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Local News for a Global Village | www.VoiceSB.com
COMMUNITY NEWS
Drew Wakefield Receives International Award
November 24, 2023
Summer Solstice Announces New Leadership at 50th Anniversary Year Kick-Off
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UMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION HELD THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF MIXER at Legacy Art SB on Saturday, November 18th.
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Lina Ramierz, Director, Franchise operations Wyndham Hotel Group; Tom Patton, General Manager - Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara; Drew Wakefield, Direct of Sales & Marketing – Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara; and Kether Johnson, Assistant General Manger – Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara
MPRESARIO, EMCEE, AND MARKETING GURU for Ramada Worldwide, Drew Wakefield has received the Marian W. Isbell Change Maker Award for Community Service, a Global Award from Ramada Worldwide.
Wakefield is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Ramada by Wyndham Santa Barbara.
Along with music, tasty bites and beverages, the group enjoyed live music, and belly dancing by Laela Duncan and a welcome by Crispin Barrymore, Legacy proprietor. An important part of the evening included introducing their newly elected offiers: Board President Justin Gunn; Secretary Ron Burd; and Treasurer David Machacek as well as new board members Karen Ortiz and Sharon Rich.
Solstice Executive Director Penny Little, Clare Carey, Crispin Barrymore, and Laela Duncan
JUSTIN GUNN is a career news and documentary producer/director and a prolific artist/maker with a deep passion for parades and festivals. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his multi-year documentary series covering the Burning Man festival and was featured in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2018 for his documentary, A Solstice in Santa Barbara.
According to Tom Patton, General Manager at the Santa Barbara Ramada by Wyndham, “This is the first time they have presented this special service award." www.sbramada.com
Justin Gunn
RON BURD, a local attorney who “supports the various culture for creating art”, will be stepping up to the role of Secretary. DAVID MACHACEK, who served the Board as Interim President when Solstice Board President Stacie Bouffard stepped down in September, has been elected the new Treasurer. Ron Burd David empowers small business owners to greater success through bookkeeping and QuickBooks consulting services.
The Abstract Art Collective’s current exhibition at VOICE Gallery (which runs through November 30th) is a benefit for the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. Pictured at the opening reception are Mark Whitehurst and Kerry Methner, Voice Gallery; Carol Talley, president of AAC; Brittany Avila Wazny, Senior Development Director TBCF; Sheela Hunt, TBCF Ambassador Co-Chair & Planned Giving Advisory Council, and Mark Ashton Hunt, exhibition curator. www.abstractartcollective.com
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HE SANTA BARBARA CHANNEL WHALE HERITAGE AREA (SBCWHA) will host a free gathering at the picturesque Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to celebrate their recent designation as the 9th Whale Heritage Area in the world. The free Community Gathering will take place Saturday, November 28th from 4 to 5:30pm.
The new designation highlights the region’s commitment to promoting responsible ecotourism, providing more ocean educational opportunities, supporting on-going research and conservation efforts, and honoring the timeless cultural connection we have to whales. To attend, RSVP by emailing info@SBWhaleHeritage.org or call 805.588.0557. www.sbwhaleheritage.org
Photo courtesy of www.sbwhaleheritage.org
Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area to Celebrate Local Whales
David Machacek
In addition to new officers, Solstice welcomes new board members Karen Ortiz and Sharon Rich.
KAREN ORTIZ is a third-generation Santa Barbara native with some 30 years of development experience as a volunteer, board member and staff member serving nonprofits and the banking industry across the Central Coast. SHARON RICH, Friends of State Street founder and President, former Executive Director of YMCA, secured a donation of five acres of Karen Ortiz land to establish the first YMCA facility within a new 350-acre community development in Camarillo, California, in addition to decades of experience in community engagement. Sharon Rich
2024 THEME: The 2024 50th Anniversary theme was also recently announced and will be Flights of Fantasy! Find out details and consider submitting artwork for the annual poster and t-shirt contest on-line. www.solsticeparade.com