Sable Town Hall – Tempers flare as government officials, environmental advocates, and the public gather for a town hall on the Sable-Exxon deal, P.10
Spring at Lotusland – The perfume of nature’s bloom is in the air… Spring Equinox is here and just in time for Lotusland’s floral fun this weekend, P.16
Main Stage Staple – From Teen Star to SB fave, the ongoing journey of Jackson Gillies and his mission to rock local streets and stages, P.20
(
Trish’s History
Trish Davis, legendary local historian, talks about the beginnings of Montecito’s History Committee and Women’s History Month, page 12 Clear the Way
Montecito Fire gives tips on clearing your property for fire hazards, home hardening, and being better prepared for fire season, page 31
SANTA BARBARA BASED CITATION LATITUDE
LUXURIOUS 9 PASSENGER, WIFI AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER
MASTERSERIES AT THE
SPONSOR: ESPERIA FOUNDATION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2025, 7:30 PM
piano
education is pricey, to put it as tenderly as possible. Martha Salas had an idea – and UC Davis is kicking the tires.
Montecito Miscellany – Choral Society goes green, Temptations and parents on stage, yMusic at MAW, and more miscellany
Yefim Bronfman returns to the series, performing a program of pianistic fireworks! Internationally recognized as one of today’s most acclaimed and admired pianists, Bronfman is regularly sought by the world’s leading orchestras, recital series, and festivals. He has been recognized with the Avery Fisher Prize and a Grammy®
PROGRAM: MOZART: Sonata No. 12 in F Major, K. 332
SCHUMANN: Arabeske in C Major, Op. 13
DEBUSSY: Images, Book II
TCHAIKOVSKY: Grand Sonata in G Major, Op. 37
Sponsor: Alison & Jan Bowlus • Michele Neely Saltoun
Co-Sponsors: Beth Gates Warren & Bob Boghosian Nancy Wood, in honor of the CAMA Women’s Board
A Celebration of Spring – Bask in the bounty of spring before this weekend’s Lotusland floralthemed event
18 An Independent Mind – A chaotic look at the administration’s actions and its effect on the future of the country 20 Dear Montecito – The ongoing grooves of Jackson Gillies and his journey with hidradenitis suppurativa and raising awareness about it
22 On Entertainment – Storm Large sings Sins, Michael Feinstein & Tony Bennett, and more music happening this week
24 Brilliant Thoughts – Print media has changed immensely in the last one hundred years, but there are still a few mags and rags around
26 Elizabeth’s Appraisals – This mini dry sink tells of early salesmen hitting the rails to show off their goods
27 Your Westmont – Talk explores the future of AI, observatory opens for a Martian view, and baseball stays hot
30 Montecito Health Coach – Greed… what is it good for? Not much… and why are some still wanting more after having enough?
31 Hot Topics – Montecito Fire inspects local properties for hazardous vegetation ahead of fire season, and explains how to comply
32 In Passing – Remembering the life and impact of Leslie Hollis López
37
Ernie’s World – Ernie needs a new phone… will he make it out of the Apple store with himself and it in one piece?
38 News Bytes – Breakfast and Alma Fonda Fina, Allora by Laura closes, SB Black Women’s Health Equity Conference, and more Crime in the ‘Cito
40 Far Flung Travel – Chuck heads into the cavernous depths of Shasta Lake… will there be Morlocks?
44
Calendar of Events – Parents in Chains, MOXI at night, Our Beautiful Boys at Mary Craig, and more
46 Classifieds – Our own “Craigslist” of classified ads
47
Mini Meta Crossword Puzzles
Local Business Directory – Smart business owners place business cards here so readers know where to look when they need what those businesses offer
Meeting at MA License Plate Readers in Montecito and More
by Joanne A Calitri
The Montecito Association March 2025 meeting was held in person at the Montecito Library community room and on Zoom, Tuesday, March 11.
MA President Doug Black with 1st VP Leslie Lundgren called the meeting to order and moderated the presentations. The key agenda item was the presentation by FLOCK representative Brooke Midgett, via Zoom. Flock makes a License Plate Reader. Brooke’s data points:
- There are FLOCK license plate reader (LPR) cameras and video cameras. LPR reads the license plate and uses AI to identify the make and model of the vehicle. The video cameras are not good at reading license plates but can track other pertinent data for law enforcement.
- There is an initial install fee and 24-month contract. After that, the contract just renews.
- Costs are presently $2,500 per camera with a one-time install fee of $650
- Cameras are solar powered or DC
- Contract includes software and hardware updates, Hotlist integration wand Alerts, Cloud hosting and LTE (wireless) connectivity, plus maintenance.
- The community decides what law enforcement agencies get the data in real time
- Data is stored on a rotating 30-day cycle and then wiped out. Selected data can be stored in the cloud.
- Placement of the cameras on public utility poles and public land is preferred
- Real time alerts are sent to law enforcement
- Data becomes part of a national registry Hotlist
- At night the cameras use infrared technology
- FLOCK provides objective evidence, investigative leads, and intercepts threats by working with law enforcement teams.
- FLOCK has ethics driven technology for data collection to protects residents without infringing on privacy
Midgett suggested that Montecito have an inbound LPR paired with an outbound LPR and a video camera at each entry/exit point to Montecito.
MA board member Bill Babbitt said that Brentwood is using Motorola cameras. Brittingham replied with, “FLOCK is better than Motorola on a number of levels, the main one being that all neighboring law enforcement agencies use FLOCK and it would be best to connect Montecito. FLOCK is not only for these targeted crime gangs but also useful on a number of levels including missing persons, stolen vehicles, bank robberies, etc.” MA Board of Directors Jillian Wittman added that there are 11 entrance/exit points in Montecito, so the town will need at least 22 cameras. Other reports at the meeting were:
MA Board member Bill Babbitt alerted the MA that, “There is a new senate bill by Senator Scott Wiener, SB79, which increases the density of an area by allowing multi-family housing units on all parcels throughout the state; ‘SB 79 will make it faster and easier to build multi-family housing near transit stops, like train and rapid bus lines, by making it legal for more homes to be built in these areas and streamlining existing permit review processes.’ This would decimate west Los Angeles and all of Montecito, taking away zoning rights. SB9 is regarding lot splits and SB10 is about increasing housing density in areas near transit and job centers – 10 units on single family lots.” MA President Black added he was on a committee to stop SB9 and SB10 but failed. Concern was expressed.
The MA Safety subcommittee was reported on by Jillian Wittman and Andrea Newquist. There was a large discussion about the location for a Sheriff’s department satellite office in Montecito and the difficulty of finding the proper location. They will continue to meet to resolve.
Montecito Fire Dept Chief David Neels stated that, “There are extra first responders on duty during any storm event, as it is difficult to predict the rainfall.
MA Meeting Page 394
Beings and Doings
Montecitan Martha Salas Balances the
Books. The Textbooks.
by Jeff Wing
Higher education is expensive. It’s no accident that for decades academic dorm cuisine has been lovingly built around the Cup O’ Noodles® tradition, an affordable scholastic delicacy whose variants include beef, chicken, shrimp, teriyaki, and the always-worrisome “spicy” – an indefinable “flavor” commonly avoided the night before a mid-term.
Apart from higher ed’s tuition, fees, and housing costs, textbooks themselves add several prohibitive pounds to the financial millstone hung about the average student’s neck. Textbook costs have risen precipitously over the past couple of decades, seeing from January 2000 to June 2022 a 162% increase – twice the rate of inflation for that period.
2023’s Textbook Costs Impact Survey canvassed 19 institutions of higher learning and found that 82% of responding students tried to work around the
textbook hard$hip by not purchasing, or only partially purchasing, required course materials. Some 40% of respondents took fewer courses to save on these materials, and many students sold personal belongings to pay for their textbooks. These added stresses do not focus a young scholar’s mind. Fortunately, Martha Salas had a topical brainstorm.
FundMyTextbooks.com (The Grand Pianist That Wasn’t)
“I’d witnessed many times how families and friends support each other to achieve major life goals,” says Martha Salas, Founder and CEO of FundMyTextbooks.com. “I saw it with home purchases, for instance.” Salas’ long career as a mortgage loan officer exposed her to many, many instances where friends and family would combine resources to help their first time homebuyer over the finish line. “It occurred to
me we could apply the same generosity to help students afford their college supplies. Why not help the parent or other donor manage the student’s spending?” Salas is on to something, and it transcends the affordability of higher education. We can’t know how many people go to their graves never having stumbled upon their inherent gift or acumen; their would-be contribution to this singular
life. How many preincarnate grand pianists are never given to touch a piano? How many prospective scientists wander down a fork in the road that leads away from the intellectual revelation that would spring their lockbox of potential? How many Margot Fonteyns have come and gone, never having stepped into a ballet slipper?
So it is with unrealized academic potential, but with a tragic caveat; the aspiring, financially challenged student is aware of both what she can achieve, and the unscalable wall that stands in the way. There has always been more to getting into university than demonstrable academic skill, good study habits, and plucky determination. Many brilliant young scholars are financially stymied in their academic forward motion, and either don’t bother to apply, or decline their school acceptance because the monies required seem absurdly crushing. In this ecosystem of students struggling to meet their potential, every bit of available relief is priceless.
“No student should fall behind or risk their future because they can’t afford their course materials,” Salas continues. “We created Fund My Textbooks to remove that barrier, so every student has what they need to thrive and succeed in their education.”
Martha Salas, CEO and Founder of Fund My Textbooks – and your cash-strapped student’s new best friend (courtesy photo)
Montecito Miscellany
Singing Green and Guinness
by Richard Mineards
Santa Barbara Choral Society had an annual gala with a difference with Shamrock at the Rockwood over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
The sold-out bash welcomed more than 130 guests to the women’s club which had been transformed into a giant Irish-themed bar, and where they were welcomed by emcees Larry Schecter and Kathleen Stinnett before Irish dancing by Alanna Callaghan and the Firedance Academy Dancers.
The buffet, featuring shepherd’s pie,
Bringing festive Irish music and songs are “The Decent Folk” (photo by Priscilla)
beef sliders with Guinness gravy, and chicken whisky skewers, was accompanied by music from The Decent Folk –Gary Jensen , Elisabeth Gonella , Karl Burrelsman , Gwendolyn Kilfoyle , and Robert Winokur – and the Kule Klub ukulele band. Will Breman and his band closed the fun event after a live auction that featured an Ireland adventure for two, a Moroccan dinner party for 12 hosted by choir alto Kate Rees , and the chance to conduct the choir at its Hallelujah! concert at the Lobero in December.
Among the gaggle of green clad, Guinness imbibing supporters, who
raised more than $30,000, were Debra Stewart, Susan Keller, Elizabeth Olson, JoAnne Wasserman, Marylove Thralls, Barbara Burger, Dana Stewart, David Reichert , Kristi Newton , Gregory Pantages, and Barbara Rosen.
Podcasting Confessions
Just a week after launching her new Netflix culinary series With Love, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex is back in the podcast game.
Meghan Markle has launched Confessions of a Female Founder with Lemonada Media.
Miscellany Page 344
LONDON’S GROUNDBREAKING CHINEKE! ORCHESTRA MAKES ITS U.S. WEST COAST DEBUT!
Championing Change & Celebrating Diversity in Classical Music
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025, THE GRANADA THEATRE, 7:30 PM
London’s trailblazing Black and ethnically diverse Chineke! Orchestra will perform a visionary program of works by Black composers, plus Haydn’s beloved Trumpet Concerto.
“Chineke! is not only an exciting idea but a profoundly necessary one. The kind of idea which is so obvious that you wonder why it is not already in place. The kind of idea which could deepen and enrich classical music in the UK for generations. What a thrilling prospect!”
PROGRAM: VALERIE COLEMAN: Seven O’Clock Shout
AVRIL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: A Sussex Landscape
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN: Trumpet Concerto in E‑flat Major
BRIAN RAPHAEL NABORS: Pulse for Orchestra
SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR: Symphony in A Minor
Sponsors: Edward S. DeLoreto • Mahri Kerley • The Shanbrom Family Foundation Co-Sponsors: Deborah & Peter Bertling • Elizabeth & Andrew Butcher • Stephen Cloud
–Sir Simon Rattle
Vimbayi Kaziboni Aaron Azunda Akugbo
Just some of the green-themed merriment at the Shamrock event (photo by Priscilla)
Marylove Thralls, greeting Louise and Art Fisher with Margo Callis (photo by Priscilla)
Local News
Activists, Government Officials,
and Sable Employees Gather for Tense Town Hall Meeting
by Tiana Molony
On March 13th, activists and community members clad in red gathered at the Environmental Defense Center (EDC), holding signs that read “Don’t Enable Sable” and “Oil Spills Kill.” They were there for a press conference, which preceded an anticipated town hall meeting hosted by District 37 State Assemblymember Gregg Hart and District 21 State Senator Monique Limón, where state agencies would gather to discuss their oversight of crude oil pipelines.
The oversight conversation is especially relevant now as Sable Offshore Corp., a Texas-based oil and gas company, wants to restart the Santa Ynez Unit (SYU), which consists of three offshore oil platforms, a pipeline, and a processing plant responsible for the 2015 Refugio oil spill.
They purchased the facilities from Exxon Mobil Corp. two years ago, hoping to bring them back to life. But they haven’t been able to transfer the permits from Exxon to themselves. According to the terms of their deal, if they cannot restart the facilities by 2026, ownership could be transferred back to Exxon.
Even if Sable receives proper permits, activists and community members believe another oil spill is inevitable. That’s why they’re ramping up the fight and calling on California’s big guns to stop the project.
At the EDC, Limón and Hart called on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other state agencies to enforce the law and hold Sable accountable for allegedly operating in violation of multiple state orders. “We are sending a message to California, to the state agencies that come today, that we will fight
to protect our coastline, our watersheds, our cities, and our people,” declared EDC Chief Counsel Linda Krop. “And this is an important message,” she continued. “Laws still matter in California.”
Actress and activist Jane Fonda and actress and comedian Julia LouisDreyfus also spoke at the EDC, rallying with the crowd.
Following the press conference, everyone traveled to La Cumbre Junior High School for the town hall. Over 200 Sable employees were already present, making the total attendance around 500.
Representatives from eight state agencies discussed their oversight during the SYU unit’s restart while California Natural Resources Agency secretary Wade Crowfoot moderated. The agencies present included the California Coastal Commission, the State Lands Commission, the Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Geologic Energy Management Division of the Department of Conservation, and two regional Water Quality Control Boards.
“Them being here is a reflection of how important this issue is to not just the community, but to our state,” declared Limón at the town hall. “And how much they care to be here to give this information today.” She stressed that “no decisions” would be made at the town hall, but instead, the purpose of the meeting was to clarify to the public each department’s role, and the extent of its authority.
The first agency to speak was the California Coastal Commission (CCC), which has been in a tug-of-war with Sable over the past few months. They issued multiple cease-and-desist orders urging them to
stop pipeline repair work, citing improper permitting, and requesting that Sable apply for a Coastal Development Permit. Once the first expired, they filed a second ceaseand-desist in February. Still, Sable ignored the second order, arguing that their work was permitted. They then filed a complaint against the CCC on February 18th.
“This is the first time in the agency’s history that we’ve had a party blatantly ignore a cease-and-desist order like this and refuse to submit a permanent application,” said Cassidy Teufel, the California Coastal Commission’s Deputy Director of Energy and Ocean resources. This declaration incited boos from the EDC’s supporters.
Although the public wasn’t supposed to speak at the meeting, many did anyway. The town hall intended to address their questions, but environmentalists and activists remained frustrated – not necessarily toward the state representatives but toward their lack of control over the issue.
In between shouts from the rowdy crowd, state agency representatives clarified some key aspects of the regulatory processes. Heather Geldart, Administrator from the Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), specified what would happen in the event of a “reasonable” worst-case scenario oil spill. OSPR calculated a spill volume for the marine pipeline at almost 2,000 barrels, and over
Montecito Tide Guide
15,000 barrels for the inland pipelines at 42 gallons per barrel. She mentioned that the installation of 27 safety valves by Sable contributed to a lower estimated volume for a worst-case spill.
She further confirmed that Sable submitted their $101 million Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR), which OSPR vetted. She assured that they would pull from a pool of state and federal funds if Sable could not fully cover the costs of a worst-case spill.
Many were displeased with State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant. Between shouts of
Account Managers | Sue Brooks, Tanis Nelson, Elizabeth Scott, Jessica Sutherland, Joe DeMello
Contributing Editor | Kelly Mahan Herrick
Proofreading | Helen Buckley Arts and Entertainment | Steven Libowitz
Contributors | Scott Craig, Ashleigh Brilliant, Chuck Graham, Mark Ashton Hunt, Dalina Michaels, Robert Bernstein, Christina Atchison, Leslie Zemeckis, Sigrid Toye, Elizabeth Stewart, Beatrice Tolan, Leana Orsua, Jeffrey Harding, Tiana Molony, Houghton Hyatt, Jeff Wing
Gossip | Richard Mineards
History | Hattie Beresford
Humor | Ernie Witham
Our Town/Society | Joanne A Calitri
Health/Wellness | Ann Brode, Deann Zampelli
Travel | Jerry Dunn, Leslie Westbrook
Food & Wine | Melissa Petitto, Gabe Saglie, Jamie Knee
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Montecito Journal is compiled, compounded, calibrated, cogitated over, and coughed up every Wednesday by an exacting agglomeration of excitable (and often exemplary) expert edifiers at 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108.
How to reach us: (805) 565-1860; FAX: (805) 969-6654; Montecito Journal, 1206 Coast Village Circle, Suite G, Montecito, CA 93108; EMAIL: tim@montecitojournal.net
State Fire Marshal Daniel Berlant speaking at the town hall meeting
The Giving List Faith of a Child Foundation
by Steven Libowitz
Just over a dozen years ago, the Sonrise Baby Home in Uganda was started by a young woman named Damali Mirembe. She was one of many orphans raised by an American Vietnam War veteran on disability who had, years ago, moved to Uganda to help the orphaned children there. When they grew he put them through university and set them up with successful careers in the capital city Kampala. Mirembe was employed as a social worker but decided that she wanted to pay forward the kindness shown to her as an orphan by the American gentleman. She decided she would help orphans herself in a rural area of the country.
“She started taking these young babies who were extremely malnourished into her home,” explained Joe Madden, who runs a Santa Ynez-based nonprofit. “Before she knew it, she had 36 babies in a one-bedroom house. Just imagine the chaos!”
To help meet the need, Mirembe soon expanded her operation, and
Damali Mirembe and one of the many babies she has helped (courtesy photo)
now Sonrise Baby Home comprises six different buildings where she helps to raise 75 babies whose parents have either perished, or abandoned these children.
“She has saved almost 500 babies from certain death over the last 12 years,” Madden said. “Now there’s a school for the older kids, and it’s become a major enterprise.”
Giving List Page 414
Our Town Montecito Historian Trish Davis on Women’s History Month
by Joanne A Calitri
Montecito’s Trish Davis is being featured in my column for her contributions to preserve the history of Montecito. Davis was recommended to me by the Montecito Fire Protection District Fire Chief David Neels in response to my community request for Montecito women to be featured in my news column for Women’s History Month. Neels stated in his email reply, “We have discussed this at the department and many of us have selected Trish Davis for Women’s History Month. She is integral to preserving the history of the Montecito community and is so knowledgeable about what makes this community so special.”
LYNCH CONSTRUCTION, INC.
P.O. BOX 20183 SANTA BARBARA, CA 93120
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Rachmaninoff
By HERSHEY
Davis has been the Head of the Montecito History Preservation Department with her office and historical treasures at the Montecito Library for approximately 14 years. A local resident for over 50 years, she has served as the History Chair and member of the Montecito Association for 16 years and is a member of the Coast Village Association. Previously she served as a President of MERRAG, was founder of the Santa Barbara Bike Coalition, was Santa Barbara Yacht Club Person of the Year, and with her husband founded the first street vendor Hot Dog Stand locally called the Hot Dog Construction Co. Fun fact, as a retired American Airlines Stewardess, Davis founded the SB Airport Tour Program and worked as a tour guide at LAX for 15 years.
I met with Davis at the History Office this week for an interview and photo op with Neels.
Q. How did you get involved in covering the history for Montecito?
A. I’ve been fortunate to live in historic places. And so I came in one day to volunteer in the history department at the Montecito Library, which I did for one year. I went to the Montecito Association meetings on Tuesdays and joined the MA Board. The history office is part of the MA Board, and I have been the Chair of the MA History Committee for 14 years.
Why is preserving history important to you?
If we don’t take care of our history, it’s really hard to go into the future unless you know what the past has been about. And I feel that I’ve been in the community for 50 years and dealt with a lot of agencies. Working here has been a magical spot. You can almost hear the textbooks talking to you. People who come for all different reasons, whether its PBS, or scientists checking on the past debris flow, or people who just bought a house and want to know if it’s historic, we work with a whole lot of historians. Our goal here is to try to get the information the person is looking for, if we don’t have it, we can get them to the people and organizations that may have the answer. What we have here is all donated.
Our Town Page 424
Trish Davis and Montecito Fire Chief David Neels in Trish’s office at the Montecito Library (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
ESTATE GROUP
M ARSHA KOTLYA R
Society Invites
22nd Annual Tiara Ball
by Joanne A Calitri
The renowned 22nd Annual Tiara Ball by the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation (SBCHF) was held in all its elegance at the RitzCarlton Bacara Resort on Saturday, March 8. This annual beyond the blacktie soirée showcases guests in bejeweled tiaras, formal gowns, fine wool tuxedos and more ahead of Paris Fashion Week.
While the gala follows the formal program of reception, dinner, announcements, and dancing, there is one key element here not seen at other galas that makes it such a great party; there are no auctions or asks – as the funding is taken in prior to the event via ticket sales, sponsors and donors. This makes the flow uninterrupted for genuine connecting and proper thank-you’s.
I also met and photographed SBCH President and CEO Ron Werft with wife Mary; Board Chair Eric Seale and wife Sandy; prior Tiara Ball event committee members and funders of SBCHF Jelinda DeVorzon with her son Daniel and Anne Smith Towbes; First District Supervisor Roy Lee with Goleta City Councilmember James Kyriaco; and the SBCH surgical residents.
As we were called into the Grand Ballroom, I sat at a lovely table next to the stage. The amazing Ben Mallare 14-piece band entertained until it was time for the formal remarks and dinner.
During the champagne red-carpet reception, I captured with my camera the event co-chairs Heather Hambleton and Lisa Iscovich with their event committee Gina Andrews, Katy Bazylewicz , Andrew Brown , Allison LaBarge , Mari McAlister , Sue Neuman , Alex Nourse , Cathy Quijano, Esther Takacs, Betsy Turner, Mary Werft, and Margaret Wilkinson Hambleton took another moment with me to provide her quote for our readers; “We are so honored tonight to be hosting the 2025 Tiara Ball. This year we are honoring Ron and Mary Werft, and Mary has served on the Tiara Ball committee for over 20 years, so we are honoring her as well as Ron, the wind beneath her wings. They are both leaving a tremendous legacy in our community.”
Seale welcomed the guests, acknowledged the co-chairs, the event committee present and past, and the volunteers on the Board at all three centers – SBCH, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Health. He introduced the next speaker, Dr. Anne Rodriguez, Chief of Staff.
The Werfts were recognized by Dr. Rodriguez. She said they have been a force for positive change in the community with integrity and compassion, asking how they can help and then helping even more. As she thanked Mary Werft for her 22 years serving on the Tiara Ball committee and other hospital
A Chic Coastal Sanctuary on 6 Acres
events, Dr. Rodriguez chided her by saying, “Though Ron is retiring, you’re not going anywhere!” Rodriguez mentioned that there have been over 30 Tiara Balls, the first ones were held in a tent behind the Coral Casino. She presented the Werfts with a digital photo frame of photographs from 20 years of Tiara Balls, and then introduced Ron Werft. Werft began by apologetically mentioning that due to his absence at the ball last year, he would be indulgent in his remarks. His remarks spanned his time from arriving in the area from Michigan, through all
Society Page 424
Tiara Ball co-chairs Lisa Iscovich and Heather Hambleton in center with their event committee (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
“A seriously sensational spectacle: as aesthetic as it is athletic, as comedic as it is grave, and all in all, a visceral delight.”
The Conversation (Australia)
“Impressive and sophisticated contemporary New Circus at its best.” Berlin Morning Post (Germany)
“There’s something generous about Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It’s there in the dancing – full of skill, passion and a charismatic warmth.” The Guardian (U.K.)
“Every American owes it to him or herself to see the Ailey company perform Revelations. It is an American phenomenon.”
– Oprah Winfrey
“GIGENIS is Khan’s most potent effort in years. The storytelling is impeccably clear.”
The New York Times
Akram Khan
GIGENIS, the generation of the Earth Akram Khan, Director and Choreographer Thu, Apr 10 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
A Celebration of Spring Enjoy the Bounty of the Equinox
by Dina Saalisi
March 21st marks Ostara, the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. A truly holyday when we can connect with the opportunities for new beginnings, and we can celebrate the return of warmth and light. Surely, the energetic shift towards longer days – with budding blossoms offering their fresh fragrance and the chatter of birdsong starting at dawn and lasting into the evening – can be felt within. As I relax into the emergent splendor of the season, I reflect on the space that I share with my non-human family, as Earth comes alive again in this cycle of renewal.
In joining with the forces of Nature to celebrate this time of equal expanse, I called on my friend and colleague Louesa Roebuck to collaborate in singing the praises of our floral allies in this season of celebration, joy, fertility and new life. You see, Louesa is a gleaner who deeply connects with the energies of Gaia by a lifelong practice of deep observation, watching the patterns and
listening to the rhythms of our non-human lineage. She’s a multi-media artist, a floral one at that, who I can best describe as someone who finds the creativity and beauty intrinsic to chaos. Unafraid to delve in the compost of life, her creative visions of the greater world around us have long been an inspirational complement to my views on the healing arts. Her words simply and eloquently sum up the core values we share; “Do no harm. Be gentle. No agribusiness. Keep it local, seasonal, and organic.”
With this mantra and practice at the fore, this spring equinox Louesa and I will lead a floral extravaganza in the gardens of the esteemed Lotusland. Our symbiotic vision is for our guests to get their hands and souls aligned with the healing qualities of the most local and abundant flora of the season. From a deeper dialogue with our resonant intuition and wisdom, we will explore affirmative language from which to create arrangements that hold deeper meaning and illuminate our intentions for growth, and the growth and thriving of our botanical relatives.
As the florals will be gleaned and harvested right up to the event, we don’t exactly know which beauties will show up. Some of the botanical friends who can be expected to come out and play and offer their healing are lovely Wisteria, sensual California Peony, supportive Redbud, energetic Mint,
sweet Daffodil, heavenly Scented Geranium, elegant Lady Bank’s Rose, and more.
I’d like to share the spiritual properties of some of the current flower allies that are currently blooming:
Celebration of Spring Page 414
Patrol and Armed-Response Services from Post
The Lotusland event will include floral arrangements, refreshments, and even a Listening to Flowers oracle deck
An Independent Mind Chaos and More Chaos
by Jeffrey Harding
Iattended Radius Commercial Real Estate’s 15th excellent annual forecast at the Hilton. One of the presenters was economist Christopher Thornberg who gave an optimistic view of the economy, much of which I agreed with.
Regarding the world since Trump took office Dr. Thornberg’s rosiness hit a wall. The current state of things?
“Chaos,” he said. Confidence/optimism indices are sinking because we don’t know what Trump will do next.
Chaos is a good word right now. Things are moving very fast. Every day new gems come out of the Trump Administration. Massive cuts in federal workers and programs. Crackdowns on campus protesters. Turmoil in Ukraine policy. More trade war threats. Raids and deportations of illegal immigrants. Stock selloffs.
It’s difficult to make plans while you’re waiting for Trump to exhaust himself.
In my penultimate article on tariffs and foreign trade I argued that once
tariff walls go up it’s not so easy to take them down. Our economy has thrived under free trade. Most people believe that Trump is just using tariffs as a negotiating tool. Taking Mexico and Canada as an example I haven’t seen evidence of it. If the history of Donald Trump means anything, he believes, despite the historical record, that tariffs are good for the economy. As expected our trading partners are reciprocating by erecting tariff walls against U.S. goods, a preliminary step to global trade wars and recessions. Massive firing of federal employees and program cuts are an attempt to cut spending and reduce the heavy hand of government on the economy. The impact to the economy is uncertain. What the savings are from DOGE so far are difficult to estimate and the reliability of data coming from the Administration is suspect. Current estimates range from 70,000 to 100,000 workers out of 2.4 million (excluding the military and the USPS) have been fired. Much is being made of academic research programs that have been cut.
This is a heavy-handed approach to the problem of excessive government
spending. Even if the savings could be as much as $100 billion, that is still a drop in the proverbial bucket when we are facing a $2.1 trillion deficit this fiscal year. I think much of DOGE’s efforts are mostly theater to show that Trump means what he says: bold action. I’m all for cuts, and good riddance to some departments, but the sudden upheaval creates more uncertainty.
Then there are government threats to campus protesters whom the Administration deems a danger to America. This comes down to free speech. In America the Constitution and the courts have ruled that we can say whatever we want. If you don’t like Jews, Blacks, Whites, Muslims or whatever or whomever, no one can prevent you from saying it, as offensive as it may be. There are limits to free speech such as inciting violence or yelling fire in a crowded rock concert, but generally you can say what you think.
Mahmoud Khalil , a Green Card resident, has been made a symbol of our collective disdain of campus unrest, especially protests against Israel’s war against Hamas. He was arrested and is threatened with deportation because he was a leader of Columbia University protests of Israel’s war against Hamas and the destruction of Gaza. As a Green Card holder he is entitled to Constitutional protections. He could
be deported only if they can prove he materially supported Hamas, a terrorist organization, but not if he praised them in his campus speeches. Speech doesn’t make him a “fellow traveler” (see McCarthyism). The government has presented no evidence that he has committed a crime or that he is a material supporter of Hamas. “Material” means giving them money, weapons, or being a member of their organization. This is an egregious violation of his rights.
Stretching or ignoring the law to make an example of Khalil is a bad precedent. Recall the internment of Japanese American citizens by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Because of racism and panic they became a disfavored group and the cry of the mob put them in concentration camps. These are the things that tyrannical governments do. Stretching the law to persecute the disfavored is a dangerous slippery slope. If they can do it to them they can do it to you.
All these things remind me of the movie title, Everything Everywhere All at Once. You never know where you are, when you are, or why you are. Crazy, no? I like the idea of reforming government and bold action. You’ve got to start somewhere. But why do I get the feeling that this is a haphazard romp through Trumpland. The fallout is yet to come. In the meanwhile, brace yourself for more chaos.
ACTION TEAM
Dear Montecito
Jackson
Gillies: A Santa Barbara Main Stage Staple
by Beatrice Tolan
As a kid in Long Island, New York, Jackson Gillies woke up one of two ways: his mother Connie stirring him for his type 1 diabetes insulin shots, or his father Billy “cranking the Grateful Dead and Genesis through the floorboards.” What follows is a life of tireless dedication to music and activism for his chronic condition – however, not the one listed above.
Connie, a piano savant, can play anything by ear. Until the advent of music streaming, Billy was a frequent flyer at the public library’s CD section, burning countless albums to his 70,000+ song iTunes library. But it was only after watching his brother Taylor in a school production of Les Miserables that Gillies’ genes kicked in. He starred in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and said, “people knew me after as the ‘singing guy on stage.’ I was obsessed from then on.”
Gillies’ had lived his life with type
1 diabetes without much trouble. But a greater health anomality, as Gillies prepared for his freshman year of high school, put his life indefinitely on pause.
“Bob,” as Gillies infamously calls it, a cyst the size of a golf ball, bloomed in the middle of his forehead overnight. What followed was six to seven identical abscesses on each of Gillies’ legs, the pain rendering him unable to walk.
After countless doctors, Gillies was diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a currently incurable, autoinflammatory disease. It causes tight pustules to crop up typically where there is skin-to-skin contact on the body. Anywhere you sweat? Imagine the most painful infection you’ve ever had.
For Gillies, there’s tens of them, ranging from the size of a pea to a tangerine, on any given day.
Since his diagnosis in 2014, Gillies has withstood hundreds of Bobs. Despite affecting about 4% of the world’s population, the causes and remedies to HS remain under-researched; thus, Gillies
and his family have had to troubleshoot their own solutions through painful trial and error. Enter Santa Barbara. Gillies’ family moved to Santa Barbara in 2015. Our temperate climate and panache for organic foods makes it an oasis for those with autoinflammatory and diet-contingent diseases. Though the climate has helped, Gillies still can only eat the following: organic, heavily salted chicken breasts, select vegetables, and water, only to keep the routine flare-ups at bay.
In search of an outlet for his unrest, Gillies began learning guitar from his
stepdad, Jeff. Raised on folk and classic rock, all Gillies wanted to learn was The Avett Brothers and The Grateful Dead. “I totally rejected pop music. Then John Mayer started playing with the Grateful Dead. I’m like, ‘who’s this pop guy playing with my Grateful Dead boys?’ And then I love him.”
Following the embrace of John Mayer, Phoebe Bridgers and Bon Iver, Gillies began writing songs. Gillies’ natural gift for guitar, tender songwriting, and impressive vocals quickly landed him in
Jackson Gillies, his guitar, and his denim onesie (photo by Zela Grace Goettler)
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
40th Anniversary Tour
Tue, Apr 1 / 8 PM
UCSB Campbell Hall
“The best musical entertainment in the country.”
The Independent (U.K.)
“Instrumental panache and affable singing with no smallamount of inimitably British drollery.”
The New York Times West Coast Debut Owls
Fri, Apr 11 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
Alexi Kenney, violin
Ayane Kozasa, viola
Gabriel Cabezas, cello
Paul Wiancko, cello
“With Owls, classical is alive and well.”
The New York Times
Performing a wide-ranging program of folk, Baroque and new music, Owls’ innovative approach to the quartet repertoire defies expectations.
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
Fri, Apr 25 / 8 PM / UCSB Campbell Hall
“One of jazz piano’s most brazenly virtuosic players.” The New York Times
Steeped in both the classical and jazz traditions, Hiromi is a keyboard visionary whose influences range from Chick Corea to Frank Zappa and funk fusion. Check your expectations at the door for this night of wildly adventurous music from her eclectic electric quintet.
Santa Barbara Favorite
A Human Approach to AI
Two Westmont computer science professors will offer a holistic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), explore promising new developments, and expose lurking dangers in a Westmont Downtown Lecture.
Thursday, March 27 | 5:30 p.m.
Santa Barbara Community Arts Workshop (CAW) 631 Garden Street
BY THE WESTMONT FOUNDATION
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On Entertainment Storm Sings ‘Sins’ with the Santa Barbara Symphony
by Steven Libowitz
As anyone knows who’s seen Storm Large subbing in with Pink Martini in the Portland band’s frequent visits to Santa Barbara, there’s not a lot of guile when the slyly sultry and self-possessed singer takes the stage – or does interviews. That’s been true no matter who’s she talking to or whether she’s singing punk-flavored rock in the late 1990s, world pop with Pink Martini, acting in theater pieces or performing in front of a symphony. We’ll get to hear her in the latter role this weekend when Large stars as Anna, the split personality focus of The Seven Deadly Sins, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht’s Weimar Republic-era indictment of capitalism. Performed by the Santa Barbara Symphony, Sins features the morally conflicted Anna journeying across seven cities, each representing a different sin, the young woman struggling between virtue and vice, reason and desire.
The renowned Hudson Shad Quartet, who have performed The Seven Deadly Sins more than any other vocal ensemble over the past 30 years, provides the voice of Anna’s family, acting as a Greek chorus that reinforces and questions society’s moral expectations.
Large has become a leading lady for Sins ever since she sang Anna with the Detroit Symphony under Leonard Slatkin in her Carnegie Hall debut in 2011, her first of about 25 performances of the piece. But (it turns out) the singer wasn’t a big fan of the vocally and thematically challenging piece at first.
“Honestly, I didn’t like it at all when I first started to learn it,” Large said. “It was so German, so Teutonic and measured and not very colorful. It’s a very dry narrative, not emotionally floored and passionate in the way I like to perform.”
But over time, Large said, she began to feel more comfortable in the role and recognized how she would fit into the creators’ use of Biblical references to skewer hedonism and societal splits, which may be even more germane today.
“After four or five times, I started to get how dark and funny it is, and how the dryness of the narrative and the nature of the piece – with the weird, clunky jazz cosplay sounds of the music – work together to leave the emotional reality to the audience to feel,” she said. “It’s almost like an interview with a serial killer who sounds like he’s talking about his shopping list for CVS. This woman is being torn apart on stage, but it’s still darkly funny.”
Large is able to draw on her own family history to embody Anna, as her mother suffered from lifelong mental illness, and was hospitalized for many years.
“I have all these anecdotal facts in my experience,” said the singer, who readily admitted she’s committed all of the sins over her life. “Some of it came to me when I was inside Anna’s character. But I sing it in my own way. I’m not classically trained. When I portray Anna, it’s visceral and kind of raunchy. For me, it’s the way I make her understandable and sympathetic and flesh and blood and real.”
Somewhat surprisingly, the symphony isn’t pairing Sins with perhaps more palatable well-known standard fare, instead playing Jacques Ibert’s Divertissement
Entertainment Page 284
Storm Large lives up to her name in The Seven Deadly Sins (courtesy photo)
Melora Hardin March 12-23
Jorja Fox March 12-16
Thomas Sadoski March 12-16
Matt Walsh March 12-16
Gildart Jackson March 18-23
Gina Torres March 18-23
James Urbaniak March 18-30
Joshua Malina March 18-23
Rob Huebel March 25-30
John Ross Bowie March 25-30
Jane Lynch March 25-30
Pete Gardner March 12-16
Sharon Lawrence March 12-30
Loni Love March 25-30
Brilliant Thoughts
Mags and Rags
by Ashleigh Brilliant
In the time between the invention of printing and the advent of the Internet, many types of periodicals have come and gone. In our own era, we have seen the birth and demise of magazines of news, humor, commentary, housekeeping, and many other more specialized subjects. A key element in the survival or failure of all such publications has been the financial aspect. How were the costs of printing, paper, and postage covered? Not to mention salaried personnel. The main sources of funding were individual sales, as at newsstands, subscriptions, usually by the year, and paid advertising. But the rise and growth of electronic communication has changed the whole picture.
What we once called magazines, newspapers, and journals hardly exist as they once did. In recent decades, the number of daily newspapers has declined drastically, and those which survive have shriveled in size and coverage. Family life has accordingly been transformed – starting with the neighborhood kid who delivered to a certain route (becoming expert at throwing the rolled-up paper to each subscribing house) and the family dog, who was trained to pick it up and bring it into the house.
The one magazine I was most sorry to see go was the British PUNCH, which closed in 2002, after 161 years of publication. Besides humorous articles, it was most famous for its cartoons, particularly the semi-serious political ones, which sometimes crystalized the feelings of the whole British nation. One, which helped to precipitate Britain’s declaration of war against Germany in 1914, was based on sympathy for “gallant little Belgium,” which the Germans had invaded in violation of a long-standing treaty (a copy of which the magazine also printed). The political cartoon showed a young Belgian peasant-boy standing up defiantly at the gate to his property, while being approached threateningly by a vulgar, uniformed, club-carrying German. (To rub it in, the invader confirms the stereotype of his countrymen as eaters of sausages by having a string of them trailing out of his pocket.)
But many widely read American magazines – usually weeklies with names like LIFE, and LOOK – have also disappeared, or have been drastically changed in format
and frequency. One of the most notable of these was the SATURDAY EVENING POST, which now, despite its name, comes out only six times a year. It was famous for its cartoons and illustrations. One artist particularly associated with that magazine’s cover was Norman Rockwell, whose series on the “Four Freedoms” (originally proclaimed by President Franklin Roosevelt) actually got onto U.S. postage stamps.
But one American magazine, though founded in the early 1920s, is now still alive – and still appearing weekly despite its apparent emphasis on one particular urban area. It is THE NEW YORKER. It has been called the world’s best magazine, and probably owes much of its fame to the quality and variety of its articles. It was also celebrated for its cartoons – but I personally would question that part of its reputation. It still has many cartoons, but in that field, they are no longer first-rate. I feel that a really good cartoon should have skillful and appropriate art. And the caption should be as clever as the picture. And, above all, the whole thing should be FUNNY. Very few of the ones I see nowadays meet these high standards. Rarely is the picture itself at all skillfully drawn, let alone enjoyably amusing. And in many cases the caption has little connection with, or dependence on, the art.
Another magazine which is still hanging on is the READER’S DIGEST, which appears in various editions, all over the world. Compared with its early issues, in the current format it is scarcely recognizable. However, in their regular section called “Quotable Quotes,” I have been quoted (at least in the American edition) no fewer than 14 times. Here are a few of my gems which have appeared there:
“Keep some souvenirs of your past, or how will you ever prove it wasn’t all a dream?”
“If we could all hear one another’s prayers, God might be relieved of some of his burden.”
“I can do only one thing at a time, but I can avoid doing many things simultaneously.”
“All I ask is a chance to prove that money can’t make me happy.”
“Success, for some people, depends on becoming well-known. For others, it depends on never being found out.”
It has been nice to see myself appearing on the same page with such eminent people as Pope John Paul II and Mark Twain.
Elizabeth’s Appraisals Salesmen Samples
by Elizabeth Stewart
has a miniature pine dry sink, the type – though in larger scale – that was in use before indoor plumbing, and whose basin was typically zinc, soapstone, or copper lined. The dimensions are 8” (w) x 4.25” (d) x 7.5” (h), and the sink well is 2.5” deep. Hers is stamped with a burnt-in logo: “Ham Made.” The words sit in an outline of a ham-hock on the bottom of the piece, and I notice the plank that comprises the bottom has been hand planed, not cut with a modern circular saw.
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All American households from Colonial times till the early to mid20 th century had a piece of furniture like this, in large scale, in the kitchen for washing and cleaning – more accessible than a bucket! The basin held a large pitcher and a wash basin for cleaning hands, vegetables, and dishes. Most of America gained access to indoor plumbing between 1900 and 1950, so the dry sink was a necessary piece of furniture.
LW’s little miniature is a salesman’s sample from the late 19th century, and like all salesman samples, these miniatures are typically 1:6 to 1:8 scale, hawked by turn-of-the-century travelling salesmen. Hers has the same hinging and hardware as the full-sized sink. Likely, when taken “on the road,” the salesman would have had a special little suitcase for this sample, which could be used as a platform display. Because LW’s has a company logo (as did all late 19th to early 20th century samples), it is not to be confused with a patent model or doll or children’s furniture. These can be of high value to collectors when they are most detailed, mechanically perfect, and intricate.
The male workforce in the U.S. clamored for jobs after the Civil War. Many burgeoning manufacturers of farm and household goods employed young men as traveling salesmen, armed with these miniature examples of their wares. Because of the growth of railroads during the War, rural farms, country stores, and distant homesteads were accessible. Itinerant salesmen took their miniature farm equipment, appliances, and furniture to ride the rails, putting the little models directly into potential buyer’s hands. The fully functional models charmed and convinced; the salesman closed the deal, and in a few months, the full-sized model was delivered.
Maxine Carter-Lome , for the Journal of Antiques writes: “Stoves, washing machines, working typewriters that can fit in the palm of your hand, shoes, a working grist mill, flexible flyer sleds, a brace and bit drill set, furniture, furnaces, stoves, ice boxes, toilets, farm equipment, working plows, reapers, hay-loaders; all got downsized.” (“Salesmen Samples: Artfully Small Examples of the Real Thing,” 2019.)
LW’s is not a children’s toy or doll furniture. It has a company logo (Ham Made). Salesmen’s furniture samples were made of the same wood and functionality as the real pieces, but for the wow factor, the miniatures were even more meticulously crafted. Selling a piece of furniture required convincing, because in turn of the century rural America, once a family purchased, they kept the piece for life.
The more intricate the miniature, the older the piece. After 1920s such miniatures were used by shop owners in promotional displays solely for
Ham Made and don’t you forget it
marketing and branding, especially those miniatures that represented “newfangled” appliances such as electric/gas stoves, and mechanized washing machines. John Deere farm equipment company made promotional marketing toys that were not functional, for example.
My grandmother, born in 1900 in St. Louis, still had an “ice box” with real blocks of ice for refrigeration when I was a kid. She couldn’t be sold on a plug-in electric refrigerator. Resistance to the new? Yes. Just imagine a salesman demonstrating a tiny gas or electric stove to a woman who had prepared thousands of meals over a wood-fired oven. These demonstration miniatures were made of cast iron and enameled, fully functioning, with pots and brand names.
LW, I was not able to find anything about ‘Ham Made,’ as quaint as that branding is: in fact, it was burnt into the wood of the base with a custom branding iron. The origin of the term ‘branding’ goes back to 1500 when cattle began to be similarly branded. We know LW’s dry sink is no older than 1870 because registered trademarks (words, designs, shapes that are legal registered to a company) began in 1870 and became intellectual property. I mentioned the wood had been hand planed; the piece was hand-made, which would put it earlier than the mass-produced pieces of the 1920s. The value of LW’s dry sink is $250.
Elizabeth Stewart, PhD is a veteran appraiser of fine art, furniture, glass, and other collectibles, and a cert. member of the AAA and an accr. member of the ASA. Please send any objects to be appraised to Elizabethappraisals@ gmail.com
The miniaturized version of a dry sink
Your Westmont Talk Examines AI’s Future, Possible Dangers
by Scott Craig, photos by Brad Elliott
Two Westmont computer science professors will offer a holistic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), explore promising new developments, and expose lurking dangers in a Westmont Downtown Lecture, “A Human Approach to AI: Understanding Its Promises and Perils,” on Thursday, March 27, at 5:30 pm at the Community Arts Workshop in downtown Santa Barbara. The talk is free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations required. Free parking is available on the streets surrounding CAW or in nearby city parking lots. For more information, please call (805) 565-6051.
“We’ll explore AI’s deep roots in the 75-year history of computing, demystify the mechanisms behind its seemingly incomprehensible abilities, and examine key breakthroughs that have fueled the explosion of generative AI innovations,” says Guang Song, professor of computer science.
“The talk will establish a framework for critically evaluating the impact of AI on human lives – as both a tool of empowerment for extraordinary achievements and a force that risks undermining human dignity through its underlying biases and resulting harms. We’ll discuss how to best engage ethically with its accelerating influence,” says Mike Ryu, assistant professor of computer science.
Song taught computer science for 16 years at Iowa State University before coming to Westmont in 2022. He earned a doctorate at Texas A&M University and has focused his research on computational biology, exploring how proteins move, studying their molecular mechanical systems, and classifying their various shapes. His research received the NSF CAREER award.
Ryu earned a Bachelor of Science in software engineering and a Master of
Science in computer science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before working at a for-profit corporation in the San Francisco Bay Area. He serves with Westmont’s Center for Applied Technology (CATLab) during the summer as the director of engineering for the mobile and AI development teams.
The Westmont Foundation sponsors Westmont Downtown: Conversations About Things That Matter, a free lecture series, as well as the annual Westmont President’s Breakfast.
Stargazers to Catch Martian Views
Westmont’s powerful Keck Telescope will zoom in on Jupiter and its Galilean moons on Friday, March 21, beginning at 7:30 pm and lasting several hours. The Westmont Observatory is open to the public every third Friday of the month and held in conjunction with the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, whose members bring their own telescopes to share with the public.
Jen Ito, Westmont assistant professor of physics, says stargazers may also catch a glimpse of Mars. “Orion’s nebula and the Owl Cluster are also up which, as you may know by now, are two of my favorites,” she says. “If you haven’t seen either through a telescope, I highly recommend it.”
Free parking is available near the observatory, which is between the baseball field and the track and field/soccer complex. To enter Westmont’s campus,
please use the Main Entrance off La Paz Road. The lower entrance off Cold Spring Road is closed to visitors after 7 pm. In case of cloudy weather, please call the Telescope Viewing Hotline at (805) 565-6272 to see if the viewing has been canceled.
Baseball Swings Another Sweep
Westmont baseball (22-3, 17-1 PacWest), ranked No. 5 in NCAA DII by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, swept Azusa Pacific in a doubleheader, 9-5 and 11-2, on March 15 at Carr Field. The Warriors are 19-1 over their last 20 games.
Two pitchers established new program records for the Warriors. Senior starter Bryan Peck picked up the win in the
first game, his 29th career victory, tying a program record with Daniel Butler (2014-17). Peck, who is one of only six pitchers in Westmont history to pitch over 300 innings, ranks second in career strikeouts with 290, needing 17 more to tie John Thomas (1964-66).
In the same game, Zach Yates earned the 18th save of his career, tying Warrior record-holder Tony Tubbs (1987-88).
At the plate, the Warriors were paced by Bryce McFeely who was 4-5 with a double, home run and 4 RBIs in the two games; and Jesse Di Maggio was 3-7 with 4 RBIs. McFeely, a senior, leads the team with 7 HRs. Di Maggio, a freshman, raised his team-leading batting average to .380.
The Warriors will next face Concordia in a four-game homestand March 21-22. Doubleheaders on both days will begin at 2 pm.
Guang Song
The blood moon from March 13 with the Keck Telescope
Mike Ryu
Bryan Peck
Zach Yates
(Continued from 22)
orchestral suite, William Grant Still’s “Seven Little Pieces” from The Black Belt, and Jessie Montgomery’s “Strum,” which should result in quite a ride for the audience at the March 22-23 concerts. Visit www.granadasb.org or www.thesymphony.org
Feinstein Finds His Way Back to Bennett
Modern proponents of the Great American Songbook don’t come much bigger than Michael Feinstein. Since the mid-1980s, the multi-platinum-selling, five-time Grammy-nominated, Tony-winning recording artist and performer has received national acclaim and adulation since launching a career as a cabaret singer-pianist devoted to the loosely defined collection of American popular songs, show tunes and jazz standards from the mid-20th century.
Now, Feinstein has focused his attention on one of his heroes, and perhaps an even bigger fan of the Great American Songbook in Tony Bennett. His new touring show, Because of You: My Tribute to Tony Bennett, featuring the new big band Carnegie Hall Ensemble, showcases Feinstein’s interpretation of Bennett’s repertoire – which includes reaching into later eras of songwriting, highlighting Feinstein’s own connection to the much-beloved singer who passed away at age 96 in 2023.
Feinstein talked about Bennett and the concert via an edited email in advance of the March 22 show at the Lobero.
SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY 7:30 AM - 10:00 PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 7:30 AM - 12:00 PM
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AM7:0012:00AM
Q. The title of the tribute show “Because of You” is one of Tony Bennett’s songs, but also your way of paying it back (or forward). Can you share about the impact he had on your career … and your life?
A. I would not have been able to achieve what I do if it weren’t for the individuals who preceded me and imparted their knowledge, one of whom was Tony Bennett. I had the privilege of knowing Tony personally – I once had the opportunity to sing with him, and I spent time with him socially, along with his wife, Susan. Being able to express gratitude and celebrate his legacy, as well as to discover different and novel ways to interpret his music, presents a significant challenge because he’s not just an icon; he is a legend. [The tribute is about] continuing his music for new generations.
What do you think fueled your connection to him? Was it largely because of your shared love of the Great American Songbook?
During the time I was working for Ira Gershwin he talked a lot about Tony, whose recording of “They All Laughed” he loved because Tony sounded like he has the world on a string and is just singing with the most joyant passion. When I first met Tony in 1983, we were backstage at a benefit with Rosemary Clooney, and we clicked instantly. Being a young kid who knew his world, his music and the songwriters, it was easy for us to start talking and become friends. Tony loved The Great American Songbook because it expresses thoughts, feelings, emotions and aspirations that he felt. That’s always been the soul of our relationship.
What is it about Bennett’s music and style that appeals to you, even after all these years? What do you think made him such a legendary and enduring artist?
His work made timeless classics shine even brighter. He expanded The Great American Songbook by embracing the recording and performing of songs that otherwise wouldn’t have been heard. His songs, ranging from the iconic “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” to the uplifting “The Best is Yet to Come,” show his unique ability to bring freshness and depth to well-loved tunes. Whether he was delivering the smooth elegance of “Fly Me to the Moon” and “The Way You Look Tonight” or the heartfelt simplicity of “Smile,” Bennett’s performances were a showcase of his emotional depth and commitment to the music.
How have you chosen/curated the repertoire from his vast catalog for the tribute? Preparing is a winnowing process of figuring out what to leave out with the Entertainment Page 354
Michael Feinstein pulls Tony’s best from the Great American Songbook (courtesy photo)
the spotlight of Santa Barbara’s young talent. In 2016, Gillies won Teen Star USA, a rigorous yearly singing competition.
As we caught up over coffee – or really, him watching me drink coffee, as is his reality with HS – I asked Gillies if he knew the moment he’d pursue music. After less than a beat, he said: “The minute I won Teen Star, I thought, ‘People do this as a job? Oh, I think I could do this.’”
Gillies’ entrance into the Santa Barbara music scene coincided with his pursuit of HS activism. Even through the trenches of his condition, he put on the “Something That Matters Concert” to raise awareness. In 2018, he held a TedX Talk titled “Bringing HS Out of the Dark,” now hosting over 1.3K comments from others affected by HS supporting Gillies’ mission and giving advice to others in the comments.
In 2019, Gillies’ talent and story of resilience took him to American Idol Soon after, he studied under the wings of music legend Kenny Loggins , most notably collaborating with Loggins to host the concert “Teens Sing for Santa Barbara,” which raised over 75,000 dollars for those affected by the Thomas Fire.
After COVID cut short his time at London Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, Gillies scrapped school to embark on a songwriter’s rite of passage: recording and releasing his music by himself. It culminated in his first full-length album, High and Low, the arrangement written and almost entirely played by Gillies. In my favorite tracks—“July 17th,” “Pretend,” and “Sunset,” you’ll find sweeping slide guitar and the quiet serenades we think to ourselves in heartache.
These days, you can find Gillies shredding in groovy, flowing wares in ven-
ues from Downtown Santa Barbara –including The Granada, SoHo, Wylde Works, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Company, and the Lobero Theatre – to Jeff Bridges’ Lost Chord in Solvang. Not only does he perform his own discography, Gillies heads the Grateful Dead cover band Jax Plays Dead and features in other local projects including Ladyfinger and Neil and Friends.
To wrap the interview, I asked Gillies’ what’s next in his career. He wordlessly handed me his phone tuned to a notes page with tens of songs under album headers. “The plan for the next record is to multi-track and tape it at a creek.”
Aside from unbridled creativity, Gillies’ incessant pursuit of success –against not only emotional but physical adversity – is what sets him apart. When I playfully chastised him for his nonstop ambition, he said, “Every moment I am fighting ‘not good enough.’ But I think that’s what makes me good. I don’t rest on any laurels.”
Jackson Gillies’ album High and Low and other releases can be found on any major music streaming platform. Keep posted by following his Instagram @jackson.gillies. Learn more about his music pursuits and HS journey at jacksongilliesmusic.com.
A portrait of Jackson Gillies’ chronic condition, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) (photo by Gaia Menni)
Jackson Gillies rocking it (photo by Steve Kennedy)
Beatrice Tolan is a fine artist, animator, and writer living in Los Angeles after residing in Montecito for 20 years. She is invested in building community through unique perspectives and stories. beatricetola @gmail.com
Montecito Health Coach
Greed: The Other Green-Eyed Monster
by Deann Zampelli
Avarice. Avidity. Cupidity. Covetousness. Voracity. Ravenousness. Rapacity. Gluttony. “Greed” actually comes from the Greek word, “Voracious,” meaning, always hungry for more
Different names, same ugly monster. Greed – the sibling to Envy – is often referred to in mythology, literature, and religion… and not in a good way.
Recently, I had the misfortune of being in my own version of Hell, a Sephora store. I discovered that pretty much every celebrity you can think of has their own fragrance. Ariana Grande, Sarah Jessica Parker, Billie Eilish, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna , Michelle Pfeiffer , Lionel Richie (seriously), Katy Perry, and the list goes on. It made me wonder; how much is enough? Not just money, but fame, power, accolades. And when is enough enough?
I would imagine that most of these famous faces have tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars and all are
household names. So where does the drive come from to launch yet another line with your face on it? Did their agent convince them that to remain relevant they need to keep their name in the game?
According to psychologist, Victor Shamas (Talkspace, The Psychology of Greed), “Greed and drug use activate similar pleasure pathways in the brain.” Meaning, we get the same feeling of pleasure just by pursuing the reward, it isn’t about the reward itself. Which makes sense because if you aren’t perceiving the reward as rewarding, you will need to seek more in order to get the same result. Like drugs.
This got me thinking. What is the evolutionary purpose of greed?
According to a December 2022 Sage Journal article, “Greed: What is it good for?”:
“Greed is argued to be essential for human welfare (Williams, 2000) and to facilitate self-preservation because greedy behaviors (e.g. hoarding) provide an evolutionary advantage for
those living in scarce environments (Cassill & Watkins, 2004; Robertson, 2001). Thus, there is also a case to be made for greed being good.”
But this is not the popular opinion. Nobody wants to be referred to as “being greedy.” And for the majority of us who are not living in “scarce environments,” greed just remains greed. I found myself back to where I started. Why are some people greedy and others are not?
I am at an age where if my friends still have their parents, they are elderly and are starting to pass away. And, as I have always had older friends, I am losing some of those as well. With that comes the settling of affairs and sadly, it is often just as heartbreaking as the loss itself.
It tears families apart. And why? Greed. Someone wants more than their share. Someone feels wronged. It often has its roots in emotional trauma, but the message is the same. They want more
Nineteen years ago, when my father passed away, my siblings and I had to not only navigate a messy estate but clean out an even messier home that our family had owned for 35 years. The loss itself was incredibly painful, but the business and financial end could have made it even worse. And while it was hugely stressful just by the nature of what we had to do; it wasn’t worse. Because none of us have the greed gene. If anything, when we would come across something that was not specifically allocated in the will and that more than one person wanted, it would look something like this: “No, you take it.” “No, seriously it’s ok, you take it.”
And it would go on. So, we decided to make a table with a sign, “Shit to fight over.” It was filled with family treasures; the naked lady bottle opener (I am still mad about that one), the poker chips, the tiki cocktail glasses (what? we grew up in the 1970s), the woodpecker memo holder. When the bulk of the
work was done, we got a bottle of my Dad’s favorite whiskey, did shots and played blackjack to decide who got what. It was fantastic. I remember that experience when I hear about siblings fighting over wills, growing farther apart in their resentment and solitary sadness. I am so thankful that our experience was nothing like that and realize that we are in the minority. Some research suggests that greed is inherited. Therefore, it is possible that none of us literally have the greed gene. While others do.
But we can’t blame it all on our parents, no matter how hard we try. There can also be an emotional explanation for greed.
Greed is actually an emotion, not a trait. And like fear, it can often be rooted in insecurity. Like when everyone started hoarding toilet paper during COVID. It is fear based. Fear of not having enough. But when you already have enough, what is there to fear not having? If someone has roots of food insecurity or growing up impoverished, for example, it wouldn’t be surprising to continually seek more. But many people grow up with very little and don’t become greedy adults. Maybe it is a combination. Are we back to the age-old question of nature versus nurture?
I remain intrigued by the concept and want to know more.
But as the lady at Sephora said to me when I told her I would like to buy one of Ariana’s matte nude eye shadows, “Oh honey, don’t we all.”
Health and humor in the MJ. National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach trained at Duke Integrative Medicine, Deann Zampelli owns Montecito Coaching & Nutrition. She also has a Masters in Clinical Psychology and has been a resident of Montecito since 2006.
Hot Topics Take Your Spring Cleaning Outside
by Christina Atchison
The recent rain is a welcome reprieve from the dry conditions that aided in propelling the devasting Palisades Fire near Los Angeles and the Eaton Fire in the foothills of Altadena.
But this is no time to rest on our laurels.
“A few inches of late season rain are not enough to significantly move the needle in reducing our wildfire risk,” said Montecito Wildland Fire Specialist Nic Elmquist
In addition to being one of Montecito Fire Department’s resident experts in wildfire prevention and suppression, Elmquist is a qualified Fire Behavior Analyst. In partnership with the National Weather Service, he closely monitors weather systems, fuel moisture levels and overall wildfire risk.
Drought & Red Flag Conditions
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor shows the majority of Santa Barbara County is in severe drought, with a pocket of extreme drought in the southern part of the county, near Montecito.
In 2024, the National Weather Service issued 10 days of Red Flag Warnings for Montecito between July and November.
A quick refresher – to meet the criteria for Red Flag, relative humidity must be 15% or less with sustained winds or frequent gusts of 25 mph or greater.
Already in 2025, we have had five days of Red Flag Warnings for Montecito issued in January alone.
January 8, the night the Palisades and Eaton Fires ravaged Southern California, Montecito flirted with the threshold of Red Flag conditions.
“Fire intensity and weather conditions continue to materialize at levels that astound even those of us who have been in the fire service for decades,” said Montecito Fire Chief David Neels
While the rain is not a game changer, it does give us additional time to prepare. With that, we ask our community to join us in leaning in and preparing your properties for high fire season.
Defining Defensible Space
You’ve heard the term “defensible space,” but what does that really mean? Where do you start? How do you create defensible space that will actually help your home survive the next conflagration?
Defensible space is the buffer you create around your home that is free of flammable plants and objects. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire, and it protects your home from
Montecito Fire engine navigates a narrow roadway during a Defensible Space Inspection (courtesy photo)
catching fire – either from direct flame contact or radiant heat.
Defensible space also creates a safe zone where firefighters can work to protect and defend your home during a wildfire.
Creating defensible space is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, and Montecito Fire Department is here to help you accomplish it.
Firefighters Inspect for Fire Hazards
As we usher in spring, we remind our community members of the responsibility to prepare for fire season by ensuring your structure and property comply with the regulations set by the state Fire Code.
Each year, we mail a postcard to Montecito residents identifying the date by which all requirements must be met. These requirements include mowing dead grasses to less than two inches, removing dead trees, and ensuring tree limbs are at least 10 feet away from chimneys.
Additionally, flammable vegetation must be cleared along roads and driveways to provide adequate clearance for fire engines to access your property.
The amount of clearance that is sufficient for a typical civilian SUV is often not nearly enough space to accommodate a large fire engine. If our engines collide with tree limbs and brush along roadways, it may damage the engine, endanger firefighters and delay our emergency response.
Due to the standard width and height of fire engines, 10 feet of horizontal clearance and at least 13.5 feet of vertical clearance are required by state Fire Code.
After the designated deadline (typically late June/early July dependent on rainfall and weather conditions), you will see our engine companies driving throughout Montecito visually inspecting over 1,600 properties for compliance.
Hot Topics Page 394
“One
New York Times
Leslie Hollis López passed away peacefully in her home in Montecito on March 8, 2025. She was surrounded by family members until the very end: a beautiful, sunny Santa Barbara day spent listening to The Beatles, Claude Debussy, and John Barry. Leslie was an adoring wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a devoted friend to many. A force of nature both personally and professionally, she brought palpable warmth and sparkle to every person and project she touched.
Born ‘Holly Ann’ Hollis in Chicago, Illinois, on December 12, 1944, Leslie moved to Bakersfield, California at the age of two with her parents, Eleanor Judith and Raymond Marvin Hollis. Older sister to Patty and Shelly and younger brother Stan, Leslie was a natural leader and captain of fun. She loved roller skating and riding her bike around the neighborhood with her siblings, creating magic shows and circus events, and even sold tickets to these performances to friends. In quieter moments, Leslie could be found at her local library, voraciously reading books every Saturday. Sundays were spent attending Catholic mass with her family, followed by helping her parents in the garden. It was here that Leslie’s love of arranging freshly cut flowers, particularly delicate white blooms, first took root. After graduating from Garces Memorial High School, where she was a straight-A student and popular classmate, Leslie married her first husband,
IN PASSING
Leslie Hollis López: December 12, 1944 – March 8, 2025
her high-school sweetheart, and moved to Santa Barbara for college.
Leslie met her second husband, Carlos, in Guadalajara, México while on an educational trip with friends. After a whirlwind romance, they married two weeks later in Sausalito, California, in 1970. The two lived in México for a year while Carlos completed his Architectural degree at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. Leslie thrived, immersing herself in the local culture, learning the language and the customs of her husband’s native country, and brought the warmth and vitality of México to the couple’s first home in Goleta in 1971. Ever the entrepreneur, and always with a keen eye for beauty, she opened an eponymous antique store called ‘The Holly House’ on Brinkerhoff Avenue, a landmark district in downtown Santa Barbara. Leslie then launched a long and successful real estate career, first working for Lee Cory Company on State Street before moving to Pitts & Bachmann, and later to Sotheby’s International Realty in Montecito’s Upper Village.
In 1978, Leslie and Carlos took a wild leap into the world of restaurant ownership. Using her travels to México as inspiration, along with her husband’s family recipes as a waymark, the couple created a Mexican establishment on State Street. It was a perfect partnership. Leslie presided over the front of the house, creating menus and specialty drinks, training employees and decorat-
ing, while Carlos managed the kitchen staff and back office. Over 46 years later, Carlitos Café y Cantina remains due to Leslie’s vision, tremendous attention to detail, and rigorous work ethic.
Leslie believed in the power of community, taking steps to ensure that Carlitos and the neighboring businesses around it would thrive. She was a founding member of the ARTS District Santa Barbara, where she excitedly volunteered her thoughtful insights and positive attitude. She loved channeling her creative energies into everything from logo designs to planning events to help promote independent shops and artisans in her beloved longtime neighborhood. Leslie’s work on this new endeavor brought her a great deal of joy and gratification.
Leslie also served as a board member of Antigua Pines Owners Association in 1995, using her real estate expertise and financial focus to support all business aspects of the Association, and served as President of the Board for a combined six years, ending in October 2024. Her exceptional interpersonal skills helped build relationships with a generation of owners in the beautiful enclave near Butterfly Beach, Montecito.
Leslie loved the phrase “Knowledge is Power” and always motivated her children to explore their horizons and challenge the status-quo. She fiercely nurtured and protected them and always went the extra mile to enable their education and broaden their worldview. She instilled in them a thirst for adventure, an appreciation of
the arts, a love of music and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Always curating a fun party full of her favorite flowers, custom playlists and favorite wines, Leslie treasured her family’s many holiday functions, where her festive, fastidious spirit shone brightly. In all areas of her life, Leslie was generous, cheerful, vivacious and empathetic.
A lifelong passionate traveler, Leslie went on many European excursions that made lasting memories for all those around her, leaving a deep impact on her family. Exploring the world, collecting beautiful recuerdos and enjoying extraordinary experiences was something she especially enjoyed with Carlos and her closest compadres . She was thrilled to celebrate her 80th birthday this past December in her favorite city in the world: Paris, France. She delighted in being with her husband, children, grandchildren and many friends from different countries in the City of Light for this momentous occasion.
Leslie will always be remembered for being a supremely talented individual; an energetic businesswoman, an engaging hostess, a determined fighter and a devoted mother. She was lovely, dynamic, incredibly tough and lived life with a wonderful joie de vivre.
Leslie is survived by her husband of almost 55 years, Carlos S. López, their two children, Amy Marisa Balducci (Charles) and Carlos LópezHollis (Amanda), her children Tracy Rush (Benny), Michael Rush, Tricia Rush (Mario), 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and her sister, Rochelle Marie Hollis.
A Visitation & Rosary, Funeral Mass, and Celebration of Life were held this week at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Montecito with arrangements by Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Home and floral arrangements from Hogue & Co.
Donations in Leslie’s name can be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
In a poll of those who enrolled in college but didn’t complete their degree, the National Association of Student Aid Administrators (NASFAA) found financial pressure was the top reason, at 55%. FundMyTextbooks.com can help mitigate this key barrier to scholastic success.
Go Aggies
At this writing, Salas’ FundMyTextbooks.com (FMT) is formally collaborating with UC Davis, the FMT launch rolling out with Davis’ spring quarter this year, which begins March 27, 2025. Salas is enthusiastic about the possibilities.
“Initiating its nationwide program with the University of California, Davis, Fund My Textbooks is excited to be allied with this institution, given their longstanding tradition of innovating solutions to improve course material affordability for their students. UC Davis is a perfect FMT launch pad for the entire university and college system.” The platform is customizable, such that it can meet each institution’s unique needs. Some schools use printed textbooks, while others, like UC Davis, provide digital course materials for a flat fee. In any case, the donated monies are “discretionary” and can only be used for one purpose.
“Fund My Textbooks ensures that every dollar donated is used solely for the purchase of educational materials and related tools,” Salas assures. “This gives peace of mind to donors.” The FMT model directs contributed, earmarked funds to the school’s bookstore, ensuring that contributions are used only for the purchase of school materials.
Undaunting
At its inception, Fund My Textbooks immediately garnered support from subject matter experts in education, business, and tech – including former Women’s Economic Ventures CEO Kathy Odell, SCORE advisors Tom Phillips and Mark Sten, and tech support wizards New Directions in Computing, Inc.
A longtime educational advocate herself – as well as a financial executive in the mortgage banking industry – Salas has long been involved in public and private
FMT’s model assures funds can’t be squandered on college students’ well-documented obsession with Olympic Curling (photo by Ralf Roletschek)
efforts to support schools in meeting their student needs. Having long worked in an industry whose seeming complications many first time homebuyers find daunting to even contemplate, one of Salas’ central concerns was that FMT not scare off potential users with a complex interface. That box has been checked. The Fund My Textbooks process is hearteningly simple.
“Imagine an online platform,” Salas says, “where students can seamlessly fundraise –receiving donations for reading materials, laptops, calculators, and other educational tools with a few easy clicks. Then it’s just a matter of conveniently picking up those purchases at their college bookstore.” Fund My Textbooks plans to tailor the platform to suit other colleges’ and universities’ specific needs. Salas has been working hard to build a tool that is all upside. It must be said that a prestigious UC agreeing to help launch her program speaks volumes. She’ll be watching the UC Davis rollout with an eye to continual improvement, and is particularly pleased that her model assures donated monies won’t be frittered away on Curling and other such well-known distractions of the modern university experience. At least as this columnist understands the perils of scholarship today. Salas’ innovation is a crowdfunding platform for college course material, and it arrives not a moment too soon.
“Imagine a worry-free system that assures family members, friends, anonymous donors, and other contributors that their money will only be used for instructional materials,” Salas says with a smile. “No student should fall behind or risk their future because they can’t afford their course materials.”
Visit www.fundmytextbooks.com or call (805) 881-3092
Jeff Wing is a journalist, raconteur, autodidact, and polysyllable enthusiast. He has been writing about Montecito and environs since before some people were born. He can be reached at jeff@ montecitojournal.net
ON THE SIDE
‘Sunset Magazine’ of 1908 Wryly Describes a Bit of Early Montecito Tech Failure at the Ultramodern Gillespie Estate
“The room is ingeniously warmed by the placing of the heating device beneath alternate squares on the benches, so that a delicate and becoming warmth will climb the spinal marrow of every guest there assembled. That is the way the architect and inventor planned the thing, anyway. Our host was in the middle of one of his best hunting stories, saying – “In the center of that dark cave I saw two huge eyes shining and heard a low growl –” when suddenly one of his listeners screamed like a hyena and jumped from the bench, frantically grasping his (trousers). Other overheated listeners followed suit. There was an unpleasant odor of scorched cloth. Those unoccupied squares of the tiled benches were found to be as sizzling hot as soapstone griddles.”
Harsh Truths
Montecito Ledger, March 19, 1958
In her Beaus and Belles column, Ellen Haldeman frankly deconstructs an age-old platonic heartache:
So you’re in love! Wonderful! So you’re going steady! Congratulations! But if you ignore us completely for this man of the hour, miss club meetings or bring him into strictly femme occasions, don’t expect us to offer you the same old shoulders to cry on when the chips are down. Sure, you’re walking in the clouds, but you can fall to earth with a pretty hard thud when young love turns old, and you find yourself without friends to help pick up the pieces of your broken heart. Little lady in love, we realize how happy you are, but don’t forget your old buddies. We love you too!
“I’ve been having candid comments with amazing women who have turned dreams into realities and scaled small ideas into amazingly successful businesses,” the Riven Rock resident explains.
“They’re opening up, sharing their trips, trials (and troubles) and letting me pick their brains as I build out my own business, As Ever.”
Meghan adds: “It has been absolutely eye-opening, inspiring, and fun. Because what’s the point if we can’t have fun on this wild adventure?”
It debuts April 8.
A Whirl of Texts and Fun
A new comedy about texts, sex, and empty nests, Parents in Chains – written by Emmy and Peabody Award winner Jay Martel – is the latest Ensemble Theatre Company production at the New Vic.
Directed by Andy Fickman, the play focuses on six Los Angeles parents dealing with communications from their teenagers driving home from an event in San Francisco as a hurricane approaches.
The trip and bad weather bring out the best and worst in the parents and interesting reactions from the 17-year-olds.
The first night starred Jorja Fox, Pete Gardner, Melora Hardin, Sharon Lawrence, Thomas Sadoski, and Matt Walsh. Later this month the show’s cast will
change to include Montecito actress
Jane Lynch
Give it a whirl!
‘Ain’t Too Proud’ Ain’t Too Bad
The venerable Granada rocked to the Motown sound when the Tony Awardwinning show Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations rocked the theater in the American Theater Guild production.
Electrifying smash hits launched them from their home in Detroit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in a fascinating story about brotherhood, loyalty and betrayal.
The hugely entertaining energized twohour show featured a host of their hits including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.”
A memorable night...
Local Mom Raves About Healing Journey
Montecito actress Gwyneth Paltrow has opened up about a psychedelic journey that improved her relationship with mother Blythe Danner
While talking with her close friend Amy Griffin on a Goop podcast, the Oscar winner confessed to using MDMA.
The longtime friends bonded over their unique experiences with what the Drug Enforcement Administration classified as a Schedule 1 drug.
Paltrow was the first to try MDMA, a synthetic drug known as Molly or Ecstasy, and Griffin noticed a change when she saw her again a few months later.
“There was this peace about you,”
Retiring UCSB Arts & Lectures executive director Celesta Billeci honored by South Coast Chamber of Commerce (courtesy
Griffin told Paltrow on the podcast. “There was this calmness.”
Her relationship with her two-time Emmy Award-winning mother also became more “gentle.”
Something Old
Kim Kardashian ’s emerald cut 18-carat ring for her Montecito wedding in 2011 to basketball player Kris Humphries was mostly paid for by the TV reality star, she has revealed.
After the 72-day marriage, which I covered for CNN at a private estate on Sycamore Canyon Road, Humphries, 40 – who played for the Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics –demanded the Skims co-founder, 44, return to him the ring created by celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz
“In order to divorce him he said I had to give the ring back,” says Kardashian. “He just contributed one fifth of the price.”
yMusic Rocks
Hahn Hall at the Music Academy of the West was socially gridlocked for the Mariposa series of yMusic featuring trumpeter alumni CJ Camerieri performing a new work inviting listeners to commune with the fragile beauty of natural worlds.
A new score, a blend of acoustic performance, featured raw and personal
field recordings with California composer Gabriella Smith.
Other members of the talented group included flutist Alex Sopp, clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg, Rob Moose and Nadia Sirota on violas, and cellist Gabriel Cabezas
Visionary Leadership
UCSB Arts & Lectures Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta Billeci was honored by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce in recognition of her 25 years at the university.
Celesta, a longtime friend, received the Visionary Arts Leadership Award as part of the Regional Business Awards Gala at the Hilton from Dr. Colin Marlaire, provost at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
During her tenure the organization’s operations increased tenfold, making Arts & Lectures one of the nation’s most respected public arts programs.
New to SB Wildlife Care
Dr. Cheryl Chooljian is the new Director of Veterinary Services for the
Parents In Chains – the missing links (photo by Loren Haar)
yMusic captivates at Hahn Hall (photo by Emma Matthews)
Temptations show hugely entertaining (photo by Joan Marcus)
photo)
Dr. Cheryl Chooljian, new veterinary director for Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network (courtesy photo)
Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network. She has a diverse background in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation. She earned her BA in biology at the University of Texas in Arlington and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Louisiana State University of Veterinary Medicine, with a clinical concentration in avian, exotic, and zoological medicine.
After graduating, she completed a specialty internship in equine and zoo medicine at Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch.
Who’s on Board?
Jim Jackson is the new Board Chair of Santa Barbara Zoo and Ozlem Arconian , Hillary Courtemanche , Rhonda Ledson Henderson , and Jennifer Perry have joined the board.
Entertainment (Continued from 28)
enormity of Tony. Choosing personal favorites was no small feat. So I made lists and eventually [chose] songs that I can feel most comfortable performing, then come up with the dialog… Then I try to find where I can make them a little bit different, so they’ll have surprises in them and won’t sound exactly like the way Tony sang them, because nobody wants an imitator.
What’s it like to sing with a large orchestra like Carnegie Hall Big Band? How does that affect the music?
There is a different kind of weight and power brought to these songs by the force of a big band – the sheer power from the live music combined with the lyric of a song is amazing to be a part of. I wanted people everywhere to experience a Carnegie Hall Big Band event because big bands have played there since the last century, but it’s the first time they’ve created anything like this — a touring big band that preserves the legacy of all the great bands, band leaders, and singers who fronted the bands.
Serving as a trustee of the Ann Jackson Family Foundation for more than 25 years, Jackson brings a legacy of leadership and community commitment to his new board role.
He has served on the boards of Direct Relief, Laguna Blanca School, the Braille Institute of America and the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center.
Jackson also recently co-chaired the campaign to revitalize the Michael Towbes Library Plaza, as well as the campaign to rebuild the children’s wing of the Santa Barbara Public Library.
Sightings
Meghan Markle lunching with friends at RH... Kevin Costner noshing at Tre Lune... Former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson grabbing her Java jolt at Pierre Lafond. Pip! Pip!
From musings on the Royals to celebrity real estate deals, Richard Mineards is our man on the society scene and has been for more than 18 years
What are you hoping audiences take away from the concert?
I hope that they will have an expanded perspective about Tony’s work that’s not only about his music, but the reason that he liked these songs. Stories that I’m able to tell on stage help to give a broader sense of who he was and why he did what he did. It’s wonderful to be able to help perpetuate Tony’s legacy.
Info and tickets at www.lobero.org
Montecito Music: Muller Returns
Peter Muller, the hedge fund founder whose other passion of making music often outweighs his day job, is coming back to SOhO to play a benefit concert on March 27 that will also serve as a preview to a few new compositions. The show will feature an extended version of his longtime band The Kindred Souls, with bassist Skip Ward and Santa Barbara-based guitarist Kevin Harvey. Along with favorites from his six-album catalog, Muller will perform songs from his forthcoming record previously heard only in his studio, with proceeds earmarked for the Montecito-based international nonprofit Direct Relief.
Visit www.sohosb.com.
Ventura Ventures: Titanic Tributes x Two
Tributes to two of the greatest pop music composers of the ‘60s and ‘70s take place mere blocks from each other in downtown Ventura venues on Saturday, March 22 – and the good news is you can make it to both.
What the World Needs Now: The Burt Bacharach Songbook in Concert launches its national tour at 8 pm at the Majestic Ventura Theater. The show is a nod to the composer of more than 70 Top 40 hits – six of which reached No. 1 –Bacharach and his lyricist partner Hal David contributing such timeless songs as “The Look of Love,” “Walk On By,” “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose” and the show’s title track to the pop music canon. The show was put together by Rob Shirakbari, who worked as musical director and arranger for both Bacharach and the composer’s favorite muse, Dionne Warwick, for decades. Todd Rundgren – an avowed Bacharach fan and no pop music slouch himself (“Hello, It’s Me,” “I Saw the Light,” “Can We Still Be Friends?”) – is joined by singer Wendy Moten (The Voice) and a nine-piece band that includes his longtime bassist Kasim Sulton and multi-instrumentalist Probyn Gregory (Beach Boys touring), plus guests Colin Hay, Lady Blackbird, and Chris Pierce Details at (805) 653-0721 or www.venturatheater.net
The Ventura Music Festival kicks off its 30 th season a few hours earlier with a gala benefit evening anchored by Bob Eubanks ’ popular Beatles tribute show. While the gala itself is sold out, tickets are available for the 5-7 pm show, where the 87-year-old Eubanks, most famous for hosting TV’s The Newlywed Game, offers a multimedia presentation about an earlier success when he promoted a pair of Beatles concerts at Dodgers stadium in the 1960s, sharing stories, rare photos and backstage tidbits, followed by a live performance by Beatles cover band Ticket to Ride.
Steven Libowitz has covered a plethora of topics for the Journal since 1997, and now leads our extensive arts and entertainment coverage
Jim Jackson (courtesy photo)
Ozlem Arconian (courtesy photo)
Hillary Courtemanche (courtesy photo)
Rhonda Ledson Henderson (courtesy photo)
Jennifer Perry (courtesy photo)
Ernie’s World
App-titude Test
by Ernie Witham
Idecided to buy the latest iPhone. Mine was so old that Siri could no longer remember stuff.
“Siri, where’s a good place to get a burger and fries.”
“Hi Eddie. I’d suggest Howard Johnson’s.”
“I think they went out of business.”
“Whoa! Don’t tell President Nixon. He loves their sarsaparilla.”
So, off I went to the Apple Store where things went swimmingly... sort of. “Yes! We have the model you want, your credit card has been approved, and this will only take a few moments, as advertised. Now, let’s just transfer your data. All we need is the password for your Apple account.”
“Password? Ah, hm. Let’s see. Try 123456.”
“Seriously?”
“ABCDE?”
So, we bypassed that part “for the moment” and transferred all the important stuff from my old phone including 12,000 texts I have been afraid to toss for fear I might someday need to respond to them; several thousand “one-time-only-offers” of stuff I was still thinking about maybe possibly buying; and numerous photos of my thumb in front of historic places.
But I still couldn’t actually sign in. Two-and-a-half hours later, after every technician in the store, including some that were in their advanced 20s, couldn’t get me logged into my new phone, they sent for the manager who’d been there more than 18 months!
As a crowd gathered, his fingers flew across the virtual keyboard. I kept feeding him every password I could remember from this century and the last. When I couldn’t think of anymore, strangers started offering their old passwords to try. Finally, the manager got me partially in somehow. The second he did, my phone dinged 27 times.
“That’s probably my wife. She was just going to circle the block until I called her.”
The crowd applauded, then with not much else to do they began filing out of the store. Some of them asked to take a selfie with me so they could post it on their blogs. I smiled.
But even though my new $1,100 phone could ding, it turned out many of my apps didn’t work. “Give it a few hours, then try logging into your Apple account with the password we
used. Then go into the settings and eliminate all those other passwords. Everything should be just fine by tomorrow at the latest. You’ll want to update the iCloud settings, of course, and set-up facial recognition and Apple Intelligence. Then go to the app store and redownload everything still grayed out.”
I waited to see if there was anything else, then I asked if the phone included a manual. He laughed. All the technicians laughed. Everyone still in the store laughed. I took that as a no.
The next day, I dutifully signed into my Apple account. But when I put in the password and hit enter it shook back and forth, so I tried again. It shook. I entered. It shook. Entered. Shook. Entered. Shook. Entered. This time it did not shake, it just said I had tried too many times and they were locking me out for 48 hours. Wow. Shunned. I felt small.
But dutifully, I served my sentence. I even thought about getting a jailhouse tat, but couldn’t decide between a knife, a bare-breasted mermaid, or a bonsai tree. I went to the Apple login. I entered each letter and digit slowly, reread it twice then I took a deep breath and hit enter. It said either my name was wrong or my password was wrong. I tried changing my name to Eddie like the old Siri used to call me. Nope.
They suggested I contact a service rep. I tried chatting, but the AI chatter kept saying “you must be doing something wrong.” So then I called the magic number, went through the entire list of 29 options of what number to press, then finally I got a voice.
“Are you a real person?”
“Yes, I am a very real person and I would like very much to help you,” she said in perfect Swahili.
I told her my story. Every last detail.
“I will be happy to help you,” she said in her sing-song accent. “What is your password?”
Tomorrow, I think I will call AT&T and get a landline.
Ernie Witham has been writing humor for more than 25 years. He is the author of three humor books and is the humor workshop leader at the prestigious Santa Barbara Writers Conference.
disapproval from the audience, Berlant reiterated that his office would “not give the go-ahead” for the pipeline to operate if it did not meet all safety requirements, including addressing corrosion concerns. “And so again, just be clear, while they have provided conditions and other elements to be able to safely restart and meet the existing requirements of the plan, again, it is not the turnon that they can actually do,” he said. “That still has yet to come.” He also emphasized that the State Fire Marshal’s office performs annual inspections on the pipelines, exceeding federal requirements.
Krop was invited to speak onstage following the state reps’ presentations. She then swiftly handed the mic to LouisDreyfus, who recited an identical speech she delivered a few hours earlier at the EDC. “I can smell a rat,” she proclaimed. “And this project is a rat.”
During Louis-Dreyfus’s impassioned speech, almost every Sable employee shuffled out of the theater with crestfallen faces, followed by affirming cheers from environmental activists who
waved their signs at Sable employees. “Oh, are you off the clock?” someone in passing said to the employees.
While Louis-Dreyfus and Krop spoke on behalf of the EDC, Sable was not invited to speak onstage. In a text message to the Montecito Journal, a Sable representative shared that Sable was not formally invited to the meeting but that they showed up to support their employer.
As such, Sable Vice President of Environmental and Governmental Affairs Steve Rusch issued a statement following the meeting: “Sable Offshore management, employees, contractors, labor and supporters showed up today in good faith to participate in a town hall meeting where only government officials were on the agenda to present. Project opponents forced the moderators to give them dedicated time to present biased information and smear the project. The opponents’ self-serving fundraiser and rally was not an appropriate use of public resources.”
"THAT’S A MOLLIE MELT!"
What's a Mollie Melt?
Start by toasting a focaccia bun, made in-house at Mollie's in Carpinteria, lather it with a mélange of mayonnaise, lemon, and capers. Then grill a patty of ground organic turkey mixed with plump raisins and a hint of parsley, top off with melted Parmigiano cheese and a layer of caramelized onions.
THAT’S A MOLLIE MELT!
All Mollie Melts come 0.with a side of Caesar salad, served on a focaccia bun or wrapped in lettuce.
Priced at a surprisingly reasonable $12. Mollie's Italian Kitchen (805)452-2692
1039 Casitas Pass Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013
News Bytes
Alma Fonda Fina
Now Serving Breakfast Daily
by MJ Staff
Alma Fonda Fina Restaurant at the Montecito Country Mart announced this week it is now serving breakfast – brunch from 8 am to 2 pm daily! Start your day with classics like chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, or a breakfast burrito. Reservations and walk-ins.
Allora by Laura on CVR Closed
Allora by Laura on Coast Village Road closed at the end of February after 12 years. They’ve been announcing the closure since last year on their social media accounts. Their statement, “The end of an era. We feel so honored to have held court on this corner of the street for all these years. Thank you to everyone who has dropped in over the last couple months to share the impact we have had in your community and lives. It’s not over yet y’all, see you in June for a Montecito pop-up with two designers, subscribe to our social media for updates. It was an honor to be a part of this community and to have made memories we will cherish forever with each of you. We hope the Allora impact lives on in both your hearts and your wardrobes. With love, Laura and & TJ.” 411: www.marcnormandgelinas.com; www.allorabylaura.com
Marc Normand Gelinas Closes Antique Store on March 17
Interior Designer Marc Normand Gelinas has closed his antique store, which was an extension of his Upper Village office on March 17. He has been doing business in our town for eight years. The MJ was able to get a hold of him this week for the details. Gelinas explained, “I loved having an antique shop associated with my design business in the upper village! I have met so many fantastic people both locally and from afar. While I am sad to close the retail store, I am excited to further build my interior design business and continue to sell my antiques on 1st Dibs. Go to the 1st Dibs website and plug in my name for what is currently selling.” 411: www.1stdibs.com; www.marcnormandgelinas.com/; Insta: @marcnormandgelinas
Poppy Marché Spring Collection Event March 26
Poppy Marché in the Montecito Country Mart is having their Spring Collection event on Wednesday, March 26 from 11am - 2pm showing Minnow Designs Clothing for kids. They are serving up lemonade for the children, and Arnold Palmers and iced coffee for the adults. The craft activity for the kids is decorating their own pair of sunglasses. No RSVP needed.
Los Padres Forest Association SB Canyon Clean Up
The Los Padres Forest Association (LPFA) Legend Mike Smith is directing the construction of a reroute of the “Heartbreak Hill” section of the Santa Barbara Canyon Trail. This is a backcountry trail project with an approximately five-mile one-way backpacking trip to LPFA spike camp. Volunteers will need to come prepared with their own backpacking gear and anything needed to spend a few nights in the backcountry (tent, sleeping bag, stove, food, etc.) for at least five days out there during the last week of March.
411: https://lpforest.org/events-calendar
Ed Harper & Destination East Africa: A Birder’s Paradise
Ed Harper – an expert, highly respected birder and international tour guide –will deliver an illustrated public lecture titled “Destination East Africa: A Birder’s Paradise” on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 pm in Fleischmann Auditorium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The talk will focus on the diversity of habitats and birds that can be found only in this part of the world. General Admission is $5.
411: https://tinyurl.com/EdHarperBirds
CRIME IN THE ‘CITO Sheriff’s Blotter 93108 . . . .
Possession of Methamphetamine / Padaro Lane
Sunday, March 2, at 20:55 hours
Subject was sleeping in the driver’s seat of his vehicle which was blocking traffic. When contacted, subject provided consent to search both their person and their vehicle. Inside vehicle, there were two small baggies of suspected methamphetamine inside the small pocket of the jeans located on the driver side floorboard, a violation of 11377(a) Possession of Methamphetamine. Two methamphetamine pipes were found between the driver side seat and the gearshift, a violation of 11364(a) – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, officer located a methamphetamine bong in the rear driver side seat. Officer transported subject to the Santa Barbara County Main Jail. Once there, a Custody Deputy searched subject and located a small bindle of suspected methamphetamine on the left inner pocket of subject’s jacket, a violation of 4573.5PC –Bringing Contraband into the Jail. When asked about it, subject denied knowing it was there and said they had just picked up the jacket from a trashcan. Subject was booked into the Santa Barbara County Main Jail for violation of the above-mentioned charges.
Altered Check in Mail / Santa Rosa Lane
Wednesday, March 5, at 10:16 hours
On January 28, victim placed a check for $1,535.75 in a mailbox in the area of Montecito Village. On March 01, the victim discovered the check had been altered and the money withdrawn by an unknown suspect. Case suspended pending further leads.
Burglary / 1500 block San Leandro Lane
Wednesday, March 5, at 22:54 hours
The victim reported that someone had broken the glass door to the residence. Upon deputy arrival it was determined that the unknown suspects broke through the laundry room glass door to gain entry and stole two pairs of Gucci Shoes in their boxes, valued at approximately $1,000 per pair.
Restraining Order Violation / El Bosque Road
Thursday, March 6, at 17:12 hours
Deputies responded to a potential restraining order violation. The Reporting Party informed deputies that they had an active civil protection order against their neighbor. RP stated the restrained party violated the restraining order by throwing a package at them in a “threatening manner.” The package belonged to the RP, and they said the contents within were damaged when it was tossed. RP said that when the package was thrown, they were tending to plants in their front yard, and they feared for their life. In addition, RP stated they feared the neighbor had a gun and intended to use it on them. Upon speaking with the neighbor, the neighbor informed deputies that the package had mistakenly been delivered to their address. Subject picked up the package and when they left their residence in their vehicle, they tossed it onto the curb in front of the RP’s residence. Subject also stated the RP was not present when they tossed the package. Deputies asked them if they were in possession of a firearm, and they were not. Neighbor provided security camera footage of them tossing the package and there did not appear to be any malicious intent or restraining order violation.
Death / Birnam Wood Drive
Friday, March 7, at 10:27 hours
Deputies responded to a code blue. While they were en route, on-scene medical personnel declared the subject deceased. Upon arrival deputies observed a 47-year-old decedent lying on the floor. The decedent was a live-in care provider, and had been discovered by Birnam Wood security. The security personnel attempted lifesaving measures until emergency personnel arrived on scene. The decedent’s spouse arrived on scene and was notified in person. The decedent was transported by the on-call mortuary to the Coroners Bureau.
Paraglider Rescue / Toro Canyon
Friday, March 7, at 12:10 hours
Deputies responded to report of a paraglider down a mile up the mountain from the Reporting Party’s address on Toro Canyon. The downed paraglider was located, its passenger stating they were uninjured. They nevertheless accepted the airlift off the mountain due to uncertainty about their ability to hike out.
MFD is happy – after asking for years – to have a partnership regarding Red Flag Warnings, as we were asked to join SBC Supervisor Roy Lee last Tuesday at the SBC Board of Supervisors meeting to help support the Red Flag Restricted Parking Program Initiative.”
Sheriff Lt. Rich Brittingham reported on the pattern of the South American crime gangs, saying, “They are now spreading through Summerland. The gangs are two weeks on and then off, during which they are likely doing surveying. Target location is Birnam Wood.” Lt. Brittingham then pivoted to the Red Flag Warning parking controversy.
“We received a $25,000 award from the SBC Board of Supervisors in order to have more deputies patrolling during Red Flag Warnings. Our deputies go to the Hot Springs area and issue parking citations between sunset and sunrise daily. We are prepared to work with MFD for any disturbances.”
GM Montecito Sanitation District John Weigold reported that the manhole project is delayed till April 2025, and their contractor will go door-to-door to residents whose properties have manholes. He reminded residents to not connect their gutters to the waste lines, “We don’t want more water from gutters in our lines and plant because we have to add more chemicals, and deal with increasing volume, adding to costs.” He added the MSD will restart education tours of the MSD for local schools and residents.
GM Montecito Water District Nick Turner updated on the Groundwater Sustainability Team formed in 2020. Their Plan, submitted May 2023, was approved last week with few changes, and they can begin the work. Turner reported, “Currently, the water supply from normal rain at this time of year is 50%, and if it continues to be lower the SBC will say we are in a drought. In January 2025 we were awarded the funding for the $35 million project for construction to retrofit all the reservoirs to get them up to seismic code. The State of California did an Urban Water Use Regulation Survey using aerial data, not historical data, so it is scientific. They sent their reports to all the local water districts in the state as a point of information for how much water each property should be using. Montecito residents will get that in their April bill, stating the target baseline of water your property needs.”
Superintendent/Principal of Cold Spring School Amy Alzina, reported, “The school has 198 students, 10 new families from L.A. fires, the largest number of students we have had. There are 16 TK students, 29 K students. We are at capacity for our district. We will apply for more instructors. We did a seminar on AI prompts and Gamma AI presentation tools, so how to turn a pdf into a podcast, edit it and share via link. Notebook LM is my favorite tool, and now it’s interactive. Thank you to Paul Orfalea for his support.”
Superintendent of Montecito Union School District Anthony Ranii reported, “We are at 397 students, with 45 students from L.A. fires. We initially added 50 students, but some went back to L.A. We put in for two new teachers for next year. Our school counselor is busy with the kids and parents. Parents felt very welcome here. We are receiving a grant from the Montecito Community Foundation to redo an area of our property and hillside to make it safer and more beautiful. March 24th we will put our MUS fences up to six feet. Lt Brittingham last week walked the MUS campus with me and made suggestions for changes we can make. We are now hiring for a Music and PE teacher.”
Aida Thau – staff from SBC 1st District Supervisor Roy Lee’s office – reported that their priority is to continue to support the needs of the Montecito community.
411: www.montecitoassociation.org
Hot Topics (Continued from 31)
Our fire captains divide Montecito into six areas and say the project doubles as a great training opportunity for area familiarization. As they drive the district, firefighters become very familiar with the narrow, winding neighborhoods that comprise much of Montecito.
Their main priority is to identify access issues and verify that the fire engine can reach a home in the event of an emergency, including wildfire.
Access problems often present as low-hanging tree limbs that would be clipped by the fire engine. These hazard tree limbs are tagged for removal, and the property owner is notified of non-compliance.
Our firefighters also frequently find leaves and debris on roofs and in gutters, tree branches touching chimneys, dead trees, and tall, cured grass in need of trimming.
When non-compliance issues are identified on a property, we send a letter to the property owners detailing the necessary actions to remove the hazards and a date for a follow-up inspection.
In Montecito, our firefighters spend about 150 hours a year completing these inspections, all while staying in their response areas to be ready for any emergency calls for service.
This important work occurs throughout Santa Barbara County. According to Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s Fire Marshal Fred Tan, approximately 17,000 parcels are inspected and evaluated for defensible space standards and state Fire Code compliance in the entire county.
By and large, our firefighters report that our community does a superior job meeting, even exceeding these standards.
“The defensible space inspections are great because our community is very compliant and that has to do with our residents’ awareness of the fires that have happened here historically and our ongoing risk,” said Montecito Battalion Chief Ben Hauser
Still, Chief Hauser estimates that on average, we issue over 100 violations per year. He says most are for poor access.
“We lean on our Prevention staff when we run into a unique situation that needs to be mitigated,” Chief Hauser said.
Be it a large, dead tree or a vastly overgrown property, Montecito Fire has resources available to assist with mitigation and removal.
time for consultations with homeowners,” said Maeve Juarez. “We prioritize discussions about structure hardening, defensible space, and evacuation planning without the stress that often accompanies active wildfire threats.”
A Defensible Space Survey is an in-person assessment of your property, examining structures, surrounding vegetation and access routes.
After each property visit, our specialists provide a thorough report detailing vulnerabilities and specific recommendations for improvement.
“These site visits give us the opportunity to work closely with homeowners, helping them improve their defensible space and harden their homes against wildfires,” said Juarez.
For some property owners in Montecito, these Defensible Space Survey reports have been helpful in acquiring or maintaining wildfire insurance.
“Many residents even benefit from multiple consultations throughout the year, ensuring they utilize all available strategies to safeguard their properties against wildfires,” Juarez said.
Community-Wide Home Hardening
Increasingly, wildfires are spreading as embers fly from structure to structure.
The Palisades and Eaton fires demonstrated the rapidity of home-to-home ignitions. The heat and embers from a structure fire are greater than any vegetation fire of similar size.
Your home is itself the greatest potential threat to your neighbors’ homes if it ignites.
As you think about where to start on preparing your property for wildfire, remember that Defensible Space begins from your home and extends outward. Post-fire studies have proven repeatedly that the first five feet from your home, known as “Zone Zero,” are the most critical to address.
Our Wildland Fire Specialists are here to help identify vulnerabilities unique to your property, advise which upgrades to prioritize, and provide recommendations of trusted contractors to assist with completing the work.
“By building strong community relationships and empowering residents with knowledge, we aim to enhance Montecito’s resilience and readiness against wildfires together,” Juarez said.
Wildfire Preparedness Property Consultations
Our Wildland Fire Specialists, Maeve Juarez and Nic Elmquist, visit 50-100 properties in Montecito every year to conduct more comprehensive site analyses, known as Defensible Space Surveys.
“Our unique role as Wildland Fire Specialists enables us to dedicate ample
To schedule a Defensible Space Survey with the Montecito Wildland Fire Specialist, go to www.montecitofire. com/defensible-space and complete the form to request a site visit.
Have a question you’d like to have answered at our upcoming Wildfire Preparedness Community Meeting? Email it to info@montecitofire.com. Meeting details to come.
Far Flung Travel
Caving In
by Chuck Graham
The limestone monolith towered above Shasta Lake within the Trinity Alps National Forest. Naturally carved within its mighty limestone crags was one of the biggest cave systems in the U.S.
We boarded a small boat and easily motored across to the other side of shimmering Shasta Lake. A solitary bald eagle roosted atop a gnarled snag. Other than Alaska, Shasta Lake has the highest concentration of bald eagles in the U.S.
From below the limestone cathedral, we hopped on an old bus that drove us up a precariously steep dirt road to the visitor center and the entrance of the cave. The cave complex was 900 feet above Shasta Lake.
Shasta Shade
Inside the eight chambers, geological formations continue to evolve due to water. The caverns are dated to at least 200 million years old. The caverns are a showcase of natural wonders where a variety of limestone formations like stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and flow stones were on display. Limestone is one of the most prominent carbonate rocks found inside caverns.
Native Americans used the main chamber for ceremonies, specifically the Wintu tribe. J.A. Richardson was the first white man to find the cave in 1878. His name was scrawled on one of the gritty cave walls during his exploration of the grotto.
“Cave Dave,” who has lived and worked in and around the Shasta Caves for most of his life, is an expert in probing deep inside the region’s myriad of
girthy grottos. There are three known caverns in Shasta County, but according to “Cave Dave” there are others hidden throughout the forest.
“There are lots of other caves in the region,” he said. “We’re not revealing their whereabouts due to safety concerns.”
Just on the other side of the visitor center, a burly steel door was the entry point into the cavern. Our guide, Nicole, led us through a maze inside the steep, winding grotto. One of the visitors asked her, “what if there was an earthquake?”
“If there was a quake you wouldn’t feel it in the cave,” she said. “It’s the safest place to be.”
She was spot on. Little did we know, and literally as Nicole spoke, McKinleyville on the north coast between Arcata and Eureka was experiencing a sizable seismic shift. A 7.0 quake caused lots of structural damage
along the coast. Immediately, a tsunami warning went into effect from the Oregon border down to Santa Cruz, CA. Fortunately, no great wave reached that rugged part of the coast.
Inside the dark, low-lit, dank cave we didn’t see or feel a thing resembling a quake. The ground beneath our feet was muddy, but solid.
Free Flowing
But it does “rain” inside sections of the cavern. After heavy rainfall like the recent “Bomb Cyclone” that hammered Northern California in late November 2024, the cave doesn’t allow escape from the wet. Reports of six inches of rain per day hit Shasta Lake and the Sacramento River. Limestone is naturally filtering rock, and in several of the narrow corridors and chambers it was still seeping through from above. There were still lots of puddles and mud throughout the cavern. After two wet winters, Shasta Cavern was described to us as if there were torrential downpours requiring rain gear inside the cave.
However, the sound of dripping water inside was a soothing natural acoustic,
drifting along the path that requires visitors to climb and descend 600 steps.
The last big, significant room had the best light with a high ceiling. Little brown bats were concealed in the upper reaches of the ceiling. They hibernate there during the winter and are seldom seen. Other cave dwellers included salamanders living in a lower room and several insects surviving inside as well.
After an hour of meandering through the cave, we opened the steel door, where our eyes adjusted to the bright sun and stellar views of Shasta Lake. The dark depths of the grotto were in our wake, but there’s a whole subterranean life waiting to be explored in the Trinity Alps.
Graham is a freelance writer and photographer based in Carpinteria, where he also leads kayak tours and backpacking trips in Channel Islands National Park
“Spring is the fountain of love for thirsty winter.” – Munia Khan
Visitors looking for the snack bar
Early graffiti by explorer youth
The long, harrowing path to the gift store
The awe-inspiring, unbridled beauty of Shasta Lake… wouldn’t a mall look good there?
Chuck
Cherry Plum: An early sign of spring, the flowers come alive in a profusion of pinkish white blossoms, full of the promise of new life. A powerful flower, related to an intense condition, Cherry Plum’s medicine brings us back to a state of inner peace amid mental anguish. When we feel like we’re spinning out of control, this floral ally helps us to realize our powers of self-possession. With a newfound ability to relinquish the fears associated with loss of control, we become more in command of our actions, rather than being swept up in our anxious reactions.
Rose: As I gaze upon the miles of thorny Rose vines strewn throughout California trails and gardens, the myriad varieties each with their own special fragrance, I am filled with awe. Humbled in the presence of such grace that I recognize as power of poise, instilled in the miracle of this magnificent flower, I am reconnected with the beauty of life in this very instant. The inability to touch the joys that we are surrounded by is an inward cry for this sumptuous flower ally. With newfound vitality, the beatific magnificence of Rose re-establishes our innate love for living, rooted in our divine essence of existence.
Clematis: A showy white sea of dream-like blossoms with a sweet lemon-orange scent greets me, asking for pause and focus, in the here and now. The sturdy, twining vine of Clematis offers us support when we find it difficult to stay present, focused and grounded, such that we are unable to connect with our imaginations for creative pursuits but stay stuck in loops of fantasy. The essence of Clematis lends its medicine as a profusion of angelic petals reach into ethereal realms and bring us back down to earth, re-connect us with our holy trinity of body, mind and spirit.
Crab Apple: Spring finally explodes in magnificent splendor, as buds burst from branches that were bare last week. The star-like blossoms, scented with the powdery fragrance of new life, emit the fragrance of fresh starts and clean slates. All seems possible in Crab Apple’s reflection of the perfection of our souls amid the self-talk of faults and flaws. This flower gifts us an opportunity to embrace the immaculate frailty of our inner being, as we ponder deeper universal questions. Can I be loved as I am? Can I own my deficiencies and love my Self, warts and all? This is the work at hand. Growing into the wholeness of self-love, this flower guides us to embrace greater acceptance ourselves, absolutely, just as we are.
Learn more about these amazing flowers and more at Lotusland’s Spring Equinox Extravaganza with Dina Saalisi and floral artist and author, Louesa Roebuck, on Saturday, March 22, from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Visit www.lotusland.org/event/spring-equinox-extravaganza for more information and tickets.
Madden became involved when he first visited back in 2019 and was stunned by the positive impact Mirembe and Sonrise had made on the community.
“We thought we’d go help out for a week,” Madden said, “but when we saw what she was doing, it was just shocking compared to the kinds of charities that you get involved in here in the United States. I’ve done a lot of charity work with homeless shelters and rehabilitation centers here in California. But when we went to Africa and saw the kinds of needs that exist over there, it’s a whole different level. It’s an absolute matter of life and death.”
Madden launched Faith of a Child Foundation as a way for American donors to make tax deductible donations to support the ministry. After years of helping out by providing life-saving baby formula and other services, Faith of a Child Foundation learned that Mirembe had bigger plans – strategies both for reducing the incidence of babies being orphaned in the first place, and for mitigating the maternal mortality rate in that part of Uganda, which is more than 25 times the rate in the U.S.
“There were all these stories of babies being dropped off on her doorstep because the mother died in childbirth and the father can’t raise the child on his own,” Madden explained. “Damali decided she wanted to go after the root cause and prevent those mothers from dying, which would also result in fewer orphans.”
The solution: Building a well-equipped maternity and baby hospital.
“The Ugandan government is already bringing its sickest babies to her rather than one of the unsterile hospitals in the country,” Madden explained. “But they don’t provide any funding. Which is why we have our foundation. There’s absolutely no safety net for these kids in Uganda. If I don’t help them, nobody else in the world is going to help them. When we were there, it hit me pretty hard that this is God’s work, and I feel like it’s my job now to help take care of these kids.”
When the Giving List book was published last fall, construction beyond the basic foundation had yet to begin. Now, Madden happily reports, a new well has been dug to provide clean water for the community to reduce incidence of worms and typhoid, and the hospital’s second and third stories are well underway. The building itself is expected to be completed by summer.
Faith of a Child Foundation is currently raising money for the medical equipment, and is also seeking health-care volunteers to travel with Madden and his wife to set up the hospital operations.
But this isn’t a case of Americans coming onto foreign soil and taking over with a top-down attitude. Sonrise and the hospital project are very much under local control, Madden said.
“What’s different is that the people in Uganda are actually in charge. Damali is the head of the project. The former Ugandan orphans are the ones who know what these children need to succeed. I’m just here in the United States helping to raise funds and coordinating with Stanford Hospital – who have the expertise on how to build their operating room for C-sections and get the right equipment. But it’s Ugandan local people making the decisions, Ugandan construction people building the hospital, and Ugandan doctors who will work there.”
What’s more, the American dollars Maddens helps raise go a lot further in the African country than they might here. There’s an exponential difference in what can be called bang for the buck
“We’re going to have the three-story hospital built for about $600,000,” Madden said, adding for emphasis, “That’s not much more than it costs to do a bathroom remodel (in Montecito or Santa Ynez). And all the donations that we raise go directly to constructing the hospital, buying formula for those kids, supplying the computer lab, and adding animals to the farms where they raise their own food.”
Even so, Faith of a Child Foundation doesn’t plan on being needed to provide indefinite support. As it is, the Sonrise organization is already moving toward a self-sustaining model, with each orphanage home maintaining its own farm to grow beans, corn and sweet potatoes, and raise goats, pigs, and cows. It’s along those lines that Faith of a Child Foundation launched its other initiatives in Uganda, including trucking and motorcycle businesses funded by the nonprofit.
“What we’re trying to do is create a community that we hope will be self-sustaining,” Madden said. “They won’t need donations from anybody else to provide the hospital services because they’ll be making money with their businesses. After we help them build that up, hopefully I can step away because it’s all running by itself.”
Visit https://faithofachildfoundation.org for more information
Mirembe has saved almost 500 babies from certain death over the last 12 years (courtesy photo)
How did the Montecito History Office start?
The reason this office exists is in 1975, before the Montecito Association was founded, it was called the Montecito Protective Agency [MPA]. David Yager on the Board of Supervisors felt the MPA needed a historic component. He went to Kit Tremaine who was well known in Montecito and collected history and asked her to help start this office. So, Kit, Maria Herold, Maria Churchill, David Myrick, all jumped on board and had their own board they worked with – the Moody sisters, Lutah Riggs, and George Washington Smith, an array of people that helped create this community. That is how we got started and we try to collect things ever since, although our space is limited. We just started sharing some of things like our oral histories with the Santa Barbara Historical Museum’s Chris S. Ervin, the head archivist, because we don’t have the facilities here to preserve them. We have boxes of Anna Bliss’s letters, the Hot Springs Hotel, all the adobe info, files on the fire department, MERRAG and big estates.
What is considered a historic estate?
We say it’s historic if it is 50 years old, and there are a lot of rules and regulations that go with owning an historic estate. Many estate owners in Montecito don’t want to pay for the expense of upkeeping the historic estate so we have lost a lot of them. I would guess we have approximately 150 estates in Montecito. We do have a list, and the estates come with a name. The big old ones are disappearing. The El Mirador, built in 1950, has one house being preserved by new owner [2018] Jeff Abrams. People are either into preserving history or not, and tear it down. We don’t have the same tax program that Santa Barbara has for historic properties where a portion of the taxes you pay go back into preserving the historic home or estate.
Why is Women’s History Month important to you?
I think that it is important to recognize the talented women of our community because of their efforts to retain the uniqueness of the area. We can learn so much about our future from the past. What our goals may be and how to stay on track. Once it’s gone it’s gone forever. We should focus our thoughts on the women who should be honored in Montecito for doing great things in our community.
Can you name a few of those Montecito Women?
Ganna Walska who created Lotusland, the largest collection of succulents in the country; the four Moody sisters who built and designed fairytale like cottages all over Montecito; Lutah Riggs, AIA and one of the first in Montecito, and who worked with George Washington Smith; Marguerite Peggy Ravenscroft who started the Santa Barbara Humane Society; Sue Grafton, an American author of the Alphabet series; Suzy Parker, a world-famous fashion model.
Anything else you’d like to share?
This community is really special, people care, and I’m proud to live in an area like this. And I can’t thank the Montecito Fire Dept and Fire Chief Neels enough for nominating me for this feature for Women’s History Month.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Peter’s Gardening Service, 1209 Quinientos St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Pedro H Estrada, 1209 Quinientos St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on March 5, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0000600. Published March 13, 20, 27, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Hyperbaric Santa Barbara; Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Santa Barbara, 820A Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Grandle Chiropractic PC, 820A Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 11, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, Coun-
ty Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0000398. Published March 13, 20, 27, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Align Sports Recovery and Chiropractic, 1520 State Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Inda Spine Chiropractic Corporation, 1520 State Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on January 28, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0000247. Published February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 2025
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT: The following person(s) is/are doing business as: Mindrite Mental Wellness & Counseling; Mindrite, 1187 Coast Village Rd, STE 1-360, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. Mindrite A Marriage & Family Therapy Corporation, 1187 Coast Village Rd, STE 1-360, Santa Barbara, CA 93108. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on February 20, 2025. This statement expires five years from the date it
was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in my office. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). FBN No. 2025-0000483. Published February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 2025
AMENDED ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: CASE No. 24CV06442. To all interested parties: Petitioner Rosario Rossano filed a petition with Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara, for a decree changing name to Nova Pierce. The Court orders that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. Filed March 4, 2025 by Gabriel Moreno. Hearing date: April 23, 2025 at 10 am in Dept. 3, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Published March 13, 20, 27, 2025
the SBCH accomplishments and growth through the years. He thanked Naomi and Ben Bollag for the ER Trauma Center, Pediatric Center, Rehab Hospital in Goleta, and SYV Cottage Hospital Master Plan, and he thanked Dick and Mary Compton for the Center for Innovation and AI, as well as work with tech companies and UCSB, and bragged in that context about the SBCH’s five-star rating for the past six years placing it at the top 4% of U.S. hospitals. Werft mentioned Seale, saying “Eric, you’re going to be a fabulous Board Chair.” He pivoted next to his replacement, Scott Wester, “who will bring much to the position.” Also mentioned was “Mama Bear” Linda Yawitz for sponsoring again this year the SBCH surgical residents. Tearful at the conclusion of his speech, Werft said, “Thank you for the privilege of working at SBCH for 38 years. Thank you, Mary, my rock, partner and BFF – for everything that is good that happened to me.”
A short video was shown of the remarkable journey of Kyle McKittrick, who experienced a traumatic spinal injury from a motorcycle crash that left him paralyzed. It provided McKittrick’s account of his emergency, recovery and the lifesaving care he received from the Cottage Health team. He was present and acknowledged by Werft and the guests. Top sponsors were Chivaroli & Associates Insurance Services, Sandra L. Lynne, CenCal Health, Dancing Tides Foundation, David and Anna Grotenhuis, Lisa M. Moore, Ginger Salazar and Brett Matthews, and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The event raised over $730,000 in support of emergency and critical care services at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (SBCH).
411: www.cottagehealth.org
Ron and Mary Werft with Sandy and Eric Seale (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
Anne Towbes, Mari McAlister, and Jelinda DeVorzon (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
Goleta Councilmember James Kyriaco and First District Supervisor Roy Lee (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
SBCH Surgical Residents (photo by Joanne A Calitri)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Calendar of Events
by Steven Libowitz
FRIDAY, MARCH 21
MOXI for Mature Folk – Why should kids have all the fun? The grown-ups get their turn to play as MOXI – aka The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation – stays open late for its first Happy Hour event of 2025. Explore all three floors of exhibits and the rooftop Sky Garden’s panoramic city and ocean views, and join UCSB Society of Women Engineers (SWE) for a fun and engaging activity led by their members. Play, drink, and be curious at Santa Barbara’s home for hands-on learning, and connect while participating in hands-on experiences. Beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase. Can’t make it tonight? MOXI hosts Happy Hour again on June 20.
WHEN: 5:30-8 pm
WHERE: MOXI Museum of Exploration + Innovation, 125 State St.
COST: $18
INFO: (805) 770-5000 or www.moxi.org
FRIDAY, MARCH 21 – SUNDAY, MARCH 23
Tumbling Thrice – The seemingly ubiquitous dad-rock cover band Doublewide Kings alight at the Alcazar Theatre for a three-show stand this weekend, focusing on the music of one of the most classic rock bands – The Rolling Stones. Don’t be a beast of burden or require wild horses to drag you to Carpinteria, as the concerts serve as a benefit for the theater, which has amped up its schedule as well as its seating and sound while still looking to improve its facilities even more. The Kings are, well, kings of blending strong lead vocals from several different members with soaring harmonies, in a set that travels the spectrum from searing guitar solos to an amiable acoustic sound. The first two shows are sold out but expect surprises on Sunday afternoon.
INFO: (805) 684-6380 or www.thealcazar.org/calendar
‘Hadestown’ Hits Town, Again – When one of the most original Broadway musicals of the last generation finally becomes available for regional and community productions, it’s understandable why more than one organization wants
Chain’s Chains Change – We’re almost at the end of three exclusive casts performing the world premiere of Parents in Chains, Emmy and Peabody award-winner Jay Martel’s new poignant comedy told through text exchanges as six L.A. parents fret about their 17-year-old daughters’ drive home from a weekend in San Francisco during the approach of a hurricane. The situation brings out both the best and the worst in the parents as they confront – as a group, couples and individuals – what it means to let go of their kids. Stars of stage and mostly screen Melora Hardin, Gildart Jackson, Sharon Lawrence, Joshua Malina, Gina Torres, and James Urbaniak appear through March 23 before the third cast takes over March 25-30, when John Ross Bowie, Ron Huebel, Loni Love, and Montecito’s Jane Lynch join Lawrence and Urbaniak to complete the run. Sorry folks, while the Ensemble Theatre casts will be reading from iPhones and tablets, you’ll still have to turn off your own device before the curtain rises.
WHEN: Through March 30
WHERE: New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St.
COST: $25-$94
INFO: (805) 965-5400 or www.etcsb.org
FRIDAY, MARCH 21
Pair of Photogs Explore Engaging Eateries – Longtime photographers and friends Patricia Houghton Clarke and Brett Leigh Dicks have put together a new exhibit concentrating on taquerias of the Central Coast and lunch bars in Western Australia. The concept is that both taquerias and Western Australian lunch bars are quirky, colorful, and central to their respective culinary cultures. Both are typically run by immigrant families, with menus encapsulating their operator’s heritage – Mexican and Central American for taquerias, European and Southeast Asian for the Australian lunch bars. The exhibit evinces the result of the artists’ reportorial lenses, focusing on the vernacular architecture of the fast-food establishments, popping with vivid colors and bold signage. Both Clarke and Dicks – he a longtime former Santa Barbara resident now based in Fremantle, Australia – will be on hand for tonight’s opening reception at 5 pm, and will participate in a talk with Immigrant Legal Defense Center attorney Maria Salguero on March 29.
WHEN: Through May 17
WHERE: Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara, 229 E. Victoria St.
COST: free
INFO: (805) 965-6307 or https://afsb.org
to present its take. So, hot on the heels of Lights Up! doing the area debut of Hadestown: The Teen Edition, the Adderly School is having a go at the scaled down version of eight-time Tony Award-winning musical. The musical was created by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, who wrote the music, lyrics and book almost 20 years ago (and previewed a concert version here for Sings Like Hell). The more intimate Center Stage Theatre will serve as the set for the retelling of the ancient Greek myth, now set in a cafe inspired by New Orleans’ Preservation Hall above ground, and a hellish, post-apocalyptic industrial environment in the underworld.
WHEN: March 21-23
WHERE: Center Stage Theatre, 751 Paseo Nuevo, second floor
COST: $15-$100
INFO: (805) 963-0408 or https://centerstagetheater.org
SATURDAY, MARCH 22
‘Even the Trees Weep’ in Los Olivos – The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series collaborates with the Julian Autrey Song Foundation and the Presser Foundation for a special, free concert that focuses on the tragedy of school shootings. The compelling and consequential hour-long program – created by tenor Kellan Dunlap, pianist Lyndsi Maus and composer Victor Cui – features all American songs, including works by composers Aaron Copland and Florence Price as well as newly composed songs by Lori Laitman and John Musto, among others. The performance also includes spoken word pieces based on testimonials from teachers, students and parents affected by the epidemic of school shootings, bringing attention to this critical issue.
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Church, 2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos COST: free
INFO: (805) 705-0938 or www.smitv.org/2024-2025-santa-ynez-valley-concert-series.html
SUNDAY, MARCH 23
Kyran Coming to SOhO – Guitarist, composer, producer and musical director Kyran Daniel began his career performing alongside the legendary acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel on stages spanning the globe, who predicted big things for Daniel down the road. Soon enough, Daniel’s debut album, Per Se, introduced him to the acoustic guitar world, and after studying at the Berklee College of Music, Daniel began writing and producing for a cohort of Australian artists. In 2022, Daniel dashed on stage again, including several shows alongside
SATURDAY, MARCH 22
‘Boys’ Will Be… – Santa Barbara writer Sameer Pandya’s second novel Our Beautiful Boys is a portrait of three high school football players and their families, and how a moment of violence drastically changes all of their lives. The book tackles the timely topic about the crisis of young men, exploring masculinity, race, education, and privilege, and the conflict that arises between them. A pre-publication review calls the novel “Flat-out remarkable… A sports story, but one that reaches deep into the souls of its characters to excavate necessary revelations about race, loyalty, and the complexity of masculine identity.” Pandya’s previous novel, Members Only, was a finalist for the California Book Award. A book signing follows Pandya’s talk at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
WHEN: 2:30 pm
WHERE: Mary Craig Auditorium, 1130 State St.
COST: $15 general
INFO: (805) 963-4364 or https://sbma.net
mentor Emmanuel, who praises him as a master whose music has shaped the progression of the art form since his emergence.
WHEN: 7:30 pm
WHERE: SBAcoustic at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street COST: $25
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com/https://sbacoustic.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
Still Swinging in Texas – No, we’re not waxing philosophic on baseball’s Rangers letting Alex Bregman sign with the Red Sox after missing out on a trade for Nolan Arenado, but rather extolling the virtues of Asleep at the Wheel; the great Western Swing band still going strong more than half a century down the highway. Well upwards of 100 musicians have passed through the Wheel – which has also racked up multiple million miles on the road – with founding singer-songwriter-guitarist Ray Benson still in the driver’s seat after 30 albums, 10 Grammy awards and myriad changes in the public’s pop music taste. AATW has collaborated with country legends like Willie Nelson, Brad Paisley, Merle Haggard, and George Strait along with Americana acts such as Avett Brothers, Amos Lee, Old Crow Medicine Show and Lyle Lovett. But there’s nothing better than seeing the current iteration of the band in its purest Western Swing wonder.
WHEN: 8 pm
WHERE: Lobero Theatre, 33 E. Canon Perdido St. COST: $53 & $64
INFO: (805) 963-0761 or www.lobero.org
SUNDAY, MARCH 23 & WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
Jazz Joint x 2 – Local jazz vocalist Sandy Cummings has launched a series of periodic appearances on Sunday afternoons in the bar area of SOhO for a more relaxed and laid-back way to enjoy the downbeats versus the more formal stage shows. Cumming will croon classic jazz songs backed by longtime local legends Woody DeMarco (keys), Hank Allen (bass) and Craig Thatcher (drums)... Back in the main room three days later, Brooklyn-based pianist/composer Daniel Meron and his trio deliver a set of highly melodic and expressive modern jazz influenced by middle eastern and Latin rhythms that include compositions from their newest release, Pendulum. In the last decade, Meron has established himself as a prominent figure in the modern jazz scene, releasing five critically acclaimed albums, appearing in NYC’s best jazz clubs and international jazz festivals, and touring across North America and Europe.
WHEN: 12:30-3 pm Sunday, 7 pm Wednesday
WHERE: SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State Street
COST: $10 Sunday, $15 Wednesday
INFO: (805) 962-7776 or www.sohosb.com
MICHAEL FEINSTEIN
Because of You, My Tribute to Tony Bennett featuring the Carnegie Hall Ensemble
Experience the power of Michael Feinstein as he delivers a stirring and heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett. With every note, Feinstein channels the spirit of Bennett’s unforgettable songs, weaving a symphony of emotion, nostalgia, and musical brilliance.
MINNIS & JOHN KAY PRESENT
Film screening and Conversation with “Save the Elephants” CEO Frank Pope, Saba Douglas-Hamilton and David Daballen
This award-winning documentary chronicles the remarkable journey of Dr. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, the world’s foremost elephant scientist, whose groundbreaking research and conservation efforts have shaped our understanding of these magnificent creatures for over six decades.
Tickets $20. Premium seats with a reception hosted by John Kay (from Steppenwolf) for $50. Students with ID FREE.
ESTATE/SENIOR SERVICES
Your Trusted Choice for Estate Sales, Liquidation & Downsizing
Moving Miss Daisy’s providing comprehensive services through Moving Miss Daisy since 2015. Expert packing, unpacking, relocating to ensure your new home is beautifully set up and ready to enjoy. Miss Daisy’s is the largest consignment store in the Tri-Counties - nearly 20K sq.ft.- always offering an unmatched selection of items. We also host online Auctions.
We Buy, Sell and Broker Important Estate Jewelry. Located in the upper village of Montecito. Graduate Gemologists with 30 years of experience. We do free evaluations and private consultation. 1470 East Valley Rd Suite V. 805-969-0888
TILE SETTING
Local tile setter of 35 years is now doing small jobs only. Services include grout cleaning and repair, caulking, sealing, replacing damaged tiles and basic plumbing needs. Call Doug Watts at 805-729-3211 for a free estimate.
TUTOR
Need help with your homework? Having trouble in Computer Science, Math (Elementary School to Algebra), or Spanish? I worked as a software consultant for an IBM company in Santa Barbara and am a proud parent of graduates from Laguna Blanca, CATE, and Stanford University. Jesús Álvarez | 805-453-5516 | mytutor29@hotmail.com
ELECTRICIAN
Montecito Electric Repairs and Inspections
Licensed C10485353 805-969-1575
PHYSICAL TRAINING & THERAPY
Stillwell Fitness of Santa Barbara In Home Personal Training Sessions for 65+ Help with: Strength, Flexibility, Balance Motivation, and Consistency
John Stillwell, CPT, Specialist in Senior Fitness 805-705-2014 StillwellFitness.com
GOT OSTEOPOROSIS? WE CAN HELP
At OsteoStrong our proven non-drug protocol takes just ten minutes once a week to improve your bone density and aid in more energy, strength, balance and agility. Please call for a complimentary session! Call Now (805) 453-6086
AUTOMOBILES WANTED
We buy Classic Cars Running or not. Foreign/Domestic Chevy/Ford/Porsche/Mercedes/Etc. We come to you. Call Steven - 805-699-0684 Website - Avantiauto.group
PET/HOUSE SITTING
Do you need to get away for a weekend, week or more? I will house sit and take care of your pets, plants & mail. I have refs if needed. Call me or text me. Christine (805) 452-2385
CARPET CLEANING
Carpet Cleaning Since 1978 (805) 963-5304 Rafael Mendez Cell: 689-8397 or 963-3117
LANDSCAPE
Casa L. M.
Landscape hedges installed. Ficus to flowering. Disease resistant. Great privacy. Licensed & insured. Call (805) 963-6909
WATERLILIES and LOTUS since 1992
WATERGARDEN CARE
SBWGC
PIANO LESSONS
Openings now available for Children and Adults.
Piano Lessons in our Studio or your Home. Call or Text Kary Kramer (805) 453-3481
SALE
Montecito Urn Garden Grave for Sale $5000 Santa Barbara Cemetery, urn grave located near the entrance. Please text only to 805-637-5860.
MASSAGE THERAPIST
Massage by Laura at The Julia 924 Anacapa Street Suite 2M 805 670 7787
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
K-9 PALS need volunteers to be foster parents for our dogs while they are waiting for their forever homes. For more information info@k-9pals.org or 805-570-0415
MINIMUM TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD
It’s simple. Charge is $3 per line, each line with 31 characters. Minimum is $10 per issue. Photo/logo/visual is an additional $20 per issue. Email Classified Ad to frontdesk@montecitojournal.net or call (805) 565-1860. All ads must be finalized by Friday at 2pm the week prior to printing. We accept Visa/MasterCard/Amex (3% surcharge)
DONATIONS NEEDED
Santa Barbara Bird
Sanctuary Menagerie 2430 Lillie Avenue
Summerland, CA 93067 (805) 969-1944
Donate to the Parrot Pantry!
At SB Bird Sanctuary, backyard farmer’s bounty is our birds’ best bowl of food! The flock goes bananas for your apples, oranges & other homegrown fruits & veggies.
Volunteers
Do you have a special talent or skill? Do you need community service hours? The flock at SB Bird Sanctuary could always use some extra love and socialization. Call us and let’s talk about how you can help. (805) 969-1944
