Whiskey-Sippin’, Skinny-Dippin’& Stompin’ Big Boots

MAZZA’S MISSIVE

MATT RUTHLESSLY BEATS XMAS TREE; SENTINEL WINS WILDCAT RAFFLE

BY MATT MAZZA, P. 14

SENTINEL’S TAKE

AGGRESSIVELY UNRECUMBENT FOUNTAIN IN PASEO NUEVO TURNS HEADS, P. 7

THE DISH

RORI’S ARTISANAL CREAMERY IS OPEN; BEER AND SAUSAGE MAKES MALE SHOPPING FUN

BY WENDY JENSON, P. 8

SANTA BARBARA

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Whiskey-Sippin’, Skinny-Dippin’ & Stompin’ Big Boots

Rainbow Girls Rock SOhO Before Heading Out to Play the End of the World, P.12

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ONTENTS

P.4 P.7

Letters

Although you might not believe it, we actually want to hear from you. So if you have something you think we should know about or you see something we've said that you think is cretinous (or perspicacious, to be fair), then let us know. There's no limit on words or subject matter, so go ahead and let it rip to: Santa Barbara Sentinel, Letters to the Editor, 133 East De La Guerra Street, No. 182, Santa Barbara, California 93101. You can also leap into the 21st century and email us at letters@santabarbarasentintel.com.

Appreciating “Goodbye Sweet Jim”

Letters to the Editor – Jana Mackin’s Goodbye Sweet Jim in last week’s Goleta Girl is appreciated; Smart Meter installation and related issues continue to plague SCE; Jackson Read likes the Sentinel (at least there’s one of you out there…thanks Jackson).

The Sentinel’s Take – A tumescent tower erected in Paseo Nuevo is causing lots of confusion (why’s it there?) and conversation (what is it?).

We checked it out and frankly don’t get it. Neither did anybody we spoke with. And if you’re telling us that the “artist” who got it up didn’t realize that painting the tip pink might cause some to pause, we don’t believe you.

P.6 P.8 P.10

It’s Crime Time with SBPD – The Out-of-Towners are coming, and they aren’t spreading Christmas cheer. Santa Barbarians beware!

The Dish – Wendy Jenson tries the ice cream at Rori’s Artisanal Creamery. And she talks beer, sausage and male shopping at Bonita too.

Santa Barbara View – The 59th Annual Milpas Holiday Parade is coming, and so are marching bands, dance teams, cheerleaders, bikes and every kind of classic car imaginable. Even the low-riders will be there, and Sharon Byrne has the story; Ray Estrada covers youth leaders running Kids Helping Kids, a Santa Barbara-based non-profit that supports a wide-range of local individuals and families, and their impending fundraiser at the Granada Theater (spoiler alert: it’s a concert with Switchfoot and Tyrone Wells).

P.12 P.14 P.16

Goleta Girl – Jana Mackin likes music, and Isla Vista’s Rainbow Girls rocked her world – and the end of the world too, at a show on December 23 in Seattle.

Mazza’s Missive – In a case of mistaken identity, Matt assaults his downed Christmas tree with a baseball bat (his wife made him do it); he also wins big at a Washington Wildcats fundraiser.

Presidio Sports – Awards, awards, awards at the final SBART gathering of 2012; Bishop Diego’s Scholar Athlete of the Year is Troy Skinner (three sports and a 4.33 GPA…that’s better than the Sentinel’s entire staff added together); Matt Wagonhurst is Presidio Sport’s Volunteer of the Month. See what’s coming up, too, in Barry Punzal’s Sports Calendar.

P.18

You Have Your Hands Full – Mara Peters gloats over her beautiful children, her family’s (nauseating) happiness and her string of remarkable (self-adjudicated) victories in the highly competitive world of Christmas card selection and execution. (The card does look great, Mara…too bad we had to see it in the paper instead of in our mailboxes. We see how you are.)

P.19

LOVEmikana – Green Scene bird Courtney Dietz helps shoppers with a few green gifts for the environmentally conscious on your list. (Hey Courtney, isn’t any gift just needless consumption that pointlessly impacts the biosphere? We’re kidding…mostly.) Flutter magazine prompts Briana Westmacott to think about renewing her vows. (Start saving, Paulie.) And check out LOVEmikana’s Weekend Guide as we head into a busy holiday weekend.

P.22 P.23

Commercial Corner – Austin Herlihy actually makes a reasonably cogent argument regarding commercial real estate activity and the impending increase in taxes. Wow. (Nice work, Austin, enjoyed the piece.)

Residential Real Estate – Michael Calcagno gives you an excuse to take a break from that holiday shopping – go see a property or two that recently listed despite the forthcoming holiday. Justin Kellenberger runs the numbers. (If you have to ask, it turns out that you might actually be able to afford them.)

H

ello Matt, I don’t see an email contact for Jana Mackin so I am hoping you could tell her how much her last column (“Goodbye Sweet Jim,” Goleta Girl # 1/10) was appreciated.

Her writing is wonderful and it’s so good to read something from a mature person about a serious subject. Thank you.

Mary Lou Sodomka Santa Barbara (Dear Ms. Sodomka: Thank you for the kind words and inspiration. One of the reasons I wrote the column, besides mourning my dear Jim, was that I hoped to inspire other widows not to fear living fully even while mourning. In fact, I believe they should do whatever will help them heal their hearts. For me, it was get out of Dodge and travel. Why should we shutter ourselves and wear black for the rest of our lives? I say throw caution and fear aside. Live big, live large, live without fear. Don’t live vicariously or through some virtual medium that is no substitute for life. What do we have to fear?

Have we not already slogged through hell with the death of our love? I realized that there is nothing, not even death, that can approximate such a horrible loss. So having survived that, can we not now be fearless?

Listen to your heart for guidance. I listened to mine unabashedly and it led me true to Goleta. People thought I was crazy, traveling as if there were no tomorrow. But guess what: there may not be a tomorrow. Anyway, I hope all widows and women in general can find some comfort and hope and the power within themselves to turn off the proverbial boob tube, shut the self-help books, kiss the photos of their respective loved ones, and walk outside into the light. Be not afraid. Peace and love, Jana (Goleta Girl) Mackin)

Smart Meter Warning SCE Customers, beware: Corix is back – installing smart meters in the Santa Barbara area – until December 21. During the same time, the California Public Utilities

Commission (CPUC) will be holding a rare hearing here for you to voice your complaints about smart meters.

The target of the installers is your trustworthy analog meter, and they are inspired by being paid by the meter. This is a problem for customers who called Edison earlier in the year, got a tag on their meter, think they opted-out, but didn’t actually complete the opt-out process. To opt-out successfully means calling SCE at (800) 810-2369, paying some fees and getting Edison to put an orange sticker on the meter.

What many customers do not know is that you can also have an installed smart meter removed. According to the 4/19/12 PUC Ruling, SCE customers can opt-out “at any time for any or no reason” by calling SCE at the above number. (Unlike the industry leader, PG&E, the SCE website doesn’t have opt-out registration.)

If you have a dispute with a Corix installer, (1) get his/her contact information, and, if necessary, videotape his/her activities, (2) call SCE immediately, and (3) email Consumers Power Alliance Legal Department at admin@consumerspoweralliance. Finally, attend the PUC smart meter hearing on Friday, December 14, from 3 to 5 pm, in the Supervisors’ Meeting Room, County Administration Building, 105 East Anapamu Street, 4th Floor. If you care about product quality, your health and safety and the environment – and not being hacked – then speak up and opt-out.

Susie Thompson Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks Susie. These Smart Meters are really causing quite a din.

In fact, I just attended a press conference this past week primarily dedicated to the mission of getting the word out about (1) the impending public hearing in front of Judge Amy C. Yiup-Kikugawa, the CPUC Administrative Law Judge addressing these concerns, and (2) the fact that residents can not only opt-out pre-installation but even Smart Meter watchdogs Judith Iskanian and Pedro Nava explain the finer points from the front steps of the Courthouse, and clearly are not going anywhere in this fight.

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SB Resident Henry Delgado relayed stories of Floridians losing their houses after bills drastically increased following installation of Smart Meters.

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livinghappy livinghealthy n Gree Black Friday prices till year-end!

after installation is complete. Sentinel letterwriter Judith Ishkanian of the Neighborhood Defense League and former assembly-member and attorney Pedro Nava spoke eloquently about the issues, and the reality is that there are quite a few concerns. Frankly, the main ones I’ve heard come from a displeased public.

There are worries about overbilling, invasion of privacy and technical issues (e.g., crashing alarm systems and computer networks), amongst others. And there are indeed horror stories floating around about bills doubling overnight, alarm systems rendered ineffective upon Smart Meter installation and potential hacking and “big brother” type monitoring by governmental and quasi-governmental agencies.

I don’t claim to know everything about the issue but must wonder aloud whether there are stories of bills falling rather than rising and alarm systems still functioning post-installment. And all of the “big brother” concerns seem reasonable indeed, but what about our personal and especially companyissued (no right of privacy at all in the latter) computers and cell phones and tablets and other gadgets and gizmos? Aren’t we already being watched every time we do anything?

How will a Smart Meter amplify the lack of

privacy we all face every single day? I’m not saying that I am in favor of the Smart Meter; instead, I’m saying that I have heard little or nothing positive about it. And there must be some reasonable rationale – it can’t just be that the power companies are out to get us. Or can it? Thanks again, Susie, see you on December 14.–MSM)

Giving Thanks Hi Matt, Just wanted to write and say that I have been enjoying the Sentinel. Keep it coming! Thanks.

Jackson Read Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Jackson, this means a lot to us here at the Sentinel and I really appreciate the kind words. We are working hard, trust me, and are hell-bent on getting better and pushing forward. The truth is that 2013 looks great already, and we will continue to bring fresh content and a bit of a different perspective than others in town – we are hearing from many of you out there and it seems that there is indeed a recognition that we are doing something unique. So keep picking us up, keep reading. We aren’t going anywhere.

Happy holidays.–MSM)

Happy, healthy living for every season.

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It'sCrimetime...

...with the SBPD

A variety of crimes are committed every day in Santa Barbara; most of these crimes are petty but they do offer a window into if not the soul of the perpetrator, at least his or her thought process. Our following (and totally unsolicited) thoughts, observations, and comments are put forth for your consideration.

The Out-Of-Towners

Santa Barbara. Our very own idyllic little seaside community, mellow and happy and wonderful, right to its core. No problems, no worries, no hurries. Right on, man, right on.

We commonly stroll slowly down State Street or East Beach or wherever in a state of blissed-out existentialism, pondering our beautiful architecture and aesthetic, basking in the sunshine that floods our streets and beaches, gazing from the mountains to the islands and back again.

We cruise. We chill.

At least until some damned out-of-towner harshes our collective mellow with some very un-Santa Barbara behavior. These people need to be taught a lesson. A lesson on how we Santa Barbara (as taught by Erin Graffy’s local best-seller, “How To Santa Barbara, The Advanced Course”) – and that’s slowly, man, peacefully. It’s a state of mind, not just a place. We don’t steal from or beat each other. We don’t urinate and vomit all over our streets. We don’t hassle each other, brothers and sisters, so mellow out and quit ruining the vibe we’ve created.

Better yet, just bail.

(Well, on second thought, we do like your tourist dollars – in fact, they pay for much of what we get to enjoy – so stick around. But be cool.)

L.A. Sucks, Man CRIME: Three men in their late thirties were spotted by an off-duty police officer in a parked car on the Eastside late one night last week “acting suspiciously.” When on-duty cops approached, the vehicle drove away but was eventually pulled over for a minor traffic violation. The car was filled with burglary tools, walkie-talkies, cocaine, methamphetamine… and a stolen catalytic converter. The three men were dressed all in black, and soon confessed that they had come to Santa Barbara to burglarize vehicles.

OBSERVATION: The three men were from Reseda and Van Nuys. (Enough said.)

COMMENTS: Great. More LA people coming to town. And they’re not bringing movies and ostentatious displays of wealth. They’re bringing burglary tools and powdered narcotics.

(By the way, why use coke and meth when thieving late at night? Aren’t both notorious for causing heightened paranoia? Makes no sense.)

Fresno Sucks, Man CRIME: A Fresno man was found “acting suspicious” on East Anapamu on Sunday morning

at 5:45 am. SBPD made contact and discovered two outstanding felony warrants from Fresno County. They also found a “large glass narcotic smoking pipe.”

OBSERVATION: The man later demanded that officers recover the backpack he left in some bushes across town. When they found it, they also found a digital scale, a bunch of weed, a bunch of pills and a bunch of empty plastic bindles. Not good for the…Fresnarian (?).

COMMENTS: Great. More people from Fresno are coming. And they’re not bringing wonderful

fresh Central Valley produce. They are bringing drugs. Bad drugs. For sale. (Come on, did you really need that filthy old backpack that bad? Bad enough to do significantly more time?)

Northern California Sucks, Man CRIME: A 22-year old Eureka woman was carried out of a local “club” by friends and was warned by SBPD to go home and sleep it off. She blew it, though, staggering around the street for a while, insisting she felt fine and refusing to just get in a cab and go home. She was eventually arrested.

OBSERVATION: SBPD really tried to do the right thing here – but you know what they say.

You can lead a drunken 22-year-old hipster chick to water but…

COMMENT: Great. More Northern Californians are coming. And they’re not Marin County

hot-tubbers bringing peace and love (and preppy East Coast children who call their yuppie fathers “Papa.”) They are alcoholics drinking heavily in SB bringing pain and suffering to the local citizenry. (At least one of our editors actually lived in Marin for quite some time and feels comfortable with the foregoing generalization. And, having grown up in Northern California, he confirmed that drinking is actually a high school sport in many Norcal towns, and Santa Barbara – Isla Vista in particular – is often very attractive to young up-and-coming athletes.)

Canadians Suck, Man CRIME: A young Canadian woman challenged police repeatedly last weekend and couldn’t

follow simple instructions after being caught using a fake ID in an effort to enter a State Street bar. She was arrested.

OBSERVATION: If you get caught using a fake ID, be nice. Don’t fight the cops. They will win.

Editor-in-Chief • Matt Mazza Design/Production • Trent Watanabe Advertising/Sales • Tanis Nelson • Sue Brooks Contributing Partners Opinion • sbview.com Sports • Presidiosports.com Santa Barbara Skinny • LoveMikana.com Columnists Goleta Girl • Jana Mackin She Has Her Hands Full • Mara Peters Plan B • Briana Westmacott The Dish • Wendy Jenson Journal Jim • James Buckley Real Estate • Michael Calcagno Commercial Corner • Austin Herlihy The Weekly Capitalist • Jeff Harding Man About Town • Mark Leisure Published by SB Sentinel, LLC, Tim Buckley, Publisher PRINTED BY NPCP INC., SANTA BARBARA, CA Santa Barbara Sentinel is compiled every Friday 133 EAST DE LA GUERRA STREET, #182, Santa Barbara 93101 How to reach us: 805.845.1673 E-MAIL: matt@santabarbarasentinel.com

Every time. Show some respect and deference and you just might keep yourself out of trouble.

COMMENT: Great. The Canadians are coming. And they’re not bringing fantastic healthcare

and socialism. They’re bringing drunken co-eds who can’t follow simple instructions. How will they ever fill out all the complicated forms for healthcare here in the US?

Transients Suck, Man CRIME: A 52-year-old “mansient” (Sentinel speak for male bum) was found “passed out in a puddle of his own urine” in front of a local business. His pants were around his thighs. (Nice.)

OBSERVATION: Breakfast anyone? We just love Steve’s Special.

COMMENT: Great. More transients passed out in their own bodily fluids with their genitals exposed for all to see. (Hey kids, look, you’re better at dressing yourself and using the toilet than an adult! Now, ah, just step over him and let’s go eat.)

Ah, Well…We Suck Too, Man CRIME: A Santa Barbara woman called SBPD after her boyfriend picked up her prescription and kept it for himself. When the cops found the boyfriend, they also found a warrant for his arrest. In searching his vehicle incident to his arrest, they found lots of both “his and hers” personal property. She admitted to owning the meth pipe on the dashboard and was arrested.

He admitted to owning the quarter-pound of marijuana and a wad of cash in the trunk, and was arrested. (Wait, isn’t California a community property state? Must’ve signed a pre-nup.)

OBSERVATION: That’s what you get for having a girlfriend on pills (and weed and meth).

COMMENT: Great. Everybody sucks, man. We knew it. We’re staying home. Forever.

Be good to each other this week, folks, Christmas is coming.

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take

New Construction Causes Conversation

r e s t a u r a n t

W

e were shopping with the kids. That’s it. We didn’t want any trouble. We just wanted a few gifts, a few laughs and a nice little Sunday.

But when we walked out of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream in Paseo Nuevo, we walked right into that discussion with our seven-year-old daughter that we’ve been dreading (and blatantly avoiding).

“What’s that, Daddy,” she asked, innocently, pointing toward the sky.

We looked up. Our collective jaw hit the ground.

It’s a huge phallic symbol, my wife and I were communicating telepathically, right here in the middle of the mall. You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Oh, that…ah, yeah, it’s like the Campanile at Daddy’s law school, honey, remember?”

What could we say? It was the best we could do under challenging circumstances.

“Yeah,” she smiled and skipped away with her ice cream cone.

God we love that kid. Unpleasantness averted. (For now, anyway.)

For those who haven’t seen the latest addition to our beloved middle-ofdowntown open-air mall, the Sentinel returned and took a few pictures. We don’t get it, frankly. Neither do most people we spoke with. Nobody wanted to be quoted – perhaps for obvious reasons – but the only comment we heard that didn’t refer to the smooth skin-colored column with a pink tip as something most male members (if you’ll excuse the expression) have at least one of was from a shopkeeper with a constant view mid-shaft from a nearby window: “I’m, ah…on the fence,” she said with a grin.

We’re not.

What the heck is this, this, thing, doing in the middle of Paseo Nuevo? And, not in the middle, exactly. It’s been skewed to the right (Which side do you wear it on?), whereas the former structure was squarely (if that’s the correct expression) in the middle of what could only be called an outdoor rotunda.

Spare us, please. Think of the children. Do something to change it.

We don’t know, decorate it. Change the tip color. Put wings on it. Anything. Just change it. Soon.

We’re not done shopping yet.

You’re likely to hear more about this, and not just from us.

It reminds us of a sculpture that had been ordered by the city of San Francisco to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the City. At the unveiling, people gasped, sniggered, giggled, and generally had a good time making fun of the sculptor’s work. St. Francis looked a lot like the Creature From The Black Lagoon, if you remember that 1950s black & white film.

So, it was removed from its prominent position in front of the Church of St. Francis in North Beach about half a dozen years later and quietly shipped off to Oakland. It’s back in San Francisco now, wedged into a small park near Fisherman’s Wharf.

And then, of course, Santa Barbara had the King Carlos III statue in Storke Placita between De La Guerra Plaza and State Street. He was finally removed after receiving less than royal treatment from those that hung around that area back in the 1990s. During Fiesta, the king wore various kinds of hats, even a cape, carried handbags, sometimes held an inappropriate sign or two and was generally treated with a level of disrespect not befitting a king, albeit a long-dead one. Poor guy.

He is still hanging around and is now perched near the Presidio at Canon Perdido and Anacapa. Our guess around here is that this “fountain” at Paseo Nuevo is going to be greeted with something along the order of St. Francis or King Carlos. But that’s just us.

Go see it for yourselves.

Let us know what you think.

Send us a letter or letters.

Be cruel or be kind but be honest.

We really want to know: What the hell is that thing?

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Mariposa • Simon Pearce • Vietri Michael Aram • Arte Italica • Palecek

by Wendy Jenson A former magazine editor, Wendy worked at

Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Us Weekly in NYC, before moving west with Santa Barbara Magazine. Currently a public relations consultant, she relishes being out and about working on this column.

Get Your Cream On Italian-born Luca Trovato – Rori’s partner in life and business – eats a pint per day. Apparently, it does a body good. (Photo: Wendy Jenson)

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rumpets blare! Rori’s Artisanal Creamery finally opened in Montecito on Saturday, December 8. Sold at specialty markets since 2010, this is the brand’s first retail outlet. The long-awaited shop exceeds already high expectations, and The Dish foresees many future branches.

The organic ice cream is made fresh daily in small batches. Flavors are serious dark chocolate, vanilla bean, fresh mint patty, salted caramel, cup o’ Joe Spinelli (espresso), milk chocolate chunk, malted milk ball, NY Strawberry cheesecake, lemon curd, chocolate coconut, root beer and peanut butter & jelly.

Multi-talented Rori Trovato is a chef, recipe designer, food stylist and cookbook author. She puts her spin on all things ice cream. Rather than a cup, scoops are served in mason jars. How does cinnamon apple crumble topping sound? Or warm honey fudge? Dine here using a real – rather than plastic – spoon. Verve coffee is served French press or pour-over style; $2.50. Clearly, Rori is on top of food trends. Verve is also handcrafted in small batches. When you’re paying top dollar, it’s all about the details and Rori’s brings it.

There are three types of Ice Cream Sandwiches; $4.75: This Ain’t No Disco (chocolate chip cookies and chocolate coconut ice cream) is dairy and gluten free.

Rori knows how to satisfy allergy sufferers!

The Big Easy pairs oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and vanilla ice cream. Once You Go Brown (chocolate chocolate chip cookies and dark chocolate ice cream) would comprise a chocoholic’s last meal.

For to-go orders, a recyclable paint tin is food safe, green and pint sized. The initial tin costs $10, but return with an empty one and it will be refilled for a dollar less than a hand-packed pint; $8.50 and $7.50. Admit it, you eat directly out of the container. Why not make it a nice one? A grab ’n go freezer

Igloo Ice Cream Cakes are made to order and serve 14: $48.50. Messages – Happy Birthday! – are written on a flag and planted into the whipped cream frosting. The penguins are marzipan. (Photo: Wendy Jenson)

holds pre-packed pints with the exception of specialty flavors: $7.50.

“There’s no room for indoor seating, so I tried to make the outside as comfortable as possible,” says Rori. A nearby stone wall is covered with cushions she made herself.

Details. Sturdy and padded retro chairs surround four white tables. Soon there will be patio heaters to keep you warm while eating something cold.

The tiny corner shop, behind Little Alex’s Mexican restaurant, is sweetly old fashioned.

Candy cane straws catch the eye. Then there’s the high-tech cash register, a super thin iPad on a giant swivel so customers can sign when using a credit card.

Adding another small quality shop, the Montecito Country Mart continues its transformation. Under the ownership of James Rosenfield of Brentwood Country Mart fame, there are fresh plantings, nice restrooms and benches. Like the Camino Real Marketplace in Goleta, the

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References Available (lots of them!)

Open four days, Paylin Marcilla, Stella, Morgan and mom Lizzie Peus are already return Rori’s customers. The area behind them will someday be the patio of the Suzanne Goin restaurant. (Photo: Wendy Jenson) Bonita owner Rita Villa is the proverbial hostess with the mostest.

(Photo: Stephanie Heyman Baker)

Dan Encell

“The Real Estate Guy” Director, Estates Division Prudential Fine Homes Call: (805) 565-4896 DanEncell@aol.com Visit: www.DanEncell.com

The greatest professional compliment a client can give their real estate agent is to use their services again (and again...)

Montecito mart is becoming a community meeting place.

The future eatery from Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne will be opposite Rori’s, in the space previously occupied by a Japanese restaurant. Not in the former Vons Pharmacy as has been reported. In a musical chairs of sorts, the still-to-be named restaurant will also take over part of Montecito Natural Foods, which will move to part of the former Vons Pharmacy.

Got it?

Rori’s is open daily 10 am to 11 pm; 1024 D Coast Village Road; 805-770-2266; rorisartisanalcreamery.com.

So far I have had: 37 clients use my services twice; 28 clients use my services three times; 12 clients use my services four times; 5 clients use my services five times; 5 clients use my services six times; 1 client use my services seven times; 3 clients use my services eight times; and 1 client use my services nine times!

Beer & Brats at Bonita Boutique Rita Villa is an excellent hostess. From March thru December, she throws monthly special events at Bonita, her Gypset women’s clothing, jewelry and gift boutique. Always, the food and drink is plentiful. No skimpy tray-passed hors d’oeuvres here!

Local Beer & Brats are on the menu for Men’s Shopping Night on Thursday, December 20 from 4 pm to 8 pm. A keg from Telegraph Brewing Company will be tapped. Shalhoob Meat Company brats (aka sausages) will be grilled out back.

There will even be a “side,” French fries hot from the fryer. Save room for dessert as it’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies.

As recently reported in The Wall Street Journal, people are more appreciative when they receive a gift they have explicitly

Grill master Claire Stancer prepares all the food at Bonita events. (Photo: Stephanie Heyman Baker)

requested. Guys, make your life easy and just ask her what she wants this year. At the second annual stag night, purchases are gift-wrapped and men receive 10% off. You won’t leave hungry.

Bonita is located at 2330 Lillie Avenue in Summerland; 805-565-3848; bonitasummerland.com. Photos are from last year’s event.

Eagerly awaiting tips, tips, tips: If you have any restaurant information, please contact me at wendy@santabarbarasentinel. com.

If you need professional real estate assistance, please give me a call at (805) 565-4896 All calls are confidential.

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Opinion, stories, events, and people that shape Santa Barbara

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Milpas On The Move…

Sharon Byrne

By Sharon Byrne

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A Parade Like No Other

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he story unfolding on Milpas Street is one of neighborhood empowerment and an emerging unity in the community. The Milpas Holiday Parade ran for 57 years when it was rained out in 2009. In 2010, the newly formed Milpas Community Association was but a month old come parade time. In 2011, we decided to resurrect the parade, a major breakthrough for this newly coalescing area.

Have you ever had the experience of being on a team where the talents are so complementary, the interaction so smooth, and the focus on achieving the goal so unified… that it has the effect of making you better than you probably really are?

That’s my experience with this parade team. The Boys and Girls Club’s Calvin Mass brings love of all things youth to the table, as does Casa De La Raza, who welcomed us to plan the parade there. MCA President Alan Bleecker knows the history of the parade, and all the permits we have to get. Bea Molina recruits entries, and garners the PA systems. Pedro Menchaca

Sharon Byrne is executive director for the Milpas Community Association, and currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the Salvation Army Hospitality House and Santa Barbara County Alcohol and Drug Problems.

engineering, mechanical prowess, serious detail work, and sweat all melded into the gold of a show car. It’s highly competitive – everyone wants the bomb vehicle. Kids gaze at them with big saucer eyes – you can literally see them dream of having a car of their own, and showing it off like these guys do in the parade.

And the low-riders love the parade. They feel welcomed by the Milpas community; they put on their Santa hats, hand out candy, and show off the hydraulics for the crowd. And the crowd loves it!

After the parade, the car show commences, and everyone drools over early century autos to classics to super-horse-powered modern vehicles. The car club guys also run a toy drive for the Boys and Girls Club during the show.

The parade and car show team will no doubt be embarrassed I wrote about them, because not one is doing this for recognition.

They’re doing it out of love, for kids, their community, and their city.

This parade is a celebration of all things

San Marcos Sophomore Stevie O’Connor’s logo design took first place

Shannon Rogers and Sasha Beauvais were among the hundreds of volunteers who helped make last year’s Milpas Street Parade a success

runs the Dons Riders team and pulls in Santa Barbara High School kids. Nightlife Car Club honchos Danny Trejo and Juan Perez round up cars, and organize the car show following the parade.

It’s a dream team of people who’ve put serious heart into this event.

If you like marching bands, dance teams, cheerleaders, bikes, and every kind of classic car, this is your parade. A special treat (and I mean it) is the low-rider cars.

Now, some folks might pause at the thought of low-riders, but don’t fall for outdated stereotypes of thugs and gangsters.

The low-rider crowd is, well, mature. These guys are also master recyclers: where most of us see a car well past the sell-by date, they see opportunity. They tear apart old junkers, rebuild them, and supe them up. It’s carenthusiast alchemy: testosterone, pride,

youth, community diversity, classic cars, and some serious dignitaries.

Salud Carbajal is our Grand Marshal. This year, we ran a contest to have youth design our logo for the parade, and San Marcos sophomore Stevie O’Connor won. Salud is going to award her an iPad at the start of the parade.

Her winning artwork captured our theme of unity and youth: Our city’s youth do great things, so we encourage teams from all over to roll down Milpas street in celebration.

Milpas is the one place where you see a willing blurring of the (often unconscious) self-segregation between Latinos and whites in this town. It has a special, unique flavor.

You don’t need a passport to enjoy the parade and car show. You just need to bring your sense of openness and fun!

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have a slew of kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara with them.

Come on out, enjoy a parade like no other! And bring your appetite with you; residents know that the tastiest eateries are on Milpas!

Business Beat

Ray Estrada

By Ray Estrada

Synergy Backs Student Effort To Raise Funds

S Okay, so the ocean isn’t that close, but if the surf is up when the parade ends, it’s close enough for Dos Pueblos High’s race car driver Luke Boles to race on over

an Marcos High School student leaders of Kids Helping Kids recently met with business leaders at Synergy Business and Technology Center to announce they will stage another benefit concert at 7 pm January 12 at the Granada Theater in downtown Santa Barbara to raise money for community causes.

Ray Estrada is a writer, editor and media consultant who has worked for newspapers, radio news, wire services and online publications for the past 40 years. He has taught journalism at the University of Southern California and now runs his own consulting business based in Santa Barbara.

sbview.com

fundraiser at the 1,600-seat Granada Theater for the past three years. The group has raised more than $700,000 to help people in need locally and globally. Funds also are raised through corporate donations, events leading up to the concert, and by individual donations. Last year, $187,000 was grossed with the benefit concert, featuring Grammy Award nominee Bareilles.

“I could not be more proud of these youth leaders and of the Kids Helping

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Kids program in general,” Holliday said.

“To see high school students step up and raise more than $150,000 year after year to give back to those in need is an amazing accomplishment. We are also excited to hear that other student leadership groups around the United States have expressed an interest in developing a Kids Helping Kids program in their own communities.”

Since becoming an official 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, Kids Helping Kids has directly supported individuals and families. The group covered the costs for a San Marcos High janitor’s arthritis surgery, as well as paid for an electric cart for a student with a rare skin disease. Last year, the group paid funeral costs for student Sergio Romero, who was killed on Milpas Street in a car collision.

This year, members of the student-run group said they hope to gross $220,000 and net $140,000 to reach more community members in need.

Picks of the Week On Saturday, December 15, Santa Barbara Choral Society Presents Handel’s Messiah Part 1 Holiday Concert at the San Roque Catholic Church. It’s led by the Artistic Director and Conductor JoAnne Wasserman, featuring soprano Celeste Tavera, mezzo-soprano Diana Tash, tenor Ben Brecher, and Music Academy alum, bass De Andre Simons, accompanied by the Santa Barbara Choral Society orchestra and members of the Choral Society. Works by Randolf Bass and other arrangements of traditional holiday texts will also be featured in this wonderful holiday event starting on 6 pm. At 3 pm, before the event, Dr. Steven Dombek will offer a discussion of the performance for ticket holders.

San Marcos High students from Kids Helping Kids discuss plans at the Synergy Business & Technology Center.

Welcome to the 59th annual Milpas Holiday parade this Saturday, December 15th, at 11:00 am, from Canon Perdido to Mason Street! Car show and toy drive follows from noon to 4 pm.

In this year’s parade: Grand Marshal Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal District Attorney Joyce Dudley Sheriff Bill Brown, on horseback with the mounted sheriff’s patrol.

Mayor Helene Schneider and Council member Cathy Murillo – pedaling surreys with the Dons Riders from Santa Barbara High School, accompanied by the Santa Barbara Unified District School Board and Superintendent David Cash.

Council-members Bendy White, Randy Rowse, and Frank Hotchkiss – in classic convertibles from Milpas Motors Marching bands from the high schools, junior highs, Franklin, and Bravo Elementary School Band A Chinese Lion Dance performed by Valhalla Martial Arts.

Luke Boles, 16-year-old race-car driver from Dos Pueblos, with his cool stock car!

Santa Claus and his magic elf Carlos: the grand finale on a Fire Engine! They’ll

Last year’s Kids Helping Kids sold-out concert featured Sara Bareilles and Tyrone Wells. The 2013 performers have recently been announced, including the progressive alternative rock band Switchfoot and local favorite Tyrone Wells from Los Angeles, said the group’s adviser Jamie Devries.

Since 2001, Kids Helping Kids has donated more than $400,000 to underprivileged youth throughout the local and global community. Students in the group have volunteered more than 10,000 hours of their time.

“My oldest son Erik is a past CEO of Kids helping Kids and all three of my sons have been involved in the program over the years,” said Michael Holliday, Synergy founder and a fellow with the American Institute of Architects. “Also, since I am on their founding board of directors and Synergy is helping to sponsor this year’s KHK event.”

Kids Helping Kids’ efforts started in December 2002, when the Advanced Placement Economics class at San Marcos High began a penny drive to raise money for the Unity Shoppe. The group grossed $15,000 and continued to expand its main event into a gala at the Granada.

Kids Helping Kids has held its main

On Sunday, December 16, at 2 and 7 pm, enjoy the Presidio Chapel performances of theatrical production of La Pastorela (A Shepherd’s Play). It is one of the oldest Santa Barbara Christmas traditions, drawn from the transcribed versions of the mid-nineteenth century play by Pablo de la Guerra, and will be conducted in Spanish. This story presents the battle between good and evil, and “invokes elements of spectacle, comedy, and fantasy,” according to the official description.

For a full list of activities in Santa Barbara, click on over to SBView.com. You can also submit an event for free. Compiled by Irina Vinarskiy

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by Jana Mackin

A journalist and a poet, Jana has lived everywhere from New Orleans and Butte, Montana to Saudi Arabia, where she taught English to children.

Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The Washington Post and San Francisco Examiner. She now lives in Goleta.

Isla Vista’s Rainbow Girls Bring Down the House

And They Might Bring Down the World on 12/23/2012

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Rainbow Girls rocked SOhO last week – on to Seattle for the End of the World show! (photo credit: John Quick)

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rarely risk leaving the safety of Goleta to border-cross into the Santa Barbarian wilds, but when it comes to the Rainbow Girls – Isla Vista’s beloved funky-acousticstomp folk band­– I’ll chase them to the ends of the Earth, or, in this case at least as far as SOhO Restaurant and Music Club, where they recently performed. The Girls may have opened for the California Honeydrops but, for me, they really headlined the night.

And what a hootenanny hoedown of funky folk it was.

at open mic night at the Isla Vista Rainbow House in association with the now-dissolved Sprout the Band. Rainbow Girls was ultimately formed in 2010, after Erin and Caitlin joined forces with band members Cheyenne Methmann, 21, Vanessa May Wilbourn, 22 and Savannah Hughes, 24.

The quintet puts on a hell of a show, and really brought the house down at SOhO last week.

Real and Original and Authentic

That show launched the band’s northwest “End of the World Tour.” The next day, they departed their Goleta house en route to play several gigs in San Francisco, Chico, Bend, Olympia, Port Townsend and Seattle.

In true IV hippie-cowgirl funk, they will finish the tour with the “End of the World Show” in Seattle on December 21 – which, according to the Mayan calendar, will be, in fact, the end of the world.

I’ve had such a good time seeing these girls rock the house that I plan on following them to their rocking-stomping show in Seattle, which won’t just rock in the end of the world but also Erin’s uncle’s 60th birthday. I can’t imagine a better venue to party like there’s no tomorrow.

“Erin is my niece but I always say that I’m not prejudiced,” Jackson Schmidt, 60-yearold Seattle-based lawyer, told me. “They are really, really talented – all of them. I think they are a band that is going somewhere.”

There’s a lot to like about the band.

Everything is acoustic – no amps here – from the guitar and washboard all the way down to the percussive beat of cowboy boots.

And besides rocking and haunting vocals, the Girls draw upon a large instrumental repertoire, including ukelele, banjolele, accordion, violin, harmonica, melodica, tap shoes, cajon, piano, glockenspiel, sitar, banjo, dulcimer, kazoo, drums, tambourines and shakers. The range of their songs draws from Cajun-zydeco, blues, gospel, Celtic, Appalachian, southern plains, country western, blue grass, gypsy, jazz and even Native American stomp dance. When I hear them, I return to Depression-era scratchy quality vinyl recordings of Bessie Smith, Dust Bowl troubadour Woody Guthrie, Patsy Montana and the Montana Cowgirls.

It’s wild. And it’s fun.

“We are real and original and authentic,” said Erin Chapin, 23, who, with Caitlin Gowdey, also 23, founded the group. The pair started as duet Red and Yellow, playing

End of the World Tour

Humble IV Beginnings Jackson is right. This must-see group is no all-girl novelty act, but original, highly talented vocalists and musicians.

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Live at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco.

New Year’s Eve at Maggie’s They play every show balls out (if you’ll excuse the expression). Their sound refuses categorization. It is acoustic, highly unique. Think of Isla Vista stomp folk with Americana-blues-experimental-gypsy-rockpsychedelic-siren-old time-Santa Barbarafunk influences.

Get it?

No?

Then Just Go See Them Since their IV beginnings and busking gigs at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market (shades of Katy Perry!), Rainbow Girls have evolved to shows everywhere from SOhO and Cold Spring Tavern to out of state and international venues and tours, including stops in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Utah and Europe. This year has been especially busy in touring and writing more original material for their first studio album, which is slated for a spring 2013 release. As far as discography, besides Stomp Folk released in September 2012, Rainbow Girls released Eat It Fresh in March 2012. This was preceded by KCSB: Live on “The Green Room” in January 2012.

“I’m incredibly happy where we are,” Caitlin confided, “we’ve progressed so quickly... it’s really exciting to see what we

Jana’s Picks Want a holiday escape?

Then how about checking out Bennett’s Educational Materials Lego Club. The club meets every Friday at 4 pm to celebrate the joy of Lego, and is open to all kids no matter what age – be it 3 to 103. It features free building, building competitions, weekly tasks and fun. Bennett’s is located at Magnolia Shopping Center, 5130 Hollister Avenue. For more information, call (805) 964-8998.

Christmas gift shopping?

How about Picassos for Peanuts? This is the theme of the Goleta Valley Art Association’s December art show featuring more than 40 new works of art by several award-winning artists.

The show will be held on Friday, December 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, at the Goleta Library, 500 North Fairview Avenue. To learn more – or to purchase a few paintings – call Goleta Valley Art Association at (805) 569-2721.

are now capable of. That will be nothing compared to what we will be capable of in ten years. All of these women are my sisters and my friends. I don’t know what I would do without them. I value all of their opinions and judgments. We are five women on stage playing instruments and singing and just doing awesome stuff.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Although they have been influenced by a broad spectrum of musical talents – everyone from CCR to the Grateful Dead to The Beatles and Sly & the Family Stone and Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions – the Rainbow Girls remain fundamentally faithful to their stomp-folk root birthed along with their collective identity forged in Isla Vista rainbow-colored funkiness.

Most importantly, they remain true to their simple collective philosophy: “We enjoy whiskey sippin’, skinnydippin’ and stomping large boots.”

So do I. See you in Seattle, ladies.

Keep on stompin’ hard.

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On Defective Christmas Trees, High School Baseball Bats and Wild(Cat) Parties

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y *$%#@ Christmas tree fell down the other night.

We’d literally spent all day working on it too, starting early at the Lane Farms lot up in Goleta with two full hours of tree selection, purchase and transportation. My daughters and I spent a horrifying fifty minutes lost in the corn maze before emerging, quasi-victorious, from the entrance (not the exit), smiling bright, thrilled that we made it out at all.

(If I go astray in that damned corn maze again, I swear I will burn it down. Two Halloweens ago, the kids and I were lost in what I now know to be a twisted labyrinth from hell for over an hour. Kate was crying, Lily bored into a vegetative state; my wife was waiting impatiently in the cold, furious at me for my directional incompetence.

And when we finally broke free from the belly of the beast, disoriented, jeans torn and soiled, haired mussed with cornhusk, eyes wide with insanity and the toothy grins of lunatics on our tear-streaked faces, I swear there was a group of seventh graders laughing at us. Judging us. I almost rammed my family’s pumpkin up…ah, forget it. I’m past it. Mostly.)

Where was I? Oh yeah, the Christmas tree.

We got it home, cranked up the holiday tunes, wrestled the tree from the top of the

Volvo and set it up on the “super-base for trees of all sizes” (or something like that) we bought last a couple years ago. It was a perfect tree, conical and green and lush. A symbol of all things good.

We admired it for some time, then spun it around to direct the ubiquitous “hole” toward the wall and went to work on decoration. Strings of lights, beautiful ornaments – reminders, really, of the kids through the years, or places visited or friends near and far. It was fun putting up the tree and, frankly, for me, it was the first time I really felt the Christmas spirit this year.

I felt happy. Satisfied with everything. My kids smiled and hugged me, and I hugged and kissed my wife. And for a moment, everything else went away. It was just us.

And it was good.

Timber!

Late that night, after a romantic glass of wine and game of Scrabble with my wife, I was suddenly awakened from a deep and untroubled sleep.

“Matt, wake up. Wake up,” Wendi whispered urgently. “Get the bat.”

My wife is lovely, a truly peaceful person – she absolutely refuses to keep a gun or any other dangerous weapon in the house for any reason. With that said, she has

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sold Friends Brady Charrette, Holly and Blaine Parker and Mike O’Flynn (left to right) take a moment to enjoy some good company…for the kids at Washington School, of course.

absolutely zero hesitation in the darkness of the night to advise me to quickly grab hold of my aluminum high school baseball bat and bash some unfortunate robber’s face in with it. I might actually rather have the gun when I really think about it.

(On second thought, I take that back. A few years ago, Wendi heard somebody in our yard – sort of like she does most nights – and told me to get the bat, which, in light of the fact that I am a docile, malleable creature when awakened suddenly from deep sleep, I did. And I emerged half-naked, insanely stressed out and pumped up, from the back door with that bat cocked back like Barry Bonds – and quite nearly took an old high school friend’s head off. He needed a place to sleep for the night and thought he’d come to the back door to avoid waking the kids. It was closer than you think, trust me.

Good thing I had no gun.)

So, once again, I crept into the living room, partially clothed, bat cocked with good hitter’s form taught well to me in my old baseball days, heart pounding inside my chest, protection of my wife and children in the forefront of my mind.

I recall being hyper-sensitive to sound and smell as I crept through the dark house, acutely prepared for all hell to break loose.

And it did…but only because I tripped over the damned tree and beat it mercilessly with my bat. (I’d have shot it had I been toting a gun.)

Ornaments were broken, lights destroyed.

Presents were soaked with water from that base we bought. Egos were bruised. My shin hurt.

Ultimately we laughed (after Wendi talked me down), and went back to bed.

But only after picking everything up and tying the mangled tree to the wall with some kitchen twine.

I hope it holds.

I Love the Mesa That was Sunday. Maybe I deserved a fallen tree – it had been a pretty darn good week up until that point. In fact, it had been a terrific week.

I actually won something. (I never win anything, seriously. Not Bingo, not

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Mike Zapata looking good after winning a raffle prize that included reindeer antlers and a shiny grill. (My prize was better, Mike.)

the lottery, not my monthly card game.

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.) And to make my victory even sweeter, it was something I never should have won in the first place.

I’ll start in the beginning. The Mesa is a great little Santa Barbara enclave. Just about everybody I know has lived or currently lives there, or at least planned on living there at one point. Hell, Wendi and I were in escrow on the Mesa, twice, before moving elsewhere.

Great school, kids everywhere, generally cool part of town, walkable, bikeable, the Mesa Café, Rose Café, Lazy Acres, the Douglas Family Preserve, Shoreline Park, Leadbetter Beach, Shoreline Beach Café, the Harbor…wow. (Why didn’t we close on one of those two houses? What the hell happened, Sammy?)

I got wind from a Mesa friend, Jon Ziskind, that Washington School was having a fundraiser that would really bring the neighborhood together and show how a group of caring parents and friends can make a difference. This is just the kind of story we like best here at the Sentinel, so I decided to give it a shot.

Before we hung up the telephone, Jon innocently slipped in a few words of advice.

“Hey, ah, the fundraiser involves Christmassy sweaters.” ...continued p.20

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Final SBART gathering of 2012

By John Dvorak

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he Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table brought together the scholastic sports community for one last time in 2012 on Monday, with a pair of special awards preceding the usual coaches reports and student-athlete introductions.

Individual honorees Jessica Simon and Troy Skinner received high praise from award presenters Bob Huhn and Aaron Brown. With families in attendance, Simon and Skinner received their awards in front of a packed Ranchero Room at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Sixteen coaches or assistant coaches reported from the podium, touching on local high school and college teams competing in basketball, soccer and wrestling.

San Marcos Royals head girls soccer coach Macie Berlin announced her junior goalkeeper Hannah Harrah has verbally committed to play at Loyola Marymount, making her the first NCAA D1 player from San Marcos in several years.

Santa Barbara High’s girls soccer coach Jeff Johnson brought one player, Annie DeBruynkops, and highlighted her defensive effort against another future D1 player, Taylor Alvarado, from Santa Paula.

Santa Barbara High girls basketball coach Andrew Butcher and Dos Pueblos boys basketball assistant John Slavin brought three players each.

Butcher called his trio – Alejandra Mejia, Wendy Hernandez, Debbie Throop – his “wheel players.”

“Because you can have a car with a huge engine, or as I say now a car that gets great mileage, and if you don’t have wheels, or the wheels fall off, you’ve got nothing.

“We’ve had some success this year and these three are as responsible as anyone else.”

Other announcements included Westmont Sports Information Director Ron Smith promoting the Alex Moore Classic on Saturday, January 12.

On behalf of Laguna Blanca School, Blake Dorfman invited the studentathletes in the room to come to the Owls’ Hope Ranch campus next Monday to listen to a panel including Olympian Todd Rogers and National College Soccer Coach of the Year Tim Vom Steeg.

Athletes Of The Week

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os Pueblos wrestler Chad Lampe and Providence Hall basketball player Sydney Hedges were recognized as Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Athletes of the Week at Monday’s press luncheon.

they make good things happen for you and everyone says what a great coach you are,” said Lions head coach Ernie Quiroz. “But the athletes are the ones who perform on the field, on the court, in the pool. All the athletes here make all of us coaches look good because of their hard work and commitment.”

Honorable mentions include Kevin Hempy, San Marcos Basketball; Elvis Mancilla, Santa Barbara Soccer; Caleb Richey, Bishop Diego Basketball; Abel Gonzalez, Bishop Diego Soccer; Sweets Underwood, UCSB Basketball; Keia Nobles, SBCC Basketball; Jamie Neushul, Dos Pueblos Water Polo.

Bishop Diego Scholar-Athlete Of Year

Jessica Simon was voted Special Olympics Athlete of the Month

“Her coach said the reason she’s a team captain is her leadership skills. She always is enthusiastic and positive. The players that are down, she always picks them up,” explained award presenter Aaron Brown.

Jessica has been involved with Special Olympics for 25 years.

Sports Volunteer of the Month

By Barry Punzal

M

Dos Pueblos wrestler Chad Lampe was chosen as Athlete of the Week…

Troy Skinner is Bishop Diego’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year

T

… as was Providence Hall basketball player Sydney Hedges

Lampe went undefeated on the week.

The DP senior posted two impressive wins on his way to a tournament championship in Long Beach on Saturday by topping two CIF placers from last year. Lampe also moved up a weight division in Tuesday’s dual meet with Lompoc and pinned his opponent in the second round.

Hedges led the Lions to the tournament championship at Bishop Diego’s Bird Cage Classic. The tournament MVP averaged 26 points in four tournament games.

Hedges’ biggest stat line came in the tourney opener vs. Villanova as the senior collected 30 points, 12 rebounds, 7 blocked shots and five assists.

“When you have athletes like that,

roy Skinner was recognized as and awarded Bishop Diego’s ScholarAthlete of the Year at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon held at Harry’s Plaza Cafe.

Award sponsor Bob Huhn, of Human Performance Center, presented Skinner with the award after Bishop Diego football coach and teacher Tom Crawford said a few words about Troy.

“There is the phrase ‘proverbial coach on the field’ and that certainly applies to Troy,” Crawford said.

“Troy is the embodiment of what we would like to get out of our athletes.”

Parents Aaron and Denise were also present.

The senior three-sport athlete carries a 4.33 GPA and is an AP Scholar with distinction. Skinner is part of the STEM team at Bishop that focuses on learning skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Special Olympics Athlete Of The Month

J

essica Simon was recognized at Monday’s Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table press luncheon as the Special Olympics Athlete of the Month.

Jessica plays six sports, including tennis, floor hockey, basketball, bocce, swimming, and bowling. Jess was the captain of a floor hockey team that just won a gold medal at a recent competition.

att Wagonhurst was rummaging through his closet one day and came across a pair of baseball cleats he hadn’t worn for a long time.

A basketball player at Santa Barbara High, he’d hung up the cleats. But they were in good condition – too good to throw out.

“I wanted to donate them but I wasn’t sure they would go to someone who would actually use them,” Wagonhurst recalled.

That’s when the idea of the Santa Barbara Sports Drive was born.

Wagonhurst is founder of the SB Sports Drive, a non-profit program run by high school students, that collects usable used sports equipment and clothing, cleans it up and distributes it to children of low-income families. The organization plans a day in the spring for families to come by the Boys and Girls Club and select items for the kids.

For all his hard work and service to the community, Wagonhurst is being named Presidio Sports’ local Sports Volunteer of the Month, presented by Pacific Western Bank.

Once the idea was hatched, Wagonhurst ran with it. He asked friends if they had any sporting goods lying around to donate.

He met with Kim Kjar, his club basketball coach and freshman coach at Santa Barbara High, and the athletic director of the Downtown Boys and Girls Club, and inquired about donating the items to the club.

“During that time, we were practicing at the Boys and Girls Club, and Matt had some basketballs and sports equipment he wanted to donate to the club,” Kjar said.

“He went a step further and got some of his buddies to gather up their used sporting goods and bring it together and donate it to the club. With the help of all the other guys, they brought enough stuff together to fill the gym at the club.”

Wagonhurst and Co. – notably Elijah Bittleston and Eddie Conk – then took the effort all over town.

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1987 CIF Championship Team wenty-five years ago this week, Carpinteria High School’s football team won the first of three-straight CIF Championships with a 27-0 victory over Tehachapi, completing a 14-0 season. Pictured here are members of the 1987 CIF Championship team that were honored at Carpinteria High School during halftime of a game against Nordhoff in October. On that Friday night of December 13, 1987, Emilio Handall scored three touchdowns against Tehachapi and Coley Candaele, a sophomore quarterback, threw a touchdown pass to Shad Lara. (photo: Bill Swing)

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Upcoming Events Worth Checking Out: FRIDAY Boys soccer: Royal at Carpinteria, 6 pm – These are two perennially strong programs in the CIF-SS. Boys soccer: Bishop Diego at Laguna Blanca, 3:15 pm – Former UCSB star Ivan Becerra takes his Cardinals to Hope Ranch for a non-league rivalry game.

Girls water polo: Edison at Santa Barbara, 3 pm – After dropping its first two matches against the top-two ranked teams in CIF Division 1, the third-ranked Dons play host to the No. 8 team in the division.

Women’s basketball: William Jessup at Westmont, 5:30 pm – Returning NAIA Player of the year Tugce Canitez and the Warriors (7-1) are back in action after suffering their first loss and taking their final exams.

Men’s basketball: Bethesda at Westmont, 7:30 pm – The Warriors look to continue their winning ways. Not counting an exhibition loss at Division 1 Cal State Bakersfield, Westmont has won four in a row.

SATURDAY Men’s basketball: San Diego Christian at UCSB,

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WEDNESDAY Girls basketball: The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions: This tourney, hosted by Santa Barbara High, annually features some of the best teams in CIF. Orange Lutheran is the Gold Division’s No. 1 seed. The Lancers have a veteran squad and is ranked fourth in Orange County. Bishop Montgomery, a perennial CIF power, is seeded second.

Other top programs entered are Oak Park, Peninsula, Ventura and Harvard Westlake.

The area teams playing in the bracketed Gold Division are the host Dons, Dos Pueblos, Righetti and Santa Ynez. The Dons open on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 4:30 pm against St. Bonaventure, while the Chargers play Harvard Westlake at Sovine Gym that day at 6 pm. The Green Division will be a six-team round-robin event at San Marcos High.

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MONDAY Boys soccer: Carpinteria at Dos Pueblos, 3:15 pm – A good matchup between local teams before the holidays.

Speaker Series: An evening with Tim Vom Steeg and Todd Rogers, 7 pm, Laguna Blanca gym: The successful UCSB men’s soccer coach and the 2008 beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist will speak on the importance of high school sports, college recruiting and their experiences at Laguna Blanca. Both coached at the school before hitting the big time. Admission is free.

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7 pm – The Gauchos go from playing the 17th-ranked team in NCAA Division 1 (San Diego State) to facing a NAIA team.

But it’s all about the young team getting better before Big West play.

Girls water polo: Edison at Dos Pueblos, Noon – It’s No. 7 vs. No. 8 in this Division 1 nonleague water polo clash at the Elings Aquatic Center.

Girls water polo: Los Alamitos at Santa Barbara, Noon – The Dons continue their tour of the top-10 teams in CIF Division 1, taking on the No. 5 Griffins.

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Bittleston, Conk, Wagonhurst, Nicky in their eyes, saying how truly grateful they Von Wiesenberger, Cody Henderson, were of the Sports Drive. That’s where the Peter Ghersen, Mason Pereira, Andy essence of our non-profit organization lies, Busch, Jr., Miles Waters, Brendan Fay, in moments like that.”

James Schuerman, Will Zimmerman, Kyle Wagonhurst said the support the Sports Mayfield, Penn Stussy, Jamie Morton, Logan Drive has received from the community Carmody, Teddy Rollins and Quincy “has been unbelievable. Over the past Rhodes all get credit for being founding four years, we’ve had numerous local members. businesses sponsor us with everything “They put out boxes at different from bicycle helmets to storage units for elementary, middle and high schools to equipment. collect all kinds of sporting goods,” Kjar “Overall, the community has been a huge said. factor for the Sports Drive’s success.”

“The Sports Drive is a three-step process: Kjar has seen the program get better every collection, cleaning, and redistribution,” year. explained Wagonhurst, a senior and a “It has grown to serve many kids here at two-varsity player for the Dons. “During the club, and Matt was one of the founders the winter seasons, the Sports Drive team, and continues to work to be the leader of consisting of 40 high school kids, begin the Sports Drive every year,” he said. collecting Sports Equipment from willing donors throughout Santa Barbara County. Sports Calendar During the spring, we clean and fix all the

By Barry Punzal equipment. Finally, we host a one-day event in which low-income kids from all over ollowers of local high school boys Santa Barbara come out and receive free basketball are in for a treat the next few sports equipment of their choosing. The days. They can see four teams play in the event has been successful for the past three same tournament. years and we are gearing up for a fourth Carpinteria High’s Jim Bashore Holiday event this spring.”

Cage Classic will feature San Marcos, The Sports Drive staff organized a system Santa Barbara, Bishop Diego and the host to distribute the sports equipment. They Warriors in its 14-team field. County teams contacted agencies like Transition House, Santa Ynez, Cabrillo and Orcutt Academy CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are also entered in the four-day bracketed and the Boys and Girls Club and gave them tournament that tips off at 12:30 p.m. on tickets to hand out to the kids. The kids Friday and continues Saturday, Monday trade the tickets for the sporting goods. and Tuesday. full colorgame is set for 7 pm Wagonhurst said Sports Drive takes The championship sports equipment in any condition and any on Tuesday. size lesscolor than a kayak.

Rounding out the field are Channel full included grommets “If we can’t fix it, we make sure it getshemming Islands, &Rio Mesa, Fillmore, Hueneme, recycled,” he added. “The clothing we receive Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. Arroyo generally kid-sized and the equipment Grande is the defending Pac-7 League included ing &is grommets and clothing is for kids, not adults.” champion and reached the CIF Finals last Kjar said soccer equipment was the most year. Rio Mesa won the Pacific View League popular during the drive’s first year. last season.

“They helped to get soccer balls, cleats Heading into the week, Santa Barbara and shin guards to many of the kids here at was unbeaten at 4-0 and San Marcos 5-3, the Boys and Girls Club,” he said.

Bishop Diego 2-1 and Carpinteria 2-3.

The Warriors gave themselves a tough Wagonhurst said he and his staff are touched when they see the reaction of the opener, playing San Marcos on Friday at 8 kids when they pick out their stuff. pm. The Royals are coming off a runner-up “There is no way to describe the feeling finish at the Coast Union Tournament. that the Santa Barbara Sports Drive radiates Santa Barbara tips off the Bashore in its to myself and all the members,” he said. “One home gym against Nipomo at 7 pm. moment that stands out to me is when I gave Bishop Diego plays Tri-Valley League a girl her first bike. She was so excited and rival Nordhoff in a 2 pm opener at the her entire family approached me with tears Carpinteria gym.

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hemming & grommets

375 Pine Ave #20 Goleta, CA 93117

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You Have Your Hands Full

by Mara Peters Former editor for the fashion/lifestyle section of the New York

Post, Mara moved to London and worked as a contributing editor for the Daily Mail’s You Magazine, freelancing for Look Magazine, NY Post and the Style Magazine for The Sunday Times. To remain sane during diaper years she writes a mommy blog, You Have Your Hands Full – www.handsfullsb.com.

Winning

I

look forward to it every year.

December is the only time I want to check the mail. I open envelope after envelope, sifting through stunning photos of perfect smiling families wishing us a happy holiday. I read about old friends and admire color-coordinated shots of cute kids.

I watch families grow up right in front of me. It’s awesome to catch up – once a year, anyway.

But there’s something else I experience during December as I look over all those cards. Something wonderful.

An overwhelming feeling that I have won.

The Benefits of Going Big You see, never during the year does a big family feel like a good thing. Buy plane tickets for four kids and then watch the horror of the other passengers as they count you all boarding the flight. Go to The Daily Grind and order a couple bagels, a jelly Danish and a chocolate croissant; bang, you’ve spent $20 bucks, easy, for a snack after school. Walk into the library with four

kids and the librarians’ glasses fall to the end of their noses as they scowl, concerned about eight small hands digging through the bookshelves.

But we have our moment. That’s right, in the race for the best Christmas card, we win hands down every year – precisely because we have so many damn kids. In our card, we typically take advantage of the beautiful California location, shooting the gang outside, smiling at you. Four. Before even reading the text, we’re screaming at you that the year has been full and we never really have much time… because there are so many of us and we have so much to do!

I read recently that the Christmas card has become the new status symbol. Your kids and family are front and center, on display for family, friends and business associates.

Joy to the World depends on how big the smile can be. Peace is an indication of how happy you all look.

The commercial world has caught up with the trend; have you seen the photo options available these days? It’s mind-numbing.

Really.

Even with all the bells and whistles, in Christmas-card speak, the more you

have, the more you have achieved. People can hide the fact that they only chose to have two children by inundating you with multiple pictures of the same two kids.

Some of them include the dogs, cats and even the new car. I guess it adds substance.

Not us. We always go for one big photo (no need to add the dog either, why rub it in?). And I am sure, to those families, two is plenty, thank you very much. But, purely from a card critic’s view, two just looks… light.

Friends from back East dress their kids alike and have them smiling in foliage or snow in front of a huge white colonial house. Our kids always look at the card and wonder out loud if the family is a little lonely with comments like, “That house looks awful big for such a small family…and did they have to do that to the dog?”

Every Dog Has His Day… So to Speak Now, I know what you’re thinking.

It’s crass to gloat. But I can’t help myself.

You don’t get my world. I have endured comments all year long (even from a certain grandparent) about how irresponsible it is to have so many children. (“Have you thought about what the planet can sustain, Mara?”) I get the, “All of these are yours?” when we are out in public. And, of course, the most ridiculous comment, “You have your hands full.” (Thus the column and blog name.)

It’s hard to be in the minority. The kids’ teachers nod when I tell them that I try to check through the homework but the sheer mass of paper that comes home makes it difficult. They tell me they understand but really they don’t have a clue, otherwise they wouldn’t expect so much from me. Their model of parental supervision works for one,

The Peters family, winning.

possible two students, before it breaks down.

We get sibling discounts when we sign up for sports. But when you sign up the second brother or sister, that number doesn’t decrease. We almost need to take a loan out when we register for AYSO soccer every year.

But December always rolls around to make up for it all; the phone rings off the hook. “That card Mara!” they say. “The kids are so cute!” I act surprised when, really, I’ve just gotten off the phone from someone else telling me we were the favorite (again) this year: Clearly the most joyful. Obviously the luckiest.

So I am going to revel in the moment. Let my competitive spirit be satisfied. Ignore the appalled looks and comments when we’re in public. And, as I pack four lunches and scream at the kids to get their socks and shoes on for school every morning, I will remember the Christmas card: To the outside world, once a year, we look the happiest.

Once a year, we win.

Peters’ Pick

H

ow many times have you read that your connection to community is the key to happiness?

Well I experience that daily at the Grind. Every morning I chat with Scott Campbell, a manager, about my life and what I am doing.

He tells me what he’s doing, how long he has been working that particular morning – it’s an exchange that takes all of three minutes while he splits Charlie’s jelly Danish into four pieces. I get the pumpkin spice coffee. I tease my husband that the two people in Santa Barbara who’d know if I went missing would be him and Scott. I love that. And I’m not the only one. Watch the line file through and Scott is on a first name basis with the entire coffee crowd. The Daily Grind, 2001 De La Vina Street, on the corner of Mission.

Everybody who’s anybody knows Scott Campbell at The Daily Grind—even Charlie Peters.

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Green Gift Giving

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weekend guide

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• LOVE IS FREE What: Lolë Meetup Where: De La Guerra Plaza (State & De La Guerra) When: Saturday, December 15, 9:30am – 10:30am Why: Join Lolë for a free Mindful Flow Yoga session that merges yoga and meditation, taught by one of their Santa Barbara ambassadors, Barbara Won. How: Go with the flow and enjoy snacks, refreshments, free Lolë goodies and 20% off all in-store shopping after the session.

.com

By Courtney Dietz

reen gift giving? Groovy! With a little creativity you can incorporate thoughtful, earth-friendlier giving for every environmentally conscious man, woman and child on your gift list. Let us show you how easy reducing a carbon footprint—and increasing a gift’s impact—can be.

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For Tech-Savvy Conservationists:

• LOOSE CHANGE

What’ll It Cost Me: Free. They even provide mats and music!

Help avoid the wasteful power suck that happens when all those gizmos and gadgets are off but still plugged in. The Belkin Smart AV power strip shuts off power when you shut down your techno-thingamabob. Want to know just how much power you’re pulling? Try the Kill a Watt and save even more.

Get off the grid, man, with a solar charger. We like the foldable, portable one from Brunton.

A pedal-powered light and phone/GPS charger gets even further off the grid (man).

Of course, most tech-savvy conservationists don’t listen to music while they ride—it’s unsafe (and very inharmonious)—but the charger is still great for a little juice on the ride to work or for longer rides that might require, for example, a map or GPS to get there.

For the Carbon Neutral DIYer:

• HEY BIG SPENDER

A green cleaning starter kit complete with recipes and containers. Be it a grimy floor, food-caked stainless steel cookware or even a filthy cutting board, this kit has your green cleaner covered with non-toxic, readily available ingredient lists in the e-book provided.

(We got ours on etsy, at http://www.etsy.com/listing/94333039/diy-green-cleaner-and-ebook-kitchen.)

Neat gifts for knitters abound at Santa Barbara’s Loop and Leaf. Be sure to ask about their eco-friendly yarn. (Then knit some sweaters and mittens to avoid using wasteful heaters!)

Help your favorite green kitchen DIYer learn to can it, cure it, churn it and brew it. We’ve actually dog-eared several pages of our America’s Test Kitchen’s DIY Cookbook, and just love it.

Stay green, stay lean, stay keen (man). For tips on the perfect green gift for the fashionista and foodie in your life, visit www.lovemikana.com

What: Holidays at The Ranch Where: Rancho La Patera & Stow House (304 North Los Carneros Road, Goleta) When: Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16, 11am – 4pm Why: Here’s your chance for a photo-op with Santa, and also to let your kids (or yourself) do a little cookie-baking, take a tour of the rustic house and enjoy live holiday music.

How: Put on your best Christmas boots and head to the ranch for some holiday fun.

What’ll It Cost Me: A dmission is $5 for adults and $2 for kids.

What: Shop LOVEmikana’s Holiday Gift Guide Where: Online at www.LOVEmikana.com When: There’s no better time than now to check a few items off your list.

Why: We’ve paired up with local businesses to bring you over 15 gift ideas, deals and discounts for every bird in your nest.

How: Shop local and save.

What’ll It Cost Me: G ift ideas start at $9 and go up from there.

Set Your Hearts a-Flutter

Victoria Court

By Briana Westmacott

B

e careful, we’re about to send you head over heels—this is aesthetic inspiration at its finest! Flutter Magazine is an online creation that provides eye candy for brides, hostesses, foodies, farmers, friends and just about anyone seeking design details and frills. Two local talents, Tracy Lazaro and our very own Kim Wiseley, crafted Flutter Mag and filled it with couture wedding and event artistry that will no doubt be love at first sight.

Whether you’re a budding bride or not, Flutter will give you the true sense that love is in the air. Are you looking for pretty party ideas and themes or maybe some sweet sips and bites for your next gathering? Flutter is the perfect place to get those ideas blooming.

The magazine is truly a visual playground for all who gaze upon it… we guarantee you will find yourself smitten.

This Friday, December 14, 2012, debuts their second issue. Find your way to www. fluttermag.com and set your hearts a-flutter.

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This is sort of a Where’s Waldo? photo – can you pick out Editor-in-Chief Matt Mazza?

Christie and Paul Chapman with Jon Ziskind – nice hat, Chappy.

Hmmm, I thought, as he paused for a moment.

“And it’s at the Cliff Room.”

The Cliff Room Gives Back I recall being nervous as I walked across the dark parking lot toward the back door of the (admittedly somewhat seedy) Mesa watering hole. Would the Wildcats accept an outsider into their ranks for the evening?

Even one with a camera? We move a lot of papers on the Mesa (thanks!), so I figured

I’d be in good company.

Turns out I was.

Jon immediately welcomed me to the party and introduced me around. Everybody was dressed, ah, festively, and having fun. I ran into old friends from college and new ones from swimming lessons and longtime mutual acquaintances and familiar faces. I even met a few new folks and really enjoyed them. Karaoke and laughter filled the bar, and the ambiance was jovial, happy. Taco Bell and Domino’s Pizza catered the event, and there were all sorts of other snacks and concoctions to consume. The Cliff Room actually donated back a portion of the

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Washington Cougars…er, ah, Wildcats, Kelly Lazarus and Christie Chapman. (Kidding, you’re both happily married to great guys and are too young to be Cougars. Sorry Paul.

Sorry Brock.)

(likely fairly large) bar tab to the school, too – so everybody gave something.

It was a terrific scene. Authentic.

Eccentric. Very Santa Barbara. (I’ll leave the more detailed descriptions to the photos.)

And families were giving money, buying raffle tickets, whatever it took to support the school. In fact, I spoke with lots of Washington parents, and each one told me flatly they were there to “support the kids,” or “support the Mesa” or “support Washington.”

A true grassroots effort was taking place, right there at the Cliff Room, and the money raised goes straight to the kids. No unions, no taxes, no special interests, no

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Pam Bertoli may just have laid down the best vocal of the night…but I left at 9 pm so who knows.

bullshit. Just some good clean fun to benefit Mesa youths.

That’s how it ought to be done, man, I swear. Build a strong neighborhood community and help each other help yourselves. Spread the love. Pay it forward.

Make it happen.

Right on Washington.

Winning for Washington So all of that is fine and dandy. I’d put a few bucks into the kitty on behalf of the Sentinel, you know, to support the cause.

(Believe it or not, we’ve actually already participated in a few things and really want to keep growing that community support as we grow as a paper and business.) I was given a chain of raffle tickets in exchange for my dollars, fair and square. No winks. No handshakes. Straight up.

I was packing up my things, getting ready to leave, when I heard a voice from above begin calling out the raffle winners.

And I’ll be damned if my number didn’t come up.

I won. I don’t have a kid at Washington and I won their damned raffle. Three nights in a beautiful Mesa vacation rental across from Shoreline Park. Three bedrooms, three baths. Nice yard. Lovely place.

It was a glorious moment. It was like I’d won an Emmy or something (certainly not a Pulitzer). I was hugging people and shaking hands and acting humble. I’d done it for the kids, I told all who listened, for the school.

But really I felt like a winner. Finally.

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Devon Lazarus, Brock Hoffman, Linda Meyer and Brady Charrette are really into supporting the kids.

Brian Hecker was my true favorite of the Washington School fundraiser – that sweater is homemade, with ornaments sewn on by his wife. Brian would frequently shake his supple chest from side to side, causing his sweater to ring like the bells on Santa’s sleigh. And he and his wife took a beautiful Christmas picture in full regalia, too.

I called my wife and told her the good news. Then I called my business partner here at the Sentinel, Tim Buckley. There was a quick consensus.

Despite winning fair and square (still a winner!), the reality is that we would like to use the generous donation to raise a few more bucks for the Wildcats. So I am talking with the benevolent owners to see what we can work out – even if it means my wife and I don’t get to realize our old dream of living on the Mesa, even if only for a few nights.

Oh well, maybe we’ll just spend the night at a friend’s house sometime soon; that’s what it’s all about anyway. Oh, and friends, don’t worry, we’ll do our very best not to knock your Christmas tree down or beat you with a baseball bat in the middle of the night. It’s the least we can do.

Go Wildcats.

Stuff I Like I like local businesspeople giving back to the community. Rick Feldman at the Santa Barbara Eyeglass Factory is doing just that this holiday season with the 16th annual “Kids Right to Sight Day.” The Right to Sight program was founded by the Eyeglass Factory but is really a yearround collaboration with Surgical Eye Expeditions (aka SEE), Lions Sight and Hearing Clinic and several other local non-profits (Unity Shoppe, Casa Esperanza, and many others) that screen their clientele for potential candidates. In

the most recent year, over one thousand individuals were given eye exams and free glasses, and it is estimated that over $1 million in eye care has been provided over the sixteen year life of the program. Wow. On Sunday, December 23, 2012, from 9am to 2pm, more than 100 kids will be examined and given new glasses.

There will be entertainment (including Santa and some firefighters and police officers) and refreshments available and the whole thing should be very cool as well as really informative and helpful – hearing, nutrition and insurance issues will also be addressed, so come down, get informed and check it out. Call the Eyeglass Factory for more information, (805) 965-0098.

As I said above, I like the Mesa. On December 15 (this Saturday!), Alice San Andres-Calleja and the Mesa Paper will help put on Celebrate Lights!, and it sounds fun. The event begins at 11 am with all sorts of art and promotions by various shops, and continues on throughout the day with Santa at Lazy Acres and ultimately a mini-parade past lit-up Mesa houses culminating in an evening musical variety program in the Shoreline Plaza Courtyard. The parade starts around 4pm in the southeast portion of the Lazy Acres parking lot, and you can all call the Mesa Paper for more details. (805) 845-6870.

Have fun.

Finally, I like Santa Claus Lane. A lot. I like the shops and the restaurants. I like the beach and the surf. In fact, there’s basically nothing about Santa Claus Lane that I don’t like. So I was admittedly thrilled to learn about the impending “Holiday on the Lane” celebration. It’s basically a street-wide open house honoring the return of Santa to Santa Claus Lane. The jolly old elf himself will be hanging out at a couple of relatively new businesses, Ze Bird and Hawthorne (the latter is also having a Cynthia Vincent trunk show), and will also spend some time moseying around from shop to shop. (See Santa anytime from 11am to 3pm.) Porch is doing milk and cookies and a wreathmaking class (from 3pm to 5pm), carolers will be singing brightly and most or all other area businesses will be open and putting on sales and getting into the spirit. This sounds great for the whole family, and we’ll be heading down for sure. Check it out on December 15 anytime from 10am to 4pm.

See you there.

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W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

COMMERCIAL CORNER

by Austin Herlihy A Commercial Real Estate Agent with Radius Group who

has completed over $400,000,000 in total transaction value and Leased / Sold over 1,500,000 SF since 2005, Herlihy was the lead Agent on the sale of the Fairmont Orchid Hotel listed in 2011 for $150,000,000, as well as the high profile transaction of the sale of the Hotel Californian.

Now or Never

Better to Take your Gain this Year…

Before the Government Takes it Next

T

he number of commercial real estate sales in the fourth quarter of 2012 has the potential to far surpass total sales from the previous three quarters combined due primarily to the increase in capital gains coming in 2013.

That tax increase is spurring an enormous amount of activity. Based on real estate transactions closed in Q4 to date – in addition to deals in escrow that are scheduled to close by year end – the total number of transactions for the months of October through December will easily reach 30 or more, comfortably beating all previously recorded Q4 sales figures. This speaks volumes when you consider that the average number of sales per quarter over the past fifteen years is sixteen.

Why are there so many sales specifically in Q4 this year? Why are buyers and sellers pushing to get deals closed before December 31? Are we seeing a market anomaly? No. The answer, however, is simple.

Taxes.

Tax-Savvy Buyers and Sellers Alike are Moving Quickly Toward Closing By Year End

S

ome real estate investors are looking to cash in their chips and pay the current 15% long-term capital gains tax to avoid the rumored increase to 20 – 25% in 2013. In addition, there is the 3.8% “real estate sales tax” – rumored to become effective January 1, 2013 – that will be tacked on to every real estate sale. That tax will affect sales where the net gain is over $500,000 when selling one’s primary residence, and where the net gain is over $250,000 when selling one’s second home or investment property.

But the activity on the sales side – primarily driven by tax planning strategies – is not the end of the story. It turns out that the impending tax increase has also motivated some investors to buy real estate as well. Many investors with long-term non-real-estate assets such as stocks and bonds have sold their securities to take advantage of the lower capital gains tax this year, and are now using those funds to buy long-term real estate investments with a new stepped-up basis that will likely ride inflation better than, e.g., municipal bonds or other fixed income vehicles. So the appetite for real estate deals that close before year end has increased dramatically for both buyers and sellers of real estate – in short, a rumored tax increase has actually spurred economic growth, though only temporarily.

Temporary Suspension of Capital Gains Could Spur Economic Growth, Too

T

his increase in activity has left me considering how active our economy would become if we just suspended capital gains for one year and let the economic growth driven by the freedom to move money without the fear of taxes (for a limited time) pull us out of the fiscal problems facing us. Consider this: We’re essentially already seeing a stimulated economy due to the fact that taxes will go up 5 to 10% in the next few months. Now can you imagine if people could save 20% due to a suspended capital gains tax for a limited time only? (Let’s not forget that capital gain is on monies already taxed at income rates, so revenue would not become non-existent.) I bet we would see economic growth like we have never seen before.

Increased activity is really what gets the economy moving, not increased taxes (indeed, it stands to reason that higher taxes will actually kill the economy over time). And the proof may be in the pudding – at least in the short term –with the amount of transactions closing in Santa Barbara in Q4. Every economic transaction puts to work lawyers, brokers (both real estate and stock), escrow and title companies, contractors, marketing firms, etc.; this is the real trickle down that will stimulate the economy, put people back to work and increase tax revenue the old fashioned way.

So if you are on the fence about selling your securities and buying real estate, ‘tis truly the season to contact your broker and tax accountant to understand how these taxes may affect you before it’s too late. And if you are currently in escrow selling your property, whether commercial or residential, we recommend pushing to close prior to year end. For more helpful tips and an in-depth understanding of how the new taxes may affect your current or future investments, contact your accountant or a licensed real estate professional.

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REAL ESTATE

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2695 Memory Lane

By Michael Calcagno Michael has consistently been ranked in the

top 1% of Sotheby’s agents worldwide. Shortly after joining Sotheby’s, he partnered with Nancy Hamilton to form one of the most successful real estate teams in Santa Barbara. Michael can be reached at Michael@ HomesinSantaBarbara.com

Holiday Surprise!

D

uring the time of year when residential real estate listings typically slow down, this past week had some great deals pop up. So if you’re looking for a break from that holiday shopping and need to get away—even for just a little bit—from the incessant holiday music that seems to emanate from almost every store you walk by, go take a look at these properties. I think you’ll enjoy them… and, hey, what better present for that special someone?

3838 Center Avenue

Located in one of Santa Barbara’s most coveted neighborhoods is this remodeled twobedroom, two-bath home in move-in condition with hardwood floors and a bonus room. It sits in the heart of the Monte Vista School District and offers approximately 1,100 square feet of living space.

2695 Memory Lane

A new contemporary home (constructed in 2010) in Mission Canyon featuring a large roof deck for entertaining and good mountain and ocean views. Approximately 1,200 square feet with two bedrooms and two baths, the property falls within the Roosevelt school district.

Purchase price: $849,000 Down payment (20%): $169,800 Loan amount: $679,200 Loan payment: $3,068 (30 yr fixed at 3.55% (3.64% APR))

Property taxes estimate: $780 Home insurance estimate: $80 Total Monthly Payment:

$3,926

3328 Calle Fresno

Originally built in 1929, this Spanish-Mediterranean-style home is located in San Roque and backs up to Stevens Park. The home is approximately 3,300 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths, and sits on over a half acre in the Peabody school district. (I’d be willing to bet this home is pending before this article goes to print… but I’ve been wrong before. Better go check it out fast.)

3838 Center Avenue

3328 Calle Fresno Purchase price: $1,525,000 Down payment (20%): $305,000 Loan amount: $1,220,000 Loan payment: $5,512 (30 yr fixed at 3.55% (3.64% APR))

Property taxes estimate: $1,397 Home insurance estimate: $125 Total Monthly Payment:

$7,034

Purchase price: $869,000 Down payment (20%): $173,200 Loan amount: $695,200 Loan payment: $3,141 (30 yr fixed at 3.55% (3.64% APR))

Property taxes estimate: $795 Home insurance estimate: $80 Total Monthly Payment:

$4,016

Mortgage statistics provided by Justin M. Kellenberger, Senior Loan Officer at SG Premier Lending Group, Inc. Justin can always be reached at justin@sgpremierlending.com.

Note: The foregoing economic breakdowns do not include potential tax benefit analyses since that will ultimately depend upon a number of additional factors. But home ownership can indeed have tremendous tax-savings potential and should be considered with your realtor and/or tax accountant as part of the ownership decision.

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