Sound Wall Hearing

Girls Inc. – Both the Carpinteria and Greater Santa Barbara chapters are keeping girls and teens “strong, smart, & bold,” P.12 New Provost – Kimberly Battle-Walters Denu is welcomed in as Westmont’s provost, read more about her accomplishments inside, P.14

African Women Rising – From its origins to its programs, founder Linda Eckerbom Cole speaks about the organization, P.27 Real Estate Update – With the storms subsiding and inventories low, the first quarter numbers are in, P.30

SERVING MONTECITO AND SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA

www.montecitojournal.net

The only drop-in homeless day center in the area feeds, dresses, and comforts its guests almost entirely off of donations and volunteers, page 28

SOUND WALL HEARING

They’re in. They’re out. Will the 101 widening project have sound walls or not? The community wants to be heard. Listen to the appeals from the latest Board of Supervisors meeting (Story starts on p.5)

Wall Concerns

There’s a large wall going up in San Ysidro Creek after the recent storms. Is it legal? CA Fish and Wildlife visit to find out. But whose wall is it? page 20

A Wall of Support

One805 is back with their ongoing support for our First Responders. See who their Grammywinning September headliner is inside, and the fun they have planned before then, page 23

photo credit: J North Productions

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

P.5

Message from the MA – Updates on the sound wall from the recent Board of Supervisors meeting, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife inspects a certain neighbor’s wall

P.6

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P.14

Village Beat – Montecito Natural Foods to vacate, Gwendolyn’s Playground is fully funded, a Housing Element Update, and the Kellam de Forest Speaker Series

Montecito Miscellany – A One805 reception, the Waterhouse Gallery opening, some Motown magic, and more miscellany

P.10

P.11

P.12

Your Westmont – Kim Denu is officially installed as provost, Spring Sing wows the Santa Barbara Bowl, a Women’s Leadership Lunch announced, and museum accepts submissions from local artists

P.22

P.23

Letters to the Editor – A response to Diana Thorn, a call for sound walls along the 101, and a memorial service for Clift

Seybert Kinsell

Tide Guide

In Passing – The life, hobbies, and passions of Carolyn Virginia Wyatt are remembered

Our Town – How the two local chapters of Girls Inc. are working to keep girls and teens “Strong, Smart, and Bold”

P.26

Brilliant Thoughts – Ashleigh takes pride in his ability to describe what makes us proud

One805 – One805. Is it a nonprofit? An ongoing Thank You to our First Responders? A technicolor outburst of Rock ‘n’ Roll gratitude? Yep.

The Optimist Daily – Tova Friedman, a Holocaust survivor, uses TikTok to share her experience with a younger audience and counteract anti-Semitic rhetoric

P.27

African Women Rising – A talk with founder Linda Eckerbom Cole about how the organization is helping through microfinance, regenerative agriculture, and other programs

P.28

Fr. Virgil Cordano Center – A place of warm meals and more to the homeless community with little overhead and a lot of heart

P.30

P.32

Real Estate – Take a look at the first quarter numbers and some of the homes still available on the market

Library Mojo – Dean Spade speaks at upcoming Book to Action series, appreciating Pablo Neruda, Spring Break painting, and more

P.34

P.44

Foraging Thyme – Strawberry fields forever, but with the recent rains there may be fewer of them than normal this year – enjoy what you can with this strawberry buckle recipe

Calendar of Events – Lucidity Festival arrives, Steven Gilbar focuses on Montecito actors, Danish String Quartet returns, and more

P.46

P.47

Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads, in which sellers offer everything from summer rentals to estate sales

Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles

Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer

Message from the MA

Sound

Wall Appeals Denied at Board of Supervisors

by Sharon Byrne

The Board of Supervisors heard the appeals filed by Scott Smigel and Bruce Mackenzie of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission’s approval of the 101-widening project for the 1.4 miles from Olive Mill to San Ysidro. Chris Schmuckal, county planner for the 101 project, gave the staff presentation. Prior to February 2022, sound walls had been incorporated into the project. It was a shock when Caltrans announced that, due to projected flood rise, the sound walls would be pulled from the application.

The county bundled the appeals together, giving them five minutes each, rather than the 10 minutes usually granted to each appellant.

Mr. Smigel’s appeal:

1. Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is insufficient. Staff said the revised EIR is adequate. No new impacts identified.

2. Decision to remove sound walls due to Flood Control is in error. Staff said FEMA Recovery map is adequate and in effect until new map adopted. Hydraulic studies showed more than 1 foot of flood rise across 31 parcels.

3. Timing is in error. Sound walls could be incorporated into the project without delaying construction. Staff did not agree.

Why were sound walls included in Carpinteria, but not Montecito? Carpinteria has different hydrological conditions. Their creeks have concrete-lined beds with greater capacity. The Santa Monica debris basin has 100-year flood capacity, while Montecito’s have 25- to 50-year capacity.

A new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map [FIRM], due within a year or two, COULD allow sound walls to be included if modeling doesn’t show flood rise. It likely won’t be published in the six months’ window required to keep funding for the project.

Mr. Mackenzie’s appeal:

Susan Petrovich presented. She’s lived on La Vuelta since 1978 and has always been impacted by lack of flood control. The debris basins need to be kept cleared, and new infrastructure is needed. Decades ago, the community was promised that the dog leg in San Ysidro Creek would be straightened out when highway was widened.

Why are flood release panels on the Salinas offramp OK, but not for Montecito? The county should set aside funds for sound walls, and include foundations, as well as install substantial barriers to prevent trucks from running off freeway on to N. Jameson.

Fred Luna from SBCAG said the goal is to start construction this summer. The Montecito segment is partially funded, and they anticipate remaining funding approval in June by the California Transportation Commission.

Caltrans looked at other options, such as staggering or floodgates. Through the Montecito Planning Commission, Caltrans agreed to a future watershed study to address improvements throughout the corridor. The Montecito Association supported the grant application for this study.

The 101-team made offers to 15 property owners who are severe noise receptors (more than 75 decibels) to make improvements to reduce noise.

Joe Erwin from Caltrans presented their process:

Village Beat Montecito Country Mart Changes

by Kelly Mahan Herrick

Montecito Natural Foods in Montecito Country Mart will vacate its long-held space by the end of June, after being given notice that its lease is not up for renewal. The shop, dedicated to offering health food products, vitamins, beauty products, and more, has been in business nearly 60 years, with the most recent owners, Gabe and Slim Gomez, at the helm for the last 30. We featured the shop back in 2020 when it was one of few stores open during the beginning of the pandemic, as it was considered an essential business and kept members of the community healthy with wholesome foods, supplements, immune-boosting vitamins, and locally-made hand sanitizer.

An employee at the shop tells us the closure will be a big loss for Montecito, as many customers have come to depend on stopping in to pick up vitamins and supplements, or have them delivered. “Many of our customers don’t shop online, and going to Lazy Acres or Whole Foods will be too far for them,” the employee said. A customer at the store agreed, saying she has been shopping there for decades. “It’s very sad, as everyone who works here is so knowledgeable and helpful,” she said.

Initial reaction on social media to the news of the closure has been negative, with many recalling the November 2021 closure of beloved restaurant Little Alex’s, which

suffered a similar fate. That eatery closed after 32 years in business in the Mart after failed lease negotiations between the owners and Mart owner James Rosenfield, who is 14 years into his 30-year land lease on the center. No word yet from Rosenfield about his future plans for the space held by Montecito Natural Foods.

Montecito Mercantile, which opened in the summer of 2021, is also rumored to be closing after not faring well financially in the space once occupied by Read ‘N Post.

Inclusive Playground Moves Forward

An exciting update to a story we’ve been covering for years: the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation announced earlier this week that it has hit its $6M capital campaign goal to create a fully accessible and inclusive playground located on a 10-acre property near the Santa Barbara Zoo. Gwendolyn’s Playground will be the first fully inclusive playground in Santa Barbara and the Central Coast.

A second significant donation from the Manitou Fund as guided by Nora McNeely Hurley – with contributions totaling $2,050,000, including the underwriting of the playground’s Magical Tree – carried the campaign over the finish line. The news comes on the heels of Congressman Salud Carbajal’s securing of $1.5M in federal

Village Beat Page 224

Montecito Natural Foods will close later this year after being in the Mart since 1964

Gwendolyn’s Playground, the area’s first fully accessible and inclusive playground, is fully funded

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Montecito Miscellany One805 Launch Party

by Richard Mineards

One805, the local nonprofit dedicated to supporting First Responders across Santa Barbara County, didn’t have to look very far for a headliner for its flagship gala event on September 22 at the oceanside Summerland estate of Oscar winning actor Kevin Costner and his wife Christine

At a socially gridlocked reception for more than 100 guests at the Montecito Club, Kirsten Cavendish , the charity’s CEO, announced that the rock band Maroon 5 with Montecitobased singer Adam Levine , 44, will

be coming off their newly launched Las Vegas residency to perform at the One805LIVE! concert before continuing their world tour.

“We are fortunate to have a headliner of this caliber generously donating their time and talent to support us,” enthused Kirsten, whose husband is Richard Weston-Smith, COO of the nonprofit established in 2018 after the Thomas Fire and debris flows that devastated our rarefied enclave.

Levine, who is married to former Namibian supermodel Behati Prinsloo, paid $52 million last June for Oakview,

Miscellany Page 184

– Billy Dee Williams

“I’ve found that most people consistently underestimate their dog’s potential.

My purpose in life is to help people bring out the best in their dogs.”

One805 board member Barney Melekian presenting a check to the County fire agencies for counseling services (photo by Priscilla)

Bruce Heavin, Richard WestonSmith, Adam McKaig, and John Thyne III (photo by Priscilla)

Lord Robert Hope, Alison Bowlus, Lady Robert Hope, Louis Rohl and Laura Rohl (photo by Priscilla)

Letters to the Editor

Comments on Several of Ms. Thorn’s Points

Re: “Picking A President in 2024”

(Diana Thorn, Thursday, March 30)

Inflation is a world-wide problem. (In the U.S., it is currently 6.4 percent.) More can and should be done to find a solution, and President Biden will rightfully take the heat if it isn’t –but President Biden did not cause the problem. The inflation rates for Mexico, Brazil, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Germany are all between eight and 10 percent. Is Biden solely responsible for inflation rates in those countries as well?

Trump’s negotiated agreement (i.e. capitulation) in Afghanistan allowed the Taliban to secure the provinces and move into Kabul more quickly than Biden or the DOD had predicted. Due to Trump’s poor negotiating skills and subsequent poor intelligence by Biden’s team, lives were tragically lost. But, President Biden got us out of Afghanistan... something none of his immediate predecessors were willing or able to do.

Trump’s “bromance” with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is the stuff of which legends are made... and not in a good way! He praised Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, calling Putin “very smart” and adding, “I mean, he’s taking over a country for two dollars worth of sanctions. I’d say that’s very smart.” When it became known that Putin was ordering the bombing of hospitals, maternity wards, schools, day care centers, and apartment buildings (war crimes by any standard), Trump’s head remained securely lodged up Putin’s posterior.

Trump’s policy “to secure our borders” 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 garden tools and 2) locking up adolescents, toddlers, and infants (who had committed no crime) in what were cleverly referred to as “Tender Age Detention Centers.” They were, in fact, internment

camps for children. Although immigration reform needs to be brought into the 21st century, this policy was an abject failure by any measure.

Trump incited an insurrection in an attempt to overturn a legitimate election result, end democracy in the U.S., and install himself as an authoritarian dictator. Yet, Ms. Thorn boldly states, “When Trump was president, he did a great job.” Her definition of “great” seems to be at odds with reality.

Robert Baruch, Yeosu, South Korea (formerly of Goleta, CA)

Wanting to Be Heard on Sound Walls

Addressed to Mr. Das Williams:

As a longtime resident of Montecito, I am deeply concerned by the decision last year by the Santa Barbara Planning Commission to approve CalTrans freeway widening projects without sound walls that would mitigate noise and air pollution. I ask that our county supervisors reconsider and reject this approach, which will have an adverse impact on the people in our community – who are your constituents – on a daily basis.

It is beyond dispute that sound and particulate pollution is harmful to health and well-being. In the past, our neighborhood was somewhat protected by a “soft” barrier of dense foliage on both sides of North Jameson Road. In recent years, CalTrans has eroded that barrier, already creating a notable increase in noise pollution. To our alarm, the current plan will eliminate that soft barrier altogether. Sound walls, which were in the original CalTrans plan, could mitigate that harm just as they have to the east (Carpinteria) and the west (Salinas Street) of Montecito. It would have daily benefits to residents.

The reason cited for the change in approach is the risk of flood. As a 45-year resident of a home on the banks of

Montecito Creek, I am well aware of the risk of floods in the area, as well as the previous decisions that exacerbated those risks. Historically, there were multiple small natural creeks in our area, which carried water following the natural topography. When the 101 was built, creeks were diverted into a man-made channel to pass under the freeway. This is one of the reasons we’ve seen multiple floods at the lower part of this channel (now called Montecito Creek).

While I take the risk of flooding seriously, there are other steps within the county’s power that could mitigate flood risk without the negative impact of denying sound walls. Resuming maintenance of the creeks in Montecito is one such step. In the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, the creeks were regularly cleared, and banks were reinforced, helping to mitigate flooding in times of heavy rain. In the late 1990s, however, the county flood control department ceased maintenance of sections of the creek –including the stretch between our house and the Oaks neighborhood – and allowed debris to almost completely fill the areas under the freeway and Jameson Lane. I would urge the county to resume regular maintenance of the waterways.

I find it troubling that the Flood Control District, which has abandoned maintenance of some sections of the creek while spending millions on other areas, now opposes sound walls, which are needed to mitigate daily harm for the community. It is also difficult to understand why sound walls have been able to successfully move forward along other areas of the 101 despite history of past flooding in those areas, such as at the base of Salinas Street.

The only difference seems to be that the 2018 debris flow looms large in all of our memories. However, there are other steps that can be taken to help mitigate against the risks of a once-in-a-century event – steps that don’t result in harm to our community on a daily basis.

I respectfully ask that the Board of Supervisors reconsider last year’s decision and reinstate plans for sound walls with the addition of flood gates, as has been done in neighboring communities. We further request that the county

MONTECITO TIDE GUIDE

resume routine maintenance throughout the waterways in Montecito and consider other options to mitigate flood risk. By reference, we want to support the excellent suggestions offered by Kia McInerny in a letter published in the Montecito Journal on March 16.

Sincerely,

John Denver, MD

Memorial Service Announcement

A memorial service will be held for Clift Seybert Kinsell (7/25/1923 – 12/31/2022) on Tuesday, April 25, at 2 pm at All Saints Episcopal Church (83 Eucalyptus Lane). A Celebration of Life will be held on the patio following the service.

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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

In Passing

Carolyn Virginia Wyatt: February 6, 1936 – March 5, 2023

Carolyn Virginia Wyatt passed away peacefully, surrounded by love, in Santa Barbara on March 5, 2023. A loving devoted wife and adoring mother and grandmother, she was born in Hollywood, CA on February 6, 1936. She is survived by her husband Philip Wyatt, her children Scott, Jon, and Lori, and her grandchildren, and stepchildren.

She attended UC Santa Barbara before transferring to the University of Southern California where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. At USC she met Wallace Wolf, whom she married in 1957. He predeceased her in 1997.

While in Los Angeles, she was a fashion designer working with Helen Rose, a principal in a commercial TV production company, a runway model, and an executive on the 1984 Olympics film Board.

Carolyn was a caring friend and an inspiration to many throughout her life. Despite her passing, her contagious smile, laugh, wit, charm, and love of life will always be treasured.

Throughout the years, Carolyn enjoyed riding horses and playing tennis both for leisure and competition. Among her many talents in the arts were pottery, painting, and photography. She also had incredible skills in the garden, specifically focused on her roses. Her passion and fondness for her dogs and those of others is warmly remembered.

Carolyn was a staunch supporter and participant in many philanthropies in the Santa Barbara community including the Breast Cancer Resource Center, Serenity House, and the Visiting Nurses Association. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in her name to one of these organizations.

Carolyn will be remembered for her contagious smile, laugh, wit, charm, and love of life

Our Town

Girls Inc. of Greater SB & Girls Inc. Carpinteria: Keeping Our Girls Strong, Smart, & Bold

by Joanne A Calitri

That is the motto of Girls Inc., founded in 1864 as a movement called the Girls Club of America in Waterbury, Connecticut – their initial objective to help young women migrating from rural areas to find work after the Civil War. In 1945, Rachel Harris Johnson combined fourteen charter clubs to form the national organization, which changed its name to Girls Inc. in 1990. Its mission remains intact to this day, with Stephanie Hull as CEO and President.

In our town, we have two local chapters led by Jennifer Faust, CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, and Jamie Balch Collins, Executive Director, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. Faust has 25 years of experience as a women’s leadership advocate, policy expert, and women’s leadership coach, and holds a BBA with honors from George Washington University, and MS with Distinction from The London School of Economics and Political Science. Collins, formerly the VP of Operations for the United Boys and Girls Clubs of SBC, has been with Girls Inc. Carpinteria for three years. She is also First District Commissioner with the County of Santa Barbara Commission for

Women and Girls, and holds a BA in Sociology and Gender Studies from the University of the Pacific.

Faust and Collins recently reviewed two data-based reports on young girls, teens, and women in the U.S. and California: The Mount St. Mary’s University “LA annual report on the Status of Women and Girls in California 2023,” and the CDC’s “Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report 2023.”

The first report shows California is home to 1.5 million women-owned businesses, the most of any state in the U.S. The report also shows that women still earn only 88 cents for every dollar a man earns (as a measure of median wages for full-time, year-round workers 15 years and older). The poverty rate of women would drop by 40 percent if the wage gap didn’t exist. The CDC’s report focuses on sexual behavior, substance use, experiences of violence, mental health, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, social determinants of health such as unstable housing, as well as on protective factors, such as school connectedness and parental monitoring. Its data showed that, “…many of the same behaviors and experiences that were moving in the wrong direction before the pandemic continued to worsen, and young people are experiencing a level of trauma and distress that requires action.”

[Ref: www.msmu.edu/newsroom/news-articles/2023/report-on-the-status-of-women-and-girls-2023/ and www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/yrbs_data_summary_ and_trends.htm]

Here are comments from Jamie Balch Collins and Jennifer Faust on what Girl’s Inc. provides young women, and ways to join:

Jamie Balch Collins: As the Executive Director for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, and a commissioner with the County of Santa Barbara Commission for Women and Girls, I

Genein Letford Award-winning educator, Intercultural Creativity expert

Bradley Rapier Award-winning choreographer, Founder of Groove Theory

Jacqueline Lloyd-Smith Founder of Strategic Play Global

Van Lai-DuMone Founder & Cultural Strategist at worksmart Advantage

Jen Faust, CEO of Girls Inc. SB (courtesy photo)

Jamie Balch Collins, Executive Director of Girls Inc. Carpinteria (courtesy photo)

Your Westmont Praises for New Provost

faculty’s comparison to cats is a good thing – we are curious! And our diverse disciplines, perspectives, experiences and aspirations are a vibrant asset to the college and to the Kingdom.”

“Don’t hire faculty who have an agenda,” said Edee Schulze, Vice President for Student Life, on behalf of students. “The education we provide must teach (students) to think about today’s issues, but also to think beyond today’s issues and to endure the test of time. Keep showing us how to not just be respectful, but to truly listen and honor people where they’re coming from and where they are in their development. Keep us moving toward

by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott

Westmont officially installed its new provost and dean in a joyful celebration of the life, faith and career of Kimberly Battle-Walters

Denu, who began her accomplished professional arc as a first-generation college student from South Central Los Angeles.

“This is a culmination of my childhood play,” she said. “When I was young, for as long as I could remember, my two great passions were the church and the academy – a love for God and a love for learning.”

Denu recalled lining up her dolls and

pretending to be a teacher when she was a child. She also preached to her German shepherd. “I’d ask him to sit so that I could preach the sermon. He was going to be saved and sanctified,” she said to laughter from more than 1,500 people on March 31 in Murchison Gym. “Some might say I was destined to be a preacher and a teacher,” she said. “I don’t know, but I can say the greatest part of my story is Jesus Christ. If there’s anything good about me, it’s only because of Him.”

The service included the Westmont College Choir and musicians performing a stirring rendition of “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood.

Guest speaker Albert Tate, founder and lead pastor of Fellowship Church in Los Angeles County and the author of the book How We Love Matters: A Call to Practice Relentless Racial Reconciliation, described Denu as a wife, mother – and woman of God, integrity and character. “You embody leadership,” Tate said.

His advice to her came in three parts: leadership is hard, do it anyway; stay encouraged; and don’t lose hope. “As you face hard moments and hold onto your hope, don’t forget to plug into God,” he said. “Because inevitably the One who created you is the One who will sustain you.”

“Leading faculty has at times been compared to herding cats,” said Jesse Covington, professor of political science and vice chair of the faculty. “Part of

Joe Howell

Katina Zaninovich Steve and Cindy Lyons

Your Westmont Page 404

Provost Kim Denu poses with students before the installation

Provost Kim Denu was officially installed March 31

Pastor Albert Tate offers advice to Westmont’s new provost

I am most grateful for the trust placed in me which enables me to continue to do what I love and give back to my community. Since 2021, I have donated $150,000 to local charities to help support local organizations that promote health, education, community, and the environment. I look forward to another successful year of serving my clients and giving back to my community.

ROMANTIC CAPE COD STYLE ESTATE

This lovely Montecito property, situated on a majestic hilltop, showcases incredible views of the ocean, coastline, and mountains. Rich in character and stylishly designed with charming interior and exterior details, the 4 bed, 3.5 bath residence features wide wood floors, soaring ceilings, and a myriad of French doors to the expansive grounds, nurturing an effortless indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

the 10,000 square foot Colonial-style house on 3.5 acres that was built in 2009 by actor Rob Lowe. Between 2011 and 2019 Levine was a coach on the NBC reality TV show The Voice

The concert, for which tickets have now gone on sale on www.One805.org, also features a star-studded lineup of other artists who will be announced in the coming months.

Since its formation, One805 – which is now also working with Direct Relief and Adam’s Angels – has contributed $1.6 million to first responders, facilitating the acquisition of indispensable equipment and essential wellness counseling services, with a further $239,000 in grants being presented at the boffo bash, including $144,000 to the Santa Barbara County Fire Counseling Program, and $39,995 to

the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office for ocean recovery dive masks.

Among the slew of supporters turning out were new Montecito Fire Chief David Neels, his predecessor Kevin Taylor, Santa Barbara City Fire Chief Mark Hartwig, Sheriff Bill Brown, Adam McKaig , Wayne and Sharol Siemens, Bruce Heavin, John Thyne III, Diana Starr Langley, Catherine Remak, George Leis, Carol Marsch, the ubiquitous KEYT reporter John Palminteri, Lord and Lady Hope, and Randy Solakian

Something to Sing About

It was a double anniversary celebration when the Santa Barbara Choral Society hosted a 75th anniversary gala at the Music Academy’s Lehmann Hall, which

also marked the 30th season of its veteran conductor JoAnne Wasserman

Before repairing to the Duo Catering dinner, guests were at Hahn Hall, just a tiara’s toss away, for a highly entertaining and energized performance by the 11-piece a cappella group Voctave, who hail from Central

Breathtaking Views, Serenity, Close to Montecito Coast Village

Florida where they perform regularly at Walt Disney World.

But it was certainly no Mickey Mouse show with the talented troupe, who were founded in 2015 by producer-arranger Jamey Ray , singing Miscellany Page 374

One805 First Responders Board with Co-Founders (center): Chairman & CEO Kirsten Cavendish; Richard Weston-Smith, COO; John Thyne III, CFO (photo by Priscilla)

An a cappella collaboration from Voctave and Santa Barbara Choral Society at Hahn Hall (photo by Priscilla)

Here is the group of high bidders for their own Choral Society Caps (photo by Priscilla)

Perched

1759 S JAMESON LANE, MONTECITO, CA 93108

@CARUSOS @CARUSOS

He said the sound only increases 3 dB from the widening project. Sound walls originally proposed:

All proposed sound walls would cause flood rise, so they were removed. The project CAN accommodate future sound walls under current design. The EIR found the project does not create significant air quality impact to region or adjacent properties. California’s move to all electric vehicles by 2035 should also help.

I spoke on behalf of the Montecito Association in support of neighbors, as did Bill Babbitt, the new Land Use and Transportation Committee Chair.

Neighbors who spoke:

Gary Bradhering bought his home four years ago based on sound wall being installed and was very concerned re noise and air pollution.

Brett Caine said noise has steadily increased in the past year. Maintaining plantings has always been hard for Caltrans.

Tom Deardorff said sound walls were a 17-year-old promise made back in 2006. Our culverts are the problem. They don’t work. The recovery map is not the one to use.

Sandra Peterson requested a sound wall from the Music Academy to Rosewood on South Jameson.

Ron Pulice, the chair of the Montecito Planning Commission, said flood control is the bigger issue. We are months away from a new map that could show a different world where we could afford to have a sound wall.

After questions and discussion, Supervisor Williams agreed this is really a flood control issue, as Montecito is an alluvial fan. Caltrans modeling was double checked by the county. Sound walls, with a one-to-four-foot flood rise, could prove fatal for some neighbors. That risk is too great for present and future residents. Caltrans has an ongoing responsibility to work with the county to ensure the creeks don’t flood the freeway; for example by removing the dog leg from San Ysidro creek. Supervisor Williams recommended denying the appeal, and the supervisors agreed unanimously. Read more about the Board of Supervisors meeting on page 22

California Fish and Wildlife Inspect Wall Going Up in San Ysidro Creek

A month ago, I questioned in these pages who owns our creeks, because I was getting the runaround from various authorities on who has responsibility to stop:

Message from MA Page 364

JOIN US FOR THE 4TH ANNUAL

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2023

REGISTRATION: 7:30 a.m.

WALK/RUN START: 9 a.m.

Register now at cottagehealth.org/milesformoms

Music by DJ Darla Bea, refreshments, gifts for participating moms, Children’s Fun Run and more! Run or walk with mom, or in her honor.

Proceeds from Miles for Moms directly support the Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation. Your participation ensures that the people of our community have the best healthcare that medicine can provide.

Brilliant Thoughts

by Ashleigh Brilliant

One way to learn about people is to find out what they are most proud of. If it’s not their own achievements, it will sometimes be those of their children or grandchildren. And just what counts as an “achievement?” For better or worse, it is often a matter of excelling over others, in which case, for somebody to be a winner, somebody else must be a loser – or at least an also-ran.

But pride itself can be a questionable characteristic. Proverbially, it is said to come (or go) before a fall. In other words (I suppose), you shouldn’t be too proud of anything, because whatever it is can be taken away from you. Nevertheless, today we have a sort of reverse pride, in which groups now celebrate what they were once condemned for being, e.g. “Gay Pride.”

In my school days, I knew that one thing (possibly the only thing) I could do to make my parents proud of me was to get good grades from my teachers. This wasn’t hard for me when we lived in Washington, D.C. for five years during World War II, because I was a bright kid. But, when the war was over, and we had to go back to our “home” country of England, which I could hardly remember, I found myself at a disadvantage compared with my classmates, who were years ahead of me in some subjects. This led to my committing an act more commonly associated with shame than with pride. I became a forger.

The first school report I received at my new school, which I was supposed to take home and have signed by a parent, then bring back, was, by my own standards, so bad that (after considerable practice) I forged my mother’s signature on it. However, I wasn’t as skillful at concealing evidence as I was at committing the crime. My parents discovered the document, which I had carelessly left lying about before returning it to the school. This clearly produced some mixed feelings on their part. They could understand why I did what I did. But of course, they were compelled to insist that honesty is the best policy, and I had to make some kind of confession and apology to the Headmaster. Happily, my subsequent reports were much more favorable.

If I had to say, in return, what there was about my parents that I was proud of, it wouldn’t be easy. My mother did have an enviable quality, which unfortunately I did not inherit, of gregariousness and sociability. Wherever she went she seemed able to strike up new

friendships very quickly. My father’s outstanding trait was being neat and orderly, which probably stemmed at least partly from his lifelong career as a British government worker, or “civil servant.”

But, apart from the personal pride of individuals, there is also the matter of being proud of the place where you live, which we might call Civic Pride. Every town in America, however small it may be, seems to have a boastful slogan, perhaps dreamed up by somebody in the Chamber of Commerce. For example, Apex, North Carolina, calls itself “The Peak of Good Living.” Hico, Texas is the town “Where Everybody is Somebody.” And capitalizing on a natural feature, Coachella, California, is the “City of Eternal Sunshine.”

And what are countries proud of?

The Dutch take pride in the fact that much of their territory was made by man, pumping out the sea water, and keeping it out with dikes and dams. The French rejoice in their wines and cheeses. One of their leaders is said to have remarked, “How can one govern a country which has three hundred different kinds of cheese?”

The British used to be proud of their Empire, which has somehow dissolved in my lifetime. At school we sang a song which included the lines:

“Rule Britannia! Britannia rule the waves! Britons never never never shall be slaves.”

I was very young when I learned this, and somehow didn’t understand the “slaves” part at all. To my ears, the word sounded like “saved,” which was how I sang it. I couldn’t fathom why these people should be proud of never being saved, but it seemed to say something about their rugged character.

And what am I personally most proud of? It would probably have to be my publishing of ten thousand original epigrams – and at that point going no further. To me, that itself was my proudest accomplishment: knowing when to stop.

funding to support renovating park land, which includes the Dwight Murphy field site where Gwendolyn’s Playground will be located.

Victoria and Bill Strong have deep roots in the community, founding the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (GSF) after the birth of their first daughter, Gwendolyn, who was born in 2007. At six months old, Gwendolyn was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), which causes atrophy in the muscular system, and often leads to severe disability or death. Even after Gwendolyn’s passing in 2015, the foundation continued to raise millions of dollars in funding for SMA, ultimately leading to life-changing treatments, including the approval of the first drug dedicated to treating SMA.

In 2018, the foundation launched a capital campaign to create the first and largest inclusive playground on the Central Coast. While profoundly disabled, little Gwendolyn thrived during her short life, possessing and sharing an exuberance for life and inspiring kindness in her friends and strangers. She attended elementary school, had many friends, danced hip-hop, ran half marathons, adored reading, and loved adventures and travel. “We lived big when we could and she cherished the simplest of gifts along the way. But what she couldn’t do, was ‘be one of the kids’ at local playgrounds,” Victoria told us back in 2021. “While many Santa Barbara playgrounds are ADA compliant, not a single one allowed Gwendolyn to play alongside her friends or participate fully on the equipment.”

“Our hearts are full of awe and pride for this community, who rallied from all corners to help us realize this vision,” said Victoria. “Local leaders, the business community, philanthropists, and thousands of families came together with a common passion and goal to create a magical, empowering, and inclusive destination for all children. We are eternally grateful to the Manitou Fund for their tremendous gift, and for every single gesture that was offered to our effort – from lemonade stand profits and piggy bank coins to corporate and nonprofit grants and matching contributions.”

A universally accessible playground is a space designed to remove physical barriers to allow children of all abilities to play side-by-side. Using evidence-based principles of inclusive design, the playground will incorporate the needs of children and adults with physical disabilities, but also consider the needs of individuals with autism and sensory impairments, intellectual disabilities, and visual and hearing loss. A custom, one-of-a-kind multi-story Magical Tree is the centerpiece of the planned playground, filled with imaginative play, STEAM interactive experiences (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics), and allowing for the exploration and full accessibility of every visitor. Other features include inclusive swings, sensory spinning, a butterfly plaza, art sculptures, a musical garden, a slide hillside, climbing features and much more. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2024.

“I am inspired as much by the way this campaign galvanized the community toward a common goal as I am the enchanting features of Gwendolyn’s Playground,” said Hurley, adding that witnessing the tremendous passion for the cause at November’s Butterfly Ball is what inspired a second contribution. “The Manitou Fund’s support of Gwendolyn Playground is not a gift but an investment in the standard we hold for this special corner of the world. Unbridled, unrestricted, and totally inclusive play is what truly fosters social growth, empathy, and joy. Its impact ripples out and benefits us all; it elevates us as a society.”

With the park features and the playground fully funded, the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation will pivot focus on their endowment efforts, which will support long-term maintenance and future equipment needs along with programming. The connected baseball field, multi-sport field, and family pavilion are still looking for support in the range of $4M with naming opportunities.

“Gwendolyn’s Playground endowment fund will allow the space to evolve with emerging needs and technologies and remain a dynamic inclusive destination for generations to come,” added Strong. “Magical joy will always be the key element, as guided and inspired by Gwendolyn’s beautiful spirit.”

If you are interested in learning more visit www.nevergiveup.org.

Housing Element Update

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.

At the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors hearing on Tuesday, the Board was briefed on the Housing Element Update, a draft of which was recently submitted to the State’s Housing and Community Development Department. The Housing Element process occurs every eight years, and requires that local governments must adopt plans and systems that provide opportunities for housing development. The Regional Housing Needs Allowance (RHNA) requires that the County identify sites for 4,142 new homes in South Santa Barbara County; in order to meet this, Montecito’s Growth Management Ordinance needs to be amended.

Following a public comment period after releasing the original draft Housing Element, nineteen new housing sites have been identified. Seven are county-owned sites on Calle Real, Hollister, and in downtown Santa Barbara. Two new sites have been identified in Montecito: employee housing at the Rosewood Miramar Resort and Village Beat

One805 First Responder to Our First Responders

by Jeff Wing

Life is capricious – to put it as charitably as possible – and “First Responder” has become too familiar a term. The full weight of what “First Responder” means bears some quick recollecting. When the Thomas Fire raged across 440 square miles of central coast some five years ago, it blasted all vegetation off the steep foothills above Montecito; just in time to receive the freak winter storm that immediately followed. At around 3:30 am on the morning of January 9th, 2018, the soaked and denuded hillsides released their enfeebled grip on the Earth, a 15-foothigh wall of semisolid chaos thundering straight down into the darkened, sleeping village, carrying boulders, trees, cars. Twenty-three lives were lost in a matter of minutes – neighbors, friends; loved ones all.

First Responders – Montecito Fire crews, Santa Barbara County and City Fire crews, Sheriff’s department rescuers and local police – surged into the devastation and waist-high mud with flashlights and dogs, shouting for survivors. The horrific sights and sounds experienced that night, and in the days and nights following, reached into the lives and psyches of these rescuers. Even the highly trained have their limits. Who responds when First Responders are imperiled?

In the aftermath of the cataclysm a new organization called One805 was created – to both lavishly thank the rescuers and see to their needs. The org put together a demure little gathering they called The Kick Ash Bash! in 2021 Entertainers, singers, actors and grateful Montecitans convened to communally transcend the tragedy and answer it with a rollicking celebration of life – and of the rescuers who swarmed into the war zone that night. The event managed to raise some $2M for the disaster’s first responder community, dramatically introducing One805 ’s ongoing raison d’ être : providing counseling support to First Responders and purchasing equipment to assure future successes.

In 2023, One805 is a permanent 501(c)(3) corporation and continues to rais e funds for all three First Responder groups – Fire, Police, and Sheriff. To that end, One805 has two events coming up to further their mission. On April 16 at Sunstone Winery, from 2 to 7 pm, Ed Roth and the Session Kings will be exquisitely rocking the sun-splashed environs with jazz, R&B, and Latinx rock. Top-flight session musicians Ed Roth , Andy Vargas , Linda Taylor , Travis Davis ,

Leo Costa and Rock Deadricks –who collectively have lent their chops to such acts as The Doors, Annie Lennox , Diana Ross , Ziggy Marley , Santana, Artie Garfunkel , and so on! – will be focused on one audience that day. You, dear reader. Tickets do include all food, wine, and beer, and VIP and Premium tables are available, as well.

Then on September 22nd, One805LIVE! Will be… I’ll just let the nonprofit’s justifiably excited CEO have the hollering rights. “We are excited to announce that Maroon 5 will be headlining the Fall One805LIVE! Festival,” says One805’s CEO, Kirsten Cavendish . “Maroon 5 will be coming off their Las Vegas Residency before continuing their world-tour, and we are so fortunate to have a headliner of this caliber generously donating their time and talent to support One805. This is an incredible opportunity for us to bring the community together and show our support for our local First Responders.”

It should come as no surprise that the September event will be hosted at Kevin and Christine Costner ’s tumbledown oceanside bungalow in Summerland, as was last year’s One805LIVE! bash. Otherwise, though, the surprises should come hard and fast at the event.

“The concert will feature a star-studded lineup of other artists,” promises One805 s COO Richard WestonSmith . “We will be making further announcements about the lineup in the coming months.”

One805 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance and resources for the acquisition of essential equipment and mental wellness counseling services, directly benefiting police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. The nonprofit is also known as a helluva concert promoter. Your ticket purchase for either event will go toward funding our first Responder Community. What could be more rock ‘n’ roll?

Tickets can be purchased at www.one805.org

Jeff can be reached at jeffwingg@gmail.com.

Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. A longtime resident of SB, he takes great delight in chronicling the lesser known facets of this gaudy jewel by the sea.

Danish String Quartet The Doppelgänger Project, Part III

Thu, Apr 13 / 7 PM (note special time) / UCSB Campbell Hall

Schubert: String Quartet in A minor, D. 804 (“Rosamunde”)

Schubert: String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703 (“Quartettsatz”)

Anna Thorvaldsdóttir: Rituals ( U.S. Premiere, Arts & Lectures Co-commission )

Schubert (arr. Danish String Quartet): Gretchen am Spinnrade , D.118

“Their command of the score is absolute… impressively cohesive.” The New York Times on Doppelganger, Part II

Sō Percussion with Caroline Shaw Let the Soil Play Its Simple Part

Works by Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion, Eric Cha-Beach, Angélica Negrón and Nathalie Joachim

Fri, Apr 21 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Sō Percussion offers an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam.” The New Yorker

Caroline Shaw’s remarkable ear for melody and Sō Percussion’s playful sense of rhythmic invention come together in this strikingly original music that dissolves the boundaries between classical and pop.

ARTEMIS

Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Alexa Tarantino, Nicole Glover, Noriko Ueda, Allison Miller

Sun, Apr 23 / 7 PM (note special time) / UCSB Campbell Hall

“A killer line-up of players… they all converge on this extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.” NPR

Founded in 2017 under the banner of International Women’s Day, ARTEMIS is a powerhouse ensemble of modern jazz masters, each a composer and bandleader in their own right.

Event Sponsor: Luci & Rich Janssen

Jazz Series Lead Sponsor: Manitou Fund

Santa Barbara Debut

Celebrating National Poetry Month!

Actor, Producer and Entrepreneur

Danny Trejo

A Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood

Wed, Apr 12 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

“Danny’s incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it’s what we do when we stand back up that really counts.” – Robert Rodriguez, American filmmaker

Justice for All Lead Sponsors: Marcy Carsey, Connie Frank & Evan Thompson, Eva & Yoel Haller, and Zegar Family Foundation

Indigenous Multimedia Artist

Nicholas Galanin

Let Them Enter Dancing and Showing Their Faces

Wed, Apr 19 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

FREE (registration recommended)

“Expansive, embracing and grappling with many facets and complexities of what it means to be Native American today.” The Art Newspaper

Justice for All Lead Sponsors: Marcy Carsey, Connie Frank & Evan Thompson, Eva & Yoel Haller, and Zegar Family Foundation

24th U.S. Poet Laureate

Ada Limón

Why We Need Poetry

Tue, Apr 25 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall

Tickets start at $20 / FREE for all students (with valid ID)

“A poet whose verse exudes warmth and compassion, Limón is at the height of her creative powers.” Los Angeles Review of Books

The first woman of Mexican ancestry to be named U.S. poet laureate, Ada Limón is the author of six books of poetry. Her latest, The Hurting Kind, was named one of The New York Times’ 100 Notable Books of 2022.

Celebrating Mother’s Day

Laura Dern & Diane Ladd

Honey, Baby, Mine: A Mother and Daughter Talk Life and Love

Wed, May 3 / 7:30 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall

Join acclaimed actress Laura Dern and her mother, Academy Award-winner Diane Ladd, for a deeply personal conversation on love, art, ambition and legacy inspired by their own heart-to-hearts.

have a commitment and passion to ensure that every child, especially every girl, is set up for success. When I read the CDC report, I was deeply concerned about our next generation of leaders. The report reveals that teen girls face a crisis of violence and trauma, leading to record levels of hopelessness, sadness, and suicide risk. The situation is dire, and we must take immediate action to support these girls and protect their well-being. Through Girls Inc.’s mentoring connections, intentional programs, and sustained exposure – we have that opportunity. We equip girls with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate barriers, so they grow up healthy, educated, and independent.

The programs we offer at Girls Inc. focus on providing resources to overcome challenges. We are committed to increasing access to mental health and wellness support for students in our communities, and we are combatting the persistent stigma surrounding mental health. In this past year, through funding from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara, we have been able to launch our mental health art therapies program. Every week, girls are exposed to different creative arts that help express their feelings, work through emotions, and introduce them to new mediums. Our dedicated marriage and family therapist, who holds an emphasis in art, guides the girls through the creative process while paying close attention to the work. She then can reach out to girls who may need additional support or refer them out to partner agencies.

In Carpinteria we develop our programs to respond to the needs of our community. Our staff are professionally trained to facilitate lessons with our girls that are age appropriate, hands-on, and engaging. Based off community assessments throughout the years, our programs in Carpinteria, in partnership with our school district, ensure girls are on track to read by 3rd grade through our literacy program. We also provide comprehensive healthy sexuality programming built on a foundation of accurate information, cultural sensitivity, and values of inclusiveness and respect. In addition, we focus on sports introduction outreach, and through our five-year expanding learning Eureka! Program, we ensure girls are set up to pursue post-secondary dreams and be leaders in our future.

The recent report on the Status of Women and Girls in California made it clear that education plays a vital role in both resolving gender inequity and fomenting economic recovery. One of the stand-out programs of the Carpinteria affiliate, Eureka! emphasizes college readiness and builds girls’ confidence and skills through hands-on opportunities, with a focus on introducing girls to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The program is designed to help girls overcome barriers to their achievement by providing a continual support system, along with opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they need to thrive. Eureka! members have traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet elected officials and lobby on issues important to them, participated in externships, and have taken part in other college and career preparation opportunities.

Girls Inc. is a key player in ensuring that girls will be ready to step into key leadership positions and take their seat at the table through living our mission of being strong, smart, and bold. Girls Inc. of Carpinteria currently serves more than 1,100 youth in the Carpinteria Valley, from Pre-K through 12th grade.

Jennifer Faust: Girls Inc. specializes in program curricula that we call the “Girls Inc. Experience,” which addresses all of the issues in the CDC report. We actively partner with other community collaborators and public schools to bring added support to our teen girls and youth. Our research shows us that Girls Inc. is making progress on some of the toughest issues girls face – but all of us working in this field still have room to improve, especially in our work with girls of color, LBGTQ+ girls, and low-income girls. All girls deserve equity of access to well-being and opportunity, and we have to see the whole girl, in her context and community. That’s what Girls Inc. has always done, and we believe that’s a key to the success we’ve achieved.

We concentrate on an approach that hinges on three elements that are critical to our successful outcomes:

People: Trained staff and volunteers who build lasting, mentoring relationships. Our staff take the time to engage with families, encourage girls to pursue leadership positions, and serve as role models.

Environment: Girls-only, pro-girl, physically and emotionally safe – where there is a sisterhood of support, high expectations, and mutual respect.

Evidence-based programming: Our evidence-based programming is delivered by trained professionals who focus on the development of the whole girl, supporting, mentoring, and guiding girls in an affirming, pro-girl environment. Girls learn to value their whole selves, discover and develop their inherent strengths, and receive the support they need to navigate the challenges they face.

As part of the Girls Inc. Experience, our youth at every age group participate in age- appropriate versions of the following classes:

Friendly PEERsuasion builds girls’ skills for resisting pressure to use harmful substances such as alcohol, tobacco, household chemicals, and other drugs.

Healthy Sexuality assists girls in understanding and embracing sexuality with a positive, empowered approach that is built on a foundation of accurate information, cultural sensitivity, and values of inclusiveness and respect.

Tova Friedman Survived Auschwitz –Now She’s Sharing Her Story on TikTok

Visitors routinely overwhelm Tova Friedman’s TikTok account with tough questions, such as: Why didn’t she try to flee Auschwitz? Could she hear screams coming from the gas chambers?

The 84-year-old strives to depict the brutal reality of Auschwitz with the help of her 17-year-old grandson, while avoiding violent language that would shock her young viewers.

“I don’t want to turn them off, so I have to be a little bit careful how to do it,” Friedman explained. “I’m very careful in choosing my vocabulary.”

Since she and her grandson, Aron Goodman, started the page in September 2021, about 500,000 individuals have subscribed to Friedman’s TikTok account, as previously reported by NorthJersey.com. Their project is meant to combat online Holocaust denial and misinformation by sharing Friedman’s own experience, guaranteeing that the truth lives on, especially in the face of widespread anti-Semitism in the United States.

“I have a terrific obligation to speak,” Friedman once said in an interview. “I don’t have survivor’s guilt, but I have survivor’s obligation so that I speak to remember.”

Friedman, who was born in Poland just before the beginning of World War II, was deported by Nazis first to a Jewish ghetto and subsequently to Auschwitz. She was taken from a gas chamber at the age of six for reasons she still does not understand. According to her recently published memoir, she reportedly hid next to a still-warm corpse to avoid Nazis gathering captives for a death march, and she eventually was freed when Auschwitz was liberated in 1945.

Friedman sits on a couch at Aron’s home in Morristown, New Jersey, and speaks directly to the camera in the majority of her TikTok videos. She takes her audience to other locations as well, such as a radio recording studio.

Aron also protects Friedman from anti-Semitic comments made about their account, and he tries not to linger on them himself. According to the Anti-Defamation League, while much of TikTok’s material is benign, anti-Semitic extremists have occasionally used the network to propagate hateful content and conspiracy theories.

“Those give me fuel to try to continue this work,” Aron said. “For the most part, I think about the positive impact we have.”

“I just want to speak as long as I can and reach as many people as is possible as long as I’m alive,” Friedman declared.

Project BOLD strengthens girls’ abilities to lead safer lives by developing strategies for self-defense, seeking out caring adults to help with personal violence, and advocating on violence issues.

Leadership and Community Action builds leadership skills and creates lasting social change by partnering girls and women in community action projects chosen by girls.

Economic Literacy introduces girls to basic economic and financial concepts, including money management, investments, and global economics.

Media Literacy encourages girls to think critically about media messages and fosters their awareness of the power of the media and its effects on girls.

We partner with funders, peer community organizations and the Lompoc district, Goleta district, and Santa Barbara district schools. Our teens received the “Youth Making Change Grant” from the Fund for Santa Barbara to host a Mental Health Summit on August 5, 2023, at our Teen Center. It will address mental health topics that affect girls/teens in our community. Topics they hope to cover are Body Neutrality, Social Media and the Impacts on Self-Esteem, Eating Disorders, Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health, Suicide Prevention, and Healthy relationships. We will partner with YouthWell, Pacific Pride, CALM, What is Love? and Goleta Valley Junior High School, La Colina Junior High School, Santa Barbara Junior High School, Dos Pueblos Innovate, and Maple High School in Lompoc.

For programming accountability, we regularly conduct survey research with the participants to measure our own impact around the Strong-Smart-Bold curriculum and share it across the network. All Girls Inc. programs do this annually in concert with our National office research team.

For participants in the Girls Inc. Experience programs, youth have to be girl-identifying and ages four-and-a-half to 18. We also offer co-ed gymnastics so we serve all genders there. We have sliding scale fees that are income-based and subsidize the cost of participation for many of our families.

411: For more on joining and supporting Girls Inc. visit their website and social: https://girlsincsb.org https://girlsinc-carp.org

African Women Rising Speaking with Founder

Linda Eckerbom Cole

by Rachael Quisel

In a remote corner of Northern Uganda, African Women Rising has been making waves as a force for change, led by its founder, Linda Eckerbom Cole. With an approach focused on listening, engaging local leaders, and being responsive to the unique needs of each community, the organization has worked with 25,000 people and touched the lives of more than 150,000 individuals, particularly women and girls. I had the opportunity to sit down with Linda, as she shared the inspiring journey of African Women Rising, the challenges they faced, and her hopes for the future of the organization and the communities they serve.

Q: How did you develop your philosophy to create African Women Rising?

A: My background is working with women in conflict and post-conflict areas. I was frustrated with the development aid approach, which is often donor-driven, short-term, and lacks community involvement. I believed I could create a more effective organization.

What was the process of starting African Women Rising?

I spent about a year traveling in Northern Uganda during the war, talking to people in internally displaced people camps, government officials, and women’s groups to understand their needs. In 2006, I started with 150 women and focused on providing access to capital through microfinance.

How has the organization evolved over time?

The needs of the communities have changed. When people were living in camps, they didn’t have access to agricultural land. Now, we provide agricultural support and education. We are the largest provider of adult literacy and work with 17 primary schools to ensure students finish their education.

Can you tell us more about your programs?

We have a graduation program where people participate in microfinance, regenerative agriculture, and adult literacy. Access to capital allows them to invest in farming and other businesses, while learning to read and write helps them become better businesspeople. We see the most success when people participate in all three programs.

So, when you’re considering those three major areas, how do you prioritize or decide which one to focus on for a particular community?

I think it’s important to first understand the specific needs and challenges of each community. We typically start by engaging with the community members and conducting assessments to gather information about their needs and priorities. Once we have a clear understanding of the community’s needs, we work with our local staff and partners to develop and implement programs tailored to those specific needs. For example, the work we do in the refugee camp is different from what works best in a community where people are more stable. It’s all about being responsive to the circumstances of each community and adapting our approach accordingly.

That’s a very thoughtful approach. Can you share an example of a community or project where African Women Rising has made a significant impact?

One example that comes to mind is our regenerative agricultural program and the impact it has had in Palabek refugee camp. Since 2017, over 1.5 million refugees have fled South Sudan and are living in camps in Northern Uganda. The conditions are extremely difficult and access to food is a priority. We continue to work with

over 5,000 refugees, providing them with training in Permagardens, a regenerative farming approach that looks at maximizing food production on the small plot of land refugees are assigned.

Over time, we have seen a remarkable transformation from this methodology. People can grow enough food to feed their families and even have surplus to sell at the market, which allows them to generate income to buy basic items such as soap, salt, and medication. It’s providing food security to refugees and vulnerable communities in extreme need.

It’s really inspiring how you’ve built those strong relationships and trust within the communities you serve. As you continue to work with these communities and the refugee population, what are some of the most significant lessons you’ve learned along the way?

Well, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of listening. As I mentioned earlier, when I first started, I had my own ideas about what needed to be done, but I quickly realized that I had to put those ideas aside and really listen to what the people in the communities were telling me. They know their needs and priorities better than anyone, and by listening and being responsive to their voices, we’re able to create more effective and sustainable programs. We have an amazing team of over 250 women and men running our programs. Some of them started as participants in our programs and many are refugees. These leaders have become the driving force behind the changes we want to see, and they’re able to take ownership and continue the work long after we’re gone.

Those are incredibly valuable insights, and it’s clear that your approach has had a real impact on the lives of many people. As African Women Rising continues to grow and evolve, what are your hopes for the future of the organization and the communities you serve?

We already know that communities we work in become self-sufficient. We generally work in a community for three to five years, at the end of which families are financially stable and food secure. They can send their children to school and access healthcare.

So, my hope is really to be able to extend our programs to more communities. There is a great need for the kind of work we do, providing long-term investments to build capacity and create a better future. We cannot empower, but we can provide the tools and resources women need to empower themselves.

Learn more about what African Women Rising is doing through their website at www.africanwomenrising.org

Rachael Quisel is a freelance writer who specializes in health and fitness. Their short story, “Departure,” was nominated for the 2022 Pushcart Prize.

Fr. Virgil Cordano Center

Meals, Laundry, and Comfort...

by Joanne A Calitri

The repurposed Santa Barbara store fronts at 4020 Calle Real, Suite 2, are serving our city’s homeless two meals a day – and a place to call home from 9 am to 3 pm. This is the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center (FVCC), conceived by

the Daughters of Charity at St. Vincent’s and the Franciscan Friars at Old Mission Santa Barbara.

The center is the only drop-in homeless day center in the Santa Barbara area and offers a variety of essential services for members of Santa Barbara’s homeless community, including nourishing meals; case management and support

in accessing eligible social services and job/housing opportunities; access to utilities such as a kitchen, washing machines, computers, and the internet; and a safe place to rest, socialize, and experience a sense of community. Acknowledging that a person is not defined by their homeless status, the staff help the homeless guests with support resources.

The program operates with two full time staff members, Director Deborah McQuade and Assistant Director Ann Bentajado . McQuade and Bentajado join with over 40 volunteers, and Sisters and Friars, to take on all the various jobs at the center. Lazy Acres and Bristol Farms contribute food through Santa Barbara County Food Rescue, while Jordano’s and Catholic Charities donate directly to the Fr. Virgil Cordano Center. Staff members go out and collect the food offered by these donors, and after thoroughly inspecting the donations for food safety, bring the foodstuffs back to create the meal plans. Meals are breakfast and lunch – sit down, take out, and snack packs.

or food. The center’s expanding use of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) – a secure online database – supports members in their seeking out of social services they are eligible to receive.

Multiple survey statistics in 2019 show that California had the highest poverty rate in the U.S., with 28 percent of Californians living in or near the defined poverty line. In 2021, Santa Barbara County’s poverty rate was at 13.5 percent. [ref: www.ppic.org/ interactive/california-poverty-by-countyand-legislative-district]

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Asked what the best part of her job is, McQuade said, “The very best part of each day is really the first thing in the morning, when our guests walk through the front door, saying “hi” to the staff and volunteers, grabbing a cup of hot coffee and enjoying the always comforting smell of scrambled eggs and buttered toast coming from the kitchen. Every day it feels like the coming together of a real community – and it is!”

Helping McQuade both oversee the operations at FVCC and serve the center’s members is Sister Arthur Gordon, Daughter of Charity at St. Vincent’s Santa Barbara, where she is the VP of Mission and Archives. Sister Gordon hopes for expanded services with a new location and building for the FVCC that includes temporary housing for what she calls “our unsheltered brothers and sisters.”

The FVCC opened in 2018. Members usually walk or ride the city bus to get to the center. First time visitors are asked to provide basic client-level information, and they are enrolled in the FVCC Companionship Club. Thereafter, they can drop in anytime they need services

Addressing that sobering figure, the FVCC serves between 55 and 75 members of Santa Barbara’s homeless community per day, which the staff says comprises three to four percent of Santa Barbara County’s homeless population. This figure is based on the 2023 Pointin-Time Count – the annual census of unhoused individuals in Santa Barbara County. In December 2021, the FVCC had a total of 961 visits from Santa Barbara’s homeless community. That number increased to more than 1,100 visits in November 2022.

Addressing the community and anyone considering a donation, Chief Development Officer Regina Ruiz , PhD shares, “The FVCC accomplishes what a paid staff of several dozen would accomplish, but with only two paid staff members, our large volunteer network, and Sisters and Friars. One dollar donated to the FVCC stretches further than it would in most nonprofit organizations serving the homeless. Feel free to come by the center, and please visit our website.”

411: https://frvirgilcordanocenter.org

In the FVCC’s laundry room, (from left) Program Director Debbie McQuade, member Cameron Bielawski, and Assistant Program Director Ann Bentajado (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

Serving up lunch are (from left) Brother Ricky Madere – Novice of the Franciscans; Sr. Oanh Tran D.C.; and Kitty Murphy volunteer (photo by Joanne A Calitri)

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

ACTIVE LISTING

Incredible 8,100 sq. ft. modern estate on 2+ acres in Ennisbrook. Brilliantly re-designed by Becker Studios.

PENDING SALE

Ocean & mtn views, plus incredible design make this 3-bed/3-bath home an unparalleled piece of paradise.

JUST SOLD

OFF-MARKET SALE! Expansive 5-bed French Country-style home in Montecito w/ pool/spa & ocean views.

LISTED AT $22,750,000

NEW LISTING

Beautifully renovated Structure of Merit, circa 1903, w/ 4-bed/3-bath main residence and 2 guest units.

LISTED AT $4,375,000

JUST SOLD

Secluded Hope Ranch property on golf course w/ 4-bed main residence and detached 1-bed guest house.

LISTED AT $3,995,000

LISTED AT $5,750,000 CALCAGNO

LISTED AT $5,195,000

ACTIVE LISTING

Recently redesigned, this single level home w/ guest house and pool rest on 0.57-acre in the San Roque foothills.

CELINE DRIVE LISTED AT $3,300,000

Real Estate First Quarter Real Estate Update

for Montecito’s 93108

by Mark Ashton Hunt

The rain has stopped and the sun has been shining for several days in a row now – which is a relief. Creeks are relaxing, as are residents. Montecito and her flood and debris flow prevention steps clearly worked during the larger storms that presented themselves this first quarter of 2023. What a wet and wild winter it has been.

On January 9th of this year during the mandatory evacuation, I drove away with family in car just as the freeways were being shut down. Rain was pouring down as we left town, muddy water cascading onto the 101 through the fence at Tiburon Bay Lane… but all is well in the land of the little mountain (the basic Spanish translation of Montecito). Well, our mountains are not that small... I’ve climbed them over the years and… but I digress.

This first quarter of rainy days aside (and evacuations hopefully in our rearview mirror), Montecito’s Real Estate market had an awesome January through March in terms of sales prices going up and up for the most part. As time moves on, people are increasingly willing to pay higher and higher prices to live here. The days of buying a $2M fixer on an acre of land are gone – perhaps forever. A new vein of well-heeled buyers are showing locals what we’ve known all along; this is a very special place to live at most any price.

When reviewing home sales within the 93108 as tracked in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) over the past few years, one can see the steady trend downward in sales volume from the height of the COVID crisis. Looking at first quarter sales over the past few years in Montecito’s 93108, here is what I discovered.

– In the first quarter of 2021 there were 93 sales (nine sales over $10M).

– In 2022’s first quarter, there were 63 sales (10 sales over $10M). – And in the first quarter of 2023, there were 29 closed escrows (five sales over $10M). – Normal sales volume for a first quarter (not counting COVID years 2020 to 2022) would be around 40 closed escrows.

Additionally, though the first quarter numbers are way down from the COVID Montecito Real Estate Boom, and even down from normal years in the MLS, there are certainly more off market sales happening now than ever before that bear consideration. Many of these transactions go unrecorded within the MLS, and thus fly below the radar. With the low housing inventory we’ve seen this past year or so, prospective homeowners seek privacy in their purchases even as realtors attempt to find homes for these anxious buyers. In this environment off market sales are becoming more and more frequent.

There is surely a balancing point where a “just enough” inventory does not flood the marketplace yet still offers enough variety for choosy buyers – but not so many choices that one can’t decide between the options. Too many homes on the market will compel buyers to lowball. At the other end of the spectrum, a shortage of housing inventory creates the frenzy we see when a home that “everyone wants” hits the market. What is that home that everyone wants? Let’s consider for now it’s San Ysidro Ranch style, it’s a modern farmhouse, it’s Spanish in design… it’s anything with a view and a nice yard. Just try and find a view property in Montecito under $5M. It does not exist right now. Also consider that the lowest-priced home on the market in the 93108 at this moment is $2,699,000 (not on an acre and definitely no ocean view), and if you are in the market for a home in the 93108, at this time you have only 31 choices between $2.699 and $33M. There is nothing in the $8’s, one home in the $7’s, a few in the $5’s and so on.

At this writing, there are a few homes available in Montecito’s gated communities. These have been very popular during COVID for those seeking security, and a community amenities (tennis, pool, golf), lock-and-go lifestyle.

MARK ASHTON HUNT

Representing Buyers and Sellers in Montecito

Specializing in property valuation

If you would like me to make an appointment for you to view any home for sale in Montecito, or for a current market analysis of your home, please contact me directly.

Call/Text Mark @ 805-698-2174

Mark@Villagesite.com

871 Deerpath Road – $5,995,000

At the top of a cul-de-sac in the coveted Eucalyptus Hill neighborhood, this retreat provides ocean and harbor views along with easy access to the Montecito Villages, pristine beaches, and downtown Santa Barbara. The recently renovated single-level residence and fully permitted ADU on a private acre of estate-like grounds offers a perfect getaway in an ideal location.

High-end designer finishes are evident throughout the light-filled home, which features a cozy living/media room along with a fabulous great room – complete with a chef’s kitchen, two fireplaces, and casual dining areas – that easily flows to outdoor spaces. There are four bedrooms in the main residence, highlighted by a romantic primary suite with a walk-in closet and luxurious bathroom. Additionally, there is a separate guest cottage complete with kitchen, mini-great room with ocean view terrace, two bedrooms, and a full bathroom along with a private yard.

166 Butterfly Lane – $6,195,000

Welcome to this classic 1920s Spanish Colonial gem whose every space deserves a moment of pause. This pied-à-terre spares no expense on quality and thoughtful design. Nestled on a third-acre lot in the highly desirable Lower Village and within the Montecito Union School District, this architectural treasure just received an extensive restoration by Jennifer Miller Studios and is ready for a new owner.

The ultra-cozy home enjoys custom hardware, playful prints, elegant tile selections, beautiful lighting choices, French doors at every turn, and graceful archways that lead to the great room (the heart of the home). Enjoy the European-style kitchen, intimate formal dining room, brick entertaining terraces, and lush gardens. This home is just a few short blocks to Coast Village Road and our iconic Butterfly Beach – and is the only home on the market in the entire Middle Road neighborhood right now.

2005 Birnam Wood Drive – $7,495,000

Privately set in the 24/7 guard-gated golf course community of Birnam Wood, and located on the 10th green, this gracious three-bedroom, three-anda-half bathroom, nearly 5,000 square foot residence rests on a 1.06 acre lot. Inside the home, find spacious, sophisticated rooms and multiple fireplaces. Natural light cascades from a skylight above the chef’s kitchen island, and the inviting breakfast area offers the perfect place to soak in the morning sun.

The light-filled primary suite enjoys a stone hearth fireplace, a spacious bath, heated marble floors, and a large walk-in closet. An expansive rear terrace celebrates the best aspects of Montecito’s enviable climate. Lost your urge to cook? No problem… Birnam’s beloved restaurant delivers! Skip the waiting list and join Birnam Wood Country Club today! Homes in Birnam Wood are located within the Montecito Union School District.

Library Mojo Book to Action

by Kim Crail

Each year, Santa Barbara Public Library chooses a social topic of interest or challenge that the community is facing and develops a series of programs to explore potential solutions. Through selected readings, presentations, and community engagement, the library hopes to inspire action in the community to improve lives and invest in a more sustainable future.

Join legal scholar and activist Dean Spade for SBPL’s 2023 Book to Action keynote address at Central Library – 40 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara – on April 18 at 6 pm to kick off a series of Mutual Aid workshops for those interested in learning to apply this model of survival work in tandem with social movements. Broadly speaking, Mutual Aid refers to a collaborative, coordinated effort to meet each other’s needs –typically stemming from a consensual awareness that the systems and institutions we have in place are insufficient to meet those needs.

Spade will discuss his book, Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity in this Crisis and the Next, which offers a framework for those working at this intersection of survival work – support of vulnerable neighbors – and social movements demanding transformative change in our community. Attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book, and are invited to a workshop on putting the Mutual Aid framework into action in their communities.

This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Calling All Activists!

Montecito Library will host a Mutual Aid workshop on Wednesday, April 26th from 1-2 pm, putting into practice the tenets of Mutual Aid in our work and offering concrete tools for organizing – such as how to work in groups, how to foster a collective decision-making process, how to prevent and address conflict, and how to deal with burnout.

Please pick up a free copy of the book at Montecito Library if you would like to participate.

Poetry Club Discusses Pablo Neruda

Here is a message from Carli Lochner, our library staff member who facilitates the Poetry Club:

We invite you to join us at the Montecito Library for an afternoon’s exploration of the vibrant, tender, and impassioned life and poetic work of Pablo Neruda.

Pablo Neruda was born in Parral, Chile in 1904. He began writing early in his childhood and would grow to become one of the world’s most widely translated and honored poets. He was a poet, a diplomat, and a politician, and his poetry is vivacious, sensuous, and often politically-charged. Neruda was a recipient of the World Peace Prize with Pablo Picasso and Paul Robeson in 1950, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1971. He passed away in 1973, at his home in Isla Negra.

Please bring a favorite poem by the featured poet to discuss. All are welcome.

Spring Break Painting

We offered a chance for kids to come paint their masterpieces over Spring Break and had so much fun. Please enjoy these photos of some of their beautiful, inspiring work. It was a calm, beautiful morning of painting together and some adults got into the creative spirit, too.

April Events:

Stay & Play - Tuesdays, Drop in anytime 9-10:30 am

Preschool Storytime (age 3-5) - Thursdays, 10-10:30 am

Knit ‘n’ Needle - Thursdays, 2-3:30 pm

Library On the Go Van @ Cold Spring School - Wed, 4/5, 3:30-5:30 pm

Poetry Club: Pablo Neruda - Wed, 4/19, 2-3:30 pm

Montecito Book Club: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah - Tues, 4/25, 12-1 pm

Brain Education Series: Promoting Your Brain Health at Any Age - Wed, 4/26, 10-11 am

Mutual Aid Workshop - Wed, 4/26, 1-2 pm

See you at the library!

Easter

@ El Montecito Presbyterian Church

Maundy Thursday Service

Thursday, April 6, 5:30 p.m.

Dinner & Communion, Fellowship Hall

Good Friday Service

Friday, April 7, 12:30 p.m.

Sanctuary

Easter Sunday Worship Gathering

Sunday, April 9, 10:00 a.m.

Sanctuary

Children's Church for ages 0-12

1455 East Valley Road ~ elmopres.org

Masterpieces from the Spring Break painting event

Kim is the Librarian at the Montecito Library. Questions or comments? Contact her: kcrail@santabarbaraca.gov

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Foraging Thyme Strawberry Fields

by Melissa Petitto

The Central Coast has some of the most amazing strawberries I have ever tasted. They are beginning to make an appearance again and I for one am so thrilled. At one of my favorite Farmers Market vendors, I asked about the crop this year and was told that many of the fields were flooded with the recent deluge of rain. That does mean that we might have fewer strawberries than usual, so you might need to run, not walk, to make sure you grab some. The strawberry is beloved both fresh and in any other form – from salads to compotes. One of my favorites is the dessert form. This luscious berry is known to reduce and control glucose levels with their low glycemic index. Strawberries are also very high in antioxidants known as polyphenols, and a good source of manganese, potassium, and Vitamin C. Strawberries have been shown to improve memory, their flavonoids helping to decrease inflammation – and thus mitigate the age-related cognitive decline associated with systemic inflammation. This low-calorie berry may also reduce the risk of some cancers.

A treat that I used to eat growing up in Alabama, a Strawberry Buckle is an old-fashioned dessert that is a basic cake batter with fresh fruit folded in, giving it a buckled appearance. This one is vegan because that’s how I love to make it, but feel free to change up the plant-based ingredients for your favorite ones. I love it served warm with coconut whipped cream or oat milk vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Strawberry Buckle

Yield: Serves 4

3 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/2 cup unprocessed organic sugar

Batter

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup unprocessed organic sugar

1 cup unsweetened oat milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

8 tablespoons Miyoko’s unsalted butter, melted

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9-inch baking dish.

2. In a medium bowl, combine strawberries, sugar, and lemon zest and juice. Allow to sit while you make the batter.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

4. Add in the milk, vanilla extract, and melted butter.

5. Stir until just combined. A few lumps are ok.

6. Pour batter in greased baking dish and then top with sugared strawberries.

7. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to the preheated oven.

8. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and set.

Melissa Petitto, R.D., is an executive chef and co-founder at Thymeless My Chef SB, was a celebrity personal chef for 16 years, just finished her 10th cookbook, and is an expert on nutrition and wellness.

(above) Sustainably managed cows at Las Cumbres Ranch in Santa Barbara County. Learn more about Cows Rebuilding the Soil at sbcfan.org/videos.

PHOTO J ANDREW HILL / PHAROS CREATIVE

- Pool construction on Hot Springs

- Wall building in San Ysidro creek

On Tuesday, April 4th, I pulled up to the Ennisbrook trailhead on San Leandro Lane to meet this crew from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW):

We were hoping David Vyenielo, the County Inspector with Planning Department would be there, but he wasn’t.

The meeting was organized by Renee Alexander, a resident of Ennisbrook who became concerned about a large wall going up in San Ysidro Creek. Damage from the storm caused significant scouring, erosion, and creek bed shift.

Renee initially got some traction with County Flood Control, who stated there was no way that wall in San Ysidro Creek would be permitted, and construction stopped. But a few days later, construction resumed. It felt like the county was backpedaling, and Renee’s suspicion – shared by several neighbors – is that the walled property is likely owned by a very famous person.

The Army Corps of Engineers similarly went and hid under a rock, inviting Renee to open FOIA requests to look at any emergency permits that may have been pulled to build the wall.

California Fish and Wildlife was confident about their responsibility in the situation. When there’s a significant event – like the 1/9 storm this year – and property or life is now at risk, the owner can perform immediate emergency repair work to mitigate the risk. They then have a 14-day window to notify CDFW, who inspects the work. CDFW may not like the way the property owner shored up their property and could require changes.

Supervisor Steve Gibson agreed that the newly constructed stone wall altered creek velocity and would be a problem with downstream flow. There was no permit taken with CDFW for the work.

What’s the remedy? CDFW said they’ll notify the property owner and start working with them. They also advised Renee to talk with Santa Barbara Land Trust because Ennisbrook has a conservation easement with them.

CDFW also have grants on offer to pay for studies and engineering work to restore creeks. Renee was encouraged to apply for such a grant, as the Ennisbrook side of the creek took a lot of damage, knocking out part of the trail. The Montecito Trails Foundation could perhaps be an applicant on that grant for the trail restoration work they have to do there.

CDFW also noted both bridges are low, and probably need replacing as they could be knocked out by the next storm.

Bob Greene, the property manager for the very famous owner, happened to emerge at the top of the newly constructed wall, presumably inspecting the work. Renee asked, by yelling across the creek, if we could talk. He agreed, so the crew converged down in the creek from both sides. Renee got Mr. Greene’s contact info. CDFW quite politely let him know they wanted to speak with him. Everyone agreed to meet up.

Renee asked me to meet with her and Marcia Ziffren, also serving on the board of the Ennisbrook Homeowners’ Association. We surveyed the area two weeks ago. I advised the best move was to get authorities on the ground to look at it.

Renee had contacted the county, Fish and Wildlife, the Santa Barbara County Land Trust, and Army Corps of Engineers – agencies with authority and jurisdiction over creeks here locally. None of them seemed to know how to stop a very large wall going up in San Ysidro Creek, creating a new flow path. Renee called me. I reached out to Senator Monique Limón’s office, and Sam Omana came through, as always. A week later, we were meeting with Fish and Wildlife, and learned they have a great deal of jurisdiction over creek building, including issuing permits to Santa Barbara County Flood Control for their work in creeks.

A very productive morning. We welcomed CDFW back to visit Montecito anytime!

Next: The reckless pool-building up at Hot Springs… which CDFW said is also illegal. Stay tuned!

Sharon Byrne is the Executive Director of the Montecito Association

The team observing trail erosion

The creek has eroded from the recent rains

Renee Alexander explaining issues with the wall (opposite side of creek) to CDFAW Supervisor Steve Gibson

Everyone meeting in the creek

Pictured from left to right: Kyle Evans, CDFW Fisheries Department – Steelhead Recovery and Restoration; Angela Bonfiglio Allen, Env. Scientist for Streambed Program Ventura County; Supervisor Steve Gibson; Cooper Wall, Env. Scientist for CESA Program – Santa Barbara, Ventura; Sarah Rains – Env. Scientist for Streambed Program – Santa Barbara County; Game Wardens John Brusa and Israel Magana.

an eclectic selection of music from Broadway, barbershop, Disney of course, and a particularly enchanting version of Climb Every Mountain with the choral society singers joining them on stage. It was an evening of high note with

many in between.

Among the sea of guests were Kostis Protopapas , Peter and Deborah Bertling, Barbara Burger, Todd and Allyson Aldrich, Scott Reed, Jonathan Bishop, Brooks and Kate Firestone, Dick and Marilyn Mazess , Stefan and Christine Riesenfeld, and Sandy Knox-Johnston

Waterhouse Gallery Opens on CVR

Social gridlock reigned when dynamic duo Ralph and Diane Waterhouse opened their first art gallery on Coast Village Road, formerly the site of the Scoops ice cream store.

The Waterhouse Gallery is an extension of their nearly four decades old La Arcada emporium in Santa Barbara, next door to the popular French eatery Petit Valentien.

“We’ve always wanted to have a gallery on Coast Village Road and this became available,” Diane told me at the opening bash.

“And it’s just a few doors down from my office.

“I will base myself here and Ralph will look after downtown. We have a great team and work well together.”

Diane, who I’ve known for many Miscellany Page 424

Perri Harcourt, Richard Banks, Mindy Bingham, Ralph Waterhouse, Leslye Givarz, and Ken Kambis (photo by Priscilla)

The Waterhouse family, Ralph, Claire, and Diane, at their new gallery opening (photo by Priscilla)

Marylove Thralls and Mikki Andina (photo by Priscilla)

Biltmore Hotel, which could add 60 units total of housing, half of which would be for employees. Two other sites are located in the Eastern Goleta Valley, and one new site has been earmarked in Carpinteria. Other sites are located in Isla Vista and on the UCSB campus; remaining sites are in the North County. These newly-identified sites could accommodate 2,151 lower income, moderate income, and market income units, adding to the sites previously identified by County staff – none of which were in Montecito, which caused significant public outcry.

County staff has identified many more sites than necessary throughout the County, so that if necessary, sites can be eliminated further in the process. Many of the sites will require a rezone in order to accommodate housing.

Next steps include receiving review and comments from the State, followed by environmental review, public comment hearings, adoption hearings, and rezone hearings.

Pearl Chase Society Kicks Off Kellam de Forest Speaker Series

Of all its meaningful community members, Pearl Chase has left one of the biggest impressions on our area, helping shape the way this town looks and feels. The Pearl Chase Society, founded in 1995, is an all-volunteer nonprofit conservancy focused on continuing Chase’s legacy. Kellam de Forest, son of influential landscape architects Lockwood de Forest and Elizabeth Kellam de Forest, was one of its founding members. Kellam sadly passed on January 19, 2021, from COVID-19 complications, and the Society received many generous donations in his name after his passing.

In his honor, the Pearl Chase Society is launching an ongoing series of monthly talks, the Kellam de Forest Speaker Series. These hour-long talks will be held on the second Friday of each month at the Carrillo Recreation Center, 100 East Carrillo Street, at 6 pm.

Kellam established de Forest Research Company, an authenticity consulting firm for films and television. Kellam worked on the original Star Trek series and countless other movies and shows, becoming known as “Hollywood’s Answer Man.” Often going uncredited for the firm’s contributions, Kellam’s accomplishments are somewhat unfamiliar in the area.

“We will present speakers who will address topics close to Kellam’s heart, causes he would have supported, the history of Santa Barbara, and the individuals who established Santa Barbara as a uniquely beautiful and culturally rich community,” said Cheri Rae, Pearl Chase Society Board Member.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Atacama Optics & Electronics; Atacama Light, 2520 Emerson St, Summerland, CA 93067. Atacama, LLC, 2520 Emerson St, Summerland, CA 93067. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 22, 2023. 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. 2023-0000477.

Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Vox Geekus, 606 Alamo Pintado Rd STE 3-107, Solvang, CA 93463. Michael A White, 3681 Sagunto St #204, Santa Ynez, CA 93460. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2023. 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. 2023-0000751. Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SCSB Protective Services Corp, 5455 8 th Street #31, Carpinteria, CA 93013. SCSB Protective Services, 5455 8 th Street #31, Carpinteria, CA 93013. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 22, 2023. 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. 2023-0000775. Published April 5, 12, 19, 26, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Bird’s Wood Finishing Co., 2416 De La Vina St., Apt 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Sergio Ocampo, 2416 De La Vina St., Apt 7, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 23, 2023. 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.

To kick off the series, Rick Closson will host the first April 14 talk on the life and impact of Kellam de Forest. In May, Rae herself will speak about the background and cultural impact of the historical Carrillo Recreation Center, where the talks are to be held. June will feature Douglas Woods, author of The California Casa, who will discuss the Spanish Colonial Revival architectural style – which was also a particular favorite of Kellam – that defines the distinct look and feel of this area.

To reserve a seat, please call 805-403-7053. Seating is limited.

Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 20230000491. Published March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Garcia Rock and Water Design, 686 Edgewood Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. Santa Barbara Waterfalls, INC., 686 Edgewood Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2023. 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. 2023-0000743. Published March 29, April 5, 12, 19, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: The Massage Artist, 121 W Pueblo St. Suite 14, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Paul S Zagala Freedom, 460 Fellowship Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93109. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 16, 2023. 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. 2023-0000723. Published March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: OTIS Soap Company, 1616 Hillside Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Our Time Is Sacred, LLC, 1616 Hillside Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 21, 2023. 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. 2023-0000453. Published March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Strange Figures Music, 3730 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Daniel S De La Mora, 3730 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 15, 2023. 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. 2023-0000707. Published March 22, 29, April 5, 12, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT: The following person(s) has (have) abandoned the use of the Fictitious Business Name(s): JAB CO.; Carpinteria Cotton Co., 5025 Wullbrandt Way, Carpinteria, CA 93013. Janet Ann Boyle, 693 Avenida Pequena, Santa Barbara, CA 93111. This statement was originally filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on August 13, 2019. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL), filed March 7, 2023. Original FBN No. 2019-0001971. FBN 2023-0000602. Published March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Aguirre Enterprises, 4869 S Bradley Rd, Orcutt, CA 93455. Aguirre Enterprises, 9610 West Nicholas, Visalia, CA 93291. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 7, 2023. This statement expires five years

“The world moves fast, but change isn’t always a good thing when you got it right the first time around.” – Billy Dee Williams

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. 2023-0000601. Published March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 23CV00747. To all interested parties: Petitioner Elvira Berta Eilbacher filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Elli Eilbacher. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed March 8, 2023 by Narzralli Baksh. Hearing date: May 1, 2023 at 10 am in Dept. 5, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

Kellam de Forest is honored in upcoming speaker series from the Pearl Chase Society

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

SPRING 2023 ON STANDS THIS WEEKEND

BLUEPRINT FOR RIVIERA LIVING

Photo by Kim Reierson

303 Meadowbrook Drive – $13,000,000

Did someone ask for ocean views, a swimming pool and privacy, all in Montecito’s exclusive guard-gated Ennisbrook community? Well, here you have it. Enter this prestigious, 1.38-acre estate to be greeted by breathtaking ocean views. An entertainer’s dream with an open floor plan, this home features walls of glass that retract for ideal SB indoor/outdoor living, and over 7,000 square feet of living space.

The primary suite, located on the main level, has a luxurious closet and spa-like bathroom. Four en-suite bedrooms on the lower level each boast access to the pool and gardens. Relax in the hot tub, chill on the Baja step, or swim your laps before heading into the pool house for a snack. Amenities at Ennisbrook include the clubhouse, tennis courts, and public pools – and all homes in this neighborhood are within the Montecito Union School District.

better and more whole solutions and agreement. Keep Christ first and education second. Keep education fun and enjoyable, celebrating and enjoying the quest of knowledge and wisdom.”

President Gayle D. Beebe welcomed Denu’s family and friends, praising Kim’s creative problem-solving, sound judgment, compassionate response and wisdom.

“You come at a time in our college’s history that’s fraught with opportunity and challenge,” Beebe said. “We have experienced your enormous capacities and your bedrock integrity. You bring a wealth of credibility to the post and you inspire the confidence of all your colleagues and peers, including myself and the other members of the executive team. Help cultivate the culture that allows us to impact every life impacted by our college. And finally, help us expand our global footprint so that the impact that we desire to have in our community can ripple out into our culture, our country, and indeed our entire world.”

No Fooling at this Spring Sing

Westmont’s longest running on-campus tradition, Spring Sing, was held at the Santa Barbara Bowl on April 1. Students from off campus – and the Ocean View Apartments – were the big winners of the competition. They produced an original skit, “The Day Scott Lost His Mind,” about campus pastor Scott Lisea, deftly incorporating an homage to Stranger Things and the reinvigorated Kate Bush hit, “Running up that Hill (deal with

God).” “I may not be a child of the ‘80s, but the costumes, music, and energy made me feel like I traveled back in time to when Scott Lisea roamed the Westmont campus,” said judge Jason Tavarez, Director of Institutional Resilience. “The entire show was stellar, but this skit really stood out from a creativity and entertainment perspective.” Senior Drake Bogataj won for Best Side Act.

Women’s Leadership Luncheon

Westmont will give the inaugural Lady Ridley-Tree Spirit of Santa Barbara Award to David and Anna Grotenhuis at the sixth annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon on April 21 in the Global Leadership Center. The event, featuring Lupita Knittel, president of 7Mindsets, is organized by the Westmont Women’s Leadership Council and chaired by Denice Fellows, former chair of the Westmont Foundation. The council amplifies the work of the foundation by specifically partnering with women who are established in business and industry, providing mentorship and scholarships to our female students. Tickets are available at westmont.edu/leadership-luncheon

Calling All Local Artists

The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum is accepting submissions for the 2023 Tri-County Juried Exhibition, Mixed Up, through April 13. This year’s juror is Rae Dunn, Bay Area artist, designer, author, and illustrator whose work embraces simplicity and playfulness. She is most recognized for her line of household wares sold throughout the United States. Westmont began hosting local artists in juried exhibitions more than 30 years ago at the Reynolds Gallery.

– Billy Dee Williams

Mark and his wife, Sheela Hunt, are real estate agents. His family goes back nearly 100 years in Santa Barbara. Mark’s grandparents – Bill and Elsie Hunt – were Santa Barbara real estate brokers for 25 years.

President Gayle D. Beebe and provost Kim Denu pose outside Murchison Gym

Off-campus students were the winners of this year’s Spring Sing (photo by Josh Guinto)

Scott Craig is manager of media relations at Westmont College

years, has been a member of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art Women’s Board for 13 years and also served on the Santa Barbara Historical Museum board for two terms.

Welcome to the ‘hood...

Motown Magic

The audience at the Lobero was transported back to the Swinging ‘60s when Los Angeles-based tribute band The Magical Music of Motown returned to the historic venue after appearing in our Eden by the Beach last May.

The vibrant and colorful two-hour show paid homage to the legendary Detroit-based record label. Founded

by now 93-year-old Berry Gordy, Motown Records became one of the country’s most successful soul music labels with an absolute avalanche of iconic acts including Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder , Diana Ross , Martha and the Vandellas, the Four Tops, and the Temptations.

All were represented handsomely in the Motown Sound presented by musicians that played with the original bands or those inspired by the legendary music.

It was a delightful trip back to my youth.....

Joe Purpura’s ‘Code Crisis’

Montecito doctor Joe Purpura has published his first book Code Crisis, a

fast-paced thriller about a lonely gynecologist who risks everything for love and his country.

“I love the thriller genre and for years had been bouncing around the idea of writing a novel about a physician as a

reluctant hero who gets dragged into a nefarious plot,” says Joe.

“But the spark for me was coming to Santa Barbara and being overtaken with a new-found energy for getting creative.

“When I finally got serious, the seat-of-the-pants writing of the first draft was such a satisfying, immersive escape from reality I finished in well under a year.

“Working with my editors for another few months was surprisingly rewarding – sort of like cheap psychotherapy – such that I didn’t want the revision process to end. Or maybe that was the fear every new author has about cutting your work loose.”

Given positive reviews – and two compelling protagonists, the doctor and a CIA officer – a few sequels are in the works.....

Baroque Bass in the Gardens

Santa Barbara Symphony, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, hosted its fifth Concert Apéritif soirée, The Art

SANTA BARBARA HOPE RANCH MONTECITO

Motown sound at the Lobero wows (courtesy photo)

Local doc Joe Purpura launches first novel (photo by David Palermo)

NancyBell Coe, Michele Saltoun, Scott Laufer, Mikki Andina, and Karin Jacobsen (photo by Priscilla)

Set in the Seaside Gardens are owners Linda and Fred Wudl with Mary Jane Cooper (photo by Priscilla)

Ray Hunter, Craig Nelson, Thomas Van Stein, Steve Curry, Dario Furlati, and Rick J. Delanty (photo by Priscilla)

of Brass: From Baroque to Hollywood, at Seaside Gardens, a four-acre botanical wonderland in Carpinteria owned by Fred and Linda Wudl.

For the occasion five members of the symphony – trumpeters Jon Lewis and Dustin McKinney, trombonist Dillon MacIntyre, French horn player Melia Badalian , and principal tuba Luke Storm – played a delightful selection of works by Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Cheetham, Roberts, Baron, Viviani, Copland, and Ewald.

Among those at the fun fête were Dan and Meg Burnham, Don and Deana Gilman, NancyBell Coe, Stefan and Christine Riesenfeld , Eve Bernstein, Mikki Andina , Kathryn and Peter Martin, and Scott and Kelly Bush

Court Trial Resolved

It took a Utah jury just two hours and 20 minutes to return a verdict in favor of Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow –who emerged victorious in her four-year legal battle with Salt Lake City septuagenarian Terry Sanderson

The Oscar winner, 50, bunked in Park City’s exclusive Colony at White Pine Canyon during the trial, where homes sell from $10 million to $50 million. Paltrow was awarded a nominal $1 in damages while Sanderson, who was suing for $300,000 is now on the hook for her hefty legal fees.

He claimed the collision on a ski slope in 2016 left him with four broken ribs, a permanent brain injury, and that his active lifestyle had been affected.

But the Goop founder’s attorneys showed Facebook photos and posts of him riding a camel in Morocco, trudging up Machu Picchu in Peru, zip lining, bike riding, hiking, doing Zumba, and playing mini golf – all after the ski crash.

After the decision was announced

Paltrow walked over to Sanderson, 76, and wished him well.

But many observers thought for a retired optometrist his litigation against a major Hollywood star very short-sighted...

Theater Roots

Ensemble Theatre Company is branching out!

The company has partnered with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit that aims to plant trees around California.

For every ticket purchased to The Children – the company’s upcoming New Vic play – Ensemble will plant one tree.

“The play explores the effects of climate change on our planet and what one generation owes to the next,” says Scott DeVine, Managing Director. “The mission of One Tree Planted complements the show’s storyline, and this partnership expands the way in which the company influences and impacts the community we serve.”

Getting back to its roots...

A Fast, Furious Auction

A 2000 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, driven by the late Santa Barbara actor Paul Walker in Fast & Furious 4 14 years ago, is set to have its own starring role when it is sold at auction in London.

Described as “one of the most famous modern-day movie cars,” the “one and only authentic” car was the vehicle used to shoot all the closeup scenes of Walker at the wheel.

While there is no pre-sale estimate for the car ahead of the April 28 sale, Bonhams says it expects the Skyline to exceed $1.3 million when the hammer drops.

Provided to Universal Film Studios in 2008, the second generation 2000 GT-R – widely referred to in the motoring world as ‘Godzilla’ – was uniquely customized by Daryl Alison of Kaizo Industries to Walker’s specifications, including the

installation of a custom roll bar, a bespoke dashboard, mounted PC and CMP, and custom racing bucket seats.

A Turbonetics intercooler was added to the 2.6-liter twin-turbo straight six engine, twinned with a six-speed manual transmission.

All very timely as Fast & Furious 10 is about to be released.

A Dry Spring

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry has made a pact with her British actor fiancé Orlando Bloom to quit booze for three months.

“I’ve been sober for five weeks,” she revealed at a cocktail event at Mister Paradise in Manhattan.

Katy, 38, added: “I’ve been doing a pact with my partner and I want to quit. I can’t cave. I made a promise. Three months.”

I’ll drink to that...

Sightings

Former NYPD Blue actor Dennis Franz noshing at Pane e Vino... Former

TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres checking out Wunderkind in the San Ysidro Village... Former L.A. Lakerturned-TV host James Ager Worthy at Fieldside at the Santa Barbara Polo Club for the basketball team’s summit.

Pip! Pip!

Having Seaside Gardens decor fun are Emily Gilman, SBS Patron Relations Associate, with Luke Storm (principal tuba) and trombonist Dillon MacIntyre (photo by Priscilla) Paul Walker’s Fast & Furious car up for grabs (photo credit: Bonhams)

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Calendar of Events

by Steven Libowitz

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Sax It Up in Santa Barbara – The accomplished New Orleans saxophonist Derek Douget returns to once again spearhead the Lobero Theatre’s annual Brubeck Jazz Residency Program. Douget and his collaborators are booked for a busy week-long tour across the area, providing customized in-classroom instruction to aspiring jazz students from junior high through college, an outgrowth of the saxophonist’s own education in the genre as he was mentored by Ellis Marsalis and Harold Battiste, and studied under Ed Petersen at The University of New Orleans. Douget was later recruited to be part of the inaugural Louis Armstrong Quintet, a performing group of graduate students dedicated to teaching jazz in New Orleans area schools. Douget – who blends his cajun-influenced Louisiana upbringing with strong individualism and an idiosyncratic voice – will cap off the week with a performance at the Lobero. Joining him on stage will be Ashlin Parker (trumpet), Victor Atkins , (piano), Jason Stewart (bass), and Adonis Rose (drums).

WHEN: 7:30 pm

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

COST: $25 & $35

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

MONDAY, APRIL 10

Dare to Be Dale – Local author Dale Zurawski published several technical papers and numerous travel stories before devoting her writing career to memoirs. Her new book, Bipolar, A Gift of Thorns , recounts the tale of Dale from the age of seven when her abusive father dies while on a secret mission for the U.S. military. Left with her four siblings and neglectful mother in a

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Lucidity Festival – The recent series of atmospheric rivers created such abundance in land-bound rivers all over the state, including the Santa Ynez River, that it has affected the access way to overflow parking at our own homegrown festival. Yet, the festival itself will be still in its typical flow as an original organic opensource transformational arts and music festival. As is the case with Burning Man, organizers and participants co-create the weekend of wonder. Lucidity boasts a world-class lineup of genre-spanning musical talent; aural framework for the sounds and vibrations of the folks living it up at Live Oak Camp. The revelry will include everything from creating installations to leading workshops to sparking a spontaneous flash mob; embodying a character from your dreams; or simply being silly and wild and free. Lucidity’s 10th anniversary festival launches the fourth trilogy of themes, this one focused on Universal Consciousness – defined as holding space and existing in a non-dual state of allowance. This year’s chapter is called The Great Synthesis, and features the totem animals from the fest’s first six years and the elementals from the last three as the new chapter evolves. Exploring the theme and how it manifests through the realms can be said to describe the Lucidity experience itself – but you can simply ford the festival in whatever way fits.

WHEN: Today through Sunday

WHERE: 4600 Hwy. 154

COST: varies

INFO: https://lucidityfestival.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

From Writers to Actors – Prolific local literature lover Steven Gilbar by his own account spends as much time involved in books – between reading, researching, and writing – as he does practicing law. And just because the longtime Montecito resident only needed to change one word for the title of his newest book doesn’t mean he took any shortcuts. Where Gilbar last sharpened the local angle to focus on writers who call Montecito home, The Little Book of Montecito Actors now shifts the spotlight to stars of stage and screen, with the idea that Montecito probably has been home to more actors per capita than any place in America. The new hardcover illustrated book has capsule biographies of almost 100 actors ranging from forgotten silent film stars to Hollywood Golden Age personalities such as Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and Jane Russell, to current movie and television performers, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Steve Martin. While you might not be able to rub shoulders with the dashing set, you can certainly cozy up to Gilbar when he shares tales tonight at Chaucer’s.

WHEN: 6 pm

WHERE: 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza Shopping Center

COST: free

INFO: (805) 682-6787 or www.chaucersbooks.com

remote corner of New Mexico, Dale inherits her father’s complicated legacy of intelligence and instability – in her case traversing a tricky tightrope of working in a top-secret nuclear weapons lab while abusing drugs and engaging in promiscuous sex. Eventually, Dale seeks the help of a psychiatrist, and is unprepared when she is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, leading her on a journey to understand her illness and manage her symptoms. The memoir is told with shocking honesty and in unbelievable detail, serving to shine a light on one woman’s courageous journey and the stigma of bipolar disorder, which she’ll sign and talk about tonight in midtown.

WHEN: 6 pm

WHERE: 3321 State St. in Loreto Plaza Shopping Center

COST: free

INFO: (805) 682-6787 or www.chaucersbooks.com

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

Evoking Elton – Elton John has announced plans to retire from the road several times since 1984 and now we’re told a Glastonbury gig in 2023 might actually be his last. That would suit Elton Dan and the Rocket Band just fine, as the tribute band’s star would have less threatening competition for his attempts to immerse his audience in the full “Elton” experience. Complete with over-the-top costumes and high energy songs culled from seven of his hero’s albums, Dan – who caught John’s “final” U.S. performance at Dodgers Stadium last November – and the band take on “Saturday Night’s Alright,” “Daniel,” “Your Song,” “I’m Still Standing,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Tiny Dancer,” and many more.

WHEN: 8 pm

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

COST: $34-$92

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

Oates in the Hall – As one half of Hall & Oates, the best-selling musical duo of all time, John Oates is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The American Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the prestigious BMI Icon Award, as well as numerous American Music Awards, MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nominations. Hall & Oates have recorded 21 albums, which collectively have sold over 80 million units, scored 10 No. 1 hit singles and additional 10 Top 40 hits, and toured the world for decades. But like Hall, Oates is also a solo artist with seven albums to his name since 1999, as well as a 2017 autobiography called Change of Seasons . Oates will be releasing a series of digital

Montecito

“Sometimes it’s worse to win a fight than to lose.” – Billie Holiday

WEDNESDAY,

Danny’s Song – Danny Trejo is a baddie who has been killed at least 100 times on screens big and small. Off screen, the actor, producer, and entrepreneur is a hero beloved by recovery communities and obsessed fans alike. But the real Danny Trejo is much more complicated than the legend. With more than 400 film credits including Heat , From Dusk Till Dawn , and the Spy Kids and Machete franchises, along with his burgeoning Trejo’s Tacos empire, Trejo’s tale – which he spins in his 2021 book Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption and Hollywood – is “enough to make you believe in the possibility of a Hollywood ending,” according to The New York Times . Discover the full, fascinating and inspirational story of Trejo’s journey from prison, addiction and loss to artistic expression and personal happiness.

WHEN: 8 pm

WHERE: Campbell Hall, UCSB campus

COST: $45-$125

INFO: (805) 893-3535 www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu

singles in a wide variety of styles this year, as well as release another series of songs from the upcoming feature film Gringa. Oates’ current intimate series of solo acoustic shows, called “An Evening of Stories and Songs”, stops at the Lobero; one venue that, if memory serves, has never actually hosted the duo. Posting an opening set is Steve Postell . The locally-based singer-songwriter/ guitarist/producer has performed several times at the venue as a member of studio-maestro supergroup The Immediate Family, featuring legendary session men Danny Kortchmar , Leland Sklar , Waddy Wachtel , and Russ Kunkel Postell will stroll through tunes from his latest CD, Walking Through These Blues , which features David Crosby , Iain Matthews , Tony Furtado , and many others sitting in.

WHEN: 7:30 pm

WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $45-106

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12

Nordic Schubert Sandwich – Danish String Quartet (DSQ) returns to town for the third concert in its much-heralded Doppelgänger Project , an ambitious four-year project co-commis -

sioned by UCSB Arts & Lectures and a variety of international partners that pairs world premieres from four renowned composers with chamber music masterpieces by Schubert, including “Death and the Maiden” and the “Rosamunde” quartet. The latter, more formally known as “String Quartet in A minor, D. 804,” gets the Doppelgänger treatment tonight, as the Scandinavian foursome – Frederik Øland , Rune Tonsgaard Sørenson , violist Asbjørn Nørgaard and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin – bookend the classic with Schubert’s “Gretchen am Spinnrade, D.118,” arranged by the DSQ. In between comes the commission, Anna Thorvaldsdóttir ’s piece simply titled “New work for String Quartet.” Considered one of the most original voices of her generation, award-winning Icelandic composer Thorvaldsdóttir is also one of the most in-demand artists in contemporary music, with a gift for creating captivating musical landscapes at once grand and personal, leading The New York Times to praise her “seemingly boundless textural imagination.”

WHEN: 7 pm

WHERE: Campbell Hall, UCSB campus

COST: $15-$45

INFO: (805) 893-3535 www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu

BY Lucy Kirkwood

DIRECTED BY Jenny Sullivan

OF SANTA BARBARA

~ founded in 1956 ~

“Our mind is enriched by what we receive, our heart by what we give.”

- Victor Hugo

WEBSITE: stfrancisfoundationsb.org

PHONE: (805) 563-4702

PLEASE CONTACT: Tina Frontado, Executive Director tina@stfrancisfoundationsb.org for a conversation regarding donor advised funds, legacy giving, bequests, grants and more.

etcsb.org

805.965.5400

Our Focus

Helping to relieve human suffering by providing grants to local agencies whose missions focus on areas of health care, emotional support, palliative and hospice care.

Our Promise

All donations go to those directly in need. ALL fees associated with our Foundation’s operating costs are covered by the Foundation. No amount of your donation goes toward overhead.

Our Vision

With cherished memories of the past, and a vision to the future, we look forward to continuing to assist those most in need in our community. We invite all who share in our vision to join us in our mission.

“We are so grateful to the St. Francis Foundation for their financial support which allows us to serve more people in our community with our free Patient Care Services program.”

- David Selberg, CEO, Hospice of Santa Barbara

STARRING Michael Butler, Nancy Travis and Linda Purl

“...one of the greatest theatrical works

of the last 20 years” THE GUARDIAN, 2019

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ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES

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TUTORING SERVICE

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PERSONAL SERVICES

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TRESOR

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PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY

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RENTAL WANTED

REAL ESTATE DOMAIN NAMES FOR SALE

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AUTOMOBILES WANTED

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Housing needed. I’m the MJ arts editor and Giving List columnist. I have to relocate from my rental cottage after 17 years. Got great response here but things have fallen through, so I’m still looking for solo space (cottage, ADU, ???) locally, rent up to low-mid $2Ks, available ASAP, or early April. No pets or smoking. Great references. Any ideas? Call Steven at (805) 837-7262 or email sml.givinglist@gmail.com.

POSITION WANTED

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Seeking properties to manage for your vacation rentals, house manager, or long-term property manager. I currently have a 5 star super host rating with Air BnB and VRBO, along with managing wine club members

MARKETING WANTED

Marketing Wizard/Promoter needed for breakthrough Health Restoration System.

I have developed what I believe to be the most advanced Health Restoration System ever devised. Virtually 100% clinical success, yet I haven’t been able to effectively market my service to Santa Barbara and Montecito, never mind the World.

Dr Joe Migliore DC 805 560-0630 www.TheHumanTuneUp.com

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

ITEMS FOR SALE

The Modern Japanese Print book signed by author James Michener. Ten original limited-edition prints, 56 handmade pages, wooden case. #494 of 510 copies, xlnt condition seldom opened. $5,000 805.895.5151

Books Wanted! Cash for old books. Many topics wanted. Call 800-823-9124 or e-mail osnbooks@gmail.com

$10 MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD

It’s Simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per week/issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email text to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860 and we will respond with a cost. Deadline for inclusion is Friday before 2 pm.

We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)

We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Porsche/Mercedes Etc. We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website - Avantiauto.group

KNIFE SHARPENING SERVICES

EDC Mobile Sharpening is a locally owned and operated in Santa Barbara. We specialize in (No-Entry) House Calls, Businesses and Special Events. Call 805-696-0525 to schedule an appointment.

TILE RESTORATION

Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only. Services include grout cleaning and repair, caulking, sealing, replacing damaged tiles and basic plumbing needs. Call Doug Watts at 805-729-3211 for a free estimate.

DONATIONS NEEDED

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944

Donate to the Parrot Pantry!

At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.

Volunteers

Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes. For more information info@k-9pals.org or 805-570-0415

MiniMeta

ByPeteMuller&FrankLongo

Foreachofthefirstfiveminicrosswords,oneoftheentriesalsoservesaspartofa five-wordmetaclue.Theanswertothemetaisawordorphrase(fivelettersor longer)hiddenwithinthesixthminicrossword.Thehiddenmetaanswerstartsin oneofthesquaresandsnakesthroughthegridverticallyandhorizontallyfrom there(nodiagonals!)withoutrevisitinganysquares.

TAKE A TOUR TODAY at bhhscalifornia.com

3BD/2½BA • $5,995,000 Anderson / Hurst, 805.618.8747 / 805.680.8216

LIC# 01903215 / 00826530

02158714

805.722.2352

790

LN,

• $6,200,000

Kogevinas, 805.450.6233 LIC# 01209514

3BD/2½BA • $3,750,000

Sina Omidi, 805.689.7700

LIC# 01944430

• $3,250,000

Laura Drammer / Nancy Kogevinas, 805.448.7500 LIC# 01209580 / 01209514

$4,995,000

Nancy Kogevinas, 805.450.6233

LIC# 01209514

43

3BD/2BA • $2,995,000

Kit Peterson / Sue Irwin, 805.689.5535

LIC# 02008932 / 01413354

MONTECITO

1903 COYOTE CIR, MONTECITO

AYALA

MONTECITO 4BD/6BA

Nancy

126 LOUREYRO ROAD COTTAGES, MONTECITO 6BD/5BA •

SEAVIEW DR, MONTECITO

1556 MIRAMAR BEACH, MONTECITO 2BD/3BA • $9,995,000 Nancy Kogevinas, 805.450.6233 LIC# 01209514

21 VIA ALICIA, SANTA BARBARA 4BD/3½BA • $5,400,000 Andrea Cambern,

LIC#

2930 BRAMADERO RD, LOS OLIVOS 4BD/3½BA; ±19.3 acres

120 MONTECITO RANCH LN, SUMMERLAND 12BD/15BA • $70,000,000 Cristal Clarke, 805.886.9378 LIC# 00968247

808 SAN YSIDRO LN, MONTECITO 6BD/6½BA • $18,500,000 The Easter Team, 805.455.6294 LIC# 00917775