New Rules for Short-Term Rentals? by Ryan P. Cruz
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Michael Kreitsek, MA Michael H HCounseling Kreitsek, MA Transpersonal Psychology Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Transpersonal Counseling Counseling Psychology Transpersonal Psychology www.sustainableheart.com Counseling From a Buddhist Perspective Counselingwith FromWisdom a Buddhist Counseling and Compassion Counseling Wisdom and Perspective Compassion Counseling From a Buddhist Perspective Mindful with Support for Uncertain Times Counseling From a Buddhist Perspective 805 698-0286 805 698-0286 805 698-0286 805 698-0286 805-698-0286 805 698-0286
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Bernadette Peters Thu, Oct 15 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre “Peters is more than talented: As an actress, singer, comedienne and all-around warming presence, she has no peer in the musical theater.” The New York Times
Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble
Sun, Oct 18 / 4 PM / Granada Theatre ★★★★ “Graceful aerial solos. Jaw dropping lifts. Superhuman balances. Swan Lake as you’ve never seen it before.” The Times (U.K.)
See Akram Khan Company in its Final International Tour
Akram Khan Company Thikra: Night of Remembering
By Akram Khan and Manal AlDowayan
Tue, Oct 20 (note new date) 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre “One of the most influential choreographers of his generation.” The Guardian (U.K.)
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Through January 3, 2027
Through January 31, 2027
LEFT TO RIGHT: Mary Cassatt, Reine eine Lefebvre and Margot (detail), 1902. Pastel on brown paper and canvas. The Armand Hammer Collection, Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. EL.2026.4 • Anne W. Brigman, The Breeze, ca. 1910. Gelatin silver print. SBMA, Museum purchase with funds provided by the SBMA Women’s Board, 1995.19.2.
UPCOMING EVENTS & PROGRAMS Parallel Stories M Lin, The Memory Museum Sunday, October 11 | 2 – 3 PM
Shop Opening Party October 11 11 AM – 1 PM
M Lin’s debut collection explores migration, cultural identity, race, class, and the balance between survival and resistance. Brimming with joy, insight, and emotional power, The Memory Museum introduces a bold new literary voice.
Giveaways, exclusive merch, and member discounts!
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Print subscriptions are available, paid in advance, for $120 per year. Send subscription requests with name and address to subscriptions@independent.com. The contents of the Independent are copyrighted 2026 by the Santa Barbara Independent, Inc. No part may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. A stamped, self-addressed envelope must accompany all submissions expected to be returned. The Independent is available on the internet at independent.com. Press run of the Independent is 25,000 copies. Audited certification of circulation is available on request. The Independent is a legal adjudicated newspaper — court decree no. 157386. ISSN 2834-3174 (Print) ISSN 2834-3204 (Online) Contact information: 223 E. De la Guerra St., Suite B, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 PHONE (805) 965-5205; FAX (805) 965-5518 EMAIL news@independent.com, letters@independent.com, advertising@independent.com Staff email addresses can be found at independent.com/about-us
TABLE of CONTENTS Volume 40 #2081, Oct. 8-15, 2026
COVER STORY
22
Our 40 Years of SBIFF Coverage COURTESY
Editor in Chief Marianne Partridge Publisher Brandi Rivera Executive Editor Nick Welsh Senior Editor Tyler Hayden Senior Writer Matt Kettmann News Editor Jackson Friedman Opinions Editor Jean Yamamura Arts and Culture Editor Leslie Dinaberg Calendar Editor Terry Ortega Calendar Assistant Olivia Ison News Reporters Ryan P. Cruz, Callie Fausey, Elaine Sanders Senior Arts Writer Josef Woodard Mickey Flacks Fund Fellow Christina McDermott Photographer Ingrid Bostrom Assistant Editor Tiana Molony Copy Chief Tessa Reeg Copy Editors Evan Ragland, Nathan Vived Sports Editor Victor Bryant Web Content Manager Don Brubaker Social Media Manager Maya Johnson Food Writer George Yatchisin Travel Writers Macduff Everton, Mary Heebner Art Director Xavier Pereyra Associate Production Manager Bianca Castro Graphic Designers Leah Brewer, Diego Melgoza, Haley Snyder Columnists Dennis Allen, Gail Arnold, Sara Caputo, Christine S. Cowles, Laura Gransberry, Betsy J. Green, Emily Kellow, Austin Lampson, Melinda Palacio, Cheri Rae, Hugh Ranson, Amy Ramos, Lorissa Rinehart, Starshine Roshell Contributors Rob Brezsny, Jim Buckley, Cynthia Carbone Ward, Ben Ciccati, Cheryl Crabtree, John Dickson, Roger Durling, Chuck Graham, Izadora Hamm, Keith Hamm, Rebecca Horrigan, Gareth Kelly, Kevin McKiernan, Carl Perry, Nancy Ransohoff, David Starkey, Ethan Stewart, Brian Tanguay, Meaghan Tiernan, Tom Tomorrow, Jatila Van der Veen, Isabelle Walker, Maggie Yates, John Zant Director of Advertising Sarah Sinclair Marketing and Events Manager Richelle Boyd Advertising Representatives Suzanne Cloutier, Bryce Eller, Ariana Hugo, Tonea Songer, Scott Maio Digital Marketing Specialist Graham Brown Business Operations and Accounting Manager Erin Lynch Office Manager/Legal Advertising Tanya Spears Guiliacci Distribution Gregory Hall Interns Ian Chung, Taylor Cusimano, AJ Nagbe, Madeline Slogoff, Danielle Verlardi Columnist Emeritus Barney Brantingham Photography Editor Emeritus Paul Wellman Founding Staff Emeriti George Delmerico, Richard Evans, Camille Cimini Fruin, Laszlo Hodosy, Scott Kaufman Honorary Consigliere Gary J. Hill Indy Kids Bella and Max Brown; Elijah Lee, Amaya Nicole, and William Gene Bryant; Henry and John Poett Campbell; Emilia Imojean Friedman; Rowan Gould; Finley James Hayden; Ivy Danielle Ireland; Madeline Rose and Mason Carrington Kettmann
Saving Naples Once & for All by Callie Fausey and Tyler Hayden
ENDORSEMENTS .......................... 6 NEWS ................................................... 10 OPINIONS ..........................................17 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Voices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
OBITUARIES................................... 20 THE WEEK........................................29 ARTS LIFE .........................................37 LIVING ................................................ 47 FOOD & DRINK ............................ 50 Restaurant Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
ASTROLOGY ...................................55 CLASSIFIEDS ..................................56 ON THE COVER: Courtesy of the Land Trust. Design by Xavier Pereyra.
The Independent’s Covering 40 Years … of SBIFF gallery This week, we invite you to our latest cover show exhibit, called Covering 40 Years … of SBIFF. The collection includes more than 50 large prints of cover stories that the Independent published about the festival every year, including the 15 years where the paper ran back-to-back covers. The exhibit reveals how much newspaper design has changed since 1986, and features the extended series of illustrations that graced the Indy’s cover for many years. In addition to the covers, there are a handful of sidebars to explore, including a display of the many interviews that the Indy’s staff conducted with top actors and directors, such as Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Michael B. Jordan, Forest Whitaker, Javier Bardem, and Leonardo DiCaprio. There is a section on SBIFF’s longtime commitment to showing and promoting Santa Barbara’s own filmmakers, and a retrospective of the Meet the Makers series of mini-magazines that the paper published for a few years. This exhibit will be on display until November 25 during the film center’s business hours.
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Endorsements 2026 Part One
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Statewide Ballot Initiatives oters will confront 14 ballot initiatives. Most have to do with money and taxation; others have to do with how elections are carried out. Some are exceptionally hard to make out. If you don’t understand, chances are that that’s not an accident. When in doubt, just vote no.
Prop. 1: Yes Prop. 1 authorizes $11.25 billion in bonds for affordable housing programs that will reportedly subsidize the construction of 40,000 multi-family rental units, 2,500 units of farmworker housing, 1,200 beds for university students, and housing for 2,100 veterans. It also authorizes $200 million in housing grants to tribes.
Prop. 2: Yes The state budget reserve cap will double from 10 percent to 20 percent so that when times are especially flush, the state will be allowed to set aside a larger amount for when times are tight.
Prop. 3: Yes Makes permanent the tax increase first approved in 2012 on the top 2 percent of state taxpayers. If Prop. 3 loses, the state will lose $5 billion to $15 billion a year in tax revenues. Roughly 40 percent of that money would go to schools and community colleges. If Prop. 3 loses, the top 2 percent of the state’s tax payers will reap a tax break of $5 billion to $15 billion a year.
Prop. 4: Yes Would repeal California’s existing prohibition against the state using funds collected from the public to underwrite the cost of running for office. Right now, the state’s Campaign Reform Act bars this from happening. If Prop. 4 passes, it does not mean that publicly funded campaigns will automatically start. It means that the barrier blocking this from being considered will be removed.
Prop. 37 ($25 Billion Middle-Class Home Loan Program): Yes If approved, Prop. 37 would authorize the sale of $25 billion in bonds, the proceeds to be a loan to help middle-class would-be first-time homeowners to be able to make a 17 percent down payment for a home valued at no more than $1.5 million. We wonder just how far that $25 billion will go and how many people will actually be helped, but any response to the state’s housing crisis will require scatter-shot solutions. And this is one.
Prop. 38 ($8 Billion Bond for Immunology Research): No If state voters approve Prop. 38, they will be all but guaranteeing that the measure’s biggest financial backer will be granted half of the $8 billion in bond dollars the measure secures for cutting-edge research in cancer, dementia, and immune disorders. While the measure does not mention Gary K. Michelson, founder of the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, it does list very specific requirements that only Michelson’s Institute can satisfy. Michelsen has donated $8 million to pass Prop. 38. The proposition’s remaining $4 billion will be available to a wider field for competition, but if Prop. 38 passes, state taxpayers will be on the hook for annual payments of $500 to $600 million a year for 25 years. We have no reason to question the scientific expertise of Michelson’s institute, but we do know a sweetheart deal when we see one. While such research is absolutely essential, the arrangement, originally exposed by CalMatters, underscores the extent to which special interests have usurped the proposition process. California reformers passed that process 100 years ago to protect the citizens of this state from those very special interests. Vote No on Prop. 38.
Prop. 5 (Amends State Constitution to Change Recall Process for Prop. 39 (Requires GovernmentHigh Statewide Offices): Yes Issued ID to Vote): No This one requires some squinting, but we recommend a yes. Right now, when successful recall campaigns are launched against sitting governors, for example, their replacement is chosen in the same election. Typically, these are circuses with far more clowns than conductors. Typically, hundreds of candidates are involved, many one-time wonders looking only for the 15 minutes of fame to which they think they’re entitled. Prop. 5 takes all the fun out of this, requiring a whole new special election to select the replacement for whichever candidate got recalled. This one can be argued both ways, but when possible, we prefer to err on the side of sanity.
Prop. 39 was hatched by those subscribing to a floridly paranoid conspiracy theory popular in certain circles that the Democratic Party is allowing undocumented immigrants into the county to exploit their votes. For those suffering such hallucinations, we would strongly suggest psychiatric attention. For everyone else, we urge you to vote no on Prop. 39. It is dangerously and sloppily written and purports to solve a problem that simply does not exist. Even the right-wing Heritage Foundation, after examining the results from 200 federal elections, concluded that at most 15 votes out of 10 million cast in seven states over several
decades were cast by non-citizens. Another study — this one of election results in 42 jurisdictions in 12 states of the 2016 election — concluded that .0001 percent of the votes cast had been cast by non-citizens. Needless to say, no outcomes were remotely altered. If passed, Prop. 39 would amend the state’s very Constitution. It would require county election officials to “use best efforts” to verify that all registered voters are U.S. citizens by availing themselves to “government data.” Ominously, what those “best efforts” are and what that “government data” would be are conspicuously not specified. And it gets worse. Voters will be required to show various forms of governmentissued identification to cast their ballot. What kinds of ID would be required are not specified. In California 2.7 million voting- age residents do not have a driver’s license. Another three million have expired licenses or licenses from other states. Typically, these individuals are younger, poorer, and not white. One need not be a rocket scientist or brain surgeon to these connect dots such as these. Prop. 39 is bad for the country, the state, and you.
Prop. 40 (One-Time Wealth Tax on Billionaires): No The division of wealth throughout the United States has grown morally grotesque. Under the Trump administration, it’s become pornographic. Due to the president’s “Big Beautiful Budget Bill,” $1 trillion will be cut from the safety net from the nation’s poor in order to bestow $1 trillion in tax breaks to the upper one percent. Prop. 40 is an attempt to buffer this cruel reality by promising to offset the billions in Medicaid cuts with billions generated by a one-time wealth tax on the 220 billionaires calling California home, four of whom reportedly live here in Santa Barbara. How could anyone resist such karmic comeuppance? Sadly, at its best, Prop 40 is a rhetorical gimmick that can’t possibly deliver on its promises. But it will make a bad situation even worse by creating a completely new category of taxation: a one-time tax of 5 percent on the wealth — not the income — of state billionaires. Wealth includes all kinds of things that don’t qualify as income: yachts, jets, art and wine collections, business interests, stocks, grand pianos, football teams. However, California’s vast tax-collecting bureaucracy is structured specifically to tax income, not wealth. Incredibly, the fine print of Prop. 40 allows the government only six months to create this new wealth-assessing system. We are struck by how often the words “maybe” and “probably” show up in the fine print. How much money might actually be raised? How many billionaires might flee the
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OCTOBER 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM
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Prop. 41 and Prop. 42: No and No If billionaires ever wondered why they have such a bad rap, Props. 41 and 42 offer 200 million good reasons why. That’s the amount of money they have already spent supporting these two initiatives they hatched as poison pills just in case Prop. 40, the billionaire’s tax, were to succeed. Prop. 41 would require a special audit before any special tax — such as Prop. 40 — specifically examining all government programs designated for additional funding with the proceeds of that one-time tax. Technically, Prop. 41 might not stop Prop. 40 outright, but it sure would gum up the works if it passed. Prop. 42 is more direct and to the point: If passed, it would flat-out prohibit the enactment of any taxes on personal wealth, which is precisely the new income stream that Prop. 40 hopes to tap into. Currently, California taxes income only, not wealth, which entails such things as art, wine, car collections, business interests, intellectual property, and retirement accounts. We don’t support Prop. 40 for a host of good reasons, but this kind of spending is enough to make anyone want to stop being so reasonable.
Trump’s Big Bad Beautiful Budget Bill. In Santa Barbara, the constellation of health care providers making up our health care universe are reeling. The community care clinics provide the absolute bedrock of safety-net care. However high-minded and lofty such efficiency mandates might seem, this is absolutely not the time for voters to meddle. Our medical world can survive half-assed opinions and knee-jerk reactions; it can’t, however, survive half-assed and knee-jerk votes.
Prop. 44 (Requires Community Health Clinics to Spend 90 Percent of Revenue on Services): No This is yet another high-minded grudge match that drags voters into terrain over which we lack the competence needed to make an even quasi-informed decision. Who doesn’t think money going to medical clinics goes to services rather than administrative overhead? But 90 percent? California has about 2,000 safety net clinics; right now, they are being battered by violent changes in federal health care funding courtesy of Donald
STATE Governor: Xavier Becerra
If you think an eight-story monstrosity built right behind the Santa Barbara Mission is a good way to solve Santa Barbara’s housing crisis, then maybe you might also think Prop. 45 is a good way to solve the state’s red tape problem. Otherwise, we urge you to vote no. We will stipulate the problems caused by excessive red tape are real and really infuriating. But anybody claiming to have a simple solution is to be distrusted. Red tape exists in such abundance in Coastal California because Coastal California is too damn beautiful for its own good. Balancing all that beauty with all that infinite demand requires a finesse, delicacy, and wisdom. Prop. 45 is just another one-size-fits-all solution that will not succeed in getting affordable housing built but will definitely succeed in making the coast ugly. Beauty counts. Vote no.
Treasurer: Eleni Kounalakis
Governor: Xavier Becerra
Attorney General: Rob Bonta Insurance Commissioner: Ben Allen
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE Salud Carbajal
MEMBER OF STATE ASSEMBLY Gregg Hart
SANTA BARBARA CITY COUNCIL District 4: Devon Wardlow
LOMPOC CITY COUNCIL Mayor: Jeremy Ball Councilmembers: Sharlameigne Segovia and Sarah Anne Read
Prop. 43: No Prop. 43 would make it harder for voters to approve local special taxes that they — not their local government officials — put on the ballot by raising the percentage of votes required for passage from 50 percent to two-thirds. We will spare you the minutia of applicable state tax and election codes, but the point here is to make it harder for people to tax themselves for specific purposes. Fighting over this one are the usual collection of taxpayer protection and the unions. We are far from thrilled by the hint of higher taxes, but with the federal government now in full retreat from many of its traditional support roles, local governments will have increasingly rely upon their own local resources to weather the local disasters and health-care shortfalls.
Endorsements at a Glance
Prop. 45: No
W I K I M E D I A CO M M O N S
state? How much might state income tax revenues drop? Since California relies upon income taxes — as opposed to real estate assessments — those are threatening questions. Eventually, some thorny details might get hammered out, but the wheels of government turn even slower than those of justice: A six-month deadline is a practical impossibility; worse, efforts to meet it will generate more litigation than revenue. Little wonder that organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the California Medical Association — which would presumably benefit from Prop. 40 — have come out against the measure. Of course, the billionaires, presumably terrified of becoming wealth-tax refugees, have raised $200 million to stop the measure. Yes, it’s a gross spectacle. But if the devil is in the details, then Prop. 40 needs an exorcist.
BUELLTON Mayor: David Silva If only, on occasion, it would be refreshing to seriously consider a candidate for elected office from the Republican party. But we’ve had little opportunity in this century. Certainly not in the case of this year’s gubernatorial election. Steve Hilton, the Republican standard bearer, is at best a MAGA mouthpiece, clever, and verbally nimble, but seemingly untroubled by the mass moral mayhem inflicted by his boss seemingly for no greater purpose than cruelty for cruelty’s sake. We are supporting Becerra mainly because Hilton is so very much worse. We remain troubled, however, by Becerra because of his level of care for unaccompanied migrant children when he ran Health and Human Services during the Biden administration. The New York Times, through an investigative series, exposed how many unaccompanied minors were falling through the cracks and into the hands of labor traffickers. It’s disheartening that he continues to shrug off those questions as mere “Trump talking points.” We might soon find ourselves pining for the good old days of Gavin Newsom. The alleged dialectics of the two-party system has been exposed as a mirage too many times now, but here we are, and Becerra is what is. We sincerely hope he will be much better than we expect.
STATE PROPOSITIONS Prop. 1: Yes Prop. 2: Yes Prop. 3: Yes Prop. 4: Yes Prop. 5: Yes Prop. 37: Yes Prop. 38: No Prop. 40: No Prop. 41: No Prop. 42: No Prop. 43: No Prop. 44: No Prop. 45: No
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WE ARE GRATEFUL TO OUR WOMEN’S AUXILIARY AND THE FOLLOWING FOR RAISING OVER $697,000 AT OUR 25TH ANNUAL ISLANDS IN THE SUN, BAYOU 2026 EVENT TO HELP MEN AND WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION.
TAHITI
Hank & Maureen Bowis · Cottage Health · Paul & Karen McClean Mark & Cathy Zoradi “Pezzoni Family” · Julie Willig
BORA BORA
Maryann Connor & Diana Katsenes & Diana O’Keefe Monica Eiler & Family · Joe & Rebecca Foster · David & Anna Grotenhuis Dan & Kaye Hentschke · Dave & Patti Hunter · Kiah & Anna Jordan Cal & Phyllis Marble · Montecito Bank & Trust · Josh & Rhonda Yager
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David & Barb Biehl · Chris & Lisa Call · Patrick & Marianne Day John Engstrom · Rolf Geyling & Kirsten Moore · Kirk & Pamela Gilbert Bob & Janet Kates · Garth & Kathy Nobis · Rudi Schulte Family Foundation
ST. CROIX
David & Sonia Alexander · Richard & Marguerite Berti · Bob & Patty Bryant Bill & Renee Curtis · Steven & Cindy Davis · Ramon & Annie Gupta Chris & Pamela Haskell · HUB International Insurance · Mosher Foundation Mike & Christa Myers · Thomas & Charmaine Rogers · Lee & Carolyn Savage Mike & Stacey Shafer · Frank & Leslie Schipper · Henry & Dundie Schulte Solid Rock Construction · Warren & Mary Lynn Staley · Tom & Kirsten Walters
CONTRIBUTORS
Alisal Ranch · Amour Fati Summerland Vacation Rentals · Ancient Peaks Adventure Co. Ancient Peaks Winery · Cindy Anderson · Erin & Kersten Barr · Kathleen Baushke Best Western South Coast Inn · Bettina · Alice Birch · The Blue Door · Brett Boards CR Amy Brex · Julie Ann Brown · John & Sue Burk · Ca’Dario · Campiello V. · Ann Carneros Chris Potter Art · Coast to Coast Collection · Frederick & Linda Clough · John and Sara Coleman Coleman Carpet Cleaners · Josh & Barbara Conniser · Maryann Conner · D’Arcy Cornwall Scott Crawford · Patrick & Marianne Day · Terry DeMaria · Scott & Sarah Douglas · Ensemble Theatre Evolutions Medical & Day Spa · Carla Fay · Rick & Shelley Fogg · Terry Foil · Folded Hills Winery Chris Fossek · Gala Restaurant · The Gem Shop · Genevieve Hotel · Pamela Gilbert · Kevin Gleason Larry Godec · Grassroots Pilates · Charles Grimm & Aurora Lombardi · The Grove Pickleball Marie Hansen · Fritz & Lorette Harnsberger · Harry’s Plaza Café · Pamela Dillman Haskell Karim Henin · Dave & Jodi Hentschke · Tom & Katherine Hilzer · The Honor Bar · Hudson Grace Maryanne Ierides · In-N-Out Burger · Inn on Summer Hill · Ivy Cove · J. McLaughlin · Ken & Hilary Jacobsen Larry & Darlene James · Jane Downtown · Jane Marketplace · JANO Printing Jeannine’s Bakery · Jordano’s Inc. · Ray & Ginger Ketzel · The knit shop sb · Land and Sea Tours Greg & Kim Lawler · Lazy Acres · Darren & Karen Lindblad · Lobero Theatre Brian & Sandy Lood · Luce Salon · Lucky’s Steakhouse · Lure Fishouse · Malibu Beach Aesthetics Cristina Malovos · Margerum Winery · Margo Repta Designs · Mary Kay, MaryLou Hardhain Massage Collective · Nancy Melekian · Merci Montecito · Mission Linen Supply · Montecito Inn Montecito Pet Shop · Mulligan’s Café & Bar · Debra Nichols · Nugget · On the Alley—Goleta Opal Restaurant · OSPI Restaurant · Mike & Lorna Owens · Karen Poythress · Prevail Conditioning Mark & Andrea Preiser · REI · Tim & Devon Reinauer · Catherine Remak & John Savrnoch Verlinda Richardson · Joe & Lindsay Rizk · RMJ Landscapes · Royanna Robertson Heather Ruetschle · Santa Barbara Ghost Tours · Santa Barbara Home Improvement Center Santa Barbara Inn · Santa Barbara Symphony · Santa Barbara YMCA · Santa Barbara Zoo Zach & Paige Sawaya · SB Bubble Guy · Ken & Tracy Schmidt · Secret Bao · Chuck & Missy Sheldon · Skin by Sara Skin Essentials · Sneddon Family · Mandy Starr · State Street Ballet · Russell Steiner · Summerland Beach Cafe Surf Country · Mark & Susie Tautrim · The Tennis Shop of Montecito · Thede Family Foundation Mitchell & Sarah Thomas · Third Window Brewing · Trader Joe’s—Goleta · Trader Joe’s—Milpas St. Tri-County Blinds · Richard & Dorothy Torosian · Sydney & Peter Tredick · Annette Vait Kerry Bennet Van Donge · Viva Olivia · Dale & Rebecca Weber · West Covina Nursery Westerlay Orchids · Westmont College · Julie Willig · Helene Winter · Pam Wilson Brent Winebrenner · Shelvy Wyatt · Zen Spa · Doug Zylstra
SPECIAL THANKS TO
AMS Events Santa Barbara, Kathleen Baushke, Bryant & Sons Jewelers Fess Parker Vineyard & Winery, Rob Fredericks, Jordano’s, MarAmi Vineyards, Menagerie The Montecito Journal, Outside Open, Pacific Beverage Company, Palladino Design Catherine Remak, Sandpiper Golf Club, Santa Barbara Independent, Solera & Co. Sunstone Winery, Dale Weber Photography 8
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OCTOBER 8, 2026
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Endorsements H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H As a matter of existential urgency, we are betting the farm that this November the nationwide effort to take the majority away from the Republicans — who’ve surrendered their spines and souls — in both the House and the Senate will succeed. One important step is to send Carbajal back to Congress. He deserves our support.
CO U R T E S Y
24th Congressional District: Salud Carbajal
Lastly, Wardlow is a progressive but independent thinker. She radiates raw intelligence by the megawatt; ideas and policy lingo pour forth like water from a firehose. And a pragmatic approach to problem solving will inform her votes, rather than any ideology. Santa Barbara, she likes to say, helped raise her. Her family has a bumpy history, and she moved to Santa Barbara on her own at age 13, lived with her godparents for a while, attended local schools, and by age 14, she was working at restaurants to pay her way. In person, Wardlow is like a sprinter trapped in the body of a long-distance runner; nobody on that council will outwork her. If you live in District 4, we urge a vote for Devon Wardlow. All of Santa Barbara will benefit.
CO U R T E S Y
City Council, District 4: Devon Wardlow
INGRID BOSTROM
State Assembly, 37th District: Gregg Hart
When Congressmember Salud Carbajal responded to the looming specter of climate change, he didn’t just shake his fist at the easy target of offshore oil. He worked to get the local fishing community and the Department of Defense on board for a massive, 400-square-mile offshore wind energy project about 40 miles off the California coast, an area known as the Saudi Arabia of wind energy. Three major companies had purchased federal leases. Earlier this year, Trump canceled those leases, offering to return to the companies their hundreds of millions of dollars in deposits but only if they agreed to reinvest it in the development of fossil fuels. Given the gargantuan challenges confronting us as a species, we need more from those in office than to fulminate about the egregious excesses of Donald J. Trump and his administration. It is, however, a helpful starting point, and Carbajal has done a lot more than that. Recently Carbajal, a moderate Democrat who has served in Congress since 2016, the same year Trump was first elected, has taken the lead in a number of challenges to Trump’s destructive initiatives and shenanigans. He led a group of 30 members of the Senate and House to remove the Hunt amendment from the massive defense appropriations bill. This bizarre attachment would give Secretary of War Pete Hegseth the unprecedented power to condemn any land in Santa Barbara County — whether under the jurisdiction of the county, the state, or private property owners — that Sable deems necessary for their Santa Barbara operation. Like that of Trump’s excessive new White House ballroom, the pretext is “national security.” After 10 years in Washington, Carbajal has made enough friends in high places that we have credible reason to hope this overweening act of overreach will be exorcised from the bill once Senate deliberations get underway. Carbajal has been an outspoken advocate for protecting the environment, including introducing legislation to clean up the toxic dumps in the San Pedro Basin, sponsoring a multimillion-dollar upgrade for water systems throughout his district from Los Alamos to Ojai, and working to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast. Over the last year, he has taken on Hegseth aggressively when the secretary refused to directly answer if his oath of allegiance was to the Constitution or the president. And Carbajal’s record of constituent service has always been outstanding.
Of the four candidates now vying to represent Santa Barbara’s District 4, voters are fortunate to have a candidate with the exceptional experience and temperament needed to solve many of the issues that have plagued the council in recent years. That candidate is Devon Wardlow. For the past five years, Wardlow has served on the city’s Planning Commission — where push comes crashing to shove, where commissioners must balance the city’s insatiable demand for new housing with our collective determination to keep Santa Barbara’s treasured ambience intact. It’s not a job for the faint of heart. Earlier this year, for example, when the city administrator was urging the commission and council to accept a take-it-or-leave-it deal from new owners of the Paseo Nuevo mall, it was the Planning Commission that first called the developers’ bluff. That courage proved contagious, and the City Council quickly followed suit. Wardlow was a strong voice supporting that action, as she has been on other issues. She has not been shy to criticize the stream of downtown hotel proposals that kept coming before the commission. Hotels that zoning and previous planning had allowed, but that she believed should have been housing instead. She pressed on, extracting employee housing units out of reluctant hotel developers — often when no one thought it was possible. Importantly, Wardlow has worked cooperatively, civilly, and effectively with her fellow commissioners as they worked through these proposals. A policy wonk and public affairs specialist by inclination, training, and profession, Wardlaw reads the fine print carefully and actually understands its implications. A case in point involves the recent blowup over the rental stabilization ordinance. Wardlow wrote an op-ed explaining that she supports some kind of rent stabilization ordinance, but that the version before this council constituted a serious overreach. And being a policy wonk, she was able to cite the proposed ordinance chapter and verse. It’s important to note that this election will bring a new mayor and three new councilmembers to the City Council — four votes. That’s the majority. Such a transition could be disastrously jarring. That is why we strongly believe Devon Wardlow should be one of those four new votes. With five years of in-the-trenches experience under her belt, Wardlow will provide the much-needed vision and practical approach needed on the newly reformed council.
Gregg Hart has not wasted his time in Sacramento since he was first elected to the California Assembly in 2020. This year, he got an impressive number of bills on the governor’s desk, including one designed to short-circuit White House plans to open the entire California coast to new oil development leasing. His bill prohibits oil pipelines located in state waters from carrying the crude oil pumped from wells in federal waters. (And, no, this bill would not have any impact on Sable Offshore’s ever-embattled project now under development.) The governor signed it into law — and that was not the only one. Among the bills Hart successfully got signed was another engineered to crack the unfettered autonomy that California’s 58 elected county sheriffs have had on the management of their jails. Hart saw the damage that caused when he was a Santa Barbara supervisor: The county had to foot the bill for jail operations but had absolutely no control over its ever-escalating costs. His new bill allows county supervisors, for the first time, approval over who county sheriffs can or cannot appoint to run their jails. In 2025, Hart also got a bill passed and signed that gave third-party investigators oversight while looking into the deaths of people in custody. In Santa Barbara — as with many counties — the sheriff is also the coroner. For Hart, that was a conflict of interest that needed to be rectified. That bill takes effect next year. These are just a few of the bills that Hart has gotten passed, and only some of the issues he has consistently worked to solve. Gregg Hart is a genuine political athlete endowed with rare stamina, smarts, connections, and a moral compass. We are lucky to have him representing us in Sacramento. n
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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NEWS of the WEEK
OCT. 1 - 8, 2026
by RYAN P. CRUZ, CALLIE FAUSEY, JACKSON FRIEDMAN, TYLER HAYDEN, CHRISTINA McDERMOTT, ELAINE SANDERS, NICK WELSH, and JEAN YAMAMURA
PUBLIC SAFETY
NEWS BRIEFS
One Dead, One Severely Injured in Parking Lot Crash
New Rules for Short-Term Rentals?
Council Unanimously Supports Ordinances Regulating STRs by Ryan P. Cruz
permitted. Under the new rules, STRs will not be permitted in ADUs, deed-restricted affordable or employee housing, live-work units, or manager/caretaker units. Units being listed as STRs must not have been rented to a longterm tenant in the past two years. They must rent for a minimum of two nights and have quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the rental cannot be owned by a real estate trust or corporation. About 30 members of the public spoke during Tuesday’s council hearing. Residents of the Mesa neighborhoods and other areas with high numbers of STRs reported excessive noise, late-night bonfires in high-fire areas, and overcrowding on quiet residential streets. Some homeowners complained that single-family homes were being converted into vacation rentals that were incompatible with the surrounding neighborhoods. Several STR operators commented and said the proposed ordinances were far too restrictive and would drive some of the more responsible property owners out of the business. Maria Manjarrez, a representative from Airbnb, spoke in opposition, saying there was little evidence that restricting STRs would lead to more affordable housing. She said the proposed regulations would “undermine” the Coastal Act by eliminating affordable lodging, and she encouraged the council to delay until the city conducted a proper fiscal, economic, and housing analysis. The Councilmembers were all in support of the new regulations, though there was discussion over the two-night minimum and plans
to limit STRs to one permit per operator. Councilmembers also wanted to make sure that the new rules weren’t overly restrictive on lodging in the coastal zone. Councilmember Meagan Harmon, who currently serves as chair of the Coastal Commission, noted that the proposed ordinance was already well within the scope of similar regulations that the commission had supported in the past. Other cities have instituted far more restrictive regulations, she said, including a hard cap on the number of units and maximum number of nights per year. In some cities, she said, the commission found it appropriate that one percent of units in the coastal zone were allowed to be STRs; in Santa Barbara’s proposed ordinance, nearly 12 percent of the units in the coastal zone would be eligible to apply for an STR permit. “I really think that we have found a balance that speaks to our obligation to provide visitor-serving accommodation, to provide access, and to also maintain the quality of life that makes our coast so remarkable with the world,” Harmon said. The rest of the council, including Mayor Randy Rowse, voted in favor of approving the two ordinances without any major changes. The ordinance would include the two-night minimum and the restriction on one permit per operator but would remove a portion that would have forced STR operators to get additional insurance. The City Council will begin the process of public outreach with plans to begin implementation in the inland areas 30 days after ordinance adoption in January 2027. STR operators will have six months to apply for a license under the new ordinance. The coastal portion of the ordinance could take longer and would be effective 30 days after Coastal Commission approval sometime next year. n
For the latest news and longer versions of many of these stories, visit independent.com/news. 10
THE INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INDEPENDENT.COM
WWII veteran Arthur Max Petersen (pictured) was laid to rest on 10/2 in Santa Barbara Cemetery, following his 9/14 death at the age of 102. Family, friends, fellow veterans, and community members gathered for a ceremony, which included the folding of the flag, Taps, bagpipes, and a flyover of a T-34 squadron in the missing man formation. Fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division served as pallbearers. Petersen was a paratrooper in the 101st Airborne Division, working alongside members of the famed Easy Company, and he was wounded twice in the line of duty. He fought in some of the most significant battles of the war, including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the occupation of Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. He received two Purple Hearts and a Legion of Honor Medal for his service. ELAINE SANDERS
Police and paramedics arrived on scene within minutes of Tuesday's fatal crash in City Lot 10.
CITY
There are currently more than 2,300 active short-term rentals (STRs) listed in the city, according to short-term rental listing data collected by AirDNA. For years, these short-term rentals have operated in an informal and largely unregulated system, with the city collecting taxes from the few property owners who registered as businesses, and no real way to keep track of or enforce against the technically unpermitted vacation rentals operating in the many areas of the city. Now, the city is preparing to launch a new set of rules to get a handle on the STR issue. Throughout the planning process, city staff and members of the city’s review boards attempted to craft a set of regulations that would address the concerns of city residents whose neighborhoods have been overpopulated by STRs, without eradicating the lowcost accommodations these types of rentals provide to visitors who can’t afford to stay at traditional hotels. The city is introducing two separate ordinances to regulate STRs in the inland and coastal areas. The program is intended to create a viable permit path for STRs within allowed areas. In the inland areas, STRs will be allowed in residential structures in commercial zones that already allow housing. They will not be allowed in residential zones and high-fire areas of the city. In the coastal zone, STRs will be restricted in areas zoned specifically for single-family and two-family residential, but homeshares will be allowed in residential and commercial zones if housing is already
CO U R T E S Y
KEYT
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anta Barbara Police dispatchers received multiple 9-1-1 calls just before 5 p.m. Tuesday reporting a traffic collision inside of City Lot 10, the parking structure behind Dargan’s Irish Pub. SBPD officers arrived to find that a white Tesla had collided with a pillar on the ground floor of the lot near the exit that faces the alleyway that leads to Anacapa Street. Officers immediately started rendering lifesaving aid to the driver and one passenger of the Tesla, and paramedics took over once the fire department and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene minutes later. Despite first responders’ efforts, the passenger died at the scene. The driver, who sustained major injuries, was transported to Cottage Hospital for further treatment. The incident is under active investigation and SBPD is not releasing any further infor—Elaine Sanders mation at this time.
COMMUNITY
Indigenous dancers and drummers from nations across North America competed for prize money at the annual Chumash Intertribal Powwow in Santa Ynez over the weekend. The event drew over one hundred spectators, despite the temperatures hitting triple digits. Although powwows are not customary in Chumash traditions, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians joined the powwow trail in 1965 to raise funds to bring running water to the reservation. It became an annual tradition for the tribe, and a way to celebrate the broader native community through cultural song and dance. Surrounding the dance circle was a pop-up marketplace selling native wares and food including fry bread and Indian tacos. Over the course of the weekend, more than $167,000 in money and prizes was awarded to dancers competing in age divisions from “Tiny Tot” to “Golden Age” and to the drummers setting the tempo. CONT’D ON PAGE 11
IMMIGRATION
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ocal leaders are speaking out after federal immigration enforcement was seen across northern Santa Barbara County on October 5, when masked ICE officers arrested at least 17 people in Santa Maria and Guadalupe, including the parent of an Allan Hancock College student in a campus parking lot Monday morning. Shortly before 10 a.m., 805 UndocuFund’s Rapid Response Network A masked ICE officer was caught on camera hitting a park car with reported the incident at Allan Han- his unmarked vehicle during an enforcement operation in Santa cock College, warning community Maria on October 5, 2026. members in a text message that ICE officers “took someone” from to the enforcement activity, and did not assist the campus. By midday, reports of ICE activ- in any way, Soto said. Allan Hancock College Superintendentity all across the city began to come into the 24/7 hotline, with more than a dozen arrests President Kevin Walthers said the college confirmed by legal observers in the area: at “strongly condemns immigration enforceworkplaces, in residential neighborhoods, ment actions that create fear and uncertainty near the North County Branch of the jail, on for our students and their families.” The latest wave of ICE activity, and the Main Street, outside apartment buildings and a local health center, and near a popular Mexi- arrest on a local college campus, has brought can grocery store. a renewed level of attention from the area’s Santa Maria City Councilmember Gloria most prominent politicians. State Senate Soto immediately issued a statement regard- leader Monique Limón said she was “deeply ing the arrest at Allan Hancock College. Soto disturbed” to learn about the ICE activity at confirmed that ICE officers detained the par- the Allan Hancock campus. Congressmember ent of a student in Parking Lot 2 and left the Salud Carbajal issued a similar statement, sayscene before college officials could respond. ing he was “appalled” by the ICE activity at a Allan Hancock officials were not notified prior local community college. —Ryan P. Cruz
va Marie Saint — award-winning actor and Montecito resident—died of natural causes on Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles. Born on the Fourth of July in 1924, Saint was 102. The Oscar-winning actor was famed for her roles in films that became classics—Elia Kazan’s On the Waterfront, Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, Otto Preminger’s Exodus—though as time passed, Leonard Maltin wrote that she found “few vehicles worthy of her talent,” in his Movie Encyclopedia. Married to Jeffrey Hayden in 1951, Saint would tell interviewers that her agent warned her that if she kept turning roles down, she’d never be a superstar. “I don’t want to be a superstar,” she would say. “I was having children.” Among her grandchildren is the Independent’s Tyler Hayden, who wrote about her career in 2009, saying, “She’s my grandma.” In the piece, Saint relates her history of choosing acting over teaching, with her parents’ blessing—“they didn’t go off screaming” — then making the rounds of N.Y.C. agencies, working in radio at first, variety shows in the new medium of television (“My first role was applauding off camera”), modeling, and how she learned about acting: “I tell young actors that they must study. ... They’re not ready for it if they don’t work at it.” She was nine months pregnant with her first child when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in On the Waterfront,
PAU L W E L L M A N
Movie Star Eva Marie Saint Dies at 102 Santa Maria Area Sees ICE Surge
Eva Marie Saint
opposite Marlon Brando’s Best Actor win. The film, considered one of the most evocative ever made in the U.S., swept the Academy Awards that year—director, screenplay, cinematography, editing, art direction, and Best Picture. The accolades being written about Eva Marie Saint speak not only to her timelessness but her ability to give “stunning” performances, in Pauline Kael’s words. It’s a filmography that is panoramic in its range: Superman Returns, The Stalking Moon, the television play The Trip to Bountiful, That Certain Feeling (with Bob Hope), Grand Prix (with Yves Montand), Because of Winn-Dixie, and many more that are bound to be broad—Jean Yamamura cast soon.
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BRIEFS
COUNTY
CONT’D FROM P.10
Supes Grapple with ‘Toxic’ Boat Wrecks TRAVEL HARRY RABIN
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erelict and abandoned boats have repeatedly wrecked on Santa Barbara County beaches, where cleanup is often a hazardous and expensive headache. Finding any feasible solutions has been a daunting task for the county, but the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday discussed ways to turn the tide. “When these vessels wash ashore or fail, they quickly become a public safety and environmental issue,” said Wade Cowper, chief of staff for Supervisor Roy Lee, whose office brought the item to the board. According to Cowper, the county has seen more than 31 boat wrecks since 2021, averaging out to six to 10 wrecks per year. Most boats are either uninsured or owned by people who do not assist in cleanup or cover related expenses. Cowper said they brought the item to the board in response to the City of Santa Barbara’s recent “enforcement changes” for its anchorage that “appears to have pushed more decrepit vessels into county waters,” shifting risk to county beaches, offshore marine ecosystems, and nearby coastal communities. Two wrecks hit Montecito’s Butterfly Beach in just one week this July. Removal, he noted, is not simple: it involves hazardous materials, heavy equipment, challenges with beach access and conditions, and coordination between multiple agencies. The boats can contain fuel, oil, sewage and other toxic materials that pose hazards to the community and environment, especially if the boats are damaged and left to break apart onshore.
Derelict boats, such as this one at Point Conception in 2025, sometimes run aground on county beaches, prompting quick cleanup efforts.
The current response is often reactive, after the boat has already run ashore. Karina Johnston with nonprofit Heal the Ocean—which often handles cleanups—told the board that they usually fund the removal, costing anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 or more per boat. “The earlier the county can intervene, the less likely a vessel becomes an expensive beach wreck,” Cowper said. “Prevention is key.” The supervisors voted unanimously to direct staff to identify options — such as potential amendments to county code, enforcement procedures, cost-recovery mechanisms, interagency agreements, or other policy or operational recommendations — for potential solutions around prevention, cleanup, enforcement and cost recovery for boat wrecks on county shores. The timeline is to be determined. —Callie Fausey
mental capacity to stand trial after her defense attorney declared a doubt as to her mental competency on 9/8.
Santa Barbara was recognized as the #5 Best Small City in the U.S., according to the results of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, released to the public on 10/6. Santa Barbara broke into the top half of the list following the responses from nearly 800,000 readers rating their travel experiences from across the country. Condé Nast Traveler called the seaside town of Santa Barbara a “sparkling gem framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean,” and a place where the weather is perfect, the coastline views are spectacular, and the red-tile roofs and white stucco “glow gold in the mornings and pink at dusk.”
COURTS & CRIME At about 5:30 p.m. on 10/4, Santa Barbara Police dispatch received multiple calls reporting a single gunshot heard on San Pascual Street between West De la Guerra and Canon Perdido streets and that an adult with a gunshot wound was being taken to Cottage Hospital by an acquaintance. According to SBPD Commander Ben Ahrens, the victim spent about four hours in the hospital before being released from care early 10/5. As of press time, no arrests have been made and there is not enough information to determine whether the incident was gang related. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Teresa Estrada-Mullaney rescheduled Ashlee Buzzard’s mental competency hearing in Santa Maria from 10/5 to 10/26 to allow for both court-appointed psychologists to submit their reports after Buzzard reportedly refused to be interviewed by one of the psychologists. The hearing will determine if the 41-year-old Vandenberg Village woman, who was arrested on 12/23/25 and later charged with the murder of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee, has the
PUBLIC SAFETY At about 1:30 a.m. on 10/6, county firefighters and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers arrived on the scene of a fire that broke out in a semi-truck’s trailer on southbound Highway 101 just south of Los Alamos and near Aliso Canyon Road. The driver of the semi was able to pull off the road and safely disconnect the trailer, which contained 35,000 pounds of produce, before the blaze consumed it, according to CHP’s Santa Maria office. The fire temporarily closed all southbound lanes of the 101 while crews knocked down the fire, and by 2:04 a.m. the flames were extinguished. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
STATE With new oil and gas leases on the horizon for federal waters off California’s coast, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law that secures protections for the state’s coastline. Assembly Bill 1448, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart, prohibits any new offshore oil and gas operations, under leases issued after 1/1/26, from using state-controlled offshore infrastructure. That means if oil or gas is drilled in federal waters off California in the future, operators cannot use existing infrastructure in state waters—such as oil rigs and pipelines—to produce, process, or transport that oil or gas. The new law, which takes effect in January 2027, comes as the Trump administration has proposed opening California’s coast to six new federal offshore oil leases from 2027-2030. California has prohibited new drilling in state waters for more than three decades, and the federal government has not issued a new offshore oil and gas lease off California since 1984. n
INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D
COMMUNITY
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OCT. 1 - 8, 2026
EDUCATION
District Puts Principal on Leave
2026 GENERAL ELECTION SBWPC Endorsements LOCAL RACES
Santa Barbara City Council · District 5 - Ian J. Baucke Santa Barbara City Council · District 6 - Gabe Escobedo Goleta City Council · District 1 - Luz Reyes-Martin Goleta City Council · District 2 - James Kyriaco Carpinteria City Council · District 1 - Mónica Solórzano Santa Barbara Unified School Board · Area 1 - Jacqueline "Inda" Karlsen
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No candidate reached the board's required two-thirds supermajority
CALIFORNIA STATE RACES
Governor - Xavier Becerra
Lieutenant Governor - Fiona Ma
The district has yet to provide an official reason for Curry’s suspension to the public. For now, Curry will remain on leave for an undetermined amount of time. Zuchelli did not specify whether she is on paid leave. Usually, after an administrator is placed on leave, the district conducts an investigation if there are allegations of misconduct, complaints from employees or parents, or other circumstances the district believes warrants review. There are several possible outcomes: the administrator returns to the school without disciplinary action; the administrator returns after receiving some form of reprimand or corrective action; the administrator is reassigned elsewhere in the district; or the district pursues formal disciplinary hearings to suspend or dismiss the —Callie Fausey administrator.
Farmer-to-Food Bank Bill Passes
State Controller - Malia Cohen State Treasurer - Eleni Kounalakis Insurance Commissioner - Jane Kim Superintendent of Public Instruction - Richard Barrera California State Assembly · District 37 - Gregg Hart
VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 39 Government-issued voter identification requirements
CONGRESSIONAL RACES
U.S. House · California Congressional District 6 - Richard Pan U.S. House · California Congressional District 22 - Randy Villegas U.S. House · California Congressional District 24 - Salud Carbajal U.S. House · California Congressional District 45 - Derek Tran U.S. House · California Congressional District 48 - Marni Von Wilpert
U.S. House · Nevada Congressional District 3 - Susie Lee U.S. House · Michigan Congressional District 8 - Kristen McDonald Rivet For information on other propositions, visit the
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Election Day: November 3 OCTOBER 8, 2026
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F
armers across California received welcome news on September 27 after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill extending the Farmer to Food Bank tax credit until 2032. The goal: help farmers save money and get food to people in need. Here’s how the tax credit works: Farmers who donate produce, dairy, meat, beans, and other items to food banks and document their donations can reduce their taxable income at the year’s end. The 15 percent credit, which started in 2011 and has been renewed twice before, would have ended in January. Foodbank of Santa Barbara County CEO Erik Talkin said the tax credit’s extension could help the organization expand its Farms to Foodbank program. The 18-month-old program came about after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) canceled its Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which paid small farms upfront for food that went to local food banks. Since the start of the Foodbank’s program, Talkin said, it’s gathered more than 718,000 pounds of local produce and raised more than $1 million to support the program. Programs like the Foodbank’s play an important role for small farmers by providing payment upfront. By its nature, the statelevel tax credit requires farmers to wait until filing their annual taxes to see financial gain
CO U R T E S Y
Secretary of State - Shirley Weber
THE INDEPENDENT
Washington Elementary Principal Arielle Curry
STATE
Attorney General - Rob Bonta
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rielle Curry, the principal of Washington Elementary School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, was placed on administrative leave on September 28 for an undisclosed reason. “Because this is a personnel matter, we are unable to share further details,” said district spokesperson Ed Zuchelli. In the meantime, he said, Executive Director of Elementary Education Denise Alvarado will “oversee daily campus operations to ensure support for students and staff,” on top of her regular responsibilities. Curry took on the role of principal at Washington in 2022, after previously serving as the principal of Santa Barbara Junior High. The Independent received messages in support of Curry from members of Washington Elementary’s school community. “There has been no shortage of discussion in the community about Principal Arielle Curry lately,” reads an anonymous community members’ letter, referring to speculation around why she was put on leave. “Unfortunately, much of it has been fueled by rumor and assumption, and some of it has gone well beyond questions about a particular situation and become a judgment of her character,” it says. The letter goes on to claim that “many” people in the Washington school community “think highly of her, support her, and want her back at Washington.”
A Foodbank of Santa Barbara County distribution site
for their businesses. Megan Raff owns Dare 2 Dream Farms, a 40-acre, family-owned farm, with her husband in Lompoc. She said that while the credit is a good thing and could reduce food waste, especially for larger farms, margins are tight for small farmers, and they may not be able to wait to get paid for their food. That’s why, Raff said, the USDA’s Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program filled an important role in supporting small farms. In June, California voted to fund a statewide version of the program for one year, though details on how the program will operate on the state level —Christina McDermott are still unclear.
POLITICS
NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D
Dreams and Nightmares
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Laura Piña Helps Hart Pass Survivors’ Bill
Laura Piña (center) attended Monday's press conference with Assemblymember Gregg Hart, Ethan Bertrand, and members of Moms Demand Action at the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office.
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by Nick Welsh aura Piña works as a teacher and academic counselor at Allan Hancock College and Santa Barbara Community College. Her job, in effect, is to make other people’s dreams come true. Ten years ago this month, Laura Piña got married. Whatever her own dream might have been did not come true. In June 2024, Piña filed legal papers for divorce. On July 9, Piña's husband shot her. One of Piña's doctors told her to research the type of ammo he used. It’s called an “RIP round,” she said. “It’s like they combined eight bullets tied up as one,” she said. It ripped up her spleen, gallbladder, and other internal organs. Piña’s mother and two daughters got the call that she’d been rushed to the hospital. The next 30 days or so, she spent under the care of one medical establishment or another. At a press conference this Monday morning, she thanked her mom and kids for getting her back. They never left her side, she said. Aside from a small, puckered dimple on her left elbow, no one would have a clue what she’d been through. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. State Assemblymember Gregg Hart called attention to the moment by celebrating the key role Piña played in getting a bill passed, making it easier for victims of domestic violence to cut the legal ties that bind the abused and abuser together. The bill passed unanimously in both houses before being signed by the governor. The press conference was held outside the District Attorney’s Office and across the street from the courthouse where Piña first filed her divorce papers. Piña’s two daughters were on hand. Hart, Piña, and DA John Savrnoch all spoke. Domestic violence cases, Savrnoch stated, made up his office’s most prevalent caseload. The bill, better known as AB 1875, abolished California’s law requiring a six-month cooling-off period before divorce papers can be finalized. Texas, Hart said, required only a 60-day cooling-off period. “It’s not often we look to Texas for inspiration for our legislative agenda,” he joked. For Piña, the six-month requirement was a big deal.
“We couldn’t find him to serve him papers,” she explained. The six-month clock wouldn’t begin ticking until he got served. “That meant I had to pay an attorney to be looking all over for him.” Her husband would not be served, Piña noted, until the month after he shot her. The FBI arrested him in Seattle. He’s been in custody since. Psychologically, she said, the cooling-off requirement is a big deal, too. Victims of abuse have so much they need to deal with. Then there’s the gauntlet of medical bills to be navigated, a whole new bureaucracy to learn. There’s a tendency to isolate, a sense of shame to combat. Even with her husband behind bars, Piña says she still doesn’t feel safe. She’s not sure when she will. It takes time for the physical numbness from where the bullet went in to go away. Even after all the surgery, Piña said she discovered she still had a part of the bullet just under her skin. She squeezed it out herself. Late last September, Piña reached out by text to Ethan Bertrand, Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s right-hand man, whom she had known from her volunteer work on criminal-justice reform. Bertrand called Piña right back. They got together, and she told him her story. She wanted some legislative action. She wanted the six-month waiting period deep-sixed. Bertrand researched the hell out of it. In no time at all, a bill was drafted. There was no opposition: 13 members of the state legislature co-sponsored it; two were Republicans. The bill gives judges the discretion to waive the six-month requirement if there’s a threat of domestic violence or if both parties agree. From introduction to the governor’s signature, Piña’s bill took just seven months and two weeks. By Sacramento standards, that’s lightning fast. “I feel a sense of accomplishment,” Piña said. “But I never felt this would happen to me.” But even with this bill being passed, Piña’s marriage is not yet dissolved. “I’m still married,” she said with a shrug. The criminal case now proceeding against the man who shot her, she said, is interfering with her divorce. n
Laura Capps, County Supervisor Hannah-Beth Jackson, former State Senator Roy Lee, County Supervisor Susan Rose, former SB Supervisor Joan Hartmann, County Supervisor Janet Wolf, former SB Supervisor Lois Capps, former Congresswoman Margaret Connell, former Goleta Mayor Helene Schneider, former SB Mayor Dave Davis, former President CEC Sheila Lodge, former SB Mayor Peter Haslund, former SBCC Trustee Marty Blum, former SB Mayor Lauren Hanson, Goleta Water District Cathy Murillo, former SB Mayor Cori Hayman, Montecito Water District Oscar Gutierrez, SB Councilmember Farfalla Borah, former Goleta Water District Wendy Santamaria, SB Councilmember Susan Epstein (Zuber), frmr Goleta School Brd Paula Perotte, Goleta Mayor Leah Stokes, UCSB Professor Env Politics David Silva, Buellton Mayor Linda Krop, Environmental Lawyer Jonathan Abboud, SBCC Board Trustee Oran Yo Y ung, Bren School Emeritus Ellen Stoddard, SBCC Board Trustee Dick Flacks, UCSB Emeritus Ethan Bertrand, Goleta School Board Richard Appelbaum, UCSB Emeritus Kate Ford, Co Planning Commissioner Melinda Palacio, past Poet Laureate Gabe Escobedo, SBUSD Boardmember Larry Behrendt, Indivisible Leadership Devon Wardlow, SB Planning Cmsnr Myra Paige, Indivisible Leadership Donald Deluccio, SB Planning Cmsnr Ian Paige, Indivisible Leadership Lucille Boss, SB Planning Cmsnr Ron Zonen and Louise Palanker Nancy G. Weiss, Community Leader Lois Phillips, PhD., Communications Cons Lee Heller, Community Leader Dennis Thompson, FAIA, Green Architect Spenser Jaimes, Harbor Commissioner Bob Stout, Downtown Merchant titles for identification purposes only
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County of Santa Barbara County Planning Commission NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Ministerial Subdivisions and Lot Line Adjustments Amendments On October 28, 2026, the County Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider the Ministerial Subdivisions and Lot Line Adjustments Amendments to the Coastal Zoning Ordinance. The County Planning Commission will consider making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the following:
Amending the Coastal Zoning Ordinance (Case No. 26ORD-00007) to: o o
Allow land divisions for up to four lots (parcel maps), and lot line adjustments and condominium maps of 50 or fewer units without a public hearing if the project is associated with a qualifying affordable housing project, and Establish a simplified ministerial lot line adjustment process for projects that are minor and administrative in nature.
Finding these amendments exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15265.
For additional information, please email the project manager, Corina Martin, at martinc@countyofsb.org. The hearing will take place at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at: Planning Commission Hearing Room County Engineering Building 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 For current methods of public participation for the hearing please see https://www.countyofsb.org/1625/County-Planning-Commission, or the posted agendas. The posted agenda will provide a more specific time for this item. However, the order of the agenda may be rearranged, or the item may be continued. Staff reports and the posted agenda will be available on the Wednesday prior to the hearing at the Commission’s website above or contact the Planning Commission Recording Secretary at dvillalo@countyofsb.org or (805) 568-2058 for alternative options. Attendance and participation by the public is invited and encouraged. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, American Sign Language interpreters, sound enhancement equipment, and/or another request for disability accommodation may be arranged by contacting the Hearing Support Staff at (805) 568-2000. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable the Hearing Support Staff to make reasonable arrangements. If you challenge the project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the County Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing. 14
THE INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INDEPENDENT.COM
A
fter a long and turbulent case, one suspect in the fatal State Street stabbing that occurred during Fiesta last year has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Sergio Rivas, 31, pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon with force likely to cause great bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance while armed. He also pleaded guilty to two enhancements: a second strike allegation and causing great bodily injury. He was sentenced to prison in August. Charges related to assault were in connection to the August 1, 2025, stabbing, while possession allegations were related to his arrest on August 2. Rivas has been in custody at Wasco State Prison, according to state records. He will be eligible for parole in March 2033. Rivas was one of three suspects identified in the stabbing that took the life of Anthony M. Bisquera Hartley, 30, and injured multiple others, including Rivas and another man identified only as J. Ramos. The two other suspects arrested in connection with the incident were Luis G. Terrazas, 29, and Juan F. Rios, 28. Originally, Rivas and Rios were charged with the murder of Bisquera Hartley with special allegations of committing the crime
“to benefit a criminal street gang and personal use of a knife.” Rivas allegedly delivered the fatal stab to Bisquera Hartley’s chest, piercing his heart. However, in a surprising change of circumstances, the DA’s office dropped the murder charges against the two suspects after a video came to light allegedly showing that Bisquera Hartley was armed with a knife and initiated the fight. Rivas still faced several other charges: assault with a deadly weapon against a separate victim, identified only as J. Ramos, with the special allegation of causing great bodily injury, as well as multiple firearm-related charges. As for Terrazas, attempted murder and gang-related charges were similarly dismissed. He still faced other charges related to stabbing Rivas, to which he pleaded not guilty, and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 9 but was shot and killed at Bohnett Park on February 20 while out on bail. The DA’s Office filed charges against three people in connection with Terrazas’s death: Two are being tried in Santa Barbara Juvenile Court. The third, 19-year-old Jorge Angel Hurtado of Ventura County, has pleaded not guilty and is set to appear on October 28 for a preliminary hearing. —Callie Fausey
PUBLIC SAFETY
Equine Evac and Earl Warren Showgrounds Reach Agreement
A
rental agreement between Santa Barbara Equine Assistance and Evacuation Team, aka Equine Evac, and Earl Warren Showgrounds was reached, and as of last Monday, Equine Evac’s emergency trailer was returned to the property. “It wasn’t exactly what we wanted, but it’s doable,” said Equine Evac Director Ronda Hathaway. “We’re back on site where we need to be and ready to go.” Back in July, Equine Evac received a notification from Earl Warren that they would have to start paying $600 a month to store their emergency equipment — held in a 30-foot shipping container and one trailer — in the showground’s parking lot. Equine Evac provides the materials (buckets, feed, logging system, etc.) and the team of trained volunteers to care for evacuated animals free of charge, while Earl Warren, designated as South County’s large animal evacuation center, provides the barns and facilities. Over the past 35 years, Equine Evac and Earl Warren have operated under both written contracts and handshake deals stating that “rent” would be set at zero for the storage of Equine Evac’s equipment. This agreement changed as part of a broader contract standardization effort facilitated by Earl Warren CEO Ben Sprague after it was brought to his attention that providing space for free could be considered a “gift of public funds” and prohibited by the California State constitution.
Santa Barbara’s equestrian community was outraged by the proposed $600 rental fee, and a petition quickly garnered more than 800 signatures. At the Earl Warren’s 19th Agricultural District board meeting in August, about 40 concerned members of the public showed up to criticize the proposed rent and express how valuable Equine Evac is to the community. Public comment ran so long that the vote to approve the rental fee was postponed. In September, Hathaway was contacted by the board of directors, and she met personally with directors Teresa McWilliams, Michael Medel, and Miguel Avila for a “nice, long conversation.” This meeting resulted in CEO Sprague reaching out to her, and the two sat down and came to an agreement. Hathaway described both as “very positive meetings.” A contract, which expires in January 2027, was signed by both parties, and the emergency trailer, which had not been allowed back on the property after it was moved for the August rodeo, returned to the Earl Warren parking lot on September 28. Hathaway confirmed that the rental fee is less than the $600 originally proposed but did not want to disclose the current agreed upon amount. “We do have quite a few donors that are stepping up that are going to help us pay for it,” said Hathaway. Hathaway’s mindset: “Water under the bridge,” she said. “Let’s get back to a good, healthy working relationship for the community.” —Elaine Sanders
NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D
ELECTION 2026
Four Run for Two Goleta Council Seats
CO U R T E S Y
I N G R I D B O S T R O M F I L E P H OTO
G
by Jean Yamamura oleta elections of the past have sometimes fielded only one candidate per open seat, but this year districts 1 and 2, representing the eastern half of the city, each has a pair of contestants. Two are incumbents, Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco; one is a newcomer, Rollin Gartzke; and one, Phebe Mansur, is new to the ballot but not to city politics.
CO U R T E S Y
I N G R I D B O S T R O M F I L E P H OTO
Incumbents Luz Reyes-Martín and James Kyriaco Face Challengers Rollin Gartzke and Phebe Mansur in Nov. 3 Election
DISTRICT 1 LUZ REYES-MARTÍN
Luz Reyes-Martín, who has lived in Goleta for 15 years, is running as the incumbent to represent the city’s northeast quadrant. Hers is a familiar face around town, not only as a councilmember and former Goleta school boardmember, but also as a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood. ReyesMartín’s popularity won her seat in 2022 over a longtime incumbent. She’s been putting in election work this year too, knocking on doors. “I don’t take anything for granted,” she said. As she’s canvassed her district, she’s heard lots about city services — and about trees. After what must be the hottest month ever, Goletans are asking for more shade. Her solution is to add trees that have more canopy, which she’s discussed with the city manager. People also asked about the firearms retailer moving next door to a preschool. “It has been very emotional and upsetting,” she acknowledged. “I think there’s locations that might be more appropriate currently zoned industrial.” A former land-use planner, Reyes-Martín speaks traffic. She got complaints about the traffic signals and the recent installation of cameras at intersections, which she said just tell the signal that a vehicle is waiting. “Those cameras are not recording or storing any data.” Looking beyond her district, Reyes-Martín sees a future in STEAM careers at the new Google-plex on Castilian Drive: “They are not just leasing space; they are buying property,” which she sees is a signal tech is investing in Goleta. She told UC Santa Barbara’s chancellor, Dennis Assanis, they should connect technology companies’ interest in Goleta with the university’s booming math- and sciencefocused community. She wants to see Goleta kids have a shot at those good jobs.
ROLLIN GARTZKE
Rollin Gartzke restores pool tables for a living and does some bookkeeping on the side. He was urged to run for council by Rich Foster, who ran for mayor a couple of years ago. Tall, lanky, and quotable, Gartzke lives near Stow Grove Park and complains the park doesn’t close its gates at night. “Bathrooms are wide open, lights blaring all night long, and it’s inviting campers. The only reason there aren’t campers is because I drive my Mercury through there late at night with my amber lights in the back window. I clear people out in about 30 seconds,” he said with some pride. His Mercury was formerly a police car. After going through the city’s candidate orientation, Gartzke expressed admiration for city staff. “I’m surprised that they do so much with the few people that they have,” he said. But he has yet to attend a City Council meeting. “I have a lot going on,” he said, “so I have a little bit of research to do.” He used to comment on city doings at Nextdoor, though he said he’s been more “chill” lately. Of the gun shop controversy, however, “I mentioned that, you know, people are
Pictured from left: District 1 Councilmember Luz Reyes-Martín is facing challenger Rollin Gartzke while District 2 Councilmember James Kyriaco is running against challenger Phebe Mansur.
using the children as pawns,” he said. “There’s never, to my knowledge, been any incident of somebody going to a gun store and then walking next door to a preschool. And if they’re worried about the kids, the kids are young enough; they’re not even going to know what that store is.”
DISTRICT 2 JAMES KYRIACO
Walking toward San Jose Creek where the construction of new biking and walking paths is underway, James Kyriaco patted a waist-high crosswalk button at Kellogg Avenue, part of the Americans with Disabilities Act infrastructure being added to Hollister. For Kyriaco, it’s all about safety: “What really inspired me Michael Montenegro’s film Crossing Hollister Avenue. It talked about all the people who were hit and killed, or hit and injured.” He added that once it’s done, the community will have a chance to reevaluate it all. Kyriaco, whose day job is at Pueblo Radiology human resources, listed housing and childcare among his top priorities. Childcare is one reason he supported the city’s sales tax measure in 2022: The funds now generate an extra $250,000 for the city to spend on childcare programs. During the immigration raids last year, Kyriaco said they redirected $100,000 to 805 UndocuFund, the Immigrant Legal Defense Center, and LEAP (Learn Engage Advocate Partner). Kyriaco described the housing development, Heritage Ridge, to be an example of patience and partnership. For years the units were to be all market rate, but now one out of three of the 332 units will be affordable “for low- and very-low-income residents and families, seniors, veterans, people who were at risk of homelessness, so that’s a big deal,” Kyriaco said. Just east of San Jose Creek, the new double roundabout is key to Hollister’s circulation plan. “Here’s why the roundabouts are important, because imagine all of those cars going through trying to get on the 217 to go to UCSB, trying to go through Old Town to get to their jobs.” The cars don’t exist yet, but they will once almost 3,000 homes on county ag lands at South Patterson are built out.
PHEBE MANSUR
Phebe Mansur’s campaign T-shirts say it all: “Life Is Better with 4 Lanes.” Hollister Avenue runs outside the door to her shop, and this construction has not been good for business, she said, one of the many issues she’s spoken
up at City Council about. “This feels worse with traffic stopped, horns honking, people yelling at each other,” said Mansur. “The other version, it flowed.” She heard from other businesses that their revenue was down 40 percent, which prompted her to look at her own books: down 57 percent, “and I know of at least one business that’s down even more.” (While individual businesses may have had losses, Old Town overall saw increases in sales from 2024 to 2025 of 7 percent, according to Goleta sales tax data.) Her interests extend to road maintenance. She argued that low-cost, short-lived slurry seals end up costing the city more than just fixing the road: “You spend more money upfront and chip seal, like they do on the freeway, and it’s good for 10 years plus.” She’s also concerned about the rising cost of business licenses, lighting district fee increases, and Goodland Guns. “He was my neighbor for five years,” Mansur said of the gun shop owner, Dan Ashton. “One of my customers came in … and she was really concerned about the gun store.” But when Mansur explained how she knew Ashton, “[her customer] didn’t feel as, you know, stressed about it. I think it’s just talking to people.” Mansur came to Goleta from Orange County to attend UC Santa Barbara in 1984, graduating in political science and film studies. She started CopyRight Printing in 2007, and she said she now feels like a steward for Old Town. Even so, she called the new splash pad at Jonny Wallis Park a “boutique project,” saying the $235,000 maintenance cost was wasted money that could be better spent cleaning sidewalks in Old Town and regularly picking up trash. Mansur, who often recruits candidates for District 2, joined the race because her potential candidate bowed out a week before the filing date. “Oh shoot,” Mansur remembered thinking, before filling out the paperwork to run herself.
CAMPAIGN MONEY
The campaign contributions for the Goleta candidates is fairly flat, thanks in large part to Mansur’s zero total and Gartzke not soliciting funds. Reyes-Martín and Kyriaco each had about $11,000 as of September 2026, receiving contributions from family members, fellow Democrats, and also $1,000 from the county firefighters and deputy sheriffs’ unions. The largest giver in Goleta is the Price family — owner of multiple gas stations and other properties around town — with $3,000 to Reyes-Martín from John Price and $7,000 to Kyriaco from Price and his son, Jason Price. n
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In the Sea
W
ith ongoing climate change, ocean warming, sea-level rise, impending extreme El Niño flooding, changing the name of Calle Cesar Chavez to the Chumash name Limuw (translation: “in the sea”) may be more appropriate than city decision makers —Jan Timbrook, S.B. realize.
Of Cars and State
T
he headline “Jim Knell’s Big Move: S.B. Real Estate Mogul Launches Drive to Get Cars Back on State St.” and the petition proponents’ framing are deeply misleading. The petition seeks a referendum to overturn the State Street Master Plan, but the Master Plan does not close State Street to cars. Nothing in it requires a “pedestrian promenade” or a closure to automobiles during the interim phase. The automated bollard design exists precisely so a future council could restore full-time traffic at the touch of a button. That flexibility is why councilmembers who oppose an entirely car-free State joined a 6-1 vote to adopt it. The companion Title 31 amendments likewise permit, rather than mandate, flexible access. Revoking them would strip the city of its ability to adapt access block by block. The plan is about far more than cars or no cars. Most of it is vehicle-neutral: wider sidewalks that allow dining without parklets, better signage and lighting, more mid-block crossings, and long-overdue stormwater and utility upgrades to support downtown housing. Car access, funding, and timing are fair questions. But those issues deserve careful consideration and targeted fixes, not a petition that takes the “nuclear option” of scrapping the entire plan. When you hear “the city is spending $96 million to close State Street to cars” or that you are voting to “open State,” understand that you are being misled. Read the Master Plan on the city’s website before you sign, and before you vote should the referendum —Richard Lloyd, S.B. reach next year’s ballot.
Vote Taft-Vazquez
I
’m voting for Genevieve Taft-Vazquez. Here’s why you should too. Some people will pick the safe choice, the person with the tidy stack of endorsements. They’re fine. City Council has been running on “fine” for a long time
and look where it’s gotten us. I want someone better than fine. When I met Genevieve, I was struck by how she asked questions to get to the heart of my gripes with the city. I felt heard. That alone sets her apart from others, who just talk and never give you a turn. Genevieve grew up here, the daughter of a teacher. Santa Barbara High School, then Yale, Wharton, and Johns Hopkins. She could have cashed in that résumé anywhere. She came back instead, and she’s been showing up at the schools and on the city’s Neighborhood Advisory ever since. Our city’s books are the thing nobody wants to talk about. She wants to build our reserves instead of spending them down and ask hard questions to balance the budget. I’m a progressive, and so is she. She wants our kids to be able to afford to live here and a downtown worth walking through. We keep being told to pick one—the progressive who’ll spend, or the hawk who’ll cut what we love. Genevieve is the first candidate who doesn’t make us choose. Santa Barbara has been handed a winning lottery ticket, and her name is Genevieve. We’d be fools not —Suzanne Cohen, S.B. to cash it in.
Turn It Down
I
recently attended the movie Hope at the Riviera Theatre. I was really concerned about how loud the scenes were over and over. I ran a sound decibel meter on my iPhone for about 20 minutes. The loudest reading was 128. That level is consistent with jackhammers and gunshots and can cause permanent hearing loss. Movie theaters have a responsibility to do a better job of protecting their patrons from too-high sound —Douglas Toler, S.B. levels.
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Be Like Venice?
T
he proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance provides the City of Santa Barbara with two options: keep the status quo and become more like Venice, Italy, where half of the Venetians no longer live in their city, or pass the ordinance and free up hundreds of new rental units for our citizens and work force. —Dennis Thompson, S.B.
The Independent welcomes letters of less than 250 words that include a daytime phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Send to: Letters, S.B. Independent, 223 E. De la Guerra St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101; or fax: 965-5518; or email: letters@independent.com. Unabridged versions and more letters appear at independent.com/opinions. INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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OCTOBER 8, 2026
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CONT’D
Racism Made Visible
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B Y M AYA JOHNSON ast week’s article
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COURTESY
Does Santa Barbara Unified Have an Issue with AntiBlack Harassment?
on an incident regarding Blackface at San Marcos High School was posted to our social media platforms, and as the Independent’s social media manager, I got to dig through the comments. Here are just a few of them: “Not even close to Blackface. Can the liberal media stop reaching.” “They were not being The original AI-generated meme (left) and the image in question. racist. Imitation is also a form of flattery.” district or at San Marcos High is unclear. “Why are people so sensitive? I don’t What we do know is that in November 2024, think it’s a big deal.” the school board established the Committee “So, the thinking here is that these girls Advancing Black Achievement, Wellness, are racist and don’t like Black people and and Excellence, a standing advisory meant to are making fun of these super cute kids. To review incidents like this and see that conseme it looked like they were trying to imitate quences are dealt out. Then, in October 2025, them because they thought they looked cool, the Independent reported on an incident at end of story.” San Marcos High School in which a substitute teacher was removed after reportedly “A small, harmless joke.” Here’s the background: About two weeks reading the N-word aloud in a reading of Of ago, a group of unnamed students at San Mice and Men. Not long after, in June 2026, Marcos High posted a photo of themselves a group of Black students attended a Santa to TikTok imitating a group of dark-skinned Barbara school board meeting reporting that boys. This TikTok trend usually involves racial slurs had increased in use across camusers imitating the various poses of these puses. In August 2026, a Black teacher from AI-generated boys to the song “Back 2 Back.” San Marcos High School even submitted an Trends like this are common, but what opinion piece to the Independent describmade this post so controversial is the ing an incident in which they found a paper girls’ unnaturally dark skin and a caption with the N-word (hard R) written on it in that read: “Meet the group chat, N-word, large letters. N-word, N-word.” The ninja emoji used is So, clearly there is an issue with racial actually a placeholder for the pejorative, one harassment persisting in Santa Barbara Unithat’s commonly used to bypass TikTok’s fied and at San Marcos high in particular, moderation system, part of a popular code that’s affecting Santa Barbara’s Black comspeak that’s proliferated on this platform munity. And the administration knows it. with emojis like corn being used to replace After the incident, San Marcos High principal Dare Holdren wrote the following the word “porn.” People had a lot of different reactions. in an emailed message to the San Marcos Some questioned whether or not this community: counted as Blackface at all. From the photos, “Racial stereotypes are harmful and have it looks like the girls’ skin tones could have no place in our schools. Regardless of intent, just been the result of a bad spray tan. Some students need to understand the impact argue that the girls were just participating in their words, images, and actions can have on others.” a fun trend. But, as of now, with this particular situaHowever, if you put the post in the context of a school district in which there have tion, it’s unclear what, if any, consequences been multiple accusations of racist behavior these students have received. But what’s even toward Black students and teachers in recent more unclear is whether or not students at history, the issue becomes a bit trickier. San Marcos High are able to actually underWhether or not what these girls did quali- stand the harm their actions and words, fies as Blackface, there’s a clear line being intended as a joke or not, can bring to their crossed here, something that when you see it few Black classmates and teachers. just makes you feel icky, whether it’s the color Issues of racial harassment are very rarely of the girls’ skin, these AI-generated Black Black or White. A lot of harm can come from boys being used as the butt of a joke, or the unintended consequences. Maybe our quesuse of the N-word or its proxy in the caption. tion shouldn’t be “is this Blackface or not,” The Black population in Santa Barbara but rather how do these incidents affect makes up less than 2 percent of the city, those who remain in the minority and what though the exact number of students in the can we do to educate those who aren’t. n
VALERIE AMPARAN
S.B. School Board District 4
*Non-Profit/Business Leader *Parent in SB Schools *Spanish Speaking *Supports Greater Emphasis on Reading and Math *Fiscal Accountability
ENDORSED BY Santa Barbara Teachers Association Santa Barbara Women's Political Committee Democratic Women of SB County Current SB School Board Members Sunita Beall, Celeste Kafri Past SB School Board Members Kate Ford, Ed Heron Current Goleta School Board Member Vick Ben-Yaacov Former SB County Supervisor Janet Wolf PAID FOR BY VALERIE AMPARAN FOR SCHOOL BOARD 2026 FPPC # 1493217
VALforSB.org INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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obituaries William Benjamin
11/22/1925-09/16/2026
Entrepreneurial Science Publisher, Dies at 100 William (“Bill”) Benjamin, a successful serial entrepreneur, content publisher and market validation expert, was a decorated military veteran who served in both WW II and The Korean War and died on September 16, 2026. He was the first academic publisher to offer stock options to his authors and science advisors who were leading scientists from Caltech, Stanford, MIT and Harvard. Bill was born on November 22, 1925, in Providence, Kentucky, to Mary Leslie and Lucien Benjamin. He graduated from The University of Kentucky in 1950 with a combined degree in English and Journalism, and was immediately recalled to active military duty in Stuttgart, Germany where he served as the Editor of the Seventh Army newspaper and division PR officer. Earlier, in 1944-45, he had joined the army infantry and ultimately fought against the Germans in France, serving with the 42nd Rainbow Division. At the end of combat, Bill was awarded the Bronze Star for a successful voluntary I&R mission behind enemy lines in the battle for Strasbourg, France. Last year he was presented the Medal of Honor by the mayor of Strasbourg for his part in the battle to reclaim that city from its German occupancy. In 1952, Benjamin joined the College Department of the McGraw-Hill Book Company in New York City as a textbook salesperson and editorial scout and was subsequently promoted to textbook acquisition editor. He left McGraw-Hill in 1960 to start his own science publishing company, W. A. Benjamin, Inc.(WABI), that produced over the next ten years some 500 science textbooks, monographs and teaching aids including the works of 38 Nobel Prize winners in physics, chemistry, biology and 20
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To submit obituaries for publication, please call (805) 965-5205 or email obits@independent.com mathematics. WABI was also the first college publisher to offer low-cost paperback versions of high-level monographs in order to reach the graduate student market and was acquired in 1970 by AddisonWesley. Renamed BenjaminCummings Publishing, it was in turn acquired by Pearson Publishing, the ultimate and present owner. Fulfilling a lifetime dream to live in Europe, learn another language, and participate in another political system, Bill migrated to France in 1971, a country he much admired through his wartime experiences there. In Paris, Benjamin launched his second company, The Center for Business Information (CBI) that provided American corporations with competitive information and research services on European companies. His staff developed and published a directory of European business information services, organized conferences on corporate competitive analysis, and provided French corporations with information on U.S. company operations. Benjamin also assisted the American CIA operatives in Paris with logistical support for State Secretary Kissinger’s successful peace treaty negotiations between Vietnam and the USA, and the installation in Lisbon, Portugal of a Soviet operations surveillance service. In 1976, he was appointed by the Italian government to advise their commerce department on the design and production of online business and financial databases to support and extend their corporate information services. Decidedly homesick for weekend American football, genuine hamburgers, and a real milkshake, Benjamin merged CBI with a French competitor and moved to Boston in 1979 where he started a consulting firm called Business Research Corporation (BRC). They specialized in business database design and production and were initially engaged as content design consultants by the Harvard Business Review. They later provided online product research and design services to the Christian Science Monitor, Harper-Rowe, Atlantic Monthly, Paine Webber, INC Magazine and A.C. Nielson. In 1980, Bill developed and launched a new financial research database called
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INVESTEXT that provided online access to the stock and industry analysis reports from over 30 leading investment banking firms. This startup was later converted to an integrated financial research service delivered by satellite (FIRST CALL) and was acquired by ThomsonReuters in 1981. A Harvard Business School case-study on the development strategy of BRC by Professor William Sahlman, a board member and consultant, was published in 1982. Hoping to escape the snowy winters of Boston, Bill moved once again to Santa Barbara, California in 1983, and switched his content publishing interests to online travel information. There he designed and produced the first PC travel guide on a floppy disk called TRAVELDATA that was aimed at corporate travelers and business travel agencies. American Express, American Airlines, OAG and Fielding Travel Guides subsequently deployed various versions of this electronic travel guide as an information tool for their subscribers and customers. Benjamin sold TRAVELDATA to Fielding Guides in 1985 and became a part-time consultant on new product market validation, and a full-time tennis player and annual voyager back to Provence, France. Throughout his business career Benjamin invested substantial personal time as a corporate director and board member to a number of nonprofit organizations including NTIS, The Anderson School of Business and UCSB’s School of Engineering. He enjoyed serving as a student advisor on several entrepreneurial business plan competitions, and on the Board of both the MIT Forum and the Botanical Garden in Santa Barbara. He was notably competitive as a mid-range tennis player at every stop in his many residences, and as a one-time runner-up senior squash champion in Paris. However, Bill’s real passion was his constant quest for a new and more interesting restaurant offering a native cuisine he had never tasted. Bill is survived by his daughter Michele who resides in Greenbrae, CA, and son Malcolm, who lives in Chico, CA. Bill is also survived by his sister, Barbara Jones of Greenville, SC.
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Dr. JoEllen Eng
JoEllen “Jody” Baum Eng, 77, of Santa Barbara, died September 21, 2026, after a battle with leukemia. JoEllen was a caring and devoted psychologist. In her free time, she loved painting, poetry, swimming, Hawaii, and her golden retrievers, Luke and Beckett, who were her babies. She is survived by her chosen family, Cynthia Farrell Foged (Eric); nieces Brooke Foged, Lindsay Willcox (Tony), and Bridget Colbert (Eddie); five great-nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date. At her request, her ashes will be scattered on her beloved Maui.
Charice Ann Morel 1931-2026
Charice Ann Morel passed away at the age of 95 in August 2026, one day before the one year anniversary of the passing of her husband, Dr. Arthur Morel. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her children, Marsie Peters, Chuck Morel, Marion “Dodie” Maney and Art Morel, Jr., as well as their spouses, 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Her daughter, Melissa Morel, passed away in 2020. Growing up in Spokane, Washington, Charice was very active in ballet, Girl Scouts, and school clubs and was a drum majorette for her high school. Charice spent a year at the University of Montana before moving to New Orleans, Louisiana with her parents. She entered the Charity Hospital School of Nursing where she met Art Morel, a young medical student attending LSU. After only three months of
dating, they were married on New Year’s Eve Day and that marriage lasted over 73 years. The family moved to Santa Barbara in 1962 where Charice happily settled into the role of wife, mother and eventually, grandmother and great grandmother. She taught by example to do your best, to try new things, and to be kind, thoughtful and accepting of others. She acted as family historian and bound us together through stories and food. Charice and Art shared an enviable marriage, based on mutual respect, kindness, and always striving to put the other’s needs ahead of their own. As an active and youthful couple, they enjoyed tennis, skiing, backpacking in the Sierras, sailing, dirt bike riding, and traveling. They frequently included their children’s friends in these activities and new acquaintances were always welcome. They were very involved in the local wine community and had many lifetime friends. Charice had a creative and curious mind and a heart bent on helping others. So beyond juggling five children, she pursued her own interests such as Sumi-e with her beloved instructor, Mrs. Yamamoto, as well as oil and watercolor painting. She was a docent at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, a Braille Institute volunteer, an avid antiques collector, an eclectic jewelry designer, and a dollhouse making aficionado. She prepared several classes for the adult education program at City College, most notably, a series called, “Aging: How To Prepare and Embrace It.” Charice was a remarkable woman who made everyone around her a better person. She was a good listener, a sound confidante, a welcoming hostess, and a supportive and gentle spirit. She will be remembered in many hearts for her beauty, her blue eyes, her sense of humor and her cheerful disposition. Rest in peace, Charice. Be at peace with Art in heaven. We cannot wait to see you again.
obituaries Thomas L. Williams Jr. 06/18/1939-09/07/2026
Tom just wanted to say the following, I had a great ride, a great and loving wife for 62+ years who are the best person I have ever known, a great family and great friends an would do most of it all over again except the very last years, as they largely sucked due to health problems and the infirmities of Old Age. Tom Williams of Prescott, AZ and Santa Barbara, CA, born June 18, 1939, and died 9/7/26. Tom’s early and later years were spent in the South Coast Region of Santa Barbara, County. He was a Fourth-Generation member of the Santa Barbara Family. He grew up in Goleta, California where he spent much time on the family ranch located on La Patera Lane1 the site of the Darnel Hill Adobe, which was ranched in order by his Great Grandfather George M. Williams, his Grandfather James G. Williams and his father, Thomas L. Williams. During his adolescence he attended Goleta Union School, Santa Barbara Junior High, Santa Ynez High and New Mexico Military Institute. After high School Tom worked for the U. S. Forestry Service on a tanker crew in Los Padres National Forest until he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he was posted lo the 2nd Engineer Group in the Republic of South Korea @OK) in security and communications. After his service he was involved in the Family Ranching and Wildlife Management Business. He then attended and graduated from Santa Barbara City College, received a B.A., from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego. During law school Tom worked part-time ai Cabrillo Pacific Law School. After graduation he became the Assistant Dean and a Professor at the law school. In 1974, He returned to Santa Barbara and started the California Law Institute, (now the Santa Barbara College of Law). While at the Institute,
To submit obituaries for publication, please call (805) 965-5205 or email obits@independent.com he was the Dean and a Professor of Law in courses in Wills, Trusts and Estates. After his time at the Law Institute, Tom entered the practice of law with an emphasis on Estate planning and Business Law. He also kept his hand in teaching at Santa Barbara City College where he was an instructor in courses on Business Law. He later served as the Corporate Counsel for Lite Composite Systems, Inc., and for the Col1egiate Licensing Company, Inc. He was also a Trustee for the Santa Barbara for Historic Preservation. Tom loved the outdoors, bird watching, fly fishing, tennis and hunting. He also loved teaching. He had a Lifetime California Community College Credential as an Instructor, Supervisor and Chief Administrative Officer. He was committed to the conservation and intelligent utilization of our natural resources; He would rather fly fish than almost anything. Tom is pre-deceased by his father, Tom Sr., his mother, Elise C. Anderson, his stepmother, Kathleen, his brotherin-law Chuck Sizemore and his brothers Stephen and Gary Williams, his son, Michael Williams and his niece Holly Williams. He survived by his incredible and wonderful wife, Mary Anne Sizemore Williams, his granddaughter, Mallory, his sisters-in-law Lynn Williams and Connie Sizemore and many nephews, nieces and cousins, as well as his fly-fishing partners, Steve Brown, Phil Lee and Jim Hill. Tom always said his life was a great ride. No services are planned.
Marion Jeanette Jeffries
10/07/1927-09/18/2026
Marion Jeffries, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died on Sept. 18, 2026 at age 98 in Santa Barbara, CA. Marion was born on Oct. 7, 1927 to Albert and Emma Haas. She grew up in the agricultural communities of Perris and
Riverside, CA, where her father was a citrus scientist. While in junior high school, a classmate named Stan caught her attention. Years later after she graduated from UCLA, they married at Grace Methodist Church in Riverside on June 25, 1949. The June 25 wedding date would later be shared by two more generations of family members. Stan and Marion shared 76 wonderful years of marriage, raising a family and later enjoying travels across the United States and abroad. Stan and Marion welcomed three children to their family: Steve, Karen, and Alan. She later became a grandmother to Scott, Julie, and Angie, and a great-grandmother to Abigail. She was a steady presence in their lives, providing abundant love and passing down skills such as baking, sewing, making crafts out of cardboard boxes, and using rubber stamps to decorate a birthday card. Marion was a kind, cheerful, and loving person who did not like to complain about anything or be in the spotlight. She was generous, often saving up lemons from her tree to give to family. If she received a compliment on her shoes or accessories, she would take them off and give them away. Marion was a beloved kindergarten teacher in the Riverside Unified School District for 30 years, positively shaping the lives of hundreds of young learners. Her students, past and present, were excited to see her around town after school hours and would yell out, “Mrs. Jeffries!” Her family joked that she had a fan club wherever she went. Two more generations of family members followed in her footsteps and became educators. When Karen and her family moved to Santa Barbara, Stan and Marion left behind their longtime Riverside community and relocated to a condo in Goleta. The community pool came to good use – especially, for her granddaughters’ birthday parties. Marion also enjoyed attending St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Sunday mornings with three generations of family members. For holiday meals, her family knew she would have a festive outfit and table decorations despite insisting it would be a casual get-together with “no tights.” One Easter, she carved a sheep, complete with wool,
out of a stick of butter. When the family was gathered around the table she would let out a happy sigh and say, “We are just so thankful…” Stan and Marion later moved to a mobile home park to what they lovingly referred to as the “tin box.” They lived independently and actively well into their 90s before moving to assisted living. Marion enjoyed a variety of activities at the assisted living center, such as sitting with friends in the dining room, going to exercise classes, and listening to musical performances. We will miss Marion dearly but also rejoice in the wonderful life she lived, and that she is now reunited with her husband, who died in late May. Marion is survived by her children Steve (Kathie) Jeffries, Karen Wootton, and Alan Jeffries; grandchildren Scott Jeffries (Jordan Sudermann), Julie Wootton-Greener (Cody Greener), and Angie Wootton (Ava Agree), and great-granddaughter Abigail Greener. She preceded in death by her husband Stan Jeffries, her parents, and son-in-law Jeff Wootton.
Carol Anders (née Terrell)
09/07/1941-10/04/2026
Carol Anders (née Terrell) was born in Canistota, South Dakota, on September 7, 1941, and passed away on October 4, 2026. After completing nursing school in the early 1960s, she moved to Santa Barbara, California, and later settled in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1972. She was married to Dean Anders from 1977 until his death in 2015. Carol was a nurse for more than 40 years and was deeply involved in her community. She served as mayor of Solvang in the early 1990s, as a city councilwoman, and as a member of the Solvang Rotary Club. She also served on the boards of Allan Hancock College, Solvang Theaterfest, Atterdag Village, and numerous other organizations. In addition, she was an active volunteer at Santa Ynez
Valley Cottage Hospital. Carol is survived by her loving husband, Michael Kington; her children, Gina Cordero (Pete Chiapella), Aaron Cordero (Becky), and Bruce Anders (Natalie); her sisters, Penny and Paula (Charlie); her nieces and nephews; and her six grandchildren, Emma, Andrew, Emily, Erin, Kelsey, and Olivia. Services will be held at St. Marks-in-the-Valley, Los Olivos at 11:00am on Friday, October 23, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St.Marksin-the-Valley Episopal Church.
Dolores “Cordero” Trujillo
07/14/1951-07/23/2026
Dolores was unexpectedly called home to be with the Lord on July 23rd having just celebrated her 75th Birthday. Known to her loved ones as Nina and Auntie D. Born and raised in Santa Barbara as generations who have gone before her, a graduate of SBHS, making many long time friends along the way. She worked at the phone company on Chapala, as an assembler in Goleta, and at Alpha Thrift on State where she became known for her warm personality, kind heart, and how much she loved to talk. Dolores enjoyed crocheting, making jewelry, and selling Tupperware over the years. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings. Leaving behind three generations of nieces and nephews, the many kids she took care of along the way, and her family at Restoration Church in Goleta. As the Lord carries her home she is embraced by all who gone before. She will be remembered for her big heart, giving spirit, and the many lives she touched along the way. A service at Restoration Church will be at 11am on October 19, 2026 and the graveside service will be held at Goleta Cemetery at 1pm with a Celebration of Life to follow at Tuckers Grove. All are invited to come share memories, and remember the beautiful person she was.
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COURTESY OF THE LAND TRUST
Cover Story
Saving Naples, Once and for All A
COURTESY OF THE LAND TRUST
With a Purchase Agreement in Place, the Land Trust Faces a $16 Million Fundraising Push by Callie Fausey
22
THE INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INDEPENDENT.COM
cherished and wondrous piece of the Gaviota Coast has held its breath fo r 140 years under the pressure of development. It is now very close to exhaling a sigh of relief. The people and organizations who have spent generations protecting it are now on the cusp of not only buying the land, but preserving it in perpetuity and eventually opening its gates to the public. The Naples property (officially known as Santa Barbara Ranch), comprising more than 1,000 acres just west of Goleta, went up for sale last year. Again. It had been put on the market many times before. Ambitious developers came and went. Conservationists — and even the land itself, open-minded eccentrics believe — have long played defense. If all goes according to plan, the fought-over landscape will never see the proverbial pickax. The aforementioned conservationists are working to procure the whole $81 million enchilada. The buyer is the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open land against development interests. To date, that amounts to nearly 60,000 acres across Santa Barbara County, including the Arroyo Hondo Preserve, just a stone’s throw away from Naples. “The Land Trust has been around for 40 years, and working to conserve the Gaviota Coast has been a part of that the whole time,” said Executive Director Meredith Hendricks. The organization views Naples as part of its next chapter. The budding, but not yet final, sale begs the question: Is this the end of the Naples saga? Or is this just the beginning of a marvelous future?
ELAINE SANDERS
The Town that Never Was Naples has been dubbed the “gateway” to the Gaviota Coast. It comprises rolling hills, coastal terraces, sweeping views, and unmatched charm. It is an open space of grand beauty and, in scientific terms, a biodiversity hotspot. It’s teeming with critters, including those of the endangered variety. They hide within its tall grasses, wildflowers, oak trees, and sage scrub. Offshore, a coral reef sways with giant kelp and marine life. It is a living bridge between land and sea that’s attracted simple admirers, surf-seeking trespassers, valiant protectors, and wealthy homestead-builders. To the Chumash, it was sacred land, home to ancient villages, and one of the last outposts against violent Spanish colonizers. It does have spirit, some say—forces beyond human comprehension. Despite all the lengthy and expensive efforts to tame it, the landscape remains wild. IIt holds a sea of mustard grasses and unrealized dreams. It was always too big a fish—speculators, speculators, like osprey, dug in their talons, but none could complete the heavy lift. In summary: no infrastructure, no water, no public support, no dice. Right now, the Land Trust says, there is a rare opportunity to permanently deflect that relentless pressure to build—to to let the land simply exist, to invest in helping it flourish in all its undeveloped glory. The urge to turn Naples into something different dates back to the late 1800s, when hand-drawn maps envisioned more than 400 townsites. But the railroad tracks that were meant to bring people there never materialized, and the city was never built. More than a century later, the idea resurfaced. In 2008, after a decade-long judicial process, the county approved Naples for 71 lots primed for seaside mansions, called “Santa Barbara Ranch.” That never materialized either, despite the exhaustive efforts of Orange County developer Matt Osgood and land-use consultant Mark Lloyd. An article written at the time by veteran Indy reporter Matt Kettmann described a ping-pong match between Kettmann and Osgood, showing how competitive the real estate developer was. But even he couldn’t seal the deal—despite despite his real-estate finesse and his ability to “whoop” Kettmann in table tennis. Amid local opposition, financial pressures, and land constraints, the project went belly-up and the property was foreclosed upon by First Bank. It was then purchased by David Liu, a wealthy investor based in Arcadia, for an undisclosed sum in 2015. In all, he invested $80 million in the property, according to lister Kerry Mormann, a broker who specializes in coastal ranch sales. Mormann has described Liu as a “quiet guy” and said he could only speculate about why Liu is selling now, or whether he ever seriously considered development. When the property went on the market, the Land Trust—in partnership with their brand-new conservation ally Wild America Fund—got to work. Their motivation went beyond this particular site. With the acquisition, Naples would become a “conservation transition between Goleta and the Gaviota Coast,” connecting a mile of coastline with low hills that almost reach Los Padres National Forest, Hendricks says. Beyond its local significance, a leading biodiversity meta-analysis identified the land as a national conservation priority. In total, the property covers 1,027 acres on both sides of the highway, including about 470 acres of the historic Naples townsite, as well as an 18-acre freshwater lake and a private cabin set within the ranch. Two homes and a few other parcels that are independently owned were excluded from purchase. One, dubbed “DMF,” is owned by a doctor from Diamond Bar, California, who has fought his own decade-long battle to build a seaside estate. All in all, it is a momentous purchase, a literal and symbolic buffer against urban sprawl.
Deal or No Deal? The purchase agreement itself is $65 million, and in partnership with the Wild America Fund (WAF), $40 million is already secured. The fund was established last October, catalyzed by long-brewing frustration among procedurally slow-moving conservation groups over how they could possibly contend in hyper-competitive real estate markets. Michael Bell, WAF’s cofounder and CEO, started his career at the Nature Conservancy, a national environmental nonprofit. “When I first started in conservation doing deals, I was always sitting across the table from a family,” Bell recounted. “In my last years of the Nature Conservancy, it felt like I was always sitting across the table from a hedge fund.” The WAF was conceived as a sophisticated, “capitalready partner” to do deals on behalf of biodiversity and “move at the speed of business,” putting a real dog in the fight for natural spaces. Six months before the property hit the market, the two groups were figuring out ways to partner with each other, Hendricks said. “We were just in the beginning of those conversations and figuring out how we could work together to get some big things done in Gaviota, and boom, this thing hit the market,” she said. The groups moved quickly to secure the purchase agreement with money in hand. Donors — a combination of foundations and philanthropic individuals — have played a large role, made up of “people who get it” in terms of valuing conservation and understanding what it takes to compete in the modern real estate market, Bell said. “It’s not going to be all the funding needed for a deal, but we have a significant starting place that therefore allows us to compete with other buyers,” Bell explained. The plan is to assign the property to the Land Trust before entering escrow, so the Land Trust will own and manage the property. “If conservation didn’t have a competitive, compelling offer as compared to other offers on the table — which there were — there would be no deal,” Bell said. “That’s not commentary about anyone on the other side of the table. But that’s just the nature of it.” Out of a total price of $81 million— $65 million for the land acquisition and $16 million for startup costs and ongoing stewardship — the Land Trust still needs to raise $16 million. It’s a big chunk of change. The last few months have been spent studying the property and getting ready to own and manage such a high-profile stake of the Gaviota Coast, Hendricks said. Though they are now seeking public funding, “the project will be primarily privately funded,” she noted. Bell said they are not celebrating, yet. They’re thinking about the long road ahead. Job one, he said, is unwinding 140 years of development drama — legal
work, water agreements, and the like—and then establishing a preserve, which is a significant undertaking. The target closing date is the end of December, with possible extensions and pending grant applications to the Wildlife Conservation Board and State Coastal Conservancy. Even with state aid, they will need help from the community. “We are aiming to get this done quickly,” Hendricks said.
What’s Next The Land Trust’s vision is to create a nature preserve at Naples to protect its biodiversity and cultural resources, while restoring habitat and coastal access. The organization would also partner with Chumash communities to support “Chumash access, connection, and leadership, guided by respect for Indigenous knowledge, history, and ongoing relationships with the land.” “We recognize the historic use of this space and of the importance of the near coastal areas for surfing and other forms of recreation,” Hendricks said. “But it’s going to take us a little bit of time to figure that out. So, we do need people to be patient while we work out the best way to honor and take care of this property.” The Land Trust expects a multiyear planning process involving tribes and stakeholders. Future trails, gathering areas, and other opportunities to experience the preserve will be thoughtfully considered in relation to public safety, sensitive habitats and species, cultural resources, and the unique character of the landscape, Hendricks said. These efforts will build upon a legacy of advocacy established by the Save Naples Coalition, the Surfrider Foundation, and, prominently, the Gaviota Coast Conservancy. Prior to pursuing the deal, Hendricks said, she checked with the GCC to make sure they were not “duplicating efforts.” “Once we get through acquisition, I would fully expect GCC to be part of the stakeholders process for preserve design,” she added. They expect to establish relationships with their neighbors, including the few with private estates in the Naples area, as well as Naples and Dos Pueblos ranches. “We really need people’s help,” Hendricks said of the $16 million they must raise. “We have 16 million reasons why this isn’t done yet.” It feels a bit unreal, she added. “Our work is so difficult. These deals are hard; the real estate market in Santa Barbara is tough,” she continued. “These things don’t happen overnight. It’s a long time of holding our breath for everything to work out. And right now, we’re just focused on this hard job we have ahead of us to finish this campaign, and we n will not celebrate until we are done.”
continued >>>
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ENDORSED CANDIDATES LOCAL FEDERAL SALUD CARBAJAL
United States Congress
STATE PROPOSITIONS NO
PROP 39
LOCAL STATE GREGG HART
Prop 39 makes voting harder, r puts voters' r, voters r ' rs personal information pers r onal info rs f rm fo r ation at ri rrisk, sk, k costs k, taxpayers taxp x ayers xp r hundreds of millions, and delays rs election results.
California State Assembly
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SUSAN SALCIDO
SB County Superintendant of Schools
RICARDO VALENCIA
SB County Supervisor 5th District
CITY OF SANTA BARBARA GABE ESCOBEDO
SB City Council, District 6
DOMINIQUE LUJAN
SBCC Board Trustee, Area 5
OSCAR ZAVALA
SBCC Board Trustee, Area 7
VALERIE AMPARAN
SB Unified School Board Area 4
CITY OF GOLETA
SUPPORTED CA DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES XAVIER BECERRA
Governor of California
FIONA MA
Lieutenant Governor of CA
ROB BONTA
Attorney General of CA
SHIRLEY WEBER
Secretary of State, CA
LUZ REYES-MARTÍN
Goleta City Council District 1
MALIA COHEN
Controller, CA
JAMES KYRIACO
Goleta City Council District 2
ELENI KOUNALAKIS
Treasurer, CA
RICHARD BARRERA
Superintendent of Public Instruction, CA
KATHLEEN WERNER
Goleta Water District, Area 2
CITY OF CARPINTERIA MONICA SOLORZANO
Carpinteria City Council District 1
CITY OF LOMPOC JEREMY BALL
City of Lompoc, Mayor
CITY OF BUELLTON DAVID SILVA
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City of Buellton, Mayor
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OCTOBER 8, 2026
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SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Cover Story
The Long Afterlife of Naples T COURTESY OF THE LAND TRUST
an Ohio real estate speculator in 1888, during a feverish California land boom. John H. Williams was vacationing in Santa Barbara with his wife, Alice, when they purchased a 900-acre piece of the original Los Dos Pueblos land grant. The price was $50,000, or roughly $1.8 million today. John and Alice had a vision: They would build, from the ground up, an Americanized version of the ancient Italian city of Naples, a favorite among wealthy U.S. travelers. They drafted a gridded map with more than 250 city blocks with street names like Capri, Florence, and Pompeii.
The Williams Family
The resort town, they told investors, would feature an Italian-themed dance hall, post office, schoolhouse, livery, and chapel, all anchored by the posh Crescent Beach Hotel at its center. Some Victorian-era buildings were even constructed, including a Wells Fargo barn and a smaller Naples Hotel, which still stand today. But the couple miscalculated. Their pitch didn’t attract enough financing, and the train tracks to the area that the Pacific Railroad Company had promised were long delayed. By the time the tracks reached the townsite in 1901, the speculative boom had collapsed and Williams had died. His map, however, lived on and set the stage for the development tugs-of-war that would follow.
A Coast Before Colonization
Five hundred years before anyone thought to call the place Naples—and for centuries before that—the Chumash people occupied two separate but interlinked villages on either side of Dos Pueblos Creek. The inhabitants of Mikiw and Kuya’mu spoke a distinct “Dos Pueblos dialect” and the exposed cliffs below the bluffs provided a steady stream of asphaltum that sealed their mighty fishing vessels, called tomols. Unlike most early Californians, the Chumash slept in framed beds raised off the ground. Their villages were meticu-
by Tyler Hayden
lously arranged with windbreaks, storage structures, and sweat lodges built near fresh water for post-ceremonial plunges. When they weren’t occupied with hunting, gathering, and trade, they played a competitive sport resembling field hockey, gambled with marked bones and dice, and convened to sing, dance, and tell stories. On October 16, 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, dropped anchor in the waters off Mikiw and Kuya’mu. The entry in Cabrillo’s log that night read: “anchored in the evening opposite dos pueblos.” The name stuck and is one of the oldest surviving monikers in the county. Cabrillo and his men watched as the Chumash paddled through the surf to greet them. Their tomols were loaded with gifts of dried fish and acorn meal. The Europeans reciprocated with glass beads and brightly colored cloth. With the pressure of winter approaching and their supplies dwindling, Cabrillo had to decline the Chumash’s invitation to come ashore, and he set sail the next day. Two hundred years passed before Spanish colonization of the region began in earnest. Gaspar de Portolá’s overland expedition in 1769, comprising 63 people and 100 mules, stopped and camped at the mouth of Dos Pueblos Creek, where the Chumash entertained them late into the night. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespí wrote in his journal that the site would be an excellent location for an outpost with plenty of fresh water and limestone for construction. He noted, with some curiosity and horror, that Chumash chiefs were allowed two wives. He also complained the festivities were “sufficient to rip our eardrums to pieces.” Mikiw and Kuya’mu did not survive the bloody Mission era, when Chumash communities throughout the Santa Barbara Channel succumbed to disease, relocation, and forced labor wrought by Christian invaders. After Mexico secularized the California missions in the 1830s, enormous sections of the territory were converted into private ranchos.
The Map That Wouldn't Die
In 1842, Mexico granted approximately 15,000 acres along the coast to Irish-born physician Nicholas A. Den. The rancho stretched from what is now western Goleta to present-day El Capitán State Beach. Den had become a Mexican citizen the year before and would go on to run Rancho Dos Pueblos as a cattle operation. Den’s claim survived the lengthy federal process for confirming Mexican land grants after California’s transfer to the United States. But when Den died in 1862, leaving his wife, Rosa, and 10 children, disputes over the estate, combined with economic upheaval and the devastating drought of the 1860s, helped break the vast rancho into smaller holdings.
COURTESY OF THE LAND TRUST
he name “Naples” sprang from the mind of
From Chumash Villages to a Victorian Resort Scheme
The original 1888 map of the Naples townsite
Out of that fragmentation emerged the piece of land that would become Naples. Enter the aforementioned John H. Williams and his dream of the city that never came to be. Williams’s widow eventually sold the property in 1917 to an oilman, who a few decades later passed it to Samuel B. Mosher, founder of Signal Oil and Gas. In 1977, Carpinteria-based Morehart Land Company purchased a large portion of the old Naples townsite, reviving a legal question that had been dormant for decades: Were the lots drawn on John Williams’s subdivision map still valid parcels? At the time, Naples was zoned for agriculture, generally allowing one home per 10 acres. That restriction became even tighter after passage of the California Coastal Act. By the early 1980s, much of Naples had been rezoned to require roughly 100 acres per residence. Santa Barbara County officials tried to resolve the resulting conflict between Williams’s old subdivision map and modern planning regulations through a new set of rules. The Morehart family challenged those rules, and the dispute eventually reached the California Supreme Court. In the 1994 case Morehart v. County of Santa Barbara, the court struck down the county’s guidelines. The decision did not automatically validate every lot shown on the 1888 map, but it weakened the county’s effort to neutralize the old subdivision, and it gave subsequent landowners far more leverage in future development negotiations. By the late 1990s, developer Matt Osgood had acquired about 485 acres of Naples containing 219 of the recognized lots. Rather than simply rebuild Williams’s old street grid, Osgood began pursuing a plan to consolidate development rights into a smaller number of large estates. And by 2000, the central conflict at Naples was firmly established: an open, rural landscape on the ground, and a centuryn old town still very much alive on paper.
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TRADE MY TROUBLES TOUR
FRI
Just Announced! On-sale Fri.
MAR
5
Joan Osborne and Christian McBride present Relish Reimagined
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Joan Osborne’s landmark album, Relish, she has banded together with Christian McBride to bring a new spin to the music with Relish: Reimagined. Osborne’s “One of Us” became a defining anthem of the era, and its impact continues to resonate with longtime fans and new audiences alike. 11x GRAMMY® winner Christian McBride has blazed an extraordinary trail as one of the most preeminent musicians of his time.
Lobero Theatre Santa Barbara, CA APR 2, 2027 with special guest Paper Wings
Just Announced! On-sale Fri. SAT
NOV
28
with Taylor Ashton
Join us for the warmest and fuzziest night ever. A fully interactive holiday sing-along show like no other!
FRI
NOV
20 Step into the enchanting world of Rachael & Vilray, where vintage-inspired pop, jazz, and theatrical storytelling come alive with sparkling harmonies and irresistible charm.
LOBERO THEATRE ENDOWMENT FOR AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC 26
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OCTOBER 8, 2026
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@loberotheatre
LOBERO.ORG 805.963.0761
THIS SUNDAY!
Terry Hill Presents Milt Larsen’s
GREAT FAMILY FUN!
Two shows 2 & 6:30 PM
SUN. OCT. 11
The country’s longest running magic and variety show is celebrating its 70th anniversary! A dazzling all new revue featuring award-winning magicians, It’s Magic! brings to the stage the finest stars of magic, comedy, sleight of hand, and stage illusions. Sponsored by ParSonics Studio in association with Barbara White Design
The GRAMMY® and Emmynominated artist has built a devoted following with her soulful folk-pop sound and a catalog of gold and platinum hits, including “The Way I Am,” “Girls Chase Boys,” and “You and I,” along with her latest album, For the Dreamers.
THURS
OCT
22
Julian Lage Quartet
THURS
NOV
12
with special guest Laura Itandehui
Charles Lloyd Quartet
Prolific guitarist Julian Lage’s new project was forged for a special quartet featuring bassist Jorge Roeder, drummer Kenny Wollesen, and keyboardist John Medeski — close collaborators who had never before recorded together. The music emphasizes interaction, restraint, and real-time discovery over virtuoso display.
A dream quartet brings together soulful melodies, fearless improvisation, and an unmistakable spirit of collaboration. Don’t miss this extraordinary night of jazz, where seasoned artistry meets fresh energy and spontaneous musical magic.
feat. John Medeski, Jorge Roeder, Kenny Wollesen
LOBERO THEATRE ENDOWMENT FOR AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC
featuring Bill Frisell, Larry Grenadier and Kweku Sumbry
@loberotheatre
LOBERO.ORG 805.963.0761
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Animal Liberation Animal Liberation Orchestra Orchestra
Munkafust Whatever Forever Salty Strings DJ Darla Bea A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION – ALL ARE WELCOME!
$35 GAUCHOFEST+: $55 WITH BEER & WINE GAUCHOFEST:
(21YRS + INCLUDES 3 DRINK TICKETS)
Food Trucks Beer & Wine Games Photo Ops. Kid’s Zone & More... ADVANCE PURCHASE INCLUDES PARKING
October 17, 2026 UCSB Commencement Green, 1 PM - 6 PM alumni.ucsb.edu/gauchofest
WITH THANKS TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSORS: 28
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INDEPENDENT CALENDAR
oct. 8-14
the As always, find the complete listings online at independent.com/events. Submit virtual and in-person events at independent.com/eventsubmit.
COURTESY
FARMERS MARKET SCHEDULE THURSDAY
Carpinteria: 800 block of Linden Ave., 2:30-6:30pm
FRIDAY
TV at the Pollock: Fallout Watch a special screening of the 10/8: Season 2 premiere episodes of the retro-futuristic TV series
Fallout, which returns to the wasteland of post-nuclear America and follows former vault dweller Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), who is pursuing her father and along the way joins forces with the notorious outlaw known as The Ghoul (Emmy-nominated Walton Goggins), all while Maximus (Aaron Moten) struggles to reconcile his sworn allegiance to the increasingly militaristic organization. Stay for discussion with director and UCSB alumnus Frederick EO Toye. 7-9pm. Pollock Theater, UCSB. Free. Call (805) 893-4637. carseywolf.ucsb.edu/events
10/8: Westmont Downtown Lecture: Having Fun with Everyday AI and Robotics: Life Implications Engineering professors Dan Jensen and Kristin L. Wood will lead this interactive lecture and hands-on exploration of artificial intelligence and robotics. Attendees should bring a smartphone or smart device to participate. 5:30pm. Keith Center, Westmont Downtown, 29 W. Anapamu St. Free. Call (805) 565-6051.
westmont.edu/westmont-downtown
10/8: BRAVE NEW WORK 2.0: New & Emerging Technologies in the Hands of Artists Join for the last day of this annual symposium featuring insights and discussions
10/8-10/11, 10/13-10/14: Ensemble Theatre Company Presents Buyer & Cellar ETC’s Brian McDonald will reprise his award-winning performance as Alex, an outof-work actor who obtains the most eccentric employment: working in the private shopping mall in the basement Barbra Streisand’s Malibu estate with Barbra as the sole customer. The play previews on October 8 and 9 and runs through October 25. Thu., Tue.-Wed.: 7:30pm; Fri.-Sat.: 8pm; Sun.: 2pm. The New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St. $25-$119. Call (805) 965-5400. etcsb.org/whats-on
10/8-10/10: The Theatre Group at S.B. City College Presents Clue You’ve played the board game, you’ve seen the cult classic film, now watch the action unfold in this madcap comedy as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard race to find whodunit in Boddy Manor before the murderer finds them. 7:30pm. The play previews on October 8 and shows through October 24. 7:30pm. Garvin Theatre, SBCC West Campus, 721 Cliff Dr. $10-$32. Call (805) 965-5935. theatregroupsbcc.com/current-season
FRIDAY 10/9
COURTESY
Studio Artists Annual Open Studios Fall Art10/9: Ojai ists Reception and Self-Guided Tour This annual
ojaistudioartists.org
TUESDAY
Old Town S.B.: 500-600 blocks of State St., 3-6:30pm
SATURDAY
WEDNESDAY Solvang: Copenhagen Dr. and 1st St., 2:30-6:00pm
FISHERMAN’S MARKET
SATURDAY Rain or shine, meet local fishermen on the Harbor’s commercial pier, and buy fresh fish (filleted or whole), live crab, abalone, sea urchins, and more. 117 Harbor Wy., 6-11am. Call (805) 259-7476.
cfsb.info/sat
10/9: The Chrisman California Islands Center & Santa Rosa Island Research Station Exhibit Reception: Current Findings This art was created by students
in art, science, and technology. There will be a lecture: Architects of Reality, a panel, closing remarks, and a closing VIP reception. 9am. Various locations and prices. Email michael@brandwellarts.com. bravenewworksb.org
event begins with an opening reception followed by the opportunity to experience a wide range of original artwork that includes painting, sculpture, fiber art, mosaic, collage, jewelry, glass, prints, and mixed media from 70 artists’ studios in a self-guided tour over the next two days. Proceeds go toward Ojai Studio Artists’ work in the arts. Fri.: Reception: 5-7pm. Ojai Valley Museum, 130 W. Ojai Ave., Ojai. $25. Call (310) 991-8912 or email Cynthia Martin yolanda@yolandaberbman.com.
SUNDAY
Goleta: Camino Real Marketplace, 10am-2pm
Montecito: 1100 and 1200 blocks of Coast Village Rd., 8-11:15am Downtown S.B.: Corner of State and Carillo sts., 8am-1pm
Shows on Tap COURTESY
THURSDAY 10/8
BY TERRY ORTEGA & OLIVIA ISON
from California State University Channel Islands and made with artifacts sourced from the collaborative marine debris project to highlight the importance of restoring the critical intertidal and near shore ecosystems of the islands. 5-8pm. Chrisman California Islands Center, 4994 Carpinteria Ave., Carpinteria. Free. Call (805) 220-6414.
tinyurl.com/Current-Findings
SATURDAY 10/10 10/10: OktoBEERfest at Dutch Garden Join at the Garden on Saturdays through October 31 for happy-hour pricing (two for one all day), sausage platter special, and live music. 11am-8:30pm. Dutch Garden Restaurant, 4203 State St. Free. Call (805) 453-4556 or email madeleine@thenaturalcafe.com.
Automatic
SOhO Restaurant 10/8-10/12, 10/14: & Music Club Thu.: Fri.: Bobby Alu, 9pm. $25-
Dean Johnson with Emily Hines, 8pm. $23. Ages 21+. $30. Ages 21+. Sat.: Benise, 7:30pm. $35-$110. Sun.: Musical Moments with Lois Mahalia, 1pm. $10-$25. Mon.: SBCC Big Band Jazz, 7pm. $20. Wed.: Automatic, Donzii, 8pm. $28. Ages 21+. 1221 State St. Call (805) 962-7776. sohosb.com Donzii
10/8: Music Academy of the West
10/9: The Granada Theatre Lang
Mariposa Concert Series: Richard O’Neill & August Baik, 7:30pm. $65-$80. Hahn Hall, 1070 Fairway Rd. Call (805) 969-4726.
Lang, 7pm. $70-$160. 1214 State St. Call (805) 899-2222. granadasb.org
musicacademy.org
10/8: Validation Ale The Ripleys, 6:30pm. 102 E. Yanonali St. Free. Call (805) 500-3111. validationale.com 10/8-10/9: M.Special Brewing Co. (Goleta) Thu.: Carly Powers, 5pm. Fri.: The Maclovia Sin, 7pm. 6860 Cortona Dr., Goleta. Free. Call (805) 968-6500.
mspecialbrewco.com
10/8-10/12: The Red Piano Thu.: Live music, 5pm. Free. Fri.: Live music, 3pm. Free. Sat.: Live music, 3pm. Free. Sun.: Live music, 4pm. Free. Mon.: Church on Monday: The Ray Jaurique Trio, 7:30pm. $5. 519 State St. Ages 21+. Call (805) 358-1439.
dutchgardenrestaurant.com/events
theredpiano.com
10/10: Benise: Spanish Nights by Candlelight Experience the passion of
10/9: Carr Winery Brian Kinsella & Friends, 7pm. 414 N. Salsipuedes St. Free.
flamenco and the fire of Spanish guitar and dance in an acoustic and intimate candlelight setting with Emmy Award–winning and world-renowned guitar virtuoso Benise. 7:30pm. SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, 1221 State St. GA: $35-$40; VIP: $110. Call (805) 962-7776. sohosb.com/events
PLEASE CONTACT THE VENUE TO CONFIRM HOURS AND EVENT CANCELLATIONS OR POSTPONEMENTS.
Email info@carrwinery.com
carrwinery.com/event
10/9: Chumash Casino Los Farmerz, 8pm. $105-$200. 3400 E. Hwy. 246, Santa Ynez. Ages 21+. Call (800) 248-6274.
chumashcasino.com Volunteer Opportunity
10/9: The Grand on State Janis Mann: The Carmen Sessions, 7:30pm. $49$99. 1218 State St. Email thegrandonstate@gmail.com.
thegrandonstate.com/events
10/9: S.B. Bowl JUNGLE with Special Guest Rio Kosta, 7pm. $66-$136. 1122 N. Milpas St. Call (805) 962-7411.
sbbowl.com
10/9-10/10: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. Fri.-Sat.: Live music, 7pm. 137 Anacapa St. Free. Ages 21+. Call (805) 324-4461. figmtnbrew.com/events 10/9-10/10, 10/14: Maverick Saloon Fri.: Dusty Bojangles & the Shooting Breeze, 8:30pm. Sat.: Faultline, 8:30pm. Wed.: Kim Richey, 7pm. 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Free. Ages 21+. Call (805) 686-4785.
mavericksaloon.com 10/9, 10/11: Carhartt Family Wine Fri.: Teresa Russell, 5pm. Sun.: Carly
Powers, 2pm. 2939 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. Free. Call (805) 693-5100.
carharttfamilywines.com/events
CONT'D ON PG. 35
Fundraiser
Civil Discourse
Protest
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Oct.
8-14
THE
SATURDAY 10/10
TUESDAY 10/13
10/10: Operation: Goodbye Pink Paint on Hollister Avenue You are invited to join Supervisor Laura Capps and the County Public Works Department for a volunteer day to paint over the pink wall. All painting supplies will be provided, and service hours are available. 10am-12:30pm. Corner of Hollister Ave. and Magna Vista St. Free. Email PWmobility@countyofsb.org.
tinyurl.com/GoodbyePinkPaint
10/11: Downtown Classic Car Show S.B. Nite Life Car Club S.B.
tinyurl.com/CarShowSB1011
10/11: Nature, Nurture & Connection Join Sacred Sisters at a peaceful sanctuary where rescued horses, donkeys, goats, and chickens are given a second chance. Begin with a grounding practice, take a tour of the ranch to connect and cuddle with the animals, create a mandala, and enjoy a gentle movement practice, lite bites, and wine. 2-4pm. Second Chance Ranch (address given upon registration). $60. Email sacredsisters111@gmail.com. sacredsisters111.com/events
10/11: Trinity Choir: Choral Evensong A treasure of the Anglican/Episcopal tradition and the Christian practice of sung evening prayer dates back centuries and has developed into Evensong in English cathedrals, combining songs, scripture, psalms, and prayers. 5pm. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1500 State St. Free. Call (805) 965-7419.
Second Annual Spirits in the Air: 10/13: Potent Potable PoetryHalloween Event A group of invited poets will read their work, and the
work of others, about libations of all sorts, hosted by S.B. Poet Laureate George Yatchisin, food writer for the S.B. Independent. Featured readers will include Mary Brown, Stephanie Barbé Hammer, Rebecca Horrigan, Robert Krut, Michaela McGinnis, Joshua Minjarez, Elizabeth Pérez, David Starkey, Emma Trelles, and Chryss Yost. 4:30-5:30pm. The Good Lion, 1212 State St. Free. tinyurl.com/2026-Potent-Potable
COURTESY
MONDAY 10/12 10/12: Foro virtual bilingüe de candidatos organizado por LEAP/Virtual Bilingual Candidate Forum Hosted by LEAP Únete a LEAP (Learn, Engage, Advocated, Partner) para conocer a los candidatos al Ayuntamiento de Goleta (Rollin Gartzke, James Kyriaco, Phebe Mansur y Luz Reyes-Martín) y a la Junta Escolar de Goleta Union (Ethan Bertrand, Eric Bowers y Emily Zacarias). Se ofrecerá servicio de interpretación al español. Join LEAP (Learn, Engage, Advocate, Partner) to meet the candidates for the Goleta City Council (Rollin Gartzke, James Kyriaco, Phebe Mansur, Luz Reyes-Martín) and the Goleta Union School Board (Ethan Bertrand, Eric Bowers, Emily Zacarias). Spanish interpretation will be provided. 6pm. Zoom. Free. Call (805) 961-7500.
ambientado en Oaxaca (México), que sigue al maestro escultor Jase García Antonio tras la repentina pérdida de su vista. La cineasta Lauren David, LCSW (Grey Whale Productions), y Denise Jaimes-Villanueva, PsyD (Sana Psychotherapy, PC), dirigirán un coloquio y un círculo de sanación en el que se explorarán los temas de la familia, la comunidad y la sanación. Se servirá pan dulce y café. Watch the 2026 documentary The Gift of Darkness, set in Oaxaca, Mexico, that follows master sculptor Jase Garcia Antonio after the sudden loss of his sight. Filmmaker Lauren David, LCSW (Grey Whale Productions), and Denise Jaimes-Villanueva, PsyD (Sana Psychotherapy, PC) will lead a discussion and healing circle exploring family, community, and healing. Pan dulce and coffee will be served. 9:30-11:30am. Eastside Library, 1102 E. Montecito St. Free. Call (805) 963-7653.
tinyurl.com/Roots-Dreams
35th Senior Expo of S.B. 10/14: The County Seniors, caregivers, and
10/10: Mercado Raíces y Sueños/Roots and Dreams Market Visita el
community members are invited to enjoy the Resource Café, music, and 140 exhibits and receive free flu, COVID, and shingles vaccines; haircuts; blood pressure, fall risk, and hearing screenings; diabetes testings; eye tests; and more! 9amnoon. Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real. Parking: $5. Call (805) 965-1001. fsacares.org/senior-expo
10/14: Direct Relief Presents Our House Is on Fire Join for a special screening of 2025’s Our House Is on Fire, an inspiring story of Sofia, a Ukrainian singer chasing success in L.A., who returns to Kyiv for the first time in four years, as full-scale war breaks out. A Q&A with director Alice Biletska will follow. 5:15-7:30pm. SBIFF Film Center, 916 State St. Free. Call (805) 964-4767 or email mvazquez@directrelief.org. tinyurl.com/OurHouseOnFire 10/14: Free Senior Day at S.B Botanic Garden Calling all seniors aged 60 and better to make a reservation online to enjoy complimentary Botanic Garden admission with a free docent-led tour. 10am-5pm. S.B. Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Rd. Free. Ages 60+. Call (805) 682-4726 x138.
sbbg.org/events/free-senior-day
10/11: Bilingual Storytime at S.B. Museum of Art Participa en una sesión bilingüe de cuentos y manualidades, diseñada para fomentar el desarrollo de la alfabetización temprana de tu hijo a través de rimas con gestos, movimiento y cuentos cortos tanto en inglés como en español. Se incluye la entrada gratuita al museo. Join for bilingual storytime and art, designed to support your child’s early literacy development through action rhymes, movement, and short stories in both English and Spanish. Free admission to the Museum is included. 11-11:45am. S.B. Museum of Art, 1130 State St. Free. Call (805) 962-7653. tinyurl.com/bilingual-storytimeSBMA1011 Únete a nuestras divertidas y creativas actividades semanales de STEAM, inspiradas en la cultura y la historia de América Latina. Join for fun and creative weekly STEAM activities inspired by Latin American culture and history. 2-3pm. Eastside Library, 1102 E. Montecito St. Free. Grades K-12. Call (805) 962-7653. tinyurl.com/Creators-ClubSB1014
Chaucer’s Book Talk and Signing: Deborah Samuel: 10/14: Grace Through Fire: A Memoir of Murder, Tragedy, and Resilience Award-winning educator, licensed pilot and aircraft mechanic,
10/14: Creator’s Club: Raíces y Sueños Edition, McKinley School CO UR TES Y
and real estate professional Deborah Samuel will talk about and sign copies of her memoir, Grace Through Fire: A Memoir of Murder, Tragedy, and Resilience, which follows Deborah’s odyssey through murder trials, life-changing injuries, financial collapse, and spiritual reckoning after her elderly mother shoots her abusive husband, Deborah’s father. 6pm. Chaucer’s Books, 3321 State St. Free. Call (805) 682-6787. chaucersbooks.com/event
Young Makers Market, donde emprendedores de todas las edades venderán artesanía y productos hechos a mano, y disfruta creando tu propia corona de flores con la artista Griselda Villalpando, pintacaras, la Lotería, y visita la mesa creativa del Museo de Arte de Santa Bárbara y explora los altares comunitarios. Habrá actuaciones especiales a cargo del Grupo Folklórico Alma de México y Xochipilli de Santa Bárbara, así como danzas tradicionales brasileñas. Se podrán comprar tacos y aguas frescas. Shop the Young Makers Market, where entrepreneurs of all ages will sell handmade crafts and goods. Enjoy making your own flower crown with artist Griselda Villalpando as well as face painting, Lotería, and visiting the S.B. Museum of Art’s creative table and exploring the community alters. There will be special performances by Grupo Folklórico Alma de México and Xochipilli de Santa Barbara as well as Brazilian dance traditions. Tacos and drinks will be available for purchase. 10am-3pm. Michael Towbes Library Plaza, S.B. Central Library, 40 E. Anapamu St. Free. Call (805) 963-3727. tinyurl.com/Roots-Dreams
10/14: Creator’s Club: Raíces y Sueños Edition, Eastside Library
tinyurl.com/leapforum26
COURTESY
y Sueños: Cine, Comunidad y Sanación/ 10/8: Raíces Roots and Dreams: Cinema, Community, and Healing No te pierdas el documental de 2026 El Regalo de Oscuridad,
Professor Matt Rioux, PhD
research on the origin of large ophiolites (pieces of oceanic crust that have been thrust onto the continents) in Oman and Newfoundland and the implications of his work for plate tectonic processes (large-scale movements and interactions of the Earth’s solid outer shell). 6:30-8pm. Dargan’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, 18 E. Ortega St. Free. Email kzsembik@sbnature2.org. sbnature.org/calendar
Roots and Dreams
WEDNESDAY 10/14
trinitysb.org/evensong
Science Pub: Discuss Ophiolites & 10/12: Plate Tectonics with Dr. Rioux UCSB Earth Science professor Matt Rioux, PhD, will discuss his
Raíces y Sueños
COURTESY
and the Downtown S.B. Improvement Association (DSBIA) invite you to join for community and an incredible lineup of cars. 10am-3pm. 600-800 blocks of State St. Free. Call (805) 680-6339.
COURTESY
COURTESY
SUNDAY 10/11
Únete a nuestras divertidas y creativas actividades semanales de STEAM, inspiradas en la cultura y la historia de América Latina. Join for fun and creative weekly STEAM activities inspired by Latin American culture and history. 5-6pm. McKinley Elementary School, 350 Loma Alta Dr. Free. Grades K-12. Call (805) 962-7653.
tinyurl.com/Creators-ClubMcKinley1014
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Make an appointment for a breast cancer screening mammogram. Early detection can save your life.
Cottage offers digital 3D mammography exams for early breast cancer detection at three convenient locations. Santa Barbara | Goleta | Santa Ynez Valley
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OCTOBER 8, 2026
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Scan code to schedule your appointment or call 805-563-7000.
Oct.
8-14
National Earth Science Week
COU RTES Y PHO TOS
THE
Falloween
Happenings
Meet earth scientists and learn about rocks, fossils, and the planet with fun, all-ages activities.
10/8-10/14: Lane Farms Pumpkin Patch Pick
COURTESY
the perfect pumpkin and enjoy hayrides, farm animals, tractors, educational displays, and the corn maze (closes daily at 6:45pm). Open through October 31. Mon.Fri.: noon-7pm; Sat.-Sun.: 10am-7pm. Lane Farms, 308 S. Walnut Ln. Free. Call (805) 964-3773. lanefarmssb.com
Liz Flint, JD
National Fossil Day Learn about how fossils are formed 10/14: and studied. Meet Fossil Preparator Ben Rotenberg, MA, and Curatorial Assistant Liz Flint, JD, and watch them work on real specimens from Channel Islands National Park.
10/11: Happy Birthday, Tom Dibblee Help celebrate the birthday of legendary
10/8-10/14: Big Wave Dave’s Pumpkin Patch Enjoy
10/9-10/11: Lompoc Ghost Hunting Tour A local guide
kids’ activities and photo opps as you find the perfect pumpkin, from mini to giant. Open through October 31. Thu., Mon.Wed.: 11am-8pm. Fri.-Sun.: 10am-9pm. La Cumbre Plaza (Macy’s parking lot), 3865 State St. Free. Call (805) 218-0282.
will share tales of restless spirits, eerie happenings, and the city’s darker history as you explore the old mortuary, the Carnegie Library (now Lompoc Museum), the Lilley Building, the Lompoc Theater, and more. Every guest will get an EMF (electromagnetic fields) meter, the chance to try a spirit box session, and dowsing rods (a tool used in attempts to locate spiritual energy). 7-8:30pm. Old Town Lompoc. $49. Ages: 12+. Call (415) 446-1580 or email info@thehauntghosttours.com.
bigwavedaveschristmastrees.com
10/8-10/14: Los Olivos Scarecrow Festival Walk around town to see all the scarecrows — humorous, spooky, and more — and then vote for your favorite. Various locations in Los Olivos. Scarecrows on display through October 31. Free.
Californian geologist Tom Dibblee. Color your own geologic map of S.B. and help assemble a geologic map puzzle. Bring a card or photo to add to the tribute board.
losolivosca.com/scarecrowfest
10/12: Mineral Day Meet representatives of local mineral clubs and view displays of
10/8-10/14: Old Solvang Real Ghost Hunting Tour: The Haunt This haunt will combine authentic ghost hunting
10/13: Earth Observation Day Explore what can be learned about earth sciences by observing our planet from space and join in hands-on astronomy.
All events: 2-4pm. S.B. Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol. Free-$20. Call (805) 682-4711. tinyurl.com/SBMNH-ScienceWeek
For a
GREAT CAUSE 10/10: United Boys & Girls Clubs of S.B. County: Rally4Kids Grand Tour Gala 6-10pm. Great Meadow, SBCC West Campus, 721 Cliff Dr. $400. Call (805) 681-1315 or email amilne@unitedbg.org. tinyurl.com/Rally-4-Kids 10/10: Third Annual Freedom to Flourish Gala: Strategic Alliance to Fight Exploitation (SAFE) S.B. County 5:30pm. La Cumbre Country Club, 4015 Via Laguna. $225. Email admin@safesbc.org. safesbc.max.gives 10/11: The 18th Annual Domestic Violence Solutions Brunch 10am1:30pm. Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, 633 E. Cabrillo Blvd. $200. Call (805) 963-4458 or info@dvsolutions.org. dvsolutions.org/get-involved
10/11: Contemporary Dance Master Class and Benefit Proceeds for development and future performances. 4:30-6pm. Ojai Art Center, 113 S. Montgomery St., Ojai. Sliding-scale donation. Email giannaburright@gmail.com.
giannaburright.com/events-1
10/14: Jodi House: Paint the Town Blue Benefit for Brain Injury Awareness 5:30-8pm. MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, 125 State St. $85. Call (805) 563-2882 or email info@jodihouse.org.
of the town’s haunted architecture with engrossing storytelling steeped in eerie tales of their phantom residents. Tours go through October 31. Thu., Sun.-Wed.: 8pm; Fri.-Sat.: 7 and 8pm. Meets at the Solvang sign at Copenhagen and 2nd St., Solvang. Ghost hunter: $55; non-believer: $75. Call (415) 446-1580 or email info@thehauntghosttours.com.
thehauntghosttours.com/tours/solvang
10/8-10/14: Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch Immerse yourself in pumpkins, gourds, squash, corn stalks, hay bales, the kids’ maze, and the 14-acre corn maze! Open through October 31. 10am-6pm. Solvang Farmer Pumpkin Patch, 1035 Alamo Pintado Rd., Solvang. Free. Call (805) 331-1948.
facebook.com/SolvangFarmerPumkinPatch
10/8-10/14: Zellers Farms Pumpkin Patch Pick from traditional pumpkins and heirloom varieties, try the corn maze, visit the farm animals at the petting zoo, take a tractor ride, and more. Mon.-Fri.: 2-6pm; Sat.-Sun.: 10am-6pm. Zellers Farm, 2050 Sweeney Rd., Lompoc. Free. Call (805) 757-7906.
tinyurl.com/Zellers-Farms
10/8-10/14: Montecito Country Annual Mart Honor System Pumpkin Patch Celebrate the season by picking out your pumpkin and paying by the honor system. Open through October 31. 10am-6pm. Montecito Country Mart, 1016 Coast Village Rd., Montecito. Free. montecitocountrymart.com/events COURTESY
their collections and experience the museum’s mineral exhibits and meet Dibblee Curator of Earth Science Jonathan Hoffman, PhD.
thehauntghosttours.com/tours/lompoc-ghosts
10/9: Paseo Nuevo Spooky Movie Nights: Goosebumps Join in the parking garage rooftop (south side) for a screening of 2015’s Goosebumps (rated PG), about a teenager who teams up with the daughter of young-adult horror author RL Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free. RSVP online. 7-9pm. 651 Paseo Nuevo. Free. Call (805) 963-7147 or email paseonuevo@prismplaces.com. paseonuevosb.com/events
10/10: Paranormal Investigation of the Solvang Festival Theater Join for exclusive access to a guided investigation using ghost hunting tools to explore tunnels, the green room, backstage, and grounds. 10pm. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. $60. Ages 14+. Call (415) 446-1580.
tinyurl.com/Solvang-Halloween
10/10: Fall Open House and Ranch Cookout Come to an exciting day of exploration, hands-on learning, live music, delicious food and a chance to discover the ranch at your own pace. Interactive exploration: 10am-1pm; cookout: 1-3pm: Jalama Canyon Ranch, 3635 Jalama Rd., Lompoc. Lunch: $25. Email programs@whitebuffalolandtrust.org.
tinyurl.com/WhiteBuffaloFallOpenHouse
10/10: Creepy Creatures at the Nature Center Fall under the spell of owls, bats, and spiders, and see slithering snakes and lizards. Touch real skulls; play games, including a scavenger hunt; make a mask; sip witches’ brew; and listen to enchanting music. 11am-1pm. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Hwy. 154. Free-donations accepted; parking $10. Call (805) 693-0691 or email info@clnaturecenter.org.
clnaturecenter.org/event
10/8-10/14: Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Festival
Scarecrows will be displayed around the six townships of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang with one community to win the Annual Harvest Cup. Visit the website for locations and to cast your vote. Scarecrows on display through October 31. Free.
syvscarecrows.com
jodihouse.org/special-events
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THE COLLEGES OF LAW
PROP 40: THE DEBATE BEFORE YOU VOTE
Should California impose a one-time wealth tax on billionaires? Join us for a free public debate at The Colleges of Law. Hear perspectives on the measure and the issues surrounding it before the November 3 election.
WHEN
WHERE
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026 5:30-6:30 p.m.
The Colleges of Law Santa Barbara Campus, Room 1 20 E. Victoria St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101
ATTEND In person or watch live via The Colleges of Law’s YouTube channel or TV Santa Barbara’s public access channel.
We Hope to See You There
Jodi House invites you to
Paint the Town Blue for Brain Injury Awareness Wednesday, October 14 5:30-8:00 pm
MOXI Sky Garden Rooftop Join us on the MOXI rooftop at sunset to celebrate Jodi House and the creative spirit of our members. Enjoy live music, plentiful bites, great wines, sweet treats, and original artwork by community members living with brain injury. We invite you to help us “paint the town blue” by dressing up in your favorite shades of blue, the official color for brain injury awareness. For tickets and sponsorship information:
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THE INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INDEPENDENT.COM
SCAN TO WATCH LIVE
Oct.
8-14
@NIGHT
COURTESY
POWER OF PLAY Kay McMillan + Susan McMillan Wolf Family
D
Play WA R
Shows on Tap
Your generosity expands access to joyful STEAM learning for all children in our community.
OR
Thank You
CONT'D FROM PG. 29
moxi.org
IT F
THE
PLAYMAKER Alfred E. Mann Charities, Inc. Marcia + John Mike Cohen Mike + Shawn Duca Belle Hahn Lily Hahn Shining + Stewart Shining Lead Edge Capital Malou Foundation, Rob + Heather Hambleton Cindy Robinson Mullen Zegar Family Fund COMMUNITY IMPACT SPONSOR Bank of America
Kimberly Ford
Theatre Dreamland: A Celebration of 10/10: Alcazar Joni Mitchell feat. Kimberly Ford, Ford 7pm. $20-$25. 4916 thealcazar.org Carpinteria Ave. Call (805) 684-6380.
10/9, 10/11: Ojai Underground Exchange Fri.: Dear Dolly: A Loving Tribute, 7pm. $30-$35. Sun.: Flamenco Guitarist Tony Ybarra, 7pm. $35. 616 Pearl St., Ojai. Call (805) 340-7893
ojaiunderground.com
10/9, 10/12, 10/14: Lobero Theatre Fri.: AJ Lee and Blue Summit with Salty Strings, 7:30pm. $30-$75. Mon.: The Rush Tribute Project, 7:30pm. $44-$74. Wed.: The Wallflowers 30th Anniversary Tour for Bringing Down the Horse, 7:30pm. $65$115. 33 E. Canon Perdido St. Email boxoffice@lobero.org. lobero.org
10/10: Buena Onda The Rhythm Industrial Complex, 7pm. 724 E. Haley St. Free. Call (805) 679-3320.
10/10-10/11: Vega Vineyard Sat.: William Breman, 12pm. Sun.: Cynthia Ford, 12pm. 9496 Santa Rosa Rd., Buellton. Free. Call (805) 688-2415.
vegavineyardandfarm.com
10/10-10/11, 10/14: Brick Barn Wine Estate Sat.: Dusty Strings, 1pm. Sun.: Bill Rotella, 2pm. Wed.: Victor Valencia, 4:30pm. 795 West Hwy. 246, Buellton. Call (805) 686-1208.
brickbarnwineestate.com
10/10-10/11, 10/14: Libbey Bowl Sat.: Local Natives Present 10 Years of Sunlit Youth, 8pm. $59-$116.75. Sun.: Deer Tick, 6pm. $40.55-$82.10. Wed.: Jacob Collier, 7pm. $60.55-$143.55. 210 S. Signal St., Ojai. Email kristy.rivera@ojai.ca.gov.
buenaondasb.com
libbeybowl.org
10/10: M.Special Brewing Co. (S.B.)
10/11: Deer Lodge Y La Bamba, 8pm.
Junkyard, 8pm. 634 State St. Free. Ages 21+. Call (805) 308-0050.
deerlodgeojai.com/live-music
10/10: Paradise Springs Live deejay, 3pm. Free. 210 State St. Call (805) 6903650. tinyurl.com/ParadiseSpringsDJ
10/11: Finch & Fork Everybody
Santa Barbara Chamber Players, 7:30pm. $30. 909 N. La Cumbre Rd. Email info@sbchamberplayers.org.
sbchamberplayers.org
10/10-10/11: Cold Spring Tavern Sat.: JC & Doc Kay, 1:30pm. Sun.: Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan, 1:30pm. 5995 Stagecoach Rd. Free. Call (805) 967-0066.
coldspringtavern.com
IMAGINATION CalPrivate Bank Liora + Cameron Goodman Klein DeNatale Goldner, Attorneys at Law Austin + Kai Lampson Steve Lyons Cáitrín McKiernan + Andrew Hicks Nini Muñoz + Matthew Lloyd Smooch Repovich Rosenberg + Gary Rosenberg Santa Barbara Foundation Ventura Rental Party & Events IMPACT VIDEO SPONSOR Alixe + Mark Mattingly INVITATION SPONSOR Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, LLP SIGNATURE COCKTAIL/MOCKTAIL SPONSOR Jill + Neil Levinson SILENT DISCO SPONSOR Laura + Geof Wyatt
HONORARY EVENT CO-CHAIRS Lily Hahn Shining + Belle Hahn EMCEE/AUCTIONEER Andrew Firestone SPECIAL APPRECIATIONS Acme Hospitality BlueStar Parking Djamila + Teddy Cabugos Conway Family Wines Cutler’s Artisan Spirits Pedro De La Cruz Demetria Estate Duo Catering & Events El Encanto Godmothers Gray Malin x Bespoke Mahjong Jano Printing LaBarge Winery Lumen Wines Cindy McClelland Next Health Montecito Pali Wine Co. Pearl Social Cocktail Club Prep House Cindy Robinson Mullen Rosewood Miramar Beach Sunstone Winery Amber Weir Cindy + Bill Wenzlau
$33. 2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai. Call (805) 646-4256.
mspecialbrewco.com
10/10: Trinity Lutheran Church
SPARK Kelly + Kevin Almeroth Chevron David Bermant Foundation Jennifer Felder + Ryan McMurray Angie + Christian McGrath Montecito Bank & Trust SPARK Creative Events Carrie Towbes + John Lewis Vivi + Paul Tziouvaras Village Properties
Loves R&B, 6pm. $22.13. 31 W. Carrillo St. Call (805) 879-9100.
finchandforkrestaurant.com
10/11: Longoria Wines Live music, 3pm. 732 State St. Free. Email info@longoriawine.com.
longoriawines.com/events
10/11: Topa Topa Brewing Co.
Bloom, 3pm. 120 Santa Barbara St. Free. Ages 21+. Call (805) 324-4150.
topatopa.beer/pages/happenings
INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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THE NAOMI AND BEN BOLLAG GALLERY at SBIFF’s FILM CENTER NEW EXHIBIT: 40 YEARS OF SBIFF AND THE SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT OPEN DAILY 2PM-8PM
The One The One Card to to Rule Rule Card them All! All! them
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Wed. October 21st Tickets $20 Open 6:30 pm for dinner & drinks 7:30 pm show Soho Music Club 1221 State St. Santa Barbara sohosb.com INDEPENDENT.COM
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ON the Beat On the Beat spotlights all-things music and music-adjacent newsletter/column by music and arts journalist-critic Josef Woodard
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CALIFORNIA DREAMS WITH MIRIAM PAWEL COURTESY
WENDY VISSAR
PIECING TOGETHER THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA’S HISTORY
L I F E PAGE 37
COURTESY
THE FUTURE IS SHORT FESTIVAL AT WESTMONT
by Maggie Yates
Miriam Pawel
P
by Brian Tanguay
ulitzer Prize–winning journalist Miriam Pawel’s latest work, California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the University of California, examines the groundbreaking history of one of the world’s elite public universities. She recently spoke with Santa Barbara Independent contributor Brian Tanguay, cofounder of the California Review of Books, who previously reviewed the book. Before we talk about your book, can you talk about your evolution from journalist to awardwinning author? I was a working journalist for 25 years. One of the last stories I worked on was a series about the United Farm Workers for the Los Angeles Times. During the course of that project, I did my first dive into archives and history. One of the things I learned was that events of the past often help us interpret the present. That was how I became interested in the discipline and craft of history. I fell in love with archives. What led you to structure California Dreams as you did? What were some of the challenges you faced in telling this story? It was important for me to figure out a focus for the book that was doable. It’s an enormous subject, and I wanted to focus on how the UC transformed individual lives and the state more broadly. I wanted to anchor
the narrative in people who represented different eras. The opposition of UC Regents to expansion in Los Angeles seems puzzling in retrospect, given what UCLA became. Why were the Regents reluctant to establish what you refer to as The Twig? You can still trace the ongoing differences between northern and southern California, and between Berkeley and UCLA. A sense persisted for a long time of superiority in the north. There were so many social and economic differences between the two regions. In addition, the UC president at the time was concerned about crossing USC, which didn’t welcome competition from a public university. Local readers will no doubt be most interested in UC Santa Barbara, from its humble beginnings as a teacher’s college on the Riviera to its current status as a major research university. One of the people you write about is Dick Flacks. Who was Flacks, and why is he an important figure in UCSB history? He was an important person in both UCSB history and the larger university. He was very influential in changing how the university structured its admissions. He was a remarkable teacher and mentor. He brought a lot of intellectual firepower to the campus, and of course some controversy due to his involvement with Students for a Democratic Society.
What most surprised you in researching and writing this book? The existence of a secret society at Berkeley came as a surprise. The Order of the Golden Bear, with its secret room. I was surprised that it existed and that so few people, even to this day, have heard of it. I was also struck by how each campus is unique. That was Clark Kerr’s vision, that each UC campus would have similarities, but maintain a unique identity. Despite many challenges and changes since its founding, the UC system still inspires widespread loyalty and admiration. What accounts for that public perception, and are you optimistic that it will survive an era when universities are questioning their mission? Throughout this process I’ve been struck by the relationship between Californians and their university. There’s a strong sense of ownership and pride that you don’t find in other states. I think that’s part of its resilience. I think history offers hope that the UC will emerge from the current crises; history shows that the UC reflects the times as well as shaping them. Miriam Pawel will discuss California Dreams: The Making and Remaking of the University of California on October 15 at Godmothers in Summerland (tinyurl.com/4znhb3h) and November 1 at Chaucer’s Books (tinyurl.com/muaeyu4z).
The Westmont theater program presents The Future Is Short, a showcase of six short plays in six locations on the Westmont campus. This festival-style show features short plays written over the last decade and a half within Westmont’s Hive Program, which partners Westmont undergraduate directors with MFA playwrights from a variety of associated schools, including Brown, UCSD, Columbia University, and UT Austin. In the 13 years of the Hive Program, students have generated more than 100 short plays that have been featured in the annual Westmont Fringe. Recently, Mitchell Thomas (Westmont theater arts professor and one of this showcase’s directors) chose a selection of 20 plays for an anthology, also called The Future Is Short, published by Bloomsbury in September. “It felt right to launch the book by producing some of these plays,” he says. “It’s a pedestrian theater event in site-specific spaces. Audiences will travel from show to show and will have different paths to see six plays in six different locations.” Thomas says each play is designed as a unique world to create unique encounters for the audience. “Each experience feels playful in its own way,” he says. “There’s a theatrical boldness, a lot of energy.” Other showcase directors and designers include current students and alumni, leading Thomas to describe the production as an experimental celebration of Westmont drama: past, present, and future. The plays are thematically and stylistically eclectic, including stories about a pair of worms on fishing hooks processing their imminent demise, the existential dread of becoming an adult, and the importance of biodiversity. Characters include possums, puppets, and a fourth-wall breaking Virginia Woolf exploring contemporary feminism. The Future Is Short promises to be a distinctive mini-festival, running at Westmont (955 La Paz Rd.) October 16 at 7:30 p.m., October 17 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and October 18 at 7:30 p.m. See westmont.edu.
M O R E A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T > > > INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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BILL EVANS TRIBUTE COMES TO THE GRAND ON STATE JAZZ PIANO VIRTUOSO TAMIR HENDELMAN LEADS A TRIO HIGHLIGHTING EVANS’S WORK COURTESY PHOTOS
presents
BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY BY Jonathan Lynn WRITTEN BY Sandy Rustin DIRECTED BY Amy Love
Additional Material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price Based on the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture Based on the Hasbro Board Game CLUE
OCT. 9-24, 2026 PREVIEWS OCT. 7 & 8 GARVIN THEATRE, SBCC West Campus www.theatregroupsbcc.com | 805.965.5935 Thank you to our corporate sponsors:
Live Captioning: Sunday matinee, Oct. 11, 2pm
No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism
Jared Huffman
U.S. Representative (CA-02) In his book, No Prophets: The Fight to Save Democracy from Christian Nationalism, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman uses firsthand experience and extensive research to describe Christian nationalism’s goal of an authoritarian theocracy. He argues that Christian nationalism is now Jared Huffman is a Humanist the only member of America’s most dangerous political and Congress to admit he does movement, with leaders working not believe in gods. He coat the highest levels of government. founded the Congressional Huffman also provides a roadmap Freethought Caucus to for building an interfaith coalition promote sound public policy to save secular democracy and the based on reason, science, freedoms it protects. Copies of the and moral values. book will be available for purchase by Chaucer’s Books.
Book Talk & Signing
October 13, 2026 7:00 p.m. Henley Hall 1010 UC Santa Barbara FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
For more information, visit www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu 38
THE INDEPENDENT
OCTOBER 8, 2026
INDEPENDENT.COM
Bill Evans
J
by Jim Buckley
azz is a music that is constantly being built and rebuilt by successive generations of musicians. In the mid-1950s, one of the major architects of that rebuilding started playing piano in a groundbreaking group led by Miles Davis, himself a jazz master builder. The work of Bill Evans that began in those small groups—in a career that continued for more than 20 years and included his own legendary trios and a host of albums—has resonated for decades since, making the New Jersey–born artist one of the most influential in the history of the music. On October 16, Tamir Hendelman, one of today’s leading jazz piano virtuosos, leads a trio at The Grand on State (1218 State St.) in a A Tribute to Bill Evans, highlighting Evans’s music, his style, and his impact. Hendelman spoke about the upcoming show and the influence of Evans on his own extensive musical career, which includes numerous recordings and an international slate of appearances. Now based in Los Angeles, Hendelman has played with the famed Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, led his own trios, and recorded with stars such as Gladys Knight, Diana Krall, and Tierney Sutton. What did Evans bring to jazz that was so lastingly influential? When Miles brought Bill into the group, it completely changed the sound of the group, but also of jazz. [He brought] the beautiful harmonies that reflect light and shade in a way that wasn’t really approached before. And Bill’s honesty—and Bill even wrote in the liner notes to [Kind of Blue]—that taking a jazz solo is like taking a calligraphy pen across a canvas and just drawing in one straight line, no going back, no editing, here it is. So his vision was to create something beautiful that lasts. He also did it in a way that innovated because his whole group concept was about “let’s have a musical conversation together and all improvise.” That had not really been put into the music before him. That conversation, trading, reacting, listening,
that sensitivity—that carried through with all the different trios that he played with. What do you hope that the audience at The Grand will take away from your trio’s performance about understanding what it was that Bill Evans did? For me, the exciting thing about playing Bill Evans’s music today is not trying to sound like Bill Evans. It’s asking what happens when three musicians who love his music bring their own histories and their own ears and personalities into it. I’m excited about bringing [drummer] Dan Schnelle to this concert. Dan has a very creative, responsive quality that really makes you want to take chances. And [bassist] Mike Gurolla brings an amazing combination of deep tradition and really fierce improvisational energy. So it’s like we’re not going to try to be the Bill Evans Trio ourselves; we’re going to put ourselves into that tradition of interaction and see what happens. What works of Evans do you expect to play? Well, we’re going to be playing some of the classic Bill Evans work that people love, songs like “Blue in Green,” “You Must Believe in Spring,” which he gave his own style to. But also some lesser-known pieces. There are a couple of classical pieces by some of the Impressionist composers, Ravel and Fauré, that I recently arranged. Those pieces themselves have some of his flavor because [Evans] was really heavily influenced by Debussy and others. And I recently recorded a piece that Evans wrote called “Only Child,” it was something that he recorded with [trumpeter] Tom Harrell, and I never knew about this tune. So we’ll be showing some of the lesser-known Bill Evans, as well as maybe playing a few songs that are inspired by his approach. A Tribute to Bill Evans shows at The Grand on State (1218 State St.) October 16, 7 p.m. Dinner, wine, and beer are also available at the club. For tickers, see thegrandonstate.com.
Tamir Hendelman
EMAIL: ARTS@INDEPENDENT.COM
GET IN THE MOOD FOR A MELODY OF VIBRANT COLOR
WELC OME TO T HE S O U N D T R A C K OF F REEDOM INGRID BOSTROM
PIANOS ON STATE IS BACK FOR THE 17TH YEAR
JUMPING JACK FLASH OCTOBER 16 / $25
ANYTHING FOR SALINA’S NOVEMBER 6 / $20+
GLADYS KNIGHT A dancer performs behind one of the 2026 Pianos on State.
T
NOVEMBER 13 / $80+
by Leslie Dinaberg
hose brilliant pops of color and music have hit the street once again. October (or Artober, as some call it) is marked by vibrantly fun musical works of art—Pianos on State—coming alive all over State Street, Downtown Santa Barbara and beyond (including the Funk Zone and the Santa Barbara Airport). This is the 17th year of community collaboration, spontaneous music, and original art coming together for one of Santa Barbara’s most beloved traditions. Selected regional artists were hard at work painting these piano masterpieces at the Community Arts Workshop, and we celebrated their efforts on September 28 with a lovely kickoff party where we were introduced to all of the artists before their pianos hit the streets the next day, where they’ll be on display until October 19. The challenge to artists this year was to create designs using the theme of “Fantasy” inspired by the Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s current show, As if in a Dream: History, Fantasy, Future. And wow did these artists let their imaginations whirl into that theme! From eyeballs to crazy creatures, color geometrics, and underwater adventures, each piano is a unique creative vision unto itself. The 2026 Pianos on State artists and their piano locations include: Drew Buchanan, at the Arlington Theatre; Lily Palmer, at The New Vic Theatre; Jen Swain, at State and Victoria streets; Hannah Croshaw, at State and Anapamu streets; Rob Beedle, at Old Navy, State and Anapamu streets; Elisa Jay, at Library Plaza; Elzy Sherlock, at State and Figueroa streets; Kasie Gurgiolo Sanders, at Montecito Bank & Trust, State and Carrillo streets; Melanie Esver, at the Lobero Theatre; John Snyder, at Bank of America, State and Canon Perdido streets; The Arts Fund, with teaching artist Alejandra Campos, at Paseo Nuevo, in front of Tondi Gelato; Miriam MacMillan, at Cost Plus World Market, State and Cota streets; and Adelante School, with teaching artist Amber O’Rourke, at the MOXI. Also, on display are “emeritus artists”: Matt Rodriguez, from 2023, at the Santa Barbara Airport; Mia Franco, from 2023, in the Funk Zone; and Mae Wilson, from 2025, at the Community Arts Workshop. Pianos on State is a program of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative in collaboration with other local organizations. For more information and updates, see pianosonstate.com.
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Clarice & Sérgio Assad
CelloGayageum
Wed, Oct 21 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
Thu, Oct 29 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
Legendary Brazilian guitarist and composer Sérgio Assad joins his daughter, the pianist, vocalist and Grammy-nominated composer Clarice Assad, for an evening showcasing the warmth, rhythmic vitality and rich musical inheritance of one of Brazil’s great artistic families.
Bridging the soulful resonance of Western classical music with the elegance of Korean gugak tradition, CelloGayageum engages in a dialogue across musical traditions, evoking a sound that is both ancient and modern.
s, op eraz
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens Wed, Nov 4 / 7 PM / Campbell Hall
Terrace Martin
Program
Fri, Nov 6 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, op. 8 Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, op. 35
“One of the most talented, accomplished and respected musicians in hip-hop and jazz.” NPR
Visit our website to view the full 2026-2027 lineup (805) 893-3535 | www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu 40
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Special Thanks
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BERNADETTE PETERS BRINGS HER BROADWAY POWERHOUSE PIPES TO TOWN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE TONY AWARD–WINNING LEGEND KURT SNEDDON
feel like I’ve entered a Sondheim play when I hear Bernadette Peters’s voice on my phone. Her breathy Queens, New York, accent is so familiar to me, and she’s so genuinely friendly that despite my being supremely starstruck, it feels a little like I’m talking to an old friend. For those who haven’t been waiting with bated breath since UCSB Arts & Lectures first announced the show, the Broadway legend will perform an intimate evening of beloved songs on Thursday, October 15, at the Granada. I got to spend a bit of time chatting with the woman The New York Times described as “more than talented. As an actress, singer, comedienne, and all-around warming presence, she has no peer in the musical theater.” They neglected to mention that she’s also a critically acclaimed star of film and television, among other things. Here are a few of the highlights from our call. You’ve had such an amazing career as a performer. Does it feel different to do a concert-style kind of evening of songs? No, because you know I’ve also been doing this since the ,70s. I’ve been doing it for a long time and I love it because I can take all of those songs that I sing in a show, and I can even take other people’s songs from shows. [Laughs.] I’m sitting in the wings and watching a song I love and I go, “Oh, I can sing that,” and I just put them in my concert, which I love doing. That’s great, but it does seem challenging when they’re sort of character songs with a lot of different emotions. You know, I always make them personal, whether they’re in a show or whether I’m in a concert. And I get to choose them for the concert. And they are songs that I either like to be reminded of what they talk about, and they’re uplifting sometimes, or they’re just dramatic, and there’s that whole no fourth wall. When you’re in a show, there’s a fourth wall, right? They’re watching you because you play a character and you’re telling a story, but here you’re talking right to the audience, and there’s no fourth wall, and that’s wonderful. So, we, your fans, all have our favorite Bernadette Peters songs. What would you say are your favorite songs? There’s so many that I sing. “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen” [both from Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods]. And “Losing My Mind.” [from Sondheim’s Follies]. And I was in Hello Dolly, so I sing two of Jerry Herman songs from Hello Dolly because I know they’re wonderful songs.
Bernadette Peters performing
business. I just liked performing and singing. And when I was little, I was really just like fantasizing, and playing and singing a song. And I was on television when I was 5, but it was live television in those days; you didn’t see yourself back on a tape. I was playing on these big machines in front of me, and those were the cameras. [Laughs.] But I didn’t realize what was going on. I did live dramatic television. I did Kraft Television Theatre and Hallmark Hall of Fame shows, dramatic things back in those days as a kid. And were you aware that not every kid was doing this? Ooh yeah, because I went to regular public school, and so I kept it kind of hidden from my friends. I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to fit in with them. I didn’t talk about it much and it didn’t come up.
Oh, absolutely, yes. So basically, the show kind of has a nice arc to it, and hopefully everyone will go home feeling satisfied, and to feel they went on this musical journey with me. I’m sure they will. I know you started as a child actress, but did you always want to be a singer and an actress? As a professional, was that your goal from the beginning? I wasn’t quite aware of the
I understand. And so, Judy [her PR representative] said you’re working on or potentially maybe working on some movie projects. Is there anything you can tell us about? I’m in two films. One is out, with Malcolm McDowell. He’s divine in it — Last Train to Fortune — and I play a saloon owner, and then Mary Steenburgen, who he had been married to. She’s in it too. Oh, wow! Okay. I was in Mozart in the Jungle with him, and I just adore him, and she adores him. In the film, she plays a schoolteacher, and it’s really, he’s just brilliant and just fabulous. Then I’m in this movie with Julianne Moore, a Jesse Eisenberg movie called The Debut. And I just love, love, love the story. That’s why I decided to do it. I bookend it in the beginning and the end, but it’s really her story, and she’s so brilliant in it. She’s a really remarkable actor. And then I’m doing Ted Danson’s series called A Man on the Inside, Mary’s husband now. [Laughs.] I’m filming that right now in San Francisco.
COURTESY KATZ PR
I
by Leslie Dinaberg
Nice. I wanted to ask you about your philanthropic work because I know you’re a big animal activist. Can you tell me a little bit about that? Yes. I just feel that companion animals are so important in our lives, and they basically really are only here for us. And when I lived in New York, I realized that years ago — we’ve been doing this for 28 years. The City Shelter needed a lot of help because I went there after my dog passed away, and I saw how crowded they were. They had cages stacked up in the hallways, and they were trying not to euthanize, but they would have to euthanize. So, we started a dog adoption with all the people from Broadway … It’s their event now [Broadway Barks, cofounded by Peters with Mary Tyler Moore in 1999]. They come out between shows on a Saturday, and all the celebrities, they meet their animals and they bring them up on stage and talk about them to get them adopted. That’s great. We have great, great success. Now we have great numbers. So, you know, three-quarters of them get adopted, which is so terrific. Oh yeah, that’s wonderful. And I even started it in London with my friend Elaine Paige, and that one is called West End Woofs. Oh, cute. I think more and more people, especially with the pandemic, are realizing how wonderful dogs are to have in their lives. My friend Mandy Patinkin, he has a dog that he just adores, and he said to me, “You know, Bernadette, I didn’t understand this dog thing that you were doing for all these years about the dog, dah dah dee, dog, dog, dogs. And then I got my dog” — and then he started to cry because he loved his dog so much. He finally understood what a dog can add to a person’s life, or a cat. To have that animal being there when you get home is very important for certain people. I think you’re right. I have to ask, do you think you’ll be back on Broadway anytime soon? We’ll see….
Bernadette Peters will perform at the Granada on October 15.
See Bernadette Peters at The Granada Theatre (1214 State St.) on October 15, 7:30 p.m. See bit.ly/4hDpccx.
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DRACULA, a dark shadow StateStreetBallet.com
Tickets
October 30–31 The Granada Theatre Choreography Nicolas Blanc Music Philip Glass Featuring Kronos Quartet
BY
JONATHAN TOLINS
DIRECTED BY
JAMIE TORCELLINI
STARRING
BRIAN McDONALD
OCTOBER 7-25
&
C E L L A R JEFF LORCH PHOTOGRAPHY
“IMMENSELY ENGAGING! A well-crafted piece of entertainment. CONSISTENTLY WITTY!” SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
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etcsb.org 805.965.5400 42
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Gates open at 5:30 pm Movie at 7:45 pm Live Music - Redfish 6:00 pm Beer/Wine/Food Trucks Face Painting Non-Profit Adventure Village Giveaways & Scavenger Hunt!
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STORIES OF RESILIENCE, RESILIENCE STRENGTH, AND FINDING COURAGE WHEN FACED WITH CATASTROPHE
S
by Taylor Cusimano
ometimes, a book reveals life’s raw, unfiltered truths, crafted from memory, and carved from the darkest corners of struggle. There are books that you can’t put down, reminding you that even a shattered world can begin anew, leaving a lasting impression long after you’ve finished reading. Grace Through Fire by Deborah Samuel is one of these books. It is October 2008, and Deborah Samuel is facing public scrutiny, a media storm, and an impending murder trial. After her elderly mother shot her abusive husband — Samuel’s father — in their Arkansas home, Samuel is left to navigate the aftermath while facing overwhelming challenges at home: caring for her paralyzed wife and facing financial collapse. While trying to fix everyone else’s problems, she starts to face her own as she’s pulled into addiction, isolation, and a stressful chapter of her life. Her story starts in the rural South and ends in the central coast of California, a dream made possible from healing moments in nature, movement, and spiritual practice. However, this path was not made without struggle. Years of caring for others, burdened by the weight of trying
to fix everyone’s problems, led her to a life in a chronic state of stress. “For 10 years, I was completely sleep-deprived and overcaffeinated. I was morbidly obese and I had a drinking issue — one that I would call a functional alcohol problem — where I would drink every night just to try to make it through the day,” she said. Grace Through Fire, out October 6, is a reminder that these struggles never have to be life-defining, but rather, the power to define your life lies within you. Samuel explained that the book was crafted from years and years of journals and documentation. What started as a way to work through her thoughts after her father’s murder, became notes acquired from seeing attorneys, and a collection of medical updates shared online after her then-wife, Susan, endured a severe accident. While initially shutting down comments suggesting she write a book, Samuel began to have an inkling: What if what happened to me might help someone else? Though not ready to start writing a book quite yet, she wondered: What if one day I could? After moving to California, and working in the park sys system, Samuel said, “It took me two years to detox my mind, my Deborah Samuel body, and my soul.” Only then was she able to sit down with a clear, ing Grace Through Fire, she never imagined that students quiet mind; look at her journals; and start she had from years ago would be so impacted by her story thinking about what it would look like to and immediately want to read the book. “I have two of create a book. them joining me on my book tour in Arkansas,” she said. Now, she lives with her wife and their cat in the Santa With thousands of pages of journals, Samuel had too much material to Barbara Harbor on a wooden 1973 Grand Banks yacht go through alone. “I wasn’t trained as a named Summer Solstice. She is a luxury real estate agent in professional writer, but I hired people to Montecito, where she and her wife run their own business help me,” she said, emphasizing this as a called Santa Barbara Senior Organizational Support (SB huge sign of growth. “I was always a lone SOS) where they help seniors move out of larger homes ranger. I did it all by myself, my whole and downsize. “This book is about a lot of hard decisions,” said Samlife.” Samuel said, “Getting to where I’m at uel. “I had to make very hard decisions, get over a lot now took a lot of work. My parents and of fear and shame in order to have a better life.” Having everybody in my story did the best they worked with teenagers, and now seniors, she discovered could with the tools they had, and I had that both are dealing with very similar struggles in makto get to a point where I had to give up ing these hard decisions, and Samuel says giving yourself the hope that I could fix broken people.” the permission to restart is the first step. “Life is about many seasons, and everyone has them. She continues to work on herself You have to move through the seasons, and let leaves fall every day. “We can’t fix broken people, off the tree and compost, because it allows for new things and sometimes that means making brave decisions to walk away and start a new to grow,” she said. “I feel very blessed that I’ve had the life.” opportunity to grow new trees.” Born in Rogers, Arkansas, Samuel dedicated two decades to educating at- Deborah Samuel will do a book talk and signing of Grace Through Fire: risk youth, before earning the title of A Memoir of Murder, Tragedy, and Resilience on Wednesday, October 14, National Physical Education Teacher of at 6 p.m. at Chaucer’s Books. For more information about Samuel, see the Year in 2006. When she started writ writ- deborahsamuelauthor.com.
COURTESY PHOTOS
DEBORAH SAMUEL DISCUSSES HER NEW BOOK GRACE THROUGH FIRE
M O R E A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T > > > INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Tickets & Info: ArlingtonTheatreSB.com · AXS.com
SAT 10/17/26 SUN 10/18/26 8:00 PM 7:00 PM Orchestrated Tribute Rocky Horror Picture Show to The Beatles Tribute to Tim Curry
THU 11/12/26 6:00 PM Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival
TUE 11/17/26 7:00 PM Rene Vaca + That Mexican OT
SAT 12/5/26 7:30 PM Herb Alpert + The Tijuana Brass
SAT 12/12/26 2:30 & 7 PM SUN 12/13/26 - 2:30 PM The Nutcracker
THU 1/28/27 7:00 PM An Evening with Alysa Liu
SUN 1/31/27 3:00 PM Theresa Caputo
FRI 4/23/27 7:30 PM Margaret Atwood
THU 5/6/27 7:00 PM Matt Mathews
FRI 5/7/27 7:30 PM John McEnroe In Conversation w/ Pico Iyer
1317 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 MetroTheatres.com
November 7, 2026 Celebrate the flavors of the season. Reserve tickets today sbnature.org/tickets
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CHAMBER MUSIC HIGHS, DULY AND OFFICIALLY NOTED
October 2026
appening g h att t s ’ t a he e wh
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by Josef Woodard
JESUS CORNEJO
CAMERATA PACIFICA KICKS OFF A BALANCED NEW SEASON WITH ACCESSIBLE, SAFE HARBOR PROGRAM
CAMERATA PACIFICA
MARCO BORGGREVE
anta Barbara can take ownership pride in the ongoing and ascending story of Camerata Pacifica, whose latest kudo came with a “2026 Ensemble of the Year” plaudit from Chamber Music America. We knew them when, going back to when founding flutist/bon vivant Adrian Spence embarked on the Santiago Cañón-Valencia organization’s salad days under its seminal name, Bach Camerata, up through its well-established concert series, now in the Music Academy of the West’s pristine Hahn Hall, and points south, in Thousand Oaks’ Scherr Forum, San Marino’s Huntington Library and Los Angeles’s Zipper Hall. CamPac’s 2026-27 season launches next week, on October 15 at the Music Academy, with a meat-and-potatoes Grace Park offering of Schumann (Piano Trio No. 1 in B-flat Major, D. 898) and cozy old Rachmaninoff (Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22), featuring pianist Irina Zahharenkova, cellist Santiago CañónValencia, and violinist Grace Park. Then continuing with another healthy clutch of programming over eight concerts, through May. Irina Zahharenkova If the opening program leans into the midriff of classical repertoire, things get norms included a rare all-harp concert, on more adventurous and well-balanced as the April 16, featuring guest artists Emmanuel season progresses, in keeping with Spence’s Ceysson, L.A. Phil Principal Harpist, and presiding concept of finding that delicate Cristina Montes Mateo — Valencia Opera programming balance of things old, famil- House Principal Harpist and Royal Harpiar, fresh, and new—and brand new, as in ist to the King and Queen of Spain. On January 15, the program spotlights newly commissioned by the Camerata. The November 15 program, in fact, leaps into a a world premiere work by Howard Frazin, mostly contemporary music mode, featuring The Distant Chirping of Birds, for mixed music of noted living composers Michael sextet, as well as the Camerata debut of Daugherty, Niloufar Nourbakhsh, Missy in-house principal violist Che-Yen Chen Mazzoli, and the late Sarah Gibson (who and flutist Sébastian Jacot. was too briefly head of UCSB’s Ensemble for Leading the way and lining the expeContemporary Music before her passing, at rience with his charismatic presence, at age 38), with a cherry of Mozart on top. concerts and behind the curtains and One of those commissions, John organizational scenes, is founder Spence. Harbison’s String Trio — dating back to As he comments, the coming season 2013 — makes a reprise on the February “invites audiences to experience music 19 concert, sandwiched by the welcome that illuminates, amuses, challenges and continuation of Beethoven-specializing inspires brought to life by some of the pianist Gilles Vonsattel’s cycle of complete world’s most talented and characterful Beethoven piano sonatas, a series dubbed chamber musicians. They bridge beloved “Beethoven 32.” Vonsattel returns with two foundational touchstones and neverspecial and entirely sonata-focused concerts, before-heard works on a season-long on December 7 and March 26. Vonsattel’s journey fueled by boundless creativity and Beethoven-iana series also makes an appear- striking virtuosity. It’s music at its most ance in the season closer, May 14, alongside intimate and uplifting.” Samuel Barber and Shostakovich. Other season highlights and detours from See cameratapacifica.org.
Highlighted Events: TEENS SBPL x SBMA art pARTy Friday, October 9 | 3:45 5 p.m. | Meet in Central Library lobby and walk to SBMA together. ALL AGES Raíces y Sueños Mercado Saturday, October 10 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Central Library, Plaza SCHOOL AGE Tinker Time: STEAM crafts & challenges Thursday, October 15 | 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. | Central Library Children’s Area, Island Room | Registration is required
ADULTS Tool Library Launch Party Thursday, October 22 | 4 - 6 p.m. | Central Library, Faulkner Gallery ADULTS UC Master Gardeners @ Montecito Library Friday, October 23 | 10 - 11am | Montecito Branch Library FAMILIES Family Movie Nights @ Eastside Library: Coco Friday, October 30 | 3 - 5 p.m. | Eastside Library
Scan to view our full calendar of events.
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We’re looking for volunteers to help with tech coaching, book pulling, and
homework help. Find an opportunity that’s right for you and start helping today!
SBPLibrary.org/Volunteer Stay Connected sbplibrary.org | @sbplibrary
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YOUR WORK MATTERS HERE. TELEDYNE FLIR IS HIRING Teledyne FLIR OEM is growing, and we’re looking for talented individuals to join our team in Goleta, California. Our teams develop advanced thermal imaging and sensing technologies that help people make critical decisions in defense, public safety, industrial automation, and emerging autonomous systems. Learn more at oem.flir.com/careers
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FREE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP Home Hardening and Firescaping Join us for an engaging introductory informational session focused on practical steps to fire-harden your home and design and maintain your landscape to reduce your fire risk.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 5:30 - 7:30 PM Santa Barbara Red Cross Offices 2707 State Street Training Room A Register here!
1230 Coast Village Circle, Suite A Montecito, CA 93108 CALL TO SCHEDULE: (805) 749-7806
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P. 47 INGRID BOSTROM
Community
A Lively Scene of
Avocado Green
C
arpinteria turned a dynamic shade of green over the weekend as the Carpinteria Avocado Festival celebrated its 40th year of “peace, love, and guacamole,” transforming downtown Linden Avenue into a packed showcase of food, music, local vendors, and community traditions. Friday’s “locals’ night” kicked things off with avocado-themed cream, and a newly discovfood and drinks, including an ered avocado boba slush. “avocaloda” smoothie from Pacific The weekend also feaHealth Foods and a spicy avocado tured a strong-arm compemargarita from Corazón Cocina. tition, where participants The festival formally opened with by Ingrid Bostrom hold out a five-pound bag a long-running tradition: balancing of avocados as long as posan avocado on the nose of Carpinteria’s downtown seal statue. This year’s honorary sible, and the guacamole tasting contest. Oxnard’s chairs, Cecilio and Mary Marquez of Rancho Santa Miguel Lopez won the youth strong-arm division, Cecilia, eventually got one to stay put, resulting in while the guacamole crown went to chef Ramón Velázquez, who used pistachio oil as a secret ingredicheers from the crowd. As always, music was a major draw, with roughly ent. Beyond the food and spectacle, the festival remains 70 bands performing free shows across several stages. Local favorites included Cornerstone, The Upbeat, rooted in good causes. Proceeds benefit the Carpinand Spencer the Gardener. Food options ranged from teria Education Foundation and Future Farmers of n classic chips and guacamole to avocado brownies, ice America.
ATHLETES of the
WEEK
Carpinteria Festival Celebrates 40 Years of Good Family Fun
BY VICTOR BRYANT
E
ach week, the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table recognizes student-athletes whose standout performances helped lift their teams and showcase the region’s sporting talent.
Autumn Richardson COURTESY PHOTOS
San Marcos High Cross Country
COURTESY
Sports
Swimming the California Coast Catherine Breed’s 900-Mile Journey Reaches Santa Barbara by Christina McDermott
M
arathon swimmer Catherine Breed reached Santa Barbara on September 24 during her attempt to become the first person to swim the length of California’s roughly 900mile coastline. The former UC Berkeley swimmer arrived at Stearns Wharf after completing the latest leg of her journey and greeted more than 100 people outside the Sea Center. Breed described the expedition as a “love letter to the coast,” meant to celebrate California’s ocean while drawing attention to marine conservation. Breed took up open-water swimming after college and quickly built an impressive résumé. She has swum the length of Lake Tahoe, crossed the English Channel and North Channel, and completed a roughly 30-mile swim from the Farallon Islands to San Francisco. Her journey down California relies on a support
Marathon swimmer Catherine Breed and S.B. Channelkeeper Executive Director Ted Morton
crew aboard the Catalyst, which helps navigate each day’s route, tracks her location, and provides food and hydration throughout the swim. Family members, medical professionals, and volunteers also help keep the expedition moving. In Santa Barbara, she teamed with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper to highlight the region’s marine life and environmental history. Through her nonprofit, Sea Dreamers, Breed also inspires more women and girls to pursue endurance sports and ocean conservation. Santa Barbara marked a major milestone, but Breed still has hundreds of miles to go. “I know we’re not done yet,” she said, “but I do feel like it’s a little bit downhill from here.” n
Autumn Richardson finished second individually at the Channel League Prelims meet with a time of 19:05.56. Her performance led San Marcos to a first-place finish as a team.
Cade Mault Santa Barbara High Football
Cade Mault racked up seven catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The Cal Poly soccer commit also added a 31-yard field goal and went five-for-five on extra points in the Dons’s 38-24 victory over Moorpark. n INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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YOU’RE INVITED!
A CELEBRATION OF
BEST OF S A N TA B A R B A R A ®
5:30 5:30 -- 9:00 9:00 PM PM
Thursday,
October 22 Santa Barbara Historical Museum
2026
Get Your Tickets Now at sbindytickets.com $70 General Admission 21+ Event
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PREMIUM CANNABIS PRODUCTS AWARD-WINNING CANNABIS SHOPS
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The Grey Muzzle Organization Partners with Local Groups
COURTESY
mily Grossheider was 5 years old when she sat in the hot tub next to her family’s deaf 16-year-old pit bull and decided to cover the sleeping pup with a blanket. The next thing she knew, the dog had latched onto her face. “The poor girl had like six teeth left in her whole mouth,” she recalled, “and she got all of them on my face.” Reflecting on the incident decades later, Grossheider doesn’t blame the senior dog—quite the opposite. “It was not her breed that caused her to do that,” she said. “It was fully me as an annoying little kid that was not perceptive enough about dogs.” After such a formative experience, one might expect her to have sworn off dogs altogether. Instead, she decided to work with them. Today, she is the executive director The Grey Muzzle Organization of the Grey Muzzle Organization, a national organization dedicated to rare for two organizations from the same improving the quality of life and adoption county to be selected. prospects of senior dogs in shelters. Grey Muzzle divided its grants into two categories: Pathways Home grants, which provide funding to shelters and rescues to help senior dogs find homes, and Staying Home grants, which support organizations that help owners care for senior dogs whose medical needs they cannot afford on their own. The Santa Barbara County Animal by Tiana Molony Care Foundation’s Pathways Home grant will help senior dogs, generally those 7 The organization primarily does this years of age or older, in Santa Barbara by providing grants to local partner orga- County’s three animal shelters. The fundnizations, enabling them to offer critical ing covers medical treatment and reduces medical care that helps older dogs become or waives adoption fees, giving older dogs healthy and adoptable. The grants can also a better chance of finding homes. cover or reduce adoption fees, encouragThe CARE4Paws grant aims to help ing people to take senior dogs home. senior dogs stay in their homes by offerAside from grants, the organization ing subsidized or free veterinary care and also provides hands-on mentorship to other support for low-income pet guardshelters and rescue groups, collecting and ians. Grossheider said one reason senior sharing best practices from successful dogs are euthanized at higher rates than senior-dog programs and actively coach- younger dogs is the high cost of preparing ing organizations — particularly small, them for adoption, particularly because under-resourced shelters — on how to of the medical care they often need. She design and sustain initiatives that keep said that almost every senior that enters a senior dogs in their homes and help those shelter needs a dental and cleaning. in shelters get adopted. She shared the story of a dog owner During its 2024-25 grant cycle, Grey who couldn’t afford the dental care her Muzzle helped almost 6,000 senior dogs. dog needed until CARE4Paws stepped in. This year, two Santa Barbara–area orga- As a result, the organization was able to nizations — CARE4Paws and the Santa keep the dog and its owner together. Barbara County Animal Care Founda“And you know, it’s just beautiful,” said tion—were among the grant recipients. Grossheider, “because these bonds exist, During its most recent grant cycle, Grey and we should keep them intact.” Muzzle received just under 400 applications and funded 59. Grossheider said it’s For more information, see greymuzzle.org.
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Food
Celebrating
Munching on
Country Roots
Lunch at Monte’s
BY MEAGHAN CLARK TIERNAN
FOOD & DRINK
I
t’s been called an “oeno-
phile’s Disneyland” and hailed as “America’s best small food and culture town,” but for people like Greer Araujo, Los Olivos is just called home. The director of marketing grew up in the Valley and has spent the last seven years working for Fess Parker. Officially, though, she’s been with the legacy Valley brand for much longer—she’s family. Araujo is part of the Los Greer Araujo of Fess Parker Olivos Chamber of ComWinery at Los Olivos Wine Festival merce team that is building an ode to Los Olivos with the 2026 Day in the Country. Celebrating their 46th year, it’s expected to be the most ambitious festival yet after the small-town affair ballooned in size the last few years to the point where many locals didn’t even recognize it. This year, Patrick Alo assures me, it will be very much about the locals. “We’re taking it back to the center of the Valley. The signature harvest festival will be celebrating everything local and wonderful,” adds the former Disney executive turned small-town resident. The Day in the Country artisans and culinarians at the festival are all handpicked, while still highlighting everything fabulous about the region. “It’s primarily for the community itself and bringing our neighbors together,” he adds. “but I think people all over Santa Barbara County over the decades have looked forward to this very wholesome community event.” In keeping with this reset, the Los Olivos Wine Festival, which is celebrating three years, will showcase regional wines from just 20 vintners. It’ll be held in the St. Mark’s courtyard garden from 1 to 4 p.m., and is limited to 200 guests. The Sideways boom is still a topic of discussion among the local set, but this wine festival is the antithesis of the oversaturated, drunk fests so many other wine festivals are known for. “With the tasting rooms, you don’t have as much one-on-one time with the vintners themselves,” Alo adds. “A wine festival like this [one] allows for an intimate conversation.” Araujo adds: “It’s a really intimate wine festival.” Festivities begin at 8 a.m. for the 5K before the children’s run at 9 a.m. There will be three age brackets for the kids fun run, and Alo is excited to announce there will be a “fastest kid in the Valley” crown to whoever hits that red tape first. There’s also a charity pumpkin patch where guests can pick up a pumpkin for free when they bring in a bag of nonperishable food items, which will then be donated by St. Mark’s to Valley families in need. There’s also the annual parade that finishes with an announcement of the third annual Los Olivos pumpkin pie contest winner, judged this year by Tracy Fleming of The Bakery Farmstand, as well as a pancake breakfast hosted by the Grange. Day in the Country is on Saturday, October 10, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and is open to the public. For more information, visit losolivosca.com/dayinthecountry. For tickets to the Los Olivos Wine Festival, visit losolivosca.com/losolivoswinefestival2026.
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ESTELLE MURRAY
Day in the Country and Los Olivos Wine Festival Returns October 10
Montecito’s Pretty Patio a Great Place to Enjoy Korean-Californian Fresh Flavors
COURTESY
Wine
FOOD&DRINK
p.50
by Leslie Dinaberg
The new lunch menu offerings at Monte’s
W
ith one of the loveliest patio spaces in Mon-
tecito, adding lunch to Monte’s alreadypopular Coast Village Road digs seems like a no-brainer. As Matt Kettmann outlined when Monte’s opened in the old Bar Lou space in May, the restaurant is part of Endwell Hospitality’s first endeavor in the area, with the majority of its produce from its very own nearby Rincon Hill Farm, an eight-acre regenerative farm in Carpinteria, which I had the pleasure of visiting this summer. This group is also working on the ambitious reopening of The Palms in Carpinteria, making the iconic spot into a three-story dining destination, including three concepts within: a casual, DIY grilling spot (like the original Palms’ DIY steak model); a fine-dining, Michelin star–aimed restaurant; and an ocean-view rooftop bar. While that project is still a work in progress, lunch at Monte’s is happily up and running, and I had the pleasure of checking out the new menu last week. Executive Chef Daniel Kim explained that in adding lunch to Monte’s offerings, he focused on the same Korean-Californian culinary vision and ingredient-driven philosophy that defines the restaurant’s dinner service— but leaned into his Korean heritage–driven flavors a little more. For example, the Korean fried chicken sandwich with savoy cabbage kimchi slaw had a lovely light batter on the chicken and a perfectly pillowy bun, which paired exceptionally with the tangy sour
kick of the kimchi. The chicken bulgogi rice bowl with ginger-scallion sauce, seasonal vegetables from Rincon Hill Farm, and Koshihikari rice was a tasty riff on the standard chicken and rice. They also had a vegetable-forward Rincon Hill Farm mushroom rice bowl with soy mushroom seasoning on offer if meat’s not your thing. But the carnivores among us will surely enjoy the mouthwatering grilled Korean short rib frites with Korean miso butter. We certainly did. The seasonal toast with whipped lemon ricotta and Sungold tomatoes was a delectable starter, and I can also vouch for the prawn toast with charred lemon aioli and kimchi — a standout from the dinner menu that’s also available with the new lunch service, currently offered Wednesdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re looking for a good time to check it out, I would recommend a Friday, when lunch guests can make a morning of their visit with the Monte’s Farmers’ Market, held on the restaurant’s patio from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Held weekly, the market brings freshly harvested produce from Rincon Hill Farm, so you too can stock up on some of the same seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs Chef Daniel uses in the restaurant’s kitchen, in addition to the farm’s very own dried and pickled goods. Monte’s, 1198 Coast Village Rd., Montecito; (805) 330-4590; montessb.com
S aucy
The Story Behind
OktoBEERfest
Santa Cruz Market’s Super Salsas
How a Pair of Butchers Made This Salsa a Hit in Old Town Goleta and Santa Barbara
HAPPY HOUR PRICING 2 FOR 1 ALL DAY A AY SAUSAGE PLATTER SPECIALS LIVE MUSIC
FOOD & DRINK
quenchingly fresh — plus, as spicy as you like, from mellow to mouth-tingling — the line of salsas sold by Santa Cruz Market engage the taste buds like an edible orchestra, hitting all the notes needed to make this condiment the star of your meal. I occasionally make that salsa, with chips, my entire meal, often by accident, as the small tub evaporates in one sitting, leaving me full and satisfied. “Edward Pena,” Tom Modugno replied when I called him up to learn of this salsa’s origins. “He’s the guy who should get the credit.” He also gave props to the current salsa don, Rogelio Castrejon, who’s in charge of its creation at both the Old Town Rogelio Castrejon has been making the Santa Cruz Goleta and West Montecito Street in Market salsas for many years. Santa Barbara locations, and led the brand’s expansion into guacamole, store strikes of the 1990s and early ceviche, and more. 2000s. “Everyone came to Santa Cruz,” Modugno knows because his family said Modugno. “That was a huge bump owned this region’s Santa Cruz Mar- in people’s awareness.” kets for more than 45 years until sellThen the pandemic threw the maring in 2024. Back in the mid-1980s, they ket’s popularity into overdrive. “When started preparing a few packaged deli it really blew up was COVID,” said items for pickup, such as sandwiches. Modugno. “We got really busy. A lot of “They never took off that much,” said stores were out of stuff, so people were Modugno. But that opened the door to expanding their horizons.” Pena—who was from the Santa Ynez Pena moved on decades ago, at one Valley and worked as a butcher for the point driving a bus for the Chumash markets — to make salsa, reportedly Casino. He died in 2022. “Ed Pena based on his mom’s recipe. is gone, but the recipe lived on,” said Modugno. (I tried to reach Pena’s relatives, and got a brief response from a daughter-inlaw, but nothing came of it.) When Castrejon took on the salsa making, the product expanded into more spice ranges (hot, medium, pico de gallo, etc.) and different offerby Matt Kettmann ings, such as guac and ceviche (both fish and shrimp). “He Sales were “real low-key” to start. made it a little more authentic, maybe a “It didn’t blow up right away,” said little spicier,” said Modguno. “He kicked Modugno of the salsa’s first couple of up the garlic quotient on it and made it decades. “We would run out and it was even better.” When I met Castrejon at the Santa no big deal.” Over the years, as demographics Cruz Market by West Beach this sumchanged, especially in Old Town Goleta, mer, he told me that he’s worked at the so did the American palate, so much market for more than 25 years now. He that Hispanic food became a much makes batches twice per week for both more prevalent part of the grocery store. stores, though they still do sell better in Though Santa Cruz still carries all sorts Goleta. We shared a few flavors together, of items, most people today would clas- standing in the store, including the smoky quemada, the salsa verde, and, sify them as Mexican markets. “It used to be more of a ranch mar- my addiction, the straight-up “hot” one. ket,” said Modugno. “We changed with (I also like mixing the hot with the pico the neighborhood. We would listen to de gallo.) what our customers wanted, which is What’s his favorite? “Todos,” replied why we were successful. We didn’t sell Castrejon. Claro! nearly as many marinated meats and specialty Mexican products like they do The salsas are sold only at the two Santa Cruz Markets in Old Town Goleta (5757 Hollister Ave.) now. It’s gone through the roof.” Even with those shifts, the salsa didn’t and by West Beach (324 W. Montecito St.). See find a rabid fanbase until the grocery santacruzmarkets.com.
INGRID BOSTROM
A
@ Dutch Garden
ddictively salty while thirst-
EVERY SATURDAY IN OCTOBER
COVERING 40 YEARS … OF SBIFF A Retrospective of the Independent’s Four Decades of Film Fest Coverage
October 2 - November 25 Open Daily 2-8 p.m. As part of its 40th anniversary, the Santa Barbara Independent unearthed select issues from its life, thus far, to share with the public. Following the Covering 40 Years show at the Faulkner Gallery last spring, this exhibit showcases coverage devoted to another institution of similar age: the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. THE NAOMI AND BEN BOLLAG GALLERY AT SBIFF’S FILM CENTER 916 State Street
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Ysidro Launches Second Flavor W
Battle of the Brains
Denise Montell
Jarett Henderson
Marley Dewey
Ralph Armbruster Sandoval
Siddharth Dey
Joe Walther
October 15, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM M.Special Brewing Co, Downtown alumni.ucsb.edu/profslam
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FOOD & DRINK
UCSB Profs face off live! Who will take the 2026 crown?
hen Ysidro launched in 2021, the Montecitobased canned sake spritz brand came out with just one flavor. That was a bold move for founders Alex Dessouky and Monica and Seth Epstein, as most other ready-to-drink, or RTD, companies start with at least a couple of different flavors, if not a half-dozen or so. But it also conveyed confidence in their grapefruit-and-sea salt combo, which flavors the bubbly base of California-grown Junmai Ginjo sake. The drink was indeed Ysidro’s new orange and pink color scheme good — tasting very real in an RTD sea flooded with fake — and their a pinch of salt complemented the grapestrategy paid off, as Ysidro found its fruit in the original. way into top retailers and restaurants “It drinks very different, but it still across California. has the same cycle,” said Dessouky. Five years later, Ysidro is finally “You get a really nice pop of fruit and releasing a second flavor: Cara Cara a little bit of spice on the nose, a super Orange with Black Pepper & Carda- nice, orangey, juiciness on the front, and mom. Packaged in an eye-catching the umami character of the sake and orange-pink can with a large silver oval that little cardamom finish.” Monica is relieved around St. Isadore, the patron saint of farmby the release. “Doing the second drink, I was ing, the cocktail very super stressed out about much feels related to it because the original the original concocwas so good,” she said, tion, but embarks on explaining that many a somewhat juicier, spicier adventure. They RTDs are just alcohol, unveiled the beverage juice, and carbonation. at the Santa Barbara “Adding spices really Sailing Center on makes our RTD a real by Matt Kettmann Tuesday, September 1, cocktail.” where a small group of She loves the evolved well-dressed friends and fans toasted packaging, specifically the unique pinkYsidro’s second chapter with an after- orange color combination and how the noon cruise on the Double Dolphin. saint image increased in size. “I love the “It’s kind of nerve-wracking trying silver saint,” she said. “To me it looks to come up with the next flavor, after like a diamond when the sun hits it.” a pretty successful flagship flavor,” The new flavor feels like a major said Dessouky, who’s worked in wine step. “Creating one drink is a story,” she marketing for decades and also runs said. “Creating two drinks is working to an import/distribution company. “But define the path and the direction we’re blending is part of the job that I enjoy moving.” the most.” That’s because he’s worked with See ysidro.com and @drink_ysidro. winemakers who must blend different components from every vintage to produce a consistent product. “The same is true with Ysidro,” said Dessouky. “We just have a different toolbox.” He explained that the cara cara orange was discovered at Hacienda Caracara in Venezuela in the 1970s. “It’s in the navel orange family, but it’s way sweeter,” he said, noting that it also has less bitter pith and a redder flesh. They added black pepper for a tingly note and cardamom for a floral pop, finding that those Ysidro’s founders (from left) Alex Dessouky and Monica and Seth elements lifted the flavor like Epstein back in 2022 when they launched their original flavor
Montecito’s Sake Spritz Brand Unveils Cara Cara Orange Creation
COURTESY PHOTOS
Prof Prof Prof Slam Slam Slam
Sip This
Yum!
Elevating Carpinteria’s Field + Fort’s The Larder Outpost Brings a Delicious Option to Town
INGRID BOSTROM
Brunch and Lunch Game DRE# 01978090 DRE# 02010082
by Rebecca Horrigan
Local. Reliable. Affordable.
SCHOOLS
Café Manager Celene Vasquez (left) and Chef Austin Moore
Susie Bechtel decided to open up Field + Fort, their experiential retail store and restaurant in Summerland, in November 2019, little did they know the pandemic was also heading their way. The fact that the adjoining café, Feast, featuring gourmet breakfast and lunch items, not only survived but thrived during a time when many other businesses closed proved that their fresh and flavorful dishes had an audience and that they could master the art of grab-and-go cuisine. As the restaurant continued to grow in popularity, the team needed a larger kitchen to meet the growing demand. Stars aligned when The Food Liaison in Carpinteria came up for sale, and the team jumped on the opportunity to expand, opening The Larder in its place in late August. “Much like The Food Liaison, we wanted to bring delicious food to the community,” said General Manager Paul Burns. “We are introducing elements of Chef Austin’s menu from Summerland to Carpinteria, adding a few new ideas, and building on that with our unique style of service.” Entering the stunning store in a nondescript strip mall off Casitas Pass Road, I felt instantly elevated, yet at home. The scent of freshly roasted Joshua Tree Coffee wafted out from the café, fresh fruit-laden pastries and bountiful sandwiches packed with brie, prosciutto, and fresh farmers’ market tomatoes beckoned from behind the glass case, and the warm and professional service from manager Celene Vasquez put me right at ease. The only thing I had to worry about was choosing which delicacies to order. Favorites from Summerland’s Feast menu, including the breakfast sandwich with egg, cheese, apricot-habanero jam, and Italian ham on a homemade English muffin, and the tarragon chicken salad sandwich tempted me with a wink, waving a familiar “hello.” I knew these dishes were perfect, and that I needed to broaden my horizons now that we were further down south. I decided to go for the Larder Bowl, which features grilled chicken, farro salad, tomato confit, dressed kale, caramelized onions, and a drizzle of their addictive romesco
sauce. I am grateful I did for a variety of reasons, including the fact that I can never really argue with farro; the tender grain has a delightful nuttiness, the chicken was perfectly tender, and I would gladly eat the romesco sauce by the spoonful. Delicious, nutritious, and beautiful is how I’d describe Chef Austin Moore’s food. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree for the talented chef, whose mom, Kim Schiffer, ran Fresh Eats Catering for 25 years and inspired his love of cooking. Moore brings a bold yet intentional creativity from years working in kitchens in the culinary mecca of Portland, and it shows in unexpected and flavorful ingredients. A green harissa slaw infuses the succulent tri-tip wrap with a bright acidity, and the grilled mushroom shawarma in their lovely veggie wrap adds a hearty meatiness to the plant-based dish. Although the food obviously takes a lot of work, The Larder concept is designed to make life easier. “We wanted Carpinteria to be more focused on grab-and-go options,” Burns said. “It is geared toward being a place where you can quickly pick up something for work, the beach, a polo game, or dinner. We also offer a large selection of packaged gourmet food items, specialty ingredients, fresh pasta, ice cream, coffee and teas, and kitchen essentials.” However, true to their origins, The Larder still welcomes plenty of diners who want to linger in the gorgeous space with a long communal table and outside seating as well. The ample storage and kitchen space allows the business to streamline its Summerland operation and cut down on wait times. They are working toward being open seven days a week, but their current schedule is Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. “We are excited to be part of the growth in Carpinteria, similar to what happened in Summerland when we arrived,” Burns said. “The local food scene is growing fast, and people are happy to see vibrant businesses joining the community. We hope to continue evolving and bringing delicious food options to the area.”
FOOD & DRINK
W
hen Kyle Irwin and his business partner
of THOUGHT
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COURTESY
Clementine’s Closes After 50 YeArs Ye
FINAL FAREWELL: Clementine’s Steak House at 4631 Carpinteria Avenue has closed after 50 years of serving Carpinteria. The family-run restaurant opened in 1976 and served its final customers on October 4.
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FOOD & DRINK
C
lementine’s Steak House at 4631 Carpinteria Avenue in Carpinteria served customers for the final time on Sunday, October 4, and is now closed, ending a 50-year run. In announcing the closure, the Clementine’s family thanked its friends, neighbors, guests, and staff, saying their “friendship, loyalty, and support made Clementine’s the beloved landmark it has become.” Clementine’s opened in Carpinteria in 1976 and became a family-run institution after Irene McLenithan took over the restaurant in 1982, joined by her son, Lloyd, and daughter, Esther. Known for its old-fashioned, home-style approach, Clementine’s made much of its food from scratch, including soups, salad dressings, and its especially popular homemade pies. Dinners traditionally came as complete meals with soup, salad, bread, vegetables, a potato, or rice; an entrée such as steak, prime rib, or fried chicken; and a slice of pie for dessert. Lloyd McLenithan eventually took over the restaurant and continued the family tradition after Irene died in 2016. After half a century of serving Carpinteria, Clementine’s thanked the community one final time “with our deepest gratitude.”
ISLA VISTA UPDATES: A fire broke out at Deja Vu Café, 966 Embarcadero del Mar in Isla Vista last August. I stopped by recently and saw that reconstruction is going full speed ahead. I don’t yet have an estimate when they will reopen. Immediately next door to the Deja Vu Café is a restaurant named Chef 81 that opened last April. I noticed that this Asian eatery has been closed ever since the fire, even though it did not sustain any damage. I’ll mark the eatery as closed until further notice. Rusty’s Pizza at 6583 Pardall Road in Isla Vista (formerly Rockfire Grill, Rincon Brewery, and Giovanni’s Pizza) opened in March 2025 and then, after Christmas break, never reopened though all the signs are still up. I called the eatery and was told that they are planning to reopen but are waiting for equipment and/or a permit to arrive. A frozen yogurt place named Swirla Vista is coming to 6520 Pardall Road (formerly Wells Fargo Bank) next to eatery Lao Wang. When I checked last summer, there was a “coming soon” sign, yet the old bank interior was unchanged. I recently noticed an “opening ASAP” sign, so I peeked inside and it appears that heavy demolition recently begun and that opening day is likely a long way off. FOODIE OF THE DAY: ALAN MORALES: I recently made an unexpected discovery while shopping at Costco when I met Alan Morales, a young Santa Barbara foodie who has set himself an ambitious goal: reviewing every restaurant in Santa Barbara. Morales started making food-review videos only about four or five months ago and posts them on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube under the name Moral.07. He estimates that he has already made 35 to 40 food-related videos, ranging from local restaurants to Costco finds and new items at national chains. Morales says his reviews are aimed at diners looking for good food at a reasonable price. “You review a restaurant and you try to review the best thing for your buck,” he said, “because a lot of people don’t have much money, but they want the best food.” He has also started reviewing Santa Barbara hiking trails. When I asked why, Morales offered a simple explanation: “Because I need to lose weight.” At the time we met, his Instagram account had received more than 61,000 views during the previous 30 days. Not bad for a local foodie I happened to discover while shopping at Costco. You can follow Morales on Instagram at @itsmoral.07. John Dickson’s reporting can be found every day online at SantaBarbara.com. Send tips to info@SantaBarbara.com.
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY by Rob Breszny WEEK OF OCTOBER 8
ARIES
(Mar. 21-Apr. 19): “Dear Oracle: My secret terror is being ordinary. I need to be special, and lately I’m worried I’m just average and unremarkable. That thought is repugnant to me! Can you offer any advice? —Afraid of Average.” Dear Afraid: The pressure to be extraordinary is exhausting because it’s the wrong goal. Your birthright and your life assignment aren’t about being special in the sense of better-than. You’re simply meant to be vividly, generously, amazingly yourself. In the coming weeks, I invite you to trade the anxious hunt for superiority for the warm, throbbing joy of full self-expression. Shine because it feels fantastic, not to outrank anyone.
TAURUS
(Apr. 20-May 20): Ravens sometimes hide food while pretending to conceal it elsewhere, especially if another raven is observing. They’re strategic and imaginative and aware of how they’re perceived. With their social intelligence as inspiration, I will encourage you to think more consciously about the stories you’re broadcasting. Which precious projects will flourish better if protected from premature scrutiny? Do you have any in-progress blooms that really should continue to incubate before being revealed? Discernment isn’t deception. PS: Conversely, there may be a part of you that deserves greater visibility.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20): The Taurus philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote that life must be lived forward but can only be understood backward. You Geminis are naturally inclined to resist that advice. Many of you analyze experiences while they’re still unfolding. Can I coax you to try a different approach in the coming weeks? As usual, you may be tempted to figure everything out immediately. But the most useful clarity won’t arrive until later, as you survey what has occurred and recognize patterns you couldn’t see in real time. So, try to stay curious rather than overly diagnostic. Keep gathering impressions, stories, and clues. Allow events to transpire like chapters in a book whose ending you haven’t reached yet.
attend to valuables that have been obscured by accumulated grime, like old habits, stale assumptions, and other people’s projections. Your task is to gently lift it all away and let the true colors shine.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Periodically, you have the cosmic right to receive precisely what you need. Life is duty-bound to deliver a close approximation of full satisfaction. I believe now is one of those times. So please be bold and articulate about naming the specific blessings you require. Write them down, speak them aloud, and pray for them—not as a demand, but as a hearty invitation. Then, for a while, live as if all of creation is indeed honor-bound to respond accordingly, adjusting its behavior so it’s in harmony with the gifts you’ve asked for.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Every Thursday night, I haul my trash bin out to the street so the collectors can empty it the following morning. Most weeks, it’s three-quarters full. But now and then, I produce an unusually large haul of debris. On those occasions, I have to turn into a oneperson compaction crew: I grab a low-hanging branch of the persimmon tree, hoist myself up, drop down feet-first into the can, and bounce around to squash everything enough to squeeze in the overflow. Consider this my audition to be your role model, Scorpio. According to my reading of the celestial weather, it’s time for you to consolidate and discard at least half a year’s accumulation of obsolete clutter—both the invisible emotional kind and the tangible stuff filling your space.
SAGITTARIUS
CANCER
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Ancient navigators sometimes crossed vast stretches of sea by studying the swells beneath their boats. Their bodies were instruments of perception that enabled them to feel the subtle wave patterns generated by winds and distant islands. Your intuition has a similar sensitivity these days, Sagittarius. I hope you will trust it: what your whole being senses before your rational mind assembles the evidence. I call this fully embodied intelligence. It deserves a key role in your decision-making.
LEO
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’ve never been a fan of Capricorn poet Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931). The ideas he expressed seem commonplace and sentimental to me. But his book The Prophet is an all-time bestseller translated into more than 100 languages. Millions of readers have adored and benefited from his words, and he’s acclaimed as a literary hero in his native Lebanon. So, who cares what I think! I’ll just shut up and appreciate the fact that he worked hard and published a lot. His disciplined, painstaking efforts have been widely inspirational. Let’s make him your role model for the coming months. I think you’re primed to create enduring offerings that nourish people’s souls.
(June 21-July 22): The Germans have a word, Sehnsucht, for a feeling that my English language can’t quite convey: a deep, sweet, aching longing for something you can’t name. It may be a faraway home you’ve never visited or a wholeness you seem to remember without ever having had it. Most people treat this yearning as a problem to be fixed or numbed. But I think it’s sacred information, Cancerian, and you’re especially fluent in it right now. Don’t rush to resolve the ache or explain it away. Instead, follow it like a scent. What is your Sehnsucht pointing toward? Let it lead you toward the beauty and meaning your soul is homesick for. (July 23-Aug. 22): Botanists know that climbing vines have a simple approach. They keep extending their sensitive tendrils until they discover something sturdy enough to support upward growth. Their progress depends on continual experimentation. I love it when you imitate this style of intelligence, Leo, which I think will be especially useful and successful during the coming weeks. So instead of demanding guarantees before beginning a new endeavor, offer exploratory feelers. Ask friendly questions. Test prototypes. The right support system probably already exists, but may not reveal itself until you reach toward it.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): One of my favorite Virgos works in a museum cleaning centuries-old paintings with exquisite patience. She uses tiny swabs and gentle solvents to lift away layers of darkened varnish and grime. She’s an expert at making the original colors emerge so vividly that the painting looks newly made. But her work demands artful restraint. If she presses too hard or applies the wrong solvent, she could destroy the very thing she means to reveal. This approach can be your specialty in the coming weeks, Virgo. I hope you will
ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN IN COMMUNICATIONS SANTA BARBARA
CRISIS
COMMUNICATIONS
Valuable lessons for all communicators
Join us for our first meeting of the season, kicking off with a conversation on crisis communications.
Program Panelists
Kelly Hubbard
Accomplished women leaders share hard-earned lessons and strategies from local emergencies.
Jackie Ruiz
Camie Barnwell
Wed., Oct. 14, 5:30pm
Liliana Encinas
Workzones, Paseo Nuevo Members free, Guests $25
Learn more and register at awcsb.org Not a member? Join online today!
CAPRICORN
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Think of an aspect of your life that you have always wished you could change but have assumed or feared you could never change. What if, sometime soon, you try to change it, but this time you do it with playful lightheartedness? You resolve to feel zero stress and have as much fun as possible as you try to shift how this problem works. You decide you will use your imagination to dream up unprecedented and even outrageous ways to break your trance and invite sweet liberation to swoop in.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Geologists tell us that over time, rocks really do get transformed under sustained pressure. Their material gets reorganized into denser, more stable stuff. This is an apt metaphor for you, dear Pisces. You’re under pressure right now, and it may feel intense. But what if it’s actually reconfiguring you? Maybe the constraints are what you need to make you more focused, more essential, and more real. Not all pressure is bad, and this is proof. Ask yourself: What is this pressure making possible that freedom couldn’t create? Let yourself be reorganized.
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HELP WANTED HELP WANTED. Three days per week position as Assistant Manager of Budget U‑Stor in Santa Barbara. Duties include ‑‑ but are not limited to ‑‑ answering phones, accepting customer payments, renting storage units, answering customer inquiries, mailing of required legal notices to delinquent customers and compiling reporting for the Corporate Offices daily, weekly and monthly. Other routine office duties will be assigned. There is one other employee at this location so the atmosphere is informal and friendly but professional. Above all, customer service is stressed and held in the highest esteem. We are looking for stability in your work history as this position is for long‑term employment. Hours of work will be 8:30am to 5:30pm, some overtime will occur. Occasional extra shifts will be necessary, but these will be infrequent. The hourly rate starts at $20.00, DOE. Respond in person to Budget U‑Stor, 130 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, or call 805‑963‑5895.
PROFESSIONAL
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT CAMPUS DINING ‑ UCFS
The Administrative Assistant performs all student functions related to hiring, payroll, and personnel actions for over 400 student employees. Duties include processing bi‑weekly payroll, corrections and changes to payroll, and separations in the payroll system (UCPath). Utilizes the timekeeping system to review, maintain, and troubleshoot timecard issues for payroll processing. Provides administrative support as needed to the Supervisor. Reqs: High School Diploma or Equivalent combination of education and experience; 1‑3 years: Experience working in an office environment and demonstrated ability to use standard computer systems including email, Microsoft Word, and Excel. Demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize effectively. Experience with effective communication and strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing. Equivalent combination of education and experience. Notes: Satisfactory criminal history background check; Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Hiring/Budgeted Hourly Range: $26.65/hr ‑ $29.62/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 9/30/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88892.
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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR A.S. TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS
Under the general direction of the Executive Director, the Assistant Director for A.S. Technology & Infrastructure is responsible for the strategic leadership, management, and collaborative development of Associated Students’ technological infrastructure. The position oversees computer, web, network, server, and strategic technical support and policy for a department of over 40 career staff and hundreds of student staff, and elected officials across six separate department locations. Serving as the highest‑level subject matter expert and technical escalation point for the technology team, the Assistant Director supervises the Website Developer, Information Technology Administrator, and Helpdesk Technician, as well as a team of student IT assistants. Provides advanced architectural direction, mentorship, and tier‑3 support across all supervised domains, including web development and design, server and network administration, and desktop support operations. To guarantee that independent, student‑driven goals are successfully achieved, the Assistant Director must possess the specialized expertise to effectively translate the unique technological needs of student‑led initiatives to central Campus Information Technology team, securing critical buy‑in, alignment, and collaborative support from campus partners. The Assistant Director holds primary operational responsibility for the campus‑wide Events and Ticketing system, coordinating critical networking hardware across multiple campus facilities. Additionally, the role manages and coordinates the technical execution of the campus‑wide student elections process, securely bringing together multiple campus departments, ballot initiatives, and candidates into a single, cohesive voting infrastructure. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree Required in related area and / or equivalent experience / training; 4‑6 yrs managing an information technology organization. 4‑6 yrs Experience with Critical thinking, persuasions/negotiation, conflict resolution, mentoring and staff development, leadership/management, problem solving, human resources policies and procedures relating to management responsibilities; 4‑6 years Advanced experience using IT security systems and tools; 4‑6 years Experience configuring and managing network tools. Prior work in network administration, IT security, or cyber security. Experience in penetration, vulnerability, and incident response; 4‑6 years Experience with assessing business needs to determine how people, business processes and computer technology can be used to help accomplish the departmental objectives; Applies advanced Information Technology theories and concepts to manage and provide solutions; Requires a broad working knowledge of the applications programming development function; Requires the ability to gather, organize, and analyze data in the completion of assignments; Demonstrated skill in managing technical staff; Experience in the management of ongoing technology infrastructure acquisition and expansion, to include the identification
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and integration of suitable emerging technologies; Thorough knowledge of technical concepts and basic operating principles of data communications, computer hardware, vendor IT products, and software; Ability to understand the process involved to adapt, integrate, and modify existing programs or vendor‑supplied products for use within the technical environment; Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively present technical topics to individuals and groups with potentially varied levels of technical sophistication; Experience of analyzing buy vs. build procurement for products for effective and efficient technology use. Notes: UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act; Required to hold a valid driver’s license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program; Satisfactory criminal history background check. Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: is $90,000 to $99,500/year. Full Salary Range: $81,600.00 to $147,800.00/year. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins October 5, 2026 Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb. edu, Job # 88902.
events (store, campus, community) online and in‑store; Demonstrated customer service skills; Knowledge of health and safety and loss prevention strategies in a retail environment; Ability to adjust to changing priorities and manage staff time and efforts accordingly. Notes: Able to work some evenings and weekends and will be a key holder with responsibilities for opening and closing the store according to schedule; Satisfactory criminal history background check. Hiring Budgeted Salary Range: $95,604 to $102,500/yr. Full Salary Range: $73,800 to $131,200/ yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 10/16/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 89237.
CAMPUS INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM (IIPP) COORDINATOR
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
UNIVERSITY CENTER BOOKSTORE Under the general direction of the Director of the UCSB Campus Store, the Assistant Director of Operations Management develops and implements strategies to achieve excellent customer service, cost controls, and to generate revenue growth. Leads a team of career and student staff responsible for the operational support of the UCSB Campus Store including course materials, store website and eCommerce. Oversees shipping and receiving and cash handling functions for the store, creating policies and procedures to be followed by all staff. Hires, trains, supervises and evaluates both career and student staff necessary to perform these functions. The Assistant Director is a liaison with the campus community, and annually provides support by coordinating all Campus Store involvement in the annual Commencement ceremonies. This position is fiscally responsible for the operations budget of the Campus Store with annual sales volume over $8,000,000. Reqs: Bachelor’s degree and/ or related experience/training; 3‑5 yrs of supervisory experience in a retail setting; Ability to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and sales through effective scheduling, training, and development of store team members; Solid understanding of financial and resource planning concepts including forecasting of annual budget and future sales to manage costs and keep operations profitable; Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing; Knowledge of cash handling procedures and registers/store systems to accept payment; Ability to excel and lead in a team environment; Knowledge of sales analytics and trends; Ability to execute sales, promotions, and special
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Under direction of the Industrial Safety and Hygiene Services Manager, develops, supports implementation of, and identifies needs related to the campus Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) to help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and campus and UC policies. Additional areas of responsibility include developing and implementing effective campus‑wide systems for injury reduction, safety communication, training, risk‑based inspections and compliance oversight , hazard assessment and control, and incident investigation. Performs compliance audits, inspections, and injury investigations, generates reports and corrective actions, provides IIPP program training and assistance, and monitors campus injury trends. Obtains and maintains certifications necessary for program implementation and oversight. Reqs:Bachelor’s Degree Required in related area and / or equivalent experience / training; 1‑3 yrs Developing, implementing, and/ or managing safety programs and/ or training; Thorough knowledge / understanding of specific EH&S field(s) including related laws and regulations; and general knowledge / understanding of all EH&S fields; Thorough knowledge and skill in applying and interpreting applicable local, state, and federal regulations and related standards and guidelines; Thorough written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including political acumen and skill to communicate effectively in a diverse environment; Strong analytical and organizational skills to organize, prioritize and manage the successful completion of projects within time and budget constraints; Strong skill to appropriately use technology and relevant scientific equipment as required.Notes: Days and hours may vary to meet the operational needs of the department; Satisfactory criminal history background check; Direct access to, and/or responsibility for, protected, personal, or other sensitive data. Hiring/ Budgeted Salary Range: $90,000.00/yr. to $100,000.00/yr. Full Salary Range: $83,165.04/yr to $150,565.68/yr. The
University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 10/15/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 89222.
COOK
CAMPUS DINING The Cook performs culinary duties such as preparing soups and casseroles, grilling, roasting or barbecuing foods, working a sauté station, and preparing and assembling made‑to‑order entrees serving up to 1,500 meals per shift. Ensures that assigned responsibilities are accomplished and that high standards of food quality, service, sanitation and safety are met at all times. Assists with student training, food production and sanitation. Reqs: High School or Equivalent combination of education and experience; 1‑3 yrs Culinary experience in a high‑volume culinary environment; 1‑3 yrs Knowledge of and experience with culinary techniques, including but not inclusive of sauteing, grilling, frying, steaming, preparing sauces and stocks; Equivalent combination of education and experience. Notes: Satisfactory criminal history background check; Visa sponsorship is not available for this position; Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work standing for up to 8 hours per day; Work hours/days may vary. Hiring/ Budgeted Hourly Range: $26.78 ‑ $27.29/ hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 10/13/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 89137.
EMF TEAM SUPER SUPERVISOR
BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES This position serves as an EMF Service Team Lead responsible for directly managing an EMF Service Team of professionals that oversees a balanced award portfolio. The EMF Service Team Lead is responsible for ensuring the team as well as their individual position provides customer‑oriented, value‑added post‑award management services to UCSB Principal Investigators (PIs), Research Finance Analysts (RFAs), and university partners through: set‑up, invoicing, and fiscal management of individual grants and contracts awarded by Federal, State, other government, and private sponsors for the support of the UC Santa Barbara campus research enterprise. The Service Team Lead is responsible for analyzing and resolving problems, interpreting policies (e.g., fiscal management, HR, post award management) and demonstrates expert post award management knowledge. The Service Team Lead is responsible for managing professional relationships with customers, partners and sponsors, and personal and team workload to ensure the office service levels are achieved. Reqs: Bachelor’s
degree in related area and /or equivalent combination of education and work experience; 7‑9 years Professional experience in accounting, auditing, or other related field. Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: $90,600 to $110,000/year. Full Salary Range: $90,600 to $166,400/ yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Open Until Filled. Apply online at https:// jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 84802
EQUIPMENT ENGINEER
ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Under direction of the Equipment Engineer Manager, ensures the continuing development of equipment and process resources of the 400‑user nanofabrication research cleanroom for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Additionally, supervises the day‑to‑day laboratory operation of the cleanroom.. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Hiring/Budgeted Salary or Hourly Range: $108,419.40/yr. ‑ $145,899/yr. Full Salary Range: $89,679.60/yr. ‑ $164,638.80/yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Open until filled. Apply online at https:// jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88866.
FINANCIAL OPERA OPERATION MANAGER
ASSOCIATED STUDENTS The Financial Operations Manager oversees the daily financial, accounting, and administrative operations of Associated Students (AS). This position manages a complex, multi‑fund financial portfolio that includes an annual departmental budget exceeding $13 million, restricted funds, and a broad range of programmatic and enterprise accounts. The position develops and maintains financial operational workflows; ensures compliance with University, State, Federal, and Associated Students fiscal policies; administers campus and departmental financial systems (Microix and MIP); supports audit readiness; and provides financial analysis, projections, and operational recommendations as directed by the Associate Director of Finance & Budget. The incumbent exercises a high degree of independent professional judgment in reviewing, approving, and reconciling financial transactions while advising on internal controls, fiscal compliance, and operational efficiencies. The Financial Operations Manager provides direct supervision of up to three represented Financial Operations staff responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, travel, reconciliation,
and related financial functions. The position is responsible for recruitment, training, performance management, staff development, and fostering a collaborative, service‑oriented team committed to operational excellence. The position also leads special projects, represents Associated Students in campus and divisional financial management meetings, and maintains current knowledge of evolving University financial systems, regulations, and best practices to strengthen departmental operations and support continuous process improvement. This role is integral to safeguarding organizational resources, promoting fiscal accountability and transparency, and ensuring Associated Students fulfills its financial responsibilities to students, campus partners, and external stakeholders. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree; 4‑6 yrs Experience in fund accounting, asset management, or financial services; 4‑6 yrs Direct experience with accounting principles and financial administration preferably in higher education and/or non‑profit; 4‑6 yrs Direct experience with financial analysis, accounting, payroll administration and reporting techniques; 4‑6 yrs Advanced interpersonal skills including verbal and written communication, active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness, and advising skills; 4‑6 yrs Act with sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, and work effectively as part of a team environment and as an individual contributor; 4‑6 yrs Ability to pay strict attention to detail and prioritize work to meet deadlines among competing demands with minimal errors; Prior experience with financial programs a must; Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines with frequent interruptions; Advanced knowledge of fiscal operations related to federal, state and institutional fund sources (Required proficiency); Able to maintain strict confidentiality in all aspects of work; Ability to create budget reports and summary analyses; Knowledge of financial and accounting policies and procedures; Ability to quickly assess and annotate financial data; Advanced organizational and analytical skills with unfailing attention to detail and accuracy. Notes: Strict On‑Site Requirement: This position requires 100% on‑site, in‑person attendance. Remote or hybrid work arrangements are not permitted, and this condition is non‑negotiable. Non‑Standard Hours: Requires a highly flexible schedule, including mandatory evening hours and frequent weekend availability to support student government meetings, events, and urgent financial operations. Student Safety and Mentorship: Because this role heavily interacts with the student government, the incumbent must maintain the highest standards of ethical behavior, psychological safety, and emotional regulation. The manager is strictly required to foster a supportive, non‑punitive environment for student leaders; UCSB Campus Security Authority under Clery Act; Satisfactory criminal history background check; Position is funded by federal contract/sub‑contract and requires E‑Verify check. Hiring/ Budgeted Salary Range: $77,180/year to $80,000/yr. Full salary range for this position is $73,800.00 to $131,200.00/ year. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins September 24, 2026. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88769.
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EMPLOYMENT (CONT.) LEAD AUTO TECHNICIAN
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES Performs comprehensive maintenance and repair on UCSB fleet vehicles (includes gasoline, E85, diesel, bio‑diesel, natural gas, hybrid, and electric). Work ranges from simple maintenance to rebuilding components, with an emphasis on technician and customer safety. Performs technically advanced repairs on computer controlled vehicle systems using appropriate diagnostic equipment. Performs repairs to vehicle’s mechanical components using appropriate shop tools & procedures. Performs preventative maintenance inspections and repairs. Performs vehicle emission testing. Provides customer service and roadside assistance as needed. Provides coverage in absence of the Garage Supervisor. Performs driving duties assigned. Accurately documents all work performed. Completes repair orders promptly. Attends appropriate technical training classes on current and emerging automotive technology. Participation in ASE automotive certification is encouraged. Must be able to work as a member of a team and share in the responsibility for maintaining a safe and secure work environment. Reqs: Minimum 5 years of experience diagnosing vehicle problems and performing needed repairs; Minimum 5 years of experience performing comprehensive maintenance and repair on vehicles (includes gasoline, E85, diesel, bio‑diesel, natural gas, hybrid, and electric vehicles); Minimum 5 years of experience utilizing a wide range of shop tools & equipment, including advanced electronic diagnostic equipment; Performs all necessary repairs to ensure proper vehicle operation & safety; Alerts Garage Supervisor to any non‑routine safety deficiencies. Test drives vehicle before and after repair. Installs accessory equipment per customer’s specifications; Maintains high safety standards while performing work to ensure the safety of self, coworkers, and customers. Notes: May be required to work overtime; Required to hold a valid driver’s license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program; Satisfactory criminal history background check. Budgeted/Hiring Hourly Rate: $42.53/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 10/1/26. Apply online at https:// jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88907
MARKETING DIRECTOR
PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION As the Director of Marketing at UCSB Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), they lead marketing strategy, brand management, and multi‑channel promotional campaigns to drive enrollment growth and maximize ROI across all programs. Under the general supervision of the PaCE Chief Operating Officer and in close collaboration with leadership, they oversee market research, manage program marketing budgets, and direct staff, student employees, and media specialists. In addition, they serve as the primary media relations contact, manage content creation across digital and print platforms, and leverage advanced analytics to continuously evaluate campaign performance. Additionally, the Director of Marketing expands PaCE’s market reach by aligning outreach strategies with program managers, managing vendor relationships, and representing the division at regional and national forums. In collaboration with the AI and Automation Engineer, they manage marketing automation and website
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optimization, overseeing site architecture, user experience, SEO, digital brand consistency, and analytics integration to improve conversion rates. When needed, they also partner with other UC Extension programs on systemwide communication initiatives and strategic special projects. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree in related and / or equivalent experience / training; 4‑6 yrs professional experience in marketing, communications, media relations, or digital publications; 4‑6 yrs Experience managing budgets, prioritizing projects, and meeting production deadlines; experience recruiting, supervising, evaluating, and mentoring staff or contractors. Notes: Satisfactory Completion of a Criminal History Background Check. Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: $100,100 ‑ $139,600/yr. Full Salary Range: $100,100 ‑ $187,500/ yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Application Review begins 10/13/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu Job #89146.
PAYROLL AND PER PERSONNEL COORDINATOR
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR AND PROVOST The Personnel and Payroll Coordinator administers personnel, payroll, and timekeeping for units supported by the Business Operations Team in the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. Processes personnel/payroll transactions, and manages monthly and biweekly payroll cycles for academic, staff, and student employees. Supports recruitment, hiring, and separation workflows across various systems. Serves as a resource and ensures strict accuracy and compliance through an in‑depth understanding and interpretation of federal, state, bargaining unit, and UC personnel policies and procedures. Works closely with the departments of Human Resources, Academic Personnel, International Students and Scholars, Payroll Accounting, and Financial Aid. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree required in a related area and / or equivalent experience / training; 2+ years administrative experience; 2+ years experience in payroll/personnel operations; Demonstrated strong organizational skills with the ability to work on multiple projects with conflicting deadlines and to work efficiently with frequent interruptions; Proven track record of solid communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a variety of people. Hiring/Budgeted Salary or Hourly Range: $34.20 ‑ $36.83/ hr. Full Salary Range: $32.55 ‑ $53.32/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb. edu, Job # 89065.
REAL ESTATE OFFICER 3 SB HOUSING AUTHORITY
The Office of Strategic Asset Management (SAM) at UC Santa Barbara provides leadership and a broad range of professional services to support vital campus development initiatives, including physical planning, environmental assessment, and long‑range development for all campus projects. SAM manages a diverse real property portfolio that includes agricultural, institutional, research, residential, and commercial
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LEGALS assets, which are administered in direct support of the University’s educational mission. Its core functions encompass the development and management of on‑campus and off‑campus leasing programs, the administration of complex contracts, and the oversight of faculty and staff housing communities. Furthermore, SAM facilitates third‑party development partnerships, oversees the due diligence process for acquisitions, and manages specialized licensing programs, including telecommunications and retail. Within this strategic framework, the Real Estate Leasing Officer is a vital member of the Office of Strategic Asset Management. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for the professional administration of leases, day‑to‑day management, and operational oversight of properties and contracts owned or acquired by the University. The Officer ensures that all real estate operations and transactions incorporate facilities management requirements and cost accounting principles while remaining in strict compliance with University of California (UC) policies and campus regulations, directly in support of the University’s educational mission; Reqs: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. 4‑6 yrs experience in Of professional experience in related area/field. Notes: Hiring/Budgeted Salary $100,000 to $120,000/year. The full salary range for this position is $90,600 ‑ $166,400/yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Application review begins 10/1/26. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88801.
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR (RFA/PRA)
ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING DEPT. Under the general direction of the Associate Business Officer, the Research Administrator provides comprehensive, independent pre‑award and post‑award administration for sponsored research awards in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). Serving as one of two primary research administrators in the unit, this position shares responsibility for a total departmental portfolio of 40+ Principal Investigators (PIs) and over 100 active sponsored projects, independently managing an assigned share of the department’s $90M+ in cumulative research funding and $20M+ in annual expenditures. In the pre‑award phase, the administrator acts as a vital liaison between PIs, the Office of Research (OR), and various federal, state, private, and international sponsoring agencies. Provides expert guidance on proposal preparation, interprets complex agency guidelines, and collaborates with PIs to develop detailed, compliant budgets and submission packages under tight, concurrent deadlines. In the post‑award phase, the administrator delivers high‑level financial stewardship for their assigned portfolio. Responsibilities include independent budget setup, transaction review and approval across boundary systems, detailed burn‑rate forecasting, cost‑share tracking, subrecipient monitoring, and compliant award closeout. Throughout the entire award lifecycle, the administrator ensures absolute compliance with federal regulations, sponsor terms, UC policies, and accounting standards, protecting the university’s research enterprise while offering strategic fiscal guidance to faculty. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree in related areas and/or equivalent experience/training; 1‑3 yrs Knowledge and application of financial policies and procedures; 1‑3 yrs Experience with enterprise financial systems; 1‑3 yrs Research administration in a university setting; Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting; Demonstrated knowledge of effective
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grant funding processes, procedures and techniques; Ability to adapt to changing priorities, meet strict deadlines, and multi‑task in a high volume environment. Notes: Satisfactory Completion of a Criminal History Background Check. Hiring/Budgeted Salary Range: $75,180 to $104,475/yr. Full Salary Range: $75,180 to $133,770/yr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law. Application Review begins 10/19/26. Apply online at https:// jobs.ucsb.edu Job #89241.
SR. CUSTODIAN LODGING/HOUSEKEEPING
Under the general supervision of the Assistant Residence Hall Manager or Residence Hall Manager, performs duties in accordance with established standards and instruction, for University owned Residence Halls, Apartments and Dining Facilities. May be required to perform other duties as assigned to meet the operational needs of the department. Promotes a customer service environment to residents and clients. Assists with the development and maintenance of a work environment which is conducive to meeting the mission of the organization and supports the EEP. Responsible for completing job duties that demonstrate support for the Operations Team. Initiates communication directly with co‑workers and or supervisor to improve and clarify working relationships, identifying problems and concerns, and seeking resolution to work‑related conflicts. Reqs: Working knowledge and experience in utilizing the following equipment: vacuums, conventional and high‑speed buffers, extractors and related custodial equipment desirable; Must have effective communication skills. Ability to interact as a team member with sensitivity towards a multicultural work environment. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others as a team. Notes: Required to hold a valid driver’s license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies and procedures, and/or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program; For multi‑hire positions: Some positions filled under this posting may be required to hold a valid driver’s license, have a driving record that is in accordance with local policies/procedures, and/ or enroll in the California Employer Pull Notice Program; Satisfactory criminal history background check. Budgeted/ Hiring Rate: $26.79/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Open Until Filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb.edu, Job # 88731.
STUDENT AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FEMINIST STUDIES PROGRAM
Under the supervision of the Business Officer in Feminist Studies, the Student Affairs Coordinator supports the academic affairs of the department and provides advising to MA and PhD students. Coordinates all aspects of graduate recruitment, admissions, and orientation for MA and PhD students in Feminist Studies, and MA students in the joint MA program in Black Feminist Studies. Is responsible for classroom scheduling and assisting with the development of the department’s annual curriculum plan. Is responsible for the hiring, fee remission, and payroll of all student positions. In collaboration with the Chair and Business Officer, coordinates the selection process for fellowships, Teaching Assistants, and student awards.
Serves as liaison for Graduate Division and Office of the Registrar. Provides academic advising to graduate students and makes referrals, as appropriate, to other services such as counseling or social services. Reports to Business Officer, Department Chair, and Director of Graduate Studies on budgetary matters regarding TA allocations, recruitment funds, and fellowship commitments. Maintains records for all graduate degrees in progress and all teaching evaluations. Edits, writes and consults with Chair and Business Officer on written publications for the graduate program as well as departmental brochures and the website. In collaboration with the Business Officer and Chair, develops and implements procedures to ensure efficient flow and retrieval of information. Serves as a resource for Chair, Business Officer, and Director/s of Graduate Studies on University policies and procedures. Communicates effectively with students, faculty, and staff. Works collaboratively and in coordination with Chair and Business Officer in a team environment to complete administrative tasks related to graduate and undergraduate matters in the Department. Reqs: Bachelor’s Degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training; 1‑3 years previous advising experience. Hiring/Budgeted Salary or Hourly Range: $28.00 to $31.00/ hr. Full Salary Range: $27.06 ‑ $45.76/hr. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Open until filled. Apply online at https://jobs.ucsb. edu, Job # 89000.
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ADMINISTER OF ESTATE NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JOHN E. QUAST No.: 26PR00457 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: JOHN E. QUAST A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: STACEY A. WRIGHT in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): STACEY A. WRIGHT be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/12/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Anacapa Division. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/21/2026 by Kim Gallegos, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Robert B. Locke; 5290 Overpass Rd. Suite 204 Santa Barbara, CA 93111; 805‑683‑1459 Published: Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: RONNY JOSEPH MARC BOURQUE, aka RONNY J M BOURQUE No.: 26PR00427 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: RONNY JOSEPH MARC BOURQUE, aka RONNY J M BOURQUE A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: COLETTE M. BOURQUE in the Superior Court
of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): COLETTE M. BOURQUE be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 10/28/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: 1 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. PROBATE. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/23/2026 by Michael Rosales, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Nancy Noel; 44694 Monterey Avenue Palm Desert, CA 92260; 760‑346‑8817 Published: Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: JAMES L. MORRIS aka JAMES LESLIE MORRIS No.: 26PR00462 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: JAMES L. MORRIS aka JAMES LESLIE MORRIS A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: RYAN K. MORRIS in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): RYAN K. MORRIS be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will
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E M A I L A D V E R T I S I N G @ I N D E P E N D E N T. C O M
LEGALS (CONT.) allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/12/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: SB5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. SOUTH COUNTY PROBATE. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/24/2026 by Kim Gallegos, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Marla D. Garcia, Krause Law P.C.; 7429 N. First Street, Ste. 104 Fresno, CA 93720; 559‑431‑7777 Published: Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: ALAN BURT POSNER CASE No.: 26PR00393 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: ALAN BURT POSNER A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: ANN CURRY THOMPSON and KYLE BATES in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): ANN CURRY THOMPSON AND KYLE BATES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will
be held in this court as follows: 10/29/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. ANACAPA IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/30/2026 by Monica Buenrostro, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Erin R. Parks; Law Office of Erin R. Parks 625 E. Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103; 805‑899‑7717 Published: Oct 8, 15, 22 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: SEAN CHRISTOPHER NOLAN CASE NO.: 26PR00459
To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: SEAN CHRISTOPHER NOLAN A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: LISA NOLAN in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): LISA NOLAN be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/12/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: SB 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. ANACAPA DIVISION. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either
(1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/23/2026 by Kim Gallegos, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Kimberly F. Whitfield, Esq.; 14414 Oak Street, Saratoga, CA 95070; (408)‑395‑4800 Published: Oct 8, 15, 22 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: CHRISTOPHER TODD BAKER CASE NO.: 26PR00444 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both of: CHRISTOPHER TODD BAKER A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: ALISA JANINE BAKER in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): ALISA JANINE BAKER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative
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to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: 11/05/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: SB 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. ANACAPA DIVISION. IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a
general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/10/2026 by Monica Buenrostro, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Alisa Janine Baker; 2005 Mardel Lane, San Jose, CA 95128; Published: Oct 8, 15, 22 2026. NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF: DAWN VERA POSNER CASE No.: 26PR00395 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or
both of: DAWN VERA POSNER A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by: KYLE BATES in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara. THE PETITION requests that (name): KYLE BATES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent. THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court. THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The Independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority. A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:
NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Hybrid Public Hearing – In Person and via Zoom October 20, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. Extension of Urgency Ordinance Temporarily Prohibiting the Establishment of New Firearms and Ammunition Retailers (Case No. 26-0003-ORD) ATTENTION: The meeting will be held in person and via the Zoom platform. The public may also view the meeting on Goleta Channel 19 and/or online at www. cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council will conduct a public hearing to extend Ordinance No. 26-07U, which temporarily prohibits the establishment of new firearms and ammunition retailers within the City. The date, time, and location of the City Council public hearing are set forth below. The agenda for the hearing will also be posted on the City website (www.cityofgoleta.org www.cityofgoleta.org). HEARING DATE/TIME: PLACE:
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 5:30 P.M.
Goleta City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA, 93117 and Teleconference Meeting; this meeting will be held in person and via Zoom (with detailed instructions for participation included on the posted agenda)
PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide including all areas within the Coastal Zone. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Extension of Urgency Ordinance No. 26-07U, which temporarily prohibits the establishment of new firearms and ammunition retailers within the City. The purpose of this extension is to provide City staff additional time to research and propose revised zoning regulations with specific standards, permitting requirements, and location criteria applicable to firearms and ammunition retailers. Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 26-07U was initially implemented to prevent the introduction of a potentially legal nonconforming land use that would run counter to the zoning amendments that the City is considering. Environmental Review: The extension of Urgency Ordinance No. 26-07U is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15301 because the activity involves negligible or no expansion of use of existing facilities and 15061(b)(3) as it has no potential for causing a significant impact on the environment. PUBLIC COMMENT: Interested persons are encouraged to provide public comments during the public hearing in person or virtually through the Zoom webinar, by following the instructions listed on the City Council meeting agenda. All letters/comments should be sent to CityClerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov CityClerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov. Letters must be received on or before the date of the hearing or can be submitted at the hearing prior to the conclusion of the public comment portion of the Public Hearing. FOR PROJECT INFORMATION: For further information on the project, please contact Anne Wells at (805) 961-7557 or AWells@cityofgoleta.gov AWells@cityofgoleta.gov. For inquiries in Spanish, please contact Marcos Martinez at (805) 562-5500 or MMartinez@ cityofgoleta.gov. Staff reports and documents will be posted approximately 72 cityofgoleta.gov hours before the hearing on the City’s website at www.cityofgoleta.org www.cityofgoleta.org. SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION: Live Spanish interpretation will be available. No advance request for Spanish interpretation services is required. Note: If you challenge the nature of the above action in court, you may be limited to only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the date of the hearing (Government Code Section 65009(b)(2)). Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in the hearing, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 9617505 or cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable City staff to make reasonable arrangements. Publish Date: Santa Barbara Independent, October 8, 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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LEGALS (CONT.) 10/29/2026 AT 9:00 a.m. Dept: 5 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA, located at 1100 Anacapa Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101. ANACAPA IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney. IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58 (b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal
authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law. YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE‑154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code Section 1250. A Request for Special notice form is available from the court clerk. Angela Braun, Executive Officer 9/30/2026 by Monica Buenrostro, Deputy. Attorney for Petitioner: Erin R. Parks; Law Office of Erin R. Parks 625 E. Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103; 805‑899‑7717 Published: Oct 8, 15, 22 2026.
FBN ABANDONMENT STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME The following
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Fictitious Business Name is being abandoned: ISHI MAURY: 3737 Portofino Way, #A Santa Barbara, CA 93105 The original statement for use of this Fictitious Business Name was filed 03/12/2026 in the County of Santa Barbara. Original File no. FBN 2026‑0000603. The persons or entities abandoning use of this name are as follows: Maria L Maury‑Smith (same address) The business was conducted by an A Individual. Registrant commenced to tranact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Mar 12, 2026 Signed by: MARIA L. MAURY SMITH/ OWNER Filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 10/01/26, FBN 2026‑0002420 E63. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in the Office of the County Clerk, Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS
NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Hybrid Public Meeting – Held in Person and via Zoom October 20, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. Senior Mobile Home Park Overlay District Ordinance (Case No. 26-0004-ORD) ATTENTION: The meeting will be held in person and via the Zoom platform. The public may also view the meeting on Goleta Channel 19 and/or online at www. cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas. cityofgoleta.org/meetings-agendas NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Goleta City Council will conduct a public hearing to consider permanent adoption of an Ordinance amending Chapter 17.22 of Title 17 (Zoning) of the Goleta Municipal Code (GMC), and making other conforming changes to the Goleta Zoning Ordinance, relating to a Senior Mobile Home Park (“SMHP”) Overlay District. The date, time, and location of the City Council public hearing are set forth below. The agenda for the hearing will also be posted on the City website (www.cityofgoleta.org www.cityofgoleta.org). HEARING DATE/TIME: Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. PLACE: Goleta City Hall, 130 Cremona Drive, Goleta, CA, 93117 and Teleconference Meeting; this meeting will be held in person and via Zoom (with detailed instructions for participation included on the posted agenda). PROJECT LOCATION: The amended regulations would apply citywide, including all areas of the City within the Coastal Zone. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project includes adoption of a permanent ordinance to make permanent the City’s existing SMHP Overlay regulations (Section 17.22 of the GMC), which were previously adopted via Urgency Ordinance 26-02U on February 17, 2026 and subsequently extended by Urgency Ordinance 26-03U on March 17, 2026. The project also includes other conforming changes to the Goleta Zoning Ordinance. On September 28, 2026, at a publicly noticed meeting, the Planning Commission heard the item and voted to recommend that the City Council adopt the ordinance. Environmental Review: Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq., “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations Sections 15000 et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”), the proposed permanent ordinance is exempt pursuant to Section 15301, which categorically exempts activities involving negligible or no expansion of use of existing facilities, and Section 15061(b)(3), which applies where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. This Ordinance makes permanent regulations in the Goleta Municipal Code as it relates to the preservation of senior housing within the City, and it does not directly or indirectly authorize or approve any actual changes to the physical environment (CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 and Section 15061(b)(3)). PUBLIC COMMENT: Interested persons are encouraged to provide public comments during the public hearing in person or virtually through the Zoom webinar, by following the instructions listed on the City Council meeting agenda. All letters/comments should be sent to cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov. Letters must be received on or before the date of the hearing or can be submitted at the hearing prior to the conclusion of the public comment portion of the Public Hearing. FOR PROJECT INFORMATION: For further information on the project or for inquiries in Spanish, contact Lucy Graham, Housing Manager, at (805) 9617546 or LGraham@cityofgoleta.gov. Staff reports and documents will be posted approximately 72 hours before the hearing on the City’s website at www. cityofgoleta.org. cityofgoleta.org SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION: If you require interpretation services for the hearing, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (805) 961-7505 or via email to cityclerkgroup@cityofgoleta.gov at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. Please specify the language for which you require interpretation. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting helps to ensure that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the hearing. Note: If you challenge the nature of the above action in court, you may be limited to only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence delivered to the City at or before the public hearing (Government Code Section 65009(b)(2)). Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in the hearing, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 961-7505. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable City staff to make reasonable arrangements. Publish Date: Santa Barbara Independent, October 8, 2026 60
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BUSINESS NAME The following Fictitious Business Name is being abandoned: FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF SANTA BARBARA: 1915 Chapala St Santa Barbara, CA 93101 The original statement for use of this Fictitious Business Name was filed 10/25/2021 in the County of Santa Barbara. Original File no. FBN 2021‑0002989. The persons or entities abandoning use of this name are as follows: Christian Church of Santa Barbara (same address) The business was conducted by an A Corporation. Registrant commenced to tranact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jun 24, 2015 Signed by: ROBIN RICKERSHAUSER/ SECRETARY Filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 09/28/26, FBN 2026‑0002399 E30. I hereby certify that this is a correct copy of the original statement on file in the Office of the County Clerk, Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL). Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RUBYLOO: 226 Calle Manzanita Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Rosebrook, LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Feb 4, 2026 Filed by: SUSAN M MINIER/PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 14, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002298. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DISCOUNT MOBILE WINDOW SCREENS: 5369 Traci Dr Santa Barbara, CA 93111; James K Pinkston 3463 State St 1220 Santa Barbara, CA 93105 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Aug 30, 2026 Filed by: JAMES PINKSTON/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 2, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by
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30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002213. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CENTRAL COAST CELEBRATION STATION: 218 S K St. Apt D Lompoc, CA 93436; Sonya S Palos (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: SONYA PALOS with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002278. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SAN ROQUE CABINETS: 6 Harbor Way, Suite 192 Santa Barbara, CA 93109; Craig S Gutshall (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: CRAIG S GUTSHALL with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002275. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NOVEL READS PRESS: 7242 Del Norte Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93117; Patricia Totton 7127 Hollister Ave #25 A Goleta, CA 93317 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 2, 2026 Filed by: PATRICIA TOTTON with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 8, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002252. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WITHIN PSYCHOLOGY: 5951 Encina Rd, 200 Santa Barbara, CA 93117; Dr Erica Haines Psychological Services Inc. (same address)
Gateway Pacific Contractors, Inc. is seeking MBEs/WBEs to bid Santa Barbara County Montecito Water District Reservoir Seismic Retrofit and Replacement Project for Bella Vista Reservoir BID DAY 10/22/26@ 12:00PM Scopes included, but not limited to shotcrete, rebar, concrete saw cutting, Temp electrical, Temp water tank rentals. Call Nicholl Bell or email bell@gatewaypacific.com for more info. Please send quotes to bids@gatewaypacific.com Gateway Pacific Contractors, Inc. 8055 Freeport Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95832 Contact Person: Nicholl Bell, Contract Administrator Email: bell@gatewaypacific.com License No. 517988, Class A & B Phone: 916-665-4100 Ext. 116 FAX: 916: 665-4119 Equal Opportunity Employer
This business is conducted by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 1, 2026 Filed by: ERICA HAINES/ OWNER/CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002280. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: RED ISLAND RESTORATION SAROBIDY CREATIONS: 1534 San Miguel Ave Santa Barbara, CA 93109; Alissa Shattenberg (same address) James Shattenberg (same address) This business is conducted by A Married Couple Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 1, 2026 Filed by: ALISSA SHATTENBERG/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 2, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 49. FBN Number: 2026‑0002207. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: INSPIRATION OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: 533 E. Micheltorena Street, Ste 103 Santa Barbara, CA 93103; Amber A Salas (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 3, 2026 Filed by: AMBER SALAS/MSOT, OTR/L with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 8, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002249. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: M. BRODERIE: 1187 Coast Village Rd, Suite 1‑151 Montecito, CA 93108; General Workshop LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 10, 2026 Filed by: ALISON VINOLY/MANAGER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 11, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002286. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EAST VALLEY CONSTRUCTION, INDEXMAIN, INDEXMAIN TECHNOLOGIES: 1274 E Valley Road Santa Barbara, CA 93108; Jonathan P Allcock Jr (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Aug 7, 2026 Filed by: JONATHAN PRYOR ALLCOCK JR./OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Aug 7, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 73. FBN Number: 2026‑0002014. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: MAR OF SANTA BARBARA, MAR COMPANY: 1424 Alameda Padre Serra Santa Barbara, CA 93103;
Gregory T Geyer (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jul 1, 2007 Filed by: GREGORY T GEYER/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 1, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002202. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DESIDERIO CONSULTING: 332 Avenida Garza Goleta, CA 93117; Daniel Desiderio (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 8, 2026 Filed by: DANIEL DESIDERIO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 9, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002261. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD: 7783 Jenna Dr. Goleta, CA 93117; Laurie Petrolino (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Aug 24, 2026 Filed by: LAURIE PETROLINO/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 3, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002222. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CONSTRUCTIVE: 69 Santa Felicia Dr. Ste 16 Goleta, CA 93117; Power Wave Holdings LLC 2108 N Ste N Sacramento, CA 95816 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jul 1, 2026 Filed by: JOHN KUBIAK/MANAGING MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 9, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002260. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: NAME TAGS PLUS: 315 Meigs Rd, A130 Santa Barbara, CA 93109; Uniquely Personalized, LLC 2108 N St #9078 Ste N Sacramento, CA 95816 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: COLLEEN DENNIS/MANAGING MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 1, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002198. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIPER LOAN: 1440 Cantera Ave Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Piper L La Rocca (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the
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LEGALS (CONT.) fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: PIPER LOAN LA ROCCA with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 4, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002240. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: AFFORDABLE HANDYMAN SERVICES: 6559 Segovia Rd Isla Vista, CA 93117; Xavier R Darquea (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Aug 25, 2026. Filed by: XAVIER DARQUEA/INDIVIDUAL with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Aug 25, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 81. FBN Number: 2026‑0002145. Published: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CTG PUBLICATIONS: 929 Via Fruteria Santa Barbara, CA 93110; Self‑Esteem Seminars, Inc. PO Box 30880 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 This business is conducted by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: DONNA BAILEY/FINANCE DIRECTOR with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002271. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: KM WALKER DESIGN, KM WALKER ART & DESIGN: 2963 Valencia Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Kristen Walker (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 1, 2026 Filed by: KRISTEN WALKER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 10, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002272.
Published: 15 2026.
Sep 24. Oct 1, 8,
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SB BABY WEARING: 595 Poppyfield Place Goleta, CA 93117; Sara BW Uhrig (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 13, 2026 Filed by: SARA UHRIG/CEO & FOUNDER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 14, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002306. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DOUDS GAMES: 629 N 6th Street Lompoc, CA 93436; Perl Consulting LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 11, 2026 Filed by: EMMA RECHER/CEO with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 14, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002300. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PILATES & OR: 220 W. Canon Perdido St Ste 1 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Pilates & OR LLC 1438 Hillcrest Rd Santa Barbara, CA 93103 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on May 02, 2023 Filed by: OR KAHLON/CO‑OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 18, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002341. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GENERAL WORKSHOP PRESS: 1187 Coast Village Road, Suite 1‑151 Santa Barbara, CA 93018; General Workshop LLC 2108 N St Ste N Sacramento, CA 95816 This
business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 16, 2026 Filed by: ALISON VINOLY/ MANAGER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 16, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002327. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026.
This business is conducted by an Individual The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. S/ Armando Mincitar This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 09/10/2026. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15/26 CNS‑4072446# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: CENTRAL COAST ARMS, SEMPER FI, TACTICAL, CCFS: 529 South J Street Lompoc, CA 93436; Michael Peter Vasquez (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: MICHAEL PETER VASQUEZ/ OWNER/MANAGING MEMBER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 17, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002336. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: JOH HANDYMAN: 1608 Elm Ave Sovang, CA 93463; Jacob O Hanberg (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 1, 2026 Filed by: JACOB HANBERG/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 18, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002349. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2026‑0002201 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Paws First Dog Trainin, 6520 El Colegio Rd, Room 2113, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 County of SANTA BARBARA Mackenzie Grace ClRY, 6520 El Colegio Rd Rm 2113, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 This business is conducted by an Individual The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A. S/ Mackenzie Clary, This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 09/01/2026. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15/26 CNS‑4079315# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2026‑0002265 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: By The Code Electric, 6408 Brown Rd, Guadalupe, CA 93434 County of SANTA BARBARA Armando Mincitar, 6408 Brown Rd, Guadalupe, CA 93434
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANTAFINO CPAS, SANTAFINO: 5142 Hollister Avenue, #577 Santa Barbara, CA 93111; Anoushavan Boghar yan (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 3, 2026 Filed by: ANOUSHAVAN BOGHARYAN/ OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 8, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002245. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SANTAFINO WEALTH MANAGEMENT, SANTAFINO ADVISORS, SANTAFINO: 5142 Hollister Avenue, #577 Santa Barbara, CA 93111; Santafino Wealth Management LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 3, 2026 Filed by: ANOUSHAVAN BOGHARYAN/ MANAGING MEMBER with the
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County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 8, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002246. Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: QUIRKY QUALITY CURATIONS: 6635 Calle Koral Goleta, CA 93117; Kahryn M. Dill (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 05, 2026 Filed by: KATHRYN DILL with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 15, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002256. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: LARIMAR BLUES: 645 Surf View Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93109; Jeff H. Heyman 315 Meigs Rd Ste A‑608 Santa Barbara, CA 93109 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 24, 2026 Filed by: JEFF HEYMAN/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 25, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002390. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SBVDC: 3022 State St, Ste A Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Santa Barbara Veterinary Dental Care (same address) This business is conducted by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 01, 2026 Filed by: JEFF HEYMAN/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 16, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002322. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No. FBN2026‑0002267 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: STAY SB, 1226 HANS PARK TRL, SOLVANG, CA 93463 County of SANTA BARBARA STAY SB LUXURY VACATION RENTALS INC., 1226 HANS PARK TRAIL, SOLVANG, CA 93463 CALIFORNIA
This business is conducted by a Corporation The registrant(s) commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 10/07/2021. s/ABEL RAMOS, PRESIDENT This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on 09/10/2026. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22/26 CNS‑4080923# SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ONO NISI: 925 E. Cota St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103; Odilia Hernandez Onofre (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jan 3, 2026 Filed by: ODILIA HERNANDEZ ONOFRE with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 14, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 73. FBN Number: 2026‑0002305. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: SOLUTIONS IN PARENTING: 1129 State Street 3A Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Kristen J Miller 4015 Otono Drive A Santa Barbara, CA 93110 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Feb 28, 2013 Filed by: KRISTEN MILLER/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 22, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002362. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: GRACE KATHRYN PHOTOGRAPHY: 1707 Anacapa Street, Unit 25 Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Grace K Coccia (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jan 01, 2013 Filed by: GRACE KATHRYN COCCIA/ OWNER & LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 22, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002367. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DOVETAIL WEDDING MUSIC: 104 S Salinas St Santa Barbara,
CA 93103; Liam G Coggon (same address) Molly O’Connell 1725 San Andres Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Aurora Robathan‑Wu 104 S Salinas St Santa Barbara, CA 93103 This business is conducted by A Joint Venture Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 14, 2026 Filed by: LIAM COGGON with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 15, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002311. Published: Oct 1, 8, 15, 22 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ISHI MAURY LLC: 3737 Portofino Way #A Santa Barbara, CA 93105; Ishi Maury LLC (same address) This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Oct 01, 2026 Filed by: MARIA L. MAURY/ PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Oct 01, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 63. FBN Number: 2026‑0002421. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PRESIDIO PRIVATE, PRESIDIO PRIVATE TRUSTEES: 21 E Canon Perdidio St, Suite 217‑A Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Presidio Private Trustee Co. PO Box 2067 Santa Barbara, CA 93120 This business is conducted by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jan 01, 2026 Filed by: MONICA TULL/PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Aug 31, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002189. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: EL FER CLEANING SERVICES: 606 W Donovan Rd. Santa Maria, CA 93458; Fernando Reyna PO Box 1022 Santa Maria, CA 93456 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 14, 2026 Filed by: FERNANDO REYNA/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 15, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002312.
PUBLIC NOTICE FOR COMMENT Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Draft HUD Annual Plan and Moving to Work (MTW) Supplement Effective April 1, 2027 Available for Review
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The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara invites all interested parties to review the Agency’s draft HUD Annual Plan and Moving To Work (MTW) Plan Expansion for FYE 2028, which is due to be submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2027. The HUD Annual Plan includes revisions to the Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan. All Plan elements will be reviewed at a public hearing on December 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM, during the Housing Authority’s Board meeting at 706 Laguna Street, Santa Barbara, CA. Interested parties may download a copy of the draft plans from the Housing Authority’s website at: www.hacsb.org, or request a copy by calling the Housing Authority at (805) 897-1035 or by email request to Jennifer Schipa at jschipa@hacsb.org. October 2026 INDEPENDENT.COM INDEPENDENT.COM OCTOBER 8, 2026 THE INDEPENDENT
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LEGALS (CONT.) Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: DAVIS PIANO MOVING & RENTAL, BOB DAVIS PIANO & SPECIALTY MOVING: 717 E Mason Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103; Moving Keys LLC 2245 Coyote Creek Road Solvang, CA 93463 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: JUNIOR DREW/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 28, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002402. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PIVOT CRISIS INTERVENTION: 901 Olive St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101; Intel Vio, LLC 2570 W 600 N Suite 400 Lindon, UT 84042 This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Aug 26, 2026 Filed by: MONICA SANBORN/ VICE‑PRESIDENT OF LICENSING & COMPLIANCE with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Aug 31, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002186. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WAY COLLECTIVE: 2101 State Street Santa Barbara, CA 93105; First Congregational Church of Santa Barbara (same address) This business is conducted by A Corporation Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: ROBIN RICKERSHAUSER/ SECRETARY with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 28, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002400. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: WELCH‑RYCE‑HAIDER FUNERAL CHAPELS AND CREMATORIUM: 15 East Sola Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101; First Scott Reid (same address) J. Stephen Gibson (same address) This business is conducted by A General Partnership Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Jan 1, 1924 Filed by: SCOTT REID/PARTNER
with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 9, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002262. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ROB’S 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND FABRICATION: 5790‑C Thornwood Drive Goleta, CA 93117; Robert Lomonaco (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on May 18, 2011 Filed by: ROBERT LOMONACO/OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Oct 5, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002450. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: HI5H2O: 301 Loyola Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93109; Sage Travel Inc. (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 25, 2026 Filed by: ANDREW SAGE/PRESIDENT with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 25, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002392. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: BUCIO’S DESIGNS: 221 Sylvan Drive Goleta, CA 93117; Samuel Hernandez Bucio (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 07, 2026 Filed by: SAMUEL HERNANDEZ BUCIO/ OWNER with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 09, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 71. FBN Number: 2026‑0002258. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: PINK BELLY: 2810 Ontiveros Rd. Santa Ynez, CA 93460; Kenneth D Macpherson (same address) This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on N/A Filed by: KENNETH MACPHERSON with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 29, 2026.
This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002409. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026. FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT The following person(s) is/are doing business as: ALL AMERICAN PLUMBING SOLUTIONS: 2265 El Mirlo Santa Maria, CA 93455; Aaron R Phillips 540 E Betteravia Rd D187 Santa Maria, CA 93454 This business is conducted by A Individual Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on Sep 25, 2026 Filed by: AARON R PHILLIPS/OWNER/ OPERATOR with the County Clerk of Santa Barbara County on Sep 29, 2026. This statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the Office of the County Clerk. Joseph E. Holland, County Clerk (SEAL) by 30. FBN Number: 2026‑0002407. Published: Oct 8, 15, 22, 29 2026.
NAME CHANGE AMENDED IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: ALONSO ADONAY PARTIDA RANGEL CASE NUMBER: 26CV04114 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: ALONSO ADONAY PARTIDA RANGEL A petition has been filed by the above named Petitioner(s) in Santa Barbara Superior Court for decree changing name (s) as follows: PRESENT NAME: ALONSO ADONAY PARTIDA RANGEL PROPOSED NAME: ALONSO ADONAY ARRIAGA RANGEL THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall 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. Notice of Hearing November 04, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: SB3, SUPERIOR COURT COUNTY OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa Street. Santa Barbara, CA 93101, ANACAPA DIVISION A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Independent, a newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition. Dated September 8, 2026, JUDGE Thomas P. Anderle of the Superior Court. Published Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE
NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) for CUSTODIAL SERVICES FOR THE GOLETA TRAIN STATION (RFP 2026-009) The City of Goleta General Services Department is currently solicitating proposals for custodial services for the Goleta Train Station. Proposals must meet the requirements and descriptions outlined in the RFP, available through the City of Goleta’s PlanetBids Vendor Portal. Please submit any questions regarding this Request for Proposals through the City of Goleta’s PlanetBids Vendor Portal Online Q&A no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 2026. Firms interested in submitting a proposal may do so through the City of Goleta’s PlanetBids Vendor Portal. https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45299/bo/bosearch. Proposals must be received no later than 12:00 p.m., October 23, 2026. Published: Santa Barbara Independent October 8, 2026 62
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FOR CHANGE OF NAME: RAECHEL MARIE MORA CASE NUMBER: 26CV05467 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: RAECHEL MARIE MORA A petition has been filed by the above named Petitioner(s) in Santa Barbara Superior Court for decree changing name (s) as follows: PRESENT NAME: RAECHEL MARIE MORA PROPOSED NAME: RAECHEL MARIE BERBERIAN THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall 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. Notice of Hearing November 2, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: 5, SANTA BARBARA SUPERIOR COURT COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa Street., Santa Barbara, CA 93121, ANACAPA DIVISION A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Independent, a newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition. Dated September 16, 2026, JUDGE Colleen K. Sterne of the Superior Court. Published Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026. IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME: HALEY ANDREA FULLER CASE NUMBER: 26CV05825 TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: PETITIONER: HALEY ANDREA FULLER A petition has been filed by the above named Petitioner(s) in Santa Barbara Superior Court for decree changing name (s) as follows: PRESENT NAME: HALEY ANDREA FULLER PROPOSED NAME: HALEY FULLER FREEMAN THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall 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. Notice of Hearing November 16, 2026, 10:00 am, DEPT: 5, SANTA BARBARA SUPERIOR COURT COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa Street., Santa Barbara, CA 93121, ANACAPA DIVISION A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published in the Independent, a newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county, at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition. Dated September 16, 2026, JUDGE Colleen K. Sterne of the Superior Court. Published Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Legal Notice Attorney or Party Without Attorney: Scott Jordan SBN 88455 303 I Street Los Banos, CA 93635 Telephone: (209) 826‑5024 Fax: (209) 826‑3164 Attorney for: Cassie Gann SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF MERCED 1159G Street Los Banos, CA 93635
Family Law Division CASE NUMBER: 25FL‑01667 Petitioner: Cassie Gann Respondent: Michael Gann NOTICE OF HEARING Respondent Michael Gann that on November 24, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. 13 in the Merced County Superior Court, at SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF MERCED at 2260 N Street, Merced, CA 95340 a hearing will be held for OTHER ORDERS REQUESTED: In order to effectuate the Judgment, it is necessary for the court to order the clerk of the court to sign on behalf of Respondent, Michael W. Gann, a Deed similar to the proposed Deed attached on behalf of Respondent transferring the title to 1520 Gulf Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405, to Petitioner. FACTS TO SUPPORT: A Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage was filed in this case on June 8, 2026. Pursuant to the Judgment of Dissolution, the Court ordered that the property located at 1520 Gulf Street, San Luis Obispo, California is awarded to Petitioner, Cassie Gann. The original Summons and Petition were served through an order of publication. The Judgment of Dissolution was sent to the last known mailing address of Respondent. There has been no response from Respondent. I am requesting that the Court order the Clerk of the Merced County Superior Court to sign a Deed similar to the proposed Deed attached to this Request for Order so that the transfer of the real property from Petitioner and Respondent to Petitioner can be affected. A copy of the current Deed to 1520 Gulf Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93405, is also attached. The original Summons was served by publication. THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons Interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated to show cause, if any, why these petitions should not be granted. Any person objecting to these petitions described above must file a written objection that induces the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is to be heard and at the hearing scheduled to show cause why these petitions should not be granted. If no objection is filed in a timely manner, and no appearance by another party is made, the court may grant the petitions at the hearing. Publication Dates: Sep 17, 24. Oct 1, 8 2026. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING DATE OF HEARING: October 19, 2026 HEARING BEGINS: 9:00 A.M. PLACE: SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING COMMISSION HEARING ROOM 123 E. ANAPAMU STREET, RM. 17 SANTA BARBARA, CA 93101 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The Zoning Administrator provides in‑person participation as well as virtual participation until further notice. The following methods of participation are available to the public. 1. If you wish to provide public comment, the following methods are available: •Distribution to the Zoning Administrator ‑ Submit your comment via email prior to 12:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the Zoning Administrator hearing. Please submit your comment to the Secretary at martinj@countyofsb. org. Your comment will be placed into the record and distributed appropriately. •Attend the Meeting In‑Person:
Individuals are allowed to attend and provide comments at the Zoning Administrator meeting in‑person. •Attend the Meeting by Zoom Webinar ‑ Individuals wishing to provide public comment during the Zoning Administrator meeting can do so via Zoom webinar by clicking the below link to register in advance. Register in advance for this meeting: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing important information about joining the webinar. Register in advance for this webinar: https://santabarbaracounty. zoomgov.com/webinar/register/ WN_oeFWNcTHS6qHU‑NOZ7nZgw After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. OR PARTICIPATE VIA TELEPHONE: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 254 5252 or +1 669 216 1590 or +1 415 449 4000 or +1 551 285 1373 or +1 646 828 7666 or +1 646 964 1167 or 833 568 8864 (Toll Free) or 833 435 1820 (Toll Free) Webinar ID: 165 609 0256 The Zoning Administrator will accept written comments and interested persons may appear to support or oppose the proposal. Comments should be filed with or mailed to Planning and Development, Attn: Hearing Support, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Continuances will not be granted unless there are exceptional circumstances. This matter may be dropped from the agenda unless the applicant is present and ready to proceed on the date set herein. Please be advised that the Zoning Administrator’s decisions made under the authority of Chapter 21 and Chapter 35 (coastal zone only) of the Santa Barbara County Code may be appealed to the County Planning Commission by the applicant or any aggrieved person adversely affected by such decision. Decisions made under the authority of Chapter 35 of the Santa Barbara County Code (for inland areas only) may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. An appeal, which shall be in writing, and accompanying fee shall be filed with the Planning and Development Department Zoning and Permit Information Counter located at either 123 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA, or 624 West Foster Road, Suite C, Santa Maria, CA, within the 10 calendar days following the date of the action by the Zoning Administrator. There is a $1,695.06 fee for both non‑applicants and owner/applicant appeals to the Planning Commission and a fee of $1,735.06 for appeals to the Board of Supervisors. A fee will not be charged if the development which is the subject of the appeal is defined as development that may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission in compliance with Public Resources Code Section 30603(a). If you challenge the project 22TPM‑00000‑00004 in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence to the Zoning Administrator prior to the public hearing. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need a disability‑related modification or accommodation or are exempt from applicable Health Officer Orders, including auxiliary aids or services such as sound enhancement equipment or an American
Sign Language interpreter, to participate in this hearing, please contact Hearing Support Staff at 805‑568‑2000. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the hearing will enable the Hearing Support Staff to make reasonable arrangements. If you have any questions or if you are participating in the hearing telephonically or electronically and need a disability‑related modification or accommodation or have any issues attempting to access the hearing telephonically or electronically, please contact Hearing Support Staff at 805‑568‑2000. 22TPM‑00000‑00004 Dole Parcel Map (TPM14,865) Eastern Goleta Valley Exempt, CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 Shannon Reese, Supervising Planner (805) 934‑6261 Kevin De Los Santos, Planner (805) 884‑8051 Hearing on the request of Billy Dole (Owner/Applicant) to consider the following: •Case No. 22TPM‑00000‑00004, for approval of a TPM that will subdivide one existing 2.28‑acre lot into two lots (Lot 1 & Lot 2) pursuant to County Code Chapter 21 (Land Division), and Section 66428 of the State Subdivision Map Act; and •Determine the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 [Projects Consistent with a Community Plan or Zoning], as outlined in the Notice of Exemption. The application involves Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 061‑273‑003, located at 4640 Vieja Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93110, on property zoned Single‑Family Residential (1‑E‑1), in the Eastern Goleta Valley Community Plan (EGVCP) area, Second Supervisorial District. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
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LEGALS (CONT.) SUMMONS SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, a political subdivision, CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA, REBECCA BJORK, BJORK, in her official capacity as City Administrator (“Additional Parties Attachment form is attached”) YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): Joann Olejnik, a Natural Person NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self‑Help Center(www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Website (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts Online Self‑Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. !ADVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica
no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en el formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 o más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso. The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): SANTA BARBARA COURTHOUSE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA 1100 Anacapa St. , Santa Barbara, CA 93101 CASE NO: (Número del Caso): 26CV00231 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección, y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante que no tiene abogado es): James F. Scafide, Figueroa Law Group, 7 W. Victoria Street, Unit 202, Santa Barbara, California 93101 (805) 651‑3021 APN: 039‑610‑018 DATE Fecha): 01/06/2026. Clerk, by (Secretario) /s/ Sarah Sisto, Deputy (Adjunto) Published: Sep 24. Oct 1, 8, 15 2026.
TRUSTEE NOTICE LOAN NO.: EWL7497 ‑ Rodriguez TS no. 2026‑11947 APN: 079‑540‑ 006 NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE UNDER DEED OF TRUST
YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 9/5/2025, UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that on 10/28/2026, at 1:00 PM of said day, At the main entrance to the County Courthouse, 1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, Ashwood TD Services LLC, a California Limited Liability Company, as duly appointed Trustee under and pursuant to the power of sale conferred in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Annette Rodriguez, an unmarried woman recorded on 9/10/2025 in Book n/a of Official Records of SANTA BARBARA County, at page n/a, Recorder’s Instrument No. 2025‑0027663, by reason of a breach or default in payment or performance of the obligations secured thereby, including that breach or default, Notice of which was recorded 6/23/2026 as Recorder’s Instrument No. 2026‑ 0021230, in Book n/a, at page n/a, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, lawful money of the United States, evidenced by a Cashier’s Check drawn on a state or national bank, or the equivalent thereof drawn on any other financial institution specified in section 5102 of the California Financial Code, authorized to do business in the State of California, ALL PAYABLE AT THE TIME OF SALE, all right, title and interest held by it as Trustee, in that real property situated in said County and State, described as follows: Lot 42 of Tract 10955, Unit No. Two, as per map filed in Book 77, Pages 55 through 59 inclusive of maps. The street address or other common designation of the real property hereinabove described is purported to be: 233 Hillview Drive, Goleta, CA 93117. The undersigned disclaims all liability for any incorrectness in said street address or other common designation. Said sale will be made without warranty, express or implied regarding title, possession, or other encumbrances, to satisfy the unpaid obligations secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest and other sums as provided therein; plus advances, if any, thereunder and interest thereon; and plus fees, charges, and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of said obligations at the time of initial publication of this Notice is $203,926.85. In the event that the deed of trust described in this Notice of Trustee’s Sale is
secured by real property containing from one to four single‑family residences, the following notices are provided pursuant to the provisions of Civil Code section 2924f: NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. Please be advised that the trustee may require entity or trust bidders at this trustee’s sale to provide information, documentation and/ or certification of the vesting instructions and the data required to be reported pursuant to FinCEN regulations effective for transfers of residential real property to covered transferees on or after March 1, 2026. The required information must be provided to the trustee before a trustee’s deed upon sale will be issued for covered transfers. Additional information regarding these regulations and the required transferee information and certifications can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/ doc uments/2024/08/29/2024‑ 19198/anti‑money‑laundering‑ regulations‑for‑residential‑real‑ estate‑transfers and https://www.fincen.gov/rre‑ faqs#D_5 NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee’s sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for
the sale of this property, you may call 916‑939‑0772 or visit this internet website w w w. n a t i o n w i d e p o s t i n g . c o m , using the file number assigned to this case 2026‑11947. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not be immediately reflected in the telephone information or on the internet website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you
exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 916‑939‑0772, or visit this internet website w w w. n a t i o n w i d e p o s t i n g . c o m , using the file number assigned to this case 2026‑11947 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid, by remitting the funds and affidavit or declaration described in Section 2924m(c) of the Civil Code, so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think
you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. Dated: September 30, 2026 Ashwood TD Services LLC, a California Limited Liability Company Jeff Pardee, Trustee's Sale Officer 19510 Van Buren Blvd., Suite F3‑ 293, Riverside, CA 92508 Tel.: (951) 215‑0069 Fax: (805) 323‑ 9054 Trustee’s Sale Information: (916) 939‑0772 or www.nationwideposting.com NPP0495437 To: SANTA BARBARA INDEPENDENT 10/08/2026, 10/15/2026, 10/22/2026
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