipping pages as a multitude of characters cross Tokyo when a man staggers over a bridge with a knife in his chest. Thus starts the search for who did it.

For your young reader I recommend My Nest of Silence by Matt Faulkner. Mari and her family are incarcerated at the Manzanar camp for Japanese Americans as America joins WWII. Both suspenseful and disturbing, a story of Japanese American incarcer ation – it is important history we should not forget –told in the narrative and as a graphic novel.

And for those middle grade students, Disney’s Hocus Pocus Spell Book is a delight. The magic takes place at a museum of witches, formerly the Sanderson Sisters’ cottage. It is a beautiful-looking book with detailed illustrations.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 TH • 12-2PM

Enjoy our beautiful holiday décor, delicious treats and festive entertainment. Find out for yourself why so many call Maravilla home. To RSVP, please call 805.319.4379.

Leslie Zemeckis is an award-winning documentarian, best-selling author, and actor. The creator of “Stories Matter,” professional female authors mentoring the next generation of female storytellers, co-sponsored by SBIFF.

Montecito Reads Hospital Stay and Visits

by MJ Staff

Take a sneak peek of Montecito by Michael Cox in this ongoing serialization of his yet-to-be-published book. This fictional story is inspired by “tales of true crime THAT HAPPENED HERE.” After arriving at Cottage Hospital, the Crawfords get an update on Trip’s status. Chapters 37 and 38 are available online at montecitojournal.net and the QR code below.

will come in time. But here’s what we know as of now …”

I raised my hand like a student to his teacher; Cricket pulled my arm back to my side.

“Of greatest concern was the injury to his head. On that front, I have good news. Trip suffered a depressed skull fracture, just above his left ear. This is a dangerous type of fracture because the skull presses down into the brain cavity at the risk of causing an intercranial hematoma, intercranial swelling, and potentially brain damage.”

Isabel gasped; Cricket pulled her tight to her hip.

“During surgery, we were able to lift the depression, relieving the associ ated pressure on the brain. There was a slight hematoma which we reduced by drawing blood. We are monitoring the intercranial pressure within his skull and, so far, we are encouraged.”

“Will there be …,” I cleared my throat to force out the next words, “brain damage?”

Dr. Johnson nodded. “Certainly, that is an important question. Unfortunately, we won’t know for sure until the intercranial pressure is normalized and he is resuscitated from the coma.”

“He’s in a coma!” Isabel blurted.

“Yes,” Dr. Johnson acknowledged, his hands raised, “but it is for his own good. A medically induced coma is how the body focuses all its energies on the most essential tasks. It’s a good thing, I promise.”

Isabel hung her head, unconvinced.

“His leg?” Cricket blurted, unable to formulate a complete question, only its essence.

Montecito

by Michael Cox

Chapter 39

After an awkward kiss-and-make-up, the Wimbys moved to depart the ICU waiting room. At the door, Priscilla broke from her mom’s grasp and ran back to Isabel for another hug. This time, Priscilla sobbed. Genevieve returned to retrieve her. “Now, now, Priscilla,” she said. “Let’s leave Isabel and her parents alone for a little while.”

With the Wimbys gone, we Crawfords reconvened our silence. I had no idea what Isabel was thinking, but – judging by the vice grip hold Cricket had on my knee – I suspected Cricket might want to unpack that conver sation and its revelations further. I looked at her and she looked back. I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut her eyes at Isabel and shook her head, no. Eager to prove that I was not completely incapable of following instructions, I gave a quick acknowledging nod.

As we waited for news from Trip’s doctors, I ruminated on Priscilla’s man in the woods. Was he fact or fantasy? Reasonable people would no doubt draw varying conclusions, but I was feeling unreasonable.

The ICU reception desk roused us from our thoughts with a call for Cricket. All three of us approached the desk; no one willing to be left out of whatever update we were to hear. Trip was in recovery, we were told. He would be transitioned to the ICU in another couple of hours. I inquired about an update from Dr. Johnson and was assured we would get one when he was free. Ah, the infinite waiting.

We settled back in our seats, and Isabel fell asleep. I could only imagine how taxing all this drama must be to a twelve-year-old mind. Again, I turned to Cricket, inviting further conversation; she shook her head, no. She was right, this was not a bomb to diffuse in public.

Finally, Dr. Johnson poked his head into the waiting room and invited us to follow him to the room within the ICU that would be Trip’s home for who knew how long.

The room was empty. “Where is Trip?” I asked, feeling fooled. Was this the waiting room within the waiting room? The room was painted in soothing tones of dark gray. A few machines waited to work their magic, but more would arrive, I was sure. It felt spacious for the moment, but that moment was soon to pass. I wondered of the fate of the room’s previous inhabitant. Had they graduated to life beyond the hospital or to the great beyond?

“He’s on his way,” Dr. Johnson said. “I wanted a chance to brief you before he arrived.”

I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, squeezing tight, preparing to be punched.

“So, we spent a lot of time with your young man in surgery today,” Dr. Johnson began. “I know you have lots of questions. Many of the answers

“Yes, his leg.” Dr. Johnson continued. “Trip’s left leg, as you know, was broken during his fall. We placed three pins in his femur and two each in his tibia and fibula. It is simply too early to prognosticate the degree of his recovery or its timeline. At this point, the most important thing is to keep his body infection free so that his bones will accept the foreign objects.”

“But he will recover, right Dr. Johnson?” I asked.

Dr. Johnson turned his earnest eyes to me. “If we can keep infection at bay, there is every reason to believe that he can recover use of the leg.”

Recover use of the leg? That was not clear enough. I wanted my specifics. Would he be lucky to walk or able to run? Would he have a permanent limp? Would his legs grow at the same speed? I shook my head, trying to empty my brain of the endless string of questions.

“It’s the least of our worries,” Cricket interjected, “but what about his ear?”

Dr. Johnson shook his head side to side as if amazed. “I’m no accident scene expert,” he began, “but given the size and shape of the wound’s laceration, it is likely that what separated your son’s ear from his head was a horse hoof. The injury could have been so much worse. A moving horse hoof is a deadly weapon and – in this case – that weapon was cen timeters from your son’s brain and spinal column. A few shades closer, and we would be having a vastly different conversation. He almost cer tainly would have lost an eye, the fracture would have been deeper, the hematoma would have hemorrhaged. Brain damage would have been certain. There is no guarantee he would have survived. So, as hard as it is to imagine in this moment, the partial loss of your son’s ear is a sign of a great blessing.”

Cricket put a hand over her mouth and closed her eyes.

“We were able to reattach the back of his left ear without complica tion,” Dr. Johnson continued. “The upper third of the ear – the Helix and Fossa…,” he paused, seeing our confused faces. “This part,” he said, wagging the cartilage-filled upper lobe of his own ear, “was, unfortunate ly, severely compromised. We removed it, creating a clean suture above the Antihelical fold. Down the road, you and Trip may choose to pursue plastic surgery options. But for now, the remaining tissue should heal without infection.”

Cricket nodded. I pulled her close, connecting the three of us in embrace.

From down the hall, the rumble of a gurney announced Trip’s arrival. Isabel, Cricket, and I stood back, giving the nurses a wide berth as they back-and-forthed his bed into position among the awaiting monitors and machines. With expert deftness, plugs, and cords were attached, lighting previously dormant electronics; the whir and bleats began.

Trip’s head was mummified by gauze, leaving a single closed eye uncov ered and a glimpse of his lips visible around the ventilator tube. His left leg was cast from hip to toe and held aloft by traction ropes. The cast, the tubes, the gauze, the machines: all surrounding our tiny eight-year-old boy who already looked shrunken by the trauma.

The nurses departed, but Dr. Johnson remained. “Here’s the plan,” he said. “We need to keep Trip here in the ICU until we see signs of the intercranial pressure decreasing into the desired range. Once that happens

“Burt Reynolds once asked me out. I was in his room.” – Phyllis Diller

Scan here for Chapters 37 & 38

– and assuming his vital signs remain normal and there are no signs of infection – he will be transferred from the ICU to a regular hospital room. Unfortunately, here in the ICU, you will be limited to visiting hours. But once he is transferred to his own room, you can be with him as much as you want.”

Alone? I have to leave him here alone? I thought. My tears began to stream yet again.

“I’ll leave you with Trip for now,” Dr. Johnson said. “There’s one more visiting hour this evening and then you can come back tomorrow morning and see him again. If there are any developments, you’ll be the first to know.”

We nodded, still huddled together.

Once Dr. Johnson left, we each grabbed one of Trip’s appendages –Cricket held his right hand, Isabel his left, me his right foot – and we sat. For the first time that day, I prayed that time would move more slowly.

The evening’s final visiting hour was identical, save the visit from Dr. Johnson. Trip’s nurses were all kind and encouraging with absolutely noth ing new to share. That was fine if unsatisfying; we were in the epitome of a no news is good news situation.

Isabel, Cricket, and I moved from room to room to room and ulti mately to the car and home without much conversation. Exhaustion had overtaken us all and there seemed to be nothing worth words. We silently ate our to-go burgers from Santa Barbara’s own The Habit, bussed our plates, and readied for bed. Priscilla’s man in the woods certainly loomed large in my head, but I was too tired to consider my next moves that night.

By the time I joined Cricket in bed, my mind had executed its own version of a coma; I was not thinking, only following the rote, pre-sleep checklist. I climbed under the covers and turned off my light, joining Cricket in darkness. It was then that she finally spoke.

“Hollis,” she said. “The story Priscilla told? About the man who tried to grab her?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Do you believe she was telling the truth?”

I pride myself on applying a scientific approach to complex questions. As intuitive as an answer might appear, it was important to consider alternatives before reaching conclusions. In that vein, Genevieve and Cyrus had plenty of common sense on their side when they dismissed the idea that there would be a man on those trails under any normal circumstances. These were narrow, mountain trails cut for horses, and there were no nearby roads or houses. And even if a man had scrambled trailside, it would take a lunatic to attack a girl on a one-thousandpound horse.

A black bear was certainly a possibility. Though rare – especially in broad daylight – black bears are known to roam those hills. Maybe Priscilla’s horse had gotten between a momma bear and her cub. And maybe the sight of a bear spooked Flip-Flop. It was a plausible tale.

Even more likely, whatever scared Priscilla was something small: a dart ing deer, a snake, an innocuous rustle in the underbrush. Perhaps Priscilla got scared, screamed, and inadvertently caused Flip-Flop to freak out. And now, with all the damage done, Priscilla would like to have a better justifi cation for her calamity-inducing scream. A mysterious man in the woods would certainly suffice.

So, yes, there were many rational reasons to dismiss Priscilla’s story as fantasy or confusion or both. But I knew too much. I had seen the falsified financial records. I had uncovered the zero-balance bank accounts and all their syphoning corporations. I had found the Zurich bank account – the place where the buck literally stopped – all told, a blueprint for money laundering and thievery. And perhaps most important, I had met Vlad, a man whose air of malice still haunted me.

“I do, Cricket. I think she is telling the truth.”

Silence.

“Do you think this is tied to Cyrus Wimby?” Cricket asked.

“I do.”

Silence.

“You’ve been carrying this around for some time now, haven’t you?” she asked. “And you’ve been keeping it from me.”

I cleared my throat. “I’m … I’m sorry,” I said. “I’ve been trying to protect you from–”

“That is not the way marriage works, Hollis!” she interrupted. “We are partners. I do not need you protecting me from anything!”

“I … I know,” I mumbled.

“I mean – let’s be honest here – if either of us need to be shielded from information so as to avoid overreactions, it is you!”

I nodded; there was no arguing that point.

“But I don’t do that to you, do I?” she continued. “I treat you with respect. I treat you as an equal. I don’t pretend that you’re too fragile to process potentially disturbing information!”

Again, I nodded, this time with my head bowed like the scolded child I was. “And now here we are. My boy…,” her voice cracked, “my boy is in the hospital. And you: look at you. You’re wasting away, Hollis. What have you lost now, like twenty pounds? And your hair; it’s starting to fall out.”

Indeed, I was one extended bout of erectile dysfunction away from full emasculation. “I know,” I repeated.

More silence.

“So, what happens next?” she finally asked. “What are we going to do?”

“I have to prove what I suspect,” I replied.

Cricket flipped on her bedside lamp, and I saw that she had been crying this whole time. “Tell me everything,” she said.

Chapter 40

After ten days of successfully battling swelling and infection in the ICU, Trip was resuscitated from the medically induced coma and removed from the ventilator. Medical philistine that I was, I assumed this status change would result in Trip sitting up in his bed and asking for ice cream. But no. He was no longer in a coma, but he was still uncon scious, exhibiting occasional reflexive eye flutters, groans, and grimaces but nothing purposeful.

While this step in the recovery process did not register with Trip, it was monumental to me. Out of the coma and off the ventilator, Trip was relocated from the ICU to a hospital room: we could now be with him 24/7. Or, at least, one of us could. Cricket and I argued over who would stay at the hospital, but I prevailed and packed my bags for an indefinite sleepover. I won, not because of any merit, but because we both knew I would be far less present for Isabel at home. I was not capable of compart mentalizing. I was an obsessed Labrador Retriever: once the tennis ball appeared, I could think of nothing else until it disappeared. Cricket was once again punished for her more evolved status.

Like most other things in Paradise, Trip’s new digs were plush by hospi tal standards. I was prepared for a cot but instead got a small built-in sofa that folded out to a reasonably sized bed. Certainly, I had slept in far less comfortable spots. Also, thanks to a recent renovation, Cottage Hospital had a stronger wi-fi signal than my gar-office. As I packed my laptop and power cord, preparing to finish my excavation of Cyrus Wimby’s tunnels, it occurred to me that the most important decision of my life – or at least of the last year – had been electing to continue the CryptoWallet health insurance policy through COBRA. I am not sure what we would have

done without it.

On our first morning as roomies, I watched the nurse change the bandages on Trip’s head. As much as I thought I hated the bandages, I hated what they covered more. As I should have expected, his head was clean shaven. The incisions over his left ear seemed to be healing well, but that did not distract from the reality of the wound site. His poor ear looked as if it had been caught in the maw of a turbine. The wounds were a healthy shade of pink, devoid of angry red streaks and other telltale signs of infection. The nurse carefully redressed each exposed area and re-cocooned his head in gauze. When done, she smiled at me and said, “Looking good.”

I smiled back, but there was no ointment, gauze, or bandage that could shelter the devastation in my soul. This was all my fault.

If I had not gotten fired three times in seven years.

If I were not so self-righteous.

If I had not drained our savings to the point of desperation.

If I had not courted Cyrus Wimby for a job.

If I had listened to my instincts which, for once, were correct.

If I had accepted that we were never going to compete with Montecito’s metaphorical Joneses. That we were renters – of a home, of a school, of a life – and chosen not to let my feelings of inadequacy and jealousy push me into chasing a too-good-to-be-true home run.

If I had recognized Vlad as the canary in the coal mine that he was.

And even if I went back in time and repeated every one of these other idiotic missteps, I still could have avoided this horrific accident if only I had exercised the common sense to not deposit my family at the doorstep of the man I suspected was perpetrating a global fraud. If I had only done just this one thing right, Trip would be fine. He would be sitting in his second-grade classroom trying to figure out how to get out of doing his reading or writing assignment instead of lying in a coma at Cottage Hospital with a shattered leg, a fractured skull, and a partially missing ear.

It was all my fault.

I would carry my responsibility for Trip’s injuries all my waking days and beyond; if there was such a thing as beyond and if it would host damaged goods like me. But as Trip lay comatose – and I pecked away at my com puter, digging deeper into Cyrus’s web of lies – I made myself a promise: Cyrus would shoulder his share of the responsibility too.

Cricket and Isabel visited us daily. They brought sunshine to our quiet room and were able to recognize signs of progress that I missed.

“His color is better today,” Isabel would observe.

“His blood pressure is more normal today,” Cricket would remark. I was thankful for these missed observations; changes I could not see for all my staring.

For many hours, I would just sit holding Trip’s hand, talking to him, and making plans for our future. I read to him from the first Percy Jackson novel that he was relishing and, when it was finished, moved on to the second and then the third, fourth, and fifth. I imagined Trip wak ing from his coma, retelling vivid dreams of his adventures with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. At least this would signify that he had known I was there.

On the fifth day after Trip’s relocation, Cyrus dropped in for a visit. I was expecting this. Not, of course, because Cyrus wanted to check on Trip, but because he wanted to check on me. I had turned on my out of office email notification and was having all my messages forwarded directly to Cyrus. Kindhearted soul that he was, he was forwarding them right back to me. I did a version of the same on BatSignal, fixing my status indefinitely at Do Not Disturb.

“My friend,” Cyrus said, taking a guest chair, “how are you holding up?”

He had caught me in the middle of one of Percy’s epic battles with evil; there are plenty of them to choose from, so imagine whichever one you would like. I had recently completed a map of every entity associated with the second of Cyrus’s pass-through bank accounts and was about to begin the third but was relishing this break to commune with Trip. Thankfully, Cyrus caught me reading and not typing. I closed the book. “Doing ok.”

“So very glad to see you here, instead of that dreary waiting room. Progress!”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He smiled and returned my nod. His eyes shifted around the room; he tapped his heel. I sensed that he had come prepared with only a handful of icebreakers in his repertoire and was counting on me to add the commentary that would turn how are you holding up into a

five-minute conversation. Then, once the niceties were exhausted, he could get down to the real reason he was here. Unfortunately for him, I was not playing my part.

“Have you gotten any recent updates from Trip’s doctor?” he asked.

“Slow but steady,” I said. Again, he consulted the room for inspiration. “Flat-screen televisions,” he said, noting the dormant screen, “hospitals have come a long way.”

“It’s a nice room,” I said.

He cracked his neck and moved further down his pre-planned list of discussion topics. “So, with a little time to reflect, Priscilla says that she is now certain that it was a bear that caused her to scream.”

“Ok,” I said. There was absolutely no reason to argue this point, though I was sure he was either lying or Priscilla had been brainwashed into a revised telling of the story.

“I’ve alerted the County Sherriff’s office and the U.S. Forest Service of the incident,” he added. “They have a hotline. I’m not sure what they can do, but at least they are informed now.”

“Thank you,” I said.

I was not looking at him but at Trip, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Cyrus bow his head and massage his scalp. A devilish part of me enjoyed his discomfort.

“So,” he said, his warm-up topics exhausted, “I recognize that you are in the middle of hell here, and that timing could not be worse, but our second quarter financial results are ready for release.”

“Ok,” I said.

“It was a blowout quarter,” he added. “The market is going to flip.”

I smiled; I knew the truth. No matter what that press release and sched ule of financial results said, not one dollar of revenue had been recorded in the quarter. It was a complete fabrication. “That’s great news,” I said flatly. He nodded. “Yes, it is. But uh,” he cleared his throat, “as the company’s CEO and Chairman, the release needs your signature in order to be posted to the Securities and Exchange Commission.” He stood and handed me the release and a pen.

I flipped to the back page and signed without reading a word, then handed the papers and pen back. Are you thinking I should have refused? Perhaps, but as the saying goes, there is no such thing as half-pregnant; I was taking this baby to term.

Cyrus looked stunned at the ease with which I had signed but did his best to hide his surprise behind an appreciative nod. “We’re likely to be taking in some fresh investments over the next few weeks. Can I count on you to watch the Miramar bank account for me?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll transfer whatever comes in?”

“I will.”

He stood, the look on his face almost giddy. That is until his eyes refo cused on Trip and his feigned solemnity returned.

“I think he’s looking much improved,” Cyrus said, though he had no basis of comparison from which to make such a judgment.

“Better,” I agreed.

Cyrus tapped the papers on his leg, counting – it seemed – the appropri ate number of seconds before he could leave. “Well, I should get going,” he said after ten taps. “It was very good to see you, my friend.”

I nodded, my eyes never leaving Trip.

“Ok then. Until next time,” he said then departed.

I smiled at my boy. “That was an epic cold shoulder, Trip. Well done. You have the steely nerves of a hostage negotiator.” I patted his hand then opened our book and returned to Percy.

Tune in next week for more Montecito

“What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.” – Phyllis Diller

Michael Cox is a 2005 graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Wall Street refugee. Including Montecito, Michael has written three novels, each in various stages of the path to publication. He can be reached at mcox@alumni.gsb.stanford.edu.

SANTA BARBARA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Love for the Lower Village Home for the Holidays Continues Along Coast Village

by Kelly Mahan Herrick

The second in a four-part series on shopping locally in Montecito, we’re shining a light on the Lower Village: Montecito’s Coast Village Road and beyond, which has long been a shopping and dining destination for locals and visitors.

Many shops along Coast Village Road are gearing up for the holiday season, dec orating their windows and welcoming shoppers to what feels like the first “normal” shopping year since 2019.

In Coast Village Walk, check out Juniper, where owner Marie Ferris showcases an array of luxury clothing lines not found in other stores. Juniper offers one-of-a-kind jewelry, and designer belts and handbags (including hand-painted vintage Louis Vuitton), as well as an array of contemporary clothing including dresses, denim, leather jackets, woven silk blouses, luxury graphic tees, cashmere sweaters, and special occasion outfits. A few of the designers she may carry at any time: Nour Hammour, Bleeker, Whiting & Davis bags, Cinq a Sept, Zofia Day jewelry, and more. Juniper carries a mix of domestic and European designer offerings, and Ferris is available for styling for any occasion, as well as closet organization. Right now the boutique has an array of fun and festive holiday outfits. In the same center is newcomer Ready Set Confetti, which features all the party supplies you could need for your holiday fête. The shop boasts modern party décor and gifts from various on-trend brands in every color of the rainbow, as well as themed party sets, balloon garlands, wrapping paper, ribbon by the yard, holiday-themed items, and much more. Stop in for Hannukah and Christmas table décor, as well as beautiful advent calendars, which are currently on sale.

“The only time I ever enjoyed ironing was the day I accidentally got gin in the steam iron.” – Phyllis Diller

Ready Set Confetti has all your holiday party needs

Banquette Leaf wrap ring in white, yellow, and rose 14k gold from Juniper

A selection of designer accesso ries and apparel can be found at Juniper

San Ysidro Village

Jenni Kayne

.

Country House Antiques

New shipment! Swedish, French, English antiques & decorative accessories

Hogue & Co.

Come visit our shop, transformed into a festive holiday cottage, filled with trees covered in ornaments, beads & garlands. Custom flowers & plants for any occasion

House of

Honey

A female collective of interior designers. We create spaces that celebrate life.

The holidays have arrived! From luxe takes on essential outerwear to the coziest knits, dressing for the weather has never looked better.

Jenni Kayne Home

Discover the makings of your dream space with essential décor and timeless furniture designed for your warmest welcome home, long beyond the holiday season.

Montecito Coffee Shop

For 30+ years, the best breakfast café in Montecito

Randy Solakian Estates Group

Coldwell Banker Realty

Private Estates Brokerage

San Ysidro Pharmacy

PCAB accredited ∙ Compounding ∙

Luxury gifts ∙ Cosmetics ∙ Vitamins ∙

Brand new shipments of beautiful holiday gifts & candles!

The UPS Store

Visit us for all your holiday packing and shipping. We are here to help!

William Laman

Furniture. Garden. Antiques. Hand selected antiques & home furnishings. Great accessories for entertaining and gift giving, in a beautifully curated setting

American Riviera Bank Bank on better

Close by, Peregrine Galleries, one of the road’s oldest shops, continues to offer eth nographic jewelry and art, including collectible vintage designer jewelry by Bakelite, Chanel, Georg Jensen, and early Native American jewelry and artifacts. Owner Marlene Vitanza has manned the shop since its opening in 1984. She is always adding new pieces and treasures to the store’s eye-pleasing cases.

Homer, set to open imminently, is the newest addition to Coast Village and the leather-bound brainchild of Terry Pillow – a local face and legend of men’s apparel from Tommy Bahama to Coach and more. Located near Tre Lune at 1129 Coast Village Road, this shop is still shrouded in a bit of mystery (to learn more, see the upcoming MJ Quarterly magazine on stands soon), but will be featuring the finest handmade leather goods, incorporating organic processes and intricate craftsmanship.

Sturdy, traditional tan leather carrier with adjustable shoulder strap from Homer

Across the street, Kevin and Katie Frank’s boutique, K.Frank, specializes in men’s and women’s designer clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories. The stylish husbandand-wife duo carefully offer relevant fashion collections from around the world, and delight in dressing their clientele, helping them hone in on their individual sense of style. Each season the Franks curate a collection with a true commitment to styling, quality, fabric, and manufacturing, coupled with a dedication to exceptional customer service. Emerging and established designers blend to create the perfect modern aes thetic. The Franks’ shop windows are showing off gorgeous coats and flannels for both men and women, as well as fuzzy scarves and hats for the cooler weather.

Nearby stands the Montecito Country Mart, where there are over a dozen high ly curated shops as well as three restaurants – soon four, as Corazon Cocina’s new venture, Alma Fonda Fina, will join the Mart shortly – a coffee shop, and an ice creamery. Find the perfect holiday hostess present at Hudson Grace, which offers an array of its own line of candles, glassware, flatware, linens, serving pieces, and much more, or Clare V, which sources unique home goods and décor. One of the Mart’s

Vintage Chanel necklace from Peregrine Galleries

DÔEN is owned by Santa Barbaragrown sisters Katherine and Margaret Kleveland

Season's Readings

longest retailers, Mate Gallery, is owned by two part-time locals: Matt Albiani and Ron Brand, who have brought a little slice of their New England style to the West Coast. Think nautical and maritime accessories and gifts, foreign vintage textiles, and a rotating roster of special collections including Albiani’s own photographs. For luxury clothing and accessories, DÔEN, the Los Angeles-based fashion and lifestyle brand, is owned by Santa Barbara-grown sisters Katherine and Margaret Kleveland, and the shop features the brand’s signature timeless and feminine ready-to-wear clothing, accessories, sleepwear, home, swim, and children’s styles. There are also luxury basics from James Perse, signature eyewear from Cynthia Benjamin, and darling children’s clothing and gifts from Poppy Marché. Grab a coffee or lunch at locally-owned Merci, to fuel up for more shopping as you head east on Coast Village Road.

If jewelry is on your list, South African-born Daniel Gibbings has been quietly plugging away at his Coast Village design workshop and retail outpost for over a decade. Now one of the world’s premier jewelers, Gibbings appeals to Hollywood celebrities, fashion models, and other discerning individuals that are drawn to his unique, classically inspired designs, and eye for detail. Daniel often combines pure silver and 22 karat gold in his creations, which can also feature coins and other arti facts as well as precious gem stones. Daniel has also created a line of stunning, unique engagement and wedding rings, as well as bridal jewelry. Another not-to-miss jeweler on the road is Silverhorn Studio, which is owned by Mike and Carole Ridding. The Riddings opened their first store on Coast Village in 1986, and have downsized to a smaller design studio, located at 1235 Coast Village Road. Each piece designed at Silverhorn is hand made using artisan methods; the results are unique works of under stated elegance. From bold gemstone rings, to dainty diamond earrings, Silverhorn offers a collection of fashionable and sophisticated jewelry.

Some elegant yet simple bracelets from Silverhorn

Silverhorn handmakes each of its unique pieces in house

Bespoke 22k royal yellow gold, opal, and diamond cuff bracelet from Daniel Gibbings Jewelry

The Lower Village is home to several bespoke boutiques, offering a curated mix of luxury brands of clothing and home décor. Whistle Club showcases a tightly-curated assortment of women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts from both emerging designers and industry favorites. Owner Rebecca McKinney says she focuses her offerings on quality, integrity, ethical production, and design, and seeks to spark joy for her cus tomers through their experience in the store. On racks now are textured handwoven twill wraps, statement puffer jackets, and fluffy scarves. Nearby, Kimberly Phillips Hayes keeps her beloved shop, Maison K, stocked with the most beautiful and unique home decor, furnishings, clothing, and accessories from her travels around the world. Hayes is particularly drawn to a neutral and natural palette and this time of year the shop oozes with cold weather coziness – think soft cashmere coats in creams and beiges, warm throws for sofas or beds, beautiful and practical Paris-made ceramics for holiday tablespaces – and more. A visit to Maison K truly feels like you are transported to a different part of the world.

Lower Village Page 464

Allora by Laura on the corner of Coast Village Road and Coast Village Circle is always a great place to shop for classic and timeless luxury clothing. Marrying fine European clothing with California’s laid-back style, Allora offers an elevated daily aesthetic as well as special event ensembles, curated for each individual client by a knowledgeable staff, ready to help. In addition to clothing, the shop offers fine jewelry from designers includ ing Kai Linz and Ali Grace, as well as a limited selection of handbags and shoes. Offering several trunk shows and special events per season, Allora is the place to see and be seen on Coast Village.

Nearby Allora is artist Cassandria Blackmore ’s Gallery, which draws shoppers in with her eye-catching reverse paintings on glass, showcased on the gallery’s white walls and in the windows. Blackmore, who opened the shop in 2020, is world-renowned for her unique work, which has been exhibited and collected internationally. She began reverse painting when she was painting a self-portrait on glass, and in frustration, threw it to the ground, spilling her glass of wine in the process. As she moved the pieces back together, she realized she had created a new medium, and her work as evolved since then.

To make sure you are picture per fect for the holidays, you might also consider visiting a newer addition to the Lower Village: Montecito Med Spa, which offers a discreet, luxurious space in which to experience the latest innovative techniques for facial and body enhancements, under the care and expertise of clinical professionals. Owned by Karen Neary , MSN, RN, the Med Spa specializes in innova tive therapies including EMSCULPT NEO, Potenza RF Microneedling, Elite IQ hair removal, TempSure Firm cellu lite treatments, TempSure Envi treat ments, FlexSure body boost treatment, HydraFacial, Liquivida IV therapy, and an array of injectables including Botox, Xeomin, Juvederm, and others. These treatments target concerns such as aging skin, sun damage, unwanted hair, wrinkles and fine lines, cellulite, and more.

If you’re looking to imbibe this holi day season, or seeking the perfect bottle of specialty liquor or wine to gift, make sure to stop into the Liquor & Wine Grotto. While the store has been in existence since 1976, current owners Jason Herrick and Brian Brunello have spent the last 13 years perfecting the shop, and forming connections with loyal clientele. The guys have carefully selected an array of wine, spirits, liquor, and beer, drawing both local and tourists to their enclave of bottles. They have an impressive offering of small-batch bourbon, whiskey, and tequila, perfect

Proenza Schouler Dia day bag in leopard print Italian calf-hair with a detachable strap and gold hardware from the Whistle Club

Whistle Club owner Rebecca McKinney focuses her offerings on quality, integrity, ethical produc tion, and design

Home décor and more can be found at Maison K

This time of year, Maison K houses neutral and natural palettes

Burgundy faux snake clutch by Tonya Hawkes from Allora by Laura

Abstract shattered glass pieces reflect light with shimmering surfaces by Cassandria Blackmore

Montecito Med Spa owner Karen Neary, MSN, RN (center), with Giana Miller, RN (left), and Jenn Andreoli

craft those cozy cocktails at

holiday gatherings. In addition to carrying hun dreds of competitively priced, mainstream wine labels including a large selection of French and Italian wines, the duo also hand selects local wines, increasing their selection and setting themselves apart from other stores. Herrick and Brunello pride themselves on working closely with many vendors to stock the store with the right products; if a customer is looking for something that they don’t carry, they will hunt for it and if possible, special order it.

Whether it is comfy yet fashionable clothing with a California-flair, custom jewelry, or just a bottle of something to bring to the holiday table, Coast Village offers myriad options for your holiday shopping.

Kelly Mahan Herrick, also a licensed realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, has been editor at large for the Journal since 2007, report ing on news in Montecito and beyond.

ing at something else a minute later.”

The cast features Mark Capri as Scrooge, the only actor who stays the same throughout the show although he also only leaves the stage twice, plus ETC veterans Jenna Cardia, Bo Foxworth, and Louis Lotorto (who was also in The 39 Steps) and newcomer Regina Fernandez. Turning them into a welloiled but vibrant machine is the secret to the show’s success.

“It’s a little tricky but it’s also extreme ly rewarding because you’re creating an ensemble as its own tour de force enti ties,” Torcellini said. “They’re changing characters and accents and doing every thing including playing instruments, singing, and dancing and those four actors just don’t stop. It’s a thrill to see them working together in harmony, which to me is theater magic.”

The magic, Torcellini said, also comes from Barlow’s neat balancing of humor and heart.

“The tongue is firmly implanted in cheek, but we all still get to look at our selves to see what we’re doing and how we could be better people. It’s a perfect holiday show.”

Ensemble Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol performs December 1-18 at The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St. Visit www.etcsb.org or call (805) 965-5400.

A Different Kind of Misbehavin’

New York Magazine called Ain’t Misbehavin’ the perfect Broadway musi cal when it premiered back in 1978, the show celebrating the music of Thomas “Fats” Waller and the joint is a jump in’ scene of 1930s Harlem. Considered among the first major musical revues, Ain’t Misbehavin’ went on to win three Tony Awards, including best musical,

and stake a place in America’s pantheon of classic theater.

Among the 31 songs performed during the show are many of the early stan dards of the American jazz songbook, from “Honeysuckle Rose,” “Your Feet’s Too Big,” and “Black and Blue” to “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,” “The Jitterbug Waltz,” and the title song.

In many ways, Ain’t Misbehavin’ might also be the perfect piece to serve as the premiere production under the aegis of Kirby and Beverly Ward, who just last month took over the role of Co-Artistic Directors of Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC) following the November 13 retire ment of RTC co-founder Karyl Lynn Burns. The Fats Waller musical fits the RTC philosophy of treating new works as if they’re classics and classics as if they’re new works, Beverly Ward said, a vision that came courtesy of director Wren T. Brown, who makes his Rubicon debut.

Brown, the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Los Angeles-based Ebony Repertory Theatre, conceived of a production that would fully embody the sense of celebration, freedom, and joy that made popular Harlem institutions like The Cotton Club – where his grand mother was a dancer – and The Savoy, the places to be almost a century ago. But instead of a performative piece inside the club, the action would take place at an uptown brownstone parlor where some of the most celebrated acts of the time would come together for a cocktail party.

“When Wren talked about that idea, Kirby and I just had that immediate feeling of, well of course this is what we should do,” Beverly Ward said. “We’re all here together enjoying each other’s com pany and the audience is really part of what’s going on. It might seem nuanced, and it’s all the same songs, but it has a very different feeling from the original.”

That feeling, Beverly said, relates to the most important factor for remaining faithful to the original vision for Rubicon. The Wards (who have been married for 37 years after meeting on stage during a youth theater group production of The Sound of Music) will endeavor to capture that same spirit developed by Burns and her husband, along with RTC’s other co-founder, James O’Neil, to produce theater full of heart and truth that is focused on great storytelling.

“When we’ve been sitting in rehearsals, what keeps coming from the stage is a feeling of such warmth and joy,” Beverly said. “It’s very special.”

Rubicon’s Ain’t Misbehavin’ performs November 30-December 18 at its theater in Ventura. Call (805) 667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org.

‘Nights of Grief and Mystery’

in theology and social work, educated internationally, acclaimed author, poet, and culture worker best known for the film Griefwalker and book Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul. His time as head of the palliative care department at University of Toronto Hospital, where he was at the deathbeds of more than 1,000 people, showed him firsthand how the systemic grief illiteracy, community vacuum, and death phobia abounds in our culture. The stories shared during Nights of Grief and Mystery are of how our culture arrived at its current status, but also old stories passed down in the oral tradition that are about what it means to belong to a place, how belonging and wisdom are skills, and how each genera tion has its particular spiritwork that it must attend to.

Jenkinson and Hoskins have been exploring the intersection of their work for seven years, evolving the events that are part concert, part storytelling, part ribaldry, and part ritual of grief where spoken word and music are interwoven. Their current tour, the first in 30 months, alights at the Marjorie Luke Theatre on December 5, and also features Adam Bowman on drums, Colleen Hodgson on bass/vocals, and Lisa Hodgson on keys/vocals.

Visit www.luketheatre.org or www. orphanwisdom.com

Music Notes: Hips Hips Hooray!

This spellbinding evening combines stories and observations from Stephen Jenkinson that were sparked and inspired by his years of work in palliative care with original songs and sonics from Canadian recording artist Gregory Hoskins and band. Jenkinson is the Harvard master’s

The Mother Hips, one of Chico State’s great gifts to the world of pop, are not only still going strong more than three decades since forming on the college campus, co-founders Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono have another new album about to be released. When We Disappear, due January 27, comes hot on the heels of Glowing Lantern, which was writ ten and recorded through the heart of the COVID pandemic to both grapple with the anxiety of and provide comfort during these troubling and uncertain times. Disappear, which was recorded in New Mexico, would appear to follow a

“Tranquilizers work only if you follow the advice on the bottle – keep away from children.” – Phyllis Diller

certainly had his hands full on Thanksgiving Day, not only preparing for more than 300 homeless guests, but three other local organizations, adding another 100 recipients.

David, who started on the job last year, says it has gotten easier as time goes by, with 25 turkeys, 150 pounds of potatoes, and 120 pounds of vegeta bles, used for the organization’s annual feast, not to mention dozens of apple and pumpkin pies.

The mission, which has an annual budget for more than $2.5 million and helps more than 2,000 people annually, expects to serve more than 10,000 needy people between now and Yuletide, says Rolf Geyling, president.

It was my 15th year volunteering for the charity.

Turkey, Angels, and Pies… Oh My

Just 24 hours later I was at the Santa Barbara Veterans Memorial Building where 500 homeless turned out for a third Thanksgiving dinner organized by Adam’s Angels, a nonprofit found ed by local Douglas Elliman realtor Adam McKaig and fellow resident Crystal Iverson

As they tucked into 400 pounds of turkey and 100 pumpkin pies, they were accompanied with music from local rockers Alan Parsons, Jackson Gillies, Jason Libs, Maitland Ward, Miscellany Page 584

Keith Hudson, Melissa Borders, Father Larry Gosselin, and Adam McKaig (photo by Priscilla)

Servers help dish out the feast to guests (photo by Priscilla)

A gathering of Adam’s Angels Thanksgiving servers (photo by Priscilla)

Adam McKaig and Veterans Memorial Building Executive Director Carmen Munoz (photo by Priscilla)

Santa Barbara by the Glass

Bubbles and Glitter Riverbench Bubblies Come in Bottles that Shimmer

which are also the classic components of any great sparkling wine.

Nagy was producing about 500 cases of bubbly a year when she joined Riverbench in 2012. Back then, the still wine – chardon nay for blanc de blancs and pinot for blanc de noirs – was trucked north to a sparkling wine house in Northern California that would bring it to its effervescent glory. By 2016, the winery had brought its sparkling winemaking operation totally in-house, giv ing Nagy and her team total control of the process, from seeds to bubbles. Today, Riverbench makes seven distinct sparkling wines, ranging in price from $44 to $68, and with an annual output of about 3,000 cases.

The Riverbench Blanc de Blancs ($48) is the best seller of the bunch, but both Smith and Nagy admit to being par tial to the Cuvée, dubbed Cork Jumper ($52), which blends the three classic Champagne ingredients: chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier. Rich and luxurious, with lots of tropical notes, “I absolutely love it,” Smith declares.

by Gabe Saglie

All that glitters may not be gold. But when it comes to these sparkling wine bottles – glittering and burst ing with color – the flavors definitely shine.

Just in time for the holidays, Riverbench Winery is bringing back this unique festive packaging for its full line of sparkling wines. The “Glitter Bottles” are fully covered in shimmering glitter, which comes in a vari ety of holiday colors, from red to gold and blue to pink. Thanks to the way the glitter catches and reflects light, this special adorn ment connotes fun and celebration and, in a special way, reflects the vivacity and ener gy of the effervescent liquid inside.

“The bottles can be customized,” says

Riverbench General Manager Danae Smith, “and the possibilities are endless!”

Using Mod Podge, a polymer popular with crafts enthusiasts that both glues and seals, the champagne-shaped bottles are dusted with the glitter for a festive finish. And while ready-to-go sparkling sparklers can be ordered online or bought directly through Riverbench’s tasting rooms on their Santa Maria Valley estate or in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, they can also be made-to-order. Customers can select their only glitter options “as a way to create their own personalized gift,” adds Smith, “and to create their own wow factor.”

The glitter upgrade costs $10 and orders require about a week’s turnaround.

And for those who want to explore their own creative flair, Riverbench is hosting a Glitter Bottle workshop at both tasting rooms this Sunday, December 4, at 11 am. Guests can buy the bottle(s) of their choice and follow the lead of one of Riverbench’s talented bedazzlers. All glitter and sup plies, and a glass of wine, are included.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at exploretock.com/riverbenchsantabarbara

This unique marketing exercise is a wonderful reminder, of course, of the very impressive sparkling wine program at Riverbench, which produces no less than seven bubblies every vintage. The winery, which makes wines exclusively from its 150 acres of estate grapes – pinot noir and chardonnay, mainly – first planted roots back in 1973, in an area of the Santa Maria Valley replete with special soils.

On our Thanksgiving table this year, the 2017 Sparkling Pinot Meunier ($68) was a hit, with its big citrus and berry flavors and its yeasty, creamy finish; this one’s all pinot meunier, a rare grape that, when Riverbench planted it in 2014, became the first to be grown for sparkling wine in all of California.

The popularity of the Riverbench bub blies “has been huge for our portfolio,” says Smith, and has given the brand, pre viously famous exclusively for pinot noir and chardonnay, “a whole new dynamic.”

Nagy says the success of the sparkler program also helps to highlight the Santa Barbara County wine region as a whole, “amplifying the notoriety of the area as a sparkling wine producer,” she says, “and making sparkling wine more accessible to the general public.”

Riverbench is in good company these days, as the region has seen an explosion in the production of bubbly, especially in the last 10 years. Norm Yost of Flying Goat Cellars in Lompoc gets credit for launching Santa Barbara’s first serious sparkling wine program in 2011; today, his line Goat

Bubbles, which features various bottlings and fruit from some of the area’s premier vineyards, is a no-brainer buy for any seri ous fan of bubbles. Fess Parker Winery’s program, Fesstivity, features several premi um, and delicious, sparkling wines as well; the guided tastings at the quaint Bubble Shack in Los Olivos are super popular. Other Central Coast bubblies well worth considering for your end-of-year celebra tions include Laetitia, Pence, Ampelos, J. Wilkes, and Folded Hills.

Cheers!

Melissa M. Pierson, Owner 1211 Coast Village Road #4 Montecito, CA 93108 Vacations@coastalhideaways.com www.coastalhideaways.com

“It’s all in the fossilized, mineral, ocean air characteristics in our ancient riverbed,” says winemaker Clarissa Nagy, acknowl edging an area that, eons ago, would have been completely underwater. “We get great drainage but also have these great ancient mineral deposits.” These conditions are ideal for premium Burgundian grapes,

Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV, and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips, and trends.

All of the Riverbench sparkling wines are available with a festive glitter finish, just in time for the holi days. Bottles can be customized and colors include pink, red, gold, and blue.

The 2017 Sparkling Pinot Meunier is citrusy and creamy. When Riverbench planted this rare grape in 2014, it was a first in Santa Barbara County.

The Cork Jumper is a nod to the classic sparkling wine blends of Champagne. It’s comprised of chardon nay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier.

Thario’s Kitchen

Family Feels and Home Cooking on Santa Claus Lane

obsolete as the internet streamlined these services. The two of them began discussing the idea of starting a restaurant together and found the place along Santa Claus Lane.

Of course, this was in 2019 right before COVID, and we all know what happened after that. The construction along Santa Claus Lane has added another layer of dif ficulty for Thario’s and the other businesses along the iconic lane. One side is now open with the other side’s construction set to wrap up in January, however a bike lane addition and widening of Santa Claus Lane planned for next year promise to bring even more hardship to them and other establishments on the lane.

Despite this, the couple has persisted and built a following by crafting rustic, Italianstyle cuisine surrounded by a warm atmosphere with the goal being to “welcome you at our home.” The outside dining area is filled with lush plantings and the inside settings feels like a family living room with toys and a game table put out for kids to play.

“After a while, you’re not just a customer, you become friends and family of Thario’s. People come to have an experience, not just to come and eat, but to come and be with us,” says Mario. “It’s amazing because people come in to dine, and then other ones get to know each other, so everybody starts mingling and talking. A lot of locals will come in and start meeting each other.” And this was apparent during my visit as regulars dropped in. Some were coming for an evening meal, others just swinging by to say hi and pick up a pizza pie.

A Menu Simply of Quality

by Zach Rosen

I, like so many others, have childhood memories of burgers, the beach, and that larger than life bearded, jolly man looming over Santa Claus Lane. Growing up on the road with traveling artists as parents, we stopped at countless little, quirky resting points along the way, but something about Santa Claus Lane sticks in the memory. Each visit – no matter what time of year – felt like Christmas (even for this little Jewish boy) with presents of cheeseburgers and trinket shopping at the stores dotted down the street.

These days, with a seemingly endless amount of construction along the 101, it can be easy to avoid the highway and forget that there is more happening on Santa Claus Lane than the coming of a certain cannabis dispensary (and the Letters to the Editor it inspires). This summer I decided to head over to that historic stretch of lane for a visit to Thario’s Kitchen. As I pulled off the detoured exit, waiting for the Caltrans worker to wave me through, I counted three cars that pulled out of the line in impatience. In an increasingly more hurried world, someone will drive somewhere else 10 minutes away if they have to wait in line for one. In this case, it was four minutes (I timed it) before I was let through and made my way to Thario’s Kitchen.

The name Thario’s is a mashup of wife-husband duo, Thaïs and Mario Rios. Thaïs is the chef and crafts each dish with her blend of familial and professional experience. She is half-Brazilian and half-Belgian, growing up in a large, food-centric family. Over the years she learned every facet of the food industry from working catering, hotel gigs, and restaurant jobs. It was because of a restaurant she owned in Hollywood that she met Mario. A rent spike of two to three times from the restaurant’s property owner resulted in her losing the establishment. While fighting it, she and her attorney would come into the courthouse where Mario was working. After a while of making eyes at one another in the hallways and around the computer, they finally struck up a conver sation. This led to a lunch, and ultimately, love. In the courthouse, Mario was work ing as a legal document assistant for an attorney’s office and found his job becoming

There is a focus on the food preparation technique found all across the Mediterranean of using high-quality ingredients, prepared simply. Even the meat balls are made with Thaïs’ mom’s recipe. Mario mentioned that the restaurant is a bit of a “lasagna factory,” the layered, flavorful dish being their most popular item on the menu. My meal began with three flavors of bruschetta; the first piece topped with a potent punch of olive tapenade, along with a more traditional one that had a soft touch of tomatoes contrasting with the crunch of the grilled, fresh ly baked bread. The third was a pesto variety that incorporated ricotta for a fluffy mouthfeel, lightening the hearty olive oil flavor, and melding with the deep garlic notes sharpened by a dash of lemon.

The standout dish that signifies the Thario’s style was the Di Peppe, a salad with roasted tomatoes. This refreshing yet hearty salad showcases the quality of the ingre dients and finds elegance in its simplicity. A sweet burst of tomato springs forth from the earthen arugula, topped with the salty snap of Parmigiano Reggiano. With the

Great Kitchens Don’t Just Happen . . . They Happen by Design.

The bruschetta comes with three flavors

Thario’s Kitchen Page 564

Thario’s Kitchen is located on Santa Claus Lane

Nosh Town

Winter’s Garden and Sea Inspirations

by Claudia Schou

From area farms to the sea, celebrate the season with simple, homemade dishes that make the most of its best and brightest produce and pair them with fresh selections from our local fish markets.

Let’s start with a vegan/paleo butternut squash soup with roasted poblano chiles, which are mild in flavor but occasionally and unpredictably have significant heat, and, when roasted, are famous for their smokey flavor. For a true taste of winter, a lightly seasoned and roasted pumpkin and beetroot salad with baby spinach, and topped with goat cheese and pumpkin seeds. The salmon burger recipe is simple and delicious for any occasion. Served on a bun or salad, it has the appeal for the entire season. Round out your meal with these simply delicious corn cook ies – a warm and chewy reminder of how delicious winter can be.

Butternut Squash Soup with Roasted Poblano Chiles

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 large butternut squash (4 cups of cooked squash)

2 large carrots

1 large red onion

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon ground coriander seed

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

4 large poblano chiles

1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

4 cups low sodium vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk

4 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 deg F (177°C). Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Coat the cut surfaces with a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with the coriander and cardamom. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.

Cut the onion in half lengthwise. With another tablespoon of the olive oil, coat the onion and two carrots. Add them to the baking sheet and bake the vegetables until the squash is roasted and tender (about an hour).

While the vegetables are roasting, char the outsides of the poblano chiles until the skin is blackened – either on a gas stove top or with a torch. Place in a paper bag and allow them to steam for 10 minutes. Then use a paper towel to rub the charred skins off of the peppers, remove the stems and the seeds, and chop them into 1/2-inch-wide diamonds. Set aside.

Coat the pepitas in a teaspoon of olive oil and toast them in a dry pan on the stove top until they are golden brown. Set aside.

Scoop the flesh out of the roasted squash and add to a blender. Also add the carrots and the onion (remove the outer skin). Purée until smooth, adding vegetable stock to thin as necessary.

In a stock pot or Dutch oven, sauté the ginger in the remaining olive oil until cooked and fragrant. Add the purée mixture, the coconut milk, the salt, and enough additional vegetable stock to thin to a smooth soup consistency.

Add the zest and the juice of the lime to the soup and cook until flavors meld, about 20 minutes.

Serve with a drizzle of additional coconut milk, a ¼-cup of roasted poblano chiles, and a tablespoon of toasted pepitas.

Recipe sourced from www.slowburningpassion.com.

Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad with Goat Cheese and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Serves 6 Ingredients:

3 large red or gold beets

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 cups of cheese pumpkin, peeled and seeded, and cut into 2-inch chunks

Olive oil

1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds

2 shallots, finely minced

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons orange marmalade

3 cups mixed greens

One 6 oz log fresh goat cheese cut into 6 equal rounds

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400 deg F.

In a small saucepan, cover the beets with cold water. Season with salt and pepper to taste and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes, or until the beets are tender when pierced with a tip of a small, sharp knife. Drain the beets and set aside to cool. Peel and slice the beets into 1/8-inch rounds.

While the beets are simmering, season the pumpkin with salt, pepper, and olive oil and wrap in foil. Roast for 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Unwrap the pumpkin and cool. Cut the pumpkin into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.

While the pumpkin cooks, rinse the pumpkin seeds and spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt. Bake for 5 minutes or until light brown. Set the toasted seeds aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the shallots, vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, orange marmalade, and salt and pepper to taste. Place the salad greens in a large bowl and toss with a few tablespoons of dressing, just enough to coat the leaves.

Arrange the beet slices in a circular pattern on a large round platter. Place the roast ed pumpkin in a circle on top of the beets. Place the salad greens in the center of the beet circle. Place the goat cheese disks around the outside of the salad between the bets and greens and sprinkle the toasted pumpkin seeds over the top of the salad. Spoons the remaining vinaigrette over the beets and pumpkin.

Spiced and roasted butternut squash, coconut milk, and poblano chiles make this earthy vegan soup slightly sweet and spicy

Easily remove the charred skins of roasted pobla no chiles with a paper towel

Salmon Burgers

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless salmon

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

2 eggs (whisked)

1/2 red onion (chopped)

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

3 scallions (green onion) or roughly

1/2 cup (chopped)

1/2 cup fresh dill

Salt and black pepper

Olive oil cooking spray

Instructions:

Cut the salmon into large chunks and put about a quarter of it into the con tainer of a food processor, along with the mustard and apple cider vinegar. Turn the machine on, and let it run - stopping to scrape down the sides if necessary - until the mixture becomes pasty.

Add the remaining salmon. Pulse the machine on and off until the fish is chopped and well combined with the purée. No piece should be larger than a 1/4-inch or so; be careful not make the mixture too fine.

Scrape the mixture into a bowl, and by hand, stir in the whisked eggs, panko bread crumbs, red onion, scallions, dill, lemon juice, and salt and white pepper. Blend well and then shape into four burgers.

Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet to medium-high. then coat with olive oil cooking spray and cook the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes a side. Let them firm up on the first side before turning over and finishing for just another minute or two. Be careful not to overcook.

Serve on a bed of greens, with a bun, or just by themselves, alongside lemon wedges or any dressing you like.

Recipe adapted from New York Times Cooking, Mark Bittman.

Christina Tosi’s Corn Cookies

Makes 13 – 15 cookies

Ingredients:

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 large egg

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill corn flour

2/3 cup freeze-dried corn powder or Albers corn meal

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

Instructions:

Combine the butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and cream together on medi um-high for 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add the egg, and beat for 7 to 8 minutes.

Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour, corn flour, corn powder (or corn meal), baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until the dough comes together, no longer than 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Using a 2 3/4-ounce ice cream scoop (or a 1/3-cup measure), portion out the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pat the tops of the cookie dough domes flat. Wrap the sheet pan tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 1 week. Do not bake your cookies from room temperature – they will not bake properly.

Heat the oven to 350°F.

Arrange the chilled dough a minimum of 4 inches apart on parchment- or Silpatlined sheet pans. Bake for 18 minutes. The cookies will puff, crackle, and spread. After 18 minutes, they should be faintly browned on the edges yet still bright yellow in the center; give them an extra minute if not.

Cool the cookies completely on the sheet pans before transferring to a plate or to an airtight container for storage.

Freeze-dried corn powder: The chefs at Milk Bar make freeze-dried corn powder by grinding freeze-dried corn. You can find freeze-dried corn at Whole Foods or Amazon. com. Store leftover powder in an airtight container so it won’t absorb moisture. I substituted the freeze-dried corn powder with Albers cornmeal, purchased at Gelson’s.

Recipe sourced from Momofuku Milk Bar: A Cookbook, Clarkson Potter, 2011.

Fresh salmon, egg, panko, scallion, red onion, and dill make this a light and savory burger

These corn cookies are sweet and chewy with a soft buttery flavor

Claudia Schou is a high-heel enthusiast, boot camp novice, and fancy recipe collector. Loves Flannery O’Connor and Breakfast with The Beatles. Formerly at CaliforniaApparel News, Orange County Register, and L.A. Times Community News.

charred ruby fruits accenting the greens, the roasted tomatoes in it make this salad a good fit for both cold and warm weather. Several other salads on the menu incorpo rate candied pecans with gorgonzola or goat cheese. Naturally, there is a Caprese with its characteristic blend of mozzarella and basil.

As one can imagine at an Italian restaurant, pasta and pizza comprise a good portion of the menu. The Bolognese, which Mario describes as “Grandma’s pasta,” brings together the simplicity of spaghetti and a beefy marinara sauce, piled high with parm shavings. If

looking for something with a little more depth, there is the heartier Primavera Rosa with a creamy marinara sauce and vegetables or the lavish classic, chicken alfredo.

Thario’s Kitchen has about 10 pizza options, split roughly even between vegetar ian and meat varieties. During my visit, I opted for the iconic Margherita pizza, which came with whole basil leaves delicately placed throughout the round of marinara and mozzarella fior di latte. While dining in is ideal for tasting the light, crunchy crust fresh out of the oven, take-out is a popular option and the kitchen is a good stopping point to pick up a pie before heading to the nearby beach for some pizza, sun, and sand.

In addition to the traditional pastas and pizzas, a series of signature dishes round out the menu and offer a variety of flavors. From chicken piccata and shrimp pesto to eggplant parmesan and risotto, there is something for everyone. The Puttanesca pasta carries a distinct dash of anchovy, kalamata, and capers in a checca sauce. Several sandwiches, made from their homemade bread, adorn the menu as well and suit their earlier lunchtime hours on the weekend.

Sure, the construction may add five minutes (or less) to the trip, but Thario’s is a good spot to slow down and spend some time enjoying food, conversation, and the company of others. And even though that notable Santa statue may no longer grace the lane, Thario’s Kitchen will still instill the memories of home and family.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following per son(s) is/are doing business as: One Thread Collective, 6261 Marlborough Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. Jacqueline E. Gilbert, 6261 Marlborough Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 7, 2022. 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. 2022-0002727. Published No vember 30, December 7, 14, 21, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following

person(s) is/are doing business as: Gilmour Land Surveying INC, 470 Linfield Place, Apt F, Goleta, CA 93117. Gilmour Land Surveying INC, 470 Linfield Place, Apt F, Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 18, 2022. 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. 2022-0002825. Published No vember 23, 30, December 7, 14, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following per son(s) is/are doing business as: Cen

tral Coast Plumbing & Mechanical, 100 Vega Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. Kris topher R Dills, 100 Vega Drive, Gole ta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on November 16, 2022. 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. 2022-0002800. Published No vember 23, 30, December 7, 14, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Ramirez Plumbing, 314 W Canon Perdido #5, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Clarion Call Express, INC, 1401 21ST St. Ste. R, Sacramento, CA, 95811. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Oc tober 21, 2022. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I here by certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2022-0002590. Pub lished November 9, 16, 23, 30, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ReGen Coop; Dreamscape Santa Barbara, 506 S Salinas, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Regenerative Landscape Alliance, LLC, 506 S Salinas, Santa

Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on October 24, 2022. 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. 2022-0002599. Published No vember 16, 23, 30, December 7, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR

CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 22CV03990. To all interested parties: Petitioner James Chiam Ken-Ming filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to James Tan Ken-Ming. The Court orders that

all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hear ing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name chang es described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed Octo ber 19, 2022 by Narzralli Baksh. Hear ing date: December 28, 2022 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published No vember 16, 23, 30, December 7, 2022

“You know you’re old if they have discontinued your blood type there.” – Phyllis Diller

Thario’s offers around 10 different pizzas to choose from with both dine-in and take-out as options

Thaïs is known for her desserts as well

The Di Peppe salad was one of the standout dishes

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

from 50)

classics, fiddle tunes, blues, Joplin rags, jazz standards, classical pieces, and his own originals.

Visit www.sohosb.com for more informa tion and tickets

Merry Mariachi

similar strain, although their website calls it a collection of lit-psych rock songs inspired by psychology and literature. No doubt we’ll get a healthy preview when the Hips head to SOhO on December 2. The Coffis Brothers, a fellow NorCal roots rock-folk-blues band born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains, open the show.

Visit www.sohosb.com for more informa tion and tickets

Great Guitarist: Pick ‘em

The Arlington Theatre, our town’s larg est indoor venue, hosts Santa Barbara’s first-ever Mariachi holiday concert pro duced by a local organization, in this case UCSB Arts & Lectures. The incompara ble José Hernández will lead Mariachi Sol de México in a festive musical tribute to Mexico’s Christmas traditions, offering holiday favorites in a December 7 per formance that includes elements of Las Posadas alongside traditional Christmas carols. Sol de México, one of the world’s foremost mariachi groups, has performed for five U.S. presidents and shared the stage with artists ranging from Lady Gaga to the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Classical Corner: Grimaud the Great Returns

A generous 14 pieces are on the pro gram when the fine French pianist Hélène Grimaud returns to town under the auspices of CAMA’s Masterseries at the Lobero on December 7. Grimaud, whose contribution to and impact on the world of classical music has been recognized by the French government with its high est decoration, will perform Schumann’s Kreisleriana, Op. 16, as the concert’s anchor preceded by a riveting collection of eccentric piano miniatures, including four each by Debussy and Satie, three Chopin pieces (a waltz, Mazurka, and nocturne) and Silvestrov’s “Bagatelle I & II.” Visit www.camasb.org or www.lobero.com

Book ‘em

Two admirably accomplished acoustic guitar concerts are also arriving at SOhO this week, starting with Latin Grammy winner Diego Garcia of Twanguero fame, the Spanish songwriter famous for his impeccable fingerpicking style that earned him a moniker of a “fire-breath ing guitar hero.” The December 4 show, which closes SBAcoustic’s fall season, will focus on his new release, Backroads, Vol 2, a solo set conceived and recorded during his COVID sojourn in the jungles of Costa Rica… Richard Smith, who has performed four times in town under SBAcoustic’s banner including twice as part of a guitar ensemble dating back to Year 1 in 2016, now gets a SOhOproduced club date on December 7. The English guitarist won the national finger picking championship just a year after moving stateside to Nashville in 2000 and now tours regularly as a solo artist boasting a repertoire of fingerpicking

You might need your own cloning tech nology, or at least a fast car, to make it to the two most intriguing author events this week, as they share a Saturday afternoon time slot on December 3. Montecito artist and general contractor William “Bill”

Real Estate Appraiser

Greg Brashears

Dalziel will read from his second chil dren’s book, Charlie’s Dream, a sequel to Ulma, The Kidnapped Tree, from 2-4 pm at Tecolote, his hometown bookstore. A fantastical adventure of birds, trees, and ocean breezes, Dream offers lessons of friendship, determination, environmental awareness, and the magic of nature as Dalziel’s second inspiring book for chil dren sharing a message of hope. Details at www.tecolotebookshop.com.

Starting an hour later, also for a two-

hour time span, Ken Duckworth, MD, the former Chief Medical Officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) will discuss You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health, which combines advice from experts with wisdom from people and families living with mental illness, to address the financial and logistical issues as well as how to handle the emotion al challenges of mental illness. Former Santa Barbara

County NAMI Board

Chair George Kaufmann and his son’s stories are featured in the book, which is aimed at pointing people toward key help and support sooner to make recovery more accessible. All royalties go back to NAMI. The free event takes place 3-5 pm at Mental Wellness Center, 617 Garden Street. Holiday refreshments will be pro vided. Visit www.mentalwellnesscenter. org for more information.

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

The Mother Hips are coming to SOhO on December 2

Diego Garcia of Twanguero will be playing his sty listic fingerpicking guitar at SOhO on December 4

UCSB Arts & Lectures is bringing the Mariachi holiday spirit to the Arlington

Charlie’s Dream, from local general contractor, artist, and children’s book author Bill Dalziel, is an artistic exploration of our relationship with nature

and Bobby Montanes, with ubiquitous KEYT-TV reporter John Palminteri as emcee and Tiffany Story as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator.

Even pets were looked after by staff from C.A.R.E.4Paws, while other supporters included Keith and Mary Hudson, parents of Santa Barbara war bler Katy Perry, fun-loving Franciscan friar Larry Gosselin and building man ager Carmen Munoz

No food went to waste with extra supplies being delivered to shut-ins and local parks.

Always an enjoyable event...

A Star Achievement

Digital design and marketing profes sional Monica Kunz is the recipient of the 2022 AWC Chapter Star Award for lending her talents and expertise to the local chapter of the Association for Women in Communications.

“Monica has a keen eye for design and branding,” says Lisa Osborn, president of AWC-SB. “For years she has generous ly shared her talents with our members

and the greater community.”

For several years, Kunz has designed and created all of the marketing and branding materials for the organization’s Women of Achievement Awards.

Raising the Bar

The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County has added two newcom ers to its team.

Camille Agnello has joined as an attor ney for the Family Violence Prevention and Immigration Program.

She attended law school at the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2019.

Brianna Locatelli recently joined the Santa Maria office as a Housing and Probate attorney as part of the Sargent Shriver Civil Counsel program.

She grew up in Santa Cruz and Paradise, California, attending California State University Chico and UC Davis School of Law. After graduation, she worked as a staff attorney with Legal Services of Northern California and then as a self-help housing attorney in a col laboration between Senior Citizens Legal Services and the Superior Court of Santa Cruz County.

Michael Hammer Remembered

On a personal note, I remember inveter ate Montecito car and art collector Michael Hammer, who has died at the age of 67 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer.

Michael, the son of Julian Armand Hammer and grandson of Occidental Petroleum industrialist Armand Hammer, was also a generous philanthro pist, donating millions of dollars to local causes, including the Police Activities League and the Boys & Girls Club.

He spent his time living between his homes in our rarefied enclave and the Cayman Islands, where he sported a deep dark tan, which would have been the envy of actor George Hamilton

Michael, father of controversial actor Armie Hammer, would frequently take me to see new cars added to his exten sive collection and garaged at the former Harley Davidson dealership near the Santa Barbara Polo Club.

He also oversaw the Hammer International Foundation and the Armand Hammer Foundation, plus owned several businesses including Hammer Galleries and Hammer Productions, a TV and production company in Los Angeles.

He leaves a widow, Misty, whom he married in 2017, and another son, Viktor

Sightings

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Sushi Bar Montecito on CVR... Gwyneth Paltrow and husband Brad Falchuk in The Hamptons for Thanksgiving... Alan Parsons and Kenny Loggins at the Quips and Clips concert at the Lobero.

Pip! Pip! Be safe, wear a mask when necessary, and get vaccinated.

From musings on the Royals to celebrity real estate deals, Richard Mineards is our man on the society scene and has been for more than a decade

Montecito

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” — Phyllis Diller

Monica Kunz wins Chapter Star Award

Camille Agnello and Brianna Locatelli join the Legal Aid Foundation

Michael Hammer R.I.P. (photo by Priscilla)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

Winter Wonderland – To borrow a phrase from The Zombies, it must be the time of the season, as just a day after the 1st Thursday art and culture walk on State Street, Downtown Santa Barbara hosts a Christmas Tree Lighting and Block Party in front of the Arlington Theatre. Activities include a meet and greet plus photos with Santa Claus, performances by San Marcos High School Band and other ensembles, listening and dancing to holiday classics and oth er family-friendly favorite songs put together by Indy award-winning DJ Darla Bea , and, of course, the joyous lighting ceremony of the State Street Christ mas tree by the Holiday Prince & Fairy. And we don’t even have to feel bad about chopping down an old growth evergreen to enjoy during December as the State Street Christmas tree is once again sourced from a sustainable farm in Oregon and donated from Consumer Fire Products, Inc.

WHEN: 5-8 pm

WHERE: 1300 Block of State Street COST: free

INFO: (805) 962-2098 or www.downtownsb.org/events

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1

Fabulous 1st Thursday – There are more than 30 different venues on December’s “Passport” pamphlet for an expanded edition of downtown’s monthly art-andculture walk. Newcomers include Xanadu Skate Boutique (11 W. Canon Perdido St.) which makes its debut with new paintings from local wine artist Danielle Renee Art, while Paradise Hookah Hut joins the party with works by locals G. Stabb and Ashley Larman decorating the walls of the lounge where visitors can enjoy hookah, kava, and specialty teas, or groove to tunes spun by DJ Sacco Naz out front… Also notable: Sullivan Goss (11 E. Anapamu St.) opens its most anticipated annual exhibition of the year, 100 Grand, which boasts 100 works of art for $1,000, for gift-giving or art collecting, and the 55th annual Yes Store at 1100 State St. in La Arcada Court this year will have its artists onsite to talk about their handmade arts, crafts, custom fine jewelry, fused and blown glass, graphics, photography, ceramics, woodworking, and more… Live music events include the Trombone Society on the 800 block of State St. where the alliance of bold brass players from SBCC, UCSB, Westmont College, local high schools, and community members of all ages will play holiday songs and other favorites. They’ll share the block with Santa Barbara Revels, which is previewing its 2022 show, The Christmas Revels: A Scottish Celebration of the Winter Solstice, that trans ports visitors to the Highlands of Scotland in 1743, with clans converging to celebrate Hogmanay or New Year’s Eve… Santa Barbara Museum of Art (1130 State St.) hosts pop-up opera performances with Opera Santa Barbara followed by the Quire of Voyces’s December concert preview in Ludington Court. Finally, Ensemble Theatre (33 W. Victoria St.) has a regularly sched uled full preview performance of its holiday show, a new, comedy-with-heart adaptation of Charles Dickens’ holiday classic A Christmas Carol (see my entertainment column for an interview with the director) The first 44 folks to stop by its ticket office will receive free tickets to the 7:30 pm preview performance. Who could say humbug to that?!

WHEN: 5-8 pm

WHERE: Lower State Street and side streets COST: free

INFO: (805) 962-2098 or www.downtownsb.org/events/1st-thursday

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2

Holiday ‘In’ Santa Barbara – Jazz at the Ballroom (JATB) brings its swinging seasonal show to the Lobero Theatre with Holiday ‘In’ – a hip twist on classic holiday tunes meant to give Decem ber a decidedly upbeat beginning. Award-winning musicians from across the country take turns on stage for a variety show reminiscent of the classic Christmas specials from days of yore that would feature Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and other singing greats, along with other acts. The evening’s title is not only a tip-of-the-hat to Crosby’s classic Christmas film Holiday Inn – that would be the one that featured “White Christmas” – as well as the restrictions of the past two pandemic years when there was no place but home for the holidays. Serving as host is comedian Dan Cronin, a featured stand-up on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Comedy Central’s Premium Blend who also won an Emmy Award and Writer’s Guild Award for his work as a longtime staff writer for both Late Night and Conan on TBS. He shares the stage with bandleader-pianist and JATB Artistic Director Konrad Paszkudzki on piano, who will tickle the keyboards behind soloists Niki Haris (“The Big Voice” behind Madonna), Adrian Cunningham (Australia’s “Down Under Sax Star”), Champian Fulton (Birdland Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s in London), Alphonso Horne (Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Late Show with Jon Batiste), and L.A.’s young and hip Lineage Trio, featuring members of bands that perform with Seth McFarlane, Michael Bublé, and Jeff Goldblum. The show is the latest effort from JATB, a Bay Area-based nonprofit committed to keeping swinging, classic jazz alive and thriving, sharing the American Songbook with the great er public, and providing audiences with one-of-a-kind performances.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $36-$56 general, $81 VIP (includes premium seating and a post-show wine reception with the artists); 15 percent discount for students & seniors 65-plus INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3

Westmont Christmas Festival – The 18th annual Westmont Christmas Festival, which began as a small on-campus event only to mushroom to an extravaganza that now sells out Santa Barbara’s second-largest indoor venue, this year is titled “The Prince of Peace” as an antidote to our often-broken world where there is con stant conflict and strife. The Christian college’s festival celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ through an inspiring presentation with a narrative and Christmas music from around the world and across the centuries, meant to both entertain and deepen our understanding of the holy season. The concert features the Westmont Orches tra, College Choir, Chamber Singers, and Choral Union, conducted by Ruth Lin, Westmont’s new orchestra leader and chair of the music department. Lin says her choice of music for her first Westmont Christmas Festival holds both educational and thematic meanings. “It’s an examination of how composers throughout the ages have thought about and expressed their ideas of hope.” Alumnus Daniel Gee, Westmont’s director of choral activities and newly-appointed director of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony, will conduct the Westmont College Choir and Chamber Singers while Lonnie Ostrander, who has enjoyed a versatile career as a musician over many years, conducts the Choral Union.

WHEN: 7 pm tonight, 3 pm tomorrow WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street COST: $22

INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org / www.westmont.edu/festival

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4

Sound of Christmas Sing-along – Sure it’s great to watch singers and comedians recreate old Christmas specials with classics from the Great American Songbook, or marvel at a note-perfect Elvis impersonator doing holiday songs from the King (see

Montecito

Phyllis Diller

Elvis at the Alcazar – Elvis has definitely left the building, which has resulted in decades of a “Blue Christmas” for multitudes of his fans, especially those who somehow believe he’s still alive. But for everyone else, Carpinteria’s Alcazar Theatre could be the place to be for the next best thing, as Raymond Michael stars as The King in The Blue Christmas Show. Michael is no stranger to portraying Presley as he has performed for 10 summers at Knott’s Berry Farm, five summers at Six Flags Over Texas, and at five other Six Flags Parks as well as in main showrooms in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and Reno, and on national network, international, and cable television shows, plus concert tours in the U.S. and the world, including at some of the same arenas where Elvis himself once enter tained the enthralled. Michael’s career as a Presley tribute singer came about by accident when the operatic voice major and football player at California Lutheran University was asked by a performing hypnotist to perform as Elvis. The subsequent standing ovation proved even more spellbinding and has kept him coming back for more ever since. The Art Deco atmosphere at the Alcazar should serve as an enticing environment for Christmas with Elvis.

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Alcazar Theatre, 4916 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria

COST: $25 general, $35 VIP, which includes preferred seating and a drink INFO: (805) 684-6380 or www.thealcazar.org

listing above). But if participation is what puts the pep in your step, tonight’s event at the Lobero should do the trick. The stage will hold an orchestra and choir, but the au dience is encouraged to join in and sing their way into the season with joyful holiday favorites chock full of such chestnuts as “Jingle Bells,” “Deck the Halls,” “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” and many more. Emmy-nominated composer Charles Fernandez, whose hundreds of credits include TV series Disney’s Little Mermaid, 101 Dalmatians, and Aladdin; Universal’s Casper cartoon series; Disney’s Doug; and Dreamworks’ Toonsylvania, conducts The Sound of Christmas Chamber Players and Choir while actress Sheelagh Cullen, who has a host of TV, film, and theater credits herself, but is best known as the Narrator and Storyteller in a series of Irish Concerts produced by Kerry Records, narrates the Christmas story shared on stage.

WHEN: 2:30 pm

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $36-$66 reserved, $5 discount for children 12 & under INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5

Howling with Howell – English comedian Daniel Howell used YouTube as a springboard to sev eral radio shows on the BBC with his partner Phil Lester and later world tours focusing on a stressed and depressed perspective before turning to writing books, including 2021’s You Will Get Through This Night, which serves as a practical guide to taking control of one’s mental health. Now, Howell is back on the road with an epic new solo comedy stage show called, appropriately, “We’re All Doomed!” Despite the title, Howell’s approach to dealing with so many apocalyptic scenarios threatening to destroy us is to avoid temptation to give into the gloom – instead employing sarcasm and satire, along with savage self-deprecation and soul-searching oversharing of his deepest fears and desires to skewer everything that’s wrong with society and to find some hope for humanity – or at least laugh like it’s the end of the world.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

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

COST: $37.50 & $60.50, VIP tickets $123-$183

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

HALLELUJAH PROJECT

TICKETS

Students w/ID & children $10 Seniors 65+ $20 Reserved $30 VIP $50 w/reception

sbchoral.org

by The National Assoc Of Senior

(NASMM) and The American Society of Estate Liquidators (ASEL).

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POSITION AVAILABLE

HELP required to assist executive. Handle business correspondence, Insurance claims, etc. Computers literacy and typing ability necessary. Charles – 805-698-6299

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LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE

Professional married couple who are get ting ready to retire from 37 years in health services, are looking for a possible miracle. Would you or do you know anyone who would sell us a house considerably below market value? We just can’t afford market prices and our greatest wish is to stay in the community we love and have served instead of being forced to make the choice to leave the area. Please call Mark at 820 587 4314.

AVAILABLE FOR RENT

Montecito, Santa Barbara, Ca Furnished home for rent $30,000.00 per mo. with a 5yr. lease, 4bd+4ba, nanny quarters, & guest hse + pool Bob 310-472-0870

LET’S

LIVE-IN PROPERTY CARETAKER

Longtime local resident with impeccable references seeks opportunity to provide gardening, handyman, security, and house hold services for individual, couple, or fami ly. Can pay up to $2,000 for living quarters. Extremely discreet and professional. Please reply via email: freshstartbiz@gmail.com

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RENTAL WANTED

Newly retired Registered Nurse seeking a two-bed room cottage/mother-inLaw unit in Montecito for 2023. Text/Call 808-366-4389

I’m the longtime MJ arts editor and Giving List columnist. After 17 years in my rental cottage I need to relocate and am seeking a studio or 1BR apt., ADU, cottage, etc. in SB or Montecito (but open to Carpinteria to Goleta). Occupancy by Jan uary 1 preferred. I’m clean and responsible, non-smoker and no pets. Excellent referenc es available. Let’s talk! Call Steven at (805) 837-7262 or email sml.givinglist@gmail.com

“Old age is when the liver spots show through your gloves.” – Phyllis Diller