Battle for Downtown

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INDEPENDENT MIND P. 8 • THE BOROUGHS P. 10 • FORTNIGHT P. 28

BATTLE FOR

DOWNTOWN The District 6 city council seat is up for grabs, as incumbent Meagan Harmon is being challenged by Jason Carlton, Nina Johnson, and Zachary Pike. But where do they stand on issues such as affordable housing, rent control, alternative transportation, homelessness, and the future of parklets? We found out. (story begins on page 6)

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L o ca t e d i n t he H eart of S anta Ynez at 3568 Sagunt o St reet This little antique boutique has everything from Vintage finds, Antiques, Farmhouse, Shabby Chic, Rustic Ranch, Industrial & so much more...

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What began as the Kick Ash Bash has now grown into

TWO GREAT NAMES ONE GREAT NIGHT 50 YEARS OF ROCK ’n ROLL

ROBBY KRIEGER of THE DOORS

2021’s hottest ticket!

A Private Donor Appreciation Event

Please join us for a fabulous, high-energy, end-of-summer celebration at a stunning, private Montecito estate Support of our heroic First Responders, currently working the front lines of the California fires.

September 18th, 5:30 -10pm Go to One805.org for more information today.

No time to lose! This will be a sold-out event that you don’t want to miss.

One805 Live! requires all guests to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the event.

One805 is a 501 (c)3 non-profit charity.

In Partnership with The Santa Barbara Firefighters Alliance

Friends & Ambassadors: Ellen DeGeneres; Martin Gore; Olivia Newton John; Peter Noone; Rob Lowe; Alan Parsons; Billy Zane

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ur Take – Democracy is a beautiful thing, and it will be on full display as we host a O pair of council debates, as well as one for the six-person mayor’s race Cover Story – Where do the District 6 candidates stand on key issues facing downtown? We’ve got answers.

Independent Mind – What to do about the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom . . .

Buying Paradise – Want a piece of downtown real estate? There are some interesting options . . .

The Boroughs: An Introduction – We’re back and better than ever, as our third edition of The Boroughs will inspire, with a side of awwwwwww The Boroughs: East Side – The Santa Barbara Zoo is overrun with news of new critters on the way The Boroughs: Funk Zone – It’s crystal clear, Maria Constanza Ferreira has a special skill The Boroughs: The Mesa – Who is Jerry Hannula and why is his presence a good sign for SBCC Athletics?

The Boroughs: San Roque – Tom Cantella knew he needed change, and Sansum Clinic’s weight management program provided the solution The Boroughs: State Street – What’s that sound? Oh, that’d be tunes from SOhO, which has reopened its doors The Boroughs: Oak Park – The Environmental Services team at Cottage Health has plenty to brag about these days The Boroughs: West Side – Hidden City Studios brings acoustical magic to the community SYV Snapshot – A look at a plethora of action in the Valley To Be Determined – How an injury has provided some needed perspective Santa Barbara Foodie – A trip to the polo fields can be great for the tummy now, too

Beer Guy – How can you enjoy Oktoberfest around town?

Bud Guy – Merso Labs is helping both farmers and consumers

Fortnight – From Jakob Dylan to the Santa Barbara Bowl, a look at the month ahead What’s Hanging? – What’s that we see?! That’d be some art shows.

I Heart SB – Learning to enjoy the moments in front of her

Man About Town – Roar & Pour is just what our man of leisure needed

Publisher/COO • Tim Buckley Design/Production • Trent Watanabe Deputy Editor • Nick Masuda Features Editor • Zach Rosen Copy Editor • Lily Buckley Harbin Graphic Design • Esperanza Carmona VP Sales & Marketing • Leanne Wood

Columnists Man About Town • Mark Leisuré | To Be Determined • Briana Westmacott SB Foodie • Gabe Saglie | On Art • Margaret Landreau Independent Mind • Jeff Harding | State Street Scribe • Jeff Wing The Bud/Beer Guy • Zach Rosen | Fortnight • Steven Libowitz SYV Snapshot • Eva Van Proyen | I Heart SB • Elizabeth Rose Real Estate Snapshot • Kelly Mahan Herrick | What’s Hanging • Ted Mills Advertising/Sales Tanis Nelson • 805.689.0304 • tanis@santabarbarasentinel.com Casey Champion • 805.695.1501 • casey@montecitojournal.net Sue Brooks • 805.455.9166 • sue@santabarbarasentinel.com Published by the Montecito Journal Media Group, LLC Printed by NPCP INC., Santa Barbara, Ca. Santa Barbara Sentinel is compiled once per month 1206 COAST VILLAGE CIRCLE, #G, MONTECITO, CA. 93108 HOW TO REACH US: 805.565.1860 EMAIL: nick@montecitojournal.net

OURTAKE

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by Nick Masuda

DEBATE THIS:

WE’LL ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS — LIVE

F

our races. Thirteen candidates.

We’ll go ahead and shave that to 12, as Eric Friedman is running for Santa Barbara City Council’s District 5 spot unopposed.

But that leaves District 4 (Coast Village Road), District 6 (Santa Barbara’s downtown), and mayor (the whole enchilada).

These are critical races, responsible for major tourism corridors and the health of small businesses, as well as the tone of leadership this city is looking to follow coming out of the global pandemic — if we are indeed out of it.

But what do you really know about the candidates? You’ve probably seen a headline here, or an Instagram post there. But it also brings to mind a statement from one of the most beloved presidents, John F. Kennedy, in the history of our democracy: “The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”

And it’s our job to make sure that no stone is left unturned, nor a question unasked.

And the pages of the Santa Barbara Sentinel are finite — although, take a read on the District 6 primer that starts on page 6, it’s nearly 3,500 words of direct-fromtheir-mouths goodness — so we are expanding our canvas, hosting a trio of live debates just days before locals will receive their ballots for the 2021 Election.

On September 29, we have extended an invitation to our Zoom stage to the six mayoral candidates, which includes James Joyce, David Matthew Kilrain, Cathy Murillo (incumbent), Randy Rowse, Deborah Schwartz, and Mark Whitehurst. We’ll host them live for 90 minutes starting at 7 pm, with our very own Gwyn Lurie taking on moderator duties, with a special guest to be announced in the very near future.

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But the fun won’t stop there, as the next night (September 30 for those that want to insert into their iPhone calendars), Gwyn and yours truly will kick things off at 6 pm with a showdown between District 6 candidates Jason Carlton, Meagan Harmon (incumbent), Nina Johnson, and Zachary Pike.

We’ll let them debate key downtown topics for an hour before we welcome the one-on-one District 4 contest between Barrett Reed and Kristen Sneddon (incumbent).

Santa Barbara is at a crossroads, with some seemingly ecstatic with progress being made on key issues such as business vitality and homelessness, while others take issue (on both sides) with the idea of rent control or parklets around the city.

And before you cast those ballots, our debates will give you a look into how each candidate will address tough questions, with one of the ground rules that details must be offered and that platitudes can and will be challenged.

Sound like fun?

We can’t wait.

FYI MAYOR’S DEBATE WHEN: September 29, 7 pm (90 minutes) WHERE: Zoom (registration will open on montecitojournal.net on September 15) DISTRICT 6 DEBATE WHEN: September 30, 6 pm (60 minutes) WHERE: Zoom (registration will open on montecitojournal.net on September 15) DISTRICT 4 DEBATE WHEN: September 30, 7 pm (60 minutes) WHERE: Zoom (registration will open on montecitojournal.net on September 15)

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Come visit us downtown at 927 State Street or order online at www.vivaoliva.com

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COVER STORY

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by Nick Masuda

THE BATTLE FOR DOWNTOWN: WHERE DO DISTRICT 6 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES STAND ON KEY ISSUES?

“There are some issues downtown and in the neighborhoods that need addressing. The lack of leadership with the city council has compounded these problems and Santa Barbarians I have talked to are not happy with the city and its lack of execution.” — Jason Carlton (Photo by Nick Masuda)

“The best part of competition is that through it we discover what we are capable of — and how much more we can actually do than we ever believed possible.” — Anonymous

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hen it comes to Downtown Santa Barbara, these words ring truer now than ever before.

The pandemic has brought massive change to the corridor, with many businesses surviving despite lockdown and uncertainty.

It’s safe to say that Santa Barbara is one of the few mid-sized cities to withstand what ‘Rona threw at it — even reigniting innovation and a willingness to take risks in the process.

But as the city inches toward whatever normal is going to look like, the novelty of the “new” downtown is becoming a more rancorous debate — just in time for the Santa Barbara City Council District 6 election set to culminate on November 2.

Incumbent Meagan Harmon looked to be a shoo-in to continue in her role after being appointed by council in 2019 and her subsequent naming to the California Coastal Commission earlier this year. But then longtime City Hall insider Nina Johnson entered the race at the last minute, while businessman Jason Carlton and everyman Zachary Pike also threw their hats into the ring, creating one of the most interesting council races in years.

The Downtown corridor has taken on new importance during the pandemic, an outlet for locals and visitors alike to enjoy outdoor dining due to the city’s decision to support the State Street Promenade, which saw restaurants utilize outdoor parklets to help patrons enjoy a bite to eat while addressing ever-changing health protocols.

The parklets have been a heated topic of discussion, with some at a recent city council meeting indicating that they don’t fit the city aesthetic, as well as issues with ADA compliance. Others believe that it isn’t broken, so don’t fix it.

Add in ongoing debates over homelessness, living wages, rent control, affordable housing, alternative transportation and retaining students from the trio of universities in town instead of them taking their brilliance elsewhere after graduating, and there is quite a bit to discuss.

So where exactly do the candidates stand on key issues facing a district that houses no school, but instead is critical for the well-being of the South Coast’s tourism industry, as well as that of the spine of Santa Barbara — small business?

The Santa Barbara Sentinel approached each candidate with 10 key questions facing downtown, with each candidate limited to 100 words per response, which are listed alphabetically by last name below. (In the interest of fairness, next issue’s answers will be in reverse alphabetical order.)

WHY ARE YOU VYING FOR THE DISTRICT 6 SEAT? CARLTON: There are some issues downtown and in the neighborhoods that need addressing. The lack of leadership with the city council has compounded these problems and Santa Barbarians I have talked to are not happy with the city and its lack of execution.

HARMON: I am running for reelection because much work remains to be done to make our city more livable for all of us. For example: we are in a once-in-ageneration moment for downtown. To support local business, I led the charge to make the State Street Promenade happen — an idea that was stalled for decades by bureaucratic red tape. I want to see this concept through to something permanent, beautiful, sustainable, and thriving for our downtown. The housing/homelessness crisis, childcare, economic opportunity for working families — I have enacted meaningful policy reform in these areas and am committed to continuing this work.

JOHNSON: I am fortunate to be a 25-year resident of the city of Santa Barbara.

After serving in the top ranks of City Hall for over 20 years, I bring invaluable experience and knowledge of government operations and services to help the city council better serve the community. I am an advocate for local businesses and have a strong track record of bringing together diverse interests to get things done. I have significant hands-on experience in organizational change, downtown revitalization, legislative advocacy, sustainability, arts and culture. I’m ready to bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to the challenges we face.

PIKE: Santa Barbara is going through yet another phase of changes. We are set to undergo some major visual and structural changes to the downtown State Street corridor, alongside some big changes in city government. I have lived in this district for over two decades, and I have a lot of love for this city and its people. What the city council needs is representation for the working-class locals, the backbone of Santa Barbara. This is my experience, and this is the reason for throwing my hat into the ring.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE PARKLETS FEATURED DOWNTOWN? CARLTON: I think they are a great temporary solution. I believe we need to work out a more permanent solution. The business owners, community members, and visitors alike all seem to be enjoying this new outdoor experience. I would like to see outdoor dining and shopping become more permanent.

HARMON: Parklets were instrumental both to the survival of many local businesses, and to residents needing to connect with one another during this pandemic. I am proud to be a strong, early, and continuing supporter of the parklets, and of allowing businesses to utilize them without onerous, costly regulatory intervention from the city. The State Street Advisory Committee, on which I serve, is designing a permanent future for the Promenade; I believe that parklets will and must be a key part of that future, with guidelines that promote beauty, functionality, and access without imposing excessive burdens on local businesses.

JOHNSON: Parklets were key to help businesses survive the pandemic by providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere for outdoor dining. We need to keep them in place to ensure local businesses can ride out public health restrictions and provide outdoor eating areas. At some point in the future, we can bring together restaurant owners and the design community to discuss future design considerations for the parklets, but we first need to help businesses recover.

PIKE: The pandemic brought uncertainty to the local hospitality economy; the parklets were a great move on the part of the city and the restaurants to make patrons and diners feel comfortable as well as keeping the doors open to local business. The lesson learned here is that people enjoy being seated outside downtown. The parklets were meant to be temporary and should be given an end date. If the State Street revitalization plan is put into effect, then a new shared open seating plaza design would be both aesthetically pleasing and fair to all of the downtown merchants.

WHAT WOULD YOUR TOP PRIORITY BE IF ELECTED? CARLTON: My team and I are looking at a management system for the homeless, mentally ill, and drug addicts to help clean up Santa Barbara. Affordable housing for individuals/families working downtown. Lastly a balanced budget with transparency to the public who pay for city services.

HARMON: Downtown is the heart of this district and my top priority. I am proud of leading in the creation of the State Street Promenade, turning an idea that had been discussed for decades into a reality, and in being unanimously appointed to serve on the State Street Advisory Committee as it develops plans for a revitalized business district. But downtown also houses many working families who are renters, and who face significant challenges finding and affording housing. I am committed

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to promoting policies that keep our workforce local, not living far away and commuting long distances on crowded freeways.

JOHNSON: My top priority is having inclusive, collaborative conversations early and throughout project and policy discussions. I want to bring about new models of community problem-solving to engage talented community members and include more voices in discussions. Without this engagement, trust in local government has waned and now needs to be rebuilt one conversation at a time. My goal is to calm anger and tension and restore positive, collaborative relationships with the community. I want to create a culture of “Getting to Yes” where the entire city organization and community is proactive in helping businesses thrive and entrepreneurs open their doors.

PIKE: The first priority would be maintaining a true representation in the city government for the people who live and work in the downtown neighborhoods. For the residents of District 6, downtown SB is not only a weekend out on the town, but also a workweek as well as our home. That being said, a living wage for the workers downtown is important for the health of the city.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOWNTOWN? CARLTON: This is a complex question with many facets, that to date has no solution. That said, I think this will take the city working with the community and developers alike to find common ground to solve this. I have seen other areas in the U.S. use a bond measure to help create affordable housing which could work here, but my team and myself need to do more research.

HARMON: I am proud of my work to address the critical issue of housing, pushing for more affordable units in new developments; housing will continue to be a top priority for me. I am an advocate of incorporating FARs into our zoning code, a tool allowing for greater flexibility to more effectively pursue adaptive reuse strategies and put workforce housing where it belongs. I will also create a city sponsored revolving investment fund to invest equity into workforce housing development projects, generating the truly affordable housing we need and a return-on-investment sufficient to replenish the fund without creating strain on the budget.

JOHNSON: I would adopt policies that incentivize the production of a wide range of housing types, allowing housing projects to be feasible and profitable over other types of development. We need to develop affordable housing on city-owned properties where we have public financing tools to lower the cost of housing units.

I will prioritize the streamlining of the ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) process to speed up the conversion of a garage or addition of a housing unit on a property. I’ll work to educate the broader community of how important housing production is to economic vitality.

PIKE: The practical answer to affordable housing is to use what we have already.

The empty buildings downtown should be considered for converting into live/ workspaces for artists and independent businesspeople. It would be worth looking into what the city can do to keep rental prices within reach of an actual average income level. A living wage based on an average housing expense is vital to keep the downtown community vibrant and alive.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON TENANT PROTECTION? CARLTON: This question is too vague. I want to protect tenants and landlords alike, but it would have to be on a case-by-case basis. I don’t see a cookie cutter answer to this question.

HARMON: Over 80% of us living in the 6th District are renters; as a renter myself and a working mom, I understand how challenging it is to make ends meet. It is imperative that we press forward on implementing comprehensive protections for tenants. I was a strong voice in favor of eviction protection in our city, passing the most protective tenant’s rights ordinance in Santa Barbara’s history. I also led the effort to provide pandemic rental assistance — money that went directly from the city into the pockets of local working families. I am committed to this effort in my next term.

JOHNSON: I support more funding and resources to inform tenants on their rights and mediation services for housing disputes between tenants and property owners. I want to explore tools and incentives to ensure rental properties are safe and well-maintained. We need to provide eviction protection for tenants who lost their jobs and suffer a hardship and likewise keep property owners from falling into foreclosure from non-payment of their mortgage.

PIKE: Tenants absolutely need some protection. Longtime locals are being squeezed out of town because of the rising housing costs. The city council should explore what it can do to be fair to both tenants and landlords. There should be a limit to what percentage rents can be raised as well as protections from unreasonable evictions.

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“I am running for reelection because much work remains to be done to make our city more livable for all of us. For example: we are in a once-in-a-generation moment for downtown. To support local business, I led the charge to make the State Street Promenade happen — an idea that was stalled for decades by bureaucratic red tape.” — Meagan Harmon (Photo by Nick Masuda)

WHAT SHOULD CITY COUNCIL DO TO ADDRESS FAIR PAY/LIVABLE WAGES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY LOCAL LONG-TERM? CARLTON: The city needs to work with businesses and landlords to find common ground on both living wages and affordable rents. It will take the community coming together to solve this. I would also like to add that Santa Barbara can never receive a green city status with so many workers traveling in upwards of an hour to get to work.

HARMON: Too many Santa Barbara residents live at or below the poverty line, rent burdened and struggling to pay for necessities like food and childcare. I believe that everyone should be paid a living wage, and I’ve successfully championed city-led efforts to encourage payment of fair wages to local workers, including introducing a hero pay ordinance to compensate our front-line grocery and drug store workers for their ongoing sacrifices during the pandemic. This led to significant community engagement around a city-wide living wage ordinance, and I look forward to continuing the conversation in my next term.

JOHNSON: With the high cost of living in Santa Barbara and throughout California, we need to work with local business owners to discuss fair pay and livable wages to help their employees afford to live here. To help low-income earners, I would explore affordable housing options, passes for transit and bikes, and greater access to locally grown food.

PIKE: The city council should push for a living wage policy in the city of Santa Barbara and at the very least for District 6. As a reasonable exchange to entrepreneurs, perhaps the council can cut the costs of doing business with the city.

For instance, a restaurant implementing outdoor dining is using publicly owned space. In lieu of any fees owed to the city it could be granted the use of the space in exchange for paying its employees a fair living wage.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR? CARLTON: That will be addressed with the management program I answered earlier.

HARMON: Downtown is perhaps the most impacted by the homelessness crisis.

I see those impacts first-hand every day, and I hear about them from residents and business owners who are increasingly frustrated as their calls for assistance go unanswered. I support (partial list): increasing street outreach programs; increasing transitional housing, emergency sheltering, and temporary housing opportunities; implementing an alternative response model for mental health and substance abuse calls, which are now almost exclusively funneled to law enforcement; approving quality permanent supportive housing projects with wrap-around supportive services to keep the most vulnerable and highest impacted individuals housed.

JOHNSON: This issue will require creative approaches among local service providers and accessing state and federal funding. A careful review of funding and staff resources is needed to direct funding to the most pressing concerns, along with better coordination of multiple housing organizations receiving city funds to ensure clear outcomes. I will address the lack of mental health outreach workers, as well as review the entire system of street outreach and enforcement to create a safe and inviting atmosphere for local merchants and their customers, while also helping ...continued p.22

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An Independent Mind

by Jeff Harding

Jeff Harding is a real estate investor and a writer on economics and finance. He is the former publisher of the Daily Capitalist, a popular economics blog. He is also an adjunct professor at SBCC. He blogs at anIndependentMind.com

What To Do with Governor Newsom

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he problem with Gov. Gavin Newsom is that he is not a leader. Like most politicians he follows the money to keep his office in a blue state. In California, that means the liberal-Progressive political leadership who control politics in the state.

The result has been a California that is on a downward slide.

To understand Newsom, you must understand his rise to power. His support from the billionaire Getty family and his relationship with the Pelosi family are what have taken this telegenic young man to the heights of Democratic politics. The Getty money will get you a long way in politics. San Francisco mayor Willie Brown, who was also a benefactor of Getty money, saw fit to kickstart Newsom’s political ambitions in the city.

I don’t question Newsom’s intelligence, but his rise certainly wasn’t due to his brilliance as a political thinker. I will give him credit for his apparently successful PlumpJack restaurants and related investments.

But, again, they were funded by the very deep pockets of the Getty family.

Newsom’s basic flaw is his unquestioning adherence to Democratic policies. I probably agree with him on some issues, such as samesex marriage, cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and capital punishment. But these aren’t the issues that concern California voters the most.

Californians are most concerned about homelessness, water security, crime, education, and housing affordability. I don’t see any leadership from Newsom on these issues.

Policy leadership comes from our legislature, dominated by Democratic Progressives, not the governor.

Newsom and the Democrats have been captured by the unions — SEIU, teachers, correctional officers, trade unions, healthcare unions. In politics, money talks. That became significant with Newsom’s support of anti-competitive legislation aimed to kill Uber, Lyft, Doordash, and other app-based companies who hire independent contractors. These innovative businesses reinvented the gig economy and were overwhelmingly successful, supported by millions of willing consumers. Fortunately, voters easily saw through this union power grab and approved Proposition 22 which changed the law to save these companies from oblivion. The fight is not over. Recently a Superior Court judge ruled Prop 22 was unenforceable.

Further litigation is pending.

Unions are only interested in maintaining their monopolistic advantages to the benefit of their members. They don’t care about us.

Fighting innovation might explain the massive decline of union membership.

The latest polls put anti-recall

supporters at 50.6%, this is startling in a very blue Democratic majority state. The margin is statistically too slim to give Newsom any comfort. His job is in jeopardy.

Newsom’s handling of the pandemic is why many Californians support his recall. Newsom’s Progressive supporters applaud his handling of the COVID pandemic reciting the mantra of “science” as justification of shutting down the state. I know this is controversial, but for the most part, science was the least thing our leader was following. Just so you know, I am vaccinated, and I urge you to get vaccinated.

The lockdown policy is a complicated issue. I have done a lot of research on this topic, and I follow scientists who are experts in medicine, virology, and public health. Like most panicked politicians, Newsom deferred to “experts” who advocated political solutions, not public health solutions.

Even the CDC ignored its existing pandemic policies. The lockdown imposed by these opportunistic advocates of unfettered government ...continued p.26

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• Water between 2 am – 6 am to reduce evaporation • Take 2 minutes off your watering time to reduce runoff • Adjust timer with the weather – use the weekly Watering % Adjust.

Sign up for text alerts too!

Find more irrigation actions at WaterWiseSB.org/Sprinklers

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BUYING PARADISE

by Michael Phillips Michael Phillips is the owner and principal broker of Phillips Real Estate, Exclusive Buyer Agents and can be reached at 805-969-4569 or info@PhillipsRealEstate.org

THE SPOILS OF DOWNTOWN LIVING

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uan Cabrillo, exploring the new world for Spain, sailed into the Santa Barbara Harbor in 1542. For the next 350 years, there was not much European contact. This changed in 1784 when the Spanish constructed the first adobe housing in Santa Barbara as barracks for soldiers. The Presidio, located between Anacapa and Garden streets on East Canon Perdido, is where Santa Barbara was born and is one of the West Coast’s oldest inhabited sites.

As homes began to be built beyond the Presidio walls, Santa Barbara began to form. And although Monterey was the then political capital of Alta California, the so-called “ruling class” is said to have chosen Santa Barbara citing its exceptional climate and beauty. People, in search of paradise, have been coming here ever since.

Unfortunately for the newly arrived, it seems Paradise has always been competitive and expensive. On March 19, 1887, the Santa Barbara News-Press wrote, “Visitors who like the place well enough to take a home for a term of months, would do better to buy a lot and build a home as property prices continue to rise, for it is now cheaper here than it ever will be again. Plenty of people will live in tents this summer, as they did last summer while looking to build a home of their own.”

Since the arrival of COVID, the market, always leaning toward sellers, has become even more difficult for buyers. We hear of people engaging sellers’ brokers and releasing their inspection and finance contingencies in hopes of gaining an advantage, rarely a good idea. Saying that, bidding wars have been intense. The press has been describing the market for buyers since COVID as “challenging”; it has been far worse than that.

And although we are beginning to see an increase in inventory, we are far below historical levels, and buyers must be prepared to move quickly and decisively to win

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the best properties. Identifying your first-choice neighborhood and your optimum purchase price point is essential, critical preparation for a successful purchase; if you get those wrong you will not have bought well.

As exclusive buyer agents, we never represent sellers, focusing instead on issues specifically impacting buyers. In addition to financing guidance, contract formation, price, term and condition negotiations, and escrow oversight, we spend a lot of time looking at the best neighborhoods and homes in the appropriate price range for our clients. Today we look at the Downtown neighborhood, the heart of Santa Barbara.

Downtown Santa Barbara offers a unique opportunity to enjoy both sophisticated cultural venues and a Mediterranean coastal environment with sandy beaches and scenic foothill hiking trails all close by. Not many cities can say that.

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...continued p.21

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OAK PARK

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EAST SIDE STATE STREET FUNK ZONE

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WEST SIDE

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WELCOME TO THE BOROUGHS YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS. YOUR STORIES. A CITY BOUNTIFUL

J

ust how is it September already?! Who allowed that to happen?

It should be an interesting one locally, as politics will garner headlines for much of the next two months, with a six-person mayor’s race, as well as key showdowns for District 4 and District 6.

But we haven’t lost sight of the day-in and day-out around town, so make sure to check out the feel-good story coming from Sansum Clinic, where Tom Cantella has taken control of his health through a key weight management program offered up by the medical outlet.

Speaking of great medical news, Cottage Health won a massive environmental services award, the “cherry on top” after a tough 18-month stretch due to COVID. Just down the road, the Santa Barbara Zoo is welcoming more babies — is there something in the water out there?? — and there are six new faces helping lead the charge at TV Santa Barbara.

Up on the Mesa, there’s a new athletic sheriff in town at SBCC as the school continues to deal with turnover, while SOhO is swinging back into action on State Street.

And let me be crystal clear, don’t miss Zach Rosen’s story on Maria Constanza Ferreira, it’s a must-read.

— Nick Masuda

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2 THE EAST SIDE THE BOROUGHS: BY NICK MASUDA

OH, BABY! SANTA BARBARA ZOO OVERRUN WITH NEWS OF LITTLE CRITTERS

The six new members of the TVSB Board of Directors (clockwise from top left): Courtney Frazer, Don Katich, Laura Treat, Gary Dobbins, Regina Ruiz, and Rebecca Brand The current Masai herd at the Santa Barbara Zoo features Michael, Audrey, Adia, and Twiga, with two additions expected in 2022

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ust weeks after announcing the addition of a rare baby Amur leopard named Marta, the Santa Barbara Zoo has announced that both of its endangered female giraffes are pregnant.

Adia is due in January 2022 and Audrey is expected to give birth in July 2022.

Michael, the Zoo’s adult male, is the sire of both.

This is the second calf for Adia in less than two years, giving birth to fan-favorite Twiga in March 2020.

This will be Audrey’s seventh calf, four coming with Michael. Her most recent offspring came in March 2018 with Amirah, who is now located at the Sacramento Zoo. With the two expected calves, the zoo will have welcomed 10 Masai giraffes since 2013, with nine sired by Michael, who is 15.

“We’re excited to welcome another Masai giraffe to our herd and continue to contribute to the population of this endangered species,” said Dr. Julie Barnes, the zoo’s vice president of animal care and health.

The gestation period for giraffes is nearly 15 months.

Michael continues to be the most genetically important male Masai giraffe in North America, just shy of his 10th anniversary at the Santa Barbara Zoo, having relocated from Canada in December 2011.

Two of Michael’s sons have had offspring, making him a grandpa.

There are 120 Masai giraffes living at 28 North American zoos.

On the other side of the zoo, Marta continues to spend time with her mother, Ajax, out of public view, with adorable photos being shared via social media about once per week.

Through behind-the-scenes photos, the two seem to be inseparable, with Ajax showcasing mothering skills.

A NEW CREW TV Santa Barbara announced an eclectic group of new members to its Board of Directors, with Laura Treat, Regina Ruiz, Courtney Frazer, Don Katich, Gary Dobbins, and Rebecca Brand all joining the team.

Meighann Helene was also named board chair.

“We are thrilled to have such an esteemed group of board members come together at this exciting time when community media is more important than ever,” said Erik Davis, executive director of TVSB. “The new and returning board members bring a wealth of media and television experience and we are excited for the future of TV Santa Barbara.”

Treat is the Curator of Moving Image Collections at the UCSB Library, while Ruiz is the vice president of development and marketing at St. Vincent’s. Frazer is the director of advancement for TVSB, while Katich is well-known for his time at KEYT and the Santa Barbara News-Press, as well as a successful real estate agent for Village Properties.

Dobbins is the co-founder of Coastal View News, while Brand is a YouTube influencer, while also operating her own production company.

Helene has served on the board since 2015 and was previously the treasurer.

THE HAPPENING. . .

THE LUMINEERS

When: September 22, 7:30 pm Location: Santa Barbara Bowl Connect: sbbowl.com Cost: $45-105 Description: In a recently announced show, The Lumineers will join an impressive month for the Bowl, which also includes Haim, John Legend, and Jackson Browne. The Santa Barbara Bowl is requiring a proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in order to attend performances at its venue.

Marta is still out of public view, but is enjoying time with mother, Ajax, behind the scenes

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3 THE FUNK ZONE THE BOROUGHS: BY ZACH ROSEN

IT’S CRYSTAL CLEAR: MARIA CONSTANZA FERREIRA HAS A SPECIAL SKILL

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uch like how an interest can form and spread, a crystal begins from a seed point and grows from there. For Maria Constanza Ferreira, her interest in crystallography and animation has led to her own life growth with her award-winning films and artworks being displayed around the world. Maria has had a deep fascination for art and science ever since she was little. For college she attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for animation and graphic design. While there she had access to the RISD Nature Lab, a large space filled Maria Constanza Ferreira with taxidermy and biological specimens. There was also a basement room full of different types of microscopes. Maria recognized that microscopes and animation share a lot of similarities, both using lights, stage, and an optical device.

As she studied, Maria stumbled upon crystallography and polarized light. Conducting her own research and after speaking with the minerology department there, she was able to use what she had learned to produce a short film, Lattice. The animated movie was well-received, and it has since toured throughout the world at places like San Francisco’s Exploratorium and last year the film was screened around public spaces in Poland. A popular art and science blog covered the film where it caught the eye of a Bart Kahr, an NYU professor that specializes in the type of twisting crystals she was using for it. Bart reached out to her about her work, offering his help and was eventually able even to offer her an artist residency in his Kahr Research Group at NYU. From then on, her interest in and work with crystals has only grown.

There are two main methods of growing crystals: by evaporation through a solution or by melting the compounds and allowing them to reform under specific conditions. In solution evaporation crystals, Maria mixes very specific combinations of different types of salt-based chemicals and dyes. When mixed in just the right portion, the dye molecules begin to align themselves as the solution evaporates, forming a dye pattern throughout the resulting crystal. These physical objects can be held but many of them are quite small, and Maria and Bart wanted to figure how to properly capture them.

Maria discovered that scanning them under the right conditions produced stunning images and began amassing thousands of scans. She then began to play with the images on her computer, bringing them to life through animation. The regular forms and unique dye patterns of the crystals make a mesmerizing animation with the crystals seeming to pulse and dance along the screen. By using animation to capture these small crystals, she can display them on a grand scale, and a few years back her

animations were projected throughout Times Square in New York City.

Melted crystals are the ones that produce the twisting forms that Bart specializes in. To produce melt crystals, Maria Constanza Ferreira brings crystals to life Maria uses simple non-toxic chemicals through animation like aspirin and tartaric acid and melts them in the microwave. She began using this technical device while experimenting on her own, unable to afford proper lab equipment, but later discovered this is a legitimate lab tool for crystallography. She places the melt between glass slides and as the chemical resolidifies, the resulting crystal grows based off of its heating and cooling conditions.

These types of melted crystals can be seen in her newest installation, Crystal Landscapes. This collection is comprised of a series of light boxes made from an aluminum frame with the original crystal slide placed underneath layers of glass and illuminated from within by white light. The boxes come accompanied with a handheld 3D-printed watch glass containing a polarizing light filter. When the viewer looks through the device, the relatively dull crystal slide lights up in a dazzling display of lines and vivid colors. The radically different areas of colors in these stunning works are an indication of how thick the crystal is in that particular spot. While the crystal slides are a few inches in size now, she is currently working on how to grow these crystals larger as theoretically they could grow forever given the right conditions.

Three of these light boxes have just been installed at the Museum of Sensory, Movement, and Experience (MSME) with a larger collection to soon go on exhibit at the MOXI. Maria will be hosting “Into the Crystal Hourglass,” an open house exhibit of her work on Saturday, September 18, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm at SBCAST where she has been sharing a work studio space with several other artists. The show will have a few of her Crystal Landscapes light boxes on display with her animations projected throughout the space and accompanied by a soundscape that she just created with Bart. This open house is the last part of a three-week open house series with her fellow artists in the studio space. Meighann Athena Helene will use the studio first on Saturday, September 11, to exhibit her eclectic style including jewelry and art produced from organic found objects like palm fronds, shells, and other organic found objects that she paints with cold cast bronze, acids, and patinas. The following Saturday, artist Lindsey Appleyard will use the space to display projections, stained glass, and metal works that will be commemorating her mother’s life as well as her own life journey. Maria met Meighann and Lindsey when she moved here about a year ago and began using the studio space at SBCAST. Since then, they have become fast friends and together these three shows express the distinctiveness of their personality and the closeness of their friendship. Whether it is Maria’s own career, friendships, or the crystals she explores, her passion and interest in the world continues to seed her endless growth.

Visit mariacf.com to see examples of Maria’s videos and crystal art works.

THE HAPPENING. . .

RED TILE WALKING TOUR

When: Anytime Location: Funk Zone Connect: santabarbaraca.com/itinerary/red-tile-walking-tour Cost: Varies, depending on stops Description: According to its website, “the full tour includes 17 stops and 22 historic adobes dating from the 1700s through the 1800s and embodies the best of our city’s Spanish-style architecture.” Stops include Santa Barbara’s historic courthouse, as well as the recently reopened Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Maria Constanza Ferreira had her animations projected in Times Square

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4 THE MESA THE BOROUGHS: BY NICK MASUDA

PLAY BALL! AS SBCC ATHLETICS RETURNS, THERE’S A NEW MAN IN CHARGE

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recent Friday afternoon stroll down Cabrillo Boulevard brought about a sight that hasn’t been seen in more than 18 months — the Santa Barbara City College football team getting in an afternoon practice at the recently refurbished La Playa Stadium.

With SBCC Athletics shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic since the spring of 2020, seeing the Vaquero red is a welcome change for a campus that continues to face turmoil — with the school searching for yet another president, while its athletic director also resigned after five years at the school in June.

So, the “interim” tag is quite popular nowadays, including for Jerry Hannula, who was named the interim athletic director in late August, with a start date slated for September 13.

Hannula isn’t a stranger to community college athletics, spending 29 years at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, including 15 as an assistant athletic director before retiring in 2020.

The facilities have a great view right there by the beach. It’s just one in a million to host athletic events with that kind of backdrop.

— Jerry Hannula But retirement kept him from the camaraderie that can be found within an athletic department, particularly with staff and coaches — so he jumped at the opportunity, despite the challenges ahead in dealing with health protocols from the school, city, state, CDC, as well as a plethora of others.

“Things have definitely changed, it looks a lot tougher, things are changing on a daily basis,” Hannula told the Santa Barbara Sentinel.

“But I’m up for the challenge.”

Hannula, who has spent his retirement volunteering at foodbanks and a women’s shelter, offered up some insight as to what Vaquero fans can expect from him in a Q&A session with the Sentinel: Q. You left for a couple of years, why jump back into the fray?

A. I thought to myself, “You know what, I have the knowledge. And I can help.” I think I can be a value to the community college system, when there’s a lot of people retiring and stepping out and getting away from it. People that are getting sick, or people that are even dying. I just thought that maybe with my experience, I could bring some direction back into the system. That kind of pulled me out of retirement.

Santa Barbara has a rich tradition of athletic excellence, but that hasn’t always translated to high school athletes staying home and going to SBCC. How will you address that?

The times are a little different than they were two or three years ago. There’s a lot of students out there that don’t want to go to a university or go away somewhere if they’re going to sit in a dorm or sit in an apartment, and take all their classes online. That doesn’t really make much sense. We have an opening, and we can outreach by reminding locals that, “Hey, you can come up here.” Yes, there are still a lot of online classes, but there are some that are in person; we’re starting to get back to the college experience. And, if you’re a student athlete, you get a chance to get your feet wet again and start to compete.

Alright, you haven’t even started yet, but what are your thoughts on facility improvements, particularly Pershing Park and the Sports Pavilion?

We have so many changes in administration: I’m labeled the interim athletic director, I report to an interim vice president, there’s the interim president. These are the decision makers, and what we must do is get stability and get people that are willing to make decisions before we start to pull the trigger on those

Jerry Hannula is coming out of retirement to take over as SBCC athletic director

upgrades. It also gets more complicated because the city is involved. It’s a little more difficult than if it was just college property right. So, that’s a whole different subgroup that we have to deal with.

SBCC is such a key part of our community; tell us what your impressions are and what prior experience you might have here.

Well, I have some roots in the community: back in the mid ‘80s I was involved in St. Raphael’s Parish in Goleta. I spent probably four or five years traveling into the area. My older brother and I used to live there, and my sister still lives in the Santa Barbara area. So, it’s not something that’s totally new to me. I did work for an old station there called KDLS when they were big band. I did some traffic reports before they took out the stoplights down at lower State (Street). So, I was your traffic advisor on the radio.

It’s just a beautiful beach town — there’s so many people that want to be here.

When you say, “Hey, I’m working at Santa Barbara City College,” or, you know you’re coming into town to play, people get excited about it. The facilities have a great view right there by the beach. It’s just one in a million to host athletic events with that kind of backdrop.

THE HAPPENING. . .

FORESTERS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION

When: Saturday, September 4, 3-8:30 pm Location: Carriage Museum Connect: sbforesters.org Cost: $30 donation at door Description: Come fête Bill Pintard and his national championship squad at the Carriage Museum, with Santa Maria BBQ on the menu, while music will be provided by Out of the Blue and there will be a special performance by the La Boheme Dance Group. Some of the players from this year’s National Baseball Congress championship team will be on hand, as well as players from summers’ past.

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6 SAN ROQUE THE BOROUGHS: BY NICK MASUDA

‘LIFESTYLE CHANGE’: SANSUM’S WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LONG-TERM RESULTS

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et’s face it, we’ve all glanced in the mirror a few times during lockdowns and health scares; it’s natural to eat unhealthy foods when one is stressed, particularly about situations that are out of your control.

According to the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” report, nearly 42% of U.S. adults have gained weight since the start of the pandemic — to the tune of 29 pounds on average.

Stress eating is real, and it seems to impact men more than women, according to the report.

But Tom Cantella bucks that trend, utilizing the long-standing and highly successful Doctors’ Weight Management Program (DWMP) at Sansum Clinic to drop dozens of pounds, a process that began just before the pandemic.

Cantella had tried keto and other options he found online, seeing minimal success.

“I would lose a little weight here and there, and then it would come back,” Cantella told the Santa Barbara Sentinel.

Tom Cantella has seen significant results since comCantella isn’t afraid of a challenge, mitting to DWMP, losing weight and multiple inches getting sober through a 12-step off his waist program in 2015 — solidifying his own belief that if one truly commits to the process, results can be achieved.

“I just substituted one addiction for another, and I got rather large, and I got up to almost 245, which for me is pretty obese,” Cantella explained.

And the injuries started to mount, as Cantella wasn’t able to enjoy playing basketball or hiking like usual — which took this from a lifestyle issue to a medical one.

“I also have an 18-year-old son and want to be around to watch him grow up,” Cantella said. “And I was realizing if I kept going the way I was going that I was likely to have major health complications.

“I knew it was time to get serious.”

It didn’t hurt that his wife had also gone through DWMP with plenty of success.

And beyond immediate family, Sansum also provided a personal coach for Cantella, with health educator Jordan Branch acting as an outlet for motivation, guidance and, most of all, hope.

Their first conversation? They needed to identify Cantella’s “why,” which came down to a want to be healthier, not just for himself, but also for his family.

Then the work got started, with meal replacements provided, as well as a weekly class, which Cantella was able to attend in person for the first three months, eventually replaced by Zoom meetings once the pandemic hit.

“A big part of the success in this program is tracking and regular communication with Jordan,” Cantella said. “I was able to talk to him when I was dealing with struggles, particularly ones that came up the first week — it was kind of rough. I had a really bad headache, but I got online and saw a lot of people have certain side effects because your body is probably going through a kind of detox. And that all passed after a week, I started to feel better right away.”

Branch also worked with Cantella on expectations, as 11 pounds were shed that first week, but it’s pretty easy to come out of the gates quickly.

“It gets harder and harder,” Branch said. “When you get past that initial loss, it’s about celebrating the inches, not the feet.”

And Branch goes back to the “why” question quite often.

“If Tom doesn’t have a reason, then it’s not going to stick,” Branch said. “And that’s what we see a lot that external motivators — an event coming up in a month, or someone else making a comment or someone else pushing someone into the program, we can get temporary results.

“But for it to really stick, I find that the people who succeed long term are the ones who have internalized their motivation, who have made it a kind of a part of what they value and who they are, and who, in fact, embrace the process of making these changes.”

— Jordan Branch

Tom Cantella took pictures prior to going on the program, a decision spurred by medical need to not only lose weight, but also address cholesterol and other issues

“But for it to really stick, I find that the people who succeed long term are the ones who have internalized their motivation, who have made it a kind of a part of what they value and who they are, and who, in fact, embrace the process of making these changes.”

Donna Gill, DWMP’s program manager, explains that the program works in phases, allowing not only the opportunity for weight loss, but also dealing with the stigma that comes with dieting.

It takes time for a patient to realize that DWMP isn’t a fad — it’s a lifestyle change.

“There’s this idea, like, okay, you do it really quick, and then you get out. And so pushing through that to understand, ‘Hey, this is a lifestyle change that I’m taking on,” and that’s where Tom is at now.

“This is about the patient realizing that this is just them, trying to live their healthiest life possible.”

THE HAPPENING. . .

CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIP HORSE SHOW When: September 1-5, 8 am - 6 pm Location: Earl Warren Connect: www.CaliforniaChampionship.com Cost: Stall prices vary Description: With the newly renovated Earl Warren Showgrounds ready for its closeup, hundreds will come to Santa Barbara to showcase some of the best horses around. The competition will feature both junior, youth, amateur, and senior, with a bevy of well-respected judges.

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THE BOROUGHS: BY ZACH ROSEN

1 STATE STREET

LIVE MUSIC AT SOHO IS BAAAAACK

SOhO’s outdoor setup features plenty of space SOhO used the pandemic to install a new bar top

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he return of live music has been one of the most anticipated events during these rough times. For many around the area, going to see a live show at SOhO was one of the most sorely missed experiences through the quarantine. While the Santa Barbara Bowl makes for a memorable outing, many locals have countless memories seeing stellar shows and old friends at this iconic venue.

For years SOhO has been delivering daily music, food, and culture to the community. It has been such a favorite venue of the local music scene, bringing notable bands and providing events space to private parties and organizations such as the Lucidity Festival. Much to the dismay of the community, the club had to stay closed to the public for the past year and a half. They were about to reopen but then the second outbreak happened. Thankfully, SOhO reopened with live music this past week.

With the sudden closure and cancellation of live music events, it was a shock to Gail Hansen, who owns the club along with her family. Fortunately, they were able to use this time to make some upgrades to the venue, receiving a NIVA grant to assist with their efforts. Those returning will recognize the familiar space but with a little polish and new additions. The interior has been painted and given a new bar top, along with renovated restrooms and new furniture. They also made some improvements on the lighting and sound equipment, bringing a better experience for the relaunch of their live shows.

Of course, they are following all guidelines and safety protocols with each event.

Attendees will have to provide proof of a vaccination card or a negative COVID test result from within the past three days. Naturally during the pandemic bands had to cancel their tours and only some have returned to touring, albeit in a limited capacity.

To start, SOhO won’t be open the full seven days like before.

With so many canceled tours it has been harder to keep a full calendar, but this has also allowed them to book more local bands. Their website — www.sohosb.com — is up and running again with their scheduled shows. They celebrated their first show back with local favorite reggae-rock band Groove Shine, and with more shows on the books, we can all celebrate as well.

The club has a lounge area adjacent to the bar

In September, the schedule is full, with plenty of music variety, including: — September 6: Jazz Jam with Sandy Cummings — September 7: Singer Songwriter Showcase — September 8: Detar Studios Band Showcase — September 10: Dan Zimmerman Band; Funk it Up with Area 51 — September 11: Jackie Venson — September 12: Santa Barbara Jazz Society featuring Jeff Elliott Trio; An Evening with Venice — September 15: Brother with Golden Boy — September 16: Mike Dawson & the Smokin Kills — September 19: Willie Watson — September 20: SBCC Monday Madness Jazz Band — September 22: Numbskull Presents: The Regrettes — September 23: Luis Muñoz Trio — September 24: Uncle Uncle — September 25: Which One’s Pink — September 26: Sandy Cummings & Jazz du Jour — September 27: Motown Monday — September 28: Singer Songwriter Showcase — September 29: Numbskull Presents: Andy Shauf w/Hand Habits — September 30: King Dream

The stage will be in action again throughout September

THE HAPPENING. . .

BIANCA DEL RIO: UNSANITIZED

When: September 28, 8 pm Location: Lobero Theatre Connect: www.lobero.org/events/bianca-del-rio Cost: $60-$242 Description: According to Bianca’s website, “Bianca Del Rio, otherwise known as Roy Haylock, is a dimple-cheeked, largerthan-life drag queen and outrageous comic who isn’t afraid to shock and offend. When it comes to insult comics, Bianca is in a class by herself. Fierce, funny, and fabulous, she has sandblasted her name in the annals of pop culture on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Thanks to her snarky frankness, impeccable timing, and politically incorrect humor, she became the show’s breakout star, winning its sixth season.”

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5 OAK PARK THE BOROUGHS: BY NICK MASUDA

A PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT . . .

Armando Ortiz, EVS floor technician, and Octavio Perez, EVS representative, sterilize biowaste with an autoclave sterilizer (photo courtesy of Cottage Hospital)

The Environmental Services team at Cottage Hospital won the Environmental Services Department of the Year for 2021 by the Association for the Health Care Environment of the American Hospital Association (photo courtesy of Cottage Hospital)

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oth Giuseppina (Jo) D’Ambrosio and Flavid Montoya don’t need to drop their masks for one to see their smiling eyes.

Amid an unprecedented 18 months for medical personnel across the globe, their Environmental Services team at Cottage Hospital might not be the team that is applauded on the nightly news.

But internally, they are a critical teammate, and a department that was recently awarded the Environmental Services Department of the Year for 2021 by the Association for the Health Care Environment of the American Hospital Elizabeth Bello, secondary disinfection technician, Association. uses an electrostatic sprayer to add a second The award might be a mouthful, but layer of disinfection in a patient room (photo the praise for the yeoman’s work that the courtesy of Cottage Hospital) EVS team at Cottage — all 151 of them — has done is seemingly endless.

“Despite all the challenges from COVID-19, our EVS team has consistently set the bar higher to create new ways to enhance its performance for the benefit of our community,” said Nick Henderson, vice president of support services at Cottage Health.

Cottage received the AHE honor in the 500-plus beds category, with the awarding criteria including “outstanding achievements of a cutting-edge environmental services team in maintaining high levels of performance in cleaning, disinfecting, infection prevention, environmental sustainability and stewardship, technology use, patient satisfaction, education, and training in critical areas.”

For Montoya, Cottage’s Environmental Services manager, he is most proud of the high employee retention the department sees — a key factor in the AHE award.

The staff has a 95% retention rate, losing only seven or eight employees a year — many of whom move to other departments within Cottage Health.

“We take a lot of pride in keeping our team happy,” Montoya said.

According to D’Ambrosio, it’s also a product of a collaborative environment — pun intended.

“Cottage has a really strong service culture in general, but each department or work group also builds a subculture. And our culture is really built on inclusivity on working with the staff, strong communication,” she said. “It’s not one-way communication. If there’s an issue, we’re going to sit and address it now and have that discussion, but the problem-solving methods we use are inclusive of the employee. We don’t allow staff just to kind of say, ‘Hey, I’m not happy about this,

fix it.’ We look at what we can all do to resolve it; it’s sort of that shared governance idea.”

Cottage Health approached the involvement of the EVS team in COVID-19 protocols a bit differently than other hospitals. Unlike other venues that asked nurses to also clean rooms to the best of their ability after a COVID patient was discharged, Cottage chose to have the EVS team perform this duty, utilizing an expertise and allowing nurses to continue to focus on patient care.

It took trust from senior leadership and infection control to do so, something that had been earned over time, according to D’Ambrosio.

“Pre-pandemic, we partnered so much with our Infection Control team, they understood the level of training, education, and competencies we do with our staff on how to handle these isolation type precautions on a regular basis,” she said. “They had a different level of confidence of what our staff was already trained to do and that they were going to get the support from leadership on why this was important to work collaboratively with nursing.

“The fact that we were able to really provide that support to not only the patient, but also the clinical staff, was really great.”

And for both Montoya and D’Ambrosio, it’s critical to share out the data that shows the impact that the staff is having, particularly during COVID when numbers were on everyone’s mind.

“I think even the staff forget all the wonderful things that they do and how they’ve impacted infection rates on the floors,” said D’Ambrosio. “It shows that we are equal partners with nursing and infection control.”

In a year where work can feel thankless due to the deluge of cases, the AHE award was a morale boost, from bottom to top.

D’Ambrosio was working at a vaccination clinic as a non-clinical director when she got the phone call, with her first message to Montoya to share the good news.

And with a national celebration of EVS teams slated for the second week of September, Montoya can’t wait to fête the team’s successes.

“The award is just not only the cherry on top, but maybe like six cherries on top.”

THE HAPPENING. . .

BIRTHING CLASSES WITH COTTAGE HEALTH

When: Ongoing Location: Cottage Health Connect: cottagehealth.org/classes-events Cost: Varies Description: Cottage Health provides plenty of education for expecting parents, from breastfeeding to parenting tips to how to install a car seat properly. The classes are offered on differing days, so check out the events calendar to set up a time for today!

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7 THE WEST SIDE THE BOROUGHS: BY ZACH ROSEN

HIDDEN CITY STUDIOS BRINGING ACOUSTICAL MAGIC TO THE COMMUNITY Hidden City Studios likes to mix modern with vintage

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Elliott Lanam is the owner of Hidden City Studios

or the music we hear, the actual songwriting and playing is only the beginning of the process. The production and mastering of a track can really polish the piece and give it a distinctive style. It is the subtle changes that occur in the studio where magic can be added to the finished piece. Many musicians seek out producers that can help bring that special something that makes a song standout.

They also may need help with the writing and playing process and a talented studio can help them bring their songs to life. For years now, Hidden City Studios has been helping provide these professional sound services to the community.

With an extensive background in sound engineering and production, and playing a range of instruments, Elliott Lanam, founder and mastermind behind Hidden City Studios, has been polishing the dreams of musicians and other creatives in his downtown recording studio. Elliott was originally born in the Bay Area but came out to the area to attend SBCC where both his brothers had also gone. He took a sound recording class while there and got an internship at the studio, Sound Design, where he spent a few years before moving to Play Back. Elliott briefly interned there but soon found himself the head engineer, producing music and assisting with sessions and production. While there, he was also rehearsing with a local band in a Funk Zone warehouse.

Add a microphone and you have a recording studio, albeit a rudimentary one, and they began to record there. When the band broke up a month before the lease was up, Elliott decided to take over the space and install a better recording setup.

That first month he was able to get a client, the next month he booked two, from there it just continued to grow. The Funk Zone studio space did not make for an ideal recording setting. The woodshop next door did not help. He began searching for new spots and found a potential one on Craigslist. Elliott was at a crossroads in his life, debating whether to continue with this work track or to head off to Europe and explore for a bit. Although other, more prospective renters applied, the owner respected that he was at this life decision and graciously decided to rent him the space.

Hidden City Studios is tucked behind the Canary Hotel in an alleyway next to the Chapala parking structure off Carrillo Street. In the main room, a colorful front lounge hosts both guests and Elliott’s workstation and span of screens. Sound dampening pads are dotted along the walls, providing the iconic recording studio look. Different kinds of keyed instruments line the hallway that leads to the recording space. Influenced by his love for classic rock, Elliott wants to define his sounds as a producer and artist as “a hybrid between modern meets vintage.” The studio is filled with tons of analog equipment that Elliott can play into each piece. He still uses some digital bells and other sounds, but these instruments provide a characteristic sound that can’t be replicated. Eventually, Elliott was able to rent out the studio next door where there are additional recording areas. Today, he also has a smaller apartment

recording studio in Santa Monica where he can work and produce music in the Los Angeles area.

Elliott was able to really explore his own creative interests during the lockdown, having the whole studio as a playground.

During this time, he was able to produce three albums with 10 songs each, as well as a single, “Who I Am,” as a personal statement. The recently released album, Delirium Honey, features a local singer and different style on each track. Buddha Momma is a meditation fitness album that Elliott created as a Christmas gift for his mom. The album One Man Orchestra One Man Orchestra has been featured on Animal features his cinematic scores that he has Planet and Discovery Channel produced for TV channels like Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. With his cinematic works, Elliott can explore weird sounds and play with unique instruments like a violin bow that can be played on a guitar.

In the studio, Elliott is his own one-man band, capable of playing all the main ones including keyboards, drums, percussion, bass, guitar, and a variety of other stringed instruments. Naturally, he can provide all these services to his clients as well. At Hidden City Studios, Elliott assists with everything from voice-overs and podcasting to song writing and session playing. On the engineering side, Elliott does all the editing, mixing, and mastering himself. With this diversity of services and skills, Hidden City Studios produces a wide variety of musical, cinematic, and spoken tracks. For Elliott, it is a chance to bring some magic to both his clients and own works.

THE HAPPENING. . .

DON CARLOS AT EVENINGS AT ELINGS

When: Friday, September 17, 5-10 pm Location: Elings Park Connect: eveningsatelings.com Cost: $30 (early bird); $45 at door (if available); 12 and under are free

Description: Reggae legend Don Carlos is the latest in a music series at Elings Park, with the monthly performances sponsored by a number of local businesses, including the Farmacy, Glass House Farms, KJEE, Cali Squeeze Seltzer, and Firestone Walker. The events are family friendly, with children 12 and under always free.

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SYVSNAPSHOT

by Eva Van Prooyen Keeping a finger on the pulse of the Santa Ynez Valley: what to eat, where to go, who to meet, and what to drink. Pretty much everything and anything situated between the Santa Ynez and San Rafael Mountains that could tickle one’s interest.

THE JEWEL OF GAVIOTA, LADY DAY, MEET THE ANIMALS, AND CHEERS TO CHILI

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elebrated as the “Jewel of the Gaviota Coast,” the 782-acre Arroyo Hondo Preserve is an impressive canyon located west of Santa Barbara between Refugio State Beach and Gaviota State Park. This month, until October 1, the Preserve is open to the public with reservations on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm. Preserve wanderers can enjoy sweeping vistas of the Gaviota coastline and the distant islands of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The watershed is home to thousands of plant and animal species — several of which are considered threatened or endangered.

Purchased from the Hollister family in late 2001, Arroyo Hondo is now “protected forever” and managed by the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County as a natural and historic preserve. The old ranch is rich in early California history and has an abundance of important natural features. Cool, stream-side paths course through the bay and sycamore trees transitioning into trails past ancient oaks, and tall yucca blooms and aromatic sage race up the high ridges of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

The Preserve lies within the California Floristic Province, an area identified by Conservation International as one of the World’s 35 Biodiversity Hotspots. The area’s diverse rock types have given rise to several soil types with different plants found growing in all areas — with both north-facing and south-facing slopes, and a deep stream channel, where temperature and moisture conditions vary widely.

For its size, the Preserve hosts a diversity of plants and animals including coast live oak woodland, riparian woodland, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grassland, giant chain fern wetland, reproductive structures of fungi, and many species of Lichens that grow on rocks and trees — which is a signal of clean air as lichens are sensitive to air pollution.

Hummingbirds sip nectar from hummingbird sage among prolific wildflower blooms as butterflies and dragonflies flit from stream to shrub greeting banana slugs, green tree frogs, red legged frogs, California newt, pond turtles, blue bellied lizard, birds, snakes, squirrels, and coyotes, bears, and bobcats.

There is even a Fish Passage, built under Highway 101 with baffles and resting pools to help Steelhead swim to the ocean and return to fresh water to spawn.

Although guests are not allowed to walk through the passage to the ocean, this is where young steelhead prepare for their move into salt water.

Regain your pandemic sanity — reconnect to nature and explore the winding trails, creek, shady trees, and the rewarding views at the preserve.

WHEN: Mondays and Wednesdays throughout September from 10 am to 1 pm WHERE: Arroyo Hondo Preserve COST: Reservations are free and required and capped at 30 people per date INFO: Docents are available to interpret the wonders of nature at the Preserve.

Find information and reservations at sblandtrust.org.

CHEERS TO THE CHILI he hot stuff returns to Buellton for the Annual Wine and Chili Festival. Festival goers can sample wines from over 30 wineries, craft breweries, and spirit companies alongside a bounty of chili and salsa served up by more than 20 of some of the best local chefs and restaurants as they compete to take home prizes for the best chili and homemade salsa.

This year’s event takes place down the street from the festival’s home court (Flying Flags) for a noted “one year hiatus” at Riverview Park, with health and safety as a top priority. Vendors will operate under the guidelines of the Santa Barbara County Health Department.

Live entertainment by The Dusty Jugs, Vineyard Byrds, and DJ FIU, lawn games including cornhole, food trucks, and everyone’s favorite, mega-sized beer pong round out the afternoon of spicy fun.

Guests can also “Jump on the Brew Bus Ride” for safe transportation with pick up locations in Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.

WHEN: Sunday, September 12 from 12 pm to 4:30 pm WHERE: River View Park, 151 Sycamore Drive in Buellton COST: $45 per person, $20 13 to 20 years old, and $10 for children 12 and under

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Lady Day will play until September 5 at the Solvang Festival Theater

INFO: to purchase tickets and more details visit www.buelltonwineandchilifestival.com ‘LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL’ tep into Emerson’s Bar and Grill and witness one of Billie Holiday’s last performances. The nickname “Lady Day” was given to the jazz singer by her friend and music partner — Lester Young (an American jazz tenor saxophonist).

More than a dozen of the jazz legends’ songs are interlaced with salty, often humorous reminiscences in this captivating portrait of Holiday and her music. Songs include “God Bless the Child,” “T’ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do,” “Crazy He Calls Me,” and “Easy Livin’.” Includes Adult themes and language.

WHEN: Running through September 5 at 8 pm WHERE: Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd Street in Solvang INFO: For more information visit www.pcpa.org

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MEET THE ANIMALS FARM TOUR idden Canyon Ranch invites all creatures great and small to their property for a greet and meet to learn about farm practices, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and more. The 90-minute walking tour will be led by an experienced rancher, and cover everything from vineyards and gardens to the composting operation, livestock, and many animals at the Farm. Guests will “cover a lot of ground” and get the chance to pet and visit with mini donkeys and shop at the onsite farm stand stocked with estate produce and ranch-made goods.

The 44 acres of Hidden Canyon Ranch is tucked in between the Santa Ynez and Lompoc valleys, amongst the rolling Santa Rita Hills, and boasts expansive views from nearly all spots on the ranch, including rolling hills studded with oak trees, expansive lawns, and surrounding vineyards and ranches.

Established in 2010, they have been slowly expanding their operation to farming and ranching guided by the principles of biodynamics, regenerative agriculture, and permaculture.

Be prepared to be on your feet with moderately strenuous walking. Close-toed shoes are always best, especially if you want to go in the enclosures with the animals.

WHEN: Saturday, September 11 from 10 am to 11:30 am WHERE: Hidden Canyon Ranch, 5425 Campbell Road in Lompoc COST: Adults $40 and children $20 INFO: For more information visit www.hiddencanyonranch.com

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Hidden Canyon Ranch entails 44 acres between the Santa Ynez and Lompoc valleys

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TOBEDETERMINED

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For months I had to sit with my leg in this torture device

by Briana Westmacott

Briana Westmacott is a professor for writing courses at UCSB, her alma mater. In addition, she has been a columnist for the Sentinel for seven years and a Santa Barbara local for over 20 years. When she isn’t teaching or writing, she loves to spend time on the beach, in the mountains, or anywhere with a good book. Summer is her favorite season, typically dedicated to traveling the world with her husband and two daughters.

RUNNING TO STAND STILL

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bout a year ago, I fell. Hard. I tripped on a run a few blocks from my house, and unfortunately, I hyperextended my knee so badly that I crushed bones and ripped my LCL. Running and hiking and walking and everything else you do on two legs has been my church for as long as I can remember. But just like that, my foot caught on a tree root popping up out of the pavement, and I found myself broken in the middle of a global pandemic.

I haven’t been able to write about my

time in bed the past year? While we were all hulled up in the house, I was immobile, on my back, without being able to shift for six weeks. My tibial plateau fracture, torn LCL, and fibula fracture made me overly grateful for Netflix and Apple TV. Funny thing, I grew up without television; I had a belly-dancing-hippymidwife mom and a lot of open land that served as entertainment. Prior to 2020, I was an anti-TV person. Now, a TV has moved into my bedroom. (This is not a good thing, but it is necessary during a leg-break or a global pandemic.) Bring

As we continue to move forward into unknown (Delta variant) territory, I am creating a place of preparation in my heart and mind for accidents, death, divorce, cancer, and tragedy. We all know someone who is experiencing one of these life punches, and they could use a hand to stand back up. Now more than ever. leg fracture until now. While the shatter rocked my soul, I felt a heightened awareness for the other humans experiencing life-changing moments throughout COVID. The whole world came to a halt, so why does my leg trauma need a story? People are suffering racial injustice, job loss, mental illness, and homelessness. All I had endured was a stupid fall that stole my normal leg and life. But damn, it hurt.

CRY WITHOUT WEEPING So, why pen it now? The past year has pained all of us in uncountable ways, and my leg speaks to some universal truths.

Who didn’t spend a great deal of extra

on the binge-watching.

Being planted provides you with an entirely different perspective. For one, you can’t leave an uncomfortable situation if you are committed (or confined) to the sit-and-stay position.

I realized that my whole life I have been running: In high school, I ran cross country to avoid my family issues; in college, I ran away from commitments; in adulthood, running and hiking were my sanity – my headspace. Can you imagine losing your headspace during COVID? But we were all forced to sit and stay, and we should all take time to recognize the afflictions we have endured during this pandemic.

GOTTA DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHERE WE’RE GOING I had to take some awful medications after my surgery due to the destruction I had done to my leg. Before 2020, I had never undergone surgery, in fact, I rarely took an Aspirin. When I took those leg meds, it dimmed my light.

I didn’t take them for long, because I can’t stand being in the dark. I think that all of us are dealing with getting through this awful time in history and all I can say is substances only lead to more darkness.

I had many moments of regret, wishing I had never gone on a run that morning. Then I realized this is what life is all about, accepting the things you can’t change. We can’t change COVID. I can’t alter my decision to have gone out running the morning that broke my leg. Really, we can’t modify many aspects of life. Regret only makes the pain sear more.

As we continue to move forward into unknown (Delta variant) territory, I am creating a place of preparation in my heart and mind for accidents, death, divorce, cancer, and tragedy. We all know someone who is experiencing one of these life punches, and they

could use a hand to stand back up.

Now more than ever.

I can’t do a lot of legwork just yet, but I can lend a nonjudgmental hand.

Because aren’t we all a little bit broken right now? One thing is for certain – this pandemic hurts. I can no longer run away from my pain, in fact, I can’t run at all. I did come to realize that sometimes running gets you nowhere.

BRIANA’S BEST BET I hope you don’t find yourself in need of an emergency appointment with an orthopedic surgeon, but if you do, Dr. Jervis Yau is the person to call. Yau works at the Ryu Hurvitz Orthopedic Clinic. He took care of me with kindness, and he got me back on my feet. I am very grateful to Yau for his work.

My injury required a great deal of physical therapy. For seven months, I saw Jenny Bienstock and her team at Elite Performance & Rehabilitation Center. Jenny knew how to push me just the right amount to build my body back while also making my sessions fun. I miss her and the Elite crew. (Although I don’t miss that psoas release exercise!)

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WE DID IT!!!

&

One classroom at a time

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY for your generosity during this year’s Teacher’s Fund Back to School Supplies Drive together, we raised

OVER $61,000 for our local classrooms!! to learn more about the Teacher’s Fund, please visit: TeachersFund.org

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS:

PATRICIA GRIFFIN

SUSAN & RONALD RODRIGUEZ

THE MASTICK FOUNDATION

DARCIE MCKNIGHT & THOMAS DABNEY

D

CRAWFORD SPEIER GROUP

DAVIDKIM group

Kait Cortenbach, Agent 805-963-1565 www.MyAgentKait.com

BRE # 00938841

(805) 683-7333

bob@villagesite.com

SHEELA & MARK HUNT

G+T

Robert R. Ruby D.D.S • Yvonne M. Rochon D.D.S

15 E Arrellaga St #4 • Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: 805-963-4404 Mon.-Fri.: 8am-5pm - Sat. & Sun.: Closed

SARA BETH CUTTER

DRAINMASTERS

www.sbpediatricdentists.com

JUDY & ROB EGENOLF • CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CLINIC • CHRIS SALVETTI • JENA HARRIS • TRAVIS WILSON • STEPHEN & BARBARA ABBOTT • CARLA REEVES SUSAN JORDANO • ROBERT B. LOCKE, ATTORNEY AT LAW • TRICIA PRICE • BRADLEY FAMILY WINES • EMILY KELLENBERGER • SALON PATINE • COS BAR SPECIALTY TEAM PLASTERING • CAROL KELLER • VICKY GARSKE • BILL REED • DRAMATIC CHOICES • AARON GILLES • GRUBB CAMPBELL GROUP LISA ALLEN • WINGMAN RODEO • SPENCER COLE REALTOR • MANZO LOUGH TEAM • LENZ PEST CONTROL • ALAN & ANN HOMES • CURRENT ELECTRIC

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...continued from p.9

Alma del Pueblo is located at 18 West Victoria

Prior to COVID’s arrival, I sensed a movement away from the traditional suburban lifestyle to a more varied small city experience. With museums, historical attractions, first-rate restaurants, farmers markets, movie theaters, art galleries, wineries, holiday parades and festivals, and parks all within walking distance, Santa Barbara’s Downtown community has much to offer. Yet where “close” is typically celebrated in urban settings, not so much when COVID arrived. Homes became more difficult to sell as the closure of nearly everything made “out of the city” appear to be a better choice. The present COVID variant notwithstanding, we are slowly opening up and with it the pleasures of Downtown living.

Although the exact boundaries of Downtown can be debated, Valerio to the north, the shoreline to the south, Castillo to the west, and Olive Street to the east feels about right. Here you will find an urban experience that can be enjoyed

safely both day and night.

On Laguna Street at East Canon Perdido is a fully renovated 1895 Victorian duplex with a three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath front unit and a one-bed, oneoffice, one-bath back unit which could be used for guests or a legal rental. Both units feature new appliances, bathrooms, kitchens and private laundry facilities.

And the electric, plumbing and heating systems have all been redone, never an insignificant project on a house of this age.

This property has been historically designated under the Mills Act and the renovation has been conducted under its guidelines. Historical designation under this act is transferable and typically reduces the owner’s property taxes by an average of 50%. And in addition to a view of the Riviera from the front porch, it is a short walk to all of Downtown.

If you like historic houses, this looks like a good one. First listed in mid-June, the market rejected the original asking price of $2,549,000. The seller is now asking $2,245,000. Should its condition be “excellent” as described, and with potential rental income and Mills Act tax relief, an offer close to its present asking price should be successful.

Alma del Pueblo, at 18 West Victoria, appropriately translates to “Soul of the Town.” This luxury condominium, newly built in 2014, is a one-bedroom thirdfloor penthouse located in the heart of the downtown theatre district — easy walking distance to restaurants, entertainment, shopping, and all that downtown living has to offer. It features an open kitchen-living room floor plan, a private patio with mountain views looking east to the Santa Barbara foothills and the historic Granada and Arlington theatres, LED lighting, top-level appliances, Caesarstone countertops and concierge services, and private guest rooms available to owners when family and friends arrive.

This is a very attractive unit and yet surprisingly has been on the market for a long time. The owners purchased when new in 2014 for $1.8 million, listed it the next year for $1.95 million, reduced the price to $1.699 million in 2016, tried it at $1.795 million in 2020, and now is offering it at $1.695 million. Although there are not many one-bedroom comps to compare, there are some and this looks like a fair price. One would guess that the owners must be ready to sell and could well entertain a lower price offer. The views alone are worth a look.

We give thanks as God the Father continues to be with us and sustain us through this time and longs to draw us closer in faith and trust in His eternal promises through the death and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus the Christ, through the power of God the Holy Spirit.

We welcome you to worship with us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am.

Check our website for other opportunities for Bible study and prayer.

3721 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-687-3734 email: info@EmanuelLutheranSB.org EmanuelLutheranSB.org

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...continued from p.7

“I am fortunate to be a 25-year resident of the city of Santa Barbara. After serving in the top ranks of City Hall for over 20 years, I bring invaluable experience and knowledge of government operations and services to help the city council better serve the community.” — Nina Johnson (Photo by Nick Masuda)

unhoused individuals transition off the street.

PIKE: The homeless situation should be viewed as a humanitarian crisis and not as a nuisance. I am fully appreciative of the work that SBACT, PATH, CityNet, and the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara have been doing to get people who are without shelter back into some security. The council should take whatever steps are necessary to be sure that these organizations have the resources they need to succeed in their mission. The city should also prioritize the mental health of its citizens.

Perhaps a vice tax could be implemented to help expand local housing assistance.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT STATE OF CITY COUNCIL? CARLTON: I think if you just travel around Santa Barbara and talk to the residents it speaks for itself. Lack of leadership, fragmentation, always reactive and never proactive.

HARMON: The pandemic has been a challenge for the council, as it has for all of Santa Barbara. We have had to adjust quickly to unforeseen realities. We haven’t always agreed, nor would I expect we would — but council is a forum for the exploration of ideas and solutions. We have succeeded in creating transformative policies to empower residents to have a real voice at City Hall, as seen in the State Street Advisory Committee and the Community Formation Commission, tasked with designing a civilian police oversight system. I appreciate our shared commitment to frank discussions aimed at solving complex problems.

JOHNSON: The current city council is facing many challenges as they govern during a historic time of major crises, including a global pandemic, economic crisis, and social inequities. I feel the most urgent needs for the council are experienced leadership, vision, and problem-solving with diverse voices and interests. I’m answering that call with 25 years of experience, knowledge of all department operations, and strong relationships with stakeholders in the community. I look forward to working with the mayor and each councilmember to help them achieve goals in their respective districts and citywide.

PIKE: It looks like a tough job to represent a city with so many different interests coming from all directions, so I’ll pass on any judgements and thank our local representatives for the work that they do for the citizens of Santa Barbara.

IS DOWNTOWN BIKE-FRIENDLY? IF NOT, HOW DO YOU FIX IT? IF SO, HOW DO YOU PROMOTE IT? CARLTON: It is not bike friendly. Currently there are bike lanes on Castillo and Bath. This makes little to no sense. These streets are used by commuters to get on the freeway. Most bike riders are trying to get downtown or to the beach. Bike lanes on Chapala, De La Vina, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara streets make more sense. Most of the bike riders I see use these streets already without the safety of a bike lane.

HARMON: Santa Barbara is consistently ranked among the most bike-friendly cities in the United States. Our Bicycle Master Plan, along with the Vision Zero

“I have lived in this district for over two decades, and I have a lot of love for this city and its people. What the city council needs is representation for the working-class locals, the backbone of Santa Barbara.” — Zachary Pike (Photo by Nick Masuda)

program aimed at achieving zero traffic-related fatalities, provides us a roadmap for permanent infrastructure improvements that prioritize multi-modal accessibility.

We improved our city’s bike network by investing in capital projects connecting cross-city bike paths. We implemented an e-bike share program aimed at facilitating residents’ cross-town bike access. More work remains: there are still corridors without clear multi-modal connections and investment must continue into safety measures to improve the experience of biking in Santa Barbara.

JOHNSON: With a growing network of bike routes and new electric bikeshare program in place, downtown has become more bike-friendly. I support bike routes that make sense for everyone. I want to see early conversations and problem-solving with affected parties to come up with the best design solutions. The new bikeshare program is significant in expanding options for residents to take quick trips across town and visitors to see the sights, all without a car.

PIKE: Downtown is close to being bike friendly, but not there yet. Keeping the bike paths and pedestrian walkways separate and safe is the challenge. Bikes are both healthy and an environmentally sound mode of transport and are obviously here to stay, so we should integrate them into the downtown traffic plan, safety being a top priority. a safe, dedicated pathway is enough to promote bicycling, that is it. Slow down and wear a helmet, especially on the fast e-bikes! Trust an old skateboarder!

WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE DOWNTOWN ATTRACTIVE TO AREA STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT WESTMONT, UCSB, AND SBCC? CARLTON: I don’t see the relevance of this question. I see college students downtown all the time. I didn’t know this was an issue.

HARMON: What makes an area attractive to students? That is one of the questions that the State Street Advisory Committee, on which I serve, can and should address as we develop a Master Plan for downtown. I look forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders (rather than relying on just my own opinion, although I suspect that live music will be part of that!) as to what students and other community groups want from their downtown area. If we can design something creative, accessible, exciting, and dynamic, I don’t doubt that we will draw our area students.

JOHNSON: I wish to see the development of satellite campuses for UCSB and SBCC to improve the vibrancy of downtown, increasing the pedestrian traffic day and night with a variety of educational activities for students and lectures available to the community. I will develop more partnerships between these schools, coworking spaces, and local firms to expand our entrepreneurial ecosystem. This will complement and drive traffic to the existing restaurants, merchants, and arts and culture options downtown.

PIKE: I would do the same for students that live in the downtown district as any other resident, and that is focus on local quality-of-life issues. Clean beaches and clean, smooth streets downtown are a must. The beach and the local downtown scenery are the icons of this town and the appeal to visitors. I will also enthusiastically support more public venues for local arts and culture; there are so many possibilities.

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Sara Miller McCune along with

The Granada Theatre, The Santa Barbara Symphony and

State Street Ballet Presents

The Night of a Lifetime October 23, 2021 • 2:30 & 7:30pm October 24, 2021 • 2:30pm The Granada Theatre 1214 State St. • Santa Barbara, CA

For Tickets, Visit Ticketing.GranadaSB.org

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SB FOODIE

A tangy Italian salsa verde is baked right on top of the herb-crusted salmon, which is served with a creamy pesto risotto and seasonal vegetables (Michelle Lauren Photography)

by Gabe Saglie Gabe Saglie has been covering the Santa Barbara wine and food scene for more than 15 years through columns, TV and radio. He’s a senior editor with Travelzoo and is a leading expert on travel deals, tips and trends. Gabe and wife Renee have 3 children and one Golden Retriever named Milo

DINNER WITH A SIDE OF POLO: NEW FIELDSIDE GRILL OFFERS DISTINCTIVE CULINARY EXPERIENCE

The patio of the historic clubhouse at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club is now home to the Fieldside Grill, with lunch and dinner served Wednesday through Sunday right alongside the polo fields (Michelle Lauren Photography)

O

ne of the newest spots to eat in town is a longstanding destination all its own. The Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club is one of the oldest of its kind in the U.S., and its polo season, which runs May through October and lures a sophisticated crowd to both play and watch from all over the world, is one of the longest in the country.

Even those who are not polo buffs, though, are familiar with the allure that exists on the other side of the verdant hedges that line Foothill Road in Carpinteria: myriad sports amenities, a historic clubhouse and, thanks to three polo fields, wide stretches of green as far as the eye can see.

The special setting itself, then, adds to the unique sensory appeal of the Fieldside Grill, the club’s new culinary venue that’s now open to members and non-members alike. It launched in May, and a gourmet lunch and dinner experience is offered five days a week, from Wednesday through Sunday.

“We felt that… establishing a fullscale restaurant would be a welcome addition for the community,” says general manager David Sigman, who admits that creating a gastronomic program that matches the club’s visual grandeur was a primary focus for his team. He adds with enthusiasm, “And the food is as awesome as the views!”

Indeed, the food at the Fieldside Grill does impress, both in its gourmet slant focus on flavor, as well as its

approachability. This is really good food in an upscale setting but presented in a casual and practical way. The lovely environment that surrounds, especially in the open-air patio that overlooks the main polo field, tempts diners to eat a little slower and sip a little longer — no one’s in a hurry to leave.

The team behind the food here is Best Beverage Catering, a national event company that’s used to food prep and presentation at major events — think Coachella Festival and the eightday Amgen Bike Tour of California.

Something like the polo crowds on a Sunday, then, when more than 2,000 people come out to feel the thundering of

hooves on the grass nearby, is something they can handle with consistency.

“It’s a very cosmopolitan and crosscultural crowd,” says Andreza Holt, the Grill’s director of food and beverage, a Brazilian native who joined the team earlier this summer after a 10-year stint at the Four Seasons Biltmore.

“A five-star approach and a front row seat to polo – what can be better?!” she adds.

The rest of the week, the focus on quality prevails, making a weekday lunch here or a Saturday night dinner feel intimate, personal, and special.

Helmed by Chef Phil Stein, whose resumé also includes the Biltmore and, most recently, the Sunset Hills Country Club in Thousand Oaks, and who described the Grill as “a Californiainspired gastropub,” the menu features a concise but deliciously varied selection. Starters include the seared Ahi tuna ($16), which comes with a fresh homemade Asian slaw and spicy

The short rib grilled cheese features slow-braised beef, Gruyère cheese, and a creamy horseradish sauce (Michelle Lauren Photography)

dynamite sauce; the trio of BBQ bacon sliders ($12) comes with applewood smoked bacon and cheddar, with a pillowy brioche bun; the Mediterranean Plate ($13) features a take on hummus that changes daily.

Sandwiches here are generous and tasty, like the RBC Burger ($15) — roasted garlic, bacon, crispy cheddar cheese — which is made with a halfpound of Wagyu beef and a savory herb aioli, and the short rib grilled cheese ($16), with slow-braised beef, Gruyère, burgundy onions, and creamy horseradish sauce. The California Burger made with Impossible meat ($15) is vegetarian and gluten-free.

Entrées are standouts: The 12-ounce seared prime New York strip ($49) features a blue cheese crust and red wine demi-glace; the herb-crusted salmon

Cocktails have become a big draw at the new Fieldside Grill, including the colorful Botanical Collins, made with Kettle One Grapefruit Rose Botanical Vodka and elderflower liqueur (Michelle Lauren Photography)

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Wagyu beef is the main ingredient in the Fieldside Grill’s RBC Burger, which also features roasted garlic, bacon, and crispy cheddar cheese (Michelle Lauren Photography)

The Fieldside Grill offers front row seats to polo, including the Friday practices, which are free to attend, and the Sunday matches, which require tickets and can draw close to 2,000 spectators. The polo season runs May through October. (Michelle Lauren Photography)

($32) comes with a delicious Italian salsa verde baked right on top and is served with a pesto risotto and seasonal veggies; and the seasonal free range half-chicken ($25) is roasted slowly and served with market sides.

Club members make for a regular return clientele, so “thinking about variety” and crafting “several off-menu specials daily and throughout the week” are top of mind for Stein.

The Children’s Menu is a classic take on kids’ faves — hot dog, mac &

cheese, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, cheeseburger — all priced at $9. And Happy Hour, offered Wednesdays through Saturdays from 3 pm to 6 pm, offers a pared down menu priced between $7 and $15, along with house wine, beer, and cocktails specials.

Sipping can make sense on any Santa Barbara afternoon, but it may have special appeal in a setting as lush and airy and distinctive as this. Local wines reign supreme here: Fess Parker, Pence, Au Bon Climat, Roark, and Jonata. And

with Folded Hills as a sponsor – the label with a Montecito tasting room that’s owned by Andy Busch, former captain of the U.S. polo team — you’ll find their impressive August Red Blend and super popular Lilly Rosé available by the glass and the bottle.

But the best thirst quenchers may come from the Grill’s craft cocktail bar, like the classic Pimms Cup, the vodkaand-ginger beer Winning Mule, and the bourbon-and-watermelon Santa Barbara Julep. The Botanical Collins catches the eye before it embraces the palate: a colorful potion of Kettle One Grapefruit Rose Botanical Vodka, St.

Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and butterfly blossoms.

As an amenity that’s available year-round and well beyond the sixmonth polo season, the Fieldside Grill enhances membership here, with perks like charging privileges and dibs on reservations. But it also aims to become a foodie destination for all.

“Really good food,” says Holt, “can be a great way to introduce the community to the world of polo.”

Fieldside Grill at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club, 3375 Foothill Rd., Carpinteria.

805-684-6683. sbpolo.com/fieldside-grill.

CA$H ON THE SPOT CLASSIC CARS RV’S • CARS SUV • TRUCKS ! u o y o t MOTORHOMES We come 702-210-7725

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...continued from p.8

resulted in immense damage to our economy and our social well-being.

We can argue about this at a later date, but there is strong data supporting the idea that we didn’t need the lockdown.

But there’s more to it than that.

Under present Democratic leadership, California is on a downward slide. Voters sense this and see Newsom as emblematic of our leaders who keep flogging panaceas that either don’t work or make our problems worse. Ask yourself why we keep electing the same people to office who offer the same failed policies?

Democrats have controlled California for more than 30 years. Should we reward them for these failures?

Just to refresh your memory on how things are going in the Golden State, here are some facts: The latest Pre-K through 12 primary education ranking puts us at No. 40 out of 52 states. The ranking evaluates college readiness, high school graduation rates, and math and reading scores. Arkansas is ranked higher than California. Yet programs that actually are proven to work (school vouchers, private charter schools) are opposed by the teachers’ unions and little progress is made. A 2015 ranking put us at 35th so things are getting worse.

It’s not as if our politicians don’t have enough money. California has the highest income taxes in the U.S. The maximum tax bracket is 13.3%.

New York’s highest rate (that bastion of Progressivism) is lower at 8.8%.

Our corporate taxes are the eighth highest in the nation. If you add up the total local and state tax burden, we rank No. 8 (New York is No. 1).

With all the money they take in, why are California’s public institutions and infrastructure declining?

— Our energy grid is ranked No. 39.

— Our transportation system (roads and bridges) is No. 45.

— As to long-term fiscal stability we are ranked No. 30.

— Our median home prices are the second highest among the states at $505,000 (Hawaii is No. 1).

— Our poverty rate ranks No. 20 among the states.

I’ve saved the worst for last. In economic opportunity (upward mobility), California ranked last. Here’s what they measured: affordability at No. 49; economic opportunity at No. 22; equality at No. 35. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that California ranks No. 1 in the number of individual restrictions (laws, prohibitions) on the books. California has 395,503 individual restrictions surpassing No.

2, ultraliberal New York, by almost 90,000 restrictions.

It’s not that everything is bad in California if you can afford it. But these data points are not something to be proud of. It’s no wonder that 51% of Californians have considered leaving the state.

I haven’t heard any bold leadership proposals from Newsom to turn things around. The reason is that he can’t. He’s in the pocket of a powerful

by Zach Rosen

Oktoberfest is on Time

I’ve saved the worst for last.

In economic opportunity (upward mobility) California ranked last. Here’s what they measured: affordability at No. 49; economic opportunity at No. 22; equality at No. 35.

Democratic machine that maintains power by catering to special interests.

And he has further political ambitions.

Things have to change. To have change we need to change our leaders.

We need politicians who aren’t captured by unions and moneyed elites. We need leaders who are willing to examine what works and what doesn’t work. If we keep electing the same people who bring us the same failed ideas, California will continue its downward slide.

As governor, Gavin Newsom bears responsibility for California’s decline.

His weak leadership is ignored by his supporters because they know he will continue those policies that keep them in power. But to support him is to ignore the reality that California faces. We need new leadership and that means we must vote to recall him and vote for someone who can turn California around. We need change.

Of course, the next question is: who should we vote for? There are 46 candidate who seek office. There are three candidates who I think would be good governors and advocates for change: John Cox, Kevin Faulconer, and Larry Elder. I give none of these candidates a 100% score, but when you compare them to Newsom or any of the other candidates, they are the best. And I don’t see them as stalking horses for Trump. I urge you to check out each of these candidates and make your own decision. Please vote for change.

Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest Marzen can be found at The Cruisery on State Street

D

espite the name, Oktoberfest begins in September each year in Munich. The event traditionally takes place for two weeks, with the end of the festival aligning with the first weekend of October. What began as a royal wedding party in Bavaria during the 19th century has become an international celebration each year with countless events held around the world. While attending the Beer Now conference a few years back in Asheville, North Carolina, we toured the Sierra Nevada brewery and massive restaurant and event space that had recently opened there.

The tour wrapped up with a party to celebrate the release of their Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest collaboration brew. Grilled sausages, live tuba music, and plenty of Oktoberfest in traditional steins was served among the surrounding forest, making for a memorable evening. Sierra Nevada has

What began as a royal wedding party in Bavaria during the 19th century has become an international celebration each year with countless events held around the world. recently released their normal Oktoberfest and you can now find six-packs of this amber lager around town.

While you’re at it, swing by The Cruisery (501 State St.) for another great example of the Marzen style. Head brewer and fellow certified cicerone, Kevin Pratt, brewed a perfect example of this toasty yet refreshing brew. The rumor is that The Brewhouse owner and head brewer Pete Johnson plans to bring back their iconic Oktoberfest event at the brewpub (229 W Montecito St.). With the outdoor tents and fun atmosphere, it will hopefully happen.

Keep an eye on their social media accounts for future announcements.

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THEBUDGUY

by Zach Rosen

MERSO LABS HELPING BOTH FARMERS AND CONSUMERS Merso Labs can test for cannabinoids

Cannabis regulations are strict within the county

L

iquor and alcohol may have a lot of laws and regulations around it, but it pales in comparison to the control, testing, and regulation of cannabis. The Bureau of Cannabis Control helps oversee this process

within the industry. Purchasing recreational cannabis has its own tasks, but growers must go through an even more rigorous process. For regulatory purposes, each lot of cannabis flower grown must be documented and

tested with the results printed on the container label.

While this constant testing system can be taxing for cannabis farmers, there are many reasons why testing cannabis products can be important.

From questionable ingredients in vaping products to the presence of contaminants in cannabis flower, testing can ensure that any undesired

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additives do not end up in the finished product. Testing for concentrations of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids lets consumers navigate the effects and strength of experience they desire.

Knowing cannabinoid levels also provides a more consistent potency for edibles, which is key for their safe use.

This is where companies like Merso Labs come into play. Located in Lompoc and the only testing facility along the Central Coast, their services help cannabis companies in the area keep up to code and research new possibilities. The labs feature state-ofthe-art equipment and founder and UCSB product Kaleb Asfaha thought ahead for its development, with the space and facility walls able to be moved as the company scales and expands. Much of their work revolves around compliance testing, but the laboratory can also research cannabis genetics and test for cannabinoids.

With these results, farmers can better understand the molecular level of the flowers they are growing. And for those of us purchasing cannabis, we can have a safer and more reliable experience.

Visit mersolabs.com for more information.

FOR BEGINNERS. FOR CONNOISSEURS. FOR YOU. Santa Barbara’s favorite cannabis retail boutique is now fully reopened for in-store shopping as well as delivery.

Discover premium, locally grown products curated by industry leaders in California cannabis, all in an inviting and beautiful space right in downtown Santa Barbara.

Or order online for delivery and get your bliss to-go.

Finding your fun has never been this easy.

Order Delivery: thefarmacysb.com/shop

Local Farms. Local People. Local Values.

Use Code: FORYOU10 to take 10% off your first order The Farmacy Santa Barbara 21+ Cannabis Shop & Delivery Service 805-880-1207 | @thefarmacysb | 128 W Mission St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 BCC License No: C10-0000293-LIC

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theFortnight

4 – 24 SEPTEMBER WED & FRI, SEPT 8 & 10

L.A. rock, then and now, at Lobero

T

he Wallflowers’ leader Jakob Dylan has spent time in recent years either making or promoting Echo in the Canyon, the documentary that looks back longingly at the mid-1960s when Hollywood’s Laurel Canyon served as creative and residential stomping grounds for such budding bands as The Byrds and The Mamas & the Papas, not to mention Crosby, Stills & Nash and Joni Mitchell. Jakob, the son of folk-rock legend Bob Dylan, shared not only an early screening of the movie at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2019, but he also fronted a four-song set with many of the musicians from the L.A. concert that had been captured in the movie. Now Dylan is returning in his more familiar guise as the leader of The Wallflowers, although the band members won’t be so familiar as they are, once again, a new cast of musicians, following the singer-songwriter’s wont in recording and touring. This show is part of a tour performing July’s release of The Wallflowers’ first album in nine years titled Exit Wounds, which takes stock of the massive changes in society since 2017… Step back a few years further in rock ‘n’ roll history on Friday night when the Lobero hosts Jan and Dean’s Beach Party! featuring Dean Torrence, onehalf of the harmony-laden duo whose run in the 1960s includes an impressive 14 Gold records. Their biggest hit “Surf City,” which was co-written by the duo and Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, was the first “surf” record to reach No. 1 in the U.S. Reformed in the 1980s after a successful summer tour with The Beach Boys, Jan & Dean toured the world until Berry died in 2004, but the

by Steven Libowitz

surf tradition carries with at latest a nod at authenticity as Torrence fronts a band that features current and former singers and players of the Brian Wilson Band and The Beach Boys. We’re told they’ll play “Barbara Ann,” “The Little Old Lady From Pasadena,” “Dead Man’s Curve,” “Sidewalk Surfin’,” “Ride The Wild Surf,” “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “I Get Around,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun” along with other hits of the era.

WHEN: Both shows begin at 8 pm WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $57/$67 Wallflowers; $52/$62 Beach Party INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.com

SEPT 11 - OCT 3 Back at the Bowl

S

anta Barbara Old Spanish Days Fiesta, which took place as a truncated series of events in its usual time slot of early August, may have already come and gone.

But in this strange year, surely there’s still room for the annual Santa Barbara Mariachi Festival even if it’s a month or so later. Titled ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva el Mariachi!, the festival, which usually arrives at the Santa Barbara Bowl on the Saturday of Fiesta week, stars several big names in the biz, including Mariachi Sol de México, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles and Mariachi Nuevo Mujer 2000. If it helps, you can also think of the show as a sneak preview of the musical backbone of Opera Santa Barbara’s return to the Lobero stage on October 1 & 3, featuring Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles-based ensemble Mariachi Los Camperos… Also heading into the 4,000seat amphitheater that serves as one of the crown jewels and most enviable venues in our area: rootsy singer-songwriter John Legend (September 16); sisters in song

Tell us all about your art opening, performance, dance party, book signing, sale of something we can’t live without, or event of any other kind by emailing fortnight@santabarbarasentinel.com. If our readers can go to it, look at it, eat it, or buy it, we want to know about it and will consider it for inclusion here.

Special consideration will be given to interesting, exploratory, unfamiliar, and unusual items. We give calendar preference to those who take the time to submit a picture along with their listing.

Haim (September 17); comedian-TV personality Trevor Noah (September 18); the folk-blues-soul star Gary Clark, Jr. (September 19); alternative heroes My Morning Jacket (September 23); the 24-year-old Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson better known professionally as H.E.R., an acronym for her approach of “Having Everything Revealed” (September 24); L.A. indie rock band Lord Huron (September 28); ‘80s rock band Foreigner playing their hits backed by a full orchestra (October 2); and the timeless legendary folk-rock pioneer Van Morrison (October 3).

WHEN: Varies WHERE: Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 N. Milpas St. COST: Varies INFO: (805) 962-7411 or https://sbbowl.com/concerts

FRIDAY, SEPT 17

Carlos at the Cornerstone

E

venings at Elings returns with yet another reggae show featuring some of the major players in the genre.

Tonight, Don Carlos — whose career is fairly similar to Michael Rose, last month’s headliner at Elings — also hails from Jamaica and began singing in 1973 as an original member of Black Uhuru.

He’s been in and out of that band over the ensuing years while also pursuing a solo career that has yielded upwards of two dozen albums known for his deep dub/roots style and distinctive voice. In more recent years, Carlos Don joined forces with the California based Reggae Angels, who backed him for four years and subsequently evolved into his own band called Dub Vision and has served as a special guest with Slightly Stoopid.

Local reggae heroes Cornerstone open the show.

WHEN: 5-10 pm WHERE: Elings Park, 1298 Las Positas Rd. COST: $25 general, kids 12 and under free INFO: (805) 569-5611 or www.elingspark.org

SEPT 24 - OCT 1 Ojai’s Libbey-ation

F

our more dates — split between tribute bands and the real things (although just how many original members remain in the latter category is debatable) — close out the concert season at Libbey Bowl. The intimate, tree-lined amphitheater hosts DSB, which stands for Don’t Stop Believing, the biggest hit for the band Journey, which DSB does its best to copy in concert, in this case on September 24…

Two days later, you may wonder if it’s “Just My Imagination” or is that really Temptations co-founder and leader Otis Williams still keeping the Motown music alive for more than half a century?

The Temptations are one of the most iconic bands in the history of American music, noted as much for their precise choreography on stage as a string of male vocal ensemble hits that include “My Girl,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” Losing You,” “Cloud Nine,” and “Ball Of Confusion,” and many more…

On October 1, Queen Nation, which pays tribute to — yep, you guessed it — Queen proclaims “We Will Rock You” and rhapsodizes in a bohemian way, although can anyone (even Oscar winner Rami Malek) really successfully impersonate Freddie Mercury?... With Grace Slick long gone, Marty Balin and Paul Kantner dead more than three years, does it really matter that Jefferson Starship original members David Freiberg, the multi-instrumentalist who is also a founder of fellow Bay Area band Quicksilver Messenger Service, and drummer Donny Baldwin are still anchoring the act that itself grew out of Jefferson Airplane? Well, sure, if you can sign on to the fact that the group does feature longtime members Chris Smith on keyboards and synth bass, Jude Gold on lead guitar, and Grammy nominated Cathy Richardson. The latter actually filled in at Slick’s behest when Jefferson Airplane accepted its Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammy Merit Awards a few years ago.

Or simply if you can “Count on Me” and believe in “Miracles.”

WHEN: All shows start at 6 pm WHERE: 210 S. Signal St., Ojai COST: Various INFO: (888) 645-5006 or https://libbeybowl.org

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WHAT’SHANGING? with Ted Mills Ted Mills is a local writer, filmmaker, artist, and podcaster on the arts. You can listen to him at www.funkzonepodcast.com. He currently has a seismically dubious stack of books by his bed. Have an upcoming show you’d like us to know about? Please email: tedmills@gmail.com

IS THAT SOME NORMALCY WE SEE?

Hosted by: Julie Taguchi, M.D., Hematology/medical oncology Janet Hranicky, M.D., PhD, Leslie Valle, M.D., MBA Julia Loggins, CHT, CHP

ALIVE & THRIVE PRESENTS:

Nicole Strasburg’s “Sea Change” is on display at Sullivan Goss

I

’m knocking on wood right now (my own skull, don’t ya know), but it almost feels like some normalcy is returning in pockets to Santa Barbara’s art scene. I know that’s hard when a lot of our favorite galleries and spaces have upped and left. But there’s things you should know about, and I’d be remiss, et cetera, et cetera.

Hanging RIGHT NOW at Community Arts Workshop is “REMEDY,” which I assume is some sort of commentary on the various illnesses infecting our body politic.

But that’s a maybe. What I do know for a fact is that the show features some of my favorite art people: Tony Askew, Angela Holland, Dan Levin, Michael Long, Perry Hoffman, Dug Uyesaka, Frank Whipple, and Sue Van Horsen. If you’re reading this now, you might have missed the opening, but don’t worry, I said hello for you. And they all said they missed you. If Santa Barbara has any weirdness left, it’s found here. And it’s up through September 29 at Community Arts Workshop, 631 Garden Street.

And TALKING ABOUT the CAW, which lucked out by having the most open-air space in all of Santa Barbara for art shows, I’m going

to guess it will be your essential space this fall.

There’s group shows galore coming up along with arts and crafts markets. In fact, one of them is happening this month. The Youth Makers Market is taking place September 18, 11 am 2 pm, featuring goods from up-and-coming artists. Get to it.

SULLIVAN GOSS is continuing like normal, and the pick of the three exhibits they have going right now is Nicole Strasburg. “Sea Change” is an exploration of the sea, sky, and clouds, at all times of day and in all types of weather. The show runs thru the end of September, and the address as usual is 11 E. Anapamu.

FINALLY, I went and checked out the newly remodeled Santa Barbara Museum of Art. I very much liked the decision to turn the foyer into a salon-style, mix-n-match exploration of the museum’s antiquities. The expansion of upstairs into a long gallery of photography felt like I was somewhere else as I walked about — L.A.? S.F.? And I very much dug the misty nature still-life videos of Wu Chi-Tsung in the current “Mediated Nature” exhibit. Seriously, if you haven’t checked it out yet, throw down a tenner and get thee hence. C’mon now.

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Wu Chi-Tsung’s “Mediated Nature” at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art

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I Heart SB

By Elizabeth Rose Since 2015, I Heart SB has followed Elizabeth Rose through dating in Santa Barbara and falling in love, a long-distance relationship, living on a 34’ sailboat then sailing from Washington to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The couple is now engaged, back on dry land, living in an Airstream in Carpinteria. Comments welcome at ihearterose@ gmail.com. For more stories, visit www.ihearterose.com.

THE GOODBYE

“D

18+ only

iary of a Partner of a Commercial Fisherman” was inspired by Santa Barbara fish wife Margaret Holden Eaton who wrote Diary of a Sea Captain’s Wife: Tales of Santa Cruz Island. Diary of a POCF is a limited series written while Jason fished sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska, in 2021. I hope to show the emotional journey of loving a fisherman — the uncertainties, frustrations, and joys — to give you a closer look at wild-caught seafood and the people behind each catch.

I have a confession: a few days after Jason and I got married, we slept in separate beds. I know how that sounds, but the thing is, we kind of enjoyed it. We desperately needed rest due to our major house project that we’ve (mainly Jason) has been working on in 90-degree heat. We figured a night or two apart might do the trick.

But while we renovate our 1912 Victorian bungalow — that has sat untouched since the last century — we are staying with my parents, and honestly, thank God! It’s been a dream to spend quality time at dinners with mom, dad, and Jason at the end of the day. Through days of sweaty work, this has kept us sane.

There’s just one thing: although the four-poster bed in my parents’ guest room is quite beautiful, we both toss and turn like breaching whales while we sleep, which makes for a very shaky night. I may even snore a little. I wake him up, he wakes me, and the cycle continues. That’s when sleeping separately came up. Exhausted though intrigued, we wondered if it was weird; we just got married after all. Then, we thought how terrible it would be if we didn’t get rest. The thought of future dumb arguments because we’re tired convinced us to try two nights.

I hate to say it, but the first night was a dream. To sleep well, then walk down the hall to cuddle with Jason seemed like we were on to something “progressive” that worked for us. Yet night two was different. Reaching across the bed to an empty pillow triggered that familiar longing I get when he leaves to commercially fish sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay, Alaska. To try to describe the feeling, it’s as if my heart grows heavy yet hollow simultaneously. It just seems to float there, in the middle of my chest, detached.

I’ll forget about the long, hot days and sleepless nights, and instead burn into memory how it feels to fall asleep with his hand holding mine.

two santa barbara locations

4135 State St. 805-967-8282 The

Adult Store 405 State St. 805-965-9363

It dawned on me that in less than two weeks, he’ll be in Alaska. I lay awake asking, “How many weekends do we have left? What do I need to do to help him pack? I need to make a list of all his favorite treats to send in a care package. How soon should I send it?” I’m slightly relieved when I remember that Jason will only be gone six weeks instead of a six-month stretch we’ve done before. My eyelids droop as I plan another Fourth of July without him.

The thing is, we’ve done “the dance” of a commercial fishing couple for more than five years now, and you think I’d be used to it. But even if Jason is gone for an overnight at the Channel Islands, commercially fishing spiny lobster, or gone for months fishing sockeye in Alaska, each goodbye begins the same.

One month until launch, you avoid thinking about it.

Two weeks later, the heaviness creeps in.

It sometimes catches you off-guard when you’re driving with the windows down, singing a favorite song. Then the thought of him in rough seas with minimal sleep flashes through your mind and makes you quiet. You try not to think about what could go wrong, and at least once a day until he leaves, you tell him how much he’ll be missed.

To offset the blues, you think of the semi-bachelorette life that awaits, like long writing sessions, cereal for dinner and sprawling out like a starfish on the bed.

(Alone time is the secret silver lining!) But that will come later. There are only nine days until Jason takes off, and I’m going to embrace our last moments in a wobbly four-poster bed. I’ll forget about the long, hot days and sleepless nights, and instead burn into memory how it feels to fall asleep with his hand holding mine.

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Soul Majestic

with Mark Léisuré

Mark spends much of his time wandering Santa Barbara and environs, enjoying the simple things that come his way.

A show here, a benefit there, he is generally out and about and typically has a good time. He says that he writes “when he feels the urge” and doesn’t want his identity known for fear of an experience that is “less than authentic.” So he remains at large, roaming the town, having fun. Be warned.

A Roarin’ Good Time

M

y job here at the Sentinel as a Man About Town encompasses keeping everyone informed about what’s been going on around town in the performing arts in and near State Street and beyond, even if some of it’s on the down low.

The thing is, these days in my case the DL refers more to delta (variant) leeriness, as your faithful correspondent hasn’t had a lot of faith in the safety protocols for the pandemic, at least until the latest mask and vaccination-or-testing mandates that’s now being employed just about everywhere, including, thankfully, even at outdoor venues such as the Santa Barbara Bowl.

So, what I got for you coverage-wise is the couple of instances I showed up at Roar & Pour in front of the Granada Theatre, which began presenting live acts on Thursday evenings way back in February. First up was the Doublewide Kings, who are just so freaking fun it oughta be illegal, as the middle-aged men make music that made headlines back when they were kids and do it with a healthy dose of technical prowess and enviable versatility. They were just launching into The Allman Brothers’ “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed,” one of my favorite numbers from the ‘70s and one I hadn’t heard for decades until just a few days before popping the ABB’s Live from the Fillmore East into the CD player on my new used car. Damn if the Doublewides didn’t pull it off in a way that even Dickey Betts would have admired. Then the Kings conquered everything from Crosby, Stills & Nash, to .38 Special.

I also caught the sets from fiddle wizard Phil Salazar & Friends, which was basically most of the same folks he’s been playing with since the classically trained violinist launched into bluegrass with the Acousticats way back in the 1980s. Kicking up your heels to the country-fied sounds was a fine option, but so was focusing in on Bill Flores, the multi-instrumentalist who deals on the dobro, mashes on the mandolin, soars on the saxophone and gets it going on guitar, all with equal skill.

Nathan Kipp and the Sure Shot Rockers are due in from Los Angeles to do their thing on the sidewalk in front of the Granada on September 9, and the schedule hasn’t been updated past that date.

But let’s hope the series continues. Dancing in the street is a pretty darn cool thing to be doing during COVID, as closing down State Street so such events could take place was an idea whose time was long overdue. Also cool is strolling down the thoroughfare to check out all the parklets and hear outdoor music from the regular entertainers at the Red Piano — who have mounted the keyboard in its front porch — and pop-up busking musicians. This format should long outlive the still pesky pandemic.

CROWDED CALENDAR COMING SOON Those less fearful than I — which is likely most of you — will be heartened to hear that Santa Barbara is ramping back up the arts scene at every angle starting this month. That includes the long-awaited reopening of SOhO, which threw open its doors on September 3 with a party starring local reggaefied band Soul Majestic. Alternate week Monday night jazz re-joins on September 6 with Sandy Cummings, followed by a singer-songwriter showcase, Detar Studio’s showcase, a double-header with guitarist Dan Zimmerman and party band Area 51, and Berklee-trained singer-songwriter-guitarist Jackie Venson, all by September 11.

Stalwarts Venice are due in September 12, and other notable shows include the first event in the Santa Barbara Acoustic Music series with Willie Watson on September 19, Latin jazz with Luis Munoz Trio on September 23, and, further down the road, Montecito singer-songwriter (and hedge fund extraordinaire) Pete Muller with his band The Kindred Souls on October 5. Call 805-962-7776 or visit www.sohosb. com. SOhO, it’s so good to have you back.

Also winding its way back are Opera Santa Barbara, which debuts its new ambitious and versatile season with Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon), José “Pepe” Martinez’s 75-minute Mariachi operetta in which three generations of an immigrant family journey across borders to find one another and to make a home together, on October 1 & 3 at the Lobero… Jazz at the Lobero launches with Pat Metheny Side-Eye with James Francies & Joe Dyson on Wednesday, September 29… Santa Barbara Choral Society has scheduled its first live concert since March 2020 for September 18 & 19 at Hahn Hall… CAMA returns to presenting live music with Canada’s Les Violons du Roy (The Violins of the King) featuring the return of virtuoso Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital in an evening of Bach and Vivaldi concertos on October 19 at the Lobero… The Santa Barbara Symphony and State Street Ballet dive into their new season by teaming up for Kismet, a fully staged musical and artistic collaboration directed by Broadway’s Lonny Price, slated for the Granada on October 23-24, while the Broadway In Santa Barbara Series begins again at the Granada with An Officer and a Gentleman on November 9-10.

Finally, UCSB Arts & Lectures has unveiled its 2021-22 season at a gala reception on the last day of August. We could take up all of these space and then some listing all of the shows, which number around 60, from the most prolific arts organization in town, but since the “Creating Hope” season doesn’t start until October 10 (with a lecture by Julián Castro), which is after our next issue hits newsstands, we’ll leave it up to you to peruse the calendar and select your own series subscriptions or oneshot tickets online at artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

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